CompuStrike at UFC 79
By Zach Arnold | December 4, 2007
If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities with CompuStrike, or if you’d like to acquire CompuStrike stats for UFC-79 or for other mixed martial arts events, contact them at [email protected].
Bob Canobbio
CompuBox/CompuStrike
P.O. Box 175
Manorville, NY 11949
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | No Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Quote of the Day – Fox News
By Zach Arnold | December 4, 2007
Mixed-martial arts? The death of a fighter? FOX News?
Yes, I fully expected it to be a recipe for disaster.
I had about two hours’ notice for the guest spot, so I did a little studying, put out on something other than a Mizzou sweatshirt, and headed to the local TV station ready for battle.
It should be pointed out that there are MMA-friendly allies over at FoxNews.com, including one Mike Straka who helps produce Fox News Fight Game.
Runner up quote: Well…
Kid Nate has chosen Roger Huerta as the winner of this fight. On the line: his finely coiffured eyebrows, which he will remove if his fighter loses. Ryan is cheering for Clay Guida, but should Clay be defeated, Ryan will have to recreate, star in, and release “The Grape Photo” to the internet, which originally surfaced featuring the UFC’s new ring girl Edith Larente.
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 1 Comment » | Permalink | Trackback |
Sean Sherk eligible to return to action in January
By Zach Arnold | December 4, 2007
The CSAC isn’t doing a 180-degree turn on Sean Sherk’s positive steroid test, but they cut their year-long suspension in half.
What is the point of suspending a fighter who failed a steroid test for a year when the track record with the CSAC appeals board is that they are likely to cut the length of suspension in half? Why not just make the punishment 6 months long instead of 12 months long for a failed steroid test?
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 11 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Todd Martin interviews Dana White about The Ultimate Fighter
By Zach Arnold | December 4, 2007
Part I of the CBS Sports interview is here. One quote that stands out:
Dana White acknowledges that there were ongoing debates within UFC about whether to provide alcohol to the fighters. The company ultimately decided to leave alcohol in the house.
“Our philosophy was you can’t make the sport look bad, because these guys aren’t real UFC fighters,” White explains. “If we had Chuck and Randy getting drunk and acting like idiots that would be a whole different ballgame. But these guys wanted to be UFC fighters and hadn’t proven themselves yet.”
There’s this quote as well:
One other heavyweight with promise was Mike Whitehead. Whitehead didn’t look his best on the show, but his only UFC losses were to Evans and Jardine. UFC released him, and Whitehead responded by winning nine straight fights in other organizations.
Dana White doesn’t regret releasing Whitehead. “That was Mike Whitehead’s M.O.,” he says. “When he came onto the show, he was a world beater on the smaller shows. But on the big show, he couldn’t hang.”
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 3 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Report: Drwal vs. Heath booked for UFC 81
By Zach Arnold | December 4, 2007
We have readers from Poland. They have their own MMA sites, too.
Time to celebrate by linking to a report that says Tomasz Drwal will be fighting David Heath at UFC 81.
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 2 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Reports: IFL, HDNet finalize TV deal
By Zach Arnold | December 4, 2007
During the early hours on Tuesday morning, Sam Caplan reported that a TV deal between the IFL and HDNet to broadcast the promotion’s 12/29 Mohegan Sun Arena event was being completed.
MediaPost Publications, in a report two hours ago, confirmed the story.
Topics: HDNet, IFL, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 6 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Tuesday chalkboard: In their own words
By Zach Arnold | December 4, 2007
The StrikeForce 9/29 Playboy Mansion event on Yahoo.com reportedly drew a lot of eyeballs.
In the immortal words of one Rodney King, “Can’t we all just get along?” Apparently not:
I felt like puking. Boxing promoter Lou DiBella once lashed out against MMA, calling it – predictably – “a human cockfight.” What an insult to cocks everywhere.
I hear quite a bit about how on can watch boxing and MMA, about how one can appreciate both sports.
Quite honestly, I can’t understand how. If you really appreciate boxing, then it seems to me you’d have to realize that MMA is not a complement to it. MMA is a bastard that removes the lab work from the Sweet Science, and steals valuable TV time from real pugilism.
An interview with RINGS veteran Lee Hasdell.
Luke O’Brien of Sports Illustrated asks some questions about Sammy Vasquez’s death. The article includes quotes from MMA Opinion, MMA Payout, and Bloody Elbow. Must-read article, including a note about changes the TDLR has instituted.
Under the radar: A new director at MAX Entertainment Holdings, Inc.
Get on the Melvin Manhoef bandwagon.
I probably won’t be around in time to post an update on the Sean Sherk appeals hearing with the CSAC, so feel free to keep up-to-date with the news headlines on the page (and feel free to post comments reacting to the decision).
Topics: Boxing, StrikeForce, UFC, UK, Zach Arnold | 5 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Feedback to new site theme
By Zach Arnold | December 3, 2007
All positive or negative feedback goes here.
Plus, if you have constructive ideas on how to tweak or change the new layout, post a comment so I can work on it. Thanks.
By the way, keep your eyes open to updates on the right side of the page (as well as the news updates on the left side). If you have any audio RSS feeds you would like me to add to the audio corner, please let me know.
FWIW, the theme loads a bit differently if you use Internet Explorer as opposed to Firefox or Netscape. It loads much better in Firefox and Netscape than IE, which for some reason makes the columns and side fonts bigger.
Topics: Zach Arnold | 35 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Philosophy 101 – MMA Media
By Zach Arnold | December 3, 2007
Update: The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations responds to media inquiries about the death of Sam Vasquez. Steve Sievert has further comments.
Update II: Luke Thomas responds to comments made by a reader on Fight Opinion. Plus, thoughts from MMA Analyst.
Luke Thomas asks an important question:
Lastly, I would say the relative silence over this matter is startling. Most of the major MMA news and opinion websites are talking about this incident, but not nearly as many as I had expected. I don’t know the motivations for why they’ve chosen to remain silent, but let’s hope it’s not fear of perception. MMA didn’t become popular by rejecting candor and promoting something it wasn’t. Transparency is the key to trust and we must remember that even in times of tragedy.
I think the answer to this question is a little disturbing, but needs to be addressed.
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: Media, MMA, Yakuza, Zach Arnold | 15 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Monday headlines: Rampant stupidity
By Zach Arnold | December 3, 2007
Gina Carano reportedly will be a character on the new American Gladiators show, which features Hulk Hogan doing commentary. She’s running wild on all of us, brother.
An interview with Georges St. Pierre.
Joachim Hansen is not a fan of Zuffa:
“I just hope people understand that the problems [with Zuffa] weren’t about the money,” Hansen said. “It was about them treating me with honor and keeping their word. I would rather fight for free, then to bend down to them. My soul is not for sale.”
Looking ahead to UFC 82.
Caleb of MMA Predictions fame was at the NAMMAE event yesterday. Check out his report.
An event report about the MMA show that took place over the weekend at the Patriot Center (George Mason University). The report includes a mention of a “DJ Hapa” moment:
Then there were matters of production. The ring announcer was one of the most unprofessional characters I’ve come across in quite some time. During a long break where a fighter took a shot to the groin, he had the gall to groan on the mic: “Does anyone have a Snicker’s bar? We’re going to be here for a while.” The backstory here is that a fighter took a shot the groin and elected to use the entire 5 minutes allowed under the rules to recover from the strike.
Don’t tell this guy about Shooto or RINGS. Then again, the writer thinks Jeff Monson was a ‘leading fighter’ in PRIDE.
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 23 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Site upgrade coming soon
By Zach Arnold | December 3, 2007
Expect a new layout (with added functionality) coming this week.
Consider this post a ‘last call’ for anyone to contribute any RSS feeds that I’ve asked for in the last two RSS wish list posts (especially feeds covering the UK and European MMA scenes).
Topics: Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 5 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Sunday news review: Recapping the weekend’s action
By Zach Arnold | December 2, 2007
RSS Wish List – Part 2
I am looking for any and all RSS feeds relating to UK MMA news or European MMA news. On most of the UK MMA sites, I have not been able to find any feeds at all. I want some RSS feeds covering this scene.
Today’s news
Thomas Hauser of Seconds Out has a long article talking about MMA and boxing. In the article, Hauser states that UFC is in negotiations with Yahoo to sell matches online in an Internet PPV format.
MMA Analyst has a recap of the Cage Rage 24 event that took place on Saturday.
The Chicago Tribune has an article talking about the business war between WWE and UFC for fight industry-related dollars.
Dana White told The Boston Herald that The Ultimate Fighter and American Idol are the two most significant reality TV shows on US TV.
How does a fight happen in California between Jimmy Ambriz and Anthony Ruiz, given their weight disparity?
News of the weird: Tony Robbins helped out Chuck Liddell?
There is a big MMA exposition taking place in Anaheim right now. More information here.
Here is the latest edition of The Fightworks Podcast.
Dentsu, Japan’s largest advertising company, is facing quite a lawsuit. (Hat tip: Mikeinformer.)
Topics: Boxing, Japan, Media, MMA, Pro-Wrestling, UFC, UK, WWE, Zach Arnold | 15 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Sammy Vasquez dead at age 35
By Zach Arnold | December 1, 2007
The Fight Network is reporting tonight that Houston-area fighter Sammy Vasquez has died.
Our condolences go out to the Vasquez family.
Luke Thomas comments. MMA Opinion comments. Adam Swift comments. Steve Sievert comments.
Topics: Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 12 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |