5. Official Denials
For the purposes of the point, I’ll admit to watching professional wrestling as a youth. (A small, socially awkward youth, with suspected psychological afflictions. Nothing’s changed.) If you were Hulk Hogan or Bret Hart, the last guy you wanted to see officiating your match was Earl Hebner, a dirty, double-crossing snake of a referee who blew calls, ignored fouls, and -- in at least one instance -- had his evil twin enlisted by Ted DiBiase to rig a match in his favor. (Rigging a pro wrestling bout was a little too rich in irony for 1980s audiences.)
2009 has been a record year for Hebner’s spiritual offspring, who have watched fighters foul, poke eyes, grab fences, and launch air-to-groin strikes with military precision. Properly and duly bloodied, a fighter can then look forward to a judge declaring the comatose man in the opposite corner the winner.
There are many fine officials working for commissions. There are also several in dire need of remedial training. ... Read More
Because Saturday’s network television broadcast of Strikeforce pre-empts “CSI: NY,” we have, in a sense, already won. But event producers may not be satisfied with paving over the career of Skeet Ulrich: what they really want is to snag an appreciable share of the coveted 18-49 male demo, that segment of the population most likely to enjoy repeated punches to the head and advertisements for beef jerky.
To attract them, CBS and Strikeforce are hoping the monosyllabic Russian Fedor Emelianenko will outgrow his cult popularity among tape collectors to become a mass-audience draw. On their side: he’s exciting, dangerous, and far less likely than Kimbo Slice to be knocked out by a man in a dress.
Working against them: he’s a bit flabby, and has never seen the inside of a tattoo shop.
Like Slice before him, Emelianenko appears to be gaining notoriety in the farm league known as YouTube. ... Read More
(PRESS RELEASE) -- HDNet's "Inside MMA" will provide LIVE, exclusive coverage of the weigh-ins for "STRIKEFORCE: Fedor vs. Rogers," Friday, November 6at 6:00 pm ET ... Read More
The Dream promotion crowned new lightweight and featherweight champions this week, capping an Oct. 6 fight card from Yokohama that drew passionate crowd response and encouraging television ratings. ... Read More
YOKOHAMA, Japan -- In front of an audience of 14,039 at the Yokohama Arena, Shinya Aoki played a conservative grappling game Tuesday until catching Joachim Hansen ... Read More
Japanese legend Kazushi Sakuraba will go to the post against Rubin Williams in a last-minute addition to Dream 11 this Tuesday at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan. ... Read More
The sport’s most anticipated rubber match, the semi-finals and final of a stacked featherweight tournament and the inclusion of Hong Man Choi and Bob Sapp highlight Dream 11 ... Read More
(PRESS RELEASE) -- HDNet to broadcast "HDNet Fights Presents: HEIWA DREAM 11 Featherweight Grand Prix 2009, Final Round" Tuesday, October 6 at 7:00 a.m. ET ... Read More
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