UFC conference call -- UFC signs Vitor, Tito, other news

Discussion in 'MMA - Mixed Martial Arts' started by speeds, Jul 31, 2009.

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  1. speeds

    speeds $2.50 highball, $1.50 beer Staff Member Administrator GFX Team

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    The UFC is (supposed to be) making some announcements today. Dunno if it's going to be on UFC.com or somewhere else.

    The two biggest rumours right now are that they will announce the ESPN UK deal and the signing of Tito Ortiz. But it could be something else altogether.
     
    speeds, Jul 31, 2009
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  2. Shapecity

    Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

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    Re: UFC video announcement at 2.00PM EST today

    A previously rumored deal between the UFC and ESPN that will keep the world's top MMA organization on airwaves in the U.K. and Ireland was made official today.

    The UFC and ESPN have agreed to a multi-year deal, though details of the partnership were not disclosed.

    The UFC lost its previous U.K. broadcast partner, Setanta Sports, after the financial collapse of the troubled station in June.

    The ESPN coverage, which airs on a region-specific version of the worldwide leader in sports, kicks off with next week's UFC 101 event, which takes place Aug. 8 in Philadelphia.

    "ESPN's aim is to serve U.K. and Ireland sports fans by bringing the very best of both domestic and international live sport to their living rooms," stated Jeroen Oerlemans, ESPN vice president for TV Channels in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. "We are delighted to add UFC; TOP 14 ORANGE, the leading French Rugby Championship; the Australia Football League; EuroBasket and DTM to our growing portfolio of live sport."

    Prior to the June 13 UFC 99 event in Cologne, Germany, UFC President Dana White repeatedly reassured fans that the show would be available on Setanta despite the station's problems. The event did air without incident, though UFC 100 was forced to broadcast on an alternate station.

    Earlier this year, Setanta reportedly lost millions of dollars while denouncing rumors of a potential demise. However, the company later entered into administration, ceased its U.K. operations and is in the processing of laying off more than a hundred employees following sagging subscription numbers and missed payments to partners such as the English Premier League. (The rights have since been purchased by ESPN.)

    The UFC and Setanta first joined forces in January 2008. The partnership fueled the UFC's move overseas and into a variety of U.K. and other European markets before Setanta's financial troubles doomed the relationship.
     
    Shapecity, Jul 31, 2009
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  3. speeds

    speeds $2.50 highball, $1.50 beer Staff Member Administrator GFX Team

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    speeds, Jul 31, 2009
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  4. speeds

    speeds $2.50 highball, $1.50 beer Staff Member Administrator GFX Team

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    Re: UFC conference call at 2.00PM EST today

    Wow! UFC signs Vitor Befort! Vitor vs. Franklin at UFC 103!
     
    speeds, Jul 31, 2009
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  5. speeds

    speeds $2.50 highball, $1.50 beer Staff Member Administrator GFX Team

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    Re: UFC conference call -- UFC signs Vitor Belfort

    Dana claims the UFC gave Fedor everything they wanted except co-promotion, which was the deal breaker. Fedor "will never get a better offer".
     
    speeds, Jul 31, 2009
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  6. speeds

    speeds $2.50 highball, $1.50 beer Staff Member Administrator GFX Team

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    Re: UFC conference call -- UFC signs Vitor Belfort

    UK viewers will be getting free, HD UFC programming on ESPN for three years beginning with UFC 101. Luckyyyyyyyyyyy.
     
    speeds, Jul 31, 2009
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  7. speeds

    speeds $2.50 highball, $1.50 beer Staff Member Administrator GFX Team

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    Tito Ortiz is back with the UFC. Meh.

    Dana apologized. Bridges rebuilt.

    Tito "will retire with the UFC".
     
    speeds, Jul 31, 2009
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  8. speeds

    speeds $2.50 highball, $1.50 beer Staff Member Administrator GFX Team

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    See, this is a conference call, people. Call a conference when you have shit to say (M-1, I'm looking at you).
     
    speeds, Jul 31, 2009
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  9. speeds

    speeds $2.50 highball, $1.50 beer Staff Member Administrator GFX Team

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    Tito says he's pain- and numbness-free (unless you count his frontal lobe). There was no competition for him outside the UFC (he was willing to fight... Mousasi, Sokoudjou, Nogueira...).
     
    speeds, Jul 31, 2009
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  10. speeds

    speeds $2.50 highball, $1.50 beer Staff Member Administrator GFX Team

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    Vitor vs. Franklin, strangely, will be fought at light heavyweight.
     
    speeds, Jul 31, 2009
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  11. speeds

    speeds $2.50 highball, $1.50 beer Staff Member Administrator GFX Team

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    Tito will fight in November/December, could face Mark Coleman.
     
    speeds, Jul 31, 2009
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  12. speeds

    speeds $2.50 highball, $1.50 beer Staff Member Administrator GFX Team

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    Dana is confident a network television deal is on the horizon. He's said in the past it isn't a priority but clearly it is (ABC seems very likely at this point considering their relationship with ESPN).

    Tito "got an offer he couldn't refuse" and "will never talk/complain about money again".
     
    speeds, Jul 31, 2009
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  13. speeds

    speeds $2.50 highball, $1.50 beer Staff Member Administrator GFX Team

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    Dan Henderson is the number one contender at middleweight (no surprise there).
     
    speeds, Jul 31, 2009
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  14. Shapecity

    Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

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    Tito vs. Coleman I'll pass.

    If ESPN has success with UFC in the UK I can only imagine they will make it available in the US next. Was it ABC trying to pry UFC away from Spike? ABC owns ESPN
     
    Shapecity, Jul 31, 2009
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  15. speeds

    speeds $2.50 highball, $1.50 beer Staff Member Administrator GFX Team

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    Dana mocks the concept of M-1 co-promoting with the UFC. "They're going to help US?! That shit probably works in Russia. Not here."

    The UFC is going to Japan, "cannot be stopped".
     
    speeds, Jul 31, 2009
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  16. speeds

    speeds $2.50 highball, $1.50 beer Staff Member Administrator GFX Team

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    Spike has an exclusive cable deal with the UFC but a network deal is still possible. The UFC is more likely to be on ABC than ESPN stateside, IMHO.
     
    speeds, Jul 31, 2009
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  17. speeds

    speeds $2.50 highball, $1.50 beer Staff Member Administrator GFX Team

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    "Everybody hates everybody in the fight business". Except the UFC and Strikeforce?

    "Nobody wants to see Mayweather vs. Marquez. They want Mayweather vs. Pacquiao."
     
    speeds, Jul 31, 2009
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  18. speeds

    speeds $2.50 highball, $1.50 beer Staff Member Administrator GFX Team

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    White: "Production control is not an issue with the networks anymore, just with HBO....we've never had more interest than we do now."

    Sounds like the UFC have gained enough notoriety that they can pretty much get what they want. We'll see.
     
    speeds, Jul 31, 2009
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  19. speeds

    speeds $2.50 highball, $1.50 beer Staff Member Administrator GFX Team

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    No Sylvia or Arlovski in the future for the UFC.

    White will jump off Mandalay Bay.
     
    speeds, Jul 31, 2009
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  20. speeds

    speeds $2.50 highball, $1.50 beer Staff Member Administrator GFX Team

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    White is working on a deal that "would change the UFC forever" at the moment. He always seems to be though, isn't he?
     
    speeds, Jul 31, 2009
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