ESPN: UFC 87 Scores Huge Buyrate

by Michael Rome on Sep 19, 2008 8:47 PM EDT in News Comment 10 comments

According to the "crunching the numbers" segment on MMA Live this week, UFC 87 did 625,000 buys. They do not cite a source for any of their numbers, which makes me skeptical, but if the number is correct, it is an incredible showing of selling power for Brock Lesnar.

In almost every U.S. market for UFC 87, interest was higher for Brock Lesnar than Georges St. Pierre. It appears he was the primary mover for the buyrate for this show in the states, while GSP brought in a good number in Canada. If this number is correct, Dana's prediction that Brock vs. Randy will do a million buys looks a little more realistic.

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Saw it live

It was a good card, and deserved the buyrate, even if it didn’t have Chuck or Randy in the main event. Don’t underestimate the appeal of Huerta with the hispanic population.

by thetakeover on Sep 20, 2008 2:31 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Huerta's appeal doesn't extend solely into the hispanic demo.

Remember the ladies..

There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt.

by misterjonez on Sep 20, 2008 3:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Whatever....

I suppose we will see Hulk Hogan in the UFC soon because it will sell so many PPVs. How does a guy with 2 fights get a title shot?

"Stop smiling you are about to be punched in the face !"

by Warhand on Sep 20, 2008 4:44 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Two reasons, one clarification;

Firstly, he’s an athletic freak who has as good of a fighting pedigree as anyone can have with three fights (2-1) under his belt. Over a hundred collegiate wrestling wins, coupled with his ridiculous athleticism is a recipe for not only competitiveness, but out-and-out dominance.

Secondly, the man sells PPV’s. This four man tournament is all about establishing the UFC’s dominance in the MMA HW scene, which has been where the ‘competitors’ have tried to say they’ve got an edge (Fedor, and however they pimp Fergi).

(side note: Mir has won exactly one fight in the last year, and is 3-2 since 2006. Doesn’t seem much more deserving than Lesnar)

I already referenced the clarification I’d like to make, that being the fact that this is really a four man tournament for the HW title. The Interim UFC HW Championship Belt and the UFC HW Championship Belt don’t really mean anything by themselves. Personally, I’m thrilled at this little four-man orgy of combat. We are guaranteed to get a Wrestler vs. BJJ match at the end of the rainbow, no matter who the names are. And they will be, by the time that fight comes around, most certainly deserving of holding the title of UFC HW Champion. I just don’t see an argument against this reasoning. Say Randy beats Brock, and Big Nog beats Mir..this would be the safe money matchup, in all likelihood. Lesnar gets pegged down a notch, maybe, and Mir loses quite a bit of cred. Say it’s the opposite? Say Mir beats Big Nog and Lesnar takes out Couture? How on Earth can anyone argue that if Brock beats Heath Herring, Randy Couture, and Frank Mir in his first five MMA fights that he’s anything less than a deserving champion? And if he happens to be Big Nog, instead of Mir? Sheesh..now you’re talking all-time great.

This is a fantastic tournament that has the potential to re-shape the HW landscape in MMA. I’m not bloviating, think about it. Whoever is still standing at the end of this thing has cleared some monstrous (not just you, Brock) hurdles, and proven they belong at the top of the heap.

There is no such thing as innocence, only degrees of guilt.

by misterjonez on Sep 20, 2008 5:19 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

In addition, HW is a weak division, so it doesn’t take a lot to get your name in there.

"The bigger the cushion, the sweeter the pushin'"

by BJJDenver on Sep 20, 2008 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

and nice post as well.

"The bigger the cushion, the sweeter the pushin'"

by BJJDenver on Sep 20, 2008 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don’t forget you have the rec button.

Intentional Blog on Balls

by Richard Wade on Sep 21, 2008 3:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You make good points

However, I just feel that the UFC HW division is stale and boring. If these fights were fought tournament style (3 fights in one night: Lesnar vs Couture, Mir vs Nog, Winner vs winner Main Event) it would be epic but that is not the plan.

"Stop smiling you are about to be punched in the face !"

by Warhand on Sep 21, 2008 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It will be my first PPV purchase

I don’t want to watch this in a bar or on the web.

by Scotty Mo9 on Sep 20, 2008 12:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Brock is just all potential. He doesn’t deserve a title shot but the UFC will keep using him to sell tickets. It really doesn’t matter what we think anyway.. Dana and the Boys will do want they want.

Rob Dib
http://www.break-your-face.com

by Rob Dib on Sep 20, 2008 3:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs