Restricting Access to MMA Journalists. (Stay on Zuffa's good side)

I spent a large majority of my day patrolling the internet looking for interviews, post fight videos, and articles about the Diaz/Daley Strikeforce event.  I was sad to see such little coverage on the event.  It was a major Strikeforce card.  It was an event that delivered two exciting Championship fights back to back.  Nick Diaz is showing that he is able to pull a large crowd in person, online, and in TV viewer ratings.

This is a big win for Strikeforce  A card of this magnitude should have had mass coverage from all MMA sites.  There is a lack of good coverage on what is supposed to be a legitimate sport, MMA .  ESPN, the world wide leader in sports, should be on top of these events.  If it were Manny Pacquiao or Floyd Mayweather competing in an event ESPN and other websites would have had mass coverage.  Josh Gross and Loretta Hunt were denied press passes.  Sherdog.com was denied access.  Does limiting the amount of media coverage hinder Zuffa's product in any way?

 Zuffa in all its glory has a stranglehold on MMA.  They own the UFC.  They own Strikeforce.  They are putting on great fights on Spike TV.  They are putting great fights on Versus.  They are putting great fights on Showtime.  They are putting great fights on Pay Per View.  The information is being controlled and more access is being given to certain members of the media.  MMAfighting.com is reaping many benefits of having a good working relationship with the higher powers of Strikeforce and UFC.

I read an interesting article (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/jeff_wagenheim/04/13/credentials/index.html) online.  Zuffa is restricting the amount of coverage that we as fight fans are able to find.  So we are left to scavenge and search. I spent a large chunk of my day looking for that insightful interview with Nick Diaz.  It is hard to pin this man down (especially when you live in Indiana and write a blog that no one reads) and get a good feel for what he is thinking and feeling after a fight.

 I understand with PPV revenues and replays on PPV they want to limit access to the information.  Zuffa is smart in what they are doing.  Anyone in the press that has negative predalictions towards Zuffa's product will no longer have access to smash the product.  MMA is young enough as a sport that it can be dictated in such a way.  The amount of content online, is limited.  Showtime, Spike tv, UFC.com, versus, PPV have MMA on lockdown.  Everything else is regulated through precise planning and controlling the amount of content.  If you keep the public wanting more then they will not get tired of the product.

The NFL or MLB could never control its coverage in such a way.  But those are much bigger sports and Roger Goddell of the NFL and Bud Selig of Major League Baseball have much larger issues to deal with besides bad press coverage.

MMA is such a young sport that bad press could hinder the growth of Zuffa's product.  I think it is okay to question the motives of people.  I think it is okay critique a fight card.  If the card is not up to acceptable standards the fans will let you know.  UFC 119, in my home state of Indiana, was an atrocious card.  Headlined by a terrible match up of Mir -v-Cro Cop.  Diaz -v- Daley delivered last Saturday.  Just wish I didn't have to wait  a week to learn more about the event afterwards.  Zuffa is putting Sherdog.com, Josh Gross, and Loretta Hunt in a tough spot.  These people basically have to cover a live event from their homes. Would anyone care about my thoughts or ideas on the Super Bowl in Miami if I am living in Indiana?  Wouldn't you rather receive you information from someone at the event?  Zuffa, it would seem, is okay with regulating the amount of information available to its fans and not exposing us to trite OP ED pieces from subjective writers looking to make a name for themselves by pointing out the bad in everything in MMA.  With so many positive stories why would a writer focus on the negative.  Their are some "journalists" who look to make a name for themselves by destroying what has made them who they are today.  It is the only way to make them seem like they have an opinion worth hearing or reading.  Looking for more MMA coverage?  Join the club...

Where do we draw the lines with advertisements?

MMA fighters have to make a living.  Besides battling for a pay day inside the cage fighters have to find companies willing to advertise and show monetary support for a fighter.  Most fighters represent their respective advertisers as they make their slow approach through the arena.  The camera zooms in on the Tapout, MMA ELITE, and Affliction hoodies and hats.  As the fighters are introduced posters with their names and all their supporting advertisers swing in the background.  When the fight finally begins we are subjected to the logos on their trunks and the cage/mat itself.  Advertisements are big business.  We need them to help provide funds for the fighters and support the organizations.  Without proper financial support most fighters will fail to find adequate training and nutrition.  This is vastly over looked and it is assumed that because you are on television you are rich.  Most fighters do not fight for the UFC.  Most are working class guys and young men trying to chase a dream.  Working a full-time job and trying to train like an elite athlete is not conducive to producing the results we would expect from a professional athlete.  The higher your profile as a fighter the better advertisements you receive. I hope for the day of a single NIKE swoosh on the back of a pair of trunks.  Everything that needed to be said about a fighter could be said in that one icon.  This fighter is sponsored by Under Armour so he must be good.  This fighter is sponsored by KFC he must like chicken.  I dread the day corporate conglomerate machines like Starbucks sink their teeth into the world of MMA.  It is bound to happen maybe not anytime soon, but as the sport grows so will the interest in prospective advertisers looking to tap into the 18-35 year old male demographic.  

Welcome to Pure Mixed Martial Arts!

MMA is growing sport.  In a vastly over saturated market of twitter, facebook, and blogsphere it would only be appropriate to create one more blog in hopes of doing justice to the science, grace, and brutality of mixed martial arts.  We all have the ability to access information now more than ever.  With mma websites, facebook, and twitter we have an opportunity to delve deeper into the world of mixed martial arts.  All blogs found on this website are the opinion of myself and any similarities on other blogs or websites are merely coincidence.  Please enjoy the Pure Mixed Martial Arts Blog...