HDNet and MFC Renew Contract
July 28, 2010
Yesterday, HDNet and the Maximum Fighting Championship officially renewed their partnership with a six-event television distribution contract that will take both companies through to the end of 2011.
The Maximum Fighting Championship will remain a frontrunner in showcasing live mixed martial arts to a massive international audience with a new six-event contract teamed with broadcast partner HDNet.
Since partnering with HDNet in 2008, nine MFC events have been featured live on HDNet Fights, beginning with MFC 15: Rags to Riches and through to the most recent MFC 25: Vindication. During the partnership, viewers from the United States , Canada , and Mexico have tuned in live on HDNet to see the Maximum Fighting Championship and its power-packed lineup of talented fighters.
The newly signed deal, which runs through the end of 2011, includes the fast-approaching MFC 26: Retribution to be held in Westman Place at the Keystone Centre in Brandon , Manitoba , Canada , on Friday, Sept. 10.
“I am even more excited about this new agreement between the Maximum Fighting Championship and HDNet than when we signed our initial partnership,” said MFC Owner/President Mark Pavelich, who personally welcomed HDNet Owner and renowned entrepreneur Mark Cuban to the Maximum Fighting Championship at MFC 17.
“We have learned so much since then thanks to our business relationship. We have gone very far in improving our product and we are ready to take things to the next level to become real players on the worldwide stage.”
Strikeforce Fedor vs Werdum Buildup: Xbox 360, HDNet, MLB
June 25, 2010
The build up to Saturday’s Strikeforce event featuring the HW match-up between Fedor Emelianenko and Fabricio Werdum has had a strong late push. We will explore some of the new ventures Strikeforce and Showtime took to promote this event.
Xbox 360 Advertisement:
Advertisements for the upcoming June 26 Strikeforce event could be found on the main dash board of Xbox Live. Showtime purchased this ad space to not only give Xbox Live users the ability to download a free Xbox Theme and Gamer Pics to use with their avatars, but also to watch the Fedor vs Rogers CBS bout from late last year to build some buzz for the fight on Saturday..
HDNet Airing Strikeforce: Fedor vs Werdum Weigh-Ins & Re-play of “The Last Emperor: Fedor”
HDNet is airing a great night of MMA on Friday night which consists of the weigh-ins, which will be a special edition of Inside MMA at 8 ET, HDNet Fights Vault featuring Fedor at 9ET, The Last Emperor: Fedor at 9:30 ET, and capping off the night with Sengoku 13 at 10 ET, which includes the much talked about Sandro vs Kanehara main event.
ESPN MMA Live Strikeforce: Fedor vs Werdum Preview:
Scott Smith Throws Out First Pitch of Oakland A’s vs Cincinnati Reds Game:
Scott Smith threw out the first pitch of the Oakland A’s vs. Cincinnati Reds game at the Coliseum Stadium in Oakland.
International Markets:
- Brazil: HBO Plus will air Strikeforce Fedor vs. Werdum live this Saturday, 10pm Brazilian time. There is good buzz in Brasil as one of their own in Fabricio Werdum will try to defeat arguably the best Heavyweight in all of MMA. Also on this card is another hometown hero in Cris Cyborg, who will try to retain her belt against Jan Finney. Talking to Brazilian MMA fans, not many know any other promotion in the US outside of the UFC, so it will be their second time (Fedor vs Rogers) experiencing Strikeforce this Saturday.
- Russia: NTV-Plus will be airing Strikeforce: Fedor vs Werdum as a PPV. This is different than the last time M-1 c0-promoted the event with Strikeforce and CBS, which aired on one of Russias most popular channels, Channel One.
- Japan: Strikeforce and M-1 announced the creation of “MMA Channel” to air MMA video via the internet for the Japanese market. Tele Planning International Inc (TPI) has been contracted as the marketing company. Last year Fedor vs Rogers was streamed live free of charge. Despite the lack of advertising, the stream attracted over 50,000 viewers. TPI announced that they will stream the Fedor vs Werdum card live, and it will be the world’s first true HD internet stream. The cost will be 1,000 yen (~US$10.90).
New Sponsors:
Blowout Cards is looking to make a splash on Saturday night, promoting their Topps UFC Tradingcards and other card collectible items. They will be sponsoring Jan Finney in her title match against Cris Cyborg. You can also see other sponsors that Finney was able to get for her fight on Saturday below:
MMAterial Facts (03/24/10): ESPN Boosts MMA Coverage, DirecTV/Versus Settlement Details
March 24, 2010
- ESPN ‘MMA Live’ graduates to television on ESPN2
- Dana White looking to build a giant family entertainment complex in Vegas
- UFC on Versus 1: Vera vs. Jones” draws 1.24 million viewers for live broadcast
- Monte Cox Joins KOTC, HDNet, and Lake of the Torches Casino Partnership
- The Launch of M-1 Global Japan, Evgeni Kogan Interview
ESPN ‘MMA Live’ graduates to television on ESPN2
MMAmania.com has learned that host Jon Anik along with analysts Franklin McNeil and Kenny Florian will soon bring their mixed martial arts news, highlights and analysis to the world’s biggest sports network on ESPN2. (MMAMania)
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Georges St. Pierre, Frank Mir and Brock Lesnar scheduled for ESPN SportsCenter
UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre and heavyweight contender Frank Mir will be appearing live on SportsCenter this Thursday (March 25) on ESPN. “Rush” is expected at 10:15 a.m. ET while Mir will be stopping by a little later at 12:15 p.m. ET.
Later in the week, UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar will return to SportsCenter on Friday (March 26) at 10:15 a.m. to discuss his pending return to MMA. (MMAMania)
Dana White looking to build a giant family entertainment complex in Vegas
“I’m gonna build a bad-ass, nice, clean place up in Summerlin where people can take their kids and have a blast on the weekends,” he told me.
White’s complex would offer entertainment diversity on the level of a chain called Dave & Buster’s, which some Las Vegans know for its California locations. Dave & Buster’s combines a restaurant with scores of interactive games, from boxing to NASCAR simulators, video games, Skee-Ball, billiards and other indoor activities. (Las Vegas Review-Journal)
UFC on Versus draws 1.24 million viewers, Details On Versus/DirecTV Settlement
The UFC’s first-ever event on Versus, “UFC on Versus 1: Vera vs. Jones,” held this past Sunday in Broomfield, Colo., drew 1.24 million viewers, MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) today confirmed.
UFC on Versus 1 marked the first event on the cable channel available to the 18 million homes serviced by DirecTV after a six-and-a-half-month service interruption due to a dispute over carrier fees.
The ratings included a 1.66 rating in the males 18-34 demographic, as well as a 1.21 figure in the persons 18-49 category. (MMAJunkie)
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Mixed martial arts fans helped to get Versus back in DirecTV’s lineup
“I know the fans were upset about WEC fights not being on the air, and I can only imagine that the volume multiplied by a number I can’t even guess with the fans knowing this UFC fight [with Jones] wasn’t going to be on, either,” UFC owner Lorenzo Fertitta said.
Fertitta admitted that he got into the ear of the DirecTV officials, and his company has given millions of dollars to DirecTV via monthly UFC pay-per-view cards. Fertitta said he told the DirecTV officials “it’d be nice” to have Versus accessible to the 25 million satellite customers in the U.S. and Latin America. (LA Times)
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MMAPayout Note: Though DirecTV and Versus reached on a settlement and Versus was able to stay in its previous tier (non-premium), the deal wasn’t all favorable for Versus. The new agreement reached placed Versus in the Channel 600 range, instead of its former Channel 300 range. It may not seem like much, but the prime channels for DirecTV are in the 200′s, so the 600′s are quite a distance away and may detract future channel surfers from ever stumbling on to MMA on Versus. Not to mention the confusion this ordeal created by taking away the channel from DirecTV customers for months and then placing it back on a different channel.
Monte Cox Joins KOTC, HDNet, and Lake of the Torches Casino Partnership
Lac du Flambeau’s Lake of the Torches Resort Casino just added more star power to its already successful mixed martial arts events. The casino, along with host promotion King of the Cage, has announced the affiliation of KOTC and high-profile promoter and fighter manager, Monte Cox, for the casino’s events.
Monte Cox is regarded as “The Godfather” of MMA and is considered to be one of the most influential figures in the sport today and in the sport’s history. Over the past 14 years no one has promoted more MMA events (nearly 600) or managed more UFC champions (seven) than Cox.
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“King of the Cage has done a great job promoting events in the Midwest and at Lake of the Torches specifically,” Cox said. “I think it is, without a doubt, the top event in the state. Now, we will use our contacts, fighters and promotional team to bring the current and future stars of the sport to the area.”
King of the Cage President Terry Trebilcock and Cox have been long-time friends and have often looked for opportunities to join forces. “Terry and I started in MMA about the same time and we’ve known each other for a long time. There’s a lot of mutual respect and we’ve often talked about working together on projects,” Cox said. “I’m excited about this and I know with the two of us behind it great things will follow.” (PRESS RELEASE)
The Launch of M-1 Global Japan, Evgeni Kogan Interview
A press conference was held today in Tokyo. The theme of the event was “aiming at the globalization of MMA.” The press conference was to announce a small show on 4/16 at Shinjuku FACE in Tokyo called “M-1 Selection ASIA EDITION 2010 Japan.” Heading up M-1 Global Japan is former AtoZ Japanese pro-wrestling women’s wrestling ring announcer Mr. Tsuruga (he’s in the middle of the photo linked above). There will be M-1 events throughout Asia (including South Korea). (FightOpinion)
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MMA Nation Interview Recap: Evgeni Kogan Talks Fedor Emelianenko and M-1 Global’s Goals
Kogan made it clear that M-1 does not currently have the level of brand recognition in America that they would like but that they do plan on continuing to attempt to make the connection with the sport’s fanbase. Also important to M-1 is developing an understanding that they are not simply a “management company” but are a full fledged fight promotion putting on events in multiple continents this year. Kogan also admitted that in part the lack of narrative control by M-1 during the Fedor/UFC negotiations led to the issues with understanding the company and that they plan to work more with the media and fans going forward. (BloodyElbow)
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“I want to take The Ultimate Fighter all over the world. We’re working on the Middle East right now. That will probably happen the soonest. I want one in the UK and then one for all of Europe. …That has been in the works for a while and that isn’t an easy one to pull off.” (Dana White on Globalizing TUF, MMACanada)
QUICK HITS
- Wanderlei Silva vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama set for UFC 116 in Las Vegas (MMAJunkie)
- Showtime offers free preview weekend, Strikeforce Challengers VII included (MMAJunkie)
- Dana White promises UFC return to Dublin in 2010 (MMAJunkie)
- Bellator adds “TUF 7″ alum Luke Zachrich for season-two middleweight tourney (MMAJunkie)
- Four amateur contests round-out Strikeforce Challengers VII’s 11-bout fight card (MMAJunkie)
- Dana White expects UFC’s return to German TV, not ruling out live event in interim (MMAJunkie)
- UFC Makes Big Splash in New York City (MMAFighting)
- White Unsure of Direction, Purpose for Toney (MMAFighting)
- UFC 111 Presser Notes: White on Toney Deal, Upcoming Shows & More (Sherdog)
- Hendo Grades Early Strikeforce, CBS Efforts; Calls Counter-Programming ‘Childish’ (Sherdog)
- K.J. NOONS HAD BROKEN FOOT DURING TO DIDA WIN (MMAWeekly)
- FEDOR CONFIRMED FOR JUNE RETURN AGAINST WERDUM (MMAWeekly)
- White vlog: Trapped in Toronto (Cage Writer)
- ADCC champ Braulio Estima set for MMA debut against Rick Hawn at Shine Fights (FiveOuncesOfPain)
- News Roundup: Marshall, Gugerty, Another Bellator Signing (Heavy)
TV LISTINGS
- HDNet Fights Vault (Eddie Alvarez) at 8 PM ET on HDNet (03/26/10)
- InsideMMA (Wanderlei Silva, Joe Soto, Shane Carwin) at 9 PM ET on HDNet (03/26/10)
- HDNet Fights: King of the Cage “Legacy” at 10 PM ET on HDNet (03/26/10)
- Strikeforce Challengers: Johnson vs Mahe at 11 PM ET/PT on Showtime (03/26/10)
- UFC 111: GSP vs Hardy at 10 PM ET on PPV (03/27/10)
- HDNet Fights Presents DREAM.13 at 11 PM ET on HDNet (03/27/10)
UPCOMING EVENTS
- HDNet Fights: King of the Cage – Legacy at 10 PM ET on HDNet (03/26/10)
- Strikeforce Challengers: Johnson vs Mahe at 11 PM ET/PT on Showtime (03/26/10)
- UFC 111: GSP vs Hardy at 10 PM ET on PPV (03/27/10)
- UFN 21 : Florian vs Gomi at 10 PM ET on Spike (03/31/10)
- The Ultimate Fighter 11 Debut after UFN 21 on Spike (03/31/10)
"Celebrity Apprentice" Star and Former WWE Diva Maria Kanellis to Join HDNet's MMA Broadcast Team
March 15, 2010
DALLAS (March 15, 2010) – Last week on HDNet’s Inside MMA, we broke the news that Maria Kanellis will become the newest member of the network’s MMA broadcast team. Kanellis was WWE’s 2009 “Diva of the Year,” a Playboy Cover Girl, recording artist and a contestant on this season’s “Celebrity Apprentice.” She will debut as the backstage correspondent on HDNet’s LIVE broadcast of “Mark Burnett Presents: King of the Cage: Legacy” on March 26 from the Silver Legacy Casino in Reno, Nev.
“Maria is an amazing talent with a devoted fan base and we are excited to have her as part of our MMA broadcast team,” said Andrew Simon, CEO of HDNet Fights. “Maria loves MMA and is a superstar on LIVE television – the MMA community will welcome the passion she will bring to covering the sport.”
“My mantra is ‘passion is my motivation’ and I am definitely passionate about MMA!” said Kanellis. “I am excited for the opportunity to be part of the HDNet family. I love their commitment to the sport.”
Kanellis began her career in 2004 as a WWE Diva and appeared on the cover of Playboy magazine in April 2008. Her television credits include appearances on “Family Feud,” “Project Runway,” ” VH1′s Top 20 Video Countdown,” “The Insider,” “Best Damn Sports Show Period,” “Red Eye” and “The Today Show.”
She will be featured as a contestant on this season’s “The Celebrity Apprentice” which premiered on March 14 on NBC. Her debut album “Seven Sins” will be available on iTunes on April 13 and a preview of the first single can be heard at http://mariakanellis.net.
About HDNet
HDNet (www.hd.net) is the independent network with unique and provocative content that appeals to men of all ages and is delivered in true high definition.
HDNet Announces "Fighting Words with Mike Straka"
March 9, 2010
HDNet has announced the debut of a brand new MMA series entitled “Fighting Words with Mike Straka” that will air on Friday nights for the network.
HDNET TO DEBUT NEW ORIGINAL MMA SERIES “FIGHTING WORDS WITH MIKE STRAKA”
Network to launch this first-of-its-kind MMA series with Dana White as the premiere guest – Friday, March 26 at 8:30 p.m. ET
DALLAS (March 9, 2010) HDNet announced today that it will add the new, original series “Fighting Words with Mike Straka,” to its Friday night lineup. The 30-minute one-on-one weekly interview program will feature revealing conversations with the top stars in mixed martial arts. “Fighting Words with Mike Straka” is scheduled to debut on Friday, March 26 at 8:30 p.m. ET. The premiere episode will feature a rare, 30-minute interview with one of the most influential people in Mixed Martial Arts – UFC President Dana White.
In the following weeks, host Mike Straka will present unique insights into the sport’s most interesting personalities including King Mo, Gegard Mousasi, Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos, Matt Hughes, Frank Shamrock and Bobby Lashley.
“This show has been years in the making – I wanted MMA fans to get an unprecedented view, from the biggest names, of what it takes to be in this business,” said Andrew Simon, CEO of HDNet Fights. “The MMA world produces the most intriguing personalities in professional sports and this program is designed to give Mike a full half- hour to ask the tough questions – the real questions fight fans want to know.”
“I am proud to join HDNet as the newest piece of the network’s already impressive MMA lineup,” said Mike Straka. “I am excited about the opportunity to present a side of these amazing athletes that the fans haven’t seen before.”
Mike Straka was previously the host of “FOX Fight Game.” He has covered MMA since UFC 30 in February 2001 and is widely recognized as one of the first mainstream journalists to begin reporting on the sport.
Payout Perspective:
The UFC and HDNet haven’t worked together much in the past, but perhaps this interview with Dana White is a sign of change in the relationship between the two organizations.
Also, note the timing of White’s appearance on the show is one day prior to UFC 111: GSP vs. Hardy. It wouldn’t surprise me if the UFC bought a few commercial slots during the segment to help pump the PPV card (even the April show in Abu Dhabi).
HDNet to Air "Mark Burnett Presents: King of the Cage-Vengeance"
February 12, 2010
WHAT: HDNet announces the fight card to be featured in the first “Mark Burnett Presents: King of the Cage” event entitled “Vengeance.” The event will feature three title fights in one night! In the heavyweight division, champion Tony “Kryptonite” Lopez (17-2) puts his 15-fight win streak on the line against Tyler East (4-2). KOTC Bantamweight champion and DREAM veteran Abel Cullum (16-3) faces a rising star in undefeated Joe Coca (7-0). Wrapping up the championship bouts, Lightweight champion Donald Sanchez (18-10) who’s on a 3-fight win streak, takes on Victor “Joe Boxer” Valenzuela (9-4-2).
The Main Event features a clash of Heavyweights, as cage veteran Travis Wiuff (58-13), who is on a 4-fight winning streak, faces Mike Kyle (13-7) who won four of his last five fights. HDNet rounds out this stacked card with Rich Clementi (35-15) vs. submission specialist Quinn Mulhern (8-1).
HDNet Fights CEO, Andrew Simon said, “This event marks the beginning of great relationship between HDNet and Mark Burnett Presents: King of the Cage. Everyone is excited about showcasing great fights while highlighting the long journey that these fighters endure to make it to national television.”
The HDNet announce team will pair “The Voice” Michael Schiavello with MMA fighter and MTV Bully Beatdown star Jason “Mayhem” Miller. HDNet will also introduce Andrea Feczko to MMA fans as backstage reporter.
WHEN: LIVE, Friday,February 12 at 10:00 p.m. ET only on HDNet.
MMAterial Facts (02/02/10)
February 2, 2010
- Strikeforce, UFC draw big TV numbers
- UFC 2009 Undisputed Reaches “Platinum Hits” Status
- Countdown to UFC 109: 881,000 Viewers
- Ratings Soar For Ring Sports, Despite Steroids, Violence, Unknowns
- Flock Is Now a Fight Team in Some Ministries
- Next Fight Promoter University Session Announced
Strikeforce, UFC draw big TV numbers
The television head-to-head battle on Saturday night between UFC and Strikeforce turned out to be a win on both sides.
Strikeforce’s live event on Saturday night from Sunrise, Fla., largely built around the mixed martial arts debut of football legend Herschel Walker, drew 517,000 viewers. It is the second-most viewers for an MMA event on Showtime, trailing only the 571,000 viewers on Aug. 15 for the Gina Carano vs. Cris “Cyborg” Santos fight.
As is usually the case when Strikeforce has a major event, UFC countered on Spike TV with the cable debut of a taped major event, in this case airing the Dec. 12 UFC 107 show, headlined by B.J. Penn vs. Diego Sanchez and Frank Mir vs. Cheick Kongo.
That show had a 1.64 rating and 2.2 million viewers. It would be the second-highest rated for a replay of a UFC PPV event in history. Most UFC PPV replays put against a Showtime event are in the 1.2 rating range. (Yahoo! Sports)
UFC 2009 Undisputed Reaches “Platinum Hits” Status
THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) and Zuffa, LLC today announced that UFC® 2009 Undisputed™, the critically and commercially acclaimed debut videogame based on the Ultimate Fighting Championship®, has achieved “Platinum Hits” status in North America for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, as well as joined Sony’s “Greatest Hits” collection in North America for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system. Having shipped more than 3.5 million units worldwide to date, both versions of the videogame originally launched on May 19, 2009 and are now available for the suggested retail price of $29.99.
“Reaching ‘Platinum Hits’ and ‘Greatest Hits’ status is an honor that speaks to the strength of our software and the power of the UFC brand,” said Vice President of Global Brand Management Brian Coleman. “With a reduced price point, more players can now step into the Octagon™ and take part in the ultimate virtual UFC experience.” (MMA Payout’s Perspective)
Countdown to UFC 109: 881,000 Viewers
MMAPayout.com has learned that Countdown to UFC 109 enjoyed a tremendous lead-in from the Brock Lesnar: UFC Unleased and UFC 107 replay to draw 881,000 viewers with its debut on Saturday night. That’s the highest Countdown to UFC program debut since UFC 100, which garnered 1.1 million viewers. (MMA Payout’s Perspective)
Ratings Soar For Ring Sports, Despite Steroids, Violence, Unknowns
These days, the ring sports aren’t just pinning down record viewership numbers. For some networks, they’re helping to identify and build brand recognition among viewers. In 2009, USA Network’s WWE Monday Night Raw franchise averaged 5.8 million viewers, its best showing since 2001. It performed better than two of the network’s popular original series, Psych and In Plain Sight.
Spike TV’s Ultimate Fighter reality competition series has become the face of the men’s-targeted network and its most-popular show, averaging a series record 3.4 million viewers in its 10th season.
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Mixed martial arts is also throwing punches on several networks. The genre’s leader, Ultimate Fighting Championship, is airing three to four live events on Spike TV in 2010 while producing the 11th season of its popular Ultimate Fighter reality series. Versus will also air two live UFC shows as well as content from UFC-owned MMA franchise World Extreme Cagefighting.
On the premium side, Showtime will offer as many as eight events this year from StrikeForce, an upstart mixed-martial-arts franchise.
For these cable networks, ring-sports programming delivers strong ratings, particularly within the hard-to-reach demographic of men 18 to 49. “Young guys love what goes on in those two rings, whether it’s the octagon or the wrestling ring — that’s our bread and butter and it’s a place where we’ve been really successful,” said Spike TV president Kevin Kay.
Indeed, The Ultimate Fighter averaged 3.4 million viewers in its 10th season on Spike last year — nearly double the reality competition show’s average of 2 million for its previous nine seasons. The series finale, which featured YouTube MMA sensation Kimbo Slice, peaked at 6 million viewers, according to the network. (Multi Channel)
Flock Is Now a Fight Team in Some Ministries
Mr. Renken’s ministry is one of a small but growing number of evangelical churches that have embraced mixed martial arts — a sport with a reputation for violence and blood that combines kickboxing, wrestling and other fighting styles — to reach and convert young men, whose church attendance has been persistently low. Mixed martial arts events have drawn millions of television viewers, and one was the top pay-per-view event in 2009.
Recruitment efforts at the churches, which are predominantly white, involve fight night television viewing parties and lecture series that use ultimate fighting to explain how Christ fought for what he believed in. Other ministers go further, hosting or participating in live events.
The goal, these pastors say, is to inject some machismo into their ministries — and into the image of Jesus — in the hope of making Christianity more appealing. “Compassion and love — we agree with all that stuff, too,” said Brandon Beals, 37, the lead pastor at Canyon Creek Church outside of Seattle. “But what led me to find Christ was that Jesus was a fighter.”
The outreach is part of a larger and more longstanding effort on the part of some ministers who fear that their churches have become too feminized, promoting kindness and compassion at the expense of strength and responsibility. (NY Times)
Next Fight Promoter University Session Announced
With the next Fight Promoter University less than two months away, FPU founder Roy Englebrecht announced the date for FPU VII. It is set to begin Tuesday, March 30th and run thru Friday, April 2nd at the Irvine Marriott Hotel in Irvine, California. Englebrecht also announced that the entire four day FPU VII session will be made available live on the internet with the first ever FPU Netcast. FPU VII will be held in conjunction with the April 1st Battle In The Ballroom boxing and mixed martial arts show, now in its 26th year at the Irvine Marriott.
“We have a great line up of guest speakers for FPU VII headlined by Bruce Trampler of Top Rank, Scott Coker of Strikeforce, Richard Schafer of Golden Boy Promotions, and Loretta Hunt of Sherdog.com,” said Englebrecht. “And now to be able to make all FPU sessions available to anyone in the world thru our live streaming netcast, will open up a future as a fight promoter to an unlimited audience. We are partnering with Pathfinder Digital TV to insure the most state-of-the-art production and quality netcast possible. (Fight Promoter University)
QUICK HITS
- “Strikeforce: Miami” ratings: 517,000 Showtime viewers deliver 52 percent ratings increase (MMAJunkie)
- Mailbag: Talking Herschel (Yahoo! Sports)
- Herschel Walker’s MMA Debut (Sports Illustrated)
- Miletich: If Shamrock won’t sign, bring me someone willing to fight (MMAJunkie)
- Heavyweights Todd Duffee and Mike Russow agree to meet at UFC 114 in May (MMAJunkie)
- New York Jets fine coach Rex Ryan $50K for Strikeforce middle-finger fiasco (MMAJunkie)
- Canseco Issues Challenge to Herschel Walker (MMAFighting)
- ‘Ninja’ Rua Targeting DREAM, Shine Fights (MMAFighting)
- Bellator Fighters Hector Lombard, Jorge Masvidal Set for G-Force Fights 3 (MMAFighting)
- Sanchez-Hathaway On Deck for UFC 114 (Sherdog)
- Beltran Replaces Al-Turk at UFC 109 (Sherdog)
- Strikeforce Lands Broadcast Deals in UK, Latin America (Sherdog)
- ROY NELSON DRAWS STEFAN STRUVE FOR MARCH 31 (MMAWeekly)
- TYSON GRIFFIN VS. EVAN DUNHAM AT UFC 115 (MMAWeekly)
- Evans Has Answers (ESPN)
VIDEO OF THE DAY
IMAGE OF THE DAY
Fedor Emelianenko - Russian Men's Health
TV LISTINGS
- HDNet Fights Presents K-1 Classics (2005 World GP Finals) at 8 PM ET on HDNet (02/05/10)
- InsideMMA (Brendan Schaub, Matt Mitrione, & Dermontti Dawson) at 9 PM ET on HDNet (02/05/10)
- HDNet Fights Presents “Furious Finishes III” at 10 PM ET on HDNet (02/05/10)
- Best of Pride FC at 10 PM ET/PT on Spike (02/05/10)
- UFC 109 at 10 PM ET on PPV (02/06/10)
UPCOMING EVENTS
- UFC 109: Couture vs Coleman at 10 PM ET on PPV (02/06/10)
- HDNet Fights: King of the Cage – Vengeance at 10 PM ET on HDNet (02/12/10)
- UFC 110: Nogueira vs Velazquez at 10 PM ET on PPV (02/20/10)
- Strikeforce Challengers: Prangley vs Amoussou at 11 PM ET/PT on Showtime (02/26/10)
- WEC 47: Bowles vs Cruz on at 10 PM ET on Versus (03/06/10)
MMAterial Facts (02/01/10) : Strikeforce Miami Edition
February 1, 2010
Strikeforce Miami Post-Fight News and Notes
- More Info On Problematic EA/Strikeforce Stream: A lot of questions were asked on Saturday as to what happened and who to blame for the bad EA/Strikeforce stream. According to Sam Strayer via Josh Gross, the executive producer of iBN Sports (who was responsible for streaming the Strikeforce Jay Hieron vs Joe Riggs fight on Saturday): “We had a huge influx of fans… The show went well for most. …Some with lower bandwidth had trouble due to high quality of stream. They are looking into a re-air.” Though many fans were obviously disappointed by the stream quality (or in most cases lack thereof) , there were apparently a few fans who were blessed with enough bandwidth to watch the fight. Not focusing on only the negative, Strayer commented on the amazing turnout for the stream, “Great night tonight. iBN Stream had some technical issues out of the venue… what an amazing turnout for the stream. Unbelievable numbers… All the fans can watch it again soon… We will keep you posted!!!” We will keep an eye on when EA/Strikeforce/iBN plan to make the fight available again for viewing.
- Paydays Put Into Perspective: Wes Sims (22-13), who lost to Bobby Lashley (5-0) by TKO in the first round on Saturday night, was estimated to make $30,000 (Josh Gross). Hershel Walker (1-0), who won his debut against Greg Nagy (1-2), was estimated to make six figures, which he will donate to charity (MMAJunkie). The way this is shaping, taking into consideration that Lashley, Diaz, Zaromskis, Manhoef, Lawler, and Cyborg will also make some good pay days, the pay scale for this event should be one of the highest in Strikeforce’s short MMA history.
- Attendance Put Into Perspective: According to Josh Gross over at Sports Illustrated, 8,156 MMA fans packed the BankAtlantic Center on Saturday night. To put the number in perspective, Elite XC’s CBS event “Heat”, which featured hometown product and current “MMA Viewership King” Kimbo Slice against Seth Petruzelli, drew 9,414 (7,723 paid) fans for a live gate of $826,433. If Strikeforce Miami can draw similar numbers, which they are currently positioned to do, it will meet the gate and revenue expectations coming into this weekend.
- Herschel Walker Brought In The Viewers and Media Attention: Some are still questioning whether or not it was a good move by Strikeforce to promote Herschel Walker the way they did and put him on the main card this weekend over the likes of arguably more deserving fighters Joe Riggs and Jay Hieron. Let me just say that absolutely no one on the card came even close to garnering the amount of attention that Hershel Walker received for this event. Walker got heavy attention over at ESPN (Front Page Top Headlines, Top 10 Plays, ESPN Radio, PTI, MMA Live, etc), news papers and publications across the nation, most notably (Atlanta, Texas, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Missouri, DC, and Florida), became a trending topic on Twitter, Front page of CNN, and a slew more nation wide. In what has to be considered good news for Strikeforce, ESPN and ESPN News showed the MMA tab on their “Scores Bar” followed by “Strikeforce:” and the results from all main card bouts plus Hieron vs Riggs. The promotion and amount of eyeballs that Herschel Walker drew for this event had to be deemed a huge success for Strikeforce. Strong ratings are expected for this event, and the booking of Walker by Strikeforce and Showtime was no mistake. EliteXC had also been interested in using Walker before they folded, and it comes to no surprise that some of the biggest viewership numbers for MMA on Showtime and CBS come from the Southern states. Another strategic move by all parties was holding this event the day before the Pro Bowl in Florida. The booking of Walker got a good number of NFL affiliates, players, and fans to buy tickets for this event and Showtime’s ties to the NFL (“Inside The NFL”) most likely lead to NY Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan’s infamous interview, which is still getting headlines. Not to mention that EA Sports, who hosts the Madden Bowl on Super Bowl Week, was also on scene to promote the Madden franchise, sponsor fighters, and promote their upcoming EA Sports MMA game. The scheduling and timing of the event was well crafted and was a good display of synergy between EA, Strikeforce, and Showtime to use the NFL’s fan base as potential draws to the event. Now, they just need to work on better execution.
- What’s Next For Strikeforce Miami Participants: Scott Coker has already confirmed interest in putting together Cyborg vs Erin Toughill (145 Lbs Title), Gilbert Melendez (Strikeforce LW Champ) vs Shinya Aoki (DREAM LW Champ), Nick Diaz vs Mach Sakurai/Jay Hieron (WW Title), and Bobby Lashley vs Brett Rogers in the near future (MMAFighting). The April CBS show is already in the plans and Fedor Emelianenko, Fabricio Werdum, Jake Shields, Dan Henderson, Gegard Mousasi, King Mo, Brett Rogers, and Bobby Lashley have all been rumored for the event. Frank Shamrock vs Pat Miletich is also being rumored at the moment for a May Strikeforce event (FiveOuncesOfPain). There has also been a great deal of talk that Nick Diaz or Robbie Lawler will be jumping ship to the UFC. I don’t expect that to be happening anytime soon, since both have multiple fights left in their Strikeforce contracts.
- Strikeforce Fighter Announcements: Scott Coker implied (previously mentioned by Gegard Mousasi’s manager) that DREAM would be hosting LHW and HW GP’s for 2010, which would free up the lighter weight fighters from DREAM for Strikeforce to use. Coker has already shown interest in getting Aoki, Kawajiri, Sakurai, Hansen, and JZ in Strikeforce. Another big announcement was the Women’s 135 lbs and 145 lbs tournaments which are rumored to start around June this year. Both tournaments will take place within 2 events (1 fight on the first event, 2 fights on the second to crown the winner) and will consist of 8 participants. Strikeforce promises to get the best female fighters around the world in order to create true contenders for Cyborg Santos and for the winner of Sarah Kaufman vs Takayo Hashi, which is for the 135 lbs title bout set to take place in the February 26th Strikeforce Challengers card. (Sherdog)
- Strikeforce Announces TV Deals: Distributor Shine International has completed a host of deals for its Strikeforce brand internationally, selling more than 70 hours of mixed martial arts programming in Europe, Australia and Latin America. Virgin Media Television-owned Bravo in the UK, Turner in Latin America, FX in Portugal, Ukraine’s Megasport, Seven Network in Australia and Dahlia TV in Italy have all purchased Strikeforce’s library of TV programming (MMAPayout) . Channel Seven is one of Australia’s biggest networks, and the UK fans were buzzing this weekend after watching the Strikeforce Miami event on Bravo.
- UPDATE: Looks like MMAJunkie is reporting that Strikeforce Miami drew 517K viewers, which is a 52% ratings increase over the previous Strikeforce event on Showtime (Strikeforce Evolution) and finishes in second place behind Strikeforce: Carano vs Cyborg who drew 576K viewers and beat Strikeforce: Kimbo vs Tank, which drew 511K. This is along the range I predicted above, and has to be considered a success for Strikeforce and Showtime, despite Spike TV counter-programming the event with UFC 107, which drew 2.2 million viewers.
QUICK HITS
- UFC to Offer Spanish PPV Broadcasts (MMAPayout’s Perspective)
- Strikeforce Miami: Payout Perspective (MMAPayout’s Perspective)
- Diaz shares spotlight with Walker at Strikeforce: Miami (Sports Illustrated)
- Diaz bludgeons Zaromskis; Walker wins (ESPN)
- Despite debut MMA win, NFL great Herschel Walker not a lock for a second fight (MMAJunkie)
- New York Jets coach Rex Ryan issues apology after “Strikeforce: Miami” bird-flipping (MMAJunkie)
- Coker Says Aoki, Sakurai, Toughill Will Get Title Shots (MMAFighting)
- Coker Eyeing Melendez-Aoki, Women’s Tourneys in 2010 (Sherdog)
- Strikeforce Post-Mortem: Punches in Bunches, Football’s Revenge, and More (Sherdog)
- Tim Kennedy latest addition to “EA Sports MMA” videogame roster (MMAJunkie)
- King Of The Cage Is Coming To HDNet on February 12 (HDNet)
- Despite initial one-sided affair, Strikeforce’s Robbie Lawler said he stuck to game plan (MMAJunkie)
- Free agent Jay Hieron still not guaranteed title shot with new Strikeforce champ Nick Diaz (MMAJunkie)
- Bellator adds DREAM vet Joe Warren to season-two featherweight tourney (MMAJunkie)
- Shine Fights signs Abu Dhabi champ Braulio Estima to multi-fight deal (MMAJunkie)
- Weekend Rundown: Yamaguchi Captures KOTC Crown (Sherdog)
- Overeem’s Trainer Likes Chances vs. Fedor (MMAFighting)
- On Mend, Tyson Griffin Could Be In Vancouver (MMAWeekly)
- Freestyle Cage Fighting 39 Results (MMARising)
IMAGE OF THE DAY
TV LISTINGS
- HDNet Fights Presents K-1 Classics (2005 World GP Finals) at 8 PM ET on HDNet (02/05/10)
- InsideMMA (Brendan Schaub, Matt Mitrione, & Dermontti Dawson) at 9 PM ET on HDNet (02/05/10)
- HDNet Fights Presents “Furious Finishes III” at 10 PM ET on HDNet (02/05/10)
- Best of Pride FC at 10 PM ET/PT on Spike (02/05/10)
- UFC 109 at 10 PM ET on PPV (02/06/10)
UPCOMING EVENTS
- UFC 109: Couture vs Coleman at 10 PM ET on PPV (02/06/10)
- HDNet Fights: King of the Cage – Vengeance at 10 PM ET on HDNet (02/12/10)
- UFC 110: Nogueira vs Velazquez at 10 PM ET on PPV (02/20/10)
- Strikeforce Challengers: Prangley vs Amoussou at 11 PM ET/PT on Showtime (02/26/10)
- WEC 47: Bowles vs Cruz on at 10 PM ET on Versus (03/06/10)
HDNet Announces Multi-year Partnership with "Mark Burnett Presents: King of the Cage"
February 1, 2010
DALLAS (February 1, 2010) HDNet announces a multi-year partnership with “Mark Burnett Presents: King of the Cage,” in which, under terms of the agreement, the network will feature LIVE “King of the Cage”events every month.
The first event will air on HDNet on Friday, February 12 at 10:00 p.m. ET.
“King of the Cage and Mark Burnett are pioneers in their respective fields, and we are excited to feature ‘Mark Burnett Presents: King of the Cage’ on HDNet as part of our commitment to being the home of MMA,” said Mark Cuban, Chairman and Co-founder of HDNet. “The award-winning story telling of Mark Burnett will bring the personalities of MMA to life in a way that has never been seen before.”
“MMA fighters are some of the most fascinating personalities I have ever encountered, and I am excited about the opportunity to help KOTC to bring those characters to life on HDNet,” said Mark Burnett. “I am impressed with the quality of King of the Cage, and we look forward to bringing their brand to the next level in conjunction with Mark Cuban, who is one of the truly great entrepreneurs of media and sports.”
“King of the Cage is committed to delivering great fights while developing the stars of tomorrow in MMA,” said Terry Trebilcock, President of King of the Cage. “Working with Mark Burnett and HDNet provides us with the perfect platform to do just that.”
Founded in 1998, “King of the Cage” has become the most prolific MMA promoter in the United States, and has grown into an internationally recognized brand, with events in Canada, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan. It has launched the careers of many MMA superstars including Forrest Griffin, Quinton Jackson, and Urijah Faber.
Mark Burnett is a leading executive producer for primetime television, cable and the Internet, and has produced over 1,100 hours of television programming which regularly air in over 70 countries around the world. Burnett has revolutionized television with continuing hits such as “Survivor” (CBS), “The Apprentice” (NBC), the now syndicated “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” (FOX), which is currently being produced in 55 countries, the daytime syndicated hit “Martha,” and the hit series “Shark Tank” (ABC); giving Mark a different series on each of the four major networks.
Burnett also produces the MTV Movie Awards and Bully Beatdown (MTV). Burnett started off 2010 with a bang, producing the 36th annual People’s Choice Awards (CBS).
About HDNet
HDNet (www.hd.net) is the independent network with unique and provocative content that appeals to men of all ages and is delivered in true high definition.
MMAterial Facts (01/29/10)
January 29, 2010
- Shine International strikes Strikeforce deals
- Harris Confirms WEC 48: Aldo vs. Faber in May on PPV
- Gov’s plan to legalize mixed martial arts gets mixed reviews
- Michigan promoter reveals own highs and lows during state’s drive toward pro MMA
- “Inside MMA” to Preview “Strikeforce: Miami”, KOTC signs TV Deal With HDNet
- Herschel Walker ready to tackle MMA
Shine International strikes Strikeforce deals
Distributor Shine International has completed a host of deals for its Strikeforce brand internationally, selling more than 70 hours of mixed martial arts programming in Europe, Australia and Latin America.
Virgin Media Television-owned Bravo in the UK, Turner in Latin America, FX in Portugal, Ukraine’s Megasport, Seven Network in Australia and Dahlia TV in Italy have all purchased Strikeforce’s library of TV programming.
“Strikeforce is the leader in mixed martial arts content as proven by the huge demand for their programming around the world,” said Chris Grant, president of Shine International.
“They have the world’s best fighters, the world’s best events and they know how to translate that into fast-paced programming that captures what will soon be the most popular sport in the world.”
The deal covers the 30 episodes and 56 hours of fights that have aired on NBC and Showtime respectively. (C21Media)
Harris Confirms WEC 48: Aldo vs. Faber in May on PPV
The upcoming featherweight title fight between champion Jose Aldo and challenger Urijah Faber will be the first pay-per-view fight card in World Extreme Cagefighting history, WEC President Reed Harris said Friday.
“I think the Aldo-Faber fight could truly be one of the most exciting fights ever in the whole sport of MMA,” Harris said on the Dave and Mahoney Show.
Harris said an official announcement is coming within the next week or 10 days, and that he expects the fight to take place in May and cost $45, the same price as a UFC pay-per-view.
There’s no question that Aldo vs. Faber is a good enough fight to be worthy of pay-per-view. The question is whether the WEC can convince enough people of its worthiness to make the event a financial success. Non-UFC MMA events have never turned a profit on North American pay-per-view, and the WEC faces an uphill battle in making this one work, no matter how great a fight Faber vs. Aldo is. (MMAFighting) … [MMA Payout's Perspective]
Gov’s plan to legalize mixed martial arts gets mixed reviews
New York Gov. David Paterson’s plan to legalize mixed martial arts in an effort to raise $2 million to help close the budget gap doesn’t have much support among registered voters.
According to the Marist Institute for Public Opinion, 68 percent of registered New York voters opposed Paterson’s plan to legalize what’s known as ultimate fighting. However, 29 percent support the measure.
The institute, which is affiliated with Marist College in Poughkeepsie, found 82 percent of women and 55 percent of men disapproving Paterson’s proposal. (The Business Review)
Michigan promoter reveals own highs and lows during state’s drive toward pro MMA
Donofrio credits the UFC with helping Michigan regulators realize the importance of bringing the sport to the state, but he also feels the sport’s biggest promotion may have added a few regulations that make true grassroots growth of professional MMA very difficult.
“It wasn’t exactly as I hoped it would be,” Donofrio admitted. “There were so many stipulations that would make it difficult for a small-time promoter to be successful. One of them was you have to have a minimum of 30 rounds (on a card), which would be 10 three-round fights. You can’t have a pro-am card. The fee to do the show is $2,000 compared to $125 for boxing. And then the fighters have to have a CT scan and EKG, all that stuff.
“So it’s kind of difficult for anybody to be profitable doing a professional show here in Michigan. That was probably by design.”
Donofrio, who is the first to admit he’s not a medical professional, thinks perhaps the extensive testing could be reserved for older fighters and those who have shown previous reason for concern. Nevertheless, the promoter admits fighter safety is of the utmost concern, and simply hopes the commission will at least revisit the fees one day in the future.
In the meantime, Donofrio is pleased that unlike a handful of states still looking to pass regulation, Michigan will no longer have to concern itself with unregulated events.
“I think the regulations in Michigan are pretty strict, but I think the rogue promoters need to be put in check,” Donofrio said. (MMAJunkie) … [MMAPayout's Perspective]
“Inside MMA” to Preview “Strikeforce: Miami”, KOTC signs TV Deal With HDNet
This week the “Inside MMA” panel will preview the “Strikeforce: Miami” fight card with the following fighters joining Kenny Rice and Bas Rutten to add perspective to the event and to discuss their own journey through the ranks in mixed martial arts. The panel features Gegard Mousasi, Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champ (and former Dream Middleweight Champ), Gilbert Melendez, Strikeforce Lightweight Champ and Tony Lopez, the Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight Champion of King of the Cage. The panel will take a look at the Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos vs. Marloes Coenen match-up, along with the Nick Diaz vs. Marius Zaromskis fight and Herschel Walker vs. Greg Nagy.
Also, Ron Kruck files a report on the MMA debut of Walker, the Heisman Trophy winner, and former NFL running back. Despite having several decades of experience in martial arts and being a sixth- degree black belt in tae kwon do, Walker admits he has quite a learning curve.
Also, HDNet will make a BIG announcement on tonight’s broadcast. Don’t miss it! (HDNet Fights)
MMAPayout Note: KOTC has partnered with Mark Burnett to produce KOTC based programming and signed a 3 year deal with HDNet for live monthly events. The first KOTC event to air live on HDNet will be the 2/12/10 show, which features Lopez v. East, Valenzuela v. Sanchez, Coca v. Cullum, Wiuff v. Kyle, and Clementi vs. Lapsley.
Herschel Walker ready to tackle MMA
Herschel Walker is most known for his accomplishments on the gridiron, but his athleticism extends further, and on Saturday, Jan. 30, he will add mixed martial artist to a stellar résumé, debuting for Strikeforce at the Bank Atlantic Center in Sunrise.
The 47-year-old Walker will face another MMA newcomer, Greg Nagy (1-1).
“I love martial arts,” he said. “I’ve loved it for years. I love the sport of it. When I saw MMA years ago, I fell in love with it.
“They’ve cleaned it up so much that it is now a mainstream sport, and I wanted to get involved in it. There are incredible athletes doing it, and I want to consider myself a good athlete, and that’s the reason I want to do it.”
A very good athlete, Walker, a 6-1, 220-pound former running back with the University of Georgia, Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings, holds a fifth degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and boasts additional training in Kenpo karate and Muay Thai.
“People have to know that I love this sport [MMA], but I am green,” he noted. “I’m not stepping into this sport, fighting for a belt, `Oh, I want to be heavyweight champion.’ No.
“I’m stepping into this sport because I love it and to fight people who are trying to grow like I’m trying to grow. I don’t know how far I’m going to go and how long I’m going to be in it.” (Miami Herald)
***
Drive to compete powers Walker’s jump to MMA
“This is probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” the 6-foot-1, 220-pound Walker said. “This was a very tough sport for me. … Every muscle in your body is sore.”
He added that his MMA instruction was even tougher than the grueling NFL training camps he endured for 12 seasons in the sweltering heat. Walker said that in football, a play goes for eight seconds and then players have 30 seconds to rest. In MMA, athletes don’t have such a luxury.
Even his Tae Kwon Do skills were somewhat neutralized, saying he had to, in essence, forget about that fighting style and enter his training with a completely open mind.
Walker, who said he’s an avid fan of MMA and watching it inspired him to enter the sport, is thankful to Strikeforce for giving him a shot. For a company looking to raise its profile any way it can, this was a simple decision. In announcing Walker’s signing in September, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said, “I flew to L.A. last month to watch Herschel train and was surprised to see his advanced wrestling and striking abilities. He’s got work ahead of him.”
Coker’s company has plenty of work to do too. Strikeforce is the No. 2 MMA company in the United States, behind the juggernaut Ultimate Fighting Championship. Not many sports bosses are going to travel to watch a guy pushing 50. But, Walker brings a known name and will attract mainstream interest. (Fox Sports)
QUICK HITS
- MMA fighting: Herschel Walker faces new challenge at 47 (Miami Herald)
- ESPN Primer: Strikeforce: Miami’ (ESPN)
- COENEN READY TO GO TOE-TO-TOE WITH CYBORG (MMAWeekly)
- The future of women’s MMA (Baltimore Sun)
- Nick Diaz getting back in cage (Lodi News)
- Cyborg Santos ‘Ready for War’ With Marloes Coenen (MMAFighting)
- Shamrock gives Coenen a shot at ‘Cyborg’ upset (Cage Fighter)
- Diaz, Manhoef tabbed to earn victories at Strikeforce: Miami (Sports Illustrated)
- Strike Force Miami (Sun Sentinel)
- Nagy Ready to Seize his ‘Opportunity of a Lifetime’ (Sherdog)
- Lawler: I’ll take my chances on the feet against Manhoef (USA Today)
- Melvin Manhoef Coming to Strikeforce for ‘American Dream’ (MMAFighting)
- Wes Sims promises Hogan legdrop on Lashley (USA Today)
- Five Burning Questions for Strikeforce in 2010 (MMAFighting)
- Five Burning Questions for WEC in 2010 (MMAFighting)
- Intimidation Clothing Sponsors Greg Nagy at Strikeforce Miami (Email Wire)
- 5 Heavyweights Strikeforce Needs to Sign (Fight Magazine)
- Matrix Fights to launch in Philadelphia on Feb. 27 with Matt Makowski vs. LeVon Maynard (5OzsOfPain)
- Ultimate fighting a knockout and bound for Sydney (Cumberland Courier)
- King of Cage competition producer returns home (U.S. Marine Corps Bases Japan)
- Marloes Coenen: Survival of the Fittest (Fight Magazine)
- DREAM LIGHTWEIGHTS HEADED TO STRIKEFORCE (MMAWeekly)
- HIERON/RIGGS WINNER LIKELY TO GET TITLE SHOT (MMAWeekly)
- DREAM Roughs Out 2010 Plans, Korea Possible (MMAWeekly)
- King Of The Cage Japan: “Toryumon” Preview (MMARising)
VIDEO OF THE DAY
- Inside MMA Preview (01/29/10): Guests Gegard Mousasi, Gilbert Melendez and Tony Lopez weigh in on the latest in mixed martial arts news with hosts Kenny Rice and Bas Rutten. Also, reporter Ron Kruck previews the upcoming Strikeforce: Miami fight card.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
Updates on the attendance for the past two shows. The Jan. 2 show drew 13,529 fans in total according to the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Those are different numbers than announced that night or numbers from the building. The live attendance and gate were the same as we reported, with 8,004 paying $1,969,670, so there were 5,314 comp tickets, and of those paid tickets, a couple of thousand were casino buys, so there were actually more fans who didn’t pay for tickets in the arena than paid. (Dave Meltzer commenting on UFC 108 attendance, Wrestling Observer)
TV LISTINGS
- HDNet Fights Presents K-1 Classics (Musashi Tribute) at 8 PM ET on HDNet (01/29/10)
- InsideMMA (Gegard Mousasi, Gilbert Melendez, & Tony Lopez) at 9 PM ET on HDNet (01/29/10)
- HDNet Fights Presents Best of DREAM Super Hulk GP at 10 PM ET on HDNet (01/29/10)
- Best of Pride FC at 10 PM ET/PT on Spike (01/29/10)
- Strikeforce Miami: Diaz vs Zaromskis at 10 PM ET/PT on Showtime (01/30/10)
- Countdown to UFC 109 at 12:30 AM ET/PT on Spike (01/30/10)
UPCOMING EVENTS
