Midnight Mania! UFC is asking 450 million per year for TV deal… but probably won’t get it

Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight

Welcome to Midnight Mania!

Jason Cruz of MMA Payout is reporting that the UFC is asking a high price to carry it’s product- but it may have trouble getting it. 450 million dollars per year is a steep increase from the current FOX deal, 120 million.

The Sports Business Journal reports the UFC’s current state of negotiating a new media rights package once its deal with FOX is up. Currently, the new asking price of $450M per year is a stiff increase that is not garnering a lot of interest at this point.

The current deal with FOX is worth $120 million per year (with it jumping to $160 million for the last year) for the 7 year deal which ends at the end of 2018. The UFC is looking to increase its rights fee to $450 million per year. Traditional media companies appear to be weary of the hefty ask.

The UFC has been considering other options- Amazon, for instance, might be a potential contender to carry the UFC product on it’s all-digital platform. That would be a move without precedent, and a risky one.

There is another concern for the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s negotiating power: they might have competition from the WWE.

SBJ notes that with the WWE’s media rights deal coming up in the fall of 2019, the market and bargaining leverage might be hindered for the UFC. WWE has met with Fox earlier this summer as part of the pro wrestling company’s road show with various networks “to show the power of its programming.” The WWE’s deal with NBC in 2017 is estimated at $180 million.


Insomnia

Dustin Poirier’s life is pretty good right now

Had a great time at the @Saints game yesterday! Who dat! pic.twitter.com/sBvQLbjU9M

— The Diamond (@DustinPoirier) November 20, 2017

Gainzzzz for Demetrious Johnson

GAINZ. pic.twitter.com/vrte2shH0w

— Demetrious Johnson (@MightyMouseUFC) November 21, 2017

I do believe this is Edmond Tarverdyan’s actual account. At least some of the people Werdum gets into it with tend to be some of the least likable people in MMA.

@FabricioWerdum is a punk who only talks shit to smaller people. Fake tough guy.

— Edmond Tarverdyan (@EdmondTarverdy) November 21, 2017

Justin Buckholz, Team Alpha Male’s (erstwhile?) striking coach, is hinting that all is not well at Team Alpha Male.

Pretty soon I’m gonna be called a racist etc. Same smear campaign that was run on @DUANEBANGCOM wonder who’s doing it??

— Justin Buchholz (@JustinBuchholz) November 20, 2017

Comment when you see it…

You picking Bisping or Gastelum for the win?

A post shared by As Shopped As It Gets (@as_shopped_as_it_gets_) on Nov 20, 2017 at 2:51pm PST

This is a good account if you like MMA memes

A post shared by As Shopped As It Gets (@as_shopped_as_it_gets_) on Nov 18, 2017 at 8:33am PST

Jacare tried to forestall Brunson saying anything about the time and location… but Brunson went ahead and named a different time and location.

UFC offered me Derek Brunson to fight on February 3rd at UFC FN 125, Belem do Para, Brazil. I already agreed to fight on Belem do Para, Brazil, now is up to Derek Brunson, I hope he doesn’t come up with escuses about the location and date of event. @ufc

— Ronaldo Jacaré (@JacareMMA) November 20, 2017

That’s weird . I accepted for Jan 27 in Charlotte, NC. I’ll be in touch after this weekend’s fight! See you in NC. https://t.co/IrA88q4kEu

— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) November 20, 2017

Because what are the keys, really? I would be happy to be wrong, but this seems like a brutal matchup for Holly Holm. I hope she’s getting the millions she wanted.

Ariel Helwani asked Holm what are the keys to beating Cyborg and there was like 40 seconds of awkward silence. It was a bad phone connection but still, if you’re Cyborg’s team you have to clip that and use it for promotion. #TheMMAHour

— Justin Golightly (@SecretMovesMMA) November 20, 2017

Why would Cyborg post a picture on her own Instagram with Wanderlei’s face photoshopped onto hers??

Good question- that’s one of the biggest things the Ali Expansion Act would change.

If my income is public information. Why isn’t my promoters? I believe Fighters and their management should be able to see the numbers of all revenue generated

— Cub Swanson (@CubSwanson) November 17, 2017

Uriah Hall is grumpy in the morning.

Uriah Hall is not happy with the early morning USADA wake up call. (Via his Instagram story). pic.twitter.com/47vVYIveRA

— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) November 20, 2017

Volkan is out of jail.

It appears as if Volkan Oezdemir has posted bond ($10,000) and is now out of jail in Broward County, Fl. Still no context available over the arrest, other than it was for statute 784.045-1.a.1: aggravated battery. pic.twitter.com/bIt0VmNXiR

— Tim B. (@timothybissell) November 19, 2017

The McGregors are getting in the Christmas spirit

Matt Brown got himself into some trouble this weekend. Don’t mix alcohol and watching your kids!

Need some help from twitterverse here… Can all my peeps tweet @Mrs_Immortal and ask her not to kill me when she gets home for buzzing my kids hair? #scaredofwifey #alcoholisahelluvadrug pic.twitter.com/pOemnPervh

— Matt Brown (@IamTheImmortal) November 19, 2017

Safe to say, Werdum liked his gift

Fabricio Werdum just earned a Performance Bonus for this pic #UFCSydney pic.twitter.com/7CAo3Vf5us

— Dave Madden (@DaveMMAdden) November 17, 2017

My dad sent me a picture of a buck he killed recently, and I do miss being outdoors this time of year.

This photo is making me a little nostalgic. pic.twitter.com/MzjE5CHpfm

— Jim Miller (@JimMiller_155) November 18, 2017

“Watch Vasyl Lomachenko play tennis with himself” is just the latest Lomachenko addition to impossible feats

pic.twitter.com/Ox1O1Co2SF

— Hi-Tech Lomachenko (@VasylLomachenko) November 17, 2017

This shouldn’t be real either:

I salute this referee’s attention to detail
(H/T @FloCombat) pic.twitter.com/6YiNbV6qnM

— Catch Wrestling Utd. (@CatchWrestling) November 17, 2017

Gina Carano is going to be shouting at this match like Loki watching Thor get slammed around by Hulk: “That is how it feels!!” (If you haven’t seen the latest Thor movie, trust me, worth it)

I’m glad this is happening @ufc @HollyHolm @criscyborg https://t.co/rFffnc4LaZ

— Gina Carano (@ginacarano) November 17, 2017

Good gator wrestling on display here:


Good Reads and Quick Hits


Slips, Rips, and KO Clips

This rolling wheel kick/scorpion kick knockout is absolutely unbelievable.

WOW!! Capoeira Kick KO!!!!

HOLY S*#% – What a capoeira kick knockout on Shock N Awe – Take a bow Ollie Flint
Tag a friend and show them Ollie’s amazing KO! Is this one of the KOs of the year?
UK amateur MMA at it’s finest!

Posted by MMAnytt.com on Friday, November 17, 2017

Bizarre scene at Enfusion 56. Fighter eats left hand after the bell and pretends he’s out (and wins by DQ). pic.twitter.com/muQquDkHDp

— Guilherme Cruz (@guicruzzz) November 18, 2017

DANNNNNG. Spinning hook kick by Ismail Naurdiev. KO’s Georgi Valentinov in R1. #ACB74 pic.twitter.com/s2BaSyYMZO

— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) November 18, 2017

John Douma vs Mark Trader #CES47 pic.twitter.com/Kxowo6IOuF

— Zombie Prophet (@ZPGIFs) November 18, 2017

Stephen Loman TKO’s Gary Mangat in the first. New BRAVE Bantamweight champ. #BRAVECF9 pic.twitter.com/h846lWdB9a

— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) November 17, 2017

3rd straight 1st round finish of the night courtesy of @Haim_Gozali #Bellator188 pic.twitter.com/rmP1KC89Cx

— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) November 18, 2017

Thiago Silva TKO’s Jose Daniel Toledo. Big John has no choice but to stop after that faceplant. #ACB74 pic.twitter.com/BgcFyxXj1C

— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) November 18, 2017

Attila throwing tornado shit out here #acb74 pic.twitter.com/CMQZenpn9j

— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) November 18, 2017

I love me a good body shot.

perfectly placed, uhhh
Patryk Beszta KOs Apidech Lookiaoporsornchai in 1R (MX) pic.twitter.com/n8eAxBABK7

— Jolassanda (@Jolassanda) November 17, 2017

snapped
Numkabuan Sitkongwet KOs Yai Loukprachristmaxma (The Champion MT) pic.twitter.com/ZiyrhzimPW

— Jolassanda (@Jolassanda) November 18, 2017

Spike

Holy shit. He picked him up and threw him on his head. Buren Wuliji TKO’s Beno Adamia. Superstart Fight 7 pic.twitter.com/RCyMmYVGQN

— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) January 13, 2017

That was quick

Rustam Madoyan KO’s Mikhail Lebedev in 30 seconds (FNG) pic.twitter.com/D1XwZG0V82

— Jolassanda (@Jolassanda) November 19, 2017

This would have been amazing

close, a standing Ezekiel – rare thing pic.twitter.com/vr2V88fAeG

— Jolassanda (@Jolassanda) November 19, 2017

Great moment from this weekend’s UFC card

CHAOS#UFCSydney pic.twitter.com/9OgFuayh3f

— Jonnyboy (@Jonnyboy_6969) November 19, 2017

When the referee is like… ah, forget it.

Pretty much a 6 second KO. My guess is the Ref was just counting for practice pic.twitter.com/m71D6DzJTM

— Zombie Prophet (@ZPGIFs) November 21, 2017

SUMO

Day8 M3 Shohozan vs Mongol M6 Chiyoshoma. Great leg trip. It sure looks even in slo mo that they went down at same time but no mono-ii. #Sumolingo #novbasho pic.twitter.com/l0C7GhZeJ4

— SumoSoul (@TheSumoSoul) November 19, 2017

Footwork isn’t just about getting from A to B. Watch how Joe Louis generates power by pivoting his feet (putting out a cigarette). This allows him to better rotate his hips and shift his weight from one foot to the other. Joe was as perfect a puncher as you’re ever likely to see. pic.twitter.com/gZdcEuMBSI

— Lee Wylie (@leewylieboxing) November 20, 2017


Random Land

This made me reflexively angry, yet I also laughed out loud.

I am CRYING. The Weather Channel set up for a live shot of the Georgia Dome being imploded, and at the perfectly wrong time … this happened (via @ajc): pic.twitter.com/LA0cXpC7oX

— Brett Taylor (@Brett_A_Taylor) November 20, 2017

This made me frustrated too, but less so.

can someone explain why japanese game show ‘slippery stairs’ hasn’t made its way to our part of the world yet pic.twitter.com/cd1BHvvoKl

— juan (@juanbuis) November 20, 2017

Nature IS better with lightsabers

Nature is better with lightsabers

Nature is beautiful

via instagram.com/cockroach/
via youtube.com/vidgeo

Posted by Machinima on Monday, November 13, 2017

Stay woke, Maniacs! Follow me on Twitter and Facebook @Vorpality

Bringing you the weird and wild from the world of MMA each and every weeknight

Welcome to Midnight Mania!

Jason Cruz of MMA Payout is reporting that the UFC is asking a high price to carry it’s product- but it may have trouble getting it. 450 million dollars per year is a steep increase from the current FOX deal, 120 million.

The Sports Business Journal reports the UFC’s current state of negotiating a new media rights package once its deal with FOX is up. Currently, the new asking price of $450M per year is a stiff increase that is not garnering a lot of interest at this point.

The current deal with FOX is worth $120 million per year (with it jumping to $160 million for the last year) for the 7 year deal which ends at the end of 2018. The UFC is looking to increase its rights fee to $450 million per year. Traditional media companies appear to be weary of the hefty ask.

The UFC has been considering other options- Amazon, for instance, might be a potential contender to carry the UFC product on it’s all-digital platform. That would be a move without precedent, and a risky one.

There is another concern for the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s negotiating power: they might have competition from the WWE.

SBJ notes that with the WWE’s media rights deal coming up in the fall of 2019, the market and bargaining leverage might be hindered for the UFC. WWE has met with Fox earlier this summer as part of the pro wrestling company’s road show with various networks “to show the power of its programming.” The WWE’s deal with NBC in 2017 is estimated at $180 million.


Insomnia

Dustin Poirier’s life is pretty good right now

Gainzzzz for Demetrious Johnson

I do believe this is Edmond Tarverdyan’s actual account. At least some of the people Werdum gets into it with tend to be some of the least likable people in MMA.

Justin Buckholz, Team Alpha Male’s (erstwhile?) striking coach, is hinting that all is not well at Team Alpha Male.

Comment when you see it…

You picking Bisping or Gastelum for the win?

A post shared by As Shopped As It Gets (@as_shopped_as_it_gets_) on

This is a good account if you like MMA memes

A post shared by As Shopped As It Gets (@as_shopped_as_it_gets_) on

Jacare tried to forestall Brunson saying anything about the time and location… but Brunson went ahead and named a different time and location.

Because what are the keys, really? I would be happy to be wrong, but this seems like a brutal matchup for Holly Holm. I hope she’s getting the millions she wanted.

Why would Cyborg post a picture on her own Instagram with Wanderlei’s face photoshopped onto hers??

Good question- that’s one of the biggest things the Ali Expansion Act would change.

Uriah Hall is grumpy in the morning.

Volkan is out of jail.

The McGregors are getting in the Christmas spirit

Matt Brown got himself into some trouble this weekend. Don’t mix alcohol and watching your kids!

Safe to say, Werdum liked his gift

My dad sent me a picture of a buck he killed recently, and I do miss being outdoors this time of year.

“Watch Vasyl Lomachenko play tennis with himself” is just the latest Lomachenko addition to impossible feats

This shouldn’t be real either:

Gina Carano is going to be shouting at this match like Loki watching Thor get slammed around by Hulk: “That is how it feels!!” (If you haven’t seen the latest Thor movie, trust me, worth it)

Good gator wrestling on display here:

#Repost @unclesamsmisguidedchildren (@get_repost) ??? Meanwhile in #Florida #flogrown #Gator #floridalife #floridagators

A post shared by Hector Lombard (@hectorlombard) on


Good Reads and Quick Hits


Slips, Rips, and KO Clips

This rolling wheel kick/scorpion kick knockout is absolutely unbelievable.

WOW!! Capoeira Kick KO!!!!

HOLY S*#% – What a capoeira kick knockout on Shock N Awe – Take a bow Ollie Flint
Tag a friend and show them Ollie’s amazing KO! Is this one of the KOs of the year?
UK amateur MMA at it’s finest!

Posted by MMAnytt.com on Friday, November 17, 2017

I love me a good body shot.

Spike

That was quick

This would have been amazing

Great moment from this weekend’s UFC card

When the referee is like… ah, forget it.

SUMO


Random Land

This made me reflexively angry, yet I also laughed out loud.

This made me frustrated too, but less so.

Nature IS better with lightsabers

Nature is better with lightsabers

Nature is beautiful

via instagram.com/cockroach/
via youtube.com/vidgeo

Posted by Machinima on Monday, November 13, 2017

Stay woke, Maniacs! Follow me on Twitter and Facebook @Vorpality