Zuffa not happy with CNBC
By Zach Arnold | December 27, 2007
Dave Meltzer reports the following news item:
There is a big issue today at CNBC regarding the piece on UFC and Bob Meyrowitz’s allegation that Lorenzo Fertitta voted against sanctioning UFC in Nevada in 1999 and then bought the company. Fertitta has said the story isn’t true and CNBC pulled the allegation from subsequent airings as noted in the Observer last week. However, Fertitta wants CNBC to do a full retraction.
As I noted when I did a review of the CNBC show on ‘ultimate fighting,’ the Meyrowitz story is one that he has told before in the past and continues to tell. So, it should have not come as a surprise at all that he would make the remarks that he did.
What did surprise me is that CNBC showed those remarks on the hour-long documentary and that the editing of Lorenzo’s response after those remarks basically gave the impression that there was no objection to what Meyrowitz said.
Given how the CNBC special on ‘ultimate fighting’ was (in my opinion) an infomercial for UFC, I’m surprised that Zuffa is raising a stink about the Meyrowitz comments.
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 10 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Bas Boon speaks out about PRIDE
By Zach Arnold | December 27, 2007
Over at the Golden Glory message board forum, a person has posted three separate items claiming that it is a story about the events that led to the death of PRIDE. The poster claims that Bas Boon, manager of Golden Glory, contributed details to the story.
You can read the posts here, here, and here.
For those interested, I am copying the text (with spelling errors and bad grammar left alone) of the posts into one article format here.
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: Japan, Media, MMA, PRIDE, Zach Arnold | 30 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Thursday trash talk: Everybody has a price
By Zach Arnold | December 27, 2007
Reminder: Listen to our Christmas 2007 radio show.
There is some ad space available at Bloody Elbow for anyone interested in sponsoring that site. You should definitely check into it if you can, along with signing up for an account at BlogAds.com.
Sports Navigator (Yahoo Japan) is reporting that Shin’ya Aoki will fight judoka Bu-Kyung Jung at the 12/31 Saitama Super Arena event. Jung competed at the Sydney 2000 Olympics and won the silver medal in the extra lightweight (60 kg) weight class.
The most prominent North American media headline of the day is this Los Angeles Times article describing the recent problems UFC has had with its talent in regards to money. The article doesn’t contain new information, but it certainly packages the developments of the last few months into one article.
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: Canada, IFL, Japan, Media, MMA, PRIDE, UFC, Zach Arnold | 11 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Quote of the Day – Chuck Liddell & Dana White
By Zach Arnold | December 26, 2007
“It’s kind of funny,” Liddell says of all the attention his partying ways have generated in light of back-to-back losses for the first time in his career. “When I was winning, everything I was doing was OK. But when I lost, they want to act like it was the reason I lost.”
Liddell spent Christmas at White’s Las Vegas home. White said Wednesday that he’s gained 11 pounds in eight days “from eating like a pig,” but said he was amazed by Liddell’s discipline.
Liddell weighed 212 on Tuesday, just seven pounds over the 205-pound light heavyweight limit, White said. Most significantly, White said Liddell looked terrific and seemed in his best frame of mind in quite a while.
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 8 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
The NFL gives UFC a lump of coal
By Zach Arnold | December 26, 2007
The big American sports news story tonight is the decision by the NFL to have the Week 17 game between the New York Giants and New England Patriots simulcasted both on NBC and CBS (along with The NFL Network).
As has been reported all week long by Pro Football Talk, Massachussetts senator John Kerry has been threatening anti-trust hearings on Capitol Hill if the NFL did not make the Patriots game available to a wider audience base (outside of the premium sports channel).
The move is a double-whammy for UFC, as the Patriots/Giants game will run head-to-head against UFC 79. Furthermore, it will put major pressure on UFC because the organization was attempting to draw a big closed circuit audience at Madison Square Garden. Dave Meltzer, earlier in the week, estimated that only 1,000 tickets had been sold for the closed circuit event and that star power (including Forrest Griffin) was being sent to New York to help promote the closed circuit broadcast.
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 21 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
UFC 79 betting lines
By Zach Arnold | December 26, 2007
- Chuck Liddell (-105) vs. Wanderlei Silva (-125)
- Georges St. Pierre (-240) vs. Matt Hughes (+190)
- Ryoto Machida (-125) vs. Sokoudjou (-105)
- Melvin Guillard (-260) vs. Rich Clementi (+200)
- Chuck Liddell (even) vs. Wanderlei Silva (-130)
- Georges St. Pierre (-240) vs. Matt Hughes (+190)
- Ryoto Machida (-130) vs. Sokoudjou (even)
Both the MMA Betting Blog and MMA Junkie have more thoughts about the betting lines for the upcoming event.
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 13 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Fedor does not like UFC contracts
By Zach Arnold | December 26, 2007
A great article at Sherdog, that I recommend reading, is capped off by these two paragraphs:
“I never met Dana White, never spoke to him on the phone, never exchanged e-mails,” Fedor said. “However, I did read a lot on the Internet about what he said in regard to me and Vadim []. I also read e-mails that he sent to Vadim; all of his correspondence was very upsetting. The contract that we were presented with by the UFC was simply impossible, couldn’t be signed — I couldn’t leave. If I won, I had to fight eight times in two years. If I lost one fight, then the UFC had the right to rip up the contract. At the conclusion of the contract, if I am undefeated, then it automatically extends for an as yet unspecified period of time, though for the same compensation.
“Basically I can’t leave undefeated. I can’t give interviews, appear in films or advertising. I don’t have the right to do anything without the UFC’s agreement. I could do nothing without the OK from the UFC. I didn’t have the right to compete in combat sambo competition. It’s my national sport. It’s the Russian sport, which in his time our president competed in, and I no longer have the right to do so. There were many such clauses; the contract was 18 pages in length. It was written in such a way that I had absolutely no rights while the UFC could at any moment, if something didn’t suit them, tear up the agreement. We worked with lawyers who told us that it was patently impossible to sign such a document.”
Topics: M-1, Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 29 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Quote of the Day – (supposedly) Dana White
By Zach Arnold | December 25, 2007
From The Underground Forum:
i will beat cubans ass just like the rest of the wanna be’s and keep all you pussies bitchin for another 7 years!!! 🙁 boo fuckin hoo!!!!!!!
Runner-up: Mark Cuban on how HDNet Fights differs from UFC:
The more live events HDNet has, the more subscribers HDNet will get. That’s good business for us. We are different than the UFC. We aren’t dependent on gate, PPV and License fees. Great HDNet Fight events create ongoing subscribers and advertising revenues not just for the live fights we broadcast, but for other shows as well – shows like “Inside MMA”, our “Countdown” shows, and other shows you will see on HDNet.
Topics: HDNet, Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 11 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Second anniversary of Fight Opinion
By Zach Arnold | December 25, 2007
If you have not listened to our Christmas 2007 special radio show, go listen to it now. Feel free to post any comments about the show here at this post after you listen to it.
While the world is celebrating Christmas today, we’re not only celebrating the holiday but we’re also celebrating the second anniversary of the launch of Fight Opinion.
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 14 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Christmas 2007 news update
By Zach Arnold | December 24, 2007
The Memphis Commercial Appeal calls Quinton Jackson their Sportsman of the Year. Funny items from the article – Rampage drives around in an Audi R8 and has his own personal chef. Plus, he has a Rampage energy drink coming out soon in Tennessee and will star in a movie called “Midnight Meat Train.” This is a fabulous article to read.
The Canadian Press has an article about Manny Gamburyan’s return to the cage.
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: Boxing, HDNet, IFL, Media, MMA, South Korea, UFC, UK, Zach Arnold | 8 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
TBS to air two Yarennoka matches
By Zach Arnold | December 24, 2007
An official Japanese news release from the network says that Fedor vs. Hong-Man and Akiyama vs. Misaki will air on the K-1 Dynamite time block on NYE for Tokyo Broadcasting System.
It makes sense, given that both Hong-Man and Akiyama are K-1 fighters. The time block for Dynamite on TBS is from 6 PM to 11:34 PM JST.
For K-1, it’s an interesting political move. By airing the top two matches on the DSE event on TBS, it will likely kill sales for DSE’s SkyPerfecTV PPV (given how weak the card is). Also, the move to air these fights on free TV will kill some incentive for fans to show up live in Saitama to watch the show.
Update: The rules for the DSE show have been announced.
Topics: Japan, K-1, Media, MMA, PRIDE, Zach Arnold | 16 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Fight Opinion Radio #72: All-Star Christmas Show
By Zach Arnold | December 24, 2007
Kick off the holiday season the right way by listening to our 2 1/2 hour Christmas radio show, featuring some of the biggest-name guests today in MMA. The opening theme song is is the Moscow Symphony Orchestra’s version of We Wish You a Merry Christmas.
To start off the show, Jeff Thaler’s father made an appearance to discuss memories of fighting events at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles during the 1960s, plus why he’s given up on boxing and is supporting MMA.
First, we have an interview with Tyson Griffin of Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, Nevada. We asked about comments Nick Diaz recently made about him, plus what his upcoming plans in UFC are for 2008. What motivates Tyson as a fighter? Find out the kind of training he does in preparation for a fight.
Second, we have a 30-plus minute interview with The Ultimate Fighter: Season 6 champion Mac Danzig, who pulled no punches about what it was like behind-the-scenes when the show was being taped in Las Vegas. Plus, Mac discusses his future plans and where he might relocate to soon. Also, why he likes photography and what kinds of gifts fighters want during the holiday season.
Third, we have an interview with a true ambassador to the sport of MMA, Bas Rutten. Bas gives us the details about his new MMA documentary film, Potent, and how it’s different than other films (like The Smashing Machine). What is life like with Bas Rutten during the holiday season? Find out some of the antics that his family has to endure. Bas discusses his drinking habits and how things have changed since he’s gotten older. Plus, how to charm a woman with submission attempts.
Fourth, we spoke with UFC Light Heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson to talk about life as champion and how family life has changed since beating Chuck Liddell last May.
To close out the show, we have a special edition of Santa’s world-famous grab bag and how the Grinch nearly stole it this year.
The 72nd 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 |
Mirko Cro Cop to appear at Hustle 12/31 Saitama event
By Zach Arnold | December 24, 2007
The headline says it all, as the report claims that Hustle Entertainment is pushing Mirko’s appearance at their Hustle 12/31 Saitama Super Arena event. Comments attributed to Cro Cop were issued in a media release.
The publicity stunt should come as no surprise to anyone who follows the politics of Japanese MMA, as Cro Cop’s agent is Ken Imai (formerly of K-1). Imai was/is very close to DSE boss Nobuyuki Sakakibara.
If Cro Cop appears, it will probably be the most noteworthy event coming out of the lackluster Hustle and Yarennoka happenings (unless Fedor loses in the main event). Will UFC care about this appearance taking place?
Topics: Japan, Media, MMA, PRIDE, Pro-Wrestling, UFC, Zach Arnold | 7 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |