Comments on: CNBC’s underwhelming special on ‘Ultimate Fighting’

By: Brisn

Brisn — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 22:25:42 +0000

Got any links to these interviews? I’m curious myself.

By: Ivan Trembow

Ivan Trembow — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 06:48:46 +0000

If you think that pointing to one article containing a “Zuffa Myth” to substantiate another article containing a “Zuffa Myth” makes the myth correct, then you are mistaken. That article was in November 2006, after the show was already a hit and it was convenient to take credit for it. It was in 2004, when the Spike TV deal was negotiated and signed, that Zuffa spoke openly in interviews about the fact that they didn’t come up with the reality show concept and didn’t even like the reality show concept.

By: IceMuncher

IceMuncher — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 01:13:14 +0000

“It was Spike TV, not the UFC, that came up with the reality show idea, which the UFC hated but went along with because it was the only way they could strike a deal with Spike TV at the time.”

Man oh man. Ivan, do not, under any circumstances, rip on a program for having bad information, and then correct it with information that is just as flawed. It was the Fertittas (Lorenzo specifically I believe) that came up with TUF, not Dana, and most definately not Spike. In fact, the UFC had to pay for the first season out of pocket because Spike was wary of having the show.

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/business2/business2_archive/2006/11/01/8392010/index.htm

“Having allowed the Discovery Channel to shoot the reality show American Casino at Green Valley, the brothers decided that a series where a bunch of UFC fighters live together and face weekly elimination in the ring was their Trojan horse for getting on television. Their pitch was turned down by every network. So they made Spike TV, the only channel specifically designed for overly testosteroned young men, an offer it couldn’t refuse: The Fertittas agreed to produce the $10 million show themselves; Spike could just air it with no production costs. “

By: Zurich

Zurich — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 21:24:35 +0000

Wow, I didn’t know that about Lorenzo… he’s devious.

By: Michaelthebox

Michaelthebox — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 19:57:33 +0000

I was gonna punk Aaron, but cyphron beat me to it. Dang it.

By: Jeremy (not that Jeremy)

Jeremy (not that Jeremy) — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 18:07:26 +0000

Normally I’d lambaste someone for using gay as a derogatory term.

However, I saw the first 15 minutes of 2 Fast 2 Furious (it was a drive in double-feature with The Hulk, talk about a good set of films to ignore with your girlfriend), and I know that Pistol Pete’s use of the term is entirely correct in this case.

By: cyphron

cyphron — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 17:44:27 +0000

Aaron,

If you want us to take you seriously, perhaps you should lay off on calling people idiots and morons. Unless you know your OPINION is absolutely correct.

That CNBC show was made for people who know nothing about MMA. They used the word “Ultimate Fighting” because most people only know “Ultimate Fighting” and not MMA. The noobs need to learn to crawl before they learn to walk. This show is good for the UFC and good for MMA. As much as people hate to acknowledge it, for the majority of non-fans in the US (which is 99% of the population) MMA = UFC. Only the hardcores care about anything other than the UFC.

We may agree or disagree on the merits of Dana White, but the fact of the matter is that he’s the face of MMA in the US. He may be a pompous ass, but what he does now and in the future does largely affect the growth of the sport.

By: Fan Futbol

Fan Futbol — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 17:05:15 +0000

I didn’t see the report, but I’ll say this: the mainstream media are not experts, so when they approach a “niche” topic, they frequently offer reports that lack nuance or are riddled with errors. It’s not just with MMA — it’s with all sorts of things. That’s just the way it is, unfortunately.

By: Aaron Crossen

Aaron Crossen — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 16:44:50 +0000

Jason, don’t be an idiot. Zach and Ivan would hardly be experts if they only talked about UFC. Ignoring what is happening in the global MMA scene destroys a columnist’s analytical credibility. For example, how you anyone speak with credibility on a Japanese fighter’s success (or lack thereof) in the UFC without knowing first-hand that fighter’s success (or lack thereof) abroad?

Furthermore, you’re a moron. If you wanna bitch about how much Zach and Ivan talk about UFC, you shouldn’t tell them to talk exclusively about the UFC. Moreover, you’re stopping short of telling them to ignore MMA’s excruciating problems in favor of sitting back and whacking off to sluts that carry cards around the cage every other month and be thankful for it. No shit they’re going to bitch about the UFC, it’s the major league, as you said yourself.

By: Jason Gatties

Jason Gatties — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 13:58:20 +0000

If CNBC would do a special titled “Basketball-From Lay Ups To Slam Dunks”, do you believe the focus would mainly be on the NBA or would they cover the CBA & USBL as equals? Of course they wouldn’t.

Zach, Ivan & other self proclaimed “experts” need to understand that if you are talking about a major sport, you look towards the major league in that sport. The UFC to MMA is what MLB is to baseball. Instead of constantly crying and complaining about the UFC, perhaps you should learn to embrace it and enjoy the fact that you can actually watch MMA on TV now.