View none of the fighters live in USA and the prize is paid out in US Dollars, it is a bit unfair as the US dollars has deteriorated quite a bit since the show started, say if e.g. JWP wins i guess the prize would be down 10-15% compared to when the show started, but there is of course still the Pride that and hopefully more big fights to come.
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And the title "The Ultimate Contender" :-)
No doubt the money's important but don't forget the opportunities that will open up for everyone, not just the winner.
its the name/title that they bring back with them, the prize money is nothing compare to the title....
In many countries, the prize money for any sports is rather low, but the advertisment money due to their title and their popularity is way beyond the prize money...i think you should have already known that many sports champions are titled millionares just weeks or before a week after receive the champion title...many contracts for advertisements, representing the brand....etc... yea... =)
think of it this way, a muaythai boxing shorts with Yod's signature on it and he wore that during any random match....my own muaythai boxing shorts and i wore it during my amateur match....and another ordinary muaythai boxing shorts, brand new... which worths more?
advertisements and endorsements: absolutely!
for instance, sean wright can be a spokesman for a hair waxing franchise! and Pitu his own cooking show.
yea... haa..and Yod can accept some advertisements offered from Thai Language Centre.. something like that... just a rough concept..
I think that is fantasy thinking. Who is going to care in the world of K Max or Lumpini or Raja who won Contender Singapore?
It might make a few foreigners who are not the match makers in the big money fights feel all squishy, but it's not going to be a big deal. The only place where personality is important is in Japan (and yet they avoided putting Japanese fighters in the program). Thailand has always jsut been about the sport and not the person--except when a farang named RAMON DEKKERS beat the living hell out of Coban.
They know his name and face--but they don't market the fighter in Thailand anywhere near what you people are thinking. That needs to change, you bring more fans because of personalities (look at Pro Wrestling to validate my point in spades).