Zuffa partners with Japanese network TV to air "UFC Fight Night: Florian vs. Gomi"
by Akimitsu Kuwabara on Mar 10, 2010 11:42 PM EST
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(Photo courtesy of Sports Navi)
UFC held a press conference in Tokyo on Wednesday, March 10 to announce the broadcast of the upcoming "UFC Fight Night: Florian vs. Gomi" on Japanese network TV.
"UFC Fight Night: Florian vs. Gomi," scheduled for March 31 at Bojangles Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina, will air on tape delay in Japan on April 8th during the one-hour prime time slot from 22:00 to 22:54 JST. The fight card features the debut of former Pride FC Lightweight champion, Takanori Gomi; also slated for appearance are prominent Japanese fighters, Caol Uno and Yushin Okami.
UFC events currently air on Pay-Per-View on the satellite broadcasting and pay TV station, WOWOW, in Japan. At the presser, Zuffa counsel, Jaime Pollack, announced the partnership with TV Tokyo, the smallest of the free-to-air broadcast networks.
Zuffa's initial foray into Japanese broadcast network took place in 2005 during Pride FC's heyday; the collaboration with TV Tokyo was short-lived and fruitless. Five years later, Zuffa renews the pursuit of the once-impervious Japanese market as its oversea expansion kicks into high gear.
Pollack told the press that Japan is the most highly coveted market in Asia in light of Zuffa's plan to increase the brand recognition in the region. With "big names" like Gomi, Uno, and Okami, Zuffa hopes to make the upcoming fight card in North Carolina a catalyst for popularizing the UFC brand in Japan.
The TV Tokyo sports executive in attendance announced an ambitious (read: unrealistic) goal for the station to attain a double-digit rating. To put the number in perspective, DREAM, Japan's premier MMA organization, recorded 16.2% average during prime time on TBS (Tokyo Broadcasting System) for the very successful DREAM 9; other DREAM events during the primetime slot have recorded around 10% average.
Zuffa's partnership with TV Tokyo is a great news for MMA enthusiasts in Japan; however, given the scarce following UFC has in Japan,capturing new fans, particularly among the large legion of casual fans, remains a daunting task.
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nice
its good it will be aired all over asia that way everyone can see how overated gomi really is
florian will rock this mofo then rear naked choke his ass!
by THORPEY! on Mar 11, 2010 1:50 AM EST via mobile reply actions
I don't think we've ever seen Gomi rocked. One of the most underrated chins in teh game.
by NNR (formerly NameNotRequired) on Mar 11, 2010 10:54 AM EST up reply actions
He actually has one of the BIGGEST chins of all LW's as well. His head is huge.
I AM SOMETIMES BIASED - Get over it!!!!!!!
by ViolentMike on Mar 11, 2010 11:36 AM EST up reply actions
florian is in for a rude awakening
I thought it was comical when people were giving florian a chance against BJ and the only reason was because BJ was coming off of that loss to gsp which I still believe should have been ruled a NC.
Gomi is ganna look to make a statement in this fight and I believe he will. ANd you know with bj facing the likes of edgar for the title the UFC is desperate for an exciting fighter who will bring the fight to be a future chalenger for the LW belt
with a dominating performance over florian which is ganna happen expect to see a gomi/penn super fight on the horizen after penn humiliates edgar
I hope u r right man, i would love to see gomi do this.
florian is one tuff cookie though, and i am sure he will be very ready .
i think kenny is definitely a well rounded fighter and is decent in his striking & muy tai and has good ground skills but I wouldnt call him tuff by any means
he choked out clay who is a mid tier fighter he choked out stevenson who was recently dominated by a tuff semifinalist and he ran against huerta
if anything I would have liked to see diaz/florian so I could see diaz tapp florian I still dont understand what nates real motive is going to ww
ok so maybe i used the wrong word
but anyone to step into the cage is a tough dude imo
Nate LOST to both Joe Daddy and Clay. Why would Kenflo even take a fight with him?
The world is a dangerous place to live - not because of the people who are evil but because of the people who don't do anything about it. - Albert Einstein
I agree
That people are counting out Gomi too soon.
I heartily disagree with your ridiculous GSP/PENN NC statement.
Though, to be fair, I guess it wasn’t much of a contest ;D
Shogun lost a close decision! Everyone get crazy!
I got Kenny in this fight - BIG TIME!
Have any of you seen Gomi’s recent fights????
I AM SOMETIMES BIASED - Get over it!!!!!!!
by ViolentMike on Mar 11, 2010 11:38 AM EST up reply actions
A successful gomi is the key to unlocking the japense market to the UFC
you know Joe silva/DW/ fretita & company are hoping that the pride champion gomi can resurrect himself and in the process add a whole continent to its fanbase
the brick wall
i think even if gomi does beat florian that great wall of china BJ Penn will always be there
by AMERICAN_SON on Mar 11, 2010 2:08 AM EST up reply actions
bj will just beat his ass again maybe worst this time not hating on gomi its the truth
by AMERICAN_SON on Mar 11, 2010 2:11 AM EST up reply actions
i dont disagree with you but a penn/gomi headliner will garner HUGE intrest
I mean who the is excited to see edgar/penn, shit after watching maynard dominate edgar this is ganna be like a pros Vs joes episode
that would be sweet
but lets see how he does against melendez if he subs malendez I believe he is the only threat that exists to penn
how did gsp vs penn deserve to be a NC ...
Gsp wiped the floor with him makin him look average at best
by THORPEY! on Mar 11, 2010 2:29 AM EST via mobile reply actions
ya youre right he did wipe the floor with him
and phil nurse also rubbed vaseline all over gsp back and chest wether it was intentional or not makes no difference
if you break the rules you have to have some sort of punishment right and they broke the rules
i wasnt trying to bring up ancient history
I believe even if that incident didnt happen the outcome would have been the same but they broke the rules and it should have been ruled a nc in fairness to the other fighter who just happened to be penn
build a bridge and ghet over it
yeah yeah he had vaseling but the outcome would be no different if he didnt get over it
fair enough tbh, let there be a 3rd fight then and watch him beat penn upp again :D its good to watch :)
by THORPEY! on Mar 11, 2010 2:45 AM EST via mobile reply actions
I dont understand the format?!
Is a “Suits vs Sportswear” kind of tournament or what? :)
by Zlatan, My Hero on Mar 11, 2010 8:50 AM EST reply actions
Another step for the UFC.
It will be exciting when they host their first event their.
"Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth - Mike Tyson
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