Fans planning on ordering the star-studded UFC 168 fight card on pay-per-view should prepare to fork over some extra dough.
On Wednesday, both MiddleEasy.com and BJPenn.com reported that the UFC would be tacking on an extra five bucks to the usual pay-per-view tab for UFC 168.
This means that those hoping to witness the biggest fight card of the year in the confines of their living rooms will have the choice of ponying up either $49.95 for standard definition or $59.95 for high definition.
The news was confirmed by a DIRECTV campaign ad for the event secured by MiddleEasy.com.
There hasn’t been anything official coming out of the UFC as to whether this is a temporary price hike or a permanent change. Back in 2009, UFC President Dana White vowed that he would never raise pay-per-view prices:
“My philosophy and my big [expletive] thing is not to gauge the fans in any way,” White told Radio Host Steve Cofield and other reporters during a media scrum. “If you don’t think that we have a CFO and [expletive] aggressive guys in the company that want to raise pay-per-view and do all this sh-t, I won’t do it. I’ll [expletive] go on record right now and say I will not raise pay-per-view. … I won’t raise it again.
If this report holds true, then things have obviously changed for White and company.
UFC 168 is slated to go down on December 28 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event will be headlined by the highly anticipated middleweight title rematch between Chris Weidman and Anderson Silva.
In the co-main event, The Ultimate Fighter Season 18 coaches Ronda Rousey and Miesha Tate will meet for a second time for the UFC Women’s Bantamweight Title.
Perhaps the thought process is that those who already pay the normal rate shouldn’t have any problem coming up with an extra five bucks to cover the bill. If you’re the type to catch UFC events in a bar or restaurant, this news doesn’t really affect your normal routine.
In any case, an official announcement or statement should be coming soon.
Bleacher Report will keep you informed as more news becomes available on this developing story.
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com