Where Is The Promotion For UFC 105?

by Kelvin Hunt on Nov 9, 2009 12:00 PM EST in News Comment 12 comments

Well now that the Strikeforce show on CBS has passed, I suppose it's time to turn out attention to UFC 105 this coming weekend. Oh wait, there's a UFC event this weekend? I found myself asking that question this morning. When I watched the UFC Main Events show that aired this past weekend on my dvr, the only thing I saw were commercials for UFC 106. So I pretty much forgot about UFC 105, because the UFC isn't promoting the event. I don't think I've seen any commercials advertising the event. There will not be a Countdown to UFC 105 show on Spike that I'm aware of either. It seems as if the UFC will depend on it's brand name recognition to carry the ratings on Spike TV, not to mention the show will air via tape delay because of the time difference. The original main event of Brock Lesnar vs. Shane Carwin falling through has to be factored in now, because they have to promote a brand new main event in Forrest Griffin vs. Tito Ortiz 2 at UFC 106

I suppose the bottom line is that UFC 106 is a PPV event in America that has the potential to earn the UFC way more money than UFC 105. It'll be interesting to see what type of ratings UFC 105 will generate with Randy Couture fighting on cable tv for the first time. I wonder what effect the tape delay will have on the ratings as well. Here's a look at some of the ratings for foreign UFC numbered events that aired via tape delay on Spike TV:

-UFC 70 averaged 2.8 million viewers, peaking at 3.5 million viewers.

-UFC 75 averaged 4.7 million viewers, peaking at 5.93 million viewers

-UFC 89 averaged 2.6 million viewers, peaking at 3.4 millions viewers

-UFC 95 averaged 2.4 million viewers, peaking at 3 million viewers

All of the main events of those cards featured non-title bouts except for UFC 75, which featured the light heavyweight unification bout between Dan Henderson and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. Obviously, that event had much higher ratings than the others. The main event at UFC 105 is a non-title affair, but will feature one of MMA's most beloved fighters in Randy Couture. What type of ratings will you be predicting for UFC 105 on Spike tv? Also, stay tuned to MMA4Real this week as we'll be providing previews of each main card bout for UFC 105. Don't forget about the MMA4Real betting game as well!

SBN coverage of UFC 105: Couture vs. Vera

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Comments

Wow. That’s the first time I’ve even seen the poster.

by Matt Bishop on Nov 9, 2009 12:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Thank you for reminding

I totally forgot about the UFC 105. Thank you for the reminder :-)

by aman on Nov 9, 2009 12:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

aman

If you haven’t been added to the MMA4Real google map….list your city and or country where you reside and I’ll add you.

http://www.mmaforreal.com
Follow Me On Twitter@MMA4Real

by Kelvin Hunt on Nov 9, 2009 12:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Krakow, Poland

I guess I can just list it here. I am currently residing in Krakow, Poland. I was born and spent my childhood in Kazakhstan (Central Asia), but consider Salem, Oregon (Couture’s State :-), proud of that) to be my home.

I guess you should put Krakow, Poland, since I will reside here for the next few years.

by aman on Nov 9, 2009 1:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Cool, thanks

you’ve been added….

http://www.mmaforreal.com
Follow Me On Twitter@MMA4Real

by Kelvin Hunt on Nov 9, 2009 1:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I misread your post

No, I have not been added to the MMA4Real google map and I don’t know how to do it. Is it difficult?

by aman on Nov 9, 2009 1:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yo

you can view it here….basically it’s just a way to see where our readership comes from…and for those interested…get together for MMA events if the proximity is close enough.

http://www.mmaforreal.com
Follow Me On Twitter@MMA4Real

by Kelvin Hunt on Nov 9, 2009 1:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thank you very much :-)

I can’t wait for UFC to come back to Germany.

by aman on Nov 9, 2009 1:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'll tell you why this isn't getting promoted more.

Three big, big reasons why this isn’t seeing more publicity.

1. Tape-Delayed non-US of A Card. There will be the “Hardcorr Freekz!!” out there who will want to watch it live, cutting into viewership. There will also be those that hear the results prior to airing, cutting into viewership. Thus, expecting lower ratings and knowing that Spike’s gonna be happy with whatever unusually inflated ratings they get, there’s no motivation to try and get the word out.

2. It’s not a pay-per-view. Dana White, though a self-professed boxing fan, has always appeared as though he’s enamored with the idea of replacing boxing as the premier “one-time event” sport in America. That means outdrawing boxing’s PPV numbers and gate more than anything. To him any content on Spike, even a previously un-aired same-day full UFC card, is just more non-PPV programming.

3. Mike Swick vs. Dan Hardy as a co-main event. Sure, it could end up being a very entertaining scrap. But when you think of the big stars of MMA, even the up and coming fighters, neither Hardy nor Swick really come to mind. Granted, its not their fault that GSP has wiped out the division and every other 170-lber is hurt. But cards with fewer than one fight with big name fighters, especially cards with no title fights, are simply going to suffer and it appears the UFC isn’t going to waste any more advertising dollars on a card they don’t consider to be a money-maker anyway.

As far as what the ratings will do, I imagine you’ll get pretty close to a low for the last few televised UFC cards. I don’t think this will do much better than a typical UFC Fight Night, with Couture being the difference.

Yes! Yes! In the face!

by LeafHawk on Nov 9, 2009 2:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs