[Centraal] MMA topic #26 St. Pierre vs. Penn 2

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Op maandag 26 januari 2009 14:35 schreef roepdeman het volgende:
Hieron's fight kwam na de main event

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The Florida-based Xtreme Fighting Championships, an upstart organization that's averaged 10,000 fans to its first six events, has signed a multi-year broadcast deal with HDNet.

XFC representatives today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that four live XFC events will be broadcast on HDNet this year and four live events in 2010.

An option is available for 2011 and beyond.

The first event expected to air on HDNet is the upcoming XFC 8 show, which takes place April 18 at the Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn.

The XFC hosts an event at the same venue on Feb. 20, though it won't air on HDNet.

"There's a finite number of MMA promotions airing live coast to coast on national television right now," XFC President John Prisco stated. "We're delighted to join this exclusive club.

"HDNet is renowned amongst MMA fans for airing spectacular fights and star-studded match-ups that they cannot see anywhere else, and XFC looks forward to providing HDNet's audience with scintillating battles between the top emerging talent in this sport for years to come."

With inexpensive ticket prices, grassroots marketing efforts and heavy promotion of local fighters, XFC has been one of the few organizations outside the UFC to consistently draw five-figure attendance figures.

The organization currently has seven events planned for this year. Two takes place in Tennessee, and five will be held in Florida

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The Ultimate Fighting Championship today announced a partnership with New Evolution Fitness Company that will create a network of nationwide and even global UFC-branded gyms.

The gyms will provide all-around training, conditioning and health options for men, women and children.

According to the UFC Gyms website, the facilities will offer fitness and cardio equipment, group classes, personal training (including MMA), general MMA instruction, a kids center and full locker rooms.

"UFC Gyms is something we've been looking at for a long time; it completely made sense to me when we found the right partner in (NEFC owner) Mark Mastrov – this is the guy who has created some of the most powerful fitness brands in the world," stated UFC President Dana White. "UFC gyms are going to shake up the fitness industry the way UFC shook up the sports industry. All the energy and excitement that we have brought to the fight business we are now going to bring to the fitness business. There is going to be something for everybody at all levels – from first timers to world class athletes. We're going to get people excited and motivated to work out and get in great shape."

No locations are opening dates have been announced, though the UFC is expected to target California markets initially and then spread throughout the U.S. and into Canada.

The latest venture provides further branding for the world's top MMA organization, which Forbes recently estimated to be worth $1 billion.

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It scored and an average audience of 2.3 million viewers.