Bellator & SF ratings (shocker)

[Warner2BruceTD]

If Hendo isn't a draw then SF is in a lot of trouble. First off you don't give this guy such a huge contract if he's not, or you don't expect him to draw. Also, the UFC was able to turn 4mil viewers with him on Spike along with successful PPVs.

Hendo bombed on CBS, and has now done two very mediocre Shotime ratings with him on top. He is absolutely NOT a draw. Live or TV.

& we don't know where these MTV2 numbers will peak at, how can you make such a broad assumption off of one show? Talent does not sale, what sales is perception. If that's not the case then explain to me how guys like Diego Sanchez can draw more than the likes of Fedor?

Who said talent draws? I have never ever said that ever. STARS draw.

Diego does not draw more than Fedor. Diego just headlined a UFC show that did the all time record low rating for UFC. 600k. Fedor just did a fight on a network with a smaller universe that peaked at 1.1M.

And I can make that assumption about Bellator because ratings almost always drop and settle lower than the debut. Plus the fights were not great fights for casuals.

I think they might peak higher for a big show or two, but the average will settle below the 0.2/200k that they did for week 1.

[Warner2BruceTD]

SF thought Hendo would be a draw, but they were wrong. He is behind Fedor, Gina, Diaz, and probably even Walker if he ever fights again.

To be fair, Babalu and Feijao mean nothing, but we do now know that Hendo can not carry a rating on his own based on those two fights, plus the Shields disaster. SF essentially let their champion walk based on the fact that the Hendo/Shields fight drew nothing and likely killed the CBS deal (for now).

[Warner2BruceTD]

I should also note, that unlike most people, I still consider the Bellator number a success. That is a monster number for MTV2. I was expecting network averages or slightly better, they anihalated that.

[Steel Mamba]

Hendo bombed on CBS, and has now done two very mediocre Shotime ratings with him on top. He is absolutely NOT a draw. Live or TV.



Who said talent draws? I have never ever said that ever. STARS draw.

Diego does not draw more than Fedor. Diego just headlined a UFC show that did the all time record low rating for UFC. 600k. Fedor just did a fight on a network with a smaller universe that peaked at 1.1M.

And I can make that assumption about Bellator because ratings almost always drop and settle lower than the debut. Plus the fights were not great fights for casuals.

I think they might peak higher for a big show or two, but the average will settle below the 0.2/200k that they did for week 1.

Diego was just a loose example, but you know that there are smaller fighters out there who have pulled higher ratings simply due to the UFC marketing machine.

Stars draw, I'll make that distinction and agree with that. But, how do you create stars? It takes a certain personality, but it also takes having the right platform as well. I'm sorry but SF has a relatively shitty platform for when it comes to bolstering their star power.

A huge part of their problem is perception. The general public tends to view SF as a second rate organization and Scott Coker almost fosters that mentality in fans. One, SHO just doesn't market the brand hard enough. Secondly, Coker has allowed Dana White to obliterate their brand in the press. If he wants to change public perception then he needs to get out there and start telling everyone why is brand and his fighters are on the same level as the UFC.

[Steel Mamba]

Look at these ridiculous P4P rankings, you put one SF fighter in the top 5 and Dana flips out. Meanwhile you don't have a single SF fighter in the top ten at all now and you won't hear a peep from Coker! That's not going to cut it.

[EmpireWF]

Look at these ridiculous P4P rankings, you put one SF fighter in the top 5 and Dana flips out. Meanwhile you don't have a single SF fighter in the top ten at all now and you won't hear a peep from Coker! That's not going to cut it.

Why would anyone blow up about meaningless opinions?

[Steel Mamba]

Why would anyone blow up about meaningless opinions?

Why do you think Dana does it? Again, it's all a matter of altering peoples perception.

[EmpireWF]

Why do you think Dana does it? Again, it's all a matter of altering peoples perception.

Because he is a promoter who takes stupid stuff personal.

[Liquidrob]

Thats how Coker plays it and he is sticking with it

Affliction, EliteXC, etc...tried that plan and failed, Coker just does his own thing, zombies will be zombies no matter what Coker says in the media that doesnt even cover him anyway, best thing Strikeforce and Coker can keep doing is putting on great shows, thats been there plan for a while now and they're building even if zombies tell you they're dieing

Anyway, I read that Hendo vs Feijao peaked at 520,000, thought it would be higher, but still decent

Bellator this week has been dead in the MMA media, even worse than last week, I think having it on with a SF card helped it actually, now thats it the only show on this Saturday no one cares, strange

I see 150k max for viewers

[EmpireWF]

I don't recall much pub from the "MMA media" towards Bellator last week.

Tonight's # will certainly drop but it's a question of how much of a drop.

[Liquidrob]

I don't recall much pub from the "MMA media" towards Bellator last week.

Tonight's # will certainly drop but it's a question of how much of a drop.

it was really bad last week, but they got 'some' just by SF having a show and Bellator getting a mention, it has been dead this week for Bellator

[Steel Mamba]

Thats how Coker plays it and he is sticking with it

Affliction, EliteXC, etc...tried that plan and failed, Coker just does his own thing, zombies will be zombies no matter what Coker says in the media that doesnt even cover him anyway, best thing Strikeforce and Coker can keep doing is putting on great shows, thats been there plan for a while now and they're building even if zombies tell you they're dieing

Anyway, I read that Hendo vs Feijao peaked at 520,000, thought it would be higher, but still decent

Bellator this week has been dead in the MMA media, even worse than last week, I think having it on with a SF card helped it actually, now thats it the only show on this Saturday no one cares, strange

I see 150k max for viewers

Affliction didn't play that card and was too new anyway, but I guess this argument is all moot now. Seems like Coker didn't want to burn any bridges.

But, as a final point if you look back at all of the great promoters from Don King, Vince M., and now Dana. They were all loud, brash, and relentlessly pushed their brand. Casuals aren't just going to jump onboard, you have to mold a consensus & perception.