SB Nation User Blog: nk

Josh Koscheck KO's Paulo Thiago

nk — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 22:36:28 -0000

Imagine if we saw they exact same fight but Kos KO'd Thiago. Kos was expected to win that fight, and when we get surprised like that we try and find an excuse as to why we were wrong.

If the referee had stepped in and saved Thiago we would be saying he did the right thing by protecting him from the superior fighter.

If the roles were reversed, this would be a non-issue. We all felt that Thiago was going to need to be mercifully saved in that fight. We also, naturally feel that Kos is so much better a fighter that had the ref not stepped in Kos would have recovered an beat Thiago.

Trump Files Bankruptcy Station Casinos Following

nk — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 22:24:22 -0000

MMA Payout has been reporting on the recession's fall out on the casino industry, namely Station Casinos. Station Casinos is owned by the Fertittas who own Zuffa which is the Parent company of the UFC and WEC.

But in similar news, Donald Trump's Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc., has filed for bankruptcy. Trump has recently entered the fray, with ties that no one really fully understands, with Affliction

From AOL:

Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc, Donald Trump's casino group, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Tuesday, court documents show.
The casino operator had assets of about $2.1 billion and total debts of about $1.74 billion on December 31, 2008, it said in its filing with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey. Nine affiliates of the casino operator including Trump Plaza Associates, Trump Plaza Associates, Trump Marina Associates and Trump Taj Mahal Associates simultaneously sought protection, according to the filing. The company missed a $53.1 million bond interest payment due on December 1 as a sharp downturn in consumer spending hit casino revenues. Donald Trump said on Friday that he had decided to resign from the board of the company due to disagreements with bondholders who wanted the casino group to file for bankruptcy.

Yahoo! has recently listed Sation Casinos as one of the 15 companies least likely to survive 2009.

Station Casinos. (Privately owned, about 14,000 employees). Las Vegas has already been creamed by a biblical real-estate bust, and now it may face the loss of its home-grown gambling joints, too. Station - which runs 15 casinos off the strip that cater to locals - recently failed to make a key interest payment, which is often one of the last steps before a Chapter 11 filing. For once, the house seems likely to lose.

Junie Browning's Kid Brother

nk — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 23:01:48 -0000

Just when I thought I all the crap about Junie Browning was over...Enter Robert Browning. This is Junie's little brother. The only thing that remains unclear is whether or not he is a bigger jackass then Junie. We will not be in suspense for long though, as MMA Junkie is now reporting that little Bobby Browning is competeing on TUF 9.

I usually try and refrain from judging people before they have a chance to be complete dipshits on national TV but I think we can all agree that in this particular case, I get a pass.

Also, if everyone can refer to him as 'Bobby Browning' instead of Robert or Rob, it would make my year. Plus it sounds way better.

So let's all give a big thank you to little Bobby Browning for ensureing that we get at least one druken-glass throwing-anger management absent-throwing people in a pool episode of idiocracy.

Rob Browning MMA Fight AFL

Notice how Matt Hughes (the ref) was not real impressed when raising Bobby's hand.

Fox Sports En Espanol To Broadcast WEC

nk — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 21:47:47 -0000

MMA Payout has the scoop:

WHAT: Fox Sports en Espanol announced today that it will deliver
exclusive Spanish-language coverage of World Extreme Cagefighting(R)
(WEC(R)), marking a significant expansion of its mixed martial arts
content. WEC(R) is one of the world’s leading mixed martial arts
sports properties, and sister organization to the Ultimate
Fighting Championship (UFC). With the launch of this new
programming, Fox Sports en Espanol demonstrates its continued
commitment to providing viewers with coverage of the world’s most
exciting sporting events. The WEC(R) is one of the fastest-growing
properties in sports and home of the best light weight fighters in
the world.

WHEN: Premiering on February 6th, the network will air 24
one-hour programs throughout the year. Scheduled episodes will
feature Carlos Condit vs. John Alessio; Urijah Faber vs. Joe
Pearson; Dave Terrel vs. Tiki Ghosn; Eric Apple vs. Brock Larson;
and Steve Cantwell vs. Brian Stann

UFC Expanding Fighters' Paychecks

nk — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 22:22:54 -0000

The Associated Press reports

LAS VEGAS—The Ultimate Fighting Championship has signed deals with two of its top fighters to give them signature gyms in a chain of fitness clubs planned by the mixed martial arts league.

UFC President Dana White said Thursday that the gyms will be named for B.J. Penn and Georges St-Pierre, scheduled to fight Saturday in Las Vegas for the UFC welterweight title.

White says the fighters will be paid royalties from the gyms whether they are fighting or not.

Mark Mastrov, a former 24 Hour Fitness CEO working to open the new clubs, says the fighters’ gyms will be open by the end of the year in Penn’s native Hawaii and St-Pierre’s hometown of Montreal.

This is a great way to put some serious money in the fighters pocket. It could also help grow a bigger hometown fanbase for fighters. Both these guys have deep roots in their community, and other fighters like that could benefit also. i.e. Rich Franklin in Cinncinati, Brock Lesnar in Minnesota.

While promotions like Affliction have given out larger fight purses then the UFC, they will not be able to keep up with the amount of money a fighter can make if the UFC keeps this up.

photo via mmajunkie.com

UFC Undisputed Official Website

nk — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 22:04:19 -0000

MMA Payout has the scoop. THQ has launched a website for UFC Undisputed. It appears that the game will be available in June. It sure seems like we have been waiting forever for this thing to come out, and now we have to wait another 4 months. Looks like it might be worth the wait. The entire website is not functuning yet, but I don't think it will be long before it is. According to the press release it looks like the site will have some pretty cool features.

Watch UFC 93's KO of the Night

nk — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 23:34:41 -0000

In televised card that was dominated by the judges score cards, this little gem is now available on the UFC's website.

via media.ufc.tv

Dennis Siver recieved 'Knockout of the Night' honors via spinning back kick.

If the Lytle vs. Davis fight was not so over-hyped and Mark Coleman's pity party about his finanial situation dictated who got "Fight of th Night", both men may have gone home with fatter wallets.

Alistair Overeem Inches Closer to the UFC

nk — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 22:47:04 -0000

Fighters Only Magazine is quoting Alistair Overeem as saying:

We will have to see what contract they [UFC] offer me and if the money is right then yes, I am definitely interested.

This would be a huge signing for the UFC as long as they can get him for the Germany card. If not, it is likely that he will not be worth the money as he is pretty much an unknown in the US.

via cdn.cagepotato.com

MMA Has a Long Way To Go

nk — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 22:27:36 -0000

The New York Times has a good discussion going on at its website. They asked the question as to whether MMA should be legalized in New York. Here is an example of some of the ignorant comments being made.

Due to the ultra-violent Hollywood movies kids are allowed to see and later imitate today, plus the gross and sick video games they watch that even surpass those violent films for deranged cruelty and psychopathic unconcern for others, this "business" of purposeful violence has to stop everywhere now to protect society from further damage from uncaring others, as it is so totally obvious to any sociologist that they serve to further cripple man's attitude toward his fellow man while promoting more social hatred and violence. For absolute proof of this, take a closer look at the sleazy and neo-criminal fringe types who build and promote this "business".

Horrific and purposeful violence for show purposes in caged fights is no different and less forgivable than gladiator fighting in Rome was, only the maimed losers of today live a shortened, pathetic life and then die a lonely and forgotten death somewhat later than those in the Roman arena, with none of that previous glory.

It goes to show you that this world (MMA websites) we live in still has a long way to go to be main stream. It also shows that no matter how big the sport gets, some people will never get it. If you decide to post a comment at The New York Times' site, be respectful. We are trying to legitimize MMA not send it back to 1998.

Click here for the NYT discussion thread.

Tito and Fedor ring the opening bell at NASDAQ in New York. Wall Street gets it, when will the state government?

via mmamania.com

Josh Koscheck Signs 20 Month Contract Extension With the UFC

nk — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 23:48:47 -0000

According to mmamania.com Josh Koscheck has signed a 20 month contract extension. This will reportedly keep him with the promotion until 2011.

via mmamania.com

Recently questions have risen regarding the future of the former colligate wrestling champion with the UFC. His management team at American Kickboxing Academy had a well documented dispute with the UFC over likeness rights for UFC Undisputed, the UFC's video game.

Josh Koscheck also says he wants six times in 2009. This would explain why he has been fighting competition that is not quite at the same level.

“I want to fight five to six times this year — I’ll be very unhappy if the UFC can’t get me fights,” he said. “I am happy to be back and I’m ready to fight.”

Personally, I have never been a Koscheck fan. But I have to tell you I love his gameness here. Also, I like his willingness not to let the business part of the game affect his professional career.