Comments on: More thoughts on the UFC’s production qualities

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garth — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 15:06:43 +0000

it’s weird, but watching a wreckage event recently me and my friend were both independently struck by how lousy the lighting was. it was too stark and directional. huh.

the fighter talking about traction was rick franklin. i’d love to see something done about the surface, it seems like we see a lot of slipping, and codifying the surface properties of the cage would be an important step forward to becoming more of a legitimate sporting league instead of a fight promotion. there’s nothing wrong with being a fight promotion, but UFC can secure a unique position for themselves by mixing promotion with league.

i agree wholeheartedly about the production values…it’s kind of embarrassing bringing people who don’t know mma over to watch PPV’s at my house (i’m a bit of an evangelist). HBO’s boxing specials, while having a lot more cash at their disposal, are also a LOT more professional looking…the dollar cost in video production, if it’s standardized ahead of time, is pretty dang low, and the return is high. i do design at an ad agency, and have produced plenty of TV commercials. there’s a precise relationship with $$ spent to the quality of the finished product in TV production.

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Body_Shots — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 21:07:05 +0000

["Funny you mention the Hard Rock because all of the WrekCage matches from the WEC on Versus were taped at the Hard Rock. If the WEC can make the Hard Rock look better, why can’t the UFC?]

The Hard Rock still looks like the Hard Rock to me, on one of their shows (can’t remember which) Faber came out from the back to the cage, and I recall thinking how small/minor league the show looked because of it. I believe they tried to use some camera effect during the entrance, but it just came off cheesy. You can’t fake a big atmosphere feel in a 1,000-seat arena. The in-cage production is top notch though.

["As for the UFC and Spike TV, I’m not 100% sure how it works but UFC controls the production there as well."]

Spike’s UFC fight nights always had a different feel to it, I’m not postive on how much say if any Spike has over them, but the ppvs are produced a lot better.

“[The UFC just aired three bouts on tape during their live TUF 5 finale.]”

The swing bouts on the ppvs are almost always live. The Spike live events are a different deal, recently they’ve gone to a different format, where Spike will air 3 live fights and stick in a few taped exiciting fights when time permits.

I’ll say this, if Zuffa IS soley producing the live Spike events, then you’re right, they need to step it up.

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Sam Caplan — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 18:31:02 +0000

“I don’t believe Zuffa produces the WEC or the UFC independently on Versus or Spike. One of the few events they produce by themselves is their PPVs, which does feature updated format and graphics.”

Zuffa does indeed produce WEC on its own. When Versus gets a copy of WrekCage delivered, it’s coming from the production company hired/people hired by Zuffa. As for the UFC and Spike TV, I’m not 100% sure how it works but UFC controls the production there as well.

“I also don’t see any problem with their lighting, I don’t get the night club feel from it at all. But it should be noted, that the venues they do play in for these live shows are glorified night clubs, you can’t turn the Hard Rock into the MGM.”

Funny you mention the Hard Rock because all of the WrekCage matches from the WEC on Versus were taped at the Hard Rock. If the WEC can make the Hard Rock look better, why can’t the UFC?

“I can’t remember the last time the UFC used a taped fight for a swing bout, if ever.”

The UFC just aired three bouts on tape during their live TUF 5 finale.

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steve — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 16:26:21 +0000

One last idea. Come out with some sort of ranking system. Understand why this is tricky. But it allows fans to get perspective. I always feel overwhelmed when an experienced fighter comes in. If i knew he was ranked 53rd in the world as a light weight it would help. I would tie things together nicely for the fans. You could watch your favourite fighter move up the rankings or be able to gauge how well your favourite fighters opponent is. Again i understand how simplistic this is and there are flaws but I think there is something there.

-steve

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steve — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 16:20:19 +0000

I would agree with most of what you wrote. I would suggest keeping it grounded. ESPN and Fox come off too polished now. I enjoy the underlying, no-nonsense feel the UFC has. I think the ramp+pyro+gimmicks they had 5 years ago was lame. I enjoyed in the TUF final how the fighters had a short walk. I think they should try hard to snuff out the trash talkin and facades like Quinton tries.

I think the biggest think they are missing is the internet. A large (likely largest) demographic has to 18-30 males. MMA and TV go together like motor oil and milk. They will never go together well. TV doesn’t work because:
1) time specific — I understand PVRs are a patch, but internet distribution is the fix
2) network centric — I live in Canada so Versus isn’t possible, that’s lame
3) censorship — Let’s say they get their deal with ESPN and go live Friday Nights (like good old boxing) and someone (god forbid) snaps their neck. The FCC and CRTC (canadian version) are going to cause the Zuffa so much trouble for such a long time (governments are sloooow to make decisions) that they’ll wish they never bought the UFC.

Keep spike/versus/whatever and add internet. Do not stream. Streaming sucks and it flawed. Use the bittorrent network. Offer different resolutions, package old fighter to help with hype, distribute pre and post game shows. Offer me access to all their connect for $3/month or $24/yr.

Do not follow the NFL, MLB etc… learn from them, but be creative and do your own thing. Look at the facts and listen to your fans.

-steve

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bcolflesh — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 14:47:40 +0000

“Add a sideline reporter.”

There’s a dude named Sam Caplan who might be interested in that position.

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pr0cs — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 14:09:29 +0000

I agree with a lot of these suggestions. I have a feeling that a lot of the criticism is because the UFC is growing so fast (and putting on too many shows) to make any big sweeping changes. They need to slow down, and start slowing making changes to the promotion to see what works and how the fans respond.
I would like better intros, not the screaming woman type of intros but more storyline on the training, and gameplan and where they see themselves going.
I would like less advertising, I don’t really care about ring advertising but less of the movie tie-in promotion. The free SpikeTV shows I understand the advertising but the PPV promotions should be ad free unless promotion the next show. I would prefer the time taking from this advertising to be put to some of your suggestions around interviews, intros and status updates.
You’re probably right about intervierws, the UFC broadcast team does need another team member to provide commentary though I think I’d put Rogan into the cage to do the post-fight and other similar type interviews. He has experience and is comfortable enough asking the tough questions that I think if given more time he’d have some more interesting questions.
I have a difficult time agreeing with yanking the Gladiator intro, perhaps because as you mentioned the nostalgia factor but perhaps the better intros and interviews would help round out the show better.

The EliteXC show was good, they need some work with the cameras yet but the ‘show’ part of the event seemed a lot more professional.

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By:

Body_Shots — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 13:53:41 +0000

I don’t believe Zuffa produces the WEC or the UFC independently on Versus or Spike. One of the few events they produce by themselves is their PPVs, which does feature updated format and graphics.

I also don’t see any problem with their lighting, I don’t get the night club feel from it at all. But it should be noted, that the venues they do play in for these live shows are glorified night clubs, you can’t turn the Hard Rock into the MGM.

I can’t remember the last time the UFC used a taped fight for a swing bout, if ever.

Some of your ideas are on the money, like fighter updates, better sponsors and some of it is ridiculous.

There’s a reason why fighters aren’t pestered by interviews while they’re warming up. You don’t want a fighter screwing up their routine, because they have to do an interview with Joe Rogan.

The UFC is not going to change the color of their mat, the main sponsor or the venue is always going to get a huge decal in the middle of the ring/cage. Moreover, the number of decals on the mat (in the UFC) are on par with any other major boxing/mma event.

What I’d like to see them get rid of is the ‘Bring the pain’ song, and go to the scores they create for their websites & countdown shows

I’d also like to see more documentary style fight packages. With that said, they’re kicking everyone’s ass on PPV, they’d be stupid change their product now.

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