The Official MMA thread

[milosz]

I think this ultimately means more free fights. I suspect that the ultimate goal is to come close to one event a week, one ppv a month or something like that. The UFC has too many fighters under contract (~200 before the integration of the WEC iirc) and too few championships and huge names to rely primarily on the PPV model.

 

[Teacher]

Hey guys, remember when PPV meant it was something special?

 

[Ambulance Chaser]

Originally Posted by Teacher

Hey guys, remember when PPV meant it was something special?
So you wouldn't want to watch featherweights and bantamweights fight on a PPV?

 

[Teacher]

Originally Posted by Ambulance Chaser

So you wouldn't want to watch featherweights and bantamweights fight on a PPV?

My point was just that the entire PPV model might be starting to wear thin for the UFC. It used to be that people spent that kind of money for PPV because it was, for the most part, a once-in-a-while thing for something really special. Now, with the UFC, it's every three weeks, and many of the cards/fights aren't that great. People might be starting to get tired of shelling out twenty-five bucks every few weeks for something that's no longer special.

 

[Slopho]

Originally Posted by Teacher

My point was just that the entire PPV model might be starting to wear thin for the UFC. It used to be that people spent that kind of money for PPV because it was, for the most part, a once-in-a-while thing for something really special. Now, with the UFC, it's every three weeks, and many of the cards/fights aren't that great. People might be starting to get tired of shelling out twenty-five bucks every few weeks for something that's no longer special.

I disagree with this. Now are there cards that are stinkers, yes, but Dana usually puts those on Spike. There are good looking cards on paper that turn into crap when you plunk down your $54. i.e. Mir vs. Cro Cop. That whole card was a good card that turned to crap, but going in most people thought it would be good.

 

[Teacher]

Originally Posted by Slopho

I disagree with this. Now are there cards that are stinkers, yes, but Dana usually puts those on Spike. There are good looking cards on paper that turn into crap when you plunk down your $54. i.e. Mir vs. Cro Cop. That whole card was a good card that turned to crap, but going in most people thought it would be good.

That has always happened and always will. I'm saying that it's just happening too often, and the excitment might be ebbing.

 

[milosz]

How did Mir v. Cro Cop not look like a bomb from the outset? Two washed up guys fighting to be the seventh-best HW in the UFC. For $55.

 

[Mauro]

I agree with , Walton.
I think the exposure is great for new fighter and veterans alike.

NOW EACH ppv CAN BE STACKED.

 

[NorCal]

Originally Posted by Slopho

I disagree with this. Now are there cards that are stinkers, yes, but Dana usually puts those on Spike. There are good looking cards on paper that turn into crap when you plunk down your $54. i.e. Mir vs. Cro Cop. That whole card was a good card that turned to crap, but going in most people thought it would be good.

Dude, nobody that knows **** about MMA thought that card would be good.

 

[Slopho]

Originally Posted by NorCal

Dude, nobody that knows **** about MMA thought that card would be good.

I hate you Norcal.

 

[Ambulance Chaser]

I actually thought Bader-Nogueira was going to be a good fight. I had no hopes for Cro Cop-Mir. Cro Cop has been a shell of his former self after losing to Gonzaga.

 

[robertorex]

Either better PPVs, or more free events. Dana give me at least one but not neither. How much could they make on commercial revenue if they put a fight on primetime cable? I think the UFC has enough mainstream appeal now to get some good viewership if they put a legitimately good card on free TV.

 

[NorCal]

Originally Posted by Slopho

I hate you Norcal.

 

[milosz]

Originally Posted by robertorex

Either better PPVs, or more free events. Dana give me at least one but not neither. How much could they make on commercial revenue if they put a fight on primetime cable? I think the UFC has enough mainstream appeal now to get some good viewership if they put a legitimately good card on free TV.

I'm wondering if they're going to try to broker something with HBO - shows that aren't quite PPV championship quality, but a grade above a weeknight VS/Spike card.

If it were me, I suspect I would have kept the WEC brand alive, but used it as a minor league rather than lighter weight promotion - something to bat away the Bellators and Strikeforces, funnel the cream of the crop into the UFC. But I'm certainly not privy to the kind of marketing and branding people the UFC has behind them and whatever they're doing appears to be working out for them.

 

[Teacher]

Originally Posted by milosz

If it were me, I suspect I would have kept the WEC brand alive, but used it as a minor league rather than lighter weight promotion - something to bat away the Bellators and Strikeforces, funnel the cream of the crop into the UFC. But I'm certainly not privy to the kind of marketing and branding people the UFC has behind them and whatever they're doing appears to be working out for them.

Now that makes sense.