Frank Trigg talks about the PRIDE asset sale
By Zach Arnold | May 11, 2007
By Zach Arnold
Related link (Lay and Pray): Trigg – UFC Probably Won’t Own PRIDE, plus Japanese translation of post at GAME AND MMA and NHB News
A summary of some of the comments he made on an internet radio show on Friday morning US time (time mark starts at 23:30 and ends around the 31 minute mark).
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: Japan, Media, MMA, PRIDE, UFC, Zach Arnold | 25 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
The Ultimate Fighter Season 5, Episode 6
By Erin | May 10, 2007
We get two fights tonight, which will hopefully limit the amount of Drama that we have to deal with. I’m a pretty sympathetic person, but even I’ve seen enough crying to last the whole season. Will you guys Man the @#^&% Up, please?
Hey Dana, there is nothing wrong with being a nerdy internet kid, damnit (says the girl you just got a subscription to Game Tap today. Biased? Me? Never).
Joe says that he is in fact a nerdy computer kid, but likes fighting more. We then get a recap of Lauzon beating Jens not too long ago.
Whoa, definitely getting right to the fights.
Joe Lauzon vs. Brian Geraghty
Round 1. Lauzon goes in fast for a take down, and gets Geraghty over by the fence. Geraghty “monkeyâ€s up before Lauzon dumps him to the ground and starts punching away. Geraghty gets up for a second, but Lauzon takes him back down and snags a rear naked choke. Geraghty taps. That was quick.
Winner: Joe Lauzon
Well damn. I want to see the Team Jens fighters win as its Team Jens. But then again if anyone on Team Pulver has to win, I’d pick Lauzon. Go Geeks!
Brian is suitably depressed afterward, but did not cry. So he gets points.
Emerson does some stretching that is just plain naughty. Roommate Jen and I rewatch it several times. I have no idea how that is supposed to help with his fighting technique and I really don’t care.
Hill admits to lying about his fight record to get on the show. Oh dear. Jen wonders why no bothered to check this. Apparently we were going for personality than fight record.
Oh my dear god. Emerson weighs in wearing some god awful vinyl zip up G-string. Forget any “hot†comments I made earlier. That just killed it all. Although, he could probably get a job in a BDSM club if he doesn’t make it as a fighter.
Corey Hill vs. Rob Emerson
Round 1. Corey comes out aggressive with punches and a knee. Emerson goes for a takedown but they are both back up quickly. They circle for each other for the rest of the round with both guys getting bouts of aggression. Pretty even round all together.
Round 2. After a bit of stand up exchange they clinch and back into the cage. However they separate quickly and are back to mid ring. Pretty much the same action as the first round until Corey manages to knockdown Emerson. He goes in for the kill and Emerson grabs onto an ankle. Hill hangs on until the end of the round.
The fight has been declared even so we go to the:
Sudden Death Round (Sudden Victory, Instant Elimination, Tie Breaker, whatever)
Both guys are pretty seriously winded at this point and are rather hesitant to engage. They finally get going but it’s more of the first two rounds. Those leg kicks just sound nasty when Emerson lands them though.
Winner: Corey Hill via unanimous decision
Wow, I‘m not gonna protest as it’s a win for Team Jens. I would have given the fight to Emerson, but that’s what happens when you let it go to the judges.
Topics: Erin Bucknell, MMA, UFC | 13 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Friday flame wars: Boxing vs. MMA argument won’t die
By Zach Arnold | May 10, 2007
The fact that the Miami Herald and a couple of other newspapers (according to Google News) picked up this ridiculous article on MMA amazes me (author e-mail is here).
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: Boxing, Canada, HERO's, IFL, K-1, Media, MMA, Pro Elite, UFC, WEC, Zach Arnold | 16 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Fight Opinion Radio #48: Karo Parisyan
By Zach Arnold | May 10, 2007
A compact 45-minute show this week debating a hard-hitting topic: Who would win in a match between Josh Barnett and “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan? This week’s show is brought to you by Monster Wrestling Rings and Kakuto Store.
The 48th edition of Fight Opinion Radio is now online and available to download. Here are your options for listening to the show:
Broadband (MP3) | Dial-up/Streaming
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-5-10-2007.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: Boxing, Erin Bucknell, Fight Opinion Radio, HERO's, Jeff Thaler, K-1, Media, MMA, podcasts, Pro Elite, Pro-Wrestling, UFC, Zach Arnold | No Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
TMZ: Albrecht gone from HBO
By Zach Arnold | May 9, 2007
In a story sure to raise the stakes between UFC & HBO, HBO CEO Chris Albrecht is now gone from the network. More information at the New York Times, the Washington Post, and Reuters. (Hat tip: MMAonTap.com.)
Albrecht was alluded to as a UFC backer according to boxing writer Charles Jay on Fight Opinion Radio (time – 58 minute mark).
Five Ounces of Pain: UFC TV stuff (about HBO & Spike TV)
Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but the UFC’s response is very telling. Instead of coming up with a response that is vague, they showed no hesitation in throwing Spike TV under the bus. After reading their responses I can’t help but feel like it’s an attempt by the UFC to get people to write to Spike TV and complain.
Spike TV once dealt with a promoter who drew great ratings (Vince McMahon) and told him to hit the road.
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: Boxing, Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 16 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Thursday trash talk: Boxing is cash money
By Zach Arnold | May 9, 2007
Ivan Canello has new Chute Boxe videos up online at Daily Motion. Check them out.
The Chicago Sun-Times reports that MMA is about to be legalized in the state of Illinois.
Is Forrest Griffin off of the UFC 72 Ireland card? He’s not listed as an opponent for Hector Ramirez now… Update: He’s listed now on the UFC HP card for UFC 72.
ESPN Radio’s Colin Cowherd addresses Dana White’s remarks about the De La Hoya/Mayweather fight.
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: Boxing, IFL, Media, MMA, PRIDE, UFC, WEC, Zach Arnold | 4 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Wild Wednesday – MMA overload
By Zach Arnold | May 8, 2007
There is a Mil Mascaras self-defense course available now for purchase?
The first Hustle event under the Hustle Entertainment banner happened today in Tokyo at Korakuen Hall. Naoya Ogawa, under the ‘Celeb Ogawa’ gimmick w/ Yuji Shimada as heel manager, defeated Ryoji Sai with a school-boy roll-up.
K-1 is inviting the UFC owners to watch their LA Coliseum show on June 2nd with front-row tickets.
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: Boxing, HERO's, Japan, K-1, Media, MMA, PRIDE, Pro Elite, Pro-Wrestling, UFC, Zach Arnold | 28 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Source: PRIDE assets allegedly not sold to UFC – yet
By Zach Arnold | May 8, 2007
By Zach Arnold
On April 27th, we reported that Ed Fishman and the legal team of Fishman Companies was preparing a deposition list of up to 50 witnesses (all top MMA major players) to be questioned in relation to the Fishman Companies vs. DSE Inc. lawsuit.
According to a source with knowledge of the lawsuit, the deposition list was turned into the court (Clark County, Nevada). However, our source claims that the deposition process isn’t taking place now. The reason? The source claims that the much-discussed transaction between Zuffa LLC and Dream Stage Entertainment Inc. for the PRIDE assets has supposedly not happened. Last month, DSE Inc. President Nobuyuki Sakakibara stated that the date proposed for the asset transaction would be May 1st. Today is May 8th.
Furthermore, we have been told that there is movement behind the scenes in regards to the relationship between UFC & PRIDE. In Gong Kakutougi magazine, Dana White claimed that Zuffa LLC legal adviser Jamie Pollack would take over as the President of the new PRIDE. Pollack was scheduled to relocate both he and his family from Las Vegas to Japan. However, the same source (that claimed no depositions are taking place now in the Fishman Companies lawsuit) is also claiming that Pollack and his family (after arriving in Japan) quickly went back to Las Vegas after his Japanese stay.
The question we are wondering is why Jamie Pollack and his family are already back in Las Vegas after such a short amount of time in Japan. Through an intermediary in Las Vegas, we tried to find out an answer to this question and failed in getting any sort of concrete answer.
The one concrete fact that we know right now in this story is that Nobuyuki Sakakibara and DSE Inc. management was in Las Vegas all week, but had supposedly recently left Las Vegas to head back to Japan.
The next scheduled court date in the Fishman Companies vs. DSE Inc. lawsuit is on Thursday, May 17th.
Topics: Japan, Media, MMA, PRIDE, UFC, Zach Arnold | 6 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Tuesday highlights: Dynamite card shaping up
By Zach Arnold | May 7, 2007
As first reported on Boxing Talk, Kevin Iole at Yahoo Sports is reporting that Diego Corrales died Monday night in a motorcycle accident. Dan Rafael at ESPN is also reporting on the story. Gary Shaw has now confirmed the story to the Associated Press.
K-1 6/2 LA Coliseum rumored card line-up. K-1’s web site confirms the match-ups. Martin Kampmann will not fight Rich Franklin on June 16th in Ireland.
If someone can find a podcast of Andrew Siciliano’s show from Monday night on Fox Sports Radio, please let me know. (FSR is not exactly pod-friendly unlike ESPN Radio). There’s a reason I’m interested in finding audio from Siciliano’s show.
Here’s how Boxing Scene readers reacted to my column on the boxing/MMA situation. Plus, reaction at Sherdog.
News of the weird: Libyan martial artist arrested for shoving judge, ripping his clothes in courtroom
Onto today’s headlines.
- Fight Report: Bill Simmons on the Merchant/Mayweather Sr. interviews
- Grapple Monkey: Don Frye TKO’d in spite of mustache
- Yahoo Sports: Beating business – Greg Jackson
- Eastside Boxing: Mayweather/De La Hoya: Boxing Blows It Again
- CBS Sportsline: IFL heavyweight Ben Rothwell chasing perfection
- Yahoo Sports: MMA notebook: Injury forces out Rich Crunkilton
- USA Today: Mayweather gets the media exposure he wants
- Mad Squabbles: ADCC and Boxing in relation to UFC
- MMA California: More CSAC fighter suspensions
- The Canadian Press: Sean Salmon can’t escape haunting memory of loss in UFC debut
- UFC Junkie: Max Kellerman a possible “UFC on HBO” commentator?
- Boxing Scene: We now return to our regular program
- The Houston Chronicle: WEC hits the road for nine-city tour
- The Cay Compass News Online: MMA to debut in George Town on Cayman Islands this weekend
- The San Mateo Daily Journal: Boxing needs exciting fighters
- The Stockton Record (California): Warriors Cup scheduled for Stockton Ballpark on June 30th
- Hall of Fame Magazine: UFC Goes to Bristol
- The Zanesville Times Recorder: ‘The Fight’ won’t save the sport of boxing
- Komikazee: Rory Markham sidelined by eye May 19th
Topics: Boxing, HERO's, IFL, K-1, Media, MMA, UFC, WEC, Zach Arnold | 19 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Jim Lampley on ESPN Radio
By Zach Arnold | May 7, 2007
He appeared on Colin Cowherd’s radio show this morning. Audio links: Lampley interview and caller feedback.
I just listened to the segment and it was intriguing. Cowherd asked Lampley if MMA was a threat to boxing and he brushed it aside, saying that the two sports could exist side-by-side. He (Lampley) stated that he regretted his wisecrack on MMA on the boxing PPV, saying that it made both him and boxing sound defensive against MMA. Lampley further stated that he is irritated by comments that MMA will steal boxing’s thunder. He claims that MMA will not produce a more mature economic event than boxing will (i.e. the level of fighter purses on the line like there was for De La Hoya & Mayweather).
Lampley stated that boxing needs to do a better job of marketing its globalized product to American consumers. He argued that other sports such as MLB and the NBA have done a good job of marketing stars from all over the world and that 18 of the top 20 champions or ‘aces’ in boxing are not American.
Lampley said that UFC was working on a pro-wrestling model where they could control the matchmaking and regulations better, but that the wrestling model has a more limited upside due to a compacted schedule with a higher occurrence of re-matches (whereas in big fights, boxers face each other just once). He stated that boxing needs a Curt Flood, a fighter who will walk away from alphabet soup titles and sanctioning bodies. In a strange argument, Lampley tried to put over promoting irregularities as a ‘fascinating’ part of boxing. He discussed all of the concessions that Floyd Mayweather Jr. had to make to fight Oscar De La Hoya (such as what kind of gloves to wear, the size of the ring, etc.) Lampley argued that boxing has an organic promoting system and that you can’t automatically go to a UFC-style business model. In other words, the genie is out of the bottle.
Topics: Boxing, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 22 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Monday media meltdown: More angry media mavens
By Zach Arnold | May 6, 2007
Jim Lampley’s verbal attack on MMA was noted in USA Today on Monday. Will’s Lampley verbal blunder be the biggest headline coming out of this weekend’s events?
Tokyo Sports claims that Josh Barnett will participate on the first IGF (Inoki Genome Federation) show on June 29th in Tokyo at Ryogoku Kokugikan. The Kakutolog link also has a comment from Kami no Puroresu, which claims that UFC doesn’t know what the IGF is.
It appears the Tokyo Sports story is confirmed. The IGF office issued a press release with comments from Josh Barnett. This isn’t word-for-word what he said, but here is the general vibe: Barnett said that he is excited to participate on the first IGF show. Both professional wrestling and professional wrestlers are the strongest. The IGF will be number one and he will be number one. He wants Inoki to revive the first IWGP belt and become the champion of the IGF. He issued challenges to both Kurt Angle and Brock Lesnar, using his “Omae wa mo Shinde iru (you are already dead)” catchphrase.
The California State Athletic Commission lists UFC having a show on June 30th in Anaheim, the week before UFC 73 on July 7th in Sacramento. Will June 30th be the first shinsei (newborn) PRIDE show?
Orlando Sentinel writer David Whitley on MMA as a show (e-mail):
MMA does have many advantages over boxing, not the least of which is it’s run by savvy people who didn’t learn business ethics in prison. But the whole thing just feels like a Vince McMahon production minus the pre-determined winners and fake breasts.
I guess Mr. Whitley should meet Kazuyoshi Ishii right now.
Southern California columnist Paul Oberjuerge on De La Hoya vs. Mayweather and MMA (e-mail):
Nobody went down in a heap. Nobody spurted fountains of blood. But that was what made it a sterling exhibition of a real sport. As opposed to the clumsy back-alley-brawl mayhem of the various and sundry “ultimate fighting” organizations cutting into boxing’s popularity.
Onto today’s headlines.
- The Philadelphia Inquirer (Stephen A. Smith): Bout to renew boxing fails to deliver
- Reuters: HBO chief Chris Albrecht arrested in Las Vegas after dispute (more details in the LA Times)
- UFC Mania: Jim Lampley bashes MMA during Mayweather-De La Hoya super fight
- The Fightworks Podcast: Quick results from ADCC Day Two
- The Fightworks Podcast: Show #66 – Interviews from the 2007 ADCCs
- The Houston Chronicle: UFC building up to July extravaganza
- The Washington Times: Scoring takes punch after the final bell
- Sporting Life (UK): De La Hoya/Mayweather re-match not ruled out
- Yahoo Sports: IFL fighter Jeremy Williams confirmed dead
- Mad Squabbles: A word about Jeremy Williams
- MMA HQ: Cake > Godzilla
- The Orange County Register: MMA report for May 7th
- USA Today: De La Hoya should be leaving the ring, not Mayweather
- The Cleveland Plain Dealer: UFC 68 show revenue accounts for an estimated 68% of Ohio Athletic Commission’s total 2007 revenues so far
- Sports Illustrated: Five high-profile fights sure to save the sweet science of boxing
- The Las Vegas Sun (Jeff Haney): Bittersweet science – casual fan may be underwhelmed by Mayweather’s win
Topics: Boxing, IFL, Japan, Media, MMA, Pro-Wrestling, UFC, Zach Arnold | 23 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Fight Opinion Weekly: Boxing’s all Mixed up in Martial Arts
By Zach Arnold | May 6, 2007
By Zach Arnold
Printable version of article here.
In the mid-1970s, Japanese pro-wrestling legend Antonio Inoki had a plan to make himself and his company, New Japan Pro-Wrestling, famous worldwide. Inoki embarked on a series of worked fights against martial artists called the “world of kakutougi (fight skill)” series. The goal of the program was to create an image that pro-wrestlers were the strongest athletes in the world and that New Japan Pro-Wrestling was the “King of Sports.”
It took years to negotiate a match between Inoki and Muhammad Ali, but a contract was ultimately signed and a 15-round shoot fight (with all sorts of modified rules) with “Judo” Gene LeBell as referee took place in Tokyo at Nippon Budokan on June 25th, 1976. The fight was broadcast on closed circuit television throughout various outlets in the United States, with Vince McMahon Sr. helping out with promotion. Multiple wrestling cards were held in big cities (such as Boston, New York at Shea Stadium, etc.) with Ali vs. Inoki on CC as the top attraction.
While the Inoki/Ali fight ended up being a snoozefest, Inoki parlayed the outcome of the fight into one of the biggest pro-wrestling careers of all time. He was lauded as a worldwide hero who maintained the image of professional wrestlers as the strongest fighters in the world.
Inoki used the sport of boxing to positively propel the image of professional wrestlers as strong athletes. He was a master manipulator of public opinion.
Dana White is quickly following in Inoki’s foot steps.
White, a former amateur boxer, has made great strides in the last few years to court both boxing writers and fans to watch UFC. White planted the seeds of his plan by addressing boxing writers in 2006 in Las Vegas at the Boxing Writers Association of America dinner. With newspapers bleeding in bad circulation numbers, the sport of Mixed Martial Arts gives boxing writers a chance to serve fans who generally skew much younger than the average newspaper reader. With newspapers transforming from a print to a digital industry, covering a hot sport like MMA is certainly intriguing because of the amount of readers such coverage could generate.
Next, White hired Dr. Margaret Goodman and Marc Ratner from the Nevada State Athletic Commission to work on behalf of regulatory issues for UFC. Ratner’s departure from the NSAC scared a lot of people in boxing and raised significant doubt in the eyes as to what boxing’s future would be. The Ratner hiring was a major PR coup for UFC and lent the promotion mainstream credibility.
With UFC gaining momentum both on cable television and American PPV, there has been growing concern about the state of boxing’s health and how MMA’s growth plays into the equation. Many in boxing have responded publicly with vitriol and anger towards the sport of MMA. Jim Lampley has publicly stated his disdain towards MMA (more on him later in this article). Al Bernstein was quoted in a horrible Las Vegas Sun article about MMA, claiming that he couldn’t understand how MMA’s fanbase could be God-fearing conservatives.
Chuckling, Bernstein admits to being perplexed that the fan base seems to him to be the same people who vote into office conservatives who espouse belief in a peace-loving God.
While boxing insiders are bristling at the notion of MMA as a growing international sport, boxing promoters are reconsidering their options. Gary Shaw has made his entry in the MMA business through Pro Elite. Cedric Kushner was rumored to be working with Wallid Ismail of the Jungle Fight Championship promotion out of Brazil. Furthermore, regional and grass-roots boxing promoters are making the shift towards promoting local MMA shows that are drawing good-sized crowds.
With positive and building momentum on the side of UFC, Dana White was a happy camper.
Then, he caught a break of a lifetime.
Floyd Mayweather Jr., who was promoting his upcoming mega-fight against Oscar De La Hoya, opened his big mouth about UFC.
Mayweather started ripping on UFC as fighters who couldn’t make it in boxing, and also offered $1 million USD to Chuck Liddell to beat a heavyweight boxer in a boxing match. Mayweather also called UFC a ‘fad.’
Like mana from heaven, Dana White capitalized on Mayweather’s public relations mistake. He gave Mayweather an open challenge to face UFC 155-pound champion Sean Sherk in an MMA match. Sherk, the least-publicized of all of UFC’s champions, suddenly gained national media attention. White masterfully framed the terms of the PR war that Mayweather suddenly found himself in.
As boxing writer Charles Jay stated in a radio interview last week, Mayweather made a major PR gaffe. Jay also stated that Dana White knew more about the boxing industry than three-quarters of the people in the business. White was primed to be in a position to capitalize on Mayweather’s verbal blunder.
Soon, Mayweather’s comments were turned from a PR gaffe to an actual media storyline that dominated a lot of the conversation in the weeks of media coverage leading into the Mayweather/De La Hoya fight. UFC suddenly hijacked media attention away from the biggest boxing mega-fight in the last two years. Like a trojan horse infecting a computer, UFC penetrated much of the hype discussion leading into Mayweather’s fight. Dana White and Sean Sherk masterfully took advantage of all of the free publicity they were getting.
Both the boxing and mainstream media were all too willing to play into UFC’s hands.
In the last two weeks of media hype leading into the De La Hoya/Mayweather boxing match, readers continued to consume a tired and played out storyline of, “Will this fight save boxing?” The mainstream media all but proclaimed the mega-fight as boxing’s funeral. Mayweather and De La Hoya found themselves playing defense to media writers asking them about MMA surpassing boxing.
The media scrutiny would not stop any time soon.
Teddy Atlas played it honestly, but cautiously last Tuesday on Jim Rome’s nationally syndicated radio show. He credited MMA fighters as hard-working athletes while still defending the sport of boxing that he very much loves. A flurry of mainstream sports media writers continued to flood web sites and print newspapers with columns proclaiming the death of boxing at the hands of the more exciting sport of MMA.
ESPN was glad to carry the water on that message.
ESPN Radio hosts Colin Cowherd and Dan Patrick buried boxing profusely on their respective radio shows. Cowherd said that everyone is looking to invest money into Mixed Martial Arts and that nobody is looking to put money into boxing. He also claimed that Shaquille O’Neal’s agent, Perry Rodgers (based out of Las Vegas), was responsible for UFC getting onto Spike TV. Cowherd compared boxing to a one-night stand in relation to MMA, which develops relationships with its fans and gives fans every month the fights they want to see. On The Big Show, Dan Patrick talked about meeting with UFC Light Heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell and how accomodating Liddell was to meet in person. Patrick practically took a verbal pitchfork and stuck it into boxing on his program.
On ESPN TV last Thursday on SportsCenter, host Brian Kenny narrated a video package discussing hype for Mayweather and De La Hoya’s upcoming fight. However, at least 30% of the air time on the video package was dedicated to the future of boxing and where MMA fit into the equation. Again, Mayweather took the time to trash MMA on national television. De La Hoya, as he had done so all week leading into the fight, played it cool and stated that boxing wasn’t a dying sport while praising those involved in MMA.
To see ESPN push the “boxing is dying, MMA is coming” storyline so hard on television was remarkable to watch. You could not put a price tag on this type of coverage if you were in UFC’s shoes.
Oh yeah, there also was a boxing fight this past weekend. Mayweather defeated De La Hoya in a good, but not great 12-round split decision encounter. DirecTV was overflooded with customer orders and cable outlets throughout the States were experiencing heavy customer traffic.
The fallout from the aftermath of the fight, however, was not about the fight itself.
After defeating Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather Jr. half-heartedly announced his retirement from boxing. De La Hoya indicated that he might fight again. The mainstream media covered the fight, but once the fight was over so was the interest from the casual fan towards boxing.
However, there was one incident on the De La Hoya/Mayweather telecast that struck a chord with MMA fans. After the boxing fight, play-by-play announcer Jim Lampley took time to get a shot in against MMA. He stated that you would not find a MMA fighter with the kind of hands (for boxing) like you would with either Mayweather or De La Hoya. Max Kellerman jumped into the conversational fray after Lampley’s comment and told Lampley that MMA fighters are every bit the athletes that Mayweather and De La Hoya were. There were some writers who defended Lampley for his comments (which technically are right), but Lampley’s defenders are missing the bigger picture.
Why did Jim Lampley feel insecure enough to try to take a gratuitous cheap shot at MMA during boxing’s biggest mega-fight PPV telecast? He clearly aimed to intentionally make this provocative comment — but why? What purpose did it serve? Was it to strike back at HBO executives who are rumoredly going to start airing UFC shows on the network? Was it to strike back at the mainstream media and the constant “boxing is dying, MMA is taking over” storyline?
Whatever Lampley’s intentions were, it backfired. It made many MMA fans angry. On the FightOpinion.com site, we had a correspondent at the fight in Las Vegas who heard about Lampley’s comments — which supposedly raised a stir live at the arena.
Of all of the blunders from those in boxing playing right into Dana White’s media wheelhouse, Lampley’s comments were by far the most egregious of them all. Yes, he is technically 100% right with his comments. However, there was no impetus for him to make those comments other than to stir up trouble.
On the day of the Mayweather/De La Hoya mega-fight, UFC issued a press release for their July 7th card at Arco Arena in Sacramento, California. The press release practically read like a laundry list of arguments against boxing PPVs and where disgruntled boxing fans should be turning their eyes to for spending their hard-earned money on PPV.
After winning his fight against Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather Jr. found himself making some interesting comments about MMA. After spending weeks trashing UFC and giving UFC an amazing amount of free media coverage, Mayweather was quoted by FightNews.com as saying the following in a post-fight media session:
“I apologize to the UFC, sometimes we say things that we shouldn’t have said and I’m man enough to admit that. I apologize to the Fertittas, Lorenzo and Dana White (UFC owners). I respect MMA fighters and what they do in the UFC. I have no plans of fighting in mixed martial arts.”
For Floyd Mayweather Jr., his comments came way too late. The damage to his sport in media circles by his anti-MMA comments was already complete. There was no going back. The genie was let out of the bottle. UFC was (pardon the pun) the ultimate victor coming out of this past weekend’s activities in Las Vegas.
For those thinking that UFC’s onslaught against boxing is about to stop, think again. On June 21st, UFC will be holding a breakfast at the AP Sports editors convention in St. Louis, Missouri. White will continue to aggressively court media writers to invest more time and money into covering MMA.
There is a growing chorus of sportswriters who see where the money and eyeballs are shifting to, and it’s not boxing. It’s mixed martial arts. Floyd Mayweather Jr. only managed to highlight this fact with his loud mouth and even louder anti-MMA statements.
Dana White played off of Floyd Mayweather Jr. like Antonio Inoki played off of Muhammad Ali. Boxing, once again, loses.
Topics: Boxing, Fight Opinion Weekly, Japan, Media, MMA, Pro-Wrestling, UFC, Zach Arnold | 2 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Sunday scorecard: Kellerman versus Lampley
By Zach Arnold | May 5, 2007
D-Day for the punishment of Melvin Guillard failing his drug test in Nevada (cocaine) is this Wednesday.
Floyd Mayweather defeated Oscar De La Hoya by split-decision after 12 rounds. Fight recap here. Photo gallery here. Plus, scorecard drama. There also was a verbal fight between Max Kellerman and Jim Lampley about MMA fighters. Why Lampley, on boxing’s biggest show, decided to bring up MMA is beyond me. If there is audio of this online, please let me know. Thanks.
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: Boxing, IFL, Japan, Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 26 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |