The Smackdown/Raw comparison also doesn’t make much sense because there aren’t any people trying to get into the pro-wrestling business other than TNA.

As other experts have pointed out before, there’s only so many TV deals that will be available for MMA orgs and I think Dana White is trying to monopolize the market with the WEC. I’m not sure this is a great idea, but that’s the only business logic that makes any sense. I’m not sure what White meant when he said this was like “Viacom”.

The UFC should be focused on trying to make and keep the UFC brand as the #1 promotion in MMA, and not try to bring another company into the mix, when they still haven’t quite fully cornered the top spot for their first brand yet.

WEC, is better off to be run as a feeder org. for them. They can still get a TV deal and have good cards running the promotion like that, and then they won’t be locked into any kind of brand restrictions with the fighters. They can bring the top talent from the WEC into the UFC for bigger match ups, and have a solid way of developing younger fighters before bringing them up into the more compeitive UFC ranks.

PizzaChef, you would really suck as a businessman. The whole point of it is interpromotional matchups… build up two champions which casual fans wont be able to pick between cos they’re dumb, then have them fight at a super event. Basically like what we want between Pride and UFC but with slightly lower class fighters.

In terms of marketing both shows, that will be absolutely no problem whatsoever.

Literally this is WWE to the book. That makes me uneasy but potentially it could lead to better matchups – we will have to see. I have a feeling that as an MMA fan I am going to get teased by the UFC quite a lot in the future …. will they / won’t they fight!?!?!?! whoever “they” might be.

Unless WEC becomes a lighterweight promotion like DEEP and maybe has a Super Heavyweight division.

The other option is to sign guys to 2-3 year WEC contracts, let them develop there and then when that contract is up sign them to a UFC 3-fight deal or whatever.

Dana is hinting at a very busy calendar for UFC in 2007. They are going to need a lot of fresh talent coming in. Right now the only matches to look forward to with current talent is the 3-5 marquee 170lb fights: GSP/Hughes II, each of those guys vs BJ, Karo or Diego and the winners fight.

Vera vs Sylvia is marginally interesting. If Vera wins you have some options, matching him up with Arlovski if Arlovski wins Dec 30th.

Chuck vs QJ is the only 205lb fight that is at all interesting on the horizon. That’s a fight I really want to see.

155 you’ve got some fights that could end up real good but nothing to get super excited about. Sherk/BJ, Sherk/Serra, Serra/BJ. Spencer Fischer might develop into a real interesting fighter and some of those ohter guys too.

There is nothing for Anderson Silva right now. Maybe him vs Lindland in one of the UK shows?

UFC needs CroCop bad. Sign him that’s 3 main events.

Dana sounds like he’s talking about running 14 – 15 events next year. That’s 75+ Televised fights.