i've been following MMA pretty much on podcasts and substack only over the last few years and have hardly watched a fight in forever. i'm under no illusions about the quality rousey-carano is likely going to be, but it did make me sit up and go, hey, i've got netflix anyway, i might actually watch that! so yeah, i think they're definitely on to something.
Honestly same. I vaguely still keep up with MMA, but I can't remember the last card I actually watched. So much of it is slop and the Trump vibes of it all make me feel dirty watching it. I know the Rousey/Carano fight is not going to be great, but it does weirdly make me interested enough to at least consider watching it.
I have to say, what angers me the most these days is David Ellison passing himself as this defender of the theatrical experience and portraying Netflix as the Great Evil. The worst is that Youtubers believe that nonsense.
That's a valid concern for sure. Netflix is a threat but Paramount/Oracle and their devotion to Trump is equally bad. Sad part is all of them are heading for losing to YouTube/Alphabet
Anecdotally, a few friends and acquaintances came to me asking about the Rousey-Carano announcement yesterday. No one has asked me about the UFC White House event since the idea was floated last year (and even then, it was usually as a veiled criticism of Trump's tastes).
I don't think they're really interested in it (although, two might be because they are nominally pro-wrestling fans), but they've at least heard of Rousey, have Netflix, and have some idea that it was supposed to be a big fight once upon a time, whereas any news about UFC WH is likely overshadowed by all the other crazy stuff in the headlines about this administration. So far, MVP making this fight seems smart, if cynical.
Additionally, there's the novelty factor too, which I think makes the prospect of a freakshow spectacle fun, which I think folks kind of need right about now. UFC WH doesn't have any of that promise, especially given the potential that by the time it happens, it'll be a tone deaf celebration for an administration that's led us into a war with Cuba, Iran, etc., and the business/donor class that made this all possible.
Yea I think there's a better than even chance that Trump will be an absolute anvil around their necks by June. Ditto the Ellisons and Paramount. You didn't even mention the pending AI crash.
Yes, been eyeballing Blue Owl for a few months. They pulled out of some project, I think an Oracle data Center and that was either good judgement or a sign they were broke. Looks like it was the latter.
If the crash happens, I hope it's sooner than later. I would like to buy a Steam Machine (gaming PC) this year, and this DRAM drought is making that look impossible. This massive data center build out is going to disrupt more than just gaming hobbyists like me though; I'm curious how much more the public can turn against AI once it starts getting in the way of folks upgrading phones, computers, cars, and things like that. (Of course, it might all be moot if the economy takes a nosedive too when the AI bubble pops...)
i've been following MMA pretty much on podcasts and substack only over the last few years and have hardly watched a fight in forever. i'm under no illusions about the quality rousey-carano is likely going to be, but it did make me sit up and go, hey, i've got netflix anyway, i might actually watch that! so yeah, i think they're definitely on to something.
Honestly same. I vaguely still keep up with MMA, but I can't remember the last card I actually watched. So much of it is slop and the Trump vibes of it all make me feel dirty watching it. I know the Rousey/Carano fight is not going to be great, but it does weirdly make me interested enough to at least consider watching it.
I have to say, what angers me the most these days is David Ellison passing himself as this defender of the theatrical experience and portraying Netflix as the Great Evil. The worst is that Youtubers believe that nonsense.
Some of those YouTubers are being paid.
I agree, although some really believe Netflix will end theatrical releases.
That's a valid concern for sure. Netflix is a threat but Paramount/Oracle and their devotion to Trump is equally bad. Sad part is all of them are heading for losing to YouTube/Alphabet
Oh definitely. Not only they let Taylor Sheridan slip through their fingers, CBS News is a complete disaster under Bari Weiss.
Anecdotally, a few friends and acquaintances came to me asking about the Rousey-Carano announcement yesterday. No one has asked me about the UFC White House event since the idea was floated last year (and even then, it was usually as a veiled criticism of Trump's tastes).
I don't think they're really interested in it (although, two might be because they are nominally pro-wrestling fans), but they've at least heard of Rousey, have Netflix, and have some idea that it was supposed to be a big fight once upon a time, whereas any news about UFC WH is likely overshadowed by all the other crazy stuff in the headlines about this administration. So far, MVP making this fight seems smart, if cynical.
Additionally, there's the novelty factor too, which I think makes the prospect of a freakshow spectacle fun, which I think folks kind of need right about now. UFC WH doesn't have any of that promise, especially given the potential that by the time it happens, it'll be a tone deaf celebration for an administration that's led us into a war with Cuba, Iran, etc., and the business/donor class that made this all possible.
Yea I think there's a better than even chance that Trump will be an absolute anvil around their necks by June. Ditto the Ellisons and Paramount. You didn't even mention the pending AI crash.
Did you see the item about Blue Owl and AI financing for a data center today?
https://dnyuz.com/2026/02/20/blue-owl-shopped-debt-for-a-coreweave-data-center-lenders-werent-sold/
Yes, been eyeballing Blue Owl for a few months. They pulled out of some project, I think an Oracle data Center and that was either good judgement or a sign they were broke. Looks like it was the latter.
If the crash happens, I hope it's sooner than later. I would like to buy a Steam Machine (gaming PC) this year, and this DRAM drought is making that look impossible. This massive data center build out is going to disrupt more than just gaming hobbyists like me though; I'm curious how much more the public can turn against AI once it starts getting in the way of folks upgrading phones, computers, cars, and things like that. (Of course, it might all be moot if the economy takes a nosedive too when the AI bubble pops...)