The UFC is slated to make history when they make their debut on FOX Sports next weekend, as a heavyweight title bout between Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos will headline the first event.
It will mark the first time the company will be broadcast on network television, showcasing a title bout between two of the sport’s most well-rounded and technical heavyweight fighters.
As much coverage and marketing the UFC is doing to promote the upcoming event, it will undoubtedly be a success, but one can’t help but notice it is lacking in potential talent. Other bouts like Benson Henderson vs. Clay Guida will be streamed live on Facebook and FOX.com, which leaves this anticipated card lacking in terms of quality.
The UFC took a big risk in advertising one of the company’s biggest title fights and placing it on a free televised card. Velasquez and dos Santos are two of the most skilled fighters competing the heavyweight division, but are relatively unknown with casual fans, so their presence on this upcoming card should help their marketability.
However, for as much success as the UFC can potentially gain from this event, they made a bad decision on promoting Velasquez and dos Santos as the marquee matchup. The fight itself has all the potential to be a fight of the year candidate, but favouring it over such bouts as Henderson and Guida or Urijah Faber versus Brian Bowles, devalues the event entirely.
While promoting a heavyweight championship bout, a title that is historically held with such prestigious and value, it would benefit much more from being featured on a pay-per-view card. Especially given the status’ of both fighters, and the magnitude surrounding the bout itself, either Velasquez or dos Santos will earn more notoriety with a victory, as opposed to establishing a reputation among casual fans.
Again, this heavyweight bout will do well in attracting more casual fans and more acceptance to the sport, but the UFC sacrificed a big opportunity to promote both Velasquez and dos Santos on a bigger stage to a wider audience.
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