HDNet Fights

Infobox Company
company_name=HDNet Fights
company_logo=
company_type=Private
foundation=2007
founder=Mark Cuban
location_city=flagicon|USA Las Vegas, Nevada
location_country=United States
key_people=Mark Cuban, Owner
Guy Mezger, President & chief matchmaker
industry=Mixed martial arts promotion
parent=HDNet Inc.
company_slogan=
homepage= [http://www.hdnetfights.com/ http://www.hdnetfights.com/] "'HDNet Fights" is a US based mixed martial arts(MMA) promotion and a television outlet for various other MMA promotions affiliated such as DREAM, the IFL, Strikeforce, Adrenaline MMA, SportFight, Ring of Combat and numerous smaller regional promotions.

It was founded in 2007 by HDNet owner and founder, billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban, as a staple of programming upon which to base the new network. Cuban has since expressed a desire to present MMA in a manner more in line with other professional sports, saying that he would eliminate ancillary details such as ring card girls. Despite speculation of how personally Cuban himself would be involved in the business and promoting of MMA, he has proven to be a vocal defender of MMA in his blogs and interviews since starting the promotion.cite web
url=http://sports.espn.go.com/extra/mma/news/story?id=3017701
title=Cuban sees bright future for MMA
year=2007
accessdate=2008-04-10
publisher=ESPN/Sherdog] cite web
url=http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=4684&zoneid=8
title=MARK CUBAN SETS HIS SIGHTS ON MMA
year=2007
accessdate=2008-04-10
publisher=MMA Weekly] cite web
url=http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=3165552
title=Mayweather mulling move to MMA in deal with Cuban
year=2007
accessdate=2008-04-10
publisher=ESPN] cite web
url=http://www.blogmaverick.com/2008/03/18/this-guy-proves-anyone-with-a-keyboard-can-be-stupid/
title=This Guy Proves Anyone with a Keyboard can be Stupid
year=2008
accessdate=2008-04-10
publisher=Blog Maverick]

Inside MMA

In company with the announcement of the new promotion, HDNet also began broadcasting the first MMA-focused sports program called Inside MMA. It’s first broadcast aired on September 14, 2007 and guests were former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell and well known MMA fan and actor Kevin James. The show is hosted by Kenny Rice and MMA legend Bas Rutten. Broadcasts and segments from the show can also be found on HDNet’s YouTube subscription, Sherdog.com, and the HDNet Fights website. cite web
url=http://www.hd.net/imma101.html
title=Inside MMA premier episode
year=2007
accessdate=2008-04-10
publisher=HDNet Fights]

Fight Cards

HDNet Fights hosted their first fight card on October 13, 2007 and the main event was a light-heavyweight contest between Eric Paulson and Jeff Ford. cite web
url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/news.asp?n_id=9473
title=HDNet Fights Play-By-Play
year=2007
accessdate=2008-04-10
publisher=Sherdog.com] Cuban described the show as a “beta test” and expressed a desire to portray the card as more of a sporting event with less flash than would be found at a UFC card.

Their first pay-per-view promotion is scheduled to be a July dated card between Fedor Emelianenko and Tim Sylvia. The card will be co-promoted by Affliction, Adrenaline MMA, and M1 Mixfight. They are also the only station in the United States to air fight cards from Japanese promotion DREAM. They had previously dealt with executives from that organization to air the New Years Yarennoka! fight card. cite web
url=http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=6047&zoneid=2
title=FEDOR VS. SYLVIA MAY HAPPEN IN JULY, NOT SIGNED
year=2008
accessdate=2008-04-10
publisher= [MMA Weekly] cite web
url=http://mmafightline.com/news/2007/127/fedor_emelianenko_310231.shtml
title=HDNet To Air Yarrenoka NYE Show Live From Japan
year=2007
accessdate=2008-04-10
publisher=Fightline.com]

HDNet Fights events

This is a list of events held or broadcast by HDNet Fights a mixed martial arts organization based in the United States.

Legal battle with Zuffa LLC.

Upon Randy Couture’s retirement/resignation from the UFC, HDNet signed him to a four-fight, 18-month promotional contract effective upon the end of his existing Zuffa contract. The move was considered a key to the suit filed by HDNet against Zuffa in Dallas district court to get a declaratory judgment concerning the contractual status of Couture. Zuffa had previously been awarded a preliminary injunction preventing Couture from participating actively as a coach for his Xtreme Couture fighters in the IFL.

Numerous legal maneuvering has ensued, the latest being the US District Court for the Northern District of Texas granting HDNet's emergency motion to remand its lawsuit against Zuffa to Texas State Court. Zuffa had previously removed their declaratory judgment action to Federal Court, but because both companies are technically Nevada entities, it was ruled that the case is currently beyond Federal jurisdiction. cite web
url=http://mmajunkie.com/news/3783/report-randy-couture-signed-contract-with-hdnet-fights.mma
title=HDNet Fights Has Contract with Couture; Question is When It Begins
year=2008
accessdate=2008-04-10
publisher=Sherdog.com] cite web
url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles.asp?n_id=12020
title=Couture Litigation Grows More Complex
year=2008
accessdate=2008-04-10
publisher=Sherdog.com] cite web
url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles.asp?n_id=12250
title=HDNet v. Zuffa Remanded to State Court
year=2008
accessdate=2008-04-10
publisher=Sherdog.com] cite web
url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles.asp?n_id=11406
title=Report: Randy Couture Signed Contract with HDNet Fights
year=2008
accessdate=2008-04-10
publisher=MMA Junkie.com]

Notable Fighters

*Frank Trigg former UFC and PRIDE FC fighter
*Yves Edwards current Elite XC lightweight title contender
*Justin Eilers former UFC and WEC fighter
*Drew Fickett current Elite XC welterweight title contender
*Jason "Mayhem" Miller current Icon Sport and WEC fighter
*Pete Spratt former UFC fighter
*Edwin Dewees former UFC fighter
*Bob Sapp former NFL lineman and K-1 star

ee also

*HDNet
*Mark Cuban
*Inside MMA
*Dallas Mavericks

References

External links

* [http://www.hdnetfights.com/ Official HDNet Fights Site]
* [http://www.hdnetfights.com/insidemma.php Inside MMA webcasts]
* [http://www.blogmaverick.com/ Blog Maverick]