loganradio104's ProElite.com Blog

MMA grounds and pounds into the Mainstream

loganradio104 — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:47:59 PDT

MMA Grounds and Pounds into the Mainstream

Eric Logan Summit - 6/11/07

Imagine, sitting in your living room reclined in your favorite comfy chair fighting for remote supremacy in the hopes of shifting from your wife’s favorite show “Sex in the City” to watch just about anything else. Then a flash of peace from the literal boob tube as Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell walks into your family room via the flashing TV screen. You sigh in relief, “The Iceman” cometh to save you from the monotony of Miranda and company, my girlfriend loves that show, but something is amiss as you watch the dark cobalt images of Liddell breaking ice set to a strange tune reminiscent of music heard in your office elevator. Then, as if to calm your query and set to rest this strange feeling of awkwardness in your gut, chuck speaks, “I love the smell of MMA in the morning, it smells like…victory.” Then a deep voice states, “Victory…the new cologne for men from the UFC, for men who like to…Get it on.”

I doubt that chuck will be promote men’s fragrances anytime soon. However if television ratings and marketing explosions are any indication of the direction of the sport and branding power of the UFC and MMA; we are on the verge of a new day in mixed martial arts. Spoiler Alert, your favorite sport is now officially mainstream. Its true, NBC’s StrikeForce is currently beating some of the networks weeknight talent into submission. Every Saturday night just under a million people 18-34 tune in the weekly half-hour show. Throwing Jimmy Kimmel into a week long rear naked choke and taping out David Letterman on Thursday and Friday nights in that highly coveted demographic.

Pretty good right? Well I am just getting started, minutiae fans get one hand free, here we go. In April Spike TV’s Ultimate Fight Night Live 13 held a household rating of 1.3 million viewers beating ESPN’s presentation of NBA basketball’s Celtics v. Pacers game and four opening day baseball broadcasts.

While the UFC has consistently been selling out live events and even beating the WWE in pay-per-view spectators, it’s sister brand, The WEC, has just had a rating triumph of their own. The recent fight between Jens “Little Evil” Pulver and Uriah “The California Kid” Faber was the high-test rated WEC event on Versus since the WEC’s inception on the network about one year ago. The Sunday night show garnered a 1.4 HH rating and averaged 1,535,705 viewers (P2+). Making the program the most watched cable network among Men 18-34 (534,385) and Men 18-49 (885,743) that night, and following behind the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs and the Tour De France as the highest rated Versus program ever.

If your friends and co-workers standing around the water cooler still don’t believe the hype of MMA, they may be in the minority. Kimbo “The Hype” Slice and Elite XC scored a huge ratings victory, with what most hard-core MMA fans viewed as a second rate product, with CBS’s primetime debut of “Saturday Night Fights”. The audience peaked at 6.51 million viewers during the main event, Kimbo Slice v. James Thompson, which destroyed CBS’s previously scheduled programming raising the ratings 357% in men 18-34.

Ratings create advertiser dollars and with advertising comes sponsors, merchandise, and marketing campaigns. As you already know, the UFC has already joined with video gamers THC to create interactive playable versions of the Octagon. The UFC recently dumped long time advertising partner Mickey’s Malt Liquor for the decidedly more prestigious Anheuser-Busch. Making Bud Light the exclusive beer sponsor for the UFC during the next three years. Bud Light is spreading the wealth to the Zuffa backed WEC as well. I have a hankering for a Whopper ever time I turn on TUF on Spike TV, as they are the major sponsor for the show, giving up 5,ooo dollars to the winner of each fight.

Now that it is safe to play video games while drinking a bud light and tossing back a whopper, what else does the UFC have to offer the mainstream consumer? Fans of the Ultimate Fighting Championship will soon be able to collect Jakks Pacific UFC figures, use UFC-branded Bic lighters and Silver Buffalo watches, barware, bar accessories, lighting, wall décor, and billiards and darts accessories, shop with a UFC credit card, and pick up UFC apparel at JC Penney stores. This announcement is proof the UFC has real retail branding that will transfer into dollars and makes sense for sponsors and advertisers alike.

Overall this is good for the sport, but ultimately this is great for the UFC, and Dana “Love him or Leave him” White wouldn’t have it any other way. So make way for MMA it’s here and its not going anywhere but on your back and on the merchandise racks of your closest retail outlet. So now it’s time to max out your new UFC Visa card, with no annual fee and the option to receive points for UFC products, on the new Brock Lesner action figure and throw him in your Octagon play-set against Anderson Silva without having to worry about weight classes. That’s if you even take them out of the package, fearing that they will loss their value, but instead place them next to your Star Wars and WWE figures on a shelve in order to be the envy of all friends.

The UFC has come along way and still has room to grow. I will be waiting for the Britney Spears and “Rampage” Jackson Pepsi commercial to hit the airwaves and but by that time I will already be spritzing on the largest selling men’s fragrance Victory, and from my perspective it smells like the UFC is well on their way.

Souces: UFC.com, WEC.com, EliteXC.com, and associated press for past ratings numbers

Rock Like a Party Star, Party Like a Rock Star, and Fight like it could be your Last!

Eric Logan Summit

Big John says yes to Knees in MMA and on ABC

loganradio104 — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:46:37 PDT

Big" John says Yes to Knees in MMA and on ABC

Eric Logan Summit - 6/11/08

Recently retired MMA referee and legendary MMA personality , “Big” John McCarthy was recently interviewed on Sherdog.com’s Beatdown radio show. “Big” John let it rip, sharing his views concerning the legality of the grounded knee technique, the recent controversy pertaining to his fellow “ring master” Dan Miragliotta, and his reasons for leaving the sport he watched mature from infancy into the fastest growing sport in the world.

“Big” John said his reasons for leaving were simple, he wanted to continue helping the sport grow and improve the officiating. We know “Big” John as one of the most recognizable characters in MMA. However, McCarthy felt that the current regimes found within some athletic commissions would not make it possible to create the impact he felt the sport desperately needs.

"I left because people were put into positions based on who they know, not what they know," McCarthy said. "It really drove me nuts. I did not want to be a part of that. It's a problem within our sport, and it needs to change."

McCarthy may be retired but he is far from absent spreading his opinion and influence. When the Association of Boxing Commissions meets in Montreal this July, McCarthy plans to propose the legalization of knees to a grounded opponent.

"It's a good technique. "It's a very effective tool, and it opens fights up.", said McCarthy backing his reasons for initiating the proposition.

McCarthy admitted to meeting behind closed doors with representatives from ABC, in the hopes of kick starting his campaign to make this change within MMA’s Unified Rules of Combat. “Big” John isn’t standing on one leg and alone in acknowledging that changes within the current system need to be made. Many of MMA’s most prevalent constituents, Dana White included, have always maintained that the current 10 point must system which was adopted and fashioned for the sport from boxing doesn’t accurately identify a triumphant combatant.

Concerning the recent uproar pertaining to referee Dan Miragliotta’s publicly debated decision making skills during the last two big MMA events, UFC 85 and Elite XC’s primetime debut on CBS, McCarthy first acknowledged that he would have let Vera or Fabricio finish the fight themselves.

"Would I have stopped the fight? No, I wouldn't," McCarthy said. "You've got to give Brandon a chance to get out of that position, and you've got to give Fabricio the chance to make it a definitive victory."

“Big” John also shared his views on Miragliotta’s decision to stand John Thompson and Kimbo Slice up after Thompson had side control during the second round of their highly rated main event during CBS’ first primetime Elite XC program.

"When you take a fighter out of side control, you're giving the advantage to one fighter over another. James was in a dominant position, and Dan stood them up."

He went on to discuss just how hard being in the middle of a cage with only a split second to make a judgment.

"A lot of people are all over Dan," McCarthy said. "Refereeing…it's opinion. Some people are going to look at you and say, ‘You're right,' and some people are going to look at you and say, ‘You're wrong.' We're all human."

After the current questions regarding the officiating in MMA, many fans were calling for the celebrated “Big” John to step out of retirement and back into the barred enclosure of the cage ala Randy Couture. While he may be taking a less visible position inside the sport, “Big” John McCarthy is not done making his mark on the fighting community. Who knows we may even hear the first, “Let’s get it on!”, before the Association of Boxing Commissions’ debates McCarthy’s proposal in July.
Quotes derived from Sherdog.com

Rock Like a Party Star, Party Like a Rock Star, and Fight like it could be your Last!

Eric Logan Summit

Serra V. Hughes Who Cares?

loganradio104 — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 7:20:51 PDT

Matt Serra v. Matt Hughes, Who Cares?

This was the question a friend posed to me after watching Matt Hughes give Alves the biggest notch in his belt to date. This may, now more the ever be a valid question. Do we as a public want to see anything more from these two love birds? I do, that 's right I care and so should you. Matt Hughes and Matt Serra are both UFC legends in one way or the other. Serra is admittedly more infamous than celebrated, but he won the world championship from GSP and no one can ever take that away from him. While Hughes has had an illustrious career and is cemented in the UFC Hall of Fame already, holding a co-record for most title defenses in a row (five) with soon to be ex-UFC'er Tito Ortiz. Both Serra and Hughes are polarizing sports figures. Matt Hughes with his contemptuous good 'ole farm boy aw' shucks routine and Serra with his Long Island strut thinking everything is funny especially anything that make Hughes unhappy. Matt Serra smiled like a Cheshire cat while beating Hughes for some big G's in bowling on TUF but he even grins about more subtle humor like when Hughes just has a bad day. Serra doesn't like Matt Hughes...period. Guess what? Serra's in affection is not unrequited, Matt Hughes doesn't like Serra, not even a little. There's no summer camping trips, no christmas cards, not even a happy birthday text message. There's just one place these two gentleman can solve their differences and it's not on Dr. Phil, it's in the Octagon. Don't you want to see it, true hatred being thrown in the form of fists and talented submissions.

Then as far as I am concerned they can both retire...they've made their mark and unless Hughes wants to play stepping stone to new talent it may be time to head out to pasture gracefully. Unless Serra hammer's him into the ground in which case I want to see a sequel on Spike TV. I'll buy the beer and pizza the Matt's will bring the loathing and distaste. A great way to spead an MMA evening.

Rock Like a Party Star, Party Like a Rock Star, and Fight like it could be your Last!

Eric Logan Summit

Let's Get Down to the Beat Down with Eric Logan Summit

loganradio104 — Tue, 6 May 2008 2:50:27 PDT

The sports world and media have begun to take notice of MMA. The sport has grown at a remarkable rate and is now a far cry from the "Blood Sport" moniker that it was first labeled with at it's inception. Due to the hard work, dedication, and marketing of the individuals that had the foresight and fortitude to stick through the hard times and continued building and believing, MMA is now the fastest growing sport in the world. Can you believe that? MMA is now exactly that, Mixed Martial Arts. Not some flash in the pan street fight, that was reminiscent of a bar bawl minus the broken bar stools and bottles. Today, athletes versed in many different forms of martial arts and wrestling step into a cage or ring to see who has better conditioning, a better chin, wrestling skill, striking ability, and knowledge of submissions.

Ever since that fateful April 9th night in 2005, when Spike TV first aired Griffin Vs. Bonner, the UFC has continued to grow faster than a NASCAR fan driving home from the track with a bud tall boy in one hand and the other glued to the wheel. Fans have grasped at the personalities of such impressive fighters as, Randy " The Natural" Couture, Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell, Rich Franklin and most recently "Rampage" Jackson. Fans have even secom to the sports most polarizing characters such as, Ken "The most Dangerous Man in the World" Shamrock, Tito "The Long Beach Bad Boy" Ortiz, Matt Hughes (no nickname needed), and yes even the marketing man himself, Dana "Love him or Leave Him" White. Along with great fighters came great fights and the fans followed in droves.

As the sports continues to expand I believe we are at another crossroads. Look at the continued downfall of Boxing. Partially, I believe, because of the lack of heavy weight talent but mostly because of the lack of unity in belts and weight classes. Boxing has more belts then the WWE and Paris Hilton combined. Who can be bothered to follow all that, Bert Sugar and Max Kellerman, thats about it. I know what your thinking, Dana has it covered? The UFC recently purchased Pride the number one fighting league in Japan, and Zuffa backed the creation of the WEC, but is that enough? Already we have "mainstream" leagues popping up on network television and not even the famed UFC can secure a Randy Couture Vs. Fedor fight. Fighters are leaving the superbowl of MMA with note to Dana that says simply, "Show me the Money" and who can blame them. Now is the time to purchase stock in the names and bring the competition to it's proverbial knees. Now I'm not saying that any other league can compete with the talent pool in the UFC but, how is the sport going to garner new fans if they're being exposed to this downtrodden product. With MMA making it's debut on Network TV with Strikeforce and the Elite XC soon to follow, is the sport putting best foot forward, the answer is no. Yes, I know Dana and UFC were given first dibbs and declined because Dana didn't want to give up production rights to the networks. However a weekly half hour show on NBC showing the likes of the old school pit fighter David "Tank" Abbott getting knocked out in the first minute, yet once again, may be exciting to watch but it isn't MMA. MMA is Tyson Griffin Vs. Clay Guida last year, BJ Penn Vs. Matt Hughes, or even the mostly stand-up fight between Forrest Griffin and "Shogun" Hua. That is what the casual fan or newcomer should be exposed to if MMA is going to continue to grow as a sport. Consolidate the sport even more then it already is, unify the belts as much as possible, bring the best possible fights to the fans new and old alike, and for the record that doesn't include a special on Spike TV showing the training process for a Dana White Vs. Tito Ortiz fight that never happened.

The sport has so much to offer and more room to grow if the big boys can learn how to share there is no telling where MMA will be in a year or two. If 2007 "the Year of the Upset" was any indication of the direction of the sport, then we as fight fans will continue to be amazed and excited at each and every pay-per-view as we throw down our hard earned dollars to watch our favorite fighters throw down.

Rock Like a Party Star, Party Like a Rock Star, and Fight like it could be your Last!

Eric Logan Summit