Anderson Silva is not to blame for last weekend's terrible main event. UFC matchmaking and marketing are to blame.

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In his many media appearance, Dana White likes to talk about the differences between MMA and Boxing. One of the differences that he's most proud of is the fact that UFC cards aren't about a single fight:

"Pretty much every UFC fight is dam exciting. The difference is that we showcase nine fights that night, not just one. Let me tell everybody on this call something and go off on a rant for a second. I always talk about how much trouble boxing is in. Boxing is in trouble for one reason and one reason only...Greed. They are all greedy."  (http://sportsbiznews.blogspot.com/2007/05/critics-aside-ufc-is-having-amazing.html)

In the interests of full disclosure I should mention that my fiancee and I will be travelling to Las Vegas for the UFC 91 show. We decided to go for a mini-honeymoon and because I've always wanted to see a UFC live. We'll be watching on the big screens from our seats in the rafters but that's ok because those were the only affordable tickets in the house. Everything about the trip would be great except UFC 91 is a one trick pony. Here's the card (rumours have a *) for UFC 91:

265 lbs.: UFC Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture (16-8) vs. Brock Lesnar (2-1)

155 lbs.: Kenny Florian vs. Joe Stevenson

170 lbs.: Dustin Hazelett  vs. Tamdan McCrory
155 lbs.: Alvin Robinson vs. Mark Bocek  

155 lbs.:  Jorge Gurgel vs. Aaron Riley

185 lbs.: Matthew Riddle vs. Ryan Thomas

 185 lbs.: Demian Maia  vs. Nate Quarry*

265 lbs.: Gabriel Gonzaga  vs. Josh Hendricks *

155 lbs.: Jeremy Stephens  vs. Rafael dos Anjos *

185 lbs.: Amir Sadollah  vs. Nick Catone *

155 lbs.: Mark Bocek vs. Alvin Robinson

While I give all of the fighters respect, I fail to see how this card "showcases 9 fights". The main event is made for PPV sales. There's precedent for getting a title shot after beating up Herring so I won't complain too much or make Kimbo comparisons for Lesnar.

Ken Flo vs. Joe Daddy has some significance for the lightweights but it's the battle of two fighters who've had and lost title shots in recent memory.  If Maia vs. Quarry is added it could answer some questions about who takes the next ass kicknig from Anderson Silva but otherwise this card is "stacked" with recent losers, has-beens, never-weres and unknowns. The poster for the event really says it all:

Lonely in there boys?

Couple the weak card with the ridiculous seat prices (as the UFC tries to break another gate record) and you've got the exact same problem as boxing. Add the relatively successful EliteXC show, Affliction, Adreline, WAMMA etc. and you have conflicting organizations with different belts - another boxing problem.

Pot? This is the kettle calling...