Spike to air Bellator pre lims online

When will Bellator make it to Spike?

I don't think Wolf's scenario is off the wall.

However, I don't think Spike is clamoring for a org that will continue to see it's best fighters siphoned off. Shit even SF fighters see it as a dieing org.

Nor do I think the UFC holds all the cards. As noted in the article a Spike re-air of Nate outdrew a Vs live event of Nate(shows the level of intellect of a certain segment of the MMA audience but that's a different debate). If the UFC wants to keep Bellator off of Spike for the year, they can be assured of counter programming at every step of the way. So the facebook prelims will take a big hit, even live airs of FX will take a hit.

I don't know if it was mentioned anywhere, but with Spike owning the rights to the library does that mean Fox will not have access? They do seem to be being used in commercials correct? Can Fx right now(or whenever the contract officially kicks in) show UFC unleashed?

This would all play a part in Fox's/the UFC's thinking. It might be in the UFC's best interest to wipe their hands of the whole Spike deal and make the break clean.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

When will Bellator make it to Spike?

Good question, one that was the topic of a recent article I read:
http://mmajunkie.com/news/25140/sources-bellator-moving-from-mtv2-to-spike-tv-its-not-if-but-when.mma

We might have to wait awile, but it will happen. Could happen sooner since SPIKE might just want to unload the UFC library so they can move on. Zuffa could probably get a nice deal for it.

Strikeforce has lost a hand full. And still has a roster that makes Bellator look like the third MMA brand that they are. The current model will be changed. Sf will be retained no matter what King Mo says.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

Strikeforce has lost a hand full. And still has a roster that makes Bellator look like the third MMA brand that they are. The current model will be changed. Sf will be retained no matter what King Mo says.

But u r ignoring the fact that Sf will continue to lose fighters. In fact it will never retain any of it's top fighters. This is by definition of a feeder league.

Throw spike $$$ behind Bellator and it quickly raises it's talent level.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

Strikeforce has lost a hand full. And still has a roster that makes Bellator look like the third MMA brand that they are. The current model will be changed. Sf will be retained no matter what King Mo says.

You being so damn sure just comes off as annoying. SF's fate is still up in the air, Bellator is the clear favorite to land on SPIKE. Those are the facts we are currently dealing with. But go ahead, declare more "facts".

I swear you have to be a Zuffa employee these days. With all that you "know" and your change of views toward Bellator.

Wolf is trying to get into the MMA media, and he knows if he ever wants to have UFC access, he has to sell the product.

These are just realities. No bias. Sf has a lot of great fighters. I dont see where this omg feeder league stuff comes from. I know and you know how the UFC deals w competition.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

These are just realities. No bias. Sf has a lot of great fighters. I dont see where this omg feeder league stuff comes from. I know and you know how the UFC deals w competition.

Uh maybe it comes from the fact that within 6 months of the purchase, SF has lost more of it's champions to the UFC then it has had major events. 60% of their mens champs are no longer in the org. Where does the feeder league idea come from? wtf bro, open ur eyes.

Why does that make them some kind of leper? Thats my question.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

Why does that make them some kind of leper? Thats my question.

It's all about the TV deals. What television station wants to build up fighters, only to transport them off to a competing network when the fighter attains the level of champion? U don't think showtime wants them back do u? And this article certainly makes it look like Spike wants Bellator(which was pretty obvious from the begining). And without TV $$$ and TV exposure, any sport product is nothing.

Leper is actually a great description for what is going on. the loss of bodily parts which disfigures the victim to the point where no one wants to be near that person. I think it fits SF better then Mo's cancer patient analogy.

And it's less of a politically insensitve analogy as well.

I covered this in the blog. Ill repost here. I don't think it is fair to say a network, Spike or otherwise, wouldn't want a "feede league". There is this idea that networks only get into MMA if they believe they can have serious growth or challenge the UFC. At this point, that is completely unreasonable. I believe a network, especially Spike, would rather do business with the same stable company they have been, using a brand with UFC affiliations, than they would a risky upstart in Bellator. Less risk, much more reward. UFC on Fox advertising muscle. As long as Strikeforce is redefined, I think it could do just fine on a Spike TV that promotes the fighters there as future UFC stars. It would be an easy sell -the winners on this show move on to the UFC. It would be another avenue for the UFC to generate contenders. If a Lorenz Larkin won the 205 pound title for instance, it wouldn't take long for fans to begi clamoring for him to test himself against the UFC elite. Zuffa would also stand to generat money from a Spike(or where ever) TV deal. They did not pay 40 million for six contracts. SF would have women stars like Gina who blow any Bellator star away. Bellator has few serious draws..who never fight and never ever fight credible challenges in most divisions. Strikeforce clearly wouldn't rely on long term champs but entertaining fighters, ufc vets, up and comers and wmma could be enough.

I saw Eddie Alvarez was on TNA on Spike tonight promoting his fight with Chandler.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

I covered this in the blog. Ill repost here. I don't think it is fair to say a network, Spike or otherwise, wouldn't want a "feede league". There is this idea that networks only get into MMA if they believe they can have serious growth or challenge the UFC. At this point, that is completely unreasonable. I believe a network, especially Spike, would rather do business with the same stable company they have been, using a brand with UFC affiliations, than they would a risky upstart in Bellator. Less risk, much more reward. UFC on Fox advertising muscle. As long as Strikeforce is redefined, I think it could do just fine on a Spike TV that promotes the fighters there as future UFC stars. It would be an easy sell -the winners on this show move on to the UFC. It would be another avenue for the UFC to generate contenders. If a Lorenz Larkin won the 205 pound title for instance, it wouldn't take long for fans to begi clamoring for him to test himself against the UFC elite. Zuffa would also stand to generat money from a Spike(or where ever) TV deal. They did not pay 40 million for six contracts. SF would have women stars like Gina who blow any Bellator star away. Bellator has few serious draws..who never fight and never ever fight credible challenges in most divisions. Strikeforce clearly wouldn't rely on long term champs but entertaining fighters, ufc vets, up and comers and wmma could be enough.

well recent reports suggest that your belief's are incorrect.

Calling Bellator, an organization that has been in business for over 2 years, has put on 50+ events on television, has set viewership records at MTV2, and has a quality stable of talent, calling them an upstart is flat wrong.

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2011/9/9/2413509/spike-tv-to-air-ufc-141-prelims-special
In a surprising move, Spike TV will air a prelims show for the UFC 141 card on December 30th. While it seems like a regular occurrence by now, that's actually part of the surprise factor. MMA Junkie explains:

Plans for the special are intriguing for a few reasons. For one, it should help bolster an event that already could do a UFC record for PPV "buys."

And secondly, the UFC and Spike TV contracted only 12 such specials for 2011, and UFC 141's will be the 13th. That means that despite the UFC's new deal with FOX/FX – and the termination of live events on Spike TV – the two sides are still amicable enough to agree on a non-contracted live broadcast.

This means that every pay-per-view for the rest of the year will have a Spike prelims special leading into it, and this will be the last prelims special to air on the network. This would be the first time Spike has ever done a prelims special on a Friday night, since the UFC hasn't run a PPV on a non-Saturday since 2005. No fights for the card have been announced other than the massive main event of Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem

Bellator still has a lot of risk. Zuffa and Spike are no longer married, but will stay friends w benefits.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

Bellator still has a lot of risk. Zuffa and Spike are no longer married, but will stay friends w benefits.

Well that latest link I posted is certainly a plus for your side of the argument. The relationship is still good enough that they are working together even beyond the current agreement.

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2011/9/9/2414640/ufc-throws-curveball-at-bellators-plans-to-move-to-spike-tv
Now, a report from MMAJunkie.com's Dann Stupp confirms what many of us already knew. Viacom, Spike TV and MTV2's parent company, is keen to the idea of moving Bellator to Spike TV. According to the report, a source stated, "It's going to happen. It's not 'if' but 'when.' Throw 'if' out the window. The only question is if it's next year or the year after."

A deal seems clear cut considering Viacom owns both MTV2 and Spike TV, but the UFC still has the ability to thwart Bellator's efforts to make the transition. It isn't without its own consequences however:

While Spike TV no longer will air live UFC events after this year, its existing contract allows it to air the UFC library (including past events, former "TUF" seasons, "UFC Unleashed" episodes and specialty programming) in 2012. However, as long as Spike TV has the rights to the content, it can't air programming - including live events - from other organizations, such as Bellator, until 2013.

However, the UFC could purchase and reclaim the library if it can reach a deal with Spike TV.

"If they made a decent offer, we'd probably sell," one Viacom source said. "Spike's preference next year is to have Bellator on air."

Does anyone think the UFC is going to just buy back those rights without any protection from Bellator? It is in Spikes interest to get fresh MMA as soon as possible. Ill protect OU from his self imposed madness by offering a disclaimer on what is typically implied and understood by saying IN MY OPINION the evidence clearly points toward SF moving to Spike.

Wolfgangsta wrote:

Does anyone think the UFC is going to just buy back those rights without any protection from Bellator? It is in Spikes interest to get fresh MMA as soon as possible. Ill protect OU from his self imposed madness by offering a disclaimer on what is typically implied and understood by saying IN MY OPINION the evidence clearly points toward SF moving to Spike.

Well if they don't buy it back don't you think SPIKE will continue to use them as a counter to LIVE shows? If Bellator is what they really want, the majority of reports lean that way, you know they will counter the shit out of live shows. Just like the article states, it is an interesting situation.

How much damage does that really do? The UFC is being advertised everywhere. Fox reaches most people. FX is stronger without the UFC in Spike's target demo already. Unless all you watch is manswers, have no cable box, and avoid all other TV stations you'll learn soon that the UFC isn't live on Spike anymore. Those VS shows were not heavily advertised and VS was a network no one even knows about. Not the situation anymore. By the end of the year, Spike would have lost its niche and all the casuals would have figured it out.


UFC holds all the cards. Bellator is being used. They're a tool.

All speculation talk on where they land aside, I bet Bellator will not do as well as some might think on Spike if they do land there.

LA wrote:

All speculation talk on where they land aside, I bet Bellator will not do as well as some might think on Spike if they do land there.

That's a given though, they're not the UFC. They'll do slightly better than on MTV2 imo.