WEC Says Versus-DirecTV Spat Nothing to Do With WEC 43 Postponement

by Luke Thomas on Aug 26, 2009 3:27 PM EDT in News Comment 24 comments

That's the company line, anyway, but the statements are very odd:

Michael David Smith: Why was this card postponed?

Peter Dropick: Injury to Ben Henderson. He was injured, went to the doctors and they told him he couldn't continue his training camp. So we decided this was the fight we wanted, Ben and Donald Cerrone are our No. 1 and No. 2 contenders, so we felt it would be a disservice to replace them. So we went to Versus, they were able to get us another date, and we moved it to October 10, a Saturday night, which will be our first fight on a Saturday.
...

What is the nature of his injury?
I can't discuss that.

As to the issue of Versus vs. DirecTV, Dropick offered this dismissal:

Did the dispute between Versus and DirecTV have anything to do with the postponement?
No. Not at all. That doesn't even make sense. We're a cornerstone property of that network. Why would they want to take that off the air? The more great programming they have, the more people are going to watch Versus. That did not play into this in any manner.

How concerned are you about possibly losing all those DirecTV subscribers as WEC viewers?
I'm not overly concerned. These concerns between networks and providers happen, but I'm confident the two will work a deal out. Versus has some of the top properties on the air: Ourselves, PBR, Tour de France, NHL and a great college football schedule coming up. I'm confident the two will get a deal done.

And is the WEC going to fold into the UFC? Dropick says don't bet on it:

Is there any talk at all about folding the WEC into the UFC?
No.

That's definitely not happening?
No, I think the only talk of that was from the media. I'm not sure where that came from, but no.

I'm a big proponent of what the WEC is trying to do for MMA, but I'd caution against believing any PR spin where the core argument is "don't believe your lying eyes".

0 recs | Comment 24 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

I agree that there is a lot of spin going on in that interview.

Even if they knew they were going to merge, they wouldn’t say so due to their TV contract with Versus. According to Dave Meltzer, the DirecTV issue was not the reason why the show was cancelled. Makes it likely that ticket sales were down. If that was the case, they can’t publicly say that either without making fans mad.

The last potential reason is the same day weigh-ins being required by the commission.

Either way, the WEC likely isn’t telling the truth. If Henderson was injured, they couldn’t reschedule the event a month later like this.

by AlwaysRelaxing on Aug 26, 2009 2:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Is there any small injury that would delay a training camp but would heal quickly? Possibly an infection? That seems more likely.

As for the WEC and UFC merging, I don’t understand why people think Zuffa would want to roll together two viable enterprises that they can ensure don’t compete, and actually cross promote each other. If you have 2 of the top 3 orgs, at least in the US, why would you want to lose that section of the market?

by amadeus on Aug 26, 2009 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

market share

the WEC doesnt capture any market share that the UFC doesnt also capture, the same people who watch the WEC watch all the UFC programing.

a merger allows more exposure to established WEC stars that are not known to a lot of the newer UFC fans, everybody knows Faber but nobody knows brown, bowles or even torres. by folding the wec in it held the UFC cash in even more on these guys and it also solves its problem of having to many events and not enough headline caliber fighters available

by bearcox13 on Aug 26, 2009 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Because the WEC is still very small

I’m not gonna spend my time googling the numbers but the WEC live events usually draw less viewers than an episode of TUF.

Think of sports bars, almost all show all the UFC’s but how many do you know that show the WEC?
I know a lot of casual fans of mma and to them mma=UFC just like football=NFL and baseball=MLB.

The WEC is never gonna get the type of audience the UFC does and so why continue it. The only reason I have heard for continuing the WEC is because hardcore fans like the fights.

Rememeber when the WEC started talking PPV? Hell even most harcore fans balked at that idea.
I say forget 125 and forget Superheavy weight and merge the 135, 145, and 155 into the UFC.

by bigdmmafan on Aug 26, 2009 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The viewing is a question of promoting the fighters correctly, not the caliber of the Org. Most people have no idea what Strikeforce is either, and think that the UFC is the only org for MMA.

If Zuffa made enough of a push, the WEC could become a healthy entity on its own. And in that case, Its like if someone owned McDonalds and Wendys, if Burger King was way less profitable than McD’s. Increasing exposure and keeping two separate orgs would allow viewers to go where they choose, and because Zuffa can ENSURE those two don’t compete, they can bolster their section of the market.

I wouldn’t be opposed to the UFC hosting WEC fighters on their cards, but Zuffa stands to gain nothing by merging the two.

by amadeus on Aug 26, 2009 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Here is the problem with the WEC

They have 3 weight divisions right now. Yes everyone keeps talking how they are gonna add 125 but they havent and so you have 3 divisions.

Now at 155 , BJ and the rest of the guys at 155 are regarded as the best in their division and so people think the WEC’s 155 division is a joke.

So that leaves you pretty much 2 weight classes and I question, even with a huge push, the WEC could be with really 2 weight classes.

You got to rememeber casual fans are not hardcore fans and so the idea that they will tune in with a huge push isnt set in stone. I know my casual fan friends now only watch the 1-2 PPV’s a month and maybe a good fight night or ultimate fighter finale card.

Even though us mma fans were salvating prior to this month with 7 big events before Affliction’s cancellation casual fans dont tune in to everything. They tune in to big events so when people talk about them at the watercooler on monday they dont feel stupid.

The poblem comes down to this in almost everyweight division the UFC has the best fighters and so it’s hard to get excited if you dont feel like your watching the best. Yes, the WEC has the best 135’s and 145’s but still. It’s the same reason why people love watching a Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao fight but dont tune into ESPN’s Friday Night Fights.
With a lot of people they want to assume they are watching the best fighters in the world and yes were at 135 and 145 they are how can you get pumped for a Cerrone/Henderson fight when you were just told that BJ/Ken-Flo were the best LW’s in the world. Again you might be able to get excited but it’s about bringing in the casual fan.

by bigdmmafan on Aug 26, 2009 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i would agree with you if the WEC weren’t profitable, but since it is, why would you ruin a good thing?

by amadeus on Aug 26, 2009 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe they feel like folding the WEC could in turn make the UFC more money?

The UFC has been forced to put on some sub-par main events lately and maybe they feel like if they folded the UFC they could increase buyrates.

Look at 96 where the main event was Jackson/Jardine what if that match was moved to co-main event and Brown/Garcia was the main event.

Look at 99, main event Franklin/Silva make that the co-main event and made Brown/Faber 2 the main event.

Look at 102, main event Couture/Nog make that the co-main event and made Torres/Bowles the main event.

I’m not guarenteeing it sells more but maybe?

Here is the one other thing I wanna bring up. It is very hard for Zuffa to push the WEC. Why you ask? Because during the time of the Elite XC’s, the IFL’s, the Affliction’s you have told the fans that if you want to see the best fighters in the world you have to watch the UFC and now your telling fans hey watch the UFC but also watch this other promotion because they have great stars too. It would be like the NFL saying hey watch our product but if you wanna see other great teams watch the XFL or the arena league.

by bigdmmafan on Aug 26, 2009 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

“No, I think the only talk of that was from the media. I’m not sure where that came from, but no.”

Didn’t Dana White say something about this being a possibility not too long ago?

And they are definitely lying about the DirecTV thing having nothing to do with the postponement.

Walla walla walla I'm an idiot.

by ufc4 on Aug 26, 2009 2:57 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs

Yes he did.

At a 101 Q and A session. Dana said they are looking into folding the WEC.

It may or may not happen but anyone that thinks because Dropick said it aint happen it’s not is mistaken.

We were told Tito would never be back in the UFC. We were told companies like Pride and the IFL were doing fine weeks before their closure. Anything can happen in the world of mma.

by bigdmmafan on Aug 26, 2009 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

correct

but say you have two healthy dogs at a time when dogs are dying off because of competition for food, why would you want to kill one?

by amadeus on Aug 26, 2009 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They're Not Killing It...

They’re simply taking the assets and moving them to the more powerful, recognizable brand.

There’s a list of the Top 20 individual fights in MMA. All are/were anchored by CBS or UFC/Spike. The “biggest” WEC fight is, arguably, Pulver/Faber. It’s nowhere to be found. If this fight headlined a Spike/UFN card, it would be in the Top 20.

There’s no logical reason NOT to do this. Fighters make more and the divisions gain greater viewership, thus more marketability.

by SizeMatters on Aug 26, 2009 5:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Didn’t Henderson have laser eye surgery? I’m not sure when, but that could be what they’re talking about, and it wouldn’t take long for him to be ready.

http://www.fourouncestofreedom.com

by Beer Monster on Aug 26, 2009 3:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

that makes a tremendous amount of sense

I’ve seen Henderson wear glasses before and since you can’t wear contacts in fighting, it would make sense that a nonintrusive procedure would cause postponement

by amadeus on Aug 26, 2009 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have recently had surgery to correct my vision so I have been enjoying the ability to actually see my opponents," Henderson said during a break from training.

From here

http://www.fourouncestofreedom.com

by Beer Monster on Aug 26, 2009 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Reminds me of the Mayweather postponement.

I have an injury, but I can’t tell you what it is.

Although detractors decry (MMA) as a brutal, bloody form of human cockfighting, aficionados know it is a brutal, bloody, totally fucking awesome form of human cockfighting. -The Onion

by The Kittitas Kid on Aug 26, 2009 3:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Strained pocketbook.

Walla walla walla I'm an idiot.

by ufc4 on Aug 26, 2009 6:11 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

Word.

Strained ticket sales/TV deal.

Although detractors decry (MMA) as a brutal, bloody form of human cockfighting, aficionados know it is a brutal, bloody, totally fucking awesome form of human cockfighting. -The Onion

by The Kittitas Kid on Aug 27, 2009 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah this interview reminds me of Tom Atencio’s where the guy isn’t really telling the whole story and seems suspect. Which is shocking to me since i’ve always applauded them for having their shit together and running an mma org the way it should be. I’ve been very big on the WEC but this can’t happen again, you can’t cancel a show with a week to go because of some bs WEC needs to use this as an example so future shows go off without a hitch.

by Raker on Aug 26, 2009 4:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Benson’s injury was minor and he didn’t miss any training time. The postponement is 100% about the threat of same day weigh-ins.

by Velcro on Aug 26, 2009 5:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

WEC Folding Into UFC

That’s definitely not happening?
No, I think the only talk of that was from the media. I’m not sure where that came from, but no.

It probably came from common sense.

...Behold, a pale horse. The man that sat upon it was Wieters, and hell followed with him.

"BJ on the BE" - Kierkegaard

by Brett Jones on Aug 26, 2009 5:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

And Dana White.

Walla walla walla I'm an idiot.

by ufc4 on Aug 26, 2009 6:11 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

Wow

This ‘rescheduling’ along with these odd statements create a very ominous feeling…. I hope the WEC sticks around, but I think they should merge with the UFC. The UFC could absolutely support a bi-weekly live show that way!