While giant companies such as UFC, Bellator, Top Rank, PBC, WWE … can still work well thanks to the broadcast even though there is no direct audience, small private companies are suffering from the heavy destruction of Covid-19.
Unlike the huge organizations mentioned above, small independent tournaments often depend on direct ticket sales and almost do not have enough funding to raise boxers if they cannot organize the tournament. Covid -19 did not directly hit big companies like UFC, but it demanded a death blow to the supply of boxers and raising for small cable bosses – important links in the huge system of the antagonist industry.
But that is not over, if lucky to overcome the ban to organize the tournament, the private tournaments must spend a lot of money on the cost of management and testing for CIVI-19. To better visualize this situation, try to see the following statistics:
From March 1, 2019 to September 1, 2019, there were 19,371 MMA matches in the world according to Tapology statistics. However, from March 1, 2020 to September 1, 2020, only 3,764. This rate decreased by 80.6% in the United States.
Also according to Tapology, from March 1, 2019 to September 1, 2019, UFC's parent company, Zuffa, only accounts for 4.4% of the total MMA matches in the United States. In 2020, during the same time, that figure increased to 21.3% even though the number of UFC actual matches only held only one UFC 248 event in the US. It means that the MMA market in the US is severely reduced.
Solution for small companies
There are still some smaller organizations that organize performances. The Valor Fights in Tennessee has held 4 events since the beginning of the pandemic with the fans attending, including an event on Saturday in Knoxville. Valor promoter, Tim Loy, said his events were only 25% of the audience present at the location, with the temperature test and adjusting social ways, although there was no need for Covid-19 testing.
To continue working with fewer fans, Valor has provided its online programs through the form of paying for each view. Loy said the demand from athletes to get a Valor card has increased. The event last Saturday had 17 matches.
Loy said: “We have many boxers from afar, because there are many places that have been closed, so they are now desperate and really want to step up the ring to fight. Therefore, you are receiving boxers to play with a much lower reward.”
Salvation from big men
Dana White said one of the UFC things that will do to help the system of this sport system is to expand local MMA broadcasting services on the UFC Fight Pass online broadcasting service. Currently, the competitions of the company such as LFA, Cage Fury Fighting Championship, Titan FC, Invicta FC and a number of other companies are being broadcast on Fight Pass and paid by UFC for content.
“What I am trying to do is put as many famous programs of the area as possible,” White said. “Obviously, it helps sponsor their production and allows them to organize live events. So we are trying to consolidate it.”