Bellator’s Scott Coker announced on ESPN’s Sportscenter that Chael Sonnen will take on Tito Ortiz which will headline a show on January 21, 2017 at The Forum in Inglewood, California.
Sonnen announced his return to the sport last month. He has participated in grappling matches and served as a WSOF color commentator during his time away from active action.
Ortiz has not fought since a submission loss to Liam McGeary in September 2015.
Payout Perspective:
Bellator is getting the same treatment as the UFC as ESPN is giving the Viacom-owned company the same platform to announce major news. Sonnen-Ortiz will have some good promotion leading up to the fight but we will see how much the actual fight will live up to the lead-up. Certainly, the shoulder programming, which we anticipate to be on SpikeTV, should provide some interesting color. We assume that this will be Bellator’s next tent-pole event.
Two over the hills fighting to get a paycheck. I’ll still watch though.
Ill be watching too….say what you will about Bellator, they know how to get ratings and they know what sells. This card will out perform the closest UFC card around it. Watch….
Out perform in what way?
Bellator in my opinion have to be praying CBS/Showtime merge with Viacom again, which is being talked about, monthly Friday night cards on Spike, then big fights on Showtime on Saturdays and maybe CBS with the right fight and eventually a PPV.
Al Haymon is probably wishing the same thing, Spike and Showtime are the only people actually paying for PBC content.
It’s hard to see it out performing the closest UFC card around it.
First it is on Saturday January 21 which means it will go up against an NFL Divisional game and Second, FOX has usually put a big UFC card on either after the Divisional Playoffs (Cruz/Dillashaw this year) or NFC Championship(McGregor/Siver last year) which have done some of the best ratings ever.