Today’s chalkboard (5/22/08)
By Zach Arnold | May 22, 2008
We should have an audio preview of this upcoming UFC event either available tonight or early tomorrow morning.
New Hampshire is preparing for MMA legislation.
Onto today’s headlines.
- The Las Vegas Sun: The art in UFC’s violence – fighters, emotion, blood captured in book, exhibit
- The Las Vegas Sun: Glorified jock posters or art, project pretty cool
- The Las Vegas Review-Journal: UFC head Dana White – ‘The white Don King’
- The Long Beach Press-Telegram: UFC owner Dana White says his company is ‘going global’
- Todd Martin: Affliction prepares to make big splash in MMA
- Josh Gross: Not mainstream, not Zuffa – Affliction continues to work for its audience
- Sherdog: Ryoto Machida focused on fighting, not feuds
- AOL Fanhouse: It’s all MMA, but fighting in the cage and fighting in the ring are two different things
- The Rochester Post-Bulletin (MN): Sean Sherk will try to shake off steroids wrap, BJ Penn
- The Miami Herald: Steroid issue takes center stage in the lead-up to UFC 84 main event
Topics: Affliction, Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 7 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Will Affliction draw serious money promoting events?
By Zach Arnold | May 21, 2008
The upcoming Hidehiko Yoshida vs. Maurice Smith fight for Sengoku 3 on 6/8 at Saitama Super Arena is being pushed in the Japanese media as a battle between two fighters who are a combined 85 years old.
Onto today’s headlines.
- The Long Beach Press-Telegram: Affliction throws itself into the mix (note the comment about not being ‘a money-first operation’…)
- USA Today: $250,000 worth of tickets sold for Affliction 7/19 Honda Center event
- The New York Daily News: Newly-retired boxer Chris Byrd helping with boxing training for UFC fighters
- The Long Beach Press-Telegram: Beyond bad blood – Penn and Sherk’s battle of words reaches new levels
- The Rochester Post-Bulletin (MN): Local fighters Travis Wiuff and Logan Clark sign contracts to fight for Sengoku
- USA Today: Sean Sherk, BJ Penn set for testy UFC battle
- MMA Junkie: Luiz Cane replaces James Irvin at UFC 85
- The Canadian Press: Tito Ortiz says he will make UFC pay in his farewell fight
- Eurosport: Ryoto Machida could make big name
- SI: CBS prepared, confident about prime-time EXC event
- The Sun (UK): Keith Jardine has a point to prove
- The Quincy Patriot-Ledger (MA): State senator James Timilty fights for MMA regulation in Massachusetts
- The Honolulu Advertiser: BJ Penn not out to kill at ‘Ill Will’ MMA card
- KIRO TV (WA): Students’ ‘fight club’ causing controversy
- MMA Predictions: UFC 84 from the MMA girls
- MMA Weekly: Rashad Evans bout scrapped, UFC 85 final at 11 bouts
- Kevin Iole: Love him or hate him, people talk Kimbo
- MMA Analyst: Gina Carano carrying CBS/EXC – analyzing the buzz
- MMA Opinion: Adjusting to the Octagon – Wanderlei Silva’s problem
- Total MMA: UFC 84 – Ill Will event preview
Topics: Boxing, Japan, Media, MMA, Pro Elite, Sengoku, UFC, Zach Arnold | 26 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Gus Johnson is ready to run wild, brother
By Zach Arnold | May 20, 2008
Intriguingly, Gus Johnson of CBS Sports will be the play-by-play man for the Elite XC debut show on CBS. I have ribbed Mauro Ranallo about this in the past, but make no mistake about it – Johnson (in an interview with Bill Simmons on ESPN) was very serious about getting into MMA. You can’t go wrong with both Mauro and Gus doing the PBP. With that stated, a lot of casual sports fans associate Johnson with NFL, March Madness, and Knicks on MSG telecasts. I am surprised that more people have not picked up on this story, since Johnson is a real darling of the various big sports blogs in the States. Here is an Associated Press article on Frank Shamrock joining Gus & Mauro on the broadcast team.
Mark & Matt Hughes made quite an impression at the NRA show.
North Dakota must be proud of this quality journalism.
Onto today’s headlines.
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: Media, MMA, Pro Elite, UFC, Zach Arnold | 10 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Welcome to the fight business
By Zach Arnold | May 17, 2008
There is some controversy growing about a cancelation of Anderson Silva’s seminar in the Houston area. Jared Barnes has all the details right here. What makes the story interesting is that in a May 5th news update on our site, we posted a link to a South Florida Sun-Sentinel news article titled UFC champions Antonio Nogueira, Anderson Silva partnering on fight academy in downtown Miami. If the accusations/allegations in the Barnes report are true, then the supposed ‘cover’ wasn’t exactly a well-kept secret.
Results from today’s Sengoku event in Tokyo at Ariake Colosseum. More thoughts at the Total MMA web site.
Onto today’s headlines.
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: IFL, Japan, Media, MMA, Sengoku, UFC, Zach Arnold | 6 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Ortiz/White feud continues to draw media attention
By Zach Arnold | May 17, 2008
- Todd Martin: BJ Penn vs. Sean Sherk showdown should be classic grudge match
- The Sun (UK): BJ Penn hits back at Sean Sherk
- Michael Bisping: It’s doomsday for Jason Day
- ESPN The Magazine: MMA submission – Kung Fu Panda
- Kevin Iole: Mike Tyson fight or no, Kimbo Slice is no freakshow
- Sam Caplan: ‘TUF’ coaches least of show’s worries
- The Daily Advertiser (Louisiana): Tim Credeur blogs about Episode 7 of TUF
- SI: Tito Ortiz – a top 10 fighter or just another victim?
- Charles Jay: Will Ryoto Machida stay undefeated?
- Dave Meltzer: Tito Ortiz vs. Dana White is UFC’s hottest feud
- MMA Predictions: Breakdown of IFL at the Mohegan Sun
- Sherdog: Roy Nelson, Ryan Schultz defend; Miller new IFL champion
- MMA HQ: News and notes from IFL event at Mohegan Sun
- MMA Analyst: Sengoku 5/18 Ariake Colosseum event preview
- Nightmare of Battle: Preparing for Sengoku 2
- MMA Memories: ‘Steam’ should be enough for MMA passage in New York
Topics: IFL, Japan, Media, MMA, Pro Elite, Sengoku, UFC, UK, Zach Arnold | 8 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Today’s chalkboard (5/16/08)
By Zach Arnold | May 16, 2008
I have been busy working on various projects, which have kept me preoccupied for a while now. I am hopeful that within the next month, order will be restored and that I will be able to write some op-eds and give more analysis on what is currently happening in the MMA business. For the time being, I thank all of you for being so loyal and patient with me. It really is appreciated.
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: Media, MMA, Pro Elite, UFC, Zach Arnold | 6 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Today’s chalkboard (4/14/08)
By Zach Arnold | May 14, 2008
- Fox Sports: Tito Ortiz — ‘I plan on fighting for three more years’
- Fox Sports: IFL is seeking buyers for the troubled league
- Sherdog: IFL changes while seeking a future
- Fight Hype: Christopher Bell — ‘What’s really the big deal about steroids?’
- Setanta Sports (UK): Keith Jardine – legend slayer
- The Calgary Sun: Workout with MMA fighter proves a humbling experience
- The Sun (UK): Wayne McCullough believes David Haye can make an impact in MMA when he hangs up his boxing gloves
- Five Ounces of Pain: Gina Carano on ESPN’s E-60 show
- MMA Predictions: Gina Carano and Kaitlin Young speak on upcoming bout
- Fighter’s Only Magazine (UK): Dan Hardy talks to FO about UFC deal
- MMA Payout: More details on ESPN MMA show
- Fightmetric: BJ Penn is ridiculous
- ADCC News: Ryan Schultz talks IFL, SportFight, and Team Quest
- MMA Analyst: TUF season 8 – combination of rants best describes TUF’s woes
- MMA Opinion: The Forest from the Trees
- USA Today: Jeff Monson Q & A
Topics: IFL, Media, MMA, Pro Elite, UFC, UK, Zach Arnold | 20 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Interested in Mayhem vs. Sakuraba?
By Zach Arnold | May 13, 2008
DREAM 4 is set for June 15th at Yokohama Arena. Any desire to see Mayhem Miller vs. Kazushi Sakuraba in a fight? The claimed paid attendance for DREAM 3 at Saitama Super Arena on the 11th was 21,789.
- USA Today: Interview with Josh Barnett
- PR: Nonprofit organizes May 15th run in Vegas to raise funds for US soldiers in financial crisis
- News Long Island: Randy Couture to appear at Xtreme Couture in Centereach Long Island
- Charles Jay: Sizing up UFC 84 – betting heavy on Lightweights and Light Heavyweights
- Bloody Elbow: UFC’s television future
- AOL Fanhouse: Mark Cuban’s HDNet has work to do on production quality of MMA broadcasts
- IGN: What will the other MMA game look like?
- News Channel 7 (SC): Bill would allow ‘ultimate fighting’ in South Carolina
- The Las Vegas Review-Journal: TUF coaching gig gives Frank Mir chance at Ultimate goal – heavyweight title shot awaits after TV show
- All Media Scotland: MMA hits Cannes
- The Philadelphia Daily Inquirer: ‘Iron Ring’ is more circus than serious
Topics: DREAM, HDNet, Japan, K-1, Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 18 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
‘Redbelt’ draws mostly positive mainstream media reviews
By Zach Arnold | May 11, 2008
- Total MMA: DREAM 3 live results
- The Seattle PI: Ivan Salaverry’s last stand?
- BC Local News (Canada): Fighting against MMA
- Penn Live (Entertainment): ‘Redbelt’ is an oddly intriguing Mamet mix
- The Denton Record-Chronicle (TX): Finding the art of fighting
- The Ventura County Star: Meeting Kimbo Slice
- The LA Times: On the mat with David Mamet
- The Edmonton Sun: Notes from MFC 16 event
- TKO Xtreme: MFC 16: Anger Management results
- The North County Times (CA): Jesse Taylor has sights on winning UFC contract
- The American Chronicle: MMA – trend or fad?
- Globe & Mail (Canada): GSP’s love life makes headlines
- MVN: Kimbo Slice – the man who is going to kill MMA
- MMA Junkie: Matt Hughes wants to prove his time hasn’t passed
- 411 Mania: Interview with Jens Pulver
- IGN: Randy Couture and David Mamet interview
- Bloody Elbow: What would 30% look like?
- MMA Analyst: HCF dies; who’s next and why?
- MMA Madness: Dan Henderson — what’s next?
- Jared Barnes: Interview with Yves Edwards (w/ audio)
- Charles Jay: UFC on Forbes is a big deal — but how big a deal is the UFC?
- MMA Opinion: Will a documentary steal MMA viewership?
Topics: Canada, DREAM, Japan, K-1, Media, MMA, Pro Elite, UFC, Zach Arnold | 49 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
DREAM 3 ordered card line-up
By Zach Arnold | May 10, 2008
- Featherweights: Takeshi Yamazaki vs. Shoji Maruyama
- Middleweight GP: Jason Miller vs. Katsuyori Shibata
- Middleweight GP: Melvin Manhoef vs. Kim Dae Won
- Lightweights: Daisuke Nakamura vs. Jung Bu-Kyung
- DREAM Welterweight contender’s match: Nick Diaz vs. Katsuya Inoue
- Lightweight GP: Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Luiz Buscape
- Lightweight GP: Joachim Hansen vs. Eddie Alvarez
- Lightweight GP: Kaoru Uno vs. Mitsuhiro Ishida
Topics: DREAM, Japan, K-1, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 25 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Adrenaline MMA
By Zach Arnold | May 7, 2008
Their web site is here. Their debut event is on June 14th at the Sears Centre in the Chicago area. Matches announced for the debut show include:
- Jeff Monson vs. Mike Russow
- Terry Martin vs. Daiju Takase
- Brian Gassaway vs. Tony Fryklund
Topics: Adrenaline, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 14 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
(Dis)organized chaos with Cro Cop
By Zach Arnold | May 7, 2008
There are plenty of rumors that Mirko Cro Cop will face Jerome Le Banner or Sergey Kharitonov at a future DREAM event. Well, maybe that won’t happen after all.
Topics: DREAM, Japan, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 3 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Report: Mark Dion files lawsuit against Brandon Vera
By Zach Arnold | May 7, 2008
When we interviewed Mark Dion recently on Fight Opinion Radio, we asked him a lot of questions relating to his arbitration case against Brandon Vera. Included in the laundry list of questions were questions regarding the way Dana White behaves when it comes to doing business.
Well, according to Adam Swift, Mark Dion has plenty of complaints when it comes to doing business with UFC:
The complaint closely follows the contours of the arbitration proceedings, except for the inclusion of Zuffa, White, and Silva for allegedly interfering with Dion’s management contract with Vera. Specifically the complaint alleges that Zuffa and its officials encouraged Vera to breach his contract with Dion and provided him with confidential emails to use in that effort.
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 1 Comment » | Permalink | Trackback |