Sunday news spread
By Zach Arnold | December 17, 2006
First Pro-Am event ever in Las Vegas happening on 12/29, potential contractual issues dog Frank Shamrock, and Rich Franklin is back in training.
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Topics: All Topics, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 15 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Saturday media headlines
By Zach Arnold | December 16, 2006
More pontificating on Mirko’s future. For the sake of frivolity, let’s start with some Bronko Cikatic comments.
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Topics: All Topics, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 14 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Fight Opinion Radio: Episode 36 (History in the making)
By Zach Arnold | December 16, 2006
Simply put, an amazing near 3-hour show this week. With the many history-making events taking place this week in MMA, our show this week creates a complete, comprehensive look at the events that occured to make it such a newsworthy time period in Mixed Martial Arts.
First, a complete recap of the Ultimate Fight Night event from San Diego.
Second, a complete review of UFC purchasing both the WEC and WFA with special guest Dave Doyle from FoxSports.com, author of the weekly MMA column The Weekly Tapout.
Third, we have an extended analysis segment on the latest Japanese MMA politics surrounding both Emelianeko Fedor & Mirko Cro Cop.
Fourth, the FOR crew provides an extensive breakdown of the CBS 60 Minutes TV segment on MMA that aired last Sunday. Jeff Thaler explains what the Zuffa Myth is in full detail (he is the man who coined the now-famous term). We play audio clips from both Eddie Goldman’s radio show and Bryan Alvarez’s radio show discussing the 60 Minutes segment.
Fifth, we have a comprehensive review of both the Cage Rage & Cage Warriors events that took place in the uK over the weekend w/ special guest Mike Farrow of Total-MMA.com. A very good segment breaking down the UK scene and what to expect in 2007 from this market.
Sixth, the FOR crew reads your letters that you sent in for our mailbag segment. Both positive and negative mails are read on the air and responded to. Is the WEC going to be a feeder system for UFC? Should UFC have Top 10 ranking lists for each weight class category? Why is the PRIDE NYE event perceived to not be a strong card? We provide the answers.
Last but not least, we have the world-famous grab bag. The CSAC suspends Josh “The Punk” Thomson for a t-shirt deemed offensive. A war is breaking out between politicians and MMA supporters in Louisiana over whether or not the state should allow MMA to be sanctioned. The state attorney general and the son of a former supporter of Cowboy Bill Watts says no. How will this explosive situation end? The Gracie Fighting Championships event in Miami, Florida on January 20th is a major event that could fly under the radar of a lot of people. And what do the traditional American sports writers think of MMA? How do you respond to these journalists? Discussion on all these topics, plus a preview of next week’s Christmas show.
You can check out our new MySpace monster account at http://www.myspace.com/fightopinionradio. The army of readers is growing quickly!
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Podcasting Links
- iTunes subscribers – click here.
- Yahoo Podcast subscribers – click here.
- Podcast Alley subscribers – click here.
The 36th 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, Japan, Jeff Thaler, Luke Nicholson, Media, MMA, podcasts, PRIDE, Pro Elite, UFC, WFA, Zach Arnold | No Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Mirko Heads to Slovenia
By Mark Pickering | December 16, 2006
PRIDE 2006 Open Weight Grand Prix Champion, Mirko Cro Cop, the subject of intense speculation after mulling over deals from both PRIDE and the UFC, arrived in Slovenia on Thursday to attend Jungle Fight’s first European event.
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Topics: All Topics, Brazil, Mark Pickering, MMA, PRIDE, UFC | 2 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Nino “Elvis” Schembri Leaves Chute Boxe
By Mark Pickering | December 16, 2006
PRIDE veteran and BJJ ace Nino “Elvis†Schembri has left the Chute Boxe team in Curitiba, according to GracieMag.com.
The colourful Brazilian has ended a two-year affiliation with Rudimar Fedrigo’s academy to return to his hometown of Rio.
Consequently, Schembri has been recruited by acting manager Rogerio Camoes, trainer Jorge Guimaraes and former Brazilian Top Team member Carlos Barreto, who’ve formed the country’s latest world-class stable, Black House.
The new super-team features Vitor Belfort, Assuerio Silva, Ryoto “Lyoto†Machida and UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva.
“My departure from Chute Boxe was friendly. I haven’t had a fight for a long time, so I chose to go back living close to my family that is in need of me as much as I am in need of them,†said Nino.
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Topics: All Topics, Brazil, Mark Pickering, MMA, PRIDE | 2 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
The Christmas Show
By Zach Arnold | December 15, 2006
For the past several years (under different banners), I’ve produced a special Christmas radio show that people can download to listen to over the Holidays. Whether you’re traveling on the road, stuck in the airport, or visiting family, I always aimed to make sure that the radio show was a show featuring good storytelling and not necessarily the newsmakers.
I will start booking guests for the Christmas show (which will be taped next week and available on Friday 12/22). I already have lists from all of the co-hosts in regards to which guests they would like me to try to book. I am now opening up the process to every reader. I am limiting it to two choices per person in a single reply. You give me two names of MMA personalities that you would like me to try to book who you think would be highly energetic, entertaining, or good storytellers. I’ll take the list, combine it with the lists from the co-host, and immediately start the booking process. Please post what you would consider to be realistic options (I don’t think I have a great phone plan to call Croatia for Mirko).
Please take this seriously. The better the list, the more likely we’ll be able to produce a great show.
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Topics: All Topics, Fight Opinion Radio, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 32 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Friday fresh notes
By Zach Arnold | December 14, 2006
- Los Angeles Times (article by Dave Meltzer): UFC is looking at a bright future (use this link if you get the firewall)
- Los Angeles Times: MMA groups to fight for fighters (article about Elite — Brandon Vera says he has one fight with UFC, is considering a deal with Elite, use this link if you get the firewall)
- Business Wire (PR): Pro-Elite launches EXC on Showtime
- Mike Swick: I’m not fighting Rich Franklin in March
- K-1: Musashi vs. Randy Kim announced for 12/31 Osaka Dome show
- Rocky Mountain News: IFL big winner in 60 Minutes segment (plus Alex Marvez points out the Zuffa Myth)
- Times & Star (UK): Alan Murdoch and Dave Legeno aim for rubber match in Cage Rage
- Long Beach Press-Telegram: Showtime network enters the MMA fighting ranks (Elite signs Gina Carano – good move)
- Jake Rossen: New Year’s Wishes
- UFC Junkie: Liddell and Ortiz get publicity on M-TV
- The MMA Observer: 2006 MMA round-up
Topics: All Topics, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 29 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Showtime & Elite first show
By Zach Arnold | December 14, 2006
Elite Xtreme Combat HP link here. First show is on February 10th in Southaven, Mississippi (a few miles away from Memphis, Tennessee) with Frank Shamrock vs. Renzo Gracie in the main event at the DeSoto Civic Center. The building has a capacity of around 8,000-9,000.
Commentary: What makes the location an interesting selection is that it may have influenced the situation with UFC & WFA. How so? There’s a certain fighter who is a very large figure in Memphis circles and could have drawn very, very well there. His name? Quinton Jackson.
Update: Sherdog says that the Elite promotion will use a 15-second time limit for fights on the ground. This is a bad idea. I saw this concept with Kazuyuki Fujita against boxer Imamu Mayfield on the Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2003 show…
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Topics: All Topics, Media, MMA, Pro Elite, Zach Arnold | 35 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Thursday media headlines
By Zach Arnold | December 14, 2006
- GBR (Japanese): Pictures from UFC 12/13 Miramar event
- Gracie Fighting Championships: Phil Baroni and Cesar Gracie will be commentators for the PPV airing from Miami, Florida on January 20th.
- Press Release: Claim that MMA & Kickboxing show called World Best Fighter (USA vs. Asia) will happen on 1/5/2007 in Atlantic City, New Jersey (Tank Abbott is Team USA captain, with the claim that “China’s National Team” will be on Team Asia – produced by Roy Foreman and World Mac Entertainment)
- Houston Chronicle: Cro Cop appears UFC bound
- Vecernji List (Croatian): Mirko still deciding on the UFC offer (the drama continues)
- T-Portal (Croatian): Mirko’s manager says no final deal is done yet with UFC
- Worcester Business Journal: Paid Inc. signs partnership with MMA company
- Business Wire (PR): Almost 16 million viewers watched 60 Minutes TV segment on MMA
- The Idaho Statesman: Xtreme Fight Series III at Qwest Arena in Boise this Friday
- Radio: An interview with silly K-1 English-language commentator Michael Schiavello
Topics: All Topics, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 13 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
FightSport UK Magazine Launches
By Mark Pickering | December 14, 2006
FightSport Magazine, a staple publication in France and more recently America, premiered its British adaptation at Cage Warriors’ Enter The Rough House event, before a capacity crowd at the Harvey Hadden Sports Centre, Nottingham, on December 9th.
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Topics: All Topics, Mark Pickering, Media, MMA, UK | No Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
UFC Fight Night reaction
By Luke | December 14, 2006
Here’s some early feedback to UFC Fight Night last night in San Diego at Miramar. Haven’t seen the show yet (due to work obligations), so I’m doing my best to avoid spoilers. But, here’s some mainstream reaction to the show.
- North County Times: UFC’s Fight Night is a hit in Miramar.
- Sherdog.com – Beatdown Radio reviews UFC Fight Night
- Canadian Press (via CBC Sports): Two Canadians go down to defeat at UFC fight Night on US military base
- Los Angeles Times: Diego Sanchez takes UFC bout
- San Diego Union Tribune: Local marines ultimately enjoy a good fight
- Hamilton Spectator: Jeff Joslin goes down after 3 punishing rounds
- UFC HP: Sanchez starches Riggs in One before 3,000 marines in Miramar
- AM900 CHML (Hamilton): Jeff Joslinf alls short in UFC debut
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Topics: All Topics, Canada, Luke Nicholson, Media, MMA, UFC | No Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Ultimate Fight Night 12/13/06
By Erin | December 13, 2006
Pre-show promos: Diego babbles about energy, Riggs wants the fight to remain standing. Diego seems to be willing to go with this plan. I really hope he does.
Seeing as we are at Miramar, someone REALLY needs to come out to Highway to the Danger Zone.
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Topics: All Topics, Erin Bucknell, MMA, UFC | 15 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Latest Man Festival card
By Zach Arnold | December 13, 2006
- PRIDE Heavyweight Title Match: Emelianenko Fedor vs. Mark Hunt
- Kiyoshi Tamura vs. Ikuhisa Minowa
- Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Gilbert Melendez
- Shin’ya Aoki vs. Joachim Hansen
- Mauricio Shogun vs. Kazuhiro Nakamura
- Takanori Gomi vs. Mitsuhiro Ishida
Topics: All Topics, Japan, Media, MMA, PRIDE, Zach Arnold | 47 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |