When
you sit with a nice girl for two hours, you think it's only a
minute. But when you sit on a hot stove for a minute, you think
it's two hours. That's relativity.
Albert Einstein
Kajukenbo
Rebuttal
Dear
Sirs:
The
information that you have posted is one of many unsigned emails
that have been sent to senior Kajukenbo practitioners since Prof.
Marino Tiwanak's death a few years ago. Each new one get's more
insulting and outragous. This one now claims that Sijo was only
in Prof. Chow's beginners class. The following topic at the Kajukenbo
Cafe addresses this claim. http://www.ohiokajukenbo.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=hist_gen;action=display;num=1047528039
What
I cannot understand is that as legitimate martial artists, you
would post publicly this attack on the character and reputation
of Sijo Emperado, and the Kajukenbo system. Especially when it
comes from a coward who dosen't have the courage to sign his
name to the accusations, or provide proof of them.
Sigung
John Bishop
Kajukenbo
Self Defense Institute, Diamond Bar, Ca.
UFC
TO PREMIERE 'ULTIMATE TANK ABBOTT'
ON PAY-PER-VIEW, FRIDAY, MARCH 21
New,
One-Hour Special To Highlight Career of Legendary Heavyweight
Encore Re-Plays Continue Throughout March, April
LAS
VEGAS, March 19, 2003…The Ultimate Fighting Championship
(UFC) will premiere Ultimate Tank Abbott, a one-hour pay-per-view
television special, starting at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST on iN
DEMAND, DIRECTV, Dish Network, Bell ExpressVu and Viewers Choice
Canada. The suggested retail price is $9.95.
Ultimate Tank Abbott is a retrospective of the legendary UFC
heavyweight's career that includes some of the most devastating
knockouts and action-packed fights in UFC history. Even more
entertaining is the fact that the play-by-play and commentary
of each fight is provided by Tank himself while he relaxes with
friends at Jay Dee's Bar and Restaurant in Huntington Beach,
Calif. The action includes his impressive debut knockout of John
Matua in just 21 seconds and his dismantling of Paul Varelans
in 1:51 at UFC 6: Clash of the Titans; his epic battle with Oleg
Taktarov as well as highlights and his own insight into fights
with Dan Severn, Vitor Belfort, Sam Adkins, Hugo Duarte, Steve
Jennum and all the others that created the Tank legend.
Encore re-plays will start immediately after the premiere on
Dish Network and Bell ExpressVu and at 11:30 p.m. EST/8:30 p.m.
on Viewers Choice Canada. Additional re-plays include: iN DEMAND,
March 22, 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST, channel iN1; March 23, 1 a.m.
EST/10 p.m. PST, iN2 and 1:30 a.m. EST/10:30 p.m. PST, iN1; March
24, 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST, iN2; March 26, 7 p.m. EST/4 p.m.
PST, iN1 and Midnight EST/9 p.m. PST, iN2; March 28, 9 p.m. EST/6
p.m. PST and Midnight EST/9 p.m. PST, iN1; March 29, 3:30 p.m.
EST/12:30 p.m. PST, iN2, and March 30, 6:30 p.m. EST/3:30 p.m.
PST, iN1 and 11 p.m. EST/8 p.m. PST, iN2.
DIRECTV re-plays will air on its All Day Ticket channel 196 on
March 22-24, 26 and 31, and April 3, 7, 11, 15, 17, 19, and 20.
On Dish Network, the re-play schedule includes March 22, Midnight
EST/9 p.m. PST and 7 p.m. EST/4 p.m. PST; March 26, 8 p.m. EST/5
p.m. PST, and March 28, All Day Ticket starting at 5 a.m. Dish
Network also will announce a re-play schedule in April.
Additional Bell ExpressVu re-plays will air on March 24 at 8
p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST and March 31, 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST. Viewers
Choice Canada re-plays will air on March 22/March 21 at 1 a.m.
EST/10 p.m PST and on its All Day Ticket March 22 and March 27.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), headquartered in Las
Vegas, Nev., is the world's leading mixed martial arts sports
association. Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, the UFC programs
six live pay-per-view events yearly through cable and satellite
providers. In addition to its U.S. distribution on iN DEMAND,
DIRECTV, Dish Network, Bell ExpressVu and Viewers Choice Canada,
UFC events are distributed internationally through British Sky
Broadcasting, WOWOW, Inc. in Japan, Globosat in Brazil and Modern
Sports and Entertainment in Scandinavia. UFC licenses video games
for all major playing platforms through Crave Entertainment and
TDK Mediaactive.
The UFC's next PPV event will be UFC 42: Sudden Impact at 10
p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST on Friday, April 25, live from AmericanAirlines
Arena in Miami, Fla.
Source:
UFC
Bitetti
Combat 2 Preview:
Taking a Clear Step Forward,
the Event Rises in Good fashion
The
city of Natal, located in the Northeasten part of Brazil, is
simply astonishing, with beautiful beaches and plenty of great
food, satisfying every visitor and attracting tourists from all
corners of the map. In this amazing scenario Bitetti Combat Nordeste
is about to hold its second edition showing clear signs of improvement
from the first one, and literally attracting the attention of
the whole city for the night of fights on this March 20th. It's
important to undestand that Natal is a small city, and unlike
the biggest Brazilian centers such as Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro
and even Curitiba, there's not much events happening at once
in the city, therefore the entire place literally stops and goes
crazy about NHB and Bitetti Combat, and that alone makes for
a very interesting atmosphere on the event. This indeed was the
case in the first edition of Bitetti Combat, last November, where
around eith thousand people paid to attend at the event, this
time things are looking even bigger, with a better card with
more well known names and a real frenzy in the city.
This Wednesday, March 19th, the usual rules meeting, press conference
and weigh-ins are going to be held at the nothing but great Piramide
Palace Hotel, where the fighters and their crews, as well as
the press, will be installed. On Thursday, March 20th at 9 PM
Brazilian time the eight-fight fighting card will beging its
action bringing local fighters to battle each other, but this
time also bringing some well known names from the fighting world
to battle against the local heroes. The fights will take place
on the huge Machadinho Arena, a facility that can hold up to
15,000 people, and nothing less than 10,000 spectators, or even
more, are being expected at the gates! Besides the fights the
likely presence of UFC and PRIDE veteran Vitor Belfort and BJJ
Black belt Amaury Bitetti as referees for the fights is also
a major attraction to the local public, but for us all NHB fans
the most important thing are the fights, and this time most surely
won't disapoint. Since some of the names are not known by the
international public, FCF decided to do a small preview of the
most important fights so you can know what to expect from this
usually wild night of fights right at Brazil's Northeast:
Carlos
Indio vs. Tiago Pitbull:
Carlos Indio has been making a name for himself lately in the
Brazilian Northeast NHB circles. A BJJ purple belt with a lot
of heart, quick hands, and an unorthodox Boxing style, Indio
has been surprising a lot of tough opponents. At Bitetti Combat
1 Indio pulled an upset against Paulo Guerreiro, who is a Tiago
Pitbull teammate, by breaking his nose badly in the beggining
of the match with a straight punch. In his last outing Indio
gave Northeast NHB star Rivanio Aranha a run for his money and
despite being the underdog took him to a judges' decision win
in a tough fight at RN Vale Tudo [A minor league event also promoted
by Conrado, who promotes Bitetti Combat too]. His best chance
in this fight will be a ref stoppage and his fast hands, however
he is facing probably the toughest and most skilled kid that
the Northeast has to offer. Tiago Pitbull is really a talented
kid. Despite being very young, 19 years old, Tiago already has
Muay Thai, NHB, Full Contact and Boxing experience and owns probably
the most impressive striking skills witnesses at Bitetti Combat
1, where he defeated Brazilian Top Team member and BJJ black
belt Fabio Hollanda with little trouble. His biggest weapon is
his striking skills, and he has the potential to fight abroad
with the proper ground training. Since Indio already defeated
his teammate, this fight probably has personal feelings for him,
so look for him to keep it standing and work his way to a KO
in this fight.
Rivanio
Aranha vs. Claudionor Fontinelli:
Rivanio Aranha is a famous fighter at Brazil's Northeast. With
a very aggressive style, reminiscent of "The Axe Murderer"
Wanderlei Silva, considering the due proportions of course, of
whom he is a confessed fan, Aranha has been tearing up competition
in the minor Brazilian NHB events, and was also a winner at Bitetti
Combat 1, where he defeated soundly Glauke Eugenio, a runner
up at the BJJ worlds at the purple belt division. In his last
appearance, at RN Vale Tudo, Aranha defeated Carlos Indio, but
had to stuggle. The crowd will be at his side, but he will be
facing probably the most experienced fighter he ever faced. Claudionor
Fontinelli is a familiar face to most NHB hardcore fans in the
world. A veteran of UCC, IVC and MECA, Fontinelli has fallen
to the likes of Chute Boxe sensation Anderson Silva and Brazilian
Top Team member Haroldo Bunn. He is reported to be training a
lot of stand up with IVC veteran Artur Mariano, and the improvements
have been satisfactory, however his ground game and takedown
defense still needs some work, as his match at MECA 7 against
Bunn showed. A important factor in this bout is that Claudionor
left jail not too long ago, so this fight means a lot to him,
but nobody knows for sure where his conditioning level is at
now. Aranha surely won't gas, and the crowd will go wild in his
favor, but Fontinelli can take this one if he is in shape cause
this is shaping up to be a standing up brawl!
Tibau
vs. Fernando Terere:
Tibau is also another Brazilian Northeast stand out who will
be fighting in front of his hometown fans. Tibau is very young,
but indeed experienced and trains Jiu-Jitsu at Kimura/Nova Uniao
as well as some training with the Ruas Vale Tudo team in Rio
de Janeiro, so he knows his game. At Bitetti Combat 1 he defeated
Paulo Caruso's student Paulo Boiko, however it wasn't an impressive
outing for Tibau, who is a well rounded fighter and will probably
be relying on his stand up to defeat Terere. The kid knows this
is the most important fight of his life, and the fight that can
make him more famous, plus his fans and friends are sure about
his win, we'll have to wait and see... Fernando Terere is really
a Jiu-Jitsu great. Coming from a very poor childhood Terere found
in BJJ a change in his life and the opportunity to achieve everything
he ever dreamed off. One of the most important things about this
fighter is that success didn't come up his head, as he once won
a new car as a prize on a Jiu-Jitsu tournament and sold it to
invest the money on a project to teach Jiu-Jitsu to poor kids
for free, even providing them their own gi to train, and giving
them the same opportunity he once had. Training for most of his
life with the likes of Jiu-Jitsu Icons Fabio Gurgel and Ronaldo
Jacare, Fernando's Jiu-Jitsu credentials needs no introduction,
and he has been preparing hard for NHB with "The Phenom"
Vitor Belfort, MECA winner Luis Azeredo, among others. His stand
up has been improving a lot and he is considering an international
career in NHB, so he needs to go pass Tibau and he knows it.
I feel he has what it takes to win this one, but he will need
to be calm and work his game as well as he can.
Silmar
Rodrigo vs. Johil de Oliveira:
Silmar Rodrigo is another very experienced, despite realitevely
uknown, fighter from the Brazilian Northeast. At Bitetti Combat
1 Silmar fought and defeated Brazilian Top Team member Alfaia,
showing good stand up skills, decent takedown defense and more
importantly amazing cardio. He is also a very calm fighter, who
shows no expression of anger or fear in his face during the fight.
To get a notion of Silmar's experience, he already fought the
likes of Wrestler Darrel Gohlar at WVC, so he is definitely used
to pressure. His takedown defense may not be enough to resist
Johil's attempts and experience, but his best chance are on his
cardio and punching combinations. Johil de Oliveira is a veteran
and a true NHB legend. With memorable battles against Pele at
IVC, and event fights at PRIDE against the likes of Nino "Elvis"
Schembri and Carlos Newton, you won't find a fighter more experienced
than Johil on this card. Age isn't exactly helping him, but he
is in good shape an willing to take his career abroad again,
therefore he knows he simply can't afford a lost to Silmar at
Bitetti Combat 1. A win can mean a shot at MECA and maybe even
more, so Johil will probably come well prepared and work his
ground and pound to a win on this one, to close the event in
great style.
In
the other four fights of the night some names also deserve a
small run down, to show the nice level this event is bringing
to the ring:
Sergio Capoeira is very famous on the BJJ circles in the Northeast
because of his aggressive and crazy style. He just made his NHB
debut at RN Vale Tudo in great fashion with an easy win, and
is serious about an NHB career. His opponent Paulo Guerreiro
is a Tiago Pitbull teammate with great Muay Thai credentials
and a lot of experience in events such as "Champions Night".
He lost at Bitetti Combat 1 and needs this win badly.
Wallace is one of the most intriguing attractions at the show.
The man is training Jiu-Jitsu at Kimura/Nova Uniao, but he is
also a Chute Boxe black belt from Rafael Cordeiro, despite the
fact that he doesn't train with Chute Boxe anymore, so his Muay
Thai skills are impressive. He debuted and demolished his opponent
at RN Vale Tudo, and he is being considered "The next big
thing" out of the Brazilian NHB circles.
Lucas Lopes is a MECA and Bitetti Combat veteran, with a lot
of experience in small shows as well. At MECA 7 he had the unfair
taks of facing againt Chute Boxe veteran Nilson de Castro, needless
to say he lost. At Bitetti Combat 1 he faced Brazilian Top Team
member Jorge Navalhada and lost a split decision in a very controversial
fight, where he showed a lot of heart, so look for him to provide
a good fight.
Here's
the complete card:
Sergio
Capoeira vs. Paulo Guerreiro
Wallace
vs. Gugao
Rivellino
vs. Josenildo
Carlos
Indio vs. Tiago Pitbull
Rivanio
Aranha vs. Claudionor Fontinelli
Tibau
vs. Fernando Terere
Lucas
Lopes vs. Samurai
Silmar
Rodrigo vs. Johil de Oliveira
FCF
is arriving in Natal this Wednesday and will bring you every
detail of this wild night of fights! Keep checking the web site
and don't miss it!
Source:
FCF
Hansen
Stops Sato in SHOOTO
Norwegian Joachim Hansen forced a referee stoppage of SHOOTO
legend Rumina Sato with punches on Tuesday night in Japan for
a first-round TKO victory. The loss, a huge blow for Sato who
hoped to reestablish himself as a force in the SHOOTO welterweight
(154 pound) division, means that the fallen Japanese star has
a 1-4-1 record in his last six fights dating back to December
2000. The victory improves Hansen's record to 5-1-1.
American
Shonie Carter, who seems to fight every weekend these days, scored
a unanimous decision victory over Seichi Ikemoto just nine days
before he's scheduled to face Jeremy Jackson in the WEC.
Source: Maxfighting
HENDERSON
HAS SOME DECISION TO MAKE
Dan Henderson has plenty of big decisions to make over the next
few weeks. His contract has now ended with Pride and he has to
make a decision whether to stay with Pride or move to the UFC.
Henderson
talked with Ryan Bennett last night as he just made it back from
Japan and he said quote "I have a lot of thinking to do
now. The folks at Pride have always treated me well and I will
take that in consideration. I really like the job the new UFC
is doing so I will just sit back and take it all in. We shall
see what happens."
In
an earlier interview with MMAWeekly, Henderson said if he did
go to the UFC he would fight in the 185 pound weight class. Even
though it's the same weight class as teammate Matt Lindland,
he said there wouldn't be a problem fighting in the same weight
class. When asked if he would fight Lindland he said "Only
if they paid us well. I like Matt and we have trained with each
other for a long time. It would have to be worth some money,
but we are both willing to fight one another."
About
one month ago, Dan Henderson shared a tip with us in out Tip
of the Week. Remember you can check out that tip as well as our
new videos on MMAWeekly TV.
Source:
MMA Weekly
3/19/03
Quote
of the Day
Experience
shows that success is due less to ability than to zeal. The winner
is he who gives himself to his work, body and soul.
Charles Buxton
Buy
some Chilli
A
small group of us are selling Zippy's Chilli to help fund our
trip to the Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Championships. It is $5 for
1-1/2 lbs little tub. If you can, please support us by buying
one or two or three or...
Contact
me by clicking here if you want to buy
ticket(s).
Thanks
in advance!
Media
Alert!
May 9, 2003
Championship Super Brawl
Another
Confirmed Fight
On
Friday, May 9, thousand of fans will pack the Blaisdell Arena
in Honolulu, Hawaii to witness the belt unification bout between
Super Brawl Champion Egan Inoue and Shooto Champion, Masanori
Suda. The first official additional bout to this card has been
added.
Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto
(Purebred, Japan)
Vs.
Bao Quach
(Next Generation, California)
Source: Promoter
SHOOTO:
March 18th Complete Results!
March
18th, 2003
Kourakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
Sustain
Class
B / 2 x 5 minutes rounds
Featherweight [-60.0Kg]: 2003 Rookie Tournament First Round
Manabu Kanou vs. Kenji Osawa: Osawa 2R 3:21 Rear Naked Choke
2003
Rookie Tournament First Round / Bantamweight [-56.0Kg]:
HIRO vs. Heat Takeshi: Hiro by Judges Decision 3-0.
Featherweight
[-60.0Kg]: Yohei Mikami vs. Kyle Takao: Mikami Judges Decision
3-0.
Bantamweight [-56.0Kg]: Tomohiro Hashi vs. Junji Ikoma: Ikoma
1R 3:30 Arm Lock
Lightweight [-65.0Kg]: Akitoshi Tamura vs. Masatoshi Kobayashi:
Tamura Judges Decision 3-0
Welterweight [-70.0Kg]: Takaharu Murahama vs. Thomas Hytten:
Murahama by Judges Decision: 3-0
Class
A / 3 x 5 minutes rounds:
Middleweight [-76.0Kg]: Tetsuji Kato vs. Brian Gassaway: Kato
by Judges Decision: 3-0
Bantamweight [-56.0Kg]: Mamoru vs. Homare Kuboyama: Mamoru by
Judges Decision.
Lightweight [-65.0Kg]: Tetsuo Katsuta vs. Hideki Kadowaki: Katsuta
by Judges Decision.
Middleweight [-76.0Kg]: Shonie Carter vs. Seichi Ikemoto: Carter
by Judges Decision.
Welterweight
[-70.0Kg]: Rumina Sato vs. Joachim Hansen: Hansen by 1R 2:09
TKO
Source: ADCC
Aram
vs. Strasser at UFC 42: Sudden Impact
The
word is spreading like wildflowers in the spring of a bout between
Romie Aram and Dave Strasser on Friday, April 25, 2003, at “UFC
42: Sudden Impact” in Miami, Florida.
Both
standing 5’10 and weighing 170 pounds, Aram and Strasser
would make their UFC debuts in this welterweight bout. Fighting
out of Millenia Jiu-Jitsu in Ontario, California, Aram, 6-0,
is the former KOTC Welterweight Champion. In his last fight,
Aram earned a Unanimous Decision win over Joe Stevenson at KOTC
17 - San Jacinto. Aram was stripped of his KOTC title when he
accepted the UFC offer. And could you think of a better reason?
Fighting out of Freestyle Academy in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Strasser
is ranked in Shooto, and is a 3-time Extreme Challenge tournament
champion. In his last fight, Strasser fought to a Draw against
Islam Karimov at MFC - Russian vs. The World 4. Coming out of
the Javier Vasquez camp, Strasser is sure Aram is well rounded.
We would see the undefeated Aram put his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
up against the Freestyle Fighting of a seasoned Strasser.
Source:
ADCC
PRIDE
News - A Look At The Heavies...
Although
Rodrigo 'Minotauro' Nogueira's PRIDE reign came to an end, he
is expected to return as soon as this summer.
The
Pride Grand Prix is coming up and what away to come back (if
he decides to enter). Herring, Coleman, Sapp, Cro Cop and others
are in the mix for the event. Throwing Nogueira in the mix would
make an incredible tournament! He holds defeats over three of
the fighters mentioned.
Never
count out the number one ranked heavyweight in the world when
it comes to delivering a great fight (win or lose).
Minotauro
is suffering from lower-back pain that has bothered him for the
last several months. Aside from bumps and bruises from the fight,
BTT says he is physically OK.
BTT
spokesman and head-trainer Mario Sperry is also looking forward
to a return to Pride down the road but what about Murillo Bustamante?
Well,
it appears that UFC and Murillo are through as the two sides
could not come to terms over money. Murillo was originally approached
by another Japanese company and was offered $100,000 for one
fight but it never materialized.
One
would hope to see him in Pride but no one knows anything yet.
In the meantime, BTT will keep training and waiting for the next
showdown.
Sperry,
Bustamante and Nogueira leave Tokyo to head back home for some
well-deserved rest today.
Source:
ADCC
PANCRASE
2003 HYBRID TOUR - Upcoming Lineup!
PANCRASE
2003 HYBRID TOUR
SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2003
DOORS OPEN: 5:30PM
FIGHTS START: 6:30PM
KORAKUEN HALL (TOKYO,JAPAN)
PRO-MATCH
#1 LIGHTWEIGHT 2x5 MIN ROUNDS
YUJI OBA (P's LAB TOKYO) vs MANAO KUMAGAI (ZENDOKAI)
PRO-MATCH
#2 WELTERWEIGHT 2x5 MIN ROUNDS
SATORU KITAOKA (WELTERWEIGHT 5TH RANKED/PANCRASEism) vs TAKUYA
WADA (SK ABSOLUTE)
PRO-MATCH
#3 LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT 2x5 MIN ROUNDS
KEI YAMAMIYA (LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT 6TH RANKED/ PANCRASEism) vs TSUYOSHI
KURIHARA(TEAM ROKEN)
PRO-MATCH
#4 LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT 2x5 MIN ROUNDS
MITSUYOSHI SATO (LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT 8TH RANKED/PANCRASE GRABAKA)
vs DAISUKE WATANABE (PANCRASEism)
PRO-MATCH
#5 WELTERWEIGHT 3x5 MIN ROUNDS
KOJI OISHI (WELTERWEIGHT 2ND RANKED/PANCRASEism) vs CHRIS LYTLE
(U.S.A/I.F.ACADEMY)
PRO-MATCH
#6 MIDDLEWEIGHT 2x5 MIN ROUNDS
KIUMA KUNIOKU (MIDDLEWEIGHT 2ND RANKED/PANCRASEism) vs HIDETAKA
MONMA (A3)
MMAWeekly.com has learned that not only is Pride/DSE planning
on a future show in Las Vegas, Nevada, but they are planning
on a "few" shows in the United States in the upcoming
months.
MMAWeekly.com
talked with three fighters who currently compete for DSE and
they were told not only was Pride planning on re-signing the
Americans to new contracts, but they were planning on making
more than just one trip to the United States for future shows.
They were looking at "several" stints in the U.S.
This
is good news for many American fighters like Dan Henderson, Kevin
Randleman and Quinton Jackson who were unsure if there would
be a future with Pride and DSE. It looks now there isn't only
a future, but there is a chance American fighters getting more
publicity with in there own country for the Pride Fighting Championships.
Source:
MMA Weekly
Up
Close:
HOOKnSHOOT's New Champion, CHRIS LYTLE
Chris
Lytle shocked the fans in Evansville on March 8th, not just by
beating Aaron Riley but doing it by KO. Even since Chris’
pro debut in Neutral Grounds, all of his wins have been by submission
with one exception, a decision win in Pancrase. All of his losses
have been by decision, neber tapped or KO'd. Since his UFC 28
fight in November of 2000, Chris has been fighting mostly in
Pancrase. One notable exception was a match at the IFC last July,
where he took Nick Diaz the distance only to lose the. Fans are
far more familiar with Riley and his reputation as a phenomenal
striker with a chin of steel, leading many to speculate before
hand this should have been a classic grappler versus striker
match. Surprisingly to the fans who haven’t seen his Pancrase
fights Lytle was perfectly content to stand and trade with the
slower-to-start Riley, using a reach advantage to finally knock
out the hometown hero in round 1. Fighting out of Integrated
Fighting Chris now holds the HOOKnSHOOT 170 lb belt vacated by
Yves Edwards when Yves dropped to 155.
KM:
First off, where the hell have you been? (Both laugh) CL: I’ve
been doing a lot of fights. I fought over in Japan quite often.
I fought over in California not too long ago. Just been busy
training. I have a full-time job; I’m a fireman, I’ve
been doing that a lot. I got a lot of fights lined up right now.
I’m supposed to fight Steve Berger here in about three weeks.
KM:
I’ve seen you once before in IFC last summer and thought
you and Nick Diaz were the fight of the night. It kept going
back an forth… CL: I kind of didn’t know anything about
him and heard I got a replacement, so right then and there I
thought it was going to be an easy fight. I have a lot of experience
he didn’t have but he was in a little better shape than
me. I thought I was winning the fight and he caught me with a
punch with about a minute and a half left and I then I was totally
defensive and he ended up winning a split decision. Hell of a
good guy, hell of a good fight and he ended up winning the split
decision. I just started really doing boxing at that point. Since
then I had four pro boxing fights too. I always felt like my
ground I don’t think anybody is any better than me. I said
‘what do I need to work on’ and I got to work on punching
and kicking. I’ve been doing that the last eight months.
That’s what I knew tonight, that Riley was going to want
to stand up with me and test me there. It just showed that I’ve
been really busting my ass trying to work on my stand-up. I’ve
had several knockouts in boxing and I’ve learned how to
use my hands. I’m a complete fighter now; you’re not
going to just sit there and stand up with me and you’re
not going to get me on the ground.
KM:
For those people who haven’t seen you fight before you were
the underdog. CL: Aaron is a great fighter, people know him,
they’ve seen him many times, he got a lot of exposure. I
fought over in Japan a lot; people don’t see that too often.
Most of my fights here in the states…I’ve lost a good
decision to Dave Menne once and people saw that, saw that I was
pretty good on the ground. I fought here (HOOKnSHOOT) a couple
times, they know I fought a couple tough guys here. I fought
twelve times over in Japan in Pancrase.
KM:
I was wondering if that had any effect on your strategy, that
you were less known. CL: I didn’t really care about that,
only thing I was really thinking was people don’t know that
I’ve been doing stand-up, they think I’m a ground guy.
I want to come out there and knock some people out and go ‘look
man, I’m someone to be taken serious, I got heavy hands,
and I’m well-versed on the ground. I’m just trying
to get as well-rounded as possible.
KM:
How does it feel to have knocked out Aaron? CL: It feels good
for me. I really like Aaron; I think he’s a hell of a nice
guy. I hate seeing anything bad happen to him but at the same
time I’m just ecstatic to do something that nobodys done
like that. I hope that that shows to people that I’m looking
to get back it this. I want to fight in the UFC, I’d really
like to fight Lawler because everybody says he’s the man
and I’m telling people I’m the man. I think that would
be a good fight right there.
KM:
You’re probably well on your way with tonight’s fight.
What are your thoughts on having the belt now? CL: Ecstatic about
it. Anybody who wants to try to take it, it’s going to be
hard to do. It’s easier to take it than to hold on to it.
KM:
I’m wondering which you are more proud of, your performance
against Aaron or having the belt? CL: The belt doesn’t mean
near as much. I could have beat a lesser person and got the belt.
I would have rather beat Aaron and not got the belt. He’s
a tough guy. I love the belt, don’t get me wrong.
KM:
Is there anything else you want the fans to know at this point?
CL: Just to watch out.
Source: ADCC
3/18/03
Quote
of the Day
He
who reigns within himself and rules his passions, desires, and
fears is more than a king.
John Milton
SIJO
EMPERADO CERTIFICATION?
"The
following post was received from an anonymous emailer. We cannot
validate or deny the information that is stated below. We will
just post it and let our readers who are have more background
or ways to verify the information make up their own minds. Please
feel free to email us at info@onzuka.com for a rebuttal or
verification of the facts and we will post it to be fair and
equitable."
SIJO
EMPERADO CERTIFICATION?
I
have recently return from my trip back from Hawaii. While in
Hawaii, I have had the opportunity to interview some of Kenpo's
old time students and Instructor's. What I have discovered was
a shock although I have heard some of it's story.
After
interviewing Mr. William Chow's First Student's, I can see why
Kajukenbo are what they are today. Mr. Chow student, who was
before Sijo Adrinao Emperado had stated that he and Chow couldn't
get along together. Sijo Emperado was in the beginners class
and eventually moved up but were never with the advance class.
When those two men couldn't get along, Sijo Emperado left and
decided to form his own group. At that time, Sijo was only a
Blue Belt.
What
people don't know is that when Sijo started his own group, he
never taught Kenpo. It was strictly Karate. When these old time
students of Chow , til' this very day, see all those who have
come out of Sijo Emperado lineage, they say it is not Kenpo.
It is Karate.
How
did Sijo earn his credentials? He didn't. It was said that Sijo
later got only an honorary certificate from certain individuals
in the Chinese community.
While
vacationing in Hawaii, I had the chance to talk to Sijo Emperado
using a different name. I question him on these matters and his
answer? "how did you know this?."
I
also ask him that many claimed that he wasn't their instructor
but acknowledge Joe Emperado, Woodrow McCandless and Marino Tiwanak.
This is when it got interesting.
He
mentioned how his Kenpo style made professional boxer Marino
Tiwanak a believer after beating him in a sparring session. He
also mentioned how he had to take away his rights and rank as
an Instructor. Whom he claimed he later seeked someone else for
promotion and recognition. He also mentioned how he had a private
sparring session with Woodrow McCandless and the deal was if
Emperado wins, McCandless would join his group. He stated that
he won McCandless and that his style was useless. At that time,
Sijo had to leave and couldn't continue this conversasion. However,
I have contact those certain individuals whom he named. I will
cover this in the next issue.
The
Truth About KAJUKENBO
Over
the past two decades, Kajukenbo has grown through out the world
because of certain individuals. What the martial arts community
don't know is that How Kajukenbo was started.
My
research is based on reliable facts by first generations practitioners
of Kajukenbo. This also includes interviews by many of them.
In
The Beginning
Before
Kajukenbo were started, Adriano Emperado and His brother Joe
Emperado started their training under Professor William Chow.
After disagreements with Chow, Adrinao Left in 1947 and started
his own group. He took on the name Kenpo Karate. His brother
Joe later followed.
It
was not until the early 1950's when they moved to Palama Settlement
in Honolulu, Hawaii. Later, Woodrow McCandles join the Adriano
and merged his class. At that time, the thre men who were running
the school were Joe Emperado, Woodrow McCandless and Marino Tiwanak.
Adrino was to found to come around only when it was time to collect
their monthly dues. He was to busy getting drunk and high on
dope.
By
the mid 1950's, Joe Emperado and Marino Tiwanak were planning
to start their own school. What many don't know is that the person
who were actually responsible for coming up with the name were
actually Joe Emperado! He and Tiwanak decided to name their school
Kajukenpo, Karate, Judo and Kenpo - originally! However, due
to Joe's Death, Tiwanak went on his own.
By
the early 1960's, Adrinao was in too many trouble with the law
and the under world. At that time, Mr. Robert Kawakami had a
big polictical influence. It was Mr. Kawakami who saved Adrinao
Life on many ocassions.
Mr.
Kawakami later called a meeting to bring everyone together, but
Tiwanak refuses. Later, Adrinao was advised by Frank Ordonez
to use the name Kajukenpo. By the mid 1960's, Mr. Kawakami registered
the name Kajukenbo instead of Kajukenpo which the later meant,
Karate, Judo, Kenpo and Boxing. Later, Bo represent the Japanese
"Bo." Later it became know as Chinese Boxing.
According
Frank Ordonez, When they started Kajukenbo in the 1960's, they
decided to use the Black Gi's. Mr. Ordonoz was only the Administrator
for Kajukenbo. Mr. Peter Choo mentioned that he never did help
Adriano formed Kajukenbo and stated that they only talked about
matters. Mr. Joe Holck didn't really know what was going on.
he was introduce to Adriano by Peter Choo who is related to Mr.
Holck.
When
they claim Kajukenbo was started in 1947-49 and these men trained
together, Mr. Ordonez was only a student under the American Jujitsu
Institute. Peter Choo and Joe Holck were in the military and
overseas!
In
1967-68, it was then declared officially that Kajukenbo was a
system! By the late 1960's to early 1070's, Adrinao moved to
the mainland and lived with various of people. When he left,
He stole all Kajukebo Certificates from Mr. Kawakami when he
wasn't home. Later it was known that Adriano were promoting people
in the mainland. Mainly to support his drinking and drug habits!
During
the Palama Settlement days, no woman or children were allowed
and all training were closed doors!. Now we all know that Deechi
Emperado never did train in her life or have ever been involved
in the martial arts. She became involved when Adriano got sick
and need a place to stay so she took him in. No one would take
Adriano in after he used them and stole from them!
If
you would ask anyone of the first generations practitioners who
their teacher were, they will acknowledge first, Joe Emperado,
Woodrow McCandless and Marino Tiwanak.
Today,
Kajukenbo collect taxes from schools under the Kajukenbo banner
and charge a large fee for promotion! You can get promoted to
4th degree this year, and next year, Deechi will call you and
use Adriano's name and say you have to pay this amount cause
you're getting promoted to 7th!
One
of the embarassing part of Kajukenbo is their titles! Everyone
who speaks Chinese knows that there is no such word as Sijo!
As for Sigung, its Grandfather in a family. Now is Deechi a Sigung?
She calls herself using that title.
They
want to control everyone thinking they are the only ones with
authorithy! When they have a Kajukenbo gathering, every instructor
teaches something different! If they are a method or system,
then why everyone is teaching different? why is there so much
confusing? why is many of their members are fianlly waking up
and breaking away? And why are their some who have no balls and
put up with them?
It
is time for Kajukenbo members to wake up! Its obvious whats going
on. Especially since Deechi is using people only for self gain,
power and most of all, Money! Be strong ! Stand your Ground!
Be a true Martial Artists!
Egan Inoue
Egan Inoue, Superbrawl champion, will play the villain Shinzo
in Aaron Yamasato's upcoming sequel, "Blood of the Samurai:
The Series," now in pre-production and set for a mid-summer
shoot.
The
TV series, produced by Hellcat Productions LLC, also has a call
out for an actress to play a female ninja character: Yuki, a
beautiful, young (18 to 25) and worldly woman who was born in
Japan and has a fiery spirit and an aura of mystery.
Auditions
will be from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Japanese Cultural
Center of Hawai'i, 2452 S. Beretania St. For details, e-mail
Yamasato at Ayamasato@aol.com or phone (808) 651-5016.
Source:
Honolulu Advertiser
Terere
& Belfort Together
Pan Ams Update
ADCC 2003 preparations are heating up
Word
from Fernandinho 'Terere' is that his training has been reaching
'out of this World level'. Terere is set to face Tibau at the
Bitteti event this Wednesday and has been preparing for his Brazil
NHB debut with none other than Vitor Belfort and good friend
Leo Vieira and the training sessions have been nothing short
of intense. Fernando said he is ready and looking forward to
the match.
In
other Master Team news, their top fighters are scheduled to compete
in the team event to happen this weekend, the inside rumor has
Roberto 'Spider' Traven returning to the mats with the Master
team. They should be a force to be reconed ith along with Leozinho,
Telles, Jacare & Macaco (not Macaco Patino, but Master's
Macaco). More on that after the weekend.
Pan-Ams
2003
The
list of American resident Black Belts ready to throw in their
belts at the 2003 Pan Ams is growing each day. Already confirmed
to compete are Luis Limao, Megaton Dias, Micah Cipillo, Kiko
Cacella, Sandro Batata, Todd Margolis & Rodrigo Antunes.
The list is sure to grow more as the event nears. For more info
on the 2003 Pan Ams go to CBJJ Pan Ams
ADCC
2003 Preparations have arleady started
With
the 2003 ADCC just two months away, a select group of invited
and confirmed athletes have started their training for the World
Cup of Submission Wreslting. Kid has heard that Royler Gracie,
Marcio Feitosa, Dean Lister, Eddie Bravo and a few others have
already began stepping up their training routines with eyes on
the prestigous title.
With
the level of the competition rising with each edition, it is
going to take everything the guys have and more to get the coveted
prize, so every one is getting an early jump on their training.
Lister is said to have developed a new set of 'secret & wicked'
submissions that he is planning to debut in Sao Paulo against
an 'unlucky' opponent.
ADCC
2003 the event to watch! '
Source:
ADCC
GLADIATOR
CHALLENGE 15 - First Thoughts!
Gladiator
Challenge returns on April 13th with a show at Eagle Mountain
Casino , featuringthe Steve Heath vs. Brian Sleeman bout topping
the bill. Fighting out of Cesar Gracie, Heath fought at Eagle
Mountain before, where he beat James Meals at last summer’s
IFC Warriors Challenge 17. Since 2000, he has only lost to Chuck
Liddell and Ivan Salaverry. Sleeman most recently won his Gladiator
Challenge 14 fight against Lee McKenna.
Gladiator
Challenge 15 also marks the return of Cole Escovedo, the triangle
whiz tearing up the 145 division with a 7-0 record. More than
one of Cole’s opponents have remarked they know the triangle
is coming and they try to defend but he usually gets it anyway,
with five of his wins coming from this move and his other two
coming from strikes. His
opponent this night will be Jim Kikuchi, an 808 Fight Factory
up-and-comer trained by Ronald Jhun and Kai Kamaka.
Gladiator
Challenge jump into the women’s divisions at this show with
Molly Hesel vs. Stacy Gidley, two fighters we should hear more
about in the weeks to come. Joe Stevenson returns to the cage
to take on Chuck Kim in what looks to be Joe’s last fight
before dropping to 155. Also three grudge matches akin to those
seen at IFC at Eagle Mountain are on the card as well as so far
11 other fighters although match-ups are not available at this
time.
Source:
ADCC
Pride
Report: The Nogueira Camp
We
caught up with Mario Sperry of the Brazilian TOP TEAM, and he
informed us that Rodrigo 'Minotauro' Nogueira is OK after his
difficult fight with Emilianko Fedor in PRIDE 25. After the fight,
Minotauro went to the hospital for a standard post fight checkup.
Minotauro's only complaint was regarding his lower back, a recurring
injury since the first half of 2002.
The
BTT did make it clear that after the warm up for the match, he
felt nothing in his back, so no excuses are to be made. 'It seems
that the big shot Fedor caught him with in the beginning of the
fight was decisive, since Minotauro never was the same after
that punch. Minotauro's game is based on a good cardio combined
with his crazy ground game, but the punch slowed him down'.
'Normally
with Minotauro, when think you are OK defending a triangle, here
comes the armbar or omoplata, but in order for him to maintain
this attack, he must have good conditioning and his was not good
enough for Emilianenko Fedor. Fedor is the new champion and earned
the belt with his performance. Very strategic, Fedor was scoring
during the whole fight while managing to escape from Nogueira's
submission attempts. Minotauro was not as effective as usual
on the ground, with only 2 reversals the whole fight, both when
a round was close to the end, so he did not have time enough
to play from the top.' - Stated Mario Sperry.
Now
everybody is wondering what's next and Mario is not sure. 'We
don't know yet, but for sure Minotauro will be back and he will
fight for thePride Heavyweight belt again. Sooner or later'.
concludes Sperry.
Brazilian
Top Team members will be leaving Tokyo to return to Brazil on
Tuesday.
Source:
ADCC
PANCRASE
2003 USA TOUR
National Submission Wrestling Championships:
Official Results
March
15, 2003
Broomfield H.S. Broomfield, CO, USA
249 wrestlers (combined divisions) More than 1000 spectators
in attendance
Men's
Absolute Open Weight Division
Tournament Grand Champion: Amal Easton, Boulder Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu,
Boulder, CO, (win by decision)
Vice
Champion: John Herrera, Stars/Pancrase USA, Broomfield, CO
Finalist: Colin Murphy
Women's
Absolute Open Weight Division
Tournament Grand Champion: Tori Adams, USA National Team, CO.
Spgs. CO, (win by armbar)
Tournament Vice-Grand Champion: Karen Athen, Defense Institute,
CO. Spgs. CO
Advanced
Men's (under 1401bs) Featherweight Division
Champion: Hung Tran, Denver, CO. (win by decision)
Vice-Champion: Nobu Yagai, Grapplers Edge/Machado, Denver, CO
Finalist: Colin Murphy, Foxfield, CO
Semi-Finalist: Scott Nakumura, Arvada, CO
Advanced
Men's (140-150Ibs) Lightweight Division
Champion: Christian Carvacho, Aurora, CO. (win by foot lock)
Vice-Champion: Brock Jensen, Stars/Pancrase USA, Broomfield,
CO
Finalist: Marcos Nadine, Boulder Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Boulder,
CO
Semi-Finalist: James Dinette, Grapplers Edge, Denver, CO
Advanced
Men's (150-165Ibs) Welterweight Division
Champion: Albert Crane, Boulder Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Santa Fe,
N.M. (win by decision)
Vice-Champion: Keith Wilson, Colorado Springs, CO
Finalist: Hocine Bourouba, Pitts Academy, Aurora, CO
Advanced
Men's (165-180Ibs) Middleweight Division
Champion:
Amal Easton, Boulder Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Boulder CO., (win by
decision)
Vice-Champion: Cruz Chacon, Boulder Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Boulder,
CO
Finalist: Xan Routh, Stars/Pancrase USA, Broomfield, CO
Semi-Finalist: Eric Koble, Grapplers Edge, Denver, CO
Advanced
Men's (180-200Ibs) Light Heavyweight Division
Champion: George Andersch, Boulder, CO. (win by shoulder lock)
Vice-Champion: Nick Kline, Boulder Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Boulder,
CO
Finalist: Steve Gilman, Grapplers Edge, Denver, CO
Semi-Finalist: Xan Routh, Stars/Pancrase USA, Broomfield, CO
Advanced
Men's (200-220Ibs) Heavyweight Division
Champion: Malcolm Havens, Grapplers Edge, Denver, CO. (win by
neck crank) '
Vice-Champion: George Andersch, Boulder, CO
Advanced
Men's (220 & up) Super Heavyweight Division
Champion: Craig Pumphrey, Grapplers Edge, Denver, CO. (win by
neck crank)
Vice-Champion: George Andersch, Boulder, CO
Finalist: Andrew Dudder, Boulder Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Boulder,
CO
Semi-Finalist: Wes Venter, Pitts Academy, Aurora, CO
Beginner
Men's (140-150Ibs) Lightweight Division
Champion: Mike Esparza, Stars/Pancrase USA, Broomfield, Co. (win
by front choke)
Vice-Champion: Ryan Ban, Grapplers Edge, Denver, CO
Finalist: Chuck Mora, Lafayette, CO.
Semi-Finalist: Tori Adams, USA National Team, CO. Spgs, CO
Beginner
Men's (150-165Ibs Welterweight Division
Champion: Tom Sarah,
Vice-Champion: James Allphin, Ultimate Martial Arts, Aurora,
CO
Finalist: Justin Matekovic, Grapplers Edge
Semi-Finalist: Chris Downey, Pitts Academy, Aurora, CO
Beginner
Men's (180-200Ibs) Light Heavyweight Division
Champion: Brian Paulson, Pitts Academy, Aurora, CO (win by decision)
Vice-Champion: Johnny Kassabian, Littleton, CO
Finalist: Shane Marsh, Arvada, CO
Semi-Finalist: Nahum Flores, Aurora, CO
Beginner
Men's (200-220Ibs) Heavyweight Division
Champions: Thomas Clemen, Team Freak, Aurora, CO. (win by ankle
lock)
Vice-Champion: Todd Luttrell, Grapplers Edge, Denver, CO
Finalist: John Mills, Denver, CO
Semi-Finalist: Todd Ediger, Rock Mt. Martial Arts, Evans, CO
Beginner
Men's (220 & up) Super Heavyweight Division
Champion: Igor Cosic, Stars/Pancrase USA, Broomfield, CO (win
by submission)
Vice-Champion: Todd Ediger, Rock. Mt. Martial Arts, Evans, CO
Jose
Chavez Memorial Trophy
Recipient:
Amal Easton (Boulder Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu)
Recipient: Tori Adams (USA National Team)
Pancrase
Judges Committee Special Award
Recipient: Tori Adams (USA National Team)
Officials
Referee: 5x King of Pancrase Nathan Marquardt
Referee: Billy Hendricks
Judge: UCC World Champion Duane 'Bang' Ludwig
Judge: World Super Challenge Champion Larry Parker
Judge: Mike Hetrick
Matchmaker: Sandra Cosic
Fight Photographer: Peter Lockley
Commissioner: Will Hendricks
Source:
ADCC
2003
NCAA DIV. I WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS SCHEDULE AND FACTS
On tuesday
march 18 on FSW2 (digital 228) @ 11:00 am, there will be Border
Brawl featuring Minnesota vs. Iowa in a dual meet that attracted
15,000 plus attendance plus a preview of this weeks NCAA wrestling
championships.
Also, this
saturday, March 22 on ESPN2 they will be showing the NCAA wrestling
@ 2:00 pm.
Thanks to
Richie for the info!
About
330 wrestlers from 75 colleges will be competing in the 2003
NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, March 20-22, in Kemper
Arena in Kansas City, MO.
Of
the ten weight classes, a total of six will have defending NCAA
champions:
133
-- Johnny Thompson Oklahoma State
141 -- Aaron Holker, Iowa State
149 -- Jared Lawrence, Minnesota
157 -- Luke Becker, Minnesota
174 -- Greg Jones, West Virginia
285 -- Tommy Rowlands, Ohio State
While
all are wrestling at the same weight this season, not all are
favored to repeat. The official seeds for the tournament will
be announced Monday at 5 PM EST on the wrestling section of the
NCAA's web site, at: http://ncaasports.com/wrestling/mens .
Seven
wrestlers enter the 2003 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships
with undefeated records during the season. They are:
125
-- Chris Fleeger, Purdue
125 --
Travis Lee, Cornell (St. Louis)
149 -- Eric Larkin, Arizona State
149 -- Jake Percival, Ohio
165 -- Matt Lackey, Illinois
174 -- Greg Jones, West Virginia
285 -- Steve Mocco, Iowa
So
of the six returning NCAA champions, only Jones is undefeated
this year.
Three
of those undefeated this season were NCAA runners-up last season.
In last year's finals at 141, Aaron Holker of Iowa State beat
Eric Larkin, 10-5. Holker remains at 141, while Larkin is now
undefeated at 149. In the 165 finals last year, Iowa State's
Joe Heskett, who has since graduated, defeated Matt Lackey, 4-2,
with a takedown in the closing seconds. In last year's heavyweight
finals, Tommy Rowlands defeated Steve Mocco by a 1-1 double-overtime
tiebreaker. Mocco has beaten Rowlands three times since this
season.
SCHEDULE
OF EVENTS
Here
is the schedule of events for the 2003 NCAA Division I Wrestling
Championships. All times are CST:
Wednesday,
March 19
5 pm – 9 pm
NCAA Fan Experience Opens
Hale Arena
6
pm
Opening Ceremonies
Hale Arena
Thursday,
March 20
9 am – 9 pm
NCAA Fan Experience
Hale Arena
9:30
am
Doors open to general public
Kemper Arena
11
am
FIRST SESSION – Eight (8) Mats
** First Round
(Estimated Completion Time: 3 – 3:30 pm)
Kemper Arena
5
pm
Doors open to general public
Kemper Arena
6:30
pm
SECOND SESSION – Eight (8) Mats
** Preliminaries; Wrestle-back preliminaries, as needed; wrestle-back
first rounds
(estimated completion time: 10:30 – 11 pm)
Kemper Arena
Friday,
March 21
8 am – 9 pm
NCAA Fan Experience
Hale Arena
8:30
am
Doors open to general public
Kemper Arena
10
am
THIRD SESSION – Eight (8) Mats
** Quarterfinals on middle four mats; Wrestle-back second and
third rounds on outside four mats
(estimated completion time: 1:30 – 2pm)
Kemper Arena
4
pm
Doors open to general public
Kemper Arena
5:30
pm
FOURTH SESSION – Six (6) Mats
** Semifinals on inside two mats (one weight at a time) and Wrestle-back
fourth round on outside four mats; Wrestleback fifth round on
all six mats
(Estimated completion Time: 9 – 9:30 pm)
Kemper Arena
Saturday,
March 22
7:30 am
Doors open to general public
Kemper Arena
8
am – 5 pm
NCAA Fan Experience
Hale Arena
8:00
am
FIFTH SESSION – Six (6) Mats ** Wrestle-back semifinals
on all six mats; 7th & 8th Medal round on all six mats; 3rd
& 4th, 5th & 6th Medal Round on all six mats
(Estimated Completion Time: 10:30 am)
Kemper Arena
1:30
pm
Doors open to general public
Kemper Arena
2:05
pm
Grand March
Kemper Arena
2:20
pm
National Anthem
Kemper Arena, Playing Surface
2:30
pm
SIXTH SESSION – One (1) Mat
** Final Competition, & Awards Ceremony
(Estimated Completion Time: 5:00 pm)
Kemper Arena
6
p.m.
ESPN Tape Delayed Broadcast ESPN2
BROADCAST
AND WEBCASTS OF NCAA WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Make
sure to note that on Saturday, March 22, ESPN2 will air a same-day,
tape-delayed broadcast of the finals. It starts at 7 PM EST/6
PM CST, and runs for two hours. Make sure to check your local
listings.
As
usual, Internet radio will lead the way with live broadcasts
of the tournament. There are at least three that will take place
live from Kemper Arena.
The
wrestling web site Intermat will also have a live webcast. To
listen to it, go to: http://intermatwrestle.com/
MORE
INFORMATION
TheMat.com
has a breakdown and predictions by weight class for the 2003
NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, and also a special coverage
section at:
The
brackets and seeds have been released by the NCAA for the 2003
NCAA Div. I Wrestling Championships. The tournament will be held
Thursday, March 20, to Saturday, March 22, in Kemper Arena in
Kansas City, MO.
Below
are the seeds by weight class. Only the top 12 wrestlers are
seeded. Theoretically number one would wrestle number four in
the semifinals, and number two would wrestle number three. The
winners would theoretically go to the finals. Thus, at heavyweight,
although defending NCAA champion Tommy Rowlands is seeded number
three this year, he would not face number one seed Steve Mocco
(assuming both win their early round matches) until the finals
because he is on the other side of the bracket. That's why viewing
the brackets themselves is a good, visual way to understand what
to expect.
Here
are the top 12 seeds in each weight class:
125
( 1) Chris Fleeger PURDUE
( 2) Travis
Lee CORNELL
( 3) Ben VomBaur BOISE ST
( 4) A.J. Grant MICHIGAN
( 5) Nick Simmons MICH ST
( 6) Bo Maynes OKLAHOMA
( 7) Luke Eustice IOWA
( 8) Skyler Holman OKLA ST
( 9) Jason Powell NEBRASKA
(10) Tony Black WISCONSIN
(11) Chris Rodrigues UNC
(12) Vic Moreno CAL POLY
133
( 1) Johnny Thompson OKLA ST
( 2) Cliff Moore IOWA
( 3) Ryan Lewis MINNESOTA
( 4) Witt Durden OKLAHOMA
( 5) Zach Roberson IA ST
( 6) Cory Cooperman LEHIGH
( 7) Josh Moore PENN ST
( 8) Mark Jayne ILLINOIS
( 9) Shawn Bunch EDINBORO
(10) Richard LaForge HOFSTRA
(11) Phil Mansueto CLEVE ST
(12) Mike Simpson AZ ST
141
( 1) Teyon Ware OKLAHOMA
( 2) Zack Esposito OKLA ST
( 3) Dylan Long N IOWA
( 4) Jason Mester CMU
( 5) Aaron Holker IA ST
( 6) Mike Maney L HAVEN
( 7) Dana Holland AZ ST
( 8) Phillip Simpson ARMY
( 9) Scott Moore PENN ST
(10) Gabe Vigil BOISE ST
(11) Coyte Cooper INDIANA
(12) J.P. Reese MISSOURI
149
( 1) Eric Larkin AZ ST
( 2) Jared Lawrence MINNESOTA
( 3) Jesse Jantzen HARVARD
( 4) Jake Percival OHIO
( 5) Jerrod Sanders OKLA ST
( 6) Collin Robertson BOISE ST
( 7) Jon Masa HOFSTRA
( 8) Travis Shufelt NEBRASKA
( 9) Ty Eustice IOWA
(10) Dustin Manotti CORNELL
(11) Billy Smith W VA
(12) Jeremy Spates MISSOURI
157
( 1) Luke Becker MINNESOTA
( 2) Keaton Anderson OHIO ST
( 3) Shane Roller OKLA ST
( 4) Scott Owen N ILL
( 5) Gray Maynard MICH ST
( 6) Ryan Bertin MICHIGAN
( 7) Derek Zinck LEHIGH
( 8) Joe Johnston IOWA
( 9) Alex Tirapelle ILLINOIS
(10) Derek Jenkins RIDER
(11) Nate Wachter PENN ST
(12) Kenny Burleson MISSOURI
165
( 1) Matt Lackey ILLINOIS
( 2) Troy Letters LEHIGH
( 3) Tyrone Lewis OKLA ST
( 4) Jacob Volkmann MINNESOTA
( 5) Tyron Woodley MISSOURI
( 6) John Clark OHIO ST
( 7) Nick Passolano IA ST
( 8) Noel Thompson HOFSTRA
( 9) Matt R. King EDINBORO
(10) Levi Prevost WYOMING
(11) Jacob Klein NEBRASKA
(12) Kevin Carr CMU 1
174
( 1) Greg Jones W VA
( 2) Chris Pendelton OKLA ST
( 3) Robbie Waller OKLAHOMA
( 4) Ryan Lange PURDUE
( 5) Tyler Nixt IOWA
( 6) Eric Hauan N IOWA
( 7) Brad Dillon LEHIGH
( 8) Brian Glynn ILLINOIS
( 9) Blake Kaplan OHIO ST
(10) Curtis Owen AZ ST
(11) Mark Fee APP ST
(12) Shane Webster OREGON
184
( 1) Jessman Smith IOWA
( 2) Greg Parker PRINCETON
( 3) Clint Wattenberg CORNELL
( 4) Scott Barker MISSOURI
( 5) Mark Becks PENN ST
( 6) Josh Lambrecht OKLAHOMA
( 7) Gerald Harris CLEVE ST
( 8) Ty Matthews INDIANA
( 9) Ben Heizer N ILL
(10) Jake Rosholt OKLA ST
(11) Travis Frick LEHIGH
(12) Scott Justus VPI
197
( 1) Jon Trenge LEHIGH
( 2) Muhammed Lawal OKLA ST
( 3) Justin Ruiz NEBRASKA
( 4) Chris Skretkowicz HOFSTRA
( 5) David Shunamon EDINBORO
( 6) Damion Hahn MINNESOTA
( 7) Nik Fekete MICH ST
( 8) Anthony Reynolds S HEART
( 9) Kyle Smith MICHIGAN
(10) Sean Stender N IOWA
(11) Matt Greenberg CORNELL
(12) Morgan Horner L HAVEN
285
( 1) Steve Mocco IOWA
( 2) Kevin Hoy AIR FORCE
( 3) Tommy Rowlands OHIO ST
( 4) Kellan Fluckiger AZ ST
( 5) Boe Rushton BOISE ST
( 6) Matt Feast PENN
( 7) Pat Cummins PENN ST
( 8) Garrett Lowney MINNESOTA
( 9) John Testa CLARION
(10) Paul Hynek N IOWA
(11) Andy Bowlby ORE ST
(12) Brent Miller W VA
Source:
ADCC
3/17/03
Quote
of the Day
Even
a fool knows you can't touch the stars, but it doesn't stop a
wise man from trying.
Harry Anderson, "Night Court"
Rumble
on the Rock 2: Rumble Goes Wild Results
Edith Kanakaole Tennis Stadium, Hilo, Hawaii
March 15, 2003
By Chris Onzuka - Chris@Onzuka.com
BJ
Penn and company organized their second MMA event in their hometown
of Hilo, Hawaii. The first event was tremendously successful
and proved that the big island of Hawaii has tons of MMA fans
and great fighters. The event introduced a new, larger 29 foot
cage and had fighter interviews before their entrances. Jay Dee
(JD) Penn, who was the coordinator of the event (and BJ's brother)
promises that each show will get bigger and better than the last.
This card was filled with local talent from Oahu, Maui and Hawaii,
in addition to bringing in two Rage in the Cage champions, a
UFC veteran and a few other US mainland fighters. On hand for
the event were Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell, Don "The
Predator" Frye, Egan Inoue and Roland Sarria. BJ Penn's
Nova Uniao team came out strong and successful with Ross Ebanez
being a very promising fighter at 170lbs. The women's match showed
the crowd how much heart and leather that ladies can bring to
the table. Two tough Brazilians who live on Oahu also made successful
debuts. The main event pitted two fighters that were beaten by
local boy, Cabbage Correira, but definitely had him in trouble
numerous times in their fight with Cabbage. Cabbage is rumored
to be on the card of the next UFC, but this fight looked like
a qualifier to see whether Kauai Kupihea or Travis Wiuff should
be Cabbage's next opponent in Hawaii. A smaller Wiuff and a larger
Kupihea than the last time both fighters fought in Hawaii showed
up. Wiuff was much less aggressive and it cost him when Kupihea
was able to defend all but a couple take down attempts by Wiuff.
And when Wiuff got Kupihea down, he scrambled and got back to
his feet again. While Wiuff was trying to adjust his game plan,
Kauai planted a punch that dropped Wiuff and ended the event
with a KO. Thanks goes to JD and everyone at the event for all
the hospitality they showed me while in Hilo. The next Rumble
on the Rock is tentatively scheduled for August 9, 2003.
140lbs
Kekoakaika "Koa Boy" Fonseca (Nova Uniao, 5'8")
def. William Armstrong (808 Fight Factory, 5'11")
Submission via rear naked choke at 4:10 minutes of Round 1.
155lbs
Johnny Sampaio (Eastside/Nova Uniao/HMC), 5'8") def. Jerome
Kekumu (Hard Knocks, 5'6")
Submission via rear naked choke at 34 seconds of Round 1.
170lbs
Sydney Silva (Brazilian Freestyle JJ/HMC) def. Bryson Monterde
(Hard Knocks, 5'11")
Submission via arm bar at 55 seconds of Round 1.
260lbs
Vai Togia (Hard Knocks, 6'2") def. Anthony Billianor (Lockdown,
6'3")
Unanimous decision [(20-18), (20-18), (20-18)] after 2 rounds.
140lbs
Antonio Banuelos (Pit Fight Team, 5'3") def. Jim Kikuchi
(808 Fight Factory, 5'8")
Unanimous decision [(20-18), (20-18), (20-18)] after 2 rounds.
155lbs
Santino Defanco (Brausa, 5'11") def. Jamaal Perkins (808
Fight Factory, 5'7")
Submission via triangle at 1:05 minutes of Round 1.
170lbs
Ross Ebanez (Nova Uniao, 5'9") def. Jason "Rukus"
Walker (Universal Rough Housing, 5'7")
TKO via referee stoppage at 1:54 minutes in Round 1.
180lbs
Mark Moreno (Bull's Pen) def. Rich Moss (Brausa)
TKO due to doctor stoppage due to cut at 1:49 minutes of Round
1.
205lbs
Edwin Dewees (Brausa, 6'1") def. Augie Padekan (Hard Knocks,
6'0")
Submission via rear naked choke at 2:13 minutes of Round 1.
170lbs
Renato "Charuto" Verissimo (Nova Uniao) def. Shannon
"The Canon" Rich (Buell Fighting Systems, 5'9")
Submission due to strikes at 3:09 minutes in Round 1.
240lbs
Kauai Kupihea (Brausa) def. Travis Wiuff (Dave Menne, 6'3")
KO via punch at 4:21 minutes in Round 1.
Iolani
boys, Kahuku girls
raid state wrestling titles
by Nick Abramo nabramo@starbulletin.com
Jonathan
Spiker of Saint Louis defeated Ray-Ian Transfiguracion of Konawaena
17-7 in the 152-pound final last night. Spiker becomes the second
boy to win four straight state wrestling titles. Iolani's Patrick
Higa was the first, from 1983 to 1986.
Patrick
Higa has company in the Hawaii high school wrestling stratosphere.
Saint
Louis' Jonathan Spiker and Moanalua's Caylene Valdez joined Higa
as the only wrestlers to capture four state championships last
night.
In
a tight boys team race, Iolani outlasted two-time defending champion
Saint Louis 180.5-167 to secure the Data House Wrestling Championship
at Blaisdell Arena. With 147.5 points, Kahuku won the girls title
by 30 points over runner-up Moanalua.
Valdez
became the first girl to accomplish the four-peat by pinning
Tamitha Hufana of Farrington in the 114-pound final.
"It's
a wonderful feeling," said Valdez, who cried happy tears
and jumped into the arms of her boyfriend, Kamehameha wrestler
Patrick Stachel, moments after the victory. "I've been very
lucky and had God on my side. Through these four years, it's
been a lot of tears, sweat, dedication, commitment and cutting
weight.
"Our
other girl wrestlers were there to push me through when I was
down. I set myself against their pace. If they were faster or
drilling harder, then I knew I had to go faster or drill harder."
Spiker
became the second boy to four-peat, matching Higa's run from
1983 to 1986. He beat Ray-Ian Transfiguracion of Konawaena 17-7
in the 152-pound final.
"It's
everything," Spiker said. "I thought about it the whole
season and that's all I could think about the past two weeks.
When I was a freshman, people said I could be a four-time champ,
and that's when I hadn't even won one yet. It was risky and exciting.
Still, I had to go one, then two, then three, then four. I would
have liked to end it with a pin and I was trying for a pin, even
in the last 10 seconds."
Iolani's
Aaron Ishikawa (103), Jared Wakayama (125), Owen Yonehara (135)
and Kyle Muraoka (145) earned individual titles to lead Iolani
past Saint Louis.
Wakayama,
the 119-pound champ a year ago, held off hard-charging Riley
Kitamura of Punahou for a 12-10 victory.
"I'm
a senior, so I knew I didn't have another chance," Wakayama
said. "I know I've got to keep pushing until I've got no
more to give, and I was able to pull it out. It's a great feeling,
but the true feeling is when the team wins."
By
winning their weight classes, Saint Louis' Brandon Low (103),
Ben Wilmore (130) and Vincent Scott (215) helped the Crusaders
remain close to the victorious Raiders.
"I
was worried all the way up to the 160-pound match," Iolani
coach Yoshi Honda said. "That's when my assistants gave
me the thumbs up that it was over. Our group was really close,
bonded with each other and pulled off each other's energy."
Saint
Louis coach Todd Los Banos said he was happy his Crusaders were
able to keep it a tight race.
Wilmore
edged McKinley's Emil Suehiro 3-0 for another state crown. He
won the 112-pound class last year.
Rene
Suehiro, Emil's brother who won at 135 pounds a year ago, held
off Pearl City's Brian Denny 6-3 for the 140-pound championship.
Baldwin's
Kody Shepley gave Maui fans something to cheer about by dominating
McKinley's Lawrence Thain in a 12-0 victory. He almost pinned
Thain twice.
"I
thought I did pin him, especially the first time, but the referee
never called it," said Shepley, who missed much of the season
because of a torn rotator cuff.
Kahuku's
Elizabeth Torres and Kehau Kamauoha won girls individual titles
to lead the Red Raiders to their team victory. Torres pinned
Mauri Terao of Punahou in the 108-pound final, while Kamauoha
did the same to Robyn Mizuno of Punahou at 140.
"I
was hoping I wouldn't get the senior jinx," said Torres,
who placed second at the states as a sophomore and junior. "Our
girls did awesome and we worked so hard. This is icing on the
cake and an exciting, great way to finish the year."
In
one of the most exciting matches of the night, Kealakehe's Jasmine
Norman beat Kamehameha's Jazmine Cockett in a 130-pound class
overtime tiebreak. Norman had a comfortable 6-2 lead, but Cockett
tied it near the end of regulation with a reversal and a near
takedown.
"That
was the closest match I've ever been involved in," said
Norman, who was completely exhausted after the win. "She's
amazing. What was really cool is we both have the same name,
so everyone was yelling, 'Go Jasmine.' "
Kailua's
Danyelle Hedin earned her second straight title at 121 pounds
by getting revenge with a pin of Kahuku's Leilani Relator. Relator
beat Hedin three times this season -- in the regular season and
the OIA East championship meets.
"I
worked on centering myself and doing what I needed to do,"
Hedin said. "If feels great, because I know I had to come
and wrestle my hardest."
Source:
Star-BulletinSmiling
Spiker wins
fourth state crown
THE
smile said so many things. Relief. Joy. Triumph. Everything.
How
do you sum up a moment like this? A career. A destiny. All those
early mornings and late nights and extra work all wrapped into
one crowning achievement, one exultant smile. One moment in the
sun.
"Right
now, it's everything," Jonathan Spiker said.
He'd
won his fourth state wrestling championship.
His
Saint Louis Crusaders were second to Iolani, last night, relinquishing
the crown. But nothing could dampen the mood. This was history,
the second Hawaii boy ever to do the undoable. This was Spiker,
the feel-good All-American guy. The super student headed for
Harvard.
The
toughest nice guy you'll ever meet.
He
shows you his heart in everything he does.
"He
enjoys being out there," his coach, Todd Los Banos, put
it.
But
this was different, these past few weeks. History hung over him.
He thought about it when he went to sleep. In the morning when
he woke up. He'd get up in the middle of the night to go to the
bathroom, and it was his fourth straight state title that he
would see.
"I
dream about this," he said.
The
tension was building.
There
were nerves. There are always nerves. "You're always nervous
and anxious and jumpy," he said. But this time it was worse.
This
was it.
Others
had planned it for longer than he had. Since he started. Before
he'd even won his first.
"They
kept saying it," Spiker said.
You
could see it in him.
"As
hard as he's worked," Los Banos said, "all that he's
trained and does. He made it happen himself."
Was
Los Banos nervous?
"No,"
he said. He knew. With Spiker, he always knew.
Everyone
did.
There
was Ray-Ian Transfiguracion, the Big Island champ. He'd chosen
his weight class, 152, solely for the chance to meet Spiker at
last.
"I
was waiting for this for three years now," the state runner-up
said.
He
couldn't wait. You just never know. "Things happen,"
he said.
But
they didn't, not with Spiker. They never do. In four years, they
never have. Transfiguracion got almost as many accolades in the
locker room as the champion did, after the 17-7 final. Transfiguracion,
of Konawaena, said he hadn't been taken down all season. Spiker
did it to him eight times.
And
this was considered a tough match.
"All
I could do, Transfiguracion said, "was just wrestle."
And
in the end, he could smile, too.
But
at last Spiker could relax. He could exhale, with a look that
said everything. He felt everything. He'd been feeling it for
weeks. He'd dreamt about it over and over.
Now
it had happened. Now it was real.
Saint
Louis was no longer champion. But nothing could diminish this.
He'd
really done it. Harvard awaits.
Transfiguracion
said it best. "It's a smart man's sport."
Source:
Star-Bulletin
Saint
Louis' Spiker becomes four-time state champion
By Wes Nakama and Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writers
The Honolulu Advertiser
Patrick Higa now has company atop the list of Hawai'i's greatest
high school wrestlers.
Saint
Louis School's Jonathan Spiker last night joined Higa, a 1986
Iolani graduate, as the only four-time state boys champions in
38 years of the Hawai'i High School Athletic Association tournament
by defeating Konawaena's Ray-Ian Transfiguracion 17-6 at Blaisdell
Arena.
Iolani
won the team title with 180.5 points, pulling away from defending
champion Saint Louis (167) and last year's runner-up Kamehameha
(132). The Raiders entered the final rounds with a 156.5-146
lead over Saint Louis.
Although
Spiker, a one-time champion at 135 and a two-time champion at
145, did not get a pin last night at 152, he showed the consistent
and relentless form that helped him finish with a 142-0 career
record.
He
led only 2-0 in the first period after a takedown 15 seconds
into the match. But Spiker stretched the lead to 10-3 in the
second period with a series of takedowns and controlled the third
period to win comfortably.
"It
feels great just the same," Spiker said. "He was a
new opponent; he had placed before and I had heard about him
but I never wrestled him. I wasn't sure what to expect. I wish
the match ended in 30 seconds, but I was just taking it slow
and I didn't want to get over-excited. I was cautious."
Saint Louis' Jonathan Spiker takes control against Konawaena's
Ray-Ian Transfiguracion.
Thirteen boys have won three state championships. But until last
night, only Higa, who finished his career at 119-0 with state
titles at 105, 112 and 119 pounds, won four.
Higa's
name has been listed alone at the bottom of a page in the HHSAA
program honoring past three- and four-time champions.
Next
year, Spiker's name will be next to Higa's.
"That'll
be so cool; we always buy the book every year and keep it as
a souvenir," Spiker said. "I'm relieved, I'm so happy
it's over. It's always been a goal."
The
next person eligible for that goal is Saint Louis freshman Brandon
Low, who won the 112-pound title last night with an 8-4 victory
over Kahuku freshman Daniel Morita.
Spiker, who received words of advice from Higa a year ago, now
has some for Low.
"I'd
tell him just take it one match at a time, one year at a time,"
Spiker said. "If he does that, he should be fine."
Iolani
won the team title with the help of four individual champions.
"We
went 7-3 in the last round," Raiders coach Yoshi Honda said.
"That's a tribute to our guys staying focused and working
so hard."
Saint Louis wrestling coach Todd Los Banos talks with Jonathan
Spiker, after Spiker won the 152-pound class. Spiker defeated
Konawaena's Ray-Ian Transfiguracion, 17-6.
Source:
Honolulu Advertiser
Valdez
is first four-time girls champ
By Wes Nakama and Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writers
Kahuku High School ran away with its second straight Data House
Girls State Championship and Moanalua's Caylene Valdez became
the first Hawai'i female to win four state titles last night
at Blaisdell Arena.
Valdez,
who had won three championships at 108 pounds, pinned Farrington's
Tamitha Hufana in 44 seconds to capture the 114 title.
Hufana,
a sophomore, had beaten defending champion Debbi Sakai of Mililani
in the semifinals and put on an aggressive charge in the opening
moments against Valdez.
Twenty-one
seconds into it, Valdez twisted her knee and the match was stopped
momentarily.
But
Valdez recovered quickly and made her mark in history.
"I
wrestled her three times and she was very different all three
times," said Valdez. "She took me down twice in the
(O'ahu Interscholastic Association) finals, and that kinda shook
me. I was kinda scared tonight, because I knew she probably prepared
even more."
When
Valdez was injured, it brought back memories of last year's 108-pound
final, when she and Kahuku's Shanel Vivas both were hurt during
the match.
"I was really scared after that, because I didn't want to
get injured," Valdez said. "But before the match, my
coach (Eddie Gudoy) told me not to hold anything back, to just
go for it. I just jumped on her mistake. But she'll be a state
champ next year, no doubt about it. I know she works hard and
is determined."
But
last night, it was Valdez standing on the top platform for the
record fourth time.
"It
felt wonderful, I'm so glad," Valdez said. "I am the
first one, and it's unbelievable. It's an honor."
The
most dramatic match of the finals was at 130, where No. 2 seed
Jasmine Norman of Kealakehe held on to defeat No. 1 Jazmine Cockett
of Kamehameha 7-6 in two overtimes.
Norman,
who has had to fly in to O'ahu to find matches during the season
due to a lack of opponents on the Big Island, led 6-1 in the
third period before Cockett rallied with an escape, takedown
and near-fall to send it into overtime.
"I
thought, 'There went my life — a reversal and near-fall,'
" Norman said. "She wanted it, and it was the longest
minute."
Cockett actually was initially awarded three points for the near-fall,
but the side referee ruled there were only four seconds on the
clock, meaning only a two-point near-fall was possible.
"I
thought I lost," Norman said. "I was ready to accept
it."
After
a scoreless first overtime, Cockett won the toss and took the
down position, needing to break free within 30 seconds in order
to win. If Norman maintained control for 30 seconds, she would
win.
After
trying to break off and then pulling Norman out of the ring four
times, she was left with only two seconds after the final down
position and Norman held on for the win.
"It
still hasn't hit me," Norman said. "She was second
last year, and I was sixth. I was a nobody."
Norman
now can call herself a state champion.
So
can the Kahuku girls, who scored 147.5 team points to easily
outdistance Moanalua (117.5) and Kamehameha (104.5).
The
Red Raiders had two individual champions (Elizabeth "Kapua"
Torres, 108, and Kehau Kamauoha, 140), two runners-up (Nicole
Fonda, 103, and Leilani Relator, 121) and one fourth, Ashlee
Estioko (130), fifth, Rosylynn Maiava (114) and sixth, Amanda
Aquino (98).
"It
feels great," Kahuku coach Reggie Torres said. "It's
a great feeling, especially when you know the girls worked so
hard for it."
That
was true of Torres' daughter Kapua, who finished second last
year and tore her medial collateral ligament a month ago.
"I'm
ecstatic for her," Torres said. "She got the monkey
off her back. She worked so hard to get this first-place championship
and finally she got it in her senior year."
Source:
Honolulu Advertiser
PRIDE.25:
Body Blow Results
March 16, 2003
Marin Yokohama Arena, Yokohama, Kanagawa-Pref., Japan
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira defeats Kazuhiro Nakamura (of Yoshida
Dojo)
by armbar 3:30 into the second round.
Akira
Shoji wins a split decision over Alex Stiebling
Alexander
Otsuka wins a unanimous decision over Kenichi Yamamoto
Anderson
Silva defeats Carlos Newton by KO 6:26 into the 1st round.
Dan
Henderson defeats Shungo Ohyama by KO 3:27 into the 1st round.
Nino
"Elvis" Schembri defeats Kazushi Sakuraba by KO 6:07
into the 1st round.
Quinton
"Rampage" Jackson defeats Kevin Randleman by KO 7:00
into the 1st round.
Emelianenko
Fedor defeats Antonio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira
by unanimous decision.
Source:
FCF
Pride
25 Report
by: Luca Atalla
The
Russian takes the belt:
The
capacity crowd that packed the 17,000 thousands seats in the
Yokohama Arena, Japan attending Pride 25, in the today’s
evening, watched a heavyweight belt stealing and three powerful
knees samples. Additionally, they saw a strong right punch, a
beautiful armbar, only three judge’s decisions and lots
of emotion.
Rodrigo
Minotauro Nogueira vs. Emelianenko Fedor:
Fedor
spent most of the 20 minutes fight inside Minotauro’s guard.
He never ran away of what is considered the champion’s most
dangerous weapon. Instead, he threw strong left crosses from
the top and kept away from the Brazilian Top Team athlete's favorite
submission attempts – triangles, omoplatas and armlocks.
The russian stamina proved to last until the end as he finished
the fight not showing tiredness. Although the bout went to the
judges decision, Minotauro figured he had lost and before they
announced the winner, the sad champion shook the opponent’s
hand and showed he is true sportsman.
Kevin
Randleman vs. Quinton Jackson:
One
of the most anticipated fights of the program, the middle-heavyweight
road for the title challenge was not full of action, as predicted,
but had its moments. Quinton Jackson and Kevin Randleman played
a patience’s match to define who would take the other’s
down for few minutes. Twice Randleman hit Jackson strongly but
the ultimate blow came from The Rampage. He struck his knee to
Randleman’s face and combined the hit with some punches,
as his opponent fell to the ground and Quinton got the mounted
position. Randleman was asleep already when the referee stopped
the fight at 6:58 of the first round. Quinton then challenged
Wanderlei Silva and the current champion went into the ring where
he got out of control and pushed Rampage. A fight nearly broke
out at once and people had to make some effort to hold them apart.
Antonio
“Nino” Schembri vs. Kazushi Sakuraba:
In
paper, it was an unpredictable fight. Sakuraba had the odds in
his favor, since he is much more experienced and well rounded.
But Nino is a natural talent, has his guns, and they are dangerous,
as it would be demonstrated. As Nino simply tensed up, Sakuraba
spent the first minutes fighting alone, hitting the Brazilian
with several straight punches to his face and some low kicks
as well. But Nino kept going trying to bring the fight into the
ground, and Sakuraba was easily avoiding it. But suddenly the
Jiu-Jitsu specialist showed his power, he threw three straight
knees in Sak’s face knocking out the Japanese idol out,
15 seconds after the sixth minute. ‘Sakuraba did not know
Elvis was a karate black belt,’ said Nino after the victory.
Dan
Henderson vs. Shungo Oyama:
The
greco-roman wrestler Dan Henderson dominated the fight against
judo’s expert Shungo Oyama. He used his right cross to shook
Oyama in the beginning of the combat, and since it wasn’t
enough to take the Japanese out of the bout it returned in the
middle of the third minute, accomplishing the job.
Anderson
Silva vs. Carlos Newton:
Carlos
Newton started well, taking Silva’s down at once and quickly
passing his guard and mounting. But Anderson remained very calm,
avoided the submissions and put Newton back in his close guard.
He stayed there for almost five minutes, then the referee stopped
the fight, gave the Brazilian a yellow card for 'no action' and
started the fight again with both fighters standing. So it came
the grand finale when Silva fainted a high kick. Newton lowered
himself and Silva capitalized his opponent’s move, throwing
a accurate flying knee. The Chute Boxe star punched Newton four
times after it and so the referee stopped the match at 6:27 of
the first round.
Alexander
Otsuka vs. Kenichi Yamamoto:
Alexander
Otsuka beat Kenichi Yamamoto by unanimous decision in a fight
where the winner stayed on top most of the time. From the guard,
Yamamoto tried some tricks but no one was effective enough to
threat Otsuka.
Alex
Steibling vs. Akira Shoji:
Steibling
against Shoji was one of the good fights of the program. Shoji
dominated the whole first round and even knocked Alex down in
the beginning of the second round. However, he suddenly was swept
and from then on he just survived, nobody knows how, since Steibling
spent more than a minute in his back with the Japanese showing
no defense at all. But the round finished, and in the last period
Akira kept the fight standing, losing clearly but at least taking
the fight to the judges. The split decision was in his favor
probably because the advantage he opened in the first 12 minutes
(as the first round has 10 minutes and the second and third five
each).
Rogerio
Nogueira vs. Kazuhiro Nakamura:
Minotauro’s
twin brother opened the program in a fight against the judo champion
Kazuhiro Nakamura repeating the champion’s game. He laid
back and used his guard to attack Nakamura, who just survived
playing from the top. But in the middle of the second round Rogerio
swept the Japanese, took his back and from there caught the foe
with a beautiful armlock, that made a tired Nakamura tap at 3:49.
Source:
ADCC
Fedor
Dominates "Minotauro" to Claim PRIDE Title;
Jackson Performs Perfectly in TKO Victory
By Josh Gross
TOKYO
-- It's become obvious that mixed martial arts, at least in its
current stage, is not a sport where champions are made to live
long reigns. Perhaps the grandest and most well regarded king
was PRIDE heavyweight titleholder Antonio Rodrigo "Minotauro"
Nogueira. With only one blemish on his record, a controversial
decision loss to Dan Henderson that he recently avenged, the
Brazilian dominated opponents 19 times out of 20 with his grace
and finesse.
Enter
Emelianenko Fedor, a man who's displayed the most basic -- and
most proficient -- way to win fights: shear unadulterated power.
Tonight he changed the face of ground-and-pound fighting in front
of a packed house of 19, 247 customers in Yokohama Arena. More
importantly he changed the face behind the PRIDE heavyweight
belt.
In
a dominating 20-minute performance that only went the distance
because of Nogueira's iron will, Fedor continually blasted the
former champion with punishing left and right hands in a sort
of ground fighting never seen before.
With
this performance Fedor has placed his name atop a long list of
ground strikers as the most dangerous athlete to ever strap on
a pair of gloves. He started his bulldozer-like performance with
a right cross directly to Nogueira's chin in the opening seconds.
Dazed the champion fell to his back -- a place in the past that's
served him well. Fedor followed and clubbed "Minotauro"
anytime he was given space.
More
than halfway through the opening 10-minute round, Fedor connected
with a massive combination of strikes that sent Nogueira and
the those cheering for him into hiding. Unrelenting for the first
nine minutes, Fedor's only slip up came in the final 60 seconds
-- similar to the way Heath Herring swept him in the last minute
of their contest.
This
time, though, Fedor refused to stay on his back and ride out
the round. He returned the favor. Unfortunately for Nogueira,
it was plainly clear that his only way to win would be a submission
from the top. After one round, that didn't appear to be in the
cards.
"Minotauro"
tried to place Fedor on his back to open the second round, but
the Russian Top Team killer used his hips well, forcing Nogueira
back into the guard. Though "Minotauro" appeared to
deal with Fedor's attacks better in round two he still had no
answer for them. And he definitely had no counterattack.
With
no way to win but stoppage or submission to open the final round,
Nogueira took the fight to the ground right away. After 15 minutes
of pummeling, there was no choice but to force a last-minute
submission from his back.
Fedor
didn't oblige. Every time Nogueira went for his arm or neck,
the new champion just pulled out of it, amazing considering the
way "Minotauro" has won fights in the past. As the
final seconds clicked away on his PRIDE championship reign, Nogueira
was not desperate.
Gracious
in defeat -- the judges scored it unanimously for Fedor -- it's
a given that Nogueira will have a shot at regaining the title
from the Russian. Given the caliber of both fighters, I'd be
surprised if the rematch was the last time the two faced each
other.
Quinton
"Rampage" Jackson was equally as excellent in victory.
For seven minutes Jackson fought a perfect fight versus the ultra-athletic
but sometimes aloof Kevin Randleman.
As
each minute passed in their contest, Jackson reduced Randleman
to a tired, desperate fighter and he capitalized by landing an
uppercut-right hook combination that sent the one-time UFC heavyweight
champion crashing to the mat.
Time
after time Jackson not only out-muscled Randleman, he out-positioned
the former Division I wrestling star. As the fight wore in Jackson's
game plan became apparent: force Randleman into mistakes and
when the time is right unleash strikes at his susceptible chin.
And
that's exactly what happened. Had Jackson's trainer, Colin Oyama,
written down how he wanted the fight to play out, he most likely
would have missed one or two things that "Rampage"
successfully employed. He was that good.
Triumphant
by TKO at the seven-minute mark of round one, Jackson rejoiced
and current PRIDE middleweight champion Vanderlei Silva watched
from ringside. It was then that Jackson took the microphone and
called out Silva, a fighter he and his camp have repeatedly said
would be an easier fight than Randleman.
The
Brazilian did not take kindly to Jackson's words and jumped in
the ring. Nose to nose the two fighters jawed at each other until
Silva reared back and shoved his soon-to-be challenger.
The
ring flooded with people, as Silva and Jackson had to be restrained.
When things cleared up and Jackson headed to the locker room
Silva took the mic and called to Jackson, "I'm the champion!"
"Rampage"
made a move in Silva's direction but was restrained yet again.
Their proposed June bout should be full of fireworks. Clearly,
Jackson is ready for his chance at Silva and the PRIDE crown.
Kazushi
Sakuraba, a man that anchored PRIDE in recent years, returned
to action a tired and beaten fighter. Tonight was supposed to
be his return to glory and, similar to DSE, his rise from ashes.
For
six minutes versus Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace Nino "Elvis"
Schembri he was the man that had entertained millions. Sadly
for his throng of supporters on hand, it was the final seven
seconds that proved to be his demise.
Early
on Sakuraba made Schembri look like an amateur. The Brazilian
had little to offer in the way of his ground skills and even
less on the feet. Bloodied and near beaten Schembri was not long
for the fight until, it seemed, Sakuraba's confidence grew into
recklessness.
While
moving in for the clinch Sakuraba fell victim to one of only
a handful of strikes Schembri threw all fight. The fluke knee
landed flush and Sakuraba's legs failed him. Another knee followed
and the former great crumbled to the mat. The shocking turn of
events allowed Schembri a shot to kick the felled Sakuraba and
immediately the referee jumped into to stop the attack.
If
we learned one thing Sunday night in Japan, PRIDE, which played
to a packed crowd inside the Yokohama Arena, is adamant about
not disappearing. And judging by the action inside the ring Sunday
night, the fighters are just as unwavering in their commitment
to the Japanese fans that faithfully braved rain and chilly weather
to watch one of the best fight cards in some time. However, the
same could not be said for Sakubara.
It
appears his star has fallen.
Most
thought Dan Henderson, a 20-1 favorite, would be getting a reprieve
in Shungo Oyama, a fighter sporting a mixed record and a heavy
right hand. But no man in Henderson's class (anywhere from 185
to 200 pounds) has the right hand that he has. No one.
Within
seconds of the opening bell, Oyama learned what other Henderson
opponents know all to well: don't get caught in a firefight with
the man. Landing a heavy right straight, Henderson swarmed on
Oyama, almost finishing him within the first 30 seconds.
Memories
turned to Oyama's performance versus Vanderlei Silva the last
time the Japanese fighter competed in Yokohama. Unlike that summer
bout, Oyama didn't turn and run. Instead he stood his ground
and he almost pulled out the unthinkable.
Stunning
Henderson with a pinpoint right hand of his own, Oyama found
his groove. Now it was Henderson doing the back peddling. Rather
than fall prey to the only chance Oyama had, Henderson smartly
put his Japanese opponent on the mat.
While
he didn't do much striking from the position, Henderson recovered
well enough to think offense again. And he needed even less time
to do something about it. Scoring with yet another right hand
-- this one straight down the pipe -- Henderson followed by picking
up Oyama and slamming him hard to the mat. Unanswered shots followed
and the referee jumped in to stop the pummeling 3:27 into the
fight.
Fulfilling
the final fight on his contract in grand style, Henderson is
now a free agent. It'll be interesting to see if DSE tries hard
to keep the American slugger in its house, especially now that
they've decided on a full-bore courting of the U.S. market.
Carlos
Newton and Anderson Silva squared off in the first marquee bout
of the night. With some calling this bout between two of the
finest close-to 185-pound fighter a de facto PRIDE championship
bout, Newton and Silva realized this was not an ordinary fight.
Silva
stalked Newton early, but couldn't stop Newton from scoring a
takedown off a missed jab. Quickly the ground-fighting wiz passed
Silva's guard and secured the mount. In the dominant position
Newton landed several punches, but Silva was able to regain guard.
Doing
little from the bottom, the referee decided to punish Silva with
a yellow card for stalling. More important to the fight it meant
that the fight had gone from the ground where Newton had the
edge to the feet, Silva's domain.
Hoping
to take advantage, Silva pushed forward. Out of nowhere the Chute
Boxe fighter launched his right knee towards Newton's head. It
connected flush and Newton's dreadlocks momentarily stood on
end. The fighter attached to them, however, didn't and he fell
in a heap to the mat. Silva took little chance and dropped several
unanswered shots before the referee could pull him away at the
6:26 mark of the first round.
The
win was impressive, though you have to wonder about the stand
up off the yellow card. Had that not happened, would Newton have
walked away with the victory?
With
Henderson and Silva winning, their match up (presuming Henderson
re-signs with PRIDE) would be a natural, and more than likely,
explosive one.
Alex
Stielbing entered tonight's PRIDE fight in desperate need of
a break. Loser in three of his last four fights, the American
who in late 2001 and early 2002 made a name for himself be defeating
six Brazilians in a row faced Akira Shoji, a veteran of 16 PRIDE
contests.
In
the first round, Stiebling, who worked extensively on his Muay
Thai skills in preparation of Shoji, fell prey to the veteran's
most basic yet successful takedown -- the inside trip. On his
back, Stielbing had little answer for Shoji's relentless strikes
and guard passes, obviously a byproduct of his time with Matt
Hume in Seattle, WA.
After
nearly ten minutes spent on his back, Stielbing had no interest
in playing that game so he came out striking. Peppering the inside
of Shoji's lead leg, Stiebling tried to set up several combinations
that he hoped would slow and ultimately finish the tough Japanese
foe.
Not
exactly.
With
the heat turned up, Shoji answered with a heavy right hook that
stumbled the American. Another shot put Stiebling to the mat
and Shoji backed off expecting the referee call the fight. But
that didn't happen and the time, though just a matter of seconds,
was vital in Stiebling's eventual response.
Shoji
followed to the ground and unleashed a barrage of punches, but
in a flash he found himself on his back for the first time in
the fight. Recovered from the punch that dropped him just moments
early, Stiebling was now on the offensive. Able to secure Shoji's
back, Stielbing tried desperately to finish the fight by rear
naked choke, but the clock did what Shoji could not and stopped
the attack.
In
the third and final round, Stiebling was clearly the better and
fresher fighter. Finally employing the punches and kicks he worked
on the weeks preceding the bout, he stalked Shoji around the
ring. In the final minute Shoji made his move, landing several
punches. Stielbing answered each and it appeared like the American
scored the break he needed. However, judges at ringside disagreed,
scoring a split decision against him.
The
first bout of night featured Rogerio Nogueira, twin brother to
fallen champion Rodrigo, versus Hidehiko Yoshida protégé
Kazuhrio Nakamura, who proved to be a game opponent despite limited
fight experience.
In
round one Nogueira stalked Nakamura with punches and knees until
the Judo champion scored his first and only takedown of the fight.
Despite securing good position, he found himself in trouble far
to often by way of Nogueira's submission attempts. To his credit,
Nakamura deserves some credit for escaping his Brazilian foe's
ground onslaught.
But
he had little choice to play with fire because if he'd fought
toe-to-toe with the lanky Brazilian, he would have surely lost
by way of strikes.
Round
two saw a much more relaxed and plodding Nogueira. Landing strikes
when they were there, he forced Nakamura backwards. In response,
Nakamura attempted several single-leg takedowns, all but abandoning
the Judo variety that he was so highly touted for.
Finding
himself in excellent position after stuffing yet another shot,
Nogueira secured Nakamura's back and almost immediately switched
his hips for armbar. Caught, Nakamura had no choice but to tapout.
Tough
guys both, Alexander Otsuka and Kenichi Yamamoto refused to back
down. However, neither fighter was especially inspiring either.
After three hard-fought rounds, Otsuka scored a unanimous decision
victory, running his PRIDE record to 3-9.
Source:
Maxfighting
The
Brazilian Beat:
By Eduardo Alonso
Belfort Getting Ready
Again, Bitetti Combat 2 Heating Up,
IVC Looking for a Return, and Another Sad Case of Arrest in Brazil.
As we're
waiting to PRIDE 25 to happen air on PPV and Bitetti Combat 2
to happen in the following days, we found space and time to deliver
on more Brazilian Beat full of news on the Brazilian fighting
scene. Iin this edition we have a lot of news for you, from Vitor
Belfort's training and likely next opponent, to Bitetti Combat
2 news, going through PRIDE expectations and unfortunate news
involving NHB fighters, so enjoy the reading in a fast-paced
Brazilian rhythm, with Full Contact Fighter providing the beat!
After his K-1 Brazil adventure Brazilian Top Team member Carlos
Barreto is back to his training routine focusing in NHB and in
his UFC dream. Barreto showed a clear improvement on his stand-up
game at K-1 Brazil, despite losing on the first bout, and is
continuing to train Muay Thai seriously with the intention to
sharpen his NHB skills, as he told FCF "I thought my participation
was excellent, and it went as we expected, I even thought I could
win that fight in K-1. I think the most important thing, in fact,
was the major step I did to come back to the top of the NHB circles.
The next step is to resume my Submission Wrestling and Wrestling
training for NHB, cause everyone knows I want that UFC belt!"
As
reported in the last Brazilian Beat, BTT member Roan Carneiro
is scheduled to headline the first major NHB event every held
in the capital of Argentina, the city of Buenos Aires. However,
according to reports by Brazilian TATAME Magazine, the event
is on hold now due to political issues regarding our sport in
Argentina. Since this is the first time an event of that nature
is going to happen on the nation's capital, politicians are creating
problems for it to happen, so the organizers postponed the event,
originally scheduled for March 15th, on a week and guaranteed
it will happen. Carneiro is scheduled to face Antonio D'antone,
a local Muay Thai champion.
Getting
back to the subject of K-1 Brazil, after the first ever edition
of the event in late February, promoter Sergio Batarelli told
FCF he intends to create the K-1 Brazil Series, much like the
K-1 Japan Series, holding three more events during the course
of the year in Brazil, to select the group of eight fighters
who will compete for a spot at K-1 USA in early 2004. The plan
is to hold three or four heavyweight tournaments every year here
in Brazil, giving stand up fighters a chance to compete regularly
and incentive to pursuit their careers abroad.
Also
on Sergio Batarelli's plans is the return of the already missed
IVC event to Brazil. Despite the fact that the promoter's priority
right now is to promote K-1 in Brazil, there are already talks
going on for a possible IVC return to Brazilian soil, much likely
in the state of Espirito Santo, located next to Rio de Janeiro,
since NHB is temporarily prohibited in Sao Paulo, home of most
of the legendary IVC editions. FCF will stay tuned for the developments.
Still
on the K-1 Brazil subject, K-1 Brazil winner Jefferson Tank is
already training hard for his May 2nd participation at K-1 USA
in Las Vegas. Tank qualified himself for the American event winning
the Brazilian tournament, and will appear on the K-1 USA brackets
alongside with K-1 Brazil runner up Eduardo Maiorino. Tank is
also an NHB veteran, with an appearance at IVC Venezuela, where
he knocked out PRIDE veteran John Renkken, and ended up losing
to MECA veteran Evangelista Cyborg. However right now Jefferson's
priority is indeed K-1 USA, but he consider the chance of doing
NHB again still in 2003.
PRIDE
25 is about to happen and the Chute Boxe team left Brazil this
past Monday to Japan, with high hopes of Anderson Silva pulling
a win against former UFC Champion Carlos Newton. This fight almost
happened as a UFC title bout in 2001, but due to contract issues
Anderson ended up going to PRIDE and now both fighter are finally
facing each other. Anderson is relaxed and very well prepared,
and alongside with him on the trip are Chute Boxe coaches Rudimar
Fedrigo and Rafael Cordeiro, as well as PRIDE Middleweight champion
Wanderlei Silva.
On
the "Axe Murderer" subject, Wanderlei Silva has been
reacting well to his comeback to training, and is feeling in
good shape again, expecting to be ready for a PRIDE comeback
sooner than expected. Silva has also been taking his time to
take care of his clothing line and the coming of his new son
in the middle of the year. Wanderlei will likely stay for a week
more in Japan, after PRIDE 25, to shoot a comercial to be aired
on Japanese Television.
The
Brazilian Top Team crew also went to Japan this week, hoewever
they left Brazil on Sunday, very well prepared for Rodrigo Minotauro
and his brother Rogerio Minotouro's participations. The "Zen
Machine" Mario Sperry as well as UFC Champion Murilo Bustamante
are part of the twin brother's entourage, and both may comeback
with news on their next fights and contracts.
The
first ever STORM Grand Prix is now confirmed to the 12th of April
at the gorgeous Opera de Arame in Curitiba, Brazil. The event,
originally scheduled for April 5th, was postponed due to Chute
Boxe heavyweight Assuerio Silva's likely fight in Switzerland
in very early April, so the Chute Boxe camp can give Assuerio
support in his international event and also take care of all
the details regarding the biggest STORM Muay Thai event ever.
As soon as the Chute Boxe crew comes back from Japan the final
details about the event, featuring two weight divisions, one
below 85kg and another one above 85kg, and its card will be released.
In
a sad piece of news Brazilian Top Team member Jorge Navalhada
was arrested this week at Rio de Janeiro. Police allegedly found
him with 2,800 Ecstasy pills on his car, as well as a 9mm Glock
handgun. At the fighter's house the police reprotedly found 500
more Ecstasy pills, and now Navalhada, who did not resist the
arrest, will respond in court for drug traffiking as well as
possession of an illegal (according to Brazilian laws) gun. Hopefully
we'll see NHB fighters appearing on the sports' pages of local
newspapers instead of the police blotters.
With
Navalhada's arrest his likely fight against Chute Boxe fighter
Nilson de Castro at MECA 8 is highly unlikely, so now promoters
will probably look for another opponent for Nilson, and news
about it will probably be released after PRIDE 25. MECA is still
set to go in May in Curitiba and promises to be the best MECA
ever.
Bitteti
Combat 2 is ready to deliver this March 20th in Natal, Brazil,
and UCC, IVC and MECA veteran Claudionor Fontinelli is now confirmed
at the event's card! Fresh out of jail, Fontinelli will be facing
Bitetti Combat 1 winner Rivanio Aranha, who has a style simmillar
to Wanderlei Silva, in terms of aggression. Fontinelli has been
training hard with Artur Mariano and is taking this chance to
recover in life seriously. Bitetti Combat 2 is drawing a lot
of attention in Brazil and Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt Fernando Terere
is also ready for his fight against Tibau this March 20th. Terere
told FCF he is confident in his performance and is training a
lot of stand-up with Vitor Belfort for this fight. FCF had the
chance to watch a training session, and the BJJ Black belt seems
ready to deliver, and we will be there covering all the action
straight from Natal.
From
Friday March 7th to Friday March 14th PREMIERE COMBATE here in
Brazil aired a Tito Ortiz special, including several of his UFC
fights, where FCF's own [Who happens to be writing this text]
Eduardo Alonso did color commentary and spoke a lot about Full
Contact Fighter's work and history. It was a privilege to appear
as a guest, and it's more than great that channels devoted only
to fighting are finally appearing in Brazil.
Speaking
of the "Phenom", Vitor Belfort has been helping Fernando
Terere's training for Bitetti Combat 2 and the training sessions
at his new team "Brazil Fight Club" has been very intense.
Along with Belfort and Terere, names like MECA veteran Luis Azeredo,
and Jiu-Jitsu Black belt Leonardo Vieira has also been training
with the team, with high hopes for the rest of 2003. Belfort
is already preparing for his UFC comeback, and it looks like
his opponent will be KOTC veteran Marvin Eastman, probably at
UFC 43.
Source:
FCF
3/16/03
Quote
of the Day
The
greatest pleasure I know is to do a good action by stealth, and
to have it found out by accident.
Charles Lamb
Hawaii
State High School Wrestling Championships Day 2 Results
A mixed finish ended the night.
First
Moanalua's Caylene Valdez completed her four-peat and became
the first female four-time Hawaii state wrestling champion. Unfortunately,
I did not see the match so I cannot comment on it.
Brandon
Low has started the dynasty on his quest to be the next four
time champ by handily beating his opponent for his first state
wrestling title. Brandon looked like a mini John Smith with his
lightning fast low level singles that proved to be unstoppable.
Brandon showed that he is a complete wrestler, even if he is
a freshman, by showing great takedowns, escapes, and body control/riding
of his opponent. He is methodical in his wrestling and it showed.
More importantly, it gives him one more medal to place in the
already huge stack of medals and trophies that he has at home
from past Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, and Wrestling tournaments. Keep your
eye on this young man. He is very humble, very intelligent, and
extremely talented...the perfect recipe for success in anything
he decides to do.
Left to Right: Emile Suehiro, Rene Suehiro, Desmond Thain, and
Lawrence Thain
One
of McKinley's Dynamic Quartet, Lawrence Thain started out strong
in his match, but during an exchange fell with his and his opponent's
weight right on his forehead and seemed to be knocked out for
a bit. The Maui coaches (Lawrence's opponent) stood up because
I think they saw that he was out. The ref or side ref didn't
and let the other kid score his points. They figured it out and
gave him some rest time to recover, but he was not the same and
the impact could be the reason that he could not get back in
to the match and ended up losing 12-0. Lawrence has made some
big gains in his wrestling technique from last year and I personally
like his style because he still shows some Jiu-Jitsu in his wrestling.
Congratulations to Lawrence on his second place finish.
Emile
Suehiro was next and was facing the 30th ranked high schooler
in the nation according to USA Today and two time state champ
Ben Wilmore from St. Louis. It was a very tough match going 0-0
most of the bout. Wilmore got an escape and was up 1-0. Emile
granby'd for a split second and the ref's gave Wilmore two more
points to make it 3-0. Wilmore rode Emile out for the win. People
around were saying that Wilmore was getting good calls all through
the tournament and this was another that went his way and gave
St. Louis a much needed win. Emile is now two time runner up
which is a huge accomplishment for this talented young man.
Desmond
Thain was next and faced a tough Iolani wrestler. It was pretty
much an exchange of takedowns and escapes that left Desmond falling
behind. The Iolani wrestler was a good rider and very aggressive
which did not leave Desmond a chance to be as offensive as he
needed to be for the win. The third of the four McKinnley stars
falls just short of a state championship. Desmond showed heart
by continuing after receiving a couple accidental head butts
and not giving up even to the very the end.
It
was left to Rene Suehiro to bring home another state championship
for McKinley and that he did. Rene was the typical Rene, aggressive
and quick shots that were effective. Brian Denny, the Pearl City
wrestler, was an exceptional escape artist and rider. Rene kept
taking Denny down, but Denny escaped. At the end of the match,
Denny did a good job riding the champ and not letting him score
a last minute escape. However, Rene did more than enough to secure
his second state championship and with a win next year could
be one of the few three-time state champions.
Finally,
the moment everyone was waiting for since Cael Sanderson won
his fourth straight NCAA wrestling title. In Hawaii state championship
wrestling, only Pat Higa accomplished the feat of being a four-time
Hawaii state high school champion. Move over Pat, you have company
now in Jonathan Spiker. Spiker did what everyone expected and
dominated the Big Island wrestler. He was desperately going for
the pin, but the Big Island wrestler did a great job at keeping
his body square to the ground to avoid the turn overs. Spiker
was taking him down at will, keeping him there for a little while
and letting him up so he could take him down again. Spiker ended
up finishing the match 17-6 to claim his fourth straight Hawaii
state title. For those who thinks he is all brawn and no brain,
Spiker will be attending a little school called Harvard next
year and has a 4+ GPA at St. Louis. The best thing about a kid
this great is that he is very humble and down to earth. He didn't
stand up and shout or jump around. He helped his opponent up,
thanked his opponent, and walked off to his jovial team. A classy
win for a classy young man.
Vinnie
Scott, the fifth St. Louis wrestler that was fighting for a title
was up. Unfortunately, I couldn't stay to watch his match. Lisa
and I had a wedding that we had to go to and I literally left
the wedding reception in the middle so that I could see Brandon,
the Suehiros, the Thains, and Jonathan play. I would have been
in deeper hot water if I stayed for the entire night. I snuck
back in right after Jonathan's match. Vinnie had the opportunity
to do what few if any has, beat the Big Island Champ, the OIA
champ, and the ILH champ. My correspondent Ryan called me on
the Nextel as soon as the match was over and told me that Vinnie
won in overtime something like 7-5. This is incredibly great
for a kid who got injured every year and this was the first year
he actually got to wrestle a full season. He made the most of
it and is taking home a state wrestling title.
Congratulations
to all the wrestlers from all the high schools that competed
both in this tournament and all season long. Wrestling is one
of the toughest sports to compete in and excel at. The champions
that were crowned tonight put in endless hours of technical training,
conditioning, and sparring to reach their goal. I apologize for
all the other champions that I did not mention, but since all
these guys play Jiu-Jitsu with us and I know them personally,
I was following their matches the closest.
Mike
2003
Boys Wrestling Day Two Results
103
Champ Finals
Aaron Ishikawa (Iol) defeated Bricen Yakabe (Kais), by fall (3:53)
175
Champ Finals
Laosamoa Misa-Uli (Farr) defeated Ashley Truchan (Hilo), by fall
(4:24)
220
Champ Finals
Chastity Molina (Wain) defeated Edna Talo (Kap), by fall (2:59)
2003
Boys Wrestling Final Team Standings
Place School Team Points
1 IOLANI
180.5 (Asst. Coach Brandon Ito)
2 ST LOUIS 167 (Low, Wilmore, Spiker, and Scott)
3 KAMEHAMEHA 132
4 KAHUKU 113.5
5 MCKINLEY
87.5 (Suehiros and Thains)
6 PUNAHOU 71.5
7 CASTLE 61
8 PEARL
CITY 56.5 (Our Alma Mater, Coaches Kaleo and Cedric)
9 LAHAINALUNA 55
10 WAIPAHU 53
11 BALDWIN 52.5
12 KING KEKAULIKE 52
13 KAISER 48
14 WAIAKEA 44
15 FARRINGTON 42
16 KONAWAENA 41.5
17 MOANALUA 40
18 KEALAKEHE 38.5
19 HILO 33
20 HANA 28
21 AIEA 26.5
22 DAMIEN 26
22 LEILEHUA
26 (Cabinian Country)
24 ROOSEVELT 23.5
25 MID PACIFIC INSTITUTE 23
26 UNIVERSITY HS 19
27 HAWAII BAPTIST ACADEMY 13
28 MOLOKAI 12
28 HAWAII PREP ACADEMY 12
30 CAMPBELL 8
31 PAHOA 6.5
32 WAIANAE 6
33 WAIALUA 3
33 MILILANI 3
33 KALAHEO 3
36 KALANI 2
36 KIHE 2
38 RADFORD 1
2003 Girls
Wrestling Final Team Standings
Place School Team Points
1 KAHUKU 147.5
2 MOANALUA 117.5
3 KAMEHAMEHA 104.5
4 FARRINGTON 100
5 PUNAHOU 90
6 BALDWIN 69.5
7 HILO 58
8 WAIANAE 45
9 LEILEIHUA 37
10 AIEA 35
10 KEALAKEHE 35
12 KAPOLEI 32
13 ROOSEVELT 28.5
14 KAILUA 28
15 RADFORD 22
15 WAIAKEA 22
17 IOLANI 20.5
18 PEARL CITY 20
18 MCKINLEY 20
20 HAWAII BAPTIST ACADEMY 19.5
21 WAIPAHU 19
21 LANAI 19
23 MILILANI 18.5
24 KAISER 13
25 KING KEKAULIKE 11
26 LAHAINALUNA 10
27 HAWAII PREP ACADEMY 5
28 CASTLE 4
29 CAMPBELL 3
29 KALAHEO 3
29 KOHALA 3
32 MARYKNOLL 1
Source: Sportshigh.com
Pride
25 - Kevin Randleman says:
It's going to be a brawl!
‘It
is going to be a brawl,’ says Randleman.
The
heavy cross hanging around his neck shakes as Kevin Randleman
jumps over a bed in order to reach the hotel’s room other
bed. Everyone present is still laughing while ‘The Monster’
takes a seat and explains why cutting 20 pounds in two days as
he just did does not make him weak. It will not affect his performance
for his fight against Quinton “The Rampage” Jackson,
the seventh of tomorrow’s Pride program, he argues. ‘It
is just a matter of conditioning the body. I have been doing
it since I began to wrestle, and my body is used to it already.
So I’ll be weighting 225 pounds at 10 o’clock tonight,’
assures Kevin, his acrobatic jump proving he is powerful already,
even though he just made the 205 pounds required an hour ago,
at 4PM of the combat’s eve. ‘Everything is easy if
you make it a habit. The same with Jiu-Jitsu,’ he compares.
‘The first time I was caught in an armbar I tapped quickly.
Then it happened very often and my body became more comfortable
with this’.
Kevin
seems very confident for this upcoming battle, considered by
him as the most dangerous step towards the middle-heavyweight
Pride title. ‘The champion will be the one who wins tomorrow,
since I think Quinton is tougher than Wanderlei. You know, me
and Quinton are like the Brazilians, we have been doing it for
a while, in the streets, in nightclubs, wherever and for this
reason I can’t see Silva knocking one of us with a punch
as he did with many Japanese fighters.’ The former NCAA
wrestling champion explain what is his edge over Jackson: ‘Age.
We both got our skills but I think the ups and downs I have been
through my career makes me more apt for this win now.’ Kevin
finishes the interview predicting the way the fight will go:
‘It will not go more than 10 minutes. Either he will knock
me out or I’ll knock him out. So don’t blink, ‘cause
it’s going to be a brawl’.
Source:
Luca Atalla/ADCC
Catching
Up With DEAN LISTER
KM:
You’ve been the KOTC Middleweight Champion for how long?
DL:
About eight months now.
KM:
When did you win the belt?
DL:
I won it in August last year. I haven’t defended it yet;
I’ve had a few injuries. I don’t want to say what I
injured but I had some problems I worked through. I feel very
strong now and I feel totally ready to defend my belt probably
in June.
KM:
And we’re going to see you in the Abu Dhabi World Submission
Championships also.
DL:
Abu Dhabi is in May so they’re going to let me focus on
May. Terry is really understanding about that. When you focus
for NHB versus grappling its slightly different focuses, so right
now I’m going to focus on the grappling part. Then of course
I’ll have a whole month to dedicate purely to striking and
NHB.
KM:
What are your thoughts on competing in the Abu Dhabi World Submission
Championships in Brazil?
DL:
It’s a big honor. It’s almost an Enter The Dragon type
of environment as far as having all the nationalities there.
They want different representations of the world, it’s probably
the hardest competition in the world for submission grappling.
The rules are a little controversial for some people for some
people but also I think they are a good middle ground because
they take some things away from wrestling but they keep some
things from wrestling, the takedowns. They have some things from
jiu-jitsu that are beneficial for jiu-jitsu guys but some things
are not good. It blends all the grappling together and makes
a good middle ground to see who the best submission grappler
is.
KM:
Are you going to compete in any other grappling tournaments?
DL:
You know what, not until then; I want to make sure I’m going
to focus on just this tournament. No distractions, just Abu Dhabi
for the next few months.
KM:
The rules of Abu Dhabi that differ, people benefit from trying
to take chances and get a win as opposed to get points like take
somebody down and sit on them. I was wondering if that was any
kind of change in your strategy or how you felt about that.
DL:
That is my game. 95% of my victories come from submission. That’s
the truth and that is a high percentage. Of course anyone can
lose, you can make a mistake, some guys can be really good at
defending submissions and they might hold on and win by a point.
That’s always possible. Really I don’t think people
pay to see matches that are boring. Even if they don’t pay
for them they don’t want to see matches that go by one point.
Maybe some people can appreciate that as being very technical
but the average person wants to see submissions. It’s like
in boxing they want to see knock outs, they don’t want to
see a guy that runs away and tap tap tap, they want to see guys
banging away. It’s more entertaining. You get the more educated
boxing public will appreciate a technical boxing match and also
a technical grappling match, but since the sport is growing and
it needs to gain in popularity I think its important nowadays
for grapplers to take chances and go for a lot of submissions.
That’s my style. Abu Dhabi the first half of the match there
are no points so it encourages you to go for submissions.
KM:
When you did qualify you were injured in the first round. We
were amazed you made it through the second and third. Everybody
was like ‘I can’t believe this guy is continuing let
alone winning’. Since the public knows about that injured
performance what do you want the public to know about your recovery?
I don’t want to give your competition and edge and you are
obviously completely healed…
DL:
It’s actually not an edge, its an edge for me. If they think
they can go for my ‘weakness’…it’s actually
a strength. I had to switch my stance for my second two matches.
The guys would go for my bad knee; at the time it was bad that
day and people did go for it but that’s the name of the
game. It didn’t work for them. I’m actually good at
turning something into a positive, so I thought of it as a focus.
KM:
How I your training going?
DL:
Training is going very intelligent, very smooth, and it’s
picking up now. By the time Abu Dhabi comes up I’ll be training
harder than ever in my life. I will be 100% and I’m going
to Abu Dhabi with the intention of winning the whole division.
I’m not going down there not knowing what’s up. The
last time two years ago I didn’t know what was going on
and I was a little blown over by the whole experience. Now I’ll
be much more calm, much more confident, much more ready for this
event.
KM:
Getting back to MMA as far as being in the 185 division you are
the belt holder at 185. With emphasis on that division with Extreme
Challenge’s tournament series and word Bustamente may not
be signing, it seems like there are a lot of opportunities in
the 185s right now. Now you are healed and ready to go back,
possibly fighting again in June. How do you feel about the state
of the 185s and your role in it?
DL:
185 division is becoming tougher and tougher. It’s a new
division in most events but like most divisions in wrestling
when they open up a new division you get a lot of guys seeing
the opportunities and very soon it becomes tough. It’s definitely
going to be one of the toughest divisions in the next year. The
guys that are light 200 lbers, they are going to drop down to
185. That’s what I am; I was a 200 lber and dropped the
weight. Then you have the strong, heavier 175 lbers that decide
‘I don’t want to cut weight anymore’ and they’ll
go in that.
KM:
Anything else you want to get across to the fans?
DL:
I train out of City Boxing in San Diego. I’m the instructor
there for the wrestling and jiu-jitsu program. I have good hands,
training hard. Basically all my focus in life is in jiu-jitsu,
wrestling, fighting…that’s all I’m into, that
is it. That’s all I do. Somebody can beat me at that game,
God bless them.
For
more information check out cityboxing.com and coming soon deanlister.com.
Source:
ADCC
Nogueira
Ready for First Defense
TOKYO
-- The champ, his eyes mapped with red squiggly lines, looks
beat. For the first time in ages, Rodrigo "Minotauro"
Nogueira can't muster an awesome submission or dictate the pace
of the action. Nope. This one is going the distance. And he hasn't
even fought yet. Quickly "Minotauro" has found that
interviews, photo shoots, and PR appearances are as much a part
of being champion as the belt, money, or accolades.
Two
days away from his first official title defense as PRIDE heavyweight
champion (Nogueira's had five fights -- four wins by submission,
the other by knockout -- since winning the belt in November 2001),
the Brazilian heavyweight, universally considered the worlds
best, endures his final pre-fight interview.
It
just so happens that after nearly five straight hours on the
go the champ graciously allowed MaxFighting the final opportunity
to pick his brain while observing him for the last 30 minutes
of his tedious yet necessary day.
Nogueira,
as expected, easily fulfilled everything Japanese handlers threw
his way. With the finish line in sight, only a photo shoot and
a hundred or so John Hanckock-waiting photos, posters, and t-shirts
separated him from the respite that any human -- let alone one
about to fight the most important bout of his already brilliant
career -- would understandably crave. "After the fight we
can go out and relax," he says.
"His
mind is good and emotionally he's very prepared for the challenge,"
says Murilo Bustamante, Nogueira's and Brazilian Top Team's chief
trainer. "Of course everyone is a little anxious, but not
worried. It is a hard fight for Rodrigo."
With
the pressure of facing someone as dangerous as number-one challenger
Emelianenko Fedor, the feelings are understandable. Knowing that
this is his first title defense, it stands to reason that the
intensity of the moment could play games with the champ.
Not
so, he says.
"I
fought for too many years to get that belt," states Nogueira,
his ledger standing at 19-1. "Even before I got the title
-- my time in RINGS -- that's my life and now I have a chance
to hold the belt…. When I go to fight for the belt it's
very exciting. I get more adrenaline. I get more motivation than
even before."
A
motivated "Minotauro" is a scary one. But Fedor, as
stone faced an individual as one could possibly be regardless
of the situation -- winning or losing, hitting or getting hit,
upset or happy -- is unflinching in his demeanor.
A
glance in his eyes or a shake of his lethal right hand is plenty
sufficient enough to get an idea, though.
"I
think Fedor is a very dangerous fighter," handicaps Bustamante.
"He's strong and has good skills, but Rodrigo is better
now. He's training more boxing specifically for Fedor's style."
"He's
always in a good position," adds Nogueira. "He doesn't
like to be quiet from the guard. He moves on the ground, so he's
very dangerous and he's got powerful hands."
It
was those rock-hard jackhammer punches that bounced Heath Herring
around the ring like a rag doll last November. Twelve months
earlier, Herring and Nogueira squared off in a hotly contested
fight for the then-vacant heavyweight crown. Both of Sunday's
competitors impressed in victory, though Fedor's performance
made many sit back and take stock of the Ukrainian's skills.
Nogueira
noticed, too. "I had respect for his technique even before
he fought Heath Herring," says the champ. Familiar all the
way back to their RINGS days, Nogueira watched Fedor go the distance
with Brazilian Top Team teammate Ricardo Arona as well as defeat
fellow Brazilian Renato 'Babalu' Sobral.
Little
did anyone know that RINGS would produce the top two heavyweights
currently competing in MMA. More of a surprise, perhaps, is Fedor's
brutally efficient ground-and-pound style, one not cultivated
until he left RINGS for the less-restrictive PRIDE stage last
year. Because of it, many believe he's got a better-than-bad
shot of stopping Nogueira.
"He
doesn't want to stay inside the guard. He moves outside it. So
he plays a very smart game," says 'Minotauro,' who ranked
Fedor's ground striking ability alongside expert wrestlers Mark
Coleman and Kevin Randleman. Combined with the fact that the
challenger is well versed in submission, due in large part to
his Sambo background, and it's clear why he's considered such
a threat to the dominant heavyweight in MMA over the past eighteen
months..
"We
trained specifically for Fedor's style," insists Bustamante,
confirming in not so many words that this challenger is no joke.
"We worked Rodrigo's guard a lot and defense for punches.
I think Fedor can't surprise him."
Following
his exciting victory over Dan Henderson in December, Nogueira
jumped headfirst into the Fedor training camp. His day-in day-out
baptism under fire in perhaps the finest mixed martial arts gym
in the world has already netted Nogueira the PRIDE belt. Consideration
as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world is also
a neat byproduct.
That's
all put to the test Sunday when the two heavyweights square off
in the main event at PRIDE 25. Leaving nothing to chance, Nogueira
utilized all the tools afforded to him by training in the fertile
fighting landscape that is Brazil. "I used many fresh guys
with the same style as him to work with me on the ground,"
says 'Minotauro.' "I think if I can train and escape from
10 fresh guys, I can fight with just one."
"We
worked hard in Brazil on his skills, and now his technique is
better in punches, kicks and submissions," says Bustamante,
who predicts a victory for his fighter in seven minutes or less.
"Everybody
knows that Rodrigo is in shape, and he knows," continues
the champ's trainer. "It's most important that he knows
he can beat him."
Nogueira,
26, is just now entering the prime of his career. While experienced
mentors Bustamante and Mario Sperry still excel (Bustamante currently
stands as the best middleweight in the world), it's Nogueira
who's slated to carry the BTT on his shoulders for the next decade.
"I
think now I'm getting stronger than before," says Nogueira.
"I have more experience in the ring; now I can see everything
the opponent does wrong, better. Before I just went and did my
technique."
That
experience takes another progression with his initial title defense.
"First of all I think about my opponent, then I think about
the belt," he explains. "I have respect for his technique,
but I want to hold the belt for my team and my country. I want
to show the Japanese fans that I'm the best heavyweight now,
and I want to keep the belt."
Red
eyes be damned.
Source:
Maxfighting
COACHES
JOHN SMITH, J ROBINSON, AND JIM ZALESKY ON NCAA WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS:
AND THE FAVORITE IS .... (Part One)
By: Eddie Goldman/ADCC Wrestling Editor
It
appears as if nobody wants to be considered the favorite to win
the 2003 NCAA Div. I Wrestling Championships, which start next
Thursday in Kansas City. That's what seems to be the case, based
on the comments on this, and numerous other issues by Minnesota
head coach J Robinson, Iowa head coach Jim Zalesky, and Oklahoma
State head coach John Smith on a conference call this past week,
also joined by wrestlers Luke Becker of Minnesota and Steve Mocco
of Iowa.
When
you hear all these coaches trying to avoid being labeled the
frontrunner, you would think that being a favorite is some sort
of curse, a jinx that will only guarantee failure, defeat, disgrace,
and maybe even cooties.
But
when you hear their comments, also keep in mind that the coaches
and wrestlers often see the NCAA tournament, as well as numerous
other issues, far differently from how many fans and those in
the media see things. That's why this kind of collective discussion
is so useful and informative, especially when you have coaches
who are so capable of imparting their wisdom so candidly while
politely.
Along
with the coaches and wrestlers were numerous members of the wrestling
media. Some were sportswriters for daily newspapers that cover
local teams, while others were writers for wrestling-specific
media. It all made for a wrestling tour-de-force, and a fitting
introduction to how to view the upcoming NCAA's.
Of
course, there are plenty of places, especially online, for a
more traditional preview of the tournament and breakdowns by
teams and weight classes. I always look forward to what appears
online at TheMat.com, which already has a special section at:
http://www.themat.com/specialevents/2003/collegepostseason/d1_coverage.asp .
W.I.N.
Magazine always does a special issue previewing the NCAA's as
well.
Don't
expect a substitute for those here. But what you will read will
enlighten you as to the kind of framework in which each of these
coaches places this event.
J
Robinson, representing the two-time defending Minnesota team,
which just won its third straight Big Ten title, and whose team
will have eight wrestlers at the NCAA's, went first.
'This
has been an up-and-down year for us,' he began. 'We've wrestled
well at times, and then we've kind of struggled getting our lineup
together. But I think that at the Big Ten tournament, our guys
wrestled well. They were real focused. So we're excited about
going back to Kansas City. We're excited about the whole process.
We think it's going to be a fun tournament. We think it's going
to be close. I think there are going to be a lot of factors that
are going to factor into the tournament, but we're looking forward
to it.'
Next
to begin was Jim Zalesky, whose Iowa Hawkeyes were ranked second
most of the season, but fell to Minnesota at the Big Ten's.
'We're
getting ready for the tournament also,' he echoed. 'It's kind
of what all the athletes train for and look forward to. In the
Big Ten's, I thought the seven guys we got going [to the NCAA's]
wrestled well, a couple of guys maybe not wrestled as well as
we want. So we're not going with the numbers we want to into
the tournament. But the guys that are going are looking forward
to it, and I think they're going to be ready to wrestle.'
Then
the fun and head games started, as the coaches were asked about
teams like Iowa and Minnesota being underdogs, especially with
undefeated and top-ranked Oklahoma State being the only team
to qualify wrestlers at all ten weights.
Coach
Zalesky noted that being labeled an underdog could actually motivate
a team and its wrestlers. 'It can be,' he said. 'We don't have
the numbers going in. Maybe we don't have all the experience.
Maybe Minnesota might have a little bit more experience. But
I think when you get to this point, this is what you talk about
all year. So, yeah, it's a motivation factor. You go in as underdogs,
and that's why they wrestle the tournament. Each individual weight
class is up for grabs, and the tournament's up for grabs.'
Coach
Zalesky continued, 'Anytime you get ten guys there it's an advantage.
Everybody wants ten guys there. We'd like to have ten guys there.
I'm sure Minnesota would, too. So it's an advantage, because
with less guys you have less room for error. So that's your goal,
to have ten guys there, going for individual championships.'
Coach
Robinson was next, putting his unique spin on the numbers game.
'There's
some other schools that have eight or nine, but your margin for
error is a lot less, which on the other hand can be pretty motivating
in that we can't make mistakes,' he said. 'So our guys go in
with maybe a different frame of reference. I think you use it
to the positive instead of the negative. On the other hand, Oklahoma
State has all ten. They're the favorite to win. So they need
to win. We're not picked. We weren't picked. I don't think Iowa
is. So I think the burden rests on Oklahoma State.'
At
this point, there was an incredulous laugh in the background.
It sounded like it came from John Smith, who had just joined
the conference call. So Coach Robinson added, 'Which is true.
That's the way it is.'
Coach
Smith was asked how he like being called the favorite again,
obviously referring to those several recent years when Oklahoma
State was anointed the favorite before the NCAA tournament, and
went home without a team title. In fact, their last NCAA team
title was back in 1994, followed by Iowa in 1995-2000, and Minnesota
in 2001-2. Coach Smith, not surprisingly, did not sound too eager
to relish this label of being the favorite.
'Well,
we haven't been the favorite in a long time. Too long, actually,'
he replied, objecting in all directions, like a wrestler trying
to escape after being taken down. 'Being the favorite doesn't
mean anything. You have to earn the national championship. They're
not given away,' he emphasized.
Now
feeling he had verbally wrestled his way to a neutral position,
he was ready to score with a takedown of an answer.
'Obviously
it's been our focus this year,' he went on. 'We've taken steps
to put ourselves in position to do that. But it was earned, and
it's something that I think each individual on this team wants
very badly, probably moreso than their personal individual accomplishments.
I do believe that we got ten guys that, there isn't any question,
are probably putting the team title above themselves. Obviously
they want to win an individual national championship. The athletes
that we do have that are capable of doing that. But I will say
they are chomping at the bit to win a national championship.
As far as being the favorite, well, we've had a good year, there's
no question about that. And if we go in favorite, we go in favorite.
We just need to keep in mind that this championship is going
to be earned. It's not going to be given away. Iowa, Minnesota,
possibly Lehigh, whoever else, I can tell you they're not going
to just step out there and give it to us. So with that, give
you an idea about what we're thinking.'
On
a roll, Coach Smith set out to keep on scoring.
'The
ten qualifiers is an advantage, there's no question about that,'
he admitted. But then he cautioned, 'But you have to score with
all ten. We've got some individuals on this team that are going
to go in, and from probably the very first match of the national
championship, they got to think upset. Because they're going
to be wrestling somebody, probably seeded, highly seeded possibly,
and from the very beginning it's got to be upset. So ten's definitely
an advantage, but ten has to score. That's the advantage of having
ten. You don't score a point unless you're advancing. And that's
what we have an opportunity to do with ten people.'
Hawaii
State High School Wrestling Championships Day 2 Results so Far
The Suehiros (Emile and Rene), Thains (Desmond and Lawrence),
Jonathan Spiker, Brandon Low, and Vinnie are all in the FINALS
which start at 7:00 pm at the Blaisdell Arena.
Emile
Suehiro has gotten revenge and the man who stole his state title,
Iolani's Brent Kakesako, and handily beat him 6-3, I think. Rene
cruised to a 7-2 victory (once again, I could be wrong on the
score). He will face a very tough Ben Wilmore from St. Louis.
Desmond and Lawrence had gutty performances and pushed on through
the finals showing a lot of heart. Rene looks as he is on cruise
control as he faces a Pearl City wrestler in the finals.
Brandon
Low has won his semi-final match, but in an upset will face another
freshman from Kahuku for the state title. I don't know of this
ever happening, two freshman fighting for a state wrestling title.
Moanalua's
Caylene Valdez continues her streak, but the defending state
champ, Mililani's Debbie Sakai was upset in the semi's and will
have to settle to fight for third place.
3/15/03
Quote
of the Day
"Self-pity
gets you nowhere. One must have the adventurous daring to accept
oneself as a bundle of possibilities and undertake the most interesting
game in the world -- making the most of one's best."
Harry Emerson Fosdick
Rumble
On The Rock 2: Rumble Goes Wild
Tonight Prodigy
Productions and Moku O Keawe present: Rumble on the
Rock 2 Rumble Goes Wild
Edith Kanakaole Tennis Stadium, Hilo, Hawaii
March 15, 2003
If you are in Hilo, buy your tickets and come early because the
first event was packed and the card is stacked. I will be flying
up to Hilo to cover the event for Onzuka.com and Full Contact
Fighter. Check here tomorrow or Monday for the results. (Some
times I just can't get up for Sunday's news)
Hawaii
State High School Wrestling Championships Day 1
As expected, the Suehiros (Emile and Rene), Thains (Desmond and
Lawrence), Jonathan Spiker, Brandon Low, and Vinnie are all in
the semi-finals which start at 11:00 am at the Blaisdell Arena.
Emile
Suehiro has a tough road ahead as he faces the man who beat him
in the finals last year (Iolani's Brent Kakesako) and if he gets
by that match, faces a very tough Ben Wilmore from St. Louis.
One of these three wrestlers have beaten the other during the
course of the season, but none of them have beaten the other
two. I think this is the toughest division of the championships.
Brandon
Low is one win shy of facing a very tough Roosevelt senior to
see if he can start his dynasty as the next possible 4-time state
champion.
Also,
another interesting match is Moanalua's Caylene Valdez, a 3-time
State Champ at 108 lbs, moving up to 114 this year, will be trying
to be the first ever woman 4-time State Wrestling Champ by facing
the defending State Champ at 114 lbs, Mililani's Debbi Sakai.
Both girls must win their next match to meet in the finals.
ADCC
SUPERFIGHT BACK ON!! MARK KERR IS IN!!!
Sao
Paulo, Brazil - Amy 17th and 18th, 2003 - 5th Submission Wresetling
World Championships
3x
ADCC Tournament Champion and current ADCC Superfight Champion
Mark Kerr is reportedly confirmed for the 2003 SUPERFIGHT with
Brazilian Ricardo Arona.
ADCC
spokesman Guy Neivens stated 'I talked with Mark, and he is training
and seemed keen for the fight. He said he would not miss it'.
Kerr
was recently in California working on followups to his successful
HBO documentary, and was difficult to contact. Nevertheless,
Kerr is preparing to defend the SUPERFIGHT Title he earned in
2001 by defeating ADCC star Mario Sperry on points. Interestingly,
Sperry is the instructor of Arona, Kerr's challenger. Add to
this Arona's home field advantage for this bout, and Kerr is
preparing for a stiff challenge indeed.
For
the 16 man weight class tournaments, March 30th 2003 will see
the Japanese Trials confirm the 6th assured competitor for the
2003 event. World is that the ADCC has started to extend some
of the round robin invitations as well. The 2003 Submission Wrestling
World Championships are on course to be the strongest event ever
of its kind!
2001
CHAMPIONS:
65.9 KG & under: ROYLER GRACIE (Brazil)
66-76.9 KG: MARCIO FEITOSA (Brazil)
77-87.9 KG: SANAE KIKUTA (Japan)
88-98.9 KG: RICARDO ARONA (Brazil)
99 KG & Up: MARK ROBINSON (South Africa)
NORTH
AMERICAN TRIAL CHAMPIONS:
65.9 KG & under: EDDIE BRAVO (JJ Machado)
66-76.9 KG: PABLO POPOVICH (American Top Team)
77-87.9 KG: DAVID TERRELL (Cesar Gracie JJ)
88-98.9 KG: DEAN LISTER(City Boxing)
99 KG & Up: MIKE WHITEHEAD (Victory Athletics)
AUSTRALIAN
TRIAL CHAMPIONS:
65.9 KG & under: CHRIS DERKSON
66-76.9 KG: GEORGE SOTIROPOULOS
77-87.9 KG: TRAVERS GRUBB
88-98.9 KG: ANTHONY PEROSH
99 KG & Up: SOA PELELEI
EUROPEAN
TRIAL CHAMPIONS:
65.9 KG & under: TEEMU LAUNIS (Finland)
66-76.9 KG: JUSSI TAMMELIN (Finland)
77-87.9 KG: ROBERT SULSKI (Poland)
88-98.9 KG: ILIR LATIFI (Sweden / Albania)
99 KG & Up: MIKA ILMAN (Finland)
BRAZILIAN
TRIAL CHAMPIONS:
65.9 KG & under: RANY YAYHRA
66-76.9 KG: DANIEL MORAES (Gracie)
77-87.9 KG: RONALDO 'JACARE' (Gracie)
88-98.9 KG: ALEXANDRE 'Cacareco' FERREIRA (RUAS VT)
99 KG & Up: MARCIO 'Pe De Pano' CRUZ (Gracie)
Source: ADCC
DSE
PRIDE - Company Fluxes!
The company called PRIDE will apparently be brought to an end,
or it will be reorganized and overseen by new management. This
depends on which Japanese source you believe. There is strong
word that PRIDE will indeed be sold after the upcoming Pride
25 event.
Many
sources are saying that a new company will buy the organization
and keep the name. Others are saying that Pride is just going
to open under a new name.
While
nothing is totally clear at the present time, Kakutogi Tsushin,
the most popular fighting magazine in Japan, has reported that
DREAM STAGE ENTERTAINMENT will cease their production of Pride
after the upcoming show.
DSE
has been involved with Pride for over five years now and has
a made a cash machine out of the group.
More
details are expected to surface this week and we'll have them
first!
Source: ADCC
Japan's
COMBAT WRESTLING on the horizon...
COMBAT
WRESTLING, arguably the show that launched international interest
in Rumina Sato in the mid-1990s, will run their big show later
this month. March 23, 2003 will be the date at the Machida City
Gym Arena for the annual supershow, featuring Japan's best submission
wrestlers.
Rumina
Sato became noticed back in the mid-1990s after finishing nearly
all of his opponents with spectacular armbars and kneebars in
the early editions of COMBAT WRESTLING.
In
the next event, Rumina Sato has entered the 74kilos division,
in hopes of redeeming his diminished reputation as an MMA fighter.
If Sato pulls off some crazy submissions, he may be looked upon
as a major star once again.
Also
entered in his division is SHOOTO Champion Takanori Gomi. Hayato
'Mach' Sakurai will be entered in the 84kilo division as well.
Source: ADCC
What
now for Jones Jr?
By Sanjeev Shetty
If
there were any doubts about Roy Jones Jr's claims to be the best
fighter in the world, he erased them with his comprehensive defeat
of John Ruiz on Saturday.
Conceding
33lbs and fighting at least three divisions above his natural
weight class, Jones teased and tormented the WBA heavyweight
champion in Las Vegas on his way to yet another title.
While
the 34-year-old Floridian enjoys his victory, he will know one
more challenge is being dangled in front of him - can he go all
the way and beat Lennox Lewis?
Jones
Jr has often said a fight with Lewis would be asking too much
of his narrow frame - he would concede six inches and 60lbs if
he were to battle the WBC champion.
But
the new champion did not dismiss the possibility of getting in
the ring with the most dominant heavyweight of the new century,
although Lewis believes the fight will not happen.
A
unification bout with IBF champion Chris Byrd is one option although
the marquee fight for Jones Jr is a bout with 40-year-old Evander
Holyfield.
Jones
Jr holds the WBA light heavyweight and heavyweight titles and
the governing body have given the fighter seven days to decide
which one he wants to keep.
It
seems inconceivable that he will step back to light heavyweight,
where there are no realistic challenges for him.
Is Lewis part of
the Jones Jr plan?
If a Lewis fight does transpire, Jones Jr would be a massive
underdog, but his bewildering speed and movement may well give
the 37-year-old Englishman problems.
The
other question that arose from Saturday's fight is just where
Jones Jr now stands in the list of all-time great boxers.
Some
may say that beating a relatively average fighter like Ruiz makes
little difference to the Jones Jr legend.
But
the new champion has established himself as a genuine threat
at what is an unnatural weight for him.
With
the exception of Muhammad Ali, all the great champions have proved
their worth by moving up in weight and testing themselves.
Sugar
Ray Robinson, the consensus choice as the best fighter ever,
dominated the welterweight division, won the middleweight crown
and only dehydration scuppered his bid to become light heavyweight
champ.
Henry
Armstrong held world titles at featherweight, lightweight and
welterweight simultaneously and won 150 fights.
Roberto
Duran was possibly the greatest lightweight ever and won titles
at welterweight, light middleweight and middleweight.
And
of course there was Ali, who dominated heavyweight boxing for
over 15 years and beat some of the greatest fighters ever.
After
Saturday, Jones Jr deserves to be mentioned in the same breath
as those men because he made the stiffest test of his glorious
career seem like just another fight.
Add
to that his mastery of opponents at middleweight, super middleweight
and light heavyweight, where he has seldom lost a round.
If
he were to beat Lewis he could rightly claim to be greater than
any of those illustrious names.
Source: BBC
The
Ronin Returns
By Josh Gross
TOKYO
-- Scraping away at his Haagen-Dazs Dulce de Leche snack-sized
cup of ice cream as if it were his final chance to ever enjoy
such a treat, Carlos Newton beams like a fourth grader just made
aware that school was cancelled for a snow day.
Following
a long interview-filled Friday -- mostly pertaining to Sunday's
highly anticipated showdown versus Anderson Silva -- and pre-fight
photo shoots, the momentary reprieve comes as a welcome change.
"I need the fat," the Canadian says with a smile.
Perhaps
the most introspective of all current mixed martial arts stars,
Newton -- part Bruce Wayne; part Batman -- is the sport's walking
contradiction. On Sunday the 26-year-old fighter returns to fight
in Japan, a place and culture he loves and understands, for the
first time since defeating Jose "Pele" Landi-Jons last
February.
The
victory was Newton's seventh in eight "Land of the Rising
Sun" bouts. Hands down, however, it was his most difficult.
Eating a shotgun-blast of a knee which stunned him, though he
says it didn't despite clearly being wobbled after impact, Newton
endured to come back and win by armbar.
In
Silva, the former SHOOTO 167-pound champion who recently bulked
up near 185 pounds, Newton's tests in the School of Hard Knocks
continue versus a fighter very similar to "Pele". Yet
those close to him say Silva's an even more dangerous opponent.
Avoiding the pratfalls that cost "Pele" the bout versus
Newton -- he showboated instead of attacked following the massive
knee that connected square on Newton's chin -- Silva is thought
of as the most technically sound fighter in the Chute Boxe camp.
"Anderson
is much more calm, cool and collected," Newton notes when
asked to compare Silva to his former Chute Boxe compadre. "He's
not going to make the same mistakes that 'Pele' did. It's going
to be the same kind of fight: really dangerous and high energy."
In
a contest some have labeled the de facto 185-pound PRIDE championship
since there is no such division currently existing in PRIDE --
"It is a double-edge sword. It would be really cool to be
the 185-pound champion in PRIDE, but at the same point I'm sure
at some time I'd want my freedom back," he says in true
Ronin fashion -- Newton is all too aware of Silva's strengths,
one of which is his consistent, even-paced attack not often seen
in fighters coming out of Curitiba, Brazil.
"They
have shown the unique ability to adapt to PRIDE rules much faster
and much better than a lot of the camps have," he says of
the Rudimar Fedrigo-trained clan. "And that says a lot of
about them. They've been doing their homework playing around
with stuff. Very innovative."
Familiarity
breeds contempt and Newton has come to know Chute Boxe fighters
well. Once before during his brief time as UFC welterweight champion
he was scheduled to face Silva. That fell through when the Brazilian's
contract went belly up. Now, more than a year later and half
a world away, the two finally meet in the ring.
Says
Newton regarding Sunday's opponent: "He's definitely the
kind of fighter I have careful reflection on."
"You
have to plan carefully," he continues. "You have to
study a fighter, really look and figure out what you're options
are. You have to be honest with yourself too. 'Can I do that?
Can I cope with that? Do I have the ability to do this?' You
can't dream it. You have to know it."
It's
the type of situation Newton is looking forward to.
"This
is one of my defining fights," he suggests. "It's going
to really highlight skills that I have for those that have never
noticed. That's pretty much going to be the effect, I think.
It's going to open up people's eyes to a lot of skills that I
possess that haven't been brought to people's attention."
Confident
enough in his boxing ability to suggest that he may try to duke
it out with the much longer, savvier striker, Newton explains
"though I have good grappling skills I don't think I have,
at least in the last year, portrayed the heavy feet that most
of the good grapplers have. I pretty much have a comfortable
stance and a well rounded game."
With
an 84-kilogram weight cap Newton once again is prepared to fight
at around the 185-pound mark, a full 15 pounds heavier than in
his last contest, a submission victory over Pete Spratt at UFC
40 in November. The added weight, he says -- not due to the Haagen-Dazs,
of course -- makes the action in the ring feel slower. Not a
good thing for a man who thrives on frenetic fights. "At
170 things are going quick in there, and that's a little more
brain fire for me," he explains.
Taking
into account the mobility he anticipates needing to "parry"
Silva's troublesome jab and "react like any natural boxer
would," Newton cannot stand toe-to-toe with the dangerous
and disciplined striker if he's to win. Odds are he won't walk
away with a victory like he did against "Pele" if he
fights the same fight.
"A
lot of head movement," he answers.
Newton
believes his power versus Silva's accuracy and reach is enough
to even out the playing field on the feet. On the mat is where
he should enjoy his true advantage, however.
The
challenge of fighting and bettering himself in the ring, he says,
is the real reason he exudes so much effort. It is what drives
him. "I take it one day at a time," he says. Hey, even
Newton drops a cliché or two. "Just trying to grow
as a person is far more important because right now my life is
fighting, but there's life for me still after fighting that's
going to be a lot more important to me after my fighting career.
It's very important to me that I develop into a person that I
like to be."
On
a daily basis, Terry Riggs, Newton's manager, aids in his fighter's
development. When faced with obstacles it's the close and trusting
relationship between manager and fighter that has allowed Newton
to split adequate time between his academic and fighting sides.
(Bruce Wayne and Batman, remember.)
"If
I'm preparing for a fight he'll (Riggs) [ask], 'did you go to
class today? -- that sort of thing. Keeping me focused. Keeping
me balanced. Don't get a big head. He's always ready and willing
to deflate it."
To
date those hazards have not been problematic. One gets the impression
that no matter what happens between Newton and Silva on Sunday,
the soft-spoken Canadian will continually strive to get better.
And if at some point his personal goals don't provide enough
incentive for him you can bet Riggs will have a pint-sized Haagen-Dazs
ready and waiting.
Judging
by the way he devoured his ice cream on Friday, it'd probably
work.
Source: Maxfighting
3/14/03
Quote
of the Day
The
marble not yet carved can hold the form of every thought the
greatest artist has.
Michelangelo
Rumble
2 in Hilo is Tomorrow
ROTR Fight Card Prodigy
Productions and Moku O Keawe present: Rumble on the
Rock 2 Rumble Goes Wild
Edith Kanakaole Tennis Stadium, Hilo, Hawaii
March 15, 2003
Doors Open @ 5:00pm
Preliminaries @ 7:00pm
140lbs
William Armstrong vs. Kekoa Fonseca
130lbs
Molly Hessel vs. Emery Seguccio
155lbs
Joao Charuto vs. Jerome Kekumu
167lbs
Sydney Silva vs. Bryson
260lbs
Vai Togia vs. Anthony Billianor
140lbs
Jim Kikuchi vs. Antonio Banuelos
155lbs
Jamaal Perkins vs. Santino Defanco
170lbs
Ross Ebanez vs. Rukus
180lbs
Mark Moreno vs. Rich Moss
205lbs
Edwin Dewees vs. Auggie Padekan
170lbs
Renato "Charuto" Verissimo vs. Shannon "The Canon"
Rich
240lbs
Travis Wiuff vs. Kauai Kupihea
Tickets
are available at
BJ Penn Communications (808) 935-1600 Hilo
ADC Wireless (808) 935-6868 Hilo, (808) 885-8815 Kamuela
CD Wizard (808) 969-4800 Hilo
Border's (808) 933-1410 Hilo, (808) 331-1668 Kona
Byrd's Auto Supply (808) 885-5002 Kamuela
Wrestling
State Championships are on Friday and Saturday
The
finals are on Saturday night as stated in the article below.
If someone videotapes the finals, please make me a copy or let
me borrow the tape for a day! I am stuck going to a wedding so
I will probably miss it. If you haven't been to a Wrestling State
Championships, it's very exciting and you can see that Hawaii
has some high quality wrestlers, both boys and girls.
I
am especially interested in the Suehiros' (Emile and Rene), the
Thains' (Desmond and Lawrence), Brandon Low, and Jonathan Spiker.
The two sets of brothers play Jiu-Jitsu with the Relson Gracie
team and the Suehiros, Brandon, and Jonathan play judo with me
at Shobukan. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they will all
win. Keep your eyes on Brandon Low, he may be the next four-time
state champ. This young man is an absolutely amazing technician.
Mike
Wrestlers
Spiker, Valdez try to pin down history
By
Wes Nakama
Advertiser Staff Writer
When
Saint Louis School's Jonathan Spiker and Moanalua High's Caylene
Valdez lace up their shoes and walk onto the wrestling mat today,
they will be on the doorstep of history.
Saint Louis School's Jonathan Spiker, right, shown here in last
year's 145-pound state semifinal against Trenton Mericle of 'Aiea,
will try to become only the second boy in 38 state tournaments
to win four titles.
Spiker,
at 152 pounds, will begin his final push to become only the second
boy in 38 state tournaments to win four championships. Iolani's
Patrick Higa (1983-86) stands alone in accomplishing the feat
since the first Hawai'i High School Athletic Association meet
in 1966.
There
was no girls tournament until 1998, but Valdez (114) nonetheless
can make history as well as the first four-time female state
champion.
Opening
rounds of both tournaments begin today at Blaisdell Arena, with
the semifinals and finals set for tomorrow.
For
both Spiker and Valdez, today could not come soon enough, especially
since the tournament is starting two weeks later than last year's.
"I'm
excited, I kinda wish it were here already," Spiker said
during Tuesday's practice. "We've had to wait two weeks,
and each day I get more energized."
Valdez
has spent the time studying videotapes of herself and opponents
in addition to her normal preparation.
"I've
been very nervous," she said. "I'm always at home reviewing
tapes and trying to get ready. I really, really want to win,
but I also don't want to take it too seriously. No matter what
happens, I'll still have something to cherish."
For
Spiker and Valdez, just getting to this point is a huge accomplishment.
Wrestling, as much of a contact sport as there is in high school,
lends itself to injuries. Valdez's only loss in Hawai'i came
last year when she had to withdraw during a match because of
an injured back. Spiker has remained relatively injury-free through
four undefeated seasons, but just two weeks ago he suffered a
gash on his head during practice, requiring four stitches.
"There
are a lot of variables," Saint Louis coach Todd Los Baños
said. "First, you have to have the talent, but you also
have to be dedicated and disciplined and thrive on competition.
And then you have to take care of your grades and can't get hurt.
Everything has to be right. Even a tiny ringworm at the last
minute can take you out of it."
There's
also the possibility of a bad pin call by the referee or a disqualification.
Los Baños said that's where Spiker's discipline comes
in.
"He
doesn't put himself in bad positions where that could happen,"
Los Baños said. "He's a national judo champion, so
if he wanted to throw somebody, he could easily do it. But he
won't lift a guy off the mat, because he knows there's a risk
it could be called a slam and it would cost him."
Then,
of course, there is the opponent. Valdez is a three-time champion
at 108 pounds, but moved up this year into one of the toughest
of the 10 girls weight classes.
The
division includes defending champ Debbi Sakai of Mililani, along
with three-time Interscholastic League of Honolulu champion and
No. 2 seed Jaynee Kim of Punahou and unseeded contender Tamitha
Hufana of Farrington.
Last
year's title wasn't easily won, either, as Valdez held off Kahuku's
Shanel Vivas, 11-7, in the tournament's most dramatic match.
"I
was kinda hoping to get good competition," Valdez said.
"I'm glad there's more than one person (at 114). It's more
my natural weight, anyway, and I'd rather have the challenge."
Although
Valdez and Spiker are well aware of their chances to make history,
both have put wrestling and their final go-around into proper
perspective. Spiker is headed to Harvard University in the fall,
and Valdez hopes to wrestle and play soccer at Menlo (Calif.)
College.
"This
has been my most enjoyable season by far," Spiker said.
"(The record) is not a one-time shot, it's four years, and
each year is a whole new time."
Said
Valdez: "I don't wanna jump the gun and say it's gonna happen.
Also, it doesn't matter if anybody knows about it. Inside, I'll
know I did it for myself and my team."
Source:
Honolulu Advertiser
Spiker,
Valdez on verge of
almost unheard of 4-peat
By
Nick Abramo
This
is a big weekend for Saint Louis' Jonathan Spiker and Moanalua's
Caylene Valdez.
Both
have a chance to make Hawaii high school history by winning their
fourth straight Data House State Wrestling Championship individual
titles tomorrow and Saturday at Blaisdell Arena.
The
meet starts at 11 a.m. both days, with the girls finals Saturday
at 5 p.m. followed by the boys finals at 7.
Only
Iolani's Patrick Higa (1983-'86) has won four straight titles.
Spiker
and his Crusaders teammates are trying for their third straight
team championship.
When
asked what boys weight class he thought would be the most competitive,
Iolani coach Yoshi Honda said, "I know which class won't
be -- Spiker's (152 pounds).
"He's
a class individual ... such a competitor ... so into it. And
that's an amazing feat he's going for, very rare and I'd like
to congratulate his whole family. It's a whole team effort that
got him into this position. I know how hard it is to win three,
so I can only imagine what it takes to get four."
Honda
won state titles while wrestling for Radford from 1981 to '83.
Many
coaches around the state see Iolani as the favorite to win the
boys team title.
"We're
ready to get on the mat, that's for sure," Honda said. "We've
had a successful year and we'll wrestle hard. The ILH has good
representation. Kamehameha has the opportunity to score a lot
of points as well (along with Iolani and Saint Louis). McKinley,
Kahuku and Waiakea also have very good teams."
Owen
Yonehara (135-pound class), Brent Kakesako (130) and Jared Wakayama
(125) are among the Raiders' leaders.
Wakayama
won the 119-pound class a year ago and Kakesako was the 125-pound
champ.
"Kakesako's
class, now that's a good weight class," Honda said. "They've
got Ben Wilmore from Saint Louis, Emile Suehiro from McKinley,
Jon Fisher (Hilo) and Joe Duley (Pahoa)."
Suehiro
is part of the Tigers' big four, along with his brother Rene
(140) and another set of brothers -- Desmond (135) and Lawrence
Thain (119).
Rene
Suehiro won the 135-pound class a year ago, while the Crusaders' Wilmore was
tops at 112.
Kahuku
coach Reggie Torres doesn't think his OIA champion Red Raider
boys team is ready to take a serious run at the state title.
"If
we place in the top five, we'll walk away happy," he said.
"We don't have the same quality wrestlers that Iolani has.
McKinley has four quality guys and Saint Louis and Kamehameha
have a lot of quality guys, too. And at the states, it's all
about quality wrestlers. If you can't win, you can't score. Realistically,
we're a year away."
Valdez
and her Moanalua teammates are trying to unseat Torres' OIA and
defending state champion Kahuku squad for the girls crown.
"Besides
having a lot of talent, Caylene has a lot of internal desire,"
Menehunes coach Joel Kawachi said. "She just doesn't like
to lose. When she needs it, she digs and finds it."
Valdez
moved up to the 114-pound class this year from 108, and she has
some tough competition, including defending 114-pound state champ
Debbie Sakai from Mililani, Interscholastic League of Honolulu
champ Jaynee Kim of Punahou, Tamitha Hafuna of Farrington and
Rosylynn Maiava of Kahuku.
"It's
one of the most difficult weight classes in the state,"
Kawachi said.
The
130-pound class is also expected to be hotly contested. Kamehameha's
Jazmine Cockett, Kealakehe's Jasmin Norman, Kahuku's Ashlee Estioko
and Punahou's Lauren Primiano are all legitimate contenders.
The
Menehunes won three straight state titles from 1999 to 2001,
and they placed second to the Red Raiders in the OIA championship
meet two weeks ago.
"We
surprised a lot of people at the OIAs (to finish second),"
Kawachi said. "But Kahuku was still that good. On paper,
nobody is close to them in the state.
"But
what I tell the girls is to wrestle with all your heart. That's
all you can do. If we come out champions, we come out champions.
We have 10 girls in the tournament and we need all 10 of them
to help us out."
The
Kahuku girls are led by Estioko, Amanda Aquino (98), Nicole Fonda
(103) Elizabeth Torres (108), Leilani Relator (121) and Kehau
Kamauoha (140).
Relator
is going up against defending 121-pound champ Danyelle Hedin
of Kailua. Relator beat Hedin in this season's OIA final.
"We've
got a great chance at states," Torres said about his Red
Raider girls. "Moanalua is creeping up and Kamehameha is
getting better. It's going to be a dog race. Moanalua is bringing
10 girls, Kamehameha is bringing nine and we're bringing eight.
And we need to put most of them in the final to have a chance
to win."
Source:
Star Bulletin
DSE
Down for the Count? Not by a Long Shot
TOKYO
-- Rumors are a funny thing, particularly in the wonderful and
wacky world of mixed martial arts fandom, where the line between
conjecture and reality often blurs into a dizzying mishmash of
uncertainty.
In
the weeks following the sudden and shocking suicide of Dream
Stage Entertainment president Naoto Morishita in January, "reports"
of DSE's demise spread across message boards to various MMA related
websites with reckless abandon.
With
that in mind it's amazing what truths can be found on the other
side of a 5,000-mile flight. Minutes after arriving at Tokyo's
New Takanawa Prince Hotel on Thursday afternoon I found several.
First,
Dream Stage Entertainment is alive and kicking. Second, it'll
be doing so for a lot longer than many expected. Third, it'll
be gearing towards American fans a lot sooner than many had thought
possible. Fourth -- and at this moment, the most telling response
to critics who labeled it dead -- the Ultimate Fighting Championship
won't be the only mixed martial arts promotion available en mass
to millions of cable television homes.
MaxFighting
has learned that DSE has inked a deal with American cable pay-per-view
distributor iNDEMAND that would enable PRIDE, starting with the
June show, to be seen in as many homes currently enjoyed by UFC.
Though
a select few, including myself, felt DSE's hold on the Japanese
MMA marketplace was too strong to simply relinquish, it was held
in wide regard that PRIDE, in the incarnation seen since 1997,
was all but done.
Not
so says Hideki Yamamoto, who runs DSE's office in Los Angeles
alongside wife -- and fellow DSE vice president -- Yukino Kanda.
The
DSE name and the promotions it cultivated, he says, provided
more than enough incentive not to completely restructure and
reappear under a different banner.
Basically,
while it was thought that DSE was a lame duck and that serious
revamping was underway, it's quite clear that the exact opposite
is set to take place.
Perhaps
now more than ever, DSE is on solid footing: Its commitment to
fans in the United States is just now blossoming while its position
in the Japanese marketplace will be bolstered by a new partnership
with SkyPerfect TV. (The Japanese pay-per-view distributor recently
paid a hefty sum to DSE for PRIDE broadcast rights.)
So
much for rumors.
"PRIDE
continues as long as a market exists," said Yamamoto following
Thursday's press conference to promote March 16th's PRIDE 25
card.
Any
official announcement regarding PRIDE's restructuring in the
wake of Morishita's death should come no later than April. What
is known at this time is that 39-year-old Nobuyuki Sakakibara
will replace Morishita as DSE's majority stockholder and president.
Also moving up the ladder, pro-wrestler and former PRIDE fighter
Nobuhiko Takada takes over as producer, which really means most
of his time will be spent in front of the camera fielding questions
from Japanese media. Several more moves are expected, including
changes to the five-member DSE executive officer board; Konda
may be its newest edition.
Change
invariably coincides with a new blueprint from which to work
from. All signs point towards DSE finally laying down concrete
roads in an American market that had seen nothing but uneven
cobble stone-like paths from them in the past.
In
a nutshell, the United States, which some insiders and many fans
felt was an afterthought in the minds of the previous DSE hierarchy
(despite Morishita expressing its importance in a press conference
the day of his death) appears to be priority number one for the
Japanese company starting this summer.
According
to Yamamoto the days of Japanese pro-wrestler versus pro-wrestler
PRIDE match ups are numbered. In its place a brand new form of
sensationalism could emerge, this time geared for American audiences.
But the odds of American pro-wrestling stars doing for PRIDE
in the U.S. like their Japanese counterparts did for PRIDE in
Japan are slim at best.
In
the next twelve months expect DSE to make a major push in the
U.S., including but not limited to their first U.S.-based promotion
sometime in late 2003 or early in 2004. Holding a license to
promote bouts in Nevada, one could safely speculate that Las
Vegas may be their initial destination, though Yamamoto mentioned
California as a potential location as well.
All
of this, clearly, is good for mixed martial arts.
DSE's
effort to make serious inroads to an American market just now
wetting its lips on the sport can only serve to increase awareness
amongst the uninitiated and promote healthy competition between
rival organizations, namely Zuffa, promoters for the UFC. Clearly,
Zuffa's stateside efforts in the past twenty-four months have
afforded DSE the ability to bide its time until the time was
ripe for them to enter into the fray.
That
time -- despite all the rumors, innuendos and out-right misrepresentation
of the facts (or uninformed opinions in their place) -- is now.
News
and Notes from Thursday's press conference:
Rodrigo
Nogueira, Emelianenko Fedor, Quinton Jackson, Kevin Randleman,
Anderson Silva and Carlos Newton fielded questions from the Japanese
media on Thursday afternoon. It was the first press conference
for PRIDE 25 since most of the fighters arrived in Japan on Wednesday.
Though official weigh-ins do not take place until Saturday, unofficially
the six fighters stepped on the scales.
Of
particular interest, Randleman looked especially enormous, coming
in at nearly 220 pounds. Meanwhile, Jackson was walking around
at 209, having cut down some 10 pounds in anticipation of the
coming weigh ins. Both men must make 205 pounds by the weekend.
Both
Nogueira and Fedor looked fit and ready to fight. With all the
pomp and circumstance worthy of a bout this caliber, DSE president
Takada (get used to it) stood by as both fighters signed final
papers making the contest an official PRIDE championship match.
The men each stepped off the scales near 230 pounds.
Newton
and Silva both appeared calm yet supremely focused during the
hour-long dog and pony show. Though both men are a bit over the
84-kilogram weight limit agreed in their contracts, neither should
have difficulty shedding the final few pounds before Saturday.
Source:
Maxfighting
NAMES
IN THE GAME: Tim Lajcik
His
name has been circling around in rumors regarding a possible
match-up with Jeremy Horn. So MMAWeekly’s Tim Spagnola sat
down with UFC and Pancrase veteran Tim Lajcik to get the real
story about this possible fight, his meeting with Kimo at WFA
2, and an update on what really happened with his toe injury.
MMAWeekly is pleased to feature “The Bohemian” as this
weeks ‘Name in the Game.’
MMAWeekly:Tim
thanks again for taking the time to speak with MMAWeekly.
Tim:Thanks
for the interest and the good work you do for the sport.
MMAWeekly:I
will start with the question that I am sure most fans have and
ask for an injury update? How do you feel?
Tim:As
far as the injury, it feels a little undignified to be brought
down by a hurt toe, but mine was in pretty bad shape. At first
the doctors were talking about amputating it. The ringside and
athletic commission doctors all kept saying it was the worst
they'd seen. When I got to the emergency room I think the situation
was made worse because high malpractice insurance rates caused
a mass exodus of doctors from Las Vegas the week before. It was
nearly 4 am before the physician saw me.The doctors tried for
over an hour to pull the toe back into place.When that didn't work
they brought some big orderlies in to try and pull on it. The
doctors decided the muscles in my foot were too strong and that
I was resisting too much, so they needed to put me under. I was
allergic to the anesthesia and went into a seizure so violent
I was coming off the bed. Then, from what I was told, I stopped
breathing and foam was coming out of my mouth. My sister, Linda
and my girlfriend Angela were in the emergency room watching
and it was pretty rough on them. Angela draped her body over
my chest to keep me from convulsing out of the bed.The doctor
gave me a shot of Benadryl and that brought me out of the seizure
and I started breathing again. Once everyone collected themselves,
the doctor decided she couldn't get a good grip on my toe, so
she drilled a hole from one side of the toe to the other and
put a metal rod through it that they could pull on. The doctor
thought she had it lined up, but the x-ray showed a bunch of
bone fragments in the joint that kept it from being aligned.Finally, they
opened up my toe, cleaned out the bone fragments, re-attached
the ligaments, lined the bones up, then drilled a hole lengthwise
down the center of my toe and inserted a two and a half inch
pin. The end of the pin stuck out the tip of my toe about a quarter
of an inch. After a few weeks a doctor pulled the pin out.Now the toe
looks a little crazy. It's an inch bigger around than the other
big toe and barely bends. I can feel some of the nerves slowly
growing back, though. Wearing shoes I can do essentially everything
I could before. It'll take a little more time and work to get
it operating at 100% without shoes.
MMAWeekly:Thank
you for being so candid Tim. It truly sounds like it was an overwhelming
ordeal and I am very pleased to hear that you are recovering
fully. Outside the injury, what are your thoughts on your performance
looking back at WFA2 and your fight with Kimo?
Tim:I
felt as if I could do whatever I wanted in that fight. I expected
it to be more difficult.
MMAWeekly:And
was there any one thing in particular you learned from that fight?
Tim:I
learned that if I fight and get hurt in Las Vegas again, it's
best to take an aspirin, suck it up and get on the next flight
out of there.The
medical care I received in the emergency room was really poor.
It was pretty unbelievable actually.
MMAWeekly:A
lesson well learned based upon what you were just telling us.
Now one last thing regarding the WFA2 fight, would there be any
interest in a rematch with Kimo?
Tim:Of
course I want one. I'd be surprised and gain a whole lot of respect
for Kimo if he had the guts to do it.
MMAWeekly:Can
you tell us a bit about your MMA background? What first got you
involved with the sport?
Tim:I
got involved with MMA when I met Eugene Jackson in 1997. He had
aspirations of fighting in the UFC and encouraged me to enter
an IFC tournament with him. I didn't really know what to expect,
but I ended up winning the tournament, fighting Eugene in the
finals. We split the money and drove back home together. Prior
to that I'd had a pretty extensive athletic career in wrestling,
boxing and football.
MMAWeekly:And
what about today? Who are you currently training and working
with?
Tim:My
main training partners at the moment are Erik Duus, world-class
wrestler and black belt in Judo, and Fabricio Moreiras a very
skilled brown belt in BJJ and a black belt in Judo. In the coming
weeks I'm going to be training with some friends at a new MMA
gym in San Francisco called Monster Island.
MMAWeekly:Now
you have a great deal of experience and have had a chance to
fight in several well recognized promotions, what has been your
most interesting experience thus far in your career?
Tim:A
promoter once had the audacity to ask me to throw a fight. I
couldn't believe it. I sat there listening to him talking with
a straight face about how I could fight under a phony name and
no one would know. The notion to lie down in a fight was so foreign
to me; it was a minute before I realized what he was asking me
to do. When it finally registered, it was all I could do to resist
the temptation to smash his face. I told him to fuck off and
left the room.
MMAWeekly:Sad
to think such a request would be made by a promoter. Would you
say Tim that there was anything in particular you took from your
UFC experience and fighting in the Octagon?
Tim:I
had three opportunities in the UFC and came away with a draw
and two losses. Each of those fights was very win-able, but I
didn't get it done. I've learned from and addressed the various
things that caused me to come up short in my quest for victory
in the UFC. The only thing that remains on my mind from that
experience is a desire to return to the Octagon and settle some
unfinished business.
MMAWeekly:And
thus far your Toughest opponent in your career? Why?
Tim:Eugene
Jackson in an IFC tournament final a few years ago. He was my
best friend and I knew I had to drive back home with him after
the fight.
MMAWeekly:Now
that would make for a very long ride home. Before I let you run
is there anything you would like to say regarding the rumors
of a possible meeting with you and Jeremy Horn?
Tim:As
far as the ICC and Jeremy Horn, I saw something on the Underground
just as I was leaving to go to a friend's house to watch the
last UFC. I guess there was a rumor floating around that I might
fight Jeremy. No one has contacted me and I haven't heard anything
more about it until you just mentioned it. I think it would be
an interesting fight andI'd welcome it, but as I said, no one
has contacted me regarding it.
MMAWeekly:Well
thanks for clearing that up and I agree it would make for a very
entertaining fight. Now with that said, what can fans expect
next from Tim Lajcik?
Tim:I'm
training with the expectation to get back in the ring in May.
There are several organizations that have contacted me and I'm
sorting through the offers right now. I hope to fight often in
the next year. Time isn't really on my side at this point in
my career so if I want to earn a spot near the top of the MMA
pecking order, I've got to get going.
MMAWeekly:Well
the best of luck to you as always. I am sure that I am one of
many fans that look forward to seeing you back in action. Anything
you would like to say to your fans before you run?
Tim:Actually,
until I got hurt I didn't really know I had any fans. I'd never
spent much time on the Internet and I didn't have much contact
with the MMA world when I wasn't fighting. Since my injury, though,
I've discovered that there are people who appreciate me as a
fighter and were kind enough to express their support during
my recovery. I was completely floored by their encouragement
and it's had a profound effect on me. From here on out I dedicate
each fight to them and if I can ever help lift them when they
are down, I'd appreciate the opportunity.Incidentally, I have
a friend, David Dold, who's putting together a website on my
behalf. The address is www.timlajcik.com. It's nearly complete
and should be up and running before too long.
MMAWeekly:Tim
thanks once again for taking the time to speak with MMAWeekly.
It was really good having a chance to speak with you.
Tim:Thanks for
taking the interest, Tim. Good luck to you.
Source: MMA Weekly
KNOCK
ON WOOD: SUDO VS THOMSON AT UFC 42
MMAWeekly.com is hearing that the fight is back on again for
UFC 42 between Genki Sudo and Josh Thomson. This fight was orginially
scheduled for UFC 41, but injuries to both fighters caused this
fight to not happen.
Thomson
has been snake bitten as far as UFC appearances go. Josh has
been scheduled to fight in the UFC at least three different times,
but as fate would have it, all three times he had sustained injuries.
Thomson told MMAWeekly recently "I just want to fight in
the UFC. It's been a dream and hopefully it all works out."
We hope that too.
Thomson
has a very exciting style, while Sudo is one of the most entertaining
fighters in the world today. Keep your fingers crossed as this
could be the fight of the night in Miami.
Source: MMA Weekly
3/13/03
Quote
of the Day
Class
is an aura of confidence that is being sure without being cocky.
Class has nothing to do with money. Class never runs scared.
It is self-discipline and self-knowledge. It's the sure footedness
that comes with having proved you can meet life.
Ann
Landers
AFC
3 is Looking for Fighters Over 200 lbs
Ever
dreamt of putting on the gloves and trying your hand at boxing?
Maybe even done a little boxing growing up in your local gym
and did pretty well? Have you thought of yourself in a ring in
a large arena with fans cheering you on? I know, you do not have
professional boxing skills, but maybe the Amateur Fighting Competition
is for you! Amateurs with many safety precautions in place to
protect each fighter get a chance to showcase their technique
in front of a large audience. Who knows, maybe you can walk away
with $1,000 in your pocket as the winner.
If
you are over 200 lbs, the AFC may still have a place for you!
You can apply to fight in this exciting event by writing to or
calling:
Linebred, LLC
P.O. Box 2747
Waianae, HI 96792
Phone 808-668-7100
The AFC is a 2 weight-class 'toughman' single elimination tournament.
There is an Under 200lb division as well as a 200 and over division.
The winner of each division gets either a cash prize (in which
case he would no longer be considered an 'amateur') or a gift
certificate (thereby keeping amateur status).
The
AFC is an idea started by Linebred, LLC. Ray "Bradda"
Cooper and his wife Monica wanted to give local fighters a chance
to compete in a fair, controlled environment without having to
step into a full blown MMA match. The AFC is a place for fighters
to see if they have what it takes in the ring against others.
Ray
“Bradda” Cooper is an international fighter who is
compassionate about seeing local talent discovered. Ray competes
at a professional level in a sport called Mixed Martial Arts.
Ray is a renowned fighter that holds titles in Superbrawl, Warriors
Quest and is ranked #4 in World Shooto in Japan. In the sport
of MMA he is highly respected as an athlete. As an athlete, his
purpose and vision is to see economical growth, physical strength
increase, and to provide a place where people can come and watch
a sport that will uphold professionalism as well as integrity.
Line Bred believes that through having these types of events
it will create desire as well as vision in local athletes - The
desire to get physically fit and a vision to see dreams fulfilled.
Before
the AFC, an aspiring fighter might never see actual competition
in a semi-controlled ring environment. Now, the Amateur Fighting
Competition put on by Linebred, LLC provides him that chance...
The chance to show his skills without the danger of a severe
experience mismatch.
The
first AFC was held on February 2, 2002. 16 fighters - 8 in each
weight category - went at each other that night, each hoping
to win the $1000 prize. The punches rocked the arena that night,
and when the dust settled and all was over, Shaft Rideros had
taken the Under 200 division and Vai Togia had conquered the
200 and over division. Both chose to take the prize money in
cash, a move that eliminated them from defending their new titles
in any other AFC events.
The second AFC was held May 23, 2002. 16 fighters again went
after the 2 titles and $1000 in prizes. AFC2 showcased boxing
skills that were definitely not considered 'amateur' by any means.
The fights were very exciting and well matched, and the crowd
was on it's feet more than once! By the end of the night PJ Dean
had taken the 200 and under title and Kaleo Westbrook won the
over 200 division. AFC2 definitely had the crowd pleasing fights.
March
29th, 2003 will be the date of AFC3. Fighters are being contacted.
It will be held at the Waikiki Shell in the Amphitheather.
An
exciting 2003 for AFC is planned, as the winners of the AFC's
will face off at the Neal Blaisdell Center in the 'Big Show'.
3 AFC events are planned for this year.
BATTLE
FIELD "ZST 2"
Quick Results
Held March 9, 2003
ZEPP Tokyo - Tokyo, Japan
1st
Match
Takumi Yano (Ugou-kai) vs. Shigeyuki Umeki (SK absolute)
Winner: draw
2nd
Match
Tetsuya Onose (Strapple) vs. Seiki Ryo (STAND)
Winner: Tetsuya Onose by decision (2-1) extra Round
3rd
Match
Remigijus Morkevicius (RINGS Lithuania) vs. Atsuhiro Tsuboi (Free)
Winner: Remigijus Morkevicius by KO 2R 1:37
4th
Match
Hidehiko Matsumoto (Japan Sambo Assosiation) vs. Hideo Tokoro
(Team POD)
Winner: Hideo Tokoro by decision (2-1) extra Round
5th
Match
Masakazu Imanari (Team Roken) vs. Erikas Petraitis (RINGS Lithuania)
Winner: Masakazu Imanari by decision (3-0)
6th
Match
Chris Haseman (RINGS Australia) vs. Akihiro Gono (Pancrase GRABAKA)
Winner: Akihiro Gono by decision (2-0) extra Round
7th
Match
Naoyuki Kotani (Rodeo Style) vs. Antoine Skinner (Team Wolf Pack
USA)
Winner: Naoyuki Kotani by ankle hold 1R 1:35
*All fights were 5 min 2R and one extra R if fight was draw after
2nd Round. And punches were not allowed to the face when opponent
is in ground position.
Source:
FCF
Heavyweight
Showdown
Between Rounds by Joe Hall (March 13, 2003)
The
Enigmatic Russian versus The Unbeatable Brazilian.
That's
what I'm hailing this one. Or not. Either way, Rodrigo Nogueira's
upcoming Pride heavyweight title defense against Emelianenko
Fedor hasn't received the hype it deserves.
Whether
it's been neglected because of a paucity of advertising, negligent
media or inaccessibility of the fighters, the point matters little
now. We're just a few days away from what will likely be the
heavyweight matchup of the year, and I'm desperate: How can I
convey the importance of this imminent encounter?
Catchy
headline could do it, I figured. But "Nogueira versus Fedor"
is unusable. I don't want readers to think I forgot a letter
and invoke a confusing image of Nogueira struggling with a hat
instead of picturing the best fighter in the world facing a six-foot,
235-pound wall of muscle whose icy visage is unnaturally fixed
into an ominous glare.
Right
away, I can see that something has to replace "Fedor."
The guy is a warrior, but his name stinks. In terms of marketing,
that is. He needs a nickname.
The
Russian Bear? Please. I'm convinced there are more "Russian
Bears" on this planet than Russian people. Besides, Fedor
is agile for a big man, and anything but warm and fuzzy.
The
Russian Nightmare? Oh, very appropriate. I like it. But so did
Nikita Koloff in the 1980's, and that's when he claimed it. Any
pro-wrestling fan would see right through that one.
Let's
look at a few of Fedor's characteristics. Maybe that will help.
He's
mysterious. Have you ever heard him talk? Seen him smile? Frown?
Any facial movement whatsoever beyond his stoic, I'm-about-to-hurt-someone-and-I'm-not-sure-how-bad
expression? Me either. Creepy.
He
hits like a freight train. He's as solid as a rock. He's from
Russia.
He's
the big mean impassive Russian freight train! Guh. I'll try again
later. For now, I'll concentrate on the battle at hand:
This
Sunday's clash between Rodrigo Nogueira and Emelianenko Fedor
joins the two top heavyweights currently competing in mixed martial
arts. Nogueira indisputably owns the No. 1 ranking. Next, according
to the MMA Media Top-10, is Josh Barnett; but he hasn't fought
in nearly a year and is presently wrestling professionally in
Japan. Ranked No. 3 is Ricco Rodriguez, who was recently destroyed
at UFC 41. At No. 4 is the man who'll meet Nogueira, Emelianenko
Fedor.
It's
a rarity in combat sports, but the top two heavyweights of the
moment will face each other at Pride 25.
Between
the two of them, Nogueira and Fedor hold around 30 victories
to only two defeats. In Nogueira's near impeccable run, he has
beaten Horn and Herring, sent Kikuta out on a stretcher after
a right hand landed, and tapped Goodridge, Coleman, Inoue, Sapp,
Schilt and Henderson. Wow.
Fedor
has done less submitting and more pounding. His hit list hardly
mirrors Nogueira's, and it doesn't need to. You can look at one
fight -- his devastation of Heath Herring -- and know he's for
real.
Fedor
beat "The Texas Crazy Horse" senseless in November,
displaying out-of-this-world punching power on the ground. In
that bout, he repeatedly tossed Herring to the mat and hammered
him with the force Igor Vovchanchyn once swung with during his
prime. The thudding blows were relentless, never slowing or weakening
in the 10 minutes the bout lasted and following Herring's head
no matter which way the Texas native rolled.
The
mighty Russian will cut loose his heavy hands standing as well.
He's content with eating a kick to the thigh as he loads up and
unleashes a retaliatory straight right. Even if the blow is blocked
and doesn't nearly decapitate his foes, it frequently still floors
them, and that's when the pounding commences. If it doesn't land,
that's fine with him. Just keep kicking, and he'll keep throwing.
Fedor
has also notched a few wins via submission, though he won't make
the mistake of playing that game with the best. Avoiding Nogueira's
submissions, on the other hand, will be key. His defense begins
with his massive neck and broad shoulders, which could hamper
Nogueira's efforts. Fedor has thwarted the submission attacks
of Ricardo Arona and Renato Sobral, but their arsenals pale in
comparison to what he'll encounter Sunday in Japan. Regardless,
Fedor stopped their offense without his best submission counter
(due to RINGS rules): his jackhammer fists on the ground.
Each
time Nogueira creeps his legs up Fedor's back, the Russian will
strive to straighten up his posture and begin dropping rights
and lefts. To do this, it's vital that Fedor prevents Nogueira
from controlling his wrists, which the Brazilian uses to keep
challengers in submission range and set up finishes. Should Fedor
create punching room on the ground, all it takes is one of his
meaty fists to clear Nogueira's defense, and we could see a new
heavyweight champion.
With
that said, Nogueira is at the top for a reason. As persistent
as Fedor is with his striking onslaught, Nogueira is equally
unremitting with his submissions. He doesn't wait for a mistake
to catch someone with an armbar or simply execute a triangle
choke out of nowhere. He causes mistakes. He creates submissions.
Nogueira
does it so well because he is constantly attacking. It's extremely
difficult to catch a modern mixed martial artist with an armbar
by merely swiveling one's hips and taking the submission. The
sport, defense and offense have evolved, and Nogueira is leading
the evolution of submission artists. A typical fighter seems
to lie on his back thinking, Defend, defend, there's an armbar!
Missed it, defend, defend, there's a triangle!
Nogueira,
in contrast, seems to be thinking, Triangle - armbar - omoplata
- triangle - kimura . The endangered opponent on top of him is
the one thinking about defending.
The
Brazilian Top Team-trained fighter is always a step ahead and
clever to boot. He may choose to halfheartedly pursue a finish
only to open up another. He's not playing around with novice
grapplers either; Nogueira is schooling some of the best fighters
in the world, and he's doing it while they're allowed to punch
and kick him in the head. How "Minotauro" makes finishing
fights look so easy has baffled not only fans but many of his
elite comrades and counterparts as well.
If
he could only fight on the ground, he wouldn't be so untouchably
dominant. Although it's arguably unfair, Nogueira typically outguns
his adversaries on the feet as well and does it with straight,
crisp punches. His ability and willingness to trade standing
often lures opponents into engaging him on the ground, and down
there, it's only a matter of time.
Fedor
may be big and strong and difficult for most mortals to submit,
but c'mon. He's no Bob Sapp in terms of size, and even that one
ended the same as all the others. Of course, Nogueira never came
close to submitting Sapp from his back. He had to earn the top
position, which he took after Sapp tired, and then he put him
away. Likewise, Nogueira's best shot at finishing Fedor may be
set up from side control or the mount. Taking down Fedor will
be a challenge, but, as he showed against Sapp, there are other
ways of getting on top, like switching his hips and crawling
to the back if his takedown attempt has been stuffed.
Nogueira's
encounter with Sapp also granted him valuable experience against
a power puncher on the ground. He weathered Sapp's storm and
likely has the confidence that anything Fedor is brewing can't
be as nasty as what the giant brought. Unlike Nogueira, Fedor
lacks in-ring experience with the type of fighter he's facing:
an aggressive, world-class submission specialist. The pace will
be fierce, and if Fedor gets one step behind Nogueira's attacks,
he'll go down like all the rest.
Hyped
or not, Nogueira and Fedor are arguably the best heavyweights
in the sport right now, and they're going to war at Pride 25.
The action that results could very well make it the top heavyweight
bout of 2003.
Meanwhile
back to work on that nickname. The Russian Punisher? The Russian
Head-Pounding Machine? No and nope. That's it. I'm stealing The
Russian Nightmare. Just don't tell Nikita Koloff.
Source:
Maxfighting
Pride
25: “Body Blow” Preview by Steve Laband
Carlos
Newton vs. Anderson Silva
The
Good: MMA Globe-trotter Carlos Newton returns to Japan for the
Pride Fighting Championships. Some may speculate that Carlos
is best suited for the UFC welterweight division, but I would
beg to differ. Carlos’ slick Jiu-Jitsu submission grappling
style will never compliment treacherous wrestlers like Matt Hughes
in The Octagon.
In
a Pride ring, there is no fence for stronger wrestlers to trap
Carlos against (after the inevitable takedown), nor the permission
of nasty forearms (from the powerful ground and pounder). Hence,
Carlos will be safer fighting from his back against anyone in
the Pride venue (Bob Sapp excluded…).
Carlos
may be smallish for the under 205 pound weight division of Pride
(the only one currently applicable to the 5’9 and 180-poundish
Newton), but this Pride card appears to reflect some changes
in the matchmaking department. Much like all the other match-ups
on the sensible Pride 25 card, Carlos will weigh about the same
as his opponent on fight night (180-185 pounds). Whether or not
Carlos’ opponent’s style will work well against his
own appears to be another story.
The
Bad: Whilst Matt Hughes and his smothering ground and pound style
don’t tribute Carlos’ polished submission game, I don’t
see Anderson Silva’s approach or style doing Carlos much
justice either. Anderson Silva and the Chute Boxe squad have
cultivated one of the most promising styles to work against the
submission grappler.
The
deadliness of this hybrid of Thai Boxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
was fully appreciated for the first time when Vanderlei Silva
crushed the “Super Grappler” at Pride 13 (Kazushi Sakuraba).
After that caustic outcome, Vanderlei Silva and the Chute Boxe
team became feared not only because they could beat an opponent,
but also because they could credibly send them to the hospital
after the process.
Anderson
Silva represents no exception to the members of the Chute Boxe
team in that he fights sharply, intensely, and with little or
no conscience. Carlos Newton will almost certainly be a target
for Anderson to hurt, more than to defeat. I would wager that
Anderson Silva has more than just a victory and a nice pay check
to reach for. Anderson will be seeking devastating revenge for
his ex-stablemate’s fall by submission to Carlos Newton
(“Pele”).
The
Ugly: At Pride 19, Carlos Newton came out on top after a short,
sweet war with Jose ‘Pele” Landis Johns (an arm-bar
late in the first round). Amidst that scuffle, Carlos ate a vicious
knee that nearly KO’d him. Carlos will have to work around
those weapons again here (so as to take the fight to the ground
where his chances lie). Anderson Silva might as well be a mirror
image of “Pele” in terms of size, age, and style, but
I see Anderson as more fueled and less burnt out at this point.
I don’t know for sure whether or not “Pele” was
burnt out when he lost to Carlos, but I can only assume so being
that he had over 20 back to back fights under his belt (not to
mention his most recent fight and loss to the heavy underdog
in Daijiro Matsui).
I
don’t mean to make excuses for “Pele,” but it
just isn’t like him to lose by submission. This was the
only submission loss “Pele” had in some 25 fights.
Sure, I’m well aware that Carlos is far better on the ground
than many give him credit for, but I believe the outcome in that
fight was due to a combination of Carlos’ slick ground work
and Pele’s lack of focus. To the contrary of my post scrutinization
of “Pele” in that fight, I feel Anderson Silva will
be as dangerous and focused as ever at Pride 25. Carlos must
come in at the top of his game, or he could be sent to the hospital
abruptly.
Fight
in the past that this could turn out like: Obviously, Carlos
Newton vs. “Pele” comes to mind. Match-ups such as
these bring several feasible outcomes to the table for either
fighter, being that each has a distinct advantage over the other
in one area. Anderson will own the stand up world, while Carlos
will be the master on the ground. Carlos won the battle last
time on the ground, but he could’ve also been KO’d
with that knee. We’ll see what ensues this time around.
Who
I’d put my money on: I feel this matchup has the budding
potential to explode as the fight of the night. Both fighters
are warriors with no quitting in them. Anderson Silva has shown
that he can defend against submissions (Carlos being a master
of them), while Carlos Newton has proven that he can take just
about any strike with a smile (as Anderson can dish them out,
no doubt).
However,
I see both fighters being forced to step up for a greater challenge
than ever in their less comfortable world. Carlos Newton will
probably be the slickest submission wizard that Anderson has
faced, while Carlos will be bobbing and weaving to avoid some
of the fastest fists, knees, and feet in the business.
These
combatants are both so young, talented, and determined that I
just don’t see either being finished in this fight. Anderson
will have some significant compensations (for his slight inadequacy
on the ground) that I’ve failed to reveal earlier, such
as height, reach, and possibly even a slight weight advantage.
These attributes could facilitate Anderson’s grasping of
the overall edge (and eventually the indecisive nod). I also
believe Anderson has had more legitimate MMA fighters as training
partners. Due to these rationales, I see Anderson Silva winning
a hard fought decision after a three round war.
Source:
MMA Weekly
Interview
with Kevin "The Monster" Randleman
This
Sunday, Kevin Randleman will enter the ring at Pride to take
on Quinton “Rampage” Jackson in a battle between two
of the strongest fighters in mixed martial arts. On the line
is his shot at the champ, Vanderlei Silva. Having really come
into his own over the last year, Kevin will face one of his toughest
tests yet. Just days before he was to leave for Japan, Kevin
took some time to talk with MMAWeekly’s Ken Pishna. This
is what the Monster had to say...
MMAWeekly:
What do you feel you need to do to win this fight with Rampage?
Kevin:
I have to stay on my game plan.
MMAWeekly:
And that would be...?
Kevin:
My game plan is to take him down and whale on him, hopefully
get a cut or something. I myself, I like working on the eyes.
If I can shut your eyes, you’re not going to see me coming
and I think I’m one of the fastest fighters in the business.
I just got to do what I do best and that’s take him down
and get in the mount. For him to win, he’s going to have
to knock me out. I don’t think he can dominate me for twenty
minutes.
MMAWeekly:
I don’t think anybody can dominate you for twenty minutes.
Kevin:
But he’s a great fighter and I am looking forward to Quinton
Jackson. He has lit a fire under my ass. I admire him. I’ve
been following his career and he’s been bringing it. He’s
a bringing it kind of man and I like it.
MMAWeekly:
You guys have very similar styles but who would you say is stronger,
you or Rampage?
Kevin:
I think I’m one of the strongest fighters in the business.
I’m one of the smartest fighters in the business. I’m
one of the most agile. MMA, as far as the business goes, I think
I’m one of the best. If I don’t believe in myself,
I don’t expect anyone to believe in me or follow me for
that matter. I want people to follow me because I know what I’m
talking about and I’ll do what I say. I don’t want
to mince words and I’ll tell it to you straight because
that’s how I want you to see me.
MMAWeekly:
Just to give people an idea of your strength, how much do you
bench press?
Kevin:
I don’t even go for max. I probably bench three [hundred]
something, but I don’t even try to go that high. I do so
much punching and boxing that I don’t want to lift heavy
because it’ll take away from my cardio and my endurance.
So I go for high reps and low weight. Most times I go for about
275 [pounds], but I bench it for reps. If I can bench it 25 times,
I’ll bench it 25.
MMAWeekly:
Since we’re on the subject, what type of routine do you
follow for your physical conditioning?
Kevin:
My weight training is probably a sixth of what I do. Anything
that’s going to make me breathe hard, I do. I run, I bike,
I do sprinting classes, I box, I wrestle with Ohio State wrestlers.
I do it all. It depends on how I feel today. If today I do a
bunch of boxing sparring, full contact, tomorrow I’m not
really going to want to do more boxing. I’m going to do
jiujitsu. I do a lot of stuff for my cardio. I’m all about
cardio.
MMAWeekly:
When you’re in a fight, does it make a difference to you
whether you win by a decision or would you rather win by finishing
your opponent with a submission or knockout?
Kevin:
Sure it does. I think I keep a highly intense pace. Ninja fought
at a high intensity pace too and I loved it. I really enjoy finishing
a guy off. I love it when the ref jumps in and tries to pull
me off, it makes me feel like I was dominating. It makes you
feel good. But to get the decision, there’s nothing wrong
with that.
MMAWeekly:
Is the winner of this fight between you and Rampage guaranteed
a shot at Vanderlei for the title?
Kevin:
Yes. The winner gets a shot at Vanderlei in May.
MMAWeekly:
That’s for sure?
Kevin:
I don’t know if it’s for sure for Quinton, but it is
for me. I mean, I’m not fighting anybody else but Vanderlei.
That’s if I win, but I don’t plan on losing. That’s
not my style.
MMAWeekly:
Who else have you been training with besides Mark Coleman and
Wes Sims to prepare for Rampage?
Kevin:
Actually, you know what? Nobody. This time, I’m training
myself. I wake up in the morning at 5:30 or 6:00 and I’m
at the gym. I’m training all day. I have five hours in my
day that I have to do something [besides train].
MMAWeekly:
If you could absorb the skills of any other fighter and morph
his skills in with your own, who would that fighter be?
Kevin:
Gracie. Ooh hoo, my goodness, you can’t touch me. And I
plan on being that way within a year. When I fought Rua, I wasn’t
nervous when he had me on my back at all. I mean, I was calm.
That was only the second time that I’d been on my back.
MMAWeekly:
Speaking of Rua, at one point, he appeared to have you in trouble
and was going for an omoplata. Some people even thought that
you may have tapped at this point. Did you tap in the fight with
Ninja?
Kevin:
No, I didn’t tap at all. If you look at the tape again,
he was trying to block my leg so that I couldn’t step over
and get out. He had the shoulder lock and I was trying to push
his knee down so that I could get my knee out so that I could
kick through. I’ll never tap. He can break my arm, fuck
that.
MMAWeekly:
Moving on, do you have any plans to ever return to the UFC?
Kevin:
No. I would come back if they offered me Tito. Tito or Chuck.
I enjoy where I’m at. I like fighting for Pride. The only
way that I’m coming back to the UFC is that if, one, they
give me the money that they owe me and, two, I need a guarantee
that I’m fighting Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell, period.
MMAWeekly:
They owe you money for a contract that they never finished out
with you?
Kevin:
That’s right.
MMAWeekly:
How many fights do they owe you for?
Kevin:
Just one. They didn’t want me to beat some guy’s ass
in Britain and then come back and jump ship, which I sure enough
would have. What they don’t realize is that I don’t
like it when someone acts like they’re bigger. They give
a lot of fighters the opportunity, but if they hadn’t been
the one’s doing it, someone else would have bought the company.
I thank them for giving me the chance to fight, but I’m
not kissing no man’s ass. I get on my knees for no man.
God is the only entity, in my mind, that I would get on my knees
for. I’m sorry, but they’re not the fighters. They’re
not the ones that get their nose broke and keep fighting, time
after time again. They’re just the guys that get to sit
up there and pay the money out.
MMAWeekly:
Looking back on your career, what is the one thing that you would
change?
Kevin:
I would have fought harder against Bas [Rutten] the last 3 minutes
of that fight. I love Bas. He’s one of the greatest fighters
that I’ve ever had the pleasure of shaking hands with.
MMAWeekly:
So do you feel like you pretty much lost that fight in the last
3 minutes?
Kevin:
Yah. I’ve watched that fight over and over wondering what
I could have done different and that’s it bro. He was working
and working and I wasn’t working enough. You’ve got
to work.
MMAWeekly:
As usual, thanks for taking the time to talk to us at MMAWeekly
Kevin and good luck against Rampage.
Kevin:
No problem, Ken. Thank you
Source: MMA Weekly
3/12/03
Quote
of the Day
More
important than talent, strength, or knowledge is the ability
to laugh at yourself and enjoy the pursuit of your dreams.
Amy Grant
Pride
25: Body Blow Preview
By Jake Rossen
Amidst
rumors that Dreamstage Entertainment is about to relinquish control
of Japan's most dominant MMA event, it's business as usual inside
the ring. Pride 25: Body Blow takes place March 16 in Yokohama
Arena - Japan, as opposed to Yokohama Arena in, say, Texas -
and promises to deliver one of the most engaging fight cards
in recent memory. American fans need only avoid results for a
few hours: a same-day delay will provide a broadcast on DirecTV,
Dish Network, and TVN satellite providers at 9 PM Eastern.
Take
a look at who's coming down the ramp.
Main
Event
For the Pride FC Heavyweight Title
Antonio "Minotauro" Nogueira vs. Fedor Emelianenko
For
Nogueira, 2002 continued one of the most impressive streaks in
combat sports history. After a late 2001 start that saw him destroy
Gary Goodridge and Mark Coleman, then nab the title from Heath
Herring in a decision, he went on to challenge Bob Sapp, Dan
Henderson, Semmy Schilt, Enson Inoue, and Sanae Kikuta. Unbelievably,
he finished all of them. Nogueira's combination of confident
stand-up ability and dangerous submission work makes him a handful
for any heavyweight out there.
His
talents will be tested by Emelianenko, a RINGS fighter who, like
Nogueira, seems to have made a successful transition into full-on
MMA competition. His debut in Pride, a decision win over Schilt,
was lackluster. The follow-up, a vicious beating of top contender
Herring, was not. Fedor pummeled Herring with patented ground
'n pound technique, something Mark Kerr and Tom Erikson were
unable to accomplish. That feat alone has many declaring Fedor
a legitimate threat to Nogueira's reign as champion.
So
decisive a victory was the win over Herring that these two were
supposed to meet up late last year. Fedor withdrew, citing injury
but with the general feeling that he needed more time to train.
It's clear that neither fighter takes the other lightly.
At
Stake: Nogueira's near-flawless record and his title belt.
Edge
To: Nogueira, as versatile and talented a martial artist as the
world has ever seen.
Wild
Card: Nogueira looked sluggish against Schilt and was having
trouble against middleweight Henderson, who is talented but was
seriously outweighed. Against a ferocious attack by Fedor, he
will not be able to entertain thoughts of an "off night."
Taking
It: Nogueira, in a performance worthy of his championship status.
Expect Fedor to come out hard, taking Nogueira down and raining
down blows. Nogueira is plenty dangerous from his back, so Fedor
won't be as persistent with his strikes as usual. With both men
worn down by the time round three comes around, look for an armbar
from the champ to end the evening.
Quinton
Jackson vs. Kevin Randleman
It's
a fight worthy of any main event in any promotion. Unfortunately,
Pride's limited exposure in the US means we probably won't get
to see a lengthy war of words between two of the best combat
talkers in the business. Five minutes of these two in the same
room and I guarantee it would sell out any arena in the country.
Randleman
is certainly the more experienced and notable name: as a former
UFC heavyweight champion and NCAA wrestling accredited athlete,
he's been in the ring against the best in the sport. After a
strong start in the UFC, with wins over Pedro Rizzo, Pete Williams,
and Maurice Smith, a return to form by Randy Couture stopped
him in his tracks. That precipitated a drop to the light heavyweight
division, where he had only middling success. Chuck Liddell made
quick work of him; he went on to decision Renato Sobral.
Making
the trip overseas, Randleman was fed a diet of outmatched Japanese
before re-igniting his career with a TKO win over Murilo Rua.
It was an odd fight, with noted striker Rua seeming to outwrestle
Randleman, and Randleman apparently outstriking Rua.
Jackson,
also a strong grappler, has risen through the ranks quickly in
the past couple of years. After a stint in the minor leagues
of King of the Cage, he was picked as Kazushi Sakuraba's comeback
fight in 2001. Despite manhandling Saku for much of the bout,
he eventually succumbed to an armbar submission. That didn't
stop him from going on a tear, developing his striking to the
point where he was able to beat K-1 star Cyril Abidi - twice!
- in kickboxing. After taking in the calories, he even bested
Igor Vovchanchin, busting a rib and forcing the tap.
Great
fights are one part personality, one part talent, and one part
unpredictability. Jackson and Randleman cover all three bases
nicely.
At
Stake: A shot at Vanderlei Silva's middleweight Pride title.
Edge
To: Jackson, the better striker and savvier fighter. Randleman
has a tendency to take foolish risks in bouts. Against other
wrestlers, he's been nearly defenseless when placed on his back.
Wild
Card: Randleman may be the stronger of the two and has plenty
of confidence after a big win over Rua.
Taking
It: Jackson, who will either outstrike a too-confident Randleman
on the feet, or pound out a nervous Randleman on his back.
Kazushi
Sakuraba vs. Antonio Schembri
Sakuraba
returns after a hiatus precipitated by numerous beatings at the
hands of far larger and stronger opponents. After going on an
impressive run against the Gracie family in 2000, Sakuraba and
Vanderlei Silva clashed twice, each time resulting in Silva inflicting
major damage for the win. Incredibly, Sakuraba then opted for
a heavyweight fighter in Mirko Filipovic. Again he was left with
injuries that kept him on the shelf. The less said about the
non-fight with a hobbling Saku against a turtling Gilles Arsene
in November, the better.
That
embarrassment aside, Saku has not had a high-profile win since
the battle with Jackson nearly two years ago.
Jiu-jitsu
expert Schembri is the first fighter in a long time that makes
good sense for a weathered Sakuraba. Both have similar builds,
and both prefer a ground battle as opposed to striking. Schembri
defeated Johil de Oliveira in his Pride debut in 2001. Strangely,
he has yet to make a reappearance, opting instead to fight in
Pride's feeder show, The Best. It was there he decisioned Daiju
Takase.
At
Stake: Another loss, this time to an evenly matched fighter,
and Saku's career may be in dire straits.
Edge
To: Saku, the better striker and an equally strong grappler.
Wild
Card: Schembri submitted de Oliveira, which no one else in de
Oliveira's sixteen-odd fights has been able to do.
Taking
It: Saku, whose style was perfect for the Gracies, and should
prove equally effective against Schembri.
Carlos
Newton vs. Anderson Silva
Competing
the quintet of captivating bouts is this match, a classic confrontation
between a grappler (Newton) and striker (Silva). Newton has been
one of the most impressive showmen in MMA, jump-starting his
career in 2001 with a submission victory over the highly durable
Pat Miletich. He would go on to defeat Pele and Pete Spratt,
but found that current UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes
would have his number.
Silva
has gone undefeated in MMA since his first fight, a loss to unknown
Luiz Azeredo that can be chalked up to inexperience. He captured
the attention of many in 2001 with a decision win over then-undefeated
Hayato Sakurai. Wins over Alex Stiebling and Alexander Otsuka
in Pride followed. Silva's striking prowess is typical of his
Chute Boxe affiliation. His ground game seems impenetrable even
by a craftsman like Sakurai.
At
Stake: A place higher up in the welterweight rankings.
Edge
To: Silva, who has dealt with expert ground technicians before
and came out on top.
Wild
Card: Newton submitted sharp strikers Pele and Spratt without
incident.
Taking
It: Silva, who seems unstoppable in recent years. Newton may
not leave himself open for a fight-ending blow, but Silva should
be able to dictate the pace of the fight, as well as the judge's
scorecards.
Dan
Henderson vs. Shungo Oyama
After
being given heavyweight sensation Nogueira in his last fight,
it's only fair that Henderson gets a little respite from the
rigors of such a challenge. The wrestler has amassed one of the
most impressive records in competition - only two decision losses
and one submission loss tar his record of twelve wins - and proves
time and again his skill as a pound-for-pound great.
Oyama
is trying, but seems incapable of netting an impressive win.
He performed the bare minimum possible to eek out a decision
over Renzo Gracie, was the victim of revenge by Ryan Gracie,
was choked out by Wallid Ismail, and was saved from a brutal
beating at the hands of Vanderlei Silva.
At
Stake: Your entertainment dollar, sorely going to waste here.
Edge
To: Henderson, so clearly the better fighter that it's not even
tempting to take Oyama's +1000 odds line.
Wild
Card: Henderson could potentially come down with Ebola during
the bout, delaying Oyama's demise by all of three minutes or
so.
Taking
It: Henderson, after disarming Oyama of his handgun, battleaxe,
switchblade, and squirt gun full of lemon juice.
Rogerio
Nogueira vs Kazuhiro Nakamura
Nogueira
is the twin brother of champ Antonio, but seems to have more
difficulty in wowing onlookers. The single mark on his otherwise
impeccable record is a decision loss to Vladimir Matyushenko.
He recently defeated Guy Mezger and Tsuyoshi Kohsaka in the same
manner.
Not
much is known about Nakamura, making his MMA debut. We do know
he's the star pupil of the highly controversial Hidehiko Yoshida,
who appears to prefer a WWE approach to obtaining victories.
At
Stake: Not much. Nakamura's connections means he'll likely see
further shots in the ring no matter his performance here.
Edge
To: Nogueira, far more experienced in the ways of mixed-style
competition.
Wild
Card: Nakamura could be the greatest fighter who ever stepped
between the ropes. Doubtful, but you never know.
Taking
It: Minus any funny business, Nogueira controls the bout with
ease.
Akira
Shoji vs. Alex Stiebling
Workhorse
Shoji makes his sixteenth appearance in Pride, not having scored
an impressive victory since he decisioned Ebenezer Braga in early
2000. Shoji's fights are typically long, drawn-out wars of attrition.
You may not get to see this one until a DVD release.
Stiebling
started out strong with an impressive win in a sixteen-man Brazilian
tournament, which he followed with a win over Wallid Ismail.
The aggressive self-promoter turned heads when he sported a "Brazilian
Killa" t-shirt, which proved to be moronic after a KO loss
at the hands of Anderson Silva. His momentum stalled, Stiebling
isn't risking much here.
At
Stake: A loss to a .500 fighter like Shoji could damage Stiebling's
career for good.
Edge
To: Stiebling, a crafty fighter who seems a league above Shoji.
Wild
Card: Despite numerous disappointments, Shoji never shows any
sign of pessimism. Each fight is a new chance at victory.
Taking
It: Stiebling, in a plodding decision.
Alexander
Otsuka vs. Kenichi Yamamoto
This
is one almost purely for the attending audience. Otsuka is a
rambunctious pro wrestler-turned-fighter who can claim a victory
over Marco Ruas, and not much else. Yamamoto sports losses to
Pat Miletich, Genki Sudo, and Kevin Randleman. Both men seem
to prefer showboating over fighting.
At
Stake: Mmmm...
Edge
To: Mmmm....
Wild
Card: Mmmm...
Taking
It: Pride, in regards to your money if this fight is telecast
in the US.
Source:
Maxfighting
'KING
OF THE CAGE: SIN CITY' COMING TO THE NEW ORLEANS HOTEL CASININO
AND TO PAY-PER-VIEW!
LOS ANGELES, California -'King of the Cage,' the hottest brand
of no-holds-barred fighting, is coming to the Orleans Hotel Casino
in Las Vegas, Nevada
'King
of the Cage: Sin City ' is proud to feature a stellar fight card.
Three K.O.T.C. World Titles will be up for grabs: The K.O.T.C.
World Super Heavyweight Championship, The K.O.T.C. World Lt.
Heavyweight Championship Match and The K.O.T.C. World Welterweight
Championship Match.
The
Giants amongst men Jimmy “The Titan” Ambriz and “Big”
Erik Pele will face one another in an earth-shattering Super
Heavyweight Match. In the World Lt. Heavyweight Championship
Match Jeremy Horn takes on the fierce Champion Vernon “Tiger”
White. And be prepared for the World Welterweight Championship
Match between Ronald
“Machine Gun” Jhun and “Mr. International” Shonie Carter.
Also on the card… MMA Legend Dan “The Beast” Severn,
Joe Stevenson, Tony Bonello and Diego “Nightmare” Sanchez.
This event promises to go off with a bang, so mark your calendars
and get ready for the best night of fights ever to hit “Sin
City”.
'King
of the Cage: Sin City ' will be held on Friday, May 16, 2003
from the Orleans Hotel Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Gates open
at 4:30pm PST, fights start at 5:30pm. In addition, 'King of
the Cage: Sin City' will be televised on pay-per-view! The pay-per-view
broadcast begins at 6:00pm PST/9:00pm EST and is available via
DirecTV, The Dish Network, TVN, Bell Express Vu, and Viewer’s
Choice. For more information on pay-per-view availability, check
your local listings.
Class
A - 3 x 5 minutes rounds
Featherweight [-60.0Kg] Survivor Tournament Final:
- Kentaro Imaizumi vs. Ryota Matsune
Bantamweight
[-56.0Kg]:
- Robson Moura vs. Yasuhiro Urushitani
Source:
ADCC
A
New (and painful) Experience!
Carlao
Barreto is leaning in the ring's red corner; his 1,98m frame
seems to be engulfed by one of the floodlights that hang above
his bald head. Keep watching, as he emerges from the lights,
you can see sweat drops fall onto the silver vest he is wearing,
the slogan 'Peace in the World' emblazoned on it. In a few moments,
one of the world's most experienced Vale-Tudo fighters will debut
in a very different style of competition: K-1 Brazil.
It
was on Feb 23rd and Barreto lost the fight against veteran boxer
Luis dos
Santos by judges decision after three five-minute rounds. However,
he surprised everybody, since the Brazilian Top Team fighter
kicked with both legs, alternating low and high hits, and despite
his lack of tempo (or/and range) in punching, he gave the audience
a very impressive performance, especially when one realizes Barreto
is a ground specialist. Right after his bout, backstage, as his
opponent was complaining that Carlao had destroyed his legs,
the athlete talked to ADCC news about this experience:
Carlao,
you are a Jiu-Jitsu fighter before everything. Why did you decide
to
compete under K-1 rules? The Vale-Tudo promoters were saying
I'm not a good standup fighter. I disagree with that and once
my teammate Drago got an injury that did not allow him to fight
in this first K-1 Brazil, I asked my muay-thai coach Paulo Nicolai
to get me his place to prove I'm able to exchange kicks and punches.
It
was easy to get in into the show? Yes, Sergio Batarelli asked
the Japanese promoters and they of course accepted my application,
since I'm pretty famous as fighter over there.
You
have surprised everybody kicking with both legs. However, your
opponent
was clearly superior in punching. Can you agreee with that? Yes.
Actually, I lacked training, since there were few sparring partners
with my size and weight in practice. So I couldn't grasp the
timing of punching. That was the problem indeed.
But
as we can see, he's barely able to walk right now... Yes, and
that was the plan. Since he is an English boxing specialist,
I intended to hit his legs. And I was doing it good until I hurt
my right foot. From then on, I just survived.
In
the middle of the final round, he pushed you against the ropes
and delivered a wild sequence. Did he catch you with any hard
shots in that sequence? Yes, only one shot, a right uppercut.
But I was able do hold on and after I escaped I let him have
it. I stuck out my tongue, letting him know I was still there
to keep fighting. It was kind of like Ray Sefo does. It was funny.
How
do you view your performance? I really did my best. It was a
good experience and if they invite me again I will come back
to fight under these rules. However, my sport is Vale-Tudo.
Do
you feel good after this challenge? I feel very good. Especially
because I can't remember any other Jiu Jitsu fighter who fought
in K-1. So I'm the first one to take that risk and I'm glad with
it.
This
past Saturday in Hanover, Germany a 'routine title defense' for
champion Wladimir Klitschko's WBO Heavyweight Title was scheduled
to occur. His opponent, considered a safe match, was Corrie Sanders,
aged 37 from South Africa, who was KO'd by Hasim Rahman three
years ago and had only fought a total three rounds since then.
The
fight came to an unexpected ending with just seconds to go in
the first round. Sanders caught Klitschko with a hard left that
send him to the mat. Seconds later, he was dropped a second time
in round one by a Sanders punch. Round two started out with more
of the same, as Klitschko was sent to the canvas two more times
before the fight was stopped in round 2.
The
crowd of over 11,000 booed the surprising ending to the fight.
The 'hype' around Klitschko potrayed him as the 'great white
hope' in the heavyweight division. It now appears Wladimir's
hopes of getting a Lennox Lewis fight have fallen apart. On the
brighter side, he just signed a HUGE nine-fight deal with HBO.
Vitali
Klitschko, the brother of Wladimir, is ranked #1 for the WBC
and WBA. He is pressing a title match with Lennox Lewis, who
doesn't appear eager to give a title shot at this time.
Source:
ADCC
Quinton
Jackson's Hard Road to Glory
As
Quinton Jackson prepares for his Pride 25 fight with Kevin Randleman
Sunday, there are no elaborate press conferences, no need to
turn away pesky interviewers or television cameras.
Despite
being one half of one of the best mixed martial arts fights in
the last couple of years, Jackson trains in obscurity in California,
forced to travel to Japan to make any substantial money in the
fight game.
But
like a lot of things in life that he has no control over, Jackson
accepts not being able to perform for his home fans.
"It
don't bother me one bit because I fight in Japan," Jackson
told MaxFighting. "That's where I go to make my money."
If
he can beat Randleman, the former UFC heavyweight champion, there's
going to be a shot at some bigger paydays and more importantly,
a chance at unseating Vanderlei Silva as Pride middleweight champ.
Jackson
looks at Sunday's bout as his title shot.
"I
think he's a tougher than Vanderlei," said Jackson of Randleman.
"If I get past him, I'll hopefully take out Vanderlei and
be the champion of Pride for a few years. The way I see it, Vanderlei
Silva's just holding my belt for me."
Against
Randleman, Jackson will be facing an athletically gifted world-class
wrestler. In Jackson, Randleman will be facing an athletically
gifted fighter with a wrestling base. The subtle differences
between the two will determine the winner. And despite the fact
that neither fighter is a stranger to pre-fight trash talk, the
mutual respect between the two leading up to this intriguing
clash has been a pleasant twist.
"I
respect him a whole lot," said Jackson. "He's an excellent
wrestler and I look up to all the good wrestlers."
With
a wrestling base, Jackson is one of the best ground and pounders
in the game - no doubt a product of his time spent with Colin
Oyama, Tito Ortiz, and Team Punishment. But 'Rampage' is also
showing his worth as a kickboxer, scoring two stunning KOs of
highly regarded Cyril Abidi in K-1 competition. It's getting
to the point where Jackson's skills are progressing so fast that
in a year's time no 205-pounder will have a chance in the ring
with him.
Not
bad for a guy who didn't even start competing in organized sports
until he was 17.
"I
didn't start wrestling until I was 17 and I did all right, but
wrestling is not even that big in Tennessee," said the 24-year-old.
"Most schools in Memphis don't even have wrestling. I think
if I did have a strong background or have the privilege to do
stuff and learn stuff, I'd probably already be a champion."
But
Jackson came up the hard way, without the benefit of organized
training and top-notch training partners. Call it the 'School
of Hard Knocks', but Jackson's life is far from a cliché.
"Nothing's
ever been given to me, so I'm used to it," said Jackson.
"Most fighters have a real strong background. Take Kevin
Randleman for instance. He's got a real strong wrestling background.
You take other fighters; one may have a strong kickboxing background
while another has a strong jiu-jitsu background. I didn't have
that in anything. I just grew up fighting on the street all my
life. I just knew how to fight."
And
fight he did - anywhere and everywhere. But eventually the young
'Rampage' got a talking to from an uncle, and coupled with his
own mental fortitude and a move to a more stable environment,
Jackson suddenly had reason to leave the dead-end life behind.
"One
of my uncles once sat me down and told me that if I didn't change
the way I was living and the way I was acting, I wasn't going
to live long," remembered Jackson. "I saw a lot of
my friends disappearing, either going to prison or getting killed,
and I didn't want that type of life. Strangely, something changed
when we moved out of the neighborhood and we moved to a place
where they had better things. They had wrestling in school and
a lot of other things. Normally I was going to an all-black school,
but there I went to a mixed school and got surrounded by a mixture
of people. It was more positive for me and I felt how good I
could be. My grades got better and I stopped doing the hustling
I was doing. I got a job and I changed. And I kinda liked it.
It was cool to try and do something positive. Sometimes it was
hard for me to be totally good. I still went back to my roots
when I had to, but I liked the change. I was wrestling and I
wasn't fighting as much on the streets."
If
you look at Quinton Jackson's background, it wasn't the greatest,
yet he's also played a role in some bad situations he wound up
in. But unlike many in similar circumstances, he never used his
background as a crutch to walk him through. He accepted his lot
and did something to change it. That's rare in any walk of life.
"It's
not an excuse," said Jackson of his less than ideal formative
years. "My family is from the country and they grew up poor
on a farm, but a lot of my uncles have their own businesses,
are airplane pilots, and they did something with their lives.
My mom was poor and I didn't have everything I wanted. And I
want to have things. I want to do things. So if I had the chance
to make money fighting I'm going to do it and be the best so
I can make some money and take care of my family. I'm going to
give back to my mom and help them out so my little brother and
sister can have things that I had to do without."
"One
of the problems with me why I didn't do so good in school is
that I was surrounded by the wrong people and I was kinda poor,
so the kids would make fun of me because I didn't have the clothes
that they had," continued Jackson. "So I really couldn't
concentrate on getting my lessons. I always had to fight and
talk shit to my classmates so they would leave me alone. I don't
want my little sister and brother to have to go through that.
I fight now, save some money and send it back home so they can
just worry about getting their education. They can wear nice
clothes and do nice things. My mom don't have to worry about
how she's going to feed them and pay her bills and everything."
A
few years after his first exposure to organized wrestling, his
friend and former wrestling rival Dave Roberts exposed him to
MMA. Jackson fell in love.
"I
went off to college to wrestle and when I got back he took me
to one of these fights," remembered Jackson. "These
wrestlers were fighting and kicking everybody's ass. I was like,
'damn.' I grew up fighting all the time, but I always got in
trouble for it. I was thinking, 'damn, I can fight without getting
in trouble.' That's all I was thinking about. I started doing
it, and I got pretty good at it, I guess."
He's
being modest. After early wins in Gladiator's Challenge and King
of the Cage, Jackson got his first chance at the big time when
he was signed to fight Japanese superstar Kazushi Sakuraba in
July of 2001. But there's always a catch. Jackson was forced
to cut a substantial amount of weight to get closer to Sakuraba's
size, and Pride inititally wanted 'Rampage' to weigh in on the
day of the fight. Add to this the tasteless marketing campaign
that painted Jackson as a homeless thug, and the deck was stacked
from the get go.
"That
kinda bothered me," said Jackson of the Pride marketing
plan for the Sakuraba fight. "There are people over there
that think I'm homeless today."
Jackson's
woes in Pride didn't stop. He followed up the submission loss
to Sakuraba with a KO over Yuki Ishikawa four months later, and
as Christmas approached, a bout with Daijiro Matsui was going
to be a nice way to put some cheer in his family's home.
It
wasn't to be, as an accidental groin shot by Jackson prompted
an Oscar-winning performance from Matsui and a DQ loss for 'Rampage'.
Suffice to say that a mention of Matsui will produce an expletive-laced
tirade unfit for a family publication.
But
'Rampage' rebounded, scoring three big wins (two in Pride and
one in King of the Cage) in 2002, the capper was a victory over
Igor Vovchanchyn last September.
As
he opens 2003, Jackson is holding all the aces. And with two
more victories, he will not only be the king of the middleweights
in Pride, but he'll be that much closer to achieving his ultimate
goals.
"I
want to be one of the best fighters in the world, and not only
in mixed martial arts," said Jackson. "Hopefully one
day I'll be one of the highest paid as well."
Source:
Maxfighting
3/11/03
Quote
of the Day
To
succeed... you need to find something to hold on to, something
to motivate you, something to inspire you.
Tony Dorsett
Congratulations
to the Kamakas!
Congratulations goes out to our friends Brennan and Edwina Kamaka
for the birth of their son this morning.
Jean-Paul Kamaka
Born 3/10/03 at around 2AM
7lbs 3oz
The
Rumble returns to Hilo, Hawaii
BJ
Penn's event returns to Hilo this Saturday. The first one was
extremely well produced, especially for being their first event.
They had a 24 foot cage, stage lighting and large screens for
better views of the fights. This one promises to be better than
the first and features a number of local fighters. We will post
a tentative fight card when it becomes available.
The
Rumble On The Rock
Edith Kanakaole Tennis Stadium
Hilo, Hawaii
Saturday, March 15, 2003
Doors Open @ 5:00pm
Preliminaries @ 7:00pm http://www.rumbleontherock.com
Weigh-ins
Thursday, March 13th
Featured
fighters:
Renato "Charuto" Verissimo
Johnny Gun
Ross "Da Boss" Ebanez
Antonio Banuelos
Kekoa "Koa Boy" Fonseca
Emery (female fighter)
Rumored
fighters:
Kauai Kupihea
William Armstrong
Source:
Rumble on the Rock web site
Copa
Pacifica last day quick report and mini gallery
The
VI Copa Pacifica came to a close today with lots of great matches
in the Brown and Black belt divisions. In the Black Belt Superfights
Ricardo 'Franjinha' Miller defeated Jeff Higgs by points 7 x
2 (two takedowns and a guard pass). Franjinha used a tight controlling
game to stay away from Higgs dangerous legs, and still managed
to score two great throws. Higgs had a good reversal and an arm
attack but the cagey Franjinha escaped and had the last throw
late in the match.
In
the second Black Belt Superfight Wander Braga came from behind
to beat Kiko Cacella by advantage 2 x 2 (reversal & 2 advantages
v takedown). Kiko opened the match with a leg takedown and scored
the early lead. Wander used some of his great half-guard work
to score the reversal. The two fighters exchanged attacks until
Wander, controlling Kiko's hips, managed advantages to secure
the win.
In
the Brown Belts, Arthur Ruff defeated Brian Espinosa 2 x 0 (takedown).
Arthur got the early lead with a throw and played a strategic
match to gain the victory. ADCC US trials sensation Roy 'Big
Country' Nelson scored an upset win over Mike Rose 5 x 2 (reversal
and pass v reversal). Rose opened the score with a nice reversal
only to have 'Big Country' tie the match with a half-guard foot-lock/reversal
folloed by a guard pass.
Team
rankings saw Cleber Luciano in first followed by Rickson Gracie
second and BJJ Revolution third.
More
details and scores in the next follwoing days.
Source:
ADCC
Javier
"Showtime" Vazquez
Responds to Terry Trebilcock
Part 1 of 2
By Arnold "The Sushiboy" Lim
I got an email telling me that Javier Vazquez wanted to respond
to some of the things that King of the Cage Promoter Terry Trebilcock
had to say about him in his interview, conducted after the KOTC
“Invasion” event in February. He wanted to set the
record straight so when I returned his call, I was intrigued
by what he had to say…
Javier: ~ “Picks up the phone”~ Yeah I would like to
order some Sushi Please?
MMARR:
He He...Who is this?
Javier: You called me! What do you mean who is this!
MMARR:
I didn’t know if it was you or Romie (Aram) or Maybe Johnny
(Alessio). How is it going man?
Javier: It is going alright...
MMARR:
How is your leg?
Javier: Well my leg is screwed up, but I am doing all right.
MMARR:
What is going on with Terry?
Javier: I don’t fucking know dude…I don’t fucking
know, some of the things that he said are not true.
MMARR:
What is going on man?
Javier: I don’t know man, like the shit he said about Romie
(Aram), like he let him go… Bullshit!!! Romie wouldn’t
sign his contract! As far as me, I talked to him (Terry Trebilcock)
on Sunday, and I had to call him because of the Insurance and
everything, because he hasn’t called me at all. And I called
him and he told me how close the fight was and all that Shit.
Then I turned around and I talked to a friend on Monday and he
is the one that brought up that interview!!! ( The interview
they are talking about is the interview with King of the Cage
Promoter Terry Treblecock) I said “He said Fucking what?”
I was like I don’t know man... he just wants to make it
seem like Alberto Crane just killed me I guess... I don’t
know dude, have you seen the fight?
MMARR:
Yeah I saw the fight.
Javier: Was it as lopsided as he said?
MMARR:
No man, did you read my interview yet?
Javier: Yeah I read it.
MMARR:
Ok I will quote what he said (I quote from the Terry Trebilcock's
Interview )
“Terry Treblecock : I didn’t think it was close. I
didn’t think the fight was close in any way, I thought maybe
he won the last round, I thought he got totally dominated in
the first round. What I saw was, two times he almost got knocked
out by Crane standing with head kicks. He was rocked twice, he
was in probably eight to ten deep submissions that he had to
find a way out of. I didn’t see Javier with one submission
or see him hurt Crane with anything. I don’t know what they
saw him win the fight on, maybe just being Javier Vazquez.”
Javier: Yeah…What does that mean exactly?
MMARR:
I don’t know.
Javier: Where did you see me stagger from these head kicks?
MMARR:
You know what... I didn’t see any head kicks.... Nothing
that hurt you anyways.
Javier: The first thing he threw was a head kick, I blocked it
easily. Then I tried to counter it and that is when I fucked
up my ACL. I have only seen the fight one time and I don’t
remember, and I ruled it a draw.
MMARR:
I thought it was pretty close to being a draw too, I saw you
knee him in the head, I think you hurt him a little bit. I don’t
know how hard that was, I mean you felt that better then I did.
Was that a solid knee?
Javier: It was O.K, nothing major, nothing too major. I mean
if you have seen the fight, I mean you see that it is just not
an accurate portrayal of what happened. So that pissed me off
and you know I don’t know man, like the things he said about
my contract, when I signed my contract the only reason I signed
a contract with them was because I was allowed to fight wherever
I wanted.
MMARR:
He told me that it was an exclusive, so it was not an exclusive
contract (with the King of the Cage)?
Javier: Dude, I can pull out my contract, if it says “Exclusive”
anywhere in there I will retract any statements I make. But I
am telling you, it is NOT an Exclusive contract, ask my manager.
MMARR:
In the interview that I did with Terry he says that He has an
Exclusive he said the only reason you are allowed to fight in
Miami…
Javier: I can fight wherever, whenever I want, the only time
I can’t is if it was… let’s say I was scheduled
to fight with King of the Cage, I can’t fight anywhere else
28 days prior to that. But as far as… I had a big debate
about my contract recently, with a lot of things, (I said) I
want a copy of my contract, I want a copy, and my manager says
“I will pull it up”, and he pulled it up and he says
“No” It is not an exclusive, you can go fight wherever
you want, it does not say anywhere in there that it is an exclusive.
Cause I was going to fight in the UCC (Universal Combat Challenge
a Canadian event based in Montreal)
MMARR:
You were going to fight in the UCC? Who were you going to fight
in the UCC?
Javier: I was supposed to get the winner of (Jens) Pulver and
(Duane) Ludwig.
MMARR:
Are you serious?
Javier: Yeah that was the only reason I was there, I mean not
only cornering for John (Alessio) but if Pulver won they were
going to bring me in the ring and announce me as the number one
contender.
MMARR:
I had no Idea about that.
Javier: yeah…
MMARR:
tell me about the injury a little bit, tell me what exactly happened?
Javier: The very first jab I threw, I twist off of my back leg,
my left leg, and I landed on my leg. So as soon as I landed,
I slipped on something. I mis-stepped, I caught my foot and my
knee popped. You know, my knee pops sometimes, I mean it is normal,
it is natural. I noticed I was in a little bit of pain, and I
was like oh that is kinda weird. The very next combination I
threw that is when I just fell down.
MMARR:
Do you think that is was in part because of the King of the Cage
mat? The King of the Cage mat is a wrestling mat it is different
then some of the other mats around the world. Do you think that
it had any part to play? or did it just happened?
Javier: I mean I like wrestling mats, you know personally I like
wrestling mats, but when water gets on wrestling mats, especially
when you are barefooted it is very, very slippery. I talked to
Bud about it too, Bud Brutsman, and I told him I said “Hey
dude you guys better consider going to a canvas mat because that
mat gets too slippery”.
MMARR:
Well you remember KOTC “Wet and Wild” (The outdoor
cage was rained on and it was wet and slippery in the cage while
the fights were taking place), I mean that was crazy, I can’t
imagine fighting under the conditions that those guys fought
in.
Javier: I said I would never fight under those conditions because
you can blow out your knee too easily.
MMARR:
Was that the exact same knee that you blew out last time?
Javier:
Yup. Same thing, but I spoke with my doctor and I talked to him
about the surgery I had before and he kind of told me, “Well
I don’t know man, they shouldn’t of done that surgery
on you, on an average person it might be fine, but not on an
athlete. He said it wasn’t a very strong graft. That might
be partially why it tore but it is kind of weird man, I ran on
it, I wrestled on it, I did everything on it and I never had
any pain, any buckling or any anything, and I threw one punch
and I slipped and tore it. So It is kinda weird.
MMARR:
Tell me about what they expect the recovery time will be for
your legs.
Javier: Five months.
MMARR:
Nine Months?
Javier: Five months.
MMARR:
That is pretty fast actually, so you will be able to start training
after about 5 months.
Javier: No I will be training at about 2 or 3 moths just rolling
lightly but Full recover is supposed to be 6 months. Within five
to six months I will be fighting again.
MMARR:
You are going to be fighting after 6 months? That is amazing
man.
Javier: Yeah that is what I said. The doctor says “Ahh yeah
you are going to do it”. So I go “OK”
MMARR:
You gotta listen to the doctor I guess.
Javier: Yeah man that is good, I was expecting a year, year and
a half.
MMARR:
That is what I was expecting. I talked to John Alessio a little
while ago, that was right after the fight, and he was pretty
depressed and feeling the way I was. A year is what I thought,
because last time it took you about a year to come back didn’t
it?
Javier: Yeah I fought at eight months last time but I still had
some pain.
MMARR:
Terry (Trebilcock) told me that your two fights before Perez
you fought with no ACL is that true?
Javier: That is not true. At King of the Cage three, I tore my
ACL 11 days prior to the show. It was buckling on me I didn’t
know why, I didn’t know what was wrong with my knee, I just
knew it hurt. I didn’t do pretty much anything for those
two weeks. It was 11days. I pretty much didn’t do anything,
I jumped rope I tried to stay in shape but I didn’t do much
of anything. When I fought when I was warming up in the back
at King of the Cage 3 it buckled on me again. I fought out there,
I just wanted to get it done. The only reason that I didn’t
pull out of that fight was because when I fought for Terry the
very first time at Empire one, we had some disagreements and
I was going to pull out of the fight a week before the fight.
I told him no matter what, I was not going to pull out of that
fight. If I hadn’t of said that, if I didn’t want to
stick to my word, I was going to pull out of King of the Cage
three because I was hurting at that show.
MMARR:
(In the Alberto Crane fight) When you came in to your corner
after the first round was over, You said something to Romie,
(Romie Aram his corner-man), What did you actually say to Romie?
Javier: I just told him “My knee is gone” he goes “What
do you mean gone?” I tore my knee again dude. He goes “The
same thing?” I go the same thing. “Are you sure?”
I am like, I am positive… Let me clarify what I said a minute
ago, when I fought at King of the Cage 3 I fought hurt, and I
was hurting really bad. That is the only time I ever fought with
no ACL, I didn’t really know what it was. My next fight
was already after the surgery, and I fought Ferrel Frisby which
was 8 months later, 9 months later no it was closer to almost
a year later. Then I fought Phillip Perez and I fought..
MMARR:
That was over a year ago, you fought Antonio Emay April 15th
2000 and you fought Ferrell Frisby on June 23 2001.
Javier: Yes, that was the time difference in between my fights,
I didn’t have any other fights in between there I didn’t
do anything in between there. So that is not two times I fought
one time and I didn’t want to do it. The only reason I did
it was because I told him I was going to keep my word. That is
the only reason I did it. I was hurting on that show, I was hurting
really bad.
MMARR:
Speaking of hurting really bad getting back to when you were
talking with Romie, was there any thought in your mind like “Hey,
I just tore my ACL in the first round, I am not going into the
second round?”
Javier: Nope, Not at all.
MMARR:
Not even for one second?
Javier: It didn’t even… Somebody asked me after the
fight “Why would you go out after the first round”
Well I didn’t even think about it. The only think I was
thinking in between rounds was how I was going to win the next
round, what I was going to do to win the next round. That was
all I was thinking.
MMARR:
So you think that Romie should have let you go out? Would you
have been upset at Romie, if maybe he would have thrown in the
white towel?
Javier: He knows better then to do that. We have already had
that discussion before.
MMARR:
Could you blame him if he did?
End
of Part 1, Part two of the interview is coming soon...
Source:
MMA Ring Report
PRIDE
25: Quick Notes!
High
Level Coaches
Aside
from Wanderlei Silva, who is still recovering from knee surgery,
two of the main Brazilian fighters who participate of Pride,
Jose Mario Sperry and Renzo Gracie are out of the next March
16th show. 'Once they announced Sakuraba's fight, they were finished
working on the card.' reveals Sperry as he gets ready for Darrel
Gholar's wrestling class at Brazilian Top Team headquarters.
'So they don't need to contract any other fighter. But it was
good, because I have more time to get ready. It has been really
hot down here and in the last month there was a week that I had
to take four days off. I was fatigued', diagnoses Sperry, one
of the BTT leaders. Of course the Brazilian summer is the same
for everybody, including his teammates - the Nogueira brothers
- and Sperry knows that. 'For them, it is not a problem. When
I was 26, I would train on the beach sand. But I'm 36 already'
jokes Sperry as he jumps on the mats, right in front Murilo Bustamante.
'For example, this is really hard training.' finishes the master.
Even though they won't fight in the next Pride, Wanderlei, Renzo
and Zé Mário are going to Japan, to assist teammates
Anderson Silva, Nino Schembri and the Nogueira brothers, in that
order. And all of them will probably fight on the next card.
If it happens...
Wanderlei against who?
Speaking
of Wanderlei, don't be surprised if the winner of Quinton Jackson
versus Kevin Randleman challenges the Pride middle-heavyweight
champion right
after the victory. As a very reliable source told us, this could
be Wanderlei's
next fight indeed....
Nogueira's
opponent
Of
course almost everybody is paying more attention to Minotauro's
first title defense against Russian Emelianenko Fedor, but his
twin brother Rogerio will have a big challenge of his own. He
will fight Hidehiko Yoshida's pupil Kazuhiro Nakamura, a judo
specialist who often gave a hard time to the current Olympic
Champion under 100kg, Kosei Inoue, according to Shu Inagaki,
a Japanese Gong Magazine contributor.
The
23 year old fighter also won in 2001 a sambo tournament in Japan
and was coached by a very famous ground master there named Katsuhiko
Kashiwazaki. Let's see if he presents a bump in the middle of
the Rogerio's road, who comes off a very important victory against
American Guy Mezger, at Pride 24.
A
piece of culture?
Traveling
to Japan via a very different route, through Europe, Rodrigo
Minotauro and his twin brother Rogerio left yesterday, accompanied
by Murilo Bustamante, Ze Mario Sperry and Luiz Alves. 'Since
none of them buy anything, I decided to give our team a little
culture at least, so I put them to stop in Paris,' laughs Luis
Bebeo Duarte, another of BTT leaders. The other Brazilians are
leaving the country today. Nino will take on Sakuraba in one
of the most anticipated fights of the March 16th PRIDE, and he
is going to meet Renzo Gracie and his manager Jorge Guimaraes
in Japan.
Anderson
Silva will face Carlos Newton on the same program and he also
leaves today from Curitiba along with Rudimar Fedrigo, Wanderlei
Silva and Rafael Cordeiro. We will be in Japan as well, so stay
tuned for more
insight information about this big event.
Source:
ADCC
MINNESOTA
WINS THIRD STRAIGHT BIG TEN TITLE, EDGING IOWA; NCAA SHOWDOWN
NEXT
By: Eddie Goldman
Just
when you thought it was a lock that the Minnesota Golden Gophers
would end their streak of Big Ten and NCAA national championships
at a mere two, the defending champs roared back Sunday, March
9, to take their third straight Big Ten title, and position themselves
for another run at a national title in two weeks in Kansas City.
Both
Minnesota and Iowa had three individual champions, but Minnesota
edged Iowa in the team race, by 126.5 to 121 points. Penn State
finished surprisingly close in third with 111.5 points.
The
Big Ten Wrestling Championships concluded their two-day tournament
Sunday at the University of Wisconsin Fieldhouse in Madison,
Wisconsin.
Minnesota
three champions included their pair of defending national champions,
Jared Lawrence at 149 and Luke Becker at 157. In the finals,
Lawrence shut out Iowa's Ty Eustice, 4-0. Becker hit a late takedown
to beat Gray Maynard of Michigan State, 6-3, in their finals.
They were joined on the winner's platform by Damion Hahn at 197,
who turned around an injury-plagued season with an 8-3 win in
the finals against top seed Nik Fekete of Michigan State. After
a season of ups and downs, including three losses to Iowa in
the regular season, enough of Minnesota's talented wrestlers
performed up to expectations at the Big Ten Championships to
earn them the team title.
Iowa's
three champions included heavyweight Steve Mocco, who was also
named Big Ten Wrestler of the Year. Mocco, unbeaten and the top
seed, as expected made it to the finals against defending NCAA
champion Tommy Rowlands of Ohio State. Although these two have
had several nailbiters over the years, Mocco won a decisive 4-1
victory by scoring a first-period takedown, riding Rowlands long
enough in the second to get riding time, and only surrendering
one point for an escape. The Iowa sophomore is now 3-0 against
Rowlands this year and 5-2 lifetime.
Two
other Hawkeyes scored victories in the Big Ten finals. At 133,
Iowa's Cliff Moore scored an upset over top-seeded Ryan Lewis
of Minnesota with a 3-1 sudden victory win. After going 1-1 in
regulation, the second-seeded Moore hit a quick takedown as overtime
started. At 184, Iowa's Jessman Smith nipped Penn State's Mark
Becks by a 2-1 score, with the difference being a point he got
because of 1:01 of riding time, exactly one second more than
is needed. Penn State protested the decision, arguing that the
riding time clock was inaccurate, but the protest was denied
by Big Ten officials who reviewed the videotape of the match.
The
surprise team of the tournament was Penn State, which finished
third. In the regular season, Penn State was just 3-5 in the
Big Ten and tied for seventh. At the Big Ten Wrestling Championships,
Penn State had one champion, one runner-up, two third-place finishers,
three in fourth, and one each finishing seventh and eighth. No
Penn State wrestler lost to a lower seeded wrestler throughout
the entire tournament. Penn State was led by Scott Moore, who
in the finals beat top seed Coyte Cooper of Indiana, 8-5. Moore
hit a takedown and near fall in the first period, and never trailed
in the match.
Penn
State's strong finish netted head coach Troy Sunderland the Big
Ten Coach of the Year award.
Purdue,
which only finished seventh, had two champions. At 125, Chris
Fleeger remained undefeated this season by pinning A.J. Grant
of Michigan in the finals in just 2:10. Fleeger was also named
the Outstanding Wrestler at the 2003 Big Ten Wrestling Championships.
At 174, Purdue's Ryan Lange scored an upset in the finals by
edging Tyler Nixt of Iowa, 4-3.
At
165, Matt Lackey of Illinois also remained undefeated this season
by beating Jacob Volkmann of Minnesota, 5-3. Lackey thus will
remain the number one wrestler in the national rankings at 165.
Another
goal of these Big Ten Wrestling Championships is for each team
to qualify wrestlers for the NCAA Championships. The NCAA allots
72 slots for the Big Ten, meaning the top seven finishers in
each weight, plus two wild card selections chosen by the coaches.
Eight Minnesota wrestlers made it - Bobbe Lowe (125, 5th), Ryan
Lewis (133, 2nd), Derek Phillips (141, 5th), Jared Lawrence (149,
1st), Luke Becker (157, 1st), Jacob Volkmann (165, 2nd), Damion
Hahn (197, 1st), and Garrett Lowney (HWT, 4th).
Iowa
only qualified seven wrestlers. Making the cut were Luke Eustice
(125, 5th), Cliff Moore (133, 1st), Ty Eustice (149, 2nd), Joe
Johnston (157, 5th), Tyler Nixt (174, 2nd), Jessman Smith (184,
1st), and Steve Mocco (HWT, 1st).
Penn
State also qualified eight wrestlers: Josh Moore (133, 3rd),
Scott Moore (141, 1st), Nathan Galloway (149, 7th), Nate Wachter
(157, 4th), Doc Vecchio (165, 4th), Mark Becks (184, 2nd), Ryan
Cummins (197, 4th), and Pat Cummins (HWT, 3rd). In addition,
Adam Smith (125, 8th) was chosen as the first alternate to go
to the NCAA Championships if one of the qualifiers cannot attend.
Still,
toppling the top-ranked and undefeated Oklahoma State Cowboys
with less than a full squad at the NCAA's will be a daunting
task. Oklahoma State will have representatives in all ten weight
classes, and all with wrestlers ranked in the top 20 nationally,
with most in the top 10. So despite the efforts of all these
Big Ten teams, and despite the growing parity in college wrestling,
the Big 12 champion Oklahoma State Cowboys have to be the commanding
favorites to win the 2003 Div. I NCAA Wrestling Championships,
March 20-22, at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, MO.
A
tape-delayed broadcast of the Big Ten Wrestling Championships
finals will be aired Tuesday, March 11, at 7 PM CST on Fox Sports
Chicago.
Big
Ten Wrestling Championships Finals
Sun., March 9, 2003
University of Wisconsin Fieldhouse, Madison, Wisconsin
125 Chris Fleeger pinned A.J. Grant (Michigan), 2:10
133 Cliff Moore (Iowa) dec. Ryan Lewis (Minnesota), 3-1 sudden
victory
141 Scott Moore (Penn State) dec. Coyte Cooper (Indiana), 8-5
149 Jared Lawrence (Minnesota) dec. Ty Eustice (Iowa), 4-0
157 Luke Becker (Minnesota) dec. Gray Maynard (Michigan State),
6-3
165 Matt Lackey (Illinois) dec. Jacob Volkmann (Minnesota), 5-
3
174 Ryan Lange (Purdue) dec. Tyler Nixt (Iowa), 4-3
184 Jessman Smith (Iowa) dec. Mark Becks (Penn State), 2-1
197 Damion Hahn (Minnesota) dec. Nik Fekete (Michigan State),
8-3
HWT Steve Mocco (Iowa) dec. Tommy Rowlands (Ohio State), 4-1
FINAL
TEAM STANDINGS
1. Minnesota 126.5
2. Iowa 121
3. Penn State 111.5
4. Michigan State 92.5
5. Illinois 92
6. Michigan 90.5
7. Purdue 84.5
8. Ohio State 84
9. Wisconsin 71.5
10. Indiana 36
11. Northwestern 12
(Compiled
from various press releases and college wrestling sources.)
