MMAPayout will be taking a look at the storylines heading into UFC 134 Rio: Silva vs. Okami, which will be held at the HSBC Arena in Rio de Jainero, Brazil on Saturday, August 27, 2011.
UFC’s 2012 return to Brazil could be hosted by 100,000-seat venue
On Tuesday, UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta met with local officials to discuss a possible show at the Convention Center of Manaus (one of many “sambadromes” located throughout the country), an outdoor venue that can hold up to 100,000 fans. The city’s metro area includes more than two million residents.
“Our expectation is that Manaus will set a new attendance record with 100,000 people watching the show,” Feritta said. (MMAJunkie)
UFC 134 prelims to air in Times Square’s “Little Brazil”
Two fights from this weekend’s UFC 134 event in Brazil will air in Times Square in New York City, officials today announced.
The two fights, which are part of Spike TV’s “UFC Prelims” broadcast, will air on the digital sign above The Doubletree Hotel in the “Little Brazil” area of the iconic intersection.
(MMAJunkie)
Nike, Burger King, Brazil soccer club announce sponsorships with Silva
Sherdog reports that Anderson Silva will be sponsored by Nike and Brazilian soccer club, Corinthians Paulista, at UFC 134 in Rio. The two new sponsors add to the Spider’s total for the big event in Brazil on August 27th. (MMAPayout)
Sonnen: UFC 134 trip to support Okami canceled due to sponsor intervention, police threat
A source with knowledge of the situation told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that Praetorian, a Brazil-based MMA brand, threatened to pull the Japanese fighter’s sponsorship if Sonnen attended.
“There’s a line of people that want to kick his ass,” the source said…. And that could be the least of problems for the expert trash-talker. Sonnen said friends in the country forwarded him a local-media report in which a police chief threatened to arrest him on sight if he showed. The official cited a law that makes disparaging the national identity a crime.
“You don’t have freedom of speech in Brazil; put it like that,” Sonnen told MMAjunkie.com after a workout at Team Quest Tualatin. (MMAJunkie)
Dana White: Anderson Silva wants “big fights,” but FOX headliner not happening
“It’s not true,” he said. “I saw that rumor too. … If he goes out and wins in 13 seconds, he’s not (being) considered for the FOX show.” (MMAJunkie)
Fertitta talks UFC Rio, Silva vs Henderson on FOX: “Anderson just needs a win”
– No, we underestimated how popular it was here. If we could do it again, we would do it in a big soccer stadium, you know? But when we put the tickets on sale, we really didn’t know. But it’s been amazing the amount of support, it’s unbelievable.
– We’re working on that, we’re really close to get something done. We think it’s gonna be very successful – a Brazilian Ultimate Fighter, all Brazilian fighters. (Tatame)
White claims ESPN hates the UFC
ESPN always hated us and now they hate us more now that we are on FOX. They canceled my int next week for UFC Rio Fuk ESPN… (MMAPayout)
NOTE: F4WOnline states that ESPN made the decision to cancel sending one of their reporters from MMA Live (Franklin McNeil) to Brazil to cover UFC 134 in response to White’s comments. White has since stated that both parties have resolved their issues.
Fox Sports Radio to simulcast UFC on Fox
The ESPN “car wash” was yanked after the Fox deal was announced, but the issues with ESPN have been resolved. The car wash is the media tour within ESPN where White would have been on multiple ESPN shows in one day to promote UFC 134. White stated that 40 million Brazilian fans will watch UFC 134. (MMAPayout)
UFC 134: Extra tickets sold in 18 minutes
It took only 18 minutes to UFC 134 ‘Rio’ tickets be sold out. Promotion provided this Tuesday a new charge of 272 extra tickets due to seat configuration changes and after some returned entrances… (Portal Do Vale Tudo)
Lorenzo Fertitta discussing the impending UFC boom in Brazil
ARIEL HELWANI: “Any kind of ideas as to what kind of economic impact in terms of tourism and all that stuff that [UFC 134] will have on the city of Rio?”
LORENZO FERTITTA: “We think it’s going to be similar to Toronto. Toronto was between a $40-50 million dollar economic impact. I mean, who knows? It may even be more. We’ve got a ton of people traveling from the U.S., from Europe, of course from inside Brazil, the majority of the people coming to Rio are from Sao Paulo. So, we’re filling the hotel rooms, we’re filling the restaurants. You can just kind of feel the buzz around town already.” (Fight Opinion)
I’m from brazil and i have say that few people know who is sonnen and nobody cares about your opinions. This is all marketing of sponsors
I work in a call center for DISH Network and I started a tally of who thought Silva would win and not a single person I talked to thinks that Silva will lose. I can’t wait to wear-in my new HDTV with UFC 134 in HD, and hopefully no more crazy up-kicks.
Listening to the crowd on TV was the closest the UFC has come to a world cup atmosphere – definitely a good thing for the sport. There’s no doubt a viable market for several large Brazil shows per year. And since there’s typically 1-2 Brazilian champs at any given time, it would be easy to take a similar approach of showcasing the local talent, and allowing champs to defend their titles at home.
Also, it was interesting that only one Brazilian fighter lost (except in the all-Brazilian matchups of course). In Brazil-vs-Other matchups, Brazilians went 7-1 on the night. Brazil as a destination for foreign fighters must be one of the more difficult “away games” that exists. Whereas Las Vegas is more like neutral territory with all top-line amenities, having to take armored cars around and figure out local menus would have been a little disconcerting for fighters like Okami, Griffin and Schaub, a long way from home and in hostile territory. So just as Zuffa might start putting on more shows in Brazil, the price might go up for foreign athletes to be willing to play into a stacked deck.