Report: Kurt Angle to work on K-1 Dynamite event
By Zach Arnold | September 29, 2006
Tokyo Sports newspaper is reporting that K-1 and Kurt Angle are in negotiations for a deal which would allow Angle to have his first MMA match on 12/31 at the Osaka Dome. The three opponent candidates listed by the newspaper for Angle’s debut match are: Brock Lesnar, Akebono, and Choi Hong-Man.
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Topics: All Topics, HERO's, Japan, K-1, Media, MMA, Pro-Wrestling, Zach Arnold | 7 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Fight Opinion Radio: Episode 26 (with Total-MMA.com staff)
By Zach Arnold | September 28, 2006
It has been a very busy week for MMA news, and we cover all of it in this week’s edition of FOR. Our special guest is Iain Liddle from Total-MMA.com, who previews the upcoming big Cage Rage event (Mark Pickering has a preview of the event on our site).
Show update: Kazuhiro Nakamura vs. Marvin Eastman has been booked for PRIDE’s 10/21 Las Vegas event.
Other topics on the show this week include: The latest update on Kazushi Sakuraba (and whether or not comparisons of Sakuraba to Kurt Angle are fair/unfair), a detailed recap of UFC 63 and where it leaves UFC matchmaking-wise for future shows, the death of Shelby Walker (and the issue it raises about abuse of pain killers in the fight industry), the bickering back-and-forth between PRIDE & UFC, and Vince McMahon’s latest gimmicks to try to counteract UFC programming that runs opposite of his TV shows.
The 26th 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
More information on listening to this show (if you click the full-post view).
We definitely are interested in new sponsors. We are also interested in getting audio clips from each of you (and here are more details on how you can contribute).
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Topics: All Topics, Erin Bucknell, Fight Opinion Radio, Jeff Thaler, Luke Nicholson, Media, MMA, podcasts, UK, Zach Arnold | 4 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Cage Rage 18 “Battleground” Preview
By Mark Pickering | September 28, 2006
Coming off a stellar second installment of feeder event Cage Rage: Contenders, the London-based promotion returns with their premiere pugilists and “Battleground†on Saturday, September 30th, at the new Wembley Arena.
The marquee match-up features an all-English affair as Britain’s most celebrated fighter Ian Freeman challenges Cage Rage British Light-Heavyweight Champion, heavy hitter, Mark Epstein.
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Topics: All Topics, Mark Pickering, MMA, UK | 4 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
The Ultimate Fighter Season 4, Episode 7
By Erin | September 28, 2006
Recap of last week including Rich Franklin’s visit and the first appearance of Captain Miserable.
Franklin points out that while he is helping train them; he will end up fighting someone so he may be doing a bit of spying. He also seems to be a bit grossed out by the Staph.
Ahh, it’s the return of the booze. I look forward to the hijinks. This seems to consist of Sell slurring everything he says. And kinda stumbling. The next day he denies any accountability for anything he said.
Serra doesn’t particularly like Franklin’s observations on the training sessions. He’s also not a big fan of Franklin’s suggestions for the fight.
Matt, just an idea here. If you don’t want to seem disrespectful to Franklin, perhaps you shouldn’t do a whole lotta mocking of him back at the house on camera for a show that will be shown nationally. That could just be me.
Ok, hold on. This is the first time I have realized that Cote has an accent. Being the Accent ‘Ho that I am, the fact that it took seven episodes for this to be obvious to me is kinda sad.
And now Serra is miffed that McCarthy talked to Franklin about his suggestion to Serra. Once again Matt, National TV. Not something Franklin wouldn’t have found out about eventually anyway.
Cote makes a mini Captain Miserable cartoon and sticks it up on the fridge. McCarthy ignores the cartoon and insists that he is, in fact, a happy person.
Ad for the Octagon Girl search. Sigh, if only I could give up my love affair with Twinkies. Eh screw it, I’ll take fat and sugar over freezing my butt off in those skimpy outfits any day.
Serra runs Franklin’s suggestion past Couture, who doesn’t seem to be that into the idea.
Recaps of Serra’s UFC fights including fights against Shonie (and his man-panties), Yves Edwards, Kelly Dullanty, BJ Penn, Din Thomas, Jeff Curran, Ivan Menjivar and Karo Parisyan.
Round 1: Serra is going for takedowns while Spratt tries to avoid them at all costs. He succeeds on the first few attempts but Serra manages to take him down. Serra ends up in Spratt’s guard and works to side guard. He gets a full mount, drop some punches and gets Spratt’s back. He continues the “punch him a lot†strategy from that angle until Spratt taps out.
Winner: Matt Serra
Topics: Erin Bucknell, MMA, UFC | 2 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Frank Shamrock to sue CSAC?
By Zach Arnold | September 28, 2006
By Zach Arnold
For those of you who don’t recall the story regarding Armando Garcia and the California State Athletic Commission suspending fighter Brian Ebersole for “fixing” his match against MMA jobber Shannon Ritch, you can read about it (here and here) or you can hear our radio show from last week that featured an interview with Mr. Ebersole.
One of the major questions that I think everyone raised after hearing or reading about the story is: why hasn’t Garcia been sued for his suspension edict against Ebersole? After all, what hard evidence (other than watching the fight live) was there? The evidence wouldn’t likely hold up in a court case.
Well, the hammer is supposedly coming down now. On the latest Sherdog radio show, Frank Shamrock (who manages Brian Ebersole) announced his plans to sue Armando Garcia and the CSAC over Ebersole’s suspension. (Frank’s comments on Garcia start at the 29:30 mark and end at 33:30).
This is potentially the worst-possible-case-scenario for Garcia, who has made quite an impression with many promoters and fighters in the state of California. From past experience, I’ve talked with at least one promoter who had some issues with the CSAC but didn’t want to fight the commission because they were afraid that the commission could block them out of fighting for good. Whether those fears were true or not, that’s up for debate. Nonetheless, having both the legal and media spotlight on Garcia and CSAC’s track record is, in my opinion, not a good thing for that state Government body.
With Shamrock taking a public and (apparent) legal stand against Garcia, I wonder if we will see some fighters find new-found courage to express their complaints about their past experiences in California.
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Topics: All Topics, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 1 Comment » | Permalink | Trackback |
K-1 may have reduced role on New Year’s Eve
By Zach Arnold | September 28, 2006
By Zach Arnold
There are at least two reports (from Jiji Press and Asahi Shimbun) that discuss rumors of Tokyo Broadcasting System trimming down K-1’s role on the TV network for New Year’s Eve. The reason? The reports claim that TBS wants to build their New Year’s Eve programming around the theme of “Kameda Matsuri” (Kameda festival), which would mean boxing programming featuring the under-age-20 Kameda boxing brothers. Despite the fact that the original contract between the Kamedas and TBS is supposed to expire in November, there is reason to believe that the two sides will negotiate a new deal. Gryphon (in English) and Black Eye 2 (in Japanese) have more details.
The network has indicated publicly that K-1 will still have programming on New Year’s Eve, but it appears that they will be splitting time now with boxing.
K-1 announced that their New Year’s Eve show will take place, once again, at the Osaka Dome (which sold the rights to their building’s name and it’s renamed the Kyocera Dome).
Update: On a K-1 related note, Peter Aerts hasbeen canceled from the 9/30 Osaka Castle Hall event. Gary Goodridge vs. Remy Bonjasky is now booked.
Update II: Here’s a ZAKZAK/Yukan Fuji article in which President Inoue of TBS denies that the network will air a “Kameda Matsuri” on New Year’s Eve. “It was never examined (as a possibility) at our bureau.” The Kameda vs. Juan Jose Landaeta fight on 10/18 will air on TBS from 6:55 PM-8:54 PM.
Kakutolog has a funny scan of a Tokyo Sports article, with the paper raising (or maybe hoping) for a “Kobashi Matsuri” pro-wrestling event on New Year’s Eve. The one interesting angle to this story, if it has any measurement of truth to it, is that NOAH is backed by Nippon TV. Nippon TV was the network heavily rumored to be interested in PRIDE. If N-TV invests in pro-wrestling programming on New Year’s Eve, what would that mean for PRIDE’s chances for getting back on TV for New Year’s Eve?
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Topics: All Topics, Boxing, Japan, K-1, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 10 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
PRIDE’s triangulation
By Zach Arnold | September 27, 2006
By Zach Arnold
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a definitive article about what I thought PRIDE’s attempted business plan would be in regards to Las Vegas and China. You can read that article here. Read it first, as it lays the ground work for what was reported in Daily Sports on Thursday.
The newspaper reports that PRIDE will have Mike Tyson fight in a boxing match on the Chinese gambling island of Macau on 12/31, with the match airing live in the arena at Saitama Super Arena. The newspaper reports that the Tyson appearing in Macau is being backed by casino money. Everything that was predicted in the original article I wrote two weeks ago is what PRIDE is now officially attempting to do.
Update: In an excellent column on ESPN.com, Dan Rafael writes that Mike Tyson is still under contract to Showtime and that this may cause problems for PRIDE and others wanting to put Tyson’s exhibition boxing matches on TV or PPV.
One potential issue that could keep Tyson from participating is an exclusive Showtime contract, under which Tyson still owes the network at least one more fight. According to those with knowledge of the deal, the contract forbids Tyson from engaging in any kind of unarmed combat sports — exhibition or not — without the network’s involvement or permission.
McPherson said he has heard that, but no one has talked to him about it.
“It was brought to my attention, but why hasn’t anyone called to tell me that? No one has called or said anything,” he said. “I talked to [Tyson’s ex-wife] Monica [Turner] about it. I don’t think Showtime has exhibitions in that clause. Remember, this ain’t a fight. It’s an exhibition, like he’s going to the gym. They can’t stop him from going to the gym.
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Topics: All Topics, Boxing, Japan, Media, MMA, PRIDE, Zach Arnold | 8 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Media round-up
By Zach Arnold | September 27, 2006
Updated on Thursday at 6:00 AM EST.
- California Chronicle: Don Perata’s bill to reform California State Athletic Commission signed
- Chronicle Herald: December 2nd Halifax MMA event will have elbow strikes allowed
- PR Newswire: Kenny Florian gets a new sponsor
- Honolulu Advertiser: Penn injures rib in loss (to Hughes)
- Long Beach Press-Telegram: Hughes bullies past Penn in rematch (UFC thoughts)
- The Oregonian: The IFL will return to Portland
- Maxfighting: PRIDE rules for Las Vegas fights determined
- Press Release: Loretta Hunt joins The Fight Network
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Topics: All Topics, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | No Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Sakuraba story makes national headlines
By Zach Arnold | September 26, 2006
Yahoo Japan: Sakuraba hospitalized, fighter status in doubt
Kazushi Sakuraba’s hospital trip is making national headlines on news wires in Japan, as this is mushrooming into a major story that could dominate the fight industry for the rest of this year. Major speculation in the various Japanese media outlets that retirement is impending, but the biggest concern is about his health. Gryphon has a link to a scan of the Tokyo Sports newspaper article.
Update: Weekly Pro has this on their mobile site: æ¡œåºãŒæ¤Žéª¨è„³åº•å‹•è„ˆè¡€æµä¸å…¨ã«ã‚ˆã‚Šæ¬ å ´ — I’m not great with medical terminology in Japanese, but I think it means he has a blood circulation problem/blockage (bad blood flow) in an artery that leads to his brain. It sounds like he may have suffered a TIA (transient ischemic attack), which is a precursor in the future for a stroke. If it’s a vertebrobasilar problem, it would in fact be a TIA.
Sakuraba did not have a stroke, but he’s been told to not train or fight. He’s off the 10/9 Yokohama Arena event. Despite the medical scare, there is an indication that he would consider fighting on New Year’s Eve.
Image credit: Livedoor Sports/GBR
Kazushi Sakuraba attended the K-1 press conference on Wednesday and talked about how the symptoms were a result from repeated blows to the neck since he was wrestling in high school. He has been told to rest for at least one month. K-1 matchmaker Sadaharu Tanigawa noted that there was a chance that Sakuraba would fight on the Dynamite event.
More detailed Japanese article here. The point Sakuraba tried to get over at the press conference is that he did not suffer brain damage, but rather it’s damage in his neck area from all the punishment he has taken in the past that prevented blood from circulating properly to the base of his brain. It is being said that the injury is serious, but not life-threatening (according to the latest diagnosis).
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Topics: All Topics, HERO's, Japan, Zach Arnold | 8 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Sakuraba in hospital?
By Zach Arnold | September 26, 2006
Tokyo Sports reports on their front page that Kazushi Sakuraba was urgently taken to the hospital after training (collapsing). The paper raises the question as to whether or not Sakuraba will have his last fight on October 9th for HERO’s at Yokohama Arena. If you can read Japanese, keep your eyes open to the thread about this at NHB News.
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Update: NHB News has more details (via KamiproHand). The newspaper report said that Sakuraba was taken to the hospital in Yokohama city by his training partner Minoru Toyonaga. Sakuraba reportedly was vomiting after his collapse in training. FEG is reportedly going to hold a press conference soon regarding this situation.
Angle Japan had a summary of the newspaper report, which claims that Sakuraba underwent medical tests at the hospital and the results of those tests have yet to come back. There is serious doubt that Sakuraba will be able to fight Yoshihiro Akiyama on 10/9 at Yokohama Arena for HERO’s. The paper claims that Sakuraba was feeling better recently (after taking enormous damage in his August 5th fight) and was showing good energy.
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Topics: All Topics, HERO's, Japan, MMA, Zach Arnold | 7 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
PRIDE trashes UFC in Japanese media
By Zach Arnold | September 25, 2006
By Zach Arnold
PRIDE boss Nobuyuki Sakakibara mocks Dana White and accuses Tim Sylvia of running away from Emelianenko Fedor. Here is more information about PRIDE tying up with Entriq, the same company that MTV & WWE uses for DRM video technology.
My commentary on this can viewed in full-post mode.
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Topics: All Topics, Japan, Media, MMA, PRIDE, UFC, Zach Arnold | 16 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Thoughts on Kurt Angle & TNA
By Sheldon Goldberg | September 25, 2006
Sheldon Goldberg is the President and co-owner of both New England Championship Wrestling and World Women’s Wrestling. He is based out of the Boston, Massachusetts area.
The sad part about following pro wrestling these days is that nothing seems shocking anymore. The many deaths and tragedies that professional wrestling has endured over the past 20 years makes almost any story of any magnitude a numbed sting rather than a jarring jolt.
So it is with TNA’s signing of Kurt Angle. Why am I not shocked?
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Topics: All Topics, Pro-Wrestling, Sheldon Goldberg, TNA, WWE | 3 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
UFC: Used For Cash?
By ditch | September 25, 2006
By Dave Ditch
UFC is the cool kid everybody wants to be around. Some get to be real friends, while others just want the rub of popularity. PRIDE has been looking for the rub. Kurt Angle’s reference of UFC several months ago on ECW was an attempt to get some rub. Was Kurt Angle’s inference of UFC last week just another example, or was it legitimate?
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Topics: All Topics, Dave Ditch, MMA, Pro-Wrestling, TNA, UFC | 13 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |