UFC 235 very early PPV buys estimate

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FrankieNYC

"My balls was hot!"
Aug 13, 2017
3,959
6,760
Meltzer: 520-650k

-

The reason for the large variance is a lot of providers did not release a number yet (its only a few days)

On a personal note: I was in hospital for last ten days, out today but most likely back by Monday.
I haven't kept up with things obviously, so if anybody needs to, just PM me
 

FrankieNYC

"My balls was hot!"
Aug 13, 2017
3,959
6,760
Additional info:
The PPV numbers told an interesting story. Early estimates range from 520,000 to 650,000 buys, which destroyed projections based on late week advances, which indicated numbers closer to 350,000 to 400,000.


Buys flooded in during the final two hours before the fight, indicating this was a last minute impulse decision show. Whether this was due partially to the large viewership of the prelims on ESPN (although the UFC 234 prelims did almost as well and that show did only 170,000 to 175,000 buys) or perhaps a response to the last two PPV shows, where people didn’t trust that Jones would be fighting for sure until it was clear that he was, with his own issues and multiplied by the previous PPV where Robert Whittaker pulled out just hours before the show and there was no main event title fight. Or it could be that, unlike the last show, the atmosphere of the prelims and the packages that aired building the two main events convinced viewers who were watching to make the late decision to buy.


Either way, the ESPN relationship is paying off big because this same show last year would not have done numbers nearly this large. Another aspect of the ESPN relationship is that Las Vegas sources have noted to us that the gambling on UFC events has grown significantly since 1/19, which was the first show on ESPN. With ESPN treating it in sports coverage like a major sport, it becomes that to the public and the interest level is much higher and the events seem like they are more important.

The prelims on ESPN did 1,480,000 viewers, airing from 8:15 to 10 p.m. Eastern. It peaked at 1,650,000 viewers for the Sanchez-Gall fight, but stayed strong throughout, with the
 

BeardOfKnowledge

The Most Consistent Motherfucker You Know
Jul 22, 2015
60,547
56,268
I think so too. The top 3 fights could have all headlined a PPV.
My only thought is that the casual fan has no idea who Ben Askren, Kamaru Usman, or Anthony Smith. Tyron Woodley has also consistently proven himself to be extremely unlikable.
 

Limpy

Banned
Oct 20, 2015
14,842
27,929
They are getting killed by illegal streams. During that event a buddy texted me and asked what I was doing, told him I was watching the ufc event on my phone. I sent him the link and he couldn’t believe it was possible. He’ll never buy a ppv again.

This is a made up story Dana.
 

FrankieNYC

"My balls was hot!"
Aug 13, 2017
3,959
6,760
My only thought is that the casual fan has no idea who Ben Askren, Kamaru Usman, or Anthony Smith. Tyron Woodley has also consistently proven himself to be extremely unlikable.
They don't
PPV has been proven to be a top heavy buy

9/10 it is about the main

Woodley has been a proven non-draw & the others mentioned are not draws either

This was about ESPN & Jones

A year ago it would have done under 400k
 

BeardOfKnowledge

The Most Consistent Motherfucker You Know
Jul 22, 2015
60,547
56,268
They don't
PPV has been proven to be a top heavy buy

9/10 it is about the main

Woodley has been a proven non-draw & the others mentioned are not draws either

This was about ESPN & Jones

A year ago it would have done under 400k
I guess part of me figured Jones was a bigger draw, apparently not.
 

FrankieNYC

"My balls was hot!"
Aug 13, 2017
3,959
6,760
I guess part of me figured Jones was a bigger draw, apparently not.
Not many can do over 500k without a name opponent.
Outside of Conor, most likely just him (not counting Brock) & maybe Khabib
Nobody knew Smith
So I think this did better than a lot thought
 

BeardOfKnowledge

The Most Consistent Motherfucker You Know
Jul 22, 2015
60,547
56,268
Not many can do over 500k without a name opponent.
Outside of Conor, most likely just him (not counting Brock) & maybe Khabib
Nobody knew Smith
So I think this did better than a lot thought
I guess GSP's retirement really couldn't have come at a worse time for Uncle Dana.
 

Robbie Hart

All Biden Voters Are Mindless Sheep
Feb 13, 2015
49,704
50,709
Meltzer: 520-650k

-

The reason for the large variance is a lot of providers did not release a number yet (its only a few days)

On a personal note: I was in hospital for last ten days, out today but most likely back by Monday.
I haven't kept up with things obviously, so if anybody needs to, just PM me
You ok?
 

sparkuri

Pulse On The Finger Of The Community
First 100
Jan 16, 2015
34,420
46,563
I missed the main event.
Well, I wouldn't say I missed it...
 

LawFitz

Fantasy Fighter
Nov 18, 2015
532
673
They just need to switch to a full subscription model. Or lower the PPV price to $20. Somebody look up the Laffer curve then fwd to Dana & co.
 

Rambo John J

Eats things that would make a Billy Goat Puke
First 100
Jan 17, 2015
71,542
71,465
They just need to switch to a full subscription model. Or lower the PPV price to $20. Somebody look up the Laffer curve then fwd to Dana & co.
I would Pay 20 per month for all access UFC
 

Enock-O-Lypse Now!

Underneath Denver International Airport
Jun 19, 2016
11,737
19,619
My only thought is that the casual fan has no idea who Ben Askren, Kamaru Usman, or Anthony Smith. Tyron Woodley has also consistently proven himself to be extremely unlikable.
Here are my thoughts:

UFC is going through what WCW (World Championship Wrestling) did in the 90’s.

WCW blew up in 95-96-97-98 those were their prime years in regards to content but their record profits didn’t start rolling in until 98-99-2000.

While they were seeing record numbers in regards of money their content had become shit ..and soon they saw a rapid nose dive and eventual sale.

I believe Zuffa and the Flatas Platter Bro’s saw this coming so they sold and jumped out of the biz.

UFC last year saw profits really produced from years past ...there is a delay.


UFC is dying - we’ve been hearing this for some time but we now may finally be seeing the numbers reflect that.

*The Belt is Everything*

Many things added up to the fall of WCW the final nail on the coffin was when they devalued the belt, it came with the Finger Poke of Doom when WCW had Hogan touch Kevin Nash with his finger and pin him for the World Title, it was a slap in the
Face to fans and the fans did not like it.




UFC has decided consciously to devalue the belt by creating interim title after Interim title - the idea of creating interim titles is short term thinking by the UFC they feel if they create an interim title they can promote it on the main event as a “Title Fight” ...ufc is looking for cheap money and not thinking about building up a story and creating something the fans can invest in.


Finally we are seeing the blowback from UFC’s short term quick money thinking ...they lost their foundation of hardcore fans for the quick buck interim title fight after titile fight ...and now the numbers are starting to reflect that.


In order to build a legit organization they are going to need a real rankings system fighters can look at and climb - create Tournaments fighters can get motivated to participate in..and finally they need to get creative and not bank on the sure thing.
 

BeardOfKnowledge

The Most Consistent Motherfucker You Know
Jul 22, 2015
60,547
56,268
Here are my thoughts:

UFC is going through what WCW (World Championship Wrestling) did in the 90’s.

WCW blew up in 95-96-97-98 those were their prime years in regards to content but their record profits didn’t start rolling in until 98-99-2000.

While they were seeing record numbers in regards of money their content had become shit ..and soon they saw a rapid nose dive and eventual sale.

I believe Zuffa and the Flatas Platter Bro’s saw this coming so they sold and jumped out of the biz.

UFC last year saw profits really produced from years past ...there is a delay.


UFC is dying - we’ve been hearing this for some time but we now may finally be seeing the numbers reflect that.

*The Belt is Everything*

Many things added up to the fall of WCW the final nail on the coffin was when they devalued the belt, it came with the Finger Poke of Doom when WCW had Hogan touch Kevin Nash with his finger and pin him for the World Title, it was a slap in the
Face to fans and the fans did not like it.




UFC has decided consciously to devalue the belt by creating interim title after Interim title - the idea of creating interim titles is short term thinking by the UFC they feel if they create an interim title they can promote it on the main event as a “Title Fight” ...ufc is looking for cheap money and not thinking about building up a story and creating something the fans can invest in.


Finally we are seeing the blowback from UFC’s short term quick money thinking ...they lost their foundation of hardcore fans for the quick buck interim title fight after titile fight ...and now the numbers are starting to reflect that.


In order to build a legit organization they are going to need a real rankings system fighters can look at and climb - create Tournaments fighters can get motivated to participate in..and finally they need to get creative and not bank on the sure thing.
I also notice in recent year we've gone from having the guys in the GOAT conversation (Fedor, Anderson, and GSP) to every other fighter being the GOAT. Tyron and Stipe are very good examples of this. Pretty average resumes but they're put on the level of guys who's title reigns ran for 5 plus years and or double digits title defenses.
 
M

member 3289

Guest
This is a pretty good number all things considered, but it shows that the quality of opponent matters.

UFC 232 did 800k with Gustafsson as the opponent, while 235 did up to 650k with Smith as the opponent. While many thought Gus had a chance of beating Jon, everyone knew Jones vs Smith would be a squash match.

And no, Smith didn't do better than expected. He fought a defensive fight and avoided getting finished, but he didn't fight "well" by any stretch.

Anyway, the number is still good like I said. Jones is the second-biggest active draw in the UFC.

FrankieNYC @FrankieNYC get well soon brother.
 

BeardOfKnowledge

The Most Consistent Motherfucker You Know
Jul 22, 2015
60,547
56,268
And no, Smith didn't do better than expected. He fought a defensive fight and avoided getting finished, but he didn't fight "well" by any stretch.
Jones not finishing someone isn't exactly a high bar these days. I'm finding the behavior around the illegal knee funny though. Are we all pretending like Jon wouldn't have taken the DQ win if the shoe was on the other foot?
 
M

member 3289

Guest
Jones not finishing someone isn't exactly a high bar these days. I'm finding the behavior around the illegal knee funny though. Are we all pretending like Jon wouldn't have taken the DQ win if the shoe was on the other foot?
Jon would've continued fighting. He's a god damn warrior.

Watching you go from one of the handful of Jones supporters on this forum to one of the 95% who talk shit about Jones has been both sad and disappointing.

Also GSP legit lost twice (once by knockout and once by submission) while Jon is undefeated save for a bullshit DQ loss.

 

BeardOfKnowledge

The Most Consistent Motherfucker You Know
Jul 22, 2015
60,547
56,268
Jon would've continued fighting. He's a god damn warrior.
So he'll cheat to get a win, but wouldn't take a DQ if he were headed toward a loss? K


Watching you go from one of the handful of Jones supporters on this forum to one of the 95% who talk shit about Jones has been both sad and disappointing.
Supporting Jones became an untenable position when he pissed hot for the Gus fight. His defense for the failed DC test, which I was willing to accept, was a contaminated supplement and the amount was so small that you wouldn't get a performance benefit from it. Sure, I can see that happening. Here's the problem, the explanation for the "pulsing" is that it's caused by using the PED he tested positive for. So was he actually using the PED in question, or not?

Also GSP legit lost twice (once by knockout and once by submission) while Jon is undefeated save for a bullshit DQ loss.
Both avenged losses, unlike JBJ's...
 
M

member 3289

Guest
Supporting Jones became an untenable position when he pissed hot for the Gus fight. His defense for the failed DC test, which I was willing to accept, was a contaminated supplement and the amount was so small that you wouldn't get a performance benefit from it. Sure, I can see that happening. Here's the problem, the explanation for the "pulsing" is that it's caused by using the PED he tested positive for. So was he actually using the PED in question, or not?
Pulsing from a contaminated supplement