AXS TV Fights
{{short description|Television series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image = AXS TV Fights Logo.png
| starring = Pat Miletich
Ron Kruck
| runtime = 150 minutes or until fight card ends
| first_aired = {{start date|2007}}
| last_aired = present
}}
AXS TV Fights is the brand name of AXS TV's live mixed martial arts (MMA), Muay Thai and kickboxing broadcasts. Formerly known as HDNET Fights, the program's name was changed to AXS TV Fights in July 2012, following the network's rebrand from HDNET to AXS TV.{{cite web|url=http://www.thewrap.com/tv/article/ryan-seacrest-joins-aeg-caa-relaunch-mark-cubans-hdnet-34541 |title=Ryan Seacrest Joins AEG, CAA to Relaunch Mark Cuban's HDNet |publisher=TheWrap |date=2012-01-18 |accessdate=2014-04-17}}
History
=Origins as HDNET Fights=
HDNet Fights was founded in 2007 by billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban, owner and founder of HDNet, as a programming cornerstone to build the new network on. Cuban's goal was to present MMA in a manner more in line with other professional sports, while eliminating ancillary details such as ring card girls. Taking a hands-on approach in the business and promotion of MMA, Cuban became one of the sport's most vocal defenders in his blogs and interviews.{{cite web
|url=https://www.espn.com/extra/mma/news/story?id=3017701
|title=Cuban sees bright future for MMA
|year=2007
|access-date=2008-04-10
|url=http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=4684&zoneid=8
|title=MARK CUBAN SETS HIS SIGHTS ON MMA
|year=2007
|accessdate=2008-04-10
|publisher=MMA Weekly
|url-status=dead
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205202049/http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=4684&zoneid=8
|archivedate=2008-12-05
|url=https://www.espn.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=3165552
|title=Mayweather mulling move to MMA in deal with Cuban
|year=2007
|access-date=2008-04-10
|publisher=ESPN
|url=http://www.blogmaverick.com/2008/03/18/this-guy-proves-anyone-with-a-keyboard-can-be-stupid/
|title=This Guy Proves Anyone with a Keyboard can be Stupid
|year=2008
|accessdate=2008-04-10
|publisher=Blog Maverick
}} HDNet Fights hosted its first self-promoted event on October 13, 2007, featuring a light-heavyweight main event contest between Erik Paulson and Jeff Ford.{{cite web
|url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/news.asp?n_id=9473
|title=HDNet Fights Play-By-Play
|year=2007
|accessdate=2008-04-10
|publisher=Sherdog.com
}} The program's second and final event, Reckless Abandon, was held two months later.{{cite web|url=http://www.hdnetfights.com/events_past.php|title=Past HDNet Fights events|accessdate=2009-02-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090125005009/http://hdnetfights.com/events_past.php|archive-date=2009-01-25|url-status=dead}} Realizing that the company's strength did not lie in hosting fight cards, Cuban re-vamped the HDNet Fights concept, as HDNet began broadcasting live weekly events from other organizations, including many top regional fight promotions.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mma/2013/03/19/mark-cuban-and-the-future-of-mma-on-axs-tv/2000137/ |title=Mark Cuban and the future of MMA on AXS TV
|publisher=USA Today |date=2013-03-19 |accessdate=2014-04-18}}
After acquiring the rights to air Japanese Fighting and Entertainment Group's MMA promotion Dream in the United States for the first time ever, HDNet premiered a repeat of the Dream 1 event on May 2, 2008. A repeat of Dream 2 aired the following day, and Dream 3 aired live on May 11.{{cite web|url=http://mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=6167&zoneid=13 |title=MARK CUBAN'S HDNET TO AIR JAPAN'S Dream |publisher=MMA Weekly |date=2008-04-26 |accessdate=2014-04-18 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202035648/http://mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=6167&zoneid=13 |archivedate=December 2, 2008 }} On February 6, 2009, HDNet announced they had reached an agreement with another Japanese MMA promotion, and competitor to Dream, World Victory Road. The promotion made its United States debut with a broadcast of its "Sengoku" events, opening with World Victory Road's first event of 2009 on March 20.
Under the HDNet Fights banner, the network's broadcast lineup included DREAM, Sengoku, K-1 and K-1 Max, Strikeforce, Adrenaline MMA, SportFight, Ring of Fire, Ring of Combat, M-1 Global, Ring of Honor, Maximum Fighting Championship, Affliction Entertainment, Urban Conflict Championship and the now-defunct IFL, among others.{{cite web|url=http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=8140&zoneid=13 |title=HDNET REACHES DEAL TO AIR SENGOKU EVENTS |last=Mendoza |first=Ricardo |date=February 6, 2009 |work=MMAWeekly.com |accessdate=2009-02-07 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090323011749/http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=8140&zoneid=13 |archivedate=March 23, 2009 }}
=As AXS TV Fights=
Since its regeneration as AXS TV Fights, the program has become a major fixture in AXS TV's Friday night programming line-up, with the network airing over 40 live events per year.{{cite web|url=http://www.sherdog.com/news/pressreleases/Holly-Holm-Crowned-Bantamweight-Champion-at-AXS-TV-Fights-Legacy-Fighting-Championship-30-66385 |title=HOLLY HOLM CROWNED BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPION AT 'AXS TV FIGHTS: LEGACY FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP 30' |publisher=Sherdog |date=2014-04-10 |accessdate=2014-04-18}} The AXS TV Fights broadcast lineup has featured events from promotions including BAMMA (USA),{{cite web|url=http://www.mmamania.com/2013/3/8/4079466/bamma-12-finalized-fight-card-veach-vs-wallhead-axs-tv-mma |title=BAMMA 12 finalized fight card and line up for 'Veach vs. Wallhead' on March 9 on AXS TV |publisher=MMA Mania |date=2013-03-08 |accessdate=2014-04-18}} Legacy Fighting Championship,{{cite web|url=http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/legacy_fighting_championship_renews_broadcast_agreement/ |title=AXS TV Fights renews Legacy deal |publisher=SportsProMedia |date=2013-11-18 |accessdate=2014-04-18}} Lion Fight Muay Thai,{{cite web |url=http://adcombat.com/axs-tv-fights-renews-broadcast-tv-rights-deal-with-lion-fight |title=AXS TV Fights Renews Broadcast TV Rights Deal with Lion Fight |publisher=AD Combat |date=2014-01-24 |accessdate=2014-04-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419031053/http://adcombat.com/axs-tv-fights-renews-broadcast-tv-rights-deal-with-lion-fight |archive-date=2014-04-19 |url-status=dead }} Maximum Fighting Championship,{{cite web|url=http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2011/7/26/2296173/mfc-signs-five-year-deal-with-hdnet |title=MFC Signs Five Year Deal With HDNet |publisher=Bloody Elbow |date=2011-07-26 |accessdate=2014-04-18}} Resurrection Fighting Alliance,{{cite web|url=http://www.mmafighting.com/2012/10/15/3499588/rfa-acquires-titan-fighting-assumes-axs-tv-broadcast-deal |title=RFA acquires Titan Fighting, assumes AXS TV broadcast deal |publisher=MMA Fighting |date=2012-10-15 |accessdate=2014-04-18}} Titan Fighting Championships, and Xtreme Fighting Championships.{{cite web|url=|title=XFC 27 results: Ribeiro outpoints Sharipov for featherweight belt |publisher=MMA Junkie |date=2013-12-13 }} In August 2014, the network announced a multi-year deal with CES MMA.{{cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/2014/09/axs-tv-announces-multi-year-broadcast-deal-with-ces-mma|title=AXS TV Announces Multi-Year Broadcast Deal With CES MMA |publisher=MMA Junkie |date=2014-09-21 |accessdate=2015-02-02}} The following January, the network joined forces with Legacy Fighting Championship, airing the promotion’s first-ever kickboxing event on January 16, 2015.{{cite web|url=http://firststopfantasy.com/other-sports/legacy-kickboxing-will-debut-on-january-16th-on-axs-tv-featuring-cosmo-alexandre-and-pat-barry/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150203061401/http://firststopfantasy.com/other-sports/legacy-kickboxing-will-debut-on-january-16th-on-axs-tv-featuring-cosmo-alexandre-and-pat-barry/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2015-02-03 |title=Legacy Kickboxing Will Debut On January 16th On AXS TV Featuring Cosmo Alexandre And Pat Barry |publisher=FirstStopFantasy |date=2015-01-11 |accessdate=2015-02-02 }}
On March 14, 2014 AXS TV Fights aired the North American premiere of the Russian Hip Show: Arena Combat. A two-on-two, points-based fighting event on a padded obstacle course instead of a traditional ring or cage. The pilot episode was a two-hour "best of" special, featuring lightweight and middleweight tournaments from 2012.{{cite web|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1991049-american-gladiators-meets-mma-in-the-insane-new-two-on-two-hip-show-on-axs-tv |title=American Gladiators Meets MMA in 'Hip Show: Arena Combat' on AXS TV |publisher=Bleacher Report |date=2014-03-13 |accessdate=2014-04-18}} English commentary was provided by Cyrus Fees and Casey Oxendine.
AXS TV Fights' presentation of LION FIGHT 16 on July 4, 2014, was the network's historic 250th fight broadcast.{{cite web|url=http://mmajunkie.com/2014/06/axs-tv-fights-set-for-historic-250th-card-with-lion-fight-16-in-las-vegas |title=AXS TV Fights set for historic 250th card with Lion Fight 16 in Las Vegas |publisher=MMA Junkie |date=2014-06-09 |accessdate=2014-06-25}}
On March 21, 2015, AXS TV Fights announced it would hold its first ever co-promoted mixed martial arts event featuring fighters from Resurrection Fighting Alliance (RFA) and Legacy Fighting Championship (Legacy) May 8, 2015. The event, titled "AXS TV Fights: RFA vs. Legacy Superfight" included a headlining fight between RFA Flyweight Champion Alexandre Pantoja and Legacy Flyweight Champion Damacio Page, two co-main events featuring intra-organizational title fights for each promotion, and three fights between RFA and Legacy contenders on the main card.{{cite web|url=http://www.mmafighting.com/2015/3/21/8270323/rfa-and-legacy-fighting-championships-to-stage-co-promoted-event-of |title=RFA and Legacy Fighting Championships to stage co-promoted event of superfights |publisher=MMA Fighting |date=2015-03-21 |accessdate=2015-07-23}}
AXS TV Fights broadcast its 300th combat sports event on October 23, 2016, with Lion Fight 25.{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-pat-miletich-pechanga-muay-thai-axs-inside-mma-20151021-story.html |title=Pechanga's Muay Thai card is AXS TV's 300th show for combat sports |work=Los Angeles Times |date=2015-10-21 |accessdate=2016-03-15}}
On Sept. 19, 2016, RFA president Ed Soares appeared on "The MMA Hour" to announce the merger of Resurrection Fighting Alliance and Legacy Fighting Championship to become Legacy Fighting Alliance beginning in 2017. The newly announced promotion also signed a multi-year deal with AXS TV Fights.{{cite web|url=http://www.mmafighting.com/2016/9/19/12975496/rfa-and-legacy-promotions-to-merge-in-2017-to-be-called-legacy |title=RFA and Legacy promotions to merge into LFA, the 'NCAA of mixed martial arts' |publisher=MMAFighting.com |date=2016-09-19 |accessdate=2016-09-22}}
The network celebrated its 400th live event broadcast with LFA 40 on May 25, 2018{{Cite news|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2018/5/25/17393600/axs-tv-fights-is-celebrating-400-shows-which-is-a-testament-to-its-adaptability|title=AXS TV Fights is celebrating 400 shows, which is a testament to its adaptability|publisher=MMAFighting.com|access-date=2018-09-04}}
On September 13, 2019, was announced the end of the partnership between AXS TV and LFA.{{cite web|url=https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2019/09/axs-tv-officials-terminates-lfa-broadcast-deal-lfa-76|title=AXS TV officials confirm LFA broadcasts to end following Friday's live event|work=MMAjunkie |date=2019-09-13 |accessdate=2019-12-07}}
On November 6, 2019, AXS TV and the MMA organization Combate Americas announced broadcast deal for 35 events in 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.mmafighting.com/2019/11/6/20952188/axs-tv-and-combate-americas-announce-broadcast-deal-for-35-events-in-2020|title=AXS TV and Combate Americas announce broadcast deal for 35 events in 2020|work= MMA Fighting |date=2019-11-06 |accessdate=2019-12-07}}
Fight commentators
AXS TV Fights' commentary team included UFC Hall of Famer Pat Miletich and sports broadcaster and reporter Ron Kruck, with media personality Phoenix Carnevale reporting cageside.
Sports broadcaster "The Voice" Michael Schiavello was the play-by-play commentator from 2009 to 2017. In May 2017 Schiavello announced his last event with AXS TV Fights would be Legacy Fighting Alliance 13 in Burbank, CA.{{Cite news|url=http://mmajunkie.com/2017/05/veteran-broadcaster-michael-schiavello-axs-tv-fights-departure|title=Veteran broadcaster Michael Schiavello discusses his AXS TV Fights departure|date=2017-05-19|work=MMAjunkie|access-date=2017-06-22|language=en-US}}
From 2010 to 2016, Schiavello also conducted in-depth interviews with combat sports stars on The Voice Versus, which aired intermittently in primetime.{{cite web|url=http://www.tv.com/shows/the-voice-versus/episodes/|title=The Voice Versus|last=TV.com|publisher=|accessdate=10 December 2016}}
List of AXS TV Fights promotions
=Current promotions=
AXS TV Fights currently broadcasts events from the following promotions:
=Past promotions=
;AXS TV Fights
AXS TV Fights has previously broadcast events from the following promotions:
- BAMMA
- Championship Fighting Alliance
- CES MMA
- Legacy Kickboxing
- Lion Fight Muay Thai
- Legacy Fighting Alliance
- Maximum Fighting Championship
- New Japan Pro-Wrestling
- Resurrection Fighting Alliance
- Titan Fighting Championships
- Xtreme Fighting Championships
;HDNET Fights
Under the HDNET Fights banner, the network broadcast fights from the following promotions:
- Adrenaline MMA
- Affliction Entertainment
- DREAM
- International Fight League
- K-1
- K1 Max
- M-1 Global
- Maximum Fighting Championship
- Ring of Combat
- Ring of Fire MMA
- Ring of Honor
- Sengoku
- SportFight
- Strikeforce
- Urban Conflict Championship
AXS TV Fight events
| class="sortable wikitable succession-box" style="font-size:90%;"
! scope="col" | # ! scope="col" | Event ! scope="col" | Date ! scope="col" | Location |
| align=center| 1
| AXS TV Fights - RFA vs. Legacy Superfight | {{dts|format=dmy|2015|May|8}} | United States |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.axs.tv/programs/fights AXS TV Fights Homepage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419013407/http://www.axs.tv/programs/fights/ |date=2014-04-19 }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:AXS TV Fights}}
Category:Mixed martial arts television shows
Category:2007 American television series debuts
Category:2000s American sports television series
Category:2010s American sports television series