Does this man sound like he’s confident to you?
By Zach Arnold | March 2, 2009
Michael David Smith interviewed Tom Atencio and asked him whether or not a third Affliction show is going to happen. You have to read the full interview for proper context, but this paragraph is striking:
I’m kind of between a rock and a hard place. The fans and the media treat me like I’m on my 10th show. I’m on my third show, and I’m just trying to make sure I don’t make the same mistakes that I made in the other events. If there’s things I’ve made mistakes on I try to fix them. I’m trying to be methodical about everything. I’m just trying to make sure that whatever we do, we’re doing it right. And then on the other hand, sponsors and everybody else are treating it like it is my second show and trying to make me prove myself, and that’s what I’m doing. So I’m kind of between a rock and a hard place. It’s only my third show. It’s not like I’ve done this before. It’s not like we come from another organization of smaller fights. This is right out of the gate, we showed up, we did a huge show, we did a second huge show, now I’m just trying to figure out how we do our third show.
Remarkably, Atencio says in the interview that he still talks to Dana White and has ‘no problems’ with him. Also, he claims that Tito Ortiz is still under contract to UFC — true or false? Or, is this a tip of the cap to a contractual clause in UFC in which if Affliction makes an offer to Tito that UFC can match it?
MDS presses Atencio on several topics in the interview and there’s no way, in my opinion, that you can feel confident about the Affliction MMA situation after reading this. What’s so strange is that Atencio claims that the second PPV did 50% better than the first PPV show last July and the first show reportedly did 70,000-80,000 buys, which would mean you’re talking about 100,000-110,000 PPV buys for the second event. If that’s a legitimate number, why isn’t he trumpeting it? For a no TV play, that’s astounding.
There are some amazing quotes in the interview, including why Atencio hasn’t brought back Tim Sylvia or Ben Rothwell yet. Remember — there was six months of time between the first show and the second event. The tone that Atencio strikes of saying out of one side of his mouth that his debut event was the greatest MMA show ever produced and then on the other side of his mouth, “This is only my 3rd show coming up,” makes no sense whatsoever.
Topics: Affliction, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 21 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
The economics of MMA media coverage
By Zach Arnold | March 1, 2009
On Sunday, Fightlinker announced that they are going to do a subscription-based format for their web site. Naturally, since everyone on the Internet reading a web site is inclined to want things for free, I’m not sure how this news will play out.
What I am sure, however, is that the economic realities of being an ‘independent’ news source in MMA are coming home to roost. I wrote about this topic a couple of weeks ago (along with thoughts on what people who go to MMA web sites are interested in reading about):
I don’t think that a pure 100% MMA-only news-oriented site will ever truly make enough money to survive as a full-time career. I just don’t see how the numbers add up. The reality is that unless you have a money mark backing you (like Yahoo Sports backs Steve Cofield and crew, like Ariel Helwani and MMARated are backed by the Wasserman Group — this according to Fightlinker — which is the power source for agent Matt Walker who represents Carano, Couture, and others), you’re going to go nowhere as far as trying to survive in the MMA media landscape. It is very, very difficult. I say this as someone who has been a long-time survivor in the fight media game. It is really tough and I think only going to get tougher. While UFC and MMA continues to grow at a time when most other sports are contracting, the media landscape that covers UFC and MMA in general is not growing at the same proportional level. In other words, UFC may be blowing up but the money is not blowing up in media landscapes.
As far as MMA sites and media outlets are concerned, unless you have a large audience from another sport or another entertainment entity that you can market your content to, it is very difficult to survive (let alone thrive) right now in making this your career. Do not let my words keep you from ever pursuing a writing career in MMA if you want to do it, but learn quickly that you need to partner up with one of the big players to get a jump start or else you will not last long or consistently without support both financially and traffic-wise.
My belief is that there is good support for MMA amongst mainstream sports fans, but that MMA is not considered a primary interest. Rather, I think a good cross-section of younger sports fans look at MMA as a secondary or tertiary sport that they like. In other words, something that supplements a staple sport they already like (football & MMA, baseball & MMA, hockey & MMA, etc.)
Topics: Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 14 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
WEC 3/1 Corpus Christi event thoughts
By Zach Arnold | March 1, 2009
Marcus Hicks vs. Rob McCullough
-Pulver brings more excitement, Mir brings more polish and technical speaking, they should do a 3-man booth with Todd Harris
– I like the Corpus Christi crowd, but not much to cheer about right now…
– I did not like the referee breaking up Marcus Hicks and Rob McCullough in the clinch against the cage, even if ther was inactivity
R2
– After Hicks nailed Razor with a punch in R2, he went for the guillotine. If Rogan was doing color here, he would have immediately said that Rob was letting Hicks wear himself out applying the hold. Rob got out of it quickly and did some striking in the guard.
– McCullough rained down punches and kicks against Hicks, who looks like a tank in the cage at 155 pounds. Rob should be able to finish Hicks here and if he doesn’t…
– You could hear the corner say 20 seconds, then the ref say 10 seconds about 5 seconds later, and then the horn sounded within 5 seconds of after the referee said ‘time.’ What?
R3
– Wow. Neither fighter did not much throughout the fight. Hicks’ stock goes down here, while McCullough stays stuck in neutral because he couldn’t finish off an opponent who he should have. These fans have every right to be pissed off.
– These referee sucks. He’s threatening to call a no-contest to both fighters due to inactivity? We get that this was definitely a worst fight of the year candidate, but leave it at that.
– 29-29, 29-28, 30-27 in favor of Rob McCullough. What is up with that first score?
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: Media, MMA, WEC, Zach Arnold | 16 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
WEC 3/1 Corpus Christi, TX. card
By Zach Arnold | March 1, 2009
Event reports: MMA Weekly | Sherdog | MMA Junkie | MMA for Real | MMA Frenzy
Jens Pulver filled in for Frank Mir on commentary. It’s going to take some getting used to as far as looking at Pulver in a sweater vest.
TV: Versus, 9 PM EST/6 PM PST starting air time
Venue: American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas
Dark matches
- Welterweights (170 pounds): Justin Haskins vs. Mike Pierce
- Lightweights (155 pounds): Mike Budnik vs. John Franchi
- Lightweights (155 pounds): Alex Karalexis vs. Greg McIntyre
- Bantamweights (135 pounds): Kenji Osawa vs. Rafael Rebello
- Welterweights (170 pounds): Johny Hendricks vs. Alex Serdyukov
- Bantamweights (135 pounds): Marcos Galvao vs. Damacio Page
- Lightweights (155 pounds): Danny Castillo vs. Phil Cardella
Main card
- Lightweights (155 pounds): “Razor” Rob McCullough vs. Marcus Hicks
- Featherweights (145 pounds): Jose Aldo vs. Chris Mickle
- Lightweights (155 pounds): Bart Palaszewski vs. Ricardo Lamas
- WEC Featherweight Title match (145 pounds): Mike Brown (champion) vs. Leonard Garcia (challenger)
Topics: Media, MMA, WEC, Zach Arnold | 38 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
War Machine Koppenhaver wins in Montreal
By Zach Arnold | February 28, 2009
I note this result because this is the first mid-level MMA show in Quebec since the dust-up with UFC by the RACJ.
For anyone who went to the show or knows someone who did — how did the rules situation play out? How big was the live show attendance?
Bonus question: Surprised or not that the RACJ let War Machine main event a show in Quebec given his controversial out-of-the-cage situation?
Topics: Canada, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 9 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
February 26th chalkboard: Hasim Rahman in MMA, Yoshihiro Akiyama talks to Sankei Sports
By Zach Arnold | February 26, 2009
- Sankei Sports interviewed Yoshihiro Akiyama on Wednesday to talk about his signing with UFC. He held up a piece of paper that had UFC’s press release on his signing (it was in English on top with “UFC inks Akiyama” and translated in Japanese on the bottom). Sankei Sports said that, “If Akiyama becomes UFC champion, a reward anywhere from 80,000,000 ~ 120,000,000Y for one match could be achieved.”
- Sherdog: Hasim Rahman heading to MMA — within months
Gelke said that the 36-year-old Rahman is “quite serious about fighting in MMA” and they are currently in negotiations with several promotions, hoping to line up a debut fight sometime in the next 2-3 months. The ex-champ — whose boxing career went south after losing a rematch to Lennox Lewis — built a reputation on a big right hand in the sweet science, though he was also inconsistent and at times seemed to lack the impetus to get in shape.
“He thought it would be an interesting thing. He’s seen Kimbo Slice fight on TV, and he’s like, ‘I’d like to fight some of these guys,’” said Gelke.
- Dan Hardy has a column here talking about his win last against Rory Markham at UFC 95. Setanta Sports has more on Mr. HGH InFusion and what’s next for him.
- The LA Times got their hands on a copy of the response from Georges St. Pierre’s camp in regards to vaseline usage and questions from the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
- Paul Kelly is planning on heading to the Lightweight division.
- AOL Fanhouse: You like? Heath Herring vs. Cain Velasquez booked for UFC’s upcoming Germany event.
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 23 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Fight Opinion Radio #94: UFC 95 fallout and a big UFC 2010 prediction
By Zach Arnold | February 26, 2009
We are back and better than ever with a new edition of Fight Opinion Radio. This week, Caleb of The Fightworks Podcast and Zach open up the show talking about all the fallout from UFC 95. Our opening focus is on the selective outrage of drug abuse and promotion in MMA, centered around the media huffing and puffing when a fighter fails a drug test but a fighter with an “HGH sponsor” receives no scorn. Plus: Will the nationalistic marketing card work in promoting this season of The Ultimate Fighter on Spike TV? Who will be Demain Maia’s kryptonite at Middleweight? A bonus business prediction that will surely come true for UFC in 2010. Also, why is MMA doing so well in these tough economic times while other sports are struggling to stay afloat?
In our closing segment, we talk about a recent interview with Rickson Gracie and whether or not he will fight in MMA again. Building on our previous segment talking about the health, we’ll address some of the challenges Strikeforce is facing with an increase in their events promotion workload. Will the promotion get stuck in-between being an independent or a major player? Plus: Taking a look at the current fanbase that financially supports MMA today versus what the audience was like five years ago and why so many hardcore fans that were invested in the business throughout the decade seem to be fading away. Money marks willing to pay big fight money for Fedor, however, do not seem to be fading away and we ask a simple question — we know Fedor is getting paid a lot of money, but outside of what promoters are currently paying him per fight… what do you think his true worth is in the MMA marketplace today?
The 94th edition of Fight Opinion Radio is now online and available to download. Download this week’s show here.
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: Fight Opinion Radio, Media, MMA, podcasts, StrikeForce, UFC, UK, Zach Arnold | 6 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
What you’re reading most this past week (end of Feb. ’09)
By Zach Arnold | February 26, 2009
- MMA Opinion: March Sadness (and Thank God for Japan)
- Steve Cofield: Phil Baroni suddenly looks like a genius
- MMA Analyst: Takanori Gomi confirms that he’s not a top lightweight, mentally exhausted
- Total MMA: Josh Koscheck, Quo Vadimus
- Japan MMA: K-1 2/23 World MAX Japan tournament report
- Steve Cofield: UFC announcer Mike Goldberg loses his mind at a bar
One universal thing is very clear since I started tracking output of traffic to external links — Steve Cofield dominates everyone else in terms of attracting readership amongst our crowd.
Topics: Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 3 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
UFC signs Yoshihiro Akiyama
By Zach Arnold | February 25, 2009
Update: Daily Sports reports that Akiyama will fight at 185 pounds (Middleweight). The article list two targets: Yushin Okami and Anderson Silva.
Press release here. The advance into South Korea is evident. In Japan? UFC needs infrastructure to make it happen there. South Korea’s the easier play at this point.
UFC could run a spot show in Japan, certainly. But as WWE found out, the marketplace right now for the fight game (pro-wrestling, MMA, etc.) in Japan is really on life support. K-1 does well for their core product, but that’s it. That’s the whole ballgame. Even when the Japanese market was strong 3-4 years ago, it was nearly impossible for a foreigner to jump into the scene there. Now with a weak market and the same politics, it’s nearly impossible for a long-term play there. South Korea’s the real market at stake here for UFC.
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 34 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
It’s come to this: Tim Sylvia vs. Ray Mercer in a boxing match
By Zach Arnold | February 25, 2009
What do you get the man who made $800,000 USD in a sub-minute losing effort to Fedor? A booking against Ray Mercer in a boxing match. Naturally, Monte Cox is promoting this fight in Atlantic City. Wow.
Side discussion: So, how well do MMA fighter agents perform as MMA promoters? The track record says… well…
Taking this fight is going to do for Tim Sylvia’s career what driving drunk and spouting anti-Jew comments to a cop did for Mel Gibson’s. After some time has passed people might forget about it, but there’s still absolutely nothing good that can come out of it.
For the record, Mercer hasn’t boxed in the States since 2005.
Topics: Boxing, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 14 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Article of the Day: Is Josh Koscheck now an ‘also-ran’ in MMA?
By Zach Arnold | February 25, 2009
I’m not sure that I agree with the argument being made here, but Total MMA author Jonathan Snowden makes the argument for this labeling in a new article at Five Ounces.
Kelvin Hunt pulls a Lee Corso and says, not-so-fast my friend.
If you disagree with Jonathan’s article and want to write a rebuttal to it (in article-form), hit me up by using the contact form.
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 2 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
PR: Tequila CAZADORES Named Official Spirit Sponsor of Ultimate Fighting Championship(R)
By Zach Arnold | February 25, 2009
MIAMI, Feb. 25 /PRNewswire/ — Tequila CAZADORES(R), the number-one premium tequila in the world, is proud to announce that it has been named the Official Spirit Sponsor of the Ultimate Fighting Championship(R) (“UFC(R)”) through March 2010. UFC is the world’s leading professional mixed martial arts organization (“MMA”) that offers a premier series of MMA sporting events.
This sponsorship will provide millions of adult UFC enthusiasts with the chance to enjoy a premium brand experience as Tequila CAZADORES takes the Octagon(TM) (eight-sided mat and cage) in upcoming UFC events. Just as UFC competitors, or “Ultimate Fighters(R),” are among the best-trained and conditioned athletes in the world, Tequila CAZADORES is the world’s best-selling premium tequila because of its uncompromising quality, authenticity and heritage. The sponsorship will introduce the authentic experience and taste of Tequila CAZADORES to UFC adult fans around the world.
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 4 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Report: New Mexico politician wants to ban MMA in his state
By Zach Arnold | February 25, 2009
KRQE in Albuquerque is reporting that State Senator Tim Jennings (D-Roswell) introduced a bill last week in New Mexico’s state legislature to ban MMA activity.
Here is how local station KOB introduces their news piece on the story:
New Mexico already has a ban on dog fighting and cockfighting. Now, one state lawmaker wants to outlaw cage fighting.
Senator Tim Jennings is calling out the cage fighting culture, saying the sport is just as violent as pitting animals against each other.
State Senator Jennings was/is a bigwig politician in New Mexico. He’s not yet age 60 and has spent about 30 years in state politics.
On a seperate note, it appears there are some MMA-related politics happening in Fresno.
Topics: Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 10 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |