Kameda equals Mr. Ratings
By Zach Arnold | August 2, 2006
Video Research Ltd. Co. Japan announced on Thursday afternoon that the WBA Light Flyweight Title fight between Koki Kameda and Juan Jose Landaeta of Venezuela drew a 42.4% TV rating in the Kanto region (Tokyo area) on the Tokyo Broadcasting System network. The highest peak rating for the match was 52.9%. These ratings are astronomical.
Update: Mainichi Daily News has a report that TBS was flooded with calls from angry viewers (Japanese reports have the number of calls in the range of 30,000-40,000) who were not happy about Kameda winning the split decision in his fight.
Topics: All Topics, Boxing, Japan, Media, Zach Arnold | 3 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Coleman vs. Sukata in September
By Mark Pickering | August 2, 2006
UFC’s latest acquisition, Mario Sukata, is set to face the returning former UFC Heavyweight Champion, Mark Coleman, in September (according to Sukata’s teammates).
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: All Topics, Mark Pickering, MMA, UFC | 9 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Kameda wins in Yokohama
By Zach Arnold | August 2, 2006
Image credit: Sports Navigator
Koki Kameda defeated Juan Jose Landaeta of Venezuela tonight (August 2nd) at Yokohama Arena by split decision to win the WBA World Light Flyweight title. The fight aired live (start time – 8:40 PM) on the Tokyo Broadcasting System network. Judges scores can be found here.
The reaction of Kameda’s split decision win drew criticism from hardcore Japanese fight fans. Yahoo Japan has an online poll asking Japanese fans for their reaction towards Kameda winning by decision and whether or not the decision was right.
The results of the Yahoo Japan poll (as of 8:20 PM EST w/ nearly 200,000 votes):
- Kameda won – 3%
- Landaeta won – 94%
- A tie (which got more votes than Kameda votes) – 3%
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: All Topics, Boxing, Japan, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 6 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Drug testing in MMA
By Zach Arnold | August 1, 2006
By Zach Arnold
Jeff Thaler indicates that Kimo may be suffering from Floyd Landis-itis about accusations of doping.
Ivan Trembow reports that the Nevada State Athletic Commission is showing its thriftyness… by not drug testing many fighters on UFC cards. Kizer’s explanation is amusing, as he tries to explain why there was $835.20 USD in drug testing for a show (UFC 61) that drew an estimated gate of $3.3 million USD.
Let’s make this simple — either drug test everyone (and the commission & UFC can afford to do so now) or don’t test anyone.
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: All Topics, Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 2 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Good cop, bad cop
By Zach Arnold | August 1, 2006
So you want to hang out with Josh Barnett?
Our first stop was Akihabara, the holy-land for “otaku” [“fanatics”]. Although we went there so Josh could be interviewed by a sports newspaper, the first thing Josh spotted was a life-sized figure of the comic Fist of the North Star’s hero, Kenshiro. Josh, a huge Fist of the North Star fan, immediately said, “I want it!” The price, though, was equal to more than US$5,000! However, Josh swore that if he wins the Open Weight Grand Prix, he would buy it and take it home. How much would something like that cost to ship to the US?
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Topics: All Topics, Japan, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 1 Comment » | Permalink | Trackback |
Kentucky authority member wants MMA banned
By Zach Arnold | August 1, 2006
By Zach Arnold
Larry Bisig, member of the Kentucky Sports Authority, wants MMA banned in the state (according to an Associated Press report).
“It defies logic that a cock rooster has more protection in the state of Kentucky than does a human being, and if that’s not broken, what is,” Bisig said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press. “This is not boxing. Ultimate fighting makes boxing look like a slumber party pillow fight.”
Bisig said he plans to broach the subject at a Wednesday meeting of the Kentucky Sports Authority in Frankfort. However, Bisig acknowledges that banning mixed martial arts in the state would likely require some form of legislative action by the General Assembly.
So, what would the motivation be? You guessed it – Bisig is a supporter of boxing.
And, Bisig said, the rising popularity of mixed martial arts fights is a threat to boxing both in the state and nationally.
“Let’s not forget that Kentucky is the home of several great (boxing) champions including Muhammad Ali,” Bisig said. “And we’re helping to rob the state of one of its great sports and assets by facilitating what is essentially street-fighting.”
Here is the web page for the Kentucky Sports Authority. The office phone number is 502-564-4270. The e-mail of executive director Terry Johnson is [email protected].
Larry Bisig is a graduate from the University of Kentucky (1985) and runs Bisig Impact Group, one of Kentucky’s largest marketing firms. The office phone number for Bisig Impact Group is (502)-583-0333.
If you would like to show your support for a local group in the Kentucky-Indiana area, please support Jeff Osborne and HOOK ‘n SHOOT.
Update: The Appalachian News Express reports on the fallout from Bisig’s actions.
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: All Topics, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 1 Comment » | Permalink | Trackback |
Japanese MMA notes
By Zach Arnold | August 1, 2006
Satoru Kitaoka vs. Paul “Semtex” Daley was announced for Pancrase’s 8/27 Yokohama Bunka Gym show.
Don Frye vs. Yoshihisa Yamamoto was announced for HERO’s 8/5 Tokyo, Ariake Colosseum show.
GCM Communications announced that a special “best bouts” episode of D.O.G. cage matches will air on TV Tokyo on 8/13 from 2:45-3:35 AM JST.
Topics: All Topics, HERO's, Japan, Media, MMA, Pancrase, Zach Arnold | 1 Comment » | Permalink | Trackback |
Kameda’s next test
By Zach Arnold | August 1, 2006
Tomorrow at Yokohama Arena, the headliner is Koki Kameda vs. Juan Jose Landaeta (Venezuela) for the vacant WBA Light Flyweight Title. With little MMA or pro-wrestling activity right now, boxing has dominated the Japanese news wires. Kameda hasn’t changed his heelish act, as he and Landaeta had a staredown today after the weigh-ins. The day before weigh-ins, the Japanese press made a big deal of Kameda eating a hamburger. Don’t ask why. Nonetheless, the fight should draw big TV ratings.
Topics: All Topics, Boxing, Japan, Media, Zach Arnold | 5 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Big thinking
By Zach Arnold | July 31, 2006
By Zach Arnold
The Houston Chronicle reports that UFC will run a show in either Houston or Dallas in early 2007.
“Expanding to Texas is a natural,” said Ratner. “Houston and Dallas are major-league cities. When you look at the pay-per-view numbers, there is a big contingent of people who buy out of the state of Texas.
“To really grow the sport, we don’t want to be regionalized in Las Vegas or California. Our goal is to bring it to the Southwest and then the Northeast. We’ll have over 20 events next year.”
Vince McMahon did this in the mid-80s (expanding into several markets at once) and won. He was at great financial risk when he attempted it, but succeeded. UFC is succeeding with little or no financial risk.
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: All Topics, Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | No Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
K-1 7/30 Sapporo report
By Zach Arnold | July 30, 2006
By Zach Arnold
Today was K-1’s first show on Fuji TV since the departure of chief producer Kunio Kiyohara, who was demoted in the FujiSankei conglomerate due to the yakuza scandal. K-1 drew a reported crowd of 8,390 paid at Makomanai Ice Arena in Sapporo, with Glaube Feitosa defeating Musashi by a unanimous decision in the main event. Choi Hong-Man had little trouble with Akebono in the semi-main event. Comedian Bobby Ologun lost his undercard fight to Yusuke Fujimoto. Ologun indicated after his fight that he would not do K-1 rules matches anymore and would stick to MMA fights if he stays active.
Update: Sports Navigator reports that the show drew a 17.3% TV rating on Fuji TV, with the Bobby Ologun vs. Yusuke Fujimoto match having a peak rating of 23.4%.
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: All Topics, Japan, K-1, Media, Zach Arnold | 3 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Getting it done right
By Zach Arnold | July 30, 2006
By Zach Arnold
Childs Walker in the Baltimore Sun has a very extensive and accurately-written article about UFC, titled UFC Fighting To Be Ring Leader. Outside of the quotes from Jim Lampley and a man that I nicknamed The American Media’s MMA Boogeyman, it’s a very good mainstream media article on MMA. Check it out.
Topics: All Topics, Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 1 Comment » | Permalink | Trackback |
Austin & Ibragimov fight to a draw
By Zach Arnold | July 28, 2006
By Zach Arnold
On Friday night, ESPN2 in America aired an “eliminator” boxing match (IBF Heavyweight Title Eliminator) between Sultan Ibragimov of Russia and Ray Austin from Cleveland. Two heavyweights fighting for the chance at a shot at Klitschko, with the fight taking place at the Seminole Hard Rock Arena in Hollywood, Florida. More details here.
Usually, heavyweight fights are not action-packed these days. However, this fight was the complete opposite of what you would expect going in. It had a little bit of everything – knockdowns (Ibragimov scored one in the 4th round, Austin scored one in the 10th round), aggressiveness, action, smart pacing, good crowd heat, etc. The result of the fight ended up being a draw (115-111, 112-114, 113-113), so neither guy lost any standing — although Austin did gain some exposure and credibility afterwards.
If you can find a replay of the fight on ESPN2, watch it. I’m curious to get reader reaction about what they thought regarding the fight. I thought the draw decision was the correct one.
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: All Topics, Boxing, Media, Zach Arnold | 14 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Source: Calvin Ayre getting involved in MMA
By Zach Arnold | July 28, 2006
By Zach Arnold
An MMA insider is telling us that Calvin Ayre (of BoDog.net fame) is getting into the business, with a tentative date scheduled for November in Los Angeles. Ayre, who is based out of Costa Rica, is expected to be running shows very shortly. He is listed as #746 on the world’s richest people ist and recently bought time on the Fox Sports Net channel in America to air his Calvin Ayre Wildcard Poker series (which heavily featured celebrities and a party atmosphere).
Topics: All Topics, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 3 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |