After all the anticipation, UFC on Fox 1 is in the history books. How do you think UFC performed, especially for viewers unfamiliar with the sport of MMA?
Reflecting on it the morning after, I view it as a mixed bag. I facepalmed when the fight was over after 64 seconds. I don't think the new viewer is going to be interested in watching 35 minutes of pregame so that you can see one minute of action; which obviously isn't typical of an MMA fight, but the American audience is fickle, and impressions last. In hindsight, always 20/20, Henderson/Guida would have been a great way to introduce new viewers to the sport, describing the way the rules and strategies work while the fight is in progress (beyond the standard "Rules of the Octagon" bit that lasts 15 seconds, which is really enough for even the newbie to grasp the basics.) Honestly, how much important shit do Goldberg/Rogan say during a typical fight anyways?
On the other hand, Fox's production was noticeable and a great improvement. It was nice to see that they went with the "Fox Sports" trumpet intro- it's a way of signaling to the audience that Fox takes UFC as seriously as it does Major League Baseball and the Super Bowl. That's HUGE for UFC, which isn't a sports backwater anymore, but still isn't a mainstream (ugh, I hate that word) sport. Curt Menefee was a nice touch; Brock Lesnar humored the people that are familiar with him and looked like an idiot ape to anyone unfamiliar, and Dana White was way, way too excited to speak. Can't blame him.
Hopefully UFC on Fox 2 will be scheduled with a bit more of a fight in mind. Silva/Sonnen 2 could be a good candidate- a rematch of a fight that ended with no small degree of controversy, and I'm not talking about Silva's last-gasp sub. Sonnen knows how to promote a fight- he's straight out of the 1970's Book Of Bombastic Boxing Smacktalk. Anderson Silva's antics drive the dedicated MMA audience crazy, but hometown America would crack up over it.
Reflecting on it the morning after, I view it as a mixed bag. I facepalmed when the fight was over after 64 seconds. I don't think the new viewer is going to be interested in watching 35 minutes of pregame so that you can see one minute of action; which obviously isn't typical of an MMA fight, but the American audience is fickle, and impressions last. In hindsight, always 20/20, Henderson/Guida would have been a great way to introduce new viewers to the sport, describing the way the rules and strategies work while the fight is in progress (beyond the standard "Rules of the Octagon" bit that lasts 15 seconds, which is really enough for even the newbie to grasp the basics.) Honestly, how much important shit do Goldberg/Rogan say during a typical fight anyways?
On the other hand, Fox's production was noticeable and a great improvement. It was nice to see that they went with the "Fox Sports" trumpet intro- it's a way of signaling to the audience that Fox takes UFC as seriously as it does Major League Baseball and the Super Bowl. That's HUGE for UFC, which isn't a sports backwater anymore, but still isn't a mainstream (ugh, I hate that word) sport. Curt Menefee was a nice touch; Brock Lesnar humored the people that are familiar with him and looked like an idiot ape to anyone unfamiliar, and Dana White was way, way too excited to speak. Can't blame him.
Hopefully UFC on Fox 2 will be scheduled with a bit more of a fight in mind. Silva/Sonnen 2 could be a good candidate- a rematch of a fight that ended with no small degree of controversy, and I'm not talking about Silva's last-gasp sub. Sonnen knows how to promote a fight- he's straight out of the 1970's Book Of Bombastic Boxing Smacktalk. Anderson Silva's antics drive the dedicated MMA audience crazy, but hometown America would crack up over it.