Top Oregon city proposes MMA ban
By Zach Arnold | August 14, 2006
Update: The Eugene Register-Guard has more details. Make your voice heard.
KVAL-TV in Eugene, Oregon is reporting that the city is preparing a ban on MMA.
“It is not a professional sport. It doesn’t have requirements around weight or age or anything that sets up fair competition,” says Piercy.
If you would like to (politely) contact the two city officials proposing the ban, here is their publicly-listed contact information:
Eugene City Hall: 541-682-5010
David Kelly: [email protected]
Kitty Piercy: [email protected]
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: All Topics, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 2 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
K-1 World GP in Las Vegas
By Zach Arnold | August 13, 2006
The return of Stefan Leko was a successful one. Bellagio show results (from the K-1 Japanese HP):
- Alexey Ignashov defeated Imani Lee after 3R by a 2-1 judges’ decision (30-27, 27-30, 29-28).
- Michael McDonald defeated Ariel Mastov after 3R by a 3-0 judges’ decision (30-26 three times).
- Stefan “Blitz” Leko defeated Scott Lighty in R3 in 58 seconds by TKO (two knockdown rule).
- Carter Williams defeated Gary “Big Daddy” Goodridge after 3R by a 3-0 judges’ decision (30-27 three times).
- Non-tournament: Ruslan Karaev defeated Dewey Cooper after 3R by a 3-0 judges’ decision (30-27 three times).
- Michael McDonald defeated Imani Lee after 3R by a 3-0 judges’ decision (28-27 three times).
- Stefan Leko defeated Carter Williams in R1 in 2 minutes, 40 seconds by KO (right back kick).
- Non-tournament: Fernando Calleros and Duane “Bang” Ludwig went to a draw after 3R (28-28 three times).
- Non-tournament: Ray Sefo defeated Azem Maksutaj in 3R in 2 minutes, 2 seconds by TKO.
- Tournament finals: Stefan Leko defeated Michael McDonald in R2 by TKO.
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PRIDE rolls the dice in Las Vegas
By Zach Arnold | August 12, 2006
By Zach Arnold
The promotion in Japan announced that Emelianenko Fedor, Mauricio Shogun, Mirko Cro Cop, Kazuyuki Fujita, Josh Barnett, Mark Coleman, Kevin Randleman, Phil Baroni, Kazuhiro Nakamura, and Pawel Nastula will work their 10/21 Las Vegas show at the Thomas & Mack Center. Not surprisingly, the promotion is also running a special tour event for Japanese fans. A limited amount of fans will be accepted, but for those who can pay 158,000Y they will be able to go on a PRIDE-sponsored tour of Las Vegas and see the PRIDE event in person.
The Japanese press release says tickets are on sale for $50, $100, $300, $500, and $700. Doors open at 4 PM and show time is 6 PM PST.
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Topics: All Topics, Media, MMA, PRIDE, Zach Arnold | 2 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
UFC makes another acquisition
By Zach Arnold | August 11, 2006
Multichannel News is reporting that InDemand programming executive Marshall Zelaznik will join UFC and head up their UK opertaions. MN says this move is a precursor of UFC expanding into Europe.
Meanwhile, an update on the Silva/Liddell story that was first reported by CP (Canadian Press) in the Calgary Sun – the CP wire report has now been picked up by all the major Canadian newspapers. The author of the CP article is Neil Davidson, who has written many UFC articles in the past for CP.
The Montreal Gazette reports that UFC will be at the CNE (Canadian National Exhibition) in Toronto on August 30th.
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Topics: All Topics, Canada, Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 4 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Dana says Liddell/Silva unlikely to happen
By Zach Arnold | August 11, 2006
By Zach Arnold
CP (Canadian Press) reports that UFC is now postponing plans for a fight in November between Chuck Liddell and Vanderlei Silva. This news comes one month after Dana White announced on PPV (in Las Vegas) that Silva would fight Liddell.
He cited problems in dealing with the Japan-based Pride Fighting Championships that is home to Silva.
So, once again, PRIDE continues to talk big in the Japanese press (like a pro-wrestling promotion would do over there) and Dana White kills those imaginations with a dose of reality, similar to how K-1 matchmaker Sadaharu Tanigawa claimed that UFC 60 did 800,000 buys — only for Mr. White to call that claim the dumbest thing he had ever heard of.
Without Liddell vs. Silva happening, any talk of a mutually cooperative “interpromotional war” between PRIDE & UFC seems false, as UFC isn’t acting as a willing partner. Furthermore, Mr. White looks immensely idiotic for once again promoting the competition (PRIDE) on national PPV and then not getting the fight signed, sealed, and delivered.
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Topics: All Topics, Japan, Media, MMA, PRIDE, UFC, Zach Arnold | 42 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Big talk, little interest
By Zach Arnold | August 10, 2006
By Zach Arnold
Consider this an opinion piece, if you liked to be warned in advance.
For the last week or so, I’ve seen reports online about comments PRIDE boss Nobuyuki Sakakibara has been making about how his guys would beat the UFC fighters. UFC, to their credit, has literally said nothing about any sort of “interpromotional war” with PRIDE. Yet, all we keep hearing about online is PRIDE vs. UFC.
I want to pose an important question to everyone: Why is PRIDE focusing a lot of their attention to the Las Vegas show in October? Could you imagine if UFC decided that they would bank their entire company’s future by running a show in Japan, and then telling the media over and over again how their guys would destroy fighters from other leagues? It sounds silly, right? It also sounds silly that PRIDE is asking for $300-700 USD for top seating at the Thomas & Mack Center. Yes, UFC has charged $350 for front row tickets, but Americans know what the UFC brand is. There are still very few Americans (casual fans) who know what PRIDE is. If PRIDE thinks that they can waltz into Las Vegas and draw a sell-out crowd like last year’s Sumo tournament at the Mandalay Bay Events Center did, then they have another thing coming to them.
And then I look at the ticket sales for the upcoming PRIDE shows in Japan. They are, after all, a Japanese-based company. Their 8/26 Bushido show at Nagoya Rainbow Hall still isn’t a sell-out, as they have two weeks left to promote it and try to fill the house up. Their 9/10 Saitama Super Arena show (featuring Barnett vs. Nogueira and Mirko vs. Silva) has a large amount of tickets available for purchase still. You can get any good ringside/floor or stand/bleacher seat you want.
What it boils down to me is this: Why is it that a Japanese organization, that has two big shows in Japan coming up, seem so focused on attaching themselves to the UFC name and focused on a foreign market that isn’t going to sell a single ticket at home for any of their shows? I remain puzzled by the strategy being employed by PRIDE, as I find it hard to figure out how much of their claims is simply “talk” and how much of it is really a fact.
I kind of find myself bored by the “big talk” exhibited by both PRIDE & K-1 these days.
A more interesting PRIDE-related news item that I saw a press release online stating that Mauro Ranallo is signing a full-time deal to work for The Fight Network in Canada. What does this indicate about Ranallo’s future with DSE?
Update: Dave Doyle at Fox Sports has a cautionary tale (using the WFA) for PRIDE:
The show, which featured a stellar main event in Quinton Jackson’s decision win over Matt Lindland, drew 2,133 paid for a gate of $248,530. Of those, 1,205 bought $50 tickets, the cheapest seats in the house. There were also another 1,246 comped patrons in the building.
But the WFA’s experience is the latest example that you can’t just throw the name “mixed martial arts” on the marquee and charge high-end ticket prices and expect to fill a major arena.
Topics: All Topics, Japan, Media, MMA, PRIDE, UFC, Zach Arnold | 8 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Mario “Sukata” Neto out of UFC 63
By Mark Pickering | August 10, 2006
UFC bound Mario “Sukata†Neto who was due to face former Cage Rage Heavyweight Champion Tengiz Tedoradze this Saturday at Ultimate Force 3 in Doncaster, England has been forced to withdraw through injury.
The Brazilian heavyweight who sports a 9-3-0 record broke a rib in training today, confining him to 6 weeks on the sidelines and postponing his anticipated UFC debut in September against Mark “The Hammer†Coleman.
Head coach at the much-admired Wolfslair Gym, in Liverpool, England, “Sukata†had returned to action in 2006 after a three-year absence to feature for Cage Warriors FC and add another three victories to his resume.
His scheduled showdown with Tedoradze this Saturday was set to be one of the standout heavyweight clashes in Europe this year, as he made the final preparations for the first of three contracted bouts in the UFC, alongside teammate and TUF3 winner Michael “The Count†Bisping.
Topics: All Topics, Mark Pickering, MMA, UFC, UK | 4 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
K-1 & Lesnar in Las Vegas
By Zach Arnold | August 10, 2006
By Zach Arnold
The promotion has a show this weekend at the Bellagio Hotel, and Brock Lesnar is expected to appear at a press conference to announce his participation in an MMA match for HERO’s. 8/12 Vegas card line-up here. I know that there were several other promotions interested in his services, including one group that was trying to get a hold of him but found him nearly impossible to contact.
A couple of other non-related items: Denis Martins has an article about a recent 4-on-4 team challenge series between the Gracie Barra Combat Team and BTT (Brazilian Top Team). Also, Koki Kameda continues to face heat from Japanese fans about his win in last week’s boxing match.
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: All Topics, HERO's, Japan, K-1, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | No Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Updated K-1 9/4 Ariake Colosseum card
By Zach Arnold | August 9, 2006
- Kazuya Yasuhiro vs. Andy Ologun
- Genki Sudo vs. TBA
- Buakaw Por Pramuk vs. Hiroki Shishido
- Hiroshiki Ishii vs. Ian Schaffa
- Hiroyuki Maeda vs. Remigijus Morkevicius
- Drago vs. Naoki Samukawa
- TATSUJI vs. Mike Zambidis
- HAYATO vs. Artur Kyshenko
- Takayuki Kohiruimaki vs. Andy Souwer
- Yoshihiro Sato vs. Albert Kraus
Topics: All Topics, Japan, K-1, Zach Arnold | 1 Comment » | Permalink | Trackback |
Brandon Vera vs Frank Mir at UFC 65
By Stephan | August 8, 2006
Updated the title to reflect the confirmation that this is now scheduled for UFC 65. Originally Brandon Vera’ site is the one that misled me to think it was at 62, the site has subsequently been updated to reflect that the fight is scheduled for UFC 65
That seems rather fast for Frank Mir, as he just fought in 61. However, it is splashed right on brandonvera.com (top right corner). This is good for Brandon, as this should solidify his reputation. This should be fun to watch, but it is a real mismatch. I don’t give Frank much of a chance. The “new” Frank has not been able to muster much since his accident, losing to Pe Da Pano, and a poor showing to Christison (the decision could have gone either way).
What I read in this mismatch is that maybe the UFC was not too happy with Frank’s last performance and would set him free after this — like they did to Paul Buentello.
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Topics: All Topics, Media, MMA, Stephan Marceau, UFC | 13 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Techno Goliath versus The Paparazzi
By Zach Arnold | August 7, 2006
By Zach Arnold
Digital Chosun has a report (in Japanese) about comments recently made by Choi Hong-Man. Hong-Man went on a SBS variety TV show (South Korean) on Monday and talked about being followed by the paparazzi.
He told a story about how a Japanese magazine took a snapshot of him and a woman at a grocery store and the magazine labeled it as “Choi Hong-Man and a married woman on a love date.” Hong-Man told another story about how he was at a Japanese night club and a female fan of his fainted, only for him to pretend to not notice the incident and continue dancing.
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Topics: All Topics, Japan, K-1, Media, Zach Arnold | No Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
PRIDE’s new big signing
By Zach Arnold | August 7, 2006
By Zach Arnold
Yeo Jong-Hoon (long-time correspondent) reports that Lee Tae Hyun (born on 1/17/1976, 196 cm, 138 kg) announced at a press conference today that he would fight in PRIDE. (Sports Navigator report here). Nobuyuki Sakakibara & Nobuhiko Takada were present at the media briefing. Tae Hyun is considered one of the great Ssirum (South Korean sumo) fighters, the same sport that Choi Hong-Man came from. Tae Hyun was the No. 1 Ssirum fighter for the last 10 years, including a regional heavyweight championship in March of 2006.
Update: Here is an article in The Korea Times on the new signing.
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Topics: All Topics, Media, MMA, PRIDE, Zach Arnold | 5 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Tank vs. Buentello
By Zach Arnold | August 7, 2006
It appears that letting Paul Buentello become a free agent may not pay off for UFC. Tank Abbott vs. Paul Buentello has been booked for the next Scott Coker Strikeforce show on October 7th in Fresno, California at the SaveMart Center. Can this match sell 10,000 tickets?
Topics: All Topics, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 2 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |