The UFC Comes To Versus…

Good news cheap-ass MMA fans! There will be two more free UFC events this year, but they won’t be on Spike TV. From Bloody Elbow:

As part of VERSUS’ renewal deal, the network will air seven live WEC fights and two live UFC events in 2010, marking the first time that live UFC events will air on a national sports cable network. Also included in the renewal deal are digital media rights, giving VERSUS.com the ability to air one non-televised fight and behind-the-scenes footage from each live WEC Event. Details regarding when the first live UFC event will air on the network will be announced in the near future.

First of all, more MMA on free TV is never, ever a bad thing. It means more fighters gaining exposure, and maybe more importantly, getting paychecks.

Second, I think this is a shrewd business decision by Zuffa. They know that they have a goldmine in the WEC that is just waiting to be tapped. They just need more people to realize that. That’s why you put a couple of UFC Fight Night’s on the channel with one or two WEC fights on those cards. That way, names like Mike Brown and Jose Aldo will get exposure next to guys like Jon Jones and Matt Hamill.

Another possibility is that since Comcast, the people that now own NBC, also own Versus, that the UFC is sucking up a little hoping to land on Broadcast television. While that sounds great, Dana and the boys have said that they are waiting for the right deal and won’t rush the jump to primetime.

Related posts:

1. Kimbo Could Headline First Versus Card…
2. Report: UFC to Merge With WEC in 2010…
3. WEC 47: Ratings Are The Second-Worst In Nearly Two Years…
4. Penn v. Sanchez Confirmed For UFC 107 on Dec. 12
5. Anthony Johnson v. John Howard Confirmed For UFC’s First Versus Card