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[stevequalude]

by Gerald Ng Gerald NgContributor




The UFC is constantly looking to open new markets overseas. UFC 110 will be emanating from Sydney, Australia and UFC 112 will be held in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

Following my recent article on the UFC's first venture into uncharted waters in Asia, we look now at some countries that will make alot of sense for the UFC to hold an event in.

You can read my article here: UFC 112: Would First Event in Asia/Middle East Be a Success? | Bleacher Report

My picks are based on what would make sense financially for Dana White and Zuffa..
1.China
It just makes too much sense to hold an event at China. China is the most populous country in the world, and in the recent 2008 Beijing Olympics, we've seen how China likes to do things big.

We've seen how China can impact American sports. Tracy McGrady of Houston Rockets fame in the NBA managed to get on the All-Star team without playing a single minute of the season. His teammate just happens to be the biggest sportsmen in China, Yao Ming, and fan voting decides who becomes an all-star.

China also have a strong fighting culture. Styles like wushu, kung fu, and Shaolin Temple come to mind.

UFC can market to one billion people with an event there. That is more people than the entire North American continent combined. The potential is endless.

2. The Netherlands
Despite being the birthplace of UFC fighters like Gilbert Yvel, Antoni Hardonk, Stefan Struve, and former UFC fighter Bas Rutten, in addition to housing popular MMA gym Vos Gym, the Netherlands have been passed on every time the UFC explores new European territory.

The Dutch have more fighters in the UFC than Germany, and yet Germany played host to UFC 99. Should the UFC consider another event in Europe, the Netherlands should be next in line.

3. Thailand
The land of Muay Thai is another no-brainer. The fighting culture there is so competitive that fighters start training from a young age. Men all over the country spend their evenings in shady arenas watching and betting on fights.

Many UFC fighters spend time training there. If you have a copy of Dec./Jan. UFC magazine, you can see that Mike Swick spends his summer there training and living with the people. The article really explains Thailand to those who have yet to visit the place.

Mixed Martial Arts has alot to catch up on before they become the most popular fight sport in the country, but they can take a huge step by holding events there.

Thailand is also geographically a logical choice as it is the center of South East Asia, which means it's a reasonable distance away from Abu Dhabi and Sydney, which allows it to attract MMA fans in the region to make the short trip there.

4. Mexico
This probably makes the most sense, considering Mexico is just south of the United States border. The Mexicans' main combat sport would be professional wrestling, which is huge there.

The UFC have a whole range of fighters like Cain Velasquez, Efrain Escudero, Leonard Garcia, and Diego Sanchez who come from a Mexican background, and it would be the easiest card to make with each of them facing a non-Mexican opponent.


5. Brazil
Brazil would be the logical choice should the UFC decide to hold an event in the continent of South America. Back in 1998, the UFC, which had yet to be purchased by Zuffa, held an event in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Brazil has the second best MMA fighters in the whole of the sport. An argument can even be made that with the likes of Lyoto Machida, Anderson Silva, the Nogueira brothers, Thiago Alves, Thiago Silva, and Vitor Belfort, they have the best fighters in the world.

It just makes too much sense to feature the current UFC Middleweight and Light Heavyweight champion in their home country.

Soccer crowds frequently reach 70,000 and above, and if the UFC could even achieve half of that attendance it would have been a success. The way Brazilians mobbed Lyoto Machida and Anderson Silva when he returned with the Light Heavyweight Championship and Middleweight Championship, respectively, shows how passionate they are about the sport and that bodes well.

UFC Should Hold An Event In These Five Countries | Bleacher Report


I think this would be a great way to take the sport to the next level and would help create so many new markets for upcoming fighters in all areas.. Plus it would be fun as hell to watch the UFC fighters compete all over the world.

[beau420]

Problem with Mexico is that less than 20 percent of the population can afford to watch a movie in a movie theater once a month, let alone afford the cost of a UFC ticket.

Main problem with China is that I can't think of a single PPV event that has ever taken place in China. They have a ton of rich people, but they have a lot of corruption....and with them in the news recently due to the government hacking people Google Mail accounts it's probably not the best PR move for the UFC. Sure they are a main lender to the US' economy, but there are still a lot of human rights issues there (this past summer with the killing of those...what was it.,.. Uyghur people?...anyways... a little ethnic cleansing)

Then when dealing with PPV's in other countries that are in different timezones you have an added problem.

Some fans will want to pay for a PPV event if they get to watch it live. And the UFC likes the 9-11 or 12 midnight eastern standard time...and tries to schedule all there events to occur then.

Their UK events were all free in for the North American audience, the German event had a low PPV buyrate.

It will be interesting to see what happens in Australia and will probably be a great indicator on the UFC ventures into other venues around the world if it is profitable.

[willpunisher]

i doubt the people in thailand would have money to pay to watch the event.

i would really love to see ufc in brasil.
have a TUF Brasil vs TUF USA..

i dont care what people say but

Brazil has the second best MMA fighters in the whole of the sport.

is not true. We have the very best MMA fighters in the world. not second.

[LefthookStcrook]

Good read, Id I say Yes to all.

All of those countries have already embraced some type of fighting or combat sport.
China-Karate/Kung-Fu
Netherlands-Kickboxing
Thailand- Muay Thai
Mexico-Boxing
Brazil-BJJ

I see no reason why they wouldnt like all martial arts combined. And not to mention the sheer size of most of those countries. The UFC could hold an Event like USA vs Brazil in one of the many super soccer stadiums, and charge super low prices for tickets to A.)Ensure a Sellout and B.)Encourage fans to go the next time they come back.

Great idea to hit up those countries, and not to sound like a "UFC Nut-hugger" but I predict we'll see the UFC on a global scale in the next three years, doing shows in all the countries mentioned above and more like Japan/Phillipenes/India/Russia.

In the last couple years we've seen shows in the USA(of course), Canada, Germany and Australia and Abu Dhabi later this year, no other org can say that, and IMO no other org will for a very long time.

Its a good time to be a MMA fan.

i would really love to see ufc in brasil.
have a TUF Brasil vs TUF USA..

I wanna see TUF Canada Vs Brazil!!! With GSP and Anderson as coaches, who will fight at the end at a catchweight, Theres ALOT of talent in both countries and should be pretty easy to get a big enough roster to do a show, OMF I would love it

[GL Jeff]

All those countries they listed have a huge martial arts community as is. Why would you even say MMA may or may not work their. Just comes off as ignorant. Brazil wanted to host the olympics, of course the UFC would work their. China has one of the oldest martial arts in the world, and its still hugely popular. The only issue would be who you had to pay off to make it run smooth. Netherlands has money,and alot of great kick boxers turned MMA fighters. Thailand would be a little harder, its pretty corrupt and few people have money to spend on something like that. And Mexico is the same, the tickets would have to be pretty cheap, just dosent work well.

[stevequalude]

Originally Posted by GL Jeff

All those countries they listed have a huge martial arts community as is. Why would you even say MMA may or may not work their. Just comes off as ignorant. Brazil wanted to host the olympics, of course the UFC would work their. China has one of the oldest martial arts in the world, and its still hugely popular. The only issue would be who you had to pay off to make it run smooth. Netherlands has money,and alot of great kick boxers turned MMA fighters. Thailand would be a little harder, its pretty corrupt and few people have money to spend on something like that. And Mexico is the same, the tickets would have to be pretty cheap, just dosent work well.

I didn't write the article I just posted it

[GL Jeff]

Originally Posted by stevequalude

I didn't write the article I just posted it

I wasnt talking about you, dont worry. I just think picking countries that have some of the longest martial arts histories and then asking if MMA would be embraced seems kinda redundant.

[Pasha K]

Why they say that Brazil has the second best MMA fighters in the whole of the sport? Who is first?, please dont tell me that USA. 90% of UFC fighters are Americans, but that does not mean that americans fighters are the best in the world.

For me actually Brazil is the country that has the best fighters:

Anderson, Shogun, Wandy, Thiago Alves, Thiago Silva, Nogueiras, Jacare, Cyborg, Machida,Belfort.

All of those are Top fighters. And I can name at least 10 more with a pretty decent level.

[stevequalude]

Originally Posted by GL Jeff

I wasnt talking about you, dont worry. I just think picking countries that have some of the longest martial arts histories and then asking if MMA would be embraced seems kinda redundant.

sorry ..I think it would be awesome to have the UFC on those stages though especially in Brazil.. a Brazil vs USA ppv would be awesome

[grambino]

I think the fans in most countries would love to host a major televised MMA event, but it has to be a sound financial decision and that's the biggest barrier, whether it be politics, money or mafia.