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Report: UFC and HBO go their 'separate ways'

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The year-long back-and-forth negotiations between the UFC and premium cable channel HBO have broken down for good, according to comments from HBO Sports President Ross Greenburg in a NewsDay.com report today.

Here's the snip from Greenburg:

"After lots of discussion it became apparent that the business model doesn't make sense for either one of us. So, we agreed to go our separate ways. You never know what the future holds. We have enormous respect and admiration for the executives we dealt with at the UFC. We wish them well.''

Not an outright nail in the coffin, but the prospect of watching UFC fights on HBO are dashed once and for all at least for the near term.

UFC President Dana White has been adamant for months that a deal would ultimately be struck. He has also been quoted as saying the he "is the problem" for the deal not being forged sooner.

Control of the production of the shows on HBO seemed to be the major hang-up. Both parties wanted the authority to produce the events and in the process protect their valuable brands.

It seems now that a compromise could not be reached.

The UFC planned to feature the international events on HBO such as UFC 70, UFC 72 and UFC 75 -- all of which took place in Europe. In addition, the HBO cards would have showcased up-and-coming fighters who were headed to more prestigious pay-per-view (PPV) events.

In short, the talent would be better than UFC Fight Night cards but not quite ready for the PPV audience.

Don't forget that the arrest of former CEO Chris Albrecht -- who was later fired from his post -- more than likely also had an affect on the stalled negotiations. He was the man who championed bringing the UFC into the HBO fold.

For now EliteXC is the only mixed martial arts promotion that has a deal with a major premium cable channel (ShowTime).

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MMA Way..or the boxing stone age.

Peace HBO

MMA EVERYDAY!

by PhilQNY on Oct 5, 2007 11:02 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

that’s cool. more for Spike

by ingo b on Oct 5, 2007 11:16 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

HBO puttin their own touch on the production of a ‘UFC’ event would make the ‘UFC’ look more legitimate… HBO is nothing but top notch production.. different commentators and a different overall feel… seeing it in a different way could have been very refreshing and rejuvenate the fanbase… in a way that’s why i enjoyed ‘Pride’.. it was different.. fighters, rules, setup and production… the ‘UFC’ is great and all, but seeing it presented the same way all the time gets stale… hell, the ‘UFC’ should get that japanese announcer from ’Pride’who calls out the fighters, i dont know about the rest of you, but i really enjoyed that..lol.. just the small, simple things go along way…

by methinks on Oct 6, 2007 12:31 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Ehh I’ll live. Alot of huge UFC fans dont even have HBO. So I bet there happy. Dont gotta miss anything good, I’m fine with just Spike and PPV.

by Joey 1.0 on Oct 6, 2007 12:31 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

it sucks for me i have HBO but i don’t have spike tv, damm it i was looking forward to that

by bryant on Oct 6, 2007 12:40 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

This is a deal that should have gotten done because both sides would have gained from it. UFC gains legitimacy and HBO is dying for programming that has any kind of buzz. Sopranos gone. The Wire going. Curb Your Enthusiam is in its last season. Boxing is waning. I really think this hurts HBO more than the UFC.

by Gregg on Oct 6, 2007 12:44 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

If it keeps MMA from turning into a joke like boxing has become… so be it. Can you picture Don King waving the Brazilian flag walking to the ring with Wanderlei… I think it’s best kept from mainstream as much as possible. I can handle Dana White much better than King or Arum.. and Jim Lampley trying to explain bjj moves to the audience… keep it on spike and ppv… or next thing you know, the Randy Couture grill will be on the supermarket shelves.

by RAWbert on Oct 6, 2007 1:04 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Dana White is no different than any other boxing promoter… MMA is monopolized by the UFC and Dana White has the keys… and thus we have to live thru his antics and vocabulary… I love MMA and I miss boxing, atleast we were present to see its last breath… but dont put Dana White on a pedestal, he’s just another fast talking, bullshxt artist who landed himself the ‘President of the UFC’gig.. the UFC deserves more..

by methinks on Oct 6, 2007 1:32 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

HBO puttin their own touch on the production of a ‘UFC’ event would make the ‘UFC’ look more legitimate… HBO is nothing but top notch production.. different commentators and a different overall feel… seeing it in a different way could have been very refreshing and rejuvenate the fanbase… in a way that’s why i enjoyed ‘Pride’.. it was different.. fighters, rules, setup and production… the ‘UFC’ is great and all, but seeing it presented the same way all the time gets stale… hell, the ‘UFC’ should get that japanese announcer from ’Pride’who calls out the fighters, i dont know about the rest of you, but i really enjoyed that..lol.. just the small, simple things go along way…

Absolutely, Pride was so much more entertaining. The UFC says they don’t want to be like the WWF but then they try to be a mirror image of boxing what’s wrong with being unique. And that’s exactly what pride was unique.

Its not just fighting it’s a form of entertainment. The UFC events are so monotones. They won’t even let Tito take his flag in the ring. I think that Elite XC is much more entertaining from a production stand point with all the ring girls then UFC.

by Muhamet on Oct 6, 2007 3:19 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

HBOs loss! Thank god Dana did not let them have their way with the UFC. Way to protect your brand Dana. If they would have made UFC look their boxing product, it could be weak as the IFL production or worse I would imagine. i hope Dana will take it to the next level with Spike.

by kb on Oct 6, 2007 8:28 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Dana White is no different than any other boxing promoter… MMA is monopolized by the UFC and Dana White has the keys… and thus we have to live thru his antics and vocabulary… I love MMA and I miss boxing, atleast we were present to see its last breath… but dont put Dana White on a pedestal, he’s just another fast talking, bullshxt artist who landed himself the ‘President of the UFC’gig.. the UFC deserves more..

I have to disagree. Think about all the things that ruined boxing… Fighters wanting x amount of $.. some of these guys would refuse to fight for 5 million… 10 belts for every weight class… crooked judges, and terrible mismatches.. etc etc…at least these haven’t been issues in the UFC. I think that MMA is at this very moment, turning into a giant machine. And, I have to admit… If it HAS to happen… Dana White steering the ship is about as good as you could hope for.. it could be much worse.

by RAWbert on Oct 6, 2007 11:07 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Dana is a fool, this is his biggest mistake ever!!!

by jason on Oct 6, 2007 11:22 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Good HBO sucks. Unless your an 80’s fan. lol

by All American on Oct 6, 2007 12:16 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

UFC as an organization is bigger than boxing as a sport today.

by PhilQNY on Oct 6, 2007 1:03 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

And there goes my HBO subsricption.

by "Mr. NC-17" on Oct 6, 2007 2:48 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I can’t imagine watching a show without Rogan….getting louder and louder as the night goes on. Beer? Whiskey? I don’t know. I’d actually MISS Goldie too. Larry Merchant would be mispronouncing stuff like Kimora and Chuck “Lie dell”. HBO sucks.

by godisnowhere on Oct 6, 2007 4:28 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

HBO rules.

Dana White needs to give UFC producion to HBO, it would be much, much better.

“Boxing is dead”, bullshit, really getting tired of hearing that from ignorants it because it isn’t even remotely close to the truth.

The HBO production wheel produced De la Hoya/Mayweather 24/7 which generated over 200 million dollars in PPV buys for 1 event, everyone understand that fact? The UFC will never do that many buys for 1 event.

Wake up people, boxing is far from dead and actually is picking up momentum. This is what happens for a boxing Champion when he returns home after the fight…..

“…..Once the SUV Pavlik was riding in hit the Ohio border, he was met by a phalanx of police cars and fire trucks that gave him an official escort home to Youngstown.

Pavlik’s SUV dropped into the middle of that sea of what he estimated were 30 police cars and fire trucks and made a triumphant return home….."

MMA isn’t even close to the level boxing is at in every category.

Welcome to reality.

by Schiro on Oct 7, 2007 9:35 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Fuk HBO..Watch the UFC scream past those Fags…Honestly..with the fastest growing sport in HISTORY.Who needs Em…It seems to me the UFC was going to help them out..Sorry about not being so humble about this post..But when it comes to the UFC being bashed..It..It..It just steams my potatoes….lol

by ntvman on Oct 7, 2007 10:27 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

If it keeps MMA from turning into a joke like boxing has become… so be it. Can you picture Don King waving the Brazilian flag walking to the ring with Wanderlei… I think it’s best kept from mainstream as much as possible. I can handle Dana White much better than King or Arum.. and Jim Lampley trying to explain bjj moves to the audience… keep it on spike and ppv… or next thing you know, the Randy Couture grill will be on the supermarket shelves.

LMAO…The Couture Grill, get it now while supplies last…

by ntvman on Oct 7, 2007 10:31 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

HBO rules.

Dana White needs to give UFC producion to HBO, it would be much, much better.

“Boxing is dead”, bullshit, really getting tired of hearing that from ignorants it because it isn’t even remotely close to the truth.

The HBO production wheel produced De la Hoya/Mayweather 24/7 which generated over 200 million dollars in PPV buys for 1 event, everyone understand that fact? The UFC will never do that many buys for 1 event.

Wake up people, boxing is far from dead and actually is picking up momentum. This is what happens for a boxing Champion when he returns home after the fight…..

“…..Once the SUV Pavlik was riding in hit the Ohio border, he was met by a phalanx of police cars and fire trucks that gave him an official escort home to Youngstown.

Pavlik’s SUV dropped into the middle of that sea of what he estimated were 30 police cars and fire trucks and made a triumphant return home….."

MMA isn’t even close to the level boxing is at in every category.

Welcome to reality.

I enjoyed the Pavlik-Taylor fight… there hasn’t been a fight like it in some time… and that’s the problem. Like you said, 200 million bucks for a dance/fight/publicity stunt… I think I fell asleep around the 8th rd… did I miss anything? Can’t wait to watch the heavyweight title fight soon… wait, do we have a champion? Or maybe 6 champions…

by RAWbert on Oct 8, 2007 1:54 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Dana is a fool, this is his biggest mistake ever!!!

A fool yes, but a very rich fool.

by Hobo on Oct 8, 2007 7:35 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

HBO rules.

Dana White needs to give UFC producion to HBO, it would be much, much better.

“Boxing is dead”, bullshit, really getting tired of hearing that from ignorants it because it isn’t even remotely close to the truth.

The HBO production wheel produced De la Hoya/Mayweather 24/7 which generated over 200 million dollars in PPV buys for 1 event, everyone understand that fact? The UFC will never do that many buys for 1 event.

Wake up people, boxing is far from dead and actually is picking up momentum. This is what happens for a boxing Champion when he returns home after the fight…..

“…..Once the SUV Pavlik was riding in hit the Ohio border, he was met by a phalanx of police cars and fire trucks that gave him an official escort home to Youngstown.

Pavlik’s SUV dropped into the middle of that sea of what he estimated were 30 police cars and fire trucks and made a triumphant return home….."

MMA isn’t even close to the level boxing is at in every category.

Welcome to reality.

To each his own but boxing is so oversaturated most of it has really turned into a joke. Maybe 1 out of 10 matches i watch can i keep my eyes open past the 5th Rd. Boxing is pretty much all hype and no bang. I guess some get used to watching Boxing and they are gonna be partial to that sport but for me once i saw my first MMA event my interest in boxing had totally almost evaporated. And so what Pavlik got escorted home by the Macy’s day parade. Most guys i talk to dont really care to know about boxing. I think in time MMA will surpass boxing. MMA has what made boxing great and a whole lot more.

by Thor1982 on Oct 8, 2007 1:53 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

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