Will Mark Cuban be a force in MMA? He might be, now that he has this guy on board:
From sherdog.com:
HDNet on Friday announced two deals, including a multi-fight partnership with M-1 Global to broadcast Fedor Emelianenko international bouts, that will put live mixed martial arts on the network throughout December.
The Russian heavyweight, widely considered the top fighter in the division, makes his HDNet debut as part of Dec. 31’s Yarennoka! card from Tokyo, Japan. Up to nine fights could make the live broadcast, HDNet Fights CEO Andrew Simon told Sherdog.com, which airs live at 6 a.m. EST.
The broadcast, which features a showdown between Gesias Calvancante and Shinya Aoki as well as other top-10 ranked lightweights, will be repeated later in the day.
“This announcement reinforces our commitment to becoming the home for live MMA action,” HDNet founder Mark Cuban said in a prepared statement. “No one else but HDNet will have the return of Fedor live from Japan. On December 15, we’ll also have ’HDNet Fights: Reckless Abandon’ live from Dallas featuring superstars Jason ’Mayhem’ Miller and Frank Trigg and then we’re ending the month halfway across the world in Japan with the return of the world’s best fighter — Fedor. What could be better?”
Yarennoka! brings home a big month of live MMA for HDNet. Starting with Dec. 15’s HDNet Fights, the home of “Inside MMA” will broadcast Sportfight live from Portland, Ore., on Dec. 22, and the IFL 2007 World Grand Prix finals on Dec. 29.
“We are very pleased to be able to offer our fans around the country this special event live and in HD for the first time,” IFL President and COO Jay Larkin said in a news release. “Our first live television event on Nov. 3 received great reviews, and we think this event, with an unprecedented five titles on the line, may be the MMA event of the year.”
A two-hour broadcast of the 2007 World Grand Prix Finals from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., airs live starting 9:30 p.m. EST.
Said HDNET Fights CEO Andrew Simon: “The IFL World Grand Prix Finals is a fantastic addition to a huge month of MMA action on HDNet in December and is part of our overall plan to have over 24 live fights a year with HDNet Fights.”
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