Tag: MMA on Showtime

Could Invicta FC Be Headed to Showtime? Short Answer: Probably

(Well, that’s *one* way to hype a marquee WMMA fight, we guess.) 

When Showtime ended their relationship with Strikeforce this past January, they left behind a massive void in the MMA world that has been tirelessly documented in the time since by…next to no one, quite honestly. Sure, we all loved Strikeforce when it wasn’t moments away from descending into utter chaos (and even when it was), but with the UFC holding an event on 1 of its 14 channels every other week and Bellator quietly putting on smaller-level shows in between, it seems as if we’ve quickly forgotten about Showtime’s once quintessential role in MMA broadcasting.

Well, it appears as if all that could change in the near future, as Showtime Sports Executive Vice President and General Manager Stephen Espinoza recently told FOX News Latino that the network was interested in a return to the MMA world and specifically, a partnership with Invicta FC. This statement did not come without a bit of hesitance, though:

The hesitation right now is really we’re investigating the market. The real question is … given the TV landscape as it stands now, the MMA landscape, is there a demand for more MMA on television? I have my doubts because there’s quite a few hours already being programmed.

(Invicta) knows how to make noise and do good-sized events on a budget. It would be interesting to see what they can do on a bigger platform. 

A move to Showtime would be the perfect move for Invicta to say the least. The promotion has rapidly gained popularity over the course of their first handful of events to the point that the Invicta 4 online stream crashed due to overcrowding.


(Well, that’s *one* way to hype a marquee WMMA fight, we guess.) 

When Showtime ended their relationship with Strikeforce this past January, they left behind a massive void in the MMA world that has been tirelessly documented in the time since by…next to no one, quite honestly. Sure, we all loved Strikeforce when it wasn’t moments away from descending into utter chaos (and even when it was), but with the UFC holding an event on 1 of its 14 channels every other week and Bellator quietly putting on smaller-level shows in between, it seems as if we’ve quickly forgotten about Showtime’s once quintessential role in MMA broadcasting.

Well, it appears as if all that could change in the near future, as Showtime Sports Executive Vice President and General Manager Stephen Espinoza recently told FOX News Latino that the network was interested in a return to the MMA world and specifically, a partnership with Invicta FC. This statement did not come without a bit of hesitance, though:

The hesitation right now is really we’re investigating the market. The real question is … given the TV landscape as it stands now, the MMA landscape, is there a demand for more MMA on television? I have my doubts because there’s quite a few hours already being programmed.

(Invicta) knows how to make noise and do good-sized events on a budget. It would be interesting to see what they can do on a bigger platform. 

A move to Showtime would be the perfect move for Invicta to say the least. The promotion has rapidly gained popularity over the course of their first handful of events to the point that the Invicta 4 online stream crashed due to overcrowding.

The fact that Invicta is already moving forward with an actual PPV broadcast for their next event seems to indicate that all women’s fight league is only on the rise, although we imagine that the Showtime execs will be keeping a close eye on the buy numbers for Invicta 6 before moving forward. Because that’s what corporations do: They study the sheeple, then they sell them a product they can’t resist, and before you know it…Rollerball.

In either case, Invicta President Shannon Knapp told MMAJunkie over the weekend that she would welcome the partnership with open arms:

It’s an honor to hear Stephen speak so highly of the Invicta FC product. I’ve worked with Showtime at length at different stages in my career in the MMA business, so I know how talented and committed to success their team is. They are first-rate at what they do, and I feel that a partnership between Showtime and Invicta FC would be a game-changer for our brand and women’s MMA.

Beware the phrase “game-changer,” Shannon. It. Can. Backfire.

–J. Jones

[VIDEO] Ronda Rousey ‘All Access’ – Episode Two


(Beneath that skin-tight cat suit lies a quiet, innocent girl who just wants some alone time. And beneath her lies a limb-destroying human bear trap.)

Have you ever wondered what it must be like behind-the-scenes of a staredown for a fight promo? Surely the tension must be insurmountable, with members of each fighter’s crew present on set to separate the two between each take. Well, if the latest Showtime episode of All Access: Ronda Rousey is any indication, the fighters actually choose to discuss how bad they smell to one another, all the while trying to remain serious while the camera is rolling.

Challenger Sarah Kaufman is the first to break the ice, declaring that her “left armpit smells,” whereas Ronda admits that she probably smells “like leprosy” as a result of her catsuit-clad antics she participated in just moments before. We know, we know, you all just went from six to midnight.

Anyway, so begins the second episode of All Access, which delves further into the training strategies of both the champion and the challenger. Where Rousey is content to hit the pads with Richard Perez in between sessions at Team Cesar Gracie, Kaufman prefers to just bang on the drum kit a little and punch bitches in the face. An interesting, if not unorthodox strategy.

And things get really interesting around the six-minute mark, where Ronda receives the first copies of her ESPN “The Body” Issue. Even she seems impressed by her own hotness, as well as the fact that ESPN showed far more butt than she expected (Author’s note: Thanks guys, it’s good to know all those “incentives” we sent you were not in vain.) 

Full video after the jump. 


(Beneath that skin-tight cat suit lies a quiet, innocent girl who just wants some alone time. And beneath her lies a limb-destroying human bear trap.)

Have you ever wondered what it must be like behind-the-scenes of a staredown for a fight promo? Surely the tension must be insurmountable, with members of each fighter’s crew present on set to separate the two between each take. Well, if the latest Showtime episode of All Access: Ronda Rousey is any indication, the fighters actually choose to discuss how bad they smell to one another, all the while trying to remain serious while the camera is rolling.

Challenger Sarah Kaufman is the first to break the ice, declaring that her “left armpit smells,” whereas Ronda admits that she probably smells “like leprosy” as a result of her catsuit-clad antics she participated in just moments before. We know, we know, you all just went from six to midnight.

Anyway, so begins the second episode of All Access, which delves further into the training strategies of both the champion and the challenger. Where Rousey is content to hit the pads with Richard Perez in between sessions at Team Cesar Gracie, Kaufman prefers to just bang on the drum kit a little and punch bitches in the face. An interesting, if not unorthodox strategy.

And things get really interesting around the six-minute mark, where Ronda receives the first copies of her ESPN “The Body” Issue. Even she seems impressed by her own hotness, as well as the fact that ESPN showed far more butt than she expected (Author’s note: Thanks guys, it’s good to know all those “incentives” we sent you were not in vain.) 

Ronda immediately shows the magazine to her mother for approval, who in turn crushes the hopes and dreams of millions of Americans by asking “So this is the most naked you’re going to get, right?” Ronda agrees, but when watching the behind-the-scenes video of her shoot on Youtube, finds that if you pause it at just the right moment, you can totally see a boob in there. Her reaction is less than ecstatic. Seriously, she breaks into tears on multiple occasions, with only a text from Dana White being able to talk her off the ledge.

All Access also takes a look back at Kaufman’s brief, yet terrifying reign as the bantamweight champion, which was highlighted by a vicious third round KO via slam of Roxanne Modafferi, and much, much, more, so check out the episode below and let us know what you think.

Rousey vs. Kaufman goes down in just two days, people, so who you got?

–J. Jones

Ronda Rousey is DTF Fight Week, Y’all. In Related News, You Still Have No Chance With Her

Not to overexpose you to Strikeforce champion Ronda Rousey (as if that were possible) but we just saw a clip of her recent appearance on the Conan O’Brien show and she caught our eye and ear. Conan asked Ronda if women fighters stick to the old maxim prevalent in male fight camps – no sex before a fight.

Ronda, bless her soul, said that rule was rubbish for women. In fact, she said, sex is good for women (told you, Lindsey!) fighters (oh, ok) before a fight because it increases their testosterone. She also said that although she doesn’t know the science behind it, it might be that women suck it out of men during sex…alright.

Not to overexpose you to Strikeforce champion Ronda Rousey (as if that were possible) but we just saw a clip of her recent appearance on the Conan O’Brien show and she caught our eye and ear. Conan asked Ronda if women fighters stick to the old maxim prevalent in male fight camps – no sex before a fight.

Ronda, bless her soul, said that rule was rubbish for women. In fact, she said, sex is good for women (told you, Lindsey!) fighters (oh, ok) before a fight because it increases their testosterone. She also said that although she doesn’t know the science behind it, it might be that women suck it out of men during sex…alright.

Rousey is getting pretty good at this fight promotion thing, isn’t she? Combine her charisma and sexuality with the fact that she is a savage in the ring and apparently simply hates other fighters’ arms, and she’s the total package. And, oh yeah, she’s totally single so maybe if you get your groupie ass to San Diego in the third week of August you might have a shot with the champ.

No you won’t.

In any case, watch the full clip above and then watch Rousey defend her Strikeforce belt against Sarah Kaufman August 18th on Showtime.

– Elias Cepeda