UFC media notes and a fan question
By Zach Arnold | October 4, 2006
Update: Luke Nicholson found this interesting link, which includes video clips for the Ken vs. Tito III fight heat-up.
First, the media notes round-up:
- Winnipeg Sun – An article about Krzysztof Soszynski, who has fought in the IFL and recently became TKO champion (note how Soszynski is an IFL fighter and he clearly talks about UFC in bigger terms)
- Marketwire (Press Release) – Randy Couture joins The Fight Network
- Broadcast Newsroom (Press Release) – Promotion for Ken Shamrock vs. Tito Ortiz III on October 10th
- Houston Chronicle – Preview of upcoming Shamrock vs. Ortiz III fight
Now, onto the fan question. We are taping a radio show that will be available on the site later this week. Looking at all the upcoming MMA shows (UFC 10/10 event with Ken vs. Tito, UFC 64 10/14 event with Rich Franklin vs. Anderson Silva, PRIDE 10/21 Las Vegas show with Fedor vs. Coleman), I want you to rank those three events (from most interested in to least interested in) in a reply in the comments area and tell me why you rank those shows the way you rank them. I want to gauge what kind of fan appeal there is (if any) for these events and what people are most interested in watching & talking about.
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: All Topics, Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 22 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
WFA apparently is not dead
By Zach Arnold | October 3, 2006
MMA Weekly reports that Heath Herring has signed a deal with the WFA. Their next show apparently is scheduled for December 9th at the Aladdin Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
I would hope the WFA would at least update their web page. It hasn’t been updated since August.
Topics: All Topics, Media, MMA, WFA, Zach Arnold | 1 Comment » | Permalink | Trackback |
MMA Media notes
By Zach Arnold | October 3, 2006
Update: Neil Davidson of Canadian press reports that Matt Hughes earned $130,000 USD for his title defense over BJ Penn at UFC 63. Read the full CP article here (which has updated pay-scale figures for fighters).
Spike TV issued a press release for upcoming UFC programming on their network in November. A new show called Inside the UFC will debut on Thursday, November 9th at Midnight. It will be a weekly magazine show hosted by Joe Rogan.
Also, TUF Ultimate Finale Live will air on Saturday, November 11th from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (yes, they are back there rather than the building they used for Diego Sanchez vs. Karo Parisyan). Future UFC Unleashed shows will air on Thursdays at 10 PM, airing after TNA moves into prime time at 9 PM weekly.
Doghouse Boxing reports that Ricco Rodriguez will make his debut in boxing on October 12th in Houston, Texas.
And then there was the Octagon Girl Search that aired on Monday night on Spike TV…
- “Rear naked chokes and kimuras are two techniques used in the Octagon to submit opponents. How do you like to submit men?”
- “If you could grapple with any UFC fighter, who would it be and why?”
- “All of my relationships start out with a one-night stand.”
- “Every UFC fighter has their own trainer. If you were a trainer, what unique workout would you put them through?”
- “If you were a fighter in the UFC, what would your nickname by and why?”
- “If you could switch places with UFC President Dana white for a day, what would you do differently with the UFC and why?”
Yes, this fine piece of television production was hosted by Joe Rogan (taped at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino). The three judges for the contest were: UFC President Dana White, Rachelle Leah, and a man named Greg Chan of Wilhelmina Models in New York. As you can see in some of the selected quotes from the show up above this paragraph, the contest featured the following qualifying rounds: Q & A, UFC Trivia, Fighter Interview, Round Card Walk.
The highlight of the show was one of the girls being asked by Joe Rogan who she would like to meet and her answer was “Rich Hamilton.” Another girl said that Rich Franklin was the Light Heavyweight champion in UFC. This was quite the showing.
Topics: All Topics, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 9 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Updated HERO’s 10/9 Yokohama card line-up
By Zach Arnold | October 2, 2006
10/9 Yokohama Arena event card line-up:
- Light Heavyweight tournament reserve fight: Tokimitsu Ishizawa (Kendo Ka Shin) vs. Carlos Newton
- Middleweight tournament reserve fight: Kazuyuki Miyata vs. X
- Light Heavyweight tournament: Shungo Oyama vs. Melvin Manhoef
- Light Heavyweight tournament: Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Kestutis Smirnovas (Lithuania)
- Middleweight tournament: Kaoru Uno vs. Ivan Menjivar
- Middleweight tournament: J.Z. Calvan vs. Rani Yahya
- Don Frye vs. Kim Min-Soo
- Antonio Silva (Brazil) vs. Georgi Kaisinov
- Hideo Tokoro vs. Ken Kaneko
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: All Topics, HERO's, Japan, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 1 Comment » | Permalink | Trackback |
IFL special on FSN
By Zach Arnold | October 2, 2006
By Zach Arnold
Taped at The Mark of the Quad Cities in Moline, Illinois.
Results review (Silverbacks vs. Pitbulls):
- Lightweights – Bart Palaszewski (Silverbacks) defeated Marcio Feitosa (Pitbulls) after 3R by a 2-1 judges’ decision.
- Welterweights – Rory Markham (Silverbacks) defeated Marcelo Azevedo (Pitbulls) in R1 by referee stoppage.
- Middleweights – Fabio Leopoldo (Pitbulls) defeated Ryan McGivern in R2 in 2’49 with a heel hook.
- Light Heavyweights – Andre Gusmao (Pitbulls) defeated Mike Ciesnolevicz (Silverbacks) in R2 by referee stoppage from punches.
- Heavyweights – Ben Rothwell (Silverbacks) defeated Bryan Vetell (Pitbulls) in R1 by KO from a right punch.
- Special attraction fight – Renzo Gracie (Pitbulls) defeated Pat Miletich (Silverbacks) in R1 with a front neck lock for the submission.
Commentators for the show: Kenny Rice, Bas Rutten, and Stephen Quadros. Ring interviewer: Ron Kruck.
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: All Topics, IFL, MMA, Zach Arnold | 3 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
PRIDE 10/21 Las Vegas card – updated
By Zach Arnold | October 2, 2006
- Kazuhiro Nakamura vs. Marvin Eastman
- Joey Villasenor vs. Robbie Lawler
- Dan Henderson vs. Vitor Belfort
- Mark Hunt vs. Butterbean
- Josh Barnett vs. Pawel Nastula
- Mauricio Shogun vs. Kevin Randleman
- Emelianenko Fedor vs. Mark Coleman
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K-1 12/2 Tokyo Dome card
By Zach Arnold | October 1, 2006
- Semmy Schilt vs. Jerome Le Banner
- Ernesto Hoost vs. Chalid “Die Faust” Arrab
- Glaube Feitosa vs. Ruslan Karaev
- Remy Bonjasky vs. Stefan Leko
- GP semi-finals and finals
The 9/30 Osaka Castle Hall event reportedly drew a 16.0% TV rating. It’s lower in comparison to previous years (2005 – 18.2%, 2004 – 19.6%, 2003 – 21.6%).
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: All Topics, Japan, K-1, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 1 Comment » | Permalink | Trackback |
Kameda vs. Landaeta II postponed
By Zach Arnold | October 1, 2006
By Zach Arnold
Nikkan Sports reports that the Koki Kamda vs. Juan Jose Landaeta rematch that was scheduled for October 18th in Tokyo at Ariake Colosseum has now been postponed. The paper claims that the breakdown in scheduling came from Kameda’s camp. There are still plans for a “Kameda Matsuri” event in December, but those plans are contingent on whether or not Kameda is still healthy (the assumption is that the fight postponement was due to an injury) to fight in December. Mainichi report here.
Topics: All Topics, Boxing, Japan, Media, Zach Arnold | 1 Comment » | Permalink | Trackback |
Sunday media reading material
By Zach Arnold | September 30, 2006
- Newsweek: Blood, Guts: Ultimate Fighting is hot
- MMA HQ: Charles “Krazy Horse” Bennett in jail and in a lot of trouble
- MMA on Tap: Cage Rage 18 event results. The return of Alexandre Lungu! I demand a re-match between Lungu and James Thompson, right now.
- UFC.com: If the WWE has their obnoxious annual Diva Search, why can’t we have our own variation?
- Ivan Trembow: K-1’s plans for airing PPVS in America
- Boston Globe: In court, blogs can come back to dog the writers
- MMA Weekly: Josh Barnett ready for U.S. return
- Houston Chronicle: Is Houston ready for the UFC?
Topics: All Topics, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 3 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
WON MMA Hall of Fame Inductees
By Luke | September 30, 2006
In the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, it was announced that the newest inductees into the newsletter’s MMA Hall of Fame are Wanderlei Silva, Chuck Liddell, Bas Rutten and Frank Shamrock.
The first two names I have absolutely no problem with. Wanderlei Silva and Chuck Liddell are both Hall of Famer material. The argument against Wanderlei and Chuck is that they’re still active fighters, and that future performance could change how their perceived, or their standing amongst their peers. I think its safe right now to induct both men, based on the credentials both have already achieved.
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: All Topics, Luke Nicholson, MMA | 5 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Attempted Internet gambling ban in US
By Zach Arnold | September 30, 2006
If you live in America, watch out. Don’t think about placing bets on MMA, boxing, or other sports online if you are in the States… in the future.
This attempted gambling ban is an incredibly dumb political move.
Story details: USA Today | Eye on Gambling | Poker Players Alliance | Gambling 911 | The Daily Telegraph (UK)
Update: The end.
Update II: This Google News screen capture says it all.
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: All Topics, Media, Zach Arnold | 2 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
K-1 GP in Osaka
By Zach Arnold | September 30, 2006
Results here. I would expect the main headlines from the show being that Musashi lost and that Le Banner couldn’t KO Choi Hong-Man. That, and Badr Hari losing fast to Ruslan Karaev.
Update: Predictably, Japanese media outlets (such as Sankei Sports) are theming their articles coming out of the show about the fact that there will be no Japanese fighters participating in the GP tournament on 12/2 at the Tokyo Dome. No Japanese fighter has won the K-1 GP tournament since the company started in 1993 (Bronko Cikatic, Peter Aerts, Andy Hug, Ernesto Hoost, Mark Hunt, Remy Bonjasky, and Semmy Schilt).
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: All Topics, Japan, K-1, Media, Zach Arnold | 5 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
UFC 65 main event
By Zach Arnold | September 29, 2006
By Zach Arnold
Dave Doyle of Fox Sports drops a surprise in his Weekly Tapout column today:
But Hughes isn’t think of slowing down. Just the opposite. Coming off his gusty three-round victory over B.J. Penn at UFC 63, Hughes will fight on less than two months’ turnaround when he puts his belt on the line against Georges St. Pierre at UFC 65 on Nov. 18 at Arco Arena in Sacramento.
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: All Topics, Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 7 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |