Actually casual fan doesn't even know Bellator exist and if they do they know very little if anything about when an event is on.
UFC180 will do monster numbers in Mexico, good in Brazil and +300k buys in the US. Tito vs Bonnar will do 1 million at best on Spike. and to even compare the relevancy of both fights is an insult to the sport.
Maybe.
Both those PPV did low because they were both rematches of one sided fights, Cain had just smashed both of them so they werent interesting.
They wont be competing for the same audience, UFC will get the mma sports fans and Bellator will be going after the Spike tv Bar Rescue fans.
The guy who isnt ordering the UFC cause he isnt a hardcore fan.
The guy who is sitting around watching TV flips on Spike and sees Tito and thinks I remember him from years ago fighting with that mohawk dude. Who he is fighting? OH yeah that guy who fought that dude named after a branch or a tree, Forrest, thats his name. yeah I remember watching that.
Oh shit and look at this mask thing, they are brawling in the cage and he is talking about his wife. yeah I'm gonna watch this tonight.
Thats the audience Bellator will get that night with Tito/Bonnar.
1. Cain is NOT a draw
2. Tito and Bonnar are familiar to the casuals
3. Chandler vs Brooks 2 is the most exciting fight of the night
Bellator Wins
We must not confuse to be a success in Mexico and to be a success in USA....I dont doubt in Mexico to be a hit, because it is the first time of UFC in Mexico and the mexicans swear Cain is mexicanUFC180 will do monster numbers in Mexico, good in Brazil and +300k buys in the US. Tito vs Bonnar will do 1 million at best on Spike. and to even compare the relevancy of both fights is an insult to the sport.
We must not confuse to be a success in Mexico and to be a success in USA....I dont doubt in Mexico to be a hit, because it is the first time of UFC in Mexico and the mexicans swear Cain is mexicanbut that doesnt mean to be a success in USA with FS1 ratings and PPV sales....so i repeat my bet around 150/200K
It is still a HW titlefight. Cain is not Barao. His last 3 PPV did 330k, 380k and 590k.
Round it out as:
Tito Ortiz vs Stephan Bonnar
Michael Chandler vs Will Brooks
Patricio Freire vs Daniel Weichel
Bobby Lashley vs James Thompson
And the card would absolutely kill the UFC PPV.
I anticipate a Dec 6th event announcement featuring Rampage vs Mo, Kongo, Daley and I wouldnt be surprised to see them try to set up Shlemenko/Halsey vs Mashall/Manhoef... Killing 2 consecutive UFC PPVs with some 'big cards'.
But im an optimistic fanboy![]()
Bellator will do the same thing they did this time I would imagine. They'll go at 8 Eastern and not mess with the UFC's slot. They would be absolutely foolish to go against the UFC.Yep, i know...but Cain didnt compete against Bellator free event before....that is point of this thread, recall??