MMA World Series of Fighting, also known as WSOF, is an Americanmixed martial arts (MMA) promotion based in Las Vegas, Nevada. The inaugural WSOF event will take place on November 3, 2012 and part of it is scheduled to be broadcast on the NBC Sports Network.
Background
Formation
WSOF was formed in 2012, having signed a broadcast deal with the NBC Sports Network. This will be the second MMA promotion that NBC Sports has hosted, having broadcast World Extreme Cagefighting and Ultimate Fighting Championship events when the channel was formerly known as Versus.[3] NBC Sports had been one of the bidders for the rights to broadcast future UFC events, but lost out to Fox.[4] However, some journalists regarded WSOFs deal with NBC Sports to be a considerable coup for a debuting promotion, considering NBC Sports' past interest in the UFC.[4] Upon the announcement of the broadcast deal, WSOF President Ray Sefo stated that the promotion wanted to host 8-10 events per year, whilst holding a one-year deal with NBC Sports.[2] However, the next day, an NBC spokesman revealed that the deal only covered WSOFs inaugural event, with the option for more, should NBC hold a positive evaluation.[4]
Presentation
Soon after the promotion's event announcement, they confirmed that Bas Rutten, Michael Schiavello and Kurt Angle would the commentators for the debut event.[5] However, days later, Angle, a TNA wrestler, was removed from the broadcast by Viacom (the owner of Spike TV, who broadcast TNA Wrestling), who claimed that the job was a conflict of interest. On September 10, 2012, Ray Sefo tweeted "There's a conflict of interest, so he won't be able to do the (Nov.) 3 show," Sefo said, adding the split was amicable. A replacement has yet to be found"[5]
WSOF also will use a ten-sided cage for their events, unlike the UFCs octagon.[2]
World Series of Fighting 1: Arlovski vs. Cole is scheduled to be the inaugural event of the promotion held on November 3, 2012 (2012-11-03) at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. The main card is scheduled to begin at 10.30 p.m. Eastern Time and the preliminary card will be featured on Sherdog.[6] The event underwent changes, as Gesias Cavalcante was originally scheduled to face John Gunderson, but will instead face TJ O'Brien and a bout between Waylon Lowe and Fabio Mello was scrapped.[7]
Las Vegas, Nevada, United StatesSteve Carl vs.
Gesias Cavalcante vs.
Tyson Steele
Tyrone Spong vs.
Andrei Arlovski vs.
