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MMA Media notes
By Zach Arnold | October 3, 2006
Update: Neil Davidson of Canadian press reports that Matt Hughes earned $130,000 USD for his title defense over BJ Penn at UFC 63. Read the full CP article here (which has updated pay-scale figures for fighters).
Spike TV issued a press release for upcoming UFC programming on their network in November. A new show called Inside the UFC will debut on Thursday, November 9th at Midnight. It will be a weekly magazine show hosted by Joe Rogan.
Also, TUF Ultimate Finale Live will air on Saturday, November 11th from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (yes, they are back there rather than the building they used for Diego Sanchez vs. Karo Parisyan). Future UFC Unleashed shows will air on Thursdays at 10 PM, airing after TNA moves into prime time at 9 PM weekly.
Doghouse Boxing reports that Ricco Rodriguez will make his debut in boxing on October 12th in Houston, Texas.
And then there was the Octagon Girl Search that aired on Monday night on Spike TV…
- “Rear naked chokes and kimuras are two techniques used in the Octagon to submit opponents. How do you like to submit men?”
- “If you could grapple with any UFC fighter, who would it be and why?”
- “All of my relationships start out with a one-night stand.”
- “Every UFC fighter has their own trainer. If you were a trainer, what unique workout would you put them through?”
- “If you were a fighter in the UFC, what would your nickname by and why?”
- “If you could switch places with UFC President Dana white for a day, what would you do differently with the UFC and why?”
Yes, this fine piece of television production was hosted by Joe Rogan (taped at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino). The three judges for the contest were: UFC President Dana White, Rachelle Leah, and a man named Greg Chan of Wilhelmina Models in New York. As you can see in some of the selected quotes from the show up above this paragraph, the contest featured the following qualifying rounds: Q & A, UFC Trivia, Fighter Interview, Round Card Walk.
The highlight of the show was one of the girls being asked by Joe Rogan who she would like to meet and her answer was “Rich Hamilton.” Another girl said that Rich Franklin was the Light Heavyweight champion in UFC. This was quite the showing.
Topics: All Topics, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 9 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
I can’t believe they’re going back to the Hard Rock. I’d love to hear Dana White’s reasoning on this. The Red Rock was so much better. This is depressing.
Well here’s just a thought, maybe The Red Rock is booked? I mean, the Fertitas would make more money renting out The Red Rock to someone else rather than holding their own event there. Can’t make money renting out a venue when you are essentially renting out to yourself.
I didn’t realize that the Fertittas owned the Red Rock. This makes their decision even more ridiculous to me. Maybe the Fertittas could make more money renting out to someone else, but that venue was so far superior to the Hard Rock that its unbelievable they wouldn’t want to run their shows out of a building they OWN.
Maybe this will have to be discussed on the radio program this week.
Didn’t someone written an article saying that the UFC gets PAID to do shows in certain buildings in Las Vegas? They were talking about the PRIDE show too and how they had to rent Thomas and Mack.
So maybe Hard Rock paid UFC some money to host the event.
Only reason I can think of..
Jens has got a pretty nice contract! (30k appearance and I assume 30k win bonus too).
I know that the UFC (at the very least) don’t have to pay to rent events anymore, like they used to. I dont know if they get paid for it or not – it wouldnt be rediculous to assume so though, as it is a lot of free advertising for the venue.
“The Sept. 23 Hughes-Penn card drew 9,300 to the Honda Center, formerly known as the Arrowhead Pond, for a gate of $1,496,067, according to the California commission.”
UFC.com states there was a crowd of 15,146. Does this mean almost 6,000 comped?
Very good pick-up by you, bl. From The Orange County Register:
That certainly could indicate that UFC papered 6,000 in the building and still drew a nearly $1.5 million USD gate.
Back to the UFC on tv, the Octagon Girl search was entertaning…and Joe is a good host for that.
But why does Dana have to show his face at every show? Why did he have to be a judge? What kind of cie president always wants to be on TV?
You think he’s making up for something? 😉
$1,496,067 is the lowest live gate in a while, probably since UFC 55.