MMAterial Facts (07/09/10): Australia, Canada, Germany and China Notes

• Two-year Vancouver trial MMA period disappoints, fires head of athletic commission
• Ultimate fight: to convince Victoria
• UFC Hires Leadership to Open China Office
• UFC Announces Anti-Piracy Settlements with 500 Businesses and Individuals
• Strikeforce’s  Upcoming Schedule; UFC 119, 120, 121 Announcements

Two-year Vancouver trial MMA period could end with only one pro event having been held

Ongoing insurance and indemnity issues surrounding professional mixed martial arts in the city of Vancouver could well see the two-year trial of regulated MMA pass with only a single professional event having been held, according to Vision Vancouver city council member Dr Kerry Jang and licensing staffer Tom Hammel. (Vancouver Sun)

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Vancouver fires head of athletic commission

City council fired the head of the Vancouver Athletic Commission on Thursday after city staff and others complained about his conduct during the recent debate over allowing an Ultimate Fighting Championship event.

Citing a lack of confidence in Mirko Mladenovic, the council appointed Dave Rudberg, a longtime city bureaucrat, to replace him as head of the commission when it reconvenes later this month. (Vancouver Sun)

Ultimate fight: to convince Victoria (Australia)

THE Ultimate Fighting Championship will use Geelong star George Sotiropoulos and the lure of a $15 million tourist injection to convince the Victorian government to allow cage-fighting into Melbourne, after the sport was again rejected by the state.

Having sold out its debut Australian event at the 17,000-capacity Acer Arena in Sydney in February within 90 minutes, the UFC will be returning early next year but wants to infiltrate the Victorian market, with figures suggesting the state harbours the most mixed martial arts fans in the country. (Sydney Morning Herald)

UFC Hires Leadership to Open China Office

The UFC’s global expansion has become a business in and of itself lately, and the next stop for the promotion will be in China.

Just weeks after the UFC opened an office in Canada – with former CFL commissioner Tom Wright leading the charge – the company hired a leader for a new office in China, which should open in the next few weeks.  (MMAWeekly) … (MMAPayout Perspective)

UFC Announces Anti-Piracy Settlements with 500 Businesses and Individuals

The organization today announced it has reached “confidential settlements” with more than 500 businesses and individuals as a result of illegal broadcasts and viewing of UFC events…The settlements span over the past two years.

“We are committed to standing toe to toe with anyone trying to illegally broadcast or stream UFC events,” UFC President Dana White stated. “Today’s announcement further drives home the fact that we are fully prepared to pursue any business or individual that steals our programming.”  (MMAJunkie) … (MMAPayout Perspective)

Strikeforce’s Upcoming Schedule; UFC 119, 120, 121 Announcements

Strikeforce Houston Card (8/21): “King Mo” Lawal (7-0) vs Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante (9-2) [LHW Title] , Tim Kennedy (12-2) vs “Jacare” Souza (12-2) [Vacant MW Title], KJ Noons (9-2) vs Jorge Gurgel (13-6), Bobby Lashley (5-0) vs TBA, POSS: Sergei Kharitonov (16-4) vs Antonio “Big Foot” Silva (14-2) … all announced for the card at the Toyota Center.  Erin Toughill (10-2) vs Shana Olsen (4-0) is also now rumored for this event, where the winner would take on “Cyborg” Santos in a future 145 lbs Title bout.

Strikeforce Phoenix (8/13): J. Riggs (32-11) v L. Taylor(6-1), D. Cormier (2-0) v TBA, Women’s 1-Night 135 lbs GP: Maiju Kujala (4-1), Hitomi Akano (15-7), Miesha Tate (9-2), and TBD.

Strikeforce Washington (7/23): Shane Del Rosario (9-0) v Lolohea Mahe (4-1), Sarah Kaufman (11-0) v Roxanne Modafferi (15-5) [135 lbs Title], Mike Kyle (16-7) v Abongo Humphrey (7-1), Corey Devela (9-4) v Bobby Voelker (21-8).

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UFC 119: A rematch between heavyweights Frank Mir (13-5 MMA, 11-5 UFC) and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-6-1 MMA, 3-2 UFC) headlines September’s UFC 119 event.  (MMAJunkie) ..  this event is also set to have Ryan Bader vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira as the co-main event, which would be the first time in UFC history to have twins headlining an event.

UFC 120: A middleweight bout between Michael Bisping and Yoshihiro Akiyama will be part of October’s UFC 120 event in London.  (MMAJunkie) .. the event is also set to have Dan Hardy vs Carlos Condit as the co-main event, which is scheduled to be televised on Spike TV from London.

UFC 121 : Was originally rumored to be taking place in Germany, is now reported to be on the move by MMAJunkie, likely heading to California.  Germany is currently trying to make the UFC reconsider their plans of moving into the country, as was reported back in March when Germany officials banned the UFC from television.  The rumored main-event here was Vitor Belfort (19-8) versus the winner of Anderson Silva (26-4)/Chael Sonnen (24-10).

UPDATE: Brock Lesnar vs Cain Velasquez signed for UFC 121 (MMAFighting). Belfort versus either Silva or Sonnen possible as the co-main event.

PICTURE OF THE DAY

• DREAM.15 Official Poster (DREAM Website)

QUICK HITS

• FC: The Uprising Airing Live on Viewers Choice Canada (The Fight Network)
• HDNet to Broadcast ‘HDNet Fights: DREAM 15’ Live (PRESS RELEASE)
• SUFFER Signs Robert Drysdale Endorsement Deal (MarketWatch)
• Strikeforce’s August schedule headlined by ‘King Mo’ title defense (LA Times)
• Sifting through the rubble of the Fedor fallout (Yahoo! Sports)
• STRIKEFORCE Looks to Phoenix’s Dodge Theater for AUG. 13 (ULTMMA)
• Strikeforce Defy Boycott, Put Card in Arizona (Exile In Fightville)
• German UFC lightweight Dennis Siver hoping for MMA acceptance in home country (MMAJunkie)
• Voting ends Saturday for 2010 ESPY voting, UFC’s St-Pierre and Edgar nominated (MMAJunkie)
• Faber Out of WEC 50, Expected Back in September (Sherdog)
• Riggs-Taylor Heads Up Aug. 13 Strikeforce Challengers (Sherdog)
• Strikeforce Champion’s Clause an Issue in Fedor Talks (MMAFighting)
• Brock Lesnar vs. Cain Velasquez Won’t Happen at UFC 119 (MMAFighting)
• CAIN VELASQUEZ WAITING ON A CALL FROM THE UFC (MMAWeekly)
• SYLVIA VS. BUENTELLO IN AUGUST; PULVER RETURNS (MMAWeekly)
• Erin Toughill Likely For August 21st in Houston (MMARising)
• Torres vs. Valencia Slated For Co-Main Event Of WEC 51 (Heavy)
• UFC 121 In The Works For Oct. 23 in Anaheim (Heavy)

TV LISTINGS

• HDNet Fights: XFC: The Next Generation at 9 PM ET on HDNet (07/09/10)
• Fighting Words with Mike Straka (Frank Shamrock) at 1 AM ET on HDNet (07/10/10)
• HDNet Fights: Affliction Day Of Reckoning at 1:30 AM ET on HDNet (07/10/10)
• HDNet Fights: DREAM.15 at 3 AM ET on HDNet (07/10/10)

UPCOMING EVENTS

• HDNet Fights: XFC: The Next Generation at 9 PM ET on HDNet (07/09/10)
• HDNet Fights: DREAM.15 at 3 AM ET on HDNet (07/10/10)
• Strikeforce Challengers: Del Rosario vs Mahe at 10 PM ET/PT on Showtime(07/23/10)
• HDNet Fights: K-1 World Max 2010 Final 10 PM ET on HDNet (07/23/10)
• HDNet Fights: K-1 World GP 2010 at 10 PM ET on HDNet (07/23/10)
• UFC on Versus 2 : Jones vs Matyushenko at 10 PM ET on Versus (08/01/10)
• Strikeforce Challengers: Riggs vs Taylor 10 PM ET/PT on Showtime (08/13/10)
• HDNet Fights: KOTC: Imminent Danger at 9 PM ET on HDNet (08/13/10)
• UFC 117 : Anderson Silva vs Chael Sonnen at 10 PM ET on PPV (08/18/10)
• WEC 50: Cruz vs Benavidez at 9 PM ET on Versus (08/18/10)
• Strikeforce: King Mo vs Rafael Feijao at 10 PM ET/PT on Showtime (08/26/10)
• HDNet Fights: Sengoku Raiden Championships 14 on HDNet (08/27/10)
• UFC 118: Edgar vs Penn 2 at 10 PM ET on PPV (08/28/10)