UFC Smartly Nixes Plans for UFC Japan to Lead Into U.S. Pay-Per-View
by Leland Roling on Oct 28, 2011 5:00 PM EDT
in UFC News
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According to a report from MMAFighting.com's Daniel Herbertson, the UFC has finally wised up to the realities of promoting an event in Japan. It was originally suggested by UFC President Dana White that the UFC Japan card, scheduled to take place at Saitama Super Arena on February 26, would act as a prelude to a stateside pay-per-view, but sources have confirmed that the UFC has nixed that approach:
The UFC's long-awaited return to Japan on Feb. 26, 2012 will be a full pay-per-view level event, sources have confirmed to MMA Fighting as initially reported by Dave Meltzer. Zuffa has thus abandoned its controversial plan to have the UFC Japan event act as a free-to-air lead-in to a Las Vegas PPV event.
With a 10 a.m. local start time, the possibility that the Feb. 26, 2012 Japanese UFC event would act as a lead-in to a Las Vegas pay-per-view event, and the lack of local network TV deal, many were quick to criticize the first Japanese UFC event of the Zuffa era.
Although Japanese fans will still be forced to make the morning commute to Saitama Super Arena, MMA Fighting has learned that significant progress has been made towards ensuring the success of the first UFC event in Japan since Dec. 2000 as along with the elevation to PPV for the UFC Japan event, Zuffa has signed a marketing and promotional deal with local advertising giant Dentsu Inc. and a lucrative broadcast deal is currently being negotiated.
I wrote about the obstacles the UFC would face in Japan, concluding that the event was a vanity act. When White suggested that the event act as a lead-in to a stateside pay-per-view, it only added fuel to the fire, making it even more difficult to see what the actual goal was for the card.
Interestingly enough, the UFC has signed an advertising deal with Dentsu, which is a major step in the right direction. Dentsu isn't widely known, but they have helped companies like Skype and Facebook market to Japanese customers. They are the #1 advertising agency in Japan by a long shot, and they should add some muscle to the UFC's plans to land a better TV deal.
Is it enough? I have a hard time believing it matters. Unless the UFC can somehow spark interest among MMA fans in Japan to a brand that is fairly unknown, the card won't matter at all unless they can gain a network deal. If this leads to a bigger TV deal, by all means make the moves. The real question is whether spending the money on this deal is the smart thing to do long-term in a market that has lost interest in MMA for the time being. I don't think it is.
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So the Japan card is just a regular PPV?
Okay.
Rampage vs. King Mo as main event, please.
I respect your opinion even though it's wrong.
I am hoping cro crop and wandy both win in their upcoming fights so that they could be on the card also.
Dont know what will happen to these guys if they dont win.
I don't want to go to Japan just to re-live PRIDE with 4-5 shot fighters
That’s like….the worst possible thing they could do.
I respect your opinion even though it's wrong.
in your opinion
Who's the only one here who knows illegal ninja moves from the government?
No holds barred, no time for move fakin,
Gots to get the loot so I can bring home the bacon - Charlie Brown
Yes.
But does anyone honestly want to see Cro-Cop fight again? The only time he’s showed aggression in recent years is poking Al-Turk’s eye and choking out his friend.
What about Wandy? I love the guy, but he doesn’t have it anymore. Prime Wandy would smash Leben with his fists.
If they want to put PRIDE guys who aren’t shot, then Overeem, Rampage, Werdum, etc. are acceptable fighters. Not Mirko.
I respect your opinion even though it's wrong.
overeem wont be ready in time I dont think.
But shogun would be cool
he may not be 2006-era Cro-Cop but
he’s still better than 99% of the HWs not in the UFC…he’s 37 so I doubt we will see many (if any) fights with Cro-Cop after 137. But he has said he’d like to be in the Japan show if possible, we’ll see I guess.
Who's the only one here who knows illegal ninja moves from the government?
No holds barred, no time for move fakin,
Gots to get the loot so I can bring home the bacon - Charlie Brown
I totally disagree
At this point every fighter on Strikeforce’s HW roster including Chad Griggs probably beats Cro-Cop. Maybe Cole Konrad has a chance against him.
I respect your opinion even though it's wrong.
by SSreporters on Oct 28, 2011 10:30 PM EDT up reply actions
I'd love Shogun/Rampage II as a main if Shogun loses to Hendo.
KEMvP
"You know Joe, if Keith Jardines last name was Johnson, the nickname 'The Dean of Mean' wouldn't work at all."
For one night only, let everyone involved put ego aside, and give us Fedor v Nog for one last time before they both call it a career.
You might think I’m crazy but if I told you this time last year that Nick Diaz would be facing BJ Penn for a shot at the title or Brock would be facing Alistair to be the #1 contender for the UFC heavyweight championship you would think the same. Everything is possible.
It's that the world is basically a forced labor camp from which the workers, perfectly innocent, are led forth by lottery, a few each day, to be executed.
I don't think that's just the way I see it. I think that's the way it is. Are there alternative views? Yes. Will any of them stand close scrutiny? No.
by memitim on Oct 28, 2011 5:41 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
I wouldn’t mind this. Fedor is on his way out likely, but why not give him a final bout with a big name HW on his level?
Signed, Pick'em Champs 2011-2012: Michael Jordanesque in our picking skills.
by mountaineers101 on Oct 28, 2011 5:55 PM EDT up reply actions
If Nog beats Mir he will definitely be a top HW talent. Even today he is ranked ahead of Fedor. I would be down for a Werdum rematch as well.
It's that the world is basically a forced labor camp from which the workers, perfectly innocent, are led forth by lottery, a few each day, to be executed.
I don't think that's just the way I see it. I think that's the way it is. Are there alternative views? Yes. Will any of them stand close scrutiny? No.
by memitim on Oct 28, 2011 6:01 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Let me clarify, Nog is already a top guy. A win against Mir just advances his status in the UFC HW scene.
It's that the world is basically a forced labor camp from which the workers, perfectly innocent, are led forth by lottery, a few each day, to be executed.
I don't think that's just the way I see it. I think that's the way it is. Are there alternative views? Yes. Will any of them stand close scrutiny? No.
by memitim on Oct 28, 2011 6:05 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Give Cro Cop a sendoff against a guy like Russow or Rothwell. Give Wanderlei a winnable fight at middleweight. Put Sexyama’s welterweight debut on the card. Shouldn’t be too hard to please the Japanese fans.
Signed, Pick'em Champs 2011-2012: Michael Jordanesque in our picking skills.
by mountaineers101 on Oct 28, 2011 6:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Well, Cro Cop said this is his last. I just think it would be a great way to close an era and honor it. If all the egos involved did put their own agendas away and simply gave a thank you to the fans it would make a solid bridge to the future.
It's that the world is basically a forced labor camp from which the workers, perfectly innocent, are led forth by lottery, a few each day, to be executed.
I don't think that's just the way I see it. I think that's the way it is. Are there alternative views? Yes. Will any of them stand close scrutiny? No.
by memitim on Oct 28, 2011 6:31 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Dream on, dream on
Besides all the actual reasons this fight wont be made, I see Fedor winning against Monson and Big Nog losing against Mir so I just dont see it being put together.
Dana White met with Showtime the other day. That’s another thing that someone would have said dream on about. Dream on is an obsolete term in modern MMA. This last year proved it.
Oh, and a healthy, staph free Nog beats Mir.
It's that the world is basically a forced labor camp from which the workers, perfectly innocent, are led forth by lottery, a few each day, to be executed.
I don't think that's just the way I see it. I think that's the way it is. Are there alternative views? Yes. Will any of them stand close scrutiny? No.
by memitim on Oct 28, 2011 6:40 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Ok and just for clarification, in this scenario is M-1 Global finally giving up on co-promotion or is Dana White finally giving in on it?
Hell if Dana and Vadim can come to terms maybe there’s hope for the Jews and the Muslims.
For one night only, sure M-1 could drop that demand. It would only benefit them long term. Like I said, if Dana White sat down at SHO’s table this week, after all their bad blood, anything is possible.
It's that the world is basically a forced labor camp from which the workers, perfectly innocent, are led forth by lottery, a few each day, to be executed.
I don't think that's just the way I see it. I think that's the way it is. Are there alternative views? Yes. Will any of them stand close scrutiny? No.
by memitim on Oct 28, 2011 7:06 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
What does the UFC even gain by doing a show in Japan?
by discoandherpes on Oct 29, 2011 12:49 AM EDT reply actions
May be a latent fanbase put off by stale shows.
I dunno but I figure another show in Australia would be worth much more.
I can’t fathom a reality were the UFC is successful in Japan in the recent future.
by discoandherpes on Oct 29, 2011 3:02 AM EDT up reply actions
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