UFC TV Partner Comparison (Past and Present)

The UFC's move to FOX already looks like it's paying off. The promotions first showing on the network with "UFC Primetime" received an average of 2 million viewers (1.3 household rating).

I decided to compare the coverage size of each of the UFC's television partners, both past and present, based on the total number of households each network is available in and the percentage of overall national coverage.

TV Network	Houesholds (in million)	Coverage %
FOX	120.6	96%
SPIKE TV	99.9	86%
FX	99.3	74%
VERSUS	76	65%
FUEL TV	32	27%

It's no surprise that the major network FOX tops the list, and is available in just over 120 million homes throughout the U.S. FOX is in about 10% more homes then SPIKE. The UFC's move to the FOX family, which includes FX and FUEL, will not only put the promotion on more channels but they'll also be available in more homes throughout the United States. This give's the promotion a larger platform to help promote their Pay-Pay-View events which remain at the core of their business model. With a decline in the Pay-Pay-View business throughout 2011, it will be interesting to see if the new FOX television deal will have a significant impact in 2012 and aid the UFC's attempt of breaking into the mainstream. 

UFC 137 : Facts and Figures

Event Data:

7 Unanimous Decisions (63%)
2 (T)KOs (punches) (18%)
1 Split Decision (9%)
1 SUB (RNC) (9%)

Attendance: 10,313 (Mandalay Bay Event Center, Las Vegas)
Gate: $3.9M
Bonuses: Diaz, Penn, Palaszewski and Cerrone earn $75,000 awards

Main-Event Key Figures:

Nick Diaz:
Significant Strikes: 178 of 350 (51%)   
Total Strikes: 257 of 436 (58%)
Takedowns: 0 of 0 (0%) 

B.J. Penn:
Significant Strikes: 88 of 164 (54%)   
Total Strikes: 107 of 184   
Takedowns: 1 of 4 (25%)   

Match Time: 15:00

UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz ~ By the Numbers

The UFC returns this weekend with UFC 137: Penn vs. Diaz from Las Vegas. This card has already seen it's share of drama with the main event changing twice.

Initially, Nick Diaz was suppose to challenge UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St-Pierre, but after Diaz no-showed at several media commitments the UFC switched him out of the main event and announced that Carlos Condit would be taking his place. Diaz was then set face Condit's original opponent in BJ Penn. But less then two weeks until the show, Georges St-Pierre suffered a knee injury forcing him out of competition and the Diaz/Penn fight was bumped up to the main event.

The current betting lines have Penn as the slight favorite (-135) over Diaz (+105).

PENN vs. DIAZ ~ BY THE NUMBERS
jj	BJ Penn	Nick Diaz
UFC Win/Loss	16-7-2	25-7-1
Career Win/Loss	12-6-2	6-4
Avg. UFC Fight Time	11:09	08:47
Height	5' 9" (175 cm)	6' 0" (183 cm)
Weight	170 lb. (77 kg)	170 lb. (77 kg)
Reach	70.0" (177.8 cm)	74.0" (187.96 cm)
Stance	Orthodox	Southpaw
Age	32	28
Winning Percentage	64%	76%
Total Rds.	72	72
Avg. Rounds Per Fight	2.88	2.18
Winning Streak	-	10
Inactivity Between Fights	244 Days	204 Days
Common Opponent	-	-
Sig. Strikes Per Min.	2.68	5.84
Striking Accuracy	52%	42%
Sig. Strikes Absorbed Per Min.	2.1	3.01
Sig. Strikes Defense	60%	67%
Takedown Accuracy	59%	33%
Takedown Avg. / 15 Min.	1.44	1.73
Takedown Defense	77%	63%
Submission Attempts	18	20
Avg. Sub Attempts / 15 Min.	0.63	1.33
Pass	62	26

This information has been compiled by data from Fightmetric as well as our own resources.

UFC PPV Numbers Continue to Disappoint

The latest UFC PPV buyrate numbers have come to light and the results continue to disappoint in what's been a discouraging year in terms of sales. Most recently, UFC 136 Edgar vs. Maynard III, did a reported 250,000 buys. That would rank the event as the worst performing PPV of the year, with a 38% drop compared to the overall 2011 average (403,750). The event also underperformed against the Edgar/Maynard II from earlier this year, which did a reported 270,000 buys.

For the short term, things aren't looking much better. Georges St-Pierre, one of the UFC's top draws was injured this week and is out of next weekends UFC 137 main event with Carlos Condit. That show should have easily surpassed the 500,000 buy mark but will now likely drop down into the 300,000 range. Less then a month back, one of the promotions brightest young up-and-comers in Jon Jones couldn't break the half million buy mark in his main event against popular fighter Rampage Jackson at UFC 135.

Many attribute this years poor buyrate performance to injuries, but in 2010, five shows had their main events canceled and the company still managed to pull off their top grossing year in terms of PPVs. Dave Meltzer recently said on his radio show, "In 2011, the core UFC fan base has whittled down. The value of championships has whittled down" and added, "piracy is significant as hell" in regards to PPV sales. There's also been some debate as to whether market saturation might be one of the primary factors for the decline of PPV sales, however, 2011 will end with 17 total PPV events which is only 2 more then 2010.

Be that as it may, the UFC brass need to find a solution for this problem as their business model relies heavily on PPV sales.

UFC Fight Finish Breakdown

What weight class in mixed-martial-arts is the most exciting? Our good friends over at Tapology provided us with the raw data so I thought I’d have a closer look at the numbers. We broke down the match results (TKO/KO, Submission and Decision) over all seven UFC weight classes and here's what we found:



Of the 27 total fights so far this year at 135lbs, 67% of those bouts ended by way of decision. Surprisingly, only 11% had a submission finished.



The 145lbs Featherweight division finishes are very similar to those of Bantamweight. 67% of the matches ended in a decision. Here we find the least amounts of knockouts in any weight class, a lowly 4 in total (14%).



The Lightweights lead all weight classes in total TKO/KO’s with 15, which result in 31% of the divisions finishes. But the majority of fights, that being 45% end by decision. The Lightweights also have the most total fights so far this year at 49.



Well over half of the finishes in the Welterweight division, 57%, ended in a decision with 29% of fights ending in TKO/KO.



At 185lbs, like all the divisions before it, the majority of fights ended in decision (44%) closely followed by 33% that ended in TKO/KO.



Finally, a division that is not dominated by decisions. 46% of Light Heavyweight bouts have ended by TKO/KO and 33% ended by decision.



Although the Heavyweights have the least amount of fights so far this year, 56% of them have ended by TKO/KO. Only 11% ended by submission.



Of the 224 matches in the UFC so far in 2011, exactly 50% of them have ended in a decision, while 31% finish in TKO/KO and 18% end in submission.

Interesting Stats from UFC 136

UFC 136 is in the books. From the final curtain call of the Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard trilogy, to Jose Aldo retaining the Featherweight crown and Chael Sonnen's memorable calling out of UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva—it was a fantastic night of MMA action.

To wrap things up, here's some interesting stats from the event:

• Neither Frankie Edgar or Gray Maynard scored any takedowns (Edgar 0 for 11; Maynard 0 for 2)
• Gray Maynard is under medical suspension until December 8th.
• The event was the longest card in UFC history, with 11 fights clocking in with 158 min. 32 sec. of fight time.
• Phan landed 174 significant strikes against Garcia, breaking the single fight record, previously held by Chris Lytle against Matt Serra at UFC 119.
• 16,164 attendance
• $2.3 Million Gate
• Chael Sonnen landed 74% of his Significant Strikes (106 of 125) and 67% of his takedowns (4 of 6).

UFC 136 Edgar/Maynard 3 - By the Numbers

This weekend, UFC 136 will be headlined by a Lightweight championship bout when Frankie Edgar (13-1-1) defends his title against Gray Maynard (10-0-1-1). It will be the third meeting between the two fighters in the UFC.

In their first match at UFC Fight Night 13 in April 2008, it was Maynard who was victorious winning by way of unanimous decision. It was and still is, the only loss Frankie Edgar has ever suffered in his professional career.

The two faced off again this past New Years Day, and this time with the UFC Lightweight crown on the line after Edgar had defeated BJ Penn to win the title. It was a thrilling fight that ended without a clear winner, with the judges scoring the fight 48-46, 48-46 and 47-47 and the bout declared a draw.

So come this Saturday at the Toyota Center in Houston Texas, these two top Lightweight competitors will meet for a final time ending their trilogy of fights.

EDGAR vs. MAYNARD III ~ BY THE NUMBERS
jj	Frankie Edgar	Gray Maynard
UFC Win/Loss	8-1-1	7-0-1-1
Career Win/Loss	13-1-1	10-0-1-1
Avg. UFC Fight Time	14:45	12:21
Height	5' 6" (168 cm)	5' 7" (170 cm)
Weight	155 lb. (70 kg)	155 lb. (70 kg)
Reach	72.0" (182.88 cm)	70.0" (177.8 cm)
Stance	Orthodox	Orthodox
Age	29	32
Winning Percentage	87%	71%
Total UFC Rds.	32	29
Avg. Rounds Per Fight	3.2	2.9
Winning Streak	0	0
Inactivity Between Fights	259 Days	259 Days
Common Opponent	Jim Miller	Jim Miller
Total Sig. Strikes	572 of 1364	277 of 811
Sig. Strikes Per Min.	3.53	2.04
Striking Accuracy	42%	34%
Sig. Strikes Absorbed Per Min.	1.75	2.18
Sig. Strikes Defense	74%	70%
Takedowns	35 of 86	30 of 53
Takedown Accuracy	41%	57%
Takedown Avg. / 15 Min.	3.24	3.31
Takedown Defense	60%	80%
Submission Attempts	4	8
Avg. Sub Attempts / 15 Min.	0.37	0.88
Pass	21	29
Reversals	2	3

This information has been compiled by data from Fightmetric as well as our own resources.

If we break down the stats over their previous two matches, we can get a better understanding of the evolution between these two Lightweights.

In their first meeting back in 2008, a the fight which Maynard won by unanimous decision, he ruled in takedowns. Maynard scored on an impressive 9 of 10 takedown attempts. His takedown defense was also very good stopping 80% of Edgar's attempts. Despite Edgar landing more significant strikes, it would not be enough as Maynard won the bout easily. When the two met a second time at the start of 2011, the fight ended in a draw. This time around, Edgar was much more efficient in defending the takedown. Maynard was only able to land 3 of 17 takedown attempts (18%), which was a 72% decrease from their 2008 meeting. Edgar improved upon his takedown accuracy and significant striking accuracy, increasing both by by 7% over their first meeting.

	Fighter	Sig Strikes	Sig Strike %	TD	TD %	TDD %
Edgar/Maynard 1	Maynard	19 of 65	29%	9 of 10	90%	80%
	Edgar	26 of 75	35%	1 of 5	20%	10%
Edgar/Maynard 2	Maynard	71 of 212	33% (+4)	3 of 17	18% (-72)	73% (-7)
	Edgar	95 of 226	42% (+7)	3 of 11	27% (+7)	82% (+72)
Edgar/Maynard Totals	Maynard	90 of 227	40%	12 of 27	44%	75%
	Edgar	131 of 301	40%	4 of 16	25%	56%