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June News Part 3

6/30/03

Quote of the Day

Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.

[Matthew 7:120] Sacred Scriptures of Christians and Judaism, Bible

KOTC - Quick Results!

KING of the CAGE 'SIN CITY' - June 29th, 2003

COMPLETE RESULTS:

- Baki def Kauai Kupihea 0:22 r1 by guillotine choke
- Buck Meredith def
Harris Sariento 3:41 r2 by TKO
- Chad Davis def Kevin Cook by split decision (2 rnds)
- Alex Rickards def Augie Garcia 2:08 r1 by ankle lock
- Wes Combs def Raul Delgadov 0:23 r1 by KO
- Shad Smith def Louie Vaith 3:53 r1 by TKO
- Jeff Newton def Allen Sullivan 4:06 r2 by ankle lock
- Randy Velarde def Marcos Santos TKO *
- Thomas Denny def Kyle Brees by unanimous decision (2 rnds)
- Greg Mayer def
Jamual Perkins 0:38 r1 by rear choke
- Jason Lambert def Brian Foster by unanimous decision (2 rnds)
- Gustavo 'Ximu' Machado def Nate Quarry by unanimous decision (3 rnds)
- Dean Lister def Brian Sleeman 1:14 r1 by armbar

*Santos had to quit between rounds due to a knee injury but the official result was announced as TKO.
Source: ADCC

"K-1 BEAST II " quick results

K-1 BEAST II 2003
Date : June 29, 2003
Place : Saitama Super Arena

Freshman Fight

Manabu Ito VS HIROSHI
(Japan / Iron AX) (Japan / Vos Gym)

Draw

9.21 JAPAN GP 2003 Participation Determination Match (3R x 3min)
Tatsufumi Tomihira VS Masahide Aoyagi
(Japan / SQUARE ) (Japan / Iron AX)

Winner : Tatsufumi Tomihira by decision at extra R (10-9,10-9,10-9)

Nobu Hayashi VS Tooru Ooishi
(Japan / Dojo Chakuriki) (Japan / Nisshin Kaikan)

Winner : Nobu Hayashi by KO 1R 1:38

Hiraku Hori VS Kazuhiro Nakamura
(Japan / Team Dragon) (Japan / Yoshida Dojo)

Winner : Hiraku Hori by KO 2R 1:58

Hiromi Amada VS TSUYOSHI
(Japan / TENKA 510) (Japan / Vos Gym)

Winner : Hiromi Amada by decision (29-29,29-28,29-28)

Super Fight (3R x 3min)
Hiroki Kurosawa VS Ivan Salaverry
(Japan / Kurosawa Dojo) (USA / AMC Pankration)

Draw

Team Japan vs Team Beast (3R x 3min)

Montanha Silva VS Musashi
(Brazil) (Japan / Seido Kaikan)

Winner : Musashi by disqualification (Montanha took down Musashi and mount punches)

Azem Maksutaj VS Shingo Koyasu
(Switzerland) (Japan / Seido Kaikan)

Winner : Shingo Koyasu by decision (29-28,29-28,29-28)

Butterbean VS Yusuke Fujimoto
(USA / Team Butterbean) (Japan / Monster Factory )

Winner : Butterbean by KO 1R 1:02

Manabu Nakanishi VS TOA
(New Japan Pro-Wrestling) (JAPAN / New Zealand)

Winner : TOA by KO 1R 1:28

Peter Aerts VS Tsuyoshi Nakasako
(Holland / Mejiro Gym) (Japan / ZEBRA244)

Winner : Peter Aerts by KO 2R 1:42

Source: Koichi "Booker K" Kawasaki

Absolute Fighting Championships
Gearing Up for A Big July!

Saturday, July 19th, 2003 - Absolute Fighting Championships 4 returns to the War Memorial Coliseum, Ft Laudersale, FL.

Tickets available at www.ticketmaster.com. Enter 'ABSOLUTE' for the event!

The Absolute Fighting Championships 4 returns to south Florida on July 19th with another great card of Mixed Martial Arts. The card will also feature several boxing matches, including Shannon Briggs of the American TOP TEAM. 'We are trying to lure him into an MMA match' confides AFC matchmaker Miguel Iturrate, 'but with him on the card with his TOP TEAM teammates fighting on the MMA side, it is going to be a great night at the War Memorial.'

Many are saying the bout to watch on this card is VITOR 'SHAOLIN' RIBEIRO versus KULTAR GILL. The matchmaker says 'It's a Jiu Jitsu guy versus a stand up fighter, but it is more than that. Both guys bring a skill level that is out of this world, and they cross train. This is not a guy in a gi against a guy who only kickboxes, the sport is beyond that. This match represents the 21st century version of the striker versus grappler.'

Another bout to watch is DUSTIN DENES versus AKIRA SHOJI, in a match where Denes looks to take on one of Japan's most resilient fighters. 'Shoji wants to fight in the USA, he is taking this bout seriously, and he is very underrated. Shoji has fought only the top competition in the world in his career, and that is where Denes wants to be - so this match is definitely a measuring stick!'

The main event of the event features a clash of UFC veterans - ATT's highly regarded Din Thomas takes on Steve Berger, in Berger's first bout at 155 lbs. 'There is a lot on the line here - Din is coming off a great win at the UFC, and with his star on the rise and this bout in his hometown, there is pressure on him to keep on winning. With Steve, no one can deny that Berger has paid his dues - he wanted a big fight at 155, he didn't want to fight lesser competition. So there is tension for this one!' describes the matchmaker.

COMPLETE CARD - SUBJECT TO CHANGE:

3 ROUND MAIN EVENTS:
(155 lbs) - DIN THOMAS (American Top Team, Ft Lauderdale, FL.) vs. STEVE BERGER (Vaghi JJ, St Louis, MO.)

(195 lbs) - DUSTIN DENES (American Top Team, Ft Lauderdale, FL.) vs. AKIRA SHOJI (Tokyo, Japan)

(155 lbs) - VITOR 'SHAOLIN' RIBEIRO (Nova Uniao, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.) vs. KULTAR GILL (Gibson Pankration, Vancouver, Canada)

2 ROUND BOUTS:
(125 lbs) - SHELBY WALKER (Freelance, Indianapolis, IN.) vs. BETH WESTOVER (PKO School of MMA, Boise, ID)

(155 lbs) - JORGE MASVIDAL (Freestyle Fighting Academy, Miami, FL.) vs. DARRELL SMITH (ANIMAL HOUSE, Indianapolis, IN.)

(205 lbs) - WILSON GOVEIA (American Top Team, Ft Lauderdale, FL.) vs. RON FAIRCLOTH (Freestyle Academy, Kenosha, WI.)

(185 lbs) - CHARLES MCCARTHY (Freestyle Fighting Academy, Miami, FL.) vs. JAY MASSEY (ANIMAL HOUSE, Indianapolis, IN.)

(170 lbs) - JORGE SANTIAGO (American Top Team, Ft Lauderdale, FL.) vs. JUSTIN WIEMAN (Freestyle Academy, Kenosha, WI.)

BOXING BOUTS:
- SHANNON BRIGGS (ATT, Florida) v. JOHN SARGENT (25-2, 18 KOs)
- JORGE 'CABALLO' JIMINEZ v. TBD
- ANDY WATSON v. TBD

Source: ADCC

IFC 8 Man Tournament Pre Interview: PAULO FILHO

IfC 8 MAN TOURNAMENT - SEPTEMBER 2003

Brazilian TOP TEAM's Paulo Filho is one of the stand outs going into the IFC's eight man tournament. We spoke with Filho about his return to the ring (he has not fought since September of 2002) and about his thoughts on fighting in America. Up until now, Filho has fought in PANCRASE, DEEP and PRIDE, keeping a perfect 5-0 record against top Japanese competition. This tournament is a whole different ballgame however!

So, what are your initial thoughts about this IFC event? Of course, it is an honor to be in this event. It is the American GRAND PRIX! (laughs) The show will have great athletes. I'm just proud to be one of them. The IFC promotion is doing a tournament packed with talent, and I am ready to give my contribution as well. This is good for the sport! Well, I'm very pumped to be in this tournament. Anybody who knows me knows my feelings right now.

Why did you take so long to be back to business? I had to take some time off after my last fight, since I had to recover from several nagging injuries. I'm ready, and I have been training hard for some time. Since September is too long!

The injury is due to your last fight? No, my fight lasted less than 3 minutes against Shoji, I'm talking about small injuries from before my Pride apearance. I had to deal with them and give them time to heal before they get worse.

Talk about your fighting in Japan... I have 4 fights in Japan and I have fought real tough Japanese fighters. Yamamiya, Minowa, Kondo and Shoji. I think for the first few times, they thought I would not win, but I kept my composure, and I learned a lot. I was really sharp in my last one, submitting Shoji in PRIDE.

What happened that Pride never asked you to return? Well, I don't know what happened but it's time to be back in action. I don't want to wonder about why my return took so long, or why PRIDE didn't call me. I am here for the IFC right now.

People used to say that you like to ground and pound people? Are you affected by this talk? This is very interesting. People complained that I was boring, a Ground & Pounder. Then I proved that I have some ground skills during my last fight in Pride, don't you agree? Lot's of GrEAT fighters have not finished Shoji, and I did it quick. People sometimes forget that I'm a 3x BJJ World Champion and 5 times BJJ national champion.

Who would you like to face in the first round?
I don't have the right to choose my opponent! Of course, if I could pick, I think I would like to be part another chapter of the BTT X Chute Boxe rivalry. SHOGUN, from Chute Boxe.

Why? I was supposed to fight Anderson Silva in my Pride debut, but unfortunately I popped my knee during training and was not able to do that. Now I'm ready and I think Shogun is a talented fighter. This could make for good matchmaking - an exciting war.

And what about the USA and the tournament format? I am ready and in condition for 3 fights, for 3 hard fights, 3 wars. I think the fans are gonna see me represent BTT for the first time in the USA - hopefully they are not gonna forget!

Source: ADCC

SHOOTO's 6/27 Hiroshima Event - Results
June 27th, 2003
Hiroshima Sun Plaza, Hiroshima, Japan
Sustain

COMPLETE RESULTS:

Class B 2 x 5 minutes rounds: Lightweight [-65.0Kg]: WILD Usami vs. Naosuke Mizoguchi: Usami by TKO, RD 1.

Featherweight [-60.0Kg]: Yoshihiro Fujita vs. Hiroyuki Tanaka: Tanaka by Judges Decision.

Lightweight [-65.0Kg] 2003 Rookie Tournament 2nd round
Masatoshi Kobayashi vs. Seigi Fujioka: Fujioka by Judges Decision.

Cruiserweight [-91.0Kg] 2003 Rookie Tournament 1st round
The Great Naniwa vs. Yosuke 'M.D' Mikami: Mikami by Judges Decision.

Middleweight [-76.0Kg] 2003 Rookie Tournament 2nd round
Hirofumi Hara vs. Shinobu Ito: DRAW

Welterweight [-70.0Kg]: Masato Fujiwara vs. Takashi Nakakura: Nakakura by Triangle Choke, RD 1.

Welterweight [-70.0Kg]: Koutetsu Boku vs. Kenichiro Togashi: Togashi by Arm Bar, RD 1.

Class A 3 x 5 minutes rounds Middleweight
[-76.0Kg] Seichi Ikemoto vs. Akira Kikuchi: Kikuchi by Arm Bar, RD 2.

[-68.0Kg] Rumina Sato vs. Ryan Ackerman: Sato by heel hook, in RD 1.

Source: ADC

Interview (Part 2): SuperBrawl Middleweight tournament champ Joe Doerkson

KM: Here you are winning the SuperBrawl/Extreme Challenge Middleweight tournament. Congratulations. JD: Thank you.

KM: Has the excitement worn off yet? JD: It never really hit me. I got it done and the next day I was ready to go home. I had a good time in Hawaii though, I got to stay there for two days after and did all the tourist stuff.

KM: Go ahead and rub it in. I missed it. How did you like Hawaii? JD: I always like it there, it's nice. I got to hang out with Denis Kang and Jason Miller for the two days we were there. Both pretty good guys. We just kind of took it easy a couple days and enjoyed the weather. Now I'm home and I'm getting ready to go back to work. I signed up to do a pro kickboxing fight here at home.

KM: Is that your kickboxing debut? JD: Well, I did a semi-pro show a while back. I did a pro boxing match earlier this year in February or March. I'm going to do a kickboxing match in July and then August 30th I may or may not be fighting in Minnesota. August 2nd I might be going to Mississippi for a grappling tournament.

KM: August 30th would be MMA and you're not sure if you are in yet? JD: August 30th. Brad Kohler's show Extreme Combat. I fought for him about a week before Hawaii.

KM: That was the Kyle Jensen fight, right? JD: Yeah.

KM: I just noticed that on your record but I didn't even know about that show. Sorry. Can you tell us a little about that fight? JD: I don't know if it was an exciting fight. We were both a little careful. It had rained that night and we were fighting outside so the canvas was wet. We basically just spent a lot of time in the clinch punching each other in the ribs and head and stuff. We did trade a few punches but I don't think he really wanted to stand up with me. Every time I threw…at one point he covered and turned away and then clinched with me a second time and took me down. Once we hit the floor after about a minute I got his arm. It went 4:20. He's a tough kid, has a lot of experience.

KM: He was in that Iowa Extreme Challenge qualifier also. JD: He deserves credit for what he did there that night. He did pretty good. He needs to keep fighting and training.

KM: Just to finish up on the Hawaii show I should give you a chance to say something. The week before in a preview I was saying something like 'the odds favorites are going to be Jay Buck and Brendan Seguin in the finals' since they were both finalists in the Iowa qualifier. The finalists from the UT show didn't compete with Tim Kennedy getting injured training and Cruz Chacon reportedly dropping a weight class. I wanted to say to your face 'ooops, I was wrong'. I'm pulling that foot out of my mouth. Is there anything you wanted to say about that? JD: In an 8-man tournament anybody can win. That's all I'm going to say. Jay Buck could have won it, Denis Kang could have won it, Jason Miller could have won it…those three guys would have been my…me, Buck, Kang, and Miller had had the most experience and I figured it was going to be one of us four. The two Hawaiians were unknown. They could have been anything, we had no idea. Brendan Seguin already lost to Buck so I didn't know how well he was going to do. Johnathan Guilet is pretty young. Tough kid but young.

KM: Did you get a chance to see much of the rest of the tournament? JD: I didn't see any of the other fights.

KM: I'm wondering how Miller did. JD: I don't know, I haven't seen the fights yet. He had a cut over one eye and broke his thumb or dislocated his thumb. He got hurt a little bit but the judges gave it to him. It sounded like he was much more active but also sounded like it was a pretty good fight, like really close.

KM: I didn't know Kang was substituted in when I wrote that. He just beat champion Keith Rockel in HOOKnSHOOT. Anyway, I at least wanted to acknowledge as close to your face as I can you proved me wrong. JD: I still say anything could have happened. Denis Kang was supposed to be in the finals but he was injured and had to pull out. I think he's a dangerous kid. I think that night it was a good move for him because he was injured, there is no doubt about it. He ate some big leg kicks and was pretty banged up. He won which is all that matters but if he's not going in there 100% it's probably not…if I was hurt I wouldn't have gone in there either. My first two fights went pretty quickly so I had a pretty good feeling going into the third round. It didn't matter who I was going to fight, everyone was banged up.

KM: Were you disappointed at all you didn't get a chance to rematch Kang? JD: No. (Both laugh). We fought less than a year ago. It doesn't benefit me at all to fight him again. I already have a win. I'm sure it will happen eventually but when it does I'd like it to be a bigger show. Something on PPV, a little bit of money. (The UCC fight) wasn't a controversial loss, it was a first round submission. Denis is tough, don't get me wrong. I think he's the next one going to the UFC. I've never done a rematch in my career so far.

KM: With all this attention on finding Middleweights and the success of the fighters from last year's show have you felt any additional pressure or attention? JD: I don't really follow other shows much. I live here in a tiny little town and I go to work every day and go to the gym every day and I go home. I don't pay attention to anything going on around me. I don't worry about a fight until Monte calls me and says I'm fighting. Just one fight at a time. I try not to get too excited. One day at a time and whatever happens happens.

KM: Anything else you want to get across to the fans? JD: I feel the work I've been doing the last 6-8 months has been…I think I'm on the right track trying to develop my weaknesses into strengths and I think that is starting to happen. I got my first knockout.

KM: That reminds me, you're striking. You said you were working on that and I noticed with the KO and TKO and now you say the boxing and kickboxing shows, what did you change with your striking training? JD: After losing to Potvin, Egan, and Loiseau all three in a row (note: 10/19/01, 11/02/01, and 1/25/02 respectively) I took a look at what I was doing. I knew my submissions were good but that is pretty much all I had. I started sparring three days a week with boxers and kickboxers and stuff. Started training with coaches. Getting ready for the Denis Kang fight (10/11/02) I started training with Giuseppi DeNatale, a K-1 fighter out of Winnipeg. I've been working with those guys for about 10 months now and I think it's all coming together. Until I tried it I really didn't think I was going to be good at it but I'm finding I really like punching people in the face. (Both laugh).

KM: Has it changed the way you train in grappling? Are there things you will no longer consider doing because you'd rather strike now? JD: All that changed is I'm more comfortable in the ring. I don't have to worry about taking the guy down. I'll just go there and hit him and if he takes me down he's in trouble anyway. I'm more well-rounded and more dangerous than I was before. That's the idea, to improve ever time. I think things went really well in Hawaii and when I fight again I want to have a little bit more to show than last time. I want to be a little bit better than the last time I fought. Once you think you are good enough it's over. That's how I look at it.

Source: ADCC

6/28/03

Quote of the Day

"When I look back on all these worries I remember the story of the old man who said on his deathbed that he had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which had never happened."

Winston Churchill, 1874-1965, British Statesman, Prime Minister

Jamual Perkins to fight in KOTC and working his way to a title fight!

King of the Cage 25

Dean Lister vs. Brian Sleeman
Nathan Quarry vs. Gustavo Machado
Brian Foster vs. Jeff Newton
Jamal Perkins vs. Greg Mayer
Cipi Gamino vs. Joe Camacho
Art Santore vs. Kevin Cook
Shad Smith vs. Louie Vaith
Randy Velarde vs. Marcos Santos

Source: Shedog

VITOR VS COUTURE IN SEPTEMBER?

MMAWeekly.com has learned that the UFC was in hard negotiations with Tito Ortiz about fighting Randy Couture this past week. MMAWeekly has learned that after some negotiations that a deal was not reached between Ortiz and Couture.

Negotiations apparently broke down with Ortiz as of yesterday, so now it appears the UFC is looking to go in a different direction. MMAWeekly.com has now learned that Vitor Belfort was given the call as Zuffa asked Vitor if he would be ready to fight in September. Vitor said absolutely.

Belfort apparently wants the fight really bad. It's not known at this time if contracts have been sent out to Belfort or Couture, but it seems the UFC is ready to go with a Belfort vs Couture rematch, especially now that talks have broke down with Ortiz.

Source: MMA Weekly

Pat Miletich vs. Royce Gracie?

Pat Miletich appeared on Friday's MMAWeekly Radio Show to talk about his future in the sport and the future of Team Miletich. Miletich said that some people, including Jens Pulver, are going to be relocating and opening their own facilities in a different part of the country. Miletich said that he always knows from the beginning that this is going to happen eventually, he would never hold it against anyone.

Every member of Team Miletich is still on good terms with one another, and even the ones who are relocating will still be training with the other fighters from time to time. Miletich said that it's like an expansion of the Team Miletich family tree in a way.

Pat Miletich also reiterated his previous statements that he would love to fight Royce Gracie, and he thinks it would be great for the sport. Pat said that he respects the Gracie family and everything they have done for mixed martial arts. When asked about other potential fights, Miletich said that it would probably take a fight with Royce Gracie for him to fight again. Pat said that he has been fighting for a very long time, and he is so involved with training fighters that he may never fight again.

Miletich said that if he never fights again, he will be satisfied with the career he has had. Miletich also said that his injured neck feels good enough that he is able to train harder than he has in a long time. Miletich said that his neck is feeling great, and he will soon be undergoing an MRI test to see if the condition of his neck is as good as it feels to him.

Source: MMA Weekly

Jens Pulver Book

Jens Pulver gave a heartfelt interview about the ups and downs of his career and life on Friday's MMAWeekly Radio Show. Pulver said that he has been spiraling out of control and falling into a deep depression for the past 14 months or so, right around the time he left the UFC. Jens said that he hasn't really been mentally there since the BJ Penn fight, but at the same time he stressed that he is not taking anything away from his recent opponents, and they both earned their victories over him.

Pulver is now on a prescription medication for depression and said that it has already made him feel much better and more happy in general. Pulver said that he loves feeling happier and he hilariously added, "I'm like an old man on Viagra... when I get a boner, I want to go around showing everybody!"

Jens Pulver said that the birth of his child and all of the support he gets from fans every day also helped him get to where he is now, with a feeling that he has turned his life around. Pulver said that he can look back now and see where he made mistakes. Most likely referring to his decision to leave the UFC in early 2002, Pulver said, "I reached a crossroads, and I made a left turn where I should have made a right."

Pulver said that he has co-written a book with Erich Krauss that takes an in-depth look at his life from his childhood up to the present day. Pulver said that they have given the manuscript for the book to people who don't know anything about MMA, and those people still enjoyed the book because of the life story that it tells. Pulver said that the book eventually chronicles his rise to the top of the UFC lightweight division, and also covers his fall from grace.

Though it wasn't mentioned specifically on MMAWeekly Radio, the book is now available for pre-ordering at Amazon.com with the release date being listed as October 1, 2003. The book is being published by ECW Press, and the official book description is a chilling example of what you can expect to see in the book.

"At ten years of age, lined up alongside his two brothers in the living room of their Seattle home, Jens Pulver stared down the length of a shotgun into his father’s haggard face. Because Jens was the oldest, the one constantly running upstairs to protect his mother in the middle of the night, his father placed the barrel into his mouth first.

Fear taught Jens how to attack with his fists. Fear taught him how to get what he wanted, by any means necessary. Fear put him on the path toward becoming a world champion fighter, to prove wrong all those who claimed he wouldn’t amount to any more than his drunk old man. It was this path — the one that would make him the most intimidating pound-for-pound fighter in the ring — that eventually let him put his childhood demons to rest and find an inner peace. But it was a long and painful battle.

Little Evil is a gripping and true tale of father and son, of what betrayal does to the young and drives them to do, and of how one determined man shattered the chains of his childhood and rose to the top, becoming the lightweight champion of the UFC."

Source: MMA Weekly

LINDLAND HAS TO WAIT UNTIL NOVEMBER
Possible Lindland vs. Royce Gracie?

During the MMAWeekly Radio Show on Friday, Matt Lindland made a special appearance in the Live Fighter Chat. Lindland said that he will be fighting in November, This statement serves as confirmation that Lindland will not be fighting on the UFC 44 card in September, but he will be fighting on the UFC 45 card in November.

Lindland didn't mention who his opponent might be, but he previously said that he wants his next fight to be a rematch with Falaniko Vitale. If Royce Gracie does indeed come to terms with Zuffa to appear on the UFC's 10th anniversary show in November, Matt Lindland's name would have to be on the list of potential opponents for Royce.

Source: MMA Weekly

6/27/03

Quote of the Day

"In helping others, we shall help ourselves, for whatever good we give out completes the circle and comes back to us."

Flora Edwards

Kickboxing at the Blaisdell Tonight

We do not have the fight card, but Danny Steele, Rodney Joseph and a string of other local fighters were last told to me to be on the card. Check it out!

PRIDE Grand Prix - Making Major Waves in Japan!
by: Booker K

PRIDE GP: TOTAL ELIMINATION - August 10th, 2003 - Saitama Super Arena, Tokyo, Japan

The word in Japan is all about the PRIDE Grand Prix. DSE announced the first 7 fighters of the line up for 'PRIDE GP 2003' at a press conference on June 25th.

COMPETITORS:
Ricardo Arona
Alistair Overeem
Chuck Liddell
Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson
Wanderlei Silva
Kazushi Sakuraba
Hidehiko Yoshida
'X'

'There is no truth to the rumors of Igor Vovchanchin' states PRIDE insider Booker K, Koichi Kawasaki. 'I handle Igor's PRIDE appearances, and he will not be in the tournament.'

He goes on to reveal that the Gracie famlily member rumor is stronger, but also not confirmed. During the press conference, Renzo Gracie made an appearance and Renzo spoke with Mr. Takada (PRIDE General Manager). He reportedly said 'Mr.Takada, you promised PRIDE GP would take a member of my family! Why has a Gracie not been confirmed yet? My brother Ryan, my cousin or me = we are all ready to fight!'

Mr.Takada answered 'There are many good guys here, so please wait little more.'

Mr. Sakakibara stated later to the press that 'we really want to have the final fighter be from Japan, We have a fighter in mind who is experenced and has fought in PRIDE, and we are still under negotiations.' So eveyone must wait little bit longer.

The really big news, of course, is the presence of UFC/Zuffa president Mr. Dana White. He attended the press conference, bringing UFC fighter Chuck Liddell. Dana said 'I want to set up Chuck Liddell vs Vanderlei Silva.' The talk since then has been strictly UFC v. PRIDE!

Source: ADCC

Heightened Activity:
McGee Tapped To Take On Heavyweight Champ Sylvia

By Loretta Hunt

It looks like the UFC has lined up a sizable main event for its next installment proposed for September. After weeks of back and forth negotiation, Gan McGee's camp confirmed late today that he has been secured to meet heavyweight champion Tim "The Maine-iac" Sylvia in the Octagon at UFC 44. It's a headliner of astronomical proportions -- challenger McGee stands at 6'10", while champion Sylvia is just shy of that mark at 6'8".

From his home yesterday in California, "The Giant" remained sober and focused, having this to say about his upcoming title bout: "It's just another fight to me," he commented, taking time out from video games to speak with FCF. "I'm not going to get all caught up and get all silly about it being a title fight. A fight's a fight. I'm just gonna get ready for five rounds and go out there and 'do it to it'."

McGee first appeared in the UFC at UFC 28, picking up his sole career loss at the hands of Josh Barnett. He was absent from the promotion for nearly 2 years until last September's UFC 39, where as a highly regarded underdog, he knocked Brazilian veteran Pedro Rizzo against the fence with a powerful overhand right late in the first round. With a broken nose, Rizzo could not answer the second round bell. McGee returned once again in February for UFC 41, where he knocked out Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Cafe Dantas in the first round.

With the announcement of this match-up, talk will inevitably turn to how these two athletes' towering frames will translate in battle. It's a thought that has not escaped McGee as he begins preparation for September. "Actually, I think it's probably going to throw both of us off a little bit. I'm gonna try and find a couple of the tall guys to spar with. I probably won't have anyone of Tim's caliber at that height, but I'll try and get one of the tall guys for my timing and reach so I'm used to that."

McGee trains out of The Pit in San Luis Obispo with John Hackleman and Chuck Liddell. Sylvia is a product of the Miletich Martial Arts Team in Iowa and is 2-0 in UFC action. An official date for UFC 44 has yet to be released.

Source: FCF

Matt Hughes: Working Man’s Champion
By Jason Probst

Matt Hughes is cut from a different cloth, and nobody knows it better than his opponents. Fighting the two-time NCAA and reigning UFC welterweight champion is invariably the beginning of taxing evening. In the wake of four title defenses, he’s faced the gauntlet of styles, and beaten all of them.

As he improves with each outing, Matt Hughes may well be approaching the unassailable “U” word -- unbeatable -- or at least the closest manifestation to it in mixed martial arts. Since winning the title over Carlos Newton in UFC 34, there have been a lot of champions in other divisions. Hughes is the UFC’s constant, its testament to continuity, something the sport can never have too much of.

A fighter’s cultural background shapes his thinking processes, which in turn can influence his style. Hughes is a paragon of the Midwestern farmer archetype, whose characteristic traits do not lend themselves to sloth. He rises early and gets to bed late when working his fields along with his twin brother, Mark. He is humble, plainspoken, and unpretentious. It’s hard work, and probably no small contributor to his dominance in the Octagon. Bucking hay all day won’t help you defend against the guillotine, but it might make your single-leg takedown so explosive that you won’t need to.

For the fine touches in his game, and refining the nuances, he’s got Team Miletich. He returns to them in Davenport, Iowa, to buck heads with the best mixed martial artists in the sport to prepare for his challengers. Yet, often, he’s not there until his opponent has been in camp for a month or two. The rumor is that he doesn’t train that much for opponents. Various figures spread around include a month, a few days, a few weeks. Can this be true, especially for a guy that is unbeaten in 12 fights over the past three years?

“For the Sherk fight I trained about three weeks, or maybe it was four weeks,” Hughes told Maxfighting, taking the call on his cell somewhere in the middle of his fields in Evanston, Illinois. “For Carlos Newton I trained two weeks for the second match. For Sakurai I trained two months, and for Gil Castillo I trained maybe a week. I work out in the morning, and then I pass the time and take a nap. In the evening I work out again. But when I’m farming, I’m working all day. There’s no time to rest. In a lot of ways, training is a lot easier.”

“When I’m farming, it’s hard work. When I’m training, I work out in the morning and have nothing to do in the afternoons, there’s no farm in Iowa,” Hughes said. “Farming is an all-day thing, as a matter of fact that’s what we’re doing right now. Farming is a lot harder than working out.”

Hughes took a unanimous decision over Sherk, whose own reputation as a powerhouse left the champion impressed. He gives his challenger high marks on the rousing scrap, which saw Hughes dominate the first two rounds, Sherk come back in the next two, and then Hughes take the final round. Sherk was gutty and put Hughes on his back for extended periods, a rare occurrence. Hughes’ guard and defense from his back was sufficient enough to survive Sherk’s attack and take the fight back to standing up, at which point he simply took the powerful Sherk down again.

Reflecting upon it, his defeat of someone perceived so much like him, Hughes realized that the best defense against Sherk was a good offense.

“He’s a good fighter. I dominated the first round. It looked like I cut him, and then I loosened up a little bit and maybe underestimated him for the rest of the fight,” Hughes said. “ So he ended up taking me down. He’s got a really quick shot. I realized I had to take him down, not to really strike so much as to keep him from taking me down.”

Hughes says the UFC is considering matching him against a heavier opponent in a non-title match, someone he would only describe as, “a really big name, somebody that hasn’t been in UFC.” He figures he’ll weigh in the low 180s for the fight. While Randy Couture recently became the first fighter to capture titles in two divisions with his defeat of Chuck Liddell, no one in the UFC has been able to move up in weight and capture a second title.

The sport is tough enough with so many hungry fighters, so many ways to lose against those your own size, to say nothing of challenging bigger men. Hughes is as good a bet as anyone else to do it, if for no other reason than he seems to become closer and closer to invincible with each outing.

He may have run out of opponents and moving up in weight could be the kind of challenge, the accompaniment of danger, to test the aura Hughes adds to with each textbook performance. He also has no plans on giving up the family business of farming which is no source of good news for future challengers.

Source: Maxfighting

UFC 44: BATTLE OF THE GIANTS

Two big giants will headline UFC 44. Gan McGee will fight Tim Sylvia for the UFC Heavyweight Championship, as the match was confirmed by McGee's trainer John Hackleman live on MMAWeekly Radio yesterday. The two big fellas will bang in a matchup between two men who are 6'8 in Tim Sylvia against 6'10 Gan McGee.

As far as the rest of the card is concerned, nothing has been confirmed. It's all speculation. Here's a rumored card that has NOT been confirmed by the UFC, just some fighter camps who believe this is how it could shape up.

UFC 44 Rumored Fights- September 26

- Tim Sylvia vs. Gan McGee

- Robbie Lawler vs TBA

- Josh Thompson vs. Gerald Strebendt

- Rich Franklin vs. Edwin Dewees

- Dave Strasser v. Karo Parisyan

- David Louiseau v. Jorge Rivera

- Dennis Hallman v. Jeremy Jackson

- Hermes Franca v. Caol Uno

Source: MMA Weekly

Kiyoshi Tamura is the last Pride Grand Prix Entrant?

It's the question everyone wants to know. Who will get the last spot for the Pride Grand Prix in August? MMAWeekly.com has learned that Pride would like the last spot to go to a Japanese professional wrestler named Tamura.

Tamura is wanted by Pride to fill the eighth position. Tamura has a pro wrestling background and fought in Rings. He is very popular with the Japanese fans; in fact, so popular that he was recently voted #1 over Sakuraba by Japanese fans of who they wanted to see fight in the Pride Fighting Championships in a recent survey.

The biggest obstacle for Pride right now is trying to work out a deal. Some members of the Japanese Press believe a deal won't be reached between the two because of some negotiation problems.

Pride is pushing hard to sign him for the last spot in the Grand Prix. Whether they can actually sign him for this tournament is another story.

Source: MMA Weekly

BJ Penn Teaches at Matt Lindland's Camp

Matt Lindland recently held a camp for all comers up in Oregon a week ago and these are some of the pictures from the camp. Guys like BJ Penn, Randy Couture, Trainer John Hackleman and others put on a great camp to teach fighters the basics of MMA fighting.

Source: MMA Weekly

6/26/03

Quote of the Day

"No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward for what he gave."

Calvin Coolidge

DEEP 10th Impact Results
Held June 25, 2003
at Korakuen Hall - Tokyo, Japan
By Mark Ginther

Here are the results of DEEP 10th Impact (times are unofficial)
Crafter-M def. Shoichi Ichimiya by rear-naked choke in the first round.
Testuya Onose def. Kazuki Okubo by KO (punches) 1:36 into the 1st round.
Hidetada Irie def. Hirohide Fujinuma by unanimous decision.
MAX Miyazawa vs. Yoshinori Oniki, draw
TAISHO def. Noboru Asahi by TKO (punches from in guard) 43 seconds into the 2nd round.
Hayato "Mach" Sakura def. Dave Menne by doctor stoppage (cut) 2:11 into the 2nd round.

Source: FCF

DSE Makes Seven Official;
One More Remains for PRIDE GP

By Yoshinori Ihara (www.boutreview.com ) (June 26, 2003)

Dream Stage Entertainment held a press conference on June 25 in Tokyo to announce new entries in the PRIDE Grand Prix eight-men middleweight tournament scheduled for August 10 at the Saitama Super Arena. Newly added are Ricardo Arona, Alistair Overeem, and "UFC assassin" Chuck Liddell. The remaining competitor along with the superfights will be announced in seven to 10 days. DSE has offered the final slot to a Japanese fighter who's fought in PRIDE. Said Nobuhiko Takada: "He is favorably compare with the other members." If the Japanese fighter doesn't accept to fight, a member of the Gracie family will be selected. Save Hidehiko Yoshida, all the fighters officially on the card attended the press conference.

"I'll be back to UFC with PRIDE belt," Liddell said. "I want to fight with Vanderlei Silva." UFC president Dana White also attended and made a request for PRIDE fighters to compete in the UFC. "It's no matter that PRIDE and UFC double title match is held," Nobuyuki Sakikabara (president of DSE) said. "UFC fighters will really feel the high quality of PRIDE fighters after PRIDE-GP. This will be the good chance of sales promotion of PRIDE to USA market." PRIDE-GP is televised on Fuji Television in Japan in the night of the show. The U.S. broadcast will be aired on iNDEMAND and satellite pay-per-view just hours after the live fights in Tokyo.

Source: Maxfighting

Interview: SuperBrawl Middleweight tournament champion Joe Doerkson

The SuperBrawl 30 “size Does Matter” show earlier this month contained the finals of the Middleweight tournament series put on by Extreme Challenge and SuperBrawl. Just like the “Return Of The Heavyweight” series last year this one was a series of three tournaments, the first one held in Davenport, IA and the second held in Salt Lake City with the original idea being the two finalists from each qualifier and maybe one of the most exciting fighters of each night moving on to the third tournament in Hawaii. Jay Buck and Brendan Seguin were the finalists in IA while Tim Kennedy and Cruz Chacon were the finalists in UT.

Tim Kennedy had to drop out of the show due to a training injury but is said to be recovering well. Cruz Chacon dropped out but could not be reached for comment. Unofficial word is he dropped a weight class, which could not be confirmed as of this writing. Joe Doerkson earned a slot based on his record despite being injured for the SLC show and not competing in a qualifier. Jason Miller, Johnathan Goulet, and Denis Kang were the SLC vets to get invited while 808 Fight Factory’s Desmond Miner and Grappling Unlimited’s Kaipo Kalama Miller rounded out the tournament.

In the first round of the tournament Jason Miller got the decision on Jay Buck, Doerkson submitted Miner, Kang submitted Seguin, and Kaipo Miller KO’d Goulet. In he second round Doerkson KO’d Buck and Kang picked up a decision over Kaipo. This left Kang/Doerkson for the finals which would have been a rematch of UCC 11 from last year where Doerkson pulled out a triangle choke on Kang for the win, however Kang was injured in his 2nd fight and Brendan Seguin was put back in for the finals only to lose to Doerkson by TKO in 2:14.

KM: You’re the man. You won the tournament. What are your thoughts on winning? JD: I’m happy.

KM: Last time we talked was right before the Davenport show when you were injured. JD: Yeah, I pulled out because of my back.

KM: The first round you beat Desmond Miller. What do you recall from that fight? JD: He’s a real good standup guy so I was a little worried about that but not too worried because I’ve been working my standup like crazy. I thought it would be smarter to take him down because that would be his weakness. He was a little bit hesitant to throw so I think he threw a leg kick and landed a little off balance with his left leg forward and I went for a single leg takedown. Once I got on top of him he didn’t really have much to give me so I threw a few punches. He gave me his back and I worked a choke in. His defense on the ground was allright but he didn’t really escape positions that well. He’s a young kid, not a lot of experience. Another year or two down the line he might be a bigger name in the sport.

KM: That must have been a good start for the evening. JD: I came out ad had a two and a half minute fight. I didn’t get hit, didn’t get injured, so that was basically going into the second fight fresh.

KM: The second one must have been a little intimidating with Jay Buck winning the IA qualifier but you knocked him out in something like 40 seconds. JD: Yeah, with a kick to the head.

KM: How did that feel at the time? JD: Pretty good. I wouldn’t say I was intimidated going in. He’s a tough kid, there is no doubt about it, but if I’m intimidated then I tend not to do so well. My attitude has changed since the Loiseau fight. I kind of just go in there and throw and whatever happens happens. I don’t care. I’m not there to be safe, I’m there to entertain.

KM: Would you say you are more jaded now? JD: I think the experiences I had last year with the losses gave me a little bit of a different perspective. Number one I was forced to learn new things and become more well-rounded. Number two I just kind of changed my attitude about fighting. I’m not trying to be somebody special or make a name for myself. I just want to go out there and do what I do and whatever happens happens. Sooner or later I’m going to get caught, I’m going to get knocked down or knocked out. Maybe I’m a little bit crazier than I should be but I’ll just come back and win again too.

KM: The third round was Brendan Seguin, the other finalist from the IA show. That one was your longest and ended with a TKO. JD: I felt a little bit off at the beginning of the round. He’s pretty quick with his hands, landed a few punches. He stunned me a bit, we went to the floor, on the floor I was on the bottom (and) he was real careful not to get caught. He didn’t throw any punches from the top, I was the only one doing anything. The referee stood us up for lack of action and he landed a couple more punches. I guess at that time I found my timing. He threw a couple more punches and I leaned back outside his range. He punched and I drove in left/right/left. One of those must have hit him because he went down. I got on top of him and started swinging. I thought of going for a footlock but my cornerman just yelled for me to keep punching. I think I landed 15-20 punches without missing a single one. He didn’t really do much to get away. He was a little upset with the ref afterwards but I really don’t think he was going to go anywhere. Every single one was finding it’s mark and I was swinging hard. I think maybe he just didn’t have any time to recover because I just kept the pressure on him. My strategy there was to keep hitting him. I knew he was hurt so I wanted to keep hitting him until the ref stopped it. I didn’t want to give him a chance to recover. He’s a tough kid. If there is an opportunity to finish it you want to take it.

In part 2 we discuss changes to Joe’s training and what may be on the horizon for this champion.

Source: ADCC

Interview (Part 3): DEAN 'THE MACHINE' LISTER

ADCC Absolute Division Champion Dean Lister fights to defend his King Of The Cage Middleweight belt this weekend. Here is the third and last part of Dean’s thoughts.

KM: You are training for your next fight while teaching at City Boxing. Most fighters stop doing the serious high impact training about a week before a fight and just do conditioning or low impact cardio work. Are you going to be teaching up until the very end? DL: Yeah, I’ll be teaching. I don’t have that luxury; I’m not just a fighter, I’m a teacher also. I have to put my work in, that’s just the way it is. It’s no big deal, I’m used to it.

KM: Both you and James Lee are teachers. James leads MASH and you teach at City Boxing. Is there any kind of teacher versus teacher rivalry or anything to prove? DL: No. In one interview I read he mentioned we are friends. We are. It’s kind of funny we are fighting…he’s one of the guys I wouldn’t want to fight. I don’t like fighting people that I know. There are enough knuckle heads to fight that you don’t know I kind of figure you wouldn’t want to fight someone you do know. That’s ok, we are both professionals, both teachers. We both realize a lot of people look up to you if you win or not. You gain a lot of students and lose a lot of students based on your performance. You get to see who your friends are; who stays with you through the hard times and who are the bandwagon riders. I thin based on whoever wins this fight one guy is going to get an upswing in students, one guy will get a downswing. I think that’s unfortunate for one guy and fortunate for the other but that’s not the driving motive for this fight. There is no animosity. He’s going to try to knock me out or make me give up and I’m going to go out and do the same to him and afterwards the winner will probably buy the loser a beer. There is no animosity from that team to my team or from me to him at all.

KM: Both you and James are friends with Vernon “Tiger” White. How does Vernon fit into all of this? Would you fight Vernon? DL: Vernon and I talked about it before. We didn’t really want to fight each other. We almost did one time but it actually never happened. I know Vernon better than I know James, a lot more. Vernon by the way is being very neutral on the subject. I haven’t even asked him what James Lee does. First of all I don’t think he’d tell me and second of all that would be messed up for me as a friend to put him in that situation. I don’t think James Lee has tried to pick Vernon’s brain.

KM: You have a total of 64 wins and 9 loses, 51 of which by submission or almost 80% by submission. That is a very high submission percentage. I don’t know what the highest is off hand but how do you feel about that? DL: I look at it like this: if someone can beat me by a point I feel if the time went longer I’d submit them eventually. Even if someone thinks they got close or they were winning up until the time I submitted them I was going to submit them anyways. If I can’t it just means the match didn’t go long enough. They won, they beat me or they knocked me out…that’s great. I don’t really look at me winning or losing a fight based on a decision, I don’t count it as a real victory or a loss. I don’t. It means I survived and he survived. That’s all it means. They have to have a winner officially and I understand that but that is not a real win or a real loss. I want to win, I want to beat my opponent, I want to work to have the better day and the way to prove that is by finishing the fight. Even if your opponent is up by ten points and you submit him you definitely won. You won by a landslide. You made him give up or you knocked him out. That’s what I’m going for. In the process I’m definitely open for people going for submissions on me or knocking me out. I take a lot of chances and over time I’ve gotten really good at taking those chances.

KM: Just this morning I was watching that KOTC “Cold Blood” show and you took those chances. It looked like he almost had you in that heel hook and then the triangle…you were taking those chances and paying the price for them but you whipped out the submission at the end to win that one. DL: I throw real hard punches from the guard. They are going to open up arm locks and triangles. When you take those kind of chances you get good at landing hard punches from the guard or doing good takedowns. You are going to run into knees and one can knock you out but if he misses with the knee and you get in fast he’s going to fall down for sure now that he’s off balance. You take a chance but the more you take the chances the better you get. If somebody wants to gamble with me and go chance for chance the odds are in my favor usually.

KM: I haven’t seen the fight with Seguin where you won the belt. How do you look back on the Seguin fight? DL: It was a good fight, a tough fight. I had to drop a lot of weight and I made 185. A lot of people don’t think I made that weight. I dropped so much weight…it’s pretty depressing for me to see people say I wasn’t at the same weight. He was like 184 and I was bigger the day of the fight but I made 185. I was so sick and weak and tired, I felt really heavy and sloshy the next day. I made that weight and really sacrificed and cut a lot of my energy out. It was one of those fight I had to push through because I was physically so weak. My overall energy level was terrible. Seguin is a tough guy and his gameplan was interesting against me, just try to stay away. He landed two really good shots on me the whole match; one knee, one punch. That is it. I ran into a knee and I was fine, I got back to my feet and took him down again. My shots were a little slow but I just pushed through and won that match. If someone thinks that they tagged me a few times in the face and got a few jabs in…they’re not beating me. They may think they are but they have to knock me out and then I’ll totally give them the props. That didn’t happen in that match. I had an armlock on Seguin in the second round and the bell rang. He was not getting out of that armlock. No doubt in anybody’s mind the bell saved him there. He had a lot of heart, he didn’t tap. His arm popped a lot of times and it was going to break but time ran out. In the third round I got him in the triangle choke and he had to tap because he was going to fall asleep. I wish there was one fifteen minute round to be honest so we wouldn’t have to keep getting up off the ground but eventually I feel I’m going to finish my opponent. If not it just means I have to work harder at something.

KM: As far as the next ADCC if you had to choose would you choose MMA or ADCC? DL: Well, both. I’m going to do the next ADCC but that’s in two years. I’ll prepare for these grappling tournaments but I’m a MMA fighter. My priority from now on as a matter of fact will be in striking. Since people aren’t engaging me in grappling I need to sharpen the tools that I will be using against my opponent. If he’s running away from me, back peddling, and circling I can’t just be shooting in and try to ground my opponent…it’s going to wear me out and get me tired. I need to be smarter. After this fight my priority is going to switch to striking and hopefully people are going to try to engage me in grappling a little more.

KM: Any sponsors to thank? DL: My friend Ron at Marina Mortgage and Sycuan Casino here in San Diego and Bad Boy Fightwear. They’ve been helping me out and got me on a big billboard in Japan.

KM: Any final thoughts like the ten months or so you’ve been out of the cage? DL: I’m very glad to be back. I had a few injuries I had to recover from. I’d say to the fans that I will do my best and try my hardest to make sure one of us gets knocked out or submitted. That’s my goal.

Source: ADCC

8 Man 205 LB Tournament News: IFC's MAJOR SEPTEMBER Offering...

Word is getting out on the IFC's HUGE event for September.

Today, we just confirmed that Brazilian TOP TEAM's Paulo Filho is returning to fight in the amazing IFC 8 Man Tournament scheduled for September 6th at Pepsi Center Arena in Denver, Colorado.

After his last win in Pride against Akira Shoji, Paulo took some time off to recover from several nagging injuries and now is ready for action again!

The card looks awesome! It seems that we may see again the BTT X Chute Boxe rivalry, as Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua is representing the team from Curitiba.

Finally, it looks like transplanted Brazilian Babaloo Sobral will also fight in the tourney. Representing RUAS Vale Tudo, Babaloo enters the ring for the first time since his UFC loss to Chuck Lidell.

The IFC has 3 Brazilians from three of the bigest schools in Brazil in the same tourney. Stay tuned for more developments.

Source: ADCC

Holyfield to face Toney

Evander Holyfield will fight IBF cruiserweight champion James Toney in a 10-round non-title fight, maybe in Las Vegas, on 4 October.

Holyfield, a four-time world heavyweight champion, had hoped to fight WBC champion Roy Jones Jr. but negotiations for that fight stalled over money.

The 40-year-old Holyfield, who has won 38, lost six and drawn two of his 46 fights, continues to fight in a quest to become undisputed world champion.

In Toney, he faces a man who began his career at middleweight and has since risen through boxing's divisions.

The 34-year-old has held world titles at three weights and has suffered just four defeats in 72 contests.

Source: ADCC

6/25/03

Quote of the Day

"In my day, we didn't have self-esteem, we had self-respect, and no more of it than we had earned."

Jane Haddam

"TOTAL ELIMINATION" IS COMING!

LOS ANGELES, California - Today Dream Stage Entertainment announced four of the official participants of the eight man middleweight tournament, which will take place at the next PRIDE FC event dubbed "TOTAL ELIMINATION."

The brackets have not been finalized, but currently scheduled to participate are: reigning PRIDE FC Middleweight World Champion Wanderlei Silva, number one ranked middleweight contender Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, Japanese fighting legend Kazushi Sakuraba, and Judo Olympic gold medallist Hidehiko Yoshida.

The four remaining tournament participants as well as the three scheduled heavyweight bouts will be announced from Tokyo within the coming weeks.

TOTAL ELIMINATION features the opening round of the middleweight tournament (4 tournament matches will take place that event, in addition to 3 non-tournament heavyweight matches) and is scheduled for August 10, 2003 from the Saitama Super Arena in Japan. The event will also premiere on North American pay per view (through iNDEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH NETWORK, and TVN) on August 10th via same day delay.

The final rounds of the TOTAL ELIMINATION tournament will take place at the next PRIDE FC event---FINAL CONFLICT, which is scheduled for November 9, 2003 from the Tokyo Dome.

Fight Card

The opening round of an eight man middleweight tournament, featuring:
Wanderlei Silva
Kazushi Sakuraba
Quinton Jackson
Hidehiko Yoshida
As well as three heavyweight matches.

(A total of 7-8 bouts will be scheduled. Fight Card is subject to change.)

Source: FCF

Brazilian Beat

Assuerio and Saulo in Muay Thai, RN Vale Tudo 2 results, MECA 9 in the works, Cacareco with Barra Gracie, Minotauro ready to fight and Belfort hitting the TV shows!

The Brazilian Beat:
As June flies by, with no major events taking place in Brazil, plenty of action is going on behind the scenes. New events are in the works all the time and July will come bringing plenty of action for all types of fighting fans. The next edition of STORM Muay Thai is coming up, and MECA 9 is already taking shape. Both events will have one fighter in common: PRIDE veteran Assuerio Silva will be making his return to the NHB ring as well as competing in Muay Thai for the first time in three years! If that may seem amazing, how about July bringing Jiu-Jitsu great Saulo Ribeiro in Muay Thai action as well? Yes, you read it right! Saulo will be venturing into a new NHB and Muay Thai show to take place in Rio de Janeiro, bringing NHB back to the Jiu-Jitsu capital of the world. Now, this is not the only odd set of news for this edition of this column, as long time Ruas Vale Tudo team member Alexandre Cacareco is now with Barra Gracie, something that was unthinkable in the past. In this edition we also bring you Vitor Belfort news, Minotauro's plans, and RN Vale Tudo 2 results, as well as plenty more, so get your fighting gear ready as Full Contact Fighter once again unleashes "The Beat" in odd style and as always full of Brazilian rhythm!

After his quick work of tough KOTC veteran Marvin Eastman at UFC 43, Vitor Belfort has been taking some time to make appearances on numerous TV shows in Brazil. This past week "The Phenom" could be seen on some of Brazil's most famous TV shows, which target different types of audiences, talking about his last fight and showing footage of it, mentioning his plans, and most importantly talking about the sport of NHB, giving it a good exposure to the general public. Vitor criticized the lack of support for such a tough and exciting sport such as No Holds Barred, and explained to the general audience the intense commitment and tough training an NHB athlete must submit himself to in order to succeed, helping to erase the image of pure brawlers and trouble-makers that fighters usually have. Next Monday, Belfort is going to get back to his training routine, and he told FCF he wants to fight Couture as soon as possible.

After a long hiatus due to knee problems and personal issues, Chute Boxe heavyweight Assuerio Silva is now finally getting back to action! In fact, he is going to get plenty of it, as he is set to fight both Muay Thai and NHB in the near future. Assuerio's adventure will start with a tough gig at the next edition of STORM Muay Thai in Curitiba, where he is set to face Brazilian Top Team member and STORM GP runner up Edson Drago, in a truly heavyweight match. Assuerio hasn't fought a Muay Thai match in three years, but is indeed excited about the chance and looking for a knockout in the fight. After his STORM outing, the PRIDE veteran is also scheduled to fight at MECA 9 in early August, probably against another Brazilian Top Team member in Fabiano Scherner.

Speaking of STORM Muay Thai, the next show promises some entertaining battles for the fans, showing the always-improving trend of the event. STORM is scheduled for July 5th, as always in the gorgeous Opera de Arame, one of the traditional landmarks of Curitiba. Tickets are already on sale, and besides Assuerio Silva's fight, the likely card will have 11 more fights, with the most important ones being the return of Chute Boxe fighter Mauricio Amado facing Wagner Nega, his teammate and STORM veteran Fabio Tigrao matching up against Carlos, as well as the return of STORM GP stand out Helio Dipp facing STORM veteran Urso.

Muay Thai seems to be in vogue theses days in Brazil, and STORM won't be the only action happening in this sport in the coming days. In a very surprising move, Jiu-Jitsu great and Abu Dhabi champion Saulo Ribeiro is going to make his Muay Thai debut in July! Following Carlos Barreto's trend, Saulo is going to be yet another Jiu-Jitsu fighter being brave enough to put his neck on the line in a Muay Thai match, showing signs that he is probably preparing hard for an NHB comeback in the near future. Ribeiro is going to fight Muay Thai at a brand new event to take place in Rio de Janeiro, mixing Muay Thai matches with NHB fights, called 1st Knock MMA & Muay Thai. The show will happen, as of now, on July 23rd. Among the 6 NHB matches scheduled for the night, fighters such as Claudionor Fontinelli and RVT member Aloisio Barros are likely to participate.

The PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix, set to take place in August, is still the main subject in NHB circles in Brazil. With names like Wanderlei Silva, Quinton Jackson, Kazushi Sakuraba and now Hidehiko Yoshida confirmed, there is still a big question mark regarding which Brazilian Top Team member is going to represent the team in the big show. At this point, chances are high that Ricardo Arona (who is now once and for all accepted as a BTT member again) will be the team's representative at the GP, although there is still a chance that UFC Champion Murilo Bustamante may be the chosen one! Either way, look for the one that ends out of the GP to do a single bout in PRIDE soon, likely in August as wel.

 

After leaving the Ruas Vale Tudo team, Abu Dhabi 2003 Absolute and up to 99kg division runner-up Alexandre Cacareco is now surprisingly training with Barra Gracie! Cacareco was training under Master Osvaldo Alves, who is on good terms with Barra Gracie, and received an invitation from Marcio "Pe de Pano" Cruz to join the training at the BG Academy. Alexandre not only accepted, but he liked the training as well.

Speaking of the Ruas Vale Tudo team, training in the academy is still going strong after Pedro Rizzo's win at UFC 43. UFC, RINGS and WEF veteran Renato "Babalu" Sobral is training hard for his fight at Britain's newest NHB show, Extreme Force, scheduled to take place on July 13th. Babalu has been feeling well and is excited about his fight against Golden Glory member Khalid Arrab. The Brazilian fighter is set to depart for England along with his trainers on July 6th.

MECA World Vale Tudo 9 is already in the works, with plans to take place in early August! Promoters Rudimar Fedrigo and Jorge Guimaraes are likely taking the show out of Curitiba for the first time in MECA's history, bringing it to the traditional and gorgeous small city of Teresopolis, in the state of Rio de Janeiro. The show is likely to be held in the same venue where Carlson Gracie's show HEROES took place, and the fight card is in the works promising some exciting bouts, such as Assuerio Silva squaring off against BTT fighter Fabiano "Pega Leve" Scherner, Chute Boxe sensation Mauricio "Shogun" Rua against Carlinhos Lima, and MECA 8 stand outs Daniel Acacio and Delson "Pe de Chumbo" facing each other in what has the potential to be an energetic and exciting bout.

Brazilian promoter and K-1 representative in Brazil, Sergio Batarelli, has a new weapon in his arsenal that he is going to unveil to the Japanese audience soon. Montanha Silva is the newest Brazilian fighter planning to take K-1 by storm, with the difference that he has some peculiar characteristics. Montanha is a giant with 2.20 meters (approximately 7'3") and 180kg (397 pounds), allegedly with only 5% of body fat. Even if those numbers aren't entirely accurate, one thing is certain, he is huge! On June 29th, he will be making his K-1 debut against Japanese fighter Musashi, at K-1 Beast 2, and has already signed a 2-year contract to fight in K-1, NHB and do Pro Wrestling. The 26-year-old fighter is being marketed as the Brazilian version of Bob Sapp, let's see what the future holds for the South American giant.

Brazilian Top Team legend and PRIDE idol Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira is already preparing himself to make his comeback to NHB after his loss by judges' decision to Emelianenko Fedor. The former PRIDE Heavyweight champion is fighting on August 10th, in PRIDE as always, in a single bout with an as yet to be confirmed opponent. Rumors are going strong that he may going to face Croatian fighter Mirko "Cro Cop", but at this point this is not certain. Minotauro was in Europe doing seminars recently, and when asked about a fight against Mirko he, as his usual self, said he welcomes the match. His manager Mario Sperry is going to fly to Japan next Monday, and will likely come back with plenty of deals for his fighters as usual.

The second edition of RN Vale Tudo took place this past Friday, June 13th, in the beautiful city of Natal. The minor league show promoted by Conrado Carlos, had two 4-man tournaments, one below 72kg and the other below 82kg, serving as a qualifier for his next big event. The Palacio dos Esportes Arena had a crowd of 1,200 spectators that witnessed Jiu-Jitsu fighter Magnus Decio defeat both Renato "Mao de Pedra" and Loca to take the up-to-72kg title, while Kimura/Nova Uniao fighter Fabio Bolinho cleaned the house defeating Ary Marcel and surprising Bitetti Combat veteran Rivanio Aranha in the final, getting the up-to-82kg title. In the event's superfights, Junior defeated Chicao by TKO, while Chute Boxe black belt and Kimura/Nova Uniao fighter Wallace defeated Bambam by judges' decision. Both Magnus Decio and Fabio Bolinho are likely to appear in Natal's next big show.

Source: FCF

World-Class Group to Fight for IFC Belt


MaxFighting's Peter Lockley is reporting that the eight competitors for the International Fighting Championship's World Light Heavyweight Championship tournament set to take place September 6 inside Denver, Colorado's Pepsi Center are Jeremy Horn, Trevor Prangley, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, Michail Avetisyan,
Falaniko Vitale, Paulo Filho, Mike Van Arsdale, and Renato "Babalu" Sobral.

The purse for the tournament stands at $120,000, with $50,000 earmarked to the eventual winner. Up for grabs will be the IFC World light heavyweight belt, vacated because Chuck Liddell, the current champion, is under contract with Zuffa and the UFC. Also participating in single fights on the card are local products Nathan Marquardt and Amanda Buckner. Stay tuned for more information from Lockley, who is in Denver for today's press conference.

Source: Maxfighting

A SOFT SPOKEN BARONI HAS PLENTY TO SAY ON MMAWEEKLY RADIO

Phil Baroni appeared on Monday's MMAWeekly Radio Show as himself rather than the character of "The New York Bad Ass," but Baroni can be pretty controversial even when he's just being himself.

Baroni said that he considers himself the "top dog" in the UFC's middleweight division now that Matt Lindland knocked himself out. Lindland has beaten Baroni in the Octagon on two occasions, but Baroni still said, "Lindland is good at what he does, but I don't really think he's going anywhere. He's not a championship-level fighter. He's a good competitor but now a world class fighter."

Baroni said that he has defeated better fighters than Matt Lindland, specifically Dave Menne and Amar Suloev. Baroni also took more of a personal shot at Lindland by saying, "He needs to realize that this isn't an amateur wrestling match. He wants to know why he's on the prelims and why he has no fans? It's because he's boring and no one cares about him."

When asked to name the top-ranked five or six middleweights in his opinion, Phil Baroni listed them in the following order (starting with #1): Murilo Bustamante, Dan Henderson, Phil Baroni, Dave Menne, Amar Suloev, and Matt Lindland. Baroni said that Menne is the toughest guy in the division, and pointed out that he has already beaten Menne.

When asked about up-and-coming middleweight David Loiseau, Baroni said he doesn't think Loiseau brings much to the table in terms of being able to hurt him. Baroni also commented on two heavyweight fighters. He confirmed that Ricco Rodriguez filed a restraining order against him and called it a "smart move" on Ricco's part, and he also said that Frank Mir doesn't really have anyone good to train with.

Baroni thinks that Mir needs to go to a different training center if he wants to reach his full potential. (Baroni used to train in the same facility before leaving under controversial circumstances.)

Phil Baroni also said that he might one day move up to the 205-pound weight class, due to the fact that he sometimes cuts weight from as much as 225 pounds down to the middleweight division's limit of 185 pounds.

Baroni was planning to fight Chuck Liddell for the Light-Heavyweight Title if he beat Lindland, but that plan went out the window when he lost to Lindland. Baroni said that he could move up to light-heavyweight anytime he wants, but he would first like to win the Middleweight Title (which doesn't even exist right now) and clean out the division. Baroni also said that he might be interested in doing pro wrestling after he retires from MMA somewhere down the road.

If you can't listen at work today, then join us tonight and listen at your leisure. We have already started to fix the forward and rewind buttons on the players so we are starting with yesterday's show and going back daily, so check it out as Coleman will be featured today on the mmaweeklyradio.com program.

Source: MMA Weekly

6/24/03

Quote of the Day

"I'm all for gun control, I just define it a little differently. If you can put 2 rounds into the same hole from 25 meters, that's gun control! If you're going to own a gun, you have an obligation to know what you're doing with it. When the Constitution gave us the right to bear arms, it also made us responsible for using them properly."

Jesse Ventura

Cassio Cardoso Seminar
Next Tuesday and Wednesday!
*Correction: it is not tonight & tomorrow

Carlson Gracie Black Belt and Brazilian National Champion, Cassio Cardoso, will be doing a seminar at Relson Gracie's main academy on Tuesday and Wednesday night. Do not miss this opportunity to attend a seminar with a black belt that Roberto Traven, once called the best guard in Brazil, said that he looked up to because he has a good guard and Jacare Cavalcanti, one of the 5 black belts of the legendary Rolls Gracie and founder of the powerhouse Alliance Team, said that he has an exceptional guard.

When:
Tuesday, July 1 - No Gi
Wednesday, July 2 - Gi

Time: 7:30 - 9:30 pm (both days)
Cost: $35.00 per day
Where: Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy
844 Queen St. 2nd Floor

MMA Back TO Rio: K-NOCK Muay Thai/MMA

Artur Mariano brings MMA to city of Rio de Janeiro again!

K-NOCK Muay Thai/MMA, this is the chosen name to bring MMA back to the state of
Rio de Janeiro, and the person responsible is the well known Muay Thai/NHB
master Artur Mariano.

Mariano, who is known as the first guy to defeat Vanderlei Silva, wants
to be known as an efficient headcoach and promoter too. For that, first
he created the Champions Factory, a Muay Thai/NHB Team that is in the early stages of formation, and he joined forces with
Saulo Ribeiro and his students on Ribeiro's headquarters, Heavy Duty gym.

Mix Martial Arts:
Sandro 'Bala' (Champions Factory) x TBA
Johnny Eduardo (Boxe Thai) x Nigui (Carlson Gracie Team/CIAM)
Angelo Sergio (Boxe Thai) x Wagner Tulio (RFT)
Haroldo 'Cabelinho' Bunn (BTT) x Rodrigo Ruas (Ruas VT System)
Claudionor Fontinele (Champions Factory) x Aloisio Barros (Ruas VT System)

Main Event:
CYBORG (Champions Factory/BUDOKAN) x Luis Claudio das Dores (Bosco-Angra)

Muay Thai matches – all fights are disputes for Brazilian titles:
Eduardo Maiorino (Champions Factory) x Everton 'Gigante' (Shotokan Team)
Emerson Nunes (Champions Factory) x Eduardo 'Pedreira' (Ruas VT
System)

State of Rio de Janeiro titles:
Saulo Ribeiro (Champions Factory) x Fabio 'Indio' (Shotokan Cabo
Frio)
Clovis Mileu (Champions Factory) x Rodrigo das Neves (CIAM)
Mike Tyson (Champions Factory) x Marcus Vinicius (Boxe Thai)

Source: ADCC

REAL PRO WRESTLING TELEVISION DEAL LIKELY WITH FOX SPORTS NET FOR AUGUST

INDIANAPOLIS, JUNE 23 -- As the multitudes from the wrestling community who came to Indianapolis for the 2003 World Team Trials packed up and prepared to return home Monday morning, news of a major breakthrough for wrestling coverage on U.S. television was confirmed by Toby Willis, founder of RealProWrestling.

This group filmed a demonstration event last October in Los Angeles that drew universal praise from those both inside and outside of wrestling circles that witnessed it. That event featured real wrestling matches with the aim of establishing a professional league of real wrestling. Among those who wrestled in that event were Rulon Gardner and many other elite wrestlers who just competed here in the World Team Trials.

'The next step is to get on television and show not only the wrestling audience but also the general population what wrestling is all about and what RealProWrestling is all about,' said Willis, the group's founder. RealProWrestling was also one of the main sponsors of the World Team Trials.

He revealed that the group has been in talks with Fox Sports Net about putting on three shows this August based on the showcase event of last year. 'Things look pretty good to be on national television come August,' he said, adding that the formal signing of the deal and the issuing of a press release should come in the next week.

'It looks like we'll be on August 10, 17, and 24, as the primary showing,' he explained. The first two shows will be one hour each, with the third show running two hours. The time slot will be Sunday afternoon to evening, probably next to the 'Sunday Night Fights' boxing show. The actual schedule on each regional Fox Sports Net also may vary because of local sports programming airing in those times.

'Then after that we'll probably have more events after the World Championships in New York in September. So say, probably October, and looking to be back on television on a regular basis, not just a trial basis, come the end of this year or early next year. That will lead us into 2004 and the Olympic year, and a lot of promotions there,' he also said.

For the future, he has a general plan, but more specifics need to be determined. 'It's hard for us to look past a year down the road,' said Willis, 'but ideally we'd love to see maybe right after the Olympics the formation of a pro league.'

We will have more about RealProWrestling, and the World Team Trials, in days to come right here.

Source: Eddie Goldman/ADCC

INTERVIEW (PART 2): DEAN LISTER

ADCC Absolute Division Champion Dean Lister fights to defend his King Of The Cage Middleweight belt this weekend. In part 1 of this update we heard Dean speak about winning the Absolute Division, now in part 2 we hear Dean speak more about his upcoming fight.

Dean’s most recent fight out on video is King Of The Cage 12 “Cold Blood” from February of 2002 where he rematched Jason Flynn. Flynn had been his only loss in a split decision from “Wet and Wild” in February of 2001. In “Cold Blood” Dean had Jason on the defense in the beginning of the first round with an immediate combination and double leg, even getting full mount before Flynn evened the odds and came alive. By the end of a fantastic round 1 Jason actually instigated a trading of leg submissions, neither of which succeeded before the end of the round. In round 2 Dean was almost caught by a triangle choke before finishing Flynn with a kimura. For most of the fight it was Dean on top and Dean with most of the strikes, especially forearms from on top of Flynn to set up guard passes.

In KOTC 16 “Double Cross” Dean beat Brendan Seguin to take the belt last August. Unfortunately that show is still not available on video. With less than thirty seconds left in the fight Dean managed to catch Brendan in a triangle choke for the win. This show when it does come out on video is going to be a must since Dean’s title fight was just the first of three for the night with Javi Vazquez, Vernon White, and Jimmy Ambriz all also fighting on the card.

Now Dean takes on Brendan’s teacher from MASH James Lee in his first title defense.

KM: I’ve been hearing talk you might move up to 205. DL: We’re seeing what is going to happen. To be honest I have to cut a lot of weight to make 185 or 190 or whatever the case is. If I drop below 200 pounds I’m cutting a lot of weight. I’m actually a big guy. Starved down I’m like 198 and I drop the weight to make 185 so everyone is really surprised when they see me in my blown up state, when I’m drinking a lot of water and I’m eating and I’m more healthy. I’m meant to walk around around 210. We’re going to see where the opportunities are better, at 185 or 205. That’s pretty much up to my managers and me. We’re talking about it right now so we’ll see what happens.

KM: I was wondering when I heard you didn’t qualify for the second day of ADCC in your weight division but then you won the Absolute I was wondering did you cut too far down and gained it back for the day you won the Absolute. DL: Actually I was invited in a heavier division. I was invited in the 218 division so I was actually at my good weight. To be honest a big factor was I was relaxed the second day. Why? I think a lot of pressure was off me, I was a wild card in the draw. Given the situation the next day I felt really motivated. Nothing strengthens me more than when someone says I’m going to lose but when someone says ‘I think you can win this whole thing’ it puts a lot of pressure on me. Up here in KOTC my opponent is the underdog. I prefer to be in that situation.

KM: Is the pressure you are facing for this next KOTC more equivalent to the first day of ADCC or the second? Can you describe the pressure you are facing? DL: This isn’t spectacularly more pressure than I’ve had in the past. I’ve dealt with it before. What I like about fighting is it’s harder to stall. The guys that do better than me at Abu Dhabi are the ones that maybe know how to avoid my submission attempts, avoid my takedowns. I’m very aggressive. It’s kind of hard in KOTC where they have a very fast-paced cage, it’s not a very big area. Things are definitely going to happen. Someone has to come back and fight fire with fire to have a chance. To be very effective against my game they probably need more space. I look at the cage as my cage, it’s almost built for me. I feel like I’m going in to my home mat even though it’s not at my gym. I’m used to training in those small areas and my game is very aggressive, it’s hard to run away form me. If I lose a match it’s usually from that, from people that know how to evade me and they usually don’t go straight in…attack to tackle me. If they do that it’s possible I can make a mistake and they could beat me but it’s unlikely. I feel very confident, very good going into this type of environment. My opponent, he’s going to try to box me up. That’s ok, we’ll see what happens. I feel good about my takedowns and my game and overall forward pressure on my opponent. It’s pressure but it’s something I feel I’m prepared for.

KM: I’m speculating with what you said if the turning point is going to be if he can keep you at a distance or damage you on the feet or are you going to get it to the ground. I think that’s going to be the turning point. How are you preparing for that? DL: There is always the chance of something paying off, that earned or that lucky knockout punch that can come. If he’s putting all of his eggs in one basket saying that ‘I can’t be taken down’, oh boy. Even a better wrestler can be taken down just by one link. We’re going to end up on the ground. It’s very hard to never fall on the ground and if you fall on the ground that’s where…I believe one of the Machado brothers said it ‘my opponent can’t swim and we’re in the ocean and I’m a shark’. That’s my area, that’s where I’m at. Even if he can stop me ten times and I get him one time…I feel even if he has superior wrestling which I don’t think he does it’s going to be hard to never fall on he ground. I don’t care if I’m on bottom or top, I feel secure even if I start with my opponent mounted on me. I’ll get out.

KM: Last time I talked to you out in Reno you said when you came back from Brazil you’d have a couple weeks to work on striking training. What are you doing regarding that? DL: I’m no longer a grappling specialist. I spend a lot of my time striking and spending time you could otherwise perfect your grappling skills. I’m spending a lot of time doing that.

KM: Are you getting that training from City Boxing? DL: Yes.

KM: So what is learning striking at City Boxing like? DL: It’s top of the world instruction. We have Robert Garcia, defended his title something like 10 times. A legitimate champion. I think back in the 90s he held the belt. He’s not a fluke champion, he earned his way. You’re talking about somebody that not only knows what they are talking about with the boxing but they are a champion; they know how to train a champion, they know what it feels like to be a champion, and they can help you become one. I guarantee in a year my hands will become deadly. They are getting a lot better now than they were by far but it’s just going to take a little time. As far as the muay thai is concerned I have Mike Regnier from Fairtex. That guy is like 215 so he’s my size, a little heavier and taller. He has the real elbows, the real knees, the real clinch, so you have three different programs we teach at City Boxing and we all help each other out and I have the need to be helped out with striking.

Stay tuned for even more from the defending champion. For more information on City Boxing and the trainers Dean mentioned check out www.cityboxing.com. KOTC 25 takes place at Soboba Casino in San Jacinto this Sunday. Tickets are still available at www.ticketmaster.com.

Source: ADCC

SHOOTO Brazil July 12th
SHOOTO Brazil July 12th
Place: Instituto La Salle, Niteroi – RIO DE JANEIRO

Preliminary match:
Leonardo Nogueira (WFC) x TBA

Amateur SHOOTO matches, 'C' class (3x2 minutes rounds):
[Bantamweight -56kg] Aroninha (Team Arona) x Serginho (Team Claudio)
[Featherweight -60kg] Faisca (WFC) x William 'Parrudinho' (UA Fight Team)
[Featherweight -60kg] Kickboxer x Raul Carneiro (UA Fight Team)
[Lightweight -65kg] Maicon Alarcao (Sensei) x Igor (M2)
[Welterweight -70kg] Felipe (RFT) x Will (UA Fight Team)
[Middleweight -76kg] Gesias Cavalcanti (Sensei) x Fernando Cesar (Nova Uniao)
[Lightheavyweight -83kg] Antonio Sergio (Brazilian Fight) x Diego (RFT)
[Cruiserweight –91kg] Eric (Power GYM) x Thales Leite (Nova União)

'B' Class matches (5x2 minutes rounds):
[Welterweight -70kg] Fabricio 'Bicudo' (WFC) x China (Muay Thai)
[Lightheavyweight -83kg] Gustavo 'Careca' (Team Eugenio Tadeu) x Xande (Team Ze Marcelo)
[Lightheavyweight -83kg] Luis 'Besouro' Jr. (UA Fight Team) x Julio (Ilha do Governador)
[Cruiserweight –91kg] Tiago 'Marreta' (WFC) x Peter Holloph (Laser Company)

Source: ADCC

New Japan Pro Wrestling INVADES the USA...
TOUKON 'FIGHTING SPIRIT'
Date: 6/21'03 Saturday

In what marks one of the first crossovers for Mixed Martial Arts and Pro Wrestling on American soil,Antoni Inoki and New Japan Pro Wrestling put on an event called 'TOUKON' in Santa Monica, California. The event was sold out, with a crowd of roughly 300 people watching live.

The event featured Josh Barnett as a special guest. On the card were MMA competitors Jimmy 'The Titan' Ambriz, Justin McCully (who has been doing almost exclusively pro wrestling) and Shannon Ritch. Several Jpanaese pro wrestlers were bought in for the event, both to participate and to watch. In traditioal 'pro wrestling' fashion, Ambriz and McCully's Japanese opponents made them look good, as Ambriz may have a future in Japanese pro wrestling.

New Japan has been looking into running shows in the USA, as the American Pro Wrestling powerhouse WWE is looking to run events in Japan. This may be another outlet for certain MMA'ers in the US, as New Japan may be truly able to use MMA'ers, whereas the WWE has not proved an outlet, except for very few cases. This show is part of the CLIMAX 2003 tour, a tour in Japan that has been doing weekly events for several months and is rumored to be looking for a 2004 tour in the USA.

Source: ADCC

6/23/03

Quote of the Day

The reason why worry kills more people than work is that more people worry than work.

Robert Frost, 1875-1963, American Poet

Car Wash a Success!

The car success was a great success. We want to thank all the people who came down to support our cause and made very generous donations in addition to having their car washed. We appreciate it very much! The car wash was so successful that we are going to do it again next week Sunday. Please spread the word around that next Sunday, we'll be there from 8:00 am to about 4 or 5:00 pm again to wash cars. Here are the specifics again.

Why: Help support the Casca Grossa Jiu-Jitsu Academy (The Onzuka Brother's school) raise funds to compete in the World Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championships

Where: Union 76 Gas Station
2105 South King Street (next to McDonalds on the Makai side of the street)
Across the street from McCully Bike (between McCully and Isenburg)
If you are coming from the west, take the Punahou exit from H-1 and then take a left on South King. The Union 76 gas station is on your right (Makai side) of the street.

When: Sunday, June 29

Time: 8:00AM – 5:00PM
Cost: $5 most cars
$8 Vans, trucks and SUV’s

We still have a few School Kine cookies and about 25 Zippy's Chili tickets left to sell. Both are $5 each. Get your car washed and go down a block and eat some chili and have some cookies for dessert! What a combination!

Caique's son stars in Tournament

Big congratulations goes to Caique's son Pedro Elias. Pedro won both his purple belt weight and Absolute division in the Gi event. He then came back the next day and won the No-Gi as well, taking along the most technical fighter award and the fastest submission award!

Hey Pedro leave some trophies to others :) ! Congratulations to Pedro and proud 'Papa' Caique!

Source: ADCC

Drug agents arrest 15 people suspected of trafficking Ecstasy
BY JUSTIN WILLETT AND LARRY LEBOWITZ


Miami-Dade
Posted on Sat, Jun. 21, 2003

SUSPECTED TRAFFICKERS BUSTED: DEA agents busted a ring of suspected drug traffickers Friday. More than 70,000 tablets of the party drug Ecstasy and $500,000 in assets were seized.
Marcus 'Conan' Silveira, who participated in amateur fighting competitions, was arrested. NURI VALLBONA/HERALD STAFF


Federal agents on Friday arrested 15 people who they said were members of a smuggling ring that imported one million pills of the party drug Ecstasy into Miami from Spain between Nov. 2000 and July 2001.

The defendants, who include a Brazilian amateur fighter, a bail bondsman and a man who was expecting to finalize his U.S. citizenship when he was arrested Friday, were among 19 named in a federal indictment that was unsealed Friday. Authorities expect two more defendants to surrender. Two remain at large.

Joe Kilmer, a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration special agent, said the Miami Beach-based smuggling ring was a major supplier of Ecstasy, a pyschoactive drug with stimulant and hallucinogenic qualities that is known for making people feel warm and friendly.

''The agents feel like they identified an extremely close-knit and well-run organization,'' Kilmer said. ``To move one million pills is a lot. To move one million pills two years ago in less than a year is major.''

The case, dubbed Operation Spanish Fly, began in May 2001 when U.S. marshals arrested Eduardo Triana, 31, in Kendall for allegedly failing to appear in a 1998 DEA cocaine case out of Tampa and found 4,000 tablets of Ecstasy. Triana is serving 6 ½ years in prison.

Two months later, the marshals picked up another DEA fugitive and codefendant in the Tampa cocaine case, Edward J. Diaz, 33, at a Miami Beach condominium.

At Diaz's condo, which turned out to be the hub of the Ecstasy ring, agents discovered ''quite detailed'' ledgers that laid out the Ecstasy courier and distribution network, Kilmer said.

Diaz pleaded guilty June 13 but has not been sentenced.

DEA got help identifying the travel records of couriers identified in the ledgers from the old U.S. Customs Service.

The suspects, who are of Spanish, Brazilian and Cuban extraction, picked up the pills in Madrid, then smuggled them into the country using custom-made Neoprene body wraps secured to their ankles, thighs or torsos.

All of the people named in the indictment are charged with conspiracy to import Ecstasy, possession with intent to distribute Ecstasy and money laundering. They could each face up to 20 years in prison. All are from Miami-Dade or Broward County.

Among those arrested was Marcus Silveira, also known as ''Conan,'' a six-foot three-inch, 242-pound amateur fighting participant. His Brazilian ju-jitsu style has earned him a record of 5-4-0, according to Sherdog.com, a Website that tracks mixed martial arts fighters.

Another defendant, Larry Hector Jimenez, was duped into coming to DEA headquarters by immigration officials, who told him he needed to sign papers finalizing his citizenship application. Instead of a naturalization ceremony, Jimenez was handcuffed.

All of the defendants will make appearances Monday in front of a federal magistrate.

The other defendants include: Miami bail bondsman Sandro Deandrade, plus Jose Garcia, Jorge Ramos, Joseph Diaz, Eugenio Jimenez, Carlos Cardenas, Filiberto Casanova, Rovaldo Calero, Marcelo Da Silveira, Angel Gonzalez, Juan Alberto Morales, Luis Torres Correa, Alejandro Morilla, Orlando Imbert Marrero, Seriocha Arroyo Roman, Beatriz Marrero and Rosa Lasserre Sanchez.


Source: Miami Herald

ATT takes the NAGA Pro Div

ATT takes the cake in the Big NAGA show this weekend:

American Top Team won the team challenge at this weekend's NAGA event. Despite being rocked with the news that teammates Marcus 'Conan' Silveira & his brother were arrested as a result of a drug investigation (see story below), the fighters of ATT took the title with wins over FFA and Lloyd Irvin teams.

Bellow are the results:

ROUND1: LLOYD X RENZO

1. Danny Ives def Jared Weiner (3 submissions attemps)
2. Todd Margolis def Sean Williams (passed the guard)
3. Leo Dalla def Joe D'Arce ( Takedown)
4. Chris def Lloyd (Lloyd felt on the ground with the shoulder injury)
5. Rhadi Fergunson def Sean Alvarez (Takedown)
Final result: Lloyd 3X2 RENZO

Round 1: ATT X FFA

1. Parrumpinha def Mike Cardoso ( 2 takedowns, guard pass, knee on the belly and a mount)
2. Pablo Poppovitch def Marcos Avellan ( takedown)
3. Moacir Boca def Efrain Ruiz ( Advantage)
4. David Avelan def Amaury Bitetti (points 6 -4 )
5. Jeff Monsen def Renne Hernandez ( takedown and passed the guard)
Final result: ATT 4X1 FFA

FFA v RENZO

1. Mike Cardoso (FFA) def Danny Ives (by ankle lock advantage)
2. Marcos Avellan (FFA) def Shawn Williams (by takedown)
3. Joe D'Arce def Efrain Ruiz (FFA) (by one point)
4. David Avellan (FFA) def Mordente (takedowns and guard pass)
5. Sean Alvarez def Rene Hernandez (FFA) (keylock sub)

Final round: ATT X LLoyd

1. Parrumpinha def Weiner (takedown and mount)
2. Todd def Pablo ( submission: Triangle)
3. Dalla def Boca ( advantage)
4. Amaury def Lloyd ( Lloyd couldn't fight )
5. Jeff def Rhadi (takedown)
Final Result: ATT 3X2 LLOYD

3rd Place round: FFA 4X1 RENZO

1st Place - ATT
2nd Place - LLoyd
3rd Place - FFA
4th Place - Renzo

Source: ADCC

SHOOTO's Long Arm - September Developments!

September 21st, 2003
Port Messe Nagoya Second Hall Nagoya, Japan

In a notable SHOOTO bout, #3 ranked Hiroyuki Abe will take on #5 ranked Brazilian Joao Roque on SHOOTO's September card, scheduled for Nagoya, Japan. The bout will be at 143 lbs. Roque is on a huge winning streak, having defeated Naoya Uenmatsu in January for his fifth win in a row. Abe, one of SHOOTO's brightest young fighters, comes off a tough loss to champion 'Pequeno' Noguiera - Abe is now 1-1 versus the champ.

In a BJJ match, Leonardo Santos of Nova Uniao returns to SHOOTO - he lost a decision to Takanori Gomi in his only MMA match. Now he retruns to show off his BJJ black belt.

Announced Match:

Lightweight [-65.0Kg]: Hiroyuki Abe vs. Joao Roque

BJJ Match:
Leonardo Santos vs. Mitsuyoshi Hayakawa

Source: ADCC

LIVE COVERAGE: DREMIEL BYERS BEATS RULON GARDNER, JAMILL KELLY BEATS CHRIS BONO IN FIRST MATCHES SUNDAY

INDIANAPOLIS, JUNE 22 -- It was high drama in the first match of the best-of-three finals at the 2003 World Team Trials, held at the Indiana Convention Center, as World Champion met World Champion in the 120 kg/264.5 lbs. Greco-Roman finals. When it was over, 2002 World Champion Dremiel Byers had conquered 2000 Olympic gold medalist and 2001 World Champion Rulon Gardner by a decisive 3-1 margin, but many, many questions remained to be answered after their match.

The first minute of action saw both men pummeling and maneuvering for position, with neither making much headway. Then, about a minute in, Byers got Gardner's arm, and executed an arm spin that sent Gardner to the mat for a three-point score. This stunning move not only gave Byers the three points needed to avoid overtime later on, but seemed to put him squarely in command of this match.

But moments later, Byers went to the mat himself, writhing in pain. An injury timeout was called for a few minutes, as the trainers worked on his leg. It turns out that Byers has a bad toe, and reinjured it during the match. All of a sudden his momentum was lost.

Byers was able to recover and continue. Gardner tried to score on him, but could not in the remainder of the first period. He did score a takedown in the second period to make it 3-1. Byers took another injury timeout, and again resumed wrestling. Byers was clearly on the defensive, and was called for passivity. He could have been put down on the mat, but Gardner elected to have the two men stay on their feet. As time dwindled down, Gardner tried to attack. Byers was penalized one point for fleeing the mat in the final moments, but it was too little, too late for Gardner.

This was the first time Byers has beaten Gardner since 1999. The two men will wrestle again Sunday afternoon, with either Byers winning the second match, or Gardner tying it up and forcing a third and deciding match this evening. The winner represents the U.S. in the Greco-Roman World Championships in October in France.

Before the match, Matt Ghaffari objected to the presence of Shon Lewis in Byers's corner, since Lewis is the national team Greco coach. Ghaffari, dressed in jacket and tie, was gesturing like he was a heel manager in the fake pro 'wrestling,' in which he is a performer in Japan. But this scene was more out of an old NWA show, a la Jim Cornette or J.J. Dillon. Ghaffari's objections were overruled.

Jamill Kelly took one more step to qualifying for the World Championships by scoring yet another upset win today in his first match with Chris Bono in freestyle at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Bono dominated the early parts of this match, scoring once each in the first two periods and shutting down Kelly's offense. Kelly did get a takedown late in the second period to make it 2-1, but time ran out with neither man having scored three points. So to overtime and the clinch it went. After locking up, Kelly launched Bono to the mat for a three-point throw, thus making the score 4-2 in his favor and sealing the victory.

In women's action at 72 kg/158.5 lbs., after falling behind 5-2 in the first period, Toccara Montgomery came back to knot the score at 7-7 at the end of regulation against Samantha Lang, the high school junior who is 2-2 with her. In the overtime, Lang almost scored by countering Montgomery, but could not complete the move. When the match was restarted, Montgomery roared back with a takedown of her own to win the match, 8-7.

The wrestlers were unavailable for interviews after their first matches.

The second matches in this best-of-three series start at 3:30 PM EST. In the weight classes where a third and deciding match is required, the action will start at 5:30.

For extensive coverage and complete results from the 2003 USA Wrestling World Team Trials, go to: http://www.themat.com.

Source: Eddie Goldman/ADCC

RULON GARDNER EDGES DREMIEL BYERS IN TWO CLASSIC OVERTIME MATCHES TO WIN WORLD TEAM TRIALS! KELLY, MONTGOMERY, DANTZLER ALSO WIN

INDIANAPOLIS, JUNE 22 -- It was fitting that the showdown between Rulon Gardner and Dremiel Byers in the finals of the 2003 World Team Trials went to the very last moment of their third and final match Sunday evening. Byers had captured the first match of this best-of-three series, 3-1, in Sunday's morning session. But in the battle of these two world heavyweight champions, Rulon Gardner would hardly go down quietly.

While Byers began their first match aggressively, the first period of their next match was scoreless. That meant that the second period had to start in the clinch position. Byers was able to score from there, and also add an extra point to make it 2-0 at the end of regulation. Since neither man had scored three points, the match went to overtime, with another clinch mandated. Byers was now one point away from a victory over Gardner.

As the two 120 kg/264.5 lbs. men locked up, Gardner was able to get the advantage and force Byers down to the mat. While Byers still led 2-1, the momentum had gradually shifted Gardner's way. Byers seemed to be tiring and retreating as an attacking Gardner seemed rejuvenated. Byers was called for a caution for passivity, and penalized a point. That made it 2-2, with the next point deciding the match.

Time began to run out in the overtime period, and Byers continued retreating. Once again the referee signaled a caution on Byers, and this ruling was confirmed by the mat officials. This additional point for Gardner gave him a 3-2 lead, a win in this match, and evened up the series at one victory apiece.

Now it was do or die in this third and final match. Again there was a scoreless first period. Each man had been put down once, but neither man was able to turn the other from the par terre position. So once again the second period started from the clinch. This time, however, it was Byers who was able to force Gardner to the mat, and he went ahead, 1-0. But Gardner pressed the action, and Byers was penalized one point for backing off the mat.

As the last minute of regulation ticked away, Gardner again began pushing the action. With about 25 seconds left, he scored a takedown near the edge of the mat. At first the referee's awarding a point to Gardner was not confirmed, but after a brief delay the point was confirmed, with Gardner pulling into a 2-1 lead.

But time ran out, and yet again an overtime had to begin in the clinch position. After locking up and trying to establish position, both men tumbled to the mat. This time the point was awarded to Byers. Now it was again 2-2, with the next point the deciding factor.

As the overtime of the third match proceeded, it was clear that it was again mainly Gardner being the aggressor. Byers was cautioned again and could have been put down, but Gardner chose to keep the match standing. As time was running out, the action heated up between both men as each stepped it up to get a last second score.

But this late flurry was to no avail, as these two great Greco specialists were able to keep each other at bay. The overtime ended with a 2-2 score. That meant a victor had to be determined by criteria, which are already set in the rules, and include the number of cautions for passivity.

Byers had clearly been cautioned more times than Gardner in this third match. After the referee and mat officials conferred, the ref returned to the center of the mat, held both men's wrists, and raised the hand of Rulon Gardner.

The country boy from Afton, Wyoming, the man who had ended Kareline's 13-year unbeaten streak, and the survivor of a snowmobile accident and a night in subzero temperatures without a coat that almost lost him his feet, legs, and even his life, had once more come back from the brink of defeat to eke out a victory over his old rival and the reigning World Champion, Dremiel Byers.

We will have much more on the 2003 World Team Trials in the days to come, including several post-match interviews.

It is hardly fitting only to give brief mention at this point to some of the other matches, but we will correct some of this also in the coming days.

Jamill Kelly completed one of the most astonishing and refreshing series of upsets in American wrestling history by defeating 2003 U.S. Nationals champ Chris Bono in two straight matches. After edging Bono with a 4-2 overtime win in their first match, Kelly dominated throughout their second match to take a 7-3 victory and win the World Team Trials finals in freestyle at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. in two straight matches.

Perhaps the wildest series of matches was between T.C. Dantzler and Keith Sieracki in Greco at 74 kg/163 lbs. All three of their matches were decided in overtime. Dantzler won the first one, 4-1, with a beautiful two-point turn in overtime. Sieracki edged Dantzler, 3-2, in the second match after the action following the clinch had to be reviewed by the officials.

The third match between Dantzler and Sieracki was also decided by the narrowest of margins, similar to the Gardner-Byers match. Sieracki led 1-0 going into overtime, but Dantzler got one point for a caution after their clinch went the full one minute. Neither man was able to score another point in overtime. Thus, this caution proved to be decisive, as Dantzler was awarded the decision on criteria, and thus won the World Team Trials finals, two matches to one.

Toccara Montgomery fell behind in both her matches with Samantha Lang in women's wrestling at 72 kg/158.5 lbs., but showed her mettle by coming back to win each of these matches. After edging Lang in overtime, 8-7, Montgomery again fell behind, 5-3. But in the second period she rallied for five straight points to take the match in regulation, 8-5.

Many who were in attendance are calling this the greatest World Team Trials ever. The drama, the skill, the action, the intensity, and the wrestling itself all together made this one memorable and historic event.

As we said, expect much more right here on the 2003 World Team Trials very soon.

For extensive coverage and complete results from the 2003 USA Wrestling World Team Trials, go to: http://www.themat.com.

Source: Eddie Goldman/ADCC

6/22/03

Quote of the Day

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

[Joshua 1:9], Bible

Car Wash Today (Sunday)!

(If you and your friends don't come to our car wash, we are going to sick this guy on you)

Why: Help support the Casca Grossa Jiu-Jitsu Academy (
The Onzuka Brother's school) raise funds to compete in the World Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championships

Where: Union 76 Gas Station
2105 South King Street (next to McDonalds on the Makai side of the street)
Across the street from McCully Bike (between McCully and Isenburg)

When: Sunday, June 22

Time: 8:00AM – 5:00PM
Cost: $5 most cars
$8 Vans, trucks and SUV’s

We still have a few School Kine cookies and about 25 Zippy's Chili tickets left to sell. Both are $5 each. Get your car washed and go down a block and eat some chili and have some cookies for dessert! What a combination! (This is Chris' personal diet, don't let the secret out)

Please tell all your friends and family to stop by and get their car washed!

It will be worth at least $8 to see the Onzuka brothers actually doing some real work!

G3's Second Tournament Today at Kam Schools

In conjunction with Chokushinkai of Osaka, Japan - Hawaii Martial Arts Center is proud to present the high-powered

G3 Series tournament!

Where: Kamehameha Schools Gymnasium
When: June 22nd, 10:00 am
How Much: $5 for adults, kids get in free!
Who: Open to anyone interested in testing his or her skills in a regulated Environment. Men's, women's, and kid's divisions (13 and under by weight)
How: Go to
www.hmckickboxing.com for an application or call 808.841.5144 to reserve your spot ASAP!!!

Source: Event Promoter

The Return Of Dennis “Superman” Hallman To The UFC by: Joseph Cunliffe

The latest talk is that Dennis “Superman” Hallman will make his return to the UFC on Friday, September 26, 2003. There’s no confirmation on the return from Zuffa, which could just mean the signed contract hasn’t been received in their offices, but otherwise, it’s looking good. We last saw Hallman in “UFC 33: Victory in Vegas,” where he lost a decision to former UFC Lightweight Champion Jens Pulver.

With over 30 fights on his record, the active Hallman has competed in multiple promotions and weight divisions since 1977. A veteran of HOOKnSHOOT, KOTC, Shooto, UA and the WFA (to name some), the wrestler has experienced much success throughout his career. His anticipated return in September will be in the welterweight division. Possible opponents could be current UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Hughes, Jeremy “The Scorpion” Jackson or Ronald Jhun.

Hughes would be a great opportunity for Hallman. Having already defeated the champion 2 times -- at Extreme Challenge 21 in 1998 and UFC 29 in 2000, they say the third’s a charm, and this could make for a changing of the guard. It is true, Hughes is a different fighter today, as evident by him successfully defending his title 4 times since earning it in 2001 with a win over Carlos Newton. But is Hallman?

Will Jackson first have to get through Nick Diaz on July 19? Jackson, the IFC Americas Welterweight Champion and Diaz, the IFC United States Welterweight Champion square off at Warriors Challenge in California. On the line are 3 titles: their respective title belts and the vacant ISKA-MMA Americas Welterweight Championship title. These two last met at “UA 4: King of the Mountain” in September 2002, with Jackson taking the win by TKO. Can Diaz stand with Jackson or will he look to take it the he ground? Well, that’s a different article! Lets just say each fighter carries a heavier load in this fight.

And Jhun, the IFC World Middleweight Champion, is a possible opponent, but first in the July 24 KOTC? While Jhun is coming off 3 recent wins, including a decision win last month over Shonie “Mr. International” Carter, their last encounter at KOTC in December 2002 ended in a Draw. Is this rematch in the works?

Anything is possible, and on September 26, it is possible that we will once again see Hallman in the octagon.

Source: ADCC

SHOOTO's Latest Rankings!
4 Hawaiians Make the Rankings


Japanese Organization Releases Latest Official Rankings - as of June 14th

SHOOTO is lining up there 'big' events for the summer and the end of the year with big shakeups of the rankings.

In the middleweight division, #1 ranked Jutaro Nakao appears poised to take on #2 ranked Jake Shields for the vacant title. This division, formerly owned by Hayato Sakurai (now ranked #7), was blown wide open when Chute Boxe's Anderson Silva vacated the title.

In the lightweights, champion Pequeno Nogueira is set to take on another challenge from highly regarded Stephen Paling, who has fought his way back to the #1 ranking. This match will take place on August 10th.

On that same AUGUST 10TH Card, Welterweight Champion CHAMPION: Takanori Gomi is set to take on #4 rated Joachim Hansen of Norway. Interestingly, Brazilian Vitor 'Shaolin' Ribeiro has moved up to the #1 ranking, so look for him to challenge for the title by the end of the year, especially if Gomi wins in August.

In the Lightheavyweights, champion Masanori Suda reigns supreme, coming off a destruction of Egan Inoue in less than a minute. Moving up to the #1 ranking is American TOP TEAM's Dustin Denes, so look for that match to materialize by the end of the year as well.

SHOOTO RANKINGS:

Lightweight [-65.0Kg]
CHAMPION: Alexandre Franca Nogueira
1st:
Stephen Paling
2nd: Norifumi 'KID' Yamamoto
3rd: Hiroyuki Abe
4th: Tetsuo Katsuta
5th: Joao Roque
6th: Bao Quach
7th: Naoya Uematsu
8th: Kazuhiro Inoue
9th: Katsuya Toida
10th: Hideki Kadowaki

Welterweight [-70.0Kg]
CHAMPION: Takanori Gomi
1st: Vitor 'Shaolin' Ribeiro
2nd: Ryan Bow
3rd: Dokonjonosuke Mishima
4th: Joachim Hansen
5th: Tatsuya Kawajiri
6th: Javier Vazquez
7th: Marcio Cromado
8th: Rumina Sato
9th: Takaharu Murahama
10th: Kohei Yasumi

Middleweight [-76.0Kg]
CHAMPION: VACANT
1st: Jutaro Nakao
2nd: Jake Shields
3rd:
Ray Cooper
4th: Tetsuji Kato
5th: Shonie Carter
6th: Kuniyoshi Hironaka
7th: Hayato 'Mach' Sakurai
8th: Seichi Ikemoto
9th: Akira Kikuchi
10th: Dave Strasser

Lightheavyweight [-83.0Kg]
CHAMPION: Masanori Suda
1st: Dustin Denes
2nd:
Egan Inoue
3rd: Shikou Yamashita
4th: Lance Gibson
5th: Larry Papadopoulos
6th: Martijn de Jong
7th: Scott Henze
8th:
Ronald Jhun
9th: Ryuta Sakurai
10th: Ivan Salaverry

Source: ADCC

UFC 44: Event Taking Shape!

Friday, September 26th, 2003 - Las Vegas, NV.

Though UFC 44 is still 3 months away, clues as to the card's makeup are beginning to take shape. There is still nothing official from ZUFFA about the event's name or venue, though it is strongly rumored to be in Las Vegas. Very little if anything is signed at this point, but their IS talk...

Tim Sylvia will return in the main event, as the Heavyweight Champion defends his title for the first time. Team Extreme teammate and welterweight champion Matt Hughes is the other main event, as these are carryovers from the postponed August show. Look for Rich Franklin of Team Extreme to have a bout, as he is coming off a decisive win in his last bout over Evan Tanner.

Dennis Hallman v. Jeremy Jackson is heavily rumored, though it comes with many caveats. Hallman is a natural to take on Hughes as well, it seems that Hallman may have earned another fight prior to giving Hughes the rematch the champ so desires. Hallman, who is always active, must survie another bout in between as well. Jackson is another up and comer, a gifted striker, who must get by tough Nick Diaz on another show first as well. If both fighters win, look for this bout to materialize in September.

Japanese superstar Caol Uno is set to return, and word out of Florida is that American TOP TEAM's Hermes Franca will be stepping up to take on Uno. Hermes of course, comes of a big win in his debut over Rich Crunkilton - this match has crowdpleasing potential!

The undercard features solid matchmaking, with Dave Strasser v. Karo Parisyan at 170 lbs and David Louiseau v. Jorge Rivera at 185 lbs slated to be on the undercard. Strasser eaered a return slot with a win in his UFC debut, and he gets Parisyan, a little known student of Gokor Chivichian whose only MMA losses are to Sean Sherk. He comes off a big win against KOTC standout Fernando Vasconcelos, and is considered tough and aggressive. Louiseau and Rivera features two heavy hitters, with Rivera making his much awaited debut in UFC - the HOOKnSHOOT Champion was scouted by Dana white himself at an event last September, and he finally gets his chance. Louiseau, from Canada's UCC, was impressive taking out Mark Weir, and people want to see him back as well.

RUMORED CARD:
Dave Strasser v. Karo Parisyan
David Louiseau v. Jorge Rivera
Dennis Hallman v. Jeremy Jackson
Hermes Franca v. Caol Uno
Andrei Orlovski v. TBD
Rich Franklin v. TBD
Matt Hughes v. TBD
Tim Sylvia v. TBD

Source: ADCC

Catching up with Sept KOTC title contender John Alessio pt. 1
by: Keith Mills

Late last year and early this year there was a lot of hype surrounding Millennia Jiu-Jitsu, including John Alessio. Millennia at that time had KOTC Welterweight Champion Romi Aram, KOTC and Gladiator Challenge Lightweight Champion Javi Vazquez, and KOTC Superfight Champion and UCC Welterweight Champion John Alessio. Now just six months later Javi lost the KOTC Lightweight title and injured his leg pretty bad in KOTC, Romi gave up the KOTC Welterweight belt and temporarily burned some bridges to lose in the UFC, and John Alessio lost the UCC belt to Jason Black. It looks like Millennia is turning a corner again with Romi getting back on good terms with KOTC while Javi is said to be healing well; more on them later. Alessio meanwhile, who also fights under Bad Intentions, is getting set to fight in KOTC again.

JA: I have a big fight coming up September 19th, Ronald Jhun.

KM: So you are fighting for the belt instead of Dennis Hallman. JA: Yes.

KM: This weekend I was hearing Diego Sanchez would get the winner of that fight. JA: I think Sanchez has one more fight and then he gets a title shot.

KM: And this is for the Welterweight belt, not the Superfight belt? JA: Yeah, I’m giving up my Superfight title and I’m going to fight for the Welterweight belt.

KM: Any word on what is going on with the Superfight belt? Are they just dissolving it? JA: What I proposed to Terry (Trebilcock) was because I’ve been waiting for my shot at the Welterweight belt because Romi (Aram) had it and everything I told him I’d give up my Superfight belt. I was supposed to fight Hallman in August and the winner of me and him would fight Jhun in September. I told Terry I’m 3-0 in KOTC, I already hold a title, I beat the two-time champion Chris Brennan, and it was my turn. I don’t need any more contender fights, let’s just do it. He just didn’t want one guy to hold two different belts. I said let me hold the (Superfight) belt until I fight for (Welterweight belt) and then I’ll give it up when I fight Jhun and then I thought Hallman and Jeremy Jackson were going to fight for it in August. Jeremy Jackson isn’t fighting anymore, he is going to be fighting Nick Diaz in IFC which seems not as smart of a fight. I’d rather fight Hallman for KOTC than fight somebody you’ve already beat in IFC.

KM: I think Diaz holds one of the IFC 170 belts, Jackson holds the other, and the winner of this one goes for the World 170 belt…it’s like how many 170 belts do you have. JA: One is the California, one is the United States, and then there is the World. The World title is Gil Castillo. He’s going against Frank Trigg.

KM: Now that is going to be interesting. JA: I tend to lean toward Trigg but Trigg has never really been tested.

KM: I have a lot of respect for Gil but wouldn’t say he’s as exciting as Diaz or Jackson. JA: Hell no. I think Gil’s tough, don’t get me wrong, but as a crowd pleaser give me a break. I feel that way about a lot of wrestlers. Matt Hughes is finally starting to come around and get a little more exciting. He’s the man, don’t get me wrong; he’s the best 170 out there.

KM: For the past six months or so I’ve heard so many fighters talk about dropping to the next lowest weight class, that it’s finally catching on in my opinion in large part due to the success of Matt Hughes. It’ll be interesting to see how the next year or so goes when you get the people that were fighting at 185 dropping down like Hughes does, that actually walk around more at Hughes’ weight. JA: I walk around right now at 195. I’ll be cutting a lot of weight. I’m training every single day too. I’ve been doing lots of weights and getting stronger.

KM: This fight with you and Jhun is two months or so away. JA: Yeah.

KM: Are you saying you already started your training? JA: I train every day, even if I don’t have a fight. I haven’t started fight training. I got three guys fighting at KOTC on the 29th. Chad Davis fought on that Reno card. Remember the PPV card? He won. That was his debut for KOTC so he’s coming back. We have Louie “The Spider” Vaith fighting. You’ve probably seen him fight a couple times in KOTC. Randy Velardy is fighting and Ryan Foster. So yeah, we got a bunch of guys fighting. I was actually supposed to fight that night against Scott Bills but Scott pulled out.

KM: Was that due to injury? JA: I don’t know but I’ve had a really hard time getting fights recently.

KM: I was wondering how you were doing in general out there. Tell me about the not getting fights easily. JA: I was supposed to fight July 12th in Hawaii. The guy I was supposed to fight was coming down a weight class and still wouldn’t fight me and pulled out. I was supposed to fight Strasser in UCC but then he was putting on his own show the same weekend. Just a series of crap has gotten in the way.

KM: And then the whole UCC financial restructure and not having a show until I think September. JA: September. They called me to fight but I got a bigger fight in September already so I’d rather fight Ronald Jhun than that George St. Pierre kid. I’m still not really happy with UCC right now; they still owe me money for my fight against Black (January 2003).

KM: I thought they worked everything out. I was told that they were at least starting to pay the fighters for that night. JA: They started. They gave me a chunk of it at UFC in Miami but that’s the last I’ve received anything.

KM: They still owe you more? JA: Yeah.

KM: Are you doing okay out there between fights? Are you scraping by? JA: I’m scraping by.

KM: We’ll see groups like Team Extreme support each other in those dry spells but you don’t really have that out there as much. JA: I got some sponsors. I have a nightclub called The One Lounge back in Canada that sponsors me so if I’m in a tight spot I just call them up and tell them I’m in a tight spot. He’ll deposit money into my account right away, no problem. I got other sponsors that give me money here and there like Medicures.com.

You have to hand it to Alessio, some of the topics covered here and more so in part two are a little touchy but Alessio handles them professionally and straight-forward. If only all the fighters in our sport were as honest with the public our sport may be looked at with more respect by the mainstream media.

Source: ADCC

Heading for the Middle
A Solution for UFC's Shaky Middleweight Situation

By Mike Sloan

When Jens Pulver abandoned the Ultimate Fighting Championship over a year ago, his lightweight title became officially vacant. The announcement that the belt was officially vacant came weeks later and since then, Zuffa organized a top-level four-man tournament between BJ Penn, Caol Uno, Matt Serra and Din Thomas.

Penn and Uno met in the final of the tourney, but the bout wound up being a disputed draw. Still, some fifteen odd months after the title was officially vacated, there remains to be the crowning of a new champ.

Even so, Zuffa at least has itself organized with the lightweight division and a third bout between BJ and Caol is allegedly in the process of becoming a reality (for those who may not know, Penn knocked out Caol in a bout before the mini tournament started). Whenever that bout does in fact happen, UFC will have another title locked up.

So, even if there still is no lightweight champ to this day, the imminent plans are being etched out and the MMA public at least knows what the story behind it all is. It’s just a matter of time before Uno and Penn square off and settle things once and for all. What’s even greater is the fact that newer stars as Duane Ludwig, Genki Sudo and Hermes Franca, alongside such veterans like Yves Edwards and Thomas are at the forefront to challenge whoever is the champ.

Now that that has been discussed, what remains even more of a mystery than the lightweight title picture and the splattered light heavyweight division is the middleweight class. What is going on here?

Murilo Bustamante, one of the most gifted fighters in mixed martial arts today, has vanished from the face of the earth since defending his title by choking out Matt Lindland last May.

Bustamante absolutely refused to resign with Zuffa, seeking reportedly astronomical figures and benefits, something Zuffa at the time could not adhere to. Murilo told Zuffa to go and pound sand and sought out better avenues, something he has yet to do as his god-given talents slowly go to waste.

It took several months of negotiating and deliberations, but after dozens of unsuccessful attempts at resigning Bustamante, the UFC had no other alternative than to officially strip him of his coveted title. Here’s a guy so gifted with immense skills perched atop a division chock full of ferocious opponents and attractive matchups, but he grew a tad too big for his bridges and walked away.

What’s even worse is that even if Murilo does get his act together and come to terms with Zuffa’s financial situation, the UFC will be hard-pressed to change their minds and allow him back in.

In a recent interview with UFC president Dana White, he professed that though it’s not an impossibility that Zuffa will resign Bustamante, it take some serious arm twisting and conviction to succumb to a Bustamante return. With rabid MMA fans convulsed at the thought of Bustamante not returning to action in the near future, they must in turn eagerly await what’s to become of the UFC middleweight division.

Matt Lindland, who fought a losing, yet memorable, battle with Bustamante, duked it out with arch rival Phil Baroni in their epic rematch at UFC 41. Lindland won the contest and was supposedly next in line for a crack at the vacant title, though no opponent or date was ever officially announced.

Lindland, after twice defeating Baroni and fighting valiantly against Bustamante, was the logical warrior to duel for the vacant belt. With a pretty deep pool of middleweight talent floating around the UFC such as Baroni, Dave Menne, David Loiseau, Mark weir, Ricardo Almeida and Andre Semenov, some interesting showdowns could easily be arranged.

Lindland fought last week in an undercard bout against little-known Hawaiian Falaniko Vitale in what was supposed to be a fight to keep Lindland active while Zuffa sorts out the disorder. Unfortunately for Lindland, though, is that when he tried to slam Vitale to the mat, Lindland fell back and onto the back of his head and at the same time, Vitale’s cranium smacked against Lindland’s.

The Law was instantly knocked out cold and the fight was quickly stopped in just the first round. With Lindland losing to the unheralded new-comer, it put the title picture even further out of focus. Could matters become bleaker for the UFC?

At the post fight press conference, Vitale, displaying raw class found often in the sport of MMA, said that even though he was proud of the win, it was unfortunate the fight ended the way it did. Falaniko then went on to state that he feels Lindland deserves an immediate rematch because it was more or less a fluke knockout.

In so many ways, White somewhat agreed with Vitale, but he was preoccupied with Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell and that whole Tito Ortiz debacle.

So where exactly does Zuffa go from here with having a weight class with such subaqueous talent? The only logical explanation is the truest way to find out exactly who is the king of the fighters (SNK pun intended); a tournament.

A Plain and simple, jaw-dropping, mouth-watering, knee-knocking tournament. But instead of having some measly four man job, Zuffa should follow PRIDE’s blueprints and assemble a grand prix of at least eight warriors.

With PRIDE having their middleweight/light heavyweight tournament (I say that because the poundage of most fighters in that Grand Prix fight at 205, which, in essence, is the light heavyweight class) and with UFC’s middleweight class in shambles, it’s really the only rational direction they could take. If Zuffa decided to toss together a title fight between two guys they feel deserve the strap instead some form of a tournament, fans and media alike would be up in arms with debate, dispute and disagreement.

Zuffa: Listen up. A middleweight tournament -- Do it now, starting with the September Las Vegas show. Pit eight of the best mixed martial artists together and stretch it out over two events. Sign up Baroni, Menne, Lindland, Vitale, Weir, Loiseau, Semenov and either Salaverry, Almeida or Suloev and let the action begin! Of course, adding Frank Shamrock into the mix would drive thousands upon thousands more MMA fans to the scene, but with Shamrock’s and Zuffa’s personal bickerings in the way, that will probably never happen.

Actually, what Zuffa should do is have a joint tournament affair, running a four-to-eight man lightweight grand prix aside the middleweight on the same night. The winner of the light weight tourney faces off against the winner of Penn/Uno III as the chief undercard of the middleweight tourney’s final. That would be arguably the greatest achievement Zuffa has ever pulled off to date and it would shine new light on the sport of MMA, mainly UFC.

Source: Sherdog

IS LIDDELL GOING TO FIGHT FOR PRIDE?

It's the big question all fight fans are wondering. Is Chuck Liddell fighting in the Pride Grand Prix tournament? By early accounts the answer is yes. MMAWeekly.com talked with one of Liddell's training partners who trains with the Iceman and by his account, Chuck is defintely training for a fight.

He said "Right now it's very hush, but when I asked Chuck if he wanted to go out and have a few beers, he said he couldn't because he was training to fight in a tournament."

When asked "what tournament", Liddell said I can't say, things are still being worked on. The same partner told MMAWeekly that he knew the fight was in August, so unless another organization is putting on a tournament in August, like the UFC, one would assume the Iceman will be the UFC representative in the upcoming Pride Grand Priz. Once again though, this is all speculation as Liddell has not confirmed the story as of yesterday with anyone including MMAWeekly.com

Source: MMA Weekly

HOW U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPS JOE WILLIAMS, CAEL SANDERSON, AND KATIE DOWNING PREPARE FOR TEAM TRIALS FINALS SUNDAY
by: Eddie Goldman

INDIANAPOLIS, June 20 -- It was a pleasant surprise to wake up Friday morning, turn on the local Fox television station, and see Tom Erikson giving live takedown instructions to their reporters.

While wrestling usually gets little notice in the mainstream media, the local Indianapolis media seems to be coming out in force for the 2003 USA Wrestling World Team Trials, which start today and run through Sunday at the Indiana Convention Center, part of the downtown RCA Dome complex. Erikson is not wrestling competitively any more, but is a local favorite since he is an assistant wrestling coach at nearby Purdue University.

But while the media will be here in large numbers, most of the U.S. National champions will be sitting out much of the two-day Challenge Tournament. The winners at the Nationals do not pass go, collect $200, or go to jail; instead they go directly to the best-of-three finals on Sunday, against the winners of this two-day, single elimination Challenge Tournament.

'I'll watch a little of the tournament,' said Joe Williams, the 2003 U.S. Nationals freestyle champion at 74 kg/163 lbs. and a 2001 World bronze medalist, after Thursday's press conference at an Indianapolis hotel featuring five of the top stars of American wrestling. 'But I'll probably just really emphasize on myself, on things I need to do. Get some running in, wrestle a couple of matches, just try to put myself in a situation where I'm not laying around, lounging around, and getting sluggish.' His aim, he stated, was to 'Stay light and quick and strong through these next couple of days.' He did say, 'I'll probably go over and watch a couple of matches, cheer some of my teammates on, and be there for support. But other than that, I'm not going to be sitting at the tournament night and day.' For the finals of the Challenge Tournament, 'I'll probably watch that just to have a better idea of who I'll actually see the next day of competition in the morning.'

College superstar Cael Sanderson, the three-time U.S. Nationals freestyle champion and two-time World Team Trials champion at 84 kg/185 lbs., sounded a similar note. 'I'll watch some of it,' he said of the Challenge Tournament. But his main interest will be to 'get focused' on the finals.

Katie Downing, the 2003 U.S. Nationals women's champion and 2002 World Team Trials champion at 67 kg/147.5 lbs., plans to use much of her time training. 'I'm going to get some good practices in,' she said, pointing out that she will train with Sara McMann, the 63 kg/138.75 lbs. pound champion, whom she describes as her 'best friend.' Both Downing and McMann are part of the women's wrestling program at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. 'We train together a lot,' she added. 'I'm going to watch some of the wrestling. But I don't plan on being there all day.' Instead she said she hopes to get 'good training and good rest.'

All the freestyle wrestlers, both men and women, know that victory here earns them a spot at the World Freestyle Wrestling Championships in New York's Madison Square Garden, September 12-14.

'I'm looking forward,' said Williams. He has been the unlucky recipient of some very controversial bad calls in recent years in tournaments outside the U.S., which is why many believe he has not yet won a gold medal. 'It's on our home turf. Hopefully I'll get the calls. But I'm not looking for the call. I'm going out and just wrestling. I don't want to put it in the referee's hands to make a bad decision or make a bad call against me or for me.'

For Cael Sanderson, victory here will mean his first trip to a World Championship. Although he was tops on the U.S. World Team in both 2001 and 2002, he has yet to compete at that event. He declined to wrestle at the 2001 event when it was postponed following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, since it overlapped with his last college semester and last college wrestling season. In 2002, the entire U.S. freestyle team did not go to Iran to compete after they were warned by the U.S. State Department of a specific, major threat of violence against the team from an unnamed source.

Now Sanderson is actually wrestling at a weight lower than his last college season, when he wrestled at 197 lbs. 'In freestyle where you weigh in the night before you compete, it's to your advantage to lose some weight,' he explained.

With weight not expected to be a factor. the question remains just at what level he has attained in freestyle. 'I don't know,' Sanderson candidly admitted. 'That's kind of why I want to compete in the World Championships, to see where I'm at. I'm trying to get better, and I think I am improving quite a bit in freestyle.'

But first he must get through the World Team Trials. He said he expects this tournament to be 'extremely tough, because this is the shot to wrestle at the World Championships in the United States.' And, of course, he and the other wrestlers also have an eye to gaining experience before the 2004 Olympics. 'It's what I need right now,' stated Sanderson.

While the 23-year-old Downing, an Indiana native and thus a favorite of the local media, has never wrestled in a World Championship, she is hardly a stranger to the mat. She only began wrestling, against boys, as a member of her high school wrestling team, but did win against girls as a 1998 U.S. Girls Wrestling Association high school national champion. However, she had trained with boys since the third grade -- in judo.

Downing achieved the level of first degree black belt in judo before turning her main attention to wrestling.
'I just fell in love with wrestling,' she explained. 'I always loved judo, and I pretty much grew up in a family of my local judo club. But I love wrestling, and it really grew on me once I got into it.'

The advance of opportunities in women's wrestling was one factor that led to her specializing in wrestling. And she did find that judo helped her wrestling. 'It definitely helps me with having good hips, good defensive technique, and being able to use my opponent's moves against them,' she said.

But there were also critical adjustments she needed to make. 'I'll be able to throw someone on their move. But I also had a lot of trouble. In high school I'd all the time be pulling people. A lot of the motions are pulling in judo, and I'd be pulling them onto me, right into my legs.' In judo, you can go to your back, because it requires 30 seconds for a pin, and you can also execute chokes from the bottom. 'I felt comfortable on my back, and that's NOT good in wrestling at all,' she chuckled.

Downing really had no strong opinion on the debate about whether or not wrestling is a martial art. 'I can't say I've ever really worried about it,' she said. It depends 'where the lines are,' indicating that while wrestling is usually viewed as a sport, judo has a 'martial art way of thinking.' But she added, 'I consider wrestling a sport and judo a martial art, but you could argue me with that. I don't know.'

So today and Saturday these athletes rest, train, and observe. On Sunday they go to war.

For more on Thursday's press conference, and extensive coverage and results from the 2003 USA Wrestling World Team Trials, go to: http://www.themat.com/.

-- Eddie Goldman, wrestlingeditor@yahoo.com

Source: ADCC

6/21/03

Quote of the Day

"Don't take anyone else's definition of success as your own."

Jacqueline Brisken

Car Wash Tomorrow (Sunday)!

(Celebrities are slated to be there, like Elvis. Ladies & Gentlemen, Elvis is in the building)

Why: Help support the Casca Grossa Jiu-Jitsu Academy (
The Onzuka Brother's school) raise funds to compete in the World Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championships

Where: Union 76 Gas Station
2105 South King Street (next to McDonalds on the Makai side of the street)
Across the street from McCully Bike (between McCully and Isenburg)

When: Sunday, June 22

Time: 8:00AM – 5:00PM
Cost: $5 most cars
$8 Vans, trucks and SUV’s

We still have a few School Kine cookies and about 25 Zippy's Chili tickets left to sell. Both are $5 each. Get your car washed and go down a block and eat some chili and have some cookies for dessert! What a combination! (This is Chris' personal diet, don't let the secret out)

Please tell all your friends and family to stop by and get their car washed!

It will be worth at least $8 to see the Onzuka brothers actually doing some real work!

G3's Second Tournament Tomorrow!

In conjunction with Chokushinkai of Osaka, Japan - Hawaii Martial Arts Center is proud to present the high-powered

G3 Series tournament!

Where: Kamehameha Schools Gymnasium
When: June 22nd, 10:00 am
How Much: $5 for adults, kids get in free!
Who: Open to anyone interested in testing his or her skills in a regulated Environment. Men's, women's, and kid's divisions (13 and under by weight)
How: Go to
www.hmckickboxing.com for an application or call 808.841.5144 to reserve your spot ASAP!!!

Source: Event Promoter

Kid Peligro Jiu-Jitsu News . . . Cacareco, Shaolin, Terere, Comprido and much more

Fernando 'Terere' back in action

Master Team Black Belt Fernandinho 'Terere' fought in ADCC 2003 despite broken rib that occured during training for that event. 'Terere' was barely able to fight despite having taken some pain killing shots prior to each fight. After the event he confessed: 'Kid, I shouldn't have fought but I couldn't pass the opportunity. I am going to take a LONG time of to heal this properly!'

Well a long time to him seems to be just a couple of months as Fernandinho is already preparing to compete in the 2003 Worlds and to follow up with an NHB match in the U.S. When contacted by this columnist 'Terere' stated in his usual good humor: 'Hey, I am like new! Besides who can stay on the sidelines when you have teammates like Leozinho, Comprido and Vitor!'

'Cacareco' training at Gracie Barra!

O Tatame.com website reports that ADCC runner up Alexandre 'Cacareco' was seen recently training at Gracie Barra. Cacareco, who is now training under the supervision of Master Osvaldo Alves (who is associated with Gracie Barra)was taken there by World Absolute and ADCC heavyweight Champion Marcio 'Pe de Pano'.

Cacareco's opponent's must be thinking: 'Now that is all we need, one of the toughest and strongest fighters in his division is going ot learn Gracie Barra fine techniques!' Look Out!

Source: ADCC/Kid Peligro

THE BIGGEST VALE-TUDO/SELF-DEFENSE ACADEMY IN THE WORLD
by: Alejandro Iglesias

Since last April, more than 2,000,000 USD are being invested in Valencia (Spain) in constructing a 2,000-square-meter surface devoted only to fighting and designed to host the biggest Vale-Tudo/Self-Defense academy in the world. This venue has already been acquired by Alejandro Iglesias, the head-coach of S.H.O.O.T.-Spain (www.shootfightingspain.com). This huge Academy is to be called I V A D and will be the S.H.O.O.T. International Headquarters.

The I V A D will be provided with such equipment as a professional ring and a professional octagon; two 250-square-meter rooms for group training; eight instructor-to-trainee classrooms; a police self-defense section (with a training premise just devoted to police self-defense instruction); a woman self-defense section; a bar-and-lounge section; a multimedia conference room; and the first University School of Self-Defense Sciences (the E U C A D, Escuela Universitaria de Ciencias de la Autodefensa) which will grant the first University Degree in Self-Defense Sciences which is in an administrative process to be officially recognised by the Spanish government.

For more information, please contact us at: info@shootfightingspain.com

Source: ADCC