This is actually a pretty simple explanation. If you look back throughout history, we haven't had any Golden Glory guys fight with us since Semmy Schilt, right? And the reason is we have very different business practices. It's tough to do business with them. The bottom line is the way they do business is, you have to pay them, not the fighters. We don't work that way. It's not the way we do business. It's not how it works in the United States with the athletic commissions. You don't pay the managers and the managers pay the fighters. You pay the fighters and the fighters pay the managers.

$70,000 Bonuses:

Fight of the Night: Rashad Evans vs. Tito Ortiz
Submission of the Night: None
Knockout of the Night: Vitor Belfort
"Get those shorts off TV" bonus: Brian Ebersole

One of the primary discussion points to come out of the reports that the UFC had reached a deal with Fox was the future of the UFC's reality show, The Ultimate Fighter. Much of the debate revolved around the idea that the show had become stagnant, featuring personalities over highly-skilled fighters who could have a successful future inside the Octagon. The UFC confirmed on Thursday during a press conference that a deal had, in fact, been reached, and The Ultimate Fighter would enjoy a revitalization on FX that most fans had not foreseen. Live bouts.

Undoubtedly, the driving force behind this move stems from something Dana White talked about during the press conference. Live events are a major drawing power in the sports television landscape. Fans want to see the action now, not on tape delay when they know damn well they can open up their mobile phone browser or Twitter and find out the outcome within seconds. For many fans, the drama of watching an event as it unfolds is the true drawing aspect of any sport, and television ratings fall in line with that ideology.

It isn't surprising, in retrospect of the announcement, that the UFC and Fox will now move to weekly live events during The Ultimate Fighter seasons. It's shocking that most of us didn't see the light at the end of the tunnel however. With the rise of social media and the notion that everyone has an outlet to speak their piece, live events work hand-in-hand with this new technologically-driven generation. It will more than likely help bring The Ultimate Fighter out of the basement.

The show won't be completely live. Footage of the drama from The Ultimate Fighter house will be included during the Friday night episodes. The bonus for fans, however, is that footage of the coaches' training camps will be included on the show, sort of a The Ultimate Fighter meets UFC Countdown mash-up that will surely draw added attention.

There is still skepticism revolving around whether the show can still rise from its poor ratings. Obviously, there will be an adjustment for the larger audience and the cross-promotion that Fox will be throwing at consumers. I imagine, at first, we'll see higher ratings simply based on those factors. After the dust settles and we get an average rating trend, that's when the true analysis of whether this format works begins.

Talent acquisition is at the forefront of the skepticism. Many fans want to see the absolute best prospects inside the Octagon on the show, and I'm still under the firm belief that implementing that idea is one of the keys to helping the ratings. Unfortunately, Spike TV had other ideas, and Fox will more than likely want to see personable characters in the mix as well.

It's difficult, however, to thwart any sense that this format will work over one problem that can be fixed. The importance of marketability is becoming more and more prominent among younger fighters. The new deal will most certainly stack onto the laundry list of enticing options for prospects as well. If the fact that the UFC is the premier mixed martial arts promotion, has an out-of-competition insurance policy, and offers more money than most regional promotions aren't enough reasons to entice the best up-and-comers, how about the potential for a fight on network television if you can succeed to the highest levels? I have hope that the UFC can find talent that will interest both the casual and hardcore fanbases.

Let's also not forget the secondary benefits of the live shows. The UFC will effectively smother entire blocks of the year with Friday night live events, creating a climate for their competition that is damn near impossible to fight. The events are essentially a Bellator card with better production and a UFC brand, which will draw in even the most casual viewer. If the UFC can fill The Ultimate Fighter seasons with legitimate, hyped prospects, what show are you more than likely going to watch?

The UFC Gladiator has opened more than 100 pay per view telecasts. Now he's a thing of the past. Jonathan Snowden pays tribute to an icon.

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Aug 18, 2011 - Ten years ago Zuffa revolutionized the mixed martial arts in America. Everything changed. The fights meant something again. Times Square was on the agenda. Instead of Campbell McClaren, the lovely Carmen Electra met the press. The television broadcasts included individual entrance songs for the fighters, pyrotechnics, and the brand new announce team of Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan.

And, of course, the Gladiator.

You've seen him before every UFC event, donning his armor, assembling his weapons, girding his loins, sanding his hands, and preparing for battle. He seemed an odd choice for a sport distancing itself from charges of "human cockfighting" and, yes, comparisons to Roman excess. But he's been with us now for more than a decade, paired for posterity with Stemme's now iconic "Face the Pain" song.

More than 100 numbered UFC events have opened with our Gladiator friend. His is an act impossible to skip - literally. On DVD many a frustrated fan has tried in vain to skip past him to the main menu. You couldn't avoid him - until now. Part of the UFC's grand deal with Fox is an upgrade in production. Stemme and the Gladiator are out.

"We're gonna change everything, graphics, show openings for pay-per-views and fight nights," Dana White said. "We're going to enhance the look and feel. The gladiator (PPV) opening is going away."

Some UFC fans aren't taking this change lying down. A Facebook site popped up almost immediately:

The UFC has signed with FOX. As a result, they're doing all new graphics and show opens which means, as confirmed by Dana White, the iconic and epic "Gladiator" show open is GONE.

From live events to watching on screen, this show open is part of what pumps people up for these events.

SAVE IT!
I, for one, will miss the unnamed Gladiator. Like the musclebound living logo that represented King of the Cage, he was a bridge to our past. Yes, he was out of date. Sure, he was a little cheesy. Homoerotic? You betcha! But he represented an era. A simpler time when MMA was ours, when it didn't belong to corporations and decisions were made by a focus group of whoever was in Dana White's office.

I'm sure Fox will come correct with some flying robots and high speed graphical wizardry. And I'm sure it will look amazing. That won't change the small piece of me yearning to see the symbol of our sport. Goodbye my Gladiator friend. Gone too soon.