Issue 130
July 2015
One Championship, Asia’s biggest MMA promotion, has signed a landmark agreement to work with The Walt Disney Company – bringing together the world’s fastest growing sport and the silver screen’s most daring action and adventure movie studio.
Its CEO, Victor Cui, is naturally delighted with the deal and is excited to welcome Disney to mixed martial arts. “We have a fantastic relationship with Disney,” he said. “Blue-chip organizations all over the world realize the limitless potential that One Championship and mixed martial arts has in Asia.
“This is a great deal and reflects the power of One Championship in creating a spectacle that attracts the best partners.”
The strength of the organization’s brand in the region was also enough to attract the attention of boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao last year. But securing a global mass media giant like Disney as a sponsor takes the Singapore-based MMA brand to a whole new level.
One Championship’s growth is set to continue in 2015 as it takes its shows across the continent. Its event on June 12th is set to be its 30th across Southeast Asia, the Middle East and mainland China since its launch in 2011. Cui added its latest broadcast deal will also bring its fights into homes in more than
100 countries worldwide.
He also indicated ONE Championship is looking to add title belts at light heavy, heavyweight and super heavy later in 2015.
$3,299
Prices for front-row floor seats as part of the cheapest VIP package for UFC 189 in Las Vegas began at $3,299 each.
Tennessee MMA events saved by new legislation
UFC Fight Night 74, due to be held in Nashville in August, has been given the green light after legislation was passed to save the Tennessee Athletic Commission (TAC).
The commission was in danger of being disbanded on July 1st due to financial problems; its closure would have rendered both MMA and boxing unregulated and effectively illegal. However, the new legislation extends the TAC until June 2017.
The new bill maintains the TAC will still oversee combat sports in the state, but it’s the promoters who must now pay for things like referees and ringside doctors.
“Changes had to be made to the Tennessee Athletic Commission in order to create a better-functioning commission,” said Senator Mike Bell, who sponsored the bill. “These updates ensure that boxing and MMA events will continue to be held in Tennessee.”
Despite fears over the TAC’s closure, the UFC showed its support at the start of the year by scheduling the Fight Night card in Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on August 8th.
Las Vegas tickets price increase
MMA’s war on PED cheats looks destined to hit fight fans in the pocket after the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) asked state lawmakers to increase taxes on tickets to both boxing and mixed martial arts events.
Bruce Breslow, head of the Nevada Department of Business and Industry, presented bill AB 476 to lawmakers on April 14th. It would increase fees on ticket sales from 6% to 8%, and allow the governor to appoint the head of the NSAC.
Breslow said the state currently helps fund the commission and raising the fee would make the body self-sufficient and allow for expanded drug testing before fights. If approved, the bill will come into effect during the next fiscal year, which begins on July 1st.
25
Unranked lightweight Gleison Tibau and welter Josh Koscheck have the longest active UFC records. Each has 25 Octagon appearances and counting, landing them in the top tier of the new Reebok sponsorship payment program.
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