MMA Overload in Big D: "Mano a Mano"
June 29, 2009, 2:59 PM
http://stations.espn.go.com/stations/espn1033/blog?id=3508101&post=4295380
If you have read any of my articles over the last year, you know that the number of MMA events in the Dallas-Fort Worth area have grown exponentially. At this time last year, there were ZERO promotions actively scheduling events in the market.
Today, the landscape has indeed changed, with a total of six promotions committed to hosting anywhere from 6-12 events each year. As you can see, DFW MMA fans will have perhaps 40-70 events a year to choose from. Even more exciting is the fact that UFC 103 will be held in Dallas on Sept 19. MMA Overload indeed!
SWC, XKO, Bloody Knuckles, Steele Cage, Global Fighting, and now Sun Sports & Entertainment are the promotions enticing MMA fans like me to shell out my hard earned cash. You can argue that Sun Sports & Entertainment preceded these other groups if you include the Art of War series that was widely successful several years ago. But since they have been inactive for so long, I kind of consider them "new" or "renewed", especially since they will now introduce their new series "Mano a Mano".
Sun Sports and Camelot Sports & Entertainment, who recently purchased the Mesquite Rodeo, have agreed to host 12 MMA events at Resistol Arena. If these events are produced in a similar way to their Art of War series, look for a very well produced and exciting show!
CJ Cumo, CEO of Sun Sports and Entertainment, (Stock Symbol: SUNR) recently answered several questions about his company, Art of War, and the new venture: "Mano a Mano". See the transcripts below. For more information about "Mano a Mano" or to purchase tickets for the event on July 12th in Mesquite, go to www.artofwarlive.com.
Q&A With CJ Cumo
In The Clinch: Now that your organization is planning events in DFW again, will this be under the Art of War umbrella or will you focus on your "Mano a Mano" events in the DFW market?
CJ Cumo: SUN has two products: our general market product (ART OF WAR) and our Latino-centric product (MANO A MANO). We are still working on the date for bringing back ART OF WAR to the Mesquite Arena, but all signs point to late August. Our new Latino-centric product, MANO A MANO, starts July 12th and will showcase a wide diversity of Latino fighters, not just from Mexican descent, but Ecuador, Cuba and even Spain. Being in the Southwest, the market is ripe for this product and we are very excited about it.
In The Clinch: What is your vision for "Mano a Mano"?
CJ Cumo: MANO A MANO is 100% Latino... plain and simple. The fighters, music, color schemes, ladies, etc. are all geared for that market. The Latino community is very important for making this event happen so we are reaching out to local and regional business leaders and organizations to spread the word. Latino fans have been the biggest supporters of boxing for numerous years and we feel there is a paradigm shift for those same fans, and younger fans, to turn to a program like MANO A MANO.
In The Clinch: Why did you pick Mesquite for your next 12 shows?
CJ Cumo: DFW is a pretty sports-saturated market, but Mesquite represents certain geographical advantages that are better suited for SUN and for MMA in general. We entered into an agreement to showcase both of our products at the new and improved Resistol Mesquite Rodeo because the new owners, Camelot Sports, are aiming to make this facility more than just a rodeo. In fact, their website is www.morethanjustarodeo.com. This facility offers the right size and amenities to host our events, namely MANO A MANO for the growing Latino population in the region. We have engaged many businesses and organizations in Mesquite who are aiming to keep business in the city and we hope to oblige.
In The Clinch: Will you partner with anybody to broadcast the shows in Mesquite?
CJ Cumo: We have been in talks with several broadcast partners for both products and will make those announcements as deals are signed.
In The Clinch: Since you've been out of the DFW MMA world for the last 18 months or so, several regional promotions have picked up where you left off. SWC, Xtreme Knockout, Global Fighting, Bloody Knuckles and Steele Cage have all entered the DFW market. How do you see your organization competing with these newer organizations? What will you offer that they won't?
CJ Cumo: SUN has always prided itself as an excellent event production with a top notch fight card. These are the two essential qualities that have allowed us to partner with names such as Mark Cuban, HDNet, In-Demand, DISH Network, American Airlines Center and Harrah's Hotel & Casino. We have had an unblemished past and impressive list of results with a strong fan and sponsor base that continues to grow. Due to the demand of a growing sport, there are obviously new market entrants. We know many of these groups you mentioned and have even provided cage rental services to them. Obviously ART OF WAR has a name in DFW, but MANO A MANO is unique to those promotions and others as well as the first all-Latino MMA promotion in the country. Even the recent Bellator Fighting Championships on ESPN DEPORTES is not 100% Latino and that's where we have a real competitive advantage, especially here in the Southwest. Looking at demographic data, we see a big future for MANO A MANO.
In The Clinch: What is the vision or goal of the promotion?
CJ Cumo: Every smart promoter starts in his backyard and that's where we are starting, but ultimately, we'll work in this region, build to a TV foundation and eventually be back on PPV.
In The Clinch: From a company organizational stand-point, how has Sun Sports & Entertainment changed over the last couple of years?
CJ Cumo: New management, new focus and direction, new business strategies and new business relationships. The addition of MANO A MANO into our product line is certainly key.
In The Clinch: What is in store for the first show on July 12th? Any guests? Surprises?
CJ Cumo: Too many to list and hope that you and many others come to see what we have in store!
In The Clinch: Anything else you would like to mention about the promotion that readers might be interested in?
CJ Cumo: We're back and ready to produce some of the most exciting MMA in Texas!
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