Joe Lucia Posted November 12, 2014 Share Posted November 12, 2014 It's the best thing for all parties. Fox had to dump Sonnen, being so closely tied in with the UFC. ESPN's MMA coverage is just about nil, and adding Sonnen helps them, even if it's just a tiny bit. I also think his PED past helps him (oddly) at ESPN, because with their 800 talking head shows, he could get into some interesting discussions without trying to step on the toes of his former employer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilwaldo Posted November 12, 2014 Share Posted November 12, 2014 I am not sure what Wanderlei can do for Bellator. People don't watch him for his oratory skills. I just take it as "Hey, Wand's coach has his gym in SoCal so why not capitalize on that and his name." Because there is pretty much nothing they can do with him that would be beneficial for Bellator. Isn't Bellator the Seniors MMA Division of the UFC? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ace Posted November 12, 2014 Share Posted November 12, 2014 ESPN has hired Chael Sonnen to be an MMA analyst. And people wonder why the sport is on the fringe nowadays. Because nothing says fringe like being hired by the preeminent sports broadcaster in the country. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elsalvajeloco Posted November 12, 2014 Share Posted November 12, 2014 I am not sure what Wanderlei can do for Bellator. People don't watch him for his oratory skills. I just take it as "Hey, Wand's coach has his gym in SoCal so why not capitalize on that and his name." Because there is pretty much nothing they can do with him that would be beneficial for Bellator. Isn't Bellator the Seniors MMA Division of the UFC? Disqualifying a cease-and-desist Bellator most likely received, the whole not being able to fight due to indefinite suspension rules that out. Hence, why I said that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
epwar Posted November 12, 2014 Share Posted November 12, 2014 ESPN has hired Chael Sonnen to be an MMA analyst. And people wonder why the sport is on the fringe nowadays. Because nothing says fringe like being hired by the preeminent sports broadcaster in the country. I doubt they are magically going to start covering the sport any more than they barely do now. And hiring the modern era's most caught PED abuser pretty much indirectly slams the sport that is barely seen as legitimate among ESPN viewers now. It is like hiring Pete Rose to cover baseball or Lance Armstrong to cover cycling. "But he is soooooooooo personable and brings the ratings," cry the Chael fans. No he's not and no he doesn't. All he brings are poorly recycled wrestling promos and a huge negative stigma about the sport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Lucia Posted November 12, 2014 Share Posted November 12, 2014 January 24th in Stockholm, Gustafsson vs Rumble. Love that fight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig H Posted November 12, 2014 Share Posted November 12, 2014 Oooooh...Rumble is going to fuck Gus up* *Unless Rumble shoots himself in the foot again, which he will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elsalvajeloco Posted November 12, 2014 Share Posted November 12, 2014 January 24th in Stockholm, Gustafsson vs Rumble. Love that fight. The show will take place at Tele2 Arena, which seats between 40-45k (probably configured to about 30k). Also, it will take place during regular US primetime hours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Edwin Posted November 12, 2014 Share Posted November 12, 2014 Cro Cop/Aoki open weight fight and Cro Cop/Fujita III are rumored for INOKI BOM-BA-YE on NYE. A rematch with Ishii was the original rumored fight, but Ishii that has been pulled out all together since Ishii suffered a rib injury. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Edwin Posted November 12, 2014 Share Posted November 12, 2014 Hendo vs. Mousasi co-main event UFC on FOX 14. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zero Posted November 12, 2014 Share Posted November 12, 2014 Wait.. Aoki vs. Cro Cop. That can't be real..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig H Posted November 12, 2014 Share Posted November 12, 2014 It's Japan... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheVileOne Posted November 12, 2014 Share Posted November 12, 2014 January 24th in Stockholm, Gustafsson vs Rumble. Love that fight. The show will take place at Tele2 Arena, which seats between 40-45k (probably configured to about 30k). Also, it will take place during regular US primetime hours. Does this mean it will be on Fox Sports 1? Hope Rumble or Gustafsson don't get injured. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elsalvajeloco Posted November 12, 2014 Share Posted November 12, 2014 Fox. McGregor vs. Siver is the FS1 show for January. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elsalvajeloco Posted November 12, 2014 Share Posted November 12, 2014 I had no idea WSOF signed Kalindra Faria. I thought the UFC would eventually snatch her up when she left 125. She is one of the few female fighters I watch not because I have to. But yeah, the Branch vs. Okami and Aguilar vs. Faria bouts could be brutal to watch from an entertainment standpoint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheVileOne Posted November 12, 2014 Share Posted November 12, 2014 Fox. McGregor vs. Siver is the FS1 show for January. Hope they can sell out that show then. I imagine the show being in a stadium in Sweden and on Fox was probably a good way to convince Gustafsson and his manager to take the fight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elsalvajeloco Posted November 12, 2014 Share Posted November 12, 2014 Fox. McGregor vs. Siver is the FS1 show for January. Hope they can sell out that show then. I imagine the show being in a stadium and on Fox was probably a good way to convince Gustafsson and his manager to take the fight. Knowing how things can go, you don't really want to be on the shelf forever. I know how guys might not want to tempt fate, but the Manuwa fight was in March. If Jones vs. Cormier ends up in a controversial decision and public opinion demands a rematch, Gustafsson is fucked six ways from Sunday. He would've been out of a legitimate fight for about a year and half. At least with this, if Jones or Cormier fall out of the fight, he can be on standby for a title shot or interim title shot. Either way, he gets paid if he stays healthy. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smitlick Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 Just out of interest if your Aoki why in the fuck would you fight Cro Cop? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elsalvajeloco Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 Miesha Tate vs. Sara McMann at UFC 183 Bigfoot Silva vs. Mir at UFC 184 Demetrious Johnson wants to return in February or March. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twiztor Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 Cro Cop/Aoki open weight fight ... rumored for INOKI BOM-BA-YE on NYE Wait.. Aoki vs. Cro Cop. That can't be real..... this fight would be ridiculous, even by Japan standards. i would like to see it, tho. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheVileOne Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 Any chance John Dodson might be ready to go by March? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zero Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 this fight would be ridiculous, even by Japan standards. i would like to see it, tho. Oh, like I'm going to pretend I wouldn't watch that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elsalvajeloco Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 Holly Holm is out of her UFC 181 bout. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elsalvajeloco Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 Jacare vs. Yoel Romero at UFC 184 Looks like Thatch will fight Wonderboy Thompson instead of Rick Story on the Broomfield card Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshEngleman Posted November 13, 2014 Share Posted November 13, 2014 Jacare vs. Yoel Romero at UFC 184 Looks like Thatch will fight Wonderboy Thompson instead of Rick Story on the Broomfield card I was really hoping for Jacare/Rockhold 2 but this should be a much easier path for Jacare to get a title shot. Rockhold gets the Machida/Dollaway winner? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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