Pan-Regionalism in MMA Promoting
Total MMA’s Alan Conceicao takes a look at when regional MMA doesn’t really mean regional MMA:
The problem is that “regional MMA” is generally not actually regional. King of The Cage is a small feeder show and accepts that, but it is not regional. Its been franchised out to a number of promoters all across the world who’ve put on events everywhere from Wisconsin to Singapore. There are no touring fighters that go from place to place for 6 months, challenge for titles, lose by DQ, and go to the next territory. Bellator and SHINE may be guppies, but they certainly aren’t regional, and they definitely aspire for more. MFC is among the many organizations that has been open about expanding their operations to new locales with aspirations of joining the big dogs of the sport.
The problem is that “regional MMA” is generally not actually regional. King of The Cage is a small feeder show and accepts that, but it is not regional. Its been franchised out to a number of promoters all across the world who’ve put on events everywhere from Wisconsin to Singapore……. Bellator and SHINE may be guppies, but they certainly aren’t regional, and they definitely aspire for more. MFC is among the many organizations that has been open about expanding their operations to new locales with aspirations of joining the big dogs of the sport.
In the case of someone like Bellator, whose ethnic based appeal would lend itself to a more tightly focused regional approach (Texas, Florida, California) has seen them branch out beyond those areas in the Northeast, Canada, and beyond. XFC has jumped from Florida to Knoxville, Tennessee and has entertained the thought of entering the Canadian market if Vancouver proper once again allows MMA in that city. MFC’s Mark Pavelich has looked at reversing that move and heading south of the border and extending his promotion into the States. The promotions seem to be “tweeners” - to small to be national, but to big to be regional. TV often plays a factor in the tweener status. Strikeforce played very much the same role, being a bit of a tweener when it had the NBC and HDNet deals and worked shows in Denver and the Pacific Northwest.
Conceicao’s piece is well worth a read and looks at how these burgeoning super-regional shows might tie in to a future landscape where the UFC puts on weekly live television show. Go check it out.
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