The Blogboard Jungle

Los Angeles (Dec. 20, 2017) – Wrestling Hall of Fame broadcaster Jim Ross and champion fighter Josh Barnett will return as AXS TV’s New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) broadcast team in 2018, announced AXS TV FIGHTS CEO Andrew Simon. The acclaimed commentary duo kick off the New Year with AXS TV’s Wrestle Kingdom 12 special on Saturday, Jan. 6 at 8pE/5pP. AXS TV’s award-winning weekly NJPW series returns to Friday nights on Jan. 12 at 8pE/5pP, with additional coverage from Wrestle Kingdom 12. Rounding out the network’s first quarter schedule will be matches from New Beginning Sapporo, New Beginning Osaka and more. One of the most recognizable figures in pro wrestling, Ross has called thousands of televised events over the course of his 30-plus-year career and has lent his iconic voice to NJPW on AXS TV since 2016. Along with his beloved catchphrases, Ross is widely regarded for his influence on the wrestling industry, as evidenced by his induction into the WWE, NWA and National Wres...

The UFC Fight Night 75 may have been under promoted, but the event had overwhelming performances from many of the competitors. Josh Barnett out worked Roy Nelson, Uriah Hall jumped up the middleweight ranks, and two fighters from “The Ultimate Fighter Japan (TUF: Japan)” fought to an impressive draw. A lot has gone down in MMA during the month of September, but this card from Japan could make for a better reminder than a Pride FC themed show if you were lucky enough to catch it. Mizuto Hirota and Teruto Ishihara were both fighting to earn UFC contracts after getting through the Fight Pass broadcast of TUF:Japan. Ishihara looked the favorite to win, seemingly because he was ten years the junior of Hirota but the older fighter showed what experience does when facing a greener opponent. For every combo Hirota delivered, Ishihara would answer with counter-left-hook. Even with that happening, Hirota only seemed to press on. If judges ever had a hard fight to call it would have been...