How Can UFC Break 2 Million PPV Buys?
The UFC is the largest MMA promotion in the world - fact. But the company has never surpassed 2 million PPV buys with UFC 202 coming the closest they have ever had with a whopping 1.6 million! How can the UFC get to 2 million PPV buys and that’s where the dream card comes in. All the cards are on the table for this event: UFC 232 - the one in Vegas.
Francis Ngannou Vs. Curtis Blaydes (HEAVYWEIGHT)
Now I was really looking forward to a possible rematch between these two then UFC 226 hit me and dear god, should Ngannou be allowed a PPV fight after that disgusting fight with Derrick Lewis which had like 7 strikes combined? I’m giving him another shot against Curtis “Razor” Blaydes as this would be great to see. This would be a great way to open the main card!
Tony Ferguson Vs. Edson Barboza (LIGHTWEIGHT)
I don’t know when Ferguson is scheduled for a return but I think this would be a great comeback fight and could EASILY be the most talked about fight night main event of this year. Barboza is fantastic and putting him against Ferguson is literal money.
Cris Cyborg (C) Vs. Amanda Nunes (UFC Women’s Featherweight Championship)
Now we have the first of two title matches and it’s Cris Cyborg defending her women’s featherweight title against UFC women’s bantamweight champion, Amanda Nunes. We know Nunes isn’t a draw but surely her fighting Cyborg would have buzz surrounding the event? Not even a little bit? This would surely push PPV buys as this isn’t even the co-main event of the evening and believe me when I say this, this could easily headline an MSG show and it’ll probably actually headline this show but if UFC want to pursue that sweet 2 million buys then they will need to pull out all the stops.
George St-Pierre Vs. Nate Diaz (WELTERWEIGHT)
Will this happen? Most likely not but Nate Diaz fighting George St-Pierre would be unbelievable. With the fights I’ve already mentioned plus this one, this would surely be a one million PPV buy card, right? St Pierre is arguably the greatest of all time and having him against a well-recognised-draw in Nathan Diaz, this screams nothing but money. Then the winner could fight Darren Till - hopefully he’s champion at this point - somewhere in 2019.
Khabib Nurmagedov (C) Vs. Conor McGregor (UFC Lightweight Championship)
Let’s be honest, you knew this was coming. This is apparently slated for UFC 229 which is in MSG but would they really have it in New York after ‘that’ incident? The end of the year PPV is always big and who’s bigger than Conor McGregor? Perhaps god. But even then, God isn’t going to sell out Las Vegas anytime soon, is he now? If Diaz & GSP pushed the PPV to just below 1 million PPV buys, then this is passing 2 million. Without a doubt.