NO HOLDS BARRED

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman comments upon the AMC network arm wrestling "reality show" called "Game of Arms", and it's not pretty. The presentation of arm wrestling not as a sport but as a spectacle, the typical "reality TV" emphasis on disrespect and trash talk among the athletes, and the absence of any serious discussions about the structure and rules of this sport, all have essentially made this a stupid show and have given a negative and false image to arm wrestling, even though the show has garnered more publicity for the sport than it has received in many years. In addition, the collapse in the show's ratings, which have dropped by about half in the U.S. from the first to the fifth episode, is analyzed. Also discussed is the setting up of a separate and exclusive arm wrestling league by the show's producers, which competes with existing arm wrestling organizations. Still, there is hope for arm wrestling, as discussed is that other TV shows are planned for this year which will likely present it as the exciting and compelling sport that it is.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.

No Holds Barred is also available on mobile phones and iPads through Stitcher.

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.

No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:

ONE Fighting Championship. ONE FC is Asia's largest and most prestigious mixed martial arts event. ONE FC features the best Asian fighters and has initiated the ONE Asia Partnership Network, which includes most of the major MMA promotions and MMA gyms in Asia. For more information, go to their web site, at ONEFC.com.

American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.

Labels: AMC, arm wrestling, Eddie Goldman, Game of Arms, No Holds Barred, reality TV show

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman spoke with Robert Drenk, the founder of the Ultimate Armwrestling League (UAL).

"The Ultimate Armwrestling League is the premier arm wrestling league in the United States of America," he said in this interview, which was recorded by phone Saturday. "What we are is an organization with contacts to over 1000 professional arm wrestlers in the United States of America and outside the United States of America."

He continued, "What we are is an organized sports league with athletes that come to compete in tournaments and eventually become signed contracted athletes and have an opportunity at really big prize money and title belts doing ultimate matchups, which are one-on-one events, the best of the best."

Arm wrestling has gotten a lot of publicity of late with the start of an unscripted series about the sport on the AMC network in the U.S., called "Game of Arms". The debut show on February 25 drew over one million viewers, which AMC called the highest number for a debut of any of their unscripted shows on their network. Although that show has received criticism for, like other so-called "reality" shows, distorting the reality of arm wrestling, it still has ignited a discussion about the sport and increased interest in it widely.

Although the UAL is not involved with this show, Robert Drenk noted its impact on the sport.

"I think this is a huge year for arm wrestling," he said. "I think if we can't make something happen in arm wrestling this year, then I don't think arm wrestling's ever going to happen. And I'm a firm believer that this is going to be the year for arm wrestling."

We also discussed the growth of professional arm wrestling, the structure of UAL events, their plans for their UAL 7 event in May at a location to be announced, their plans for the future, the training their athletes do, how he got involved with professional arm wrestling, and much more.

You can play or download No Holds Barred here and here. If one link doesn't work, please try another.

No Holds Barred is also available on mobile phones and iPads through Stitcher.

Also, No Holds Barred is available through iTunes.

The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", which is also available on iTunes by composer Ian Snow.

No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:

ONE Fighting Championship. ONE FC is Asia's largest and most prestigious mixed martial arts event. ONE FC features the best Asian fighters and has initiated the ONE Asia Partnership Network, which includes most of the major MMA promotions and MMA gyms in Asia. For more information, go to their web site, at ONEFC.com.

American Top Team. Whether you're a beginner or a champion, train with the champions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, boxing, wrestling, grappling, and mixed martial arts at American Top Team. Check out their web site at http://americantopteam.com/.

Labels: arm wrestling, Eddie Goldman, Game of Arms, No Holds Barred, Robert Drenk, Ultimate Armwrestling League