It’s only a matter of time before the UFC has the #1 Fighter in the World in all 8 weight classes…. Fedor can’t fight forever, and will either lose or have such a decline in competition that the UFC Champion will automatically become the #1 Ranked fighter in the world. If he loses, the UFC will offer big money to the linear champion. Heck, Anderson Silva has universally been recognized as the Middleweight Champion of the World for a few years, and was never the linear champion (still isn’t).

I do think Kimbo Slice & Heavyweights in general will bring bigger ratings to TUF. And realistically, outside of older PPV shows, the UFC really hasn’t given us much free content that has been worth seeing. Almost all of it has been on PPV.

The discussions about the UFC bringing in the Featherweight & Bantamweight Divisions is directly related to them getting a network deal. If they do, then they need more champions to main event their cards. Having 12 PPV’s and 6 Network TV Shows (just guessing), would be easy to fill up with 8 champions and the other strong headliners they have.

Lastly, what MMA has shown us in 2009 is that ratings and revenues are two very different things. Strikeforce has ratings and almost no revenues. The UFC has flat ratings, and record high revenues. And keep in mind, 600,000 viewers is still 600,000 viewers no matter how Strikeforce wants to say it. Showtime is just not a good channel to get your product across on. And being on Network TV only 4 times a year likely won’t change that. Not to mention the revenues just aren’t there for Strikeforce.

The only reason it’s flat is that they do main events now on TV like Nate Diaz v. Josh Neer.

I strongly believe the co-main of the first network show should be something like Randy Couture vs. Wanderlei or Franklin. Randy provides drama unmatched in the sport, it is exactly the kind of emotion you want to put out there for the general public.

Dave has been pounding the oversaturation drum for so long now. At the same time he went on and on about it last december and how it would hurt UFC 92, and then that blew away all expectations. If the sport becomes unpopular it could become a problem, and at that point they can scale back. But right now, complaining about 50 shows between the UFC and Strikeforce next year is something I just dismiss. I’m excited about it.

Strikeforce’s ratings going up is also misleading. Their first show did okay, their second show did poor (worse than first). Then Gina Carano, the biggest TV draw so far in the sport (or second biggest) comes in and does a huge rating. I dont know if this is proof of any momentum for Strikeforce.

There is value for the UFC in doing at least one big rating per year. It just keeps them even more relevant among advertisers and TV people who don’t really speak in PPV terms. Nike big wigs were at UFC 102, interesting to see if they start sponsoring fighters.

If ESPN is who the UFC has been courting then ABC is far and away the front runner here. ESPN controls ABC’s sporting schedule. This doesn’t mean it’s definitely ABC, since maybe they’re dealing with mutliple offers, but ABC seems highly likely. They also have the most totally random Saturday schedule and the UFC would be relatively easy to insert in there 6 times a year. Not sure about 12 times a year though….

The plan is 12 numbered shows per year that will not be on PPV. (4 on network and the other 8 (mostly overseas shows) with a broadcast partner other than spike).

12 numbered shows per year that will be on PPV

up to 12 fight nights on spike.

I dont know what the new deal turned out to be but the original one was 4 on ABC, and the other 8 on espn major for the non-ppv numbered events.

The 4 may now be moved to a different network (but I dont know for sure) and the other 8 remaining on espn… unless the “other” network decides to gobble up the entire 12 and Zuffa is able to get out of any commitment that was made.

No matter what spike has a ceiling… so you have to look at the other broadcast deals as additional “advertisiing” value.

The over saturation argument really doesn’t apply as long as there’s an equal “unit of time” of non live UFC programming.

For example: if you get laid every week. Miss a week and you get a feeling of longing. Hence the magic of 3 live events per month and 1 week of “UFC longing”.

Also the “numbered” event produces a “zeigarnik” effect which compels the viewer to “keep up with the sport”.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suspense#Zeigarnik_effect

You feel something is missing if you watch UFC 103 and miss UFC 102 and UFC 104, etc…

So over saturation is less of a concern than being limited with only having live programming on spike… both form a width perspective and depth perspective especially with the new market dynamics and demands that has been generated by the game and will be by Kimbo’s tuf season .

Lock it up!

When PPV reruns are beating out Baseball, Basketball and NFL in the target demo…. IT’S TIME.

I think the oversaturation thing is not very accurate.

The Spike cards have been entertaining for hardcore fans lately, but they really haven’t had the name power to really expect any better than they have actually done.

The fact that it’s taken this long to get a network deal done means that Zuffa isn’t taking it lightly, so when they do it, they’re going to go at it full force and do it right. They’re going to make a card that can’t fail.