UFC President Dana White might want to take his Strikeforce tombstone off layaway.
That's because a report from Silicon alley / San Jose Business Journal (dissected by MMA Payout) has Scott Coker and his MMA fight brand (co-owned by Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment) generating up to $30 million in revenue for the 2010-11 fiscal year.
And unless 29 of it was spent on acquiring Fedor Emelianenko and his M-1 cohorts, it's hard to imagine that Strikeforce isn't turning a profit -- or at the very least breaking even.
While those numbers make Strikeforce look like a cymbal-****ing monkey toy compared to the 800-pound gorilla known as Zuffa, consider that Coker and Co. only scratched out four million in 2006.
From the "Payout Perspective:"
Star-divide
Main source of income are ticket sales, sponsorships, and most importantly, television licensing. Back in 2009, Strikeforce signed a TV deal with Showtime, which MMA insiders said the promotion would make $25 million in licensing fees over the course of the three-year deal, which runs into 2012. The deal was made after Strikeforce purchased assets from Showtimes previous MMA partner, ProElite for $3 million, which included roughly 42 fighter contracts and a video library of 20 live events to name a few.
Strikeforce has already planned an ambitious 2011 fight campaign including a heavyweight grand prix tournament that begins this Saturday night (Feb. 12) in East Rutherford, NJ, featuring a headlining bout (and quarterfinal match-up) between Fedor Emelianenko and Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva.
A late summer/early fall pay-per-view has also been discussed.
Now it's time for feedback Maniacs. Do these numbers make it more appealing for free agent fighters worried about their futures? Or should these figures be taken with a grain of salt? Can the ship be taking on water in spite of these numbers?
While still far from perfect, Strikeforce always delivers entertaining fights.
Anyone have an argument to the contrary?
That's because a report from Silicon alley / San Jose Business Journal (dissected by MMA Payout) has Scott Coker and his MMA fight brand (co-owned by Silicon Valley Sports & Entertainment) generating up to $30 million in revenue for the 2010-11 fiscal year.
And unless 29 of it was spent on acquiring Fedor Emelianenko and his M-1 cohorts, it's hard to imagine that Strikeforce isn't turning a profit -- or at the very least breaking even.
While those numbers make Strikeforce look like a cymbal-****ing monkey toy compared to the 800-pound gorilla known as Zuffa, consider that Coker and Co. only scratched out four million in 2006.
From the "Payout Perspective:"
Star-divide
Main source of income are ticket sales, sponsorships, and most importantly, television licensing. Back in 2009, Strikeforce signed a TV deal with Showtime, which MMA insiders said the promotion would make $25 million in licensing fees over the course of the three-year deal, which runs into 2012. The deal was made after Strikeforce purchased assets from Showtimes previous MMA partner, ProElite for $3 million, which included roughly 42 fighter contracts and a video library of 20 live events to name a few.
Strikeforce has already planned an ambitious 2011 fight campaign including a heavyweight grand prix tournament that begins this Saturday night (Feb. 12) in East Rutherford, NJ, featuring a headlining bout (and quarterfinal match-up) between Fedor Emelianenko and Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva.
A late summer/early fall pay-per-view has also been discussed.
Now it's time for feedback Maniacs. Do these numbers make it more appealing for free agent fighters worried about their futures? Or should these figures be taken with a grain of salt? Can the ship be taking on water in spite of these numbers?
While still far from perfect, Strikeforce always delivers entertaining fights.
Anyone have an argument to the contrary?
Comment