Meltzer reports on Bellators gameplan moving forward

[DGT4NOW]

Meltzer:
Spike officials have told us the working plan going forward is to do monthly shows on Fridays, but quarterly big shows, like this one, on Saturdays. Because UFC runs most Saturdays, the feeling is the big specials will probably end up against UFC. It’s not meant to be competitive as much as the idea that big fights are on Saturday nights and with UFC running almost every week, they can’t book big shows to avoid UFC events anymore. The feeling right now is that Bellator hopes to get into PPV again in 2016, but they feel they need more star power. The idea is for them to be successful in doing PPVs, they have to do more than 100,000 buys each time, and they don’t think they’ve got the star power right now to pull that off.

This was in his report of Friday's show (in his newsletter)

 

[ebartlett84]

My expectations will be greatly increased with this move to monthly shows. I prefer they ditch the ppv idea.

They'll compete with AXS, SHOBox, ESPN Friday Night Fights, ect. on Fridays.

I liked it on Thursday nights.

 

[Slongkong]

THe PPV idea is a must. Viacom and Spike have reportedly doubled the money they put into Bellator to really get this thing going. So next year will be very telling. If they stay on track they can be around a long long time.

 

[CoffeeAndBeer]

Worldwide 16-Man OPEN WEIGHT Grand Prix Tournament!


Tito Ortiz
Mirko Cro Cop (IGF)

Rampage Jackson
Sergei Kharitonov (M-1)

Cheick Kongo
Chris Barnett (IGF?)

Vitaly Minakov
Marcin Tybura (M-1)*

Stephen Bonnar
Satoshi Ishii (IGF/M-1)

Emanuel Newton
Tyrone Spong (Glory/WSOF)

Alexander Shlemenko
Mamed Khalidov (KSW)

Mo Lawal
Ben Askren (ONE FC)



Alternates:
Ken Hasegawa (DEEP Champ/Titan)
Damian Grabowski (M-1 HW)*

Magalhaes/Jason Brilz (Titan LHW Champ-elect)
Rousimar Palhares (WSOF WW Champ)

Karol Bedorf (KSW HW Champ)
Shamil Abdurahimov (M-1)


EDITS/UPDATES*

 

[Lucifer Alpha]

The feeling right now is that Bellator hopes to get into PPV again in 2016, but they feel they need more star power.

UFC take note.

 

[DGT4NOW]

THe PPV idea is a must. Viacom and Spike have reportedly doubled the money they put into Bellator to really get this thing going. So next year will be very telling. If they stay on track they can be around a long long time.

I think they are looking at it smart
They seem to want to be a solid #2 behind UFC instead of going after them & want to build their own audience
Good for them

 

[ebartlett84]

Ken Hasegawa (DEEP Champ)

He's with Titan now.

 

[pick999]

 

[ralphus1]

Stay away from the Tito-Bonnar-McCully pro wrestling-type fiasco in the future.

And if you're going to pay top money to guys like Tito, Rampage and King Mo, have them fight each other.

 

[basedworld]

good move - bellator needs to grow and not give a damn about ufc

 

[Sherdoggy]

THe PPV idea is a must. Viacom and Spike have reportedly doubled the money they put into Bellator to really get this thing going.

Is that extra money gonna go anyplace but fighter salaries? Could help in luring some name fighters. Strikeforce got Dan Henderson and Affliction got Arlovski. At least I think both of those guys left the UFC after a contract ran out, but were not cut. And both were eventually back in the UFC so they will take you back.

 

[spikemma]

They sell in a year and a half to ONEfc and they replace them on spike. You watch.

Spike is trying to turn bellator into a legit/entertainment company and this is not wrestling shit.

Idc about when they do their shows, they won't have anything legit left to run them if they keep doing this nonsense. GUY RUNS company, doesn't know who masked man in his cage is...

And yes I made it about that.

 

[CC27]

Doing a few Sat shows they are gonna end up on Days UFC is on but the UFC plans its schedule so far ahead its not like they couldnt pick a different day.

UFC has no show on Nov 1st, Nov 29th and have fight nights on 8th and 22nd.

So they could have scheduled around UFC shows or atleast the UFC PPV but they went right against it so thats not an accident.

 

[Bigj383]

Doing a few Sat shows they are gonna end up on Days UFC is on but the UFC plans its schedule so far ahead its not like they couldnt pick a different day.

UFC has no show on Nov 1st, Nov 29th and have fight nights on 8th and 22nd.

So they could have scheduled around UFC shows or atleast the UFC PPV but they went right against it so thats not an accident.

It's not bright going head to head with the world Heavyweight championship. They obviously don't hurt the UFC's numbers going head to head so it seems like a mistake to me.

 

[VIP1349]

Shit doesn't make any sense to me. If these are your big shows you are basically ensuring they don't get Media coverage. What Media member isnt going to want to go to Mexico for the UFC debut? The answer is all of them want to go and then Bellator is left with scraps.

This show proved that they have some unique audience. But still the ratings for a show that was stacked with some of their biggest names did 600k.

Plus bars are going to show the UFC over Bellator because its a bigger brand.

I get that you may run into them here and there but try not to go head to head with them at the least.

 

[PIT FIGHTER]

I never trust anything Meltzer writes.

 

[chubbman]

The quarterly shows against the ufc could work if they look at the ufcs schedule and book them for when the ufc is in china or the U.K. ect, that would free up the evening slot in the US for bellator

 

[PIT FIGHTER]

I don't mind them on the same night as UFC cards if Bellator airs their main card from 8-10 for instance, and UFC's main card doesn't begin until 10 PM (eastern times).

 

[frandie2b]

Worldwide 16-Man OPEN WEIGHT Grand Prix Tournament!


Tito Ortiz
Mirko Cro Cop (IGF)

Rampage Jackson
Sergei Kharitonov (M-1)

Cheick Kongo
Chris Barnett (IGF?)

Vitaly Minakov
Thiago Silva (???)

Stephen Bonnar
Satoshi Ishii (IGF/M-1)

Emanuel Newton
Tyrone Spong (Glory/WSOF)

Alexander Shlemenko
Mamed Khalidov (KSW)

Mo Lawal
Ben Askren (ONE FC)



Alternates:
Ken Hasegawa (DEEP Champ)
Marcin Tybura (M-1 HW Champ)

Magalhaes/Jason Brilz (Titan LHW Champ-elect)
Rousimar Palhares (WSOF WW Champ)

Karol Bedorf (KSW HW Champ)
Shamil Abdurahimov (M-1)

I would stop to eat chocolate for 10 years to watch a tournament like that.

 

[DGT4NOW]

I never trust anything Meltzer writes.