Now that the UFC on FOX deal has officially been announced, we (the fans) can now anticipate greater things to come for the MMA world.
UFC and FOX are not wasting any time and have started to plan events and have even changed the format to UFC’s The Ultimate Fighter.
The Following was reported by MMAfrenzy.com:
“The UFC and FOX officially announced their new television partnership on Thursday and confirmed details on their new programming under the deal, including the first UFC on Fox event scheduled for Nov. 12 and The Ultimate Fighter moving to FX with a new, live format in the spring.
“The deal includes four live events on FOX and four to six events on FX each year, while two seasons of The Ultimate Fighter will also air on FX each year.
“The Ultimate Fighter will now be filmed over 13 weeks and edited in real-time before airing on Friday nights followed by a live fight. Fans will now be able to vote on each week’s match-ups, while the extended taping will see The Ultimate Fighter coaches hold their training camps alongside the show.
“Between the six UFC Fight Night events and 26 Ultimate Fighter bouts each year, FX will show live UFC fights up to 32 weeks of the year.
“The Nov. 12 card does not yet have a main event, but is expected to take place in Anaheim, Calif. just one week before the UFC hosts UFC 139 on Nov. 19 in San Jose, (a bout that will feature) heavyweight champ Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos.
“FUEL TV will now be home to UFC Prelims, which previously aired on Spike TV, while the network will also host pre- and post-fight shows for the UFC’s FOX, FX, and pay-per-view events. Additional programming will launch across the FOX networks in January 2012.
“Specific terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the agreement is estimated to be worth $90 million per year over seven or eight years.”
This is exciting news, I did not expect a live event on FOX to happen as soon as Nov. 12, the same night that Pacquiao will take on Marquez.
It will be interesting to see what UFC will have planned for this first card.
Also a nice change, there will be no more gladiator openings for live events and PPVs, which has been a staple for the UFC since Zuffa, LLC bought the company.
We will also see The Ultimate Fighter revamped, as it will be edited in live-time with fights showcased on Friday nights over a span of 13 weeks.
This is an interesting new format and a good one to shake things up for the show that has produced a number of UFC stars.
What other changes may happen?
We will have to wait and see, as the UFC on FOX deal seems like a match made in heaven thus far.
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