Monday media review: More reaction to couture’s departure from UFC
By Zach Arnold | October 15, 2007
File this under the category of ‘hideous’ – an ex-boxer wants to apply sanctioning body-style politics to book Couture vs. Fedor.
Daiki Kameda has been suspended for a year by the JBC (Japan Boxing Commission). This news completely overshadowed the World Victory Road Inc. announcement in the Japanese press.
Your image of the day: The WVR press conference in Tokyo. Today’s press conference at Tokyo’s Prince Hotel was held for the new World Victory Japan Inc. company. Coverage on this story at MMA Weekly and Sherdog. More thoughts at Bloody Elbow.
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: Boxing, Japan, Media, MMA, StrikeForce, UFC, Zach Arnold | 26 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Sunday news review: UFC’s momentum keeps on going
By Zach Arnold | October 14, 2007
Yuki Kondo defeated Yuji Sakuragi by unanimous decision at today’s Pancrase event in Tokyo at Differ Ariake. Show report here.
Coverage from last night’s HDNet Fights event: Sherdog | Sherdog II | MMA Weekly | MMA Predictions | The Fight Network | Fox Sports
One interesting Cuban-related news item that seemingly flew under the radar is that he is planning a celebrity MMA version of Dancing with the Stars. I’m not sure if he’s entirely serious or if this is a rib. Apparently the rumor of a celebrity MMA show has been active for the last couple of days.
How the oddsmakers see UFC 77. Heat-up coverage for Rich Franklin vs. Anderson Silva: Cincinnati Enquirer | Cincinnati Enquirer II | Newark Star-Ledger | Dayton Daily News | Dayton Daily News II
An interview with Joe Lauzon. Plus, audio interviews with Shayna Baszler & Saulo Ribeiro. Here is a two-part interview series (here and here) with Reese Andy. Andy says that he would like to see 10 weight divisions in the IFL.
MMA Analysts asks if Mark Cuban can produce Couture vs. Fedor.
Over at AOL Fanhouse, making the case that Dana White is in the ‘right’ on Randy Couture’s retirement. Yes, they used the word retirement despite the fact that he is not retiring. Throughout various mainstream media reports, the meme that Couture is ‘retiring’ has taken quite a foothold — like in the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Read more on the Couture departure from UFC at MMA Opinion.
Are PRIDE fighters at a disadvantage in UFC? This writer says they are.
Topics: HDNet, Japan, Media, MMA, Pancrase, PRIDE, UFC, Zach Arnold | 32 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Fight Opinion Radio #65: Ed Fishman
By Zach Arnold | October 13, 2007
This show was recorded on Thursday night.
We’ve had many newsmakers on previous editions of Fight Opinion Radio and this week’s show is no exception. Ed Fishman joins us for a 45-minute interview talking about Randy Couture’s depature from UFC, his plans in the MMA business, his thoughts on the M-1 promotion, what the MMA landscape is shaping up to be for the next few months, and what the fight scene in Atlantic City may look like in the next six months. If you are looking for lots of news and information, this is the interview to listen to.
Also on this week’s show is a preview of the UFC 77 event in Cincinnati, which is suddenly becoming a very key event for UFC. What will happen to the heavyweight division? More importantly, which heavyweight fighter can now use Couture’s departure for maximum leverage? Plus, what will happen to the Middleweight division if Anderson Silva is able to defeat Rich Franklin again?
To close out the show, we have the world-famous grab bag. UFC is not the only promotion having a bad week and we’ll talk about the problems that the IFL is facing. Also, discussion about the new World Victory Road Inc. project that is about to be launched in Japan.
The 65th edition of Fight Opinion Radio is now online and available to download. Download this week’s show here.
Or you can use the great flash player to listen to it streaming (without having to use an external program). Check it out (down below).
[audio:http://www.fightopinion.com/podcasts/foradio-10-12-2007.mp3]Podcasting: Use http://feeds.feedburner.com/fightopinionradio. This link should work for all RSS programs and podcatching programs. You’ll never miss another show again.
If you have iTunes, do the following:
- In your iTunes program, go to Advanced. Then choose the Subscribe to Podcast option.
- Type in http://feeds.feedburner.com/fightopinionradio.
- The newest edition of Fight Opinion Radio will be automatically downloaded and future editions of FOR will download for you as well, hassle-free.
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: Erin Bucknell, Fight Opinion Radio, IFL, Japan, Jeff Thaler, Media, MMA, podcasts, Pro Elite, UFC, Zach Arnold | 3 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Saturday media slate: Fallout from Couture leaving UFC
By Zach Arnold | October 13, 2007
Story of the day in Japan is that Arbocious Tiger, who was scheduled to fight Assuerio Silva on 10/14 in Tokyo at Differ Ariake, is apparently missing according to Pancrase.
It was an odd Friday to say the least, as the fallout continues over Randy Couture’s departure from UFC. The Couture situation was discussed on ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption (audio here) with hosts Dan Le Batard and Michael Wilbon. This choice of topic was clearly a Le Batard call, as he is a hardcore pro-wrestling and MMA fan (think dirt sheets), while Wilbon is your very casual MMA observer. Couture’s departure was also mentioned on Sportscenter. ESPN video here.
The sports media reaction to the story so far is very intriguing. Those in the media who do follow MMA are reacting to it in a big way, considering it a huge blow to UFC. However, to casual observers (like Wilbon), Couture is an old guy with a 16-8 record. In other words, the reaction has been mixed – at best. If it continues this way, UFC may be very fortunate in the end PR-wise. MMA Analyst takes a look at Dana White’s five stages of grief and The Canadian Press thinks that there may be cracks in UFC’s armor. So does Caleb at MMA Predictions.
Meet UFC’s legal team that is going after anyone on the Internet who they think is violating the company’s intellectual property rights.
While UFC is facing some difficulties recently, Elite XC has been making some moves. Also, Mark Cuban does in fact have an interest in working with M-1. Hardcore Championship Fighting in Western Canada is also picking up some steam.
Tonight is the first HDNet Fights event. MMA Weekly and Sherdog has you covered.
MMA Junkie says UFC’s proposed event in Montreal for January is not a lock. Also, $12,000 USD worth of tickets from US Bank Arena, including UFC tickets, are reportedly stolen.
There is a King of the Cage show tonight in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Also, today is the start of the Army’s own MMA tournament.
UFC Mania has a new interview with Nick Diaz. ADCC News has a new interview with Jake Shields.
Topics: Canada, HDNet, Japan, Media, MMA, Pancrase, Pro Elite, UFC, Zach Arnold | 23 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Stars On The Rise: MMA’s Brightest Prospects 2
By Jeff Comstock | October 12, 2007
This is the second in a series of articles, where I take a look at mixed martial arts fighters on the verge of becoming MMA stars.
I’ve picked 5 fighters for this article who have all displayed superior skills in the ring or cage and who I believe have the ability to be world class, top ranked fighters.
Again reader feedback would be much appreciated. At least one or two fighters mentioned in the comments section of the first article in this series was chosen for this round.
Perhaps due to my Canadian heritage, I’ve manged to sqeeze two of my compatriots onto this edition’s list. So sticking with that Canadian theme, here’s what I like to call five for fighting:
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: Jeff Comstock, MMA | 12 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Open post Friday
By Zach Arnold | October 12, 2007
Any news that breaks today or anything of interest that is MMA-related, post it in the comments section.
First, an important site note. Expect a new Fight Opinion Radio show to be online late tonight or early tomorrow morning. We will have a very intriguing guest on to talk about Randy Couture’s departure from UFC and what the MMA landscape is behind-the-scenes as we speak. It’s one of our best interview segments.
Here is the latest IFL SEC filing. Any relevant news in the filing?
AOL Fanhouse asks if Dana White is bad for MMA. Someone should tell The Fanhouse that there are plenty of MMA sites available besides Yahoo Sports.
Here is Dave Meltzer’s first Yahoo Sports column.
Nick Diaz vs. KJ Noons appears set for 11/10 in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Topics: IFL, Media, MMA, Pro Elite, Zach Arnold | 40 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Reaction to Randy Couture’s resignation from UFC
By Zach Arnold | October 11, 2007
Not from us, but from you.
Loretta Hunt and Sam Caplan talked about Randy Couture’s departure from UFC on Fight Network Radio.
- UFC HP: Dana White’s statement about Randy Couture’s departure from UFC
- MMA Game: Couture quits the UFC… holy crap
- MMA Weekly: Randy Couture resigns, White responds
- Sherdog: Randy Couture talks UFC resignation
- MMA on Tap: Media reaction to Randy Couture leaving UFC
- Sam Caplan: Trying to figure out what Randy and Dana’s statements really mean
- Fightlinker: The UFC tries to retire Randy
- Kevin Iole: Randy Couture stuns MMA world with retirement
- Steve Cofield: Now we know why Dana White was in a bad mood for the UFC 77 conference call
- UFC supporter: Saddened that MMA is turning into boxing and that fighters are crybabies
- Fox Sports: Randy Couture’s retirement stings UFC
- Fox News: Video of Fox News Fight Game covering Couture’s departure from UFC
- ADCC News: Eddie Goldman’s reaction to Randy Couture telling Dana White to take a hike
- Kevin Iole (Yahoo Sports): Dana White’s reaction could determine MMA’s future
- MMA HQ: Kevin Iole is a Zuffa robot
- Steve Sievert (Houston Chronicle): Randy Couture stuns MMA world by severing ties with UFC
- Adam Morgan: Dana White f***** up, period
- MMA Analyst: Randy Couture leaves the UFC… lack of respect and no Fedor, good reasons?
- Steve Cofield: MMA expert Luke Thomas on Couture’s departure (audio)
- MMA Payout: Potential fallout from Couture’s resignation and Greater transparency is the answer
Topics: Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 76 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Big news day for Pro Elite: Kimbo gets his bread and celebrity MMA TV
By Jeff Comstock | October 11, 2007
Breaking News from the Fight Network: COUTURE QUITS UFC
Back to the title story:
ProElite.com has confirmed that legendary street fighter Kimbo Slice has signed a long term deal with Elite XC. This announcement follows the news that Nick Diaz has signed a 2 year extension with the company.
Sam Caplan’s Five Ounces Of Pain blog reveals that Kimbo’s Elite XC debut for the promotion, will take place on a November 10th card in Corpus Christi, Texas. Nick Diaz is expected to fight on that card as well, along with a rumored bout between Jake Shields vs. Mike Pyle.
If that’s not enough Pro Elite news, there are finally some details on exactly what Pro Elite’s reality TV series will be.
Forbes.com published a Business Wire press release about the Mark Burnett produced, celebrity MMA, reality television show with Pro Elite.
The currently untitled initial series centers on former football and baseball stars, Herschel Walker and Jose Canseco, respectively, who together with a group of other former pros, train as a team to cross over into the sport of mixed martial arts. These athletes will fight with select EliteXC fighters in each episode with the series finale featuring a famous celebrity athlete match up. Additionally, episode highlights and interactive features for the shows produced will reside on ProElite.com. The show is co-created by Herschel Walker and Prem Akkaraju, who will also serve as a co-executive producer.
Topics: Jeff Comstock, Press Releases, Pro Elite | 79 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
A new Japanese MMA organization is coming next week
By Zach Arnold | October 11, 2007
By Zach Arnold
Update: This story has been picked up in Japanese by NHB News.
A press release was sent out to members of the Japanese media today (not on a public scale, but specifically addressed to members of the Japanese press) for a new company called World Victory Road Inc. in Japan. The press release states that there will be a press conference on the 2nd floor of Tokyo’s Prince Hotel on the 15th (this Monday at 3 PM JST). The press release states that representatives from Don Quijote (one of PRIDE’s former sponsors and current sponsor of Kazuhiro Nakamura) and FILA are expected to be in attendance. The most interesting name listed as a guest for the press conference is Chairman Fukuda of the Japanese wrestling association. He was a figurehead that PRIDE tried to recruit before that organizaton hit troubled times. Also on the guest list is Mr. Kinoshita of the Kinoshita Group, a construction company.
Interestingly enough, the cell phone number at the bottom of the private press release belongs to an employee of J-ROCK, the management group of Hidehiko Yoshida.
One media source claims that a top figurehead for the new organization is former UFC-Japan promoter, Akira Sakata.
In a separate J-ROCK news item, the California State Athletic Commission announced this morning that Kazuhiro Nakamura’s appeal of his failed drug test (for marijuana) will happen on October 31st in Los Angeles.
Topics: Japan, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 13 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Thursday trash talk: Questionable business decisions
By Zach Arnold | October 10, 2007
Kimbo Slice has reportedly signed a deal with Elite XC.
Xyience will remain a main sponsor of UFC for at least the next three years. (Hat tip: Mikeinformer.)
In a statement just released by Tito Ortiz, he says the following: I’m currently working very closely with the UFC to plan my next fight, which you can be sure will not disappoint my fans. It looks like I will fight again in early 2008, and when I do I will be 100% prepared to crush my opponent.
Daisuke Naito beat Daiki Kameda today in Tokyo at Ariake Colosseum. Here was the backstory going into the boxing match.
Here is an interview with young M-1 prospect Kiril Sidelnikov.
Some great information from Shu Hirata on the latest Japanese happenings.
Charles Jay has two must-read articles (here and here) about the sale of The Ring magazine to Golden Boy Promotions.
The future of Fedor seems resolved. Frank Trigg talks about the move. Is Dana White to blame? Luke Thomas is not happy. The MMA Analyst is a little bit excited. Personally, I’m happy if Fedor can continue to make a high salary in such a fickle MMA industry. Good for him. As Jeff Thaler and I debated on the latest edition of Fight Opinion Radio, MMA is at constant conflict between being a business first or a sport first.
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: Boxing, IFL, Japan, Media, MMA, PRIDE, Pro Elite, UFC, Zach Arnold | 57 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Evaluating Yahoo’s hiring of Dave Meltzer
By Zach Arnold | October 10, 2007
Making the case for Dave Meltzer’s importance in MMA coverage and ripping on the evil Zach Arnold:
Meltzer’s ascension is not only deserved, but it could shape the way we read and digest thoughts and ideas on MMA. Coverage effects how we all view our MMA. The Sam Caplans’ and Todd Martins’ of the world are excelling because they understand the synergy and goals of business and entertainment as much as true sport. They are equally necessary. And somewhere in between Josh Gross and noted Negative Nancy Zach Arnold (great for community of MMA journalism, but often a malcontent when the sky isn’t falling) there is Dave Meltzer. Well, in between it all is Fight Linker, but that’s commentary.
Who predicted the collapse of PRIDE before it was ever conventional wisdom in any media circles? I took two years of abuse for that one. The track record is good.
As for the hiring of Dave Meltzer at Yahoo Sports, it’s a good utility move. If there are both major boxing and MMA events happening on the same weekend, Meltzer can cover the MMA show and Kevin Iole can cover the boxing event. The move also allows Yahoo Sports to cover any major scandals or deaths in the pro-wrestling business (like the Benoit tragedy) with some credibility.
Topics: Media, MMA, Pro-Wrestling, Zach Arnold | 25 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
PRIDE FC Worldwide Holdings LLC statement to Japanese media
By Zach Arnold | October 9, 2007
Zuffa LLC legal advisor Jamie Pollack addressed the Japanese media on Tuesday night (Wednesday afternoon Japanese time) regarding the closure of the PRIDE office in Tokyo and the firing of 20 employees. It was a standard UFC press release with Pollack being quoted in certain parts and a standard PR narrative the rest of the way.
The statement claimed that the reason PRIDE was shut down was due to a ‘lack of cooperation’ with former directors and staff members of DSE. Furthermore, the press release stated that the company wanted to address some ‘false reports’ in the media about why the situation with PRIDE collapsed.
Pollack claimed that Zuffa had to make a decision about the office lease and that the decision to shut down was not done without consideration. Citing a lack of cooperation with former directors of Dream Stage Entertainment, Pollack said that holding a PRIDE show in Japan became impossible. He further stated that the employees that were fired were given financial compensation.
The statement went on to say that PRIDE contents would be continued to be marketed through DVD and online media sales. The focus is to bring talent from Japan and other countries to UFC to continue making UFC a global brand in MMA. Pollack claimed that UFC respects the PRIDE brand name and PRIDE fans.
Topics: Japan, Media, MMA, PRIDE, UFC, Zach Arnold | 5 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Wednesday war room: More turmoil for the IFL
By Zach Arnold | October 9, 2007
Ben Rothwell and Mike Whitehead are out of the IFL GP tournament. Money quote from The Fight Network:
According to the IFL’s Web site, both fighters’ exclusions from the tournament resulted from failure to sign contract extensions which would have also locked them in for the promotion’s 2008 season.
“We’re very disappointed in the way this was handled,” Otto told FOXSports.com. “We have to do what’s right for our company. We felt we were being held hostage and we can’t have that.”
We can’t rip on UFC for icing guys like Andrei Arlovski out (due to having one fight left on contracts) and not rip the IFL for what’s happening here. Ben Rothwell means a lot to the IFL, as he’s one of the few stars the promotion has made so far. To put it politely, this is a mess for the IFL. More on the story at Bloody Elbow and Yahoo Sports.
Speaking of the IFL, here’s their latest SEC filing, which is a prospectus supplement. If you’ve followed our site’s IFL updates in the past, there’s nothing new or earthshattering as far as financial information. One thing to pay attention to over the next week is the IFL’s Q3 2007 report and how much money they made or lost in the last three months.
More talk about Chuck Liddell vs. Wanderlei Silva.
UFC is selling their own brand of MMA gloves.
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: Boxing, IFL, Japan, Media, MMA, Pro Elite, UFC, UK, Zach Arnold | 26 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |