WAMMA Adds New Pollsters to Monthly Rankings‏

[keithlewis]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -

WAMMA Announces Mike Straka, Jon Anik, Danny Acosta, Randy Gordon, and Chris Thomas Latest Pollsters to Join the World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts' Monthly Rankings Poll

Solidifying its position as the most credible and respected rankings poll in mixed martial arts, the World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts (WAMMA) recently concluded its latest round of recruitment of new pollsters.

Modeled after the Associated Press and USA Today's coaches' poll in college football, WAMMA's poll gathers the rankings of the most respected journalists in MMA from the field of print, online, radio, and television on a monthly basis. The consensus rankings are calculated at bantamweight, featherweight, lightweight, welterweight, middleweight, light heavyweight, and heavyweight and are presented to the public via its official website at http://www.GoWAMMA.com.

New pollsters that have recently joined WAMMA's official rankings committee include Mike Straka from Fox News, Jon Anik of ESPN, Danny Acosta of Sherdog.com and FIGHT! magazine, as well as Randy Gordon and Chris Thomas of Sirius Satellite Radio.

"WAMMA could not be more excited about this group of highly respected and knowledgeable journalists joining our Ranking Committee," said WAMMA Chief Operating Officer Michael Lynch.

Straka is the executive producer and host of FOX News' Fight Game, a mixed martial arts news and commentary video segment on FOXNews.com. Additionally, he is also the vice president and executive producer of FOX News Digital.
Alongside co-hosts Kenny Florian and Newark Star-Ledger columnist Franklin McNeil, Anik hosts ESPN.com's MMA Live, a weekly 30-minute studio show dedicated to covering the sport of MMA. In addition to his MMA Live hosting duties, Anik also appears on ESPN Mobile TV and ESPN Radio.

Besides writing for Sherdog and FIGHT!, Acosta's work has also appeared on ESPN.com and the online version of the San Jose Mercury News. In addition to his writing duties, Acosta trains in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under the Carlson Gracie-Rey Diego banner with black belt instructor, Oliver Reich.

Gordon, a former chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission, was once one of MMA's harshest critics. However, he's currently one of the sport's most vocal supporters and routinely extols the virtues of MMA every Tuesday and Friday on channel 127 from 5-7 p.m. ET on Sirius Satellite Radio alongside his broadcast partner, Thomas, who grew up training and practicing various styles of martial arts. Thomas has been involved in the world of MMA since its inception, covering many of the early events and establishing relationships with the sport's champions and many of the other young fighters who have become household names in the sport.

Straka, Anik, Acosta, Gordon and Thomas join a well-respected groups of pollsters that includes Committee Chair Sam Caplan of FiveouncesofPain.com, Todd Martin and Denny Burkholder of CBSSports.com, Ron Kruk of HDNet, Jose Rodriguez of the Calgary Sun, and Dann Stupp of MMAjunkie.com and the Dayton Daily News.

There are many trusted outlets in the MMA media which produce a credible rankings systems on a monthly basis, however, WAMMA's monthly rankings poll is the only one that takes a full sampling from various media platforms.

"In Major League Baseball, the Baseball Writers Association of America handles the Hall of Fame balloting," Lynch said. "The most respected writers in the industry, regardless of what outlet they are affiliated with, all come together to lend their opinions. But what if only the opinions from one media outlet or only one promotion were taken into consideration in MMA rankings? WAMMA is inclusive with its polling practices in order to determine the best fighters in the world, as opposed to being exclusive."

WAMMA's rankings are not for cosmetic purposes, as they are intended to be functional in assisting promoters in determining top contenders for major championship titles. Thus far, WAMMA's monthly rankings poll has helped crown undisputed champions in both the heavyweight and lightweight divisions.

To access WAMMA's current rankings as well as obtain a complete list of its current pollsters and the poll's bylaws, please visit http://www.GoWAMMA.com.