The gate numbers I would think would be a little ahead while PPV sales are much healthier up to this point in the year over last year. The GSP vs BJ Penn 2 showdown yielded strong sales (near a million at last check), and early indications show that Machida vs Evans performed unusually strong for a card thought to not have either man being an established draw going into the fight. If the gate numbers are truly up, I wouldn’t expect them to be by much, that may be a function of putting on more shows. The UFC has had a slight decrease in ticket prices, especially in the premium area to keep tickets moving. Some cards, like the Lesnar vs Couture showdown that was expected to break the UFC gate record, showed softer than expected sales. Another card, the last London show featuring Sanchez vs Stevenson, saw a drop-off in the gate from nearly $3 million to just over $1 million. It isn’t all bad news at the gate, as Montreal has remained a strong market with another $5 million gate and other repeat markets like Columbus have shown good legs as staples of the UFC’s non-Vegas touring schedule.

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