Not much broadsheet press for tonight’s WEC Sacramento event
By Zach Arnold | May 31, 2008
I found these articles. I’m a bit puzzled. I will continue to search for any more articles on this topic…
- The Sacramento Bee: WEC primer for new fans
- Fox Sports: Jens Pulver still has drive to become a champ again
- New York Newsday: Can submission grappling be thrown on Jens Pulver’s resume as well?
- The South Florida Sun-Sentinel: Mike Brown takes shot at crowded WEC featherweight field
- The Sacramento Bee: Extreme fighting means big business
- The Sacramento Bee: Jens Pulver is indicative of MMA’s contrasts
Topics: Media, MMA, WEC, Zach Arnold | 4 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
The early reviews for EXC on CBS are in…
By Zach Arnold | May 31, 2008
Kimbo Slice’s fight is the top headline on Yahoo’s front page
I’ll post some personal thoughts on the show soon, but one interesting trend I am already spotting… the show is generally getting positive or neutral coverage in the broadsheet media, whereas it is getting ripped apart by hardcore MMA writers and fans.
- MMA Predictions: Breakdown of EXC on CBS
- AOL Fanhouse: Brett Rogers calls Kimbo’s fight ‘garbage’ and claims that Kimbo tapped out in his fight
- TV By the Numbers: MMA on CBS, best in low definition!
- Yardbarker: Likes and dislikes for the EXC CBS broadcast
- Greg Cote (Miami Herald): Can’t MMA fans play nice?
- New York Newsday: Kimbo, Carano earn TKO wins and so their stars shine on…
- Sherdog: Kimbo survives scare in Jersey
- The Newark Star-Ledger: Gina Carano lives up to hype in win
- The Newark Star-Ledger: Kimbo gives CBS slice of victory
- The Dayton Daily News: Sponsorship issue proves MMA not yet mainstream
- The Associated Press: Kimbo had his hands full with The Colossus
- CBS Sports: Controversial endings put damper on EXC’s CBS debut
- Sports Illustrated: Carano’s KO adds spice to male-dominated EXC card
- The South Florida Sun-Sentinel: MMA a sport? Yes, well, sort of
- Brent Brookhouse: I’m Sorry…
- Five Ounces of Pain: Pros and Cons of EXC on CBS
- Jared Barnes: Refereeing at the EXC show was abysmal
- MMA Opinion: CBS Saturday Night Fights delivers
- The Bleacher Report: EXC fixed — Kimbo Slice wins a rigged match
Topics: Media, MMA, Pro Elite, Zach Arnold | 26 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Elite XC 5/31 New Jersey event results
By Zach Arnold | May 31, 2008
All PBP from our readers goes here.
AOL Fanhouse weighs in.
Topics: Media, MMA, Pro Elite, Zach Arnold | 39 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Slice and Dice
By Zach Arnold | May 31, 2008
There is a tremendous amount of broadsheet press coverage today in the States for tonight’s Elite XC event featuring Kimbo Slice. Make no mistake about it — that man is garnering some serious ink from the media types. It’s make or break tonight for Gary Shaw’s long-term future in MMA.
- The Canadian Press: Kimbo Slice completes move from backyard brawls to prime-time main event
- The LA Times: Sport goes mainstream with Kimbo Slice-James Thompson bout
- Time Magazine: Kimbo Slice gets his prime-time shot
- AOL Fanhouse: A guide to MMA for the MSM
- The LA Daily News: CBS submits to Slice of MMA
- The Associated Press: With prime-time slot, MMA in clinch with mainstream
- BET: Kimbo is getting a bad slice from media
- The Baltimore Sun: Kimbo Slice good for the sport
- The Shreveport Times: MMA takes it shot at prime-time tonight
- The Sweet Science: Maybe boxing can get a Slice of the action
- The Palm Beach Post: CBS ready to take chance on MMA… and Kimbo Slice
- The Newark Star-Ledger: YouTube sensation puts national spotlight on MMA
- The Newark Star-Ledger: Women’s MMA bout has proven power
- The New York Times: New league sees potential in backyard brawler
- The Washington Times: Brawling — in prime time
- The Miami Herald: Kimbo Slice is ‘an all-American story’
- The Dayton Daily News: Many up in arms over Kimbo’s debut on CBS
- Josh Gross: So who’s the real big-time player at EXC’s show tonight?
- New York Newsday: EXC show is a milestone that would have been laughable in 2000
- The Long Beach Press-Telegram: The parallels between Kimbo Slice and the sport of MMA run long
- Total MMA: Final word on EXC
- Bloody Elbow: Inevitability works for UFC until it doesn’t
- Kevin Iole: Robbie Lawler’s proving ground
- MMA Analyst: CBS/EXC betting preview
Topics: Media, MMA, Pro Elite, Zach Arnold | 13 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Stick-and-ball US sportswriters are throwing a fit about EXC on CBS
By Zach Arnold | May 29, 2008
What a weekend this is going to be for MMA action, with the Elite XC special Saturday night on CBS and then Jens Pulver vs. Urijah Faber in front of 10,000+ fans at Arco Arena in Sacramento on Sunday night (TV: Versus Network). Expect a ton of broadsheet media coverage.
Some of it will be negative. Greg Cote, who is a famous sports writer (think: NFL) for The Miami Herald, is not thrilled about Kimbo Slice fighting. Of all the time frames to take a year-long vacation, fellow Miami Herald writer Dan Le Batard may have chose the wrong time for a break.
- Dan Wetzel (Yahoo): Kimbo Slice is not the face of MMA (not exactly a friendly article for EXC)
- USA Today: UFC has fight on its hands against Elite XC
- The Newark Star-Ledger: Saturday night lights at the fights
- The Philadelphia Daily News: MMA is blooming in the Philly area
- MMA Predictions: Phil Baroni, Joey Villasenor exchange words prior to May 31st fight
- Jared Barnes: EXC 5/31 event preview
- MMA HQ: Elite XC – CBS Saturday Night Fights preview
- USA Today: Dana White Q & A (this is quite the interview — White claims WEC is 10 times better than PRIDE)
- Mainichi Daily News: Shaolin Temple Grand Master arrested for tax evasion
- MMA Junkie: Urijah Faber wants to avenge loss to Tyson Griffin
- MMA Madness: Sit-down interviews with Anderson Silva & The Nogueira Brothers
Topics: Media, MMA, PRIDE, Pro Elite, UFC, WEC, Zach Arnold | 34 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
WEC audio interviews with Pulver & Faber
By Zach Arnold | May 28, 2008
Here are the direct links to some new audio interviews conducted with both WEC fighters regarding this Sunday’s event at Arco Arena in Sacramento:
Urijah Faber: Part 1 | Part 2
Jens Pulver: Part 1 | Part 2
Topics: Media, MMA, WEC, Zach Arnold | 3 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Today’s chalkboard (5/28/08)
By Zach Arnold | May 28, 2008
Luke Thomas is looking for new writers.
- Hall of Fame Magazine: Gina Carano – quite a knockout
- The Hill (DC): UFC hires Washington D.C. lobbying firm
- MMA Payout: What UFC’s latest lobbying move is really all about
- The LA Times: “UFC attempts to be more controlling than other sports. UFC sounds like it’s trying to hem in media.”
- MMA Junkie: Leonard Garcia talks arrest, redemption, and possible WEC return
- MMA Weekly: Jens Pulver — “this is do or die for me”
- The Houston Chronicle: Interview with Jens Pulver w/ audio
- Dave Meltzer: Jens Pulver looks for glory in old stomping grounds
- Bloody Elbow: Varying takes on Ryoto Machida
- Five Ounces of Pain: Roger Huerta confirms fight with Kenny Florian is for title shot
- MMA Analyst: UFC 84 post-opinion review — some people just don’t get it
- Fox News Fight Game (video): UFC 84 delivers!
- Charles Jay: MMA upstarts dropping like flies
- Press release: New martial arts book challenges popular MMA
Topics: Media, MMA, Pro Elite, UFC, WEC, Zach Arnold | 4 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Has UFC’s competition been priced out of the MMA market?
By Zach Arnold | May 27, 2008
Mirko Cro Cop vs. Ralek Gracie at DREAM 4 in the dream grappling match you’ve all waited for.
Onto today’s headlines.
- Steve Cofield: Audio of UFC 84 post-fight insanity
- AOL Fanhouse: Dana White rips reporter who called him ‘The White Don King’
- TMZ: Jacko enjoys smacko through cracko
- Josh Gross: Many star fighters, but just one star class for White & Co.
- Bloody Elbow: Does cost stunt MMA’s growth?
- MMA Payout: Stadium shows in UFC’s future?
- The Fightworks Podcast: #118 Xande Ribiero talks 2008 BJJ Worlds
- WEC HP: Urijah Faber hungry to pad legacy
- MMA Weekly: Video w/ Urijah Faber
- MMA Betting Blog: WEC 34 odds for Faber vs. Pulver
- Five Ounces of Pain: Wanderlei Silva not moving to middleweight
- MMA Predictions: 81% of online predictors thought BJ Penn would beat Sean Sherk
- Fightmetric: UFC 84 stats bonanza
- MMA Canada: Interview with Canadian MMA promoter Dave Houshiar (formerly of Hardcore Championship Fighting)
Topics: Canada, DREAM, Japan, Media, MMA, UFC, WEC, Zach Arnold | 9 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Analyzing the fallout from UFC 84
By Zach Arnold | May 26, 2008
Josh Barnett is booked for two upcoming Inoki Genome shows in Japan — 6/23 Tsukisamu Green Dome (Sapporo) and 8/15 in Tokyo at Ryogoku Kokugikan.
I added the RSS feed for The Long Beach Press-Telegram on the site. For some reason, the RSS feed doesn’t work on the clickthroughs. Not sure why it’s broken.
Onto today’s headlines.
- The Long Beach Press-Telegram: Tito Ortiz’ future with the UFC not yet determined
- Sherdog: Urijah Faber readies himself for Lil’ Evil
- Jake Rossen: Is Kimbo Slice ready for prime time?
- The Dayton Daily News: How do you solve a problem like Ryoto Machida?
- Bloody Elbow: What if James Thompson ruins the party for Kimbo Slice?
- MMA Analyst: Gary Shaw vs. Dana White – who’s right and who’s wrong?
- Fightlinker: Silly Tito, your press conference is behind the dumpster
- Total MMA: Figuring out the UFC’s Light Heavyweight dilemma
- MMA Predictions: UFC 84 in review
- MMA Opinion: UFC 84 – the days after
- Jeff Haney: Saturday’s UFC wins spark talk of shifts
- The Las Vegas Review-Journal: UFC fuels passion as gladiators did (the author calls UFC ‘Universal Fighting Championship’ and uses the Zuffa myth)
Topics: Japan, Media, MMA, Pro Elite, UFC, WEC, Zach Arnold | 16 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
UFC 84 discussion
By Zach Arnold | May 24, 2008
Quick sidenote: Our friend, Erin Bucknell, is looking for new writers/photographers to bring onto the MMACalifornia.net web site. If you’re in the state and can help her out, please contact her. Thanks.
Results in full-page mode. Plus, Luke Thomas has an audio recap covering the UFC 84 event (audio here). Also added: Media headlines covering the fallout from the event.
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 53 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
A new game to play: Where in the world is Dana White
By Zach Arnold | May 24, 2008
- The Canadian Press: Bad blood and good fighters highlight UFC 84 card in Las Vegas
- Fox Sports: Breaking down UFC 84 – Sherk vs. Penn
- The Washington Post: Sean Sherk faces both BJ Penn and steroid issue
- The Dayton Daily News: Can Sean Sherk become the world’s top lightweight?
- The LA Times: Tito Ortiz’s UFC final could be tonight
- The Winnipeg Sun: War of the words between Ortiz and White
- Josh Gross: Rich card, ill will mark UFC 84
- Kevin Iole: Sean Sherk’s fight for redemption
- Men’s Fitness: Arianny Celeste
- Michael David Smith: UFC 84 is everywhere in Las Vegas — even at the blackjack tables
- The Long Beach Press-Telegram: Wanderlei Silva, Keith Jardine are at a crossroads
- The Las Vegas Review-Journal: Keith Jardine patient in UFC title quest
- The South Florida Sun-Sentinel: Carlos Garcia going for first MMA title tonight in Ft. Lauderdale with a purpose
- Sherdog: Texas court grants Zuffa emergency stay in Randy Couture court case
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 15 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Steroid talk dominates media heat-up for UFC 84 event
By Zach Arnold | May 23, 2008
Sherdog is bringing in a lot of new and veteran writing talent on their site now (including Loretta Hunt and Brian Knapp of TFN fame). It is definitely a positive move in the right direction.
Brock Lesnar vs. Mark Coleman is officially canceled.
Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Melvin Manhoef has been booked for 6/15 at Yokohama Arena.
Onto today’s other headlines.
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: DREAM, Japan, K-1, Media, MMA, Pro Elite, UFC, Zach Arnold | 5 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Fight Opinion Radio #81: UFC 84 preview and sabermetrics in MMA
By Zach Arnold | May 23, 2008
We are joined this week by the man behind FightMetric.com to preview this Saturday’s UFC 84 event. We have predictions for all the major fights on the show, which includes usage of data from the Fight Metric web site. Plus, an interesting question is posed on the show about the future role of sabermetrics and statistics in MMA.
The 81st 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 | No Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |