Roundtables
ROUNDTABLE: Will UFC 187 and/or UFC 189 be million-buy pay-per-view events for the UFC?
Feb 21, 2015 - 1:30:39 PM ROUNDTABLE: Will UFC 187 and/or UFC 189 be million-buy pay-per-view events for the UFC?

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Will UFC 187 (with Jones-Johnson, Weidman-Belfort, and Cerrone-Nurmagomedov) and UFC 189 (with Aldo-McGregor and Lawler-MacDonald II) in Las Vegas be million-buy pay-per-view events this summer if all fights remain intact? Why or why not?


RICH HANSEN, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

There's no PPV lineup the UFC can put together in 2015 that will do a million buys. Call me when Georges St-Pierre and Brock Lesnar are in the top two fights. In 2009 that did 1.6 million. In 2016, that *might* do a million. The promotion has run off so many fans that the pool of people willing to drop $60 on a PPV has shrunk, and I really doubt the UFC is capable of drawing the same percentage of people willing to buy a UFC PPV that they were able to tap a few years back.


FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

UFC 189 won't, that's almost guaranteed. That's not to say it doesn't deserve it, as that's a big time card, but it doesn't have the name value. I hope it does big numbers, though. I think it can get good numbers, but there's too many people out there who discount the lighter weights. UFC 187 will do a million, no doubt. They could even lose Nurmagomedov-Cerrone and do a million buys for sure. Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier did about 800,000 and that was with Cormier who wasn't going to inspire casual fans to tune in, and that's what you need to reach 1 million. Casual fans looked at Cormier and said, "No way this pudgy guy beats the best fighter in the world" but when they look at Johnson they'll say, "Now here's a man who can beat Jones." Also add in what Johnson did to Alexander Gustafsson and you've got something. Gustafsson was the hardest challenge Jones has ever faced and went five rounds with him. He also got his ass kicked by Anthony Johnson. Jones struggled to beat Gustafsson and couldn't finish him. Johnson destroyed Gustafsson in two minutes. That's a recipe that's going to bring in the eyeballs.


BRAD WALKER, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

Oh lord if they both don't break a million buys I will be shocked. Both cards are stocked with great fighters and fights and should be top cards for the entire year. I'm least interested in the Lawler-MacDonald fight personally but all should still be a lot of fun to sit back and enjoy. Aldo vs MacGregor and Weidman vs Belfort will be a lot of fun.


KALE HAVERVOLD, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR

I could see it. Depends how much promotion goes into each event and what it's competing with that night.


TOM STRONG, MMATORCH UK CONTRIBUTOR

If I had to put money on one event to surpass a million PPV buys it would be UFC 189 Aldo vs. McGregor. The hype behind McGregor at the moment and the following he has will make this the biggest selling fight we've seen for some time.

We all know it'll be McGregor that sells this fight with his trash talking and outlandish behaviour, whilst Aldo will have to do very little to reap the rewards that are coming his way. Whether you like him or dislike him, McGregor is a fighter you'll have an opinion on, and fans will tune in to cheer him on or to watch him get his ass beat!


DAN MOORE, MMATORCH UK COLUMNIST

They both look excellent thus far, with the slight edge going to UFC 187. The five main card fights already announced are all intriguing, and there's something for everyone. With the star power of Jon Jones, I can easily see this card surpassing 1 million pay-per-view buys, providing the card remains intact and they add a couple more solid undercard bouts. UFC 189 looks great too, but they'll need to add a few more top quality fights to get anywhere close to 1 million. Neither champion is a proven draw as yet, and even though Conor McGregor will add plenty of interest, he's not at a level where he can conjure up that many pay-per-view buys.

[Jon Jones art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]