K-1 2008 schedule
By Zach Arnold | January 30, 2008
As listed at today’s press conference:
- 2/09 – Hungary, Budapest Sports Arena (Europe GP)
- 4/13 – Yokohama Arena
- 4/26 – Holland, Amsterdam Arena (Europe GP)
- June – Macau (Asia GP)
- June – Fukuoka Marine Messe (Japan GP)
- July-August – Hawaii (USA GP)
- 9/27 – Seoul Olympic Gym (World GP)
- 12/06 – Yokohama Arena (World GP finals)
Topics: Japan, K-1, Media, Zach Arnold | 4 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
ESPN gives Sherdog radio shows a media push
By Zach Arnold | January 29, 2008
ESPN has now expanded it’s Podcenter page to include Sherdog MMA radio shows. The first show listed is Josh Gross’s Point Blank radio show.
Topics: Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 11 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
WVR 3/5 Tokyo show rumors
By Zach Arnold | January 29, 2008
A couple of months ago, MMA Predictions posted an item stating a rumor that Roger Gracie would face Hidehiko Yoshida at the first WVR event on 3/5 in Tokyo at Yoyogi National Stadium Gym I. Eventually, the story picked up steam on other web sites to the point that everyone has taken the news item for granted.
However, there’s discussion today that WVR is considering Yoshida vs. Josh Barnett for their debut show as the main event. Will the fight be signed, sealed, and delivered?
Topics: Japan, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 19 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Monday night headlines (1/28/2008)
By Zach Arnold | January 28, 2008
- The Glasgow Daily Record (UK): UFC cage fight chiefs start Scottish venue hunt
- The Baltimore Sun: Sanctioning in Maryland won’t be quick for MMA
- The Houston Chronicle: UFC is hoping Brock Lesnar can do heavy lifting
- Herald Net (Washington): Bob ‘The Beast’ Sapp is coming and might be Japan’s biggest export since Godzilla
- MMA Payout: UFC 81 preview – the pro-wrestling push
- Dave Meltzer (Yahoo): Looking at wrestlers and MMA
- The Canadian Press: Ex-wrestler Brock Lesnar finds his calling in MMA
- The Canadian Press: UFC fighter Tyson Griffin says bring on another Brazilian black belt
- The Fight Network: IFO is finished
- MMA Memories: The brand or the star?
- MMA Analyst: Ortiz vs. Machida, Tito’s nail in the coffin?
Topics: Media, MMA, StrikeForce, UFC, UK, Zach Arnold | 50 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
A little shock and nervousness
By Zach Arnold | January 28, 2008
The Godfather, Hiromichi Momose (photo – ZAKZAK)
That’s the reaction in Japan amongst the various fight power brokers in regards to the news of Hiromichi Momose’s death. When the Godfather dies, everyone pays attention.
There’s already a rumor floating that Momose died of heart failure.
Sadaharu Tanigawa expressed shock at the news of Momose’s death, even though he claims he hadn’t met with him in several years. Antonio Inoki gave a brief statement on Momose’s death, expressing condolences.
Gryphon has further comments on Momose’s death. Here is Sherdog’s report.
Topics: Japan, Media, MMA, PRIDE, Yakuza, Zach Arnold | 2 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Open comment post
By Zach Arnold | January 27, 2008
OK, let’s hope civility prevails, but anything MMA-related you want to comment on… go ahead and leave a comment at this post.
Topics: Zach Arnold | 38 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
The Godfather of PRIDE dies
By Zach Arnold | January 27, 2008
Top story on Yahoo Japan’s front page
Hiromichi Momose, the famous organizer of PRIDE in the company’s early days, has died at the age of 67. He was found unconscious in his bathtub.
Momose was the original Godfather of PRIDE backers. He was recognizable to many PRIDE fans as the man at ringside for many events in a black ballcap, celebrating with fighters after their bouts.
Momose was the architect of PRIDE, and was Nobuhiko Takada’s major supporter when the company first started.
It was Momose, along with underlings Nobuyuki Sakakibara (from Tokai TV in Nagoya) and Naoto Morishita (who came from a large electronics discount store in Nagoya) that created the brand known as PRIDE. After KRS initially produced the first four PRIDE events, a new shell company called Dream Stage Entertainment took over. Momose eventually faded away from PRIDE and Mr. I (aka Mr. Ishizaka) grabbed control of the company after the death of Morishita in 2003.
Momose was a key player in the big Japanese MMA co-promotional shows (K-1, Inoki, & PRIDE) that took place earlier in the decade. Momose went to school with Tatsuo Kawamura, another major Japanese entertainment power broker (with his K-Dash company). Both were very close to Antonio Inoki.
In his earlier years as a college student, Momose worked at the New Latin Quarter — a famous night club that was the venue where Rikidozan was stabbed in 1963 (and later died).
If you can read Japanese, keep your eyes open for updates at the Hiroshi Nielsen blog.
Topics: Japan, Media, MMA, PRIDE, Yakuza, Zach Arnold | No Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Feeds added
By Zach Arnold | January 26, 2008
I’ve added the feeds for both MMA Memories and Total MMA to the left sidebar.
The left sidebar is getting crowded, so likely at one least feed will get demoted (read: removed). I’m not sure what feed it will be, however.
Topics: Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | No Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Now I’ve seen it all…
By Zach Arnold | January 25, 2008
On Friday’s night edition of WWE Smackdown on The CW Network, noted MMA fan The Undertaker finished off his opponent (Big Daddy V, a 500-pounder) with a gogoplata.
Initially, ‘Taker went for the rubber guard and failed in applying a triangle choke. However, he ended up applying the gogoplata and V busted out the fake blood packet to start bleeding from his mouth after tapping out.
I have no idea what spurred me on to write about this, other than it’s one of those bizarre moments that you see on television that you have to comment on.
Topics: Media, MMA, Pro-Wrestling, WWE, Zach Arnold | No Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Another MMA money mark blows up in smoke
By Zach Arnold | January 25, 2008
I remember media reports a few months touting Bonecrunch Fighting as a modified-version of the IFL with a local marketing approach in Florida. They even lined up Seth Petruzelli and Din Thomas as coaches.
As of today, Bonecrunch Fighting has officially vanished.
Topics: Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | No Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Stallone, HGH, and UFC
By Zach Arnold | January 25, 2008
On Wednesday’s Spike TV telecast of an Ultimate Fight Night live event from The Palms in Las Vegas, NV, Joe Rogan did a promo spot with Sylvester Stallone to promote the latest Rambo movie release. It was quite the interview.
Stallone was busted in Australia for bringing vials of growth hormone in 2007. Today, Stallone was quick to defend his use of growth hormone. Also, Stallone told the press that he uses prescription testosterone, but doesn’t take steroids.
Testosterone is the base chemical for anabolic steroids.
The last 12 months for UFC has been quite an adventure in terms of fighters failing steroid tests. Dana White’s aggressive support for Sean Sherk in the media, combined with media spots (such as this advertising spot on the UFC web page) with a testosterone & GH user like Sylvester Stallone, have created an interesting PR situation for the company.
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | No Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Why are the Fertittas bailing out Xyience (again)?
By Zach Arnold | January 25, 2008
Update: MMA Payout claims a criminal investigation is coming.
We’ve discussed Xyience’s bankruptcy this week on the site, and I asked a couple of questions that nobody has provided a sufficient answer for yet.
Today, The Las Vegas Review-Journal is reporting that another Fertitta company, Zyen, is making a $1 million USD loan to Xyience for post-bankruptcy financing.
Zyen is the same company that the Fertittas used to become a creditor for Xyience.
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | No Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Thursday news crash course
By Zach Arnold | January 24, 2008
- CBS Sports (Sam Caplan): Q & A with WEC VP Peter Dropick
- The Orange County Register: UFC 81 conference call audio clips
- The Seattle Times: Bob Sapp returns to Washington, ready to mix it up
- Hardcore Sports Radio: Bob Sapp audio interview
- ESPN Video: Randy Couture video interview
- Yahoo Sports: Roy Jones Jr. vs. Felix Trinidad draws 500,000 PPV buys
- MMA Analyst: Alexander vs. Barnett – it isn’t that bad… honestly (yes, it is)
- Xtreme Couture: Life & Times of Jay Hieron
Topics: Boxing, K-1, M-1, Media, MMA, UFC, WEC, Zach Arnold | No Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |