PRIDE tries to grab media headlines
By Zach Arnold | November 2, 2006
Sports Nippon reports that PRIDE is attempting to sign WBC World Super Flyweight champion Masamori Tokuyama (background information here and here) for their 12/31 Saitama Super Arena show. The report claims that should Tokuyama work the PRIDE show, the JBC (Japan Boxing Commission) would threaten to strip him of his title. Reportedly, the news of this PRIDE offer came to light at a WBC meeting on 10/29 in Croatia.
In the past, Japanese boxing authorities have stated that they would suspend or banish boxers from competing again if they fought in MMA.
The obvious question to ask is who could PRIDE possibly book him against in an MMA fight (given his small weight)? Additionally, if they choose to put him in a boxing exhibition match, who would be the opponent?
Here’s a report (by former Gong magazine editor Takao Kondo) claiming that TV-Asahi is now PRIDE’s main goal of getting a TV deal, with TV-Tokyo as a back-up plan. TV-Tokyo would be a big drop-off from Asahi.
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: All Topics, Boxing, Japan, Media, PRIDE, Zach Arnold | No Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Fight Opinion Radio: Episode 30 (Media Week)
By Zach Arnold | November 2, 2006
This week’s show (presented by Whaledog.com) is a good one if you like to hear the thoughts from writers who cover the MMA business extensively. Our first guest is Eddie Goldman of NHB News (his site’s ATOM feed is here). Eddie shares his thoughts on UFC’s marketing tactics, Dana White’s behavior in public, HBO’s level of interest in MMA programming, and why PPV is an archaic business model for MMA promotions in 2006. Our second guest is Dave Doyle of FoxSports.com. Dave was a former reporter for the Boston Globe newspaper. He shares with us his many insights on PRIDE & IFL and the similarities and/or differences between MMA & pro-wrestling fans online. You can check out the Fox Sports MMA blog here. Two great radio interviews with two excellent writers.
Podcasting Links
- iTunes subscribers – click here.
- Yahoo Podcast subscribers – click here.
- Podcast Alley subscribers – click here.
The 30th 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
If you click on full-post view, you will see a timetable of segments on this week’s show.
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: All Topics, Erin Bucknell, Fight Opinion Radio, IFL, Japan, Jeff Thaler, Luke Nicholson, Media, MMA, podcasts, PRIDE, UFC, Zach Arnold | No Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Takanori Gomi cancels media interview
By Zach Arnold | November 1, 2006
According to a Daily Sports report. Gomi was supposed to meet with the media and do a training session for the media on behalf of DSE. He canceled.
And the bad news for PRIDE got even worse. Gilbert Melendez is off the Yokohama Arena card due to an injury. Here is a statement from Gilbert Melendez’s MySpace blog:
With my objection and due to my doctor’s and manager’s insistence, I have pulled out of my fight with Shinya Aoki, set for Bushido 13. I ruptured an infected bursa sac on my left elbow and am unable to extend my left arm, even after getting it drained multiple times. I am scheduled to get an MRI after more of the swelling goes down as my doctor suspects I may have ligament and tendon damage. This predicament and absolutely no other reason (so unfounded rumors and speculation can end), is why I am not fighting on Nov. 5. With PRIDE’s understanding, I was forced to withdraw and they have found a replacement for me. I’m relieved that at least, MMA fans will still be able to watch Aoki fight.
I have been preparing intensely for this fight and have been looking forward to making my first appearance on PPV for a long, long time. This fight would have been a landmark in my career. I am at a loss for words to express my disappointment and frustration. Most of all, I am sorry for disappointing the MMA fans, my supporters, PRIDE and Aoki. I have expressed to PRIDE my desire to reschedule a match-up with Aoki as soon as I am able.
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Topics: All Topics, Japan, Media, MMA, PRIDE, Zach Arnold | 9 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Fuji TV says no MMA programming for NYE
By Zach Arnold | October 31, 2006
Yahoo Japan HP: Fuji TV says “No kakutougi (MMA) on New Year’s Eve”
By Zach Arnold
Daily Sports reports that Fuji TV President Koichi Murakami will not air kakutougi (MMA) programming on the network for New Year’s Eve.
This leaves TV-Asahi as the only network (officially) left for PRIDE programming to possibly air on New Year’s Eve. If TV-Asahi says no to PRIDE, then this means PRIDE will have to produce their Otoko Matsuri event with no television money. SkyPerfecTV PPV only.
In 2005, PRIDE (with the assistance of Fuji TV) promoted the most expensive fight in the history of MMA with Naoya Ogawa vs. Hidehiko Yoshida having an estimated combined fight money package of $5 million USD. PRIDE defeated K-1’s Dynamite!! show for the first time in television ratings on New Year’s Eve in 2005.
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Topics: All Topics, Japan, Media, MMA, PRIDE, Zach Arnold | 26 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
UFC signs deal to create TV shows in Spanish
By Zach Arnold | October 31, 2006
Multichannel News: Fox Sports Espanol gets in UFC ring
The exclusive one-year deal includes Spanish-language television and video-on-demand rights to Gladiadores del UFC, a series of six one-hour UFC fight specials that will air over the course of six months.
Business Wire: UFC’s press release on the new FSE deal
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Topics: All Topics, Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 4 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
TKO files lawsuit against Ivan Menjivar
By Stephan | October 31, 2006
An article on ultimefanatic that a lawsuit has been filed from TKO (the best known MMA organization in Canada) against Ivan Menjivar for breach of contract.
This is kind of interesting, as TKO’s president is Stephane Patry and Ivan’s manager is also Stephane.
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: All Topics, Canada, MMA, Stephan Marceau | 4 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
IFL business data now publicly available
By Zach Arnold | October 31, 2006
The folks at The Underground Forum made a pretty interesting discovery. Mainly, the IFL’s financial statements in preparation of their upcoming stock merger to be a publicly traded company. The method the IFL is choosing to get onto the stock market through Paligent Inc. is called a reverse stock merger. Once the move happens, a reverse stock split (more information here) will occur. This is generally considered very risky.
What makes the reverse merger eye-opening is that the reverse stock split is at a 1-to-20 ratio. Meaning, for example, if I had a company with 100,000 outstanding common stock shares, a 1-to-20 ratio would widdle that number down to 5,000. Reverse mergers are considered to be short-term plays only.
This post is a very important one for everyone reading this site. I encourage all of the site readers (especially financial experts) to analyze the IFL report very closely and to come up with some information that everyone can understand. I was only able to take a brief look at the data (not doing it fair justice) and like all start up companies in the entertainment field, the IFL is bleeding some significant money. Please read the financials and post information in the comments section.
The one line that will obviously stock out the most from the document:
During the first six months of 2006, IFL recognized a net loss of approximately $2.4 million. … At June 30, 2006, IFL had a stockholders’ deficit of $2.4 million. During the six months ended June 30, 2006, IFL incurred losses and negative operating cash flows of approximately $2.4 million and $1.9 million, respectively. During the third quarter of 2006, these trends have continued. These conditions raise substantial doubt about IFL’s ability to continue as a going concern.
And…
IFL treated its arrangement with Fox Sports Net as a barter transaction.
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: All Topics, IFL, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 4 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Bushido at Yokohama Arena
By Zach Arnold | October 31, 2006
DJ GOZMA gets the GRABAKA boys in shape
So, Bushido is this Sunday at Yokohama Arena. Good card line-up. Denis Martins has an interview with Denis Kang here. Likely a (very) small crowd. Same story for a rather unheralded S-Cup (Shootboxing) event in Tokyo at Ryogoku Kokugikan this Friday featuring Andy Souwer and other K-1 veteran names (Andy Souwer vs. Ian Schaffa, Daniel Dawson vs. Virgil Kalakoda, plus Ivan Menjivar and others).
Here’s are are some interesting comments from Takanori Gomi.
Make your predictions for the fights on the upcoming Bushido event here.
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: All Topics, Japan, Media, MMA, PRIDE, Zach Arnold | 1 Comment » | Permalink | Trackback |
Pawel Nastula allegedly fails more drug tests
By Zach Arnold | October 30, 2006
Ivan Trembow has more details. I’m sure it won’t make headlines in Japan, but hey… how about that slow news week?
Topics: All Topics, Media, MMA, PRIDE, Zach Arnold | 3 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
PRIDE’s NYE TV options
By Zach Arnold | October 29, 2006
By Zach Arnold
The five major free TV networks in Japan (Tokyo Broadcasting System, TV-Tokyo, Nippon TV, Fuji TV, & TV-Asahi) are starting to get their New Year’s Eve programming plans ready. Based on what is publicly known, here is the information that we know of so far:
- TBS (Tokyo Broadcasting) – K-1 Dynamite!!
- Fuji TV – Nothing official (although there was a rumor that they might run figure skating programming)
- TV-Tokyo – usual New Year’s Eve programming (comedy and music, along with a news feature program)
- Nippon TV – A three-hour game special program and a 5-hour Music Lovers program (information provided by Burning Spirit)
- TV-Asahi – Nothing official
Nippon TV not carrying fight programming on New Year’s Eve makes total sense (given how the network’s image was damaged with the Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2003 fiasco). TV-Asahi was the network that some Japanese fight media types were trying to push as a possible home for PRIDE a couple of months ago. It’s an interesting option given that the network still supports New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Fuji TV would be an unlikely choice, given that they canceled PRIDE abruptly in June.
It looks more and more like TV-Asahi is the only real, serious option on the table for PRIDE at this point (if it happens). If it does happen, Asahi is a big network and would certainly give them broad coverage throughout Japan. DSE President Nobuyuki Sakakibara stated last week that the promotion would make an announcement regarding their TV situation on November 10th.
By no means is this a positive indication that TV-Asahi will air the PRIDE show. However, the ball is in the network’s court if they want to make a deal with PRIDE.
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Topics: All Topics, Japan, Media, MMA, PRIDE, Zach Arnold | 6 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Sunday & Monday is media fun-day
By Zach Arnold | October 29, 2006
Consider this an open post to talk about any stories MMA-related you see in the media or just anything in general MMA-related you want to talk about.
Look at the prices on Ticketmaster for tickets for UFC’s TUF 4 Finale show. $175-$495 USD per ticket.
Sunday and Monday headlines can be read in full-post view.
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Topics: All Topics, IFL, Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 9 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Kiyoshi Tamura appreciation day
By Zach Arnold | October 28, 2006
The obstinent man in red pants. A man who calls his daily journal the Full Nude Blog. It’s impossible to hate him.
- Kiyoshi Tamura vs. Kazushi Sakuraba (UWF-International)
- Kiyoshi Tamura vs. Tsuyoshi Kohsaka (6/27/1998 at Tokyo Bay NK Hall – RINGS promotion)
- Kiyoshi Tamura vs. Frank Shamrock (4/23/1999 Osaka Prefectural Gym – RINGS promotion)
- Kiyoshi Tamura vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (10/9/2000 Tokyo, Yoyogi National Stadium Gym II – RINGS 2000 King of Kings Tournament)
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: All Topics, Japan, Media, MMA, Pro-Wrestling, Zach Arnold | No Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Trevor Berbick murdered
By Zach Arnold | October 28, 2006
By Zach Arnold
The Associated Press reports a disturbing crime scene in Jamaica. Bloomberg has more details.
As noted in a Wikipedia entry, Berbick was involved in a famous double-crossing in 1991 against Nobuhiko Takada for the UWF-International promotion.
Other related links:
- ESPN (Dan Rafael): Berbick ‘the other guy’ in the career of others
- The Sweet Science: Trevor Berbick killed in Jamaica
- Seconds Out: Trevor Berbick murdered in Jamaica
Topics: All Topics, Boxing, Media, Zach Arnold | No Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |