Comments on: The ghost of Seiya Kawamata: Sengoku waves white flag for NYE, will work with K-1 on NYE

By: Aguas turbias en Japón. NYE especial. — Diarios del versus

Aguas turbias en Japón. NYE especial. — Diarios del versus — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:40:33 +0000

[...] un articulo de el periodista deportivo independiente, Zach Arnold (todo un freelancer) al parecer el objetivo final de FEG, es succionar lo mas marketeable de [...]

By: GhostDivision

GhostDivision — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:00:11 +0000

Just want to mention maybe you can comment on this zach, on sherdog there is a post claiming don quiote pulled sponsership from sengoku and put his sponsership toward dream.

The way it sounds is WVR is already finished.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 05:46:57 +0000

“Add on the fact that the Japanese MMA Scene is done nothing but go downhill since Pride’s demise”

Minus K-1. As it seems to me, they are still making about as much money as they were during the days of PRIDE. Last year’s World Grand Prix Finals got their highest ratings that they got in years I think. That was probably because they didn’t really have much competition to deal with. K-1 and FEG (and by extension DREAM) will do fine. But Sengoku on the other hand……..they are fucked. They should just become a smaller company like Pancrase or Shooto.

By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:31:50 +0000

Plus K-1 has a dumb partner in Strikeforce. SF will get their name out in the US some more, and if they take off with fans they’ll try to do some co promotions in the US, if not it is no loss for them.

By: Alan Conceicao

Alan Conceicao — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:00:50 +0000

EXC, Bodog, and the IFL are gone. In their place is Bellator, Strikeforce, MFC, and XFC. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Additionally, as Dave notes, DREAM locking up the market in Japan was the most likely scenario and probably the best for its continued existence there. The UFC plays little into that organization’s plans – Its now about incorporating the Sengoku talent, lining up the farm systems that Don Quixote was funding heavily, and pushing forwards. Growth is not certain, nor is death. But if there’s a foundation for growth, its far stronger with only one company in Japan right at this moment.

By: jr

jr — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:10:04 +0000

It’s unfortunate the fighters will have less contract leverage but this had to be done

By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:49:21 +0000

Compete with what? This has nothing to do with UFC, 45. FEG has a lot of money and knows how to promote in Japan. UFC has no following in Japan, this has nothing to do with UFC.

By: 45 Huddle

45 Huddle — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:36:58 +0000

“This narrative is about 4 years old now. Oddly, it has never been true. Likelihood it will be soon; Zero. At least as long as someone is making money.”

A few years ago, it was extremely different. A lot of money marks enterted the business thinking they could duplicate the UFC’s success. All of those marks have come and gone and failed. Today there is none of those people left. So yes, I would say things have dramatically changed. Add on the fact that the Japanese MMA Scene is done nothing but go downhill since Pride’s demise, and the ability for anybody to make money in this sport is basically zilch (not including the UFC).

Even Strikeforce is stuck. CBS will not sign them to a long term deal as long as they have the “potential” to sign with the UFC. This leaves Strikeforce stuck in limbo land and the inability to really make money.

And with DREAM/Sengoku… Does anybody really have faith that they can make money enough to really compete? Highly unlikely.

By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:31:57 +0000

Yes, RIP Sengoku. Co-promoting with K-1 almost always spells the end. At this point the term co-promotion is a formality for the press so they can create more buzz around this show.

By: Alan Conceicao

Alan Conceicao — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:14:20 +0000

The MMA landscape is very different then it was 2 years ago, that is for sure. And it doesn’t seem like any more rich people will be making the investment anytime soon.

This narrative is about 4 years old now. Oddly, it has never been true. Likelihood it will be soon; Zero. At least as long as someone is making money.