Fight Opinion Radio #38: Big Birthday Blowout Bonanza
By Zach Arnold | January 19, 2007
Potential sponsors (web sites, fighters, teams, companies) – if you want to have ads on our show (paid or barter), e-mail us immediately.
It’s the boss’s birthday and he’s in a good mood. This week’s Fight Opinion Radio show is 2 1/2 hours long, packed with a ton of news and comedy. Our special guests this week on the show include Caleb from The Fightworks Podcast, Jordan Breen, and Dave Doyle. All three guys were really great guests on this week’s show.
Dave joins us to discuss his MMA Top 10 Pound-for-Pound fighter list and the new MyNetworkTV deal that the IFL signed this week. Caleb joins us to discuss the future of MMA in the American marketplace (will UFC = MMA in the minds of casual fans? Caleb’s mainstream checklist for MMA is here). Jordan joins us to discuss the scandal that has rocked the Japanese fight scene, involving Yoshihiro Akiyama and Kazushi Sakuraba. If you are a casual fight fan who does not follow the Japanese scene very closely, pay close attention to Jordan’s interview segment. He does an amazing job of breaking down, from start to finish, the entire story (laying out the characters, promoters, and officials involved). In many ways, this segment will be something that listeners will be able to play back in 5 years and reference it for historical news material.
Since it is the boss’s birthday, you can make him happy by donating some money directly to the Fight Opinion project. Every donation is truly appreciated and you’ll more than likely get a personal response back from us with your site donation. The time to upgrade the server is coming very shortly, so the funds will be of great help to us in the process.
In addition to our three guest interviews, we have a tightly-packed show featuring the entire Fight Opinion Radio team. Segments include Randy Couture’s comeback to UFC (is it good or bad?), the future of PRIDE (Tommy Lee & car dealerships – you can’t beat that), and the world-famous grab bag (a tribute to skin lotion).
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Podcasting Links
- iTunes subscribers – click here.
- Yahoo Podcast subscribers – click here.
- Podcast Alley subscribers – click here.
The 38th 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
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Topics: All Topics, Erin Bucknell, Fight Opinion Radio, HERO's, IFL, Japan, Jeff Thaler, K-1, Luke Nicholson, Media, MMA, podcasts, PRIDE, UFC, Zach Arnold | No Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Friday fight notes
By Zach Arnold | January 18, 2007
Hate mail on the boss’s birthday, plus lots of interesting media story links. Entertain yourself.
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Topics: All Topics, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 19 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Thursday talking points
By Zach Arnold | January 17, 2007
Fedor vs. Lindland. Enough said.
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Topics: All Topics, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 24 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Wednesday media mania
By Zach Arnold | January 17, 2007
I have seen it all now. Today, I learned that when I link to reports in the broadsheets and blogs, I’m simply doing it to steal traffic away from those sites. Seriously.
Information overload. I expect you to read all the stories. To reward you, here’s a teaser: Sankei Sports says that PRIDE is trying to book Emelianenko Fedor vs. Rulon Gardner as the main event of their 2/24 Las Vegas show. How about that Japanese support for Silva vs. Henderson as the main event? Plus, The Fight Network reports that Joachim Hansen wants to fight in America.
And Randy Couture’s wife is bored by Tim Sylvia. Hardcore.
Here are the results of thee 2006 Ground & Pound MMA awards.
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Topics: All Topics, Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 12 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
K-1 suspends Akiyama
By Zach Arnold | January 17, 2007
K-1 matchmaker Sadaharu Tanigawa addressed the Japanese media on Wednesday to discuss the Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama scandal. Tanigawa stated that he has indefinitely suspended Yoshihiro Akiyama (due to him using an oil-based substance) and that Akiyama told him he would accept whatever length the suspension would be.
Topics: All Topics, HERO's, Japan, K-1, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 9 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
IFL signs syndication, PPV deal
By Zach Arnold | January 16, 2007
Broadcasting & Cable: NATPE convention – MyNetworkTV & FSN reach deal with IFL (notice the major development of the IFL going to PPV – which is something that the promotion was adamantly saying they wouldn’t do last year)
Variety has more details on the story.
More stories:
- MMA HQ: Sam Hoger vs. Ryoto Machida at UFC 67
- Yahoo PR: Xyience announces financing and bolstered executive leadership (there is a big company shake-up)
- The Regina Leader-Post: Mike Maurer will retire from MMA
- KO Corner: Ricco Rodriguez is boxing
- UFC Junkie: Interview with Sean Salmon, Pt. 2
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Topics: All Topics, IFL, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 26 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Tuesday weekly notes
By Zach Arnold | January 15, 2007
A brand new poll on the side of the main page. Results from our last site poll:
Which potential fight are you most excited about watching?
- Tim Sylvia vs. Randy Couture – 38%
- Vanderlei Silva vs. Dan Henderson – 31%
- Mirko Cro Cop vs. Eddie Sanchez – 23%
- Quinton Jackson vs. Marvin Eastman – 5%
- Rob McCullough vs. Kit Cope – 3%
Now, onto today’s media headlines.
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Topics: All Topics, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 8 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Report: Gomi heading to UFC
By Zach Arnold | January 15, 2007
Daily Sports reports in their Tuesday newspaper that Takanori Gomi has been given the “go-sign” by DSE to fight in UFC. In the pro-DSE report by DS, the paper claims that PRIDE will have Gomi fight on their 2/24 Las Vegas event and then send him into UFC as a PRIDE fighter to “make a raid on UFC” and overthrow UFC 155-pound champion Sean Sherk and fight BJ Penn. Unlike Mirko Cro Cop (who is fighting as a true UFC fighter), the paper claims that DSE will be Gomi’s booking agent for any fights in UFC.
Update: Gryphon has more thoughts on the story.
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Topics: All Topics, Japan, Media, MMA, PRIDE, UFC, Zach Arnold | 45 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Monday media headlines
By Zach Arnold | January 15, 2007
- Jake Rossen: Un-“Natural” Selection
- UFC HP: Promotion will charge $50 USD for PPVs in HD
- The Houston Chronicle: Coaching gives BJ Penn route back to lightweight division
- PR Newswire: New fantasy MMA web site targets UFC & PRIDE fans
- Media Syndicate: More PR for Elite XC
- KTLA: Love packs a punch (written by the same LA Times writer from Sunday)
- The Houston Chronicle: Ultimate matchup – Liddell vs. Silva
- Radio: Eddie Goldman interviews Wallid Ismail
- Variety: UFC signs new video game deal with THQ (first game release in late 2007)
- UFC Junkie: Spike TV made the call to make Lister vs. Marquardt a non-TV fight
- Rush PR News: Fox to re-invent My Network TV after ratings disaster (it looks like they’ll pick up UFC’s new syndicated TV show)
- The Day: Lou DiBella says that “boxing is eternal”
- Boxing Scene: Lou Savarese to fight Travis Fulton
Topics: All Topics, Boxing, Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 12 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Sunday afternoon media stroll
By Zach Arnold | January 14, 2007
- The Boston Globe: At the Wai Kru center, you get to pick your fight
- The Asbury Park Press: Makeover gave UFC new life (it’s back! The Zuffa Myth…)
- The Los Angeles Times: Knockout marketing (article about the growth of MMA, using the old ‘blood-thirsty’ angle – it’s somewhat condescending)
- The Sioux Falls Argus-Leader: A fighting chance in an octagon (a debate article about whether or not MMA is too barbaric to be considered a sport, plus a possible opening for The Zuffa Myth surfaces…)
- The North County Times: Martial arts academy opens new San Marcos facility
- EMediaWire (PR): MMA Podcasting surges in popularity (too bad they didn’t bother mentioning the best three shows – Sherdog’s Beatdown, Fight Opinion Radio, and The Fightworks Podcast)
- The Asbury Park Press: Ultimate warrior (profile article on Renzo Gracie)
- The Boston Globe: Claims that Elite XC’s 2/10 debut is in Minneapolis
- The Boston Herald: Kenny Florian becoming face of UFC
- The Contra Costa Times: Oakland to host debut of IFL’s first full season
Topics: All Topics, IFL, Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 16 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Wallid Ismail sues Elite XC
By Zach Arnold | January 13, 2007
Message from Denis Martins.
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Topics: All Topics, Brazil, Media, MMA, Pro Elite, Zach Arnold | 28 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
5 good reasons UFC will not buy PRIDE
By Zach Arnold | January 13, 2007
By Zach Arnold
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For a wild rumor, it’s certainly taken on a life of its own on the Internet this week. UFC buying PRIDE. It sounds like every UFC fanboy’s greatest dream and every PRIDE fanboy’s worst nightmare. So, let’s splash some cold water on the rumor. I’ll give you five reasons UFC won’t (and shouldn’t) buy PRIDE.
Hint: Let’s start with the issue of potential criminal implications.
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Topics: All Topics, Japan, Media, MMA, PRIDE, UFC, Zach Arnold | 3 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Saturday media splash
By Zach Arnold | January 13, 2007
- Sherdog: Gracie FC 1/20 Miami event postponed due to bad ticket sales
- San Mateo Daily Journal: Molestation charges for martial arts champion, teacher Joao Pierini
- UFC HP: Ultimate Fight Night 1/25 card completed
- SLAM! Sports: UFC ready for Rampage
- UFC Junkie: Lister vs. Marquardt now a non-TV fight
- Video Business: UFC extended at First Look (hat tip – Jason Bennett)
Topics: All Topics, Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 7 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |