MSNBC To Debut MMA Documentary Series

**Punisher** · Posted On: 12/24/2006 3:55am

Press Release:

MSNBC TAKES A BEHIND THE SCENES LOOK AT THE WORLD OF MIXED MARTIAL ARTS IN "WARRIOR NATION," SERIES BEGINNING JANUARY 9TH

First of Two Documentary Series Produced By 29 Stories LLC for MSNBC

SECAUCUS, N.J. - December 20, 2006 - MSNBC's "Warrior Nation," takes viewers inside the world of MMA, mixed martial arts, beginning January 9th at 10 p.m. ET. MMA, one of the fastest-growing sports in the nation, combines various fighting styles including wrestling, boxing, Tai Kwon Do, Karate and submission grappling. It's a "no-holds-barred" combat sport that has become a successful enterprise throughout the world and has been called "the next NASCAR." Each episode opens the door to the lives of fighters and the struggles that they endure in this popular sport. Veteran fighters, such as Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz, fans favorites, including Urijah Faber, as well as up-and-coming fighters, are portrayed. The four-part series airs each week on consecutive Tuesdays, beginning January 9th at 10 p.m. ET. "Warrior Nation" is the first of two documentary series produced by 29 Stories LLC for MSNBC.

"'Warrior Nation' is not just about fighting," says Long-Form Programming Vice President Michael Rubin, "it's about a quickly growing American phenomenon; the millions of fans and tens of thousands of young athletes who gravitate to this new sport, hoping to springboard from obscurity to celebrity, using the most basic of tools--their bodies and fists."

Episode One, which airs January 9th at 10 and 11 p.m. ET, follows Urijah Faber and Enoch Wilson. 27-year-old Faber is the number one MMA fighter in his weight class in the nation and one of the best in the world. A college graduate, he fights and trains full-time, has 14 career wins and over $100,000 in prize money. Wilson, a 26-year-old high school drop-out and single dad with 8 career wins, works at a plastics factory to support his training and his 14-month-old daughter.

The Following Tuesday evening, January 16th, in episode two we meet Erin Toughill. At 29-years-old, she is one of the top women fighters in the world. Toughill's husband, Clark Bevans, a 32-year-old gym owner, also participates in MMA fighting. Together, they hope to become the first couple in the world to fight on the same night - and win.

Episode Three, airing January 23rd, unites two rivals for their second head-to-head fight. Gina Carrano and Elaina Maxwell meet at Strikeforce in San Jose, California. Carrano, the underdog, plans on repeating her previous win over Maxwell, but Maxwell, who has been training under Cung Le, the World Kickboxing Champion, expects to even the score. Nonetheless, both women won't take this fight lying down.

Airing January 30th, episode four dives deep into the organization of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). The episode features two up-and-coming fighters, Steve Byrnes and Logan Clark, who have recently earned their first shot at fighting, as well as two celebrity veterans of the UFC, Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. UFC President Dana White also explains his struggles and plans to Make MMA legal in all 50 states.

Michael Rubin is vice president, long-form programming, MSNBC. David Kelley is executive producer, prime-time specials, MSNBC.

**Stick** · Posted On: 12/24/2006 6:10pm

Intriguing, I believe I will watch this.

**Thaiboxerken** · Posted On: 12/24/2006 6:59pm

I train with Enoch, he's good. He gave me a fat lip friday while sparring.

**MaverickZ** · Posted On: 12/24/2006 10:32pm

Originally Posted by Thaiboxerken

I train with Enoch, he's good. He gave me a fat lip friday while sparring.

Were you guys practicing low kicks?

**Thaiboxerken** · Posted On: 12/24/2006 10:44pm

No, I was fighting like a TKD guy with my hands in my pockets and he punched me in the mouth.

**MaverickZ** · Posted On: 12/24/2006 10:46pm

Originally Posted by Thaiboxerken

No, I was fighting like a TKD guy with my hands in my pockets and he punched me in the mouth.

TKD dobaks don't have pockets.

**Roidie McDouchebag** · Posted On: 12/24/2006 10:46pm

Awesome.

**Thaiboxerken** · Posted On: 12/25/2006 12:34am

Originally Posted by MaverickZ

TKD dobaks don't have pockets.

TKD practitioners still place their hands near the same place when "fighting."

**meataxe** · Posted On: 12/26/2006 12:18am

MMA is the "next Nascar"? I would hope for maybe the "next WRC", but that's just me.

:car21:

**JimmyZ** · Posted On: 1/10/2007 9:21am

Perhaps this is an appropriate thread ressurection. Did anyone catch this show last night on MSNBC? I watched the first 1/2 and recorded the rest for later. It seemed give a decently objective view of MMA. The personal life focus on the two main fighters featured was OK too in my book. When the show switched to the "sidebar" profile of two female fighters, it was pretty clear which of the two was going to win the fight from observing their padwork drills. (I'm surprised it even went to a 2nd round.)

I'm not familiar with rankings outside the big UFC/Pride/K-1 titles, so Urijah Faber's #1 in weight class ranking touted in the episode writeup was a new thing to me. He's listed at 140#. There's a national ranking for 140# fighters?

Just curious to hear other people's thoughts on the show. You can check MSNBC's listings for other showings that will happen in the next few days/weeks if you missed it.