UFC: 10 Reasons Why It Needs To Be on Network Television

The Ultimate Fighting Championships got its start in 1993 and remains one of the most dominant organizations in the sport of mixed martial arts today.

Since Zuffa took over the UFC in 2001, the number of mixed martial arts fans has grown in leaps and bounds, as the Fertitta brothers and Dana White have promoted the sport.

Still the UFC is just a tiny bit shy of the mainstream, but with a network deal, the UFC and mixed martial artists worldwide would achieve a lot more recognition.

These are the top 10 reasons why the UFC needs to be on network television.

More Recognition For Fighters

Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

DAYTONA BEACH, FL - FEBRUARY 13: MMA fighter Brock Lesnar(C) speaks with Kevin Harvick(R), driver of the #29 Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet, during practice for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on February 13, 2010 in Daytona Beach, Florida.

At the present moment there are very few fighters in the UFC that are known commodities world-wide other than your Brock Lesnars, your Chuck Liddells, and your Anderson Silvas.

With a network on board and the right marketing, more and more fighters will get the recognition they deserve for being talented athletes.

More Money For The Athletes

The one complaint that some of the hard-core MMA fans have made is the pay scale of the fighters.

With successful network coverage, the UFC could pay the fighters better.

More Free UFC Events For Fans World-Wide

Courtesy of Zuffa

The more free UFC events on the air, the more MMA fans will tune in and not illegally download the fights or watch illegal streams.

Also, being that the economy is rough and that some fans don't want to spend the money on the pay-per-views, the fans will win since anyone with a television could have access to the UFC.

Television Ratings Would Be High For Any Network

Courtesy of Spike TV and Zuffa

UFC broadcasting live on network television could bring tremendous ratings for any of the big networks.

The preliminary bouts for UFC on Spike TV alone get around 1.5 million viewers tuning in and they seldom have any big stars.

With a strong network behind the UFC, and Brock Lesnar on a card, the ratings would be incredibly strong.

The International UFC Events Could Be Aired Live

Courtesy of Zuffa

After UFC 120, there were many complaints of the event not being aired live because ESPN and several other news sites reported the action before American audiences could view the event.

If the UFC was given a network deal, it would be far more likely that the event would air live instead of tape-delayed, because a network would have a larger amount of money to use than Spike TV would.

More Elite Fighters Could Sign With The UFC

Courtesy of Strikeforce

As if the UFC wasn't large enough, with the network deal, even more of the world's elite fighters could sign with the organization.

With a network deal, the amount of money that could be made, few fighters would probably turn down a deal like that if any.

More Money For The MMA Writers

With more eyes on MMA due to the UFC being on network t.v., more money could be handed out to the MMA writers.

This is a totally selfish slide, but since MMA is on network television more and more money and exposure will come to the writers who bust their butts too.

More Press Coverage of MMA

Courtesy of ABC

As we all know right now, as a whole mixed martial arts does not get covered in the mainstream news. 

ESPN has shown some signs of warming to MMA news, but not quite that much.

With the UFC signed to a major network, it would be hard to keep the UFC and mixed martial arts as a whole out of the sports news.

Would Open The Doors For More MMA Organizations

What's better for MMA fans?  

Simply MMA and more of it.

If the UFC succeeds on network television, more and more networks could pick up other organizations to compete with the UFC and the MMA fans would win in the end.

MMA Officially Becomes a Mainstream Sport

MMA as a mainstream sport, is a win for all of the organizations, fans, and fighters.

Some people may say that MMA is already mainstream, but I agree with Dana White when he says it's not quite there yet.

If the UFC is on network television, every fan could see their favorite fighters live and if they don't have the money for pay-per-view, the fans will be able to see their favorite fighters on any television they choose.

Once MMA is accepted as a mainstream sport, all the fighters involved in the sport will gain the attention, money, and respect they deserve.

This is a day I believe most of us have salivated for, for quite sometime now.