August News Part 1
Quote
of the Day
Don't tell me that worry doesn't do any good. I know better.
The things I worry about don't happen. |
ON
FRANK SHAMROCK'S INJURY!
Submitted by: Eddie Goldman
The
much-anticipated return to action of Frank Shamrock, mixed martial
arts' top fighter of the 90s, its first decade of organized,
worldwide competition, has been delayed. He will not be fighting
at the World Extreme Cagefighting show on Aug. 31 at Mohegan
Sun. Whether or not the whole show will be postponed has not
yet been announced. Below is the press release put out by Frank,
which implies that this show will still go on. Stay tuned for
more information.
Frank
Shamrock: Out, but not for the count! Broken Leg sidelines Champion's
return to the Cage
Just
as quickly as the long-awaited return of the great Frank Shamrock
was scheduled at the World Extreme Cagefighting's east coast
premiere, an unfortunate incident during a grueling training
session with partner 'Crazy' Bob Cook quickly gave Frank the
break he didn't want nor expect causing Mr. Shamrock to pull
his name from his match-up against Ricardo Almeida.
After
continuing his training after sustaining the break the day prior,
his drive and ambition coupled with an un-human tolerance for
pain left the living legend unaware of the damage to his Right
Fibula. Once through his last training day thursday, August 7th,
he attended a physician by the 'unusual inability to walk'. Always
the consummate comedian, he proceeded to have an X-ray that revealed
a severely broken Right Fibula that required immediate casting.
Mr. Shamrock will be unable to train for 1 full month therefore
unable to keep his fight commitment.
Being
one to never balk at a fight, Mr. Shamrock immediately notified
the Fights Promoters to discuss alternate future dates for the
long-awaited comeback.
As
for his spirit…'I am deeply disappointed as I have been
training hard in the gym to show the world that I'm back to rule
the cage. Unfortunately, they will not let me fight with a cast,
so we'll have to re-schedule'.
Frank
will still be attending the show and to promote the new date
(soon to be determined) as the World Extreme Cagefighting's East
Coast vs. West Coast plans to shake the house at the Mohegan
Sun.
Frank
Shamrock Vs. Ricardo Almeida is OFF!
AUG.
31st, 2002 WEC CARD AT MOHEGAN SUN IN FLUX!!!
World
Extreme Cage Fighting's much heralded main event ended when Frank
Shamrock broke his leg in training. Frank suffered the injury
this week, and his match with Ricardo Almeida is off.
Frank
apparently suffered a compound break of his fibula while training
with Bob Cook. Trying to save half of their main event, WEC reportedly
approached Almedia to take on a different fighter. Almeida had
a previous hand injury, and the 'Big Dog' feels that anyone other
than Frank would not be worth the possibility of reinjuring his
hand. According to the 'Big Dog' himself, he had not even received
doctor's clearances to fight Shamrock, but Ricardo thought the
fight with Frank would be worth the risk. This leaves the WEC
in a bind, no big names for their event in a big venue will definitely
hurt ticket sales.
Source:
Abu Dhabi |
Greater
Expectations:
Pre-Injury, Frank Shamrock Talks Tito, Steroids, and Silva
"I
always told myself that I would retire when I was thirty,"
Shamrock groaned. It is at once a self-mocking criticism of a
failed premonition and a resignation to go back to basics. Because
on the eve of his thirtieth year as a social security number,
Shamrock was set to climb back into a caged arena and try to
impose his will over someone looking to make headlines by beating
on freestyle fighting's former golden child. The guy who de-matted
UFC poster boy Tito Ortiz. The dude who made freak knockout slams
and flash submissions de rigueur for the sport. The ridiculously
likable fellow who is good-natured even in the middle of a fistfight,
uttering such faux-tough guy commentary like "I'm gonna
kill ya!" and "You're gettin' tired now!" in between
slams and ankle locks.
Author's
Note: Turns out we'll have to wait just a wee bit longer for
Shamrock's return to action. On August 8, he broke his leg mixing
it up in training. Before the injury, the California native spoke
with Maxfighting regarding his current and future plans, as well
as his opinion on the pressing issues of the MMA day: steroids,
incoming mainstream exposure, and his odds of ever fighting Sakuraba.
Enjoy his thoughts, as we did, and expect the durable and decorated
athlete to get back to work by year's end.
End
depressing interlude.
The
guy who has spent the better part of the past three years, as
he says, "Just being Frank Shamrock." Sure, there were
fights to avoid the spread of rust: one against Elvis Sinosic,
a rare decision win with hybrid rules; and one kickboxing bout
with Shannon Ritch that ended in Ritch bowing out due to arm
injury inflicted by a kick.
But
all told, Shamrock has not had a challenge to suit his talents
since September of 1999, when he displayed the greatest defense
of a title in mixed competition, using every trick in the book
to literally beat down the far larger Ortiz. It was the closest
thing to an open weight fight possible in the later stages of
the sport, with the burly Ortiz trimming down to 200 pounds,
and the 190-odd lb. Shamrock cheerfully weighing in with paperback
books in his pockets.
Come
fight time, it's believed that Ortiz had a healthy weight advantage
over the Champ, and he used it to full effect, nullifying any
submission or striking attempts. It was only when Shamrock resigned
to making Ortiz work overtime, outpacing him in a display of
cardio, did he walk away with the victory.
"I
tried all kinds of things," Shamrock recalled. "I eventually
just gave up because he was so strong. I realized that if I put
my strength against his, I would be done. I just had to go around
it the whole time."
And
that was it. After the fight, Shamrock announced his retirement,
partially to wriggle free of a prohibitive SEG contract, and
partially because he felt the sport had reached a plateau. At
the start of his absence, it was still a good year away from
being rescued by the influential Zuffa regime, and about three
away from the inevitability of free television exposure and bigger
paydays. Shamrock spent precious little time crashed on the couch
in a Cheetos haze: Forty-five weekends out of the year would
see him traveling for appearances, seminars, or law enforcement
training.
But
now mass exposure seems imminent, along with the resulting dollar
signs and attention. For Shamrock, it's now or never. "When
I stepped out, the sport wasn't going anywhere. It was dead in
the water. We were on DirecTV, eight million homes, and that
was it. There was no money in it. I was basically crippling my
body for a wee bit of fame. There wasn't a whole lot going on.
Now that the sport is going somewhere, I'd like to jump back
in, rebuild my name, rebuild my fanbase, and then jump back out
and get back into acting." At nearly thirty, Shamrock is
hardly ready for one of those helper bars alongside his potty.
But, "There is a window, and that window is getting shorter
and shorter for me."
Anticipating
a renewed interest in the combat arenas, Shamrock abandoned his
acting pursuits and began regular training with the promise that
he would fight Kazushi Sakuraba in what was once dubbed the MMA
World Cup, now the joint DSE and K-1 venture Shockwave. Excited,
Shamrock even announced the plans to a crowd at a recent fight
program. It was a short-lived hope. "In Japan, there are
no contracts," he bemoaned. "You never know. It's so
different. Everything changes about two weeks out. But I was
willing to take the risk. I've been waiting to fight Sakuraba
for a long time. He's one of the guys in this sport I really
wanted to fight. Everyone else I couldn't really care less about.
"And
then my opponent changed to Oyama. And then they came back and
said, 'You can't fight Oyama, and we don't have a fight for you.'
So all that fell through." Well, almost. In late July, DSE
informed Shamrock that he could take on Vanderlei Silva in an
open weight fight. "That was pretty much the breaking point
of our negotiations. First it was Sak, then they threw me this
consolation prize of Oyama, then they hit me thirty days out
with, 'Well, you can fight Vanderlei Silva.' And I thought, 'You
know, I may be Superman, but I don't think I can pull through
that fight.' It was a decision based on my physical conditioning,
my mental training and focus, and where I was at in my fight
game. I believe in my heart of hearts, that at one hundred percent
I can destroy Vanderlei Silva. But I'm not one hundred percent.
I think the challenge is to try and get me close to that level."
So
with a few weeks of intensive training and no rational fight
scheduled, Shamrock friend and student Bob Cook approached the
World Extreme Cagefighting show by asking what plans they had
for a late summer event on the East Coast, and if those plans
could possibly accommodate a marquee fighter already prepared
to peak that weekend. It was not a problem. The WEC chose Ricardo
Almeida, a Renzo Gracie student and UFC veteran, to complete
the main event set for August 31 at the Mohegan Sun Casino in
Uncasville, Connecticut. It's a solid bout, far more compelling
than Shamrock contesting the affable, but average, Oyama in Japan.
Such was the interest in the match that many have wondered why
an upstart promotion like the WEC could finalize Shamrock's comeback,
while the UFC is left to wonder what happened.
"The
thing about the UFC is that they're so concerned about controlling
people, controlling athletes, and protecting their product that
they sometimes shoot themselves in the foot, and it seems like
they did on this one," he reasoned. "They don't want
you to go around and be Frank Shamrock. They want you to be UFC's
Frank Shamrock. The WEC people were real open about me competing
and using my image, and doing a number of other things. They
didn't want to tie me down. They were just excited to have me
fight and participate. They gave me pretty good money and a pretty
tough opponent. Everything just kind of fell into place."
For
some, despite Almeida's credible record and experience, Shamrock
is already a winner on paper. He scoffed at the prospect of having
anything wrapped up. "He's a very serious challenge for
me, because I haven't been in the game, I haven't been training
at the top level, and here's a guy who's going to come out and
try everything in his power to beat me. I have to be as good
as I can be in thirty days. That's my challenge, and it's got
me excited. It's got me training really hard. It's got me focused
on this fight. I'm not looking past it. I'm looking at it as
one of the toughest challenges of my career."
Whether
the motivation is really there is sometimes suspect. In one breath,
Shamrock will discuss the anticipation of returning to a sport
he helped cultivate, eager to finally reap the long-delayed benefits
of scrapping for small crowds and spotty respect. Other moments
have him seemingly weary of the fight game, weary of the rigors
of training, and weary of the roughhousing. "I'm so tired
of training, beating my body up, that I'd just as soon sit and
play chess than go out and try to beat someone down. I really
like the challenges of competition. With the MMA stuff, the only
problem is that I've been there and done that."
But
facing Almeida is seemingly a strong statement, one that may
have made up Shamrock's mind for him. "I think that fighting
Almeida will show me, and show the MMA world, where I'm at. And
I think according to that, we can judge what comes next."
His contract with the WEC was simply for the one fight. He has
not ruled out entrance to Pride, but the dream of trading Mongolian
chops with Saku is now dormant. "It's just a pipe dream.
I don't know what the deal is. I have been told my image is not
strong enough in Japan anymore, I have been told that stylistically
people don't want to see the fight in Japan, I have been told
it won't sell on American PPV. I've been told everything, and
I don't know what to believe.
"I
held on for two years to try and get that fight going. I did
everything humanly possible besides sawing my arm off. It just
kept slipping away. I am completely disinterested in it. I don't
care, I don't think it's gonna happen, and I'm just gonna move
on."
The
UFC is another option, of course, but the aforementioned concern
over their lack of star treatment bothers him. "They still
think that the UFC is the star. They still think that the UFC
is what people go to see. I disagree with that. I don't even
know who promotes De La Hoya, but I go to see Oscar. I think
that's what our sport needs. They need to take individual stars
and build them as stars and continue to build them, and put time,
energy, and money into them.
"They're
too focused on the sport. The sport's wonderful, everyone digs
the sport. But I don't think the sport itself is big enough or
strong enough or exciting enough to put us over and go to the
next level. There are a handful of superstar athletes that can
take it to the next level. Fighting is the last thing that goes
on. The first thing that goes on is talent, and stars, and their
interaction, and their lives, and how they carry themselves,
and what makes them fight. I think they've missed the point."
Consistently,
the UFC has made their point with Tito Ortiz, their brash and
dominant Light Heavyweight Champion who continues to be the promotion's
figurehead, even during a fourteen-month layoff due to injury.
"I don't know if he's the best option," Shamrock analyzed.
"I think he is the best that they've got. They put a lot
of time and commitment and money into Tito Ortiz. I think that
there are a handful of superstars in this sport, and Tito's one
of them. He represents a large group of people. I think there
should be five more that represent other groups of people.
"Everyone
is drawn to someone, and identifies with something. Not everyone
identifies with Tito. Some people identify with Jens Pulver,
and so Jens should be a star. They need to develop personalties
and people. Not just one guy. It's not just one guy. I know for
a fact that my Grandma does not like Tito Ortiz. Just for the
reason of what he symbolizes. There are those people who don't
like that extreme, over the top smash-your-head-in approach.
I think that if you put your eggs in one basket, like with Tito
Ortiz, than you've labeled your sport. This is what we do, this
is who everybody is. And if you don't like that, you're not gonna
participate. You won't watch."
Should
Shamrock decide to return to the Octagon, he will likely head
directly for the 185 lb. class, home to current Champion and
newly minted star Murilo Bustamante. "I would like to fight
Bustamante. I like his skill, I like his approach. I've been
watching him for years, watching him do his thing. I remember
when he fought Bohlander a long time ago. I was impressed with
him then, and he's only gotten better.
"But
again, he's an A-level fighter at the very top of his game, and
for me that was three years ago. I have a little catching up
to do. I made a lot of jokes that when I got out, I was gonna
stop and let people catch up, but it's actually turned out to
be the truth. Everybody's gotten a lot better, and I'm still
the guy who walked out after beating Tito."
Shamrock
is Tito's only unavenged loss, and in a roundabout way, Ortiz
may get his chance to even things up with the name, if not the
body. In November, he will meet UFC old school star Ken Shamrock
in the grudge match to end all grudge matches. Adoptive sibling
Frank, having trained extensively with both men, will be harassed
unmercifully until fight time.
He
has not yet grown tired of the pestering. "I think that
fight is gonna be enormous," he enthused. "I can't
pick a winner. I think it depends on if Tito's knee has healed,
I think it depends on what weight Ken comes in at, how hard he's
training, how good a shape he's in. I think it's a big turn in
the industry. Ken Shamrock is a pioneer of the UFC, a pioneer
of MMA, and he's meeting the modern-day equivalent of Mike Tyson
in MMA, the unstoppable smashing machine. So I think we've come
full circle now in the sport. I'm just dying to see the results."
Both
men are noted for their strength. "When I fought Tito, I
came out of the ring, and I told Maurice Smith, 'Maurice, that
guy is as strong as Ken is.' I don't know. I wrestled with Tito
many times after that. I've wrestled with Ken many, many times.
I think strengthwise, they're both comparable."
So,
whose corner? "None. I'm gonna sit ringside, with a beer
in my hand, and I'm gonna enjoy the violence."
Having
been a spectator for most of the past few years, Shamrock has
also been witness to the first real scandal of MMA, Josh Barnett's
suspension for using steroids during competition. "He did
all this great fighting and built himself up, and everyone said,
'Oh, he's fat, he doesn't represent the sport well.' When he
made a change, which I don't agree with, and rose to a new level,
he gets busted for steroids. He's caught in this weird quagmire
where he can't win for losing, and he can't lose for winning.
"I
reviewed the stuff that happened at the commission meeting, and
I think his representation may have been a little...misguided.
I think that hurt him in the long run. I think it's a step in
the right direction that they are testing for steroids in our
sport. I think it will legitimize what we are doing even more
so. I say it to every athlete out there: Don't take the shortcut.
Don't use steroids. Because it's gonna help you in this fight,
but then you'll be damaged psychologically, physically, and you
may wind up in a position like Barnett where it damages you for
a long period of time."
Shamrock
is well built. Not to the point of being obscenely sculpted,
but clearly in shape and possessed of some premium muscle mass.
And so the question is asked: Have you ever? "Never. Ever.
And I refuse to. I'll be perfectly honest with you: I've done
about every drug under the sun, but I made a conscious decision
in 1994 when I started training that I would not use steroids.
I saw the effect they had on people very close to me. I saw the
physical and psychological effect. I have an extremely addictive
personality, and my fear was that my psyche, my psychological
approach to things would be changed and differed by using steroids,
and I would no longer have that focus and that strength that
made me who I am."
Shamrock
pegs past usage among athletes in MMA to have been at eighty-five
percent. "I think that percentage has slipped now, because
of the fear of getting caught. But at the same time, on a lower
level it may be growing, because people see the guys at the top
have these phenomenal physiques and they look like superheroes,
and people want to emulate that. But they don't have good role
models to say, 'Don't do that crap.' I fear that it's growing
at a grassroots level."
Illegal
substances are seemingly not part of Shamrock's equation to conquer
his chosen profession. "I know what it takes to be a champion,
I know what it takes to be the best in the world, and I've done
it many times." But the lingering presence of boredom, of
listlessness, remains. "I don't know who else to fight or
what else to do or how else to challenge myself. I go into the
gym and train as hard as I can, but it's not the same. I don't
have those dreams of sitting there with all those belts, 'cause
I got all those belts. I got all the stuff. Now it's just career
decisions.
"But
who knows? Maybe I will ride off into the sunset with another
belt, or another victory."
For
Shamrock, the thrill of the combat arenas may have dimmed. For
fans, the promise of the former star lighting up Bustamante or
Baroni or Lindland on national television, shouting, "I
gotcha now!" may be infectious, and enough to make him smile
once more, under the hot lights and through the cuts and bruises.
Welcome
back, Frank. Now get well soon.
Source:
Maxfighting |
Frank
Shamrock Interview
For those
of you who don't have Internet access on the weekends, you missed
a lot. Let's try to get you caught up. It was supposed to be
just another weekend at MMAWeekly.com with live updates from
the UA III Vengeance show, until the phone call came. Some of
our staff talked with the Public Relations staff of Frank Shamrock
and unfortunately the news was true. Frank Shamrock had broke
his leg in training. This was confirmed by Vikki from Shamrock's
PR desk.
-MMAWeekly
Editor Scott Petersen called UFC Reporter, Ryan Bennett, who
does the interviews for our site and asked him if he heard the
news about Frank. Ryan said "yea I'm actually talking to
him on the phone right now." Bennett was going to do a follow
up interview. Scott asked him if it was o.k. to put there conversation
on the website and Frank was kind enough to say yes, so here
is the official explanation of what happened in training.
Ryan:
I know you were looking forward to your comeback fight. Tell
me what happened.
Frank:
Last Thursday I was training with Crazy Bob. (Trainer Bob Cook).
I kicked Bob in the elbow and it hurt (my leg) quite a bit. I
paused for about 20 seconds, then continued training. I kept
going and I looked down at it and it kept swelling and swelling
and swelling. So I went to a chiropractor and he took some x-rays
and it showed a crack. I was thinking, well I will lay on my
back for a day or two and it will be O.K. I thought I could train
some more later, but it kept swelling like crazy. I then went
to the orthopedic doctor and come to find out I broke my leg.
I broke the fibula right in half. It's very painful. So now I
have the big fat cast on and I'm bummed out. It's very frustrating
because I was looking forward to this fight a lot."
Ryan:
So what are the doctors telling you....any idea when you can
come back?
Frank:
The good thing is, it's not a compound fracture or displaced.
It broke clean through so if I stay off it for 30 days, it will
start to heal properly and then I can start back into some training
and go back to work.
Ryan:
So fight wise, when do you think you can come back?
Frank:
I told the WEC that I'm still committed into getting this fight
done for them and defeating Ricardo Almeida for the West Coast.
So once my leg is healed, I will go back to work. As soon as
we can get everything together I will be back fighting for the
WEC.
Ryan:
So this would be with the same organization and same fighter?
Frank:
Oh yea. We will get this done and I will be back after this minor
set back....my BROKEN LEG! (laughs)
Ryan:
I know this was very disappointing for you, but you sound like
your in better spirits than 24 hours ago.
Frank:
Yea I was pretty bummed this weekend. I really wanted this fight
for a lot of reasons, but what are you going to do. There's nothing
I can do about it.
Ryan:
Well get that leg better, because I know a ton of people are
excited to see you fight again.
Frank:
I'm excited to fight for the fans. A little too excited... obviously
since I broke my leg. My camp says I train with TOO much aggression,
whatever that means.
Ryan:
Will you still be at the event on August 31st?
Frank:
Oh yea. I will be there. I got to support the west coast guys.
Then after, I will rest a little and start training for that
next fight. I will be back hopefully by December to fight again."
Source:
MMA Weekly |
SHOOTO
'SHOOTO GIG EAST 10'
August
27th, 2002
Kitazawa Town Hall - Tokyo, Japan
Promoter: PARAESTRA
SHOOTO
returns to Kitazawa Hall for a 'smaller' show, featuring the
semi finals of three of the extended tournaments SHOOTO has been
working on this year. Of particular interest is the -89 KG (about
196 lbs) category, a weight class SHOOTO has not used extensively
in the past.
Current
Line-up:
CLASS B Middleweight:
Shinobu Ito vs. Hiroaki Okada
Lightweight [-65Kg] 2002 Rookie Tournament Semi-Final:
Akitoshi Tamura vs. Hiroshi Komatsu
Bantamweight [-56Kg] 2002 Rookie Tournament Semi-Final:
Yasuhiro Urushitani vs. Tomohiro Hashi
Middleweight [-76Kg] 2002 Rookie Tournament Semi-Final:
Yuji Kusu vs. Kuniyoshi Hironaka
CLASS B [-89.0Kg]:
Ryuta Sakurai v. The Great Naniwa
CLASS B Welterweight:
Masato Fujiwara vs. Koutetsu Boku
CLASS A Welterweight:
Takumi Nakayama vs. Takeshi Yamazaki
Source:
Abu Dhabi |
ULTIMATE
FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP'S WORLD TELEVISION PREMIERE ON FOX SPORTS
NET HAILED A MAJOR SUCCESS!
HIGHLY
ANTICIPATED 2ND SPECIAL ON FOX SPORTS NET EXPECTED TO CONTINUE
RATINGS MOMENTUM
LAS
VEGAS, AUGUST 7, 2002....Following its recent ratings success
on Fox Sports Net, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will
return for a second installment of UFC: As Real As It Gets at
6 p.m. (local time), Sunday, Aug. 11. This special one-hour edition
of the network's Sunday Night Fights will once again showcase
an array of taped bouts of exciting fight action never before
seen on TV and profile UFC fighters, including Ken Shamrock.
Featured fights include a title bout between UFC Light Heavyweight
Champion Tito Ortiz of Huntington Beach, California vs. Elvis
Sinosic of Sydney, Australia; a welterweight match-up between
Pat Miletich of Davenport, Iowa and Carlos Newton of Newmarket,
Ontario, Canada and a heavyweight fight between Frank Mir of
Las Vegas, Nevada and Roberto Traven of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
"We are excited about the UFC returning to our air this
Sunday night. It promises to be a highly anticipated event and
we hope to build on the success of last Sunday's show,"
said Dan Harrison, Senior VP, Programming and Strategic Planning
for Fox Sports Net.
"We know from Fox Sports Net's first broadcast of As Real
As It Gets that American sports fans like our brand of fighting.
It's exhilarating to know our world television debut was so well
received and we look forward to this Sunday's show," said
Dana White, UFC President.
UFC's next PPV event is 10:00 p.m. (EST) Friday, September 27,
2002, live from Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut.
Source:
FCF |
Quote
of the Day
"Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear—not
absence of fear."
Mark Twain |
Robinho
making Shooto debut
Word is that Moura
is a BJJ prodigy and does not train that much. He has a gift
and absorbs technique immediately. Because of that, it seems
that he is not putting in adequate time training for his Shooto
debut and Nova Uniao head, Andre Pederneiras is worried enough
to threaten to pull him out if this does not change.
SHOOTO in September 16th, 2002
September 16th, 2002 - Kanagawa, Yokohama Culture
Gymnasium: Sustain
SHOOTO is gearing
up for another big event in Japan, this time in Yokohama. More
matches to be announced, but just added is Nova Uniao's 5X BJJ
Black Belt World Champion Robson Moura. Another great card to
watch for...
COMPLETE CARD
- Subject to Change:
Class B 2 x 5 minutes rounds: Makoto Ishikawa v. Eiji Murayama
Class A 3 x 5 minutes rounds: Mamoru v. Robson Moura
Featherweight [-60.0Kg]: ABKZ v. Kentaro Imaizumi
Welterweight [-70.0Kg]: Vitor Ribeiro v. Hiroshi Tsuruya
Lightweight [-65.0Kg]: Norifumi 'KID' Yamamoto v. Tetsuo Katsuta
Featherweight [-60.0Kg] Championships: Hisao Ikeda v. Masahiro
Oishi
Source: ADCC |
Fighters
needed
"Walk the Walk - Bring It ON"
Promoter, Tony
Giraldi - looking for Male / female AMATEUR FIGHTERS-ONLY! Tentive
date December 12, 2002, Neil Blasidell Center. Sanction by the
International Kickboxing Federation (IKF), "The Largest
Kickboxing Sanctioning Body In The World." State championships
open to students, J.R. Fighters ages 8-17, 18-year's old and
above, from all local martial art schools, gyms, etc. Competing
discipline are Muay-Thai and Kickboxing.
The 2002 State
Championships will serve as a precursor to Hawaii's 2003 Regional
Championships. Finalists from each weight class and discipline
will advance to the 2003 IKF / RINGSIDE USA Nationals and represent
Hawaii.
If you want to fight, please E-Mail: Snowtiger499@aol.com, your full name, gym name, coach
contact number, discipline, ture fight record By AUGUST 31, 2002,
to receive your fighters registration forms, fighters registration
fee is $40.00
Source: Tony
Giraldi |
INTERVIEW:
UCC President Stephane Patry Submitted by: Mike "the shooter's shooter"
McNeil
The UCC is ready to invade the U.S with a fantastic show set
for Sept.
17th in Honolulu Hawaii and will be unveiling their Octagonal ring back
in Montreal at UCC 11 on Oct. 11th. It looks like the UCC is
ready to become 'the next big thing'. We were lucky to catch
up with the very busy UCC President Stephane Patry and ask him
about the future of his ever growing MMA company.
ADCC-You
must be really excited about the next 2 months for the UCC with
the Brawl in Hawaii and of course UCC 11 in Montreal? Stephane
Patry- I'm very, very excited! The company has finaly reached
the level where I wanted it to be when I started this two and
a half years ago. Actually, my plan was to do that in 5 years
so we are way ahead of our objective and that makes me very proud.
We worked so hard in the last two years to make the UCC what
it is today, and these two shows will just help solidify our
position as one of the most serious groups in this sport.
ADCC-How
did the Hawaii event come about? What made you want to have a
UCC there? S.P-As you know, I have tremendous respect for Monte
Cox. He's been my mentor since I started the UCC, I mean before
I even met him the first time I was already looking up to him.
What he did for this sport in the USA and even on the world scene
is just amazing. Look at the fighters he manages, they are all
great athletes and also class acts, that is the Monte Cox influence.
In the last years I got the chance to become a close friend of
Monte, we talk every day and every day I learn from his experience.
Lately we started talking about doing a UCC show south of the
border and we were planning on doing that in Salt Lake City at
first. But earlier this year I had the chance to meet another
great name in the MMA business, T.J. Thompson and he's just another exceptionnal promoter.
So we decided to go to America's paradise for the first UCC in
the States! It's going to be just amazing working with Monte
and T.J., having them help me on that show is just phenomenal.
It will be another great show!
ADCC-Your
events just seem to be getting bigger and better. Not only do
you have some of the best production in MMA but you're also picking
up huge name fighters. How far do you see the UCC going?? S.P-
Like I said before, that comes from two things: hard work and
passion. Some people are wondering why I'm running like a mad
man at every show, that's only because I'm a perfectionist. I
want everything to be perfect. I want to make sure the production
is perfect so I get really involved in every little detail. And
it's the same thing with every little aspect of the event, from
production to making sure our ring girls are the best looking
in the business! hahaha! But it's not a one man show, I also
have a very hard working team that is learning every show. From
working with me in the last two or three years they are starting
to know exactly what I expect from them and that's why the UCC
is improving every show. I'm sure you'll see me soon sit down
and enjoy one of our shows!!! hahaha!
ADCC-AT
UCC 11 in Montreal you will be debuting the Octagonal ring, you
must be excited about that? S.P.-UCC 11 will be just amazing!
This show is such a huge step for us that this had to be the
show we would introduce 'THE UCC ZONE', our 30' Octagonal ring.
This will be a spectacular show. We already know the fights are
going to make this one of the best MMA show ever produced, but
we will also have 120,000 Watts of sound and lightning and we
will also have some incredible fireworks effects throughout the
event, it will be a great show. Look at those matchups, Duane
Ludwig and Jens Pulver has the potential to be the fight of the
year. We talked a lot about David Loiseau in the last few years
and how we believe he is the best canadian fighter in MMA, it's
gonna be his chance to prove he is one of the best fighter not
only in Canada but in the world when he fights Jesse Jones for
the UCC World Middleweight championship. I was really impressed
with Jesse Jones, he's such a complete athlete. His grappling
is very good; his striking is impressive especially his kicks
but what impressed me the most about Jesse is his transition.
I mean, he beat Dave Menne by armbar a few years ago. So this
will be Loiseau's toughest challenge... While David Loiseau was
climbing the ladder of success in Canada, another young warrior
was also emerging and I'm talking about Steve Vigneault. Steve
is becoming one of the most dangerous striker in the game. He
has a 7-1 record with 6 KO's. I heard a lot of people saying
he did not fight top level competition, but that's BS. He'll
get the chance to fight one of the toughest guys around on October
11th in Anthony Fryklund: THIS WILL BE A WAR. Plus we have Sean
Alvarez defending his World HW title for the first time, the
return of Canadian Welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre when
he squares off against one of the most entertaining UCC Fighters
Sean 'Pimp Daddy' Pierson. Wow! I'm so excited! And all this
in the new Octogonal ring! This will be a great show!
ADCC-How
did you get the idea and who did you go to to put this dream
into reality? S.P- Actually I wanted to have this octagonal ring
when we first started but I thought it would be better to introduce
it when the UCC would reach 'The Next Level'. So this is the
time!!! I always thought MMA had to be played in a ring not in
a cage but also I thought the ring would have to be different
from a boxing ring, to set our sport apart from boxing, the octagonal
ring, in my opinion, will become the perfect ring for our sport.
I know the cage is the 'original' and everything but I also think
it will always be bad for public opinion.
ADCC-Did
the company that made the ring think you were crazy or did they
know about MMA etc. S.P.- They really thought I was crazy! They
are used to building traditional boxing rings so that was somehow
unusual for them but they also learned to know me and they know
I'm crazy! I always come up with crazy ideas buy they always
seem to end up working very well for us!
ADCC-You
seem to have a very good working relationship with Monte Cox.
How did that come about? S.P-Like I said before, the UCC has
reached 'The Next Level' a lot because of Monte. And it's not
only the fact that he brought some awesome fighters in our show.
It's all the experience he has. I mean, we talk every day and
I learned so much from him. Who promoted more shows than Monte
Cox? Nobody. Who managed more champions than Monte Cox? Nobody.
I could never thank Monte enough for all he did for us.
ADCC-Explain
a little about your event 'Future Stars' this seems like great
idea to scout for and prepare fighters? S.P.- I thought it was
important to develop talent, I mean we have some very good fighters
that emerged from this division: Georges St-Pierre, Shawn Davidson,
Stephane Vigneault, Frederic Poirier and Yan Pellerin. And we
will develop even more talent. It's also a good avenue for us
to keep our weekly MMA show alive on National television.
ADCC-That's
great Stephane. Thank you very much and good luck in the future!
S.P- No problem Mike.See you at UCC
Source: ADCC |
Quote
of the Day
"Most games are lost, not won."
Casey Stengel |
Glad
to be back
Sorry about not adding to what Mike posted, but it was close
enough. The trip was great and a ton of fun. As with other trips
that we took with Jiu-Jitsu guys, we always get a lot closer
to our travelmates by the time we get back...Not that kind of
close. Although Shane did repeatedly ask me, "Do you like
me?" Sorry private joke.
To add a little color commentary for those of you that are thinking
about going to Brazil some day. Our apartment in Ipanema, which
is a better area than Copacabana, had a pilot light to heat the
water. For you young 'uns, that is where you have to get a match
and light a little flame that heats the water. So basically we
had luke warm showers for our entire trip. The air is poluted,
not extremely poluted, but like Los Angeles, which causes me
to cough after a few days. Shane was nice enough to hack on all
of us and pass around his cold. It got bad enough for me to scower
my Portuguese-English dictionary and write all my symptoms on
a piece of paper and place my life in the hands of a corner drug
store clerk. We all got just enough sleep to survive, while siteseeing
and shopping. I am working on a primer for traveling to Brazil
to add to our page.
And the flight time? 18-19 hours IN THE AIR. Not including stop
overs or time spent in the airport.
As far as the tournament, our guys did great considering that
we came in one day early and that some of them were partially
sick. The mundial was not as good as it was in the past due to
Nova Uniao's new BJJ federation and their creation of another
World Championships that was held on the same day as the CBJJ's
to directly compete with it. The trend that we saw and like was
that BJJ guys are now going for more submissions, rather than
playing a sweep and stall game. It is good to see BJJ going back
to its roots.
I also wanted to send
out a special thanks to the boys who kept our Casca Grossa Academy
open and running while we were gone; Rex Barnum, Kaleo Auwae
and Brandon Bernardino. It is a great feeling to have the piece
of mind and not one doubt that these guys were going to run our
academy as good, if not better, than we would run it ourselves.
A million thanks to these brothers.
My wife started
her night job, so I won't be at the main academy due to baby
sitting duties, so I will see you guys when I can.
Chris |
UFC
39: The Warriors Return Card Finalized?
I found this on
Sherdog's site, but the UFC site mentions nothing about the card.
Or at least I can't find it on their site. Killer card though.
The best in the East fight the best in the West: Serra vs. Penn.
We waited to see this in BJJ, but it is going to happen in NHB.
Cabbage will fight the winner of the SB Heavyweight Tournament
Tim Sylvia. Thomas and Uno will be awesome and Menne and Baroni
are going to bang.
Randy Couture will face Ricco Rodriguez for the now vacant UFC
HW title on September 27, 2002.
Other bouts include:
Matt Serra vs BJ Penn
Din Thomas vs
Caol Uno
Pedro Rizzo
vs Gan McGee
Tim Sylvia vs
Wes Correira
Dave Menne vs
Phil Baroni
Matt Lindland
vs Ivan Salaverry
Sean Sherk vs
Benji Radach
Source: Sherdog |
Local
girl does great at National IKF Tournament
2002 IKF/Ringside
USA National Tournament
IKF/Ringside USA National Tournament, in Davenport, Iowa,
August 2-4, 2002. This was Hawaii's FRIST TIME - EVER.
Elisa Oxendine, Light Middleweight 159
lbs, place 3rd in the IKF/Ringside Muay-Thai National Tournament
from Giraldi Muay-Thai, Hawaii, USA.
Quarterfinals:
Elisa Oxendine, Hawaii vs Ron Young,
Kentucky. Elisa Oxendine won by unanimous decision 30-24.
Semifinals:
Elisa Oxendine, Hawaii vs Philip
Botha, Georgia. Elisa Oxendine lost by split decision 28-29.
During this bout he received a serve right knee injury, leaving
him with his left leg to fight for 3 rounds.
2002 Light Middleweight Final Bout:
Ben Yelle, Michigan vs Philip Botha, Georgia.
To my surprise, Michigan's Ben Yelle, sat next to me and ask
if I could be his Head Corner-Man for his championship bout?
Because his Head Corner-Man didn't show for his championship
fight. After I ask my assistant coach Terrance Manago and fighter
Elisa Oxendine, hey, Ben wants me to be his Head Corner-Man,
they said okay. Well, Ben Yelle, Michigan won the 2002 IKF/Ringside
Muay-Thai Light Middleweight tittle by split decision 29-28,
with Tony Giraldi as his Head Corner-Man. I would like to thanks
my assistant coaches Terrance Manago, Mike Tanaka, Eddie "Hammer
Head". And special thanks to our sponsors OICA Custom Print,
INTEGRATED Pest Management, EUROSPORT, AL'S TINTING, Rad Motorsport,
PAMCO, L.A. Landscape, ConstRx, Ltd, Mu Beta Lambda Chapter Alpha
Fraternity, Pearlridge Chirpractic Center.
Giraldi Muay-Thai, Hawaii, USA, established by
Coach/Step-Father, Thailand's own 6-time World Muay-Thai Champion,
Charlie "Little Elephant" Jaiut-Solkoloff.
Mahalo,
Tony Giraldi
Source: Tony
Giraldi |
Duane
"Bang" Ludwig Interview
By Dan Rose
August 9, 2002
Jens
Pulver and Duane Ludwig will go head to head at UCC's October
Spectacular. It's an amazing opportunity for Ludwig to solidify
himself as one of the word's best and step into MMA's bright
hot spotlight. I caught up with "Bang" and he was gracious
enough to do a quick interview.
Bang beat Thomas "Wildman" Denny in Hawaii at the Shogun
event.
Dan
Rose: Duane, right off the bat, where'd the nickname come from?
Duane
"Bang" Ludwig: About my nickname, nothing much really.
One day I thought of it and realized that it makes sense and
it rhymes plus its original.
Dan
Rose: How old are you?
Duane
"Bang" Ludwig: I just turned 24 August 4th so everybody
better hurry up and send there gifts.
Dan
Rose: Where are you from?
Duane
"Bang" Ludwig: Denver….
Dan
Rose: How long have you been training?
Duane
"Bang" Ludwig: I have been training Muay Thai for 9
years now and I have been rolling on and off for about 3 years.
Dan
Rose: Who are some of your influences?
Duane
"Bang" Ludwig: I have a few influences. Bas Rutten
of course also Bruce Lee, Ramon Dekkers, Rob Kaman and Jesus.
Dan
Rose: Where do you train?
Duane
"Bang" Ludwig: When I am training in California, I
train with Bas, Bettiss Mansoui, Romi Aram and Javier Vasquez.
When I train in Colorado, I train with Christian Allen, Nate
Marquardt and Mark Beirs.
Dan
Rose: Who is your main instructor?
Duane
"Bang" Ludwig: I would say that my main instructor
is Jesus. He is the one that keeps me focused and in good health
to train.
Dan
Rose: What made you pursue a life in mixed martial arts?
Duane
"Bang" Ludwig: I love MMA, it's easier on the body.
The money is better and the exposure is great.
Dan
Rose: What do you do when you're not training?
Duane
"Bang" Ludwig: When I am not training, I help my training
partners train.
Dan
Rose: Which do you enjoy more, NHB or K1 style?
Duane
"Bang" Ludwig: K1 has always been my dream, but I love
MMA also. I really want to win one of the Tournaments then I
will probably stick with MMA.
Dan
Rose: Duane, is there anyone you've lost to who you'd like another
shot at?
Duane
"Bang" Ludwig: There is only one guy that I lost to
that I would really LOVE to fight again. Alex Gong. That is,
if he has the balls to step up to the plate.
Dan
Rose: How would you fight him differently?
Duane
"Bang" Ludwig: The only thing that I would do different
this time is KO him. Hopefully I will have more then two weeks
to train for the fight. All though I would fight him in a heart
beat.
Dan
Rose: You've racked up a lot of titles and championship belts
in your short career. You're among the best and most exciting
fighter that isn't in the UFC. How do you feel you'd fit in there?
Duane
"Bang" Ludwig: The UFC has offered me the chance to
fight for them but I had to follow my dream which is K1. They
both came up at the same time so I had to go with my dream.
Dan
Rose: Is that something you hope comes along again?
Duane
"Bang" Ludwig: Right now, I have no problem trading
with anyone on the feet and my ground is coming along nicely
so I think that I would do really well in the UFC. Either at
155 or 170.
Dan
Rose: Well, let's switch gears and talk about the fight you have
on the horizon. You'll be fighting against Jens Pulver at UCC
11 in October. How are you approaching that fight?
Duane
"Bang" Ludwig: I am approaching this fight as a once
in a life time chance because it is. I am training very smart
right now and I can't wait for the bell to ring.
Dan
Rose: Right on, obviously you'd love to stand and have Jens stand,
but it's very likely he'll try and take you down and fight on
the mat…what can you do to keep the fight on your terms?
Duane
"Bang" Ludwig: When the fight comes, I will be comfortable
in any situation.
Dan
Rose: Jens is one of the rare fighters who have owned their weight
division. He is almost the consensus top 155 guy in the world.
A win over Jens would give you carte blanche to fight anywhere;
does that add extra pressure to you?
Duane
"Bang" Ludwig: There is no added pressure to fight
Jens, actually it's a blessing. His style suits me very well.
Dan
Rose: UCC utilizes the Octagonal Ring….do you think that
will work in your favor….not having a cage to get pressed
against?
Duane
"Bang" Ludwig: If he does try to GnP me, then the ring
will be great. I won't be stuck in the fence.
Dan
Rose: The UFC is having their Lightweight Tourney. The first
fight has BJ Penn taking on Matt Serra. The second fight is Caol
Uno mixing it up with Din Thomas with the winners facing each
other at the next show. Who would bet on to come out of that
Champion?
Duane
"Bang" Ludwig: I can't call the UFC tournament, they
are all so good. It just depends on whose night it is.
Dan
Rose: I hear ya, it's a tough call. I think Penn is the favorite,
but I am putting my money on Serra.
Anything else you'd like to add Duane?
Duane
"Bang" Ludwig: I would like to thank my sponsors, THEOCTAGON.COM,
GLC 2000, that stuff works. Dakotas's steak house and my training
partners for putting in there time to help get me ready. Also
JESUS for keeping me alive.
Source:
Sherdog |
Quote
of the Day
A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities
and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties.
Harry
Truman, American President (b. 1884) |
UFC
37.5 on Oceanic Pay-per-view
Friday August 16, 2002 4:00 PM
Channel 76
Belfort vs. Liddell (Main Event)
Listings
for Oceanic
Replays
Sat Aug 17 1:00 PM Ch 77
Sun Aug 18 8:00 AM Ch 77
Sun Aug 18 12:00 PM Ch 76
Sunday,
Aug 11 UFC (Ortiz vs. Kondo, past UFC) 3:00 pm Ch 41 (FSN?)
|
UFO:
First Impressions...
More details
will become evident over the next few days but it appears that
the UFO debuted with a horrible and confusing show. Proving once
again that MMA and Pro Wrestling do not mix on the same show.
Many Japanese
fans also were vocal about the event wishing that Inoki would
stay out of MMA and just do pro wrestling.
Those attending
live said the crowd was between 10,000 and 13,000 which is horrific
considering the money spent on this show.
Inoki even tried
some last minute publicity stunts (such as advertising Mike Tyson)
that apparently did not work either. For the record, Tyson wasn't
there but Inoki played it off like he had signed Mike Tyson for
the 'next' UFO show.
Complete Results
& Descriptions:
1. Hirotaka
Yokoi beat Bulldozer George in 1:47 with a guillotine choke.
2. Jens Pulver
beat Takehiro Murahama by split decision.
3. Vladimir
Matyushenko beat Rogerio Nogueira by decision.
4. Joannie Laurer
(Chyna from WWF) beat Chika Nakamura in 1:50 by referee stoppage
in a worked fight.
The first four
fights weren't even televised. The rest of the card went as follows.
5. Mario Sperry
vs. Wataru Sakata. In a fight that was described as 'action-less'
by a fan who attended the show, Mario Sperry utilized his ground
wizardry to neutralize Sakata.
Sperry continuously
took Sakata down at will end gain controlling positions and including
a mount but could not finish him. The decision victory goes to
Sperry.
One controversial
point in the fight is when doctors took OVER 4 minutes to help
Mario Sperry with a cut. Since it's a pro wrestling show, there
aren't rules or regulations that would make this a sport. The
fight was allowed to continue where in most cases it could have
been stopped.
The sixth match
featured Wallid Ismail, coming off a loss to Alex Steibling,
faced Murakami Kuzanari.
Wallid controlled
the ground game, as expected. Kuzanari's guard gave Wallid trouble
throughout the first round. Wallid would try to make the most
of a half-mount but Kuzanari kept getting full guard.
During the second
round, Wallid threw a wild right hand that connected and knocked
Kuzanari down. Wallid took control and landed dozens of shots
(punches and knees) until the ref stepped in to call a TKO win
for Wallid.
Sanae Kikuta
was soundly finished by Rodrigo 'Minotauro' Nogueira by KO.
The first round
was described as VERY exciting as Nogueira made excellent transitions
almost getting Kikuta in an ankle lock. The two played it safe
for most of the fight until the end. Nogueira landed a straight
right that put Kikuta on a stretcher ride to the dressing room.
The Kazayuki
Fujita vs. Yasuda match was good from all accounts. It appeared
that Yasuda knows nothing and Fujita came off as the 'pro wrestling'
God he is. This could have been a work since Fujita is one of
Inoki's people. Fujita wins with the arm-triangle choke and Yasuda's
light go out.
The Naoya Ogawa
vs. Matt Gafarri match was described as totally fake and garbage.
Gafarri was made fun of for being grossly overweight for MMA
competition (well over 310lbs). Gafarri took one punch to the
nose and it was over. He fell to the ground and the fight was
done.
Ogawa continued
his crusade to fight Rickson. Again, Ogawa has made it clear
that he will NOT DO A REAL FIGHT unless the money is huge. Ogawa
vs. Rickson will result in the largest Japanese fight in history
(money and attendance).
This has got
to be the largest money losing MMA show in history and the proposed
return of UFO is January will probably not happen. MMA and pro
wrestling just don't mix!
Source: Abu
Dhabi |
Royce
Gracie Interview
Gong Kakutougi
Sep.
22 No.125
Interviewed
by Shu Inagaki
Translated
by Roberto Pedreira
Read
Mario Sperry's prediction for the fight.
****
Q:
What made you decide to fight with Yoshida this time?
Royce:
Because this year is the 50th anniversary of my father Helio's
fight with Masahiko Kimura, I had been thinking to commemorate
it with a jiu-jitsu match. My father is turns 90 years old this
year, you know? And I have been talking about it with the promoter
since last year, and I started to get into shape one and half
months ago.
Q:
Why did you choose Yoshida?
Royce:
It wasn't me who decided. It was the promoter. Probably because
Yoshida is the top judoka.
Q:
Have you seen him on video or something?
Royce:
I haven't seen him, but I've heard a lot about him. And he is
strongly built, isn't he?
Q:
Yoshida weighs over 20 kilos [44 lbs.] heavier than you. Do you
want him to lose weight?
Royce:
Have I ever complained about an opponent's weight? (laugh)
Q:
No, you haven't. And there's no time limit?
Royce:
No [there is a time limit]. I want to fight under the same rules
that my father fought with Mr. Kimura. Three 10 minute rounds,
and if no one gets finalized, then it will be a draw. And striking
is not allowed either.
Q:
Because Yoshida has no vale tudo experience, wouldn't it be to
your advantage to permit striking?
Royce:
That's definitely true. But because this is Yoshida's first pro
fight, not allowing striking is probably the best thing to do.
And it will be a good challenge for me too to fight with him,
the strongest grappler and the judo gold medallist, with a dogi
under the rules of grappling, because I've been doing only vale
tudo these days and far from a fight only with grappling. When
I told Rickson that this fight was decided, he asked me "What
made you decide to fight with him?" I answered, "because
I love a challenge."
Q:
At a press conference, Mr. Ishii said "probably it will
be vale tudo......"
Royce:
Nothing has determined yet. We will start negotiations from now.
Q:
What is a difference in techniques between Judo and Jiu-jitsu?
Royce:
The first point above is the throwing technique. I've heard that
Yoshida can quickly throw any opponent no matter who they are.
It must be possible for that kind of fighter with such a strong
throwing technique to KO an opponent with a throw.
Q:
Frank Shamrock in the UFC KOed an opponent [Igor Zinoviev] by
throwing him. And Vanderlei [Silva] broke Sakuraba's shoulder
by throwing him, didn't he?
Royce:
That's right. Around the time when Kimura fought with my father,
Kimura also knocked out many opponents by throwing them. And
Kimura told my father before that fight that "you are completely
lighter than me, so if you can fight with me for more than 3
minutes I will consider you the winner". But it took him
more than 10 minutes to have finished my father with an armlock.
Q:
What is a difference in ground fighting between Judo and Jiu-jitsu?
Royce:
In judo, holding an opponent down under your control is mainly
focused on .But in jiu-jitsu, finalizing is the final objective.
But I've heard that Yoshida is good at finalizing too, so it
would be an interesting fight much more than a fight with an
opponent focusing on only holding down.
Q:
Do you think that this fight is a fight for revenge of jiu-jitsu
against judo?
Royce:
I don't think so. For me it is a challenge while at the same
time a chance to commemorate my father's great fight with Kimura.
Q:
What kind of training are you doing?
Royce:
In Los Angeles, I wake up at 5:30, and start training at 6:00.
Then I take a nap, and try to adjust to the time difference in
between [the West Coast and] Japan.
Q:
And the training in Los Angeles?
Royce:
Yes, but I will go to Japan 10 days before the fight. I have
always come three weeks ahead of the fight, in the past, but
this time I couldn't change my schedule.
Q:
Who is your training partner?
Royce:
I'm training with my students, but at the end of July my father
will come to Los Angeles.
Q:
So you trained together with Royler?
Royce:
You know alot! [laugh] The other day we did sparring for the
first time in about five years. Royler had some business to do
in LA, so I asked him to come over where I am training. It was
a very good training.
Q:
The last time when Rickson came to Japan, he said "all our
family members should not only improve techniques but also share
and enhance the passion for jiu-jitsu with each other by training
together again." It seems to come to realization, doesn't
it? Are you going to train with Rickson?
Royce:
Yes. I will get in touch with him after I return to America.
And if it's convenient for him, I would like to train with him
together. But he is back to Brazil now, so I have to catch him
first. And I want to invite to this event not only my father
and Rickson but also as many members of the family as possible.
As far as conditions allow, I want everyone to come.
Q:
That would be fun, wouldn't it? By the way, I heard that you
recently went to see Oscar De La Hoya who is the five weight
divisions boxing champion.
Royce:
You really do know alot! [laugh]. He was a good guy. Through
the introduction of an acquaintance, I went to his boxing camp,
and compared or learned training methods with each other. When
I told him "After the fight why don't you come to my place
to learn how to choke", he said, "in that case, I'll
teach you how to punch".
Q:
If it really happens, I want to go there for interview for sure.
Yoshida was surprised to see how tall you are.
Royce:
Yoshida might become more surprised on August 28.(laugh)
***
GTR's crack reporter Roberto Pedreira had an unexpected opportunity
to interview Mario Sperry in Tokyo on August 6 at Axis Jiu-Jitsu
Academy. Zé Mario was in town with the Nogueira brothers,
Murilo Bustamante, and a lot of other very big guys, for the
UFO event to be held August 8. Roberto asked Zé Mario
for his prediction in the upcoming Pride fight between Royce
Gracie and Yoshida Hidehiko (Barcelona Olympic gold medalist).
"Royce will win", Zé Mario predicted confidently.
Yoshida is a great judoka, but unlike the days when Kimura was
touring Brazil, when Japanese judokas were very strong on the
ground, judo players since the 1964 Olympics have lost their
feel for the floor. Royce will not have a problem with Yoshida
on the ground, Zé Mario explained. But might Yoshida knock
Royce out with a powerful throw? "Everything is possible,
but it won't happen", Zé Mario said.
Source:
GTR |
PRIDE
News From Japan
Coming
off an impressive KO in the UFO show against the current King
of Pancrase, Sanae Kikuta, it appears that Rodrigo 'Minotauro'
Nogueira will fight in the upcoming PRIDE DYNAMITE show, scheduled
for August 28th, 2002.
Despite
all the talk about problems with PRIDE, Minotauro is set to return
to the organization that calls him Champion. The opponent is
not released yet, but word is that it may be the giant Bob Sapp.
'Minotauro'
seems ready to answer any call to fight these days, a true warrior!
Taking on Sapp, who is 2-0 and will weigh nearly 100 lbs more,
on three weeks notice is admirable. We will see what happens!
Source:
Abu Dhabi |
UFC
on FOX Sports Net Sunday
The
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will return for a second
installment of UFC: As Real As It Gets at 6 p.m. (PST), Sunday,
Aug. 11. This one-hour edition of the network’s Sunday Night
Fights feature:
Profile
of UFC fighters, including Ken Shamrock
Tito
Ortiz vs Elvis Sinosic
Pat
Miletich vs Carlos Newton
Frank
Mir vs Roberto Traven
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Official
Press Release
LAS
VEGAS, AUGUST 7, 2002 - Following its recent ratings success
on Fox Sports Net, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will
return for a second installment of UFC: As Real As It Gets at
6 p.m. (local time), Sunday, Aug. 11. This special one-hour edition
of the network’s Sunday Night Fights will once again showcase
an array of taped bouts of exciting fight action never before
seen on TV and profile UFC fighters, including Ken Shamrock.
Featured
fights include a title bout between UFC Light Heavyweight Champion
Tito Ortiz of Huntington Beach, California vs. Elvis Sinosic
of Sydney, Australia; a welterweight match-up between Pat Miletich
of Davenport, Iowa and Carlos Newton of Newmarket, Ontario, Canada
and a heavyweight fight between Frank Mir of Las Vegas, Nevada
and Roberto Traven of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
“We
are excited about the UFC returning to our air this Sunday night.
It promises to be a highly anticipated event and we hope to build
on the success of last Sunday’s show,” said Dan Harrison,
Senior VP, Programming and Strategic Planning for Fox Sports
Net.
“We
know from Fox Sports Net’s first broadcast of As Real As
It Gets that American sports fans like our brand of fighting.
It’s exhilarating to know our world television debut was
so well received and we look forward to this Sunday’s show,”
said Dana White, UFC President.
Source:
Sherdog |
Interview
with Frank Shamrock:
August 6, 2002
There
are only a handful of legends in the sport of mixed martial arts.
Only a few fighters have the heart that Frank Shamrock has shown
over the years. Frank will be fighting Ricardo Almeida at the
next WEC show on August 31st at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut.
He spoke with MMAWeekly.com about his upcoming fight, and his
future.
Ryan Bennett: We are with the guy we can now call the Hall of
Famer, Frank Shamrock. And Frank congrats on being named into
the Martial Arts Hall of Fame this weekend in St.Louis, Missouri,
that must have been a thrill...
Frank
Shamrock: Thanks Ryan. Yea it was great. I got inducted as America's
Premiere Full Contact Fighter for the last decade. It was a pretty
big honor for myself. I had to break out the black tie, (laughs)
and prepare a speech and get a plaque. It was pretty cool.
Ryan:
You and some other big names were inducted, does it seem strange
to you that you are in the Hall of Fame and still fighting?
Frank:
Yea, it's a little strange. I was surprised by how big the event
was. It was enormous. We had this dinner with around 400 people,
everyone in tuxedos, so yea it was a big deal. All I could think
about though was fighting though.
Ryan:
Let's talk about that. We finally see the return of Frank Shamrock
in the Cage against Ricardo Almeida on August 31st for World
Extreme Cagefighting at the Mohegan Sun. When did you decide
you were going to fight again and fight so soon?
Frank:
I was originally scheduled to fight in the MMA Super Show in
Japan on August 28th. They were putting together this 100,000
seat arena deal. I thought I would throw my hat in that deal.
Then negotiations fell through at the last minute, so I had went
through all of this training, and found myself just hanging out.
My partner Bob Cook, "Crazy" Bob, he said that WEC
would be interested in having me fight in their show. And low
and behold I am fighting there on August 31st against Ricardo
Almeida.
Ryan:
Yea, I found it interesting as most MMA fans. Here we are expecting
you to fight in UFC and Pride, but now you are fighting for a
new upstart organization like World Extreme Cagefighting...Why
the WEC?
Frank:
It's my own decision. The WEC has given me the liberty to do
what I want, represent myself how I want, and get the contract
details like I wanted, and everything just fell into place. It
was refreshing to get the contract deal done in FOUR DAYS! And
then it was done and I'm fighting so, for me it was a god send.
I was already training ready to go, and then my fight in Japan
was basically called off, and this just fell right into place.
I snatched it up. I figured that this is a tough fight, I will
make pretty good money and I will be on the East Coast with my
East Coast fans and you can't beat it.
Ryan:
Ricardo Almeida is a very tough guy with great submissions. When
you break down this fight is it a fight where you want to do
a lot of standup?
Frank:
Ricardo is a dangerous fighter especially on the ground. He has
adequate stand up. I think the key to beating him is making him
stand up, make him box with me, and make him kick box with me,
make him fight out of the clinch and extend knees and elbows.
I think his comfort zone is on the ground so if I can keep him
up and keep him banging, I can knock him out.
Ryan:
Tell me about your future. Do you see yourself competing several
times in the upcoming year or what is left out there to accomplish?
Frank:
I don't know if there is anything else to accomplish. I am truly
fighting because I love to do it. I was very excited to fight
in Japan, in the previous show in front of 100,000 seats, that's
something I can't imagine, but it didn't work out. This fight
presented itself as a challenge. I've been out of the game for
quite awhile and I haven't fought in mixed martial arts. Ricardo
Almeida is a world class fighter and I'm taking this on a 30
days notice, so this is dangerous fight because I need to get
my old ass up and in shape. And get out there and throw down.
It's a tough fight, especially for my first fight back in years.
Ryan:
Let me throw some names at you and tell me if your interested
in a fight soon with these fighters. Bustamante?
Frank:
Sure.(smiles) I would love to fight Murilo. That would be a fun
fight.
Ryan:
Sakuraba?
Frank:
I love Sakuraba! I've been trying to do that fight for TWO YEARS
NOW! I'm still waiting....
Ryan:
I know you and I talked at the last WEC show about that fight
and you told me it was supposed to happen...what happened in
that fight?
Frank:
That was the original deal. I was supposed to fight Sakuraba
in this giant show of mixed martial arts in Japan. But then everything
changes in a few days. That the way the Japanese promoters do
business. It's like Celebrity boxing. If your not the superstar
THAT week then you get shuffled to the back. I ended up not getting
that deal after talking with them. Then they feed me Oyama as
a consolation prize, so I accepted. I had a few weeks of training
in already, and then they pulled that one, they pulled the rug
from under me on that deal, so I'm just sitting there holding
a bag full of nothing and waiting, [Part II begins here] and
I didn't want to put all that good energy and beatdown to waste,
so I got the WEC deal fired up .They offered me a slew of opponents.
Ricardo Almeida was the toughest one they offered me from the
East Coast as they are promoting East Coast vs West Coast and
that's the one I took.
Ryan:
East Coast vs West Coast. Let's talk about that is their a rivalry
between the East Coast and West Coast?
Frank:
The rivalry is there. We are going to send the entire west coast
team out and we are going to CRUSH the East Coast! Nothing personal.
That is the way they set it up, (East vs West) but when it comes
to fighting and it comes to grappling and slinging big dogs,
the West Coast is it, we will have our way with them!
Ryan:
Wow, look at the smack talk.....
Frank:
It's the truth! Everybody knows it....the West Coast is better
than the east.
Ryan:
(laughs) It's on now. You of course have your gym going strong
and there is a guy at your gym I think is the next young gun
and that's Richard Crunkleton. What do you like about him and
his game?
Frank:
Crunkleton or "Cletus" as we call him. I like everything
that kid does, he throws bombs, he kicks, he can wrestle, he
throws well, he knows submissions. He does everything. He's a
young kid. He will go to the top. He will be a superstar. He
is the third generation of athlete. There was a generation before
me. I was the second generation. He is truly the third generation,
the COMPLETE mixed martial arts fighter, that can do anything
and everything. He's on the WEC show as well.
Ryan:
Do you still want to fight in the UFC? They put a great show
on television over the weekend and it seems like now would be
the time for a veteran like yourself to step back into it. Do
you want to be a part of it.
Frank:
It is something I want to be a part of in the near future. Lorenzo
and I are friends. Lorenzo Fertitta who owns the UFC and I have
a great relationship. When they were courting me to fight awhile
back, my big thing was "when you get on television give
me a call." So Lorenzo calls me two weeks ago and says "Frank,
we are on television" (laughs)...
Ryan:
So does that mean we will see you on T.V. and the UFC soon...
Frank:
(laughs) You may see me there in the near future. It really depends
how my old body holds up to this Ricardo Almeida guy.
Ryan:
I was going to say, your entire future probably depends on how
you fight on August 31st, because you probably want to see if
you still have the power and skill like the old days. If you
fight like the old Frank Shamrock then you are back, if not it's
a different story, is that accurate?
Frank:
I think so. What people don't realize is the fact that it really
has been a couple of years since I last fought an MMA fight.
I've dabbled in boxing and same thing with professional kickboxing.
I always train in the martial arts, but it's been a considerable
amount of time since I've specifically focused on the mixed martial
arts style, with my body, my mind, and spirit. And it will be
a test. I've been sitting back at a desk for a year now, and
it's nice to spend my time, full time in the gym. It's good to
sweat a little bit, draw a little blood, and get it out. It will
be interesting to myself - to see where I'm at. I still firmly
believe that I'm the toughest guy on the planet. I firmly believe
that. I will find that out very soon.
Ryan:
And I'm not going to dispute that my man, I've seen you fight
too much. Thanks for making time for me and I will see that fight
here in a couple of weeks.
Frank:
My pleasure Ryan, anytime for you. I will see you soon.
Source:
MMA Weekly |
Quote
of the Day
Many hands make the Light work.
Leroy W. Jones
|
Our
Trip to Brazil
I am still trying to
catch up with things at work so here's the relatively "short"
version of how our team did on our trip.
We left on Tuesday
night and arrived on Thursday. Most of our team fought the next
day, Friday after about 18 hours of flying (that's airtime, not
layovers). I'll start with the worst result...myself (heh heh).
After eating
like a pig at every stopover (San Fran and Atlanta) and not missing
a meal on each flight, I came in heavy upon landing in Brazil
(I left light of course) and ran to make my weight the day of
the fight (Saturday). I made it my 0.2 kg (whew!). I wanted to
be aggressive because I always tend to play to passively. Unfortunately,
the disadvantages of being aggressive is the increased opportunity
of getting caught, which is what happened. I advanced to the
second round because my opponent came in a kilogram over (which
he did not seem upset about for some reason). Since my second
opponent came in standing relatively straight, I wanted to throw
him. I got my grip, but was too worried about him pulling guard
prior to my throw attempt so I rushed it and screwed it up. Of
course, missing a throw means that the opponent is on your back.
We scrambled a bit and he remained on my back. I couldn't get
a good shot at a rolling knee bar or anything like that. After
a roll, I was looking for his leg again and he went for my neck...and
got it. I had one chance to escape, but failed. This was the
first time I got submitted in competition, which was a new experience
for me, but I can't complain. It was a combination of my opponent
being very technically gifted and a bit of luck because the choke
went in quick and deep. I was disappointed since I did not have
a chance to do anything I having been working on or training
for, but hey, shit happens. I always preach to our team that
you walk on the mat like a champion and walk off, win or lose,
like one. If I did not do that myself, I would be the biggest
hypocrite in the world. I took my loss as gracefully as I could
and congratulated my opponent. I think I would be more disappointed
if I played passively and didn't try anything. Live, learn, and
train to get better. The recall of my match is from pure memory
because I haven't seen my match on video yet so it could be totally
different then described above.
Chris fought
after me on Saturday. The guy pulled to guard and swept Chris.
He tried to pass and he did for a little while. Chris recovered
half guard and looked for opportunities to attack. He replaced
his guard and tried some submissions. With about a minute down
and I think down 5-0, I yelled to him to just go crazy and try
something. He had a decent attempt at a toe hold, but couldn't
finish as the guy held off for the end. I'll let him add things
when he has a chance.
Everyone else
fought on Friday, except Vinnie who fought on Thursday. We didn't
get to see his first two matches, but caught the end of the last
match in his weight class. He got the guy's back at the edge
of the mat, but didn't get points. The guy took him down at the
end of the match and got the controversial win, leaving Vinnie
with third place in the kids super super heavyweight division.
In the abolute, Vinnie grabbed the kid's neck and pulled it up,
getting him disqualified in the first round. Congratulations
to Vinnie!
Reyn's opponent
clearly came to finish. I believe he was Terere's student and
had good stand up. He took Reyn down passed and even mounted,
furiously trying submissions. Reyn showed great defense and his
opponent could not finish him. He ended up losing my a pretty
good margin, but showed great defense and great heart.
Harris was looking
for revenge this year after winning two matches last year. He
looked great controlling his guys on his way to once again, two
wins in his weight class and one win in the absolute. In his
final match in his weight class, he met a Barra guy (I think)
who had a killer half guard and was attacking sweeps. Harris
was defending well, but eventually got Harris with a sweep and
somehow got to Harris' back for the finish. Harris was of course
disappointed, but he looked great with his ability to control
his opponents and advance his position.
Shane was looking
to test himself after improving greatly these past years. I believe
his first opponent pulled to guard and he tried to pass. I think
after a scramble, he ended up in guard, not letting the guy pass.
He almost finished the guy with a triangle, but said that the
guy was too strong and he escaped. He ended up winning his first
match. He was extremely tired and got sick during our trip (which
he gave me the same sickness on our first night there). He went
out to his second match and did better than the first. He passed
the guy's guard, but didn't get points. After attempting to pass
again, he almost finished his guy with a walk around armbar.
He ended up winning his second match as well, but couldn't even
walk off the mat due to exhaustion and Relson grabbed him and
carried him off the mat. He told me that he had nothing left
in the gas tank and couldn't go on.
Malcolm's first
match in his weight class was a bomb. He went for a new cow catcher
move that he has been working on lately. He almost caught the
guy with it and the ref seemed kind of confused with the move
and talked to another official during the match. I was yelling
to the ref to let me know if the move of illegal. He said nothing
and did not motion at all. Malcolm pulled the move again and
got disqualified. Of course, both him and I were extremely upset
because we did not know the move of illegal and the official
said that it is not the referee's job to let us know that the
move was illegal. We got screwed.
Malcolm was
pissed and rested for the absolute. It turned out good that he
only had the one match because in a class of 91 competitors,
he would need 7 matches to take the absolute. He ended up finishing
2 or 3 guys on his way to a third place finish. The final guy,
who ended up winning the weight class, pulled to guard and tried
a triangle. Malcolm defended at first and the guy made another
attempt where Malc was just too tired to defend and got caught.
This was an incredibly great achievement for another guy from
the Relson Gracie Team. We were all proud of him and his performance.
Congratulations to Malcolm for his third place finish!
Chris and I
were extremely proud of the small team we went up with and their
performance. We had a good time after the tournament checking
out the many sites of Rio, eating like pigs, and getting out
of shape.
|
Brazilian
Beat
The second
edition of "The Brazilian Beat" was supposed to happen
in about a week or so. However, in a month full of action and
with lots of things happening on the Brazilian NHB scene I decided
to rush things over and present the readers with some very interesting
and relevant information about several Brazilian fighters. With
several major events happening in the coming weeks -- such as
UFO and Shockwave -- all the Brazilian NHB camps are training
as hard as ever. With all this activity and new deals being inked
all the time, we will continue to do keep an eye on things in
the effort to present you with the latest facts and breaking
news from Brazil, so enjoy the news as "The Beat" continues
in its fast pace at Full Contact Fighter!
Pride Heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira is finally
set and ready to fight in UFO on August 8th. After much talk
his management confirmed his participation in the new Japanese
event since he is allowed to do so by contract. Also, after Minotauro
expressed his will to fight at Shockwave if Pride wants him to
do so, FCF was informed that the champion's camp is already negotiating
a fight between Rodrigo Minotauro and K-1's Mark Hunt! Right
now they are negotiating the rules for the fight, which will
probably be Pride rules. The fight isn't signed yet, but it's
close to being signed.
Speaking
of Minotauro, he and his twin brother Rogerio Nogueira are leaving
for Japan this Thursday. The "Zen Machine" Mario Sperry
will be leaving on Friday due to some visa issues. The three
of them are in shape and anxious to fight at the Tokyo Dome.
Sperry, who is also a manager, will stay a few extra days after
his fight to take care of some business in the land of the rising
sun.
Vitor
Belfort is continuing to train hard after his fight against Chuck
Liddell. Despite some early rumors of Belfort losing motivation
once again, this is not the case as "The Phenom" told
FCF he is training very hard at Macaco's academy in Sao Paulo
and is probably fighting on the November UFC card, with Evan
Tanner being a likely opponent. Belfort, who appeared in some
TV shows in Brazil this week, said to Full Contact Fighter that
(contrary to Internet rumors) a rematch with Chuck Liddell would
be very much welcomed, and he is still very serious about his
training and fighting career.
Speaking
of TV, starting next week Brazil will have its first fighting
only channel! "Premier Combate" will be a premium cable
channel that will show UFC, Pride, Meca, KOTC, and other NHB
events, both old and recent, as well as some boxing matches.
The channel, which is a SporTV partner, will also feature special
interviews and coverage of fighters training and will begin broadcasting
only on Fridays charging a monthly fee to its viewers. Best wishes
for the new channel and hopes that more fighting channels will
appear all over the world.
UFC
Middleweight champion Murilo Bustamante will be also leaving
for Japan this week to corner his friends and teammates at the
UFO event. After this short stay in Japan Murilo will be flying
to the USA where he will teach some seminars at the American
Top Team academy. Once he returns to Brazil, Bustamante plans
to finally be able to define his situation regarding a new contract
with the UFC.
Speaking
of the UFC, Vale Tudo legend and Chute Boxe's eternal star Jose
Pele Landi is training hard and told Full Contact Fighter he
is very much willing to fight in the UFC! Pele is eager to fight
in the Octagon and hopes to be able to do it as soon as possible.
Chute Boxe's manager Rudimar Fedrigo also told FCF he will do
everything he can to make Pele's wish a reality, as he wants
the Chute Boxe team to have a steady and positive relationship
with the Ultimate Fighting Championship in the years to come.
As
the Chute Boxe team never stops working, Pride veteran and Heavyweight
contender Assuerio Silva is finally recovering from his knee
surgery. Assuerio is doing physiotherapy every day and is already
training hard at the Chute Boxe academy. His Muay Thai is getting
sharper and he is reported to be weighing 110kg now, with a very
low percentage of body fat. Silva is expected to be ready to
fight again in two months and will return to Pride as soon as
possible, as his goal is to be the Pride Heavyweight Champion,
and according to Master Rudimar this is bound to happen in the
near future.
Another
star from Curitiba who is continuing to train hard is Vanderlei
Silva. Vanderlei has been sparring a lot and preparing himself
for his likely fight at Shockwave, but the deal hasn't been closed
yet. During the course of this week his probable opponent changed,
however is still very likely that it'll be a K-1 fighter under
Pride rules. Vanderlei is eager to fight and expects the deal
to be inked by the end of this week. On a side note, Chute Boxe's
rising stars Anderson Silva and Murilo "Ninja" Rua
are both training hard as always, and they'll be likely both
be fighting on Pride's September card against yet to be named
opponents.
The
Jiu-Jitsu community was agitated these past days with two Jiu-Jitsu
World Championships going on at once. The Jiu-Jitsu "World
Cup", created by Nova Uniao, attracted several top athletes
from teams such as the Brazilian Top Team and Alliance with the
payment of purses to the fighters, while the traditional "BJJ
Worlds" promoted by the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Confederation
and had the presence of Gracie Barra and Gracie Humaita. However
one of the biggest attractions at the "BJJ worlds"
was the presence, outside of the mats, of Rickson and Renzo Gracie.
The Gracie cousins came down to Brazil for the World Championship
and the presence of the legendary fighters in Brazil is already
a major happening for Jiu-Jitsu practitioners. Rickson plans
to return to the NHB ring in 2003.
Source:
FCF |
UFO
Interview:
Rodrigo 'MINOTAURO' Noguiera
ADCC: Minotauro,
you had a hard week dealing with contract problems, are things
all set? First of all I had no problems! The problems were maybe
between Pride and UFO, not me. I am a professional fighter and
will fight when I am allowed in my contract.
ADCC: So you
don't feel any pressure with the organizations fighting over
you? Honestly, I got advice from several people saying what I
should and shouldn't do, but bottom line is I have managers that
have work on the deal, so to me, there is no stress...
ADCC: Did you
speak with Pride representatives? Yes, I did and everything is
ok. I was allowed by the contract to fight in UFO, so I didn't
ask them permission, I just followed my contract.
ADCC: Are you
healed from your back injury? Totally! Pedro Rizzo and Peter
Aerts are great friends, and they took me to the right doctor
and personal trainer in Holland. I feel 100% for the fight and
very excited to fight in this show.
ADCC: What do
you think about the UFO show? I think this is a great opportunity
for the fighters, because we have options and we can fight for
good promotions. I have to trust in a promotion that books a
venue like Tokyo Dome and that signs a deal to broadcast the
show live on free TV.
ADCC: How do
you see your opponent? Sanae Kikuta is a very good fighter, and
he is proving that he deserves respect in both aspects, on the
ground and standing. Those who watched Pride 20 understand what
I mean. Those who watched him in ADCC 2001 as well.
ADCC: Whats
your strategy for him? The same one as for anyone else: go for
it! I like to fight on the ground, standing, between the ropes
or wherever!! (Laughs)
ADCC: Thank
you Minotauro and good luck! Thank you Tetel.
Source: Abu
Dhabi |
|
Tito
Ortiz on National TV
UFC
Light Heavyweight Champion Tito Ortiz will be appearing on the
#1 cable news morning show "Fox and Friends" tomorrow
(Thursday, August 8). The show runs from 6:00am to 9:00am ET
on the FOX NEWS Channel. Check local listings for channel information.
Tito's segment will be in the last hour of the show, between
8:00am and 9:00 am.
Source:
FCF |
Heating
up for UFO:
Sperry Takes His Class Act to a New Stage!
One
could say a lot of things about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt
Mario Sperry, however no one would be able to deny one thing:
he is a true class act. After a career marked by all possible
titles in Jiu-Jitsu, and some memorable NHB fights over the years,
Zé Mario had to deal with a serious injury, which required
surgery, for the first time in his professional and victorious
career more than a decade long. This didn't take away Mario's
will to fight and only some months later he is already back in
great fashion, at a brand new event that will be broadcast nationwide
in Japan by one of the country's most famous TV stations, attracting
a cast of celebrities outside of the ring such as Mike Tyson
and NHB's legendary Rickson Gracie. In a conversation with FCF
just one day before leaving for the land of the rising sun, Sperry
shared his views on his last fight, his serious knee injury,
his next challenge and much more. As Full Contact Fighter is
more heated than ever for UFO, he continues to be all about class!
Let the "Zen Machine" speak...
FCF:
Your last fight was against Murilo Ninja, at PRIDE 20. This fight
was considered by many one of the best fights in recent years.
Now, after some time has passed, how do you analyze that fight?
Would you do anything different?
MS: Man, in fact I believe I entered the fight too confident
and at the time I don't know what happened. I thought, "I'm
going to test how this kid fighting standing up" and I risked
trading strikes. There I paid the price of my will to test things.
You know, I'm an older guy and I already conquered a lot of things
in my life, but this for me, despite being a job, is something
exciting! So I like to test myself, to rate myself, and unfortunately
in the beginning of the fight I took a serious knockdown that
got me dazed for twenty minutes and injured my knee. That doesn't
take away his merit! He is a spectacular guy, who knows the ground
game, knows Muay Thai and has a great physical condition! But
that punch I took in the beginning of the fight decided it for
sure.
FCF:
You injured your knee in the first round of that fight. What
made you continue till the end? Was it tough to fight like that?
MS: Sincerely speaking, I didn't feel much pain in my knee at
the time. I felt that something was wrong, but I didn't feel
much pain. What I felt was a bit of a lack in response from my
knee. I wasn't been able to do a good guard, I wasn't being able
to change positions and position myself, which is my strong point.
Despite the fact that Murilo is a strong guy who knows the game
very well, he was pushing me and having a certain superiority
in the clinch, and this doesn't happen in the academy when I
train with athletes who weighs more than 110kg [242.5 lbs.],
strong guys who are used to wrestling. Fighting for me is my
life! It's a pleasure for me to be able to keep fighting and
for me this was an unforgettable fight! I gained a lot experience
with it. I spent twenty minutes fighting with a top guy, feeling
debilitated, all broke up! [Laughs] For me this is a pleasure!
I would only stop if the referee told me to stop or if he knocked
me out!
FCF:
On the tape, it's evident that you massage your knee during the
fight....
MS: No! There I was putting my knee back into place! Every time
you see me putting my hand on my knee during the fight is because
I'm putting it back into place.
FCF:
I know you're extremely professional, but would you like a second
fight against Ninja?
MS: I would like another fight with Ninja not to prove I'm better
or to take any doubts of what could've happened if I did anything
different. I would like to fight him again because he is a great
fighter and for me it would be a great experience, as any other
great fighter! Like I would fight against Vanderlei, or against
Tito Ortiz, because they're all great fighters and for me a great
challenge is always welcome! This is what I look for. I look
after challenges, like I did against Vovchanchyn. I try to improve
and surpass my limits; this is what makes me alive and willing
to train. So, of course it would be a great pleasure to fight
against Murilo Ninja again, but not because of revenge or anything
like that. I don't believe in "ifs," I believe in victory
and defeat. If you won, you won, if you lost you lost. But if
one day I get to fight him again, it will be a pleasure because
he is a great athlete.
FCF:
Your knee injury wound up being more serious than even you thought,
and you ended up having to have surgery. How was it for you to
have to go through this situation for the first time, after such
a long career free of injuries?
MS: Well, that's how it goes man! Everything in life serves as
experience. I'm a guy that always took pride in never having
to take any surgery in my career and never suffering any serious
injury. I only had small injuries during my career that would
never make me have to stop training because of them. This was
the first time this happened in my career and in some sense I'm
using this as experience! I was hurt and started to do physiotherapy
and learned some ways to train without hurting myself, so I try
to face everything that comes in my life as a challenge and a
situation to improve us in the future and try to pass it to the
younger guys. So it was something positive.
FCF:
And how was the recovery? How is your knee today, and how were
the training sections?
MS: My knee is fine now. In the past I always reached my top
level a bit before the competition, and this time I reached it
at the right time, just before the competition. I only got confident
to do takedowns, to punch and kick only around the last two or
three weeks. But I didn't stop training! I was doing other work
like running in the sand, lifting weights, doing fighting movements
without much effort, and this gave me a good result because now
I'm in shape and training well! I'm even training better than
I was before.
FCF:
You are coming back to NHB and this time fighting in a new event,
the UFO. What do you expect from this new event, and how did
this opportunity come about?
MS: This opportunity appeared because I'm a personal friend of
the owner of the event... I don't know if he is the owner, but
he is one of the main promoters of it, and he invited us! He
even put in the event's poster, in a polite way by the way, "Participation
and Collaboration of the Brazilian Top Team" so for me it's
going to be a huge pleasure to participate in this event! I expect
it to be a great event and I expect it to be successful, not
only to improve my image, but to open a new door for all the
other fighters who practice NHB, because the more top events
we have in the world, the more working opportunities we'll all
have!
FCF:
How will be your (and the fighters you represent) relationship
with PRIDE from now on? Can we expect to see you in PRIDE still
this year as well?
MS: In fact our relationship didn't change a bit. We have our
representative in Japan who does the other side of the negotiation,
and if some problems appear it'll be with him, because all of
us are fighters, and in some sense we're following the contract
that was presented to us. We are all honorable people, of course,
most of all we stand by our word and we're PRIDE fighters! I
want to make it clear, 'cause we have a lot of pride in it and
we all consider ourselves PRIDE fighters. But, since we were
invited last year to participate in an event, the UFO, and gave
them our word that we could fight as long as the name of the
event was in the PRIDE contract allowing us to fight, and since
this was exactly what happened, we got in difficult situation!
Because if we don't fight in the UFO, which we're allowed to
do by contract and which invitation we accepted when we signed
our PRIDE contract, we will get in a bad situation with UFO,
and in my opinion since we're allowed to fight by contract we're
not doing anything wrong. We're not doing anything against our
contract, and we're following it in a correct way. We're not
fooling anybody; we're honoring our word with all the parties
involved. As for fighting again in PRIDE this year, you can expect
it for sure! We already have some fights scheduled for the 29th
of September, with the participation of Ricardo Arona, and even
Minotauro may fight as well. Maybe even me! Let's see what will
happen.
FCF:
Your opponent will be the Japanese fighter Wataru Sakata. What
do you know about him?
MS: I know he is left-handed and kicks well. I saw some of his
fights and he moves well on the ground. He's improved a lot in
the last few years. Let's see if my strategy will work better
this time.
FCF:
Despite the fact that anything can happen in a fight, how do
you believe this fight will end up unfolding?
MS: Look, I intend to take the fight to where I feel more comfortable
as soon as possible: the ground. And from there I'll try to do
what I do the best, submit him. This is what I'll try to do,
finish him as soon as possible. I'll try to achieve this objective.
I have my strategy but I'm well aware that anything can happen
in a fight.
FCF:
You've always opted to face top-level athletes. Is it tough for
you to face a supposedly lower level fighter like Sakata, since
he doesn't have anything to lose in this fight?
MS: I don't even think much about it. In fact I don't choose
opponents, I fight with the athletes the events offered me. They
offered me Vovchanchin and I accepted it, then they offered me
Murilo Ninja and I hesitated a bit because I wanted to fight
Dan Henderson, who is also a great athlete, because he beat him
not because he is better than Ninja and because professionally
it would be better and in terms of fight the two fights would
be just as tough, and now they offered me Sakata so I don't have
much to think. The only thing I think of is to get there, do
my work and try to finish the fight as soon as possible, in the
best possible way and get back home!
FCF:
The BJJ Worlds just took place and the Brazilian Top Team had
a good showing. After seeing all the guys preparing with the
gi on, did you feel like fighting with the gi again? Will we
see Mario Sperry fighting with the gi on again in the future?
MS: Man! I'll tell you! Every year I say I'm going to fight and
every year a problem arises. In fact it's complicated, because
when I go there to the Worlds, I get crazy! And now that I'm
seeing my students fighting and winning, I even have a student
who won in the super-heavyweight black belt division, so I'm
willing to do it again. I'm in good shape, trained in the same
level of the guys there and I didn't see much difference in terms
of technique, just a bit because of the time since I haven't
been training with the gi for a while, but I trained well with
the guys and even got a bit carried away! Unfortunately I couldn't
fight due to my compromise with the UFO, but if next year I'm
feeling well and have time to train, I'm going to fight it for
sure! I have a major will to compete in the Worlds again and
maybe become champion again.
FCF:
Speaking of titles and fights, does your fight in the UFO have
a weight division? How much will you be weighting for this fight?
MS: Man, it doesn't have weight divisions. They didn't ask me
my weight, and didn't request anything, so I'll come there with
my regular weight, which is 98, 99kg.
FCF:
What are Mario Sperry's plans, as fighter, manager, surfer, pilot,
and everything else you do with your time for the rest of 2002?
[Laughs]
MS: At first, my priority is to train, fight and help the guys
from the academy, not only training but getting them some fights
as well. But with some free time on my hands I'm doing anything!
You can invite me to do anything! From surfing to bungee jumping,
from diving to swimming... I'm going for it! [Laughs]
FCF:
Thanks a lot and good luck in your fight!
MS: Thanks a lot man!
Source:
FCF |
COUTURE,
RODRIGUEZ TO CLASH FOR VACANT UFC HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE.
SEPT. 27,
ON PAY-PER-VIEW
UFC 39
2 Lightweight Fights at Mohegan Sun Arena
To Set Stage For Future Title Showdown
LAS VEGAS, August
5, 2002...Two-time Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight
Champion Randy Couture (7-3-0 in Mixed Martial Arts) of Gresham,
Ore., will clash with top contender Ricco Rodriguez (9-1-0) of
Las Vegas, Nev., for the vacant heavyweight title in the main
event of UFC 39: The Warriors Return, Friday, September 27, on
pay-per-view television from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville,
Conn. The UFC is returning to the Mohegan Sun, the site of its
January 11 sell-out of UFC 35: Throw Down, its first show this
year. (The Mohegan Sun is located off Interstate 395 at exit
79A. It is approximately 21/2 hours driving time from New York;
11/2 hours from Boston and 45 minutes from Hartford and Providence.)
UFC officials withdrew the heavyweight title from Josh Barnett
July 29 following his six-month suspension by the Nevada State
Athletic Commission. The NSAC concluded he violated Nevada's
unarmed combat laws by having three, separate anabolic agents
in his body when he won the crown from Couture March 22 in Las
Vegas.
Two lightweight bouts, between top contenders B.J. Penn (5-1-0) of Hilo, Hawaii, and Matt Serra (11-1-0) of Long Island, N.Y.,
and Din Thomas (16-2-0) of Orlando, Fla.,versus Caol Uno (12-4-2)
of Kanagawa, Japan, will set the stage for the two winners to
meet for the vacant lightweight title at a future date.
Tickets, $200, $100, $60 and $30, will go on sale Wednesday,
Aug. 7, at the Mohegan Sun Arena box office, at tickets.com or
by calling tickets.com at 1-800-477-6849. The Mohegan Sun box
office is located at the Spring Gateway that connects the Casino
of the Earth and The Shops.
UFC 39: The Warriors Return will be available on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV,
Dish Network, TVN, Bell ExpressVu and Viewers Choice Canada pay-per-view
television. The suggested retail price is $29.95.
Other bouts on the eight-fight card will include two heavyweight
matches, two middleweight bouts and a welterweight showdown.
One heavyweight fight will pit veteran Pedro Rizzo (11-3-0) of
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, against Gan McGee (10-1-0) of San Luis
Obispo, Calif., the other will feature UFC newcomers Tim Sylvia
(15-0-0) of Davenport, Iowa, and Wes "Cabbage" Correira (7-2-0) of Hilo,
Hawaii. Both middleweight
bouts promise to be wars. Former champion Dave Menne (35-4-1)
of Forest Lake, Minn., returns to Mohegan to face Phil Baroni
(5-1-0) of Long Island, N.Y., and Matt Lindland (7-1-0) of Eagle
Creek, Ore., will meet Ivan Salaverry (9-1-0) of Seattle Wash.
The welterweight fight will match exciting newcomer Benji Radach
(11-0-0) of Olympia, Wash., with veteran Sean Sherk (20-0-1)
of Brooklyn Park, Minn.
Couture, a former two-time UFC heavyweight champion, suffered
his only defeat in the Octagon to Barnett in the March 22 title
fight. Couture dominated the first round and half the second
before Barnett negotiated a reversal on the ground and rained
punches on Couture that he couldn't defend. Referee John McCarthy
stopped the fight at 4:35 of the second round.
Rodriguez has won four straight fights by technical knockout
in a meteoric rise to the top of the heavyweight division. He
defeated Tsuyoshi Kosaka at UFC 37: High Impact, May 10 in Bossier
City, La.; Jeff Monson, January 11 at UFC 35: Throw Down; Pete
Williams at UFC 34: High Voltage, November 2 at the MGM Grand
in Las Vegas, and Andre Arlovski, June 29, 2001, at UFC 32: Showdown
In The Meadowlands.
Penn returns to the
site of his only loss, his January 11 title fight with former
lightweight champ Jens Pulver that went to a decision after five
rounds. Penn won a TKO over previously undefeated Paul Creighton
May 10 in Bossier City. In Serra's last fight, he defeated Kelly
Dullanty by triangle choke tap out in the first round March 22
in Las Vegas.
In their last fights, Thomas won a unanimous decision over Fabiano
Iha Sept. 28 at UFC 33: Victory in Vegas and Uno defeated Yves
Edwards by unanimous decision May 10 in Bossier City.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship, headquartered in Las Vegas,
Nevada, is the world's leading mixed martial arts sports event.
Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, the UFC programs six live pay-per-view
events yearly through cable and satellite providers. In addition,
to its US distribution on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, TVN and Dish Network,
UFC events are distributed internationally through British Sky
Broadcasting, WOWOW, Inc. in Japan, Globosat in Brazil and Modern
Sports and Entertainment in Scandinavia. UFC licenses video games
for all major playing platforms through Crave Entertainment.
With its state-of-the-art lighting and sound system, Mohegan
Sun Arena is the premier entertainment venue in Connecticut.
Pollstar Magazine, a major concert industry publication, nominated
the Mohegan Sun Arena for the 2001 Concert Industry Award for
Best New Concert Venue. Mohegan Sun Arena was among five nominees
for this prestigious award. Major sporting events, including
the UFC, championship boxing, college and professional basketball,
tennis and bowling, along with world-renowned entertainers such
as Tim McGraw, Gloria Estefan, Janet Jackson, Cher, Aerosmith,
John Mellencamp, Tom Petty and Alicia Keys have performed in
this 10,000-seat arena.
Source: FCF |
Matt
Hume Discusses Barnett Hearing
By Joe Hall
Although it
may have at times been detrimental, Matt Hume passionately defended
Josh Barnett for over two hours before the Nevada State Athletic
Commission on July 26. While a conclusion to the hearing came
all too slowly for most involved, Hume would likely still be
debating the protocol used to test Barnett, and other issues,
if he had been allowed. Here are just a few of his comments concerning
the hearing, with much more to come in the next issue of FCF.
FCF: Did the
hearing go as you expected?
MH: It went as I expected.
FCF: Early in
the hearing, you argued that a prior agreement had already been
made. What was the mentioned agreement?
MH: The agreement was that Josh would provide them with a current
clean test and would do a steroid counseling session with Dr.
Webber [who runs the drug-testing program for the United States
Powerlifting and the International Powerlifting Federations],
and that they would not proclaim any guilt upon Josh. And it
was to be over; there was to be nothing beyond that hearing.
FCF: Was that
made over the phone or in person? And who was present?
MH: A hearing by teleconference is what they called it. Josh
Barnett, Roy Silbert [United Full Contact Federation President],
Dr. Webber and myself were there, and Flip Homansky [NSAC member],
Marc Ratner [executive director of the NSAC] and Keith Kizer
[Chief Deputy Attorney General who serves as legal counsel to
the NSAC] were there.
FCF: When was
it made?
MH: I don't have the dates in front of me. I would have to look
back. It was quite a while back.
FCF: So they
sent you a draft of that proposed agreement, but you didn't accept
it?
MH: It's not that we didn't accept it. We said this isn't what
we agreed to. And then we redrafted it and sent it to them. Then
they redrafted theirs, and we went back and forth with drafts
for a long time with the expectation that we were going to have
an agreement based upon what we agreed to in the teleconference.
It was one word
that we couldn't agree on. And that word was "knowingly."
They wanted Josh to say that he acknowledged their test. However,
that acknowledgement did not mean that he knowingly took steroids.
That wasn't what we agreed on because that's saying that he could
have taken steroids. Our position was that he did not take steroids,
not that he had some ninja slip him steroids.
FCF: Dr. Homansky
has confirmed that if an agreement had been met prior to the
hearing, it is safe to say there would not have been a suspension.
Do you agree with that?
MH: No. I don't agree with that. If that were the case ... we
asked them that. Roy Silbert questioned them. Roy said, "So
what if Josh signed this thing that said 'knowingly'? Is that
a guarantee that there's going to be no suspension?" They
said, "No, there's no guarantee. This has to go before the
Commission, and we can't promise what the rest of the Commission
is going to do." The fact that they were trying to get us
to sign something, and then telling us they couldn't give us
any guarantees -- they gave us nothing. They just pulled us to
the end, leading us to believe that they were going to make a
deal, when I don't think they had any intention of ever making
a deal.
FCF: Why did
you choose to represent Josh rather than hire an attorney?
MH: It was the only thing we could do because they led us to
believe we had an agreement. I would not have wanted to represent
Josh; I'm not an attorney. Like I said, they led us to believe
there was going to be a deal. When it was evident there wasn't,
it was only two days before. That's not enough time; that's not
enough notification. That's the reason that we didn't have any
legal representation, because they didn't give us time.
FCF: Is it fair,
in your opinion, that the NSAC expects their suspensions to be
honored by licensees even if the event is outside of Nevada?
MH: It's fair that they want that. Is it fair that this happened
to Josh? No. If they're treating people just, then it's OK for
them to want their suspensions honored everywhere. But I don't
feel that this was a just suspension.
FCF: Will Josh
look for a fight outside of the Nevada Commission's jurisdiction?
MH: Right now, we're not sure where he's going to fight. But
Josh has to make a living, and we are going to look for fights.
We don't know where, though. |
Menne
Gets Confusing Win at Palladium
LOS ANGELES
-- After more than 7 months of inactivity, including 2 months
of nursing an injury, former UFC middleweight champion Dave Menne
only wanted to return to the ring and shake off the rust. Menne
got the hard workout he desired, but also found himself in the
middle of some wild controversy.
"This turned out to be a lot of crap... from the beginning
to the end," Menne said. "Everything I agreed to a
month ago was all of a sudden not good enough for my opponent.
The weigh-in was a problem, the weight was a problem, the rounds
were a problem, the overtime was a problem. I'm surprised they
let me wear the trunks I came out in."
Robert Ferguson put up a spirited fight in the ring at Ultimate
Cage Fighting... an event that features open-hand striking like
old Pancrase events. After two rounds, the judges came to the
decision it was a draw. According to UCF rules, if the fight
is a draw after regulation, a 3-minute overtime is used to decide
a winner.
"After the show had started, I'm told by the promoter (Darin
Dotson) that Ferguson isn't happy with Menne weighing in during
the afternoon... that he wanted him to weigh in again,"
said Menne's manager Monte Cox. "He was 189 at noon and
felt he was 191 to 193 at the show, so we agreed to weigh again.
The scale they had was broken, and then we're told he needed
to be at 185 because Ferguson was 175... I said the agreement
was for 190 from Day 1.
"I was told by the promoter that Ferguson may pull out if
we didn't agree to drop the fight from 3 rounds to 2 rounds.
Reluctantly, we agreed, but I said 'that means an overtime if
necessary, right?' and I was assured that it did."
Obviously, some of the information about the changes never got
to ringside. After the second round, a ring girl entered for
round 3 and announcer Bruce Buffer announced a third round.
Informed that it was changed to 2 rounds, Buffer entered the
ring and announced the draw.
"When I heard draw, I went up to the cage and said 'what
about the overtime?' Menne was there and also asked for the OT.
The brother of the promoter said we can't do the overtime because
Ferguson couldn't continue... understandably, I got irate...
I said if he can't continue, then he loses... that's how it works.
I mean, if he couldn't have continued after the first round,
would that be OK? Would we call it a draw?"
After a brief discussion, Buffer was instructed to announce Menne
as the winner.
"I know Ferguson's camp isn't happy... they say that the
promoter told them different things than he told us," Cox
said. "Mistakes happen, but they basically said everything
was different... weight, weigh-in, rounds, overtime... you can
see where we have to be a little skeptical of all of this being
the promoter's fault."
For Menne, the verdict is already behind him. He has a date to
fight Phil Baroni in the UFC on Sept. 27. A victory would put
him in line for a rematch with Murilo Bustamante for the world
title.
Source: FCF
|
RULON
GARDNER FEATURED ON 'TODAY SHOW'
NBC's 'Today
Show' ran an amazing feature the morning of Wed., Aug. 7, on
Olympic gold medalist and world champion Greco-Roman wrestler
Rulon Gardner. The synopsis of the show, on the MSNBC.com web
site, says:
'Olympic
wrestler fights a new kind of battle Aug. 7, 2002 Rulon Gardner,
who America came to love as a star Olympic wrestler, is now fighting
to save his feet after being lost in the sub-zero wilderness.
NBC News correspondent Jim Avila reports.'
Rulon
returned to the forest area where he became stranded overnight
last February and as a result suffered severe frostbite. This
recently-taped segment has Rulon and NBC's Jim Avila riding on
horseback through this area, with Rulon showing where he stayed
overnight, and describing how he survived.
If
you missed the original broadcast (as I did), it is available
online at:
Today Show Website (MSN)
Source: Eddie Goldman/Abu Dhabi |
Grappling
Magazine's Todd Hester
ADCC:
Todd, how are things at Grappling Magazine? Todd: The magazine
is just a reflection of the sport and because the sport is doing
well right now, the magazine is also doing well. Not only do
you have the UFC making great strides in television thanks to
the efforts of Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, Dana White, and also
Keith Evans, one of the UFC's unsung heroes, but you also have
a lot of submission events gaining popularity.
I'm
very encouraged by the number of U.S. competitors that events
such as Brian Cimin's Grappler's Quest, Kipp Kollar's North American
Grappling Association, and the Jean Jacques Machado Submission
tournaments are drawing. It is not unusual for them to get 500
competitors at a single event. Internationally, of course, you
have the Mundials, which just finished, which provides a lot
of motivation for grapplers to train, in hopes of competing there
someday. These type of events are where the fans will come from
that will drive the sport of submission grappling, Brazilian
Jiu-Jitsu and mixed martial arts forward in the future.
One
of the big voids this year was, of course, the lack of an ADCC
World Championship. But with trials for next year coming up in
San Diego in October of this year, it looks like ADCC will be
back stronger than ever. ADCC generates more buzz that perhaps
any other single submission event, so I feel it is a very necessary
component for the future worldwide growth of the sport. My big
fear, actually, when there was no event this year, was that ADCC
would go away permanently. That would be a very serious blow
to the sport, which I'm not sure it could fully recover from.
I would really love to see ADCC return to a yearly event. I hope
the organizers realize just how important their event is to the
worldwide submission movement.
In
mixed martial arts, you have a lot of really innovative events
springing up around the country and doing quite well. In the
West you have Terry Trebilcock, Bud Brutsman and Tedd Williams
doing King of the Cage and Gladiator Challenge which everyone
is buzzing about; in Arizona you have Roland Sarria's Rage in
the Cage which is a great up-and-coming show; in Las Vegas you
have John Lewis and John Huntington doing the World Fighting
Alliance with an over-the-top production and awesome fight cards;
the Midwest has Jeff Osborne and Miguel Iturrate's HOOKnSHOOT,
Eddie Yoshimura's Shidokan Challenge, and the Iron Heart Crown,
just to name a few; then in the East you have 21st Century Warriors
which mixes kickboxing and submission fighting, which Royler
Gracie just won, and many others. So the sport as a whole is
really growing. As a matter-of-fact, King of the Cage just did
their second pay-per-view show and have another one planned for
later this year. So they are a model of success for a lot of
other events.
Internationally,
there is Frederico Lapenda's World Vale Tudo, a show that has
given many of the world's top stars their start in mixed martial
arts, Bas Boon has 2 Hot 2 Handle in Europe, Paddy Mooney and
Chris Kelly have Cage Wars in the U.K., an event that Francisco
Bueno just won, and Japanese pro-wrestling legend Rocky Inoki
is having a new UFO fighting show in Japan which, as far as I
understand, will have real fights. There have been legitimate
concerns about a pro-wrestling promoter coming into mixed martial
arts. But you have to give him the benefit of the doubt until
proven wrong. If an influential figure like Rocky Inoki puts
his weight behind true MMA, then he will become a major player
almost instantly - so I have great expectations and hope in that
area. MMA needs friends in order for the sport to grow, so he
would be a welcome addition.
I
think his biggest challenge will just be in clearly separating
his MMA productions from his pro-wrestling productions, so fans
will clearly know which is which and so there will be no question
that what they are watching is real. Rocky Inoki has fought against
long odds and proven many people wrong his entire life, so if
anyone can do it then he can. There is also the possibility of
Mr. Isshi from K-1 coming into MMA. He has had fabulous success
in kickboxing and you have to think that he would do likewise
in MMA.
ADCC:
Who came up with the idea to devote a magazine to this particular
sport? Todd: Grappling had actually been published as a 2 or
3-time per year special issue by CFW since the mid-90s. John
Soet, who heads the CFW video department now and who was the
former editor of Inside Karate actually did a lot to popularize
and publicize the Gracies when they first came to the U.S. When
I first came into CFW when John moved up, I was doing a traditional
martial arts magazine and just doing occasional issues of Grappling.
Numbers consistently showed that the Grappling issues were among
our best sellers. So it was just a natural progression and a
joint decision between myself and the CFW executives, Michael
James, Jose Fraguas, and Mark Komuro, to take the magazine monthly.
Curtis F. Wong, the owner of CFW, approved it because he has
always been unafraid to pursue new business ventures and to give
new martial arts a chance to grow. The biggest concern coming
from CFW was if there would be enough material to support a 128
page monthly magazine. But because I followed the sport as fan,
I knew there was. I started training with Rickson, Royce, Royler,
and Rorion Gracie in the late '80s so I had a strong background
in BJJ and was a big fan of the sport for years. I even went
to Japan with Rickson when he fought in the first Vale Tudo there
in 1994. So if anything, we don't have enough pages to cover
all potential events and personalities that are out there.
ADCC:
Who are some of your regular writers? Todd: First and foremost,
of course, is Kid Peligro. He is a large part of Grappling and
has a lot of influence. Being a regular contributor to ADCC really
gives him a feel for the pulse of the sport. Where I sometimes
get caught up in the nuts and bolts of just getting the magazine
out on time each month, Kid always gives me a larger and broader
viewpoint of what is going on and what we need to cover. Another
writer that I use a lot is Loren Franck. He is a former editor
of Martial Arts Training and is professional and always comes
in on time. I also use a lot of articles from Jose Fraguas, the
CFW General Manager, who ran several big European magazines for
years and also has a lot of history with BJJ and understands
it. Occasionally, I'll be fortunate enough to get an article
in by Tom Lowe, whose writing I really like. For columns, I'm
lucky enough to have Art Davie, one of the UFC originators, writing.
I also really like Matt Furey, Erik Paulson, and Royler Gracie.
A big part of the magazine is also Eddie Goldman. I consider
Eddie to be the conscience of no-holds-barred, even though he
has chosen to write more about wrestling lately. He is a legitimate
journalist who gets his facts straight, is intellectually honest,
and is not afraid to ask the tough questions.
ADCC:
What makes Grappling Magazine soar above the rest? Todd: We have
our good months and bad months just like everybody. But I like
to think that overall we're consistently towards the upper end
of the scale. I think our biggest advantage, if we have one,
is that we just reflect what the fans want to see and hear, in
an honest way. Grappling is a mirror of the sport, and doesn't
have a rigid point-of-view that we try to force onto the public.
It is a magazine by fans, for fans. And by fans I mean those
who watch, train, and compete.
ADCC:
How has Grappling Magazine grown over the past couple of years?
Todd: We started out as a quarterly on the newsstands only, then
moved to monthly newsstand, and then began offering monthly
subscriptions. This has occurred over a period of about 3 years.
We're in about 6500 retail outlets now and can be found all over
North America, Europe, and Australia. We're always looking for
new outlets, though, and expect to grown even more. There are
around 15,000 retail magazine outlets, so it would be great to
see the sport grow enough so we could hit all those.
Every time we expand into more outlets, of course, our print
run goes up which requires additional capital. So we have to
balance
growth with cost. Right now we're printing around 50,000 issue
per month.
ADCC:
How many subscribers do you have now? Todd: I don't know the
exact numbers off-hand, as they constantly change, but I would
say we're in the 4,000-5,000 range now, which we're happy with
considering that we've only offered them for about a year. It
would be nice to say 40,000-50,000 but we like to give out honest
numbers. Hopefully, someday we'll hit that number. Then maybe
all the writers could give up their day jobs - myself included!
ADCC:
How can people subscribe to Grappling Magazine? Todd: You can
subscribes directly at http://www.cfw2.com/product.asp?pf_id=MAL001&dept_id=12.
Or you can just go to www.cfwenterprise.com and follow the links.
CFW actually has a very content-rich website, given that we've
published magazines, books, and videos since 1974. We have a
lot of archival stories and information there. So any martial
artist of any style can find something of interest there.
ADCC:
What does the future hold for the magazine? Todd: The future
of Grappling will mirror the future of the sport. I have a very
optimistic view of mixed martial arts and submission grappling,
so I am optimistic about the future of the magazine. We have
a very long-term approach. CFW has been in existence for 30 years
and we plan to be around for another 30 years. Grappling is not
a magazine that will come out for a year or so then disappear.
We plan to support the sport and to be a part of it from now
on. We're in it for the long haul. The fans will dictate the
direction of the magazine and we are very conscious of being
responsive to new trends and developments.
ADCC:
One of my favorite issues obviously, was the feature you did
on the ADCC tournament in 1999, do you plan to cover the tournament
again next year? Todd: I would love to do another special issue
exclusively on the ADCC tournament. If I could, I would do an
entire issue each year just devoted to the ADCC tournament. Matt
Furey and I did that entire 1999 issue with help from Cal Cooper
and Kid Peligro. That was a huge job for us and a lot of work
but we were very happy with the way it turned out. Guy Neivens
was very instrumental in making that happen as well as Shiek
Tahnoon, obviously. I think it did a lot to get the word out
about the ADCC tournament and it was very popular with the readers.
I still go back myself, and read that issue. There's a lot of
good stuff in there. Hopefully, we will be able to work something
out with Guy to do it on a regular basis.
ADCC:
One of your writers, Matt Furey, seems to get a bad rap on occasion.
What would you like to tell everyone about Matt? Todd: Matt Furey,
along with Eddie Goldman, is one of my favorite writers. Matt's
strong point is his honesty. He writes what he feels and is not
afraid to take a position and then defend it. The hardest part
of writing is honesty, as most people are naturally affected
by criticism. Anytime someone takes a position, regardless of
what that position is, they will receive criticism. When Matt
gets hit, it just tells me that people are reading what he writes
and paying attention to what he thinks. If you're not getting
criticized, then you're not really writing. He is a legitimate
NCAA Division II wrestling champion and also a Chinese folk-style
wrestling world champion. So he has credentials and he knows
what he is talking about. Plus, he did study with Karl Gotch
for several years. Just to give you an idea, we recently did
an audit of our best-selling issues over the past three years,
and the Matt Furey cover was number two in sales behind the Marco
Ruas cover. That tells me something.
ADCC:
Todd, thanks for your time and keep up the good work.
Todd: I'd like to thank everyone in the entire submission and
mixed martial arts community for putting the sport where it is
today -- they are the real heroes -- the people who go to the
gym after a hard day at work and train for two hours; the people
who drive three or four hours to enter an event; and of course
the instructors who hold down two jobs just to get enough money
to be able to keep their academy open so they can hold classes
every night. For every superstar like Tito Ortiz, who is about
as blue-collar and down-to-earth as you can get, you have 1,000
competitors out there following his lead -- going to class and
to events and driving the sport forward with nothing more than
sweat and hard work. A lot of the credit also has to go to the
merchants such as Tapout, Octagon Sportwear, Adidas Gis, Kikskin
Gis, Hunter, GrapplerGear.com, Profight, Gracie Gear, Pitbull
Energy Drink, and many others who have provided sponsorship to
numerous fighters and events. They put their money on the line
to support the sport and they deserve kudos also. I hardly know
anyone in MMA who isn't working at least a couple of jobs for
the privilege of being involved in the sport. So we all just
have to stay focused on the long-term and realize that we are
pioneers in something that will eventually be of great benefit
to a lot of people.
Source:
Abu Dhabi |
Quote
of the Day
The difference between a successful person and others is not
a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a
lack of will.
Vincent
T. Lombardi |
News
from our trip Soon!
I am backed up with stuff so stay tuned for more news! |
The
BIG DOG Speaks!
Interview
with RICARDO ALMEIDA
Renzo
Gracie's stand out Ricardo Almeida returns to the cage after
some time off - not to the UFC but to the World Extreme Cage
Fighting show scheduled for the Mohegan Sun at the end of the
month. Ricardo is scheduled to face MMA superstar Frank Shamrock,
and the Big Dog reflects on the upcoming bout. He also corrects
some of the misconceptions about him leaving the UFC. Additionally,
this is the first interview in which he gives some personal details
about his family life. Here is what the 'Big Dog' has to say:
ADCC:
Just heard the news of the big fight with Shamrock, How did that
come about? Ricardo: Well, I was recovering from hand surgery
and was back training hard, I got a call from Lynn and he was
like 'how would you like to fight Frank Shamrock?' and I said
'what?' I couldn't believe it, I am really exited about this.
ADCC:
Who is promoting the event? Ricardo: Scott Adams and Chuck Liddell,
I believe.
ADCC:
What does Renzo think about the fight? Ricardo: You know Renzo
he is always pushing us no matter what we are up against, he
has the deepest belief we will succeed. He is always very supportive.
ADCC:
What do you think of Frank Shamrock's fighting ability? Ricardo:
He's one of handful fighters that achieved legendary recognition,
for all he has done to this sport. How can anybody contest that?
ADCC:
Do you think that Shamrock's lay off from fighting will hurt
him any? Ricardo: I've never seen Frank fight and not bring something
new to the table. I think this lay off instead of hurting him,
could have been a time where he was just improving himself away
from the spotlight.
ADCC:
Shamrock had a tough time with Jeremy Horn on the ground, do
you think that the ground game is his biggest weakness? Ricardo:
Horn is a tough guy and is taken lightly by many, he will give
anyone trouble, look at his fight with Liddell. Many people say
Frank is weak on the ground, I think I need to watch some more
tapes, I didn't think he was weak at all.
ADCC:
Shamrock has made some negative comments about the Gracie style
being out dated, what do you have to say about that? Ricardo:
Sometimes people exaggerate the importance of things. I have
met Frank personally, before and he was great guy, I even asked
him when he would be back on the octagon. I told him that I loved
watching him, look at the irony of things. If he even said that
about the Gracies, he's entitled to his own opinion. I have a
job to do and I can't let that influence the way I feel about
the fight.
ADCC:
Many people want to know why you turned down the UFC and are
taking such a big fight? Ricardo: First of all, I didn't turn
down the UFC, my decision to not renew the contract with the
UFC was discussed and encouraged even by UFC staff members. I
wanted to take some time to grow, away from the spotlight. Why
take the fight with Frank then? How do you turn such opportunity
down? Its been almost seven months since I fought, its time to
get back in there. No matter the outcome of this fight I can
only think how much better I'll be after it.
ADCC:
Rumor is you, had an injury a while back, how has that healed
up? Ricardo: I broke my hand sparring and had to have a titanium
plate put in to hold my hand together. It was a tough time because
I was already training to fight again, and had to take like 10
weeks to recover from the surgery. The hand is coming along,
it should be fine for the 31st.
ADCC:
You got married last December, How has married life been treating
you? Ricardo: Great, couldn't be better.
ADCC:
You and your wife are expecting your first baby, when is it due?
Ricardo: Third week of September, we're having a baby boy. If
the kid doesn't get too nervous about me fighting Frank...he
might not want to miss that one.
ADCC:
Any names picked out? Ricardo: Well, I always thought I should
name my kid after someone great, someone my kid would know and
be proud to get the name from. So we chose Renzo Matthias, after
two of the greatest people I ever met. Naturally, Renzo everyone
knows, Matthias was my grandfather from my mom's side.
ADCC:
Thanks for your time and we will see you at your fight.
Source: Abu Dhabi |
Warriors
Quest 7 'Tap Out or Knock Out' August 30th, 2002
Blaisdell Arena Honolulu, Hawaii
Hot
off their Warriors Quest 6 offering this last weekend, the Jesus
is Lord promotion announces another card of OFFICIAL SHOOTO in
August!
Card
Subject To Change:
Lightweight [-65.0Kg]:
Kazuhiro Inoue v. Stephen Palling
Kyong "Yobi" Song (Gamebred)
#1 Ranked Warriors Quest Fighter
Vs.
Donald Callaruda (Hardknocks)
AFC Veteran
Jim Kikuchi (808 Fight Factory)
#2 Rank Warriors Quest Fighter
Vs.
Jerome Kekumu (Hardknocks)
Strike Fighting Veteran
Dain Agbayani (808 Fight Factory)
#1 Rank Warriors Quest Fighter
Vs.
Eben Kaneshiro (Freelance)
John "Big John" Naole
(HMC)
Vs.
James Ramano (Koden Kan)
Valen Leong (808 Fight Factory)
Vs.
Rodell Soares (Koden Kan)
Strike Fighting Veteran
Jason Vadadereo (Bulls Pen)
AFC Veteran
Vs.
Shane Peterson (Koden Kan)
Warriors
Quest 6 - 'The Best of the Best'
August 3rd - Blaisdell Arena, Honolulu, Hawaii
COMPLETE
RESULTS:
Class
B 2 x 5 minutes rounds:
- Neal Andres v. Ed Newalu: Andres by Triangle Choke, RD 1 :45
- Marty Armendarez v. Aki Tago: Armendarez by Ankle Lock, RD
1 2:03
- Jerry Samson v. Ian McCall: McCall by Rear Naked Choke, RD
2 2:32
- Mark Mareno v. Kaleo Padilla: Mareno by TKO, RD 1 2:35
- Bret Mark v. Paul Ano: Mark by Arm Bar, RD 2 4:45
- Jamal Perkins v. Jacob Vela: Perkins by TKO, RD 2 1:59
- David Padilla v. Bao Quach: Quach by Judges Decision.
Class
A 3 x 5 minutes rounds:
- Ray 'Bradda' Cooper v. Jake Shields: Cooper by Judges Decisio |
OFFICIAL
PRESS RELEASE: UCC HAWAII!
UCC
INVADES AMERICA’S PARADISE!
MONTREAL
(CANADA) – On September 17th 2002, the Universal Combat
Challenge will finally bring it’s unique brand of intense
MMA action south of the Canadian border. Working in conjunction
with two of the most recognizable MMA promoters, Monte Cox and
T.J. Thompson, the UCC will present Hawaii’s most popular
talent against some of the UCC’s top guns as well as top
talent from around the world. “Monte’s help since I
started in this game is one of the biggest reason the UCC is
the fastest growing promotion in MMA today” stated UCC president
Stephane Patry, “Having Monte and T.J. to help me on this
show is just awesome, I’m thrilled!” added Patry. Athletes
from Brazil, France, Canada and the USA will all be at the Blaisdell
Arena for the fight of their lives.
The
main event will see a first in MAA history as UCC World Super
Lightweight champion WAGNNEY FABIANO (1-0, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
faces #1 contender, BARET
“The Finisher” YOSHIDA (3-1, Honolulu, Hawaii) currently ranked
#4 in the world. This will see the first time that two Brazilian
Jiu-Jitsu Black Belts compete for a world title! These elite
athletes are regarded as two of the best grapplers out there
but at UCC HAWAII we will find out who is the best MMA fighter
of the two!
UCC
6 veteran ANTONY REA (1-0, Paris, France) and Team Extreme superstar
RICH FRANKLIN (7-0, Cincinnati, Ohio) will put their respective
undefeated streaks on the line in a light heavyweight challenge
that will be sure to ignite the UCC ring. Rea stunned UCC fans
with a brutal KO win over former UCC Canadian Light Heavyweight
champion Jeromie Sills and has been training hard for his UCC
return ever since. Franklin was victorious in his UCC debut and
has his sights set on gaining UCC gold and sees Rea as the next
step to his goal.
Former
UCC Canadian Light Heavyweight champion JEROMIE SILLS (3-3, Niagara
Falls, Canada) will return to action as he faces Hawaii’s
MMA superstar and Superbrawl standout FALANIKO VITALE (8-1, Honolulu, Hawaii). Known as one
of the most dangerous striker in the UCC, Sills brings to the
ring incredible strength and accuracy with his fists as well
as a solid wrestling background. Vitale is also a gifted young
athlete with lightning fast hands and slick ground work that
could end any fight in a blink of an eye. These powerhouses are
hungry for the KO and always put on a great show for the fans.
Look for this bout to be no different.
After
two failed attempts to compete for the UCC in Canada, LAVERNE
CLARK (10-8, Davenport, Iowa) will FINALLY enter the UCC ranks.
Former UCC World Middleweight champion DONALD OUIMET (4-1, Montreal,
Canada) will put his 17 plus years of boxing experience against
the experienced Clark. Clark’s hands are a known factor
in the MMA world as is his wrestling abilities while Ouimet brings
his stellar fists and BJJ experience with him every time he fights.
The fists will fly when these super strikers go toe to toe in
this Welterweight ranking bout.
Also
in action will be highly ranked UCC warrior IVAN MENJIVAR (6-2,
Zavateluca, Salvador) taking on Hawaii’s EDDIE YAGIN (6-0, Honolulu, Hawaii). Menjivar proved
that he is ready to take on top international talent when he
dismantled the experienced Jeff Curran at UCC 10 in Canada. Yagin
has been raising a few eyebrows as of late and this is his big
chance to show the fight world what he has to offer.
STEPHAN
POTVIN (4-3, Montreal, Canada) of 454 Vale Tudo will go to war
with Team Extreme’s DREW McFEDRIES (1-1, Davenport, Iowa).
Potvin shocked the MMA world when he dominated and defeated the
highly ranked Joe Doerksen at UCC 6 in what was considered to
be a huge upset by insiders. McFedries has built a serious rep
in the American Midwest and showed his huge heart in his victorious
UCC debut at UCC 10. This will be Drew’s biggest test yet
as Potvin is a hungry lion looking to regain prominence in the
UCC ranks.
The
Blaisdell arena will see electricity like never before when it
houses the Universal Combat Challenge's ERUPTION IN HAWAII. Tickets
go on sale soon so don't be left out! This historic event will
also be telecast on Pay-Per-View in Canada and some awesome news
will come out of the UCC office shortly regarding a Pay-Per-View
deal in the United States!
For
more information, please visit www.ucczone.ca or www.superbrawl.tv.
|
From
the Desk of CHAMPION JOSH BARNETT!
I
emplore all of you to speak out on my behalf at: http://www.fcfighter.com/news.htm
Through
all this crap I've been through, and am still going through the
positive commentary will help me alot in this horrible situation.
You don't have to sign your names to it if you don't want to,
but I can use help in a major way at this time, and this I think
will help. Thank you very much and take care.
UFC
WITHDRAWS HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE RECOGNITION FROM BARNETT
COUTURE,
RODRIGUEZ TO FIGHT FOR VACANT CHAMPIONSHIP, SEPT. 27
LAS
VEGAS, July 30, 2002…Officials of Zuffa LLC, the owner of
the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), today announced that
it has withdrawn its title recognition from Josh Barnett as the
UFC Heavyweight Champion. Zuffa's action is based on the Friday,
July 26, unanimous vote (5-0) by the Nevada State Athletic Commission
to suspend Barnett's license for six months. The NSAC listened
to several hours of testimony and presentation of evidence and
concluded Barnett violated Nevada's unarmed combat laws by having
three, separate anabolic agents in his body when he won the UFC
heavyweight title from Randy Couture March 22 at the MGM Grand
in Las Vegas.
The
UFC waited more than four months while Barnett dealt with the
disciplinary case brought by the NSAC. 'We intentionally avoided
making any statements prior to the Commission's hearing because
it was a matter between Josh and the State of Nevada. We also
waited to take any action regarding the status of our heavyweight
division because Josh deserved time to answer the Commission's
allegations,' said Dana White, UFC president.
'Zuffa
supports the Commission's goal of protecting the health and safety
of the competitors. We want to see mixed martial arts become
the premier combat sport in the world and therefore, we must
move forward. The top spot in the heavyweight division is now
vacant, and the new champion will be decided in the Octagon,'
White said.
White
announced that former UFC Heavyweight Champion Randy 'The Natural'
Couture will meet top contender Ricco 'Suave' Rodriguez Friday,
September 27, at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.,
to determine who will be the next heavyweight champion. Tickets
for UFC 39: The Warriors Return will go on sale Wednesday, August
7, at the Mohegan Sun Arena box office, at tickets.com or by
calling tickets.com at 1-800-477-6849. The fight also will be
available on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, Dish Network, Bell ExpressVu
and Viewers Choice Canada pay-per-view television. The suggested
retail price is $29.95.
In
light of the NSAC's disciplinary action, Zuffa is requesting
the Commission to consider declaring the March 22 heavyweight
fight a 'no contest.' Under Nevada law, only the Commission can
change the result of a contest held within the state. The Commission's
decision could take several weeks and White said Zuffa will support
whatever decision is reached.
'Josh
Barnett is a gentleman, a fierce competitor and has always conducted
himself as a true champion. I hope he keeps training and I wouldn't
be surprised to see him become a champion again some day. Once
his suspension is over, Zuffa welcomes the chance to discuss
his possible return to the UFC,' White said.
DR.
FLIP HOMANSKY EXPLAINS WHY NEVADA COMMISSION SUSPENDED JOSH BARNETT
Everyone
with any connection to or even a passing interest in the mixed
martial arts should play close attention to the case of Josh
Barnett. What has transpired is one of the biggest crises for
this sport since its recognition and sanctioning a year ago by
the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
The
July 26 Nevada commission hearing found that Barnett did indeed
have illegal anabolic steroids in his system at the time of his
UFC 36 heavyweight title fight with then-champion Randy Couture
on March 22, 2002. Barnett was thus suspended by the commission
for six months. It was also announced Tuesday, July 30, that
Barnett was stripped of his UFC heavyweight title by, as the
press release phrases it, 'Officials of Zuffa LLC, the owner
of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).'
And
if you listen to Nevada commission member Dr. Flip Homansky,
who cast one of the five unanimous votes to suspend Barnett,
all this was very avoidable.
It
had been expected that Josh Barnett would receive similar treatment
as K-1 fighter Rick Roufus. Following his fight in the finals
of the K-1 USA championship at Las Vegas's Mirage Casino on Friday,
May 3, against Michael McDonald, Roufus tested positive for steroid
metabolites. He later admitted to the commission that he did,
and was told that he could fight again after undergoing education
about the dangers of steroids and submitting a clean urine sample.
Roufus is unable to fight now because of a knee injury suffered
in that K-1 event, but was not suspended by the Nevada commission
because of his steroid use. The Nevada commission emphasized
that they were in an 'education mode' now until Jan. 1. 2003,
since steroid testing was new to mixed martial arts and kickboxing.
'As
with Rick Roufus, we came to a reasonable agreement with Rick
and as we've stated, our main concern now is educating the fighter
and letting him know the problems with steroids, and letting
him know that's going to be unacceptable in the future in Nevada,'
explained Dr. Homansky, speaking by phone from his Las Vegas
office. 'So it was no problem with Rick Roufus. He agreed completely.'
The
situation with Josh Barnett and his manager Matt Hume, however,
was not the same. 'The issue arose that Matt Hume and Josh never
agreed that he had actually done anabolic steroids, never came
to an agreement between themselves and Marc Ratner. So it had
to go to the commission. And after all the evidence was presented,
the commission went with a suspension,' said Dr. Homansky.
Days
before the hearing, Hume also issued a press release and widely
circulated it on the Internet that basically categorically denied
every charge made by the commission and even challenged every
procedure they took and every fact they stated. This Wild West-type
defiance did not sit well with the commission. All Dr. Homansky
would say about this statement's role in leading to Barnett's
suspension was, diplomatically, 'It played a role.'
He
also indicated that if Barnett had admitted steroids were in
his system, there would not have been a suspension.
'If
an agreement had been worked out similar to the agreement with
Rick Roufus, there would have been no suspension,' Dr. Homansky
said. And like Roufus, he would have had to have undergone education
and submitted a clean urine test before his next fight.
Dr.
Homansky was also less than impressed by the defense mounted
by Barnett at his hearing. 'They were saying that obviously this
guy was clean because he was able to give a clean urine test
after Nevada,' he stated. 'What they neglected to say in the
press release and neglected to say to anyone they talked to is
the urine they gave was 90 days later, was in June. So he might
have had clean urine in June. I don't know. But it's irrelevant
to what happened in March. He had 90 days to clear whatever substance
was in his urine out. The point is made that steroids can stay
in your system six months or more. No question. But we're not
saying he did it the day before the March fight. He might have
done it, someone could have been cycling three months earlier,
and so he had effects from it in March, but in June it was out
of his system.'
He
also disputed the contention that the fighters were unaware of
the testing and what was banned.
'The
first point is that our issue is education of the fighter,' continued
Dr. Homansky. 'Before the Sept. card [UFC 33], the first fight
in Nevada, I spoke to all the fighters and all the cornermen
at Mandalay Bay, and told them we were checking urine and that
steroids were unacceptable. In the book that we put out and gave
to almost all the fighters, we talked about the dangers of steroids.
So the concept that no one knew that steroids were illegal is
bogus.'
The
book he is referring to is Ringside and Training Principles,
a manual of fighter safety, training, and other issues made available
free by the commission to fighters in all combat sports and their
trainers.
'Number
two,' he went on, 'the issue has been put out, why don't we list
all the drugs that are illegal? That's crazy. There are 3000
illegal substances for the U.S. Olympic Committee. They don't
list all 3000. They list categories. When we say that alcohol
is illegal, which we do, we don't have to list 400 brands of
beer. We're not going to list every anabolic steroid because
tomorrow the names of them change, or tomorrow there might be
five new ones. But they are illegal.'
The
issue is not just the legality of these substances, since of
course alcohol is legal to anyone of drinking age, but their
effect on the fighters.
'Anything
that gives a person an unfair advantage in the ring is illegal
in this state,' Dr. Homansky stated. 'And we're going to be checking
in a legal, reasonable manner, and we're going to stop the use
of anabolic steroids, both in boxers and in mixed martial artists.
And the reason is twofold. That ring is dangerous enough without
adding something like the chemical mix of anabolic steroids.
And number two, steroids are very, very dangerous. And the reason
steroids are dangerous is because you're adding a hormone to
the body that is going to have significant effects, not just
now, but for the rest of the person's life.'
He
pointed out, 'The steroid that was found in Josh's body directly
affects the liver. And if Josh is perfectly comfortable in his
own mind that he never did anything like that, then he doesn't
have to worry. But if I was he, I would go to a doctor and get
my liver checked. That's the concern I have.'
There
are many other areas of medical danger from steroids. 'But steroids
can cause high blood pressure. It can cause atherosclerosis.
It causes liver problems. It can cause impotence. It causes rage,
that everyone's known about, uncontrollable aggression and rage.
It causes acne. It causes hair loss, i.e., think of Hulk Hogan
and all of the professional wrestlers who have lost their hair.
I mean, Hulk Hogan lost his hair in his 30s. So for two reasons,
these drugs give an unfair advantage, and they're dangerous.'
But
both as a physician and a commission member, Dr. Homansky says
he is only thinking of the best interests of Josh Barnett in
his actions.
'And
my only hope is that Josh is clean now, that he stays clean,
and that he gets a chance after his suspension to fight for the
heavyweight championship of the world,' he concluded. 'I mean
no harm to Josh. I want Josh to perform to his ultimate level
while being clean.'
I
would also recommend reading the report by Josh Gross on Maxfighting.com.
Josh attended the Nevada hearing and recounts some very important
information from it.
Source:
Abu Dhabi
Could
it Finally be Over? Barnett, Hume, and the NSAC Meet Today in
Las Vegas
By Josh Gross (July 26, 2002)
It's been four months since allegations of Josh Barnett's positive
test for anabolic steroids shocked the mixed martial arts world.
Barnett and his handlers have, for the most part, remained silent
since. However, with just three days remaining before the scheduled
conclusion to a saga that's played out behind closed doors and
via teleconferences, the fighter's camp exercised a decidedly
different tact.
Regardless
of what happens between Barnett and the Nevada State Athletic
Commission on Friday morning, Matt Hume, Barnett's trainer and
manager, says the "bottom line is Josh didn't take steroids."
It's with that conviction in mind that Hume and his UFC heavyweight
champion fly to Las Vegas from Washington State so they can put
forward their case in front of the most powerful athletic governing
body in the United States.
Tuesday's
surprising -- and some feel ill-timed -- press release has many
insiders wondering why Hume chose to air dirty laundry at this
stage of the game. He says it boiled down to one thing: utter
frustration.
"I
would like to see things [come] straightforward," says Hume,
who feels both he and Barnett have been given the run-around
by members of the NSAC. "That's one of the reasons this
is getting public now. Things haven't been straightforward with
what we had been told from many different people."
"Nothing's
been straight up," he continued. "What people have
said and the things that I've been told -- obviously, that nobody
is going to try and hurt Josh, that we're going to try and handle
this privately with a phone call, that they recognize our point
that there was no notifications, no protocol issues and on and
on -- has already come to a resolution. Now, we' re back in a
position where we've been told one thing and that's not happening.
So I just have a wait-and-see attitude. That's not to say I don't
trust Marc Ratner, Flip Homansky or Keith Kizer (all members
of the NSAC) but certainly things haven't been straightforward."
Ratner,
commissioner for the NSAC, refused to comment on Hume's statements.
He did, however, say that each of Hume's points would be addressed
at Friday 's hearing, and that things would finally come to a
close.
Hume
balked at Ratner's stance: "We've already had our hearing
as far as we' re concerned. It's come to a conclusion and this
shouldn't be happening." Hume's most substantial claim stems
from the testing standard and protocol used by the NSAC to check
for steroids -- an issue he felt was resolved following a May
24 teleconference between representatives for Barnett and the
State.
Hume
claims an agreement between himself and the NSAC was reached
which stated should Barnett produce a clean urinalysis and undergo
counseling for steroids as well as other substances that could
produce false positives, the matter would no longer be at issue.
Yet,
here we are closing in on the most important moment of Barnett's
career, and everything appears open to question.
"We
didn't know what was going on so we took our time and tried to
get the facts," says Hume. "And then we have to go
through all of these people on the Internet and all this badgering
of Josh without responding to anything. That was hugely frustrating.
"We
had to go hearing after hearing when it's scheduled at exact
times when we're known to be out of the country for certain events;
and there's plenty of other times to schedule the hearings.
"So
Josh does everything that they ask of him and they still schedule
another hearing and threaten suspensions. This has been a hugely
frustrating situation, and an unfair and unjust situation."
Hume
is quick to note that news of the NSAC complaint filed against
Barnett leaked to the public after tense negotiations with the
UFC broke off. Meanwhile, the UFC has remained tight-lipped throughout
most of the tumultuous four-month period, preferring to wait
until after the NSAC ruling before commenting publicly.
As
frustrated as Hume is with the NSAC, his feelings towards Zuffa
representatives are just as strong. When asked what he felt the
UFC should have done to aid or protect Barnett, Hume responded,
"I would have taken an active role in dealing with my heavyweight
champion. The second that I found out that my heavyweight champion
did test negative, did have hearings, did go through everything
that was required of him, I would have come to the defense of
my heavyweight champion and used my substantial influence that
got my organization sanctioned in the beginning to say 'Hey,
let's get off the back of this innocent man and let's continue
on with our goal of making a clean sport.' This is one clean
athlete and we can make him an example of a clean athlete, instead
of allowing him to be bashed continuously."
Though
Hume is clearly displeased with how Zuffa handled his fighter's
situation, he's fully aware that they control Barnett's immediate
future. The NSAC's jurisdiction only allows them to fine, suspend,
or absolve Barnett. They are unable to strip his UFC title; that
is solely Zuffa's call.
For
all intents and purposes, Barnett is a restricted free agent,
meaning Zuffa can match any offer delivered by an outside organization.
Basically, if they want him back to defend his title, he stays.
"We
do not discount fighting for UFC," says Hume. "Like
I've said before, we 're Americans, and we love our country.
We hate this situation, but we want to fight in front of our
American fans. However, if this is the way it's going to be,
we love Japan too. That was where I started. Josh loves Japan
as well and that could be a great home for Josh as well. I would
hate to say that we would not fight for UFC, because in the United
States there's not really any other big organizations right now
to take its place."
After
everything plays out with the NSAC, speculation has targeted
Japan's Pride Fighting Championship as Barnett's new home. Ironically,
barely one month ago Pride was granted a Nevada promoter's license.
Though the Japanese-based organization remains free to use its
rules and weight classes when running shows in Japan, the NSAC
mandated that any suspensions or rulings it hands down must be
honored -- no matter where an event takes place.
Thus,
if Barnett is suspended, Pride must respect the ruling until
he serves his time. The NSAC edict is an obvious sign it's attempting
to appoint itself the preeminent MMA governing body in the world.
In a recent interview, Homansky spoke of the commission becoming,
or at least spearheading what would be equivalent to the Association
of Boxing Commissions for MMA -- an umbrella organization that
picked up slack for weaker athletic commissions throughout the
U.S.
Hume
wasn't impressed. In fact, he was quite bothered by the idea.
"It would be very arrogant all of a sudden to say that Nevada
is the king of the world. And I think that would be another reason
why someone like Pride or K-1 or other organizations would probably
resent that kind of a statement. This stuff has been going on
before Nevada ever knew about it -- and actually disapproved
of it -- for them to make themselves the lord of mixed martial
arts, when they haven't been doing it very long."
Hume
says that if the NSAC does suspend Barnett, something they promised
they would not do, he hopes that other organizations would choose
to look past the ruling and make up their own mind.
"With
the proof that we've given about Josh and with the other things
that have gone on with other fighters as well, it's going to
be up to each organization if they want to follow Nevada's lead
or not," he says. "And if the lead that Nevada is setting
is to suspend Josh when they don't have reason to, then if that's
where the sport is turned then I certainly don't want to be involved
in it -- and I wouldn't want to be involved in Nevada."
If
Barnett is suspended, don't expect Friday's hearing to be the
last piece in this unsettling puzzle. Hume says he'll attempt
to get "injunctive relief," so Barnett will be able
to fight. "We can go further than that and take other legal
remedies if we find that it's necessary," he added.
If,
as some close to the situation have implied, Barnett is made
an example of, things could get very ugly very fast. However,
in speaking with Ratner (before Tuesday's press release) one
gets the impression that the commission is looking for the best
deal possible for everyone involved.
In
Hume's mind that can only mean one thing: "If they want
to be honorable they can say that Josh met the requirement, he
provided them with a clean test, he did the steroid counseling..
If their goal is truly to have a clean and healthy sport, then
Josh has tested clean and healthy, he's done what they've asked
and we've supported the testing of steroids -- and we'll publicly
state that. If that's the case, then it's done."
Source: Maxfighting |
International
Masters and Seniors Date Change
A
quick but very important note to all. The CBJJ has announced
a date change for the International Masters and Seniors Event.
Due to an unforeseen problem with the location the event has
been postponed from August 31st to September 8th.
Please
tell anyone you know that is coming to participate in this event
about the date change.
International
Team Challenge
Carlos
Gracie Jr. gave us more information about his new event format
that Kid's column talked about yesterday. Carlos is going to
have a International Teams event scheduled for next year with
participation of National Teams from Brazil, the USA and even
other Countries making it a Country Team Challenge.
Carlos
is going to California to secure final details on the American
Team trials. The trials is scheduled to be in Los Angeles, California
at an yet undisclosed location on November 1 & 2. Stay tuned
to Kid's Column on ADCC News for further info on this.
Carlos
Gracie Jr. and Royler Gracie leaving for the USA
CBJJ President Carlos Gracie Jr. is leaving for the US this week.
Carlinhos fresh from his greatest event ever, the 2002 Worlds,
is going to the US to assist organizing Rigan Machado's King
of the Hill event and to set up plans for a new tournament involving
a whole new concept for BJJ, a Team event! The concept will be
different from what has been around. More details as they become
available for public comsumption, but let me tell you this will
ROCK!
Royler
Gracie is also leaving for the US later this week. Royler is
going to California to assist with his brother Royce's preparation
for the Pride match at the end of August. The combination of
the two will be 'cause celebre' as they haven't trained or worked
together since early UFC's. More good things to come from this
group, watch out!
Source:
Abu Dhabi |
|
HAWAIIAN
STATE GRAPPLING CHAMPIONSHIP
(NAGA
Submission Tournament)
WHEN:
Saturday, September 21st (10 AM TO 4 PM)
WHERE:
Honolulu, HI (Farrington H.S. Gymnasium)
WHAT:
Over 50 Gi & No-Gi (Kids, Teen, Women, Senior & Adult)
Divisions
MORE
INFO: Kipp Kollar at (860) 632-2753 or Email President@nagafighter.com.
WEBSITE:
www.NAGAFighter.com.
RULES:
NO-GI Use standard NAGA Rules, ADULT GI DIVISIONS: Use standard
BJJ Rules
4-MAN
ABSOLUTE DIVISION:
STEVE
HORDINSKI - Team Relson Gracie : 2001 NAGA Hawaiian 4-Man Superfight
Champion, Gracie National's Champion, Hawaiian State BJJ Champion
BRUNO
EWALD - Long Man BJJ: Brazilian BJJ National Champion, Pacific
Rim No-Gi Heavyweight Champion
NIKO
VITALE – Grappling Unlimited: 2001 NAGA Heavy Weight Champion,
Pacific Rim Middleweight Champion
&
TBA
We
would like to see a representative from Joao Morais, Nova Uniao,
Shokushinkai, Suzui, Tiger Marcello or Renato Verissimo represented
in this No-Gi 4-man. Please contact Kipp Kollar at President@nagafighter.com or 860-632-2753 if you
have someone that you think can take home the 4-Man Title!
Source:
Abu Dhabi |
THE
RETURN OF FRANK SHAMROCK!
TO
FIGHT RICARDO ALMEIDA ON AUG. 31 AT WORLD EXTREME CAGEFIGHTING
AT MOHEGAN SUN
He
was voted the mixed martial arts fighter of the decade of the
1990s. He was a UFC world champion and a King of Pancrase. He
was generally regarded as pound-for-pound the most well-rounded
and best mixed martial artist of his time.
Now,
after an absence of almost two years from competing in mixed
martial arts, Frank Shamrock has signed to make a return to fighting.
He will be facing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and mixed martial arts
star Ricardo Almeida, fighting out of the Renzo Gracie camp.
These
two will face each other under the unified rules of mixed martial
arts in the East Coast debut show of World Extreme Cagefighting
(WEC). Called 'Rumble Under The Sun,' this show takes place at
the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, on August 31
at 8:00 p.m.
The
rest of the card, which has a theme of East Coast Vs. West Coast,
will be announced shortly.
This
WEC event will be sanctioned by the International Fighting Championships
(IFC), with commissioner Paul Smith in charge, and the Mohegan
Tribal Athletic Commission.
Tickets
will go now on sale this Saturday. Tickets for the Mohegan Sun
Arena are available at their box office, online at tickets.com,
or by calling 1-800-477-6849. Ticket prices range from $25 to
$200.
The
WEC web site is at: www.worldextremecagefighting.com.
The
Mohegan Sun web site is at: www.mohegansun.com.
Source:
Abu Dhabi
|
Japan
UFO Update
There is speculation
in Japan that the 8/8/02 UFO Tokyo Dome show is going to be a
complete financial failure.
Tickets sales
are disastrous and it appears that there are major political
struggles and ramifications between UFO and the powerhouse combination
of K-1 and Pride.
UFO officials
were speculating 40,000 fans but Japanese sources are saying
it will be a miracle if the show sells 25,000.
It now appears
that Nippon TV is a major player the promotion. Nippon TV has
apparently put tons of pressure on Antonio Inoki to pull off
a huge event and things are not coming together.
Nippon is fronting
the money for the Tokyo Dome (which is the equivalent of $250,000
U.S. Dollars) and they have also pumped over $150,000 in live
productions costs. This is a major step for the TV company who
appears to be banking on a success and another show in January
(which may already be off).
The show will
air in prime time from 7-9pm on a Thursday, an off night to run
a show with such promise. The fact is that NIPPON TV is airing
the show on free TV, so there is a lot of hope that the show
will be successful due to the great exposure provided by free
TV. There is major pressure for Inoki to do a large TV rating
to cover some potential losses.
With all the
threats surrounding Minotauro and the upper-management of Pride
of UFO, it appears that Ishii is now involved with All Japan
Pro Wrestling. Ishi is helping broker a deal for former WCW pro
wrestler Bill Goldberg. This is yet another bizarre political
deal that Pride isn't too crazy about.
Another bizarre
twist is that Naoya Ogawa has yet to sign a contract to fight
(if it is legit). Ogawa has made it clear that he does NOT want
to do real fights unless the money is astronomical. Figure that
one out.
His opponent
is scheduled to be Matt Ghaffari the American wrestler, who is
likely being bought in for a 'worked' match. Other reports are
stating that Ogawa is getting close to 7 figures for the match,
so it may be for real.
Although the
lineup looks good on paper, Antonio Inoki has chosen to run opposite
Kazuyoshi Ishi (K-1) Naoto Morishita (Pride). This could be bad
business in the long run for fighters caught in the middle just
looking to fight.
CURRENT LINEUP:
- Naoya Ogawa
vs. Matt Ghaffari
- Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Sanae Kikuta
- Jens Pulver vs. Takehiro Murahama
- Mario Sperry vs. Wataru Sakata
- Rogerio Nogueira vs. Vladimir Matyushenko
- Kazunari Murakami vs. Wallid Ismail
Source: Abu
Dhabi
|
Brazilian
TOP TEAM: TEAM POLICY NEWS!
ADCC Brazil
got a press release today from Murilo Bustamante out of Brazilian
Top Team.
Murilo's statement
points out that BTT has been sucessful since it's foundation
in April 2000 and the team has achieved wins in every single
major NHB event in the world! In the beginning, the team was
formed by former Carlson Gracie team members who left the team
due to major disagreements with Master Carlson. At that time,
before all rumours of spilts, the team was winning every single
fight they were in, at one point going an impressive record of
11 wins in a row.
Around the middle
of 2001, the heads of Brazilian Top Team, Murilo Bustamante,
Jose MArio Sperry, Bebeo Duarte and Ricardo Liborio established
a set of rules, including management and training packages that
included the payment of a percentage of purses to the trainers.
Some BTT members didn't agree, and we had a split, with Carlos
Barreto, Vitor Belfort, Ricardo Arona, Allan Goes and Paulo Filho
leaving the team. After 2 months, Barreto and Filho have gotten
back with the team.
Members and
former members of BTT are all still friends, and this situation
left some feeling like 'they could comeback to the team anytime,
since we made statements in the past saying so' said Bustamante.
'The situation became unconfortable when we thought in the remaining
members whom had understood our policy and our attempt to make
a real professional team. They need to see that we are on the
right track, translating the efforts and sweat of BTT fighters
into wins' completed Murilo. 'From now on if someone leaves the
team, wheather if he is famous and established as a fighter or
not, he will not be allowed to come back. This said, I can inform
to whom may concern that Vitor Belfort, Ricardo Arona and Allan
Goes won't be coming back to the team. Life is about making decisions,
some easy, others really tough, and we feel sorry. On the other
hand, nobody was banned from us! Those who left the team really
thought they were doing better for themselves and chose to do
so. Now we have are focused on our 'army' and we are ready to
pull the trigger! We look forward to a brilliant and long future
for BTT. Also I would like to state for the record that Alexandre
'Pequeno' Nogueira, and Marcio 'Cromado' Barbosa are no longer
part of the Brazilian Top Team - since June.' concludes Murilo
Bustamante, the UFC middleweight champion.
Source: Abu
Dhabi
|