NBC TO PREMIERE NEW ADRENALINE-FILLED MIXED MARTIAL ARTS CAGE FIGHT SERIES 'STRIKEFORCE'
Source: NBC Entertainment
Mar 28, 2008 - 8:30:13 AM
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In a major step for the fastest-growing sport around the globe, NBC has
partnered with world championship promotion company Strikeforce to be the first
to premiere a weekly mixed martial arts cage fight series on broadcast
television. "Strikeforce on NBC" will premiere the night of April 12 from 2-2:30
a.m. ET on NBC.
The announcement was made by Jerry Petry, Executive Vice
President, NBC Universal Television.
"Mixed martial arts has exploded
onto the sports scene. Its athletes are tremendous competitors and the sport is
one of the fastest growing in the world," said Petry. "As a leader in this
arena, Strikeforce will be able to deliver some of the finest and most intense
action ever seen on broadcast TV."
"It's truly an honor to have the
opportunity to bring the Strikeforce mixed martial arts product to one of the
longest-standing and most well-respected national television platforms," said
Strikeforce Chief Executive Officer Scott Coker. "NBC has a history of popular
late Saturday TV and in the 80's NBC's 'Saturday Night's Main Event' show helped
catapult the popularity of professional wrestling. Strikeforce is looking to
follow in suit and establish a legacy of its own on the network."
"Strikeforce on NBC" will air immediately following NBC's hit poker
tournament series, "Poker After Dark" (1-2 a.m. ET/check local listings), the
core audience of which -- 18-34 year old males -- matches that of mixed martial
arts.
Each episode of the hard-hitting series will feature Strikeforce
mixed martial arts fights and highlights as well as fighter profiles. Mixed
martial arts pits fighters skilled in a wide array of combat disciplines against
each other inside a caged-in ring. Popular disciplines include boxing,
kickboxing, wrestling, jiu-jitsu, and judo, among others. The premiere
Strikeforce episode will feature superstar Cung Le vs. Brian Warren, Duane
"Bang" Ludwig vs. Tony "The Freak" as well as a profile on Le, recognized as one
of the most dynamic competitors in the sport.
Strikeforce launched its
mixed martial arts fight series on March 10, 2006 with "Shamrock vs. Gracie,"
the first sanctioned mixed martial arts event in California state history. The
fight card attracted a sellout crowd of 18,265 to San Jose's HP Pavilion and
broke the all-time record for attendance at a mixed martial arts event in North
America.
The series is being produced by Kevin Cusick of KC Productions
in conjunction with Carr-Hughes Productions.
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