Rumor: UFC 136 - 175k buys

[Warner2BruceTD]

At what point does the overexposure cross that line into to where it becomes a detriment?

When you fail to make stars.

#1 in any combat sport/pro wrestling/boxing or whatever is making new stars. Old stars can't draw forever, and it's an even bigger issue in MMA than in wrestling or boxing because (generally speaking) stars are on top for a much shorter length of time.

Overexposure + lack of creating new stars = thinned out shows and main events with guys who aren't over.

The UFC model is moving to volume. MOAR MOAR MOAR. Shows every week, shows every night, all over the globe. PPV obviously suffers from overexposure. But you can still draw decent gates if you only hit cities once or twice per year. Remember, Houston sold out for Edgar/Maynard because UFC hadn't been there is so long. It wasn't a good PPV fight, but it drew a monster live gate.

Network TV deals + more live gates + mediocre PPV is probably a better model than basic cable + less live gates + good/great PPV. I guess we'll find out, but from a fan perspective, like rob is saying, fuck PPV.

 

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

Think you got that one backward, homes.

Oh, and guys who fight at 135 can be 160 or even 170 "normally". So those "midgets" are actually often just average sized guys who are a bit on the short side and can cut.

I dont care. The cutman and refs tower over them. Its like watching little kids fight. I like Diaz, and Melendez but just about anyone under 170 on a main event is going to get a pass from me.

Jones ducked the shit out of Rashad plain and simple. Everything after has been a stupid game. No respect for Jones.

Never understood this from non-casuals. Who cares if the guy is 7 foot or 5 foot, as long as they put on a hell of a show in the cage?

Because bigger guys have power. The threat of a knockout is always there.
Just my preference.

You mean to tell me you're not looking forward to any of these?

Shogun/Hendo, Could there be two guys that talk less than these two ? Looking forward to watching it....but I wont buy a PPV for them no.
Brock/Overeem, A year ago FUCK YEAH..theyve both been exposed. Closest to a super hulk fight so still a whopping yes.
Cain/JDS, Its free so non debate. I love JDS hate Cain.
Bendo/Guida, Nope.
Penn/Diaz, Not in the least if it wasnt for my love of everything Diaz. Should have been Diaz GSP the entire debacle of that card makes me not want to watch at all.
Wand/Cung, Glass Joe vs Hurricane kick Ryu...No
Faber/Bowles, No.
Bisping/Miller, No
Bones/Machida, Yes but Jones needed to fight Rashad first. Very annoyed by this.May consider this a buy.
Hominick/KoreanZombie no.

Ill watch them for free , or cheap at a bar. But only 1 of those would make me buy a PPV and invite folks over even then it will depend on the undercards which is why I think these slew of PPVs is bad. Its watering down the quality. Its bad enough the amount of injuries that have plagued main events but the co main events and super undercards are now being stretched into there own cards. Thats utter wackness and making me lose interest in day to day following.

 

[SHOGUN]

I love JDS

:shakehands:

#TEAMCIGANO

 

[Liquidrob]

JDS is going to get trashed

Cain has the best cardio and pace of any HW ever, JDS gets tired in the 2nd round jabbing slow HW's in the head

 

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

JDS is going to get trashed

Cain has the best cardio and pace of any HW ever, JDS gets tired in the 2nd round jabbing slow HW's in the head

Cardio may be the difference...but Roy Nelson has an odor that fatigues all within 5 feet of him so hard to judge.

 

[Steel Mamba]

If they don't promote their fighters then what is Countdown all about? On top of that they have two shows that are similar to HBO's 24/7, does that not promote the fighters either?

What about the fan expos?

You guys aren't being reasonable and looking too hard into this. PPV numbers don't even tell the entire story anyway. Those PPV figures don't take into account world-wide viewership, nor the amount of people who go out to watch it. In Pittsburgh it's damn hard to get a table at any sports bar the night of a UFC PPV. Every place is packed with people there to watch the fight. Interest in the UFC or its fighters is definitely not on the decline.

 

[Steel Mamba]

Think you got that one backward, homes.

Oh, and guys who fight at 135 can be 160 or even 170 "normally". So those "midgets" are actually often just average sized guys who are a bit on the short side and can cut.

No, he got it right.

 

[Liquidrob]

If they don't promote their fighters then what is Countdown all about? On top of that they have two shows that are similar to HBO's 24/7, does that not promote the fighters either?

What about the fan expos?

You guys aren't being reasonable and looking too hard into this. PPV numbers don't even tell the entire story anyway. Those PPV figures don't take into account world-wide viewership, nor the amount of people who go out to watch it. In Pittsburgh it's damn hard to get a table at any sports bar the night of a UFC PPV. Every place is packed with people there to watch the fight. Interest in the UFC or its fighters is definitely not on the decline.

it's the same generic shit that doesnt spark anything, same stuff over and over, like shogun said, every description about a brazilian is the same, every wrestler is the same and so on, same beginning intro's, stupid music, canned 'I'm going to stand and bang' line over and over, rain in the background and blah blah blah

24/7 blows away any type of UFC 'hype show', the fans are invested in the fighter, the fighters personality, the average fan doesnt know the different between Edgar, Maynard, Joe Lauzon or whoever, it's a bunch of guys wanting to fight in the OCTOGON

The UFC is always splitting time promtoing THE UFC brand name or Dana White, so the fighters dont get what they should get, they're selling THE UFC, not the fighters first, like I said, THE JIG IS UP

 

[Steel Mamba]

it's the same generic shit that doesnt spark anything, same stuff over and over, like shogun said, every description about a brazilian is the same, every wrestler is the same and so on, same beginning intro's, stupid music, canned 'I'm going to stand and bang' line over and over, rain in the background and blah blah blah

24/7 blows away any type of UFC 'hype show', the fans are invested in the fighter, the fighters personality, the average fan doesnt know the different between Edgar, Maynard, Joe Lauzon or whoever, it's a bunch of guys wanting to fight in the OCTOGON

The UFC is always splitting time promtoing THE UFC brand name or Dana White, so the fighters dont get what they should get, they're selling THE UFC, not the fighters first, like I said, THE JIG IS UP

Judging by your first paragraph the problem isn't that they don't try to promote their fighters, what you're saying is they just need a different approach. Two entirely different things.

They do try to get fans invested in a fighter, that's one of the purposes of TUF. To watch someone grow from the ground level. TUF may have run its course to us, but its still a popular show that the casual fans love to see.

They do have two shows that follows the fighters around for a couple weeks, it's the same exact format as 24/7. The only reason why HBO's might be more interesting is because of Mayweather and slightly better production. They have guys videoblogging on the net, doing all sorts of interviews, etc. If you're a fan of MMA, you know these athletes more so than you do any other athlete in any sport. You can't deny that.

 

[Liquidrob]

Judging by your first paragraph the problem isn't that they don't try to promote their fighters, what you're saying is they just need a different approach. Two entirely different things.

They do try to get fans invested in a fighter, that's one of the purposes of TUF. To watch someone grow from the ground level. TUF may have run its course to us, but its still a popular show that the casual fans love to see.

They do have two shows that follows the fighters around for a couple weeks, it's the same exact format as 24/7. The only reason why HBO's might be more interesting is because of Mayweather and slightly better production. They have guys videoblogging on the net, doing all sorts of interviews, etc. If you're a fan of MMA, you know these athletes more so than you do any other athlete in any sport. You can't deny that.

My point is a couple things, if they are always pushing 'The UFC' or Dana White than they're not fully promoting there fighters, they just can't it's not possible

2nd, the way they go about it is bland, besides a couple guys they take it on there own, Chael, Rampage, etc...the UFC makes it boring

TUF is the same format all the time, tell me how throwing dudes in a house and wathc them drink and be jackasses really gets fans interested in them anymore? The guys are interchangable and thats my point, its not the fighters, it's the format

Plus, the UFC generally keeps fighters 'in check', guys like Diaz will be stifled, Dana wants you to 'play the game', Diaz is interesting, they're trying to knock some of that off him and change him, but Diaz don't give a fuck, they feed lines to guys inthe countdown shows, same corny lines that every fighter uses, why? because they make it that way thats' why

 

[Steel Mamba]

My point is a couple things, if they are always pushing 'The UFC' or Dana White than they're not fully promoting there fighters, they just can't it's not possible

2nd, the way they go about it is bland, besides a couple guys they take it on there own, Chael, Rampage, etc...the UFC makes it boring

TUF is the same format all the time, tell me how throwing dudes in a house and wathc them drink and be jackasses really gets fans interested in them anymore? The guys are interchangable and thats my point, its not the fighters, it's the format

Plus, the UFC generally keeps fighters 'in check', guys like Diaz will be stifled, Dana wants you to 'play the game', Diaz is interesting, they're trying to knock some of that off him and change him, but Diaz don't give a fuck, they feed lines to guys inthe countdown shows, same corny lines that every fighter uses, why? because they make it that way thats' why

lol that's absolutely not true. How can you say the UFC stifles their fighters when you have Chael Sonnen saying whatever he wants, and Rampage humping and motorboating reporters.

When Dana says he wants Diaz to play the game, that means showing up for press conferences and not beating up people in the hospital. I don't think that's too much to ask and I don't think that's trying to put a lid on anyone's personality either.

If anyone causes the fighters to stifle their remarks it's the fans. Because MMA fans have the "martial arts" attitude that dictates being on a straight arrow 100% of the time.

And again your first paragraph just says that they need to change their format a bit, which is a fair argument. But, that does not equal them not trying to push their fighters.

 

[Liquidrob]

So you named the 2 guys I said, nice, they stifle them by giving them nothing, I mean nothing to work with, there generic interchangable fight promo's and intros ARE EXACTLY THE SAME, the format holds them back

And you keep missing the point, if you're splitting time between prmoting THE UFC, Dana and the fighters, guess what? You are not promoting the fighters to there fullest, it is technically impossible

 

[Steel Mamba]

Do you know the fighters in Bellator better than you know the fighters in the UFC?

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

I can see both sides of this.

There is no doubt that the UFC brand is pushed harder than the fighters, but at the end of the day it's the fighters job to get himself over, and the more charismatic ones have.

 

[Liquidrob]

Do you know the fighters in Bellator better than you know the fighters in the UFC?

what does bellator have to do with this? lol, we are talking about the biggest promotion in the sport

Anyway, Bellator gets zero coverage from the MMA media, has a small tv spot, no money, etc...plus, Bellator has a different model, they push the tournament over the fighter which to me is fine, because they are pushing the sport aspect and the winners move on like sports are supposed to be, but the main focus is still the fight, the tournament fights to get to the champ

Actually, Bellator does a decent job with there packages before the fights with little time they have, they are on a channel with commercials and in a 2 hour block

 

[Steel Mamba]

I can see both sides of this.

There is no doubt that the UFC brand is pushed harder than the fighters, but at the end of the day it's the fighters job to get himself over, and the more charismatic ones have.

Business and financially, yeah the UFC is definitely held higher than its fighters. But I don't see how the brand itself is promoted as opposed to the fighters being promoted. Can you guys name some examples of this?

 

[Steel Mamba]

what does bellator have to do with this? lol, we are talking about the biggest promotion in the sport

Anyway, Bellator gets zero coverage from the MMA media, has a small tv spot, no money, etc...plus, Bellator has a different model, they push the tournament over the fighter which to me is fine, because they are pushing the sport aspect and the winners move on like sports are supposed to be, but the main focus is still the fight, the tournament fights to get to the champ

Actually, Bellator does a decent job with there packages before the fights with little time they have, they are on a channel with commercials and in a 2 hour block

Does the UFC not push its fighters better than any other MMA promotion. If they're not pushing their fighters like you say they aren't, then by default Bellator would have the edge there right? Yes, UFC fighters get more coverage, because the UFC is pushing them....

 

[Liquidrob]

Does the UFC not push its fighters better than any other MMA promotion. If they're not pushing their fighters like you say they aren't, then by default Bellator would have the edge there right? Yes, UFC fighters get more coverage, because the UFC is pushing them....

LOL, stop, you can't be serious

 

[Steel Mamba]

As far as current promotions goes UFC fighters receive more pub and marketing than anyone else.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Business and financially, yeah the UFC is definitely held higher than its fighters. But I don't see how the brand itself is promoted as opposed to the fighters being promoted. Can you guys name some examples of this?

I think it's so blatant that it has become the norm, and you don't even realize it.

For example, if you go to a live show, the message is clear, that you are there to see the UFC, not to see whoever vs. whoever.

Just look at boxing. It's never advertised as TOP RANK BOXING: DESTRUCTION or GOLDEN BOY 19: DAY OF RECKONING. It's just 'Mayweather vs Diaz'.