Bellator MMA partners with Monster and NASCAR to bring fights to races

FLRacingFan

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http://bellator.spike.com/articles/...energy-and-nascar-for-race-event-fight-series

Bellator MMA is proud to announce a partnership with Monster Energy and NASCAR to showcase a series of fights to take place at select races during the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season. For the first time in NASCAR history, mixed martial arts will be included as a pre-race activation for the fans in attendance and just like the action the cars bring on the racetrack, Bellator will bring the same excitement inside the cage.
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Bellator MMA will be featured at the following 2017 NASCAR races:
  • Monster Energy All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 20
  • Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday, August 19
  • Alabama 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, October 15
  • Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday, November 19
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This is pretty cool. I think this will bring new fans to both sports.
 
Hay, it is their money, lets see what plays out.

But we go to the races live because we like the races live not because of an added event, however, if there is an added event, then so be it. When we went to the 600 every year, for a long time, we looked forward to the pre race Military Helicopters and blowing stuff up along the grass area on the front straight away. When they put up the cable cam and stopped the helicopters etc. it got pretty lame after that.
On the other hand, Music Bands before the races do nothing for me at all, but, a lot of folks go bonkers over it. Oh well, to each his own, it's all good. :)
 
I don't mind it. It gets more people to the track, I honestly would watch.
 
Humpy used to have heavyweight boxing in a ring on the start/finish line before the 600... Pure entertainment!
 
Thank goodness this was bull****. **** a damn boxing ring next to the DJ booth at the fanzone near the fanatics tent.
 
I like that Monster is actually spending money to promote the sport. Better than sprint IMO. Still, I don't get MMA, I don't like their fanbase, and I don't see how this fits with racing.

What Monster could do that would really tie in would be to pull some strings bring a round of the world rallycross championship to a NASCAR track.
 
Ummm isn't MMA for mature audiences only?

I wouldn't want my 4 or 5 year old son or daughter to watch someone getting the crap kicked out of them. Specially since they use brutal techniques to make you pass out and or break bones.

Not sure what NASCAR is going for here. LOL
 
Reck said:
Ummm isn't MMA for mature audiences only?

I wouldn't want my 4 or 5 year old son or daughter to watch someone getting the crap kicked out of them. Specially since they use brutal techniques to make you pass out and or break bones.

Not sure what NASCAR is going for here. LOL
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It's Monster. NASCAR souled a bit more of their soul and this is what we have now. Lol.
 
DUN24 said:
It's Monster. NASCAR souled a bit more of their soul and this is what we have now. Lol.
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LOL it's like a hostile takeover.

Hard to believe Brian was desperate enough to make a deal where he literally has no input or say on what Monster wants to do in Brian's own playground.

That's some Negan type cucking. LMAO
 
Okay, straight up 'Yes' or 'No' answer please. Is this for real? I've seen nothing on Monster's site, and there's a post above of a third-party denial by NASCAR.

Incidentally, this was the first time I've had a reason to go to Monster's web site. Plenty of promos for their other sports sponsorships, but I didn't see that first mention of NASCAR.

EDIT: although, upon further review, I don't see any mention of their own products. If I didn't already know what they sold, their home page would have me thinking they're a sports promoter. I'm not in marketing, so I don't understand how the web site is supposed to sell caffeine.
 
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I like it! Good chance it brings more attention to both sports from crossing fan bases. Plus Ive always been a MMA fan. Qualifying... Fight.. Race.. Gold!

The cross promotion opportunities are endless. I can see it now.. Highlight reels of knockouts and split decisions mixed with wrecks and photo finishes paired with a fast upbeat country or heavy rock song.. Im already drawn in by the commercials!
 
This is just what NASCAR needs. Drunk people, that get amped on Monster Energy drink, getting wound up by MMA bouts before the race. Does anybody see anything good coming from this?
 
Yogisd1 said:
This is just what NASCAR needs. Drunk people, that get amped on Monster Energy drink, getting wound up by MMA bouts before the race.
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So replace Monster Energy with Winston Cigs and Skoal and MMA with WWE, and boom you have the golden age of NASCAR right there.
 
I kinda like it but I could see where I wouldn't want my kid watching it. Where/how are these going to be displayed? Outside the track hopefully so those that wish to avoid it can.
 
BobbyFord said:
Bellator consists of used up UFC fighters.
The idea would draw more fans if they would stick two drivers in the ring after the race.
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Pretty sure they have non"washed up" UFC fighters. Maybe some who can't"cut it" in the UFC but I wouldn't call those washed up.

I do agree with the part about drivers after a race.
 
I like MMA and I'd probably even watch a Bellator fight at the track, but outside of Chael Sonnen & Tito Ortiz, Bellator is a joke compared to UFC.
 
Assuming this is for real, will an MMA promo cause people to buy tickets who wouldn't buy them for the race alone? Will those people still be buying tickets in two years when Monster leaves and takes MMA and the rest of its 'edgy lifestyle' with it?

I'm guessing the answers are 'No' and 'No'. Say the shoe was on the other foot. I might show up outside an MMA event to watch a free promo race if it was happening locally. I wouldn't travel or stay overnight to see it, and the promo wouldn't induce me to buy a ticket and watch the fights.

I don't get how this will sell more tickets. Or is that the goal?
 
It would sell tickets if it was UFC and had a fight card similar to some of the fight nights that don't have the major draw.
 
AuzGrams said:
It would sell tickets if it was UFC and had a fight card similar to some of the fight nights that don't have the major draw.
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You mean like offering a truck race to MMA attendees?

Okay, I'm done sitting on this stupid question and I'm gonna ask it now.

I don't know jack-squat about MMA. What's the difference between Bellator and UFC? Are they promoters with their own stables, like the old WCW - WWF rivalry? Are they more like the umpteen different boxing sanctioning bodies, with fighters free to move between them and hold multiple titles?

Don't work too hard on this. I only ask to understand how this may affect NASCAR. I've seen enough during commercials to know it's not my cup of tea.
 
UFC is just a much bigger name brand MMA promotion than Bellator. Most fighters are either contractially signed with UFC or Bellator, not both. UFC has a TV deal with FOX that shows a lot of fights, Bellator shows probably 2 fights a month on Spike TV. Most big name fighters are in UFC and UFC has better PPV ratings, more gate sales/ticket sales than Bellator.

As for why they're bringing in Bellator MMA to the NASCAR races, I have no clue. I don't see it selling very many tickets for NASCAR's sake unless they put it on a decent time slot for Spike TV to show live if they were to do that.

I'm assuming they're going to do it like how they do with prerace concerts and have the fights at 10 or 11 AM perhaps?
 
Thanks. That's exactly the type of info I was hoping for.

The article linked in the original post says the fights would not be broadcast, would be available only to the fans at the track.

I don't know how the concerts are done. I don't go into the track until driver intros start, and the concerts are one reason why. I don't know if fights would be inside the track or outside. If inside, I assume it would be on the Jumbotrons. And those people who are screaming the Monster women aren't 'family friendly' will go full-blown, bat-crap, Kim Jong-Un ballistic.
 
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Charlie Spencer said:
Thanks. That's exactly the type of info I was hoping for.

The article linked in the original post says the fights would not be broadcast, would be available only to the fans at the track.

I don't know how the concerts are done. I don't go into the track until driver intros start, and the concerts are one reason why. I don't know if fights would be inside the track or outside. If inside, I assume it would be on the Jumbotrons. And those people who are screaming the Monster women aren't 'family friendly' will go full-blown, bat-crap, Kim Jong-Un ballistic.
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At California Speedway they have a stage set up outside of the seating area where some pretty good bands play. I know you said you only go to watch the races but I love listening to the concerts before the race starts. They had Queen Nation playing this year and "imo" that concert was better then the race was.
 
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