Bloody Elbow reports that China will have a version of The Ultimate Fighter franchise. Registration and tryouts for the show will happen in multiple countries in the coming months.
No coaches have been selected at the moment and Featherweights, Lightweights and Welterweights will be invited to try out although specific weight divisions for the show have yet to be announced.
TUF Finals will be held at the Venetian Hotel in Macau and will be available for all to see. In China, TUF will be broadcast on LiaoNing TV which is one of China’s national pay satellite television networks.
Payout Perspective:
The announcement is not really a surprise as Zuffa is trying to tap into the Chinese market. Its show last November was a first step and a TUF series in China is another step in setting a footprint into the market. This time last year Lorenzo Fertitta indicated that there was no set strategy for China. But, with the Macau show and now this announcement, this falls in line with the Zuffa strategy of introducing the key demos to its product through its television product which it hopes will garner a following which Zuffa will follow up with a live event. The unknown of Chinese fighters for this show and what stars will coach will be interesting to watch unfold. Moreover, we shall see how the ratings will do for this show.
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