UFC closes Asian offices causing expansion plans to stall

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: JonnyRico
Date: October 09, 2014 at 09:16 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/ufc-closes-asian-offices-causing-expansion-plans-to-stall.64243/

@
MMASun
3m3 minutes ago
-UFC has closed Asian offices and looks like their Asian expansion plans have stalled
-There were some differences of opinion between UFC brass in Vegas and UFC offices in Asia about how to do business...couldn't be reconciled
-As a result UFC Asian head Mark Fischer quit (or whatever happened to him)
-The article states that the Singapore event was not profitable, so that certainly affects them going deep into Asia.
-Which may explain why UFC said no to Singapore in 2015 and no to Manila in 2014
-Some of the controversy stemmed from how they gained sponsorship. UFC heads wanted Fisher to do it like they did in Japan.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: Jorge P
Date: October 09, 2014 at 09:26 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/ufc-closes-asian-offices-causing-expansion-plans-to-stall.64243/

Wow. Yet another Western Empire fails miserably to make it to mainland China. Welcome to history, Dana! LOL

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: MysterLynch
Date: October 09, 2014 at 09:58 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/ufc-closes-asian-offices-causing-expansion-plans-to-stall.64243/

JonnyRico said:
@
MMASun
3m3 minutes ago
-UFC has closed Asian offices and looks like their Asian expansion plans have stalled
-There were some differences of opinion between UFC brass in Vegas and UFC offices in Asia about how to do business...couldn't be reconciled
-As a result UFC Asian head Mark Fischer quit (or whatever happened to him)
-The article states that the Singapore event was not profitable, so that certainly affects them going deep into Asia.
-Which may explain why UFC said no to Singapore in 2015 and no to Manila in 2014
-Some of the controversy stemmed from how they gained sponsorship. UFC heads wanted Fisher to do it like they did in Japan.
Click to expand...
Fischer was let go a couple months ago, the same time as when Gary Cook was promoted as the Head of Global, as part of the international restructuring. There is no article on the MMA Sun site, do you know what they are referring to?
If true, I feel bad for Asian fighters as it leaves them with just OneFC. Fighters in the U.S. have three companies to sign with, it sucks to have to put all of your hopes and dreams in one company. But a couple weeks back, the UFC announced plans for a show in South Korea, so whatever he is talking about is not totally correct.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: Jorge P
Date: October 09, 2014 at 10:32 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/ufc-closes-asian-offices-causing-expansion-plans-to-stall.64243/

akaddk said:
TIL that Singapore is in China.
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I know it isn't. "Failed To make it to mainland China" is a reference to the routes of conquest taken by European empires trying to conquer the "orient." The English empire in the 19th century and early 20th century were the last to try for mainland China and fail. Many of the islands, like Hong Kong, came under European control but mainland China never did.
400 level Chinese History Junior year in college finally pays off!

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: imhungry4444
Date: October 09, 2014 at 10:40 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/ufc-closes-asian-offices-causing-expansion-plans-to-stall.64243/

OneFC has Asia locked down.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: Jorge P
Date: October 09, 2014 at 10:42 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/ufc-closes-asian-offices-causing-expansion-plans-to-stall.64243/

MysterLynch said:
Fischer was let go a couple months ago, the same time as when Gary Cook was promoted as the Head of Global, as part of the international restructuring. There is no article on the MMA Sun site, do you know what they are referring to?
If true, I feel bad for Asian fighters as it leaves them with just OneFC. Fighters in the U.S. have three companies to sign with, it sucks to have to put all of your hopes and dreams in one company. But a couple weeks back, the UFC announced plans for a show in South Korea, so whatever he is talking about is not totally correct.
Click to expand...
And just so everyone knows, I know South Korea is also not part of China. It is in Vietnam

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: MysterLynch
Date: October 09, 2014 at 10:45 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/ufc-closes-asian-offices-causing-expansion-plans-to-stall.64243/

imhungry4444 said:
OneFC has Asia locked down.
Click to expand...
Yes and no. They have the infrastructure, but I think there is room for the UFC. They (the UFC) have done fine in Japan and I think Korea has a lot of potential, with cards featuring the likes of Stun Gun and the Korean Zombie. Cook has done a fine job in Europe, I think we will see the UFC be a more careful in Asia, but still running shows there.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: Jorge P
Date: October 09, 2014 at 10:51 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/ufc-closes-asian-offices-causing-expansion-plans-to-stall.64243/

MysterLynch said:
Yes and no. They have the infrastructure, but I think there is room for the UFC. They (the UFC) have done fine in Japan and I think Korea has a lot of potential, with cards featuring the likes of Stun Gun and the Korean Zombie. Cook has done a fine job in Europe, I think we will see the UFC be a more careful in Asia, but still running shows there.
Click to expand...
What are the major stumbling blocks?

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: MysterLynch
Date: October 09, 2014 at 10:56 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/ufc-closes-asian-offices-causing-expansion-plans-to-stall.64243/

Jorge P said:
What are the major stumbling blocks?
Click to expand...
While OneFC's talent roster is so-so (not hating, just pointing out the reality that most top fighters are locked up by UFC, Bellator and WSOF), they have done an excellent job with sponsors and media. Those are the two things that hurt the UFC in China and have limited revenue there. Any expansion is going to cost money (early shows will not make up the expenses of initial marketing), but I think China has cost a lot of money.
South Korea appears to have the most potential for the UFC. If they can establish SK as a regular stop, they can branch out from there. But I think we will see a lot more energy being put, in the next year, into Europe and Latin America.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: CopperHeart
Date: October 09, 2014 at 10:57 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/ufc-closes-asian-offices-causing-expansion-plans-to-stall.64243/

imhungry4444 said:
OneFC has Asia locked down.
Click to expand...

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: mmablaster
Date: October 10, 2014 at 11:27 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/ufc-closes-asian-offices-causing-expansion-plans-to-stall.64243/

Was TUF China a huge bust? Kinda seems that way. The UFC d0esn't need offices in Asia to hold events there. Maybe SK and Japan are the way to go.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: MysterLynch
Date: October 10, 2014 at 11:32 AM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/ufc-closes-asian-offices-causing-expansion-plans-to-stall.64243/

mmablaster said:
Was TUF China a huge bust? Kinda seems that way. The UFC d0esn't need offices in Asia to hold events there. Maybe SK and Japan are the way to go.
Click to expand...
I think it did ok, but was not a game changer. TUF Latin America and TUF Brazil both have done big numbers, TUF China reportedly did ok. Clearly not enough to light an MMA spark on mainland China.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: Neonep
Date: October 10, 2014 at 12:35 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/ufc-closes-asian-offices-causing-expansion-plans-to-stall.64243/

The UFC needs to focus on other places like continuing European expansion and Latin America. Too many hurdles in China, but it's like that with everything in China

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: MysterLynch
Date: October 10, 2014 at 12:53 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/ufc-closes-asian-offices-causing-expansion-plans-to-stall.64243/

Neonep said:
The UFC needs to focus on other places like continuing European expansion and Latin America. Too many hurdles in China, but it's like that with everything in China
Click to expand...
I think they have already said there will be multiple Mexican events in 2015.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: Neonep
Date: October 10, 2014 at 01:12 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/ufc-closes-asian-offices-causing-expansion-plans-to-stall.64243/

MysterLynch said:
I think they have already said there will be multiple Mexican events in 2015.
Click to expand...
Yeah. I know that. They just need to leave China alone for a while and then come back to it.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: Galgorian
Date: October 10, 2014 at 01:31 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/ufc-closes-asian-offices-causing-expansion-plans-to-stall.64243/

My friend was in Macau for the Ultimate Fighter Finale. He bought the cheapest tickets and ended up getting moved down to the front half of the lower bowl because of how empty the arena was. I knew that couldn't be a good sign.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: MysterLynch
Date: October 10, 2014 at 01:54 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/ufc-closes-asian-offices-causing-expansion-plans-to-stall.64243/

Neonep said:
Yeah. I know that. They just need to leave China alone for a while and then come back to it.
Click to expand...
If they had a couple good Chinese fighters, like they do Korean, I think they would have had a little more success. Europe is starting to come around because there are more solid European fighters. And who would have thought that Sweden would lead the charge? The U.K. is now starting to look promising because they can get folks from Ireland and the continent to come to the British shows.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: Spud
Date: October 10, 2014 at 02:43 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/ufc-closes-asian-offices-causing-expansion-plans-to-stall.64243/

MysterLynch said:
If they had a couple good Chinese fighters, like they do Korean, I think they would have had a little more success. Europe is starting to come around because there are more solid European fighters. And who would have thought that Sweden would lead the charge? The U.K. is now starting to look promising because they can get folks from Ireland and the continent to come to the British shows.
Click to expand...
This. Breaking into a market is a hell of a lot easier when you have a good fighter to lead the charge. Look at Ireland, interest in MMA would be nowhere near what it is now if it wasn't for McGregor.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: MysterLynch
Date: October 10, 2014 at 04:21 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/ufc-closes-asian-offices-causing-expansion-plans-to-stall.64243/

Spud said:
This. Breaking into a market is a hell of a lot easier when you have a good fighter to lead the charge. Look at Ireland, interest in MMA would be nowhere near what it is now if it wasn't for McGregor.
Click to expand...
Before a show is ever done in a new country, a fortune is spent. Ireland is one of the exceptions to the rule. Money certainly has been spent, but the Irish fans have been begging for a show for some time now and mentioning Conor at every turn. They wanted the UFC and they wanted Conor leading the Irish charge. Conor is one of those guys that comes along rarely, a very talented fighter that has IT. And it helps that he has a group of solid fighters following him. They will be inspiring the next batch of fighters to take up the sport.

 

[Nastycrow]

Originally posted by: GoodCat
Date: October 10, 2014 at 06:50 PM
Source: https://forum.mmajunkie.com/threads/ufc-closes-asian-offices-causing-expansion-plans-to-stall.64243/

Surprised Budo hasnt come in here yet. Probably looking all over his mom's basement for his tinfoil hat first.