Is The UFC Model Doomed?
by Kid Nate on Jan 24, 2008 12:47 PM EST
in MMA News
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That's what the very smart Adam Swift of MMA Payout is asserting:
As MMAPayout.com has stated before, co-promotion is where the sport is headed, if not this year then sometime in the not too distant future. The UFC can either lead the way or face the possibility of being left behind. In a developing industry such as MMA, today's dominant leader can easily become tomorrow's forgotten legend. One need look no further than the dramatic rise of the UFC coupled with the equally remarkable demise of Pride to see this truth illustrated.
And two fights announced yesterday serve as reminders that not all the biggest fights are happening in the UFC:
- Aleksander Emelianenko vs Josh Barnett
- According to the unsurpassed Bloody Elbow Meta-Rankings, Aleksander is the #11 most highly regarded heavyweight in the world and Josh Barnett is #8. This fight should set up Barnett to fight Fedor at some point in the future -- possibly not until 2009, after the big Fedor vs Randy Couture payday.
- Shinya Aoki vs Gesias "JZ" Calvancanti
- The Bloody Elbow Meta-Rankings have these two light-weights at #7 and #2 in the world, respectively. A B.J. Penn vs JZ Calvan fight would surely ring some cash registers somewhere...in that future world where Zuffa's pretentions of monopoly have met the fate that Aleksander's back tatoo promises us all.
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Re: Is The UFC Model Doomed?
I'm still not buying the idea that all these orgs are going to be financially viable either. Have any other companies besides the UFC been remotely sucessful financially? I know Bodog lost their shirt, EliteXC is great but are they actually making money yet? IFO/IFL/M1?
Do we think that if Randy fights Fedor they'll actually present some impressive PPV numbers to cover the insane salary and production costs? I'm still not convinced.
Hailing the end of the UFC right now seems rather premature to me.
Re: Is The UFC Model Doomed?
by Brent Brookhouse on Jan 24, 2008 1:28 PM EST up reply actions
Re: Is The UFC Model Doomed?
Re: Is The UFC Model Doomed?
by Brent Brookhouse on Jan 24, 2008 1:32 PM EST up reply actions
Re: Is The UFC Model Doomed?
One thing intrigues me though -- the UFC is really pushing the Japanese fighters, besides Okami, Omigawa, Nakamura, Chonan and Gono they're giving K-Taro Nakamura a 3rd chance. And rumors are they're talking to Gomi, Yamamoto, and Misaki. Wouldn't a cross-promotion in Japan be the logical place to do that? K-1 is the only player with a TV deal. I wonder if UFC and World Victory Road (or whatever it's called) could join forces and get that coveted Japanese TV deal. Could be big.
Re: Is The UFC Model Doomed?
I think Randy vs Fedor might have a chance to generate mainstream buzz in the US media. I also think the Frank vs Ken Shamrock fight could be a big deal.
We'll see....
Re: Is The UFC Model Doomed?
Re: Is The UFC Model Doomed?
I really hope that non-exclusive contracts become the standard, but there is really no telling on that one. That along with deregulation would bring about close to ideal conditions for MMA to thrive in my opinion.
Plus, I think the writing is on the wall for the UFC... Rogan name dropped Calvancante and Nate Diaz name dropped a bunch of his teammates and the UFC used to pretend that nobody else even exists outside of their organization. And a lot of their past headliners are jumping ship.
They won't go away any time soon, but I think that there will be good opportunities for money and exposure outside the UFC in at least the next year or two.
Re: Is The UFC Model Doomed?
Interesting logic, sorry though I don't buy it.
I am all for non-exclusive contracts if we can have some sort of governing body that can legitimize (is that a word?) fighter rankings and promote a fighter to "champion".
Until then I am happy with the UFC having a monopoly. They have a lot of work to do regarding being more transparent and improving their production but I can at least understand and agree with the rankings / belts.
Re: Is The UFC Model Doomed?
Until another company gets a viable, primetime television deal with some stars, UFC is in no danger at all. Even then they are probably still set. Frank/Ken, promoted on its own without strikeforce and elite xc, is probably a 50,000 buy fight, and Couture/Fedor is probably a 75,000 buy fight without the UFC. Without television infrastructure, these shows aren't going to make a dent at all.
Re: Is The UFC Model Doomed?
Look at Tank Abbott getting on Jimmy Kimble. Randy has already gotten mainstream media, a competitor -- particularly one who signs up with ESPN and got mainstream coverage could easily cut into the UFC's biz.
PRIDE had a lock on the market as long as UFC was off American TV and they were on Japanese broadcast, but that all changed very quickly.
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