Report: UFC collects $2.7 million at UFC 67 gate
by MMAmania.com on Feb 4, 2007 4:09 PM EST
5 comments
Last night, the turnstiles at the Mandalay Bay Events Center for UFC 67 generated $2.7 million, according to MetroNews.ca.
And, with 11,001 fans in attendance, the show was "not quite a sellout."
UFC 66 it wasn't.
This news is surprising and not so surprising at the same time.
Surprising, because fans should have been clamoring to see the UFC debuts of stars such as Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson.
Anderson Silva is a bad dude, too.
It's not surprising because Travis Lutter failing to make weight surely affected ticket sales. But, more alarming, it seems as though UFC fans don't know enough about the dynamic trio mentioned above.
I think the fatal flaw in the relatively vanilla show last night was the lack of competition.
UFC matchmaker Joe Silva was saddled with the responsibilty of ensuring that Cro Cop and Rampage were successfull in their Octagon premieres.
I'm sure the UFC also wanted them to make statements right off the bat.
But, it came off all wrong.
Eddie Sanchez was running for his life, and Marvin Eastman is clearly not the same fighter he was six years ago.
It's a fine line -- just look what happened to the overhyped Heath Herring debut at UFC Fight Night 8.
Damned if you do, damned if you don't, I guess.
But, these guys are all proven animals -- the UFC should have put them in with established UFC fighters who can win.
There was no reason to treat them with kid gloves.
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As I tell everyone, this card was the UFC version of “WWE Superstars”. It’s job was to showcase up and comers, new talent and then give us on or two minor feud matches.
By the looks of it, the card did it’s job.
Also keep in mind, even with us all in the know, even with as many countdown shows as there are, CroCop and Rampage are still “unproven commodities” among the casual. In a way, the UFC bit themselves in the ass for not acknowledging other groups. If they did, the impact would have been more great. They didn’t know better.
by Royal B. on Feb 4, 2007 8:01 PM EST reply actions
Also, GSP vs. Serra was also supposed to be on the card originally (correct?). Obviously the ticket sales would have been much higher with GSP and a second title match at the evening.
by x2468 on Feb 5, 2007 12:18 AM EST reply actions
Yeah. GSP was suppose to fight on this card too.
But again, it would have gotten the same draws even with GSP.
by Royal B. on Feb 5, 2007 3:19 PM EST reply actions
The card lacked any danger for Jackson, Cro Cop, and Silva so there was no reason to run and see it. Who really thought that Eddie Sanchez, Marvin (knocked out by Lutter) Eastman, of Travis Lutter was going to win? They didn’t even think they could win and the fights showed what everyone already knew. Jackson and Cro Cop needed stronger competitors in their opening appearences to make huge debuts. Who are we kidding, these guys are top of the food chain, they don’t need warm up fights. The UFC’s biggest line is how they only want to see the best fighters fight. Well if Cro Cop or Jackson are the best fighters then why baby them? GSP I think is great, but again there is no danger from Matt Serra. Look at Anderson Silva, he got Chris Leben right out the gate. At the time Chris was undefeated and he made an impact. They didn’t baby him and he did just fine.
by Getrawbc on Feb 5, 2007 7:34 PM EST reply actions
I will never spend 300 bucks a seat for another ufc tomato can fest.I felt ripped off by the total lack of compitition for the big fights at 67. Is the ufc turning into the wwf???
by sucker on Feb 7, 2007 1:32 AM EST reply actions
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