My original intent for the ‘Bang for Your Buck’ series was to analyze upcoming UFC PPV events to determine whether the fight card is worth the asking price. However, even before I was done writing the first installment in this series (UFC 182), it became readily apparent that most events will not meet this threshold. A part of the reason for this is the ever-increasing PPV prices. The other part is the also ever-increasing number of UFC events: in addition to the numbered PPV events, UFC holds a plethora of fight cards broadcast on Fox, Fox Sports 1, and Fight Pass network. Inevitably this leaves some of the cards stretched very thin, especially after the “injury bug” gets through with them.
So is the UFC making it up to the fans for buying the frankly overpriced PPVs by broadcasting free cards on other networks? Of course, anything that isn’t aired on Fox is not completely free: cards such as the upcoming Fight Night 59 on Fox Sports 1 – a cable network that may require a premium package, depending on your cable/satellite provider. On the other hand, it’s highly unlikely that you are paying your cable bill exclusively to watch UFC on FS1. This makes the price point of an event rather difficult to estimate, but I’ll give it a shot anyway:
Dish Network charges me $69.99 per month for a package which includes Fox Sports 1. After the various fees, taxes, etc., my monthly bill comes out to be near $100. (My actual bill is quite a bit higher than that but the number of TVs with extra HD receivers, or other premium packages I subscribe to, are really not relevant to this discussion). So let’s say $100 it is, which averages out to $3.29 per day. Researchers claim that the average American watches around 5 hours of television a day. This number seems a bit high to me, and for the sake of making the math easier, let’s say that I spend exactly 3.29 hours per day staring at the TV screen. This gives us the price point of $1 per hour, or $5 for a 5-hour UFC event on Fox Sports 1. If you don’t agree with this valuation, feel free to provide a better one in the comments section! Otherwise, keep reading to find out how FN 59 stacks up compared to this generous (imaginary) price point of $5.
Main Event: [#7 FW] Conor McGregor vs [#19 FW] Dennis Siver
Worth: $5
Why: On paper this is a lopsided mismatch, and a step down for McGregor. Yet somehow beating Dennis Siver is supposed to earn a title shot for Conor. I really don’t like this type of match making. But I would throw down a fiver to watch McGregor squash another opponent (and secretly hope for an upset to screw up UFC’s plans). I guess the main event in itself takes us to the break-even point, so the rest of this card is a bonus.
Fight: [#3 LW] Donald Cerrone vs [#4 LW] Ben Henderson
Worth: $10
Why: Originally Henderson was scheduled to face Eddie Alvarez on this card, but after an injury to Alvarez, Donald Cerrone agreed to step up to the plate only 2 weeks after his last bout. Cowboy has earned his reputation for being one of the most active fighters in UFC history, being the fourth fighter ever to fight twice in the same calendar month, and also the fourth fastest turn-around between fights. He is also riding a streak of six wins going into this fight, while Henderson is coming off a loss to Rafael Dos Anjos. Henderson and Cerrone met twice before in the WEC, with Henderson walking away victorious both times. Will third time be the charm for Cowboy? We’ll find out… but I would have preferred to see the original matchup of Henderson vs Alvarez, and instead we get yet another rematch.
Fight: [#26 MW] Uriah Hall vs [#165 WW] Ronald Stallings
Worth: $0
Why: Hall’s original opponent for this event was supposed to be [#15] Costas Philippou – an intriguing matchup ruined by yet another injury. Two opponent changes later, Hall is facing apparently the best guy UFC could find on a week’s notice. I don’t know anything about Stallings beyond the obvious – he is a Team Lloyd Irvin product, sporting a modest 12-5 record, and coming off a loss. I have a feeling his UFC career will not extend past 2-3 fights, and I don’t really care either way.
Fight: [#25 LW] Gleison Tibau vs [#55 LW] Norman Parke
Worth: $1
Why: With every UFC fight, Gleison Tibau is making history. Usually boring history, but history nonetheless. I don’t particularly enjoy watching him fight, but I’ll pay a dollar for history in the making.
Rest of the card
Worth: $0
Why: The only fight on the undercard where I am familiar with both opponents is [#39 MW] Lorenz Larkin vs [#50 WW] John Howard, and that’s more of a ‘loser leaves the UFC’ matchup than something I would consider paying to watch.
Total Card Worth: $16
Event Cost Valuation: $5
Net Value: $11