ESPN Cancels "The Contender"

[Left Hook Tua]

If HBO picked it up that would be crazy, just the production alone would be worth watching. Im sure HBO would have the money to get some legitimate guys involved as well.

plus hbo can offer something others can't. an hbo contract anyone?

what do the contender get the winners now? not a god damn thing.

hbo will make sure you get quality guys in that show. it helps promote their fights as well.

like the ultimate fighter when it comes to mma. they can get quality guys because those guys want a ufc contract which is top of the mountain for the mma guys. hbo is top of the mountain for boxing. what boxer doesn't want to be shown (and paid) by hbo? no offense to showtime......

[mrpain81]

I mean the first season I got real into it, then the formula got old quick.

It doesnt help that The Ultimate Fighter is superior in every way. Contender just feels like a second rate women's version compared.

That show is pretty ****-****** plus those guys all act like 30 year old children.

That show got old real quick for me because alot of those guy's have like 4 fights some haven't even had a pro bout.

The first season was good but it has been all downhill from there.

[mrpain81]

plus hbo can offer something others can't. an hbo contract anyone?

what do the contender get the winners now? not a god damn thing.

hbo will make sure you get quality guys in that show. it helps promote their fights as well.

like the ultimate fighter when it comes to mma. they can get quality guys because those guys want a ufc contract which is top of the mountain for the mma guys. hbo is top of the mountain for boxing. what boxer doesn't want to be shown (and paid) by hbo? no offense to showtime......

That six figure contract is a joke, it's pretty much 6 figures over 3 years

The contender made 1 Million the first year, 500k the second and 750k the last season. Most the MMA fighters on that Tuf series are a joke.

[Left Hook Tua]

That six figure contract is a joke, it's pretty much 6 figures over 3 years

The contender made 1 Million the first year, 500k the second and 750k the last season. Most the MMA fighters on that Tuf series are a joke.

i'm not talking about money-wise. mma will never be able to compete to boxing in terms of money.

i'm talking about exposure in their comparative fields. to be a top boxer is to fight in vegas on hbo and ppv. to be a top mma is to fight in the ufc.

[Scott9945]

plus hbo can offer something others can't. an hbo contract anyone?

what do the contender get the winners now? not a god damn thing.

hbo will make sure you get quality guys in that show. it helps promote their fights as well.

like the ultimate fighter when it comes to mma. they can get quality guys because those guys want a ufc contract which is top of the mountain for the mma guys. hbo is top of the mountain for boxing. what boxer doesn't want to be shown (and paid) by hbo? no offense to showtime......

Some of the Contenders have done pretty well for themselves, and I have to think their national TV exposure helped. Manfredo got a title fight on HBO fight and has been on TV countless times. Mora, Gomez, and Forbes are getting high profile fights on HBO and Showtime in the next two months. Even some of the lesser known competitors are popular choices for the ESPN weekly fights. The exposure on the Contender had to help their marketability.

[ReadyUp]

i'm not talking about money-wise. mma will never be able to compete to boxing in terms of money.

i'm talking about exposure in their comparative fields. to be a top boxer is to fight in vegas on hbo and ppv. to be a top mma is to fight in the ufc.

Look at all the oppurtunities the contender guys are receiving.

Last I checked, they are getting HBO dates that would have NEVER been offered to them. Sure they are coming in as the opponent but some have been pulling it off.

[mrpain81]

i'm not talking about money-wise. mma will never be able to compete to boxing in terms of money.

i'm talking about exposure in their comparative fields. to be a top boxer is to fight in vegas on hbo and ppv. to be a top mma is to fight in the ufc.

Yes the UFC is the holygrail for the MMA fighters but you said they get "Quality Fighters" The first season they had some really good fighters pretty much the whole line up was solid, but as the season's go the fighter quality keeps going down.

You will find alot of guys on that show with records like 5 -3 or 8 -4, now Imagine if the contender could have fighters like that, they could make a new season every month.

[ferocity]

hopfully someone picks up the show, cause it sounds like espn wanted the show but seems like the contender people wanted too much money?

[Bea5T]

only network is see picking it up is fox sports net or HBO or Showtime

[HeartAttack]

the fights need to be longer and ESPN is suffering right now in terms of credibility with the whole promoter favortism issue. Next season will be Cruiserweights and I know a few good cruisers who have already been contacted and are meeting with Wald next week. HBO could do wonders for the show.