[UFC 110]: Nogueira vs Velasquez - venduti $540,000 in merchandising (21/02/2010)

I like tie-in gimmicks just as much as the next guy, but let’s call it what it is: junk. Jar Jar Binks soft drink cups: junk. Foam fingers: junk. Death Clutch socks: junk. If you purchase a Michael Bisping t-shirt, you’re going to be washing your car with it inside of two years. The only MMA-themed apparel I’ve ever owned or worn was a Kazushi Sakuraba T-shirt that was vague enough to make me look like a gas station employee. (When it finally grew holes and I had to toss it, it was like burying a dog. Sad day.)

Regardless of my own preferences, MMA apparel is big business: according to the Sports Business Journal via BloodyElbow.com, UFC 110 in Australia did a staggering $540,000 worth of merchandising sales last Feb. 21. For perspective, that’s nearly $200,000 more than Strikeforce’s entire live gate attendance for their Miami show last January.

Part of that windfall is attributable to Australia simply being starved for fight content: it’s probably difficult to find a UFC flask or holiday ornament outside of a live venue there. But it’s also further evidence that the UFC brand is virtually insurmountable from a marketing perspective.

What would be even more interesting is to see how many individual fighter items were sold compared to items bearing only the UFC label. That logo never goes on strike, never asks for a raise, never gets injured -- and can never, ever head across the street to the competition. Aspiring business rivals would do themselves a favor in remembering that.

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[Strikeforce on CBS]: Aoki-Melendez firmato (17/04/2010)

A bout between lightweight champions Gilbert Melendez and Shinya Aoki is locked for Strikeforce’s April 17 event at the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tenn., confirmed a source with direct knowledge of the bout.

Josh Gross, of Sports Illustrated, was the first to report Monday of the matchup. Sherdog.com has confirmed independently that the bout has been signed.

Aoki, Sherdog.com’s No. 2 lightweight, and Melendez, ranked at No. 8, will vie for the latter’s Strikeforce 155-pound title. Aoki’s Dream title will not be up for grabs. If warranted, sources have indicated a rematch of the bout has been proposed to take place in Dream’s ring under their varied regulations at a later date.

Melendez-Aoki will be one of three championship bouts offered at the April 17 event, which will air live on CBS. Gegard Mousasi will defend his light heavyweight title against undefeated wrestler Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal, while Jake Shields will meet two-division Pride titleholder Dan Henderson in a 185-pound championship match.

Melendez, who turns 27 on April 12, unified the promotion’s lightweight titles with a five-round “fight of the year” contender against Josh Thomson last December in San Jose, Calif.

The 26-year-old Aoki grasped the Dream lightweight championship with a second-round armbar against Joachim Hansen at Dream 11 last October. The flamboyant submission artist snapped Sengoku champion Mizuto Hirota’s arm with an unconventional hammerlock in only 77 seconds at K-1 “Dynamite” on New Year’s Eve in Saitama, Japan.

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[Eventi italiani]: "Janus fight night" in Tv

EAnnunciata la messa in onda su Italia 1 di “Janus fight night”, la serata organizzata dal collega Roberto Ravarro a Selvazzano (PD).
L’evento sarà trasmesso nella rubrica OKTAGON in onda sabato 6 marzo h 1.20.
In onda yodchanklai, Armen Petrosyan, Bruno Franchi, Warren Stevelman e molti altri interpreti di quella serata fantastica all’inseguimento del K.O.

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[KL]: CAMPIONATI CENTRO/SUD QUALIFICAZIONI PER GLI ASSOLUTI (07/03/2010)

CAMPIONATI CENTRO/SUD
QUALIFICAZIONI PER GLI ASSOLUTI
KOMBAT LEAGUE/FMTI/FIOS
07 MARZO 2010 - TIVOLI
PALAZZETTO DELLO SPORT "PAOLO TOSTO"
ZONA ARCI VIA EMPOLISANA KM. 3

ATTENZIONE!!!!!!!!!!!
CAMBIAMENTO DI STRUTTURA PER ELEVATO
NUMERO DI PARTECIPANTI

INOLTRE DURANTE LA GIORNATA ORGANIZZIAMO UN TORNEO OPEN PER I NON QUALIFICATI ALLA FASE CENTRO/SUD
PER LE ISCRIZIONI: clicca qui

Dalle ore 08.30 alle ore 10.00 accredito partecipanti campionati Centro/Sud e Torneo Open discipline KL/FMTI + MMA.

Ore 09.00/10.20 peso e visita medica (tutti gli atleti devono presentarsi con il certificato medico in corso di validità) pena la squalifica.
Tolleranza del peso 1 kg oltre tale soglia l'atleta sarà squalificato.

Ore 09.30 inizio gara Point Fighting
Ore 11.00 inizio gara Campionato Centro/Sud e Torneo Open discipline KL/FMTI + MMA.

La sede è il palazzetto dello sport Paolo Tosto, zona Arci, via Empolisana km 3.

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[MMA]: Campionati Italiani di MMA Light

MMA Italy è lieta di annunciare la seconda tappa ufficiale dei campionati Italiani di MMA Light e Grappling (Classi A e B),come di consueto organizzati in collaborazione con la WFC diScorrano Franco. Le iscrizioni sono aperte ad atleti di tutte le societàsportive, federazioni ed enti di promozione,senza alcuncosto di affiliazione e NON E' indispensabile averpartecipato a precedenti edizioni o tappe.E' possibile consultare i regolamenti, e scaricare i modulidi iscrizione a questo indirizzo: http://www.mma-italy.com/index.php?file=Download&op=categorie&cat=1
Dott. Guido ColomboMMA Italy StaffPhone +39-339-36.70.263.
info@mma-italy.com
http://www.mma-italy.com
http://www.mmauniverse.com/organisations/SS2331

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[MMA]: Italian Extreme 8 - video e risultati (27/02/2010)

Andrey Almeida vs Stefano Cherubini


Daniel Maestrello vs Silviano Valenti


Risultati
Andrey Almeida batte Stefano Cherubini per Submission (Armbar) a 0:35 del round 2
Daniel Maestrello batte Silviano Valenti per Submission (Guillotine Choke) a 1:07
del round 1

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[Dream. 13]: Noons-'Dida' finalizzato (22/03/2010)

Karl James Noons and Andre “Dida” Amado will meet in a lightweight bout at Dream 13 on March 22 at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan.

Noons, who signed with the U.S.-based Strikeforce in December, will represent the promotion as part of a cross-promotional talent alliance. Dream competitors Mitsuhiro Ishida, Melvin Manhoef, and Marius Zaromskis have already competed for the American outlet. Dream lightweight champion Shinya Aoki will make his Strikeforce debut against lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez on April 17 in Nashville, Tenn.


The 26-year-old kickboxer has key MMA victories over former UFC contender Yves Edwards and Nick Diaz, Strikeforce’s 170-pound champion. Noons bested the mouthy Stockton, Calif., native with a second-round TKO on cuts in September 2007. Words between the fighters and their families ensued in the cage, but a rematch has yet to materialize.

Amado, who began his career with the once-revered Chute Boxe Academy before departing the team in 2007, dropped a first-round technical knockout to Katsunori Kikuno at Dream 10 last July. Amado scored a first-round TKO against Caol Uno in K-1 Hero’s lightweight tournament, but was eliminated by winner Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante later that same night.

Dream also announced three additional bouts for its March 22 event. Deep lightweight champion Kikuno will meet UFC veteran Kuniyoshi Hironaka in a second lightweight bout, while Ryo Chonan will face Andrews Nakahara in a welterweight bout. Dream “Super Hulk” champion Ikuhisa Minowa will clash with Jimmy Ambriz in an open-weight bout.

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[K-1]: WGP in Yokohama - si vocifera Badr Hari vs Alexey Ignashov (03/04/2010)

New info on rumors for a major fight for K-1's Yokohama show. Kombat.ro is reporting that on April 3 we may see Badr Hari v. Alexey Ignashov. Normally, Kombat.ro is a very reliable source, however they are calling this a rumor, so at this point it's definitely not a done deal.

If it does indeed go down, this will be a great fight for the hardcore fans. At one time thought to be the future of the sport, Ignashov is a fighter that many fans fondly remember for his very strong performances in the early 2000's, including a KO over Semmy Schilt. Starting in 2005 he went on a downward spiral in the ring, though looked strong in his last outing for K-1 ColliZion, scoring a highlight reel KO over Ron Sparks.

What makes him such an interesting opponent for Hari is the two men's history. This is a rematch of their 2003 outing where Ignashov knocked Hari out at the very end of the 3rd round. There is no doubt Hari wants to avenge that loss, and while Ignashov is not the fighter he was in 2003, the emotion each man will bring still makes this a great fight. Fingers crossed that it moves from rumor to actual fight soon!

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[K-1]: Amsterdam Fight Club III; Gerges Victorious, Lloyd van Dams Wins Tournament (27/02/2010)

On Saturday February 27th the Dutch capital played host to the Amsterdam Fight Club III: "Amsterdam Vs. Rotterdam" show.

In the headliner, two top 20 fighters met. #8 ranked Dutch-Egyptian Heavyweight Hesdy Gerges (31-7-2) beat the #20 ranked former WPKL European Muaythai champion Ashwin Balrak (68-12-1) by a decision. Hesdy Gerges is the WFCA Super Heavyweight champion and will be the opponent of Badr Hari at the upcoming It's Showtime 2010 ArenA at the end of May. This was Gerges second win of 2010. He picked a victory over 2007 K-1 World GP in Amsterdam champion Paul Slowinski.

In a 4-Man Heavyweight tournament, former World Muay Thai champion Lloyd van Dams (69-12-3) came out on top, first beating Brian Douwes (28-16-1) in the opening round and then winning over Benjey Zimmerman in the finals. Both wins came by way of decision.

In other super fights, Morrocon Mosab Amrani, who defeated Thai legend Anuwat Kaewsamrit in 2008 was victorious over Abida Boudhama and L'Houcine "Aussie" Ouzgni defeated Ali Gunyara.

Amsterdam Fight Club III: "Amsterdam Vs. Rotterdam"
The Sand - Amsterdam
February 27th, 2010 (Sat)

Superfights
9. Hesdy Gerges (Black Label / Pancration) defeated Ashwin Balraka (Team Perfect) by decision
8. Mosab Amrani (Team Slamm! / Mousid Gym) defeated Abida Boudhama (Pattaya Gym) by decision
7. L'Houcine "Aussie" Ouzgni (Top Team Beverwijk) defeated Ali Gunyara (Team Gunyar) by decision

4-Man Heavyweight Tournament ~ Final
6. Lloyd van Dams (FC van Dams) defeated Benjeya Zimmerman (GG Breda) by decision

Superfights
5. Chris Ngimbi (Black Label / Siam Gym) defeated El Hafid Boustati (RSC / Mousid Gym) by decision
4. Murthel Groenhart (Mike's Gym) defeated Amir Zeyad (Pancration) by KO in 1 round
3. Robin van Roosmalen (FC DenBosch) defeated Anthony Nekrui (It's Showtime / Simson Gym) by decision

4-Man Heavyweight Tournament
2. Benjey Zimmerman (GG Breda) defeated Frank Munoz (Vos Gym) by decision
1. Lloyd van Dams (FC van Dams) defeated Brian Douwes (Top Team Beverwijk) by decision

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[Video]: Muaythai e scommesse

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[Strikeforce 24]: Alistair Overeem vs Brett Rogers (15/05/2010)

Not often have I been able to say that HKL got the ball rolling on a confirmed rumor, but HKL got the ball rolling on a pretty big rumor and it is out now. MMAJunkie got a hold of Alistair Overeem today. It looks like the rumors of his fight on May 15th against Rogers are a reality, and the possible fight with Neil Grove is in the works.

Overeem announced the Rogers fight earlier today on his Twitter account but clarified that the matchup is not confirmed. He also added that a rumored appearance at DREAM.13 against Neil Grove or Josh Barnett is also unconfirmed.

"I'll know this week," he said.

Keeping up with the Dutch fighter's schedule has proven a difficult task for American fans. Overeem was slated to face Rogers at "Strikeforce: Shields vs. Lawler" in 2009 before he injured his hand in an Amsterdam nightclub brawl and suffered severe complications, which he said shelved him for a follow-up appearance two months later against Fabricio Werdum at "Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg."

Overeem also mentions he would like to participate in the 2010 K-1 tournament if Strikeforce doesn't eat up all of his time, could this year be the year of Overeem?

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[Muay Thai]: Stage (07/03/2010 - Napoli)

Si terrà domenica 07 marzo dalle ore 09:00 alle ore 12:00 (con iscrizioni a partire dalle ore 08:00) presso la palestra della Pugilistica "De Novellis" in Via Lattanzio (Rione Traiano) a Napoli uno stage di Muay Thai con il M° Itthipol Akkasrivorn.

Lo stage sarà rigorosamente a porte chiuse e prevede un costo di prtecipazione di euro 20.
Al termine dell'allenamento, il M° Ithhipol selezionerà tra i partecipanti un gruppo di atleti che si disputeranno in match a contatto leggero il "Trofeo Itthipol". La manifestazione sarà ripresa dall'emittente TeleCapri.
Per maggiori informazioni rivolgersi al M° Giulio Gessari (3476352018 - 3318050504) o al M° Michele Cabato (3388418037).

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