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[MasterShake]

The Couture vs. Fedor Solution
Posted by Sam Caplan
I have read a lot of articles in recent days discussing the not-so-secret secret meeting between Randy Couture and Fedor Emelianenko in Los Angeles this past Monday. When Couture’s camp leaked the pictures, it was unclear just exactly what the two parties were meeting about. However, recent reports confirmed the two did discuss a potential mega-fight involving the two heavyweight champion fighters. It just so happens that Affliction held several small press gatherings in LA around the same time.

The renewed Couture vs. Fedor talk has prompted some to speculate that a settlement that would allow Couture out of his contract with the UFC could be near. Others have even speculated that the UFC could now be open to a co-promotion that would allow the Fedor vs. Couture fight to happen.

To be honest, it all sounds like wishful thinking to me. While I have read quite a few articles with writers trying to get our hopes up, nobody has reported in any sort of definitive fashion that the UFC’s stance has changed. Until we have proof that the UFC is either open to the idea of letting Couture walk or the possibility of a co-promotion, we have no reason to be any less pessimistic about a Couture vs. Fedor fight than we were three months ago.

It doesn’t matter that the UFC’s buck now stops with Lorenzo Fertitta on a daily basis. If you recall, Fertitta, who is notorious for shying away from UFC media events, made it a point to appear during the UFC’s press conference late last year in Las Vegas that was called to dispute some of Couture’s claims against the company. Just because Fertitta may not be anywhere near as outspoken as UFC President Dana White, it doesn’t mean his policies towards working with competitors are any different.

And a co-promotion? If the UFC was worried about the possibility of their heavyweight champion losing to Fedor before Affliction: Banned, then I don’t think Fedor’s brutal assault of former UFC champion Tim Sylvia on July 19 did anything to help ease their concerns. It also needs to be noted that the UFC has no interest in working with the World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts. Couture is still the company’s recognized heavyweight champion and if he were to lose to Fedor, that would boost the credibility of WAMMA’s heavyweight title.

It’s obvious that Couture and Fedor’s camps want to not only renew talks with each other, but also the UFC. While I’m sure the UFC will listen, I don’t see talks being very fruitful. But despite my belief that Fedor vs. Couture will never happen, I still really want it to take place, as do most of the people reading this site. It’s not just a fight that people want to see, it’s a fight that needs to happen for the growth of the sport.

In thinking of various scenarios in which this fight could still happen, one idea came to mind that I think makes sense to all parties involved. Instead of the UFC being involved in a co-promotion, let them be the co-producer (or co-owner) of a Fedor vs. Couture fight.

The first thing that needs to happen is for the UFC to strip Couture of their heavyweight title. I think it’s silly that he’s still recognized as their heavyweight champion. I also think it isn’t helping Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira become a bigger star in the U.S. by constantly being referred to as the interim champion. The UFC needs to move on and distance themselves from Couture so that when he does fight Fedor, he won’t be perceived as the UFC’s heavyweight champion.

Once the UFC publicly distanced themselves from Couture, they would need someone to host the event. As much as Affliction and HDNet want to be involved, the UFC will never do anything that could help line their pockets. So why not allow M-1 Global to spearhead the effort and host the fight in Russia? The UFC wouldn’t attach their brand in any way to the event and M-1 Global would underwrite the entire show. The UFC would control the U.S. pay-per-view distribution of the event and be entitled to 50% of all revenue generated from the fight. The event would take place in January or March so that it wouldn’t compete with the UFC’s New Year’s Eve and Super Bowl weekend shows in December and February.

Here’s a breakdown of what each party would get:

The UFC -

- 50% of all profits generated from the Couture vs. Fedor fight
- M-1 agrees to underwrite the entire show, including the purses of all fighters
- Domestic rights to the PPV, DVD sales, and footage
- The ability to promote Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira as its undisputed heavyweight champion
- Exclusive promotional rights of Randy Couture should he defeat Fedor. This means the UFC could promote Couture vs. Nogueira and Couture vs. Lesnar fights in the future.
- An agreement by Couture not to disparage the company publicly
- A written guarantee that the Couture vs. Fedor fight will not be promoted as the UFC vs. WAMMA or UFC vs. M-1 Global

M-1 Global -

- 50% of all profits generated from the Couture vs. Fedor fight
- Permission to promote Randy Couture for one event outside of the U.S.
- International rights to the PPV, DVD sales, and footage
- B-Roll footage of Randy Couture for promotional purposes
- A guarantee from the UFC that they will not counter-program the PPV on Spike TV

When it’s structured in the way laid out above, it becomes nothing more than a cash play for the UFC with any downside virtually eliminated. The fight would take place and the UFC would make money off of it without building up one of their primary competitors and without the risk of its heavyweight champion losing to a fighter that is not contracted to its promotion.

Source:The Couture vs. Fedor Solution :Five Ounces of Pain

[King Fisher]

Interesting Idea.

I think the author is right when he says this fight needs to happen to help grow the sport.

I just hope it does happen

[LefthookStcrook]

Deffinatly a interesting point of view, I think it could work. The UFC has virtually no risk, and stand to gain money no matter what the outcome. Way to think outside the box Caplan lol

[rugoatee]

Interesting idea. Credit for expansive thinking. However, there are some problems I still see with this.

- Foreign PPV - With the changes in time zones, it would not do as well if it was not a live event. And if it was a live event, it would have to be broadcast in the afternoon, not prime time for PPV buys.

- Revenues - If the fight is held on foreign soil, I don't see a wealth of revenue pouring in for this fight. Let say they do double what Affliction did, that is still about 200k. After fighter salaries and operating costs, I don't see a lot of profits available. This fight would best serve a start up company to generate interest and name recognition. If the UFC has the choice of taking 50% of a small profit or dragging this out in court and not allowing their champion to compete and help another org, I think they will choose the later.

[MasterShake]

I know I for one would buy that PPV no matter what time of the day it is I really wouldnt care if it was at 4am or 10pm I would get it..

I also think it wouldnt be that bad of a idea for UFC it is really a win win for them to. They would be able to quit spending the money on lawyers in the courtroom. They would get there belt back regardless and not have a interm champ. It would also help the UFC and the MMA world with a bout this big. I feel it is a great idea.

[rugoatee]

Originally Posted by MasterShake

I know I for one would buy that PPV no matter what time of the day it is I really wouldnt care if it was at 4am or 10pm I would get it..

I also think it wouldnt be that bad of a idea for UFC it is really a win win for them to. They would be able to quit spending the money on lawyers in the courtroom. They would get there belt back regardless and not have a interm champ. It would also help the UFC and the MMA world with a bout this big. I feel it is a great idea.

It doesn't surprise me that people that who post on MMA message boards will buy that show. The show will get the hardcore fan no matter what time it is. But it is the casual fan that may not pony up the money for it and may not know about it if it is taking place in the afternoon. People plan to do things on weekends.

The UFC is going to be awarded some kind of damages from Randy in this case. Personally, I think Randy is going to have to pay more to the UFC in damages than the UFC would get taking 50% of the profit from this fight. Like I said before, with operating costs and fighter salaries, it would be a great success to make a million in total profit on this fight. The "super card" that Affliction put on didn't even break even. Would a Fedor/Randy fight on foreign soil, at a weird time, do that much better than Affliction's first show???? IMO I don't think so.

[astepawayfromx]

One thing everyone forgets with this is that the UFC is what sells their pay per views. Yes, the fighters are obviously important, but the UFC's name sells pay per views moreso than the fighters. The Affliction card had how many former UFC fighters? Yet, it lost money.
Remember, the average fan doesn't know what mma is, but they definitely know what Ultimate Fighting is. I know of casual fans who know of Randy as the Bald Guy, and Chuck as the guy with the mohawk, and most of them still don't know who Fedor is. So while Randy Couture is marketable, and for the most part well known. Fedor right now (I personally think with different management this could change very easily) is not well known (to the casual fan), and really hasn't been marketed.

So would this ppv do better than affliction's first? Probably. Would it do close to anything the UFC has put out? Probably not.

Oh, and as far as saving money on court costs? Most companies the size of the UFC have lawyers on retainer at all times, so this really isn't costing them anything.

[MasterShake]

Originally Posted by rugoatee

It doesn't surprise me that people that who post on MMA message boards will buy that show. The show will get the hardcore fan no matter what time it is. But it is the casual fan that may not pony up the money for it and may not know about it if it is taking place in the afternoon. People plan to do things on weekends.

The UFC is going to be awarded some kind of damages from Randy in this case. Personally, I think Randy is going to have to pay more to the UFC in damages than the UFC would get taking 50% of the profit from this fight. Like I said before, with operating costs and fighter salaries, it would be a great success to make a million in total profit on this fight. The "super card" that Affliction put on didn't even break even. Would a Fedor/Randy fight on foreign soil, at a weird time, do that much better than Affliction's first show???? IMO I don't think so.

I would say more likely then not they would hold the event in Japan, atleast if they were smart. Then yes I do feel they would make bank from this venture. All the huge base of MMA fans there puts USA to shame. Pride always ha excellent attendance and PPV buys in Japan and America.

[rugoatee]

Originally Posted by MasterShake

I would say more likely then not they would hold the event in Japan, atleast if they were smart. Then yes I do feel they would make bank from this venture. All the huge base of MMA fans there puts USA to shame. Pride always ha excellent attendance and PPV buys in Japan and America.

You are wrong about it putting US to shame. US is the biggest market now by far. Pride was struggling. UFC bought it before it was going to go belly up. MMA in Japan doesn't draw like it does in the US. Dream ratings have not been as good as expected and are struggling on network television there. Source

Also, Fedor was not even the biggest star. Cro Cop was their most marketable guy and Kid probably is now. In addition, they have had no exposure to Couture as he has not fought over there in 7 and a half years.

I don't think this fight is as big a money maker as you think, unless it has the UFC brand behind it.

[MasterShake]

Originally Posted by rugoatee

You are wrong about it putting US to shame. US is the biggest market now by far. Pride was struggling. UFC bought it before it was going to go belly up. MMA in Japan doesn't draw like it does in the US. Dream ratings have not been as good as expected and are struggling on network television there. Source

Also, Fedor was not even the biggest star. Cro Cop was their most marketable guy and Kid probably is now. In addition, they have had no exposure to Couture as he has not fought over there in 7 and a half years.

I don't think this fight is as big a money maker as you think, unless it has the UFC brand behind it.

Just to school you, have you ever watched a Pride event. They fill entire stadiums everytime. People over there do not care who is fighting as long as there is a fight. Pride did not go under because there events were not bringing in money and people quit wanting to see there shows. Pride went under because of poor managment the people that owned Pride were corrupt and didnt know what they were doing. It had nothin to do with the fan base. As soon as UFC has an event that equals the capacity of the Super Dome over there and can sell out that event I will agree with you.