M-1 Global Returning To Showtime in October

by Josh Nason on Sep 15, 2011 11:58 PM EDT in MMA News

Less than a week after scoring near-record low ratings for a Strikeforce event, Showtime has more MMA coming to air with M-1 Global returning to the premium cable provider for the third time in October.

On Thursday, the promotion announced an M-1 Challenge event is set for the Grand Canyon University Arena in Phoenix, AZ, on Friday, October 14th at 11 pm EST/PT (West Coast delay).

The event will be headlined by a rematch between M-1 Global Heavyweight Champion Guram Gugenishvili (11-0) and Kenny Garner (7-3) with M-1 Global Light Heavyweight Champion Vinny Magalhaes (8-5) defending against Mikhail Zayats (14-5) in the co-main event.

Since debuting in July 2009, Gugenishvili has yet to taste defeat with 10 of his 11 victories coming via submission. He won his title by submitting Garner in the 2nd round in October 2010. Garner last beat Patrick Bennett by 2nd round KO at a July M-1 Challenge event.

Magalhaes has won four in a row and was last seen in April submitting Viktor Nemkov to win the 205-pound title. Zayats has also won four in a row with three submission finishes and a 2nd round TKO finish of Malik Merad in April.

After debuting in March 2011 with 189,000 viewers, M-1 saw their ratings drop in their July return to Showtime with 161,000 viewers.

Tweet Comment 28 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

You used the fake picture

Just need to change the date.

by av1o3 on Sep 16, 2011 12:00 AM EDT reply actions 6 recs

Who is that quoted as calling him the #1 heavyweight?

Is it Bloodyelbow…that picture is too small for me to tell.

PACIFIC RIM
in theaters
July 12th, 2013

by Chris Groves on Sep 16, 2011 12:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Dang, it is

Didn’t think to click on the larger version :D

PACIFIC RIM
in theaters
July 12th, 2013

by Chris Groves on Sep 16, 2011 12:06 AM EDT up reply actions

It’s from Leland Roling’s prospect scouting report.

by Horselover Fat on Sep 16, 2011 5:42 AM EDT up reply actions

So M-1 had bad ratings the first time, and they dropped the 2nd time

anyone want to take bets on whether these ratings will be higher or lower?

4 months between show 1 in march and show 2 in July…3 months between that show and the October one.

I could have swore their ratings were better then that when they were reported…maybe it was just me retroactively and incorrectly remembering a better outcome for them.

PACIFIC RIM
in theaters
July 12th, 2013

by Chris Groves on Sep 16, 2011 12:08 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

I thought I remembered

that also…that showtime was impressed with the increase…

I’ll be watching…friday night fights…smack dab in the middle of all this other non stop mma that starts on saturday…

I hope Vinny wins…like that guy…

by shootfirstaskquestionslater on Sep 16, 2011 12:58 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

their ratings

“M-1 Challenge 24: Damkovsky vs. Figueroa” 189,000 viewers
“M-1 Challenge 26: Bennett vs. Garner” 161,000 viewers

for comparison

The top-five and bottom-five Strikeforce-Showtime broadcasts include:
1. “Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva” (February 2011): 741,000 viewers
2. “Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum” (June 2011): 624,000
3. “Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg” (August 2009): 576,000
4. “Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Henderson” (July 20011): 571,000
5. “Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Cyborg” (January 20011): 561,000
14. “Strikeforce: Henderson vs. Babalu II” (December 2010): 341,000
15. “Strikeforce: Evolution” (December 2009): 330,000
16. “Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery” (May 2010): 308,000
17. “Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Kharitonov” (September 2011): 274,000
18. “Strikeforce: Los Angeles” (June 2010): 164,000
“Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Kharitonov” is the only 2011 broadcast that scored fewer than 412,000 viewers.

Follow me on Twitter @KidNate

by Nate Wilcox on Sep 16, 2011 1:24 AM EDT up reply actions

Isn’t it more fair to compare them to Strikeforce Challengers though? I think the cost for these M-1 shows must be comparable to SF Challengers. Certainly M-1 isn’t overpaying their talent anywhere near to the level of regular Strikeforce shows.

by Horselover Fat on Sep 16, 2011 5:45 AM EDT up reply actions

or compare it to an MMA show from around the same time the previous year. Like lets say Strikeforce : Los Angeles

Which had more notable names. A higher payroll. More production value. Numbers arent that bad they have potential the only thing that will hold them back is M1 management. Oh and also getting some bigger names. I was entertained by their shows.

by Papercut Elbow on Sep 16, 2011 9:31 AM EDT up reply actions

I think the relationship with M-1 and showing their Challenge events is interesting because it means Showtime would keep Strikeforce around as a feeder league gutted of all the draws if the price was right. Not saying that will happen, but certainly a lack of well-known talent in Strikeforce isn’t an immediate deal-breaker.

"He's like Elvis in Korea! They love him there." - Mike Goldberg on Denis Kang

by Bolshevik on Sep 16, 2011 2:30 AM EDT up reply actions

Gutting Strikeforce and making it a feeder league will kill whatever brand equity it had left.

The reason why noone tuned in to the SF GP was because of the Zuffa purchase. It killed the validity of the organization as a legit up and coming 2nd tier promotion trying to one day be number one. The credibility of the grand prix winner also was hurt with Overeem leaving to go to the UFC. Its a bad idea from all angles.

by Papercut Elbow on Sep 16, 2011 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions