The Weekly Wrap: Nov. 20 - Nov. 26

UFC TV Expansion in 2011

Despite folding World Extreme Cagefighting and cancelling the slate of WEC live events on Versus, Zuffa LLC is planning roughly the same amount of shows next year as it promoted in 2010, with greatly expanded television coverage.

UFC President Dana White told media after UFC 123 that the company will produce 30 or 31 events next year, four on Versus. The UFC will produce 24 live events this year, along with eight WEC events.

White said the promotion is close to closing television deals that could double the UFC’s current worldwide television reach of half a billion homes. The hint indicates the company may be closing on a deal in populous China, a market it has targeted.

There was fear that Zuffa, sans WEC, would stage fewer events in 2011 than 2010 and would be cutting more fighters because there of less card space.