SCF Official Review: 2011 Topps UFC Title Shot

[Enigma]

First and foremost, I'd like to thank our sponsors at Topps for providing us with this box.



12 packs per box
16 cards per pack
Current Retail Price (online): 69.99 - 79.99

Product Description

CELEBRATING PAST AND PRESENT UFC CHAMPIONS PLUS FUTURE UFC TITLE CONTENDERS


Includes autographs from every current UFC Champion PLUS at least 10 new First Issue Autographs from top contenders including welterweight Jake Shields!

4 HITS PER HOBBY BOX!
- 1 AUTOGRAPH RELIC CARD
- 1 AUTOGRAPH CARD
- 2 RELIC CARDS


PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS
- New Innovative Relic Concepts
- Full-Bleed High-Action Photography
- On-Card Autographs
- 14 Base Cards In Every Pack


CONTENT HIGHLIGHTS

NEW! EMBEDDED REPLICA UFC TITLE BELT PLATE:
Unique cards featuring a champion and a mini replica title belt plate from the belt he held.
- DIAMOND - 1 of 1! Includes both side plates!
- RED - Numbered to 8
- ONYX - Numbered to 88


AUTOGRAPH RELIC CARDS - 1 PER BOX!

Autograph Jumbo Mat Relics:
Each fighter pens his name directly on an oversized jumbo mat relic displayed on each numbered to 10 card. HOBBY EXCLUSIVE!

Fighter Autograph Relics:
35 contenders with an autograph AND fighter-used gear. Numbered.
- NEW! MAT - 1 of 1!
- RED - Numbered to 8
- ONYX - Numbered to 88

New! Dual Autograph Fight Mat Relics:
2 fighters appear on a double-sided card with their autographs and a piece of the mat from their bout, visible from both sides.
Ten subjects in all, numbered* to 25 and HOBBY EXCLUSIVE!


AUTOGRAPH CARDS - 1 PER BOX!

New! UFC Legacy Autographs:
5 past and present UFC Titleholders SIGN THEIR NAMES DIRECTLY on these vintage-style greyback cards. Hand-numbered to 25.

New! UFC Contenders Autographs:
25 promising Contenders appear with their signature on cards numbered to 188
- DIAMOND - 1 of 1!
- RED - Numbered to 8
- ONYX - Numbered to 88

Fighter Autographs:
Featuring 50 UFC fighters and personalities with their autographs and numbered. Cards showcasing a fighter's first autograph
- DIAMOND - 1 of 1!
- RED - Numbered to 8
- ONYX - Numbered to 88

Fighter Red Ink Nickname Autographs:
25 subjects autograph cards with their name or nickname in red ink. Numbered to 15. HOBBY EXCLUSIVE!


RELIC CARDS - 2 PER BOX!

Fight Mat:
50 fighters with an actual piece of a mat from a highlighted fight and numbered on cards die-cut with the number of the UFC event from which the mat came.
- DIAMOND - 1 of 1! 3-Piece Relic
- RED - Numbered to 8
- ONYX - Numbered to 88

Fighter Relics:
50 UFC pros appear on cards numbered with fight-used relic pieces such as gloves, shorts or shirts.
- DIAMOND - 1 of 1!
- RED - Numbered to 8
- ONYX - Numbered to 88


BASE CARDS - 14 PER PACK!
A roster of 150 UFC veterans, legends, debuting fighters and WEC fighters


PARALLEL CARDS - 1 PER PACK!
All 150 base card subjects are paralleled:
- DIAMOND - 1 of 1!
- RED - Numbered to 8
- ONYX - Numbered to 88
- GOLD


INSERT CARDS - 1 PER PACK!

New! Top 10 Title Fights:
30 cards highlighting the ten best title fights of all time - 3 cards for each fight.

New! Championship Chronology:
Cards featuring every fighter who has ever held the title. Place them side-by-side and form a linked chronology of each weight class' title holders.

New! UFC Legacy:
Vintage-style greyback cards featuring 25 fighters who have held the title, past and present.

New! UFC Big Shots:
Featuring stunning outside-the-octagon photography directly from official UFC photographers.

New! UFC Contenders:
25 up-and-coming fighters who may soon compete for a title.
The above 3 insert sets are paralleled:
- DIAMOND - 1 of 1!
- RED - Numbered to 8
- ONYX - Numbered to 88


NEW! BOX TOPPER - HOBBY EXCLUSIVE! (ACTUAL SIZE: 5.75" x 8")

Jumbo WEC Octagon Mat Relics:
Spotlighting the most exciting matches and fighters in the storied history of the WEC with jumbo mat swatches. RANDOMLY INSERTED.

WHAT WE PULLED



Base: 125/150 (83.3%)
Dupes: 0
Gold: 23
Onyx /188 (1): Fabio Maldonado



Legacy (5)
Top 10 Title Fights (6)
Championship Chronology (6)
UFC Contenders (4)



Cain Velasquez Auto



Rousimar Palhares Relic/Auto



Charles Oliveira Fight Mat Relic



Rousimar Palhares Fighter Relic



FINAL RATINGS

Base - 4.5/5
Design - 4.5/5
Fun - 3/5
Value - 4/5
Rebuy - 3.5/5

Total - 19.5/25 (78%)

Topps and UFC unleash Title Shot upon the masses to continue to showcase the many faces of MMA. This release focuses on current and former champions in their respective weight classes as well as the fighter at the top of the contenders list. The full-body color photos capture the persona of the fighters in still shot poses in and out of the octagon. The cards that do feature a fighter in action are spectacular as the close-up shots make you feel like you are a part of the action. Each pack contains two parallel cards, typically two unnumbered gold. However, you will find three numbered versions along the way as they replace one of the gold parallels.

Set builders will have fun putting together the insert sets that you will find along the way as you can expect 1-2 to show up in every pack. Probably the most interesting and appealing is Championship Chronology. This has been designed to show off every fighter who has held a particular belt and in the actual order from first to now. Upon completing the set, collectors will be able to follow the transition of every title while possible enjoy some great memories of past title fights and rivalries.

On average, you will find four autographs or relics in each box with one being a guaranteed auto/relic. There is a box topper as well that features a mat relic from the WEC. However, this is not guaranteed in every box. If you box has one, it will be located underneath the cardboard insert housing the packs. Additionally, there should be a note from Topps on top of the packs to alert you to this.

Topps continues a strong presence in the MMA market. The UFC has been growing in popularity for years and the rise doesn't seem to be ending. The base cards are wonderfully constructed. No borders, no fancy designs, just the fighters. The insert sets are highly collectibles and each carry a separate theme. And it is hard to scoff at four "hits" at this price point. However, sixteen cards in a pack can become tedious and banal. In addition, getting four "hits" and none of them are numbered so there's no sense you have something special or rare hurts the luster. And the idea of only adding a box topper in some boxes may be a ploy to make them more collectible and sought after, but I'd rather see a bonus in every box.

Once again, I'd like to thank our wonderful sponsors at Topps for giving us the opportunity to open and review this release. For more information on all their products, visit them today at www.topps.com.

[adadas101]

nice break, are any of these availablr for sale or trade?