September 2002 Part 3
Quote
of the Day
"One of the greatest pieces of economic wisdom is to know
what you do not know."
John Kenneth Gilbraith.
|
Chris
Brennan Seminar at HMC
The "Westside Strangler" and instructor and owner of
the Next Generation Fighting Academy, Chris Brennan will be holding
a seminar. This will be Chris Brennan's first ever Hawaiian seminar.
Beginning at 3:00pm and going till 8:00pm, Chris will be teaching
EVERYTHING he can fit in to a 5 hour period of time. For only
$40 we will be going over many of the techniques that help him
become a 3X King of the Cage World Champion, along with many
other titles. Chris will be covering NHB techniques, Wrestling
techniques, Striking on the ground, and Submission Wrestling
techniques. Bring your video camera because this will be one
you don't want to miss or forget. For more information email
Chris at chris@chrisbrennan.com. The location of the
event will be:
Place: Hawaii Martial Arts Center (HMC)
King's Gate Plaza
555 N. King Street
Honolulu, HI 96817
(808) 841-5144
Date: Friday, October 25th
Time: 3pm to 8pm
Cost: $40.00
It is based on a first come first serve basis, limited to 50
students.
This seminar is opened to all martial artists and guarentees
to be a good one.
Mahalo,
Kevin Yoshida
*Thanks to Hawaii411 for the banner. |
Catching
Up With: AMC PANKRATION
For years, Seattle,
Washington's AMC Pankration school hasbeen known for it's high
level of training and competition. In 2002, the school's teaching
depth has improved, as lead instructor Matt Hume has been holding
JJ classes with Alan Goes and kickboxing classes with Maurice
Smith.
Matt 'The Wizard'
Hume has stated he is in negotiations for a comeback fight in
HOOKnSHOOT. Sources inside HnS said that they are working on
a suitable opponent for Hume's first time back in competition
in over five years.
Josh Barnett
vs. 'Minotauro' Nogiuera? That seems to be the talk! After seeing
Nogiuera against Sapp, Barnett seems even more sure that he can
beat 'Minotauro', the acknowledged #1 as PRIDE's heavyweight
kingpin. Barnett has been in Japan for the last 15 days and is
scoping out EVERY major pro wrestling event. There is talk that
Barnett could enter pro wrestling very soon to supplement his
income. His suspension under the Nevada State Athletic Commission
isn't over until January of 2003. There is also talk about teaming
Barnett, Sapp and Bill Goldberg in the pro wrstling circuit,
which would heighten Barnett's name even more!
Bob Sapp is
enjoying MAJOR success not only in PRIDE but in K-1 where he
recently KO'd Mike Bernardo. This came as a shock to many in
K-1 and MMA fans as well! Sapp is being bombarded with pro wrestling
offers from almost every major group in Japan, as his marketability
is really beginning to come into it's own.
Ivan Salaverry
is back in Seattle, after his disappointing loss to Matt Lindland
in UFC 39. Look for more from Salaverry in the near future as
well!
Aaron Riley
has started college but is still training. Riley will potentially
compete on the same card as Hume on November 2, 2002. Riley plans
on feeling school out for the next week or so to see how or if
he can juggle a training schedule.
Angela Restad,
the woman who captured the TAPOUT/HnS Fighter of the Night on
the 4/13 all-womens HOOKnSHOOT REVOLUTION event, is training
to take on Judy Neff for the HnS title on November 2nd. Debi
Purcell vs. Neff was the intended fight for the first ever women's
title match at 135 lbs., but Purcell has elected to take a fight
elsewhere. Many insiders believe that Restad has all the right
training and tools to test the 11-0 Judy Neff. Look for more
on this match in the days to come!
Source:
Abu Dhabi-Fightworld |
|
2nd
United Gracie Event Rocks
The 2nd United
Gracie BJJ Tournament took place this weekend in the Campus of
U. San Francisco and it rocked. In the words of OntheMat.com
guru Allan 'Gumby' Marques: 'It had the best set of superfights
ever in America!'
On Saturday
there was a 3-man bracket with Cleber 'Tazmanian Devil' Luciano,
'Megaton' Diaz and 'Batata'. In the first match it was Cleber
over Batata by 3 x 0. Then Megaton put on aclinic defeating Batata
by 18 x 0. In the finals, Cleber won over Mega by 2 x 0 after
some cat moves to avoid Mega's incredible throws.
On Sunday, it
was time for David Camarillo to debut on the Black Belt division
and he did it impressively by defeating Daniel Coyote with a
Gi choke. Cameron Earle was almost too sick to fight but managed
to beat his opponent by 6 x 4 with a late sweep to win. Macaco
avenged his loss to Gutti in what was deemed as a blood war,
as Gumby puts it: 'It was one of the most brutal fights I have
ever seen!' At one time Macaco was choking Gutti and Gutti's
dreadlocks go caught in the choke and were being ripped along
with the choke causing a wound and splashing the mat with blood.
The two were slamming each other back and forth on the mat until
late in the match Macaco scored a takedown for the win!
Congratulations
to all, especially Ralph and Charles Gracie who put on another
Classic!
Source:
Abu Dhabi\Kid Peligro |
PRIDE-22
RESULTS
COMPLETE RESULTS: PRIDE
22
DATE: September 29th, 2002
PLACE: Nagoya Rainbow Hall, Japan (Aichi-Pref , Japan)
COMPLETE RESULTS:
- Heath Herring
Vs Kotchkine Iouri: Herring wins by Strikes in RD 1.
- Kevin Randelman Vs Michiyoshi Ohara: Randleman by Judges Decision.
- Igor Vovchanchyn Vs Quinton Jackson: Jackson by Ref Stoppage,
RD 1.
- Akira Shoji Vs Paulo Filho: Filho by Arm Bar, RD 1.
- Alexander Otsuka Vs Anderson Silva: Silva by Judges Decision.
- Guy Mezger Vs Norihisa Yamamoto: Mezger by Judges Decision.
- Shungo Oyama Vs Ryan Gracie: Gracie by Arm Bar, RD 1.
- Mario Sperry Vs Andrei Kopylov: Sperry by KO, RD 1.
ABOUT PRIDE
FC
Originating
in Japan, PRIDE Fighting Championships combine the most highly
skilled MMA competitions with a 21st Century entertainment philosophy
to create the next generation in cutting edge sports entertainment.
PRIDE competitions include athletes from across the globe, including
the United States, Japan, Brazil, Europe, Russia and many other
countries. PRIDE allows techniques from a myriad of martial arts
and combat sports, solidifying its place as an authentic and
unique fighting style that is built on tension and excitement,
appealing to the growing audience of 21st Century entertainment
fans.
Source:
Abu Dhabi |
UFC
Afterthoughts
Penn,
Uno Win Lightweight Fights;
To Meet For Vacant Title
Uncasville,
CT, September 28, 2002…Ricco Rodriguez of Las Vegas, Nev.,
won a fifth-round tap-out submission of former two-time champion
Randy Couture of Portland, Ore., to win the vacant Ultimate Fighting
Championship heavyweight crown tonight before a sell-out crowd
of 7,514 Mixed Martial Arts fans at the Mohegan Sun Arena.
Rodriguez, 10-1-0, came back strong with a ground and pound attack
after Couture, 7-4-0, took control in the first two rounds with
the same offense. Had Couture been victorious, it would have
been his third UFC heavyweight title. "I've worked hard
my whole life. I grew up in a tough neighborhood and I hustled
to win this title. I'll be sleeping with my belt," Rodriguez
said.
Two lightweight preliminary bouts, both won by unanimous decision,
selected the opponents for the UFC's vacant title in that weight
division. Caol Uno, 13-4-2, of Kanagawa, Japan, defeated Din
Thomas, 16-3-0, of Orlando, Fla., and BJ Penn, 6-1-0, of Hilo,
Hawaii, defeated Matt Serra, 11-2-0, of Long Island, N.Y. Penn
and Uno will meet early next year.
Uno took Thomas to the ground in all three rounds and used elbow
punches and grappling to win the unanimous decision. The Penn-Serra
fight was much closer as both fighters were cautious in all three
rounds. Penn's quickness kept him away from Serra's jiu-jitsu
attack, which was enough in the judges' eyes to win the fight.
Another battle of heavyweights saw Gan "The Giant"
McGee win a first round victory over veteran Pedro Rizzo. McGee,
11-1-0, of San Luis Obispo, Calif., hit Rizzo with a hard right
and knocked him down with seconds left. The shot opened a deep
cut over Rizzo's nose and the fight was stopped between rounds.
Rizzo, of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, saw his record fall to 11-4-0.
In a much anticipated middleweight bout, Phil Baroni, 6-1-0,
of Long Island, NY, came out fast against Dave Menne of Forest
Lake, Minn., and knocked him out in 18 seconds. Baroni hit Menne,
35-5-1, with a series of lefts and rights and he was out on his
feet. Referee Larry Landless stopped it immediately. Baroni said
he definitely wants the middleweight title.
In other middleweight action, former 2000 U.S. Olympic wrestling
silver medalist Matt "The Law" Lindland of Eagle Creek,
Ore., won the Battle of the Northwest with a unanimous decision
over Ivan Salaverry of Seattle, Wash. Lindland came out fast
and won the first two rounds on the judges' scorecards with a
ground and pound attack. Then, he won round three with a solid
stand-up attack that opened a cut under Salaverry's left eye.
Lindland said afterward he wants a re-match with middleweight
champ Murilo Bustamante. Lindland is now 8-1-0 and Salaverry's
record fell to 9-2-0.
UFC newcomers Tim Sylvia of Davenport, Iowa, and Wesley "Cabbage"
Correira of Hilo, Hawaii, staged a heavyweight slugfest in their
debuts before Sylvia won a technical knockout by referee stoppage
at 1:43 of the second round. Both fighters hit each other with
numerous lefts and rights in the first round. "Cabbage"
led the initial charge, but Sylvia quickly took over. As the
second round began, Sylvia, 16-0-0 in overall MMA, again dominated
Correira, who now has a 15-4-0 record.
In the curtain raiser, welterweight contender Sean Sherk of Brooklyn
Park, Minn., handed Benji Radach of Olympia, Wash., his first
MMA loss at 4:16 of the first round with a solid ground and pound
attack. Sherk, now 21-0-1, hit Radach, 11-1-0, with elbow shots
that opened a deep cut on his forehead and the referee stopped
the fight.
The UFC's next live PPV event will be UFC 40: Vendetta at 10
p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST on Friday, Nov. 22, from the MGM Grand Garden
Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.
Rodriguez Crowned New Heavyweight Champ;
Penn & Uno Advance to Next Round
By Jim Genia
(Uncasville,
Connecticut, September 27th) Not a single submission all night,
but more leather thrown than ever before. A newly crowned young
heavyweight champ, two lightweight chess matches, a heavyweight
slugfest and a middleweight devestation. That was UFC 39 "The
Warriors Return" in a nutshell, and judging by the packed
house at the Mohegan Sun Arena -- on their feet cheering -- the
show was a good one.
Ricco Rodriguez and Randy Couture met in the Octagon to determine
who should fill the heavyweight championship vacancy, and after
five rounds of back-and-forth pounding on the ground, Couture
was forced to verbally submit. Dishing out the pain in the first
two rounds, Couture found himself on the receiving end for the
latter rounds as Rodriguez maintained the top position and rained
down strikes. It was too much for the two-time champ, and at
3:04 of the Round Five, it was all over. Ricco "Suave"
Rodriguez is the new UFC Heavyweight Champ.
In the first round of the tournament leading to the UFC's lightweight
belt, four of the best 155-pound fighters in the world showed
why they're the best. Going the full three-round distance, Japanese
superstar Caol Uno weathered an early submission storm from Florida's
Din Thomas and kept the pressure up with strikes from the top
to earn the unanimous decision. Also going the distance were
Hawaiian stud BJ Penn and Long Island's Matt "the Terror"
Serra -- two of the best jiu-jitsu fighters in the world -- who
fought this battle completely on their feet. Showing vastly improved
stand-up, the Terror was forced to trade with Penn, who himself
did everything in his power to not go to the ground. Though he
failed to knock the Terror out as many had predicted, Penn remained in control,
earning the unanimous decision. The stage is now set for a rematch between Uno
and Penn -- with the vacant UFC lightweight title on the line.
Rarely does
the loser get a thunderous standing ovation from the audience,
but Wesley "Cabbage" Coreirra deserved it. He and Miletich-fighter
Tim Sylvia battled it out in what could only be described as
a heavyweight "slugfest", and while he ate countless
punches to the face and knees to the body, Cabbage refused to
go down. Sylvia looked impressive as he stalked his opponent,
and garnered the win after Cabbage's corner threw in the towel
at 1:43 of the second round. But Cabbage was the man who would
not go down -- making this bout the undisputed crowd favorite
of the night.
In other action, "New York Badass" once again proved
why he's a badass, steamrolling through former middleweight champ
Dave Menne with a devastating right cross and subsequent flurry
that left Menne unconscious after just 18 seconds in the first
round. In the heavyweight division, the giant Gan McGee pulled
an upset when he broke Pedro Rizzo's nose in the first round,
prompting Rizzo's corner to throw in the towel at the start of
the second round. In the preliminaries, middleweights Matt Lindland
and Ivan Salaverry had a war, with Lindland getting the unanimous
decision after three rounds, while welterweight Sean Sherk opened
up a nasty cut above Benji Radach's eye, getting the win via
doctor stoppage at 4:16 of the first round.
The Warriors returned to the Mohegan Sun for UFC 39 -- and it
was a night of crowd pleasing heavy leather.
Source: FCF |
Quote
of the Day
Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.
Chinese Proverb |
UFC
39: The Warrior's Return Results
Mohegan Sun, CT.
September 27th, 2002
Middleweights:
- Phil Baroni (182.5 lbs.) vs. Dave Menne (182 lbs.): Baroni
by KO in RD 1. :18 seconds.
Heavyweights:
- Pedro Rizzo (246 lbs.) vs. Gan McGee (264 lbs.): McGee by corner
stoppage. Ruas threw in the towel to answer round 2, Rizzo bleeding
from nose.
Lightweight
Tournament Bouts:
- Din Thomas (152.5 lbs.) vs. Caol Uno (154 lbs.):
Uno by Judges Decision. Din won the first round, then got a point
taken away in RD 2. Uno focused from there and worked hard for
the win.
- BJ Penn (154 lbs.) vs. Matt Serra (154 lbs.):
BJ by Judges
Decision.
Serra won round 2, Round 3 saw both men tired. BJ was dissappointed
by his performance, Serra is a class act!
Main
Event - UFC Heavyweight Championship Bout:
- Randy Couture (227 lbs.) vs. Ricco Rodriguez (243 lbs.):
Ricco wins in RD 5. Referee stops the fight - Couture left it
in the ring - a true champion! Announcer said tap out!
PRELIMS:
Heavyweights:
- Wesley
"Cabbage" Correira (263 lbs.) vs. Tim Sylvia (259.5 lbs.):
Sylvia, by ref stoppage in RD 2. Literally thousands of punches
to the face...
Welterweights:
- Sean Sherk (167 lbs.) vs. Benji Radack (170 lbs.):
Sherk - stoppage due to blood, RD 1.
Middleweights:
- Ivan Salaverry (184 lbs.) vs. Matt Lindland (183.5 lbs.):
Lindland by Judges Decision.
Source:
Abu Dhabi |
Relson
Gracie Academy Grand Opening A Success
Balance Studios and Ashtanga Yoga held their Grand Opening Monday
night to the tune of over 50 spectators in attendance.
Located
at 115 South 24th Street in Philadelphia, PA, Balance Studios
takes up a 2nd floor loft in this conveniently located Center
City building.
The
night consisted of the elder Phil showing a technique and the
class drilling for a period of time. Both Gi and No-Gi techniques
were demonstrated. Student Tim Carpenter, a Relson Gracie purple
belt and 2002 Pan Ams Super Super Heavyweight Champion, assisted
Phil in demonstrating technique for the class. An Open Mat time
followed.
Offering
Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, brothers Phil and Rick Migliarese instruct
6 days per week. Floating around just looking for a good place
to train, Nate Flannigan of Philadelphia says, 'it's the best
place in the area to learn real Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.'
In
addition to Gi and No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu, Balance Studios offers Women's
Self-Defense, Ashtanga Yoga and Kids classes, with unlimited
open mat included in Adult packages. Private instruction is available
by appointment with either Phil or Rick. 'Students are training
partners,' said Phil, 'and we work on character development in
a family atmosphere.'
The
academy features dressing rooms and a shower for student convenience.
And the first class is always free.
For
more information on Balance Studios, check out www.BalanceStudios.net or call 215-636-9661.
Source:
Abu Dhabi |
Picking
and Grinning:
The Sherdog Fight Picks for PRIDE 22
September 26, 2002
PRIDE
22 is a few short days away, and if you beleive these picks,
there are going to be some major-league punishment dealt Sunday
in Japan to a certain few fighters. Most of the Sherdog team
who voted don't disagree on most of the card, but the ones that
do see it VERY very differently. Mike Fridley, Brian Piepenbrink,
Garrett Poe, Dan Rose, Greg Savage, Jeff Sherwood, and Mike Sloan
again lay their reputation on the line and predict Sunday's PRIDE
22 outcomes.
Heath Herring
defeats Kotchkine Iouri (7-0)
Greg Savage: Heath will win by whatever means he feels neccasary.
Herring by TKO ref stoppage.
Dan Rose: Heath Herring is the second best Heavyweight in Pride.
Iouri is way out of his league here and it'll be up to Heath
as to how he finishes him. I think he'll take him down in Round
1 and punch his way to a First Round TKO.
Kevin Randleman
defeats Michiyoshi Ohara (7-0)
Mike Fridley: Randleman by KO, 1st round from punches. Ohara
is a star from New Japan Pro Wrestling, I hope he kept his day
job.
Brian Piepenbrink: Randleman will win by decision. Ohara will
actually die in the ring, but due to some advanced acupuncture
techniques he will walk out of the arena a bloody corpse.
Quinton Jackson
defeats Igor Vovchanchyn (4-3)
Jeff Sherwood: Classic matchup - Pride at least gave us one fight
to watch. Rampage by TKO.
Mike Sloan: This one should be fun! I see all-out war, with Igor
prevailing with a crippling knockout of Quinton. Might happen
very early. Either way, Igor scores the kayo.
Akira Shoji
defeats Paulo Filho (4-3)
Brian Piepenbrink: Shoji by Decision. In an upset, Shoji shows
why we say "experience counts."
Garrett Poe: Filho by Decision. Shoji is good, but usually anytime
he faces anyone of merit he loses. Filho will win by positioning.
Anderson
Silva defeats Alexander Otsuka (7-0)
Greg Savage: Otsuka, looking to take Matsui's job as Pride's
number one punching bag will be taking a beating from Silva.
Silva by TKO.
Mike Sloan: I don't think Anderson should have too much trouble
with Alexander, but in MMA, anything's possible. Competitive
early, but Silva takes over and submits him via guillotine.
Guy Mezger
defeats Norihisa Yamamoto (7-0)
Mike Fridley: Mezger by KO, 1st round. Mezger will walk right
through Yamamoto and get an early KO.
Dan Rose: Mezger will win this via KO in the first round. Lord
knows he needs it.
Shungo Oyama defeats Ryan Gracie (4-3)
Greg Savage: Could we have a new Gracie Hunter on our hands?
Oyama, coming of a controversial victory over Renzo Gracie at
Pride 21, takes on Ryan Gracie, the bad boy of the Gracie clan.
Not that it really matters, but I will take Oyama in another
close decision.
Brian Piepenbrink: Gracie in round 1 by TKO (strikes). This fight
could very well go the other way if Ryan blows his wad in the
early minutes.
Mario Sperry
defeats Andrei Kopylov (7-0)
Jeff Sherwood: Kopylov might look like your grandfather but he
is bad ass. But, after watching Day of the Zen I'm brainwashed.
Sperry by submission, round two.
Garrett Poe: While Sperry got royally roughed up by Ninja, he'll
cake-walk (baby) through Kopylov, who won't be able to submit
or punch (slap?) through Sperry. Sperry by Decision.
Source:
Sherdog |
Sherk,
Lindland Wrestle Their Way to Victories; A “Cabbage”
and a “Grizzly” Brawl with the Best of Them in Undercard
Action from the Mohegan Sun:
By Josh Gross
Out
of the Homer Simpson School of fighting, Wesley “Cabbage”
Corriera stepped into the Octagon. With red, white and blue hair,
“Cabbage” -- so named due to the melon-like head sitting
on his massive shoulders – took an unbelievable number of
punches and knees to said melon for just over two rounds in the
first “swing” bout in UFC history.
Long
a staple of boxing cards, fighters competing in swing matches
are at the beck and call of the promoter. With four television
fights out of the way, and nearly an hour and a half left on
the pay-per-view, it was time for “Cabbage” and Pat
Miletich-trained, 6’8” Tim Sylvia to enter the fray
-- and fray they did.
Notorious
for his chin of steel, Corriera immediately showed why many feel
he’s impossible to knockout (Sylvia is now a believer).
It’d be impossible to point to a single flurry of punches
or barrage of knees, instead the only way to describe Sylvia’s
mauling of “Cabbage” was “fan friendly.”
(And I’m being glib, because this fight was a war, an adulterated
slugfest.)
And
as disappointed as the thousands inside Mohegan Sun Arena were
when Correira’s corner finally said ‘no more’
1:43 of round two, they understood. It was the war they’d
come to see, everything else was gravy.
Returning
to action for the first time since a failed shot at UFC middleweight
champion Murilo Bustamante’s crown, Matt Lindland hoped
to pick himself up against Ivan Salaverry, who came into tonight’s
action riding high off of a stellar performance versus Andrei
Semenov in May.
Lindland,
who had major problems wrestling Bustamante, found success early,
putting Salaverry on his back following a kick to his midsection.
Salaverry, clad in brown shorts, worked for space and shifted
his hips hoping to slap a submission on the Olympic silver medallist,
however he never came close.
Consistently
controlling and outwrestling Salaverry, Lindland dominated position
for the remainder of the first round. With his ground-and-pound
game gaining steam, Lindland bull rushed his way into the second
round.
In
true Greco Roman wrestling style, Lindland clinched with Salaverry
from behind, slamming him to the mat. In his best effort of the
night, the Matt Hume-trained fighter rolled for kneebar. Lindland
escaped, but landed on his back and Salaverry scrambled to side
control. He was unable to capitalize.
As
round two wound down, a gassed Salaverry attempted ever-weakening
kicks, which Lindland brushed to the side. With two rounds under
his belt, Lindland slowed in the third, knowing that the only
way for his opponent to win would come via punches.
The
two fighters danced around the Octagon the duration of round
three, neither doing much damage before time ran out. Judges
Jeff Mullen and Cecil Peoples scored the bout 29-28 and judge
Douglas Crosby had it 30-28 for the unanimous decision winner
Matt Lindland.
The
consensus coming in was that if Sean Sherk, a fighter that’s
grounded-and-pounded his way to an impressive 20-0-1 record,
put Benji Radach on his back, the Dennis Hallman trained fighter
would be in for a rough night.
Sherk,
equipped with one of the best -- if not the best -- takedown
games in the sport, had trouble early. Radach used his hips well
to fend off Sherk’s first takedown attempt of the night.
Once they separated he was equally proficient by jabbing down
on the 5’6” monster from Minnesota.
However,
once Sherk was able to get underneath Radach’s hips the
takedown was inevitable. Lifting Radach high in the air, Sherk
walked his opponent across the ring to a waiting mat near the
Octagon fencing that’s made his ground-and-pound almost
impossible to stop.
Taking
his time, Sherk positioned Radach to his liking and began chipping
away -- damn big chips. With Radach shifting his hopes, trying
desperately to create space so he could avoid Sherk’s powerful
punches and elbows, Sherk landed the first of two vicious elbows
that opened a deep cut down the middle of Radach’s forehead,
which started to drip blood into the grounded fighter’s
eyes.
Referee
Larry Landless looked close as a crimson covered Radach strained
to see without having the burn of blood in his eyes. Deciding
to have the physicians at ringside check on Radach after the
fighter claimed impaired vision, Landless stopped the action
to the chagrin of the filing in crowd. Following doctors’
consultation, Landless halted the contest at the 4:16 mark of
the first round.
With
the victory, Sherk is 4-0 in the UFC and finds himself a serious
contender to welterweight champion Matt Hughes (pending Hughes
bout versus Gil Castillo on Nov. 22 in Las Vegas).
Source:
Maxfighting |
PRE-PRIDE
22 INTERVIEW
BRAZILIAN TOP TEAM FIGHTER
PAULO FILHO
TOP TEAM's PAULO FILHO - PRIDE 22 BOUND!!!
FIGHTWORLD.com
Brazil- What exactly happened during your training for Pride
21, where you got an injury? Filho- I thought that I'd be without
hard training for a week while I was in Japan, so 2 days before
I left, I went to BTT academy all hyped up to have good training
session, I went with my all strength to take Carlos Barreto down,
he sprawled in a bad way and I got a injury to my knee, I extended
the collateral ligaments.
FIGHTWORLD.com
Brazil- You had left BTT for awhile, what happened and why did
you come back? Filho- Ok, I had left because they wanted more
money from each fighter. So Carlos Barreto, Ricardo Arona, Vítor
'The Phenom' Belfort, Allan Góes and myself had a meeting
and we decided that it wasn't right, so we left. However things
weren't so easy out side of BTT, each fighter was only concerned
about himself and a Team's philosophy wasn't being put in practice.
So I decided to come back, I thought out it was less expensive
to train with BTT than to go it on my own; another reason is
because I began with them, they're a bunch of guys whom I like
a lot. Not only myself but also Barreto came back; only Arona,
Belfort and Goés didn't come back.
FIGHTWORLD.com
Brazil- Before the BTT's announcement that members who left couldn't
come back who do you think would have probably came back? Filho-
Arona perhaps, there was no chance that Belfort and Goés
would have came back, because these two didn't grow up with BTT
like I did, they were on their own before they joined BTT.
FIGHTWORLD.com
Brazil- What about the - ChuteBoxe Vs. Brazilian Top Team rivalry,
you weren't really part of it because you were in Pancrase/DEEP
scene, but at Pride 21 you almost fought against a ChuteBoxe
fighter, so what're your thought on these things? Filho- ChuteBoxe
is a strong Team, where the fighters train very hard and they're
schooled in Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu, they've a good Jiu Jitsu
black-belt with them, Cristiano Marcelo, and they're learning.
In my opinion Jiu Jitsu is must for NHB, because everyone who
fights nowadays knows how to grapple. The ChuteBoxe guys train
Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai and crosstrained they finish alot of
fights with strikes but I believe if there was an even that was
just Muay Thai x Jiu Jitsu, Jiu Jitsu would win.
FIGHTWORLD.com
Brazil- Do you think that ChuteBoxe are ahead of Brazilian Top
Team 3-0 (Katel Kubis def. Marcelo 'Bocão' Ferreira, Anderson
Silva def. Juan 'Jucão' Carneiro and Murilo 'Ninja' Rua
def. Zé Mário Sperry)? Filho- I don't see it this
way - 3-0 in ChuteBoxe favor - they're fighters who deserve respect
and we(BTT) also deserve to be respected. They're lacking with
respect for us and making the matches more of a personal thing.
FIGHTWORLD.com
Brazil- So isn't this rivalry simply Jiu Jitsu x Muay Thai? Filho-
No make no mistake it's ChuteBoxe x BTT. When I went on the Japan
for the first time. I saw Rafael Cordeiro with a t-shirt that
had ChuteBoxe below Carlson Gracie, thats because they began
in Jiu Jitsu with Renatinho, a Carlson student. That happened
due to a misunderstanding during Pride, and they used this fact
to try to put ChuteBoxe's name over us.
FIGHTWORLD.com
Brazil- Murilo 'Ninja' Rua in his pre-fight interview, spoke
some hard words about his fight against Sperry in Pride 20 while
Sperry didn't speak nothing; and that worked positively for 'Ninja'.
Do you agree? Filho- Mario is a legend, he's very intelligent
and educated, that's why he doesn't get caught up in the hype
and talk hate in his interviews. When 'Ninja' did this I think
it made Sperry want to stand up and trade with Ninja and thats
not his game and thus he didn't even show 5% of his ground skills.
FIGHTWORLD.com
Brazil- Wasn't Sperry ready to trade blows? Filho- He's a Jiu
Jitsu fighter and he's not used to trading blows like 'Ninja',
who's a Muay Thai fighter, so obviously the tactic would be to
take 'Ninja' down. 'Ninja' doesn't have the same technique and
strength which Sperry has on the ground.
FIGHTWORLD.com
Brazil- Were you surprised with the Ninja's ground game? Filho-
Nowadays there's no Brazilian who doesnt know a bit of ground
fighting. Brazil is the land of Jiu Jitsu, so there's high level
Jiu Jitsu in all places. Marcelo is a Royler Gracie's black-belt
and they're not stupid, they've trained Jiu Jitsu for 3/4 years.
A NHB fighter doesn't need too be great at ground fighting, because
ground game in Jiu Jitsu is different than the ground game in
NHB. In NHB you need only to know how to use the guard, to clinch
and to keep some positions. All Brazilians know this and a fight
involving Brazilians is always high collision, because they both
know ground skills.
FIGHTWORLD.com
Brazil- Right now you will face Akira Shoji in Pride 22, what're
you training for this fight? Filho- I've trained a lot of ground
positions and also on the feet, because he'll probably be thinking
that I will only want to take it to the ground but he'll have
a surprise.
FIGHTWORLD.com
Brazil- What're you training for stand up? Filho- Muay Thai with
Artur Mariano, who already beat Vanderlei Silva.
FIGHTWORLD.com
Brazil- You're not a wrestler, however you have a good GnP game.
How come? Filho- I competed in Judo since I was a kid and this
gives me an excellent base. So I feel very comfortable inside
the opponent's guard, it's practically impossible to move me
off from this position. I think that my physical bio helps too.
I trained Wrestling a long time, I always liked sports that were
Olympic sports.
FIGHTWORLD.com
Brazil- Shoji fought against Mark 'The Hammer' Coleman, who couldn't
KO, submit or TKO him so how will you beat him with your GnP
style? Filho- Shoji proved that he's one of the best, he also
fought against Igor Vovchanchyn and the fight went to a decision,
so what would be the best way to beat him? Like I said before
I've got a surprise for him and for the crowd.
FIGHTWORLD.com
Brazil- Do you think it will be hard to beat him with a GnP style?
Filho- He shows heart in all his fights and has good technique
against GnP fighters, however I think against a fighter who likes
to trade strikes, he doesn't fight good.
FIGHTWORLD.com
Brazil- So will your surprise be to trade strikes? Filho- Yeah,
I promise to pound him on the feet, because my on the striking
is sharp.
FIGHTWORLD.com
Brazil- So what're you best at punching and kicking and which
will you use in your fight with him? Filho- I prefer punches,
Shoji is my height, so I don't think that I'll have trouble landing
punches in his face. Shoji likes to fight on the ground, so a
kick can stop his takedown attemps.
FIGHTWORLD.com
Brazil- Besides heart, what are Shoji's other strong points?
Filho- He's a good fighter, with experience in Pride, he's not
the strongest or the most technical, however he has will and
heart and in my opinion these are good points in NHB. I think
that I've these same qualities and I consider myself more technical
than him.
FIGHTWORLD.com
Brazil- Will this fight against Shoji be the first step to get
the Pride middleweight belt? Filho- Yeah, if GOD wants and if
everything runs ok, by the end of next year this belt will be
around my waist.
FIGHTWORLD.com
Brazil- What's your actual weight? Filho- 89kg.
FIGHTWORLD.com
Brazil- So this will put you in the lightheavyweight class right.
Do you prefer this category? Filho- I never had the weight of
a middleweight, I'm always between 88-90kg. I don't have trouble
gaining or losing weight, I don't even have to diet or try to
bulk up it just comes natually.
FIGHTWORLD.com
Brazil- The Lightheavyweight category around the world is a very
tough one,it has some great fighters. Why did you choose this
category? Filho- You're correct. Pride is the number one event
followed by UFC, I want to be fighting the best fighters in the
world, I deserve to be where the best are.
FIGHTWORLD.com
Brazil- Would you like to face Anderson Silva rather than Shoji
in Pride 22? Filho- I'd like to fight him, but the promoters
haven't set it up yet, it seems the ChuteBoxe guys only want
to fight against fighters who have made names for themself inside
of Pride and that's ok. Anderson Silva moved up in Pride by beating
Alex Steibling and I'll do the same on September 29th, who knows
the second step can be Anderson Silva.
FIGHTWORLD.com
Brazil- Is it a personal rivalry? Filho- No, I respect the ChuteBoxe
Team because they do very serious work, all their fighters are
tough. I simply want to fight against the best, because I want
to be the best.
FIGHTWORLD.com
Brazil- Last words. Filho- I'd like to thank my family, my girlfriend
Julia, Brazilian Top Team camp, Amaury Bitetti and my all friends.
Filho x Shoji will be a great fight, it'll be good fight in all
aspects and I hope for the victory. I promise much pressure,
and that I'll be very aggressive and if GOD wants, it'll be a
great show. I want speak two messages, first to the Brazilians,
I hope that they enjoy my performance because I've trained realy
hard and I'm certain that they'll not be disappointed, and to
Japanese fans of Shoji, stay worried...
Source:
ADCC/Fightworld |
Quote
of the Day
If the creator had a purpose in equipping us with a neck, he
surely meant us to stick it out.
Arthur
Koestler |
UFC
39: The Warrior's Return
OFFICIAL WEIGH INS!
Fights are Today!
FRIDAY,
SEPTEMBER 27th, 2002 - MOHEGAN SUN, CT.
Official
weigh-in on Thursday, 9/26 at 4:00 pm at the Wolf Den inside
Mohegan Sun
Oceanic Channel
76 4:00 PM
Main
Event - UFC Heavyweight Championship Bout:
- Randy Couture (227 lbs.) vs. Ricco Rodriguez (243 lbs.)
Lightweight
Tournament Bouts:
- BJ Penn (154 lbs.) vs. Matt Serra (154 lbs.)
- Din Thomas (152.5 lbs.) vs. Caol Uno (154 lbs.)
Middleweights:
- Phil Baroni (182.5 lbs.) vs. Dave Menne (182 lbs.)
- Ivan Salaverry (184 lbs.) vs. Matt Lindland (183.5 lbs.)
Welterweights:
- Sean Sherk (167 lbs.) vs. Benji Radack (170 lbs.)
Heavyweights:
- Wesley Correia (263 lbs.) vs. Tim Sylvia (259.5 lbs.)
- Pedro Rizzo (246 lbs.) vs. Gan McGee (264 lbs.)
Source:
Abu Dhabi |
The
Faces of UFC 39: BJ Penn
By Loretta Hunt
What
better way to conclude our series today than chat with lightweight
contender, BJ Penn? At 23 years old, Hawaiian import Penn has
already had a phenomenal career in a relatively short period
of time. He knocked out two of the UFC's top five lightweight
contenders on his way to a collision course title bout with champion
Jens Pulver. Although he did not come away from that match-up
victorious, Penn says he walked away with an even more valuable
commodity -- wisdom. Pulver may be gone from the UFC, but he
still remains in Penn's thoughts. With the UFC lightweight belt
potentially two fights away for 4-1 UFC veteran, Penn discusses
his future in the game, his current bout against fellow BJJ black
belt and Renzo Gracie protégé Matt Serra, and just
what he thinks of Pulver's current competition.
FCF:
Your last fight versus Paul Creighton at UFC 37 introduced us
to a less frenzied BJ Penn. You took your time and showed the
patience of a more mature fighter. Should we expect more of that
this Friday?
BJP: Definitely. I'm going to take the fight as it comes, standing
or on the ground or wherever. I think I'm a lot more relaxed
now and I'm not in such a rush to get the guy out of there, so
in that aspect this fight might look similar. But, I've also
been working a lot on my explosiveness, so it might be a mix
of those two.
FCF:
What do you attribute this newfound relaxation to?
BJP: I attribute that to [Jens] Pulver. Losing that fight to
him just made it a lot worse for everyone now, including him
when I see him again to fight. I really feel like I matured over
that fight. I know how it is now to be almost winning and then
not win, to take a few punches here and there. That fight really
did it for me. It made me ten times a better fighter.
FCF:
After training for previous fights with Frank Shamrock and "Crazy"
Bob Cook's crew at the American Kickboxing Academy in California,
you went back to your Hawaiian roots and trained for your last
fight from there. Who have you been training with this time around?
BJP: Pretty much the same guys as last time. I am training with
my brothers, my teacher Charuto Verissimo de Oliveira [of Nova
Uniao] -- he's a black belt down here, and then we have a wrestler
here named Melchor [Manibusan]. He's fought in Abu Dhabi before.
He's a great wrestler. We've been bringing in a couple of other
guys and I have everything I need right now.
FCF:
Your match-up against Matt Serra is fast becoming one of the
more anticipated bouts of the night, especially for Brazilian
Jiu-Jitsu practitioners around the world who hope to see some
serious ground action. What are your thoughts on "The Terror"?
BJP: Matt Serra is a very explosive fighter himself. He's a great
competitor and I love watching him fight. I like him as a person
as well; he's a really good guy. But I' m entering my prime now
in my fighting career. This is definitely not the most experienced
I'll ever be, but I'll definitely be my strongest and my fastest
time. I think in these next seven years, you're going to see
a lot of great fights out of me -- this is going to be one of
them.
FCF:
If you get control during the fight, where would you dictate
it to go?
BJP: Either or -- on the ground or standing. I still feel I'm
the best grappler in the lightweight division, although not to
take anything from Matt. Matt is an unbelievable grappler. Matt's
the man, you know? But I still feel I am a better grappler than
he is. I feel I'm better in all aspects of the fight than he
is.
FCF:
Will you try to capitalize with your stand-up prowess?
BJP: Yeah, that too, but sometimes I like to make the guy stand
up because I know it tires him out -- being on his back and stepping
back off him and then he has to get up and exchange punches.
I know that really wears on you mentally and physically.
FCF:
A knockout or a submission? What would be your preference in
finishing the fight in your favor?
BJP: Submission.
FCF:
Because Matt Serra is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under
Renzo Gracie?
BJP: Not just Renzo Gracie -- just that Matt Serra is very good
at what he does. If I could have my choice it would be a submission,
but it could be a knockout too. Who knows? If I get the chance,
I'll submit him.
FCF:
Are there any specific changes you made for this fight?
BJP: My diet. I' m mastering The Zone diet. I'm totally into
that now. The guys at crossfit.com, who help me to train, kept
trying to get me to do it. I was always about fast food and Myoplex
and now I'm just totally into the Zone. That's going to give
me 1,000 more times confidence now knowing that I'm running on
optimum fuel.
FCF:
How do you feel on this new diet?
BJP: Great. Unbelievable. Before, all I would eat was McDonalds
or Jack-In-The-Box and then try to drink protein with it. That's
all I ate through all of my other fights. Now I' m eating really
well and I like it.
FCF:
If you get past Matt, your next opponent will be decided for
you on this same night. Din Thomas meets Caol Uno in the second
semifinal lightweight match up of the evening. Who do you think
will come out the victor in that bout?
BJP: Everything tells me Din, because he' s bigger and stronger,
but I don't know. Uno would never, ever give up. I still think
Uno could win. Din's not terrible on the ground, but I don't
know if he could submit Uno. It's up in the air to me. Everything
is telling me Din, but I wouldn't count out Uno versus anybody.
FCF:
Who would you prefer to fight?
BJP: It doesn't really matter. I know I'm in both of their heads.
FCF:
Getting a rematch with Jens Pulver was obviously an important
goal for you, but now he no longer fights with the UFC organization.
Do you still harbor hopes that one day you might meet again in
the combat arena?
BJP: Of course. Jens says the winner of this title elimination
won't be the true champion. What he should have just done was
come down to Hilo and dropped the belt off at my house. At first,
I thought that maybe the UFC is treating Jens real bad, and maybe
that's why he's leaving. All that guy's doing is going around
fighting people that aren't even ranked at all. Isn't the goal
of this sport to be the best? To be the champion? At least he
could go fight Din Thomas again. Thomas beat him and is ranked
in the top ten. I don't know what that guy's up to.
FCF:
That's a challenge if I ever heard one. [BJ laughs] It sounds
like you are trying to lay some bait to get him back into the
UFC.
BJP: I think he'll end up back in the UFC. I'm not really worried
about it, because I know we'll fight again. I guarantee he'll
be back and I'll be ready.
With
UFC 39 now only hours away, we at Full Contact Fighter wish you
an enjoyable evening of mixed martial arts entertainment and
wish all of tonight's competitors the best of luck. Enjoy the
show!
Source:
FCF |
The
Faces of UFC 39: Matt Serra
By Loretta Hunt
He
can wow fans on the ground with his slick positioning, flowing
transitions, and submissions that seem to come out of nowhere.
A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under the famed Renzo Gracie,
Matt "the Terror" Serra has created himself a niche
among MMA audiences. The "ground" fans worship him
for his aggressive ground tactics while others respect him for
his gutsy display standing up, even when he may be the odd man
out. Since his unforgettable debut at UFC 31 versus a vastly
more experienced Shonie Carter, Serra has always delivered the
goods, making him a fan favorite in loss and victory. Friday's
match up against BJ Penn is a dream come true for those looking
to see the ground game pushed to its ultimate limits within the
Octagon. But as Serra explains, he's not ready to be counted
out upstairs quite yet.
FCF:
Let's first start off with your training, and a factor that is
probably on a lot of fan's minds. How is your stand up coming
along?
MS: I've been training hard. I've been doing a ton of sparring,
three or four times a week. I always hit all aspects hard, but
who knows? Maybe people get to see [the standup] in this fight,
maybe they don't. Up till now, I stand by each one of my performances
and every good fight that I've had I feel like I can improve.
From the Shonie fight, to the Edwards fight, to my Dullanty fight,
I think I've become a more evolved and seasoned fighter each
time. There's a chance they'll get to see it [the stand up] in
this fight, but who knows? I always train hard though, and I
train everything.
FCF:
Is it just a case of fans not getting a chance to see what you
can really do on your feet?
MS: People didn't get to see it [the standup] too much with my
Edwards fight, but look what he did to his last opponent. I think
Edwards is one of the best strikers in this sport . It would
have been foolish for me to play his game. With Shonie, that'
s where one of my mistakes was. I had too much of a street-fighter
mentality in that fight. When I was standing, I just wanted to
get him. I wasn't as strategic as I was on the ground.
FCF:
Your sparring at this point is a mix of boxing and Thai boxing,
right?
MS: We mix up everything. We punch. We do punching to takedowns.
We do straight boxing, straight kickboxing. It's really nothing
new. We have to cover everything and I'm sure most guys are doing
what I'm doing. It might just sound different because a jiu-jitsu
guy is doing it.
FCF:
You're facing another "jiu-jitsu" guy. What are your
thoughts on BJ Penn?
MS: BJ 's tough as hell. I'm really looking forward to it because
this is one of the few times I can go in there and be the underdog.
Every time I fought, except when I supposed to fight Din Thomas,
I was the favorite. It's kinda BS. My first fight with Shonie,
I'm the favorite because of my reputation with BJJ. The dude
had close to forty fights and I had like seven.
FCF:
This fight has created quite a stir among the BJJ community,
as a "roll" between you two on the ground could become
nothing short of stellar. On its feet though, observers are giving
the advantage to Penn. Are you intimidated by the KO power Penn
has exhibited in the past?
MS: I'm not intimidated by anything or anyone. Not to sound like
a macho guy, but in this game, anyone can knock out anybody.
Nobody thought Bustamante was going to knockout Menne. I don't
think that was high on the predictions list. Uno knocked out
Iha in the guard. The weirdest things happen in this sport. Could
he knock me out? Sure. Could I knock him out? Sure. I wouldn't
bet against it. You go in there knowing anything could happen,
and you don' t get surprised too much. Unless it's a backfist.
FCF:
Now it seems everyone's throwing a backfist or two into their
fights.
MS: I know. And the shoulder lock. You never saw too much of
that till after my Shonie fight [UFC 31]. Now everyone's going
for the shoulder lock. Shonie and I became trendsetters from
that fight.
FCF:
This will be your second time cutting weight down to the 155
pound weight class, where before you fought at 170. How has losing
the weight worked for you this second time around?
MS: The weight's doing good. I feel good and I felt great the
last time. I've done it before now, so that' s a really big relief.
I think I'm going to be a very strong and explosive 155er like
the first time.
FCF:
Was there a bit of nervousness losing weight that first time
for your fight with Kelly Dullanty?
MS: The first time I was a mess, and it didn't help that before
my Dullanty fight I tore my bicep. It was double to worry about
because I wanted to make the weight once so I knew I could do
it, but I didn't want to take the water weight from my body.
I didn't want to get dehydrated beforehand to see how I felt
at 155 because I had an injury I needed to nurse. The goal is
to get down to as close to 160 as possible, take out a little
water weight, and then put it back. I felt great for the last
fight, but Dullanty didn't like it. That's what I'm talking about!
FCF:
In the other bracket of this 4-man lightweight tournament, Din
Thomas is set to take on Caol Uno. The winner of this bout gets
the victor of yours. Who do you think it will be?
MS: I think Thomas is going to win, but it' s hard to count Uno
out. Did you see their first fight together? Thomas was doing
well even back then. It all depends on how Uno fights. Uno can
really surprise you. Not that it was a fluke, but I think with
Penn he just caught him in their fight -- I mean that could happen
to anybody.
FCF:
Do you think Thomas being out of the game for nine months will
be a factor?
MS: Thomas has been out, but I think he's a smart guy. I even
talked about it with Penn once, and he told me how strong Thomas
is for that weight. So, I would put my money on Thomas.
FCF:
So, it's Thomas and Serra for the title?
MS: If all goes as planned, it's me and Thomas. But there's no
way I'm looking past Penn.
Tomorrow,
we check in with Serra's opponent, the formidable BJ Penn. At
only 23 years of age, Penn explains that he is just coming into
his prime as a fighter. Find out where he wants to take his fight
with Serra, what its like training for the UFC -- Hilo style,
and just what his opinion is on Jens Pulver's big move.
Source:
FCF |
The
Miracle of UFC 39
By Jim Genia
The
weigh-in for the Ultimate Fighting Championship 39 "The
Warriors Return" show was held today at the Mohegan Sun
Casino in Connecticut, and it marked a momentous occasion in
UFC history. "Momentous?" you may wonder? "Did
someone fall off the scale and hurt himself?" No, no one
got hurt, and that's what was so special. The card for this show
has remained virtually intact, free of injuries and fighter withdrawals,
since it was conceived. More than any other, this card can truly
be called "solid" -- and that is the miracle of UFC
39.
On
to the weights. Stepping up for the vacant heavyweight title,
two-time UFC champ Randy Couture was 227 pounds, while rising
star Ricco Rodriguez tipped the scales at 243 pounds. Couture
has been training with Miletich-fighter Tim Sylvia for this match.
Will it be enough to keep the Team Punishment upstart from wearing
the crown?
For
the much-anticipated first stage of the lightweight tournament,
Hawaiian stud BJ Penn and jiu-jitsu demon Matt Serra were both
154 pounds -- and both looked to be in incredible shape. Penn
himself was a changed man because of a new diet, having cut out
junk food and gaining washboard abs in the process. Japanese
superstar Caol Uno and Florida's tough guy Din Thomas were 154
and 152.5 pounds respectively. Will this rematch play out differently
than their first bout years ago? Or has Thomas' string of victories
since then (including a submission win over top dog Jens Pulver)
made him into something more than Uno can handle?
In
the heavyweight division, Brazilian slugger Pedro Rizzo and SLO
Kickboxing's giant Gan McGee were 246.5 and 264 pounds, while
Sylvia and Hawaiian monster Wesley "Cabbage" Coreirra
were 259.5 and 263 pounds [Cabbage & Sylvia are shown facing
off above]. With all the heavy leather that will surely be thrown
tomorrow night, these big boys were surprisingly amicable and
friendly with each other. Equally as friendly were welterweights
Sean Sherk and Benji Radach, who, at 167 pounds and 170 pounds,
will be showing fans the latest edition of the classic "wrestler"
versus "striker" match-up. Middleweights Ivan Salaverry
and Matt Lindland were 184 and 183.5 pounds, and completely respectful.
But taking the prize for fighter interaction: former middleweight
champ Dave Menne (182 pounds) and New York BadAss Phil Baroni
(182.5 pounds). Usually intense and focused, Baroni stepped up
to the scale with a sexy woman on each arm, and at the photo
op, jokingly grabbed Menne's throat and made as if he were punching
him [This photo was snapped just after Baroni's "playful"
antics]. The two fighters with aspirations for the belt then
skipped the standard fighters' pose and stood with the women
-- both warriors sharing a smile.
So
far so good for "The Warriors Return". A roster full
of talent on a card more solid than any other -- will the miracle
of UFC 39 pan out into a good show? Tune in tomorrow.
Source:
FCF |
Connecticut
Sound Bites
By Loretta Hunt
With
the official weigh-ins for UFC 39 "The Warriors Return"
completed -- fans, fighters, their families and friends enter
the home stretch countdown for the "big show." Here
are a few thoughts from some of tomorrow night's competitors,
with their inevitable trip to the Octagon not far from their
minds…
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pedro Rizzo, eleven-time returning UFC heavyweight veteran, on
opponent Gan McGee's heftier size:
I'm
fine. Over 200 pounds, everybody for me has same power. It makes
not so much difference for me. I will do my game. If he takes
me down, I will fight on the ground. If he try to stay stand,
I will fight standing up. For me, no problem.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dave Menne, former UFC middleweight champion, on opponent Phil
Baroni's rambunctious antics at the weigh-ins:
I
don't really get into the fight until I get into the ring, so
whatever he's doing is basically lost energy on his part. Half
an hour before the fight, that's my time to turn it on.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tim Sylvia, first-time UFC heavyweight competitor and Miletich
Martial Arts representative, on his and opponent Wes "Cabbage"
Corriera's slimmed-down physiques:
I've
been dieting and trying to keep up with the little guys. Jens[Pulver]
and Tony [Fryklund] have been running me around. He [Cabbage]
looks real soft. "Jelly-belly" it looked like to me.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gan McGee, Chuck Liddell protégé and two-time returning
heavyweight (formerly super-heavy), on going in the underdog
against UFC staple Pedro Rizzo:
I'm
glad I'm a big underdog. A lot of my friends are going to make
a lot of money.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Benji Radach, three-time returning UFC welterweight contender,
on opponent Sean Sherk's takedown prowess:
That's
his game. People have to understand that he's one of the best
in the world at that game, so he should stick with it. He'll
shoot in, try and take me down, and I just have to try and keep
my hips in and defend those takedowns, while trying to play my
game by getting some big punches in. I've got heavy hands and
I'm ready to use them. I'm prepared to work from my back though
as well.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Middleweight contender Matt Lindland, on his recent ten-day trip
to the Miletich camp:
I've
always admired Pat [Miletich] and the type of training he's done
with his fighters and himself. I've always wanted to go out and
train with him, and when the opportunity finally came, I took
it. I worked on a lot of stand up with Pat. Bustamante got that
submission [at UFC 37] by beating me with a strike that knocked
me down and disorientated me. [From Miletich's tutelage, Lindland
brings in...] Just bigger confidence and definitely better positioning
with my stand up.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sean Sherk, Minnesotan welterweight dominator, on avoiding fan's
criticisms:
I
stay off the Internet. I know what my game plan is and I know
what I need to do to win. I care not to read what other people
say. A lot of them have negative outlooks on things.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ivan Salaverry, AMC Pankration delegate and two-time returning
middleweight, on just where his fight with Matt Lindland falls
in the middleweight class's "big picture":
Look
at us right there. Between Baroni, Menne, me and Lindland I think
these are tight, tight fights. We're all great competitors and
we all want the belt, so these fights will definitely determine
who gets the shot and who doesn't. That's what it's all about.
Source:
FCF
|
A
Few Words with An Original
By Loretta Hunt
Loud.
Brash. Cocky. Bold. Middleweight contender Phil Baroni has probably
been called all of these things, as his in-your-face self promotion
has attracted (and detracted) droves of fans curious to hear
what he'll say next. Now add exciting to that list as well. For
all of his talk outside the ring, Baroni is beginning to deliver
the type of performances that complement the hype he preaches.
His last fight at UFC 37 turned more than a few heads, when his
concentrated aggressiveness allowed him to capitalize on Russian
opponent Amar Suloev's hesitant play. Suloev, a world-class kickboxer,
had been hailed as one of the "next big things" to
hit the sport. Baroni thought to the contrary. Now taking on
returning former UFC middleweight champion Dave Menne, a win
for Baroni could secure him the title bout he's been working
towards. Catching up with Phil between training sessions at the
Mohegan Sun, his mood is focused and confident. This fighter
means business.
FCF:
Phil, you've been uncharacteristically quiet lately. How has
your training been going?
PB: I've been training real hard and breaking my ass. I've been
training at One Kick Nick's and the Las Vegas Combat Club.
FCF:
Have you officially made the move out to Las Vegas?
PB: Yes, I'm living in Vegas now and I like it a lot.
FCF:
You made quite a statement with your last performance at UFC
37. Have there been any changes in your training since your last
fight?
PB: My last fight was Amar Suleov and the difference in training
from that fight to this one is that I'm working a lot more on
my stand up. I'm ready to rock and roll.
FCF:
If you could control where this fight is going with Menne, where
would you like it to go?
PB: I'm ready to fight anywhere -- anywhere it goes. I'm just
going to go out there and be dangerous.
FCF:
Knockout or submission. What would be your weapon of choice?
PB: Of course, knockout. I'm always looking for the knockout.
FCF:
What are your thoughts on your opponent Dave Menne?
PB: He's the former UFC champ. He's got tons of experience. I'm
using him as a stepping stone to get what I want -- the belt.
I'm going right through him.
FCF:
How important do you think this fight is within the overall middleweight
picture?
PB: This fight is huge within the middleweight class. It's a
huge fight for me. Every fight is my biggest fight yet. I'm looking
to take it to him and knock him out. I want to prove to everyone
that I'm the best 185-pounder in the world.
FCF:
If you get past Menne, who would you like to fight next?
PB: When I get past Menne, I'll fight Bustamante or anyone else
in my division.
FCF:
Are you saying you feel you'll be entitled to a title shot if
you win this fight?
PB: It's up to them -- my people and the UFC -- to determine
who I fight next. Of course, I think I'm ready to fight Bustamante.
I'm ready to fight him tonight. I'll fight him after I knock
out Menne.
FCF:
Menne's a tough, resilient fighter…
PB: Yeah, he's tough and well rounded but not so much as me.
I'm big and strong and faster and nastier -- as well as better
looking.
FCF:
How does it feel to return to fight in front of the East Coast
crowd?
PB: It feels great to be back here in front of all my fans. I'll
have all the New York fans in attendance and they'll be going
crazy for their hero. Menne's getting knocked the fuck out!
FCF:
Any special message you'd like to pass on to the fans?
PB: Don't blink.
Source:
FCF |
A
Statement from UFC CHAMPION Murilo Bustmante...
(Quote
the CHAMPION, regarding the DANA WHITE interview that appeared
here dated 9/26/200)
'I
just wanted to say that I understand Dana White's 's statement
on this website regarding our negotiations. If you are being
interviewed, you have to answer the questions, Although I would
like to point out that I never mentioned a word regarding our
situation in order to avoid rumours.
Since
Dana came spoke to the general public to expose his point of
view, I feel I am entitled do the same and clarify what is the
situation regarding my contract. This is not a statement to bring
controversy to the subject.
First
of all I wanted to say that UFC is an amazing promotion and I
feel very proud to be one of their champions. I agree when Dana
says that UFC treats their fighters very well and that's why
I would like to keep being part of this family.
I
wanted to keep being part of this promotion and wanted to stay
as a champion doing more than only fighting, because I believe
a champion's work is really more than just fighting! When I complained
about Big John McCarthy's refereeing, obviously I complained
because it was in my fight, but the mistake could affect the
development of the sport in general, that's why I wanted him
to recognize the mistake. Being a champion, you get some responsibilities
and duties such as speaking out about our sport and you bear
the responsibility to bring up unclear points for discussion
in order to help the sport progress without any clouds or rumours.
Big John is a very respected referee, and in my opinion he is
even more respected now, because you learn from mistakes and
become more experienced.
He
did nothing but what would be was expected from an honorable
man like him recognizng his mistake. I wanted to congratulate
Big John for that publicly, so to Big John MaCarthy: No hard
feelings Big John, let's move on and 'let's get it on!!'.
Regarding
Dana's statement I wanted to say that I feel very proud and honored
to be considered the best fighter pound for pound in the world.
This coming from the man behind the UFC is something that carries
a lot of importance.
That's
exactly the point where we disagree! If I am the best pound for
pound fighter, I think this should be a considerideration on
the financial side. I should get an offer compatible to this
status, not only compatible to 'a guy who weighs 185 pounds'
as he stated.
In
my understanding a fighter's worth is judged by how much excitment
he brings to a fight, not how many pounds he weighs. Just to
let the MMA lovers and my possible fans know, I did not ask for
tons and tons of money and for sure there are UFC contracts way
bigger than mine! I don't want to compare my work with anyone's
since it is very hard to put price on your sacrifices. On the
other hand it may be even harder to be on the other side of the
table and to have to say to a fighter that his sacrifice is not
worth what he thinks!
This
said, I wanted to restate that my hope is to reach an agreement
and keep holding the UFC middleweight belt. Fighting for the
UFC fans is really something hard to describe so I am here for
them, to make this point clear and to avoid people starting rumors
about my feelings and thoughts regarding this promotion.
Thank
you very much for everybody's attention and good luck to all.
God
Bless,
Murilo
Bustamante
Source:
Abu Dhabi |
UFC
Up Close: Ricco Rodriguez v. Randy Couture
With the heavyweight
belt up for grabs, the two 'big dogs' of the UFC will do battle
in just a few hours.
Ricco Rodriguez
has dropped his nicknames and is dead serious about the fight.
No more 'Pretty Boy' or 'Suave' just Ricco.
Ricco boasts
a 9-1 overall record and is 4-0 in the UFC with all wins via
TKO!
Couture is coming
off a controversial loss with Josh Barnett. Many believe that
Randy is even more hungry to win 'his' championship belt back.
'He's a big
strong kid who's fighting with a lot of confidence right now.
He had a couple of pretty good opponents that he's walked through.
I think it makes for a pretty interesting fight,' says Couture.
Ricco gives
credit where credit is due: 'Randy is definitely the toughest
opponent I've ever faced because he has so much experience in
the Octagon. He's someone I really looked up to as a kid, watching
him in the NCAA's. He's such a go-getter who has achieved so
much in his life. He's a tough man and he's going to come at
me 100%. I'm ready for him' says Rodriguez.
Fight factors
are:
Rodriguez with a sizable weight advantage.
Rodriguez with a 14 year age advantage.
Couture with 7-1 UFC experience advantage.
Couture's versatility. Faced the best grapplers and strikers
in the game.
Rodriguez ability to go in the later rounds could be in question.
Many are picking
Rodriguez (roughly 75%). We're just hours away from fight time!
Abu Dhabi |
Top
of The Class
UNCASVILLE,
CT, September 26 - There wasn't a huge crowd at the Mohegan Sun
Casino's Wolf Den for today's UFC 39 weigh-in, but that's okay.
Those that did show up got to see class in forms it is typically
not expected to be in.
And
they weren't disappointed.
They
weren't disappointed that the fighters fighting in tomorrow night's
card showed up on time, acted like professionals, and then made
themselves accessible to the fans that did brave the rainy remnants
of Isidore.
Randy
Moss, they ain't.
Tito
Ortiz, perhaps the biggest mixed martial artist in the United
States in terms of popularity and exposure, a man who was a holler
away from signing autographs, shaking hands, or just shooting
the breeze, puts it down in terms as no nonsense as his ground
and pound.
"Muhammad
Ali was like that," said the light heavyweight champion.
"I want to be the same way. If it wasn't for the fans, I
would just be another fighter."
And
the fans give back that respect.
Some
made trips to Connecticut that smacked of insanity (MaxFighting's
own John Hanlon drove ten hours from Ohio), but it's that love
that makes this sport unique. From the fighters to the fans,
there are no airs, no separation. Want to single out a couple
of fighters who are especially fan friendly? You can't. They're
all that way. From Ortiz and future foe Chuck Liddell to Pride
veteran Dan Henderson to Japan's Caol Uno - I have never seen
a mixed martial artist turn down a handshake, autograph request,
or interview. A cynic will call it contrived; but you can't hide
forever. And I've been to too many shows, and seen this interaction
too many times for it to be fake. It's real. Just like the action
in the ring.
The
sport is changing. The rules have changed, its public perception
has changed, and these changes will undoubtedly continue. One
thing that should never change, though, is the bond between fighters
and fans. That's the real lifeblood of mixed martial arts.
Oh
yeah, all 16 fighters on the eight bout card made weight.
WEIGHTY
MATTERS - Most of the fighters on the card looked in shape and
ready to go to battle. Ricco Rodriguez especially looked to be
in the best shape of his career at 243 pounds, but Pedro Rizzo
(facing 264 lb Gan McGee) looked heavy, not only in the body,
but also in the face, at 246 ½ pounds.
WAR
- Forget Vanderlei Silva, the stare BJ Penn fixed on opponent
Matt Serra was downright frightening. Even after the two broke
off from the photo op, Penn continued to stare. That is one bad
man.
RARIN'
TO GO - UFC light heavyweight champ Tito Ortiz said that his
knee is at about 95% of where it should be as he prepares for
his November showdown with Ken Shamrock. "I'm actually leaps
and bounds from where I'm supposed to be," said Ortiz. "My
personal trainer is stepping back and saying, 'man, you're a
freak.' And oh, yeah, says the champ, the animosity with Shamrock
is real. "The only thing fake in this fight is my bleached
hair."
FROM
THE PRESIDENT'S DESK - It wasn't the best kept secret around,
but UFC President Dana White did confirm the following undercard
fights for UFC 40 - Matt Hughes-Gil Castillo, Carlos Newton-Pete
Spratt, and Robbie Lawler-Tiki. White also informed MaxFighting
that the oft-injured Vitor Belfort has pulled up lame yet again,
this time with a knee injury, and will not be facing Vladimir
Matyushenko in Las Vegas, a November show that the UFC Prez hopes
will pull in 15,000 to the MGM Grand.
BEHIND
THE SCENES - Nice to see Burt Watson, boxing's premier site coordinator,
pulling the same duties for UFC 39. Rest assured, if you're a
fighter and you see Burt around, you know you're in a first-class
show.
QUOTE
OF THE DAY - Team Extreme manager extraordinaire Monte Cox on
the transformation of debuting heavyweight Tim Sylvia, after
a little tough love in the Miletich camp - "I didn't know
he was 6-8 until one month into it. He was bent over puking into
a garbage can the whole time. I thought he was 5-4."
HIDE
THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN - A Japanese film crew followed around
hometown hero Caol Uno to film a documentary as he prepared for
his bout with Din Thomas. If any of our Japanese readers happen
to see this film, don't scared by the three gaijin - it's only
MaxFighting staffers Bruce Buffer, John Hanlon, and yours truly,
being filmed filming Uno, one of the game's class acts in any
language.
STATEN
ISLAND IN DA' HOUSE - New Yorkers, especially those in Staten
Island, should pick up the Friday edition of the Staten Island
Advance, which is scheduled to feature a profile of heavyweight
title challenger Ricco Rodriguez, who grew up in the borough.
Source:
Maxfighting
|
MaxTales:
Couture vs Rodriguez
As
is often the case in the combat sports, truth is more compelling
than fiction.
In
1997, classy champion Randy Couture bolted from the Ultimate
Fighting Championship over money woes. This came after a decision
victory over Maurice Smith and the destruction of then-unstoppable
Vitor Belfort. He competed sporadically in Japan before returning
to the UFC in November of 2000. Again the Heavyweight belt was
up for grabs, and in a flawless display of class and guile, he
triumphed over the formidable Kevin Randleman to reclaim the
crown he had never actually lost. Victories over Pedro Rizzo
followed, with Josh Barnett being the only black mark on Couture's
UFC record.
Following
Barnett's steroid trial and subsequent vacating of the belt,
elder statesman Couture will attempt to recapture the coveted
title yet again, this time having to overcome upstart challenger
Ricco Rodriguez. Is that enough drama for your mama? Check out
the Max Tale of the Tape.
UFC
Heavyweight (205 lb. and under) Title Bout
Randy Couture vs Ricco Rodriguez
Randy
Couture
"The Natural," 39 Oregon
10-4-0
Most
Notable Win
Kevin Randleman via TKO, 11/00
Most
Notable Loss
Josh Barnett via TKO, 3/02
Last
Win
Pedro Rizzo via TKO, 11/01
Years
as a Pro
5 years, 4 months
Time
elapsed since last bout
6 months
Strengths
Will of iron, wrestling and ground control.
Weaknesses
Smaller than some Heavyweights, aging.
Ricco Rodriguez
"Ricco Suave," 25 California
10-1-0
Most Notable Win
Tsuyoshi Kohsaka via TKO, 5/02
Most Notable Loss
Bobby Hoffman via strikes, 9/99
Last Win
Kohsaka, 5/02
Years as a Pro
3 yrs, 2 mths
Time elapsed since last bout
4 1/2 months
Strengths
Larger Heavyweight, submissions.
Weaknesses
Has never faced a ranked Heavyweight.
MaxFacts:
-
Rodriguez has never faced a contender ranked in the top ten of
Heavyweights.
- Couture will be Rodriguez's first opponent with accredited
wrestling skills.
- Rodriguez's last four fights were all wins via TKO.
- Three of Couture's four losses have come via submission.
- Rodriguez is undefeated in the UFC.
- Rodriguez submitted current Pride sensation Antonio Nogueira
in submission grappling.
Question Marks
-
Can Couture control the larger Rodriguez, when the similarly-sized
Barnett was able to weather his storm and come back to dominate?
- Can Couture fend off submission attempts by the Abu Dhabi veteran?
- Is Rodriguez where he needs to be in order to stay competitive
with the division's elite?
Possible Outcomes:
-Rodriguez
submits Couture quickly and without warning from the bottom.
- Couture takes down Rodriguez and batters him from the mount.
- Couture wins a decision, controlling position over an increasingly
fatigued Ricco.
Source:
Maxfighting
|
Can
Couture Circle the Wagons, or is his Party Coming to an End?
Competition.
Fame. Money. Glory. Respect. Without a shadow of a doubt, 39-year-old
Randy Couture has achieved, earned and fought for each of these
during his storied mixed martial arts career. With less than
48 hours remaining before he steps back into the Octagon for
what seems like the umpteenth time, the two-time UFC heavyweight
champion is fighting for a new and tremendously motivating reason:
redemption.
It
was only last March when the Gresham, Oregon resident looked
every bit his age, going down to a larger and younger Josh Barnett.
In the weeks following the bout, Couture, along with his wife
and kids, took a long hard look at all his options. “After
a little bit of contemplation, and it didn’t take very long,
I decided that I hadn’t done everything that I wanted to
do and that I didn’t really want to go out that way,”
Couture told MaxFighting.
“I
think if I retired right now I’d be remembered for the fights
that I’ve had and the kind of fighter that I’ve been,”
he says. “So it only gets richer and the legacy only gets
stronger the more that I compete and continue to be successful.”
Though
the loss didn’t sit well with Couture -- “I think anytime
you lose, when you get the chance to go back in, fight again,
compete again, it always adds a little bit something extra. You
get hungry to test yourself again and try out the things you
did wrong,” he says -- the blemish on his record was, for
all intents and purposes, erased when the Nevada State Athletic
Commission suspended Barnett six months for having performance
enhancing substances in his system the night of the fight.
With
the belt in limbo after the UFC stripped Barnett subsequent to
the NSAC ruling, Couture, who faces Ricco Rodriguez at the Mohegan
Sun in Uncasville, CT on Friday night for the vacant title, was
given another shot to compete for crown he was synonymous with
before the Barnett bout.
With
an opportunity to become the only three-time champion in UFC
history hanging in the balance, Couture currently stands at a
crossroads. One path leads to victory and the probability that
his name would be mentioned alongside the best the sport’s
ever seen -- though he says it’s not his place to say where
he fits amongst the game’s legends -- Losing, on the other
hand, raises serious doubts as to how much longer he could continue
to fight at a high level.
“I’m
not planning on making it just one more [fight],” Couture
says, regardless if his best days are behind him or not. “I
think I’ll be in there a few more times.” Good news
to MMA fans everywhere, but when and where we see him next is
contingent upon how he performs Friday night. Judging by the
tone of his voice on Wednesday, the former Oklahoma State All-American
wrestler fully anticipates competing in five-round championship
fights for some time to come.
“I
feel like I’ve made the adjustments [from the Barnett fight]
and I feel comfortable and confident that this fight is going
to go well,” says Couture, who believes that he’s in
the best shape of his life after one of the best training camps
he’s ever been a part of.
“I
think I can hang with Ricco at any pace he wants to go,”
he continues. “If he wants to come out hard and try to take
me out early I’m sure I can match his pace and match him
tit for tat if that’s what needs to be. And that’s
only going to be better for me if it does go longer. I’m
prepared to do whatever it takes. I know he’s going to come
out, be aggressive and hope to establish the dominant position
and try to take me out. He doesn’t want it to go long. He
doesn’t want it to go into the later rounds because he’s
not sure if he can hang there, so I’m going to do my best
to weather that storm, make him work as hard as possible and
be there to finish him.”
Couture
knows Rodriguez, an excellent Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitor
and above average wrestler, will want to work from the top, especially
after witnessing the Barnett fight first hand. The similarities
are impossible to miss: Both Rodriguez and Barnett hold 20-plus
pound weight advantages, both have excellent submission skills,
both strike well on the ground (particularly with elbows) and
both are 15 years younger than the elder statesman of the UFC.
Those
are just a handful of the reasons why more than a few people
have picked against Couture coming into this fight. But the veteran
remains unfazed by it all. “The age question is always an
angle people always want to focus on and I don’t focus on
it,” he says. “All I focus on is my training and how
I feel. I feel terrific so I don’t think my age has any
bearing on what’s going to happen in the fight. So I just
have to focus on the things I can control and go out and get
after it.”
One
would think that Couture’s most obvious advantage stems
from his immense amount of experience -- particularly in championship
bouts -- that he brings each and every time he steps into the
ring. However, against Barnett he was the one that seemed like
the inexperienced fighter. Unsure whether to rely on aspects
of the game he’d been attempting to improve upon or fall
back on the wrestling ability that made him successful from day
one, Couture faltered and paid the price.
“I
never really intended to take him down right off the bat,”
Couture remembers of the Barnett contest. “I wasn’t
really sure why that occurred, why I reverted to taking him down
right away. I wanted to work the clinch and work the fence and
work a lot of other things before we worked the takedown situation.
The other thing was, especially on the ground, I wasn’t
focused on wrestling and trying to stay off of the bottom by
continuing to scramble and work towards the top position. I had
been working on jiu-jitsu so much that I kind of dove forward,
pulled guard rather than stand up, fight hands and wrestle with
him. That would have been the difference in the fight in my opinion.”
The
Rodriguez bout presents an opportunity for Couture to atone for
the mistakes he felt he made in March. Step one was going “back
to what I came from,” he says. In the process of reevaluating
his last fight, Couture came to the conclusion that a renewed
focus on wrestling was essential, despite a previous effort to
learn jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai and several other components that
are seen in a well-rounded MMA fighter. With a bigger, younger
and more athletic breed of heavyweights popping up with regularity,
Couture quickly realized that he needed to control from the top
in order to be successful.
“I
think all the stuff I made a point of learning, trying to use
and being successful at is still very important, but when it
gets right down to it in those situations I’d much rather
be where a wrestler usually ends up and that’s on top. Rather
than be satisfied in positions and situations to be on the bottom
and end up there, which is where I was for Josh’s fight
-- I was like ‘oh well, if I’m on the bottom I’m
ok’ and I was satisfied to fight from that position -- I
had to reevaluate that way of thinking. I have a whole bunch
of skills and things that I know I use to make sure that no matter
what I come out on top, especially when you’re dealing with
bigger guys you don’t want to be on the bottom -- ever.
If you’re stuck there in a situation where you may end up
on the bottom, change what you’re thinking, don’t be
satisfied in trying to fight from the bottom, create situations
where you can scramble and move and get back to at least a neutral
position and hopefully a top position.”
A
major key for Couture to pull that off is to keep the larger
Rodriguez off of him, which is no easy task when you take into
account the New Jersey native’s undervalued wrestling skills.
But, unlike some who only care about pedigree, Couture hasn’t
fallen prey to the notion that the only wrestlers in MMA to worry
about come out of the Olympic or high-level collegiate ranks.
“Just
because maybe he didn’t wrestle for the National team or
try out for the Olympics or any of that stuff doesn’t mean
he’s not a good wrestler,” says Couture. “He wrestled
in high school. He wrestled in junior college. He’s got
a decent wrestling background, so he knows how to execute technique
and execute takedowns. And I have to be ready for that.”
Couture
made a point to bring in bigger sparring partners for this training
camp, learning the tough lesson from the Barnett fight. But when
it comes down to it, if Couture ends up on his back like he did
in his previous bout, he could be in for a world of hurt. For
that reason, the veteran fighter must do what he could not against
Barnett and draw from his vast experience in championship fights
-- a situation Rodriguez, like Barnett before him, will encounter
for the first time.
“I
think it’s an advantage to have been in a five-round fight
before and to have been in championship fights before and felt
the pressure and been able to deal with that,” Couture says.
“Certainly that’s an advantage.” As each round
passes, so to does any physical edge Rodriguez may have carried
into the ring -- especially after the first 10 minutes.
Couture
could have just as easily retired following the Barnett bout
and no one would have thought any less of his accomplishments
inside the ring and incredible sportsmanship outside it, but
he refused to go out one someone else’s terms. The UFC has
only seen a Randy Couture driven by competition. On Friday, he
steps into the ring looking for redemption -- a man who doesn’t
need to prove anything to anyone, feeling as if his livelihood
is at stake.
Scary.
Source: Maxfighting |
Quote
of the Day
Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right.
Henry
Ford |
Warriors
Quest 8
YOUNG GUNS
Thursday, Oct 24.2002
Warriors
Quest and IFC Presents
Chris
Brennan Vs. Jon Weilder
Westside
Strangler Chris Brennan a former King of the Cage Champion and
UFC Veteran will fight Jon Weilder for the vacant Warriors Quest
World Championship. Brennan in his last apperance in Warriors
Qust taped out John Chrisistomo in round 1. And in the other
corner Weilder who had an impressive win aganist Hawaii's Dave
Yueng will go up aganist all odds and meet up with the strangler. |
ZUFFA
Planning to Address Title Picture on Live Broadcast
There is word
from the Mohegan Sun that the UFC will be devoting time on the
PPV broadcast to address the vacant title picture. In particular,
the vacant lightweight title formerly owned by Jens Pulver and
the heavyweight title that Josh Barnett was stripped of will
both be discussed on the air.
The overall
message should be greater communication and flow of information
- this is a chance to impart a message to the widest audience
ZUFFA will have. It will be interesting to see what information
makes the cut and hits the air!
Source: Abu
Dhabi
|
UFC
Up Close: DAVE MENNE v. PHIL BARONI
Dave Menne is
one of the most experienced fighters in MMA, with over 40 fights
under his belt.
Although Phil
Baroni is a relative newcomer, his raw power and explosiveness
have the potential neutralize Menne's experience. 'He seems to
be an aggressive fighter who tries to overpower his opponents.
I think he's got some holes in his game but he makes up for it
a little bit with this outright aggression' says Menne.
Menne has been
training with Pat Miletich in preparation for the upcoming match.
'Pat Miletich, Jens Pulver, Matt Hughes, Jeremy Horn. There are
different parts of their games that I watch and try to pick up'
Menne says.
He faces the
'New York Bad Ass', who returns to the octagon as one of the
fighters people really want to see. Don't let his one and only
loss fool you: Baroni's battle with Matt Lindland that ended
in a decision loss was an exciting bout that put Baroni on the
map as a legitimate contender!
'We literally
have the lock the doors to make Phil take a day off from training'
said teammate Frank Mir at UFC 37. When it comes to being a 'full
time' fighter, Baroni is the man.
In typical Baroni
fashion, he gives his thoughts on his career and Menne. 'I want
it all! I want to be known as the sexiest and pound-for-pound
best fighter in the world. He (Menne) is a proven fighter that's
gonna get knocked out on September 27' says the NYBA.
This could end
up being the sleeper match on the card, then again, almost any
of them could steal the show!
Source: Abu
Dhabi |
UFC
39: The Warriors Return -- Ivan Salaverry
UP
CLOSE WITH AMC PANKRATION's NEXT UFC STAR
Water
is |