The UFC must be desperate for UFC Fight Pass subscriptions.
It would be a safe assumption to say that the organisation’s subscription-based video streaming service was dealt a blow in the popularity stakes, particularly on this side of the world, once the powers that be decided to remove all live main cards from the service last August.
Subscribers in the UK and Ireland were suddenly restricted to live coverage of preliminary bouts alone which made Fight Pass far less tantalising a tool than it originally was.
Plenty of fight fans unsubscribed immediately due to the fact that most of the allure of the website came down to the ability to watch all events, from start to finish, online.
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And it would appear that the organisation is in dire need of a boost in subscribers as the UFC has reportedly started denying fighters and their coaches free access to fight tape.
According to one of the top striking coaches in the industry, JacksonWink’s Brandon Gibson, trainers will now have to pay a monthly fee for Fight Pass in order to study footage on upcoming opponents.
Gibson explains that it’s not the fact that Fight Pass is now a necessity – as most top-level coaches already subscribe because they are also hardcore fight fans – but it’s the way that the UFC seem to be offering fighters’ teams very little in the way of support.
And considering that the UFC would be absolutely nothing without the fighters who put their health on the line for very little reward makes the change in policy seem very unfair indeed.
I just got an email from the UFC saying that fight tape will no longer be available to coaches and fighters and I need to use Fight Pass.
— Brandon Gibson (@SixGunGibson) February 14, 2017
Could you imagine if the NFL told their coaches to just DVR whatever games they want to study? Film study leads to better fights & finishes.
— Brandon Gibson (@SixGunGibson) February 14, 2017
In the past we'd get zip drive links to download. No Fight Pass subscription is offered to the camps, we need to purchase it on our own.
— Brandon Gibson (@SixGunGibson) February 15, 2017
I already have a Fight Pass subscription, the problem is that Fight Pass isn't a good way to study. No slow mode, its a pain to rewind, etc
— Brandon Gibson (@SixGunGibson) February 15, 2017
Yup – I guess I'll just have to buy every PPV (even the ones I'm cornering at) and DVR' it. https://t.co/FXI2qgUOMX
— Brandon Gibson (@SixGunGibson) February 15, 2017
I trained and cornered 3 of the top 10 ko's last year. We accomplished this by studying, developing game plans and putting 10,000 reps in.
— Brandon Gibson (@SixGunGibson) February 15, 2017
Fight Pass isn't really a solution for top level coaches that really study & break down tape like @MarkCoachmark13 & @GregJacksonMMA.
— Brandon Gibson (@SixGunGibson) February 15, 2017
