UFC
UFC maintains production control in Fox deal, but Dana White looking to change everything with "fresh start"
Aug 19, 2011 - 9:05:24 AM UFC maintains production control in Fox deal, but Dana White looking to change everything with "fresh start"

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Goodbye gladiator intro, goodbye "Face the Pain," the UFC's presentation is about to go through some major changes as the world's leading MMA organization heads to network television for the first time.

During Thursday's UFC on Fox press conference, where the two sides announced a seven-year multi-platform television partnership, it was made clear that UFC President Dana White got the most important sticking point he had in bringing the product to a network: control of production.

But that control doesn't mean things are staying stagnant.

Fox executives at the press conference praised the UFC's current production and what they've done with the product over the last ten years. However, White isn't resting on his laurels with how their shows look, and with what he calls a "fresh start," he's ready to implement some changes.

"I look at this Fox deal as a fresh start for us, so I want to change everything,” White said. “I want to change the look of the pay-per-view; [the] graphics, show open, the show opens in our Fight Nights, everything's going to have a different feel to it."

That different feel includes getting rid of the often maligned gladiator intro that has been a part of virtually every event in the Zuffa era. Also, while the UFC is maintaining control, that's not to say there won't be any influence from Fox.

"Me and my crew will run the production, and we're going to have a pre-show, a post-show, and they'll bring in their guys, the Fox guys, for the pre and post-show [coverage], White revealed. "[But] we'll be working with these guys, I love what they do in sports, and to enhance the look and feel of a UFC event [as well]."

Penick's Analysis: This is another very positive thing for the UFC in this deal. Having some Fox influences on how things are presented, along with the UFC knowing how to promote their fights and having done the leg work to get them this far is going to be a vast improvement over what we've seen thus far. The video packages that were presented during the press conference both for the announcement and the new Ultimate Fighter were superb, and hopefully it's a sign of things to come. But getting a new intro, getting rid of the gladiator and updating the graphics for the presentation are all going to be positive aesthetic moves.