TOO MUCH MMA?

Is MMA becoming over-saturated in the media marketplace? Are there so many fights now between the large and small organizations that some are getting lost in the din of the sports news crush? Has the mainstream media already lost it’s fascination with MMA? Are you already losing track of all the UFC, WEC, UFC Fight Night StrikeForce, Strikeforce Challeger and regional shows? So much so, that no ‘one’ show feels like a big deal anymore? I don’t know the answer to these questions - but things I wonder about. Starting to feel these questions are becoming relevant and like any growing industry, MMA needs to guard against quick “hot” revenues instead protecting the consumer against product burnout.

Why do we long for the fall football season, because the sport “went away” for six months from our daily news diet and it is “new” again each year. I think the with no off-season in MMA, product fatigue can and will set in. But, will executives ever sacrifice short term profits for long term gain? It is rare. Most suits want to suck up as much profit, “get it while it is hot” mentality, to always show growth on the balance sheet. Growth is good - don’t get me wrong - I guess it is a matter of how it is accomplished. Maybe this is just the natural “free for all” period any high growth industry experiences giving way to inevitable over-growth and consolidation.

Professional MMA
September 11, 2009
Tropicana Hotel and Casino Showroom
Atlantic City, NJ

Promoter Louis Neglia
Ring of Combat XXVI

146.2 Jackson Galka vs. 145.8 Andy Main
Ref Mulhall
Main via split decision two rounds, 20-18, 20-18 and 18-20 Judge Martin

155.6 Liam Kerrigan vs. 154.4 Roger Mamedov
Ref Mulhall
Judge Crosby 20-18 Kerrigan, 19-19, 19-19
Bout is a majority Draw after 2 rounds

125.8 Louis Gaudinot vs. 126.2 Jeff Cressman
Ref Mulhall
Gaudinot via TKO referee stoppage due to strikes at 0:24 of round two

145.6 Matt McManmon vs. 145.4 Lester Caslow
Ref Miragliotta
Caslow wins via verbal submission due to armbar at 3:20 of round one
McManmon suspended pending xray of right elbow and forearm and orthopaedic evaluation of same

171.3 Jose Sulsona vs. 169.4 Ryan LaFlare
Ref Miragliotta
LaFlare wins via armbar at 2:18 of round two

134.4 Sean Santella vs. 135.6 Jose Villanueva
Ref Mulhall
Santella wins via verbal submission due to armbar at 2:00 of round two

155.4 Ed Guedes vs. 156.2 John Salgado
Ref Miragliotta
Guedes win unanimous decision 30-27, 30-27 and 30-25 Judge Crosby in three rounds

155.8 Nabih Barakat vs. 156.4 Chris Schlesinger
Ref Mulhall
Schlesinger via unanimous decision three rounds, all three judges 30-27

185.4 Allan Weickert vs. 186.2 Rafael Sapo
Ref Miragliotta
Sapo win via rear naked choke at 2:53 of round one

215 Rob Wince vs. 226.6 Gian Villante
Ref Miragliotta
Villante wins via KO kick to head at 1:25 of round two

186.4 Costa Phillipou vs. 185 Victor O’Donnell
Ref Miragliotta
Phillipou wins unanimous decision three rounds, all three judges 29-28

155.6 Dwayne Shelton vs. 155.8 Chris Liguori
Ref Mulhall
Liguori wins unanimous decision three rounds 29-28, 29-28 and 30-27 Judge Crosby

204.2 Rich Lictawa vs. 209.6 Ricardo Romero
Ref Miragliotta
Romero win via kimura 2:14 of round two

Officials—-

Ringside Physicians Dr. Sherry Wulkan, Dr. Vincent Guida and Dr. Steven Oxler

Referees Dan Miragliotta and Kevin Mulhall

Judges Doug Crosby, Ray Martin and Carlos Rodriguez

Timekeeper Fred Blumstein

Inspectors Ellen Rubin,Gary Gudzak, Kerri Kaminski, Todd Manfredi, Tony Tamburrino, Cardo Urso, Jon Bilyk, Steve Errickson, Jim O’Connor, Paul Hafner, Mike Di Bella and Ben Valentino

FIGHTERS WANTED!

Weapons 9 Promotions cordially invites you to participate in our 8th running of The Warriors Cup Muay Thai competition. The competition will take place at our gym in New Brunswick, NJ at 7:30PM on Saturday, October 17th. We are minutes from NJ Turnpike Exit 9 and highway US 1.

This is a very competitive event, open to amateurs athletes of all levels.
We have grown over the years and are proud to announce that the Warriors Cup is now one of the largest amateur Muay Thai events in the Mid-Atlantic region. The best gyms in the area come to fight here to test their skills.

Due to the overwhelming popularity, we seek to open the contest to include as many gyms as possible.

The match making is always appropriate to ensure the most exciting and competitive bouts. Are you up for the challenge?

Interested coaches please submit your list of fighters ASAP. October 17th is just around the corner. We expect an abundance of fight teams, so please register early to ensure your fighter(s) is matched.

Details:

What: The Warriors Cup VIII

When: Saturday, October 17, 2009 @ 7:30PM

Where: Weapons 9 Muay Thai, 121 Jersey Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ 08048
(www.weapons9.com)

Contacts: Chris Tran (609-678-6728 / trandlt@aol.com) or Derek Riddick
(609-969-0092 / derek.riddick@me.com)

Required: Name of fighter / #yrs training / fight record (all fights) /
contact info

Awards will be given to all participants, but only one from each bout will take home the Warriors Cup. Title fights are also under consideration.

Looking forward to your responses.

~ Team Weapons 9

Tyson Griffin’s last seven fights have gone to a decision, most recently with a win over Rafael dos Anjos. At UFC 103 in Dallas, he will be seeking to take control away from the judges with a stoppage victory over veteran Hermes Franca.

TriStateFighter.com spoke with Griffin earlier this summer at the Xtreme Couture gym in Las Vegas about Franca … the need to ‘fight exciting’ … and the one rule in MMA he would have changed or altered.

Team Ricardo Almeida’s Chris Liguori is on deck to defend his 155lb belt at Ring Of Combat 26 on Sept. 11 in Atlantic City. Liguori has had a roller coaster MMA career with stops in the UFC, Elite XC, and Ring Of Combat. He has wins over Matt Brown, Dorian Price, Jim Bova, and Ryo Nakajima and losses to Jim Miller, Marcus Aurelio, and Jorge Santiago. Liguori has been Frankie Edgar’s primary training partner during his recent rise, and at 26, is now concentrating on another shot at the big time.

Strikeforce President, Scott Coker, showed off his prize possession Wednesday - Fedor Emelianenko - to the New York media and dropped the news that his first opponent will be Brett Rodgers. How did Coker decide on Rodgers? Who else was in the running for the fight? Listen below.

Scott Coker, President of Strikeforce, delivered big news today in New York City announcing Brett Rodgers as the first opponent for Fedor Emelianenko. After a brief photo-op for the media of the Russian star working the mits in the ring, Coker took questions from an eager throng of waiting journalists. Beyond the news of the day (see second audio post from this event), Coker spoke to TriStateFighter.com about the intriguing relationship he has with Dana White and the UFC and how their proactive counter-programming strategy will affect Strikeforce’s growth. Listen below.