Dana "Guarantees" UFC On Network TV Within 1 Year
(mmajunkie.com)Guaranteed. That's what Dana White said on a Las Vegas radio show Tuesday. "I guarantee you by Sept. 15 of next year, we will be on network television," he said. "I'll put on probably one (event) a quarter – one that should have been on pay-per-view except we'll put it on network TV."
UFC Officials Confirm Nogueira Signing
(mmajunkie.com)Although it was assumed to have been done or close to done when rumors about his fighting at UFC 106 first broke, UFC has now confirmed that Antonio Rogerio Nogueira is officially signed. Terms were not disclosed when the deal was announced Tuesday, and reports he would fight Luis Cane at 106 were not confirmed.
The case for UFC salary reform
(bloodyelbow.com)It’s time for the UFC to restructure the Pay Per View percentage contracts for main event fighters. They began as a good faith way to reward fighters when the company does well, but these deals are unresponsive to the UFC’s needs, and they are unresponsive to the needs of the sport.
The last year of Anderson Silva’s career provides a good example of why the Pay Per View percentage deals do not make sense for the UFC. After signing a deal with a Pay Per View bonus, Anderson Silva headlined UFC 90, and got a terrible payday because the buyrate was so poor. He then took an extended break, and agreed to fight Thales Leites only because he was told that either St. Pierre or Chuck Liddell would be on the card as well. The show broke the 600,000 buy mark, and Silva made a killing.
IS THIS THE BEST NATE QUARRY WE'VE EVER SEEN?
(mmaweekly.com)One of the original Ultimate Fighters, Nate Quarry is continuing on the comeback trail. Since a loss to Rich Franklin for the UFC middleweight title in 2005, Quarry was stranded outside of the Octagon for nearly two years after an accumulation of injuries left him unable to compete.
Following a successful back surgery in June of 2006, he returned to active competition in the UFC in September of 2007, with his last victory having come at the expense of tested veteran Jason MacDonald this past April at UFC 97.
UFC Quick Quote: Ring rust not a factor for Roger Huerta
(mmamania.com)“I had an amazing camp. I isolated myself from the world from TV, Internet, you name it. I’m back up to Minnesota training with my mentor Dave Menne. He just brought in phenomenal athletes to help me prepare for a great opponent like Gray because Gray has phenomenal wrestling, but not only that, he has evolved so well in the sport. His striking looked great against Jim Miller. Obviously his wrestling is spectacular. Gray deserves that attention. He deserves all of my attention and that’s all I set my mind on, is Gray Maynard, putting myself in situations mentally where I know how to scramble out, how to get in top position, or if he throws a right cross or a jab and how to counter. How to move. How to cut angles. The guys have put me in all different situations where we pretty much prepared in every way for Gray. To be a person like myself who leaves everything out in the Octagon, the time off was good. I was able to heal some old injuries so I’m able to perform the way I’ve always performed, which is leaving everything in there. With that said, I don’t think I’ll have any cage rust or ring rust.”
Anderson Silva Is 200% Healthy; Still Wants Frank Mir
(bloodyelbow.com)"I don’t know anything at all about any elbow injury," he said, adding with a laugh, "I wonder who hurt me?"
"I’m 200 percent healthy and there’s no injury. UFC can set the next fight whenever they want, I’m ready. I’m interested in fighting Frank Mir. He can be the next one," he says.
Edgar vs Pellegrino Agreed To For TUF10 Finale
(mmaweekly.com)A rumored bout between Frankie Edgar and Kurt Pellegrino has been agreed to for the Dec. 5 Ultimate Fighter Season 10 Finale.
The bout was first reported by ESPN’s Jon Anik. MMAWeekly.com sources confirmed the bout, saying that it has been verbally agreed to, though pen has not been put to paper yet.
The bout will mark seven months since Edgar (10-1) last stepped into the Octagon. Having lost the first fight of his career at UFC Fight Night 13 to Gray Maynard, he is currently on a two-fight winning streak. Edgar defeated Hermes Franca at UFC Fight Night 14, and then Sean Sherk at UFC 98.
Pellegrino’s (14-4) last loss was also at UFC Fight Night 13, submitting to Nate Diaz. He has been a little more active than Edgar recently, winning three consecutive bouts. He most recently earned a unanimous decision over Josh Neer at UFC 101 in Philadelphia.
Antonio Minotoro Nogueira vs Luis Cane at UFC106
(mmaweekly.com)It appears that Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, the brother of former Pride and UFC champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, will make his Octagon debut at UFC 106 against Luis Cane. A report by Loretta Hunt of Sherdog.com citing sources close to the negotiations said the bout has been verbally agreed to. MMAWeekly.com sources confirmed the report.
Nogueira (17-3) has been on a five-fight winning streak that began following a loss to Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou at Pride 33 in early 2007. He has kept busy traveling across the globe fighting in Japan, the United States, and Canada since the closure of Pride.
Cane (10-1) has quickly risen to contention in the UFC light heavyweight division defeating Sokoudjou, Steve Cantwell, and Jason Lambert. His only stumble since entering the Octagon was a disqualification loss to James Irvin at UFC 79 due to an illegal knee to the head while Irvin was down.
UFC 106 is scheduled to take place on Nov. 21 at the Mandalay Bay Event Center in Las Vegas. UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar is expected to defend his title against Shane Carwin in the main event and Tito Ortiz returns to the Octagon to face Mark Coleman.
Huerta: 'One or the Other' on Fighting, Acting
(sherdog.com)"Fighters getting in touch with their inner thespian is hardly a new idea. Randy Couture starred as the Scorpion King, Cung Le's been in a number of films during his reign as Strikeforce middleweight champ and Gina Carano's set for a lead role in the latest Steven Soderbergh production. But unlike the aforementioned, Roger Huerta said he is leaving mixed martial arts all together to delve into acting at 26 years old. In what could be his final performance in the UFC's Octagon, for a while at least, Huerta faces Gray Maynard in the co-main event at UFC Fight Night 19 this Wednesday –- the last fight on his contract with the promotion."
Champ Brock Lesnar vs. Shane Carwin, Tito Ortiz vs. Mark Coleman official for UFC 106
(mmajunkie.com)"With tickets set to go on sale for UFC 106 later this week, the organization today announced the first two bouts for the Nov. 21 event.
As was previously reported, UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar (4-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) meets top challenger Shane Carwin (11-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC), while UFC veterans Tito Ortiz (15-6-1 MMA, 14-6-1 UFC) and Mark Coleman (16-9 MMA, 7-4 UFC) meet in a light-heavyweight contest.
"UFC 106: Lesnar vs. Carwin" takes place at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The main card airs live on pay per view."
RICH FRANKLIN: SHIFTING GEARS?
(mmaweekly.com)The word seared into the mind of any fighter, be they a current, former, or aspiring champion, is “title.”
The belt, whatever form it takes, is an all-consuming obsession, measured in steps towards or away from it. Lives are re-arranged in its pursuit. Focus must be unwavering for belts that mean something.
Former champions often tie themselves to the return trail most intensely. So intertwined with their ego is the belt, they lose sight of everything else.
Rich Franklin doesn’t appear to be one of those people.
KEVIN BURNS TO FACE T.J. GRANT AT UFC 107
(mmaweekly.com)Welterweights Kevin Burns and T.J. Grant are expected to meet at UFC 107.
UFC 107 is expected for the FedEx Forum on Dec. 12 in Memphis, Tenn. A lightweight tilt between champion B.J. Penn and contender Diego Sanchez headlines.
Guillard Opens Up on Rehab, Diaz Prep
(sherdog.com)Melvin Guillard flew solo during Monday’s teleconference call for UFC Fight Night 19, which airs live Wednesday on Spike TV on 8 p.m. EST/PST.
Guillard was suspended by the NSAC for eight months in 2007 after testing positive for cocaine, then weathered a six-month rehab stint in Texas -- he said for violating the travel terms on his probation.
Maturity and focus were the main talking points for the 26-year-old fighter known in the past for his brash attitude as much as for his speed and agility in the cage.
UFC PPV Buyrates Increasing, Up 60% YOY
(mmapayout.com)The following data represent estimates of the UFC buyrate figures over the first six months of both 2008 and 2009:
Payout Perspective:
The UFC is up an estimated 62% on year-over-year PPV revenue from 2008 to 2009. It also out-performed each of its monthly totals from 2008 to 2009.
Perhaps even more telling, however, is the year-to-date PPV figure of 5.7 million – it’s just 500,000 short of last year’s record-breaking 6.2 million buys.
All this is quite impressive for a sports organization operating in what most have predicted to be the deepest part of the current recession; a recession so bad that even the economy-proof sports market has declined as ticket sales have slumped, television advertising revenue has decreased across the board, and salary caps throughout the major leagues look at the possibility of actually taking a step backward.
What has led the UFC to this point? Some combination of the following factors:
Dana White on John McCarthy
(mixedmartialarts.com)“It’s not that I disike John McCarthy, I’m not anti John McCarthy at all. I think John McCarthy mde a decision in his career, he decided to not ref anymore. He wanted to move on. If you’re in the ref business to try and get rich … people aren’t in it to be rich, they’re in it because they’re passionate about the sport. I’ve been very lucky to meet some amazing people in my career like Mitch Halpern, the best boxing ref in the sport and he died 10 years ago and being around this guy this guy was passionate about the sport he loved the sport and it was never about the money it was about being a professional referee. And that’s what it’s about.”
UFC unveils new website design
(mixedmartialarts.com)After extensive usability analysis, the UFC has delivered a new and vastly improved viewing experience to their many site visitors. The main focus of the initial phase of this redesign was to deliver high impact content right from the homepage. By created a new manageable Flash video player, the UFC is able to create an impressive multimedia experience right from the homepage of the site. Enhanced administrative tools allow more flexibility in how the content is presented.
Nate Quarry Ready for War Against Tim Credeur
(bloodyelbow.com)In our first look at the UFC Fight Night 19 main card, middleweights Nate Quarry (11-3) and Tim Credeur (12-2) square off in what could be an absolute war on the feet that may produce Fight of the Night honors if neither combatant can finish each other. Quarry is currently 6-2 in the UFC with a loss to Rich Franklin in a middleweight title fight at UFC 56 and a loss to standout grappler Demian Maia at UFC 91. Quarry's most recent win came at UFC 97 over Jason MacDonald in which he finished the veteran inside the first round via TKO by elbows. Credeur has impressively went 3-0 in the promotion following a stint on The Ultimate Fighter, but he tested positive for Adderall before his bout with Cale Yarborough at the TUF Season 7 Finale. He managed to defeat Yarborough at UFN 14 while defeating both Nick Catone and Nate Loughran in his next two fights.
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