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[thehype]

UFC PARTNERSHIP WITH FOX INCLUDES 4 EVENTS AND LIVE TUF BROADCASTS WITH VIEWER PARTICIPATION

As expected, UFC President Dana White, along with UFC executive and part owner Lorenzo Fertitta, FOX Sports Media Group Chairman and CEO David Hill, Co-President and COO Eric Shanks, and FX President John Landgraf all made the announcement offical that the UFC and Fox have agreed to a partnership. The deal includes 4 major event broadcasts on FOX, 32 events on FX, as well as 2 LIVE runs of The Ultimate Fighter that will feature audience participation, allowing viewers to select the fights each week. "This is revolutionary television right here," remarked Dana White.

http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content10561.html

Let's hear everyone's thoughts. The FOX execs took a couple jabs at boxing...basically saying it's too boring and behind on the times when it comes to marketing. I think it says a lot that a sport that's perceived to be more "barbaric" than the Sweet Science by most non-fans can make it's way back to network television (for the second time mind you) relatively easy. Comments? Questions? Suggestions?

For the record, I think it's going to be very interesting to see the new LIVE format of TUF (The Ultimate Fighter), where viewers get to vote on the matchups before they happen that week.

[checkleft]

C'mon now, let's not get carried away. Moving from Spike to Fox is a good thing for the UFC and should give it a bump but, as someone said earlier, "big network" TV is hardly the be and end all it once was. Also, all this talk of "prime time" is misleading. Network TV primetime is from 8-11pm EST Mon-Sun. The only shot UFC has to be on primtime is late Sat., or maybe Fri., which are by far the lowest rated primetime periods.

Dana White has done a brilliant job of copying every business tactic and promotional idea/stunt of Vince McMahon's WWE right dwon to the roids scandals but, even with the "shiny new toy" effect going for it, UFC luster's has started to dim a bit because most of the guys with crossover potential are either out, almost done or done. The real test of the UFC will come when the fighters start demanding more control of the careers and more money.

Yes as we all know in true Chicken Little fashion boxing has been dying!!! for some time now but while its problems are obvious and, to a large degree, fixable, its strengths are very underrated. So while the move to Fox is good for UFC, I don't think it means all that much for boxing because I don't think it's a zero sum game.

I agree with some of your points.

My opinion is that the ufc really can't compete with boxing when it comes to ppv, not even close. This is a smart move for the ufc to keep up with boxing. Because I don't think that boxing is behind the ufc by any means, if anything the ufc is still significantly behind. This will definitely help them though by bringing it to the masses.
But the biggest difference that I see between the two sports is that the ufc has incredible respect for its athletes while boxing analysts announcers promoters shit on boxings athletes and this continues through the fans. I think that's what truly is hurting boxing.

[wolterb]

But the biggest difference that I see between the two sports is that the ufc has incredible respect for its athletes while boxing analysts announcers promoters shit on boxings athletes and this continues through the fans. I think that's what truly is hurting boxing.

if it does not hurt boxing it is retarded. on this message board there are always posts filled with hyperbole that, more than critique, belittle fighters. everyone has standards, but goddamn...some people on here act like if the fight does not end with a beheading of one of the fighters than the match is a total sign of the times. hindsight is always 2020 and who knows how this era of boxing will be remembered...i do know that none of the rhetoric contemporary fans use in describing its fighters will be used, though. i don't know any other sport where the fans demand more from the participants than boxing.

"vlad won again" "yeah but it was boring!"
well go fuck yourself.