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[smoogy]

ESPN plans on MMA reality show
By Dave Meltzer, Yahoo! Sports 27 minutes ago

Several sources within mixed martial arts have confirmed that cable network ESPN is making moves to get into the sport.

The plans appear to involve a reality show that would be taped during the spring, looking at using featherweight, lightweight and middleweight fighters. No other details of the show are available, other then a loose idea of modeling it after “The Contender,” the boxing show the network recently dropped.

This would make as many as four different MMA reality shows on the drawing board for next season. Affliction and M-1 Global have announced plans for a heavyweight reality show taped in St. Petersburg, Russia, called “Fighting Fedor.” World Extreme Cage Fighting has also talked of doing a reality show on the Versus network, to give the organization more of a presence on the station between live fight cards.

ESPN is interested in several fighters who were with the recently folded Elite XC. But all those fighters are still on hold, as the organization has not released fighters from their contracts. For legal reasons, EXC recently sent several fighters a form letter stating the company was planning shows in 2009.

Industry sources have stated ESPN has offered name fighters both signing bonuses and per-fight guarantees that would be above industry standards for fighters of their caliber.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship, pays The Ultimate Fighter reality show participants a relatively small weekly deal during filming and locks all fighters up for potential long-term deals, generally at $8,000 to show and $8,000 more to win, except for the winners of the competition, who get significantly better deals.

ESPN did not return calls for comment.

ESPN plans on MMA reality show - MMA - Yahoo! Sports

[jlruthven84]

Interesting. I'm still assuming the UFC is going to snatch up anyone who wants to be snatched up (Shields, Lawler, etc) from EliteXC, so the group that ESPN ends up with could be a fascinating one.

Hope they don't fuck it up.

[travtera]

With the model show, The Ultimate Fighter's ratings continually sinking lower (along with my own interest.) and lower each season, why people think now is a good time to put on a similar show is beyond me.

TUF was a cute concept and nobody can deny that it revived MMA and the UFC in the eyes of mainstream media but it's hard to argue that the show has run its course. The talent has been dropping as each season passes and as this season has shown, they're left relying on controversy to bring in viewers. It's looking almost pathetic at their desperation to keep the show relevant. With the exception of a handful of guys from the past 3 or 4 seasons, there's been very little UFC mainstays produced from the show.

Now they're planning on putting on a possibility of 3 more similar shows? The sad thing is that there's probably enough desperate cable channels out there looking for stuff to air and are willing to play this stuff. I for one can't be bothered. I seriously hate Reality TV. The only thing that got me interested in TUF was the fact that their was a fight at the end. With the talent getting scraped near the bottom of the barrel now, the fight no longer is enough for me to sit through the show.

There's got to be a better way of showcasing the up and coming talent that's out there than this.

[anonilir]

Noticed that Yahoo article also said Leben was suspended for steroid use. It's interesting that the UFC suspends their fighters on their own even when they put shows on in the UK and don't have to.

[Amelie]

I am glad to see someone like ESPN getting in the MMA game.

Hell... I watched the iron ring, so whatever ESPN does can't be worse than that.

[Ramma]

As long as it more like The Contender: Asia, and less like TUF... I am on board to watch...