UFC ANNOUNCES U.K. TV DEAL IN TIME FOR UFC 80
NEWCASTLE-UPON TYNE, England – Marshall Zelaznik, president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s U.K. operations chaired the pre-fight press conference held at Newcastle Metro Radio Arena on Thursday.
Attending the press conference were fighters B.J. Penn, Joe Stevenson, Marcus Davis, Jess Liaudin and Gabriel Gonzaga. Zelaznik apologized for UFC president Dana White’s absence, who only having recently arrived in the U.K., was suffering from jet lag. Gonzaga’s opponent, Fabricio Werdum, was also absent as he was busy undertaking his pre-fight medical assessment.
Zelaznik announced that the UFC “has come to terms with Setanta Sports to exhibit over the next few years all of our U.K. events” and that UFC 80 will also be aired in over 12 other countries.
Setanta is an international sports broadcaster with operations in Great Britain, Ireland, Luxembourg, the United States, Canada and Australia. It owns and operates premium sports television channels that are made available on a subscription basis. Setanta has over three million subscribers.
Setanta stated in its own announcement on Thursday that it had struck a multi-year deal with the UFC “to make its Setanta Sports 1 channel the exclusive home for all of the UFC’s big U.K. and U.S. fights, plus all other UFC programming in Britain and Ireland.”
The deal includes Saturday’s UFC 80 and insures that “Setanta subscribers in 2008 will be able to see at least four U.K. live events and after July, all other U.S. live events.” According to Setanta, other U.K. events are planned for March, June and September of 2008. Also included in the offerings is the newest UFC television series “Wired.”
The UFC programming on Setanta, including the live events, is available to Setanta Sports subscribers only, it is not provided on a pay-per-view basis. Setanta currently states its subscription price at £9.99 per month.
Zelaznik also announced with regards to the scheduled Canadian UFC event on April 19 in Montreal that White, interim welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre and reigning welterweight champion Matt Serra would be at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Feb. 4 to announce the full fight card.
Ticket sales analysis from previous U.K. based UFC events indicate that 26% of ticket sales came from the Newcastle-Upon-Tyne region. Zelaznik stated that this compelled the UFC to hold UFC 80 in Newcastle, “If the Geordies (Newcastle natives) were willing to travel to us, then we are willing to travel to the Geordies.”
Having sold-out the Metro Radio Arena over 10 days ago, more tickets were released and they are currently sitting on only a few hundred, which are expected to go prior to Saturday’s event.
Zelaznik continued the press conference by introducing the fighters; first up was Liaudin, who was quick to lay to rest much publicised animosity between himself and Davis stating that he had nothing but respect for his opponent. Liaudin was keen to stress that he wants to be perceived as a respectful fighter and ambassador in the fight for legalizing MMA in his home country of France and therefore “smack talk” was not in his character.
Davis for his part appeared to accept this, acknowledging the skills of his opponent. During his press address Davis appeared confident that he would have the majority fan support against the British based, French born fighter.
Both Penn and Stevenson remained respectful and said very little with regards to their forthcoming headline bout; however, both were vocal in reference to Sean Sherk’s suspension and subsequent stripping of the UFC lightweight crown. Penn was quick to continue his criticism of Sherk, branding him a “cheat” and Stevenson aired his frustration with Sherk retaining the belt for ten months whilst injured only to have it taken away from him for illegal steroid use after only one defense.
Gonzaga took to the podium for the briefest of moments to state that he was glad to be back in the U.K. and that he hoped to give the fans and exciting fight. In his last bout in Britain, Gonzaga knocked out former Pride champion Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic with a stunning kick to the head.
UFC 80 takes place at the Metro Radio Arena on Saturday night.
NEWCASTLE-UPON TYNE, England – Marshall Zelaznik, president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s U.K. operations chaired the pre-fight press conference held at Newcastle Metro Radio Arena on Thursday.
Attending the press conference were fighters B.J. Penn, Joe Stevenson, Marcus Davis, Jess Liaudin and Gabriel Gonzaga. Zelaznik apologized for UFC president Dana White’s absence, who only having recently arrived in the U.K., was suffering from jet lag. Gonzaga’s opponent, Fabricio Werdum, was also absent as he was busy undertaking his pre-fight medical assessment.
Zelaznik announced that the UFC “has come to terms with Setanta Sports to exhibit over the next few years all of our U.K. events” and that UFC 80 will also be aired in over 12 other countries.
Setanta is an international sports broadcaster with operations in Great Britain, Ireland, Luxembourg, the United States, Canada and Australia. It owns and operates premium sports television channels that are made available on a subscription basis. Setanta has over three million subscribers.
Setanta stated in its own announcement on Thursday that it had struck a multi-year deal with the UFC “to make its Setanta Sports 1 channel the exclusive home for all of the UFC’s big U.K. and U.S. fights, plus all other UFC programming in Britain and Ireland.”
The deal includes Saturday’s UFC 80 and insures that “Setanta subscribers in 2008 will be able to see at least four U.K. live events and after July, all other U.S. live events.” According to Setanta, other U.K. events are planned for March, June and September of 2008. Also included in the offerings is the newest UFC television series “Wired.”
The UFC programming on Setanta, including the live events, is available to Setanta Sports subscribers only, it is not provided on a pay-per-view basis. Setanta currently states its subscription price at £9.99 per month.
Zelaznik also announced with regards to the scheduled Canadian UFC event on April 19 in Montreal that White, interim welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre and reigning welterweight champion Matt Serra would be at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Feb. 4 to announce the full fight card.
Ticket sales analysis from previous U.K. based UFC events indicate that 26% of ticket sales came from the Newcastle-Upon-Tyne region. Zelaznik stated that this compelled the UFC to hold UFC 80 in Newcastle, “If the Geordies (Newcastle natives) were willing to travel to us, then we are willing to travel to the Geordies.”
Having sold-out the Metro Radio Arena over 10 days ago, more tickets were released and they are currently sitting on only a few hundred, which are expected to go prior to Saturday’s event.
Zelaznik continued the press conference by introducing the fighters; first up was Liaudin, who was quick to lay to rest much publicised animosity between himself and Davis stating that he had nothing but respect for his opponent. Liaudin was keen to stress that he wants to be perceived as a respectful fighter and ambassador in the fight for legalizing MMA in his home country of France and therefore “smack talk” was not in his character.
Davis for his part appeared to accept this, acknowledging the skills of his opponent. During his press address Davis appeared confident that he would have the majority fan support against the British based, French born fighter.
Both Penn and Stevenson remained respectful and said very little with regards to their forthcoming headline bout; however, both were vocal in reference to Sean Sherk’s suspension and subsequent stripping of the UFC lightweight crown. Penn was quick to continue his criticism of Sherk, branding him a “cheat” and Stevenson aired his frustration with Sherk retaining the belt for ten months whilst injured only to have it taken away from him for illegal steroid use after only one defense.
Gonzaga took to the podium for the briefest of moments to state that he was glad to be back in the U.K. and that he hoped to give the fans and exciting fight. In his last bout in Britain, Gonzaga knocked out former Pride champion Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic with a stunning kick to the head.
UFC 80 takes place at the Metro Radio Arena on Saturday night.
