UFC signs deal with Fox

[spurginobili]

mixedmartialarts.com -

"In what would represent a major push into the mainstream for the UFC, Fox has agreed to a deal that will see the broadcast channel air as many as four MMA events per year, according to several sources. The multiyear deal would mark the first time the UFC will have consistent airtime on a broadcast network. Fox execs refused to comment on the deal, but sources with knowledge of the negotiations said bidding had gone as high as $90M per year.

The Fox deal is believed to be for seven or eight years. As part of the deal, most of the weekly programming that UFC has on Versus and Spike TV will move to FX starting in January. That includes several fight cards, plus shows like the reality series "The Ultimate Fighter." Fox-owned Fuel also will wind up with some UFC content. But rumors that Fox will rebrand Fuel as a UFC channel are not true, sources said."

Four events per year?

Another article: http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/D...Media/UFC.aspx

[kmdubya]

This has not been confirmed by the UFC yet.

[xelance]

ok, not confirmed YET, but check this out:

Shocking news of the UFC's groundbreaking multi-year television deal with nationally syndicated network FOX burst through the pipeline Tuesday morning, and now only awaits an official on-the-record confirmation.
Conveniently, FOX Sports has an announcement to make. But not just any announcement. According to Sports Business Journal reporter John Ourand, FOX Sports has scheduled a press conference for Thursday afternoon, at which network executives will make "one of the biggest announcements in Fox Sports history."


It seems very likely that UFC did sign with Fox.

[THE_LOCKSMITH]

hearing another rumor of UFC 140 in Toronto headlinner could be Overeem Vs Lesnar

[spurginobili]

Dana is always slow to confirm anything, except the dismissal of fighters from the promotion.

Deal is done.

[Kaladarus]

hearing another rumor of UFC 140 in Toronto headlinner could be Overeem Vs Lesnar

I hope this happens. Need to see both these guys back in action. This does seem like a long time though considering Overeem was supposedly ready to fight by October.

[xelance]

I hope this happens. Need to see both these guys back in action. This does seem like a long time though considering Overeem was supposedly ready to fight by October.

for sure, this would be a good fight. Even though I like Overeem, my money would be on Brock Lesnar. The longer the fight goes, the more it is to Brock's advantage plus Overeem has never faced a true wrestler. Overeems chance is with a first round tko/ko, but that will only happen if Lesnar tries to trade punches and not take it to the ground.

[THE_LOCKSMITH]

I hope this happens. Need to see both these guys back in action. This does seem like a long time though considering Overeem was supposedly ready to fight by October.

yea just rumor right now but they are going back to Toronto for the 2nd time this year and no title fights line up for this event. If they expect to sell around 20K seats in the Air Canada Ceneter this time they need a main event

[Chairib]

Zuffa was trying to buy the G4 network but when talks fell through with Viacom, they switched to the FOX deal.

[The Bet Master]

I liked the coverage with spike. Just doesn't seem right for it to be on FX.

[Jordan23]

FX is 100000000000000 times better tv station than Spike

[The Bet Master]

I disagree. Spike is more of a sportsy channel. FX shows Batman.

[urge2kill]

Once the UFC is gone what is Spike going to have that's better than Batman?

[rocky mattioli]

i have to say i enjoyed the pre and post fight shows on versus......spike never gave us any of this typeof stuff......maybe fox,given the apparent magnitude of the deal, will invest in more of this type of comprehensive mma programming...

why make a deal like this and go halfway?....

i`ll be on the road,but heres a link to the live press conference at 1 pm eastern...

http://www.mmamania.com/

[GunShard]

Sounds interesting.

[Vaughany]

Rogan looked so uncomfortable "introdoofing" this!....

[THE_LOCKSMITH]

Joe may have skipped a hit on the pipe before this to calm him down

I wonder how big the 4 main cards on FOX will be, Lesnar/GSP level, what did it come down to 100 million a year for 4 fight cards on FOX, 2 seasons of TUF and 6 fight night live on FX?

[brooks85]

ya im interested to see how the first card fills up and who the makes up the two live tv fights. There is a lot of fights going on between now and next year so not exactly many available options. November isn't far away so it would seem like the matchups would come from guys who have just fought on the past few cards. Fitch is ready but we know he isn't getting a live spot.

[Vaughany]

Garza vs Poirier is first fight announced

[xelance]

just think of the crazy card they will have on FOX the night before the superbowl...this is very exciting.

[FlashinLeather]

and it looks like they want to keep GUS JOHNSON on

[sirchadwick1]

Noooo Gus please! He's horrible and screws up regularly. Sometimes I have to question if he's even a true MMA fan. Come on Fox.

[brooks85]

be a huge drawback if they sign gus on, that would be a deal breaker in my book

[The HOFF]

2 fights on the first card on Fox seems like a joke. Why bother? If they are worried about the Pacman fight, then choose a different weekend.

[Pabinator]

I suppose they are going to have the not so stellar fights on fox?

[v1y]

I suppose they are going to have the not so stellar fights on fox?

i will bet my life that the FOX shows will be stacked cards, with very very relevant fights.

[Vaughany]

Yeah Dana suggested tht they will be big

[THE_LOCKSMITH]

At the 6:20 mark of this video they speak ti how big the fight will be on FOX, You can tell the title fight that might happen on Fox will be less significant. The main guys who bring in the PPV are Lesnar/GSP and maybe now Silva, the best you might get on a FOX show will be like Edgar/Maynard vs Guida

[DDT]

Very interesting

[brooks85]

http://bjpenn.com/news/2011/08/23/rumor-anderson-silva-vs-dan-henderson-possible-for-ufc%E2%80%99s-fox-debut-3654.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+bjpenndotcom+%28BJPENN.COM+NEWS+BLOGS%29

silva vs hendo rumored

[Chairib]

[Nick The Greek]

This makes me wanna bet on Okami, just because these types of plans for future fights seem to always get spoiled.

[brooks85]

Well now there is some more weight to it. I hope this happens, I always wanted to see this rematch.

http://bjpenn.com/news/2011/08/24/fertitta-confirms-henderson-vs-silva-intentions-for-fox-debut-3691.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+bjpenndotcom+%28BJPENN.COM+NEWS+BLOGS%29

[Vaughany]

Wouldnt tht be in two months time? Not sure Anderson would fight tht soon unless he blows Okami out the water early on

[brooks85]

ya if they are serious, silva would have to win without a scratch which is possible. The other report also said they would be willing to pull sonnen from the stann fight. But to me that is a terrible fight to put on FOX or to even setup until sonnen really earns it because he is a borderline mma fighter just like guida, they shouldn't be rewarded for having poor skills.

Everyone is so anxious for silva to lose they don't care how it happens, even if it some guy laying on top of him for 25 mins breaking the "most strikes landed in a fight" record with his pillow fist.