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Monday media notes
By Zach Arnold | December 10, 2006
We’ll get a head start on Sunday night. Just a quick thought… PRIDE aired Quinton Jackson’s powerbomb KO of Ricardo Arona on their new FSN show on Sunday night. Is Rampage (given the WFA is finished) the so-called “big” acquisition that Frank Trigg was talking about in his Sherdog interview? It would make sense…
On Monday, K-1 announced a fight between Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto and 2004 Athens Olympics gold medal-winning wrestler Istvan Majoros (Hungary) for their 12/31 Osaka Dome show.
- The Minnesota Daily: Ultimate fighting steps into the ring (article talks about MMA growing on the local level in that state)
- Business Wire (PR): Broadband video network company Infotec signs deal with Jungle Fight Championship to air shows in multiple languages
- Television Week: UFC creates a new syndicated weekly show called ‘UFC Wired’
- The Hollywood Reporter: Trifeca in Ultimate (UFC) syndication deal
- Gracie Fighting Championships: Promotion sets up MySpace account
- Fight News Unlimited: Report claiming that Xyience (top sponsor of UFC) is being investigated by the SEC (there is a great comment about this story right here)
- Pro Elite Fighting: David Loiseau is signed to fight on Showtime for February 10, 2007 (opponent to be announced in the future).
- UFC: Ross Pointon scheduled to fight on January 25th in Hollywood, Florida (same show as Dean Lister vs. Nathan Marquardt)
- StrikeForce: Fighter Rex Richards looking for sponsorship
- Sherdog: 1/20 Miami event (Gracie Fighting Championships)
- On the Mat: Shooto Brazil 12/8 event results
- Burning Spirit (Japanese): Akira Maeda opens up official site at http://www.rings.co.jp
- UFC HP: A more mature ‘Diesel’ is back in the Spotlight
Topics: All Topics, Media, MMA, Pro Elite, UFC, Zach Arnold | 48 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
“06/27/2006
Ultimate Fight Night 5 Weigh-In Results”
What’s with the weigh-in notes from six months ago? Am I missing something?
UFC pushed the story on their RSS feed. ARGH. Thanks.
Showtime MMA will look second rate if they get a bunch of “failed” UFC contenders.
The Xyience story is full of oddities. The UFC would be well within their rights to sign an exclusive deal with Xyience.
GNC can also stock whatever they damn well please. As far as having interests in the company, they make their own products and push them more than others. I know that companies have paid extra to have their products given preferred treatment.
Yeah seems very strange. And since when has SEG been involved in non payment cases????
Agreed on Loiseau being a weak start for Showtime, but realistically what more can be expected? They’re not gonna get anyone other than UFC/Pride/Bodog leftovers. Expect Miller, Trigg, Herring, Jackson, Lawler, Rodriguez, Cabbage, McGee, etc etc showing up here.
There are questions that I have about Xyience but Lynchman is correct about Fight News and after reading it my initial to it reaction was one of disbelief.
First off, who is Fight News and how did they get this information? Second, who is this John Miller fellow? Where is the Criminal Complaint Division he is Director of located? Nevada? Why are we to believe that an e-mail of all things is to be relied upon as factual information?
Do you notice how John Miller is giving more information about the people he’s discussing than what is necessary?
“We have been notified by several investors of the Xyience Company, some who have pending lawsuits, that Xyience is currently being investigated by senior counsel for the Securities and Exchange Commission for illegal money raising and that investor funds are possibly being diverted into shell corporations set up by Xyience’s CEO Russell Pike.”
Why are investors of Xyience notifing John Miller? And who cares that they have pending lawsuits? Why is John Miller allowed to disclose that kind of information through an e-mail?
“Pike has been imprisoned for these type of actions in the past. We are in contact with the SEC, and have verified the investigation.”
Great, so why are we not hearing from the SEC? Exactly how long and for what has he been imprisoned for? Why bring that up unless you were trying to make Pike sound like a criminal already. But John Miller is not a prosecutor is he? Why would John Miller need to verify the investigation? And to whom are they verifing it for?
Also if the Nevada District Attorney has already been notified, why is he even commenting on this matter on the first place? Isn’t there a Federal Case going on too? Or just a deposition? Deposition and being a Defendant are two different things. Deposotion is a fact finding issue that pertains with rules of evidence. Who cares if Pike is being Deposed.
“Also, we have been contacted by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. They have been advised that Xyience’s Russell Pike and the president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Dana White, have been coluding with each other to lockout all other supplement sponsors from advertising with the UFC. ”
Why would the NSAC care about what Dana White and Xyience are doing with supplement sponsors? NSAC is about governing the fighters and their safety. And why can’t the President of a privately owned company strike any deal he/she chooses to with whatever sponsor they see fit. NSAC has no bearing here, nor is White doing anything wrong. They already have an exclusive deal with Xyience anyways. Do you see any other supplement brands being showcased within the TUF show or PPV’s?
Anyways, long story short. This is BULLSHIT.
There’s an awful lot of typos in that Xyience letter for it to be legit. Also the writing style is unprofesssional. Reads more like a post on fightsport than anything legitimate.
The guy who wrote it is named Rich Bergeron, who used to be a boxing writer for the 13thround boxing site.
Shit I hope Jackson doesn’t wind up back in Pride – UFC need him badly.
Is it true that Dana White showed no interest in Quinton when he originally left Pride?
If true, Dana may make another silly mistake and show no interest in him.
“Is it true that Dana White showed no interest in Quinton when he originally left Pride?”
Rampage was upfront with his desire to sign the largest contract offered to him. UFC typically is not the highest bidder for fighters (in terms of a guaranteed purse). Especially for a fighter unknown to the casual US fan (though extremely marketable) who had been highly paid in Japan (at or above UFC pay levels).
WFA probably offered Rampage a six-figure guarantee (that wasn’t matched by their revenue streams), while UFC probably had the lower guarantee tied in with PPV incentives (for the eentual Liddell rematch). With Rampage being bitter over (perceived?) slights and double-dealings by PRIDE, he likely discounted the integrity of UFC’s offer and signed the “guaranteed” deal with the WFA, who promised to make him their #1 star.
Surely Rampage would have netted more in the UFC overall from potential sponsorships and greater exposure.
Anyone got an update on the Cro-cop contract? He was supposed to announce his decision by now.
“Anyone got an update on the Cro-cop contract? He was supposed to announce his decision by now.”
this is getting very interesting CroCop has said nothing and that could be very good for the ufc.if the ufc has signed him they would not just post it somewhere they will want to do it at 1 of thier shows possibly wed.
PRIDE has to make a giant promotional push this week. If all 10 fights aren’t announced by Thursday, it’s going to be really difficult for them to make the hard sell outside of their diehard fans. K-1’s card is worse, but they are propped up this time by Tokyo Broadcasting System. Otherwise, I wouldn’t give them much of a shot either with some of those fights.
“Surely Rampage would have netted more in the UFC overall from potential sponsorships and greater exposure.”
Of course. But sponsorships and Q rating are not guaranteed. Sometimes athletes sign big money deals for organizations that are unlikely to provide outside income opportunities (Gil Meche signing with the KC Royals last week comes to mind). Other times athletes turn down big money guarantees to sign smaller deals in big markets but make up the $$$ through outside money (Rick Fox left big money on the table from the Cleveland Cavaliers to sign for much less guaranteed with the LA Lakers but launched a successful acting career).
To be honest I wouldnt be THAT exstatic about Rampage resignign with PRIDE. He would be a great promotional face for the American brand but where would he go from there? He lost twice to Silva and I doubt he could take out Shogun so he’s going to be pretty stagnant in PRIDE…unless he gets regulated as the gatekeeper role for the LHWs…. I definitly DO NOT want to see a Rampage/Silva III in LV.
Wasn’t the big issue with Rampage in the UFC that he only wanted an initial 1-fight deal (for a shot at Liddell I believe), b/c he believed he could ratchet up his bargaining power if he won (clearly if it was against Liddell)?
Maybe that was just the internet rumour floating around, I’m not sure…
Dana White made mention of the fact that Jackson might show up in the UFC in 2007 … this was in an article with either the Houston Chron or with Boston Globe, can’t remember which. I remember it because it seemed uncharacteristic of him to do this.
I would be very surprised if Rampage goes back to PRIDE. And considering Rampage’s slide in the standings due to a stacked LHW division in PRIDE, it makes even more sense for him to go to UFC where he could acheive a lot more in a short period of time. My bet is Rampage is already about as close to a done deal with UFC as possible without it being announced.
On a side note, Fortunal (one of Crocop’s cornermen) posted on Nokaut.com that an announcement would be made ‘in a couple of days’. It could go either way … either Pride announcing his NYE bout + details or Dana making an announcement on UFN. OR BOTH!
Interesting times….
I thought I read somewhere that Rampage felt he wasnt quite ready yet to take down Liddell (which is absolutly true because Liddell has surpassed Rampage since thier last meeting) and wanted to spend a few matches outside of UFC to build his rep up. Either way I think Rampage is ebtter served as a comentator personality. The guy is HILLAIOUS on the mic.
Weren’t Quinton’s issues with PRIDE connected to the then heads of PRIDE US? Considering new people are in charge, things may have changed.
I think Rampage also had issue with the yellow card system. Or more generally, not being paid either (1) the amount contracted; or (2) the amount he felt owed, either through bonuses or endorsements. I’m not sure if that has to do with the (allegedly) under-the-table nature of PRIDE (and UFC) contracts for top fighters. Or just dissatisfaction with his above-board pay in relation to others.
Rampage said pride robbed him by selling his shirts and giving him nothing.i think we should get ready for some huge announcements on wed night.i think crocop,rampage and lindland will be introduced.you heard it here first
Eh I highly doubt Crocop is jumping ship. Call me a skeptic but I dont think its going to happen. The Lindland one ONLY if it doesnt interfere with his coaching in the IFL. I think Rampage in UFC will be intersting, definitly will add some spice to the division. I still think Rampage on comemntary would be HILLARIOUS!
K-1 is seriously on the verge of having their worst NYE card yet.
agreed. They are damn lucky PRIDE is falling apart otherwise they should just stick to the K-1 kicboxing format and scrap the HEROs product.
For Cro Cop to go back to Pride wouldn’t make sense. He has already said that the offer from the UFC was a little better, and the real or perceived financial problems within the Pride org. would be a huge deterent to any professional athlete. However, there is the matter of the “other” US org. making him an offer. Who knows where this will end up, I’m tired of speculating already, let’s get an announcement.
As much as I would love to see Mirko…I just cant picture him being in UFC. I dont know maybe its one of those, its too good to be true things. But hell if Ive learned anyuthing from wrestling…ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN.
The UFC just announced that they have just purchased the WFA.
it looks like the ufc have aqiured the rights to rampage,lindland and a host of others.i told you guys earlier this would be happening and cop will be announced on wed.
They might not have the rights to Lindland. His contract MIGHT have ran out.
THIS IS HUGE NEWS!!
All the UFC haters can’t complain anymore. The UFC has purchased a feeder system (WEC) and a bunch of legit contracts (WFA) all in the same week.
Each division should be a little more loaded now.
other than Lindland and Rampage i dont see anyone else worth grabbing. Except maybe Hearing if he made a multi fight deal contract with WFA. Intresting if they picked up Lyoto Machada and try and set him up a rematch with Franklin.
They now have Quinton Jackson, Marvin Eastman, Heath Herring, Pedro Rizzo for at least 1 fight. I’d say that’s pretty f*ing significant. This adds instant depth at the top of the LHW and HW divisions. Man, I hope Dana White’s gonna walk all these fighters out on UFN. Now lets pray CroCop is the cherry on this week’s sundae
Don’t forget about Urijah Faber and Marvin Eastman. This is a great swoop by UFC, and one that sure is going to annoy PRIDE, Pro Elite and not least BodogFIGHT. This may also answer the question of, if PRIDE being sold is true, whether or not UFC would strike now or wait for the ship to sink completely.
At the beginning of 2006, with threats from the IFL & WFA, the UFC swooped and and secured fights with Royce Gracie, Tito Ortiz, & BJ Penn.
With the new crop of competition coming in, they did the same thing. I think the biggest factor has to be Quinton Jackson. He could be a star in America. If he got on Showtime, he could hurt the UFC.
It is a really smart move. With Bodog & Pride also going after talent, this will leave the Showtime show with a B-Level roster to choose from.
The UFC is looking to command and conquer. And they have done a great job at it.
why is K-1 not interested in signing Mirko again??
Liger05 Says:
December 11th, 2006 at 3:14 pm
why is K-1 not interested in signing Mirko again??
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My guess is that it would take more money than they are willing to spend. The reality is that with the exception of a handful of fighters, K-1 pays less than Pride.
Meltz says Lindland was still under WFA-contract, or else he would have been signed already.
C’mon Eastman is washed up and lets not even start with Rizzo. I think gettingthe California kid Faber is awesome…buildn th feud between him and Griffin and u got an even MORE so stacked LW division. Other than that FWA wasnt really oozing with talent.
Dave Meltzer said that? That contradicts Lindland saying his WFA contract is up on a recent podcast.
However, Meltzer is about as good of a journalist as they get in MMA (and Pro Wrestling), so if he is wrong here, I won’t hold it against him…..
He’s probably wrong, but he could be partially right 🙂
“C’mon Eastman is washed up and lets not even start with Rizzo. I think gettingthe California kid Faber is awesome…buildn th feud between him and Griffin and u got an even MORE so stacked LW division. Other than that FWA wasnt really oozing with talent.”
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A guy like Eastman is exactly the type they can use to mix with the crapload of TUF-fighters that are filling the LHW mid-division right now. Another option is to simply put in the fight he was already scheduled to have with Rampage. Either way he’d be useful in the short-term.
Well, they said that they acquired select assets, most likely their tape library (if we even want to call it that), and a few contracts. And i honestly don’t think that they took a guy like Marvin Eastman, whom they could’ve brought back in easily before the WFA took hold of him. It’s most probably Rampage, Herring, Faber, Condit, Lindland, Razor McCullough, Machida and Mayhem, since these guys have the biggest upsides to them. And of course Bas, most probably as a commentator, which would make sense, since they’re expanding and putting on more and more shows, which puts more pressure on Rogan and Goldberg, so it’d be logical to bring in “new blood”.
as for the K-1/ Mirko thing, last I heard from a japanese newspaper was that Mirko didnt want to go back to K-1 and he believed the stronger game was in PRIDE.
the whole thing is none of the contracts are exclusive thats why lindland is always bouncing around.basically these guys now owe the ufc some fights.so chuck/rampage is still a long ways off you would figure rampage would have to resign before he gets a shot at chuck
The UFC/WFA thing is awesome news. Someone like Herring (yes, I know, he lost to Nog, Fedor, and CC, but who doesn’t) in the UFC heavyweight mix should be interesting. Plus Rampage, Machida, Lindland. Exciting shit.
I agree I think Herring will beenfit alot from the subpar HW division in the UFC. It will be a BIG challenge for Sylvia if he can defeat Herring as well as a HUGE benefit for Sylvia if he can. All I can say is Sylvia better not kiss Herring pre fight or he’s in for a suprise. lol.
Mirko wont go back to K1 because his manager Ken Imai and K1 are on very bad terms. Imai has been blackballed by K1 because he was involved in some supposedly very shady dealings by trying to steal K1 money and fighters
Imai has told Mirko many lies about K1 and K1 will not work with a guy like Ken Imai who has deep and close connections to PRIDE’s alleged yakuza owner.
So unless Mirko drops Imai, he will never see an offer from K1
I did not write any “story” on the Xyience subject. I merely printed an email I received through a reliable source and checked out both the background of the sender and the Nevada District Attorney who received it.
I have since signed up for an account in the Pacer Service Center network which provides documentation on court cases, and I have verified several claims from this email.
Xyience has indeed been taken to court, and the company settled a lawsuit Phoenix Laboratories launched against them. The settlement was announced less than a week after Xyience CEO Russell Pike was deposed in the matter.
I have yet to fully explore the background details involved in the group of civil actions taken against Xyience, but I now know they do exist and will be delving into all this vast information to produce an actual story following up on the email I posted. Please stay tuned and reserve judgment until all the facts have been presented.
As for who Fight News Unlimited is, it encompasses myself and two other writers. I have extensive experience as a writer for three newspapers and four magazines. I have written about federal lawsuits before, and I am no stranger to legal research. I have no sponsors I have to bow to and no reason to obscure the facts or make them up. I know the consequences of slandering someone, and I would not have posted the email unless I had some grounds to believe it was all true. Please check out my blog space in the coming days and check out the other pieces I will be posting to follow up the email.
Thank You,
Rich Bergeron
Fight News Unlimited
Writer/Editor/Webmaster