UFCMania is reporting that Randy Couture is going to hold a press conference to speak about his position for quitting the UFC as a Heavyweight Champion, Commentator and also address the rumours about his pay.
FYI - Fedor speaks today in New York City @ 5:30pm EST to announce the details of his contract as well, why he chose M-1 Global over other competing MMA organizations around the world.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Dana White on ESPN Speaks About Randy Couture
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There comes a point in business, even the entertainment business, where shouting won't get the job done. There comes a point where you have to put down your sippy-cup, stop eating spaghetti-O's and go to the grown-up table. When you are at the grown-up table, you are no longer allowed to shout and play with your food. You must engage in reasonable, coherent discussion that includes arguments rationalized by facts. The facts are called "metrics" and they are used to give credibility to your opinion. If you do not have the ability to rationalize your opinion with clear metrics, then the grown-ups will nod and smile when you talk, but they won't really listen and you'll never get what you want. In fact, eventually they'll stop inviting you to dinner altogether.
ReplyDeleteDana White is now at the grown-up table, and the powerhouse business team put together by M-1 are going to annihilate him regardless of the fact that they have lesser talent. It's too bad, but if you show a non-MMA fan a UFC show from 2004 and one from 2007, there is no discernible difference and when your product evolves not at all during the most frenetic 3 years in the sports history, you are doomed.
M-1 is a serious venture, lead by people who do not fuck around and are pissed at Zuffa. They are to be feared if you are Zuffa. Dana stop playing with your food when we have company over for dinner, it's embarassing.
I couldn't have said it any better.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
M-1? LOL!
ReplyDeleteTim, that's what they said about the UFC back in the day.
ReplyDeleteTime will tell.
UFC has achieved brand association. Every other MMA company is generic copy cats in the consumers' minds. Seems like almost an impossible task to compete.
ReplyDelete...thats what they said about the UFC... And the UFC didn't have the leverage that M-1 may currently have. Obviously none of us know their full plan, but from what they said in their news conference we know they are not fucking around. Potential pitfalls and their resolutions:
ReplyDeleteProblem #1: M-1 does not have the talent to compete with the UFC.
Resolution: Two fold. #1 Bullshit, there are plenty of great fighters out there and all that's necessary is to sign them and promote them properly. #2 IF they are able to free Couture from his contract you, me and every other MMA fan on the planet will watch it regardless of who's on the under card. Don't think so? Read on...
Problem #2: M-1 cannot be expected to do decent PPV #'s right out of the gate. Look at the travesty that was Bodog's attempt at PPV. M-1 is doomed.
Resolution: M-1 doesn't give a fuck about PPV. They're working to put the first two years of their product on free TV (HBO, Showtime, etc...). If M-1 lands a TV deal and has the good sense to use some proven tactics like PRIDE used (freak show matches, PRIDE rules & little or no drug testing in the countries where they can get away with that) we will all line up to watch. Mos def. Take a card of who's available. Maybe: Fedor vs Couture, throw in Nick Diaz vs Mayhem, Monson vs I dunno... Butterbean for chrissakes, get that Tank vs Kimbo fight that EVERYONE would love to see if only for the high comedy (hard cause of Elite XC, but whateves) and holy living fuck people will line up to watch that.
All that said, it'll be interesting to see what the UFC will announce as its new TV deal tomorrow. That could substantially alter the landscape. They need something big right now and UFC 78 sure ain't it.
Anyways, point is, there are huge holes in the UFC's game and until they fix them the landscape is ripe for someone who knows wtf they are doing to come in and compete.
Brand association? Ummm... you know who else has good brand association? Nike.
ReplyDeleteYou know who else sells 100's of millions of dollars worth of shoes? Reebok, Adidas, Fila, Puma, etc etc etc...
Not sayin its going to be easy to educate everyone who still refers to MMA as "Ultimate Fighting," but it's the furthest thing from impossible. Impossible is when the most respected Senator in the country says your sport is human cockfighting and should be banned. That's impossible. Outsmarting the Zuffa crew... um hard, but harldy impossible
Cuban's name has been thrown around as a possible source to carry M-1 content on HDNet.
ReplyDeleteYou don't say "Nike" shopping, you say "Shoe" shopping.
ReplyDelete"Could you pick up some Jello at the store?"
"I'm gonna watch some UFC tonight."
A solid argument on branding and positioning a new brand in a dominated marketplace? Whoa, not what I look for in my MMA blogs.
ReplyDeleteOf course both our points are true at once, but you probably knew that already if you're smart enough to use the 'ol Jello brand standby.
You're not suggesting that the UFC already dominates the marketplace the way the NFL or NBA does are you? I mean we're only 6 months removed from wondering whether PRIDE was the dominant brand or not? If the Yakuza had their shit together we'd be talking about PRIDE fighting now instead of "Ultimate Fighting". You can't really say that the UFC has comprehensively branded the sport of MMA for all time at this stage and the door is clearly open, especially if Greg is right and you add Mark Cuban to the above mix.
I'd say they are as branded as the the WNBA at this point. PRIDE was never close to mainstream. UFC is talked about by the average Joe now. MMA is only talked about by us junkies.
ReplyDelete