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UFC 100 Does 1.5 Million PPV Buys, Next Stop Dubai?

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Kevin Iole reports that UFC 100 lived up to the very high expectations:

UFC 100 was available in more than 300 million homes in 17 languages. While the UFC has a company policy of not disclosing exact pay-per-view figures, the sales for UFC 100 were in excess of 1.5 million, making it one of the most-watched PPV events in history.

I should add that his basis for this is a somewhat cryptic comment from UFC owner Lorenzo Fertitta about Dana White having to make good on a promise to bungee base jump off Mandalay Bay Casino if the event made the 1.5 million target.

More interesting is this bit about Lorenzo Fertitta's impressive international successes and a hint as to one of his next targets:

...since Fertitta’s first full day as the UFC’s chief executive officer, he has landed television deals in China, Mexico, France and Germany; is on the verge of bringing a fight card in February to Sydney, Australia...

The UFC has long coveted Mexico as a market because of its vast number of fight fans. Fertitta worked out a deal with Televisa, the largest media company in the Spanish-speaking world and UFC 100 was shown live for free and drew 25 million viewers.

In addition, Fertitta believes he’s made significant inroads toward a television deal in the Middle East. A live event in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates seems more and more likely.

Lorenzo better get cracking because it looks like there's already a competitior looking to break into the Dubai MMA market:

Xtreme Kombat League (XKL) has announced its first major international mixed martial arts (MMA) event - "The Road To Dubai" - which starts in Michigan on August 15 2009, followed by a new concept reality TV show and with two of the top names in the MMA world, Pat Miletich and Dan Severn as team coaches. Pat and Dan will be giving their expertise in training these fighters during the reality show. The main title fight event will take place in Dubai as a signature event of Dubai Shopping Festival in February 2010, with a potential 500 million worldwide viewers.

There's a bit of a storied history with Dubai and MMA. The funders behind the illustrious Abu Dhabi Combat Club and associated submission grappling championships once funded a big show in Brazil with plans to bring full on MMA back to Arabia. Unfortunately the infamous feud between jiu jitsu and luta livre caused the headliner to end in a riot and that put the money people off of doing full-on MMA.

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I believe I heard Dana in one of his blogs for UFC 100 say he would base jump off the Mandalay Bay, not bungee.

Either way, awesome!

by Reciprocity on Jul 24, 2009 12:39 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I found it funny that this statement is what lorenzo said to confirm the 1.5million buys.
White had jokingly promised reporters at a prefight news conference he’d base jump from the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas if UFC 100 reached 1.5 million pay-per-view sales.
.
Fertitta declined to give a sales figure, but he did say, "I think Dana is going to be doing a base jump at Mandalay Bay."

by Anton Tabuena on Jul 24, 2009 12:40 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

fixed

I don’t even know what the difference is. Guess I don’t go to enough carnivals.

Follow me on Twitter @KidNate

by Kid Nate on Jul 24, 2009 12:40 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

a bungee jump is jumping while attached to big rubberband (basically). base jumping is basically low altitude skydiving, where you jump for a couple second and then release a parachute. i’m pretty sure it’s illegal, and only done by professionals, so i dont think we’ll be seeing him do that anytime soon!

by woooburn on Jul 24, 2009 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

How does one become a professional base jumper?

Some people might say that winning a fight makes you a better fighter but I don’t agree with that.- BlueberryMuffin

by ufc4 on Jul 24, 2009 1:06 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions   0 recs

Also maybe once you’ve done all four you are fully qualified to claim it? (Building, Antenna, Span, Earth)

It ends in an armbar or a strangle regardless.

by capital L on Jul 24, 2009 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

UFC in Dubai would be awesome

Its the richest fucking country in the world, nuff said.

by Bandaka on Jul 24, 2009 12:51 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

We’ll see how much longer.

by Simco on Jul 24, 2009 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

your pretty much not aloud to be naked in Dubai,so all the fighters will fight in Gi’s ;)

by matty87 on Jul 24, 2009 1:13 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

They would have to pay fighters more in Dubai, because the minimum wadge there is $5 000/hr.

Keep firing Assholes!

Thanks to Bisping's reenactment of the Battle of Cowpens, walla walla walla I'm an idiot.

by Ubernoober on Jul 24, 2009 1:19 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Ha!

Am I the only one that laughed @ that??

by frickshun on Jul 24, 2009 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

It just means that you’re as smart as I am.

Congratulations!!

Keep firing Assholes!

Thanks to Bisping's reenactment of the Battle of Cowpens, walla walla walla I'm an idiot.

by Ubernoober on Jul 24, 2009 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

In that case, I got it as well.

hardy hardy har.

'Ello G'vnor!

by IHateMMA on Jul 24, 2009 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Not so much

They actually paid foreign labors damn near nothing to erect the Burj Dubai.

When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are in a confederacy against him. - Jonathan Swift

by subo on Jul 24, 2009 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

for example…

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? ... That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Feb. 28, 2008

by lovingmma25 on Jul 24, 2009 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Ligg

Leeg
Loog

Follow me on Twitter @KidNate

by Kid Nate on Jul 24, 2009 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I actually thought of Leeg but was too afraid to post it – you are a brave man

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? ... That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Feb. 28, 2008

by lovingmma25 on Jul 24, 2009 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

You think that's bad?

Initially it was supposed to be x7r33m k0m8@7 L3@gu3.

Because dumb is tough.

If you see Mark Coleman in person, drop $5 on the floor and watch the fun as he tries in vain to bend down and pick it up.

by Ozzz on Jul 25, 2009 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Oh and I knew this would do over 1 million buys due to the viewership of the countdown show and the best 100 on spike

so I get to say – In yo face!

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? ... That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Feb. 28, 2008

by lovingmma25 on Jul 24, 2009 1:30 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Whose face are you in? I expected this PPV to hit 1.2 mil @ least.

by frickshun on Jul 24, 2009 2:04 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

any face really, it could be yours if you want it to be

"Wait a minute. What did you just say? You're predicting $4-a-gallon gas? ... That's interesting. I hadn't heard that." --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Feb. 28, 2008

by lovingmma25 on Jul 24, 2009 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Wow, you were really going out on a limb there! I predicted that the sun would rise in the east this morning and guess what? It did! IN YO FACE!!!!!!

Some people might say that winning a fight makes you a better fighter but I don’t agree with that.- BlueberryMuffin

by ufc4 on Jul 24, 2009 8:46 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions   0 recs

Will Dana buy the UFC Iran!?

I’m stoked.

It ends in an armbar or a strangle regardless.

by capital L on Jul 24, 2009 5:00 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

He will.

And he’ll rename it KalibRan.

If you see Mark Coleman in person, drop $5 on the floor and watch the fun as he tries in vain to bend down and pick it up.

by Ozzz on Jul 25, 2009 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

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