HDNet Fights: Moving MMA Forward
By Jeff Comstock | October 9, 2007
Sports Illustrated recently interviewed Mark Cuban about his new HDNet Fights league.
HDNet has been a television destination for mixed-martial arts for some time now. They were the original broadcast partner for the WEC, before that promotion was purchased by Zuffa LLC. and relocated to both Las Vegas and the Versus Network. Having enjoyed ratings success with the MMA programming on the channel and not wanting to lose a demographic they coveted, HDNet maneuvered to keep itself as a destination channel for MMA fans.
With it’s first self-promoted card happening this weekend I thought it would be a good time to take a look at what HDNet has accomplished thus far and where they’re headed in the world of MMA, as well as preview this weekend’s HDNet fight card.
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Topics: HDNet, Jeff Comstock | 9 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Tuesday news & notes: UFC has more money than you
By Zach Arnold | October 8, 2007
If you haven’t listened to the latest edition of Fight Opinion Radio yet, go listen.
Regarding the unified rules, a thoughtful Gomi continues, “America is a very rich country, so it seems to me as if their standards are very high. I think the rules in American MMA and the UFC focus more on fighter safety and feel very natural to me. In this way, maybe American MMA is more sports-like, since most of Japanese MMA comes from professional wrestling.”
“It’s necessary, so it’s not really a bad thing,” Gomi says. “You can’t have title fight after title fight after title fight, because most people will not be able to follow it and get involved. You need to have entertainment for those who don’t watch too often or may be watching for the first time to say, ‘Ah, those fights were entertaining. Let’s watch this show again, next time they put on one.’ Besides, doesn’t your country enjoy fighters like Charles Bennett (Pictures)?”
A couple of weeks after Dave Meltzer publicly stated that he was going to spend more time on his writing activities (he had been increasing his writing workload for Fox Sports), Meltzer has now been hired by Yahoo Sports. On the F4W message board, CBS Sports writer Todd Martin stated the following:
He’s leaving Fox for Yahoo. He’s been debating it since at least UFC 75. Yahoo’s really aggressive in stepping up coverage of the sport, but Fox has Alex Marvez who brought Dave on there in the first place.
Dave Doyle told me last weekend he thought Dave might give up the Observer to do regular mainstream stuff.
That would be very bad.
Adam Swift has an article detailing Zuffa LLC’s new capital structure.
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Topics: Boxing, IFL, Japan, Media, MMA, PRIDE, UFC, UK, Zach Arnold | 32 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Monday chalkboard: UFC’s chances in Japan
By Zach Arnold | October 7, 2007
More bad news for the cursed UFC 78 New Jersey show – Hector Lombard can’t get a working visa.
Shu Hirata gives his latest thoughts on the Japanese fight scene.
Analyzing UFC’s attempt to get into the Japanese marketplace. Let me clear up one thing about UFC’s deal with WOWOW… UFC had been on WOWOW (Japan’s version of HBO) for a long time. This wasn’t a new deal for them. However, the deal ended after April’s UFC event in Manchester with Gabriel Gonzaga knocking out Mirko Cro Cop. WOWOW stated that UFC asked for a significant increase in fees to air the shows, so the network didn’t renew their deal. Now UFC is trying to work with WOWOW again, which was not a significant TV deal in the first place.
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Topics: Brazil, Japan, Media, MMA, UFC, WEC, Zach Arnold | 28 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Sunday news review (10/7)
By Zach Arnold | October 7, 2007
An update on the Tadao Yasuda story: Nikkan Sports has a new article today on Yasuda’s condition. An initial MRI examination showed no significant brain damage for Yasuda, but he is still suffering from the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning. It will be about two or three weeks at the earliest before he can be released from the hospital. Currently, Yasuda is under heavy sedation and will be slowly taken off medication as his condition improves.
Someone else wants to challenge UFC.
Disgraced sports writer Ron Borges has now found a new home — and a rather big one at that. It’s called ESPN.
Joe Calzaghe is dangling the retirement carrot.
More news and notes in full-page view…
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Topics: Boxing, IFL, Japan, Media, MMA, UFC, UK, Zach Arnold | 10 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Saturday quick hits: Roger Hollett’s latest opponent announced
By Zach Arnold | October 6, 2007
Roger Hollett will face Lew Polley (ATT) on October 20th at the Halifax Forum in Nova Scotia.
Lots of odds and ends news-wise, so let’s get to today’s headlines. Some entertaining reading content.
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Topics: Boxing, Canada, IFL, Japan, Media, MMA, PRIDE, UFC, UK, WEC, Zach Arnold | 12 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Tadao Yasuda attempts suicide
By Zach Arnold | October 5, 2007
By Zach Arnold
Tadao Yasuda, former Sumo wrestler and ex-New Japan star, reportedly attempted suicide in his Tokyo apartment. An acquaintance discovered Yasuda’s body and he was taken to a local hospital. Yasuda will remain in the hospital for 1-2 weeks.
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Topics: Japan, Media, MMA, Pro-Wrestling, Zach Arnold | 2 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Fight Opinion Radio #64: Steve Sievert
By Zach Arnold | October 5, 2007
This week’s one-hour show features special guest Steve Sievert of The Houston Chronicle to talk about the latest happenings in UFC. Is UFC starting to suffer negative effects from oversaturation of shows in the MMA marketplace? Plus, discussion about the future of The Ultimate Fighter reality TV program.
We are pleased to announce of the debut of a brand new monthly segment called Fight Opinion’s Five Burning Questions, where we address the five hottest topics in the MMA landscape. The questions will be asked by special guest hosts and this month’s guest host is Mauro Ranallo from Fight Network Radio.
To wrap up the show, we have the world-famous grab bag (the highest quarter-hour rated segment in all of MMA radio). Topics discussed include a $500 million USD lawsuit and tying in sexual harrassment to a popcorn company that sponsors the IFL. We smell ratings.
The 64th 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-10-5-2007.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.
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Topics: Erin Bucknell, Fight Opinion Radio, IFL, Japan, Jeff Thaler, K-1, Media, MMA, podcasts, PRIDE, StrikeForce, UFC, Zach Arnold | 2 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Friday frenzy: Another HGH scandal in boxing
By Zach Arnold | October 5, 2007
Here’s a discussion starter – the latest Middleweight rankings and analysis at Bloody Elbow.
When we interviewed Frank Shamrock a couple of weeks ago on Fight Opinion Radio, he noted that the IFL was having some financial trouble. According to Steven Molen of The NHB Show, Shamrock is quoted as saying that he might be on the chopping block.
The HBO/UFC negotiations have fallen apart. Dana White is not giving up hope, even with HBO’s statement.
Jameel McCline is the next name from the combat sports world reportedly involved in a performance-enhancing drug scandal. Reaction here.
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Topics: Boxing, Canada, HERO's, IFL, Japan, Media, MMA, PRIDE, UFC, Zach Arnold | 3 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Open media post (10/5)
By Zach Arnold | October 5, 2007
If any big stories break, feel free to post links or opinions in the comments section.
I will be doing the media rounds today.
A new Fight Opinion Radio show will be posted this evening. (Subscribe to the show’s iTunes feed here.)
There was a firestorm of reaction from various players in the Japanese MMA business today regarding the abrupt closing of PRIDE’s office and firing of 20 employees.
- K-1 matchmaker Sadaharu Tanigawa criticized the way UFC handled the situation and their destruction of PRIDE. Tanigawa said that by destroying PRIDE, it narrowed the size of the MMA market and upset the balance of power (which could result in MMA losing fans and support). He claimed that PRIDE’s destruction was a minus for the kakutougi (MMA) world and appealed for unity in the MMA industry.
- Shin’ya Aoki, in a media release, stated that he would be looking for a new MMA home. He talked about waiting and waiting for the revival of PRIDE, only for PRIDE to be killed off.
- Akira Maeda had a moment of schadenfreude, showing a happy posture about the death of PRIDE. “It serves them right!” Maeda was angry about how PRIDE used money to steal away wrestlers from RINGS, which placed RINGS in a vulnerable position and ultimately killed the organization. Maeda said that PRIDE’s death served as both karma and retribution for the company’s past actions.
- DEEP boss Shigeru Saeki stated how difficult it was for a promoter to create a big event because it costs a lot of money (and a lot of time), but that he hopes to create an environment in DEEP for ex-PRIDE fighters to participate in.
Topics: HERO's, Japan, K-1, Media, MMA, PRIDE, UFC, Zach Arnold | 20 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Japanese media coverage of PRIDE’s death
By Zach Arnold | October 4, 2007
By Zach Arnold
Mauro Ranallo on Fight Network Radio yesterday (audio here) compared the mass firings of PRIDE staffers and the abrupt closing of the PRIDE office similarly to what happened with the Baltimore Colts when they moved to Indianapolis via Mayflower trucks in the middle of a snowy night in 1984.
Well, the reaction from the Japanese press about the end of PRIDE was similar to how the Baltimore fans reacted to seeing those Mayflower trucks drive off to Indianapolis.
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Topics: Japan, Media, MMA, PRIDE, UFC, Zach Arnold | 14 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Stars On The Rise: MMA’s Brightest Prospects
By Jeff Comstock | October 4, 2007
In the first in which I expect to be a series of articles, I’d like to take a look at mixed martial arts fighters on the verge of becoming MMA stars. Hardcore fans will be familiar with many of these fighters already and casual fans can expect to see these fighters headlining a card near them soon.
I’ve picked 5 fighters to start this article series who have all recently displayed superior skills in the ring or cage and who I believe have the ability to be world class, top ranked fighters.
I’d love some reader feedback on fighters that you believe are on the cusp of doing great things. Who would you like to see profiled here? Are my first five picks valid, and if you don’t think so, why not?
So without further ado, here’s five for fighting:
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Topics: Jeff Comstock | 22 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
PRIDE office in Tokyo shut down, all workers fired
By Zach Arnold | October 4, 2007
By Zach Arnold
Sports Navigator (Yahoo Japan) is reporting tonight (Thursday night Japanese time) that Jamie Pollack, the Zuffa-appointed legal advisor who went to Japan shortly after Lorenzo Fertitta purchased the assets of PRIDE from Dream Stage Entertainment, has shut down the PRIDE FC Worldwide office in Tokyo. Furthermore, the report claims that Pollack fired all PRIDE WW employees with a telephone call.
PRIDE public relations boss Mr. Sasahara (who is/was close to Hustle and Nobuyuki Sakakibara) issued a public apology to the fans. Sasahara said that the PRIDE staffers are confused and bewildered by the sudden closing of the office, further adding that he feels resentment towards the way the American owners betrayed the people who supported PRIDE. Sasahara reiterated that he believed what Lorenzo Fertitta had initially stated about the future of PRIDE, but now the operation is finished and staffers couldn’t access or get to cell phones or personal computers.
Personal reaction: Naturally, the Japanese media and MMA insiders will use this story to portray Zuffa as a bunch of cold, calculated gaijin invaders who officially destroyed PRIDE. The image of UFC and its parents owners in Japan has been tarnished by the way the PRIDE situation has been handled. Is UFC’s entry into the Japanese marketplace permanently damaged?
As for Pollack firing the PRIDE employees by telephone… at least he or his family members won’t be physically harmed. Somehow, I don’t think the firings on a face-to-face basis would have turned out so well.
Topics: Japan, Media, MMA, PRIDE, UFC, Zach Arnold | 42 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Thursday trash talk: K-1 GP TV ratings down from past years
By Zach Arnold | October 3, 2007
Dave Meltzer at Fox Sports asks if Michael Bisping is a big-enough name to headline a UFC show in Newark, New Jersey. Rashad Evans has comments about his upcoming fight in The Newark Star-Ledger. Take a look at the ticket prices UFC is asking for at the event.
Adam Morgan shares the same sentiments as I do about this season’s version of The Ultimate Fighter. Last night’s show was absolutely painful to watch. Just brutal television. As brutal as the commercials for that awful “Manswers” show. Mac Danzig talks about the latest episode. Matt Hughes weighs in.
Alabama’s attorney general says cage fighting is legal.
The K-1 9/29 Seoul, South Korea show drew an 11.6% rating on Fuji TV. According to NHB News (Japanese), the number is significantly down compared to past September GPs on the network (2004 – 19.6%, 2005 – 18.2%, and 2006 – 16.0%).
Now, onto the ratings for the K-1 World MAX 2007 show. The show drew an 11.8% rating on TBS, according to NHB News. Other World MAX show ratings from this year – 2/5 Japanese tournament (16.4%), 4/4 event (14.0%), 6/28 world tournament (12.0%).
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: Boxing, Canada, Japan, K-1, Media, MMA, Pancrase, PRIDE, South Korea, StrikeForce, UFC, WEC, Zach Arnold | 14 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |