After jumping the gun a bit earlier this year with mention of a joint venture between Bellator MMA and Monster Energy’s NASCAR series, it appears the two sides have come to a conclusion. Monster Energy Bellator MMA Fight Series will hold an event May 20 as part of the NASCAR All-Star Race weekend in Charlotte, […]
After jumping the gun a bit earlier this year with mention of a joint venture between Bellator MMA and Monster Energy’s NASCAR series, it appears the two sides have come to a conclusion. Monster Energy Bellator MMA Fight Series will hold an event May 20 as part of the NASCAR All-Star Race weekend in Charlotte, […]
Hours after Bellator MMA sent out a press release detailing an agreement between the promotion and NASCAR, the racing series has issued a statement. And they are of different ideas. “NASCAR does not have a partnership with Bellator,” NASCAR told USA TODAY Sports’ Brant James. Earlier in the day, Bellator stated plans to hold fights […]
Hours after Bellator MMA sent out a press release detailing an agreement between the promotion and NASCAR, the racing series has issued a statement. And they are of different ideas. “NASCAR does not have a partnership with Bellator,” NASCAR told USA TODAY Sports’ Brant James. Earlier in the day, Bellator stated plans to hold fights […]
Miesha Tate is already one of the most marketable athletes on the UFC roster. Now she just stepped into an entirely new level of visibility. On Friday morning, it was announced the former Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion and perennial threat to the UFC’s 135-pound women’s crown has signed with KHI, which is the management firm […]
Miesha Tate is already one of the most marketable athletes on the UFC roster. Now she just stepped into an entirely new level of visibility. On Friday morning, it was announced the former Strikeforce women’s bantamweight champion and perennial threat to the UFC’s 135-pound women’s crown has signed with KHI, which is the management firm […]
(“…and if you can beat Harry Reid in ping-pong, I’ll *double* it.”)
MMA Junkie cites the Center for Responsible Politics in reporting that the UFC has spent $620,000 on lobbying the U.S. Congress this past year, mainly on anti-piracy matters. In terms of major sports leagues, only the NFL has spent more than the UFC. From the Junkie report:
“The industry-leading fight promotion shelled out $620,000, double the amount of Major League Baseball and nearly five times the National Basketball Association’s payout, according to the Center for Responsible Politics.
“The NFL dwarfed all major sporting organizations with $1.14 million.
“The UFC’s 2012 figures represent a 51 percent increase from the previous year, in which parent company Zuffa spent $410,000 in Washington, and a 158 percent increase from $240,000 in 2008, when CRP first tracked lobbying records.”
“A pair of firms – Brownstein, Hyatt, Faber and Schreck LLP, as well as SB Consulting – represent the UFC. The promotion’s co-chief operating officer, Lawrence Epstein [said] that the firms are used to educate legislators on MMA and to push for tougher anti-piracy laws that could stem financial losses from illegal streaming.”
You may remember that some hackers attacked UFC President Dana White for his organization’s support of and lobbying for passage of SOPA. The UFC has long been aggressive in litigating real or perceived violations of its intellectual property, going after individuals, small business owners, and large companies alike, and this level of investment in congressional lobbying shows that they are eager to get all the legislative help they can as they seek to monetize the content they create and own.
(“…and if you can beat Harry Reid in ping-pong, I’ll *double* it.”)
MMA Junkie cites the Center for Responsible Politics in reporting that the UFC has spent $620,000 on lobbying the U.S. Congress this past year, mainly on anti-piracy matters. In terms of major sports leagues, only the NFL has spent more than the UFC. From the Junkie report:
“The industry-leading fight promotion shelled out $620,000, double the amount of Major League Baseball and nearly five times the National Basketball Association’s payout, according to the Center for Responsible Politics.
“The NFL dwarfed all major sporting organizations with $1.14 million.
“The UFC’s 2012 figures represent a 51 percent increase from the previous year, in which parent company Zuffa spent $410,000 in Washington, and a 158 percent increase from $240,000 in 2008, when CRP first tracked lobbying records.”
“A pair of firms – Brownstein, Hyatt, Faber and Schreck LLP, as well as SB Consulting – represent the UFC. The promotion’s co-chief operating officer, Lawrence Epstein [said] that the firms are used to educate legislators on MMA and to push for tougher anti-piracy laws that could stem financial losses from illegal streaming.”
You may remember that some hackers attacked UFC President Dana White for his organization’s support of and lobbying for passage of SOPA. The UFC has long been aggressive in litigating real or perceived violations of its intellectual property, going after individuals, small business owners, and large companies alike, and this level of investment in congressional lobbying shows that they are eager to get all the legislative help they can as they seek to monetize the content they create and own.
It is impossible to tell right now whether or not the UFC’s lobbying money is being well-spent. SOPA failed and I’ve heard rumors that somewhere out there in the deep and wide inter web folks still download and share UFC fights.
The UFC’s lobbying of local legislatures has, in contrast, paid clear dividends. Since the UFC began making a serious commitment to lobbying state legislatures in hopes of getting sanctioned in all states, they’ve made great progress in the United States. New York is the only state of real importance that is still giving the UFC fits in terms of sanctioning. They’ve had similar success gaining sanctioned internationally as well.
Anyway, if you get a cease and desist letter from the UFC’s legal department and think to call your congressman to complain, you should know that he or she may have already heard from Uncle Dana.
The Daytona 500 and UFC 157 are different in many ways, but both shared a female in the lead role in common.The media couldn’t get enough of Danica Patrick, the pole-sitter for the Daytona 500, as she looked to become just the second woman in the histo…
The Daytona 500 and UFC 157 are different in many ways, but both shared a female in the lead role in common.
The media couldn’t get enough of Danica Patrick, the pole-sitter for the Daytona 500, as she looked to become just the second woman in the history of NASCAR to ever lead the race under non-caution circumstances. She accomplished that goal on Lap 90, when her GoDaddy.com car took over the top spot.
Like Patrick, the UFC’s Ronda Rousey also made history on Saturday night when she became the first woman to ever win a fight in the Octagon, defeating Liz Carmouche in the first round of the bout. Her win solidified her place as the top female fighter in the sport.
With these women exuding plenty of “girl power” into their traditionally testosterone-filled sports, now seems like a good time to take a look at the 10 best female athletes in America today.
(You might look at this picture and see a black guy and a white rabbit. But all I see is two cool friends, hanging out. / Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Weinberg)
It was recently announced that UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones would be participating as an honorary race official for the 2012 Daytona 500, which goes down this Sunday, February 26th, at the Daytona International Speedway in Florida, and will be broadcast on FOX. “I am thrilled to be able to serve as honorary race official at this year’s Daytona 500, NASCAR’s premier event,” Jones said in a press release. “Like the UFC, NASCAR has a passionate and knowledgeable fan base, and I am honored that I will get to share this experience with them.”
It’s funny…when you think of who the UFC might want to represent them at a high-profile NASCAR race, you’d probably assume it would be a woodsy outdoorsman, or an outspoken right-wing patriot. A white guy, is what I’m saying. Then again, Jones is hands-down one of the UFC’s biggest stars, and he adds some racial diversity to a sporting event that desperately needs it. And I mean desperately.
(You might look at this picture and see a black guy and a white rabbit. But all I see is two cool friends, hanging out. / Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Weinberg)
It was recently announced that UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones would be participating as an honorary race official for the 2012 Daytona 500, which goes down this Sunday, February 26th, at the Daytona International Speedway in Florida, and will be broadcast on FOX. “I am thrilled to be able to serve as honorary race official at this year’s Daytona 500, NASCAR’s premier event,” Jones said in a press release. “Like the UFC, NASCAR has a passionate and knowledgeable fan base, and I am honored that I will get to share this experience with them.”
It’s funny…when you think of who the UFC might want to represent them at a high-profile NASCAR race, you’d probably assume it would be a woodsy outdoorsman, or an outspoken right-wing patriot. A white guy, is what I’m saying. Then again, Jones is hands-down one of the UFC’s biggest stars, and he adds some racial diversity to a sporting event that desperately needs it. And I mean desperately.
In case you don’t follow stock-car racing, there haven’t been any black drivers in the highest levels of the sport since Bill Lester left NASCAR in 2007. The Sprint Cup Series has recognized that this is a problem, and has tried to make up for it by launching their Drive for Diversity program, and hiring Lenny Kravitz to perform at Sunday’s pre-race show. So between Jones and Kravitz, they’ve already got 1.5 African-Americans in public positions at the Daytona 500.
So what will Jones be doing in his honorary role? We’re not exactly sure. He definitely won’t be starting the race, though — that honor goes to WWE veteran John Cena. Forget the racial angle for a minute, and consider that UFC champions are still dealing with a different glass ceiling. No matter how successful you become as a cage-fighter, you’re still a second-class citizen compared to an aging pro wrestler. Shame on you, society.
