The Official Sports Betting / Predictions Thread

[OccultHawk]

I like the UFC but it’s hard to stay invested through a PPV model

I used to watch Ultimate Fighter. Is that still on? The last fight I really got into was when Anderson Silva shattered his leg.

I’ll play a return round of confidence with UFC fights though. If they’re televised all the better. ESPN fights on boxing as well. I’m looking for an excuse to get back into boxing. I used to be real into it, history and stuff too but it’s been out of my head for a while.

I’m not very interested in MMA that’s not UFC. Not saying it’s not good. Just UFC is kind of it for me.

[[MERIT]]

Originally Posted by OccultHawk

I like the UFC but it’s hard to stay invested through a PPV model

I used to watch Ultimate Fighter. Is that still on? The last fight I really got into was when Anderson Silva shattered his leg.

I’ll play a return round of confidence with UFC fights though. If they’re televised all the better. ESPN fights on boxing as well. I’m looking for an excuse to get back into boxing. I used to be real into it, history and stuff too but it’s been out of my head for a while.

I’m not very interested in MMA that’s not UFC. Not saying it’s not good. Just UFC is kind of it for me.

The Ultimate Fighter is still on, but it's only available on the UFC Fight Pass. Fight Pass is a subscription-based streaming service like the WWE Network, except that unlike the WWE, the UFC doesn't offer their live PPVs as a part of it. They get added a month later. But you can watch other promotions' live events, as well as old fights from the UFC and other promotions.

There is this new streaming service called DAZN that offers live sports. Right now, UFC PPVs aren't included as a part of it in the U.S., but Bellator and Golden Boy are.
How about some confidence picks for UFC 234 on the 9th? Since you don't follow it, we can just do the 2 big fights and 1 curve ball:

► Anderson Silva vs Israel Adesanya

► Kelvin Gastelum vs Robert Whittaker

► Jim Crute vs Sam Alvey

Also, I dedicated a section in the main post to "The OccultHawk Challenge." For the mini-games, each correct guess will count as a 1/1 in the main tally and the confidence points will determine the leader in the OccultHawk Challenge. Separate but equal LMAO

My UFC confidence picks:

1) Israel Adesanya > Anderson Silva
--- Worth 3 points

2) Robert Whittaker > Kelvin Gastelum
--- Worth 2 points

3) Jim Crute > Sam Alvey
--- Worth 1 point

[The Batlord]

UFC just does not want to be accessible to the general public does it?

[[MERIT]]

Originally Posted by Dharma & Greg

UFC just does not want to be accessible to the general public does it?

They are just too greedy! They had a wonderful deal with FOX, which is broadcast TV and reaches both those who have cable/satellite and those who don't. So they reached a much wider audience than they did when they were on SpikeTV [which is now called "The Paramount Network"]. But the UFC wanted too much money and FOX refused, so they moved to ESPN now. The amount of money that the UFC owners make compared to what the fighters make is insane. Plus, they don't provide insurance or health care for their fighters.

On a different note, I am stoked that WWE will be coming back to broadcast television. SmackDown is scheduled to premier on FOX in October.

[The Batlord]

No health insurance to people beating the **** out of each other? That's criminal.

[[MERIT]]

Originally Posted by Dharma & Greg

No health insurance to people beating the **** out of each other? That's criminal.

They view them as independent contractors, so they think they don't have to provide benefits. Yet, the UFC struck a sponsorship deal with Reebok, and the UFC forced all of the fighters to stop wearing gear from their sponsors and said that they can ONLY wear Reebok gear. This caused many of the sponsors to drop their investment in the fighters, and the fighters lost money.

So, they are independent contractors, yet the UFC can tell them what they have to wear? That doesn't jive.

[OccultHawk]

► Anderson Silva 3

► Whittaker 2

► Jim Crute 1

So for our game the Anderson fight is all that matters

[Oriphiel]

In a world with Lucha Underground, watching the UFC is like passing up pussy for a hole in a park bench.

[Cuthbert]

QPR vs Blues is a mad game.