Which is kind of odd, the next GSP/Silva/Jones could be fighting on facebook.
Its an interesting point, totally. I've thought about it, and everyone knows the best way to create a new superstar is to build the athletes up thru your system and get in on the bottom floor with prospects with talent and noise.
But, I can see why smaller companies (and even the larger ones) avoid these deals because:
A)These guys will be bringing in no new business for 1-2 years, at least. You are basically paying them for no return now. Its a risky endeavor for a smaller company to do this, they could go broke before they see return.
B) The UFC does not make it easy.
They really dont. They charge outrageous sponsor fees, making it impossible for smaller, MMA-centric companies to sponsor many fighters if any at all. Then, the UFC puts these guys on Facebook (or doesn't televise them at all) which really limits a company and a fighters' business viewpoint. Why would a company go thru the hassle, put up serious money JUST to get into the UFC, and sponsor a fighter who is potentially cut after one loss? The UFC doesn't guarantee a fighter fights, so why should a company guarantee revenue for a fighter if they don't know how much longer he is gonna be on the biggest MMA stage?
I wish more large companies (or even mid-size companies wanting to break into the MMA scene) would go that route and throw out small amounts of money at lower level fighters with guaranteed pay for 5 UFC fighters or something and an option for said company to add 5-8 more fights with a related increase in pay. If the larger MMA companies, Affliction, etc.. really want to gain media exposure, get the next Jon Jones early, even if you have to go thru 20 fighters to get the right one. For the amount of potential revenue on the table with having your name all over the next GSP and being visually identified with a fighter for a long amount of time will only add to the Q rating of a product.
