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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.

[Mean Mister Must...]

I knew Brock did huge numbers but I wasn't aware that GSP did as well. I remember reading an article saying that when GSP fought in Toronto, there was a lot of anticipation in Canada but not nearly as enough in the U.S. The point is that MMA is still a niche sport, same as boxing.

And boxing fans are savvy enough and addicted enough to the sport that they won't be going away anytime soon. Yes boxing can get worse, but if it does, then the promoters are out of business as well, and since they are the problem right now, if they are threatened, then they can easily become the solution.