Spike and the UFC have announced their intent to produce and broadcast another UFC Primetime series, this time featuring Rampage Jackson and Rashad Evans. The debut of the series will take place on Wednesday, May 12th following that evening’s episode of The Ultimate Fighter.
New York, NY, April 19, 2010 – In anticipation of their long awaited light heavyweight clash at UFC 114: RAMPAGE VS EVANS, former UFC light heavyweight champions Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and “Suga” Rashad Evans will go under the microscope on UFC Primetime®, a weekly, three part series premiering Wednesday, May 12 (11:00-11:30pm ET/PT on Spike TV. The second episode will debut on Wednesday, May 19 at 11:00pm ET/PT and the finale will run Wednesday, May 26 at 11:00pm ET/PT.
UFC Primetime, produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®), is a look into the lives of two of the most popular fighters in the UFC, Jackson and Evans, as the two settle a grudge borne during Season 10 of “The Ultimate Fighter,®” with the winner taking #1 contender status in the stacked UFC light heavyweight division.
Payout Perspective:
Due to the nature of the Rampage-Rashad relationship, I fully expect this to be the most highly watched series of the three that Spike and the UFC have put together thus far. Moreover, my expectations for this fight on PPV have just increased dramatically:
- ESPN2 has picked up MMA Live for the entire month of May on a trial basis (bad time slot or not, it’s still more coverage)
- UFC Undisputed 2010 just days before UFC 114 on May 25th, which should give the event a host of additional media coverage (especially on the 18-34 targeted gamer sites and television shows).
- UFC 114 also coincides with Memorial Day Weekend and the company’s 2nd Annual UFC Expo.
I’m not sure what this means for a potential Brock vs. Shane Primetime series, but perhaps the feeling at Zuffa is that it’s better to invest some serious money in renewing the Rampage-Rashad hostilities and simply let Lesnar take over the PR of his own fight (because you know ESPN will be all over him come July 3rd).
A-Team promotional campaign will be in full swing since the movies comes out two weeks later. I wouldn’t be surprised if the cast of the movie isn’t at the fights and the PPV is sponsored by the movie.