ESPN, UFC Sign Another Deal

ESPN Release
UFC Release
ESPN Part 1 (UFC Fight Pass)

The UFC after open bidding and discussions with ESPN, FOX and NBC have elected to go with ESPN for a five year, $750 million contract. The network apparently outbid FOX by over $100 million a year and here's what ESPN will get from the UFC starting in January 2019.

-  12 UFC PPV Prelims
- 30 UFC Fight Night Cards
  - 10 on ESPN Networks
  - 20 on ESPN+ (Up 5-8 from what was first announced)

The move from FOX to ESPN pretty much confirms that FOX will be the new home of WWE Smackdown. Here's the questions I have left that are either responded vaguely or not answered at all:

- Will the UFC allow fight cards on either ABC or ESPNEWS? FOX on an average has had four cards on the network FOX every year since 2012. ESPNEWS could be an overflow channel much like FX or FXX was. More on that later.

- Does the same schedule apply to let's say the 2017 season? ESPN through four networks and ABC have a ton of programming already committed (September-March). The only relieving of pressure so to speak on ESPN's side is that a new ACC Network will launch in 2019. The ACC takes up windows on ESPNU and can create a consequence of this:

ESPN has quite a bit of late evening windows for the Pac-12, Mountain West and BYU football. With the ACC taking the 3:30pm ESPNU slot most weeks, the Mountain West can move their games from late evening ESPN/ESPN2 to there and that the UFC can start the cards at 10pm ET.

Another possibility is that the UFC will try to swing the schedule more to a summer dominated one meaning that more fights will be from April to August then the other months.

- Can/will ESPN move fight cards from Saturdays to either Fridays or Sundays? Let's take a look:

 Fridays: ESPN almost always has a NBA game(s) or a college football game during the fall and winter so that is less likely unless ESPN does less NBA doubleheaders or spreads the NBA out more throughout the year.

Sundays: Slightly more reasonable. Still the NFL doesn't really like counter programming from other networks so if any occur, maybe the Sunday of Labor Day weekend could be open, also the Sunday after Thanksgiving might be looked at.

ESPNEWS I think will be used as a prelim airing for UFC Fight Nights on ESPN. That way ESPN/ESPN2 doesn't have to lose a slot during Saturdays for college football and/or basketball. Let's take a look at the fall 2017 UFC Schedule and see what we can get.

9/2/17 UFC Fight Pass card.
9/9/17 UFC on PPV. No slots appear to be open so maybe 8pm ESPNEWS.
9/16/17 UFC Fight Night card. With this, I'm not really impressed with the fights so this would likely be a ESPN+ exclusive.
9/22/17 ESPN showed a MLB game and UFC was in Japan. The prelims could air on ESPNEWS and the main events could air on ESPN at 10 or 11pm.
9/30/17 NONE
10/7/17 UFC on PPV. ACC game was on ESPN2, move that over to the ACC Network and the prelims could start at 8pm on ESPN2
10/14/17 NONE
10/21/17  UFC Fight Pass card.
10/28/17 UFC Fight Night. Much like 9/16/17 was, a lower end FS1 event, likely to ESPN+
11/4/17 UFC on PPV. This appears to be another ESPNEWS airing. No ESPN/ESPN2 slot in primetime had a ACC game.
11/11/17 UFC Fight Night. No late night ESPN window was used for CFB. The Fight Night card could be targeted for a west coast site, prelims at 8pm on ESPNEWS and the main event could be at 10pm on ESPN.
11/18/17 UFC Fight Night. Possible late evening ESPN window. It was in Australia so I would just start the event at 10pm ET on ESPN.
11/25/17 UFC Fight Night. Overnight. Whole thing on ESPN or ESPN2.

Another thing to consider here, UFC and ESPN/Disney have completely opposite ends of the spectrum regarded to political correctness and family friendly images. Will Dana White tone down a little or will put ESPN back in its place if need be? Could ESPN allow for a little more edginess when what's typically there in Bristol?

It's a very intriguing partnership and the first event between the two is still eight months away. Get your snacks prepared and ready to go.