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FUEL TV LAUNCHES LATE NIGHT KUNG FU FILM SERIES

Posted on | June 14, 2011 | 1 Comment


Television personality Kelly Choi hosts weekend series of classic Kung Fu films beginning Saturday, June 18 at 11:00PM ET/PT

LOS ANGELES, CA – FUEL TV (www.fuel.tv), Fox Sports Media Group’s dynamic entertainment and sports network for young males, announces Late Night Kung Fu, a weekly two-hour film series devoted to iconic, English-dubbed Kung Fu films. Hosted by television personality Kelly Choi, Late Night Kung Fu premieres Saturday, June 18 at 11:00PM ET/PT with “Executioners from Shaolin.”

Acquired from Shaw Brothers Studios, the largest movie production company of Hong Kong films, FUEL TV airs ten classics throughout the summer. “Late Night Kung Fu is a great way to introduce these classic, fight-fueled action films to a new generation of potential fans,” says George Greenberg, FUEL TV’s GM.

Kelly Choi, who gained fame in the U.S. for hosting Bravo’s “Top Chef Masters,” joins the FUEL TV family to host the Saturday late-night television block. “I’m excited to begin a relationship with FUEL TV by hosting Late Night Kung Fuand helping expand the awareness of this popular style of cultural filmmaking to a new generation,” says Choi.

The Late Night Kung Fu line up airing on FUEL TV Saturdays at 11:00PM ET/PT is as follows:

For more information on FUEL TV, please visit www.fuel.tv.

FUEL TV:

FUEL TV is the only cable and satellite television network that features the exciting world of adrenaline and thrill-seeking sports and the stories that surround them. This new generation of sports provides a rich landscape of some of the most vibrant and action-packed television entertainment in the world. See why young adrenaline sports fans call FUEL TV the channel they never turn off. FUEL TV, part of FOX Sports Media Group, was launched July 1, 2003 and is seen in more than 30 million U.S. homes and can be accessed by broadband, mobile devices and other digital platforms such as iTunes®. FUEL TV programming is available in more than 50 countries around the world with 24/7 channels operating in Australia and Europe. To subscribe to FUEL TV, call 877-4-FUEL-TV. For program times and other information, visitwww.fuel.tv.

FOX Sports Media Group

FOX Sports Media Group (FSMG) is the umbrella entity representing News Corporation’s wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets under Chairman & CEO David Hill. Built with brands that are capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, FSMG includes ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing partnerships. FSMG now includes FOX Sports, the sports television arm of the FOX Broadcasting Company; Fox’s 19 regional sports networks, their affiliated regional web sites and FSN national programming; SPEED and SPEED2; Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Soccer Plus; FUEL TV; and Fox College Sports. In addition, FSMG also includes FOX Sports Interactive Media, which comprises FOXSports.com on MSN, whatifsports.com and scout.com, reaching over 27 million unique visitors monthly. Also included are Fox’s interests in joint-venture businesses FOX Deportes, Big Ten Network and STATS, LLC, as well as licensing agreements that establish the FOX Sports Radio Network, FOX Sports Skybox restaurants and FOX Sports Grills.

 

NY STATE MMA REGULATION DEBATE RAGES ON

Posted on | June 14, 2011 | No Comments

FTC INVESTIGATION OF UFC IS NO RUMOR

Posted on | June 14, 2011 | 10 Comments

By: Rich Bergeron

 

[mpinpage]

The three letters that changed the mixed martial arts landscape and put the sport on the map in the first place are U-F-C. Not only do those three letters stand for Ultimate Fighting Championships, but they also have been used by many fans to represent and encompass the entire sport of MMA. All too often I’ve heard even small-scale local shows that have no affiliation with the UFC referred to by patrons as “UFC fighting.” Across the world MMA is also known as “Ultimate Fighting.”

These realities were present long before the parent company of the UFC purchased the outfit’s most powerful competitors, yet it seems that Zuffa’s always been intently focused on maintaining and improving their top-dog status in the world of Mixed Martial Arts. Over the years this juggernaut has grown from an obscure, barbaric, and controversial outfit into a widely accepted and heralded business model working on gaining world MMA domination by any means necessary.

No pinnacle Zuffa reaches ever seems to be enough, and the initial $2 million investment in the company by Frank Fertitta III and his brother Lorenzo Fertitta has since been paid back more than 1,000 times over. Three little letters started it all, though they were three letters the Fertittas and their friend Dana White never actually created themselves. The UFC actually started as someone else’s vision, someone who didn’t have the friends or partners with the tens of millions of dollars it would take to turn the fledgling, struggling sport into a ruthless, all-powerful business.

Three other letters are now looming large to threaten the UFC’s complete supremacy and question how the Zuffa banner came to corner the entire market. Those letters are FTC, and they stand for Federal Trade Commission. There have been some articles and blog posts in recent days speculating on supposed “rumors” of an FTC investigation regarding potential anti-trust violations and monopoly concerns that could target the UFC’s parent company Zuffa, LLC. Let’s put the rumors to rest right now and stop the speculation once and for all.

The Federal Trade Commission has plenty to be concerned about regarding Zuffa’s business practices. Sources I speak to regularly confirmed to me last week that the FTC already started an intense investigation into Zuffa and will likely come up with sufficient evidence to file a complaint. Even though it seems that it’s mainly boxing industry insiders being blamed for dumping on the UFC’s parade, Dana White’s openly complained that some of his loudest pugilism-oriented critics are simply copycats and “cry-babies:”

Ariel Helwani, the masterful interviewer who may well be the most recognized MMA reporter on the planet, also broke the story regarding the Zuffa buyout of Strikeforce. During the exclusive one-on-one session with Dana White that helped the UFC explain the Strikeforce purchase, Helwani managed to get White to say the words “business as usual” a total of ten times. This all seemed like Deja Vu to many of the MMA media members who are not on Dana White’s top ten list of go to guys he calls to get the word out on a big development.

White’s hollow Strikeforce promises sounded strikingly similar to what he said would happen when Zuffa purchased PRIDE from that ciruit’s Japanese owners. Instead of holding “Superbowl” events featuring UFC fighters facing PRIDE vets, Zuffa wound up dissolving PRIDE amid a torrent of controversy and legal wrangling. The really dedicated MMA journalists out there like Zach Arnold of Fightopinion.com are not out to please the Zuffa brass enough to get exclusive access. They simply want to educate the fan base and keep them in the loop about what’s actually happening behind the scenes rather than simply spouting what White and the Fertitta brothers may want you to hear.

Notice how Dana White would not answer Helwani’s question about the government’s interest in Zuffa’s business practices. Helwani, to his credit, made sure White addressed the question but didn’t go far enough to press him for a yes or no about whether White’s been approached by anyone in the government. Whether Dana’s been given the third degree by investigators or not, the fact is the FTC has a long list of potential avenues to travel down in their investigation. Officials from that agency are already interviewing key witnesses to contract issues and other antitrust and monopoly concerns that continue to play second fiddle to the burgeoning debate about New York state’s refusal to regulate mixed martial arts.

My own piece of the pie relating to Xyience shows beyond any reasonable doubt that Zuffa’s principals have been using Xyience sponsorships and the intimate relationship with their sponsor to perpetrate insider dealing. The Xyience stable of UFC fighters is expanding rapidly, and since Fertitta Enterprises is the actual owner of Xyience at this point the company policy actually forbids sponsorship of any other league or sport. Though the company is still embroiled in an ongoing bankruptcy litigation steaming toward a trial date later this year, some of the UFC’s top level fighters sport the Xyience brand proudly and seem to get preferential treatment for doing so. Meanwhile, a bevy of fighters sponsored by Xyience prior to the bankruptcy are conspicuously absent from the current company roster of marquee fighters. Misrepresenting the strength of Xyience is also an issue at the heart of a senior secured credit facility that allowed the UFC to borrow the money to acquire PRIDE in the first place.

There are multiple reasons for the FTC to look into Zuffa’s conflicts of interest regarding the Fertittas’ ownership of Xyience. At the same time this intriguing sponsorship push by the reorganized Xyience is taking place, other sponsors have been locked out of the UFC cage for one reason or another. If certain fighters are perhaps being forced to enter into sponsorship agreements to gain special treatment from Zuffa brass or forced to drop other sponsors that compete with preferred sponsors like Xyience, the FTC and the Justice Department should take a close look at this unhealthy scenario. It’s called “tortious interference” when a business inserts itself into a contract unfairly and/or exerts undue influence to make or break a contract.  Looking back through the UFC’s history it’s not hard to find multiple examples where fighters were forced into making certain agreements to appease the bosses. One example is Dana White’s ultimatum to the UFC organization’s fighters forcing them to sign over lifetime rights to their likenesses to a video game manufacturer or be fired. If that isn’t textbook tortious interference, I don’t know what is.

The UFC did not gain top-dog MMA league status through acquisition alone. They also sold a slice of the business to an Abu Dhabi entity that has endless financial resources. Additionally, the Zuffa brass employs an army of lawyers in numerous venues who seem to be retained in order to sue competitors for even the slightest appearance of impropriety. Few brave souls who sued on their own or counter-sued have been able to gain much ground filing suit against Zuffa, though, especially in light of the Fertitta family’s influence on the Nevada judiciary and political landscape.

The Fertitta family and their Station Casinos chain provides regular political campaign donations, and Nevada is a state where many judges are elected to office rather than appointed. The Nevada wheels are thoroughly greased in favor of the UFC due to the Fertitta connection and their generosity to the campaigns of judges, including the first judge to oversee my own case brought by Xyience. Judge Timothy C. Williams was endorsed for the bench by Station Casinos, which also helped distribute election pamphlets on his behalf. It’s no surprise Judge Williams was recently over-ruled by an appeals court in another case which had the potential to damage a Station Casinos entity. Not even Mark Cuban’s money could stop Nevada from favoring the Fertittas in the case of Randy Couture’s contract dispute that Cuban attempted to assist with. Cuban’s now a bondholder on the UFC’s Senior Secured Credit Facility that paid for the PRIDE purchase and provided huge dividends for Dana White and the Fertitta Brothers.

Initial reports regarding the FTC’s potential to come after the UFC seem to focus exclusively on antitrust and monopoly concerns stemming from the Strikeforce purchase. The reality is there are countless bigger picture issues, and the FTC and Justice Department won’t hesitate to explore the possibility of filing a major, comprehensive complaint that considers various charges that go far beyond the Strikeforce deal. Some witnesses are being interviewed for hours at a time by a panel of investigators and interrogators who want to know the whole story behind Zuffa’s operations, and that tells me these government employees are serious and committed to going full circle on this effort. They won’t simply stop at inquiring about the issues currently being aired in the “lamestream” MMA media. Consider the FTC’s stated powers by law:

The Commission may” prosecute any inquiry necessary to its duties in any part of the United States” (FTC Act Sec. 3, 15 U.S.C. Sec. 43) and may”gather and compile information concerning, and to investigate from time to time the organization, business, conduct, practices, and management of any person, partnership, or corporation engaged in or whose business affects commerce, excepting banks, savings and loan institutions * * * Federal credit unions * * * and common carriers * * *.” (FTC Act Sec. 6(a), 15 U.S.C. Sec. 46(a)).

Odds are there will be plenty of dirt to dig up through talking to the people who know where all of Zuffa’s bodies are buried. Though the FTC will likely never publicly admit they’re taking a hard look at Zuffa before a complaint drops, it can’t be a coincidence that so-called “rumors” are being spread about their curiosity. Where there is smoke there is fire, and if the FTC goes after Zuffa with all of their resources it will only be a matter of time before the resulting inferno burns Dana White’s bald head and the rest of the company brass. For once they might be in a situation where their political campaign donations and lobbying efforts won’t help in the long run. For once their opponent across the courtroom won’t have less money to spend pressing their case. Whether it becomes a civil case or a criminal one–or both–remains to be seen, but a case will most surely materialize in due time.

The only problem seems to be that whatever happens as the saga unfolds, it seems exceedingly impossible to conceive a scenario in which any complaint will result in any actual accountability shown by the Zuffa powers that be. Perhaps the company will pay a hefty fine or a select few high-level co-conspirators will get into a bind with potential criminal charges, but slick lawyers with huge retainers will make sure  to save the day either way. Whatever changes might be mandated due to the crackdown will likely make minimal difference since so much of the damage has already been done. Only in a perfect world will we see any public congressional hearings or any corporate crooks in silver bracelets.

What’s far more likely is fighters will continue to be screwed by Zuffa management into conceding better benefits and pay days in order to stay under the UFC/Strikeforce banner. Rather than rely on fair compensation from the league, these cage warriors will continue to rely on sponsorships for day to day expenses for training and costs of living. Many of those sponsors will also continue to be forced to jump through hoops and pay out of deep pockets to be in a position to even approach and deal with Zuffa’s stable of combatants. Dana White will go right on calling his critics “idiots” and be seen as an everyman who speaks his mind and tells it like it is. He’ll keep denouncing unions and making moves to prevent his fighters from ever considering creating their own union, which they may need now more than ever. But…the real journalists who come from the kind of background that only leads to blacklisting for truth-telling will always know the real story too many others are afraid to tell for fear of losing access. That tale casts Dana White and his cronies in a light that makes Don King look like a saint.

 

I, for one, hope the FTC proves me wrong.

[/mpinpage]

 

The Perfect Gift For Dad… A Night Of Live Mixed Martial Arts Fighting At WCF 11

Posted on | June 14, 2011 | No Comments

Buy Tickets
WCF Bostons Best MMA 6-18
WCF Bostons Best MMA 6-18

WCF’s Serving Up Knockouts For Father’s Day

Boston, MA – June 14, 2011 – This Father’s Day World Championship Fighting reminds you that Dad doesn’t want a silly striped tie or another coffee mug. Give Dad what he really wants… a night of live Mixed Martial Arts Fighting at WCF 11 on June 18th! What better way to show your gratitude for all he’s done than with a nice big Knockout!

 

World Championship Fighting provides an electric atmosphere complete with the best fights New England has to offer including a World Championship Fight pitting UFC veteran Dan “The Upgrade” Lauzon against upcoming MMA star Noah Weisman for the WCF 155lb Lightweight Title. So take your Dad out for lunch then head on over to the fights for a night of fighting action he’ll never forget. Tickets are available now at WCFighting.com or by calling 800-595-4849.

 

World Championship Fighting 11 takes place live, June 18th at the Shriners Auditorium in Wilmington Massachusetts. Catch the action live to see the area’s best MMA fighters take to the ring including the return of UFC veteran Dan “The Upgrade” Lauzon, Noah Weisman, Bill Jones, Anthony Leone and many more! Have a very Happy Father’s Day and we’ll see you at the fights!

 

155LB WCF LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

Dan Lauzon (Lauzon MMA) vs Noah Weisman (Rail City BJJ)

MAIN CARD

145 Bill Jones (Kaos)  vs  Anthony Leone (Bombsquad)

145 Nelson Gaipo (Dragon Lair) vs Mike Marcioni (SSSF)

145 Brian Kelleher  vs  Lucas Cruz (TapOut)

155 Matt Phinney (Rivera MMA)  vs Mike Mason (Lysak MMA/Bestway BJJ)

155 Joe Manzello (The Factory)  vs  Pedro Da Silva (Warrior Spirit)

170  Eddie Brito (Valor) vs  Jim Pitner (USMMA)

180 Zack Costello (MAXX)  vs  Thomas Roy Gussler

185 Buck Pineau (maine)  vs  Hiago Fontoura (Fenix fight club)

170 John Deluca (Pacheco’s) vs Phil Lamire (TKD MMA)

155 Mike Materkowsi (Cage Strikers)  vs Nathan Oses (BMAC)

135 Derek Shorey (Kaos)  vs  Kenny Murphy (MFS/NH)

170 Corey Jameson (MAXX)  vs  Kyle Gauthier (Lysak MMA)

 

*** Fight Card Subject to Change ***

 

 

Don’t miss this opportunity to see the best MMA action in New England

 

 

Get your tickets now by visiting www.WCFighting.com

WHERE:

Aleppo Shriners Auditorium, 99 Fordham Road, Wilmington, MA 01887

 

WHEN:

Saturday, June 18th, 2011. Doors open at 6:30PM, first fight at 7:30PM.

 

World Championship Fighting, the Ultimate in Mixed Martial Arts Fighting!

 

 

Cohen: There is No Doubt Trout is the Real Thing

Posted on | June 14, 2011 | No Comments



cohen and troutGreg Cohen, promoter of undefeated WBA Light Middleweight champion Austin “No Doubt” Trout (23-0, 13 KOs) wishes to congratulate Trout for his unanimous decision over David “The Destroyer” Lopez on Saturday, June 11 at the Auditorio Miguel Barragan in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

Defending his title for the first time, Trout controlled the action against the formidable Lopez (40-12, 23 KOs), even dropping him in round eleven, to win by scores of 119-109, 117-110 and 118-109.

“David Lopez is a guy everyone had avoided,” said an elated Cohen, post-fight. “He hadn’t lost in 16 fights, spanning more than six years and Austin just walked into his backyard, with a packed house rooting against him, and dominated. Austin Trout belongs at the top of the list of the world’s best junior middleweights, period end of story.”

25-year-old Trout, a native of Las Cruces, New Mexico, was able to out-speed Lopez and stifle his pressure tactics with sharp combinations and excellent movement.

“It’s going to be very hard for the powers that be to ignore Austin after this performance,” continued Cohen. “Austin is already a seasoned champion who can walk into the most feared fighters in the world’s backyards and beat them convincingly. Lopez was definitely here to win tonight; Austin also showed he can take a punch when he has to. I could not be more proud of his performance.”

Cohen says he will sit down this week with Trout’s representatives about the next step, but unification showdowns with fellow 154-lb champions Miguel Cotto and Canelo Alvarez, or former multi division World Champion Anthony Mundine are the first priority.

 

Cool Grappling Highlight Video -&- Final 36 to Pre-Reg for U.S. NATIONALS, Saturday in Morristown, NJ

Posted on | June 14, 2011 | No Comments

Here’s a cool Grappling Highlight of Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu:
http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=Mka0C&m=JiedjL1n4GG02n&b=qIGtfhIvfrBvmbG2OqJDaw

Hope to see you THIS Saturday, June 18th in
Morristown, New Jersey at the
2011 U.S. Nationals of Grappling
Presented by Grapplers Quest,

Airing on National Television on FightNow TV!
get info: http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=Mka0C&m=JiedjL1n4GG02n&b=A6cCqX7kDnLrZGh8J3s0hA

Your Grappling Promoter,
Brian Cimins, CEO
Grapplers Quest

The Grapplers Company, Inc., PO Box 4505, Wayne, New Jersey 07470, USA

Boxing Links (6-14-11)

Posted on | June 14, 2011 | No Comments

Underdog Boxing: 5 reasons we should be excited for Mayweather-Ortiz
GMANews.TV
This match has been received with mixed reactions from Filipino boxing fans (and I understand why); however, I am very excited about it. We all want to see Mayweather fight Pacquiao and we will never be happy unless Mayweather backs up his talk by 
See all stories on this topic »


Sylvester Stallone to International Boxing Hall of Fame? Really?
Opposing Views
On Sunday, Sylvester Stallone was inducted to the International Boxing Hall of Fame. His enshrinement has already drawn the ire of some boxing purists. One longtimeboxing media member I spoke to over the weekend simply said “What a joke” when 
See all stories on this topic »



Opposing Views
The United States’ Top Female Boxers Begin the Historic Run Toward the Olympic 
WBAN
With just over a year until the Olympic debut of women’s boxing, a talented group of women will descend on Colorado Springs for the 2011 USA Boxing National Championships. For the first-time ever, one event will serve as a qualifying tournament for the 
See all stories on this topic »



WBAN
Brockton-trained fighters were inspired by Rocky Marciano
The Patriot Ledger
By Jim Fenton Their successful professional boxing careers took place over a 26-year span and included a combined 136 bouts. Tony Petronelli went 42-4-1 from 1972-79, Robbie Sims was 38-10-2 from 1980-96 and Mike Cappiello put together a 33-6 record 
See all stories on this topic »


Genaro Hernandez left indelible memories
Bellingham Herald
The card also included my favorite boxer of the 1980s, Thomas “Hit Man” Hearns, and an invitation had been mailed to me at the now-defunct Anaheim Bulletin by the Forum’s boxing publicist, John Beyrooty. Beyrooty didn’t even ask if I’d be writing, 
See all stories on this topic »


Charlie Sheen negotiating new TV series
OCRegister
With 14 mouths to feed and no apparent means of support, Nadya Suleman has signed on with Celebrity Boxing. She’s not fussy about who’s in the ring with her, either. “Nadya will take on any non-professional or trained personalities in the three-round 
See all stories on this topic »


NASCAR HOF should shake ‘n bake with Hollywood
MiamiHerald.com
By Chris Symeon, Sports Network If the International Boxing Hall of Fame can induct Sylvester Stallone, then why can’t the NASCAR Hall of Fame enshrine a Hollywood celebrity as well. Better yet, when the voting panel for the NASCAR HOF meets on Tuesday 
See all stories on this topic »


Juan Diaz Explains Reasons For Retirement From Boxing
BoxingScene.com
By Juan “Baby Bull” Diaz After 110 amateur fights, 39 professional fights, and 19 years of sparring, training, and everything that comes with being a competitive athlete, I am announcing my retirement from boxing. This is not a decision that I take 
See all stories on this topic »


Denver boxer Mike Alvarado nets hometown bout
Denver Post
(Mark Terrill, The Associated Press) A national television audience will greet Denver boxer Mike Alvarado’s return home July 30, when the undefeated junior welterweight contender fights Mexico’s Gabriel Martinez, promoter Top Rank said Monday. 
See all stories on this topic »

 

Blogs
First Look Inside Boxing Room, Opening June 16 — Grub Street San 
By Jay Barmann
The Absinthe offshoot looks very little like it used to, when it was Citizen Cake.
Grub Street San Francisco

 

Web
Tyson, Stallone, Chavez enter Boxing Hall – Boxing – Yahoo! Sports
The once-proclaimed “baddest man on the planet” fumbled for words that wouldn’t come. Sylvester Stallone knew exactly what Mike Tyson was feeling.
sports.yahoo.com/box/news?slug=ap-halloffameinduction

 

The Big Brawl: Chisora-Fury’ PPV

Posted on | June 14, 2011 | No Comments

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