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Saturday, November 12, 2005
Taneo: Gag the rags
By Paul J. Taneo
Free-for-all
In all the excitement of the last few months generated by Pride FC’s string of top-class tournaments, we missed an episode in the continuing storyline that is mixed martial arts. Notches lower than cardinal sin, this omission is a mortal sin.
In a move that may not be as malevolent as the city mayor putting up a ban on a local daily but leaves a bitter taste in the mouth just as well, the UFC top brass decided not to grant credentials to print and online correspondents for last Oct. 11’s nondescript UFC 55. The ban was all encompassing – no journalists were allowed at the weigh-in, ringside and post-fight conference.
Whatever the UFC parent company Zuffa’s intention was for the prohibition, it worked all too well. Hardly anybody noticed that Andrei Arlovski knocked out Paul Buentello in 15 seconds of Round 1 in the main event to defend his heavyweight belt.
It can also be said that the lousy card is partly to blame for the uneventful turn of events but it can be argued that if the usual gang of MMA journalists were around to cover the fights, pre and post, the free advertising would have pumped up fans.
YOUR CREDIT IS GOOD BUT WE NEED CREDENTIALS. Several theories were offered as to the reason for the media ban: The UFC was irked by the leakage on the Internet of The Ultimate Fighter 2 spoilers, “an attempt to internalize all UFC-related news, with Zuffa’s ultimate intention being to create a proprietary website and control the content and distribution of information” and to cleanse the media ranks covering the UFC – limiting access only to journalists of proven quality and ample work quantity.
Sure, the UFC could claim that as strong as the organization is now with a virtual monopoly of the market in North America, it doesn’t need the media to add to its coffers. Wrong! Dead wrong. A couple of years ago, an alphabet-soup organization that many still fondly remember as the MBA, started to install its rule on a significant slice of Philippine professional basketball. One manager of one team, new in his position, decided not to honor media IDs and prevented easy access of local hounds to the games.
The backlash was quick and overwhelming. A near-blackout of news related to the local team was carried out while media commentators filled the radio waves with spiteful opinion and print columnists were just as irate. The effect was felt as quickly and overwhelmingly – gate receipts dropped and the team’s popularity was shaky.
Hell hath a fury like a woman scorned – a mediaman’s.
The UFC realized the folly of its actions; it vowed to grant credentials to the media for UFC 56.
FUTILE FURY. The complete results of UFC 55: Fury:
Heavyweight championship: Andrei Arlovski (11-3-0) beats Paul Buentello (19-9-0) by KO in 15 seconds of Round 1; (heavyweight bout) Branden Lee Hinkle (13-6) over Sean Gannon (1-1), TKO 4:14 R1; (light-heavyweight) Forrest Griffin (12-2) over Elvis Sinosic (6-8-2), TKO 3:22 R1; (welterweight) Joe Riggs (26-6-0) over Chris Lytle (29-12-4) TKO 2:00 R2; (light-heavyweight) Renato Sobral over Chael Sonnen (15-7-1) Tapout (triangle choke) 1:20 R2; (middleweight) Jorge Rivera (13-4-0) over Dennis Hallman (57-11-2) unanimous decision (30-10); (heavyweight) Marcio Cruz (1-0-0) over Keigo Kunihara ( 3-2-0) Tapout (guillotine) 1:02 R2; (light-heavyweight) Ron Faircloth (25-10) vs. Alessio Sakara (13-3-10 KOs) No Contest – Faircloth throws accidental kick to Sakara’s groin.
Despite a KO, three TKOs and two tapouts spicing up the card, the rather low-profile pairings have made observers opine UFC 55 as one of the most boring events either SEG or Zuffa have put up.
(paulotaneo@yahoo.com)
(November 12, 2005 issue)
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