MMAterial Facts (04/23/10): WEC Prepares for PPV Debut, Strikeforce Signs Pan-Asian TV Deal

• Shine International and Tiger Gate to launch Strikeforce on KIX action channel in Asia
• When it comes to a UFC/WEC merger, Dana says he knows what he’s doing
• Zuffa to learn if fans’ wallets will open for WEC on pay-per-view
• GOP picks fight with secretary of state over TV census ad
• UFC Defending Newfound Political Influence with Aggressive Federal Lobbying Efforts

Shine International and Tiger Gate to launch Strikeforce on KIX action channel in Asia

Shine International today announced it has sold Pan-Asian rights for STRIKEFORCE®, one of the world’s leading mixed martial arts (MMA) promotions, to Tiger Gate Entertainment. The Lionsgate and Saban Capital-owned broadcaster will launch the show via its KIX action channel across Asian territories, including, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and India. The deal also includes Pay Per View rights in HD.  With MMA quickly becoming a global phenomenon, Shine International has now sold STRIKEFORCE’s library programming in 14 markets across Europe, Australia, Latin America and Asia.

“It was important for us to find the right partner in Asia to continue to build the STRIKEFORCE franchise, and we’ve found that in Tiger Gate, a like-minded company. We’re excited to see STRIKEFORCE enter another important market as the brand continues to grow globally,” said Chris Grant, President of Shine International.

“STRIKEFORCE is completely on-brand with our programming vision for KIX.  The timing of the deal is also fortuitous, as the demand for this specific genre continues to escalate.  Given the focus KIX will bring to the world of MMA, we anticipate the STRIKEFORCE brand exploding throughout the Asian territories,” adds Paul Presburger, Head of Business Affairs of Tiger Gate.

The STRIKEFORCE® library of programming includes 30 episodes and 56 hours of fights that have aired on NBC and Showtime, respectively. Internationally distributed content includes upcoming live fights through February 2012 as well as STRIKEFORCE Challengers fights, pitting STRIKEFORCE up-and-comers against each other. After signing a landmark deal to air live events on SHOWTIME earlier this year, STRIKEFORCE earned the premium network its highest MMA rating ever on August 15, 2009 with “Carano vs. Cyborg.” (PRESS RELEASE)

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MMAPayout Notes: KIX is Asia’s brand new premier television destination for Asian action from Tiger Gate Entertainment. KIX offers a high-octane ticket to everything action and boosts viewers’ adrenaline rush with clever action reality shows, exciting martial arts fight events, bone-crunching extreme sports, and explosive action films. To wow the Asian viewers, KIX showcases a plethora of Asia’s hottest entertainment programs, new special-event programming, and original productions.

KIX ACTION ASIA targets a slightly male-skewed audience aged between 18 to 45 years old, people who enjoy non-stop high-energy, and fast-paced, real-life action entertainment. However, the channel’s primary audience is aged 18 to 28.

When it comes to a UFC/WEC merger, Dana says he knows what he’s doing

White isn’t ready to release his blueprint for the company’s future when it comes to merging the two organization’s together, but he wants everyone to know they should relax because he’s got a plan.

“The hardest part of all this is just figuring it out and believe it or not, I have a plan for this whole thing,” White said. “What I’m doing today is based on my idea that all television is going Internet. That’s what I believe and I’ve believed it for a long time.

“One thing I can say is, whether you agree or disagree with the decisions I’ve made, every year we’ve taken this thing to another level. What we’re going to do over the next three years is pretty (expletive) cool.”

White also said that he isn’t against dedicating a season of the UFC reality series “The Ultimate Fighter” to lightweight fighters who would then compete in the WEC. (Las Vegas Sun)

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No WEC, no problem; Dana White says missing logo all part of master plan
Surprisingly, that apparently includes removing the identity of the WEC brand that Zuffa, LLC has worked so hard to build since acquiring the promotion in 2006.

White said it’s a price the company had to pay in order to expand the reach of the promotion for this historic event.

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But is White at all concerned that the missing logo – and the UFC-esque feel of “Aldo vs. Faber” – will make it difficult to use the landmark event to grow the popularity and brand identification of the WEC?

“No,” White said flatly. “You leave that up to me. I’ll fix that; trust me. I like to think that I know what I’m doing, and we’ll see how this thing goes on Saturday.  (MMAJunkie)

Zuffa to learn if fans’ wallets will open for WEC on pay-per-view

Said Faber: “You can definitely see they’re doing a little more here, basically lending some of the star power and people they’ve promoted along the process — Dana White being one of them, Joe Rogan, whose Q rating is probably the highest rated in the sport. It’s nice because it’s an event people need to see and they’re having influential people talk about it.”

How much the maneuver pumps up Saturday’s pay-per-view tally, said White, no one knows, yet anything less than twice the 70,000 to 90,000 reported buys for an April 3 boxing bout between Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones Jr. would be “terrible.” (Sports Illustrated)

GOP picks fight with secretary of state over TV census ad

Secretary of State Ross Miller is facing questions from political opponents over his appearance alongside UFC fighters in an ad encouraging Nevadans to participate in the U.S. Census.

The ad — which features Ultimate Fighting Championship fighters, an octagon girl, UFC President Dana White, and Miller urging people to send in their census forms — has prompted the Nevada Republican Party to accuse Miller, a Democrat, in an ethics complaint of using taxpayer money to further his political career.

The UFC paid for production of the ad, while the state spent $156,723 to air it statewide between March 10 and April 3, Miller said.   (Las Vegas Sun)

UFC Defending Newfound Political Influence with Aggressive Federal Lobbying Efforts

Between 2008 and 2009, UFC dedicated more than half a million dollars to influencing federal lawmakers and government officials, a Center for Responsive Politics analysis indicates.

The flurry of spending comes at a time of peak influence for mixed martial arts, not long ago an athletic backwater. And it reflects a willingness by UFC to aggressively defend its newfound influence.

“By moving into federal lobbying efforts, [UFC] are behaving exactly as one would expect a mainstream sport would behave,” said Marie Hardin, associate professor of the John Curley Center for Sports Journalism at Penn State University, who compares UFC’s latest move to that of the nation’s most established professional sports organizations, such as the National Football League and Major League Baseball. (Capital Eye Blog)

VIDEO OF THE DAY

• MMA Live: 4-22-10: MMA Live recaps a wild weekend for Strikeforce, which included a post-fight brawl in Nashville. King Mo Lawal is back on the program as a Strikeforce champion. Is Jake Shields now UFC-bound? Urijah Faber joins the show to preview his title fight.

QUICK HITS

• MacDonald ready to Get It On for shot at Strikeforce (Edmonton Journal)
• Former LSU fullback finds MMA success (2 The Advocate)
• Matt Hughes Promotes MMA Workout and Complete Fitness System (Press Release)
• MMA returns to the Target Center with 10 UFC vets Saturday night (Star Tribune)
• Bellator’s season-two debut and replay each earn top ratings for FSN (MMAJunkie)
• “WEC 48: Aldo vs. Faber” official weigh-in results: All fighters make weight (MMAJunkie)
• Dana White says UFC still coming to Oakland, just lukewarm on Hawaii (MMAJunkie)
• Randleman vs. Gracie, Villasenor vs. “Jacare” official for May 15 Strikeforce event (MMAJunkie)
• Rafael “Feijao” vs Antwain Britt official for May 15 Strikeforce St. Louis Event (MMAPayout)
• M-1 on Fedor’s Return: Ball in Strikeforce’s Court (Sherdog)
• Hornbuckle, Thomas Advance in Bellator Tourney; More Matchups Announced (Sherdog)
• Lesnar, Carwin Sign Off on UFC 116 Bout (MMAFighting)
• Cesar Gracie on Aoki, Possible Sanctions (MMAFighting)
• SAC TOWN NOW FABER TOWN WITH URIJAH FABER DAY (MMAWeekly)
• ALMEIDA VS. HUGHES IN THE WORKS FOR UFC 117 (MMAWeekly)
• Nick Diaz talks about the brawl, GSP and triathlons (Yahoo! Sports)
• Florian vs. Maynard Signed For UFC 118 (Heavy)
• Joe Stevenson vs. Takanori Gomi In The Works For UFC On Versus 2 (Heavy)

TV LISTINGS

• HDNet Fights Vault: Shinya Aoki at 8 PM ET on HDNet (04/23/10)
• Fighting Words with Mike Straka (feat. Bobby Lashley) at 8:30 PM ET on HDNet (04/23/10)
• InsideMMA (BJ Penn, Chael Sonnen, Jens Pulver) at 9 PM ET on HDNet (04/23/10)
• HDNet Fights: Sengoku Raiden Championship 12 at 10 PM ET on HDNet (04/23/10)
• WEC 48: Aldo vs Faber at 10 PM ET on PPV (04/24/10)

UPCOMING EVENTS

• WEC 48: Aldo vs Faber at 10 PM ET on PPV (04/24/10)
• Bellator Fighting Championships XVI at 7:30 PM ET on FSN (04/29/10)
• Bellator Fighting Championships XVII at 7:30 PM ET on FSN (05/06/10)
• HDNet Fights: MFC Vindication at 10 PM ET on HDNet (05/07/10)
• UFC 113 : Machida vs Shogun 2 at 10 PM ET on PPV (05/08/10)
• Bellator Fighting Championships XVIII at 7:30 PM ET on FSN (05/13/10)
• Strikeforce St. Louis: Overeem vs Rogers at 10 PM ET/PT on Showtime (05/15/10)
• Bellator Fighting Championships XIX at 7:30 PM ET on FSN (05/20/10)
• UFC 114 : Rampage vs Evans at 10 PM ET on PPV (05/29/10)