The UFC and Boxing - Fight Forum - MMA - UFC - Boxing - K1

MTKrav911 · 11-18-2006, 12:23 PM

With all the rumors that HBO is courting the UFC for a possible contract, it kinda hit me why the UFC chose November 18th for a big fight. Then it dawned on me.

Boxing's oly real up and comer who's exciting is fighting a rubber match tonight. Exactly on aire time head to head with the UFC on PPV.

Manny Pacquiao, the hard hitting Filipino champ will be fighting the aging Erik Morales which promises to be another bloody slugfest. The UFC is rivaling their aire time to coincide with HBO's PPV production of the fight.

Now I'm sure the UFC doesent expect to outsell the PPV over the Pacqiao fight. But if they can disturb the numbers enough and make it a less than expected audience for the big Pacquiao fight, it makes their negotiating stance for any potential contracts stronger with HBO.

What you all think? Coincidence? Or planned marketing to steal away potential boxing viewers. The boxing PPV is 50 bucks, the UFC 40 bucks. Some fans may want to wait until the free replay on HBO next Saturday, and pay the less $40 for the UFC. or..

If they're true fight junkies like me, they're gonna pay the $40 for the UFC, then watch the Pacquiao replay for $50, so do the numbers offset?

Either way, I find it an interesting marketing scheme.

sanjeevjoseph · 11-18-2006, 01:10 PM

I didn't know that, but it makes a lot of sense. The UFC guys are really playing their cards right. Thanks for the info. It makes a lot of sense and it's a brilliant move on their part. This will bolster their negotiations with HBO.

kane · 11-18-2006, 02:33 PM

so is hbo trying to buy the rights to replay recent ppv cards like they do with boxing? That would be freaken awesome.

Jras0001 · 11-18-2006, 03:08 PM

Im assuming that they are going to actually try to show live events on HBO now that Showtime has a deal with an MMA promoter to do just that. You would only have to suscribe to Showtime to watch it, which is more of a value than just buying a PPV once a month and thats all you get. At least you know you will have descent programming the rest of the time and the ability to see live MMA and / or boxing.