Nate was even shorter notice and him & Conor did like 1.4 million.
Exactly.
It has more to do with people love to watch Conor, no matter who he fights. Nate Diaz vs Benson Henderson headlined a fox card and no one cared, no crazy ratings. PPV numbers don't go up significantly when Nate is on a card.
In all fairness I think it was the combo of Conor fighting Nate (or like me, you can look at it like Nate fighting Conor
). Yes, Conor is a huge draw, but we also love Nate and everyone knew this would be the money fight, especially since his post fight speech in Orlando.
I think the UFC may have been looking at UFC 200 like the law of diminishing returns. It's going to do 1+ million buys regardless of who headlines, because casuals will buy it because it's supposedly a "historical event". Hardcores will buy it because of it's depth. But at some point, there's likely a cap on how many people would buy it no matter what. So why not take the 1+ million buys on 200, without McGregor or Rousey. Then put McGregor on another card this year, and take 1+ million on that card. And hope Rousey returns this year, and take 1+ million there.
You gotta admit, it's a big upgrade to have Jones vs DC II rather than McG vs Diaz II, might not sell as much, but it's going to be a better fight, so it's better for us hardcore fans.
They are doing the right thing for the UFC, no doubt about that.
I agree, I think the match up was absolute magic but I don't buy that casuals understood all of that and they're a majority of the buys.In all fairness I think it was the combo of Conor fighting Nate (or like me, you can look at it like Nate fighting Conor
I dunno man they had UFC 100 do 1.6 million, UFC 200 is supposed to be a similar show and it probably won't do half the business.
It would have done a million with RDA anyway, but yes that's a rare example where a short-notice replacement generates more hype than the original bout.
Meltzers estimates for UFC 100 have been revised down since Dana White said that UFC 196 was their biggest selling ppv. Believed to have sold around 1.3mil. Meltzer always gets an estimate range, and for 100 he predicted on the high end, but really it was on the low end.
Ah I see. It's a shame the UFC doesn't have to release their numbers like boxing.
Yeah, but does that really matter if it does the same business?
Jones vs DC is not an upgrade. Compare both of the original fights. Jones vs DC was a snoozefest compared to Conor vs Nate. Like not even in the same ballpark in terms of entertainment value. Jones vs Gus, I'd give you, but your comment reeks of either McGregor hate or Bones-colored glasses.
Dc Jones was way closer then diaz mcg
I'm not a Conor hater, I am a Jones fan, but to me a fight like McG vs Diaz II didn't warrant a main even slot at UFC 200. A non-title fight with the 145 lbs champion fighting at WW against a LW?
How can a fight that ended in TKO/submission be a closer fight than one that went to a decision? (A decision that could have easily been 48-47, might I add.)
Yeah, they really showed Conor lol, it's going to cost them though. No snow in drive-way this year Dana.
