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ALL BUSINESS: Interview with Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone and WEC 48 Marketing Analysis
Apr 24, 2010 - 10:20:35 AM ALL BUSINESS: Interview with Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone and WEC 48 Marketing Analysis

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By Alvin Benjamin Carter III, MMA Torch Specialist

WEC 48 is taking place later this evening at the ARCO Arena in Sacramento, CA; and I was able to catch up with Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone via email a few days before his title fight with WEC Lightweight Champion Ben "Smooth" Henderson at this inaugural pay-per-view event. I asked Cerrone about Zuffa promoting this fight card, his take on Strikeforce: Nashville, and the possibility of fighting lightweights in the UFC.


Alvin Carter III: How does it feel to be part of the WEC's first PPV in the co-main event bout?

Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone: Its an honor to be on this card in front of a PPV audience. Being the first one is that much better. This weekends card is one of the deepest fight card of any organization to date.

Carter: Do you think all of the promotion Zuffa is doing for WEC 48, along with the positive anticipation from the MMA media, indicate that lighter weight fighters are starting to be seen as more of a draw for the sport?

Cerrone: There's no question that Zuffa knows what they are doing from a promotional stand point. The light weight fights are always great fights with tons of action. Its time for the world to see how exciting the WEC is!!

Carter: Many are looking for the WEC 48 PPV to showcase everything that is right about MMA. (Competition, Sportsmanship, Talent.) Possibly, even help heal the black eye that the Strikeforce: Nashville gave the sport. What is your take on Strikeforce's last event, and how do you think MMA will rebound going forward?

Cerrone: Honestly, I feel like this weekends card is going to save the last 2 months of mma. By putting the undercard live on spike its gonna generate more excitement. I was shocked when I saw last weekends event and the way things went down. It's unfortunate for Jake Shields because that was a great win that got overshadowed by some schoolyard bullshit.

Carter: What do you think about the concept of WEC having the option to fight in the UFC's lightweight division? Is there anyone in the UFC's lightweight division that you would like to have a crack at?

Cerrone: I think it’s a great idea, I would love to fight any of those guys. Right now my focus is on Ben Henderson and winning this belt. I've trained hard and im ready to roll!

Carter: How is the TapouT house going, and do you have any other MMA related business ventures lined up for 2010?

Cerrone: The Tapout house is great; it has been awesome to see the guys progress. We just had Carey Vanier go to win in Bellator, and Kris McCray on this seasons TUF. Both were Tapout house guys. My manager runs the business, and business is good!!! Look for some big things is 2010, check my website cowboycerrone.net and my managers website at charmcitymma.com for more details. I cant talk about it yet, but we have some big things lined up!!


I want to thank Donald Cerrone and Charmcity MMA for taking time talk to MMATorch.com just a couple of days before what might be the biggest fight of Cerrone's career. I agree with Cerrone that this card while make up for the past two months of MMA. Strikeforce's last event was upsetting on numerous levels, and it will be great to see a set of fighters that are competing to show the world that they are exciting and ready for pay-per-view.


Carter's WEC 48 Marketing Analysis:
Those who are still mad about the Lidell/Ortiz/wait-no-Franklin/wait-no-Ortiz/OK-it's-Franklin situation can say what they want about UFC President Dana White, but he knows how to run marketing game. WEC 48 benefited from the UFC's hype machine. Dana White has been plugging the card left and right, Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg are commentating for event, and the WEC logo has been absent in a unique branding test. Spike TV carrying the prelims is also a power play for the event because the network reaches over 90 million homes. No matter what the buyrates are, Zuffa played this one from ever conceivable angle. The only part of the event that seems to be questionable to some is the price tag of $49.99, but a first rate product should have a first rate price. Strikeforce was free, and look what we got.


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Follow Alvin on Twitter: @AwwwSnap

Alvin Benjamin Carter III is an MMATorch Specialist columnist focusing on the business and statistic side of the sport of MMA. He trains in SanDa / Shan Shou (Chinese Kickboxing) and MMA at REdline Fight Sports. He also has a business background in music production, management, and clothing. He has launched two companies which cater to niche markets, giving him experience in examining trends and attitudes that can affect a particular business model, which he applies in his weekly column for MMATorch to the sport of MMA.