So here we have the REAL DEAL travel diary from St. Petersburg complete with pictures and all. What a trip. What a show! As they (the senior execs) give me more rope to eventually hang myself with, these diaries are only going to get better and better. The original blog in all its glory was first published on the offical website
www.bodogfight.com - check it out for all the pictures!
The first episode is going through post production right now and scheduled to air January 23 and I will update everyone with the complete list of where it can be seen. Until then.....enjoy.
(except for Paul Lazenby - he's still upset about losing ten bucks LOL)
Day 10/11 - Eh Heh…
December 25th, 2006
My boss told me not to blog while drunk. Apparently, blunking drog can result in embarrassing errors. Peshaw!
Anyway, on day 10 we shot the last of the fights. Sorry, can’t let slip even one detail. You’ll just have to come back in late January to watch them all online and on the show. Needless to say, they all ruled (though there were some standouts, as usual).
My current state of drunkeness is a result of the production wrap party, which occurred immediately after the final fights and which was held at/hosted by Vadim’s yacht in St. Petersburg - a wild place, apparently, given all the strippers, piles of money, and high-society Russians rubbing elbows. You can see a few photos from the evening at bodogfight.com
1) Shit, these ex-Soviets can dance!
2) God damn those Bodog Girls - don’t they ever stop it with their sexy, sexy shenanigans?
3) The Black Mamba poses with this poor, underprivileged Russian. The economy is so poor that many young, hot Russian women have turned to spray paint instead of clothes.
4) Some old friends showed up. Can you name them all?
5) Hollywood Joe directed all the Bodog Girl sequences for the show. He’s seen here providing job advice to another impoverished, young, hot, sex-crazed ex-Soviet. He’s such a humanitarian.
6) These people do Bodog better than we do.
Day 9 - Palatial Pankration
December 22nd, 2006
As I mentioned yesterday, we shot the first fights today. Of course, I can’t reveal anything that happened, so don’t ask. Let me say, however, that there were some very surprising upsets.
For now, check out these cool shots of the ring (at bodogfight.com).
Day 8 - 24 Hours Before the War
December 21st, 2006
Today is the last day before we shoot the fights. As such, it was a bit of a mellow day. While most of the fighters stayed home to cut weight, I went out with a production team to capture interviews from some of the late arrivals - including the mighty Roman Zentsov, Red Devil and heavyweight BodogFighter.
Afterwards, I was once again ear-pulled along with Calvin and the gang for some more hi-society hijinx. The night began at the Ice Bar, a bar made entirely of ice and kept continuously at a frosty -10 degrees celsius. The bar, tables, walls, furniture - even the glasses - were all made of ice. It doesn’t get cooler than this.
There’s a grreat picture of Tsar Calvin and his comely court chillin’ at the Ice Bar (at bodogfight.com)
After that, it was off to Vadim’s yacht, a restaurant/lifestyle club/bar fashioned from an old galleon. We were treated to some fine foods, finer company, and normal climate control.
Peter (president of Bodog Entertainment), Calvin (man-about-town), Vadim (owner of the yacht), and Vlad (MFC President) are shown in a great picture, thick as thieves. … Did I say that?
Day 7 - What the Fuck Are We Doing?
December 20th, 2006
A while ago, we received our first community comment on the blog. At first, we were unsure if the content was appropriate for posting, but after mulling it over we’ve decided that the author made several poignant criticisms - and they deserved a response.
Here’s the original post:
Name: Dan Combs
What the fuck are you guys doing???
whos running this monkey operation.
Why are you showing a video of a speach to the production crew..and fighters.
.. whos this video for.? I honestly just don’t get it. its not sexy nor impressive.
What is your purpose ? of this show.? is it to show how to train to fight?
People don’t need this inside “speaches” to the crew.
only thing so far worth watching is fights and maybe the girls in Bikinis.
-dan
Well said, Dan. Here’s our line-by-line response.
What the fuck are you guys doing???
Uh, we’re making a television show. About mixed martial arts and girls in bikinis.
whos running this monkey operation.
The show is a collaboration between Bodog Entertainment and the Mixed Fighting Championship, a fairly established and progressive mixed martial arts league. I write the blog and take the pictures and video, though I tend to consider myself an ape descendant.
Why are you showing a video of a speach to the production crew..and fighters.
.. whos this video for.? I honestly just don’t get it.
Sorry, I thought this was clear in the post. The video is meant to give those interested in the business end of mixed martial arts an insider’s look into the making of the show. If you want impressive, watch this instead.
its not sexy nor impressive.
Now that’s going too far. Miguel is a very sexy man. Just look at him! (This is likely the WORST shot ever taken by Miguel - sorry brother)
What is your purpose ? of this show.? is it to show how to train to fight?
Well… the purpose of the show… is to show fights and girls in bikinis? I think we’ve already covered this.
People don’t need this inside “speaches” to the crew.
Fine. So what do you want?
only thing so far worth watching is fights and maybe the girls in Bikinis.
Well, you’re in luck! ‘Cause that’s what the show’s all about! I take exception to the “maybe” in that last sentence, however. Have you seen some of these girls?
Hopefully that clears things up a little. I certainly feel better.
Day 7 - Party Like a Tsar
December 19th, 2006
The endless stream of fighter interviews, shadow-boxing, and location scouting came to an end today, finally. Instead, the fighters and the production team traveled to “The Officers’ House” to shoot the weigh-ins. The Officers’ House is another of St. Petersburg’s amazing historical sites, and you’ll simply have to watch the show in order to properly experience the grandeur of the place.
Suffice it to say, all the fighters met their weight (so we don’t have to cancel the show). Meanwhile, a second production unit was in a nearby room shooting more greenscreen material. The above image shows Jeff Ford, a light heavyweight Muay Thai champion, receiving direction from story producer Gabriella Sosa.
Later, I was whisked off to join a special convoy destined for Katerina’s Castle and to meet our very own Bodog Tsar, Calvin Ayre. He and some of the Girls were personally invited for a tour of the castle.
Cort (a camera op) and I were invited to join and shoot the tour – a very special experience since cameras are normally forbidden inside the castle.
(Check out the great shots at bodogfight.com)
When all was said and done, we packed up and drove over (via police escort) to a high-class restaurant where Calvin greeted the fighters and married them to the Bodog Girl of their choice.
Middleweight Joseph Baize cuddles with his new sweetheart, Bodog Girl Julia Kabanova. Lucky dog!
Day 6 - Image Gallery: Fighters Training
December 18th, 2006
As mentioned in the previous post, I managed to take some pictures during the fighters’ evening training session. Check it out.
Middleweight Piotr Jakaczynski and welterweight Jake Ellenberger work on their ground.
Welterweight Derrick Noble hits the mitts.
Jake Ellenberger lands a picture-perfect kick.
Heavyweight Cain Velasquez practices his sparring.
Amanda Buckner and husband Jay Jack work on their wrestling.
Day 6 - Lost in the Hermitage
December 18th, 2006
Today I intended to hang out in the hotel and get some work done. I’ve got about ten thousand goddamn pictures of fighters and I need to get them organized so I can post them. Just as I was getting down to business, someone called and told me I had free tickets to the Hermitage, today only. As such, I was forced to “fuck work.”
The Hermitage (for you culturally undernourished) is one of the oldest, most important museums in the world. It’s also one of the biggest, composed of five huge buildings including the Winter Palace, historical home to Russian Tsars. Even though I took about a thousand pictures, I barely scratched the surface. I’ll put up a gallery later.
If you’re a pure fight fan and am wondering what the hell I’m doing rambling on about art ‘n stuff, please see the pictures on the website!
Yes, those are punching daggers, a favored weapon of warriors from ancient India. They were on display in the “Relics of the Near and Middle East” section.
Unfortunately, I got so wrapped up in taking pictures of weapons and armor that I got separated from my tour group. I realized I was…
LOST IN THE HERMITAGE!
By the time I made it back to the tour meeting spot, the bus had left. It took about two hours to get back to the hotel. When I got there, I was barely in time to catch some of the fighters training in the gym. Please see the other post I made today: Day 6 - Image Gallery.
Day 5 - Tombs and Vavooms
December 17th, 2006
Today’s shooting schedule ran pretty much the same as yesterday’s – cold in the morning, hot in the evening.
We began by traveling to the magnificent Peter and Paul fortress to shoot more fighter profile material. The gate on the river-side of the fortress is called “The Door of No Return,” partly because the fortress once housed a prison. Here’s a pic of Heavyweight fighter Josh “Buffalohead” Curran charging through the gate.
Later, I was lucky enough to receive a guided tour of the fortress’s cathedral, where the bodies of many Russian Tsars are entombed. Considering that Russian leaders are normally assassinated by their own family, it’s interesting how much they spend on burying them.
Middleweight fighter Petar Jakaczynski, showed us some of his moves on the cathedral’s doorstep.
In the evening, the spa experience continued. I’ll leave the details once more to your imagination… but I’ll give you a break and reveal one of the girls. Meet Natalya. (DUDE - check out the pics!)
Day 4 - Cameras in the Shower
December 15th, 2006
Today, I tag-alonged with several fighters as we moved from shoot to shoot – grabbing footage of practicing, shadow-boxing, et cetera – as well as some interviews for the show. One of the guys I hung out with has Khalil Ibrahim, a light heavyweight from Palestine. Ibrahim is looking to take down Bill Mahood, a well-known Canadian fighter. Both will fight this season on BodogFight: St. Petersburg.
From there, the fighters and I returned to the hotel for a further shoot – something called the “Spa Experience.” Neither I nor the fighters had any clue what to expect. Allow middleweight fighter Kyacey Uscola to explain
(Yes Kyacey, you owe me HUGE)
Shooting went well into the night, forcing both the production crew and the Bodog Girls to get a little creative. See the site pics - they're sick!
Anyone want to see more from this shoot? you know where to go. I’m off to see if I can score something.
Day 3 - Video: Miguel Iturrate
December 13th, 2006
I finally got some video wrangled for ya. Anyone who follows the business of MMA will know the name Miguel Iturrate. He’s a renowned matchmaker both for MFC and BodogFight: St Petersburg. Here, Miguel addresses the fighters at the day 1 production meeting - complete with Russian translation!
There will always be more coming from BodogFight, so keep your eyes and ears open!
The BodogFight Guy
