Fertitta interview Part 2: Expanding the schedule and big television deal on the horizon

This is a huge year for the UFC. Unlike 2004 and 2005, when the promotion was basically begging television executives to work with its product, the UFC's in a position of strength.

Back then, the UFC would run events every few months. The schedule has expanded to the point where its approaching 30 events each year. Another five years from now, there may only may only be a few weeks a year without an event.

"I could definitely see potentially a fight a week. There's only so much we can push on the pay-per-view side of it. there's only so many big fights we can ask the public to pay for, " UFC president Lorenzo Fertitta told ESPNRadio1100's "The MMA Insiders" show. "But if you're getting it on free TV, I don't see why people wouldn't want to watch."

If the UFC has that many fight cards, it'll be looking for more outlets. or control of its own network.

"The reality is as the sport continues to grow, not just here in North America, but around the globe ... there's going to need to be dates to cultivate that talent as well," said Fertitta.

Fertitta joined Kevin Iole and myself on ESPNRadio1100 on Friday. In Part one of the interview, Fertitta was critical of the Culinary Union for blocking MMA's legalization in New York.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/blog/cagewriter/post/Fertitta-interview-Part-2-Expanding-the-schedul?urn=mma-wp4762

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