Upcoming
Events
Do you want to list an
event on Onzuka.com?
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(All events on Oahu, unless noted)
November
Pride
Bushido 5
(MMA)
(Yokohama Arena, Japan)
September
Ring
of Honor 6
( Kickboxing/MMA)
(Kauai)
Tentative
9/25/04
NAGA Hawaii State Grappling Championships
(BJJ & Sub Grappling)
(Tentative)
9/11/04
K-1 Hawaii
(Boxing & Kickboxing)
(Aloha Stadium)
August
Ring of Honor 6
( Kickboxing/MMA)
(Maui)
Tentative
8/28/04
Hawaiian Grappling Challenge
(Submission Grappling)
(Oahu)
8/15/04
Pride
Final Conflict
(MMA)
(Saitama Super Arena, Japan)
July
Bushido 4
(MMA)
(Nagoya Rainbow Hall, Japan)
7/30/04
Westside
Bash
(Boxing/Kickboxing)
(Ahuna Ranch, Maili)
7/24/04
Submission Wrestling Tpurnament
(Sub Grappling)
(Kahului, Maui, Hawaii)
7/19/04
Pride
Bushido 4
(MMA)
(Nagoya, Japan)
|
|
July 2004 News Part
2
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
"Excellence is the result of caring more than others think
wise, risking more than other's think safe, dreaming more than
others think practical, and expecting more than others think
possible."
Anonymous
|
Fighters'
Club TV Premier's New Show New Time
It's on Tonight
Tuesdays
at 8:30PM on Olelo Channel 52
Fighters’ Club
TV Episode 22 has been submitted to programming and will air
in our regular timeslot—6pm Tuesdays on Channel 52. It will
premier on July 6th (Tues. night)
and will repeat
for the following 3 Tuesdays at 6pm on Ch. 52 (redundant for
those who still tell me, “I’d watch the show, but I
never know when it’s on.”
Episode 22 features:
Brennan Kamaka’s Punishment
in Paradise:
Corey Daniels (Team
Vitale) vs. Jason Nicholson (808 Fight Factory) + intvw w/ Corey
Harris Sarmiento
(808 Fight Factory) vs. Ben George (Bull’s Pen)
PJ Dean (Hardknocks)
vs. Deshaun Johnson (HMC) + intvw w/ PJ
Prodigy Productions, Rumble
on the Rock (7MAY04)
Royden Demotta vs.
Vance Pu + intvw w/ Royden
Harris Sarmiento
vs. Justin Mercado
Jason Lambert vs
Mike Rogers
Joe Riggs vs. Kendall
Groves
John Marsh vs. Cabbage
+intvw w/ Marsh
Ronald Jhun vs.
Ryan Schultz +intvw w/ Ronald
Technique of the Week
Purebred Omiya’s,
Tetsuji Kato demonstrating a leg-lock takedown w/ BJ Penn
And, Hawaii’s
favorite FCTV Hearthrobs: Mike “I’m the handsome one”
Onzuka, Chris “no you’re not” Onzuka, and Mark
“the other guy” Kurano
Comments, Questions,
Suggestions: Contact us at fightersclubtv808@hotmail.com
|
PRIDE
Bushido 4
July 19th, 2004
Nagoya Aiichi Rainbow Hall
Nagoya, Japan
Brazilian
Top Team vs. Japan matchups:
Rogerio 'Minotoro' Nogeuira defeats Kazuhiro Nakamura by split
decision.
Takanori Gomi defeats Fabio Mello by KO at 8:07, RD 1.
Paulo Filho defeats Akira Shoji by split decision.
Single
fight matchups:
Mirko 'Cro Cop' Filipovic defeats Shungo Oyama by KO at 1:00,
RD 1.
Takashi Sugiura defeats 'Giant' Silva by TKO at 2:35, RD 1.
Ikuhisa Minowa defeats Ken'ichi Yamamoto by KO at 3:23, RD 1.
Hayato Sakurai defeats Brady Fink by choke at 4:08, RD 1.
Amar Suloev defeats Dean Lister by split decision.
D. Mishima defeats Marcus Aurelio by split decision.
Luis 'Buscape' Firminho defeats Hiroyuki Abe by triangle choke
at 2:52, RD 1.
Kyosuke Sasaki drew with Eiji Mitsuoka.
Source:
Fight Sport
|
HENDO
TO FIGHT IN PRIDE IN AUGUST
Dan Henderson will be fighting on the next PrideFC card in August
but the question still remains, against who? MMAWeekly spoke
with Dan Friday about his next fight, who he would like to fight
if given the choice, teammates Randy Couture and Matt Lindland's
upcoming bouts among other things. This is a synopsis of what
Henderson had to say. To hear the entire interview, get yourself
a Premium Membership.
Dan
has been training "quite a bit," and staying busy these
days. Along with building his house, he has been preparing for
his fight on August 15th but he still doesn't know who he will
be facing. One thing is for certain, he won't be facing Murilo
Bustamante. Dan said, "I have no idea who I'm fighting,"
but expects to find out in the next few days. His contract with
Pride stared with the Bustamante bout and was a one year, three
fight deal. Basically, he has two more fights left before the
end of November.
When
asked who he wanted to fight if he could choose, Dan said he
wants to fight for a title which means Wanderlei Silva. The two
met before back in December of 2000. Silva got the decision win
back then but Henderson would like another crack at the champion.
There
are several reasons why Henderson thinks a second time around
will be different. The first time they fought, Dan said he didn't
know much about Silva and took the fight on short notice. He
had a two weeks notice but said, "Right after I found out
I was fighting, I kinda got sick with Strep Throat." Looking
back, Dan said he couldn't finish any take downs because he was
simply too tired.
When
asked, straight up, what would be different this time, Dan replied,
"For one, I'd be in shape and ready to go." He went
on to say, "I had about a week of good training for that
and it wasn't enough." Henderson has been asking for a fight
with Silva for the last year, and as he put it, "I haven't
had much luck."
Some
say that Wanderlei is overrated but Henderson doesn't subscribe
to that train of thought. "He wouldn't have won the that
Grand Prix tournament if he was overrated," stated Henderson.
Dan did question Silva's chin though and commented, "He
definitely gets a little protected."
Dan
was asked about his take on Phil Baroni's return to the octagon
coming off of three consecutive loses. He said people either
love Phil or love to see him lose. Henderson spoke candidly in
saying, "I think he should have gotten reprimanded a lot
worse than he got," for striking a referee. He added, "He
should have been out for at least a year."
Henderson
resides in California but is a member of the Oregon based Team
Quest. He makes it to Oregon to train with them four or five
times a year. Sometime this week, he will make the trip there
for two solid weeks of training. He said, "I'm up there
quite a bit. I probably could use a little bit more with them."
Dan,
Randy Couture and Matt Lindland all have bouts coming up in August.
The only down side in Henderson's mind is that the Pride event
is one week before UFC 49 so Randy and Matt won't be making the
trip to Japan to corner him. He has several people who will be
accompanying him but would the absence of Randy and Matt will
be felt.
Dan
doesn't know too much about Lindland opponent, David Terrell,
other than he is good on the ground. It is his opinion that Matt
will try and stand with Terrell with the hopes of a knock out.
Matt has been working hard on his stand up so we will see.
Randy
Couture's light heavyweight title fight against Vitor Belfort
is the main event on the UFC 49 card. Henderson thinks the fight
will go the distance with teammate Couture the victor. His prediction
was, "I feel that Randy will control him and beat on him
quite a bit from the top." He acknowledged that it will
be a tough fight but anticipates Randy controlling Vitor and
wearing Belfort down.
To
hear all of what Dan Henderson had to say, such as if he would
take less money than Pride pays him to fight in the UFC, get
yourself a Premium Membership. For only five dollars a month,
you gain access to the radio archive, our video section of one
on one interview, behind the scenes footage of weigh ins and
press conferences, not to mention the tips of the week from the
top fighters in Mixed Martial Arts. With UFC 49 and the conclusion
of the Pride heavyweight Grand Prix just around the corner, now
is no better time to find out what you're missing.
Source:
MMA Weekly |
KEN
SHAMROCK: UFC'S BIG MONEY MAKER
Ken Shamrock is a UFC Legend, a Hall of Famer and great fighter.
He also is a big box office draw as he has drew the most pay
per view buys in the modern UFC/Zuffa era.
Dave
Meltzer from the Wrestling Observer reports that the UFC 48 show
headlined by Ken Shamrock vs Kimo drew some where in the ball
park of 110,000 buys.
This
would be the second show for Shamrock, in the UFC/Zuffa era since
Zuffa took over the UFC and it would also be the second pay per
view that Ken Shamrock drew over 100,000 buys. The first show
Shamrock was in for Zuffa was against Tito Ortiz at UFC 40. That
pay per view drew somewhere in the ball park of 150,000 pay per
view buys.
If
you want to compare the numbers you could compare this to UFC
46. Tito Ortiz vs Randy Couture was the main event and that show
did 80,000 buys. Bottom line is the fact that Ken Shamrock is
a marketing machine. The only bad news for Zuffa is the fact
that Shamrock is at the end of his career, not to mention he
is 40 years old and is coming off a torn rotator cuff. How long
does he have left? Shamrock told MMAWeekly Radio last week that
he will be ready to go in February, possibly against Tito Ortiz.
Source:
MMA Weekly |
Terere
to fight in the Over
Major Bomb: Terere to fight in the Over Division
In
a very big surprise Fernando 'Terere' signed up for the 2004
Worlds for the Over category, where he will probably face the
likes of Fabricio Werdum, Marcio Orletta and other Over Division
stars!
Terere
who has fought and won in the Medium weight category for the
last few years comented: ' I wanted to face Marcio Pe-de-Pano
so much that I signed up for his division!' After finding out
that Pano was going to skip the Worlds to concentrate on his
NHB match Terere said: 'I am always looking for challenges!'
Terere
had beaten Pano in the Absoluto on the Nationals a few years
back and the two had a friendly feud going on
2004
Worlds soon to be rocking!!!
Source: ADCC
|
Leo
Santos deals with AFC Brasil
Dealing to replace his teammate Danilo Cherman during the fight
against BTT Milton Vieira, Black Belt GP champion Leonardo Santos
has been having some troubles to close a purse at the upcoming
Absolute Fighting Championship Brasil, scheduled to rock the
Nova Frigurgo Tênis Clube on next Augusr 28, in Nova Friburgo
(RJ). "We are still dealing. The thing is the purse is not
bad for Brazilians, but it's got good for Leo, once has been
collecting titles," guaranteed André Pederneiras,
Nova União vale-Tudo's technician.
Source:
Tatame
|
"We
are doing now the South-SO"
The plans of the Brazilian Confederation of Olympic Jiu-Jitsu's
president Luiz Hermínio de Morais for Jiu-Jitsu are getting
developed fast. After hosting the North-NE Cup and for the first
time featuring the BJJ World Cup outside of Rio de Janeiro, Luiz
Hermínio talks about South-SO. "I have been talking
with Fernando Paradeda (BTT) and Márcio Corleta (Behring),
who already have federations. We are setting up the South-SO
for this semester. We also gonna feature another edition of North-NE.
My idea is featuring two of each tournament per year," reveals
Luizinho.
The ideas don't stop. Next year Luizinho promises to feature
two phases of BJJ World Cup in different dates. One for black
belts and other for the rest of the belts. "The two tournaments
will be held in July and may be held in different places. I want
more room for black belts," explains Luiz Hermínio.
About the prize cash, Luizinho guarantees the amount will depend
of the sponsorship, but it will be better then this year. Asked
about the new place of the competition, Luizinho affirms: "I'm
already dealing with Minas Gerais, São Paulo and with
a sponsor in Rio de Janeiro".
Source: Tatame
|
Quote
of the Day
"Sometimes our light goes out but is blown into flame by
another human being. Each of us owes deepest thanks to those
who have rekindled this light."
Albert Schweitzer, 1875-1965, German Born Medical Missionary,
Theologian, Musician, and Philosopher
|
WESTSIDE
BASH
July 30,
2004
Ahuna Ranch, Maili
Fights start at 7:00 PM
Welterweight
8 Man Tournament
Hawaii’s
Badest Strikers Pound 4 Pound
PJ
Dean (Bad Intentions, Waianae)
Kaleo
Padilla (Westbrook Boxing, Kona)
Clyde
Paling (Jesus Is Lord, Nanakuli)
Mark
Moreno (Bulls Pin, Kalihi)
Zack
(Wailuku Boxing, Maui)
Cheyenne
Padeken (Waianae)
Wayne
Perrin (Team Bigdogs, Waianae)
Sean
Taylor (Freelance, Kailua)
Plus…..
*
LIVE MUSIC (Pati)
*
MR. & MRS. BOOTY CONTEST
*
MEN & WOMEN CLOTHING
*
ONO ONO GRINDZ
AHUNA
RANCH, MAILI
FRIDAY
July 30.04
FUN
STARTS 7PM
Ticket
Information call 330-4483
$20.00
Advance/ $25.00 Event Day |
SHOOTO
Champ Jake Shields
Post-Fight interview and link to gallery!
In
the recent Soljah Fight Night 'Hawaii and Japan Unite To Take
On The World' show, local hero Ray 'Bradda' Cooper took on Cesar Gracie student Jake
Shields for the vacant Shooto Middleweight belt. The Shooto Middleweight
division is roughly equivalent to the US Welterweight division.
Jake ended up getting a rear choke in 3:24 of round 1. We interviewed
Shields shortly after his victory, which is expected to catapult
him into the elite at 170 lbs.
KM:
You are the champion. How do you feel? JS: I Feel excellent.
I trained so hard for that, I got it, I was so confident I was
but you never know until you go out there and do it. I’m
glad it’s finally over and I got what I deserve.
KM:
Was there any point you felt in trouble? JS: No. I did get in
a place I didn’t want to get obviously. He mounted me, got
my back…but I practice that position so much with the guys
I train with I was comfortable there. Obviously I don’t
want to be there but there was never a point I was like ‘oh,
no, I’m in trouble’.
For
a gallery of shots from this fight check out http://malarky.udel.edu/~keith/2004/Shooto/shooto070904/shieldscooper.
KM:
There was one point where you were in his guard and he was striking
up while you were doing body shots. Was he having an effect with
those? JS: Ray Cooper is the hardest I’ve been hit from
the bottom. Still not the kind of punches that are like ‘oh,
no’. He’s the only guy that hit me from the bottom
with some sting in it. I was trying to punch and had a hard time
getting strikes off. I was trying to posture up and finally knew
I had to pass his guard. I wasn’t getting the strikes I
wanted from guard.
KM:
You were saying that went according to plan. JS: Well, first
round submission is what I wanted. That went according to plan.
Me being on bottom didn’t. Me being mounted didn’t.
The plan was to go out there, I wanted to strike him for a minute,
hit him a few times, let him feel I could strike, then take him
down, pass guard, arm bar or punch him out or choke. I ended
up getting the choke I wanted but being on bottom…that part…I
can’t complain.
KM:
You just beat the local favorite. We talked before about being
the underdog against Sakurai and Kikuchi. You are getting a reputation
for being the underdog and beating the favorites. Does that matter
to you at all? JS: Doesn’t matter as long as I’m winning.
I’m going to keep winning. I kind of like being booed but
they weren’t that bad this time. I like having everybody
against me, it fires me up a bit.
KM:
(Note: Jake was cornered by WEC champion Gilbert Melendez) You
train with Gilbert… JS: All the time. We are roommates,
pretty much train together every day.
KM:
I have the hardest time trying to memorize which fighters train
at which Cesar Gracie locations… JS: Yeah, because we have
several affiliate schools. We all train together. Concord is
the main one, but I teach out of San Francisco Fairtex, David
Terrell is out of Santa Rosa, and Nick Diaz is out of Stockton.
We all meet up in Concord plus I drive up to Dave’s a lot.
KM:
How much effect did Gilbert have on your training as opposed
to for instance David Terrell? JS: Actually I’m with Gilbert
every day but I’m with Dave and Nick a lot too. Really those
are the main guys I train with.
KM:
For the fans who haven’t seen WEC and are only familiar
with the heavier Cesar fighters like Nick or Gil Castillo from
UFC how would you put him in perspective? JS: I think he is right
up there. He hasn’t been training quite as long. Give him
six months, he is catching right up and is ready for the big
shows. There is a good chance he is going to fight Richard Crunkilton
coming up which will put him on the map. He has already beat
Stephen
Paling
who is a top fighter. Hopefully he will get in Shooto actually
because he fits right in. You got (Vitor) Shaolin (Ribeiro) right
there, (Joachim) Hansen…they got a stacked division right
there and he would fit right in.
KM:
You are only obligated to defend the title once a year but how
long would you want to train for a fight? JS: Two months, two
and a half months. Give me a month to relax. I train when I relax
three or four days a week but once I start training it’s
twice a day six days a week. Plus the diet…I want to eat.
I dropped fifteen pounds in the last week and a half and that
wasn’t fun.
KM:
Did you gain it back before the fight? JS: Yes.
KM:
You guys are known for balancing weight cutting with endurance.
JS: Weight cutting can affect endurance. I think I did it right
so my endurance was fine, I wasn’t really tired. I think
actually I started slow, that is why I was having trouble in
the beginning and got in a bad position. I started to feel better
as the fight went. As long as you cut weight right it’s
not bad but if you drop weight too fast in saunas…that is
why I dropped it over about three or four days. If you try to
drop fifteen pounds in one day you can really mess yourself up
bad.
KM:
You’d recommend three or four days? JS: Probably about three
days.
KM:
I’ve asked you in the past about the amount of decisions
on your record. This breaks you out of that…I’m eating
my own words. How does that feel to get the first round win?
JS: It feels great. If you are fighting certain guys it’s
really hard. There is a chance I might fight Kikuchi again and
he’s not an easy guy to finish. Sakurai is not an easy guy
to finish. It depends on who they put me against.
KM:
What do you think of the other contenders, who you might fight
next? JS: I’m thinking Kikuchi again. He just beat Nakao,
he’s been on a roll, I’m his only loss. He’s something
like 9-1. He’s a great fighter and the number one contender.
KM:
So is Kikuchi probably next or is next? JS: I wouldn’t mind
fighting one other person first since I just fought him. I’m
willing to fight him again and he has earned the spot.
KM:
Anything else you want to get across or anybody to thank? JS:
Fairtex sponsored me. I want to thank Cesar Gracie obviously,
David Terrell, Gilbert Melendez, Nick Diaz, all of my other training
partners, I can’t name them all. I have a great team that
helps me out. Without them this wouldn’t be possible.
Source: ADCC |
Catching
Up With MONTE COX
We spoke with promoter/manager Monte Cox this past weekend, as
he returned from a brief Colorado vacation. Catching up with
the busiest man in MMA is not easy! The month of June saw him
promoting EXTREME CHALLENGE 58 (June 11th) co-promoting SUPERBRAWL
(June 18th) and flying off to Korea to accompany Team EXTREME
to the Gladiator FC event held there (June 27th). The last week
saw Cox in Hawaii for Jens Pulver's SHOOTO fight, then off to
Alaska for the Alaskan FC, a smaller event held on Wednesday
14th of July.
EXTREME
CHALLENGE & MORE
This
Friday, July 23rd Cox heads for his Ohio event ICE #10, co promoted
with 'Meat Truck' Schall. The event is headlined by younger fighters
Neal Rowe, Rod Housley, Mojo Horne and Ron Fields, and is coming
off a successful run of events at the Metropolis in Cincinati.
After
a lull during the summer months, Extreme Challenge 59 is slated
for September 24th in Minneapolis, and Oct 2nd is the return
of Chicago's XFO which Monte runs in conjunction with Jeff Curran.
TJ
THOMPSON and SUPERBRAWL
Cox
has also been working with TJ Thompson on the successful SUPERBRAWL
events held in Hawaii. The month of September sees the next SUPERBRAWL
event scheduled, and it is rumored to be a whopper! One of the
fights already in the works is a rematch between Tom Sauer and
Hawaii's native son Enson
Inoue.
What makes the event unique is that Enson's brother Egan is also rumored to be on the card
- the first time both Inoue brothers appear in MMA together on
the same card in Hawaii. Almost a sure sellout in the works already!!!
JEREMY
HORN, JENS PULVER, RICH FRANKLIN, JENNIFER HOWE, ROBBIE LAWLER,
TIM SYLVIA, JOE DOERKSON, JUSTIN EILERS
Horn,
one of Cox's most active fighters, sustained a loss in the Gladiator
FC event in Korea, to Anderson Silva. Horn fought Kyle Seals,
a 3-1 fighter from New Mexico this past week in Alaska. Horn
won by TKO 2 and 1/2 minutes into the first round with a body
shot. Horn was still clearly nursing a groin injury sustained
in the opening round of the Silva fight, when he went for a slam
against his opponent. Reports are that Horn could neither kick
or knee in his match with Seals, but used straight boxing to
finish his opponent. Horn is reported to be resting until his
next bout, scheduled against Nathan Marquardt at the IFC's August
14th event in Sturgis.
Jens
Pulver continued his successful run in SHOOTO with a standout
performance and TKO over Stephen Paling. This is his second TKO/KO win in a row at the
143 lb mark. Can a December of 2004 SUPERFIGHT with SHOOTO's
longtime champion Alexandre 'Pequeno' Noguiera be avoided?
The
card in Alaska also saw Rich Franklin win by key lock early in
the first round. Number one ranked ladies fighter Jennifer Howe
won by punches from the mount in round 2 over rugged Linda Lamarack,
a protege of Pain Peters who is only the second woman to last
until round 2 with Howe.
Robbie
Lawler was scheduled to move up in weight to the 185 lb class
in the upcoming UFC, but a recurring injury to his ribs has caused
him to pull out. This injury is reported to have been a problem
for some time with Lawler, who is looking for some time to heal.
Tim
Silvia has started his recovery from his broken arm. Though several
scenarios behind the scenes had Silvia returning to the UFC in
October, it appears that his recovery will extend beyond that.
Word is that Sylvia would like to return by the October UFC event,
however the recovery may not be complete by then.
Joe
Doerkson and Justin Eilers continue to prepare for their UFC
debuts. Both fighters have fought extensively in smaller events
and are ready to take there shot in the UFC. Eilers faces fellow
collegiate football player Mike Kyle in a bout of two great athletes
at heavyweight. At 185 lbs, Doerkson, who may be Canada's best
fighter, takes on Joe Riggs who is best known for a string of
KO's in his last few fights.
Source: ADCC |
UFC
50 - October Return for the East Coast Planned!
With
'UFC 49: UNFINISHED BUSINESS' scheduled for August 21st at the
MGM Grand in Las Vegas, it appears that the UFC will be heading
back to the east coast, to Atlantic City for the UFC 50.
UFC
has concentrated their most recent events in Las Vegas, with
the East Coast getting serious attention from them last in 2003.
November of 2003 saw UFC in Conneticut, at the Mohegan Sun Casino
(UFC 45), while April saw them in Miami for UFC 42. It was 'UFC
41 - Onslaught' that last saw ZUFFA in Atlantic City, N.J. at
the Boardwalk Hall. In 2000 and 2001, the UFC ran 3 shows in
Atlantic City.
The
date for UFC 50 is reported to be Friday, October 22nd, and the
venue will once again be the Boardwalk Hall.
Recent
reports state that ZUFFA's live attendance in Vegas has been
down, with the upcoming August show (UFC 49) being the 6th of
7 shows in their hometown. Word is that UFC 48's PPV buys topped
6 figures, a good number for ZUFFA. This may open the door for
more overseas and southern shows, as ZUFFA may be seeing PPV
numbers improving while the 'live' event develops new homes.
It
is also interesting that these high numbers on PPV come around
the same time of reports that UFC lost it's spots on Japanese
and British PPV. UFC 48 had no international stars after Lee
Murray's bout went by the wayside.
Many
people expect a landmark show from ZUFFA for their 50th UFC,
and a return to a town they have not been two in a year and a
half will hopefully equate to a strong live gate. A few international
stars will both raise the appeal and build of UFC 48's PPV success
by hopefully returning them to foreign PPV.
There
is certain to be much more news on this event in the coming weeks
and months.
Source: ADCC |
K-1
Champion in Brazil!
The
Jiu-Jitsu World Championships have lured to Rio de Janeiro Brazil
former K-1 champion Mark Hunt. With a first sentence like this,
the reader should be asking: 'What are you talking about? What
does a K-1 champ have to do to with a Jiu-Jitsu tournament?'
We want to remind everybody that Hunt just came from his first
experience in MMA (he lost to Hidehiko Yoshida in Pride GP 2004
last June) and that he promised to compete again under MMA rules.
The
fact is that the 2001 K-1 GP Champion started to train grappling
under Marcelo Rezende in Sydney, Australia a few weeks prior
to his MMA debut, and the kickboxer took advantage f the fact
that Rezende was coming to Brazil to watch the Worlds.
It
wasn’t a vacation for the New Zealand born Hunt, who is
now training at least twice a day in Gracie Barra headquarters.
One of the sessions is together with the professional fighters
such as Renato Babalu, Daniel Gracie, Gustavo Ximu, Pe de Pano
and others. 'I couldn’t believe his skills in boxing,’
said Pride winner Daniel Gracie. 'He touched me with his gloves
whenever he wanted!'
Hunt
does not rest after the pro sparring. Usually, he takes a shower
and 'relaxes' wearing a blue gi. Then, he waits for the second
session, which is Marcio Feitosa’s special classes for the
team and the competitors who will participate in the Worlds.
And
for those who don’t believe in his future success in MMA
due to his weaknesses on the ground, someone special advices:
'I know he’s a talent. If he trains hard for a few months,
I believe he can become a Pride winner' bets BJJ expert Renzo
Gracie, who saw him rolling.
Source: ADCC |
Carlson
Gracie Prohibits BTT leaders at his MMA Event!
Jiu-Jitsu
Master Carlson Gracie has just arrived from Chicago this Sunday
to arrange the final details for his new MMA event 'REAL FIGHT',
that will take place on July 30th at the Hebraica Gymnasium,
in Rio de Janeiro.
As
usual, Carlson went straight from the airport to Porcão,
one of the best barbecue restaurants in Rio, to meet his best
friend, the filmmaker Oswaldo Paquetá.
While
he was waiting for his meal, Carlson called us to give his expectations
for this new event, which will be broadcast by Globosat (Brazilian
cable TV). 'The event will be outstanding! I came to Rio in advance
to set up the last details with the other promoters. The event
will be full of great surprises' guaranteed the master, claiming
that he authorized the participation of two BTT members with
one condition: 'I´m a nice guy. I authorized BTT to participate,
but I gave one condition: Ze Mario, Allan Goes, Murilo, Bebeo,
Liborio and Carlão cannot be in their corner. If these
6 guys want to see the event they will have to pay for regular
tickets to get into the gymnasium', stated Carlson.
Paulo
Boiko and Neca will be BTT representatives at the event. The
strikers are featured in a heavywweight battle between Muay Thai
specialist Eduardo Maiorino (Champions´Factory) and Italian
boxer Alessio Sakada (Brasil Dojo).
Complete
Card (Subject To Change):
-
56 Kg: Daniel Pit (Fabricio JJ) x Neca (BTT)
- 60 Kg: Ivan Alves (Artur Mariano) x Rodrigo Bicudinho (Ipanema
JJ)
- 65 Kg: Rodrigo Totti (De La Riva) x Ricardinho (Gold Fighters)
- 76 Kg: Tomas de Sá (Juquinha JJ Team) x Peterson Mello
(Boxe Thai)
- 76 Kg: Jacão (Manimal CG) x Claudionor Fontenelle (Artur
Mariano)
- 83 Kg: Antonio Sergio (Oziris CG) x Guilherme Lima (Gracie
Barra)
- 83 Kg: Paulo Boiko (BTT) x Júnior Besouro (Top Fight)
- 83 Kg: Ivan Batman (Manimal CG) x Ângelo Sérgio
(Boxe Thai)
- 83 Kg: Alessio Sakara (Brasil Dojo) x Eduardo Maiorino (Champions
Factory)
- 91 Kg: Marcelo Dourado (Nocaute) x Luiz Fernando Pimpolho (Nova
União)
Source: ADCC |
Heating
Up For Bushido 4
It's finally time to boogie down in Japan for Dean Lister!
By Eduardo Alonso
Ever
since he started dedicating himself to Martial Arts, Dean Lister's
life has been always progressing as he continued to improve as
a fighter and was always taking his time and measuring his steps
with smarts and caution, making sure he would be in for a long
and fruitful run, in a sport where a fighter can burn bridges
as easily as one can count to three. His smart decisions, along
with his grappling skills and physical strength, are probably
his most impressive characteristic in the MMA game and now Lister
is likely taking his most important step to date, landing in
one of the biggest fighting promotions on earth, Pride! This
coming weekend "The Boogey Man" Dean will take the
magic he worked in the most diverse places in the past, such
as the Brazilian mats in Abu Dhabi 2003, or the fearsome cage
of KOTC, to the Pride Bushido Ring, facing probably the most
dangerous striker he ever fought in Amar Suloev. Always in a
good mood, the American fighter took his time to talk to FCF
about this coming match-up, and several other matters on his
career, just one day prior to his departure to the land of the
rising sun. As Full Contact Fighter gets heated up for Pride
Bushido 4, Dean Lister shares his thoughts on the fight game,
enjoy!
FCF:
After you've reached your moment of glory winning the Abu Dhabi
absolute division in 2003, you have been dedicating yourself
to MMA. Will this be a trend from now on in your career?
DL: I always try to train actions and positions that work in
MMA and also are effective in grappling competitions. I just
train more in Kickboxing and takedowns when I have a fight coming
close.
FCF:
Over the course of your MMA career you have only fought at KOTC.
How did you develop this relationship with the event, and why
did this happen? Weren't you invited by other shows such as the
UFC?
DL: I have had many shows ask me to fight but I had a contract
with King of the cage and they treated me well. I have had some
tough opponents in the event and had a good chance to develop
my personal style.
FCF:
Your last fight was a judges' decision loss to tough Jeremy Horn,
at KOTC 31. What's your take on the decision, and what do you
think you could've done better in that fight?
DL: Jeremy Horn is a very tough and smart opponent and it was
absolutely a very close fight, a big factor in my loss was the
blood. I received an elbow, the first strike I received from
Jeremy Horn in the fight, and it cut me badly. The blood loss
took my strength from me, blinded me badly and didn't look good
in the eyes of people watching the fight. I feel I won rounds
1 and 2, I lost round 3 and round 4 was close with me winning
the end of the round. I only feel I win a fight if I finish my
opponent so I don't feel I deserve the victory but I don't think
of it as a loss, I think of the fight as being very close than
most people know, after all one judge out of three gave me the
decision, he felt I won the fight, but overall I let educated
fans watch the fight and make their own decisions, but it was
a great learning experience.
FCF:
Are you a fighter that cares about rematches? If so, do you intend
to face Horn again down the road, as you already "avenged"
your other loss in MMA, to Jacen Flynn?
DL: Sure if it is in my future I'd love to have a rematch but
it's not as important to me as some might think, my fights in
Pride are more important and if I get a rematch there, then that's
great.
FCF:
It's been more than six months since you fought Jeremy Horn,
and you haven't fought since. You were even cogitated to face
Ricardo Arona once in Pride, but the match didn't go trough.
What happened? Was that fight pure speculation or was it indeed
negotiated?
DL: It's strange that I used to train with Arona at one time,
for one month the first time I visited Brazil. I was surprised
that we were being put to fight each other and yes it was almost
official but I had a serious injury to one of my shoulders, and
could not fight or even train. Now after about six months and
a lot of physical therapy I feel very strong in my shoulder.
FCF:
Now you're finally doing your Pride debut, at Bushido 4. How
are you feeling about fighting in Japan? Was this a dream to
you, and did you sign a multi-fight contract with Pride?
DL: Yes a dream come true, I did sign a multi-fight contract
with Pride and I look at all the work I've done to prove myself
over my life and this is the last place I need to prove myself.
FCF:
Your opponent, Amar Suloev is a pretty tough fighter himself.
What weight will that fight be under, and what do you know about
your opponent?
DL: My opponent is very skilled and tough, the fight will be
under 205 lbs. and I'm actually not sure what to expect from
my opponent, he's well rounded but he will for certain try to
make the fight standing and won't want to be on the ground too
much.
FCF:
Everybody knows you have a great ground game and this may be
your key to victory. But how's your stand up game now? Are you
already feeling comfortable to trade strikes against someone
such as Suloev?
DL: I am much improved in my striking ability but everyone knows
I want the takedown in the fight game. Also Suloev is a very
good striker and I can't fight in his world, I need to take him
into my world.
FCF:
Last time I interviewed you, you had stepped out of the mat after
winning the absolute division at Abu Dhabi 2003. I asked you
then how would you spend your prize money (Laughs), so now I
can ask you again! How did you end up speding your prize money
Dean?
DL: Nothing really impressive, I was smart with my money and
got myself out of debt, paid off my student loans from college,
car loans, credit cards (also from college) and didn't go out
spending my money on stupid things. The only thing I did new
with my money was buy a plane ticket for a unbelievably beautiful
girl I met in Brazil to come and visit me in San Diego. She is
now my wife and we are very happy, so I guess I spent my money
wisely.
FCF:
You seemed to have a great time in Brazil at Abu Dhabi, and later
you returned to the country for the BJJ worlds last year. How
do you like coming to Brazil, and do you have any plans on returning
soon?
DL: I've always had a great time in Brazil and love visiting
every time. The only thing I did new with my money I won in ADCC
was buy a plane ticket for an unbelievably beautiful girl I met
in Brazil at the Mundials to come and visit me in San Diego.
Her name is Flavia Mazoni, she is now my wife and we are very
happy, so I guess I am much closer to Brazil now then ever. I
think I'll come back to Brazil for Christmas to visit her family
this year.
FCF:
Finally, is your Abu Dhabi superfight against Ricardo Arona going
to take place next year? Have you been contacted about it yet?
DL: I haven't been contacted and don't know where it will take
place but I'm sure it will happen, I've heard rumors it will
be here in the U.S.A
FCF:
Thanks so much for your time Dean, good luck in your fight, I
can't wait to see it!
DL: Thank you.
Source: FCF |
Quote
of the Day
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in
moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times
of challenge and controversy."
Martin Luther King,1929-1968, American Black Leader, Nobel Prize
Winner, 1964
|
PRIDE
BUSHIDO 4 - This Monday Nite in Japan!!!
Nagoya
Rainbow Hall / Nagoya, Japan
Monday, July 19th, 2004
PRIDE
FC presents their 4th BUSHIDO event this Monday evening in Nagoya,
Japan. The event is seen in Japan as smaller than the highly
anticipated PRIDE Grand Prix later this summer, and several reliable
sources are stating that ticket sales for the event are low (puroresupower.com
reported an over/under for legitimate paid tickets sold as 4,500-5,000)
Nevertheless, PRIDE is delivering a solid card with 11 matches
scheduled featuring many of Japan's best fighters facing the
top international talent the world has to offer. Despite the
BUSHIDO series earlier billing as a show exclusively for the
lower weight classes not being the case, there are a lot of 'littler'
fighters on the show, adding to the event's appeal.
The
feature bouts of the event pit the BRAZILIAN TOP TEAM against
TEAM JAPAN, with two of BTT's frontline fighters joining two
younger guys in the feature. The two younger fighters, Fabio
Mello and Buscape are fighting tough, experienced Japanese fighters
in Takanori Gomi and Hiroyuki Abe respectively, however it is
a confident BTT crew heading to Japan, as studs Rogerio Nogueira
and Paulo Filho offer rematches to Kazuhiro Nakamura and Akira
Shoji in bouts they are heavily favored to win.
The
undercard features Mirko 'Cro Cop' Filipovic, who continues to
try to work his way back into the Grand Prix with a busy schedule.
Japanese stars Hayato 'Mach' Sakurai and Dokonjonosuke Mishima
appear on the undercard, facing Americans Brady Fink and Marcos
Aurelio respectively. Fink and Aurelio represent Team Oyama and
American TOP TEAM, perhaps opening the door for some of the USA's
top teams to participate in the themed BUSHIDO shows. Up until
now, PRIDE's BUSHIDO has featured Brazilian themes of the Gracies,
ChuteBoxe and now BTT.
Perhaps
the most intriguing matchup on the card is the international
bout between RED DEVIL's Amar Suloev and the ADCC Absolute Champion
Dean Lister. Suloev is an accomplished striker and MMA fighter,
while Lister's background of Jiu Jitsu and Submission fighting
saw him thru to a KOTC title, but he is genreally considered
less experienced in MMA. This looks like the 21st century version
of the classic grappler/striker matchup, as both men must impose
their distinctive styles to win.
Also
on the card is the freakish Paulo Cesar 'Giant' Silva, who comes
off a loss to Ogawa in the GP. He faces pro wrestler Takashi
Sugiura in a bout he is likely to win. Both may also fight on
a series of pro wrestling shows being hyped around Naoya Ogawa
at the end of July.
The
entire card appears below.
PRIDE
FC: BUSHIDO VOLUME 4 (Fight Card Subject to Change)
BRAZILIAN
TOP TEAM vs. TEAM JAPAN
- Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (BTT) vs. Kazuhiro Nakamura (Yoshida
Dojo)
- Fabio Mello (BTT) vs. Takanori Gomi (Kiguchi Dojo)
- Paulo Filho (BTT) vs. Akira Shoji (Free)
- Luis 'Buscape' Firminho vs. Hiroyuki Abe (AACC)
FIGHT
CARD:
- Mirko 'Cro Cop' Filipovic (Cro Cop Squad Gym) vs. Shungo Oyama
(Free)
- Paulo Cesar 'Giant' Silva (Free) vs. Takashi Sugiura (NOAH)
- Ikuhisa Minowa (Free) vs. Kenichi Yamamoto (Free)
- Hayato 'Mach' Sakurai (Japan) vs. Brady Fink (Team Oyama)
- Dean Lister (City Boxing) vs. Amar Suloev (Red Devil Fight
Club)
- Dokonjonosuke Mishima (Cobra Kai) vs. Marcos Aurelio (American
Top Team)
- Kyosuke Sasaki (U-File Camp) vs. Eiji Mitsuoka (RJW-Central)
Despite
s delay of several days before airing in the US, this is a card
worth watching.
North
American pay per view begins on Sunday, July 25th, 2004 at 3:00pm
EST, 12:00pm PST (please check each respective carrier for later
evening replays). For customers of DISH Network, the premiere
will be Sunday, August 1st, 2004 at 9:00pm EST, 6:00pm PST. Check
http://pridefc.com for exact details.
Source: ADCC |
Kid
Peligro Jiu-Jitsu News . . .
2004 Worlds Qualifier Completed.
Now it is on to the Big show
by: Kid Peligro / ADCC JJ Editor
The
2004 Worlds Qualifying Tournament was held this past Saturday
in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The event the last chance for athletes
qualify to compete in the Big Show to attain qualification status.
Atheltes qualify to the main event by competing and placing in
several events throughout Brazil along with the Pan-Ams and the
European Championships. Foreign fighters are automatically qualified
as the CBJJ does not have enough qualifying events Worldwide!
While
the event is important to the lower belts fighting for a chance
to enter the Worlds, it is mostly a formality for the Black Belts,
as most of the active top fighters that want to compete are already
qualified, there are hardly any entries for the Black Belt qualifier.
Since first and second place in the event qualify for the Worlds,
generally all that is needed for the Black Belts to get a berth
is to sign up and maybe have one match, as there is hardly a
bracket with more than 3 fighters.
This
year's notables in the qualifier were multiple times World Champion
Saulo Ribeiro, who did not compete last year and former World
Champions Rico Vieira and Rafael Gordinho for the same reasons.
Marcelo
'Siriema', one of the main tournament organizers for the CBJJ
informed us that he has received a huge amount of entries and
they have been feveressly sorting out the cards and will have
the brackets soon on the CBJJ website www.cbjj.com.br
We
will be posting some notables and any surprises as they develop!
The
Tournament starts Thursday July 22nd! Be there or be square!
Source: ADCC |
Ze
Mario Sperry talks about BTT at Bushido 4!
by: Rafael Werneck
One of the leaders of Brazilian Top Team, Ze Mario Sperry will
be in the corner to help his teammates during the challenge against
Team Japan scheduled for Bushido 4 on July 19th, in Nagoya, Japan.
Before
getting on a plane, Ze Mario shared his expectations about Bushido
4, especially with regards to the Pride debuts of his disciples
Fabio Mello (who is going to face Tanakori Gomi) and Junior Buscape
(who will fight Hiroyuki Abe).
'Mello
and Buscape are ready to fight. They are so calm, so well trained
that there is not much to talk to them about right now. They
both know it is not going to be easy, but for them it is already
very satisfying to be invited to the biggest MMA show in the
world. After all the hard work and training they´ve been
through during so many years they finally made it' says Ze Mario.
The
BTT leader is very confident in his partners performance. 'We
are going to Japan to win everything we can. Of course I believe
in going 3 x 0, but it is not going to be easy. Those who are
representing Team Japan are top fighters in Japan. For example,
this Gomi guy is a very tough fighter, who has never lost in
Pride' alerts Sperry.
In
the challenge between Brazilian Top Team against Team Japan,
two of the three fights will be rematches, and by coincidence
in the two previous fights, the Brazilians stepped out of the
ring as the winners. Rogerio 'Minotouro' defeated Kazuhiro Nakamura
by submission in Pride 25 and Paulo Filho did the same with Akira
Shoji in Pride 22.
'The
motivation for the guy who lost the first fight is the biggest
danger to the guy who won. If the athletes accept to do the rematch
it is because they want to beat the one who defeated him in the
past more than anything. The secret to winning this kind of bout
is to be confident, but always respect your opponent' stated
Ze Mario.
Source: ADCC |
The
Savage Truth: Say it ain’t so Joe … err, Dana!
by Greg Savage
Coming off three consecutive losses and without a win since September
2002, Phil Baroni is back in the UFC this August against Ronald Jhun. Now I know the top
brass at Zuffa feel Phil is a potential super star with his pro-wrestling
like persona and exciting let-it-all-hang-out style, but that
fact just adds to the disbelief of many MMA fans and journalists
after hearing of this match.
Here
you have a guy you feel sells tickets and could be a huge box
office draw, and you are setting him up in a no win situation.
Don’t kid yourself, Jhun is no joke -- there is a real possibility
your friend and aspiring poster boy will be going down in defeat
for the fourth straight time.
Then
what will your precious commodity be worth?
Personally,
I think Baroni is great for the sport and would not mind seeing
him back, but I can not fathom the reasoning behind this decision.
Why wouldn’t you set him up with a couple fights in smaller
shows to let him get his confidence and swagger back? Bring him
in after he decapitates a couple tomato cans and give him a real
shot to get back into the middleweight title picture.
Now,
I am sure Phil, in hopes of ending that losing streak, can’t
wait to get back in the Octagon, but he needs someone to look
out for his best interests -- and that is not happening in this
situation. Baroni is tough-as-nails and has tons of heart and
pride, but those traits that he brandishes inside the cage are
of no use at this point. Ask any fighter if they want to get
paid and the answer will undoubtedly be "yes," but
that is why skillful management is so important in guiding fighter’s
careers.
I
guess I just have a biased opinion on this matter. I really don’t
want Phil’s UFC career to end up on the scrap heap, because
Lindland-Baroni III needs to happen. That is the best feud running
in MMA, but it just won’t be feasible if Baroni -- who lost
the first two encounters as well as two fights to Evan Tanner
, his nemesis’s teammate -- cannot get a couple notches
in his win column.
Speaking
of Lindland, he will have his hands full with Dave Terrell. Rumor
has it Zuffa believes Terrell should be able to tune up “The
Law” and possibly mop up the entire middleweight division.
Trust me, I have seen Dave Terrell fight on a number of occasions
and he is the real deal, but having the Zuffa curse -- the proverbial
black cloud -- hanging over your head would not be my ideal way
of making a UFC debut.
Don’t
get me wrong, I know I have been pretty critical of some UFC
practices in the past, but like I have stated before, Zuffa is
the best hope for MMA in North America. On a whole I feel they
are doing their best to turn the UFC into as popular and profitable
a promotion as possible, while retaining the kind of respectability
that was so lacking when they took over a few years ago.
With
that said, I do feel UFC President Dana White lets his personal
emotions come into play a bit too much, and this decision to
have Phil Baroni leap right back into the Octagon is a picture
perfect example. Dana and Phil have a great personal relationship
but that should not cloud your vision when you are promoting
a sport that sells itself on being the best and most realistic
form of combat athletics in the world. I have heard it time and
time again from officials inside the Zuffa inner circle that
only when they had more fights could they properly promote fighters
and build stronger divisions.
Personally,
I feel Dana wants what’s best for the sport and I have never
heard anything to the contrary from anyone on the inside at Zuffa.
The guy has poured his heart and soul into this venture, and,
like all of us at different points in our lives, has come up
short on occasion. Despite the fact that I don’t necessarily
agree with a lot of the things that have been done in promoting
this sport that I love so much, you won’t hear me, unlike
some pundits, calling for the heads of the people who, with their
time, dedication and financial wherewithal, have rescued MMA
from the depths of near total isolation -- at least not yet.
Source: Sherdog |
LINDLAND
GIVES HIS TWO CENTS ON MUSHNICK
In another MMAWeekly exclusive, Matt Lindland will be contributing
to MMAWeekly from time to time and he wrote down his thoughts
about the recent NY Post article by Phil Mushnick and sent this
in to the newspaper.
Mr.
Mushnick:
-I
read an article that you authored in the NY POST a few days ago,
and it prompted me to write this short reply. Hope it finds its
way to you.
The
tone of your article was a familiar one; and the attitude it
represented is one that I, and other people involved in Mixed
Martial Arts, have viewed as a challenge for a while now. It
is an attitude fostered more by ignorance than by knowledge;
more by fantasy than by fact, more by a reliance on hearsay than
by direct observation. And the challenge is not merely to oppose
such factors on their face, but to attempt to present a more
comprehensive, realistic, interpretive mental lens through which
something new, and innovative, may be viewed and understood.
Consider this note my acceptance of that challenge; for the sake
of the sport of MMA, and for the sake of sport itself.
I
returned from Sydney, Australia in 2000 after winning the Olympic
Silver Medal in Greco-Roman Wrestling. It was the culmination
of a lifetime of effort, and struggle, and sacrifice. I cannot
tell you in words, Mr. Mushnick, how hard I worked and how much
I sacrificed to be granted the chance to represent my Country
(and, by extension, represent YOU, Mr Mushnick, an American Citizen)
on the international stage of competitive athletics. I am certain
that a Sports Journalist of your stature had many opportunities
to observe, and comment on, the Olympic Games; and I am just
as certain that you brought all of your knowledge, and all of
your experience, to the task of reporting on the Olympics to
your readership I am just as certain that you treated their faith
in you, as someone they, your readers, believed in, and trusted,
with the greatest possible level of professionalism; and that
you shared your insights and knowledge with them.
And
I believe in you, Mr. Mushnick. And I trust you as well. Please
trust me enough to read on, and allow me to share with you as
you have shared with countless sports fans for decades.
Give
this idea a moment's consideration. Three recognized sports,
all of which are both Olympic sports as well as have established
and accepted World Championships, National Competitions, and
Scholastic competitive architectures that reach down to grade-school
levels, are running events, Swimming events, and Bicycle events.
All
three have provided more thrills, and excitement, and drama,
than a humble wrestler like myself can ever describe in a few
sentences. Remember Mark Spitz? Carl Douglas? Lance Armstrong?
Jesse Owens? And so many others I cannot possibly name; all great
athletes, competing in great sports. And then someone said.....What
if we combine these three great disciplines? What if we create
another great sport, one which challenges those who choose to
attempt to excel at it, to dare to be great at all three? And
so, the Triathlon was born. And you cannot disagree with its
legitimacy as a sport, or disregard and disparage its competitors,
can you, Mr. Mushnick?
Allow
me to mention a few other sports, each as compelling, and legitimate,
as the three listed above:
Boxing,
Judo, Wrestling, Taekwondo. All Olympic Sports; all with histories,
and legacies of triumph and accomplishment that are part of the
very social fabric of this, the greatest nation on earth, and
virtually any other you choose to name. Need I mention the great
Muhammad Ali? Dan Gable? George Foreman waving the American flag?
These sports, and the athletes who compete in them, have all
been instrumental in the very ability of humanity to define itself.
They
all trace their origins back to the very beginnings of human
civilization, and like we all share a common ancestor, long lost
in the mists of history, so all of these combat sports also share
a common ancestor. A great, all-encompassing Sporting Discipline,
with dignity, and honor, and compassion, and respect for its
competitors and spectators alike. A Combat Sport where individuals
could train, and compete, with grace. Mixed Martial Arts is an
attempt to connect with that; to rediscover and recreate that
great Discipline.
It
is, in essence, an experiment in Living Archeology. Imagine,
if you will, the excitement you might feel if you were offered
the chance to observe the Pyramids being built...or the Great
wall of China...or the Inca Temples in Peru. What a gift that
would be! To reconnect with that spirit, that Humanity, that
was then, and is now. I was honored, and thrilled, to become
involved in Mixed Martial Arts as a competitor, trainer, advisor,
and coach. I have never regretted the time I took to look into
the sport, and see it for what it really was, rather than take
someone else's word, or discount it after a brief, flitting glance
at something that was outside of what I was used to, beyond the
boundaries of my preconceptions, my fixed ideas.
Let
me share that with you, Mr. Mushnick. Please join me. Join US.
The competitors of today and the heroes of the past. Allow me
to be your Virgil, your guide, on a journey of exploration. Come
and observe a sport with a history, and a language, that is waiting
for you to understand it, and appreciate it. A sport with a safety
record that puts sports like boxing and football in the shade;
with a concern for its competitors' well-being that will surprise
you. Come to our next competition as my guest. Meet the fighters.
Watch them train, prepare, and compete. Look in their eyes.
Meet
their families and supporters. Hear their stories. We are having
our next event in Las Vegas on August 21st. I will personally
reserve a ringside seat for you. Meet the Judges. The Referees.
The Athletic Commission. They are all waiting for you. They all
want to share with you, and tell you their stories of how they
became involved, and why they think Mixed Martial Arts is important,
and special. And they believe in you, like I do. You are an Elite
Journalist with a unique opportunity.
Hope
to hear from you.
Matt
Lindland
OLYMPIC
SILVER MEDALIST,WORLD MEDALIST and 5x NATIONAL CHAMPION
Source: MMA Weekly |
PRIDE
BUSHIDO PREVIEW:
RANALLO BREAKS DOWN CARD
After following the sport of Mixed Martial Arts since it's conception,
working events in Canada from pro wrestling to Muay Thai bouts,
Mauro Ranallo now finds himself as the play by play voice of
PrideFC.
Ranallo
recently spoke with MMAWeekly SoundOff Radio about Monday's Pride
Bushido show, his broadcasting background, and the phenomenon
that is Bob Sapp.
Sports
commentators are always under the microscope of the viewing public
and MMA is no different. Mauro Ranallo replaced Stephen Quadros
and knows just how big those shoes are that he is filling. Ranallo
said, "It is always difficult to replace someone who has
been there since the beginning."
Mauro
has done everything from being a radio DJ to announcing pro wrestling
in Calgary. Three years ago Ranallo crossed paths with Bas Rutten
at a submission tournament in Vancouver and had the privilege
of working with Bas on a low budget MMA film. He described Bas
as, "One of the most charismatic people I've ever met and
just a natural born entertainer."
The
two worked well together and stayed in touch over the years.
Last summer, Rutten called him up and told him about Quadros'
departure so Mauro sent in a demo and was hired immediately without
having to meet with Pride in person based mainly on Bas' recommendation.
Ranallo stated, "He [Bas] put his reputation at stake."
Mauro
takes his job seriously. "If you want to do it and do it
well, you have to do your homework," stated Ranallo. He
went on to say, "I truly am an MMA fan. I'm not just here
collecting a paycheck." Regardless if he remains in the
sport of MMA, he wants to see the sport grow to the level of
any other mainstream sport out there.
Tonight's
Pride Bushido card features Team Japan verses the Brazilian Top
Team, Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic against tough Japanese
fighter Shungo Oyama, Dean Lister up against Amar Suloev and
others. Mauro expects it to be another successful show and discussed
some of the match ups.
According
to Ranallo, Mirko hasn't been the same since his devastating
loss at the hands of Kevin Randleman. "Cro Cop" has
changed trainers and was "very humble" in his last
fight against Hiromitsu Kanehara. Mauro stated, "This coming
Sunday's fight will indeed be a tell-tale sign of just where
Mirko Cro Cop is in his career." He anticipates seeing the
"old Mirko Cro Cop." Mirko's opponent, Shungo Oyama,
is an aggressive Japanese fighter as Ranallo put it. He expects
to see Oyama go toe-to-toe with Mirko in an exciting fight.
In
a fight that "could indeed rank up there as the fight of
the night," Dean Lister will square off against Amar Suloev.
It will be both fighter's Pride debut. Lister is coming off a
loss in King of the Cage to Jeremy Horn and Amar has put together
a four fight winning streak with his last win over Din Thomas.
Ranallo said he is "happy Dean Lister's getting a chance
finally in the big time."
Team
verses Team battles may not appeal to the American fans but in
Japan, it sparks the interest of the public. In this installation
of Team Japan against the Brazilian Top Team, Takanori Gomi will
be going against Fabio Mello. Speaking about Gomi, Mauro said,
"This guy could be a Japanese superstar in the future."
Some may say that he already is.
Ranallo
spoke at length about Bob Sapp. He said he kinda feels sorry
for Sapp. He commented, "This guy was just run in the ground.
He never had an opportunity to train. He was constantly doing
appearances....He never got the chance to become the fighter
I think he could have become." Mauro blames the K-1 office
for doing that to Sapp. He is fearful that the same thing could
be happening to Mirko "Cro Cop." "I don't want
to see the same thing happen to Mirko," he stated.
Source: MMA Weekly |
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