Not sure if this was posted elsewhere; didn't see it in this forum. They just finished a press conference officially announcing it (or it sounded like they were finishing up - media that was unable to attend was provided the opportunity to call in and listen) The first thing that grabbed my attention was the fact that its first show airs November 12, opposite Pac-JMM PPV. http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/ca...nce-official-partnership-Each-?urn=mma-wp6046 This was the day Dana White dreamed about from the beginning. His brainchild has finally reached a big deal with network television. Joined by FOX executive David Hill and Eric Shanks, White along with UFC president Lorenzo Fertitta announced a seven-year agreement between the fight promotion and the television network. Beginning on Nov. 12 FOX will air four major UFC fight cards each year. The UFC's reality show "The Ultimate Fighter" will be moving to FX. The format will change from a taped show to air live fights each Friday night. During the two seasons each year, FX will air every "Ultimate Fighter" fight live. There will also six UFC Fight Nights each year on FX. "We will own Friday nights," said Shanks. There will be 32 total fight nights each year on FX. Fertitta, along with his brother Frank, bought the struggling promotion back in 2001 for just two million dollars. The company struggled through 2005 and was nearly put on the block for sale. Multiple reports claim the new deal with FOX is worth $90 million a year.
Wow, that's pretty impressive. Perhaps fighters will get paid a bit more now? Network exposure is pretty handy when it comes to marketing. No doubt about it.
Fighters have already been getting paid a lot more recently. Nick Diaz's contract in particular was exceptionally massive. Especially considering he's not even a UFC champ. He's getting 1.1 million plus 2 dollars for every buy for the GSP fight. Then something like 750k in base pay for every fight after that for I think 4 fights. So realistically, he's probably going to make about 3 million dollars to get tackled to the ground and smothered for 25 minutes.
It's funny how people blame Dana White for everything. The guy is only a 10% shareholder. Others are profitting far more.
I guess you're right...he's doing this for the betterment of the sport. has nada to do with personal gain.
I'm sure you are aware that most if not all of them make far more than any reported figure. To be honest, I hope they keep a modest pay scale to ensure it does not turn into boxing, where nobody takes any risk and just looks for the biggest pay day with the least risk.
It is a business after all. Plus Dana is only a 10% share holder, he's not calling the shots, he's just saying what zuffa tells him to.
I just like watching MMA, it's as simple as that. I don't care how much money anyone makes, fightrs, Dana White, Zuffa, I really don't care. Do I like the product? Yep.
I don't know why people get so wrapped up in the business side of any fight sport. What is the use in worrying about things that don't make a difference to us personally? Are you a fan of fighting or business?
Tell that to a Guy Like Anthony, Who SPECIFICALLY Mentions the BUSINESS Side of Boxing & "How it's Ran", in his Beef w/the Sport... REED:kidcool:
Ding ding ding. Z deserves an award for calling it like it is. Call me silly, but I like a steady diet of the top fighters getting matched against each other. No multiple champions scared shitless to face each other and fans deprived of meaningful fights. For fans, the UFC employing a ton of fighters and paying them modestly (relative to overpaid boxers), ain't a bad deal.
Yup, as he probably should. He's the one who told the Fertittas to buy the UFC and told them to get a reality show going. He pretty much knows what he's doing. Might as well listen to the guy I guess. LOL! Now I wish he would put Anderson vs Jon Jones together.
The only monopoly I like is in a fight sport. We have been screaming for years that we wish there was only one sanctioning body in boxing. The UFC is coming damn close to that.
Of course. The Fertittas and all their genius business savvy hire a guy just to talk at events and report like a massively overpaid messenger. On a serious note, despite the fact that ignorance is prevalent across the country on such matters, the Fertittas actually don't know shit, they are just the bankroll. Their bankroll btw is nothing but blood money. Fertittas are gangsters, they don't know shit about legit business...it's actually part of the reason Dana recently has been hinting that he's not too happy with Lorenzo suddenly getting more active and stepping on his toes on operational matters. That said, it's Lorenzo's money, so he can run it into the ground if he wants. I'm hearing he wanted to sell within 5 years anyway. Sucks for Dana. I'm wondering at this point if Dana ever will be able to become the majority owner.
