The problem with UFC's counter programming & the fan support

I actually think that some of the business moves Zuffa does are detrimental to the overall growth/ development of the sport (IE counter programming Strikeforce, refusing to copromote, the harsh way they treat the fighters, etc).

You can look at that two ways. Some people, myself included, would like all elite fighters in one organization – the UFC. The sooner that happens the sooner we get fights like Fedor vs. Lesnar. So driving Strikeforce out of business could eventually be a positive thing. With multiple promotions having having elite level fighters in several different promotions MMA could end up like boxing.

I hate to break it to you but the UFC isn’t counter-programming SF, all the talk is just misinformation thrown out there by Zuffa to get Coker to shit his pants a little. The Versus card is on march 21st.

Business is business and Coker knew what he was doing signing Fedor, but really I think a strictly Zuffa product right now is not the way to go.

I think Strikeforce is a joke of an org and won’t shed a tear if they get taken out. Remember when they signed Dan Henderson, it was to bolster their roster. But they did a 180 on us and now are forcing Dan Henderson to replace Fedor. That’s dirty pool and nobody is calling them out on it.

And they reward the guy who forced millions of people to change the channel the last time he fought on CBS with a main event slot? That’s hogwash. They have so few great fighters that they can’t hold any of them accountable. I still can’t believe CBS signed off on that fight for the main event.

And they use Hershel Walker to draw eyeballs. That’s a crime. It would be one thing if he was being forced to take on the other Strikeforce heavyweights, but he’s not. Strikeforce actually has to go and hire low-level MMA fighters for him to take on. Fighters so low level they make Bo Cantrell look like Heath Herring. They do the same thing with Bobby Lashley (only the bums they have to sign for him to beat aren’t as flagrantly offensive). It’s a real crappy way to run an MMA org.

They aren’t good for the sport at all. They use gimmick fighters and reward boring fighters. They need to be taken out of business to protect MMA. Everybody on this site would watch the event if it was on at 2 in the morning. They should think about the casual audience these Strikeforce events are actually being marketed to and take a step back and ask themselves if they really think Strikeforce is doing a good job at that.

Zuffa does a lot of things wrong to, but nothing embarrassing or incompetent. Zuffa could have signed up Hershel Walker, Jose Canseco, Dustin Diamond and Horshack and made a mockery of MMA too, but they have more respect for the sport than that. So for now, they are the only org worthy to bring high level MMA to the public in my opinion.

Zuffa is after them now.

this move leaves everyone without a DVR with the dilemma of picking between shows (and unless the UFC comes up with a barnburner main event, I see them losing in a head to head battle anyway).

The UFC could put together Sam Stout vs. Joe Lauzon II as a main event, and they would still win. The mere fact that they are in the position to potentially take away viewers from SF while being able to counter program with minimal investment (the power of branding) means they come out on top either way. Not to mention, even if the show is marginally profitable, it’s a higher risk/reward just on the basis of making it harder for SF to get a leg up in this fight.

But the whole attitude of “Zuffa fanboyism” is something I don’t get; I actually think that some of the business moves Zuffa does are detrimental to the overall growth/ development of the sport (IE counter programming Strikeforce, refusing to copromote, the harsh way they treat the fighters, etc).

Bullet points don’t make for much of an argument. These are not the detriments you assume them to be. Case in point: refusing to co-promote. I guess Josh Gross has more fans than I thought because the idea of co-promoting is not a blessing.

It’s easy to point to M-1 as a good example of what happens when co-promoting goes wrong. But it’s more important not to focus on M-1 itself so much as it is to focus on the fact that self-interest will always get in the way. Each organization functions on a different schedule, and being able to share fighters at the most optimal time is rarely practical. Not to mention, it can dilute inner-organizational matchmaking. What happens when fighter A is on track to meet fighter B, but fighter A must meet the obligations of a different org? Matchmaking is tricky enough: it’s even trickier when fighter availability becomes an issue by choice.

Co-promotion is a pipe dream, and not a very attractive one at that. Small organizations co-promote because they have to. I guarantee you, if they made more money, they’d focus on strengthening their brand, and one of the ways of doing that is by showcasing fighters who represent that brand exclusively. Remember the Strikeforce merchandise numbers? While not the cause, co-promoting doesn’t help that.

As for counter programming, in what way is this detrimental? People who watch SpikeTV will watch the UFC. People who watch CBS in the proper demographic will watch Strikeforce. Hardcore fans will find a way to watch both, legally or not, and media coverage will remain the same. Meanwhile, the fighters remain active, and thus make more money, and receive more exposure.

This fan post was nothing more than a half-assed emotional plea for Zuffa to stop shoving the middle schoolers in their lockers.

The UFC could put together Sam Stout vs. Joe Lauzon II as a main event, and they would still win.

I highly doubt that. If CBS actually puts together a decent marketing campaign, they could honestly blow the UFC out of the water. Think about how well Fedor’s network TV debut did, and then consider how much everyone was bitching about the shitty job they did advertising for the event; imagine if they actually did a good job of advertising the fights.

Seriously, the thing sells itself- 3 titles on the line, 5 world ranked competitors, etc. etc.

One, that SF could counter program the UFC and someone even mentioned a move into PPV way down the road, which ought to scare everybody. How many of you want to start paying for two PPVs a month just to see all the fights you want to? I’m guessing just about nobody, especially given the tight situations we are already facing. I know I only want to have to tune into one place and pay one time to see all the best fighters, and that is the sole reason I do not want strikeforce becoming a big thing.

This isnt Zuffa fanboyism, I am for the UFC because that is where 4 of the 5 world titles are. And while I am in the boat that believes Lesnar would manhandle Fedor before taking him down and smashing his face with lunch box hands, I do agree that the worlds best heavyweight for the time being lies outside the UFC. Not to get into Fedor, but when the best fight the best, that is when titles change hands, and until fedor and lesnar fight, the title rightfully is in fedors hands. Anyways, my point is, 4 of the 5 actual meaningful titles are in the UFC.

Lets be totally obvious and logical here and conclude that if thats where the meaningful titles are, and that is where the greates depth of talent lies, and that is where the LW, WW, MW, and LHW chapions of the world are, then why do we need a SF to take away from that?

I want to see the handful of SF fighters that are of UFC quality folded into the organization for the benefit of the FAN, not Zuffa.

We as fans deserve to see the best fight the best, and we cannot do that with 2 competing major promotions. It isnt fair to any fan, not to mention the cost issue of two PPV promotions. Thats another reason I am absolutely against WEC going PPV. nobody can afford that many shows a month! I’d pay 9.99 for WEC, not 49.99, the same as the UFC big leagues price. I don’t mean to take away from the little guys, they are more than often the most exciting to watch, the quickest, they don’t tire, its nonstop action….but thats a whole different thread….

Bottom line. To know who is the best we have to watch the best fight the best and we cannot do that with two major promotions competing with one another. And that is a crime against MMA, and surely a crime against the paying fans.

I feel ya, but the UFC is unable or unwilling to give the fan the number of events that we desire. If they did then they would be squeezing out the Bellator’s and SF’s. Since the UFC isn’t going to be holding 4 events a month anytmie soon there is going to be "competing " promotions. The current status is actually pretty damn good. As you said the UFC has 3 out of 4 titles ( soon to be 4 of 4 if Fedor doesn’t stay busy with top 10 competition) We shouldn’t blame SF for Fedor and M-1 not wanting to face the best.
I think things will continue to play out just fine for us with SF playing a solid # 2. The best in SF will eventually go to the UFC cause that’s where the money is. We the fan will get more free quality content than we otherwise would if SF was not in existence. Let’s just be a lil more patient and we’ll see the benefits of having a strong # 2 providing great free content and cultivating more quality fighters.