MMAterial Facts (02/17/10)

• No UFC in Ontario: McGuinty
• Turnkey Sponsorship Survey Good News for MMA Properties
• UFC Wins Legal Battle Over UFC Hall-of-Famer Ken Shamrock
• Charter Brings UFC On Demand To Customers
• UFC event raises understanding of mixed marital arts

No UFC in Ontario: McGuinty

Premier Dalton McGuinty has dealt a stunning blow in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s battle to come to Ontario.

“It’s just not a priority for us,” McGuinty said Wednesday. “We have other things on the go right now and we’ll stay focused on those.”

The premier’s comments indicate that despite the incredible popularity of the UFC in this province, Ontarians will have to continue to travel to Quebec or elsewhere if they want to see a live match.

The federal Criminal Code prohibits prizefighting but individual provinces can choose to exempt sports such as boxing and mixed martial arts.

According to a consumer services ministry spokesperson, Ontario would need to be convinced that UFC is safe for the public and participants before it would make amendments to the Athletics Control Act.   (Toronto Sun)

***

Patience is key

While Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty says MMA will have to wait, rest assured it’s still on track.

Recent comments made by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty have sent the MMA world into a tailspin, but upon further examination, those who are overreacting will eventually see a brighter picture.

When it comes to where his government stands on regulating MMA in Ontario, McGuinty told reporters in Toronto Wednesday: “It’s just not a priority for us at this point in time; we have higher priorities when it comes to developing those jobs and strengthening the economy.”

It’s been the same positioning since 1993, so why there is such an uproar is almost humourous.

While the Liberal leader appeared to sweep this issue aside, such was not the case for his opposition. Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak stated: “It seems like Premier McGuinty is wrestling with himself.”

He went on to say, “Let’s just get on with it. Forty states allow for mixed martial arts, five other provinces — just direct your minister to make it happen in the province of Ontario. Let’s bring some tourism dollars to our province.”

With an election in the not-too-distant future, can you guess who the coveted demographic of 18-to-35-year-olds may choose to vote for?  (Sportsnet, Ca) …  (MMA Payout’s Perspective: Ontario Premier Wavering on MMA)

Turnkey Sponsorship Survey Good News for MMA Properties

Are sponsors connecting with fans? If so, which fan segments have the strongest connection? For all the money sponsors spend on marketing, can fans correctly pick them out of a lineup? And which sports properties have the most sponsor-loyal fans?

Those are some of the questions we set out to answer by analyzing three years’ worth of sponsor loyalty studies conducted in partnership with Turnkey Intelligence. The studies, conducted since the summer of 2007, were designed to identify key trends such as fans’ recall of official sponsors, and trial and consumption of products.

Since beginning the studies, SportsBusiness Journal has published the results of 15 individual surveys of MLB, NASCAR, NBA, NFL and NHL fans. When we revisited all three years’ worth of data, we identified several top-line trends and behavior patterns among specific demographics.

The most visible trend we discovered was that brands can expect a better return on their sports marketing objectives if they target fans age 18-34, non-Caucasian fans, and/or households with kids.

For example, 59 percent of MLB fans in the 18-34 bracket were more likely to consider trying a product or service from an official sponsor, compared with only 36 percent of fans age 35 and older.

…

The appeal of the 18-34 demographic is a growing focus for many companies – especially in the current economy where much of the disposable income in family budgets has been squeezed out entirely. Not only does the 18-34 demo possess a great amount of disposable cash, but its also seemingly one of the most impressionable demographics. The growing potential for significant return on a sponsorship investment that targets these individuals is helping to off-set the perceived risk that a brand takes in associating itself with the sport. (MMA Payout’s Perspective)

UFC Wins Legal Battle Over UFC Hall-of-Famer Ken Shamrock

Zuffa, LLC, doing business as the Ultimate Fighting Championship® (“UFC®”), was awarded a legal victory today against former champion, Ken Shamrock. Shamrock, who claimed Zuffa had violated certain contractual provisions of his final fight agreement, was demanding several hundreds of thousands of dollars in compensation he claimed was due and owing from the UFC. Following a trial before the Honorable Susan H. Johnson, the Court entered a sixteen page written decision concluding that Ken Shamrock was to “take nothing by way of its Complaint filed April 15, 2008, and judgment is rendered in favor of Zuffa, LLC dba the Ultimate Fighting Championship.” Specifically, Judge Johnson ruled that Zuffa (1) did not breach the contract; (2) that the contract should be interpreted in manner advocated by Zuffa; and (3) that, in any event, Shamrock and his attorney/agent Rod Donohoo waived any purported breach by Zuffa.

The UFC was again represented by their trial counsel Donald J. Campbell and J. Colby Williams of the Las Vegas firm Campbell & Williams. Asked for a comment, Messrs. Campbell and Williams responded as follows:

“Zuffa has issued a clear directive that we are to pursue every legal remedy to ensure that the UFC’s contracts are scrupulously honored and defended. The resulting judgment in this case is just one more example of the UFC’s resolve to vigorously vindicate its contractual rights in the courts.”

When asked if further proceedings would be likely in this case, Messrs. Campbell and Williams remarked in the affirmative:

“The UFC has a clear and unambiguous attorney fee clause in all of its contracts with fighters to the effect, that in the event a fighter loses any contractual challenge in court, that fighter will be responsible for paying our fees. Accordingly, we will be filing a motion to seek recovery of all of our expenses and fees which were occasioned by this lawsuit.”  (Press Release)

Charter Brings UFC On Demand To Customers

Charter today announced the launch of Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC) programming to Charter customers. The service will be available On Demand 24 hours a day, 365 days a year beginning February 18. The UFC is the world’s leading professional mixed martial arts organization. UFC On Demand is distributed by Avail-TVN.

“Charter customers enjoy a broad and diverse range of programming choices,” said Rich DiGeronimo, Charter’s Vice President of Product Management. “By making UFC available at any time through Charter On Demand, we help ensure that loyal fans never miss any of the action. Plus, Charter customers will also have easy access to live UFC events on Pay Per View.”

The service will launch on February 18th, just in time for UFC 110: Nogueira vs. Velasquez live from Sydney Australia on Pay-Per-View February 20.

Charter will offer customers the full suite of UFC On Demand services that includes:

UFC Free Zone, an on-demand free service offering information and short features on mixed martial arts rules, fighting disciplines, styles and techniques. The popular Countdown UFC shows and UFC event previews are also available via UFC Free Zone.

UFC Fight Zone offers single UFC library fights in their entirety, at $2.99-$3.99 per fight with a 24-hour viewing period. UFC Fight Zone features fighters who will be competing in an upcoming UFC pay-per-view event, offering fans the opportunity to see these champions and challengers in some of their most legendary fights and prior matchups.

UFC Event Zone offers full UFC events and specials, starting at $4.99 per title for a 24-hour viewing period. Offerings include recent UFC pay-per-view events that feature fighters who will be competing in an upcoming UFC event, as well as the original and rarely seen “UFC Classics” from 1993-1998, along with UFC’s hottest selling full-length DVDs, UFC compilation specials and video-on-demand replays of current pay-per-view events.  (Press Release)

UFC event raises understanding of mixed marital arts

UFC fighter Jonathan Goulet was in town recently to host a mixed martial arts seminar at Collège Boréal. This three-hour seminar allowed more than 40 participants to become acquainted with the techniques and approaches used in this increasingly popular discipline.

Later in the evening, more than 80 enthusiasts followed a UFC event program on the giant screen at the Collège Boréal pub La Zone.

According to a member of the organizing group, Yves Charette, massage therapy professor at the college and martial arts instructor, the objective of the event was largely achieved by exposing several newcomers to mixed martial arts.

Participants also demonstrated their generosity by donating funds to help with relief efforts for the recent earthquake in Haiti.  (Northern Life)

QUICK HITS

• White confirms Nogueira vs. Velasquez winner could get first crack at Lesnar (MMAJunkie)
• Bisping demands respect, Silva promises brutal finish at UFC 110 pre-event presser (MMAJunkie)
• UFC Finishing Stats Indicate Rise in Decisions (MMAFighting)
• Fedor Doesn’t Think Cro Cop Is Same Fighter (MMAFighting)
• MFC Promotion Deals Low Blow to Fighter (MMAFighting)
• Full Episode: UFC 110 Countdown (Sherdog)
• Strikeforce’s Coker: Please follow me on Twitter! (Cage Writer)
• DIEGO NUNES OFF MARCH 6 WEC CARD WITH INJURY (MMAWeekly)
• SHONIE CARTER PICKS UP A WIN AT CFX FIGHT NIGHT (MMAWeekly)
• Exclusive James Te Huna Blog 4 (Heavy)
• Exclusive: Claude Patrick on his way to the UFC, likely for UFC 115 (FiveOuncesOfPain)

VIDEO OF THE DAY

• HDNet Fights Video Vault: Gegard Mousasi vs. Gary Goodridge at “Dynamite!! 2009”: Just days before DREAM and World Victory Road held their co-promoted “Dynamite!! 2009” event on New Year’s Eve, officials announced a late addition to the card: Gegard Mousasi (27-2-1) vs. Gary Goodridge (23-19-1). (MMAJunkie)

TV LISTINGS

• HDNet Fights Presents K-1 Classics (HMC, Nortje, Schilt, LeBanner) at 8 PM ET on HDNet (02/19/10)
• InsideMMA (Eddie Alvarez, Greg Nelson, Mark Decascos) at 9 PM ET on HDNet (02/19/10)
• HDNet Fights Presents Champions & Challengers Vol. 3,  at 10 PM ET on HDNet (02/19/10)
• Best of Pride FC at 10 PM ET/PT on Spike (02/19/10)
  

UPCOMING EVENTS

• UFC 110: Nogueira vs Velazquez at 10 PM ET on PPV (02/20/10)
• Strikeforce Challengers: Prangley vs Amoussou at 11 PM ET/PT on Showtime (02/26/10)
• WEC 47: Bowles vs Cruz on at 10 PM ET on Versus (03/06/10)
• UFC on Versus: Vera vs Jones at 10 PM ET on Versus (3/21/10)
• Strikeforce Challengers: Johnson vs Mahe at 11 PM ET/PT on Showtime (03/26/10)
• UFC 110: GSP vs Hardy at 10 PM ET on PPV (03/27/10)
• UFN 21 : Florian vs Gomi at 10 PM ET on Spike (03/31/10)
• The Ultimate Fighter 11 Debut after UFN 21 on Spike (03/31/10)