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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)
August
Ring of Honor 6
( Kickboxing/MMA)
(Maui)
Tentative
8/15/04
Pride
All Stars Show
(MMA)
(Japan)
July
Bushido 4
(MMA)
(Nagoya Rainbow Hall, Japan)
7/24/04
Submission Wrestling Tpurnament
(Sub Grappling)
(Kahului, Maui, Hawaii)
July 9-12
BJJ
World Cup (CBJJO)
(BJJ)
(SESC gym, Salvador, Brazil)
6/20/04
Pride Heavyweight
Grand Prix
(MMA)
(Japan)
May
Pride
Bushido 3
(MMA)
(Yokohama Arena, Japan)
5/7/04
Rumble On The Rock
5
(MMA)
(Blaisdell Arena)
5/2/04
Ring of Honor 5
(Sub Grappling)
(Campbell H.S. Gym)
4/30/04
Punishment
in Paradise 3
(MMA)
(Campbell H.S. Gym)
4/25/04
Pride Heavyweight
Grand Prix
(MMA)
(Japan)
4/24 /04
Warriors
of the Ring 6
(MMA)
(Wailuku, Maui)
5th Hawaiian Champioships of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
(BJJ)
(Honolulu, HI)
4/16/04
Super
Brawl 33
(MMA)
(Blaisdell Arena)
4/9/04
Ring
of Honor 4
( Kickboxing/MMA)
(Campbell H.S. Gym)
4/3-4/04
Pan American BJJ
Tournament
(BJJ)
(California State University Gym, Dominguez Hills, Carson (Los
Angeles), CA)
4/3/04
Kickin' It
(Kickboxing)
(Palama Settlement Gym)
4/2/04
UFC
47
(MMA)
(Las Vegas, NV)
3/26/04
Shooto Hawaii 2
(MMA)
(Campbell H.S. Gym)
3/14/04
3rd
Annual Longman Gracie Kauai Jiu-Jitsu Tournament
(BJJ)
(Kilauea Gym, Kauai)
|
|
March 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! |
Quote
of the Day
"No matter what age you are, or what your circumstances
might be, you are special, and you still have something unique
to offer. Your life, because of who you are, has meaning."
Barbara De Angelis {American Relationship Expert}
|
KICKIN
IT IS BACK FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2004
WHAT-AMATEUR KICKBOXING
WHEN-APRIL 3RD 2004
WHERE-PALAMA SETTLEMENT GYM
TICKETS-$15.00 (pre-sale) $20.00 (at the door)
AVAILABLE AT ALL PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS
FEATURED MATCH:
SIXTEEN YEAR OLD KICKIN IT AGAIN LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION DAVID BALICAO
OF THE NANAKULI KICKBOXING CREW DEFENDS HIS TITLEAGAINST MUAY
THAI FIGHTER DEREK MINN (21) FROM LAUPAHOEHOE SCHOOL OF MUAY
THAI WHO IS WELL KNOWN FOR HIS POWERFUL KICKS.WILL AGE PLAY A
FACTOR AT THIS FIGHT, COME AND FIND OUT?
JUSTIN DANO 160lbs. GREG KALIKANE
ULA KAMEALOHA 160LBS. NICK GEGA
ANTONIO SCHMIDT 120 LBS. DEVIN DAMO
CHAD PAVAO 120LBS. BRONSON ELLIS
TANI NAHALEA 160LBS. PAT MENESIS
DOUG AMARAL 200LBS. GUN WHEELER
JOSHUA BAKER 140LBS. RUSSEL BARR
SHELTON GURERRO 190LBS. JON TEXEIRA
DIDO RODRIGUES 60LBS. KAWAI
SHAWN AHLO 80LBS. KO FABEY
DAHWEN BRIGHT 45LBS. TRISTON
AND MORE EXCITING BOUTS MATCHES MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Source: Event Promoter |
K-1
World GP 2004 Japan
March 27th, 2003
Saitama Super Arena
Saitama, Japan
Akebono vs. Musashi
Bob Sapp vs. TBA
Alexey Ignashov vs. Carter Williams
Ernesto Hoost vs. Remy Bonjasky
Shannon Briggs vs. Tom Erikson
Francois Botha vs. Aziz Khattou
Mike Bernardo vs. Jan Nortje
Jerrol Venetiaan vs. Sergei Gur
Cyril Abidi vs. Hiraku Hori
Looks
to be a strong card, but how many times do we have to watch Jan
Nortje lose.
Source:
MMA Weekly |
SHOOTO
- Big Event This Weekend in Tokyo!
March 22nd, 2004
Kourakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan
This card features the debut of former UFC Champion Jens Pulver
in SHOOTO, as well as the return of Caol Uno, perhaps SHOOTO's
biggest crossover star.
COMPLETE
CARD - Subject To Change:
Class
B - 2 x 5 minutes rounds:
Bantamweight
[-56.0Kg] 2004 Rookie Tournament 1st Round
- Heat Takeshi vs. BJ
Lightweight
[-65.0Kg]
- Akitoshi Tamura vs. Eiji Murayama
Middleweight
[-76.0Kg]
- Shigetoshi Iwase vs. Yoshifumi Dougaki
[-68.0Kg]
- Yohei Suzuki vs. Lion Takeshi
Class
A - 3 x 5 minutes rounds:
Lightweight
[-65.0Kg]
- Naoya Uematsu vs. Jens Pulver
Welterweight
[-70.0Kg]
- Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Caol Uno
Source:
ADCC |
CHUTE
BOXE: Rafael Cordeiro gets the Black Belt
by Marcelo Alonso
Four months after Wanderlei Silva it was the time Rafael Cordeiro
(Muay teacher and Rudimar´s right hand) get his Jiu-Jitsu
black belt from the hands of his master, Cristiano Marcelo. 'He
has always been the most technical of the team. It´s a
big honour for me to graduated him who is training JJ for almost
10 years' said Marcelo, who also released the black belt to his
student Ocimar Costa (vice champion in Copa do Mundo 2003 - brown
belt). The debut was made in great style. Rafael trained with
Wanderlei Silva and Ocimar trained with Cristiano.
The
ceremony hapened yesterday (march 17) in the famous aulão
(a big class joining all Chute Boxe branches) that packed new
Chute Boxe headquarter with almost 400 people. 'In next Mundial
I´ll prove that Chute Boxe is also a strong Jiu-Jitsu Team.
I´ll bring 30 guys to show that in Rio. I´m sure
at least five has good conditions to bring medals to Curitiba',
guaranteed Chute Boxe´s Jiu-Jitsu teacher. Ze Augusto was
the only one to get the Muay Thai black belt being tested by
Wanderlei, Nilson Castro and Shogun. During the ceremony Cordeiro
confirmed next two editions of Storm Samurai. April 16 in São
Paulo and April 18 in Curitiba.
Source:
ADCC |
Gurgel:
The Alliance's General
Fábio Gurgel
By André Araújo
The
34 year old BJJ black belt Fábio Gurgel (Alliance Team)
is close to come back to the mats. The return may happen in a
great style: by his BJJ pupils Marcelo Garcia, Fernando Soluço
and Tarsis Humphreys' side at the "Brasileiro de Equipes",
that happens next October. During an exclusive to Team TATAME,
the Alliance's General talks about Alliance plans for the future,
about being a manager and his BJJ revelation Marcelo Garcia,
who comes ruling all submission events.
Tell
me. Are you gonna come back to the mats? Are you confirmed at
the upcoming tournament one?
I
hope so. The idea is fighting. My kids also put pressure for
me join the adult division. I have other priorities in my life.
Some of them related to the fight world. But the competition
is no longer a priority now. I have been training and I want
to be ready when my time comes.
You
met Jacaré during this last trip to US (Submission Wrestling
Open). How is you relationship with him?
In
fact Romero Jacaré is the reason of Alliance's existence.
When old Alliance fighters left the group and formed Master,
he accepted both teams, considering that both teams were below
him. He was my teacher and our friendship has never shaken. It
was a pleasure to celebrate Marcelo victory by Jacaré's
side. Marcelo also left with him to Atlanta before fighting in
Ohio and spent a week in his house. All my pupils go there when
I send them to US.
You
mentioned the athletes leaving. At that time Alliance suffered
with their absence and you had a strong mind to continue. Today
with Marcelinho, Alliance is on the Top again...
What
I've proved after their leaving is that Alliance never belong
to one athlete. It all began with Jacaré and then many
other athletes represented the team. The other stars goes away,
but the school remains. It is just a matter of time. Marcelinho
assumed the position and he has been ruling it. But alone, he
would be nothing. Today, besides Garcia, we have been working
with strong fighters as Tarsis and Soluço and many other
brown belts. You know I cannot graduate athletes to black belt
in days. But we never believed that Alliance would finish.
We
received lots of commentaries that say that Marcelinho's real
master is Paulão Resende. You were the responsible for
his black belt...
I
am sure that every person that passed to Marcelinho's life has
been contributing for what he is today. Paulão is out
of question important to his life. He trained Marcelinho for
a long time. Even his first teacher was fundamental. When I started
to train Marcelinho he had great gi technical level. But he never
had trained no gi before.
The
interesting thing is that Marcelo's game seems more efficient
at Submission than Jiu-Jitsu...
In
fact I don't think his game is better for Submission. What happens
is harder to stop his game with no gi. So, the opponents cannot
find a way out. Wearing a gi he is also good. He had great victories
last year and just got defeated to Tererê at the final
of the open class.
Fernando
Tererê teased you saying that the swiping he applied in
Marcelo he had learned with you. How come did you face that statement?
With a good mood?
Its
hard to face a defeat with good mood. The fact he won my pupil
using a move I've taught him does not bother me. If he wants
to do this kind of comment, he could say he had learned many
other moves with me. Today there is no more hard feeling about
this subject.
Tell
me about Alliance's plans. How is the team for the BJJ World
Championship?
We
keep doing our job with black belts, but of course we gonna have
room among the black belts. We gonna be running for the base
categories. Alexandre Paiva in Rio de Janeiro, Élcio Figueiredo
from Integração in São Paulo are helping
us. We also gonna count with Vitória guys as Bruno de
Paula and Rodrigo Damn, that has been winning Submission shows
in Brazil. Today there is a huge distance between Alliance and
Gracie Barra, that is the best BJJ team in my opinion. We don't
want turn into a strong team or even hire new black belts. We
want to develop our work.
Marcelo
has been ruling the international scene. You have been showing
you are a great side as manager...
We
should be careful with Marcelinho's career. He is not a race
horse. We have to take advantage of this moment. He recently
launched six DVD outside and my intention is doing the same with
him I did for me in the past. His thing today is about training.
The rest I do it and he trusts in me.
A
big part of the athletes complain that they don't make money
with Jiu-Jitsu. You have been proving the opposite.
Since
the moment I decided to live my life with Jiu-Jitsu, I faced
it so serious and I am fine today with that. People love complaining
and they do nothing to change this situation. Its too easy being
seated and waiting forever for a big shot. Who lives for Jiu-Jitsu
has to move itself and input some creativity. That's the way
to earn money.
Source:
Tatame |
RVT
x GB Combat Team at Wrestling
Great combats promise to rule the State Wrestling Championship
that happen tomorrow (20) at the Centro de Educação
Integrada of Quintino (RJ). Besides the main athletes of the
State, the tournament will feature unseen bouts. The ex-Ruas
Vale-Tudo partners, Antoine Jaoude (RVT) and Renato Babalú
(Gracie Barra Combat Team) will be competing in the same weight
category and their bouts will only depend of the brackets. "We
are waiting for those combats. We all knew that teams would be
facing eachother someday. It's just a matter of time, "
commented the Associated Fighting Confederation Beto Leitão.
According to the Gracie Barra Combat team manager Carlos Malta,
besides Renato Babalú, Alexandre Cacareco and Clayton
Mangueira subscript the tournament.
Source:
Tatame |
|
COUTURE
BREAKS DOWN CHUCK VS TITO
Randy
"The Natural" Couture was the featured guest on MMAWeekly's
SoundOff Radio Show Thursday. Randy spoke about a rematch with
Vitor Belfort, the fight between Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell,
his Sport Fight promotion and the changing face of the UFC.
Everything
is going great, said Couture. He is hearing that a rematch with
Vitor Belfort for the UFC light heavyweight title will happen
late this summer. Randy stated, "As long as he fights, I
don't care. As long as we get a chance to step in and settle
that competition properly in what I consider a real fight, that'll
be fine by me. I can wait til the end of the summer to do that."
Randy
is in training right now and is training, "all the time."
He is doing some "low key" workouts, just trying out
some new things and having fun. Ten weeks before his fight, Couture
will start to do "two a days" and his diet will get
strict. He will then start to focus on what he needs to do to
execute his game plan. He said that coming off a loss, a fighter
has the tendency to evaluate themselves harshly to figure out
what went wrong and what changes need to be made.
Couture
has already trained to fight Belfort and doesn't think his game
plan is going to change very much this time. The time gives him
the opportunity to sharpen up some things and enjoy training.
Randy said it's not about wins and loses or records or even the
exchanging of the belt. "It's about going out and giving
your best performance and being the best fighter you can be,"
Couture commented. He added, even having done that, sometimes
you still lose.
Couture
talked about his Alkaline diet briefly. He said it is just a
matter of increasing the intake of "greens" in your
regular diet, raw preferably. With the aid of supplements, the
diet reduces the acidic build up in your body and increases the
red blood cell's ability to carry oxygen as efficiently as possible.
As some may recall from health class, it is the imbalance of
acid to oxygen that causes muscle soreness. The Alkaline diet
will increase energy, speed up recovery time, and overall, promotes
good health.
"The
Natural" will be at UFC 47, two weeks from today, doing
some promoting for some upcoming events. He is "excited"
about the Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell fight. Randy has fought
and beaten both of them recently and broke down how he sees the
fight playing out. Randy said, "you can make a case for
either guy," and "it's going to be a great fight."
Couture
is leaning toward Liddell to win, saying, "Chuck is very
hard to takedown. He is very hard once you get him down to hold
him down." He thinks that Tito's best position is to get
a fighter down, on top of them and pound on them. He thinks Chuck
will keep "popping" back up and will eventually give
Tito problems. Couture said that Liddell shouldn't even worry
about being taken down because everyone who has taken Chuck down,
he has been able to scramble back to his feet.
With
this being a three round fight, Randy doesn't feel conditioning
will be a factor. He pointed out that Ortiz is always well conditioned
and will probably try to push the pace and hope that Chuck can't
keep up. Both fighters have been training hard and Couture has
no doubt that "both will be ready."
Randy
discussed his Oregon based fight promotion of Sport Fight. Couture
and Matt Lindland spearheaded the effort to get Mixed Martial
Arts sanctioned in the state of Oregon and were the first to
get their professional promoter's license to hold professional
events. The problem most states have with MMA is that they lump
it in with events like "Tough Man" and Oregon has an
"extreme fighting" law on their books. Randy and Matt
went to court and a judge ruled in their favor that MMA does
not fall under the definition of "extreme fighting."
Legalized MMA in Oregon and Sport Fight were born.
Couture
spoke a little on the changing face of the UFC. He said they
used to want to put the best fighters in the cage against the
best fighters but it just wasn't financially beneficial. Understandably,
he said, the UFC had to change focus to who can sell tickets.
He thinks now, they are looking for personalities who can fight
but more importantly sell tickets. He commented that it is in
his best interest for the UFC to breakeven or make a profit for
his own job security.
To
hear all of what Randy had to say, like wanting to see Phil Baroni
"get his ass kicked," get yourself a Premium Membership.
For only five dollars a month, you get access to the radio archive,
our video section of one on one interviews, behind the scene's
footage of weigh-ins, press conferences, tips of the week from
the fighters themselves and more. For the price of a fast food
value meal, you can have a month's worth of MMA to feast on.
Source:
MMA Weekly |
TITO'S
TRAINING DAY
MMAWeekly.com's Eric Adrian and Steve Leband covered Tito Ortiz's
press conference yesterday in Southern California. Adrian has
this report from camp....
Tito
arrived at the boxing gym right around 11 a.m. looking relaxed
and ready to train. He seemed in good spirits and welcomed everyone
who was there. He took his time taping up his hands, and then
jumped rope to warm up.
After
his warm-up, Tito shadowboxed for about 10 minutes, throwing
quick punch and kick combos. Tito was showing good hand speed
and great form.
When
asked if Chuck had evolved as a fighter as he (Tito) has Tito
said:
“Liddell
is the exact same fighter he was 2 years ago…I have his
last 8 fights on tape…I’ll take you through them and
show you…”
When
asked if his youth would be a factor:
“There
is no age factor in the UFC!! Randy proved that!”
When
asked about his loss to Randy Couture:
“Randy
outwrestled me for 5 rounds…He found my weakness…Where
he was stronger than I was…”
When
asked where he sees himself in 5 years:
“In
the movies…making movies… I’m not knocking Randy
Couture, but I’m not going to be fighting for what, 100…180
thousand when I’m 40 or 41…That might seem a lot to
the guy who makes 50 thousand a year, but its not…”
Tito
also commented on gassing out to Frank Shamrock and how that
made him become the cardio machine that he is today. He touched
briefly on his training with the use of the infamous altitude
machine and how he prefers to train here in Orange County as
opposed to Big Bear. He said that he wants to watch his son grow;
that is the most important thing to him right now.
He
also touched briefly on the Lee Murray situation, the street
fight (where he said that he did get hit by Murray), and Murray’s
proposal to fight if Tito can make 200 lbs. on the day of the
fight. He said that he has no problem making the weight and he
will put in the extra effort to do so.
He
said that he is in great shape and is looking forward to the
Liddell fight. He feels that he will peak in his training right
around the time of the fight. Tito says that his nagging injuries
are gone and that he will be pushing the pace of the fight. He
also stated that he will be looking to end the fight as quickly
as possible. When asked if he is going for the knockout, he thinks
that it would be nice, as he hasn’t knocked out too many
people in his career.
After
talking to the press, the former champ throws combos at the heavy
bag, warming up for his sparring partner. Tito sparred with a
former WBO/WBF champion. The sparring lasted for about 15-20
minutes with Tito really picking up the pace towards the end.
Source:
MMA Weekly |
WEC'S
LATEST SHOW COMING TOGETHER
World Extreme Cagefighting is ready for it's next show coming
to the Palace Casino in Lemoore California on May 21st and the
names should make many MMA fans very happy.
Right
now WEC President Scott Adams has been working on the card. While
things are still being worked out, some of the better names in
the fightworld will be competing.
Gil
Castillo, from Cesar Gracie's camp has been offered to fight
Team Quest member Ryan Schultz. A couple of UFC veterans look
to battle as Mark Weir will face Benji Radach. Mr. International
Shonie Carter puts his WEC Title on the line against UFC Veteran
Karo Parisyan. Another title on the line has WEC Champ Chris
Leben fighting Steve Heath for the WEC Middleweight Title.
One
of the biggest fan favorites in California, Olaf, has agreed
verbally to face Jason Maxwell, so as you can see this has the
potential to be an outstanding card. "We are happy to go
back outdoors for this one to increase seating....we should be
able to seat 5,000 for this one, so we look forward to another
sell-out at the Palace Casino," Adams told MMAWeekly.
One
other item of good news for the show. These fights will once
again be shown on HDNet, the high definition channel and they
will split this card into a couple of shows. "We are very
pleased to be working with HDNet again and their commitment to
mixed martial arts," Adams said. WEC and HDNet have hired
respected commentators Ryan Bennett and Jeff Blatnick to do the
show for the national TVaudience.
Source: MMA Weekly |
EDWARDS
TALKS ABOUT UPCOMING FIGHT
MMAWeekly SoundOff Radio talked with Yves Edwards Thursday as
a part of it's Sixteen Fighters in Sixteen Days. Yves will be
fighting Hermes Franca at UFC 47 and is just getting over the
flu. Edwards has been sick for about a week with temperatures
over 100. He did train last night and ran this morning and is
"feeling good right now."
Edwards
usually does get sick before fights. He sited several times in
the past where this has happened to him. Yves said he is "not
worried about it." He is "not far off where I need
to be."
Yves
has been working on some things to "counteract" Hermes'
game. He said that he has a different mindset going into each
fight. He predicts that Franca will start slow and pay for it.
Edwards thinks Hermes will try to stand with him, "thinking
that he can," and "he will realize that was a bad idea."
His game plan is to "come in strong" and punish Franca.
Rumors
are swirling about the winner of this fight getting to fight
Josh Thomson for the 155 pound title. Yves said he isn't concerned
with what comes next, he is focused on the task at hand first.
He went on to say that the title is his main goal, that's what
he wants. He said that his son and the title are the most important
things to him, "in that order."
For
those of you who have High Definition TV, Edwards' WEC bout against
Deshaun Johnson will air this Sunday night and Monday too. Check
your listings for the exact times in your area.
Source:
MMA Weekly |
Quote
of the Day
It doesn't matter which side of the fence you get off on sometimes.
What matters most is getting off. You cannot make progress without
making decisions.
Jim Rohn, American Businessman, Author, Speaker, Philosopher
|
Maui
Submission Grappling Tournament Update
The
date has been set, July 24th!
The much
anticipated Maui Submission Grappling tournament will take place
at the Maui War Memorial Gymnasium and the promoters are inviting
everyone statewide to test their skills against Maui’s best
submission grapplers. Due the event being on Maui, the promoter
wanted to let everyone know about the date well in advance, so
everyone can work out their travel plans. More information will
be sent out to all the academies as the event nears. If you or
your school would like to be put on their mailing list, please
email Lee at Mauibadboy@aol.com or call him at (808)
283-7460.
|
Hawaii's
Premier Kickboxing Event's
Next Show Announced!
Kickin’ It
Palama Settlement Gym, Honolulu, Hawaii
April 3, 2004
More
details to follow shortly
|
Brazilian
Top Team Looking for Gold in Korea, Marcelo Garcia on Fire, HEAT
FC 3 Set to Go and MMA New Show Frenzy in Brazil!
The
Brazilian Beat:
It's been
a long time but we're back! After one of the longest hiatus ever
in its history the Brazilian Beat is finally back after a amazing
wave of new MMA shows popping up recently in Brazil. This theme
has been approached for a long time already in this space, as
new promoters are venturing themselves into MMA more and more
and never before this country had so many shows going on in such
a short period of time. In this edition we'll run trough this
true MMA frenzy giving news and results on most of the new promotions.
However, the most traditional ones such as MECA, HEAT and even
Shooto Brazil are also on the run for new projects and we bring
you some tidbits about them as well. With so many events going
on, FCF still managed to find space for some other Brazilian
MMA news as Belfort enjoys his honeymoon, Sperry travels looking
for fun although business never leave him alone, his pupils prepare
to take their act to Korea, Ninja prepares his wedding and recovers
from injury and Marcelo Garcia is simply THE MAN in Submission
grappling nowadays. So, enjoy the news as it may take long, but
they never cease as FCF keeps bouncing back with the beat in
the already traditional Brazilian rhythm style!
UFC Light-heavyweight champion Vitor Belfort finally took time
to enjoy his honeymoon with his wife Joana Prado, as both are
traveling on vacation trough the Caribbean islands. Vitor got
married last December, and haven't had chance to go on honeymoon
since then, with his fight against Randy Couture in January plus
all the problems with his missing sister. After his late honeymoon,
"The Phenom" is going to minister seminars for the
first time in his life, showing MMA and Grappling techniques
in some academies in California. Speaking of his sister, Brazilian
police still has no clue on where's Priscila Belfort, as investigations
are stalled now and sadly hope is fading away. FCF still hopes
for the best and if anyone has any news regarding Priscila, please
contact the Brazilian police and inform them.
Fresh
from his stunning KO win at PRIDE BUSHIDO 2, legendary fighter
Mario Sperry is finally taking some time to enjoy vacation with
his wife, as he is going to attend an invitation of his friends
over Abu Dhabi and spend some time in the city. The multiple
times Jiu-Jitsu champion had to postpone the trip a number of
times due to his numerous activities with his fighters at the
Brazilian Top Team. Although Mario didn't confirm, there's always
the chance some business may happen after this stay in the Middle
East. Since Sperry's life is not only about business, the "Zen
Machine" will also enjoy some surfing extending his trip
to the Falkland Islands, after meeting up his friends in Abu
Dhabi.
It
seems that the plans for a big MMA event in Korea are now finally
going to unfold, as Brazilian fighters are already preparing
to compete there in June. After postponements, the big time show,
called Ultra FC, which was planned to take place in the end of
2003, is now getting set for June of 2004 and Brazilian Top Team
looks to be sending PRIDE veterans Paulo Filho and Rogerio Minotoro
Nogueira, and stand outs Claudio Godoi and Fabiano Capoane to
compete in the Korean show. FCF will keep you posted on developments.
The
MMA scene continues to expand in Brazil and the success of shows
such as HEAT FC brought a lot of new ventures to the long forgotten
Northeast region of the country. This last March 11th the state
of Ceara, in the city of Fortaleza, saw a new promotion debuting
as the 1st Desafio Ceara de Vale Tudo brought several HEAT veterans
to battle. In the most important fights of the show Rivanio Aranha
defeated HEAT veteran Savio Maia by judges' decision, Bam Bam
defeated another HEAT veteran in Carlos Indio by KO in the 1st
round, HEAT and AFC veteran Paulo Guerreiro Barros defeated Jessé
by judges' decision and HEAT veteran Josenildo Tigre defeated
Eduardo Rocha by KO in the 2nd round.
Another
show that took place on the Northeast of Brazil lately was de
first Challenge Natal versus Northeast of MMA, in the city of
Natal [the same where the first editions of HEAT took place]
this past March 9th. The show showcased some of the top talents
in the city of Natal against some stand outs of other states
from the Brazilian Northeast. Some HEAT veterans also took part
on the card, and the most important bouts had HEAT veteran Silmar
Rodrigo defeating MECA veteran Diamante Negro by TKO in the 1st
round, Gleison Tibau defeating "Killer" by rear naked
choke in the 1st round, HEAT veteran Alexandre Vaca defeating
Antonio Samurai by heelhook also in the 1st round and another
HEAT veteran in Fabio Bolinho winning a judges' decision against
Eli Vanderlei.
As
new shows never cease to appear now in Brazil, the North region
of the country also had its share of MMA lately with the first
Gladiator of the Jungle taking place in the city of Manaus this
past March 6th. The show was a tourney of 8 fighters, and the
most famous name was Jungle Fight and MECA veteran Lucas Lopes.
Lopes would have no luck as he lost on the first fight for the
eventual champion Adriano Martins. Later Adriano also defetaed
Robert Pato and an Artur Mariano student in Erick Cardoso to
be crowned the champion.
Speaking
of new shows, the most traditional ones also continue its legacy
as MECA World Vale Tudo is preparing its 11th edition. Although
the show was originally scheduled to take place in April, it's
now being likely considered for June, due to live pay per view
schedules in Brazil. Among the likely participants are Luis Azeredo,
Roan Carneiro and Jadyson Costa.
Another
show returning to action is Shooto Brazil! The third edition
of the show is going to happen in April with a date around the
17th, to be defined soon. This is going to be the biggest Shooto
Brazil show ever, and names such as Fabio Mello, Junior Buscape,
Marcelo Grilo and event UFC veteran Marcello Melo are all scheduled
to participate in the show.
Chute
Boxe stand out Murilo Ninja Rua has been training hard for a
likely participation on the PRIDE Heavyweight Grand Prix. Ninja
is already up to 220 lbs and is itending to put on some extra
weight to compete. However the young fighter suffered an infection
in his shin recently and is taken medication to try to recover
as soon as possible and resume training. It's not clear on how
long it'll take for his recovery process as of now, and FCF will
follow the developments. On a good side of news Ninja has his
wedding schedule for October 8th in the city of Curitiba with
his fiance Ana Paula.
Marcelo
Garcia continues on fire as he once again showed his supremacy
at the 3rd Sao Joao da Barra Submission Wrestling, as the name
says taking place at the city of Sao Joao da Barra, in the state
of Rio de Janeiro. The grappler phenom fought in the superfight
against Rodrigo Riscado, from Nova Uniao, and finished him with
a rear naked choke at around 5 minutes of the fight, even being
16 kg lighter than his opponent. The event also saw Gabriel Napao
winning the up to 105 kg division, Thalles Leite conquering the
up to 87 kg division, Leonardo Peçanha being the champion
at the up to 76 kg division, and Rodrigo Damm taking home the
up to 65 kg title.
The
third edition of HEAT FC is confirmed for April 30th once again
at the gorgeous city of Natal, in Brazil. The show will be broadcast
in Brazilian Pay Per View at the end of May and among the names
already confirmed on the card are Ebenezer Braga, Eric Tavares,
Diego Sanchez, Keith Jardine, Paulo Guerreiro Barros, Fabiano
Capoane, Lucas Lopes and Milton Vieira. More names are bound
to be announced at anytime as the card is being finalized this
week.
Source: FCF |
MaxFighting
Pound-For-Pound Top 10
By Josh Gross
Personally, I don't know how BJ is not #1. How can Vanderlei
and Couture, both in the same weight class be pound for pound
the best fighter when either one is not undisputed? Matt Hughes
should be ranked higher too, possibly #2 in my humble opinion,
but what do I know? - Chris
A
lot has changed since I last put the MaxFighting Pound for Pound
Top 10 list together (as you’ll see in comparison to March
2003’s list). So much so that only six of the 10 fighters
who grace this list remain from last year.
Topping
last year’s list was Murilo Bustamante but consecutive defeats,
including a bad one to Dan Henderson, in the second half of 2003
drops him all the way down to the bottom. Chuck Liddell, who
fell sharply in 2003, was not as fortunate and falls off completely.
A shocking loss to Japanese grappler Daiju Takase knocks Brazilian
Anderson Silva from the top 10. One fight in a year and a half
(a loss to Randy Couture) removes Tito Ortiz as well. A major
upset loss to Joachim Hansen and a shellacking by BJ Penn exorcises Takanori
Gomi.
The
remaining six fighters (Bustamante, Matt Hughes, Emelianenko
Fedor, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Vanderlei Silva and Alexandre
Franca Nogueira) have been reshuffled with four new entries:
BJ Penn, Dan Henderson, Randy
Couture and Quinton Jackson.
MaxFighting
Pound-For-Pound Top 10
1.
Vanderlei Silva (25-3-1)
The
top light heavyweight in the world is unbeaten in almost four
years, running off 15 wins versus one draw (as mandated in the
rules) versus heavyweight Mirko Filipovic and a No Contest versus
heavyweight Gilbert Yvel. Silva capped off a stupendous 2003
by scoring a referee stoppage of Quinton Jackson to win the PRIDE
Middleweight Grand Prix. He adds that belt to the PRIDE Middleweight
championship he earned with a TKO of Kazushi Sakuraba at PRIDE
17. The only case made against Silva stems from questionable
opposition, but his Grand Prix showing quelled much of that criticism.
2.
Dan Henderson (14-3-0)
If
Henderson fought solely at 185 pounds there’s little doubt
that he’d be the class of the division, particularly after
steam rolling Murilo Bustamante last November. Though he’s
just 3-2 in his last five contests, Henderson boasts an impressive
record considering the handicaps (usually size) that tend to
face him in the ring. An amazing performance in defeat versus
former PRIDE heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira does
little to keep him off the list; in fact, it only adds to Henderson’s
reputation.
3.
BJ Penn (7-1-1)
Since
losing to Jens Pulver in January 2002, Penn is 5-0-1, including
wins over No. 1-ranked lightweight Takanori Gomi and the unanimous
choice for best welterweight Matt Hughes. Penn’s win over
Hughes in January ’04 earned him the UFC welterweight title.
Thrust into action versus several of the best fighters in the
world despite limited time in the ring, Penn has performed wonderfully
and appears to have come into his own.
4.
Randy Couture (12-6-0)
In
2003 the Natural changed the way fight fans looked at the best
division in the UFC. The two-time UFC heavyweight champion moved
down in weight to dominate contender Chuck Liddell before shutting
out Tito Ortiz for five rounds to claim the UFC 205-pound title.
A spotted record raises questions as to Couture’s place
on this list, but his accomplishments lie beyond pure numbers.
A frustrating sub-one-minute loss to Vitor Belfort in January
(Belfort’s glove sliced Couture’s eyelid in a freak
accident) places Couture’s ledger at 2-3 in his last five
contests. A deeper look at that period, however, finds Couture,
now 40, showing his true colors, establishing him as one of the
sport’s great fighters.
5.
Matt Hughes (33-4-0)
Before
giving in to BJ Penn in January, Hughes was the personification
of dominance. Beginning in March 2001, Hughes strung together
13 consecutive victories, stopping Carlos Newton (twice), Hayato
Sakurai, Gil Castillo and Frank Trigg. Hughes also earned a unanimous
decision victory over Sean Sherk. The 170-pound stalwart drops
from down from the second slot because of the way he lost to
Penn.
6.
Emelianenko Fedor (16-1-0)
Since
defeating Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira one year ago, Fedor has faced
limited opposition, doing little to enhance his reputation as
the top heavyweight in the world. In that time Fedor is 4-0,
adding Kazayuki Fujita and Gary Goodridge to his list of victims.
With the PRIDE Heavyweight Grand Prix looming, Fedor will undoubtedly
face challenges he has not encountered since becoming champion.
Anticipate a rematch versus Nogueira as well as a showdown versus
Croatian killer Mirko Filipovic.
7.
Quinton Jackson (20-4-0)
No
fighter did more to boost his standing over the past 12 months
than Rampage. In two years Jackson has defeated, amongst others,
Igor Vovchanchyn, Kevin Randleman, Murilo Bustamante and Chuck
Liddell. His November ’03 loss was quickly followed with
a TKO victory over Ikuhisa Minowa. Recovering from a broken hand,
Jackson is anticipated to have a big 2004.
8.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (21-2-1)
Minotauro
followed up only the second loss of his career (a decision to
Fedor) -- his first loss in 14 fights -- with wins over former
UFC heavyweight champion Ricco Rodriguez and a for-the-ages comeback
against Mirko Filipovic. The victory over Cro Cop reminded many
fight fans of Nogueira’s incredible heart as the Brazilian
endured early trouble to score the armbar victory. A rematch
versus Fedor is all that stands between Nogueira and the title
as World’s Best Heavyweight.
9.
Alexandre Franca Nogueira (10-2-2)
The
king of the flyweights, SHOOTO 143-pound champion Nogueira possesses
the single most effective submission in MMA: The 10-fingered
Guillotine. Most recently, Pequeno used the hold to submit SHOOTO
legend Rumina Sato in less than one minute; it marked only the
second time in 29 career bouts that Sato tapped from a submission.
As the division expands Nogueira will be challenged. First on
that list is Kid Yamamoto, Japan’s MMA answer to Ricardo
Mayorga.
10.
Murilo Bustamante (9-3-1)
Bustamante
has not won since May 2002. Since leaving the UFC and relinquishing
his middleweight title, the Brazilian great is loser of consecutive
fights to Quinton Jackson and Dan Henderson. While the loss to
Jackson did little to hurt Bustamante in the eyes of fans, his
performance against Henderson and his post-fight reaction to
it changed how many saw the BJJ legend. For Bustamante, who turns
38 in July, 2004 could be his swan song.
PREVIOUS
P4P:
1)
Murilo Bustamante
2)
Matt Hughes
3)
Chuck Liddell
4)
Emelianenko Fedor
5)
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
6)
Anderson Silva
7)
Tito Ortiz
8)
Vanderlei Silva
9)
Takanori Gomi
10)
Alexandre Franca Nogueira
Source: Maxfighting |
Arnold
Gracie World Submission Championships
as Webcast
Media Report
Fresno, CA - Mar 16, 2004 – The Arnold Gracie World Submission
Championships 2004 (www.gracieworlds.com) is the biggest Gracie
submission tournament in the World and as part of the Arnold
Fitness Weekend/Arnold Classic (www.arnoldclassic.com) in Columbus
Ohio for the past four years, it has continued to grow. The tournament
features top Jui-Jitsu and submission athletes from around the
world.
FEATURED
WEBCASTS:
WEBCASTS
AVAILABLE
FRIDAY March 19th, 2004 $5
1.
Men Professional No-Gi 164lbs. and Under
Diego
Saraiva vs. Marcelo Garcia, Phil Cardella vs. Pedro Brandao,
Phil Cardella vs. Edson Diniz, Wagnner Fabiano vs. Jason Coomer,
Francisco Soares vs. Cabelinito, Shawn Williams vs. Jack McVicker,
Shawn Williams vs. Daniel Maraes, Wagnner Fabiano vs. Francisco
Soares, Marcelo Garcia vs. Edson Diniz, Wagnner Fabiano vs. Daniel
Maraes, Marcelo Garcia vs. Wagnner Fabiano
Next
Week:
AVAILABLE
MONDAY March 22nd, 2004 $5 (approx. 1 hour)
2.
Women Pro All-Divisions, Men Pro Blackbelt 164lbs. and Under
AVAILABLE
WEDNESDAY March 24nd, 2004 $5 (approx. 1 hour)
3.
Men Professional No-Gi 195lbs. and Up
AVAILABLE
FRIDAY March 24nd, 2004 $5 (approx. 1 hour)
4.
Men Professional No-Gi 165lbs – 194lbs
Source: Dog House Boxing |
Kick-boxing
bouncer found guilty of attack Mar 18 2004
A LAP dancing club bouncer was found guilty of brutally attacking
a customer on Tuesday.
British
champion kick-boxer James McSweeney of the Greenway, Cippenham,
threw 26-year-old Martin Brennan out of Slough High Street's
Honeypot club.
Reading
Crown court heard the 6ft 4ins bouncer had accused builder Brennan
of breaking the 'no touching' policy at the nightspot.
When
Mr Brennan returned nine days later on April 17 last year to
state his innocence McSweeney headbutted him, sending him tumbling
to the ground. He then rained down a series of powerful blows
and kicks onto Mr Brennan's body.
The
victim, suffering injuries to his eye, arm, nose and ribs, ran
to the safety of the nearby Assembly Bar where staff gave him
first aid before dialling 999.
Although
McSweeney denied assault claiming he acted in self defence, the
jury unanimously convicted him.
Judge
Stanley Spence adjourned sentencing to April 30, so pre-sentence
reports could be prepared. Judge Spence granted bail on the condition
no contact was made with the aggrieved or prosecution witnesses.
Source: IC Bershire UK |
Grapplers
Quest: match-ups released
Check out the match-ups to the upcoming Grapplers Quest West
V Submission Grappling Championships - 'The Best of The West
Returns'. The show happens on Saturday, March 27th, 2004 at Durango
High School Arena (7100 West Dewey Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada).
For more information, go to: http://www.Grapplers.com
Check
out the match-ups:
$1,000
Lightweight Superfight Division:
Pablo Popovitch (American Top Team Black Belt) Vs Alexander Crispim
(Team Ralph Gracie/Gracie Barra)
Leo Santos (Team Nova Uniao Black Belt) Vs Jake Shields (Team
Cesar Gracie)
Marcos Avellan (Florida Freestyle Fighting) Vs Jason 'Mayhem'
Miller (Team Cobra Kai/Oyama)
Leandro 'Tatu' Escobar (Brazilian Top Team) Vs Jared Weiner (Lloyd
Irvin Black Belt-Philadelphia, PA)
$1,000
Middleweight Superfight Division:
David Avellan (Florida Freestyle Fighting) Vs Luke Stewart (Team
Ralph Gracie)
Diego Sanchez (Jackson's Gaido Jitsu) Vs Sean Spangler (Team
Cobra Kai/Marc Laimon)
Tyrone
Glover (Cassio Werneck Brown Belt) Vs Gary Grate (Team Charles
Gracie)
Rafael
Lovato (Jr., Team Machado Oklahoma City Brown Belt) Vs Moacir
'Boca' Oliveira (American Top Team Black Belt)
$500
Women's Pro Superfight Division sponsored by GrapplerGear.com
and Gameness.net:
Erica Montoya (Chris Brennan/Next Generation) Vs Lauren 'Lolo'
Cousin (Sylvio Behring Purple Belt)
Rebecca Faber (Tai Kai Machado Jiu Jitsu (Delaware) Vs Lauren
Moreira (Las Vegas Combat Club/Sergio Penha/Ricardo Pires (Brown
Belt)
Leonore Avellan (Florida Freestyle Fighting) Vs Team Ralph Gracie
Representative
Marianna Garcia (Oswaldo Alves) Vs Felicia Oh (Jean Jacques Machado)
Source: Tatame |
Carlão
Barreto
By André Araújo
Another
chance to Carlão at Heat 3
Christ's
Athlete, Brazilian Top Team Carlão Barreto is about to
return to Heat Fighting Championship 3 next April 30th. Barreto
will have another chance, once he got defeated by points at Heat
2 by American fighter Travis Wuffi. Besides the revenge will
not happen at Heat 3, Carlão will face another fighter
from USA, this time the wrestler Mike White Head. The BTT fighter
reveals that he will face Wiuffi sooner or later. Working body
and mind, Barreto is getting ready for his upcoming challenge.
Check out now the full interview with the BTT fighter now.
When
did you become a Christ's athlete ?
I'm
a Christian. I have a catholic education and since three years
ago, I've joint the Protestant church. The only thing that matters
anyway is searching for the absolute true and having Jesus in
the heart. I have peace in my heart and I am no longer a fanatic.
For me, there is no right or wrong religion.
At
the time you got defeated by Travis Wuffi at Heat 2 you were
facing some personal issues... do you think it may bothered your
performance?
People
who know me well was aware I've got hurt. I had a contusion in
my left leg and I fought under painkiller effects. I fought injured
to honor my fight contract. The whole thing that was going on
with my life at that moment certainly bothered me. I've lost
and I had to take care of myself after the loss. I did physiotherapy
and some psychological works. Now I am fine again.
You
commented that you have been receiving some psychological support.
How important is this treatment for the athlete?
This
support is damn important for athletes. Even more for Vale-Tudo
fighters. The athletes need it a lot... we do have to kill a
wild lion per day and we do need this psychological support.
Accepting the loss is primordial. You have to understand the
loss and grow with it. You have to reverse the loss into something
positive. Always!
You
are about to face another American at Heat 3. Do you know his
game?
I
will face Mike White Head. He is a wrestler and he was the champion
of the Abu-Dhabi trial. He is a strong and heavy opponent, but
I am watching his steps a while ago. But what really matters
is being good with yourself.
And
about a revenge with Travis Wuffi? There are something going
on?
The
dealing is quite difficult. Travis asked for a high purse to
join HFC. Maybe Heat will afford him in future editions, but
not now. I believe it will happen sooner or later. At Heat or
other event.
What
are your plans after Heat 3?
I
have been training Wrestling, Muay Thai and lots of Jiu-Jitsu.
I also want to fight a Muay Thai event this year. My teacher
Paulo Nikolai will set me up in a event in United States or Japan.
I am confident!
Source: Tatame |
WHAT'S
NEXT FOR SPRATT? POSSIBLY K-1....
Pete "The Secret Weapon" Spatt checked in with MMAWeekly
this week. Pete was just arriving back home to Texas from his
kickboxing victory over the weekend in California at the Strike
Force event. He is "enjoying himself and feeling good,"
as most fighters do coming off a win.
Spratt
said his opponent was tougher than he expected and although Pete
wanted to finish him, he commented, "four good rounds of
domination will do me good too." He thought his performance
was "pretty good." Pete said he needed the work and
that it had been a while since he had been in there. Most importantly,
Spratt said, "I had fun doing what I love to do best."
Pete's
immediate fighting future will be focused on what he "does
best;" stand-up. He is looking to fight in Japan in some
K-1 matches and considers that his "primary focus right
now." He added, If something were to come up in Mixed Martial
Arts that was "tempting," then he might "consider
jumping back in there real quick."
Spratt
has a busy few months ahead of him. He is fighting April 10th
in Ring of Fire and has a big seminar scheduled to be held in
Florida in May. The seminar is just outside of Orlando and will
be featuring Bas Rutten, Duane "Bang" Ludwig, Moe Smith,
some "special guests"; as well as, Pete Spratt. The
seminar will run from May 18th through the 23rd.
Pete
also is about to start filming a new movie, "Dangerous County."
He said, "It's a lot of hard work doing those movies."
Spratt has been in films before. "Thugz II," another
movie Pete was in, is set to come out on video and DVD in late
April or early May. He would like to do more acting in the future.
In
fact, Pete is moving out to L.A. to pursuit a career in the film
industry. He expects to make the move within a year. An added
bonus of moving to L.A. is that it gives Pete the opportunity
to train with good, consistent training partners, something that
Texas did not allow him to do. Spratt primarily trains himself
and is looking for the stability of a team atmosphere. It is
hard to imagine that he is as good as he is without the benefit
of a training camp.
Source: MMA Weekly |
WHERE
ARE THEY NOW? IVAN SALAVERRY
He burst onto the scene at UFC 37. A tremendous underdog at the
time, Ivan Salaverry upset the very tough Russian in Andrei Semenov.
Salaverry looked for another win against Matt Lindland at UFC
39. Unfortunately for Ivan, he lost to Lindland and we never
saw him again in the Octagon.
MMAWeekly
caught up with Ivan Salaverry recently, who is coming off a K-1
win over Khaliun Boldbataar over the weekend. Salaverry said
he would love to fight in the UFC again, "against those
guys." Since his loss to Lindland, Ivan has fought twice
in K-1 with one win and one loss. He likes fighting for K-1 and
said they are "taking care of me."
Ivan
could be fighting as early as April. What he likes about K-1
is having the opportunity for them to push him in so many different
directions. He can do his kickboxing, MMA fights as well, and
professional wrestling with the same organization.
Salaverry
spoke about Bob Sapp's popularity in Japan, saying, "everyone
loves him over there. Ivan helps train Sapp and said Bob is a
better grappler than people realize. He went on to say that Sapp
has improved his game a lot; especially, in using his knees.
Ivan
thinks both Mike Tyson and Sapp want to fight each other, but
it is a matter of negotiating it all with promoters, lawyers,
agents and everyone else involved.
If
Bob Sapp and Mike Tyson were to ever face off, Ivan doesn't think
Tyson stands a chance under MMA rules. He added, Mike doesn't
know what it's like to get kicked by a 300 pound man. Under K-1
rules, he thinks it would be a "great fight."
Source: MMA Weekly |
BENNETT
BREAKDOWN: CONGRESS HARD STAND ON STEROIDS WILL AFFECT MMA
A few months back I really wanted the sport of MMA to take a
hard stance against steroids. I thought the UFC could take a
hard stand of mandatory drug testing and be the first "sport"
to take a hard stance.
This
would do two things. It would be a great public relations move
between the media and the UFC (and hopefully soften politicians
stands against mixed martial arts in general); plus, it gives
the UFC more credibility in the eyes of sports writers and journalists
in my sports journalist opinion.
Now
fast forward to this week and it looks as though congress is
about to do this for not just the mainstream sports but ALL sports
including boxing and MMA. In one of the most powerful testominies
to date, a former Heavyweight boxer stood before a government
committee and talked about the negatives of steroids. This former
boxer lost his legs to steroids and appeared before the comittee
yesterday.
The
following excerpt comes from the Associated Press...
"WASHINGTON
-- A former professional boxer broke down crying before Congress
Tuesday, pleading for tough action against the use of steroids
and similar products that he blames for the loss of his legs.
Bob
Hazelton, who became a heavyweight in 1969 and won a series of
victories in the ring until being TKO'd by George Foreman, railed
against the evils of steroid use as he testified from a wheelchair
in front of a House subcommittee.
The
panel is considering legislation that would expand the list of
banned steroids to include so-called pre-cursors, which act like
steroids in the human body but are available over the counter,
often as dietary supplements.
Hazelton
said his use of steroids eventually stopped the circulation of
blood to his legs, which had to be amputated as gangrenous infections
spread up his body.
The
55-year-old Minnesota native had harsh words for professional
sports executives who, he said, aren't doing enough to stop athletes
from the peculiar form of self-abuse.
"These
owners of these professional teams, they don't want [players]
to know the truth," Hazelton said, before losing control
of his emotions.
"Just
take a deep breath," said subcommittee chairman Howard Coble,
R-N.C. "Everybody's on your side."
When
he resumed speaking, Hazelton raged against pro sports leagues
and Congress for allowing the problem of performance-enhancing
drugs and supplements to grow in recent years.
"Until
this committee -- this country -- stops it, you're never going
to have a clean sport in this country again," he said.
Rep.
John Sweeney, R-N.Y., is pushing the House version of a bill
that would ban over-the-counter sales of pre-cursors because
they have the same effect in the body as steroids. A similar
measure is being considered in the Senate."
As
you can see, the government is taking a hard stand for all sports
and we will see a trickle down affect for all combative sports
like boxing and MMA.
Just
last night, Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig banned
THC from the Majors. Baseball has faced scrutiny from the government
after four people tied to a San Francisco company were indicted
on charges of supplying steroids to athletes.
The
big four sports, MLB, NBA, NFL and NHL will see more and more
testing with the pressure from the government. Boxing and MMA
won't see pressure for quite some time. Bottom line, this former
boxer who sat before our government drove the point home about
the dangers of steroids. I would love to see MMA take a hard
stand and be the innovator of drug testing in ALL sports. It's
just another way to add the "credibility" that mixed
martial arts so desperately needs in mainstream sports and media.
Source: MMA Weekly |
Quote
of the Day
"The highest reward for a person's toil is not what they
get for it, but what they become by it."
John Ruskin, 1819-1900, British Critic, Social Theorist
|
TANNER
VS BARONI:
SIGNED, SEALED AND DELIVERED
MMAWeekly.com has learned that Evan Tanner vs Phil Baroni is
official as of late last night. Tanner signed the contract to
fight Baroni at UFC 48.
Tanner
had this statement exclusively for MMAWeekly.com....
"The
contract has been signed. Baroni gets his wish. This was a fight
I was glad to take. It comes down to this. I'm just a regular
guy that spent years working my way up in the sport from the
small shows in the Midwest, to competing in Japan, and finally
to the UFC.
I
have over 30 fights. I've paid my dues. I've earned my place
in the Octagon. It doesn't sit well with me when a guy who's
had everything handed to him on a golden platter, who doesn't
even have a winning record, who doesn't deserve to be in the
UFC, goes out of his way to call me names, to bad mouth me, to
disrespect me in the public media.
So
here are my thoughts on the fight. I'm not going to run my mouth
and make promises about what is going to happen in the ring.
I'm not going to tell you how I'm going to knock his jaw into
the sixth row or any other similar drivel. I can tell you this
though. I've never fought an opponent for whom I have such disrespect,
and this I will promise: I'll be going into the ring with bad
intentions. I'll be going into the ring, not just to win, but
to hurt him."
As
far as his opponent Phil Baroni? Our friend Mike DiSanto is reporting
for inside fighting that Baroni is currently training with Enson
Inoue of all people in Japan. This should be a sensational fight
for UFC 48.
UFC
President Dana White told MMAWeekly yesterday..."This will
be a great fight and we are glad to deliver a fight that the
fans wanted to see. The rematch will be one of the headline fights
for UFC 48."
The
other interesting part is the UFC is very close to signing Lee
Murray as well to fight on the same card. Murray is expected
to sign to fight Joe "Diesel" Riggs on the same card.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
UFC
48 RETURNS TO SATURDAY FORMAT:
SHAMROCK IS MAIN EVENT
Look for upcoming fights in the Octagon to happen on Saturday
June 19th for UFC 48. If you were with us yesterday, you saw
the report on our Soundoff Forum.
MMAWeekly.com
has learned that Zuffa is scheduling the next UFC to happen on
a Saturday, for only the second time in UFC history. The event
most likely will happen at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The
main event will feature a couple of UFC legends... as Ken Shamrock
will face off against Kimo in the main event. MMAWeekly talked
with Kimo's camp over the weekend and they said "We are
looking forward to fighting the legend in Shamrock all of these
years later. He is a great fighter, but we feel Kimo has gotten
a lot better over the years, while Shamrock has gotten a lot
older."
Tank
Abbott was actually offered the fight to face off against his
old rival in Shamrock, but for whatever reason it just didn't
happen. Some people believe that Abbott wasn't going to get near
the paycheck that he received for his last three fight deal with
the UFC. That was a deal that he signed for six figures for each
fight on his last contract.
You
could say it would be very hard to justify that kind of money
this time around, when Tank has not only lost his last three
fights, but he never made it out of the first minute of the first
round against Kimo and Frank Mir; not to mention, getting hammerd
by Cabbage in his last UFC appearance.
One
other source told MMAWeekly that they wondered openly if Tank
really ever wanted to fight Shamrock in the first place at this
stage of his career. Telling MMAWeekly, "It would be very
tough on Tank mentally to lose four straight fights, not to mention
losing to a guy he absolutely hates in Shamrock."
There
were some rumors out there that also suggested that Tank was
contemplating signing a big money deal to face Shannon Briggs
at K-1, but that deal looks to be dead at this point.
Also
on this UFC 48 card is the fight that was just signed yesterday.
Phil Baroni vs Evan Tanner in a rematch of their controversial
fight.
It
looks as though Lee Murray will also be on this card; most likely,
facing Joe "Diesel" Riggs. Check out the rumors section
on MMAWeekly.com for the latest information regarding the possible
fights for the upcoming UFC 48 card.
Source: MMA Weekly |
K-1
ANNOUNCES UPCOMING FIGHTS FOR WORLD GRAND PRIX
PRESS RELEASE FROM K-1 WEBSITE
Former
sumo wrestling champion, Akebono, will return to K-1 competition
and face Japanese K-1 champion, Musashi, during the main event
of the K-1 World Grand Prix 2004 on March 27th in Saitama, Japan’s
Saitama Super Arena. A highly anticipated showdown between four-time
K-1 World Grand Prix Finals champion, Ernesto Hoost, and K-1’s
newest World Grand Prix Finals champion, Remy Bonjasky, will
also top the star-studded bill.
Akebono’s
appearance will mark his first since he made his K-1 debut on
New Year’s Eve in Japan during a matchup with megastar,
Bob Sapp. The one-of-a-kind meeting between the two colossal
figures saw the 375-pound former NFL lineman score a knockdown
with a right hook in the first round before he put his 400-plus
pound opponent down for good in the same round with a one-two
combination.
The
meeting between countrymen Hoost and Bonjasky comes slightly
more than three months after the latter Dutchman, widely regarded
as the second coming of the 38-year-old Hoost, capped off his
best year in the sport to date with a World Grand Prix Finals
tournament victory. The 28-year-old has gained widespread acclaim
for his exciting style of fighting that incorporates the use
of flying knees and kicks. Hoost, who was plagued with a skin
infection throughout the last quarter of 2003, was absent from
the December Tokyo Dome showdown that has seen him stand in the
winner’s circle more times than any other K-1 competitor.
The
sport’s newest sensation, American Carter Williams, will
make his third appearance in Japan three days before his 24th
birthday when he squares off with Belarusian star, Alexey Ignashov.
Last May, Williams rose to power in “The New Fighting Sport”
when he defeated three consecutive opponents, including defending
champion Michael McDonald and six-time world kickboxing champion,
Rick Roufus, to grab hold of his first K-1 USA tournament crown.
Single fight wins over Dewey “The Black Kobra” Cooper
and 6 foot 8 inch giant, Bjorn “The Rock” Bregy, followed
his superb tournament showing. The 26-year-old Ignashov put together
another strong year in K-1 action in 2003, highlighted by a run
of seven straight victories. During his second-career World Grand
Prix Finals tournament appearance, though, he disappointed his
followers with a lackluster performance against three-time World
Grand Prix Finals tournament winner, Peter Aerts. Heavily favored
to get the better of his opening tournament round opponent who
has been marred by injuries during the last couple of years,
Ignashov appeared hesitant to execute his Muay Thai combinations
and was declared the loser after an overtime “sudden death”
round.
Fan
favorite Ray Sefo will also return to action and meet the tricky
Aziz Khattou. Sefo, the 2000 Grand Prix Finals runner-up, was
ousted from the eight-man draw last December courtesy of opening
round opponent, Musashi. Fans had the opportunity to see Khattou
in action on American soil for the first time last August when
he took part in the K-1 “Battle At The Bellagio” single-elimination
tournament. There, he gained a hard-fought decision over Mexico’s
Raul Romero before being forced to withdraw from the event due
to injury.
South
Africans Mike Bernardo and Jan “The Giant” Nortje are
slated to face off against one another while Holland’s Jerrel
Venetiaan will battle newcomer Sergei Gur of Belarus. Additional
bouts featuring former linear heavyweight boxing champion, Shannon
Briggs, and Cyril Abidi are expected to be added to the card
shortly.
Source:
MMA Weekly |
2004
Pan-Ams
More
top fighers join in. The latest Black Belt signee is Renato Migliaccio
from Ryan Gracie Team. Renato, last year's Gold medalist in the
Feather division, returns to defend his title in what is shaping
up to be the toughest division in the Black Belt. With the presence
of Mario Reis, Leo Vieira, Fredson Alves, Megaton & Sandro
Batata there will certainly be some EPIC BATTLES! Don't miss
out, BE THERE ! ! !
For
more info and to register go to PanAm2004.
From
Koral Kimonos @ jiujitsuprogear.com
We
are proud to announce that We are the official sponsor for 2004
Pan-Ams. KORAL and Jiu Jitsu Pro Gear Team will send our troops
. It is show time!!
See You guys at the Pan ;
Presences
of Koral / JJPro Gear team members already comfirmed:
Fabio Leopoldo , Leozinho Vieira, Fabrício Werdum, Bibiano,
Ricardo 'Franjinha' Miller, Paulo Guillobel, Terere, Cassio Werneck,
Mario Reis, Jacaré, João Silva, Arthur Ruff, Demian
Maia, Tozi, Letícia Vieira, Joey Camacho, Tyrone Glover,
Ulpiano, Jeff Glover, Pedro Elias , Bill the Grill, Daniel McCown,
Leo Silva, Jimmy and many more !!
If
you are on town for the Pan-Am stop by @ our store and check
It out our huge line of BJJ and MMA products .
We
are right off 405 fwy , 10 minutes away from LAX and 15 minutes
away from Pan-Am ( Cal Domingues Hills University ) or check
out jiujitsuprogear.com
Source:
ADCC |
Wrestling
Notes!
 
NCAA
SEEDS RELEASED, GABLE AT W.I.N. MEMORABILIA SHOW, SOME TICKETS
STILL AVAILABLE, WRESTLING TO BRING IN TEN MILLION BUCKS FOR
ST. LOUIS
From
Thursday, March 18, to Saturday, March 20, approximately 330
of the top college wrestlers in the United States will be competing
at the 2004 NCAA Div. I Wrestling Championships. They will hit
the mats in downtown St. Louis at the Savvis Center in front
of an expected total crowd of 100,000 over the six sessions of
this event.
With
wide open team and individual races, this could be one of the
greatest NCAA wrestling championships in history.
And
if you can't make it to St. Louis, the finals will be televised
LIVE on ESPN2 on Saturday, March 20, starting at 6:30 PM EST/5:30
PM CST.
SEEDS
AND BRACKETS RELEASED
The
brackets for all ten weight classes and the seedings of the wrestlers
were released Monday and posted on the official NCAA wrestling
site.
Here
are the number one seeded wrestlers and their class, with their
season records in brackets, followed by their schools and conferences:
125
(1) Jason Powell, Sr. [21-2]
Nebraska, Big 12
133
(1) Travis Lee, Jr. [35-1]
Cornell, EIWA (By way of St. Louis School, HAWAII)
141
(1) Scott Moore, Sr. [46-0]
Virginia, ACC
149
(1) Jesse Jantzen, Sr. [33-1]
Harvard, EIWA
157
(1) Alex Tirapelle, So. [30-0]
Illinois, Big Ten
165
(1) Tyrone Lewis, Sr. [29-1]
Oklahoma St., Big 12
174
(1) Chris Pendleton, Jr. [29-1]
Oklahoma St., Big 12
184
(1) Greg Jones, Jr. [21-0]
West Virginia, EWL
197
(1) Damion Hahn, Sr. [28-1]
Minnesota, Big Ten
HWT
(1) Tommy Rowlands, Sr. [39-1]
Ohio St., Big Ten
While
all were conference champions, notice that only three of them
are thus far undefeated this season. Among the top seeds, only
Damion Hahn is a defending NCAA champion from last season at
the same weight. Travis Lee, now the top seed at 133, won it
last year at 125. Both Greg Jones and Tommy Rowlands were NCAA
champions in 2002.
Last
season seven number one seeds made it to the finals, but only
five went on to win.
So
what does this all mean? Well, it is likely that many if not
most of these wrestlers will make it to the finals. But it also
means that everyone should expect the unexpected, which in turn
means a truly dynamic and electric tournament may just be at
hand.
To
see all the seeds and brackets, go to:
http://www.ncaasports.com/wrestling/mens/story/7177704/
DAN
GABLE AND FELLOW OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALISTS AT W.I.N. MEMORABILIA
SHOW
Besides
the wrestling itself, one of the great highlights of every NCAA
wrestling tournament is the W.I.N. Memorabilia Show, which is
co-sponsored by the International Wrestling Institute and Museum.
While
not officially part of the NCAA-sanctioned activities, this is
a MUST-SEE event that features some of the top wrestling legends
in the world signing autographs and posing for photographs, the
chance to purchase rare wrestling memorabilia and merchandise
from numerous vendors, and the opportunity to meet and talk with
wrestling people of all ages and from numerous regions.
This
year's main featured guest will be the legendary wrestler and
coach Dan Gable. This 1972 gold medalist will be part of an Olympic
gold medalist reunion which will include Bill Smith (1952), Ben
Peterson (1972), John Peterson (1972), and Ed Banach (1984).
Special
guests will include Dan Hodge, who was an undefeated college
wrestler and three-time NCAA champion at 177 pounds at Oklahoma,
as well as an Olympic silver medalist, and the only man to win
national amateur titles in both boxing and wrestling.
Also
attending will be Jack Brisco, the 1965 NCAA 191-pound champion
at Oklahoma State who later gained fame in pro 'wrestling.' This
will also be the first NCAA tournament Brisco will be attending
since he won his NCAA title in 1965.
Also,
according to Mike Chapman, the founder of both W.I.N. and the
International Wrestling Institute and Museum, there is a 'very
high probability' that Speaker of the House of Representatives
Dennis Hastert will be at this show. Hastert, of course, was
a wrestler and wrestling coach for many years.
This
will all take place between sessions of the NCAA tournament at
the Union Station Mall on the second floor, near the Memories
Museum. The St. Louis Union Station is located in downtown St.
Louis on Market Street between 18th and 20th Streets, near the
Savvis Center.
Here
is the schedule, in local CST:
Thursday,
March 18 -- 2:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Friday, March 19 -- 12:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Saturday, March 20 -- 12 noon - 4:30 PM
SOME
TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE FOR NCAA'S
Word
is that there are still a few scattered tickets remaining for
the 2004 NCAA Div. I Wrestling Championships, which is just days
away now in St. Louis. Check for last minute offers at TheMat.com
and the official St. Louis Sports Commission website at:
http://www.stlouissports.org/wrestling/
You
may end up sitting among the faithful of one team or another,
but at least you will see the action first hand.
ST.
LOUIS BUSINESS JOURNAL: NCAA TO BRING IN TEN MILLION DOLLARS
The
St. Louis media is already gearing up for the NCAA's.
Monday's
edition of the St. Louis Business Journal reported that these
NCAA wrestling championships are 'expected to bring in about
$10 million for the St. Louis region, the St. Louis Sports Commission
said Monday.'
Ten
million bucks, and from collegiate wrestling! Now if only this
sport could capitalize on this and get itself organized to bring
in even more fans, sponsors, and media coverage!
The
whole article is at:
http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2004/03/15/daily10.html/
There
also was an interesting article about the state of college wrestling
in Sunday's St. Louis Post-Dispatch. It deals with the years
of cuts that have decimated so many college wrestling programs.
This article, entitled 'Officials are grappling with wrestling
cuts at college level,' by Lori Shontz of the Post-Dispatch,
is at:
click here
See
you in St. Louis!
Source:
ADCC |
BRAZILIAN
INSIDER BY TATAME.COM
Vitor
Belfort at the Caribbean islands
After taking the UFC's Light Heavyweight belt, Vitor Belfort
took some days off for resting. Vitor and his wife, Joana Prado,
went on a honeymoon trip to the Caribbean islands and later they
go to Las Vegas. On March 27th, Belfort will be at Beverly Hills
Jiu-Jitsu Club giving a BJJ and Vale-Tudo seminar. About his
sister, disappeared in January, the family still doesn't have
any news yet.
Marcelo
Garcia, the unbeatable showman
This weekend, the 2003 ADCC champ Marcelo Garcia did another
victim on the Submission mats. The 81kg-Alliance fighter did
the super-fight of the 3rd Submission Wrestling of São
João da Barra, in Rio de Janeiro, against the sixteen
kilos heavier Rodrigo Riscado, from Nova União. Riscado
started doing well, avoiding Garcia's guard and attacking his
foot. However, a distraction from Riscado was enough to Garcia
take his back and submit him by rear-naked-choke. At the beginning
of the month, Marcelo Garcia did two great performances in US.
First at Submission Wrestling 1, when he submitted also by rear-naked-choke
ATT's Pablo Popovich. Then, at Arnold Submission Gracie, he submitted
two opponents to take the belt. America probably will have another
chance to watch the wizard of the mat fighting again. He's under
negotiation with Grapplers Quest producers to be fighting at
the fifth edition, on March 27th.
Chute
Boxe looking at Pride GP
The Chute Boxe team is training hard looking for a possible participation
at Pride GP Heavyweight. One of the best MMA teams of the world,
they hope to be invited for the Japanese tournament and they
chose Murilo Ninja as their representative. According to master
Rudimar Fedrigo, all the Chute Boxers are focused on Ninja's
preparation and he guarantees that Ninja goes to
bring another belt for the team. This week they are preparing
a big training and as Rudimar likes to say: the things will get
hot!
Inside
BTT
The Brazilian Top Team fighters are training hard for their next
commitments. After his loss to Travis Wiuff at Heat Fighting
Championship 2 (december 2003/ in Natal-Brazil), Carlão
Barreto guarantees his returning at HFC 3 against the American
Mike Whitehead. During this training time, Barreto is also studying
Whitehead's skills, watching some tapes. Fabiano Capoane, Rogério
Minotouro, Paulo Filho and Cláudio Godói are preparing
themselves for a tournament in South Korea, next June 28th. Besides,
BTT is under negotiations to put a fighter at UFC. The team doesn't
talk about names, but we can guarantee that he'll fight in the
up-to-85kg category and is very experienced, with fights at the
best MMA shows around the world, including Japan and US. Mário
Sperry took some days off and went to United Arab Emirates and
ten days later he goes to Maldives Islands for surfing.
Meca
Vale-Tudo 11
The producers of Meca World Vale-Tudo are running against the
time to do the last adjustments of this eleventh edition. Considered
the most traditional MMA show in Brazil, this Meca 11 will happen
this semester, in Rio de Janeiro. According to one of Meca producers,
Rudimar Fedrigo, they are having problems with the TV channel
that owns the rights for exhibiting the show. While the date
isn't announced, some fights are cogitated, such as former Pancrase
fighter Evangelista Cyborg against the boxer Édson Drago,
Luta-Livre's Daniel Acácio facing Brazil Dojo's Carlos
Baruck and BTT's Roan Jucão fighting Chute Boxe's Luiz
Azeredo. Another name that can appear at this card is Jadyson
Costa, who faced Takanori Gome at last Pride Bushido 2.
It would be a great moment for Jadyson shows his skills to ask
for another chance on Pride's ring.
Fabio
Gurgel back on the mats
After four years without fighting on BJJ adult championships,
34-years-old-Fábio Gurgel is returning to fight on Brazilian
teams championship, next October. The possibility of fighting
side-by-side with the master is making his students crazy. According
to Fernando Soluço e Marcelo Garcia, it's a great honor
fighting in the same team of Fabio. Gurgel says it's a good way
of stimulate his students. Besides being one of the great names
of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Fabio fought Mark Kerr on Kerr's MMA
debut, on January 1st, 1997. Gurgel is a four-time world Jiu-Jitsu
Champion.
Source:
MMA Weekly |
Quote
of the Day
"The highest reward for a person's toil is not what they
get for it, but what they become by it."
John Ruskin, 1819-1900, British Critic, Social Theorist
|
Arnold
World Gracie Comment
Before people
starting flying off the hook with their comments about us, this
is from Scotty of Onthemat.com, (click on the link to see the
article on their site)
NOT FROM THE ONZUKA BROTHERS.
He has wrote the following article on the event. People have
been asking us to post the results or information, but we did
not hear anything and do not have any results. Please take these
comments with a grain of salt because this is from a guy that
is fairly independent as far as I know. He does say some good
things about the tournament including that it had a lot of competitors
and it sounds like the main conflicts regarded the changes in
the rules from standard tournaments. We always say if you do
not show up for the rules clinic or do not take the time to study
the rules of an event that you are going to enter, you should
not complain about the rules, especially if you could have possibly
had an opportunity to speak your mind regarding the rules. We
can say that it is very grueling and extremely tiring to run
a large tournament and we speak from experience. Read on.
We
have had enough.
I think I speak for everyone when I say that we are fed up with
it. Grappling is the love of our lives. We live it everyday.
We do it because we love it not because we can make money off
it. We are tired of the mistreatment and lack of respect that
we as students, fighters, and customers deserve.
There
is a lot of pressure on me to tell my side of what happened this
weekend. There was just too much going on to figure it all out.
Here is what I think.
This
was a huge event and a lot of work went in to getting it done.
A lot of people worked really hard: the volunteers, the referees,
the ring workers, and the promoters. It was an incredibly long
three days and for some longer where almost no one slept.
There
was a tension behind this event from the beginning, which built
up the entire weekend. Everyone there was over worked. The event
was huge there was a line of spectators out the doors, across
the room, down the stairs and filling up the lobby. There were
hundreds of people wanting to get in. The exposure for the sport
was phenomenal. I spoke to many people about our sport that were
not at the Arnold’s for Jiu Jitsu. A lot of Judo guys stopped
in. Sylvester Stallone &. Randy Couter made star-studded
appearances that energized the crowd.
Sunday,
sometime in the afternoon there was the turning point. The first
few people that really started get to upset was because they
had to leave before they got to fight. This was due to some rescheduling
of fights. People were angry and the staff was hearing a lot
of flack. Most of us were working 15 to 20 hour days for 2 days
straight with out any real good food. I was really feeling it.
There were so many small problems happening that in the end the
place blew up.
The
root of the problem I think is we do not have a large enough
pool of referees to support the growth of our sport. We need
more referrers and they need to be well-trained referees. I only
saw 2 of them at the rules meet and one giving the rules meeting.
I went to 2 rules meetings and in one I got to be the training
dummy. Garth gave the rules meetings and did an excellent job,
he answered every question and I felt I had a good understanding.
There were some very experienced referees there from Brazil.
Language barriers proved to be a big problem. I was on the mat
taking pictures and did a lot of translating for fighters, referees
and table workers. The rules were very different from the CBJJ
rules and the Abu Dhabi rules. Very few people took the time
to go to the rules meeting. Some of the rules left many people
at the rules meeting shocked. They were very different but there
were good explanations for the changes. Most people did not like
them. Unfortunately those that took the time to learn were penalized
for it. Early in the event when everyone was fresh excited the
referees were doing a good job. Then as the time drug out the
rules got murky. The tension was compounded by the fact no one
in the crowd and many coaches had no idea what the rules were
so they were getting fired up and angry not understanding calls.
The referees were taking a huge beating the crowd was very vocal
the whole weekend. Being on the mat was stressful. The tournament
rules were not well understood by anyone.
Unfortunately
the person who suffered most from a lack of understanding of
rules was the least deserving. Biz & Oxidal’s owner
took a giant step forward for our sport by being one of the first
ever-major corporate sponsor an American event has ever had.
The Biz & Oxidal challenges were the highlight of the event.
It was the peek excitement of the whole event on both Saturday
and Sunday. Saturday was a huge success everyone was raving about
it. The arena was so packed that I couldn’t get even get
in. But everyone was excited about it and Sunday was really hyped
up. On Sunday I made sure that I was mat side for the challenge
it started out awesome. Everyone was cheering, then at some point
something changed and it was no longer funny. An illegal hold
was placed on the participants face and he was hurt. There was
blood on the mat and his face was really beat up. What could
have been a fun display of the technical art, jiu jitsu being
done by the world’s best fighter instead became a brutal
beating of a fan. It was made clear in every rule meeting that
the move was illegal because it could hurt someone.
There
was so much going on and it was all bearing down on the event
promoters. A lot of time and patience was used in trying to problem
solve. Everyone was trying to keep the pace moving because there
were a lot of fights to get through and the event stared very
late. This I am sure due to the fact that we all went bed at
4 am on Friday night and no one wanted to get out of bed that
cold morning at 6:30. am. The event staff was awesome. They worked
unbeliever hours and really held together till the end. A lot
of people volunteered. Thank you all for trying your best and
keeping your cool. Things were out of the staff and volunteers’
control and with the pace of the event people were only told
what to do not the reasoning behind it. Many people were upset
with changes, delays and many other incidents. Often the staff
didn’t know why changes were made and could not get or were
not given any answers. This often left them with only one answer
to many questions, “because Cooper or Relson said so”.
The
event had a few other delays including the celebrity drop ins.
There were not too many to injuries. The rules were structured
to keep people from getting hurt. Most of the time all six mats
were running during the day as it got later the people working
all day got tired. The pace didn’t slow till after the Pro
Division finally blew up late at night.
The
amateur divisions were huge. Some guys had 8 fights. There was
a huge group of talented women fighting. There were too many
awesome competitors to even mention them all. The pro division
had some amazing fights. But, confusion and lack of consistency
created a lot of disagreements and match after match people were
getting angry. In many cases people who took the time to learn
the new rules were penalized because the standard jiu jitsu rules
were being implemented. This of course caused lead to clash after
clash till in the end it blew up. When the rule changing got
out of control.
All
though the promoters of this event had the best intentions and
worked extremely hard they failed in many of the same ways they
have in the years that passed. Many of the problems that occurred
at the event the prompters were warned about a head of time but
either ignorance or stubbornness stood in the way of trying to
solve them. Experienced promoters offered their help and solutions
but they were ignored.
The
event was still amazing in many ways. It was a huge exposure
for the sport. Most of what the new fans saw was great. There
were some very embarrassing parts that have blemished the sport.
But, I think it will do more good in the long run. It was a monumental
up taking and the promoters did not have the experience to properly
be prepared for it. And, ignored advance warnings from many.
There
are some apologies owed. Changes have to be made and the sport
needs to grow from this.
I’d
like to apologize to anyone there that I upset. It was four long
days and nights of working with not much food. By then end it
had become a three-ring circus, very tiring and it left me delirious.
Everyone there was feeling it. In the end a lot of people lost
their cool.
To
all the girls in the pro division you are owed a huge apology.
You were very disrespected. I believe you are owed another event
for free. The fact that you paid a lot of money to be treated
poorly and ridiculed makes me ashamed and embarrassed. Especially
the international competitors please come back and fight again.
This is not the norm.
To
the 16 year old girl who was not allow to fight due to her weight,
I am very sorry. Thank you for being more adult about it than
the adults. You are very good and the people that were so mean
to you were just jealous. People are like that. You deserve a
refund.
To
the guys who fought in the Biz and Oxydal challenge thanks for
a great show. To the guy that got hurt I am sorry about what
happened. I hope you heal soon. You are owed some apologies.
I know you had fun and you did great and are happy to have won
$1000.
To
the CEO of Biz and Oxydal we all thank you for your support and
we will show you that we are loyal. Please continue to support
us and we will support you. I think you have the grappling bug.
Right now we are experiencing growing pains, so come grow with
us.
To
all the sponsors thank you for backing the sport’s growth.
To
the entire staff thank you for working so well together. Please
help us out again as you are all very experienced in running
a major event now. There were many mistakes that can be fixed
your input and advice was very valuable to me.
To
the Combat Do team you were all wonderful. Thank you for working
the entire event in to the late night both nights. It could not
have been done with out you.
To
my friends that came, thank you all so much. You were all a big
help. Thanks for the support.
To
everyone who has been calling and emailing, Thanks for your support.
To
the fans and the fighters that came to the event thanks for coming.
Try to understand a lot of people worked as hard as they could
to make this the best event they could. It was really hard work
and long hours. They put tens of thousands of dollars in back
in to our sport. Some people acted very poorly under the stress
of the event. The lack of consistency & preparation proved
to be what cause the failures.
The
people who acted unsportsmanlike like need to make amends and
do something that gives back the fans and fighters. There were
some crazy & embarrassing actions that were shocking to us
all. We want a sport not a soap opera. Please do not do it again,
especially in front of thousands of fans.
The
promoters need to make some apologies and retribution to the
community I think as well.
Source: On the Mat |
Iceman
and Bad Boy Face-Off
On Carson Daly Tonight
By Loretta Hunt
Sometimes a fighter's nickname just doesn't quite add up, but
sitting backstage with UFC light-heavyweight contender Chuck
Liddell before his nationally televised interview on MTV posterboy
Carson Daly's late night talk show Last Call, which airs tonight,
it's clear to see why he's the Iceman. Sharply dressed in Armani
from head to toe, Liddell is the picture of serenity as he listens
to his Walkman pump out a mix of personal favorites from George
Thurgood-like to country.
Appearances
like this are becoming more commonplace for Liddell and other
UFC fighters, especially in the days leading up to a big UFC
event when the Zuffa team seems to be hustling for exposure.
As one of the quieter, more reserved characters out there, it's
no surprise when Liddell mumbles that is his least favorite part
of the business, but his demeanor hardly betrays him. He knows
his boisterous sidekick tonight, the brash former champion Tito
Ortiz, will try to egg him on into a verbal fray of some sort.
He says Ortiz is an emotional fighter, and unlike himself, needs
this to prepare his mind for the fight. But in the end, Liddell
says he's not buying what Ortiz is selling. With a confidence
that could only come from years of knowing a person (the two
were longtime friends), Liddell wholeheartedly believes Ortiz
will not stand with him in their anticipated face-off that has
been almost two years in the making, but if he does, one or two
swipes from the Iceman will quickly change that. Liddell slyly
comments that he's glad Ortiz is riled up. He knows he's gotten
under his opponent's skin.
Liddell
arrived in New York City the day before, and says he had gotten
little sleep with the time change. Working out at a local health
club, he now stands in the minutes leading up to the interview,
a ball full of energy as he shadowboxes through the air. Even
with Ortiz to contend with in a few minutes, the soft-spoken
Liddell says his greatest concern is speaking up so Daly and
the audience can hear him.
The
Daly show seems more equipped to deal with the whole UFC subject
judging from Ortiz's first visit to the set last September. Daly's
interest in the sport has grown considerably in the last six
months, and the host has now taken up kickboxing to go along
with his boxing training. The premise of the show seems to revolve
around the "ultimate fighting" theme. Liddell's fifteen
minute segment will be the last to film today, and the show has
gone to great technical lengths to have Ortiz waiting via satellite
for a split screen shot Daly will utilize to catch both fighter's
reactions to his questioning. Producer Jason, a close friend
of Daly's and a growing MMA fan (he says he spends most of his
time watching UFC tapes in his office), comes into Liddell's
dressing room to rattle off the questions for tonight. Spare
the first one that deals with the issued gloves used and the
fighter's safety in them, all of the questions revolve around
the two fighter's personal feud with one another. It seems Daly
and crew have gotten past the initial hesitation of considering
MMA a sport. They buy it and are ready to present it accordingly.
After
Daly's opening monologue, where he opens up by mentioning the
UFC and the sport, off-kilter actress and budding musician Juliette
Lewis is the first guest out on the stage. Daly immediately asks
for her take on the whole ultimate fighting thing, and she gushes
positively about the fighters and her deep respect for them.
Inside his dressing room, Liddell watches the screen intently
and smiles at Lewis' remarks. In three years, he says, the sport
has come a long way. But, before he has time to contemplate any
more, a stagehand is there to whisk him off for his time with
Daly. Watching the screens, a Liddell enters the stage with a
big smile on his face and gives Daly a hearty handshake. The
Iceman is ready to do his job tonight.
To
catch the verbal prelude to the Ortiz-Liddell April 2nd clash
at UFC 47, tune into Carson Daly's Last Call tonight on NBC.
Check local listings for air times.
Source: FCF |
2004
Pan-Ams - Good Guys wear Black!
The
list of Black Belts competing int he 2004 Pan-Ams continues to
grow, the latest additions are the fantastic Aaron Lapointe,
from Carlson Gracie Team Chicago, Jack McVicker, Kurt Osiander,
Joao Silva, Marco Nascimento, Roberto 'Maguila' Marques, Rodrigo
Teixeira & current European Absolute Champion Roger Brooking
!
Great
news from the Aloha State:
Word
from Luis 'Limao' Heredia is that a large contingent of Hawaiian
fighters is coming to challenge the best of the mainland for
top spots in the Pan. Speculation has it that the Hawaiians may
come in representing Team Hawaii instead of fighting as individual
academies! That would be a great step in perhaps adding Team
Hawaii in the National teams Challenge for next year. Although
Hawaii is part of the USA, the precendent has been set in World
Cup Surfing, will BJJ be next!
Source: ADCC |
Curran,
Hill shine in successful XFO debut
FONTANA,
Wis. -- A near sellout crowd packed into The Abbey Resort Saturday
and witnessed the successful debut of the X-treme Fighting Organization.
Jeff Curran, the local favorite, turned on the offense -- both
standing and on the ground -- en route to a submission victory
(triangle) in the third round over a tough Dan Swift in the main
event. Curran, ranked top 10 in the world at 145, got back on
the winning track after two decision losses to "Kid"
Yamamoto in Super Brawl and Matt Serra in the UFC.
"I wanted to put on a show," Curran said. "I knew
Dan was tough... and I hit him with some really good shots, but
he kept coming back for more."
Curran, a black belt in jiu-jitsu who scored a big KO of Baret Yoshida last year, did wobble
Swift standing on at least one occasion before going to the ground
and finishing with a triangle choke.
In the co-main event, the streak of Bill Hill continued as he
took control of UFC veteran Adrian Serrano early and pounded
out a first-round victory. Hill has won five straight bouts since
losing to Jeremy Horn in the Extreme Challenge.
In feature bout competition, Bart Palaszewski caught Tim Newland
with an arm-bar only seconds before the conclusion of round 1.
It was Palaszewski's seventh straight victory. Steve Dau took
advantage of a fatigued Jason Guida and scored a second-round
TKO victory in a rematch of a no-contest bout last year. And,
Demian Decorah overcame a slow start to claim a unanimous decision
over hard-punching Carvin Mafatau in a heavyweight bout.
Brandon Adamson was selected the fighter of the night after coming
back from a severe beating in the first round to arm-bar Ryan
Brockner in the third round.
The
results...
Gabe
Lemley def. Jason Bender, KO, 1:36 Rd. 1
Andy Kozak def. Greg Heisler, rear choke, 1:43 Rd. 2 (4:43)
Paul Sharp def. Kosta Korres, rear choke, 2:14 Rd. 1
Brandon Adamson def. Ryan Brockner, guillotine, 2:33 Rd. 3 (8:33)
John Bolger def. Fred Santos, TKO, 2:53 Rd. 1
Clay Guida def. Adam Bass, rear choke, 2:53 Rd. 1
Feature
bouts
Steve Dau def. Jason Guida, TKO, 1:52 Rd. 2 (6:52) Demian Decorah
def. Carvin Mafatau, unanimous dec. (15:00)
Bart Palaszewski def. Tim Newland, arm-bar, 4:47 Rd. 1
Main
events
Bill Hill def. Adrian Serrano, tap from strikes, 3:25 Rd. 1
Jeff Curran def. Dan Swift, triangle, :44 Rd. 3 (10:33)
Source: FCF
|
Gurgel
Returns to Active Competition
After
reading a report from Tatame.com website stating that multiple
times World Champion Fabio Gurgel is set to return to active
competition, a startled Kid contacted 'the General' to get the
word directly from his mouth; Gurgel stated: 'The kids are getting
me fired and I am getting pumped as well. Depending of what I
have going at the time I may show up and do it! Marcelinho and
'Soluco' have been pushing this a lot, so we will see!'
After
so many years on the mat with more than his share of victories
and titles, the prospect of the General returning will add a
lot to the National Team Titles, but we will have towait and
see.
Gurgel
is departing for a tour on Finland and Sweeden where he will
conduct classeas and seminars!
Source: ADCC |
Euphoria
MFC's Inaugural 'RUSSIA v USA' Event - Match by Match!
American
Team Comes Together and Unites, Routs RED DEVIL 8-1
Euphoria
MFC - 'Russia v USA'
March 13th, 2004 - Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, NJ
PRE-FIGHTS
and BUILD UP
Russia's
RED DEVIL Team squared off in a battle against a seemingly thrown
together team of American MMA artists that came together remarkably
well, got on a roll and never let down.
The
RED DEVIL Team arrived on Tuesday in Atlantic City, via bus after
landing at NYC's JFK. On Wednesday, they went to the NJ State
Boxing Commission Offices for liscensing, with most of their
medicals being completed in Russia gaining approval. Further
testing was completed on Thursday, and they were ready to go.
The event received enormous support from the large Russian community
in the NY/NJ area, so these days in the Taj Mahal must have made
the Red Devil team feel at home. Despite that, this was the first
big trip for many of the fighters, with star Andrey Semenov the
only fighter on RED DEVIL who wasn't debuting in the USA.
The
team of Americans trickled in on Wednesday, with late replacement
Travis Wiuff being the final arrival at 2 AM. Thursday was medical
day for the team, a grueling day that began with a bus ride at
5 AM. to a clinic for completion of the required tests. Then
it was on to Trenton for liscensing. It would not be until 5
PM that the bedraggled team got back to the hotel, only to be
called for a live remote on 102.7 radio at 7 PM.
For
a great gallery of pics by Keith Mills, check out http://malarky.udel.edu/~keith/2004/M1/mfc031304.htm
The
show would be attended by over 2400 paid customers, and viewed
by over 3000 at the Taj Mahal's ARENA on Saturday March 13th.
The audience was more likely to cheer 'Rusiya' than USA, to whistle
and chant than to clap as RED DEVIL would get more fan support
throughout the night of the fights.
WEIGH
INS LATE SCRATCHES - MONSON and D'ARCE OUT
ATT's
Jeff Monson was injured on the day before travel, popping a rib
in training. Joe D'Arce of Team Renzo Gracie actually endured
the licensing process on Thursday, then was cut in drills on
the evening, receiving 7 stitches. Visibly dissappointed, D'Arce
was in the emergency room at 11 PM getting his face stitched.
Pat O'Malley agreed to cut to 195 lbs as a late replacement,
and Denis Komkin accepted the 10 lb differential, but time had
run out for the medical clearances and the match was lost.
The
weigh ins introduced the 18 fighters, and for some, it was the
first time they were seeing their opponents. The fighters were
weighed and pictures and the traditional face to face and team
shots were taken. The mood was light, as the fighters laughed
and mugged for the cameras, the event growing nearer. Faricloth
would give up the most weight overall, but no one would miss
the weight designated for the match.
CHATT
LAVENDER v. SERGEI BAL
Bal was the youngest of the Russians, a late addition to the
fight card, when teammate Ibragim Magomedov had to be scratched.
Chatt Lavender was coming off a tough loss to Chris Lytle, looking
to bounce back.
Lavender
worked a methodical ground and pound, throwing a lot of leather.
Chatt started with a huge throw, and he worked several choke
attempts and locks as he stayed busy on the ground throughout
the 3 rounds.
Bal
was walking around afterwards icing his ear, but he can keep
his head up. Lavender had done his work, leading off the competition
with a win out of the shoot.
JUSTIN
EILERS v. MIKHAIL BOGDANOV
This was a complete slugfest. Eilers, who started in Divsion
1 football as a linebacker, was a blend of confidence, brashness,
athleticism and good old fashioned Iowa toughness. Bogdanov had
an easy confidence about him, his hands at his waist were ready
to throw bombs. In the early stages, Bogdanov landed shots, shaking
Eilers up. In the clinch, he was strong in the early going, as
he tossed Eilers out of the ring in the opening minutes.
Eilers
landed hard, and was checked by doctors. When he got back in
the ring, it was game time for Justin. He stood toe to toe with
Bogdanov from here on in - as Bogdanov would land his big punch,
Eilers was now in his face answering back with a shot to the
face. As the Russian backed off, Eilers threw the flying knee
and went on the offensive in the clinch. he tied Bogdanov up
- frustrated the big Russian threw 2 illegal kicks to the groin,
but Eilers responded with knees to the thighs over and over.
He got it to the ground late in the round, and at the bell, Bogdanov
was showing wear and tear as he limped back to his corner. He
would not answer the bell, to the chagrin of his coaches at RED
DEVIL.
As
Bogdanov limped back to the locker room, Eilers took the American
side to 2-0 and the American lockeroom was beginning to get pumped
up.
BRIAN
EBERSOLE v. ALEXEI VESELOVZOROV
To the unobservant eye, this might be considered a mismatch.
Ebersole is a rugged customer with 3 dozen fights, but Veselovzorov
looked bigger and fitter and he almost certainly underestimated
Ebersole. He also staggered Ebersole with hard blows in the first
round, but Brian kept good movement as he cleared his head. Veselovzorov
appeared mean as he stalked Ebersole, but he wasn't able to get
his punches off and he let Ebersole survive. It was Ebersole
who picked up the pace in the second and third round. On the
ground, he won the scrambles, and though he would require stitches
from a big cut on his eye, he was winning the war of attrition,
tagging Veselovzorov repeatedly and causing him to bleed from
the nose profusely. The match ended with Ebersole mounted and
punching, as the ref stepped in to stop him half way thru round
3. It was 3-0, anunexpected turn of events.
SERGEY
KAZNOVSKI v. RON FAIRCLOTH
Of all the American fighters, Ron Faircloth's game plan was the
simplest - he had to get Kaznovski down and take him out on the
ground. He wouldnt get achance, as Kaznovski chose the distance
between them and landed two huge punches that sent Faircloth
to his butt staggered. Before Kaznovski could get off any more
shots, the ref stepped in to stop it 15 seconds in. RED DEVIL
was on the board.
CHAEL
SONNEN v. ARMAN GAMBARYAN
Gambaryan was considered one of the A guys on this edition of
RED DEVIL, but he never got off against Team Quest's Chael Sonnen.
Sonnen wasn't afraid to box, but he got the takedowns whewnever
he wanted and his positioning on the ground was unbelievably
dominant. He spent most of round 1 in side control, tying up
the arms and doing damage to Arman's face. At the end of round
1, the expression on Gambaryan's face said it all - Sonnen was
shutting him down.
Though
Sonnen got hit a few times, he stood in Gambaryan's face and
pressured, and his wrstling was too much for Gambaryan, who is
normally known to have good takedown defense. Chael kept the
pace up, dominated position and threw the leather for three rounds,
and he didn't look tired or banged up in any way. It was Sonnen
who had the most dominant performance of the night, and it was
this match that prevented the RED DEVIL from getting on a rollafter
the Kaznovski win.
RICH
CLEMENTI SERGEY GOLYAEIV
To both the Russians and the Americans in the crowd, this was
the fight of the night. If the Sonnen match was a momentum killer
for RED DEVIL, this match took the steam out of their comeback
completely. Golyaeiv entered with a lot of energy, trying to
get back the momentum and getting the crowd worked up. He has
ring attitude and he is tall and has exceptional reach and stand
up. Clementi stood in and boxed for the majority of the 1st round,
but Golyaeiv proved to be able to land big shots throughout.
A few times Clementi would go to his back, but Golyaeiv would
back off and force the action to be standing again. Clementi
worked hard to ground Golyaiev in round 2, when the Russian opened
a cut on the back of Clementi's head with illegal knees on the
ground. Clementi, who fought with purpose throughout, returned
after a doctor check knowing this was close to a stoppage and
that he had to finish soon. He let Golyaeiv have it with some
punches, then transitioned for the armbar attempt before finishing
with the triangle. Clementi earned huge props for this match,
as this was clearly the fight of the night.
DERRICK
NOBLE v. MUSAIL ALLUDAINOV
This matchdeveloped into a stand up battle, with Musail throwing
low kicks effectively and Noble coming over the top with big
punches. In round 2, Noble took the back mount for several minutes,
and he went for chokes and used a lot of shots to the head to
soften up Musail. At one point he was warned for hitting the
back of the head as Musail held his gloves, but round 2 clearly
went to Noble. In round 3, Musail and Noble squared off and boxed
until the end, when the judges awarded Noble the decision in
a hard earned fight.
TREVOR
PRANGLEY v. ANDREI SEMENOV
This was the fight that most insiders were looking out for -
Prangley was ready for a next level fight, and the return of
Andrei Semeonov to the USA was considered a big deal. What resulted
was an all out slugfest, as both men left it in the ring. Prangley,
a quiet fighter of South African descent, proved unbelievably
tough, as he took everything the Russian had and delivered more.
Despite Semenov's skill at staying up, Prangley's wrestling was
too much, as he got Semenov down several times throughout the
matches. Trevor was warned in the first round for a low blow,
but it was incidental and Semenov appeared fine. Throughout the
fight, but especially in the later rounds, Prangley always answered
Semenov in the standup with big shots. He backed Semenov off
several times and swelled his face up. After 3 rounds, the judges
saw the match for Prangley on the cards, as the Americans moved
to 7-1.
TRAVIS
WIUFF v. ROMAN ZENTSOV
Zentsov would fight even harder than usual to save the last match,
and he rocked Wiuff several times with huge punches. Wiuff, who
took the fight on short notice, took the fight to the ground
when he needed to, after absorbing big shots. In round 2, Wiuff
again got tagged, but his G&P was more crisp - he separated
for his biggest flurry of the night and Zentsov got caught with
a big elbow shot that split him wide open, and the ref stepped
in shortly after that.
Source: ADCC |
Pancrase
Brave Tour 2004
Date: March 29th, 2004
Place: Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
Names
such as Yuki Kondo and Eiji Ishikawa are schedulled to be fighting
in the next Pancrase event. One of the highlights in this card
is the match involving Pancrase veteran Osami Shibuya and ADCC
veteran David Terrel.
Here
is the card:
CARD
SUBJECT TO CHANGE:
- Yuji Hisamatsu x Ichiro Kanai
- Mitsuyoshi Sato x Yukiya Naito
- Hidehiko Hasegawa x Seiki Ryo
- Yuichi Nakanishi x Hikaru Sato
- Eiji Ishikawa x Satoru Kitaoka
- David Terrell x Osami Shibuya
- Keigo Takamori x Jun Ishii
- Yuki Kondo x Steve Heath
Source: ADCC |
Quote
of the Day
"Become a possibilitarian. No matter how dark things seem
to be or actually are, raise your sights and see possibilities
always see them, for they're always there."
Dr. Norman Vincent Peale |
Fighters'
Club TV Tonight!
Fighters'
Club TV Episode 19 is cut and submitted to programming. It's
scheduled to run from this Tuesday (3/2/04) on Channel 52 at
6:00PM and will repeat for the following three Tuesdays (March
9, 16, and 23) and has a little something for everyone.
EPISODE 19 features:
-Highlights from Ray and Monica Cooper's "AFC 4", including
interviews with both winners and Ray "Braddah" Cooper
-Highlights from Master Mike Del Mar's "Solo Baton Escrima
Tournament"
-Highlights from the 6th "Sport's Jiujitsu Tournament"
+ interview with tournament coordinator, Tommy Lam
Technique of the Week:
-BJ Penn (a MUST SEE!)
Comments, Questions or Suggestions?
Please
contact us at: fightersclubtv808@hotmail.com
|
5th
Hawaiian Championships of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Honolulu, Hawaii
April 24, 2004
For more information, please call James Tanaka (808) 223-9363
or email him at jkt@lava.net
Source:
Event promoter |
Euphoria
MFC - 'Russia v USA' - A Quick Look Back!
Euphoria MFC - 'Russia v USA'
March 13th, 2004 - Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, NJ
Atlantic
City, NJ - The Red Devil Sports Team stepped up against up-and-comers
from some of the best fight teams in the US and came away a surprising
1-8 at last Saturday's inaugural Euphoria MFC event. Matchmaker
Miguel Iturrate was quoted as saying 'My goal in matchmaking
this event was to match even, and not care who wins. I did not
think we would see one team get on a run like this. When we got
to 9 matches, I thought we would have a 5-4 day'. Overall the
estimated 2500 fans sounded at times more like the crowd of a
European football match with roaring chants evenly divided for
the Russian and US teams. The crowd was so vocal at one point
some of the ringside press were only half joking about finding
a place to hide in case a riot started. No serious fan situations
actually broke out and for the most part it was a highly entertaining
and professionally run show.
The
positive reception is especially comforting considering New Jersey
has not been a hotbed for MMA since the sanctioning process was
born in that state back in 2001. Deputy Attorney General (and
spokesperson for the New Jersey Athletic Control Board) Nicholas
Lembo admits the cost of fighter physicals in that state has
been prohibitive but reveals by the end of this week they will
adopt changes in the procedures to help control the costs without
sacrificing fighter safety. Hopefully this move will increase
the competitiveness of New Jersey as a host considering MMA is
illegal in adjacent New York, the second largest consumer market
in the US. With California still floundering in their sanctioning
process, Texas going back on their decision to let the IFC run
a show with closed fists, and Chicago/Illinois being a complete
question mark at this point Florida is the largest consumer market
to sanction the sport. Right now it’s up to New Jersey and
Nevada as the leaders in keeping the sport growing if progress
is to be made in the mainstream and these changes Nicholas Lembo
conveyed are a leap in the right direction.
The
Russians seemed to have trouble with the solid wrestlers the
American Team was packed with. This may not be surprising considering
the European fight scene as a whole has been described by several
fighters as being much more stand-up oriented, with quickness
to stand stalled fighters and restarts in the standing position
instead of moving the ground position. On the ground the Russians
did show some submission attempts and good defense as the amount
of decisions shows but for the most part the fights went to the
ground with the US team in top position and stayed that way.
Team
Extreme were the biggest winners, with last minute replacement
and UFC vet Travis Wiuff defeating the Russian M-1 Heavyweight
champion Roman Zentsov in a style most fans who have seen Wiuff
in the Mid-West are familiar with… ground and pound TKO.
Zentsov received a HUGE cut, requiring 20 stitches. ZST vet Rich
Clementi came back from an hard fought first round, where he
ate shots on his feet and he survived several knees to the back
of his head in round 2 that caused a huge gash before taking
out European Muai Thai champion and NW Regional Mix-Fight champion
Sergei Goliaev. IFC champion Justin Eilers was shaken after being
thrown out of the ring but his flying knee to the face of Mikhail
Bogdanov and pounding in your face style took out the one guy
the Russian Team may have thought of as a secret weapon.
The
main disappointment of the evening was that the US fans couldn’t
get a better idea of how the sole Russian victor Sergei Kaznovski
ranks. Most experts describe his career to date as 'hoy and cold',
however the Russian Muai Thai heavyweight champion is at least
6'6 and he hits very hard. He does seem to be promoted less than
the other Red Devil heavyweights, as he continues to improve
his glaring lack of ground technique. Kaznovski’s opponent
for this fight, Ron Faircloth, normally a 205 lber had a good
point when he commented after seeing the tape of Kaznovski's
Tabera fight that once Tabeira got within the lethal range of
Kaznovski he seemed to take him down with ease which was what
Faircloth said he intended to repeat. Kaznovski had a more dominating
fight in M-1 in St. Petersburg last December, which ended in
TKO. Kaznovski had such a reach and weight advantage that Faircloth
just couldn’t get started. Kaznovski’s single right
knocked down Faircloth and the ref wisely stepped in.
For
a gallery of shots from this night check out http://malarky.udel.edu/~keith/2004/M1/mfc031304.htm.
Source:
ADCC |
Team
USA goes 8-1 in Atlantic City
RUSSIA VS. USA event
ATLANTIC CITY -- From the moment you walked into the Taj Mahal
Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City this past Saturday, it was
apparent that a Russian invasion had begun and these invaders
were eager to see their countrymen perform. Despite the fact
that Euphoria Entertainment's Russia vs. USA Mixed Fighting Championship
was taking place on American soil, the Russian fans were a solid
majority in the crowd and made no bones about their discontent
as they watched their beloved Red Devil Fighting Team fall one
by one.
The
evening began with a highly technical match in the 170 lb. weight
class between Chatt Lavender of Blaylock Systems in Chattanooga,
Tennessee and Sergei Bal who served as a last minute replacement
for teammate Ibragim Magomedov. Lavender began the match aggressively,
dropping his opponent with a thunderous slam and passing to side
control and eventually mount where he began raining down punches
and forearms on his opponent.
While
few might have realized it at the time, Bal's performance on
the ground against Lavender would be a good prototype for the
rest of the evening as none of the Red Devil fighters seemed
to have much ability in the way of ground escapes or reversals.
Lavender spent the rest of the match taking down his opponent
and alternating between strong top positions, periodically attempting
submissions and strikes while Bal was unable to do anything to
escape. Lavender looked technically impressive and took the easy
unanimous decision after three rounds.
"Everybody
was wanting me to go out and represent and set the tempo and
show what USA fighters are all about," said Lavender after
the fight. "I liked that and I was glad to do it."
The
second match of the evening featured up and coming Miletich Fighting
Systems Heavyweight Justin Eilers against Red Devil Team member
Mikhail Bogdanov. Eilers has been on a roll of late, defeating
his last four opponents by TKO and having only two losses on
his record, one to UFC icon Dan "The Beast" Severn
and the other to UFC heavyweight contender Wes "Cabbage"
Correia.
Bogdanov
entered the arena to a huge chorus of cheers and applause from
the Russian contingent and his performance did not disappoint.
Bogdanov's stocky frame and stoic demeanor was reminiscent of
a slightly smaller Igor Vovchancyn and, as Eilers quickly discovered,
so was his punching power. Swinging all the way from the hip,
Bogdanov hurled some hard looping lefts and rights that drove
Eilers back. Eilers recovered and charged Bogdanov who quickly
sidestepped and tossed Eilers right through the ropes, sending
him crashing on top of judge Kipp Kollar and several event staff.
The doctors quickly checked Eilers as the Russian fans began
to cheer loudly for Bogdanov. Eilers was able to continue and
referee Dan Miragliotta resumed the contest.
With
a new sense of urgency, Eilers picked up the pace, eventually
driving Bogdanov into the corner where he launched a series of
knees into Bogdanov's thighs and body from the clinch. In the
last minute of round 1, Eilers took down Bogdanov and worked
on top in the half guard for the remainder of the round. As the
bell sounded, it was clear that something was wrong with Bogdanov.
He was very slow in getting up and when he got back to his corner,
there was a great deal of concern from the Red Devil Team. After
a brief conversation with the doctors, ring announcer Bruce Buffer
declared Eilers the victor due to Bogdanov being unable to continue
as chants of USA began to resound from the stands.
The
Team USA streak would continue in the third match of the evening,
this time at 205 lbs. as the American Kickboxing Academy's Brian
Ebersole defeated Alexei Veselovzorov by referee stoppage. The
action was more or less back and forth for most of the fight
with Veselovzorov dominating much of the action standing and
Ebersole controlling on the ground. In the third round, Ebersole
would gain the mount and rain down a series of unanswered punches
until referee Kipp Kollar called a halt to the contest at 2:26.
Team
Russia would earn its first and only victory of the evening 15
seconds into the first round of the match-up between heavyweights
Ron Faircloth of David Strasser's Freestyle Academy and Red Devil's
Sergei Kaznovski. Kaznovski cut off the ring quickly and launched
a quick one-two combination that knocked Ron Faircloth unconscious.
The Russian fans, seething up to this point at their athletes'
performances, exploded in jubilation.
The
fifth match of the evening featured seasoned Team Quest fighter
Chael Sonnen going up against Arman Gambaryan in the 205 lb.
weight class. With Dan Henderson shouting instructions from his
corner, Sonnen fought a typically Team Quest fight of takedown,
put the opponent in positions he has absolutely no way out of
and pound in all the right places. Sonnen spent most of his time
in side control battering Gambaryan with knees, forearms and
punches on his way to a unanimous judge's decision.
In
what was undeniably the best match of the evening, Rich "No
Love" Clementi of Team Extreme took on Sergei Goliaev in
the 155 lb. weight class. Clementi, a veteran of the UFC and
a finalist in the recent ZST Grand Prix Tournament in Japan,
was coming off a decision loss a week prior to Marcus Gardner
and was a last-minute replacement for the injured Jason Maxwell.
Clementi would later say that he felt he had something to prove
coming off a loss, not to mention wanting to give the East Coast
fans a good show.
The
fight started out with Clementi trying perhaps a little too hard
as Goliaev seemed to pick his shots and take advantage of Clementi's
over-reaching punches and kicks. At one point in the first round,
Clementi attempted a high roundhouse kick that missed and sent
him slipping to the canvas. Goliaev wanted the fight on the feet,
however, and let Clementi up. Clementi slipped again after a
sloppy one-two combination that cut through the air, but again
the Russian fighter backed off and waited for Clementi to stand.
A few seconds later Goliaev landed a straight right that knocked
down Clementi followed by a right uppercut that would send Clementi
back to the canvas after he'd just begun to rise yet again. Goliev
would knock down Clementi a third time, leading Clementi to opt
for the clinch. Clementi slammed the Russian fighter to the canvas
just before the bell sounded and took a deep breath on the way
back to his corner.
In
the second round, Goliaev attempted to keep Clementi at bay with
his reach advantage, but Clementi shot in off a looping right
hook and crunched Goliaev down to the canvas. From the top, Clementi
would work his way to side control where he began to rain forearms
down on Goliaev's face. Once again, the Russian ineptitude from
the back seemed to play a role as Goliaev was making no real
attempts at escaping the bottom position. Controversy ensued
as Goliaev started launching knees to the back of Clementi's
head, which is illegal under New Jersey State Athletic Commission
rules. Referee Dan Miragliotta issued a warning to the Russian
fighter, but the language barrier seemed to become a factor as
Goliaev continued launching knees amid protests from Clementi.
After the fourth knee a huge gash opened up on the back of Clementi's
head, prompting the referee to call time to inspect the wound
and warn Goliaev's corner about the infraction. The doctors allowed
the fight to continue and the referee resumed the action in the
center of the ring with Clementi on top in Goliaev's half-guard.
Almost immediately after fight resumed, Goliaev started kneeing
Clementi's head again as if he'd never been warned, but Clementi
didn't give the referee a chance to respond as he sat up, rained
down a hail of punches on Goliaev and took the mount. From the
mount, Clementi went for an armbar then transitioned into a tight
triangle that forced Goliaev to tap out at 3:43 of the second
round. The entire crowd stood to applaud the efforts and talent
of both fighters, irrespective of national origin.
"I
didn't really know anything about my opponent," said Clementi
after the fight. "[He] had really good stand-up, probably
one of the better guys I've fought with [his] stand-up. It was
a tough fight, but I switched it up and that's what this sport
is about." Clementi was quick to dismiss Goliaev's illegal
strikes as the result of nerves and wished him no ill will despite
the highly visible gauze pad jutting out of the back of his hat.
Coming
off the adrenaline rush of Clementi vs. Goliaev, the methodical
match between the Silverbacks Derrick Noble and Red Devil's Musail
Allaudinov was kind of a buzz-kill. Both fighters took turns
circling and trading strikes. Allaudinov's kicks certainly took
their toll on Noble, whose right knee sported huge welts on both
the inside and outside after the first round. Noble briefly took
Allaudinov's back during round two after the Russian fighter
slipped, but was unable to capitalize on the position. Apparently,
the judges thought Noble had done enough to win and awarded him
the victory by unanimous decision after three rounds.
UFC
veteran Andrei Semenov collided with American Kickboxing Academy
middleweight Trevor Prangley in the co-main event. Both fighters
started cautiously, searching for their opening. Halfway through
the first round, Prangley shot in for a deep single leg, but
Semenov fought him off from one leg and was able to disengage.
A minute later, Prangley shot again and brought Semenov down
and worked from within Semenov's guard until the end of the round.
In round two, Prangley opened up with a barrage of strikes then
shot in under a kick from Semenov for a beautiful double leg
takedown. Prangley pounded the ribs and face of Semenov from
the top of the guard as UFC heavyweight contender Andrei Arlovski
screamed instructions to Semenov from the corner. The fight would
stay there for the remainder of the round. Round three was basically
a repeat of round two with Semenov briefly reversing Prangley,
but unable to really mount an offense. Prangley regained the
top position and after a brief flurry on the feet in the final
seconds of the match, cruised to a unanimous judge's decision.
With
American Top Team fighter Jeff Monson out due to injury, heavyweight
Mix Fighting World Champion Roman Zenstov was left to face the
very experienced Travis "Diesel" Wiuff. Wiuff, a student
of former UFC middleweight champion Dave Menne, came out aggressive.
He quickly clinched with Zenstov and suplayed him to the mat.
A moment later Wiuff was in Zenstov's guard pounding away at
the ribs of the Russian fighter. There was little action for
the remainder of the first round.
As
the second round opened, Zenstov caught Wiuff with a hard left
hook that stunned the American fighter, however, Wiuff managed
to regain enough composure to bodylock Zenstov and crunch him
down to the mat. A forearm from Wiuff opened a huge cut over
the eye of Zenstov, prompting a referee stoppage at 2:49 of the
second round. Wiuff got the victory amid boos from the Russian
audience.
In
all, Euphoria Entertainment put on a solid first show, replete
with the kind of matchmaking parity that lead to fights that
are both interesting and exciting. This is a welcome relief in
a sport where you're often either seeing Wanderlei Silva kick
the head off of an unskilled professional wrestler or two grapplers
spending three rounds slap-boxing until they can pass the guard.
Usual
UFC ring announcer Bruce Buffer, who announced the event, was
quick to praise the promoters and fighters for their efforts.
"I
very carefully pick the events that I announce," said Buffer.
"I knew when I saw the lineup for this event…knowing
the Russian fighters, [I felt] they would be a very tough fight
for the American fighters [and] I was very anxious to see it.
I think smaller events like this, as you can see from what's
happened tonight, are really exciting. We've had some really
good and a couple of great fights that were very memorable. To
me, events like this spread the word about mixed martial arts
and help the sport grow. I think they're extremely important."
Matchmaker
Miguel Iturate was pleased with the show despite some protests
from the Russian fans and fighters due to the fact that Team
Russia only scored one victory.
"I
certainly didn't expect the American team to go 8-1," said
Iturate. "I didn't think anybody would go 8-1. I think on
the Russian sided they experienced different rules, different
conditions and things like that. It was their first real big
trip except for Semenov, so a lot of things added up and it went
that way. I'm going to have to [deal with] a couple of matches
[being] protested because there were questions on some things
[the Red Devil Team] wanted to be clear on. Overall, I think
it was a good event. For a first show it was fantastic, but it
will continue to improve as well. It'll get better and better."
"I
thought it was a little lopsided," said referee Dan Miragliotta.
"I don't think some of the guys were prepared enough to
fight no holds barred. If it was kickboxing all the way, [the
Russians] probably would've beaten a lot of the guys from the
USA, but once it went to the ground they were just dominated.
There was no comparison. Maybe they'll come back next time knowing
that they have to learn the ground and not just rely on standing
up."
Miragliotta
dismissed the protests against the judges and officials from
the Russians as unfounded.
"Things
always work that way," said Miragliotta. "I mean, this
was worse because it was a country against a country more or
less. If your team loses every fight except for one, you're going
to be upset. If there was even a close match at all, you're going
to think your guy won because you've lost all your other fights
and if you don't win, you think there's a cheat I guess. None
of these guys are here to cheat. We get paid the same amount
of money whether you win or the other guy wins. It doesn't matter
to us who wins just as long as the fighters are safe."
Regardless
of the protests, no one could accuse the fighters of not putting
on a great show. Matchmaker Miguel Iturate claims the Mixed Fighting
Championship is slated for a November return. Perhaps with a
little more ground training and the fires of revenge burning
in their belly, we may see a renewed Team Russia return with
very different results.
Source:
Maxfighting |
LIDDELL
ON NBC LATE NIGHT
The
media blitz is on for the main event between Tito Ortiz and Chuck
Liddell. Liddell will be appearing on NBC television late tomorrow
night as he will be on the "Last Call with Carson Daly"
show.
Also
DirecTV is producing a 45-minute program detailing Tito Ortiz'
and Chuck Liddell’s careers, and their respective paths
toward meeting in the Octagon- titled “Bad Boy and Iceman:
A Closer Look.”
It
premieres March 19 at 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The show
is available to DirecTV customers for $3.99, and will also be
shown March 21-24, March 26, and March 28-30.
DirecTV
sent film crews to California, Ohio and Kentucky to interview
Tito's and Chuck's "biggest fans" to be featured in
the documentary. Each fan submitted an essay and two were chosen.
The production will be on DirecTV's "All Day" pass
on the days it airs.
Source:
MMA Weekly |
MATT
LINDLAND: "I JUST WANT A FIGHT"
It's hard for Matt Lindland to understand. Be rated as the top
fighter at 185 in the Fighters and Broadcasters poll, win your
last match in impressive fashion over Niko Vitale and not get
a fight?
"I
don't get it. I never have. Phil Baroni and Lee Murray will get
two or three consecutive fights before I get in there....whatever."
In Lindland's ten wins, only three have gone to a decision; but
whatever the reason, Lindland is not scheduled to be in the next
two UFC's.
Lindland
told MMAWeekly this weekend, "I have plenty of things to
get off my chest, so I will do it on the radio." So with
that said Matt Lindland will be today's featured guest on MMAWeekly
Radio.
The
show airs Monday through Friday at 9am Pacific/ 12 Noon Eastern
which is FREE. If you live outside the United States, here are
the current times around the world.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
SPRATT
WINS FIGHT IN STRIKEFORCE
K-1
USA promoter Scott Coker produced another edition of the popular
STRIKEFORCE event in his hometown of San Jose, CA. Matchmaker
Javier Mendez had his hands full as he created a solid lineup
of 14 bouts.
In
the co-main event, UFC Veteran Pete "SECRET WEAPON"
Spratt won a unanimous decision against the rugged Muay Thai
fighter, Bebe Etzler. Originally, Spratt was to face San Shou
Champion, Rudi Ott, but Ott had to withdraw as he broke his arm
in training. Bebe Etzler replaced Ott, and the rules were now
switched from San Shou to Muay Thai.
Etzler,
an ISKA United States Champion, came in to the ring with an undefeated
record of 8-0. Etzler fought a good fight but was just in over
his head. Spratt was shaking off some ring rust as he hasn't
fought a Muay Thai rules fight in over 3 years.
Spratt
will continue to fight in Muay Thai as he is scheduled to compete
in the next Colorado based event RING OF FIRE in May. Spratt's
management is also negotiating fights for him in Thailand, and
with the European promotion SUPERLEAGUE.
Here
are the results of the main card:
Friday,
March 12th, 2004
San Jose, CA
STRIKEFORCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
San Jose Civic Center Arena
Ronnie
Wells def Hector Gutierrez UD after 4 rounds
Jenna Castillo def Frances Pettit UD after 3 rounds
Gary Owens def Charles Hawkins TKO round 2
Michael Mananquil def Armando Ramos TKO round 4
James Fanshier def Chris Overbey UD after 4 rounds
Pete Spratt def Bebe Etzler UD after 4 rounds
Brian Schwartz def Shannon Ritch TKO round 1
Source: MMA Weekly |
Quote
of the Day
"The most important single ingredient in the formula of
success is knowing how to get along with people."
Theodore Roosevelt, 1858-1919, Twenty-sixth President of the
USA |
Brandon
Low Takes 2nd Place at the Brute Nationals!
Brute Adidas Nationals
The Devaney Sports Center - University of Nebraska
March 13-14, 2004
The
Brute adidas Nationals is the event where Freshman, Sophomores,
and Juniors can compete against their own high school grade level
to stake their claim as the best in the country in folkstyle
wrestling.
One
Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior from each weight class will be
named as National Champions
The
top 8 Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors from each weight class
will receive All-American Status
Each
finalist will receive a FREE custom designed Brute singlet to
wear for the finals. Each finalist’s coach will receive
a FREE adidas coaching shirt to wear for the finals.
An
"Outstanding Wrestler" award, and "Most Falls
in the Least Amount of Time" award will be presented to
each class (Freshman, Sophomores, and Juniors)
Top
three placings will receive awards
ALL 42 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS WILL RECEIVE AN ADIDAS WATCH!
The format will be a double elimination tournament.
St. Louis
School's Brandon Low, who won his second state wrestling title
last week competed and took second place in this prestigious
tournament. The wrestler that beat him was the ssme won that
he lost to at the Fargo 2003 Junior Nationals. Brandon is on
his way to follow teammate Jonathan Spiker as the third only
four-time state wrestling champion. Congratulations to Brandon
on an excellent performance and showing everyone on the mainland
that Hawaii produces top quality wrestlers as Travis Lee (another
St. Louis graduate and wrestler) is showing the NCAA's.
|
And
the list goes on 2004 Pan-Ams
2004
Pan-Ams keeps getting better and better. It is not enought that
the list of top Black Belts gets bigger each day but the list
of great Purples and Browns is growing as well! Word is that
the announcement of a possible rematch of wonder fighters Mike
Fowler & Ralek Gracie has sparked the interest of many top
purples and the absolute division is going to be super contested.
Perenial Brown Belt contender Rafael Lovato Jr. will have his
hands full with the likes of Brad Thompson and others! The Japanese
contingency will once again be strong leb by Black Belt Mitsuyoshi
Hayakawa and NHB fighter Hiroyuki Abe!
The
news in San Diego revolved around the arrival of World Featherweight
Champion Mario Reis. Mario with his phenomenal triangles and
guard game will be prepairing for the Pan-Ams at Rodrigo Medeiros
BJJ Revolution Academy. Reis will probably end up facing Leo
Vieira (if he fights in the featherweight division), who recently
announced he is coming to the event as well.
Another
very notable featherweight who is training extremely hard for
the event is current World Cup Champion Fredson Alves. Fredson,
also known as 'the man of 1000 sweeps', will make the Featherweight
a must watch division!
Of
course one cannot forget all the top Blacks already coming like
Fernando 'Terere', Rodrigo 'Comprido', Eduardo Telles, Ronaldo
'Jacare' , Damien Maia, Bibiano Fernandes , Fabio Leopoldo, Cassio
Werneck, Paulo Guilobel & Jeff Curran, Wander Braga, Rodrigo
Medeiros, Sergio 'Malibu', Luis 'Limao' Heredia, Luis Palhares,
'Megaton', Sandro 'Batata', Todd Margolis, Amal Easton, Jared
Weiner & Mauricio Zingano.
2004
Pans is going to be the BOMB! For more info and to register go
to PanAm2004.
Source: ADCC |
From
Russia, With (No) Love
American Team Goes 8 For 1 Tonight In Mixed Fighting Championships
By Loretta Hunt
Atlantic
City, New Jersey -- Mixed Fighting Championships did something
rather extraordinary tonight. For a first installment, the MFC
managed to pull off an event that would rival numerous long-running
mid-level shows across the country.
To
a crowd of approximately 2,500 mainly Russian supporters, the
Americans went on to grasp eight of the nine victories -- spare
a nasty 15-second knockout of Ron Faircloth at the hands of Sergey
Kaznovski. The theme for the night quickly formulated into the
Americans taking each of their foes to the mat with little ground
defense or offense offered back by their Russian adversaries.
It was obvious that the Russians came to stand, and many Americans
answered the call, but to not assume the fight would hit the
canvas eventually proved too detrimental to the opposing team.
Highlights
for the event were many, including a Tank Abbott of old-inspired
attack by Red Devil brawler Mikhail Bogdanov, who hunted down
the knockout from the get go with some noticeably heavy hands.
Miletich fighter Justin Eilers kept his cool though, even when
Bogdanov managed to hurl Eilers through the ropes and into the
crowd during a scramble. Taking a moment, Eilers eventually made
his way back into the ring, giving and receiving a few healthy
strikes till round's end. Exhaustion and an injured right knee
kept the Russian from continuing on.
Alexei
Veselovzorov displayed a crisp right high kick and sold punching
that jarred AKA rep Brian Ebersole for the first round of their
meeting tonight, but the Russian seemed to gas in the later rounds
once Ebersole was able to get him to the ground. Ebersole got
full mount in the third, and teed off on the bloody Russian till
the action was halted.
Illinois
Silverbacks representative Derrick Noble displayed a tight stand-up
game versus equally qualified opponent Musail Allaudinov. Noble
worked both punches and kicks to jolt the Russian a few times,
and amply dominated the action in the second round when the men
went to the ground.
Almost
stealing the show, the rumble between lightweights Rich Clementi
and Sergey Goliaev proved an incredibly intense showdown that
had the crowd roaring.
Clementi was on fire tonight, standing toe-to-toe with the Russian,
whose stand-up prowess would rival any competitors in the UFC
today. Goliaev's incredible reach and punching power eventually
proved too much for the American though, so the Team Extreme
rep took the fight downstairs. Stuck underneath Clementi's side
control, the extremely flexible Goliaev managed to knee his opponent
in the back of the head, and was immediately reprimanded for
the illegal move. Bleeding profusely from the back of his head,
the bout could have been stopped, but an enraged Clementi continued
on, beckoning his opponent back to the center of the ring to
finish the job. Started back in their downed position, Clementi
unleashed on the Russian before maneuvering to the armbar and
then the finishing triangle choke.
Andrei
Semenov made his return to America tonight in grand fashion.
His battle with Trevor Prangley was an out and out slugfest,
with both men landing flush shots to their opponent's chins.
Semenov remained the most adapted Russian when the action did
eventually hit the ground, but missed opportunities for submission
attempts when he chose to "tough it out." Prangley
was deservedly given the unanimous win after a hard earned three
round war.
In the main event, two-day replacement Travis Wiuff chose a safe
but effective line of attack against M-1 heavyweight champion
Roman Zentsov by taking the boxer down quickly and working his
ground and pound tactics. Zentsov spent the majority of the first
and second rounds on his back, where Wiuff was eventually able
to open two deep gashes on the Russian's forehead for the referee
stoppage.
Mixed
Fighting Championship: Russia vs. USA
170
LBS: Chatt Lavender def. Sergei Bal - Unanimous Decision (30-26,
30-25, 30-24)
Heavyweights:
Justin Eilers def. Mikhail Bogdanov - TKO Referee Stoppage (Fighter
could not answer 2nd round bell)
205
LBS: Brian Ebersole def. Alexei Veselovzorov - 2:26 Rd 3 TKO
referee stoppage due to strikes
Heavyweights:
Sergey Kaznovski def. Ron Faircloth - KO 0:15 R1
205 LBS: Chael Sonnen def. Arman Gambaryan - Unanimous Decision
(29-25, 29-25, 29-24)
155
LBS: Rich Clementi def. Sergey Goliaev - Tap out to triangle
choke 3:43 R2
170
LBS: Derrick Noble def. Musail Allaudinov - Unanimous Decision
(29-28, 29-27, 29-28)
185
LBS: Trevor Prangley def. Andrei Semenov - Unanimous Decision
Heavyweights:
Travis Wiuff def. Roman Zentsov - TKO Referee Stoppage due to
cut R2
Source: FCF |
Profile:
Dan “The Pennsylvania Hitman” Swift Part 2
Fighting
out of Team DNA Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA in Erie, Pennsylvania,
Dan “The Pennsylvania Hitman” Swift has been fighting
the Midwest circuit for some time and has put together five wins
in his last six bouts. Swift is the Extreme Combat 150-pound
and Under champion and the former FightZone Super Flyweight champion.
An exciting fighter to watch, the 29-year-old has doubled ticket
sales fighting in his last few events. The BJJ blue belt has
tagged Jeff “Sapao” Curran as his ultimate opponent
and feels he can beat the fighter he respects and has followed
on Saturday, March 13 in the inaugural Xtreme Fighting Organization
event at The Abbey Resort in Wisconsin.
JC:
As we’ve already discussed, your next opponent is Jeff “Sapao”
Curran, a UFC veteran, BJJ black belt, good striker, good grappler.
What do you think about Jeff?
DS: I have a lot of respect for Jeff. I have followed his career.
I’ve always looked up to him. I like the little guys and
he has a good fight style. I’m looking forward to meeting
him as much as I am fighting him.
JC:
Would you please put this fight into perspective?
DS: I know everyone thinks I’m going to get creamed. That’s
no secret. Everyone thinks I’m the big underdog and wonders
how I even got the fight, but to me I can achieve it. I can beat
him. He has me by about 10 pounds, but I have a couple of inches
on him. I think I have a little more experience and the advantage
in the stand up department. I think he wants to prove something
because I read something where he said I can’t knock him
out, but I am going to try. I think he is going to come wanting
to fight a stand up game and I’m hoping he does that, so
I can catch him standing up with a good punch, maybe take him
out that way. I think as long as I don’t shoot in I can
win the fight... as long as I don’t end up in his guard.
My guard is very good. I do believe I can submit him if he ends
up in my guard. I think once I start tagging him a little bit
he is going to resort to Jiu-Jitsu and take me down.
JC:
Do you train for an opponent or the fight?
DS: I definitely have picked it up this year. I’ve done
things a little differently in my fight career then maybe others
have done. The fight with Jeremy Bolt taught me that I really
got in shape for that fight. I was running 5 miles a day. I was
in the gym 2 hours a day. I was training my butt off to fight.
Bolt was a replacement for a Muay Thai fighter making his MMA
debut (like me). Bolt took the fight on a weeks notice. He was
out of shape, but he taught me that technique on the ground can
beat conditioning. You can be in the best shape in the world
and someone else can be in the worst shape in the world, but
if you don’t have the skills on the ground and it goes there,
you will be tapped out.
JC:
So, as they say... it’s all in the hips?
DS: Yeah, it’s like that. Unlike wrestling and boxing, where
conditioning is where it’s at. In wrestling, I was loosing
every time going into the 3rd period, but I’d win the match.
Boxing, I was loosing first round and a half, but I’d come
back and win the last half of the match because I was in good
shape. I quit my conditioning and put my time into technique.
I drilled and grappled. I think I put it all together at the
end of last year to the beginning of this year. I’m confident
enough on the ground to hang with guys like that now and I’m
back to working my conditioning, which is back up to where it
was before.
JC:
Any words for Jeff?
DS: Just don’t underestimate me. I think he is a smart fighter
and I don’t think he will. I’m a southpaw. I may come
at him from a different angle.
JC:
What is one fighting statistic that may not be known about you?
DS: I have never been finished with someone mounted on me --
you have to learn to escape.
JC:
What do you do for work outside of MMA?
DS: I’m an Assistant Manager at Champs Sports.
JC:
Is there anything you’d like to say?
DS: Keep an eye out for me. This is going to be my year. Many
people don’t think I’m good, so hey, come fight me.
Matt Horning is going down April 3. I’m going to knock his
teeth out. He talks a lot of crap. I’m going to take care
of him. People hate me because I fight a lot. I’ll fight
anybody. Put a guy across from me and I’ll fight him. I’m
like a pit bull. Throw a dog in there and I’ll attack him.
No matter how big I get, I’ll still fight in the little
shows because I like to fight.
Source: ADCC |
TYSON
SAYS NO TO BOXING, YES TO K-1?
Mike Tyson has been in the news this week, telling those close
to him that he may retire from boxing. Ever since signing a contract
with K-1, the combat sports world has been waiting for Mike Tyson
to make his debut in the number one fighting event in Japan.
According to reports from MMAWeekly sources, the wait may be
extended a bit longer, but come to an end this Fall.
Our
sources say that K-1 is working very diligently to sign a Mike
Tyson versus Bob Sapp main event for the October K-1 show in
Las Vegas. This is far from a done deal, because he may retire
from the fight game entirely, but if he does fight he will be
the marquee matchup that K-1 had in mind when they signed him.
Tyson
would give K-1 the power punch they need to break into the mainstream
in the United States. Up until now, K-1 in the United States
has been relegated to running their shows at the Bellagio Hotel
& Casino, a nice venue to be sure, but nowhere near the capacity
that the event plays to in Japan. A Tyson versus Sapp matchup
would allow them to move into a legitimate sports arena and easily
sell out 10,000-15,000 seats.
The
Tyson/Sapp matchup has been building ever since Sapp called out
Tyson after defeating Kimo Leopoldo his last time out in Las
Vegas. Tyson was in attendance at the request of K-1 promoters
after signing a promotional contract with them.
The
undercard of the show in October could also see a big change.
Though it will certainly be overshadowed by the potential of
the Tyson versus Sapp bout, it is believed that K-1 is entertaining
the possibility of featuring a K-1 Max elimination tournament
on the show instead of the usual heavyweight tournament. This
would mark a big change in the direction of the show as the Max
fighters are much lighter and much more technical than the heavyweight
power punchers. K-1 Max fighters feature the likes of Masato,
Albert Kraus and Duane "Bang" Ludwig.
Source: MMA Weekly |
GRAND
PRIX TICKET SALES AND DATES
“TOTAL
ELIMINATION 2004” is part 1 of a 3 part tournament consisting
of 16 heavyweights.
PART
1 TOTAL ELIMINATION 2004 April 25th, 2004 (opening round)
PART
2 CRITICAL COUNTDOWN 2004 June 20th, 2004 (second round)
PART
3 FINAL CONFLICT 2004 August 15th, 2004 (semi-finals and finals)
Tickets
for TOTAL ELIMINATION 2004, to be held at the Saitama Super Arena,
go on sale 3/14/04
Ticket
Prices:
VIP:
100,000 JPY ($US 900)
RRS: 30,000 JPY ($US 270)
Stand S: 17,000 JPY ($US 150)
Stand A: 7,000 JPY ($US 64)
For
event ticket inquiries or to make travel arrangements, contact:
IACE
Travel in Los Angeles
310-445-1401 or 888-393-4223
wla@iace-usa.com
Source:
MMA Weekly |
K-1
BEAST 2004 in Niigata Line-up
March 14th, 2004
Toki Messe, Niigata Japan
Opening
Fight:
K-1 MMA rules (5minutes x 3rounds)
Ivan Salaverry [USA] x Haliun Boldbaatar [Mongolia]
K-1
rules fights (3minutes x 5rounds):
1st - Masaaki Miyamoto [Seido Kaikan] x Cliff 'Twin Tyson' Couser
[Team Rekcio]
2nd - Tatsufumi Tomihira [Seido Kaikan] x Petr Vondracek [Bacardi]
3rd - Hiromi Amada [TENKA 510] x Butterbean [Team Butterbean]
4th - Tsuyoshi Nakasako [Seido Kaikan] x Mavrick [Shark Tank
Gym]
K-1
MMA rules fights (5 minutes x 3rounds):
1st - Michael McDonald [Canada] x LYOTO [Inoki Office]
2nd - Alexey Ignashov [Chinuk Gym] x Steve Williams [IWA JAPAN]
3rd - Bob Sapp [Team beast] x Dolgorsuren Sumiyabazar [Mongolia]
NIIGATA,
March 13, 2004 -- Bob Sapp is more than ready for his next fight
-- the Beast is prepared, it would appear, to take on the entire
Mongolian nation. In a press conference in advance of the K-1
Japan Special Beast 2004 in Niigata, Sapp not only promised to
beat up his opponent Dolgorsuren Sumiyabazar, but to take it
to Sumiyabazar's brothers as well.
The
snow-swept port of Niigata, on Japan's western coastline, is
the hometown of legendary wrestler Giant Baba. Tomorrow, it will
play host to a K-1 event featuring eight bouts -- four fought
under regular K-1 Rules (3Rx3min), four under K-1 MMA Rules (3Rx5min).
The
Main Event here is an MMA matchup between Sapp and Dolgorsuren
Sumiyabazar of Mongolia. Dolgorsuren, a two-time freestyle wrestling
Olympian, is a brother of current Sumo Yokozuna (Grand Champion)
Asashouryu.
Sapp
first explained how he would use the smaller and lighter MMA
gloves to outpunch Dolgorsuren, and then threw the gauntlet at
the entire Sumiyabazar clan: "After I beat him up tomorrow,
I wonder if his Sumo Champ brother will fight me? Or maybe his
pro-wrestler brother, the Blue Wolf, who is more like the big
chicken?" At that point, Blue Wolf himself stepped up from
the audience to respond: "Shut up, Sapp! You will be KO'd
tomorrow!"
With
several members of Team Beast moved in to hold Sapp back, Wolf
kept up the tirade. "You may have Team Beast, but tomorrow
you'll see that Team Mongolia is stronger!"
In
other scheduled K-1 MMA Rules action, Canadian K-1 veteran Michael
McDonald will get down with Brazilian wrestler Lyoto of the Antonio
Inoki group. A perennial contender, McDonald appeared both dapper
and confident at the press conference: "It will be my first
MMA fight tomorrow, and I'm very excited and will do my very
best."
Said
a polite Lyoto, "It is my K1 debut, and I will do my best."
Another
K-1 veteran, Australian Sam Greco, will go up against ex-NFLer
Stefan Gamlin of Germany. "My wife had a baby two weeks
ago, and this fight is dedicated to the baby, and that's why
I will win it," explained Greco. Replied Gamlin, who is
still looking for his first victory in the K-1 ring, "While
I respect Sam Greco, I came here to win."
The
card's much-anticipated penultimate MMA bout will feature Belorussian
superstar Alexy Ignashov and American wrestler Steve "Dr
Death" Williams. "I'm happy to be back in Japan,"
smiled Ignashov, "and I'll show my best to the fans in Niigata."
The
K-1 Rules bouts here will follow the Japan vs The World format.
Masaki
Miyamoto, Bob Sapp's trainer, promised to show the "Samurai
spirit" in his bout with Cliff "Twin Tyson" Courser.
The cocky Courser claims to be Mike Tyson's half brother: "But
I'm stronger than my brother, and faster." Courser also
said he was hungry: "So hungry, I may even bite off Miyamoto's
ear -- but I'd rather just knock him out."
Japanese
karate fighter Tsuyoshi Nakasako, who has lost five in row dating
back to September 2002, will try to turn it around against German
wrestler Maverick. Nakasako has an eight centimeter height advantage
over Maverick, and a lot more experience. The scrappy Maverick
is just happy to be here. "I want to thank the K-1 organization
for allowing a street fighter to enter their prestigious event,"
he said.
Tough
Tatsufumi Tomihira will take on Czech kickboxer Petr Vondracek.
Tomihira is a very tough competitor, while Vondracek was the
fighter of the night last month in Okinawa, where he owned Nobu
Hayashi, scoring three quick downs en route to a first round
KO.
Said
Vondracek, "I'm sure I'll be the better fighter tomorrow."
Although this will be Tomihira's first bout in six months, he
said he felt ready. "It's good to be back, and good to meet
an exciting fighter like Vondracek."
Another
never-say-die Japanese fighter, Hiromi Amada, will step in against
corpulent combatant Butterbean in what promises to be a crowd
pleaser. As usual, the rotund American outweighs his opponent,
in this case by some 80kg. But can he get inside on the quick
Amada, and can he stay out of the way of these Amada rights?
"I
respect Butterbean," said Amada, "but the winner gets
the paycheck, and I need the money to feed my children."
Quipped Butterbean, "I need to feed my children too, and
my children are much bigger than yours, so I'll be taking home
that prize, thank you!"
In
an undercard fight, American MMA veteran Ivan Salaverry will
meet Mongolian Haliun Boldbaatar in his K-1 debut. Haliun said
at the press conference that he was "100% sure he would
win the fight."
The
official matchups and more fighter stats can be found here:
http://www.so-net.ne.jp/feg/k-1gp/top587.htm
The
K-1 Japan Special Beast 2004 in Niigata will be held at the Toki
Niigata Messe Convention Center. The event starts at 3 p.m. Japan
time (01h00EST, 06h00GMT) on Sunday March 14. Check the K-1 Official
Website (www.k-1.co.jp) for full coverage soon after the final
bell.
Source:
MMA Weekly |
Shooto
Hawaii
FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 2004
Campbell High School
Fights start at 7:00 PM
Kid's under 7 FREE! Kid's ages 8-10 $10
Adults $15 Pre-sale, $20 on the day of the event
There
will be something new, AMATUER SHOOTO. Linebred, LLC will be
introducing a new twist to things. Amateur Shooto consists of
2 X 3 minute rounds with a full head gear, Shin guards and NO
punching when fight goes to the ground.
Currently,
we are recruiting fighters for this new endeavor. If you ever
wanted to try MMA and did not want to be thrown to the wolves,
this is the event for you. Full safety equipment is required
and no punching on the ground so you can try out shorter and
fewer rounds and don't have to worry when you get to the ground.
Amatuer Shooto is designed to ease fighters in to professional
MMA action and allow the fighters to build their skill and experience
safely.
Fighters
confirmed so far are...
Edmund
Li (Freelance) vs. Brandon Antonio (JIL) 143
Eric Pajdak (Kamole, Kauai) vs. Thane (JIL) 183
Aaron Okura (Freelance) vs. Bryan Mau (Kenpo Unlimited) 155
PJ Dean (Freelance) vs. Rob Villapando (808 Fight Factory) 155
TBA vs. Chaian Alesna (808 Fight Factory) 167
Contact
the promoters today to sign up at 808-479-8183 or email them
at linebredllc@hawaii.rr.com. |
Quote
of the Day
"You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the
first step.
Martin Luther King, Jr. 1929-1968, Civil Rights Leader
|
3rd
Annual Longman Gracie Kauai Jiu-Jitsu Tournament Today!
Note the change in
the day of the tournament! It will be held on Sunday, not Saturday
as originally posted. Hope to see everyone there to support this
tournament!
When: Sunday,
March 14, 2004
Time: 10:00 AM
Where: Kilauea Gym,
located next to the Kilauea Theater on the north side of Kauai
Weigh
ins: Friday, March 12, 2004 from 6:00-9:00 pm at the underwater
surf shop in the Kauai village shopping center next to the Safeway
store. Off Island competitors may weigh in on Sunday from 9:00
AM.
Schedule
of events:
9:00
AM - Weigh-ins
9:30 AM - Opening Ceremony
9:45 AM - Rules Clinic
10:00 AM - Tournament Begins
Normal
BJJ weight classes with these added
214-226 lbs
227-246 lbs
246 lbs and over
I
would like to congratulate the Gracie Kauai Longman Jiu-Jitsu
Team at the First Maui Open which highlighted lightweight purple
belt Jared Espina for taking the Gold in his weight and in the
Invitational Professional lightweight division fighting 6 times
with 5 submissions. Jared was also awarded the fasted submission
of the tournament (7 seconds) and the most technical athlete!
Jared closed the professional division with his teammate, brown
belt Aaron Moeller. My teacher Royler Gracie will be proud to
see the news on your site of how well we have represented Gracie
Humaita. Thank you for your support.
Aloha,
Bruno Ewald
For
more information, call Bruno at 808-826-4166 or 808-645-1265. |
One
Fight Lighter,
Mixed Fighting Championships Are A Go
By Loretta Hunt
First-time
MMA promoters Euphoria Entertainment cleared yet another hurdle,
when all its able competitors made their allotted weight requirements
for tonight's Mixed Fighting Championship, kicking off at 7PM
from Trump Taj Mahal's 5,000-seat Arena. Under the watchful eye
of the New Jersey Athletic Control Board, nine* American fighters
eyed their Russian Red Devil team counterparts, some for the
very first time. The mood played surprisingly light and laid
back on the eve of some inevitable out and out brawls, and laughter
could be heard from both sides as the fighters awkwardly overcame
language barriers to complete their staredowns in front of a
modest crowd of MMA media. (*Originally scheduled for ten match-ups,
Renzo Gracie representative Joe D'Arce has bowed out of his bout
with welterweight Denis Komkin due to a head injury sustained
Thursday night in training that required seven stitches.)
Paying
close attention to New Jersey's Unified Rules Of Combat (the
same guidelines followed by the UFC), American coaches and teammates
were quick to question how the use of a ring would affect the
refereeing of the event, especially with regards to restarts
along/outside of the ropes. Matchmaker Miguel Iturate clarified
that grapplers gravitating outside of the ropes will be most
likely turned around without disturbing positions and has suggested
that no grounded fight be restarted in the middle of the ring
(a la PRIDE). It will be under the referee's discretion to restart
a fight standing due to inactivity. The New Jersey Athletic Board
will also honor the recently implemented UFC rule regarding restarts
after stoppages for medical inspections (i.e. Fights stopped
to check for a cut will be restarted in the same position). Translators
worked furiously to convey these points to the Russian team.
On to the weights:
In
the main event, UFC 40 competitor and Minnesota native Travis
Wiuff has answered the call to meet M-1 heavyweight champion
Roman Zentsov, after original opponent ATT's Jeff Monson also
had to drop from the card due to a last-minute training injury.
Wiuff is on an eleven fight winning streak, most recently taking
out fellow UFC vet and Brazilian standout Carlos Barreto at the
HEAT Fighting Championships 2. Wiuff, who is fighting on two
days notice, weighed in a full 20 pounds heavier than opponent
Zentsov, coming in at 240 pounds. Zentsov seems not much like
his menacing picture on the promotional poster for the event.
He is soft-spoken, thoughtful, and physically reminiscent of
a younger Igor Vovchanchyn.
Looks might not be misleading in the case of 6'6" Sergey
Kaznovski. Towering over opponent Ron Faircloth, a student out
of Dave Strasser's Wisconsin Freestyle academy, Kaznovski appears
the most intimidating of the bunch and has a reputation for plowing
through his opponents with a Terminator-like style. 253-pound
Kaznovski will have his opportunity to dominate in front of the
American crowds tomorrow night, as Faircloth, a light-heavyweight
competitor in the past, weighed in almost 30 pounds lighter at
224 pounds -- the biggest weight differential on the card.
Probably
the most notable Red Devil member of the group is Andrei Semenov,
who many American fans recall from his UFC 35 and 37 appearances
some two years ago. In that time, Semenov has aged a bit in the
face, but his resolute personality appears to have stayed intact.
"The White Shark" breezed through today at 185 pounds,
while American Kickboxing Academy challenger Trevor Prangley
rang in at 185 on the dot as well. Hoping for the upset tomorrow
night, Prangley anticipates a solid win over the seasoned Russian
could be his ticket to the Octagon.
Arman
Gambaryan has taken on the role of the most outgoing of the Russian
contingent. A cousin to UFC and international competitor Amar
Suloev, the 23-year-old Gambaryan is comfortable in the spotlight
and had his team all smiles with his rambunctious posing and
antics. The light-heavyweight came in at 201 pounds, while sober
Team Quest opponent Chael Sonnen weighed in quietly at 204 pounds.
Welterweights
Musail Allaudinov and Derrick Noble came in at 169 and 168 pounds,
respectively. A HOOKnSHOOT veteran, Noble is enjoying a recent
victory over ATT standout Thiago Alves from AFC 6.
When
asked what he thought of opponent Justin Eilers after glancing
at him for the first time today, peppy Mikhail Bogdanov told
FCF translator Maxim Petrov he was honored to be fighting such
a game-looking opponent. Indeed, the 227-pound Eilers looked
fit and ready to go, the most recent product of the now-legendary
Miletich Martial Arts gym in Iowa. 30-year-old Bogdanov weighed
in close to Eilers at 234 pounds.
Consummate
professional Rich Clementi weighed in on the mark today at 155
pounds. His lanky adversary, Sergey Goliaev, was a bit lighter
at 153 pounds, and was unforgivingly ribbed by his teammates
for wearing red heart boxers up to the scales.
Reserved
light-heavyweight Alexei Veselovzorov, nicknamed "the Destroyer,"
tipped the scales at 202 pounds this afternoon. Equally laidback
AKA fighter Brian Ebersole weighed in a slightly lighter 200
pounds, but you know what they say about the quiet ones.
The
new babyface of the group (Semenov has graduated amply from this
label), 23-year-old Sergei Bal seemed elated to be at the weigh-ins
today, coming in at 164 pounds. We'll see if his mood keeps up
tomorrow night when he goes toe-to-toe with WFA and AFC vet Chatt
Lavender. Lavender came in today at 169 pounds.
With
three heavyweight offerings among a decently stacked card, the
Mixed Fighting Championships' inaugural run seems a promising
prospect to fill a developing yet unfortunately lacking east
coast MMA scene. Tickets for Mixed Fighting Championship: Russia
vs. USA are still available at ticketmaster.com or by calling
(609) 449-1000 or (800) 825-8888.
Full
Card for Mixed Fighting Championship: Russia vs. USA
155
LBS: Sergei Bal (Red Devil Team, St Petersburg, Russia) vs. Chatt
Lavender (Blaylock Systems, Chatanooga, TN.)
205
LBS: Alexei Veselovzorov (Red Devil Team, St Petersburg, Russia)
vs. Brian Ebersole (Team AKA, San Jose, CA)
155
LBS: Sergey Goliaev (Red Devil Team, St Petersburg, Russia) vs.
Rich "No Love" Clementi (Team Extreme, Atlantic City,
NJ)
Heavyweights:
Sergey Kaznovski (Red Devil Team, St Petersburg, Russia) vs.
Ron Faircloth (Strasser's Freestyle Academy, Kenosha, WI)
170
LBS: Musail Allaudinov (Red Devil Team, St Petersburg, Russia)
vs. Derrick Noble (Silverbacks, Canton, IL)
Heavyweights:
Mikhail Bogdanov (Red Devil Team, St Petersburg, Russia) vs.
Justin Eilers (Team EXTREME, Moline, IL)
205
LBS: Arman Gambaryan (Red Devil Team, St Petersburg, Russia)
vs. Chael Sonnen (Team Quest, Portland, OR)
185
LBS: Andrei Semenov (Red Devil Team, St Petersburg, Russia) vs.
Trevor Prangley (Team AKA, Boise, ID)
MAIN
EVENT:
Heavyweights: Roman Zentsov (M.F.C. World Champion, Red Devil
Team, St Petersburg, Russia) vs. Travis Wiuff (Team Extreme,
Owatonna, Minnesota)
Source: FCF |
K-1
BEAST 2004 in Niigata Line-up
March 14th, 2004
Toki Messe, Niigata Japan
Opening
Fight:
K-1 MMA rules (5minutes x 3rounds)
Ivan Salaverry [USA] x Haliun Boldbaatar [Mongolia]
K-1
rules fights (3minutes x 5rounds):
1st - Masaaki Miyamoto [Seido Kaikan] x Cliff 'Twin Tyson' Couser
[Team Rekcio]
2nd - Tatsufumi Tomihira [Seido Kaikan] x Petr Vondracek [Bacardi]
3rd - Hiromi Amada [TENKA 510] x Butterbean [Team Butterbean]
4th - Tsuyoshi Nakasako [Seido Kaikan] x Mavrick [Shark Tank
Gym]
K-1
MMA rules fights (5 minutes x 3rounds):
1st - Michael McDonald [Canada] x LYOTO [Inoki Office]
2nd - Alexey Ignashov [Chinuk Gym] x Steve Williams [IWA JAPAN]
3rd - Bob Sapp [Team beast] x Dolgorsuren Sumiyabazar [Mongolia]
NIIGATA,
March 13, 2004 -- Bob Sapp is more than ready for his next fight
-- the Beast is prepared, it would appear, to take on the entire
Mongolian nation. In a press conference in advance of the K-1
Japan Special Beast 2004 in Niigata, Sapp not only promised to
beat up his opponent Dolgorsuren Sumiyabazar, but to take it
to Sumiyabazar's brothers as well.
The
snow-swept port of Niigata, on Japan's western coastline, is
the hometown of legendary wrestler Giant Baba. Tomorrow, it will
play host to a K-1 event featuring eight bouts -- four fought
under regular K-1 Rules (3Rx3min), four under K-1 MMA Rules (3Rx5min).
The
Main Event here is an MMA matchup between Sapp and Dolgorsuren
Sumiyabazar of Mongolia. Dolgorsuren, a two-time freestyle wrestling
Olympian, is a brother of current Sumo Yokozuna (Grand Champion)
Asashouryu.
Sapp
first explained how he would use the smaller and lighter MMA
gloves to outpunch Dolgorsuren, and then threw the gauntlet at
the entire Sumiyabazar clan: "After I beat him up tomorrow,
I wonder if his Sumo Champ brother will fight me? Or maybe his
pro-wrestler brother, the Blue Wolf, who is more like the big
chicken?" At that point, Blue Wolf himself stepped up from
the audience to respond: "Shut up, Sapp! You will be KO'd
tomorrow!"
With
several members of Team Beast moved in to hold Sapp back, Wolf
kept up the tirade. "You may have Team Beast, but tomorrow
you'll see that Team Mongolia is stronger!"
In
other scheduled K-1 MMA Rules action, Canadian K-1 veteran Michael
McDonald will get down with Brazilian wrestler Lyoto of the Antonio
Inoki group. A perennial contender, McDonald appeared both dapper
and confident at the press conference: "It will be my first
MMA fight tomorrow, and I'm very excited and will do my very
best."
Said
a polite Lyoto, "It is my K1 debut, and I will do my best."
Another
K-1 veteran, Australian Sam Greco, will go up against ex-NFLer
Stefan Gamlin of Germany. "My wife had a baby two weeks
ago, and this fight is dedicated to the baby, and that's why
I will win it," explained Greco. Replied Gamlin, who is
still looking for his first victory in the K-1 ring, "While
I respect Sam Greco, I came here to win."
The
card's much-anticipated penultimate MMA bout will feature Belorussian
superstar Alexy Ignashov and American wrestler Steve "Dr
Death" Williams. "I'm happy to be back in Japan,"
smiled Ignashov, "and I'll show my best to the fans in Niigata."
The
K-1 Rules bouts here will follow the Japan vs The World format.
Masaki
Miyamoto, Bob Sapp's trainer, promised to show the "Samurai
spirit" in his bout with Cliff "Twin Tyson" Courser.
The cocky Courser claims to be Mike Tyson's half brother: "But
I'm stronger than my brother, and faster." Courser also
said he was hungry: "So hungry, I may even bite off Miyamoto's
ear -- but I'd rather just knock him out."
Japanese
karate fighter Tsuyoshi Nakasako, who has lost five in row dating
back to September 2002, will try to turn it around against German
wrestler Maverick. Nakasako has an eight centimeter height advantage
over Maverick, and a lot more experience. The scrappy Maverick
is just happy to be here. "I want to thank the K-1 organization
for allowing a street fighter to enter their prestigious event,"
he said.
Tough
Tatsufumi Tomihira will take on Czech kickboxer Petr Vondracek.
Tomihira is a very tough competitor, while Vondracek was the
fighter of the night last month in Okinawa, where he owned Nobu
Hayashi, scoring three quick downs en route to a first round
KO.
Said
Vondracek, "I'm sure I'll be the better fighter tomorrow."
Although this will be Tomihira's first bout in six months, he
said he felt ready. "It's good to be back, and good to meet
an exciting fighter like Vondracek."
Another
never-say-die Japanese fighter, Hiromi Amada, will step in against
corpulent combatant Butterbean in what promises to be a crowd
pleaser. As usual, the rotund American outweighs his opponent,
in this case by some 80kg. But can he get inside on the quick
Amada, and can he stay out of the way of those Amada rights?
"I
respect Butterbean," said Amada, "but the winner gets
the paycheck, and I need the money to feed my children."
Quipped Butterbean, "I need to feed my children too, and
my children are much bigger than yours, so I'll be taking home
that prize, thank you!"
In
an undercard fight, American MMA veteran Ivan Salaverry will
meet Mongolian Haliun Boldbaatar in his K-1 debut. Haliun said
at the press conference that he was "100% sure he would
win the fight."
The
official matchups and more fighter stats can be found here:
http://www.so-net.ne.jp/feg/k-1gp/top587.htm
The
K-1 Japan Special Beast 2004 in Niigata will be held at the Toki
Niigata Messe Convention Center. The event starts at 3 p.m. Japan
time (01h00EST, 06h00GMT) on Sunday March 14. Check the K-1 Official
Website (www.k-1.co.jp) for full coverage soon after the final
bell.
Source: MMA Weekly |
Jaoude
believes he may go to Athens
The best Brazilian wrestler nowadays, Antoine Jaoude is confident
to hit Athens for Olympic Games in August. Everything depends
of an invitation from the International Olympic Organization.
"I fought three trials. In the end I got best qualification
than countries as Hungry, Germany, Italy, Spain, Canada and Cuba.
In this last one, I got a very strong group and I really believe
in this invitation," revealed Antoine, that will be back
on Brazilians mat this weekend during the 3rd Submission of São
João da Barra. "I will be fighting the weight and
the open class categories. As I have been training hard, I feel
fine, but I had to be careful with the over-training during the
ground train," stated the athlete.
Source: Tatame |
Quote
of the Day
"If Columbus had turned back, no one would have blamed him.
Of course, no one would have remembered him either."
Source Unknown
|
3rd
Annual Longman Gracie Kauai Jiu-Jitsu Tournament Tomorrow!
Note the change in
the day of the tournament! It will be held on Sunday, not Saturday
as originally posted. Hope to see everyone there to support this
tournament!
When: Sunday,
March 14, 2004
Time: 10:00 AM
Where: Kilauea Gym,
located next to the Kilauea Theater on the north side of Kauai
Weigh
ins: Friday, March 12, 2004 from 6:00-9:00 pm at the underwater
surf shop in the Kauai village shopping center next to the Safeway
store. Off Island competitors may weigh in on Sunday from 9:00
AM.
Schedule
of events:
9:00
AM - Weigh-ins
9:30 AM - Opening Ceremony
9:45 AM - Rules Clinic
10:00 AM - Tournament Begins
Normal
BJJ weight classes with these added
214-226 lbs
227-246 lbs
246 lbs and over
I
would like to congratulate the Gracie Kauai Longman Jiu-Jitsu
Team at the First Maui Open which highlighted lightweight purple
belt Jared Espina for taking the Gold in his weight and in the
Invitational Professional lightweight division fighting 6 times
with 5 submissions. Jared was also awarded the fasted submission
of the tournament (7 seconds) and the most technical athlete!
Jared closed the professional division with his teammate, brown
belt Aaron Moeller. My teacher Royler Gracie will be proud to
see the news on your site of how well we have represented Gracie
Humaita. Thank you for your support.
Aloha,
Bruno Ewald
For
more information, call Bruno at 808-826-4166 or 808-645-1265. |
NAGA
Hawaii State Grappling Championships
Date Announced!
It will tentatively be held in Honolulu, Hawaii on September
25th. No venue was listed, but it is usually held in the Farrington
High School Gym.
Source:
NAGA |
WEC'S
LATEST SHOW COMING TOGETHER
World Extreme Cagefighting is ready for it's next show coming
to the Palace Casino in Lemoore California on May 21st, and the
names should make many MMA fans very happy.
Right
now WEC President Scott Adams has been working on the card. While
things are still being worked out, some of the better names in
the world will be competing.
Gil
Castillo, from Cesar Gracie's camp, has been offered to fight
Team Quest member, Ryan Schultz. A couple of UFC veterans look
to battle as Mark Weir will face Benji Radach. Mr. International
Shonie Carter puts his WEC Title on the line against UFC Veteran
Karo Parisyan. Another title on the line has WEC Champ, Chris
Leben, fighting Steve Heath for the WEC Middleweight Title.
One
of the biggest fan favorites in California, Olaf, has agreed
verbally to face Jason Maxwell. So as you can see, this has the
potential to be an outstanding card. "We are happy to go
back outdoors for this one to increase seating....we should be
able to seat 5,000 for this one, so we look forward to another
sell-out at the Palace Casino." Adams told MMAWeekly.
One
other item of good news for the show. These fights will once
again be shown on HDNet, the high definition channel, and they
will split this card into a couple of shows. "We are very
pleased to be working with HDNet again and their commitment to
mixed martial arts", Adams said. WEC and HDNet have hired
respected commentators Ryan Bennett and Jeff Blatnick to do the
show for the national TV audience.
Source:
MMA Weekly |
UFC
47 PRELIMS
MMAWeekly.com has the upcoming fight card for UFC 47. The biggest
obstacle the UFC faces is which fights to put on as the preliminary
fights.
MMAWeekly
has learned that it looks as though this will be the card for
the upcoming UFC in Las Vegas in a couple of weeks....
UFC
47 April 2nd - Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas - MMAWeekly.com
Prelim
Matches
Wade
Shipp vs Johnathan Wiezorek
Tiki
vs Chris Lytle
Genki
Sudo vs Mike Brown
Main
Card
Tito
Ortiz vs Chuck Liddell
Tim
Sylvia vs Andrei Arlovski
Yves
Edwards vs Hermes Franca
Nick
Diaz vs Robbie Lawler
Mike
Kyle vs Cabbage
Overall
it looks pretty obvious why the UFC has selected the prelim fights
compared to the main card, as the UFC has listened to the fans
by putting two of the better fighters at 155 on the main card-
Yves Edwards and Hermes Franca.
Source:
MMA Weekly |
SALAVERRY
BACK IN K-1; SAPP HEADLINES
K-1 BEAST 2004 in Niigata Line-up
March 14th, 2004
Toki Messe, Niigata Japan
Opening
Fight:
K-1 MMA rules (5minutes x 3rounds)
Ivan Salaverry [USA] x Haliun Boldbaatar [Mongolia]
K-1
rules fights (3minutes x 5rounds):
1st - Masaaki Miyamoto [Seido Kaikan] x Cliff 'Twin Tyson' Couser
[Team Rekcio]
2nd - Tatsufumi Tomihira [Seido Kaikan] x Petr Vondracek [Bacardi]
3rd - Hiromi Amada [TENKA 510] x Butterbean [Team Butterbean]
4th - Tsuyoshi Nakasako [Seido Kaikan] x Mavrick [Shark Tank
Gym]
K-1
MMA rules fights (5 minutes x 3rounds):
1st - Michael McDonald [Canada] x LYOTO [Inoki Office]
2nd - Alexey Ignashov [Chinuk Gym] x Steve Williams [IWA JAPAN]
3rd - Bob Sapp [Team beast] x Dolgorsuren Sumiyabazar [Mongolia]
Source:
MMA Weekly |
|
Tyson
may not return to the ring
Former
world heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson, who knocked out
his last opponent in less than a minute last year, said on Thursday
he doubts he will return to the ring again, lamenting, "I'm
old, I'm tired."
Asked
in an interview on the Fox News Channel whether he thought he
would fight again soon, the 37-year-old pugilist sounded a dispirited
note, replying, "I don't think so."
"I'm
old, I'm tired," Tyson said, adding: "I'm out of shape.
I'm just, I don't know. It's probably too difficult to get into
shape now. ... I'm exhausted now."
When
asked what he planned to do with himself, Tyson answered, "I'm
just happy being Mike."
Tyson
knocked out his last opponent, Clifford Etienne, in the first
49 seconds of their scheduled 10-round heavyweight bout in February
2003 in Memphis, Tennessee.
It
was a far different outcome for Tyson than his previous appearance
at the Pyramid Arena in June the year before when he suffered
the worst beating of his professional career at the hands of
Britain's Lennox Lewis, who knocked out Tyson in eight rounds.
Lewis retired from boxing as world heavyweight champion earlier
this year, eliminating the chance of a rematch.
Tyson's
career also has been marred by run-ins with the law and outbursts
of bad behavior. He served three years in prison for the 1991
rape of a former beauty queen and was suspended from boxing after
he bit off part of Evander Holyfield's ear in a 1997 heavyweight
title bout.
In
February of this year, Tyson agreed to plead guilty to disorderly
conduct for his part last year in a Brooklyn hotel brawl.
Source:
Doghouse Boxing |
|
PRIDE
Grand Prix Dates
PRIDE
has announced the dates of their heavyweight Grand Prix tournament.
-
The first part will be the opening round, "Total Elimination
2004" which will take place on April 25th at the Saitama
Super Arena.
-
The second round "Critical Countdown 2004" will take
place on June 20, 2004.
-
For the finals, "Final Conflict 2004" will take place
on August 15, 2004.
Source:
MMA Fighting |
The
WEC's Scott Adams
By Traci Ratzloff
WEC: past,
present and future
World
Extreme Cagefighting's co-promoter and creator, Scott Adams fights
Vale-Tudo and on the card, has important victories over Ian Freeman
at UFC and many others at IFC. During an exclusive with our American
representative in US, Traci Ratzloff, Adams remembered old wrestling
times with Ultimate vet Chuck Liddell, shared a little about
the MMA show production he enjoyed and discussed the brand new
WEC: Bragging Rights, which takes place this May in California.
Since June 2001, Adams and his partner, Reed Harris, have exceeded
all expectations with their promotion. Check out the full interview
below.
How
did the WEC come about?
I've
always wanted to promote. I did small shows at the gym (SLO Kickboxing
in San Luis Obispo, CA) I knew Reed [Harris] (WEC partner) from
the gym, and he approached me one day about it. His cousin worked
in marketing at The Palace casino in Lemoore, CA, and they were
interested in doing a show. I handle the matchmaking, Reed takes
care of the production aspect, and we both work on the marketing.
What
is your individual background with MMA?
I
opened SLO with Chuck Liddell. We were [wrestling] teammates
at Cal Poly. I've always been a fan. I was a wrestler and taught
wrestling at SLO. Chuck taught standup. When Chuck got in the
UFC, so through him, I got involved. I did it to bring integrity
to what I do, what I teach. I was known for leglocks. I started
fighting in the IFC-then I began managing and training fighters
and built up from there.
Would
you consider fighting again?
At
this point, I would like to continue concentrating on the WEC,
but you never know. The reason why I got into it was because
I love the aspect of training. I never had a strong desire to
compete.
Your
first WEC event was in June 2001. How has your organization changed
or grown since then?
We
have experience, and with experience comes expertise. We've made
mistakes and have been fortunate enough to grow and learn from
them. We have a good thing going with The Palace casino, and
our last show (WEC 9: Cold Blooded) was even aired on HDNet (DirecTV)
and will be again.
Where
do you see yourselves and the WEC going in the future?
We'd
like to spread ourselves out, yet stay loyal to The Palace-it's
our favorite venue. They understand the sport and the variables
that could happen. We'd like to add more shows, though not too
many more so we can still keep the quality high. There's a story
and significance to each WEC. I like fights with meaning. I believe
they have the highest quality, adding, of course, a fighter with
skill.
Your
events are known for having both big name fighters and locals,
as well as up and comers. Is this a strategy for gaining and
increasing your fan base or is it something that just happens?
Some
of our most exciting fights are local fighters. Local fighters
add a lot to the show because their friends and families are
there. Up and comers are easy to work with because they're still
hungry.
Do
you have plans to take your event outside of Central California
again?
Right
now we're keeping shows set at The Palace and concentrating on
that. In June, however, we have something tentatively set out
East
What
is next for the WEC?
Our
next event is set for May 21, 2004. Our headliner is a huge local
fight between two guys with a lot of history. Actually, because
of this fight, we are calling the fight, WEC 10: Bragging Rights.
The fight will literally give the winner 'bragging rights' because
of their past. Also in this event Shonie Carter, Alex Stiebling
and Olaf Alfonso return. Olaf is fighting a World Title Fight,
and we will see Chris Leben, from Team Quest, defend his title.
Source:
Tatame |
Cruz
analyzes bouts with Jeff Monson
Back in Brazil, BJJ World champion Márcio Cruz Pé
de Pano returns to train and during a quickly talk with TATAME,
analyzed his bouts with American Jeff Monson in two American
tournaments. In Miami, during the Submission Wrestling Open 1,
Cruz lost by points due to a guard pass in the end of the combat.
"The event was host by ATT and they were the bosses. The
contract was that we would do a 20 minutes super-fight with negative
points. Instead of it, the rule changed and the bout has 10 minutes
and negative points, so I couldn't pull from my guard. I am not
giving excuses, but this bothered me," stated Pé
de Pano.
At
the Arnold Submission, event held a week after SWO, Pé
de Pano passed through two opponents until meet Monson at the
open class final. In a very controversy bout, Monson applied
cervical, that obliged Pé de Pano to tap out. The American
got disqualified and this fact drove him mad. "The guy has
such a black history. He took his pants off after a loss at ADCC...
He got me with an illegal move and I screamed. The referee wanted
to start the fight again. I complained and Relson (Gracie) agreed
with me, declaring me a champion. The mess was when Monson tried
to apply a double leg on Léo Dala (referee) and he pushed
him," told the champion, that was picked to represent a
fightwear brand at the challenge. "If the guy who faced
me hadn't tap out, he would earn $3,000. I submitted the heavyweight
purple belt in five minutes!," reminded the BJJ fighter.
Source:
Tatame |
Brazilian
Calendar: MMA events schedule in Brazil
by André Araújo / Team TATAME
After Brazilian Carnival in February, many MMA shows begin to
pop up in Brazil. Besides the big ones as Meca, Brazil Super-Fight
and others as Heat Fighting Championship, small events, but well
organized promises to rule this fist 2004 semester. On March
11, the 1st Challenge Open Ceará de Vale-Tudo will rock
the Paulo Salazarte gymnasium in Aldeota, Fortaleza - Ceará
in Brazil Northeast. Promoted by Double P the event is supported
by the Local state and the major. Among the fighters confirmed
on the card, Eduardo Frota (Gracie Fortaleza) will count with
BJJ world champion Saulo Ribeiro in his corner to face Josenildo.
On
March 20 and 21 a huge fight party will happen in Brazil's South.
The 1st Art Martial Cup will join together fighters from all
teams from South as Chute Boxe, Sul Jiu-Jitsu, Boxe Thai Floripa,
Pro-Fight, Ataque Duplo, Gracie Floripa, Garra Bento Gonçalves
- RS and the new Dream Team. The event is a tribute for the 254
years of Santa Catarina's city of São José. There
is going to be ten Muay Thai fights, ten submission fights and
three MMA ones. 'The whole idea is integrating the fighters from
South', stated the event promoter Master Peu.
Another
MMA show that is going to rule Brazil Southeast is the Vitória
Extreme Fight. The MMA event will take place on May 29 at the
Álvares Cabral Gymnasium in Vitória, Espírito
Santo. This huge event will feature two mini weight circuits
and three super-fights. The highlight of the event will be the
bout between the local Eduardo Jamelão and the fighter
from Rio de Janeiro Rafael Capoeira (Gracie Barra). 'We are all
excited about that bout. Its gonna be great and e hope for the
best', said one of Extreme fight promoters Bernardo Dietze.
Check
out the MMA info:
1st
Challenge Open Ceará de Vale-Tudo
March 11th, 2004
Paulo Salazarte gymnasium, Fortaleza-CE Brazil
Check
out the fight card (subject to change):
Eduardo
Rocha (Gracie Fortaleza) Vs Josenildo (Fighter-CE)
Ricardo Aranha (Budo Team-RN) Vs Sávio (Gracie Barra-PB)
Índio (Dragon Fight-CE) Vs Charles Gray (Gracie Barra-PB)
Jr Barata (Dragon Fight-CE) Vs Cristiano Cro Cop (Paulo Guerreiro
Team-CE)
Paulo Guerreiro (Paulo Guerreiro Team-CE) Vs Jessé Cachorro
Louco (Jessé Santiago Team)
Pre
Submission fight
Dudú (Gracie Fortaleza) Vs Bergue (Dragon Fight-CE)
Vitória
Extreme Fight:
May 29th, 2004
Álvares Cabral Gymnasium, Vitória
Fight
Card (subject to changes):
Eduardo
Jamelão e Rafael Capoeira
Bruno de Paula enfrentará Danilo Cherman
Andrezão pegará o local Vítor Viana.
Mini
weight circuits:
Middleweight (88kg): Flávio Moura, Thales Leites, Lúcio
Linhares and Rivelino Miranda
Heavyweight (over 100kg) Danilo Motoserra, Mateus Miranda, Eduardo
Maiorino and Rodrigo Riscado
Source:
ADCC |
Quote
of the Day
"You can chain me, you can torture me, you can even destroy
this body, but you will never imprison my mind."
Mahatma Gandhi ,1869-1948, Indian Political and Spiritual Leader
|
Interview:
ATT's Marcus Aurelio
He
is one of the submission masters from ATT's camp. He has a impressive
10-1-0 record in MMA, with 7 submissions!! Recently, he won the
belt of the ZST GP with 3 victories by tapout in 4 fights, but
who is he?
This
is the question that we satart answering at ADCC News, as we
introduce the sensational Marcus Aurelio with a huge interview
below. Enjoy!
Denis
Martins: Can you introduce yourself to the fans?
Marcus Aurelio: Okay, my full name is Marcus Aurelio de Carvalho
Martins (a.k.a. Maximus). My main BJJ titles are Brazilian Champion,
2x Pan American Champion, 5x State Champion and 3rd in Mundials.
In MMA/NHB, I am the HOOKnSHOOT Lightweight Champion, the Ring
of Fury Lightweight Champion, the AFC Lightweight Champion and
the ZST Grand Prix Champion. I am 155lbs (70 kg) and 5'10 (176
cm). I am 30 years old and was born in Fortaleza, Ceara - Brazil.
I now live in Boca Raton, Florida in the USA. I got my black
belt from Master 'Sazinho' in Ceara and train in Florida with
the American Top Team.
Denis
Martins: How did the opportunity to fight in the ZST GP come
about?
Marcus Aurelio: The ZST organization made a proposal and the
ATT camp contacted them and offered me to represent ATT in the
ZST GP.
Denis
Martins: What was your first impression of the event, given it
has special rules?
Marcus Aurelio: It is a high level event. This was a great opportunity
since ZST has a following from all the fans who had enjoyed the
now defunct RINGS events. Many of the fighters from RINGS have
had an impact on the world of MMA.
Denis
Martins: What problems did you encounter adapting your game for
this event?
Marcus Aurelio: My adaptation to the rules (no punching on the
ground) was easy because it allowed me to show my ground fighting
techniques. I also worked on the speed of my submission applications
and following through with the technique when we hit the ground.
Denis
Martins: ZST had another interesting rule; when the fight was
on the ground, the fighter who was on the bottom could not close
his guard. Was this difficult for you?
Marcus Aurelio: I had no problems with this because I have developed
some positions that allow me to free myself from the open guard.
However, I could not work out a way to keep my opponent in my
guard but nevertheless I made my game-plan work perfectly.
Denis
Martins: When this rule was announced, did you notice the other
fighters' reactions?
Marcus Aurelio: I noticed they did not like it. I think it was
because if you do not train Jiu Jitsu to fight, the open guard
is much too complicated.
Denis
Martins: Did you try to emulate Antonio Rodrigo 'Minotauro' Nogueira
in the RINGS King of Kings 2000 tournament in your fights in
ZST?
Marcus Aurelio: 'Minotauro' Nogueira is an inspiration for any
fighter, but especially for Jiu Jitsu fighters and it was no
different for me.
Denis
Martins: You beat TAKUMI in the opening stage bout of the tournament
and the Japanese fans were impressed with your technique. Did
you realize it? Marcus Aurelio: Yes. When I beat Takumi via armbar,
they started to compare me to 'Minotauro' and that made me very
proud. 'Minotauro' is the most technical MMA fighter in the world
as well as a very nice guy.
Denis
Martins: You fought Masakazu Imanari in the quarterfinal bout
of the tournament but you were not able to submit him. Do you
think he was stalling in the fight?
Marcus Aurelio: He is an excellent athlete but I had a bigger
goal that night. I wanted to win the whole tournament. I feel
if we fought again in a single match I would submit him.
Denis
Martins: What did you think of him as a fighter? He had a very
mysterious way about him and unorthodox techniques.
Marcus Aurelio: Like I said he is a great athlete and had very
good technique on the mat. He would always grab your legs and
look for heel hooks, leg locks and kneebars. He submitted Jorge
Gurgel with a quick heelhook in the opening stage. I knew I needed
to be careful with him but his game was not conventional. I believe
our Jiu Jitsu is more refined than his with more variations on
the moves and positions.
Denis
Martins: Your semifinal tournament bout was against Remigijus
Morkevicius. What was your strategy against him given his fast
and furious style?
Marcus Aurelio: He is a very dangerous fighter and an excellent
striker and athlete. However I had confidence in my technique
and preparation. I train Boxing and Muay Thai too. I knew how
to block his attacks and take him down or put him in guard. So
I pulled him to guard as my corner instructed me to do and submitted
him with a triangle choke.
Denis
Martins: The final bout with UFC veteran Rich 'No Love' Clementi
was the easiest of the whole tourney for you. What happened that
forced Clementi to tap out for no apparent reason?
Marcus Aurelio: I went to the ring very confident. I knew we
would exchange blows on the feet and that the key to victory
was taking him down. I hit him in the face and I knew he felt
the strike so I took him down and he started bleeding. I thought
the blood was coming from a broken nose but actually I broke
his orbital bone around his eye and the blood was just coming
out his nose. Once I passed his guard, he tapped out. It was
all very quick. Clementi is a nice person and a good fighter
but I knew I had a good stamina and the better conditioning to
win.
Denis
Martins: Did he ask for a rematch?
Marcus Aurelio: No. I do not know anything about that but he
is a fighter who I like and admire. However I am ready to fight
anyone in the 155 lb category. If a rematch against Clementi
is beneficial to my career, I will fight him because this is
business and not personal.
Denis
Martins: Do you feel you were in trouble in any of the three
tournament fights? Marcus Aurelio: I did not feel I was in danger
of losing any of the fights. I was very well trained.
Denis
Martins: Do you intend to fight in ZST again?
Marcus Aurelio: I do. My
next fight may be against Kotani in May. We are negotiating the
purse.
Denis
Martins: You showed you were a superb grappler in your MMA fights
but what skills do you train on the feet?
Marcus Aurelio: Here at ATT, we have very good Muay Thai and
Boxing instruction as well as Wrestling. Of course my roots lie
in Jiu Jitsu but I am ready for anything.
Denis
Martins: When did you begin training different styles of Jiu
Jitsu?
Marcus Aurelio: When I started training for MMA.
Denis
Martins: Do you have any problems when training striking?
Marcus Aurelio: I did not look at it as a problem. I looked at
it as adapting my game and learning to use new tools. This is
the way I become a complete MMA fighter.
Denis
Martins: Who invited you to join ATT?
Marcus Aurelio: The pillars of
the team; Marcelo and 'Conan', the Silveira brothers. I have
been with them since beginning 2 years ago.
Denis
Martins: Where did the nickname 'Maximus' come from?
Marcus Aurelio:
It came from the crowds that watch my fights. They gave it to
me because my name (Marcus Aurelio) is similar to the commander
of the Roman troops (Maximus).
Denis
Martins: You possess a very good MMA record with 11 fights and
only 1 defeat, a loss to Antonio McKee in the King of the Cage
27. Do you intend to have a rematch?
Marcus Aurelio: Those who saw the fight know it was not a fair
outcome. I do not care about that fight. McKee knows who won
that fight. As for a rematch, he is not qualified to face me
again.
Denis
Martins: Besides the ZST fight in May, whatelse do you have planned
for 2004?
Marcus Aurelio: To train more and win all of my fights. I want
to get my name out there and be recognized as the best lightweight
fighter on the planet. My goal is to fight in Pride Bushido this
year.
Denis
Martins: Is there anything else you would like to say?
Marcus Aurelio: I would like to thank God for all of the opportunities
He gave me in this life; my family; my coaches (Ricardo Liborio,
'Conan' and Marcus Silveira), who have always prepared me very
well for my fights and are the reason I am where I am right now;
and to all my friends and teammates at ATT. I also want to thank
my friend and sponsor who does not want to be mentioned and of
course the fans. Without the fans we are nothing. The biggest
challenge in my life is not a fight. This is my way of life.
Each day I try to become a better person and support those who
need my help.
Denis
Martins: Thank you for your time and good luck in your future
fights.
Marcus Aurelio: Thank you for the opportunity.
Source:
ADCC
|
A
New Warrior from the Amazon
Famous
in Brazil for being the second strongest power in Jiu-Jitsu (Rio
de janeiro is the first) producing world champions like Ronaldo
Jacaré, Saulo Ribeiro, Wallid Ismail, Sérgio Souza,
Fredson Paixão, Bibiano Fernandes and Kiki, now Manaus
(capital of Amazonstate) is getting respected also in Vale-Tudo
world. Considered the underdog of the I Gladiator of the Jungle,
promoted last saturday in Manaus, the world Jiu-Jitsu champion
(blue belt medio), Adriano Martins (Monteiro Carioca), was the
great name of the event. Weighting only 79kg He enetered in a
100kg tournament and betead one by one all the favourites wining
the title and getting crazy the local audience of 4500 people
who packed Nininberg Gymnasiun in Manaus. 'The guy is really
good and honoured the brave heart of Amazon people' said a very
impressed world Jiu-Jitsu champion, Ronaldo Jacaré, who
assisted the event in the front seats. To get the title Adriano
beated by judge decision the favourite Lucas Lopes (Kimura) in
the first fight, than knocked out the tough local Robert Pato
defeating in the final (also by judge decision) Erick Cardoso
(champions factory) muay Thai student of Arthur Mariano and Jiu-Jitsu
black belt of the Leonardo Castello Branco. 'Now I´m going
to put my gui on and start training hard for next Mundial' said
the purple belt student of Cristiano Carioca black belt from
Monteiro Academy (Monteiro is Gracie Academy in Manaus).
100
kg TOURNAMENT
Adriano Martins (Monteiro carioca JJ) defeated Lucas Lopes (Kimura)
- Judge decision (after 10 minutes)
Erick Cardoso (Champions Factory) defeated Beto Cordeiro (Amazonas
JJ) - Judge decision
Robert 'Pato' Fonseca (Anibal Jiu-Jitsu) defeated Maicon Philips
(Amazonas Free Style) - punches from side mount 3min46s
Ademar (Clube Titão) defeated George Santos (Free Style)
- corner throwed the towel
SEMIFINAL
Adriano Martins (Monteiro carioca JJ) knocked out Pato - straight
punch at 4min53s
Erick Cardoso (Champions Factory) knocked out Ademar (Clube Titão)
- knees at 3min24s
FINAL
Adriano Martins (Monteiro carioca JJ) defeated Erick Cardoso
(Champions Factory) - judge decision
PRELIMINARY
MMA BOUTS
Arilson (Clube Titão) defeated Jorge Clay (NU) - Judge
interruption (punches from the mount) at 7min53s of extension
time
Rogério
Brito (Ceará) defeated Jones Hulk (Amazonas) - rear naked
choke 5min 23s of the 1o round
Doca
(Luta-Livre) defeated Erivan (Jiu-Jitsu) - triangle choke at
3min56s of the 1o round
SUBMISSION
CHALLENGE: JIU-JITSU 5 X 2 LUTA LIVRE
Pablo Reis (JJ) defeated Totonho Aleixo (LL) - 2x2 in points
but Reis got an advantage for submission attempt (armlock)
Fernandinho Vieira (JJ) defeated Waldecir (LL) - submission (armlock
from guard position)
Neto Carvalho (LL) defeated André Zulú (JJ) - 4x2
in points
Andrews Tigrão (JJ) defeated Alan Ferreira (LL) - 3x0
in points
Elton Henrique (LL) defeated Cristiano Ribeiro (JJ) - 3x0 in
points
Tony Ferreira (JJ) defeated Márcio Mesquita (LL) - submission
(Rear naked choke)
Rivonei (JJ) defeated Estevão (LL) - submission (triangle
choke)
Source: ADCC |
Becoming
A Name
By Loretta Hunt
There's
a tried and true rule in mixed martial arts these days: To become
a name you have to beat a name. Like other up and coming fighters,
Trevor Prangley knows this unwritten guideline all to well, which
is why he's looking at his pending battle with Andrei Semenov
with his eyes wide open. The Idaho resident (by way of South
Africa) is one of ten "American" representatives that
will square off against the visiting Russian Red Devil Sports
Club this Saturday for Euphoria Entertainment's Mixed Martial
Arts: Russian Invasion event at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic
City, New Jersey. The South African import has amassed a 22-2
overall record stateside in the last six years, and with an impressive
performance against Renato "Babalu" Sobral last September
at the IFC Global Domination Tournament as his springboard, the
Prangley name teeters on the cusp of industry (and fan) notoriety.
A wrestler all his life, Prangley says he made his way to America
from Cape town, South Africa in 1996 after earning an alternate's
slot on the South African Olympic freestyle team. The plan was
to spend a few years in the States, sharpen his game, then head
back home for another shot at Olympic glory. Dates with destiny,
however, can not be broken. After wrestling alongside now-UFC
lightweight contender Josh "the Punk" Thomson at North
Idaho College, Prangley's day job working on diesel engine performance
found him in the Lone Star state. From there, fate pushed a wee
bit harder. An interest in the growing force of MMA landed the
6'1" wrestler on the doorstep of some of the sport's original
heroes. As part of Guy Mezger's Lion's Den chapter in Texas,
Prangley spent over a year training and helped get Tra Telligman
in fighting shape for his UFC 43 slugfest with Pedro Rizzo.
Making his way back to Idaho, Prangley merged the Lion's Den
name with Team Idaho, the local team he'd trained with prior
under the tutelage of coach Derek Lehman. Thomson introduced
Prangley to manager "Crazy" Bob Cook, who with Javier
Mendez, oversaw a growing camp of fighters at the American Kickboxing
Academy in San Jose, California. With a place to train and a
manager onboard, the pieces quickly fell into place for the wrestler
and the inevitable fights and subsequent victories followed.
A berth into the highly-publicized IFC Light-Heavyweight 8-Man
Tournament was South African's next big break though, and although
he lasted three tough rounds with the resilient Brazilian that
would go on to take the whole night, Prangley was left at the
wayside in the opening brackets.
The decision to move down to middleweight contention was made
after Prangley ate as much as he humanly could and still weighed
in at 202 pounds for the tournament, while most of his opponents
struggled to cut their weights down to the 205 pound limit. It
was actually a return for Prangley, who'd originally fought at
185 pounds in the very first years of his fighting career, until
weightlifting, lack of cardio, and an unwillingness to cut the
extra pounds set in.
Now settled on what division he'll pursue, the 32-year old knows
his time is ticking, but says he's ready to give some of his
younger peers a run for their money. "The younger generation's
tough, " he admits, "but we've got a little bit of
mental experience on them. I don't think it's a big problem.
Right now, I'm not too concerned." Splitting his time between
cardio and intensive wrestling training in Idaho, and then making
the trek to AKA to hone his boxing and Thai boxing skills with
the likes of John Fitch, Mike Swick, and the Punk himself, Prangley
feels he's ready to show the 26-year old Semenov a thing or two
in the cage.
And while the other American participants have probably had difficulty
pronouncing their Russian counterparts names, let alone been
able to get their hands on some fight footage of their elusive
opponents, Prangley has had the minor luxury of watching at least
one of Semenov's two well-known UFC appearances. The baby-faced
Russian's versatile win over Renzo Gracie Brazilian jiu-jitsu
black belt Ricardo Almeida at UFC 35 has given Prangley at least
a clue as to what he can expect come Saturday night. "I
know he's never going to quit," he observes. "He's
virtually impossible to submit. He's got the Russian mentality
that you really have to break something. Even then he might not
quit. It's not going to be an easy fight, no matter what happens."
Easy or not though, Prangley says he's banking on his strength
and power to see him through, funneled into his superior wrestling
and positioning skills. Having not even watched Semenov's second
Octagon appearance, Prangley naturally channels the same game
plan that Ivan Salaverry utilized to systematically pick the
Russian apart at their UFC 37 soiree. It's the good old numbers
game-- weigh in at 185 pounds the day before, and get a bit heftier
by the time you reach the competition circle, hopefully enough
to make a "bigger impression" on your foe .
Prangley is also confident in the fact that he's grown accustomed
to tackling much heavier opponents in his past. "You know,
I've fought my last 15 fights at 205," the South African
says, "and now to fight somebody at 185? Now, Babalu. He
was hard. He's a big powerful guy. But, when you take 25 or 30
pounds off that guy, which is where Semenov's going to be, well,
that's not going to be a problem for me."
And if by Sunday, Prangley is able to become the name that overpowered
the plucky judo stylist with cajones of steel, where does he
hope the newfound recognition will lead him? "I'm hoping
to have a run in the UFC at 185," he honestly answers. "I've
been trying to get in there, but 205's just a tough decision."
Not ironically, what Prangley says he can offer the middleweight
division is what the UFC needs most desperately at the moment,
and that's simply a new face with the talent to stick around.
"At 185," he says, "I think I've got a good chance
against everybody in there. I'd like to fight them all-- not
at once, of course," he laughs.
But, first there's Semenov to contend with and this business
regarding the name.
Source:
FCF |
TRIGG
WAITING TO FIGHT AGAIN
Frank Trigg appeared on MMAWeekly SoundOff Radio as it's featured
guest on Wednesday. Frank talked about his loss to Matt Hughes,
Phil Baroni's suspension being reduced and his future in Mixed
Martial Arts.
Trigg
is doing "really really good." He has been training
at the Raw training facility and they have made some new additions
to their staff. They have brought in Mark Eckerd, a Brazilian
Jiu-Jitsu specialist who was a student of Rickson Gracie. Frank
considers Eckerd to be one of the best Jiu-Jitsu guys in the
country and added, "this guy is amazing." In addition
to Eckerd, the Raw Team has added Trigg's long time boxing trainer
as well.
We
haven't seen or heard much about Frank Trigg; since, his loss
to Matt Hughes at UFC 45. Frank discussed the loss, saying he
isn't a fighter who makes excuses for loses. Trigg said he was
trying for a Kimura and then went for a sweep but neither attempt
was successful so he thought he would keep rolling in that direction
and it was the "wrong move."
Not
taking anything away from Matt, Frank thinks he beat himself.
After giving up his back to Hughes, Trigg was submitted via a
rear naked choke. Frank was "shocked" that Matt was
able to get the choke, pointing out that Hughes' submission skills
aren't that "high a level."
Trigg
has a two fight contract with the UFC and thought they would
bring him back right away. That didn't happen, but it's Frank's
understanding that the UFC has to use him in July for UFC 48
according to the way the contract was set up. If he had his way,
he'd fight once a month but offers simply are not coming in.
If he doesn't fight before July, it will be an eight month lay
off between fights. The situation is "frustrating"
to Trigg and he isn't even getting offers to fight in smaller
events.
Frank
talked about the ever changing face of the 170lb. weight class.
He called it "a brand new weight class." With the influx
of new faces and talent, Trigg thinks two things could happen.
He doesn't feel they need him anymore or it will "propel
him back to the top." Frank discussed a couple of the "new
faces." He considers Charuto Verissimo to be an amazing
submission artist who is tall and lanky for the division. He
thinks he looked very strong against Carlos Newton. But, he quickly
pointed out that in Charuto's fight with Newton, there wasn't
one legitimate submission attempt in the fight by the two. He
went on to say, "These guys are suppose to be two world
renown submission artist and neither one did any submission attempts."
If
Frank could choose his next opponent, he said it would be BJ
Penn because BJ is the champion. "The whole point of fighting
is to get the belt," he added. He continued, "if you
get a chance to fight the champ, you fight the champ," and
"I want to take the title."
Trigg
voiced his opinion on Phil Baroni's suspension being lifted.
Frank said his perspective comes from competing for so long as
an amateur in wrestling and what would have happened to him if
he did what Phil did. He likes Phil as a person, but thinks he
is a little too intense and too emotional. Trigg put it point
blank, if you punch a ref in wrestling, you are banned for life.
He questioned what kind of message it sends to reduce the suspension.
Frank added, "four months is ridiculous, it's laughable."
He doesn't even consider four months to be a ban because most
fighters take that much time between fights anyway.
As
a fighter, Trigg said, Baroni "is a bad ass and fights like
a bad ass." Phil hits hard and is strong but Frank thinks
if Baroni would slow down a little, it may help him. He, like
most of us, would love to see Phil and Lee Murray fight. He said
Lee is a lot better than he first thought. Murray is a good striker
with no fear who works on his submissions quite a bit. "He
can definitely mix it up," said Trigg, who's seen Murray
in training.
Source: MMA Weekly |
Quote
of the Day
"Time never stops to rest, never hesitates, never looks
forward or backward. Life's raw material spends itself now, this
moment - which is why how you spend your time is far more important
than all the material possessions you may own or positions you
may attain."
Denis Waitley, 1933-, American Author, Speaker, Trainer, Peak
Performance Expert
|
Shooto
Hawaii
FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 2004
Campbell High School
Fights start at 7:00 PM
Kid's under 7 FREE! Kid's ages 8-10 $10
Adults $15 Pre-sale, $20 on the day of the event
There
will be something new, AMATUER SHOOTO. Linebred, LLC will be
introducing a new twist to things. Amateur Shooto consists of
2 X 3 minute rounds with a full head gear, Shin guards and NO
punching when fight goes to the ground.
Currently,
we are recruiting fighters for this new endeavor. If you ever
wanted to try MMA and did not want to be thrown to the wolves,
this is the event for you. Full safety equipment is required
and no punching on the ground so you can try out shorter and
fewer rounds and don't have to worry when you get to the ground.
Amatuer Shooto is designed to ease fighters in to professional
MMA action and allow the fighters to build their skill and experience
safely.
Fighters
confirmed so far are...
Edmund
Li (Freelance) vs. Brandon Antonio (JIL) 143
Eric Pajdak (Kamole, Kauai) vs. Thane (JIL) 183
Aaron Okura (Freelance) vs. Bryan Mau (Kenpo Unlimited) 155
PJ Dean (Freelance) vs. Rob Villapando (808 Fight Factory) 155
Chris Slavens
(Academia Casca Grossa de Jiu-Jitsu) vs. Chaian Alesna (808 Fight Factory)
167
Contact
the promoters today to sign up at 808-479-8183 or email them
at linebredllc@hawaii.rr.com. |
|
2004
Pan-Ams Update
The
2004 Pan-Ams are just weeks away but the turnout of top fighters
is getting of the hook. Lloyd Irvin is sending his powerhouse
team, including Mike Fowler & Jared Weiner, to show that
his Grappling Blueprint(TM) really kicks ass. Inside info has
it that Fowler is training like a madman; looking forward to
representing and securing a win for Team USA in the USA v Brazil
Team Challenge. Mike is also anticipating a possible rematch
with Ralek Gracie in the Purple Absolute. You may remember that
these two Superfighters fought one of the most spectacular matches
in last December's Grappling Games.
Referee's
Clininc
In
an effort to continue improving their tournament, the IBJJF is
scheduling a referee's clinic conducted by their Head Referee
on Thursday March 1st at 6:00. All referee's are encouraged to
attend. Additionally, prior to the opening of each competition
day, Prof. Mansur is going to conduct a brief 'refresher course'
for all competitors and referee's. The object of the refresher
course is to bring everyone to the same page and clarify, amongst
other things, what are legal and illegal techniques for each
belt (for instance on Friday, the Blue Belts will be briefed
on illegal techs which may be different from Purples and Brown
etc). This will be a great opportunity for last minute fine tuning
of strategies etc. Don't miss it!
For
more info and to register go to PanAm2004.
Source:
ADCC |
Monson
Out!
Travis "Diesel" Wiuff in for Atlantic City "Russian
Invasion" Event
By Loretta Hunt
In
a last-minute shuffle, UFC veteran Travis Wiuff has moved into
the main event for this Saturday's Mixed Fighting Championship:
Russian Invasion event, to make its inaugural run at the Trump
Taj Mahal's 5,000-seat arena. Wiuff, who is on an eleven fight
winning streak as of late, will take on Red Devil Sports Club
member and M-1 heavyweight champion Roman Zentsov.
According
to matchmaker Miguel Iturate, American Top Team rep Jeff Monson
had to bow out from the previously scheduled match-up due to
an injury sustained yesterday in training. 27-4 Wiuff was given
the green light early this afternoon, and reached for comment
at the airport on route to the popular Jersey shore, the Minnesota
native said he hasn't had a second to spare to get excited about
the opportunity. Pending Wiuff's medical clearance by the New
Jersey Athletic Control Board, the Euphoria Entertainment-promoted
event will be ten fights strong going into Saturday night. For
more information on the event, call (609) 449-1000 or (800) 825-8888.
Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com.
Source:
FCF |
ORTIZ
SPEAKS ON MMAWEEKLY RADIO
A
very quiet Tito Ortiz was the featured guest on MMAWeekly SoundOff
Radio, Wednesday. He spent 25 minutes on the radio and if you
missed the show, check it out RIGHT NOW on the Radio Archive.
Tito
talked about his recent loss to Randy Couture; as well as, his
upcoming fight with Chuck Liddell. Plus, a possible bout with
Lee Murray.
Tito
is doing good and is "getting back in the swing of things."
He has changed up his training a little and has been at it for
two "solid months." Ortiz is not training at Big Bear
for this fight, he is training at home in Huntington Beach. He
is focusing on "quality more than quantity" of training.
Tito
has been sparring with professional boxers and kickboxers for
his match with Liddell, and said he is knocking people out in
training for the first time. Ortiz usually walks around at about
207, but has put on a few pounds and is 218 to 220 right now.
He has slowed training down a little with this only being a three
round fight rather than the five he is used to.
He
said he is training smarter now and is using some cutting edge
technology too. Tito has an "altitude machine," an
egg shaped container that simulates the elevation inside up to
18,000 feet. The "Mork and Mindy" looking contraption
helps produce more red blood cells in the body, aiding in recovery
time. Tito said, "it won't make you fight any better"
but it will help recovery. The technology is being considered
by the military for soldiers.
"The
Huntington Beach Bad Boy" discussed his loss to Randy Couture
more openly than maybe ever before. "I guess it was just
Randy's night", Tito said. He went on to say that in the
sport of Mixed Martial Arts, it can be anybody's night on a given
night. Tito doesn't think he respected Randy's wrestling ability
enough and, "I got beat by a good wrestler." Ortiz
said, "everything wasn't clicking," "I didn't
have the speed and explosion" that I usually do.
Looking
back at the fight, Tito said he knew after round two that it
wasn't going to be his night. He added, "I couldn't stop
his takedown," and that he seemed to be a step behind Randy
the entire fight. The loss was hard on the former five time defending
champ. It took Tito a month to "swallow." Losing the
belt was "like a loved one dying," he commented. He
said fighting is his love, his life and those were tears of defeat.
Tito
would like a rematch with Randy for a little "redemption."
He thinks Couture will beat Vitor Belfort in a rematch, but he
has a lot of respect for Belfort taking the fight with Randy
under his circumstances. Ortiz said he would love a fight with
Vitor and thinks it is a big money fight. He also said, Randy
deserves a rematch with Vitor. Although he wants to avenge his
loss to Couture, if Vitor retains the belt in a rematch, Tito
would like to fight him for the title.
Losing
the belt has given Tito a different perspective. He said it feels
like a weight has been lifted off his shoulders. He said he doesn't
care anymore and isn't afraid of losing. In his upcoming fight
with Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell, Ortiz said he is going
to do what people don't think he can and that is stand with Chuck
Liddell.
This
fight is "extremely personal" to Ortiz. He said, "I
have never been afraid of the guy, I just didn't want to give
him a beating." Tito doesn't think Liddell is the same fighter
he was two years ago and predicts that he will pick Chuck apart.
He expects Chuck to come in, in the great shape but feels Chuck's
career is on the line. He went on to say, "I am going to
try to stop the guy. April 2nd, people are going to see the best
of Tito Ortiz."
Tito
wants to fight three times this year and wants to be on the UFC
48 card as well. He would like to fight Lee Murray in that event.
He said he has no problem fighting Murray and will make the specified
weight of 200 pounds on the day of the fight. He said that Lee
has been "riding my coat tails" and "I'm going
to give him a beating." Ortiz has three fights left on his
contract with the UFC and said he loves the UFC and would like
to end his career with them. To check out Tito's website, go
to www.TitoOrtiz.com and to check out his
clothing line, go to www.punishmentathletics.com.
Source:
MMA Weekly |
UNO,
PULVER AND OTHERS HEADLINE SHOOTO CARD
Caol Uno and Jens Pulver will both be fighting on the upcoming
Shooto card in March. Uno is returning to Shooto for the first
time in a while. Uno was competing in the UFC and has now returned
home to Japan to compete.
Shooto
decided to matchup Uno for his comeback fight agajinst the "Shooto
Wrecking Machine" Tatsuya Kawajiri. Kawajiri is ranked #2
Welterweight in Shooto's Top 10. Kawajiri has an impressive record
of 10-2-1.
Petersen
reports that the winner of the upcoming March 22nd show in Tokyo
will most likely face the current Welterweight champion Vitor
"Shaolin" Ribeiro for the title.
Meanwhile
Jens Pulver, coming off an exhibition match against Eddie Yagin
in SuperBrawl will be competing on March 22nd as well, against
Noaya Uematsu.
Here
is part of the card for March 22. The entire card has not been
announced.
Shooto
in Tokyo March 22nd
Naoya
Uematsu vs. Jens Pulver
Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Caol Uno
Akitoshi Tamura vs. Eiji Murayama
Source:
MMA Weekly |
3rd
Annual Longman Gracie Kauai Jiu-Jitsu Tournament This Weekend!
Note the change in
the day of the tournament! It will be held on Sunday, not Saturday
as originally posted. Hope to see everyone there to support this
tournament!
When: Sunday,
March 14, 2004
Time: 10:00 AM
Where: Kilauea Gym,
located next to the Kilauea Theater on the north side of Kauai
Weigh
ins: Friday, March 12, 2004 from 6:00-9:00 pm at the underwater
surf shop in the Kauai village shopping center next to the Safeway
store. Off Island competitors may weigh in on Sunday from 9:00
AM.
Schedule
of events:
9:00
AM - Weigh-ins
9:30 AM - Opening Ceremony
9:45 AM - Rules Clinic
10:00 AM - Tournament Begins
Normal
BJJ weight classes with these added
214-226 lbs
227-246 lbs
246 lbs and over
I
would like to congratulate the Gracie Kauai Longman Jiu-Jitsu
Team at the First Maui Open which highlighted lightweight purple
belt Jared Espina for taking the Gold in his weight and in the
Invitational Professional lightweight division fighting 6 times
with 5 submissions. Jared was also awarded the fasted submission
of the tournament (7 seconds) and the most technical athlete!
Jared closed the professional division with his teammate, brown
belt Aaron Moeller. My teacher Royler Gracie will be proud to
see the news on your site of how well we have represented Gracie
Humaita. Thank you for your support.
Aloha,
Bruno Ewald
For
more information, call Bruno at 808-826-4166 or 808-645-1265. |
Ring
of Honor is looking for amateur fighters
Ring Of Honor
Campbell High School, Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Friday, April 9, 2004
There are 8 amateurs fighters from the mainland in kickboxing
and MMA coming in to test themselves against Hawaii's fighters.
Anyone interested in fighting can email Kai Kamaka at kai@ringofhonor.tv or kai@808ff.com.
Source:
Event promoter |
Enson
to debut at Super Brawl!
April 16,
2004
Neil Blaisdell Arena
Hawaii's own Yamato Damashi, Enson Inoue will bring his kill
or be killed style to the Super Brawl ring. If you have not seen
Enson fight, you better ask somebody.
He
has fought the best heavyweights in Pride and even though he
has not come out on top all the time, he has ALWAYS put on a
great and entertaining performance. After seeing some of his
fights, you will understand why we say that he has a kill or
be killed style.
Stay
tuned for more match ups on this card! |
5th
Hawaiian Championships of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Honolulu, Hawaii
April 24, 2004
For more information, please call James Tanaka (808) 223-9363
or email him at jkt@lava.net
Source:
Event promoter |
|