UFC on FOX host Curt Menefee discusses how network TV created one MMA convert

You probably know Curt Menefee as a “FOX NFL Sunday” studio host. Recently, though, his work as a UFC on FOX host is becoming much more visible – sometimes to unlikely fight fans.

Menefee, who was part of FOX’s initial broadcast in November 2011, returns to the booth for tonight’s UFC on FOX 7 event at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.

Like other FOX employees, the 47-year-old broadcasting vet quickly embraced MMA once the UFC signed a landmark seven-year deal with the broadcasting giant. But like his coworkers, including those behind the scenes and on set for UFC broadcasts, the foundation was already there for most of them.

“I think a lot of them were fans to begin with,” he told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio). “I think that it’s one of those sports, if you will, there are more people than outsiders realized beforehand that were fans, and there are more that are becoming fans.”

As an example, he points to his future father-in-law. Menefee, who gets married next month, said the 70-year-old has been a lifelong boxing fan. He lives in Las Vegas and is a regular at events in the city.

But not too long ago, the boxing enthusiast decided to give MMA a try. Sure, the UFC had been available on cable platforms such as FX, FUEL TV and even Spike TV in the past, but on network TV, the sport was front and center, and available to a massive mainstream audience.

“He decided to watch the UFC because it was on network TV and free and he didn’t have to do pay-per-view,” he said. “Well, now not only does he watch those, he pays for the pay-per-views when the big fights come up, like next week, he’ll buy UFC 159.

“And this is a 70-year-old man. Basically, it was that he didn’t know a lot about it before. He heard about it, thought it was this wild cage stuff like when it started in the 1990s. … Well, if it’s hidden away on pay-per-view, and you haven’t paid to see it, that may be the last recollection you have.”

Menefee thinks that trend will continue, especially now that the UFC on FOX cards have evolved into lineups akin to some PPV shows. After a one-fight lineup for the debut show and then some cards with middling talent, the UFC and FOX finally increased the star power, and the ratings reflected it.

Tonight’s event, for example, features a champion-vs.-champion clash as UFC lightweight champ Benson Henderson meets UFC import and final Strikeforce titleholder Gilbert Melendez. Additionally, two notables heavyweight clash in the co-headliner as undefeated Daniel Cormier makes his promotional debut against ex-UFC champ Frank Mir.

Menefee’s future father-in-law will be one of millions tuning in.

“If you can covert a 70-year-old man to watch this sport just by getting him to see it and exposed to it on national TV – that’s the same thing that’s happening to people who are 50, who are 40, who are 30, who are 15, who are male and female,” he said. “People that haven’t gotten exposed to this are jumping on board. Not only are you seeing it in the ratings, you’re seeing it in pay-per-view buys, in the attendance in the arenas, and just the buzz and the chat about this sport now.”

For more on UFC on FOX 7, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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