Don’t Get Crazy with the Payroll

Affliction, I’m looking at you!  Sure, you can quickly grab a sizeable chunk of the talented fighters on the market by overpaying for guys that the UFC would rather let go than compete for, but it is also a way to ensure failure of your promotion if you do not make strides very early on to bring some revenue in.  The UFC was built into what it is today by spending conservatively and building up over time, not by signing former UFC fighters to six figure contracts that are twice (or more) valuable than what the UFC would pay, just to make an instant splash.

Sure, a lot of people will tune in to see such heavyweights as Fedor Emelianenko, Andrei Arlovski, Tim Sylvia, Josh Barnett and the rest, but once they’ve all fought each other, what do you do?  Where are the young fighters being groomed to take over in future years?  Furthermore, how do you carry enough fighters to put on a dozen cards per year when you’re paying so much for just a few guys?  How long can you afford to operate in the red, in the meantime?

Avoid Mauro Ranallo Like the Plague

I’ve never met Mauro Ranallo.  He may be a great guy, and he probably knows his share about the sport.  However, like many of the fans I know, I can’t stand to listen to him for more than five minutes.  His over-the-top shilling and utterly ridiculous exaggerations and “colorful” (corny) one-liners do not spice up a show, they make it seem bush league.  Say what you want about Mike Goldberg of the UFC, but the guy knows how to come off like a professional, instead of a guy who wants to be an analyst and a comedian, but isn’t particularly good at either. 

And I shouldn’t just pick on Ranallo, either.  Affliction made questionable choices with locker room interviewers who brought plenty of enthusiasm but zero polish, and K-1 had Dennis freaking Rodman come out to hype out fans during a visit to the U.S.  Think of who you’re putting on camera and into people’s homes.

The real question: why not just throw Stephen Quadros and Bas Rutten out there and call it a day?  It’s that simple.

Stick With Fighting!

Too many shows have tried to combine a lot of other crap with what should be the focus of an MMA show: mixed martial arts fights.  Who can forget the awful DJ Hapa from K-1’s 2007 Dynamite USA show, where he mispronounced Royce Gracie’s name as he prepared to fight Kazushi Sakuraba, and told fans to boo fighters.  Ditto with unnecessary (if not exactly time-consuming) distractions such as girls dancing with choreographed routines on the entrance ramp between fights, or rock bands being forced on us between fights, such as with Bodog’s offerings.  How about this: show a bunch of great fights, with production that doesn’t look cheap, dated, or just plain lame, and with a couple of non-intrusive commentators who are professional and knowledgeable?

Think About the Future

The number one overall mistake that would-be competitors with the UFC make is to try to compete right away.  The UFC couldn’t do it overnight, and you can’t, either.  Sure, a company like Affliction could eventually get there, but only if they’re willing to absolutely hemorrhage money in the meantime.  Why not take it a bit more slowly, sign a couple of marquee guys, and look to pay for young talent that will eventually define your brand?  In the meantime, secure a TV deal (even a modest one), and focus on marketing your fighters (well-known or otherwise) while putting the product at the forefront, instead of bush league production efforts and distractions.