UFC Ticket Business On Fire

by Michael Rome on Apr 28, 2008 6:17 PM EDT in News

Dave Meltzer reports in this week's Wrestling Observer Newsletter that UFC ticket business for live events has really taken off. Whereas the Brock Lesnar show did not come close to selling out in February, the May 24 show has already sold out well in advance, the London show is almost sold out, and the July show is off to a good start.

I wonder why Vegas would do so well with a BJ Penn match on top as compared to Brock Lesnar. Oh right, I think I know why, it's this guy on the card who is the biggest draw in the UFC who they are letting go.

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Re: UFC Ticket Business On Fire

I had to look at the card to figure out who you were talking about. I'd forgotten Tito was fighting.

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by Richard on Apr 28, 2008 6:24 PM EDT 0 recs

Re: UFC Ticket Business On Fire

thanks, my dumb ass was sitting there scratching my head.

by Kid Nate on Apr 28, 2008 6:40 PM EDT up 0 recs

Re: UFC Ticket Business On Fire

Eh, I think that's unfair. While Brock might not have sold out when it comes to the ticket sales, the PPV numbers for that show were impressive from what I remember. They're not so much letting him go as Tito has decided he's going to leave. Tito is definitely being offered top money to stay from the Fertittas but the fact is that outside fights with Frank and Kimbo would be able to make Tito far more than it would be financially feasible for the UFC to pay him. On top of that, Tito leaving the UFC means that the UFC audience will be expanded to other MMA shows and thus make MMA bigger as a sport as opposed to just the UFC brand. Any Tito fight outside of the UFC will make his opponent a star and give serious exposure to those featured on the card.It's simply best for everyone involved. At this point in the UFC Tito has rematches with guys like Forrest, Rashad, and Wanderlei but fights with Kimbo or Frank are simply bigger.

by dropkick101 on Apr 28, 2008 9:53 PM EDT 0 recs

Re: UFC Ticket Business On Fire

I didn't even know Tito was on the card. Honestly, haven't heard any promotion frm him and I doubt the card was selling because of him.

I don't even think his much hyped fight with Rashad sold out or made a lot of money in Tito's hometown.

by Dominic on Apr 28, 2008 10:10 PM EDT 0 recs

Re: UFC Ticket Business On Fire

Brock's fight did well on PPV, bringing in a lot of first time fans, but did extremely poorly at the gate. Tito's return to Vegas 17 months later sold the place out quicker than Chuck/Rampage, Chuck/Wand, or Lesnar.

The only "big" fight for him is Kimbo, Frank is not a big fight by any fair definition (buys it will sell, tickets, etc). Even that probably won't happen as EXC is highly unlikely to sacrafice the current cash cow.

by Michael Rome on Apr 28, 2008 10:42 PM EDT 0 recs

Re: UFC Ticket Business On Fire

If Frank vs Tito isn't a big fight, how on earth is Frank a cash cow for EliteXC? His fight with Cung Le did worse than his previous fights on Showtime which really shocked me -- but if the guy can't move numbers coming off a dramatic KO over Baroni, against Cung Le who'd been flashy as shit in 2 or 3 Showtime appearances, is Frank even a force at all?

by Kid Nate on Apr 28, 2008 11:50 PM EDT up 0 recs

Re: UFC Ticket Business On Fire

I thought he was calling Ferguson the cash cow.

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by Richard on Apr 29, 2008 2:29 AM EDT up 0 recs

Re: UFC Ticket Business On Fire

d'oh! now that makes sense. At some point they have to let Kimbo fight somebody or there's just a gradual fading of returns.

by Kid Nate on Apr 29, 2008 9:11 AM EDT up 0 recs

Re: UFC Ticket Business On Fire

I'm not sure letting him get destroyed by Tito Ortiz is a good plan, though.

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by Richard on Apr 29, 2008 8:25 PM EDT up 0 recs

Re: UFC Ticket Business On Fire

I think you're missing one major factor in all of this: Elite XC on CBS. While Frank may not be posting amazing numbers on Showtime or PPV compared to the big show in the UFC, comparatively he's been a good enough draw for Showtime, EXC, and Strikeforce to continuously feature as a main attraction. Add that to the fact that he and Tito have history, both guys are possibly the best self-marketers in the sports, and they could potentially have primetime network exposure and we have ourselves an MMA superfight that at this point only a name like Kimbo Slice could provide outside of the UFC. Tito re-signing with the company if he were to beat Lyoto with big money and a promised title shot would be very beneficial for him but so would jumping ship as he would immediately become the biggest star outside of the UFC.

by dropkick101 on Apr 29, 2008 2:29 PM EDT up 0 recs

Re: UFC Ticket Business On Fire

Comparing the Lesnar card to UFC 85 is apples to oranges.

The Lesnar card wasn't exactly stacked (Timmeh vs. Nog headlined) while UFC 85 has 3 big fights and a lot of interesting matchups for both hard core mma fans.

Also it was Superbowl Weekend, meaning there was big competition for sports fan $$. What is UFC 85 competing against??

But yeah, Tito does sell tickets.

by budoX on Apr 29, 2008 4:44 PM EDT 0 recs