The Ultimate Fighting Championship could soon join the NFL, NBA, MLB and NASCAR in shedding its current pay-per-view module and existing primarily as a network entity.
In an interview with MMAWeekly.com, UFC President Dana White talked about the possibility of a UFC future without pay-per-view.
“Yeah, I do believe there will be a day when there probably isn’t pay-per-view. With this FOX exposure, we’re only a few months into this deal, but yeah, as we continue to put on shows and showcase talent over the next several years, the fan base is going to grow bigger and bigger and bigger.”
The possibility of the UFC existing without relying on pay-per-view revenue is a gargantuan step in pushing MMA as a mainstream sport.
White has done a tremendous job in increasing the number of free events every year. In 2011, fans were treated to 11 free fight cards.
While the UFC is certainly on the right track in making more fights available to the general public, hardcore fans are still expected to shell out 45-55 bucks for every major event, which is usually a deal breaker for casual fans.
Without pay-per-view, the biggest names and events in the UFC will be exposed to the world on a consistent basis, which could setup other deals and more sponsors for fighters.
The future of the UFC is bright, but as stated by White, the promotion is “several years” from a move of this magnitude.
“As the landscape in television continues to change – a lot of people believe that everything is gonna go to the Internet. Like now, when you buy your cable, and there’s basic cable and you can add other stations. We’re probably gonna get to the point where you can just pick exactly what you want. I want this channel, I want that channel, and I want that one, and that’s it. It’s very interesting to see where all this goes over the next several years, but I think the UFC is definitely gonna be a power player in the sports world.”
Jordy McElroy is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA. You can follow him on Twitter @JordyMcElroy for breaking news, updates and an occasional laugh here and there.
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