UFC in Germany in 2009? Ich Don't Think So
From Robert K of Free Fight Videos (who speaks German and has spent many years there) :
I'm surprised with the speed this rumor has captured the MMA blogosphere but before European fight fans start celebrating, a quick reality check. European MMA fans will know that Germany may well be the least prepared Western European country to host any major MMA event. This rumor makes no sense at all and I'm willing to bet on it.
I firmly believe that there won't be a UFC Germany in 2009 for the following reasons:
*No, Randy Couture really doesn't speak fluent German. Couture joined the U.S. Army some 25 years ago. He spent six years in the service. Its unclear how many years he spent in Germany. I'd go as far as saying Couture is as fluent in German as Anderson Silva is fluent in English. If he still speaks any German it's far from fluent.
*No German TV station has ever broadcast a single UFC fight let alone an entire event. At one time Eurosport -- a dedicated cable sports channel -- did broadcast Pride and some European MMA events once in a long while. However other than that there is absolutely zero MMA coverage on German TV.
*Like in Japan major German fight sport events are broadcast on free to air TV, not on PPV.
*There isn't one significant German fighter in mixed martial arts. At this point Russia-born Dennis Siver (11-5 MMA.1-3 UFC) is the only German fighter of note. Even with Michael Bisping headlining the UK cards, the UFC in the UK has been an extremely unprofitable venture in a country with a fast-growing MMA base. UFC Germany would be a huge money loser.
*Germany may be the richest country in Europe. However, it's just about the least prepared destination in mainland Europe to host any major MMA event. Countries with a bigger and better mixed martial fan bases include Poland, Holland, and even tiny Croatia.
*The UFC's Q Score or Q Rating is just about non-existent. There is absolutely no brand recognition. There is absolutely zero name recognition of Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell or even the term mixed martial arts. There are no more than one or two significant Web sites dedicated to MMA in Germany.
Comments
Although, I think it's a bit
Although, I think it's a bit ambitious, I don't see any reason why it won't be done. There are already solid talks about events in the Philipines and in Dubai for '09 and I would think that Germany would be more equipped infrastructure wise to handle an event than either of those places.
way to be a party pooper
way to be a party pooper Robert K...
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well, I just think the UFC
well, I just think the UFC isn't too concerned with whether they make or lose money in the outset. For them, it's about growing the sport and doing what it takes to do that. That's how it started in England. The UFC is at the point where it can afford to go to places like Germany and Dubai and lose money initially while setting up a base for the future.
Umm...how about setting up a
Umm...how about setting up a base for the future on the East Coast...of the United States...
with melvina lathan as the
with melvina lathan as the NYSAC commissioner, i think its only a matter of time
the UFC made a
the UFC made a video
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