If there was any theme from today's UFC 129 conference call with the media, it was that the UFC was up to quite a bit. Not really about UFC 127 even though main eventers B.J. Penn and Jon Fitch were on the line, not really about UFC 129 since, as aforementioned Penn and Fitch were there, and not really about either of those events given the news that White shared: The Ultimate Fighter will be starting its international franchise this year, likely beginning in the Philippines.
UFC’s Dana White Talks UFC 129 Ticket Sales, The Ultimate Fighter And Not Watching Fedor Emelianenko
If I had a guess, I'd say the timing of the call is directly related to stamping Strikeforce news and the knob to turn in the media cycle. It isn't as if there isn't UFC news. The call is a clear demonstration the organization is up to quite a bit. It's just that the lack of focus on the call is awfully strange and the timing is more than coincidental.
In any event, there are a few key takeaways from the event.
First, with the voracious response from ticket buyers for UFC 129, the organization's first stadium card, the UFC doesn't really seem to know where the ceiling is in terms of appetite in Canada. They reiterated they're not sure if it's 60,000 or 80,000. They also aren't sure if other cities that have seen UFC success, Vancouver and Montreal, can handle a stadium show. However, White believes that with the right fight - and Georges St. Pierre vs. Anderson Silva has to qualify - the sky appears to be the limit in the Great White North.
White also said if the UFC locks up deals it’s currently engaged in in the next few months, they’ll be in over one billion homes.
Another piece of big news is the growth of The Ultimate Fighter franchise. White said the UFC is going to be launching international versions of all of these shows and the first one, likely to take place in the Philippines, could begin in 2011.
White also doubled down on his belief that MMA under the UFC banner is going to be the most popular sport in the world, something that’s as ludicrous today as it was when he said it over a year ago. He also said UFC 129’s impact on the Toronto was going to be a conservative $40 million. This was used in reference to the New York legalization campaign, but as we’ve discussed earlier, talking about $10 or even $40 million in a state having to make budget cuts to the tune of $10 billion is as worthwhile as attacking windmills.
UFC 127, the UFC’s second show in Australia, is already a sellout. This show has 400 more tickets than the previous UFC show, UFC 110, which was held at the Acer Arena. This upcoming event will also be held in that venue.
The topic of Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva only came up once. A reporter asked White about his response to Strikeforce President Scott Coker saying he was glad White watched the show. White, likely fibbing, said he didn't watch and that friends texted him to let him know what was going on. Whatever.
In terms of predictions for UFC 129's main event, Jon Fitch didn't have one. B.J. Penn said he thinks Jake Shields has a chance, but he also said Dan Henderson would do well against George St. Pierre, so take his prediction with a massive grain of salt.
The UFC also said they are going to be adding shows, to the point where there will be events in Las Vegas and Australia simultaneously.
As you can see, the topics were all over the place, but the message was clear: 2011 stands to be another banner year for the UFC. Here goes nothing.
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