Xtreme Fight Night (XFN), an Oklahoma-based regional combat sports promotion, is coming to UFC Fight Pass. It most notably hosted Anthony “Rumble” Johnson vs. Jake Rosholt at XFN 9. That fight played a key role in Rumble’s resurgence moving up weight classes and finding his way back to the UFC.
XFN has inked a UFC Fight Pass streaming deal starting with XFN 352 on September 29, 2018. But you wouldn’t know solely reviewing official UFC Fight Pass communication.
Why doesn’t UFC Fight Pass acknowledge live streaming deals with promotions as soon as possible? Why is there often a disconnect between UFC Fight Pass, combat sports promotions and the fans?
Back in September of 2015, then Senior Vice President and General Manager for UFC Fight Pass, Eric Winter, said “We know we have to offer more live streaming than our competition.” He had a philosophy built off of the idea that live content yielded the most subscribers.
Although Eric Winter moved on from his role of Senior VP in January of 2017, UFC Fight Pass has continued his vision for prioritizing live content. Since Winter’s departure, the streaming service has acquired streaming rights in some form to six new promotions: Polaris Professional Jiu-Jitsu Invitational, Island Fights, Friday Night Fights Muay Thai, QUINTET Team Grappling, Bangkok Nights Muay Thai and Karate Combat. UFC Fight Pass finished 2017 with 88 live-streamed events (not counting UFC early prelims). It is on pace for over 98 live events in 2018.
Point being: UFC Fight Pass does care about providing live content. So why not tell us?
Why withhold information about upcoming live content until the last minute? Why let the small organizations share information on UFC Fight Pass live coverage while remaining silent on the matter?
Friday Night Fights is an American Muay Thai promotion that struck an undisclosed deal with Fight Pass in early 2018 that is seemingly still running. Its introduction to the service’s subscribers was odd to say the least. Through their Facebook page on February 12, 2018, Friday Night Fights announced that their March 2nd card would be “…the first ever Muay Thai event to be broadcast live on the UFC’s Fight Pass!” Yet, nobody would have known unless they were already a fan of Friday Night Fights or accidentally stumbled upon the post. The streaming service didn’t share the news until February 27, 2018, only three days before the event.
Why wait? Why let Friday Night Fights announce the deal alone? If live-content was so paramount, what good would come from withholding information like that? Joint, unified announcements can only benefit both parties.
The lack of transparency that came from the Friday Fight Nights situation has recently resurfaced. On August 24, 2018, Xtreme Fight Night announced on Twitter (@TheXFL) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/XFNfighting/):
UFC Fight Pass is coming to River Spirit Casino Resort in Tulsa for #XFN352 on Saturday, September 29! Details and tickets available NOW at XFNFighting.com.
Don’t miss this epic night of MMA and kickboxing!
UFC Fight Pass has been silent regarding XFN. The Fight Pass team could be celebrating the first occurrence of the site hosting four live-streams in one day. Barring any changes, GLORY 59 Super Fight Series, Cage Warriors 97’s main card, EBI 17, and XFN 352 will all air on UFC Fight Pass on September 29. That’s incredible.
Who knows when UFC Fight Pass will announce XFN 352? This lack of transparency is one aspect among others that is holding it back from reaching its potential as a pristine sports streaming service.
Source: https://www.xfnfighting.com/
