Dana White: ‘I want to change everything’

The UFC has long sought a partnership with one of the major broadcasters, but control of the production has long been a fundamental sticking point. Like Apple Computers, the UFC enjoys a tremendous advantage in the hard to define “look and feel.” Indeed, the painstaking creation of the look and feel in the early years under Zuffa is one of the central, if unheralded cornerstones of the UFC’s monumental success.

The cotnrol that created that look and feel will remain under the Fox partnership, Dana said in today’s press conference. The production’s going to be done the same way it always has been, said White. Me and my crew will run the production, and FOX Sports will come in and we’re going to have a pre-show, a post-show, and they’ll bring in their guys the FOX guys for the pre and post show. The UFC’s going to run the production.

Fox sounded agreeable to the arrangement, but indicated they would have suggestions. I think their production is first class,” said David Hill, Fox Sports Media Group Chairman. “”What Dana and Lorenzo and Frank have done, I think their production is first-class, and I doubt that there’s anything we could bring,” the executive said. “There will be discussions as the months and years go on about production, but I think they’re doing a fantastic job as it is.”

Co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta also added support for cooperation with Fox. We’re going to sit down with the team at FOX and collaborate on things.”

In sum, Dana sees the partnership as a rebirth. I look at this FOX deal as a fresh start for us so I want to change everything, White said. I want to change the look of the pay-per-view, graphics, show open, the show opens in our ‘Fight Nights’, everything’s going to have a different feel to it.

We’ll be working with these guys, I love what they do in sports, and to enhance the look and feel of a UFC event.

In one immediate change, UFC and FOX will team up for pre and post-event shows on FOX subsidiary FUEL TV. The pre and post-event shows will use FOX broadcast talent, including, reportedly Gus Johnson,while UFC commentators Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg will call live events.

So what will the new production look like? We’ll find out on Nov 12 when the first FOX broadcast is set to air.