Deadspin: Whatever Happened To The UFC?

[boomertx]

He ragged on boxing promoters for making main event focused ppv cards. Little by little, Zuffa has moved to main event focused cards, watering down the main cards more and more to where they are now.

He also said he would never have WMMA as part of the organization...things change. He also has 500 or so fighters under contract (I think I saw that number in an article recently). So how do you keep them busy and fighting and try and get them name recognition? Put on lots of cards and give them a chance to make a name.

Funny thing is people rag on White for not paying enough and they rag on him for putting on too many watered down cards. So what's it going to be? Fewer shows with recognized names or more shows with people that no one knows?

If I'm a nobody I'd sure rather fight a few times a year and make more overall (and have a chance to make a name for myself) as opposed to once a year for a larger per fight paycheck.

 

[Bigj383]

I swear some of these cards are literally regional show level outside of the main event. Come on DFW at least come through with solid co-mains

Have you ever been to a regional show? Just to give you an idea Joey Beltran was a HW champion in a regional show here in San Diego. Get to the UFC and he sucks compared to the rest of the UFC butbhe was the elite of his regional division. All the lowest level guysnin the UFC steamroll guys in regional shows.

 

[GGpX]

Football fans dont complain about watching a division 2 game. NHL fans don't complain about watching a OHL game...

Maybe because they know going in that it isn't the NFL or NHL they're watching, so the expectations are considerably lower?

If you're watching the NFL/NHL, you know you're watching he best of the best in the world.

The UFC, uh, not so much lately.

 

[branchtan]

la.

I am dumbfounded by how many so called MMA fans are bitching about the number of fights for them to watch.

Maybe, just maybe because they charge the same price for cards that are substantially worse than the cards years ago. "But but don't watch it then!" I won't, and that isn't as fun as putting my 55-60 bucks towards a great card, which used to happen a lot more frequently.

 

[Bigj383]

Names chosen for the purposes of an easy comparison to illustrate the point.

I have no doubt you're able to imagine slightly lesser acts in the "old UFC" example and something perhaps slightly better than Blizzard Man in the "new UFC" example.

UFC PPVs have been pretty consistent with about 6 top 10 fighters on each card.

 

[Guitarmbar]

Maybe, just maybe because they charge the same price for cards that are substantially worse than the cards years ago. "But but don't watch it then!" I won't, and that isn't as fun as putting my 55-60 bucks towards a great card, which used to happen a lot more frequently.

First, let's put aside the fact that the cards being "substantially worse" is a completely unsubstantiated statement that can't be proven with any actual measurement.

I actually agree, but probably not for the reason you think.

The reason people are so bitter (myself included) about paying for the PPVs they get these days is NOT because of the quality of fights or star power. The reason is, there used to be tons of fights on BASIC CABLE. I put that in caps because it's seriously important.

I remember not having any problem dropping $50 on a PPV because at least once a month there was a card on Spike TV which I got with my piddly little cable subscription.

That reality is no more. If I want those "lower level" cards now I've got to upgrade to the premium sports package, buy Fight Pass, etc. Remember those prelims on Facebook. That was awesome and I guess too awesome because they stopped doing it pretty quick. Basically the UFC is bleeding me out of every vein.

My point is, the cards haven't really gotten any worse. It's the fact that we're having to pay so much more for the ones that are "FREE".

 

[Scamrock]

Oh ok so PPV sales must be at an all time high then... right?

No big stars left, watered down cards, and new divisions that nobody cares about... Thats just the way i see it.

You say nobody cares, but people do. There are people who were big fans of WEC. There were people who were fans of WMMA before it was in the UFC. There are even people who followed TPF to watch the flyweights. So just because you don't care, it doesn't mean we don't. So by "nobody cares", you really mean you don't care and you think they should be catering to you.

As far as no big stars left, who cares? You like who you like. Do you need the approval of others to know who to cheer for? I don't need a guy to pull in a million PPV buys for him to matter to me. Didn't somebody on one of these threads say their favorite fighter was Cole Miller? He doesn't need Cole to be a big star. He is just a fan. I know who the champs are. I know who the contenders are. I know who the guys are I get excited to watch. I know the prospects I like to follow. I don't need buyrates and ratings to justify that.

As far as the cards being watered down, well, for you, I'm sure they are if you don't like the sub-lightweight divisions or the women. I was reading where somebody said PPV main cards should pretty much be only top 15 guys. So I went back and looked. If you look at the PPV main cards, it pretty much is all top 15 guys. The few exceptions are guys who were late replacements for ones who were top 15, or prelim fights or replacement fights that were taking the place of fights between top 15 guys that got scrapped for injuries and whatnot.

 

[DaGenius]

I mean I understand why the UFC has made this adjustment in strategy but it doesn't mean I like it all as a fan.

 

[riddleofsteel]

The NBA has already done their extensive expansions team wise. And those initial expansions were significant in size.

The UFC expansion is more like adding games to the season instead of just teams; they are increasing the number of events and roster.

Plus the NBA only has teams in the US and Canada. The UFC's expansion into foreign markets would be like the NBA holding games in foreign countries, maybe establishing a few oversea teams.

As for the record of the headlining fighter, well the NBA or NFL doesn't cancel games for the teams that have shitty records.
The NFL didn't tell Oakland, Washington or Houston they had to stop selling tickets and were banned from the NFL ticket when they were all 2-10. They had no problem broadcasting games of .500 or below teams through the end of the season.

The UFC is trying to expand into a league that can hold regular cards throughout the year and not just super cards. The strategy seems pretty obvious.
Now the quality of some ppvs is a different issue but their strategy is obvious.

 

[marksmen]

UFC 174 ratings sums it up pretty much.

 

[Bigj383]

First, let's put aside the fact that the cards being "substantially worse" is a completely unsubstantiated statement that can't be proven with any actual measurement.

I actually agree, but probably not for the reason you think.

The reason people are so bitter (myself included) about paying for the PPVs they get these days is NOT because of the quality of fights or star power. The reason is, there used to be tons of fights on BASIC CABLE. I put that in caps because it's seriously important.

I remember not having any problem dropping $50 on a PPV because at least once a month there was a card on Spike TV which I got with my piddly little cable subscription.

That reality is no more. If I want those "lower level" cards now I've got to upgrade to the premium sports package, buy Fight Pass, etc. Remember those prelims on Facebook. That was awesome and I guess too awesome because they stopped doing it pretty quick. Basically the UFC is bleeding me out of every vein.

My point is, the cards haven't really gotten any worse. It's the fact that we're having to pay so much more for the ones that are "FREE".

That sucks for your cable provider FS1&2 are included in my basic cable package. During the Spike years UFC aired 79 live fights a year on Spike. UFC now airs over 240+ live fights a year on FS1/FS2 and Fox, and an additional 150+ on fightpass. 2011 UFC aired 80 fights that were PPV exclusive ($880), now only 65 fights are exclusive to PPV ($715).

 

[riddleofsteel]

Maybe because they know going in that it isn't the NFL or NHL they're watching, so the expectations are considerably lower?

If you're watching the NFL/NHL, you know you're watching he best of the best in the world.

The UFC, uh, not so much lately.

When you're watching Oakland, Washington, Houston, Cleveland, Tampa, Buffalo, Jacksonville or Minnesota you are watching some shitty football teams. There are a lot of subpar pro teams that people watch, it is something that sports fans have to deal with.

Even at the top not every game or fight is going to be beat title contenders. It just isn't possible.

 

[Ughugh]

Ffs, they are Fight Night cards. They have ALWAYS been lower quality and headlined by (at the time) relatively unknown up and comers.

 

[Unbreakabull]

People just seem offended by a show designed to showcase prospects increasing the number of prospects.

you're getting legit prospect confused with "random fighter from country x", which is much more akin to the ufc's strategy

 

[Guitarmbar]

That sucks for your cable provider FS1&2 are included in my basic cable package. During the Spike years UFC aired 79 live fights a year on Spike. UFC now airs over 240+ live fights a year on FS1/FS2 and Fox, and an additional 150+ on fightpass. 2011 UFC aired 80 fights that were PPV exclusive ($880), now only 65 fights are exclusive to PPV ($715).

Don't get me wrong. I fucking hate Dish Network. They were the best deal 4 years ago when I signed the contract and I had no idea that they would end up not offering the majority of UFC cable/satellite programming in their basic package. I'm actually probably going to cancel my satellite when the World Cup is over. At which point I will probably purchase Fight Pass.

 

[Bigj383]

you're getting legit prospect confused with "random fighter from country x", which is much more akin to the ufc's strategy

Every prospect starts as random fighter from country x. Then they either become contenders or journeymen.

 

[riddleofsteel]

They keep those players 100% segregated in separate leagues. You don't pay $500 to see the Yankees and end up with half the innings played by the Rail Riders.

But people pay to watch the Cubs & Padres and they suck.
Better analogy is the lower tier UFC guys are like rookies or minor league players called up. Teams do put them in to play.

 

[Zeta Reticuli]

Ha, Conor is the goat and stuff remember?

 

[branchtan]

First, let's put aside the fact that the cards being "substantially worse" is a completely unsubstantiated statement that can't be proven with any actual measurement.

I actually agree, but probably not for the reason you think.

The reason people are so bitter (myself included) about paying for the PPVs they get these days is NOT because of the quality of fights or star power. The reason is, there used to be tons of fights on BASIC CABLE. I put that in caps because it's seriously important.

I remember not having any problem dropping $50 on a PPV because at least once a month there was a card on Spike TV which I got with my piddly little cable subscription.

That reality is no more. If I want those "lower level" cards now I've got to upgrade to the premium sports package, buy Fight Pass, etc. Remember those prelims on Facebook. That was awesome and I guess too awesome because they stopped doing it pretty quick. Basically the UFC is bleeding me out of every vein.

My point is, the cards haven't really gotten any worse. It's the fact that we're having to pay so much more for the ones that are "FREE".

Good points but I think people are delusional if they think the PPVs haven't been getting worse. Not that I'm going to change your mind or anything..

 

[riddleofsteel]

Maybe, just maybe because they charge the same price for cards that are substantially worse than the cards years ago. "But but don't watch it then!" I won't, and that isn't as fun as putting my 55-60 bucks towards a great card, which used to happen a lot more frequently.

In team sports, a pro team rarely lowers their ticket prices when the team is sucking. Welcome to pro sports.