The Ultimate Fighting Championship has officially entered the online poker community with its own playing service.
Here are the details:
- UFC Poker offers unlimited free online poker (it’s 100% legal in the US)
- Players have the chance to win $100,000 in cash and prizes every month (cash, tickets, and gear, etc.)
- A download is available at UFC.com to get you started
Payout Perspective:
MMA and poker happen to share a very similar demographic, which is likely why the UFC is lending its brand to an online poker game: they’re trying to foster greater brand awareness and loyalty through further targeting the 18-34 demographic.
Is this brand extension wise? It depends. The online poker site should serve the intended purpose above, so long as it does not become a distraction or translate into a full-time poker series.
However, the UFC needs to be very careful in their pursuit of revenue diversification that they don’t over-extend the company or its brand. If they try to associate the UFC with too many things – for example poker or sports cars or airplanes – they’re going to dilute the value and power of the brand. Those three letters have become synonymous with the sport of MMA; and, associating it with anything else on a full-time basis would be a mistake.
Moreover, the reason the UFC brand is so powerful and valuable is because Zuffa is really good at running an MMA organization – that’s their “hedgehog” concept. In other words, the UFC needs to ensure they ultimately stick to what they’re best at.
Lets just hope this association with a form of gambling done create road blocks in the regulation of the sport in new cities and countries. There may be some concerns to regulate the UFC in say NY city if they feel the UFC to have strong gambling ties. Especially if the UFC expands or appears to expand past just poker.
This is a good move for the UFC f they were already accpeted in all the places they need/want to be. It would be extra revenue and strength their demographic. But i feel its not worth the risk at this time.