Rocker, Fighter Robin Black Excited for New Weekly MMA Show “5 Rounds”

As the popularity of MMA continues to grow and shows dedicated to it spread across multiple media outlets, there is always a need to cater to the fan who wants more detailed information, and that’s exactly what Canada’s Fight Network hopes to bring with their weekly 5 Rounds show.

Show co-host Robin Black explains how the show came to be, “We’ve been doing deeper analysis in our weekly news show as well as a chat every day on Fight Network, to the point where we realized that if you were watching a 24-hour channel dedicated to fighting that you’re paying for, chances are you are pretty educated on the sport.

“We needed to look at building a show that was for the educated fans where we look a little deeper into technique of things and the storylines.”

Black told MMAWeekly.com that not only does he feel that he and co-host John Ramdeen work very well together, they also bring their own unique features to the show.

“John brings in a real historical element to it,” said Black. “He can tell you the equivalent of the leather-helmet-football days. His first job at the Fight Network eight years ago was to edit all the old Pride events; so he’s watched every single one of those. He also brings an element of knowing facts, figures and numbers, as well as training in the sport.

“I’m obsessive about the details. I was never a great fighter, but I went and fought because I really needed to know and understand what was happening in there. By having gotten in there and had my share of losses and being hurt and having the odd win and feeling all of those things, I bring a different perspective than a lot of analysts.”

So far the show has struck a nerve with fight fans, as it’s quickly become of the Fight Network’s most watched shows.

“I was just told by our boss that our last show had the highest rating for the 18-35-year-old (demographic) in the network’s history, which is crazy and super-exciting,” said Black. “It tells me there is an audience for a show for the real deep, hardcore fans.”

While currently based in Canada and broadcast across many other countries around the world, the Fight Network is still seeking to expand into the U.S. market. But no worries, American fans who wish to watch 5 Rounds now can do so online.

“The ultimate goal is to have it on (TV) in America,” Black said. “That’s the number-one goal we’ve had for eight years.

“We have a really good product now and we think people will like it. In the meantime, we have a YouTube channel that people are starting to really follow and consume our stuff.”

The latest episode of 5 Rounds with Robin Black and John Ramdeen looking back at the TUF 17 Finale with a breakdown of Urijah Faber’s striking, Tate vs. Zingano, Uriah Hall and more can be viewed below: