Issue 090

July 2012

Things we hear, things we see, things we know.

Former UFC champ Newton endorses mortgage lender

One-time UFC welterweight champion Carlos Newton has put his name to an MMA-themed mortgage lender. Ontario-based MMA Mortgages recently featured Newton in a TV ad where he helped a couple secure a favorable mortgage rate, much to the delight of the ad’s fictional MMA fan boy. Newton’s appearance adds to a rich heritage of MMA fighter TV endorsements such as Clay Guida and car insurance, and Chuck Liddell and Dell computers.

Bellator plans MMA reality series for 2013

The world’s de facto number-two MMA organization, Bellator, has announced plans for an MMA-based reality TV show. The program, set to be produced by eight-time Emmy award winner Bertram Van Muster, will coincide with Bellator’s move to Spike TV, the former home the UFC before it officially moved to Fox in January. 

The format of the show is not yet known, but officials said details would be released towards the end of the year.

Chael Sonnen publishes 'Path To Enlightenment'

Number-one contender for the UFC middleweight title Chael Sonnen has a released a book he says “will baptize you in superhuman greatness.” The Voice of Reason: A VIP Pass to Enlightenment features stories from his MMA career and covers his plans for creating a Chaelocracy and topics such as politics, cinema and terrorists. Sonnen says of the book: “Prometheus brought us fire; Dana White brought us the modern-day gladiator; and I bring you a step-by-step guide to being just like me.”

UFC headed to China by end of 2012

The UFC is planning on taking its show to China in 2012 in what would be the promotion’s first visit to the Asian nation. No date has been set but UFC president Dana White has confirmed the event will take place at The Venetian casino resort in Macao, an affiliation of two islands and a peninsula on the Chinese coast. The building is the sister resort of The Venetian in Las Vegas and owned by the Las Vegas Sands Corporation. Boasting a population of over 1.3 billion, China has been a confirmed target for the UFC ever since the Nevada promotion opened an Asian office in 2010.