The UFC’s deal with Fox is more than a simple new television deal. It’s a chance to introduce the sport and organization to a new group of people. While Strikeforce and EliteXC have had a turn on CBS, there are plenty of people who know that the UFC is the promotion for MMA and would have chosen to pass on a second tier organization. The curiosity factor is going to bring in some new viewers when the UFC hits the Fox airwaves and Dana White says the UFC has a strategy to introduce these fans to the sport.
“We live in a bubble in our [UFC Las Vegas] offices and take it for granted people know what armbars, guillotines and triangle chokes are — nobody knows what this [stuff] means,” White said. “We have to view [Fox programming] as if nobody knows anything about this sport, that people die in this cage.
“We’re going to educate the masses, treat it like nobody knows who we are. I think our [hardcore] audience understands that’s necessary.”
It’s good to see that they have plans to not only air the sport, but air it in a way that helps educate new viewers. Hopefully long-time fans are open to the idea of the UFC informing a new market on the nuances of the sport.