MMAterial Facts (03/09/10): Featuring EA Sports MMA Pics

• UFC Signs Distribution Deal With Asia’s ASN HD SPORTS
• UFC announces international broadcast plans for “UFC on Versus 1: Vera vs. Jones”
• Coker happy with Strikeforce’s progress, says company “in this for a long time”
• Gate-fee hike could spur higher ticket prices
• HDNet to Debut New Original MMA Series ‘Fighting Words with Mike Straka’

UFC Signs Distribution Deal With Asia’s ASN HD SPORTS

UFC® today announced it has reached a long-term agreement with ASN, the first 24-hour HD sports channel in Asia to distribute UFC programs in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, Macau, Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand.

ASN will officially launch UFC programming on April 10 with UFC 112: SILVA vs. MAIA, a live event taking place in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and featuring two world title fights. In addition to broadcasting live UFC events, ASN will also feature UFC® Unleashed™, a compilation highlight show featuring some of the best fight action in UFC history as well as select seasons of The Ultimate Fighter® reality television series.

Thomas Kressner, CEO of ASN, said, “ASN is thrilled to deliver UFC, the world’s fastest-growing sports organization to audiences in Asia and with HD production quality, our viewers will not miss a single striking detail.”

“We are excited to sign a deal with ASN and to distribute UFC on this HD sports channel,” said Dana White, UFC President. “Asia is a huge market for us, it has a deep-rooted history and appreciation for the martial arts. We are thrilled to be working with ASN and to deliver the UFC to all of our fans in Asia.”  (UFC) … (MMA Payout Perspective)

UFC announces international broadcast plans for “UFC on Versus 1: Vera vs. Jones”

While U.S. subscribers of the satellite television service are still waiting anxiously to hear if DirecTV and Versus will resolve their differences in time for this month’s debut UFC event on the network, the fight promotion is ensuring MMA fans worldwide will see the event.

The UFC recently announced that “UFC on Versus 1: Vera vs. Jones” will air on a host of countries outside of the U.S., including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico and the U.K.

A complete list of the networks in the UFC’s release is included below. Fans are advised to check their local listings to determine the official start time of the event in their viewing area as not all outlets are guaranteeing a live feed.  (MMAJunkie)

* Australia – FUEL TV
* Brazil – Sport TV
* Canada – Rogers Sportsnet
* Croatia – Nova (website only)
* Denmark – Canal 9
* Germany – DSF
* Israel – Ego TV
* Mexico – Televisa
* North Africa/Middle East – Showtime Arabia
* Phillippines – Balls
* South Korea – IB Sports
* Sweden – TV4 Sport
* Thailand – TrueVisions
* U.K. – ESPN

Coker happy with Strikeforce’s progress, says company “in this for a long time”

“If you really think about the amazing growth of Strikeforce, and this is all the last 11 months now – our first fight was April 10 of 2009 when Frank Shamrock fought Nick Diaz – at that time, I had certain benchmarks,” Coker said. “I wanted to get Gina Carano back in the cage. I want to build our roster and build some of the great fighters that I know are out there and available. I want to get DREAM to come and compete here.

“Fedor wasn’t even in the equation, but for us to be deliver Fedor on CBS, and for that to be a Strikeforce and M-1 co-promotion, I mean, I think every goal that we set out last year, we’ve done that and then some.”

Despite being dark for the first three months of 2009, Strikeforce hosted 10 events during the year – the most ever in a calendar year for the promotion. The Nov. 7 “Fedor vs. Rogers” event, co-promoted with M-1 Global, also marked the company’s first fight on network television.

“The growth has been amazing, and I really feel honored and fortunate to have networks like CBS and Showtime because they’re very vested in this program, and they love mixed martial arts,” Coker said. “Because of guys like (Showtime executive) Ken Hershman, we get to see the amazing fights that Strikeforce is able to put together. If it wasn’t for the networks backing it up, we wouldn’t be able to put the fights on.

“It’s an amazing time for Strikeforce, and I think this year will be another amazing year. Fedor will be back, and I think that the fight in Nashville is going to be another benchmark in having Dan Henderson come.”  (MMAJunkie) … (MMA Payout Perspective)

Gate-fee hike could spur higher ticket prices

Beginning July 1, it’s going to become more expensive for boxing promoters to do business in Nevada.

The Legislature last week raised the gate fee from 4 percent to 6 percent. That 50 percent tax increase on tickets will mean less profit going back to the promoter, and it could mean higher ticket prices as promoters try to recoup some of their lost revenue.

For every ticket sold to a boxing match or mixed martial arts event, 4 percent goes to the state. Nevada Athletic Commission executive director Keith Kizer said that amounted to $2.6 million in revenue for Nevada in fiscal year 2009. By going to 6 percent and using the same figures as 2009, that would generate an additional $1.3 million in revenue for the state, which is dealing with a budget deficit of $887 million.

The money generated through the tax increase will go into the state’s general fund.

“It remains to be seen if it will negatively impact boxing in Nevada,” Kizer said. “This came directly from the Legislature, and it’s being done to help close the budget deficit in the state.”

Promoters will have three options. They can raise ticket prices to cover their costs; they can pay their fighters less in purse money and keep ticket prices the same; or they can move their events to other states where it costs less to do business.

Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, whose company is based in Las Vegas, said he understands the state’s decision.

“Am I happy about it? Of course not,” Arum said. “But … everyone has to realize that money has to come from somewhere to pay for education and for services. Everyone has to pay their fair share.”  (Las Vegas Review-Journal)

HDNet to Debut New Original MMA Series ‘Fighting Words with Mike Straka’

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.  (PRESS RELEASE) … (MMA Payout Perspective)

IMAGE OF THE DAY

QUICK HITS

• Strikeforce, M-1 Deal Close; Fedor Back in June (Sherdog)
• Strikeforce to offer fourth fight for CBS broadcast of “Strikeforce: Nashville” (MMAJunkie)
• Elkins vs. Ludwig completes 11-bout “UFC on Versus 1: Vera vs. Jones” event (MMAJunkie)
• Brendan Schaub announced as third bonus character for “UFC Undisputed 2010” (MMAJunkie)
• Ring or Cage, Doesn’t Matter to Shinya Aoki (MMAFighting)
• WEC Star Faber Not a Big Fan of Lesnar (MMAFighting)
• UFC Primetime: Gentleman vs. Trash Talker (MMAFighting)
• NEW UFC PRIMETIME FEATURES ST-PIERRE VS HARDY (MMAWeekly)
• THIAGO VS. KAMPMANN IN THE WORKS FOR UFC 115 (MMAWeekly)
• This Brit isn’t coming: Writer says dump Toney (Cage Writer)
• James Toney: It’s a lose-lose situation for Randy Couture, he’s gonna get KO (FiveOuncesOfPain)

TV LISTINGS

• UFC Prime Time GSP vs Hardy at 10 PM ET/PT on Spike (03/10/10)
• HDNet Fights Presents K-1 Classics (2008 K-1 Max) at 8 PM ET on HDNet (03/12/10)
• InsideMMA (James Toney, Ray Mercer, KJ Noons) at 9 PM ET on HDNet (03/12/10)
• HDNet Fights: Sengoku Raiden Championship 12 at 10 PM ET on HDNet (03/12/10)
• Best of Pride FC at 10 PM ET/PT on Spike (03/12/10)
  

UPCOMING EVENTS

• HDNet Fights: Sengoku Raiden Championship 12 at 10 PM ET on HDNet (03/12/10)
• HDNet Fights: XFC X-Night of Champions at 10 PM ET on HDNet (03/19/10)
• UFC on Versus: Vera vs Jones at 10 PM ET on Versus (3/21/10)
• 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)
• 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)