PRIDE 8/26 Bushido GP card
By Zach Arnold | July 18, 2006
8/26 Nagoya Aichi Rainbow Hall card line-up:
- Kazuo Misaki vs. Dan Henderson
- Akihiro Gono vs. Gegard Mousasi
- Ryo Chonan vs. Paulo Filho
- Denis Kang vs. Amar Suloev
Topics: All Topics, Japan, MMA, PRIDE, Zach Arnold | 3 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
UFC 62 card firming up
By Stephan | July 17, 2006
So far the card has:
- Chuck Liddell Vs. Renato “Babalu” Sobral
Can Babalu withstand Chucks kicks and hits? Can he take down Chuck long enough to take care of him? I’m looking forward to this rematch. The UFC clearly thinks that Chuck will win easily to then face Wanderlei Silva. Chuck should not look past Babalu, that could be a serious mistake, Babalu is the real deal.
- Forrest Griffin Vs. Stephan Bonnar
Another rematch, UFC is big into rematches these days, just dont bring us back Tito vs Ken again. Will it have the fireworks of the first one? Thats all UFC is hoping for. Have we seen the best of Bonnar yet?…and Forrest, even when outmatched against Tito (Tito stood back in the second and third round because of injury) has a great heart and determination. This one is really a fight for the TUF fans, as both have probably hit their peak already. Chances are slim that it will be as good entertainment as the first one.
Not confirmed yet, but in the rumour mill (may be on the next card GSP vs Hughes):
- Mike Swick vs David Loiseau
This has the potential of fireworks! This wont go long either way. This is a great test for Swick, it also has the potential of being the swan song for Loiseau in the UFC.
- Sherk vs ??
Hopefully we will know soon who will fight in the lightweight, KenFlo turn this down…Personnally I’d like to see Pulver.
Purely rumours:
- Okami vs Terrell
Okami won (corrected, I had this originally as lost) by DQ against Anderson Silva, and Terrel is very exciting, this has potential.
Topics: MMA, Stephan Marceau, UFC | 8 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Update on ECC 3 show
By Zach Arnold | July 17, 2006
The Chronicle Herald newspaper (in Halifax) reports that ECC 3 promoter Peter Martell wants elbow strikes (similar to what you see in UFC) to be allowed.
Suffice to say, the local media in Halifax is taking this request as Martell trying to add blood and violence to the event.
Topics: All Topics, Canada, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 1 Comment » | Permalink | Trackback |
Stupid human tricks
By Zach Arnold | July 16, 2006
By Zach Arnold
In the past few weeks, we’ve heard promos from both Kurt Angle (WWE) and Rhyno (TNA – video of his open challenge here) talking about how they would accept any challengers from a 4-sided, 6-sided, or 8-sided ring. This, of course, has set off a fury on MMA boards and has pro-wrestling fans cringing at the prospects of a shooter showing up and accepting such a challenge.
There is historical evidence of a wrestler getting slaughtered by a shooter, so we take this opportunity to remind everyone who doesn’t remember the past to utter the following words: Mirko Cro Cop vs. Yuji Nagata.
That didn’t end too well for the credibility for the Japanese pro-wrestling business.
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: All Topics, Japan, Media, MMA, Pro-Wrestling, Zach Arnold | 9 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
What mainstream media coverage looks like
By Zach Arnold | July 16, 2006
By Zach Arnold
I looked around for a media report to see if Mike Kyle appeared at the Boise (Idaho) MMA show on Saturday night (and he didn’t), and what I found was this article reviewing the show. Actually, it was more or less commentary disguised as actual coverage of the show (and negative). The most interesting note — the show promoter came from boxing. Throughout America, you are seeing more and more boxing promoters getting out and promoting MMA events.
This generation, the MTV generation, expects to be entertained every minute. They want professional wrestling’s antics and theatrics, but not its staged outcomes. Reared on reality television, they want — and expect — anything-goes entertainment.
But if boxing suffers because of the perception that it’s boring — too much clinching, not enough fists flying — then MMA will soon find its fans turned off by the constant ground action.
Try telling that to people who had to watch Tim Sylvia vs. Andrei Arlovski at the UFC 61 PPV show.
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: All Topics, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 1 Comment » | Permalink | Trackback |
Developing revisionist history
By Zach Arnold | July 14, 2006
By Zach Arnold
On Friday, Josh Gross wrote an article on Sherdog titled Liddell vs. Silva: Why now? talking about the upcoming co-promotional matchmaking between PRIDE & UFC. The PRIDE source Gross quotes (and doesn’t dispute in the article) is engaged in amazing spin-doctoring, to the point that you start laughing at the claims being made. History and facts show a completely different story than the one being spread through official channels.
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: All Topics, Japan, Media, MMA, PRIDE, Pro-Wrestling, UFC, Zach Arnold | 12 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
The return of Mike Kyle?
By Zach Arnold | July 14, 2006
By Zach Arnold
Update (8 PM EST): FredEttish in the comments section notes that Kyle has been pulled off the Idaho card. The awareness raised by MMA fans to the athletic commission apparently worked.
This Saturday night in Idaho, there will be a big MMA event taking place at Qwest Arena with an expected full house of over 6,000 paid. One of the names being marketed for the event is “UFC fighter” Mike Kyle.
Recognize the name Mike Kyle? You should, because Kyle was suspended by the California State Athletic Commission on May 23rd indefinitely for his brutal attack on fighter Brian Olsen, resulting in Olsen having to pay a $600 ambulance bill and suffer through some bad injuries to his face.
The question that needs to be answered is why is the Idaho State Athletic Commission (phone – 208-221-6534) allowing Kyle to fight on the EFS show (when he is on the suspended list)?
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: All Topics, Media, MMA, Zach Arnold | 10 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Ian “The Machine” Freeman Statement
By Mark Pickering | July 13, 2006
Ian ‘The Machine’ Freeman:
To leave my career and have a loss at the end of it is more than I can handle. Known as The Machine, I take no prisoners and to leave a great record with a poor loss, I would not live up to my name.
I have just watched my fight against Melvin and feel so angry at myself. I looked like an amateur. My hands were down and I got clocked. What was I thinking?
Continue reading this article here…
Topics: All Topics, Mark Pickering, MMA, UK | 1 Comment » | Permalink | Trackback |
ECC 3 in Halifax, Nova Scotia on July 22nd
By Stephan | July 13, 2006
ECC 3 (Extreme Cage Combat) is coming up this July 22nd in Halifax.
Nabil Khatib will be facing Neil Berry from Alberta and Grandmaison will be facing TJ Grant who is from Nova Scotia.
The main event is Jason Macdonald vs Fritz Paul.
The last show in Moncton, New Brunswick drew 2500 fans, amazing for a city of 60,000. Just imagine what would happen in Ontario!
The show should be another great event for the maritimes as there should a lot of great fights and hopefully another 5000+ fans in Halifax!
Topics: Canada, MMA, Stephan Marceau | 1 Comment » | Permalink | Trackback |
PRIDE 9/10 Saitama
By Zach Arnold | July 13, 2006
The promotion announced Mirko Cro Cop vs. Vanderlei Silva and Josh Barnett vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira as the semi-finals of the open-weight GP tournament, which take place on 9/10 at Saitama Super Arena.
Topics: All Topics, Japan, Media, MMA, PRIDE, Zach Arnold | 3 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
K-1 Revenge 2006
By Zach Arnold | July 12, 2006
Update: K-1 announced on Friday that Bobby Ologun would participate on the 7/30 Sapporo show.
7/30 Sapporo, Makomanai Ice Arena card line-up:
- Akebono vs. Choi Hong-Man
- Remy Bonjasky vs. Mighty Mo
- Glaube Feitosa vs. Musashi
- Peter Aerts vs. Gary “Big Daddy” Goodridge
- Poul Slowinski vs. Tatsufumi Tomihira
- Bjorn Bregy vs. Tsuyoshi Nakasako
- Yusuke Fujimoto vs. Yuki Niimura
- Freddy Kemayo vs. Hiromi Amada
Topics: All Topics, Japan, K-1, Zach Arnold | 9 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
UFC 61 medical suspensions
By Zach Arnold | July 11, 2006
Information courtesy of the Nevada State Athletic Commission PDF filing:
- Andrei Arlovski suspended until 9/7, Tim Sylvia suspended until he is cleared by a doctor
- Ken Shamrock suspended until 8/8
- Josh Burkman suspended until 1/5/07 (nasal fracture & big right toe injury) unless a doctor clears him, Josh Neer suspended until 8/23
- Dan Christison suspended until 8/8
- Yves Edwards suspended until 8/23
- Gilbert Aldana suspended until 1/5/07 (right eye laceration) unless he gets clearance from a doctor
- Kurt Pellegrino suspended until 8/23
- Joe Jordan suspended until 9/7
Topics: All Topics, Media, MMA, UFC, Zach Arnold | 2 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
IFL on Rogers Sportsnet
By Luke | July 11, 2006
Fight Report has a story on the IFL signing a television deal with Rogers Sportsnet, out of CANADA~!, to air their originally aired programming from FSN.
This is an interesting move for both parties. Obviously the IFL has expanded their reach, but its interesting for Rogers Sportsnet which doesn’t air a lot of fights. It occasionally will air FSN Sunday Night Boxing, and a couple C-level WWE programs, but beyond that, its not really a fight-oriented network.
Overall, I think this is a minor move on the part of the IFL, until they can get a better deal in the United States that gives them greater distribution into a higher percentage of homes in the United States.
Topics: All Topics, Canada, IFL, Luke Nicholson, Media, MMA | No Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |