Video: K-1 finds funny way to translate Badr Hari post-fight comments
By Zach Arnold | April 4, 2010
Watch and enjoy.
Topics: Japan, K-1, Media, Zach Arnold | 1 Comment » | Permalink | Trackback |
Alistair Overeem in Che Guevara t-shirt
By Zach Arnold | April 4, 2010
Image from his post-fight press conference interview at Yokohama Arena. Mr. Overeem hearts Che.
Topics: Japan, K-1, Media, Zach Arnold | 9 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
K-1 4/3 Yokohama Arena
By Zach Arnold | April 3, 2010
Event results from today’s show (claimed attendance of 10,153):
- Tsutomu Takahagi defeated Makoto Uehara after 3R by a 2-0 JD.
- Prince Ali (Iran) defeated Mitsugu Noda after 3R by a 3-0 JD.
- Sergii Lashchenko defeated Takumi Sato after 3R by a 3-0 JD.
- Gokhan Saki defeated Jaideep Singh after 3R by a 3-0 JD.
- Jerome Le Banner defeated Tyrone Spong after 3R by a 3-0 JD.
- Alistair Overeem defeated Dzevad Poturak in R1 in 2’40 by TKO (right knee).
Intermission.
- South Korean actor Kim Bum greeted the audience.
- Musashi had his retirement ceremony.
Start of main card.
- K-1 Heavyweight Title match: Kyotaro defeated Peter Aerts in R2 in 1’56 by KO.
- K-1 Super Heavyweight Title match: Semmy Schilt defeated Errol Zimmerman after 3R by a 3-0 JD (30-27 twice, 30-28).
- Badr Hari defeated Alexey Ignashov after 3R by a 3-0 JD (30-26 scores).
Topics: Japan, K-1, Media, Zach Arnold | 41 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
MMA notebook – Grab bag edition
By Zach Arnold | April 2, 2010
- Dana White said the mayor of Vancouver is the one who saved the negotiations to keep the 6/12 event in the city.
- Why is the owner of a New Jersey pizza parlor heading to Abu Dhabi?
- A canadian criminologist defends Gerald Chopik and his attempt at an MMA Expo in Abbotsford. He got booted out of the first building and the back-up building didn’t want him having “two-man demonstrations.”
- An update on Matt Grice. He wants to get back into Zuffa’s fold via WEC.
- Urijah Faber makes this sales pitch for his upcoming 4/24 Arco Arena fight against Jose Aldo: “It is going to be the first mega-fight in the history of our sport for the lightweight classes,” Urijah Faber told News10. “This is the most exciting and most sought after match in the history of the sport.”
- Charlie Brenneman, who beat Jason High on Wednesday night in Charlotte at the UFC card, described in the newspaper article linked what it was like to nearly get choked fight just as the fight was ending.
- Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports has an article about Kyle Maynard titled Magnificent Maynard a picture of courage. Are you encouraged or discouraged by Maynard continuing his goals of fighting in MMA?
- Master P and Sam Hoger combining forces in MMA. Yes.
- Leland Roling asks whether or not Ross Pearson can become an elite Lightweight in UFC. I’ll say yes.
Topics: Canada, Media, MMA, UFC, WEC, Zach Arnold | 11 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
UFC 3/31 Charlotte, North Carolina
By Zach Arnold | March 31, 2010
Takanori Gomi comments to media after his loss to Kenny Florian
In a nutshell, he said that he would continue fighting as long as his body holds up. He said that he was annoyed of always feeling pressure and he wants to fight like he knows he can (like himself). He wants to challenge himself to become better and bounce back.
Dark matches
- Welterweights: Jason High vs. Charlie Brenneman
- Middleweights: Mario Miranda vs. Gerald Harris
- Middleweights: Yushin Okami vs. Lucio Linhares
- Lightweights: Kaoru Uno vs. Gleison Tibau
- Lightweights: Rob Emerson vs. Nik Lentz
- Welterweights: Jacob Volkmann vs. Ronys Torres
- Lightweights: Andre Winner vs. Rafaello Oliveira
Main card
- Lightweights: Ross Pearson vs. Dennis Siver
- Middleweights: Nate Quarry vs. Jorge Rivera
- Heavyweights: Roy Nelson vs. Stefan Struve
- Lightweights: Kenny Florian vs. Takanori Gomi
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 56 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
UFC, Vancouver reach agreement to keep 6/12 event at GM Place
By Zach Arnold | March 31, 2010
Update (3/31): The Canadian Press portrays this situation as UFC winning a battle of hardball by claiming the city had to find additional insurance.
The Vancouver Sun has additional comments.
Discussions still ongoing to keep UFC 6/12 show in Vancouver
News & articles on the topic:
- CBC/Canadian Press: UFC says talks continue on Vancouver event
- Joe Ferraro: A glimmer of hope
- Junkie: Marc Ratner not giving up on UFC 115 in Vancouver just yet
- Globe & Mail: UFC may still come to Vancouver
Other news & notes
Bellator has reportedly signed a fight between Hector Lombard and Paulo Filho.
A Canadian look at tomorrow’s Ultimate Fighter debut.
Topics: Canada, Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 3 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
UFC 6/12 show out of Vancouver, British Columbia
By Zach Arnold | March 29, 2010
Over the last week or so, we’ve covered the struggles that an MMA expo promoter named Gerald Chopik has had in trying to run a trade show in Abbotsford, British Columbia. He got his show kicked out of one building and then the back-up building he was going to use told him he couldn’t have “two man demonstrations.” Chopik claimed that he was going to have two-man BJJ demonstrations. He claims that he is out $100,000 in losses due to the politics at work. Here is an update on the legal threats between Chopik and Abbotsford’s mayor. Note that the mayor says the show cancellation is part of the city’s war on gangs. The Abbotsford Times wrote an obnoxious op-ed supporting not having anything MMA-related in the city.
Now, it looks like he has company when it comes to potential lost revenue.
Neil Davison in The Canadian Press reports that UFC’s 6/12 Vancouver event will likely be moved to Cincinnati because of insurance and legal issues the city has with UFC putting on an MMA event at GM Place.
Paul Lazenby claims that the city’s licensing and animal control division kept the promotion in limbo. Marc Ratner was caught off-guard when asked to comment by reporters. Joe Ferraro relayed comments from Dana White about the situation.
A member of the City of Vancouver’s licensing office claims that UFC had paid a security deposit or purchased insurance for the event.
A profile article on UFC’s Wednesday show coming up in Charlotte (card line-up here). After the Charlotte event, the launch of a new season of Ultimate Fighter begins. Chuck Liddell is doing the PR rounds to hype Wednesday’s new season. One of the contestants on the show claims that Bob Sapp was his inspiration for getting into MMA.
Bernie Profato, executive director of the Ohio Athletic Commission, is happy with the way his operation is doing business.
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 4 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
UFC business notes: GSP will continue to be Gatorade poster boy
By Zach Arnold | March 29, 2010
Gatorade and Georges St. Pierre will continue their business relationship.
The Daily Record in the UK reports that UFC is considering running a show in Glasgow, Scotland at Braehead Arena in the near future. I hope Eve Muirhead would be in attendance!
Marc Ratner did an interview with the Philadelphia Daily News, telling the paper that UFC will return to Philadelphia soon for another event.
Here are some new details about UFC’s new television deal in the UAE.
The political war in Toronto continues to heat up over whether or not MMA legislation should be coming soon. Stay tuned. Here is a paper op-ed in favor of allowing UFC in.
Quote of the Day about Wanderlei Silva: “I learned he doesn’t know how much about snow.”
Stephen Brunt of The Globe and Mail gives his thoughts about UFC 111 and why the promoters do a good job of keeping fans with short attention spans entertained.
An update from our item last Friday about an MMA trade show getting booted out of Abbotsford, British Columbia — the back-up building that was going to be used for the MMA Expo said that promoter Gerald Chopik has backed out of contractual talks because the PNE (building) wouldn’t allow him to have fighting demonstrations at the event. According to Chopik, only one-person demonstrations were to be allowed as opposed to having two people demonstrate BJJ. Chopik claims he is out $100,000 and that he plans on suing the city of Abbotsford for what has happened.
Topics: Canada, Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 13 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Main thoughts coming out of UFC 111
By Zach Arnold | March 27, 2010
Click to see my comments in full-page view. .
One note: If you have not seen the video yet of Georges St. Pierre in the locker room after his fight, go to UFC.com and watch it. He wasn’t lying when he said that he would practice with his jiu-jitsu coach after the fight to try to figure out what mistakes he made.
I’ve included links to articles that I wrote about last night’s show.
- Good guys finish first: Shane Carwin seizes the moment to win UFC Interim Heavyweight title
- Jon Fitch still manages to anger fans even when he wins UFC fights
- Don’t compare GSP’s ‘boring’ fight to Jon Fitch’s fight style
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 58 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
UFC 3/27 Newark, New Jersey (PPV)
By Zach Arnold | March 27, 2010
Dark matches
- Welterweights: Matt Riddle vs. Greg Soto
- Middleweights: Rousimar Palhares vs. Tomasz Drwal
- Light Heavyweights: Rodney Wallace vs. Jared Hamman
- Lightweights: Kurt Pellegrino vs. Fabricio Camoes
- Middleweights: Ricardo Almeida vs. Matt Brown
- Lightweights: Nate Diaz vs. Rory Markham
Main card
- Lightweights: Jim Miller vs. Mark Bocek
- Welterweights: Jon Fitch vs. Ben Saunders
- Welterweights: Ben Saunders vs. Jake Ellenberger
- #1 Contender’s match (Heavyweights): Frank Mir vs. Shane Carwin
- UFC Welterweight Title match: Georges St. Pierre vs. Dan Hardy
Find a bar location or movie theater to watch the show
Bar Locations – Joe Hand Promotions
Movie Theaters – Search US & Canada locations
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 39 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Brock Lesnar interview on ESPN with Josh Elliott (discussing Mir/Carwin)
By Zach Arnold | March 26, 2010
– He was asked if he has fulled recovered from the diverticulitis. “Absolutely, I’m 100% recovered and that’s a good thing.” He said that it was a blessing because he needed to “reevaluate my life and reevaluate my training.”
– Asked about the UFC declaring Mir/Carwin for the Interim heavyweight title, Lesnar stated “That was a business decision the UFC had to make. … A make-believe belt to satisfy the company and satisfy the division. … I am the UFC Heavyweight champion.”
– Elliott displayed and read the quote Frank Mir said on Mark Madden’s radio show about wanting Lesnar to die in the Octagon. Lesnar’s response? “I know as a fighter, my first and foremost goal in the Octagon is to win.” He mentioned his “entertainment background but said, “Hey, I dislike Frank. … There isn’t an opponent that I’ve beat in the Octagon that I’ve truly liked. … When I get in the Octagon, I respect no one. That’s the bottom line for me.”
– When asked to comment on Mir stating that Shane Carwin is a better version of Brock, Mr. Lesnar said, “If Shane Carwin is a better version of Brock Lesnar, then the fight’s over in the first 30 seconds. … Let’s just see what happens Saturday night. I’m anxious to fight either one of those opponents. … I can sit back and watch and watch these guys fight over who wants to face UFC Heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar.”
Predictions contest
The guys at MMABettingblog.com are holding a free UFC 111 picks contest. They’re going all out with this thing, and have over $500 in fully funded betting accounts from Bodog as prizes.
The top 3 finishers in the contest will win the prizes.
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 16 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
The political turmoil for MMA continues in New York, Canada
By Zach Arnold | March 26, 2010
USA Today has a new article talking about the stalling of legislation in the state of New York for regulating Mixed Martial Arts. Bob Reilly continues to draw big media attention given that UFC has a closed circuit event at Radio City Music Hall this weekend for UFC’s New Jersey PPV event. Jim Genia has an update.
Regarding press coverage of the upcoming UFC event, everyone is focused on Georges St. Pierre. Very few people are taking Dan Hardy as a serious challenger heading into the fight. Try this on for a headline: Elegance important to St. Pierre in his fights.” I have found the coverage of the Mir/Carwin fight to be shocking low in the national media, which surprises me given that Frank Mir is normally such a strong draw. Plus, I expected the media to focus on him given what he said on Mark Madden’s radio show. Instead, he’s been relatively quiet. There are a few Shane Carwin profile articles here and there, but I notice a lot of the broadsheet writers are treating him as if his appeal is bland or vanilla-ish. Mir vs. Carwin is a really important fight on a lot of levels. Local Jersey boy Jim Miller has been getting some good press coverage about his upcoming fight.
While New York remains an unsettled matter, Vancouver is also unsettled but settled enough to give UFC a temporary event promoting license for their June 12th event in British Columbia. However, the temporary license does not mean that politicians in the province are sold on Mixed Martial Arts. In fact, an MMA trade show promoter got the heave-ho for his non-fighting event in the town of Abbotsford due to “concerns about gang violence.” The town’s mayor is quoted as saying, “We are absolutely focused on making our city as inhospitable as possible to the gang element. We want to make certain that message is delivered consistently and with singular clarity.” The belief by the mayor is that rival local gangs would show up at the event.
The Chicago Tribune reports that amateur MMA has been deregulated in the state. In other words, everything from rules to blood testing is now up to promoters. It’s a reversal in a tidal wave of various states, including next-door neighbor Iowa, passing legislation to regulate MMA.
How about this? Abu Dhabi MMA shows are getting attention now that UFC is coming to town. Interesting.
Media notes
MMA Live will reportedly air on ESPN2 starting on May 6th. It will be the second ‘big’ ESPN Internet show to transition to ESPN2, as Fantasy Football Now made the transition last year on Sunday mornings.
Kyle Noke got a profile article in the Sunshine Coast Daily publication in Australia. He is scheduled for the next season of The Ultimate Fighter.
The Colorado Springs Gazette has a profile article on native son Ben Henderson.
The wife of Big John McCarthy is set to start promoting some MMA events… in Canada?
Some of the better MMA articles in the newspaper circuit deal with profile articles on up-and-comers and the Clifton Journal’s article on Michael Medrano is no different.
The Fresno Bee tells the miraculous story of Lavar Johnson, as it is a profile article that also serves as a hype piece for his upcoming fight tonight in the city for Strikeforce.
Topics: Canada, Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 7 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Badr Hari draws scrutiny in Japan over alleged nightclub incident
By Zach Arnold | March 25, 2010
I guess he’s living up to his bad boy image?
HKL has the basic background on the story. Hari, who is scheduled to fight on K-1’s 4/3 Yokohama Arena show, is being investigated for a nightclub assault incident in Amsterdam (sometime in mid-February). This Sports Navigator report discusses how the incident started over a dispute about suitable dress attire and that it led to a fight where a person’s face suffered some fractures.
Topics: K-1, Media, Zach Arnold | No Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |