HDNet Fights Presents: World Victory Road: Sengoku 7
March 18, 2009
WHAT: HDNet will bring viewers LIVE coverage of “HDNet Fights Presents: World Victory Road: Sengoku 7″ from the Yoyogi National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan. The event airs at 12:00 a.m. PT this Friday, March 20 (late Thursday night, early Friday morning). The fight card features Hatsu Hioki, Hideki Kadowaki, L.C. Davis, Nick Denis, and twelve other combatants in the first round of the Sengoku Featherweight Grand Prix – plus undefeated Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal takes on Ryo Kawamura in the main event of the evening.
An encore presentation will be broadcast on HDNet at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT on Friday, March 20.
WHEN: Friday, March 20 at 12:00 a.m. ET with an encore at 10:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. PT exclusively on HDNet.
About HDNet
HDNet (www.hd.net) is a network that is original, thinks independently and delivers
unique content and provocative, authentic programming that appeals to men of all ages, delivered in true high definition.
HDNet is the exclusive, high definition home for popular, original programming, including television’s only HD news feature programs “HDNet World Report,” and the Emmy Award winning “Dan Rather Reports,” featuring legendary journalist Dan Rather. Only HDNet goes beyond the headlines to deliver real news that is redefining the way we look at our world. HDNet News is provocative, sometimes controversial and always relevant – telling the important stories of our time in-depth, with attitude and with independence.
HDNet presents championship sports coverage featuring the best of Mixed Martial Arts through HDNet Fights. HDNet Fights partners with leading MMA promoters including Affliction, DREAM, Sengoku, XFC, M-1, K-1, K-1 Max, MFC, Adrenaline and more. HDNet produces more live mixed martial arts events than any other network and HDNet’s “Inside MMA” is the hottest mixed martial arts program on television, giving MMA fans their weekly fix for everything MMA.
HDNet also delivers the world’s largest and most diverse concert line-up through the HDNet Concert Series. The HDNet Concert Series features leading artists and bands including Coldplay, Gwen Stefani, John Mayer and more. HDNet also features revealing lifestyle programming featuring “Art Mann Presents,” “Vegas Confessions,” “Deadline” and “Get Out!” HDNet is also the exclusive high definition home to critically acclaimed and award winning documentaries as part of the InFocus series. “NASA on HDNet” presents all live shuttle launches through 2010.
Only HDNet Movies delivers exclusive Sneak Previews of new movies before they hit theaters. The HDNet Movies Sneak Preview series features top Hollywood stars in critically acclaimed performances including Gwyneth Paltrow, Joaquin Phoenix, Demi Moore, Michael Caine, Tom Hanks, Vera Farmiga, Parker Posey, Brian Cox, Matthew Broderick, Brittany Snow and Eric Bana.
Upcoming Sneak Previews include “The Great Buck Howard,”starring Colin Hanks, John Malkovich and Tom Hanks, and “HarlemAria,” starring Damon Wayans.
In addition to being the exclusive home of Sneak Previews, HDNet Movies presents viewers with over one hundred films and an average of twenty-five “HD Premieres” each month. HDNet Movies viewers enjoy the best films from the classics of the 1950s-1970s, to favorite films from the 1980s and 1990s, to recently released theatrical films.
HDNet Movies offers subscribers a premium movie viewing experience in true HD, and more original movies shot entirely in HD than any other network.
Launched in 2001 by Mark Cuban and General Manager Philip Garvin, the HDNet networks are available on AT&T, Bright House Networks, Charter Communications, Comcast, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, Mediacom, Time Warner Cable, Verizon and more than 40 NCTC cable affiliate companies. For more information visit www.hd.net.
HDNet Fights Inks Long-Term Deal with World Victory Road
February 9, 2009
DALLAS (February 9, 2009) – HDNet Fights announced today that it has agreed to a long-term partnership with World Victory Road to exclusively air the Sengoku Mixed Martial Arts promotion on HDNet. The deal marks the first time that the promotion’s events will be seen in their entirety in North America.
In 2009, HDNet will feature twenty-five events from Asia alone, due to the network’s partnerships with World Victory Road, DREAM, K-1, and K-1 MAX.
“We’re very happy to announce this partnership with World Victory Road and to bring the action of Sengoku to HDNet,” said Andrew Simon, CEO of HDNet Fights. “This continues our commitment to deliver the best MMA in the world. No one promotion or network can match the depth and breadth of MMA broadcast on HDNet.”
“SENGOKU held its very first match in March 2008, and the upcoming competition on March 20 will mark the promotion’s eighth event,” said Takahiro Kokuho, Executive Managing Director of World Victory Road Co. Ltd. “The high quality of our fighters and our competition have earned rave reviews from many of our fans and the media, and we are honored to have created a partnership with a renowned American network such as HDNet. We look forward to sharing the ultimate martial arts form with the U.S. and MMA fans around the world, and we are confident that MMA fans will be excited as well. We look forward to taking unified steps to establish Sengoku as a top MMA brand in the U.S.”
HDNet’s coverage will begin with World Victory Road’s Sengoku Seventh Battle at Yoyogi National Stadium Second Gymnasium on Friday, March 20. The event will feature Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal v. Ryo Kawamura in addition to the first round of a 16-man featherweight tournament.
So far, eight of the sixteen fighters in the tournament have been named. They are Hatsu Hioki, Masanori Kanehara, Tetsuya Yamada, Malron Sandro, Ronnie Ushiwaka, Chris Manuel, Nick Denis, and Jung Chan Sung.
The stars of World Victory Road include Middleweight Champion Jorge Santiago, Lightweight Champion Satoru Kitaoka, Takanori Gomi, Kazuo Misaki, Olympic Judo Gold Medalist Hidehiko Yoshida, undefeated “King Mo” Muhammed Lawal. Past events have also featured Josh Barnett, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Dave Herman, and Antonio Silva. Air dates and times will be announced at a later date.
About HDNet Fights
HDNet Fights (www.hdnetfights.com) is one of the leading Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) organizations in the country. Founded by Mark Cuban, HDNet Fights promotes, produces and airs over twenty-four live MMA events annually for broadcast on HDNet. HDNet Fights is unique as a unifying force in the MMA industry partnering with leading promoters, including Affliction, DREAM, StrikeForce(TM), M-1, Sportfight, MFC, Adrenaline, Ring of Combat and others to offer the quality match-ups and productions that MMA fans demand.
Founded in 2007, HDNet Fights is led by CEO Andrew Simon while company operations are handled by Dallas MMA legend and former UFC champion, Guy Mezger.
HDNet (www.hd.net) is the home for HDNet Fights and is the leader in offering live MMA broadcasts and the leading news and information show for MMA fans, “Inside MMA.”
In addition, HDNet provides viewers with the best in original news, sports, music and entertainment programming. From the Emmy Award winning “Dan Rather Reports,” to championship sports coverage from NASCAR and Major League Soccer to “Guys Night In” every Thursday and the HDNet Concert Series every Sunday, HDNet offers great programming with the world’s best picture quality.
Launched in 2001 by Mark Cuban and General Manager and COO Philip Garvin, the HDNet networks are available on AT&T, Bright House Networks, Charter Communications, Comcast, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, Mediacom, Time Warner Cable, Verizon and more than 40 NCTC cable affiliate companies. For more information visit www.hd.net.
Japan Update: Debut Disappointing for Dream; Successful Debut for WVR
March 26, 2008
According to The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dream drew 14,700 fans and did an 8.9 rating on the TBS network for its 3/15 debut show built around the return of Mirko Cro Cop. That number is considered very disappointing in the Japanese television climate. The broadcast peaked with a 12.7 rating for Cro Cop’s match with unknown Tatsuya Mizuno. Dream is currently the only promotion in the country with prime time television.
World Victory Road drew nearly 13,000 fans to its debut show on 3/5 which was considered a success, especially on a Wednesday night. The event featured Hidehiko Yoshida and Takanori Gomi in their first fights since the death of Pride. Gomi is believed to be earning approximately $190,000 per fight with Yoshida likely earning more than that according to Dave Meltzer. Without television, it remains to be seen how long the company can continue its ambitious plans producing frequent and expensive shows.
