UFC 101 buyrate, JMM/PBF, and the PPV business itself

[DC Fight Fan]

These figures are based on actual sales numbers.

As far as the Vegas shows being 'comped' as you claim. Have you ever been or even tried to get tickets to a mega-boxing fight ?

Only a fraction of the tickets are available to the public, and the rest are GIVEN out by the casinos and promoters to stargazers and onlookers. Usually, there are something like 1,000 tickets available to the public for mega-boxing events.

Also, the gate revenue figures come directly from the state athletic commission, not from Dana White's imagination.

The proof is in the pudding. The UFC is dominating PPV right now because they put on several quality matchups in each of their PPV broadcasts, as opposed to one huge fight, and a slew of mismatches and up and comers.

Look I agree that boxing needs to put on better undercards. But I do not agree that the UFC is "dominating" boxing on PPV's. You haven't even mentioned the world wide buys which UFC gets little to none of.

And one better my friend, I have sold tickets to a mega fight in boxing. Actually quite a few of them. And in big business the man with power can get the media to release just about anything he wants them to. Trust me.

[Dirt E Gomez]

Everything you said is dead on. Imagine the following card on PPV

Pac/Cotto - $25 million
FM/JMM - $25 million
Vitali/Aereola $15 million
4 Fight Undercard - $100 grand or so

Imagine what the price of the PPV would be to have to cover those purses. Imaging what the site fee and ticket prices would have to be. There is no comparison. The Griffin/Silva main the other night might have paid out less than a million dollars in purses between the show and win amounts. The undercard might have attributed to another million combined. So 2 million in purses to pay? A lot easier to cover isn't it?

I'm not sure what you're arguing here with those #'s. This is why boxing needs help; not why you can't compare the 2.

[MOREBASS]

U can't compare Boxing 2 UFC. UFC is one league that pays there fighters peanuts and is only thriving here in the states. Compared to Boxing on a international level an it ain't even close! If Boxers got paid like UFC fighters Boxing could put Pac-Cotto,JMM-May and Klit-Arreola all on 1 card. Yet all fights are seperate and all those fighters will make 10 TIMES what the top UFC fighter makes. You also forget all Boxings top fights on SHOW and HBO are esssentially PPV because you gotta pay the 15 dollars a month to watch it. UFC is hot now cuz it new and it gettin all the hype come find me 10 years from now an we'll c where it is then.

Only thriving in the states?

You couldn't be more wrong in your assesment. They have already had successful shows overseas, and the UFC 100 show drew 25 million viewers in Mexico.

Look, I'm a die hard boxing fan, just like most of you, but if boxers and promoters didn't demand such ridiculous purses, there would be more money to put back into the sport.

The UFC isn't just paying these fighters peanuts and pocketing the rest. They're doing what the movers and shakers in the boxing world should be doing and investing it in the sport's future. When's the last time you saw a Manny Pacquiao fight on ESPN ?

What's killing boxing is the greed that comes with the business side of the sport.

Have you ever wondered why you are now starting to see boxing cards that actually have more than one quality matchup on them ?

You can thank the UFC for that. Finally, fans have a choice, and with competition comes improved product.

As fans, we win.

[MOREBASS]

Look I agree that boxing needs to put on better undercards. But I do not agree that the UFC is "dominating" boxing on PPV's. You haven't even mentioned the world wide buys which UFC gets little to none of.

And one better my friend, I have sold tickets to a mega fight in boxing. Actually quite a few of them. And in big business the man with power can get the media to release just about anything he wants them to. Trust me.

Well, just to put it in perspective.

In 2008, the UFC broke the record for most PPV buys in a fiscal year, in ANY sport, of all time.

As far as the international sales go, the lion's share of PPV revenue comes from the United States, and this goes for both boxing and MMA. The deals that are worked out with networks in other countries is simply icing on the cake.

[Mr. Fantastic]

Only thriving in the states?

You couldn't be more wrong in your assesment. They have already had successful shows overseas, and the UFC 100 show drew 25 million viewers in Mexico.

Look, I'm a die hard boxing fan, just like most of you, but if boxers and promoters didn't demand such ridiculous purses, there would be more money to put back into the sport.

The UFC isn't just paying these fighters peanuts and pocketing the rest. They're doing what the movers and shakers in the boxing world should be doing and investing it in the sport's future. When's the last time you saw a Manny Pacquiao fight on ESPN ?

What's killing boxing is the greed that comes with the business side of the sport.

Have you ever wondered why you are now starting to see boxing cards that actually have more than one quality matchup on them ?

You can thank the UFC for that. Finally, fans have a choice, and with competition comes improved product.

As fans, we win.

Great Post!! I agree.

[DC Fight Fan]

Well, just to put it in perspective.

In 2008, the UFC broke the record for most PPV buys in a fiscal year, in ANY sport, of all time.

As far as the international sales go, the lion's share of PPV revenue comes from the United States, and this goes for both boxing and MMA. The deals that are worked out with networks in other countries is simply icing on the cake.

You can't compare PPV in a fiscal year when UFC does numerous more PPV events than boxing. Further, I challenge you to supply a credible link that shows UFC did 25 million buys in Mexico for a singular event. That is absurd.

[Pecs]

As expected hardcore boxing fans will always hate on UFC, always claiming fake numbers etc. So what is stopping boxing from inflating their numbers too?? I will leave it as that.

UFC 101 was not a great card (only above average) and no doubt it got some momentum and new fans from UFC 100.

UFC 103 in sept however will not get 1 million as the card is not very good. even 700k will be a surprise...

But as you know, the UFC got a PPV almost every month.

[MOREBASS]

You can't compare PPV in a fiscal year when UFC does numerous more PPV events than boxing. Further, I challenge you to supply a credible link that shows UFC did 25 million buys in Mexico for a singular event. That is absurd.

Actually, boxing had more PPV's over the year. The UFC does 12 per year.

And yes, you can compare the two. Its been done, and proven that the UFC outsold boxing in PPV events by a landslide.


As far as the UFC 100's success in Mexico. I never said it was a PPV. They didn't have any buys. It was shown on network television for free, and 25 million people tuned in.

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2009/7/24...llion-ppv-buys

[DC Fight Fan]

Actually, boxing had more PPV's over the year. The UFC does 12 per year.

And yes, you can compare the two. Its been done, and proven that the UFC outsold boxing in PPV events by a landslide.


As far as the UFC 100's success in Mexico. I never said it was a PPV. They didn't have any buys. It was shown on network television for free, and 25 million people tuned in.

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2009/7/24...llion-ppv-buys

You are completely missing the point and continuing to compare apples to oranges. Sure boxing did more PPV's when you add in the small time promoter funded PPV events. I am comparing mega fight PPV's against the UFC's 12 a year. Boxing's mega fights generate much more money and cost much more money. Therefore, they can not do them as often as UFC does their mega fights monthly. The purses for the fighters are much higher in mega fights and the A list fighters do not fight as often.

And okay 25 million mexicans watched a free event of UFC. How many would watch PBFM/JMM if it were free to them? I assure you it would be a hell of a lot more than 25 million. Get off Dana's nuts. He has you hook line and sinker

[Dirt E Gomez]

You are completely missing the point and continuing to compare apples to oranges. Sure boxing did more PPV's when you add in the small time promoter funded PPV events. I am comparing mega fight PPV's against the UFC's 12 a year. Boxing's mega fights generate much more money and cost much more money. Therefore, they can not do them as often as UFC does their mega fights monthly. The purses for the fighters are much higher in mega fights and the A list fighters do not fight as often.

Once again you're missing the point. The point is that this is why boxing should change. Not reasons why they can't be compared. The UFC doesn't need "mega-fights" because the quality of the product they put out is better. Boxing needs to follow suit.