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Is there a difference between Frank Shamrock & Kimbo Slice?
By Zach Arnold | February 20, 2008
In a round-about way, that’s the question Mauro Ranallo and Bryan Alvarez discussed today in regards to marketing in MMA (audio here).
Speaking of marketing, I made an appearance on MMA Predictions radio a few days ago to talk about the possibility of WWE buying UFC and how WWE would market MMA differently than Zuffa currently is. The fear amongst most of the MMA hardcores is that you’d end up with a product like this:
Topics: MMA, Media, Pro Elite, Pro-Wrestling, UFC, WWE, Zach Arnold | | Permalink | Trackback | Share This
GOLD~! These vignettes would actually give some of these fighters some personality for a change. I’m all for it.
Urijah who?
LOL @ Rick Martel
Zach Arnold for the win.
I don’t think that fans fear a WWE buyout because it would signal a change in direction regarding how the product is marketed. UFC and Elite XC (the two most prominent North American MMA companies) do not hide away from the fact that they currently utilise a pro wrestling business model. The concerns are more likely to lie in the possibility of fights potentially being worked (or even the suggestion of it) and the sport losing credibility as a result.
Those are awesome vignettes. I miss those days.
Rick Martel was the greatness. Funniest match ever was he and Jake Roberts with fake punches to the face being illegal.
Where can I get some of this stuff?
I used to use arrogance, but the ladies just overwhelmed me.
Gee, on second thought, after watching Rick Martel, maybe a WWE buyout isn’t so bad.
Zach, what is the explanation for why UFN 13 has so many great matchups? Is it possible the show is being used to show potential (Zuffa) buyers the depth of UFC’s talent pool?
“Zach, what is the explanation for why UFN 13 has so many great matchups? Is it possible the show is being used to show potential (Zuffa) buyers the depth of UFC’s talent pool?”
I would think this is almost certainly not the case. It’s not as if the “For Sale” signs are up on the front lawn - they’ve simply admitted that, like everything, there are figures people could offer that would tempt them to do business. If they wanted a show to act as a portfolio to potential buyers then you’d stack a PPV card and go for a high buyrate rather than a decent TV rating.
I would say they are more likely to be making a point to network television with this card than any investor.
On the positive side, it could lead to videos like this being used again:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Dt0UIuGnSdw
They’re trying to show CBS or NBC that MMA sells. Oh, and they’re pushing Ultimate Fighter 7.
Nice vid…good to see that the UFC is doing something with Andrei Arlovski rather than just sticking him in the prelims…
brashleyholland Says:
Nice vid…good to see that the UFC is doing something with Andrei Arlovski rather than just sticking him in the prelims…
Thats actually would be a great character for Arlovski. Especially when he’s sitting cage-side at UFC shows decked out in his pink truffled shirt. All he needs a pink can of “Arrogance”. He could stand up and spray it each time the camera focuses on him.
“Rick Martel was the greatness. Funniest match ever was he and Jake Roberts with fake punches to the face being illegal.”
I think you’re confusing two matches.
The Blindfold Roberts/Martel match and the HBK/Martel match with Sherri in the middle.
Man, I miss 80s WWF. I didn’t really know what was going to happen (I was a kid and the internet was a sparkle in Al Gore’s eye) and old school psychology was still prevalant.