YAMMA Pit Fighting April 11

T-Bone · 01-29-2008, 01:25 PM

Yet another organization...and this time it's Bob Meyrowitz. You remember Meyrowitz....well it looks like he wants to go back to the early days again and is betting that fans want that too.

Quote:

Bob Meyrowitz, the founder of the world-famous Ultimate Fighting Championship, is starting a new fight league called YAMMA Pit Fighting (YPF) that will focus on tournament-style events, the organization today announced.

The first event, which airs on pay-per-view, will takes place April 11 at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, N.J.

Tournaments require winning fighters to compete at least twice per night. The format was popular in the early days of the UFC but eventually fizzled out due to fighter safety and pressure from state athletic commissions. However, back in November, Strikeforce held the first-ever tournament sanctioned in California and promised future ones in 2008.

In addition to tournaments, YPF is teasing a new fighting surface called “The YAMMA.“

”(It’s) an evolution of the traditional fighting ring that will greatly alter the current basis of MMA by changing how the fight is fought and the strategy the fighters must use to win,” the release stated. “This new surface has been specifically designed to keep the fighting more explosive and continuous. The YAMMA will change the face of the sport and will challenge the relevance of the fighters’ trademark tactics, as methods that were previously successful may be rendered useless with the new ring. This twist on an already successful sport will prove hugely popular with fighters and MMA audiences alike.

Could they possibly be talking about a moving surface? A cage that uses hydraulics to break stalemates on the ground? The organization is tight-lipped for now. However, YPF executives believe the novelty will help it penetrate the market.

“It’s with great excitement that we launch YAMMA Pit Fighting,” Meyrowitz stated. “Our deep and proven knowledge of the entertainment and MMA spheres put us in a great position to add a new dimension to the presentation of MMA as it moves into the future.“

Meyrowitz created the UFC in 1993 and marketed the events more as spectacle than sport. However, the organization adopted news rules throughout its first couple dozen shows, and by 2000, Meyrowitz and his staff began treating MMA as a true sport. In fact, while the UFC was still under Meyrowitz’s control, the organization held its first sanctioned event with UFC 28, which operated under the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board’s “unified rules.“

However, with the organization close to bankruptcy, Meyrowitz sold the UFC to Station Casinos executives Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, and boxing promoter Dana White, in 2001. The trio still owns the organization today.

UFC Creator Bob Meyrowitz Announces New MMA Promotion -- MMAjunkie.com

Crashsti · 01-29-2008, 01:32 PM

I don't wish to see MMA take a step back to the tournament format. I know Pride used it and the GP were always a big success but i prefer one fight a night format used by most promotions.

basslogic4003 · 01-29-2008, 05:10 PM

uuuugh, sounds lame. Everything is pointing towards this being a step towards eliminating any kind of strategic, careful ground positioning. Like Joe Rogan said, you don't like being on the ground, figure out a way to get up!

mammoth91 · 01-29-2008, 05:27 PM

Yeah, I'm not in to gimmicks at all and this "new ring" sounds strange. I will it give a chance however. All MMA deserves a chance !

giguer · 01-29-2008, 05:58 PM

Hope that work but I really don't know when.

Gooner · 01-29-2008, 06:28 PM

This will not go anywhere.

I base this solely on the name they came up with.
YAMMA?

Seriously, YAMMA?

SmashingMachine · 01-29-2008, 08:34 PM

Sounds like Merrowitz's looking to start another organization to get bought out by another Zuffa. This will only hurt mma.

OneTwoPunch · 01-29-2008, 08:54 PM

I'm curious to see what the new surface is . I think it will be something gimmicky like a revolving ring, sounds kind of stupid to me. This won't go anywhere.

lwbfl · 01-29-2008, 10:44 PM

I wonder what country this is going to be in? I don't think it will be allowed in the U.S.

FrankenJim · 01-30-2008, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lwbfl

I wonder what country this is going to be in? I don't think it will be allowed in the U.S.

JP? Maybe?

Again didnt liek it one bit when reading it, Prefer the one fight a night they way most orgs have it at the mo.

Mulla · 01-30-2008, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lwbfl

I wonder what country this is going to be in? I don't think it will be allowed in the U.S.

The article says the first event will be in Atlantic City.

T-Bone · 01-30-2008, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mulla

The article says the first event will be in Atlantic City.

Yup...New Jersey is really having a lot of MMA (or quasi-MMA) events.

jyd94 · 01-30-2008, 11:39 AM

Hydraulic ring? I hope that is a complete guess by the author of this....they could maybe electrify the floor if they want fighters to stand. Maybe pour blood on the fighters from above it the fans are booing too.....

T-Bone · 01-30-2008, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jyd94

Hydraulic ring? I hope that is a complete guess by the author of this....they could maybe electrify the floor if they want fighters to stand. Maybe pour blood on the fighters from above it the fans are booing too.....

or pour the fighters' blood on the fans - that's nice and safe.

unbelievable...who knows what the heck they're thinking.

jyd94 · 01-30-2008, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T-Bone

or pour the fighters' blood on the fans - that's nice and safe.

unbelievable...who knows what the heck they're thinking.

I might prefer roaming fighters in the stands who can leg kick and or body punch people who boo at fights....

I really hope this is not a 'ramped' surface like the one in that speed kickboxing league I see everyonce in a while either.

glockmn · 02-08-2008, 11:42 PM

does anyone know what the Yamma is???

Monarch Clothing · 02-08-2008, 11:59 PM

YAMMA PIT FIGHTING EMMERGES
AS NEW FORCE ON THE MMA SCENE

New League to Revolutionize Mixed Martial
Arts First Pay-Per-View Event Set for April 11, 2008

Los Angeles, January 29, 2008 – Ultimate Fighting Championship founder Bob Meyrowitz and his company Rope Partners today announced the formation of a brand new mixed martial arts (MMA) league, YAMMA Pit Fighting (YPF). Continuing in his role as a trailblazer in MMA, Meyrowitz and YPF will take a unique approach to the sport by reviving the Tournament fighting format and unveiling a new fighting surface that promises to revolutionize the traditional MMA approach.

YAMMA Pit Fighting will host a series of pay-per-view television events, the first of which will air live from the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City on April 11, 2008. YAMMA Pit Fighting will return to the popular origins of MMA by reviving the Tournament format, in which fighters will participate in multiple fights on their way to claiming the ultimate YAMMA victory, the title of YAMMA Heavyweight Champion. In addition to the exciting Tournament, YPF will also host two “Masters Superfights,” one-on-one matches between some of MMA’s most illustrious and legendary fighters.

Bob Meyrowitz is a veteran in the MMA industry, and it was through his guidance and vision that the Ultimate Fighting Championship was created. Now Meyrowitz is at it again with his company Rope Partners – creating a new league to once again keep Martial Arts and the sport of MMA moving forward.
“It’s with great excitement that we launch YAMMA Pit Fighting,” said Bob Meyrowitz. “Our deep and proven knowledge of the entertainment and MMA spheres put us in a great position to add a new dimension to the presentation of MMA as it moves into the future.”

The YPF surface, known as “The YAMMA” is an evolution of the traditional fighting ring that will greatly alter the current basis of MMA by changing how the fight is fought and the strategy the fighters must use to win. This new surface has been specifically designed to keep the fighting more explosive and continuous. The YAMMA will change the face of the sport and will challenge the relevance of the fighters’ trademark tactics, as methods that were previously successful may be rendered useless with the new ring. This twist on an already successful sport will prove hugely popular with fighters and MMA audiences alike.

YAMMA Pit Fighting (Continued) The fighting line up, commentators, rules and regulations, ticketing information and more event details will be announced on an ongoing basis beginning in February.

About Rope Partners
Rope Partners, formed by Bob Meyrowitz and Peter Kauff, have over a 20 year track record of pioneering successful ventures in the music, broadcasting and sports industries. As illustrated by their successes in building the largest independent radio syndication company, DIR Broadcasting, The College Television Network, the largest private television network in the United States, and Semaphore Entertainment Group the originator and founder of the UFC.

glockmn · 02-09-2008, 01:19 AM

what is the surface??

sorry to start another thead i didn't see the other

T-Bone · 02-09-2008, 02:46 PM

He's facing Oleg Taktarov

YAMMA Pit Fighting Books Don Frye vs. Oleg Taktarov for April 11 -- MMAjunkie.com

I still don't know what the heck this new fighting surface is all about.

T-Bone · 02-22-2008, 10:55 AM

More info...or should I say...rumors

SamCaplan.proelite.com » Further details surface regarding Bob Meyrowitz's YAMMA Pit Fighting: YAMMA Pit Fighting: SamCaplan article

Quote:

More details pertaining to the formation of former UFC owner Bob Meyrowitz's YAMMA Pit Fighting organization continue to surface.

According to the February 11 print edition of Dave Meltzer's Wrestling Observer, a second "Masters Division" match involving Eric "Butterbean" Esch vs. Gary Goodridge has been signed in addition to the previously reported Masters match between UFC veterans Don Frye and Oleg Taktarov.

Additionally, four names associated with YAMMA's planned single night, eight-man heavyweight tournament have been reported by Meltzer. The names include former IFO heavyweight champion Chris Guillen, former IFO light heavyweight champion Travis Wiuff, former UFC competitor Wes "The Project" Sims, and "Gary Silvester."

Several database searches on the name "Gary Silvester" and variations proved fruitless, leading to speculation that there was a reporting error in the Observer and it could be a fighter with a similar name. There is a 10-1 heavyweight fighter by the name of Tony Sylvester.

ProElite.com (SamCaplan.ProElite.com) contacted YAMMA officials for comment but they declined to comment on Meltzer's report. They did reveal that further announcements are planned to be made on Monday, February 25.

YAMMA issued a press release in late January announcing the formation of Meyrowitz's new promotion and stating that it will debut on April 11 in Atlantic City at the Trump Taj Mahal and will be available on pay-per-view.

--

Sam Caplan

Lead Writer/Editor - ProElite.com

SamCaplan.ProElite.com