It looks like CBS is not completely done with MMA just quite yet. Los Angeles based MMA promotion ProElite and CBS top rated show “Hawaii Five-0” have teamed up to create an episode based around the sport of Mixed Martial Arts and UFC & MMA Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell.
ProElite’s Head of Fight Operations T.Jay Thompson stated the following on Twitter:
“#1 rated show Hawaii 5-0 shooting an episode based around a Pro Elite MMA event today. @Rich_Chou and I on set at Blaisdell Arena.I think there may be some raised eyebrows when you find out who is playing the role of ProElite fighter opposite McGarret on H50.”
The episode (Episode 6, Season 2) will air this fall and will feature no other than UFC and MMA Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell playing the role of ProElite MMA fighter who takes on Hawaii 5-0 star Alex O’Loughlin (Steve McGarrett).
Hawaii Five-0 Season 2 Preview on CBS:
Payout Perspective:
ProElite held it’s first event last month (8/27) in Hawaii under new Stratus Media ownership. The event took place at the Blaisdell Arena, which interestingly enough is the same location where the Hawaii Five-0 MMA episode is filming. The episode is set to air this fall on CBS, which is around the same time ProElite is rumored to host it’s second event from New Jersey.
Thompson informed MMAPayout back in July that the goal was to have a TV deal in place by the second event targeted for early November. The exposure that ProElite will gain from being featured on a top rated CBS show is another step in the right direction for the promotion in achieving that goal. For it’s first event, ProElite was able to sign-on high profile sponsors such as Monster Energy Drink and PayPal without a TV deal and only a stream on Sherdog.com in place. For the second event, the goal will be to land a TV deal that is suitable for a company who is scheduling only their second event under new management and personnel.
Chuck Liddell retired from MMA in late 2010 and was appointed as Executive Vice President of Business Development for the UFC shortly after. At the time, he still wanted to fight but agreed to retire from MMA to take a job with the UFC. At press time, it is not known whether this project is part of his job with the UFC or independent work, and if so, if he had UFC’s blessing to jump inside the cage promoting a non-Zuffa owned MMA brand.
Seriously? No mention of how it’s odd that Liddell is directly involved in a project that promotes a non-Zuffa MMA promotion?
Machiel Van,
Well, since you brought it up, we can discuss…
I have no info saying one thing or another, so I’m open to any ideas you guys have.
🙂
P.S.
Here are some pics of the set. Here is Liddell with cast.
It might be odd to see Chuck mingling with the ProElite crowd, but I suspect Zuffa decided to let him do it anyway because H50 is a huge show and a good opportunity showcase a UFC legend. Also, T. Jay Thompson has always maintained a good relationship with Zuffa, even when he was stealing talent out from under their noses (Robbie Lawler). It might have been a different story if Gary Shaw was still running things.
Besides, T. Jay is the king of Hawaiian MMA. He and J.D. Penn carried the Hawaiian MMA scene for years, so having him as the promoter for a Hawaii-based show makes sense. He is the godfather of Hawaiian MMA.
I have no ideas. It’s just very, very odd. Really makes no sense at all. He’s a Zuffa EXECUTIVE for crying out loud. I mean, sure it’s been theorized as more of a novelty job, but still…