Quote of the Day – Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer
By Zach Arnold | September 14, 2008
In an interview with Josh Gross of Sports Illustrated:
“We believe Affliction and the relationships they have with that demographic, the identification they have within that demographic group I think will help bring boxing to these people,” said the Golden Boy CEO. “We think as well, many of the mixed martial arts fans are fans of combat sports, and what they’ve seen of boxing is a very exciting sport as well that maybe they will discover their love for the sport of boxing.”
Some boxing fans are not happy with Golden Boy on this new development.
Topics: Affliction, Boxing, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 12 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
MMA show in Phoenix on October 4th
By Zach Arnold | September 14, 2008
EVO MMA will run the first MMA show in the state of Arizona using the state’s new Unified MMA rules. The promotion’s October 4th event will take place at the Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix. Card line-up:
Steve Berger vs. Ray Steinbeiss
Ben Henderson vs. Junior Assuncao
Alonzo Martinez vs. Danilo Cherman
Seth Bacznski vs. Aaron Romero
Del Hawkins vs. Elton Chavez
Tickets are available at evomma.com or by calling 602-267-1600.
Topics: Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 1 Comment » | Permalink | Trackback |
Sengoku & TV Tokyo
By Zach Arnold | September 13, 2008
Nikkan Sports has a report claiming that World Victory Road (the parent company of Sengoku) has signed a deal with TV-Tokyo, the smallest of the free-to-air broadcast TV networks in Japan. This network has recently aired All Japan, ZERO-ONE MAX, Cage Force, and Hustle TV shows.
(Personal thought: If past history is any indication, the deal between Sengoku and TV-Tokyo could be either a pay-for-play (i.e. bring the sponsors, then do a revenue split) or barter scenario.)
Details of the TV Tokyo deal with Sengoku… the network will air a one-hour special show on the 27th, the day before the company’s 9/28 Yoyogi event. The promotion will have a weekly 25-minute show every Midnight (Sundays) from 12:35 AM to 1 AM called “Sengoku G (gold).” According to the Nikkan Sports report, the network is interested in airing a 2-hour “New Year Event” special on January 4th.
TV-Tokyo used to air highlight-version UFC shows a few years ago.
Topics: Japan, Media, MMA, Sengoku, Zach Arnold | 2 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
MMA Weekly: Golden Boy working with Affliction
By Zach Arnold | September 13, 2008
Though no word has been forthcoming from either promoter, it is expected that the partnership would include events that commingle boxing and MMA bouts on the same fight card. The move of Affliction’s event gives the two time to work out details and strategies to make such a hybrid fight card possible for the January event.
This is a lousy concept and a cheap gimmick. Just because a promoter was able to make it work on a lower level at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas through sponsorship doesn’t mean that the concept will work on a bigger scale with fighters commanding higher salaries. If I’m watching an MMA show, I want to watch a full card of MMA. I don’t want to watch boxing and MMA together. If I want to watch boxing, I’ll watch a boxing show with hopefully more than one good bout on paper. There’s a difference between getting a cheap or free ticket to a live show with a mixture of boxing & MMA bouts as opposed to me shelling out $40-50 USD for what is supposed to be an MMA PPV.
On paper, Affliction announcing a partnership with Golden Boy has decent “shock value” in terms of PR. In reality, I’m not sure just how much Golden Boy is willing to put into the business relationship. For example, Golden Boy is reportedly not airing the Joel Casamayor-Juan Manuel Marquez PPV fight tonight in HD. The reason? A cost-cutting measure.
Topics: Affliction, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 60 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
San Diego Union-Tribune article on Evan Tanner’s death in the desert
By Zach Arnold | September 13, 2008
Topics: Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | No Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Report: Several DREAM fighters allegedly owed money
By Zach Arnold | September 12, 2008
Assist in reporting from Yeo Jong-Hoon
According to a report at Sports Seoul, there is growing criticism about FEG delaying or not giving fighters money that they owed. “Fighter A” claimed in the article that he didn’t receive money for his last two fights, and “Fighter B” who is preparing for an upcoming fight also is claiming they didn’t get some fight money. “Fighter C” claims that he had to wait three months to get his fight salary.
The article quotes a source as saying, “There’s many fighters who don’t get paid. Especially DREAM fighters, foreigners mostly.” The article claims that the reason in the alleged delaying of payments is due to DREAM’s financial situation and the situation regarding Kazuyoshi Ishii.
The article also focused on Choi Hong-Man’s upcoming fight against Badr Hari in Seoul. There is criticism about K-1 booking this fight because Hong-Man only recently had surgery to remove a tumor in his brain. FEG claims that Hong-Man is healthy to fight, but there is a growing consensus that both K-1 & Hong-Man’s camps are spinning.
Topics: DREAM, Japan, K-1, Media, MMA, South Korea, Zach Arnold | 26 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Fight Opinion Radio #90: UFC 88 review & preview of upcoming UFC events
By Zach Arnold | September 12, 2008
This week’s edition of Fight Opinion Radio concentrates on the fallout from last weekend’s UFC 88 event. Is Chuck Liddell finished as a top-level fighter? Why does Dan Henderson have such a strange track record in terms of being on-again, off-again in terms of producing exciting fights? Plus, thoughts on the Atlanta crowd that attended the show.
The 90th 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, Jeff Thaler, Media, MMA, podcasts, UFC, Zach Arnold | 2 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
DREAM 9/23 Saitama full card line-up
By Zach Arnold | September 11, 2008
9/23 Saitama Super Arena (4 PM JST)
- Middleweights: Masanori Tonooka vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama
- Heavywights: Mirko Cro Cop vs. Alistair Overeem
- Middleweights: Minowaman vs. Masakatsu Funaki
- Welterweights: Hayato “Mach” Sakurai vs. Kuniyoshi Hironaka
- Lightweights: K-taro Nakamura vs. Adriano Martins
- Featherweights: Hideo Tokoro vs. Atsushi Yamamoto
- Middleweight GP 2008 (Reserve match): Yoon Dong-Sik vs. Andrews Nakahara
- Heavyweights: Sergey Kharitonov vs. Mighty Mo
- Middleweight GP 2008 Series: Melvin Manhoef vs. Gegard Mousasi
- Middleweight GP 2008 Series: Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza vs. Zelg Galesic
Topics: DREAM, Japan, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | No Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Sengoku 9/28 Tokyo full card line-up
By Zach Arnold | September 11, 2008
9/28 Tokyo, Yoyogi National Stadium Gym I (3 PM JST)
- Lightweights: Ryan Schultz vs. Jorge Masvidal
- Lightweights: Kiuma Kunioku vs. A Sol Kwon
- Light Heavyweights: Xande Ribeiro vs. Takashi Sugiura
- Heavyweights: Roger Gracie vs. Travis Wiuff
- Middleweight GP Series: Yuki Kondo vs. Yuki Sasaki
- Middleweight GP Series: Evangelista Cyborg vs. Siyar Bahadurzada
- Middleweight GP Series: Kazuhiro Nakamura vs. Paul Cahoon
- Middleweight GP Series: Jorge Santiago vs. Logan Clark
The promotion announced that the finals of their Middleweight & Lightweight GP Series 2008 tournaments will take place on 11/1 at Saitama Super Arena. The company also is claiming that they will have a show on NYE.
Topics: Japan, Media, MMA, Sengoku, Zach Arnold | 2 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Affliction’s second MMA event rescheduled to January 2009
By Zach Arnold | September 10, 2008
Wisdom and common sense prevailed, as the backers of Affliction’s MMA promotion announced that they are postponing their 10/11 Las Vegas event. The new event date is set for January 2009 in Anaheim at the Honda Center.
The move makes great sense, as UFC is so politically well-connected in Las Vegas that it is impossible to run a big show in that town unless you have someone like Steve Wynn or Ed Fishman on your side with their considerable casino & political muscle.
With that said, ticket sales for the Las Vegas event were predictably and reportedly weak. Sam Caplan claims that only 700 tickets were sold. Kevin Iole claims the number was 800 tickets sold.
Andrei Arlovski’s camp is reportedly “extremely disappointed” by this newest development.
Topics: Affliction, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 32 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Reports: Kenta Kobashi has nerve damage in his right arm
By Zach Arnold | September 9, 2008
There are multiple media reports today in Japan (confirmed by NOAH owner Mitsuharu Misawa at a press conference) that legendary pro-wrestler Kenta Kobashi has suffered nerve damage in his right arm due to too many chops and lariats. Technically, the diagnosis is ulnar nerve paralysis.
Kobashi is done for the year, if not longer.
Topics: Japan, Media, Pro-Wrestling, Zach Arnold | No Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
UFC HP confirms Evan Tanner’s death
By Zach Arnold | September 8, 2008
UFC’s official statement on the death of Evan Tanner.
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 7 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Report: Evan Tanner may have been found dead
By Zach Arnold | September 8, 2008
This according to the Imperial Valley Press newspaper in Imperial County, California. (Southeastern part of the state.)
Update: The San Diego Union-Tribune has more details. Sherdog report here and MMA Junkie report here. More thoughts from Steve Cofield.
John Chandler looks back fondly at his professional relationship with Evan.
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 4 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |