We're not so sure that we like the direction this might be headed in, but
HDNet Fights has signed up with Ring Honor of Wrestling for content, including a weekly series. The professional wrestling promotion was founded in 2002, and with its Code of Honor rules, it was a step away from typical professional wrestling and towards pure catch wrestling, but it's professional
wrestling still. We had hoped that HDNet Fights was going to establish itself as a smaller, but still viable alternative to UFC, but this move suggests otherwise. We know HDNet Fights needs to add content, but is there enough audience overlap between professional wrestling and other fight sports that this makes sense?
MMA fans, let us know what you think -- does this move water down the brand?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
drphil7 @ Jan 28th 2009 10:24AM
I dont like the move as an MMA fan, but theres worse shows that HDNET puts out already, so why not.
gamedude360 @ Jan 28th 2009 10:36AM
don't worry RING OF HONOR IS DIFFERENT FROM WWE OR TNA. its actually something an mma fan would like.
jv @ Jan 28th 2009 10:59AM
HDNet has been backing away from being "The Home of MMA" for a while now. My guess is MMA is just becoming to expensive for them. As an MMA fan I find any other fight sport just to one dimensional and boring. The bad news is HDNet is loosing it's appeal for me. The good news is that HDNet was one of the last reasons for me to keep my satellite provider. Dumping them is getting more and more likely.
z0phi3l @ Jan 28th 2009 11:40AM
The MMA world is in a bit of an frenzy lately, with leagues popping up and disappearing all the time, so it would make some sense that HD Net Fights is looking for some extra content till things settle and money can be made again.
x0rn @ Jan 28th 2009 3:30PM
This is win-win. ROH fans will tune into HDNet Fights when they might not have otherwise, and ROH gets more people aware in their brand.
sillentassasin @ Jan 28th 2009 4:41PM
I think this is a great move. I know lots of old school mma fans know the name PANCRASE... and this is pretty much an american (well not really pure wrestling but) version of it. I have been a ROH fan when they had CM Punk and the ROH vs CZW feud (which was awesome). I kinda lost touch but it's a good place to see some of the rising stars who may someday go to WWE.
I think this is a great move on HDnet's Part
J.Goodwin @ Jan 28th 2009 6:45PM
HDNet fights has this problem where every promotion that they align themselves with goes under, or is non-exclusive. However, they've already expanded to K-1 (kickboxing), so it's no huge surprise.
Pancrase has trended pretty consistently away from pure (or even "hybrid") wrestling to a real MMA promotion now though, even if it is a pretty minor one these days. They still put together some good fights. If you can find the bootlegs, I recommend it.
Patrick Joseph @ Jan 29th 2009 2:41AM
I watch HDNET fights all the time, real wrestling is a fighting style, as long as it's not a soap opera like the WWE I'll watch it.
UFC is real and when they're on the ground it becomes wrestling (as long as there's no punching involved of course, after that it's just a fight)
Matthew Harrington @ Jan 29th 2009 9:33AM
ROH is teh bomb
Larry @ Jan 29th 2009 11:46AM
I am more upset that HDNET continues to broadcast soccer instead of dumping it. Before I was a MMA fan I was a wrestling fan for years. So for me it will give me a chance to finally check out ROH.
Brett Howell @ Jan 29th 2009 4:23PM
Ring Of honor is nothing like that wwe bullshit. The wwe sucks and I hope it goes out of business as soon as possible.
Rob Carl @ Mar 21st 2009 2:32AM
HDNet has DREAM (MMA), XFC (MMA), MFC (MMA),(some Affliction and StrikeForce rights) and the Best MMA show anywhere (InsideMMA). Recently added K-1(Kickboxing) and Sengoku (MMA). I never thought DREAM would be that great, it was, DREAM easily had 2 of the top 5 MMA Fights Of The Year in 2008. K-1 was good last month and Sengoku last night was amazing!
All I'm saying is HDnet IS the home for MMA, (in terms of MMA) they have made Great moves, If they want to show Bum Fights uhh... I mean RING OF HONOR I'll definitely give it a shot.