Issue 081
November 2011
ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP SIGNS HISTORIC TV DEAL WITH FOX SPORTS
The UFC has signed a landmark, seven-year television deal with Fox Sports. The agreement, rumored to be worth $630 million over its lifetime, will see four live UFC events broadcast on the channel per year, the first of which will be November 12th. Addressing the signing, UFC president Dana White said: “The UFC is finally where it belongs on the number-one network in the country and aligned with the most prestigious sports properties in the world. I’ve always said that the UFC will be the biggest sport in the world and with this relationship it will become a reality.”
The Ultimate Fighter reality series will also have a new home and new format on Fox’s counterpart channel FX starting in spring 2012, showing two seasons annually. Filming will last 13 weeks with each episode screened on Friday night featuring action from the previous seven days and culminating in a live fight. The coaches will even conduct their training camps simultaneously with the series and fight at the season’s end. FX will also show a further four to six live UFC events per year.
Additionally, the Fuel channel will cover other UFC programming such as highlights, magazine shows and pre- and post-event coverage for Fox and pay-per-view cards. Zuffa will retain production control of the events, a notorious sticking point in deals with other networks, but will overhaul the look and feel of the production. White said the mainstay elements such as graphics and the famous ‘Gladiator man’ intro will change.
Fox executives said the deal would see the UFC cross-market with its other entities, which ranges from sports coverage to entertainment, in order to promote events. The deal means the 14th season of The Ultimate Fighter will be the last on Spike, the UFC’s previous TV home.
UFC SETS DECEMBER TORONTO RETURN
The UFC is reported to be eyeing a revisit to Toronto, the city were it bagged is biggest ever attendance numbers in April when over 55,000 people filled the Rogers Centre for UFC 129. UFC 140 is set to go down on December 10th, at the 20,000-seat Air Canada Centre. No bouts were slated for the event at the time of going to press.
21
Due to an injury during fight week, Dennis Hallman’s elbow swelled to 21 inches in diameter after his bout with Brian Ebersole at UFC 133
98%
Famous fighting female Gina Carano says she did 98% of her own stunts for upcoming blockbuster film Haywire, in which she plays the lead
WHAT'S HOT?
‘MAYHEM’ MILLER’S BUTT, APPARENTLY
At least according to the swathe of female readers pledging their love for his posterior via Twitter
THE UFC’S FOX TV DEAL
It doesn’t come much bigger. Mainstream US coverage of the fighting world’s biggest organization could finally put MMA over the top in the States
THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER 14
Go on then, if we must watch coaches ‘Mayhem’ Miller and Michael Bisping at loggerheads…
WHAT'S NOT?
SPEEDO FIGHT GEAR
It was hard justice after Dennis Hallman’s balls-to-the-wall UFC 133 performance
BRITTNEY PALMER SWITCHING OCTAGON FOR ART SCHOOL
Come back Brittney. Just come back
STEMM'S FACE THE PAIN UFC INTRO
The Fox TV deal means it could be the end of the line for the blood-pumping UFC pre-event anthem
...
