Originally posted by MOREBASS
View Post
Not only do the fans get more fights for their money, but they also get to know the names on the undercard. This way the fan keeps coming back because he was happy with the amount of action last time, and 4yrs down the road he's still watching the UFC and saying "I remember when this guy KO'd the hell out of so and so at UFC 65" about the guy who's now a big draw because the UFC put his fight on the broadcast 4yrs ago and he delivered.
Boxing doesn't do this. In boxing, it's all about tonight and even worse, it's all about the main event and the marquee names. That's why promoters are still trying to squeeze every dime they can out of aging fighters like RJJ, Hopkins, Holyfield etc. The up and comers get about a heartbeat's worth of time on the PPV broadcast at best. Nobody gets any airtime until they have a belt.
As for the HBO deal, it apparently fell through not because of money, but because Dana wouldn't forfeit production rights to HBO. He wanted to use his own production staff and HBO did as well, and a stalemate ensued. Progress was being made and the president of HBO was on Dana's side but was having difficulty with the president of HBO sports. Then the president of HBO was forced to resign for apparently beating up his girlfriend, the president of sports was promoted and the deal went cold.
Comment