HDNet Fights
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| HDNet Fights | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Type | Private |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Founder | Mark Cuban |
| Headquarters |  Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
| Key people | Mark Cuban, Owner Guy Mezger, President & chief matchmaker |
| Industry | Mixed martial arts promotion |
| Parent | HDNet Inc. |
| Website | http://www.hdnetfights.com/ |
'HDNet Fights is a US based mixed martial arts(MMA) promotion and a television outlet for various other MMA promotions affiliated such as DREAM, the IFL, Strikeforce, Adrenaline MMA, SportFight, Ring of Combat and numerous smaller regional promotions.
It was founded in 2007 by HDNet owner and founder, billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban, as a staple of programming upon which to base the new network. Cuban has since expressed a desire to present MMA in a manner more in line with other professional sports, saying that he would eliminate ancillary details such as ring card girls. Despite speculation of how personally Cuban himself would be involved in the business and promoting of MMA, he has proven to be a vocal defender of MMA in his blogs and interviews since starting the promotion.[1] [2] [3] [4]
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[edit] Inside MMA
In company with the announcement of the new promotion, HDNet also began broadcasting the first MMA-focused sports program called Inside MMA. It’s first broadcast aired on September 14, 2007 and guests were former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell and well known MMA fan and actor Kevin James. The show is hosted by Kenny Rice and MMA legend Bas Rutten. Broadcasts and segments from the show can also be found on HDNet’s YouTube subscription, Sherdog.com, and the HDNet Fights website. [5]
[edit] Fight Cards
HDNet Fights hosted their first fight card on October 13, 2007 and the main event was a light-heavyweight contest between Eric Paulson and Jeff Ford. [6] Cuban described the show as a “beta test” and expressed a desire to portray the card as more of a sporting event with less flash than would be found at a UFC card.
Their first pay-per-view promotion is scheduled to be a July dated card between Fedor Emelianenko and Tim Sylvia. The card will be co-promoted by Affliction, Adrenaline MMA, and M1 Mixfight. They are also currently in negotiations with Japanese promotion DREAM to air their fight cards in the United States. They had previously dealt with executives from that organization to air the New Years Yarennoka! fight card. [7] [8]
[edit] HDNet Fights events
This is a list of events held or broadcast by HDNet Fights a mixed martial arts organization based in the United States.
| No. | Event | Date | Venue | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | HDNet Fights Presents: The IFL | May 16, 2008 | Mohegan Sun Arena | Uncasville, Connecticut |
| 11 | HDNet Fights Presents: MFC: Anger Management | May 09, 2008 | River Cree Casino |  Edmonton, Alberta |
| 10 | HDNet Fights Presents: SportFight XXII: Re-Awakening | April 18, 2008 | Rose Garden Arena | Portland, Oregon |
| 9 | HDNet Fights Presents: The IFL | April 04, 2008 | Izod Center | East Rutherford, New Jersey |
| 8 | HDNet Fights Presents:Xtreme Fighting League | March 15, 2008 | Expo Square Pavilion | Tulsa, Oklahoma |
| 7 | HDNet Fights Presents:Ring of Combat XVIII | March 07, 2008 | Tropicana Casino & Resort | Atlantic City, New Jersey |
| 6 | HDNet Fights Presents:Debut of Kim Couture | February 29, 2008 | Xtreme Couture Gym | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| 5 | HDNet Fights Presents:The IFL | February 29, 2008 | Orleans Arena | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| 4 | HDNet Fights Presents:Strikeforce at the Dome | February 23, 2008 | Tacoma Dome | Tacoma, Washington |
| 3 | HDNet Fights Presents:MFC: Rags to Riches | February 22, 2008 | River Cree Casino | Edmonton, Alberta |
| 2 | HDNet Fights: Reckless Abandon | December 15, 2007 | American Airlines Center | Dallas, Texas |
| 1 | HDNet Fights: Initiation Night | October 13, 2007 | American Airlines Center | Dallas, Texas |
[edit] Legal battle with Zuffa LLC.
Upon Randy Couture’s retirement/resignation from the UFC, HDNet signed him to a four-fight, 18-month promotional contract effective upon the end of his existing Zuffa contract. The move was considered a key to the suit filed by HDNet against Zuffa in Dallas district court to get a declaratory judgment concerning the contractual status of Couture. Zuffa had previously been awarded a preliminary injunction preventing Couture from participating actively as a coach for his Xtreme Couture fighters in the IFL.
Numerous legal maneuvering has ensued, the latest being the US District Court for the Northern District of Texas granting HDNet's emergency motion to remand its lawsuit against Zuffa to Texas State Court. Zuffa had previously removed their declaratory judgment action to Federal Court, but because both companies are technically Nevada entities, it was ruled that the case is currently beyond Federal jurisdiction. [9] [10] [11] [12]
[edit] Notable Fighters
- Frank Trigg former UFC and PRIDE FC fighter
- Yves Edwards current Elite XC lightweight title contender
- Justin Eilers former UFC and WEC fighter
- Drew Fickett current Elite XC welterweight title contender
- Jason "Mayhem" Miller current Icon Sport and WEC fighter
- Pete Spratt former UFC fighter
- Ty Fleming Amateur Kickboxing and Submission Wrestling Champion
- Edwin Dewees former UFC fighter
- Bob Sapp former NFL lineman and K-1 star
[edit] See Also
[edit] References
- ^ Cuban sees bright future for MMA. ESPN/Sherdog (2007). Retrieved on 2008-04-10.
- ^ MARK CUBAN SETS HIS SIGHTS ON MMA. MMA Weekly (2007). Retrieved on 2008-04-10.
- ^ Mayweather mulling move to MMA in deal with Cuban. ESPN (2007). Retrieved on 2008-04-10.
- ^ This Guy Proves Anyone with a Keyboard can be Stupid. Blog Maverick (2008). Retrieved on 2008-04-10.
- ^ Inside MMA premier episode. HDNet Fights (2007). Retrieved on 2008-04-10.
- ^ HDNet Fights Play-By-Play. Sherdog.com (2007). Retrieved on 2008-04-10.
- ^ FEDOR VS. SYLVIA MAY HAPPEN IN JULY, NOT SIGNED. [MMA Weekly (2008). Retrieved on 2008-04-10.
- ^ HDNet To Air Yarrenoka NYE Show Live From Japan. Fightline.com (2007). Retrieved on 2008-04-10.
- ^ HDNet Fights Has Contract with Couture; Question is When It Begins. Sherdog.com (2008). Retrieved on 2008-04-10.
- ^ Couture Litigation Grows More Complex. Sherdog.com (2008). Retrieved on 2008-04-10.
- ^ HDNet v. Zuffa Remanded to State Court. Sherdog.com (2008). Retrieved on 2008-04-10.
- ^ Report: Randy Couture Signed Contract with HDNet Fights. MMA Junkie.com (2008). Retrieved on 2008-04-10.
[edit] External links
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