Mark,

With so many failed or soon to-be-failed promotions in MMA history (pride, bodog, IFL) what was the deciding factor that made you want to invest your time and money into what seems like a very risky business?

Why would fighters want to fight under your promotion and not the UFC's?

How many fights do you expect Randy Couture to do with your promotion when his contract is up with the UFC?

mark,

i don't have hdnet. will you give me that package for free? thank you. i have directv.

Underboss MMAfia

Head of the West Coast Family

mark,

what's the incentive for me to get the hdnet package when i can find everything online? for free. thank you. and watching live events can not be a reason.

Underboss MMAfia

Head of the West Coast Family

Actually, phoenix your questions bring up a good point. HDnet has a very limited audience right now. Mr. Cuban, are you doing anything to increase the reach of your network (ie. negotiating with major cable companies, etc.)?

ufc's ppv's each month leaves no more money for subscribing to hdnet. if it was on a major cable network...even FSN or something...

Underboss MMAfia

Head of the West Coast Family

Mr. Cuban,
With the recent spotlight on steroid abuse in professional athletics, what policies and screening procedures will your league have in place to ensure your fighters are competing clean and fairly?

What do you make of the Fedor situation?

CMag08, do you want to elaborate on that? Are you referring to the fact that Fedor may be a free agent right now?

I'm referring to the fact that he may be a free agent right now.

cuban,
what's your favorite mma news and forum site?

if he answers anything but fightticker.com end it right there pramit....

Underboss MMAfia

Head of the West Coast Family

Haha nice Phoenix...

If he says CBS Sportsline, pull a Congo on his ass... twice.

lol. phoenix man you never cease to amaze me...lol

Mr. Cuban, I am a big fan of the work you have done in turning them Mavericks from an also ran into a perennial contender. What improvements are you willing to offer the fighters in regards to better pay, health insurance and maybe a retirement plan.

Godfather and all-around Mafia Aficionado

Co-Founder of The MMAFIA

Head of the East Coast

Mark, news came out a while back about you trying to pull Floyd Mayweather into the realm of MMA. Is his involvement with the WWE mean that he won't be entering mma anytime soon?

...i hope you are amazed. i'm reading a giant book on how to amaze people. it's literally giant. it's a two page pop up book.

cuban,
what is your favorite fight movie?

if he answers Never Back Down i will never watch HDnet fights...

Underboss MMAfia

Head of the West Coast Family

I'm a female MMA fighter and was curious what you thought about women being involved in MMA? Do you agree with it or disagree and why? Also was curious as to how do we get HD net?

Thanks ang GLOVES UP!!

Jenna "tuffy" Bernick
Camarillo, CA

first you need a cable service or something. you have to subscribe to it

that's what cable services provide hdnets
http://www.hd.net/watch_at_home.html

-Mark Cuban

not mark cuban
Underboss MMAfia

Head of the West Coast Family

I can tell you HDNET is only available if you have a high def tv and service. You can go to their website to check availability. www.hd.net. In my opinion there is definitely a place in MMA for female fighters and no you don't all have to look like Gina Carrano. She is helping you ladies out with all the exposure she is getting.

Godfather and all-around Mafia Aficionado

Co-Founder of The MMAFIA

Head of the East Coast

i don't feel the need to get an hdtv. i personally can care less if i'm missing out on the HDedness of tv. i can see everything just fine on my directv fed tv. so mr cuban, this is another issue, with so many people not having HDTV sets, why limit your audience even more?

ladies fighting is no problem with me. a fight is a fight. the women seem more technical from what i've seen. they know there jj.

i'm a dude.

Underboss MMAfia

Head of the West Coast Family

HDTV is worth it - and soon... there will be cable companies offering free LCD HDTVs the way cellphone companies offer cellphones in exchange for a 2yr contract... it's already happening in some areas of the country.

you sure about that sixtus? giving away lcd tv's just to support mark cubans plan to have every person in america only having one channel available in Hdnet?

Underboss MMAfia

Head of the West Coast Family

Haha - yes I am sure about the HDTV LCD TV's being offered in exchange for a 2yr+ contract. I have acutally helped a little with the project... that's how I know about it. Soon all TV transmissions will have to be HD... I think the date is sometime next year, but I dont remember exactly. Meaning, you will want to have an HDTV... and heck, if the cable company is going to give a 36" LCD HDTV for signing up for cable you will be watching anyway... why not?? Win/win.

It's all part of Mark Cubans master-plan to take over the US. He is afterall... Cuban. =-p

i thought it was the digital feed? instead of the old broadcast thing they had before? i don't think all of america is being forced to buy an hdtv...

Underboss MMAfia

Head of the West Coast Family

No, I believe you are right - you will not have to buy an HDTV from my understanding. I think there is a plan though to eventually move it that direction. I dont know though.

It really is lame about the whole HDNET thing being available only in HD... I called my cable company (Comcast) and asked why they dont offer HDNET, thier response was that since it was an 'HD Only' channel, they didnt have enough customers who recieve HD service to justify paying thier (presumably HDNET) licensing fees to offer it to customers...

Pramit, perhaps you can work that in to a question/statement to get a response...

yeah, what would be the point in me getting hdnet when i don't have an hdtv?

i'm always right.

so before if you had an hdtv and you popped in a dvd movie, was that shown in hd? because now there are blu ray discs(sorry hddvd) that are HD. I don't understand this whole HD craze.

Mark Cuban,
WHy are you supporting the 2% of america who has HDt'vs and forgetting about the 98% who don't.

Underboss MMAfia

Head of the West Coast Family

Mark do you fear that by adding another league and taking established a few stars that you would be not only cheating MMA fans out of the matches they want to see but be diluting the field to the point where it would hurt the sport as a whole.

Mark what would you say if a bunch of rich guys started a basketball league in the US. Signed 200 guys from Europe and minor leagues that aren't good enough to play in the NBA and then overpaid Kobe Bryant, Dirk, Lebron and Steven Nash to play for them. Would the product be just as good as the NBA? Would it be good for basketball to have this added competition in the marketplace? Would it force the NBA to take better care of their stars (because if they can be bought out by this league obviously they aren't being treated properly in the NBA). Or do you think it is best to have one superior league that the best players dream of playing in?

Mark,

With HDNet signing up so many organizations, like the IFL and Strikeforce, to television contracts, is there a timetable set in place for the merger of the best-of-the-best? And, under which banner makes the most sense - be it IFL, HDNet Fights, etc.

<---Check out The Rear Naked Choke, Featuring Joe & Ted on www.joeted.com!--->

Wow, this place is becoming a screw Mark Cuban party in here.

Mark,

I have to say that I do not yet have HDNet or any other cable or dish provider for that matter. I think what you are doing is great for the sport of MMA and is great for the fighters. I look forward to the day when I can watch live MMA being broadcast on television every weekend similar to the other major sports. You've accomplished a great deal thus far. With that being said, the announcement that HDNet Fights will soon be carrying Dream events has made me want to finally go out and purchase your product. My questions are these:
Are you in negotiations to get the HCF or Hardcore Fighting Championships show based out of Canada or World Victory Road from Japan onto HDNet Fights in the near future?
and
Is there any plans of having a channel that is devoted to 24 hours a day of MMA, i.e., replays of classic fights, news, reality shows, live events, etc.?

I look forward to seeing great things from your new enterprise.

Nathan Schafer

Mark,
If you had a million dollars, what would you do first?

how about some positive questions! i think most of us are generally pro-UFC so these are some rough/tough questions. anyways...

mark,

do you have a long or short term plan with battling the name brand recognition of the UFC? for example when you think of basketball you think of the NBA...football->NFL...mixed martial arts->UFC.

mark,

i'm a big fan of both you and dana white...but let's be honest here, dana white has a big mouth and he's also a direct competitor with you. dana has said a few times that he respects you and is glad you're in the business which is probably the nicest thing he's ever said about a competitor in the MMA industry...are there any kind words you'd like to put on the record so us internet fools can spread it like wildfire?

i just want my questions anwesered!

Mark,
whatever happened to that footballs league you were talking about? did you find it easier to do mma?

Underboss MMAfia

Head of the West Coast Family

i hope cuban answers big mac's question...

Underboss MMAfia

Head of the West Coast Family

Mr. Cuban,

You have recently suggested that the UFC is in violation of the Ali Reform Act for alleged anti-competitive practices. However, the Act only applies to boxing and does not apply to MMA. Do you intend to hire lobbyists for the creation of a similar act for MMA or revise the Ali Reform Act to include MMA?

whats that?

Underboss MMAfia

Head of the West Coast Family

Here's some background to the Ali Act question (a previous interview I did with Mr. Cuban):

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/mma/blog/2008/01/oneonone_with_ma...

i hope he doesn't give one line anwsers this time..

Underboss MMAfia

Head of the West Coast Family

There are rumors you will be involved with the new MMA promotion involving Affliction and Golden Boy Promotions. Is this true?

Why we don't see Brazilian fighters at HD Net Fights? Some managers told me HD Net Fights' matchmaker is nearly impossible to reach.

Like iamphoenix said, I hope the same about the answers!

Mark what's the most impressive thing on this list to you:

1) Rockets win streak
2) Patriots going 16-0
3) Randy Couture winning the HW belt in his 40s
4) Anderson Silva domination of MMA
5) Fedor Emelianenko domination of MMA

Papa,
Very nice question. Thinking outside the box. I like it.

papa calls it thinking outside the bun...

Underboss MMAfia

Head of the West Coast Family

i like buns.

Mr. Cuban,

One common criticism of the UFC is that there is no coherent ranking system, meaning that there is no set system to determine who gets title shots. How will your promotion determine who the number one contender is?

others also don't like the ufc having a ranking system, lemon...

Underboss MMAfia

Head of the West Coast Family

MR Cuban,

Have you ever considered renamed the Dallas Mavericks the Dallas Mark Cubans? and why?

Underboss MMAfia

Head of the West Coast Family

Whether you think the UFC should have a ranking system or not, I still would like to know how Cuban plans on determining who should get title shots.

i know lemon...hopefully cuban will answer it...

Underboss MMAfia

Head of the West Coast Family

Mark:

What are you going to do to preserve the long-term viability of MMA? Namely, what can be done to prevent MMA from suffering from boxing's current (and debilitating) "alphabet-soup" of titles & championships?

Consiglere of The MMAFIA

Mr. Cuban,

With the rumors of Oscar de la Hoya & Affliction joining forces would you consider getting into business with Oscar? I think you two would make a huge impact in this sport, together you guys could do great things.

Godfather and all-around Mafia Aficionado

Co-Founder of The MMAFIA

Head of the East Coast

I second KingLev's question on fighters' rights (pay, health insurance, and pension plan). How is Cuban's treatment of fighters better than other MMA organizations?

My Question:
Given MMA's similarities with fighting in general, do you feel HDNet Fights has a social responsibility in detering street violence, and if so, how do you aim to accomplish this?

LOL! Some funny stuff up there!

Check us out at Fighting for Acceptance: Mixed Martial Artists and Violence in American Society!
Or buy Fighting for Acceptance

Do you have any intent of addressing the charges of MMA being too violant? If you do, how do you intend to counter these charges to the public?In addition, how do you intend to market the league to gather new viewers beyond PPV events.

What do you expect Randy Couture's involvment in your organization once his contract expires with the UFC?

What interest do you have in Kurt Angle and what do you make of the claims that he is scheduled to fight Randy Couture?

Mr. Cuban
instead of hdnetfights, have you considered changing it to
INTERNATIONAL MARK CUBAN EXTREME BATTLE SHOWDOWN CHAMPIONSHIPS
or IMCEBSC for short?

thanks

Underboss MMAfia

Head of the West Coast Family