Way back at the start of July, I wrote an article about the UFC and a possible deal with the HBO, and how I thought the move wasn’t completely a smart move for the UFC. This article was written around the time the UFC-HBO deal rumors first started surfacing.
Well, Bob Emanuel Jr. of the Miami Herald online wrote an article today entitled: “Business and popularity is booming for the UFC.” The article is a pretty good read so I recommend you check it out yourself, but here are a few highlights.
At the UFC’s pay-per-view UFC 61: Bitter Rivals in July, White unveiled one of his latest signings, Wanderlei Silva — the light heavyweight champion of the Japan-based Pride Fighting championship.
”It’s awesome,” said Ortiz, who will take on Hall of Famer Ken Shamrock on Oct. 10 at the Seminole Hard Rock casino. “Bring some new blood to the UFC. It’s awesome. I’ve been waiting for Wanderlei to come out. I sent his [butt] back to Japan the last time we fought. We’ll welcome him back to the UFC again. I think [UFC light heavyweight champion] Chuck [Liddell] will beat him. I really do. It makes it that much more exciting. Congratulations to Dana for making this happen.”
UFC Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia agreed with the infusion of new talent.
”Let’s unify these belts, and see which organization has the best heavyweights,” he said.
Interesting. First of all, I dont think Wanderlie Silva is one of “White’s latest signings.” Second, I think Silva would give Tito a handful this time around, and there is no way Tim Syliva could hang with the Pride FC heavyweights, but I digress.
Domestic agreements with ESPN and HBO are expected soon.
”There’s never a deal until a deal is done, . . . but, yeah, we’re going to do a deal with HBO,” White said. “HBO is getting pulled, kicking and screaming, into this thing. They’ve obviously spent millions of dollars on boxing. [HBO Sports president] Ross Greenberg has boxing gloves running through his veins. It’s a real kick in the [groin] for all the boxing people to see this thing coming up the way it is. It is what it is. It’s here. It’s not going anywhere. This is what all the young people like. It’s going to be around for a while.”
So here Dana all but confirms a deal with HBO is imminent. The “domestic agreement with ESPN” is the first time I have heard of a possible deal with ESPN. I think a deal with ESPN would be a much better and more lucrative opportunity for the UFC than a deal with HBO would. You can go back and read my thoughts on an HBO deal, but it appears a deal is all but certain at this point. I would really love to see a deal with ESPN though. Talk about hitting it big in the USA; nothing could be bigger sports-wise right now than getting onto ESPN here in the US.
I’m interested in your thoughts about an HBO deal, and about an ESPN deal. Let me know what you think.
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Is the Wanderlai fight going to happen or not? Anyoe related to the UFC are still talking like it’s still going to happen. Yet Sherdog is reporting that it;s not going to happen as absolute fact. Josh Gross even asked Liddel’s opinion on the fight not happening. As for all these deals with various networks, I have one question. What the hell are they going to show? ESPN, HBO, SPIKE, and PPV…they can barely fill a card now, so sign up on 2 more networks? They are going to have open up th echeck books tremendously and get some top level talent to spread accross all these networks.
No one has said that any deal with HBO or ESPN would involve live fights. I’m going to guess if it does, it will only be a couple times per year. If ESPN signs on board, look for more or less, coverage on Sportscenter, perhaps coverage of any PPV weigh ins or press conferences…that type of thing.
The Wanderlei fight will not happen this November. That is not to say it will never happen, it just isn’t going to be in November 2006 like was originally announced.