by Jonathan Luther | Mar 5, 2011 | BLOGS
Bellator Fighting Championship enjoyed considerable coverage when they announced the move to MTV2 from their previous home of Fox Sports Network. The announcement was received with questions ranging from differences in average viewership between the networks to which day the events would be broadcast. Left out of the conversation was the change in sponsorship opportunities for Bellator’s fighters. MMAFA.tv has learned from sources close to Bellator Fighting Championship that the promotion is no longer allowing its fighters to receive sponsorship from poker sites and Condom Depot. Sources indicated that the move was requested, if not necessitated, by the MTV2 network in an effort to keep their station more suitable for teenagers and young adults. Some agents and managers find the move to be hypocritical given the age demographic and other offerings on the MTV network. One agent said: “[Bellator] says that it’s because MTV2 isn’t an acceptable audience for either sponsor. But look at the demographic they pull: males 19 – 35. So I don’t believe a word of it, because the majority of the people in that demographic are legally capable of gambling. What about Condom Depot? I mean, have you seen some of the stuff that’s on MTV2? Have they ever seen Skin, that show they have where underage kids are having sex with each other?” For fighters under the Bellator promotion, the loss of a sponsor like Full Tilt Poker could be considerable. Fighters receive anywhere from $2500 – 8000 per event from the poker site, also known for its consistency as a sponsor. One agent noted: “With [Full Tilt] off the table as a sponsor,...
by Jonathan Luther | Feb 10, 2011 | BLOGS
On Wednesday afternoon, NSAC officials informed members of the MMA media via email that all the drug/steroid screening tests had been processed and were negative for participants at UFC 125, save for one. The email included a list of the fighters who had passed, with Thiago Silva’s name missing in a conspicuous manner. Keith Kizer, commissioner of the NSAC, confirmed to MMAFA.tv that Thiago Silva’s samples are still undergoing tests. “We want to make sure before we go forward with anything,” said Kizer. “We have to protect the rights of the fighter, and that means we have to be certain about everything.” Though the prolonged testing could be due to a mix up or false positive, this failed to deter MMA fans and media-types from speculating on the matter. Recent reports suggest that Rashad Evans is targeted to replace Thiago Silva for a rematch against UFC star Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. This was due to a reported injury sustained by Silva, but Silva went on to refute the seriousness of the injury and insisted that the match with Jackson was a lock. Silva, speaking to TATAME.com today, claims that the first sample submitted to the NSAC tested positive for banned substances but his second sample came back negative, clearing the fighter of any wrongdoing. Keith Kizer informed MMAFA.tv that this is false, and that the results of the second sample might not be known for a while: “That’s not accurate. We have gotten only the first sample back. It could be weeks before we find out the results for the second test.”...
