May News Part 1
Egan
Update
The latest report states that Egan suffered a torn ear drum from
the compression and strikes he received. In Shooto, once a fighter
is knocked down, he is required to have a standing eight count.
As everyone who was there saw, Suda went in for the kill and
Egan did not receive his mandatory eight count after the shot
that put him down and took more shots that ended the fight. Egan
is currently contesting the lack of an eight count in order to
gain a rematch. I am sure that Shooto will make a formal ruling
on this. Once we get it, we will post it. |
T.
Jay Vs. Meat Truck Tonight at Gussie's!
Saturday night fights at Gussie's (near the airport on Nimitz)
is going to feature, get this, Super Brawl Promoter, T. Jay Thompson,
fresh off of a successful Super Brawl 29 vs. Kerry "Meat
Truck" Schall who is about 6' 3" and 260 lbs (on a
light day) in a submission only match. I am sure there will be
other fights as well. All of the out of town fighters are scheduled
to be there. Come down and cheer on T. Jay (he'll need it since
he is probably going to be giving up 80-100 lbs) and meet and
greet the out of town fighters to show them what Aloha is all
about! |
Quote
of the Day
"So great has been the endurance, so incredible the achievement,
that, as long as the sun keeps a set course in heaven, it would
be foolish to despair of the human race."
Ernest L. Woodward |
Super
Brawl 29 Results
Blaisdell Arena, Honolulu, Hawaii
May 9, 2003
By Chris Onzuka - Chris@Onzuka.com
Years
in the making, came to an abrupt and surprising end that left
the largest crowd ever for an mixed martial arts event in Hawaii
speechless. Egan Inoue has been focusing on becoming the first
Hawaiian born fighter to capture the coveted Shooto championship.
He came out of a self-imposed retirement to fight his way up
the rankings for a chance at the champion. This was history in
the making, not only would Inoue have the opportunity to be the
first Shooto champion from Hawaii, but this would also mark the
first time that a Shooto championship bout would be held outside
of Japan. T. Jay Thompson went to work and not only got this
match set up in Inoue's home town, he also assembled a great
under card to build the tension to a fever pitch. Originally,
all the best fighters Hawaii had to offer were scheduled on the
card, with the exception of Cabbage Correira, due to recently
beating Sean Alvarez in the UFC, Falaniko Vitale, who will appear
in the next UFC against Matt Lindland and Baret Yoshida, who
pulled out of his fight to concentrate his efforts on the Abu
Dhabi Submission Wrestling World Championships. Unfortunately,
Ray "Bradda" Cooper had to pull out of his match due
to a rib injury days before the event, so heavy hitter Mark Moreno
stepped up to the plate to take on rising star Kuniyoshi Hironaka.
When everything was said and done, the stars of the night were
Rami Boukai for submitting a tough, Justin Mercado, Kuniyoshi
Hironaka for dominating Mark Moreno and Kid Yamamoto for demolishing
Jeff Curran. The stage was now set for the main event. Super
Brawl held a tribute and salute to the men and women of the armed
forces by bringing out a representative of each branch of service
and giving them leis earlier in the evening. And right before
the main event, the color guard came into the ring and a Navy
group sang the National Anthem. The crowd loved every minute
of it and showed their appreciation for our heroes. The fight
started with Inoue circling Suda, bobbing and weaving. Suda maintained
his composure and saw his opportunity when Inoue stepped toward
Suda while circling. Suda fired off a right hook that landed
at the base of Inoue's skull. Inoue slowly dropped down from
the punch and Suda rushed in to finish off Inoue. The referee
seemed to hold back stopping the fight in order to allow Inoue
ample time to recover, cover up or defend himself. After a series
of unanswered punches, the referee stopped Suda and declared
it a victory by KO after only 27 seconds in the first round.
Suda celebrated but rushed over to see if Inoue was okay. After
a while on the ground, Inoue sat on a corner stool to be further
checked and monitored by the ringside physicians. Masanori Suda
retained his Shooto title and became the Super Brawl Champion
while the stunned Hawaiian crowd stood in awe of the outcome.
Heavyweight
2x5 minute rounds
Tim Tynan (808 Fight Factory, 1-1) def. Ray "King Kong"
Seraille (Grappling Unlimited, 1-3)
Majority decision after 2 rounds [(20-19), (19-19), (20-18)].
167.5lbs
2x5 minute rounds
Brandon Keen (Grappling Unlimited, 3-0) def. Paul Laga (Bull's
Pen, 2-2)
Unanimous decision after 2 rounds [(20-16), (20-16), (20-16)].
143lbs
3x5 minute rounds
Rami Boukai (Next Generation, 2-1) def. Justin Mercado (Grappling
Unlimited, 2-2)
Submission via triangle choke at 2:47 minutes in Round 1.
167.5lbs
3x5 minute rounds
Kuniyoshi Hironaka (SSS Academy, Tokyo, 6-1) def. Mark Moreno
(Bulls Pen, 6-2-1)
Submission via cradle neck crank at 2:50 minutes in Round 1.
167.5lbs
2x5 minute round
"Ice Kold" Kolo Koka (Grappling Unlimited, 5-3) def.
Billy Rush (Meat Truck, Inc., 2-1)
KO due to strikes at 4:59 minutes in Round 1.
143lbs
3x5 minute rounds
Stephen "Bozo" Paling (Jesus is Lord, 11-4) def. Mark
Hominick (Team Tompkins, Ontario, Canada, 3-1)
TKO via doctor stoppage from cut at 16 seconds in Round 1.
143lbs
3x5 minute rounds
Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto (Pure Bred, Tokyo, 5-1) def.
Jeff Curran (Linx, Chicago, IL, 5-6)
Unanimous decision after 3 rounds [(30-27), (30-27), (30-27)].
145lbs
2x5 minute rounds
Joe Jordan (Extreme Impact, 4-1) def. Eddie Yagin (Grappling
Unlimited, 8-2)
Unanimous decision after 2 rounds [(19-19), (20-19), (20-19)].
Shooto
& Super Brawl Title Unification Bout:
183.2lbs 3x5 minute rounds
Masanori Suda (Tokyo) Shooto Champion def. Egan Inoue (Grappling
Unlimited) Super Brawl Champion
KO due to strikes at 27 seconds in Round 1.
Masanori Suda retains the Shooto Championship and becomes
the Super Brawl Champion.
|
Warriors
of the Ring 3 Tonight!
Maui War Memorial Gymnasium, Maui, Hawaii
May 10, 2003
Shaun Saribay (Freelance) vs. Keola Cabalero (Backyard Assault)
Ian
Omalza (Maui Full Contact Fighting) vs. Eric Tolentino (Hard
Impact)
Mathew
Mozocca (Relson Gracie) vs. Josh Kawalo (Backyard Assault)
Kendall
Groves (Maui Full Contact Fighting) vs. Marvelous Tevaga (American
Kenpo)
Alan
Hinojesa (Maui Full Contact Fighting) vs. Mike Garcia (American
Kenpo)
Semi
Main Event #1
Eddy Seafross (Maui Full Contact) vs. Charles Hendrickson (Backyard
Assault)
Semi
Main Event #2
Anthony Billianor (Lockdown Unltd.) vs. Kadon Zimmerman (Freelance)
Main
Event
Edward Ferreira (Maui Full Contact) vs. Paulo Lupi (Brazilian
Freestyle)
Source: Event Promoter |
ADCC
2003: THE EYE OF THE TIGER
by: Luca Atalla
Exclusive
interview with Ricardo Arona (part 1 of 4)
One
of the stars of the ADCC 2003 superfight, Ricardo Arona talks
about Mark Kerr, Wanderlei Silva and much more
A
friend of mine promised once that if he became rich, he would
have a band playing to announce his arriving wherever he went.
Ricardo Arona, 24, did not earn money enough to fill such ostentation,
but the way he walks near his home reminds me that quote.
As he goes to Itacoatiara, a beach in the Niteroi shore three
blocks far from where he lived, the pit-bulls Tigra and Ragi
go off in advance. Along the way, they trick the pedestrians
and announce his owner arriving. Arona came right after talking
to every person and calling them by their names. Someone shouts:
‘What’s up Ricardo, when will you fight that bald head?’
‘I don’t know, I don’t know, sometime,’ he
said, knowing that ‘bald head’ is Wanderlei Silva,
the one who holds the Pride middleweight belt, a trophy that
everyone knows he wants. ‘But I will fight Mark Kerr on
May 17th,’ he announces and keeps walking.
‘I think that in 10 years I will enter into politics,’
jokes Arona as he takes a look to the waves that are growing
in the left side of the beach. The spot, full of surfers, is
located at the foot of the steep mount the fighter usually climbs.
‘I use two courses; a straight one, to improve my power,
and a winding one, to improve my endurance,’ he explains,
pointing the hill.
Although Arona does not seem a surfer neither a climber, he’s
really tuned to the environment, a tiger in the Cambodian jungle.
The comparison makes sense. After all, the athlete is obsessed
for the striped cat. There are portraits hanged in his academy
wall, pictures showed in his room, several statues spread in
his house and five of these animals among the tattoos that nearly
cover his body’s right side. ‘People may think it’s
a bullshit, but it’s not. I have an identity with tigers
indeed,’ emphasizes Arona.
That sentence isn’t hard to believe if you figure his attitude
during the Jiu-Jitsu tournaments he participated; or along the
way to his three ADCC World Submission Wrestling Championship
titles (until 98kg in 2000 and 2001 plus the open division in
2001) or at the MMA fights he did in Japan. In all these performances,
one virtue stood alone: his desire to win; or, his eye of tiger.
ADCC
News: Arona, in the next May 17th, there will be one of the biggest
challenges of your life. What do you worry the most in this superfight
against Mark Kerr?
Arona: We both are undefeatable in the ADCC. He is one of the
biggest champions of Abu Dhabi, Japan, USA. So it is an honor
for every Brazilian to fight Kerr. Besides that, this time the
event is here in Brazil and I don’t fight here for a long
time. I will have the crowd shouting for me and I know if I win
I will be the great submission wrestling champion. But I don’t
worry about that. It will be a great fight and I have a big desire
to face him. I know he is very strong, but his size does not
mean anything. I always liked big challenges, and he will be
just one more in my life.
ADCC:
About the strategy: what’s the plan?
Arona: The only thing I have to pay attention is to don’t
let me enter into his game, that game to endure the whole time
of the fight. He keeps saving his gas and making one move to
earn a point or advantage. Lasting five minutes to go, he does
not move and doesn’t let you move as well. He is very strong.
So the tactic to beat him is to move a lot around him. No matter
if we are standing or on the ground, I have to attack his neck,
to try a take down, to pull into the guard, to do everything
I can in the first 10 minutes, when there’s no scoreboard.
From the 10 to 20, the game plan changes. Any mistake could mean
points. So in that period, either you take him down or hold yourself
to don’t let be taken down. Otherwise, he will earn points.
Kerr is very smart and if he opens the score he will manage the
fight and could possibly win. Thus, my plan is to step there
with more gas than him. And then I can execute this tactic.
Source: ADCC |
THE
PREDATOR TO COLLIDE WITH THE HAMMER
LOS
ANGELES, California In what is shaping up to be one of the best
fight cards of the year, Don 'The Predator' Frye is now scheduled
to fight Mark 'The Hammer' Coleman on June 8, 2003 at PRIDE FC:
BAD TO THE BONE (the event will premiere exclusively on Pay-Per-View
on June 13th).
No
strangers to each other, these legends of the sport have collided
once before, back in 1996 at UFC 10. That night Coleman was victorious
over Frye via TKO during an event in which both men fought two
other competitors in the tournament before facing each other.
Since then, each of their careers has shot up to astronomical
levels: Coleman went on to win the prestigious title of PRIDE
FC 2000 Grand Prix Champion and Frye became a superstar in PRIDE
FC with incredible victories over the likes of Ken Shamrock and
Gilbert Yvel.
Now
these titans of the sport must meet once again! Coleman looks
to prove once and for all that his previous victory over Frye
was no fluke and that this match is nothing more than a stepping
stone on his journey to reclaim his heavyweight championship.
For Frye, it's personal. Now a solid thirty pounds heavier than
he was in his original fight with Coleman, 'The Predator' is
looking to avenge one of his only career defeats.
And
this is just the beginning of an outstanding fight card! Also,
scheduled: Newly crowned PRIDE FC Heavyweight Champion Fedor
Emelianenko will defend his title against the Japanese tank,
Kazuyuki Fujita and fresh off of his upset of Kazushi Sakuraba,
Antonio 'Elvis' Schembri will do battle with Sakuraba's teammate,
wrestling star, Kazuhiro Hamanaka. More bouts will be scheduled
soon! You don’t want to miss this card!
Fight
Card:
- Fedor Emelianenko (Russia, Champion) vs. Kazuyuki Fujita (Japan,
Challenger)
- Mark Coleman (USA) vs. Don Frye (USA)
- Antonio 'Elvis' Schembri (Brazil) vs. Kazuhiro Hamanaka (Japan)
(A
total of 7-8 bouts will be scheduled. Fight Card is subject to
change.)
For
more information on PRIDE FC, visit pridefc.com!
Source: Dreamstage |
More
on the TITO-LIDELL Saga!
The
ex-manager of Tito Ortiz is coming forth with comments regarding
recent interviews with Ortiz.
Jim
Gallo, Ortiz former manager, is now surfacing with some interesting
facts questioning comments from Ortiz.
Gallo,
who also manages Chuck Lidell, made a public statement that shocked
many MMA insiders this past week.
Dating
back as far as September 2001, Lidell stated 'Tito will NEVER
fight me.'
Gallo,
who had remained quiet throughout the entire Zuffa/Ortiz ordeal,
went public on Tuesday by posting a revealing letter to fight
fans on MMA.tv:
'I
was Tito's Manager during the subject time frame. I have refrained
from publicly stating anything regarding the contract dispute
between Tito and Zuffa because of the confidential relationship
that exists between myself and Tito. However, Tito's recent comments
on this forum waive that confidential relationship on one issue,
which brings my credibility in to issue with my client Chuck
Liddell.
Specifically
Tito states:
'I was training for the Belfort fight and got a call saying that
Belfort was hurt. I never said once that I wouldn't fight the
replacement I had a choice of Vladdy, Randelman, or Chuck. I
remember my manager (Jim Gallo) witch is Chuck’s
manager saying Chuck wasn't training to fight me. So now Zuffa
had two choices Vladdy or Randelman. Or I had two choices. So
I picked Randelman. He pussed out so Vladdy was the last choice.
I never once asked for more money to fight and I had a right
to.'
Zuffa,
specifically Joe Silva and Frank Fertitta, believed that Chuck
was the most valid opponent for Tito. I conveyed the offer to
Chuck who accepted the fight without question on two weeks notice
while training for a 3 round fight.
I
then conveyed the offer to Tito, who refused. Tito stated that
his ankle was not 100% and he needed to be 100% if he was ever
going to fight Chuck Liddell.
Liddell
then told me 'Tito will never fight me.'
The
rest of the 'quoted portion' of Tito's statement is accurate.
We
did not request more money because Tito was a PPV partner in
the Show, and as everyone may recall there was much hype, including
a $2 mill advertising campaign, behind the return to cable. It
hardly made much sense to hold out and jeopardize a Show that
we were PPV partners in.'
At
the present time Ortiz seems to be content to stay at home and
do occasional movies in Hollywood while working on a resolution
with Zuffa.
It
would be nice if all this was just a long time work to get the
fans pumped for an eventual mega-fight (ala Tyson vs. Lewis).
With
more and more mudslinging, many doubt that this is the case.
Most believe that we've seen Tito Ortiz fight for the last time
(at least until the end of 2006).
Source: ADCC |
TITO
ORTIZ Hits Hollywood
Tito
Ortiz has his second shot at being in a Hollywood film (his first
being CRADLE 2 THE GRAVE). Ortiz will co-star with Edward Furlong,
Dennis Hopper and Tara Reid in WICKED PRAYER. The film is the
fourth CROW movie (originally made famous by Brandon Lee in the
mid-1990's).
The
former-UFC Champion will play the part of 'Famine,' an evil member
of the Four Horsemen gang. Famine was character made exclusively
for the movie and was not a part of the original Norman Partridge.
Producers
Jeff Most and Edward Pressman will head-up the picture under
the Dimension Films banner. The film will being production in
Mid-June and last most of the summer.
On
the INTERNET MOVIE DATABASE (http://us.imdb.com/) Ortiz is also credited
with WORLD FIGHTING ALLIANCE. Described as a 15 episode TV series
with a credited case of John Lewis, Jeff Bowler and Joe Rogan.
This
could be the proposed WFA show that was scrapped.
Should
be an interesting upcoming summer for Tito Ortiz as he is not
expected to fight for UFC anytime soon.
Source: ADCC |
Lewis
takes King to court
Lewis courts a huge payment
World heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis is seeking damages of
up to $385m (£270m) from Mike Tyson and promoter Don King.
Papers
filed in a New York City court claim that King prevented Tyson
from signing a deal to fight on the same bill as Lewis in June.
And
they also allege that the promoter prevented Tyson from taking
on Lewis in a re-match of their Memphis bout in 2002.
The
suit claims promoter Don King made death threats to one of Tyson's
friends and bribed another in an effort to get the former champion
to back out of his fight against Lewis.
The
suit claims King cost Lewis $10m by keeping Tyson out of a 21
June card in Los Angeles and another $25m by stopping him from
signing a deal for an eventual rematch.
"What
happened was disgraceful," said Lewis' attorney Judd Burstein.
Tyson (left) and King have been named on the suit
"Don King should be hanging his head in shame."
The
lawsuit claims that King is desperate to get Tyson back on his
books because he fears losing a separate $100m suit filed by
Tyson against him six years ago for allegedly stealing money.
That
case is scheduled to be heard in September.
Lewis'
suit, which has also been filed on behalf of Lion Promotions,
names Mike Tyson, Mike Tyson Enterprises, Don King and Don King
Productions as defendants.
"This
case typifies the sad state of boxing today - a sport populated
by athletes who refuse to honor their contractual commitments
and corrupt promoters, such as Don King, who will stop at nothing
- including even death threats, tax evasion and bribery - to
advance their own causes," it states.
The
planned Lewis-Tyson doubleheader in Los Angeles was to feature
Lewis defending his WBC title against Kirk Johnson, while Tyson
took on Oleg Maskaev in a 10-round fight.
Source: BBC |
Super
Brawl 29 Free Broadcast
Olympic Sportsbook (www.thegreek.com) presents a free internet
broadcast of tonights historic Super Brawl card.
The quality will amaze you! Make sure you have the Free RealOne
player installed and use the login information below:
E-mail:
tjay@superbrawltv.com
Password:
SB4free
Click
the link below to be taken to the broadcast! Enjoy
(www.superbrawltv.com)
Source: T. Jay Thompson |
Quote
of the Day
When we are motivated by goals that have deep meaning, by dreams
that need completion, by pure love that needs expressing, then
we truly live life.
Greg
Anderson |
Super
Brawl 29 Tonight!
Neil Blaisdell Arena
Honolulu, Hawaii
Fights are scheduled to start at 7:30 PM, but this WILL be the
most crowded Super Brawl event so if you don't want to miss any
action, you better leave way early to avoid the traffic and parking
problem. |
2003
Hawaiian Championship of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
EVENT OVERVIEW
Brazilian
Jiu-Jitsu is a unique style of martial arts that incorporates
an array of ground techniques, such as arm locks, chokes and
submissions, to control and submit an opponent. It is today one
of the fastest growing and most popular martial art styles in
the world. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gained prominence in the early
90's through it's effective in various no-holds barred fighting
competitions. The recent Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Championships
were held in Santa Barbara, CA attracting nearly 1,000 competitors
from as far away as Japan and Mexico.
In
this tournament, athletes of all levels will compete against
other athletes from throughout the State, U.S. Mainland, and
Japan in a 1-day tournament. Jiu-Jitsu is an international sport
with worldwide appeal and participation that not only attracts
those in the Jiu-Jitsu community, but also those competing in
Wrestling, Judo and other grappling oriented arts. The 2003 Hawaiian
Championship of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is an exciting event with
an objective to promote friendly competition, goodwill, sportsmanship,
camaraderie, and fun.
EVENT
DATE: May 24, 2003 / Starts time 10:30 am
EVENT:
2003 Hawaiian Championship of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu - Gi / No Gi
Format
LOCATION:
University of Hawaii, Klum Gym / Honolulu, Hawaii
FORMAT:
1-day tournament / 10 weight classes
Gi and No Gi Format
White, blue, purple, brown and black belt categories in each
weight class
TICKETS:
$5 for adults / Children under 10 free
ENTERTAINMENT:
Martial arts (Capoera) demonstration by SENZALA
AUDIENCE:
Open to the general public.
CONTACT:
James Tanaka at 223-9363 / E-Mail at JKT@lava.net
Registration:
Each individual competing must turn in a separate individual
competitor's registration sheet along with $40 (checks should
be made payable to: Romolo Barros).
Disputes:
The competition will be single elimination. Each first place
showing will receive three team points and each second place
will receive one team point.
Prizes:
All athletes in first and second places will receive gold and
silver medals respectively.
Trophies will be awarded to the top three schools.
Gi
/ No Gi Competition Information:
" Weight Classes:
Rooster 110-122 lbs.
Super Feather 123-135 lbs.
Feather 136-148 lbs.
Light 149-161 lbs.
Middle 162-174 lbs.
Light Heavy 175-187 lbs.
Heavy 188-201 lbs.
Super Heavy 202-214 lbs.
Free Weight Open
" Match Points:
Flips 2 points
Knee on the belly 2 points
Mount position 4 points
Scissors 2 points
Passing the guard 3 points
Taking the back 4 points
Gi
Time Limits
White Belt
Kids: 3 minutes
5 minutes
4 minutes
Yellow Belt
4 minutes
Blue Belt
Adult:6 minutes
Masters:5 minutes
Purple Belt
Adult:7 minutes
Masters:6 minutes
Brown Belt
Adult:8 minutes
Masters:7 minutes
No
Gi Time Limits:
Novice (2 yrs or less training.)
Adult: 6 minutes
Masters:5 minutes
Advanced (3 yrs or more training.)
Adult: 7 minutes
Masters:6 minutes
Miscellaneous Information:
All
"Gi" competitors must compete with a clean Gi.
All competitors who fail to appeal when their name is called
will forfeit the match.
Rules workshop prior to start of competition.
The information may be amended or changed at any time.
Proceeds to benefit Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Youth Education Scholarships.
|
Hoping
for ADCC 2003 Glory:
66-76.9kg Brazilian Trials champion, Daniel Morais (Gracie Humaita)
FIGHTWORLD
Brazil- Can you introduce yourself for the readers? Daniel Moraes-
I started practicing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at the age of 6 years
old and I am black-belt since 2001. My titles are two times Brazilian
champ, two times World champ, three times state of Rio champ,
and two times Pan Arms champ. My profile is 1,75cm, 77kg and
21 years old.
FIGHTWORLD
Brazil- Who did give you the black-belt? Daniel Moraes- Royler
Gracie and Marcelo Clemente.
FIGHTWORLD
Brazil- I know that the Moraes family has a good friendship with
the Gracie's. Was this the reason which made you to become a
Jiu Jitsu fighter? Daniel Moraes- For sure it was that. My father
is a purple-belt under Relson and my godfather (Jose Moraes)
is a black-belt. When I started in Jiu Jitsu I loved soccer too,
but my father always encouraged me to fight and I began to win
titles in Jiu Jitsu, what made my interest for the Jiu Jitsu
grow more.
FIGHTWORLD
Brazil- In what age did you show more interest in Jiu Jitsu?
Daniel Moraes- At the age of 15 when Royler Gracie came to teach
Jiu Jitsu close to my home. Besides my father and my uncle who
started training with Royler, my all friends started too. So
I started to train with more seriousness.
FIGHTWORLD
Brazil- Do you represent Gracie Humaita or Team Marcelo
Clemente? Daniel Moraes- In reality I train with Clemente nowadays,
he is my coach and he has motivated me alot for this ADCC2003.
Royler was the master who I started to learn Jiu Jitsu with,
he was the base the beginning. I do not train much with Royler
lately, but I represent Gracie Humaita, which is my team.
FIGHTWORLD
Brazil- When did you decide to fight without a gi and why? Daniel
Moraes- I began to train without gi when Royler took part in
his first ADCC competition in 1999. I realized that training
without gi was adding more skills to my game and when I took
part in my first Submission Grappling event in 2000 or 2001 -
I am not sure - and I lost a close fight to Marcio Feitosa (ADCC2001
champ.), since then I have dedicated myself to no gi events.
I added wrestling with Darrel Gholar and conditioning with Paulo
Caruso, these two new ways in my life have improved my game a
lot with gi too.
FIGHTWORLD
Brazil- Which benefits did Wrestling give you? Daniel Moraes-
I liked this fight and this incorporated itself good on my game.
I trained with Wrestling expert and our trainings were tough.
I got strength in my legs and my on the feet and on the mat game(top
or bottom) improved due to Wrestling.
FIGHTWORLD
Brazil- Did you have any problem in adapting your gi game for
no
gi?Daniel Moraes- The usual differences, meantime I never desisted
training. I love gi and no gi competitions.
FIGHTWORLD
Brazil- Do you intend to practice both (Submission and Jiu Jitsu)?
Daniel Moraes- I do not have troubles on that. I just need to
share the training when the competitions arise. It is impossible
to train both if you are focusing MUNDIALS of Jiu Jitsu or ADCC.
You need to dedicate yourself to one way of training, I think
I have a point in my favor because with 2 months of training
I got the verge on what I am focusing, Submission or Jiu Jitsu.
FIGHTWORLD
Brazil- Besides ADCC Brazilian Trials, you had fought only in
two Submission Grappling events (Copa Tijuca and Copa NitFight)
here in Brazil, while outside of Brazil you fought more than
5 times. Was this your wish or did not you plan it that way?
Daniel Moraes- I think happened naturally, I did not plan. I
fought more outside of Brazil and almost nobody paid attention
to this. I already beat Barret Yoshida in Hawai by 11-0 and he
always is very well ranked in ADCC. Only those who are close
to me know my potential, and then I delayed a bit on showing
my value to all. Anyway, these international events gave me a
lot of experience and while the insiders and fans picked Fernando
'Terere' (Masters JJ/BFC) and Luis 'Buscape' Junior (UA Fight
Team) to win the Brazilian Trials in under 76kg. I came without
any favoritism and captured that honor.
FIGHTWORLD
Brazil- About Brazilian Trials, did you expect an invite to compete
there or was it a surprise? Daniel Moraes- I did not expect.
I was focused on fighting Marcio Feitosa at the Dale Eanhardt
Jr. Grappling Classic; and there were rumors which I would not
be invited to fight in the Trials. So I trained a lot to try
to beat Feitosa who is the last ADCC champion, maybe if I beat
him I would be invited. However Feitosa did not agree with the
purse and the promoters put Jorge Gurgel to fight against me
in the USA. At same time, Marcello 'Tetel' Andrade called me
and told me I was in ADCC Trials. Like I said before, I was so
trained because my deal was to beat Feitosa and to conquer a
place on ADCC2003 due to that.
FIGHTWORLD
Brazil- So you learned not to believe to much in the rumors!
Daniel Moraes- [laughs] I learned, to be sure.
FIGHTWORLD
Brazil- So what kind of tactic did you adopt in the Trials since
you were preparing yourself for fight in another event where
you only wouldfight once? Daniel Moraes- I did not get the invite
so close of the event, I was trained, however I was not feeling
myself nice on that day. For the first time in my life I was
not excited about the fights. During I slept on the car during
the course to AABB Lagoa, it was strange for me. But when they
called me to face Johil de Oliveira (BUDOKAN) in first round,
the adrenaline was in my veins. My plan in ADCC Brazilian Trials
was to fight on the bottom, using my takedowns because the rules
favor this technique. Takedowns was what I trained more and added
to my game.
FIGHTWORLD
Brazil- The fact you were not the favorite, did this work to
your advantage? Daniel Moraes- I think so. I always like this
kind of situation, I agree gave me double adrenaline to fight
against 'Terere' (5x times World JJ champ), Johil (NHB veteran)
and Marcelo Garcia (multiple times Jiu Jitsu champ). However
the responsibility is with them, so I fight free.
FIGHTWORLD
Brazil- What can you comment about your fights? Daniel Moraes-
I beat Johil by 21-0, there are no comments about that fight
the score speaks for itself. 'Terere' was my following opponent
and I played a smart game to take him down at the right moment
and to keep him on the bottom. In the final against Garcia, I
was not confident enough to shoot for a takedown. I was careful
about his guillotine. I try to play that game for awhile, which
made the fight to be a little bit boring, he was punished by
a -1 when he sat down on the mat early in the fight. I did not
want to expose myself, then I administered that advantage until
the final whistle. I had told you before I was not fine on that
day and I did not want to lose that opportunity.
FIGHTWORLD
Brazil- During the Trials, in which fight did you execute your
game plan better? Daniel Moraes- I can not choose one, each fight
was a different fight. Meantime I had to annul the sweep of half
guard from Garcia and 'Terere' because they are dangerous at
this movement.
FIGHTWORLD
Brazil- After the Trials you did fight in Dale Eanhardt Jr. Grappling
Classic and Arnold Submission. Did not you fear an injury? Daniel
Moraes- In the Eanhardt event no, because it was only one fight
and for me it sounds like training. In the Arnold event, I knew
that I could get an injury, but I put in my mind that this would
be a good test for me. I have to make a different game plan from
that which I had at the Trials. I fought a lot on the bottom
against US wrestlers. I made 4 fights and I lost in the finals
to Vitor 'Shaolin' Ribeiro via takedown.
FIGHTWORLD
Brazil- I noticed that you only fight submission with t-shirt.
Is there any special reason? Daniel Moraes- No special reason,
I always fought with it. I do not know if it is a superstition,
but I have won wearing it.
FIGHTWORLD
Brazil- How is your training for ADCC2003 going? Daniel Moraes-
The same: Wrestling, conditioning and Jiu Jitsu. I have done
some bike, running and mountain climbing too.
FIGHTWORLD
Brazil- Those Submission events you fought were your preparation
for ADCC2003. So, logically, you are wanting the title. Daniel
Moraes- I surprised everybody at the Trials and I can surprise
more at the ADCC.
FIGHTWORLD
Brazil- Did you hear who will fight in your weight class? Does
anyone worry you? Daniel Moraes- There are a lot of good and
experience fighters, so in the moment of each fight I will make
known my game plan.
FIGHTWORLD
Brazil- What do you prefer a tough or an easy fight in first
round? Daniel Moraes- An easy one, no doubts. I prefer to grow
during the competition than to risk myself in the first round.
FIGHTWORLD
Brazil- Royler is the great ADCC champion. Is he talking to you
and telling you what you should expect? Daniel Moraes- Yes, he
did. My game plan is the same as his was.
FIGHTWORLD
Brazil- Do you have any thing more to add? Daniel Moraes- The
fans can be sure I will represent Brazil and my academy very
well. I am trained and dedicated to win this title. I want to
thank my sponsors the Gracie Brothers and Charles Henry; and
my coaches Paulo Caruso (conditioning), Darrel Gholar (Wrestling),
Marcelo Clemente and Royler (Jiu Jitsu).
Source:
ADCC |
Frye
vs Coleman in Pride 26
DSE/PRIDE announced one more match up for next show PRIDE 26,
today.
Don
Frye vs Mark Coleman
(USA
/ Free) (USA / Hammer House)
Already
announced;
Emelianenko
Fedor vs Kazuyuki Fujita
(Russia/Russian Top Team) (Japan/Inoki Office)
PRIDE Heavyweight champion
Nino
“Elvis” Schembri vs Kazuhiro Hamanaka
(Brazil/Gracie Barra Academy) (Japan/Takada Dojo)
PRIDE.26
REBORN
Date: June 8th 2003
Place: Yokohama Arena
Open:16:30 Start: 18:00
Source:
Koichi "Booker K" Kawasaki
|
PRIDE
- Heading in a New Direction?
New
Pride leader Nobuyuki Sakakibara made several notable comments
on in late April regarding Pride and the U.S. fans. In attempt
to start competing with UFC, Pride will use more American fighters
on their June 8th PRIDE: BAD TO THE BONE show.
The
headliner, already announced, is Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko
taking on Japanese star Kazuyuki Fujita in his return.
The
event will be geared towards the U.S. audience for the first
time since Pride began airing on American PPV nearly four years
ago.
Some
of the names being thrown about are Quinton Jackson, Heath Herring,
Mark Coleman (possibly against Don Frye), Ricardo Arona, Kevin
Randelman and Igor Vovchanchin. Looks like PRIDE will try to
feature their heavyweight division, where they are considered
'deeper' than UFC.
The
show will air on tape delay the day after the scheduled UFC 43
PPV event featuring Tank Abbott vs. Kimo and Ken Shamrock vs.
Ian Freeman.
This
will mark the first time Pride will be seen on nearly all major
PPV outlets inside the U.S. It's expected the show will NOT do
anywhere near the UFC numbers but Pride is hoping to grow as
a PPV entity. Additionally, pride IS PLANNING US shows starting
in January 2004. This is a sign that PRIDE is bouncing back and
moving forward after some darker times.
Source:
ADCC
|
Super
Brawl Weigh-In Coverage
Weigh-in and Press Conference
May 8, 2003
24-Hour Fitness Kapiolani
Honolulu, Hawaii
By Michael Onzuka
Mike@onzuka.com
Promoter
T. Jay Thompson has really out done himself for Super Brawl 29.
Not only was he successful in hosting the first Shooto championship
outside of Japan, but he has filled the card with high ranking
Shooto fighters, one being Hawaii's Stephen "Bozo"
Palling, Shooto's number one ranked lightweight. Ray "Bradda"
Cooper was supposed to face number five ranked, Kuniyoshi Hironaka
, but had to withdraw with a rib injury so the hard punching
Mark Moreno stepped up to face Hiroanaka. Other than that, the
card remains intact.
Shooto
lightweight number three ranked, Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto,
is quickly becoming one of the most exciting fighters in his
weight class and will face Jiu-Jitsu specialist and the well-rounded,
Jeff Curran, who has been on a roll, winning his last four fights
in impressive fashion. "Kid" has been here in Hawaii
acclimating himself to the Hawaii weather and has been at fighting
weight for about a week now and looking shredded to the bone.
This fight is the one to watch. Two highly explosive fighters
that will be sure to push the fight until someone goes down.
The
Filipino Phenom, Eddie Yagin will bring his aggressive style
against a wild card in 6-2 Joe Jordan. The under card is packed
with up and coming fighters which will surely make their mark
in the Hawaii scene which has been a hot bed of young talent.
Everyone
made weight and seems ready for action. Enson acted as a translator
for Masanori Suda for the three TV stations that came down to
cover the weigh-ins and press conference. The reporters asked
Suda if he was ducking Egan because the fight was put off for
more than a year after the original agreement. Suda, through
Enson, told the reporters that he did not know of any agreement
to fight Egan and wanted to fight him. Enson explained that the
Japanese fighters want to fight the best and Suda was in the
dark about any attempt by Egan's camp to sign a title fight.
Along with this fight, the other two fights could be headlining
cards anywhere in the US. I am itching to see the fighters go
at it, especially the Curran/Yamamoto fight.
A
possible sell-out crowd of 8,800 may be on hand to support Hawaii's
most popular fighter, Egan Inoue as he finally gets his shot
at the Shooto title. Masanori Suda has been holding the belt
since January 2002 and looks in great shape to try to keep it.
This event may be the largest audience in Hawaii and possibly
America for a Shooto sanctioned card. People worldwide can order
the internet live broadcast of the event by going to www.Superbrawltv.com
where FCF's own Mike Onzuka will be co-commentating the blow
by blow action with his partner in crime Anthony King. Check
out FCF's website for the results and get a subscription if you
don't have one already to get the fight breakdown of how this
event went down.
Fight
Card
167.5lbs
2x5 minute rounds
Brandon Keen 166.2 lbs (Grappling Unlimited, 2-0) vs. Paul Laga
163 lbs (Bull's Pen, 1-1)
Heavyweight
2x5 minute rounds
Tim Tynan 234 lbs (808 Fight Factory, 0-1) vs. Ray "King
Kong" Seraille 261 lbs (Grappling Unlimited, 1-2)
143lbs
2x5 minute rounds
Justin Mercado 142.4 lbs (Grappling Unlimited, 2-1) vs. Rami
Boukai 142.2 lbs (Next Generation, 1-1)
167.5lbs
2x5 minute rounds
Mark Moreno 168.5 lbs (Bulls Pen, 4-2-2) vs. Kuniyoshi Hironaka
167.4 lbs (SSS Academy, Tokyo, 5-1)
 
167.5lbs
2x5 minute round
Billy Rush 165.0 lbs (Meat Truck, Inc., 3-0) v "Ice Kold"
Kolo Koka Did not weigh in (Grappling Unlimited, 4-4)
 
Sorry for that shot with the crazy eyes Billy.
143lbs
3x5 minute rounds
Stephen "Bozo" Paling 142.0 lbs (Jesus is Lord, 10-4)
vs. Mark Hominick 141.0 lbs (Team Tompkins, Ontario, Canada,
3-0)
143lbs
3x5 minute rounds
Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto 141.8 lbs (Pure Bred, Tokyo,
4-1-1) vs, Jeff Curran 141.5 lbs (Linx, Chicago, IL, 16-5-1)
145lbs
3x5 minute rounds
Joe Jordan 145.0 lbs (Extreme Impact, 6-2) vs. Eddie Yagin 145.0
lbs (Grappling Unlimited, 8-1)
Shooto
and Super Brawl Title Unification Bout
183.2lbs 3x5 minute rounds
Masanori Suda 182.4 lbs (Club J, Tokyo 18-8-1) Shooto Champion
v Egan Inoue 182.6 lbs (Grappling Unlimited 12-5) Super Brawl
Champion
 |
Quote
of the Day
I shall adopt new views as fast as they shall appear to be true
views.
Abraham
Lincoln |
Super
Brawl Weigh Ins Today!
24-Hour Fitness Kapiolani
1:00 PM
Come
meet and greet the fighters that will be participating in one
of the best cards ever in Hawaii. Fighters from the mainland
and Japan, as well as numerous local boys will be fighting tomorrow.
If
you haven't gotten your tickets, get them quick before you are
left out in the cold! |
Interview
with Kazuyuki Fujita
PRIDE
Fighting Championships: How's your training?
Kazuyuki
Fujita: It's going well.
PRIDE:
The same training as usual?
Fujita:
Yes.
PRIDE:
What did you feel when you met Fedor up close?
Fujita:
I wasn't looking very closely. He's the strongest guy in PRIDE
and probably the world right now so I've been looking forward
to fighting him. I've been away from PRIDE for a while but I
guess he's the wave of the future. I'm glad that I'll get a chance
at him.
PRIDE:
Are you going to wait until after your match with Nakanishi to
decide on a strategy?
Fujita:
No, I'm already thinking about it. My fight with Fedor was decided
first and the match with Nakanishi came later. My main battlefield
is PRIDE, after all.
PRIDE:
How do you think the fight will unfold?
Fujita:
Hmmm, that's a good question…He's good at grappling and
at striking. I don't know (laughing). I guess it we'll have to
slug it out until some loses their spirit.
PRIDE:
Fedor said that he hasn't seen your videos yet but he can imagine
how you, as a wrestler, will fight.
Fujita:
So? I don't have the belt. I'm not the champion, I'm the challenger
and I'm really looking forward to it.
PRIDE:
Fedor will come to watch your fight with Nakanishi. How does
you feel about that?
Fujita:
The opponent I have to fight will be the one in the ring, in
front of me. I don't know. I hope he enjoys this event, outside
of PRIDE. Maybe he's never seen pro-wrestling.
PRIDE:
Will there be anything special there for Fedor?
Fujita:
No, I'm not doing it for Fedor. I'm doing it for myself. That's
an entirely different story, though.
PRIDE:
You're currently training with Pancrase's Kengo. What kind of
motivation does he give you?
Fujita:
Everyone always motivates me. Not just him, many fighters.
PRIDE:
Are you going to call out Fedor after your fight?
Fujita:
I haven't thought about it (laughing). Maybe I'll think about
it after the fight.
Source:
Pride FC |
|
Interview
with Fedor Emelianenko
PRIDE
Fighting Championships: What did you think about Fujita's fight
(against Manabu Nakanishi on May 2)?
Fedor
Emelianenko: To see him fight with my own eyes, I knew he's as
strong as I had heard. I'm positive he's one of the strongest
fighters in Japan. My manager, trainer and myself watched his
fight. We can use what we saw to develop some training and strategy
against him. We're going to take that material back to my country
and begin training.
PRIDE:
Fujita did a lot of striking in his fight yesterday. What did
you think of his striking skills?
Emelianenko:
Fujita definitely showed some impressive standing technique yesterday.
Much more than I expected. I had heard that Mr. Fujita is a wrestler
so for him to have some much striking power was beyond my imagination.
I think seeing that fight will really help my training.
PRIDE:
What do you think about going toe-to-toe with Fujita?
Emelianenko:
Who would win in a slug-out would depend on who's training was
better. Being the strongest and winning in the ring is a sign
of the level of your training. It's not just an issue of technique
but also of stamina.
PRIDE:
You said earlier that you could imagine what kind of fight he
will bring since he is a wrestler. After seeing his fight yesterday,
do you feel that you need to change your strategy?
Emelianenko:
If a wrestler only wrestles or a boxer only boxes, it's an easy
fight. Fujita has mixed a lot of different techniques as an MMA
fighter. I think that I need to work a little harder on my strategy.
PRIDE:
Did you see any weak points?
Emelianenko:
Yes, I saw some weak points but of course, I can't say them here.
PRIDE:
Did you feel that you can beat him quickly or will be a long,
tough battle?
Emelianenko:
My style is that when I get into the ring, I never assume that
I will win before I actually do. The only thing I am confident
in is myself. I think to assume that you are going to win before
the fight even begins is an insult to your opponent. I've always
thought so and I always will.
PRIDE:
Did you feel in danger after seeing yesterday's fight?
Emelianenko:
I've never felt in danger. Regardless of the match or the training,
I've never felt in danger.
PRIDE:
Fujita is called "The Beast" in Japan. Did he seem
like a beast yesterday?
Emelianenko:
Yes, definitely. He drew blood from his opponent yesterday so
I think the nickname fits him (laughing).
Source:
Pride FC |
From
the Mount
UFC 42
will probably go down in history as one of those that provided
some good action, but seemed to have something missing - while
it wasn't a disaster by any means, the spate of upsets in the
bouts dissipated a lot of possible storylines, replacing those
with ones that will be built from scratch.
Luckily,
the UFC has one good storyline intact, and that's Matt Hughes.
It's becoming the most impressive career in MMA, and he isn't
too far from possibly being considered the most accomplished
mixed martial artist ever (we're talking post UFC I, here, not
the 400-0 record of early MMA fighters that were impossible to
verify).
After
an impressive defense against tough contender Sean Sherk - who
was game as they come in defeat after a rocky early start - Hughes
has now made four title defenses, and that ties the UFC record
along with Frank Shamrock. Turnover in the UFC is too high -
guys either leave over contract disputes or they get knocked
off, and currently the UFC only has two clear-cut champions in
five divisions. But Hughes just keeps on getting better and better.
The UFC is lucky he's a little guy and can't use the threat of
leaving for pro-wrestling as a bargaining chip. And with Murillo
Bustamante gone, the middleweights are sorely depleted. Tito
Ortiz is not fighting Chuck Liddell for whatever reasons, and
Liddell and Randy Couture will be fighting for the "interim"
light heavyweight title in June. Just what this sport needed,
an imitation of one of the worst things about boxing, and that's
interim titles. An interim champ is like an interim girlfriend
while you and the sweetie are on the outs, but not broken up.
It's still cheating, baby.
This
is not to disparage Liddell, or Couture. But rather the UFC for
not stripping Ortiz outright for not defending his title. This
kind of rule-bending only sets a lousy precedent, stripping what
thin veneer of credibility the sport may enjoy with casual and
uninitiated fans. At least in boxing you know it's corrupt, all
the belt-stripping, passing around, interim champions, and mandatory
contenders. UFC had better be careful or they will more like
boxing than ever.
You
need to make Ortiz fight Liddell. The same way Hughes fought
Sherk, or Bustamante took on Lindland. UFC's decision to do this
selectively only hurts their own credibility, and it creates
a noxious precedent for future champions to entertain as an option
when their own Chuck Liddell comes along, is a clear threat,
and suddenly they decide they need more money even though they're
still under contract and therefore still an active employee?
Imagine if garbage collectors or cops did that.
I
don't buy that agreement that Tito is somehow doing this to get
more money and it's a good thing, because it will give all the
fighters more money. The UFC will grow because they put on good
fights, not because they send out press releases regarding record
purses (strange how you never hear what guys are making, which
is public knowledge in boxing…..it would probably cause
even more alienation and episodes like Jens Pulver's departure
from UFC, when he found out challengers he was beating up were
making more money than he was). In fact, UFC in some ways is
like a private sector company, where nobody seems to know exactly
what other guys are making, but you have a guesstimation, and
there's a good deal of resentment and envy.
Sure,
Ortiz-Liddell is a much bigger fight 6 months or a year from
now, if it happens. Maybe that's the reasoning behind it, sort
of like when people wanted to see Tyson come back after being
gone from the game and in jail. So much for the meritocracy of
being Chuck Liddell, and knocking off a bunch of tough guys only
to find out you don't get The Shot, but rather, A Shot. It'll
be good enough for Chuck should he beat Couture - a tough fight,
probably - but the real problem is when someone else decides
to do this kind of thing in the future. Call it "The Ortiz
Tease."
From
Vernon White, to Tank Abbott, I've asked several fighters what
Ortiz would have to worry about against Liddell. They all same
the same thing: "He can't take Chuck down." I don't
know that there's anybody Tito can't take down, but what seems
weird is, I heard this right after UFC 41 from a very good source
who had seen both of them train, and it seemed a little far-fetched.
Until everyone else started saying it, too. Suddenly, that's
the line on why the fight ain't happening. Tito can't take Chuck
down? Hey, if Vitor Belfort could, Ortiz could, too, right? Anybody
can be taken down.
You'd
think that Liddell was Igor Vovchaynchyn and Ortiz had morphed
into Fred Ettish. The damn shame is that the fight isn't going
to happen anytime soon, and even people like me, who critique
Ortiz for not taking the fight, would like to see the bout because
I would go with him if forced to pick. But Tito's disinterest
in addressing it gives my confidence in him pulling it off a
limited shelf life.
It's
hard to make of what will happen given Liddell and Couture matching
up. Couture's body fat is minimal at 225 lbs., and it's hard
to see him giving up 20 to fight Liddell. The man is entirely
devoid of excess body mass, even at 39 years old. I think the
weight reduction, however he achieves it, and his age, might
prove too much to beat Liddell. But that's what Randy Couture
is - a fearless guy. And hell, after rolling around with Rodriguez
and Barnett in his last two fight, you've got to think fighting
the bigger stronger guys will be a huge advantage when he takes
on the younger, lighter guy.
Of
course, that's what I thought about Ken Shamrock-Ortiz. In the
end, cutting the weight seems like too much going against Randy.
But the guy likes a challenge and that was all Couture ever needed
to get into the Octagon. Let's hope the fight doesn't injure
the sport's image, because Liddell might play Roy Jones to Couture's
Holyfield, and nobody needs to see that.
Source:
Maxfighting |
Quote
of the Day
Each of us is great insofar as we perceive and act on the infinite
possibilities which lie undiscovered and unrecognized about us.
James
Harvey Robinson |
Super
Brawl is Coming Soon!
Neil Blaisdell Center
May 9, 2003
Honolulu, Hawaii
The
Blaisdell is filling up fast. Tickets are moving quickly so don't
miss this star studded event of the best of Hawaii on one card.
Get your tickets today! You don't want to miss this event. Suda/Inoue,
Curran/Yamamoto, Palling/Hominick, and Cooper/Hironaka all could
be headlining cards in any event across the country alone, but
all four fights are on this card as well as the ever exciting
Eddie Yagin.
Main Event
183.2lbs
3x5 minute rounds
Super
Brawl /Shooto World Championship
Masanori
Suda vs Egan Inoue
(Tokyo)11-6-1
(Grappling Unlimited) SB Champion
[Shooto
9-5-1, World Champion] [Shooto 3-0, #1 World Ranked]
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
Feature
FIght
143lbs
3x5 minute rounds
Jeff
Curran v Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto
(Chicago)
8-4-1 (Pure Bred, Tokyo) 5-1 [Shooto 1-1] Shooto 4-1, #3 World
Ranked
This
has the ear-markings of an epic battle. He recently knocked out
Baret Yoshida in the Super Brawl ring. While in Hawaii, he prepared
for the fight with Relson Gracie. Relson’s actions (taunting
Baret) after the fight did not sit well with Baret’s Grappling
Unlimited teammates. Yamamoto, ranked #4 in the world is affiliated
with Grappling Unlimited and a training partner of Yoshida’s
in Japan. He has one gear….overdrive! He’s an Olympic
level wrestler who likes to brawl. He comes in the ring with
“bad intentions.” No doubt a win over Curran would
sit well with the GU faithful. Pick’em Even Odds
Feature
Fight
143lbs
3x5 minute rounds
Mark
Hominick v Stephen “Bozo” Palling
(Team
Tompkins, Canada) 3-0 (Jesus is Lord) 10-4 [Shooto 7-3, World
#1 Ranked]
At
just 19 years old, Hominick has barely gotten his feet wet in
this sport. But don’t let his inexperience fool you. He
is already a Canadian champion who will not back down from anyone.
He is not afraid to bang with the best and has a solid ground
game. He is also known for his tremendous conditioning. Palling
has tremendous punching power and a rapidly growing arsenal of
submissions. He will attempt to impose his will on his younger
opponent. A win here will ensure him a shot at Shooto Championship
belt in August. Palling 2-1 favorite
Feature
FIght
167.5lbs
3x5 minute rounds
Kuniyoshi
Hironaka v Ray “Bradda” Cooper
(SSS
Acdmy, Tokyo) 5-1 (Jesus is Lord) 12-5
[Shooto
5-1, #7 World ranked] [Shooto 7-1, #1 World Ranked]
Hironaka
is another great Japanese fighter. He has very fast hands and
is not afraid to use them. Cooper has K.O. power and a solid
wrestling background. A win over Hironaka could put him one step
closer to a shot at the Shooto championship belt. Cooper 3-2
favorite
Feature
Fight
145lbs
2x5 minute rounds
Joe
Jordan v Eddie Yagin
(Extreme
Impact) 3-1[Shooto 2-0] (Grappling Unlimited) 8-1[Shooto 2-0]
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
167.5lbs
2x5 minute rounds
Billy
Rush v “Ice Cold” Kolo Koka
(Meat
Truck, Inc.) 2-0
(Grappling
Unlimited)4-3 [Shooto 2-2]
This
should be a great fight! Both young fighters have tremendous
striking abilities and have shown great chins. Both are also
picking up the ground game quickly. The edge in power will go
to Rush, while the edge in experience is Koka’s. This one
will be close. Pick-em Even Odds
143lbs
2x5 minute rounds
Rami
Boukai v Justin Mercado
(Next
Generation) 1-1 [Shooto 0-1] (Grappling Unlimited) 5-4-1 [Shooto
4-3-1]
This
may be war. Two young fighters with everything to gain and nothing
to lose. Boukai is a submission wizard who is trained by UFC
veteran Chris Brennan. Mercado is ultra aggressive with fast
hands and a solid ground game. Pick-em Even Odds
Preliminary
Fights
Heavyweight
2x5 minute rounds
Tim
Tynan v Ray “King Kong” Seraille
(808
Fight Factory) 0-0 (Grappling Unlimited) 1-2 [Shooto 0-1]
Tynan
and “Kong” will both be trying to make a name for themselves
in the Super Brawl Heavyweight division. Pick-em Even Odds
170lbs
2x5 minute rounds
Mark
Moreno v Shawn “Tornado Taylor
(Bulls
Pen) 6-1-1 [Shooto 2-1] (Freelance) 2-0-1 [Shooto 0-1]
These
two fighters fought to a draw in there first meeting. Both have
heavy hands and competent ground skills. A win will surely keep
them fighting on future Super Brawl cards. Pick-em Even Odds
167.5lbs
2x5 minute rounds
Paul
Laga v Brandon Keen
(Bull’s
Pen) 2-0 (Grappling Unlimited) 2-0 [Shooto 1-0]
Laga
has experience in Judo, Wrestling and boxing. This should make
him a formidable opponent. Keen is trained by Egan Inoue, has
a strong ground game and is rapidly picking up the stand up portion
of the sport. Keen 3-2 favorite |
WILL
JEFF CURRAN STAY AT 145?
Jeff Curran appeared on Tuesday's MMAWeekly Radio Show and talked
about his fight against Kid Yamamoto at this Friday's SuperBrawl
event in Hawaii.
Curran
showed a great deal of respect for Yamamoto, while also showing
confidence in his own abilities. Curran said that his guard is
underestimated by a lot of people, and that his jiu-jitsu training
over the past ten years has trained him specifically to protect
himself from punches in the guard from the exact same style of
fighter as Yamamoto.
Curran
acknowledged that he feels much more comfortable on the ground
than he does on his feet, but he wouldn't call it "crazy"
for him to trade strikes in the fight, because he feels that
Yamamoto somtimes throws sloppy punches and makes basic boxing
mistakes.
Curran
said that he would love to be in the UFC right now, but his manager
Monte Cox has helped him understand that now might not be the
best time for his UFC debut. Curran said that he could very well
be ready for the UFC one or two fights down the road, or a year
down the road. Curran also said that a documentary production
company in Chicago has been following and filming him. He said
that he didn't want the cameras to come with him into doctor's
appointments or operating rooms (when he had knee surgery), and
they will not be filming his journey to Hawaii for SuperBrawl.
Curran said that the production company has about 30 hours of
footage, which they will now use to piece together the actual
documentary.
Source:
MMA Weekly |
IN
THIS CORNER: CAN WE MOVE ON ABOUT THE UFC?
I will be the first one to say that UFC 42 was a solid fight
show, with bad production. What I don't understand is the fact
that we are four weeks away from UFC 43, the card has Ken Shamrock,
Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture, Vitor Belfort, Tank Abbott, Kimo,
Frank Mir, Pedro Rizzo and others and we are still talking about
UFC 42?
Can
we please turn the page? Did anyone else miss that the UFC did
sign a decent television deal on the Sunshine Network with 20
episodes? Let me repeat "A TV deal was signed for most to
see on DirecTV and this weekly show has opened the doors for
something bigger to follow soon.
Yea
I know, it's not ESPN or Fox, but still two years ago, were we
even in the ball park or even close to a t.v. deal? What I'm
trying to say is every little bit helps and why it seems to be
in fashion to bash the UFC, folks let's move forward. Yes I want
to see Tito Ortiz fight Chuck Liddell, yes I want to see the
UFC on ESPN or Fox, but let's be honest for a moment. This card
has bigger names that UFC 40, it doesn't have the ultimate grudge
match of that main event between Shamrock and Ortiz, but it does
have more compelling matchups that UFC 40, 41, and 42 combined.
Just
realize this. When Turner Sports, who is based in Atlanta, Georgia,
watches how quality of a "weekly" show this is, I wouldn't
be surprised to see them or another cable network, gobble up
the UFC for weekly programming.
Working
in the television business, I see big wig executives scouting
around the competition for future shows. I wouldn't be surprised
to see a major cable network watch the UFC on the Sunshine Network
and sign Zuffa to a weekly deal. Just being out there every week,
is huge for the sport and currently that is what they are doing
with the Sunshine Network.
The
cool part about doing a daily radio show is talking with the
hard core MMA fans. I'm a bit surprised they aren't even talking
about UFC 43 quite yet.
When
you look at the card, no one seems to know for sure who will
win between Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell. While this isn't
Tito vs Chuck, Couture is more than a capable replacement. Here's
the underlining fact of this caard. We get to see the return
of the Phenom, Vitor Belfort. If Belfort comes out and hammers
Marvin Eastman, which is an "if", then where does it
put Belfort at 205? Think about it, Belfort might have a shot
to face the winner of Couture vs Liddell. Vitor wants to fight
Randy in a rematch, not to mention most people believe Belfort
was beating Liddell until the wicked right hand changed the fight
in the third for the "Iceman". We see the return of
Frank Mir who faces a man who is 6'10, 255 in Wes Sims.
I
mean when Yves Edwards, Matt Lindland and Pedro Rizzo, all conceivably
could be on the prelims, this tells you all you need to know
about the upcoming card.
Has
the UFC made mistakes? Yes. Do we have a right to be frustrated
with the last card? Probably, but I think we as an MMA world
forget how bad it was when 950 people was the live gate in New
Orleans to watch Frank Shamrock fight in S.E.G. Those were the
truly "dark" days of the sport.
Now
to the emails at ryanbennett@mmaweekly.com
"Ryan,
absolutely love the daily radio show and it is truly the best
thing in MMA today. Do you feel Pedro Rizzo's career is over,
especially with a loss to Tre?" Rick Daniels - Tempe Arizona
Rick,
I thought his career was over after losing to Vladdy. The guy
has all the tools in the world and could be the most passive
fighter in the game today. Vladdy was spent in Round Three and
Pedro just continued to circle and not press the action, even
though he was trailing late in the fight. It was bizarre. It's
too bad because Pedro has the tools to dominate the heavyweight
division. With that said, if he KO's Tra, then who knows, maybe
we see him against another name guy and he can resurrect his
career once again with a couple of wins. For now though he still
has a couple of UFC fights on his contract and becomes the world's
most expensive prelim fighter.
"What's
the latest on the Tito situation?" Chris Ally - Toronto,
Canada
The
latest is that Ortiz is currently shooting the next installment
of the "Crow" movies and will take up acting to pay
the bills until a deal can be reached between him and the UFC.
They haven't talked in weeks at last check. I wouldn't be surprised
to see Tito sit it out until Christmas.
"Will
Takanori Gomi fight in the UFC anytime soon?" - Andy Calvano
- Nashua, New Hampshire
I
hope so. Gomi was in Miami practically begging for a job. Here's
the problem. The UFC still has way too many guys under contract
at 155. Not to mention Sudo and Uno are two guys from Japan,
and if we want to watch Japanese fighters fight one another then
watch any Shooto competition. Here's the other question. Is Gomi
more exciting that Uno or Genki? No in my opinion. Still he deserves
to be there because this guy is the best at 155 right now.
The
interesting part of this whole equation is that Shooto has contacted
the UFC and said he can fight in the UFC, so they have already
given permission for Gomi to fight for Zuffa. It's just bad timing
right now. If Penn was crowned as the champion at UFC 41, I think
Gomi would most likely have a shot at the title. I still think
we will see Gomi in the UFC after he fights Shaolin and Pulver
in Shooto over in Japan. In my opinion he will be in the UFC
sometime after January.
You
can email Ryan Bennett any questions at ryanbennett@mmaweekly.com
and make sure you catch his radio show, live daily (for free),
Monday through Friday at 9am Pacific/Noon Eastern at www.mmaweeklyradio.com
Source: MMA Weekly
|
U.S.
NATIONAL WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS SET FOR MAY 9-10 IN LAS VEGAS;
GARDNER-BYERS, BONO-MCILRAVY, AND OTHER SHOWDOWNS EXPECTED
It is just about crunch time for the top American wrestlers,
as the U.S. National Wrestling Championships are set to take
place May 9-10 in Las Vegas. This is the first step for the top
men's and women's freestyle and top Greco-Roman wrestlers to
make the U.S. World Team and compete in the 2003 World Championships.
The winners go on to the World Team Trials, June 20-22 in Indianapolis,
where they face the winner of the two-day, single elimination
Challenge Tournament, comprised of the top finishers at the Nationals.
All this becomes even more crucial, as the 2003 World Championships
serve as a qualifier for the 2004 Olympic games.
There
are numerous rivalries and stories that will come out of this
year's Nationals. In Greco, the heavyweight division will include
2000 Olympic gold medalist and 2001 World Champion Rulon Gardner,
along with the 2002 World Champion Dremiel Byers. World Champion
vs. World Champion, in a U.S. qualifying event! You couldn't
ask for anything more. Gardner seeks to regain the top spot after
sitting out most of last year following his snowmobile accident
in Feb. 2002 that required one of his toes be amputated. But
he has returned to action on the mat. When he was laid up, Sgt.
Byers of the U.S. Army took his place on the World Team, and
gave the U.S. its third gold medal in a row at heavyweight in
Greco. Now both men are healthy and active -- but only one will
be able to advance to this year's World Championships.
In
freestyle, the 145.5 lbs./66 kg weight class is loaded with talent.
Last year's U.S. World Team member was Chris Bono. But returning
from a layoff which included coaching and training at the U.S.
Olympic Center is Bono's long-time nemesis, Lincoln McIlravy.
These two have wrestled numerous times, dating back to their
college rivalry in the 1990s when McIlravy wrestled for Iowa
under Dan Gable and Bono for Iowa State under Bobby Douglas.
Bono never beat McIlravy then, but this year Bono has been undefeated
in both national and international competition, while McIlravy
has had to drop a lot of weight to make 145.5, lower than what
he wrestled at in college, and also has had to shake off the
rust of not having been in active competition for a couple of
years. Will Bono finally upend his rival McIlravy, or will McIlravy
return to form and regain his spot on the World Team?
In
women's wrestling, Toccara Montgomery has ruled the roost at
several different weight classes the past few years. But she
was upset this year by a high school student, Samantha Lang.
These two have since traded victories, but who will dominate
at the Nationals?
And
just how good is Cael Sanderson at freestyle? He has won the
Nationals the past two years, but also is still adjusting to
freestyle after his unprecedented undefeated four years as a
college wrestler. He will also be facing other former NCAA college
wrestling champions here, as everyone seeks to upset him.
Then
there is Joe Williams, who has just won the John Smith Award
for the second year in a row as the Freestyle Wrestler of the
Year, as chosen by USA Wrestling. Everyone says he has the tools
to become a World Champion. But first he has to win at the Nationals.
These
and numerous other questions will begin to be answered at this
year's Nationals.
To
follow the event online, USA Wrestling has set up a special section
on TheMat.com. It includes previews by each weight class, and
will also have results posted when the competition starts. it
can be seen at: http://www.themat.com/specialevents/2003/nationals/default.asp
.
Below
are two press releases from USA Wrestling, about the Nationals
and Joe Williams.
--
Eddie Goldman, wrestlingeditor@yahoo.com
America's
best wrestlers to compete at U.S. National Wrestling Championships
in Las Vegas, Nev., May 9-10
by
Gary Abbott - USA Wrestling
The
United States National Wrestling Championships return to Las
Vegas, Nev., May 9-10, setting the stage for a busy and active
year of Olympic-level wrestling action.
The
Senior National Championships in all three styles will be contested,
with the nation's top stars in men's freestyle, women's freestyle
and men's Greco-Roman wrestling. The Senior Nationals will be
held on Friday, May 9 and Saturday, May 10.
This
is the main qualifying event for the 2003 World Team Trials in
Indianapolis, June 20-22. This year's World Team Trials determine
the U.S. teams for the Pan American Championships and the World
Championships. The 2003 World Freestyle Championships are set
for New York City, Sept. 12-14.
America's
top wrestlers are expected to be on display in Las Vegas this
year. They include 2000 Olympic champion Rulon Gardner; 2002
World Champion Dremiel Byers; 2002 World silver medalist Tina
George; 2000 Olympian Kerry McCoy; U.S. World Team member Cael
Sanderson; 2001 World silver medalist Toccara Montgomery; 1996
Olympic silver medalist Brandon Paulson; 2001 World bronze medalist
Joe Williams, six-time World medalist Kristie Marano and many
more stars.
In
Las Vegas, America's finest wrestlers will be starting the road
to the World Championships. National Championships will be decided
in the seven international weight categories for senior men and
senior women competitors.
For
men, the weight divisions are: 121 lbs. (55 kilo grams), 132
lbs. (60 kg), 145.5 lbs. (66 kg), 163 lbs. (74 kg), 185 lbs.
(84 kg), 211.5 lbs. (96 kg) and 264.5 lbs. (120 kg).
The
seven women's weight divisions are: 105.5 lbs. (48 kg), 112 lbs.
(51 kg), 121 lbs. (55 kg), 130 lbs. (59 kg), 138.75 lbs. (63
kg), 147.5 lbs. (67 kg) and 158.5 lbs. (72 kg).
The
tournament will be held in the Convention Center's North Halls
1 and 2, the same halls where the successful 2000 U.S. National
Championships were held. This facility will have the space needed
for all of the mats of this huge competition, as well as a great
seating arrangement for the gold-medal finals.
This
will be the 14th time that USA Wrestling and the Las Vegas Sports
Committee have partnered to present this championship.
The
Veterans National Championships, for athletes 35 years-old and
above, will be held May 7-9. For the first time, a Greco-Roman
division will be held, as well as freestyle.
The
West Junior Regional Championships, traditionally one of the
strongest Junior events in the nation, will be held May 7-9.
Top high school freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestlers from across
the nation annually attend this competitive and popular event.
For
information on the event, visit http://www.lvsports.org/current_events.html
Tickets
may be purchased IN ADVANCE by calling Toll Free 1-866-418-0372
(local: 702-360-3739) or by mailing in the LVSC ticket order
form. During the days of the event, daily tickets may be purchased
at the Las Vegas Convention Center Box Office. You can save money
by purchasing your tickets early.
Follow
the action throughout the U.S. Nationals (with complete results,
notes and quotes) in the U.S. Nationals Special Section on TheMat.com:
http://www.themat.com
DEFENDING
U.S. NATIONALS WRESTLING CHAMPIONS
Men's
Freestyle
121 lbs.- Teague Moore (Gator WC)
132 lbs.- Eric Guerrero (Gator WC)
145.5 lbs. - Bill Zadick (Hawkeye WC)
163 lbs.- Joe Williams (Sunkist Kids)
185 lbs.- Cael Sanderson (Sunkist Kids)
211.5 lbs. - Tim Hartung (Minnesota Storm)
264.5 lbs. - Kerry McCoy (New York AC)
Men
's Greco-Roman
121 lbs.- Brandon Paulson (Minnesota Storm)
132 lbs.- Glenn Nieradka (U.S. Army)
145.5 lbs. - Kevin Bracken (New York AC)
163 lbs. - Keith Sieracki (U.S. Army)
185 lbs.- Ethan Bosch (New York AC)
211.5 lbs. - Garrett Lowney (Minnesota Storm)
264.5 lbs. - Dremiel Byers (U.S. Army)
Women'
s Freestyle
105.5 lbs. - Patricia Miranda (Dave Schultz WC)
112.25 lbs. - Jenny Wong (Sunkist Kids)
121 lbs.- Stephanie Murata (Sunkist Kids)
130 lbs.- Lauren Lamb (Michigan WC)
138.75 lbs.- Sara McMann (Sunkist Kids)
149.75 lbs. - Toccara Montgomery (Sunkist Kids)
165.25 lbs.- Iris Smith (U.S. Army)
Joe
Williams named 2002 John Smith Award winner, as the Freestyle
Wrestler of the Year by USA Wrestling
by
Gary Abbott - USA Wrestling
Joe
Williams (Iowa City Iowa/Sunkist Kids) has been named the winner
of the 2002 John Smith Award as the Freestyle Wrestler of the
Year by USA Wrestling. It is the second year in a row that Williams
has won this prestigious award.
Williams
swept the two major domestic events of the year, claiming gold
medals at 74 kg/163 pounds at the U.S. National Championships
in Las Vegas, Nev. and the Senior World Team Trials in St. Paul,
Minn. Williams was named Outstanding Wrestler at the U.S. Nationals,
defeating Casey Cunningham of the Sunkist Kids in the championship
finals. He also defeated Cunningham in the World Team Trials
finals.
Along
with his six other teammates on the 2002 U.S. Freestyle World
Team, Williams was unable to participate in the World Freestyle
Championships in Tehran, Iran. Shortly before the U.S. team was
to leave for the competition, USA Wrestling received information
from the U.S. government about a threat of violence to the U.S.
team if it was to compete in Iran. USA Wrestling did not send
the team to compete due to this threat of violence.
Williams
had a successful year in other major international events in
2002. He won a gold medal at the World Cup of Freestyle Wrestling,
held in Spokane, Wash. It was the third straight year that Williams
claimed a gold medal at the World Cup. Among those Williams defeated
in the World Cup were 1994 World champion Alexander Leipold of
Germany, as well as talented Russian competitor Irbek Farniev.
Williams
won a gold medal at the 2002 Kiev Grand Prix tournament in Ukraine,
and claimed a bronze medal at the 2002 Yasar Dogu tournament
in Turkey. Williams also participated in the 2002 Kurt Angle
Classic, an all-star event where he went up in weight and defeated
1996 Olympic champion Khajimurad Magomedov of Russia in the bout.
Williams
is an assistant wrestling coach at the Univ. of Iowa. He was
one of the top wrestlers in Iowa Hawkeye history, claiming three
NCAA Div. I titles during his impressive career. Williams was
the outstanding wrestler at the 1998 NCAA Championships. He is
originally from Chicago, Ill., where he was a star for nationally
respected Mount Carmel High School. Williams was the 1993 ASICS
Tiger High School Wrestler of the Year.
USA
Wrestling will be announcing major award winners each day this
week on TheMat.com.
PAST
JOHN SMITH AWARD WINNERS AS FREESTYLE WRESTLER OF THE YEAR
2002 - Joe Williams, Iowa City, Iowa, Sunkist Kids
2001 - Joe Williams, Iowa City, Iowa, Sunkist Kids
2000 - Brandon Slay, Amarillo, Texas, Dave Schultz WC
1999 - Stephen Neal, Bakersfield, Calif., Dave Schultz WC
1998 - Sammie Henson, Norman, Okla., Sunkist Kids
1997 - Les Gutches, Corvallis, Ore., Sunkist Kids
1996 - Kendall Cross, Raleigh, N.C., Sunkist Kids
1995 - Kevin Jackson, Phoenix, Ariz., Sunkist Kids
1994 - Melvin Douglas, Mesa, Ariz., Sunkist Kids
1993 - Terry and Tom Brands, Iowa City, Iowa, Team Foxcatcher
1992 - John Smith, Stillwater, Okla., Sunkist Kids
Source:
ADCC |
Quote
of the Day
Honesty is the cornerstone of all success, without which confidence
and ability to perform shall cease to exist.
Mary
Kay Ash
|
Sherk
is Back in Action
Sean Sherk is healed, he feels good and he told MMAWeekly this
weekend "I feel really good. I just got back from a cruise |