Matt Mitrione

By Joshua Molina

Matt Mitrione’s suspension is a joke.
Less than three weeks after the UFC suspended Mitrione for his disparaging remarks about transgendered fighter Fallon Fox, the UFC brought him back and booked him for a fight on July 27 in Seattle at UFC on FOX 8.
The UFC should be embarrassed for lifting its suspension. What’s the point of coming down on Mitrione if the UFC is going to book him so quickly?
Mitrione’s going to make good money against Brendan Schaub. The UFC’s booking of Mitrione sends a message to children that it’s OK to be bullies. You’ll be rewarded in the end.
. . . What’s left for big main events in 2013 after Saturday’s show?
The UFC has booked every big match it could since the disaster of UFC 151 last September. The UFC has some big fights on the calendar, but nothing that appears to be capable of of drawing mainstream fans.
A Georges St-Pierre fight would do well, but it’s not a Superfight unless he agrees to battle Anderson Silva.  Silva will battle Chris Weidman in July, but that’s not a fight that would draw huge Pay Per View numbers. Ronda Rousey won’t fight until the end of the year.  Cain Velasquez vs. Bigfoot Silva is a fight everybody already seen and no one expects Silva to win.
The UFC on FOX show will be headlined by Demetrious Johnson vs. John Moraga, a guy whose last two fights have been aired on Facebook.  That’s not going to draw. The only ratings draw for the show will be Miesha Tate vs. Liz Carmouche, in a women’s battle for a shot against Rousey.

UFC has a lot of programming to fill and many of the big dream fights have already happened. The second half of 2013 is in need of some major fights.