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 to debut new original MMA series Fighting Words with Mike Straka
Network to launch this first-of-its-kind MMA series with Dana White as the premiere guest – Friday, March 26 at 8:30 p.m. ET
HDNet announced that it will add the new, original series “Fighting Words with Mike Straka,” to its Friday night lineup. The 30-minute one-on-one weekly interview program will feature revealing conversations with the top stars in mixed martial arts. “Fighting Words with Mike Straka” is scheduled to debut on Friday, March 26 at 8:30 p.m. ET. The premiere episode will feature a rare, 30-minute interview with one of the most influential people in Mixed Martial Arts – UFC President Dana White.
In the following weeks, host Mike Straka will present unique insights into the sport’s most interesting personalities including King Mo, Gegard Mousasi, Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos, Matt Hughes, Frank Shamrock and Bobby Lashley.
“This show has been years in the making – I wanted MMA fans to get an unprecedented view, from the biggest names, of what it takes to be in this business,” said Andrew Simon, CEO of HDNet Fights. “The MMA world produces the most intriguing personalities in professional sports and this program is designed to give Mike a full half- hour to ask the tough questions – the real questions fight fans want to know.”
“I am proud to join HDNet as the newest piece of the network’s already impressive MMA lineup,” said Mike Straka. “I am excited about the opportunity to present a side of these amazing athletes that the fans haven’t seen before.”
Mike Straka was previously the host of “FOX Fight Game.” He has covered MMA since UFC 30 in February 2001 and is widely recognized as one of the first mainstream journalists to begin reporting on the sport.