WEC VP Peter Dropick on PPVs, Superfights and Flyweight Tournaments
by Chris Nelson on Mar 18, 2009 8:41 AM EDT
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PrintAriel Helwani conducts mean interviews on the regular, but his new exchange with WEC Vice President of Operations Peter Dropick is highly illuminating, brimming with answers and teases regarding the future of the promotion that only a Versus employee could have scored. Salient excerpts follow...
On plans for a tournament to crown a champion for the WEC flyweight division, which should be introduced in "late fall, early winter:"
We would have some tournament-type aspect that would get us to a champion. That’s in our plan as part of how we want to launch this.
On a Miguel Torres vs. Mike Brown/Urijah Faber catchweight superfight:
You know, it’s not in the plans, but we would consider it. Absolutely. Right now, it makes sense for these guys to keep fighting in their weight classes. Miguel still has a lot of top contenders to fight in his own weight class, as does Brown.
On WEC entering the Pay-Per-View market:
[We] are looking at doing a June one now. It could be as soon as then, if not, my guess is that it would probably be early in the fall. And that would be the Faber-Brown rematch.
Since you have no upcoming shows announced would a potential June pay-per-view headlined by Faber vs. Brown II be your next event?
Yes, we would still do a Versus fight earlier in June, and then sometime later on, we would do the pay-per-view.
Would you ever consider putting the undercard on Versus and the main fights on pay-per-view?
No, I think we would deliver another full card to Versus. There would still be main card fights and then have a pay-per-view stand-alone.. . .
Would a WEC pay-per-view cost the same as a UFC pay-per-view?
No, it would be less.
On Jens Pulver's future with the company:
[He's] still fighting. He filled in for us [in the booth] and did an outstanding job. You know, Jens is part of the family. I know he still has some fights left in him. He’ll probably be on one of the June cards. He wants to keep going, but after that, I think he wants to stay on board and do some TV work. He’s just a great ambassador to the sport and he’s a great ambassador to the lightweight fighters. We want to keep Jens around, he’s part of the family here.
Dropick also says WEC is interested in "the best fighters in the world, whether that is male or female" and alludes to the company's interest in signing Gina Carano, but flinches when the prospect of starting a female division without Carano is raised.
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you and me both
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by schizosmurf on Mar 18, 2009 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions
Would a WEC pay-per-view cost the same as a UFC pay-per-view?
No, it would be less.
Hmm, interesting. How much less? $25.00 for SD and $35.00 for HD I’m hoping! :D
Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."
WEC PPV Pricing
I think $30 is about right, but I’ve heard $39.99 mentioned. At least, I think I’ve heard it mentioned. I could be thinking of some other PPV. But what other PPV would I be thinking of? Affliction is $50, UFC is $50, Strikeforce has no PPV plans, I have no idea what March Badness costs, and YAMMA 2 has not yet been announced (believe).
"BJ on the BE" - Kierkegaard
UFC is $45.00 for SD and $55.00 for HD.
Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."
by xFenixKnightx on Mar 18, 2009 9:33 AM EDT up reply actions
I have Comcast, and it is $45 for either Standard of High Def.
It is more then just the price. It is the number of PPV’s Zuffa is putting out a month. Typically, Zuffa has 1 PPV per month. In Jan. ’09, they had 2. One of the PPVs (UFC 94) was on the last day of the month and there was no PPV in February. So it still averaged out to one per month. I am comfortable with this.
I am not comfortable with Zuffa putting on UFC 99 and a WEC PPV both on in June. That is gouging the fans. That is just not acceptable. If Zuffa wants to put the WEC on PPV in June, then UFC 99 should be on SpikeTV.
As for the price, which really becomes secondary…. It should be $35.
by AlwaysRelaxing on Mar 18, 2009 10:12 AM EDT up reply actions
Price Gouging
It’s not gouging if they put on shows you want to spend money to watch.
"BJ on the BE" - Kierkegaard
by Brett Jones on Mar 18, 2009 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions
I think it may be $19.95 and you get to choose either a ShamWow or a Snuggie to sweeten the pot.
In all seriousness, I’m a little skeptical about them doing a lot of buys. But really, I don’t know what a good number would be for the WEC. I’m sure they’ll be dealing with a lower cost structure, so we’ll just have to see how it goes.
by Cannon Jacques on Mar 18, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions
I’d pay between $19.95 – $29.95
"My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions." --George W. Bush, The Decider, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007
Same. Unfortunately I think we’re in the minority.
Contributor Emeritus - BloodyElbow.com
by Chris Nelson on Mar 18, 2009 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions
I think 24.95 would be a fair price point that could draw buys if they broke out all the WEC’s big names. It would have to be a show with some very strong ties to certain geographic demographics.
Faber vs Brown in Sacramento would fill the house AGAIN
Finish up Varner vs Cerrone or do Cerrone vs Razor Rob 2
Then assuming Curran beats Joe Rock-Bottom Benavidez, which he should but it is by no means guaranteed as dynamic an athlete as Benavidez is, try and draw in the Chicago demographic by using that as a title match between the two Chicago locals. Get gold medalist Henry Cejudo’s debut on the show against another Flyweight contender as buildup to the tournament they are talking about.
I would say Waggney vs Aldo would be a great opening fight but I doubt they would square off as both are Nova Uniao fighters… So maybe Aldo vs Tamura or Paxiao if he stays at 145 or Aldo vs the loser of Benavidez vs Curran if he drops down. Then Waggney vs Garcia for Waggney’s chance to get a #1 contender slot.
So my card reads like this and then tell you wouldn’t drop 25 bucks
assuming Curran, Torres and Waggney win at WEC 40
Faber vs Brown 2 (Big draw in Nor*Cal area)
Varner vs Cerrone 2/Cerrone vs Razor Rob 2
Torres vs Curran (This match could get some decent heat from the Chicago area)
Waggney vs Garcia
Aldo vs Tamura/Paxiao @ 145 If Aldo drops to 135 – Then Aldo vs Benavidez
HERES THE IF – If Mizugaki looks good then Mizugaki vs Bowles if not Bowles vs Damacio Page
I would definately pay for that main card
Anything beyond that is gravy
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Mar 18, 2009 10:21 PM EDT up reply actions
I forgot
If Aldo doesn’t drop you have a fight open for Benavidez.
Considering IMO it would STUPID to host this card anywhere but Sacramento based on the last Faber fights turnout there, (I was there it was literally 14K + strong), that would be yet another local fighter to put butts in seats and would make for a perfect situation with
Mizugaki/Bowles Benavidez/Page or Benevidez vs Mizugaki and Bowles vs Page
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Mar 18, 2009 10:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Faber vs Brown 2
Cerrone vs Razor Rob 2
Torres vs Curran
Waggney vs Garcia
Aldo vs Tamura/Paxiao
Mizugaki vs Benavidez
Bowles vs Page
+ Henry Cejudo
And thats my final offer
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Mar 18, 2009 10:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Torres and Curran would almost certainly be saved for a Chicago PPV if the first one was successful, it wouldn’t really add much more than just Faber.
A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.
They are talking at most 2 PPV's a year
There is no way anybody buys more than that.
The Curran vs Benavidez fight is for the #1 contender slot. There is no way they don’t have Torres or Curran fight for over 6 months.
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Mar 19, 2009 1:53 AM EDT up reply actions
Also WEC 40 is in Chicago
They aren’t gonna turn around and go right back. Sacramento did the business of 3 WEC cards put together and they are going back at the 1 year anniversary
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Mar 19, 2009 1:55 AM EDT up reply actions
I love Aldo vs. Benavidez, though Joe’s still pretty raw and I don’t think he beats Curran either.
Contributor Emeritus - BloodyElbow.com
by Chris Nelson on Mar 18, 2009 10:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Aldo vs Benavidez
Sweet jesus thats a great style matchup between 2 ridiculous athletes.
BTW I’m gonna start pushing
Joesph “Rock-Bottom” Benavidez as his nickname from now on. If you don’t know why you should have watched DREAM 5
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Mar 19, 2009 1:52 AM EDT up reply actions
I almost hope
That Aldo drops just for that fight. I don’t think he will till he meets a good opponent that is strong enough to overpower him at 145.
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Mar 19, 2009 1:56 AM EDT up reply actions
I think Aldo drops down eventually if he and Waggney both keep winning. Aldo vs. Torres would be major.
Contributor Emeritus - BloodyElbow.com
by Chris Nelson on Mar 19, 2009 2:14 AM EDT up reply actions
Gina's Angels
Dropick also says WEC is interested in “the best fighters in the world, whether that is male or female” and alludes to the company’s interest in signing Gina Carano, but flinches when the prospect of starting a female division without Carano is raised.
A a major organization, of course you shouldn’t start a women’s division in North America without Gina Carano. In fact, until Strikeforce pulls the trigger, you probably don’t want to start the division with both Cris Santos and Carano, because it’s the only money match available in this market at this time. It’s a shame for LaRosa and the other talented female fighters in North America, but that’s the business.
"BJ on the BE" - Kierkegaard
what i really liked about this was the love for Jens Pulver, who can still be a great fighter if he can get a good camp going and not have to worry about so much drama outside the cage.
by bobthewriter on Mar 18, 2009 10:19 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
so true
and I’d like to give a little recognition to Jens for all he’s been thru in past few months – it’s not easy and takes a lot of courage to keep pushing through it all
"My job is a decision-making job, and as a result, I make a lot of decisions." --George W. Bush, The Decider, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007
by lovingmma25 on Mar 18, 2009 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions
Jens would be my commentator
I want the guy to get a chance to fight but I think he should maybe take 6 – 12 months off and decide if he still really wants it. Then give him a comeback trail. The guy’s been in some brutal wars.
Gimme 1 round!
by ItBurnzWhenIP on Mar 18, 2009 10:29 PM EDT up reply actions
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