MMA Fight Girls Wallpaper

This is pretty insane, the UFC announced today that they have partnered with Verizon FiOS TV to bring Video on Demand to it’s fans. The new project is titled “UFC On Demand” and will provide viewers with access to historic UFC fights, UFC news and Fight Techniques. “UFC On Demand is a unique and innovative VOD program designed to educate new and casual fans about the sport, while giving hard-core fans access to ‘MORE UFC!’ content they’ve been clamoring for — at price points accessible to everyone. The service consists of a triple-tiered offering of three distinct services, with UFC Free Zone, UFC Fight Zone and UFC Event Zone:”

• UFC Free Zone is an on-demand free service offering informative and entertaining short features on mixed martial arts rules, fighting disciplines, styles and techniques. The highly popular Countdown UFC shows and UFC event previews are also available via UFC Free Zone.

• UFC Fight Zone offers single UFC library fights in their entirety, at $2.99 per fight with a 24-hour viewing period. UFC Fight Zone features fighters who will be competing in an upcoming UFC pay-per-view event, offering fans the opportunity to see these champions and challengers in some of their most legendary fights and prior matchups. (maybe this is why they’ve been keeping YouTube in check?)

• UFC Event Zone offers full UFC events and specials, starting at $4.99 per title for a 24-hour viewing period. Offerings include recent UFC pay-per-view events that feature fighters who will be competing in an upcoming UFC event, as well as the original and rarely seen “UFC Classics” from 1993-1998, along with UFC’s hottest selling full-length DVDs, UFC compilation specials and video-on-demand replays of current pay-per-view events.

The UFC has been gaining popularity in the US at a shocking rate.  But what’s even more surprising is the rate at which it is being to grow worldwide, thanks to guys like Chuck Liddell and Lorenzo Fertitta.  Ferttita states, “We’re going to be moving the show around the world, and we’re creating the UFC global footprint.” According to the UFC, over the past week Fertitta has been spreading the “UFC gospel in the United Kingdom, Dublin, France, Germany, and now the Philippines”.  When the UFC hit the Philippines along with Chuck Liddell to showcase Chuck’s open workout, over 4 thousand fans showed up for the event!

Liddell was amazed by the turn out of the international fans; “When we came to the hotel, we checked in about 6:30 in the morning and there were about 20 photographers waiting for us. Then we held a press conference at nine and there were multiple TV stations and reporters. It’s beyond the imagination. They have a full day of press for us tomorrow, and I’ve got to be honest, I knew that we were growing internationally, but I don’t think I really had an appreciation for the amount of momentum we truly have until I came over here and saw it for myself.”

So what can we expect of the UFC and the International Entertainment Market?  The UFC will continue to grow at an alarming rate.  With international access to satellite television and now the UFC pushing their product in these markets, expect amazing grow.  And what does Fertitta predict? “Fertitta only sees bright days ahead – not only in the United States, but around the world.”

Last week the UFC put on a free Spike TV Fight Night event in what many thought was an attempt to eclipse the Fedor vs. Tim Sylvia Affliction Banned PPV event. In my personal opinion, this was a good move for the UFC and was very successful.  This Saturday night CBS and EliteXC are putting on a free airing of the EliteXC Unfinished Business Event. Will the UFC respond as they did with Affliction. You bet. The UFC will be airing free on SpikeTV UFC 84 BJ Penn vs Sean Sherk. Wow, an event that aired live 2 months ago… how anti climatic.  I don’t think this one will have nearly as much of an effect as UFN did last week.

DirecTV is currently running a UFC Pay Per View (PPV) package.  If you preorder UFC 77, UFC 78 and UFC 79, you will get a Free TapOut Skull Cap (beanie), a copy of Ultimate KnockOuts 4 DVD and 1 Full Year access to UFC Fight Club Online.  All of this will run the the usual $40 per fight – a total of $120 for all three, but some free swag if you order by October 14th. If you’re interested in signing up, check out the DirecTV UFC Website.