UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley defeated Stephen Thompson Saturday night in the main event of UFC 209, but for the second UFC pay-per-view in a row, there was "little to celebrate," according to Martin Rogers of USA TODAY. UFC's latest major card can "only be described as a disappointment, proven by the resounding boos of the T-Mobile [Arena] crowd at the lack of excitement between Woodley and Thompson, the downcast look on the face of company president Dana White at the end and even Woodley’s own gloomy expression." UFC has "built its brand on high-octane, ferociously contested showpieces, but this was one of the worst title fights in its history." UFC has started '17 "with a whimper," as last month’s UFC 208 card in Brooklyn was "far from being a showstopper." The MMA promotion "could use a bit of a boost right now." The "next couple of marquee cards feature strong UFC talent, but nothing much in the way of crossover appeal." As Conor McGregor "continues his flirtatious dance with Floyd Mayweather," the promotion "likely has to wait until the summer return of legend Georges St-Pierre for the kind of occasion that will grab the focus of the wider masses" (USATODAY.com, 3/5).
CALLING CONOR: YAHOO SPORTS' Dan Wetzel noted Saturday's initial main event between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Tony Ferguson was called off after Nurmagomedov was "hospitalized Friday due to complications from a severe weight cut," extending a "drought of major" '17 matchups. UFC is still trying to "find its footing" under WME-IMG ownership, and "now more than ever, it’s time for the UFC to solve its Conor McGregor problem." That means "ending the silly, distracting discussions about a boxing match" with Mayweather and "offering McGregor the greatest possible (non-Mayweather) payday available." Wetzel: "Set up a trilogy fight with Nate Diaz for this summer." McGregor-Diaz III may be the "only fight (among any combination of fighters) the UFC can make that would assuredly draw more than 1 million pay-per-views," and "that’s critical not just for WME." It is also "important for the fans, who other than the hardcore followers, have been given little to get excited about thus far" in '17 (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 3/3).
HOME BASE: UFC has signed a multiyear deal to become an anchor tenant of T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The agreement is for more than seven years, sources said, and it is believed to be the first time that an MMA organization has signed an anchor tenant deal with a major sports venue. Under terms of the deal, UFC will host a minimum of four events annually at the venue, including at least three PPV or numbered events and one UFC Fight Night (Liz Mullen, Staff Writer). In Las Vegas, Adam Hill notes the deal gives UFC "priority scheduling with the other anchor tenant, the NHL’s Golden Knights." It also gives UFC a "permanent presence at the venue, including a welcome sign in the lobby, concourse signage and retail space" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 3/4).
