(Breathtaking.)
Apparently, action figures were just the beginning. According to a news release on UFC.com:
[F]ans of the Ultimate Fighting Championship will soon be able to collect Jakks Pacific UFC figures, use UFC-branded Bic lighters and Silver Buffalo watches, shop with a UFC credit card, and pick up UFC apparel at JC Penney stores…
Already, UFC-branded Bic lighters are hitting retail shelves, and after April’s ‘soft’ launch of UFC t-shirts at 450 JC Penney stores, the retailer will create “UFC Hot Zones” in August that will sell shirts and headwear in the Young Men’s department. Silver Buffalo, which has developed licensed products for such brands as WWE, Elvis Presley, Led Zeppelin, Bob Marley, and Kiss, will come on board this summer with UFC-branded watches, barware, bar accessories, lighting, wall décor, and billiards and darts accessories, and on June 15th, US Bank launches its UFC VISA card with no annual fee and the option to receive points for UFC merchandise…
There are also going to be more than a few happy faces when official UFC action figures hit major retailers such as Wal-Mart, Target, K-Mart, and Toys R Us in Fall of 2009. Expected in this launch will be Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell, Forrest Griffin, Brock Lesnar, Antonio “Minotauro” Nogueira, Michael “The Count” Bisping and UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson “The Spider” Silva. Octagon playsets and role-play items based on the UFC brand and its classic and current roster of star fighters are also planned.
On the one hand, I’m really looking forward to the day when the checkout girl at the grocery store asks me “debit or credit,” and I slam down my customized UFC Visa card with the image of Joe Stevenson‘s bloody face and say “What the fuck do you think?” But I’m also growing increasingly wary of the “WWE-ization” of MMA’s most prominent organization.
Let’s talk about those action figures, which seem like a clear ploy to attract more kids to the Octagon. As the UFC begins to more prominently use individual fighters to push merchandise, the “character” aspects of each fighter will likely be amped up. Who do they have rivalries with? Can any of them be marketed as bad guys? What are their “signature moves”? You create action figures for action heroes, not regular guys, and the UFC’s fighters may one day be under more pressure to fulfill certain roles. Dude, “Octagon playsets”? This has pro wrestling written all over it, and it sucks.
Maybe I’m just reacting to how cheesy some of this stuff sounds, like “role-play items based on the UFC brand and its classic and current roster of star fighters.” Does this mean we can expect a new UFC module for the latest version of D&D? (“Wanderlei Silva melee attack beats your armbar saving throw!”) We’ll stick to LARPing, thanks. And does “classic roster of star fighters” mean they can still put Tito Ortiz‘s image on posters without paying him?
Anyway, brace yourselves. You thought the Affliction-shirt-wearing meatheads were bad? Wait until a horde of unironic-trucker-hat wearing NASCAR fans start swarming the JC Penney “UFC Hot Zones” for their Brock Lesnar shot glasses. Who knows if this little fad called MMA can survive it…
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commentsAlso, I talked to your ex-girlfriend.... she said you've always kept it short. Zing. Zang. Zung.
I kid, I kid. luv ya bro.
I think this is a stupid move, it makes the UFC look white trashey. The exception would be the action figures, only I wish they were advertised and designed as collectible commemorative figurines. I think it would be sweet to have the basic set of fighters and then limited edition champion figurines that they make for a short period of time when somebody becomes champ. That would be dope.
Shit, maybe I am a baby, crying about the big kids in the pool, but dammit, at least I know what a fuckin' gogoplata is.
Affliction t-shirts have the same fashion popularity as the Mullet. White trash and wanna be douche bags who attend sparring sessions in over priced gyms and slap the bumper sticker on the family truxter.
On a final note, DnD is badass, those dudes Larping are total fags who don't even understand that game, go figure. and you wouldn't counter a punch with a armbar saving throw! Jesus! Obviously he has to beat your AC and if he failed THEN you get to make your Grapple check, after your attack of oppurtunity of course, assuming Silva doesn't have Improved Unarmed Strike. (If he had I.U.S. you only get a grapple check)
Man, you guys bitch about people not understanding mma then show your no better by not understanding what you're writing about...Classic.
It's definitely a cash grab on the UFC's part. Can you blame them? Obviously, many can. I hope, but am not holding my breath that it will help pay fighters more while keeping PPV costs down - I doubt it though. All to increase the profit margin.
All major sports have clothing, action figures, trading cards, etc etc. Ever hear of a Mickey Mantle rookie card? Ever see anyone wearing a NY Yankees ball cap? Seems to me that the UFC is just coming out of the dark ages and getting with the times. This will mean much more $ for their fighters (and of course the UFC). They cannot just make a Tito doll without his consent. If they do Tito can sue, get cease and desist orders etc.
Though the action figures hopefully will be the McFarlane type of high quality (actually look like the people in a classic pose) and not the cheap "press the button on the back to make the arm punch" kind.
If that still hasn't convinced you, Imagine the fun you could have with Tito and Dana dolls doing "things" to each other.
Did anyone stop watching baseball when they came out with Baseball cards, toys, and clothing?
Did WWF/WWE wrestling die when they started coming out with wrestling action figures when you were a kid?
Did Hockey die when... er... its already dead
NO.
Its about money.. look at all sports- they all have clothing, video games, dolls, cards, etc etc and they do fine!
Stop being a baby... just laugh at the Tapout shirt guy and go about your business. At least Tapout shirts arent overpriced like that Afflictiction bullshit... if only the 8 year old kids in China knew how much those shirts were selling for as they are getting paid $1.22/hr to make them in some sweat shop!
I worry a bit about the WWE-ization of the UFC, but I'm not ready to freak out just yet. Action figures don't bother me; plenty of sports have action figures -- ever heard of "Starting Lineup"? They made baseball, football, and even some boxing figures throughout the 90's, IIRC.
WHO CARES? Reading most of those posts above just sounds like a bunch of little kids crying about how they cant get in to the pool cause all the bigger kids are around.
Suck it up and move along. The sport will not change cause of a Rampage Action figure or a UFC hat. All its gonna do it make money for the UFC which all SPORTS and businesses are out to do.
You know who runis a good sport or show or movie?
A - hole people who complain about everything under the sun cause they have nothing else to talk about or do with the time they have.
wait.... so that would be me?
LIGHTNING BOLT!
LIGHTNING BOLT!
*crickets*
Right.
Signature moves? Seriously, that's a concern? How about the ones they already have "GSP is known for his amazing sprawl and showy spinning kicks" while "Anderson "spider" Silva is a dynamo in the clinch, often using his signature knees" blah blah "Liddell's overhand right" "Rampage's Right hook and powerslams" the list is endless. Fighters have styles and tendencies. Signature, styles and tendencies.
Characterization is similarly not something you need to create, only publicize. GSP is humble and respectful, Matt Hughes is a country boy, he's rivals with Matt Serra, a New york tough guy".
It's really no big deal.
1st if theres one thing that MMA might not survive its guys like KIMBO who insult the sport. MMA is not about Thugs and all Thugs need to not be in MMA. ALso another thing that will kill mma is crap refs and quick stops. it seems like we have seen too much of that in the past weeks and I can see how a causal fan might be like "is this what mma is, NaH I will pass"
Thats a much bigger problem than action figures and t shirts. And what is exactly wrong with Affliction shirts? and those who wear them?
Action figures are really perfect for the UFC they provide them with a collectible item that fans can seek, similar to the way All PRO Sports have collectible items that fans seek and purchase. I would much rather buy a UFC action Figure than A pack of UFC trading cards! these marketing concepts are not WRESTLING concepts they are just a way to make money and provide fans with products.
I think alot of people (hardcore MMA fans included) seem to draw the connection with MMA and wrestling all by themselves. it is a self inflected wound that needs to be dealt with the person themselves.
If you think MMA and WWE are similar than thats your problem. They are not plain and simple. regardless of action figures or entrance songs.
But I will say that everyone fav GSP always seem to have be the "good guy" that has been insulted and it fighting for all thats holy!
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