The following UFC video has been making its rounds. Its a parody of the LeBron “Rise” Commercial:
Payout Perspective:
This is another example of the UFC utilizing social media to promote its brand. At the end of the video, the UFC reminds viewers to watch UFC 122 on Spike TV. I like how the parody maintains the UFC image and attitude (also a nice way to work in the “Yes” cartwheel). The viral video is a great way to reach out to the You Tube generation and garner some crossover appeal by poking fun of LeBron James.
Was this made by the UFC or a fan?
I think this was a fan made video. At least a different site I saw it on had it posted as a fan made video. Plus Dana linked to this and another fan made one on his twitter and was laughing at them.
It is definitely a Zuffa made video. They have been doing this for a while now. They hire someone to make a clever little viral video and release it as a ‘fan made’ video. It allows them to be a little edgier than they normally could. The giveaway that it is a Zuffa made video is the fact that it was released on the UG by a Zuffa representative and was pumped up by Dana via twitter.
Here is another ‘fan made’ video for that event that I liked better than the Lebron one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SsMjkh_bfo&feature=player_embedded
Actually the really great spoof of “The Decision” was the one done for the ESPY Awards show which featured Steve Carell as James and Paul Rudd as the interviewer. After Carell names a list of people he’s revealed his decision to—including Vice President Joe Biden and Tito Ortiz(!)—Rudd asks, “So I’m the last person in the world to know what your decision is?”
“Not necessarily,” he answers. “I might not tell you.”
The earth-shattering decision then turns out to be whether to take his culinary tastes to Outback Steak House instead of sticking with Chilis.
It turned out to be a boon for Chilis, which posted its own spoof of the Cavaliers manager’s response on its Facebook page (complete with random capitalizations, quotation marks, colored text and so), although I have to say I’ve never met anyone at Chilis who was aware of it .
The video was up on the web for a week or two and then pulled by ESPN a matter of minutes after I found it on a number of legitimate news sites. Charlie Rose had a very well edited version on his July 27th show, which may still be available on the PBS web site. Many, but not all of his shows, are available for viewing there. (Dana White is a fan, by the way.) Charlie slips it in about 43 minutes into the show during a lengthy discussion of their most recent movie at the time.
HB
Zuffa has been releasing these “fan made videos”. Just check out all the HD quality footage and editing on them. Another one was the Cain Velasquez Machete video, and the 100 and something reasons to watch UFC XXX videos that are out there.
=)
The Machete video was awesome … and prescient. It ends up Brock really did ‘fuck with the wrong Mexican’.