Comments on: Tuesday media mania

By: Ivan Trembow

Ivan Trembow — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 11:19:22 +0000

The UFC already has dethroned WrestleMania. It remains to be seen whether the UFC’s April 2007 PPVs will draw more domestic PPV buys than WrestleMania 2007, but as far as “dethroning WrestleMania” goes, the UFC has already done that. They had two different events in 2006 that beat WrestleMania’s domestic PPV sales (UFC 61 and UFC 66), and a third that came very close (UFC 60).

By: Zach Arnold

Zach Arnold — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 02:40:08 +0000

I think, in an odd sort of way, the success of MMA’s boom in Japan before America ended up creating a hardcore fan mentality with a lot of the lesser-known American fighters who follow everything PRIDE or K-1 related. They wish the fans were like the Japanese, they wish the Japanese interviews translated to America, etc. The reality is, however, that much of what PRIDE & K-1 does with video packages, interviews, etc. is a lot wilder than anything we’ve seen so far in America. There will always be a segment of fighters in MMA who don’t want to be recognized for as much being an entertainer as opposed to being an athlete.

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 02:35:40 +0000

Zach, what’s with Danzig blaming the request for a pro-wrestling style promo on “UFC Fans” and the American audience instead of on the guy telling him to cut the promo, Jerry Millen?

By: The MMA Critic

The MMA Critic — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 02:25:47 +0000

The WWE has a completely unique fan base. The fans will completely hate a story line, complain online about the entire direction of the company…. And then tune in every week and still purchase the PPV’s. It is just amazing. It is shocking when a PPV has absolutely no build-up, basically no quality matches, and they still get above 100,000 PPV buys.

By: Zach Arnold

Zach Arnold — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 02:09:18 +0000

With Zuffa putting up this â€œApril Blitzkrigâ€, do you see it successfully â€œdethroningâ€ Wrestlemania and if not, will it somewhat at least take a chunk out of itâ€™s revenue?

My gut feeling says “no.” WWE likely will do much better this year with WrestleMania given the matches they have booked (even if it is cutting it close time-wise). Cena vs. Michaels is a match that should carry them to the point of not being damaged by UFC.

By: Fightlinker.com

Fightlinker.com — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 01:40:57 +0000

Well considering it’s 2 months away, I’d say yeah.

By: The MMA Critic

The MMA Critic — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 01:34:17 +0000

To add to the UFC Houston Comments….

The entire floor and upper level are completely sold out. So are all the $150 lower level tickets. Have to wonder if it will sell out.

By: Fightlinker.com

Fightlinker.com — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 01:13:52 +0000

Interesting to note that the UFC’s Houston show has already sold nearly 7000 tickets. Dana and Joe Rogan talking to Sherdog, Pride and it’s fighters getting talked about during broadcasts … somethings going on here, policies must be changing.

By: Royal B.

Royal B. — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 00:58:00 +0000

Zach!

Question?

With Zuffa putting up this “April Blitzkrig”, do you see it successfully “dethroning” Wrestlemania and if not, will it somewhat at least take a chunk out of it’s revenue?

By: The MMA Critic

The MMA Critic — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 23:00:28 +0000

No shock that Herring is fighting on the Houston card. While the UFC doesn’t need locals to get attendance these days, it will get a nice pop from the audience when they know one of their own is in the octagon. Probably the same reason Swick/Okami was pushed back to UFC 69 as well.