Comcast To Buy NBC: Somewhere, Dana White Is Smiling

E. Spencer Kyte — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:39:00 -0500

See that chair Dana White is sitting in?

Feel free to consider it the "Driver's Seat," because with the impending acquisition of NBC Universal by Comcast , the network television deal the UFC has long been searching for might come looking for them and White could potentially get to name his price.

Somewhere, Dana White is smiling.

While the New York Times' coverage of the pending mega-deal focuses on Comcast's potential plans to make Versus into an ESPN alternative, they miss out on the MMA part of the story.

With the WEC having recently re-upped with Versus, there is a strong likelihood that Comcast would be hesitant to rip up a deal before the ink is even dry. Given that the eventual Comcast-NBC amalgamation will be the home of both Bellator and the WEC, outlets looking to get a share of the Mixed Martial Arts pie could begin lining up for a chance to score the biggest slice of them all.

For fans, the possibility is there for MMA to gain a stronger television presence. The WEC has routinely been one of the biggest ratings successes on Versus and the influx of NBC brand power could certainly give the lighter fighters the time in the spotlight they have long deserved.

As great as that sounds—and it sounds fantastic—it's the current availability of the UFC that is really intriguing.

Imagine the NBA or Major League Baseball not having a network television deal.

Now image the battle royal that would certainly ensue if suddenly everyone wanted to get in on the action and broadcast either sport directly into your living room with regularity.

It'd be like a group of multi-millionaires all bidding on the same country estate; the price would just keep going up and up and up.

That country estate is the UFC and the multi-millionaires are ESPN, Fox, and the new kid in town, Comcast-NBC.

Combine the emergence of the sport with the availability of the biggest brand in the business, and there is a chance we'll see a serious bidding war sometime in 2010 for a UFC network deal, and Dana White will be in the "Driver's Seat."

Wherever he is, there is a smile on his face...and rightfully so.

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MMA Holiday Wishes: What I Want for Christmas and the New Year

Bryan Levick — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:35:20 -0500

Last week I wrote an article about the things in MMA I was grateful for. Today I wanted to talk about what I would like to see in the next month and for 2010.

Being a fan of Diego Sanchez since his days on The Ultimate Fighter, I would like to see him defeat BJ Penn at UFC 107.

Not only would I get to see another one of my favorite fighters capture a championship (Forrest Griffin), I would also get to see Penn lose again.

I would like to see the return of "The Iceman," Chuck Liddell. I would like to see him come back for one last fight, no matter who it is against, and be victorious.

Liddell deserves a proper sendoff, in my opinion.

Speaking of returns, I would like to see the UFC and John McCarthy kiss and make up. The best referee in the business belongs in the biggest mixed martial arts promotion in the world.

Next up on my list: Who wouldn't want to see a complete reform of the way MMA fights are judged?

New judges need to be trained properly and a system geared to MMA bouts needs to be set in place. Maybe Big John could be put in charge?

I pray for the return of Brock Lesnar and hope that he comes back at full strength. Love him or hate him, he is a great athlete and his best days are still ahead of him.

While on the subject of Lesnar, it is my sincere wish that at some point in 2010, the UFC and Fedor Emelianenko can come to terms.

A bout between Lesnar and Emelianenko would be awesome; at this point in their careers, I still believe Emelianenko would win, but he would take the beating of a lifetime.

I truly hope that Rampage Jackson will make his return to the Octagon and knock Rashad Evans out cold. Then maybe we can get a Rampage-Shogun rematch.

Being a lifelong resident of the great state of New York, I would have to say that having MMA legalized there would be one of my top wishes for 2010.

I hope the WEC remains in and of itself, as there are so many talented fighters who would get lost in the shuffle.

On the topic of the WEC, I hope that the fighters can be paid more in line with their talent.

In fact, I hope all of the great mixed martial artists can get paid more money for risking their lives. They do it for our enjoyment and deserve to be better compensated.

I hope that the year 2010 will mark the end of the Junie Browning and War Machine nonsense. By writing and reading about them, it only gives them the attention they crave.

I would love to see Georges St-Pierre and Anderson Silva mix it up sometime next year. Two of the best in the world going at it—what could be better than that?

I am looking forward to seeing the progress that some of the younger fighters have made this time next year.

Jon Jones and Anthony Johnson are two studs that come to mind; with another year under their belt, they may be ready to climb the ladder.

I look for the continued success of the Strikeforce promotion—and for more free MMA in general.

The Ultimate Fighter finales and UFC Fight Nights are great, but watching stars like Jake Shields, Gegard Mousassi, and Emelianenko fight for free is even better.

Last, but not least, my personal goal is to interview Forrest Griffin at some point next year.

I have had the fortunate opportunities to interview some great fighters who are also great human beings over the past two years.

Talking to Griffin is not only a professional desire but a personal one as well.

What are you guys and gals looking for in the next year?

Read more WEC news on BleacherReport.com

Bleacher Report - WEC

Comcast To Buy NBC: Somewhere, Dana White Is Smiling

MMA Holiday Wishes: What I Want for Christmas and the New Year