2010 Topps UFC to Release Late August

Head over to The Topps Blog for more information.

 

We picked the right fighters to sponsor at UFN 19.  Each received Fight  Night bonuses.  Plus the camera man gave us special coverage of Nate Quarry's Butt during the whole fight.  Thanks Mr. Camera Man!!!!!!

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Buymmacards.com Makes their Debut in the Octagon!

Support Josh by Going To Josh Neers' Website and buy one of his shirts or Autographed Photo. 

Future UFC Heavywieght Champion Shane Carwin thinks Buymmacards.com is "The Real Deal".  

When Shane Carwin heard about our desire to help bring collectors directly to fighters personal memorabilia so that they can have another income source, he backed up his support by encouraging collectors to support Buymmacards.  We are continuing to use our desire and network of connections to bring you, the collector, directly in touch with the fighters and their personal memoribilia.   Fighters can have a hard time making enough to train full time and sometimes they have a hard time filling sponsorships for their live events.   And while big memorabilia manufacturers fail to pay them what they are worth, we desire to help the fighters move their personal items by putting them directly in touch with MMA Memorabilia enthusiasts.   We are working hard with our contacts and web designers to provide the place for fighters to put their items in front of collectors, while benefiting from the profits made.  

To help us with this effort, Shane signed 25 of his Round 1 cards to help us raise support to finance this effort.  He signed 20 in blue and 5 in Red.   The first Red has recently been listed on ebay.   To view this auction, follow this link.

If you would like to see a video of Shane signing these cards, check out our video we posted on YouTube here.

We are currently making a lot of changes to focus on all fighter memorabilia as well as Trading cards. 

Thanks to Shane and all the members who make this site possible.

 

Box Break Video of TUF Fighters Brendan Schuab, Justin Wren, and MMAreligion

Watch the video at  MMAReligion 

It was hiliarious.  Connor from MMA Religion shot this video the morning of when Episode 4 would show on Spike.  That night we learned who "the snitch" was.  Brendan actually pulls "the snitch" in this video.  We also see TUF Fighter Justin Wren enjoying opening MMA trading cards for the first time.   Unfortunatly, they pulled a couple Junie Brownings.

 

 

 

The First BUYMMACARDS.com shirt surfaces at UFN 20

Buymmacards member, "MistaSniffles", was the first to sport our new shirts.   And what better place to show it off than at a Live, UFC event.   MistaSniffles designed our new shirts that are being printed this week, and he was able to get one printed himself in time for UFN 20.   He has also donated his time to design our banner on the homepage and a future coozie to keep our beverages cold.   MistaSniffles is just one of the many examples of the members on this site who love this sport and are passionate about our little community of MMA collecting enthusiasts.   He and others have donated their talents and time to make this a better place.   Look for our shirts to be posted soon.   They will be $20 shipped.  

Big thanks to MistaSniffles!

Conner with MMAreligion opens a box of Topps UFC Round 2 with Duane Ludwig and Luke Caudillo.

Check out this "R" rated Box Break video on MMAreligion.com

Answers to the Questions about the Answer’s Questionable Victory

            The Abu Dhabi UFC card from this weekend failed to deliver on the tremendous amount of hype leading up to it.  Anderson Silva seemed to have an in-ring nervous breakdown.  Matt Hughes and Renzo Gracie set the table with a snoozer.  In the middle came a close, though not particularly exciting, fight that resulted in Frankie “The Answer” Edgar taking the lightweight title away from BJ Penn.  The biggest storyline coming out of the entire fight card may have been the judging from this fight.  In short, the victory by The Answer has led to more questions than, well, answers.  Here’s a few of the questions and  my take on them:

Question:  Did BJ get robbed?

Answer:  No.  Ricco Rodriguez got robbed.  BJ was simply on the bad side of a close decision.  The concern coming out of this fight is not that Frankie Edgar was the winner, but that one judge scored it 5 rounds to 0.  The scoring reminded me of an old Pride fight where the winner was based more on effort than success.

Question:  Will Frankie Edgar replace Georges St. Pierre as the MMA trading card king?

Answer:  No.  Matt Hughes was likely the first MMA fighter to make the assertion that you aren’t a champion until you defend your belt.  Edgar's Cards will undoubtedly see a big short-term bump in interest and value.  If a rematch with Penn is next on the horizon, he may find a similar fate to Matt Serra.  If you get an overwhelming offer on a Frankie Edgar card right now, take it.

Question:  Is BJ Penn going to be the new CB Dolloway of the collectible world?

Answer:  No.  For one thing, Penn did not sign a billion autographs like so many others have.  For another, Penn will have two things going for him in a rematch with Edgar:  Health and motivation.  These two things make Penn an even scarier fighter than usual.

Question:  Is an immediate rematch necessary?

Answer:  A rematch is certainly in order.  That does not mean that it will happen.  Coming into this fight there was an overwhelming feeling that Penn had cleaned out the division.  His losing seemingly reopens the division.  Fighters like Kenny Florian, Diego Sanchez, and others now have opportunities that were not there when Penn ruled the division.  Don’t be surprised if the UFC denies Penn his immediate rematch in a move to help re-energize the division.

Question:  Does this loss derail Penn’s plans to move back up to 170lbs?

Answer:  Maybe not.  Even without the 155lb belt, Penn has the skills to be a viable welterweight.  Add to that the fact that most of the potential fights at lightweight would be rematches, and you have the recipe for a weight increase.  BJ Penn at welterweight makes 2 divisions substantially more interesting.

 

 

Card Watch:  Dan Henderson

                It may be hard to imagine that leaving the premiere organization in the MMA world would help to raise a fighter’s profile, but that may be the case for Dan Henderson after this coming weekend.  The wrestling-based fighter has fought all over the world against arguably the greatest list of names in an MMA career.  He holds dramatic knock-out victories on the highest profile cards in the history of Pride and the UFC.  Now, he will be the biggest name on a card being broadcast on CBS.  This kind of exposure may be the most important in Henderson’s career.  

                More important to Stacked Cards is the effect that this exposure will have on his trading cards.   The Topps UFC 2009 blue autograph card of Henderson was already one of the most sought after cards in the MMA world.  If Hollywood can add another highlight reel finish on the big stage of a national network broadcast, the interest in his biggest auto will likely skyrocket.  This Saturday’s fight will also serve to put a submission loss to Anderson Silva that much further in the rear-view mirror.  MMA trading cards are an arena where fan opinion matters more than actual abilities.  Henderson has before him the opportunity to put himself in the highest levels of trading cards with a fight that matters little to top ten ranking lists.  Can he seize the opportunity?  Keep your eyes open.

 

 

The Stanley Cup playoffs are just around the bend.  Stacked Cards wishes happy holidays to all of the Canadian members of BMMAC, and all Canadiens fans everywhere.

 

by J. Alexander

 

 Abu Dhabi Preview

 

            Capping off the UFC’s run of four live events in less than a month is perhaps the most unlikely of the group.  As recently as 18 months ago, the idea of the UFC holding an event in the Middle East would have been scoffed at by most fans.  Added to this is the co-headlining role of one Renzo Gracie.  In trading card terms, Renzo makes for one of the more unique UFC “rookies” in recent years.  Unlike Anderson Silva, or even Takanori Gomi, Gracie represents a signing by the UFC that is clearly on the downside of his career. 

            It remains to be seen whether or not there will be any Renzo Gracie cards produced by Topps in the coming series, but the six fight contract that Gracie signed would indicate that there likely will be.  The only preview of how collectors will respond to a fighter being sold on history alone may be Renzo’s cousin Royce.  The difference there being that Royce became a legend under the UFC banner, while Renzo established his legacy almost everywhere else.  Fighters like Randy Couture, Tito Ortiz, and Matt Hughes made their trading card premieres while still competing in relevant fights.  It would seem unlikely that Renzo Gracie is capable of doing the same in the UFC.  His name and legacy go a long way, but he will most likely not be doing much to increase collector interest from inside the Octagon.  The appeal of Renzo Gracie autos and relics will lie in the memories of legendary battles against Oleg Taktarov, Kazushi Sakuraba, and Carlos Newton.

            Elsewhere on the Abu Dhabi card, Anderson Silva will defend his title against replacement challenger, Demian Maia.  Just like seeing the name Gracie on a UFC card, this fight will remind fans of the early 90’s.  Heading into the fight, the strategy for both fighters will be obvious to even the most naïve viewer.  Silva will be looking to avoid the ground while attempting to land power shots.  Maia, conversely, will be trying to hide his non-existent stand-up and get the fight to the mat where he can work for submissions.  The problem for Maia is that this is not 1995, and Silva is not Keith Hackney.  Anderson Silva possesses an understanding of MMA as a whole, while Maia’s style remains somewhat archaic.  The upset is not impossible, but also not very likely.

            In the card’s other title contest, BJ Penn will make his latest 155lb title defense against deserving challenger Frankie Edgar.  Penn has long been thought to have a weakness in his cardio, but in recent fights, that seems to have been corrected.  On the other side of the Octagon, Edgar has always been considered an “undersized” lightweight.  This showed most in his loss to Gray Maynard.  Against Penn, however, Edgar’s size may be of less importance than most of the wrestle-centric lightweight fighters.  All things considered, this fight looks to have the makings of Fight of the Night.  Keep your eyes open. 

 

 

New TUF Season Debuts:  Doors Beware!!

 

            The latest season of The Ultimate Fighter (the college of MMA) made its debut on Wednesday and gave us the expected promises of door-breaking, drinking, laundry based bickering, and hopefully some top-notch cagefighting. 

            Among those impressing in the season opener were grizzled veteran Kyacey Uscola, Aussie Kyle Noke, and ‘Fro sporting Jamie Yager.  With no TUF autos in the Main Event series, this season will be somewhat less interesting to the Topps UFC junkies at Buymmacards.com.  That leaves Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz as the collectible-relevant personalities on the show.  To this point in the history of MMA trading cards, it is difficult to declare a clear winner in the interest and associated value of either fighter.  Liddell’s Round 1 and UFC 09 cards were generally quite common and therefore rarely garnered a tremendous amount of collector/bidder attention.  Ortiz, conversely, didn’t even make an appearance as a Topps UFC subject until the Main Event series.  His autographed cards were touted as one of the top reasons for collectors to be excited about the release.  It has been Liddell, however, who has seen his autographed cards command the higher prices before this season started.  As the show’s 11^th season plays out, the popularity contest between the two will be interesting to watch.  Can Ortiz follow the blueprint set by Rashad Evans and increase his own profile at the expense of his TUF coaching counterpart?  Keep your eyes open.

 

 

Finally, Another Way to Surf  Ebay for GSP Autos!

           

I’m not the biggest fan of technological advancements.  I buy records about as much as CD’s; and I don’t own an Ipod.  I just recently completed Grand Theft Auto III.  I hear that Halo might be a fun time.  My cell phone is roughly the same model carried by Zach Morris. 

            So, suffice to say, that I am far from excited about the release of the IPad.  The $500 (or more) “advancement” promises to do most of what a laptop would, but with the revolutionary improvement of being slightly smaller; all this with only a $30 per month AT&T contract to get your IPad service.  What does make me happy is the idea that now, when I list my UFC cards on ebay, I can hope that at least one bid is made by an anonymous IPad owner sitting on the John.  Maybe they will take the time while wiping to decide if it is worth the extra 25 cents for my Jon Fitch Mat Relic from Main Event.  Thanks Apple!  You’re a dream come true!!

By:  J. Alexander

 

UFC 111:  What does it mean for collectibles?

 

            Since Topps UFC cards came into existence approximately one year ago, the days following an event have always seen fluctuations in the sale prices of the winners and losers.  Last weekend’s UFC 111 may be a rare event where there are more winners than losers in the card game, even if not in the ring.

            While Georges St. Pierre’s spot at the top of trading card food chain in MMA will probably not be affected by a lackluster performance against Dan Hardy, he certainly did nothing to add to his value.  His main event opponent, on the other hand, may see a dip in the interest in his cards.  The fifteen minutes are over for Hardy (at least for the time being).  A more aggressive style out of Hardy may have kept his stock high.  As the rounds passed, however, it became increasingly obvious that the Outlaw had given up on the idea of winning the fight.  He had contented himself with the goal of finishing the twenty-five minutes.  This type of attitude will probably not help sales of his autos and relics.

            Elsewhere on the card fighters were likewise doing little to help there collectible value.  Jon Fitch and Ben Saunders have been subjects of Topps UFC from the beginning, but have never enjoyed a tremendous amount of hype around their cards.  After Saturday’s fight, don’t expect to see that change.  Saunders can be commended for taking the fight on short notice, but didn’t do anything to cash in on that fan sympathy as he was dominated from beginning to end.  Fitch has always been a top level competitor, but lacks the style that sells tickets, and for that matter, trading cards.  A fight against the less experienced Saunders should have been a chance to put a highlight on his reel.  Other fighters making relatively few popularity gains were the victorious Jim Miller and Rousimar Palhares.

            It is possible that the only fighter who will see any real jump in value for his trading cards will be Shane Carwin.  After pounding out Frank Mir in impressive fashion, Carwin should finally have a showdown with Brock Lesnar to unify the Heavyweight title.  With the recent release of a second 2009 autograph card, there are plenty of Carwin cards available for the rabid UFC fans.  Shane was already on a Mike Goldberg style “meteoric rise,” and the looming title shot will most likely do the same for his trading cards.  Keep your eyes open.

 

 

 

Rant:  It is TUF to be a Finale Loser

 

          With the eleventh season of SpikeTV’s set to start on Wednesday, Stacked Cards has been thinking about the previous seasons’ winners and losers.  One thing stood out more than anything else.  That was the trend that fighters who made the finals before losing have had troubles finding a place in the Octagon. 

            The first season’s Kenny Florian may seem like a counterexample, but considering that he has dropped two weight classes and two title bouts since being on the show, his road has been far from enviable.  Fellow season one finale loser Stephan Bonnar came within an inch of being the show’s champion before finding failed drug tests, failed rematches, and a loss to Mark Coleman among the lowlights of his UFC career.

            Luke Cummo and Ed Herman from the second and third seasons found some success in the UFC’s cage, but mostly disappointed before being dropped by the promotion.  Worse yet, Brad Imes and Josh Haynes found absolutely no success.  No amount of winning outside the promotion has brought either back.  The Gogoplata run of Imes in 2007 was not even enough to get him another look.

            Manny Gamburyan and C.B. Dolloway have both suffered losses in the cage since their finale disappointments.  They may be among the luckiest of the finale losers however, as their failures have led to them finding more suitable opponents than some of their predecessors were expected to conquer.  In between was the case of Tom Speer.  The soft spoken farmer proved his guts and heart on season six of TUF, but was dominated by both Danzig and Johnson before being sent back to the farm leagues.  More disappointing performances have followed.

            Though the recent seasons of the popular reality show may not be old enough to judge the losers on their finales, the seizure-induced cancellation of a fight by Phillipe Nover may just be the most recent in a long line of TUF times for the finale losers.  Will the same fate befall DeMarques Johnson, Andre Winner, and Brendan Schaub?  Upcoming fights in the Octagon will go a long way toward answering that question.  Keep your eyes open.

 

 

That is all for this week.  Check back in for thoughts on Abu Dhabi next time.