Finally there's legitimate competition for the UFC. If you don't believe me, ask any Dallas Mavericks' fans. Mark Cuban is a hands on type of guy that'll do what it takes to win. He turned a losing franchise into one that now competes for the NBA Championship every single year. Cuban is the 2K version of George Steinbrenner except that he knows how to spend him money, and he'll use it to continually improve his products. His first decision was to get Guy Mezger to help him with the matchmaking for HDNet Fights.
Outside of EliteXC and the struggling IFL, true competition has dissapeared from the UFC's radar since their purchase of PRIDE earlier this year. Without competition you can't breed new talent to keep the sport growing, and you also don't push the UFC to continue to want to improve either. This is great news for MMA fans because HDNet Fights already has a TV deal with HDNet, and they have the financial backing of a millionaire.
Here's the official press release from HDNet for the Press Conference:
Mark Cuban, HDNet to Officially Announce HDNet FightsPress Conference to Announce New Venture Set for Wednesday, September 12Media Conference Call to immediately follow Press ConferenceDALLAS, TEXAS --- Mark Cuban and HDNet will officially announce their newest sports venture, HDNet Fights, this Wednesday, September 12th, 11:00 a.m. ET/10:00 am CT, at the American Airlines Center (South, Outdoor Plaza) in Dallas.
Mr. Cuban, Guy Mezger and future fight participants, will be in attendance to announce the details of this new venture and will also be available for one-on-one interviews.
A Media Conference Call has also been set immediately following the live press conference at 12:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. CT.
WHAT:Mark Cuban to officially announce HDNet Fights. Announcement will also include information for the first scheduled fight at the American Airlines Center.
WHEN:Wednesday, September 12, 2007 Press Conference at 11:00 a.m. ET/10:00 a.m. CT
Media Conference Call at 12:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. CT Call In Number: 888-346-3659 Request: HDNet Fights Conference Call
WHERE:American Airlines Center Dallas, Texas South Plaza, outdoors (below giant video wall)
WHO:Mark Cuban and Guy Mezger to make official announcement. Other important participants will attend including Main Event fighters for inaugural match at the AAC.
About HDNetHDNet () provides viewers with the best in original comedy, drama, news, sports and music programming.
HDNet is your exclusive, high definition home for popular, critically acclaimed original programming, including television's only HD news feature programs "HDNet World Report", "Dan Rather Reports" featuring legendary journalist Dan Rather and "NASA on HDNet" (presenting live shuttle launches through 2010). HDNet presents championship sports coverage featuring the National Hockey League, Major League Soccer, NASCAR Grand National Division, NASCAR NEXTEL Cup re-broadcasts, boxing and Mixed Martial Arts; groundbreaking music programming with the HDNet Concert Series featuring leading artists and bands including U2, Black Eyed Peas, Gwen Stefani and more, plus original music programs "Sound Off with Matt Pinfield", and "True Music w/Katie Daryl"; entertaining interview shows including "Face 2 Face with Roy Firestone" and "Higher Definition", in addition to fun and irreverent lifestyle programming including "Geek to Freak with Dennis Rodman", "Deadline!", "Art Mann Presents", and "Get Out!" HDNet is also the exclusive high definition home to the critically acclaimed and award winning programs such as the Emmy Award winning "Arrested Development", "The Black Donnellys", "Blade: The Series", "Star Trek: Enterprise", "Dead Like Me", "Smallville", "Joan of Arcadia", "Boomtown" and "Andy Richter Controls the Universe".
HDNet Movies also features a wide selection of major studio theatrical releases - all uncut, unedited, and appearing in their original aspect ratio so that HDNet Movies viewers get the best possible home theater experience.
Only HDNet Movies exclusive "Sneak Previews" bring feature films to viewers before they premiere in theaters! Some of the HDNet Movies "Sneak Previews" have included the Academy Award nominated "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room", Toronto Film Festival nominee "The War Within", and "Bubble", the first of six movies by acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh and produced exclusively for HDNet Films and, most recently, "Broken English", from Zoe Cassavetes, starring Gena Rowlands, Parker Posey, Drea de Matteo and Griffin Dunne. Upcoming Sneak Previews include "Quid Pro Quo", starring Nick Stahl and Vera Farmiga, "Hunter", the story of the life and death of infamous gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson from director Alex Gibney and producer Graydon Carter, "Cashback", written and produced by Sean Ellis, "Flawless", starring Michael Caine and Demi Moore, and "Closing Escrow", a real estate mockumentary featuring April Barnett and Allen Friedman.
Launched in 2001 by Mark Cuban and General Manager Philip Garvin, the HDNet networks are available on AT&T, Bright House Networks, Charter Communications, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, Mediacom, Time Warner Cable, Verizon and more than 40 NCTC cable affiliate companies. For more information visit http://.
Also, we're going to be doing a LIVE radio show called the 5thRound Beatdown! on THURSDAY 9/13/07 @ 10PM PT. Make sure you join us at /5thRound to listen in, there will also be a link on our site that evening. Feel free to call in at (646) 716-9824 and let your voice be heard!
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