A major MMA announcement is planned this week and the names involved are eye-opening.
Georges St-Pierre, former Bellator MMA promoter Bjorn Rebney and a handful of other well-known fighters will be making an "industry re-defining" announcement Wednesday on a media conference call, according to a press release sent out Monday.
Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez, former UFC bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw, Donald Cerrone and Tim Kennedy are the other names listed in the release and they will be part of the conference call.
When asked for more information by MMA Fighting, O'Malley Hansen Communications representative David Viggiano said all details are embargoed until Wednesday.
St-Pierre, Velasquez, Dillashaw and Kennedy are all represented by Creative Artists Agency (CAA), the chief talent agency rival to new UFC owner WME-IMG.
Kennedy and Cerrone have both been very public about their stance that fighters need a union. St-Pierre's negotiations with WME and the UFC for a return fight are currently deadlocked.
Rebney, who founded Bellator, has not spoken publicly since being let go by parent company Viacom in June 2014.
The conference call is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET.
Text from @TimKennedyMMA regarding Wednesday's "industry redefining" call: "I'm nervous and excited. Finally it's coming to fruition."
Gall looked really awkward on his feet against Northcut's footwork, but he schooled Northcut on the ground and made quick work of him. Gall is a tough dude and very talented in bjj, but my overall impression of him probably took a hit without having been more effective standing up. (and my overall impression of Northcut took a huge hit.)Faber's last fight was just before this. He actually looked good, but Pickett isn't exactly a huge challenge for him.
This fight will be interesting, unless it stays on the ground like it is. It seems like guys that have rolled with Gall are all saying he is legit in that aspect.
Gall looked like shit on his feet, but I think that's ways been his weak point. Going down to 155 (if that is true), I think he will overachieve due to his size and length and ground skills, except for against the real good strikers (McGregor) and the well rounded guys (Diaz and the like). Maybe that will give him some better stand up as he can rely on his size to absorb some hits.Gall looked really awkward on his feet against Northcut's footwork, but he schooled Northcut on the ground and made quick work of him. Gall is a tough dude and very talented in bjj, but my overall impression of him probably took a hit without having been more effective standing up. (and my overall impression of Northcut took a huge hit.)
No doubt. I had no interest in the Paige Vanzant fight for this reason, and was looking forward to Gall/Northcut for the past month. She didn't look very impressive against Namajunas, and her quick kick knockout last fight was very 'fortunate' to say the least.Another hype train derailed?
wow.. Michelle Waterson submits Paige VanZant in first round in yesterdays fight.She didn't look very impressive against Namajunas, and her quick kick knockout last fight was very 'fortunate' to say the least.
still giving paige props for putting her pretty face at risk instead of making $$$ being a model
No doubt. I had no interest in the Paige Vanzant fight for this reason, and was looking forward to Gall/Northcut for the past month. She didn't look very impressive against Namajunas, and her quick kick knockout last fight was very 'fortunate' to say the least.
Paige has time on her side, similar to Northcut. Both are very young and can end up getting the skills they need to be good in a few years. Now, they won't have the hype behind them, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Everyone wants fighters to be the next John Jones, Conor McGregor, etc. Just come in and never lose, but that is very exceptional for someone to be able to handle all the top competition just entering the UFC.Paige is pretty durable and scrappy so I thought this was going to be entertaining. I expected it to be like the Rose fight, but Waterson was too technical. She must have switched her body lock like three times depending on which side Paige tried to roll too, as well as multiple adjustments to her choke. I'm not even sure Paige did anything wrong defending, except getting tossed which put her in that position to begin with. Great fight for Waterson, although I still think she might be a little too small for that division.
wait.. what?Rousey set to fight at UFC 207 against Amanda Nunes.
Promotion first, sport second. I thought we learned that from McGregor's schedule, after he went 1-1 against Diaz, yet fought for the title in his first official fight at 155. At this point tho, I don't find this the most horrible UFC injustice given Rousey's longtime domination. It is what it is tho, a company out to make a sh!tload of money while pretending to be a sport and not just a promotion.wait.. what?
she hasn't fought since she lost the belt to Holly Holmes last year (nov 2015).
how did she get a shot at the belt???
geez.. and I thought Don King was sleazy.Promotion first, sport second. I thought we learned that from McGregor's schedule, after he went 1-1 against Diaz, yet fought for the title in his first official fight at 155. At this point tho, I don't find this the most horrible UFC injustice given Rousey's longtime domination. It is what it is tho, a company out to make a sh!tload of money while pretending to be a sport and not just a promotion.
you hear that sound?
With Rhonda's loss last nite, it's the sound of all that future $$$ evaporating.
UFC's new overlords must be having a fit right now.
plus people just paid $80 to see a 48sec fight.
they'll be less willing to pay that $$$ in the future.
still cant believe they paid $4B to buy UFC.
what's UFC's annual profits?
They made $157 million profit in 2015.
holy Christ...
why does someone w/$4B buy a company with a 25yr break even point?!?!?!