M-1 Global's Co-Promotional Strategy Fails to Bring Brand Familiarity
by Leland Roling on Mar 12, 2010 10:01 AM EST
in MMA News
Email
Print
When the current deal between Strikeforce and M-1 Global was signed as a co-promotional contract that would combine both brands and allow Strikeforce to obtain the services of Fedor Emelianenko, mixed martial arts fans everywhere let out a long sigh of frustration. Many fans have attributed M-1 Global's involvement and Fedor's high demands as the sole reasons why promotions who have worked with the Russia-based organization have fallen into deep financial trouble.
Now, M-1 Global and Fedor Emelianenko are trying to work out a re-negotiation of their contract, a current deal that is only one fight into the obligated three-fight contract. Some of the rumors circulating revolve around the potential for M-1 Global to seek out higher cash payouts while others believe M-1 Global is trying to remove themselves from the contract in order to seek out more lucrative deals in Japan or perhaps the UFC.
M-1 Global Director of Operations Evgeni Kogan spoke with Dave Meltzer at Yahoo! Sports about one snag that M-1 Global may never be able to hurdle over in the re-negotiation:
Kogan allowed that M-1 Global was disappointed in what happened with the promotion of the last fight, but was quick to say the problem wasn’t with Strikeforce. He said he was disappointed in media coverage of the event because the M-1 Global name in stories on the show wasn’t featured more visibly.
"The way the show was promoted, that was an issue to us, but we don’t have an issue with Strikeforce over it," Kogan said. "M-1 isn’t a management company for Fedor Emelianenko. We are a fight promotion. We have done matches all over the world, U.S., Asia, Europe, Japan. But the media didn’t feature the M-1 name [in coverage of the November show]. Specifically, it wasn’t Strikeforce’s fault. They honored their agreement. The way the media perceived the event was it was Strikeforce. M-1 wasn’t promoted that much. That was an issue with us."
CBS promoted the November show more as "CBS Saturday Night Fights" as opposed to promoting the Strikeforce or M-1 Global brand names. "For us, this is a really big deal," Kogan said. "We’re concerned about our brand. For us, it’s an important piece of the big picture."
This is an issue that I thought about quite a bit following the Rogers vs. Fedor battle back in November. Exactly how much exposure is M-1 Global actually getting from this current deal? If the above image of the Rogers vs. Fedor promotional poster is any indication, M-1 Global isn't receiving much at all. That Rockstar Energy drink logo has more familiarity with fans.
So, who's fault is it? M-1 Global is at fault here. Familiarity is obviously something they are shooting for, but throwing your logo up in front of millions of viewers once every year isn't going to give you any staying power in a casual mixed martial arts fan's memory.
While most fans have a bad taste in their mouth in regards to M-1 Global's shady contract dealings and over-the-top demands, let's look at this from a hypothetical point of view. If M-1 Global was a promotion that produced quality smaller regional shows, had a fairly good reputation in pleasing fighters, and wasn't perceived as a horrible organization, would that even matter in the advertising market of North America?
Probably not. It's no surprise that M-1 Global isn't receiving the exposure they want, and it should be pretty apparent that they'll never receive that kind of attention. Strikeforce has been in the North American market for over 20 years promoting several cards with Showtime over the past few years.
The look and feel of each of the CBS shows screams Strikeforce, something most hardcore MMA fans are familiar with... there's that word again. Are we seeing a trend here?
Kogan is blaming CBS and Showtime for this ordeal, but what did they expect? CBS and Showtime likely want to work with a company that's been established, is known for being rather easy to work with, and doesn't have a reputation of ridiculous demands. M-1 Global is the exact opposite of that statement with the exception that they've been in business for quite some time promoting outside of the United States.
I'm assuming Kogan wants to see something along the lines of "M-1 Global/Strikeforce Presents CBS Saturday Night Fights", but that isn't going to happen. M-1 Global is never going to get the exposure they want in the North American market unless they build a promotion from the ground up and find some sort of television deal for their own organization.
Since it's likely we won't see better exposure for M-1 Global, be ready for a M-1 Global bailout strategy or an attempt to increase payouts for Fedor to compensate. M-1 Global needs to realize that CBS wants to draw in fans, and Strikeforce has more brand recognition than M-1 Global. M-1 simply doesn't keep their name in front of fans enough to allow any casual fan to remember who they are or what they're promoting.
137 comments
|
3 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
because M-1 is unhappy, Fedor can’t fight, and is with held paydays until M-1 is appeased? … sucks
I'm old school hating Lesnar, I've been hating Lesnar since '08
Fedor is M-1
I don’t believe for one second he is clueless rube who is being strung along. He owns a larger percentage of M-1 than Dana White or Flash Entertainment own of Zuffa. He claims he is aware of the decisions they are making and supports them completely. He also claims he gets regular financial reports and well versed in the cash inflows and outflows of the company.
Don’t cry for Fedor. He is aware of everything M-1 is doing and is backing Vadim every step of the way.
If Fedor we're actually that clever,
He would realize that the millions upon millions of dollars Strikeforce pays to M-1 is entirely to get him. It has nothing to do with anything else M-1 provides. He could get every stinking dime of it if he was so inclined. Not 20%. He’s losing a great deal of money as a part of M-1. He could easily have it all. He is the company’s only true asset. Without the company, he doesn’t have to share. Let’s not paint Fedor as this savvy businessman. He’s anything but.
He’s losing a great deal of money as a part of M-1. He could easily have it all.
Isn’t it painfully obvious by now that Fedor’s intentions are a little more complex than grabbing the most money he can grab?
He lives and breathes Russia, his jockeying for co-promotion and branding is to grow mma in Russia and other parts of the world that the UFC doesn’t have a stronghold on…. imho.
I don't dispute that he has reasons for aligning himself with M-1.
Probably perfectly good ones. I just hate the line of thinking “Of course Fedor wants M-1 to make money, he has a 20% stake in it.” That 20% stake is essentially 80% of his money being lost to a company with no asset other than himself. He probably likes Vadim and wants his friends to have success. He’s probably a nice guy like that. But that doesn’t mean it’s good business. It’s bad business. It’s a bum deal for him, from the business perspective. I just don’t like seeing people try to paint it differently
If Fedor is M-1, here's the solution....
Fedor should pull a Chad Johnson and change his name to ‘M-1 Global Emelianenko’.
by Reciprocity on Mar 12, 2010 11:27 AM EST up reply actions
“The Fedor Emelianenko Sports Network” aka FESN.
Your source for all things stoic.
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Mar 12, 2010 11:28 AM EST up reply actions
Lol, I was just gonna say the same thing. I can hear the ring announcer now-“And in this corner, weighing in at 230 pounds, from Stary Oskol, Russia, M-1 Global ‘The Last Emporer’ Emelianenkooooooooooo….”.
by ufc4 on Mar 12, 2010 11:45 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
even Strikeforce isn't getting enough exposure on the CBS shows..
it’s all "CBS: Saturday Night Fightsss! " flashing through your screen hundreds of times, and the SF / M-1 logos, don’t get highlighted that much.
Yeah, but any casual fan that is borderline interested in other fights or is getting more involved in the sport knows who Strikeforce is. I doubt they could tell you what M-1 Global is.
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Mar 12, 2010 10:23 AM EST up reply actions
I talked to some casual fans that were srtoked for the "Fedor fight" and didn't really know anything about Strikeforce.
Strikeforce doesn’t have a lot of visability in Canada.
Yeah, but any casual fan that is borderline interested in other fights or is getting more involved in the sport knows who Strikeforce is
I disagree.
Obviously, hardcore fans know who Strikeforce is, casual fans who happen to subscribe to Showtime know who they are, and the insomniacs/drunks who caught their NBCclip show know who Strikeforce is, but that is it. Almost all of the casual fans I know, the ones who tuned in because they saw the show advertised during NFL games, had no idea who promoted the show. They just assumed that CBS promoted it.
It is in Strikeforce's best interest to keep M-1 out of the lime light.
I have been saying this since the day they signed Fedor. M-1 and Fedor are contracted for 3 fights. That’s it. M-1 has also opened up to host events in the U.S. like “M-1 Breakthrough”.
If M-1 gets enough exposure over the 3 events that feature Fedor they could easily walk and try to do their own thing. Strikeforce would lose the “greatest heaveyweight in the world” and if the schedule sticks, Fedor could be their champion (with wins over Werdum then Overeem).
If M-1 can get enough momentum, I would say chances are very slim you would see Fedor resign.
They've had 2 other PPVs as well as all of Fedor's other fights to gain momentum...
and yet still don’t. I don’t think the next two fights with SF are going to turn Fedor into a household name, especially with these business tactics.
How many of the 5 million people that watched the last event know anything about the business tactics?
I would gets a very very small percentage. Most of the people that watched are not on BE
I'm just saying =
that the next two fights with SF, if they occur, are not likely to do for M1 what the all the previous work by Fedor has not.
5 million veiwers watching Fedor win 3 times on network TV would do wonders for Fedor.
If Fedor’s name was strong enough to headline the first M-1 show, that is all they need to get the ball rolling.
Then they need to stop fucking around and get him on the CBS cards...
instead of holding out or putting him on the PPV cards. But that is not what they are doing.
If they are only interested in increasing visibility, then Fedor will only fight on SF cards on CBS. I doubt that will happen.
He was suposed to be on the second strikeforce on CBS card.
Plus M-1 and this article both say the beef M-1 has ids that they didn’t get enough media coverage during the CBS card. They want M-1 to be seen in addition to Fedor wins. I think this is so the have ‘more’ momuntum moving forward without Strikeforce
And Why isn't he on this next CBS card...
that is kind of the point. That is flaw in this concept that what M1 wants is name recognition through Fedor’s fights.
If they actually had any intention of promoting their own events down the line, they would get Fedor on CBS as often as possible and then move him to their own events when his contract ended, not ensure lengthy absences between his fights. Walking away from SF with their HW title under his arm and Main Eventing the first M1 card in the U.S. would do a hell of alot more than the current tactics in use.
The end game likely hasn't changed
They still want Fedor "Walking away from SF with their HW title under his arm to headline the first M-1 show. they are just trying to get the M-1 name itself more air time befor that.
They already held an M-1 Breakthough show
Fedor, Mousasi, Karl Amoussou, King Mo, Mark Kerr, Lucio Linhares
Fedor vs. Mousasi was exhibition, fun match though, and the main event was a blowout.
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Mar 12, 2010 12:27 PM EST up reply actions
the Linhares fight was good and the Amoussou fight was good, I would definitely go again
"For some reason Dana White doesn't like me, and I don't care enough to find out why. So he can go pound sand up his ass as far as I'm concerned."
Don Frye
by keyboardwarrior on Mar 12, 2010 12:30 PM EST up reply actions
Sure, I wouldn’t pass it up either. Just saying.
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Mar 12, 2010 12:31 PM EST up reply actions
I watched it live. It was a solid show.
I was just rebutting to the statement:
“I’d be amazed if you ever see an M1 event in the U.S. "
I'd agree with that. CBS is taking a major cop out by calling the cards "Saturday Night Fights"
If things don’t work out with Strikforce, they could easily pick up the WEC or UFC and air their events with the same moniker. They could air boxing matches and not have to change anything. Simply calling it “Saturday Night Fights” is a cop out and doesn’t show a strong connection.
Add to that, the commentators talked about the UFC repeadedly during the lsast CBS broadcast. Strikeforce didn’t do a wonderful job of self promotion. M-1 Global got nothing.
If things don’t work out with Strikforce, they could easily pick up the WEC or UFC and air their events with the same moniker.
They’ve already done it once.
The EliteXC shows on CBS were the original ‘Saturday Night Fights’. Strikeforce is just their latest content provider. This time next year, KOTC or MFC could the content provider for ‘Saturday Night Fights’. CBS doesn’t give a shit. MMA promoters are a disposable resource as far as they are concerned, and that is why the UFC has never signed a deal with them.
CBS would still be airing "Saturday Night Fights"...
with just a different content provider.
Much as fighters are subcontractors to promotions like the UFC and Strikeforce, promotions are subcontractors to CBS’ “Saturday Night Fights”.
Fedor doesn’t speak English, he doesn’t have a colorful persona, he is boring and doesn’t draw for shit. That is one of M1s big problems. If this guys was as colorful as BJ Penn screaming M1 global.com every 3 minutes, things would be different.
M1 is a square peg tying to fit into a round hole. The problem is they are using a hammer to make it fit, not sand paper.
by Riney on Mar 12, 2010 10:29 AM EST reply actions 2 recs
That may be true as well. Their sole product, Fedor Emelianenko, isn’t exuberant.
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Mar 12, 2010 10:31 AM EST up reply actions
I can argue though that Fedor is doing quite well as the sole carrier of the events. 100000K+ buys in two PPV events and 5M viewers on CBS are pretty good imo. He might be actually a better draw than Penn/Machida/Anderson if we are going to even out the playing field and remove the UFC brand.
I am. I think. I will. - Ayn Rand
He is in terms of getting fans to watch the events, but as you said… he isn’t screaming his website or the organization byline after fights. Honestly, I doubt that would even help. Website hits aren’t what M-1 Global needs, and to be honest — I’m not sure what their aim is… to obtain a TV deal of their own for their own promotion?
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Mar 12, 2010 10:38 AM EST up reply actions
I’m also not sure what their aim is. If it’s really to build up M-1 as a brand name and viable promotion of their own, they’re not going about it in a way that makes sense IMO.
As it stands, M-1 is just glorified representative of Fedor that keeps trying to get its name out there for vaguely defined reasons. But their main bread and butter is Fedor, and they know that. The recent news of trying to renegotiate their contract only one fight in doesn’t come as much of a surprise unfortunately. How Strikeforce deals with it will potentially define where they go from here as a promotion.
I suppose the line that it’s all about the money is the only one that makes sense here.
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Mar 12, 2010 11:14 AM EST up reply actions
"How Strikeforce deals with it will potentially define where they go from here as a promotion."
However, I think M1/Fedor has them over a barrel because it was the current Fedor deal that propelled them into their deal with CBS and probably dramatically changed their deal with Showtime. Losing Fedor could have some drastic consequences with those two partners that SF can probably ill afford at this juncture.
I’m not sure how the situation could be handled to everyone’s benefit. Fedor gives Strikeforce, if not a draw, then at least credibility. They could probably try and call Fedor’s management’s demand a bluff, as I’d imagine Strikeforce can pay out more over a longer period of time than DREAM, and unless M-1 has changed their stance on co-promotion, any attempted deal with the UFC is practically dead in the water.
I think DREAM and FEG have a little more coin kicking around than Strikeforce.
HI YAH!
by Thats It For you! on Mar 12, 2010 4:12 PM EST up reply actions
machida and anderson maybe
maybe….
BJ Penn? Absolutely not… you take BJ Penn out of the UFC, put him on Network TV, let him massacre the number 5-10 light weights… perhaps even give him some of the heavier guys fighting out of the UFC.
Not only would he be fighting far more often, he’d be able to fight in at least 2 weight classes and he would hype fights like a mad man. The guy was on CNN covering the possible tsunami in hawaii for christs sake.
If I was Coker, I would trade Fedor for BJ Penn in a heart beat.
by ruckus on Mar 12, 2010 10:42 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
and
With BJ you wouldn’t have to keep telling people he was the best… he’d be out there proving it on a regular basis.
BJ Penn will fight you in your back yard tomorrow… Fedor needs to talk to his management first.
*sorry, but as you can tell, i’m a big BJ fan
But the PPV events were 50k each. Fedor is one of the worst draws in MMA. It would matter what sport, he has NO personality. Ever wonder why the media likes some random guy in a sport and hang from his nuts? It is his personality and his ability to sell himself and the sport. Fedor has none of those qualities.
Penn helped build the UFC, you can’t really remove the brand. I just disagree with you on this point.
example: Kimbo Slice
I'm old school hating Lesnar, I've been hating Lesnar since '08
by MicahW on Mar 12, 2010 10:44 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Ever wonder w/ Atencio and Coker went crazy when Fedor was available? He might not have your typical “society needed personality” but he is a decent draw in the world of MMA.
I am. I think. I will. - Ayn Rand
lots have people have gone crazy when fedor is available, no one has been able to make money off of it.
but these are businessmen, they have to somehow see or atleast somebody presented to them the possible good economics of having Fedor. All I am saying , he is NOT a complete non draw.
I am. I think. I will. - Ayn Rand
I think Fedor gives them credibilty over drawin power.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Henderson vs Sheilds out draws the first CBS show. They will need to run similar ads and run a similar promo show, but there is not reason for me to believe Hendo can’t pull the same kind of crowd.
If they're not just a management company for Fedor, then they should do more than just drive him to the show and cash his checks afterwards.
Same shit they pulled with Affliction. The want co-promotional status then don’t do shit but chauffeur Fedor around. At least they used to have Mousasi, too. Now not even that.
Although detractors decry (MMA) as a brutal, bloody form of human cockfighting, aficionados know it is a brutal, bloody, totally fucking awesome form of human cockfighting. -The Onion
by The Kittitas Kid on Mar 12, 2010 10:31 AM EST reply actions
Reading M1’s rant on the issue about exposure, I can say fair enough.
It was once said that Strikeforce had no way to match UFC’s offer to Fedor/M1 after Affliction. Now given this is true, I can understand M1/Fedor’s point. They might have actually given up a better deal w/ UFC even w/o the co promotion (money wise) to have a chance at a better exposure for the brand.
Fair enough.
I am. I think. I will. - Ayn Rand
The problem is that M-1 doesn’t seem to be doing much in promoting their brand at all. Sure, they got a co-promotional deal, but what are they doing behind the scenes in order to get their brand out there? Nothing really. And CBS is obviously not helping either, but CBS also knows that Strikeforce is the more well-known brand.
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Mar 12, 2010 10:34 AM EST up reply actions
I agree
Leading up to the CBS card, did M1 hold any promotional events on their own? Not that I saw, it was all Strikeforce. Being a partner means just that, not let the other guy do all the work and you take all the recognition solely because you bring Fedor to the table.
I like good fights, not soap opera drama so all this has really turned me off Strikeforce and Fedor. I think Strikeforce is better off without them and just focus on putting on quality cards that run smoothly.
by Roll for Life on Mar 12, 2010 11:44 AM EST up reply actions
In terms of their deal with SF...
what M1 wants would be like if American Top Team wanted co-promotion status with the UFC when one of their fighters fought on a card.
Which, is of course, ridiculous.
How is this fair to Strikeforce though? The contract was fufilled, they even admitted Strikeforce did nothing wrong but now they are jerking them around because Strikeforce didn’t force media covering the event to mention M-1 Global often enough? If they have a problem with the media not talking about their brand enough then perhaps they should do more about that not jerk Strikeforce around.
I don’t think that’s it…
I think M-1 is specifically upset at the branding of promotional material and the actual promotional material that is put in front of the viewers face on the night of the fights. That’s where CBS comes in.
MMA media is obviously going to head toward Strikeforce over M-1.
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Mar 12, 2010 10:44 AM EST up reply actions
Wasn't it
Strikeforce who actually signed the deal with CBS? I could see CBS not caring about M1 if they didn’t have a contract. How dumb would that be? Strikeforce has a contract with CBS about promoting MMA while M1 has a contract with Strikeforce to co promote. CBS could care less about M1.
Is this what has happened?
CBS, I believe, actually runs the entire marketing campaign for those events. I’m not sure if that’s exactly how the deal is structured, and that may be what they are trying to amend. Problem is… Strikeforce is more recognizable than M-1 anyways, so why would CBS want to promote M-1 equally?
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Mar 12, 2010 10:51 AM EST up reply actions
It really seems like CBS doesn’t care about promoting either of them all that much, they want people to associate the events with CBS sports because that is what helps CBS the most. Of course even if CBS did make sure to mention M-1 at least once every 5 minutes of broadcast time would anyone even care? They don’t do anything besides bring Fedor to the events and having CBS talk about that isn’t going to help their brand recognition.
I view
Strikeforce as a 10 lbs fish, but I see m1 as a 15 lbs parasite. Something has to give, and soon.
M1 won’t be happy until they are getting top billing and all the credit for all events that feature Fedor. The problem is, even if you said M1 5 times for 1 Strikeforce, the fans would be confused as fuck. Nick Diaz fights for……M1 on card featuring Fedor but Strikeforce on all the other cards?
This is a mess.
Don’t worry, the thousand pound shark will eat them soon enough.
by ufc4 on Mar 12, 2010 11:49 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
So M-1 is jerking Strikeforce around because CBS didn’t mention M-1 enough times during the show? That comes around to the same point, why renegotiate a new contract with Strikeforce and jerk them around over this when it wasn’t Strikeforce’s fault? Hell Strikeforce didn’t get much mention by CBS either. If M-1 wants more name recognition then they need to do more to get it, heck buy some ad time or do something during the show besides ride Fedor like a stolen mule and perhaps they would get more notice.
So M-1 is jerking Strikeforce around because CBS didn’t mention M-1 enough times during the show? – Yes.
That comes around to the same point, why renegotiate a new contract with Strikeforce – because they dont have a contract w/ SF, not w/ CBS. They have to get assurance that whoever SF is dealing w/ in televesing the events, thaty they would honour the exposure demand.
I am. I think. I will. - Ayn Rand
Strikeforce can’t get CBS to push Strikeforce’s brand name how is M-1 jerking Strikeforce around going to get CBS to push M-1? That’s the point here, jerking Strikeforce around in a renegotiation doesn’t change the situation that they don’t like it just makes Strikeforce and CBS more leary of doing business with them in the future.
So they are renegotiating with Strikeforce because the media doesn’t associate their brand name with the product even though Strikeforce did do what they were supposed to do(not to mention that their only actual association with the product was Fedor)? They just don’t see to have much of a clue on the brand recognition issue, no one cared about M-1 when they were partnered with Affliction either, they are a Russian company that doesn’t have any real exposure in the US except farming out Fedor.
If they were really serious I guess they could get Fedor to legally change his name to “M-1-Fedor”, that way they would be assured of getting their name pop from the media :D
I have to believe that M-1 just does not understand American audiences. I think you would be hard pressed to find any ‘hardcore’ fan that has a positive opinion of M-1 and that opinion trickles down to the more casual fan base via word of mouth. Is a prominently displayed logo going to fix this? No, if anything it gives the hardcore something to point at and vilify to his friends watching with them. I’m sure everyone out there has been asked by a casual, “Well, why isn’t Fedor in the UFC then?”. Odds are your answer includes M-1.
In America, you gain support and a fan base by either delivering exactly what the potential fan expects or surpassing their expectations and creating a real ‘brand loyalty’. So M-1 slaps there co-promotion tag on a banner and expects us to care about their other offerings. Why would we, when our negative experiences far out way our positives when it comes to M-1?
From now on whatever event I am planning will be know as the ‘Bas Rutten Invitational ____’
Well, they haven’t done anything BUT slap a logo on a banner. That’s one of the biggest problems. And their promotion doesn’t do well either. Holding obscure Challenge events in the middle of nowhere with terrible out of synch streams and bad production values doesn’t help their cause.
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Mar 12, 2010 10:36 AM EST up reply actions
I wouldn’t be mad if they came back to KC
"For some reason Dana White doesn't like me, and I don't care enough to find out why. So he can go pound sand up his ass as far as I'm concerned."
Don Frye
by keyboardwarrior on Mar 12, 2010 10:39 AM EST up reply actions
I don’t mind the Breakthrough shows, but those Challenge shows are god awful… and I believe Millen is the sole promoter of those cards for M-1 Global.
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Mar 12, 2010 10:41 AM EST up reply actions
Was the show any good Key? I have a vague recollection of Don Frye being involved, but that’s all.
From now on whatever event I am planning will be know as the ‘Bas Rutten Invitational ____’
Frye was supposed to fight King Mo, but that was before the location was changed from California to Kansas City. King Mo fought Mark Kerr, terrible fight.
Overall, the fights were entertaining and the prices were great. I sat ringside for like 37.50 a ticket. I saw Lucio Linhares, Karl Amoussou, Daisuke Nakamura, as well as the Mousasi/Fedor exhibition. I would definitely go again.
"For some reason Dana White doesn't like me, and I don't care enough to find out why. So he can go pound sand up his ass as far as I'm concerned."
Don Frye
by keyboardwarrior on Mar 12, 2010 11:07 AM EST up reply actions
excellent point about word of mouth. out of all the americans who even know what m-1 global is, do they have any clue how many have negative opinions? i’m willing to bet it’s a majority, probably a vast majority.
so in practical terms they did nothing but deliver two fighters for one event and somehow the country is supposed to know that they’re a separate fight organization all to themselves and not a management team? idiots. greedy, destructive idiots. and as fedor is m-1, i suppose that makes fedor a greedy, destructive idiot. perhaps the language barrier and lack of personality are just symptoms…
The problem comes from other big sports in the US.
Team names, event names, stadium names, and other names in sports have become so long and ridiculous that people stop listening to the names, and just talk about what’s going on.
Just tacking “m-1 presents” onto the title or the poster isn’t going to do anything, because Americans don’t care about the real name, especially if it’s “Strikeforce and M1 Global present CBS Saturday Night Fights, Fedor vs Rogers.” No one is going to say that, no one is going to waste column space putting that in print (or on a poster/graphic), no one is going to waste their time typing it in an internet article.
The other problem is that the people who know that M1 is involved are not the people that need to care. They know what m1 global is, and they know what it brings to the table (even if they probably disagree on exactly what that is), so they only people getting the M1 global exposure don’t care.
If they want to be known they need to be seen and heard more often, and for more things than, “fedor isn’t fighting now because…” They’d almost be better off just getting a deal where there are M1 banners on every SF show, whether or not Fedor is fighting, instead of demanding that every show with Fedor is a “co-promotion” and expecting everyone to treat as if it’s an M1 card.
the ironic thing
is that what would grow the m-1 brand best would be a constant, successful, mutually beneficial partnership between themselves and a fight org. that would grow over time. instead they seem intent on sucking the blood as quickly as possible out of anyone they latch on to. having your name constantly associated with failing ventures isn’t really going to interest people, and when it does, it won’t interest them in the way you want.
by K Krush on Mar 12, 2010 10:43 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
The other problem with this situation, is that SF and CBS don’t have much reason to do much more than what is written on the contract in terms of their “partnership” with M-1. Every other time M-1 speaks, they talk about how they want a partner, or SF is their partner and they’re working together to take over the world, but their actions don’t show that.
If M-1 was really “partners” with Strikeforce (working together to improve both sides) this would not be a story, because we would not know about it. If they really wanted to help SF, as soon as it became obvious that they wouldn’t find a resolution in time for the April card, M-1 and Strikeforce should have put out a joint statement saying that the Fedor’s proposed April fight has to be postponed due to a hand injury suffered during the Sambo tournament. It doesn’t matter how true that statement is, but they say that, everyone moves on. Instead, they did nothing, journalists started sniffing, and they found what appears to be a dog turd, and the story got out of control from there.
Every time something is said about this the story changes a little (fedor fighting in may; fedor wants AO to get drug tested; deal is almost done, Fedor fighting in the summer; fedor won’t start training until we have a deal; SF didn’t honor the contract/the problem wasn’t with strikeforce, and that makes the turd stink more. If they were really partners, they would have sprayed febreeze before anyone started looking for the turd, and no one would have found it.
by Phildo on Mar 12, 2010 11:07 AM EST reply actions 2 recs
It’s a equal partnership, Strikeforce puts together the events, CBS/Showtime produces and televises the events and M-1 Global makes sure Fedor gets to the arena in time. Heck M-1 even went to the trouble of taking credit for Mousasi being on the card even though he was apparently never under contract to M-1, I’m sure that took a lot of work on their side. I mean you got to give M-1 Global credit for bringing Jerry Millen to the events to help out :D
M-1 brand sucks..
Get over it !!!
8-29-09
Keith Jardine is now known as "The Dean of Antihistamine" because he is always sleeping early in fights..
by MMAuthority on Mar 12, 2010 11:54 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
The biggest problem is that M-1 can never be in a “partnership” with ANY major US based MMA organization. A partnership means equality and because M-1 only has Fedor now (Mousasi is smart for bailing) the equation is unbalanced.
M-1 is making the mistake of assuming that US fans should automatically care about their brand because they have Fedor, they should have realized it’s not the way it works. It takes time to build recognition and a following, hell even Randy Couture would have suffered if he was released from his UFC contract way back when and was forced to fight on small shows. Couture has huge name recognition but if he was fighting Joe Schmo at Turtle Fights V he wouldn’t generate the same numbers as he would fighting under the UFC banner.
M-1 essentially doesn’t want to put in the time, effort, and expense of generating their own buzz and following but rather want to glom on and leech it out of whoever they work with. It’s a business plan that began failing as soon as it started and is getting worse as fickle fans are now blaming M-1 for every shortcoming associated with Strikeforce/Fedor.
by NateDouble on Mar 12, 2010 11:59 AM EST reply actions 2 recs
This...
“M-1 essentially doesn’t want to put in the time, effort, and expense of generating their own buzz and following but rather want to glom on and leech it out of whoever they work with. It’s a business plan that began failing as soon as it started and is getting worse as fickle fans are now blaming M-1 for every shortcoming associated with Strikeforce/Fedor.”
Forgot to add...
that all this assumes that M1 actually wants what they publicly state. The truth is, they might simply be happy playing this game to make money off of Fedor’s name and Fedor may not care.
Well then they’re doubly stupid as they’re driving potential fans away by putting off having Fedor fight on additional cards. If all they wanted was $$$ they would have taken the UFC deal.
Not much that they’ve done has made sense but the whining and complaining phase they’ve entered is embarrassing. Like a child throwing a fit until they get a toy, or in M-1’s case, a larger logo on a banner and a mention in bloggers articles.
LOL….if M-1 Global is such a legitimate promotion, why don’t they just go ahead and host all of Emelianenko’s remaining fights? Why do they even need Strikeforce or CBS?
by Rich Wyatt on Mar 12, 2010 12:06 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
F@CK M1 and F@CK FEDOR
they have messed with my heart too many times, and all anybody really wants, deep down inside, is to see fedor fight in the octagon….call me a ufc nuthugger, tell me to get the ufcs balls out of my throat, whatever, this has nothing to do with the UFC as a promotion.
It has to do with the fact that the UFC is the largest and most well known MMA fight organization in the world, and has the greatest pool of talent, and all the fans want to see is the best fight the best, and currently that is not happening, and that is a crime against MMA. and horrendous crime against MMA I might add.
to have the undiputed number 1 heavyweight in the world not fighting on MMA’s biggest stage is like stabbing my face with a hot saudering iron…it hurts, physically and emotionally….can you possibly comprehend how pumped you would be to hear bruce buffer announce fedors name? can you hear the crowd? would you be jumping around your living room unable to hold still from the sheer power of anticipation, sreaming at the tv until the neighbors in the apartment above pound on the floor?
God it hurts me so much to know that it is almsot a garantee that none of us will ever get to experience that excitement. Fedor needs to stop with Vadim, and start thinknig about the fans, the people who made him what he is? without the fans, a fighter is a nobody…without fans, it doesnt matter if you have destoryed every opponent ever placed in front of you. Fans make MMA. and it is a crime against all of us that we do not get to see fedor fighting in the place he is meant to fight because of some promotional business politics bullshit.
so F@CK M1….and until Fedor can see the light, and fight for the fans instead of Vadim, F@CK him too. He is dead to me. let us all ignore fedor, and maybe, just maybe, he will come around and do the right thing….STEP UP.
by Opposites Attack on Mar 12, 2010 12:28 PM EST reply actions
As much as I want Fedor in the UFC, Fedor vs Rogers/Werdum/Overeem is not that bad of a replacement imo. Ofcourse it could have been better if they can set these fights w/o any drama.
I am. I think. I will. - Ayn Rand
I agree.
I would love to see overeem vs fedor…..after overeem fights at least one credible opponent. but werdum? he’d be a good warm up to a more dangerous opponent. I can’t take much away from his skill set, but he is a UFC washout….now I do believe it was a bit rushed, since there are many MANY other fighters with worse records that the UFC holds onto, and I think letting him go was a bit premature, but that is not the issue here. My problem is while there are some interesting matchups outside the UFC, there are only a couple, and ocne fedor has plowed through them, what next? there is no depth to the talent pool in SF.
Now, Imagine fedor vs valasquez….or carwin….hell, even mir who I despise, but it would make a good fight. call me old school, tell me randy is over the hill and whatever, but I would STILL love to see couture vs fedor even just for the nostalgia….Dos santos, while not quite there yet has the potential to make for an interesting fight, but what I am getting at is there are SO MANY MORE interesting matchups that the fans deserve to see. and finally, what really cant be argued as the biggest fight in MMA history would be lesnar vs fedor. My god can you imagine that? as mush as lesnar has polarized fans, he sells and sells big. he has a tremendous fan base, and a fight with him is win/win for both fighters regardless of the outcome.
Bottom line (and this has been said a million times by fans and fighters alike) what we need is to see the best fight the best and that cannot happen as long as there is a strike force. I have little doubt that had SF never been in the picture, we would all be witnesses to some of the greatest heavy weight battles of all time. and it hurts me knowing that it wont ever happen….it hurts a lot.
by Opposites Attack on Mar 12, 2010 12:50 PM EST up reply actions
Even though i agree Werdum isnt the best challenge for Fedor but saying he is a UFC washout is plainly wrong.
I am. I think. I will. - Ayn Rand
how do you figure?
dana gave him his walking papers…that means he washed out of the UFC. while I clearly stated that it was premature, and there are many other fighters who desrved to be booted WAY more than him, it is, none-the-less true.
Enlighten me, please. if he is fired from the UFC for a bad performance (KO) against Dos Santos, that is, by definition, being washed out of the UFC, right? even if it was undeserving, it did happen.
by Opposites Attack on Mar 12, 2010 1:07 PM EST up reply actions
wash·out (wshout, wôsh-) DEFINITION
Werdum did not meet Dana’s standard….while I disagree with his decision to let him go, the UFC clearly thought that Werdum just did not measure up to the standards of the organization. right or wrong, agree or disagree with the decision, he is a wash out, im sorry to say.
by Opposites Attack on Mar 12, 2010 1:12 PM EST up reply actions
Im not going to argue definitions but when you have Gonzaga whom Werdum TKOed twice , not measuring up to the standards of the org is a weak argument.
I am. I think. I will. - Ayn Rand
it is not my argument, it is the UFCs
for the third time now, I do NOT agree with the decision. I never have, and like I said, there are many MANY other fighters who do actually fail to live up to the standard, and yet they still have jobs in the UFC. but that does not change the fact that the decision was made by the people in charge, and that makes him a UFC washout, like it or not, facts are facts, and that is what happened. We don’t have to agree with the rationale, but it is clear that Dana and crew felt that Werdum was not up to par with UFC competition, and let him go because of it. While this is a rediculous claim, and I am sure Dana is regretting it now, it happened.
Anyways, this is way off the topic. My point is that I want to see Fedor in the UFC fighting the best. If the best happened to be in strikeforce, than I’d be happy right now. But that is not where the bulk of the present day HW talent lies.
While there are a couple interesting matchups in SF, I still feel it is an atrocious crime against MMA and the fans to not have the best heavyweight of all time tested by true competition. You cannot be the best, until you beat the best, plain and simple, and fedor has not done that for a LONG time. If he does fight Werdum, and when he wins that fight, he can rightfully say that he has beaten 3 UFC washouts including 2 former HW champions. that hardly qualifies him as the dominant champ he once was. he has to STEP UP, put business politics aside, and do what is right for the fans and start fighting the best, otherwise we will all be left wondering ‘what if’ for years and years and years to come. and that isnt fair to us. we put so much heart, passion, love, time and money into this sport that we should all feel cheated out of what we deserve. and we do deserve to see fedor fight some honest to god competition.
rogers is no walk in the park, nor is werdum, but lets be honest here. all BS aside, what do you really want? are you happy with him just wasting away the end of his career in SF fighting the low end of the top 10? or do you want to see him fight number 2? number 3?
There must be somethnig we all are missing here. There has to be a reason why fedor wont fight the best, on MMAs biggest stage, making more money than any other promotion can possibly pay him. Is it because he is afraid his untarnished legacy of being unbeaten may possibly come to an end when he faces so real competition? I doubt fedor has any fear, but vadim, M1? they must be petrified that their unbeaten, flawless wrecking machine could actually be beaten one day effectively killing some of the mysterious untouchable aura that surrounds fedor. Im just taking shots in the dark here, I have no idea truly.
What I do know is that it is not fair to us. and we, the fans, need to do something about it. think politics. think grass roots. how do people go about affecting change? how can we get fedor in the octagon? how damn you, HOW? its just not fair….
by Opposites Attack on Mar 12, 2010 1:58 PM EST up reply actions
UFC washout is not correct term I guess, I gives you the notion that he was not competitive in that org. I guess, ex-ufc fighter would be a better word.
I am. I think. I will. - Ayn Rand
very true.
i totally agree. washout gives the impression that he was a failure in the UFC, which he of course was not. i respect him as a fighter, and he has a deep skill set, i just think there is better comptetion for fedor…especially in the UFC where I can think of about 3 years worth of fights. hell, Fedor could finish out his career in the UFC and likely be made into the most recognizable fighter on the planet, make ludicrous amounts of money, do what is right for himself and the fans, all the while dismantling the best, which in turn qualifies him for the title of BEST. until he steps up and starts fighting the best, calling him the best only qualifies as OPINION.
It is wishful thinking of course, but if strikeforce folded into the UFC, sweet mother of GOD, can you imagine? One giant organization with all the best fighters?!?!?!?! That made me jizz in my pants a little bit.
by Opposites Attack on Mar 12, 2010 2:20 PM EST up reply actions
I want to see fedor vs overeem more than fedor vs lesnar.
HI YAH!
by Thats It For you! on Mar 12, 2010 4:20 PM EST up reply actions
by the way...
don’t you think it is a conflict of interest for a fighter to own part of the promotion? wouldn’t this make decision making quite biased and controlled? Just saying….
by Opposites Attack on Mar 12, 2010 12:31 PM EST reply actions
Many people have pointed this out in the past. M-1 doesn’t really have too much power despite the fact they think they do.
Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
by Leland Roling on Mar 12, 2010 12:32 PM EST up reply actions
im sure it has been said a hundred times...
but I think that the fans have a lot more power to control the outcome than we are given credit for….we are the ones who put the money in the fighters pockets….without fans, there is no MMA, cause who would they be fighting for? where would the money come from? It is time that the fighters start fighting for us, and not their respective promotions….and a huge portion of fighters already do, which is outstanding, and they understand the power of us. but some still do not, and it must change. LET THE FANS RISE UP AND TAKE WHAT IS OURS! DO IT. DO IT.
by Opposites Attack on Mar 12, 2010 12:35 PM EST reply actions
Does this remind any one else of something Dana said? These two bits reminded me of Dana complaining a while back about the media working against the UFC and not promoting the UFC enough.
He said he was disappointed in media coverage of the event because the M-1 Global name in stories on the show wasn’t featured more visibly.
But the media didn’t feature the M-1 name [in coverage of the November show]. Specifically, it wasn’t Strikeforce’s fault. They honored their agreement. The way the media perceived the event was it was Strikeforce. M-1 wasn’t promoted that much. That was an issue with us."
Just BE.
Also about this quote:
CBS promoted the November show more as “CBS Saturday Night Fights” as opposed to promoting the Strikeforce or M-1 Global brand names. “For us, this is a really big deal,” Kogan said. “We’re concerned about our brand. For us, it’s an important piece of the big picture.”
If CBS is set on promoting those events as “CBS Saturday Night Fights” then CBS can decide to pass on all of the Fedor cards and leave Showtime the hassle of dealing with making sure M-1 gets all the exposure they want.
Just BE.
people keep saying that, but I don’t think it would be possible. I don’t think M-1 would have signed a contract that allowed them to get stuck on Showtime. Showtime doesn’t bring the money or exposure that CBS does.
We have to remember, M-1 turned down a contract from the UFC, we don’t know exactly what that contract said, but they are going to be looking at all their “negotiations” and dealing with SF/CBS through eyes that saw the UFC contract. I’m not sure a Showtime card can come close to making them happy, and I don’t think they’d have gone with Strikeforce with a contract that would let them get stuck on Showtime.
I was thinking the same thing this but quote attributed to Kelly Kahl makes me wonder:
Right now, CBS’ commitment to MMA is just for this show, but a strong performance on a series of events could lead to
CBS officially agreeing to quarterly shows. Kahl, a supporter of MMA on CBS, noted in the interview that MMA is still
considered controversial programming in some circles.
Found that here: http://mmapayout.com/2010/03/strikeforce-cbs-partnership-may-depend-on-417/
It just seems impossible that Strikeforce could have made that commitment to air all of Fedor’s events on CBS when CBS hasn’t made the commitment to air more Strikeforce shows after this upcoming one and Fedor isn’t on this one.
Just BE.
'm1 turned down a contract from ufc'
Ufc was offering fedor a contract as a fighter not M1- that was why it was turned down
Paniczoo reincarnated.
by ziiiiing on Mar 13, 2010 6:10 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
M1's biggest hurdle to success is M1.
M1 thinks that just because they have the best HW fighter in the world, they think they can just avoid the hard work of building a promotion from the ground up and just hitch a ride on someone else’s coat tails. Also, the CBS deal is looking worse and worse every day.
You have to be the man... you have to be very, like, alpha male with her. You know? Decide what you do and everything. So, show her who's the boss, you know? - GSP
Is this even worth analyzing?
M1 is a farce. They’re thugs. Nuff said.
What everyone is missing is this.
Strikeforce and the UFC have been around for 20 years. The strength of M1 depends on Fedor. When Fedor loses or retires the M1 promotion is worthless. Sooooo in 20 years the UFC and Strikeforce will still be around but only ashes will remain of M1.
M1 probably would have gained more exposure in the UFC without copromotion. Putting M1 on Fedor’s shorts, his walk out gear, and the sponsorship banner and have him actually fight 3 times per year would have done more than anything happening over at CBS.
Problem is
If fedor fought 3 times a year in the ufc he would be exposed repeatedly and his value would diminish to crocops current level leaving m1 with nothing within a couple of years
Paniczoo reincarnated.
by ziiiiing on Mar 13, 2010 6:16 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
MMA Rankings
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
