SB Nation New York - Fedor Emilianenko Falls At Strikeforce To Antonio Silvahttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48977/ny-fave.png2011-02-14T13:54:12-05:00http://newyork.sbnation.com/rss/stream/17522952011-02-14T13:54:12-05:002011-02-14T13:54:12-05:00Fedor Emilanenko Loss At StrikeForce Marks The End Of An Era
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<p>Fedor Emilanenko lost to Antonio Silva at Strikeforce this weekend. Sure, it was a loss for Fedor personally, and a loss for the fighting organization that had invested so much in him, but more than that, it was the end of an era; <a href="http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2011/2/14/1992782/the-day-the-heroes-died-fedor-emelianenko-and-the-end-of-an-era">according to Jonathan Snowden of SB Nation's blog the Bloody Elbow</a>.</p>
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<p>Fedor Emelianenko was the last hope of a generation of fighters who gave us the Pride Grand Prix and invented <i>The Ultimate Fighter</i>. The path to his resurgence was even grounded in the past - a tournament, just like the early days of the sport. But you can't fool father time. Antonio Silva slammed the door shut on a whole generation last weekend. The sport has evolved and there are new heroes to salute. <a href="../../../mma/fighter/122504/cain-velasquez" class="sbn-auto-link">Cain Velasquez</a>, Edgar, and <a href="../../../mma/fighter/122591/georges-st-pierre" class="sbn-auto-link">Georges St. Pierre</a> are leading a new breed of fighters into the future. It's a glorious time, an era where everyone is well rounded, not just an immortal few.</p>
<p>The fighters are more skilled, more fit, better prepared. The future is now. Existing in our imagination, its potential limitless. But as this generation leads our sport to new markets and new opportunities, they'll be walking on a path carved out in the blood and sweat of men like Fedor Emelianenko. Fedor belongs now to the past, but he'll have an honored place in our memory, alongside his former opponents, training partners, and friends. His generation has done their work, done the sport proud. It's time now to rest as the new breed of fighter takes the sport to the mainstream and beyond.</p>
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https://newyork.sbnation.com/2011/2/14/1993354/fedor-emilanenko-loss-at-strikeforce-marks-the-end-of-an-eraJordan Ruby2011-02-11T12:49:04-05:002011-02-11T12:49:04-05:00Watch The Strikeforce Weigh-In Live At 5 p.m. ET
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<p>Strikeforce is coming to the Izod Center on Saturday, and the fight card features a handful of fights that promise to be very entertaining bouts. Before they can get to the ring though, they have to hit the scales and weigh in. All fighters will be weighing in today starting at 5 p.m.. You can see the results live as they happen<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/2011/2/11/1988245/strikeforce-fedor-vs-silva-weigh-in-results-video"> here</a>, or even watch a live stream in the video player below.</p>
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<p>Here is the full fight card.</p>
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<p><b>Main card: (On Showtime)</b> <br> Fedor Emelianenko () vs. Antonio Silva ()<br> <a href="../../../mma/fighter/129236/andrei-arlovski" class="sbn-auto-link">Andrei Arlovski</a> () vs. <a href="../../../mma/fighter/128654/sergei-kharitonov" class="sbn-auto-link">Sergei Kharitonov</a> ()<br> Shane Del Rosario () vs. <a href="../../../mma/fighter/123085/lavar-johnson" class="sbn-auto-link">Lavar Johnson</a> ()<br> <a href="../../../mma/fighter/129245/valentijn-overeem" class="sbn-auto-link">Valentijn Overeem</a> () vs. <a href="../../../mma/fighter/129246/ray-sefo" class="sbn-auto-link">Ray Sefo</a> ()<br> <a href="../../../mma/fighter/129241/chad-griggs" class="sbn-auto-link">Chad Griggs</a> () vs. <a href="../../../mma/fighter/129032/gian-villante" class="sbn-auto-link">Gian Villante</a> ()<br><br> <b>Preliminary card: (On HDNet)</b><br> John Cholish () vs. Marc Stevens ()<br> Igor Gracie () vs. John Salgado ()<br> Don Carlo-Clauss () vs. Sam Oropeza ()<br> Josh LaBerge () vs. Anthony Leone ()<br> Jason McLean () vs. Kevin Roddy ()</p>
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https://newyork.sbnation.com/2011/2/11/1988460/strikeforce-weigh-in-live-reults-fedor-emilianenkoJordan Ruby2011-02-11T12:23:46-05:002011-02-11T12:23:46-05:00New Jersey Continues To Benefit From MMA Being Illegal In NY
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<p>New Jersey is in many ways the home of MMA. <a href="http://www.nj.com/sports/njsports/index.ssf/2011/02/still_illegal_in_new_york_mma.html">Connor Orr of the Star Ledger</a> explains how it helped the sport get its start.</p>
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<p>New Jersey was the first commission to fully regulate and legalize the sport. The state started monitoring shows in 1997, with their humble beginnings in Elizabeth for “Bama Fight Nights.” It was in New Jersey where the first MMA fight allowed under regulation was held in February 2000 (Thunder at the Tropicana in Atlantic City) as well as the first full MMA card in September 2000 (International Fighting Championships, or IFC).</p>
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<p>It seems natural that MMA is coming back to the Garden State for the upcoming Strikeforce event at the Izod Center, and the UFC event at the Prudential on March 19th. The state gave MMA its start, and in return, it is reaping some of the benefits of it's events.</p>
<p>But there is another reason that New Jersey is the state that can benefit from these events. Their neighbor, New York, has banned MMA events from taking place in their arenas, and therefore is allowing New Jersey to step in and be the Northeast hub of mixed martial arts.</p>
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<p>But according to a UFC study, mixed martial arts is a sport that promises to generate $16 million from two New York events per year; $6.7 million in ticket sales and $5.3 million in direct event spending alone. And for now, the monetary potential still rests in the hands of New Jersey arenas like the Prudential and Izod centers, with the next month serving as no exception.</p>
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<p>The state of New York stands to gain a significant amount of capital if it chooses to open its doors to the MMA and UFC. But if the state continues to uphold its ban, it misses out on all of those opportunities. And other states, like New Jersey, benefit. Which is just fine by them.</p>
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<p>“We really are reaping the benefits of New York not sanctioning and making that legal,” said Aaron Davis, the commissioner of the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board. “Which we don’t mind here.”</p>
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<p>MMA is still actively trying to work its way into the Empire State. If for nothing else than to bring the sport to a new audience that hasn't had an opportunity to experience it first hand. But until that day comes, native New Yorkers will have to head across the bridge if they want to get their ultimate fighting fix.</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/2011/2/11/1988367/mma-ban-new-york-new-jersey-strikeforceJordan Ruby2011-02-11T11:19:56-05:002011-02-11T11:19:56-05:00Can Fedor Emelianenko And Strikeforce Fill The Izod Center?
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<p>Strikeforce is coming to New Jersey, and it will be headlined by Fedor Emilanenko. You can check out the entire fight card over here at<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/fight-card/71438/strikeforce-fedor-vs-silva"> SB Nation's MMA page</a>. The big question is, can Fedor and MMA fill the Izod Center? <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mma/2011/2/10/1986054/fedor-emeliananeko-strikeforce-trying-to-fill-izod-center">Luke Thomas</a> of Bloody Elbow and SB Nation try to answer that question.</p>
<p>First, the raw ticket data.</p>
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<li>Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva is currently averaging around $160 a ticket on the secondary market</li>
<li>Lowest priced tickets are available for around $70 in the upper 200 level</li>
<li>Highest priced tickets are available for up to $1,934 on the floor near the octagon</li>
<li>It's important to note that tickets are still available on the primary markets for the event </li>
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<p>Then Luke's conclusion.</p>
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<p>Strikeforce doesn't have the brand power or the fighter star power that the UFC does and Strikeforce's event this weekend, as good as it does, doesn't really match up to the market value of what UFC 128 delivers. But that cuts both ways. While Strikeforce cannot So, will Strikeforce sell out the house? Probably not, but they'll come close and they'll likely fill it with very modest papering. For the number two MMA promotion in North America, that's plenty of success and an excellent start to the heavyweight grand prix.</p>
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<p>I think it's going to be hard for Strikeforce to sell out the Izod Center, but then again, they have to be a better draw than the Nets, right?</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/2011/2/11/2329599/can-fedor-emelianenko-and-strikeforce-fill-the-izod-centerJordan Ruby