Friend of our site


MMA Headlines


UFC HP


Bleacher Report


MMA Fighting


MMA Torch


MMA Weekly


Sherdog (News)


Sherdog (Articles)


Liver Kick


MMA Junkie


MMA Mania


MMA Ratings


Rating Fights


Yahoo MMA Blog


MMA Betting


Search this site



Latest Articles


News Corner


MMA Rising


Audio Corner


Oddscast


Sherdog Radio


Video Corner


Fight Hub


Special thanks to...

Link Rolodex

Site Index


To access our list of posting topics and archives, click here.

Friend of our site


Buy and sell MMA photos at MMA Prints

Site feedback


Fox Sports: "Zach Arnold's Fight Opinion site is one of the best spots on the Web for thought-provoking MMA pieces."

« | Home | »

Wednesday war room: Street fighting

By Zach Arnold | December 19, 2007

Print Friendly and PDF

The story of the day comes to us from Eastern Canada, where 24-year old Corben MacDonald is in court to face 42 charges of promoting illegal fights. MacDonald’s backyard fight ‘organization’ was called East Coast Street Fights. For more background information on this story, read this.

Josh Barnett has a new DVD out. He is currently in Japan and scheduled to wrestle tomorrow for the IGF promotion in Tokyo at Ariake Colosseum. On the 22nd, he will battle against Hikaru Sato in a catch wrestling match at Differ Ariake in Tokyo for Pancrase.

Meet Charlie Brenneman. Plus, meet Cal Worsham’s son, Hunter Worsham.

Our friend Charles Jay is doing a lot of posting lately at BetUS.com and at Total Action extra.

Ariel Helwani has obtained comments from Mark Cuban about the latest HDNet Fights event that took place over the weekend in Dallas.

Yushin Okami, like Takanori Gomi and other Japanese MMA fighters, is a big fan of pro-wrestling.

We are in the process of beginning our interview tapings for the year-end Christmas radio show. We are in need of some links to downloadable Christmas music that we can play on the show legally. Post any links you can find or recommend in the comments section.

If you have not checked out the new TKO Xtreme web site, which covers Canadian MMA, then you should take a look at it. I’ve added the site on the bottom corner of the left sidebar as part of our new Canadian MMA news subsection. TKO Xtreme is looking for some new writers to help cover the Canadian MMA scene, so if you are interested… please contact them directly.

Topics: Canada, HDNet, Japan, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 29 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |

29 Responses to “Wednesday war room: Street fighting”

  1. liger05 says:

    Yushin Okami & Takanori Gomi need to enroll in the New Japan dojo and get training. Fcuk MMA. Puroresu is where its at.

  2. Mike David (Euthyphro) says:

    Found my first reference to Yarennoka in Japan today:

    http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/9391/21229693964ec7a85390diq4.jpg

  3. I ordered that new Josh Barnett instructional today … I’m loving the specialized instructionals that are coming out lately

  4. salvatore says:

    I’m always refreshed at how Japanese MMA fighters still respect Puroresu
    ….then again, the roots of Japanese MMA are Billy Robinson and Karl Gotch who were also the gods Puro

    btw,Yes I realize that most of the smarks who read this blog already know about Robinson and Gotch and I’m not bringing up a new point

    I havent ordered the Barnett DVD but I love most of the products that are released by Scientific wrestling. However, I also get alittle “iffy” when it comes to the marketing of Catch wrestling. Let’s just say that Tony Cecchine and Matt Furey has kinda soured the whole thing

  5. Zack says:

    Zach…drop my friend Don Bon a line through his bands myspace site:

    http://www.myspace.com/theexperimentsusa

    They have a cool song called “Smells Like Christmas” on their site which isn’t copywritten. I told them to get in touch with you too. Feel free to delete this message I’m just too lazy to email.

  6. I remember how terrible the music was for last year’s xmas show. Please dear baby jesus in a manger, no MIDI!

  7. Ultimo Santa says:

    liger05 – I couldn’t agree more. 😉

    I think Sakuraba should have transitioned back to puro after his second loss to Wanderlei. His career, and overall health, would be in much better shape today.

    Ditto for Bob Sapp. After he was exposed as a fighter, he should have gone into puro full time.

  8. liger05 says:

    Not sure if Saku’s knees could handle puroresu on a full time basis.

    Watched Sapp in New Japan and he was horrible to be honest. Its a digrace that he held the IWGP Title.

    Genko Sudo looks perfect for puroresu!!

  9. 45 Huddle says:

    ProElite.com is reporting that EliteXC is working on putting together Frank Shamrock vs. Ken Shamrock.

    I can’t even begin to describe how bad of a fight this will be. Not only is it a mismatch, but putting siblings against each other (even if they are not biological) is a real bad was to build a promotion.

    For every thousand bad words this site has about Dana White, they have one for Gary Shaw. It should really be in reverse.

  10. Zack says:

    I’d like to see Ken vs Frank.

  11. Ultimo_Santa says:

    I totally agree with 45 Huddle (ie. Kevin Iole)!

    Elite XC, how dare you put together a fight that will likely draw money and interest to your company? Especially when the UFC is 100% pure when it comes to fights that ONLY pit the best of the best against each other, without resorting to cheap gimmmicks and booking freak shows.

    Just like the upcoming former WWE wrestler Brock Lesnar vs. Frank Mir fight. A guy with one fight vs. the former heavyweight champion? That makes complete sense as a main event, and there is no question that it’s not in any way a cheap publicity stunt.

    Thank you, Dana – AND Kevin ‘Huddle’ Iole!!

  12. Andrej says:

    Ultimo “Shaw” Santa wow are you sure Frank vs Ken would sell? I mean why would people be intrested to see Ken Shamrock fight after his string of loses at the hand’s of Tito Ortiz.

    At least Brock Lesnar will fight a decent heavyweight unlike Kimbo who has fought Bo Cantrell and a match with Tank Abbott in the near future.

    And Were does it say Brock Lesnar vs Frank Mir is the main event? I Thought the main event would be the UFC Heavyweight title fight?

  13. The Gaijin says:

    looks like 45’s a little upset b/c someone other than Zuffa is putting on a PPV that could draw some mainstream attention and a tidy profit.

    Tito vs. Ken II & III certainly wasn’t a mismatch and you definitely were saying what a great “draw” this fight was – nope, that wasn’t “bad for the sport” but this is. You’re pathetic…

    As for Andrej, use all the spin you want – but regardless of whether the HW title fight is on last, we all know what fight is the “main event”. They already have the posters and the hype for this fight out there. Get a clue.

  14. D. Capitated says:

    As for Andrej, use all the spin you want – but regardless of whether the HW title fight is on last, we all know what fight is the “main event”. They already have the posters and the hype for this fight out there. Get a clue.

    The only poster for the event that’s be produced was one done up before Sylvia/Noguiera was finalized.

  15. Grape Knee High says:

    45, why is a brother vs. brother fight such a “bad thing”? I’ve read similar views on other sites and I’m trying to get my head around why anyone in the world would think that way.

  16. The Gaijin says:

    “The only poster for the event that’s be produced was one done up before Sylvia/Noguiera was finalized.”

    Yeah. Just listen to all the hype that’s been getting too! I almost forgot Lesnar vs. Mir was happening, b/c Goldberg only shilled it every 5 min on TUF Finale. My mistake…

  17. D. Capitated says:

    Yeah. Just listen to all the hype that’s been getting too! I almost forgot Lesnar vs. Mir was happening, b/c Goldberg only shilled it every 5 min on TUF Finale. My mistake…

    http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=EventDetail.FightCard&eid=1023

    Its the only officially announced match. Hell, was there not a interview posted here on this website in the last 2 days from Monte Cox saying that he didn’t even know if Noguiera had actually signed for the bout?

  18. The Gaijin says:

    So like I was saying – Mir vs. Lesnar is the “main event”. It’s pretty foolish to pretend otherwise.

  19. D. Capitated says:

    So like I was saying – Mir vs. Lesnar is the “main event”. It’s pretty foolish to pretend otherwise.

    ….or the actual main event hasn’t been setup officially yet, and you’re trying to force a point.

  20. The Gaijin says:

    …or actually it’s you that’s forcing a non-point???

    Apparently the UFC has decided THIS would be the one PPV that they didn’t announce the main event far in advance and then build the rest of the card around it, just so that you could be right. As I’ve already said, we ALL know which fight is going to be getting the marquee, stop trying to be “that guy” that needs to disagree with everyone on every point b/c you’ve got some inferiority complex.

    Is Nog/Sylvia finalized or is it not? You already contradicted yourself within 2 posts on the same thread. Meanwhile Mir vs. Lesnar has been announced for over a month, they’ve been hyping it on free TV and have it on their posters. But obviously you’re always right…so the announced/unannounced fight, for the belt or maybe not the belt, is clearly the main event.

    Tell me – what fight do you think will be the one drawing all the buys?

  21. D. Capitated says:

    …or actually it’s you that’s forcing a non-point???

    What non-point? That there’s one fight that they have announced? That perhaps they’re going to go with another main event instead? That the decision to pull the trigger on Sylvia/Nogueria may have occurred late because they attempted in vain to lure Couture back for a defense agaonst Big Nog? None of this is true or even concievable, of course, because Brock Lesnar is on a early unofficial version of a poster and Sylvia/Noguiera isn’t when its not even been announced and may not even have been signed.

    Apparently the UFC has decided THIS would be the one PPV that they didn’t announce the main event far in advance and then build the rest of the card around it, just so that you could be right.

    Or there could be a rational explaination for it other than some rehash of the tired pro wrestling/MMA argument as far as it extends to the US.

    Is Nog/Sylvia finalized or is it not?

    I have no idea. Neither do you. The assumption on the part of many that it is, though the UFC hasn’t announced it yet.

    Meanwhile Mir vs. Lesnar has been announced for over a month, they’ve been hyping it on free TV and have it on their posters.

    Because its signed. And because, perhaps, Sylvia/Noguiera for the interim belt is a backup plan. Hell, there are still rumors this is going to be on CBS. Does the poster state that its on PPV, CBS, Spike or anything?

    Tell me – what fight do you think will be the one drawing all the buys?

    Will there be buys? What does the poster tell you in that regard?

  22. That argument didn’t seem worth having. The UFC is just keeping its options open.

  23. The Gaijin says:

    “Or there could be a rational explaination for it other than some rehash of the tired pro wrestling/MMA argument as far as it extends to the US.”

    Right, b/c anything I said previously had to do with pro wrestling?? You and your pro wrestling buddy…My point is that every PPV (or free TV show just so your panties don’t get any further bunched up) the UFC runs, they announce their main event fight first, then start building the rest of the card around that. I’m sure there will be other fights announced for that card, maybe even Sylvia vs. Nog for the interim belt and likely it will be the last fight of the card chronologically. But who’s kidding who about what fight is going to be the “main attraction”?

    I’ve got ZERO against them for using Lesnar vs. Mir as the main event, that will FAR out draw anything else that could be on that card given fighters’ schedules. NOTHING TO DO WITH PRO WRESTLING – so stop bringing up points that have absolutely nothing to do with what I’ve said as some way of trying to shoot me down.

    “Will there be buys? What does the poster tell you in that regard?”

    Oh ok, semantics – what fight do you think will draw the “Buys”/”Ratings”/”Advertisers”/”Commericals”/”Neilsen families”/”Live gate” etc. etc.??

    Any way you cut it, your argument is shite. We all get it – you hate pro wrestling!!!!

  24. D. Capitated says:

    Right, b/c anything I said previously had to do with pro wrestling??

    Given past opinions and where you’re obviously going with this, what else did you anticipate me concluding from your statements?

    My point is that every PPV (or free TV show just so your panties don’t get any further bunched up) the UFC runs, they announce their main event fight first, then start building the rest of the card around that.

    At this point, the UFC runs monthly fight cards (apparently this will be on PPV, so I read, for $44.95) regardless of whether or not they have big fights to put on them. By all accounts in the last month, Dana White and the Fertittas had Couture/Noguiera as their ideal fight and Noguiera/Sylvia as a backup in case he couldn’t come back. Couture turned them down officially about two-three weeks ago. Noguiera/Sylvia is known to be proposed but it is unknown on behalf of all of the participants as to whether or not its actually going to occur.

    I’ve got ZERO against them for using Lesnar vs. Mir as the main event, that will FAR out draw anything else that could be on that card given fighters’ schedules.

    None of the guys on the card, including Sylvia or Noguiera, are proven draws in the US. How would it be established that Lesnar/Mir would be bigger than a heavyweight fight to determine a new champion? Should we record crowd noise?

    Oh ok, semantics – what fight do you think will draw the “Buys”/”Ratings”/”Advertisers”/”Commericals”/”Neilsen families”/”Live gate” etc. etc.??

    I don’t think any of them will, to be honest. If they go with Sylvia/Noguiera and Mir/Lesnar as the co-feature, they’ll do 250,000-330,000 buys off it being a UFC and no more than that. Especially at $45.

  25. The Gaijin says:

    First of all, I don’t follow wrestling and no little about it other than what mainstream media or this site itself covers. I could care less for the sport/entertainment – the only past opinions I’ve ever expressed regarding “mma + wrestling” was that UFC does and will use “wrestling style promotion” with certain fighters, but I digress.

    My *initial* point, was that Shamrock-squared is no less “legit” a main event than that fight, but given the fact that mma is also a business, I don’t fault them for running fights that are profitable and appealing to a wider audience yet still have some air of legitimacy (vs. some freakshows that would certainly draw, but be terrible for the sport).

    Secondly, I think its pretty fair to say that UFC has absolutely NO faith in Sylvia to draw PPVs. They’ve relied on his challengers to be the “draw” in his top billing fights (Arlovski & Couture were the focal points and he had Ortiz as a co-main twice) or he was relegated down the chart under bigger draws (i.e. Hughes-GSP). I’m pretty certain that they wouldn’t have faith in Big Saliva vs. Foreign fighter (who doesnt speak the language and that we never promote), especially when they’ve got their pet Mir and a marketable and known name in the US in Lesnar.

    Love it or hate it, Lesnar was a successful pro wrestler who made lots of money and drew a large audience. He’s an american, has a good “look” and the UFC could market the HELL out of him, when they feel like it their marketing machine is pretty awesome…I think its safe to say they’re probably relying on a lot of outside interest in “how will this pro wrestler do in mma?” to sell the event. Plus it’s a no lose situation for them to create a legit contender from the winner of this fight.

  26. Zack says:

    Hopefully Jake O’Brien is fighting someone. Then I’ll spend the $45 for sure!

  27. Andrej says:

    That and have Jake O’Brien fight Chiek Kongo ala Carmelo Marrero. Might still happen with Kongo’s fight with Justin McCully. I don’t care I’m not buying the card at all.

  28. D. Capitated says:

    My *initial* point, was that Shamrock-squared is no less “legit” a main event than that fight, but given the fact that mma is also a business, I don’t fault them for running fights that are profitable and appealing to a wider audience yet still have some air of legitimacy (vs. some freakshows that would certainly draw, but be terrible for the sport).

    But this assumes that when push comes to shove after the announcement of Noguiera/Sylvia (should it occur) that they’re still going to push Lesnar first. They might. They very well might not. There’s a poster looking thing and a press release with one fight named.

    Secondly, I think its pretty fair to say that UFC has absolutely NO faith in Sylvia to draw PPVs. They’ve relied on his challengers to be the “draw” in his top billing fights (Arlovski & Couture were the focal points and he had Ortiz as a co-main twice) or he was relegated down the chart under bigger draws (i.e. Hughes-GSP). I’m pretty certain that they wouldn’t have faith in Big Saliva vs. Foreign fighter (who doesnt speak the language and that we never promote), especially when they’ve got their pet Mir and a marketable and known name in the US in Lesnar.

    Lesnar is barely a known or marketable name. He’s gotten zero mainstream press outside the usual Iole/Meltzer channels. He was a pro wrestler a few years ago in the US and headlined a Wrestlemania that had a disturbingly low buyrate. Mir being their “pet” is largely due to the fact that he was, you know, champion. As for them expecting Sylvia to draw, I don’t think they expect him by himself to, but throw in words like “heavyweight championship” and they’re gonna cross their fingers and hope for the best.

    Love it or hate it, Lesnar was a successful pro wrestler who made lots of money and drew a large audience. He’s an american, has a good “look” and the UFC could market the HELL out of him, when they feel like it their marketing machine is pretty awesome…I think its safe to say they’re probably relying on a lot of outside interest in “how will this pro wrestler do in mma?” to sell the event. Plus it’s a no lose situation for them to create a legit contender from the winner of this fight.

    Let’s review the facts here. Mir is fighting Lesnar because the NSAC wouldn’t let him fight Sylvia. Beating a 1-0 ex-pro wrestler might not get him an immediate title shot, and as everyone is deftly aware, Mir has looked shitty 3 of his last 4 times out post crash. If Lesnar wins, Mir’s a nice scalp, but he’s still a couple fights away from a title shot and given his relative inexperience in the sport, its hardly impossible to think that he may just lose fighting top level opposition in the UFC.

    Basically, Lesnar/Mir is a nice way of checking to see if Lesnar is at least on Dan Christison’s level right now, which he might be. That’s not championship contender level, no matter how popular he was in pro wrestling nearly 4 years ago.

  29. Ultimo Santa says:

    Lesnar is barely a known or marketable name?

    HAHAHAHA That’s is the single most hilarious thing I’ve ever read on a MMA or pro wrestling message baord.

    Zach – please put this on the main page of the site where you put the most retarded quotes you can find from dilusional people. This one is a classic.

Comments to Zack

*
To prove you're a person (not a spam script), type the security word shown in the picture.
Anti-spam image