Issue 086

March 2012

Always the early adopter ahead of the curve, Japan has suddenly become the Mecca for mechanized fight sports. Robot MMA is rampaging through the streets of Tokyo and the markets of Nagoya, recruiting many humans to its cause. The remotely controlled foot-tall droids (sorry, were you expecting house-sized AI behemoths?) use a host of flips, hits and grapples in order to gain the advantage over their metallic foes – although they’re prone to entangling themselves, occasionally requiring assistance from carbon-based life forms.

The proto-Terminators are divided into two weight classes, 2kg or under is flyweight while up to 3kg is bantamweight, and the winner of the contest is the first to score three knockdowns within three minutes. At the time of going to press, the mighty Ruckanus stood as reigning All-Japan champion at bantamweight, taking the title at the Robot Japan tournament last year. 

St. Petersburg, Russia: Russian MMA goes primal

Think you’re dead macho for training (or perhaps fighting) MMA? Well, think again, sissy. Until you’re striking and grappling on the dirt floor of what is likely to be a poorly constructed ring you shouldn’t even be allowed into a men’s bathroom! We’re joking, of course. Fighting in the sand outside an old factory with little-to-no medical facilities at your disposal, just like the chaps fighting for Tron MMA in St Petersburg, Russia, is actually rather stupid.

But, regardless, these ultra-primal scrappers throw the fear of infection and serious injury to the wind. After all, why worry when your prize for victory is a smart beige baseball cap? Despite Tron MMA’s passion for alfresco fighting, plenty of Russian MMA promotions use a sensible indoor setting for their events, and although Tron MMA moves indoors to a standard ring during the harsh Russian winter, the summer months are reserved for four-ounce combat in the open. Rustic.

UFC to make April debut in Sweden

The UFC will return to Europe in April, holding its first ever event in Sweden. UFC president Dana White confirmed that the UFC will go to Stockholm’s Ericsson Globe Arena on April 14th. It is expected the 16,000-seat venue will host the provisionally titled UFC on Fuel 2 card. Alexander Gustafsson, fighting out of Alliance MMA in California, is the UFC’s most high-profile Swede and has expressed an interest in fighting on the bill.

BAMMA scores Fight Network TV deal

Top British promotion BAMMA has officially announced a Canadian TV deal with Fight Network. Fight fans can expect to enjoy the next nine BAMMA events televised live from the UK, including the chance to see fighters such as Nate Marquardt, Paul Daley and rising British middleweight Tom ‘Kong’ Watson. BAMMA director David Green said: “We are really excited to be extending our partnership with Fight Network. Canada is well known for its love of the sport and we believe that this is a fantastic opportunity for BAMMA to continue showcasing the best of British MMA to a passionate, wider audience.” Fight Network can be found on all major cable, satellite and telco systems in Canada.

500

In Brazil, nearly 500 hopefuls registered to try out for the first ever localized version of The Ultimate Fighter

3.4 million

Over 3.4 million people watched Michael Bisping TKO Jason ‘Mayhem’ Miller on Spike at the Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale. That’s 38% of the number Junior Dos Santos and Cain Velasquez pulled on Fox a month earlier