UFC 145 gets 700K+ buys

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2012/4/26/2977157/jon-jones-emerges-as-a-star-with-800000-ppv-buys-for-ufc-145
Dave Meltzer reports on the numbers at the Wrestling Observer (subscription required):

...the story was strong enough that early estimates of PPV numbers have topped 700,000 buys, by far the largest of Jones' career. The number was big for UFC, because they had not established a new young star who was a major consistent draw since the rise of Brock Lesnar, now retired, and Georges St. Pierre, out for most of the year. While the draw was in good part due to the storyline, the number was big enough to where it, combined with WrestleMania a few weeks ago, seems to contradict a lot of people's views of PPV as a dying industry. The big events, like this and WrestleMania, have done better than most expectations going in.

Gonna be a tough number for Hendo to beat. But I think he can do it.

No way is Hendo gonna beat this number. It will fall in between this and the Page card. This surprised the hell out of me, and basically proves that Overeem cost the UFC a million buy event.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

No way is Hendo gonna beat this number. It will fall in between this and the Page card. This surprised the hell out of me, and basically proves that Overeem cost the UFC a million buy event.

Reem vs JDS wouldn't have outsold Jones vs Rashad. Also Hendo will ATLEAST approach this number.

You're fucking clueless. That HW card would have easily been the card of the year. Hendo vs Jones has none of the drama and intrigue of this card. It will not AT LEAST approach nothing. 500kish tops. You don't understand the fight game at all. I can't believe you've watched as much as you have. Jesus christ.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

You're fucking clueless. That HW card would have easily been the card of the year. Hendo vs Jones has none of the drama and intrigue of this card. It will not AT LEAST approach nothing. 500kish tops. You don't understand the fight game at all. I can't believe you've watched as much as you have. Jesus christ.

Jones right now is being pushed more then any other UFC fighter. Also it's a fight featuring 2 non-Americans. I seriously doubt we would have seen Reem or JDS on ESPN even half as much as we saw Rashad and Jones. They hyped the shit out of this card and their poster child. Don't know why I bother with a noob like you.

Lesnar vs Overeem only did 800,000...Yet you think unknown JDS vs slightly unknown Overeem would have done 1 M? Keep dreaming....

It also had Cain vs Mir and was an all HW card. Do we need a refresher course in PPV buying trends?

Anderson vs Chael rematch will outsell that card.

That card was gonna do a million, and the UFC knows it. JDS was an emerging star after the fox beatdown, Overeem did 800k and destroyed Lesnar. It had Cain vs Mir, and a ton of other HW's. Would have been epic.


The Anderson Chael card is gonna be pretty big too. I think Faber Cruz is the co-main. The UFC needs one sure fighter million buy card this year and it looks like they're setting this up to be that card now.

Ninja wrote:

Wolfgangsta wrote:

That card was gonna do a million, and the UFC knows it. JDS was an emerging star after the fox beatdown, Overeem did 800k and destroyed Lesnar. It had Cain vs Mir, and a ton of other HW's. Would have been epic.


The Anderson Chael card is gonna be pretty big too. I think Faber Cruz is the co-main. The UFC needs one sure fighter million buy card this year and it looks like they're setting this up to be that card now.

Am I missin somethin here ninja?

Originally the co-main event for Andy vs Chael was Wand vs Vitor.

when it was 147

Wolfgangsta wrote:

when it was 147

Yes, the originally date it was planned on. For months that was the date. It was switched less then a week ago.

OU wrote:

Wolfgangsta wrote:

when it was 147

Yes, the originally date it was planned on. For months that was the date. It was switched less then a week ago.

Yes.

I wonder if Faber and Cruz are mad they are being "demoted".

Probably not though, because a bout a billion more people will tune in to watch them fight as part of this card than would have otherwise, which is long term better for their brand. The only way if would effect them is if they were promised points earlier and that changed(which i highly doubt)

I wonder if they still get the same % of the PPV buys? If so, then I don't think they will mind too much.

I wonder if they even get points at all honestly.

Below to many numbers? Basically all fighter listed payouts, bonus plus base equals less than 3% of the PPV revenue. If you take out Bones, Rashad and Rothwell, the other 21 fighters on the card just barely manage to make up 1% of the PPV revenue.

Food for thought: $60.00*700,000 = $42,000,000
Fighter and Base Bonus pay						Base Bonus	Percentage	of	PPV Revenue
Champ Jon Jones: $400,000 (no win bonus)						$400,000.00	0.952381%	of	$42,000,000.00
def. Rashad Evans: $300,000						$300,000.00	0.714286%	of	$42,000,000.00
Rory MacDonald: $36,000 (includes $18,000 win bonus)						$36,000.00	0.085714%	of	$42,000,000.00
def. Che Mills: $8,000						$8,000.00	0.019048%	of	$42,000,000.00
Ben Rothwell: $104,000 (includes $52,000 win bonus)						$104,000.00	0.247619%	of	$42,000,000.00
def. Brendan Schaub: $14,000						$14,000.00	0.033333%	of	$42,000,000.00
Michael McDonald: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus)						$16,000.00	0.038095%	of	$42,000,000.00
def. Miguel Torres: $32,000						$32,000.00	0.076190%	of	$42,000,000.00
Eddie Yagin: $12,000 (includes $6,000 win bonus)						$12,000.00	0.028571%	of	$42,000,000.00
def. Mark Hominick: $17,000						$17,000.00	0.040476%	of	$42,000,000.00
Mark Bocek: $46,000 (includes $23,000 win bonus)						$46,000.00	0.109524%	of	$42,000,000.00
def. John Alessio: $10,000						$10,000.00	0.023810%	of	$42,000,000.00
Travis Browne: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus)						$24,000.00	0.057143%	of	$42,000,000.00
def. Chad Griggs: $27,000						$27,000.00	0.064286%	of	$42,000,000.00
Matt Brown: $36,000 (includes $18,000 win bonus)						$36,000.00	0.085714%	of	$42,000,000.00
def. Stephen Thompson: $8,000						$8,000.00	0.019048%	of	$42,000,000.00
Anthony Njokuani: $24,000 (includes $12,000 win bonus)						$24,000.00	0.057143%	of	$42,000,000.00
def. John Makdessi: $12,000						$12,000.00	0.028571%	of	$42,000,000.00
Mac Danzig: $54,000 (includes $27,000 win bonus)						$54,000.00	0.128571%	of	$42,000,000.00
def. Efrain Escudero: $10,000						$10,000.00	0.023810%	of	$42,000,000.00
Chris Clements: $12,000 (includes $6,000 win bonus)						$12,000.00	0.028571%	of	$42,000,000.00
def. Keith Wisniewski: $10,000						$10,000.00	0.023810%	of	$42,000,000.00
Marcus Brimage: $16,000 (includes $8,000 win bonus)						$16,000.00	0.038095%	of	$42,000,000.00
def. Maximo Blanco: $13,000						$13,000.00	0.030952%	of	$42,000,000.00
Total						$1,241,000.00	2.954762%	of	$42,000,000.00

Wolfgangsta wrote:

I wonder if they even get points at all honestly.

No doubt about it they were getting points as the headliners. I pretty sure I remember reading about them getting a % for the last fight(Cruz vs Faber). I've read before about co-main event fighters getting % as well. I'm almost certain they will get it here. Especially the current Champion.

Above too many numbers?

Basically, all fighter listed payouts, bonus plus base, equals less than 3% of the PPV revenue. If you take out Bones, Rashad and Rothwell, the other 21 fighters on the card just barely manage to make up 1% of the PPV revenue.

They'd have to keep the same points they were getting before because otherwise the fight contracts would have to be renegotiated. I am sure they don't mind as they're likely going to get more money now.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

They'd have to keep the same points they were getting before because otherwise the fight contracts would have to be renegotiated. I am sure they don't mind as they're likely going to get more money now.

Yeah I'm sure that is how it is. I'm sure they will get whatever they would have got. The # of buys will atleast double what it would have been anyways.

Two title fights, both legit grudge matches, one being a mega rematch and the other a set of TUF coaches... I could see this card doing a million. With Reem JDS off the table nothing else come close this year.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

Two title fights, both legit grudge matches, one being a mega rematch and the other a set of TUF coaches... I could see this card doing a million. With Reem JDS off the table nothing else come close this year.

Well you can count on Chael making another ESPN run and with his mouth and the amount of stupid Americans. It just might break 1 million.