<div class="Article" style="float: left;">
<table>
<tr style="vertical-align: bottom;">
<td>
<h3><a href="/go=news.detail&gid=335905" target="_blank">
Report: Spike has given up on UFC
</a></h3>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<a href="/go=news.detail&gid=335905" ><img class="photo" src="http://img.mixedmartialarts.com/method=get&rs=100&q=75&x=80&y=2&w=310&h=165&ro=0&s=8D55D628-1D09-6BFC-E537C23129E17F48.jpg" /></a>
<strong class="ArticleSource">[mmafighting.com]</strong>
<div style="clear: both; line-height: 1px;height: 1px;"> </div>
</div>
<blockquote>
A source at Spike, speaking on the condition of anonymity, indicated that the company has essentially abandoned any notion of a new deal with the UFC, since it believes the UFC is "very close to a deal with G4."
"They want their own channel, and this is an opportunity for their own channel," the source said.
As for the Spike counter programming moves, it's "pretty obvious why we're doing what we're doing," the source said, but it hasn't resulted in any animosity between UFC and Spike employees.
"We're all just doing our jobs," said the source.
But just because the UFC may be moving on, that doesn't mean Spike will be content to get out of the MMA business altogether. It has reportedly shown interest in a deal with Bellator, which currently airs on MTV2 and is thus, as the Spike source pointed out, already "in the Viacom family."
This is interesting though, more interesting than the other companies that have tried the UFC model and failed. Spike is what propelled the UFC to it's current situation so the people watching it for the UFC would just slide right into Bellator. Also, the other competing companies didn't have a good TV deal in place to really compete effectively, they were just throwing money around and that always ends up being a losing strategy.
donniejessup - damn, you are stupid. you said "ufc needs SPIKE" and then RMA said "no they don't", and then you lectured him because you are stupid. now, you are digging yourself in deeper.
obviously, they need TV, nobody is arguing that you dope.
Spike saved the UFC with The Ultimate Fighter reality series.
Spike and UFC are synonymous with one another.
No one was lecturing, dolt. Digging myself where? Chill out.
KissMisery - Did you read where I stated "The UFC is not some self contained powerhosue that would be able to operate without a network."?
Derp? OK, tough guy.
Did you read the original post? The story is about the UFC buying G4 and rebranding it their own network. The UFC isn't about to leave Spike without an alternative.
