The death of Mitsuharu Misawa
By Zach Arnold | June 13, 2009
NHK News video report on the death of Mitsuharu Misawa
Unfortunately, one of the legends of the Japanese fight industry has died. Mitsuharu Misawa, the founder of NOAH and the ‘ace’ under Giant Baba’s All Japan Pro Wrestling promotion, died in the ring today at a NOAH event at Hiroshima Green Arena in front of an estimated crowd of 2,300 fans..
Misawa, tagging with Go Shiozaki (considered NOAH’s big prodigy), faced Bison Smith & Akitoshi Saito (the GHC tag team champions). Saito gave Misawa a back-drop suplex and Misawa suffered a heart attack in the ring. Medical assistance was given in the form of using a defibrillator, but sadly Misawa was pronounced dead while being transported to the hospital at 10:10 PM JST Saturday night. He was 46 years old. When being transported to Hiroshima University hospital, he was unconscious the entire time. This Nippon TV video report contains more on the story. This report says that an employee told police that it was about 10 minutes after the incident that an ambulance was able to provide medical help. The fans at ringside after the back drop started chanting “Misawa! Misawa!” and continued to do so when the ambulance took him away from the building (photo here – direct link here).
Sankei Sports has a report telling about the final moments of Misawa’s life as he died in the ring and staff members were looking for any doctors in the crowd to help out after the trainer couldn’t revive Misawa. A 35-year old man at ringside was quoted by the newspaper as saying that Misawa seemed ‘lifeless’ in the match before the back-drop spot. The referee (Nishinaga, who is also the PR director for the company) reportedly asked Misawa, “Can you move?” and Misawa said he couldn’t… and died.
NOAH was formed in June of 2000 after Misawa and most of the roster of All Japan Pro-Wrestling split from Motoko Baba, the widow of Giant Baba. Baba died on January 31st, 1999, due to cancer. NOAH was considered Japan’s strongest pro-wrestling promotion until the last couple of years. Earlier this year, Nippon TV cut ties with NOAH and the promotion’s drawing power started to decline.
This news report contains a picture of the wrestlers surrounding the ring when Misawa suffered the heart attack (larger image version here). Here’s a second photo of when Misawa was being stretchered out.
The news of Misawa’s death is/was the lead story on many major Japanese media outlets including Yahoo Japan, Nikkan Sports, Yomiuri Online, Mainichi, and Jiji Press (one of Japan’s major news wire operations).
Youtube’s Japanese page is being populated with videos covering the Misawa death – from personal commentary to news clips to tribute videos.
Topics: Japan, Media, Pro-Wrestling, Zach Arnold | 21 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
An update on Tim Sylvia vs. Ray Mercer
By Zach Arnold | June 13, 2009
When the controversial Greg Sirb in Pennsylvania reportedly stepped in and warned promoter Monte Cox about Tim Sylvia vs. Ray Mercer being a boxing match in a cage, the fight was changed to an MMA rules bout. Well, Ray Mercer told The Birmingham News that he simply plans to box against Sylvia tonight at the BJCC.
Tim Sylvia showed up in blogger-shape at 310 pounds at weigh-ins on Friday. He has to make a cut to 265 pounds to face Paul Buentello in August.
CBS 42 has video footage of the press conference.
Topics: Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 7 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
How people are finding and discovering Fight Opinion
By Zach Arnold | June 12, 2009
I thought it was for MMA news and notes. According to my site traffic information, that’s not the case.
What are people typing into Google and other search engines when they discover our site? I’ll give you the following choices:
- Gina Carano naked
- Edith Larente
- Brittney Skye
- All of the above
Is that what it will take to increase site traffic? Should I just put names of female MMA personalities in every post and link to pictures? Is that what it will take? Is that how it works for the boys at Cage Potato?
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 21 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Reports: Setanta Sports wooing a new money mark
By Zach Arnold | June 12, 2009
- Reuters: Setanta looking for a 50 million pound investment payment
- The London Telegraph: Setanta white knight is overseas investor with UK interests
- ITN: Setant in talk with an ‘unnamed major international group’ to buy majority stake in company
- BBC News: A new deal could be finalized in the next 72 hours
Update: The money man has been identified as Len Blavatnik.
- The London Telegraph: UFC safe on Setanta until current contract expires in January 2010
- Reuters: Access Industries submits rescue plan to Setanta
- The Irish Times: US industrialist throws Setanta £20m lifeline
Topics: Media, UK, Zach Arnold | 4 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
MMA Live (June 11th, 2009) show recap
By Zach Arnold | June 12, 2009
If you want me to continue doing these recaps, please leave a comment on this post. Even if you aren’t interested in the recaps, at least let me know if you have no interest. I need to gauge the interest level here. Thanks.
This week’s show hosts: Jon Anik, Miguel Torres, and Franklin McNeil
The show opens with discussion of the WEC Arco Arena event in Sacramento last Sunday. Miguel said the results from the card set up WEC’s future matchmaking nicely. Franklin said it was the best card ever for WEC and that the show drew an impressive 1.1 cable rating on Versus.
Next, Jon Anik interviewed WEC Featherweight champion Mike Brown. Brown said that he was happy with his performance, going five rounds and grinding out a decision. He said that Faber fought like a warrior and put on a good show. Did Faber’s broken hand take away anything from his victory? Brown said no, it didn’t, because Urijah’s right hand is not his only weapon and he’s such a dangerous and versatile fight with all sorts of elbow strikes. Faber wasn’t 100%, but Brown felt that the broken hand didn’t really change the outcome of the fight. Brown stated that his corner was confused as to what hand of Faber’s was injured and that it led to confusion on his part during the later rounds. The champion said that he hopes his win last Saturday proves that the first win wasn’t a fluke and that he gains a measure of respect. Brown said that it’s Jose Aldo’s turn for the next title shot, but that he would be open to fighting Faber a third time if there was high fan demand for it.
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: Media, MMA, StrikeForce, UFC, WEC, Zach Arnold | 8 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
PPV ad for Fedor vs. Barnett at Affliction III
By Zach Arnold | June 11, 2009
Topics: Affliction, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 1 Comment » | Permalink | Trackback |
American online gamblers beware
By Zach Arnold | June 11, 2009
A lot of offshore online sportsbooks have closed down business to American customers in the last few years.
It was thought that perhaps President Obama could change the mood and tenor of authorities going after people who play poker or use sportsbooks online. Turns out, not so much.
The irony of “the land of the free and the home of the brave” pursuing online gamblers as aggressively as they have is not lost on me, considering in the UK you can not only gamble online (and in person) but your winnings aren’t taxed, either.
I don’t endorse this behavior but if you do MMA betting online, obviously the linked story above is a warning signal.
Topics: Media, Zach Arnold | 2 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
The latest on Setanta trying to save itself
By Zach Arnold | June 11, 2009
UFC’s UK boss says that UFC 99 will air as scheduled on Setanta Sports. As far as programming afterwards, nobody is sure. MMA Unlimited reported that UFC draws around 250,000 viewers on Setanta versus the 100,000 they used to get on Bravo.
Meanwhile, there are several UK reports that Setanta is looking to sell its international operations (that are reportedly profitable) to get an infusion of a couple of hundred million dollars in cash. However, it may simply be not enough to cover upcoming payments to various creditors.
Media outlets in London expect that the final word on Setanta’s future will be determined by this weekend.
- Reuters: Disney’s ESPN says no current plan to buy Setanta
- The Canadian Press: UFC forced to explain MMA in Germany
- The Guardian: ESPN rules out Setanta bid – blow to Setanta founders in averting administration
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, UK, Zach Arnold | 10 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Hey, did you hear Tim Sylvia is boxing in a cage this Saturday?
By Zach Arnold | June 11, 2009
Rich Franklin vs. Wanderlei Silva? Marcus Davis vs. Dan Hardy? Whatever, get your tickets now for Tim Sylvia vs. 48-year old Ray Mercer in a boxing match inside of a cage! Let’s hear comments from Jens Pulver:
“I don’t know what the goal is. I do know that I don’t care how old Ray Mercer is, you don’t win a world title unless you can thump, especially in boxing. He just knocked out like the number four guy or something, one of the ranked guy. He’s still… he’s not to be messed with. And, uh, we’ll have to see what Tim can do with that because having had five pro bouts in boxing, it’s a whole different world. People talk about it and I tell them, ‘Do not confuse the two. Boxing and MMA are two different worlds, and I mean two different worlds. You look at someone like a Mayweather or a Pacquiao that can do that with just hands, they’re incredible. And, no, you’re not going to find a trainer partner in MMA that can do that to you. If you want to go pro in boxing, go pro in boxing and find out. They can do some amazing things. So, Tim’s going to find out real quick. But as for my relationship with Tim, I love him. I think Tim’s a great guy. He’s also the Godfather to my son. I love him on a personal scale. Professionally, sometimes you have to step back and go, ‘Damn, Tim, what are you doing?”
Update: The infamous Greg Sirb of Pennsylvania told Monte Cox that he had to make the fight back into MMA instead of boxing. For online reports about Sirb’s boxing background, check out the series Charles Jay wrote about him a few years ago. Those of you in Pennsylvania might want to read it, especially.
Topics: Boxing, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 9 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
What European UFC fans will miss out on if Setanta Sports shuts down
By Zach Arnold | June 10, 2009
Stateside, there isn’t a lot of talk about the UFC 99 card. In Europe, however, the focus is on a heated undercard match between Marcus Davis and Dan Hardy. Here’s a preview of what they’ve had to say to each other leading up into Saturday’s fight:
“He’s a fake Irishman, basically. A plastic Paddy.”
“He’s banging on about this Irish thing, Irish this, you know he’s got his Irish flag over his shoulder and his kilt when he comes out. It’s a cool gimmick.”
“You know, he keeps going on about Ireland this, Ireland that. The only time he’s been to Ireland is when the UFC has flown him out there to fight. You know, he always says, please I want to fight in Ireland, I want to fight in Ireland. If he likes the place that much he should buy his own plane ticket and go there on Holiday some time.”
“I mean, He’s going over there, he’s beating British guys which I don’t like in the first place, and he thinks he has some hold over the country, got a fan base there, it’s a second home. It’s nonsense. He thinks he’s going to win UK fans by beating me? It’s not going to happen. I’m fighting for that fan support more than anything.”
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, UK, Zach Arnold | 19 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
The watch is on for Setanta Sports
By Zach Arnold | June 9, 2009
Will UFC 99 air this Saturday on the network? That’s the big question to ponder now.
- Reuters: Setanta board in emergency refinancing talks – source
- The London Telegraph: Setanta founders attempt last-ditch rescue
- The London Telegraph: Setanta went too far too fast
- BBC News: BSkyB rejects Setanta rescue deal
- The Guardian: ‘One or two’ Scottish clubs face collapse over Setanta crisis
- Ireland On-Line: BT Vision suspends further sales of Setanta Sports programming
- STV: Time running out on sports broadcaster Setanta
- The Irish Times: Setanta Sports says it has some ‘live options’ to prevent its collapse
- The Guardian: Setanta board in crisis talks to avert administration
- The Sun: Setanta is in debt of £500 million
- The Sun: ESPN airs to be the favorite to swoop in for buying Setanta contracts
- The Times: Setanta founders battle to raise £100m
- The Daily Mail: Sky turns its back on Setanta rescue
- The Independent: Setanta board in emergency talks to avert collapse – no longer taking subscribers
- The Independent: Sky’s monopoly on premium pay TV content has choked the life out of its rivals
- Variety: Will ESPN sport ailing Setanta?
- RTE Business: BSkyB ‘turned down Setanta request’ of a £50m lifeline
- STV: Setanta is in the midst of going off-air
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, UK, Zach Arnold | 9 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Odds and ends and blegs
By Zach Arnold | June 8, 2009
I would like to get new sponsors for the site, so if you’re interested in being a sponsor — use the contact page.
Also, I’m willing to set aside some time if you are interested in hiring me on a per/article basis (or something more substantial) if you need me. Use the contact page and I’d be happy to respond to any messages.
I am going to have a programmer work on updating some code so that feeds can process faster on the site. This means I could use all the help I could help in terms of funds. I realize things are tough right now for everyone, but if you have some money to donate, I promise it will go directly towards helping this site out. Please use our donations page. Thanks.
Topics: Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | No Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
WEC 6/7 Sacramento (Arco Arena)
By Zach Arnold | June 7, 2009
Event results: WEC HP | USA Today | AOL Fanhouse | New York Newsday | MMA Weekly | Sherdog | MMA Torch | Fightlinker | MMA Frenzy | MMA Junkie | Dave Meltzer
Dark matches
- Featherweights (145 pounds): Rolando Perez vs. Seth Dikun
- Bantamweights (135 pounds): Eddie Wineland vs. Frank Gomez
- Bantamweights (135 pounds): Scott Jorgensen vs. Antonio Banuelos
- Welterweights (170 pounds): Mike Campbell vs. Anthony Pettis
- Bantamweights (135 pounds): Charlie Valencia vs. Kyle Dietz
- Lightweights (155 pounds): Manny Gamburyan vs. John Franchi
Main card
- Featherweights (145 pounds): Josh Grispi vs. Jens Pulver
- Lightweights (155 pounds): Donald Cerrone vs. James Krause
- Featherweights (145 pounds): Jose Aldo vs. Cub Swanson
- WEC Featherweight Title match (145 pounds): Mike Brown (Champion) vs. Urijah Faber (Challenger)
Topics: Media, MMA, WEC, Zach Arnold | 20 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |