MMA Hot Stuff

For The Love Of TWITTER

Twitter has taken over the world. You have rockstars, athletes, CEOs, politicians, Oprah and everyday people like me on Twitter. Oh, and my mom! I can't forget to mention her. Hi mom!

Dana White is one of those rockstar/athletes, hell he's probably even considered somewhat of a politician, is he not, that's on twitter. While I think it's great he's on there and adopting this social media monster, he's not quite there just yet. Sure he tweets. But for you to be a successful tweeter, you have to be interactive. One might even say you have to be SOCIAL. I know, weird right? You have to respond to people when they say something to you. You have to follow people. I mean real people not just those that you get as default friends when you sign up (think Tom from MySpace).

In addition to Dana, the UFC and WEC also have official accounts (updated: you can also follow Reed Harris!).  Did you know Kenny Florian and BJ Penn are also on Twitter? Wow, I can't wait to see what my friends feed will look like the night they face each other at UFC 101. Classic Tweets coming up fo'sure.

Here is a pretty thorough list of my peeps that are on twitter. Think of them as my tweeps. I think Shaq coined that phrase so I want to give credit where credit is due. <3 Shaq.

Look at this list as my #followfriday post. If you don't know about #followfriday, tweetdeck, twackle, or twitpic, please feel free to contact me. I'd be happy to help!

Key People To Follow:
http://twitter.com/danawhiteblog
http://twitter.com/reedharriswec (WEC General Manager & GREAT Tweeter)
http://twitter.com/UFC
http://twitter.com/weconversus
http://twitter.com/HDNetFights

Great Tweeters And Know How To Tweet - Follow Them!
(umm do you see a pattern with these)
http://twitter.com/Officialbjpenn
http://twitter.com/Kenny_Florian
http://twitter.com/JoeLauzon
http://twitter.com/joerogandotnet

Working On Twitter Account, Stay Tuned But Start To Follow Now!
http://twitter.com/GilbertMelendez
http://twitter.com/FerociousPhilly

Good Reading Material But Not Interactive. Follow At Your Own Risk!
(if you're the owner of one of these accounts, let me help you!)
http://twitter.com/frankshamrock
http://twitter.com/CarlosCondit
http://twitter.com/NateRockQuarry
http://twitter.com/AndreiArlovski
http://twitter.com/ForrestGriffin
http://twitter.com/urijahfaber
http://twitter.com/ryanbader

Mark Cuban: Exclusive Interview with MMAHotStuff.com

What do you ask Mark Cuban if given the chance? I "know" about Mark Cuban, for those of you that live in a shoebox (and you do exist), Mark is not only the owner of the Dallas Mavericks but also part owner in HDNet and founder of HDNet Fights. HDNet Fights is a US based MMA promotion and television outlet for various other MMA and combat sports promotions. It's broadcast lineup includes DREAM, K-!, Strikeforce, Affliction Entertainment and others.He's also one that is not afraid to show his emotions when he doesn't agree with a call. It's been reported that since taking over ownership of the Mavericks he's been fined in the tune of $1.5 million dollars and was just recently fined $25,000 for a comment he made on his Twitter account. The first fine of it's kind.

But it's funny when you hear people talk about him, they describe him as a technology geek "genius", and I've even heard someone describe him as him having more money than God. But he's one of the most influential sports figures who has taken his passion for sports and coupled it with that technology geek in him. 

Here's a recap of my interview with one of the busiest guys in sports today:

Rachel: With MMA in its infancy stage, it feels much like the NBA in the early 1960's! Such a small number of fighters and shows and so much opportunity... and I'm still waiting to see MMA highlights on SportsCenter! What do you think is next for MMA?

Mark: I think MMA will continue to expand its fan base and become more popular as fans get exposed to it on Spike and HDnet.

Rachel: Clearly you're a busy guy, but do you ever attend smaller MMA shows?

Mark: Sure, been to MFC shows and others. My schedule is tight but when I can I go.

Rachel: Being the sports junkie that I am, I think competition can be a good thing. Having said that, I've never heard or read any beef between you and Dana. Is there a chance for a possible partnership in the future or do you think this space is big enough for everyone?

Mark: Dana wants to own the world and put everyone else out of business. so it's tough to do partnerships with him.

Rachel: Twitter is definitely the latest and greatest in viral tools. Yeah, sure you were fined for something you wrote on twitter, but I'm guessing you number of followers increased from all of the publicity over it. So, the question; Twitter, friend of foe?

Mark: Friend! I knew the fine would increase the number of followers, it was just a marketing cost.

Rachel: How should we be measuring engagement with fans online?

Mark: I have no idea.

Rachel: What do you think needs to happen for MMA to become mainstream? And what does mainstream mean to you?

Mark: Just time. It's making progress and will continue to do so. Mainstream means that there is a big enough market for the top 200 in any weight class to make a living.

Rachel: Do you think it's likely MMA fighters will ever make the kind of money other professional athletes make?

Mark: They are professional athletes, in fact, other than tennis and golf, are there any other individual sports where the athletes make more?

Rachel: People have been whispering about a fighters union for quite some time. Do you think there's a chance in hell that will happen? Would you be in favor of the fighters' union?

Mark: I really don't know.

Only time will tell. But one thing is clear. We still don't know how to measure engagmeent with fans and we still don't fully understand the sentiment of and impact of the conversations being had onlne.

A Great Month To Be A MMA Fan!

What a way to start a new year!

January is mapped out to be a killermonth for MMA Fans! This month we have four star studded events:

·         Jan. 17^th– UFC 93: Dublin (PPV)

·         Jan 24^th – Affliction: Day of Reckoning (PPV)

·         Jan 25^th -  WEC 38: Varner vs Cerrone

·         Jan 31^st- UFC 94: St Pierre vs Penn II

UFC 93 is being held in Dublin, Ireland  In the light heavyweight main event, former two-division world champion Dan Henderson will collide with former UFC middleweight king Rich Franklin in three-round war which will set the tone for the 205lbs division in 2009.

With more than just a win on the line, the winner of Franklin vs Henderson fight will be "crowned" the next coach for the upcoming season of The Ultimate Fighter alongside Michael Bisping.

Then, 2005 PRIDE® Grand Prix Champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua returns to the Octagon™  to throw down with UFC Hall of Famer Mark Coleman in a rematch MMA fans thought they would never see. The pair last met in Japan in 2006, with the legendary Coleman pulling off a stunning upset by breaking Rua’s arm in the first round.

Also making his UFC debut is former PRIDE standout Denis Kang!

The match-ups for the event are:
MAIN CARD

• Dan Henderson vs. Rich Franklin
• Mark Coleman vs. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua
• Alan Belcher vs. Denis Kang
• Jeremy Horn vs. Rousimar Palhares
• Marcus Davis vs. Chris Lytle

PRELIMINARY CARD

• Alexandre Barros vs. Martin Kampmann
• Antonio Mendes vs. Eric Schafer
• Thomasz Drwal vs. Ivan Serati
• Tom Egan vs. John Hathaway
• Denis Siver vs. Nate Mohr

Affliction Day of Reckoning  This event is being promoted by Affliction Entertainment and is scheduled to take place in Anaheim, California at the Honda Center. The event was originally scheduled for October 11, 2008 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. FormerUFC light-heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz will be a commentator for the event. Tickets are still available at www.ticketmaster.com

The main event features current World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts(WAMMA) Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko defending his belt against former UFCHeavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski. Also on the card is Josh "Babyface Assassin" Barnett who takes on Gilbert Yvel. In a light-heavyweight match, current Strikeforce Champion Renato "Babalu" Sobraltakes on former UFC fighter Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou. Matt Lindland was re-assigned from a 195-pound catchweight bout with Sobral to a middleweight matchup against former UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion Vitor Belfort.

Headlining the undercard, which will be broadcast on HDNet Fights, the last IFL Light-Heavyweight Champion Vladimir Matyushenko will take on PRIDE veteran (and twin brother of Antônio RodrigoNogueira) Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.

The match ups for the event are:

PPV matches

• WAMMA Heavyweight Championship bout: Fedor Emelianenko (Champ) vs. Andrei Arlovski
• Heavyweight bout: Josh Barnett vs. Gilbert Yvel
• Light Heavyweight bout: Renato Sobral vs. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou
• Middleweight bout: Matt Lindland vs. Vitor Belfort
• Lightweight bout: Chris Horodecki vs. Dan Lauzon
• Heavyweight bout: Paul Buentello vs. Kiril Sidelnikov

HDNet matches

• Light Heavyweight bout: Vladimir Matyushenko  vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
• Welterweight bout: Jay Hieron vs. Jason High
• Featherweight bout: Mark Hominick vs. LC Davis
• Featherweight bout: Albert Rios vs. Antonio Duarte
• Welterweight bout: Brett Cooper vs. Patrick Speight

WEC 38 will bring not only a title fight but also the highly anticpaited rematch between former WEC Featherweight Champion Urijah Faber and Jens Pulver! I don't know why but when I see these two in the cage the song "Eye of the Tiger" runs through my head. The event will take placein San Diego at the San Diego Sports Arena and is expected to air on the Versus Network.

Varner will be making his second title defense after winning the belt. His last fight was an amazing KO victory over Marcus Hicks. Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone is coming into the fight on a high note after defeatingformer lightweight champion "Razor" Rob McCullough in one of the most exciting fights of 2008. Varner has great wrestling and boxing skills, while Cerrone brings great boxing and a wicked submission game. Not to mention that Cerrone fights out of Greg Jackson's camp, so you know he'll come in prepared with a great game plan.

The match ups for the event are:

MAIN CARD

• Lightweight Championship bout: Jamie Varner vs. Donald Cerrone
• Featherweight bout: Urijah Faber vs. Jens Pulver^]
• Welterweight bout: Danillo Villefort vs. Mike Campabell
• Featherweight bout: Jose Aldo vs. Fredson Paixao

PRELIMINARY CARD

• Welterweight bout: Hiromitsu Miur  vs. Edgar Garcia
• Lightweight bout: Ed Ratcliff vs. Anthony Njokuani
• Bantamweight bout: Dominick Cruz vs. Ian McCall
• Welterweight bout: Blas Avena vs. Jesse Lennox
• Bantamweight bout: Scott Jorgensen vs. Frank Gomez
• Bantamweight bout: Charlie Valencia vs. Seth Dikun

UFC 94 - St Pierre vs Penn 2 In March 2006, top welterweights Georges St-Pierre and BJ Penn fought for the division’s No. 1 contender’s spot. St-Pierre earned a razor-thin split decision and went on to win the Ultimate Fighting Championship® welterweight title. Penn dropped to the lightweight division and won the organization’s 155-pound title.

Now they’re about to do it again. But this time, there’s much more at stake. UFC® lightweight champion BJ Penn looks to be the first fighter in history to hold two UFC® championships at the same time when he faces Georges St-Pierre for the UFC® welterweight championship at UFC® 94: ST-PIERRE VS. PENN 2

Also on the card is the American Psycho, Stephan Bonnar taking on the quick rising star Jon Jones, aka Bones. As well as Lyoto Machida, as he returns to the Octagon to continue his run towards a light heavyweight title shot. I also can't wait to see one of our bay area boys Nate Diaz taking on Clay "The Carpenter" Guida! You know a card is packed full of great fights when a fighter such as Jon Fitch is on the preliminary card!

The rest of the match ups are:
MAIN CARD

• Welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre vs. lightweight champ B.J. Penn (for welterweight title)
• Lyoto Machida vs. Thiago Silva
• Stephan Bonnar vs. Jon Jones
• Karo Parisyan vs. Dong Hyun Kim
• Nate Diaz vs. Clay Guida

PRELIMINARY CARD

• Jon Fitch vs. Akihiro Gono
• Manny Gamburyan vs. Thiago Tavares
• John Howard vs. Chris Wilson
• Jake O'Brien vs. Christian Wellisch
• Matt Arroyo vs. Dan Cramer

As you can see, January is packed full of great MMA events, including one of the biggest fights in UFC history as BJ Penn attempts to show he's one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. My predictions will soon follow!!!Also check back for a listing of bars in your area showing the PayPerView events!

Affliction: Day of Reckoning Card Finalized!!

The fight card for the upcoming Affliction show, "Day of Reckoning", has been finalized! According to the Affliction web-site the main card (seen on PPV) will feature the following bouts:

Fedor Emelianenko VS Andrei Arlovski

Josh Barnett VS Gilbert Yvel

Vitor Belfort VS Matt Lindland

Renato "Babalu" Sobral VS Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou

Chris Horodecki VS Dan Lauzon

The undercard, which can be seen on HDNet will include:

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira VS Vladamir Matyushenko

Jay Hieron VS Jason High

Mark Hominick VS LC Davis

Albert Rios VS Antonio Duarte

Brett Cooper VS Patrick Speight

Paul Beuntello VS Kiril Sidellnikov (MMAJunkie reports this fight will be part of the PPV event)

Day of Reckoning is taking place on January 24th, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA.

I can't wait to see Arlovski VS Fedor!!!!

Got HDNet? HDNet Fights has a solid line-up of MMA programming for this weekend!!

HDNet has a solid line-up of MMA scheduled for the weekend! Take a look at their commercial here. Or you can view their line-up for the weekend here.

Personally, I'm looking forward to Unfiltered: Melendez vs. Thomson, which will be airing all weekend, but it premieres on Friday, June 13th at 9:00 PM PT.

Also, HDNet will be airing DREAM 4 Live! Jason "Mayhem" Miller vs "Jacare" will be an interesting fight to watch!