Will UFC Take On ONE FC in it’s Own Backyard?

Will UFC Take On ONE FC in it’s Own Backyard?

Published on December 4, 2011 by The Editor in Opinion

Will UFC Take On ONE FC in it’s Own Backyard?

The Gloves Are Off

Reuters are reporting today that UFC is planning events in Asia, CEO Lorenzo Fertitta has said that the “UFC is banking on global growth to secure the long term future of the organization.”

And we have already had Dana White talking openly about possible future seasons of TUFF being held in Asia, citing China as most likely.

With shows already in Japan and of course Australia and with talk of future plans for events in China, via Macau initially and talk of an event in SIngapore possibly in 2013 literally in Victor Cui’s back yard what does this all mean for ONE FC?

Well, before we look at that what does it mean for the UFC? There has been a lot of fuss in Europe because the UFC are talking of less European events due to the time differences making PPV a difficult proposition. Now of course with the FOX deal will that position change?

For all the talk of ONE FC’s possible reach at present UFC broadcasts to more than 130 countries and with the guaranteed income from Fox taking over from the always rising and falling PPV, which reportedly has dropped by something like 40% this year. With Fox’s pile of cash they will have a powerful war chest to really tackle ONE FC on it’s own planned patch before it has had a chance to even run a handfull of events.

ONE FC of course was never going to get a free run at Australasia, The UFC have held successful events here and why would they just step back and let ONE FC take over.

Brazil of course is MMA crazy and is the UFC’s number three market, but the UFC is backing Asia to be equally as big.

ONE FC of course is both going to benefit from the UFC’s growth in the area and likewise UFC will benefit from the rise in interest that ONE FC brings.

The UFC are already taking Chinese fighters to Las Vegas to train and they have eyes on the Billion plus chinese market and with that the rest of Asia will open up, All they have to do is find that one big Chinese MMA star.

So, who will be the winner the UFC or ONE FC?

It’s such a difficult question to answer, frankly UFC are the best known amongst fighters and to reach the UFC is perceived as the pinnacle for any fighter. Yet, many smaller organisations exist even in America and thrive. Bellator are probably enjoying more interest and coverage now than ever before.

ONE FC must be seen as the best opportunity for Asian based fighters to create a name for themselves, but, the test will be whether ONE FC can keep those fighters once they make it big.

What ONE FC needs to do is get established, and stop bringing in the likes of Phil Baroni, who probably is more expensive than the upcoming home grown fighters. The fact that ONE FC gave him a multi fight contract when he  lost his first fight for the organisation, showed, I think poor judgement (and poor judgement has so far been very rare at ONE FC) and anybody who heard Baroni just a couple of weeks before ONE FC on one of the American MMA podcasts literally saying he knew nothing about the organisation and seemed to know nothing or even care enough to find out about the event, what is the point then in paying him, if he loses and offers no PR skills?

What ONE FC needs to do is build the local Asian MMA fighter base and if it want’s to bring in ex UFC fighters keep it to Asians. ONE FC should create a powerful stable of Asian MMA fighters who can if poached by UFC prove they are as good as the their UFC counterparts.

The fact is in Singapore the Evolve stable of fighters were getting the big crowd buzz not Phil Baroni, ONE FC should use it’s local fight and fan base to tackle UFC.

Then ONE FC can stand tall and fight toe to toe with what is the better established organisation.

When it comes down to it Victor Cui and his organisation have proved to be very good at Hyperbole and have built a credible network of partners. It’s still early doors but I think they have UFC concerned enough that they have decided to start getting involved in Asia before the rug is pulled from under them.

It’s going to be an interesting fight and the one thing we can be sure of is the fact that WE the MMA fans based in Asia will win regardless.