UFC making a deal with HBO?

[no1 jobber]

According to the Wrestlign Observer, UFC is in talks with HBO to air an unspecified number of shows in 2007. Because of the rising popularity of UFC, Zuffa (the company that owns UFC) is planning on inceasing the number of UFC shows in 2007 substantially. Plans include having 11 PPVs next year (a rise from the already record 9 planned for this year). 6-8 Spike TV events (which includes 4-6 Ultimate Fight Nights and the TUF 5 and 6 finale) and of course the unknown number of HBO shows.

The Spike Tv deal will still go in effect in 2007, the contract just poised that SPike tv will be the only basic cable network to air UFC shows (not payed cable which is what HBO is). The deal is nearly complete with word saying it may be done within the next month.

[SoCal Tom Walters]

HBO will never put this crap on the air, especially anything that would take away ratings from its boxing telecasts.

[The Loose Cannon]

HBO will never put this crap on the air, especially anything that would take away ratings from its boxing telecasts.

I dunno about that, HBO couldn't put a UFC event up against a live boxing event on it's own network, that would be silly. If anything, HBO could air UFC events to go head-to-head against Showtime Boxing events to try and steal some viewers. We already get UFC on Spike all the time, I'd be happy if PRIDE got a deal with HBO instead. The PRIDE highlight shows on FSN are pretty stupid, especially when you have Twinkle Toes and that bald, fat guy acting like complete MMA fanboys in-between fights.