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(All events on Oahu, unless noted)
2005
11/14/05
3rd American National BJJ Championships
(Torrance Unified School District, Torrance, CA )
10/29-30/05
Brazilian Team Titles
(Equipes)
(Brazil)
8/27-28/05
International
Masters & Seniors BJJ Tournament
(Tijuca Tenis Clube, Tijuca, Brazil)
7/23-31/05
World BJJ
Championships (Mundial)
(Tijuca Tenis Clube, Tijuca, Brazil)
5/7-8 & 14-15 & 21-22/05
Brazilian National BJJ Tournament
(Youth, Adult, Master & Senior)
(Tijuca Tenis Clube, Tijuca, Brazil?)
4/1-3/05
Pan American
& Team Title USA vs Brazil BJJ Tournament
(BJJ)
(California State University Dominguez Hills, Carson, CA)
3/12/05
The Second Annual Maui
Jiu-Jitsu Open
BJJ tournament
(BJJ)
(Maui War Memorial Gym, Wailuku, Hawaii)
3/6-7/05
Hawaii State High School Wrestling Championships
(Blaisdell Arena)
3/5/04
So You Think You Tough 7
(Boxing, MMA)
(Kauai)
2/5/05
UFC 51: Super Saturday
(MMA)
(Las Vegas, NV)
1/22/05
Punishment In
Paradise 9:
Hawaii vs. Mainland
(MMA, Kickboxing)
(Kapolei H.S. Gym)
2004
12/31/04
Pride
(MMA)
(Japan)
K-1
(MMA, Kickboxing)
(Japan)
12/11/04
Super Brawl 38
(MMA)
(Blaisdell Arena)
12/10/04
Kickin It Again
(Kickboxing)
(Kapolei HS)
|
|
December 2004 News
Part 1
Wednesday night and Sunday
classes (w/ a kids' class) now offered!
 
For the special Onzuka.com
price, click on one of these banners above! |
Tuesdays at 8:30PM on
Olelo Channel 52
New Time! |
Quote
of the Day
"We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of discipline
or the pain of regret or disappointment."
Jim Rohn, American Businessman, Author, Speaker, Philosopher
|
Mike
is selling his Integra...again!
Just
when you thought that his Integra was long gone, it is recovered
and still in great shape. Of course, there is no stereo, but
all the wiring is in place for someone to install a new stereo.
All the bolt-on components are still there (Akimoto Intake,
DC Sports Stainless Steel Header, JET Chip, Greddy Exhaust, but
the exhaust will need to be changed soon). Three out of four
17" rims and tires are on it right now so if you want to
buy new rims, you just have to buy one tire and you are good
to go. The car is very reliable and I did all the maintenance
on time. In fact, I did more than the scheduled maintenance
because I was not driving the car that much.
The
finishing touches are being put on it as we speak. I am selling
the car for $9,000.00 which is way lower
than any other car near this year with way more mileage than
the just over 46,000 that I have on it is going for. I want
to get rid of this car as soon as I can.
For
more details and pictures click on:
http://www.onzuka.com/acura1.html
If
you are interested, please contact Mike by phone (381-9530) or
email me at Mike@onzuka.com.
|
KICKBOXING
CHAMPIONSHIPS
KICKIN IT 2004 "THE SEQUEL"
Tonight!
DECEMBER 10, 2004
KAPOLEI HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM
8-YEAR OLD 60# CHAMPIONSHIP
DAHWEN BRIGHT VS TRISTON PEBRIA
HSD EWA BEACH FIGHT CLUB
KILI POMROY WHO WAS SCHEDULED TO FIGHT DAHWEN AND TRISTON KAMAKA
WHO WAS SCHEDULED TO FIGHT TRISTON WILL NOT BE FIGHTING. SO DAHWEN
WILL BE TRYING TO TAKE AWAY TRISTON'S CHANCES OF WINNING A BELT
ON FRIDAY NIGHT. DAHWEN HAS TO STEP UP HIS GAME BEING THAT HE
WILL BE COMPETING AGAINST AN OLDER AND HEAVIER FIGHTER. TRISTON
IS A STRONGER AND MORE AGGRESSIVE FIGHTER WHO IS LOOKING TO WALK
OUT OF THE RING WITH A BELT AROUND OF HIS WAIST ON DEC. 10TH.
9-YEAR OLD 65# CHAMPIONSHIP
DIDO RODRIGUES VS ABE REINHARDT
WAIANAE KICKBOXING WAILUKU KICKBOXING
MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (153-159#)
NICK CORREA(2-1) VS NICK GEGA (3-0)
HSD LAUPAHOEHOE MUAY THAI
BEING THAT KAIPO GONZALEZ (SCHEDULED TO FIGHT CORREA) HAS PULLED
OUT. CORREA WILL STEP UP TWO WEIGHT CLASSES TO FIGHT HARD KICKIN
NICK GEGA. BOTH FIGHTERS HAVE HAD THREE FIGHTS WITH GEGA NOT
LOSING ANY OF HIS MATCHES. CORREA'S ONLY LOST CAME FROM SOMEONE
THAT HAD THE SAME KIND OF AGGRESSIVNESS AS GEGA. THIS IS ANOTHER
MATCH WHERE POWER VS REACH.
SUPERLIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (135-139#)
DAVID BALICAO (5-1) VS RYAN LEE (SEMI PRO)
HSD BULLSPEN
SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (125-129#)
CHAD PAVAO (3-0) VS TAVIS KAGAWA (2-2)
HSD LAUPAHOEHOE MUAY THAI
SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (115-119#)
TONY PERERA (3-0) VS KOICHI TANJI (1-1)
WAIANAE KICKBOXING HMC
SUPER HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (210-ABOVE)
BOB ATISANOE (3-0) VS LEVI JOSEPH
HSD TEAM YOKUZUNA
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (167-174#)
BEN RODRIGUES (3-1) VS CONRAD PASSI (1-1)
HSD ADVANCED KENPO
OPEN MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (153-159#)
WAYNE KAMEALOHA (SEMI-PRO) ZACH ILIZARO
HSD (1-1) WAILUKU KICKBOXING
KAMEALOHA WILL ALSO TAKE THE PLACE OF KALEO KWON WHO WAS SCHEDULED
TO FIGHT ILIZARO. KAMEALOHA WILL STEP UP TO THE OPEN DIVISION
AND SWING WITH ILIZARO. ILIZARO IS A WELL-KNOWN BOXER IN MAUI.
KAMEALOHA IS A BIG BANGA BUT LACKS THE EXPERIENCE. KAMEALOHA
WANTS TO TEST HIS SKILLS AS WELL AS HIS CHIN. A TRUE WARRIOR.
OTHER BOUTS
KAI RUIZ 75# HYO MATSUKAWA
HSD HMC
MIKE KIPAPA 250# KAIKA AKI
TEAM YOKUZUNA HSD
KEONI KIPAPA 135# CHAZIN MAHUKA
TEAM YOKUZUNA HSD
HANS LEE 155# DAREN JOSE
ANIMAL HOUSE HSD
MUAY THAI BOUTS-LEG KICKS, CLINCHING, AND KNEES WILL BE ALLOWED
IN THESE MATCHES
TYSON NAM 135# DEREK MINN
GEE YUNG LAUPAHOEHOE MUAY THAI
ALL MATCHES MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
PRE-SALE:$15.00 AT THE DOOR:$20.00
TICKETS MAY BE PURCHASED FROM ALMOST ALL PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS
(ANIMAL HOUSE, TEAM YOKUZUNA, HSD, WAIANAE KICKBOXING CLUB, TEAM
BAD INTENTIONS,HMC, EASTSIDAZ, LAUPAHOEHOE MUAY THAI, GEE YUNG,
ADVANCED KENPO, EWA BEACH FIGHT CLUB) OR CALL DOUG AT 721-6019
FOR TICKETS.
IF YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN YOUR TICKETS FOR THIS EVENT YET. YOU HAD
BETTER HURRY BEFORE DEC. 10TH OR YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY THAT EXTRA
5 DOLLARS (OUCH) AT THE DOOR. YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS OUT ON
THESE FIGHTS FOR THIS IS TRULY THE REAL KICKBOXING CHAMPIONSHIPS.
A LOT OF THE TOP NAME FIGHTERS WILL BE FIGHTING ON THIS EVENT
FROM KIDS TO ADULTS. THE DISPLAY OF SKILLS WILL BE INSANE AND
YOU PROBABLY CAN'T FIND THIS ANYWHERE ELSE BUT ON THE KICKIN
IT 2004 "THE SEQUEL" (BELEEV DAT). ACTION HAS A DIFFERENT
NAME AND IT GOES BY THE NAME OF
KICKIN IT - (CAUSE DAS HOW WE KICK IT)
|
Super
Brawl 38 Tomorrow
Night!
Blaisdell Arena, Honolulu, Hawaii
December 11, 2004
Tentative Fight Card
Bryson
Kamaka (808 Fight Factory, 1-4) vs. Chris Dawson (Rancho Cucamonga,
CA)
Ed
Nawalu (808 Fight Factory, 5-8) vs. Kevin DeLima (Bulls Pen,
1-0 Pro, 3-1 Amateur)
Kai
Kamaka (808 Fight Factory, 4-4) vs. Ray Lazama (Rancho Cucamonga,
CA, 1-2)
Andre "The Chief" Roberts (Miletich Fighting Systems,
14-1) vs. Reuben "Warpath" Villareal (Sacramento, CA,
6-4)
Kolo
"The Son of Polynesia" Koka (Team MADD, 10-7) vs. Joe
"Hillbilly" Jordan (Miletich Fighting Systems, 15-7-2)
Rich
"Ace" Franklin (Meat Truck Inc., 15-1) vs. Curtis Stout
(American Jiu-Jitsu Academy St. Louis, MI, 7-5-1)
Jason
"Mayhem" Miller (Kobra Kai, 11-3) vs. Mark Moreno (Bulls
Pen, 6-4-2)
Falaniko
Vitale (808 Fight Factory, 18-3) vs. Ron Fields (Meat Truck Inc.,
6-9 Pro, 7-0 Amateur)
Tim
"The Maniac" Sylvia (Miletich Fighting Systems, 16-1)
vs. Wes "The Project" Sims (Hammer House, 7-6)
|
Urijah
Faber: The Quest for Kumate
by Traci Ratzloff
Lights
low, the screen dark. Not a single sound is heard until a booming
voice breathes. "An awesome human weapon who infiltrates
the Chinese underworld to enter a forbidden competition where
every fighting style, every worthy opponent, every deadly technique
clash in savage combat, and only one will triumph." Flashes
of arguably one of the most infamous martial art actors cross
the screen. Jean-Claude Van Damme.
Beating
the odds, triumphing in the face of those who oppose him, and
possibly worse, do not believe in him, the hero of "Bloodsport,"
Frank W. Dux, finds himself in the coveted Kumate arena, facing
the reigning champion, Chun Li.
Telling
opponents who stand in his way, "I did not come this far
to stop now," Dux has inspired men and women across the
world to fight for what they believe in: honor.
Meet
Urijah Faber. Born in Santa Barbara, California in May 1979,
Faber, 25, grew up in the state's Sacramento area and currently
resides there today. A fan of MMA since the sport's birth, it
wasn't until he saw Frank Dux defeat the odds in his favorite
movie that the connection was made.
Growing
up with older brother, Ryan, 28, who wrestled, and younger sister,
Michaella, 12, a cheerleader, Faber was involved, for a brief
stint, with karate in second grade, but found his niche when
he began wrestling in 8th grade.
"I
think wrestling is the dominant martial art," he states.
"Wrestlers have a good base for jiu-jitsu and can use it
for defense." Wrestling through high school and a scholarship
winner at the University of California-Davis, he quickly excelled,
maintaining the All-Time win record in the program's history
to date. Faber finished in the NCAA D-1 top 12, and placed second
at University Nationals, becoming an alternate for the World
Team.
Faber
graduated from UC-Davis with a degree in Human Development, but
his connection with the university doesn't stop there. Last year
the 5-foot-6 145-pound fighter worked as a wrestling coach, and
currently continues to volunteer; but his focus these days is
on the fight game.
After
only a year in the MMA scene he boasts a 6-0 record, with his
most recent win being for the King of the Cage bantamweight belt,
a TKO at 4:33 in the third round against Eben Kaneshiro. A fight that, in Faber's words, "didn't
really differ much from the previous five, other than being more
experienced."
"I
always train hard for my fights," he reveals. "For
this, I concentrated a lot on my wrestling and conditioning with
the UC-Davis team. I knew that I would be in for a 15-minute
battle, so getting into top wrestling shape was my first concern.
I worked on my jiu-jitsu with world champion Cassio Werneck,
as well as the guys at City Boxing in San Diego, Tyrone Glover
and Brandon Vera. All the guys from the Capital City Fighting
Alliance (CCFA) helped out a lot, and I worked on my hands with
Steve Renaun (CCFA) and WEC Heavyweight Champ James Irvin (CCFA),
who will be fighting in the UFC in February."
The
hard work definitely paid off.
Consistently
fighting opponents with at least one year more experience, but
typically more, Faber burst on the scene in his debut fight against
Jay Valencia at Gladiator Challenge 20, November 2003. After
just 1:22 of the first round, Faber tapped Valencia with a guillotine
choke.
When
asked about his debut, Faber calmly recalls: "I'm comfortable
with competition from my wrestling experience -- it's my style.
Mentally, it felt exactly like a wrestling match." Though
he did admit this was, "a little more nerve racking, but
more of a nervous excitement."
Four
months later, he was again seen in the Gladiator Challenge cage,
this time facing off against George Adkins. Halfway through the
second round, Adkins' corner called it quits, naming Faber the
victor. "I came into that fight with a lot more confidence,"
he remembers.
After
another four months Faber met AKA fighter Dave Velasquez in GC
27. With a recorded MMA record since 1999, Faber refused to be
intimidated. "I felt confident. I don't let feeling like,
'someone is better than me,' get into my head." Both his
mental and physical game proved this to be true as Faber was
awarded the unanimous decision after a 15-minute battle.
Next
up was Del Hawkins, who, to that point, had fought in 24 recorded
MMA fights since 2000. On paper Faber looked the more inexperienced
fighter, but at 3:19 in the first round, he proved experience
wrong with a TKO.
On
September 24, 2004, Faber was able to test his theory of wrestling
as the dominant martial art against known Brazilian jiu-jitsu
fighter, Rami Boukai in King of the Cage 39. "After watching
our fight tape, I realized I was overly cautious," Faber
says. "This was because Rami is a straight jiu-jitsu guy."
Overly
cautious? Unlikely, as after preparing with Glover, who originally
helped Faber transition into jiu-jitsu and boxing after college,
and Werneck for the fight, he was ready to defend many of the
BJJ positions Boukai posed. After giving his back to Boukai for
part of the fight -- a typically less than desirable position
-- Faber says he "didn't feel threatened at all when he
had my back. I felt like I completely dominated the fight, except
for those two minutes." The judges agreed, and Faber was
awarded the majority decision.
Working
with the Capital City Fighting Alliance, Faber, like Dux, continues
to follow his dream and fight for honor, only this time instead
of Hong Kong, Faber's destination is Japan, a place he has great
respect for. "I have my sights on competing in Japan soon,"
he says, "so it would be good if I could get a fight with
a well known Japanese fighter. I really don't have one person
in particular that I would like to fight, [however,] Caol Uno
is one guy that would be a good match up for me. He has a good
name and is an exciting fighter. I once went to Japan for an
18-day wrestling tour, and I like the Japanese mentality. I think
my style would be appreciated over there."
Though
his style is unique, he refuses to take sole credit. "I
take bits and pieces of advice from everyone I can talk to."
It's a style comprised from "a mix of Matt Hughes, Randy
Couture and Sakuraba." And though Faber's record is flawless,
he continues to train and work hard, always looking for ways
to improve his game. "I am a big fan of striking, but I
need to work on the mechanics of it."
Faber,
humbly thankful to his team, trainers and sponsors, works with
Tedd Williams from Gladiator Challenge and the CCFA to keep his
career active. He's sponsored by Jeremy and Sid Dunmore of Dunmore
Communities in Sacramento, who, after viewing a DVD of his first
fights, became Faber's business partners in AlphaMaleAthletics.com
and began sponsoring him. "I really lucked out with great
sponsors," he says. "They help me do what I like to
do ... and they have also become really great friends."
When
asked who his role models in the fight game were, there was no
hesitation. " Randy Couture is one guy I look up to. He's
a stand-up individual, in and out of the ring. I have always
been a huge fan of his wrestling. Quinton Jackson, Wanderlei
Silva and Chuck Liddell love the fight game. They have a passion
for it. [I admire them] because they have the balls to lay it
out on the line every time. Sakuraba is a fun guy for me to watch
because of his style and personality, and definitely Matt Hughes.
He is a great wrestler, a great athlete and really studies the
game. We have similar [wrestling] backgrounds."
In
the end of Faber's favorite movie, we find Frank Dux at the Kumate.
Stay tuned to Faber to see if he continues to follows his hero's
footsteps, entering his own personal Kumate with only the best
of the best.
Source:
Sherdog
|
NINE
FIGHTS FOR SUPER SATURDAY!
Superbowl Weekend has become a huge deal for the UFC, and Zuffa
is showing the fans how super they want to make that weekend.
MMAWeekly.com
has learned that the UFC will feature NINE fights for the upcoming
card. Traditionally the UFC has made eight fights for the fight
cards, but they want to make this card special for Superbowl
weekend so they will make it nine fights instead of eight.
While
much of the card still needs to be signed, these fights have
been agreed to verbally. As MMAWeekly.com broke the story yesterday,
David Terrell is the lead choice to face Evan Tanner for the
185 pound title. As of last night, the UFC is still trying to
get Terrell free from his Pancrase contract and they have yet
to strike a deal to free up Terrell for the title fight. If they
cannot get the deal done, then Rich Franklin would step up for
the fight. The other problem the UFC will have is trying to figure
out which fights should be preliminary fights for UFC 51.
MMAWeekly.com's
projected card for UFC 51
Phil
Baroni vs Robbie Lawler
Chris
Lytle vs Karo Parisyan
Tito
Ortiz vs Vitor Belfort
Nick
Diaz vs Drew Fickett
Mike
Kyle vs James Irvin
Joe
Riggs vs David Loiseau
Tim
Sylvia vs Andre Arlovski - UFC Interim Heavyweight Title
Evan
Tanner vs David Terrell or Rich Franklin - UFC Middleweight Title
Justin
Eilers vs Paul Buentello
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
David
Terrell in UFC 51
It finally appears as if the drama of who will be fighting Evan
Tanner for the UFC Middleweight Title has been resolved. Although
the contract has not been signed, the final stipulations for
this fight are underway. The UFC has not had a champion at middleweight
since Murillo Bustamante relinquished his belt and they are eager
to crown a worthy successor. Team Quest representative, Evan
Tanner, will attempt to avenge the loss that fellow teammate,
Matt Linland, suffered at the hands of David Terrell in a mere
25 second, brutal KO. David Terrell will be out to prove to Team
Quest and to the world that his victory over Linland was no fluke
and that he plans to wear the UFC belt for some time to come.
This will be one of the most anticipated matches on a stacked
card.
Source:
Gracie Fighter
|
BARONI
VS LAWLER: LOSER LEAVES TOWN (OR UFC)
To say there is a little bit on the line at UFC 51 when Phil
Baroni faces Robbie Lawler would be a bit of an understatement.
When Baroni squares off against Lawler in Las Vegas in eight
weeks, their UFC careers will be at stake.
MMAWeekly
has talked with a few different camps and it seems as though
the loser of this fight will definitely be out of the UFC. Both
fighters did not sign multi-fight deals with the UFC. They both
just signed a one fight deal for this fight.
Lawler
has lost three of his last four fights. Baroni has lost three
in a row. Both fighters have one thing in common. Their last
loss was to Evan Tanner.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
Abu
Dhabi 2004 Brazilian Trials Final Leg:
Champions are crowned as Roger Gracie, Demian Maia and Roan Carneiro
steal the show!
By Eduardo Alonso
It's no secret for fighting fans worldwide that the Abu Dhabi
Submission Wrestling Championship is perhaps the most prestigious,
or at least desired, grappling title in the globe. With its large
money prizes, and an instant rise to stardom for their champions,
the event attracts some of the finest athletes from all kinds
of grappling sports, from the most diverse places on earth. Things
wouldn't be different in Brazil, one of the most traditional
countries in ground fighting in recent years, and the amount
of interest in the competition has been so huge that promoters
were forced to not only hold the traditional Brazilian trials,
but to also make different stages and legs of the competition,
until one could find a way into the World Championships through
his own title in the trials, winning the final leg of competition
in the biggest city of Brazil, Sao Paulo.
This
past Saturday and Sunday, December 4th and 5th, the top grapplers
in five weight divisions who made their way into the final leg
of the ADCC Brazilian trials, either by winning the earlier legs
of the competition or by invitation due to their accomplishments
in the sport, competed at the Mauro Pinheiro arena, part of the
Ibirapuera sports complex, one of the most famous and traditions
of the city. Rivalries and excitement were brought to the table,
as the academies and teams of the country and some of the most
famous fighters of today clashed, creating a nice atmosphere
for those on hand. Unfortunately though, the live gate doesn't
seem to be following Submission Wrestling in Brazil, as both
the last year Abu Dhabi World Championships, also held in Sao
Paulo, and this year trials didn't gather more than a few spectators
paying tickets. Despite that, action was fierce and exciting
on the mat, and that's what's most important for fighting fans.
The first round of the final leg already brought one of he most
awaited fights of all competition, as in the up to 88kg division
former Alliance fighter Demian Maia showed a great game defeating
former Jiu Jitsu sensation Fernando "Margarida" Pontes,
helping to spread the name of Brasa, his new academy, even more.
Demina was surely one of the biggest stand outs, if not the biggest
stand out, of the competition. through his three wins he showed
a fluid and slick ground game, transitioning smoothly from one
position to another, and even submitting Sergio Cohen, from the
Brazilian Top Team, in the final match, with a nice choke from
69 position.
Challenging
Demian Maia as the biggest stand out of the show, was none other
than Roger Gracie, the young prodigy out of the Gracie family,
showing that no matter what happens, the most traditional family
in modern times grappling is always making their presence known
in competitions. Gracie proved that talent goes beyond frontiers,
as he is currently living in England and his talent has been
making up for a possible lack of top-notch training partners,
and he is only getting better and better. One nice example was
Roger Gracie win in the final of the up to 99 kg division, where
he took care of Vitor Viana, mounting him quickly and working
with several key lock attempts, until he fooled his opponent
into a katagatame choke, getting the tap out and being the only
fighter, along with Demian, to win the final match by submission.
As other champions, Gabriel Napao in the above 99 kg division,
and Wagney dos Santos in the up to 66 kg division, also showed
great game to deserve their spots in the next year Abu Dhabi
World Championship, to be held in Los Angeles, the third stand
out worth a special mention was without a doubt Brazilian Top
Team fighter and MMA veteran Roan "Jucao" Carneiro.
Roan, who is also currently living in Europe nowadays, teaching
classes in France, showed a great pace, good cardio and a slick
game in his winning effort. His training sessions with Rodrigo
"Minotauro" Nogueira also paid off, as "Jucao"
almost got Eduardo Guedes, his opponent on the final match of
the up to 77 kg division, on the famous "Reversed Katagatame"
that Nogueira has been making famous on his Pride appearances
lately. One note worth of mentioning, is that despite the fact
that both Carneiro and Guedes both come from the Brazilian Top
Team, their fight was real and competitve, giving a good spectacle
for the fans. Now the five champions of the Brazilian trials
earned their spot to compete against the world's best at the
ADCC World Championship next year, where fans will be the real
winners watching fighters like Roan Carneiro, Roger Gracie and
Demian Maia competing again against the globe's best! Check out
the results below:
Abu
Dhabi 2004 Brazilian Trials Final Leg Results:
Up
to 66Kg Division:
Quarter
Finals:
Wagney dos Santos defeated Reinaldo Ribeiro
Taedes Mendonca defeated Fabio Mello
Rani Yahyra defeated Renato Migliacio
Rodrigo Damm defeated Augusto Mendes
Semi
Finals:
Wagney dos Santos defeated Taedes Mendonca
Rani Yahyra defeated Rodrigo Damm
Final:
Wagney dos Santos defeated Rani Yahyra
Up
to 77kg Division:
Quarter
Finals:
Eduardo Guedes defeated Daniel Moraes
Lucas Leite defeated Marcelo Salazar
Leonardo Pecanha defeated Fabricio Morango
Roan "Jucao" Carneiro defeated Andre Galvao
Semi
Finals:
Eduardo Guedes defeated Lucas Leite
Roan "Jucao" Carneiro defeated Leonardo Pecanha
Final:
Roan "Jucao" Carneiro defeated Eduardo Guedes
Up
to 88kg Division:
Quarter
Finals:
Rodrigo Botti defeated Jorge Patino "Macaco"
Sergio Cohen defeated Fabricio Monteiro
Demian Maia defeated Fernando Pontes "Margarida"
Rodrigo "Comprido" Medeiros defeated Givanildo Santana
Semi
Finals:
Sergio Cohen defeated Rodrigo Botti
Demian Maia defeated Rodrigo "Comprido" Medeiros
Final:
Demian Maia defeated Sergio Cohen
Up
to 99kg Division:
Quarter
Finals:
Fernando "Boi" defeated Fabiano Capoane
Vitor Viana defeated Tony Lima
Roger Gracie defeated Gabriel Vella
Rodrigo "Riscado" defeated Gabriel "Gladiador"
Semi
Finals:
Vitor Viana defeated Fernando "Boi"
Roger Gracie defeated Rodrigo "Riscado"
Final:
Roger Gracie defeated Vitor Viana
Above
99Kg Division:
Quarter
Finals:
Antoine Jaoude defeated Marcos Moreno
Gabriel Napao defeated Fabiano "Pega-Leve" Scherner
Alex "Negao" Paz defeated Denis Gomes
Rodrigo Durok defeated Leo Leite
Semi
Finals:
Gabriel Napao defeated Antoine Jaoude
Alex "Negao" Paz defeated Rodrigo Durok
Final:
Gabriel Napao defeated Alex "Negao" Paz
Source:
FCF
|
GOLD
MEDALLIST TAKIMOTO ADDED TO SHOCKWAVE FIGHT CARD
TOKYO, Japan – Judo Olympic gold medallist Makoto Takimoto
of Japan has been added to PRIDE FIGHTING's SHOCKWAVE fight card.
His opponent is yet to be announced. Takimoto won the gold medal
in the men's 81-kilogram division in Judo at the 2000 Sydney
Olympic Games by defeating heavy favorite In-Chul Cho of South
Korea. Takimoto joins fellow Olympic gold medallists Hidehiko
Yoshida and Rulon Gardner on the SHOCKWAVE fightcard.
Previously
announced bouts for SHOCKWAVE include: for the title of undisputed
heavyweight Grand Prix Champion of 2004 as well as for the title
of PRIDE heavyweight champion ... Fedor Emelianenko versus Antonio
Rodrigo Nogueira ... also, for the first time in mixed martial
arts history and under mixed martial arts rules, it will be Olympic
gold versus Olympic gold as Japan's Hidehiko Yoshida (1992 Judo
Olympic gold medallist) takes on Rulon Gardner of the United
States (2000 Greco Roman Wrestling Olympic gold medallist). Other
bouts will feature Wanderlei Silva versus Kazushi Sakuraba, Dan
Henderson versus Yuki Kondo, Kevin Randleman versus Mirko "Cro
Cop" Filipovic and Takanori Gomi versus "Little Evil"
Jens Pulver.
SHOCKWAVE
will take place from the Saitama Super Arena in Japan and is
scheduled to debut on North American pay per view via iNDEMAND,
DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN, Vu!, and Viewer's Choice on Sunday,
January 2nd, 2005 at 9:00pm EST, 6:00pm PST.
Judo
Olympic gold medallist Makoto Takimoto with PRIDE's executive
producer, Nobuhiko Takada
SHOCKWAVE
FIGHT CARD
Fedor
Emelianenko (Russia) vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Brazil)
(This is a double title match, for both the PRIDE FIGHTING heavyweight
championship as well for the title of 2004 Grand Prix heavyweight
champion)
Hidehiko
Yoshida (Japan) vs. Rulon Gardner (USA)
Wanderlei Silva (Brazil) vs. Kazushi Sakuraba (Japan)
Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic (Croatia) vs. Kevin Randleman
(USA)
Dan Henderson (USA) vs. Yuki Kondo (Japan)
Takanori Gomi (Japan) vs. Jens Pulver (USA)
Makoto Takimoto (Japan) vs. TBA
Fight
card subject to change.
More bouts to be announced soon.
Source:
Pride
|
At
The Time, It Was The Greatest Tournament Ever
Part 1 by Jeremy Wall
This is part one in our series of the biggest tournaments in
mixed martial arts history.
The
very first "big" tournament in mixed martial arts history
took place on December 16th, 1995. It was UFC's first incarnation
of the Ultimate Ultimate, a one-night tournament including eight
of their best or biggest name fighters. UFC had been built on
the back of the one-night tournament, but this looked like the
tournament to end all tournaments.
The
show drew incredibly well, because the idea of seeing all the
best fighters in one tournament was very cool. The show did about
260,000 buys on pay per view, ranking as one of the three most
watched UFC events of all-time (with UFC 5, with the Royce Gracie-Ken
Shamrock rematch, and UFC 6, featuring the first Shamrock-Dan
Severn match). To show the popularity of UFC at the time, the
'95 Ultimate Ultimate went up against a Mike Tyson fight on free
TV, and the UFC show drew a 0.6 live. They did a 0.4 for the
replay late that night, at the time ranking it as the largest
buyrate for the replay of an event on pay per view, combining
for the 1.0 buyrate and 260,000 buys.
There
were also political problems going into the show. The Mayor of
Denver was able to ban the event from taking place at McNichols
Arena (where the first UFC was held), but the city made an agreement
with SEG to allow the Ultimate Ultimate to take place at the
smaller Mammoth Gardens, and they ended up drawing 2,800 fans
paying $110,000.
It
was the first of two Ultimate Ultimates, with the second taking
place a year later. That event was won by Don Frye, and was considered
the tougher of the two tournaments, featuring more skilled fighters,
but was seen by far less people on pay per view as UFC's popularity
had already hit a decline at that point. A few months after the
1996 Ultimate Ultimate, they were completely banned from cable.
All
of the fighters in the tournament had been UFC tournament finalists,
with the exception of Keith Hackney, who, along with Paul Varelans,
had been moved up into the tournament from a dark match to replace
Gerard Gordeau and Patrick Smith, both past tournament finalists
who had dropped out of the Ultimate Ultimate. The tournament
included Varelans, Hackney, Dan Severn, Oleg Taktarov, Tank Abbott,
Marco Ruas, Steve Jennum and Dave Beneteau. Royce Gracie wasn't
in the tournament because he had left UFC months earlier after
the draw with Ken Shamrock at UFC 5, and Shamrock wasn't in the
tournament because he was never a tournament finalist (he pulled
out of the UFC 3 tournament claiming an injury after winning
his first two matches that night, so his not being a tournament
finalist was only technical) and he was the Superfight champion
at the time anyway, and it wouldn't have been good matchmaking
to put the top singles champion in a one-night tournament, as
Shamrock was only defending the belt in special main events at
that point.
It
was probably the biggest night in Dan Severn's entire career.
Severn had been a major part of some UFC shows prior to that;
he had headlined against Ken Shamrock at UFC 6; was a finalist
in the UFC 4 tournament, losing to Royce Gracie in his rookie
night in UFC; and he had won the UFC 5 tournament.
Winning
the 1995 Ultimate Ultimate would easily be the biggest win of
Severn's career. Severn's winning of the UFC 5 tournament was
important, but this was a bigger deal. Severn had also defeated
Ken Shamrock in their rematch at UFC 9, but that fight was so
awful that it actually damaged Dan Severn as a box office draw,
which his name value never recovered from, despite the fact that
he actually won that match.
In
the Ultimate Ultimate, Severn quickly dispatched of giant Paul
Varelans in the first round, and would face Tank Abbott in his
second match of the evening. Tank had defeated Steve Jennum,
ironically a police officer plus UFC 3 tournament winner, very
quickly in the first round to make it to the semi-finals of the
eight-man round robin.
Abbott
vs. Severn was a slow, boring fight that lasted a full 18 minutes,
with most of the match being spent on the ground with Severn
controlling the action. Ultimate Ultimate '95 is also notable
because it was the first ever UFC event to feature ringside judges,
and in the first judges' decision ever handed out in the UFC,
Dan Severn defeated Tank Abbott.
On
the other side of the bracket, Oleg Taktarov had quickly defeated
Dave Beneteau and Marco Ruas did the same with Keith Hackney.
The semi-finals between Taktarov and Ruas was also a boring disappointment
that went to an 18 minute decision, which was awarded to Taktarov.
The
finals matched Severn and Taktarov together in a rematch of their
semi-finals bout at UFC 5, which Severn had won. The first Severn-Taktarov
fight, though, would prove to be much more exciting, and the
finals of the tournament ended up going to a very long 30 minute
decision. As far as exciting UFC events go, this show didn't
top the list. But Dan Severn fought nearly a combined 50 minutes
that night in one of the toughest tournaments of the mid 1990s,
and was awarded a $150,000 grand prize.
In
the next article in this series, we'll take a look at the 1996
version of the Ultimate Ultimate.
Source:
Maxfighting
|
Matt
Hughes: Interview with the UFC Welterweight Champion
by Benny Henderson Jr
Matt Hughes continues to rewrite UFC history with his victories
in the octagon, and once again in October, the welterweight champion
added another page to his stellar career with a victory over
George St. Pierre at UFC 50.
When
Matt applied the arm bar in round one of his and Pierre’s
battle at “The War of ‘04” to submit the then
undefeated Pierre, it wasn’t just another win for the 31
year old Illinois native. With the victory he became the only
man in the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship to win
a sixth title in the welterweight division, a heck of an accomplishment
I must say.
Matt
first won the welterweight title in 2001 at UFC 34 when he slammed
his opponent Carlos Newton to the mat, knocking the fighter unconscious.
Hughes
turned pro in 1998 with a win over Craig Quick in the Jeet Kune
Do Challenge and has compiled an impressive career total of 36
wins and four losses. The Mixed Martial Arts veteran made his
UFC debut in 1999 where he defeated Valeri Ignatov in UFC 22
and since then has competed in twelve UFC competitions and has
laid out a solid winning foundation of a 10-2 UFC record.
With
all of Matt’s accolades you would think he would be living
up the superstar life. Nope not Matt, he is a dedicated Dad of
two and farm boy who still attends to his chores like any other
normal guy, well for the one exception that Matt could render
you defenseless within seconds if he so chose. Yet Matt is truly
a humble warrior who says that when he decides to walk out he
wants to be the same man who walked in. In a candid interview
Max Fighting conducted with the six-time welterweight champion
he gives his thoughts on his recent victory as well as his past
and future in the sport.
Benny
Henderson Jr. – First, I just want to say congratulations
on your win at UFC 50.
Matt
Hughes - Well thanks; George actually did a better job than I
thought. He was very athletic and good with his hips. My takedowns
weren’t as effective as I thought and he moved his hips
good enough to where he got up on me once off the ground, so
my hat’s off to George St-Pierre; he fought a good fight.
BH
- Ok, you have to tell us about the surprising arm bar move to
end the fight.
MH
- That is actually pretty textbook. Anybody who is familiar with
submissions will know that move so I really can’t pat myself
on the back too hard for that. I actually like that move; I do
it a lot. George tried to go for a key lock and he kind of set
up the move for me. I just stepped around his head and fell into
the arm bar.
BH
- How does it feel to have made UFC history with your sixth win
for the UFC title?
MH
- It’s not a big deal; my belts are under my bed and my
trophies are under my bed so I really don’t put much into
it or think about it when I’m not at the fight. To me, I
have not really thought about it nor care to. When I get done
with this sport I want to walk away as the same person as when
I got into it.
BH
- Any fight in particular that you would like to have next?
MH
– No, I really don’t care who I fight. To be honest,
I kind of hope it is somebody new. Nobody wants to fight the
same person. I know Frank Trigg is looking for a rematch and
I don’t blame him. But I have nothing to gain whatsoever
from fighting Frank Trigg.
BH
- What do you feel your best quality is as a fighter?
MH
– I’m very well rounded - I can strike, I can defend
the takedown and take down people. I can also do submissions,
so I would say that I am a well-rounded person.
BH
- Would you like a rematch with B.J. Penn?
MH
- I don’t care, but that would be fine. I usually just fight
the guy who is in front of me in the octagon. I don’t decide
whom I fight nor do I complain about it, I just compete with
the guy who is my opponent.
BH
- What do you use for motivation?
MH
- I am a very self-motivated person and I really don’t need
to get motivated. I just know what’s my job and that is
what I have to do, so that is the way it usually ends up.
BH
- Your most memorable moment throughout your career?
MH
- Honestly my most memorable moment was when I was working with
Jeremy Horn on takedowns for him, and he went out to the UFC
and fought - well I can’t think of his name right now but
anyway we had been working on takedowns. Jeremy has just gotten
used to taken people down and he went out there and done a move
I showed him that we have been working on and that was a highlight
of my life and career. The fact that I showed Jeremy Horn something
and he worked on it and went out in the fight and took somebody
down that he might not have been able to do without my help and
ended up submitting him. That was a big moment for me knowing
that I had a part in Jeremy taking that guy down and winning.
BH
- What is the most important piece to being a good all around
fighter?
MH
– Wrestling, because that is really the core. If you can
wrestle then you can either decide to stand up to somebody and
defend their takedowns or you can use your take down ability
to take a good striker off his feet. So in my opinion it would
be wrestling.
BH
- Can you tell us your toughest opponent that you feel you have
ever faced?
MH
- My toughest opponent? Boy, I don’t know. Dennis Hallman
has beat me twice but I definitely would not say he was my toughest
opponent because I think if the fight would have went on I would
have won both of those fights. He caught me quick in both of
them. Maybe Carlos Newton, just mentally because he can submit
you at anytime. Just like he did against Pat Milletich. Pat was
killing him the whole fight and Carlos caught him in the fourth
round and submitted him and won. That is one of those things
that mentally is tough on you.
BH
- Is there anything you would like to say to the fans or add
to this interview that I may not have covered?
MH
- I just have to say thanks to all the fans for all the support
I have and keep it up I really appreciate it.
Source:
Maxfighting
|
Quote
of the Day
"Happiness is a butterfly, which, when pursued, is always
just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly,
may alight upon you."
Nathaniel Hawthorne {1804-1864 American Novelist}
|
Tim
Sylvia: The Maniac Speaks
Weigh-ins
Round Table Waikiki
2:00 PM
Friday, December 10, 2004
If
you missed the interview in I-94 yesterday morning with Tim Sylvia
and Wes Sims, you missed a great verbal battle back and forth.
It was very entertaining with these guys cutting each other down.
The wake up crew even talked about it a while after the fighters
left the studio.
He’s back! And yes, “The Maniac” is ready and
fully healed and is eagerly a waiting to open up a serious can
of whoop ass on Wes Sims at the Super Brawl in Hawaii December 11.
The
6’8” punishing predator suffered his first defeat last
June at UFC 48 at the hands of Frank Mir, where he also received
two broken bones in his forearm. But Sylvia told Max Fighting
that he learned a lot from that loss, is back to 100%, and is
ready to Rock-n-Roll!
A
possible heavyweight showdown is in the mix for Sylvia and Belarus
bruiser Andrei Arlovski at UFC 51 in February, but for now, Tim’s
sights are set on a match-up against Wes Sims in which Sylvia
considers this bout a tune-up for the real showdown and a chance
to shut Wes’s mouth by inflicting a massive beating. This
is labeled the “Grudge Match” and there is no love
lost between the two.
If
there ever was a catch phrase to describe Tim Sylvia it would
be ‘I’ll knock his ass out!” And that is exactly
what the Maniac has done. Since stepping in the professional
ranks in 2001 he has laid out 12 of his victims by the way of
KO/TKO, two by decision and one by submission. He is a brawler
that looks forward to the fight with a passion that could only
be matched with his tremendous power. Max Fighting caught up
with “The Maniac” and got his opinions on Wes Sims
and his future.
Benny
Henderson Jr. - Hey Tim, how have things been going for you?
Tim
Sylvia - Things are going great. I’m back training and I’ve
been back to 100% six to eight weeks now. I’m looking forward
to getting back in the ring and fighting again.
BH
- UFC 51 will be in February. Is the bout between you Andrei
Arlovski final yet?
TS
- Hmm [Laughs]. You’ll have to wait and see. I mean it has
been talked about so I’m not sure when everything will be
released and everything is ok with him. We have accepted it so
we will just have to wait and see if he is ready for it. And
that is if I don’t get hurt on December 11th against Wes
Sims in the Super Brawl in Hawaii.
BH
- Do you have any doubts about your healed broken arm not giving
you the strength or giving you the full performance in your upcoming
bout?
TS
– No, I think it is back to 100% now. My doctor released
me so he knows best and he says I can fight with it, so I’m
ready to Rock-N-Roll.
BH
- Can you give us an overview of your opponent Wes Sims as a
fighter?
TS
- I tell you what, Simms is a punk. He is a little bitch and
he can’t fight. He should be working construction or something
else.
BH
- You suffered your first defeat back in June in UFC 48 against
Frank Mir. How has that and all that you have had to deal with
the past year and a half affected you mentally going into what
seems like potentially one of the toughest fights you have to
face in the octagon?
TS
- I am very mentally set. I am actually looking forward to having
a good test. I learned a little something when I fought Mir.
I overlooked him a little bit; I still trained hard but I didn’t
give him any respect on the ground that he deserved, so I want
to make sure that I don’t do that with Arlovski. I’m
going to make sure that I give him all the respect he deserves
standing up and on the ground as well. I know that he has some
holes in his game and we are going to capitalize on it and hopefully
knock his ass out.
BH
- Since your debut in 2001 you have had some hellish knockdown,
dragouts. Can you name a few of your favorite confrontations?
TS
- Wesley “Cabbage” Correira was an awesome fight. I
had a tough fight before that with one of my new training partners,
Ben Rothwell. He is a real tough son of a gun and he and I had
a real good fight here in Davenport, Iowa. It is the only fight
I ever had go to decision really. Those are the only two that
really come to mind that were awesome stand up fights.
BH
- What is the hardest aspect of being an MMA fighter?
TS
- It takes a lot of dedication and your career absolutely has
to come first. Women come second, hunting comes second, having
fun and partying all come second. I think that is why I have
been so successful and why I am one of the tougher guys in the
sport, because I know training comes first and nothing stands
in the way of that at all.
BH
- Yeah I see what you mean. I am a semi-professional porn star
and it is the same dang way man with my work, it comes first.
[Joking]
TS
- There you go man. I am practicing, and I’m an aspiring
porn star. [Laughs]
BH
- How would you define yourself as a fighter?
TS
– I’m never going to quit, I love to fight, and if
I had to work full-time and still do this I would. I would probably
do it for free. Fortunately, I’m good enough where I don’t
have to. I have a great team behind me and I have some great
training partners and that is what makes me the best in the world.
BH
- Bruce Buffer wanted me to tell you that he thinks you are hard
to take down and you have the knockout power of a Mack Truck.
TS
- [Laughs] Well, that is what I think too.
BH
- Is there any message that you would like to send out to the
fans about your future and what they should expect?
TS
- I always want to thank my sponsors and everyone who has stuck
behind me in the past. I appreciate it and I look forward to
them standing behind me in the future. I have a hell of a road
ahead of me and I have a lot of guys to knock out before my career
is over with.
Source: Maxfighting
|
'3
Dimensions of SHAOLIN' - New DVD Set Features Vitor Ribeiro!
Close Up Look At One of the World's Premiere Mixed Martial Artists!
Features techniques, live competition and biographical close
up!
This
weekend, Vitor 'Shaolin' Ribeiro heads to Tokyo to defend his
SHOOTO title against Tatsuya Kawajiri. At 10-0 in Mixed Martial
Arts, Ribeiro already defeated Kawajiri once, two years ago.
Since then, Kawajiri has gone 4-0-1 against top notch competition,
earning a rematch that is for Shaolin's title this time around.
Also
this weekend, 'Shaolin' Ribeiro will be releasing his long awaited
DVD set, called '3 Dimensions of SHAOLIN'. This three DVD set
will look for the first time at one of the 21st century's premiere
Mixed Martial Artists. The first dimension looks at the techniques
and competitions that established 'Shaolin' - the mats of Brazilian
Jiu Jitsu where his reputation as a gi wizard is backed up by
multiple world championships. The second dimension reveals the
submission techniques of gi-less grappling, the crossover mark
of the 21 st century MMA artist. Finally, the third dimension
reveals the ring basics that 'Shaolin' applies to his MMA fights.
The DVDs features complete competitions in all 3 disciplines,
as well as in depth breakdown of techniques. Don't miss this
introduction to the man considered the #1 MMA competitor at 155
lbs in the world today!
This
DVD will be available in the coming weeks - stay tuned to ADCC
NEWS for more information!
Source: ADCC
|
To
my fans all over the world:
With regards to the contract dispute between DSE and me, I would
like to explain to you what that is all about. As you all know,
I announced that I would fight Akebono at Dynamite!! on December
31, 2004 in Osaka, Japan. Although DSE alleges that I breached
the contract with DSE, I did not. I have always negotiated with
DSE in good faith. On September 2004, DSE talked to me about
the 2005 Pride Middleweight Grand Prix, but we never reached
any agreement. DSE also told me that they did not want me to
fight for their event on December 31, 2004. On October 2004,
I received from FEG an offer for Dynamite!! on December 31, 2004
which I told DSE about. I honored my contract with DSE. I waited
for DSE's answer, but DSE did not give me an answer before the
deadline under the contract between DSE and me. DSE did not tell
me the names of DSE’s fighters, the date of the fight or
other important conditions. DSE was never willing to match FEG’s
offer. I can firmly say that I have sincerely and appropriately
dealt with DSE.
The
reason why I fight in a ring is that I would like as many people
as possible to feel the spirit of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and enjoy
watching Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. FEG gave me a perfect opportunity
to fulfill my wish. Through the fight with Akebono, who weighs
three times more than I, I am certain that I can show you the
spirit and skills of 'the best of martial arts' Gracie Jiu-Jitsu
and that you will have a lot of fun watching and experiencing
it. This way, you will understand that this 'reckless' challenge
makes a new history of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. I was truly expecting
DSE to talk to me about such a meaningful opponent and opportunity
in response to FEG’s offer. Unfortunately, DSE did not show
their intention to set up a fight for me and never even gave
me a single name of a fighter.
For
the future, I would like to make it clear that I do not care
who my promoter is. I would be happy to be seated at a negotiation
table in good faith if any promoter (whether DSE, FEG or others)
seriously provides me with an opportunity where I can fulfill
my wish. I will continue to discipline myself as a Gracie Jiu-Jitsu
fighter and I promise that you will enjoy and be satisfied with
my life-risking bouts.
Sincerely,
Royce
Gracie
Source: ADCC
|
2004'S
FIGHTER OF THE YEAR
By Jeremy Wall (December 8, 2004)
Well, its December, and 2004 is almost at a close. It was actually
a very successful year for mixed martial arts promotions on both
sides of the Pacific, with Zuffa probably having their best year
business-wise thus far with UFC, and Pride and K-1 running some
huge shows mostly in direct competition of each other.
It
was a year of memorable fights and fighters, and numerous other
sites have already taken a look back at the best moments of the
year, so I figured I'd get on the bandwagon as well. In this
article we'll take a look at which fighters I think should be
considered for "Fighter of the Year".
My
nominations are predicated on both their success in the ring
for a major company (I'm not looking at independent companies
or fighters who compete for them), and their star power and box
office appeal for that company, plus how valuable they were to
the promotion(s) they competed for during 2004. I'm looking at
only mixed martial artists, and not fighters who only competed
under K-1 rules in K-1.
Here
are my nominations, in alphabetical order:
Antonio
Rodrigo Nogueira and Fedor Emelianenko
Both
of these fighters go hand-in-hand in considering fighter of the
year for 2004. Both only fought in the Pride Grand Prix this
year, and both made it to the finals, which went to a no-contest
with Fedor due to the accidental headbutt that opened a severe
cut on Fedor.
Fedor
defeated Mark Coleman, former UFC Heavyweight champion and the
2000 Pride Grand Prix winner, in the first round and Kevin Randleman,
who is also a former UFC Heavyweight champion, in the second
round. He then defeated the biggest star in the tournament in
the semi-finals in Naoya Ogawa.
Nogueira
defeated Hirotaka Yokoi, Heath Herring and Sergei Kharitonov
along the way, and they are all good fighters, and Kharitonov
could even be considered excellent. He didn't fight otherwise
this year. If he had defeated Fedor in the finals, he'd be my
pick to win fighter of the year, but he didn't.
I
think it's a toss up between him and Fedor for fighter of the
year, and you have to look at who they defeated in the Grand
Prix since they didn't fight otherwise, and neither of them are
major drawing cards. Overall, I think Nogueira defeated tougher
competition, because although Fedor defeated Mark Coleman and
Kevin Randleman in the first two rounds, Nogueira defeated Kharitonov
in the semi-finals and Fedor only defeated Ogawa, who, although
he was easily the biggest star in the Grand Prix and the entire
tournament was built around him, is not a good fighter. Whomever
wins the New Year's Eve fight between Fedor and Nogueira is fighter
of the year, in my opinion, but until that point I would consider
Nogueira to be the man.
BJ
Penn
Penn
defeated Matt Hughes, who up to that point was considered by
many to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, at
UFC 46 to win the UFC Welterweight title. He vacated the title
to fight in K-1, where he defeated Duane Ludwig under MMA rules
at the K-1 Romanex show in May, and then fought and defeated
Rodrigo Gracie at a Rumble on the Rock show in Hawaii co-produced
by K-1. The only show he headlined was the Hawaiian show, the
smallest of the shows he competed on. He defeated some of the
best competition of any fighter this year, and what's most interesting
is that he defeated top fighters who are considered at or near
the top in three different weight classes. However, he wasn't
a major star in UFC, and isn't a star at all in Japan. The Hughes
and Gracie wins were outstanding, but Ludwig was undersized for
Penn, who is deceptively heavier than you think. I think he's
a close finalist for fighter of the year, but he's not my pick,
as he wasn't a drawing card nor an integral piece of any one
promotion this year.
Chuck
Liddell
Liddell
headlined the second biggest show in the history of Zuffa by
knocking out Tito Ortiz at UFC 47, and followed up with a fight
of the year calibre match against Vernon White, whom he knocked
out as well, in August. The win over Tito was impressive, and
both that fight and the Vernon White match were very exciting,
and although White is a solid striker for MMA, he's not a top
guy. Liddell is probably a major drawing card in Las Vegas now,
but it remains to be seen what he will draw again on pay per
view (UFC 47 did very well, about 104,000 buys, which would be
third all-time for Zuffa). He had what I would consider to be
a good comeback year, but was not fighter of the year for 2004.
Frank
Mir
He
had a major win over Tim Sylvia for the UFC Heavyweight title
in June, and knocked out Wes Sims earlier in the year, but he's
not a star for UFC, and isn't a consideration for fighter of
the year. However, if he wasn't hurt in a motorcycle accident,
and he fought and defeated Andrei Arlovski as well in December,
I think he could have been a serious consideration.
Matt
Hughes
He
suffered one of his first losses in a long time to BJ Penn, dropping
the welterweight title, but defeated Renato Charuto and Georges
St-Pierre to win back the vacant belt after Penn dropped it to
leave for K-1. His wins were impressive, but he's not a drawing
card, and the fact that he won the welterweight title back without
beating the guy that he lost it to looms over his head. He's
not a consideration for fighter of the year.
Mirko
Cro Cop
Cro
Cop is one of the biggest stars in MMA, but had somewhat of an
off-year this year, with the upset loss to Kevin Randleman in
the first round of the Grand Prix. He also had a disappointing
match against Hiromitsu Kanehara just weeks after the Randleman
loss. Other than that, he posted wins against Aleksander Emelianenko,
Yoshihisa Yamamoto, Shungo Ohyama and Ron Waterman. As you can
see, this isn't exactly a list of top fighters. He also had the
win over Josh Barnett in October that was somewhat of a fluke
with Barnett getting injured early in the fight. He was the biggest
drawing card on most of the Bushido shows he appeared on, but
those were small shows and he didn't headline any major shows
for Pride this year. I really wouldn't consider him a candidate
for 2004's fighter of the year.
Randy
Couture
Couture
was a candidate last year, and in my opinion a finalist to Wanderlei
Silva for fighter of the year, but isn't a consideration this
year. He lost to Vitor Belfort in a fluke, and then soundly defeated
Belfort in their rematch in August. Both shows drew well and
he's arguably the number three or four biggest star in UFC, or
possibly even higher. But one win does not make a fighter the
best of the year, and he's not a consideration for 2004.
Sergei
Kharitonov
Kharitonov
was a surprise in the Grand Prix, making it to the final four
by defeating Murilo Rua and Semmy Schilt, who are both skilled
guys. He also beat pro wrestler LA Giant, who is not a skilled
guy, earlier in the year. He lost to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
in the semi-finals of the Grand Prix in a good match. He's not
a drawing card in any form. He's not a candidate for fighter
of the year, but the ability he displayed during the year shows
that he may be a top fighter for years to come.
Wanderlei
Silva
Silva
is probably the number one or two foreign drawing card in Pride
(along with Mirko Cro Cop). During the year he headlined two
shows, defeating Ikuhisa Minowa in 1:09 at Bushido 2 at Yokohama
Arena in February, and knocking out Quinton Jackson in a fight
of the year candidate at Saitama Super Arena in October. He also
defeated Yuki Kondo very quickly in a match that went second-from-the-top
to the Pride Grand Prix Finals of Nogueira vs. Fedor in August.
He also remains undefeated in Pride and is the promotion's Middleweight
champion. Silva was my pick for fighter of the year in 2003 for
winning the Middleweight Grand Prix, but, ignoring his win against
Jackson, he faced lesser competition this year and the only major
show he headlined was against Jackson for a decent crowd at Saitama.
He's one of the most integral parts of Pride at this point, but
if he were to be considered fighter of the year this year, it
would be mostly based on his win over Jackson, and I don't think
that's enough.
Source: Maxfighting
|
HOOST
CALLS OUT K-1 JUDGES
To say Ernesto Hoost is a little upset about the decision rendered
against him would be a tremendous understatement. Ernesto Hoost
made his thoughts known on MMAWeekly TV.
Hoost
called for International judges at the K-1 GP Post Fight Conference
among other things. Check out what he had to say today on MMAWeekly
TV.
You
can also check out the first interview with Mighty Mo since he
was shockingly knocked out in the World Grand Prix. It's all
part of the MMA Premium Package. Not only do you get exclusive
video interviews that no other website in the world has, but
you also get unlimited access to our radio archive giving you
almost two years worth of radio shows. It's just five bucks a
month and it gives you access to the most MMA insider information
on the net today. Check it out. It's our MMAWeekly Premium Package
at mmaweekly.com
Source: MMA Weekly
|
DANNY
WILLIAMS AND LENNOX LEWIS SPEAK ABOUT SATURDAY'S FIGHT WITH VITALI
KLITSCHKO (Part One)
Right now we are in the latter stages of a rather pleasant and
informative war of words which is preceding Saturday's WBC heavyweight
title fight between champion Vitali Klitschko and challenger
Danny Williams. Both have had a lot to say to the media in the
run-up to this fight.
There
was yet another media conference call Monday discussing the battle
to come on Saturday. This time it was Danny Williams and the
former and now-retired heavyweight champion, Lennox Lewis, involved
in lengthy exchanges with boxing journalists from around the
world.
Here
is part one of the transcript of that conference call.
HEAVYWEIGHT
CONTENDER DANNY WILLIAMS, FORMER HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION LENNOX
LEWIS NATIONAL CONFERENCE CALL TRANSCRIPT DECEMBER 6, 2004
Opening
Comments:
I said weeks ago that I had surpassed the fitness I was for the
title fight. I am in tremendous shape. This has always been a
dream of mine to become World Heavyweight Champion and this is
a real opportunity to make that dream come true.
Begin
Press Questions:
Danny,
what is the key to you beating Vitali Klitschko on Saturday night?
The
key is hunger and desire. I have tremendous hunger. I am a warrior.
You saw that in the Tyson fight. I showed a tremendous chin.
These are the things that it will take to beat Klitschko. I will
have be at my best and I will have to be a warrior.
You
have said how your father basically forced you to start boxing
when you were a young kid and that is how you became a professional
fighter. Can you recall what it was like when you first went
to the gym and what it was like when you got into your first
sparring session with somebody else?
My
dad forced me into the sport when I was five or six. He used
to train me. When I was eight, he sent me to a boxing gym. I
remember when I was sparring, my trainers thought I had great
ability, but I just did not want to be there. Many times my dad
would send me to the gym and I would sneak off and go play pool
or table tennis elsewhere and pour water on my clothes to make
it look like I was training. I just was not interested. After
many years, I grew to love it and here I am today.
How
old were you when you finally began to love it?
I
was probably about 13 or 14. Gradually, I started to like it.
How
much inspiration have you taken from Lennox Lewis, particularly
in the way he cut through all the politics to make his mark in
a world which was so dominated by Americans until that point?
I
give Lewis big respect in the way he was able to unify the titles
without joining teams.
When
you were going through all your well documented days of self-doubt,
presumably there were times where you feared you would never
be able to be involved in that sort of company. Is that true?
No,
my problem was never the self doubt. My problem was that I wanted
it too much and I burned up too much energy thinking about the
fights. I always believed I was going to get here and praise
be to God I am here.
Now
that we are so close to the fight, does the size of the occasion
get to you at all? Is it overwhelming or has it just increased
your appetite for it?
To
be honest, I realize this is part of the job, so it has got to
be done. But as far as this putting any pressure on me, I just
take it in my stride. What will be, will be.
Were
you 14 years old before you were actually good at it, or was
it 14 before you actually liked boxing?
I
was 14 when I actually liked it. When I started, my trainers
would say that I had natural ability and I was a born fighter.
When I used to spar with people who had been there for years,
I used to take them out. But it was just something that I did
not want to do; I would rather be playing with my mates on the
street. I did not want to be getting hit in my head and things
like that.
Why
did your father feel it was important to get you into boxing
so young?
From
when I was born, he said he had the dream that I was going to
become world champion. My dad is very slim; he assumed I would
be a middleweight. By the time I was eight, I passed that weight.
So when I was about 13 or 14, he knew I was going to be heavyweight
champion.
When
John Ruiz won the title from Holyfield in 2001, there was a lot
of talk that you were going to be his first opponent for a title
defense. Are you kind of glad that that never happened now given
the fact that looking at where you were in your career then,
you may not have been as ready as you are now?
A
100 percent right. I was not ready mentally. I was ready physically,
but not mentally. The occasion and all this would have got to
me and I would have lost the fight before I got into the ring.
Also, I was down to fight Mike Tyson a few years ago. So certainly
it worked to my favor because mentally I was not ready for those
types of fights. I am ready now.
Are
there any concerns in your mind should the fight go the distance
and the outcome be left in the hands of the judges?
I
believe we will get a fair crack of the whip in Vegas. So I am
not really worried about that. My trainer has got me in tremendous
shape and we have been training for this fight for 10 weeks.
It is highly unlikely it will go to the points (the distance).
Vitali
has talked about how political turmoil in Ukraine may be affecting
him. Do you think that is a ready-made excuse?
To
be honest, I do not know. I was really shocked that he would
come out with those statements, but I really do not know.
You
were talking about how in the past you might have burned up all
your nervous energy before you even got to the ring and that
was sort of your big problem rather than self doubt. What will
stop you doing that this time?
My
attitude is what will be, will be and I will just put my trust
in God. Whatever is going to happen will happen. I want to have
that attitude when I come into the ring and relax. That is when
you get the best of Danny Williams. I will just come into the
ring relaxed and calm and I do not believe anyone can beat me
when I am like that.
In
your training for the fight against Tyson, you used guys more
or less the same size as Tyson in training. How do you train
for a guy like Klitschko who is over 6-foot-7 and how are you
training specifically preparing for him?
We
are using great sparring partners. One is 6-foot-7 and the other
one is 6-foot-6. So we are using very tall sparring partners.
We do not only spar, we do technique where we work on set moves
to prepare for Vitali's style and his head movement.
Has
Lennox Lewis specifically spoken to you about ways to beat Vitali
and has he given you any insight?
Lennox
Lewis has not actually spoken to me personally, but he has spoken
on my web site, http://www.dannywilliams.tv/. He said there are
three ways I can beat Vitali Klitschko. One is to go to his body,
second is to open up his cuts and the third is to outbox him.
So he has given me some good advice.
Do
you feel he is supportive of you because you are both British?
Yes,
I do believe so. I am very thankful for all his advice.
What
is your father's name?
Augustus
Williams.
What
other kinds of things are you working on in sparring?
We
are working on the obvious -- get past his long reach, great
head movement and we are working with great tall sparring partners.
It has been really good work.
Before
the Tyson fight, you seemed to be very calm and confident. How
is your mental attitude at this point just a few days before
this fight?
It
is the same -- very calm and relaxed. That was always my problem
early in my career. I used to really work myself up too much.
When it comes to the fight time, I will be able to perform. My
attitude is to be relaxed and that is when you see the best Danny
Williams.
Do
you have any prediction to make?
No,
just a Danny Williams' victory.
What
did you learn from that first round against Tyson?
One
thing I learned with the Mike Tyson fight is that I have got
a tremendous chin. He hit me with some tremendous shots. Also,
another thing I learned, in the fight game, you have got to prepare
for every eventuality. I went into the Mike Tyson fight thinking
I was going to box him and that was not working. So I ended up
having to fight him. So it will be the same against Klitschko.
I am training to do certain things, but I will change it and
do other things if they do not work.
One
of the main criticisms of Lennox was that he would not let his
hands go and please the crowd by trying to take a guy out. Are
you concerned about that?
You
see the way I fought against Tyson. I have a very crowd pleasing
style.
If
you are victorious against Vitali, would you want to be the first
guy to beat both brothers?
Yeah,
that would be nice. The main thing is to get Vitali. My mind
is focused on him at the moment.
Did
you get married yet?
No,
I have not been married yet.
Are
you going to get married after this fight?
We
will possibly get married in 2005.
There
is a great tradition that large numbers of English/British supporters
come over when British fighters fight in Vegas. Do you expect
that on Saturday and will it help you if large numbers of British
fans turn up? Who is coming over from your family and friends?
I
have been told that there are 3,000-plus British fans coming
over, which is tremendous. For my side, a few of my friends are
coming over, my mom and dad, my brother and sister, a wife and
her kids. It is going to be a tremendous night.
Have
you ever had so many family members attend one of your fights?
Yes,
this is the same amount of family members that I had for the
Tyson fight.
You
said that you have to be a better fighter than the one who beat
Tyson. Can you go into that a little bit more?
I
believe in the Tyson fight, I was good, but I need to be better
to beat Klitschko. There was not enough head movement there in
that fight and there was not enough speed of foot. I just need
to improve all around to defeat Klitschko because I believe that
he is a fresher and a better fighter than Tyson was when I fought
him in July.
Did
one of the things that Lennox Lewis advised you on was 'opening
the cut'?
Yes.
Do
you believe that that is still a vulnerable area that can be
exploited?
Yes.
Lewis believes that it can still be exploited because it was
one of the biggest cuts I have ever seen. It was a massive cut.
My thing is to basically just go out there and be more poised
to knock him out. I am not looking to open up any cuts. If it
happens, I am looking to take him out.
So
part of you realizes that it might be a bad strategy to focus
on any one thing?
Yes,
definitely. I am looking to punch his arms, his stomach, his
head, everywhere. Hard punch him everywhere. I am not really
focusing on one particular spot. He is too good a fighter to
allow me to do that.
How
many rounds have you sparred since you shifted camp to the US?
I
really do not know.
There
is a lot of talk about Vitali, assuming he beats you, trying
to lure Lennox out of retirement for a rematch. If you beat Klitschko,
would you want to do the same thing and have this sort of an
all England championship fight?
It
would make a great fight for the world and especially for the
British fans. But as a boxing fan and a Lennox Lewis fan, I would
rather Lewis stay in retirement because he is one of the greats
of all time. There is no point in coming back. Just relax.
Who
do you think is the better Klitschko fighter?
I
think Wladimir. When Wladimir was at his best, Wladimir was potentially
a better fighter. He had more fluency about his boxing.
Lennox
Lewis welcomed to the call.
Guys
like Buster Douglas and Hasim Rahman, although they accomplished
some things afterwards, will basically go down as one-hit wonders
because they really did not follow up on their big victories
over Tyson and Lewis respectively. What did you take from the
lessons that Douglas and Rahman gave to the world by not being
prepared to come back and follow up on their successes?
The
lesson I learn from that is that once you are victorious, the
hard work is not finished. You have got to keep going and train
harder because someone wants to take you off the top. That is
what I am doing. I am working harder because I like the respect
that I got from beating Tyson and I want more. The only way I
am going to get more is if I beat Klitschko. So I am training
hard and I want to take him out.
Vitali
has always fought a more awkward style, which is one a lot of
guys are not used to fighting. Can you discuss specifically his
style and how he is different from the prototypical heavyweight
that might be out there?
He
has that European Russian style where he leans back on his back
foot and he waves his left hand in front of you. He is not that
fantastic to watch, but it is very effective. I was watching
him against Lewis and Lennox had a lot of trouble with that style
because it is a really weird style.
So
it is not something that you can really prepare for until you
are in against it?
Yes,
you are 100 percent right. This is where you have to just encounter
it once you get in there. So that is why you need great conditioning
and great belief in yourself.
Lennox,
you said last week you are happy to be out boxing. What do you
do now? How do you spend your day?
For
me, just sorting out my life really. After boxing, remember that
I am not getting paid millions of dollars anymore. So I have
started bringing everything together and start my business life
and reading a lot of scripts and stuff and doing different things.
There are a lot of opportunities now since I am not in boxing.
When I was in boxing, I did not really want to do too much to
take away from the boxing because if you would go out for a commercial
or whatever and then you lose a fight, people say you lost the
heavyweight championship just for a commercial. For me, it was
not worth it. So I took boxing very seriously. Now, it is definitely
a different life, a more business life for me and I am looking
forward to it.
What
sort of businesses are you involved with?
As
far as the music is concerned, I am not involved in the music.
A lot of people would say, 'I thought you had a label' and stuff
like that. That is definitely not me. Movies? Yeah. It is just
picking the right script that I would really want to get involved
with. There have been a couple of different opportunities out
there for me to read a lot of scripts and I really have to do
something that is really suited for me.
What
are your thoughts about Danny and his chances going into this
fight?
I
think it is a great opportunity for him to go out there and show
what he has got. It is not an easy task to box Vitali Klitschko
because of his size and definitely his reach because if you look
at his history and just different people that he has boxed against,
they all have found difficulty with him. One of the main difficulties
is his size. Second is his reach. Third is his weight and movement.
He is not easy to hit. So in one sense, Danny is going to find
it very difficult. But I have a lot of confidence in Danny. He
knows what he has to go out there and do: Definitely do not waste
any time, definitely throw some body shots because European boxers
do not like getting hit to the body too much, especially with
that type of style. He definitely cuts easy. He has got a weight
advantage as well because I think Vitali is like 250. I remember
when I was fighting against him and I hurt him, he just threw
his weight on me. I wanted to knock him out and he threw his
weight on me and I had to push him off and then throw the punches
to knock him out, which was real difficult. I believe that Danny
can do it but he has to believe in himself and definitely go
out there and do it, but it is not an easy task.
Danny,
is your mindset any different than it was a few days before the
Tyson fight?
My
mind is exactly as I was for the Tyson fight. I am relaxed, calm
and ready to rumble.
How
much pressure do you feel having to take the belt back to England
where you feel it rightly belongs?
I
want to do it 100 percent, but I put no pressure on myself.
Last
week, Klitschko stated the Ukrainian presidential race was so
mentally troubling for him that he actually thought about pulling
out or postponing the fight. Did you know about this and what
are your thoughts?
Yes,
I heard about it and I must admit I was shocked and amused that
he would come out with these statements. I really do not know
what to make of them.
Danny
Williams leaves the call.
To
be continued.
Source: ADCC
|
Quote
of the Day
"You are the only real obstacle in your path to a fulfilling
life."
Les Brown {American Motivator Lecturer}
|
KICKBOXING
CHAMPIONSHIPS
KICKIN IT 2004 "THESEQUEL"
DECEMBER 10, 2004
KAPOLEI HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM
8-YEAR OLD 60# CHAMPIONSHIP
DAHWEN BRIGHT VS TRISTON PEBRIA
HSD EWA BEACH FIGHT CLUB
KILI POMROY WHO WAS SCHEDULED TO FIGHT DAHWEN AND TRISTON KAMAKA
WHO WAS SCHEDULED TO FIGHT TRISTON WILL NOT BE FIGHTING. SO DAHWEN
WILL BE TRYING TO TAKE AWAY TRISTON'S CHANCES OF WINNING A BELT
ON FRIDAY NIGHT. DAHWEN HAS TO STEP UP HIS GAME BEING THAT HE
WILL BE COMPETING AGAINST AN OLDER AND HEAVIER FIGHTER. TRISTON
IS A STRONGER AND MORE AGGRESSIVE FIGHTER WHO IS LOOKING TO WALK
OUT OF THE RING WITH A BELT AROUND OF HIS WAIST ON DEC. 10TH.
9-YEAR OLD 65# CHAMPIONSHIP
DIDO RODRIGUES VS ABE REINHARDT
WAIANAE KICKBOXING WAILUKU KICKBOXING
MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (153-159#)
NICK CORREA(2-1) VS NICK GEGA (3-0)
HSD LAUPAHOEHOE MUAY THAI
BEING THAT KAIPO GONZALEZ (SCHEDULED TO FIGHT CORREA) HAS PULLED
OUT. CORREA WILL STEP UP TWO WEIGHT CLASSES TO FIGHT HARD KICKIN
NICK GEGA. BOTH FIGHTERS HAVE HAD THREE FIGHTS WITH GEGA NOT
LOSING ANY OF HIS MATCHES. CORREA'S ONLY LOST CAME FROM SOMEONE
THAT HAD THE SAME KIND OF AGGRESSIVNESS AS GEGA. THIS IS ANOTHER
MATCH WHERE POWER VS REACH.
SUPERLIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (135-139#)
DAVID BALICAO (5-1) VS RYAN LEE (SEMI PRO)
HSD BULLSPEN
SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (125-129#)
CHAD PAVAO (3-0) VS TAVIS KAGAWA (2-2)
HSD LAUPAHOEHOE MUAY THAI
SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (115-119#)
TONY PERERA (3-0) VS KOICHI TANJI (1-1)
WAIANAE KICKBOXING HMC
SUPER HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (210-ABOVE)
BOB ATISANOE (3-0) VS LEVI JOSEPH
HSD TEAM YOKUZUNA
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (167-174#)
BEN RODRIGUES (3-1) VS CONRAD PASSI (1-1)
HSD ADVANCED KENPO
OPEN MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (153-159#)
WAYNE KAMEALOHA (SEMI-PRO) ZACH ILIZARO
HSD (1-1) WAILUKU KICKBOXING
KAMEALOHA WILL ALSO TAKE THE PLACE OF KALEO KWON WHO WAS SCHEDULED
TO FIGHT ILIZARO. KAMEALOHA WILL STEP UP TO THE OPEN DIVISION
AND SWING WITH ILIZARO. ILIZARO IS A WELL-KNOWN BOXER IN MAUI.
KAMEALOHA IS A BIG BANGA BUT LACKS THE EXPERIENCE. KAMEALOHA
WANTS TO TEST HIS SKILLS AS WELL AS HIS CHIN. A TRUE WARRIOR.
OTHER BOUTS
KAI RUIZ 75# HYO MATSUKAWA
HSD HMC
MIKE KIPAPA 250# KAIKA AKI
TEAM YOKUZUNA HSD
KEONI KIPAPA 135# CHAZIN MAHUKA
TEAM YOKUZUNA HSD
HANS LEE 155# DAREN JOSE
ANIMAL HOUSE HSD
MUAY THAI BOUTS-LEG KICKS, CLINCHING, AND KNEES WILL BE ALLOWED
IN THESE MATCHES
TYSON NAM 135# DEREK MINN
GEE YUNG LAUPAHOEHOE MUAY THAI
ALL MATCHES MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
PRE-SALE:$15.00 AT THE DOOR:$20.00
TICKETS MAY BE PURCHASED FROM ALMOST ALL PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS
(ANIMAL HOUSE, TEAM YOKUZUNA, HSD, WAIANAE KICKBOXING CLUB, TEAM
BAD INTENTIONS,HMC, EASTSIDAZ, LAUPAHOEHOE MUAY THAI, GEE YUNG,
ADVANCED KENPO, EWA BEACH FIGHT CLUB) OR CALL DOUG AT 721-6019
FOR TICKETS.
IF YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN YOUR TICKETS FOR THIS EVENT YET. YOU HAD
BETTER HURRY BEFORE DEC. 10TH OR YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY THAT EXTRA
5 DOLLARS (OUCH) AT THE DOOR. YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS OUT ON
THESE FIGHTS FOR THIS IS TRULY THE REAL KICKBOXING CHAMPIONSHIPS.
A LOT OF THE TOP NAME FIGHTERS WILL BE FIGHTING ON THIS EVENT
FROM KIDS TO ADULTS. THE DISPLAY OF SKILLS WILL BE INSANE AND
YOU PROBABLY CAN'T FIND THIS ANYWHERE ELSE BUT ON THE KICKIN
IT 2004 "THE SEQUEL" (BELEEV DAT). ACTION HAS A DIFFERENT
NAME AND IT GOES BY THE NAME OF
KICKIN IT - (CAUSE DAS HOW WE KICK IT)
|
UFC
51 RUMORS
UFC 51 is still eight weeks away and the UFC continues to work
on the upcoming card. There are a few matches that are still
being worked on but let's give you the latest information regarding
the card.
It
looks as though a Chris Lytle vs Karo Parisyan fight is being
discussed for the card. Lytle may be the most underrated fighter
in the game right now as he went a perfect 4-0 for 2005. Parisyan
also had a very good 2004 and this will be a great match up in
the welterweight division.
The
latest information regarding the 185 division is this. MMAWeekly
has heard through various people that the UFC definitely wants
to crown a champion in the division at UFC 51.
The
biggest problem they have right now is the fact that David Terrell
is tied up with Pancrase contractually. If the UFC could buy
out his contract, then you would have a Terrell vs Tanner match
up for the title in February. If Pancrase wants to keep Terrell,
then the UFC would have to look at another fighter for the championship.
That
other fighter could be Rick Franklin, but a lot depends on what
happens this weekend in SuperBrawl. Franklin faces Curtis Stoudt
and if Franklin can not only win, but not get injured in the
fight, then he would definitely be a candidate as well.
If
Franklin does get banged up, then the UFC is put in a very tough
situation because who would you then put in there for the title?
Tanner's teammate Matt Lindland? Would that be a good fight?
For
now the only signed fight has been Tito Ortiz vs Vitor Belfort.
Check out the Rumors section for the latest information regarding
more possible fights for UFC 51 and stay tuned to MMAWeekly for
the latest information about the card.
Source: MMA Weekly |
FRANKLIN
RECAP ON MMAWEEKLY RADIO
Rich Franklin is set to take on Curtis Stout this weekend in
SuperBrawl. "I'm not promising to keep the fight on the
feet this time but I'm going to go out there and throw my hands..."
This
weekend's SuperBrawl is a star studded card featuring former
UFC Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia against Wes "The Project"
Sims in the main event. Also competing on December 11th are Falaniko
Vitale, Jason "Mayhem" Miller, Rich Franklin and Curtis
Stout, among others. Rich Franklin was on MMAWeekly SoundOff
Radio Monday and discussed his impending match with Curtis Stout,
his win over Jorge Rivera at UFC 50 and spoke briefly about his
background in athletics and fighting.
Franklin
has always been athletic. In high school, he played football,
basketball, and ran track. He wanted nothing more than to be
able to play football on the college level but Rich wasn't blessed
with size. When he graduated from high school, Rich weighed somewhere
in the neighborhood of 160 pounds. It was running track his junior
year and a class on nutrition that sparked Franklin's interest
in health and fitness. With his new found knowledge, accompanied
by his desire to compete, Rich started putting on the pounds.
I, "Was generally a decent athlete at pretty much everything,"
said Franklin.
It
wasn't until after high school that Rich decided to get into
Martial Arts. Rich said he got into Martial Arts, "Basically
doing it for fun, to learn how to defend myself in case I got
into a fight on the street and one thing led to another and,
eventually, I found myself fighting in the UFC." Rich started
out with Karate, then went into Muay Thai kick-boxing. After
watching the first few UFC's, Rich decided to learn more about
the ground game and entered a Gracie school for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
"From there, everything took off more towards MMA,"
commented Rich.
Franklin's
last outing was his 185lb. debut fight against Jorge Rivera at
UFC 50. It was a close, hard fought battle but late in the bout,
Franklin submitted Rivera with an Arm Bar. Following the fight,
Franklin was the one who looked like he lost. About the fight,
Rich said, "I looked worse than I felt. I had that cut above
my right eye. That was a pre-existing cut that I got training
a couple of weeks before the UFC. I had to get my eye stitched,
I needed four stitches. In the fight, I don't know if it was
a head-butt or a hand or what opened it back up but, it opened
up and opened up worse. The cut just didn't have enough time
to heal and then we head-butted, well, our heads clashed I should
say, at the beginning of the second round and that put the mouse
underneath my left eye, on my cheek there. I had a big mouse
on the top of my left forehead and I don't know how that actually
happened. I don't remember, in the fight, ever taking any big
shots but, when I left, I felt fine....I felt good. I felt like
it was a good win against a tough opponent."
Now
Rich is set to face Curtis Stout this weekend in SuperBrawl.
Franklin doesn't know much about Stout other than his fight record
and what he's heard about Curtis. "He's a stand up guy.
He's a Muay Thai boxer. That's about all I've got," said
Franklin. Rich will view fight tapes on Stout this week but,
as of now, he knows very little about Curtis.
Rich
doesn't know how the bout with Stout will play out. "I'm
not promising to keep the fight on the feet this time but, I'm
going to go out there and throw my hands and if it ends up on
the ground then I'm going to look to submit it but, you know
what I mean, I'm always more interested in going out there and
knocking someone out," said Franklin.
Source: MMA Weekly |
UFC®,
SPIKE TV® LOOK FOR REAL CONTENDER IN THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER™
16 Athletes Compete To Win Ultimate Fighting Championship®
Contracts Willa Ford To Host New Reality Series, Premiering Monday,
Jan. 17, 2005
LAS
VEGAS – The Ultimate Fighting Championship® and Spike
TV® have assembled 16 athletes from across North America
to determine who has what it takes to earn a UFC contract in
The Ultimate Fighter™, a new and exciting reality-based
television series.
The original series, hosted by top recording artist and model
Willa Ford, premieres on Monday, Jan. 17 at 11 p.m. (check local
listings) following WWE Monday Night Raw and runs for 15 exciting
episodes, including a LIVE event. Craig Piligian (co-executive
producer of Survivor I, II and III) serves as co-executive producer.
New episodes premiere Mondays with encore presentations on Fridays
(midnight-1 a.m. EST/PST), on Saturdays (7 p.m. EST/PST) and
on Sundays (5 p.m. EST/PST). Competitors in The Ultimate Fighter
are not voted off the island, fired by a CEO, or eliminated in
a rosy ceremony. Instead, the ones sent home are those who lose
in the Octagon® or are sent packing by their coach.
“Sixty-year-old
Sylvester Stallone may be looking for a contender, but the UFC
is looking for a champion,” boasts Dana White, UFC President.
“The Ultimate Fighter goes behind the scenes to see what
it takes when 16 hard-core guys from around the country live,
train, and fight together – all with one ultimate goal.”
Viewers will be able to follow the 16 fighters as they train,
workout and live together. At the end of each week, one fighter
from each of the two teams must fight in the Octagon® until
only two remain in each of the two weight divisions. In the end,
The Ultimate Fighter will be decided by a competition match --
a head-to-head fight inside the Octagon – LIVE on Spike
TV.
The competitors are all accomplished athletes, disciplined in
the sport of mixed martial arts which combines boxing, wrestling,
judo, karate, kickboxing and Jiu-Jitsu. For seven weeks during
taping, the competitors were under the strict supervision of
two of the most successful and well-known UFC fighters and trainers:
UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture and UFC Light Heavyweight
#1 Contender Chuck Liddell.
In each episode, the competitors also will compete in team “Challenges”
designed to push the fighters to the edge of their physical and
mental capabilities. The challenges revolve around old-school
training techniques, physical stamina and mental strategy. The
team that wins the challenge controls which combatants must fight
and face elimination.
The Ultimate Fighter was taped in Las Vegas at the UFC Training
Center™ under the supervision of Piligian, the show’s
creator and co-executive producer. Piligian, from Pilgrim Films
and Television, also is known for his work on American Chopper,
American Hot Rod and American Casino.
Robert
Riesenberg (executive producer of NBC's The Restaurant) of Full
Circle Entertainment also serves as co-executive producer. Riesenberg
is president and CEO of Full Circle Entertainment, a New York
Company. Full Circle Entertainment is an independent production
company specializing in developing and producing programming
that services the marketing needs of advertisers. Full Circle
Entertainment is a wholly owned unit Omnicom Media Group, which
is part of the Omnicom Group.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship, based in Las Vegas, Nv.,
is the world’s premier mixed martial arts sports association.
Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, the UFC programs six live pay-per-view
events yearly through cable and satellite providers. In addition,
UFC programs are distributed on iNDemand, DirecTV, Dish Network,
TVN, Fox Sports Net, Bell ExpressVu and internationally through
Viewers Choice Canada, WOWOW, Inc. in Japan, Globosat in Brazil,
Sky Network in New Zealand and Premiere Network in Germany.
Zuffa,
LLC, licenses the distribution of UFC video games through Crave
Entertainment, TDK Mediactive, and Take Two Interactive, its
fight show DVDs through Studioworks Entertainment, a Ventura
Distribution company and its music CDs are published by Nitrus
Records/DRT Entertainment, the official publisher of UFC music.
“Ultimate Fighting Championship,” “Ultimate Fighting,”
“UFC,” “Submission,” “As Real As It
Gets” and the Octagon cage design are registered trademarks
or trademarks
owned exclusively by Zuffa, LLC, in the U.S., Japan and other
jurisdictions. All other marks that may be referenced herein
belong to their respective holders.
The
UFC’s next pay-per-view telecast will be UFC 51: Super Saturday
LIVE at 10 p.m. EST, Feb. 5, 2005 from the Mandalay Bay Resort
& Casino in Las Vegas, Nv. Locate the UFC on the Internet
at www.ufc.tv.
Spike
TV, the first network for men, is available in 87 million homes
and is a division of MTV Networks. MTV Networks, a division of
Viacom International Inc., owns and operates the following television
programming services -- MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, mtvU, VHI,
NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV,
CMT, NOGGIN, MTV INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV
NETWORKS, a package of 12 digital services, all of which are
trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks also has licensing agreements,
joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming
services can be seen worldwide.
Source: MMA Weekly |
NAMES
IN THE GAME: ROGER HUERTA
It’s been an interesting year for Roger Huerta. Coming into
2004 he had only fought twice in his career, but over the last
10 months he’s had 7 fights, winning all but 2, quickly
establishing himself as someone to watch for in the stacked lightweight
division. MMA Weekly’s Mick Hammond spoke to Huerta upon
his return to Texas after a win over Naoyuki Kotani at XFO 4
this past Friday in Chicago.
“He
came at me and took me down and we traded some down there and
he went right away for a knee bar,” said Huerta. “It
was pretty extended and somehow I was holding his waist and I
could hear Jeff (Curran) and Dave (Menne) tell me to let go so
I did and it loosened up. He went from my knee to a heel hook
and I reached over with my left hand and I clocked him three
hard times. He loosened up and I stacked him and flurried with
punches and finished him off.”
Dave
Menne has noted Huerta for having a very uncanny coolness about
him in the ring despite whatever is going on in the fight. When
asked if he was at all worried about Kotani locking in the knee
bar and submitting him, Huerta responded, “I didn’t
panic at all. He had my right leg and was lying on my right side
and I wasn’t worried. I could hear Jeff and Dave clearly
and let go of his waist and things went from there.”
Huerta
was a late addition to the card after Phil Johns was unable to
compete on the card, “I took the fight on a week’s
notice. I was in Austin and was training on my own keeping my
weight down. Monte (Cox, Huerta’s manager) gave me a call
late Tuesday night before Thanksgiving and told me ‘hey
you’re back on,’ after I was told originally that Johns
was going to fight instead of me after Extreme Challenge 60.”
Roger
continued, “After I fought Jake Short (at EC 60) Monte wanted
to keep me in Minnesota because Dave was pretty banged up and
they were thinking of sending me down to (Pat) Miletich’s
place to train but told me to go home instead because Johns was
going to fight. I wasn’t even thinking I was going to go
home after EC 60 for Thanksgiving, but after they told me that
I came home and started doing everything on my own down here
until Monte called me and told me to come back for the show.”
The
late notice forced Huerta to drop quickly from his walking around
weight of 167lbs to make the 155lb limit which resulted in him
getting in some work with Jeff Curran at his school in Chicago
the day before weigh ins. “I did what I could down in Texas
and went to Chicago trained all of Wednesday with Jeff and on
Thursday I continued to cut weight and weighed in and fought
at Friday,” exclaimed Huerta.
Apparently
the training with Curran worked out well for Huerta as he said,
“Jeff Curran helped me out a lot. He and his guys at his
place in Chicago went over some videos with me and saw that Kotani
went for legs a lot so we worked on defending it. That was what
I was looking out for in the fight and the time we worked on
it paid off.”
Menne
has been with Huerta most of his career, cornering him over the
majority of the last two years, but for a short period of time
it appeared that Menne might not be able to make the fight, “Dave
made it down the night of the fight. Initially he wasn’t
going to make it I was pretty down, but then he called me and
let me know he’d be on the road for a couple of days to
come down and made it. I feel a lot better when he’s in
my corner.”
When
asked what’s upcoming for Huerta he said, “Well I’m
going to take the rest of the year off and relax a little. I’m
going to move up to Minnesota soon, I’ve already registered
for school in marketing, so that’s coming up. I want to
fight the best fighters I can at this weight and continue to
improve. Monte wants to keep me down at 155 still and I’m
only 21 and still growing so I may move up later.”
Huerta
wanted to make sure to give out thanks to everyone who has helped
him get to where he is at as the conversation concluded, “I
want to thank Nick Gonzalez from Austin, Texas, he helped me
train. Big thanks go out to Jeff Curran and his team in Chicago
for everything they did for me before the fight. I want to thank
Monte for everything, Dave for being there, and my mom for supporting
me like she does.
Source: MMA Weekly |
EDITORIAL:
Bad For The Sport, Boston Cop Goes Underground
by Ken Pishna, MMAWeekly.com
The internet has been abuzz over the past month about a fight
between Boston police officer Sean “The Cannon” Gannon
and “professional” street fighter legend Kimbo Slice.
In fact, due to Gannon’s employment as an officer of the
law, he and Kimbo made the front page of December 3rd’s
Boston Herald newspaper. (above)
The
Herald’s cover shows a series of images depicting the two
slugging it out, Gannon kneeing Kimbo in the face, and a close-up
of Gannon’s
bloody face.
The
headline? “Cop On The Beat.”
Gannon
also made the TV news as NECN (New England Cable News) did a
2-minute piece on him and whether or not his participation in
the fight
was illegal. Though they didn’t talk with Gannon, NECN did
talk with two of his training partners about how he is such a
great cop and how his fight with Slice was a “sparring”
match.
I’ll
confess that I haven’t seen the entire fight (just the brief
clips on the NECN news piece and a few photos), but from what
I have seen and the accounts that I’ve read from Gannon
himself, it was anything but a sparring match. The two beat each
other bloody and didn’t appear to hold anything back. Plus,
they agreed to a set of rules ahead of time.
Gannon
even went so far as to defend himself afterwards as he was accused
of cheating. Yeah, sounds like most sparring matches I’ve
witnessed.
Great
coverage for the sport of mixed martial arts, right?
Obviously
this kind of coverage does nothing but push mixed martial arts
back ten years. Hopefully most reporters will be wise enough
to separate this underground street fight from true mixed martial
arts. Unfortunately, Gannon will be a huge factor in just the
opposite happening.
For
those that aren’t aware, unlike Kimbo, Gannon is a fighter
that really does train and compete in the sport of mixed martial
arts. He’s not just a street fighter doing backyard brawls.
According
to Full Contact Fighter, Gannon has a very credible amateur record
of 5-1 in legitimate mixed martial arts competition and has apparently
done well in Golden Gloves boxing competitions. He is touted
as one of the best heavyweights on the New England mixed martial
arts scene having fought for the highly regarded Mass Destruction
promotion, as well as Hardcore Fighting Championship and CombatZone.
Marc
Grabowski, a writer that has covered many of the fighters in
the New England area, did a piece on Gannon earlier this year.
In that article, Gannon expressed a desire to “become accepted
as a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu/Mixed Martial Arts instructor at the
Police Academy.”
On
the NECN story, Gannon’s training partner said that he felt
Gannon was a great cop; that he “could trust Sean as a police
officer that will watch my back.”
While
I’m sure that is true and that Gannon may well be a standup
guy and a great police officer, as a representative of mixed
martial arts and the Boston Police Department, he made an abhorrent
decision by participating in this type of underground fight.
If
the guy wants to advance in the legitimate sport of mixed martial
arts and if he wants to be an instructor (especially at a police
academy), he should not be taking part in activities that are
borderline illegal and, at the least, underground.
It
may or may not be illegal. It may or may not be in violation
of the rules and regulations of the Boston Police Department.
If Gannon were not a mixed martial artist or a police officer,
I really wouldn’t give him the time of day and neither would
have the Boston Herald or NECN.
The
facts are that Gannon IS a mixed martial artist and he IS a Boston
police officer. He has responsibilities to both. He lived up
to neither.
Source: MMA Weekly |
Quote
of the Day
"We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of discipline
or the pain of regret or disappointment."
Jim Rohn, American Businessman, Author, Speaker, Philosopher
|
FRANKLIN
FIGHTS AGAIN AS MIDDLEWEIGHT ON SATURDAY
Rich Franklin wants to be one of the best in the world at 185
pounds. That quest continues this week in Hawaii for the SuperBrawl
fight promotion.
"I
feel good at the new weight," Franklin told MMAWeekly. "This
fight will actually be at 190, so I can be a little heavier than
185. I'm ready to go"
Franklin
will be fighting against UFC veteran Curtis Stout and will join
Ryan Bennett and Frank Trigg on MMAWeekly Radio today to talk
about the upcoming fight.
You
can listen to the show LIVE for free everyday by just logging
on www.mmaweeklyradio.com
MMA
Broadcaster and NBC Sports Anchor Ryan Bennett teams up with
UFC Fighter Frank Trigg every day Monday through Friday at 9am
Pacific/12 Noon Eastern with the best fighters in the world.
If you can't catch the show live then tune into the radio archive
and listen day or night at your leisure. Get the most insider
news in MMA daily at mmaweeklyradio.com!
Source: ADCC |
SPLITTING
FIVE MATCHES APIECE, IOWA STATE TOPS IOWA, 19-16; A PIN MAKES
THE DIFFERENCE
Last
December, when the Iowa State Cyclones defeated the University
of Iowa Hawkeyes by a score of 21-13, it was the first time in
30 dual meets between these in-state rivals and since 1987 that
Iowa State had prevailed.
It
didn't take nearly that long for Iowa State to win another dual
meet. In their very next encounter, on Sunday evening, Dec. 5,
Iowa State defeated Iowa 19-16 on the Hawkeyes' home turf at
Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City before a crowd of 6,832. Iowa
State thus starts its own modest two-meet winning streak in this
series, an accomplishment given the recent history of both teams.
The
loss for Iowa was also their first ever in Carver-Hawkeye Arena,
which opened in 1983.
Last
year Iowa State won the dual meet by winning six of the ten matches.
This season, each team won five matches, but it was a pin in
one of them that made the difference in the final team score.
After
the first four matches were split, Cyclone 125-pound junior Grant
Nakamura scored a pin over Hawkeye sophomore Lucas Magnini, a
transfer from Brown, in 6:37. After that, Iowa State never lost
the team lead.
Also
of note was the match at 141, which could well be a preview of
a match in the latter stages of the 2004 NCAA Div. I Wrestling
Championships in March. There Iowa State's undefeated and top-ranked
Nate Gallick edged Iowa's freshman phenom Alex Tsirtsis, 2-1
in overtime, handing the highly-touted Tsirtsis his first career
college loss and his first official loss since he wrestled in
junior high school.
Here
are the press releases, first from Iowa State, and then from
Iowa.
No.
2 Iowa State Knocks Off In-State Rival Iowa, 19-16 Dec. 5, 2004
Ben Schlesselman
Last
year it was Nick Passolano with the meet's only pin in Iowa State's
21-13 dual victory against Iowa - this season it was junior NCAA qualifier
Grant Nakamura with a fall at the 6:37 mark as the second-ranked Cyclone wrestlers
stormed into a crowd of 6,832 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena Sunday
evening in Iowa City to come away with a 19-16 victory. ISU won
its second consecutive dual meet against the Hawkeyes and pushed
its season record to 7-0. Iowa is now 1-1.
'It
was a highly competitive match,' Iowa State head coach Bobby
Douglas said. 'I'm proud of the way we wrestled and we'll gain
valuable experience from this meet as we continue our season.'
Passolano
opened the 69th meet between the two schools with a 12-8 decision
at 174 pounds to remain undefeated at 3-0 in dual competition.
Trevor Smith major decisioned Hawkeye Dane Pape at 197 pounds,
using a three-point near fall in the second period and two stalling
points against Pape in the third period to come away with bonus
points and give ISU the lead, 7-3.
Nakamura,
2-1 on the year, built a 9-4 advantage on Magnini at 125 pounds
before putting the Hawkeye on his back with 23 seconds remaining
in the match.
'I
was just going in trying to get the win or maybe a major decision,'
Nakamura said. 'I was in the right place at the right time and
I got the pin.'
Top-ranked
Nate Gallick remained unbeaten with a 2-1 overtime victory over
eighth-ranked true freshman Alex Tsirtsis at 141 pounds. Gallick
dealt Tsirtsis his first loss of his Iowa career and first official
loss since junior high.
Trent
Paulson came away with his fourth dual victory of the year at
157 pounds, decisioning Joe Johnston, 9-8. Paulson used 1:34
of riding time to his advantage as the match was tied at eight
at the end of regulation. His brother Travis defeated Johnston
last year in Ames, 7-4.
Iowa
State heads out to Lincoln, Neb. on the 18th to compete with
Dana, Wyoming and Findlay before competing at the Midlands Championships
in Evanston, Ill. where it finished runner-up in 2003.
No.
2 Iowa State 19, No. 9 Iowa 16
174 Nick Passolano (ISU) dec. Luke Lofthouse (Iowa), 12-8
184 Paul Bradley (Iowa) dec. Kurt Backes (ISU), 7-6
197 Trevor Smith (ISU) maj. dec. Dane Pape (Iowa), 9-1
HWT Matt Fields (Iowa) dec. Scott Coleman (ISU), 4-2
125 Grant
Nakamura (ISU) pinned Lucas Magnini (Iowa), 6:37
133 Mario Galanakis (Iowa) dec. Jesse Sundell (ISU), 6-3
141 Nate Gallick (ISU) dec. Alex Tsirtsis (Iowa), 2-1 OT
149 Ty Eustice (Iowa) maj. dec. Aron Scott (ISU), 15-6
157 Trent Paulson (ISU) dec. Joe Johnston (Iowa), 9-8
165 Mark Perry (Iowa) dec. Travis Paulson (ISU), 5-2
THE
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA SPORTS INFORMATION OFFICE
Traci Wagner December 5, 2004
IOWA
WRESTLING HAWKEYES LOSE TO IOWA STATE, 19-16
IOWA
CITY, IA -- The University of Iowa wrestling team lost a hard-fought
match to intra-state rival Iowa State, 19-16, Sunday night in
Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The win marked Iowa State's first in the
arena, which was built in 1983. Iowa fell to 1-1 with the loss,
while Iowa State improved to 7-0.
While
each team won five matches, the difference maker was Grant Nakamura's 6:37
pin over Iowa's Lucas Magnani at 125 pounds. Iowa State jumped out to a 3-0 lead
on Nick Passolano's 12-8 decision over Luke Lofthouse at 174,
but Hawkeye junior Paul Bradley scored a takedown with 28 seconds
left in the match to defeat Kurt Backes, 7-6, and tie the team
score at 3-3. Cyclone Trevor Smith fought back with a 9-1 major
decision over Dane Pape at 197, but Hawkeye freshman Matt Fields
answered with a 4-2 win over Scott Coleman at heavyweight. Nakamura's
pin made the team score 13-6 in favor of the Cyclones heading
into the intermission. Hawkeye junior Mario Galanakis scored
a 6-3 win over Jesse Sundell at 133 to make the team score 13-9.
Hawkeye freshman Alex Tsirtsis put up a good fight against top-ranked
Nate Gallick at 141, taking the match to the first tiebreak period,
but he could not escape and lost a 2-1 decision. It was Tsirtsis'
first loss since entering high school, as he went undefeated
(236-0) at Griffith High School and was 6-0 at Iowa. Hawkeye
junior Ty Eustice pulled the team to within striking distance
with his 15-6 major decision over Aron Scott at 149, improving
to 6-1 on the season. Down 5-0 in the second period to Cyclone
Trent Paulson at 157, Hawkeye junior Joe Johnston scored four
takedowns in the last 2:37, but came up short with a 10-8 loss,
and Iowa State jumped to a 19-13 lead. Hawkeye redshirt freshman
Mark Perry scored a 5-2 win over Travis Paulson to end the dual
at 165, but his three team points was not enough for an Iowa
win.
Iowa
will face Northern Iowa (0-1) Thursday at 7 p.m. in the UNI-Dome
in Cedar Falls.
Source: ADCC |
Matt
Hughes:
Interview with the UFC Welterweight Champion
Matt Hughes continues to rewrite UFC history with his victories
in the octagon, and once again in October, the welterweight champion
added another page to his stellar career with a victory over
George St. Pierre at UFC 50.
When
Matt applied the arm bar in round one of his and Pierre’s
battle at “The War of ‘04” to submit the then
undefeated Pierre, it wasn’t just another win for the 31
year old Illinois native. With the victory he became the only
man in the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship to win
a sixth title in the welterweight division, a heck of an accomplishment
I must say.
Matt
first won the welterweight title in 2001 at UFC 34 when he slammed
his opponent Carlos Newton to the mat, knocking the fighter unconscious.
Hughes
turned pro in 1998 with a win over Craig Quick in the Jeet Kune
Do Challenge and has compiled an impressive career total of 36
wins and four losses. The Mixed Martial Arts veteran made his
UFC debut in 1999 where he defeated Valeri Ignatov in UFC 22
and since then has competed in twelve UFC competitions and has
laid out a solid winning foundation of a 10-2 UFC record.
With
all of Matt’s accolades you would think he would be living
up the superstar life. Nope not Matt, he is a dedicated Dad of
two and farm boy who still attends to his chores like any other
normal guy, well for the one exception that Matt could render
you defenseless within seconds if he so chose. Yet Matt is truly
a humble warrior who says that when he decides to walk out he
wants to be the same man who walked in. In a candid interview
Max Fighting conducted with the six-time welterweight champion
he gives his thoughts on his recent victory as well as his past
and future in the sport.
Benny
Henderson Jr. – First, I just want to say congratulations
on your win at UFC 50.
Matt
Hughes - Well thanks; George actually did a better job than I
thought. He was very athletic and good with his hips. My takedowns
weren’t as effective as I thought and he moved his hips
good enough to where he got up on me once off the ground, so
my hat’s off to George St-Pierre; he fought a good fight.
BH
- Ok, you have to tell us about the surprising arm bar move to
end the fight.
MH
- That is actually pretty textbook. Anybody who is familiar with
submissions will know that move so I really can’t pat myself
on the back too hard for that. I actually like that move; I do
it a lot. George tried to go for a key lock and he kind of set
up the move for me. I just stepped around his head and fell into
the arm bar.
BH
- How does it feel to have made UFC history with your sixth win
for the UFC title?
MH
- It’s not a big deal; my belts are under my bed and my
trophies are under my bed so I really don’t put much into
it or think about it when I’m not at the fight. To me, I
have not really thought about it nor care to. When I get done
with this sport I want to walk away as the same person as when
I got into it.
BH
- Any fight in particular that you would like to have next?
MH
– No, I really don’t care who I fight. To be honest,
I kind of hope it is somebody new. Nobody wants to fight the
same person. I know Frank Trigg is looking for a rematch and
I don’t blame him. But I have nothing to gain whatsoever
from fighting Frank Trigg.
BH
- What do you feel your best quality is as a fighter?
MH
– I’m very well rounded - I can strike, I can defend
the takedown and take down people. I can also do submissions,
so I would say that I am a well-rounded person.
BH
- Would you like a rematch with B.J. Penn?
MH
- I don’t care, but that would be fine. I usually just fight
the guy who is in front of me in the octagon. I don’t decide
whom I fight nor do I complain about it, I just compete with
the guy who is my opponent.
BH
- What do you use for motivation?
MH
- I am a very self-motivated person and I really don’t need
to get motivated. I just know what’s my job and that is
what I have to do, so that is the way it usually ends up.
BH
- Your most memorable moment throughout your career?
MH
- Honestly my most memorable moment was when I was working with
Jeremy Horn on takedowns for him, and he went out to the UFC
and fought - well I can’t think of his name right now but
anyway we had been working on takedowns. Jeremy has just gotten
used to taken people down and he went out there and done a move
I showed him that we have been working on and that was a highlight
of my life and career. The fact that I showed Jeremy Horn something
and he worked on it and went out in the fight and took somebody
down that he might not have been able to do without my help and
ended up submitting him. That was a big moment for me knowing
that I had a part in Jeremy taking that guy down and winning.
BH
- What is the most important piece to being a good all around
fighter?
MH
– Wrestling, because that is really the core. If you can
wrestle then you can either decide to stand up to somebody and
defend their takedowns or you can use your take down ability
to take a good striker off his feet. So in my opinion it would
be wrestling.
BH
- Can you tell us your toughest opponent that you feel you have
ever faced?
MH
- My toughest opponent? Boy, I don’t know. Dennis Hallman
has beat me twice but I definitely would not say he was my toughest
opponent because I think if the fight would have went on I would
have won both of those fights. He caught me quick in both of
them. Maybe Carlos Newton, just mentally because he can submit
you at anytime. Just like he did against Pat Milletich. Pat was
killing him the whole fight and Carlos caught him in the fourth
round and submitted him and won. That is one of those things
that mentally is tough on you.
BH
- Is there anything you would like to say to the fans or add
to this interview that I may not have covered?
MH
- I just have to say thanks to all the fans for all the support
I have and keep it up I really appreciate it.
Source: Maxfighting |
CRO
COP VERSUS RANDLEMAN SET FOR PRIDE FIGHTING’S SHOCKWAVE!
Another
dynamic bout has been announced for PRIDE FIGHTING’S upcoming
SHOCKWAVE event: the rematch between Mirko “Cro Cop”
Filipovic and Kevin “The Monster” Randleman. It was
back on April 25, 2004 during the opening round of the heavyweight
Grand Prix that Randleman shocked the world by knocking out Cro
Cop in under two minutes of the first round. Now they meet again!
Previously announced bouts include: for the title of undisputed
heavyweight Grand Prix Champion of 2004 as well as for the title
of PRIDE heavyweight champion … Fedor Emelianenko versus
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira … also, for the first time in mixed
martial arts history and under mixed martial arts rules, it will
be Olympic gold versus Olympic gold as Japan’s Hidehiko
Yoshida (1992 Judo Olympic gold medallist) takes on Rulon Gardner
of the United States (2000 Greco Roman Wrestling Olympic gold
medallist). Other bouts will feature Wanderlei Silva versus Kazushi
Sakuraba, Dan Henderson versus Yuki Kondo, and Takanori Gomi
versus “Little Evil” Jens Pulver.
SHOCKWAVE
will take place from the Saitama Super Arena in Japan and is
scheduled to debut on North American pay per view via iNDEMAND,
DIRECTV, DISH Network, and TVN on Sunday, January 2nd, 2005 at
9:00pm EST, 6:00pm PST.
The
first match between Kevin Randleman and Mirko “Cro Cop”
Filipovic during the opening round of the heavyweight Grand Prix
stunned the mixed martial arts world. A heavy favorite to win
the tournament, or at least advance to face Fedor Emelianenko,
Cro Cop was dismantled in less than two minutes by Randleman.
Since then, Cro Cop has been looking to re-position himself among
the elite heavyweights, re-dedicating himself to his mixed martial
arts career and beginning the road to title contention once again.
In the aftermath of the loss to Randleman, Cro Cop has put together
an impressive string of victories against the likes of Hiromitsu
Kanehara, Shungo Oyama, Alexander Emelianenko, and Josh Barnett.
On the flip side, since his titanic upset of Cro Cop in the tournament,
Randleman went on to lose in the next round in an exciting match
against Fedor Emelianenko. However, his victory over Cro Cop
remains as one of the biggest upsets in mixed martial arts history.
Randleman’s impressive list of athletic accomplishments
speak for themselves: former UFC heavyweight title holder, an
Ohio state-wrestling champion in high school, and three-time
All-American and two time national champion for Ohio State University.
Now he once again puts it on the line against Cro Cop! Will history
repeat itself for Randleman? Or will Cro Cop have redemption?
SHOCKWAVE
- FIGHT CARD
Fedor
Emelianenko (Russia) vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Brazil)
(This is a double title match, for both the PRIDE FIGHTING heavyweight
championship as well for the title of 2004 Grand Prix heavyweight
champion)
Hidehiko
Yoshida (Japan) vs. Rulon Gardner (USA)
Wanderlei Silva (Brazil) vs. Kazushi Sakuraba (Japan)
Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic (Croatia) vs. Kevin Randleman
(USA)
Dan Henderson (USA) vs. Yuki Kondo (Japan)
Takanori Gomi (Japan) vs. Jens Pulver (USA)
Fight
card subject to change. More bouts to be announced soon.
Source: ADCC |
Catching
Up At The Pride Auditions With MIKE KYLE
At the Pride auditions in L.A. last month fighters came from
as far away as the UK to show a panel of judges including Matt
Hume and Bas Rutten they had the moves and the looks to fight
in the largest MMA organization. Three weight divisions were
registered starting at 9 AM followed by a demonstration by Hume
and Rutten on what they would be looking for behind the curtain
on the audition mats. Lightweights, the largest group with overall
about half the total competitors, were paired up first starting
with three pairs at a time starting around 11:30. Middleweights
started in the early afternoon and Heavyweights in the late afternoon.
Several of the fighters from grappling backgrounds noted they
were used to sitting around all day to compete so they weren’t
bothered but the strikers were noticeable chomping at the bit
with those in the Heavyweight division cooling their heels for
around six hours waiting for about five minutes of the judges’
time.
The
Heavyweight division had not just a lopsided representation of
strikers but some of the top up and comer names in MMA including
KOTC Champion Paul Buentello, former KOTC Champion Jimmy Ambriz,
former KOTC Champion and UFC vet Bobby Hoffman (sporting short
blonde hair instead of his prior Sammy Hagar hairdo), and UFC
vet Mike Kyle. Mike’s intro could include “former WEC
Champion” but, as we started out trying to clarify, how
to phrase that is unconfirmed. Kyle was talked about behind the
scenes from October ’03 to January of ’04 as the next
big thing in the US Heavyweight divisions with wins in IFC, WEC,
and King of the Rockies. He won the WEC belt in January ’04
when he defeated Jude Hagert in what at the time was the longest
fight of Mike’s career…4:09 of round 1. He went on
to UFC where he beat Wes Simms and lost to Justin Eilers this
year.
At
October’s WEC show Kyle was supposed to fight James Irvin
for Kyle’s first defense of the WEC belt but for reasons
that were not reported on the record Mike dropped out and another
fighter took his place. With Irvin’s win he was declared
the Champion and given the reportedly vacant belt in the cage.
Or was he?
KM:
Did you vacate the WEC belt or was it stripped?
MK:
Scott Adams never told me in the conversations we had. I still
have my WEC World title and James Irvin just won the Heavyweight
tournament and that is the belt he got. I think James Irvin certainly
has earned a shot at the title, whether it be for WEC or a different
show or whatnot. I don’t want anyone to think I’m ducking.
We’ll get that fight, it will happen.
(Note:
as of this writing both Scott Adams and ISKA Commissioner Paul
Smith, who’s IFC group basically does much of the legwork
for WEC, both had not responded.)
KM:
There were rumors your MMA career was in jeopardy.
MK:
That is more or less people just talking, not really knowing
facts. Not getting facts from Scott Adams or myself. That is
just hearsay. Everything is on-track with me. UFC is calling
me back. As long as I put on a show and keep my fight standing,
keep doing what I do, hopefully I’ll win back some of those
UFC fans and just keep plugging away. The whole microphone incident
at the UFC, I flipped off the crowd not knowing why they were
booing me. I was so upset they were booing me I flipped them
off thinking they were booing me for apologizing. All I did was
try to apologize to my sponsors and when I hear the crowd booing
when I really felt I gave it all it hurt. I let my temper go
by flipping them off but like I said I didn’t understand
why. Two months later I watched the film and watched me bump
the mike out of Joe Rogan’s hand and at the time I didn’t
know none of that. Now I understand why the crowd was booing.
I felt I let my camp down and tried to apologize for that and
was getting emotional. I was trying to get away from being emotional,
no-one wants to cry on the mike. Getting away from the mike I
accidentally bumped it out of his hand. I’m going to get
those fans back. I’m a hard worker.
KM:
Regarding the Pride auditions here today it’s about 12:56,
we’re not even done with the Lightweights yet…how are
you feeling?
MK:
Me and my training partner Paul Buentello went and grabbed some
lunch. I’m feeling great. Long drive last night, five hours
driving down from San Francisco area. We’ll get warmed up
real good and get something going.
KM:
Any sense of for instance confusion that you had to show up at
9 in the morning but the Heavyweights don’t start until
the mid-afternoon?
MK:
A little bummed out with it not being a little more organized.
Overall I think the Pride people will get to see the looks that
they want from the people and we’ll get to see what they
want, what character they want. Hopefully they will like what
they see and will be interested in pulling me up. I definitely
look forward to it.
The
results of the Pride auditions are expected to be available right
before Christmas, four weeks from the auditions themselves.
WEC’s
next show is January 22nd, titled “Heavyweight Explosion”.
No card is currently available.
Source: ADCC |
Quote
of the Day
"Happiness is a butterfly, which, when pursued, is always
just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly,
may alight upon you."
Nathaniel Hawthorne {1804-1864 American Novelist}
|
Ring
of Honor Kauai Results
Waimea High School Gymnasium
December 4, 2004
By Michael Onzuka
Mike@onzuka.com
Ring
of Honor packed up and succeed in putting on the first MMA event
on the Garden Isle of Kauai. There are at least three large Brazilian
Jiu-Jitsu schools there and Kauai is also the birthplace of Eben
Kaneshiro who has been making waves on the west coast MMA circuit.
Still, there are not many people that live on Kauai and the big
question was how many will come to a mixed martial arts show?
The answer came quickly as the gym was packed with fans that
were very animated as they watched some exciting fights. MMA
has already been established on Oahu, the Big Island of Hawaii,
and Maui so now we can add Kauai as another place that the missionaries
of MMA have reached out to.
The
fans were treated with some short, but exciting fights that made
it a very fast paced event. The fight of the night was easily
the Jumar Dumalao versus Aaron Carvalho fight. Dumalao was dominating
with his stand up and drew first blood from the nose and above
the eye of Carvalho. Just when you thought Carvalho was out,
Carvalho answered with a huge punch that dropped Dumalao three
different times earning him a referee stoppage from local MMA
star Falaniko Viatale who refereed all the matches. Kaimi Santiago
also shined with a brutal knockout of Shawn Taylor. Taylor was
literally knocked halfway out of the ring and was down for a
while. Taylor soon recovered and was able to walk out under his
own power. The main event featured a rematch of Tony Espitia
of Kona Boxing Club against 808 Fight Factory's Bryson Kamaka
(formally Monterde). Kamaka started strong with a nice leg kick,
but when they clinched Espitia sunk in a deep guillotine choke.
Kamaka took Espitia down trying to gain an advantage in position
to hopefully slip out, but Espitia held the choke and won by
tap out.
With
the success of this first event, the team of promoters headed
by Kai Kamaka, tentatively plan on being back in February if
not sooner. Usually Kauaians have to fly in to Oahu or the other
islands to witness MMA in person, now they will get to witness
MMA on their home turf. For the full descriptions of the fights,
check out the upcoming issue of Full
Contact Fighter.
Ring of Honor did not skimp on the quality of the ring girls.
Results
with pictures...
Bryson Kamaka (808 Fight Factory) vs. Tony Espitia (Kona Boxing
Club)
Espitia by tap out due to guillotine choke at 2:02 in round 1.
Espitia throws out a jab to Kamaka
Espitia locks in the guillotine
Kyle
Miyahana (Freelance) vs. Kimo Mundon (Kauai)
Draw (19-19),(20-18), (19-18)
Miyahana attempts an Americana on Mundon.
Shawn
Taylor (Freelance) vs. Kaimi Santiago (Young Guns)
Santiago by knockout at 32 seconds of round 1
Everyone checks on a KO'd Shawn Taylor
Jumar
Dumalao (808 Fight Factory) vs. Aaron Carvalho (Young Guns)
Carvalho by referee stoppage at 2:01 in round 2
Dumalao tries to finish a double on Carvalho
Both fighters were exchanging blows in the fight of the night
Rob Villapondo (808 Fight Factory) vs. Alika Rincon (Young Guns)
Draw (19-19) for all three judges (announced incorrectly at the
event as a win for Rincon, but corrected after reviewing the
judges' cards)
Villapondo with a forearm choke from the guard of Rincon
Gerald
"G-Money" Arevalo (808 Fight Factory) vs. Abe Kaleiopa'a
(Young Guns)
Kaleiopa'a by tapout from triangle at 1:31 in round 1
Arevalo in Kaleiopa'a's triangle
Ryan
Fukuda (808 Fight Factory) vs. Kainoa Walther (Young Guns)
Walther by guillotine (put opponent to sleep) at 52 seconds in
round 1
Fukuda attempts a takedown on Walther
Walther guillotines Fukuda
Corey
Ferriera (808 Fight Factory) vs. Carlos Rincon (Young Guns)
Rincon wins because Ferreira could not continue after the end
of round 1 due to a shoulder injury.
Ferreira tried to punch his way through Rincon's guard |
More
tips to improve your Jiu-Jitsu
Following Abu Dhabi gold medalist and two times World Jiu-Jitsu
Champion (2002-2003) Marcio Pe de Pano and Pride phenomenon Rodrigo
Nogueira ‘Minotauro’s tips now other prestigious fighters
disclose some of their secrets for you to improve your Jiu-Jitsu:
Master
Osvaldo Alves: “It’s necessary to search for the best
version of the movement that you use to submit an opponent. For
example: In the 70’s, there was only armlocks from the open
guard. I understood that I could use the same lock with the closed
guard, which increases the difficulties for the opponent to escape”.
Leozinho
Vieira: “Lots of athletes absorb defeats in a negative way.
Well, I believe that we only learn when we lose. So, forget about
depression or blame after a loss. What you need to do is take
advantage of the lesson. Start to think about the things that
you are doing wrong and how you can improve that. Of course it
is better to use this tip after training losses, not after a
championship loss. So, don’t be afraid to lose in your academy,
look for the best training partners. I believe that if you are
submitting everybody in your academy, you are not learning anything”.
Source: ADCC
|
ADCC
2005: 5 Brazilians Qualify for the Submission Wrestling World
Championships!
Sunday December 5th, 2005
ADCC Brazilian Trials
Ginásio do Ibirapuera
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Five
more athletes have qualified for the 6th Submission Wrestling
World Championships, as the finals of the Brazilian Trials were
completed this past weekend. The odyssey started for many the
weekend before, as the Brazil Trials adapted a grueling pre trials
to decide 4 spots in the 8 man tournaments. Sao Paulo hosted
the Finals, where they shared the venue with a wrestling tournament.
Nevertheless, the level of the Trials continues to evolve, as
both weekends were packed with action.
FINAL
RESULTS:
U-66KG Wagney Fabiano defeats Rani Yahira by 2 x 0
U-77KG
Jucao defeats Eduardo Guedes by 2 x 0
U-88KG
Demian Maia submits Cohen by katagatame after running the score
up to 11 x 0
U-99KG
Roger Gracie defeats Vitor Viana by katagatame submission
Over
99KG Gabriel Napao defeats Alex Negao - Gabriel Napao by (-1)
ADCC
2005 - 6th Submission Wrestling World Championships
The Pyramid, Long Beach, CA
May 28th and 29th, 2005
Each
of the 5 weight classes will have 16 men in each tournament,
and so far, three spots are confirmed. Below is the current list
of entrents for the 6th Submssion Wrestling World Championships.
U-66KG
Leo Vieira 2003 World Champion (BRAZIL)
Wagney Fabiano Brazilian Qualifier (BRAZIL)
Javier Vazquez North American Qualifier (USA)
U-77KG
Marcelo Garcia 2003 World Champion (BRAZIL)
Juan 'Jucao' Carneiro Brazilian Qualifier (BRAZIL)
Cameron Earle North American Qualifier (USA)
U-88KG
Saulo Ribeiro 2003 World Champion (BRAZIL)
Demian Maia Brazilian Qualifier (BRAZIL)
Marcos Avellan North American Qualifier (USA)
U-99KG
Jon Olav Einmo 2003 World Champion (NORWAY)
Roger Gracie Brazilian Qualifier (BRAZIL)
Jamal Patterson North American Qualifier (USA)
Over
99KG
Marcio 'Pe De Pano' Cruz 2003 World Champion (BRAZIL)
Gabriel Napao Brazilian Qualifier (BRAZIL)
Karim Byron North American Qualifier (CANADA)
Source: ADCC
|
PRIDE
FIGHTING: HARDCORE KNOCKOUTS ON PPV!
PRIDE Fighting Championships has produced a PPV scheduoled to
debut next weekend featuring KO's from PRIDE's history. The website
does not reveal the amtches that wil lair, however a full replay
schedule is on tap for all of December.
PRIDE
FIGHTING: HARDCORE KNOCKOUTS
Premiere Date: Friday, December 10th, 2004
Premiere Time: 10:00pm EST, 7:00pm PST
Count Down show: 9:30pm EST, 6:30pm PST
PPV
price: US$19.95
Availability: iNDEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH Network, and TVN
See
the PRIDEFC.COM webiste for more details!
Source: ADCC
|
NOVEMBER
2004 - ADCC's TOP TEN MMA!
under 145 lbs.
#1 Jens Pulver (Miletich Fighting Systems, USA)
#2 Alexandre 'Pequeno' Nogueira (Brazil)
#3 Norifumi 'Kid' Yamamoto (Japan)
#4 Joao Roque (Nova Uniao, Brazil)
#5 Ivan Menjivar (Costa Rica)
#6 Mike Brown (Team Elite, USA)
#7 Tetsuo Katsuta (Japan)
#8 Hiroyuki Abe (Japan)
#9 Hiroyuki Takaya (Japan)
#10 Stephen
Palling (USA)
145.1
- 155 lbs.
#1 Vitor 'Shaolin' Ribeiro (Nova Uniao, Brazil)
#2 Yves Edwards (ThugJitsu, USA)
#3 Joachim Hansen (Team Scandinavia, Oslo, Norway)
#4 Takanori Gomi (SHOOTO, Japan)
#5 Genki Sudo (Japan)
#6 Hermes Franca (Brazilian TOP TEAM, Fortalez, Brazil)
#7 Luis 'Buscape' (Brazil)
#8 Josh Thompson (Team AKA, USA)
#9 Matt Serra (Team Renzo Gracie, USA)
#10 Rich Clementi (Team Extreme, USA)
155.1
- 170 lbs.
#1 BJ Penn
(USA)
#2 Matt Hughes (Miletich Fighting Systems,, USA)
#3 Sean Sherk (USA)
#4 Jake Shields (Cesar Gracie, USA)
#5 Chris Lytle (Integrated Fighting, USA)
#6 Frank Trigg (rAw, USA)
#7 Rodrigo Gracie (Team Renzo Gracie, USA)
#8 Nick Diaz (Cesar Gracie, USA)
#9 Akira Kikuchi (Japan)
#10 George St Pierre (TKO, Canada)
170.1
- 185 lbs.
#1 Anderson Silva (Brazil)
#2 Jeremy Horn (Miletich Fighting Systems,, USA)
#3 Yuki Kondo (Japan)
#4 Kazushi Sakuraba (Japan)
#5 David Terrell (Cesar Gracie, USA)
#6 Evan Tanner (Team Quest, USA)
#7 Ivan Salaverry (AMC Pankration, USA)
#8 Denis Kang (Soares JJ, Canada)
#9 Masanori Suda (SHOOTO Champion, Japan)
#10 Rich Franklin (Team EXTREME, USA)
185.1
- 205 lbs.
#1 Wanderlei Silva (Chute Boxe, Brazil)
#2 Randy Couture (Team Quest, USA)
#3 Dan Henderson (USA)
#4 Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (Brazilian TOP TEAM, Brazil)
#5 Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson (USA)
#6 Chuck Liddell (USA)
#7 Tito Ortiz (USA)
#8 Vitor Belfort (Brazil)
#9 Ricardo Arona (Brazil)
#10 Lyoto Machida (Japan)
205.1
lbs and Up.
#1 Rodrigo 'Minotauro' Nogueira (Brazilian TOP TEAM, Brazil)
#2 Emilianenko Fedor (Red Devil, Russia)
#3 Mirko Filipovic (Croatia)
#4 Andrei Orlovski (Belarus)
#5 Frank Mir (Pires JJ, USA)
#6 Emilianenko Alexander (Red Devil, Russia)
#7 Josh Barnett (NJPW, USA)
#8 Tim Sylvia (Miletich Fighting Systems, USA)
#9 Travis Wiuff (USA)
#10 Heath Herring (USA)
Source: ADCC
|
Fedrigo:
'Wand will be 100% ready for Sak'
After the victory over Quinton Jackson at Pride High Octane,
Wanderlei Silva steped out of the ring with bruises in his hands
due to the punishment. Some people speculated about the possibility
of Wand be out of the Pride New´s Year Event. However,
according to the Chute Boxe leader, Rudimar Fedrigo, the middleweight
champion will be ready to his next challenge against Kazushi
Sakuraba, on December 31st.
'Wanderlei
is still recovering from the injuries occured during the fight
against Rampage. He suffered contusions in his hands, specially
in the left one. But he is training and getting better at the
same time and I can assure that he is going to be 100% ready
by the time of the fight against Sakuraba. He is a athlete who
heals very fast', says Rudimar.
Asked
about what would be the differences between the three previous
fights between Wand and Sakuraba and this one the upcoming one,
Fedrigo made no mystery.
'Wanderlei
has the same training no matter who the next opponent would be.
The routine is always the same. I think that the three previous
fight were very exciting and that is what the Japanes audience
want to see. The Japanese people asked for this fourth fight
between Wand e Sakuraba. I heard about it during the Meca´s
last edition, when several Pride´s managers came to Brazil.
By that time, they didn´t say anything about a new fight,
but they commented the big interest of the Japanese people to
see once more Wanderlei and Sakuraba in the same ring' finishes
Fedrigo.
Source: ADCC
|
Bonjasky
Defends Title at K-1 World GP
TOKYO,
December 4, 2004 -- It took him three hard bouts and a record
12 total rounds of fighting to do so, but Remy Bonjasky of the
Netherlands persevered to defend his K-1 World Grand Prix Championship
at the Tokyo Dome today. Bonjasky became just the third man to
win the world's most prestigious fightsport title two years in
a row. (Fellow Dutch fighters Peter Aerts, 1994/1995; and Ernesto
Hoost, 1999/2000, are the others). The 28 year-old Muay Thai
stylist also picked up a cool US$400,000 in prize money for emerging
as the "King of Kings," and proved beyond a doubt that
he belongs at the forefront of K-1's new generation of elite
fighters.
This
was the 12th K-1 World GP Championship, completing the sport's
first full cycle on the 12 year Chinese astrological calendar.
It is fitting that Bonjasky was born in 1976, the 'Year of the
Dragon,' for he displayed the sort of heart and spirit attributed
to that warrior class. Bonjasky's hard-fought victory capped
a night of action which included several surprising upsets and
some controversial decisions.
The
tournament's first quarterfinal matchup featured Muay Thai wunderkind
Kaoklai Kaennorsing of Thailand. At just 21 years of age and
78kg (172lbs) Kaoklai is both the youngest and the lightest fighter
ever to compete in the Final. He beat one of the biggest and
the best, Alexey Ignashov, to earn his spot here. Kaoklai's opponent,
American slugger Mighty Mo, was the heaviest fighter in the Final
at 127kg (280lbs). Mo won the Battle at the Bellagio III in Las
Vegas this August, then KO'd Gary Goodridge at the Final Elimination
to get here.
From
the first bell, these two did what they were expected to do.
Kaoklai stayed light on his feet, circling the American, tossing
in his hard low kicks, while Mo strove to answer every kick with
a punch or two. Mo got some punches in to Kaoklai's midsection,
and didn't look half bad in the early going -- but Kaoklai generally
stayed out of harm's way and was never really in any serious
trouble here.
Mo
also threw a couple of high kicks, which surprised many in the
crowd. But there is that old adage about not trying to beat a
man at his own game -- instead of bringing on an all-out punching
attack, Mo spent a whole lot of time outside, cautious. This
proved his downfall when, in the blink of an eye, the lightning-quick
Kaoklai launched a jumping high kick which connected just below
Mo's left ear to send the big guy to the canvas in a heap. (There
is also an old adage about the big ones falling harder.) His
head in la-la land, Mo stood up slowly and swayed for a spell,
his rubbery legs barely able to support him, but it was no good.
He was finished, at 2:40 of the first round.
Ray
Sefo of New Zealand met Japanese Seidokaikan fighter Musashi
in the second bout. In the best performance of his life, Musashi
defeated Sefo and Peter Aerts last year's GP Final, before losing
the Championship bout to Remy Bonjasky by decision. But this
year Sefo (a clear favorite in the unofficial international fight
writers' poll) stepped into the ring looking to be in the best
shape of his fighting career.
The
first round saw the two tentative, trading low kicks and going
to the clinch when they got close. Not a lot of action, but Musashi
did just miss with a high kick. In round two, it was Sefo's turn
to just miss with a high kick, and in the last bit of the round
the Kiwi moved in more, threading a nice left through Musashi's
guard to finish the round with some momentum.
In
the third, Sefo, as he is wont to do, dropped his guard and taunted
his opponent. But Musashi would not be intimidated, and although
the Japanese fighter was frequently in defensive mode, he did
get his licks in. Judges saw the contest as even and so an extra
round was prescribed.
Here,
a focused Musashi kept his guard high and close and threw kicks.
When the distance closed, Sefo looked to get the uppercut in,
while Musashi worked the knees, connecting once with what might
have been the best strike of the round. There was more action
here, and although neither fighter really dominated, judges reckoned
Musashi had the edge, and handed him a narrow but unanimous decision.
Sefo
was not happy with the decision, refusing to fault Musashi but
bitterly criticizing the judges in his post-fight interview.
Peter
Aerts of the Netherlands stepped in against South African boxer
Francois "The White Buffalo" Botha in the first of
the 'Dutch Bracket' matchups. Botha has shown steady improvement
in K-1, and scored a major upset over Jerome LeBanner at the
Final Elimination to earn his place here. Aerts, meanwhile, is
the consummate K-1 veteran. He holds the unique distinction of
having participated in all 12 World GPs, winning the title three
times along the way.
This
third fight produced a third upset. Aerts started out looking
good, moving well and connecting with three hard low kicks and
a couple of high kicks before Botha had even thrown a punch.
Incredibly, Botha won this fight without landing a single blow,
when, less than a minute in, Aerts suddenly turned away after
connecting with a low kick. As the "Lumberjack" shook
his right leg in pain, the referee had no choice but to step
in and call a standing count. But Aerts could not recover from
what was later diagnosed as a torn ligament in his calf. Seconds
after the fight had resumed, an obviously distressed Aerts again
turned away from his opponent, and under K-1's two downs in a
round rule, he was out and Botha was through to the semis.
In
what was probably the most highly-anticipated fight of the year,
Bonjasky locked horns in the fourth quarterfinal with K-1's only
four-time GP Champion, Ernesto Hoost. Revered for his flying
knees and kicks, Bonjasky is a definite crowd favorite. But Hoost,
who turns 40 next year, has a special place in K-1 fans' hearts.
The man they call "Mr. Perfect" is considering retirement,
and said at the pre-event press conference that he wanted to
make his exit as a five-time World GP Champion. Such is the respect
afforded these two Dutch fighters, that more than half the respondents
to a K-1 USA Website poll correctly predicted that the victor
in this bout would go on to win the tournament.
Hoost
was the more aggressive in the first, putting his head down and
muscling in with punch combinations, grabbing Bonjasky's extended
leg and throwing the low kick, countering Bonjasky's relatively
undisciplined attacks with textbook combinations. Bonjasky took
the initiative halfway through the round, but Hoost was good
on the defense. The second was slower, Hoost leading with the
right straight punch, Bonjasky having his moments with kick and
punch combinations, but both fighters generally cautious.
In
the third, Hoost continued to lead with the right straight, fighting
from an uncharacteristically wide stance, and got more than a
few solid body blows in on his opponent. But Bonjasky now intensified
his knee and kicking attacks, and when he got a leg up in while
coming off the ropes, Hoost went down -- although this was ruled
a slip. Bonjasky also worked the knees from the clinch here,
and when the final bell sounded judges could not pick a winner.
The
extra round saw some good attempts from both fighters, Hoost
intent on boxing, Bonjasky working the legs to some effect. A
Bonjasky uppercut made partial contact here, and judges must
have liked Bonjasky's spunk -- rewarding him with a narrow decision
and a trip to the semis.
Like
Sefo before him, the usually gracious Hoost was less than pleased
with the judges' decision: "I landed the most blows, I won
the fight!" he said. Hoost also made a call for international
judges at K-1 events.
The
first of the semis, between Kaoklai and Musashi, was a display
of kicking prowess. Kaoklai circled, controlling the distance
with front kicks while looking for openings, striking quickly
with his legs. Musashi the natural southpaw switch-hit from the
orthodox stance, and showed good defensive technique. But when
he stumbled, Kaoklai flew in with a flying knee that made partial
contact. This happened again in the second, and Kaoklai was now
initiating more of the attacks. Kaoklai threw punches here, but
these did not seem to bother Musashi. Ever circling, Kaoklai
kept putting in the kicks and occasional punch, while Musashi's
power was mostly stymied by the Thai fighter's great speed and
evasive techniques. At the end of the second, Kaoklai was ahead
by the narrowest of margins on two cards.
In
the third, Musashi put a high kick up that had 'KO' written all
over it, but Kaoklai read it perfectly and deftly ducked out
of harm's way at the last instant. So it was throughout the fight,
and Musashi was looking increasingly frustrated here until he
switched to his southpaw stance and began firing the low kicks
in. At the bell, one judge had Kaoklai up but two saw it even
and so the bout went to an extra round.
Here,
Kaoklai threw high kicks but Musashi's defense was up to the
task, and the Japanese fighter began to score points with hard
low kicks. Although it was close, judges decided Musashi has
inflicted more punishment and so gave him the decision and a
trip to the finals for the second consecutive year.
In
the second semi, Bonjasky came out flying, but as the first round
progressed it was Botha who began to set the pace, stepping in
with powerful body blows -- which Bonjasky seemed unsure of just
how to counter. In round two it was more of the same, Botha's
meat and potatoes punch attack proving effective, Bonjasky tossing
in low kicks but unable to get his fancy stuff going. By the
time the third round started, Botha had thrown a total of just
three kicks, but thanks mainly to the many body blows, was ahead
on all three cards.
In
the third, Bonjasky changed gears and worked the knees from the
clinch, although this proximity permitted Botha to get a nice
uppercut in. But Bonjasky's low kicks were now taking their toll,
and soon Botha's left leg was clearly bothering him. Bonjasky
got a kick up to Botha's head that didn't even faze the South
African, and the Defending Champion was in danger of elimination
when, just seconds from the clapper, he threw a second right
kick up to the side of Botha's head to score a down. It was just
what Bonjasky needed to take the decision and advance to the
final.
The
prospect of a Japanese Champion raised the decibel level in the
Tokyo Dome dramatically as Musashi made his way to the ring for
his showdown with Bonjasky -- a rematch of the 2003 final. The
two were battle-weary for sure, Musashi had already fought eight
rounds, Bonjasky seven on the night. Here, they would fight another
five, as judges called for not one but two extra rounds.
Just
22 seconds into the fight, Bonjasky planted an innocent right
straight punch on Musashi's nose which surprised the Japanese
fighter and dropped him -- it was clear there was little or no
damage from the blow, but the down did count for points, and
so from a very early point in this fight, Musashi was forced
to play catch-up. After a less-than-overwhelming performances
in his first two bouts, Bonjasky was finally starting to look
like Bonjasky.
In
the second, Musashi, fighting again from the orthodox stance,
worked the low kicks to effect, and Bonjasky briefly seemed to
be in trouble when three hard low kicks dropped him to the canvas.
The crowd erupted in a cheer, but the fall was quickly waved
off as a slip. Bonjasky countered with punches through this round,
but these did not seem to bother Musashi, and by now the fight
was starting to look almost even.
In
the third something truly weird happened. While chasing Musashi
down, Bonjasky launched a flying kick at his head. The Japanese
fighter ducked out of harm's way and Bonjasky sailed up, up,
and away -- vaulting over the ropes head-first and falling onto
the apron before smashing through the ringside photographers
and tumbling to the ground outside the ring. There was a tense
pause in the action as a stunned Bonjasky recomposed, and doctors
had a look at the fighter before clearing him to continue. Now
mindful perhaps of the dangers of high-flying attacks, Bonjasky
began boxing again, putting his opponent into retreat more than
once -- although Musashi did counter with some low kicks for
points here. Then, incredibly, when Bonjasky again threw a high
kick, he again ended up dangling head-first over the ropes. This
time, veteran referee Nobuaki Kakuda quickly grabbed the Dutch
fighter and pulled him back into the ring. The round ended with
Musashi putting in the low kicks and Bonjasky working the knees.
One judge liked Bonjasky here, but the other two, again, wanted
to see an extra round before deciding.
Bonjasky
manhandled Musashi in the early part of the fourth, frantic with
high kicks, a solid knee and some pretty good punch and kick
combinations. Musashi was mostly motionless through this one,
but did rally with low kicks in the last part of the round. Again,
one judge liked Bonjasky but the other two scored a draw to force
a fifth and final round.
Here,
Bonjasky was fatigued and Musashi was less than sharp. Bonjasky
swatted Musashi with punches and worked to get the knee up, but
by now both fighters were nearing fecklessness. Bonjasky still
had just a little more energy in reserve, though, and got a high
kick up to Musashi's head in the final seconds. Five rounds is
the limit, so now judges had to call this one, and they did so
for Bonjasky.
Bonjasky
appeared at his post-fight interview with his left arm in a sling,
this due a pulled muscle suffered in his first fight.
"We
knew the fight with Ernesto would be tough," he said, "so
fortunately, we trained for endurance."
Some
people had suggested I only won last year because Ernesto wasn't
in the tournament," continued Bonjasky, "so it was
big to beat him, as he is a great fighter and four-time GP Champion.
I am happy to win, and I love Japan!"
Asked
for their reaction to the judges' call for extra rounds in his
dance with Musashi, a diplomatic Bonjasky and his trainer Andre
Maennaart would only say they found it "strange."
In
his post-tournament comments, K-1 Event Producer Sadaharu Tanikawa
promised that the K-1 organization would look into the criticism
of the judging raised by several tournament fighters.
In
other action on the card:
The
first reserve bout pitted K-1 veteran Jerome LeBanner of France
against Japanese tough guy Hiromi Amada. LeBanner was aggressive
here, throwing low and high kicks from the bell and moving in
with hooks midway through the first. Amada stood his ground,
but in the second took a low kick that stung his left knee. Wincing
in pain, Amada went down for a count, and although he was able
to struggle back to his feet just in time, he was clearly compromised,
and after taking another blow to the same lame leg he went down
for good, giving LeBanner the win.
The
second reserve fight, between French kickboxer Cyril Abidi and
slugger Gary Goodridge of Trinidad and Tobago, was nothing less
than thrilling. From the instant the first bell sounded, the
fighters conflated into a flailing mass of kicks and punches.
Abidi had the high kicks flying every which way, Goodridge was
relentless with the one-two haymakers. Although this fight lasted
but a single round, there was a truckload of punishment unloaded
in those three minutes.
There
is no sense attempting a blow-by-blow account of this one, as
there were almost 100 strikes thrown in what can best be described
as an all-out bar brawl. Initially, after Abidi was corralled
into the corner, it appeared that Goodridge had the upper hand,
especially when an uppercut rattled the Frenchman. But the momentum
reversed midway through the round. Abidi got out and landed perhaps
a dozen unanswered punches on his opponent before he stopped,
exhausted. Given the chance to catch his breath, Goodridge somehow
summoned the strength he needed to rally, and got the fists flying
to down Abidi with a right just seconds from the clapper. Goodridge
charged Abidi when the fight resumed, and got another right in
for a second down and the win.
The
K-1 World Grand Prix 2004 Final attracted a sellout crowd of
64,819 to the Tokyo Dome. It was same-day broadcast in Japan
on the Fuji TV network; on pay-per-view in Korea; and in the
United States on inDemand, Direct TV and TVN pay-per-view. The
GP Final will be broadcast in some 100 countries on a delayed
basis, check with your local provider for details.
Source: Michael Afromowitz
|
Quote
of the Day
"You are the only real obstacle in your path to a fulfilling
life."
Les Brown {American Motivator Lecturer}
|
KICKBOXING
CHAMPIONSHIPS
KICKIN IT 2004 "THE SEQUEL"
DECEMBER 10, 2004
KAPOLEI HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM
MORE BACKGROUND ON THE CHAMPIONSHIP BOUTS
7-YEAR OLD 55# CHAMPIONSHIP
DAHWEN BRIGHT VS. KILI POMROY
HSD AP BOXING
8-YEAR OLD 60# CHAMPIONSHIP
TRISTON PEBRIA VS TRISTON KAMAKA
EWA BEACH FIGHT CLUB 808 FIGHT FACTORY
9-YEAR OLD 65# CHAMPIONSHIP
DIDO RODRIGUES VS ABE REINHARDT
WAIANAE KICKBOXING WAILUKU KICKBOXING
10-12 YEAR OLD 105# CHAMPIONSHIP
SAGE YOSHIDA VS SHAUN AHLO
HMC ACADEMIA COSCA GROSSA
WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP ((149-146#)
NICK CORREA (2-1) VS KAIPO GONZALES (SEMI PRO)
HSD EASTSIDAZ
GONZALEZ WHO IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST HITTERS IN THE WELTERWEIGHT
DIVISION WILL GIVE CORREA SOME CHIN CHECKS IN THIS MATCH. CORREA
WHO IS LESS EXPERIENCED HAS NEVER FOUGHT SOMEONE WITH GONZALES'S
POWER BUT HAS FOUGHT HEAVIER FIGHTERS. CORREA IS THE TALLER OF
THE TWO BY ABOUT 5 INCHES. IT WILL BE A MATCH WHERE EAST VS WEST,
POWER VS REACH, NALO BOY VS MAKAKILO BOY.
MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (153-159#)
WAYNE KAMEALOHA (1-1) VS NICK GEGA (3-0)
HSD LAUPAHOEHOE MUAY THAI
SUPERLIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (135-139#)
DAVID BALICAO (5-1) VS RYAN LEE (SEMI PRO)
HSD BULLSPEN
SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (125-129#)
CHAD PAVAO (3-0) VS TAVIS KAGAWA (2-2)
HSD LAUPAHOEHOE MUAY THAI
SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (115-119#)
TONY PERERA (3-0) VS KOICHI TANJI (1-1)
WAIANAE KICKBOXING HMC
SUPER HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (210-ABOVE)
BOB ATISANOE (3-0) VS LEVI JOSEPH
HSD TEAM YOKUZUNA
THESE TWO BIG BOYZ WILL WEIGH-IN OVER 300 LBS. NOONE HAS MADE
IT PASS THE FIRST ROUND WITH ATISANOE AND HE PLANS TO KEEP IT
THAT WAY WHEN HE MEETS TEAM YOKUZUNA'S LEVI JOSEPH. LEVI IS WELL
KNOWN ON THE STREETS OF NALO AND ESPECIALLY AT THE BEACHES OF
KAILUA AFTERDARK. EXPECT BIG BOMBS TO FLY IN THIS MATCH.
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (167-174#)
BEN RODRIGUES (3-1) VS CONRAD PASSI (2-1)
HSD ADVANCED KENPO
OPEN MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (153-159#)
KALEO KWON (SEMI-PRO) ZACH ILIZARO
EASTSIDAZ WAILUKU KICKBOXING
THIS IS ANOTHER REDEMPTION FIGHT. KWON WHO IS THE 155# SUMA CHAMPION
WHO LOST TO ILIZARO IN A BOXING MATCH IN MAUI. HE IS SEEKING
TO REDEEM HIMSELF ON DEC. 10. BOTH FIGHTERS ARE CONSIDERED SEMI
PROS AND BOTH OF THEM HAVE KNOCKOUT POWER. BEING THAT THEY ARE
SEMI PROS, THEY WILL PROBABLY FIGHT WITHOUT HEADGEARS. SEMI-PRO,
10 OZ. GLOVES, KNOCKOUT POWER, NO HEADGEAR, DRAW YOUR OWN CONCLUSION.
AU RIGHT
OTHER BOUTS
KAI RUIZ 75# HYO MATSUKAWA
HSD HMC
MIKE KIPAPA 250# KAIKA AKI
TEAM YOKUZUNA HSD
KEONI KIPAPA 135# CHAZIN MAHUKA
TEAM YOKUZUNA HSD
SHAWN "THE TORNADO" TAYLOR 175# JOHN NAOLE
TEAM YOKUZUNA HMC
HANS LEE 155# PIT
ANIMAL HOUSE TEAM YOKUZUNA
MUAY THAI BOUTS-LEG KICKS, CLINCHING, AND KNEES WILL BE ALLOWED
IN THESE MATCHES
TYSON NAM 135# DEREK MINN
GEE YUNG LAUPAHOEHOE MUAY THAI
ALL MATCHES MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
PRE-SALE:$15.00 AT THE DOOR:$20.00
TICKETS MAY BE PURCHASED FROM ALMOST ALL PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS
(ANIMAL HOUSE, TEAM YOKUZUNA, HSD, WAIANAE KICKBOXING CLUB, TEAM
BAD INTENTIONS,HMC, EASTSIDAZ, LAUPAHOEHOE MUAY THAI, GEE YUNG,
ADVANCED KENPO, EWA BEACH FIGHT CLUB)
IF YOU ENJOYED THE P.I.P. EVENT, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO WANNA MISS
KICKIN IT 2004 "THE SEQUEL". THERE ARE 12 SCHEDULED
CHAMPIONSHIP BOUTS THAT WILL BE GOING DOWN. ALL THE FIGHTERS
WHO ARE SCHEDULED TO COMPETE FOR THESE BELTS HAVE EARNED THE
RIGHT TO FIGHT FOR THEM. THEY WERE NOT HANDPICKED OR JUST GIVEN
THE OPPURTUNITY TO FIGHT FOR A BELT. THEY ARE PROVEN WARRIORS
WHO HAVE FOUGHT EVENT AFTER EVENT ON THE KICKIN IT CARDS. FIGHTERS
WHO HAVE THE BEST RECORDS FROM THE KICKIN IT CARDS ARE FIGHTING
FOR THE TITLE. THE SKILLS AND THE TALENT WILL BE INSANE (BELEEV
DAT). THERE WILL ONLY BE STAND-UP ACTION ON THIS CARD.
CAUSE DAS HOW WE KICK IT
Source: Event Promoter
|
A
Lot of Upsets:
Moraes, Galvao, Macaco, Margarita All Lose!!!
ADCC Brazil Trials: Quarterfinals Results and Semifinals Line-up!
by Rafael Werneck
ADCC Trials results by Team GRACIE directly from Ginásio
do Ibirapuera in Sao Paulo, Brazil!
At
the start of the weekend, there were eight fighters in each weight
class dreaming about winning an invitation to the ADCC 2005 Submission
Wrestling World Championships. Finished the first day of the
Brazil Trials final phase, only four of them still have chances
to win the tournament and guarantee participation at the main
event in Long Beach next year.
The
semifinals and the finals of the Brazil Trials are scheduled
for Sunday at 3.30 pm (local time) at the Ibirapuera Gymnasium,
in Sao Paulo. Check out the quarterfinals results from Saturday
and the Sunday line-up and stay tuned to ADCC News to find out
who will represent Brazil at the biggest submission competition
in the world.
-
66Kg
- Wagney dos Santos defeated Reinaldo Ribeiro
- Taedes Mendonça defeated Fabio Melo
- Rani Yarhya defeated Renato Migliacio
- Rodrigo Damm defeated Augusto Mendes
-
77kg
- Eduardo Guedes defeated Daniel Moraes
- Lucas Leite defeated Marcelo Salazar
- Leonardo Peçanha defeated Fabricio Morango
- Roan Jucao defeated Andre Galvão
-
88kg
- Rodrigo Botti defeated Jorge Patino Macaco
- Sérgio Cohen defeated Fabricio Monteiro
- Demian Maia defeated Fernando Pontes Margarida
- Rodrigo Comprido defeated Givanildo Santana
-
99kg
- Fernando Boi defeated Fabiano Capoane
- Vitor Viana defeated Tony Lima
- Roger Gracie defeated Gabriel Vella
- Rodrigo Riscado defeated Gabriel Gladiador
+
99Kg
- Antoine Jaoude defeated Marcos Moreno
- Gabriel Napão defeated Fabiano Pega-Leve
- Alex Negao defeated Denis Gomes
- Rodrigo Durok defeated Leo Leite
Semifinals
line-up:
-
66Kg
- Wagney dos Santos vs Taedes Mendonça
- Rani Yarhya vs Rodrigo Damm
-
77kg
- Eduardo Guedes vs Lucas Leite
- Leonardo Peçanha vs Roan Jucao
-
88kg
- Rodrigo Botti vs Sergio Cohen
- Demian Maia vs Rodrigo Comprido
-
99kg
- Fernando Boi vs Vitor Viana
- Roger Gracie vs Rodrigo Riscado
+
99kg
- Antoine Jaoude vs Gabriel Napao
- Alex Negao vs Rodrigo Durok
Source: ADCC
|
ARUZE
K-1 WORLD GP 2004 FINAL
Complete Results!
ARUZE K-1 WORLD GP 2004 FINAL
Saturday, December 04th, 2004
Tokyo Dome, Japan
1st
match: Super Fight Reserve Match
Jerome Le Banner vs. Hiromi Amada
winner: Jerome Le Banner by KO 2R 1:03
2nd
match: Tournament / K-1 Rules
Kaoklai Kaennorsingvs. Mighty Mo
winner: Kaoklai Kaennorsing by KO 1R 2:40
3rd
match: Tournament / K-1 Rules
Ray Sefo vs. Musashi
winner: Musashi in extra round by decision
4th
match : Tournament / K-1 Rules
Peter Aerts vs. Francois Botha
winner: Francois Botha by KO 1R 1:13
5th
match : Tournament / K-1 Rules
Remy Bonjasky vs. Ernesto Hoost
winner: Remy Bonjasky by decision in extra round
6th
match : Super Fight
Cyril Abidi vs. Gary Goodridge
winner: Goodridge by KO 1R 3:00
7th
match : Tournament Semi Final
Kaoklai Kaennorsing vs. Musashi
winner: Musashi in an extra round by decision
8th
match : Tournament Semi Final
Francois Botha vs. Remy Bonjasky
winner: Remy Bonjasky by decision
9th
match : Tournament Final
Musashi vs. Remy Bonjasky
winner: Remy Bonjasky by decision after two extra round
Remy
Bonjasky earned $400,000 as PRIZE MONEY
Source: Booker K
|
IBJJF
2005 Schedule
The International BJJ Federation has released the tournament
calendar for 2005. Check out the dates and make your plans to
attend the events!
2005
Calendar
January
29/30 European Championships
April
01/02/03 Pan American & Team Title USA v Brazil
May
07/08-14/15-21/22 Brazilian Nationals (Youth, adult,master e
senior)
June
04/05 Asian Championships (to be confirmed)
July
23-28/29/30/31 Worlds - Mundials
August
27/28 International Masters & Seniors
October
29/30 Brazilian Team Titles
November
14 American National Championships
November
26/27 Brazilian Nationals (Pre-mirim, mirim to youths)
December
10/11 Brazilian Beginners Tournament
Source: ADCC/Kid Peligro
|
Getting
to know Frank Shamrock
by Hibbert
This interview was conducted early November 2004.
What have you been up to lately?
I will be leaving on a tour of Australia for 3 weeks starting
on November 10th. Seminars, appearances and events for the tour
will be listed on FrankShamrock.Com. Australia is having a bad
political reaction to recent explosive growth of the sport. Sponsored
by VAS (www.vas.tv) apparrel, the tour also includes a national
media compaign towards education on the sport.
The
"Frank Shamrock No Rules Combat" handheld video game
will be finished in December. Test versions, news updates and
pictures will be previewed on our website.
1)
WHICH CDs ARE MOST OFTEN IN YOUR CD PLAYER?
Snoop Dogg, Willie Nelson, Metallica, Bach, love songs, spanish
guitar.
2)
WHAT MOVIE HAVE YOU WATCHED THE MOST TIMES?
Braveheart, Scarface. They are the hardest living things that
you can do. I appreciate that. Plus one is the side of right
and the other wrong. I like the complexities in each.
3)
GROWING UP, WHO DID YOU LOOK UP TO?
Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, Ali.
4)
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE?
I believe that there is a champion is all of us and every human
spirit should be encouraged to achieve their dreams.
5)
WHAT'S THE LAST BOOK YOUR READ?
Most of the Quaran.
6)
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TV SERIES (PAST OR PRESENT)?
Favorite of all time: The Simpsons. Right now: Desparate Housewives.
7)
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
Raison bran. Feels the best and cleans me out.
8)
WHAT IS THE MOST EMBARASSING THING YOU HAVE IN YOUR HOME?
The cat hair. Everywhere.
9)
IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT THE SPORT OF MIXED MARTIAL
ARTS, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
I would change take away the elbows on the ground and the monopoly
of the sport of the big companies.
10)
IF YOU COULD BE A SUPERHERO, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT YOUR SUPER POWERS
TO BE?
I would want the power to heal.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Pride
claims rights to Royce Gracie
By Jeremy Wall
In what was mentioned weeks ago on Maxfighting.com in our interview
with Japanese journalist Tadashi Tanaka, Pride is claiming to
have right to first refusal on Royce Gracie's contract for fighting
in Japan.
Pride
is taking K-1 to court over the matter, as Royce is booked to
fight Akebono under MMA rules as the main event of the K-1 New
Year's Eve show. It's interesting that DreamStage Entertainment
is taking K-1 to court over this, because K-1 actually had first
refusal rights on Mark Hunt's contract (which was also noted
in our interview with Tanaka), but he's fought twice for Pride
now.
This
is Royce's first fight in MMA since last New Year's Eve, where
he dominated Hidehiko Yoshida in a match that went to a time-limit
draw. This will be Royce's first match with K-1. Akebono debuted
with K-1 last New Year Eve as well, and has lost numerous times
in K-1 this year across the globe.
It
would seem unlikely that any legal procedure would stop the Akebono-Royce
Gracie fight from happening. Last year, Fedor Emelianenko's contract
with Pride was nearly broken when he switched from Russian Top
Team to Red Devil in order to compete on Inoki's New Year's Eve
show. Pride ended up working out a deal with Inoki where Fedor
competed on the show, and returned to fight for Pride in 2004.
This may end up being a long, drawn out court case as opposed
to something quick.
Source: Maxfighing
|
Marcelinho
bets on Moraes & Galvão
Champion
of ADCC's 77kg division last year, Marcelinho Garcia bets on
two fighters to do the final over the second phase of ADCC Brazilian
trials, which happens tomorrow, in São Paulo. "I
think Daniel Moraes and André Galvão will reach
the finals," revealed Marcelo, who got 2003's title and
goes strait to the finals, which happens in US next May. Meanwhile,
you cannot miss the best shots of the first phase of the tournament,
which drove mad the audience in Campos dos Goytacazes, in Rio
de Janeiro a week ago. You cannot miss it!
Source: Tatame
|
Kyra
Gracie Invited to Abu Dhabi
2004 World Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Champion, Kyra Gracie, has been
invited to the the 2005 Women's ADCC World Submission Wrestling
Championships. Kyra is the first of a pool of only 3 Brazilian
women expected to be invited to the event. We should have a list
of all of the women competitors by late December.
Tragic
news for Marcello Garcia as his mother finally succumbed to cancer
and passed away last Thursday. The 2003 ADCC Champion will still
be competing against Rani Yarhya in their supermatch on the 12th
of December. We send him our condolences.
Source: Gracie Fighter
|
Melendez
signs to fight in Shooto
Gilbert Melendez has signed to fight Hiroyuki Takaya in Shooto.
Melendez is coming off of an impresive win in the Rumble on the
Rock and will now be dropping down to 143.5lbs to fight Takaya
who is currently ranked #2 in Shooto's world rankings. Both fighters
are undefeated with each of them having previously defeated Hawaiian
standout, Stephen "Bozo" Palling. After Jens Pulver
pulled out of his fight against Takaya to face Gomi in Pride,
Melendez agreed to take his place with less than 3 weeks notice.
The weight cut will be a challenge, however we do expect Melendez
to make weight and to show up at 100% for this bout. Both fighters
are explosive and this could very well be the fight of the night.
Megumi
Fujii vs. Nadia Van Der Wel
Hiroyuki Abe vs. Makoto Ishikawa
Katsuya Toida vs. Rumina Sato
Hiroyuki Takaya vs. Gilbert Melendez
Alexandre F. Nogueira vs. Hideki Kadowaki
Jake Shields vs. Akira Kikuchi
Vitor 'Shaolin' Ribeiro vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri
Source: Gracie Fighter
|
Quote
of the Day
"In the final analysis there is no solution to man's progress
but the day's honest work, the day's honest decisions, the day's
generous utterances and the day's good deed."
Clare Booth Luce
|
PUNISHMENT
IN PARADISE: EAST vs. WEST
RESULTS
Kapolei High School Gym, Kapolei, Hawaii
December 3, 2004
By Chris Onzuka - Chris@Onzuka.com
The
west side of Oahu has always been known for its fighters and
due to that reputation, fighters from other parts of the island
have not gotten the respect they deserve. At the eighth edition
of Punishment in Paradise, fighters from the West had the opportunity
to defend their reputation and fighters from other parts of the
island, were gathered together to represent the East in order
to fight to gain the respect they felt they earned. Kevin Smith
excited the crowd after a relatively even and heated battle with
Bryan Ingram, when he landed a punch that sent Ingram to the
canvas. Ingram tried to stand, but was wobbling and tried to
take the eight count on his knee to recover, but even on his
knee he was wobbling, so the referee called the match to the
dismay of Ingram. Referee John Kukahiko made a good call because
Ingram, being the fighter he is, did not want it stopped. Another
great, hard hitting match was Advanced Kempo's Joshua Versola
banging it out with Allan Yulip from the Animal House. This fight
had great exchanges, but Versola left no doubt to the judges
when sent Yulip down in the fight, earning him the Light Heavyweight
Championship. The first MMA match of the evening saw Bringas
go after Palimo'o, pull of a beautiful hip throw and finished
him off with punches and a forearm choke dominating victory.
Bozo Paling's son Stephen IV showed some of the best boxing of
the night as he put on a technical punching clinic on a shorter,
but tough Damo-Pihana. The much anticipated match between Team
Big Dog's Wayne Perrin Jr and 808 Fight Factory/Team Bad Intention's
Tommy Pestana was delayed due to Pestana injuring his ribs in
training. Perrin came into the ring and during an interview he
said that he really wants this match to happen to help him make
a name for himself and prove that he deserves the PIP Championship
title.
SUMA
Lightweight Tournament Champion, Kaleo Kwon came in to duke it
out with former kickboxing champion and MMA fighter Dain Agbayani.
Agbayani showed versatile kicking, while Kwon showed his kicking
his improving, but his hands are still his bread and butter.
The match was pretty even until the later part of the second,
when Agbayani's conditioning caught up with him and Kwon kept
punching away and caused Agbayani to take an eight count on his
knee to recover. After a great performance, Kwon adds the Punishment
In Paradise Light Middleweight Champion to his resume. Domi Lopez
showed the crowd why he is the PIP Lightweight Champ and why
he is called "The Dominator" by dismantling a very
tough Ryan Lee. In the final match of the evening, David "The
Tan Superman" Padilla, took on last minute replacement Chris
Aina. Padilla ended the fight quickly by taking Aina down right
into the mount and unloading on him. Aina rolled and Padilla
initially attacked the back, but chose to hold Aina down and
pound a curled up Aina until the referee stepped in to stop the
fight. After everything was said and done the East and the West
were split evenly with each team winning half the matches, proving
that the East has just as good fighters as the West side of Oahu.
The next Punishment In Paradise is scheduled for January 22,
2005 and 808 Fight Factory's Ron "The Machine Gun"
Jhun is going to be headlining the event against a top ten opponent.
Exhibition
Toughman Bout (3x1 Minute Rounds)
Hansen Apo (Eastsidaz Fight Club, Waimanalo) def. Kahale Delima
(Dogs 4 Life, Waianae)
Decision after 3 rounds.
150lbs.
Kickboxing Bout (3x11/2 Minute Rounds)
Brandon Antonio (Jesus Is Lord) drew John Visante Jr. (Dogs 4
Life, Waianae)
Majority draw [(28-28), (29-29), (27-29)] after 3 rounds.
147lbs.
Kickboxing Bout (3x11/2 Minute Rounds)
Kevin Smith (Team Bigdogs, Waianae) def. Bryan Ingram (Freelance,
Waipio)
TKO via referee stoppage at 18 seconds in Round 2.
Exhibition
Bout (3x1 Minute Rounds)
Thomas Pave (Dogs 4 Life, Waianae) def. Jacob Cook (Eastsidaz
Fight Club)
Unanimous Decision [(30-26), (30-26), (30-26)] after 3 rounds.
179lbs.
Kickboxing Light Heavyweight Championship Bout (3x2 Minute Rounds)
Joshua Versola (Advanced Kempo, Aiea) def. Allan Yulip (Animal
House, Ewa Beach)
Unanimous decision [(30-26), (29-28), (29-28)] after 3 rounds.
MMA
Bout (2x3 Minute Rounds)
Cisco Bringas (Freelance, Kailua) def. Joe Palimo'o (Freelance,
Waipahu)
Submission due to forearm choke at 2:08 minutes in Round 1.
120lbs.
Kickboxing #1 Contender Bout (3x11/2 Minute Rounds)
Stephen Paling IV (Jesus Is Lord, Nanakuli) def. Davin Damo-Pihana
(Animal House, Ewa Beach)
TKO via verbal submission at 1:30 minutes in Round 3.
159lbs.
Kickboxing Light Middleweight Championship Bout (3x2 Minute Rounds)
Kaleo Kwon (Eastsidaz, Kailua) def. Dain Agbayani (808 FF, Waipahu)
Unanimous decision [(30-26), (30-27), (29-29)] after 3 rounds.
Semi-Main
Event
137lbs. Kickboxing Lightweight Championship Bout (3x2 Minute
Rounds)
Domi Lopez (Team Bigdogs, Waianae) def. Ryan Lee (Bulls Pin,
Kalihi)
Unanimous decision [(30-27), (30-27), (30-26)] after 3 rounds.
Main
Event
155lbs. Lightweight MMA Bout (3x3 Minute Rounds)
David Padilla (Jesus Is Lord, Hawaii) def. Chris Aina (Eastsidaz
Fight Club)
TKO via referee stoppage due to strikes at 35 seconds in Round
1.
|
Super
Brawl Just Got "BIGGER!"
"Warpath" to Face "The Chief"
 
6'4", 280lb Ruben "Warpath" Villarreal has stepped
up to fight Andre "The Chief" Roberts on next Saturday's
Super Brawl 38.
Super Brawl 38
Blaisdell Arena, Honolulu, Hawaii
December 11, 2004
Tentative Fight Card
Ed
Nawalu (808 Fight Factory) vs. tba
Kai
Kamaka (808 Fight Factory) vs. tba
Niko Vitale (808 Fight Factory) vs. Ron Fields
Kolo
Koka (Team MADD) vs. Joe Jordan (Team Extreme)
Jason
Miller vs. Mark Moreno (Bulls Pen)
Andre
Roberts (Miletich Fighting Systems) vs. Vince Lucero
Rich
Franklin (Team Extreme) vs. Curtis Stout
Tim
Sylvia (Miletich Fighting Systems) vs. Wes Simms (Hammer House)
Source: Event Promoter
|
The
Grand Re-Opening!
AMC is a fight gym located in Washington that has produced
fighters such as Matt Hume, Josh Barnett, Bob Sapp, Jeff Monson,
Dennis Hallman, Ivan Salavary. This is where Hawaii's HMC instructor
Haru Shimanishi
helped to open and taught there before moving to Hawaii.
December 11, 2004
*Special Offer $9.99 for one month*
Details at www.pankration.com
Source: AMC
|
RULON
GARDNER FEATURED IN THE PORTLAND TRIBUNE
This story appeared in yesterday's Portland Tribune:
Grappler readies
for new rumble
(Olympic hero Rulon Gardner gets help from Randy Couture)
By Jason Vondersmith
Friday, December 3, 2004
An
Olympic legend will make his mixed martial arts debut New Year’s
Eve, with local hero Randy Couture in his corner.
Couture,
recognized as the all-time great of Ultimate Fighting Championship,
will be there to support Rulon Gardner on Dec. 31 in Japan when
the big man faces Japanese judo star Hidehiko Yoshida in an event
sanctioned by Pride Fighting Championships.
Gardner
won international fame in the 2000 Olympic Games when he upset
previously unbeaten Russian Alexandr Karelin in an epic Greco-Roman
gold-medal match. Gardner took a bronze in the 2004 Games before
retiring.
Gardner
has been training in San Diego under Dan Henderson, a partner
of Couture and Matt Lindland in Team Quest, a Gresham-based fight
club and management company. Gardner, represented by Team Quest,
signed a three-year deal with Pride for about $600,000.
“He’s
working a lot on his stand-up (fighting), which I think is smart,”
says Couture, the UFC light heavyweight champion who is going
to Southern California this week to appear in a Steven Seagal
movie and might train with Gardner. “He’ll be difficult
to take down and put on the ground, which is where Yoshida would
obviously be strongest as a judo player. With a good takedown
defense and effective striking, it could be an effective fight
for Rulon. We’ll see what happens.”
Couture
says UFC tried to woo Gardner, but the native of Afton, Wyo.,
probably wants to make some big bucks quickly in Japan, and get
out.
“He
could be the next big thing. Could be bigger than Bob Sapp over
there,” says Couture, referring to the ex-University of
Washington football player who became a megastar in Japan combat
sports. “It’s up to him, and how he takes to fighting
technically and competitively.”
Lindland,
Gardner’s teammate at the University of Nebraska and on
the 2000 U.S. Olympic wrestling team, says he never would have
pegged Gardner to be in mixed martial arts.
“Doesn’t
seem like punching somebody in the face fits his personality,”
Lindland says.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Jacare’s
predictions for the Brazilian trials for ADCC 2005
by: Luca Atalla With R.N.
Second place in the 77kg to 87kg weight class of Abu Dhabi Championship
2003 and Jiu-Jitsu World Absolute Champion in 2004, Ronaldo Jacare,
from Brasa team, believes that his academy fellow Demian Maia
will be the great surprise of Brazilian trials for ADCC 2005
that takes place this weekend at Ibirapuera gymnasium, Sao Paulo.
“People
are saying that Fernando Margarida is the favorite in the 77kg
to 87kg category, but I’m sure that Maia will defeat him”,
predicts Jacare, who won the Brazilian trials for ADCC 2003,
in the same weight class. The black-belt who lives in the state
of Amazonas, north of Brazil, also gives others four names that
he already considers selected for the mats of 2005 Abu Dhabi
Championship: “Roger Gracie (under 99kg), Andre Galvao (under
77kg) and Rani Yarhya (under 66kg)”.
Sunday
night (December 5th) we will know if Jacare predicts the future
as well as he fight…
Source: ADCC
|
Post
PRIDE Auditions Interview: ATT's STEVE BRUNO
by: Keith Mills
At the Pride auditions two Lightweights from American Top Team
competed, Steve Bruno and Ricardo Nogueira. Steve was most recently
seen in a 0:40 round 1 TKO in AFC in July. At the Pride auditions
being number 20 he competed relatively early, being finished
around 12:17 when the Lightweight started at 11:30.
KM:
You were #20. How do you feel now that your audition is over?
SB: I feel pretty good. I was expecting a little bit more. I
specifically trained for this event because I knew there were
going to be some really talented fighters and wanted to bring
my best and show the American Top Team isn’t just a jiu-jitsu
school. We’re hard-nosed and like to throw down and strike.
The sparring was like ‘you hit me and I hit you’ which
was nice because you get to see more of the technique that way.
All in all it was a good experience. I was expecting to get some
blood out and get a little violent in there. I don’t want
to sound cocky but this whole experience shows ATT is the best.
No-one here really impressed me so that is all I have to say
about that.
KM:
This has to be somewhere in-between a day at the gym and a fight.
SB: Its more stressful here than at a fight for me personally
because here you aren’t in control, the judges are in control.
They judge you based upon your look and how marketable you are.
When it’s a fight it comes down to who has more skill. Another
thing is no-one knew exactly what we were going to be doing today.
Everyone was kind of kept in the dark. That is good. Especially
in Japan anything can happen, your opponent can change. If we
make it to Pride which hopefully we will we’ll be prepared
for anything.
KM:
These were three two-minute rounds for lack of a better term
with two other pairs at the same time. One ‘round’
standup, one takedown, and one ground. How much of a chance to
stand out do you think you had? SB: You really can’t. When
your opponent doesn’t have that fear of being hit you can’t
judge a guy on how well you fight. I think. I finished all my
fights by TKO or submission. I think my opponent wouldn’t
have tried to stand there and jab with me. I come from a kickboxing
background. There is only so much you can see from a fighter
in a minute. If they wanted to do that we’d be here all
day. I was hoping to get in there with my coach and hit the thai
pads or focus mit routine but I think they have a pretty good
idea of what I can do. We’ll just have to wait and see.
KM:
You aren’t out here with any of the ATT trainers. SB: No,
I’m not. I lived out here in San Diego for four years before
coming to the Top Team. I was with Ken Shamrock and the Lion’s
Den. I tried out for them as a young boy. Ken had managed me.
After that Manolo Hernandez showed me the basis for jiu-jitsu
and then Charlie Kohler tightened my game up.
KM:
You were with Lion’s Den up until how long ago? SB: I left
the Lion’s Den summer of 2002.
KM:
Now you are with ATT. You are out here without any of those trainers.
Did that have any effect on your performance? SB: No. Thank God
I still have connections out here in San Diego, like my old muay
thai coach Eric Delfierro. I also came with Ricardo Nogueira
and they treated him like family too. I’ve been very fortunate
in where I’ve chosen to live, like fifteen minutes from
my home in Florida I have the ATT. I’ve been blessed with
locations.
KM:
Being one of the first groups of Lightweights did you feel you
had a chance to for instance warm up enough? SB: I would like
a little more time. There were things like they didn’t have
any water available for us. I’ve been to some lower rate
fighting events believe me and they had water and power bars
out for us. They were kind of rushing us with the warm-up. All
in all it wasn’t too bad. I can’t really complain because
it was such a pleasure to be out here.
KM:
As far as not knowing what to expect when you registered today
did that have any effect? SB: Yeah, a little. I have to be honest.
I was nervous and even when warming up felt like I was getting
tight. I didn’t know if I would get a partner that would
let me work. Actually the last guy I worked with, I don’t
know if he had an idea of what he was doing but I had to rough
him up a little bit because he wasn’t letting me do my thing.
KM:
Can you describe the audition space? SB: There is basically one
big mat, one long mat. There are four pairs of people trying
to demonstrate technique. It was two minutes sparring where they
wanted to see you going back and forth. They really wanted to
see countering and how well you moved. They didn’t want
to see you stepping back. I tried to circle and put some quick
combinations out there. Then you and your partner go back and
forth shooting takedowns on each other. Two minutes of you defend
your opponents’ takedown and he defends yours. Then two
minutes of what we used to call speed wrestling which is I take
a submission on you, you take a submission on me. Again I ran
into some problems there because some of the moves he was trying
on me weren’t even actual techniques. We’re supposed
to show our knowledge of submission and I’m not going to
tap to someone trying to keylock me from inside my guard. I threw
a Pancrase kneebar out there and Bas Rutten reacted to that.
I know some good leglocks from Ken.
KM:
No time between formats? SB: Nothing really. I was trying to
keep my composure even though I was feeling out of breath on
the inside. It had more to do with mentally than anything. There
was no break, just time for you to line up and them to describe
what they wanted.
KM:
As far as being on the mat at the same time with teammate Ricardo
Nogueira was there any sense of competition between you two?
SB: I was happy they switched his opponent on him because he
is a guy who is good at jiu-jitsu and to not go with someone
who is equal or close to his level wouldn’t do him any good.
I’m always curious to see what my teammates are doing but
when I was in there it was all about me. Even though I want the
best for Ricardo I had to make sure I had a good showing too.
KM:
Who was your partner? SB: Frankie Bollinger was the first one.
He is a real gentleman. I don’t know who the last guy was,
he seemed like he was new.
KM:
So they switched you? SB: Yes. I did every drill with Mr. Bollinger
except submissions.
KM:
With Ricardo having the number after you and being in the same
grouping I was wondering if they would match you together. SB:
What sets the Top Team apart is when we spar we spar to knockout
sometimes, we train hard. We were hoping to get each other as
partners only because we know each other’s game, especially
on the ground. We’d be able to go back and forth. We could
almost be choreographed but in all fairness its good to go in
there with some guy you don’t know, don’t know what
moves he goes for. It probably turned out better I didn’t
go with Ricardo.
KM:
Is it a relief it is over so early or a disappointment that you
have been out here an hour and you are done? SB: A little bit
of both. It’s a disappointment we have to wait four weeks
to find out if we got chosen. I wish I could have gotten a wink
or a thumbs up form the judges or something like that. I’m
glad its over with. I wanted a little bit more, maybe if they
could have given the guys a piece of paper that we are in the
top 30 or whatever. It was over quick. We came all the way from
South Florida so it was a bit of a trip.
KM:
Was it all worth it? SB: In both ways. It was worth it because
I got to come out here and see some of that pros like Bas and
Matt Hume. All in all it was a good experience, I can’t
complain too much.
Source: ADCC |
UNDERGROUND
FIGHT MAKES FRONT PAGE OF BOSTON HERALD
The following story appered in yesterday's Boston Herald:
Cop on the
beat: Uproar over ‘extreme fighting’ video
By Dave Wedge
Friday, December 3, 2004
A
beefy Boston cop hailed as a rising ``ultimate fighting'' star
has come under fire for appearing in a bloody, bare-knuckle basement
brawl tape.
Seven-year
Boston police Patrolman Sean ``The Cannon'' Gannon and Miami
``pro streetfighter'' Kimbo Slice beat each other to a bloody
pulp in the vicious eight-minute video for sale on extreme fighting
Web sites.
The
brawl, billed as a ``friendly sparring match,'' takes place in
a gym with several onlookers, some filming.
Gannon,
34, and Slice, whose brother is a pro boxer, wear no gloves or
other protective gear as they brutally punch, kick, elbow and
knee each other. Gannon, a 270-pound, up-and-coming ``mixed martial
arts'' heavyweight, is declared the winner after Slice is knocked
down, apparently unconscious.
Gannon
might have violated Boston police policy if he was paid for the
video, Boston police spokeswoman Beverly Ford said. Boston police
regulations bar outside employment without permission from the
commissioner.
Gannon
also could run into trouble because he is known to wear his official
Boston police hat into the ring before fights - another possible
violation.
``If
there's any evidence that rules were violated, they will be investigated,''
Ford said.
Gannon,
who was unavailable for comment, is a former Gold Gloves boxing
champion and past Mass Destruction heavyweight champ, meaning
he is recognized as the state's top mixed martial arts fighter
in his weight class. He has fought regularly in Revere and is
currently in negotiations to appear on a national stage in an
upcoming Ultimate Fighting Championship event, according to his
training partner, Mike Varner.
The
controversial, but wildly popular, sport mixes boxing, kickboxing,
wrestling and other martial arts and was banned in some states
after being criticized by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in the early
1990s. Matches are often held in Massachusetts and are sanctioned
by the Boxing Commission, including upcoming fights in Taunton
next month and one at Avalon on Dec. 11 featuring Varner.
Department
of Public Safety spokeswoman Katie Ford said mixed martial arts
fights are legal in Massachusetts but ``no-holds barred'' matches
are banned. The only rules in ``no-holds barred'' are no biting,
eye-gouging or breaking fingers.
Despite
the sport's violent reputation, Varner called it ``one of the
oldest forms of sporting events.''
``They
think we go in there with the idea of pounding on one another
with anger and violence. But it's a sport,'' Varner said. ``We
train in many different forms of martial arts. The strategy isn't
to go in there and just pound your opponent. It's a live chess
game.''
Source: MMA Weekly |
KLITSCHKO
BROTHERS SPEAK ON UKRAINE SITUATION AND VITALI'S DEC. 11 FIGHT
WITH DANNY WILLIAMS
by: E.Goldman/Boxing & Wrestling Editor
When
WBC heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko defends his title against
Danny Williams Dec. 11 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, there
will be another fight on his mind that night besides the one
in the ring. Klitschko and his younger brother Wladimir both
grew up in Ukraine and are celebrities there. The current electoral
and governmental crisis in that country concerns them greatly,
and they both have been outspoken about their views on that situation.
Both
Vitali and Wladimir spoke Wednesday on a conference call, both
about the tense situation in Ukraine as well as Vitali's upcoming
fight with Williams. Wladimir had just returned from Ukraine,
but Vitali was talked out of going there because his title defense
is so near.
Here
is the transcript of that teleconference.
WBC
HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION VITALI KLITSCHKO, FORMER CHAMPION WLADIMIR
KLITSCHKO, VITALI KLITSCHKO'S TRAINER, FRITZ SDUNEK, KLITSCHKO
PERSONAL MANAGER, BERND BOENTE NATIONAL CONFERENCE CALL TRANSCRIPT
DECEMBER 1, 2004
Opening
Comments
Boente:
To begin with, I would like to say that this training camp this
year was a very special one. It has been completely different
than all of the others. Before this Presidential runoff election
in the Ukraine on Nov. 21, Vitali and Wladimir, as most of you
know, had decided to officially support the pro-western candidate,
Viktor Yushchenko. After the elections, the democratic challenger,
Yushchenko, and many western observers in Kiev mentioned that
the election was not really fair and did not meet democratic
standards. Hundreds of thousands of people were in the streets
and are still in the streets in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine,
and Vitali and Wladimir decided directly after that election
that they wanted to fly over to Kiev. Wladimir and Fritz Sdunek,
the head coach of Vitali, were here with us. After long discussions,
they convinced Vitali to stay here and not postpone this fight.
We all know that the situation in Ukraine, in Kiev, is changing
from day to day and from hour to hour.
Sdunek:
We have had a very good and successful preparation so far. Vitali's
conditional programming is finished. He is in very good condition
and also the sparring is almost finished. Tomorrow is the most
important day of sparring. We have very good sparring partners
who are really challenging Vitali. We are prepared for 12 rounds.
We expect to leave the ring as the winner.
Wladimir:
I am really excited about the fight for my brother because it
means a lot for the people in the Ukraine, and it means a lot
for the whole world society and also for my brother and me as
well. Vitali is in great shape and he is focused and that is
important too. We are working as a team and everything is fine.
I am excited as everyone to see how Vitali fights. He will exit
the ring the winner.
Vitali:
I am in top shape right now and am ready to give everybody a
tough and great performance on Dec. 11. I want to be world champion
for a long time.
Begin
Press Questions.
Question:
Vitali, how much of a distraction has it been preparing for this
fight knowing what is going on in Ukraine? How close did you
really come to going back when Wladimir did?
Vitali:
What happens in Ukraine is very close to us because our family
and our friends all live in Ukraine. We are involved in Ukraine
politics and it touches everyone. It is very painful to read
some news and the way they speak about Ukraine like it is a poor
country, like a banana republic. I wish for my country, for my
people, for my children and the next generation a great future
and I support the democratic way. I support consolidation of
Ukraine into European Union. That is why I support Viktor Yushchenko
in this presidential election.
Question:
Wladimir, how much time did you spend in Ukraine and what did
you do there? Have you been active in the streets and the protests
in Ukraine?
Wladimir:
I was in Ukraine for four days and another two days in Germany.
In Ukraine, it was very important to show the people our support
-- not just on television, but through my presence as well. I
did a lot of statements in interviews on television and radio
shows. A lot of people are supporting the peaceful movement for
democracy in Ukraine. In Germany, a lot of celebrities got together
and all of them said they supported the people in the streets
and democracy and the peaceful movement from the people in Ukraine.
Right now, videos are running on Independence Square where the
people are and in different cities and also on television stations.
It is an amazing thing that there once used to be only one television
channel that would show both sides of the news, but now other
channels are joining in. The Polish President came over to support
a peaceful movement for democracy and also his government. The
German and English governments have been saying positive things.
The whole world has gotten together to support the democratic
movement of the people in Ukraine. It is truly amazing that people
have been staying outside on the streets already for 10 days.
They are not going to their jobs, therefore, not getting any
money for their time. They are doing this for their future and
for their kids' future and the future of Ukraine. They want Ukraine
to become a democratic and peaceful country. There is no violence,
no bloodshed. It is just in good will, people trying to get democracy
in their country. It is a good example for other countries around
the world that you can change the regime or other things through
good will and without war.
Question:
Do you think that your presence there made a difference because
of your celebrity?
Wladimir:
Yes. I think it shows a lot of support for people if they see
that support in person, not just on television. It is not only
about us. There were other celebrities there as well and I think
it was important that we were all present.
Question:
Vitali, was there a time, or is there still a time, when you
feared for the safety of the people, that this might not end
up being a peaceful demonstration or they might not have allowed
it to be one? How did that impact on you?
Vitali:
Wladimir came back to Los Angeles and explained the whole situation.
As you know, it has been very peaceful there. Everybody hopes
we move to a democratic way. If people who were communist before
and suddenly change their colors and say that Ukraine is democratic,
but the rules of government do not change, people will not be
happy. That is why there are millions of people coming outside
in the street to demonstrate peacefully. Nobody drinks alcohol.
It has been very peaceful. After every one of my fights in Ukraine,
they hear me speak about freedom, liberty and free press, but
now it is hopefully happening. It has been brainwashing for many
people. So many channels on television give just the information
from one side. It is very important for all of those involved
in this campaign, and it is our hope, that our country will adopt
the democratic way.
Question:
Was there a time when you were worried that it might not come
in such a peaceful way?
Vitali:
I am afraid everyday because our hope is that it will be resolved
in a peaceful way. We speak many times (often) with our Ukrainian
friends and give the message for everybody to remain peaceful,
to do this without blood.
Question:
Vitali, how has all of this affected your training schedule?
Vitali:
Actually, it is 10 hours difference between Ukraine and Los Angeles.
When I wake up at 6:00 in the morning, I have one hour before
I start the training to check the news, make calls to my friends
and get information. I know that my fight is very important for
Ukraine and it is my resolve to be ready for this fight. I think
this fight will be a very important message for everybody not
only in Ukraine but in the world. I have kept focused for training
and for the fight. But I do get the information on what is happening
in Ukraine every day. It is difficult, but in life nothing is
easy.
Question:
Wladimir, if the situation got serious enough, would either of
you consider putting aside your career for a while?
Wladimir:
We are not politicians. We are athletes and, of course, we travel
a lot and we spend a lot of time in Ukraine. But we are from
Ukraine and, for us, this is very important. Right now, in this
situation, it is very important to support the people -- first
of all on the streets and the majority of Ukraine.
Question:
Vitali, Viktor Yushchenko is the people's candidate and he is
the one who is generating this reelection bid. He is supported
by the west and the other guy is being supported in Moscow. This
sounds like the opening shot in an east/west split, like a new
Cold War. What are your impressions?
Vitali:
For me, it is very difficult. I do not want to speak about the
geopolitical situation. You know better than me that Ukraine
is a very important location in Europe between the west and east,
between south and north Europe. I have my opinion, but I will
not explain it. I want to talk about the good will from the people
and from simple people. I wish for my country to go the democratic
way. Everybody wants to change from the ways of the old Soviet
Union. It is not just my wish; it is the good will from many
millions of Ukrainian people.
Question:
Do you and your father talk about what has been going on there?
Vitali:
Yes, we have had discussions about the situation, but I talk
not just with my father, but with many people who have a lot
of experience in politics there and have interests in Ukraine
and in national interests.
Question:
Fritz, it looked as though Mike Tyson blew out his knee when
he fought Danny Williams, which enabled Williams to win. How
did your training Vitali for Williams differ as opposed to how
you would have trained for Tyson?
Sdunek:
I have seen the fight of Williams against Tyson. I think in that
win, Williams got a psychological advantage for himself (gained
confidence as fight progressed). I have analyzed other fights
of Danny Williams. There is a big difference between Tyson's
style and Vitali's style. Tyson's style was a big advantage for
Danny. We have had just the right sparring partners for this
fight. I do not see any problems or reasons why Vitali should
not defend his title successfully.
Question:
Vitali, if you beat Williams, will that satisfy you that you
are the best fighter in the world?
Vitali:
It is a big honor for me to own the RING magazine belt and to
be the champion of the people. I want to fight against the strongest
challenger in the world and I will not underestimate Danny Williams.
He shows great skills and big heart. I think this fight will
be a very good and dangerous one. I am ready for this fight and
to show everybody a good performance. I hope everyone who watches
this fight enjoys it.
Question:
When you first got into boxing, what fighter did you aspire to
fight like or pattern your style after and why?
Vitali:
Muhammad Ali. Everybody wants to see great movement, very fast
hands and great leg work. He was a big idol for everybody. (But)
time goes so fast and for every part of life you have new idols.
Max Schmeling is now 99-years-old and I remember him. He had
a very interesting life. He is a good example for me and I study
many things from him. He had a great career, has a big heart
and is a great person.
Question:
Vitali, do you think you will be able to wear Danny Williams
down over the fight or are you expecting a really tough challenge
from him?
Vitali:
I am ready for this fight. I am ready to fight 12 rounds. But
believe me, if I have the chance to stop Danny Williams and to
send him to the floor, I will use my chance.
Question:
What was it like watching Williams knock out Tyson?
Vitali:
Danny Williams surprised me with his boxing skills, his big heart
and his iron chin. He destroyed my dream. Now, I want to destroy
the dream of Danny Williams to be world champion.
Question:
Vitali, when it is all over and you hang up your gloves and your
career is over, how would you like to be remembered by the rest
of the world?
Vitali:
I do not think right now to the end of my career. Whenever I
have the feeling that I do not have luck anymore, I will stop.
I do not want to be a punching bag for a new generation. But
I am not ready to give an answer to that question.
Question:
Could you see yourself getting involved in politics?
Vitali:
I think about the future all the time. We try to be an active
part of society. We work on a lot of projects. It is very important
that we work with UNESCO, in Project Education for children's
needs. We support that everywhere in the world. We have good
results in sports and we have a great connection in politics
and business and we try to use our connections to bring attention
to the children who are disadvantaged, children without parents,
children who grow up without love. In Ukraine and Russia, this
problem is very important (common). We speak about the children
as our future and it is very important that we work for their
education.
Question:
Vitali, will you ever be totally satisfied as the number one
fighter in the world without getting a rematch with Lennox Lewis?
Vitali:
That is a good question for Lennox Lewis. If everyone pressures
Lennox Lewis, hopefully Lennox Lewis will agree to a rematch.
I appreciate that he gave me a chance to prove myself. He is
a great boxer. He is the strongest boxer in history, in my opinion.
He shows good performances in all of his fights. But Lennox Lewis
is sending out tips to every fighter now on how to beat me. It
did not help Corrie Sanders and I am sure it will not be helpful
for Danny Williams.
Question:
Do you think Lennox Lewis ran from you because he did not think
he would beat you in a rematch?
Vitali:
If Lennox decides to make his big comeback, I am ready to fight
him. If the doctor had not stopped the fight, I think everybody
would have seen that I beat Lennox Lewis by a point in six rounds.
It was just because of an injury that the fight was stopped.
But I beat him the first time and I am more than sure that I
will beat him in the second time.
Source: ADCC
|
Quote
of the Day
"I am always busy, which is perhaps the chief reason why
I am always well."
Elizabeth Cady Stanton, 1815-1902, American Social Reformer and
Women's Suffrage Leader
|
PUNISHMENT
IN PARADISE
EAST vs. WEST TONIGHT!!
7:30pm Kapolei Gym
The weigh-ins went well and now it's time to throw down. Who
will leave with the braggin' rights of Oahu? We would like to
thank the AWESOME staff at EN FUEGO Grill & Poke you left
Punishment In Paradise staff SPEECHLESS!!! Da grindz was awesome
and the fighters had all you can drink on the house. If you guys
ever get a chance to go there, PLEASE go and tell the Punishment
In Paradise sent you.
AFTER THE FIGHT GRINDZ!!
The staff at En Fuegos told me to tell all the fight fans if
you take your ticket stub to their restaurant they will give
you a DISCOUNT.
PRESALE
TICKETS LEFT!!
We left whatever Presale tickets we had with En Fuegos because
a lot of people were asking where to get it since I lost my phone.
So whatever is left, they offered to sell it for us. WHAT AN
AWESOME STAFF, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH!!
Source: Event Promoter
|
Jeremy
Horn: One Bad Mother @%$#&+
by Benny Henderson Jr
When it comes to a superior work ethic, fight veteran Jeremy
Horn breaks the mold.
Since
turning pro in MMA back in 1996, Jeremy has seen a total of 87
bouts, with 69 wins, 13 losses and five draws. He battled in
a whopping 21 bouts in 1999, ground out 10 throwdowns in 2003
and has rounded out six victories with one loss this year alone,
sometimes matching up a total of five times per month. That is
just a hardcore fighter there for ya.
The
free style artist has handed out 43 wins by submission and has
beaten the likes of Chuck Liddell and Daiju Takase, and is still
on a roll with his most recent win over Chael Sonnen at the SF-6
Battle Ground in Reno.
The
twenty-nine year old Horn doesn’t show any signs of slowing
up either, and is set to continue his onslaught throughout the
years to come. Jeremy has waged some great battles throughout
his eight years as a MMA fighter and whether he fought for a
win, dropped to a loss or battled to a draw, he always seemed
to leave the fans with an exciting show.
The
fighter they call “Gumby” for his 6’1” 185
lb. flexible frame has competed in the combat sport on many levels
such as the Extreme Challenge, where he has competed in a total
of 17 bouts with a record of 13-1-3, and battled “The Beast’
Dan Severn to a draw in that venue. His UFC debut in 1998 was
against highly regarded Frank Shamrock, where Jeremy gave the
champion all he could handle until Frank caught Horn in a knee
bar to win the fight by submission. Jeremy went on to win the
fans’ hearts with his strong sportsmanship and went on to
fight in the UFC on six more occasions. The middleweight sensation
has also fought in the KOTC, IFC, EB and a multitude of other
promotions. He is trained by Pat Miletich and looks to the future
to continue his unrelenting style. MaxFighting caught up with
the Gladiator and got his thoughts on his past and future.
Benny
Henderson Jr. - First I want to congratulate you on you victory
in September at the Battle at Reno.
Jeremy Horn – Hey, thanks man.
BH
- Any news on your next bout and opponent?
JH - Nothing locked in. I am kind of in limbo right now.
BH
- You have to be one of the busiest fighters in the sport; you’ve
had seven fights this year, ten in 2003, in 1999 you had a total
of twenty-one bouts (with only one loss I might add) and fighting
sometimes five times in one month. What drives you, what motivates
you, what compels you to be so busy?
JH - I just really wanted to fight. I was kind of new and haven’t
had that many fights and I wanted to stay busy. I like to fight.
I was having fun and I wasn’t getting hurt so I just wanted
to keep doing it.
BH
- Are you worried all the battles you have had will take its
toll on your body in the future?
JH – No, that is why I continue to fight as often as I do
because I don’t get hurt when I fight so it’s not a
big deal.
BH
- You have fought some of the biggest names in the sport with
bouts against Chuck Liddell, Randy Couture, Frank Shamrock, Dan
Severn to just name a few. Can you name some of your biggest
moments in your career, whether it was a win, loss or a draw?
JH – Man, I have had a lot so it is hard to pin down a handful
of them. Frank Shamrock was a big fight. It was my first real
big fight against a name and it really let me know where I would
stand in the scheme of things; I always wondered if I was good
enough to be there until then. There are a handful of others
but nothing real spectacular. Like I said I fight cause I want
to fight. I really don’t put too much stock into them.
BH
- Is there any particular fighter you would like to face, and
why?
JH – No, not particularly. It would be nice to have rematches
with some of the guys that I fought that beat me. But it isn’t
a real big priority. I just try to move forward after each fight
and see what’s coming next.
BH
- What do you feel your best quality is a fighter?
JH - I am really hard to hurt. I’ve got a really good defense
and I stay really calm and relaxed so it is really hard to get
me frustrated. I feel a lot of people get hurt because they get
frustrated and out of whack. Just stay calm and things will play
themselves out the way they should if you do what you should
do. A lot of people miss that opportunity cause they get frantic
and they get out of control. Just stay relaxed and everything
will take care of itself.
BH
- How did you get the nickname “Gumby”?
JH - I am really flexible, but it isn’t a nickname that
I really like. Somebody pinned that one on me a while ago and
I have been trying to kick every since. It just keeps floating
up every now and then.
BH
- If it was me and looking at all that I have seen from you so
far I would probably call you a bad mother @#&%~$.
JH - [Laughs] That one sounds a lot better.
BH
- In your eight years as a fighter you’ve had a total of
79 bouts and have fought some tough guys. Even with all your
experience do you ever get butterflies before a fight or feel
any fear during the stare-off before the fight?
JH - I’m always nervous because I want to perform well,
but obviously everybody wants to win. I like to fight and I want
to fight no matter what. But I always want to perform up to my
potential. I know what I am capable of more than anybody else.
That is my biggest thing - I want to perform always as well as
I can so that makes me as nervous as anything else.
BH
- What exactly goes through your mind before a fight and how
do you prepare yourself mentally?
JH - I have a really bad habit of building up my opponents a
lot before the fight. I give them a lot more credit than I should
and sometimes that makes me fight more cautious because I build
them up so much that I don’t fight up to my potential because
I am so worried about what they are going to do. I just try to
run though the fight in my head, I try to stay calm and think
about what I am gong to do and what they are going to do.
BH
- What would you like to accomplish in the future?
JH - I have really been trying to work on my stand up skills
a lot - my boxing, kick boxing, stuff like that, so maybe I can
win a couple of fights knocking people out. That is something
I would like to do. I don’t really have a lot of goals other
than that and that is a pretty minor goal. I just want to improve
my skills and test them out in the ring, so that isn’t a
real huge goal.
BH
- Any advice you would give to a young fighter?
JH - Make sure you get with a good group and train with people
who you know that can do it. Unfortunately I see a lot of guys
out there get suckered in by a big image or good name. But you
really need to look at what they have accomplished as trainers,
not always as fighters. You see a lot of guys crowd around the
flavor of the month but what has that guy done as a trainer,
or what has he done to show that he can pass on to you what he’s
capable of? Just think about where you are training and get with
a good group that you get along with and mesh well with and take
it from there.
BH
- How would you define your career?
JH – Unfinished. I will be around for a while.
BH
- Anything you would like to say to the fans or in closing?
JH - I just hope the fans keep supporting and keep dong what
they have been doing. Without them the sport doesn’t mean
a whole lot. Without the fans it is just us beating each other
up in somebody’s garage. It is nice to have them supporting
us.
Source: Maxfighting
|
Pride
doesn't want Royce Gracie at K1
The announcement made by Royce Gracie at K-1 Dynamite next December
31, has been worrying Dream Stage Entertainment's guys. During
the last days, DSE's president Nobuyuki Sakakibara went to Japanese
press and suggested that Royce should not steep inside Osaka
Dome and face Akebono at K-1. His point is Brazilian still has
a contract with DSE and they should be consulted in case Royce
wanted to fight in other Japanese organization. The Japanese
also warned they are already hiring an attorney in Los Angeles
to lead the case. So far, the declared war between K-1 and Pride
has begun!
Source: Tatame
|
MMA:
Pederneiras presents new talent
After transform Nova União in the most feared Jiu-Jitsu
Team in lightweight categories, André Pederneiras (black
belt under Carlson Gracie) is doing the same in Vale-Tudo. After
conquering the Shooto Champion belt in 70kg category with Vitor
'Shaolin' Ribeiro having other top black belts like João
Roque (65kg), Robson Moura (55kg), Marcos Loro (65kg) and Danilo
Cherman (70kg) disputing the top of the ranking of the Japanese
event in their categories, Pederneiras impressed everybody in
last Shooto Never Shake (took place in São Paulo last
October 23) launching a new talent from Manaus. Student of Marcos
Loro, José Aldo (1,70m/65kg 21 years old) impressed the
audience by defeating in the stand up game the BTT representative,
Hudson Rocha, considered one of the best striker of his team.
'Aldo is a very good striker but much better in the ground and
He is the no 3 of my team in his category. My biggest problem
today is having too many top guys and too few events in the world
for lightweights to launch all of them', complained the leader
of Nova União.
Source: Tatame |
Edson
Carvalho attempting to Pride?
After causing a lot of controversy in Brazil by claiming to beat
the best Brazilian fighters using his 'death touch', Edson Carvalho,
a disciple of the infamous "Master of Death" Antonio
Lacerda, has appeared again on the MMA scene. Carvalho, now living
in New Jersey, was among the over 100 applicants chosen by DSE
to be part of a presentation for Mr. Sakakibara, Takada and Mrs.
Yukino (PRIDE senior management) last Saturday (November 20th)
at the UCLA campus.
Considered
one of the most respected black belts under Carlson Gracie during
early 90's, Carvalho had problems with the MMA community in Brazil
after he left Carlson Team and started to train under the 'Master
of Death'. Igor Vovchanchyn brought him back to reality, beating
him badly in a Vale-Tudo in Recife (1998). From that point on,
Carvalho started to train Jiu-Jitsu and Vale-Tudo hard again.
Other
heavyweight fighters invited by PRIDE were Bobby Hoffman, Pat
Smith and the impressive Brazilian Jorge Van Damme (black belt
under Ralph Gracie). In the lightweight, the Brazilians Ricardo
Nogueira /ATT and Wander Braga /LAJJ showed great agility and
ground skills.
With
fighting celebrities like Bas Rutten, Quinton Jackson, Dan Handerson,
Carlos Newton and Dean Lister in attendance, the trials were
held with presentations using Boxing gloves and chin protectors.
Each fighter gave 2 minutes of stand up presentation, followed
by 2 minutes of Wrestling and finishing with 2 minutes of movements
on the ground. The results will be out in 3 weeks!
Source: Tatame |
Red
Hot Summer
by Masa Fukui
November.
It's the month that Japan gets colder and colder day by day.
The temperature went down a bit. Leaves started changing colors.
Girls are wearing long sleeve shirts or some are already wearing
winter jackets. (Damn, no short skirts anymore? That's no fun!)
After my hard days work, I walked out from my office trying to
convince myself that "Summer is over Masa!"
Two
minutes later, which is way before I could say good bye to summer,
I hit the door of Smack Girl at Korakuen Hall. And suddenly I
saw a lot of girls -- none wearing long sleeves or even short
skirts. They wore only rush guards and fight shorts. Yes! That's
it! It is always Red Hot Summer inside of Korakuen Hall. Alright
fellas let's start the Smack Talk!
There
was a women's fight show in Indiana on November 6: Hook'n'Shoot
Revolution 2. As this Hook'n'Shoot show is already talked on
the forum a lot, women's fights are becoming tougher and more
technical one after another. Two days before this show, we had
a SMACK GIRL at Korakuen hall on November 4.
In
the main Event, there was a match between Yuki Kubota and Amanda
Buckner. This assassin from Academy of MMA BJJ Boulder destroyed
Kubota's knee, 41 seconds of round two. Amada basically dominated
both the first and second round, although Yuki took Amanda down
with beautiful judo throw several times. But every time Yuki
took Amanda down, I saw Amanda moving quicker on the ground than
Yuki. And as Amanda submitted Yuki, after Amanda took Yuki down,
Amanda quickly caught Yuki's left leg and executed the kneebar
in mach speed.
"Pakiiiiiin!"
some of my friends say. "I heard the pop." Another
friend says, "No it didn't make any noise." Personally,
I didn't hear the crack noise. But, after the referee stopped
the fight, Kubota was still rolling around on the matt holding
her left knee. And her face was showing that she just started
long rehabilitation program. While Yuki was struggling and groaning
on the matt, Amanda looked a bit surprised and confused about
what she'd done -- and what she's gonna do now.
I
am very sorry for Yuki to get such an injury. But the fight is
fight. Amanda submitted her very quick, and looked relentless.
But if she didn't submit Yuki, Amanda could be submitted or knocked
out. So Amanda completed her job. Well done, Amanda. The Korakuen
Hall went all so quiet when Yuki started squirming around, because
this fight was one of her retirement matches. While everybody
froze in the hall, I saw a few SMACK GIRL staff running around
before they brought a stretcher. But Yuki, who's a very tough
minded warrior, regained her feet, then offered a little "thank
you" speech to the audience who came to cheer her for her
retirement match. And the audience answered with very warm hands.
I
don't know if she's fighting again or not, but I'm sure her students
will be very strong in taking over Yuki Kubota's spirit, and
they will respect their instructor as a mixed martial artist.
On the same day, there were two preliminary fights for an eight-woman
tournament, which will be held on December 19 in Sizuoka Prefecture.
Fighters who earned the ticket to join this tournament are Yoko
Takahashi and Miwako Ishihara. Both of them don't fight like
a girl. Especially Miwako I. I've heard so many legends about
Miwako Ishihara: Undefeated against any Japanese girl fighter
in past 10 years -- her friends call her " Bob Sapp without
a third leg" etc. ...
To
my shame, this November show was the first time I'd seen Miwako
Ishihara's fight live. Man, her punches are so sharp. No Joke.
I'll tell you what, she is on a different level from any other
Japanese MMA female fighter. Her punch is very quick and pretty
accurate. And she does have knockout power, which most of Japanese
girl don't have. Maybe her friend should call her " Bob
Sapp with excellent technique"? (I didn't say Bob Sapp doesn't
have technique.)
Man
I can't wait for this tournament because, aside from those two
fighters I previously mentioned, there'll be Erin Toughill, who
I don't have to say anything about. She is strong! (By the way,
may God bless the Toughill family and help them get through their
terrible tragedy.) Marleos Coenen, who won first Re-Mix Tournament
and Won Da big "Bling-Bling." Debi Purcell, KOTC Veteran
from Ruas Vale Tudo. (Check out her site and see her video.)
Anna Calorina from Team Dracrino, Mecca Vale Tudo Veteran. Megumi
Yabushita, who's a really good Judo specialist with sick submission
technique. And there's still one spot to be set. I wonder who's
gonna be in spot? But I can tell one thing: every single fight
will feel like a main event.
The
big surprise for this tourney is the winner gets a big prize.
I heard details of this prize information from SMACK GIRL staff,
but I can't write about it on here because it's not officially
released yet. But I'd say, it is more than Marleos Coenen got
in last tournament at Re-Mix 2000. How Sweet!
OK,
it's time go. There's Indiana Jones on TV. Harrison Ford is speaking
perfect Japanese, while I'm checking some phrase in an English
dictionary. Talking about phrases, California Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger was in Japan last week. Every time I see him on
TV, he said "I'll be back" while staring at the TV
Camera. I think he really needs a new catch phrase. Oh well,
that's none of my biz. While he was in Japan, there was a SHOOTO
show. I wish Mr. Schwarzenegger could see this sports show. That
may help Californian MMA industry grow faster. OK, I'll shut
up by shutting my PC down. I'm ready for that.
Oh
... no, no, hold up! I wanna add one more thing. This SMACK GIRL
show had the hottest Ring Girl in Japan. This is what I'm talking
about, and I think this is what Quinton Jackson was talking about
(not anymore though). I almost forgot to write about her. Her
Name is Nozomi-chan. She also trains in Osaka Area. She definitely
helped the Korakuen hall to be Red Hot Summer. Hope my picture
will be posted here with my story. OK, all done. See ya'll again!
I'll be back!
I
just got three Bob Sapp CD "Sapp Time!!" One for me.
One for Sherdog. Who wants the last one? I know this is so last
year. But if you wanna get busy with it, let me know. I'll Ship
it out fo ya'.
Source: Shedog
|
K-1
Exclusive Interview: Ernesto Hoost
By Michael Afromowitz
K-1’s
living legend speaks before his return to the Tokyo Dome on Saturday
While
the annual K-1 “World Grand Prix Finals” event has
long represented the pinnacle of martial arts tournament fighting,
a lone individual, whose origin belongs to Holland, has symbolized
the peak of athletic greatness in the sport.
Since
he captured his first championship inside the 70,000 crowd capacity
Tokyo Dome seven years ago, Ernesto Hoost, also known as “Mr.
Perfect,” has become a larger than life figure in the eyes
of combat sports insiders, legions of fans, and even many of
his colleagues. In setting the record for World Grand Prix titles
won when he secured his fourth such prize in 2002 and defeating
every major rival with the exception of one Bob “The Beast”
Sapp, Hoost has done it all.
On
December 4th, Mr. Perfect will venture to Japan’s capital
city once again and attempt to shatter his own, lofty record
by capturing a fifth championship at age 39. Some dismiss the
6 foot 2 inch, 220 pound icon as an aging warrior who no longer
has the steam to endure the kind of lengthy battle that comes
in single-elimination format. Others recognize the urgency of
his superior technical skill as well as his experience that is
vital in the complex world of tournament fighting where many
forces can work against a man. For Hoost, the ability to persevere
and defeat three of the sport’s top contenders in one night
boils down to his undying determination to win.
Q:
On December 4th, you will have a shot at winning your fifth World
Grand Prix Finals tournament championship. How important is it
for you to accomplish this feat?
A:
Well, this is my biggest goal for right now. This is what I’m
training for and what I’m fighting for so, in that way,
it is very important for me. I’m a fighter and I want to
win.
Q:
How strong do you feel going into this event compared to past
World Grand Prix Finals tournaments?
A:
The closest comparison I can make is (with) 2002. It wasn’t
my strongest K-1 Grand Prix, but right now, I feel better than
I felt then. Of course that doesn’t say anything but, for
myself, I’m very confident.
Q:
After accomplishing so much, how tough is it to stay hungry and
remain at the top level in the sport?
A:
My goal is still winning and I still like what I do. I mean,
that’s the most important thing – I like what I do.
I have pleasure in training. I have pleasure in fighting and,
for me, if it was possible I would have fought past my retirement
age.
Q:
Your first opponent on December 4th will be the defending tournament
champion, Remy Bonjasky. His fighting style is very unorthodox
and can be tricky. How well do you feel you match up with him
and how well do you feel you will be able to handle is fighting
style in the ring?
A:
I think I will be very able to handle is fighting style because
he is tricky, but he is also a very technical fighter. I like
that style of fighter because I’m that type of fighter myself.
I think it’s going to be a very technical fight. I think
his boxing is not so strong, but his kicking is strong so I will
concentrate on his boxing.
Q:
Remy has said that he admires you as one of the all-time great
K-1 champions. He also said that he feels it is time you retire
and pass the torch, so to speak, to the new generation of K-1
fighters out there. What is your response to critics who suggest
that you pack it in?
A:
You know, in time I will retire. It’s up to me. I’m
the only one who decides when I retire. If he wants to retire
me, he can try.
Q:
In the past you’ve shown your ability to adapt to different
styles in the ring. I remember when you fought Rick Roufus under
full-contact kickboxing rules and came out victorious. Can you
describe how you overcame the challenge of competing under a
set of rules that restricted the number of weapons you were able
to use?
A:
Well, we fought two times (Note: Hoost and Roufus fought in November
1992 and, again, in November 1994). The first time, he beat me
in a 12 round fight. The second time, I was more prepared. I
knew what to expect from him. It wasn’t only on a technical
level, it was also mental. I think, mentally, he wasn’t
able to cope with me. Physically, I felt very strong so I used
everything I could use in the fight and it worked out well for
me.
Q:
What would you consider the greatest challenges you’ve faced
in your career?
A:
I think one of the greatest must have been the first fight with
Jean Yves Theriault. (When we met) the first time, I had only
had 11 or 12 fights and he already had 50 knockouts. So, that
was a big challenge to fight with someone like that. He beat
me on points, but I can remember that I was very happy because,
for me, it was a victory. Of course, I’ve had a lot of other
experiences, but that was the first big opponent I had. I wasn’t
ready for it, but I still did the fight. I went 10 rounds with
him. He could have really hurt me. I was very proud of myself.
Q:
Would you care for another rematch with Bob Sapp?
A:
Yea. I think both times that I fought with him – I hate
to use excuses, but the first time I shouldn’t have done
the fight because I was sick. But, I did it so I cannot say anything
about it. The second time I fought him, I was a little too tense
or something and I made some mistakes. But, I still think I didn’t
do that bad and the referee stopped the fight too quickly.
Q:
Is there anything else you would like to tell the fans?
A:
Yes. They can be sure that I will be 100 percent on December
4th. I really want to become the five-time K-1 champion and I
will do anything for that.
Source: Sherdog
|
Mighty
Mo Set To Go
by Benny Henderson Jr.
The Aruze K-1 World Grand Prix 2004 Final is set for December
4th at the Tokyo Dome in Japan. Eight warriors are braced for
battle in the single elimination tournament that features the
premier practitioners of world-class kickboxing. They come from
all over the world to compete for the one prize they all train
so hard for, that is the title known as CHAMPION.
The
only American that will be competing in this prestigious event
will be the hard hitting strong armed fighter simply known as
Mighty Mo. The 6’1’ ½, 275-pound native of California
will start off the event with fight veteran Kaoklai Kaennorsing,
who has a career record of 47-22-2 (11 KOs).
Mighty
Mo, who made his K-1 debut on April of this year, knocking out
K-1 prospect Hiraku Hori in the fourth round of the K-1 Burning
event, is more than ready to lay the beatdown on his opponents.
Mighty Mo’s disciplines are boxing, kickboxing and wrestling,
and the heavy hitter trains under Eddy Millis at the Shark Tank
Gym. The power punching “Mighty Mo” stopped by Max
Fighting to talk about his upcoming fight and give his thoughts
on his training for the K-1 event.
Benny
Henderson Jr. - You stated that you would try to drop twenty
pounds for this K-1 event. How has the weight loss been going
for you and your overall training?
Mighty Mo - It is going well. I’m lighter, stronger and
faster. I feel great! Eddy has been putting me through some tough
drills.
BH
- Your upcoming bout is on December 4th at the K-1 World Grand
Prix Finals Tournament. You will start off against fight veteran
Kaoklai Kaennorsing. What are your thoughts on that matchup?
MM - He is a fast fighter. I’m going to do my best to catch
him; I will catch him.
BH
- If you advance throughout the night you will have three bouts
total. How do you prepare yourself physically and mentally for
a hard night of battling?
MM - I just train hard. Mentally and physically I am ready. Good
training prepares you for the battle.
BH
- Out of your twenty-eight bouts, which are your most memorable
ones so far?
MM - I really liked winning the US K-1 Grand Prix. The KO of
Brecht Wallis was great.
BH
- Your second bout could either be against Ray Sefo or Musashi.
If you had your choice who would you rather face? I know most
likely you will say it doesn’t matter but who do you feel
would be the tougher match out of the two?
MM - Well Ray’s team and my team are all friends. I would
like to fight Musashi, but either one would be a tough fight.
BH
- Can you give us a little bit of your fight plan for the night?
MM - I will be full of surprises - strike hard, strike fast.
BH
- You are the only American on the card for the tourney, how
does it feel to be representing the USA?
MM - It feels great, I am very proud to be representing the USA.
BH
- What do you feel your best quality is as a fighter?
MM - My perseverance, strength, and timing.
BH
- Who has been your toughest opponent so far?
MM - All of them have been tough. My first K-1 opponent, Hori,
was a tough fighter.
BH
- Any final thoughts or anything you would like to say or add
to this interview?
MM - Thank you to K-1, my family, my fans and the crew at the
Shark Tank. Mighty Mo will bring the raw power and energy December
4th in Japan. Thank You!
Source: Maxfighting
|
Quote
of the Day
"Success is the child of drudgery and perseverance. It cannot
be coaxed or bribed; pay the price and it is yours."
Orison Swett Marden, 1850-1924, American Author, Founder of Success
Magazine
|
Punishment
In Paradise
Friday, Dec 3, 2004 @ Kapolei High Gym
Weigh Ins
TODAY
Kapolei's En Fuego's Grill & Poke
If you
haven't been to En Fuego yet, you are missing out on some incredible
food! Try the garlic chicken and mochi chicken. I have not had
a bad meal there. Everything is great. When you go there other
than tomorrow and eat, tell En Fuego that the Onzuka Brothers
sent you!
Come
check out the fighter as they weigh-in for EAST vs. WEST Friday
@ Kapolei Gym, Weigh Ins will start 7pm Sharp so don't miss out on some ONO GRINDz.
TICKET INFORMATION 808-696-8313
First of all we would like to apologize to those who tried to
call, I lost my cell (808) 620-2882 wednesday Morning. So i had
to run the number off temproary. So any information concerning
P.I.P can call 808-696-8313 also REMINDER tommorrow will be the
last day for PRESALE!!
Schools carrying tickets Jesus Is Lord(Waipahu,David 375-4709),
Bulls Pin(Kalihi, Dino 330-7108),
Team Bigdogs(Maili, Wayne 22-5698)Advanced Kempo(Aiea, Jonathan
223-7378)
Animal House(Ewa Beach, Rick 779-3237)
*Please Be Courteous when calling for tickets MAHALO*
Ronald "Machine
Gun" Jhun Announcement!!
Machine Gun Jhun will be on hand announcing his next BIG Title
fight! Come witness first hand who, where and when this fight
will take place. So don't forget to be their Friday @ Kapoei
High Gym. |
KOTC:
A Look Back at the Lightweight Title Match!
San
Jacinto, California - The vacant King Of The Cage Lightweight
belt was decided on November 14th, in a match between Takumi
Nakayama and Charlie Kohler. The belt was stripped from previous
champion Joe Stevenson when, according to KOTC promoter Terry
Trebilcock, Stevenson declined “several” fights that
were offered to him since he last defended the belt in February.
Charlie
Kohler has fought for KOTC before, and even for a belt, although
it was for the Welterweight belt back in February of 2001. Since
then he won two KOTC fights in September of 2001 and August of
this year. He also picked up a doctor stoppage loss in WFA 1
to Vitor 'Shaolin' Ribeiro, ADCC News’ #1 ranked Lightweight
fighter, in Ribeiro’s MMA debut.
Takumi
Nakayama has also fought Shaolin, but his fight was Shaolin’s
second MMA fight back in HOOKnSHOOT “Relentless” six
months after WFA 1. He lost to Shaolin via a side that completely
put Nakayama out in under a minute . He went on to have a mixed
career against some of the best in the world before transitioning
to KOTC in August, where he choked out Pride FC vet Charles Bennett.
The
difference in these two fighters is from the period they both
lost to Ribeiro and August’s KOTC show. In that time Kohler
was absent from MMA while granted Nakayama had that mixed period
of his career his losses were mostly by judges’ decision
to the likes of ADCC News #3 ranked Lightweight and former Shooto
champion Joachim Hansen, Pride vet Marcus Aurelio, and Shooto’s
#3 Ryan Bow. His loss to Aurelio was in ZST, a show in which
no strikes to the face on the ground are allowed.
In
this KOTC title fight both fighters were pretty evenly matched
standing, with both fighters showing a penchant for going toe
to toe with mutually effective knees to the body thrown in. On
the ground it was more Nakayama’s advantage with side control
and knee-on-belly especially. At about two minutes into the second
round Nakayama stared raining down face shots to a bloodied Kohler
for a ref stoppage and the Lightweight title.
This
show airs on pay-per-view through December 12th to an estimated
60 million households. For a gallery of shots from this fight
check out http://malarky.udel.edu/~keith/2004/KOTC/kotc11140411.htm.
Source: ADCC
|
SATURDAY
JANUARY 29th IN MONTREAL! A NIGHT OF SUPERSTARS AT TKO 19!
(MONTREAL, CANADA) – TKO Major League MMA is very pleased
to announce the return of four TKO superstars at TKO 19! GEORGES
ST-PIERRE, PATRICK COTE, STEVE VIGNEAULT and MARK HOMINICK will
headline this star studded event on Saturday, January 29th, 2005
at the Pierre-Charbonneau Center in Montreal, Quebec. What more
can the Canadian MMA fan ask for? The best of Canada are fighting
both at home in front of their loyal fan base and abroad available
via pay-per-view on the ultimate stage of mixed martial arts
combat, the UFC!
STEVE
VIGNEAULT (10-5-0) will fight JASON ST-LOUIS (9-4-0) in a rematch
of their epic war of May 2001. Their first fight ended by a doctor’s
stoppage at the end of round 1. St-Louis considers this is a
long and overdue round 2! Vigneault is more then happy to oblige
remarking “after the continued beating I put on St-Louis
in January he certainly won’t be asking for round 3”.
UFC
rising stars, GEORGES ST-PIERRE (7-1-0) and PATRICK COTE (5-1-0)
will return to the TKO ring to fight for their home crowd! As
part of their exclusive UFC contracts, the UFC reserves the right
to approve of their opponents and both parties are currently
looking at a list of possible opponents. Stay tuned for the latest
breaking development on these two tremendous fights!
MARK
HOMINICK (5-4-0) will get the rematch the fans have been screaming
for. He will square off against the champion, SHANE RICE (1-2-0)
for the SLW Championship! Interim SLW Champion STEPHANE VIGNEAULT
(7-2-0) will clash with fellow young and rising star, RYAN DIAZ
(8-8-0). The winner of these two stupendous fights will meet
to unify the title in April at TKO 20.
TKO
19 will also see the newly crowned TKO Heavyweight Champion,
JACOB CONLIFEE (1-0-0) defend his title against ICHO LARENAS
(2-1-0). But, TKO isn’t done yet! TKO 19 will also feature
the always exciting and crowd pleasing fighting style of LAVERNE
CLARK (18-13-1) of Team Miletich. Speaking of excitement, SAM
STOUT (4-1-0), coming off one of the greatest fights in TKO’s
history will look to continue his ascent into greatness at TKO
19. Stout and Clark’s opponents will be announced shortly.
TICKETS GO ON SALE NOW AT 1-866-445-8886!
TKO
Major League MMA, a Canadian owned and based company has its
headquarters in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. TKO is Canada’s
#1 Combat sports fight promotion and one of the world leaders
in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Owned and operated
by Stephane Patry, TKO produces four (4) pay-per-view events
yearly that are broadcasted on Viewer’s Choice Canada (pay-per-view),
Bell Express Vu (pay-pre-view satellite provider), Star Choice
(pay-per-view). TKO events are also broadcasted on Canada’s
Largest Sport Network, The Sports Network (TSN) and on Le Reseau
des Sports (RDS). All the events are distributed on DVD and video
cassette.
Source: ADCC
|
POPOVICH
vs. GLOVER - Who's The Best 170 Lbs. Grappler in America?
Grapplers
Quest News:
1.
Last 72 Hours to Pre-Register and SAVE for Grapplers Quest World
Series of Grappling
2. Pablo Popovich vs. Tyrone Glover and Valverde vs. Cocco Announced
3. World Series Event Info
*1.
Just 10 Days until The Last Grappling and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Event of the 2004 World Grappling RATED Season (December 11th
in Coral Springs, Florida)...Don't forget to Pre-Register and
Save up to $35, click here: http://grapplers.com/store/midscreen.cfm
UPDATED
WORLD SERIES CHALLENGE SUPERFIGHTS
**2.
Battle for the #1 RATED 170 lbs. Pro Grappler in America:
Pablo
Popovich
American Top Team/Team Popovich (Miami, Florida)
2003 Grapplers Quest U.S.A. Trials Champion
Grapplers Quest West 5 Superfight Tournament Champion
vs.
Tyrone Glover
City Boxing (San Diego, California)
Grapplers Quest Beast of the East Superfight Champion
Grapplers Quest West 6 4-Man Tournament
Daniel
Valverde
American Top Team
European Judo Champion
Brazilian National Jiu Jitsu Champion
vs.
Enrico Cocco
Florida Freestyle Fighting/Team Avellan
9-Time NAGA Champion
Source: ADCC
|
ADDITIONAL
MATCHES ANNOUNCED FOR PRIDE FIGHTING’S SHOCKWAVE!
Three additional matches have been announced for PRIDE FIGHTING’S
upcoming SHOCKWAVE event … Wanderlei Silva versus Kazushi
Sakuraba, Dan Henderson versus Yuki Kondo, and Takanori Gomi
versus “Little Evil” Jens Pulver. Previously announced
main events include the highly anticipated rematch … for
the title of undisputed heavyweight Grand Prix Champion of 2004
as well as for the title of PRIDE heavyweight champion …
Fedor Emelianenko versus Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira … also,
for the first time in mixed martial arts history and under mixed
martial arts rules, it will be Olympic gold versus Olympic gold
as Japan’s Hidehiko Yoshida (1992 Judo Olympic gold medallist)
takes on Rulon Gardner of the United States (2000 Greco Roman
Wrestling Olympic gold medallist).
SHOCKWAVE
will take place from the Saitama Super Arena in Japan and is
scheduled to debut on North American pay per view via iNDEMAND,
DIRECTV, DISH Network, and TVN on Sunday, January 2nd, 2005 at
9:00pm EST, 6:00pm PST.
SHOCKWAVE
will feature the fourth battle between Japanese hero Kazushi
Sakuraba (Takada Dojo) and PRIDE FIGHTING’S reigning middleweight
champion, Wanderlei Silva (Chute Boxe Academy). The two first
met on March 25, 2001 at COLLISSION COURSE with Silva winning
by TKO in Round 1. They met again in a rematch on November 3,
2001 at CHAMPIONSHIP CHAOS and the bout was stopped when Sakuraba
sustained a shoulder injury. They met for a third time during
the first round of the 2003 middleweight Grand Prix and Silva
came away with a victory by KO. Silva went on to win the tournament
and continue his undefeated streak in PRIDE (dating back to 2000).
Sakuraba enters this match with a renewed vigor and training
regime. With recent wins over Antonio “Nino” Schembri
and Kevin Randleman, Sakuraba has re-dedicated himself to training
and hopes that the forth time is a charm against Silva.
The
next announced bout features Dan “Hollywood” Henderson
versus Yuki Kondo. Henderson hails from Downey, California and
represents Team Quest. A former Olympic wrestler, Henderson has
mastered the style of “dirty boxing” and has one of
the most lethal right hands in the business. He is coming off
of victories over Kazuhiro Nakamura, Murilo Bustamante, and Shungo
Oyama. Yuki Kondo is one of Japan’s finest middleweight
fighters and represents PANCRASE. His mixed martial arts career
dates back to 1996 and he boasts victories over such fighters
as Guy Mezger, Semmy Schilt and Frank Shamrock. Kondo has fought
twice in PRIDE: he defeated Mario Sperry by TKO (round 1) at
SHOCKWAVE 2003 and then was defeated by Wanderlei Silva at FINAL
CONFLICT 2004 by KO (round 1). Henderson and Kondo … two
fighters who share a take no prisoners fighting style and both
known for their fighting spirit … who will come out on top?
The
third announced bout features the lightweights … Takanori
Gomi of Japan versus “Little Evil” Jens Pulver of the
United States. Since the formation of the BUSHIDO series, Gomi
has been dominant, racking up victories over Jadsen Costa, Fabio
Mello, Ralph Gracie, and “Krazy Horse” Charles Bennett.
Intent on proving that he is the best lightweight fighter in
any organization, Gomi is taking on all comers and will now be
matched up with one of the best pound for pound fighters in the
world in Jens Pulver. Hailing from Davenport, Iowa and representing
the Miletich Fighting System, “Little Evil” Jens Pulver
is a former UFC lightweight champion and boasts wins over an
impressive list of fighters including: B.J. Penn, John Lewis,
Caol Uno, and Dennis Hallman. Though this is his PRIDE debut,
Pulver’s mixed martial arts career dates back to 1999. On
a card filled with middleweights and heavyweights, these lightweights
are looking to steal the show!
SHOCKWAVE
FIGHT CARD
-
Fedor Emelianenko (Russia) vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Brazil)
(This is a double title match, for both the PRIDE FIGHTING heavyweight
championship as well for the title of 2004 Grand Prix heavyweight
champion)
-
Hidehiko Yoshida (Japan) vs. Rulon Gardner (USA)
- Wanderlei Silva (Brazil) vs. Kazushi Sakuraba (Japan)
- Dan Henderson (USA) vs. Yuki Kondo (Japan)
- Takanori Gomi (Japan) vs. Jens Pulver (USA)
Fight
card subject to change. More bouts to be announced soon. For
more information on PRIDE FC, visit http://pridefc.com!
Source: ADCC
|
THE
RIVALRY CONTINUES: IOWA TO HOST IOWA STATE SUNDAY
The next battle between the two teams with the most storied rivalry
in college wrestling, the University of Iowa Hawkeyes and the
Iowa State University Cyclones, will take place this Sunday,
Dec. 5. Iowa will host their in-state rivals at the Carver-Hawkeye
Arena in Iowa City. The meets begins at 6 PM CST.
In
this early part of the season, both teams are thus far undefeated.
Iowa is 1-0, while Iowa State is 6-0. This will easily be the
toughest dual meet for each team this season. Iowa State is ranked
between third and fifth in the major national polls, while Iowa
is ranked between fifth and ninth.
Iowa
leads the series with Iowa State, 52-15-2, and had a 30-match
winning streak going into last season's face-off. But Iowa State
snapped that streak when these two teams last met, winning 21-13,
in front of 5,149 fans on December 7, 2003, in Hilton Coliseum
in Ames, Iowa.
Iowa
State is led by undefeated 141-pound wrestler junior Nate Gallick,
who is ranked either first or second in the major polls. He will
likely face Iowa's freshman phenom, Alex Tsirtsis, who is also
undefeated thus far. The young and rebuilding Iowa team may field
as many as six freshman in this meet.
There
will be extensive coverage of this meet. In Iowa City, AM-800
KXIC will broadcast it live with Morrie Adams and four-time Iowa
All-American Mark Ironside calling the action.
On
television, Iowa Public Television will begin its 29th season
of televising college wrestling by airing a live telecast of
this meet beginning at 6 PM CST. The announcers will be Tim Johnson,
Jim Gibbons, and former Iowa wrestling coach and Iowa State wrestler
Dan Gable. This is part of the 'College Wrestling' series, which
can be seen statewide in Iowa on all IPTV stations.
The
Iowa-Iowa State series has found a sponsor in Hy-Vee, Inc., a
supermarket chain operating more than 220 retail stores in seven
Midwestern states. Hy-Vee is serving as the title sponsor for
the schools' Cy-Hawk Series, which is the name given to the series
of regular-season, head-to-head intercollegiate athletic events
featuring Cyclone and Hawkeye teams. A point system has been
devised to track each school's performance. Points are given
for success in these head-to-head athletic contests in various
sports, as well as additional points being awarded based on successful
performance in the classroom by student-athletes.
The
winning school is awarded the annual trophy for what is now known
as the Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk Series.
Here,
as supplied by the University of Iowa's Sports Information Office,
are the probable lineups for Sunday's Iowa-Iowa State showdown:
PROBABLE
LINEUPS
Iowa
Hawkeyes (1-0, 0-0 in the Big 10) 2004-05
Wt. Name Yr. Hometown (HS/Last School) Record
125 Charlie Falck Fr. Strawberry Point, IA (Apple Valley, MN)
2-2
OR Lucas Magnani So. Long Island, NY (St. Anthony's /Brown) 3-2
133
Mario Galanakis Jr. Greenfield, IA (Nodway Valley/Ellsworth)
1-0
OR Gabe Ruhkala Jr. Loomis, CA (Del Oro) 6-1
141
Alex Tsirtsis Fr. Griffith, IN (Griffith) 6-0
149
Ty Eustice Jr.. Blue Earth, MN (Blue Earth) 5-1
157
Joe Johnston Jr. Prairie Village, KS (Shawnee Mission E.) 6-0
165
Mark Perry *Fr. Stillwater, OK (Blair Academy, NJ) 6-1
174
Luke Lofthouse Fr. Avon, UT (Moutain Crest) 5-2
184
Paul Bradley Jr. Tama, IA (South Tama) 1-0
197
Major Ennen Sr. Muscatine, IA (Muscatine) 0-2
OR Dane Pape Fr. Maquoketa, IA (Maquoketa) 0-1
HWT
Matt Fields Fr. Lowden, IA (North Cedar) 5-1
OR Ryan Fuller *Fr. Lisbon, IA (Lisbon) 1-2
Iowa
State Cyclones (6-0, 0-0 in the Big 12) 2004-05
Wt. Name Yr. Hometown (Last School) Record
125
Grant Nakamura Jr. Wailuku, HI (Baldwin HS) 1-1
133
Jesse Sundell Jr. Ogden, IA (Ogden HS) 4-3
141
Nate Gallick Jr. Tucson, AZ (Sunnyside HS) 6-0
149
Aron Scott *Fr. Oskaloosa, IA (Oskaloosa HS) 1-2
OR Jason Knipp So. Waterloo, IA (Don Bosco HS) 5-3
157
Trent Paulson So. Council Bluffs, IA (Lewis Central HS) 11-0
165
Nick Passolano Sr. New Lenox, IL (Providence Catholic HS) 6-1
OR Travis Paulson So. Council Bluffs, IA (Lewis Central HS) 8-1
OR Mike Somsky So. Iowa City, IA (City) 0-5
174
Grant Turner So. Johnston, IA (Johnston HS) 9-1
OR Nick Passolano Sr. New Lenox, IL (Providence Catholic HS)
6-1
OR Travis Paulson So. Council Bluffs, IA (Lewis Central HS) 8-1
OR David Bertolino *Fr. Mt. Pleasant, OH (Buckeye Local HS) 11-2
184
Kurt Backes So. Neshanic Station, NJ (Blair Academy HS) 9-0
197
Trevor Smith Sr. Longview, WA (Highline CC) 10-2
HWT
Scott Coleman Sr. Manhattan, KS (Brigham Young) 5-1
*redshirt
freshman
Source: ADCC
|
Quote
of the Day
"You are the only real obstacle in your path to a fulfilling
life."
Les Brown {American Motivator Lecturer}
|
Punishment
In Paradise: East Vs. West
Kapolei High School Gym, Kapolei, Hawaii
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2004
155lbs. Lightweight MMA Bout (3x3 Minute Rounds)
Cory Cass (Showtime J.J., California) Vs. David Padilla (Jesus
Is Lord, Hawaii)
175lbs.
Kickboxing Championship Bout (3x2 Minute Rounds)
Tommy Pestana (Bad Intentions, Waianae) Vs. Wayne Perrin III
(Team Bigdogs, Waianae)
Lightweight
MMA Bout (3x3 Minute Rounds)
Ryan Kronwritter (Meat Truck Inc, ,Indiana) Vs. Kevin Delima
(Bulls Pin, Hawaii)
***INTERMISSION***
159lbs.
Kickboxing Championship Bout (3x2 Minute Rounds)
Kaleo Kwon (Eastsidaz, Kailua) Vs. Dain Agbayani (808 FF, Waipahu)
137lbs.
Kickboxing Championship Bout(3x2 Minute Rounds)
Ryan Lee (Bulls Pin, Kalihi) Vs. Domi Lopez (Team Bigdogs, Waianae)
MMA
Bout (2x3 Minute Rounds)
Cisco Bringas (Freelance, Kailua) Vs. Joe Palimo’o (Freelance,
Waipahu)
Exhibition
Bout (3x1 Minute Rounds)
Jacob Cook (Kodan Kon, East Oahu B.C) Vs. Thomas Pave (Dogs 4
Life, Waianae)
179lbs.
Kickboxing Championship Bout (3x2 Minute Rounds)
Joshua Versola (Advanced Kempo, Kalihi) Vs. Allan Yulip (Animal
House, Ewa Beach)
196lbs.
Kickboxing Championship Bout (3x2 Minute Rounds)
Brandon Kalikane (Animal House, Ewa Beach) Vs. Val Ulafale (Team
Bigdogs, Waianae)
120lbs.
Kickboxing #1 Contender Bout (3x11/2 Minute Rounds)
Davin Damo-Pihana (Animal House, Ewa Beach) Vs. Stephen Paling
Jr. (Jesus Is Lord, Nanakuli)
172LBS.
Kickboxing Bout (3x11/2 Minute Rounds)
Chris Aina (Freelance, Kailua) Vs. Kevin Smith (Team Bigdogs,
Waianae)
240lbs.
Exhibition (3x1 Minute Rounds)
Henry (Bulls Pin, Kalihi) Vs. Jonah Visante (Dogs 4 Life, Waianae)
147lbs.
Kickboxing Bout (3x11/2 Minute Rounds)
Louis Smith (Team Bigdogs, Waianae) Vs. Brandon Antonio (Jesus
Is Lord, Nanakuli)
150lbs.
Kickboxing Bout (3x11/2 Minute Rounds)
Bronson Perrin (Team Bigdogs, Waianae) Vs John Visante Jr. (Dogs
4 Life, Waianae)
Exhibition
Bout (3x1 Minute Rounds)
Hansen Apo (East Oahu B.C, Waimanalo) Vs. Kahele (Dogs 4 Life,
Waianae)
**Card
Subject To Change**
PRESALE
TICKETS ON SALE!!
Tickets
are really starting to sell FAST!! Ticket Information 620-2882
Schools
Carring Tickets for SALE
Jesus
Is Lord(Waipahu), Team Bigdogs(Maili), Bulls Pin(Kalihi), Kodan
Kon(Kailua)
Dogs
4 Life(Waianae), Animal House(Ewa Beach), David Padilla(Waipio),
Advanced Kempo(Aiea)
Source: Event Promoter
|
More
Pride Matches
Today, DSE/PRIDE announced more 3 match ups of PRIDE "OTOKO
MATSURI" on
December 31st.
Kazushi
Sakuraba vs. Wanderlei Silva
(Japan/Takada Dojo) (Brazil/Chute Boxe Academy)
Yuki
Kondo vs. Dan Henderson
(Pancrase Ism) (USA/Team Quest)
Takanori Gomi vs. Jens Pulver
(Japan/Kiguchi Dojo) (USA/Team Extreem)
Already
announced
Fedor
Emelianenko vs. Rodrigo 'Minotauro' Nogueira
(Russia/Red Devil Fight Club) (Brazil/BTT)
Hidehiko
Yoshida vs. Rulon Gardoner
(Japan/Yoshida Dojo) (USA/Team Quest)
Line-up
fighter
Mirco Cro Cop
Mark Hunt
Sentoryu
Giant Silva
PRIDE
"OTOKO MATSURI" -SADAME-
Date: December 31st 2004
Place:Saitama Super Arena
Best
Regards
Koichi
"Booker K" Kawasaki |
Werdum's
exclusive from Croatia
Negotiations
between Fabrício Werdum and Chute Boxe were almost done
when a phone call changed Werdum's plans. It was Ken Imai, Mirko
Cro Cop's agent, asking Werdum to train Cro Cop on the ground
for the next three years. Living with Mirko in Zagreb, Werdum
talked with TATAME.com. During the exclusive, Werdum talked about
Mirko's evolution on the ground and still explained his trainings
at Cro Cop Squad Gym.
How
does Mirko come to you?
I
was surfing at internet at home and suddenly my phone rang. It
was Ken Imai offering me a three-years-deal to train Mirko in
Croatia. He was offering me home, food and a nice payment a month!
I said, of course!!! The only problem is that I had just announced
that I was moving to Chute Boxe. but I couldn't loose an opportunity
like that. Ken also offered me four fights at Pride per year!
Tell
me about your train routine in Croatia?
I
wake up early and at 7AM we run three kilometers. Then I do weight
training and, during the next one hour, I do Jiu-Jitsu. We have
lunch and we rest till 5PM, to the second part of the training.
Till 8:30PM we do Boxing, Jiu-Jitsu and Vale-Tudo
Does
Mirko have a flair for fighting on the ground?
At
this time he wants most to know how to defend himself. Mirko
is very explosive and a strong guy, who knows how to measure
the distance. He has a good base, but his biggest problem was
how to escape from the mounted position. Now he knows how to
do. (Laugh) I can guarantee Mirko's ground game is much better
that before. He asks me to teach him how lo escape from all submissions.
The guy has a good future on the ground.
Are
training strikes with Mirko?
Our
Boxing coach, Vlador, gives me a special attention every day.
I'm learning whatever I can and the best part for me at this
moment was the physical training and the Boxing training. I do
strikes with him every day! The weekend is just bed and a lot
of ice on my legs.
We
did a report about MMA's evolution in Europe. How is MMA level
in Croatia?
I
don't know much about that, because I haven't seen much. Mirko's
team, Cro Cop Squad Gym, has ten fighters and, for me, Igor Pokrajac,
Mirko's pupil, is great. They don't have many MMA events here
and the local fighter's biggest problem is on the ground. But
from now on I can guarantee that it's over!
And
when will you debut at Pride ring?
On
December 31st, but I still don't know who I'll be fighting.
Source: Tatame |
It's
time to think about Fedor
After
little vacations of Pride GP Heavyweight, on last August 15,
Rodrigo Minotauro is back to train thinking of Emelianenko Fedor,
his opponent on December 31. "I got my vacations. Now I
will start my full time train," guaranteed Minotauro, who
passed through United States, England and enjoyed the exclusive
with TATAME's editor Marcelo Alonso to explain the reason of
his absence at Shooto Switzerland 2. However, it's not only Minotauro
who is getting ready to battle. His team, Brazilian Top Team
is also getting stronger with Vítor Belfort's return to
AABB Lagoa headquarter. Check out now the full plans of BTT fighter
and about his vacations after the controversial No-Contest decision
at Pride.
How
do you see Vitor Belfort's return to BTT? Rumors say Jefferson
Tank might come as well...
That
would be great. It's too good for our team. In fact I didn't
even know he was returning, but it's a very good new. It means
more train for us and Vitor is just great. When I faced Cro Cop
for the first time he helped me a lot. he is a good friend. Unfortunately
I didn't watch his fight at Ultimate because I was busy with
Fedor, but I have no doubts he will be a champion once again.
Your
fight at pride has been confirmed... It does mean you are no
longer fighting at K-1?
In
fact, I've never been in K-1. When I was unsure at pride, I still
had to wait for a couple of months until look after K-1. We are
very excited to this next fight at Pride, once it will be the
biggest show of the year!
After
vacations... Have you start your trains to December 31's show?
I
have been training, but not full time. After Pride I spent a
month an a half traveling. I was with (Luiz) Dória and
even relaxing, I have been training. I went to Miami and stayed
with American Top Team. I trained with Jason, Raymond and was
there for almost a month. I ended also getting too much excited
with Amaury Bitetti train... But now I am back to daily train.
By that time I relaxed and traveled a little bit.
But
as you said you have been training...
Yes.
And it was good. For example: with Amaury I've trained lots of
BJJ positions. he is a BJJ expert. He helped me a lot, corrected
me in few cases. We worked my guard and ground and pound. There
were so many tips... I love to train with him. Amaury was a little
out of it, but now he is supporting Hermes França.
You
were at Pride during High Octane. Tell me your impressions of
the show.
I
think it was a great event. I think it was funny the fact (Mirko)
Cro Cop said (Josh) Barnett had a big mouth. But there was no
heat during the fight. Another fight which promised a great time
was between Dan Henderson and Nakamura, but disappointed me.
Wanderlei did the fight of the night! He spanked Quinton Jackson.
Wand exploded and ruled the fight. Proved he better on the ground
each day and is getting complete. It was a beautiful knockout.
Arona surprised too. He did a great fight and applied an excellent
Jiu-Jitsu. He fought as I've never seen. He used the half of
Jiu-Jitsu he knows. When he shows what he knows he'll blow Pride
Why
did you not show up at Shooto Switzerland?
Frota
did not give me the round trip ticket. I would not charge for
the seminar, but at the same time I couldn't send this money
with a flight ticket. Unfortunately the seminar would not cover
my purse.
Source: Tatame
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BUSHIDO'S
LIGHTWEIGHT GRAND PRIX
MMAWeekly's Scott Petersen reports from Japan, that the early
word is for Pride to hold a Lightweight Grand Prix Tournament
early in the spring.
The
Tourney will most likely happen in the ball park of March, April
or May of 2005. A tournament will take place between some of
the best Lightweights in the world.
The
weight class Pride Bushido will form will be a 160 pound weight
class. This will be a slight increase in weight than the UFC's
155 pound weight class. The five extra pounds may make it more
difficult for the lighter fighters to make the new weight class.
If
you look at fighters like Kid Yamamoto, Ivan Menjivar or Jens
Pulver, those type of fighters will be the ones most affected
by the new weight class. They are hard pressed to move all the
way up to 160 to fight in this kind of tournament.
The
fighters mentioned above are comfortable in the 145 weight class.
They all have competed at 155 before, but it will be interesting
to see, if they will be invited to fight in the 160 pound weight
class. No formal invitations have gone out yet as the details
are still to be worked out, but look for a Lightweight Tournament
in the near future in Japan.
Source: MMA Weekly
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Pulver
Fighting Gomi On 12/31?
Team
Extreme manager Monte Cox is reporting on The Underground, that
the rumored Luis Buscape vs. Takanori Gomi fight planned for
12/31 is not going to happen, and instead it will be his fighter
Jens Pulver challenging the Japanese sensation Gomi, on 12/31
in Japan for the PRIDE Man Festival 2 show.
Source: MMANews
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CroCop
Speaks On 12/31 Fight, Fedor, More
Japanese media: Who is better Fedor or Minotauro?
Cro
Cop: They are both top fighters, with their own values. I can
handle Minotauro on the ground now. My Brazilian friend Werdum
helped me to perfect my ground game.
Japanese
media: What are Fabricio's thoughts of Croatia?
Cro
Cop: He likes it very much. He is even thinking about moving
to Zagreb from Madrid.
Japanese
media: What happened in the fight with Barnett? How did you end
up on the ground so fast?
Cro
Cop: I slipped, the floor was wet. In the later phase of the
fight I showed him what I can do on the ground. He tried to pull
his arm out, but I didn't allow him so his shoulder got hurt.
Japanese
media: When is your rematch with Randleman?
Cro
Cop: I don't know, it's PRIDE's call. I am ready.
Japanese
media: Are you afraid of a rematch with Randleman?
Cro
Cop: Absouletly not. In our next fight Randleman hasn't got a
chance!
Japanese
media: What do you have planned next?
Cro
Cop: For now, the fight with Mark Hunt is sure thing, and then
a match with Fedor or Minotauro in January.
Japanese
media: How was the fight with Barnett?
Cro
Cop: OK. Only that it lasted too short. It came about that the
guy's tongue was tougher than his shoulder.
Source: MMANews
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BUSHIDO
5 Interview With Takanori Gomi
Pride Fighting Championships: How do you feel now?
Gomi: Ashamed.I don’t understand.I wanted to strike with
him and that’s what I trained for.I thought that’s
what the fans want but I put winning ahead.
Pride:
What did you think about the fight?
Gomi: I want to do my best so I can continue for a long time
without injury.
Pride: You wanted to finish with a knockout?
Gomi: Yes. That would get everyone excited the most…and
he laughed at me when I got the mount position.
Pride: Bennett laughed at you?
Gomi: Yes. He’s a wild fighter. There’s no planning
for him.
Pride: Did that make it hard to fight him?
Gomi: Well, they say that getting angry plays into your opponent’s
game. I probably got angry without realizing it.
Pride: Next will be the New Year’s Eve show?
Gomi: There’s not much time between the matches so I think
I will be able to fight in good condition. When there’s
a lot of time between my fights, it’s all I can do to keep
my body in shape. I plan on going after the next fight soon.
Pride: Buscape’s a possible opponent.
Gomi: He’s in the top of the welterweight class so I’d
like to fight him. I want to get back the speed, spirit and power
that I had when I was 23 and fight him.
Pride: Bennett said that he didn’t tap.
Gomi: Hmmm, well, the ref stopped it. The ref stopped it and
so the bell rung but he wouldn’t give up. In that’s
sense, he’s a street fighter or maybe just doesn’t
have common sense. There are Japanese fighters that tap when
their arms are stretched out and there are guys like Chonan that
won’t give up. It’s a matter of whether you’ll
go to extremes or not. It’s the same with arm-bars and chokes.
You can’t Buscape with those. I wanted to get everyone excited
over BUSHIDO. Yesterday, K-1 was really exciting so I didn’t
want to lose. All of the fighters had wonderful fights. I think
that continuing to win means that you continue to survive (in
the fight business) and that’s how I fought.
Pride: Do you feel good now that you’ve finished the main
card on today’s BUSHIDO?
Gomi: I barely survived. If you lose, you disappear. Winning
is important.
Pride: What’s your next goal?
Gomi: I want to fight on New Year’s Eve show and show everyone
what the PRIDE Lightweight division is about.
Source: Pride FC
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