ESPN to start covering MMA

[scorpio]

http://www.sherdog.com/news/news.asp?n_id=7538

ESPN.com Announces Agreement with Mixed Martial Arts Site Sherdog.com

ESPN has entered a cross-promotional and content integration agreement with Sherdog.com, the largest Mixed Martial Arts site on the Internet. Sherdog, a part of CraveOnline.com, a leading male lifestyle destination for young men, draws millions of visitors a month and features a global assembly of contributors covering the sport from MMA hot spots around the world. The site, launched in 1997, provides up-to-the-minute news, information and analysis about every fight and athlete involved in Mixed Martial Arts. The collaboration between Sherdog.com and ESPN.com will debut in advance of the highly anticipated Chuck Liddell (Pictures)-Quinton Jackson (Pictures) Ultimate Fighting rematch on May 26.

As part of the agreement, ESPN will highlight exclusive, in-depth Sherdog content contextually within ESPN.com, including news, interviews, videos, event listings, and more. ESPN.com's new Mixed Martial Arts section index will also feature Sherdog's Fight Finder module, which allows users to search the largest fighter database online for stats and personal information. Sherdog's weekly online Radio show will be offered at ESPNRadio.com and for download via the ESPN PodCenter.

"Interest in Mixed Martial Arts continues to grow," said John Kosner, senior vice president and general manager, ESPN New Media. "Our mission is to serve sports fans and collaborating with Sherdog.com made sense for both of us. We can tap into the resources of some of the best Mixed Martial Arts experts in the business - delivering a level of dedicated, expert coverage that fans expect from ESPN.com."

Garrett Poe, Sherdog's co-owner said, "Sharing content with ESPN.com will enable us to expand our audience, develop the Sherdog brand among new users, and, ultimately, grow the MMA fan base."

[Taco John]

Any word on when they'll be showing highlights of Michael Vick's pittbull fights?

[RhymesayersDU]

Any word on when they'll be showing highlights of Michael Vick's pittbull fights?

That's ESPN2, dude. Right after drag racing.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

I heard that espn2 was going to carry all 50 rounds of the major league baseball draft live next month. Anyone here going to sit through that?

[Los Broncos]

Dam, i cant believe some of the stuff they show. I mean i love fishing, but is it really a sport?

[DB-Freak]

Beautiful,

As long as the companies can market itself properly, MMA will find a nice niche in the sports market.

[scorpio]

Randy Couture is going to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated and Chuck Liddell is on the cover of the new issue of ESPN the Magazine :thumbs:

edit: Link to the Chuck article (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=glock/070514&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab2pos1)

[DB-Freak]

Marketing and match-making is incredibly important right now.

The hype has caught on. Now the product itself has to deliver to keep the sports growing and find a good home.

It is time to tweak the rules and judging scores.

[-Slap-]

I heard that espn2 was going to carry all 50 rounds of the major league baseball draft live next month. Anyone here going to sit through that?

BroncoLB52 will watch the first several rounds at least.

[cmhargrove]

Thank you God!!!

Maybe that means we never have to watch another freakin' poker game. I want to spew hearts and spades every time I see the "sport" of poker on ESPN and ESPN 2.

Maybe we can have Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell crush some skulls at a poker match. I would definitely watch that.

[elsid13]

does this mean no more domino tournaments???? BOOO!

[Clockwork Orange]

I take it this means that competitive eating gets moved over to The Ocho.

[MileHighMagic]

That's ESPN2, dude. Right after drag racing.

:rofl:

[Breck Bronc]

Thank you God!!!

Maybe that means we never have to watch another freakin' poker game. I want to spew hearts and spades every time I see the "sport" of poker on ESPN and ESPN 2.

Maybe we can have Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell crush some skulls at a poker match. I would definitely watch that.I hear you. I hate seeing that crap on TV all the time, especially on ESPN. A network that won't give a great sport like the NHL the time of day and is always showing poker. What a joke the "Worldwide Leader" is.

[MechanicalBull]

Thank you God!!!

Maybe that means we never have to watch another freakin' poker game. I want to spew hearts and spades every time I see the "sport" of poker on ESPN and ESPN 2.

Maybe we can have Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell crush some skulls at a poker match. I would definitely watch that.

It is real bad when you turn on espn, espn2 and espn classic late at night and either all 3 or at least 2 out of the 3 channels have poker games on. Classic used to be a real good channel but now it is just horrible.

[watermock]

There's always the world's greatest Bingo game.

I don't understand why Aussie Football isn't ever on. Or NFLE.

[CBF1]

PBA anyone? Can't get enough of men in polyester :)

[-Slap-]

High falutin' ESPN, thinks they're too goooooood for tractor pulls now.

[Dr. Broncenstein]

MMA will be shown on ESPN 8 -- The Ocho

ESPN 2 is far too busy covering the incredible atheletic performances of WSOP.

That is all.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Boxing hasnt been as compelling in recent years because there just havent been guys worth paying out the wazoo to watch. MMA on the other hand offers several compelling fighters on different continents in a form of fighting that can integrate pugilism as well as other disciplines. The meatheads are typically just as dull, but at least they can do some cool-sounding stuff, right? ;D

[kamakazi_kal]

Dam, i cant believe some of the stuff they show. I mean i love fishing, but is it really a sport?

its running boxing away...........quickly.

[kamakazi_kal]

I hear you. I hate seeing that crap on TV all the time, especially on ESPN. A network that won't give a great sport like the NHL the time of day and is always showing poker. What a joke the "Worldwide Leader" is.

espn wanted to purchase the right to show the nhl..........what does that tool of a commish do? gets his ego and goes to ......the "versus" channel....

the NHL's management is the reason we have poker on.

[cmhargrove]

Boxing hasnt been as compelling in recent years because there just havent been guys worth paying out the wazoo to watch. MMA on the other hand offers several compelling fighters on different continents in a form of fighting that can integrate pugilism as well as other disciplines. The meatheads are typically just as dull, but at least they can do some cool-sounding stuff, right? ;D

Boxing is a dying sport.

I teach Judo, that is a dying sport.

Traditional karate is a dying sport.

MMA is where the excitement is. Unfortunately, teachers of MMA aren't ususally very good at developing people, just fighters. The systems of fighting are sound, it's just that the mainstream population won't benefit from MMA schools if they fail to teach any kind of ethics. Most of the MMA guys that visit my school won't listen to me until I choke them out once or twice. Then, they will listen to a speech on "mutual benefit and welfare." I guess I just got off topic, didn't I? Down with poker!

[ant1999e]

Boxing is a dying sport.

I teach Judo, that is a dying sport.

Traditional karate is a dying sport.

MMA is where the excitement is. Unfortunately, teachers of MMA aren't ususally very good at developing people, just fighters. The systems of fighting are sound, it's just that the mainstream population won't benefit from MMA schools if they fail to teach any kind of ethics. Most of the MMA guys that visit my school won't listen to me until I choke them out once or twice. Then, they will listen to a speech on "mutual benefit and welfare." I guess I just got off topic, didn't I? Down with poker!

I take my kids to the dojo to learn karate but they also learn a little MMA. I think that you have to start young to teach ethics. Once they are too old, they are set in their ways. Also, those that want to learn MMA just want to kick someones ass. The traditional MA are more for discipline. We have an adult MMA class and I would not want to piss of my Sensei.:kungfu: thwack

[scorpio]

I teach Judo, that is a dying sport.
\

It's too bad, Karo Parisyan does alright with Judo in MMA. I think it's just overshadowed by the Gracies and their BJJ marketing efforts.

[ak1971]

When are they going to televise Bum Fights?

[cmhargrove]

It's too bad, Karo Parisyan does alright with Judo in MMA. I think it's just overshadowed by the Gracies and their BJJ marketing efforts.

No one wants to spend 5 years working towards a judo black belt when they can "get a black belt" in karate in 2. That's not a knock on karate, just an analysis on why people "do" martial arts these days. I do it to "be" something (in shape, confident, relaxed, a peacemaker), most do it to "get" something which is usually a colored piece of cloth to brag about. Most people don't choose the hard road.

[maven]

When are they going to televise Bum Fights?

I would tune into that.

Winner gets a value meal at Mcdonald's & a 12 pack of Natural Ice.

[elsid13]

When are they going to televise Bum Fights?

Guess you're looking for an application,huh ???







(sorry it was cheap shot but it was to tempting)

[ak1971]

Guess you're looking for an application,huh ???







(sorry it was cheap shot but it was to tempting)

U must hve me....... cunfused with spider............

[elsid13]

U must hve me....... cunfused with spider............

Nope I pretty sure Spider is a lover not a figher ;D