UFC 200, held on July 9, 2016, was envisioned as a monumental milestone for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, a successor spectacle to the highly successful UFC 100. The anticipation from fans and media alike was immense, all expecting a fight card packed with the sport`s biggest stars and most compelling matchups. However, the journey to fight night proved to be significantly more complex and fraught with unexpected challenges than the promotion could have possibly planned.
The Chaotic Build-Up to a Landmark Event
The path leading up to UFC 200 was, to put it mildly, a period of considerable upheaval. Initial plans centered around a highly anticipated rematch featuring the organization`s biggest draw at the time, Conor McGregor, against Nate Diaz. This pairing seemed tailor-made to headline such a significant card. Yet, controversy struck when McGregor was removed from the event following a dispute with the promotion regarding media obligations. This left the UFC scrambling to secure a new main event.
A solution was swiftly implemented, booking a light heavyweight title rematch between heated rivals Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier to fill the void. This matchup, a high-stakes championship bout between two elite athletes, appeared to solidify the top of the card. However, disaster struck again mere days before the event was scheduled to take place. Jon Jones was flagged for a potential anti-doping policy violation, resulting in his immediate removal from the fight. With only three days until fight night, the UFC was left in an unprecedented predicament, desperately searching for a viable main event for its most significant show.
A Moment of Levity: The Spider-Man Suggestion
Amidst this frantic reshuffling and the palpable stress emanating from the promotion`s headquarters, UFC President Dana White offered a brief moment of bizarre, internet-fueled humor. Tapping into the quirky corners of social media, White referenced a then-viral video. This peculiar footage depicted an unsanctioned street fight where an individual dressed as the fictional superhero Spider-Man appeared to exhibit surprisingly effective combat skills against opponents clad as Batman and Robin.
With a characteristic flair for the unconventional and perhaps a touch of gallows humor given the circumstances, White publicly floated an idea on Twitter: sign this `Spider-Man street fighter` to potentially face Conor McGregor at the beleaguered UFC 200 event. The suggestion, clearly not a serious professional proposal given the obvious logistical and regulatory hurdles, served as an absurd acknowledgement of the desperate need for a high-profile opponent following the cancellations.
The unusual pitch prompted a fittingly playful response from McGregor`s esteemed long-time coach, John Kavanagh. Matching White`s absurdity with his own wit, Kavanagh quipped in reply that he would unequivocally refuse to corner his star pupil against the web-slinging combatant, humorously deferring to `New York`s finest` presumed fighting prowess. It was a brief, humorous exchange, a small island of comedy in a vast sea of real-world logistical headaches and fight cancellations.
The Absurdity Highlights the Reality
While the notion of a fictional superhero engaging in a professional mixed martial arts contest against a world champion was never a realistic possibility – the regulatory commissions alone would have had a field day – White`s joke tweet inadvertently underscored the significant challenge the UFC faced. They needed a captivating draw for their biggest show, and in a moment of crisis, even a fantastical, meme-driven concept seemed to highlight the sheer difficulty of finding a suitable, marketable replacement for two fallen headliners. The reality was that securing a *real* opponent for *any* top fighter on such short notice was a near-impossible task; a fictional, costumed combatant was purely a comedic diversion from that harsh truth.
Ultimately, UFC 200 proceeded with a compelling, albeit unexpected, main event: a women`s bantamweight title fight where Miesha Tate defended her belt against Amanda Nunes. This bout delivered a historic moment for women`s mixed martial arts with Nunes securing a dominant victory and beginning her reign. While a far cry from the blockbuster matchups initially envisioned or Dana White`s brief superhero fantasy, the event stood as a testament to both the UFC`s operational resilience in adapting to unforeseen circumstances and the unforgettable, sometimes bizarre, journey through its most chaotic build-up.
