These guys are the main event? Weak!

View full size photo »

MMA Junkie is reporting that Spike TV will air two preliminary bouts live immediately prior to the pay-per view broadcast.

While there is no word yet as to which fights will be shown for free there are three obvious contenders: Rafaello Oliveira vs. Sean Sherk, Dan Lauzon vs. Cole Miller and Martin Kampmann vs. Rory Markham.

This will mark the fourth time that Zuffa has allowed Spike to show a portion of the preliminary card in the run up to the pay-per view event.

While fans absolutely love the idea of free fights it is becoming apparent that the UFC is using the free preliminary gimmick for perceived weak fight cards. For instance the UFC is not using it for UFC 107, an event that some have described as the best card since UFC 100, though Zuffa went to the Spike well for UFC 103, 104 and 106.

Update: Spike will not be showing preliminary fights for UFC 107 due to the VGA's. Yet, the impression exists that the free preliminary fights are being used to bolster weak cards.

Currently there is no direct evidence available that indicates a free Spike preliminary card helps pay-per view numbers. Also the ratings have been nearly identical through the three previously shown preliminary cards. 

SBN coverage of UFC 108: Evans vs. Silva