Page 2

- [Read more]

As always, the most under appreciated news coverage in MMA (read: Jordan Breens Japanese notebook) gets the good stuff: in this case, the skinny on how DREAMs ratings on Tokyo Broadcasting Systems stacked up against other sporting ventures:

The week of the telecast was a thin lineup for sports on Japans major networks. Although Dream was the second-ranked sports program, it was beaten soundly by the July 25 telecast of the Nagoya Grand Sumo tournament, which took a 14.6 rating on NHK. For further primetime comparitive purposes, the K-1 World Grand Prix card, broadcast on June 29 on Fuji TV, drew a 11.6 rating, while the telecast of the July 7 K-1 World MAX quarterfinals took a 12.4 rating on TBS.

Meanwhile, TBS scored big with the July 30 world championship boxing doubleheader featuring Japanese flyweight world champions Takefumi Sakata and Daisuke Naito. While Sakatas title defense against Hiroyuki Hisataka enjoyed a solid quarter hour peak of 19.9, the popular Naitos tenth-round KO victory over Tomonobu Shimizu peaked with a whopping 31.7.

Ratings are particularly crucial, as FEG did away with Heros in favor of Dream in an attempt to rejuvenate their MMA product on television. Although FEG planned seven events, New Years Eve not included, for 2008, their deal with TBS included only four primetime telecasts. Tanigawas comments now place paramount importance on Dreams next primetime TBS broadcast for their Sept. 23 middleweight grand prix finale at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.

Emphasis mine. In short, it appears DREAM isnt offering much in the way of value-added product. While American hardcores looking for DREAMs high production values and Japanese drama salivate at the mouth every time theres a DREAM show, the Japanese have a number of alternatives - including a thrilling WBC flyweight title defense - to choose from. No, they dont all happen the same day, but if FEG cant make their product sufficiently interesting or stand out in a "crowd" so to speak, it will be difficult to generate enough interest. Admittedly, this analysis barely scratches the surface of why DREAM is experiencing problems, but its worth noting nonetheless.

Fronted by Luke Thomas. Note: Kimbo Slice has officially jumped the shark.

Move over Jack Black and Kung Fu Panda.  Kimbo Slice and Hulk Hogan are going to be in a 3-D kids movie about misfit kids going to some martial arts academy to learn self-defense.  The movie is being produced by LA entertainment company "Stereo Vision," whose chairman was one of the guys who brought the world "Baywatch."

According to MSNBC Sports:

"Were very happy to have Kimbo Slice co-starring in Kung Fu U," Schwartz said. "He has an enormous media presence, and hell fit right in with our star Hulk Hogan, and the other cast members in our made for kids 3-D movie."

Perhaps all of that backyard stuff from the YouTube days will pay off now as Kimbo moves to the "big screen."  Surely the Hulkster can give him some good acting pointers, right?  Ive always thought Kimbo was a very loveable looking guy that was just perfect for a kids movie.

The article over at Fightline has this quote:

Its a heart-warming romp where the rather weathered warriors come to the rescue for the kids, and in turn, the kids rescue the warriors’ seemingly lost souls from what had been their eternal apathy. Its a feel-good story that reminds us that were all the same, no matter what our age, or where we came from, and that we should all stick together.

Coming Fall 2009.

More:

MSNBC Sports

Fightline.com

No opponent has yet been announced for Nastula, but it appears Sengoku is still interested in focusing on the heavyweights. Japan MMA has the full card:

Participating:
Pavel Natula 1-3-0

Main-event:
Takanori Gomi 28-3-0 vs. 5-1-0 Hwang Sung Pang

Lightweight GP:
Satoru Kitaoka 20-8-9 vs. 16-2-0 Clay French
Eiji Mitsuoka 13-5-2 vs. 8-1-0 Rodrigo Damm
Kazunori Yokota 6-1-3 vs. 6-1-0 Bojan Kosednar
Mizuto Hirota 9-2-0 vs. 20-9-1 Ryan Schultz

Non-GP Fights:
Peter Graham 0-1-0 vs. 12-7-3 Moise Rimbon
Makoto Takimoto 4-4-0 vs. 16-6-0 Frank Trigg

Jamie Varner, Marcus Hicks, Brian Stann, Steve Cantwell, Brian Bowles and Damacio Page after the jump.





WEC 35: AUGUST 3 IN LAS VEGAS
venue: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nev.

Main Card Bouts:
-Carlos Condit vs. Hiromitsu Miura
-Jamie Varner vs. Marcus Hicks
-Brian Stann vs. Steve Cantwell
-Brian Bowles vs. Damacio Page
-Micah Miller vs. Josh Grispi

Preliminary Bouts:
-Brock Larson vs. Carlo Prater
-Blas Avena Vs. Dave Terrel
-Kenji Osawa vs. Scott Jorgensen
-Greg McIntyre vs. Mike Budnik
-Todd Moore vs. Shane Roller

Main card airs live on Versus and the TSN Alternate Feed.
- [Read more]

Dave Meltzer reported that Tom Attencio will allegedly ask fighters to take a 50% pay cut to work the Las Vegas show in October.  Zach Arnold interviewed Josh Barnett, and reports on his reply here:

Barnett replied by saying that he was not going to take a pay cut to fight.

In addition, when asked about whether or not he’ll fight Fedor, Mr. Barnett said that it’s not up to him as far as whether or not the fight gets booked. He wants to fight Fedor, but can’t worry about the politics surrounding why the fight hasn’t been booked.

I think everyone knew those salaries were unsustainable.  While Im very excited for the second Affliction show, I am tempering my excitement because Fedors name has been removed from the Thomas and Mack Centers Affliction page, and we still dont really know if hes been signed to anything.  I highly doubt Fedors team will accept a pay cut.

Note:  Fedors name was on that page at one time, and now its gone.  That absolutely does not mean he is off the show, its just something that was pointed out to me.

EliteXC and FSN (Fox Sports Net) have formally announced an agreement to air four 1-hour MMA specials beginning in mid-September. The shows will air on Sundays at 9PM, and as previously speculated, parent company ProElite will be utilizing their multiple brands and will include "vintage fights" from promotions like King of the Cage and Cage Rage alongside showcase fights for current EliteXC stars such as Kimbo Slice and Frank Shamrock. Similar to FSNs PRIDE specials, Jay Glazer and Frank Trigg will host.

From todays press release:

EliteXC, the only MMA organization to be broadcast live in primetime on network television, has developed a stacked lineup of some of MMA’s top stars. The FSN EliteXC telecasts will showcase many of these elite MMA names, including internet sensation Kimbo Slice, MMA legend Frank Shamrock, EliteXC Lightweight Champion KJ Noons and Phil “The New York Bad Ass” Baroni. In addition, the telecasts will feature vintage bouts of other MMA stars, including Anderson “Spider” Silva and Uriah “the California Kid” Faber, from earlier in their careers when they fought in in ProElite-owned, King of the Cage and Cage Rage events.

“Our mission from day one with ProElite and EliteXC has been to showcase the incredible talent and excitement of our fighters and illustrate that the appetite of the growing legions of MMA fans can’t be satisfied by merely a single organization,” said ProElite’s Doug DeLuca. “FSN has a well-known history of success with MMA, and this partnership is another important step in developing an even stronger fan base for the exciting brand of MMA that ProElite delivers through EliteXC and our other organizations like King of the Cage, Cage Rage, Icon Sport, SpiritMC and Rumble on the Rock.”

HT: 15Rounds.com

Tatame has the scoop:

The knockout over Terry Martin at Affliction’s first edition didn’t only put Vitor Belfort back to victories, but can get him a title fight. Belfort’s broken hand might not be a trouble for his next fight. “The doctor will analyze it, but I may stay four weeks out. I’ll come back in October 11th to fight Matt Lindland for the belt”, told the athlete, that will face the Fábio Negão’s opponent on Affliction’s first event.

As for the match-up, Id have given Lindland the easy nod prior to his fight with Negao. Negao is the sort of fighter who is hard to look good against in many respects, but irrespective of that, Lindland looked lackluster. However, Lindlands guillotine could be trouble if Belforts fight with Overeem is any indication.

Also of interest is the "belt" they speak of. Will this be an Affliction belt? Another WAMMA belt? Strange stuff.

Are up:

The latest issue of Real Fighter Magazine is out on news stands now and, per usual, features some incredible content. Most notably, though, Sherdogs Jake Rossen has put together an absolutely incredible piece about the very first UFC event in Denver, Colorado as the 15th anniversary of UFC 1 approaches. The article incorporates the thoughts and memories from every participant and event organizer. Rossen gets them to opine such topics as what they thought the event would be, how they view the sport today and much more. From what I understand, it took Rossen a solid three months to track everyone down. Fortunately, his hardwork paid off and what we have is what Real Fighter consistently offers its readers: the highest quality MMA print journalism available.

Exclusive to Bloody Elbow, you can download and read the ENTIRE article here (.pdf version).

But dont just read this one article; grab the whole magazine. Also included in this months issue:

•The cover story is Frank Mir, written by Andrew Vontz who typically writes for the best men’s magazines (Outside, Esquire, GQ)

•A great feature by ESPN mag editor Ryan Hockensmith about etiquette in the cage, in which fighters discuss  "gray area" tactics such as covering the mouth and nose, foot stomps, faking the glove touch and more.

•Interviews with four MMA fighters who compete in other professional sports, and discuss how they manage their training.

As someone who has written for this magazine on a couple of occasions, I can tell you when that when it comes to print magazines covering the sport of MMA, they have no peer in terms of quality. I specifically sought them out when trying to land a writing gig because of their exemplary work. Their topics are highly unique, the writing is first-rate, the topics are timely and most importantly, the depth to which they explore topics is far beyond where their competitors go. If you want MMA journalism that goes beyond stage one and does it well, there is no alternative.

Hats off to Jake Rossen for writing such an amazing article and congratulations to Real Fighter Magazine on another successful issue.

- [Read more]

Couldnt have happened to a more deserving character:

A report in the July 29 print edition of the Wrestling Observer has confirmed rumblings that middleweight Jesse Taylor was dropped by the UFC for the second time in the span of four months following his loss at UFC Fight Night 14 to C.B. Dollaway.

A member of Team Quest in Temecula, Taylor’s overall MMA record fell to 6-3 at UFN 14 by submitting to Dollaway at 3:58 of round 1 after being caught in a Peruvian necktie.

While UFC officials were said to be disappointed by the loss, the Observer indicates that Taylor’s comments about Quinton “Rampage” Jackson in the wake of Jackson’s arrest by the Costa Mesa Police Department earlier this month is what did him in.

Its not that I agree with the UFC defenestrating fighters who dare to speak out against their poster children. Its that Taylors particular comments were beyond the pale, moronic and the sort that comes from a guy who will likely be a constant liability. For him to completely ruin his own repreive with his ridiculous comments in addition to getting caught drinking after telling Dana White he joined AA is plenty of reason for him to be jettisoned. Losing by a rare submission on national television is merely addition insult to injury, quite literally.

My thoughts on this matter: good.

The Gray Lady has a piece up today about cauliflower ear and its relationship to our growing sport. The author gets the details correct but tries to spin the reasons why fighters or wrestlers dont treat it. To wit:

As a signature injury, cauliflower ear stands alone in one illuminating respect. Although most athletes tend to err on the side of overtreatment, or at least treatment, fighters develop cauliflower ear by avoiding medical care.

Long familiar to amateur wrestlers, the condition begins when creasing, pulling and rubbing creates a blood clot between the cartilage and the connective tissue of the upper ear, said Dr. Gregory Ator, an otology specialist at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Infection and swelling can follow.

Properly drained, sutured and insulated, the ear can recover. The condition poses no serious threat to hearing, Ator said. But without medical care, scar tissue can reshape the skin and cartilage to give the outer ear a mangled, stunted, pale appearance.

In a study of 635 mixed martial arts matches in Nevada, researchers at Johns Hopkins University found that the most common injuries were lacerations and wounds to the upper extremities. The study did not count conditions that develop over time, like cauliflower ear. In an article in The British Journal of Sports Medicine last year, the researchers concluded that overall injury rates for mixed martial arts roughly matched those of other combat sports.

With minimal subtlety, cauliflower ear announced itself to a national audience during a Saturday night broadcast on CBS on May 31, when a British fighters ear exploded in a shower of blood and pus. The match was stopped as a technical knockout, causing no small controversy among fans, rival promoters and some mixed martial arts officials.

All too true except that while its true fighters or wrestlers use their cauliflower ear as a badge of honor, the more important part is that healing the ear requires time away from training. Fighters and wrestlers know as soon as the ear heals, its likely going to blow back up again, so they have no incentive to try to keep their ears pretty. Additionally, many fighters have no health insurance, so while the occasional draining of an ear with a syringe is ok, seeking the help of a medical professional is out of the question.

As for me, Ive only had minor clotting a couple of times and have been very fortunate to avoid any gruesome damage. The other truth about cauliflower ear is that, for whatever reason, it doesnt affect everyone. Or, at least, it doesnt affect everyone equally. Some guys get it right away; others not so much. Ive been fortunate, but to be honest, I wouldnt really care if I did get it. Then Id be the only MMA blogger who even resembles a fighter.

Its the countdown of the top 10 MMA fighters on the planet by MSNBC.com.

Filmed live in Fitchs adopted hometown of San Jose, Ca. Fitch fans came out watch the interview and show support before he fights Georges Saint Pierre at UFC 87. Hosted by comedian Kris Tinkle. Four more parts after the jump.

Jon tells Kris the story about his first fight and how completely unprepared he was


Very funny insight on the trials and tribulations of making weight before a fight.


Jon talks about getting being in the upcoming UFC video game(Spring 2009).


Jon thanks the audience in San Jose