Bodog Beat

Is Mixed Martial Arts starting to lose the momentum that made it as popular as boxing? (MMA Weekly Images)

Is the UFC running out of steam? The world’s top MMA organization announced a $1.3-million gate for last week’s UFC 99 event in Cologne, Germany. Compare that to the previous five cards:

UFC 98: $3.3 million

UFC 97: $4.9 million

UFC 96: $1.8 million

UFC 95: $1.0 million

UFC 94: $4.3 million

The UFC still pulls in big bucks for major events like UFC 94, headlined by Georges St. Pierre vs. BJ Penn. It’s these forays into Europe where the promotion is willing to eat a smaller gate (UFC 95 was in London) in exchange for wider international exposure – especially on television.

That includes Canada, where the Rogers cable company wants MMA to be sanctioned in Ontario so that a UFC event can be held at Toronto’s Rogers Centre. “The UFC is the fastest-growing sport we have on pay-per-view,” spokesperson David Purdy told reporters last month. More eyeballs, more money.

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