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November
Pride Bushido 5
(MMA)
(Yokohama Arena, Japan)

September
Ring of Honor 6
( Kickboxing/MMA)
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Tentative

9/25/04
NAGA Hawaii State Grappling Championships
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August
Ring of Honor 6

( Kickboxing/MMA)
(Maui)
Tentative

8/15/04
Pride All Stars Show
(MMA)
(Japan)

July
Bushido 4
(MMA)
(Nagoya Rainbow Hall, Japan)

7/24/04
Submission Wrestling Tpurnament

(Sub Grappling)
(Kahului, Maui, Hawaii)


July 9-12
BJJ World Cup (CBJJO)
(BJJ)
(SESC gym, Salvador, Brazil)

6/20/04
Pride Heavyweight Grand Prix
(MMA)
(Japan)

May
Kickin' It
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Pride Bushido 3
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5/7/04
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Ring of Honor 5

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4/30/04
Punishment in Paradise 3
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(Campbell H.S. Gym)

4/25/04
Pride Heavyweight Grand Prix
(MMA)
(Japan)

4/24 /04
Warriors of the Ring 6
(MMA)
(Wailuku, Maui)

5th Hawaiian Champioships of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
(BJJ)
(Honolulu, HI)

4/18/04
The Pride of Martial Arts Tournament
(
Sport Jiujitsu, G3 Kickboxing, Extreme Sparring & Submission Grappling)
(Kam H.S. Gym)

4/17/04
Kona MMA Event
(MMA)
(Kona, HI)

4/16/04
Super Brawl 35
(MMA)
(Blaisdell Arena)

4/9/04
Ring of Honor 4
( Kickboxing/MMA)
(Campbell H.S. Gym)

4/3-4/04
Pan American BJJ Tournament
(BJJ)
(California State University Gym, Dominguez Hills, Carson (Los Angeles), CA)

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March 2004 Part 3
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December 2003 Part 2 December 2003 Part 1
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Nov-Dec 2000
October 2000
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April 2004 News Part 1
 

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Onzuka.com Is Back!
And apologizes for being offline


We were right on the borderline of our bandwidth limitations and we thought that the suggestions that we posted would help bring down the amount of bandwidth that was used. Unfortunately we were wrong.

We have now corrected that by doubling our space and bandwidth. So hopefully this should never happen again...unless we continue growing by leaps and bounds.

We thank everyone for your loyal readership and great compliments on the site. We honestly try our best to make this site the best we possibly can.

 4/10/04

Quote of the Day

"You can have anything you want in life if you will help enough other people get what they want."

Zig Ziglar, American Sales Trainer, Author, Motivational Speaker

Nick G. Please resend me your email.

If you all haven't noticed that Onzuka.com has gone through some pretty big hiccups while we converted to a new server which doubles our bandwidth, so if you have sent any email and have not received a reply, please resend your email.

We think everything is almost worked out...except for our main page. Doh! Hang in there gang, we are working on it!

Nick G. from Lapahoyhou Muay Thai, please resend your email, that was one that I lost in the download process. Thanks.

Ring of Honor Results

Campbell High School Gym, Ewa Beach, Hawaii
February 9, 2004
By Chris Onzuka -
Chris@Onzuka.com

This was a marathon of fights, 16 matches total, consisting of kickboxing and MMA matches. The kickboxing matches pitted fighters from many different schools, some of which have either not participated in a kickboxing event or have not entered so many fighters from their gym. All the fights were amateur bouts, but you probably would not have been able to tell that from the talent. Versola and Matila had a wild first round that had the whole gym on the edge of their seats as these two warriors unloaded on each other. The second round slowed a bit and by the third both men were gassed out, but still found the energy to hammer each other at every opportunity. MMA fighter Tyson Naho'oikaika from Maui stepped up to fight Joseph Cooley in a kickboxing match. Naho'oikaika won the match by unanimous decision, but Cooley took the upper hand away from Naho'oikaika at times in every round. Tyson showed great technique by slipping punches and firing back with counters. "G-Money" Arevalo and Tyson Nam showed the crowd how much energy and lightning quick strikes the small men have. Both men put together great punch-kick combinations and kept up the pace for all three rounds. MMA fighters Mark Moreno and Harris Sarmiento also stepped into the kickboxing ring to take on two tough opponents. Both fights went the distance and showcased why it is always a good thing to have a solid stand up game when fighting in MMA. It was great seeing so many fighters from so many different schools in one event, where their fighters were evenly matched, making for great fights.

Exhibition: Kickboxing: 3 Rounds X 45 Seconds
Tristin Kamaka (808 Fight Factory) draw Triston Pebria (Ewa Beach Fight Club)

Kickboxing: 3 Rounds X 1 Minute
Caleb Price (808 Fight Factory) def. Tad Saiki (Gee Yung)
TKO via injury default due to separated shoulder after the end of the 2nd Round.

Kickboxing: 3 Rounds X 1 Minute
Joshua Versola (Advanced Kempo-Karate Systems) def. Jesse Matila (HMC)
Split decision [(28-29), (28-29), (29-26)] after 3 rounds.

Kickboxing: 3 Rounds X 1.5 Minutes
Brandon Antonio (Jesus Is Lord) def. Eddie Lee (Gee Yung)
TKO via injury default due to separated shoulder at 34 seconds in Round 2.

Exhibition: Kickboxing: 3 Rounds X 1.5 Minutes
Cory Ferriera (808 Fight Factory) draw Keith Kugiyama (Gee Yung)

MMA: 2 Rounds X 3 Minutes
James Vincent (Kodenkan) def. Kimo Lee (Freelance)
Unanimous decision [(20-18), (20-18), (20-18)] after 3 rounds

Kickboxing: 3 Rounds X 1.5 Minutes
Jason Simon (HMC) def. Ron Foster (808 Fight Factory)
TKO via referee stoppage at 1:05 minutes in Round 3.

Kickboxing: 3 Rounds X 1.5 Minutes
Tyson Naho'oikaika (Wailuku Kickboxing) def. Joseph Cooley (Advanced Kempo-Karate Systems)
Unanimous decision [(29-28), (30-27), (30-26)] after 3 Rounds.

MMA: 2 Rounds X 3 Minutes
Jeff Clark (The Garage) def. Chaian Alesna (Freelance)
TKO via injury (broken nose) in Round 1.

Kickboxing: 3 Rounds X 1.5 Minutes
Frank Robello (Advanced Kempo-Karate Systems) def. Alex Zarriello (Gee Yung)
Unanimous decision [(30-28), (30-27), (30-27)] after 3 rounds.

MMA: 2 Rounds X 3 Minutes
Kevin Delima (Bulls Pen) def. Allan Slate (Ewa Beach Fight Club)
Submission via rear naked choke at 2:16 minutes in Round 1.

Kickboxing: 3 Rounds X 1.5 Minutes
Gerald "G Money" Arevalo (808 Fight Factory) drew Tyson Nam (Gee Yung)
Draw [(30-28), (28-29), (29-29)] after 3 rounds.

MMA: 2 Rounds X 3 Minutes
Casey Daniels (Kodenkan) def. Tosh Cook (New Era Martial Arts)
Split decision [(20-19), (19-20), (20-19)] after 2 rounds.

Kickboxing: 3 Rounds X 1.5 Minutes
Molly "Mol-inator" Helsel (Jeet Kune Do) vs. Jessica Trevino (New Era Martial Arts)
Unanimous decision [(30-27), (29-28), (30-28)] after 3 rounds.

Semi-Main Event:
Exhibition: Kickboxing: 3 Rounds X 1.5 Minutes
Mark Moreno (Bulls Pen) drew Zack Elezario (Wailuku Kickboxing)

Main Event:
Kickboxing: 3 Rounds X 1.5 Minutes
Harris Sarmiento (808 Fight Factory) def. Shuji Yamauchi (The Garage)
Unanimous decision [(30-28), (30-26), (29-24)] after 3 rounds.

IS PENN THE NEXT CHAMP TO LEAVE THE UFC?

It's been a bizarre week for the UFC. After a very successful pay per view at UFC 47, there has been some backlash about the Tim Sylvia situation, but now comes word that UFC Champion
BJ Penn has signed a fight in K-1 for May.

While K-1 is excited by the fact that BJ Penn would be joining them, don't believe it just yet. Look for a legal battle to ensue and don't look for Penn fighting anywhere but the Octagon in the upcoming months.

MMAWeekly could not get in contact with Penn or his manager yesterday to get an official comment, but MMAWeekly has learned that the main reason Penn wants out, is of course, the money.

It's believed that Penn wants Hughes type of money. Hughes made $55,000 to show and $55,000 to win on his latest UFC contract. Penn on the other hand made little less than half that number as he made $25,000 to show and $25,000 to win against Hughes.

While Penn wants more money, the bigger problem right now is the fact that he is under contract with the UFC. In recent months, Zuffa has put together new championship contract clauses that as long as you're the champion, you can only fight in the UFC. This was done to try and avoid the previous embarrasments of current champions like Jens Pulver and Murilo Bustamante being stripped for not defending their belts in the UFC. Both fighters went overseas to try and make more money.

For Pulver, he left because he was at the end of the contract. He wanted more money, didn't get it and left. Bustamante came to an end of a contract and instead of fighting, sat out a year to get his release from the UFC.

This situation is different because Penn is still under contract according to some insiders, which means it will be very difficult for him to sign any other contract than a UFC deal. He wouldn't be able to sit out a year like Murilo did because Bustamante was at the end of a deal.

Penn has yet to comment publicly about the deal. We hope to have more about the situation this weekend.

Source: MMA Weekly

Post fight with Yves Edwards
by: Joseph Cunliffe

The Woodlands, TX -- Yves Edwards is on a 5-win streak defeating Hermes Franca a week ago at “UFC 47: It’s On!” The Third Column fighter earned the Split Decision win over the American Top Team fighter in their lightweight fight at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Suggested to be a qualifier fight, Edwards may now face Josh Thomson of Team AKA for the vacant UFC lightweight championship. The Thugjitsu specialist is now 5-2 in the UFC and feels having a (UFC) lightweight champion will be good for the sport. A good striker, Edwards is also well versed on the ground and feels his style matches up well with that of Thomson to make for an exciting fight. The 27-year-old is the most active of the UFC lightweight roster with over 50 amateur and professional fights to his record.

JC: Congratulations on your win, Yves! YE: Thank you. I appreciate it.

JC: What was your reaction when Bruce Buffer announced you as the Split Decision winner? YE: I felt pretty good. I knew it was going to be close that it was going to be split or a draw... it just depended on the Judges. I was pretty excited! I know I won the first round and he won the second round. I felt like I pulled it off and I was hoping they saw I was trying to push the action in the third round.

JC: So, we agree that Round 1 & 2 was clear? YE: Yeah, definitely. I knew I had the first round and after I watched it on tape I knew I lost the second round, but I thought it was worse then it actually was. It didn’t look so bad on tape. He had position and submission attempts. He had me at his will for a good part of the round, but it wasn’t a totally dominating round it was just a pretty solid 10-9 round for him.

JC: What made Round 3 yours? YE: I think the fact that he did get one take down, but I escaped, then every other take down I was on top throwing punches at him the whole time. He was the one defending. His submission attempts didn’t really come through and he was trying to defend himself from the punches. I think the punches are what gave me the third round. The submission attempts were not as effective as they were in the second round.

JC: If you could do something over in the fight what would it be? YE: In the second round I didn’t feel winded, but I felt him pressing his position a lot better. I would probably have tried to create more of a scramble in the second round. From half guard he started looking for leg locks. I think I would have tried to not just defend the leg locks or pass his half guard, but try to pull everything back out and make him stand up with me again because after he got that takedown in the second round I think he was pretty much done as far as takedowns go.

JC: Keeping your legs together and ankles crossed was defending the leg locks? YE: Yeah, that was defending the knee bar and toe hold. He wasn’t really in position to get a heel hook and because of the position we were in with my leg being crossed, I had more leverage then if I had just one leg fighting against him. Having both legs together gave me more leverage to keep my knees bent and avoid the knee bar and it made it harder for him to reach around both of my feet to try and set up a toe hold, so by the time he got his toe hold set up I was ready to roll and spin out of it and try to pull my leg out.

JC: You brought 7 years experience and 50+ fights to the octagon Friday night. What got you into MMA? YE: I was just like everybody else... I watched the first UFC and I finally found a gym to train at and after training a few months I did a local amateur Vale Tudo tournament and I was hooked. Once you do this, you’ll either get hooked or give it up. There is no in between.

JC: You are obviously hooked. What drives you in MMA today? YE: The competition is still good. I think one thing I have done lately is put too much pressure on myself thinking I need to do this and that... that I forgot the fun, but I think I have grown up in not wanting to kill people today. For a long time I wasn’t confident in my ground game as I am now. I need to have fun with it again. The fun thing about it is you go up against a guy who has been training just as hard as you and he is ready for you and he knows what he is getting in to. He has his opinions of what he has to do to win and you have your opinions of what you need to do to win and it’s who is going to execute those things... I think that is the most exciting part of it... that this guy is totally 100% prepared for me. What am I going to do to over come that? Is my training enough to over shadow his? Am I going to faulter? There ain’t gonna be no faultering around here.

JC: Your training incorporates many facets and people. How have you made this work for you? YE: We do everything in one place and all the guys come to me. I have my boxing coach. He trains me pretty much everyday he isn’t working. My Jiu-Jitsu coach makes sure that I’m prepared. We have some really good wrestlers that come in and train. Everybody is willing to learn from each other and everybody wants to get better themselves. It all comes together in a way that is like a stew... everybody has the same goals to make everyone better and to get better themselves. Nobody is selfish. I think that is how it works out best.

JC: What is the name of your fight team? YE: The Third Column and our style is Thigjitsu.

JC: What is Thugjitsu? YE: Thugjitsu is the modern art of the beat down.

JC: How was that developed? YE: It’s a combination of Thai Boxing, Jiu-Jitsu and Wrestling. It’s all about exploiting what you’re strong at and your opponents weakness. It’s the same as everybody else does, but it’s finding a weakness in your opponent and exploiting it. If someone has a really weak takedown you make them want to shoot so you can land knees or you can land big shots as they’re coming in. Some guys on our team have sick Jiu-Jitsu... they just abuse people on the ground so they work whatever they need to get the fight on the ground and dominate there.

JC: Was there any pressure on you hearing the winner of this fight goes against Josh Thomson for the vacant lightweight championship? YE: I didn’t want to put too much pressure on myself, but that is what I want... I want the title. Whether it’s Josh Thomson who whoever it may be... I hope that fight comes up... and I hope we get to do it pretty soon because I’m ready for it. I’m 5-2 in the UFC. I’m on a 5-fight streak and I don’t want to be like Chuck (Liddell) and have to wait forever for the title shot. I don’t want to miss my shot. You only have a window of so long to do this and I don’t want to get my title at the end of my career because I want to defend it for a long time and hold on to it and represent.

JC: The end of your career? YE: There is still plenty of time and as long as I’m healthy and still learning I’m willing to be in it. Things happen also. You never know. I don’t want to think about it, but you have to accept it as a possibility.

JC: Is there anything you’d like to say? YE: I just really want to fight Josh for the belt because I think it will be good for the sport having a lightweight champion and I think that fight... the style of Josh and myself... can make for an exciting fight. I would also like to say keep “TheRealJoker” free.

JC: Thank you, Yves. YE: Take it easy.

Source: ADCC

Latest Pancrase Official Rankings (as of 4/5/2004)
by: Mr Oitate

[Open-weight]
the 10th Open-weight K.O.P. Josh Barnett (U.S.A./New Japan Pro-Wrestling)
#1 Yuki Kondo (PANCRASEism)
#2 Semmy Schilt (Holland/Golden Glory)
#3 Yoshiki Takahashi (PANCRASEism)
#4 Sanae Kikuta (Pancrase GRABAKA)
#5 Kiuma Kunioku (PANCRASEism)
#6 Nathan Marquardt (U.S.A./Colorado Stars)
#7 VACANT

[Super heavyweight(221lbs. and over)]
the 1st Super heavyweight K.O.P. VACANT
#1 Semmy Schilt (Holland/Golden Glory)
#2 Ron Waterman (U.S.A./Team Impact)
#3 Keigo Takamori (Pancrase MEGATON) *UP from #4
#4 Tim Lajcik (U.S.A./Gladiators Training Academy) *DOWN from #3
#5 Sehaku (RJW/CENTRAL)
#6 Jun Ishii (Chojin Club)
#7 Jimmy Ambriz (U.S.A./New Japan Pro-Wrestling)
#8 KENGO (PANCRASEism)

[Heavyweight(199lbs.~under 221lbs.)]
the 1st Heavyweight K.O.P. Yoshiki Takahashi (PANCRASEism)
#1 Tsuyoshi Ozawa (Zendokai)
#2 Katsuhisa Fujii (UFO)
#3 Jason Godsey (U.S.A./I.F. Academy)

[Light heavyweight(181lbs.~under 199lbs.)]
the 3rd Light heavyweight K.O.P. Yuki Kondo (PANCRASEism)
#1 Sanae Kikuta (Pancrase GRABAKA)
#2 Ricardo Almeida (U.S.A./Renzo Gracie Jiu Jitsu Academy)
#3 Akihiro Gono (Pancrase GRABAKA)
#4 Nilson de Castro (Brazil/Chute Boxe Academy)
#5 Daisuke Watanabe (PANCRASEism)
#6 David Terrell (U.S.A./Cesar Gracie Academy)
#7 Yuki Sasaki (Pancrase GRABAKA)
#8 Keiichiro Yamamiya (Pancrase GRABAKA)
#9 Osami Shibuya (PANCRASEism)
#10 Ikuhisa Minowa (freelance)

[Middleweight(165.7lbs.~ under 181lbs.)]
the 4th Middleweight K.O.P. Ricardo Almeida (U.S.A./Renzo Gracie Jiu Jitsu Academy)
#1 Nathan Marquardt (U.S.A./Colorado Stars)
#2 Izuru Takeuchi (SK Absolute)
#3 Crosley Gracie (U.S.A./Ralph Gracie Jiu Jitsu Academy)
#4 Kazuo Misaki (Pancrase GRABAKA)
#5 Kiuma Kunioku (PANCRASEism)
#6 Eiji Ishikawa (Pancrase GRABAKA)
#7 Hidehiko Hasegawa (SK Absolute)
#8 Shonie Carter (U.S.A./AIKI Training Hall)
#9 Hikaru Sato (PANCRASEism) *IN!
#10 Yuichi Nakanishi (freelance) *DOWN from #9

[Welterweight (152.5lbs.~ under 165.7lbs.)]
the 1st Welterweight K.O.P. Kiuma Kunioku (PANCRASEism)
#1 Koji Oishi (PANCRASEism)
#2 Takafumi Ito (PANCRASEism)
#3 Kenichi Serizawa (Wajutsu Keishukai Suruga Dojo)
#4 Satoru Kitaoka (PANCRASEism)
#5 Hiroki Nagaoka (MMA Dojo DOBUITA)
#6 Yuji Hoshino (Wajutsu Keishukai GODS)
#7 Takuya Wada (SK Absolute)
#8 Heath Sims (U.S.A./Team Quest)

[Lightweight (141.4lbs.~ under 152.5lbs.)] VACANT

[Featherweight (under 141.4lbs.)] VACANT

Source: ADCC

FOUR MORE FIGHTERS ADDED TO TOTAL ELIMINATION 2004!

Slowly but surely it looks as though the Pride Grand Prix is starting to come together. MMAWeekly on Friday broke the story that Mark Coleman would face Fedor Emelianenko in the first round. Coleman's teammate Kevin Randleman faces Mirko Cro Cop and it now looks like a couple of other rumors include Heath Herring facing Ron Waterman in the first round and Don Frye most likely facing Yoshiki Takahashi; according to, MMAWeekly's Scott Petersen who has seen a couple of Japanese newspapers confirm it as well.

Source: MMA Weekly

LOS ANGELES, California - Four more participants have been added to the sixteen man heavyweight tournament, TOTAL ELIMINATION 2004, which will take place on April 25th, 2004 from the Saitama Super Arena in Japan. The event is scheduled to debut on North American pay per view on same day delay.

Newly Added Participants:

Kevin "The Monster" Randleman
Murilo "Ninja" Rua
Ron "H20" Waterman
Yoshiki Takahashi

Previously Announced Participants:

Mark "The Hammer" Coleman
Hirotaka Yokoi
Paulo Cesar "Giant" Silva
Sergei Kharitonov
Fedor Emelianenko
Antonio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira
Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic
"The Texas Crazy Horse" Heath Herring
Stefan "Blitz" Leko
Henry "Sentoryu" Miller

Two of the previously announced competitors have dropped out---"Ice Cold" Igor Vovchanchyn due to injury and Sylvester "The Predator" Terkay for personal reasons.

One of the most successful amateur wrestlers to make the transition to mixed martial arts, Kevin "The Monster" Randleman was a three time All-American and two time national wrestling champion at Ohio State University. He enters the tournament as a PRIDE FC veteran and as the UFC's former world heavyweight champion, having won the title with a win against Pete Williams at UFC 23: Ultimate Japan 2. Along with Mark "The Hammer" Coleman, he is the second representative from the Hammer House Gym in this 16-man tournament.

Murilo "Ninja" Rua is the official heavyweight representative in the tournament for the Chute Boxe Vale Tudo team of Brazil. With Chute Boxe's Wanderlei Silva having won the 2003 middleweight tournament, "Ninja" is looking to make it a sweep and continue Chute Boxe dominance!

With a mixed martial arts record of 10-2, the 6'2", 250 lbs Ron "H20" Waterman is one of the most powerful men in the sport. His strength coupled with his wrestling and submission abilities makes this Colorado native one of the toughest match-ups in the tournament.

A mixed martial arts veteran with nearly thirty wins in the Pancrase organization, Yoshiki Takahashi blends a solid stand up game with an array of submissions. Among this heavyweight fighter's list of career victories is a win over Wallid Ismail at UFC 12: Judgment Day.

The final two remaining participants as well as the match-ups for the opening round will be announced soon. The schedule for the tournament will be as follows:

PRIDE FC 16-Man Heavyweight Tournament

TOTAL ELIMINATION 2004
April 25, 2004
Saitama Super Arena
(Opening Round)

CRITICAL COUNTDOWN 2004
June 20, 2004
Saitama Super Arena
(Second Round)

FINAL CONFLICT 2004
August 15, 2004
Saitama Super Arena
(Semi-Finals and Finals)

PRIDE FC: TOTAL ELIMINATION 2004 will premiere on North American pay per view through iNDEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH NETWORK, UrbanXtra, TVN1, Bell Express Vu, and Viewer's Choice Canada on Sunday, April 25th, 2004. The premiere time is 9:00pm EST, 6:00pm PST and the count down show is at 8:30pm EST, 5:30pm PST

Participants and fight card are subject to change.

Source: FCF

 4/9/04

Quote of the Day

"I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father's protection."

Sigmund Freud 1856-1939, Austrian Physician - Founder of Psychoanalysis

Ring of Honor Tonight


Campbell High School, Ewa Beach, Hawaii
February 9, 2004
7:00PM

Come on down and see a ton of fights, there was at one point 20 fights scheduled. It will be a mix of kickboxing and MMA matches.

WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO, JAMEEL MCCLINE, JEREMY WILLIAMS, ATTILA LEVIN, CEDRIC KUSHNER, AND JOE BYRD ON 'KNOCKOUT RADIO' ON MAXBOXING.COM
by: Eddie Goldman/ADCC Wrestling Editor

We are about to see just how new this 'new era' in boxing really is.

In case you're scratching your head, or merely shaking it, the historical moment that was supposed to inaugurate this 'new era' was the long-awaited and delayed retirement of Lennox Lewis in February. Now we have four fights over the next three Saturdays for heavyweight belts from four of the alphabet soup sanctioning bodies.

It's Wladimir Klitschko vs. Lamon Brewster this Saturday for the vacant WBO belt. On April 17, WBA champ John Ruiz defends against Fres Oquendo, and IBF champ Chris Byrd defends against Andrew Golota. Then on April 24, Vitali Klitschko fights Corrie Sanders for the vacant WBC belt. If you had all that memorized already, go out and read a book or have a beer or talk to someone, please!

Did you ever leave a pot of soup sitting out on the stove too long? Then you know the soggy, lukewarm mess you usually find. Multiply that by a couple of decades, the length of time these alphabets have been cooking up their schemes, and you don't have to be a master chef to know that boxing has been stewing in a supersized pot of poison that has already dragged it from the limelight of the sports world into the flashing red lights of emergency vehicles reserved either for criminals or the critically ill. The business of boxing is both criminal and critically ill, so much so that by contrast the politicians in Washington have stepped forward to declare that they are its savior.

The median age in America is about 36 years old. That means that about half of the population was born in or before 1968, and about half born in or after 1968. The last time the heavyweight championship of the world was the world's most prestigious honor in sports was in Muhammad Ali's second reign as champion, from 1974 to 1978. For boxing, that means that for about half the population, that time was at best a dim childhood memory, or took place before they were born. While there were numerous deserving champions after Ali, the fragmentation of the title contributed to diluting and eventually robbing it of its worldwide and previously unequaled prestige.

Now the fights over these next three Saturdays for the WBO, WBA, IBF, and WBC heavyweight belts will presumably result in four men holding these titles. If both Wladimir Klitschko and his brother Vitali prevail in their fights, they have stated numerous times that they will never fight each other. But that is not the obstacle to unifying the heavyweight title. None of the contestants in the Ruiz-Oquendo and Byrd-Golota fights are named Klitschko. And if one or both of the Klitschkos fall over the next three weekends, it will only be a moot footnote of history that they had declared that they would not fight each other.

The necessity for unifying the heavyweight title -- which most recently became unglued when Lennox Lewis first refused a fight with John Ruiz for the WBA belt and then Chris Byrd for the IBF belt -- occurs at a time in boxing when its basic structure is being challenged from two different directions. Last week's passage by the U.S. Senate, with bi-partisan support, of a bill to establish a national boxing commission may begin a process where the politicians begin to do what the promoters have failed to do for at least a century -- establish some central control of this most fragmented of major pro sports. At the same time, the move by the Teamsters, through the Joint Association of Boxers (JAB), to set up a boxers' union may take a giant step forward on April 15 with the holding of what is being called the first unionized boxing card ever at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom.

The worse the promoters, television networks, and sanctioning bodies make the heavyweight title mess, the stronger the politicians will make their bids for control of the sport. And the more these same forces -- the politicians included -- keep the boxers out of the process of determining what the structure of boxing should be, the stronger will be the efforts of the boxers themselves to decide their own fates.

None of this, of course, will happen straightaway and without all sorts of zigs and zags. But there are some major and historic showdowns coming in the boxing world, and its fate may just be determined for at least decades to come by the outcome of these power struggles.

That is the backdrop behind the obvious and tedious succession drama taking place over these next three weekends.

This week on 'Knockout Radio,' exclusively on MaxBoxing.com(http://maxboxing.com), host Eddie Goldman speaks with Wladimir Klitschko (42-2, 39 KOs) about the prospects for unifying the heavyweight titles should he win his fight Saturday night with Lamon Brewster (29-2, 26 KOs) in Las Vegas. We also speak with heavyweight contender Jameel McCline (30-3-3, 18 KOs) about his fight in New York's Hammerstein Ballroom on Thursday, April 15, with British heavyweight Wayne Llewelyn (24-4-1, 19 KOs). We speak with heavyweights Jeremy Williams (40-4-1, 35 KOs) and Attila Levin (29-1, 23 KOs), who also face each other on that New York card, which will also be broadcast on ShoBox on Showtime in the U.S. We speak with promoter Cedric Kushner who put together this April 15 card. And we speak with Joe Byrd, the father and trainer of Chris Byrd, about what to expect on April 17 in the Madison Square Garden fight against the controversial Golota.

'Knockout Radio' is pre-recorded, and hosted by myself, Eddie Goldman.

Comments or questions? E-mail the show at our new address: knockoutradio@aol.com . Join in the discussion about boxing's hottest issues!

You can always find 'Knockout Radio' on MaxBoxing.com by looking at the right-hand column and going to the INTERACTIVE section. 'Knockout Radio' can be heard exclusively on the members-only section of MaxBoxing.com. This section is a subscription service, meaning that your subscriptions can keep the content there commercial-free. The show is in RealPlayer format, so a media player that can play RealPlayer is required.

'Knockout Radio' is part of the MaxBoxing Audio Network.

Source: ADCC

LIDDELL NOW A SPECTATOR WAITING FOR FIGHT

Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell was the featured guest on MMAWeekly Sound-Off Radio Thursday. Chuck discussed his knockout win over Tito Ortiz and his future title shot against the winner between Vitor Belfort and Randy Couture.

Chuck has been doing his media tour and just finished shooting "Last Call" with Carson Daly that will air next Tuesday. He said doing the show was fun and that he enjoyed talking with Carson who loves the sport of Mixed Martial Arts. Daly had both Ortiz and Liddell on leading up to the fight and, according to Chuck, gets excited about having fighters on his show.

Liddell took us through the fight with Tito, nearly minute by minute. As the two entered the octagon, Chuck said he could tell Tito was nervous by how many intimidation tactics he was trying to use on him. He went on to say, "I knew it bothered him that he didn't intimidate me at all." When asked what was going through his mind right before the fight while standing in there looking across at Ortiz, Chuck said he was thinking "get everyone out of the ring and let's get this going."

As the fight started, Liddell was looking for Tito to try and take him down. He said, "I know he was looking for a chance to shoot in." After Tito's two unsuccessful takedown attempts, Liddell knew he was going to knock him out sooner or later. In the closing seconds of round one, Chuck landed a high kick on Ortiz that he thinks hurt him. "I was about to let loose the same hands I did early in the second round right there," Chuck commented.

Chuck and Tito exchanged early in the second round, leaving Tito rubbing his eye afterward. When asked if it was from a poke or a punch, Liddell stated clearly that "it was a punch." He said it got him below the eye and, "his eye started swelling up below the eye." When he saw Tito rub his eye, "below his eye," Chuck went in for the finish. He had been working on letting "his hands go" in training and that's exactly what he did.

Liddell said he thought, "OK, I gotta go after this guy and finish him, he's hurting right now, he's worried about my punches." He knew from watching tapes of Tito's fight that "when he covers up like that, he doesn't do anything until you stop throwing punches." Chuck said he was in good shape and would have thrown punches for the next four minutes if it lasted that long. "I knew I could knock him out, if I could keep him on his feet, I'd knock him out sooner or later," Liddell added. He was excited that he "was able to finish it in such explosive fashion."

What is next for Chuck? It is a "waiting game" to see who wins between Vitor Belfort and Randy Couture. Chuck isn't counting Vitor out but is picking Couture to win. He said last time, he ran out of gas a little bit against Randy. Since then, Chuck has gone back to training the way he used to. He said that he was getting away from what got him where he was and has now gone back to it. He will focus more on wrestling with the guys at Cal Poly to prepare for a fight with Couture.

Liddell already holds a win over Vitor Belfort and doesn't think much will change if they fight again. In the first fight, Belfort caught Chuck off guard and got the early takedown, something Chuck doesn't want to happen again. "Give me five rounds and I think I will finish him," stated Liddell. As for now, Chuck has to wait until probably November to fight again. Having fought four times in the last ten months, this could be a needed break from fighting for Chuck.

Source: MMA Weekly

BENNETT BREAKDOWN:
UFC 47 PAY PER VIEW BUYS LOOK GOOD


First wanted to say thank you to everyone who helped out MMAWeekly Radio last week on the road in Las Vegas. Beth, Jack, Spence and the Mandalay Bay were tremendous. Big thank you to you. Hard to believe that the radio show turns ONE YEAR OLD on Monday. Who would have thought?

After a great show at UFC 47 it looks like the early word on the street regarding UFC 47 pay per view buys is very encouraging. I talked briefly with UFC President Dana White this week and while he wouldn’t comment on the actual numbers coming in so far he said "The preliminary numbers are very good. We are very optimistic about the early numbers…." What are those numbers?

Dana continued "We never comment about numbers. We could do 1.5 million buys like boxing does and still not comment. It’s just what we choose to do as a private company. Good or bad we don’t comment" .

By the way I predict "good" and think a 6 figure number is very possible. You have to be hoping for 100,000 buys. What we do know is that the UFC poured in a lot of money in advertising in Los Angeles and it looks like it paid off.

Somewhere in the ball park of $200,000 was poured into commercials in the L.A. market alone and judging from the live gate; announced at 1.7 million at the UFC 47 post press conference, not to mention a sellout of over 11,000 fans it looks like the media blitz worked. Can they keep the momentum going unlike UFC 40? Maybe and here’s why.

The UFC followed UFC 40 which had Tito vs Ken Shamrock as the main event, with UFC 41 Ricco Rodriguez vs Tim Sylvia headlining. Zuffa then followed that headliner with UFC 42 of Matt Hughes vs Sean Sherk. While those last two were solid as far as MMA fans go, does anyone else outside of MMA internet fans understand who these guys are?

By the way, it’s not the fighters fault at all; since, they haven’t been marketed like Tito, Robbie Lawler and some others in the company. On the flip side it’s not Zuffa’s fault because they have FIVE or SIX shows, count them, six at the most, A YEAR to market guys. How many poster boys can you truly create in SIX shows a year? Yes, we needed a weekly TV show like two years ago already.

With that said, will the mainstream public have puchased UFC 40, 41, and 42 over UFC 47 Tito vs Chuck, UFC 48 – Ken vs Kimo (yeah it’s a WWE dream match not an MMA one) and UFC 49 – Vitor vs Randy III? I think we would all agree that 47-49 is much more appealing than 40 through 42 was, from a mainstream point of view.

By the way if UFC 47 pay per view buys translates like I think it will, not only will it be a huge success for the UFC….but a huge for one Tito Ortiz. Say what you want about Tito but even after two losses, he is still a huge draw for this company.

You look at the last six UFC’s he has been a part of, Ortiz has sold out every single main event he's been in. Look, I buy the statements when they say Chuck had as much to do with the success of 47 as Tito did and you could even say Ken Shamrock did as well back at 40, but let me ask you this. Did Vladimir Matyushenko, or Evan Tanner or Elvis Sinosic have to do with it when they "headlined" with Ortiz? As much as a fan I am of those three guys mentioned, it was Mr. Ortiz who is still a box office smash. If your keeping track at home that means sellout’s of Tito’s last five shows….UFC 30, 32, 33, 40, 44 and now 47. Pretty good track record in my book.

The Wes Sims vs Mike Kyle match was weird, bizarre and spectacular all in the same fight. Do I think Kyle bit Sims intentionally? Initially yes, but after going back and watching the tape and hearing my friend Jeff Osborne’s opinion on the situation….I may be switching my mind. (If you didn’t see what Osborne said read Tuesday’s News).

This is what needs to happen. Sims has to come back because he took this fight basically on one days notice and he helped out the UFC big time. Throw him in there with Johnathon Wiezorek.

By the way, I totally disagree with Kyle’s strategy of trying to take the big Wes down. Mike you have fast hands, you are a good striker. Never take a guy down. Use your speed and quickness to your advantage. With that said, can we see Kyle vs Cabbage after all?

Speaking of Wes Sims, it looks like he is coming out to California to come train with the Pit fight team. Very good move on the big man’s part. The Pit did a very good job with Gan McGee for years and they can do the same for big Wes. Spending time with Chuck Liddell is a very good career move and training under one of the best in the business, in John Hackleman, is always a great move. Big Wes bring Coleman and Randleman with you quick! Cro Cop and Fedor are on the way for your boys? Fly to California tomorrow!!

With all the great steps the UFC and Zuffa are making at this time, it’s finally time for more than two champions in the company. Yes, I’ve heard it before, you can’t get five champions to fight on just six shows a year, when the champ has it in his contract to fight every other UFC.

Math geniuses understand this concept, the rest of us that can’t figure it out….it’s mathmatically impossible to do. Or so I'm told. (I failed Geometry many times and I can't event spell it correctly..)

So with that said, if my math skills are accurate, we have just TWO champions right now at last count. Vitor Belfort and BJ Penn. That means while we sort out the mess at 185, we have a plan in place for the Heavyweight division which is now a four man tournament…..check that….a three man tournament. Andrei Arlovski vs Frank Mir or Tim Sylvia.

Let’s do the right thing and make Yves Edwards vs Josh Thomson for the title. That will help give more legitmacy to the 155 division or if we don't want to crown anybody else, then let’s not showcase 155 and just do from 170 up. That’s what it comes down to. These guys at 155 work just as hard if not harder than anyone else, let’s make this a title and add a legit champion to 155. (Oh yea, I forgot....winner fights Jens Pulver, then it’s truly legit! Moving on...)

Speaking of legitmacy, while 185 is a mess right now I would love to see a tournament to crown a champion. No not a tourney in one night, but a tournament spread out over many shows. Look if you did an 8 man or 16 man tourney it would be sensational. You only need to book one or two fights per UFC at 185.

It would serve two purposes. It takes a long time to get a champion if your only showcasing one or two fights on the card and it furthers a storyline EVERY UFC in the 185 division, instead of not knowing what is happening in the division. 8 or 16 man tourney would be great, it would take a long time and by then you most likely will be on TV.

Speaking of 185, David Terrell is the greatest fighter in that division you don’t know about and I would love to see a Terrell vs Jeremy Horn first round match. All in all, great job with UFC 47, hopefully we capitilize on the momentum at 48, and here's to titles at 155 and 185 before 2004. See you on the radio at www.mmaweeklyradio.com (Mandatory radio plug, got it in, thanks for reading.)

Source: MMA Weekly

LIFE OF A FIGHTER: PART III
by Ivan Trembow

I've heard that many of the wrestling sheets will have more on this later today, but for the mma fans, while doing research for this week's article on MMA salaries, I stumbled upon something that is not salary-related, but is interesting and noteworthy to point out nonetheless.

On the "Advance Notice" document for UFC 47 salaries, the document already lists Wes "Cabbage" Correira vs. Andrei Arlovski, and Mike Kyle vs. Wes Sims as fights that are scheduled to take place at UFC 47. As it says right on the document, advance notices must be completed and mailed at least five days before the date of the event.

This really put a lot of pressure on the UFC to have an "alternate" plan in place in case Syliva tested positive for steroids. Assuming that Zuffa mailed the Advance Notice on the last possible day of Saturday, March 27, this explicitly means that the plan as of six days before UFC 47 was for Cabbage to fight Andrei Arlovski, and for Wes Sims to step in and fight Mike Kyle to be protected by Nevada State Athletic Commision rules. That was the UFC's plan as of Saturday, March 27. Then the UFC could have then changed these plans if Tim Sylvia produced a negative drug test on the week of the show.

What this ultimately means is while Cabbage, Arlovski, Kyle, and Sims may have only known for 100% sure who their opponents would be on the day of the weigh-in (24 hours before the event), they at least had an idea that they could have been fighting someone else. In the time period on or before Saturday, March 27, the UFC had to have contacted the appropriate fighters, offered them the modified fights, gotten all of the fighters in question to agree to their paychecks and their new opponents, signed all of the contracts, filled out the "Advance Notice" paperwork, and mailed the Advance Notice paperwork... again, all before Saturday, March 27.

One other interesting tidbit is at one point Zuffa planned to have a Heavyweight Title fight at UFC 47... and I'm not talking about Tim Sylvia vs. Frank Mir. In the Advance Notice paperwork filed on or before March 27, Cabbage vs. Arlovski is listed as a five-round fight, which would mean it was scheduled to be a title fight. It was later changed into a three-round, non-title fight at some point between March 27 and April 1.

Source: MMA Weekly

Terrell in UFC?

Graciefighter, David Terrell will be fighting at U.F.C. 49. The BJJ Blackbelt has been making a name for himself in Japan's Pancrase organization where he has fought 2 opponents winning once by knockout (Yuki Sasaki) and once by choking his opponent (Osami Shibuya) unconscious.
Terrell is widely regarded as America's #1 grappler and he will now be trying to turn that notoriety into success at the U.F.C. Zuffa has not of yet named an opponent nor has it been determined if Terrell will be fighting at the 185lbs or the 205lbs weightclass.

Source: Gracie Fighter

Lindland Speaks

We spoke with Matt Linland and asked him about his team and what's next for him. Here's what he had to say:

GF- Matt what's next for you in the fight world?
ML-The fight business “game” is tough right now. I have no idea what is on the horizon for my next fight and me.
I don’t just sit around and wait for a fight I started a promotion company here in Oregon. Since I fought last in the UFC I have put on two shows and my third is coming right up. Like any new business it takes a lot of time and money to get going. Like fighting the harder I work the luckier I get.

GF-Anything coming up for Dan Henderson?
ML-Sounds like Dan will be back in Pride come June.

GF: Randy?
Randy looks to be fighting Vitor in UFC 49

GF:How's Evan Tanner looking for his rematch with Baroni?
ML:Tanner is getting ready to put another beating on that clown Phil Baroni. I heard they named the next UFC “Payback” they should have named the show “Replay”

ML:Team Quest young up and coming guys are getting real tough. We are looking forward to testing Ryan Schultz against Gil in May.

GF: Thanks Matt, good luck

Source: Gracie Fighter

 4/6/04

Quote of the Day

"The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark."

Michelangelo Buonarroti, Painter, Sculptor

Super Brawl 35 Fight Card Announced!
Friday, April 16, 2004
Neil Blaisdell Arena

Tickets are on sale now! Get your tickets quick because with Enson head lining, UFC Veterans Jeff Curran and Rich Frankin, Super Brawl/Extreme Challenge 185 lb tournament champion Joe Doerkson, as well as some of Hawaii's best fighters and Enson's hand picked Japanese fighters from his own team on this packed to the hilt card, this one may be a sell out.

205lbs
Enson Inoue (Purebred, Omiya 11-7)
v
Tom "Trauma" Sauer (Team Extreme Ocala, FL, 14-6)

205lbs
Rich "Ace" Franklin (Team Extreme, Cincinnatti, OH, 12-1)
v
TBA

138lbs
Jeff Curran (Team Extreme, 11-6-1)
v
Kimihito Nonaka (Purebred, Omiya, 6-6-2)

160lbs
Ryan Bow (Purebred, Tokyo, 10-5)
v
"3D" Deshaun Johnson (HMC, 5-6)

155lbs
Tetsuji Kato (Purebred, Omiya, 16-5)
v
Jason Dent (Indianapolis, 3-1)

150lbs
Makoto Ishikawa (Purebred, Omiya, 9-5-1
v
Antoine Skinner (Indianapolis, 4-3)

Heavyweight
Kerry "Meat Truck" Schall (Team Extreme, Ohio, 14-6)
v
Ray "King Kong" Seraille (Grappling Unlimited, 3-5)

155lbs
Toshikazu Iseno (Purebred, Omiya,)
v
Bart Palaszewski (Team Curran, 7-3)

128lbs
Jyoji Yamaguchi (Purebred, Omiya)
v
Billy "The" Kidd (Indianapolis, 2-0)

180lbs
Kai Kamaka (808 Fight Factory)
v
TBA

205lbs
Riki Fukuda (Purebred, Omiya)
v
Joe Doerkson (Team Extreme)

2004 Pan-Ams Full Report

The final day of the 2004 Pan-Ams was off the rocker. With great matches started right away with the Team USA v Team Brazil competition. Team USA scored many big wins with stand-outs Jacob McClintock, Mike Folwer, Brandon Vera, Rafael Lovato Jr and Alberto Crane leading the charge. The US team made great strides towards winning the team event! Of note, Rener Gracie was defetaed by Eduardo Telles by points in a very contested match and Aaron Lapointe put a great effort before succumbing to World Champion Bibiano Fernandes!

There were too many great purple and brown belt matches to report. Blue belt Juveniles saw Kron Gracie show a glimpse of things to come. With his father Rickson's mannerism, young Kron submitted every opponent he faced to win the Blue Gold. Ralek Gracie had a run of three submissions stopped by Jason Collard. Collard submitted Ralek with an arm bar on his way to the title. TT's Andre Galvao won the Brown Belt medium going away. The kid is a prodigy and he defeated many very tough opponents by submission.

The story of the day however were the incredible Black Belt matches. Bibiano cleaned out the field and collected gold in the Superfeather. He is a rising star who demonstrated that it is going to be hard to keep him from collecting titles.

The featherweight division had too many stars, Renato Migliacio opened up with a points win over Megaton. His reward was a match against Superfreak Leo Vieira. Leozinho scored a large victory over last years Champion using his trademark acrobatic moves, showing everyone he was ready for the final.

On the other side of the bracket current World Cup Champion Fredson Alves defeated his opponent setting up the MEGA match of the Superfreak against the SuperSweeper. The match was one for the ages with Leozinho getting the win by an advantage with the final score 4 x 4 .

In the light it was Edson Diniz all the way to the finals, with a win over tough opponent Alberto Crane while on the other side of the bracket Daniel Moares disposed of his opponetns. Daniel won the title by referee's decision.

In the medium, it was Terere's time. The man is as fast a lightning and he won his first three matches with split second chokes. The fight would start and everything would be fine and as soon as an exchange would occur . . . ZAP Terere had a choke on. On the other side Paulo Guillobel had a semifinal win over Joao Silva by points. Terere continued his relentless submission march over Guillobel for the Gold, Paulo however gave Terere heaps and demonstrated he is a top contender himself!

The medium heavy was the story of two people Ronaldo 'Jacare' and Braulio 'Carcara'. Carcara, just like the legend says captures, kills and then eats his prey. His game is volatile and precise and was too much for most everyone.

Ronaldo 'Jacare' is a phenom in his own right and he was out to prove everyone wrong. During his match with Fabio Negao, former teammate 'Soluco' called for Negao to submit him, he said: 'Submit him, you've already done it once!' That was enough for Jacare to go for the kill. As soon as he disposed of Fabio he turned to Soluco and said: 'He did it once but it will be once only, never again... and you are next! '

Next in the finals against Braulio, it was Marcio Feitosa telling Braulio: 'He can't pass the guard to this side, you've got him!' Sure enough Ronaldo passed to that side and then submitted the dangerous Carcara.

The heavy battle had Rodrigo Comprido and Gabriel Vella locked in a stand up battle in the final with Gabriel getting the referee decision, while in the Superheavy Ralph Gracie fighters Jorge Oliveira & Ricardo Barros split the podium. In the Super-Super 'Cafe' Dantas defeated Marcio Corletta by a large margin of points. Cafe got the early upper hand, kept the pressure and Corletta did not find any rhythm.

The Absolute was the story of two runaway trains with a scheduled date at Domingues Hills Arena. Jacare and Terere went on a tear, with a complimentary show by Leozinho. Jacare and Terere disposed of their first opponents while Leozinho was in a battle with the tough Fabio Negao. Leozinho, despite giving out over 40 pounds manged to turn on his speed and dazzle for the win.

It was time for Jacare v Soluco. The same Soluco that was warned before. The fight started with Soluco gripping Jacare's jacket, Jacare quickly applied a simple self-defense move for the screaming submission in less than 20 seconds. Todd Margolis then defeated the ever dangerous Eduardo Telles. Margolis playd a smart game avoiding Telles dangerous leg locks. He would run to the back but keep the leg to the side away from danger and took the win in a battle of advantages. For that he earned the chance to fight Jacare!

Their semi's match was a testament to Jacare's ability as he fended of Margolis shoot and suddenly leaped into a flying triangle for the submisison. A stunned Margolis sat next to me and muttered: 'Muito bom!' (He is very good)

Leo Vieira forefeit his place to Terere and the dream match between him and Jacare was on. A match between two great fighters many times is decided by a moment, this was no different, early in the match Jacare made a sudden attack and got Terere's back. Terere managed to escape the attack and clawed back some points but in the end, after a beautiful match with lots of positional exchanges Jacare reigned Absolute!

Ronaldo Jacaré & Bibiano Fernandes Pan Am 2004 champions Seminar

Saturday 04/10/04 at Aloísio Silva Academy .
Bibiano seminar from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
Jacaré Seminar from 1:30 to 3:30
You can get one seminar for $40 or both seminara for $70.00. Don't miss this unique opportunity.

Aloisio Silva Academy, 4646 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Lawndale CA 90260

Call us to reserve your spot @ Koral USA # 310-3700116 . See You all there .
Koral Staff . Get Your Game On !!

Terere, Telles and Galvao Seminar

The dynamic trio did a seminar at Carlos Valente Academy yesterday. Terere led the class showing many details that had all the attendees shaking their heads! Terere, Telles and Galvao are associated with their mentor, Valente Academy, in the US.

Source: ADCC

ADCC 2005 in the 'Development' Stages - News From Around The Globe!

We caught up with ADCC's Guy Neivens, the man behind the ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championships. Guy is fresh back in Abu Dhabi after a trip to the Japan, the Land of the Rising Sun. 'I was in Japan, working on the host site and promotion for the 6th Submission Wrestling World Championships' stated Neivens.

The 6th Submission Wrestling World Championships, or ADCC 2005, is already in the works for the Spring of 2005 (March, April, May). 'We will have a site chosen in the next few weeks, we have to review the proposals.' states Neivens. 'We have a goal of doing this event in Japan, and certainly this trip laid the foundations for that. When the decision is made, the ADCC will do what is best for the competition.'

Neivens also reveals plans for tournaments under ADCC rules in Mexico, where the winners earn a berth into the North American Trials. 'This is in the development stages as well.' explains Neivens.

Meanwhile, ADCC lead judge Lubomir Guedjev is bound for South Africa, for the first ever tournament on the continent of Africa. Fresh from seminars and events in Scandinavia and the United States, Guedjev was 'anxious' to see the level of grappling and submission in Africa.

Finally, there was news on the North American Trials. 'The North American Trials will be in a new location this year.' states Miguel Iturrate, the spokesman for the ADCC in the US. 'The first series was in the heartland, in Indiana, and the 2003 series was in San Diego. The next edition of the North American Trials is scheduled for September 18-19th, and we will have an official announcement as to the location in the weeks to come. It will be exciting!'

The road to ADCC 2005 has begun!

Source: ADCC

Submission Wrestling Champs Developing at Sao Joao da Barra Submission Wrestling Event!
A Look Back...

While older stars like Jorge Patino and Nino 'Elvis' Schembri embark on their careers in MMA by joining the prestigious army of Chute Boxe, some of Brazil's best grapplers have gone back to the basics on the mats, so to speak. Young, filled with dreams and thirsty for victories, the next guy to shock the world at an event like ADCC 2005 were on dicplay at a show called Sao Joao da Barra Submission Wrestling, held in Rio de Janeiro last March.

One of the best fights in the event was the 76kg final between Rani Yarhya and Leonardo Pecanha. At just nineteen years old, Rani has been unbeaten since his defeat to Leo Vieira in one of the best bouts at the ADCC 2003. Curious about his own performance in the MMA world, he decided to check his skills in a small vale-tudo event in Brazil's capital, Brasilia. Result: Rani finished his opponent in about 1'30'' and took home no more than US$ 100. Now, Rani Yarhya is one of the stars confirmed in Heat Fighting Championship, and he is getting ready to fight Jiu-Jitsu world champion Fredson Paixao on April 30th.

Leonardo Pecanha, a Jiu-Jitsu teacher from, is almost as young than Rani: at 21, Leo is another hard-to-beat grappler, and was responsible for Rani's first defeat in a year, by one takedown. Brazilian and world champion, Pecanha assures us that his victories will last at least until ADCC 2005: 'My last defeat last year was at a Jiu-Jitsu fight against the much heavier Fabiano 'Pega Leve' by 2-0. In 2004, though, I won't lose to anyone, I want to show what I got at ADCC', says a confident Leo, about US$ 240 richer after winning his category in Sao Joao da Barra Submission Wrestling.

Submission Wrestling champion at 65kg, the strong Rodrigo Damm dreams of Japan: he plans to join Shooto after his next fight in Shooto Brazil. Thales Leites, who won gold in the 87kg-category, may also be SHOOTO bound. One of the most experienced fighters among the event champions, Gabriel 'Napao' Gonzaga intends to spend some time with Jorge Patino 'Macaco' in Curitiba, training with Chute Boxe. 'My idea is to alternate the no-gi competitions with Jiu-Jitsu and vale-tudo tournaments', comments Gabriel, who 2-1 in MMA.

Looking back at the results:

65kg:
Rodrigo Damm (Alliance) submitted Aldo Júnior (RVT/Nova Uniao) by leglock

76kg:
Leonardo Peçanha (Nova Uniao) defeated Rani Yarhya (Ataide Jr.) by 4-2

87kg:
Thales Leites defeated Carlos Baruch by ref's decision (0-0)

105kg:
Gabriel Napao (Gold Team) submitted Antoine Jaoude (RVT) by leglock

Absolute:
Antoine Jaoude (RVT) won Rodrigo Riscado (NU) by one advantage

Superfight:
Marcelinho Garcia (Alliance) submitted Rodrigo Riscado (NU) by rear-naked choke

Source: ADCC

Edwards vs. Thomson: The Lightweight Title Reborn?

Going into UFC 47, matchmaker Joe Silva, posed with the question of whether or not the winner of the Yves Edwards and Hermes Franca bout would fight for the title in their next bout, responded with, “Nothing is set in stone, yet. We’ll give the fans whatever they want.”

It seems that the fans have wanted a lightweight champion for sometime now, but the question is, “Does it make sense for the UFC to crown a lightweight champion, just so they can have one?”

The UFC has gone without a titleholder in the division ever since the exodus of Jens Pulver back in 2002. Pulver had been on a roll, winning the title in a bout with Caol Uno and defending the belt against Dennis Hallman and current welterweight champion BJ Penn. Unable to come to terms with the UFC on a new contract, Pulver opted to leave his belt behind in hopes of greener pastures elsewhere. The greener pastures have yet to materialize either for Pulver or the UFC.

In the wake of Pulver’s exit, the UFC attempted to crown a new champion with a four-man, two-show tournament. The first round of the tournament saw two lackluster bouts with Penn winning a decision over Matt Serra and Caol Uno wrestling a decision away from Din Thomas. With neither first round matchup creating much excitement, hopes were for a very exciting rematch between Uno and the man that ko’d him with an ugly looking onslaught in the opening moments of their first fight, BJ Penn.

The title bout between Uno and Penn ended with the title picture even deeper in the muck than when Pulver bolted. Though most onlookers felt that Penn had eked out a decision win, the judges in Atlantic City saw fit to rule the bout a very rare 5-round draw. The UFC still, one year later, had no lightweight champion.

Since that bout at UFC 41, the lightweight title has basically been put on the back burner. BJ Penn exited the UFC scene and rebuilt himself, going back to his roots in Hawaii. He reemerged in the welterweight division and dominating the dominator Matt Hughes.

Meanwhile, a few new lightweight contenders have emerged, albeit with no belt to contend for, as Yves Edwards, Hermes Franca, and Josh Thomson have risen to the forefront of the division. Genki Sudo and Duane “Bang” Ludwig are following close behind.

The three frontrunners, Edwards, Franca, and Thomson have started a round-robin tournament of sorts with Thomson winning a close, but unanimous decision over Franca at UFC 46 and Edwards winning an even closer split decision over Franca at UFC 47. Which now sets up a final between the three with Edwards facing Thomson next.

It only makes sense that Edwards vs. Thomson would be for the title, right? You would think so, considering that they both defeated Franca, and the three are so closely matched and hold the top three spots in the division. This would be true if the UFC had the luxury of viewing this solely as a sport for sport’s sake. Alas, they don’t have that luxury.

With only five shows per year with eight bouts each and a fraction of the audience that boxing and the major sports play too, the UFC doesn’t have the resources to keep up a competitive race for a title in all five divisions. Until a mainstream TV deal is inked, until major sponsor support picks up, until the UFC can increase its frequency of shows, they must balance the realities of trying to build a sport with the entertainment value that drives audience attendance and revenues. Basically, if it means that the fans will buy it, the UFC will have to do it.

But with a fight like the one that Edwards and Franca had the other night - a long, drawn out decision - it remains to be seen if fans will demand the lightweight bouts and a title for the division. Remember, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. If you want to see a lightweight champion, keep beating down the doors of the UFC offices and demand it. They will do whatever you want.

Source: MMA Weekly

 4/5/04

Quote of the Day

"Don't fear failure so much that you refuse to try new things. The saddest summary of a life contains three descriptions: could have, might have and should have."

Louis Boone, American Author

He Passed!
Sylvia Test Results Come Back Negative

By Loretta Hunt

On the heels of Friday night's high-octane UFC 47, heavyweight Tim Sylvia is sporting a clean bill of health. A relieved Sylvia contacted FCF to confirm that he had indeed passed the steroid test he'd taken this past Tuesday to be medically cleared for licensing under the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Sylvia's request to register with the Commission had been put on hold when a urinalysis test he'd taken on or around March 4th as part of his pre-fight medical work had come back positive for minute amounts of a performance enhancing agent in his system. The NSAC, as well as promoters Zuffa Sports Entertainment, have voiced their belief that these readings came from Sylvia's first and only use of an anabolic steroid some nine months ago. On that occasion, Sylvia was suspended four months and fined $7,500 of his $60,000 purse when tests following his September 26th UFC 44 title defense against Gan McGee came back positive for stanozolol metabolite. Subsequently, Sylvia renounced the title and the top position has been vacant ever since.

With the March 4th test results still positive for Sylvia, the UFC chose to give the fighter one last chance by administering a final test with him on the Tuesday of fight week. Just minutes before the weigh-ins, Zuffa released a written statement announcing that Sylvia had not passed this second and final test and that the card would be altered. The Nevada State Athletic Commission was also under the same assumption, as they also confirmed to FCF that Sylvia's results were still positive. But, Sylvia says he was notified by Zuffa Friday that the results had actually not come in till that next day, and he was fit to fight, albiet a day too late.

Sometimes things happen for a reason though, as the stress of last few week's suspense has undeniably put a strain on Sylvia's mindset. With an opportunity now to come in fresh and mentally unhindered, Sylvia says he is being considered as an opponent for Frank Mir, another heavyweight frontrunner for the belt, and that the bout might take place as early as June 19th's UFC 48. It has been rumored the victor of this match-up will move on to meet Belarussian fighter Andrei Arlovski for the heavyweight title.

Source: FCF

News on Terrell & Heath

David Terrell defeated Osami Shibuya by north-south choke 3:04 into the first round! Prior to that Terrell knocked Shibuya to the canvas with a kick to the head and used a barrage of chokes before he secured one that put Shibuya to sleep for over a minute after the ref stoppage.

Steve Heath was defeated by Yuki Kondo with a rear naked choke 4:01 into the first round. Heath was hit by a bus earlier in the day and thrown for about 15 feet. Despite this he still insisted on fighting and showed great heart.

Source: Graciefighter

Crosley Gracie DQed

Crosley Gracie, black-belt under Ralph Gracie, did an amateur kickboxing event this Friday night and was disqualified for double legging his opponent and throwing him out of the ring. The event was held in Stockton, California and was a mixture of kickboxing and boxing . Into the 1st round, after exchanging strikes with his opponent, Crosley suddenly and unexpectedly lifted his opponent up and threw him over the ropes and onto the floor. The sold out venue had several fights in the stands with the intoxicated crowd only adding to the volatile atmosphere

Source: Graciefighter

 4/4/04

Quote of the Day

"Within you right now is the power to do things you never dreamed possible.
This power becomes available to you just as soon as you can change your beliefs."

Dr. Maxwell Maltz, American Plastic Surgeon, Author of ''Psycho-Cybernetics''

Kickin It Again 4 Results
Palama Settlement Gymnasium, Honolulu, Hawaii
April 3, 2004
By Chris Onzuka -
Chris@Onzuka.com

Barring a few problems with the production of the event, kickboxers from a number of different schools came out to compete in the only exclusively kickboxing event on Oahu. Most of the fights were decided fast and a few of the fighters overwhelmed their opponents. There were a few battles like the Devin Damo and Antonio Schmidt fight. Both light and young fighters let loose for two of the three rounds with heated exchanges, with Damo edging out a close majority decision. There were a couple of disqualifications for the fighters either not being able to keep his kicks above the waist or brawling instead of kickboxing, but the crowd loved the action. Chad Pavao and Bronson Ellis was another war with Ellis dominating almost of all of the first round, but Pavao covered up and blocked most of the punches. Ellis ended up punching himself out. Pavao attacked Ellis after this, but Ellis did fire off hard punches as best he could but he never had anything left in his gas tank. Pavao eventually burned up Ellis' last fumes and ended the exciting fight with a knock out. The event was capped off by a classic battle of a kickboxer pitted against a Muay Thai fighter. The kickboxer in theory would stick and move while the Thai fighter would look to land powerful kicks. This fight followed that theory exactly. Balicao landed continuously and bloodied Min, but Min kept stalking the whole fight. Min looked to fluster Balicao a little by absorbing everything that Balicao threw and kept coming. Balicao ended up with a unanimous decision, but Min earned tons of respect.

60lbs.: 3 Rounds - 45 Seconds
Kekoa Wailehua (Freelance) def. Kawai Abregano (Ewa Fight Club)
TKO at 35 seconds in Round 1.

140lbs.: 3 Rounds - 1.5 Minutes
Brandon Henderson (Jesus Is Lord) def. Joshua Baker (House of Pain)
TKO at 1:28 minutes in Round 1.

160lbs.: 3 Rounds - 1.5 Minutes
Ben Rodrigues (Nanakuli Kickboxing) def. Pat Menesis (House of Pain)
TKO at 34 seconds in Round 1.

115lbs.: 3 Rounds - 1.5 Minutes
Devin Damo (Animal House) def. Antonio Schmidt (Nanakuli Kickboxing)
Majority decision [(28-27), (27-27), (26-25)] after 3 Rounds.

135lbs.: 3 Rounds - 2 Minutes
Jensen Reese (Animal House) def. Travis Kagawa (Laupahoehoe Muay Thai)
Disqualification for groin strikes at 1:34 minutes in Round 1.

165lbs.: 3 Rounds - 2 Minutes
Nick Gega (Laupahoehoe Muay Thai ) def. Ula Kamealoha (Nanakuli Kickboxing)
TKO at 1 minute in Round 2.

190lbs.:Exhibition 3 Rounds - 1 Minute
Jon Texeira (Team Bad Intentions) def. Randall Kapololu (Ewa Beach Fight Club)
TKO at 47 seconds in Round 2.

175lbs.: 3 Rounds - 1 Minute
Greg Kalilikane (House of Pain) def. Jason Luna (Nanakuli Kickboxing)
Disqualification due to not heeding the referee's warnings at 20 seconds in Round 2.

120lbs.: 3 Rounds - 1.5 Minutes
Chad Pavao (Nanakuli Kickboxing) def. Bronson Ellis (Animal House)
KO at 58 seconds in Round 2.

128lbs.: 3 Rounds - 2 Minutes
David Balicao (Nanakuli Kickboxing) def. Derek Minn (Laupahoehoe Muay Thai)
Unanimous decision [(30-26), (30-26), (30-26)] after 3 rounds.

There are great pictorials of the 2004 Pan Ams on ADCC's news site by Kid Peligro. Check it out!

Source: ADCC

Minotauro: back in Brazil talking Pride GP!
By: Gleidson Venga / Team TATAME

Rodrigo Minotauro was in Japan last week to be part of the announcements about his participation in the Pride GP:

'I was at the press conference to announce the fighters who will fight in the GP. There was me, Fedor, Heath Herring and several others. Mirko sent a recorded video tape where he said he couldn´t be there at that time but that he was wishing good luck to everyone' states the Minotaur.

Minotauro also did a special appearance on a Japanese soap opera:

'I had the soap opera stuff. They´ve invited me to act as a brazilian cook who just arrived in Japan. He forgets everything, he let things fall on fhe floor, he´s way messy! I spoke a few things in Japanese! I recorded six scenes and next month, after my match, I will record 4more, ao thia soap opera will always have something about this character.' describes Nogueira.

'Minotauro' is now in the final phase of his preparation:

'I´ve been training real hard, I have trained a lot my stand up game and I´ve been doing some weightlifting. I want to be a bit stronger this time and I´m gonna focus on my wrestling this last month. I was training on the ground less than before, I was training like 3 times a week. Before that, I was training on the ground everyday, and now I´m gonna train everyday again. I´m gonna train many positions, the sprawl, submissions. I´ll try to submit and do a good fight. They´re saying that Hirotaka Yokoi is my opponent. I depend on my supporters, they are the ones who give me strength. I will train and win once more for my fans. I´m focused as August gets closer since I want to win this belt.' concludes Minotauro.

Source: ADCC

Catching Up With PAT MILETICH
Submitted by: Keith Mills

With only a few hours to go before UFC 47, the fighters’ training is now done. Robbie Lawler will be fighting out of Miletich Fighting Systems or Team MFS. Team MFS is also the home of former UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Hughes, former UFC Lightweight Champion Jens Pulver, former UFC Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia and many more. Miletich himself is the former UFC Welterweight Champion from the time the belt was started until his defeat by Carlos Newton. We caught up with Pat Miletich!

KM: Your last fight was supposed to be against Frank Trigg in the WFA. First off should I say you are ‘retired’ or do you have a better term? PM: Basically for me to fight again because I have a new business with the police and military training that is starting to pick up quite a bit now and getting other guys ready to fight for me to take time off to train for a fight would have to be something that was fairly lucrative. I’m not going to do it for the simple fact I have to pay bills. I’d have fun against somebody like a B.J. Penn or Royce Gracie but those are about the only fights I would do.

KM: Any regrets about the end of your career? PM: It would have been nice to not have injuries end my career. It would have been nice to walk away without injuries all the time.

KM: Trigg leading up to the WFA was saying he respected you but it was time you retired and he was the one to retire you. You sustained an injury that basically forced you to retire and Trigg beat Hallman instead. Trigg got in the UFC and Matt Hughes beat Trigg. Was there any sense of satisfaction or redemption for you being the one who trained the guy who beat Trigg? PM: Frank is always a guy who likes to talk and gets things stirred up for a fight. He is pretty good at promoting fights. Whether he feels that actually or not when he’s saying things is irrelevant. It’s more annoying to me. It’s always nice when you have a guy who is running his mouth whether he is doing it for promotional purposes or because he actually means it get beat.

KM: How is Matt taking the loss to B.J. Penn? PM: He’s taking it pretty well actually. He understands he wasn’t hitting on all cylinders that evening and B.J. fought a good fight. Everybody has a bad day every now and then.

KM: For the last couple of Hughes’ fights people have been speculating at what point Hughes would just get bored. Did this re-invigorate him? PM: Yeah, it absolutely gave him a shot in the arm. That is a good thing.

KM: How is Tony Fryklund doing? PM: He’s doing pretty well. He went over to Japan with Pulver. Pulver just won by knockout over in Japan. Tony has been training very hard. We’ll go right back to training hard for his upcoming fights May 1st in Montreal (note: TKO) and May 21st in Guam.

KM: Has Jeremy Horn moving to Salt Lake City had any effect on the team’s training? PM: Jeremy was always somebody that helped the guys and was always there for everybody and stuff. He asked me what he should do on the possibility when he was possibly moving and I told him he had to do what was going to make him happy. I think he’s glad he did now. He’s back visiting for a week before we go to the UFC helping Tim get ready. That’s where his heart was so he had to go with it. The guys will always miss him. Jeremy was the first fighter that came from somewhere else and moved here to train. He’s a special guy to me. I think it’s good for his training though because now he doesn’t have everybody and his brother asking for help. I know how he feels; when I had my first gym going and held the world title and stuff I was training fighters and teaching all the classes and training for my fights at the same time so I know how overloading that can be.

KM: So he’s helping Tim for this fight but not Lawler. PM: Not necessarily, no. He’s just helping Big Tim a little bit.

KM: Without Horn who helps with the ground game? PM: We have a lot of guys that are very good on the ground. Everybody shares the burden of doing that. I do that quite a bit. I’ve done jiu-jitsu for fourteen years.

KM: As far as Robbie Lawler and Tim Sylvia’s training how would you describe it? PM: They have trained both very hard. There is a lot of running, a lot of explosive training as far as doing their acceleration training, they are working a lot of standup, a lot of ground, a lot of takedown defense…their training has been very well-rounded.

KM: What did you think of Robbie’s fight against Lytle? PM: I think Lytle is a very tough guy with a good chin and Rob took the second round off. I stressed to Rob ‘wow, imagine if you were in great shape and didn’t take the second round off what you would have done to him’. That’s the mentality I tried to place in his head and I think he’s taken it to heart with this fight.

KM: I had a feeling you weren’t too happy with his making a face instead of pouncing… PM: You should write about that. What most people perceive that as is somebody being cocky. Rob was just having a blast. When Lytle fell down Lytle was waiving at Rob clapping his hands like ‘good punch’ and Rob was flexing his muscles because he was absolutely having a blast. That wasn’t anything meant as Rob being cocky, he was just having a blast like when Lytle landed a hard punch and Rob did that. That was Rob going ‘I love this, I’m back in the ring, and having a blast’. People perceive Rob the wrong way a lot of time.

KM: Rumor is he is considering moving up to Middleweight. PM: Rob I don’t think plans on moving up. He enjoys the weight he is at. I think the plan he has is as Matt waited for me to be kind of done as Wolrd Champion Rob is being patient. Rob is young, only 21, and maybe waiting for Matt to move up or retire eventually a couple years down the road and take over that slot. You look at Rob and he’s a really really scary person not even near his potential right now. People should be thankful they aren’t fighting him five years from now. That is one thing that will get really ugly.

KM: I heard Jens moved back to Idaho but is he doing any training with you guys? PM: He’s never moved. He’s been here the whole time training.

KM: My apologies, I misunderstood. I also know he wants to fight at 145 but keeps getting offers at 155 like Uno. PM: He just won his fight at 143 in Shooto. He’s still pretty angry the UFC won’t let him back in. He beat everybody; nobody has ever beat him in the UFC. He deserves to be back in there, same as Jeremy Horn.

KM: Don’t start me. PM: It’s unfortunate. Business is business, personal is personal. People need to learn to separate those.

KM: As far as your training the police and military what can we say in public? PM: We’re doing a lot of stuff scheduled all over the country this summer and fall. A lot of stuff in Texas at Lackland Air Force Base, a lot of stuff going on in Michigan, stuff at the Pentagon…a lot of stuff whether it be local, state, or federal police. A lot of different groups we’ll be working with.

KM: Anything else you wanted to get across to the public? PM: Just thanks for supporting the sport is all I ever said. Make sure you represent the sport in a decent way. Something I’ve always tried to stress to people. They already have a preconceived notion we are thugs, so don’t give them any basis for that.

Source: ADCC

Iceman Freezes Hell Over:
Ortiz KO Tops Robustful UFC 47

By Loretta Hunt

After a rocky week leading up to tonight's UFC 47, Zuffa Sports Entertainment pulled off an excellent recovery in the eyes of the estimated 11,413 in attendance at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. None of them seemed to mind that there was no title on the line tonight, after the last-minute drop of Tim Sylvia due to medical ineligibility (following a positive anabolic steroids test) in the co-main event forced a last minute heavyweight shuffle. Besides creating what would become some memorable match-ups in the end, welcome last minute changes from the 5-round title fight drop included the third preliminary fight move to the live pay-per-view, as well as an impromptu showing of UFC 46's fight of the night between lightweights Josh Thomson and Hermes Franca in the forty minute lull before the broadcast start. But, make no mistake, spectators were here to see light-heavyweights Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell finally meet after two years' speculation, and the Iceman's KO was the cherry on top for another commendable effort put forth by a talented group of fighters. Here's how it went down ...

There was time when everyone thought former light-heavyweight Tito Ortiz was unbeatable. But times change, and one loss after at the hands of wunderkind Randy Couture, the Huntington Beach Bad Boy took another blow to his career -- a left hook to be exact, nestled tightly on the tail end of a flurry of left and rights. The word feverpitched probably does not give justice to the purely electric atmosphere these two created in their entrances. That excitement carried into the first pensive moments of the fight, which in reality were not particularly spectacular, spare for a last minute attack by Liddell in the final seconds that had Ortiz fuming for more as he pushed referee John McCarthy out of the way. But, barring two foiled takedown attempts, Ortiz did indeed call the bluffs of all who said he would not stand with his former friend and training partner Liddell. In round two, Liddell's striking superiority began to become evident as he landed the solidest punches, and after Ortiz tagged him with a straight and then a hook, an enraged Liddell dove in and simply unloaded on his foe. Liddell gets the big KO 0:38 into round two.

In the swing bout, welterweights Chris Lytle and Tiki Ghosn seemed pretty evenly matched in a first round stand-up exchange consisting predominantly of kicks. It was a well-paced effort, but lacking that sense of urgency common place in the UFC octagon, the round resembled an everyday sparring session. Lytle scored with some well timed right inside kicks to the thigh, and got a takedown early on, but Tiki was on the ball in the scramble and quickly made it to his feet. In the second, Lytle showed a bit of finesse, as he caught Tiki's leg from a clinch and swept down for the takedown into Tiki's guard. Once on the ground, Lytle nimbly moved into action, getting half guard to side control and then his opponent's back. Without hooks in, Lytle managed to apply a modified side choke for the tap out 1:55 in.

It was a tough night for American Top Team's Hermes Franca who took the second loss of his career after a hard-fought three round display of lightweight technical prowess. Edwards had the upper hand in the first round, working his distance and landing choice shots to Franca's more frequent, but less effective punches and kicks. But, as predicted, Franca's heart forced Edwards on the defensive on many occasions, especially in the second round when the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt risked all to get takedowns on route to numerous submission attempts. Round three was the deciding factor, as Franca hustled for a single leg and passed guard to half position and then rolled into an armbar attempt. Edwards recovered to his feet, though, and did enough from the halfway mark in two judges' eyes to get the split decision. Edwards moves on in the lightweight division, his rumored opponent to be Josh Thomson for a reinstated lightweight title.

Andrei Arlovski proved why he is a legitimate contender for the vacant heavyweight title tonight, by showing a solid display of striking power and technicality against iron-chinned Hawaiian import Wesley "Cabbage" Correira. If Arlovski had any apprehension or disappointment in meeting Corriera, who moved up on the card to replace Sylvia for a non-title bout, he didn't show it. The Belarussian fighter, who has shown vast improvement in his three years with the promotion, landed numerous combos on his game opponent, and worked his crisp kicks to score and chip away at the boulder that is Cabbage. Cabbage fought back every time Arlovski closed the distance, registering some nice shots of his own that kept round one a completive one. In round two, Arlovski moved in for the kill, backing Corriera against the cage with a barrage of strikes, but cornered himself as the two switched positions. Not able to go left or right, Arlovski bit the bullet and dove right in for the TKO referee stoppage with yet another uppercut win. Word on the street is Sylvia will meet Frank Mir at the next show, with the victor taking on Arlovski for the heavyweight title. Sounds like a good plan.

For the fourth offering for the evening, welterweight Robbie Lawler came to bang. Unfortunately adversary Nick Diaz did as well. A Cesar Gracie student known more for his ground game, Diaz quickly surprised all by giving and taking intense shots with the Miletich Martial Arts student, built up by the promotion as deadly weapon on his feet. Lawler seemed to back away quickly as Diaz moved in unprotected to taunt him, only fueling an intense rivalry that seemed to grow with each passing second. With an astronomical number of landing combos by both and not a second on the ground to be had, it would be a tough call for judges to name a victor of the first round. Luckily for them, Diaz got the bout ending shot, off of all things, a typical Lawler onslaught. In dramatic fashion, Lawler fell forward on his face, as the ref rushed in to halt the action. In true Lawler fashion, he tried to rise and continue, but wobbly fell back against the cage wall. Diaz becomes the new welterweight to watch in this division.

Kicking off the live show, last minute replacement and Hammer House protégé Wes Sims gave it the old college try against American Kickboxing Academy rep Mike Kyle. A growing crowd favorite each time he comes out to play, Sims threw off first with a missed high right kick but landed a follow-up kick that gave Kyle his opportunity to move in for the takedown. But, pushed along the fence, Sims resisted well as Kyle attempted some knees and foot stomps to persuade him down. Sims latched onto the guillotine and pulled guard, moving to a side choke attempt as soon as Kyle's head freed from the hold. From above, Kyle's power seemed a bit lacking the fight continued until the 2:30 mark, when the Californian really started to get through with some shots. Referee John McCarthy did restart the men and Sims was visibly not ready as he turned on his own admission and tried to walk back to his corner. Kyle moved in and landed four powerful knees, the last of which rang Sims' bell good. A quick left, a right, and then another hit its mark and Sims crumbled to the ground at the fence. Reviving quickly, the loudmouthed Sims did have a legitimate gripe to voice. A welt on his chest looked awfully similar to a bite mark, but with McCarthy having already called the fight, Sims will have to take his complaint to the Nevada State Athletic Commission. At this time, his plans are to do just this.

In comparison to the rest of the card, the heavyweight brawl between newcomers Wade Shipp and Jonathan Wiezorek proved a messy, technically-lacking affair Both men shot out of the gate charging at one another, but it was Shipp who landed first with a brutal right knee. Tying up, both men began a sloppy barrage of punches and knees on one another, but it was Shipp that was amply landing his shots and causing immediate damage. Wiezorek managed to get his first of three takedowns for the night, but Shipp showed solid scrambling skills and was quickly up on his feet. Cut and swelling below his left eye with a bloodied nose for added effect, Shipp's handiwork was starting to reveal itself, but Wiezorek worked hard to stay in the game, keeping himself tied up at enough distance to avoid more strikes. It became a back and forth exchange as both men took turns pushing each other along the fence, and the lull in the action was met with the crowd's displeasure. Losing steam fast, Shipp was a candidate for the final and crucial takedown, and Wiezorek got his opponent's back for a slew of unanswered strikes that referee Herb Dean should have moved in faster to stop. Wiezorek gets the TKO referee's stoppage 4:39 into round one.

No surprises in the opening bout tonight featuring Japanese jester Genki Sudo and Team Elite rep Mike Brown. "The Neo Warrior" made his usual intricately detailed entrance, this time as a mechanical-moving China doll, and began the bout with a comical martial arts pose. Brown wasn't here to fool around through and quickly moved in to clinch for a body slam. Pushing Sudo against the fence Brown simply didn't have the juice to get Sudo down, even when he switched to the single leg, and Sudo tripped the lesser-experienced foe to the ground and into Brown's guard. Some funky maneuvering had Sudo over Brown's body and up again, but Brown held in there with an impressive slam. On his back, though, it was all Sudo, who went from triangle choke to armbar and back again to finish the bout 3:31 into the first. Not a bad showing for the scrappy Brown, who got in a few dead-on head shots with his free arm while Sudo put on the finishing touches. Sudo's "We Are All One" flag was greeted wholeheartedly by a satisfied crowd.

UFC 47 Results:
Genki Sudo def. Mike Brown - Tap out to armbar 3:31 R1

Jonathan Wiezorek def. Wade Shipp - TKO (ref stoppage) 4:39 R1

Chris Lytle def. Tiki Ghosn - Tap out to side choke (headlock) 1:15 R2

Mike Kyle def. Wes Sims - KO 4:59 R1

Nick Diaz def. Robbie Lawler - KO 1:31 R2

Yves Edwards def. Hermes Franca - Split decision (29-28E, 29-28F, 29-28E)

Wesley Corriera vs. Andrei Arlovski - TKO (ref stoppage) 1:15 R2

Chuck Liddell def. Tito Ortiz - KO 0:38 R2
More post-fight photos will be posted later today.
Check back soon.

Complete coverage of UFC 47 in the
April 2004 issue of FULL CONTACT FIGHTER,
subscribe now!

Source: ADCC

Mariana Garcia
By Alexandre Lobo

A female warrior fighting Submission

Submission among the women is just beginning in Brazil. Even though, our human source is so rich and talented we are starting to produce champions at the most important internationals competitions. On March 6th, 26-years-old-Mariana Garcia (1,67m and 62,5kg) passed over the difficulties and won her three fights, conquering the Arnold Gracie World Submission belt, in US. Due to the victory, Mariana was invited to fight at the traditional Grapplers Quest, on March 27th, where Mariana lost at the semifinal to Leonore Avellan. Now, she returned to US, where during this weekend she fights the BJJ Pan-Ams. In an exclusive to TATAME.com, Mariana talks about her belt, the difficulty for the women fight Submission in Brazil and what are her plans for the future.

Talk to us about your winning at Arnold Submission.

I started with some difficulties. My first fight was scheduled to mid-day and due to it I just did a light snack. But I only fought at 8 PM! I passed the day eating protein bars. When I started fighting Felicia, I was doing well, till the moment I became dizziness. So, I decided to hold the combat. She knew that and accelerated the fight; she could sweep me, but she didn't stabilized and, right after it, I swept her, taking the points. Lasting three minutes to the end of the fight, she took three guillotines choke, but I went out of them. When the fight finished and the judge raised my arm, I was no longer resisting. I was very bad and I asked Luiz K.Belinho to take me, because I was faint.

And how did you continue fighting?

Sonequinha and his girlfriend was very nice with me and they gave me banana, Gatorade, and I couldn't handle it. On the second fight, I took a Mexican who tried to hold the first five minutes to explode in the end. We fought on the feet all the time, I took a Harai without a gi, and don't ask me how I did it, I did also a guillotine. But she was very strong and she went out of it. The final was against Laurance Vousin, who lost to Letícia Ribeiro at the Worlds. We started with a lot of respect, I took two takedowns and I ended the fight on the mounted position. It was my easiest fight.

You just fought foreigners. Is there any difference between her game and the Brazilian one?

There's a lot of difference, she trains Wrestling a lot and we don't. Besides, she are stronger than us.

This was your first Submission championship. Why?

I didn't have an opportunity of fighting. Here in Brazil there aren't Submission championships for women and I had to go to US to fight. Leka had won the Arnold, I thought cool and so I decided to try it. I told to a friend of mine I wanted fighting the Arnold and, in January, he came to me and brought me an invitation. Now, I hope the shows start to be produced in Brazil. Who don't want to fight in your home?

Do you train without the gi?

Just for fun. I had never trained for competing.

And do you train with other women?

At the gym, I'm the only woman training everyday. So I trained for fun with Frédson (Paixão - BJJ World champ)

Do you have any advantage training only with man?

It makes the things easier during the fight, because they are stronger and technically better.

How did you start training Martial Arts?

I started in Campos (dos Goytacazes, city of Rio de Janeiro state) with a Oswaldo Alves' pupil, in 1995. After 6 month training I fought the Brazilian BJJ Championship. I lost in the final to Flor Borger. I took the purple belt in 1997 and, in 1998, I moved to Rio de Janeiro. In 2000, I took the brown belt and this was the worst belt I had (she laughs)! I was kind of lost, I trained, trained, but I wasn't focused, I wasn't mature. In 2002, I took the black belt.

Source: Tatame

Pablo Popovitch rules Grapplers Quest

Held in Texas (US) on last March 27th, the Grapplers Quest West 5 was marked by Brazilian Pablo Popovitch (American Top Team) victory among the lightweights. In the final bout, Popovitch scored 9x0 in Jake Shields (Team Cesar Gracie) and took home a $1,000 prize cash. The other Brazilians didn't do bad. Moacir Boca (ATT) got the second place among the middleweight division after being defeated by David Avellan (Florida Freestyle Fighting) by two advantages against one.

Mariana Garcia (Oswaldo Alves) reached the semi-finals and ended submitted by Leonore Avellan (Florida Freestyle Fighting) via rear naked choke. Avellan also won the female division and was considered the "#1 Female Grappler in the World". Nova União black belt Leo Santos (lightweight) was defeated by Shields during the first round due to an foot lock's advantage. In the middleweight, Ricardo Texeira was submitted via kimura by Diego Sanchez in round 1.

Source: Tatame

Arona waits for invitation for the GP

Almost a year away from rings, BTT Ricardo Arona expects an invitation from Pride organization to join the upcoming Heavyweight Grand Prix on next April 25th in Japan. "I am waiting for a chance to be among the fours names they haven't decide yet," stated the BJJ black belt, that left the Pride GP middleweight due to a injury in his feet. Besides that, his will to compete is so strong that if the BTT is not at the GP, he promises to keep up the training: "I am returning to train with a gi. If I don't have a scheduled match, I might be joining the upcoming BJJ World Championships", guaranteed Arona.

Source: Tatame

Brazil will have 4 trails for ADCC 2005

The Brazilian trials for ADCC 2005 begins next month (June) and for the first time, it will be held in four different dates. The first one will happen in Minas Gerais, during the traditional Submission show promoted by BJJ black belt Vinícius Draculino (Gracie Barra). This time, Brazil will qualify two athletes for each category (66kg, 77kg, 88kg, 99kg and above 99kg).

The trials will be under supervision of the Brazilian Kick Boxing Confederation president's Paulo Zorello. He explains he has worked hard to increase the chances for the Brazilian grapplers. 'We all have many talented fighters and with only one trial is damn hard and unfair for all of them. Now, the Brazilian team will count with 10 fighters in each category, against just 8 of the last show. This time, we gonna accept 64 subscriptions for category,' reveals Zorello, stating that only brown and black belts will be able to compete.

The other three trials are gonna be held in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Curitiba. At this last one, the trial will be organized with the support of Chute Boxer's leader Rudimar Fedrigo. The ADCC 2005 will be held in Japan. Brazil will count with at least 15 representatives, the ten qualified, the other four who won their weight categories in 2003 (Leonardo Vieira, Marcelo Garcia, Saulo Ribeiro and Márcio Pé-de-Pano) and Ricardo Arona, who will face the American Dean Lister over the super-fight.

Source: Tatame

UFC 48: Payback

It's gonna be payback time Saturday, June 19, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas when Heavyweight Ken Shamrock returns to the Octagon to fight Kimo in the main event of Ultimate Fighting Championships 48: Payback.

Tickets for the all-star, eight-fight card, $350, $250, $150, $75 and $35, will go on sale at noon this Saturday, April 3, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center box office in Las Vegas, at all Ticketmaster locations, www.ticketmaster.com and www.mandalaybay.com. Tickets also may be ordered by telephone at 1-877-632-7400 or 1-702-474-4000. Ticket purchases are limited to eight per person and are subject to transaction fees. UFC„µ 48: Payback will be available LIVE on pay-per-view at 10 p.m. EDT on iNDemand, DirecTV, Dish Network, TVN, Echostar, Bell ExpressVu and Viewers Choice Canada. The suggested retail price is $29.95.

In the co-main event, former UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes (36-4-0 in mixed martial arts) from Hillsboro, Ill., will meet Renato "Charuto" Verissimo (5-0-0) from Hilo, Hawaii, and in a feature fight, power striker Phil Baroni (6-3-0) from Las Vegas will battle Evan Tanner (9-2-0) from Portland, Ore., in a re-match of their controversial middleweight fight November 21 at UFC 45: Revolution at The Mohegan Sun. The remainder of the card will be announced.

Shamrock, "The World's Most Dangerous Man"(8-5-2) from San Diego, Calif., and Kimo (10-3-1) from Huntington Beach, Calif., will meet in a long-awaited re-match. Shamrock submitted Kimo with a knee bar at UFC 8: David Vs. Goliath and fans have anticipated a payback fight ever since. Shamrock, a former UFC super fight champion is one of the world¡¦s most popular mixed martial artists. In November at UFC 45, he was inducted, along with Royce Gracie, as a charter member of the UFC Hall of Fame. Kimo is coming off an impressive submission victory over hometown rival Tank Abbott at UFC 43: Meltdown last June in Las Vegas. Kimo got in Tank¡¦s guard almost at the opening bell and won the fight at the 1:59 mark of the first round with a front choke.

Hughes also is looking for some payback against Verissimo because in addition to being an accomplished fighter, Charuto is new Welterweight Champion BJ Penn¡¦s jiu jitsu coach. Under Verissimo¡¦s tutelage, Penn wrested away Hughes' long-held title at UFC 46: SuperNatural January 31 in Las Vegas. But Verissimo exhibited his outstanding talent on the same card with a three-round unanimous decision victory over former Welterweight Champion Carlos Newton.

The Baroni-Tanner fight will be a resumption of a war cut short by a controversial decision in the first round of their fight at UFC 45. Baroni started fast and opened a cut over Tanner¡¦s left eye in the second minute. But Tanner came back with strikes, a body slam and his patented ground and pound offense to get the advantage. Tanner was raining elbows on Baroni when the referee stepped in and stopped it because he mistakenly thought Baroni had verbally submitted. Now, Baroni will get his chance for payback.

Source: MMA Fighting

Terrell Interview

GF- You had a good win over Shibuya. What's next?

DT- I need to heal up a little bit. I hurt my thumb in the fight so I'll be relaxing for a week or two, then it's back to hard training. I want to keep moving up in the Pancrase organization. I like fighting for them.

GF- What was your game plan going in for the fight?

DT- I wanted to submit him. In my last fight I hurt my hand when I punched Sasaki in the mouth. I didn't feel completely healed yet so I decided not to punch that much this time. I thought I could turn my submission game on and I'm happy it worked out.

GF- Did Shibuya pose a threat to you?

DT- He did. He made me work for everything. I thought for sure he would tap out to my footlock. It was deep and must have hurt. He was very tough and scrapped hard. I respect that fighting spirit.

GF- What did you think of Kondo?

DT- He has a lot of strengths and poses a serious challenge. You have to be prepared to take that title from him because he's not going to give it to you. I look forward to a future fight with him.

GF- There are rumors that the U.F.C. is looking at you for their organization. Anything you can tell us about that?

DT- Nothing that I know of. Cesar will let me know if something gets brought up. I would very much like to fight for them but I haven't been contacted yet.

GF- Thanks Dave. Best of luck.

Source: Gracie Fighter

 4/2/04

Quote of the Day

"The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark."

Michelangelo Buonarroti, Painter, Sculptor

Post-Steroid Sylvia Eyes Second Chance

He strolled through South Beach with a photographer and several other media geeks in tow, stopping occasionally to pose and let them do their jobs. Onlookers smelled fame, but they couldn’t identify this six-foot-eight, 260-pound bear-of-a-man who was posing for pictures and shaking hands and talking about hitting someone “hawd” and carrying a large gold belt of some sort.

That’s where the geeks came in. “He’s Tim Sylvia, the UFC heavyweight champion,” we told curious passersby who had stopped to watch the photo shoot that would put Sylvia’s face and belt on the cover of FightSport.

He walked into a club, was handed a drink, leaned against the bar and pondered something important while a camera flashed in his face. He threw back the drink and was led into another club, where two women curled into his arms and smiled exotic grins that matched their attire. Sylvia smirked and a camera flashed, then one of the girls scribbled down her number and handed it to him.

Later that afternoon traffic on the strip stopped -- literally -- so Sylvia could stand beside a momentarily braked Hummer and scowl into the lens of a camera with his heavyweight belt draped over his shoulder.

Tim Sylvia was settling into life as UFC heavyweight champion that day in Miami last April. During a time when departed champions and a revolving-door stigma diminished the value of holding UFC gold to some fighters, capturing the heavyweight title meant everything to Sylvia. “It meant all my dreams had come true,” he says.

When he flattened Gan McGee in his first title defense last September it looked like a lengthy reign had begun, like any wavering or lost legitimacy in the UFC heavyweight championship had been restored. Less than two weeks later, Sylvia was announcing in a press release that he had made “the biggest mistake” of his life.

Earlier that week in early October, the Nevada State Athletic Commission had informed him that he failed a post-fight steroid test. The champion responded quickly by admitting his use of steroids to enhance his physical appearance and then issued apologies to fans, family, teammates, the Nevada Commission and the UFC. “I wish I could take it back, but that isn't possible,” he said in the press release. “So, I'm ready to accept the consequences for my actions.”

A week later the Nevada Commission suspended his license to fight for four months and fined him $7,500. Sensing his title would be stripped in the same manner that Josh Barnett’s heavyweight belt was taken by the UFC after he failed a steroid test, Sylvia took preemptive action and handed his title over. “I didn’t want anybody to take it away from me,” he says. “So if I did it that way, no one could take it from me.”

Regardless of how or why, Tim Sylvia was and is no longer UFC heavyweight champion. “I was on top of the world,” he says, “and then I go and do something stupid like (using steroids).”

Insecurity has a way of finding those on top of the world and in the public eye. Some time after he took the title from Ricco Rodriguez and before he defended it against Gan McGee, Sylvia “experimented” with steroids to augment his physical appearance. In other words, he wanted to look a little better while strutting down South Beach … and while knocking opponents into oblivion.

“It was really stupid,” says Sylvia in reflection. “All I had to really do was be more strict when it comes to dieting. I train hard enough. I do enough cardio. All it is is my diet. I was just being lazy. I wanted a shortcut.”

The pressure to maintain a lean and intimidating physique comes from all angles: the media, the fans, the promoters, other fighters. It’s no excuse but it’s prevalent, and Sylvia was feeling it when he began experimenting. “I mean, if you look on all the (event) posters, I’m not on any posters,” he says. “Who’s on all the posters? All the lean, ripped guys. Tito, Chuck, Randy. They’re the guys they’re showing off.”

Regardless, the Nevada Commission gave Sylvia four months to consider other solutions. During his suspension he spoke about steroid use in a couple Las Vegas schools and plans on speaking at his high school alma mater in Maine -- where, following Sylvia’s fights, the entire school gathers in the morning of the next school day to watch a tape of the bout -- after he regains the title.

He also did some hunting and plenty of training during his time off, longing to jump back in the cage all the while. Not being able to fight, says Sylvia, was the worst aspect of his punishment. “I was supposed to fight in November,” he says. “Make another 80-grand and beat the hell out of Frank Mir. It really sucked. I wanted to get in there and I wanted to fight. I felt I let my team down, my training partners.”

Friends and teammates were there to support the 28-year-old. Some assured him he was still champ, that a belt was just something you wear around your waist and even at that, someone has to beat you to take it for real. Sylvia speaks the same language. “You have to be beat to have the belt taken from you,” he says. “I just did something stupid because I wasn’t happy with the way I looked.”

If Sylvia walked the strip in South Beach tomorrow, though, no photographers would flank him. No one would stop and gawk; no one would sense celebrity or wonder who he is. Not without that belt.

Of course, such attention is not the reason a fighter-at-heart like Sylvia coveted the heavyweight gold in the first place. It was just a trapping that comes with holding a title that “meant everything” to him, an indulgence that may have led to his steroid use.

Within the MMA world, Sylvia still receives his fair share of attention and he doesn’t perceive a loss of fans. “There were some people who were disappointed,” he says, “but I think people like me for my style of fighting -- not for what I do.”

If he had denied using steroids, he thinks fans may have reacted differently. “I was human, I made a mistake, and I admitted it to everybody,” says Sylvia. “I think everyone was pretty happy with the way I chose to deal with it and the way I handled the situation.”

Nothing could please his mother, though. Soon after news of his steroid use began to spread, says Sylvia, he started receiving drunken phone calls from the woman he says physically and emotionally abused him throughout his childhood.

“Ah, I knew it,” Sylvia recalls his mother saying in one particular conversation during the steroid situation. “You were never no good. I knew something was going to happen.”

“She’s just a piece of shit,” he says. “She’s been bringing me down my whole life, so why would she stop now? She was just rubbing it in.”

The Eastbrook, Maine native knows his mother will be watching April 2 when he tries to win the title back. “I’m sure she’ll be watching with 20 people around, saying, ‘Oh, there’s my Timmy. Oh, he’s my pride and joy. He calls me everyday. I love him so much. He tells me how much he loves me all the time. He sends me money and I manage him.’ She’s a compulsive liar.”

Regaining the heavyweight championship is, in effect, a means of saying, “Shut up and leave me alone” without having to deal with the baggage of additional conversation. It’s also closure on the last six months, a fallen champion having come full circle. Feelings of discontent over physique may linger, but Sylvia figures he’ll fix that problem on April 2.

“Get that belt around my waist and I’ll be fine,” he says. “When I have that belt around my waist, you can’t see my love handles.”

Source: Maxfighting

PRIDE Heavyweight GP Field Ups to 12

With less than a month before "Total Elimination," the opening round of PRIDE's second Heavyweight Grand Prix, is set to kick off April 25 in Tokyo's Saitama Super Arena, 12 of the 16 participating fighters have now been officially entered. At a press conference in Tokyo on Tuesday, Dream Stage officials added Mark Coleman, Hirotaka Yokoi, Sergei Kharitonov and Giant Silva to the field.

Coleman, 39, enters as the defending GP Heavyweight champion, having defeated Igor Vovchanchyn in the finals to claim the first ever PRIDE tournament in May 2000. A victim of injury, Coleman has fought just three times since, including an armbar defeat to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and a decision win over long-time rival Don Frye. Of the four fighters announced on Tuesday, he is the favorite to advance in the tournament.

Yokoi, the second Japanese fighter named into the tournament pool, comes in with a 10-0 record. His last fight came one year ago in Florida, defeating Wilson Gouveia by referee stoppage. The 25-year-old fought in SHOOTO, RINGS, DEEP and PRIDE, before his win last year in the AFC.

Kharitonov comes in unblemished as well, sporting a 7-0 record, but he's yet to face a real test in the ring. The Russian last fought in February, earning a submission victory over Cory Peterson. Giant Silva, listed at seven-foot-seven, 500-plus pounds, is a pro-wrestler who made his MMA debut versus Heath Herring last New Year's Eve. His foray into the sport was unsuccessful when Herring submitted him via rear-naked choke.

These four join PRIDE heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko, Antonio Rodrigo Noguiera, Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic, Heath Herring, Igor Vovchanchyn, Stefan Leko, Sylvester Terkay and Sentoryu. The remaining fighters along with opening matchups should be named within the week.

After the field is chopped from 16 to eight, second round fights will take place on June 20. The Final Four will fight both the semifinal and final bouts August 15 at the Saitama Super Arena.

Source: Maxfighting

Carson Daly Among the Star Power Shining at UFC 47
By Loretta Hunt

Zuffa has one more seat to reserve in its growing VIP section at UFC 47. Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell's recent appearances on Carson Daly's late night talk show Last Call have convinced the MTV icon to make the April 2nd trip out to Las Vegas to check out the action for himself. Daly, who first featured the outspoken Ortiz on his show back in September, took great pains to have Liddell and Ortiz featured heavily on a recent edition of Last Call, where the two traded trash talk on route to their long-awaited showdown.

Now, Daly, a growing MMA fan, is traveling the extra mile to see how it all plays out. "I'm just a fan," Daly commented recently to FCF on his interest in the sport. "It's nice to have something in my life outside of what I do for a living that I get excited about. I'm not going there to do anything other than be a fan and watch a sport that I really enjoy on a personal level. There's no hidden agenda."

With the insight Daly has recently gained on the Ortiz-Liddell fight, it'd be only fair to ask for his take on the now infamous grudge match between the former friends and light-heavyweight contenders for champion Vitor Belfort's belt. "These are famous last words, right?," Carson joked from his New York office. "You know, my heart's really going with Chuck because he's just the underdog that I think...," he trails off in his answer. "I just worry because he lost his last two fights. I think Tito handled Randy better and I'm going to use Randy Couture as the barometer of who's going to win this fight, so I think Tito's going to end up winning this fight. That would be my prediction. Certainly, I would love it if Chuck would win the fight too."

As for the rest of the card, Daly says he has his eyes on the other championship bout being offered for the fan's approval. "I'll tell you what I'm looking forward to is Tim Sylvia versus Andrei Arlovski. I just don't think Tim Sylvia can lose. I don't think he'll ever lose. I mean, I don't know who can beat that monster. I watch Andrei fight and I think that if there's anybody out there right now that could do it, I think it's him. I'm really looking forward to that fight."

To catch more of Daly's thoughts on MMA, as well as the details on his own training and the fighters he thinks rule the cage, check out his exclusive interview in the next issue of Full Contact Fighter.

Source: FCF

MaxTales: Ortiz vs Liddell

To go through the whole sordid saga may just crash the Internet: suffice to say that UFC royalty Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell have been on a collision course since 2002. With injuries, contract disputes, and egos out of the way, it's finally time to write what everyone hopes to be a rousing climax. The winner earns a shot at the UFC light heavyweight title: the loser may find himself at the bottom of a very slippery slope.

Here's the Max Tale of the Tape.

UFC Light Heavyweight (205 lb. and under) Bout
Tito Ortiz
10-3-0
"The Huntington Beach Bad Boy," 29 yo,
Huntington Beach, CA

Most Notable Win
Vanderlei Silva via decision, 4/00

Most Notable Loss
Frank Shamrock via submission, 9/99

Last Win
Ken Shamrock via submission, 11/02

Years as a Pro
7

Finishing %
80%

Time elapsed since last bout
6 mths

Strengths
Unlimited cardio; generally dominant in wrestling; physically larger than many opponents

Weaknesses
Reluctant to exchange on the feet; at times overconfident

Chuck Liddell
12-3-0
"The Iceman," 34 yo,
San Luis Obispo, CA

Most Notable Win
Vitor Belfort via decision, 6/02

Most Notable Loss
Randy Couture via TKO, 6/03

Last Win
Alistair Overeem via TKO, 8/03

Years as a Pro
6

Finishing %
50%

Time elapsed since last bout
5 mths

Strengths
Devastating power puncher; uncanny sprawl and ground defense

Weaknesses
Has tired easily; sometimes telegraphs strikes

MaxFacts:

- Liddell is nearly impossible to hold down: MMA grappling wiz Couture could only do so after battering him on the feet with strikes.

- Rumors run rampant that Liddell handled Ortiz in training, with Ortiz unable to take him down and unable to be competitive on the feet.

- Both men are coming off losses to Couture.

- Ortiz defended his UFC title five times before relinquishing it to Couture. Liddell has vied only for an interim title, and lost.

- The fight was discussed several times in 2003: each time, Ortiz had a different reason for bowing out.

- Ortiz faced dangerous striker Vanderlei Silva in 4/02: he claimed a decision victory and the UFC light heavyweight title.

- Liddell was defeated by Ortiz protege' Quinton Jackson in Japan in November '03.

Questions:

- Can Ortiz hold Liddell down?

- Can Ortiz exchange shots with Liddell on the feet?

- Can Liddell avoid getting weary and succumbing to takedowns?

- Will past training sessions influence mindsets?

- How will a three-round bout effect the strategy of marathon fighter Ortiz?

Summary: In Liddell, Ortiz faces the worst possible adversary for his style of fighting. Liddell will scramble back to his feet after takedowns, leaving Ortiz to fend for himself on the feet. Ortiz should look to press the action and not allow Liddell to counter, something an aggressive Couture did with great success. If he can wear Liddell down early, it will open up the probability of grounding Liddell for good. "The Iceman" should look to fire off bombs early and often, before the superior cardio conditioning of Ortiz becomes his undoing.

Source: Maxfighting

Interview with Tito Ortiz

After three years of waiting, we finally get to see the big showdown between Tito Ortiz vs Chuck Liddell. Earlier this month Tito Ortiz talked with MMAWeekly about his up coming fight with Chuck Liddell, his loss to Randy Couture and his new found attitude toward fighting. Ryan Bennett asks the questions and Tito answers the questions with a few surprising answers.

Ryan Bennett: What's up my man?

Tito Ortiz: How are you doing Ryan?

Ryan: It's been a while dude. How you been?

Tito: Good man, you know, just getting back in the swing of things with training man. It's been almost two sold months now.

Ryan: Let me ask you Tito, this is such a big fight for you. I know you want this fight. You want to answer all those doubters that said, you know, that you'd never fight Chuck. Let me ask you this right off though, do you worry when a fight of this magnitude comes around that you over train for a fight?

Tito: Not really over train. I mean, I think I really try to push my body to the limit each and every time. I mean, yeah the older I get the harder it becomes. I think I'm becoming a smarter fighter when it comes to training, doing more quality training than quantity.

Ryan: Tell me about this oxygen machine or something. What's that about? Are you going SciFi on me or what?

Tito: Nah man. It's the newest thing in technology. You've got to take advantage of it when it comes. It's here and luckily, I'm on of the guys able to use it. I mean, it's something that will be used in the future. Probably a lot of guys will use it. I know that they're gonna try to we using it for our Army, for guys going to battle in wars, then they will have no problem going into altitude and fighting. It is something used to change the red blood cells, to produce More red blood cells in your body so you can recover quicker and stuff like that. you have to take advantage of technology that comes out.

Ryan: Sounds good man. So, what do you do with it? Explain it for the people who don't know what it is. Tell us what it is.

Tito: All it is, is a tank. I don't know if you've watched Mork and Mindy, but it's an egg sized tank. You just sit inside of it and kick back. It takes you to about, I don't know, 18,000 feet and drops you down to 2,000, and it goes through these little circle changes. through twenty minute cycles and you do three twenty minute cycles. It really changes a whole bunch. I've noticed a whole bunch actually so...It's not going to make me fight any better but, I mean, It's one of those things to make a fighter recover a lot quicker.

Ryan: Look at you dude, getting all high tech on me.

Tito: It just makes my body recover quicker, that's all it is. It's not going to make me fight any better but when it comes to training man, like I said, I'm not getting any younger. I just have to make sure that my body recovers quicker than usual. When I went to Big Bear, that's one of the reasons I went up there for. My boy's home and my wife's home, it's just nice to be home you know. I mean, my boy is getting bigger and he's at that age now with everything. He's learning a lot and I'd like to be around to see that.

Ryan: Tito, lets talk about, I don't want to dive too much into this last fight but, it was a surprise to me watching you lose the way you did to Randy Couture. I know it was a surprise to you. What happened in that fight?

Tito: I don't know, I guess it was just Randy's night. I guess the back injury that I had the month prior had a little bit to do with it, where I didn't get to wrestle the last month. I think that I took a lot out of it here I don't think I respected Randy's wrestling as much as I should of. Randy is a great wrestler. He was a great champion and in my mind, he's going to win that belt back from Vitor in July I believe. I don't know, I'm hoping for a rematch with Randy. That's something I'd like to have. I don't know, it was his night and in this sport it can be anyones night at any time. On that night, it was Randy Couture's night. He fought a great fight and fought like a true champion. You know what, I thought I was ready and I lacked the wrestling skills that he had man. He had some of the best wrestling skills that I thought I would never see and I did see them that night.

Ryan: Let me ask you, when did you know in that fight that it wasn't going to be your night? Was it the first round, the second, when did you know?

Tito: Actually, I knew about the second round. Um, It just seemed like every just wasn't clicking man. It just seemed like I was a step behind him each and every step that he was. It was just like, I was getting taken down. It wasn't really, in my mind, it wasn't like, wow I got taken down oh no. I expected to get taken down but to get controlled as much as I did, I just felt like it wasn't my night. When he was shooting in on me and I couldn't stop stop his take down, I was like, what's going on? I usually stop people's take downs. Then I just kinda realized that my legs are a little too flat. I didn't have the speed and explosion that I usually have.

Ryan: Hey Tito, that's what happens sometimes. Sometimes guys are on and the other guy's not. I mean, that's what happens in the fight game.

Tito: Yeah, I guess I came to realize that man. It was hard to swallow. It took me a while to kinda accept it but, I've accepted it now and you know what? It's time for Tito Ortiz to come back and show what I do and that's kick ass.

Ryan: I think that's what was so surprising to so many of us. I mean, we've seen you, you were dominating for a couple of years. I mean, it wasn't just a couple of fights, you had such a huge roll and it was tough for us, as fans, to watch the end of that fight. I mean, it was just one of those things that you lost. It was refreshing in a way but I know that was very hard on you wasn't it?

Tito: Yeah, it was really hard. I mean, people say well, Tito Ortiz was crying. You've got to understand man, this sport, this sport is my love man. This is what I'd die for and when I come up empty at the end of a match man, it's like a loved one dying you know. It really hurts a whole bunch. I mean, them tears coming down, those were tears of pain, tears of agony, of defeat man. It's a battle I went out and lost and to me, that's what it feels like. And it's not just a match, just a competition, I mean, this is my life. Like I said, this is my love. This is what I love to do and when I come up short after the match man, it hurts deep down inside and it took a good month to swallow my pride you know. I'm a fighter at heart. I'm a warrior, somebody who wants to step up and give my life when it comes to fighting. When I come up empty, it does hurt but it took a while to swallow my pride man and I swallowed it and now I'm trying to come back in the octagon. I'm excited man, and can't wait to get back in there.

Ryan: Let's talk about you future fight. What is it like? I mean, you have never had to go through this in a long time, come prepared for a fight coming off a loss. How is that different than the win steak you were on?

Tito: You know what, I think I've had enough time now to try and comeback and not think of it as a loss anymore. I think of a loss as win because I think I learned a lot from it, more than anything and it wasn't like I got my ass stomped, got taken out of the round or I got stopped or, I don't know, if I got knocked out. It's just something where i got beat. I mean, don't get me wrong. Randy fought a great fight but it wasn't something where after the match that I was like, awe man, I need to go to the hospital, my body's hurt. I wasn't. I was fine. I went out drinking that night. I was cool, more than anything, it was the loss that hurt. I was like, I mean, I've never really got my ass kicked that bad. I don't know, come April 2nd, hopefully one of us are going to get our ass kicked really bad where we're going to have to go to the hospital and that's what I'm expecting.

Ryan: Tito, you mention this next fight coming up, and you mentioned the last one. You were just a little bit out wrestled there. Le me ask you about this fight. Do you change you training from Randy to Chuck or is it basically the same stuff and you implement a few other things?

Tito: I think I changed my training just a little bit. Like I say, I am trying to do a lot more quality training than quantity training just because this is a three five minute round. This is not the five, five minute as before. I think I'm sticking to a lot more kick boxing and boxing this time. I'm going to do what people say I can't do and that is stand with Chuck Liddell man. I'm going to try to pick him apart. I see a lot of Chuck's weaknesses. I believe Chuck's gonna come in the best shape that he's ever come in. His career's on the line here. I think he's kinda thinking, well I've lost twice in a row and it isn't the fact that he's lost twice in a row. He's got his ass kicked twice in a row where he's been stopped and in my mind, I think he thinks his body's too old now. I mean, he's been through some a lot of wars. Chuck Liddell isn't the same fighter he was two years ago when he wanted to fight Tito Ortiz. In my mind, you know what, it's another match to me and I'm going to try to walk through Chuck Liddell. If he thinks, oh Tito Ortiz doesn't hit hard and I'm just going to walk through his punches, I hope he thinks that because when I hit him with some good shots and he gets beat down, he's going to go, oh here we go again. I'm going to be in his head like that. If he thinks he has any kind of mental ability above me as he tries to expect, then he's in for a world of hurting, that is for sure.

Ryan: I think that some people will ask, you know, why would you want to stand with Chuck Liddell? I mean, I know Randy had some success and Rampage did as well but let me as you that. Some people say, hey your game is to get guys down and you know, beat the crap out of them. Why would you want to stand and go away from what's got you so much success?

Tito: I say just because Chuck Liddell is a really hard guy to take down, a hard guy to hold down. So, I don't want to waste all of my energy doing that you know. I'm a great boxer, I'm a great kick boxer. I mean, I spar with Quinton Jackson. I mean, me and him, we get the best of each other. When I fought Randy Couture. I was getting the best out of him when I was standing up, it's just that's why he kept shooting on me from the 2nd round on it seemed like. I've got what it takes in stand up. I've got to believe in my self and the last month and a half, I've been sparring with a lot of professional boxers and kick boxers and it seems like I'm getting the better of them now. For once, I'm knocking people out in my training. It's kinda a surprise to me where I'm starting to learn now. I'm starting to more confidence in my stand up where I believe I can stand with Chuck Liddell and I'm going to stand with Chuck Liddell. I'm going to try to give everybody what they paid for and that's a knock out.

Ryan: You know, it was interesting watching the two of you in the octagon at the last UFC promoting your next fight and you know, just the look in both of your eyes. I mean, you guys have truly gone through being friends to really being enemies, judging from that last look. How personal is it right now between you and Chuck?

Tito: This fight is really personal to me man. I mean, this is something that I've never wanted from the beginning. I mean, I never wanted to beat down Chuck Liddell. I mean, he's always been a friend of mine. We've always been really good friends it seemed like but I guess that people have different views and now we're enemies. I mean, I dislike this guy. The hatred goes back as far as having the hatred for Ken Shamrock. I mean this is someone I hate now. I no longer like, I no longer can even think of the person and it's weird like that. It's just something I'd like to clear up. Everybody says how much I'm afraid of him and this and that. You know what, I've never been afraid of the guy. I just didn't want to give him a beating but now he's asking for t so much and he wants it so bad. He's going to get it on April 2nd.

Ryan: What is the victor tee-shirt going to say?

Tito: Well, if I tell you guys what the victory tee-shirt is going to say, it won't be a surprise so I can't say until the fight is over. Sorry guys, you're going to have to wait but believe me, it's going to be one that you're not going to forget that's for sure.

Ryan: That's been the tradition man. The T-shirt man, that's got a following of it's own. What are you weighing right now?

Tito: This time, I'm actually weighing heavier than I usually have. Before, I always weighed around 211, 212. When I fought Couture I was about 206 or 207 the Monday before the fight. Right now, I'm walking around at least 218, 219 sometimes 220. This is the heaviest I've been in a long time and I think that one of the reasons is that I kinda slowed my training down a little bit. I've kinda consumed a lot more calories when I eat. I'm trying to eat healthier but a lot more it seems like. Before I wast training so much that I couldn't eat as much. I was just losing too many calories. Now I get to eat a little more and I kinda slowed my training down a little bit, kinda slowed my running down a little bit. I'm not running as much. I'm still just doing about three miles a day. Before I was doing three and four miles a day, I mean, a lot more high tempo running. Now, it's just kinda low tempo just because it's only fifteen minutes you know, not the twenty five like before. I just think the weights going to be a big difference this time man. It's going to be a huge factor and I'm going to have to push my tempo towards Chuck Liddell by using my weight on him.

Ryan: A three round fight, compared to a five round. We have seen what you can do in five. Some people say three rounds favor Chuck, what do you think?

Tito: I don't think so. I mean, people say it favors Chuck? I mean, I usually don't get warmed up until two rounds so it's going to be really funny. I expect for Chuck to come in great shape. This guy better come in great shape or he's gonna have a long night. In my mind, I think Chuck Liddell's going to come in the shape that he did when he fought Randleman. You know, he's coming in really good shape and I expect him to so we're just going to have to see April 2nd.

Ryan: Who hit the hardest? What opponent have you been in with that hits the hardest?

Tito: Who hits the hardest. Well, I wold have to say Rampage in training. Then I would have to go with Wanderlei Silva for sure. Rampage, when we spar man, his punches will make you stupid. The fight when I fought Wanderlei Silva, the thing that one time that he hit me with the right cross, I'd say that's the hardest I've ever been hit.

Ryan: Let me ask you about Wanderlei Silva. It seems like he's getting better you know. You've only lost once recently. What about a rematch between you and Wanderlei?

Tito: I would love to man. I would love it a whole bunch. You know, I don't see him getting better, I see him getting lighter opponents. He's fighting all the 185 pound guys in Japan it seems like, all the Japanese guys he's fighting. Don't get me wrong, he did beat Rampage soundly but Rampage went to war with Chuck Liddell. In my mind, Wanderlei, yeah he's tough as hell. I would love to rematch with him. I mean, in my mind I've still got some business to take care of in the United States and ten we will see about Pride.

Ryan: When you're on top, everyone's going to call you out. Another guy that's called you out recently is Lee Murray. I've seen the heated exchanges in interviews. Lee came on the radio show and said, hey man, if Tito can cut to 200 then I'll fight him. I saw your interview over at insidefighting that said, hey man, I'll cut to 200. What about Lee Murray man? Is that a fight you really want?

Tito: I'm glad that guy called me out man. I'm going to give him a beating. I mean that guy's been riding on my coat tails all the way through this whole thing. No one even knew who Lee Murray was until he said he knocked me out. He said he knocked me out man. This guy's on cloud nine. If he really wants to fight me, I have no problem fighting him. I'll make weight the day of the event at 199 pounds and Lee Murray will have a fight on his hands. I have no problem doing that. I'm down for the fight.

Ryan: So no matter what happens in this Chuck fight, you want to fight Lee Murray next after this fight?

Tito: Yes. I'd love to fight in July. I want to try to get three fights this year man. I'm sick of fighting one time a year. You know, before the injuries had a lot to do with it. I mean the injuries is what kinda held me back and now it's like I'm pretty much injury free so I want to try and get three fights in this year. In July, I believe July 3rd, will be the next event. I'm not 100% sure about that but I'd like to be on that card. If not a main event, as an under card. I have no problems doing that. I mean, I just want to give Lee Murray a beating just because that guy's been talking so much trash and riding on my coat tails for so long that it's time to slap him off my coat tails.

Ryan: What do you think about Vitor Belfort's "victory" over Randy Couture?

Tito: Um, you know what, people win for reasons. Everything happens for a reason and that match happened for a reason. I mean, I've got to give respect to Vitor Belfort just because of him stepping in and fighting that fight you know. When his sister came up missing is just something that I thought he'd never come in and fight and he proved he's a true fighter by stepping up and fighting. That kinda like, I've got total different respect toward Vitor now. I kinda respect the guy by doing that. You know what, when you do things and sacrifice things, things happen, good things happen to you. I think that's one of the good things that's happened to him. I mean, it's bad for Randy Couture but hey, that was a win you know. But in my mind, Vitor Belfort, you better give Randy Couture a rematch because he deserves it for sure.

Ryan: How many fights do you have left with the UFC?

Tito: Actually, I have three more fights with the UFC and then however Many fights I sign the next time, we'll see. I believe I'll be finishing my career with the UFC and I started here and I'm going to finish here. So, I've got three more fights this year and we'll see what happens in the future.

Ryan: That's cool, so you don't really have any interest in fight in Japan, you'd rather stick in the states with the UFC?

Tito: Well, you know, it just depends you know. If I'm making a million dollars to fight you know, I mean, they got to understand. I mean, I've got to put food on my table for my family. I really don't see it in the future but more than anything, I love fighting for the UFC. They've always been really really good to me. I mean those guys have been really good to me and always gave me what I wanted and I plan on finishing my career with them.

Ryan: You talked a little bit about Vitor Belfort and everything happening. You guys were supposed to fight two different times and injuries prevented that. What about a fight with Vitor Belfort, would you like to finally see that fight happen?

Tito: I would love for that fight to happen man, but more that anything, I want to fight Randy Couture because I want to get my win back and I'm one of those guys that believe in redemption. I believe in trying to get the loss back and when I fight Randy Couture, if Vitor Belfort is the loser, I'll fight Vitor after that. If he's the champion then I guess I'm going to have to fight Belfort but I have have no problem man. I'd love to fight Vitor Belfort. It's actually been in the works for a long time. I think it's a big money fight also. I believe the UFC would make a huge amount money on that fight and I'd love for that fight to happen.

Ryan: Come April 2nd, what's going to happen in this fight with Chuck Liddell?

Tito: This fight with Chuck Liddell, I mean, in my mind, I'm going to try to stop the guy. I'm going to try to give him everything I have and I'm gong to go in with no abandonment, pretty much no respect and do what I do best and that's kick ass. On April 2nd, people are going to see the best of Tito Ortiz man. I mean, I'm ready for this fight. This is something that I never wanted to happen because I was or thought I was friends with Chuck Liddell. But I guess not and things have changed so let the beatings begin. April 2nd. people are going to see the best of Tito Ortiz.

Ryan: Tito, I mean how much pressure do you feel? I mean, both of you guys went on such an amazing win streaks. You've suffered a loss, he's suffered a couple of loses. There's a lot of pressure going in to this fight that the loser really drops in the 205 pound division. Do you feel the added pressure going into this fight?

Tito: For once, you know what man, I actually don't have any pressure at all to tell you the truth. I have nothing to lose man. I don't have the title anymore, I have nothing to lose. It doesn't matter to me. In my mind, I just want to go in there and do what I do best and kick ass. It seems like when I don't have no pressure on my back, I actually compete better. But now, I just can't wait to compete again. I'm not worried about, well I'm going to lose my world title, I'm going to lose my belt. I don't care anymore. It's kinda funny cause I'm gonna go in, like I said, with reckless abandonment and just try to hurt Chuck Liddell. I'm just going to go in and do what I do best and in my mind, it doesn't matter to me anymore man. I really don't care. I mean, to me, it doesn't feel like it did when I had the title you know. I'm not afraid to lose anymore. I'm going to give it all on the line, put it all out and just try to see what happens at the end.

Ryan: Tito, it's just weird hearing you say that because I remember, you know, Matt Hughes said that same thing. I mean, almost the exact same thing you just said. He said, hey the pressure's off which is surprising to a few of us. It's interesting to hear you say that. It's amazing how much pressure......

Tito: I had the title for so long, me and Matt Hughes, we both held the title for longer than anybody in the history of Ultimate Fighting Championship. The pressure can build up after a while man. It's over and over and over, doing the same thing, hopefully you can compete at the same level each and every time. We do get bored man. Your body gets beat up and you know what, sometimes we aren't able to train as hard as we usually are. Now, it's like every thing's kinda lifted off man. All the weight's lifted off my shoulders, I mean, there's not a bunch of people trying to crowd around me saying, oh this and oh that, you're the champ this and you're the champ that. More than anything, it's just time to compete at the level I did when I first started. When I lost to Frank Shamrock, I came back 100 times better the next time. So, I think this loss that I had kinda taught me a few things and now it's time for me to come back and do what I do best.

Ryan: Well Tito, always a pleasure man. I appreciate you making time out of you busy schedule for us. Always appreciate it my friend and I look forward to seeing you in Vegas.

Tito: Right on Ryan. Thank you very much. Of coarse, everyone out there, if you want to check out my website, www.TitoOrtiz.com. I'm on the live chat sometimes, you can chat with me, ask questions, whatever. That's at www.TitoOrtiz.com. And of coarse, on my world wide Punishment Athletics clothing line. Please get on and buy some gear for the up coming fight. We've got some good new gear on there and I've got some new stuff coming soon. It's www.PunishmentAthletics.com.

Ryan: I jumped on there, you guys got some new looks on the site. Looks good man.

Tito: Right on, thank you much man. I appreciate it.

Ryan: Tito, see you in Vegas, take care.

Tito: Alright Ryan, thank you.

Source: MMA Weekly

WEDNESDAY'S FIGHTERS DIARY

WEDNESDAY

Well everybody I made it to Las Vegas. Viva Las Vegas. I get my wake up call at 8am and we are just a couple of days away from fight day. The two hour difference isn't bad at all. I actually prefer it because last time around I was fighting like at 10pm, this time out west I get to fight at 7pm, so I'm pumped about it.

I head down stairs at the Mandalay Bay and the have a huge buffett. They have a little bit of everything, but I'm going to lay off the bacon and sausage and just eat light with some eggs, toast and orange juice.

Today is what some call "media day". Basically I spend time getting some photo's taken, and do a few video interviews for the pay per view.That kicks off at 10am and usually goes for an hour or two.

After the interviews I will go check my weight again. I should be around 175, but we shall see. After that lunch today will be very light, especially if I'm more than 175. Just have to wait and see.

I think today I'm going to go down and check out some of the older casinos on the other end of town. I got a chance to check out the newer casinos yesterday, but haven't been across town, so I'm going to check them out and see what they are all about.

After that I will head back to the Mandalay and get a workout in. I will do some treadmill stuff as well as roll around and work on my technique and stuff. I should also find out if I'm heading to the boxing gym in town. My boxing coach thought there was a gym or two that I could get a light workout in.

Finally it's dinner time and once again this dinner will depend on what my weight is. This will also be the last meal of the day as tomorrow is weigh-in day, so this will be the last time I get a chance to eat a good meal before weigh-in's.

Around 11pm it's time to crash and I will get ready for tomorrow stepping on the scales. I don't have a ton of new information to give you today, but tomorrow I will share some insight about the weigh-in's that you will find interesting.

Thanks for reading my daily diary and I will see you tomorrow with my final entry this week of my fighters diary. See you on the scales tomorrow on MMAWeekly.

Source: MMA Weekly

Tito vs Chuck from a Fighter's Perspective

Duane "Bang" Ludwig, Professional Fighter

With the whole history behind the fight, I know that both guys are
training there butts off and the will both be in great shape so I feel that the fight will end up in one of two ways, Chuck will either KO Tito if he tries to stand with him or Tito will get a GnP decision. Just as all of Chucks fans are doing, I pray that Chuck is working a lot of Wrestling because as soon as Tito gets hit by Chuck, he will not stand any longer and start going for the takedown. I want Chuck to KO Tito.

Jeremy Jackson, Professional Fighter:

"I can't say who I think will win, but if I had to make a choice, I
would say Tito has the advantage. The reason being, Chuck gets weaker every round whereas Tito gets stronger every round. Tito's striking has also improved a lot. Therefore, I expect Tito to win this one. Besides that, I expect a great fight!"

Debi Purcell, Professional Fighter

"Let's see... Chuck versus Tito... hmmm... I think that Chuck is
phenomenal. He's one of my favorite fighters. But I do not
underestimate Tito. I think that after his fight with Randy, he is not coming to lose. If Tito doesn't get caught and if Chuck does not end up on his back, the fight will be very interesting. I'm going to play Switzerland today."

Source: MMA Weekly

FRANCA LOOKING FORWARD TO BATTLE VS YVES

MMAWeekly SoundOff Radio's Tuesday edition featured Hermes Franca as a part of it's sixteen fighters in sixteen days. Hermes is fighting Yves Edwards at UFC 47 and spoke about his up coming fight, his loss to Josh Thomson as well as his training.

Franca has been training hard, two and three times a day as well as running everyday. He said, "I am ready for him," speaking about Yves. Hermes is weighing around 162 pounds right now and only has to cut down to 155 for the fight. This is his last week of hardcore training and next week, the week of the fight, he will rest and let his body heal.

He considers Edwards to be an "incredible, experienced opponent" and a "good fighter." Franca has watched Yves fight tapes over and over and said he is "ready for everything, it doesn't matter." Hermes plans to "work my Jiu-Jitsu" but said he comfortable fighting stand up too.

Hermes trains at American Top Team and credited the entire camp with helping him prepare for this fight. He commented on Din Thomas' hand speed and the asset of having Aaron Riley to train with who has fought Yves twice.

He went on to say that Riley knows exactly what Edwards is going to do. Aaron has been helping Hermes with his stand up while Hermes helped Riley with his ground game as they both prepare to fight with in the next two weeks.

Franco spoke briefly about his loss to Josh Thomson at the last UFC. Josh won the fight by unanimous decision but when asked if he felt he won the fight, Franca replied, "for sure." He didn't want to take anything away from Thomson, saying he is a good fighter and strong but added that had Larry Landless not interfered, he would have knocked Josh out. If Hermes can get past Yves, he may very well get his second chance against Thomson but this time, a title could be on the line.

Source: MMA Weekly

DIAZ HAS TOOLS TO PULL OFF UPSET VS LAWLER

Nick Diaz probably wasn't as nervous in his UFC debut, at UFC 44, as many first timers in the Octagon. Considering that he was facing the same opponent, tough striker Jeremy Jackson.

Nick had faced Jeremy twice before, the most recent having been a TKO win over him just two months earlier. Oh yeah, he also had the world renowned Gracie name on his side and in his corner as he was accompanied by his trainer Cesar Gracie.

He defeated Jackson for a second time on that night, this time by arm bar, which gave him a solid measure of revenge for the defeat he suffered at the hands of Jackson in the finals of the King of the Mountain tournament in 2002.

On April 2nd, Diaz will return to the Octagon to face an even more formidable striker in Team Miletich's "Ruthless" Robbie Lawler, though facing solid opposition isn't really anything new for Diaz. In only his second fight, he defeated UFC veteran Chris Lytle and of the eight wins on his 9-2 record, Diaz can also count Lion's Den fighter Joe Hurley as one of his victims.

Against Lawler though, the stakes are as high as they've ever been for the current IFC and WEC Welterweight Champion. A win over Lawler would establish Diaz's position in the UFC as a true contender for the welterweight title. Most likely, the winner of this one will probably square off with one other contender and then be given a shot at BJ Penn's title. Unless Penn and/or the UFC get anxious for Penn to defend his belt, then the winner of this one could possibly get a shot right away, but look for the winner to have to do the dance one more time first.

Diaz is very well known as a tough submission fighter, because of his association with the Gracie name and fighting for the Cesar Gracie Fight Team. And this is true, he is very good at submissions and holds a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. What isn't talked about as much is how good his hands are. The hands that he started working on with Cesar Gracie teammate Steve Heath, even before he started training with Cesar. The hands that he used to earn 3 TKO victories with.

We haven't seen much of Robbie Lawler on the ground. Of course, with 5 of his 8 wins coming by first round KO or TKO, there hasn't been much opportunity for Lawler to show what he knows on the ground. Then again, that does mean that he hasn't had hardly any actual fight experience on the ground no matter what he knows from training. Diaz, on the other hand, has plenty of experience both on his feet and on the ground and has faced the some tough competition that Lawler has.

If Diaz can whether Lawler's early storm of strikes, which he has shown he can in his most recent bouts with Jackson and his earlier bout with Lytle, he stands a very good chance of winning this fight. Diaz is a very smart fighter and has some size to him, he shouldn't be giving away much size to Lawler if any at all. If he can get Lawler down, he should dominate on the ground.

Even if Lawler somehow gets on top, it will interesting to see if he is able to stay there and keep Diaz down. Diaz is very solid on the ground and knows how to work his way out of such positions. If they stay on the ground for too long, Diaz has the ability to work to a submission and do what know other fighter has been able to do, get him to tap or go out.

As I said, the stakes are high and Lawler has fought more than half of his fights in the Octagon. But Diaz is no stranger to big fights and doesn't seem intimidated by the bright lights and big stage of the UFC.

He has preparation against Lawler with his last fight against Jeremy Jackson who is very Lawler-esque if you will. Robbie comes from one of the strongest teams in the sport in Team Miletich, but the Cesar Gracie Fight Team are no slouches either with Diaz, David Terrell, Gil Castillo, Steve Heath, and Jake Shields, making up but a portion of the team.

I don't see nerves playing a part in this one. The most important part of the fight for Nick is the first three minutes. If he can weather the Lawler storm early he will be fine. Diaz has to maintain his composure and if he does look for him to put Lawler on the ground and into his world to steal this one and take another step up the ladder for a shot at the welterweight title.

Win - Mike Wick - Triangle Choke - IFC - 8-31-2001
Win - Chris Lytle - Split Decision - IFC - 7-12-2002
Win - Blaine Tyler - TKO - Ultimate Athlete: King of the Mountain - 9-28-2002
Win - Adam Lynn - Arm Bar - Ultimate Athlete: King of the Mountain - 9-28-2002
Lose - Jeremy Jackson - TKO - Ultimate Athlete: King of the Mountain - 9-28-2002
Win - Harris Sarmiento - TKO - Warriors Quest 8 - 10-24-2002
Lose - Kuniyoshi Hironaka - Split Decision - Shooto - 12-14-2002
Win - Joe Hurley - Kimura - WEC - 3-27-2003
Win - Jeremy Jackson - TKO - IFC - 7-19-2003
Win - Jeremy Jackson - Arm bar - UFC 44 - 9-26-2003


Source: MMA Weekly

 4/1/04 April Fool's Day!

Quote of the Day

"Don't fear failure so much that you refuse to try new things. The saddest summary of a life contains three descriptions: could have, might have and should have."

Louis Boone, American Author

UFC FIGHTER TIM SYLVIA AWAITS ELEVENTH HOUR TEST RESULTS REQUIRED FOR LICENSING

Rumor has it that Sylvia tested positive and that he is out of the title fight and Hawaii's own Cabbage is in. Remember you heard it first here on Onzuka.com!

Las Vegas, Nev., March 31, 2004….Pursuant to the terms of his prior suspension, former Ultimate Fighting Championship® Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia is anxiously awaiting satisfactory test results indicating an absence of performance enhancing drugs in his system.

In anticipation of the Nevada State Athletic Commission’s requirement for 2004 licensing, Sylvia took a preliminary test several weeks ago, that still indicates miniscule amounts of the substance detected after his September 26, 2003 bout. Sylvia insists, and the results indicate, that the possible small trace amounts found in his system go back to his first and only use of the agents taken over nine months ago. Because the NSAC had ordered Sylvia to provide satisfactory results before fighting again, Sylvia has requested that he be given until the last possible opportunity to obtain accurate results. This request is based upon a belief that trace amounts can linger in an athlete’s fat cells long after usage has occurred. Sylvia has already submitted his urine sample and lab results for that test are expected early tomorrow.

UFC® officials are working closely with the NSAC and the fighter, a proactive approach the company embraces in matters relating to fighter safety and event integrity. Any changes to the official UFC 47: It’s On! event card will be announced pending Sylvia’s test results.

UFC47: It’s On! features a much anticipated main event with Tito Ortiz vs. Chuck Liddell for the number one contender status in the Light Heavyweight division. The event airs live on pay-per-view at 10 p.m. EST and 7 p.m. PST this Friday, April 2, from the almost sold out Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.

Source: ADCC

FOUR MORE FIGHTERS ADDED TO PRIDE TOTAL ELIMINATION 2004!

LOS ANGELES, California – Four more participants have been added to the sixteen man heavyweight tournament, TOTAL ELIMINATION 2004, which will take place on April 25th, 2004 from the Saitama Super Arena in Japan. The event is scheduled to debut on North American pay per view on same day delay.

Newly Added Participants:
- Mark “The Hammer” Coleman
- Hirotaka Yokoi
- Paulo “Giant” Silva Cesar
- Sergei Kharitonov

Previously Announced Participants:
- Fedor Emelianenko
- Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira
- Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic
- “The Texas Crazy Horse” Heath Herring
- “Ice Cold” Igor Vovchanchyn
- Stefan “Blitz” Leko
- Sylvester “The Predator” Terkay
- Henry “Sentoryu” Miller

At 10-0, Hirotaka Yokoi is one of Japan’s most promising heavyweights; he is a veteran of the Rings organization and was victorious in his PRIDE FC debut, defeating Jerrel Venetiaan at PRIDE FC 23 CHAMPIONSHIP CHAOS 2. At 7’5” and 528 lbs, Paulo Silva Cesar, better known as “Giant Silva,” is one of the most imposing physical specimens ever to compete in mixed martial arts. With his incredible strength and reach advantage, he constantly poses match-up problems for his opponents. Sergei Kharitonov hails from Moscow, Russia and this undefeated fighter (7-0) has quietly made his presence felt in mixed martial arts; in his two PRIDE FC appearances he has impressive, armbarring both of his opponents (Jason Nobunaga and L.A. Giant). Mark “The Hammer” Coleman is one of the legends of mixed martial arts and the winner of the 2000 PRIDE FC Heavyweight Grand Prix. That night he made history as PRIDE FC’s first ever Grand Prix winner and now he looks to repeat the performance.

The remaining four participants as well as the match-ups for the opening round will be announced soon. The schedule for the tournament will be as follows:

PRIDE FC 16-Man Heavyweight Tournament

TOTAL ELIMINATION 2004
April 25, 2004
Saitama Super Arena
(Opening Round)

CRITICAL COUNTDOWN 2004
June 20, 2004
Saitama Super Arena
(Second Round)

FINAL CONFLICT 2004
August 15, 2004
Saitama Super Arena
(Semi-Finals and Finals)

PRIDE FC: TOTAL ELIMINATION 2004 will premiere on North American pay per view through iNDEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH NETWORK, UrbanXtra, TVN1, Bell Express Vu, and Viewer’s Choice Canada on Sunday, April 25th, 2004. The premiere time is 9:00pm EST, 6:00pm PST and the count down show is at 8:30pm EST, 5:30pm PST. For additional replay times, please contact your pay per view provider or pridefc.com.

Participants and fight card are subject to change.

For more information on PRIDE FC, visit http://pridefc.com!


Source: ADCC

UFC Preview: Talking with Nick Diaz

Las Vegas, NV -- Nick Diaz arrived in Las Vegas Monday in final preparation of his upcoming fight at “UFC 47: It’s ON!.” The Team Cesar Gracie fighter will meet “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler of Team Miletich Fighting Systems in a welterweight fight this Friday, April 2nd, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. The 20-year-old has been fighting for roughly 3 years. In that time, he has developed an 8-2 record, while earning championship titles in the IFC and WEC. The BJJ purple belt is also active on the grappling circuit winning several Gi competitions and No-Gi competitions in his weight and absolute divisions.

JC: What is your athletic background?
ND: I used to swim in school.

JC: How did you come to train in MMA?
ND: I started with Steve Heath in Lodi (California) at the Animal House Gym. Steve is affiliated with Cesar Gracie and I would try to train as much as possible at Cesar’s Academy.

JC: You’ve accomplished a great deal in a short time in MMA. What do you attribute your success?
ND: There’s just a lot of good guys at Cesar’s Academy. Dave Terrell, Jake Shields, Gil Castillo, Cesar of course.

JC: It’s Robbie Lawler on April 2. How have you prepared for him?
ND: I just trained really hard on every aspect of my game. I feel I’m in shape and ready for whoever I face.

JC: Are you a Gracie BJJ guy first and will stand up with Lawler be a concern for you?
ND: I’m a Gracie JJ guy all the way. At Cesar’s we don’t just jump to guard. We wrestle, box, you name it. I’m sure Lawler hits hard. I’ve fought a lot of guys that hit hard. I’ll have to make sure to not get hit.

JC: How do you see the fight going?
ND: Hopefully I’ll win. I’ll take whatever is open to take at the time. I will say that I’m going to come in hard and do some things that are unexpected.

JC: What are your goals in MMA?
ND: I want to see how far I can get. I want to keep improving and challenging myself with bigger fights.

JC: Is there anything you’d like to say?
ND: Just thanks to my fans and to my team.

Source: ADCC

K-1 - Briggs Wins In Tokyo, Headed For the Bellagio!

Veteran heavyweight boxer Shannon Briggs 40-4-1 (34 ko's) made his long-anticipated K-1 debut. Briggs had a successful K-1 debut Saturday night at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. The 32 year-old Briggs hails from Brownsville, the same tough Brooklyn neighborhood that produced Mike Tyson and Riddick Bowe. In 1997, Briggs took a 12 round decision against the legendary George Foreman to claim the heavyweight title. Briggs' opponent here was fellow American Tom Erikson, a 142 kg MMA fighter trying for the third time for his first victory in the K-1 ring.

It was immediately apparent that Erikson's strategy here was to wear down his boxer opponent with low kicks. Erikson threw four low kicks in the opening seconds of the bout, and even though they were not terrific strikes, Briggs did not look comfortable blocking them. And so Briggs fixed it so that he would not have to deal with any more kicks. Moving in quickly, he threw a left-right punch combination that put Erikson down. The big fellow slowly rose to one knee, and looked like he might beat the count -- if only the count were a whole lot longer. As the ref said 10, Erikson slumped back to the mat, and Briggs had a KO win in the first fight of his K-1 career.

'I am happy to win here, this is my third trip to Japan and I must say this is a wonderful place and I'm mad when I have to leave' said Briggs afterwards. Briggs, who had boxed just two weeks earlier looks to stay as busy and plans to fight both boxing and K-1 again in April. The multi-talented Briggs is also an actor who made his movie screen debut this past summer with Wil Smith and Martin Lawrence in Bad Boys 2. 'I have a new film coming out soon, but after that I intend to focus on fighting regularly and regain the Heavyweight Championship of the world and a K-1 title.'

Source: ADCC

Andrei Arlovski:
On His Way to the UFC Heavyweight Championship!

Chicago, IL -- At first glance, intimidating might be a word used to describe UFC heavyweight title contender Andrei Arlovski. From his gothic forehead to his dark eyes to the squared jaw and his overall girth and height, the 25-year-old has the presence of a fierce fighter. But many would be surprised to discover the man behind the fighter is calm and peaceful in everyday life.

Religious about his training, the Minsk, Belarus, native is 100% focused on his upcoming championship title fight at “UFC 47: It’s On!.” Arlovski isn’t approaching this fight differently because it is for a title “it’s a fight,” he says, “I have trained very seriously, as I did for my previous fights, though there is more responsibility” in being the champion.

Fighting for the title vacated by opponent Tim Sylvia has no affect on his mind or game leading into the fight. Sylvia voluntarily relinquished his title during a hearing on October 15, 2003, stemming from his positive test for Stanozolol Metabolite, better known as Winstrol, a performance enhancing substance, after his first title defense at “UFC 44: Undisputed.”

Arlovski is an intelligent fighter. He has KO’d a striker and kept a wrestler from taking him down. Going into this fight “I want to win... and I’ll do my best to win it,” he said. While Arlovski has been taller and out weighed a majority of his opponents, on April 2, he will give up 6” and 20+ pounds to Sylvia “I have taken this into consideration during my preparations for this fight,” he said, “however, I have trained in the same way as I did previously,” which has scored him a 7-3 record. The 2-Time World Sambo Champion isn’t sure if the height and weight difference will benefit Sylvia “we’ll see,” he said, “I hope that my opponent trains hard in order not to have his weight and height as (his) only advantages for the fight.”

Arlovski has remained in the United States since his Undisputed victory over Vladimir Matyushenko in September 2003, “I love America, and I feel that here I can train better for this fight,” he said, “I really like to train in the US.” Arlovski has been training in Chicago with Rickson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu affiliate Dino Costeas, Arturo Salas for boxing and personal fitness trainer Val Palanichka “I really appreciate everybody who has helped me for this fight,” he said. Arlovski trains with Clubbells for conditioning “I incorporated Clubbells in my training,” he said, “they are great! Training with Clubbells helps me to prepare for this title fight.”

Besides earning the title this weekend in Las Vegas “I would like to please my fans with my fighting,” he said, as he continues to build a US fan base with each of his fights “I’m very glad and thankful that I have fans in the US,” he said. Arlovski has been traveling as a spectator and to market himself at different MMA events around the US “It’s very interesting, exciting, and even hot-tempering; especially when some of your friends are fighting,” he said. And Arlovski was on hand to support some of his friends at Euphoria MFC in Atlantic City, New Jersey, a few weeks ago “my friends participated in that event, so, I went there to meet with them and support them.” Sylvia was scheduled to corner his friend and team mate Justin Eilers on the same card, but chose to concentrate on his training at Miletich Fighting Systems in Iowa.

Source: ADCC

The Brazilian Beat:

"The Axe Murderer" Chopping his way into the Mainstream in Brazil, Schembri adapting well to Chute Boxe, Storm Samurai coming up, more HEAT FC 3 news and talk of Anderson Silva vs. Jeremy Horn in Korea!

Things are heated in the Brazilian MMA scene as March marches to an end and March Madness will turn into April Madness in this country as plenty of MMA shows will be taking place in the coming month. As those shows approaches more backstage happenings take place and the Brazilian Beat returns to report some more tidbits from the latest. HEAT FC 3 is approaching and its fights are being announced all the time. Chute Boxe will also bring STORM SAMURAI with some new MMA talent in their ring as the team looks stronger and stronger with Nino "Elvis" Schembri starting to look as an official Chute Boxe member. Besides that, Chute Boxe main icon Wanderlei Silva is taking Brazilian mainstream media by storm and preaching the word of MMA to newbies. As Chute Boxe seems to always be the center of attention in what comes to MMA here lately, even their former members are making some noise as rumors have Anderson Silva may be going to Korea to face PRIDE and UFC veteran Jeremy Horn in June. This may only be a rumor, but as one would say, where you can find smoke there's a huge chance of finding fire as well ... So, with no further wait let's go straight to the news as the Beat can never stop in FCF in typical Brazilian madness!

PRIDE Middleweight Champion Wanderlei Silva is a busy man. Besides his usual demanding training schedule, Silva has been very requested by the Brazilian press, not only MMA-wise, and his growing fame shows no sign of stopping. This Monday "The Axe Murderer" left his hometown of Curitiba to go to Sao Paulo, the biggest city in the country, where he will attend numerous mainstream media appearances until Wednesday, when he returns to Curitiba. Among his most important commitments will be a guest appearance on a live talk show entitled "É Show!" [which means "It's Show" in Portuguese], the show is one of the most important of its kind in Brazil. Wanderlei Silva told his friends he is looking at this opportunity as a chance to give MMA a good image with the general public and help the sport to gain some more fans.

Speaking of the Chute Boxe team, it's looking as their new addition, PRIDE veteran Nino "Elvis" Schembri, will really stay in the city for long and be officially part of the Chute Boxe team. Schembri has been reported to be doing well in training and getting along with everybody very well, and also showing an great enthusiasm with the training. Nino is adapting well to the life in Curitiba and Masters Rudimar Fedrigo and Rafael Cordeiro are very happy with the development he may bring alongside with the work of Cristiano Marcello for the team's groundwork. Speaking of new additions to Chute Boxe, rumor have that talks are going on and more famous names of the Brazilian MMA scene will be heading for the famous academy of Curitiba in the coming months.

Chute Boxe stand out Murilo Ninja Rua continues to train hard after recovering from his shin injury, which seemed to be caused by a spider bite. Ninja is training and getting ready, as he is preparing to departure to Japan soon, which means that he will most likely be really taking part in the PRIDE Heavyweight Grand Prix, as it was rumored from a long time already. His opponent on the first round though, is still uknown.

Still on the subject of Chute Boxe, Promoter Rafael Cordeiro is putting together the second Edition of STORM SAMURAI, which is the natural evolution of the traditional Muay Thai STORM show, but now counting with MMA matches as well. The next card will take place in Curitiba at April 17th, the interesting note is that STORM also plans a Muay Thai card in Sao Paulo just two days earlier. Anyway, STORM SAMURAI will feature six Muay Thai matches and seven MMA Matches, with STORM stand outs Fabio Tigrao and Mauricio "Veio" Amado both fighting MMA. Tigrao will be debuting in MMA after several Muay Thai wins at STORM, and Mauricio Amado will be going into his second fight after scoring a win at the last STORM Samurai. Speaking of STORM stand outs, rumor have that long time Chute Boxe talent and now black belt Marlon Matias is being prepared to fight in K-1 Max in Japan, and may be appearing in the Japanese tournament in the near future.

The northern region of Brazil continues to hold its share of MMA events as the public seems to love our sport over there. One more eight man tournament took place in the state of Amazonas [where most of the Amazon forest is located], when this last March 27th the city of Manaus saw the "Rei Da Selva" show [means King of the Jungle in Portuguese] crown Jiu-Jitsu fighter Paulo Lima as its king after submitting three opponents in one night. On his way to the final Lima scored an arm-lock at Alfonso Diaz in the first round, moving to get a rear naked choke to submit Mauro Silva on the semi-finals to finally get striker Kevin Christopher, who got two decisive KO wins during the tournament earlier rounds, on another arm-lock on the 3rd and final round of the fight.

Sources on Brazil have that Shooto Welterweight champion Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro will be taking his moves to Hawaii this next July 9th at Shooto Hawaii. Shaolin's opponent isn't decide yet, and meanwhile the champion continues to train hard as usual, as Vitor Ribeiro is one of the hardest workers and most serious professionals on the fighting game in Brazil.

Another famous Brazilian fighter who may have a fight abroad soon is Anderson Silva. The former Chute Boxe member and PRIDE veteran has only fought once, at Conquista Fight promoter by Rodrigo Nogueira in Bahia, since he left the famous Chute Boxe team. Now his first international shot is looking to become a reality as Ultra FC, the long awaited big time Korean show coming up next June. Word is that Anderson will likely be fighting Jeremy Horn in Korea, although nothing official has been announced yet. One interesting point is that after leaving Chute Boxe, Anderson Silva developed a friendship with PRIDE superstar Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira, and has been giving Minotauro some help with Muay Thai training now and then, as Minotauro has been looking to help him getting fights abroad again.

Another PRIDE veteran that will be in action in Korea is Brazilian Top Team member Paulo Filho. However, before Filho experience some Korean action, he is fighting this next week in Brazil against HEAT FC veteran Silmar Rodrigo at the third edition of Bitetti Combat. UFC veteran Flavio Moura will also be performing against BTT member "Capixu", and the card will count with another HEAT FC veteran in its card in Fabio Bolinho. The show takes place this next April 1st at the city of Natal, also known as the HEAT hometown as well.

Speaking of HEAT FC, as the third edition approaches at April 30th, new fights and names are being confirmed. According to the promoters all fights are signed but will not be announced at once. MECA veteran and Brazilian Top Team member Roan "Jucao" Carneiro will be making his HEAT debut against local fighter Leonardo Souza. Souza fought at Mario Sperry's show Brazil Super Fight and knocked out BTT fighter Haroldo Cabelinho Bunn at his MMA debut. Souza is also a BJJ world champion at purple belt and is currently a brown belt, as Carneiro is already a BTT black belt and has wins at MECA and Argentina, and will be looking to avenge his teammate loss to the hands of Souza. BJJ Black belt World Champion Fredson Paixao's MMA debut at HEAT FC 3 is also confirmed against Rany Yahyra, a stand out in submission Wrestling who was last year's Abu Dhabi Brazilian trials champion! Both guys have fought twice in Submission Wrestling and have some sort of feud, that will be decided on both guys MMA debut.

Source: FCF

Sylvia, UFC Wait Results of Test

Tim Sylvia will learn no later than Thursday morning whether he will be eligible to fight Andrei Arlovksi for the UFC heavyweight championship Friday, April 2.

Sylvia, supsended four months and fined $7,500 by the Nevada State Athletic Commission in September after testing positive for anabolic steroids following a bout versus Gan McGee, arrived in Las Vegas last week to take a test, administered by the NSAC, as part of the adjudication of his suspension.

A passing grade mandates that no more than 30 nanograms can be found in his system. An active steroid user could register anywhere from 900 to 1,000 nanograms. Nanograms are usually stored in the user's fat cells.

Rumors kicked up several days ago that Sylvia had taken a test on his own accord and fallen short of the required NSAC mark.

"Tim Sylvia three weeks ago was at 62 nanograms," UFC President Dana White confirmed Wednesday evening. "So, we don't know where his is now. We're waiting to see."

When contacted, Sylvia asked to hold off on commenting until tomrrow morning, when the results of the test would be known.

"He didn't take steroids again," White says. "Tim's an honest kid and a good guy. He made a mistake. We know he's not taking steroids. The doctor said he's not taking steroids. It's the stuff that's left in his body and it's one of those things. He did something stupid and he's still paying for it."

If Sylvia is unable to compete, says White, Wesley "Cabbage" Correira will probably fill in his slot versus Arlovski. Wes Sims, who was notified a week ago that his services might be needed, will face Correira's original opponent Mike Kyle.

Source: MMA Weekly

IOWA STATE HEAD COACH BOBBY DOUGLAS:
I LIVE TO WORK


When the Iowa State Cyclones finished in just 19th place at the 2003 NCAA Div. I Wrestling Championships, the team's lowest finish since 1962, there were those ready to bury this storied program for many years to come. But 2003 was the first post-Cael Sanderson year for Iowa State, and followed a second-place team finish in 2002 that saw them win three individual championships.

This past season, 2003-04, was expected by some to be another in a series of disappointing rebuilding years. That assessment was only half-right: while this was at least partially a rebuilding year for Iowa State, it was far from disappointing overall.

When the dust settled at the 2004 NCAA Div. I Wrestling Championships, held March 18-20 at the Savvis Center in St. Louis, Iowa State had crowned one individual champion, Zach Roberson at 133 lbs., and had a total of five All-Americans, a number exceeded only by team champion Oklahoma State. And as a team, Iowa State finished in sixth place with 70 points, ahead of wrestling strongholds like Illinois, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Michigan, and only behind Oklahoma State, in-state rival Iowa (whom they defeated in a dual meet this past season), Lehigh, Ohio State, and Nebraska.

The most historic achievement, of course, was senior Zach Roberson's individual NCAA title. After the tournament, I asked Iowa State's veteran head coach Bobby Douglas the number of individual NCAA champions from Iowa State Roberson's victory had made.

'I have no idea,' he answered, but stressed, 'All I know is that it was a good feeling for Zach. I'm so happy for him. He deserved it. He did a great job.'

It turns out that Roberson's title is the 62nd individual NCAA championship from a total of 43 wrestlers in a team history that includes NCAA titles from greats including Dan Gable, Cael Sanderson, Chris Taylor, Nate Carr, Ben Peterson, Les Anderson, Larry Hayes, Tom Peckham, Carl Adams, Mike Van Arsdale, current Iowa State assistant coach Chris Bono, and so many more.

Coach Douglas was also pleased overall with the performance of his mostly young team.

'We had a great tournament,' he said, 'not as good as we would have liked to have had, but it's something to build on in the future. The guys exceeded their seeds, so you got to be happy about that and happy about the future.'

Of the eight Iowa State wrestlers who qualified for the NCAAs, as Coach Douglas said, four of the five who became All-Americans all finished higher than their pre-tournament seeds.

NCAA champ Roberson was seeded fifth. At 157, tenth seed freshman Travis Paulson finished sixth. At 184, eighth seed freshman Kurt Backes finished seventh. And at heavyweight, 12th seed junior Scott Coleman finished eighth. Only at 141 did an Iowa State All-American finish lower than his seed. There sophomore Nate Gallick was seeded second, but finished fifth, losing only to eventual runner-up Matt Murray of Nebraska in a double tiebreaker, and Scott Moore, the top seed who finished third. In the match for fifth place, Gallick defeated defending 141-pound champion Teyon Ware of Oklahoma, 5-3.

Iowa State has a tradition of faring better at the NCAA national tournament than during the regular season. 'The tradition lives on,' beamed Coach Douglas. 'Iowa State is a team that's always going to be competitive, and I think we did a good job this year. Obviously we want to do better, and we plan on doing better in the future.'

Since only Roberson is a senior among these five Cyclone All-Americans, Coach Douglas said that for next season, 'Our lineup is pretty much the same. We'll have some holes that we have to fill, and we don't know what we're going to fill in with the holes. But our future looks bright.'

It is also expected that highly-touted junior college wrestler Willie Parks will be joining the team when he becomes eligible in January. He is currently attending college at Iowa State.

After all these years of coaching, I asked Coach Douglas if he still enjoyed it all.

'Some people work to live. I live to work,' was his studied reply. 'This fills my life, and I'm enjoying it, and I don't plan on leaving it for a while.'

This response, of course, brought up the subject of whether or not he is planning to retire. Even though he sports some gray hair and has been a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame since 1987, this was the only subject at which he bristled.

'I'm not retiring,' he insisted. 'I'm tired of people asking me when am I going to retire. When it's time to retire, I'll retire.' I explained that I was not hinting that he should retire, but only inquiring about a topic that has been discussed in wrestling circles.

'It's funny,' he shot back. 'All these guys are asking me the same questions. I'm trying to be a gentleman about it, but I'm getting pissed off.' Then he clarified, 'When I'm not effective -- and I'll know when -- that's when I'll quit.' And that is exactly what you would want the attitude to be of an effective head coach.

'We had a good year. We're looking forward to next year,' he concluded.

With seven of his eight NCAA qualifiers and four of his five All-Americans returning, plus the anticipated addition of Parks, the Cyclones should fly even higher in the 2004-05 college wrestling season.

Source: ADCC


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