Happiness
is not best achieved by those who seek it directly.
Bertrand
Russell
Japanese
ADCC TRIALS Complete!
Th ADCC has completed the most extensive qualifier series in
the history of the Submission Wrestling World Championships with
the Japanese Trials held in Tokyo on March 30th.
Congratulations
to the champions, who overcame very tough competition in every
category. The champions of the lowest 3 weight classes all fought
4 times, the first time qualifying tournaments of 16 men have
been held!
CHAMPIONS:
under 65.9 KG: Katsuyuki Hirata
66-76.9 KG: Mitsuhiro Ishida
77-87.9 KG: Y. Okami
88-98.9 KG: Yousuke Mikami
99 KG up: Jun Ishii
With
the World Championships less than two months away, below is a
list of the confirmed Qualifiers, as well as last years champions.
Previous
Regional Qualifiers:
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' (Master)
88-98.9 KG: ALEXANDRE 'Cacareco' FERREIRA (RUAS VT)
99 KG & Up: MARCIO 'Pe De Pano' CRUZ (Gracie)
Source:
ADCC
K-1
- Quick Results!
Tokyo, Japan - Sunday March 30th, 2003
The
Japanese fans were treated to another Bob Sapp show, as Team
BEAST, a group led by Sapp, was the main theme of the show! Big
surprises!
Complete
Results:
- Ernesto Hoost (Holland) v. Jefferson Silva (Brazil): Hoost
by KO, RD 1.
- Jan Nortje (South Africa ) v. Evgueni Orlov (Russia): Nortje
by Judges Decision
- Remy Bonjasky (Holland) v. Bjorn Bregy (Switzerland): Bojansky
by Towel Thrown in, RD 3.
- Ray Sefo (New Zealand) v. Pele Reid (U.K.): Sefo by Towel Thrown
in, RD 3.
- Peter Aerts (Holland) v. Stefan Leko (Germany): Leko by Doctor'
Stoppage *cut leg
- Bob Sapp (USA) v. Mirko CroCop (Croatia): Mirko by KO in Round
1
Source:
ADCC
CroCop
Beats the Beast
World Grand Prix in Saitama
Review
Index: Select Mirko Cro-Cop Filipovic vs Bobb Sapp Ernesto Hoost
vs Jefferson Silva Jan "The Giant" Nortje vs Evgueni
Orlovof Remy Bojasky vs Bjorn Bregy Ray Sefo vs Pele Reid Stefan
Leko vs Peter Aerts
MARCH 30, SAITAMA, JAPAN -- Croatian fighter Mirko CroCop Filipovic
capped off an afternoon of All-Star K-1 action with an impressive
KO victory over Bob "The Beast" Sapp at the Saitama
Super Arena.
The
six-bout card's main event saw Sapp march into the arena wearing
a flowing white robe (frilled with white feathers no less) to
the thunder of Richard Strauss' "Also Sprach Zarathustra."
Alas, Sapp's dramatic entrance was to last longer than his performance
in the ring. The Beast started as he always does, in an NFL defensive
lineman crouch, waiting for the bell before marching in on his
opponent with the big haymakers that have brought him victory
against some of K-1's best.
But
CroCop knew the script, and repeatedly danced away, the better
to stay out of Sapp's trap. When he got the chance, CroCop threw
his deadly high kicks, but really he never found himself planted
solidly enough to get one of these up and in on target. Instead
it was a quick kick to Sapp's right side, just below the rib
cage, that felled the big guy barely a minute into the fight.
Sapp lay on the canvas, a grimace of pain on his face, and did
not even try to beat the count. The crowd loved it, as of course
did CroCop, who flashed a rare smile before picking up his trophy.
"People
expected me to use my high kick," said CroCop afterwards,
"but I suppose I showed that I can win in a variety of ways.
This was the biggest fight of my life, and I am very happy with
the result."
Sapp
did not give a post-bout interview, as he was taken to the hospital
with indeterminate injuries.
Source:
Sherdog
Pacific
Fighting Championships
Tickets are now on sale at the NBC box office. There are a number
of strikers on this card to ensure a lot of action and KO's!
3/30/03
Quote
of the Day
"I
am always busy, which is perhaps the chief reason why I am always
well."
Elizabeth Cady Stanton
AFC
3 Results!
Amateur Fighting Competition 3
Waikiki Shell Amphitheater, Honolulu, Hawaii
March 29, 2003
By Chris Onzuka - Chris@Onzuka.com
This
was Ray "Bradda" Cooper and his wife, Monika's third
installment of the AFC. This time, Cooper and company moved the
event to the open air, Waikiki Shell Amphitheater. It turned
out to be a great night for fights in a great venue. Due to the
layout of the Amphitheater, there really was not a bad seat in
the house. The AFC is Hawaii's version of the Toughman competitions
with a twist. There are three rounds of one minute each round.
The fighters wear 16ounce gloves and headgear like regular Toughman
competitions. However, the fighters are allowed one take down
per round. The take down drastically changes the element of fight.
Fighters that have superior striking skills, must now counter
a take down, which is scored equal to a knock down. So a take
down can effectively negates a knock down. There were a couple
of fights that take downs were the deciding factor that helped
a fighter avoid a close decision. Ron "The Machine Gun"
Jhun served as referee for all the bouts. The only fighter that
was not from Oahu made his inter-island trip well worth it. Michael
Labuanan, fighting out of Maui Full Contact, displayed crisp
punches, good combinations and good take downs. He was the second
smallest competitor, but he showed that good technique and strategy
can pay off in a big way. His final fight against, the heavy
hitting James Stanford was a war. Stanford knocked down his first
opponent on his way to the finals, and even knocked down Labuanan
in their fight. Labuanan negated Stanford's knock down with a
take down and increased his lead with another take down for the
victory. Defending champion, Kaleo Westbrook was the largest
competitor and made his opponent's "feel" his presence.
He did have a war in the finals with Roy Alivanu, who strangely
trains at the same gym as Westbrook. Alivanu got off a lot of
punches quicker than Westbrook, but Westbrook's power punches
and strong exchange in the third round edged him out the victory
and the cash prize. Both final matches were filled with a lot
of action and ended the night on a high note.
200
& under weight class:
Michael Labuanan (175lbs, Makawao, Maui) def. Cyrus Kanaole (165lbs,
Waipahu)
TKO - Kanaole does not come out of corner after the end of Round
2.
201
& over weight class:
Roy Alivanu (240lbs, Waianae) def. Billy Saio (203lbs, Honolulu)
Unanimous Decision [(13-6), (13-6), (13-6)]
200
& under weight class:
PJ Dean (177lbs, Waianae) def. Filipo Toelau (177lbs, Honolulu)
Unanimous Decision [(11-8), (11-8), (16-7)]
201
& over weight class:
Kaleo Westbrook (330lbs, Waianae) def. Jacob "Jake"
Faagai (246lbs, Waianae)
Unanimous Decision [(9-6), (9-6), (9-6)]
200
& under weight class:
Louis Kuamo'o (188lbs, Nanakuli) def. Alan Alcaraz (183lbs, Ewa
Beach)
Unanimous Decision [(10-7), (12-7), (10-7)]
200
& under weight class:
James Stanford (193lbs, Waianae) def. Tommy "Tsunami"
Woo (Ewa Beach)
Unanimous Decision [(13-10), (13-8), (13-8)]
200
& under weight class Semi-Finals:
Michael Labuanan (175lbs, Makawao, Maui) def. Louis Kuamo'o (188lbs,
Nanakuli)
Unanimous Decision [(13-6), (13-6), (13-6)]
200
& under weight class Semi-Finals:
James Stanford (193lbs, Waianae) def. Alstead Anderson* (188lbs,
Honolulu)
*Alstead Anderson replaces an injured PJ Dean
Unanimous Decision [(9-6), (8-7), (9-6)]
201
& over weight class Finals:
Kaleo Westbrook (330lbs, Waianae) def. Roy Alivanu (240lbs, Waianae)
Majority Decision [(8-7), (8-7), (7-8)]
200
& under weight class Finals:
Michael Labuanan (175lbs, Makawao, Maui) def. James Stanford
(193lbs, Waianae)
Unanimous Decision [(18-13), (13-12), (13-12)]
Hawaiian
Amazons Kickboxing Competition
am·a·zon
noun
1. Greek Mythology: A member of a nation of women warriors reputed
to have lived in Scythia.
2. A tall, aggressive, strong-willed woman. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the Englis Language,
Fourth Edition
Do you have what it takes to become a Hawaiian Amazon?
What: Women's Kickboxing
When: May 31, 2003, Saturday
Where: Professional Training Center
803 Kamehameha Hwy.
Pearl City, Hawaii
Contestant
Requirements:
You must meet all of the following requirements:
· Female, 18 years of age or older.
· No previous professional boxing or kickboxing experience.
· Not have more than 5 sanctioned amateur wins in the
last 5 years.
· Good physical health/condition.
Contest
Rules:
· This is a Kickboxing Event
· Each bout consists of three (3), 60 seconds rounds with
a 45-second rest between each round.
· No wrestling, throws or takedowns, biting or head butts,
elbow and knee strikes.
· All kicks must be thrown to make contact above the waistline
and below the neck area.
· All boxing punches are allowed.
· Minimum of 4 kicks per round.
· 3 knockdown rule and standing 8 count are in effect.
· A prefight physical must be passed before you are allowed
to compete in the event.
Further
questions about the contest rules or contestant entry may be
directed to:
Chanelle Valdez at (808) 456-7443.
Source: Event Promoter
ADCC
JAPANESE TRIALS - Competitors Announced!
The
competitors in the JAPANESE ADCC Trials, scheduled for Tokyo
today March 30th, are listed below.
Additionally,
the Japanese press is reporting several other Japanese competitors
have accepted invitations directly for the World Championships,
to be held in Sao Paulo Brazil on May 17 and 18. Tsuyoshi Kosaka,
Kuni Kunioku and Hirotaka Yokoi are likely to be in the main
draw as well!
77-87.9kg
Under
1 Ryo Sai
2 Jun Kitagawa
3 Shikou Yamashita
4 Shinya Aoki
5 Kenichirou Moriya
6 Makoto Miyazawa
7 Masato Nishiguchi
8 Takanori Oniki
9 Gen Isono
10 Hidehiko Hasegawa
11 Naoto Ono
12 Hidehiko Tokuhashi
13 Keita Nakamura
14 Shinpei Sotoyama
15 Shunnichi Akimoto
88-98.9
kg Under
1 Kenji Ikeda
2 Yousuke Mikami
3 Takayuki Yamamoto
4 Yukiyasu Ozawa
99KG
Up
1 Jun Ishii
2 Hiroyoshi Kamimoto
Source: ADCC
2003
World Cup Wrestling Championship
Russia lineup
by: Gary Abbott
LED BY THREE WORLD MEDALISTS, RUSSIA TO ENTER STRONG TEAM AT
2003 WORLD CUP
WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIP
Led
by two-time World medalist Kouramagomed Kouramagomedov at 120
kg/264.5 lbs., Russia will feature a powerful lineup at the 2003
World Cup Wrestling Championship, set for the Bank of America
Centre in Boise, Idaho, April 5-6.
Russia
is among five world wrestling powers competing in this annual
international dual meet championships, along with host United
States, Cuba, Ukraine and Germany.
Kouramagomedov
was the 1997 World Champion and won a bronze medal at the 1998
World Championships. He also captured silver medals at the 1998
and 2000 World Cup Championships and a gold at the 1996 World
Cup.
Other
star athletes in the Russian lineup include World medalists Zaur
Botaev at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and Alexander Kontoev at 55 kg/121
lbs., along with World Cup champion Khadjimourat Gatsalov also
at 84 kg/185 lbs.
Botaev
was the 2002 European Champion and took third in the World Championships
that year. He also holds a 1998 Junior World title and a 1994
Cadet World title.
Kontoev
won bronze medals at both the 2001 World Championships and the
2001 World Cup. He also boasts a 2000 Junior World championship.
Gatsalov
was the 2002 World Cup Champion as well as a 2001 Junior World
Champion.
Four
other athletes round out Russia’s World Cup roster. They
include Prokopy Petrov at 60 kg/132 lbs., Inal Dzagourov at 74
kg/163 lbs., Sazhid
Sazhidov at 84 kg/185 lbs. and Zaiudin Ibragimov at 96 kg/211.25
lbs.
Petrov
was a competitor in the 2003 Titan Games as well as the 2002
World
Championships.
Dzagourov
captured the gold medal at the 2001 World Military Championships.
Sazhidov
was the 2001 and 2002 European Champion and took fourth place
at the 2000 World Cup. He was Junior World Champion in 1998 and
2000 and Cadet World Champion in 1995.
Ibragimov
was third in the 1998 Cadet World Youth Games.
Individual
session tickets are on sale for the 2003 World Cup Wrestling
Championship. Tickets can be purchased at all Select-A-Seat locations,
by phone at 208-331-TIXS, or on the Internet at www.idahotickets.com.
For more
information go to www.worldcupwrestling.com.
There
will be four sessions of action, featuring the best international
freestyle wrestling teams in the world. For Sessions I and III,
the session prices are $16 for adults and $13 for youth (2-18
years). For Session II, which includes Opening Ceremonies, the
session prices are $19 for adults and $16 for youth. For Session
IV, which includes the final bouts and the Closing Ceremonies,
the session prices are $26 for adults and $24 for youth.
The
weekend will begin with a major youth wrestling competition,
the World Cup Kids Open, set for Friday, April 4. Young wrestlers
will be able compete
in the tournament, then watch the world's best athletes at the
World Cup.
Medals from the World Cup Kids Open will be presented during
the World Cup
of Freestyle Wrestling. Participants must be USA Wrestling members.
For information on the youth tournament, contact R.J. Scott by
phone at (208)
587-9720 or via e-mail at rjscott64@cs.com.
Fans
will find the best combined competition / hotel facility in the
US.
The Luxurious Grove Hotel is attached to The Bank of America
Centre. Stay at a Four Diamond hotel, take the elevator to the
lobby, and walk into the Bank of America Centre without ever
going outside. Stay where the teams stay, the Grove Hotel for
only $95 per night double occupancy, or groups of 10 or more
$84 per night quad occupancy. Call 208-333-8000 and ask reservations
for the World Cup rate.
2003
World Cup Wrestling Championship Russia Team
55 kg/121 lbs. Alexander Kontoev
60 kg/132 lbs. Prokopy Petrov
66 kg/145.5 lbs. Zaur Botaev
74 kg/163 lbs. Inal Dzagourov
84 kg/185 lbs. Khadjimourat Gatsalov
84 kg/185 lbs. Sazhid Sazhidov
96 kg/211.25 lbs. Zaiudin Ibragimov
120 kg/264.5 lbs. Kouramagomed Kouramagomedov
2003
RUSSIA WORLD CUP BIOS
55
kg/121 lbs.
Alexander Kontoev
Competed in 2002 World Championships, Third in 2002 European
Championships…
Third in 2001 World Championships… Third in 2001 World Cup…
2000 Junior
World Champion… Height: 168 cm… Born December 12, 1981
60
kg/132 lbs.
Prokopy Petrov
Competed in 2003 Titan Games… Competed in 2002 World Championships…
160 cm…
Born September 5, 1979…
66
kg/145.5 lbs.
Zaur Botaev
Third in 2002 World Championships... 2002 European Champion...
2001 World
Military Champion... Eighth in 1999 Junior World Championships...
1998-99
Junior European Champion... 1998 Junior World Champion... 1994
Cadet World
Champion (88)... Born May 6, 1979…
74
kg/163 lbs.
Inal Dzagurov
2001 World Military Championships champion… Born May 5,
1980…
84
kg/185 lbs.
Khadjimourat Gatsalov
2002 World Cup Champion... Second in 2001 World Military Championship...
2001 Junior World Champion... Sixth in 2001 World Cup... Second
in 2001
Russian National Championships...
Sazhid
Sazhidov
2001-02 European Champion... 1998 and 2000 Junior World Championship...2000
Junior European Champion... Fourth in 2000 World Cup... 1995
Cadet World
Champion... Second in Russian Nationals... Height: 177 cm...
Born February
6, 1980...
96
kg/211.5 lbs.
Zaiudin Ibragimov
Third in 1998 Cadet World Youth Games... Born: 1982
120
kg/286
Kouramagomed Kouramagomedov
1999 and 2002 European Championships champion... Third in 1998
World
Championships... Second in 1998 and 2000 World Cup... Sixth in
1998 Yarygin
Tournament (Russia)... 1997 World Champion... 1996 Junior World
Champion...
1996 World Cup champion... Second in 1996 Yarygin Tournament
(Russia)...
1995-96 Junior European champion... Born March 21, 1978...
Source: ADCC
Liddell's
Frustration Continues
By Joe Hall
Waiting
and waiting and waiting.
With
prospects of a light heavyweight showdown against UFC champion
Tito Ortiz looking as bleak as ever, a once tolerant Chuck Liddell
is finally voicing his discontent. The No. 1 challenger's restrained
silence while Ortiz shined in the spotlight against less deserving
contenders was broken again Thursday night, as Liddell rebuked
the titleholder in Lemoore, California at World Extreme Cagefighting.
Both
Ortiz and Liddell were in attendance at the event, which featured
Frank Shamrock's return to the cage. During a break in the action,
each fighter was asked to individually speak to the audience.
Liddell says the WEC promoters wanted to maintain a "mellow"
atmosphere, and asked him to avoid too much Tito talk.
"So
I got up," said Liddell, Saturday afternoon in a phone interview
with MaxFighting, "and I said, 'I'm fighting somebody else
in June. From what I understand, Tito's not going to fight me
in June, so I'll be fighting someone else. I don't know who.'
"And
they asked me who I wanted to fight. I said, 'I want to fight
Tito, but if it's not Tito, I want to fight Vanderlei Silva or
somebody else. There's a lot of tough guys out there I can fight,
but those are the two guys I'd really like to fight.'"
Liddell
said he then left the cage, but would soon return after listening
to Ortiz address the crowd: "[Tito] jumped over the cage,
got in the ring and then started talking about how he was going
to 'give me a loss' again. You know, like he did when he got
in the ring after I fought Vitor. So I just went back in the
ring, and said, 'Hey, this was the second time you've gotten
in the ring and talked about giving me a loss. Why don't you
step in the ring, so I can knock you out.' And I just walked
out of the ring."
Ortiz
wasn't finished, though. "And then he got back in,"
recalled Liddell, "and used one of the lines -- he always
uses the same lines over and over again -- and said something
about, 'Oh, that's the most words I've heard Chuck say in one
sentence,' or whatever. I go, 'I think that's the third time
I've seen him use that same line. He can't come up with anything
original.'"
The
fighters were not near coming to blows, said Liddell, but his
irritation for not getting a title shot was lucid.
"I
don't talk a lot of shit about anybody," Liddell said. "I
never talk like that about anybody before a fight. But he won't
fight me. He's ducking me. He's trying not to fight me. He's
doing everything he can not to fight me.
"I
don't want to hurt the sport, either, by starting a fight with
him in the middle of a ring and start a little riot going. If
something had started in there, there would have been a riot.
The sport doesn't need that. I think that's one of the things
he's doing too: He's putting himself above the sport. He thinks
he's more important than the sport. I mean, I love this sport.
I love fighting. I think we need to have big fights. We can't
have stuff like boxing, where guys are dodging people, just avoiding
fighting them. If he doesn't want to risk getting hurt, he should
go make movies and be a pretend badass, like he is."
Although
the scene in Lemoore has only stirred the excitement surrounding
a potential clash between the two pugilists, Liddell clearly
states that he's not trying to hype a bout against Ortiz. "I'm
just trying to get the fight, doing anything to get him to get
in the ring with me," he said. "I'm not trying to pump
up anything. I'm not a big talker. I don't do a lot of stuff
like this. But, if that's what I have to do to get him in the
ring ….
"I'd
be more than happy just to walk in the ring and fight him. Just
prove my point out there without having to talk about it. He
likes doing his talking outside the ring; I like doing my talking
in the ring. I fight the best guys. I go out there and I perform.
He doesn't want to fight. I don't even think he likes fighting.
Like I said, he wants to be a Hollywood Badass."
Whenever
the subject of Liddell comes up, Ortiz invariably and understandably
discusses his desire for a considerable payday. By this point,
however, Liddell says it's not about the money to him.
"I'd
fight him for free," he said. "I'll fight him just
to beat him."
Liddell
is dead serious, but he also realizes the probability of fighting
for free isn't likely. Even though the offer may not urge Ortiz
into the cage, it plainly demonstrates Liddell's yearning to
tangle with the titleholder.
"Yeah,
of course, I'd love a million dollar payday too," he said.
"I'd love a boxing-type payday too. I don't see where he's
done that much more in the sport, other than being the UFC's
poster boy. I don't think he's done that much more in the sport
than anybody else.
"I
mean, when was the last time he fought a top-ranked guy? I've
been the number one contender since … when Vitor fell out,
I should have fought him back in September [2001] when he fought
Vladimir. When he fought Ken, I should have fought. I was the
number one contender. No disrespect to Ken. Ken's a tough guy,
but he wasn't the number one contender at the time. Actually,
I think it was his first fight at 205.
"I
don't see [Tito], from what I understand, moving the numbers
all that much either. And he's got all that push behind him.
He's got all that push from the UFC behind him. He's got all
press they've done on him. They've pushed him really hard for
a long time."
A
deluge of rumors and allegations have flooded the MMA community
concerning why Ortiz hasn't signed to fight the No. 1 challenger.
He says he's been hurt, isn't ready and wants adequate compensation.
Some have supported him, others haven't. Those disagreeing with
the champ's refusal to sign say he's ducking Liddell. In the
past, even the UFC has been charged with protecting Ortiz by
precluding a showdown against Liddell.
Out
of all the possibilities, Liddell has his finger on what he thinks
has been the single biggest reason he hasn't met Ortiz in the
cage: "I think it's because he doesn't want it. Before,
I think, they were protecting him a little bit. Now, he just
doesn't want it. Now the UFC wants it real bad, and he doesn't
want to do it. He doesn't want a fight that he considers a tough
fight."
Asked
if he thinks he will ever fight Ortiz, Liddell said, "Not
if he has anything to do about it."
It's
now apparent the two will not fight each other in the June UFC,
but Liddell says he'll be on the card regardless. He's not sure
whom he'll face, saying, "That's up to them; that's up to
the UFC. They'll find somebody."
Ortiz's
current declination to sign to fight Liddell has spurred cries
to strip the champion of the title. Liddell says it's not time
for that just yet, and sounds as though he's still holding onto
the hope that the fight will somehow come together.
"Well,
eventually, they'd have to strip him," said "The Iceman,"
if Ortiz never signs. "I don't think that's right now. It's
only been six months since he fought.
"I
want to take it from him. I want to fight him for it. I don't
want it just being taken away; I want to take it from him."
Source: Maxfighting
3/29/03
Quote
of the Day
"Never
tell people how to do things.
Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity."
General George S. Patton
AFC
3 Tonight!
The Amateur Fighting Competition is tonight at the Wakiki Shell
Amphitheater.
The event starts at 6:00PM.
If you want to watch some hard hitting action, come down to the
Waikiki Shell and check out Hawaii's version of the Toughman.
Two champions will be crowned in an under 200lbs and an over
200lbs division.
Tickets are still available
$20 Advance
$25 at the door
Moreno
to Fight in Gladiator Challenge
Mark
Moreno is scheduled to fight Ahmad Hempstead in Gladiator Challenge
15 on April 13, 2003 in Porterville, California.
The
ADCC Japanese Trials are this weekend!
The 5th SUBMISSION WRESTLING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS - UPDATE
May 17th & 18th, 2003
Ibirapuera Stadium, Sau Paulo, Brazil
The
Japanese trials will take place on March 30th, the 5th of the
TRIAL series to take place for this years ADCC World Championships
in Submission Wrestling!
All
5 weight categories will be represented, however the top two
classes, the 99 KG and up class, and the 88-98.9 KG class have
2 and 4 competitors respectively. The word is that the other
3 tourneys, under 65.9, then the 66-76.9 KG and the 77-87.9 KG
classes are packed with 16 competitors each!
The
names will be released as soon as we can compile a list.
The
weigh ins are scheduled for March 29th, at the PANCRASE p LAB
gym - more news to come as it develops!
Source: ADCC
Shamrock
Returns in Impressive Fashion
By Josh Gross
Lemoore,
Calif. -- It was just after midnight Pacific Time when Frank
Shamrock stepped into the WEC pentagon. Inside a small tent,
adjacent to the Palace Casino, Shamrock stood face to face with
an opponent -- just so happened it was Bryan Pardoe, though it
could have been anyone -- for the first time since December 2000.
It didn’t take him long to get comfortable again.
Before
his comeback arrived into its third minute, Shamrock locked in
an armbar from the guard, securing the victory and his legacy
for at least one more fight. In the opening moments, however,
Pardoe, who looked considerably larger than Shamrock, didn’t
act the fish most fans and pundits expected him to be.
Popping
the returning star on the nose with a heavy right hand, Pardoe
forced Shamrock backwards. The upstart challenger chased Shamrock
to the mat with strikes. Pinned against the fence, Shamrock slowly
began to resemble the fighter that from 1997 to 2000 dominated
his division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and was considered
by most to be the premier fighter in the sport.
With
Pardoe in his guard, the 30-year-old former UFC champion moved
away from the fence. It was a familiar tactic, revisited many
times during his career, obviously not forgotten. Ever so slowly
Shamrock worked his flexible guard higher towards Pardoe’s
shoulders. Before the Arizona-based fighter knew what was upon
him, Shamrock started making serious attempts at securing his
right leg around the head of his challenger.
On
the third or fourth effort Shamrock finally sunk it in and had
the position securely fastened. Pardoe responded by dropping
several punches, but Shamrock easily forced him to his back.
Try as he might, Pardoe had no answer for the submission and
tapped out 1:46 into the fight.
In
victory, Shamrock roared to his feet, rekindling the amazing
feeling he must have enjoyed in previous fights. The crowd howled
as well. For some -- including this reporter -- it was the first
time they’d seen him fight live. Others, like ringside color
commentator Jeff Blatnik, had been fortunate enough to witness
the greatness of Shamrock during its heyday. Whatever the case
may be, it was clear to anyone watching that Shamrock still has
the skills and tools to be a great fighter.
What’s
next is unclear. It’s been said by him and his camp that
fighting will continue to be in his future. And while Pardoe
couldn’t provide a real indicator as to just how much --
if any -- his skills had diminished, you can bet that Shamrock’s
trainer, Javier Mendez, will continue to keep a watchful eye
on his prized pupil.
For
all of Shamrock’s talk about propping the sport on his back
so he can lead it from the depths of whatever he feels it needs
to be rescued from, the fact of the matter is that one of the
most dynamic fighters ever to compete in mixed martial arts returned
to action tonight. That, more than anything else, was the important
thing.
It
was exciting to witness.
In
other action, UFC veteran and IFC champion Gil Castillo toyed
with a completely overmatched and inexperienced Chris Williams
for five torturous minutes before the fight was finally called.
Williams, who was listed as competing in zero professional fights
before stepping into the ring with Castillo, did his best in
defeat. But it wasn’t nearly enough. And, for the next few
weeks, he’ll have a couple of nasty cuts high on his right
cheek to remind him. Any embarrassment emanating from this bout
should come from whoever put these two in the same ring in the
first place. It was a joke.
In
the best fight of the night (those seven words should are prerequisite
when talking about any Shonie Carter fight), up-and-comer Jeremy
Jackson fought a smart and patient contest that saw him walk
away with a unanimous decision victory over the always-entertaining
and tough Carter.
Rounds
one and two were excellent. Both Carter and Jackson had moments
as the crowd watched from the edge of their seats. The first
five-minute frame saw Jackson landing stiff right straights and
jarring left hooks off the clinch. Hurt early, Carter used head
movement in the latter half of round one to save himself from
Jackson’s powerful punches.
Carter’s
two takedowns in the second round pulled him even on the MaxFighting
scorecard. Again, both men scored points but Carter, who just
last week fought in Japan, continued to bob and weave effectively,
allowing him to survive into the final round.
Both
men understandably slowed from the blistering pace they set in
the previous 10 minutes. Exchanging kicks and punches the action
picked up as the round wore on, but Carter landed a takedown
that appeared to push him ahead on the scorecards. Jackson managed
to escape and induce a flurry. He rocked Carter again but the
veteran refused to give in. Bobbing and weaving from his knees,
Carter managed to avoid all of Jackson’s potentially life-altering
shots. From there Carter countered a Jackson takedown attempt
and finished the exciting bout from the top.
While
the judges saw it unanimously for Jackson, MaxFighting saw it
differently, scoring it 29-28 in favor of the man from Chicago.
Joe
Hurley made his return to action for the first time since being
choked unconscious in a WFA lightweight bout versus Vitor “Shoalin”
Ribeiro. Squaring off against the increasingly dangerous Nick
Diaz, Hurley found himself in a world of hurt early on. Stunned
from an early shot, Hurley stumbled as if he were walking across
a street marked with potholes. Diaz flew towards him hoping to
finish the fight, but Hurley hung on as Diaz took the action
to the mat.
Opening
up with punches to his downed opponent, Diaz continued to overwhelm
Hurley. Passing the guard, he secured a kimura and torqued hard.
Hurley had no option but to tap, but it appeared the tap was
too late to prevent injury to his left elbow. Diaz claimed victory
at the 1:55 mark of round one.
Mike
Swick and Kungo Ura battled back and forth for two rounds until
a sloppy shot resulted in disaster for the scrappy Japanese fighter.
Exchanging submissions, positions, strikes and anything else
you can think of, neither Swick nor Ura could gain an upper hand.
Then came the knee. Lumbering in for a sloppy takedown, Ura was
greeted with a devastating knee to his face that instantly dropped
him to the mat. Swick followed up with several shots before the
referee could rescue Ura 0:31 of the final frame.
In
other action, Brian Stromberg outgunned Levi Thornbrue en route
to a tapout victory because of strikes 1:43 of round one. Bert
Bergmark defeated Brodie Farber by TKO 3:57 of the opening round.
In light of seemingly giving the fight away, Brandon Wolff won
a tight three-round split decision over Hannibal Adofo. MaxFighting
disagreed with the judges and scored it 29-28 in Adofo’s
favor. Tim McKenzie stopped John Applebe 1:03 into their fight.
Ed Wedding impressed in his win over a strong Doug Evens as he
pulled off the armbar submission 4:37 of round one. Chris Sanford
scored an armbar of his own, defeating Jack Cardenas 2:45 of
the first frame. Poppis Martinez brutally knocked out Eric Husbands
just 10 seconds after their bout started. And Carlos Cordero
opened the 13-bout card by catching Steve Cutler in an armbar
2:31 of round number one.
Source: Maxfighting
2nd
Black Belt Challenge
Brings Jiu-Jitsu to the
Spotlight in Sao Paulo
By Eduardo Alonso
After the major success of the first Black Belt Jiu-Jitsu challenge,
promoters had no choice but to put on a second edition of the
event, that features top black belts competing in the sport of
Jiu-Jitsu against one another in single matches under slightly
different rules (like referee stand ups) that forces the fighters
to stay active during the entire fight and for high money prizes
for Jiu-Jitsu standards. This time they brought the show to Via
Funchal, one of the biggest and most prestigious houses of spectacles
in Sao Paulo, which uses to hold music concerts and other kind
of shows. It was a risky step, since the venue holds up to 3,500
spectators and it would be tough to fill the entire place. In
fact, there were empty seats, but still a good crowd of more
than 1,500 showed up to watch the show, all paying for their
tickets, and this can be called a success for a Jiu-Jitsu event,
mostly considering the problems the promoters had to face. Problems
such as some of the most famous BJJers involved in the show dropping
out at the last minute. Names like Saulo Ribeiro, Fabio Leopoldo
and Rodrigo Comprido were all supposed to compete in the show
but ended up not being able to for a number of reasons, and late
replacements were called at the last minute.
All in all it was a good show, with most fighters fighting on
offense and looking for the finish all the time, which provided
several submissions in the 10-match card. The standouts were
Bibiano Fernandez who made quick work of Marcelo Santos to open
the event, Fredson Paixao who once again showed his usual domination
over Pablo Rodrigo, Adriano Maciel who had an amazing guard that
surprised veteran Eduardo Jamelao and Gabriel Napao who had a
very competitive match with Eduardo Telles but ended up winning
in good fashion. Hopefully the promoters will hold another edition
of the event soon, showing that Jiu-Jitsu is still alive and
will continue to thrive in the years to come if the events are
well organized and planned, and FCF will surely be there as always!
Here are the complete results of the event:
Bibiano Fernandez def. Marcelo Santos via triangle choke
Fredson
Paixao def. Pablo Rodrigo via lapel choke
Carlos
Eduardo Vieira def. Marco Barbosa via referee decision (The score
was tied)
Adriano
Maciel def. Eduardo Jamelao via triangle choke
Fabio
Negao def. Roger Coelho by 4-1 in the advantages, with a tie
of 2-2 in the match
Eduardo
Portugues def. Delson Pe de Chumbo via referee decision (The
score was tied)
Jefferson
Moura def. Bruno Bastos via armlock
Gabriel
Napao def. Eduardo Telles via score of 9-2
Felipe
Lira def. Claudio Godoy via lapel choke
Roberto
Tozi def. Fernando Paradeda via referee decision (Tied at 0-0)
Source:
FCF
Bitetti
Combat 2 Shows the Evolution
of Brazilian Northeastern Fighters
By Eduardo Alonso
The
second edition of Bitetti Combat Nordeste took place this past
Thursday, March 20th, and FCF was there to bring you all the
action as always! Due to poor weather conditions a crowd of little
more than 5,000 spectators showed up at the huge Machadinho arena,
still guaranteeing a good public on hand. However, those 5,000
on hand were very noisy and supported the local fighters through
the eight fights of the night, and there were plenty of local
talents performing. With a massive coverage of the local press,
the presence of "The Phenom" Vitor Belfort, who is
a popular celebrity in Brazil and made his debut as an NHB referee
in the first two fights [The other referees were Amaury Bitetti
and IVC veteran Artur Mariano], and some intriguing fights on
the card, there were plenty of attractions at the event. All
in all Bitetti Combat 2 truly delivered and showed a considerable
improvement from the first edition. The production side of it
was very satisfactory, including Kipp Kollar's help providing
the gloves for the fighters, although some mistakes were present
that will hopefully be corrected for the next edition. Promoters
Amaury Bitetti and Conrado Carlos are promising a better one
for the next event, and by doing so they'll consolidate Bitetti
Combat as the second best event in South America, right behind
MECA, so let's wait for Bitetti Combat 3! Here's a brief rundown
of the fights, including the Terere's controversial loss, and
as always see the next edition of FCF for more details on the
show!
Paulo Guerreiro vs. Sergio Capoeira:
The night of fights was kicked off by this clash between a Muay
Thai fighter and a Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. Capoeira started the
fight well dominating with takedowns and using ground and pound.
However Guerreiro is used to taking punishment and turned around
things managing to keep the fight standing and earning a judges'
decision after three rounds.
Josenildo
vs. Rivellino: This fight saw another reversal of fortunes as
Rivellino started off better only to see Josenildo make a comeback
and dominate the stand up action until he got a knockout from
punches still in the first round!
Wallace
vs. Lokynha: In an action-packed fight Lokynha was surprisingly
game as he brought it to Wallace on the ground and standing up!
The fight was very competitive until the Chute Boxe black belt
managed to get the better of Lokynha standing and punished him
on the ground until he could take no more in the second round.
Tiago
Pitbull vs. Carlos Indio: Tiago Pitbull proved once again he
is very talented. Using his superior Muay Thai and ring skills,
he controlled the distance and avoided all of Indio's rushes,
slowly punishing him with all sorts of strikes through two rounds,
until Indio alleged that he suffered a low blow, that (according
to all present including the referee) didn't really happen, and
refused to continue in the fight that he was going to lose anyway.
Lucas
Lopes vs. Antonio Samurai:
As an underdog, Antonio Samurai tested Lucas Lopes well, giving
him trouble in the first round with good stand up striking sequences,
until Lucas Lopes showed how tough he is and used his experience
to deliver a solid ground and pound game opening a major cut
on Samurai's eyebrow and forcing him to quit on the second round.
Claudionor
Fontinelli vs. Rivanio Aranha:
A showman in all senses. This is what Fontinelli is! From his
ring entrance to his ring showdown Claudionor captured the attention
of everyone in the arena and gave his all standing up against
a tough as nails Aranha. Both battled mostly standing up, with
some short periods on the ground, for two rounds with Fontinelli
getting the better until Aranha suffered an injury to his knee
and couldn't continue.
Tibau
vs. Fernando Terere:
This was most certainly the most anticipated and probably the
most exciting fight of the evening. For three rounds both guys
fought with the crowd literally going nuts and both had their
moments. To his credit Tibau, who is a very good fighter, dominated
the second round by avoiding takedowns and attempting a very
dangerous armbar from the guard in the first round that lasted
more than a minute! But Terere's game was impressive for a newcomer,
doing some ground and pound, dominating most of the stand up,
even cutting his opponent below the left eye and continually
advancing forward during the entire fight. After the three rounds
were over, it took more than five minutes for a decision to be
rendered, and it was announced as a 2- 1 split for Tibau, causing
a lot of controversy and animosity in the arena. Don't miss a
full report in the next issue of FCF!
Silmar
Rodrigo vs. Johil de Oliveira: Against a more experienced opponent,
Silmar Rodrigo showed great composure and the signs of a matured
fighter ready for bigger challenges. He took Johil down at will
during the entire fight and worked a ground and pound game, taking
few risks controlling the pace and winning a well deserved judges'
decision over the seasoned IVC and PRIDE veteran. He will most
certainly be back at the next Bitetti Combat.
Don't
miss a full report with more details on all that went down at
Bitetti Combat 2, straight from Natal in Brazil in the next issue
of Full Contact Fighter, where you always find the Undefeated
No Holds Barred news coverage of the world!
Source:
FCF
A
Little Public Service Message to the US Civilians During this
time of War:
Dear
Civilians,
We know that the current state of affairs in our great nation
have many civilians up inarms and excited to join the military.
For those of you who can't join, you can still lenda hand. Here
are a few of the areas we would like your assistance
1)
The next time you see an adult talking (or wearing a hat) during
the playing of theNational Anthem ... kick their ass.
2)
When you witness firsthand someone burning the American Flag
in protest... kick their ass.
3)
Regardless of the rank they held while they served, pay the highest
amount of respect to all veterans. If you see anyone doing otherwise,
quietly pull them aside and explain how these Veterans fought
for the very freedom they bask in every second. Enlighten them
on the many sacrifices these Veterans made to make this Nation
great. Then hold them down while a Disabled Veteran kicks their
ass.
4)
(GUYS) If you were never in the military, DO NOT pretend that
you were. Wearing battle dress uniforms (BDU's), telling others
that you used to be "Special Forces," and collecting
GI Joe memorabilia, might have been okay if you were still seven.
Now, it will only make you look stupid and get your ass kicked.
5)
Next time you come across an Air Force member, do not ask them,
"Do you fly a jet?" Not everyone in the Air Force is
a pilot. Such ignorance deserves an ass kicking (children are
exempt).
6)
If you witness someone calling the U.S. Coast Guard non-military,
inform them of their mistake...and kick their ass.
7)
Roseanne Barr's singing of the National Anthem is not a blooper...it
was a disgrace and disrespectful. Laugh, and sooner or later
your ass will be kicked.
8)
Next time Old Glory (U.S. flag) prances by during a parade, get
on your damn feet and pay homage to her by placing your hand
over your heart. Quietly thank the military member or veteran
lucky enough to be carrying her...of course, failure to do either
of those could earn you a severe ass kicking.
9)
What Jane Fonda did during the Vietnam War makes her the enemy.
The proper word to describe her is "traitor." Just
mention her nomination for "Woman of the Year" and
get your ass kicked.
10)
Don't try to discuss politics with a military member or a veteran.
We are Americans and we all bleed the same regardless of our
party affiliation. Our Chain of Command, is to include our commander
in Chief. The President (for those who didn't know) is our CIC
regardless of political party. We have no inside track on what
happens inside those big important buildings where all those
representatives" meet. All we know is that when those civilian
representatives screw up the situation, they call upon the military
to go straighten it out. The military member might direct you
to Oliver North. (I can see him kicking your ass already.)
11)
"Your mama wears combat boots" never made sense to
me ... stop saying it! If she did, she would most likely be a
vet and therefore, could kick your ass!
12)
Bin Laden and the Taliban are not communists, so stop saying
"Let's go kill those Commie's!!!" And stop asking us
where he is!!!! Crystal balls are not standard issue in the military.
That reminds me...if you see anyone calling those damn psychic
phone numbers; let me know, so I can go kick their ass.
13)
Flyboy (Air Force), Jar Head (Marines), Grunt (Army), Squid (Navy)
etc, are terms of endearment we use describing each other. Unless
you are a service member or vet,you have not earned the right
to use them. That could get your ass kicked.
14)
Last but not least, whether or not you become a member of the
military, support our troops and their families. Every Thanksgiving
and religious holiday that you enjoy with family and friends,
please remember that there are literally thousands of sailors
and troops far from home wishing they could be with their families.
Thank God for our military and the sacrifices they make every
day. Without them, our country would get its ass kicked. It is
the soldier, not the reporter who has given us the freedom of
the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us
the freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer,
who gives us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier who
salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin
is draped by the flag, who allows the protester to burn the flag.
Authored
by Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, Sergeant, USMC
(Please pass this on so I won't have to kick your ass!)
3/28/03
Quote
of the Day
It
is neither wealth nor splendor; but tranquility and occupation
which give happiness.
Thomas
Jefferson
AFC
3 Weigh-Ins Today!
Buy your
tickets now for the AFC!
The
Amateur Fighting Competition will take place on Saturday, March
29, 2003. The event starts at 6:00PM.
TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW!
$20 Advance
$25 at the door
Weigh-ins
are today, Friday, March 28 at 7:00 pm at the Jesus Is Lord Gym in Waipahu.
BULL
FORCE PRESENTS
"Kick'n
it Again"
April 5,2003
Palama Settlement Gym,
6pm Gates open, seats first come first serve,
$10 tickets,
lots of booths inside, Phenom Power Source, Strong Arm Athletics,
Play Times over, Solidwear,Oica poison Ink, Bull Force Wear
(125lbs)
David Balicao vs Zane Cabacugan
(HSD) (Hapkido TKD)
(145lbs)
John Nerveza Jr, vs Edwin Cabacugan
(Bulls Pen) (Hapkido TKD)
(155lbs)
Justin Dano vs Maliepo Sitani
(HSD) ( Bulls pen)
(190lbs)
James Stanford vs Willie Chummer
( Hard Knocks) (Hawaii TKD)
(165lbs)
Brandon Absher vs Jamie Galepia
(HSD) ( Bulls Pen)
(Super Heavy)
Sheldon Abella vs TBA
(Hapkido TKD)
(165lbs)
Wayne Kamealoha vs Paul Laga
(HSD) (Bulls Pen)
(Heavyweight)
Billy Hall vs Kunta Edmonds
(Pro Train Center) (Kempo Unlimited)
15 min Intermission..........
(175lbs)
Scott Redoble vs Ben George
(HSD) (Bulls Pen)
(Semi-Main)
(160lbs)
Harris Sariento vs Craig Park
(808FF) ( Hard Knocks)
( Main Event)
(170lbs)
PJ Dean vs Shawn Taylor
( Hard Knocks)
It will be an action packed night with alot of great fights.
Featuring-
Shawn "Tornado" Taylor from Kailua/Waimanalo,
PJ Dean From Waianae(Hard Knocks Gym)
Harris Sariento from Kaneohe(808 Fight Factory)
Brandon Absher from Nanakuli(Hawaiian Self Defense)
John Nerveza Jr. Honolulu( Bulls Pen)
and lots more..............
Special Guest Referee: Timmy " The Hawk" Vendetta
Special Guest Judges:
Guy Paikai- Chief instructor Paikai Kenpo Karate.
Haru Shimanishi- Head instructor Hawaii Martial arts Center (HMC
Academy)
John Kukahiko- Head instructor KodanKan Fight Team
Thanks to all the fight teams that will be participating in our
event-
Hawaiian Self-defense
Hard Knocks
Bulls Pen
Professional Training Center
Kempo Unlimited
808 Fight Factory
Hapkido Tae Kwon Do
Hawaii Tae Kwon Do
If anyone is interested in participating in our future event
contact Derek Bright@ 551-7898
or Danny Kaheaku@ 685-4800
KOTC
23: PPV Bound From Vegas!
King
of the Cage 23 is coming to the Orleans Hotel Casino in Las Vegas,
Nevada on Friday, May 16th. Three K.O.T.C. World Titles will
be up for grabs!
LOS
ANGELES, California -'King of the Cage,' the hottest brand of
no-holds-barred fighting, is coming to the Orleans Hotel Casino
(www.orleansarena.com) 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 are 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.
For
tickets, go to www.ticketsplus.net or call 1-800-585-3737.
The
parallels are there. When Michael Jordan returned to basketball
with the Washington Wizards - an organization severely lacking
the success of his former employers, the six-time NBA champion
Chicago Bulls - many stopped to ask “why.” Why would
the greatest player in NBA history -- in his late 30s, no longer
the high-flying star that at one time took hold of the sports
world -- risk tarnishing his legacy?
After
all, the collective memories of countless past great performances
are the bricks that legends like Jordan build their legacies
upon. What could be worth endangering that? Competitors like
Jordan work on a different plane. Though expectations of winning
were tempered by age and reality, he could -- probably better
than most of the league’s current stars -- still throw a
crooked number up on the scoreboard or hit a buzzer-beating jump
shot. And we’d all accept it as truth, as if the man were
still 27 years old. But he could just as easily fail, and his
legend would be forever soiled.
From
1997 though 2000, Frank Shamrock, with much less fanfare, was
the best at what he did. He was the Ultimate Fighter. And like
Jordan, he stepped away from the game when it was clear his best
days were ahead of him.
Tonight
at the Palace Casino in Lemoore, California, Shamrock, 30, makes
his return to the fight game following a two-year self-imposed
semi-retirement. The bright lights and countless questions that
greeted Jordan’s return won’t be an issue -- they simply
won’t be there. And as strange as it sounds, that’s
the reason, says Shamrock, that his homecoming is important to
a sport which he feels is quickly taking a turn for the worse.
“I
don’t have anything else to win,” Shamrock told MaxFighting.
“I don’t have anything else to do. I’ve got a
box full of medals in my garage. I have nothing else to accomplish
except to try and change the legitimacy of the sport. Right now
the people that are in charge are not promoting and building
the sport the way it should be for the future generation.”
Ironically,
while the Zuffa-led Ultimate Fighting Championship could not
agree with the UFC great to get him back into the Octagon --
“I’ve poured my heart and soul into the sport. To see
some rich, white collar-idiots take it away is not my idea of
what I sacrificed for,” he says -- it did propel Shamrock
into the ring for the much less prestigious World Extreme Cagefighting
organization.
Shamrock
says he’s happy with the WEC, and he should be. He’s
getting paid well. But for a man that enjoys -- and deserves
-- the spotlight, you have to think that the fact his return
to mixed martial arts comes on a small stage bothers him.
Of
course, it wasn’t supposed to be like that. Talks with Showtime
Entertainment Television fell short because, says Shamrock, the
pay-per-view distributor had a problem with the fenced-in fighting
area he cultivated his stardom in. With that went the spotlight
and possibility for a big-name opponent. Instead, Shamrock gets
Bryan Pardoe, a muscle bound fighter of limited experience.
Does
Pardoe present the kind of challenge Shamrock feels would make
for a good comeback bout? “I certainly hope so,” he
answers. “I feel good. I feel comfortable. All of my training
partners are 200, 220 so I’m used to working with big, power
guys. I feel confident. I know Bryan had six, seven, eight fights
or whatever. But I think I have a lot more experience, a lot
more aggression. I don’t think he’s prepared for my
speed on the ground and my strength on the stand up.”
Shamrock
should win in a cakewalk. But as we’ve seen recently, many
of the elite veteran fighters are being pushed aside by their
younger, more-skilled counterparts. Considered by most as the
first true mixed martial artist, Shamrock laid down the blueprint
for many of today’s up-and-coming fighters and current champions.
And there would be no finer a trophy to claim than victory over
the man they’ve learned so much from.
A
Shamrock loss would be shocking, devastating to his storied career
and impressive ledger. “I think that is a concern,”
he says. “It is in the back of my mind. It spurs me to train
harder. There is, I’m sure, an unrealistic expectation of
me fighting, anyway.”
Of
course, most expect him to walk through Pardoe. But what then?
It’s just the beginning, according to Frank. Future appearances
in the UFC are doubtful. Attempts to fight in PRIDE have been
shot down numerous times, though there might be a renewed possibility
with the Japanese organization’s commitment to promoting
in the States.
For
now his goals remain simple -- and important: “I’m
just looking to make a statement that I am back,” he explains.
“And it’s OK to step in the ring, kick someone’s
ass as long as you have class about it, everyone’s taken
care of and it’s a good, positive atmosphere. I’d like
to get in there and do my part.
“I
think our sport has taken a turn for the worse lately.”
The
most glaring example Shamrock cites is the current trend of retro
fighters like Tank Abbott getting back into the picture. “I
don’t envision him being the poster boy for the sport I
want my son to move into,” Shamrock says of Tank. “It’s
not something I would encourage my kids to follow. And we’re
back in the freak show again. Unfortunately, they’re (the
UFC) the organization that has the image and the power. The image
that they’re putting out there is not one I agree with.
It’s not one that I’m supporting and promoting. And
I didn’t spend the last eight years of my life building
a sport to have it turn into that.”
Clearly,
he thinks he should be the fighter looked towards when talk swings
to creating interest and producing the almighty dollar. Though
his comments about Zuffa and Tank could be construed as petty,
there’s no denying that Shamrock has more to offer in the
ring than fighters like Abbott ever did.
Should
his performance tonight be up to standards, this will only be
step number one in his comeback. “I feel confident that
after a couple of fights I’ll be able to get in there with
anyone in the world at my weight and come out as the winner.”
“My
intention is to travel around and fight everybody,” he continues.
“I’ll probably go to England and fight over there.
Do a couple of international fights. The more places I’ve
seen and can make an impact, the better it is for the sport.”
Suddenly,
Shamrock’s policy has forced the fighter into a position
where he finds himself fighting for more than personal glory.
If he’s serious about his plans, the kind of pressure that
could accompany them would be enormous. Though he admits not
knowing whether the burden will be too much, he says “I
can’t feel good about it unless I tried.”
“I’m
a fighter and I think this sport is wonderful. I think the people
involved are incredible athletes, incredible people, and the
sacrifices and trials they go through are like nothing else in
this world. I think they should be recognized for that.”
At
his height, Shamrock was recognized as the best. Though outside
factors like the cable ban and ignorant politicians limited his
exposure, he still stepped in the ring each and every time anticipating
greatness. Fans were the true winners during his reign. And if
Shamrock has his way, many more will find out what he -- and
the sport he’s trying to carry in his own way -- is made
of.
And
like Jordan, losing isn’t something that comes easy (it
hasn’t happened since January 1997). “I love to compete.
I may lose. But my intention is they’ll drag me dead from
the ring when that happens.”
Do
we really need to ask “why?”
Source:
Maxfighting
3/27/03
Quote
of the Day
"You
know the world's gone mad when the best rapper is a white guy,
the best
golfer is a black guy, the Swiss hold the America's Cup, France
is accusing
the USA of arrogance, and the Germans don't want to go to war!"
Unknown
Baret's
Back!
SUPERBRAWL
- Card Growing and Growing!
143lbs
3x5 minute rounds: Rami Boukai v Baret “The Finisher”
Yoshida
This
will be a technical “chess-match” type war. The younger
Boukai is trained by Chris Brennan and will have to use all his
weapons to defeat the more experienced Yoshida. Yoshida is coming
off a tough loss and a long lay-off. We will see if he has any
ring rust. Yoshida 2-1 Odds
145lbs
3x5 minute rounds: Joe Jordan v Eddie Yagin
You
won’t want to miss this one! Jordan has a tremendously aggressive
style and is not afraid to “let his hands go.” Hawaii
fans know Yagin is never in a boring fight. He is always willing
to go for “high risk” maneuvers and can bang with the
best of them. Possible fight of the night! Yagin 3-2 favorite
143lbs
3x5 minute rounds: 143lbs Bao Quach v “Kid” Yamamoto
This
has the ear-markings of an epic battle. Quach is one of the toughest
American fighters at 145lbs. He is a master of submissions but
will not hesitate to stand and throw. Yamamoto is explosive!
He has one gear….overdrive! An Olympic level wrestler who
likes to brawl. The winner of this fight will certainly be a
top challenger to the 145lb Super Brawl Championship Belt. Yamamoto
2-1 favorite
185lbs
3x5 minute rounds: Kyle Jensen v Falaniko Vitale 185lbs
Jensen
is a rising star in the mid-western fight circuit. He has amassed
his impressive record with a well rounded arsenal and tremendous
stamina. Vitale has been unstoppable as of late and will look
to impose his will on Jensen early. Vitale is fast becoming an
internationally recognized fighter and will have the eyes of
the world on him once again. Vitale 2-1 Favorite
183.2lbs
3x5 minute rounds: Masanori Suda v Egan Inoue
A
fight that has been years in the making. Suda holds the prestigious
Shooto belt and Inoue carries the Super Brawl belt. They are
both well rounded fighters who have developed Championship level
talent. Suda will likely start slow and began to push the fight
in the 2nd and 3rd round. Suda will attempt to gain top position
on the ground and score points. Suda is very adept at winning
fights that go the distance. Inoue, on the other hand, has been
finishing most of his fights by K.O. or submission. It will be
a tough decision for Inoue, if he decides to go for an early
submission or knock-out he will risk tiring later in the fight.
But if he lets Suda dictate the pace he will risk losing a decision.
Pick-em Even Odds.
Source:
Promoter
TONITE:
THE RETURN OF FRANK SHAMROCK!!!
World
Extreme Cagefighting 'Return of a Legend'
March 27th 7:30P.M.
PIC:
Frank Shamrock at a recent seminar - the comeback is on!
Tonite,
with little fanfare, the man who ended the 90's considered the
top fighter in the world returns to Mixed Martial Arts. The WEC
6 card features Frank Shamrockin his first fight since December
of 2000.
The
rest of the card features 14 solid fights, as the Scott Adams
production puts forth a great card under the Shamrock return
they have worked so hard to get. You may recall, Shamrock was
scheduled to fight Ricardo Almeida on the last WEC, but the match
fell thru due to injury.
More
to come from the west coast...
The
Palace Casino, Lemoore, CA.
1.
Steve Cutler V. Carlos Cordero (170)
2. Eric Husbands V. Poppis Martinez (155)
3. Jack Cardenas V. Chris Sanford (185)
4. Ed Wedding V. Doug Evans (155)
5. John Appleby V. Tim McKenzie (205)
6. Brandon Wolff V. Hannibal Adofo (170)
7. Bert Bergmark V. Brodie Farber (185)
8. Mike Swick V. Kengo Ura (185)
9. Caleb Mitchel V. Jeff Hougland (155)
10. Joe Hurley V. Nick Diaz (170)
11. Levi Thornbrue V. Brian Stromberg (265)
12. Jeremy Jackson V. Shonie Carter (170)
13. Chris Williams V. Gil Castillo (185)
14. Frank Shamrock V. Brian Pardoe (205)
Source:
ADCC
The
UFC Lightweight Division And Title...
What Is Zuffa To Do?
There
has been much speculation, rumors, hear say and opinions on what
the UFC will do with their lightweight division and title. The
latest rumors stated that Zuffa Sports Entertainment, owners
of the UFC, would drop the lightweights as a division, but UFC
President Dana White recently said otherwise.
Lets
start at the beginning of what can only be tagged as a tough
situation for everyone. We know contract negotiations failed
between Zuffa and UFC Lightweight Champion Jens Pulver, and he
vacated the title early in 2002 after “UFC 35: Throw Down”
to pursue opportunities elsewhere. That decision left the UFC
with a gap to fill. The title was dormant for half a year, when
Zuffa decided to put together a tournament consisting of 4 of
the top lightweights in the world. The idea was to have BJ Penn,
Matt Serra, Din Thomas and Caol Uno compete at “UFC 39:
The Warriors Return” with the winners of the 2 bouts earning
the right to compete for the vacant UFC Lightweight Championship
on a future card. So far, so good. On September 27, 2002, we
saw Penn vs. Serra and Thomas vs. Uno, with Penn and Uno being
victorious in their individual bouts. The title bout was now
confirmed. The 4 men then met on February 28, 2003, at “UFC
41: Onslaught” with Penn vs. Uno in a 5-Round championship
title bout, while it was Serra vs. Thomas in a 3-Round non-title
bout. We’re still right on track. But Serra vs. Thomas ended
in controversy, with Serra being named the winner by judges decision,
a recount of the judges score cards, then a reversal of that
decision naming Thomas the winner. If that wasn’t enough,
Penn vs. Uno, the long awaited bout to name the lightweight champion,
ended in a draw. It’s now been over 1 year that the title
has laid dormant. What is Zuffa to do?
Talks
within Zuffa has been to drop one weight division. White says,
“we’ve actually talked about it (but) is it a done
deal... no.” Whether the lightweights or another division,
a decision has not been made. White wants to assure us that “when
I say dropping the lightweight, I mean the title,” as the
UFC would still have lightweight fights; there just will no longer
be a lightweight title. White says, “it’s something
we’ve been talking about... since the (lightweight) belt
was vacated.” So, before the tournament, and before the
decision reversal, and before the draw, Zuffa has been contemplating
a change in the number of division titles. White firmly states,
“the bottom line is that we do not have enough slots right
now,” referring to having 6 shows a year, with just 5 bouts
at each show making it on PPV. “There’s not enough
room to build guys,” White said, “it’s tough.”
And that it is for everyone.
Source: ADCC
BOB
SAPP - Lightweight Bound?
PRIDE's man mountain, Bob Sapp, has been preparing for his upcoming
K-1 fight against tough Mirko 'Cro-Cop'. Upon arriving in Japan
for the match, scheduled for this weekend, Sapp has ,amde numerous
statements to the Japanese press.
Apparently,
'The Beast' left for Thailand a few weeks back to train extensively
in Muay Thai under legitimate 'masters.'
Sapp
is taking the Cro-Cop fight seriously enough that he lived in
Thailand and underwent intense training for most of March. Whether
or not training with sparring partners weighing 120 to 160 lbs
will be beneficial remains to be seen.
The
shocking news to come out of this is that Sapp has lost an estimated
40-50lbs of water-weight and is said to look incredibly lean.
Sapp,
who normally tips the scales around 400 lbs is down to the 350lbs
neighborhood, as of this past weekend.
The
Sapp vs. Mirko 'Cro Cop' Filipovic fight is expected to generate
monumental TV ratings for K-1. The company is already a TV powerhouse
when it comes to generating numbers.
Speaking
of Filipovic, he will make his pro wrestling debut (yes another
MMA star going 'pro') on 5/2 for New Japan. He will be forming
his own team comprised of K-1 and PRIDE fighters. The team is
being called 'Cro Cop Army' (similar to Sapp's 'Team Beast').
Source: ADCC
KING
of the CAGE 22 - Complete Results!
March
23, 2003 // Soboba Casino, San Jacinto, California
PIC:
Denny with the choke finish!
This
past weekend, KOTC 22 went down. A non-PPV show, the KOTC 22
returned to their homebase in southern California. In the main
event, Fernando Vasconcelos of rAw Team took his second loss
in a row, losing a decision to Gokor Chivichian student Caro
Parisyan . Here is the rest of the card.
Complete
Results:
-Steve
Renaud def Brent Wooten 2:32 r1 by TKO
-Tony Bonello def Trent Wiggins 0:39 r1 by rear naked choke
-Daniel Ortiz def Mike Cordova 2:55 r1
-Louis Jablonski def David Ortiz 1:18 r1 by rear naked choke
-Timothy Mendoza drew Raul Delgado
-Wess Combs def Dale McDonald 1:40 r1 by TKO
-Louie Vaith def Bob Dowell 0:48 r1 by triangle choke
-Adam Lynn def Tadarius Thomas 1:37 r2 by TKO
-Jason House def Sust Infante 1:30 r2 by TKO
-John Delao defeated Joe Camacho 4:09 r2 by armbar
-Jason Lambert def Jimmy Breech 1:45 r1 by TKO
-Art Santore def Joe Garcia 3:10 r1 by TKO
-Thomas Denny def Justin Stanley 3:12 r1 by rear naked choke
-John Cole def Richard Solis by judges decision
-Caro Parisyan def Fernando Vasconcelos by judges decision
Source:
ADCC
This
Month in Mixed Martial Arts History: March
Royce
Gracie beat four opponents in one night to win the second Ultimate
Fighting Championship in March 1994. A brutal 16-man tournament,
UFC 2 left an indelible stamp on the sport that both enthralled
fans and armed politicians. Among the night's most memorable
moments were Pat Smith's savage beating of Scott Morris, Johnny
Rhodes one-sided win over Fred Ettish, and Royce Gracie's unstoppable
run to the championship. The show would be the first released
on VHS by SEG, and is widely acknowledged by many MMA enthusiasts
as their earliest exposure to the sport.
The
inaugural International Fighting Championship was held in March
two years later. A young Igor Vovchanchyn, significantly smaller
and more slender than his days in Pride that would follow, ran
the table in the eight-man tournament.
Maurice
Smith viciously knocked out Murakami Kazunari in the main event
of the final Extreme Fighting event in March 97. The punch, a
crisp right hand, violently twisted Kazunari's head upon impact,
instantly knocking him out. In other bouts, Olympic wrestlers
Kenny Monday and Kevin Jackson successfully debuted in MMA, with
wins over John Lewis and John Lober, respectively. Also, Matt
Hume stopped Pat Miletich on a broken nose.
The
same year, Carlos Barreto was the last man standing after a grueling
eight-man tournament at the sixth Universal Vale Tudo Fighting.
Barreto won the Brazilian event by submitting Geza Kalman in
the first round, coming back from momentary unconsciousness to
triangle choke Dan Bobish in the semifinals and choking out an
undefeated Kevin Randleman in a championship showdown.
Mark
Kerr gained a frustrating victory over Branko Cikatic at Pride
2 in March 98. Struggling to avoid the ground, Cikatic persistently
and illegally grabbed the ropes until he was disqualified in
the show's main event. In other action, Marco Ruas was bloodied
by but victorious over Gary Goodridge, and Kazushi Sakuraba armbarred
Vernon White.
Joel
Gerson, an unknown Canadian grappler who was training with Carlos
Newton, pulled a stunning upset over Rumina Sato the same year.
Also
in March 98, Frank Shamrock continued his demolition of top-ranked
middleweight challengers, as he knocked out Igor Zinoviev with
a slam in the UFC 16 main event. Kimo returned on the undercard,
but dropped a decision to rising Japanese heavyweight Tsuyoshi
Kosaka.
Tito
Ortiz marched toward the spotlight one year later, stopping Guy
Mezger in the UFC 19 headliner. In other bouts, Kevin Randleman
debuted in the Octagon with a win over sliding former champion
Maurice Smith, and Jeremy Horn choked out Chuck Liddell. The
loss remains the sole defeat on the record of "The Iceman."
In
perhaps the strangest of fight cancellations, the UFC 24 main
event was nixed in March 2000 after heavyweight champion Kevin
Randleman slipped on some pipes backstage. The fall knocked him
out, postponing his scheduled title defense against Pedro Rizzo.
A
star-studded cast coalesced at Pride 13 in March 2001. The long
awaited showdown between Vanderlei Silva and Kazushi Sakuraba
was the headliner, and delivered a surplus of action for the
1:13 it lasted. Unfortunately for Sakuraba, who was arguably
in his prime, Silva was the sole entertainer as he ruthlessly
pummeled the Japanese legend. On the undercard, Tra Telligman
upset Igor Vovchanchyn; Dan Henderson knocked out Renzo Gracie;
and Mark Coleman knocked out Allan Goes.
International
MMA media converged in The Netherlands the same year for Too
Hot to Handle. In the main event, Gilbert Yvel thrilled his countrymen
by knocking out Carlos Barreto, although the victory was controversial.
The
Mongols motorcycle club overtook the Morongo Entertainment Center
in Cabazon, California, in March of last year, sparking a riot
and cutting short the second Ultimate Athlete event.
Also
last March, Josh Barnett began a short and controversy plagued
UFC heavyweight title reign. After capturing the championship
from Randy Couture, Barnett tested positive for banned substances
in his post-fight urinalysis. He would later be stripped of his
belt. In other matches, Matt Hughes convincingly defeated Hayato
Sakurai, and Matt Lindland made quick work of Pat Miletich.
Source:
Maxfighting
3/26/03
Quote
of the Day
Patience,
persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for
success.
Napoleon
Hill
AFC
3 is This Weekend
Buy your
tickets now for the AFC!
The
Amateur Fighting Competition will take place on Saturday, March
29, 2003. The event starts at 6:00PM.
TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW!
$20 Advance
$25 at the door
Weigh-ins
are at 7:00 pm at the Jesus Is Lord Gym in Waipahu. Here are
some of the fighters on the card. The promoters may have a spot
or two open for the 201 & over so if you are game, contact
the promoters by clicking here or by calling 808-668-7100 and let
them know that you are interested.
Here
are some of the fighters that are scheduled to get it on...
201 & over weight
class
Kaleo
Westbrook (Hard Knocks) , Billy Saio (Freelance), Jacob Faagai
(Freelance) and More......
200 &
under
PJ Dean (Hard Knocks), Louis Kua'moo (Freelance), Cyrus Kanaole
(Freelance), Tommy Woo (808 Fight Factory) and More.....
Second
Black Belt Challenge Partial Results
Second
Black Belt Challenge took place in Sao Paulo, Brazil, this Tuesday
March 25th at the Via Funchal. Scheduled to fight are top names
of the sport including many World Champions. Check out the results
below:
Bibiano
Fernandez v Marcelo Santos - Bibiano by triangle
Pablo Rodrigo v Fredson Paixao - Paixao by choke
Marcos Barbosinha v Carlos Eduardo Vieira - Vieira by referee's
decision after equal advantages
Delson 'Pe-de-Chumbo' v Eduardo 'Portugues' - Referees decision
for Portugues
Jamelao Conceicao v Adriano Maciel - Maciel by triangle
Fabio 'Negao' v Roger Coelho - Negao by points 2 x 2 and advantage
3 x 2
Roberto Tozzi v Fernando Paradeda - very tight match with little
action Tozzi by judges decision
Eduardo Telles v Gabriel Napao - Gabriel Napao by points 9 x
2
Felipe Lyra v Claudio Godoy - Lyra by submission (choke) after
several points
Bruno Bastos v Jefferson Moura - Jefferson by arm-lock
Source:
ADCC
UFC
42: Adding More BLING BLING in the Lightweights!
It
is now evident that UFC 42 will be adding another explosive lightweight
match to their first Florida show.
Duane
'Bang' Ludwig, fresh of knocking out #1 ranked Jens Pulver, finally
gets his shot at UFC. But they're not giving him a 'warm-up'
fight.
Genki
Sudo is his opponent and this could mean curtains for Ludwig
if it hits the ground.
Without
disrespecting his ground game, many believe that Sudo is much
more polished on the mat that Ludwig.
While
Ludwig has K-1 and heavy striking experience, Sudo has also been
in K-1 Japan. Many believe Ludwig has a MAJOR edge in power and
punch/kick accuracy over Sudo which will be his key in scoring.
What
does this mean when two total opposite styles meet? A potentially
fast fight!
Both
wanting to fight their own game and avoid the others battle plan.
This could sometimes lead to a quick fight for the grappler (as
seen with Mir vs. Tank).
Tank's
rep was tarnished when he was finished in seconds by Frank Mir.
After so much buildup, fans who tuned in for a Tank slugfest
were left disappointed. Hopefully this will not happen with Ludwig.
Ludwig,
who's camp admits that he needs more ground work, could have
this weakness quickly exploited if it hits the ground.
Sudo
is a 'grappling poet' who is able to get smooth takedowns and
make quick transitions to finish his opponent. But, he does not
possess KO power like Ludwig.
Ludwig's
best shot is defending the takedown and working the jab to eventually
hit a power shot. If it goes into later rounds, watch out for
Ludwig's kicks.
Bottom
line: Bad for Ludwig on the ground...bad for Sudo standing!
Source:
ADCC
Frank
Shamrock Interview Recap
Former
Ultimate Fighting Champion Frank Shamrock was a guest recently
on 'The Fitness Fiend' Radio Show. 'The Fitness Fiend' can be
heard every Saturday at 11:00am on WNJC 1360AM in the Philadelphia
area. For more info, and to read a full transcript of the interview
visit www.fitnessfiend.com
.
Frank
Shamrock joined the show and said he's been training hard for
his upcoming return to the ring. He's been doing a lot of cardio,
especially sprints. Anaerobic exercises such as sprints and plyometrics
help him train for when he needs quick bursts of energy like
when he uses takedowns in the ring.
His
goal is to really bring mass appeal to the sport of mixed martial
arts fighting. He says submission fighting is the biggest, baddest
game of 'uncle' there is.
One
of 'The Fitness Fiend' hosts Lauren asks Frank about drug use
in the sport. He says that when you turn pro and there's an opportunity
to make money, many people will take shortcuts. He's had more
injuries than he can count, but he has a very addictive personality
so he's stayed away from pain killers. As far as steroids, he's
made a decision to not take the easy way out. He prefers to just
train harder. Frank fears drugs would ruin his career.
Frank
talks about growing up in a foster home. He says submission fighting
really saved his life. It gave him focus and discipline. His
father Bob Shamrock never pushed him or to get into fighting.
When there was an opportunity for Frank's brother Ken Shamrock
to get involved in pro wrestling their father supported the decision.
Their father's attitude was that as long as you work hard, train
hard, and stay out of trouble than it must be good for you.
Many
professional wrestling organizations have contacted Frank over
the years about competing but he has turned them down. The work
involved and the risk of injury didn't appeal to him. The biggest
factor in his decision was the amount of drug use in professional
wrestling. He says many of the wrestlers use steroids because
they're supposed to look larger than life and superhuman. Many
wrestlers become addicted to pain killers because they never
have a chance to heal from their injuries. Wrestlers work 150-200
shows a year so many have to use pain killers just to do their
job. Drugs become a way of life. He's fortunate because he only
has to fight once or twice a year.
Frank
does other things to supplement his income. He teaches martial
arts and he has formed a program for police officers to use self
defense for apprehending criminals. The program has become extremely
popular and is being used internationally.
On
the day of his fights Frank just tries to relax. He drinks plenty
of water and tries to warm up real good.
He
has been approached many times about fighting his brother Ken
on pay per view but that's something he would never even consider.
The hosts thank Frank for being on and he mentions that it was
his pleasure.
Frank
Shamrock came across very well. He was insightful and personable,
a classy representative for his sport. For a full transcript
of the interview visit www.fitnessfiend.com
Don't
both going to the link. I couldn't find the interview. Let me
know if you do.
Source:
ADCC
'Russia
vs. World - 5' - St Petersburg, Russia
The next big Russian MMA event MIX-FIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP M-1 'RUSSIA
vs. WORLD - 5' will be on 6th April 2003. Below is the pre-line
up for the event.
For
more info, check out the MIX FIGHT website.
Card
Subject To Change:
-Thomas Hytten Moon Lee v. Maxim Rudenski
-Kazeka
Muniz v.
Juri Ivlev
-Milton Vieira v. Magomed Jabrailov
-Antonio Navarro v. Alexei Veselovzorov
-Mike Pyle v. Andrei
Semenov
-Martin Tondryk v. Sergei Kaznovski
-Thomas Randers v. Roman Zentsov
-Mario
'Sukata' Neto
v. Ibragim Magomedov
-Luis 'Buscape' Fermino v. Musail Alaudinov
-Ruben Vazquez v. Arman Gambaryan
Source:
ADCC
3/25/03
Quote
of the Day
Laziness
may appear attractive, but work gives satisfaction.
Anne
Frank
Fighters'
Club TV
Just
a couple of more times to catch episode 8. Tuesday (March 25th)
at 11pm
on ch.52 and next Tuesday (April 1) at 3pm on ch.52. Our new
time slot
begins on Tuesday (April 8th) at 830pm on ch.52 and will feature
a new
episode.
Episode
8 features:
Superbrawl
28 footage
-Andre "the Chief" Roberts vs. Raymond "King Kong"
Seraille (w/ post fight
intvs)
-Ronald "the Machine Gun" Jhun vs. Mike Panalber (w/
post fight intv)
Technique of the Week
-Don Frye demonstrating a viscious no-gi Judo Takedown (+ exclusive
intv.)
introducing our new female co-host, kickboxing and TKD instructor,
Jocelyn
Soriano
Episode
9 will feature:
More
Superbrawl 28 footage including:
-Falaniko Vitale vs. Tyrone "The Native" Roberts ("The
Chief's little
brother) w/ post fight intvs of both ftrs
-Egan Inoue vs. Yukiya Naito, including intv w/ Egan (Naito was
a little too
beaten down to talk--you'll see why)
-Tech of the Week, "Making the Band" Ikaika's big brother,
Haku Kahoano
demonstrating a bit of Muay Thai.
and
on both episodes, you're favorite 2 hosts, Mike Onzuka &
Mark Kurano
Any
suggestion, comments, complaints--email Mark at markk@flex.com
Another
Confirmed Super Brawl Fight.
May 9, 2003
Blaisdell Arena
145lb
3x5 minute rounds
Joe
Jordan 145lbs v Eddie Yagin 145lbs
(Team
Extreme) 3-1 (Grappling Unlimited) 8-1
You
won’t want to miss this one! Jordan has a tremendously aggressive
style and is not afraid to “let his hands go.” Hawaii
fans know Yagin is never in a boring fight and he is gaining
international recognition with every fight. He is always willing
to go for “high risk” maneuvers and can bang with the
best of them. Possible fight of the night! Yagin 3-2 favorite
143lbs
3x5 minute rounds
Bao
Quach 143lbs v “Kid” Yamamoto 143lbs
(Next
Generation) 5-5 (Pure Bred, Tokyo) 4-1
This
has the ear-markings of an epic battle. Quach is one of the toughest
American fighters at 145lbs. He is a master of submissions but
will not hesitate to stand and throw. Yamamoto is explosive!
He has one gear….overdrive! An Olympic level wrestler who
likes to brawl. The winner of this fight will certainly be a
top challenger to the 145lb Super Brawl Championship Belt. Yamamoto
2-1 favorite
185lbs
3x5 minute rounds
Kyle
Jensen 185lbs v Falaniko Vitale 185lbs
(Team
Extreme) 27-2 (Grappling Unlimited) 12-1
Jensen
is a rising star in the mid-western fight circuit. He has amassed
his impressive record with a well rounded arsenal and tremendous
stamina. Vitale has been unstoppable as of late and will look
to impose his will on Jensen early. Vitale is fast becoming an
internationally recognized fighter and will have the eyes of
the world on him once again. Vitale 2-1 Odds
A
fight that has been years in the making. Suda holds the prestigious
Shooto belt and Inoue carries the Super Brawl belt. They are
both well rounded fighters who have developed Championship level
talent. Suda will likely start slow and began to push the fight
in the 2nd and 3rd round. Suda will attempt to gain top position
on the ground and score points. Suda is very adept at winning
fights that go the distance. Inoue, on the other hand, has been
finishing most of his fights by K.O. or submission. It will be
a tough decision for Inoue, if he decides to go for an early
submission or knock-out he will risk tiring later in the fight.
But if he lets Suda dictate the pace he will risk losing a decision.
Pick-em Even Odds
Source:
Promoter
MaxFighting's
Pound for Pound MMA Rankings
1. Murilo Bustamante (9-1-1)
Until official notice, Bustamante, the best middleweight in the
world, is the UFC 185-pound champion. It seems more than likely,
however, that the Brazilian great will move to Japan and the
PRIDE ring sometime this summer. Dominant wins over Dave Menne
and Matt Lindland in 2002 showed Bustamante could finish a fight
anywhere in the ring. May marks 12 months since his last fight
and he needs to step in the ring soon in order to keep his place
on the list. Despite being at the top of his game, Bustamante’s
age may be the only thing working against him right now.
2.
Matt Hughes (29-3-0)
Hughes continued his demolition of the welterweight class with
a first-round TKO victory of Gil Castillo in late-November. That
win coupled with his other 2002 dominations of Hayato “Mach”
Sakurai and Carlos Newton punctuated a very impressive year for
the undisputed top 170-pounder in the world. His scary strength
is quickly being accented by scary skills and it seems highly
unlikely that anyone in the welterweight division that can compete
with him right now. Hughes next challenge comes April 25 by way
of welterweight powerhouse Sean Sherk.
3.
Chuck Liddell (11-1-0)
With his “fight anyone, anytime” attitude, Liddell
has separated himself as the best light heavyweight in the world
since stopping Kevin Randleman May of 2001. “The Iceman”
followed up that win by decisioning Vitor Belfort and, most recently,
KO’ing Renato “Babalu” Sobral, a first for the
tough Brazilian. Liddell has stood up to any challenge thrown
his way and unquestionably deserves a shot at UFC 205-pound titleholder
Tito Ortiz. Whether that happens or not is up to Ortiz, who seems
to want anything but.
4.
Emelianenko Fedor (11-1-0)
Last June only close followers of the sport had heard of the
Russian fighter. What a nine months it’s been. Beginning
with a decision over the always-tough Semmy Schilt, Fedor followed
with thoroughly dominating performances over heavyweight contender
Heath Herring (TKO R1), and PRIDE heavyweight champion Antonio
Rodrigo Nogueira (unanimous decision). The most revolutionary
ground-and-pound fighter since Mark Coleman first came onto the
scene, Fedor systematically hammered Nogueira from within the
Brazilian’s guard. It was truly an amazing performance.
5.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (19-2-1)
Previously ranked with Bustamante atop MaxFighting’s pound
for pound rankings, Nogueira had been all but unstoppable the
past 18 months. But Fedor ended his dominance on March 16 and
for the first time Nogueira looked human. Though the loss knocks
him from his perch, it should not inspire doubts to his greatness.
He’s still an amazingly tough and skilled fighter. A rematch
versus Fedor -- and you have to hope there is one soon -- would
answer any questions regarding how the two fighters stack up
in the pound-for-pound picture.
6.
Anderson Silva (9-1-0)
Chute Boxe-trained Silva has confounded opponents with his lanky
six-foot frame and competent ground game. Wins over Hayato Sakurai
(he was the first to stop the highly-regarded Japanese fighter),
Alex Stiebling, and a recent TKO of Carlos Newton highlight his
resume. Sporting one of the best jabs in MMA, the former SHOOTO
167-pound champ has fought recent bouts closer to185 pounds;
it appears he’ll stay at that weight for the near future.
7.Tito
Ortiz (11-2-0)
Ortiz, the UFC 205-pound belt holder, has only one fight over
the past 18 months (a three-round domination of veteran Ken Shamrock
last November). When he has fought, he’s been absolutely
dominant. Improved striking along with his unequaled cardio and
brutal ground-and-pound amount to one hell of a good fighter.
Yet, Ortiz drops from five to seven because of his apparent refusal
to give Liddell, the clear-cut top contender for his UFC belt,
a shot. The stalling makes one wonder.
8.
Vanderlei Silva (21-3-1)
Silva has the talent and ferocity to hang with any light heavyweight
in the world. Through no fault of his own, however, he’s
been relegated to beating primarily b-level fighters since winning
the PRIDE 205-pound title in November 2001. Save a special rules
K-1/Pride bout between Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic that
resulted in a draw, Silva’s wins versus Alexander Otsuka,
Kiyoshi Tamura (the best out of the bunch), Tatsuya Iwasaki and
an overmatched Hiromitsu Kanehara have done little to elevate
him in the minds of most of the sport’s close observers.
He gets a shot to quiet all his critics when he faces PRIDE number-one
contender Quinton “Rampage” Jackson this coming June
or August.
9.
Takanori Gomi (13-0)
One of the few elite undefeated fighters in the world the SHOOTO
154-pound champ is the best all-around fighter in the lightweight
division. After stopping top contender Dokonjonsuke Mishima in
December, Gomi followed with a dominant one-round submission
performance over an overmatched Nick Ertl. It appears as if Gomi
is destined to compete against top contenders on this side of
the Pacific, and his performance will do much to clarify his
place on this list.
10.
Alexandre Franca Nogueira (9-2-1)
The smallest fighter on the Max-rankings, Nogueira (145 pounds)
had been considered amongst the top three pound-for-pound fighters
in the world before a shocking KO loss to Hiroyuki Abe last July
relieved him of his status. The loss marked the second of his
career. However, it also provided him another chance at redemption.
The Brazilian answered Abe’s challenge by catching him in
a rear naked choke in their December rematch. The SHOOTO champ
is one of the most dangerous fighters on the list because of
his ability to win the fight from any position.
Source:
Maxfighting
2003
Grapplers Quest
US Nationals To Include Team USA Trials
We’re
less then a week away from the 2003 Grapplers Quest US National
Championships of Submission Grappling. Scheduled for this Saturday,
March 29, 2003, the 3rd Annual tournament rolls into Marist High
School in Bayonne, NJ as some 500 competitors are expected to
compete in 73 Men, Women, Children, Teen, and Executive divisions.
Grapplers Quest continues to draw competitors from around the
world, as they offer a safe and unbiased tournament environment
for all individuals, teams, and styles of grappling. To further
enhance the quality of Grapplers Quest, competitors can, for
the first time, earn points toward MMA.tv’s nationally RANKED
database.
Another
first for Grapplers Quest is the introduction of the Team USA
Trials. Come watch some of the nation’s best grapplers do
battle to determine the prestigious USA Grappling Team. Sponsored
by SPRAWL Fight Short Company and TRIBE Fightwear, 32 men will
compete in 4 Expert Divisions.
Lightweight
- 159.9 lbs. and below:
Leonardo Xavier, Saulo Ribeiro
Dave Jacobs, Yamasaki
Keith Florian, Boston BJJ
Mike Moses, Linxx Academy
Alan Teo, Renzo Gracie
Marcos Avellan, Freestyle Fighting Academy
Mike Mrkulic, Royler Gracie
Matt Zaccariah, Tai Kai Jiu Jitsu
Middleweight
- 160-179.9 lbs.:
Nakapan Phungephorn, Linxx Academy
Scott Schultz, Tai Kai Jiu Jitsu
Shawn Williams, Renzo Gracie
James Valentine, Lloyd Irvin
Pablo Popovich, ATT
Anthony Tolone, Marcio Simas
Kenny Florian, Boston BJJ
Stephen Haigh, Fight Factory
Cruiserweight
- 180-199.9 lbs.:
Jason Miller, Team Oyama
Rafael Lovato Jr., Machado Jiu Jitsu
Jamie Cruz, Renzo Gracie
Justin Garcia, Royce Gracie
Kenny Kronenberg, Tai Kai Jiu-Jitsu
Justin Ellison, Walt Bayless
Todd Margolis, Linxx Academy
David Avellan, Freestyle Fighting Academy
Heavyweight
- 200 lbs. and over:
Jeff Monson, ATT
John Jensen, Millennia Jiu Jitsu
Pat Stano, USGA
Carlos Catania, Royler Gracie
Tom Muller, Serra Jiu Jitsu
Jeremiah Fountain, Tai Kai Jiu Jitsu
Tim Carpenter, Relson Gracie
Brandon Vera, Linxx Academy
The
Team USA Women’s Trials have many confirmed competitors
already, including Amanda Bucker of Boulder Brazilian Jiu Jitsu,
Rebecca Faber of Tai Kai Jiu Jitsu, Amy Saia of TNT Martial Arts
and Amie Turton of Tong Dragon. And the Team USA Executive Trials
include Anthony Argyros of Renzo Gracie. The winners of each
division will represent Team USA at the Grapplers Quest North
American Championships scheduled for Saturday, June 7, in New
Jersey against Team Canada.
The
weigh-ins start on March 29 at 8:00AM and the matches start at
10:00AM with the Team USA Trials beginning at approximately 12:00PM.
Marist
High School is located at 1241 Kennedy Blvd., in Bayonne, New
Jersey. For more information, including registration, directions
and hotel, check out www.grapplers.com.
Source:
ADCC
Suddenly
Beatable
Rodrigo
Nogueira was separating himself from the heavyweight class. He
was devouring the best big men in the world and finishing nearly
all of them. With each dominating win, he seemed to grow closer
and closer to invincibility.
Unbeatable.
That's
a dangerous label for a mixed martial artist. History has shown
just when everyone starts slapping such a title on a fighter,
that fighter is soon to fall. Vitor Belfort is the classic example.
As soon as he became "invincible," he was pummeled
by an ageless Randy Couture.
"Minotauro,"
as good as he is, is the most recent illustration. As he blazed
through the heavyweight ranks of Pride, some fans and media members
smacked "unbeatable" stickers on the Brazilian heavyweight.
Even though he was more deserving of the mark than anyone before
him, he suffered the same fate.
The
difference between Nogueira and Belfort is obvious. Belfort was
largely hype; his was a superficial rise. Nogueira is proven;
he became "unbeatable" after beating almost everyone.
Almost.
The
nature of mixed martial arts opposes the idea of an unbeatable
fighter. Invincibility is rare in all sports, but it's especially
exceptional in MMA. A multitude of variables are present in every
fight, which is significant for several reasons.
First,
these variables make possible a diversity of action and finishes.
A bout can end by toehold, guillotine choke, left hook or head
kick. It can close by a fighter stopping a leg lock attempt and
pounding his opponent, or a fighter kneeing an opponent in the
face when the foe is shooting for a takedown. The possibilities
are endless.
Second,
the variability of action and conclusions thin the skill discrepancies
between fighters. For example, Fighter A has wrestled and boxed
his whole life, and Fighter B is a submission wizard. If they
wrestled, Fighter A would overwhelmingly win. Same goes for a
boxing match. In a submission wrestling match, Fighter B would
easily tap Fighter A. In an MMA fight, however, the skill differences
would be diminished.
A
match can end from a submission, but it can also conclude from
a slam or a punch. This doesn't mean that the better-rounded
Fighter A wouldn't have an advantage. It means that an MMA bout
between the two will probably be more competitive than a wrestling,
boxing or submission wrestling match.
Finally,
due to the reduction in skill dissimilarities between fighters,
the competitive nature of MMA makes upsets more likely. The difference
between a top-20 and a top-10 fighter in MMA is not much. There
is a wealth of fighters who haven't yet emerged, though they
are capable of beating a top-10 or better fighter. And they're
capable partly because of the sport's variability.
It
then follows that the idea of an unbeatable fighter in MMA is
… well, an idea and nothing more. I'm not saying that every
match is a tossup. Some fighters are clearly superior, regardless
of the potentiality of an MMA fight. As a whole, though, the
sport is endlessly variable, fiercely competitive and filled
with proficient fighters.
A
few rise from this cauldron of competition, like Nogueira. Maintaining
perspective on the nature of the sport teaches us to measure
the greats not by whether they are unbeatable, but by how long
and how they stay at the top. For it's only a matter of time
before they fall.
NOGUEIRA'S
NOT DONE
A
popular consequence of the frequently short reigns of fighters
at the top is the abandonment of the fighter after a loss. They're
unbeatable one day and done the next. This doesn't seem to be
the case with Nogueira, whom the majority appear to wisely still
believe in.
"Minotauro"
ran into a prepared and skilled fighter who executed an excellent
gameplan. He fought gallantly, eating leather from the hardest
hitter on the ground in the sport, and he never quit attacking.
For
20 minutes, Nogueira fought as hard as he could to stay at the
top. For two and a half years, he chased invincibility. In the
end, he lost and the ungraspable trait remained elusive even
to a fighter as great as Nogueira.
He
was No. 1, and now he should be No. 2. Simple as that. He's still
better than all the other heavyweights.
Don't
think for a second Fedor has become unbeatable. He'll fall too,
and a rematch with Nogueira may mark his demise.
THE
RUSSIAN NIGHTMARE
I
don't care if it sticks. Emelianenko Fedor is The Russian Nightmare.
I never thought I'd see a fighter so eagerly step down into Rodrigo
Nogueira's perilous guard. Fedor was at home where others have
been choked and had their arms torqued in every possible direction.
He shrugged off Nogueira's submissions with an apathetic confidence,
twice ripping his arm out of kimura attempts when he appeared
to be in danger.
The
bombs were dropping, too. With each defense, Fedor retaliated
with clubbing right and left hands. Even in small openings, he
somehow generated a storm of power unrivaled by any ground-and-pound
fighter in the sport. The most impressive display was in the
first round, when Fedor smashed a series of heavy shots into
Nogueira's chin, which set the course for the remainder of the
fight.
THE
SAKURABA FANS' NIGHTMARE
It
was depressing. Legendary Kazushi Sakuraba, known for beating
the Gracies, reduced to a bloodied and beaten up shell of his
better days. The same Sakuraba who fought for 90 minutes in his
first round match at the Pride Grand Prix and courageously continued
against heavyweight Igor Vovchanchyn in the next round, lay battered
by a far inferior and smaller opponent.
The
beating was as one-sided as Saku's win over Gilles Arsene. (Thankfully,
this catastrophe happened against a reputable Jiu-Jitsu artist,
Nino Schembri, rather than against Arsene.) Then, as I was wondering
which strike would knock out Schembri, Sakuraba solemnly dropped
to his knees. He had eaten a knee, and he slowly fell face first
into the canvas after consuming several more. Sakuraba the Legend
laid vulnerable on the mat, and Schembri snapped down a few more
kicks for good measure. The defeat was as sudden as sad.
In
hindsight, I blame those who fed Sakuraba to a heavier and ruthless
Vanderlei Silva. I blame those who sacrificed him to Mirko Filipovic.
I blame Sakuraba, who apparently failed to take care of himself.
But I also thank him. I appreciate all the unforgettable performances.
Unfortunately,
his devastating loss to Schembri at Pride 25 is unforgettable,
too.
KENTUCKY
CLAIMS STIEBLING
They
may announce Alex Stiebling as hailing from Indianapolis, but
they're wrong. He may be fighting out of Indiana, but he's from
Kentucky. Louisville, to be exact. Trinity High School.
Clearly,
the heart Stiebling showed in the second round against Akira
Shoji is something we breed in the Bluegrass. After taking a
shot on the chin, the young fighter traveled to the state between
conscious and unconsciousness, and, despite Shoji's relentless
assault, Stiebling found his way home.
Few
fighters have the chin or the capacity to walk that line and
return. A comeback to consciousness depends on an opponent's
ability to follow up, but one's heart is also a deciding factor.
When Shoji flurried to finish and it came down to Stiebling's
spirit, the Kentucky Boy delivered and then some.
In
the same round, Stiebling narrowly escaped defeat and just missed
victory. If either Shoji or Stiebling hadn't possessed their
tremendous hearts, an enthralling battle that went the distance
would have been a mediocre match that ended in the second round.
As
for Stiebling's brashness and "Brazilian Killa" persona,
which is atypical to most Kentuckians, it's explainable. Like
I said, he's from Louisville, not from Lexington.
CHUTE
BOXE'S BEST?
They
say Anderson Silva is the most technical fighter from the Chute
Boxe camp. I believe it. Of course, I also think Chute Boxe produces
more skilled brawlers than tacticians.
Either
way, Silva is for real. He may have the best jab in the sport,
which is a shame for his opponents. Although Alexander Otsuka
successfully shot on Silva a couple times, attacking his legs
for a takedown looks like a bad idea if he's in flying knee mode.
The better way, which Newton used fruitfully, may be an upper
body takedown.
Silva
doesn't have the strongest upper body and is vulnerable to throws
and body locks, as Newton showed with his first takedown. The
only problem is that pesky jab, which Silva uses artfully to
keep opponents from closing the distance.
Get
past his jab, get a bodylock and he can be taken down. Stay at
the end of his jab, and you engage him on the feet at your own
risk. I'd ask Alex Stiebling before trying that one, though.
Shoot on him, and you may get the takedown, but you may also
get a knee in the face.
Even
though Newton initially steamrolled Silva's ground game, the
lanky Brazilian is no slouch on the mat either. He can do it
all, and that's why I'm a little disappointed that his foray
into Pride has lifted him from the welterweight to middleweight
class and separated him from Matt Hughes.
More
than Frank Trigg and more than Sean Sherk, I feel that Silva
has the best shot at beating Hughes. I'm not saying he would,
but former Chute Boxe fighter Pele has done it. Sure, Hughes
is better now, and Pele was probably heavier than Silva currently
is. But hey, someone has to beat Hughes -- he's becoming unbeatable.
Source:
Maxfighting
UFC
42: Alvarez vs Cabbage, Aram vs Strasser
Zuffa
has released some more matchups for the UFC 42: Sudden Impact
card. The card is now:
Hermes
Franca vs Rich Crunkilton
Mark
Weir vs David Loiseau
Sean
Alvarez vs Wesley
“Cabbage” Correira
Romi
Aram vs David Strasser
Pete
Spratt vs Robbie Lawler
Randy
Couture vs Andrei Arlovski
Matt
Hughes vs Sean Sherk
There will be NINE fights on this card, taking place April 25,
2003.
Discuss
UFC 42 in the MMA forums
Some
of Florida’s top mixed martial artists as well as international
stars will be featured on the action-packed nine-fight card at
UFC 42: Sudden Impact when the Ultimate Fighting Championship
(UFC) brings its first fight event to Florida live on pay-per-view
Friday, April 25, at AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami.
A
lightweight bout featuring two undefeated fighters will be a
Battle of Ft. Lauderdale. Rich Crunkilton (13-0-0 in mixed martial
arts), who now fights out of New Smyrna Beach, will fight Brazilian
Hermes Franca (6-0-0) of Ft. Lauderdale. But, Crunkilton grew
up in Ft. Lauderdale and still has many friends and fans in the
city. It will be England vs. Canada when Mark Weir (17-1-0) of
Gloucester and David Loiseau (8-2-0) of Montreal tangle in a
middleweight match. Puerto Rican Heavyweight Sean Alvarez (4-2-0),
who fights out of New York City, will take on Wesley “Cabbage” Correira
(15-4-0) of Hilo, Hawaii, and in a welterweight bout, undefeated Romi
Aram (X-0-0) of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., will meet David Strasser
(22-3-4) of Kenosha, Wis.
In
the main event, Welterweight Champion Matt Hughes (28-3-0) of
Hillsboro, Ill., will defend his title for the fourth time against
undefeated Sean Sherk (22-0-1) of Brooklyn Park, Minn.
Tickets,
$300, $200, $100, $60 and $30, are now on sale at the AmericanAirlines
Arena box office in Miami, at all Ticketmaster locations and
at www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets also may be ordered by telephone
at 1-800-736-1420, 1-305-358-5885 (Dade County) or 1-954-523-3309
(Broward County). The Biscayne Bay Marriott Miami Hotel will
host the event and UFC fans can reserve rooms at a special rate
by calling 1-800-228-9290. Use the fan reservation code, UFFUFFA.
UFC
42: Sudden Impact will be live on pay-per-view 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 $29.95.
Crunkilton
grew up in Ft. Lauderdale and attended Pensacola Christian College
where he was a National Collegiate Wrestling Assn. (NCWA) All-American
in 1999 and 2000 at 149 pounds. He is a freestyle fighter but
is an excellent wrestler and stand-up striker whose favorite
technique is punching. He has been doing a lot of running, wrestling
and sparring to prepare for Franca, who is from Fortaleza, Brazil,
but now lives and trains in Ft. Lauderdale with the American
Top Team. Franca, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, is an excellent
ground fighter who is constantly looking for submissions. But,
he also will stand and trade punches. His favorite techniques
are the triangle choke, the arm bar, the guillotine choke and
sweeps. Both are undefeated, so something will definitely have
to give in the Battle of Ft. Lauderdale.
Weir
is the United Kingdom’s top ranked middleweight fighter.
He made an explosive UFC debut July 13 before a hometown crowd
in London with a 10-second knockout of veteran Eugene Jackson.
He is a Tae Kwon Do black belt who is as equally talented on
the ground as he is in a stand-up fight. Loiseau, a Haitian by
descent, will be making his UFC debut. He is both a boxer and
a wrestler who is a powerful puncher and has a good takedown
defense. He said he knows Weir is very skilled fighter with a
long reach, but he is really looking forward to meeting him.
Alvarez
brings his tremendous strength and Brazilian jiu-jitsu expertise
learned from Renzo Gracie in New York to his UFC heavyweight
debut against “Cabbage.” He expects “Cabbage” to push for a stand-up
fight because he has such a strong chin and is a powerful puncher.
Correira,
who got the nickname as a youngster because his head looked like
a Cabbage Patch Kid, excels in boxing, judo, karate and wrestling.
But, he is known primarily as a stand-up striker who has knocked
out skilled fighters such as UFC veteran Aaron Brink and Brazilian
Renato Bruzzi.
The
undefeated Aram will pit his strong wrestling and BJJ submission
experience against Strasser, a free-style fighter, who is a three-time
Extreme Challenge tournament champion.
Source:
Sherdog
REFLECTIONS
ON THE NCAA DIV. I WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
NEW
YORK, March 24 -- I arrived home in New York Sunday night from
the 2003 NCAA Div. I Wrestling Championships, held March 20-22
in Kansas City, MO. Three days of non-stop activity and constant
running from one location to another made for a frantic weekend.
On top of that, yesterday I had breakfast in Kansas City, lunch
in Dallas, and dinner in New York. It wasn't as glamorous as
it sounds, as the first two were sandwiches at the airports as
I was waiting for flights, and the last was takeout from my local
favorite Chinese restaurant. But you do get the idea that the
last several days were run, run, run. Now I can sit down and
collect some of my thoughts on what most agreed was one of the
best of these tournaments.
It
is well-known that the elite college wrestlers who compete in
this event are superb athletes, fine-tuned physical specimens,
and generally infused with a warrior spirit. It is less-well
known and talked about that the national tournament that showcases
them for a national audience is one of the most entertaining
that I have ever witnessed.
You
cannot feel a fraction of the intensity simply by watching the
television broadcast. The two wrestlers and the referee are alone
on the mat, which is on a raised platform, only with coaches,
trainers, and a few NCAA officials matside. But surrounding them
in the oval-shaped arena with its sloping stands are over 16,000
mostly knowledgeable, passionate, and loud fans. You must look
at the big picture and not just at the mat to appreciate how
everything from the nosebleed seats in the sold-out Kemper Arena
leads down all in the direction of one point: the mat, where
the two wrestlers partake in the world's oldest sport. It all
points to them.
The
fans are thus part of the show. At one far end of the arena was
a huge section proudly wearing their orange or black T-shirts,
the colors of Oklahoma State. They cheer, arise, and react as
a group throughout the tournament, and at critical points lots
of eyeballs are pointed their way. Minnesota and Iowa also had
their own cheering sections, supplemented by smaller pockets
of fans from Oklahoma, Lehigh, and other schools. For myself,
being a journalist and not a partisan of one of these teams but
of the whole sport, allows me to enjoy the bubbling spirit in
the arena, and feel proud myself of how they all feel proud of
their own favorite teams.
And
this is wrestling, a sport that rewards toughness, the warrior
spirit, and fairness. Crybabies need not apply. Thugs need not
apply. Cowards need not apply. There are plenty of other sports
for those groups. The few of these types who find their way into
wrestling are usually weeded out fast, often by the unparalleled
discipline which wrestling requires.
All
this adds to the drama of wrestling tournaments such as this
one, this overwhelming valor and glory that sometimes borders
on stoicism of the best kind.
Covering
this event is also an awesome task. With 330 wresters starting
out, and eight mats and then six running simultaneously until
the finals, it is easy to become swamped in statistics, details,
and results. If you try to focus on specific wrestlers or teams,
you often find that suddenly a roar gores up from part of the
crowd because on another mat an upset has occurred, or a pinfall,
or a wild scramble as the clock ticks down. It thus takes time
to sort out everything that has happened. Even in the semifinal
round, the two matches in each weight class went on simultaneously,
flanked by four more late-round consolations where wrestlers
defeated in earlier rounds had their last, desperate chances
to stay alive and become All-Americans, a status earned by the
top eight in each weight.
There
were over 360 members of the media covering this tournament,
almost double from last year. The semifinals were broadcast in
some markets on Fox Sports Net, with the finals broadcast on
same-day tape-delay on ESPN2. It is too early to get ratings
for the ESPN2 show, but these were not helped by the NCAA's insistence
at holding the Div. I wrestling championships the same time as
their basketball championships. An external factor will also
be the war coverage, as ratings of other entertainment shows
like Sunday's Oscars slid significantly this year.
The
greats of the sport's past mingled with its present and future
stars. Standing in the arena near or next to this freshman class
that captured two of the ten national championships were greats
like Dan Gable, Bruce Baumgartner, and Kevin Jackson. The coaching
staffs are also filled with former wrestlers who have had stellar
careers, including John Smith, Bobby Douglas, J Robinson, Kendall
Cross, and Zeke Jones, to name but a few. The post-World War
2 era has been a boon time for wrestling in America. Most of
its greats have stuck with the sport in some capacity or other,
and many were on hand along with the young, rising class of 2003,
who will no doubt dominate the Olympic teams of 2008 and 2012,
if not before or after. So the history of the sport's last 40
or so years is all under one roof, adding to the glamor, awe,
and significance of this event.
A
lot of what makes this event so special are the little things.
A largely unsung hero of this tournament is Iowa State head coach
Bobby Douglas. Despite second-place finishes two of the last
three seasons, this year was not kind to the Cyclones, who finished
tied for 19th place and with just two All-Americans. Last year
they had three national champions. But Bobby Douglas played the
key role in the controversy on day one of the tournament when
heavyweight Steve Mocco of Iowa State's bitter rival, the Iowa
Hawkeyes, could have been disqualified after an illegal hold,
a bar arm cranked too far, injured Iowa State's Scott Coleman
and forced him out of the match. The top-seeded and undefeated
Mocco could have been disqualified, and out of contention for
a national title, if the match ended because of an injury from
an illegal hold. But the hold was neither intentional nor caused
by malice. It was an overzealous mistake by a college sophomore.
Douglas then suggested that Coleman and Mocco return to the mat
to resume the match for one second, just stand there, and then
have Coleman say he could not continue. That resulted in a medical
default by Coleman, and allowed Mocco to advance, where, of course,
he later triumphed to gain his first national championships.
It
was a brilliant, gutsy, and classy move by Coach Douglas. Despite
such a disappointing tournament, with Iowa State's defending
national champion Aaron Holker just finishing seventh, Douglas
put the interests of wrestling ahead of anything else. I have
previously called him a 'professor of wrestling.' If you didn't
already, now maybe you know why.
Then
there is Oklahoma State head coach John Smith, who finally looked
relieved and joyous after his team captured its first national
title since 1994. He has his share of critics, especially after
the Cowboys were favored in several years, and went undefeated
in regular season dual meets in 1997, 1998, and 1999, and failed
to win those years. I went to the Oklahoma State victory party
after the tournament, and there he was, laughing and celebrating
as he was being swamped by well-wishers, some Cowboy faithful,
and others from various sectors of the wrestling community. Again,
as a journalist, I'm not tied to one team or another, but the
sense of accomplishment and pride at this party was refreshing.
Along
with the glee is the sadness. Iowa finished eighth, with just
three All-Americans. This was its worst finish since 1972, when
the Hawkeyes finished in 11th place. This was also the fewest
number of All-Americans since 1974, when they also had three,
and 1973, when they had just two. Put another way, 2003 was Iowa's
worst performance at the NCAA national championships since the
Dan Gable era began in 1977. Even though there was the one bright
spot of Steve Mocco's individual title, more than one person
wondered aloud if Coach Jim Zalesky's days are numbered.
Then
there were the great individual stories. Damion Hahn, after being
the most highly-touted high school wrestler of his class, failed
to show greatness in two-and-a-half years at Minnesota. Two sixth-place
finishes in his first two years and an injury-plagued first half
of this season earned him only a sixth-seed at this tournament.
Hahn had a thrilling win with a takedown in the closing seconds
to defeat the very talented second seed, Muhammed Lawal of Oklahoma
State, in the semis, 4-3. Hahn repeated these heroics in the
finals with another last-second takedown of top seed Jon Trenge
of Lehigh to win the finals, 5-4. You couldn't write such beautiful
endings.
There
was Travis Lee, the 125-pound Cornell sophomore who completed
an undefeated season to become the first NCAA champion from Hawaii,
and one of the rare ones from an Ivy League school. Johnny Thompson, the
133-pounder of Oklahoma State, who some counted out after losing
to Minnesota's Ryan Lewis during the regular season and squeaking
out close victories in the early rounds, peaked at the right
time to become the only one of the six returning NCAA champs
to repeat.
Teyon
Ware, a true freshman at 141 for Oklahoma, started the season
as a redshirt, and went on to win a national title, already arousing
speculation over whether he will join that exclusive club of
four-time NCAA champions, at present only including Pat Smith
of Oklahoma State and Cael Sanderson of Iowa State.
At
149, Arizona State's Eric Larkin sparkled, winning the Outstanding
Wrestler award. Larkin had to beat another defending champion
in the finals to do it, Jared Lawrence of Minnesota. Their match
ended in a score of 10-8, but it was not as close as the score
would indicate, as Larkin led 5-3 after the first period, 8-5
after the second, and 10-5 towards the end of the match. In the
first three rounds, he scored two pins and a major decision,
before beating sixth-seeded Jerrod Sanders of Oklahoma State
5-3 in the semis. Larkin finishes his college career as a four-time
All-American, adding his first national championship to finishes
of second, third, and fourth.
At
157, there was sophomore Ryan Bertin of Michigan, just seeded
sixth, whom virtually no one gave a shot at a national title.
He hit a second-period takedown over second-seeded Keaton Anderson
of Ohio State in the second period to seal that win. Bertin then
went on to topple upstart Alex Tirapelle, a redshirt freshman
and ninth-seed from Illinois, 7-3 in the finals. Something tells
me we will be seeing and hearing a lot about both of these young
wrestlers for several years to come, at least.
Who
except his opponents could not feel good for 165-pound Illinois
senior Matt Lackey, who captured his first title while finishing
this season undefeated? He is another wrestler who will not disappear
after college, but continue doing freestyle and trying his hand
at coaching. Robbie Waller of Oklahoma at 174 and redshirt freshman
Jake Rosholt of Oklahoma State at 184 were also wrestlers who
were long shots. When the Sooner Waller won, he waved to the
crowd, especially to the Cowboy fans, who graciously applauded
this champion from their in-state rivals.
And
again, there was the satisfaction that Hahn finally won at 197,
and that Mocco achieved what will likely be just his first such
championship.
Mocco
has the potential to become a major star in wrestling. His fearsome
looks, bullish power and size, and surprising speed and technique
make him a formidable foe for any heavyweight. Freestyle? While
in high school, he was a three-time junior national freestyle
champion. Plus, he, along with several other members of his family,
knows judo, which adds to this wrestling repertoire. There is
already talk that he may sit out the next college season to focus
on making the Olympic team. It is unlikely he could defeat U.S.
freestyle champion Kerry McCoy at this point, but a year of freestyle
could prepare him well for 2008 in Beijing, and 2012, which the
American wrestling community hopes will be in New York. Imagine,
Mocco against a Russian heavyweight in the Big Apple!
On
a more personal note, being elected Vice President of the National
Wrestling Media Association and having it name Grappling as its
wrestling publication of the year were more than honors. This
provided me a great opportunity to spread the word about the
magazine and this web site to many, many people in the wrestling
and Olympic communities.
A
goal of my work is to bring people together from all styles of
wrestling, including not only the American collegiate style and
the international styles of freestyle and Greco, but also all
other styles, such as submission wrestling, sambo/sombo (spelled
differently by different groups), jiu-jitsu, judo, sumo, and
all other styles which are really variations of styles historically
all part of wrestling. And add the nascent Real Pro Wrestling
into the mix, and you see how powerful this movement can become
if it finds a way to marshall its forces and promote and popularize
the sport.
So
now it's all over, now I'm back home, and now wrestling moves
on. I saw people lining up already to order tickets for next
year's event. The 2004 Div. I Wrestling Championships will take
place March 18-20, 2004, at the Savvis Center in downtown St.
Louis. Ticket information can be obtained by calling 877-722-1604,
or by going to:
This
year, we were goin' to Kansas City. Next year, meet me in St.
Louis. It's as grand a tradition as those lyrics indicate, so
make your plans early.
Source:
Eddie Goldman/ADCC
3/24/03
Quote
of the Day
It
is good to dream, but it is better to dream and work.
Faith is mighty, but action with faith is mightier.
Thomas Robert Gaines
Lee
claims NCAA wrestling crown
Advertiser Staff
Hawai'i has its first NCAA wrestling champion.
Cornell's Travis Lee won the NCAA Division I 125-pound wrestling
title and finished the season with a 34-0 record.
Associated Press
Cornell (N.Y.) sophomore Travis Lee of Honolulu yesterday scored
a takedown with 24 seconds left to upset top-ranked Chris Fleeger
of Purdue, 6-4, and win the Division I 125-pound championship
at Kansas City, Mo.
"I'm
ecstatic," Lee said. "I don't know what to think. It
hasn't sunk in yet."
Lee,
a 2001 Saint Louis School graduate from Liliha, finished the
season with a 34-0 record. Fleeger, chosen the Big Ten's Outstanding
Wrestler and also a sophomore, was ranked and seeded No. 1 to
Lee's No. 2. He finished 32-1.
Darting
for Fleeger's legs, Lee scored four of his points on two takedowns
using the same far ankle-pick maneuver.
After
the last takedown broke a 4-4 tie, Lee prevented Fleeger's desperate
attempts to escape by locking up his hips with a double leg as
the final seconds clicked away.
Lee
earned a huge ovation from the crowd of nearly 16,000 at Kemper
Arena.
Fleeger
took injury time with 34 seconds left for what appeared to be
blurred vision, but it was a move he will see in his sleep —
Lee's favorite ankle pick — that took him off his feet five
seconds later.
Lee
had used the move to score two points in the first round as well,
taking a 3-2 lead with 46 seconds left, and nearly dropped Fleeger
with it on two other occasions. Typically, Lee suddenly drops
to inches above the mat and quickly tries to grab his opponent's
ankle and pull him down.
"The
pick is one of my go-to techniques and I used it," Lee said.
But
Fleeger escaped at the end of the first round to tie the score
3-3.
Fleeger
chose the down position to start the second round and quickly
escaped again for a 4-3 lead. Despite flurries of action and
scoring opportunities during the round — in which Fleeger
appeared stronger but Lee was clearly quicker — there was
no more scoring.
Fleeger
went over a minute or riding time in the third period, earning
a potential tie-breaker, before Lee escaped to tie the score
at 4.
Giving
Lee a chance at one more ankle pick instead of riding him to
the end was probably a tactical mistake.
"I
come on stronger in the third period, that's how I usually wrestle,"
Lee explained. "That's what I tried to do, as hard as I
could and that's what I did."
While
Fleeger won his first four tournament matches by falls or shutouts,
Lee had close calls in both his quarterfinal and semifinal matches
Friday.
Lee's
quarterfinal ended in a 2-2 tie and Lee won when he was awarded
a point for "riding time" because he controlled ("rode")
Tony Black of Wisconsin for more than a minute without a takedown.
In
the semifinal he broke a tie on a reversal with about a minute
to go and defeated Ben Vombaur of Boise State, 5-3.
Lee
had to overcome a torn meniscus ligament in his left knee Jan.
18 that forced him to miss four matches — including a previously
scheduled showdown against Fleeger — and numerous practices.
Lee
earned All-America status last season as a freshman with a seventh-place
finish at the NCAA Championships. His record was 33-9.
The
NCAA said Lee was the first Division I wrestling All-American
and first champion born in Hawai'i.
"I
think we can clearly state that this definitely will put Hawai'i
on the national wrestling map," Pac-Five coach Keith Matsumoto
said. "Maybe now the Division I coaches will believe us
(when we tell them) that we have top class talent here —
both guys and gals."
In
July 2001, Lee became the first from Hawai'i to win USA Wrestling
Junior National Championships, winning both Greco Roman and freestyle
gold medals.
Lee
won three Hawai'i high school state championships and his career
record at Saint Louis was 166-8.
Hawai'i's
only other NCAA individual champions are believed to have been
in boxing and swimming decades ago.
Oklahoma
State won the NCAA team championship for the 31st time, but first
since 1994, with 143 points — its highest total ever —
and 149-pounder Erik Larkin of Arizona State was named Outstanding
Wrestler.
NCAA
Wrestling Results
At Kansas City
(All weights in pounds)
149
Championship: Eric Larkin, Ariz. St. dec. Jared Lawrence, 10-8
157
Championship: Ryan Bertin, Michigan, dec. Alex Tirapelle, Illinois,
7-3
165
Championship: Matt Lackey, Illinois, dec. Troy Letters, 6-3
174
Championship: Robbie Waller, Oklahoma, dec. Carl Fronhofer, Pittsburgh,
7-2
184
Championship: Jake Rosholt, Oklahoma St., dec. Scott Barker,
13-5
197
Championship: Damion Hahn, Minnesota, dec. Jon Trenge, Lehigh,
5-4
285
Championship: Steve Mocco, Iowa, dec. Kevin Hoy, Air Force, 8-3
Source:
Honolulu Advertiser
Pacific
Fighting Championships
Tickets are now on sale at the NBC box office. There are a number
of strikers on this card to ensure a lot of action and KO's!
Source: Event Promoter
Copa
do Brazil JJ Championship: Quick Results
by: Marcello Tetel
The 'Copa do Brasil por Equipes' Championships were held recently
under the auspices of the CBJJO organization. Several big names
dropped out at the last minute, so the event loss some gloss.
Reportedly.
Fernando 'Margarida' Pontes and Paulo Filho were expected to
fight. Along with Ronaldo 'Jacare' his debut under Master Jiu-Jitsu
leadership, this was looking like a classic tournament!
The
much awaited rematch between 'Jacare' and 'Margarida' was postponed.
This would be a gi rematch of the ADCC Brazilian Trails semifinals
in the 88KG weight division. Both are very young, and we definitely
will see them facing each other.
When
the COPA went down, it was Master Jiu-Jitsu who won the Heavy
weight division, led by Leo Vieira, Ronaldo 'Jacare' and Rodrigo
'Cumprido' and the Brazilian Top Team took 2nd place. In the
lightweight division, Nova União totally dominated the
tournament with a unbelievable run, led by Vitor 'Shaolin', Leo
Santos and Robson Moura.
Source:
ADCC
2003
Pan-Ams Heats Up
Latest
from CBJJ headquarters states that the pre-registrations are
running very H O T. Head orgaziner Marcello Siriema confirmed
that the pace is ahead of previous years and he expects the greatest
showing ever in Pan Am history. That coupled with the First International
Team event will certainly make the Pan Ams the place to be in
April 2003.
Added
to the already stellar cast of fighters are the sensational Roger
Gracie and Cleber Luciano, who confided that he has been training
harder than ever and will make his presence felt in the Black
Belt 'light'.
Can't
wait. For more info and to pre-register go to CBJJ.com.br
Source: ADCC
'Nino'
Speaks
BJJ
sensation and Pride 25 winner Nino Schembri was elated with his
success in Pride 25 against top Japanese fighter Kasushi Sakuraba.
In a short conversation with Kid Nino stated: 'I have watched
the fight over and over and what I am happiest about is that
'Elvis' did everything wrong, he froze, he made all the mistakes
but in the end he came out the victor'.
Nino
is now resting in Rio and looking forward to his return to Pride.
For more info on Nino check out his web site: MrSchembri.com
Source: ADCC
Second
Black Belt Challenge
A
reminder that the Second Black Belt Challenge will take place
in Sao Paulo, Brazil, this Tuesday March 25th at the Via Funchal.
Scheduled to fight are top names of the sport including many
World Champions. Check out the list below:
Bibiano
Fernandez v Marcelo Santos
Pablo Rodrigo v Fredson Paixao
Marcos Barbosinha v Carlos Eduardo Vieira
Delson 'Pe-de-Chumbo' v Eduardo 'Portugues'
Demian Maia v Adriano Maciel
Fabio 'Negao' v Roger Coelho
Gabriel Vella v Fernando Paradeda
Rodrigo 'Comprido' v Gabriel Napao
Fabio Leopoldo v Claudio Godoy
Saulo Ribeiro v Jefferson Moura
Source:
ADCC
3/23/03
Quote
of the Day
Be
more concerned with your character than your reputation, because
your character is what you really are, while your reputation
is merely what others think you are.
John Wooden
Travis
Lee is Hawaii's first
NCAA Division 1 Wrestling Champ!
More
news to follow soon.
Super
Brawl 29 Line Up
1. 143lbs 3x5 minute rounds
Bao
Quach 143lbs v “Kid” Yamamoto 143lbs
(Next
Generation) 5-5 (Pure Bred, Tokyo) 4-1
This
has the ear-markings of an epic battle. Quach is one of the toughest
American fighters at 145lbs. He is a master of submissions but
will not hesitate to stand and throw. Yamamoto is explosive!
He has one gear….overdrive! An Olympic level wrestler who
likes to brawl. The winner of this fight will certainly be a
top challenger to the 145lb Super Brawl Championship Belt. Yamamoto
2-1 favorite
2.
185lbs 3x5 minute rounds
Kyle
Jensen 185lbs v Falaniko Vitale 167.5lbs
(Team
Extreme) 27-2 (Grappling Unlimited) 12-1
Jensen
is a rising star in the mid-western fight circuit. He has amassed
his impressive record with a well rounded arsenal and tremendous
stamina. Vitale has been unstoppable as of late and will look
to impose his will on Jensen early. Vitale is fast becoming an
internationally recognized fighter and will have the eyes of
the world on him once again. Vitale 2-1 Odds
A
fight that has been years in the making. Suda holds the prestigious
Shooto belt and Inoue carries the Super Brawl belt. They are
both well rounded fighters who have developed Championship level
talent. Suda will likely start slow and began to push the fight
in the 2nd and 3rd round. Suda will attempt to gain top position
on the ground and score points. Suda is very adept at winning
fights that go the distance. Inoue, on the other hand, has been
finishing most of his fights by K.O. or submission. It will be
a tough decision for Inoue, if he decides to go for an early
submission or knock-out he will risk tiring later in the fight.
But if he lets Suda dictate the pace he will risk losing a decision.
Suda 3-2 favorite
Source: T. Jay Thompson
K-1
WORLD GP 2003 in Saitama
by: Marcello Tetel
Date : Sunday, March 30, 2003
Place : Saitama Super Arena, Saitama, Japan
Japan's
K-1 returns to Japan next weekend, with a Bob Sapp v. Mirko Cro
Cop main event, plus many of K-1's top stars in action. The card
also features Vale tudo veteran Jefferson Tank of Brazil taking
on K-1 superstar 'Mr Perfect' Ernesto Hosst.
Complete
Card Subject To Change:
-
Bob Sapp (USA) X MirKo Cro Cop (Croatia)
- Ernesto Hoost (Holland) X Jefferson Tank (Brazil)
- Peter Aerts (Holland) X Stefan Leko (German)
- Ray Sefo (New Zealand) X Pele Reid (UK)
- Remy Bonjasky (Holand) X Bjorn Bregy (Switzerland)
- Jan Nortje (South Africa) X Evgueni Orlov (Russia)
Source: ADCC
Chris
Haueter Interview
by: Carl Fisher
BJJ black belt Chris Haueter talks to Carl Fisher at Darren Currie’s
Combat Base Academy, Pontefract, Yorkshire, UK, February 13th
2003.
It’s
been four years since we last saw each other Chris; how the hell
are you? I’m fine Carl, in great shape. I can’t believe
it’s been so long since we last saw each other. I’ve
been working as a cop up in LA and am still training a lot and
travelling as much as possible. Lately I have been travelling
up to Portland, Oregon training with all t Straight Blast Gym
guys, it’s really great out there.
When
did you start training in Oregon Chris? In 1996; I was going
up there on a regular basis, as it was a very innovative gym
at the time and it helped my own training enormously.
In
what way have they helped you develop? The guys were kind of
isolated from the rest of the quote unquote BJJ community, so
a lot of times I could go up there and show them techniques and
upon my return in four months, they’d have developed their
own counters and modified and adapted what I’d shown them
to suit their own needs.
How
often do you get to train with Matt? Around two to four times
a year
What
have you been showing the students here tonight? It’s mainly
been Matt’s show, I’ve come along to assist Matt; we’ve
worked a lot on the bottom positions to include the cross side
position and the various escapes from these positions. We talked
about the philosophy of working with and without the gi, to gi
or not to gi as I like to say and my answer is to train them
both, as they both in turn help the other game.
Where
to next after this evening? We’re going to hang out with
Karl Tanswell another night and then we are off to Ireland to
join John Kavanagh; this is my first time in the UK and so far
I’m having fun. I’ll be with John for three days unless
world events shut the airports down (laughs). After that it will
be back to LA.
Do
you still see John and Rigan in Torrance? I still call it my
home school, but I have a load of mats in my garage and have
a bunch of students who work out with me and I get over to see
Ryan Greg and Bob Bass whenever I can.
How
has the garage developed, as I recall I helped you concrete the
garage base when I was in LA in 99, nursing a bad hangover? (Laughs)
I remember that man, you were destroyed! Yes the garage is going
great we work out and I teach the classes and when I am away
I usually send them on to either Ryan’s or Bob’s for
their training, as well as Rigan’s.
I
still have the copy of Grappling magazine where they ran a feature
of the Machado black belts and you were among them; the article
also included guys like Dave Meyer, Bob Bass and Fernando Vasconceles.
Do you still keep in touch with them? Most of them yes, we are
all still friends, but just like everything when people start
to grow, they tend to move on and you see them less and less.
At Bob’s school on a Wednesday it’s kind of a black
belt night where a lot of the old faces show up.
Are
you still training yourself or concentrating on your students?
I would say at this point of my life, being thirty-eight, I plan
on grappling the rest of my life, but I look at myself as more
of an instructor/coach, rather than a competitor anymore. My
last competition fight was against Andre Pedenairas and we fought
to a draw, no points, but they raised his hand, some people cheered
some of them booed. What I realised half way through the fight
was that I didn’t have that drive in me to put the energy
into the pre training homework that makes up a competitive fighter.
Do
you do your own gradings? I do them all yes; Matt is my first
black belt and Matt is the first black belt from any other Machado
black belts. Not only do I rank the person’s ability to
hold his or her own against a higher grade, I also rank the ability
to understand the art as well. Matt is well over six foot six
and about 220, well I can roll with him and he doesn’t have
to use his strength, it’s game on game and that to me is
the essence of the art of jiu jitsu. You have your attributes,
your mental will power and your skill and the art is in the skill;
your attributes, conditioning, your size, age, speed and strength
are all perishable skills but the actual technical training and
understanding of the art, those always grow.
Which
students are graded in your garage? I have a few good blue belts,
some guys close to the purple belts and to me the jump from blue
to purple is a pretty big one, so I like the purple belt to be
a skilled purple instead of an attribute purple belt.
When
were you awarded your black belt? 1996 from Rigan Machado and
it was after a lot of training; at the time when I received my
brown belt I felt like I’d deserved it after all the work
I’d done, yet the black belt sat kind of heavy on me in
the beginning and that was true with a lot of guys. I had my
first match as a black belt and I won it, so I realised, yes
I am a black belt and at that time in the American BJJ scene
it was difficult to gauge if we were black belts, as the black
belts we knew were very skilled black belts and they still killed
us on the mats. Then there was a time when me and the original
six Machado black belts, Mark Eccard, Chris Brennan and a few
others, we were at the top of the US students and our coaches
in turn cream us, so it was difficult to know if we were really
black belt level until we actually got to compete against other
black belts.
You
were the first US black belt to compete in the Mundials? Yes
that was in 1996 or 1997, I lost my first match, he pretty much
killed me and he went on to take third place, he was pretty damn
good.
What
do you think of the level of BJJ in the US now; has it exploded
as predicted in the magazines? It’s definitely exploded,
there are a lot of different Brazilian black belts running schools
and a lot of American black belts running schools and the tournaments
now are just huge out here. A lot of the Brazilian black belts
think the US scene has exploded as well and I think the American
influence on BJJ has been one of the wrestling background, collegiate
and Greco and I think it has added a new dimension to the strategies
and techniques of BJJ. The stalling that you see in the American
game comes from the wrestling, to score points and hold and that
negates the art and the only other thing I’d say I don’t
like about the American BJJ scene is the lack of the spiritual
side of things, it’s something felt not taught. With the
NHB now, it’s kinda like the WWF, people come in and talk
a bunch of shit and the art gets lost along the way. You get
to think it’s all about you rather than the art.
I
will never forget the time in LA after a session when you likened
rolling to moving Zen; can you explain this concept? I remember
being a purple belt and I was married at the time and it was
on the rocks; I lived in Imperial Beach and had to drive up north
to Nelson Monteiro’s house to train. I was always stressed
about the bills, etc and I was still stressed when I got to training.
However when I got back to my car after training and was driving
home I realised that for ninety minutes none of those things
existed and when your grappling in that mode, nothing exists
but the game and that’s the meditative state of jiu jitsu
that’s so addicting.
Chris,
great explanation and great interview, great to see you again.
Thank you Carl, great to see you too.
Source: ADCC
Boxing
News: Lewis sets Tyson deadline
WBC heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis wants Mike Tyson to sign
for a rematch by the end of next week if he wishes to take part
in a 21 June rematch.
Tyson said after his 49-second win against Clifford Etienne in
Memphis last month that he needed more time before facing Lewis
again.
But
Lewis and his camp say they will have to find another opponent
to fill the June date if the former champion fails to commit
to a rematch.
'We
must make a formal announcement next week,' said Lewis' business
manager Adrian Ogun.
'We
are working to a very, very tight schedule with regard to a rematch
with Mike Tyson so we have to have a formal response back from
[cable TV network] Showtime and Tyson by the end of next week.'
On Friday the WEC released its final match ups for this Thursday's
event from the Palace Casino in Lemoore, CA. UFC veteran Gil
Castillo will take on Chris Williams in a clash of welterweights.
Also added to the 14-bout card is a 170-pound contest between
Joe Hurley and Nick Diaz.
These
bouts are a prelude to the main event featuring former UFC champion
Frank Shamrock, who makes his highly-anticipated return to mixed
martial arts action versus Bryan Pardoe in an IFC light heavyweight
championship contest.
Source: Maxfighting
Vanderlei
Silva's comments
after scuffle with Quinton "Rampage" Jackson
PRIDE Middleweight Champion, Wanderlei Silva, held a press conference
on March 17th. Wanderlei had a scuffle with Quinton "Rampage"
Jackson following Jackson's March 16th PRIDE 25 match against
Kevin Randleman. Silva had strong words for Jackson, who earned
the right to challenge for the Middleweight Title via his win
over Randleman.
PRIDE Fighting Championships: What did Jackson say to you in
the ring?
Wanderlei
Silva: I didn't understand very well because it was in English
but I didn't like it. I'm the champion!
PRIDE:
After seeing his fight, what do you think about Jackson's strength?
Silva:
He's a very strong fighter but make no mistake, I'm going to
knock him out. I don't think he's got enough guts to stand up
and trade with me. I think it will be a good fight, maybe the
best bout of the year. I'll be able to show everyone in the world
that Chute Boxe's Muay Thai is the best in the world. That's
IF he even gets in the ring. I'm not scared. I'll fight anyone.
PRIDE:
You seemed furious at Jackson yesterday. Do you think that his
attitude wasn't respectful enough regarding a PRIDE Champion?
Silva:
Of course, he's a challenger. He should have more respect for
the Champion. I'm going to KO him like Anderson Silva KO'd Carlos
Newton yesterday.
PRIDE:
How long will it take you to KO him?
Silva:
Good question but the only thing I can say is that it will be
a good fight.
PRIDE:
When you first came to Japan this time, you said that your next
fight would be around August. Has that changed since yesterday?
Silva:
I would have liked to fight him there yesterday. I want to fight
him as soon as possible but I'm still in rehabilitation. It will
depend on what my doctor says. This will be a fight for honor.
I will definitely KO him. I will prove that I'm the most aggressive
fighter in the world.
PRIDE:
Looking at all the fights yesterday, including Nogueira's loss,
there was a strong feeling that anything can happen in PRIDE.
Do you have any uneasy feelings about your future in PRIDE?
Silva:
No. I'm confident in myself. That's why I train. I'm a professional.
PRIDE is everything to me and I won't lose.
PRIDE:
What did you think of last night's Heavyweight title match?
Silva:
That really surprised me. The fight was completely at Fedor's
pace. We've got some great heavyweight fighters in Chute Boxe
Academy, too. I would definitely like to give them a shot at
fighting Fedor. Assuerio Silva's 120 kilos and is a very strong
fighter. Also, I think it would be good if PRIDE had an under-85
kilos weight class as well. There are a lot of good fighters
in that class, including Anderson (Silva). They all train the
same way I do and they are all very strong.
PRIDE:
How long do you think it will take until Chute Boxe Academy fighters
hold both PRIDE titles?
Silva:
If you give us a shot at the Heavyweight title, (the Championship)
will become Chute Boxe's. Murilo Ninja's brother, Shogun, weighs
94 kilos. I think that he will also fight for PRIDE.
PRIDE:
Sakuraba has had a tough time since his losses to you. What do
you think Sakuraba can do to turn it around?
Silva:
Sakuraba fought well from the very beginning of the fight yesterday.
It was just an unfortunate result. The only thing Sakuraba needs
now is a little bit of good luck.
Source: Pride
3/22/03 Happy
Birthday to Us!
Quote
of the Day
Part
of the happiness of life consists not in fighting battles but
in avoiding them. A masterly retreat is in itself a victory.
Norman Vincent Peale
Travis
Lee is in the Finals of the NCAA's!
If
you don't know Travis Lee's name by now, you have a lot of catching
up to do. Travis is a 3-time Hawaii State Wrestling Champion
for St. Louis and has won both the Freestyle and Greco National
Championships. He has beaten the previously number one ranked
Luke Eustice and now is in the finals of the number one college
wresting tournament in the country...and he is only beginning.
Can he be the next Cael Sanderson? He's got the heart, the technique,
the brains, and the drive. Let's all wish him luck and say a
prayer that he comes out on top and brings home to Hawaii a NCAA
Championship!
ESPN2
Wrestling: NCAA Championships
Saturday, 22 2:00-4:00 PM Channel 21 or Digital 224 ESPN2
Sunday, 23 10:30-12:30 PM Channel 21 or Digital 224 ESPN2
2003
Division I Wrestling Championships--Session 3 Update
Go
to the following link to see how Travis made it to the finals!
Lee
advances: Second-seeded
Travis Lee
won two matches yesterday to advance to today's 125-pound quarterfinals
of the NCAA Division I men's championships in Kansas City.
Reaching
the quarterfinals assured Lee of All-American status for the
second straight year.
Lee,
a 2001 Saint Louis School graduate from Liliha, whipped Rich
Caisse of Appalachian State 6-0 and pinned Bobby Stinson of Rider
in 2 minutes, 50 seconds to improve his season record to 31-0.
Meanwhile,
unseeded 125-pounder Grant Nakamura (2001 Baldwin graduate) of
Iowa State lost his second-round match in the championship bracket
and will meet Heath McKim of Air Force today in an elimination
bout.
Nakamura
defeated Elfren Ceballos (Cal-State Bakersfield), 9-5 in the
first round but lost in a major decision to Michigan's A.J. Grant
9-1.
Source:
Honolulu Advertiser
Four
freshmen qualify for the finals and only two defending champions
remain at the 2003 NCAA Championships
3/20/2003
John Fuller/TheMat.com
Kansas City, Mo.
- With the NCAA semifinals broadcast live on ESPN for the first
time ever, excitement was high in Kemper Arena for the 2003 NCAA
Championships.
Defending NCAA champion
Tommy Rowlands of Ohio State had to injury default his match
to Kevin Hoy of Air Force at 285 lbs., leaving only Johnny Thompson
of Oklahoma State and Jared Lawrence of Minnesota as the two
remaining national champions with hopes of defending their titles.
Oklahoma State continued
to hold on to its lead in the team race, but two-time defending
champion Minnesota has begun to close the gap.
The Cowboys are
in first place with 109 team points followed by Minnesota with
90.5 points. Lehigh (68), Oklahoma (65.5) and Arizona State (54.5)
round out the top five.
At 125 lbs., sophomore
All-Americans Chris Fleeger of Purdue and Travis Lee of Cornell both advanced to the finals. Fleeger used a
takedown in the second period and an escape in the third period
to hold off A.J. Grant of Michigan 3-0.
Lee,
an All-American last year, scored a reversal with 21 seconds
remaining in his match with Ben VomBaur of Boise State to win
5-3.
A rematch of last
year's NCAA finals will take place at 133 lbs. as Johnny Thompson
of Oklahoma State and Ryan Lewis of Minnesota will square off.
Thompson trailed
2-1 late in his semifinal match with Rad Martinez of Clarion,
but earned an escape with 12 seconds remaining and then earned
a point after Martinez was called for stalling to win 3-2. Lewis
dominated Cliff Moore of Iowa 13-3 to advance to the finals.
Lewis and Thompson
met earlier this season with Lewis coming away with a 6-5 win
in November.
Freshman Teyon Ware
of Oklahoma will meet up with Dylan Long of Northern Iowa in
the 141-pound final.
Ware, a true freshman,
defeated Jason Mester of Central Michigan 3-1 in a tiebreaker.
Though Mester controlled the offensive action, he was unable
to score on the defensive Ware. In the tiebreaker, Ware won the
coin toss and was able to score a reversal with nine seconds
remaining.
Long came back from
a 3-0 deficit to defeat Shane Cunanan of West Virginia 4-3. Trailing
3-0, Long scored an escape and a takedown with six seconds left
in the second period to tie the score. A third period escape
gave Long the win.
At 149 lbs., Eric
Larkin of Arizona State survived a late scare from Jerrod Sanders
of Oklahoma State in a 5-3 win. With Larkin leading 3-1 late
in the match, Sanders was able to score a reversal, but Larkin
had a decisive riding time advantage, so Sanders let him go.
The Cowboy was unable to muster any more offense in the loss.
Larkin will meet
up with defending NCAA champion Jared Lawrence of Minnesota,
who defeated Jesse Jantzen of Harvard 7-2. Larkin beat Lawrence
twice this year by 10-4 and 6-4 scores.
Alex Tirapelle of
Illinois, another freshman, advanced to the finals with a 5-1
win over Scott Owen of Northern Illinois. Tirapelle used a second-period
cradle to take a 4-0 lead before holding on for the win. He will
face Ryan Bertin of Michigan in the finals.
Bertin scored a
second-period takedown to take a 5-3 lead over Keaton Anderson
of Ohio State, who is wrestling with a torn ACL. Bertin went
on to win the match 5-4.
Tirapelle and Bertin
have met twice this season, with each wrestler winning once by
a 3-2 score.
The most exciting
match of the night took place at 165 lbs., as freshman Troy Letters
of Lehigh and All-American Tyrone Lewis of Oklahoma State battled
in an offensive showdown. After several high-flying scrambles,
Lewis took control with two takedowns for a 4-2 lead. Near the
end of the second period, Letters came back with a takedown of
his own to tie the match at 4-4.
In the third period,
Lewis scored a takedown on an inside-trip, but Letters fired
back with an escape and a low ankle-pick to take an 8-6 lead.
Letters added a takedown and two nearfall points at the end of
the match after Lewis needed a score just to tie the match.
Letters will meet
up with 2002 NCAA finalist Matt Lackey of Illinois in the finals.
Lackey, who defeated Letters 6-3 in the Midlands finals, beat
Jacob Volkmann of Minnesota 6-3 in the semifinals.
Robbie Waller of
Oklahoma made his first trip to the finals with a 1-1 tiebreaker
rideout over Brad Dillon of Lehigh at 174 lbs. Waller and Dillon
both struggled to score points in the match. In the tiebreaker,
Dillon won the coin toss, but Waller, after two stalemates and
a stalling call, was able to stay on top of Dillon for the full
30 seconds.
Waller will face
unseeded Carl Fronhofer of Pittsburgh, which happens to be near
Waller's hometown, in the finals. Fronhofer defeated Shane Webster
of Oregon 3-2.
The 184-pound finals
will match up two surprise finalists, both of whom were finalists
in the Big XII Championships.
Scott Barker of
Missouri surprised top seed Jessman Smith of Iowa with a 9-4
victory. In the third period, Barker took control of a 4-4 tie,
scoring on an ankle-pick to take a 6-4 lead and added another
takedown near the end. With riding time, Barker came away an
NCAA finalist.
Freshman Jake Rosholt,
the fourth freshman in the NCAA finals, dominated 2002 NCAA finalist
Josh Lambrecht of Oklahoma for the second consecutive match in
a 9-2 win. Rosholt scored two takedowns, a reversal and two nearfall
points in the victory.
Barker defeated
Rosholt 8-1 for the Big XII title just two weeks ago.
At 197 lbs., Damion
Hahn of Minnesota scored a takedown with sex seconds remaining
in his match against Oklahoma State's Muhammed Lawal for a 4-3
semifinal victory. Lawal began the scoring in the first period
with a single-leg takedown at the edge of the mat for a 2-0 lead.
Hahn quickly earned an escape and the two wrestlers then traded
escapes at the start of each period before Hahn's takedown.
Hahn will face 2002
NCAA finalist Jon Trenge of Lehigh, who defeated Chris Skretkowicz
of Hofstra 5-3 in the semifinals.
At heavyweight,
Rowlands had to default after he re-aggravated an ankle injury
he suffered during his quarterfinal match against Matt Feast
of Pennsylvania. Hoy will face 2002 NCAA finalist Steve Mocco
of Iowa, who defeated Kellan Fluckiger of Arizona State 10-2
in the semifinals.
Mocco recorded a
first-period pin over Hoy in the Midlands semifinals earlier
this year.
The NCAA finals
will begin at 2:30 p.m.CentralTime.TheMat.zl6willprovide a free
audio broadcast for the finals, which will be aired on a tape-delayed
basis on ESPN2.
2003 NCAA Championships
Final Matchups
125: Chris Fleeger (Purdue) vs. Travis Lee (Cornell)
133: Johnny Thompson (Oklahoma State) vs. Ryan Lewis (Minnesota)
141: Teyon Ware (Oklahoma) vs. Dylan Long (Northern Iowa)
149: Eric Larkin (Arizona State) vs. Jared Lawrence (Minnesota)
157: Alex Tirapelle (Illinois) vs. Ryan Bertin (Michigan)
165: Matt Lackey (Illinois) vs. Troy Letters (Lehigh)
174: Carl Fronhofer (Pittsburgh) vs. Robbie Waller (Oklahoma)
184: Scott Barker (Missouri) vs. Jake Rosholt (Oklahoma State)
197: Jon Trenge (Lehigh) vs. Damion Hahn (Minnesota)
285: Steve Mocco (Iowa) vs. Kevin Hoy (Air Force)
Ivy
League freshmen in a class of their own
What separates an Ivy League freshman from any other freshman
wrestler in the nation? No redshirt year.
The Ivy League does
not recognize redshirt seasons taken by athletes, which means
that when a freshman comes to compete in an intercollegiate sport
at an Ivy League school, he or she will be eligible to compete,
and most likely will, as a freshman.
"It makes it
a little bit tougher," stated freshman Matt Palmer of Columbia.
"The guys are older and a little more experienced, but this
sport was made for tough-minded guys, so I was definitely up
for the challenge."
Palmer competes
at 165 lbs. for the Lions. He is currently 24-1 on the season
and is a strong All-American candidate this year.
Two other Ivy League
freshmen are competing along with Palmer at the EIWA Championships
this weekend in Ithaca, N.Y.: Matt Herrington of Pennsylvania
and Dustin Manotti of Cornell. All three have advanced to the
semifinals of the EIWA Championships and are strong favorites
to become NCAA All-Americans at the end of this season.
Herrington competes
at 174 lbs. and is 19-7 this year. Manotti wrestles at 149 lbs.
and is 24-5 so far this season. These three are just a few of
the many true freshmen that compete yearly in the EIWA.
Last
year, true freshman Travis Lee of Cornell earned All-American
honors at the NCAA Tournament. This year, he is undefeated and
ranked No. 2 in the nation heading into the weekend's conference
tournaments.
"These kids
are a mentally tough breed," stated Cornell head coach Rob
Koll, who has helped to develop some of the top Ivy League talent
in recent years. "For them to come in here and wrestle as
tough as they do without any Division I experience is a great
credit to their will to succeed."
While Palmer and
Herrington are yet to post any major accomplishments on the collegiate
level, Manotti shocked many throughout the wrestling community
when he captured the 149-pound Midlands title in December. At
the tournament, Manotti defeated veteran John Fisher, who has
competed at a high international level for many years.
"Since that
match, teams have been scouting me more and I can definitely
tell a difference when I wrestle some opponents now as opposed
to wrestling them before that match," Manotti said. "Before
the Midlands, people weren't as cautious with me on the mat.
I don't think its a bad thing necessarily, because it just makes
me work that much harder to become a better wrestler."
Many critics will
argue that a redshirt season is vital to the success of young
athletes in a new college atmosphere. But Palmer feels that going
to a college to receive an extra year of training doesn't necessarily
improve a wrestler's skills.
"If you're
going to get the job done, then you are," he said. "At
Columbia, I am getting just as good of coaching as I would get
anywhere else. Basically, for me, my decision to come here came
down to coaching and getting a good education. That's why I chose
Columbia. I feel just as prepared at this point in the year as
any redshirt freshman."
Manotti agrees.
"Coming into
an Ivy school, you know it's going to be a lot of hard work.
A situation where you have to compete right away just makes you
want to work a lot harder throughout the year to prove yourself,"
Manotti said.
In Ivy League schools,
some athletes are granted an "academic leave of absence"
which allows them to sit out for one year, but the athlete is
also not allowed to train with the team during this time.
Palmer has thought
about taking such a leave of absence while Manotti does not consider
the option.
"I have thought
about it, but I am not sure when I would do it," Palmer
said. "If I do take a leave of absence, it would have to
be for academic reasons, not for anything I am looking to gain
in athletics."
One thing both Manotti
and Palmer is agree on is the hard workouts that they have had
to endure this season.
"Buck and Espo
give me a beating in the room all the time," Palmer said
as he referred to Columbia head coach Brendan Buckley and assistant
coach Dave Esposito, a former NCAA All-American for EIWA member
Lehigh. "Buck is such a good scrambler and Espo is a great
technician. I have tried to incorporate both styles in the way
I wrestle and I think it has helped me tremendously."
Manotti, Palmer
and Herrington will all compete in the semifinals of the EIWA
Championships on Saturday morning at 11:00 a.m. (Eastern Time).
All conference finalists earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament
in Kansas City, March 20-22. There are also 16 wild card athletes
selected to compete at the NCAA Tournament by the conference
coaches.
NCAA
Tournament Previews: 125 pounds
125 pounds is a
very deep weight class. Realistically, as many as 15 wrestlers
will be vying for All-American status. Once the first round is
out of the way, this weight class should become one of the most
exciting to watch.
Eight All-Americans
return to this year's NCAA Tournament, but with some new faces
jumping into the mix with high hopes, there will be some very
good wrestlers going home without an All-American plaque.
Top Contenders
Chris Fleeger (Purdue) - Fleeger is one of the top young athletes
in the nation. He is only a sophomore, but has quickly learned
how to be a dominant force at the collegiate level. He possesses
remarkable quickness, speed and technique on the mat. Pound-for-pound,
he could be the top wrestler in the country. Fleeger was an All-American
last year and has proven that he can compete at a high level
at any point in the season. This tournament should be no exception.
He has been waiting a full year for this opportunity again. Don't
expect Fleeger to be an early casualty.
Travis
Lee (Cornell) - Last season,
Lee would have easily qualified for the "All-American Darkhorse"
distinction. This year, he has been only one of two wrestlers
to go undefeated at this weight class. His dominating performance
over NCAA finalist Luke Eustice of Iowa at the Midlands solidified
his role this year. If Lee wrestlers the way he did at the EIWA
Championships, he will have a hard time placing in the top four.
His quickness is unmatched, and he is tough from his feet, but
he needs to be more persistent on offense at times. If he wrestles
like he has for most of this season, he is going to be tough
to beat in this tournament.
Source: themat.com
Quotes
from Session four (Friday night) at the NCAA Championships
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
QUOTES
125
– Travis Lee, Cornell
“I thought the match went as I planned. I knew he was a
tough wrestler on the top so that is why I chose neutral. I knew
we needed to score a takedown before the third period. We stuck
to our game plan.”
“I really haven’t
thought about the finals. I have taken them one match at a time.
I didn’t want to get ahead of myself; that is how you get
beaten. I wanted to focus on each match as they came. I do feel
good about myself. I feel I have wrestled a little better every
match.”
“As a kid,
I watched the NCAAs on ESPN. I’ve been to camps where the
athletes talked about the NCAAs. It has been a dream for me to
make the NCAA finals. There hasn’t been a person from Hawaii
that I know of who has been in the NCAA finals, or even an All-American,
so it is a proud time for wrestling in the state of Hawaii.
125 – Chris
Fleeger, Purdue
“Me and Grant, it’s the sixth time for us. He wrestled
a really great match. There was a lot of strategy in the bout.
We know each other very well. I got the one takedown I needed
and an escape. Not much else happened.”
“The plan I
set was pinning everybody, and having all my teammates become
All-Americans. I am wrestling well. I don’t think I’ve
let anybody score on me.”
(about facing Lee)
“I’ve never seen him wrestle. He had a tremendous season.
It’s pretty rare to have two guys undefeated at the same
weight. It will be a tremendous match.”
Source: USA Wrestling
Ex-Crusader
Lee wins late, stays unbeaten
Posted
Wednesday, March 12, 2003
All-America collegiate
wrestler Travis
Lee came within five seconds
of his first defeat of the season Saturday at Ithaca, N.Y.
Lee (Saint Louis
'01 of Liliha), wrestling for Cornell (N.Y.), was tied 1-1 with
Penn's Matt Valenti in the 125-pound championship match of the
Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association, but Valenti had
a point pending for more than a minute of "riding time"
(control).
Lee had been chasing
Valenti unsuccessfully, but finally took him down with his favorite
ankle-pick move in the final five seconds and won 3-1 for his
29th victory and closest match this season.
Lee has regained
No. 2 in the 125-pound rankings and his injured left knee "is
100 percent," coach Bob Koll said yesterday. Now it's on
to the NCAA Division I championships, March 20-22, in Kansas
City, Mo. Lee is expected to be seeded second to Purdue's Chris
Fleeger.
Among other collegiate
wrestlers with ties to Hawai'i:
Iowa State redshirt
freshman Grant Nakamura (Baldwin '01) is ranked 17th by InterMat.
He also is going to NCAAs after a fourth-place finish in the
Big 12 championships last weekend.
San Francisco State junior Joey Bareng
(Moanalua '00) is ranked third by NCAA Division II coaches at125
pounds entering this weekend's national championships in West
Virginia.
Bareng,
who has a 24-6 record, was named Outstanding Wrestler of the
All California Collegiate Tournament.
"It's like
night and day from last year (when his record was 18-19),"
coach Lars Jensaen said. "He really turned it on.
"This year
he won six to eight matches in the last 10 seconds, where last
year he would lose those. He's mentally more prepared and focused."
Jensen added.
Joey Bareng trained
in the Casca Grossa de Jiu-Jitsu Academy while on a break from
school. Could his renewed success be due to some added Jiu-Jitsu?
You be the judge (heh heh).
Source: Honolulu
Advertiser
Super
Brawl New Match Up!
Another official
fight added
Falaniko Vitale (Grappling Unlimeted, Hawaii #1 Ranked)
v
Kyle Jensen (Minneapolis, MN 27-2)
Sakuraba
- Taking Heat in the Japanese Press!
This
past week the Japanese sports writing press has been unusually
tough on Kazushi Sakuraba for his fight with Nino 'Elvis' Schembri
at the PRIDE 25 event.
As
reported here last week, Sakuraba was making excuses prior to
the fight, seeming to prepare for a loss. His claims of almost
zero training, drinking, smoking, weight gain and not being given
the proper recovery time all came to light in the days prior
to the last PRIDE event.
Tokyo
Sports, one of the more respected publications, saw some of their
fans lash out, for printing that Sakuraba should retire and leave
the fight game.
While
most sports writers were waxing nostalgic regarding Sakuraba
before the fight, they took Schembri lightly and called him 'average'
and 'outclassed.'
Sakuraba
needs a break. He has consistently fought some of the best fighters
on the planet with little or no downtime to recover or train.
Pride promoters have used and battered him to the point where
he is the sacrificial lamb.
He
is not invincible, no matter how many Gracies he's beaten. Once
Pride promoters realize this fact, things COULD get back to normal.
But the reality appears to be that Sakuraba is 'needed' to help
keep Pride alive.
Thus
far, no other Japanese fighter has been able to fill the shoes.
Source:
ADCC
Tank-A-Thon
Highly Entertaining Pay-Per-View Special
on UFC Legend Airs Tonight
By Loretta Hunt
For
those who cannot get enough of a certain rambunctious heavyweight
that has recently made a return to mixed martial arts, the UFC
offers "Ultimate Tank Abbott" (UTA) tonight through
various pay-per-view providers, starting at 10 PM EST. Like the
last two "Ultimate" installments that have focused
on legendary fighters of the UFC, UTA is a chronological look
at the fight career of original "Huntington Beach Bad Boy"
David "Tank" Abbott, who became a staple of the 1995
through 1998 UFC's by being the "anti-athlete" of the
Octagon. Claiming to have no training other than what he learned
on the streets, Abbott's colorful personality added a much needed
excitement to the UFC as it struggled to keep its fans enthralled
and involved. A legend in his own right (at the time of this
writing, Abbott stands as the most active fighter in UFC history
with a whopping sixteen fights), Abbott joins the ranks of past
subjects Royce Gracie and Ken Shamrock.
Unlike this episode's predecessors, however, UTA diverges from
the rigid format the series has displayed in the past in what
could be a ballsy stroke of genius for Zuffa Sports Entertainment,
the company that helms the UFC. Host Mike Goldberg is nowhere
to be found this time around, but in his place is the Tankster
himself, reminiscing over a beer or ten at a favorite local hangout
somewhere out in California. On the mic to coax the king of all
MMA trash talk along is "Big Al," a former strength
and conditioning coach to Abbott and a past witness to his shenanigans
inside and outside the Octagon. The two men are placed in front
of the camera and evidently left to their own devices, as Tank
and Al take the audience down memory lane -- from Abbott's explosive
twenty-one second premiere at UFC 6 to his final appearance at
Ultimate Brazil in 1998. Big Al and Abbott share an appealing
camaraderie on-camera, but the real star of this show is Abbott's
unforgiving, non-PC commentary during his fight clips. Bordering
on inappropriate many a time, Abbott proves that he is still
the quickest one-liner slinging fighter out there, even as the
flowing libations indiscriminately start to take a toll on his
motor skills.
Along
with brutal displays of knockout power from Abbott's checkered
8-7 record, the UFC also manages to get a hold of home footage
featuring a charging Abbott at a UFC after-party melee and causing
a ruckus ringside at an actual UFC competition. Despite a few
odd instances, including a reenactment of Abbott in an vaguely-explained
elevator incident, the special is chock-full of real life accounts
of what went on behind closed doors in the UFC's infant years,
albeit from Abbott's point-of-view. Of interest are the first
few moments of Abbott's dialogue with sidekick Al as he explains
why and how he got involved with the UFC. Honest and poignant,
Abbott is at his most intriguing here.
The
show is laugh out loud funny for much of its hour-long duration
and should be a real treat for dedicated MMA fans looking for
tidbits from the sport's previously undocumented past. While
this might not be a major concern for the show's producers (for
the show really seems to be directed towards fans already familiar
with Abbott), audiences tuning in to watch this unique fighter
for the first time might be confused or misguided with no real
reference provided to where the sport has evolved to today (and
where Abbott fits among it). Although one may be able to catch
the trend with Abbott's opponents (he easily dismantled lacking
opponents, but had a much harder time with the true emerging
athletes of the Octagon), this may be too much to ask from those
that have not been with the sport long enough to distinguish
between the two. The producers do give the inebriated Abbott
almost enough rope to hang himself by hour's end with his slurring
and slobbering (you begin to doubt anything that ever came from
his mouth prior), but they don't seal the deal by showing Abbott's
final fight (and his ultimate demise from the sport) at 1998's
Ultimate Brazil, where a young up-and-comer named Pedro Rizzo
finally silenced Tank with a knockout to end all knockouts.
However,
with the bold choice of letting Tank be Tank, an entertaining
hour of programming has emerged that is well worth its $9.95
asking price. Not taking itself too seriously, this lighter approach
to the material at hand is a step in the right direction for
the UFC and is probably the hippest piece of work to come from
the organization that won't rest till it hits the mainstream.
For
those that can live without Tank Abbott's recent return to MMA
(and we know you're out there), check out "Ultimate Tank
Abbott" for your love of the sport. There is enough there
to tide you over till the next "Ultimate" installment
highlights another fighter worthy. For everyone else-- hunker
down on the couch and tune-in. David "Tank" Abbott
will surely not disappoint.
Source:
FCF
From
The Mount
Nobody is safe. That fact became glaringly apparent after this
weekend's PRIDE matchup that saw Emelianenko Fedor dethrone Antonio
Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira. Hopefully this will break
that PRIDE heavyweight scene open for another overdue party crasher
- Josh Barnett. Two's company, three's a crowd, and wouldn't
you love to see any of those potential matchups?
You
also gotta wonder if PRIDE will replay the Bob Sapp angle and
give him a crack at Fedor. It's kind of a good litmus test, no-lose
situation…if Sapp were to win - it's hard to imagine anybody
taking him down and ground-and-pounding him, at least not early
- Nog would have a great story line available to try and reclaim
his title, with a Fedor rematch a natural if he regained it.
If Fedor beats Sapp, that's going to be a fan-friendly type of
bout, and it further augments his credentials. Nobody is taking
Sapp onto his back just yet, unless they're driving a truck.
Kazushi
Sakuraba, despite his loss on the PRIDE under card to Nino Schembri,
should be remembered for his amazing skills. He's still the only
go I've ever seen turn a standing kimura into a combination takedown
and submission. And he pulled it off against Renzo Gracie. Let's
hope he retires before he gets hurt any more.
Short
Thoughts
Is
it just me, or did everyone start using that Matt Hughes move
while working the ground and pound? Long relegated to swings
that carried the risk of submission susceptibility, or destabilizing
your base and risking the top position, ground and pounders have
followed Hughes' strategy in his second fight with Carlos Newton
for a low-risk, high reward striking tactic that's kind of like
the Washington Redskins' 50 Gut play when they had John Riggins
- it proves that brutal simplicity is always the most rewarding
course of action.
It's
easy. While in mount, or from side control, push palm onto foe's
face. After squishing head sufficiently to discomfit him, snap
elbow through and connect. Resume palm on face. Repeat as necessary.
No muss, no fuss, nor getting caught in an arm bar, or being
reversed because your Igor Vovchanchin impression left even Fred
Ettish laughing. What makes it so defensively effective is that
it's hard to pull off anything from the bottom when your head
is being squished into the canvas (if Newton couldn't find a
way to work something from that position, who else could?). It's
a neat thing catching on, and it definitely forms one of those
subtle shifts that swings the pendulum back toward the strikers.
I
still think that rule for grabbing the fence in the UFC is frivolous.
Everybody, essentially, gets a couple free grabs until warned.
It's natural instinct to grab onto the chain link savior in that
situation, and though it does have a tendency to stall the action,
it's hardly fair that the top guy is allowed to use the fence
defensively by pinning his man against it but the other man can't
hold it. You can't have it both ways. Well, you can, as UFC will
do what it chooses, but with all the rule changes in recent years
geared toward increasing the action, it'd be nice to see the
guy on the bottom be allowed to grab on, spare us the ref warning
that never results in a deduction and essentially is a little
subroutine everyone knows will take place in most fights.
Admit
it: there's nothing cooler, every, than watching UFC with "Big
Daddy" Goodridge circling the Octagon and Mark Coleman hanging
on. For sheer primordial value, nothing beats that, with the
possible exception of seeing Coleman do it to Simon, the smarmy
Brit judge from "American Idol."
Is
it just me, or does anyone else get the urge to swing by lame-fu
studios and drop off a copy of "Gracies in Action?"
with raucous laughter dubbed over Rorion's commentary?
Finding
an NHB place to train is always a grand adventure when you move
to a new town. Utilizing the drill-down effect of a lawyer in
a deposition, you can usually find out if the places in your
area are for real, for just pretending to be. It's enough to
lead you to understand the zealousness associated with Brazilian
Jiu-Jitsu.
Just
a couple months back yours truly walked into a place that offered
"Kickboxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu," as the window
display said. Got suspicious when the head instructor had photogenic
ears, and pronounced "Rickson" with the Americanized
"R" instead of the Brazilian "H" inflection.
Some assistant instructor with a red belt is impressed by my
shoddy execution of a triangle choke. I think it was judo on
steroids, but I cannot be sure. Needless to say, you move on
and keep looking, but this type of thing should be outed on the
Internet. In fact, that's not a bad idea…….if anybody
has any stories like this, send them in and we'll put together
a muckraking mailbag.
Source:
Maxfighting
HORN
READY FOR A BUSY MONTH AHEAD.
Horn To Face Moore at ICC
With
an overall record of 70 wins and 6 losses, no one can deny that
Jeremy Horn is the hardest working fighter in the business. And
he only seems to get better as he goes along having won 33 of
his past 35 bouts.
On
only three days notice, Horn stepped in for an injured Amar Suloev
to face Chalid Arrab for the International Mixed Fighting Association
World 205-Pound Title at the 2 Hot 2 Handle show on March 16th
in Holland. Horn controlled the bout - which consisted of one
15-minute round - by taking Arrab down at will and attacking
with various submission attempts. At one point, Horn nearly finished
the fight with a tight triangle choke but ended up getting a
unanimous decision for the win and the title.
Horn
now returns to the U.S. for his upcoming bout for the ICC. Originally
slated to face Homer Moore in early April on the next UCC show
and Alex Steibling on the ICC card, Horn’s schedule has
changed up once again. With the UCC’s next show being pushed
back to May and Steibling passing up the ICC for a slot in the
latest Pride show, MMAWeekly has learned that Horn will now face
Moore on the ICC card on April 18th and skip the UCC show altogether.
After fighting Moore in April, Horn will then attempt to claim
the King of the Cage Light Heavyweight Title from Vernon “Tiger”
White on KOTC’s next pay-per-view show in Las Vegas on May
16th.
If
that weren’t enough, Horn is dropping down in weight so
that he can fight in the 185-pound middleweight division. He
has currently reduced his weight to 200 pounds, from 211, and
intends to drop another 5 pounds to 195. At that weight, Horn
will be able to continue to take fights at light heavyweight,
but be light enough to cut weight to 185 when he wants to fight
at middleweight. As if he wasn’t tough enough already, at
185, Horn should be nearly invincible.
Source: MMA Weekly
3/21/03
Quote
of the Day
It
is more important to know where you are going than to get there
quickly.
Mabel Newcomber
Buy
some Chili
A
small group of us are selling Zippy's Chili 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...
Thanks
to all the people that have bought chili from us so far. We really
appreciate your support!
Contact
me by clicking here if you want to buy
ticket(s).
Thanks
in advance!
PACIFIC
FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIPS
APRIL 17, 2003
WAIKIKI SHELL, HAWAII
Honolulu, Hawaii's first outdoor Mixed Martial Art Event is here
as Pacific Fighting Championships hits Waikiki Shell. Come witness
a ground breaking experience, PFC Hawaii has 10 action packed
bouts containing Amatuer and Professional fighters. We have chosen
a lot of stand up fighters for this first of many events and
we promise to give you a lot of hard hitting action.
For
a special treat for the MMA fans and fighters, PFC Hawaii will
have two of Hawaii's top local artist playing LIVE. There are
only 2,000 total seats available for this event so get your tickets
now.
Tickets
are on sale now at Blaisdell Box Office or any ticket plus outlets
or charge by phone 808-526-4400.
Card
to be released soon.
Also for future Pacific Fighting Championships event all Managers
and Fighters that are interested in fighting can email the matchmaker
at pfc.hawaii@verizon.net.
What
is the Future for MURILLO BUSTAMANTE?
With
the Brazilian TOP TEAM in Japan recently for the PRIDE 25 show,
we learned more about 185 lb UFC Champion Murilo Bustamante and
Zuffa. With Murilo in Japan supporting the team, his thoughts
and plans also are starting to emerge. It has been more than
one year of negotiations for his return to the octagon, so after
a long wait it appears that we are close to seeing the destiny
of the UFC Middleweight Champion.
Bustamante
reportedly fielded an offer to re-sign with the UFC immediately
after his first title defense against Matt Lindland, and was
not pleased with the amount of the offer as well as the way the
offer was presented. Zuffa used to pay the fighters a purse to
fight and a win bonus, and this was the main subject when discussing
the renewal. Bustamante's management feels that the win bonus
is an incentive for fighters who are not going for finishes in
the fights. Obviously, this doesnt include Murilo!! Additionally,
Bustamante's management stated that although Zuffa's president
went to the locker room to apologize for the bad decision after
the UFC 33 (against Chuck Lidell), nobody compensated him financially
for the bad decision, meaning the win bonus had already cost
Bustamante a considerable amount.
Negotiations
ensued for Murilo's follow up to the UFC 33 fiasco, and he got
a title shot in the weight division lower, where he KO'd Dave
Menne and became champion. He defended his belt 4 months later.
Bustamante's camp started to negotiate the renewal before the
UFC 37 defense in Louisiana (where he was the main event), but
could not agree on terms, and Zuffa stopped the negotiations
until after the fight happened. After the fight, Bustamante considered
himself even more valuable than before due to how he fought (Bustamante
had a serious injury to his finger) and how the fight ended up
(beating Matt Lindland more than convincingly).
After
months of negotiations between both camps, Zuffa offered the
final purse and told Bustamante's manager to feel free to find
better options around. Due to contract obligations, Murilo had
to show the offer to Zuffa and they had the right to match the
offer. Reports state that the difference between offers was around
20%.
That
was the last word from both camps during several months and seems
Zuffa started to think on how to run the divison without Murilo
Bustamante counting he was out of the game. Then Phil Baroni
started to win his fights at the same time and was pumped by
Zuffa as a promise.
In
the end of 2002, Murilo was offered a fight in Japan, but due
to visa problems and a short notice invitation, Murilo was not
able to compete. His management offered Zuffa the deal to match,
and offered for Murilo to fight for the previous offer made by
Zuffa. Zuffa's refusal of this deal means everything started
to become harder.
The
last renewal attempt was an offer made for UFC 42, where Murilo
would fight a one fight deal if, and only if, Baroni would win
over Lindland. Again money was an issue, and Baroni did not win
anyway.
May
10th is the one year anniversary of Bustamante's last fight,
and both parties are released of contractual obligations. It
appears this is another reason Murilo Bustamante was at the Pride
25, with his UFC belt in tow, challenging anyone and everyone.
Murilo is reportedly very close to a deal to fight in the next
Pride 26 show on June 8th.
Source:
ADCC
AFC
is Coming Up March 29! Buy your tickets
now for the AFC!
The
Amateur Fighting Championships will take place on Saturday, March
29, 2003. The event starts at 6:00PM.
TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW!
$20 Advance
$25 at the door
Shooto
Brasil AM
SHOOTO
Association finally arrived in Brazil
The
original place that the event was to be held (WFC Academy) was
changed the night before the event to Instituto La Salle, however
this did not change the all action of SHOOTO Brazil. It delayed,
but better late than never...
...
SHOOTO has runs events in all corners of the World - this prestigious
organization - decided to allow Brazilian fighters to showcase
their talents on their own soil by organizing the Amateurs class
in Brazil.
'Amateur
class is the best way to forge SHOOTO fighters' stated Toniko
Junior the promoter of the SHOOTO Brazil Am. Toniko was the first
guy who tried to inroduce SHOOTO in Brazil last year by having
shooto fights in his Submission event (SW 2).
The
experiment was very successful then Toniko convinced the Japanese
Association on organize an event where all the fights were with
the SHOOTO
rules. He got approval, Toniko did an excellent job and for sure
he laied solid groundwork for a partnership between Brazil and
the Japanese SHOOTO organization.
Speaking
of the fights, this was the first time in SHOOTO history that
fighters with a record in NHB/ValeTudo/MMA have fought in an
Amateur event. Everyone knows the old saying 'one step back and
two steps forward', I think the fighters had this in mind and
decided that fighting in the first ever Brazilian shooto event
could be a good step in their fight carrers even though it was
an amature event. And the event was more exciting because of
these great fighters. It was interesting to see ValeTudo veterans
facing guys who have never fought in an event that had strikes.
The entire card, aside from some ValeTudo veterans and two Muay
Thai specialists, was composed of Jiu Jitsu and Luta-Livre guys
who usually only compete in their own events and in submission
events. So, lets go to the action:
The
class C rules could be re-adopted to the Brazilians fighters,
head protection and no strikes on the ground put the fighters
who really wanted
to strike at a disadvantage, Many Luta-Livre and Jiu Jitsu fighters
avoided
the most exciting part of a fight game (striking) for the less
dangerous
part of the game and took the fights to the ground. But as long
as the rules
are not brokin, it is all part of the game. With exception of
Maicon Alarcao (SENSEI), 'Batman' (Carlson Gracie Team) and Wagner
Tulio (RFT); all others fighters fought more of a Submission
style than a SHOOTO style to get to the finals. Tulio had the
most exciting fight of semifinal and beat the ValeTudo veteran,
Andre Bispo (Carlson Gracie Team), after good exchange of blows
Tulio
almost KO'd Bispo twice.
Before
all final matches, the new SHOOTO mania was showcased to the
Brazilian crowd. The SHOOTO Grappling fights, this is the new
way for fighters who want to fight in Japaneses's rings, but
do not want to fight NHB.
Finals:
Bantamweight -56kg
Daniel Otero (Fabricio JJ) decisioned William 'Parrudinho' (UA
Fight Team)
Featherweight
-60kg
Aritano Barbosa (Golden Fighters) submitted Raul 'Nequinha' Carneiro
(UA
Fight Team) by guillotine choke R1 - Barbosa was the most outstanding
fighter of the event. He for sure is prepared to move up and
fight in the SHOOTO Class B or A. Barbosa can grapple and strike
perfectly, he got his SHOOTO AM title by beating the only foreigner
of event, the Japanese fighter TAKASHI, by decision. in this
fight Barbosa dominated the action and almost submitted TAKASHI
by anklelock and kneebar, but the Japanese fighter was slippery
and Barbosa had to settle for a JD.
In
the final Barbosa faced Raul 'Nequinha' Carneiro (UA Fight Team).
They started the fight with an exchange of blows and when 'Nequinha'
shot for a takedown, Barbosa sprawled and caught Nequinha's neck,
making him tapout in the first round
Welterweight
-70kg
Eduardo Pessoa (Nova Uniao) decisioned Wagner Tulio (RFT) –
A war between, I try to fight on the feet(Tulio) versus I try
to fight on
the ground(Pessoa). this was the first time that both fought
in a MMA event,
each one wanted to keep the fight inside their speciality. Pessoa
and Tulio
traded some strikes on the feet but when the fight got to hot
for Pessoa he
took Tulio down, Tulio didn`t have a good sprawl. On the ground
Pessoa tried
to play his Jiu Jitsu game while Tulio tried to stall or to escape
to come
back to his feet. After two rounds of trying to keep standing,
Tulio was
overwhelmed by a most efficient ground game from Pessoa.
Middleweight
-76kg
Danilo Sherman (Nova Uniao) decisioned Felipe Arinelli (WFC)
Lightheavyweight
-83kg
Leonardo Lucio 'Chocolate' Nascimento (RFT) decisoned Ivan Jorge
'Batman'
(Carlson Gracie Team)
Cruiserweight
–91kg
Antonio Sergio (Brazilian Fight) x Tiago 'Marreta' (WFC) - 'Marreta'
was
disqualified when he threw a kick at his opponent's head while
the opponent had
four points on the ground. This fight had it all and was the
best one between the finals, two knowdown fighters, a beautiful
body-slam, but during the excitement made 'Marreta' kicked Sergio's
face while Sergio was on the
ground, resulting in an immediate disqualification.
SHOOTO
Grappling:
Luis 'Besouro' Jr. (UA Fight Team) decisioned Luiz Fernando Santos
(Carlson
Gracie Team)
Marcelo
'PitBull' Machado (RFT) decisioned Paulo Muniz (BTT)
Dudu
Guimaraes (WFC) submitted Marcio 'Cobra' Carneiro (UGF) by guillotine
choke R2
Milton
Vieira (UA Fight Team) submitted Jorge Fernando (Barradas JJ)
by
guillotine choke R1 - Vieira showed Fernando that experience
in no gi events
isn't that important. Fernando made a bad takedown attempt and
was caught quickly in a standing guillotine choke within the
first minute of the fight.
Alexandre
'Pequeno' Franca Nogueira (WFC) submitted Rodrigo Pagani (GRACIE
Humaita) by armlock R1 - 'Pequeno' fighting in Brazil ? Submission
? Really ?
Some
of new insiders and new fans never had seen 'Pequeno' fighting
Luta-Livre or Submission in Brazil, so the expectation was so
high over that and 'Pequeno' did not let his fans down. Pagani
was the only guy who accepted a fight with 'Pequeno' and he paid
for his bravery. Pagani knew what everyone else knew, that if
'Pequeno' got an oppertunity to sink in a choke that the fight
would be over. So Pagani was trying to fight causiously and pulled
'Pequeno' in to his guard. 'Pequeno' did try a choke attempt
on Pagani's but he was able to escape it miraculously. 'Pequeno'
then passed his guard and went to an armlock at 1:42 of round
one
Source:
ADCC
UFC:
TAPOUT 2 -- Real Fighters. Real Fighting.
The
all new UFC: Tapout 2 takes real fighting to the next round by
adding more realism, more fighters and more moves to the franchise
that already won the OXM’s Editors Choice Award for outstanding
fighting game in 2002.
Developed
by Dream Factory, Tapout 2 is the follow up to the wildly popular
UFC: Tapout, and will be the most realistic fighting game to
date. And realistic is how I describe the on screen action. The
animation system delivers more realism and life-like movements
then the original Tapout, and Tapout 2 features over 35 real
UFC fighters and characters, including the Tapout Crew. A major
engine overhaul has resulted in a number of great improvements.
You can create your own customized fighter from scratch in an
enhanced Career Mode, while the Select Tournament Mode is used
for a free-for-all with up to 8 human and/or computer controlled
fighters. Tapout 2 provides superior mesh physiology, real-time
shadow mapping and over 1,500 fighting moves and combinations
through the use of the latest game play technology. There is
a redesigned animation system producing fighter models with more
points of articulation and fluid, life-like movements. There
are also revamped interfaces, enhanced sound, a new music soundtrack
and available personalized music from the Xbox hard drive.
UFC
President Dana White accepted a friendly challenge from UFC Welterweight
contender “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler and they recently
played Tapout 2 at UFC 41 in Atlantic City, NJ. Lawler had no
problem dominating White, but I will admit to having “beginner’s
luck” against Lawler when we played the game. “We’ve
seen the new Tapout 2 and can’t believe how great it looks,”
said White, “the UFC games are as close as you can get to
the actual sport without being there.”
In
a January 30 press release, Southern California based TDK Mediactive,
Inc., CEO Vincent Bitetti stated “We are ecstatic to be
associated with Ultimate Fighting Championship and Zuffa. The
excitement, authenticity and rapid growth of Mixed Martial Arts,
led by the UFC, lends itself perfectly to video gaming and the
fresh and innovative game play we will provide.” This new
licensing agreement was the result of a Zuffa, LLC approved assignment
by the previous UFC licensee, Crave Entertainment, Inc. to TDK
Mediactive, Inc. White is confident that TDK has a great game
plan to expand the UFC gaming universe and provide fans with
an amazing fight experience.
Tapout
2 is scheduled to explode nationwide onto store shelves in March
2003, exclusively for the Xbox video game system by Microsoft.
More
information about TDK Mediactive and its products is available
at www.tdk-mediactive.com.
Source:
ADCC
Bitteti
Combat Nordeste 2 Results
BITTETI COMBAT NORDESTE 2: The battle of the Brazilian States
in the Northeast of Brazil:
|Date|
March 20th
|Place| Ginasio Machadinho, Natal – Rio Grande do Norte
FIGHT
nº 1: SERGIO 'CAPOEIRA' (RIO GRANDE DO NORTE) Vs. PAULO
GUERREIRO (CEARA) Paulo Guerrero
FIGHT
nº 2: WALLACE (RIO GRANDE DO NORTE) Vs. LUQUINHA (PERNAMBUCO)
Wallace opponent gives up
FIGHT
nº 3: RIVELINO (RIO GRANDE DO NORTE) Vs. JOSENILDO (CEARA)
Josenildo by KO
FIGHT
nº 4: CARLOS 'INDIO' (RIO GRANDE DO NORTE) Vs. TIAGO 'PITBULL'
(CEARA) Pitbull won by referee decision
FIGHT
nº 5: IVANIO 'ARANHA' (RIO GRANDE DO NORTE) Vs. CLAUDIONOR
FONTINELLI (RIO DE JANEIRO) Claudionor decision
FIGHT
nº 6: LUCAS LOPES (RIO GRANDE DO NORTE) Vs. ANTONIO 'SAMURAI'
(CEARA) Lucas by doctors stoppage
FIGHT
nº 7: TIBAU (RIO GRANDE DO NORTE) Vs. FERNANDO 'TERERE'
(SAO PAULO) Tibau won decision 2-1
FIGHT
nº 8: SILMAR RODRIGUES (RIO GRANDE DO NORTE) Vs. JOHIL DE
OLIVEIRA (RIO DE JANEIRO) Silmar wins decision 3-0
