For the "first time in its history," UFC yesterday "tipped most of its hand" with the release of its entire '15 schedule an dates for every event, according to Matt Erickson of USA TODAY. It also "gave some clues for locations for those fight cards, though the vast majority do not yet have cities and venues announced for them." Of the 45 total events, 13 will be PPV cards, while 32 will be "considered 'Fight Night' events." Four events will "take place on the promotion’s main broadcast partner, Fox, while another 18 will have main cards" on FS1. An additional 10 events will "stream live at UFC Fight Pass" in the U.S. Roughly half of the 45 events in '15 are "expected to take place" in the U.S., while the promotion is "planning an additional seven in Brazil, at least three in Canada, two in Mexico and returns to Sweden, Germany and Ireland." Additionally, the promotion "continues to target Poland, Holland and Russia for first visits." UFC President Dana White said that the promotion is "looking at the schedule release in a different light than it has in the past." Previously, UFC had some dates it "targeted" for PPV events, just based on history, but most announcements "weren’t made without a date, venue and city to go with them." The first seven events of UFC’s '15 schedule "do have locations attached to them," including three PPVs in the first two months. Only 13 weekends on the announced schedule "are open" (USA TODAY, 11/18).
WE ARE HEADED NORTH: In Calgary, Daniel Austin notes UFC is "coming back" to the city next year. White said, "We’re going to (expletive) Calgary. It's been a huge priority for me. I owe Calgary, I owe them and I will pay Calgary back." Austin notes UFC was last in Calgary in '11, but that event "was hit hard by injuries." White has said it was “the worst pay-per-view in UFC history." He called the event "embarrassing" at the time. White “hasn’t backed away from that stance in the years since” (CALGARY SUN, 11/18).
