Sunday, November 27, 2011
No Holds Barred: Vadim Finkelchtein of M-1 Global

On this edition of No Holds Barred, host Eddie Goldman speaks with Vadim Finkelchtein, the president and co-founder of M-1 Global.
In an interview conducted Saturday by Skype with Vadim Finkelchtein, we discussed the M-1 Global mixed martial arts card held Sunday, November 20, at the Olympic Arena in Moscow, Russia. In the main event, the legendary Fedor Emelianenko stopped a three-fight losing streak by dominating two-time ADCC champion Jeff Monson to take a three-round unanimous decision. Besides the 22,000 fans in attendance, Vadim said there were seven and one-half million people watching this fight on television in Russia alone, with numbers for the rest of Europe and North America still to come.
We discussed the importance of this event, how Fedor used a much more patient and deliberate strategy than he had in his last unsuccessful fights, what this victory means for Fedor's career, plans for a potential fight for Fedor in Dream in Japan on their traditional New Year's Eve card, the proposal to have Fedor fight former UFC heavyweight titleholder Cain Velasquez, whether or not Fedor would ever fight in UFC, and much more.
You can play or download No Holds Barred here. You can also download No Holds Barred here. If one link does not work, please try another. The show is in MP3 format, so may take some time to download.
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", by Ian Carpenter.
No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:
Beezid.com - Penny Auctions. Your #1 source for exciting auction shopping and outstanding deals on just about anything! Top rated, most trusted auction site online. Where do you shop? Beezid.com - Penny Auctions.
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/.
The American Sambo Association, which is committed to becoming the premier association in the U.S. dedicated to the advancement of Sambo. Sambo is a form of sport, self-defense, and combat established in the former Soviet Union during the early twentieth century. For more information, go to ussambo.com.
Labels: Eddie Goldman, Fedor Emelianenko, Jeff Monson, M-1 Global, MMA, No Holds Barred, Vadim Finkelchtein
Thursday, September 03, 2009
No Holds Barred: Renzo Gracie, Scott Coker, Vadim Finkelchtein, Joost Raimond on Fedor, M-1 and Strikeforce
Last week, at a news conference in New York featuring top heavyweight mixed martial arts fighter Fedor Emelianenko, we once again spoke with Scott Coker, CEO of Strikeforce, about the upcoming fight between Fedor and the unbeaten Brett Rogers, and what the plans of Strikeforce are.
At that same event, we spoke with two key executives from M-1 Global, Vadim Finkelchtein, the M-1 Global president, and Joost Raimond, the M-1 Global operations manager. In quite direct terms, they explained the pyramid structure M-1 Global uses to recruit new fighters and then have the best advance to the top, how and why M-1 Global reached an agreement with Strikeforce to co-promote shows, why the negotiations for a similar agreement with UFC failed, and much more.
Later that afternoon, we spoke with the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, grappling, and mixed martial arts legend Renzo Gracie, whose New York academy Fedor was visiting. We discussed his views on Fedor and the technique he uses, what his own views and plans are in both mixed martial arts and grappling, and much more.
You can play or download No Holds Barred here. You can also download No Holds Barred here. If one link does not work, please try another. The show is in MP3 format, so may take some time to download.
You can also order tickets for the 2009 ADCC World Championship, which will be held September 26-27 in Barcelona, Spain, through Ticketmaster.
The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", by Ian Carpenter.
Make sure to visit the official boxing forum for No Holds Barred, the MySpace Boxing Forum.
No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:
Gladiator Magazine, for in-depth coverage of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, submission grappling, and MMA, as well as lifestyle articles on surfing, cars, movies, and more. Gladiator Magazine is available at any major bookstore and online at BJJMart.com or Jiu Jitsu Pro Gear.
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/.
MMA WORLD EXPO, an event designed for the mixed martial arts community offering hands-on instruction from professional trainers and athletes, educational sessions with the who's who of the MMA world, and an exhibit hall filled with the industry's top suppliers and services. MMA WORLD EXPO takes place Saturday, October 24th, and Sunday, October 25th, at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.
GRACIEMAG, the most reliable source of information on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. GRACIEMAG represents Jiu-Jitsu philosophy and features news, profiles, history, photos, videos, and tips and secrets of the mother of all martial arts. Published since 1996 in Brazil, GRACIEMAG: The Jiu-Jitsu Lifestyle, is in both English and Portuguese, and is also online at GRACIEMAG.com.
BJJMart.com, your premier source for all Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gear, videos, books, and much more.
Wrestling 411, providing coverage of the sport of wrestling on TV, the Internet, and radio. Wrestling 411 is produced by Media Sports Productions, whose sole mission is the marketing and promotion of the sport of wrestling.
FightBeat.com, for news, results, interviews, and free exclusive videos from the worlds of boxing and mixed martial arts.
Labels: BJJ, Eddie Goldman, Fedor Emelianenko, Joost Raimond, M-1 Global, mixed martial arts, MMA, No Holds Barred, Renzo Gracie, sambo, Scott Coker, Showtime, Strikeforce, UFC, Vadim Finkelchtein
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
No Holds Barred: Gina Carano, Cris "Cyborg" Santos, Scott Coker, Jay Hieron, Kristal Hart
We begin by discussing some of the slow but steady gains for women in the combat sports of boxing, wrestling, jiu-jitsu, grappling, and mixed martial arts. We note the historical importance that two of the most prestigious teams in mixed martial arts, Xtreme Couture with Gina Carano and the Chute Boxe Academy with Cris "Cyborg" Santos, will be represented in this historic fight. And we also note the continued misogyny of those in the combat sports like UFC and HBO who still prevent the participation of women fighters on their shows.
At a New York news conference at Madison Square Garden for the August 15 card, we had a chance, along with our colleague, television host Kristal Hart, to speak with Gina Carano and Cris "Cyborg" Santos. We also discussed with Kristal Hart what to expect in this fight. And we spoke with Strikeforce promoter Scott Coker about this card as well. And, on a media conference call this week, we spoke with Jay Hieron, a late addition to the card, who will be facing Jesse Taylor.
In addition, we discuss the prevailing drug culture in the mixed martial arts, as evidenced once again by the failure of fighter Nick Diaz to appear for a prefight doping test. Diaz had to be scratched from this card. And we relate this to the woefully ineffective regulation of international combat sports like mixed martial arts and boxing by the various state athletic commissions in the U.S.
You can play or download No Holds Barred here. You can also download No Holds Barred here. If one link does not work, please try another. The show is in MP3 format, so may take some time to download.
The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", by Ian Carpenter.
Make sure to visit the official boxing forum for No Holds Barred, the MySpace Boxing Forum.
No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:
Gladiator Magazine, for in-depth coverage of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, submission grappling, and MMA, as well as lifestyle articles on surfing, cars, movies, and more. Gladiator Magazine is available at any major bookstore and online at BJJMart.com or Jiu Jitsu Pro Gear.
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/.
GRACIEMAG, the most reliable source of information on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. GRACIEMAG represents Jiu-Jitsu philosophy and features news, profiles, history, photos, videos, and tips and secrets of the mother of all martial arts. Published since 1996 in Brazil, GRACIEMAG: The Jiu-Jitsu Lifestyle, is in both English and Portuguese, and is also online at GRACIEMAG.com.
BJJMart.com, your premier source for all Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gear, videos, books, and much more.
Wrestling 411, providing coverage of the sport of wrestling on TV, the Internet, and radio. Wrestling 411 is produced by Media Sports Productions, whose sole mission is the marketing and promotion of the sport of wrestling.
FightBeat.com, for news, results, interviews, and free exclusive videos from the worlds of boxing and mixed martial arts.
Labels: Cris Cyborg Santos, Eddie Goldman, Gina Carano, Jay Hieron, Kristal Hart, mixed martial arts, MMA, Nick Diaz, No Holds Barred, Scott Coker, Strikeforce, Vadim Finkelchtein, women fighters
Monday, August 10, 2009
No Holds Barred: Fedor Emelianenko, Vadim Finkelchtein, and Strikeforce
We start by catching up on some recent developments in mixed martial arts, most notably the signing of the top heavyweight and pound-for-pound fighter in that sport, Fedor Emelianenko, with Strikeforce. We explain why he made the correct choice for him, and why this is also a good move for the sport. We counter the double standard many fans and supposed members of the media have taken to Fedor, as opposed to their attitudes to Randy Couture and Brock Lesnar.
This past week, Fedor Emelianenko and Vadim Finkelchtein, the president of M-1 Global, of which Fedor is also part, participated in a media conference call to discuss this historic signing with Strikeforce. We had a chance to ask questions of both men, and you can hear that unedited on this edition of No Holds Barred.
You can play or download No Holds Barred here. You can also download No Holds Barred here. If one link does not work, please try another. The show is in MP3 format, so may take some time to download.
The No Holds Barred theme song is called "The Heist", by Ian Carpenter.
Make sure to visit the official boxing forum for No Holds Barred, the MySpace Boxing Forum.
No Holds Barred is free to listen to and is sponsored by:
Gladiator Magazine, for in-depth coverage of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, submission grappling, and MMA, as well as lifestyle articles on surfing, cars, movies, and more. Gladiator Magazine is available at any major bookstore and online at BJJMart.com or Jiu Jitsu Pro Gear.
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/.
Gracie Magazine, with news, commentaries, analysis, and photographs from around the world, from the masters of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and grappling. Gracie Magazine is published in English and Portuguese, and is also online at GracieMag.com.
BJJMart.com, your premier source for all Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gear, videos, books, and much more.
Wrestling 411, providing coverage of the sport of wrestling on TV, the Internet, and radio. Wrestling 411 is produced by Media Sports Productions, whose sole mission is the marketing and promotion of the sport of wrestling.
FightBeat.com, for news, results, interviews, and free exclusive videos from the worlds of boxing and mixed martial arts.
Labels: Brock Lesnar, Eddie Goldman, Fedor Emelianenko, Ken Hershman, M-1 Global, mixed martial arts, MMA, No Holds Barred, Randy Couture, Scott Coker, Showtime, Strikeforce, UFC, Vadim Finkelchtein, Zuffa
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
NO HOLDS BARRED: Fedor Emelianenko, Vadim Finkelchtein, Monte Cox, Frank Trigg, Gary Shaw, Mitchell Maxwell, M-1 Global
On this edition of NO HOLDS BARRED, host Eddie Goldman brings you a series of interviews conducted at the kickoff news conference of the new M-1 Global mixed martial arts promotion held Monday, October 22, at the Marc Ecko Enterprises showroom in New York.
The highlight of this event was the appearance by Fedor Emelianenko, the consensus top heavyweight and pound-for-pound fighter in MMA today. He is the first fighter which M-1 Global has announced they have signed. We spoke with both Fedor and his manager, Vadim Finkelchtein, at this event.
We also spoke with another veteran of MMA, Monte Cox. He has been named the president and CEO of M-1 Global. We spoke with him about the current and future plans of when and where M-1 Global plans to run live events, and with which American networks they are presently negotiating. We also spoke about their plans to market Fedor to the American public with Mitchell Maxwell, a Broadway show producer who is now also the chairman of M-1 Global.
At this news conference was veteran MMA fighter and radio and television commentator Frank Trigg of TAGG Radio. We spoke with him about his initial impressions of M-1 Global. We also discussed the prospects for M-1 Global with Gary Shaw, who is a promoter in both MMA and boxing as the Live Events President of EliteXC and the President and Chief Executive Officer of Gary Shaw Productions. Plus, we play an excerpt from the news conference itself where we asked Fedor to respond to some reports alleging that he was ducking some top heavyweights.
A video of the entire news conference is here.
To listen to NO HOLDS BARRED, click here or here and just press the play button on the player.
You can also listen to it through this blog and my MySpace page, also by pressing the play button on the player.
Also, NO HOLDS BARRED is available through iTunes.
The show is in MP3 format, so may take some time to download.
If you want to leave a comment on the show, you can do so at this blog.
The NO HOLDS BARRED theme song is called "The Heist", by musician Ian Carpenter.
NO HOLDS BARRED is free to listen to and is sponsored by:
Art of War, the undisputed arena fighting championship, promoted by SUN Sports and Entertainment, producing world class mixed martial arts events. For more information, check out their web site, ArtOfWarLive.com.
IFL, the International Fight League, the world's first professional mixed martial arts league. Make sure to check out their regular TV shows on FSN (Fox Sports Net) in the U.S. and to check your local listings for dates and times. You can also catch IFL Battleground on MyNetworkTV. Check out the IFL web site, ifl.tv, for a listing of IFL live events and their TV schedule.
Gladiator Challenge, shaking up the mixed martial arts world since 1999, and now with 30 shows per year. For more news and info, check out their web site, GladiatorChallenge.com.
BJJMart.com, your premier source for all Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gear, videos, books, and much more.
Gladiator Magazine, for in-depth coverage of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, submission grappling, and MMA, as well as lifestyle articles on surfing, cars, movies, and more. Gladiator Magazine is available at any major bookstore and online at BJJMart.com or Jiu Jitsu Pro Gear.
FightBeat.com, for news, results, interviews, and free exclusive videos from the worlds of boxing and mixed martial arts.
Labels: boxing, Eddie Goldman, Fedor Emelianenko, Frank Trigg, Gary Shaw, M-1 Global, Mitchell Maxwell, mixed martial arts, MMA, Monte Cox, No Holds Barred, UFC, ultimate fighting, Vadim Finkelchtein