The Weekly Wrap: Jan. 16 - Jan. 22

GSP/Hardy Primetime

The UFC and Spike TV announced this week that the Georges St. Pierre-Dan Hardy title match at UFC 111 will be the second fight to receive the "Primetime" treatment. The episodic, three-part documentary series highlighting the fight premieres March 10, beginning a promotional march toward the March 27 fight in New Jersey. Parts two and three will air March 17 and 24.

St. Pierre starred in the first “Primetime” series in January 2009, a memorable production that built his superfight with B.J. Penn. The program drew good ratings, as high as 880,000 on the first airing, and made both fighters bigger pay-per-view draws domestically. The fight reportedly did 925,000 buys, the second-highest rate for a banner year for the UFC on pay-per-view.

The series, patterned after the HBO 24/7 hype series, will feature a different contrast than the St. Pierre/Penn juxtaposition of tropical (Hilo) and wintry (Montreal) training camps. Hardy will be tracked preparing at the Rough House gym in Nottingham, England, while Hardy's deliberate, resonant trash talk should play very well in the format.

Christopher Martello of Spike TV serves as executive in charge of production of the series, which represents a significant investment -- Dana White was quoted last year saying the first “Primetime” series took $1.7 million to produce. The series at one point was planned to build the Rashad Evans-Quinton “Rampage” Jackson fight when it was expected for December.