Fight Business Podcast

Welcome back to the Fight Business Podcast, Patrick Auger's weekly show dedicated to the business side of mixed martial arts. This week Patrick talks about UFC Quick Strike NFT's, Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnsons new partnership with the UFC, and ONE Championships new $150million investment. After we look into what Jake Paul purchasing shares in the UFC's parent company, Endeavour means and also Francis Ngannou's strategy for negotiating with the UFC. In other big news, WSOF Global serves PFL a Cease and Desist and we end with a look into the UFC 270 CSAC disclosed payouts. Timestamps: (00:00) - Episode Overview (01:29) Quick Hits - Quick Strike NFTs, Project Rock, ONE Championship $150million investment. (14:16) - Jake Paul purchases shares in the UFC's parent company, Endeavour (32:25) - Francis Ngannou's strategy for negotiating with the UFC (51:29) - WSOF Global serves PFL a 'Cease and Desist' (01:03) - California State Athletic Commission disclosed payouts from UFC 270. (01:11) - Ask me your questions!

Welcome back to the Fight Business Podcast, Patrick Auger's weekly show dedicated to the business side of mixed martial arts. This week Patrick talks about the new increase to ESPN UFC PPVs going from $69.99 to $74.99, estimating the UFC 270: Ngannou vs. Gane PPV Buys, the latest on CAA vs. Endeavor, unranked heavyweights (Chase Sherman vs. Jake Collier) in the co-main event over ranked lower weight class fighters, Kayla Harrison UFC vs. PFL bidding war, and finally Patrick talks about Amanda Nunes leaving, American Top Team, to start her own Fight Camp. TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Episode Overview. (02:37) ESPN raises UFC PPV price for a third time. (19:07) UFC 270 PPV Buy Prediction. (27:21) CAA vs. Endeavor. (40:13) Unranked Heavyweights in the co-main event. (52:16) Kayla Harrison updates. (01:02:50) Amanda Nunes leaves ATT, starting her own gym. If you have any questions for Patrick, leave a comment on the video or Tweet at @AllDayAuger. He will try to reply to your question on the next episode! ► Patrick Auger on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AllDayAuger ► Latest MMA News: https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/list ► Check out the full fight card: https://www.sherdog.com/events/ Sherdog on Social Media: ► Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sherdogdotcom ► Like on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialsherdog ► Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sherdogdotcom/ Sherdog is the industry pioneer in UFC, Bellator and all things MMA (Mixed Martial Arts). MMA news, interviews, pictures, videos and more since 1997. More on Sherdog.com: http://www.sherdog.com

Welcome back to the Fight Business Podcast, Patrick Auger's weekly show dedicated to the business side of mixed martial arts. This week Patrick discusses the UFC bringing back touring Fight Night events, UFC looking for new sponsors and what types they are looking for, ESPN and UFC TV + Streaming rights and future projections, and finally a deep-dive into the new information available made available by promotion president, Darren Owen, on the MMA start-up, World Fight League (WFL). TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (02:06) The UFC is bringing back LIVE Fight Night events. (22:25) UFC is looking for new sponsors and a look into who they'd like. (39:24) ESPN / UFC TV and streaming rights performance and future projections. (50:00) Deep-dive on the new promotion, World Fight League (WFL). (01:17:53) Outro, ask me your questions! https://youtu.be/Fx9qDf5xtgA (edited)

Welcome back to the Fight Business Podcast, Patrick Auger's weekly show dedicated to the business side of mixed martial arts. This week Patrick discusses UFC 268 selling 700k PPV's domestically, the new UFC evaluation of $9.2 billion by the investment firm, "Piper Sandler" and has an in-depth look into how UFC fighter pay affects the UFC business model. TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (01:52) UFC 268 sells 700k pay-per-views in the USA and the UFC's current PPV draws. (14:19) Piper Sandler values UFC at $9.2 Billion. (33:02) Did Caleb Plant make more vs Canelo than all UFC 268 fighters combined? (42:16) Fighter Pay, Joe Silva and the UFC's negotiation tactics.

Welcome back to the Fight Business Podcast, Patrick Auger's weekly show dedicated to the business side of mixed martial arts. This week Patrick investigates the UFC 268 PPV buyrate, plus the Endeavour Q3 Earnings Call, LFA extending its UFC Fight Pass Deal, PFL teaming up with Legends Global to bring out new merch, and the ESPN+ UFC Deal. TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (02:10) Estimating UFC 268 PPV Buys (11:00) Endeavour Q3 Earnings Call (34:35) LFA extends UFC Fight Pass broadcast deal. (43:10) PFL teams up with Legends Global to release a new line of merch (51:37) ESPN very happy with the UFC helping boost subscriptions

Welcome back to the Fight Business Podcast, Patrick Auger's weekly show dedicated to the business side of mixed martial arts. This week Patrick covers the UFC's expansion into the Middle East and its ESPN+ subscription model, the Professional Fighting Leagues 2021 PPV numbers plus what this could mean for the future of the PFL, and DAZN reaching a deal to purchase BT Sport. TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (15:52) UFC Expansion into the Middle East (13:32) ESPN+ Subscription Model for UFC cards (28:38) Professional Fighting League's 2021 TV ratings (40:54) What should PFL free agents like Kayla Harrison do next? (50:07) The implications of DAZN purchasing BT Sport ► Latest MMA News: https://www.sherdog.com/news/news/list ► Check out the full fight card: https://www.sherdog.com/events/ Sherdog on Social Media: ► Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sherdogdotcom ► Like on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialsherdog ► Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sherdogdotcom/ Sherdog is the industry pioneer in UFC, Bellator and all things MMA (Mixed Martial Arts). MMA news, interviews, pictures, videos and more since 1997. More on Sherdog.com: http://www.sherdog.com

Welcome back to the Fight Business Podcast, Patrick Auger's weekly show dedicated to the business side of mixed martial arts. This week Patrick tackles the UFC's new loan and changes to fighter contracts, the World Fighting League's viability, and why Jon Jones is in no danger of being released for his recent legal troubles. TIMESTAMPS: (00:00) Intro (02:19) The UFC takes out a new $600 million loan. (13:32) Why has Francis Ngannou been having contract struggles? (26:56) A look into the UFC's new contract changes. (42:43) Is the MMA start-up, World Fighting League (WFL) a viable business? (54:49) Jon Jones and Luis Pena domestic violence cases. Why did Jones stay and Pena get cut?

Welcome back to the Fight Business Podcast, Patrick Auger's weekly show dedicated to the business side of mixed martial arts. Subscribe for a new Fight Business Podcast episode every Thursday at midday (ET). 0:00 - 1:13 - Bellator 263 ratings review 29:58 - PFL's deal with Legends 39:23 - How COVID-19 return may impact UFC and other promotions 49:15 - Latest on the UFC Antitrust Lawsuit update In today's episode of The Fight Business Podcast, Auger discusses the Bellator 263 ratings and explains the reasons why they were underwhelming, especially to the majority of hardcore MMA fans who exist in our social media bubbles. Pitbull vs. McKee was truly a battle of two top featherweights but why didn't the fight card draw much attention? Auger explains all here in this first segment. Secondly, Auger talks the PFL's latest deal with Legends. Legends have partnered with the PFL and purchased a stake in the league. Auger has everything you need to know in this part of today's episode at 29:58. With COVID-19 surging again in the United States and elsewhere around the world, what impacts could and should we expect for the UFC, Bellator, and other major promotions? Auger discusses the importance of the UFC Apex facility in this segment and why Dana White isn't making vaccines mandatory for UFC fighters. Thanks for watching! Make sure to leave your thoughts in the comments section below. First time here? Hit the subscribe content to see more content like this! Already a subscriber? Thank you! Please remember to show your support by clicking the like button. Follow Patrick Auger on Twitter: @AllDayAuger Subscribe to our channel: https://bit.ly/35iN7bz Join our Discord server: https://discord.gg/vXgz9KyqYp Follow us on Twitter: https://goo.gl/zt6naT Read more: https://thebodylockmma.com

Welcome back to the Fight Business Podcast, Patrick Auger's weekly show dedicated to the business side of mixed martial arts. Subscribe for a new Fight Business Podcast episode every Thursday at midday (ET). 0:00 - Intro 3:05 - Univision acquires equity stake in Combate Global 17:40 - MMA Judging and the win/show pay structure 37:55 - Invicta FC returning to PPV 42:41 - Israel Adesanya and crypto.com 55:04 - PFL Fan Token with Socios In today's episode of The Fight Business Podcast, Auger focuses on the announcement that Univision has acquired a significant stake in Combate Global. Auger discusses what this means for the promotion and how it is currently making some of the most significant deals in MMA besides the UFC. Next up is MMA judging. Fans are furious after several strange decisions during last weekend's UFC event. But what does the promotion need to do about this? And do they need to do anything at all? Importantly, what impact does this have on the UFC? This forms a larger discussion around the UFC win/show pay structure, as well. Invicta FC is returning to PPV. Auger discusses what that means for the promotion at 37:55. The final two important business topics in this episode of The Fight Business Podcast include Israel Adesanya's special deal with crypto.com and also the PFL Fan Token updates. Thanks for watching! Make sure to leave your thoughts in the comments section below. First time here? Hit the subscribe content to see more content like this! Already a subscriber? Thank you! Please remember to show your support by clicking the like button. Follow Patrick Auger on Twitter: @AllDayAuger Subscribe to our channel: https://bit.ly/35iN7bz Join our Discord server: https://discord.gg/vXgz9KyqYp Follow us on Twitter: https://goo.gl/zt6naT Read more: https://thebodylockmma.com

Welcome back to the Fight Business Podcast, Patrick Auger's weekly show dedicated to the business side of mixed martial arts. Subscribe for a new Fight Business Podcast episode every Thursday at midday (ET). 0:00 - 1:44 - UFC 264 PPV buys 18:05 - Conor McGregor's drawing power 38:38 - Nostalgia and the return of Nick Diaz 42:41 - PFL moving toward PPV events? 55:04 - David Levy joins ONE Championship's board of directors In today's episode of The Fight Business Podcast, Auger focuses on the UFC 264 PPV and the impact it'll have for the promotion, Dustin Poirier, and Conor McGregor. Next, Auger discusses Conor McGregor, in particular, and whether consecutive defeats will impact his drawing power. How can the promotion market the former two-division champion now? Nostalgia is a thing again. Auger talks about the return of Nick Diaz and how fans may flock to see one of their old favorites back inside the Octagon. There's PFL news to discuss, too, as the promotion seems to be heading down a path toward hosting PPV events. Then there's ONE Championship news with David Levy joining the board of directors. Auger discusses this significant news, as well. Thanks for watching! Make sure to leave your thoughts in the comments section below. First time here? Hit the subscribe content to see more content like this! Already a subscriber? Thank you! Please remember to show your support by clicking the like button. Follow Patrick Auger on Twitter: @AllDayAuger Subscribe to our channel: https://bit.ly/35iN7bz Join our Discord server: https://discord.gg/vXgz9KyqYp Follow us on Twitter: https://goo.gl/zt6naT Read more: https://thebodylockmma.com

Welcome back to the Fight Business Podcast, Patrick Auger's weekly show dedicated to the business side of mixed martial arts. Subscribe for a new Fight Business Podcast episode every Thursday at midday (ET). 0:00 - Intro 1:20 - Crypto.com and UFC sign historic partnership 27:50 - UFC PPV buys vs. online streaming 38:16 - Verdict MMA closes seed round at $500k USD 42:30 - Dana White explains Derrick Lewis vs. Ciryl Gane booking In today's episode of The Fight Business Podcast, Auger focuses on the business side of the recent crypto.com x UFC partnership. What does the deal mean for the UFC and what does it mean for the fighters? Auger explains all. Next up is addressing the memes surfacing on Twitter and Instagram regarding UFC fighter pay and how illegally streaming UFC PPV events can impact fighter pay. Auger talks facts here in this segment. Auger also discusses the recent news regarding Verdict MMA and provides a UFC 264 PPV buys estimate before the Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier 3 trilogy bout. Thanks for watching! Make sure to leave your thoughts in the comments section below. First time here? Hit the subscribe content to see more content like this! Already a subscriber? Thank you! Please remember to show your support by clicking the like button.

Welcome back to the Fight Business Podcast, Patrick Auger's weekly show dedicated to the business side of mixed martial arts. Subscribe for a new Fight Business Podcast episode every Thursday at midday (ET). 0:00 - Intro 1:47 - Why the UFC made Derrick Lewis vs. Ciryl Gane UFC 265 interim title fight 22:30 - Dana White has back-and-forth with Francis Ngannou's agent Marquel Martin 32:45 - Understanding Amanda Nunes' position as UFC 264 co-main event 39:22 - Did PFL take a hit from Anthony Pettis and Fabricio Werdum not making playoffs? 48:06 - UFC running official watch party for UFC 264 In today's episode of The Fight Business Podcast, Auger focuses on the business side of the recent UFC 265 announcements. Firstly, Auger explains why the UFC has booked an interim title fight as the main event of UFC 265. Why did the promotion opt for a Lewis vs. Gane interim title fight? Extending on the Lewis vs. Gane announcement, Auger discusses the back-and-forth between Dana White and Francis Ngannou's manager Marquel Martin on Instagram. Then, importantly, Auger talks Amanda Nunes and why she has been tucked away as the co-main event for UFC 265 behind an interim title fight. The final two topics of the episode include a discussion of how former UFC stars Anthony Pettis and Fabricio Werdum missing the playoffs may impact the promotion and also understanding why the UFC is running an official watch party for UFC 264. Thanks for watching! Make sure to leave your thoughts in the comments section below. First time here? Hit the subscribe content to see more content like this! Already a subscriber? Thank you! Please remember to show your support by clicking the like button. Follow Patrick Auger on Twitter: @AllDayAuger Subscribe to our channel: https://bit.ly/35iN7bz Join our Discord server: https://discord.gg/vXgz9KyqYp Follow us on Twitter: https://goo.gl/zt6naT Read more: https://thebodylockmma.com

Welcome back to the Fight Business Podcast, Patrick Auger's weekly show dedicated to the business side of mixed martial arts. Subscribe for a new Fight Business Podcast episode every Thursday at midday (ET). In today's episode of The Fight Business Podcast, Patrick Auger discusses a variety of topics including a recent major update to the UFC Antitrust Lawsuit, UFC 263 PPV buys estimate analysis, how UFC 263 salaries were revealed following the event, Combate Global signing a deal with distribution and broadcast deal with Paramount and also Ari Emanuel resigning from the Live Nation board. First up, Auger dives into the details of the most recent UFC Antitrust Lawsuit update. John S. Nash of Bloody Elbow reported that "a new complaint has been filed on behalf of Kajan Johnson and CB Dollaway that extends the antitrust suit from July 1, 2017, to the present." Here's what you need to know about this latest news. Secondly, it's time to touch on the aftermath of UFC 263, including the PPV buys estimate and how UFC salaries were revealed for the first time in a while. What's to learn from the UFC salary amounts? Auger has everything you need to know here. Then it's onto Combate Global and what to expect from the promotion's new multi-year deal with Paramount+. Lastly, Auger quickly discusses the news that Endeavor's Ari Emanuel and Mark Shapiro have resigned from the Live Nation board over antitrust concerns. Thanks for watching! Make sure to leave your thoughts in the comments section below. First time here? Hit the subscribe content to see more content like this! Already a subscriber? Thank you! Please remember to show your support by clicking the like button. Follow Patrick Auger on Twitter: @AllDayAuger Subscribe to our channel: https://bit.ly/35iN7bz Join our Discord server: https://discord.gg/vXgz9KyqYp Follow us on Twitter: https://goo.gl/zt6naT Read more: https://thebodylockmma.com

Welcome back to the Fight Business Podcast, Patrick Auger's weekly show dedicated to the business side of mixed martial arts. Subscribe for a new Fight Business Podcast episode every Thursday at midday (ET). 0:00 - Intro 2:04 - Two ONE Championship directors resign and Vitor Belfort contract issues? 26:20 - PFL tournament woes 41:12 - UFC 263 PPV buy estimate and Israel Adesanya's starpower 54:38 - Marvin Vettori's sponsorship deal with Dolce & Gabbana proves MMA's popularity is rising again Today's Fight Business Podcast covers a wide range of topics including ONE Championship, PFL, the upcoming UFC 263 PPV and also Marvin Vettori's sponsorship deal. The first topic of discussion is ONE Championship's current status after two Temasek-linked directors resign. Auger breaks down all you need to know about the latest shifts over at ONE Championship in Singapore including Vitor Belfort's apparent departure, as well. Next, it's time to talk about PFL's issues with the tournament format. How can they resolve the issue of fighters needing to withdraw from the competition mid-season? How does Fabricio Werdum's withdrawal impact PFL? One of the many favorites of regular Fight Business Podcast listeners is Patrick Auger's UFC PPV buy estimates. This time, Auger shares his UFC 263 PPV buys estimate and factors in the starpower of Israel Adesanya before and after his loss to Jan Blachowicz. What figure are we expecting for this Saturday's UFC event? Lastly, what does Marvin Vettori's significant sponsorship deal with Dolce & Gabbana prove about the rising nature of mixed martial arts and the UFC, in particular? Thanks for watching! Make sure to leave your thoughts in the comments section below. First time here? Hit the subscribe content to see more content like this! Already a subscriber? Thank you! Please remember to show your support by clicking the like button. Follow Patrick Auger on Twitter: @AllDayAuger Subscribe to our channel: https://bit.ly/35iN7bz Join our Discord server: https://discord.gg/vXgz9KyqYp Follow us on Twitter: https://goo.gl/zt6naT Read more: https://thebodylockmma.com

Welcome back to the Fight Business Podcast, Patrick Auger's weekly show dedicated to the business side of mixed martial arts. Subscribe for a new Fight Business Podcast episode every Thursday at midday (ET). 0:00 - Intro 1:20 - Endeavor's Q1 earnings call highlights profits and future plans 16:50 - The business side of Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley and what Woodley's big payday could mean for the UFC Today's Fight Business Podcast is dedicated to Endeavor's Q1 earnings call and the Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley boxing match that could have a huge impact on the UFC and Endeavor. Firstly, Auger explains the major takeaways from the Endeavor earnings call. The UFC helped Endeavor to a small Q1 profit and Auger's here to explain why we should be paying close attention to key figures from the call. Secondly, it's all about Jake Paul vs. Tyron Woodley. For those asking how much will Tyron Woodley get paid to fight Jake Paul, Malki Kawa and Woodley himself have hinted that it will be his biggest payday -- by a long way. That's significant because Woodley is a former UFC champion and has competed on one of the biggest cards in UFC history, UFC 205: McGregor vs. Alvarez and supposedly received a share of PPV points on the night. Paul's out here bringing big paydays to UFC fighters and this could mean trouble for the UFC in terms of substitutes and as a general threat as fighters look elsewhere for better pays against arguably weaker competition. Thanks for watching! Make sure to leave your thoughts in the comments section below. First time here? Hit the subscribe content to see more content like this! Already a subscriber? Thank you! Please remember to show your support by clicking the like button. Follow Patrick Auger on Twitter: @AllDayAuger Subscribe to our channel: https://bit.ly/35iN7bz Join our Discord server: https://discord.gg/vXgz9KyqYp Follow us on Twitter: https://goo.gl/zt6naT Read more: https://thebodylockmma.com

Welcome back to the Fight Business Podcast, Patrick Auger's weekly show dedicated to the business side of mixed martial arts. Subscribe for a new Fight Business Podcast episode every Thursday at midday (ET). 0:00 - Intro 2:28 - Analysts are wary of Endeavor stock price 15:27 - UFC's competitive advantages and why they matter 43:42 - Jon Jones retains Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer Today's Fight Business Podcast is mostly dedicated to Endeavor's stock price and discussion of the UFC's competitive advantages. The first topic of discussion is Endeavor stock's 26% gain and why it has left many analysts wary. The UFC is booming but is the stock price fully valued? At the current price of $28.22 the stock is close to the $29 target outlined by Goldman Sachs and not far from the $34 price target set by JPMorgan. Auger looks at what analysts are saying about Endeavor stock right now and what this means for the UFC going forward. Secondly, and leading on from the initial topic, Auger discusses the UFC's long list of competitive advantages and why they matter in the current environment. UFC is the leading mixed martial arts organization by a long, long way and it's likely that no one will ever bridge the gap. Auger explains why in this segment. And lastly, Auger briefly discusses Jon Jones' decision to retain Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer as his representation going forward. What does this mean for Jon Jones? And how can Jones create any additional leverage? Thanks for watching! Make sure to leave your thoughts in the comments section below. First time here? Hit the subscribe content to see more content like this! Already a subscriber? Thank you! Please remember to show your support by clicking the like button. Follow Patrick Auger on Twitter: @AllDayAuger Subscribe to our channel: https://bit.ly/35iN7bz Join our Discord server: https://discord.gg/vXgz9KyqYp Follow us on Twitter: https://goo.gl/zt6naT

Welcome back to the Fight Business Podcast, Patrick Auger's weekly show dedicated to the business side of mixed martial arts. Subscribe for a new Fight Business Podcast episode every Thursday at midday (ET). 0:00 - Intro 2:08 - What is an IPO? And why would a company do this? 6:37 - What's the process of going public? 12:36 - Endeavor's canceled IPO attempt in 2019 17:40 - What's changed now? 19:44 - Current market conditions 29:40 - Endeavor's fundamentals 40:20 - Endeavor share price 48:15 - What changes could be coming for the UFC? 58:16 - UFC live event financials (fan-requested content) 58:58 - Outro Today's Fight Business Podcast is mostly dedicated to last week's Endeavor IPO. Want to learn more about the Endeavor IPO and how it impacts the UFC? Patrick Auger covers the topic in great detail in this episode.

Welcome back to the Fight Business Podcast, Patrick Auger's weekly show dedicated to the business side of mixed martial arts. Subscribe for a new Fight Business Podcast episode every Thursday at midday (ET). 0:00 - Intro 1:40 - UFC 261 PPV buys and what does it mean for Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal's drawing power? 15:31 - Triller suing 12 websites for illegal PPV streams 24:49 - New info regarding UFC and ESPN+ PPV deal 33:15 - Conor McGregor sells majority stake in Proper Twelve 42:47 - ONE on TNT, business ramifications of the latest event 51:01 - Jon Jones parts ways with First Round Management 58:58 - Outro Patrick Auger starts today's Fight Business Podcast with an in-depth discussion regarding UFC 261 PPV buys and the UFC 261 buyrate. What were the PPV buys for Kamaru Usman vs. Jorge Masvidal 2? Auger reveals the latest trusted information and discusses what this could mean for both Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal's drawing power going forward. Secondly, Auger looks at Triller's attempt to sue 12 websites for illegally streaming the Jake Paul vs. Ben Askren boxing PPV. What's the reality of this announcement? Next, it's onto the latest info regarding the UFC's deal with ESPN for PPV events. The actual dollar figure that the UFC receives per event is lower than originally anticipated. Then it's onto Conor McGregor and how McGregor has sold his majority stake in Proper Twelve. Get the latest on McGregor's business movements here with Auger's look at the Proper Twelve shakeup. Yesterday, Eddie Alvarez and Aung La N Sang lost again in ONE Championship. What's up with ONE Championship's run on TNT and what do these undesirable performances mean for the business after a hefty marketing push in the United States? And lastly, Auger breaks down the latest surrounding Jon Jones and First Round Management. What could the real story be here? Is it merely a break down in negotiations regarding the Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou fight or is there more to it? Like First Round Management's motivation to begin a promotion? Thanks for watching! Make sure to leave your thoughts in the comments section below. First time here? Hit the subscribe content to see more content like this! Already a subscriber? Thank you! Please remember to show your support by clicking the like button. Follow Patrick Auger on Twitter: @AllDayAuger Subscribe to our channel: https://bit.ly/35iN7bz Join our Discord server: https://discord.gg/vXgz9KyqYp Follow us on Twitter: https://goo.gl/zt6naT Read more: https://thebodylockmma.com

Welcome back to the Fight Business Podcast, Patrick Auger's weekly show dedicated to the business side of mixed martial arts. Subscribe for a new Fight Business Podcast episode every Thursday at midday (ET). 0:00 - Intro 2:16 - Triller Fight Club analysis and Jake Paul vs. Ben Askren PPV buys estimate 26:41 - Endeavor updates and proof UFC is now Endeavor's core product 41:50 - Invicta FC deal with AXS TV 33:30 - Triller buys FITE TV 52:30 - Matchmaker Rich Chou leaves Bellator The first topic of today's Fight Business Podcast episode is Triller Fight Club and the recent Jake Paul vs. Ben Askren event. The fight card was incredibly popular on social media and on search engines with traffic rivaling January's Conor McGregor vs. Dustin Poirier rematch. And what about how Paul vs. Askren PPV buys? What are the Triller PPV buy estimates? Auger discusses reports from around the web but mainly references a tweet from John S. Nash who believes the figures are much lower than the vast majority of websites are stating. Secondly, Auger talks about Endeavor and proof that UFC is now Endeavor's core product. Auger also references an article from The New Yorker titled "Ari Emanuel Takes On The World" in which we learn extra details about the UFC's deal with Abu Dhabi and how Fight Island was created. Next, it's all about Invicta FC's deal with AXS TV. Auger breaks down everything you need to know about Invicta FC's new landing spot. And lastly, Auger talks about matchmaker Rich Chou leaving Bellator and what kind of impact this could have for Bellator going forward. Make sure to hit that subscribe button to stick around for weekly Fight Business Podcast episodes right here on The Body Lock's YouTube channel! Already a subscriber? Thank you! Please remember to show your support by clicking the like button. Follow Patrick Auger on Twitter: @AllDayAuger Subscribe to The Body Lock: https://bit.ly/35iN7bz​ Like The Body Lock on Facebook: https://goo.gl/Xm7sAS​ Follow The Body Lock on Twitter: https://goo.gl/zt6naT​ Read more: https://thebodylockmma.com

Welcome back to the Fight Business Podcast, Patrick Auger's weekly show dedicated to the business side of mixed martial arts. Subscribe for a new Fight Business Podcast episode every Thursday at midday (ET). 0:00 - Intro 1:33 - PFL launches fan token, MMA NFT discussion 7:33 - BKFC pension plan 16:04 - MMA ratings discussion 33:30 - Triller buys FITE TV 40:15 - UFC antitrust lawsuit update 47:33 - Outro The first topic of today's Fight Business Podcast episode is PFL's fan token launch. Auger covers the token launch and how NFTs may benefit MMA promotions in the future. Secondly, BKFC announced a fighter pension plan last week. Auger discusses what this means for the promotion, its fighters, and other promotions going forward. Then we dive into the core part of today's episode: MMA ratings. Auger looks at recent Bellator, ONE Championship, Combate Global, and ONE Championship ratings, and gives you unique insight into how each promotion is doing. A focal point of the discussion is ONE Championship's debut on TNT. Auger describes the launch as 'abysmal,' and explains why the numbers are especially bad considering strong lead-in programming and a desirable timeslot. On the other hand, Combate continues to perform well with a worse timeslot. Auger breaks it all down in this special segment. Then we move into the recent FITE TV acquisition by Triller's parent company. What's that mean for business, especially with the upcoming "freakshow" fights that are a strong focus over at Triller Fight Club in particular? Lastly, we get a quick update regarding the UFC antitrust lawsuit update. This episode is packed. Make sure to hit that subscribe button to stick around for weekly Fight Business Podcast episodes right here on The Body Lock's YouTube channel! Already a subscriber? Thank you! Please remember to show your support by clicking the like button. Follow Patrick Auger on Twitter: @AllDayAuger Subscribe to The Body Lock: https://bit.ly/35iN7bz​ Like The Body Lock on Facebook: https://goo.gl/Xm7sAS​ Follow The Body Lock on Twitter: https://goo.gl/zt6naT​ Read more: https://thebodylockmma.com

Welcome back to the Fight Business Podcast, Patrick Auger's weekly show dedicated to the business-side of mixed martial arts. Subscribe for a new Fight Business Podcast episode every Thursday at midday (ET). 0:00 - Intro 1:35 - Jon Jones airs contract negotiations on Twitter 11:10 - Endeavor to take full control of UFC 32:11 - Looking back on the Reebok/UFC deal 43:11 - Combate Americas rebrands as Combate Global The first topic of discussion today is Jon Jones airing his contract negotiations with the UFC on Twitter. Jones is angling for a fight against UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou and has taken his negotiations with the promotion public, sharing information with fans on Twitter. Auger breaks down everything you need to know about Jones' negotiations with the UFC and assesses the likelihood of the UFC paying Jones what he is seeking. Following on naturally from the first topic, Auger then discusses the news that Endeavor plans to take full control of the UFC. Endeavor already owned 50.1% of the UFC and has now agreed to own 100% of the promotion. What does this mean for the UFC, the fighters, and the fans? Well, Auger breaks all of that down in this section. Then it's time to look back on the UFC x Reebok deal and what it really meant for the UFC. John S. Nash of Bloody Elbow has looked at the finer details of the deal and current estimates suggest that the UFC may not have made any money from the deal at all. Auger explains why that wouldn't matter because this deal was all part of a larger play by the promotion. Lastly, Auger quickly discusses Combate Americas decision to rebrand as Combate Global. What does this mean for the promotion? Learn more at 43:11. Thanks for watching The Fight Business Podcast! First time here? Hit the subscribe content to see more content like this! Already a subscriber? Thank you! Please remember to show your support by clicking the like button. Follow Patrick Auger on Twitter: @AllDayAuger Subscribe to The Body Lock: https://bit.ly/35iN7bz​ Like The Body Lock on Facebook: https://goo.gl/Xm7sAS​ Follow The Body Lock on Twitter: https://goo.gl/zt6naT​ Read more: https://thebodylockmma.com

Welcome back to the Fight Business Podcast, Patrick Auger's weekly show dedicated to the business-side of mixed martial arts. Subscribe for a new Fight Business Podcast episode every Thursday at midday (ET). 0:00​ - Intro 1:18 - How fight cancelations could impact UFC 260 PPV buyrate 14:18 - PFL 2021 season could be delayed due to lawsuits 27:03 - Miesha Tate returns to UFC despite role as ONE Championship VP 36:36 - Judge Boulware calls for status conference hearing to review documents to be unsealed on April 6 The first topic of discussion today is UFC 260 and how the fight cancelations could impact the UFC 260 PPV buyrate. UFC 260 lost the Alexander Volkanovski vs. Brian Ortega title fight last week as well as other bouts including Luana Pinheiro vs. Randa Markos and Jessica Penne vs. Hannah Goldy. How will these fight cancelations impact potential UFC 260 PPV buys? Auger breaks it all down and provides his UFC 260 PPV buys estimate. Secondly, Auger then discusses the recent news that the PFL 2021 season may be put on hold due to various lawsuits against the promotion. Mike Russell first reported the news on Twitter. Auger breaks down what this means for PFL and even touches on whether this could be the end for the promotion. Next, Auger discusses Miesha Tate's return to the UFC and what this means for the UFC and ONE Championship considering her role as ONE Championship VP. The Body Lock's Drake Riggs has confirmed that Tate was still with ONE Championship as of yesterday. So, how does this all play out from here? Lastly, we have an announcement regarding the UFC Antitrust Lawsuit. Auger keeps you updated on what's unfolding there. Thanks for watching The Fight Business Podcast! First time here? Hit the subscribe content to see more content like this! Already a subscriber? Thank you! Please remember to show your support by clicking the like button. Follow Patrick Auger on Twitter: @AllDayAuger Subscribe to The Body Lock: https://bit.ly/35iN7bz​ Like The Body Lock on Facebook: https://goo.gl/Xm7sAS​ Follow The Body Lock on Twitter: https://goo.gl/zt6naT​ Read more: https://thebodylockmma.com

Welcome back to the Fight Business Podcast, Patrick Auger's weekly show dedicated to the business-side of mixed martial arts. Subscribe for a new Fight Business Podcast episode every Thursday at midday (ET). 0:00 - Intro 1:18 - UFC announces UFC 261 with full crowd 24:14 - Endeavor plans IPO, again 37:27 - UFC forms partnership with UPShow and Joe Hand Promotions The first topic of discussion today is how and why Dana White and the UFC have announced that UFC 261 will take place in front of a full crowd in Jacksonville, Florida. Auger explains the business decisions at play here and comments that this is more of a show of power and freedom by White and particular executives more than a well-thought-out strategic decision. The dangers for the UFC here are negative PR and potential lawsuits. However, there are benefits here as they'll get gate revenue and a brand boost. Secondly, Auger discusses the news that the UFC's parent company Endeavor has once again outlined plans for an IPO. Endeavor previously attempted to come to market in September 2019 but withdrew. Auger explains the reasons why in this important segment regarding the future of Endeavor and the UFC. Lastly, Auger discusses the most important details surrounding the UFC's recently announced partnership with UPShow and Joe Hand Promotions.

Welcome back to the Fight Business Podcast, Patrick Auger's weekly show dedicated to the business-side of mixed martial arts. Subscribe for a new Fight Business Podcast episode every Thursday at midday (ET). This week's timestamps: 1:01 - Reported UFC 259 PPV buys estimate and how defeat may impact Israel Adesanya's star potential 17:21 - PFL & Verdict deal and rise of MMA Fantasy Apps 25:53 - Lawrence Epstein (UFC COO) The first topic of today's Fight Business Podcast is the UFC 259 PPV buys estimate and what this means when assessing Israel Adesanya's current marketability status and his future star potential. Auger comments that it'll be much more challenging for Adesanya to become a UFC superstar now that he's experienced his first defeat as one of the two big reasons why fighters become superstars is maintaining an undefeated record. The UFC 259 PPV buys estimate was reported today by Sports Business Journal. Auger comments on this reported UFC 259 PPV buy estimate and how it compared to his estimate from last week. Auger then discusses the announcement of PFL's deal with Verdict MMA. Verdict MMA is a fantasy-style MMA app that allows users to pick winners, earn points, rank up, and score rounds during live fights. PFL plans to integrate this data into its live broadcasts. Auger discusses the larger idea of MMA fantasy apps and sites and what this means for promotions around the world. Next, Auger shares important notes from the Lawrence Epstein AMA, hosted by Sportico and Sports Innovation Lab. Epstein, the SVP and Chief Operating Officer for the UFC, answered a variety of questions and shared unique insight into the Reebok deal, the promotion's timeline for UFC Africa, the UFC Academy Combine that took place at the Shanghai Performance Institute, and more. Subscribe for a new Fight Business Podcast episode every Thursday at midday (ET). Subscribe here: https://bit.ly/35iN7bz Follow Patrick Auger on Twitter: @AllDayAuger Join our Discord server: https://discord.gg/vXgz9KyqYp Like The Body Lock on Facebook: https://goo.gl/Xm7sAS Follow The Body Lock on Twitter: https://goo.gl/zt6naT Read more: https://thebodylockmma.com

Welcome back to the Fight Business Podcast, Patrick Auger's weekly show dedicated to the business-side of mixed martial arts. Timestamps: 1:11 - UFC 259 PPV buys estimate 10:16 - Conor McGregor bought out of Proper No. Twelve 17:02 - Business and political implications of Khamzat Chimaev's potential retirement 33:00 - Junior dos Santos and Alistair Overeem released by UFC 35:43 - ONE Championship story correction The first topic of The Fight Business Podcast Episode 30 is the UFC 259 PPV. Auger shares his UFC 259 PPV buys estimate and dives into the details of why he believes this event won't break past one million PPV buys. Auger then discusses the news that Conor McGregor has been bought out of his Proper No. Twelve whiskey company. Becle now wholly owns Proper 12 whiskey and this could have implications for Conor McGregor going forward. Auger explains what it all means and why it's significant at the 10:16 timestamp. One of the biggest stories of the week in MMA was Khamzat Chimaev's sudden retirement post on Instagram. Since then, Dana White has spoken out and stated that Chimaev isn't retiring. Chechen dictator Ramzan Kadyrov has also spoken out and informed his followers that he has strongly encouraged Chimaev to continue with his fighting career. What's the deal here? Auger explains all at 17:02. And then it's a quick note on the UFC's decision to release Junior dos Santos and Alistair Overeem yesterday. Why is the promotion releasing these two UFC legends? Learn about it at 33:00. Lastly, Auger follows up last week's episode by making a correction to the information regarding the ONE Championship SPAC interest. That's at 35:43. Subscribe to our channel: https://bit.ly/35iN7bz Join our Discord server: https://discord.gg/vXgz9KyqYp First time here? Hit the subscribe content to see more content like this! Already a subscriber? Thank you! Please remember to show your support by clicking the like button. Follow Patrick Auger on Twitter: @AllDayAuger Subscribe to The Body Lock: https://bit.ly/35iN7bz Like The Body Lock on Facebook: https://goo.gl/Xm7sAS Follow The Body Lock on Twitter: https://goo.gl/zt6naT Read more: https://thebodylockmma.com #UFC259 #ConorMcGregor #KhamzatChimaev

Welcome back to the Fight Business Podcast, Patrick Auger's show dedicated to the business-side of mixed martial arts. Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 01:51 - UFC signs exclusive Chinese media distribution deal 08:59 - ONE Championship mulling US SPAC deal 19:38 - How Myanmar coup could affect ONE Championship 29:46 - UFC reveals info regarding discretionary bonuses 40:55 - Invicta FC parts ways with UFC Fight Pass The first topic of discussion in this episode is the UFC's historic media distribution deal in China. The promotion has landed a deal with Migu Video, which will now become the home of the upcoming Asia edition Dana White's Contender Series. The China Mobile subsidiary will also air UFC PPV events and Fight Night events in China. Auger explains what this means for the UFC and how the promotion worked toward this remarkable deal behind the success of Chinese champion Weili Zhang. Next, Auger focuses on how ONE Championship is considering a US SPAC deal. ONE Championship has chosen Credit Suisse Group and Goldman Sachs Group to manage the potential listing. Auger explains everything you need to know about this development. On the topic of ONE Championship, Auger then discusses how the 2021 Myanmar coup could impact the promotion. ONE Championship has an incredible following in Myanmar and Auger explains what's at stake for the promotion here considering stars such as Aung La N Sang have spoken out against the 'unlawful' coup. Lastly, Auger touches on the news regarding UFC discretionary bonuses and also how Invicta FC has parted ways with UFC Fight Pass. Follow Patrick Auger on Twitter: @AllDayAuger First time here? Hit the subscribe content to see more content like this! Already a subscriber? Thank you! Please remember to show your support by clicking the like button. Join our Discord server to discuss MMA with us: https://discord.gg/vXgz9KyqYp Subscribe to The Body Lock: https://bit.ly/35iN7bz Like The Body Lock on Facebook: https://goo.gl/Xm7sAS Follow The Body Lock on Twitter: https://goo.gl/zt6naT Read more: https://thebodylockmma.com

Welcome back to the Fight Business Podcast, Patrick Auger's show dedicated to the business-side of mixed martial arts. Today's timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 02:26 - Misleading information regarding UFC 258 PPV buys 10:45 - PFL secures $65 million investment 23:27 - Bellator announces promotional rankings 32:03 - UFC locks in multi-year deal with TikTok In this episode, Patrick Auger discusses an article that reported false information regarding the UFC 258 PPV buys for Kamaru Usman vs. Gilbert Burns. In the next segment, Auger discusses PFL's $65 million investment and the news that the promotion is wanting to spend a large chunk of those funds on athlete acquisition. Next, Auger speaks about Bellator's recent announcement regarding promotional rankings. What does that mean for the promotion and the Bellator fighters? And lastly, the UFC has locked in a multi-year deal with TikTok. Auger shares his thoughts on that announcement. Auger will be back for another episode of The Fight Business Podcast this Thursday! Follow Patrick Auger on Twitter: @AllDayAuger First time here? Hit the subscribe content to see more content like this! Already a subscriber? Thank you! Please remember to show your support by clicking the like button. Join our Discord server: https://discord.gg/vXgz9KyqYp Subscribe to The Body Lock: https://bit.ly/35iN7bz Like The Body Lock on Facebook: https://goo.gl/Xm7sAS Follow The Body Lock on Twitter: https://goo.gl/zt6naT Read more: https://thebodylockmma.com

Welcome back to the Fight Business Podcast, Patrick Auger's show dedicated to the business-side of mixed martial arts. In this episode, Auger discusses Bellator's announcement that the promotion will now broadcast exclusively to Showtime. Auger also speaks about how BKFC can recover from Paige VanZant's defeat and what the impact may be for the promotion and VanZant, as well. Later, Auger speaks about the upcoming UFC 258 PPV event featuring Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns. Auger says that UFC 258 will do better than most fans are expecting and explains the reasons why before sharing his UFC 258 PPV buys estimate. Auger also touches on the recent report that the UFC is working toward a Dustin Poirier vs. Conor McGregor trilogy. - Intro (0:00) - Bellator announces exclusive broadcast deal with Showtime (1:11) - UFC 258 will do better PPV buys than you're expecting (11:49) - Impact of Paige VanZant defeat for BKFC (22:41) - Increased engagement on UFC social media (35:18) - UFC planning Poirier vs. McGregor III next (40:56) - Outro (47:08) Subscribe to our channel: https://bit.ly/35iN7bz Join our Discord server: https://discord.gg/vXgz9KyqYp First time here? Hit the subscribe content to see more content like this! Already a subscriber? Thank you! Please remember to show your support by clicking the like button. Follow Patrick Auger on Twitter: @AllDayAuger Subscribe to The Body Lock: https://bit.ly/35iN7bz Like The Body Lock on Facebook: https://goo.gl/Xm7sAS Follow The Body Lock on Twitter: https://goo.gl/zt6naT Read more: https://thebodylockmma.com

Welcome back to the Fight Business Podcast, Patrick Auger's show dedicated to the business-side of mixed martial arts. Subscribe to our channel: https://bit.ly/35iN7bzJoin our Discord server: https://discord.gg/vXgz9KyqYp In this episode, Auger discusses the recently uncovered ONE Championship 2019 financial report that details major losses and growing concerns for the Singapore-based promotion. Auger then touches on Dustin Poirier's fast-increasing social media follower numbers following his knockout win against Conor McGregor and the impacts of the "superstar rub" in the UFC. Lastly, Auger touches on President Joe Biden's request for Trump-appointed members of the Federal Service Impasses Panel to resign and what this means for pro-union movements in the US. - Intro (0:00) - ONE Championship's 2019 financial report shows growing losses (1:06) - ONE Championship's recent shows part of a pilot project with the Singaporean government (25:08) - Dustin Poirier gained 700k Instagram followers after McGregor KO (29:15) - President Joe Biden signals pro-union motives by firing members of Federal Service Impasses Panel (36:45) Subscribe to our channel: https://bit.ly/35iN7bz Join our Discord server: https://discord.gg/vXgz9KyqYp Follow Patrick Auger on Twitter: @AllDayAuger Subscribe to The Body Lock: https://bit.ly/35iN7bz Like The Body Lock on Facebook: https://goo.gl/Xm7sAS Follow The Body Lock on Twitter: https://goo.gl/zt6naT Read more: https://thebodylockmma.com

Welcome back to the Fight Business Podcast, Patrick Auger's show dedicated to the business-side of mixed martial arts. Subscribe to our channel: https://bit.ly/35iN7bz Join our Discord server: https://discord.gg/vXgz9KyqYp In this episode, Auger discusses the events that unfolded at UFC 257 last weekend. What does another Conor McGregor defeat mean for the UFC? How does it impact Dustin Poirier? And what's the best fight to make for the business right now? Auger also looks at the estimated 257 PPV buys that were reported by Sports Business Journal. In other news, Ben Askren is fighting Jake Paul in an eight-round boxing match. Auger explains why the UFC is letting Askren fight Paul. And lastly, Auger touches on recent comments by Jimmy Smith that indicated "freak show" fights over at Bellator and other promotions haven't had the desired results. Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 1:47 - What Poirier def. McGregor means for the UFC 26:29 - Poirier vs. McGregor trilogy is the fight to make 37:16 - Estimated UFC 257 PPV buys 43:00 - Why is UFC letting Ben Askren fight Jake Paul? 49:36 - Assessing freak show fights 56:09 - Outro Follow Patrick Auger on Twitter: @AllDayAuger Subscribe to The Body Lock: https://bit.ly/35iN7bz Like The Body Lock on Facebook: https://goo.gl/Xm7sAS Follow The Body Lock on Twitter: https://goo.gl/zt6naTRead more: https://thebodylockmma.com

Welcome back to the Fight Business Podcast, Patrick Auger's show dedicated to the business-side of mixed martial arts. In this episode, Auger discusses the UFC's response to CTE allegations detailed in MMA Fighting's fantastic article "The cost of being ‘The King.’" Auger also dives into the details of how LFA has distanced itself from Pat Miletich after his involvement in protests at the US Capitol last week. Later in the episode, Auger also discusses Dana White's crackdown on piracy, motions filed in the UFC antitrust lawsuit case, and finally, PPV buyrate predictions for UFC 257 next weekend. Timestamps: - UFC's response to MMA Fighting's article on Spencer Fisher and CTE allegations (2:06) - LFA distancing itself from Pat Miletich after involvement in protests at the US Capitol (16:43) - Dana White's crackdown on piracy (28:59) - UFC antitrust lawsuit responses filed (43:30) - UFC 257 PPV buyrate predictions (53:37) If you enjoyed this Fight Business Podcast episode, make sure to hit the like and subscribe buttons and stick around for more content like this. Follow Patrick Auger on Twitter: @AllDayAuger Subscribe to The Body Lock: https://bit.ly/35iN7bz Like The Body Lock on Facebook: https://goo.gl/Xm7sAS Follow The Body Lock on Twitter: https://goo.gl/zt6naT Read more: https://thebodylockmma.com

Welcome back to the Fight Business Podcast, Patrick Auger's show dedicated to the business-side of mixed martial arts. In this episode, Auger discusses a wide range of topics including growing support for the Ali Act in MMA and how a changing senate could help push this through. Judge Boulware is now expected to unseal all documents in the UFC antitrust lawsuit and that could change everything for the UFC. Have you noticed how closely the UFC is tracking and valuing social media metrics? Auger discusses that in more detail here. Dana White says so, but is middleweight really one of the best divisions in the UFC? Here's Auger's take. And why is PFL appearing on Bloomberg television now? Auger explains PR executive Loren Mack's role in helping PFL appeal to a new type of audience. Timestamps: - Growing support for Ali Act in MMA (1:57) - Judge Boulware may unseal all documents in UFC antitrust lawsuit (22:43) - UFC closely tracking social media data (36:10) - Is middleweight really stacked or is the UFC just pushing Israel Adesanya? (47:30) - Understanding why PFL is appearing on Bloomberg television (58:55) If you enjoyed this Fight Business Podcast episode, make sure to hit the like and subscribe buttons and stick around for more content like this. Follow Patrick Auger on Twitter: @AllDayAuger Subscribe to The Body Lock: https://bit.ly/35iN7bz Like The Body Lock on Facebook: https://goo.gl/Xm7sAS Follow The Body Lock on Twitter: https://goo.gl/zt6naT Read more: https://thebodylockmma.com

Welcome back to the Fight Business Podcast, Patrick Auger's show dedicated to the business-side of mixed martial arts. In this episode, Auger discusses Conor McGregor's receipt for PPV buys, what to expect from the UFC antitrust lawsuit next, how Dana White's anti-media video was a brilliant PR move for the UFC, and more. Auger says the biggest takeaway from McGregor sharing his receipt for UFC 246 PPV buys is that we now know not to blindly trust the estimated buys that are released by various sources. The real PPV buys were fantastic, but they were significantly lower than the 2 million figure that was thrown around by multiple sources. Auger also comments on the antitrust lawsuit and says that while the recent update was a very significant step forward, we're still many years away from progressing further because we can only expect the UFC to appeal the decision. Dana White's anti-media video received criticism from media and some fans, but Auger feels like this was a brilliant PR move that really connected with the casual and semi-casual fanbase. That's really what matters to the UFC. Auger also discusses the UFC's planned move to network television on ABC. What's the latest on ONE Championship? Well, not much has changed because Chatri Sityodtong is still spewing hyperbole. Auger discusses how Sityodtong's language carefully compares ONE to major sporting organizations and why this is beneficial for the promotion in its start-up phase. And what's Auger's take on Pettis' move to PFL? Timestamps: - Conor McGregor proved why you shouldn't trust UFC PPV buy estimates (1:35) - UFC antitrust lawsuit update and what's next (11:37) - Dana White's brilliant PR move (16:15) - UFC could be coming to network television in 2021 (23:45) - Why we shouldn't believe the ONE Championship hype just yet (28:10) - Anthony Pettis' move to PFL and why Auger thinks he wasn't cut by the UFC (36:57) If you enjoyed this Fight Business Podcast episode, make sure to hit the like and subscribe buttons and stick around for more content like this. Follow Patrick Auger on Twitter: @AllDayAuger Subscribe to The Body Lock: https://bit.ly/35iN7bz Like The Body Lock on Facebook: https://goo.gl/Xm7sAS Follow The Body Lock on Twitter: https://goo.gl/zt6naT Read more: https://thebodylockmma.com

Welcome back to the Fight Business Podcast, Patrick Auger's show dedicated to the business-side of mixed martial arts. In this episode, Auger breaks down the UFC's decision to release fighters Yoel Romero, Anthony Johnson, Rachael Ostovich, Jussier Formiga, and many more. UFC president Dana White has said that the promotion is on track to cut 60 fighters to end the year. Auger comments that this may not be a set number of fighters, but more so a total dollar amount. Auger discusses Endeavor's struggles and how they impact the UFC. He also shares examples of fighters who could be at risk due to either lucrative contracts and/or not being able to draw in the casual audience. Timestamps: - Endeavor's struggles and how this impacts UFC decision making (1:00) - The type of fighters who could be at risk (26:58) - Examples of fighters who could be released by the UFC (39:13) - UFC Antitrust Lawsuit Granted Class Certification (50:40) If you enjoyed this Fight Business Podcast episode, make sure to hit the like and subscribe buttons and stick around for more content like this. Follow Patrick Auger on Twitter: @AllDayAuger Subscribe to The Body Lock: https://bit.ly/35iN7bz Like The Body Lock on Facebook: https://goo.gl/Xm7sAS Follow The Body Lock on Twitter: https://goo.gl/zt6naT Read more: https://thebodylockmma.com

Welcome back to the Fight Business Podcast, Patrick Auger's show dedicated to the business-side of mixed martial arts. In this episode, Auger breaks down the biggest stories from the past week, including Claressa Shields joining PFL, Khabib Nurmagomedov buying GFC, the Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. exhibition event, and updates to the UFC antitrust lawsuit and PFL lawsuit. Timestamps: (1:42) - Why PFL signed Claressa Shields, and what kind of impact could it have on the promotion? (15:25) - Understanding Khabib Nurmagomedov's decision to purchase GFC (31:02) - Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones Jr. did 1.2 million PPV buys, and now Triller has announced "The Fight Club" with Snoop Dogg (46:24)- UFC antitrust lawsuit updates and why the PFL lawsuit talk has died down If you enjoyed this Fight Business Podcast episode, make sure to hit the like and subscribe buttons and stick around for more content like this. Follow Patrick Auger on Twitter: @AllDayAuger Subscribe to The Body Lock: https://bit.ly/35iN7bzLike The Body Lock on Facebook: https://goo.gl/Xm7sASFollow The Body Lock on Twitter: https://goo.gl/zt6naTRead more: https://thebodylockmma.com

Jon Nutt is back on The Fight Business Podcast and this time he and Patrick Auger discuss everything and anything to do with Fight Circus Vol. 2 before it takes place this Sunday morning Sunday, Nov. 22 in Bangkok, Thailand (and airs live on CamSoda on Saturday night in the US). Fight Circus captured the attention of many combat sports fans in August when the event featured wacky matchups including 2 vs. 1 fights, big fighters vs. small fighters, and all kinds of unusual matchups. The event was marketed as "not your average fight card" and that rings especially true for Fight Circus Vol. 2. Nutt explains that the first event was a "major success" and they're expecting a similar result this time, too. Nutt says he's not "reinventing the wheel or anything," but explains that no other fight promotion is playing the comedy angle in the same way that Fight Circus is. No other promotion can claim to be the Saturday Night Live version of the UFC and that's a comparison that Nutt and Fight Circus would gladly welcome. In this podcast, Nutt also responds to recent criticism from MMA legends Bas Rutten and Cung Le that was featured in a video by Andrew Whitelaw. Nutt assures Rutten and anyone else with concerns that, "if there's anybody in the world that's going to be able to do this show, it's me." If you enjoyed this episode of The Fight Business Podcast with Patrick Auger, make sure to hit the like and subscribe buttons and stick around for more content like this! Fight Circus Vol. 2 takes place this weekend -- Saturday, Nov 21 in the US and Sunday, Nov 22 in Bangkok, Thailand. Follow Patrick Auger on Twitter: @AllDayAuger Subscribe to The Body Lock: https://bit.ly/35iN7bz Like The Body Lock on Facebook: https://goo.gl/Xm7sAS Follow The Body Lock on Twitter: https://goo.gl/zt6naT Read more: https://thebodylockmma.com

Welcome back to the Fight Business Podcast, your weekly show dedicated to the business-side of mixed martial arts. In this episode, host Patrick Auger is joined by Jesse Nunez, CEO and founder of Elite Amateur Fight League. The Elite Amateur Fight League is a national team vs. team, state vs. state MMA organization that utilizes a similar format to popular NCAA tournaments. In the Elite Amateur Fight League, teams compete in a playoff-style tournament to become the national champion. Nunez explains the origins of the company and how it all began after an intensive one-year research and development phase. During this phase, EAFL realized that there was a significant opportunity in the market -- a dedicated amateur sports league that would enable young, up-and-coming fighters to build their brand and their careers on the amateur circuit before making that step to a professional career. The Elite Amateur Fight League likely won't host another event until March 2021 and it's possible that the season will see 16 teams compete instead of the 8 in previous years. Timestamps: 0:36 - About Elite Amateur Fight League 3:39 - Navigating the amateur pathway 7:12 - Why amateur and why teams? 13:30 - Logistical challenges and other difficulties 15:38 - COVID-19 impact 18:00 - Invest in Elite Amateur Fight League 24:35 - Professional fighter support 26:53 - Overall objectives 27:48 - Accommodating for amateur fighters 30:32 - Initial research & development If you enjoyed this episode of The Fight Business Podcast, you can watch Patrick Auger's other episodes right here on our channel. And make sure to hit the like and subscribe buttons! Follow Patrick Auger on Twitter: @AllDayAuger Subscribe to The Body Lock: https://bit.ly/35iN7bzLike The Body Lock on Facebook: https://goo.gl/Xm7sASFollow The Body Lock on Twitter: https://goo.gl/zt6naTRead more: https://thebodylockmma.com

Welcome back to the Fight Business Podcast, your weekly show dedicated to the business-side of mixed martial arts. In this episode, host Patrick Auger breaks down the biggest stories from the past two weeks, including Khabib Nurmagomedov's retirement, reported PPV buys for UFC 254, and how Bellator has suddenly pivoted. Timestamps: 1:54 - Khabib Nurmagomedov's retirement 14:56 - UFC 254 PPV buys 23:43 - Bellator changing direction? 32:01 - Can promotions benefit from specific fighters winning titles? 43:23 -- PFL "lawsuit" update and latest news If you enjoyed this episode of the Fight Business Podcast, make sure to hit the like and subscribe buttons and stick around for more content like this. Follow Patrick Auger on Twitter: @AllDayAuger Subscribe to The Body Lock: https://bit.ly/35iN7bzLike The Body Lock on Facebook: https://goo.gl/Xm7sASFollow The Body Lock on Twitter: https://goo.gl/zt6naTRead more: https://thebodylockmma.com

Welcome back to the Fight Business Podcast, your weekly show dedicated to the business-side of mixed martial arts. In this episode, host Patrick Auger breaks down the biggest stories from the past fortnight, including how Lance Palmer and several other fighters are threatening to sue the Professional Fighters League (PFL) over the handling of the 2020 season. Also, Auger dives into important topics such as how Joaquin Buckley's viral KO benefits the UFC immensely, the return of Conor McGregor, and also how smaller promotions such as Bellator and PFL are signing relatively high-profile fighters during the pandemic. Timestamps: 0:45 - Fighters threaten to sue PFL over handling of 2020 season 15:52 - How the UFC will benefit immensely from Joaquin Buckley's viral KO 25:04 - How Bellator and PFL are signing high-profile, high-impact fighters 36:55 - Will Conor McGregor return and what does it mean for the UFC? If you enjoyed this episode of the Fight Business Podcast, make sure to hit the like and subscribe buttons and stick around for more content like this. Subscribe to The Body Lock: https://bit.ly/35iN7bz Like The Body Lock on Facebook: https://goo.gl/Xm7sAS Follow The Body Lock on Twitter: https://goo.gl/zt6naTRead more: https://thebodylockmma.com

Sports and entertainment immigration attorney Sherrod Seward is this week's special guest on The Fight Business Podcast with Patrick Auger. Seward shares incredible insights into the process of obtaining work authorization visas for international athletes competing in the UFC, boxing, and other sports. Seward explains that because UFC is included on a list of exempted organizations, along with NBA, NFL, PGA, and others, fighters can be eligible for special waivers to compete for the promotion. Previously, the UFC would sign fighters, and then the promotion would apply for a P-1A visa for the athlete. This is a common visa for an international athlete coming to the United States. However, now, it's starting to become increasingly difficult to secure these work authorization visas. Rather than immediately obtaining one when signing the athlete, the UFC instead now goes through the steps only after a fight is officially scheduled -- as this almost guarantees that the athlete will be able to enter the United States on the eligible visa. And now with the COVID-19 pandemic hitting the United States, these restrictions have tightened further and timeframes are blowing out -- even with premium processing. This episode of The Fight Business Podcast focuses on a unique aspect of fighting. If you enjoyed this episode of the Fight Business Podcast, make sure to hit the like and subscribe buttons. Subscribe to The Body Lock: https://bit.ly/35iN7bz Like The Body Lock on Facebook: https://goo.gl/Xm7sAS Follow The Body Lock on Twitter: https://goo.gl/zt6naT Read more: https://thebodylockmma.com

Full Metal Dojo CEO Jon Nutt is the special guest for this week's episode of The Fight Business Podcast. Nutt, the founder and frontman of FMD, recently teamed up with CamSoda to bring Fight Circus to life for the very first time in Bangkok, Thailand. The event featured a range of remarkable (and highly unusual) matchups including 2 vs. 1 fights, openweight MMA bouts, openweight boxing and "street fight" rules. Nutt says the event was "over-the-top successful," and that CamSoda "loved it, we loved it, and we immediately started talking about a next date." Fight Circus Vol. 2 is shaping up to take place in mid-November and will feature a "battle of the bands" matchup that Nutt further explains during the video. During the interview, Nutt explains how he managed the show from an events coordination perspective, including the art of overcoming unexpected obstacles along the way. Nutt also explains how the CamSoda deal came together and why it makes sense for both the Full Metal Dojo brand and for CamSoda.

In this episode of The Fight Business Podcast, host Patrick Auger discusses the recent Canelo Alvarez vs. DAZN controversy, how Dustin Poirier vs. Tony Ferguson fell apart, and also the latest moves by Bellator and PFL. Auger first discusses how Canelo Alvarez is suing DAZN for breach of contract and carefully explains the important information regarding this case. Auger also explains why this could be the beginning of a death spiral for DAZN. Unfortunately for MMA fans, we recently learned that Ferguson vs. Poirier isn’t happening at UFC 254. Poirier is demanding improved pay and Auger discusses how this may end up with Poirier sitting on the sidelines for the foreseeable future. Auger predicts what Bellator's "big" news could be tomorrow before also touching on the details of the recently announced Bellator and PFL distribution deals. If you enjoyed listening to this episode of The Fight Business Podcast, make sure to hit the like and subscribe buttons. And stick around for more episodes of the Fight Business Podcast as Patrick Auger continues to bring unique and interesting interviews regarding the business side of mixed martial arts. Subscribe to The Body Lock: https://bit.ly/35iN7bz Like The Body Lock on Facebook: https://goo.gl/Xm7sAS Follow The Body Lock on Twitter: https://goo.gl/zt6naT Read more: https://thebodylockmma.com

On this episode of The Fight Business Podcast, Patrick Auger discusses the most significant topics from the business-side of mixed martial arts this week. Beginning with the news that Brock Lesnar has officially become a free agent, Auger explains that fans shouldn't pin their hopes on Lesnar returning to MMA. Auger points out that Lesnar has, for the most part, previously let his contract lapse to create bidding wars between the WWE, UFC, and other interested parties. Auger expects Lesnar to return to WWE. Then, Auger discusses the potential Jorge Masvidal vs. Nate Diaz rematch for the BMF title. What does this mean for the UFC? Most importantly, this leaves the door open for the winner to face Conor McGregor. Auger also breaks down Daniel Cormier's recent announcement of a $1 million payday following his loss to Jon Jones, as well as why we shouldn't be surprised by the Dana White's Contender Series signings and also how the UFC Shanghai Performance Institute will become a "high-performance training centre for the Chinese Olympic Committee." If you enjoyed listening to this episode of The Fight Business Podcast, make sure to hit the like and subscribe buttons. And stick around for more episodes of the Fight Business Podcast as Patrick Auger continues to bring unique and interesting interviews regarding the business side of mixed martial arts. Subscribe to The Body Lock: https://bit.ly/35iN7bz Like The Body Lock on Facebook: https://goo.gl/Xm7sAS Follow The Body Lock on Twitter: https://goo.gl/zt6naT Read more: https://thebodylockmma.com

Veteran Sanford Health physician Bradley Reeves, M.D., joins Patrick Auger on this episode of The Fight Business Podcast to discuss all things Sanford Mixed Martial Arts. The Sanford MMA Team includes renowned mixed martial artists including Kamaru Usman, Robbie Lawler, Aung La Nsang, Gilbert Burns, Michael Chandler, Martin Nguyen, and many more. The team is coached by Henri Hooft, Greg Jones, and Kami Barzini. Reeves discusses how Sanford MMA seeks to change the sport by providing facilities, strength and conditioning, and world-class coaching, as well as the benefits from the medical side. Reeves talks about the here and now of Sanford MMA and also explains what's to come from the team. If you enjoyed listening to this episode of The Fight Business Podcast, make sure to hit the like and subscribe buttons. And stick around for more episodes of the Fight Business Podcast as Patrick Auger continues to bring unique and interesting interviews regarding the business side of mixed martial arts. Subscribe to The Body Lock: https://bit.ly/35iN7bz Like The Body Lock on Facebook: https://goo.gl/Xm7sAS Follow The Body Lock on Twitter: https://goo.gl/zt6naT Read more: https://thebodylockmma.com

On this episode of The Fight Business Podcast, Patrick Auger discusses the most significant topics from the business-side of mixed martial arts this week. What does Jon Jones' potential move to heavyweight mean for the UFC and why would it matter that he's no longer in contention for champ-champ status? We also learned that DAZN is targeting US$1 billion in funding as it considers an initial public offering (IPO), per Bloomberg. Auger explains why this could be a "hail mary" moment for the streaming service. Auger then examines statements from Dana White made earlier this week that suggested that the UFC could make a "huge cut" soon now that they have signed many fighters from the Contender Series. Timestamps: 1:20 - Jon Jones teases a move to heavyweight 14:56 - DAZN IPO could be on the way 23:37 - UFC could cut fighters as more are signed through Contender Series 35:16 - Update on the UFC Antitrust Lawsuit 39:04 - UFC 252 buy rate and analysis If you enjoyed listening to this episode of The Fight Business Podcast, make sure to hit the like and subscribe buttons. Stick around for more episodes of the Fight Business Podcast and more content from The Body Lock. Subscribe to The Body Lock: https://bit.ly/35iN7bz Like The Body Lock on Facebook: https://goo.gl/Xm7sAS Follow The Body Lock on Twitter: https://goo.gl/zt6naT Read more: https://thebodylockmma.com

The Fight Business Podcast returns this week with a special solo-edition in which host Patrick Auger focuses on the biggest stories relating to the business-side of mixed martial arts. Join Auger as he discusses how UFC fighters should learn from Sean O'Malley's success with a unique apparel line, why the Paige VanZant deal with BKFC makes sense for both parties, and how and why Bellator's ratings have improved. Timestamps: 1:08 - Sean O’Malley’s success with a unique apparel line 7:20 - Why the Paige VanZant bare-knuckle fighting deal makes sense 12:40 - PFL's OTT platform and Bellator's exclusive channel with Pluto TV 17:42 - Why is Cody Garbrandt getting another title shot? 25:08 - Recent UFC releases and what they mean 30:55 - Why Bellator ratings are up 38:10 - About the UFC's return to Fight Island 43:40 - ZUFFA is suing a bar in Florida for illegal PPV streaming If you enjoyed listening to this episode of The Fight Business Podcast, make sure to hit the like and subscribe buttons. Stick around for more episodes of the Fight Business Podcast and more content from The Body Lock. Subscribe to The Body Lock: https://bit.ly/35iN7bz Like The Body Lock on Facebook: https://goo.gl/Xm7sAS Follow The Body Lock on Twitter: https://goo.gl/zt6naT Read more: https://thebodylockmma.com

Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship President David Feldman joins Patrick Auger and Michael Fiedel on the latest episode of The Fight Business Podcast to discuss the promotion's return on July 24. BKFC 11: Vallie-Flagg vs. Palomino‎ will be held in Oxford, Mississippi, on July 24. Feldman explains how and why BKFC is hosting an event with live attendance this weekend. Of note, BKFC will be hosting the event at ~15% capacity, enabling social distancing. Fans in attendance will also be required to sign a waiver, wear a mask, and have their temperature checked before entering. The event will stream on the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship YouTube page, Facebook page, and on the new Bare Knuckle TV app. Feldman explains that BKFC has taken time during the pandemic to reinvent the business and create a "phenomenal team" that Feldman hopes will take BKFC to the upper echelon of combat sports. Don't miss this episode of the Fight Business Podcast! If you enjoyed listening to this interview with Ed Soares, make sure to hit the subscribe button and stick around for more episodes of the Fight Business Podcast and more content from The Body Lock. Subscribe to The Body Lock: https://bit.ly/35iN7bz Like The Body Lock on Facebook: https://goo.gl/Xm7sAS Follow The Body Lock on Twitter: https://goo.gl/zt6naT Read more: https://thebodylockmma.com

Ed Soares joins Patrick Auger and Michael Fiedel on Episode 7 of the Fight Business Podcast. Soares, the CEO of Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA), discusses the organization's packed July schedule. The promotion has four events planned with four title fights. LFA's distribution partner, UFC Fight Pass, has enabled the promotion faster (and safer) than other events. With no need for live attendance, LFA can stream high-quality bouts to the world via UFC Fight Pass. Soares explains that there are still some challenges for LFA during this time, including the need to restructure contracts with sponsors and set up comprehensive testing and safety procedures for fighters and staff attending the upcoming events in July. Soares says that LFA is going "above and beyond" what the state regulations are and that fighters will need to be "almost quarantined" after taking tests on arrival. LFA will work with Sanford Medical to deliver testing and acceptable safety measures during fight week and beyond. Soares is confident that LFA can produce 17 events in 2020, saying that there'll be another 13 this year. But the plan doesn't change for LFA. Soares explains that the goal is to remain as the top developmental organization in the world and continue finding talent that can eventually move through to the UFC and Bellator. Don't miss this episode of the Fight Business Podcast! If you enjoyed listening to this interview with Ed Soares, make sure to hit the subscribe button and stick around for more episodes of the Fight Business Podcast and more content from The Body Lock. Subscribe to The Body Lock: https://bit.ly/35iN7bz Like The Body Lock on Facebook: https://goo.gl/Xm7sAS Follow The Body Lock on Twitter: https://goo.gl/zt6naT Read more: https://thebodylockmma.com

Josh Gross is the special guest on this episode of The Fight Business Podcast with Patrick Auger and Michael Fiedel. Gross, a renowned MMA journalist, joins the podcast to talk about a variety of topics including the tremendous 2020 MMA Fighter Survey that was recently completed by The Athletic's MMA team. Gross and others combined to survey 170 fighters from around the world and asked important questions regarding fighter pay, injuries, fighter rights, regulation, and recovery. During the podcast, Gross shares that he was surprised by the number of athletes that mentioned concerns about potential brain degeneration caused by repeated head trauma. As secretary of the MMA Journalists Association (MMAJA), Gross is uniquely positioned to share interesting insights regarding the state of MMA journalism. Having recently departed from The Athletic, Gross also looks ahead to his next opportunity in the industry. Subscribe to The Body Lock: https://bit.ly/35iN7bz Like The Body Lock on Facebook: https://goo.gl/Xm7sAS Follow The Body Lock on Twitter: https://goo.gl/zt6naT Read more: https://thebodylockmma.com

John S. Nash from Bloody Elbow joins host Patrick Auger on the Fight Business Podcast to discuss several important topics in mixed martial arts today. Nash firstly talks about his recent piece that covered ONE Championship's financial data from 2018. The Singapore-based company's losses grew to $126 million for the year and the promotion is clearly suffering financially. Next, Nash and Auger discuss the recent UFC fighter pay movement, which has athletes such as Jon Jones and Jorge Masvidal calling for improved salary and contracts. Is it different this time? Should we expect any different outcomes? Nash speaks to these questions and more. Nash also explains whether it would even be feasible for the UFC to share 40-50% of its revenue with fighters. He lays out the case for how the UFC could still manage to take profit after paying 50% of revenue to its fighters. Auger and Nash also discuss important questions regarding the UFC and for the wider MMA scene, including why we don't see more coverage of important MMA financial issues by media. Don't miss this episode of the Fight Business Podcast! If you enjoyed listening to this interview with John S. Nash, make sure to hit the subscribe button and stick around for more episodes of the Fight Business Podcast and more content from The Body Lock. Subscribe to The Body Lock: https://bit.ly/35iN7bz Like The Body Lock on Facebook: https://goo.gl/Xm7sAS Follow The Body Lock on Twitter: https://goo.gl/zt6naT Read more: https://thebodylockmma.com

In the fourth episode of the Fight Business Podcast, Adam Roorbach, the executive director of the Kansas Athletic Commission, joins host Patrick Auger to provide insight into the inner-workings of how the commission operates. The interview particularly focuses on the processes involved in training, managing, and selecting judges and referees for MMA events. Roorbach is committed to delivering the best experience possible for fighters and promotions in the area and has been at the forefront of revolutionary steps for the sport such as the introduction of "real-time" scoring for MMA bouts. MMA open scoring was featured at the Invicta Phoenix Series 3 fight card and Roorbach says that it "couldn't have gone any better." Roorbach stresses, however, that it's important to view open scoring not as a solution to poor judging in the sport, but more as a system that benefits fighters in mixed martial arts. As Roorbach explains, with so much money and essentially their career on the line, the least that a commission can do is show them the score. Roorbach also comments on why former fighters and coaches rarely feature as judges or referees in the sport and also explains the challenges behind a five-judge system for commissions. If you enjoyed this episode of the Fight Business Podcast, make sure to hit the subscribe button to keep up with our weekly episodes. Subscribe to The Body Lock: https://bit.ly/35iN7bz Like The Body Lock on Facebook: https://goo.gl/Xm7sAS Follow The Body Lock on Twitter: https://goo.gl/zt6naT Read more: https://thebodylockmma.com