Lightweight Champions Edgar and Alvarez Square Off This Week on HDNet’s Inside MMA
Plus, Lorenzo Fertitta on an all new ‘Fighting Words with Mike Straka’, Friday, March 4 on HDNet
MMA’s Lightweight division is arguably the most competitive weight class in the sport with three champions in three different promotions jockeying for the top spot. Politics will almost certainly keep them from tangling in the cage anytime soon, but this Friday, the top 155 pound dogs from the UFC and Bellator will be side-by-side on HDNet’s “Inside MMA” at 9:00 p.m. ET.
UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar and Bellator Lightweight Champion Eddie Alvarez join Kenny and Bas to talk about who the best lightweight in the world really is. Edgar and Alvarez also talk about training together and whether or not the two will ever face each other. Both also discuss the potential drop to 145.
The panel also breaks down the highlights from UFC 127 and MFC 28 and takes a look ahead to Bellator’s season 3 kick off and Strikeforce™ Columbus.
Plus, Chuck Liddell talks about the future of MMA in part two of his sit-down interview with Kenny Rice and Ron Kruck travels to Wanderlei Silva’s training center in Las Vegas for the latest stop on his “Inside America’s Gyms” tour. Read more
HDNet Fights: Mark Burnett Presents King of the Cage – Honor
Three Title Fights Highlight Network’s LIVE coverage – Friday, May 14 at 10:00 p.m. ET
HDNet will feature LIVE coverage of “HDNet Fights: Mark Burnett Presents King of the Cage – Honor” from the Inn of the Mountain Gods in New Mexico this Friday, May 14 at 10:00 p.m. ET.
In the main event of the evening, King of the Cage Light Heavyweight Champion Tony “Kryptonite” Lopez (18-3) puts his title on the line against Mike Kyle (15-7-1). Lopez is looking to rebound from his first loss in over two years after being upset by Tony Johnson for the King of the Cage Heavyweight title in his last outing. He faces what might be the toughest test of his career in the form of Kyle, who enters this bout on a three fight winning streak, eager to capture his first title.
The KOTC title will also be on the line in the Flyweight division as Abel Cullum (17-3) defends his title against Josh Montoya (5-3). In the Bantamweight division, Angelo Sanchez (8-2) defends his title against interim champion Donald Sanchez (19-10) in a rematch that has been more than a year in the making. Both men enter the bout riding winning streaks of six and four fights, respectively. Read more
HDNet announces multi-year partnership with Mark Burnett Presents: King of the Cage
Network to Feature Internationally Recognized MMA Organization and Emmy Award Winning Producer
HDNet announces a multi-year partnership with “Mark Burnett Presents: King of the Cage,” in which, under terms of the agreement, the network will feature LIVE “King of the Cage” events every month.
The first event will air on HDNet on Friday, February 12 at 10:00 p.m. ET.
“King of the Cage and Mark Burnett are pioneers in their respective fields, and we are excited to feature ‘Mark Burnett Presents: King of the Cage’ on HDNet as part of our commitment to being the home of MMA,” said Mark Cuban, Chairman and Co-founder of HDNet. “The award-winning story telling of Mark Burnett will bring the personalities of MMA to life in a way that has never been seen before.”
“MMA fighters are some of the most fascinating personalities I have ever encountered, and I am excited about the opportunity to help KOTC to bring those characters to life on HDNet,” said Mark Burnett. “I am impressed with the quality of King of the Cage, and we look forward to bringing their brand to the next level in conjunction with Mark Cuban, who is one of the truly great entrepreneurs of media and sports.”
“King of the Cage is committed to delivering great fights while developing the stars of tomorrow in MMA,” said Terry Trebilcock, President of King of the Cage. “Working with Mark Burnett and HDNet provides us with the perfect platform to do just that.”
Founded in 1998, “King of the Cage” has become the most prolific MMA promoter in the United States, and has grown into an internationally recognized brand, with events in Canada, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Japan. It has launched the careers of many MMA superstars including Forrest Griffin, Quinton Jackson, and Urijah Faber.
Mark Burnett is a leading executive producer for primetime television, cable and the Internet, and has produced over 1,100 hours of television programming which regularly air in over 70 countries around the world. Burnett has revolutionized television with continuing hits such as “Survivor” (CBS), “The Apprentice” (NBC), the now syndicated “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” (FOX), which is currently being produced in 55 countries, the daytime syndicated hit “Martha,” and the hit series “Shark Tank” (ABC); giving Mark a different series on each of the four major networks.
Burnett also produces the MTV Movie Awards and Bully Beatdown (MTV). Burnett started off 2010 with a bang, producing the 36th annual People’s Choice Awards (CBS).
5.3 million viewers tune in to see Kimbo Slice-Roy Nelson fight on The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights on Spike TV
Easily Beats The Competition On Broadcast And Cable, Drawing Both Young Men And Women
Spike TV’s “The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights” is the undisputed ratings champ on Wednesday nights. The most recent episode of the tenth season of “The Ultimate Fighter” drew 5.3 million viewers, peaking at a staggering 6.1 million viewers on Wednesday, September 30 (10:00pm-11:00pm ET/PT). Featuring a fight between contestants Kimbo Slice and Roy Nelson, the telecast ranks as the most-watched episode of an original series in the six-year history of the channel* and the most-watched program of any kind in Men 18-34 and Men 18-49.
“The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights” was clearly the top-rated program on television on Wednesday with men in all key demographics including Men 18-34, M18-49, M18-24, and M25-34. It also was the most watched program among Persons 18-34 with a 4.7 rating (2.7 million), illustrating co-viewing among young men and women.
The episode also drew more Men 18-34 than anything else on television this week thus far, except Monday Night Football on ESPN. Also of note, only seven series in all of television this fall season drew more men 18-34, despite “The Ultimate Fighter” being in its tenth season.
Overall, the record-breaking telecast drew a 6.9 in Men 18-34 (2 million), a 5.4 in M18-49 (3.1 million), a household rating of 3.7 and 5.3 million total viewers.
The 6.1 million viewership peak at 9:45pm for the Kimbo Slice- Roy Nelson fight trumps any UFC programming ever on Spike TV. The previous mark was 5.9 million viewers for Rampage Jackson-Dan Henderson fight at UFC 75 in September, 2007. Also, the repeat at 11:00pm drew an impressive 1.5 million viewers. Thus, the combined audience of both telecasts reached 6.8 million viewers.
“The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights” features former UFC light heavyweight champions “Suga” Rashad Evans and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson as coaches and is the only installment in the show’s history to include only the heavyweight weight class (206+ lbs). The cast includes a list of notable athletes with impressive and diverse pedigrees including four former NFL players, UFC veterans, a former IFL heavyweight champ and a highly-publicized former EliteXC fighter, Kimbo Slice, who gained prominence through his non-sanctioned bouts on YouTube.
*the previous record was 4.1 million viewers for the premiere of “The Ultimate Fighters: Heavyweights” was set September 16, 2009.
Source: Spike TV
MMA returns to primetime on CBS with STRIKEFORCE: FEDOR VS. ROGERS Live on Saturday, Nov. 7
Fedor, the #1 Ranked MMA Heavyweight in the World, To Be Seen for the First Time by Broadcast Television Audience
The CBS Television Network will return to the mixed martial arts (MMA) cage with STRIKEFORCE: FEDOR VS. ROGERS, to be broadcast Saturday, Nov. 7 (9:00 PM, live ET/delayed PT). SHOWTIME Sports will produce the four-fight event with host Gus Johnson calling the action and MMA legend Frank Shamrock and Mauro Ranallo serving as color analysts.
In 2008, CBS aired the first live MMA fights on network television, with three successful events earning time period-winning ratings in all key young adult and young men demographics. CBS’s most recent broadcast in October 2008 ranked as the night’s highest-rated program on both broadcast and cable in adults 18-34 and men 18-34, topping all other sports programming in those demographics, including the Major League Baseball playoffs and college football.
On Nov. 7, the world’s Number One-ranked MMA heavyweight fighter, Fedor Emelianenko of Russia, will face undefeated American Brett Rogers of Minnesota in the marquee match up. The fight marks the first bout for the highly coveted Emelianenko since his promotional company M-1 Global signed an agreement with STRIKEFORCE to co-promote major events.
“There’s no question this is a sport that is fast becoming a force in popularity and as a business,” said Kelly Kahl, Senior Executive Vice President, Prime Time, CBS Television. “We’re excited to be the platform that will enable millions more to see the athlete regarded as the very best in his sport. The Number One heavyweight on the most-watched network has a very nice ring to it.”
Simply referred to as “Fedor” by fans around the world, the 6-foot, 235-pound Russian is one of the most dominant fighters in the sport. He is a master of the Russian military combat system Sambo and boasts a record of 30 wins, one loss, no draws with 16 wins by submission, seven knockouts and seven decisions. The 28-year-old Rogers (10-0) is a massive physical specimen standing 6-feet, 5-inches tall and weighing 265 pounds. He possesses two of the heaviest hands in the sport of MMA, an attribute that has helped him knock out all 10 of his professional opponents.
“It is an honor to have the opportunity to bring the STRIKEFORCE brand to CBS,” said Scott Coker, Founder and CEO of STRIKEFORCE. “We are looking forward to bringing MMA back to the network and to having the world’s No. 1 heavyweight–Fedor–compete for the first time on live network television against one of America’s most promising young, undefeated stars–Brett Rogers.”
STRIKEFORCE has experienced significant growth since it launched its first MMA promotion on March 10, 2006. After signing a landmark deal to air live events on SHOWTIME earlier this year, STRIKEFORCE earned the premium network its highest MMA rating ever on August 15 with Carano vs. Cyborg. Shortly before the live telecast, the main event principals–Gina Carano and Cris “Cyborg” Santos–were the most searched terms on Yahoo! and Google, while the fight was the most discussed subject on Twitter.
Source: CBS Television Network