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Saturday news clippings
By Zach Arnold | January 27, 2007
By Zach Arnold
Hey, an endorsement for our radio show.
The most intriguing news of the day comes to us via Sankei Sports, which is reporting that Pancrase is tying up business-wise with BodogFIGHT. Given that it’s the Japanese media, the headline reads: “600 billion yen! Multi-millionaire promotion BoDog tie-up.” Pancrase will be sending Yoshiki Takahashi & WINDY Tomomi to Costa Rica for a BoDog taping on 2/16. Pancrase boss Mr. Ozaki stated that the tie-up could allow the promotion to get back on major TV. The article indicates that Pancrase may end up helping BoDogFIGHT run shows in Japan.
Onto today’s headlines.
Results from our last site poll:
Which promotion will gain the most market-share in America and compete with UFC as their top rival?
- PRIDE - 54%
- IFL - 30%
- Elite XC - 14%
- Strike Force - 2%
Today’s headlines.
- Joe Rogan (on Underground Forum): Heath Herring fought against Jake O’Brien with a torn MCL.
- Fox News: Video of MMA’s TV blitz
- Observer: UFN 8 draws a 1.7 cable rating (this is very good)
- UFC Mania: Tentative UFC 68 line-up
- IFL HP: Palaszewski vs. Horodecki
- Grapple Monkey: Randy Couture on Pros vs. Joes
- Radio: Eddie Goldman on UFC Fight Night
- The Rome News-Tribune: Local paper calls local MMA event “Ultimate Fighting Championship”
- The Houston Chronicle: Solid showing for UFN 8 on Spike
- The Southeast Missourian: Someone thought it was a good idea to book 17 matches on an MMA card
- Canadian Press (via Winnipeg Free Press): MMA fighter knows adversity, carries no fear into fight with Cro Cop
- The Arizona Republic: Valley fighter ‘a nice guy’ out of cage
- The London Free Press (Canada): Rising star’s upset wins paying off (article on Jason MacDonald, who is now training with Greg Jackson in Albuquerque, New Mexico)
Topics: All Topics, BoDog, Japan, MMA, Media, Pancrase, UFC, Zach Arnold | | Permalink | Trackback | Share This
Zach….I think you can open up a forum now for the radio show. I haven’t listened to this weeks show yet, but the past few weeks have been excellent. This site still seems small enough that I enjoy reading everyones opinion. The radio show is the backbone of the site, and it’s important that we can discuss it. Keep up the great work everyone…even Erin
She can take some shit, but shes been great ever since she caught the shitstorm that made you close the comments. I agree with you now that she adds a nice, casual dynamic to the show, and she at least seems like a smart pro wrestling fan with a sense of humor. Erin, if you want to tape trade, drop me a line.
Is the Fox News link alright? Leads to a search result of “fight game”.
It’s right - if you click on it, it leads you to the top search link and then the video loads. I did it because Fox News uses embedded video windows and not direct links.
Holyshit is Eddie Goldman the most transparent anti UFC mark on the planet. You guys should bring that up on the next show.
I’m in agreement with Zack, a forum to discuss the show would be welcome at this point. I will freely admit, I was rather annoyed by Erin at first but that was before I realized the perspective she was intended to bring to the show and it is needed and enjoyed very much now.
The most important of these links surely is regarding Eddie Goldman’s fiery tirade against the UFC with the latest episode of his NHB show. I’m in agreement with a lot that he says, not everything, and if you’re not familiar with Eddie’s history with the sport or UFC then look into it; it’s quite a story within itself. Will any MMA media take his challenge to task to defend many of the UFC’s wild missteps lately or is there a feeling that Eddie’s just a ‘crazy old man’ (most definitely not). I’m very interested to see if anyone associated with MMA Weekly, Sherdog, Full Contact Fighter, The Fight Network, Fight Opinion, UFC Junkie etc will respond and give their thoughts on such matters.
Dave is correct. The show is really bad.
He consistently talks about the high level of technique in the IFL shows, and then goes on to talk about how the UFC has low levels of technique. The guy never use to be like this. He was a UFC lover back during the Eyada days. After his friend sold the company, and he lost his credentials to cover the show, he has done nothing but talk crap about it. The worst is that he tries to pretend like he is analyzing the fight card, when he is really just looking for another opportunity to bash Zuffa and the UFC. I actually stopped listening to his podcast, but I downloaded this one specifically just cause I knew what was going to be said, and I had to hear it for myself.
And Dave, I doubt they will talk about this on their radio show. At least one of the hosts is friendly with Goldman.
Side Note:
Another thing Goldman has complained about in the past:
- Talked about how the “Old UFC” brought in world class athletes from amateur wrestling like Mark Coleman and Kevin Randleman. Said the new UFC doesn’t do this. Of course, he completely ignores the fact that they have Jon Fitch, Josh Koscheck, and Matt Hughes. And he completely missed the fact that guys like GSP, who are not “World Class Wrestlers” are so good that they can completely defend a great wrestler like Matt Hughes from taking them down.
The sport has evolved while Eddie Goldman has regressed.
Just one last point about Eddie Goldman.
He bashes the UFC for showing Hulk Hogan in the audience. And then he says: “What sporting event…. What real show would find this guy in the audience and say anything other than derisive or at least comedic comments?”
Hmmmm, let me think….
- NBA… Who shows Spike Lee at Knicks games and Jack at Lakers games.
- NFL…. Who has actors come into the broadcast booth during their Monday Night Football games to talk about various things.
- ATP…. Who will show movie stars in the audience.
- MLB…. During the World Series, you always see the stars out, especially if the games are played near LA or NY. And they definitely point them out.
That is something ALL major sporting events do today. To bash the UFC for this just shows a deeper hatred that goes beyond anything else. And Hogan is no more “fake” than Spike Lee or Jack or Denzell, or Afleck…. All people who are always at these sporting events.
Heck, Sports Illustrated Online a little while ago had a bunch of photos that highlighter the biggest “sports fans” out there, which features people like the guy who plays Tony Soprano to various other actors.
Poor Eddie. The UFC won’t let him into their shows, so he needs to complain about it to his 26 listeners on his podcast.
Are you referring to FOR? If you are, Jeff Thaler used to be a correspondent for Eddie Goldman’s old radio show. And I am on friendly terms with Eddie. It does not mean, however, that any points he raised cannot or will not be criticized on our show. It’s open season as far as I’m concerned. I don’t manipulate anyone’s opinions on the show, nor do I direct them on format sheets what to say or what to think.
Interesting that Eddie’s show has drawn this much interest. I’ll definitely think about discussing it on the next show.
As far as the point raised about Hogan on the UFC show, I thought it was a major coup for both parties. UFC clearly gave him access in the building, and he (along with Brooke) were very popular. My guess is that WWE had to be furious to see a legend so connected to their brand seen on UFC. UFC gets an enormous rub of star-power with Hogan appearing. Very smart on their part.
I think it would be a good topic to discuss. He definitely got my blood boiling.
I think when he started talking about the WCL having a good level of kickboxing, I almost couldn’t control my laughter. It was just too much.
Funny note about Hogan, he was at the James Toney/Sam Peter fight right behind Peter’s corner I believe. You could see him on TV everytime they went to the hard camera. But to the best of my knowledge Showtime didn’t acknowledge him. I must say I watched the fight on DVR and fast forwarded up to the action.
Hogan lives in Florida so he goes to events down there and he was trying to get his daughter over. How did UFC credit him? Movie Star, pro wrestler? I was making dinner at that point of the show and just caught it out of the corner of my eye.
For the old school Hogan/WWF or current MMA fans, here’s a video I made a couple years back:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1609929464737726305
Pancrase are also sending Izuru Takeuchi and Takuya Wada to BodogFIGHT’s third season, I believe.
Takeuchi actually holds a win over Marquardt. It was one of Nate’s worst performances that I have seen. Marquardt actually beat him in their next 2 encounters.