I don't totally agree. The MLB and NBA both suck, but they both have a ton of teams and there are hundreds of games on TV. The UFC would have to sign many more welterweight, middleweight, and heavyweight fighters to be able to fill out decent cards and the fighters would have to take less money for their fights because the advertising isn't there. Also, I have been to a fight night card that appeared on Spike and it sucks compared to a PPV because of all the commercial breaks. The UFC would have to go to new venues with each show to keep filling the seats. Spike already carries the majority of advertisers that would have an interest in the UFC, so I think the networks would have a hard time attracting others. Lastly, network TV sucks. I only watch maybe, two hours a week of network TV and, besides reality shows, I can't imagine why anyone would want to watch it. It makes a lot more sense for the networks to court the UFC than it does for the UFC to court them.

Joshua,

You make valid points but the difference between the NBA and MLB is that people know about those. They have made their judgment about whether or not to watch or follow the sport.

Far too many people don't know what MMA (or good MMA) is. Network TV would make a much bigger deal about it and would open it to a ton of new fans. They need the new eyes on the sport to gain new fans. The advertisers would jump on board because that is a highly coveted demographic.

The UFC has a plethora of new venues they need to go to anyway and they have enough fighters to put on good cards. They are trying to cut the roster to under 200 but you can put together quality cards with 200 fighters.

Network TV sucks? Fine. But it's in every home, and Spike is not. The key is to expose the sport to new people and get new fans on board. That's the way the sport will grow and a major TV deal is the best way to get it done.

Mark,

I would be interested to know what you think.

Do you reckon that UFC being on network TV would eventually make it more prone to increased competition or would simply solidify it as the only MMA worth watching.

I am personally in two minds, as on one hand it could open peoples eys to the UFC...but on the other it might open them to MMA in general.

The point I am making is that right now UFC basically calls 90% of the shots in MMA. But if it was under greater scrutiny then people might start saying things like "hey this Fedor dude ain't in the UFC he is meant to be the best etc".

So whilst the sport is still consdiered a fringe-sport by many, if it suddenly becomes widely accepted then perhaps the other promotions will also benefit.

James,

Interesting stance. I think the UFC would embrace it (a good deal) because it would solidify the UFC as the only dog in the fight. There's just such a great opportunity to gain fans from a move like that and gain legitimacy.

The whole sport would benefit but none would get the bump the UFC would. The Fedor thing is a non-issue because Dana White has done a tremendous job to make him irrelevant to mainstream fans. They don't know who he is and won't start caring just because the UFC is on TV. He'll be a myth to new fans.

The real danger for the UFC would be if they do really well, then one of the networks or big companies out there will want to get in the MMA game and if someone who knows how to do it (not MMA per se, but experience in sports production would be enough) and has the bank to do it gets involved, that could provide some serious competition for the UFC.

If something like that happened though, it would be great for the sport and for the fans. Competition helps. When EliteXC was alive, the UFC had some free shows on Spike (even if they were old) to counter-program so everyone got more free MMA.

I also think Dana White and company would embrace the challenges that come with being more mainstream. They won't shy away from it because there's a lot more cash to be made.

I totally disagree with your take. The worst thing that could happen to UFC is to go on major network TV. This sport was built on and continues to thrive because of the true fans. It did not get to where it is today because of the fans that tuned in to watch some American Gladiators promotion like Elite XC. Mainstream media will ruin the sport. Just like every other sport( I haven't watched a hockey/NBA/MLB game in years) They are no longer sports and it becomes a business. Once that happens the sport is ruined. If Dana White and Zuffa get greedy MMA is doomed.

Brian,

If that's how you feel, then MMA is doomed. I don't count the EliteXC carnival because that's not true MMA. I think the UFC can get new fans by showing the product they have now on that grand stage.

As far as it becoming a business, it's already there and has been for awhile. Dana White sees it as a business, not a charity project. Dana constantly says he's in the contract business and that's the biggest part of his job-that's a business. Fabricio Werdum deserved a title shot but never got one because of business. Brock Lesnar made better business sense to get a shot.

In the same vein, why is the UFC expanding globally? Business.

It's a business to the guys at the top. But they are smart enough to do it right and take care of the product in the process. They aren't in it as a get rich quick scheme (like EliteXC).

Mark,

I think you are right and UFC probs would be seen as the Major league if it got the TV deal.

But like you say..there would be the chance that some kind of strange McMahon/Trump/Ortiz type venture would likely be picked up by a rival network. I would argue however that having another big competitor would be a bad thing for the sport. That's one of the problems with boxing..too many champions.

I kind of like the UFC just how it is.

(Then again I am in the UK so I don't have to pay for UFC cards on PPV)

Brian I wouldn't worry about Dana taking a bad deal. He's held out to this point because he has all the leverage. He doesn't NEED the network TV deal. The UFC is currently very popular and profitable in its pay per view model.

The reason he has not made a deal is because he will not give up control of the product, he doesn't want it ruined for your very concerns.

Mark,

You make some good points and I agree that for the purpose of exposure, the UFC would benefit from a deal.

I wonder if the networks are actually looking at MMA. When EliteXC was doing their shows, I mostly heard stories about the network not really wanting to show it on prime time and being worried about what it would do to their reputation. I think MMA fans understand what it would do for the networks, but do you think the dinosaurs at the networks are really ready for the UFC?

I would also like to hear what you think about too much exposure. MMA is popular to the younger crowd. Do you think prime time network exposure for an extended period of time would bring more critics than fans, since people could see it with out actually wathing it on purpose?

Joshua,

You make a good point about the networks not being excited about MMA. Most of the suits don't get the sport, as evidenced by the entertainment division producing the EliteXC shows instead of the sports people.

And as far as bringing more fans than critics, there's something to that. As it grows, the criticism will grow too. But, ultimately, the UFC gains far more fans than critics with the jump to network TV. The new critics will be vocal and visible, but it won't be nearly enough to stop the UFC from heading there.