Upcoming
Events
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(All events on Oahu, unless noted)
2008
11/8/08
Aloha State Championship of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
(BJJ/Sub Grapping)
(Gym #1, UH Manoa)
6/5-8/08
World Jiu-Jitsu Championsihps
(BJJ)
(Long Beach, CA)
5/3/08
Hawaiian Open of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
(BJJ/Sub Grapping)
(Gym #1, UH Manoa)
3/28-30/08
Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship
(BJJ)
(Carson, CA)
2/08
OTM Grappling Tournament?
2/17/08
Hawaiian Championship of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
(BJJ/Sub Grapping)
(Gym #1, UH Manoa)
2/8/08
Hawaii Fighting Championships 7
(Kickboxing & MMA)
(Dole Cannery Ballroom)
1/26/08
NAGA Hawaii
(BJJ & Sub Grappling)
(Location TBA)
Tentative
X1 World Events: Champions
(MMA)
(Blaisdell Arena)
1/20/08
Big
Island Open Jiu-Jitsu Tournament
(Konawaena High School)
(BJJ/Sub Grappling)
(POSTPONED)
1/19/08
UFC 80: Rapid Fire
(BJ Penn vs. Joe Stevenson)
Newcastle, England
1/12/08
Hawaii Fight League
Season 1, Event 2
(MMA)
(Dole Cannery Ballroom)
2007
12/29/07
UFC 79: Nemisis
Las Vegas, NV
12/15/07
Clinton A.J. Shelton 3rd Annual Memorial Boxing Event
(Boxing)
Palolo District Park)
12/8/07
Ultimate Fighter Season 7 Finale
Las Vegas, NV
12/7/07
Punishment In Paradise
"BEST OF THE BEST"
11/23/07
MMA Contenders
(Kickboxing, Various)
(Filcom Center, Waipahu)
Hawaii Fighting Championships 4
(Kickboxing & MMA)
(Dole Cannery Ballroom)
11/18/07
The Quest for Champions 2007 II
(Sport-Pankration, Submission-Grappling, Continuous Sparring)
(St. Louis High School Gym)
11/17/07
Man Up & Stand Up
(Kickboxing, Various)
(Kalaheo High School, Kailua)
UFC78: Validation
Newark, NJ
11/16-17/07
Hawaii Training Center Boxing match event
(Boxing)
(Hawaii Training Center, Waipahu)
11/11/07
Aloha
State Championship of BJJ
(BJJ/Sub Grappling)
(Klum Gym UH Manoa)
10/27/07
Freedom Fighting
"Battle on the Base"
(MMA)
(Kahunas Ballroom, MCBH, Kaneohe)
10/26/07
Kickin It / Hawaii's Most Wanted
(Kickboxing, Various)
(Filcom Center, Waipahu)
X-1 Presents
Fight Club Meets The Night Club
(MMA)
(O Lounge Night Club, Honolulu)
10/19/07
Hawaii Fight League
(MMA)
(Dole Cannery)
10/6/07
Gracie Proving Ground
(MMA)
(Blaisdell Arena)
9/28/07
Hawaii's Most Wanted
(Kickboxing, Various)
(Filcom Center, Waipahu)
9/15/07
Elite XC
(MMA)
(Blaisdell Arena)
September
Gracie Fighting Championships
(MMA)
9/8/07
UFC
75
(02 Arena in London, England)
(PPV)
Hawaii Fighting Championships 4
(Kickboxing & MMA)
(Dole Cannery Ballroom)
8/31/07
Fighters Journey
Pro-Am MMA Event
(MMA)
(tba)
X-1 Presents
Fight Club Meets The Night Club
(MMA)
(O Lounge, Honolulu)
8/25/07
UFC
74: Respect
(Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas, Nevada )
(PPV)
8/23-25/07
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Championshihps
(BJJ)
(The Pyramid, Long Beach, CA)
8/12/07
Punishment
In Paradise 17
(MMA & Kickboxing)
(Hawaiian Waters, Kapolei)
***Postponed***
8/10/07
Hawaii's Most Wanted
(Filcom Center, Waipahu)
8/4/07
X-1
(MMA)
(Blaisdell Arena)
Island Warriors Fighting Championship
(MMA)
(Maui War Memorial Gym, Wailuku, Maui)
7/28/07
Maui
Jiu-Jitsu Tournament
(BJJ & Sub Grappling)
(Maui War Memorial Gymnasium, Wailuku, Maui)
7/21/07
Garden Island Cage Match 6: Caged Fury
(Kickboxing, MMA)
(Hanapepe Stadium, Kauai)
Palolo Boxing Club & Kawano Boxing Club
presents amateur boxing
(Boxing)
(Palolo Gym)
7/14/07
Patriot Fighting Championships
(MMA & Kickboxing)
(Kaneohe Marine Corps Base)
***Postponed***
7/13/07
Hawaii Fighting Championships: Stand Your Ground 3
(Kickboxing & MMA)
(Dole Cannery Ballroom)
7/8/07
Dan Henderson Seminar
(MMA)
(O2
Martial Arts Academy, Aiea)
7/7/07
UFC
73: Stacked
(PPV)
7/1/07
Mike Swain Seminar
(Judo)
(O2
Martial Arts Academy, Aiea)
6/30/07
Icon Sport: Fearless
(MMA)
(Blaisdell Arena)
***Postponed
to 9/15***
6/29/07
MMA Contendors: Conflict - The Beginning
(MMA)
(Farrington H.S. Gym)
X-1 Presents
Fight Club Meets The Night Club
(MMA)
(O Lounge Night Club, Honolulu)
6/23/06
Ultimate Fight Night
(BJ Penn vs Jens Pulver)
(Spike TV)
6/23/07
Hawaiian
Open of BJJ
(BJJ/Sub Grappling)
(Klum Gym UH Manoa)
6/22/07
Got
Skills
(Kickboxing/MMA)
(Waipahu Filcom)
6/16/07
UFC 72: Victory
(PPV)
6/12/07
UFC
Fight Night
(MMA)
(Spike Oceanic 559)
6/3/07
The Quest for Champions 2007
(Sport-Pankration, Submission-Grappling, Continuous Sparring
and Sport-Jujitsu)
(Saint Louis High School Gym)
5/27/07
Benefit Concert for the 2007 Hawaii Junior Olympic Boxing Team
(Ewa Ranch, Ewa Beach)
5/26/07
UFC
71 Liddell vs Rampage
(MMA)
(PPV Oceanic 701)
Memorial Day Mayhem
(Kickboxing)
(Kalaheo High School Gym)
5/19/07
Kickin it
(Kickboxing)
(Waipahu Filcom Center)
5/12/07
Punishment In Paradise: Untouchables
(Kickboxing)
(Hawaiian Waters, Kapolei)
USA-Boxing Hawaii Fundraising Event
(Boxing)
(Palolo Gym)
5/5/07
ROTR Qualifer: Beat Down 3
(MMA)
(Hilo Civic Center, Hilo)
4/28/07
Pride
Fighting Championships:
(PPV)
(Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV)
Maui MMA Event
(MMA)
(Maui)
K-1 World GP
(Kickboxing)
(Honolulu)
4/27/07
XMA
(MMA, Kickboxing)
**Cancelled**
4/24/07
Professional Boxing
(Boxing)
(Waipahu Filcom Center)
4/20/07
Kickin It 2007 Part 3
(Kickboxing)
(Filcom Center, Waipahu)
4/7/07
Got Skills
(Kickboxing)
(Waipahu Filcom Center)
Papakolea Jiu-Jitsu Club Tournament
(BJJ & Sub Grappling)
(King Intermediate, Kaneohe)
4/6/07
Hawaii Fighting Championships: Stand Your Ground 3
(MMA)
(Dole Cannery Ballroom)
4/5/07
Ultimate
Fight Night
(Spike TV)
3/31/07
Icon Sport
(MMA)
(Blaisdell Arena)
3/25/07
Kickboxing Benefit Event for Mrs. Faagai
(Kickboxing)
(Waianae H.S. Gym)
3/24/07
Garden Island Cage Match
5
(MMA)
(Kauai)
The 2007
Hawaii State/Regional Junior Olympic Championships (Boxing)
(Palolo District Park)
UFC:
Tito Ortiz vs. Dana White boxing match
(Nevada)
*Cancelled*
3/17/07
X-1
(MMA)
(Blaisdell Arena)
Island Warriors
(MMA)
(Maui War Memorial)
3/13/07
Ultimate
Fight Night
(Spike TV)
3/10/07
Hawaiian Championship of BJJ
(BJJ/Sub Grappling)
(Klum Gym UH Manoa)
3/3/07
UFC 68
(PPV)
(Columbus, Ohio)
Kickin It
(Kickboxing)
(Waipahu Filcom)
2/24/07
Pride Fighting Championships:
(PPV)
(Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV)
2/17/06
Got
Skills
(Kickboxing/MMA)
(Waipahu Filcom)
2/16-17/07
USA-Boxing Hawaii State & Regional Championships
(Boxing)
(Palolo District Park Gym)
2/16/07
Punishment
In Paradise 15
(MMA & Kickboxing)
(Hawaiian Waters)
2/9/07
Icon Sports
(MMA & Kickboxing)
(Blaisdell Arena)
2/3/07
UFC
67
(Lutter vs Silva)
(PPV)
2/2/06
Got
Skills & Kickin' It
(Kickboxing/MMA)
(Waipahu Filcom)
1/23/07
Ultimate
Fight Night
(Spike TV)
1/20/07
IFL
(MMA)
1/14/07
NAGA Hawaii
(BJJ & Sub Grappling)
(St. Louis H.S. Gym)
1/13/07
USA Boxing Amateur Boxing
(Boxing)
(Palolo Gym)
1/12/07
K-1 Dynamite
(MMA)
(PPV, 5:00 PM Ch: 701)
|
|
December 2007 News
Part 3
|
Casca Grossa Jiu-Jitsu
is now the O2 Martial Arts Academy with 6 days a week training!
We are also offering Escrima (stick fighting) on Monday nights
and Kickboxing Tuesday and Thursday!
Click
here for info!
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Tuesdays at 7:00PM
***NEW TIME***
Olelo Channel 52 on Oahu
Akaku on Maui
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out the FCTV website! |
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Onzuka.com
Hawaii Underground Forum is Online!
Chris, Mark,
and I wanted to start an official Onzuka.com forum for a while
now. We were searching for the best forum to go with and hit
a gold mine! We have known Kirik, who heads the largest and most
popular forum on the net, The Underground for years.
He
offered us our own forum within the matrix know as MMA.tv. The
three of us will be the moderators with of course FCTV808 being
the lead since he is on there all day anyway!
We
encourage everyone from Hawaii and our many readers around world
to contribute to the Hawaii Underground.
If you
do not have a login, it's simple and fast to get one.
Click here to set up an account.
Don't worry about using Pidgin English in the posting. After
all it is the Hawaii Underground and what is a Hawaii Underground
without some Aloha and some Pidgin?
To
go directly to the Onzuka.com Hawaii Underground Forum
click here!
|
|
12/31/07
Happy New Year's Eve! |
Quote
of the Day
"For
every problem, there is one solution which is simple, neat and
wrong."
H. L. Mencken, 1880-1956, American Journalist/Satirist/Critic
|
X1
World Events: Champions
Blaisdell Arena, Honolulu, Hawaii
January 26, 2007
5:00PM
X1
World Middleweight Title - 4 man tournament 185lbs
Niko Vitale
Marcus Gaines
Joey Guel
Brian Warren
X1
World Welterweight Title 170lbs
Mark Moreno vs. Chad Reiner
Womens
Match
Mia St. John vs. Angelina Abata
X1
World Lightweight Title 155lbs
"Sugar" Shane Nelson vs. Kaleo Kwan
X1
World Super Lightweight Title 145lbs
Eddie Yagin vs. "Dirty" Dave Moreno
Heavyweight
Analu Brash vs. Ron Waterman
170lbs
Michael Brightmon vs. Anthony Torres
Heavyweight
Jake Faagai vs. Wesley "Cabbage" Correira
Heavyweight
Doug Hiu vs Eric Edwards
190lbs
- Pro
Cheyenne Padeken vs. Rich Anderson
Heavyweight
- Pro
Lolohea Mahe vs Des Miner
175lbs
Pro
Brennan Kamaka vs Luke Cadian
165lbs
Pro
Walter Hao vs Kona Ke 165 Pro
X1
State Amature Title 170lbs
Sean Sakata vs Steve Farmer
140lbs
- Amateur
Keola Silva vs Gary Rebalisza
140lbs
- Amateur
Jared Iha vs Alan Hashimoto
155lbs
Ikaika Moreno vs TBA
Source: Event Promoter
|
IFL
eyeing England
Promotion wants to penetrate British market
The UFC and Cage Rage are about to get some major competition
in the fight for Britain’s MMA market. IFL commissioner
and creator Kurt Otto told American journalists that he intends
to exploit his possibilities over there. Otto said the IFL will
be probably doing an event in the UK sooner than one might think.
To
get the English public even more captivated, the IFL should have
an English team in the 2008 season, led by veteran fighter Ian
Freeman. And what’s more, the promotion recently signed
a deal to have their shows broadcast directly to England, thus
making the IFL brand even more known.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
GAMBURYAN
HEALED UP, READY FOR UFC 79
by Matt Hill
Manvel
“Manny” Gamburyan perhaps was once known best as Karo
Parisyan’s cousin, but the past couple of years have certainly
changed that. As many fans know, Manny competed in the lightweights
only season of “The Ultimate Fighter” series coached
by B.J. Penn and Jens Pulver.
Gamburyan
put on a great showing during the series before finally succumbing
to a shoulder injury in The Ultimate Fighter Finale against tough
up-and-comer Nate Diaz. Diaz may have won the bragging rights
that night, but there was no doubt in anyone’s mind that
a healthy Gamburyan is going to be a force in the 155-pound class
for years to come.
He
joined MMAWeekly’s SoundOff radio show recently to discuss
his upcoming bout with Nate Mohr at UFC 79 and to talk about
how rehab to his injured shoulder and time away from the cage
treated him.
This
will be Gamburyan’s first fight back since he succumbed
to the devastating injury against Diaz last June. Many fans are
anxious too see him back in the mix.
Of
his return, Gamburyan said, “I’m really happy that
I’m back in the UFC again. It’s a lot of pressure on
me to win … I can’t lose, especially after my very
bad day with Diaz, so I have to do really good this time.”
He
is a fighter at heart and loves competition, but this time he
wants to get into the cage again for others as much as he does
for himself… Gamburyan wants to get back out there and put
on a great performance for all of his fans.
He
said, “I love my fans. Without my fans, I’m nobody
out here, dog. It’s just phenomenally crazy … I can’t
wait to go out there again for my fans, period.”
Gaburyan
is back, but the recovery road back into the cage was not an
easy one. He went through some uncertainty as to whether or not
he should have surgery on the shoulder or instead do aggressive
rehab on it. In the end, he took the chance at rehab rather than
the surgery, and so far, he has not regretted that decision.
Fight night will be the true test, however.
“To
be honest with you, it was like a nightmare sitting out and not
fighting,” revealed Gamburyan. “Then I went to the
doctor and he said that I needed surgery for sure, and then he
said, ‘or you could rehab it for three months and it might
get better, 50/50, or it might not.’”
One
thing is certain; fans are ready to see the return of this talented
lightweight. Gamburyan isn’t the type who is going to let
down his fans if he has any say in it, and he said that he believes
this fight will end with, “Hopefully a first round submission.”
Regardless
of the outcome next Saturday, fans can certainly expect an entertaining
fight anytime that Gamburyan steps into the cage.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
BTT
Looks Forward to Strong 2008
by Gleidson Venga
The
first half of the 2007 was a tough one for Brazilian Top Team,
with losses in important events and departures of some stars
-- including the Nogueira brothers, Paulo Filho and Mario Sperry.
However,
the Brazilian squad changed its course and could end 2007 on
a positive note when one of its leaders, Murilo Bustamante, faces
Makoto Takimoto at the Yarennoka! New Year's Eve event in Tokyo.
"The
expectation for Murilo's fight is very good to close the year
with success," said Brazilian Top Team leader Luis Roberto
Duarte. "Murilo is very well trained and will face Takimoto,
who is a very good fighter and has a very strong name in Japan.
It could not have been a better choice. It worked out nicely
for our demands. I think it has everything to close this year,
which has been very good for us in the second half, with success."
In
analyzing the year, Duarte celebrated the fact that despite big-name
departures, Brazilian Top Team ended the year strongly.
"The
year 2007 started with the victory of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
against Josh Barnett in PRIDE Shockwave," Duarte recalled,
talking about a fight that actually took place on the final day
of 2006. "After that we had two fights that were not so
good, with Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Ricardo Arona losing
to Sokoudjou. After that everyone had a crisis, and we had a
troubled middle of the year. Then we worked and steered the ship
straight again, and the results started to show.
"We
had three athletes in MTL on Murilo's team. We had the victories
of Rousimar Palhares and also Fernando Paulon, who to me was
one of the major revelations of 2007 because he had five fights
and five wins. He is a very tough guy. There is Vitor Pimenta,
Mauricio Reis, the kids who are appearing here, in addition to
Milton Vieira, who is returning to fight. So we are completing
a year very well that began very troubled."
Duarte
also assessed the performance of the biggest breakthrough fighter
in Brazilian MMA this year, middleweight Rousimar Palhares. Palhares
won the Fury FC 185-pound tournament by overcoming the experienced
Flavio Moura, Fabio Nascimento and Daniel Acacio.
"When
we began working with Rousimar, we knew that he would bring great
success to the team," Duarte said. "He is a very focused
boy who trains too much. He has a history of sacrifice, where
you see that the guy came into the world to break barriers, overcome
obstacles. This is just another obstacle, but the people are
there beside him to help him because I think he is an ordained
guy, a great person with excellent character.
"He
has everything to be a champion. He already is a champion in
life and now has everything to be a champion in the ring. We
expect from him all the best fights and wins, to earn the money
he wants so much to help his family, which is all that he wants.
We are there to keep ‘friends of the champion' from surrounding
him, which is what happens often, and to make him reach his goals."
For
next year, Duarte believes Brazilian Top Team will become even
stronger with the possibility of several athletes shining on
the international scene.
"For
fights in events outside of Brazil, I am betting my chips on
Luiz Firmino, on Alexandre Ferreira, on Milton Vieira, in addition
to Ricardo Arona, Murilo Bustamante and Rousimar Palhares,"
Duarte said. "And we are working now so that in 2009 others
may shine, such as Vitor Pimenta and Mauricio Reis. I think that
they will be the guys who people will talk about. We have this
constant renewal."
A
BJJ black belt under Carlson Gracie, Duarte does not hide his
satisfaction for finishing 2007 well. By doing so, great expectations
are created for next year.
"When
we do a job that you believe in, with serious work, we achieve
good results," he said. "I think 2008 will be a promising
year."
Source: Sherdog
|
SMART
“MONEY” VS. DUMB “MONEY”
By Jason Abelson
Word
spread Friday and Saturday that the world’s best pound-for-pound
fighter, Floyd Mayweather Jr. is mulling over some sort of offer
made by billionaire Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban to join
his fledgling MMA organization, HDNet Fights.
Of
course, Floyd’s name and time are worth a lot of money.
More than, dare I say, anybody’s currently involved in MMA.
And while there’s no doubt Cuban can afford to pay whatever
price Mayweather commands, the question has to be asked, what’s
the upside for Floyd?
“Money”
Mayweather can make as much in the ring, a realm where he has
no peer, and as he would as a one-time curiosity in an MMA cage,
assuming he’s being courted by Cuban as a fighter.
The
fact of the matter is that Floyd is getting bored dominating
boxing, and is looking for another way to challenge himself.
For
all of the hype brought to bare upon us prior to Mayweather’s
December 8th TKO 10 over Ricky Hatton, the so-called fight was
merely a feisty Hatton careening face-first into a mounting beating.
And,
let’s face it, there’s isn’t another boxer in
the world below 160 lbs. that Floyd isn’t an overwhelming
favorite against.
Those
thinking that Miguel Cotto, Floyd’s most daunting boxing
challenge south of middleweight, is remotely close to even money,
are hanging their hats on abstract speculation, and worship,
not on the clear, naked, boxing truths.
The
same ill-conceived notions of Hatton’s pressure apply to
Cotto’s size.
Mayweather,
the thought went, had never faced a pressure fighter like Hatton.
Now,
those same people will maintain that Cotto’s size will cause
Mayweather fits.
It
won’t…he won’t.
If
the man is looking for a challenge, he has one of two places
to go; up 13 pounds and vie for a middleweight belt, or test
his luck at MMA.
I
still say Smart Money gets in the ring with Cotto. Amazingly,
it would be Mayweather’s first career unification fight,
and, should he win, nobody could ever say he wasn’t the
best fighter in the post-Ali era.
Then,
if he wants to be called the greatest ever, he can put on 13
pounds and win a middleweight belt. The fact of the matter is
that an undefeated Mayweather with a middleweight belt around
his waist puts him in the company of one other fighter in history,
Sugar Ray Robinson.
But,
boxing is as much about ego outside the ring, as it is pride
and greatness in it. Mayweather probably won’t put pen to
paper containing the name of Cotto’s promoter, Bob Arum.
Mayweather
feels Arum, his past promoter, undersold him, and that he’s
still fighting to get to the level of superstardom that Arum
prevented him from achieving.
However,
no matter how hard Mayweather-Cotto will be to make, or whatever
physical toll fighting as a middleweight takes, Dumb Money will
decide to step into an MMA cage.
As
great as Mayweather is in the ring, he’ll be out of his
depth fighting for Cuban.
First
off, his brittle, yet blinding, hands, his only MMA advantage,
would be left exposed wearing 4-ounce gloves. Second, what happens
if somebody is sly enough to take him off his feet?
But,
that’s what separates the greats from us mere physical mortals;
they yearn to find these things out for themselves.
Source: The Fight Network
|
Quote
of the Day
"For
every problem, there is one solution which is simple, neat and
wrong."
H. L. Mencken, 1880-1956, American Journalist/Satirist/Critic
|
UFC
79: Nemesis Results
Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada
Saturday, Dec. 29
1. LW: Mark Bocek (155) def. Doug Evans (154) via unanimous decision
2.
WW: Roan Carneiro (170) def. Tony DeSouza (170) via TKO (strikes)
- R2
3.
MW: Dean Lister (186) def. Jordan Radev (185) via unanimous decision
4.
LW: Manny Gamburyan (155) def. Nate Mohr (155) via sub (ankle
lock) - R1 (1:31)
5.
LH: James Irvin (205) def. Luis Cane (205) via DQ (illegal knee)
- R1
6.
LW: Rich Clementi (155) def. Melvin Guillard (156) via sub (rear
naked choke) - R1
7.
LH: Lyoto Machida (204) def. Sokoudjou (205) via sub (arm triangle)
- R2
8.
HW: Eddie Sanchez (262) def. Sao Palelei (239) via TKO (strikes)
- R3 (3:24)
9.
LH: Chuck Liddell (204) def. Wanderlei Silva (205) via unanimous
decision
10.
WW: Georges St. Pierre (170) def. Matt Hughes (170) via submission
(armbar) - R2
GSP Wins Interim UFC Welterweight Championship.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
IFL
World Grand Prix Finals Results
Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, Connecticut
Saturday, December 29, 2007
PRELIMINARY
BOUTS:
1.
MW: Marcello Salazar (180.5) def. Alex Cook (180.25) via unanimous
decision
2. WW: Brett Cooper (169.75) def. Rory Markham (170.5) via TKO
(strikes) - R2
3. MW: Tim Kennedy (186) def. Elias Rivera via KO - R1
CHAMPIONSHIP
BOUTS:
4.
HW: Roy Nelson (258.25) def. Antoine Jaoude (253.5) via TKO (strikes)
- R2
5: FW: Wagnney Fabiano (144.25) def. L.C. Davis (143) via sub
(armbar) - R1
6. WW: Jay Hieron (168.5) def. Delson Heleno (168.25) via TKO
- R1
7. MW: Matt Horwich (183.5) def. Benji Radach (184) via KO -
R2
8. LW: Ryan Schultz (153.5) def. Chris Horodecki (153.75) via
TKO (strikes) - R1
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Report:
Mayweather Considering Move to MMA
Floyd
Mayweather Jr. is discussing a deal with billionaire Mark Cuban
that could put the best boxer on the planet in a mixed martial
arts bout.
If
an agreement is reached, Mayweather would join HDNet Fights,
Cuban's fledgling MMA promotional arm, ESPN reported Friday.
"Floyd
is considering fighting with HDNet Fights," Cuban told ESPN.com.
"We are going to let him visit some gyms to talk to some
folks about what it would take to learn. He knows it won't be
easy. But he is getting involved with MMA and HDNet Fights one
way or another. He is pumped about it. He wants to go on to the
next big thing. Floyd is a brilliant marketer. He follows the
money."
The
undefeated Mayweather, a five-division world champion regarded
as one of the purest pugilists in boxing history, stopped English
challenger Ricky Hatton on Dec. 8 to retain his welterweight
title.
Cuban
and Mayweather, who struck up a friendship during the taping
of ABC's "Dancing with the Stars," met Thursday in
Las Vegas to discuss a possible role for the boxer with HDNet
Fights.
According
to ESPN.com, Leonard Ellerbe, a close Mayweather associate, said
a move from the sweet science to MMA is something that seriously
interests the boxer.
"When
Floyd makes his move, obviously it's going to be a mega event,"
Ellerbe told ESPN. "We don't have a timetable. Floyd is
taking some time off, but Floyd understands what is involved.
You have to take time to go out and understand what you're getting
involved in, and he's ready to do that."
Mayweather,
30, was part of two events in 2007 that generated 3.25 million
pay-per-view buys and $200 million in revenue. A defeat of Oscar
de la Hoya in May broke PPV records with 2.4 million subscriptions.
In all, Mayweather made $50 million for his bouts with de la
Hoya and Hatton.
"If
I said there's a guaranteed $30 million payday, Floyd would be
lacing them up," Cuban told ESPN.com. "If not, I could
see him working to train and develop and invest in MMA fighters,
knowing the upside. He can teach them how to be a better boxer
and add to their other skills."
Should
he decide to compete in MMA, Mayweather would immediately become
the best boxer to test himself in that arena. Others such as
Francois Botha, Art Jimmerson, Melton Bowen and James Warring
fared poorly in their respective MMA efforts.
Mayweather
would likely compete in MMA's 145-pound featherweight division,
which is currently dominated by WEC champion Urijah Faber.
Source: Sherdog
|
Report:
Daley to Fight Aina at Jan 25th ShoXC
By FCF Staff
Britain’s Paul Daley will take on Hawaiian fighter Mike
Aina at the upcoming January 25th, ShoXC card, according to a
release FCF has received from a reliable source. The next Elite
XC, Showtime venture will take place that night at the Taj Mahal,
in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Daley (16-6-2) has been on fire
as of late, finishing all of his last four opponents either by
TKO or KO, most recently “Semtex” knocked out Mark
Weir at Cage Rage 23 in September. In his last performance competing
in the U.S., Daley stopped Duane Ludwig in the second round at
Strikeforce and Elite XC’s “Baroni vs. Shamrock”
card in June.
Although
Aina is coming off a loss to Nick Diaz at Elite XC’s “Uprising”
in September, he was impressive in the fight, dropping a tightly
contested Split Decision to his highly regarded opponent. Prior
to the fight with Diaz, Aina stopped Rick Screeton in the first
round with strikes at a Rumble in the Rock event in May.
In
other bouts believed to be in place for the January 25th card;
at middleweight, Kala Kolohe (4-1) will take on Belleton Fredrick
(4-1); at 140lbs. Julie Kedzie will face Tonya Etinger (5-3),
and at 150lbs., Bobby McMaster (7-1) will fight Bao Quach (11-8-1).
According
to the report, Yves Edwards (33-13-1) is also scheduled to compete,
however the fighter’s opponent has yet to be confirmed.
After losing three bouts in a row to Joe Stevenson, Mike Brown
and Jorge Masvidal from July 2006, to July of this year, Edwards
has returned to his winning ways as of late. At his Elite XC
debut in November, the UFC and Pride vet submitted Nick Gonzalez
in the first round with a rear-naked-choke, and more recently,
Edwards utilized the same technique to submit Alonso Martinez
at HDNet Fight’s card on December 15th.
Source: FCF
|
THE
GREAT FIGHT NORTH
News and Notes from Canada
By Mike Russell
Dispelling rumors he has left American Top Team, Denis Kang chalks
up his lengthy absence from the Coconut Creek, Fla. academy to
visa issues. The news was first reported by MMAWeekly.com on
Friday.
Kang
spent the summer between Vancouver, British Columbia and his
birthplace, the French Island of Michelon, then headed to Montreal
three weeks ago to help Greg Jackson and his team prepare Georges
St. Pierre for his interim UFC welterweight title bout with Matt
Hughes on Saturday at UFC 79 in Las Vegas.
His
absence from ATT, as well as his recent alliance with St. Pierre,
stimulated talk that Kang had joined Team Jackson. Kang denied
those rumors. According to the 30-year-old K-1 HERO’S middleweight,
increased post-Sept. 11 security measures implemented by the
U.S have impeded his travel.
“It’s
because of [criminal] charges I had against me years ago,”
said the half-French, half-Korean descendant. “I figured
they would be off my record by now since I’ve traveled to
the U.S a bunch of times since then, but apparently not. It really
sucks, but what can you do?”
As
part of an agreement with the Canadian Security Intelligence
Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials are provided
with court records of every Canadian charged with an offense,
regardless of the outcome of the case. Although he said his case
has long been cleared, Kang -- who is currently with his family
in Michelon for Christmas – said there is still record of
the charge. He hopes to have the record quashed with a pardon,
but since the process may take several months, he will remain
in Canada in the meantime.
“I
figure if everything gets cleared up, I’ll be back in Florida
training at ATT in the summer,” Kang said. “Imagine
if I had of signed with the UFC? I wouldn’t have been able
to fight for them until this all got sorted out.”
Kang
(29-9-1) was knocked out by Yoshihiro Akiyama (10-1) at K-1 HERO’S
“Olympia Korea 2007” in Seoul, South Korea on Oct.
28. A bout with Shungo Oyama (7-10) at K-1’s “Premium
2007 Dynamite!!” this New Year’s Eve did not come to
fruition.
Source: The Fight Network
|
IS
SOKOUDJOU FIGHTER OF THE YEAR?
by Mitch Gobetz
Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou has been the hottest fighter to come
into mixed martial arts this year.
Seemingly
coming out of nowhere, the African Assassin blasted into Pride
33 against MMAWeekly.com’s No. 10 ranked light heavyweight,
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira as an overwhelming underdog. When the
fight started, you could see that he was going to bring it to
Nogueira. It took him only 23 seconds to knockout the Brazilian.
While
many fans thought that the Nogueira finish could have been a
lucky punch, Sokoudjou then went into Pride 34 against MMAWeekly.com’s
No. 9 ranked light heavyweight Ricardo Arona. Lightening struck
twice as Sokoudjou knocked out Arona in less than two minutes.
While
Sokoudjou is already a candidate for fighter of the year, he
could be facing his toughest test this weekend against when he
makes his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut against the undefeated
Lyoto Machida. With a win over Machida, he would surely be the
frontrunner for fighter of the year.
Sokoudjou
recently stopped by MMAWeekly Radio to discuss his upcoming fight
with Machida.
“Everything
has gone well. I'm excited. I can't wait to get in the cage.”
When
the Fertittas purchased Pride, it seemed as if Sokoudjou's future
would not be in the UFC. He had strong offers from both K-1 and
EliteXC, but in the end, signed with the juggernaut that is the
Ultimate Fighting Championship.
“Well,
pretty much, they had an offer and the UFC is the biggest organization
in the world,” said Sokoudjou of his decision.
With
his last fight coming in April, some people may be concerned
with the eight-month layoff, but the fighter from Cameroon isn't
worried. He's already prepared for two fights.
“Well,
as of today, I would have had two fights (that) I've trained
(for) that I never had. I've been training for fights.”
Former
Pride fighters haven't come in the UFC and dominated in the way
many fans thought they would. After all, Mauricio “Shogun”
Rua, Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic and even Dan Henderson
have lost in the Octagon. Those worries don’t seem to faze
Sokoudjou though.
“A
fight is a fight. Whether it's in Pride, the UFC or in my backyard.”
Even
though the fans have only been exposed to Sokoudjou's knockout
power, many people forget that he is a top-level judoka. However,
he isn't looking to just go into a fight and practice judo.
“This
is MMA,” he explained. “I won't go there and just do
judo. But in an MMA fight you got to make sure you do the right
things in the fight. I would love to go there and do some judo,
but as far as strategy-wise, I got to make sure that I do whatever
I need for the victory.”
While
some fighters don't develop game plans prior to a fight, Sokoudjou
watches tapes and studies every opponent.
“You
have to know what you are getting yourself into.”
If
Sokoudjou were to win this fight against Machida, it is likely
he could find himself as one of the top contenders in the light
heavyweight division. While most fighters look to get a title
shot as soon as possible, he is content in learning more from
the game and putting himself in the best possible position to
win the title when his time does arrive.
“I'm
at the beginning of my career. I'm still learning. I don't put
myself in the place where I come in and say I want a title shot,”
stated Sokoudjou. “All I need is experience and a bunch
of fights, and I'll go from there.
“A
title shot, if it comes, it's just the same, but I just want
to get there to learn how to be a better fighter. I want to make
sure when I do have one that I don't lose.”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Babalu
opens up
“I hold no resentment for the UFC”
After having been fired by the UFC his future seemed unclear,
but when the dust settled, Renato Babalu seemed to have chosen
the right path for his career. Living in California, the athlete
has his schedule full, with obligations to fight in a variety
of different organizations like: HCF, Strikeforce, Rings of Fire
and Xcess Fighting.
His
last fight was on the 10th, when he submitted Rodney Faverus
with an arm-and-neck choke, fighting on Josh Barnett’s team
at Rings of Fire. Now his next bout will be on January 12, against
veteran Vernon White in San Diego, California for Xcess Fighting.
GRACIEMAG.com
contacted Renato Sobral in Orange County, California, to find
out more about this time in the fighter’s life.
GRACIEMAG.com:
Tell us a bit about how your last fight played out.
Babalu:
I’ve been training a lot, so I was well prepared. The guy
was a striker from Overeem and Semmy Schilt’s team, Golden
Glory. I took him down, passed his guard and ended up getting
him with the arm-and-neck choke, the fight lasted two and a half
minutes.
GRACIEMAG.com:
And what about your next fight against Vernon White?
Babalu:
The guy’s a veteran of several events, I’m going to
respect him the way everyone respects me. I’m going after
him, going to do my game, if he messes up I’ll finish him.
GRACIEMAG.com:
How has your training been overall?
Babalu:
I’m training a lot as always. I’m doing my Jiu-Jitsu
at Gracie Barra here in California, which is near where I live,
in Orange County. We have some really good training with Cachorrinho,
Romulo Barral, Roberto Tussa, Marcinho Feitosa, besides a lot
of others. The MMA part I do at CSW gym, with some really good
guys, among them Josh Barnett.
GRACIEMAG.com:
Is Josh Barnett really tough?
Babalu:
Really tough. The guy is a hundred and some kilos and is really
technical. But I’ll train with anybody.
GRACIEMAG.com:
Changing subject, do you hold any resentment for the UFC? You
now have a lot of contracts; can you make a living without the
UFC?
Babalu:
None. Much to the contrary, I’m thankful to the organization
for having promoted me and helped me a lot with my career. Nowadays
the problem with the UFC is that there are a lot of good fighters
there and so they end up fighting very little and I like to fight
all the time. Now I have a lot of commitments, I’m winning
more than I did at the UFC. I ended up doing well, but I’m
fully aware that I’m known today thanks to the UFC as well.
It’s like a father who fights with his son, you don’t
hold resentment and as Dana White himself said, the doors are
not closed to me. I have my convictions and my preferences, but
if I’m known today, it’s because of the UFC’s
help.
GRACIEMAG.com:
How do you see the growth of MMA in the world?
Babalu:
Here in the United States the sport is becoming really big, it’s
being shown on network television, last week there was a special
about it on CBS. Fighters here are very well recognized, like
athletes from other sports, like basketball. At times I get sad
knowing in Brazil we are not as recognized, except for with the
gang that keeps up with the sport, but nobody knows us fighters,
that we’re here representing Brazil abroad. Anderson Silva
is the champion here, he’s beaten a lot of good guys and
we don’t see him being met at the airport with the Brazilian
flag, going around on a fire truck and things. I’ve never
seen the president receive a fighter in Brasilia, but I’ve
seen him receiving a lot of other guys for no big reason. It’s
sad that us athletes have to move to get our due recognition.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
Quote
of the Day
"I
became a good pitcher when I stopped trying to make them
miss the ball and started trying to make them hit it."
Sandy Koufax, Hall of Fame American Baseball Player
|
UFC
79: Nemesis Today!
Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada
Saturday, Dec. 29
Hawaii Air times:
Preshow 4:30PM
Event Starts 5:00PM
FIGHT CARD:
170
lbs: Matt Hughes (170) vs. Georges St. Pierre (170)
205 lbs: Chuck Liddell (204) vs. Wanderlei Silva (205)
205 lbs: Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (205) vs. Lyoto Machida (204)
155 lbs: Rich Clementi (155) vs. Melvin Guillard (156)
265 lbs: Sao Palelei (262) vs. Eddie Sanchez (239)
205 lbs: Luis Cane (205) vs. James Irvin (205)
155 lbs: Nate Mohr (155) vs. Manny Gamburyan (155)
185 lbs: Jordan Radev (185) vs. Dean Lister (186)
170 lbs: Roan Carneiro (170) vs. Tony DeSouza (170)
155 lbs: Mark Bocek (155) vs. Doug Evans (154)
|
IFL
World Grand Prix Finals
Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Five
champions will be crowned in the featherweight, lightweight,
welterweight, middleweight and heavyweight divisions, fulfilling
the IFL’s plan to allow for two title defenses per card
in addition to the six team bouts (2 teams of 3-on-3) in the
2008 season.
CHAMPIONSHIP
BOUTS:
145
lbs: Wagnney Fabiano (144.25) vs. L.C. Davis (143)
155 lbs: Chris Horodecki (153.75) vs. Ryan Schultz (153.5)
170 lbs: Jay Hieron (168.5) vs. Delson Heleno (168.25)
185 lbs: Matt Horwich (183.5) vs. Benji Radach (184)
265 lbs: Roy Nelson (258.25) vs. Antoine Jaoude (253.5)
PRELIMINARY BOUTS:
175
lbs: Rory Markham (170.5) vs. Brett Cooper (169.75)
185 lbs: Marcello Salazar (180.5) vs. Alex Cook (180.25)
185 lbs: Elias Rivera (181) vs. Tim Kennedy (186)
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Jesus
is Lord Fireworks Fundraiser Is On!
When you
think of the fighters from Jesus is Lord, you automatically think
of fireworks. What better way for the team to have a fundraiser
than to sell fireworks?
Come
down to Stadium Mall from December 26 to 31 and help the team
out by buying your fireworks from them. You are going to buy
fireworks anyway so why not help a team out?
David
Padilla said that if you buy a bunch of fireworks from him he
will shave his eyebrows off. Just kidding, I added that.
Make
sure you come down, check them out, and buy some firecrackers
to ring in 2008!
|
Cheick
Kongo vs. Justin McCully, Nog vs. Sylvia?
By Loretta Hunt
Additional Reporting by Mike Russell
UFC
heavyweight Justin McCully has been offered a bout with Frenchman
Cheick Kongo at UFC 81 “Breaking Point” on Saturday,
Feb. 2 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, The Fight
Network has confirmed with McCully’s camp. Currently overseas
on a goodwill United Service Organizations tour in Iraq with
fellow Team Punishment member Tito Ortiz, the 31-year-old has
neither accepted nor turned down the bout, though his answer
is expected Wednesday. If he accepts, McCully (8-3-2) would have
six weeks to train for the contendership bout.
McCully
earned a unanimous decision over Antoni Hardonk (4-3) at UFC
Fight night 10 on April 5 in Las Vegas. Kongo (10-3-1) is riding
high after a key victory over Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic
(22-6-2) at UFC 75 this past September in London.
The
proposed match-up quells talk that Kongo might face Antonio Rodrigo
Nogueira at UFC 81. Meanwhile, former UFC heavyweight champion
Tim Sylvia is preparing for the Feb. 2 title bout with Nogueira.
The bout will be for the vacant UFC heavyweight championship,
according to Sylvia’s manager, Monte Cox.
“Tim
signed the contract, and we haven’t heard anything else
about it -- if Nogueira has signed his contract or what,”
said Cox. Cox indicated Sylvia has already begun his training
camp for the championship bout.
Randy
Couture (16-8) resigned from the UFC on Oct. 11, rescinding the
heavyweight crown, two contracted fights and a separate services
contract that included a commentator/ambassador role with the
organization. The UFC has not recognized Couture’s resignation
from the promotion and offered the Hall-of-Famer a title defense
against Nogueira at UFC 81. Couture turned down the bout. Attorneys
for Couture and Zuffa LLC, parent company to the UFC, continue
to discuss the fighter’s two standing contracts with the
organization behind closed doors.
On
a HDNet Fight’s broadcast Dec. 15, Couture said he intended
to wait out his two contracts with the UFC, the last of which
ends in October 2008. Couture intends to fight former PRIDE heavyweight
champion Fedor Emelianenko (25-1) after that time.
Source: The Fight Network
|
PEDRO
RIZZO SIGNS 3-FIGHT EXTENSION
SUN Sports & Entertainment Inc. recently announced the signing
of International Fighting Association heavyweight champion Pedro
Rizzo to an exclusive three-fight contract extension.
Rizzo
(16-7) has fought twice already for SUN’s Art of War promotion.
No future date or opponent has been announced for his next defense,
but when it does take place, SUN stated that it would happen
on pay-per-view with strategic partners that the company has
been in discussion with.
SUN
CEO CJ Comu stated, “(Rizzo) is one of the best stand up
fighters in the world and he is willing to take on anyone that
wants to enter the cage to prove it. He has dominated several
UFC and PRIDE stars. He knocked out Josh Barnett, he knocked
out Andrei Arvloski, he beat Mark Coleman, Ricco Rodriguez, Tra
Telligman, Justin Eilers, Dan Severn and recently KO'd Jeff 'the
Snowman' Monson in the third round of a title fight.
“At
this point, we'd put him up against the best fighters in the
world because Pedro Rizzo is back and he's going to keep knocking
them out.”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Prevention
Bad guys and good guys: Instructors point out mistakes and teach
how to avoid injuries in training Jiu-Jitsu
Instructor
John Danaher, from Renzo Gracie’s academy in New York, divides
injuries suffered by Jiu-Jitsu practitioners into two groups:
catastrophic injuries and benign injuries. The ones he calls
catastrophic are those that happen at a specific moment. To Danaher,
catastrophic injuries are more difficult to avoid and much more
common with high-performance athletes. Fractures, ruptured ligaments
and severe sprains are some of the most common examples.
Daily
injuries are the ones that do not generally catch the attention
of athletes and heal quickly, only needing time or quick medication
to heal. The danger of the benign injury, explains the instructor,
is the accumulation of a series of such injuries that may lead
to chronic problems. Although it also touches on more serious
injuries, this report sought from renowned instructors and health
care professionals the way for practitioners to avoid day-to-day
injuries. We also asked each one to point out the training mistakes
that lead to injury.
Gracie
Barra America instructor Marcinho Feitosa believes Jiu-Jitsu
is a sport that demands fighters use their heads: “If practiced
intelligently, Jiu-Jitsu hurts very little,” opines the
three-time world champion. In his experience of over 15 years
as a teacher, the man from Rio now living in California recites
an old maxim to explain injuries to practitioners, generally
the less experienced: “Most of them occur when the student
tries to force the position. The secret is to let go to win.”
With years of experience in training athletes, physiotherapist
Fabio Perissé is direct in pointing out the spinal column,
the elbow and lumbar region of the spine as the areas most wracked
by injuries. The choir of instructors also points out the knee
and wrist as joints that suffer on a daily basis in academies.
The
bad guys and the ways to deal with them
Out
with the unfortunate. That unhappy movement that causes an injury
that no one can avoid. The accident. With a little effort and
observation, it is easy to identify the causes of the injuries
that are common in Jiu-Jitsu. Feitosa gave the tip about the
lack of limits; an instructor of 14 years, Leo Dalla agrees with
the Carlos Gracie Jr. black belt: “Sometimes, it is the
sheer pride of students not wanting to tap out to a fully sunk
position,” comments the leader of Leo Dalla Jiu-Jitsu, in
Northern Virginia. Orientation from instructors is crucial for
Fabio Gurgel: “The most important of all is to teach students
how to respect the limits of their bodies. This also helps to
define the type of game they will have in Jiu-Jitsu,” the
four-time world champion affirms. Two-time openweight world champion
Rodrigo Comprido points out another of instructors’ responsibilities:
“Poorly matching sparring partners.
Two
nutty or rival training partners should never train together.”
Dalla calls attention to yet another important factor in matching
partners: “There should not be a great disparity in size
or technical level.” To this point, John Danaher adds that
pushing students beyond their limits is another grave error:
“Tired people make mistakes. When they are pushed beyond
their abilities, students end up trying risky moves that put
them in dangerous situations.” Lack of proper warm-up is
unanimous among the causes of injury. “My warm-up is composed
of technical simulations.
Thus
the body warms up carrying out the movements of the sport themselves,”
reveals Danaher. Gurgel, who also simulates fighting movements
during warm-up, adds: “I also use rubber resistance bands
to develop strength and speed,” the Alliance general reveals.
Ricardo “Cachorrão” Almeida has a more philosophic
view of the warm-up in the practitioner’s routine: “I
believe a lot in the warm-up as a transition of the mind and
body from life away from the mat to our perfecting ourselves
as practitioners of Jiu-Jitsu. My main objective is to bring
the student to a high degree of concentration with which to practice
the sport,” the four-time Brasileiro champion, now an instructor
in New Jersey, sums up.
If
warming up before training is vital, stretching shortly after
should be taken seriously, as the physiotherapist Perissé
emphasizes: “These days we know that stretching before physical
activity doesn’t prevent injuries, stretching should be
done as training to prevent injuries.” Along the same line,
Danaher suggests practicing a little less than usual: “Yoga
is good for preventing muscular tears.”
What
more can be done to make the body more resistant to injury? Strengthening
the muscles is the general consensus, but each professional has
their own recipe. Fabio Gurgel thinks it is important to reserve
some class time to work the muscles: “I feel we should set
aside the first 30 minutes of class time for this, as often students
don’t have time to lift weights separately.” Comprido
follows the same line and presents two alternatives: “Muscular
strengthening can be part of the warm-up and may be done by either
lifting weights or in the pool.”
“Tired
people make mistakes and end up trying moves that put them in
dangerous situations”
John Danaher
Cachorrão
lays out the benefits of muscular strengthening in the life of
the student: “This type of work will improve the balance,
coordination, strength, and cardio-respiratory capacity.”
Feitosa, however, does not feel muscular strengthening is vital
to the practitioner, although it is extremely important to high-level
athletes. “For the student that wants to learn Jiu-Jitsu
well, but not prepare to compete in high-level competitions,
I feel the sport is enough. I don’t see any reason for muscular
strengthening.”
John
Danaher also agrees on the importance of muscular reinforcement,
but sees problems in using weight-lifting equipment: “These
exercises make the muscular fibers more susceptible to tearing
and leave the body vulnerable.” The American instructor
defends the use of more natural muscular strengthening techniques:
“Lifting weights and kettle bells make the body more resistant.”
Danaher’s experience is echoed in the teachings of Doctor
Michael Colgan, a specialist in physical conditioning who created
his own system for muscular strengthening. Colgan’s method
does not isolate the muscles like weight-lifting equipment does.
“It
is better to tap out and continue training than to be in traction
for a month or more, while the others evolve and you are doing
nothing”
Leo Dalla
The
scholar is didactic: “Athletes use their muscles as a group,
which is why one should not work them separately.” Also
preoccupied with fighting movements, Fabio Perissé adds:
“We cannot forget that there are several muscles in the
body that lifting weights does not strengthen. These muscles
lie deep and are responsible for the stability of our joint segments.”
To Perissé, the practitioner can achieve good results
by working with a specialized physiotherapist to stabilize the
different segments.
The
little ones
More
and more Jiu-Jitsu is being recommended as a physical activity
for children. That being the case, it is natural that one would
worry about their safety. Ricardo Cachorrão makes it clear
right off the bat that teaching children has its own particularities:
“In our classes we do not teach more injury-prone techniques
like the footlock or the kneebar and chokes. We also take greater
care in teaching takedowns and body-to-body fighting.” Feitosa
also takes a cautious approach and affirms that the instructor
should be sensible: “With chokes, for example, I seek to
be more selective in the children that will learn them and I
am always reinforcing how I want them to be extremely careful
in applying them.”
Perissé
goes over some tricks in teaching Jiu-Jitsu to children: “We
should avoid matching sparring partners of different weights
and levels of strength even more, as it is common that children
will be the same size but different ages, with different strength.”
Beyond caution in the techniques to be taught, children demand
something else to keep them interested in the activities and
doing them satisfactorily.
“The
body of someone that doesn’t warm up and doesn’t stretch
is like an un-greased bicycle chain. And if you peddle too hard
with a poorly lubricated chain, it snaps!”
Marcio Feitosa
“Warm-up
is always playful, with educational movements that make the children
warm up as though they were playing, but knowing that that is
a very important part of the class,” explains Gurgel, who
is backed up by what Comprido has to say: “The games should
help teach without the children realizing it. They should learn
to take responsibility, as they are learning techniques that
may cause injury. It is also very important they learn to roll
and to give up.”
For
both children and adults, the secret is to respect the limits
of the body, not skip steps in training and take care of the
well-being of training partners, so that they will take care
of their own safety. Practitioners should keep in mind, however,
that injury is a part of practicing sports. “There is no
way to reach a goal in a sport without assuming a certain degree
of risk,” states John Danaher.
Preventing
injury:
Bad
guys
- Lack of warm-up
- Stretching before training
- Not respecting the limits of the body
- Failure to take care of training partners
- Excessive pride preventing the student from tapping out to
a hold
- Poorly matched training pairs
- Unsafe environment (academy is too small, wet floor, pillars
without padding, overcrowded classes)
Good
guys
-Warm-ups that simulate fighting movements
- Stretching after training
- Muscular strengthening respecting the movements specific to
Jiu-Jitsu
- Respecting the limits of the body
- Know your technical level and have the humility to tap out
to holds
- Sensibility of teacher when matching training pairs
- Safe environment in academy
- With children, dynamic and playful classes and care in teaching
dangerous positions
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
"Krazy
Horse" to meet "Joe Boxer" for the third time
Charles "Krazy Horse" Bennett (19-14-2) will attempt
to even the score when he takes on Victor "Joe Boxer"
Valenzuela (6-2-2) for the third time at King of the Cage: Premiere
on January 24, 2008 from the San Manuel Casino in Highland, California.
Their
first encounter at a King of the Cage event on August 5, 2005
resulted in a draw which many would argue should have ended with
Valenzuela's hand raised. In fact, Bennett was left unconscious
at the close of the second round. Bennett would claim it was
due to exhaustion and not coming into the fight in shape.
The
controversial finish led EliteXC to promote a sequel two years
later for its August 25 ShoXC event. This time Valenzuela didn't
leave it to the judges' hands, forcing Bennett to tap out due
to strikes at 3:25 of the first round.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
The
Beast Comes Home
By John Philapavage
For the life of me I’ve never been able to figure out Bob
Sapp. He was a cultural phenomenon in Japan for years. Sapp was
bigger then Chuck Liddell or any UFC fighter has ever had the
opportunity to be. He was so big he apparently had no time to
train for his fights – for almost three years. Don’t
get me wrong, Sapp had the right people around him, it just didn’t
seem like the knowledge was transferred.
Somehow
Sapp stayed physically gigantic (somehow), but he just didn’t
have the time to learn his craft effectively. Consequently an
odd mix of MMA and kickboxing superstars and freak shows only
found in the Japanese scene beat Sapp.
That,
or Sapp was given questionable wins and preferential treatment.
You haven’t lived until you’ve witnessed Sapp somehow
winning the most famous kickboxing tournament in the world, or
the physically massive Bob Sapp trying to fight Mirko Cro Cop.
When Sapp gets hit in the face, he literally looks like a crying
little girl, before losing the match.
I’ve
never understood if Sapp wanted to be an entertainer or a fighter.
He’s genetically and athletically gifted, and had he started
training in the famed dojos of Japan in 2001 when he made his
way across the Pacific, he’d be a major force in MMA by
now. Yet he has had far more pro wrestling matches than shoot
encounters over the last several years. He’s no closer to
a skill player then he was when the African American landed in
K-1.
Maybe
that was always the plan. It’s not as if Sapp HAS to be
a technical wizard. Sapp’s bank account is bigger than almost
every major mix martial artist in the sport’s short history
(in fairness, Japanese aficionado - and my bossman - Zach Arnold
has mentioned to me there is a strong belief Sapp either blew
a bunch of his money or K-1 stiffed him). I just assume Sapp
would want to learn some moves to keep from getting punched,
kicked, and stretched during his matches.
Strikeforce
announced recently that they’d signed Bob Sapp for a debut
in the Pacific Northwest recently. Scott Coker must have several
good connections to the Japanese K-1 promotion, or he’s
a gambling man. K-1 has been contractually battling Sapp and
cease-and-desisting anyone who makes eyes at Sapp for years.
We’ll assume, though, that Bob Sapp is coming back home
to America. The Japanese landscape financially dead beyond New
Year’s Eve, Sapp will have to come back home to a U.S. market
that barely knows him, where shenanigans that Sapp has been involved
in gets you suspended by athletic commissions. Can Sapp make
a dent, or even survive?
I
don’t know what Strikeforce paid to Sapp, but I do know
he had to bid with other MMA interests and pro-wrestling financial
juggernaut WWE. If Coker signed Sapp to more than two million
guaranteed he’s losing a lot of money. I can’t see
Sapp signing anything long term, nor would it be a good investment.
Sapp is the definition of sizzle over substance, and it takes
major attention to turn that sizzle into steak. Cable or network
TV attention. Most likely this is one of those loss-leader business
deals; the kind that clutter the entire MMA landscape, like the
dotcom boom of the late nineties.
How
could this possibly be a good deal? A few ideas on why this might
make sense past knee jerk reactions:
1.
The Asian population of Seattle, Washington is strong, and that
doesn’t include the bunches of wealthy white males 18-34
that live there.
The
greater Seattle area, according to a census in the year 2000,
had 563,374 people living there. 67.1 percent were white. The
next biggest grouping racially? Asians, by far. 16.6%. I have
to imagine in almost eight years that number has only grown.
Seattle is well known as a Japanese immigrant haven. In fact,
before many Japanese baseball players began to branch out, it
was the Seattle Mariners that provided a gateway to players like
Ichiro Suzuki. The Asian community is strong, and they’ve
either lived in Japan, or they’ve got good connections to
home.
Translation:
These people know who Bob Sapp is, and they might not even be
fight fans, but they know Sapp is a star. Sapp still holds ratings
records in Japan for New Year’s Eve TV ratings.
2.
This isn’t a UFC level deal.
I
don’t think Coker is dumb enough to negotiate a deal at
a UFC-price level. Sapp doesn’t work in a UFC environment
because he’s too much of an entertainer, and he’s most
likely be exposed to early in the contract to make the millions
back. People have been leery of the deal UFC signed with Brock
Lesnar, but Lesnar has ten times the chance of winning in the
UFC than Sapp would. Lesnar might have been a pro-wrestler, but
he comes with an impressive amateur background. Lesnar trains
hard and knows the competitive MMA scene, where as Sapp has never
been forced to do so. And even with an embarrassing loss, Sapp
was still over with the Japanese fans. Lesnar will have to look
very competitive in losing, and Sapp would not.
So
it’s reasonable to say that if Lesnar level money was out
there, Sapp would be in the UFC right now. It’s not, so
he’s downsized. Sapp probably realized his big time Japanese
payoff days were over, and wanting to get away from K-1 anyway,
he decided to come home to less money.
I
would imagine Coker didn’t go above 1.5 million over three
fights, and I’d guess the contract is closer to a million
before incentives. It’s all conjecture, but if you’ll
see my third point it makes sense for all parties to have a contract
with gate incentives or PPV bonuses if he headlines a show. With
a budget of $333,333 USD per Sapp fight, and most of the other
fighters coming in at well under fifty-thousand, the bottom line
doesn’t look so bad.
3.
Scott Coker understands local promoting. Coker, much like Monte
Cox, knows how to stay near the money without to much personal
risk. Coker was the Vegas middleman for K-1 for years.
Look
no further then what he’s done in San Jose. He built up
a local ethnic draw in Cung Le and a possible national draw in
Frank Shamrock. He’s kept men like them competitive yet
most protected. He’s involved local gyms and schools like
American Kickboxing Academy. He’s got a good understanding
of the area’s mixed martial arts community, and that he’s
in an area where there is one. Young fighters sell tickets and
promote the shows to that community, all the great things a promoter
of fights does at a local level.
Coker
is in luck. Bob Sapp has trained and kept residence out of the
Washington state region since he began in Mixed Martial Arts.
Before that, he was a star football player in college at Washington.
The local media knows Sapp from sports and movies. The local
fight community knows Sapp, because many of them are transplants
from Japan. Most importantly, there is a fight fan community.
There are other fighters, lesser known, who can be promoted as
well. Since Sapp won’t be challenged with world class fighters
at first, his personality will have to take time to grow with
the fans. The monster image will not be tested early and the
investment will be theoretically safe for the first year to eighteen
months.
Looking
at the Sapp investment, if they gave him a fair contract of under
$1.5 million USD AND with the right local promotion, they can
break even over time. All they need is a foothold — a second
market, and Sapp might provide that early. Coker has padded the
first Tacoma Dome show with Seattle Team Alliance member and
MMA pioneer Maurice Smith. Five years from now, if Coker has
two successful territories in San Jose and Seattle, no one is
going to remember the money he gave to Sapp to get into the market.
If
Sapp could conquer an island of 127 million, than the growling-faced
fighter/entertainer certainly has a chance at being successful
in a city of under one million. Maybe Sapp can be an entertainer
and a fighter in the U.S. too. Kimbo Slice is doing it. Tito
Ortiz does it. In fact, there’s definitely money in Kimbo
vs Sapp a year from now. I’ll say this:
I’m
not laughing at Coker or Sapp anymore.
Source: Fight Opinion
|
Quote
of the Day
"Make
the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you."
Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1803-1882, American Poet and Essayist
|
Rich
Franklin not yet signed for a fight in 2008
Former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin (22-3) refuted
rumors today of him having signed a contract to fight Travis
Lutter at UFC 82 on March 1.
"I
have not signed to fight anyone in March, or any other month,"
Franklin said on his website.
Franklin,
who was born in Cincinnati, has been heavily rumored to compete
at UFC 82 because of his drawing power in Ohio. UFC will return
to the Nationwide Arena in Columbus for UFC 82.
He
is currently signed for six more fights with the UFC.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Anderson
coments output of Rua's brother from Chute Boxe
Although
in Curitiba , the middleweight champion of the UFC, Anderson
Silva, became aware through the TATAME team on the departure
of his former teammates Mauricio Shogun and Murilo Ninja from
Chute Boxe. "I think that the team is without a reference.
They are wrong and are paying for the mistake. A big team is
made with good basis and they lost it, then I think it´s
difficult for Chute Boxe to be back to the top. The team has
gone through a similar situation when I, Pele, Assuério
Silva, the master Diógenes, Sergio Cunha and many others
left the team, and they recuperated. I think now they need to
review the concepts of them, see where they wrong and change"
said Anderson, who left the door open for Shogun and Ninja.
"I
never had anything against them and against anyone on the team.
By the time I left I, they also were going out, but for some
reason they stayed. Me and Ninja appeared together in Mecca and
if I can help them, I will help. Though I find that they do not
need my help, the door is open for them if they seek me",
assured Anderson Silva.
Source: Tatame
|
BOCEK
AT HOME WITH TEAM QUEST
After
spending time at Greg Jackson’s gym in Albuquerque, N.M.,
Mark Bocek (4-1) said he has found his groove training with Team
Quest in Temecula, Calif. He will take on Doug Evans (5-1) at
UFC 79 on Saturday in Las Vegas. Known for his superior grappling
skills, Bocek said he has been concentrating on the weaker areas
of his game with former PRIDE welterweight champion Dan Henderson,
as he prepares for Evans.
“I
work on everything, a little more with striking because it is
not my base, but everything nevertheless,” said Bocek. “Every
elite team out there is good – I have just found a good
home at Team Quest.”
Though
he believes his UFC debut against Frankie Edgar was stopped prematurely
in July, Bocek points to his wrestling as the area he needed
to improve for his next Octagon appearance.
“I
actually tried to get it to the ground, I went for three takedown
attempts, but they were not set up properly,” said Bocek.
Bocek
said he hopes to display more of the ground prowess for which
he has become known in Canada at UFC 79. The Woodbridge, Ontario
native wouldn’t mind fighting in April when the UFC will
likely make its northern debut at the Bell Centre in Montreal,
but he is focused on the task at hand.
“It
would be exciting, but I need to get past Evans first,”
Bocek said. “[I’ll fight] whoever [the UFC] puts in
front of me. I will keep fighting and keep winning.”
Evans
is coming off of a second-round TKO loss to Roger Huerta at “The
Ultimate Fighter 5” Live Finale, held last June in Hollywood,
Fla.
Source: The Fight Network
|
The
theory and practice of Evolution
Find out the path to your going from Homostagnus to Homosubmittus
If
you like Jiu-Jitsu, imagine where you could be today if you trained
at a gym where, besides being a great environment, you were going
to training sessions with a blue belt like Carlão Barreto
and a purple belt like Saulo Ribeiro? Vinicius Araújo,
from Rio de Janeiro, had such luck. Today, as a practitioner
of the gentle art, he is a great producer and foot-volleyball
player.
“I
stopped at blue belt, after three years. I was kind of crude.
I got on top and passed the guard. These days I miss it, it gave
me great stamina,” he recalls. Sérgio Bolão’s
ex-student is a typical example of Homostagnantus, a species
that carries admiration for Jiu-Jitsu but opted to take another
path, while many of their ex-colleagues went on to become well
known black belts – true Homosubmittus, the dominant species
at the championships. “I like training, I just didn’t
like playing guard or practicing positions. I found it monotonous
to have to repeat, repeat, repeat,” remembers the Carioca.
“But that is what it takes to be a good fighter,” he
acknowledges.
“There
are two basic things you need to do to succeed. One is to start.
The other is to finish”
Martin Rooney
Vinicius
is one of more than 90% of Jiu-Jitsu students that, according
to estimates, go to academies and stop well before reaching black
belt, without ever evolving satisfactorily. The link between
the stagnant fighter and the evolved fighter, however, is not
entirely missing. It may well be the person thumbing through
this magazine. But, what to do when sweat and passion for the
sport is not enough, or when the athlete wishes to transform
the crude club-like techniques into razor sharp daggers? Is there
really a way to evolve? No. There are several.
One
who remembers his changes – and those of his friends who
left the mats behind – is Vítor Shaolin. The star
from Nova União donned his first gi in 1993 and, three
and a half years later, upon his coronation as Brazilian champion,
became a full-fledged black belt. To him, and to 20 out of 20
masters, the greatest enemy of evolution is the break in frequency
of training. Without regular training, going from one stage as
a fighter to the next always takes longer, undermining the fighter’s
motivation. “As promising as one may be, if athletes do
not return to the rhythm they turn into that guy that shows up
just to burn some calories,” reflects Shaolin. “Of
course, with will one can fight the difference in phase, but
it is arduous. The guy loses resistance, the body softens, pains
show up. It is hard enough to become a tough guy following the
correct path; imagine taking it easy. Losing consistency in training
is disastrous to the body and mind.”
Gigi:
healthy rivalry and tricks played on Gurgel to evolve.
There
are numerous reasons for a fighter to be absent from the gym.
Therefore, not showing up regularly at the gym may be more dramatic
during certain phases, such as in the base categories, when those
three or four basic moves soon become 30 or 40 variations. “That
is what happens at blue, the belt where you learn the greatest
number of things,” teaches Alexandre “Gigi” Paiva.
“But you will only begin to execute everything you learned
at purple belt,” he adds. If the new load of information
is not easy to put to practice by the assiduous student, imagine
the accidental tourist. Finding it difficult to evolve, he lets
anguish become lack of motivation and the outcome is the gi being
tucked away in the closet. And the feared stagnation… “As
a fighter I have had this conflict for the following reason,”
recalls Márcio Pé de Pano. “Sometimes you
do something very effective, but after a while someone finds
a way to annul it. The conflict begins: could it be that the
position is no good, or am I the one that is not executing it
properly? But Jiu-Jitsu is like everything in life, there are
good days and not so good days. What is important is that you
don’t quit.”
“The
Jiu-Jitsu that works is basic”
Marcio Pe de Pano
As
you can see, there is an antidote for the poison of stagnation.
There is one, once again, within you. It may be considered something
a little out of fashion in our accelerated new world, but it
is always in vogue in martial arts: training is not the search
for instant gratification. Those who are after constant progress
will rarely be the ones to go to the gym consistently. Oftentimes,
it is the experience of training, and what is learned through
it, that counts. If you are always stuck in the search for progress,
or another belt color, you miss out on some important lessons.
Instead of concentrating on the results, concentrate on the moment.
That is where life takes place, and progress may be just around
the corner, where so many fail to turn.
“Once
you have achieved victory, it should come to mean nothing at
all”
Rickson Gracie
Despite
the everlasting search for quick solutions or the great leap
in quality, one should enjoy the time one spends at a level,
first and foremost at your own pace, before being propelled to
the next level. But how do you get there in practice? To Alexandre
Paiva, a healthy rivalry can stimulate the athlete to evolve,
as was the case with him and Fabio Gurgel. If his friend would
go to the gym, Gigi would run over, as he could not bear the
other learning something he didn’t. “I would even lie.
I
would tell Fabio I was going to travel so he’d stay home.
Meanwhile, I would go to the gym in secret,” says the Alliance
instructor with amusement. The evolved Shaolin remembers how
the art of contact should be accompanied by observation, talk
and listening: “When I was a yellow belt and was already
sweeping some blues, there was this buddy of mine, Cabelinho,
who was always taking my back. Always! My first step was to acknowledge
that something was wrong. The second was to approach a more advanced
friend of mine, it didn’t even need to be the teacher, and
ask him to watch me practicing and identify my mistake.”
“Starting
at white belt, patience and calm are Jiu-Jitsu practitioners’
best friends”
Vitor Shaolin
When
one is a tough blue belt, the athlete should begin to develop
the eye to see the useful details while watching more advanced
fighters practice. “And you should ask afterwards, after
seeing a move that impresses you, if the guy wouldn’t mind
showing you it,” advises Shaolin. To Gigi, the athlete only
begins to truly evolve when he begins to critique himself and
manage to analyze his own game, taking responsibility for his
own evolution, without waiting for the master to teach you how
to improve. The eye of the master does not see all; the fighter
knows exactly what happens during a movement and must have the
self-awareness necessary to know when something is wrong. That
is the phase when the fighter begins to become a sort of self-instructor,
but is not self-sufficient.
“Jiu-Jitsu
is so diverse that it is impossible to completely stagnate. When
your game reaches a plateau, look to practice alternatives”
Sylvio Behring
This
is so because, how can you measure your progress without a partner
or adversary? Despite moving up in belts and the various more
dynamic systems the academies these days adopt, like promotion
for groups of higher levels, the student needs to find his/her
own gauge. To Pé de Pano, championships are useful, as
is training with people active in competitions: “But there
is another way to judge one’s evolution: every academy has
an excellent fighter, a point of reference. This guy will be
the gauge of the gym, and of those looking to evolve. How? First
you train with him and tap out ten times. Then, after training
a lot, you roll with him again, and you only tap out seven times.
This way you will get a sense of your own improvement, until
the day you no longer tap out, and then submit him.” One
to agree with the idea of matching up training partners of different
levels is Sylvio Behring, who has trained fighters that evolve
meteorically, like Fabricio Werdum and Mário Reis. “The
teacher can measure the progress of a student even by matching
up two apparently uneven fighters, always paying attention to
the particularities of each athlete. The training partners end
up becoming wild cards in measuring the fighter’s development:
if it is a rookie, the goal will be to submit him/her three times
in a minute, or five times in five minutes. If there is another
objective to the training session, he/she can train with a heavier,
faster, more advanced opponent...” In this way, both will
generally be satisfied, one for having triumphed by holding out
longer, the other for managing to execute his/her moves.
“Repeating
the same position a thousand times, over a month, is worth more
than learning one position a day”
Jean Jacques Machado
Thus,
having chosen your gauge-partner, or being evaluated with wildcard-partners,
would it be beneficial to set goals like: I will reach his level
and submit him by the end of the year? Shaolin is one of many
that do not believe so, and he explains why: “If you set
a goal that does not depend only on you, it might not turn out
as you hoped and may hurt you psychologically. Your goal should
be to value your training, to understand that it is important,
to overcome injuries. Now, the day you, at blue belt, submit
a purple belt, the trick is to tell yourself: ‘Today I reached
a level I will never fall from!’”
Even
so, well laid goals you keep are vital to bringing method to
your evolution, as though it were a map of the path you intend
to follow. That is the advice of people like José Mario
Sperry, for example. For it to work, the physical training specialist
Martin Rooney teaches that objectives should be listed following
the MAP acronym: Measurable, Attainable, Programmable. “Measurable
means the objective should be something specific, so that you
may measure the results. Attainable means the goal should be
realistic, something you are capable of achieving. Programmable
means you need a specific date by which to complete the goal.
In other words, instead of saying, ‘I want to gain weight,’
you may choose a more precise phrase, like ‘I want to weigh
95kg by December 31st,’” explains Rooney, who believes
the secret to evolution is 1/7 talent and 6/7 discipline.
“One
should not be proud in training. The challenge is to try to carry
out the maneuver, not prove you are unbeatable”
Xande Ribeiro
The
process of evolution, in truth, may be more scientific than an
expedition with Charles Darwin to identify new species. Take
the question of move repetitions, for example. “Repetition
is valid, so long as it is done conscientiously, not robotically.
What we need to do in training is to always aim to understand
the essence of the techniques, the why of the position,”
states Demian Maia.
“You
can always learn more details. As Rickson would say, good Jiu-Jitsu
is invisible”
Demian Maia
Wallid
Ismail is another that lauds the virtues of study, in his own
way. “There is no mystery to evolving in Jiu-Jitsu! Jiu-Jitsu
is an art to be studied; the fighter should never stop wanting
to learn. What Carlson did in the gym was to invest time in ‘laboratory’
sessions. He asked every student to show the group a strong move,
a move he was a specialist in. We made a circle and a debate
would open up, each critiquing what was good or bad about the
particular position. That helped each fighter to best adapt the
move to the particularities of each fighter’s game. When
there was a question nobody could answer, we would turn to Carlson
and there was our differential. Carlson had the answer to everything,
he was a genius… The tutor in this case helps a lot in the
evolution of the athlete,” states Ismail. Ricardo Libório
subscribes to the following: “Carlson said that when you
are good at the guard, it is time to practice passing it; when
you are good at everything, it is time to train standing. Or
in other works, we always have something to learn.”
Progress
in well-trained Jiu-Jitsu, however, is constant. But to achieve
it, you must remember you are a different fighter from every
other on the planet. Believe in yourself, get to know yourself
better and, mainly, have fun. After all, what works for others
might not be best for you. Or, as Xande Ribeiro says: “Everything
has its value and importance, but evolution must come from within
the athlete and not from the techniques or methods used. When
you combine a good personality, attitude and the pleasure of
practicing the gentle art, you have achieved evolution.”
That is how the process of natural selection in Jiu-Jitsu goes.
“Every
day, upon waking up, step on your vanity”
Álvaro Barreto
From
the Jiu-Jitsu school that enchanted even Cro Cop, Sylvio Behring
was inspired by the warmups Master Álvaro Barreto would
begin training sessions with, whereby basic moves were repeated,
for students to become accustomed to warming up by absorbing
the movements. The method is also indicated by Saulo Ribeiro:
“Dedicate your first 15 minutes in the gym to the basics:
escapes from someone having your back, the mount or side control.
Do that everyday, no matter what belt you are.”
“One
cannot truly evolve by progressing in one way and regressing
in others”
Carlos Gracie
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
My
personal outlook on the Japanese MMA scene
By Zach Arnold
For
the last couple of months, I’ve stayed relatively quiet
in terms of talking about the Japanese MMA scene and how things
are lining up. For starters, I’m bored with a lot of it.
Secondly, I don’t see a lot of positives right now.
Here
is my breakdown of how the political landscape in Japan is shaping
up and what you should be paying close attention to.
The
power brokers and matchmakers
Dave
Meltzer recently wrote an article on Yahoo profiling the tradition
of MMA on NYE in Japan. There were a few bloggers who were shocked,
stunned, surprise, or whatever adjective you want to use to learn
about how Fedor ended up working for the Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2003
event (instead of the PRIDE event that same night).
If
you read through out our site archives (which contains a ton
of information from start to finish about how the yakuza scandal
occurred), you probably already know the story. Start reading
by using these links (here, here, here, and here).
However,
let me give you a more detailed account of what exactly happened
(based on my personal knowledge and years of talking to people
inside the Japanese MMA business).
Antonio
Inoki had ran a disastrous event called “Legends” on
8/8/02 at the Tokyo Dome for Nippon TV. Akira Fukuzawa, long-time
All Japan Pro-Wrestling play-by-play man, did the PBP call for
the event. (This is the event where Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
destroyed Sanae Kikuta and Kikuta ended up doing a stretcher
job.) It was a disastrous event because the main event was Naoya
Ogawa vs. Matt Ghaffari. The show did terrible numbers at the
gate and was a black mark for Inoki. Inoki’s power source,
old-time Japanese entertainment business mogul Tatsuo Kawamura,
was the backer of this project and every other project known
to man since then for The Big Chin. Kawamura owns one of Japan’s
largest entertainment companies, K-Dash, and Ogawa has always
been closely tied to Kawamura.
You
have to understand what the power structure of the Japanese MMA
business was in 2002. You had K-1 and PRIDE working together.
As we’ve learned in the last couple of years, the power
structures of the two groups were as follows: K-1 had Kazuyoshi
Ishii as the boss, with Ken Imai and Nobuaki Kakuda in secondary
roles along with admitted yakuza-fixer Seiya Kawamata and Daisuke
Teraguchi, who helped out with foreign business. PRIDE’s
backers consisted of Hiromichi Momose (the guy at the early PRIDE
events in black glasses and a ballcap who always marked out for
fighters at ringside after the fights were over), along with
underlings of Naoto Morishita and Nobuyuki Sakakibara. Nobuhiko
Takada has always been a front man (a spokesperson) rather than
someone with major power in the group. Momose followed Takada
after the end of UWF-International and the start of PRIDE in
1997 under the KRS banner. The power base for PRIDE was in Nagoya,
which is where Morishita and Sakakibara came from.
Mixed
in with all of this were the major agents. Motoko Uchida, who
was Akira Maeda’s secretary when he ran the RINGS promotion,
ended up being a power broker for the Brazilian Top Team in Japan.
The rumor (for a long time in Japan) was that Uchida was backed
heavily by Tatsuo Kawamura (the same guy backing Inoki and supposedly
Kawamata). Koichi “Booker K” Kawasaki was the power
broker for Chute Boxe Academy in Japan. Australian-born Miro
Mijatovic was the super-agent to be, as he was really the most
powerful gaijin agent at the time in Japan (managing both Fedor
and Mirko Cro Cop, along with fighters in Fedor’s camp).
Mijatovic had made his living in Japan for many years as a contract
lawyer and had deals in place with star athletes like famous
swimmer Ian Thorpe for business in Japan. Mijatovic worked alongside
Bas Boon, who is very close to Golden Glory. Mr. Kokubo, the
man who is behind J-ROCK, is the backer of fighters like Hidehiko
Yoshida, Kazuhiro Nakamura, etc. J-ROCK is now backing the new
World Victory Road project.
The
events that shook up the Japanese MMA scene forever
For
those of you who have followed the PRIDE yakuza scandal since
day one, none of this information is new. However, if you’re
a newcomer, here is a synopsis of what took place.
K-1,
PRIDE, and Inoki cooperated with each other on a big show (produced
by K-1) called Dynamite on August 28th, 2002 at Kokuritsu (National)
Stadium in Tokyo. The stadium was meant to be used for soccer,
so the amount of production equipment and portable toilets needed
to be installed to execute this show was monstrous. The show
drew a huge crowd of over 70,000 (legitimately paid), even though
91,000 was the claimed attendance. After this event, things started
to fall apart.
Since
NYE of 2000, all the parties had been cooperating with each other
for events (2000 was a SkyPerfecTV PPV at the Osaka Dome, 2001-2002
was at Saitama super Arena taped for Tokyo Broadcasting System).
However, the factions started feuding with each other after two
important incidents.
There
had been rumors that K-1 was undergoing some tax problems. Kazuyoshi
Ishii was paying out a lot of money to foreign fighters and had
also desparately wanted to sign Mike Tyson. Ishii ended up getting
busted in December of 2002 in a raid by the Tokyo tax bureau.
There were allegations that a contract for Mike Tyson was forged
in order to divert money, that fighters were being paid under
the table, and that evidence of such acts were intentionally
destroyed. Ishii ended up going to jail, along with a mysterious
Bangladesh man who was arrested in another country and was sentenced
for making phony contracts for Ishii. Ken Imai was rumored to
be close to Ishii on business deals at the time, but he was never
charged or convicted of any crimes. Imai ended up leaving the
K-1 power structure.
Sadaharu
Tanigawa, a former pro-wrestling and MMA writer, took over for
Ishii. He created FEG as his umbrella group to run operations.
There
was talk that the costs involved in the Dynamite show were so
expensive that it ended up costing more than previously thought
of. At the time, Sakakibara had his own production company (called
Ubon) that helped out in matters. Morishita, the PRIDE boss,
was preparing for an announcement in January of 2003 at the Hilton
hotel in Tokyo to announce a Grand Prix tournament format. After
Morishita talked about the format in a press conference, he was
found dead in his hotel room (hanging in the shower).
Sakakibara
told the press that Morishita was having problems with a mistress
(Morishita was married) and that he would eventually take over
PRIDE. An important question was raised (that would be mentioned
over and over again for the next several years) — if Morishita
had a stake in PRIDE ownership, wouldn’t his shares in the
company (Dream Stage Entertainment) go to his widow?
The
question was never answered. Hiromichi Momose ended up fading
away from the background of PRIDE and Sakakibara became entrenched
in the company. His main management allies included Sotaro Shinoda
and Hiroyuki Kato, with Daisuke Sato (now formerly of Fuji TV)
playing a major role as both a production wizard and image consultant.
At this point, it was uncertain who was backing Sakakibara or
if he was running on his own (Shukan Gendai would later claim
that Sakakibara was backed by a former Osaka-based loan shark
named Mr. I aka Mr. Ishizaka aka Kim Dok-Soo, an alleged yakuza
of Korean blood).
Once
Sakakibara took over the PRIDE operation, all of his various
companies became connected to the project (Ubon for production,
plus a ticket distribution company as Akira Maeda cryptically
referred to several months ago in an online post). Things started
to fall apart between K-1 and PRIDE, and the two powers would
eventually go after each other with separate MMA events on NYE
in 2003 (PRIDE with Fuji TV at Saitama Super Arena, K-1 with
Tokyo Broadcasting System at the Osaka Dome). The odd people
out of the equation were Inoki’s crew (Inoki, Kawamata,
Kawamura). Eventually, Nippon TV got into the NYE MMA act and
signed Kawamata to a multi-year deal where he would be the producer
of Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye MMA events in Japan. Inoki’s image and
likeness would be used for promoting, but Kawamata was the point
man.
One
of the high-profile matches that Kawamata wanted for the Inoki
show was Yoshihiro Takayama vs. Mirko Cro Cop. Mirko was represented
by Miro Mijatovic and it seemed inevitable that the match would
get booked. However, a couple of weeks before the Inoki MMA event,
Cro Cop backed out of the fight due to what he claimed was a
back injury. Soon after Cro Cop backed out of the show, he left
Mijatovic and signed with Ken Imai. A couple of days after the
NYE MMA events, Cro Cop (through Imai) had a ‘letter’
published in Sankei Sports claiming that Mijatovic couldn’t
book him vs. Fedor and that he wanted better representation.
Sources close to Mijatovic believed that Imai acted as a wirepuller
for Sakakibara and signed Mirko away from Mijatovic. A rumor
would surface years later that Mirko Cro Cop was offered $300,000
USD for the jump, but neither Gendai nor Kanagawa police officials
(more on this later in the article) would comment on the claim.
Instead
of Takayama vs. Cro Cop, Takayama ended up appearing at the Inoki
show as a TV commentator. Kawamata ended up booking Josh Barnett
vs. Semmy Schilt and Fedor vs. Yuji Nagata (New Japan Pro-Wrestling).
Sakakibara was furious that Fedor was booked for the Inoki event
and claimed that it violated his PRIDE contract.
However,
Mijatovic ended up booking Fedor for the Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye event.
How was this done? At the time of the booking, Fedor (along with
his brother and other fighters) worked in PRIDE as representatives
of the Russian Top Team. DSE’s deal with Mijatovic was for
RTT talent. So, Vadim Finkelstein (and Apy Ectheld) ended up
forming the Red Devil fight club. Fedor, his brother, and other
Russian stars were now property of Red Devil and not with RTT
any longer. Therefore, Mijatovic legally could make the booking
of Fedor because he was no longer a member of RTT and DSE only
had an arrangement with RTT.
Fedor
ended up destroying Nagata on the Inoki show. The show, in terms
of business, was a disaster. Mijatovic was not paid for the fighters
he booked (through Bas Boon and Golden Glory) and ended up paying
out of his own pocket. He claimed that Kawamata ripped him off
and would soon file a lawsuit against him. After the disastrous
Inoki event at Kobe Wing Stadium, Nippon TV terminated its contract
with Kawamata. The network claimed that Kawamata didn’t
live up to the terms of the deal, so Kawamata sued Nippon TV
in court. Mijatovic filed a lawsuit against Kawamata in Tokyo
District Court in order to obtain a lien on any winnings Kawamata
earned in court against Nippon TV. The court ruled against Kawamata
in his case against Nippon TV and Mijatovic ended up with no
money (even though he won his separate lawsuit case in court
and was deemed as a credible witness.)
Meanwhile,
Kawamata was having his own troubles before and after the Inoki
Bom-Ba-Ye show. According to Kawamata in Shukan Gendai magazine,
he was allegedly receiving threats from DSE yakuza for booking
Fedor. After the Inoki show, Kawamata was summoned to a building
in Shizuoka where he was threatened for blackmail money —
by his own yakuza gang members, who turned on him and supposedly
were friendly now to DSE. Kawamata ended up leaving Japan and
there were some angry people.
According
to Shukan Gendai, Mijatovic was summoned to a hotel room meeting
where a gun was allegedly pointed to his head and was warned
about crossing DSE. Mijatovic’s relationship with Red Devil
started to deterioriate as Sakakibara and PRIDE started to get
closer to Vadim and Fedor. Eventually, Mijatovic left the MMA
business and focused his business activities on Japan’s
lucrative love hotel sector (raising capital to buy properties
and renovate depressed areas).
Kawamata’s
revenge
Seiya
Kawamata launched a multi-pronged attack against DSE. He filed
a police complaint in 2005 with the Kanagawa Police, claiming
that alleged yakuza members connected to DSE threatened him.
He helped cooperate with Kodansha, the publisher of Shukan Gendai,
for a multi-month negative campaign against DSE. The magazine
campaign built up so much public pressure on Fuji TV (which was
having a stockholder’s meeting to address Livedoor’s
attempt at a hostile takeover of their company) that the network
dropped DSE programming despite the large ratings it attracted.
The
Kanagawa Police investigation into Kawamata’s claims went
unresolved because they couldn’t track down Mr. I (aka Mr.
Ishizaka aka Kim-Dok Soo), who rumoredly fled to South Korea
at the time of the investigation.
With
PRIDE finished and Kazuyoshi Ishii sitting in a jail cell, the
MMA scene became weakened in Japan. Almost scorched earth, in
fact. There are strong rumors now that Seiya Kawamata is back
in Japan and is making some big political decisions impacting
the NYE scene this year for MMA. (Hence why there seems to be
cooperation between the Yarennoka and K-1 MMA events.)
Personally,
a story I found fascinating is a report in Japan that Kawamata
supposedly has a stake or interest in FC management, the supposed
company backing and representing Brandon Vera. The story got
no traction whatsoever in the US MMA blogosphere, which surprises
me given that Kawamata is an admitted yakuza fixer.
It
should be noted that the Yarennoka event will likely do lackluster
business (since it is only on SkyPerfecTV PPV and not on free-to-air
TV). Good benchmarks for the show (in my estimation) would be
30,000 PPV buys and 10,000 paid tickets sold. Anything over those
benchmarks is gravy. My personal opinion is to expect some papering
of tickets for the DSE event in Saitama. (Same for their Hustle
afternoon event).
There
is not much appeal at all for the Yarennoka event in Japan. It
is scarily quiet this year in terms of NYE MMA activity, certainly
by a longshot when compared to previous years. I personally have
zero interest in the DSE event and very little interest in the
K-1 event, which is personally shocking to me (I’m actually
interested in watching the UFC 79 event).
The
intriguing part about the DSE event on 12/31 is that more people
in America may be watching the event on HDNet than people paying
to see it in Japan on SkyPerfecTV. Completely unfathomable if
you’ve been a fan of the NYE MMA events in Japan since 2000.
If
you’re curious as to how HDNet got the rights for the DSE
event, I can only come up with one guess (it is conjecture) as
to how it happened. HDNet ended up making a deal with M-1 Global
for the TV rights from SkyPerfecTV. In past dealings between
PRIDE and Vadim Finkelstein (of M-1), the Russians were given
the TV rights to PRIDE events and they turned around to distribute
the footage in other TV markets. So, it’s totally not out
of the question that the same deal happened here (Vadim and M-1
got the TV rights, M-1 Global flipped them around and made a
deal with HDNet).
The
direction of MMA in Japan for 2008
With
Seiya Kawamata supposedly back in action in Japan, expect the
unexpected. He likes to make big splashes and big moves, but
it’s usually always short-term business. It will probably
be a more interesting year in terms of politics than it will
be in terms of fight quality.
Caleb
at MMA Predictions unwittingly gave away the main event for the
World Victory Road 3/5 Tokyo, Yoyogi National Stadium Gym I event
(which is being negotiated as Hidehiko Yoshida vs. Roger Gracie).
I
expect to see a ton of mid-range shows in Japan for 2008, with
a very mixed success rate (2 out of every 3 shows will probably
be money losers or minor failures). I don’t expect great
things at all coming out of Japan and with UFC expanding its
schedule for more shows, expect to see more Japanese talent make
its way to foreign soil and to make a pitch to get into WEC.
Source: Fight Opinion
|
Quote
of the Day
"Always
do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later."
Og Mandino, 1923-1996, American Motivational Author and Speaker
|
Couture
nominated for ESPN's 2007 All-SportsNation Team
5-time UFC champion Randy Couture has the chance to join four
other athletes on ESPN's All-SportsNation Team after being nominated
in a group of 33 athletes who demonstrated athletic excellence
in 2007.
Couture,
44, came out of retirement in March to reclaim the UFC heavyweight
title by winning a unanimous decision over Tim Sylvia. He then
successfully defended the belt in August, defeating Gabriel Gonzaga
via TKO at UFC 74.
Four
days into the release of the poll, Couture is currently in the
lead with 62.9% of the votes. To cast your vote, click
here.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
"HDNet
Fights: Fedor Returns" (Yarennoka!)
to air at 6:00am ET
The American broadcast of "Yarennoka!" retitled "HDNet
Fights: Fedor Returns" will air on New Year's Eve at 6:00am
ET. The entire card will be televised live from the Saitama Super
Arena in Tokyo, Japan.
"Yarennoka!"
was developed by former executives of Dream Stage Entertainment
as an unofficial farewell to PRIDE.
CURRENT
FIGHT CARD:
Fedor
Emelianenko vs. Hong-Man Choi
Kazuo Misaki vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama
Shinya Aoki vs. Gesias "JZ Calvan" Calvancante
Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Luiz Azeredo
Hayato "Mach" Sakurai vs. Hidehiko Hasegawa
Mitsuhiro Ishida vs. Gilbert Melendez
Murilo Bustamante vs. Makoto Takimoto
The event will be repeated on Monday, Dec. 31 at 3:00pm ET, Friday,
January 4 at 10:30pm ET, Saturday, January 5 at 3:00am ET and
Saturday, January 5 at 3:00pm ET.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
"Yarennoka!"
Preview
By Robert Rousseau
M-1 Global said they wanted to make a splash. They indicated
that they wanted to truly be a global company. In fact, those
were two of the main reasons Fedor Emelianenko decided to sign
with them.
Well,
it’s looking as if they’re making good on their promises
to date. Though the Yarennoka! event slated for December 31,
2007 is not an entirely M- 1 event by any means— it’s
being put on by former PRIDE executives— it’s still
an outstanding card that wouldn’t have been the same had
M-1 not offered up Fedor. In fact, it rivals the UFC 79 event
coming to us all only days earlier, which is no easy task. Further,
a company that says it’s global sure did come through by
getting involved in an event overseas at the Saitama Super Arena
in Saitama, Japan that wasn’t entirely theirs (fighter friendly
too).
But
enough on that. Let’s get to the fights.
Fedor
Emelianenko vs. Hong-Man Choi
What
Emelianenko brings to the table: Fedor Emelianenko sports an
overall MMA record of 26-1 with six (T)KO’s and 13 submission
victories to his credit. Emelianenko possesses above average
takedowns/ takedown defense, well- above average hand speed and
power on his feet, and above average submission/ jiu-jitsu skills.
On top of it all, he’s also good technically on his feet,
demonstrates elite ground control skills once he gains the top
position, and has the kind of heart and toughness that every
fan wants to see.
And
we haven’t even gotten to his real strengths yet.
Fedor
is one of the strongest fighters to ever grace an MMA stage.
He also so happens to be a master strategist, in that he almost
always comes into fights with a strong game plan. Further, he
works well enough under pressure to execute it.
Weaknesses?
There isn’t much. First, Fedor isn’t that big a guy
for a heavyweight, even if that has never impacted him before
(he’s about 233 pounds). Second, he hasn’t fought much
lately, and what fighting he has done has been against a middleweight
(Matt Lindland) and a fighter without much in the line of ground
skills (Mark Hunt).
Then
there’s always the doubt regarding former PRIDE fighters
that was created by Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic’s
recent performances in the Octagon.
What
Choi brings to the table: Hong-Man Choi is huge (7’2, 352
pounds). He’s also an ever improving kickboxer that hits
like a truck. But when it comes to MMA, he’s only 1-0.
So
the story on him is this: Choi can throw down with anyone on
his feet. Along with this, as a kickboxer he’s defeated
Semmy Schilt and managed to go the distance with Jerome Le Banner
in a close losing effort. But on the ground?
No
one knows.
Prediction:
Fedor needs to get this fight to the ground in a hurry. There
he should be able to deliver some devastating ground and pound
and possibly a submission. Can he do that?
You’d
have to think yes.
Fedor
by submission in round one.
Kazuo
Misaki vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama
What
Akiyama brings to the table: Yoshihiro Akiyama sports an overall
MMA record of 10-1 with five (T)KO’s and five submission
victories to his credit. He’s an excellent judo practitioner
that wears a gi in the ring and uses it well. Further, in his
last fight against Denis Kang he won via KO in the first round.
Thus, his striking skills are ever improving, even if they are
a relative weakness. In addition, he has power.
His
only loss came against Jerome Le Banner, via KO over two years
ago.
Akiyama’s
career has been followed by some controversy in that on more
than one occasion he has been accused of having a slippery substance
on his gi. Along with this, back on 12/31/06 a win over Kazushi
Sakuraba was ruled a no contest because he used lotion prior
to the fight.
What
Misaki brings to the table: Kazuo Misaki sports an overall MMA
record of 18-8-2 with three (T)KO’s and seven submission
victories to his credit. He’s very well- rounded. More specifically,
Misaki has excellent takedown defense, good takedowns, and solid
ground control. Further, he has better than average submissions,
solid technical striking skills, and is a very tough guy.
Prediction:
Despite Akiyama’s KO of Denis Kang, don’t expect him
to win the stand up war here. Thus, in order for Akiyama to be
victorious he’ll have to get Misaki to the ground and work
toward a submission. Can he do it? Sure. Will he?
Guessing
not.
Misaki
via decision in a close fight.
Shinya
Aoki vs. Gesias “JZ Calvan” Calvancante
What
Aoki brings to the table: Shinya Aoki sports an overall MMA record
of 11-2 with one (T)KO and six submission victories to his credit.
Aoki has average to mildly below average technical striking skills.
In terms of power on his feet, there isn’t a ton. But what
he has is some of the best, if not the best, jiu-jitsu/ submission
skills in the game today. He’s capable of ending any fight
from the top or bottom position in a millisecond, which is why
he’s won eight straight.
Further,
he has good takedown skills.
What
Calvancante brings to the table: Gesias “JZ Calvan”
Calvancante brings an overall MMA record of 14-1-1 with five
(T)KO’s and seven submission victories to his credit. He’s
very good at everything. By that we mean, he’s strong, has
good stand up, has good power standing up, has good takedown
defense, good takedowns, and good submissions.
In
other words, there’s a reason why Calvancante currently
falls in at number four on MMAFighting.com’s Lightweight
rankings.
He’s
that good.
Prediction:
If this one stays upright, it’s Calvancante’s to lose.
If it goes to the ground and Calavancante is able to stay on
top, which would probably be the case, he still has a shot to
win.
But
Aoki is simply scary on the ground and from his back. This is
a very hard one to call. Probably the best fight of the night.
Aoki
via submission in round three.
BEST
OF THE REST
Tatsuya
Kawajiri vs. Luiz Azeredo: Azeredo is a blur of energy. He’s
got excellent striking and jiu-jitsu. But as was the case when
he fought Takanori Gomi and Joachim Hansen, he tends to lose
big fights.
Kawajiri
via decision.
Hayato
Sakurai vs. Hidehiko Hasegawa: Hasegawa is good. Sakurai is on
another level.
Sakurai
via 2nd round KO.
Mitsuhiro
Ishida vs. Gilbert Melendez: This is a very interesting fight
between two guys that have great motors and excellent takedown
and ground control skills. The difference is that Melendez can
survive on his back, has better stand up, and is stronger.
Melendez
via TKO in round three from strikes on top.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Vitor
Shaolin
By Eduardo Ferreira
"I don’t think this is a come back... when GP comes
I will try to be better than I was this year"
SHAOLIN PREPARE HIS BACK
Recovering
himself from the surgery at the right eye after his fight against
Gesias Cavalcante at the K-1 Hero’s semi final, Vitor Shaolin
talked about his plans to 2008. “I expect an interesting
year. My second son is going to born, next to July, so I am preparing
myself for that and am focus in prepare myself for the beginning
of the year to be ready to fight in March or April”, said
the Nova União black belt, that made a analysis from the
Brazilian MMA at 2007 and talked about a possible return match
against Gesias Cavalcante. Check out the complete interview below:
How
is the recover from the eye?
It
is ok. It was a delicate surgery and I am going to come back
to train now, in the middle of the month. I will start to make
my technique train, run train, weigh train, to prepare my body
to the workload of train that I am going to have in the beginning
of the next year. In March or April I should come back to fight
to be prepared to enter again in the GP. So now I am worried
in prepare my body for the train that I am going to start in
January.
What
are you expecting from 2008?
I
expect an interesting year. My second son is going to born, next
to July, so I am preparing myself for that and am focus in prepare
myself for the beginning of the year to be ready to fight in
March or April.
Do
you know if it is boy or girl?
I
am expecting a boy. I want a boy. My wife has only two months
of pregnant so we are going to know the sex in the next year,
but I want a boy and she want a girl. If is a boy it is going
to be Arthur and if a girl, Valentina.
You
were been good till your defeat at Hero’s. In 2006 you got
the Cage Rage belt and it was expected that you take the Hero’s
belt at 2007. Do you think that 2008 is your come back year?
The
truth is that I just came from a lost, not many losses. After
I was defeated in 2004, I came from 9 wins and then I lost now.
So I don’t think this is a come back. I had a defeat, against
a tough guy, GP champion, so now I want to come back to win.
I want to make everything nicely that when GP comes I will try
to be better than I was this year.
How
are your feelings? How are you after this defeat?
I
didn’t shook up after the defeat. I was just upset with
my injury. For sure I was upset for been defeated, in a fast
fight, very fast, so this upset me at first. But when I talk
to the doctor the defeat stayed in second place and I get very
upset about the injury. So after the surgery and everything I
got calm, but in the first month I was very upset about the injury,
never with the defeat or with the fighter.
Do
you want this return mach against him (Gesias)?
I
want it. I am not daring to say that I want a return mach for
the first fight, I have to accredit myself first and then face
a fighter that, with any doubt was the champion of the event.
In any moment I want to challenge him or talking stupid things
at an interview before fight two or three times for then face
him.
This
year, the MMA teams at had some turnaround, like BTT, Chute Boxe
and Black House, but Nova União kept intact. What do you
see those changes and Nova União totally different from
others?
Nova
União is very closed. Here we just have a chieftain, that
is Dedé. I am like his right arm, I help in what I can
because I am since a long time with him. So I help training some
athlete. Some of then I know well but others I don’t, but
I try to help when he is traveling. So I think that the difference
that we have here is the respect that we have for Dedé
and here everybody knows from where we came from. We came from
Jiu-Jitsu and everything we have him he gave us. Not just his
Jiu-Jitsu helped us, but his talks, the advices in each travel,
in each morning after Jiu-Jitsu trainings. Everything we learned
here we carried for our lives. Everybody knows what Dedé
represent for the team and so we respect him, that’s why
don’t have this disunity. Everybody here is always close
to grow together. I think Dedé could go through something
that we didn’t have at Pride era, which is a better contact
at . Nowadays Dedé has it and is putting athletes to fight
at American events, at Japanese events and that is good for all
the team. Louro and Junior with American events contract and
Marlon with Japanese, so that is very interesting to us. This
moving to , like Zé Mario and Wanderlei done is normal.
They are seeing the potential of there. The departure from Wanderlei
for from Chute Boxe was normal because he is looking for what
is better for him. He has family, son and this count lot. Talking
with his coach and then understanding, I think is completely
normal. To make the promotion of a fight been at is easier if
he were at .
What
do you think about this new event, Yarennoka?
I
am praying for been successful. But I heard that they are going
to make events all around the world, at , , . So I am praying
to became a big event, but I pray for who is behind this event
do everything right and don’t try to compete right now against
UFC. UFC is here since a long time and have a know-how bigger
then any event. American people are more consumerist than Japanese
people, so who is behind have to know for whom he is going to
sell this event, at Europe, USA, Japan, Russia… I pray for
been successful because as more events we have, more the athlete
is going to be important, the athlete is important than the event.
The UFC is getting clearly that it is important than the athlete.
The UFC is very important but is the fighter that give the show.
At
Yarennoka, Kawajiri, that you fought twice, against Azeredo.
What do you think about this bout?
I
think that Kawajiri is an excellent athlete. He is tough, hard
to take down, has strong hands. I think Azeredo has to be very
careful with his hands and to take him down he will have some
problems because he have a good Wrestling, tough but he is not
invincible. Kawajiri has two arms and two legs. Azeredo is vey
aggressive. He faced Paul Daley, that is very nice in exchanging
punches and Azeredo won. He fight the three rounds as it was
in the first one, so good luck to Azeredo, that is Brazilian,
but it will be a tough fight for him. He has to worry with Kawajiri’s
hand.
What
are your expectations for Wanderlei and Chuck Liddell?
I
think is an excellent fight. Wanderlei knows that Liddell is
a counter attack fighter he has to be careful with that. The
best strategy is to make the same game Rampage made. I know that
is hard because he has to get out from his characteristics, but
I think this is more secure for him. To take Liddell down, just
Wrestling fighters. We have to remember that Tito Ortiz that
has a nice Wrestling, didn’t take him down. So I think that
he has to make Rampage’s game.
Lyoto
and Sokoudjou?
Lyoto
already said his strategy for this bout. He has to know that
Sokoudjou is explosive is a little stronger then Lyoto and I
think Lyoto has to keep his counter attack game and knows that
explosion is not to going to stay during the whole fight. I believe
in Lyoto, which came from good victories, besides to be a very
nice guy, we train together some times and I wish all luck to
him. He is going to revenge Brazil Sokoudjou fought nicely against
Rogerio and Arona and finish 2007 in a good way.
Source: Tatame
|
CANADIAN
CHARGED FOR RUNNING ILLEGAL FIGHTS
Corben Matthew MacDonald, 24, has been charged on 42 counts by
a court in Nova Scotia for allegedly running illegal street fights
in Canada. If convicted he could face six months in jail and
a $2,000 fine according to a report by CTV.ca.
MacDonald,
who is noted as executive producer on the videos for the illegal
fights, has been accused of organizing East Coast Street Fights
after a police investigation led to evidence of 21 illegal fights.
For
each of the 21 illegal fights, MacDonald faces a charge for unlawfully
advising, encouraging and promoting a prize fight, and a charge
for being present at a prize fight as an aide, second surgeon,
umpire, backer or reporter.
The
authorities began looking into MacDonald’s activities after
many of the fight videos filmed were shown on YouTube and complaints
were filed.
A
judge has held the case over until Jan. 30, 2008 for the hearing.
In
Nova Scotia, it’s illegal to promote or host a fight without
permission from the Nova Scotia Boxing Authority.
MacDonald
has made no official statement about the fights or the promotion
since the arrest.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Quote
of the Day
"Birds
sing after a storm. Why shouldn't we?"
Rose Kennedy, 1890-1995, American Family Matriarch
|
Jesus
is Lord Fireworks Fundraiser Kicks Off Today!
When you
think of the fighters from Jesus is Lord, you automatically think
of fireworks. What better way for the team to have a fundraiser
than to sell fireworks?
Come
down to Stadium Mall from December 26 to 31 and help the team
out by buying your fireworks from them. You are going to buy
fireworks anyway so why not help a team out?
David
Padilla said that if you buy a bunch of fireworks from him he
will shave his eyebrows off. Just kidding, I added that.
Make
sure you come down, check them out, and buy some firecrackers
to ring in 2008!
|
Hawaii
Transplant Justin
Buchholz
Makes UFC Debut!
UFC Fight Night 12
January 23, 2008
The Pearl in Las Vegas, NV
170
lbs: Mike Swick vs. Josh Burkman
185 lbs: Patrick Cote vs. Drew McFedries
155 lbs: Alvin Robinson vs. Nate Diaz
155 lbs: Michihiro Omigawa vs. Thiago Tavares
155 lbs: Alberto Crane vs. Kurt Pellegrino
155 lbs: Dennis Siver vs. Gray Maynard
155 lbs: Jeremy Stephens vs. Cole Miller
155 lbs: Joe Veres vs. Corey Hill
155 lbs: Justin
Buchholz
vs. Matt Wiman
UFC 80:
Rapid Fire
Saturday, January 19, 2008 at the
Metro Radio Arena Newcastle in Newcastle, England
FIGHT
CARD:
155
lbs: Joe Stevenson vs. BJ Penn
265 lbs: Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Fabricio Werdum
170 lbs: Jess Liaudin vs. Marcus Davis
205 lbs: Wilson Gouveia vs. Jason Lambert
185 lbs: Jorge Rivera vs. Kendall Grove
265 lbs: Antoni Hardonk vs. Colin Robinson
205 lbs: James Lee vs. Alessio Sakara
170 lbs: Paul Kelly vs. Paul Taylor
155 lbs: Per Eklund vs. Sam Stout
Source: MMA Fighting
|
SPOTLIGHT
ON CANADA: GSP'S SUPER CAMP
by Marco Antico
ST-PIERRE LOOKING
SHARP IN TRAINING
MMAWeekly.com
was on location to observe a traditional Friday sparring session
at the Tri-Star gym in Montreal, Canada. On hand were Georges
St-Pierre, Rashad Evans, Denis Kang, Patrick Cote, Jonathan Goulet,
David Loiseau, David Pariseau, Jacob MacDonald, Steve Claveau
and more.
Coaches
Greg Jackson and Mike Van Arsdale were also there to supervise
the proceedings. From an on-lookers vantage point, it seemed
clear that Jackson is St-Pierre’s closest advisor these
days.
The
initial pairings as directed by Coach Jackson included Evans
versus St-Pierre and Loiseau versus Kang. The fighters began
by working mainly their striking and occasionally shooting in
for a takedown attempt. Every five minutes they would take a
short rest and find a new partner for the next round.
Of
note, not one fighter (including Evans) was able to take down
St-Pierre and it definitely wasn’t because of a lack of
effort. On the other hand, it looked as though St-Pierre took
everyone down almost at will with probably a 95% success ratio.
St-Pierre’s
standup also looked crisp. Although he doesn't throw a lot of
combinations, the strikes he does throw land clean and often.
Perhaps one minor note of criticism is that his feet are not
always grounded thus reducing the amount of weight behind his
strikes.
There
was also some speculation around the gym, although St-Pierre
did not confirm this, that he had actually been anticipating
the possibility of Serra pulling out of the fight and thus had
been going through his regular intensive training rituals for
12 weeks leading up to the fight. This is interesting because
his Dec. 29 opponent, Matt Hughes has repeatedly stated that
one of the factors he chose to take the fight was that because
he felt St-Pierre may not have had sufficient time to prepare.
If what St-Pierre’s teammates are saying is true, Hughes
may be in for a bit of a surprise.
CATCHING UP
WITH DENIS KANG
MMAWeekly.com
also caught up with Denis Kang after the sparring session was
over. Kang mentioned that if he had a choice, he would be living
and training right now with American Top Team in Florida. Unfortunately,
due to some visa issues, he may be unable to enter back into
the United States for some time. Therefore, he decided to visit
with St-Pierre for a few weeks before heading back to Vancouver,
British Columbia, where he will remain until his visa issues
get sorted out.
He
was expecting to fight on the K-1 Dynamite card this New Year’s
Eve, but only recently learned that it was not to be. He speculates
that his next fight will be on a K-1 Hero’s event scheduled
for March.
Asked
about the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Kang commented that
he and his manager did everything they could to seal a deal with
the UFC. They waited on an offer, which they received and were
pretty happy with. K-1, however, showed how badly they wanted
Kang by tripling the UFC offer. He went back to the UFC to give
them an opportunity to match, but it just wasn’t in the
cards. Kang is currently on a multiple fight contract, which
likely precludes him from fighting in the UFC for at least the
next year.
Asked
about his thoughts on the upcoming Hughes/St-Pierre fight at
UFC 79, Kang responded, “I think Georges is looking really
sharp right now. I just don't see what Hughes can do to him this
time around. It will probably be a lot like their last fight."
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Okami
wants Anderson Silva
Japanese fighter was the last to defeat the Brazilian
The
word defeat has become ever rarer in the dictionary of Brazilian
Anderson Silva, who is coming off six wins in a row, five of
them by knockout. However, the Spider’s last defeat was
brought back to memory today, when the Japanese fighter Yushin
Okami publicly asked for another fight against the UFC middleweight
champion.
Okami
(21w and 4l) also fights for the American organization and lost
only one of his last eight fights, curiously to Rich Franklin,
who has lost twice to Anderson. The fight was won by the Japanese
fighter by disqualification, as Silva used an illegal kick on
his adversary, in a battle that took place on January 20, 2006,
at Rumble on the Rock 8.
“Silva
and I have unfinished business. I want revenge because I feel
our first fight did not end definitively. I want to finish him
once and for all. I can knock him out, but I’d really like
to take him down and make him tap,” fired off Okami in an
interview on Sherdog.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
Draculino:
“Gracie Fusion continues in tribute to Ryan”
Just
two weeks after its creation, the Gracie Fusion, the union teams
of Vinicius Draculino, Roberto Gordo and Ryan Gracie, suffered
a major shock with the death of Ryan. Leader of Gracie Barra
BH, Draculino ensures that the name remains in tribute to the
friend. "One of the last things that Ryan told me in life
was always to continue with that name, because it was a cool
and strong name. Regardless of what happens, the name Gracie
will always be with us, because we were created with the Gracie
family. We should make this tribute to him", revealed Draculino,
supported by Roberto Gordo. "At first we will continue.
We will talk with his brothers, but the idea is that, because
this was the wish of Ryan", said Gordo.
Still
shaken by the death of friend, Draculino guaranteed that he will
always fight for the name of Ryan not be forgotten. "We
miss him, but we will always fight for his name is not forgotten.
His characteristic has always been the controversy and had many
people that did not like him, but who knew him personally always
liked Ryan. Many people will still continue with a bad thought
about him, because now he can´t reverse this. It was a
great loss, because he was one of the most talented guys I have
seen. The feeling now is of sadness, especially by his uncle
Robson, the aunt Vera, Ralph, Renzo, Flavia and for the whole
family", said Draculino.
Source: Tatame
|
Quote
of the Day
Let your
heart feel for the afflictions and distress of everyone, and
let your hand give in proportion to your purse."
George Washington, 1732-1799, 1st President of the United States
|
Onzuka.com
Wishes You A Merry Christmas!
It is
not very often that I get something that is non-martial arts
related that I want to share with all of our loyal readers that
visit our site on a regular basis, but this is one of them. I
wanted to share this on Christmas because just like this mom,
Jesus made a huge sacrifice for all of us. If nothing else, I
hope this encourages each and every one of you to go and give
your mom a big hug and kiss and tell her that you appreciate
all that she has done for you. I really appreciate all that my
mom has done for me and I feel terrible because I don't tell
her that nearly as often as I should.
Merry Christmas everyone! I hope that each and every one of you
is having the best Christmas ever. If not, make it the best Christmas
ever!
Chris
Mom
Only Had One Eye
My mom only had one eye. I hated her... she was such an embarrassment.
She cooked for students & teachers to support the family.
There
was this one day during elementary school where my mom came to
say hello to me.
I
was so embarrassed.
How
could she do this to me?
I ignored her, threw her a hateful look and ran out.
The next day at school one of my classmates said, 'EEEE, your
mom only has one eye!'
I
wanted to bury myself.
I also wanted my mom to just disappear.
I confronted her that day and said, ' If you're only goanna make
me a laughing stock, why don't you just die?'
My
mom did not respond...
I didn't even stop to think for a second about what I had said,
because I was full of anger.
I was oblivious to her feelings.
I
wanted out of that house, and have nothing to do with her.
So I studied real hard, got a chance to go abroad to study.
Then, I got married. I bought a house of my own. I had kids of
my own.
I was happy with my life, my kids and the comforts, Then one
day, my mother came to visit me.
She hadn't seen me in years and she didn't even meet her grandchildren.
When
she stood by the door, my children laughed at her, and I yelled
at her for coming over uninvited.
I screamed at her, 'How dare you come to my house and scare my
children!'
GET OUT OF HERE! NOW!!!'
And
to this, my mother quietly answered, 'Oh, I'm so sorry. I may
have gotten the wrong address,' and she disappeared out of sight.
One
day, a letter regarding a school reunion came to my house.
So I lied to my wife that I was going on a business trip.
After the reunion, I went to the old shack just out of curiosity.
My
neighbors said that she died.
I did not shed a single tear.
They handed me a letter that she had wanted me to have.
'My
dearest son,
I think of you all the time. I'm sorry that I came to your house
and scared your children.
I was so glad when I heard you were coming for the reunion. But
I may not be able to even get out of bed to see you.
I'm
sorry that I was a constant embarrassment to you when you were
growing up.
You
see........when you were very little, you got into an accident,
and lost your eye.
As a mother, I couldn't stand watching you having to grow up
with one eye.
So I gave you mine.
I
was so proud of my son who was seeing a whole new world for me,
in my place, with that eye.
With
all my love to you,
Your
mother
|
Hermes
helps BJ
Penn
Hawaiian to fight for the title
It
seems the tumultuous UFC lightweight title dispute will gain
a few chapters yet before January 19, when BJ Penn faces off with Joe Stevenson for the
title stripped of Sean Sherk a few weeks back. The Hawaiian who
said that should he beat Stevenson will not face the former champion
for his having used steroids, went after help from a fighter
who bravely admitted to using such substances, Brazilian Hermes
Franca.
The
Brazilian, who was suspended for one year for testing positive
for steroids after his fight against precisely Sean Sherk at
UFC 73, will help in BJ Penn’s preparations for the title
fight, to take place in England at UFC 80.
“A
lot of people don’t know it but BJ (Penn) called me last
week to ask for help training for his next fight. He can say
what he wants, if he says I took steroids, do you think I’ll
be bothered by it? No, because he wouldn’t be lying. Folks
think MMA is war, but in fact it’s a game. We make enemies,
but after the fight we all get together, shake hands and drink
together,” said Hermes Franca to Fighthype.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
BOXING'S
BEST OF 2007
It's a holiday treat for HBO Boxing fans. For five consecutive
nights during the holidays, HBO Sports will replay five of the
most memorable, most significant, most compelling bouts of 2007
that were broadcast on the HBO service.
The
lineup includes:
Tuesday,
Dec. 25 at 11:00 PM -- Jermain Taylor vs. Kelly Pavlik
Wednesday,
Dec. 26 at 11:00 PM-- Joe Calzaghe vs. Mikkel Kessler
Thursday,
Dec. 27 at 11:00 PM -- Oscar De La Hoya vs. Floyd Mayweather
Friday,
Dec. 28 at 11:00 PM -- Miguel Cotto vs. Shane Mosley
Saturday,
Dec. 29 at 12 midnight -- Floyd Mayweather vs. Ricky Hatton
All
times are ET/PT.
Source: HBO
|
Update:
Calvancante-Aoki to be Postponed
by Greg Savage
Hyped
as one of the better fights scheduled for a busy New Year's Eve
weekend, Shinya Aoki versus Gesias Calvancante will not come
to fruition.
Calvancante's
father confirmed the news to Sherdog.com's Denis Martins on Saturday
that his son's fight with Aoki will be postponed to March.
Fight
Entertainment Group, which holds Calvancante under contract and
apparently made the lightweight available for the Yarennoka!
card, is expected to announce the make-up date at a press conference
on Dec. 30.
Why
Yarennoka! -- a co-promotion on Dec. 31 between former PRIDE
FC employees and upstart M-1 Global airing live in the U.S. on
HDNet starting at 6 a.m. EST -- lost its most interesting match
is still in question.
Rumored
to be coming off knee and nose surgeries in Brazil, the 23-year-old
Calvancante, ranked third at 155 pounds by Sherdog.com, had not
trained at all for this fight with his American Top Team camp
in Florida, a source said.
On
Dec. 5 "JZ" discussed the pending fight with Sherdog.com,
and just three days ago Aoki held an open workout for media in
Tokyo, where he spoke about the anticipated fight.
Questioned
Friday about the status of the bout, which was officially announced
at a press conference in Tokyo on Nov. 28, M-1 Global CEO Monte
Cox stated that if the fight is off, no one had informed him.
"As
far as I know the fight is still happening, and it is one I am
really looking forward to seeing," Cox told Sherdog.com.
In
mid-September Calvancante (14-1-1), considered among the fastest
ascending stars in the division, won his second consecutive K-1
HERO'S lightweight tournament crown.
Meanwhile
Aoki, 11-2-0, is a slick 24-year-old grappler who has run off
eight consecutive victories, including an impressive gogoplata
submission over former Shooto champion Joachim Hansen last New
Year's Eve.
Source: Sherdog
|
Hughes
vs. St. Pierre: Legacies on the line at UFC 79
By Robert Rousseau
As we get ready for one of the greatest UFC cards in history
at UFC 79: Nemesis, it would seem important to remember one sentence
that was uttered awhile back.
“I
wasn’t impressed with your performance,” said Georges
St. Pierre after he was brought into the Octagon following Matt
Hughes’s TKO victory over B.J. Penn on September 23, 2006. The first thought many
fans in the know had as soon as the words came streaming out
of St. Pierre’s mouth?
Was
that just Georges St. Pierre talking, or was this some kind of
a joke?
Yes,
Hughes had almost succumbed to a triangle choke by Penn. In addition,
he got beat up a little on his feet early in the encounter. But
Hughes had once again demonstrated his toughness in an amazing
comeback where he eventually gained the crucifix position on
Penn and started raining down unanswered punches to his face
until the referee was forced to step in.
In
other words, Hughes had just finished what was perhaps the signature
victory in a storied career. So for a fighter to indicate that
they weren’t impressed was odd in and of itself. But for
St. Pierre to say such a thing— a Canadian known for being
unbelievably gracious and classy— was downright peculiar.
Still,
those words were proof that St. Pierre had already changed something
since his last match up with Hughes. It was clear that he wanted
the world to know something. This time he wasn’t going to
treat Hughes like royalty. But we digress. First up:
Matt
Hughes vs. Georges St. Pierre I on October 22, 2004
Coming
into UFC 50: The War of ’04, Matt Hughes was a legend. He
held a 35-4 record. He had won 14 of his last 15 (the lone loss
to B.J. Penn via submission) and had stopped 11 opponents during
that streak. And the names he’d defeated throughout his
career—Sean Sherk, Frank Trigg, Carlos Newton (twice), Hayato
Sakurai, Joe Doerksen, Akihiro Gono, Dave Menne—showed the
kind of fighter he’d been throughout his time in MMA.
Dominant.
So
there was clearly an aura of invincibility that followed Hughes
wherever he went. On the other hand, that aura had taken a hit
when a lightweight by the name of B.J. Penn had needed only 4:39
to defeat him by submission approximately nine months earlier.
Then
there was Georges St. Pierre. St. Pierre had literally dominated
the competition to this point in his MMA career. He was 7-0 and
had stopped every opponent but one. St. Pierre was powerful,
great at ground and pound, and ridiculously athletic. The word
that described him best?
Explosive.
Though
Hughes was clearly the favorite coming into the match up—how
could he not be?—make no mistake. . . St. Pierre had a following
that believed he could defeat the then Miletich fighter. Unfortunately
for him, apparently he wasn’t a member of that following.
Said
another way, St. Pierre had always idolized Matt Hughes. So when
he came into the Octagon to fight for the welterweight title
vacated by B.J. Penn back in 2004, he wasn’t sure if he
could win. Forget the fact that he was actually winning the fight
against Hughes in the first round; he thought he was losing.
And
as Hughes always says: This game is half mental.
Thus,
it was only a matter of time—one second before the bell
ending the first round tolled, actually—before St. Pierre
made a mental mistake. In the end, Matt Hughes won via armbar.
What
could’ve happened for Georges St. Pierre versus what did
St. Pierre could’ve folded. That doubt in his head could’ve
overtaken him. Instead, he went on to win four straight in dominant
fashion over guys like Dave Strasser, Jason Miller, Frank Trigg,
and Sean Sherk after the loss. And then came his opportunity,
a fight that would decide who would get the shot at Matt Hughes
for the belt that Penn had vacated so long ago. Could St. Pierre
defeat B.J. Penn, the last man to take out Matt Hughes?
The
answer: Yes. But it was a rather controversial decision. Still,
with blood flowing freely from a nose that Penn had decimated
in the first round, St. Pierre managed to get the win based on
takedowns and ground control in the second and third rounds.
Here’s the thing, though. Afterwards, St. Pierre recognized
that he had cleared a hurdle, beating a legendary fighter in
a tough fight where he wasn’t able to bully him. Sure there
were plenty of people thinking that St. Pierre might have won
the sporting event, but not the fight. It didn’t matter.
Because
the win did something for St. Pierre’s confidence, even
if it didn’t necessarily do the same for the masses. Next
up: Matt Hughes.
Well,
not so fast. First, St. Pierre had to give up his title shot
due to a groin injury to guess who? That’s right: B.J. Penn.
We talked about that one earlier, though, so let’s move
on.
Matt
Hughes vs. Georges St. Pierre II at UFC 65: Bad Intentions on
November 18, 2006
Since
defeating Georges St. Pierre, Matt Hughes had gone on to stop
the legendary Royce Gracie, Joe Riggs, Frank Trigg (in one of
the most dramatic endings ever), and of course B.J. Penn. That
didn’t matter to Georges St. Pierre, though. At least not
from what was coming out of his mouth.
“I
gave him too much respect. I was going into that fight to survive,
but I have no excuses - he beat me fairly and squarely,”
said St. Pierre regarding the last time these two had hooked
up in the Octagon. “Next time it’s going to be a different
story because I’m a different fighter now.” So the
pattern was set. St. Pierre was mentally in a different place
this time around.
Or
was he?
Soon
after saying he “wasn’t impressed,” with Hughes’s
performance against Penn, St. Pierre apologized for the statement.
So
was he losing the head games things again? Only the fight would
tell. And oh boy, did it ever.
In
sum, the last match up between these two was very different.
First, Matt Hughes seemed a little too willing to stand and trade
with St. Pierre, which was clearly a mistake. The Canadian fighter
dominated the stand up for the entire first round. And when Hughes
did go for the takedown, it was to no avail.
In
fact, only the bell saved a downed Hughes from being knocked
out in the initial stanza. That was okay, though, because one
big kick in the second round floored the champion again. And
several strikes later, this one was in the books.
Georges
St. Pierre was the new UFC Welterweight Champion.
Georges
St. Pierre vs. Matt Hughes at UFC 79: Nemesis
So
as we come into the third and likely final chapter in this saga
at UFC 79: Nemesis, one has to wonder if legacies are on the
line. Matt Hughes is one of the greatest mixed martial arts fighters
in history. If St. Pierre wins the trilogy and then goes on to
be dominant—save the Matt Serra fight he already has been
throughout his career—where does that put him in the annals
of MMA?
You’ve
got to believe that Matt Hughes will take a different approach
this time. He’s going to go all out for the takedown. Can
he come through against a man that followed up a devastating
loss to Matt Serra by dominating an elite wrestler like Josh
Koscheck on the ground?
He
has to. If not, St. Pierre will almost assuredly win.
But
never put anything beyond Matt Hughes. He’s as crafty as
they get. Whether people like him or not, he has as much heart
as anybody. And in those tough matches, the ones that seem as
if they could go either way, Hughes always seems to come through.
You see, the doubt that once crept into St. Pierre’s head
coming into that first fight with Hughes never finds its way
to the man from Illinois. Then again, he did get beat badly the
last time these two went to war.
This
should be a fun one for sure.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Street
fighting
By Zach Arnold
The
story of the day comes to us from Eastern Canada, where 24-year
old Corben MacDonald is in court to face 42 charges of promoting
illegal fights. MacDonald’s backyard fight ‘organization’
was called East Coast Street Fights.
The Chronicle Herald’s Josh Visser (e-mail) in Halifax,
Nova Scotia is reporting that East Coast Street Fights, an outlaw
group of individuals who do backyard-style MMA brawls in parking
lots and lawns, has found a ‘millionaire’ money mark
that will convert them into a ‘legitimate’ promotion.
The Halifax RCMP is not amused.
The
article also throws in The Zuffa Myth for good measure, talking
about how Zuffa LLC introduced weight classes and other regulations
when they bought the company in 2001. Another example of the
Myth on display today. Furthermore, the article finds a university
professor to say the following about MMA: “My sense is,
it’s still a marginalized activity.”
Source: Star Tribune / Fight Opinion
|
More
bad luck for Rich Franklin
By Zach Arnold
According to a report at MMA Junkie, Rich Franklin has a torn
meniscus in his right knee that will require surgery. He will
be out of action until June of 2008.
Source: Fight Opinion
|
Quote
of the Day
Let your
heart feel for the afflictions and distress of everyone, and
let your hand give in proportion to your purse."
George Washington, 1732-1799, 1st President of the United States
|
Two
More Hawaii Fighters Appear on
Next ShoXC Fight Card
Kala Kolohe Hose, right after having his fight with Robbie Lawler
cancelled due to Lawler's injury is on the card. And Iron Mike
Aina is back after an incredible performance against Nick Diaz
will take on one of England's toughest and hardest hitting fighters
in Paul "Semtex" Daley. Good luck to both Hawaii's
boys. Make us proud!
ShoXC
Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, NJ
January 28, 2008
185lbs - Kala
Kolohe Hose (Hawaii)
4-1 vs. Belleton Frederick (Massachusetts) 4-1
140lbs - Julie Kedzie (Indiana) 9-6 vs. Tonya Etinger (Maryland)
5-3
150lbs - Bobby McMaster (Massachusetts) vs. Bao Quach (California)
11-8-1
160lbs - Yves Edwards (Florida/Texas) 31-13-3 vs. TBA
160lbs - Paul Daley (England) 16-6-2 vs. Mike Aina (Hawaii) 8-6-1
|
Ryan
Gracie bury at Rio de Janeiro
Ryan
Gracie’s body was buried last Sunday (16) at São
João Batista Cemetery , at Rio de Janeiro, . Ryan’s
body leave Medical Legal Institute at São Paulo , around
19h15 from Saturday (15) and was flew to Rio de Janeiro . Renzo
brother and Róbson Gracie’s son, Ryan was arrested
at Friday, December 14, around 13h30 after steal a car and tried
to steal a motocycle. According to São Paulo police Ryan
was worked out and with a knife, he attack a 78 years old man
to still his car. After crash into a concrete bench, Ryan abandon
the car. After that, Ryan, that according to his father Róbson
had panic symptoms, tried to steal another car, but he was not
successful.
When
Ryan tried to steal a motocycle, he was attacked, dominated from
many motocyclists till the arrival from the police. At São
Paulo, motorcyclist are a very close working class and when they
saw Ryan stealing the motocycle, he was attacked from more then
30 motorcyclist with punches kicks and many of then use their
helmets as arms.
After
been arrested, Ryan was taken to the 15th Police Department,
where he was filed. After that, Gracie passed for toxically tests
at Medical Legal Institute and he was seen by his doctor, the
psychiatrist Dr. Sabino Ferreira de Faria, that had applied at
Ryan by intravenous a medicine indicated for treatment of psychotic
stable patients, two ampoules an antiallergic, which one of the
effects is a drowsiness, two pills of a medicine for migraine,
two pills of a tranquillizer and a relaxing. After that Ryan
was transferred to the 91st PD, where, about 7h, when one policemen
was making the search in the cells of the prisoners, they found
the fighter lying down in a corner. They entered and checked
that Ryan was killed.
According
to a doctor, the toxically test made at Ryan at Friday (14) established,
besides a medical for anxiety, the fighter had used cocaine,
marijuana and a mixture from Crack cocaine. Another medical test
was made at Ryan’s body to appoint the causes of the death,
but the result ware not publicized yet. “It’s a very
big damage. He is one of the big stars from the fight. A real
fighter, for me, one of the Jiu-Jitsu heros. Ryan looks at the
mirror and didn’t see Ryan, he see Ulysses at his travel
through Iliad”, said his father Róbson Gracie, at
his last goodbye, at Cemetery São João Batista,
at Rio de Janeiro.
Source: Tatame
|
BOXING'S
BEST OF 2007
It's a holiday treat for HBO Boxing fans. For five consecutive
nights during the holidays, HBO Sports will replay five of the
most memorable, most significant, most compelling bouts of 2007
that were broadcast on the HBO service.
The
lineup includes:
Tuesday,
Dec. 25 at 11:00 PM -- Jermain Taylor vs. Kelly Pavlik
Wednesday,
Dec. 26 at 11:00 PM-- Joe Calzaghe vs. Mikkel Kessler
Thursday,
Dec. 27 at 11:00 PM -- Oscar De La Hoya vs. Floyd Mayweather
Friday,
Dec. 28 at 11:00 PM -- Miguel Cotto vs. Shane Mosley
Saturday,
Dec. 29 at 12 midnight -- Floyd Mayweather vs. Ricky Hatton
All
times are ET/PT.
Source: HBO
|
Schilt
negotiates with UFC
Dutchman has 10 MMA fights on his Record
Devastating. That is the most appropriate adjective to describe
Semmy Schilt’s performance in the K-1 World Grand Prix.
The Dutchman became the only three-time champion, less than two
weeks ago, knocking out his compatriot Peter Aerts in the final
of the GP. However, the kickboxer’s MMA record doesn’t
touch his dominating dominant displays in standup events.
In
MMA, the giant of 2.11m and 116 kg has met with defeat four times
in ten participations in events like K-1 Heroes, Pride and UFC
having been overcome by big names in the sport like Josh Barnett,
Rodrigo Minotauro, Fedor Emelianenko and Sergei Kharitanov. Now
in Pancrase the fighter looks better with 16 wins in 24 outings.
With his confidence way up there, Schilt, who will soon become
a father, wants to make his known in MMA once and for all, and
from the looks of things negotiations are underway.
“My
agent along with K-1 is trying to come to an agreement with the
UFC, I’m ready to return to the octagon. Now I want to be
heavyweight champion of the UFC and this time I’ll prepare
myself properly. I’d like to face Tim Sylvia and fight Fedor
again,” stated Schilt, whose last MMA performance took place
in May of last year. On the occasion the Dutchman submitted the
Korean Min Soo Kim with a triangle at Heroes.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
Aoki
Ready for Calvancante
by Taro Kotani
TOKYO, Japan, Dec. 19 -- Current Shooto middleweight champion
Shinya Aoki, who will face Gesias Calvancante at the Yarennoka!
New Year's Eve card supported by M-1 Global, held an open training
session at the DEEP Dojo on Wednesday.
Though
he is known as one of the most dangerous submission artists in
the world, today's open training session was held in a rather
unique style.
DEEP
representative Shigeru Saeki introduced the purpose of the training
session as "a way for Aoki to feel the Bushido spirit."
Having
said so, Aoki came out wearing a karate uniform and, under the
guidance of "Luiz," a karate fighter from Zendokai,
went through a series of striking drills in front of the media.
Saeki
also mentioned that Luiz, a participant in DEEP's Future King
tournaments who was born in Brazil, was the perfect imaginary
substitute for "JZ" Calvancante, the two-time K-1 HERO'S
154-pound tournament champion.
"Aoki
has improved his striking and his grappling, and is best in the
world," Luiz pointed out following the workout. "If
he can perform the way he has during training, he will be able
to win the fight."
Aoki
has fought in PRIDE at 161 pounds and in Shooto at 167 pounds.
He is scheduled to fight on New Year's Eve at 154, and though
it is not his usual weight, Aoki said it is not a cause for concern.
"Losing
weight has not been a problem for me. 73 kg was the limit for
my weight class at PRIDE but 73 kg is not quite the global standard.
I could have asked to fight at 73 kg but looking beyond this
fight, I want to fight the best in the world. In order for to
do so I felt that I needed to shift to fighting at 70 kg."
Having
knowledge of Calvancante's toughness, Aoki also stressed that
the fight will be a real battle.
"I
want to submit him," Aoki said. "It will be either
me submitting him or Calvan knocking me out. I do not want to
imagine myself getting knocked out. All aspects of fighting will
be tested. From striking to takedowns and grappling. Expectations
are high and I want to dominate in every aspect."
Finally,
Aoki strongly expressed his gratitude for the opportunity.
"Since
April, I have had my share of tough times," he said. "I
knew the staff members were trying to restart PRIDE. I have been
able to build a trust with those staff members. I believed in
them. PRIDE may have been bought, but our heart and soul were
not bought out. I am just happy that I can fight again."
Source: Sherdog
|
The
Red Menace
Can undefeated martial artist Fedor Emelianenko single-handedly
knock out the Ultimate Fighting Championship's dominance over
the emerging sport?
By Sean Cunningham
More
than any of the other sweet sciences, mixed martial arts demands
its practitioners learn to handle losing. None of the big names
in the sport are undefeated. Few of them even boast the impressive
records so common in boxing, where opponents are handpicked to
ensure that the loss column remains nice and empty. Chuck “The
Iceman” Liddell is 20-5, including two humiliating knockouts
by Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (who has lost six times
himself). Indeed, the sport's living legend, Randy "The
Natural" Couture, has a decidedly un-Rocky Marciano-esque
record of 16-8.
Every
rule has an exception, however, and Fedor Emelianenko is it.
The Russian fighter is 26-1, the only blemish due to a doctor
stoppage after a technically illegal elbow strike. Relying largely
on the Soviet combat system Sambo -- the Russian acronym means
“self-defense without weapon” -- Fedor has the potential
to be to MMA what Woods is to golf and Federer is to tennis,
only more so. After all, he’s the only member of that trio
who literally pummels his rivals into submission.
And
now, after avenging his only defeat and destroying the competition
overseas, Fedor has come to our shores and finally found a worthy
opponent: The Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Last
month, Fedor landed the first punch in the battle when he turned
his back on Dana White and company. Ignoring the $220 million
the UFC cleared from pay-per-view last year (and countless additional
millions they decline to discuss), Fedor signed a contract with
MMA upstart M-1 Global. Fedor instantly established M-1 Global
as a credible organization and, equally importantly, denied the
UFC the man considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the
world.
The
decision has already caused a seismic shift in the MMA landscape.
Randy Couture, for years the public face of the UFC, quit the
league, citing its inability to set up a fight with Fedor as
the deciding factor. (Couture's belief he was making half what
Chuck Liddell earned didn’t help.) Sides have been drawn
and camps are getting testy. UFC President Dana White -- who
once thought highly enough of Fedor to predict, “I’ll
have him someday” -- has suddenly downgraded his opinion,
saying, "I think that Fedor is completely overrated."
The
man reshaping MMA is out cold on the couch in his Hilton hotel
suite. It is ten in the morning, on a Monday, and according to
his handlers, Fedor is still sleeping off a "big night."
At the risk of gross generalization, Russians at this hour after
a "big night" are not the most forthcoming people on
Earth, a fact that is doubly true when the Russian in question
is a military veteran -- Fedor served in the Russian army from
1995 to 1997 -- and triply true when he requires a translator.
(His manager also has a translator, leading to surreal moments
when the translators ignore the conversation to debate word choices:
“…broke a toe in 2003.” “Finger.” “Finger?”
“Thumb.” “Broke a thumb in 2003…”)
In
person, Fedor looks smaller -- and more dangerous -- than his
listed six feet. With his shaved head, perpetual poker face,
and a body that, to use F. Scott Fitzgerald’s phrase, seems
capable of great leverage, he appears the way Russian President
Vladimir Putin must have visualized himself when he let the Kremlin
release those photos of him hunting shirtless. Unlike the M-1
executives filling the room, Fedor's in a T-shirt and jeans.
He is polite but reserved. He expresses great respect for Couture
(“He’s one of the best fighters, and we will have to
meet to find out who is the strongest”), less so for Brazilian
Renzo Gracie (a member of mixed martial arts’ first family
who claims he knows Fedor’s weaknesses and how to exploit
them). The fighter who inspires the most intriguing response
is Mirko Cro Cop.
Mirko
“Cro Cop” Filipovic is a former member of Croatia’s
Anti-Terrorist police unit ATJ Lucko (hence Cro Cop), who became
a member of the Croatian Parliament while breaking into MMA.
He was 16-2-2 when he faced Fedor. He lost, of course, but it
was a good showing, a loss by decision, which against Fedor practically
counts as a victory. Cro Cop's record since then has been a mediocre
6-3, including defeats in his last two fights. Once poised to
be a breakout star due to his devastating knockouts, he’s
dropped back with the pack. What happened?
“He
has to regenerate psychologically. After my fight with him, he
just broke down. In his soul, something just broke down, cracked…There
are some psychological problems when you have all the time fight,
fight, fight, without rest."
M-1
Global hopes Fedor can quickly get back into the fight, fight,
fight routine. As their most bankable star by far, the organization
plans to make Fedor their centerpiece. This means arranging for
him to take on the best fighters in the world, regardless of
the organization that currently employs them. M-1 has made a
point of putting the UFC on notice, announcing that they'll pay
$1 million more than whatever the UFC is currently paying its
heavyweight champion to take on Fedor.
(While
M-1 Global may have yet to come through on their promise to find
Fedor the best opponents, they aren’t skimping on size:
Fedor will fight in Tokyo on New Year’s Eve against Hong-Man
“Techno Goliath” Choi, a seven-foot-two-inch, 360-pound
Korean best known for his fondness for dancing to techno music.)
Such
gamesmanship could be a positive sign that the sport is maturing.
It could also be the first step on the road to ruin. For once
the lethal combo of egos and lawyers get involved, the fans'
desire to see the best possible match-ups goes out the window.
Look at heavyweight boxing, which long ago decided that instead
of a single, world-renowned titleholder it’s better to have
four virtually unknown champs. If the UFC and the other leagues
hold firm and manage to stop their fighters from dealing with
M-1, Fedor will have to generate interest in his organization
almost single-handedly.
This
leads to the crucial question: Why would Americans warm to a
taciturn Russian, when they’ve shown so little interest
in the Klitschko brothers? (Whatever their other flaws, at least
Wladimir and Vitali speak English.) The answer is on YouTube,
where fans have been obsessing over Fedor's highlight reel. Watch
his 2007 fight with Matt Lindland, shown below. Lindland opens
a gusher over Fedor’s eye within the first 10 seconds. It’s
the sort of injury that often results in a doctor’s stoppage
(which is, again, the cause of Fedor’s only loss), so he
needs to work fast. Within three minutes Lindland, who opened
so strong, is tapping out to prevent his arm from being ripped
out of its socket wookie-style. It’s thrilling because even
though Fedor is desperate the victory still feels inevitable,
like when the Bulls were trailing by one and ran a play for Michael
Jordan.
It’s
worth noting that while Fedor battles to maintain his personal
pride, extend his 23-bout winning streak, and now to launch a
new global MMA organization, those aren’t the only reasons
he gets in the ring. The 31-year-old also fights to support a
wife and daughter. Only one man may enter the arena, but a growing
group of people count on him every time he takes on an opponent.
Has it changed the combat experience? I decide to find out. “As
you get older and have a family, does that affect you as a fighter?”
Fedor
does something unexpected: he laughs.
“You’re
talking about me getting older?” He seems both amused and
slightly offended. He is awake now, the grogginess gone. I clarify
that the question was more about obligations than physical decline.
The translator explains. Fedor listens carefully. He answers
in a perfectly civil tone.
“There
are some motives that push me to go and do what I’m doing.
The motives are very important and weighty. I try all 100 percent.”
The
answer is at once completely vague, yet utterly assured.
Putin
would be proud.
Source: Esquire/Fight Opinion
|
Quote
of the Day
Let your
heart feel for the afflictions and distress of everyone, and
let your hand give in proportion to your purse."
George Washington, 1732-1799, 1st President of the United States
|
Minotouro’s
opponent confirmed
Cyborg also to fight in HCF
As
reported yesterday by GRACIEMAG.com in an interview with Amaury
Bitetti, the Nogueira brothers’ Jiu-Jitsu coach, Rogerio
Minotouro’s return to the ring is set for February 1, 2008,
at the HCF, in Calgary, Canada. The opponent of UFC star Rodrigo
Minotauro’s twin brother will be former Bodog fighter Todd
Gouwenberg (7w and 2l), who at 33 will have the advantage of
fighting in his home land.
The
Brazilian, 31, hasn’t fought since February of this year,
when he was knocked out by the Cameroonian Thierry Sokodjou while
still in Pride. Another Brazilian to make it onto the card of
the Canadian event, is chuteboxer Evangelista Cyborg, who will
be in the second most important fight of the night against Armenian
Gegard Mousasi (18w and 2l), who is coming off five wins in a
row, one of them also for the now-defunct Pride.
Check
out the complete card:
Rogerio
Minotouro vs Todd Gouwenberg
Gegard Mousasi vs Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos
Thomas Schulte vs Garett Davis
John Alessio vs Derrick Noble
Damir Mirenic vs Mike Pyle
Andrew Buckland vs Dan Chambers
Solomon Hutcherson vs Amir Rahnavardi
Myles Merola vs Ariel Sexton
Tim Hague vs Miodrag Petkovic
Nabil Khatib vs Lucas Rota
Babian Cortez vs Juan Barrantes
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
Fedor
shares thoughts on Cro Cop's slump
What does Fedor Emelianenko suggest Mirko Cro Cop has to do in
order to rise above his current slump?
"He
has to regenerate psychologically," Fedor said in an interview
released today by Esquire Magazine. "After my fight with
him, he just broke down. In his soul, something just broke down,
cracked… There are some psychological problems when you
have all the time fight, fight, fight, without rest."
Cro
Cop has been fighting at a hectic pace, competing in 30 MMA bouts
in the past six years. In addition, he has fought 23 times for
K-1 (kickboxing) since 1996.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
ULTIMATE
FIGHTER 6 SALARY BREAKDOWN
MMAWeekly has obtained the fighter salary information for “The
Ultimate Fighter” season six finale, which took place on
Dec. 8 at the Palms in Las Vegas.
The
following figures are based on the fighter salary information
that Zuffa, LLC (the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s parent
company) are required by law to submit to the state athletic
commissions, including the winners' bonuses.
Although
MMA fighters do not have collective bargaining or a union, the
fighters' salaries are still public record, just as with every
other major sport in the United States. Any bonuses that Zuffa
and the UFC also pay its fighters, but do not disclose to the
athletic commissions (specifically, pay-per-view bonuses for
the top pay-per-view main event fighters, which would not apply
since this event was not on pay-per-view), are not included in
the figures below.
In
the listings below, " Main Event Fighters" are defined
as fighters who compete in the main event of a show. "Main
Card Fighters" are defined as fighters whose fights appear
on the main card, but not in title fights or in the main event.
"Preliminary Match Fighters" are defined as fighters
whose matches take place before the live broadcast goes on the
air, regardless of whether or not those matches end up airing
on the TV broadcast.
MAIN
EVENT FIGHTERS
-Roger
Huerta: $38,000 (6th fight in UFC; defeated Clay Guida; includes
win bonus of $19,000)
-Mac
Danzig: $16,000 (1st fight in UFC; defeated Tommy Speer; includes
win bonus of $8,000)
-Clay
Guida: $11,000 (5th fight in UFC; lost to Roger Huerta; win bonus
would have been $11,000)
-Tommy
Speer: $8,000 (1st fight in UFC; lost to Mac Danzig; win bonus
would have been $8,000)
MAIN
CARD FIGHTERS
-Jon
Koppenhaver: $16,000 (1st fight in UFC; defeated Jared Rollins;
includes win bonus of $8,000)
-Ben
Saunders: $16,000 (1st fight in UFC; defeated Dan Barrera; includes
win bonus of $8,000)
-George
Sotiropoulos: $16,000 (1st fight in UFC; defeated Billy Miles;
includes win bonus of $8,000)
-Dan
Barrera: $8,000 (1st fight in UFC; lost to Ben Saunders; win
bonus would have been $8,000)
-Billy
Miles: $8,000 (1st fight in UFC; lost to George Sotiropoulos;
win bonus would have been $8,000)
-Jared
Rollins: $8,000 (1st fight in UFC; lost to Jon Koppenhaver; win
bonus would have been $8,000)
PRELIMINARY
MATCH FIGHTERS
-Matt
Arroyo: $16,000 (1st fight in UFC; defeated John Kolosci; includes
win bonus of $8,000)
-Troy
Mandaloniz: $16,000 (1st fight in UFC; defeated Richie Hightower;
includes win bonus of $8,000)
-Roman
Mitichyan: $16,000 (1st fight in UFC; defeated Dorian Price;
includes win bonus of $8,000)
-Jonathan
Goulet: $14,000 (6th fight in UFC; defeated Paul Georgieff; includes
win bonus of $7,000)
-Richie
Hightower: $8,000 (1st fight in UFC; lost to Troy Mandaloniz;
win bonus would have been $8,000)
-John
Kolosci: $8,000 (1st fight in UFC; lost to Matt Arroyo; win bonus
would have been $8,000)
-Dorian
Price: $8,000 (1st fight in UFC; lost to Roman Mitichyan; win
bonus would have been $8,000)
-Paul
Georgieff: $8,000 (1st fight in UFC; lost to Jonathan Goulet;
win bonus would have been $8,000)
DISCLOSED
FIGHTER PAYROLL: $239,000
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Jong
Man Kim: Carrying on the Legacy
by John Lee
This
year marked the 25th anniversary of the tragic passing of South
Korean boxer Duk Koo Kim, who died from blood clots sustained
during his harrowing fight with Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini.
As
in any unfortunate passing, people try to remember the life that
was lived rather than the death itself. Such has been the case
in South Korea, where Kim's story has been celebrated, if tearfully,
as one man's insurmountable spirit.
Fast
forward to 2007 and Kim's legacy still lives on -- not in boxing
but in MMA -- through Korean featherweight Jong Man Kim.
"I
want to fight like Duk Koo Kim, with all my heart," Jong
Man Kim said. "I want to fight an exciting fight and show
that Korean fighters are strong and skilled. I want to show the
world that Korea has more to offer than just Hong Man Choi."
The
heavy-hitting featherweight was originally a judo-based fighter.
He has rounded out his arsenal by working with renowned boxing
trainer Yoon Gu Kim, who also molded Duk Koo Kim's close friend,
Chong Pal Park, into the 1984 IBF and 1987 WBA super middleweight
champion.
"I've
been working on my boxing for the past three years with Duk Koo
Kim's old boxing trainer, and it's finally starting to show,"
said Kim, who shares no relation to the slain boxer.
The
time Kim has invested in developing his hands paid dividends
Oct. 8 in his milestone split decision over highly regarded Japanese
featherweight Hatsu Hioki.
"We
watched a lot of tape on Hioki and noticed he likes to strike
from the outside," Kim said. "Our game plan was to
get inside and strike."
Kim's
striking is not defined by economy of movement; instead, he likes
to swing back and generate enough momentum to create a violent
impact.
In
the Hioki bout, Kim (3-2-1, 1 NC) rushed in at the rangy Japanese
fighter with a winging left hook-right straight combination that
crumpled a bleary-eyed dazed Hioki on the canvas in the first
round. The Korean dropped Hioki again with a wild, lunging left
hook in the final seconds of the third.
The
win over Hioki -- in front of a partial crowd in the Japanese
fighter's hometown of Nagoya -- was a feat in itself, but it
will be remembered more for something else. With the victory,
Kim became the first Korean MMA fighter to be ranked internationally
when he climbed into the Sherdog.com featherweight poll.
"Someone
actually told me about [being ranked]," Kim said. "I
went online to look, and there I was. I couldn't believe my eyes.
That's when I realized I finally made it."
Kim
has been around since MMA's inception in South Korea roughly
four years ago, and the trajectory of his career mirrors the
development of Korean MMA.
He
floundered early in part because he did not have the appropriate
skill set, but more importantly because at the outset, Korean
MMA did not have any weight distinctions, much like in the United
States.
As
a result, he was forced to fight against much heavier fighters,
including welterweights and even heavyweights.
"When
I first started out, the only thing I tried to do was to take
the other guy down and armbar him," said Kim, who normally
walks around 152 pounds.
At
Spirit MC 1, Korean heavyweight Junggyu Choi submitted the green
and diminutive Kim with a standard submission.
"I
took him down as I planned, but then all of a sudden I found
myself blacking out," Kim said. "I later found out
the submission was a triangle choke."
Since
then, he has honed his skills at Korea Top Team, a solid gym
headed by a former Olympic-level wrestling staff. Also, with
the rising popularity of the lightweight division in 2005, Kim
found a weight class more suited to his size.
In
the 2005 HERO'S Korea opener, Kim faced off against a game Atsushi
Yamamoto, who is No. 4 in Sherdog's bantamweight rankings but
was fighting as a lightweight at the time.
After
a draining first round with Yamamoto controlling his back, Kim
turned things around in the second, posturing up and firing shots
from inside Yamamoto's guard. In a confusing moment, Yamamoto
looked up and said something to the referee, but Kim simultaneously
landed a hard hammerfist that stunned Yamamoto.
Kim
could be seen apologizing, but the referee goaded him to continue,
at which point Kim bludgeoned Yamamoto with repeated hammerfists.
The initial blow rendered Yamamoto unconscious, the force of
it popping his mouthpiece halfway out, and the ensuing blow violently
pegged the mouthpiece back in. Kim landed a few more crushing
bombs before the referee intervened.
The
serendipitous win earned Kim a one-year contract with K-1, but
his fights kept getting cancelled at the last minute and he was
forced into a hiatus for more than a year.
After
sitting out his contract, Kim, who by then had become a peripheral
fighter, managed to get fights through the patronage of CMA KPW
President Hidekazu Morooka.
Morooka
is a bit of a cloak-and-dagger figure in Korea. Despite being
shrouded in a veil of mystery, he has had a heavy hand in the
development of Korean MMA, such as organizing a Gladiator FC
event in Korea.
Among
other things, Morooka's real contribution lies in the establishment
of an ancillary management branch in Korea, CMA Korea, through
which he has recruited various Korean prospects to Japan. At
times he has also ruffled the feathers of Korea's domestic promotion,
Spirit MC, which insists on retaining managerial rights. In short,
you're either a CMA Korea fighter or a Spirit MC fighter; you
can't be both.
While
Kim is not under contract with CMA Korea, Morooka has arranged
his last few bouts, including those against Masakazu Imanari,
Hatsu Hioki and his upcoming fight with Yoshiro Maeda on DEEP's
Dec. 22 card.
The
bout this Saturday against Maeda, who is ranked a spot higher
than Kim, is a relevant one. A win could line Kim up for a rematch
with DEEP featherweight champion Masakazu Imanari and place him
a step closer to achieving his dream of bringing an international
title back home.
But
Kim knows that in order to cement his legacy and pursue more
lucrative paydays, he needs to make the journey to the United
States. His addition could create some compelling international
storylines in World Extreme Cagefighting.
"I
really want to go to the U.S.," he said. "I want to
test myself and see how far I can go. As a first generation fighter
in Korea, I want to set an example."
A
frank assessment of Kim's chances in the WEC is that he will
have a hard time dealing with the torrid pace and explosiveness
of the fighters in the division.
But
the voices of the past seem to beckon Kim to Las Vegas, where
he has a legacy to carry on.
Source: Sherdog
|
WEC
31 Fighter Salaries
By FCF Staff
Full Contact Fighter received the salary breakdown this afternoon
from the Nevada State Athletic Commission, for the December 12th,
World Extreme Cagefighting 31 event, held at the Hard Rock Hotel
and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The card, which saw several
of the fights broadcast on Versus, featured several notable bouts
including; WEC featherweight champ Urijah Faber defending his
title against Jeff Curran, Paulo Filho narrowly surviving a vicious
onslaught from Chael Sonnen early on to pull out the second round
submission victory, and the victorious WEC debut for Jens Pulver,
as he tapped out Cub Swanson just 35 seconds into Round 1.
The fighter purses listed below are the figures Zuffa and the
WEC are required by law to submit to the NSAC and are a matter
of public record. Any bonuses, outside of winning bonuses, (if
applicable) are not listed below.
Here
is a breakdown of some of the more notable payouts from the card;
In extending his record to 20-1, Faber earned $40,000 (including
$20,000 winning bonus) while Curran made $10,000, the WEC middleweight
champ Filho was paid $56,000 ($18,000 of which was for winning),
Sonnen made $25,000 for his efforts, the former UFC lightweight
champ Pulver earned $60,000 (including win bonus of $30,000),
while his opponent Swanson made $5,000, UFC and WEC vet John
Alessio earned $26,000 ($13,000 of which was for winning) for
his efforts in defeating Todd Moore by Unanimous Decision (who
was paid $4,000), and for submitting Arriel Gandula ($4,000)
in the first round with an armbar, WEC Light-Heavyweight Champion
Doug Marshall was paid $10,000. (including his $5,000 winning
bonus.)
Up
next for the WEC, on February 13th, the promotion will hold its
32nd event. Although no bouts have yet been confirmed for the
card, WEC Welterweight Champion Carlos Condit and WEC Lightweight
Champion, Rob McCullough, are both scheduled to compete.
Source: FCF
|
Quote
of the Day
Let your
heart feel for the afflictions and distress of everyone, and
let your hand give in proportion to your purse."
George Washington, 1732-1799, 1st President of the United States
|
Bitetti
and the Nogueiras’ JJ
Minota and Minota tuned up for February
The year 2007 has not been one of the busiest for the Nogueira
family. Considered two of the best MMA fighters in the world,
Rodrigo Minotauro and Rogerio Minotouro fought only once each
this year. Rogerio has a fight set for the 1st of February in
Canada for the event HCF, returning to the ring for the first
time since being knocked out by Cameroonian fighter Thierry Sokodjou,
shortly before Pride came to an end.
Now
his twin brother will have one of the most important fights of
a career that reached the mark of 30 wins the last time he fought.
Minota will face the giant Tim Sylvia for the UFC heavyweight
belt, February 2nd in Las Vegas. GRACIEMAG.com went after black
belt Amaury Bitetti, responsible for two beasts’ ground
training, to find out more about both their preparations for
their upcoming commitments, here goes:
GRACIEMAG.com:
How have the two been training for their upcoming fights?
Amaury:
They are training really hard. The ground part is up to me, the
takedown part is with Artilheiro (Rodrigo) and a Hungarian Olympic
champion, their boxing with Kelson (Pinto) and muay thai with
Luis Alves. There’s also weightlifting that they’re
doing with a Romanian who was a power lifting champion. Aside
from all that, next week we’ll head to the army school to
do some tests of physical capacity, wind and blood tests with
Colonel Morais.
GRACIEMAG.com:
What specific training is Minota doing to face Sylvia, and what
are the dangerous the giant may present in the octagon?
Amaury:
we’re training to take him down and not lose the position.
To try and get from the mount to the back, from the back to the
mount, always hitting in the right places, so he’ll expose
himself and we can grab an arm or the neck, what we can’t
do is lose the position to the guy. He is prepared for everything,
is training really hard standing too. It’s just that as
Sylvia is really heavy and hits hard, besides being in front
of his fans, we can’t take risks. We’ll take him down
and the way Minotauro’s training, he’ll win.
GRACIEMAG.com:
What are the expectations for Minotouro’s debut at HCF,
are there any plans for after the fight?
Amaury:
He’ll fight on February 1st in Canada, against a Canadian.
The guy is pretty tough and will have all the support of the
crowd, but Minotouro is training hard, I don’t believe he’ll
have to hard a time. For now he’ll stay with this event,
for which he signed a three-fight contract.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
K-1
Dynamite!! 2007 lineup updated
Hideo Tokoro, who competed against Gracies the previous two New
Year's Eve, will turn his attention this year towards RINGS and
PRIDE veteran Kiyoshi Tamura. Also, Musashi's opponent has been
announced as Bernard Ackah.
Here
is the updated lineup for K-1 "Dynamite!!" from the
Osaka, Japan:
MMA:
Bob Sapp vs. Bobby Ologun
MMA: Hideo Tokoro vs. Kiyoshi Tamura
MMA: Norifumi "KID" Yamamoto vs. Rani Yahya
MMA: Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Masakatsu Funaki
MMA: Yosuke Nishijima vs. Melvin Manhoef
MMA: Zuluzinho vs. Ikuhisa Minowa
MMA: Kazuyuki Miyata vs. Joachim Hansen
K-1: Musashi vs. Bernard Ackah
K-1: Masato vs. Yong Soo Choi
K-1: Hiroya vs. Tsukasa Fuji
K-1: Kenji Kubo vs. Yudai
K-1: Winner of Kubo/Yudai vs. Hiroya/Fuji
Source: MMA Fighting
|
COMMISSIONER
DISCUSSES IFL TITLE CHANGE-UPS
by Damon Martin
After
an opening round of the Grand Prix tournament to crown the first
ever champions in the organization, the International Fight League
decided to pull original lightweight finalist Wagnney Fabiano
out of his slot and place him in line for a newly created featherweight
title. His previous opponent, Chris Horodecki, is now on his
third opponent in as many weeks.
Commissioner
Kurt Otto addressed the reasoning behind pulling Fabiano, who
went undefeated at lightweight last season for the IFL, and creating
a featherweight division for the Grand Prix finals.
“Wagnney
is a lean guy. He’s a small guy,” said Otto. “He
wished that we had a 145-pound weight class, but because we didn’t,
he was forced to fight at (155 pounds). Granted, he was finishing
everybody in under one minute, but still this is a situation
where who knows? That fight could happen in ‘08 between
Wagnney and Chris Horodecki if we want that to happen, if that
makes sense.”
He
expressed the promotion’s desire to crown a featherweight
champion now as opposed to create a weight class for next season
and then crown a titleholder during the season.
“Why
would we have a guy fight for a belt, and let’s say he wins
the 155-pound belt, why would we have him fight when he’s
going to a different weight class and then establish a new title
fight?” Otto stated. “Let’s do it now. Let’s
establish it so we can start with a clean slate.”
Apparently,
Fabiano had voiced his desire to drop to a lower weight and fight,
but until now, the IFL has not had a 145-pound division.
“At
the end of the day if Wagnney’s intentions were to fight
at 145 because he knew we were switching to that format, (and)
he said ‘guys I want to fight where I’m comfortable
and these guys after they weigh in are 170 pounds, I’m still
144 pounds, it’s a little unfair for me. I mean I’m
doing my best, but I would prefer being at 145.’”
Since
Fabiano has been rescheduled to fight for the new featherweight
championship, a replacement fighter has been hard pressed to
stay healthy as the IFL is now on its third opponent for Horodecki
to face for the lightweight title.
“First
we went with Shad Lierley. He broke his toe. His bone went through
the skin,” said Otto about the first replacement for the
fight. “Then we had John Gunderson who had an existing hand
injury. He assured us he was good to go, re-injured that hand
during practice preparing for the fight. And then the next guy
in line with our seeding was Ryan Schultz, who took the fight
in a heartbeat and he’s healthy and ready to go.”
Chris
Horodecki is now set to face Ryan Schultz for the first ever
IFL lightweight title, while Wagnney Fabiano will square off
against L.C. Davis for the featherweight championship at the
finals for the IFL Grand Prix set for Dec. 29 in Connecticut.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
IFL
negotiating with former Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle
By Brian Knapp
The International Fight League continues to negotiate with former
Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle regarding a possible crossover
from professional wrestling to MMA, according to IFL co-founder
Kurt Otto. Angle, who turned 39 earlier this month, has toyed
with the idea of trying his hand at MMA for years.
“He’s
very, very talented,” Otto said during a Wednesday teleconference.
“If anybody’s going to cross over, he would be a great
guy.”
Otto
believes the two-time national collegiate wrestling champion
was drawn to the IFL’s team format. The promotion’s
rules, which prohibit the use of elbows, could give Angle his
best chance to succeed should he decide to step in the ring,
Otto said. Angle sat ringside during the IFL World Championship
in September at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood,
Fla.
“He
was excited about what he saw,” Otto said. “We’re
still in talks.”
Otto
indicated the IFL might use Angle to anchor a pay-per-view model,
should he come to terms on a contract. “If we ever do a
pay-per-view,” he said, “that would be something of
interest there.” Otto already has three potential opponents
in mind for Angle, but when asked if he would be willing to reveal
their identities, he said sharply, “Not a chance in hell.”
Other
items of interest from Wednesday’s teleconference included:
•
Otto confirmed that rising light heavyweight contender Andre
Gusmao did attempt to negotiate a contract with the UFC. While
the talented Brazilian is not under contract for 2008, the IFL
has exclusive rights to “an extensive negotiation period”
once his existing contract expires at the end of the year. “Andre
did not understand his contract, nor did his representation,”
Otto said. “They jumped the gun and negotiated [with the
UFC].” When he learned of the negotiations, Otto phoned
UFC matchmaker Joe Silva. The UFC rescinded its contract offer
to Gusmao shortly after;
•
Otto referred to heavyweight Ben Rothwell’s decision not
to re-sign with the organization and his subsequent withdrawal
from the IFL World Grand Prix as a “debacle.” M-1 Global
CEO Monte Cox manages Rothwell (29-5), who remains unbeaten against
IFL competition. “Ben will show up somewhere,” Otto
said. “That’s his prerogative. In my opinion, I think
the IFL is the best opportunity out there, bar none, in the MMA
world. That doesn’t mean it’s for everyone.” Otto
said he was on speaking terms with Cox and would welcome the
idea of working with the M-1 Global promotion in the future;
•
Fighters outside the IFL will be allowed to fight for titles
within the team-based promotion;
•
The IFL has not ruled out the possibility of more coach-versus-coach
bouts;
•
According to Otto, the IFL will explore the possibility of bringing
an event to the UK.
Source: The Fight Network
|
IFL
Version 2.0
By Steven Marrocco
Wednesday, December 19, 2007: IFL Commissioner and Co-Founder
Kurt Otto took questions from the media regarding its “Roadmap”
for 2008, outlining the company’s plans for gaining traction
in the MMA marketplace.
As
has been speculated for sometime now, Otto confirmed the team
concept that initially set the IFL apart from its competitors
would be replaced with a camp-centric brand of competition. For
example, the Quad City Silverbacks would be replaced with Miletich
Fighting Systems, branding the Iowa school as an integral part
of the promotion. Otto said that most camps with current teams
would be expected to contribute to the roster, but also left
open the possibility that other camps could enter the mix to
promote their school. He mentioned Team Punishment and Xtreme
Couture as two examples.
For
the first time, Otto conceded that the team format was not working.
He echoed the words of new CEO Jay Larkin, a former Showtime
executive, who’d replaced Co-Founder Gareb Shamus in the
position.
“This
gives us an opportunity for us to transition from what was deemed
as ‘contrived teams’ now to the traditional camp format
that you see out there in the world now,” Otto said.
Otto
said that “teams” would now be comprised of 3 regulars
from a particular camp, in addition to alternates. Weight classes
featured on a certain night would be shifted to allow fighters
more rest between fights. In addition to the camp match-ups,
two title fights would be held per event, using the champions
from the World Grand Prix as a springboard.
“The
difference is the flexibility,” Otto said. “In our
past life, our teams were generated with a five man team and
those guys had an exclusive contract, and it was very difficult
when somebody was injured to have somebody else to fall in line.”
“There
were guys that were fighting 7 or 8 times, which is pretty grueling.”
Otto
stressed that placing title fights within the camp match-ups
was a way of cutting costs and giving fans the best match-ups.
The
first event in the new season is scheduled to take place on February
29th at the Orleans Casino in Las Vegas. Otto said the evening
is part of a four-fight deal with the venue. The Orleans, Izod
Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and Mohegan Sun will now
comprise the base of operations for the promotion. But as the
company’s recent fighter-sharing agreement with HDNet Fights
indicated, collaboration with other organizations is now a reality.
“Now,
we’re going to me lean and mean, we’re going to try
and build a repeat business and come back to the places that
people are interested in working with us,” Otto said. “There
are cities no matter how hard you try, you can’t build on
them. That doesn’t mean that if a good opportunity pops
up that we wouldn’t jump on it. If there’s a group
that wants to work with us and they have a particular show going
on in Dallas, we have no problem loading up the truck and hauling
ass over there.”
Otto
said that Fox Sports Network is still on board to televise future
IFL fights, but they still hadn’t come to an agreement with
MyNetwork TV, the channel that’s given them the most exposure
in the last year.
Wherever
they land, Otto was well aware that the next year would be the
most pivotal year in determining the company’s future.
“The
gloves are off,” he said.
Source: FCF
|
Quote
of the Day
Let your
heart feel for the afflictions and distress of everyone, and
let your hand give in proportion to your purse."
George Washington, 1732-1799, 1st President of the United States
|
Penn
Speaks
By STEVE SIEVERT
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
BJ Penn has had a change of
heart. Another challenge awaits at lightweight after all.
After
stopping Jens Pulver in June in his first bout at lightweight
in nearly four years, Penn said no other fighter at 155 pounds
could motivate him like longtime-rival Pulver.
The
29-year-old Hawaiian was eyeing a return to welterweight and
a third fight with Matt Hughes. While Penn still covets a crack
at Hughes, who evened their personal series at a victory apiece
with a win at UFC 63 last year, a shot at another title will
keep him at lightweight a while longer.
"It's
all about getting that lightweight title right now," said
Penn (12-4-1), who held the UFC welterweight crown in 2004 after
beating Hughes in their first battle.
"Joe
Stevenson isn't the big name like Hughes or (Georges) St. Pierre,
but it's all about getting the title. I really want to be the
first guy to have a belt in the lightweight and welterweight
divisions."
Penn
will face Stevenson (32-7) next month at UFC 80 in Newcastle,
England, in a bout originally slated to be for the interim title
at 155 pounds while Sean Sherk's championship status was decided.
The interim tag was removed earlier this month when the California
State Athletic Commission upheld a reduced suspension for Sherk
for a positive steroid test. The UFC subsequently stripped Sherk
of the title.
Sherk's
link to steroids has been an intriguing part of the backdrop
to the Penn-Stevenson bout, with UFC president Dana White stating
that Sherk will get an opportunity to reclaim his belt by facing
the winner of the fight next year.
Penn
has been critical of Sherk, suggesting there should be a separate
division for fighters found cheating, and intimated that he wouldn't
fight Sherk if Sherk's suspension were upheld. While Penn has
backed away from those comments and now says he will entertain
a fight with the former champion, he continues to take his shots.
"That's
what he is; he's a 'roider, huh?" said Penn, who has been
outspoken in his opposition to performance-enhancing drugs in
the sport.
"The
guy has been cheating for how many years? At least everybody
knows now what everybody had suspected the whole time.
"But
honestly, I can't worry about Sean Sherk right now. I can't look
past Joe Stevenson. I've got to beat him, or there won't be any
fight with Sean Sherk, there won't be any fight with Matt Hughes.
"As
far as Sherk goes, he's going to have to sit on the side and
wait while the two people fight for the real lightweight championship,
not the 'steroid championship.' "
Penn
and Stevenson headline UFC 80, the promotion's first show of
2008, set for Jan. 19.
Source: Houston Chronicle / Gracie Figher
|
Shogun
and Ninja leave Chute Boxe
Team makes statement regarding fighters' departure
Shortly
after GRACIEMAG.com published, first hand, the news regarding
Murilo Ninja’s departure from Chute Boxe, the team from
Curitiba released a briefing on its official site announcing
that Mauricio Shogun to would be leaving the team.
“We
regret very much the departure of Murilo and Mauricio Rua, they
are fighters brought up in the team and left to start their own
team in the USA. We’d like to remind them that the doors
to Chute Boxe shall always be open for both of them and we wish
them luck and success in their new endeavors,” stated Rudimar
Fedrigo, who leads Chuteboxe along with Rafael Cordeiro.
After
Wanderlei Silva and Andre Dida’s departure, Chute Boxe loses
another one of its big stars. As ascertained by GRACIEMAG.com,
Murilo Ninja, who submitted the Frenchman Xavier Foupa-Pokan
at Cage Rage 24, on the first of the month, has called it quits
with the team from Curitiba.
Ninja,
along with his brother Mauricio Shogun, was a symbol of Chute
Boxe for many years at Pride, when they displayed for the world
aggressive muay thai, enchanting the Japanese and making the
academy popular. Ninja will be back in the cage in March for
EliteXC, the event in which he will fight for four more times,
aside from disputing the Cage Rage belt this coming July.
“I
left the academy. I’m putting together my own team, in Massachusetts,
USA. I spoke with Rudimar (Fedrigo) on Friday, it was a friendly
departure, no worries. It was better for me, my career is short
and I don’t earn big purses, so I have to look out for what
is best for me and my future. Next week I’ll take a better
look at the details regarding my new team: Name, structure, those
things. I don’t know about my brother, what I know is that
I left,” said Ninja in finishing.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
IFL
COMMISSIONER ADDRESSES ROTHWELL'S FUTURE
by Damon Martin
Despite his exit from the International Fight League’s Grand
Prix, Ben Rothwell is still a very hot subject for the league
after a dispute between the promotion and Rothwell’s management
went public.
Even
though both sides have had differing opinions on the situation,
IFL commissioner Kurt Otto holds no ill will towards Rothwell
and doesn’t close the door on the chance he could return
to the organization next year.
“Ben
(Rothwell) will show up somewhere. He’ll be with some organization.
We’ll see who it is, but that’s his prerogative,”
said Otto during a media conference call on Wednesday. “In
my opinion, I think the IFL’s the best opportunity out there
bar none in the MMA world period. That doesn’t mean it’s
for everybody, different strokes for different folks.
“We’re
working with Monte (Cox). I’m back on talking terms with
him. We have a good relationship. We know where each other stands,
and look, we’ll see.”
Rothwell
originally signed a one-year deal with the IFL and as of now
has not opted to re-sign for next season.
“This
is what Ben wants. That’s what Ben is going to get,”
said Otto about Rothwell’s decision. “He just has a
different outlook and I think wanted to test himself, so we’ll
see how that works out for him. Because Monte managed him, he
had a short-term deal. We weren’t able to get Ben without
that short-term deal.”
Speculation
abounded after Cox, Rothwell’s manager, signed on as CEO
of M-1 Global recently that the heavyweight would end up with
that promotion.
“Let’s
say Ben goes to M-1,” Otto speculated. “I would love
to work with M-1. I think it would be great. I think they have
some good ideas.”
No
word will come until 2008, although exact timing is not known,
where Rothwell will end up, which could mark the end of his run
with the IFL.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Fuel
the Fighter: Physiology and Nutrition for MMA
The Tale of the Scale (Cutting weight in MMA)
By P.R. Cole
Mac Danzig’s dominant victory over Tommy Speer in The Ultimate
Fighter season 6 finale was far from unexpected. As a veteran
well rounded fighter, many expected him to out-strike and out-grapple
the ginger haired farm boy. Yet in spite of Danzig’s clear
advantage in MMA technique, there were many who believed Speer’s
massive size and strength would overcome the humming-bird loving
vegan. Newbie followers to MMA might ask how such a disparity
could occur between two 170 lb welterweight fighters. The truth
of the matter is that a fighter’s weight class status can
go out the door after the 24 hour pre fight official weigh-in.
Now
in theory the notion of separating fighters into weight classes
ensures a fair fight. Although it might be interesting to imagine
a fight between lightweight Kenny Florian and the heavyweight
giant Tim Sylvia, that tale of tape will never be featured. Those
of us who remember being picked on by that tubby bully in grade
school know first hand how differences in weight can skew a fight.
When
fighters enter the ring their bodies rarely reflect the weigh
in of the previous day. In order to gain a size and strength
advantage, it is common practice for these athletes to “cut
weight.” This process involves rapid body water loss that
results in a physiological state known as hypohydration. Essentially
this is the step down the ladder after dehydration. Almost no
fat loss is achieved in this way. Since our bodies are mostly
made up of water, it’s possible to shed many pounds of water
weight in just a few days. Common practices for weight cutting
involve the restriction of calories and fluids, over exercising
in extreme heat with layers of clothing, or even the use of laxatives
and diuretics. Followers of TUF season 5 will remember Gabe Rudiger’s
desperate and ultimately failed efforts in the sauna to make
weight for his preliminary fight.
Once
a competitor manages to excrete 10 or 20 lbs of water, he has
a full 24 hours to regain those additional pounds. During that
time he rehydrates and eats to prepare for the upcoming brawl.
This process means that a fighter’s true weight may not
be regulated. But more importantly to consider are serious side
effects that might influence the fighter’s performance and
health.
Research
indicates that it may take up to 48 hours for an athlete to properly
rehydrate. The recovery time depends on the duration of the dehydrated
state. The longer the body has been dehydrated, the longer the
recovery. In addition, Weight loss from laxative or diuretic
use will take longer to overcome than weight loss from exercise.
Studies
on the influence of dehydration on athletic performance show
a clear reduction in muscle strength and a decrease in aerobic
capacity. Significant decreases in endurance performance are
also common. In order for the body to return to a normal healthy
condition, muscle protein is broken down to create energy for
repair. While these factors may prove to be unfavorable to fight
performance, the health effects are even more important to consider.
Impaired kidney function may result and blood will not filter
properly. Electrolyte imbalances cause impaired muscle function,
and cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heart beat) is possible. Severe
cases involve damage to the immune system and the pancreas, as
well as an altered hormonal status. Many sport organizations
like the American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians recommend
that fighters weigh in both 24 hours and 1 hour before competitions
to encourage healthy weight management techniques that do not
involve rapid weight loss.
The
sport of mixed martial arts does not come without risks. Injuries
are expected and dealt with. But for those young fighters who
dream of a long-term career, attention to healthy weight management
is essential. Just as Danzig showed Speer in his UFC debut at
a true 168 lbs, having a 10, 20 or 30 lb size advantage coupled
with all the risks of cutting weight is no match for well-oiled
technique. Let’s hope that he continues to maintain this
healthy lifestyle as he drops down to the 155 lb division.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
HCF
Confirms Debut of Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
By FCF Staff
Hardcore Championship Fighting has confirmed that Antonio Rogerio
Nogueira will make his debut fighting for the promotion, February
1st, at the Stampede Corral in Calgary, Alberta. After signing
with the relatively new organization this fall to an exclusive,
3 fight deal, the highly regarded light-heavyweight will take
on Canada’sTodd Gouwenberg at the “Destiny” event.
Nogueira
(12-3) has not competed since February 24th, when he was knocked
out by Thierry Sokoudjou at Pride 33. Prior to the devastating
loss, “Minotoro” had earned a spot atop the world rankings,
going on a 9-1 streak. During that stretch Nogueira defeated
notable fighters like Dan Henderson, Kazushi Sakuraba, and Alistair
Overeem, with his only loss coming to Mauricio “Shogun”
Rua at Pride Critical Countdown 2005.
Although
Gouwenberg (7-2) has not established himself among the top ten
world rankings yet, the Team Revolution fighter has won four
straight, and is widely regarded to be one of Canada’s best
205lb. fighters. After defeating Martin Desilets by Unanimous
Decision at TKO 27 in September, 2006, Gouwenberg has since gone
on to defeat Ron Faircloth, Michael Patt and most recently, Konstantin
Gluhov, competing for Bodog Fight.
In
the semi-main event, Gegard Mousasi (18-2-1) will take on “Cyborg”
Evangelista Santos (15-10). Mousasi has won 5 staight and is
coming off a TKO stoppage of Damir Mirenic at HCF’s second
show in October, while Santos most recently, dropped a decision
loss to James Zikic at Cage Rage 21 in April.
HCF
lightweight champ, Thomas Schulte (15-6), will defend his title
against Vancouver’s Garret Davis (11-7). Schulte secured
the HCF belt in October by submitting Ariel Sexton in the first
round, while Davis was also victorious on that card, tapping
out Toby Johnson with a first round rear-naked-choke.
Two
Xtreme Couture fighters will be headed to Calgary to compete,
in Johnny Alessio and Mike Pyle. The Canadian Alessio (21-11)
is scheduled to fight another veteran fighter in Derrick Noble
(22-11-1) while Pyle (13-4-1) will take on Mirenic (8-3).
One
of Canada’s rising heavyweight commodities, Tim Hague (5-0),
will fight Miodrag Petkovic (15-7-1). The King of the Cage Canada
heavyweight champ is coming off a second round stoppage of Adriano
Bernardo, while Petkovic recently ended a four fight losing streak
by earning a decision victory over Marko Igrc.
And
in a bout between two notable fighters from Southern Alberta,
Lethbridge’s Dan Chambers (10-5) will take on Calgary’s
Andrew Buckland (4-0). Although Chambers is 3-2 in his last five
fights, both losses have come against UFC veterans in Joe Riggs
and Jonathan Goulet. The undefeated Buckland is coming off a
Unanimous Decision victory over Lucas Rota at HCF’s October
card.
Other
bouts scheduled for the card include; Myles Merola vs. Ariel
Sexton, Nabil Khatib vs. Lucas Rota, Solomon Hutcherson vs. Amir
Rahnavardi, and Babian Cortez vs. Juan Barrantes.
Source: FCF
|
Quote
of the Day
“I
became a good pitcher when I stopped trying to make them miss
the ball and started trying to make them hit it.”
Sandy Koufax, Hall of Fame American Baseball Player
|
Jesus
is Lord Fireworks Fundraiser!
When you
think of the fighters from Jesus is Lord, you automatically think
of fireworks. What better way for the team to have a fundraiser
than to sell fireworks?
Come
down to Stadium Mall from December 26 to 31 and help the team
out by buying your fireworks from them. You are going to buy
fireworks anyway so why not help a team out?
David
Padilla said that if you buy a bunch of fireworks from him he
will shave his eyebrows off. Just kidding, I added that.
Make
sure you come down, check them out, and buy some firecrackers
to ring in 2008!
|
Chuck
Norris in world of MMA
Actor creates new organization
With
the growing popularity of fight events around the world, the
sport is gaining ever more practitioners, some of them being
big names from the world of entertainment. One of these names
is none other than one of the most folkloric actors in the history
of cinema: Chuck Norris, star of dozens of action movies. The
legendary actor, 67, who always showed how tough he is on the
big screen and has martial arts running through his veins, decided
to put his acting career aside for a bit and devote himself to
putting together his own event.
The
endeavor is called World Combat League, and it follows a team
format (similar to the IFL), although there are some differences
in the rules. The changes keep with the Texan’s personal
tastes, doing away with submissions. “I’ve been watching
the UFC for 20 years, when “the fight goes to the ground,”
fighters are already experienced in stopping submissions, making
the fight boring, we want knockouts and not submissions,”
said the actor.
Another
change will be the gloves. Traditional boxing gloves will be
used and not the smaller ones, used in MMA, so as to lower the
number of injuries. The first event will take place today and
will include four teams, but according to Norris, the aim is
to have 36 teams in the United States and 24 around the world.
“My
heart has always been in the martial arts, which have been a
part of my life for 47 years. I think people who see it, will
become fans of the league. I hope everyone supports the team
in their city,” concluded Chuck.
Source: Gracie Mag |
Nathan
Diaz vs. Alvin Robinson
Nathan Diaz has accepted a fight with Alvin Robinson on January
23rd. The fight will be shown on Spike TV's fight night telecast
and will be on the main card.
Robinson
is coming off a victory over Jorge Gurgel and will be looking
to further his career by defeating the very popular Nathan Diaz.
Diaz has been on an impressive winning streak, having the won
'The Ultimate Fighter' show and finishing his last 4 opponents
by submission.
Source: Gracie Fighter |
Liddell
vs. Silva at UFC 79: History in the making
"I want to fight Chuck in November and make a huge show,
and make it the biggest show ever...I have no doubts it's the
most important fight of my life," Wanderlei Silva once said
about the ever elusive possibility about taking on Chuck Liddell.
“I
want Wanderlei Silva. I want to knock him out. He’s next,”
Chuck Liddell once said about the former PRIDE champion.
The
great thing? We’re about to find out which of these two
really wants to take on the other as that elusive bout will finally
happen at UFC 79: Nemesis on December 28th.
This
is history in the making. Here’s why.
Back
on April 14, 2000, Wanderlei Silva was soundly defeated via unanimous
decision by Tito Ortiz at UFC 25: Ultimate Japan 3. From there
the Brazilian fighter went on to compete in 18 straight fights
without a loss, all but one of which took place in Japan’s
PRIDE organization. In other words, the last time Wanderlei Silva
fought in the UFC he was soundly defeated.
But
that was a long time ago.
Up
through the end of 2005, despite having lost to Mark Hunt via
controversial decision (a heavyweight) and Ricardo Arona via
decision (a loss he avenged), Silva was one of the big ticket
items, if not the big ticket item for PRIDE.
Across
the ocean from Japan, nearly nine months before Wanderlei Silva’s
streak of consecutive fights without a loss ended to Mark Hunt,
Chuck Liddell started a now famous winning streak. The man he
defeated to start the string off on April 2, 2004? How about
the fighter that Wanderlei Silva had tasted defeat at the hands
of in his last UFC bout?
That’s
right: Chuck Liddell knocked Tito Ortiz out on the night in question.
Including that now historic victory, Liddell won seven straight,
taking the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship back from Randy
“The Natural” Couture via KO two fights after beating
Ortiz.
Said
another way, by August of 2005 Wanderlei Silva vs. Chuck Liddell
was the fight everyone wanted to see. There were legions of MMA
fans that felt Japan’s PRIDE organization had better fighters
than the UFC did. There were even a handful— albeit less—
that felt the UFC’s fighters were underrated and more skilled
than PRIDE’s. And in the middle of it all was Chuck Liddell
and Wanderlei Silva, to an extent the faces of the two organizations
in question.
The
similarities were kind of astounding. They both competed in the
205 pound weight class. The two of them loved to knock people
out and hardly every tried to take anyone down. Both were in
the middle of hot streaks; both had killer nicknames (the Iceman
for Chuck Liddell, The Axe Murderer for Wanderlei Silva).
But
the fight was simply not to be. PRIDE didn’t want their
fighters competing in UFC events; and for the most part, UFC
officials didn’t want theirs competing on PRIDE venues.
The one chance this fight had to happen failed when the UFC allowed
Liddell to compete in PRIDE’s middleweight tourney back
in 2003. Unfortunately, Liddell lost to PRIDE’s Quinton
“Rampage” Jackson via TKO, terminating the possibility
that he might continue onto the championship and face Silva.
Not
to be.
Much
later, the inevitable happened. PRIDE folded. Unfortunately,
it happened a little too late for some. Along with this, these
two Hall of Fame caliber fighters are currently on downward turns.
Wanderlei
“The Axe Murderer” Silva has lost his last two fights
via knockout in rather devastating fashion to Mirko “Cro
Cop” Filipovic and Dan “Hollywood” Henderson.
A once proud man with a jaw of granite was found to be like everyone
else—human. He hasn’t fought since losing to Henderson
on February 24th of this year.
Chuck
“The Iceman” Liddell hasn’t fared much better.
He was TKO’d by Quinton “Rampage” Jackson for
the second time on May 26, 2007, this time in a UFC encounter
where he lost his belt. Then he was upset via unanimous decision
by Keith “The Dean of Mean” Jardine in his last fight.
The
aura of invincibility surrounding both of these fighters—their
opponents were usually beaten before the fights even started—is
now gone. Still, does that make this fight any less interesting?
After all, whoever loses this bout may never recover. Back in
late 2005, a Liddell- Silva battle would’ve let everyone
know who the best 205 pounder in the world was.
Now
it’s about survival. Both guys need this fight like never
before. Not to answer a question, but rather to salvage a career.
Then
there are the questions. Are the UFC’s fighters really better
than former PRIDE competitors based on their recent wins in the
Octagon? Is the UFC’s success in the majority of initial
bouts between the two organizations really only about the transition
from the ring to the Octagon and all the rules changes? Does
the way that the UFC’s Gabriel Gonzaga dominated Mirko “Cro
Cop” Filipovic on the ground before knocking him out, and
the way that former PRIDE fighter Anderson Silva has dominated
the UFC’s middleweight division from a striking perspective
indicate that PRIDE once had the better strikers and the UFC
the better grapplers? Quinton “Rampage” Jackson’s
ability to beat Chuck Liddell twice on his feet, and inability
to do the same to Wanderlei Silva, would seem to reinforce this
notion.
But
then again, Cro Cop did lose to Cheick Kongo on his feet and
was knocked out by Gonzaga.
In
the end, the upcoming match up between Wanderlei “The Axe
Murderer” Silva (31-7-1, 21 (T)KO’s) and Chuck “The
Iceman” Liddell (20-5, 13 (T)KO’s) will not answer
any of these questions entirely, even if it will give us another
glimpse. But the interesting thing is this.
Diehard
fans know what this fight used to mean to the game, and remnants
of this meaning are still there. And because of that, most fans
won’t be watching this one passively. In other words, that
opinion on this bout that you may have formed quite a while ago,
the one that you were married to, is likely to come out once
fight time commences. People will be rooting hard for one or
the other of these fighters. The fact that both are on downward
turns and need a win very badly only adds to the allure.
“I
think I just hit harder than he does,” said Liddell in a
recent interview at FIGHTHYPE with Percy Crawford. “I’m
going to knock him (Chuck Liddell) out in less than five minutes,”
Silva once told IronLife.com’s Alan Kermovan.
No
the fight’s not quite as big as it would’ve been in
August of 2005. But the upcoming match up between Chuck Liddell
and Wanderlei Silva is still huge.
Source: Max Fighting |
Quote
of the Day
“Make
the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1803-1882, American Poet and Essayist
|
"Remember
you are mortal"
After
doing a cardiac surgery in August, shortly after his son Paulão
won the title of WEC (up to 83kg), Paulo Fernando Sousa, 68 years
old, went bad cuts yesterday, when his son faced the american
Chael Sonnen , pupil of Dan Henderson, in his second title defense
of WEC. "As I knew it would be a hard night, I had my sedative
as a precaution", revealed the husband of Dona Dena, who
watched the fight live on the Internet with his wife.
"Who
knows Junior knows he made a bad fight, especially in the first
round. After he went to live in Niterói he is doing everything
wrong. In addition to take his meals properly, he stopped to
emphasize the training of Judô and Jiu-Jitsu that are his
strong points. I always said to him that this business of Muay
Thai is ballet, Paulão has to do what he knows that is
to fight Jiu-Jitsu. He needs to have a strong team and academy
to pull his training", criticized the angry father, taking
advantage of the opportunity to make a curious analogy.
"Mainly
in the hour of victory, the Roman warriors were brought back
to reality by their superiors who spoke: "Remember that
you are mortal." That is what is missing for Paulão.
He needs a voice of command to call him back to reality. I warned
him that if he follows this path he will be fuc…” ,
complained his father, telling that once again his son abused
in losing weight on top of the hour. "There is less than
three months that he was with 106kg. It can´t be normal
a person lose 22kg in 90 days. Paulão needs discipline,
train more Judo and look for an organized academy", said
the father of black-belt, which despite the scare that the son
gave him in the first round, was satisfied with the performance
of Paulão in the second.
"He
did very well, in applying the arm-lock when the judge stopped.
How well Wanderlei once said: "Who ends the fight is the
judge", especially in where they are very patriotic. At
the end of the fight he was saying it was Brazilian and never
surrends and the crowd hoot on him", he said, again insisting
that the son should return fighting with his natural weight".
You saw Toquinho´s show? He does this because he fights
inside his weight. I am against Paulão fighting in the
category until 83kg, if he fights up to 93kg nobody will defeat
him", completed number one fan of the WEC champion.
Source: Tatame |
Babú
talks about Lyoto´s strategy
Coach
of ground techniques of Black House, the black-belt of Judô
and Jiu-Jitsu, Sergio Babú can not follow the training
of Lyoto Machida for the fight against Thierry Sokoudjou in UFC
79, which happens on December 29 in Las Vegas , USA. "I
could not go to Belém because I made a delicate surgery
in the tooth", said Babú, who spoke on the strategy
outlined by Lyoto to face Sokoudjou.
"This
time Lyoto defined the fight strategy based on Muay Thai, that´s
why he asked for Daniel´s (Francês) help. Although
he took Nino (Schembri), he didn´t set a strategy of ground.
It was his idea to prioritize the standing part, but I think
he should think of everything in the fight, because Sokoudjou
is a judo fighter, he´s good standing and this fight can
go to the ground. Sokoudjou can fight against Lyoto as a striker
or at the ground", said Babú, who believes in the
victory of Lyoto against the executioner of Rogério Minotouro
and Ricardo Arona.
"Lyoto
is more difficult for Sokoudjou to fight because he´s very
fast and has a very good movement of legs, and have a good basis
for falls and have a very good ground game. I don´t believe
that Sokoudjou has more ground than Nakamura. So wish all the
luck for Lyoto and I believe strongly in his victory, because
he has all the qualities to win this fight ", ended Babú.
Source: Tatame |
Miltinho
talks about his return to the rings
The
black-belt of Brazilian Top Team (BTT), Miltinho Vieira talked
with exclusivity to TATAME how is his preparation for his return
to the rings, against Jorge Brito in Capital Fight, which happens
today (14) in Brasilia. "I am expecting a good fight. I
hope to make a good show along with Jorge Brito, as it does not
depend only on me, depend on both", said Miltinho. Without
fighting since November of last year, in Deep against Yukinari
Tamura, when submitted the Japanese, Miltinho spoke also about
how is the climate in BTT, after the storms that struck the team
in 2006.
"Actually
I am not shaken after Rodrigo Minotauro, Paulão Filho
and Ze Mario Sperry left the team, because every fighter, in
my opinion, needs to himself and human material of their weight
and not of human material of 100kg. Thanks to God great people
stayed here such as Mauricio (Souza), Fernando Paulon, Vitor
Pimenta, Silmar Rodrigo and the fighters of my level are still
here. Toquinho is also helping me, although he is very tough
while training. Now the doors are really open and whoever was
out of the team can return. Now the team is very united and began
to train heavy, everyone is happy and Cunha is 100%, Eraldo is
helping with his techniques. I miss Zé Mario because it
was a guy that supported the training and supported the physical
preparation of the fighters. He forced the fighters to arrive
on time. He´s missing a lot for me", ended Miltinho.
Source: Tatame |
Quote
of the Day
“Always
do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later.”
Og Mandino, 1923-1996, American Motivational Author and Speaker |
Fighters'
Club TV New Episode Tonight!
Channel 52
Tuesdays at 7:00 PM
We return with our huge Christmas show!
In this episode, we meet on of the rising stars of the 170 lb
class and showcase his huge win over Rhalan Gracie, Eastsidaz's
Koa Ramos. Ramos has also been training at 02 Martial Arts Academy
with us as well and you will see huge things in the future from
this talent.
Another man that burst on the MMA scene is Kana Hyatt. We get
a chance to talk with Kana and after two big wins, he is one
of the fighters to beat at 135.
Penny Thomas, one of best female grapplers in the world, provides
our technique of the week!
We have much, much more on this episode including the usual one
scoop of Mike and one scoop of Mark with gravy all over. Mmmm
yummy!
As always, come and "talk story" with us on the Onzuka.com's
Hawaii Underground. The forum for Hawaii MMA, grappling,
and just about anything else!
|
Hawaii
Fighting Championships VII
Friday,
February 8, 2008
Doors open at 5:30 pm, Fights start at 7:00 PM
Dole Cannery Ballroom
HFC is back with more action next year!
|
PROELITE
AQUIRES HAWAII'S ICON SPORT
Entertainment and media company ProElite announced today that
they have acquired ICON Sport, Hawaii’s largest MMA organization.
EliteXC
is the live fight division of ProElite. The acquisition of ICON
Sport, formerly known as Superbrawl, will help ProElite and EliteXC
continue to establish itself as one of the premier MMA organizations
today.
“This
is an exciting day for all of our organizations, but the biggest
winners will be fans in Hawaii," stated EliteXC President
Gary Shaw said. “In a short span of twelve months, EliteXC
has already got the well-deserved reputation for staging sensational
fights with the world’s top fighters.
The
ICON organization has been around since 1995. ICON’s T.J.
Thompson said,” From day one we have discovered the raw
talent that make up Hawaiian MMA in Kaleo Kwan, Kala Kalohe Hose, Mark Oshiro, and
Hawaiian trained EliteXC Lightweight Champion KJ Noons.”
Many
of MMA’ greatest fighters have fought on the ICON’s
(formerly Superbrawl) stage, including Frank Shamrock, Vitor
Belfort, Matt Hughes, Rich Franklin, Tim Sylvia, Robbie Lawler,
Mayhem Miller, Frank Trigg and Takanori Gomi.
T.J
continues, ”Hawaii grows warriors and will continue to give
rise to MMA’s future champions.”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
COUTURE
WILL WAIT TO FIGHT FEDOR
Randy Couture appeared at HDNet Fights on Saturday night and
reaffirmed to fans that he will return to fighting, but not in
the Ultimate Fighting Championship, as he will stay out until
his current contract expires and wait for a fight with Fedor
Emelianenko.
“I
am not retired,” said Couture at the HDNet Fights show in
Dallas, Texas. “I am waiting for my UFC contract to expire.
I will fight Fedor Emelianenko.”
Couture’s
statement will surely come as a shock to many fans who were waiting
to see if the current UFC heavyweight champion would return to
the Octagon, but it looks as if now he has decided sit out and
wait for the dream match-up with Fedor at some point in the future.
Another
embattled UFC heavyweight was a guest at the HDNet Fights show,
as former champion Andrei Arlovski was present at the show and
post fight press conference.
“I
will fight very soon,” Arlovski stated about his fight career.
Sources
close to the fighter confirmed to MMAWeekly.com that Arlovski
is also waiting out his UFC contract which according to them
expires in April and at that time the Belarus native will look
to move on to another organization.
Also
at the show was former UFC and Bodog Fight middleweight contender,
Matt “The Law” Lindland who was brought in by the show’s
promoters to commentate as a part of the broadcast team.
While
no announcement was made towards his future involvement as a
fighter for the organization, Lindland’s promotion, SportFight,
will be seen on HDNet next Saturday night as a part of the networks
extensive mixed martial arts coverage.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
BISPING
MOVES TO MIDDLEWEIGHT
Speculation
has turned to confirmation as Michael “The Count” Bisping
has officially made the decision to drop to the middleweight
division according to UFC.com. The season three light heavyweight
winner of The Ultimate Fighter has done well for himself following
the reality show, but Bisping had tasted his first defeat last
month to fellow Ultimate Fighter winner Rashad Evans.
There
had been some reports suggesting that Bisping was a little small
for the light heavyweight division, and that he had been contemplating
a move for a while. Apparently, Dana White thought that the move
to 185 lbs. would be a benefit for Bisping. “Dana thought
it was a great idea, he said I'd be ‘a monster' down at
middleweight. In fact all sorts of people like Rampage (with
whom Bisping is close) were telling me this was the best thing
for my career. Really, I knew middleweight was the place to be.
When I went to train with Rampage in America over the summer,
when we'd go eat he'd have half a lettuce leaf; I'd have a pizza
or a couple of foot-long Subways and a couple of sneaky cookies.”
“Even
though I train as hard, if not harder, than anyone else for a
fight, I wasn't making sacrifices like other fighters do. I've
had world class nutritionists like (boxer) Ricky Hatton's strength
coach Kerry Kayes tell me I could be so much stronger at middleweight,
so I was getting this same advise from all sides.”
Bisping
will add depth to the middleweight division, which many experts
believe is probably the weakest division in the Ultimate Fighting
Championship. With Anderson Silva scheduled to fight Dan Henderson
in the near future, there are not many solid contenders after
that fight transpires. With Silva demolishing the likes of Rich
Franklin, Chris Leben and Nate Marquardt, a couple wins for Bisping
could be a fast track to a title shot.
Even
though Bisping had lost to Evans, he claims that it is not the
only reason for the move. “I didn't feel like I lost anything
in defeat,” Bisping said. “I felt I performed very
well against one of the best wrestlers in the UFC in Rashad.
I regret not pushing it a little harder in the last round but,
overall, I can't complain about a controversial loss because
I was coming off a controversial win. My performance again made
me go back and forth about going to middleweight but, in the
end, this is my career and how I make a living, and although
it isn't that I can't hack it at 205 pounds, it doesn't make
sense to give every opponent an advantage if I don't have to.”
No dates or opponents have been named for Bisping as of yet,
but whoever the UFC matches him up with will certainly have their
work cut out for them.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Quote
of the Day
"Birds
sing after a storm. Why shouldn't we?"
Rose Kennedy, 1890-1995, American Family Matriarch
|
Worlds
BJJ No-Gi Results
Jeff
Monson is absolute champion
Absolute
1)
Jeff Monson (American Top Team)
2) Bill Cooper (Alliance)
Super
super heavy
1)
Bruno Paulista (Gracie Barra)
2) Jeff Monson (American Top Team)
Super
heavy
1)
Vinicius Magalhães (Team Quest)
2) Cristiano Titi (Gracie Barra)
Heavy
1)
Roberto Tussa (Gracie Barra)
2) Fábio Leopoldo (Renzo Gracie)
Medium
heavy
1)
Marcel Louzada (Brasa)
2) Luke Stewart (Ralph Gracie)
Middle
1)
Pablo Popovitch (Team Popovitch)
2) Daniel
Correia (Relson Gracie)
Light
1)
Jeff Glover (Alliance)
2) Daniel Aguiar (Renzo Gracie)
Feather
1)
Rubens Charles (Alliance)
2) Shane Rice (Rickson Gracie)
Super
feather
1)
Samuel Braga (Gracie Barra)
2) Caio Terra (Cesar Gracie)
Rooster
1)
Takeo Tani (Gracie Barra)
Brown/
Black Female
Feather
1)
Bianca Barreto - Gracie Barra
2) Felicia Oh - Jean Jacques Machado
3)Patricia Lage - Barbosa JJ
Light
1)
Gazzy Parman Undisputed
2) Jeanette Portocarrero Jean Jacques Machado
Middle
1)
Hannette Staack - Carlson Gracie Team
2) Emily Kwok - Ricardo Almeida JJ
Medium
Heavy
1)
Penny Thomas - Maui Jiu-Jitsu
2) Christina Thomas - Relson Gracie
Source: Gracie Mag |
WEC
welterweight champion Carlos Condit & WEC lightweight titleholder
“Razor” Rob McCullough Next Title Defenses
By Brian Knapp
WEC welterweight champion Carlos Condit and WEC lightweight titleholder
“Razor” Rob McCullough will make their next title defenses
on Wednesday, Feb. 13 in Las Vegas. Representatives from the
World Extreme Cagefighting promotion confirmed their participation
on the late winter card on Wednesday.
Neither
man has an official opponent, though it is has been rumored that
McCullough will defend his 155-pound belt against Jamie Varner
and Condit will square off with Carlo Prater for the 170-pound
crown.
McCullough
(15-3, 6-1 WEC) last fought in September, when he stopped Richard
Crunkilton on strikes 1:29 into their title bout at WEC 30. The
30-year-old Californian has won nine consecutive fights, eight
of them by KO, TKO or submission. He has never been stopped in
18 career bouts.
Condit
(21-4, 3-0 WEC), meanwhile, defended his welterweight championship
at WEC 29 in August, as he submitted Brock Larson with an armbar
in a shade over two minutes. The 23-year-old owns stoppage victories
over John Alessio, Frank Trigg and Renato Verissimo. Condit lost
to Prater at a Fightworld event in 2004, as he succumbed to a
first-round triangle choke.
Source: The Fight Network
|
Dave
& Buster's Presents UFC Fight Night
Saturday, December 29th
Watch
the fights on our 9x12' screen in the Showroom
Matt Hughes vs George St. Pierre
Chuck Liddell vs Wanderlei Silva
Lyoto Machida vs Rameau Sokoudjou
Doors
open at 3:30 PM, Fight Starts at 4:00 PM
Tickets
are $10.00. Call today to reserve your seats! Pre-payment required,
sorry no refunds.
Victoria
Ward Center • 808-589-2215 • daveandbustersevents.com
Source: Dave & Busters
|
Jon
Koppenhaver pleads guilty to felony assault charge
The Ultimate Fighter 6's Jon Koppenhaver pleaded guilty Thursday
to a felony assault charge for choking a man unconscious and
punching him outside San Diego’s "Undisputed"
Fitness & Training Center, reports The San Diego Union-Tribune.
The
plea in Superior Court comes five days after Koppenhaver won
over UFC fans with a come-from-behind performance at The Ultimate
Fighter 6 Finale, unexpectedly sweeping Jared Rollins and scoring
the knockout win in the final round of their lightweight contest.
The
incident took place on Sept. 2 and began when the victim poked
fun at Koppenhaver and friends for standing outside the gym without
their shirts on. When the altercation was over, the victim was
left with four fractures in his left eye socket.
Koppenhaver
will be sentenced on Feb. 7. Luckily for Koppenhaver, the sentence
will likely be reduced to a misdemeanor punishment. The victim
said that he is alright with a reduced sentence to avoid destroying
Kopenhaver's emerging career as a mixed martial artist.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Bustamante
to fight at M-1 Yarennoka
According to reliable sources from inside Brazilian Top Team,
confirmed that the leader of the team, Murilo Bustamante, is
confirmed at M-1 Yarennoka’s card that will be hold at December
31 at . Whithout fighting since april, when he knocked out Ryuta
Sakurai at Deep, Murilo is going to face the Japanese Judo black
belt Makoto Takimoto at Yarennoka debut event.
Source: Tatame
|
Lyoto
MachidaBy Eduardo Ferreira
"I don´t
demerit Sokoudjou, but nobody can keep the explosion from the
beginning of the fight to the end"
By Bernardo Seabra
In
the final stage of preparation for the fight against the executioner
of Ricardo Arona and Rogério Minotouro, Lyoto Machida
haven´t been in Rio de Janeiro to prepare himself for the
fight against Thierry Sokoudjou in UFC 79, which happens on December
29 in the United States. "You always lose something, but
also gain others. I gave a call to Carlão Barreto and
he sent me Nino Schembri, to train ground techniques, and Daniel
(Francês) in the part of Muay Thai", commented Lyoto
in exclusive interview to TATAME´s site, where he also
said the strategy to face the fighter from : "He may even
be stronger, but I will attack his weak points. I don´t
demerit Sokoudjou, but nobody can keep the explosion from the
beginning to the end of the fight and I believe in what I am
doing”. Check out the full interview below:
Why
haven´t you been in Rio this time? Are you still in Black
House?
I
didn´t went because I was in a hurry, with all these changes
of the training center. I think it´s very important to
concentrate and I know Rio more or less, so I preferred to stay
here where I already know, to keep the concentration. I am still
in Black House but I preferred to stay here this time for a moment
of immediacy with the things that were happening.
Do
you think you lost much without training in Black House?
You
always lose something, but also gain others. I gave a call to
Carlão Barreto and he sent me Nino Schembri, to train
ground techniques, and Daniel (Francês) in the part of
Muay Thai to train with me.
Besides
Nino and Daniel, who is training with you?
Here
I train with Walter Broca, who teaches ground techniques and
gave me the black-tie two months ago. There is the Pai-de-Santo,
which is not well known in national MMA, but he´s well
known here in the northern region, where he made several fights.
My brothers Shinzo and Takê also are always helping me,
along with my father, who always stops with the training to correct
some things.
What
will be the strategy to face the Sokoudjou?
The
strategy will be the same of other fights. The main thing is
the Karate, but then, during the fight, I see the chances that
he will give me, see what´s the pace, the distance and
then adjust the game.
What
is your expectation for this fight?
He
is already talking a little out. It seems that in a French site
he said that he would use the Jungle Karate ... Let's see, because
fight is fight and everything is decided inside the ring. Big
names promised much and done little. I am prepared and that is
the most important fight of my life, as all the others were also.
He
has knocked out Arona and Minotouro, who has trained with you,
both at the beginning of the fight, and many people commented
that he´s very strong physically. What would you do to
prevent this?
He´s
really strong. I have trained with many tough guys and have fought
in the weight above. He may even be stronger, but I will attack
his weak points. . I don´t demerit Sokoudjou, his fights
ended very fast, but nobody can keep the explosion from the beginning
to the end of the fight and I believe in what I am doing”.
What
do you have to do differently from the two of them?
I
do not know what happened with Minotouro. Sokoudjou was not known
at that time and surprised everyone. I have to be patient to
see the progress of the fight. Arona is also very strong and
tried to impose his game, but in an error Sokoudjou got him.
He was opportunistic, although I think Arona and Minotouro are
more technical.
How
was the training with Rodrigo Minotauro in front of Dana White?
Minotauro
is always very friendly with everyone and whenever I have the
opportunity, I train with him. When we were training at UFC´s
academy, Dana White suddenly arrived by surprise. Minotauro came
and said: "The boss is there, let´s train properly"
(laughs). It was a hard train, very good, with ground, standing
up, everything. Dana came, stayed looking, then he leaved and
returned to see us again in surprise.
In
your last victory, Dana White said that you were among the three
best in the category. Have he commented with you the possibility
of you disputing the belt?
The
goal of everyone is to reach the top and the top is the belt
that is with Quinton Jackson, but in no time he (Dana White)
talked about this. We talked about other things, but not about
the belt dispute.
There
are rumors that the winner of the fight Wanderlei x Liddell can
dispute the belt against Quinton. Don´t you think that
now is your turn?
I
believe that I have condition to face any fighter of my category.
I never picked anyone, everyone who put in front of me I faced.
If they feel that my path has to be longer, because I do not
have the baggage that they had in Pride, there´s no problem.
My hour will come. I love what I am doing and this helps a lot..
Source: Tatame
|
Hominick
Primed for Final Fight on TKO Contract
By Mike Russell
Ask
Mark Hominick about his fighting philosophy, and the London,
Ontario native will likely tell you it revolves around staying
focused on the task at hand and looking forward – just not
too far forward.
Midway
through his training camp and four weeks out from his TKO 31
bout this Friday in Montreal, Quebec, Hominick still had no idea
who he would fight. After informing its former featherweight
champion Nov. 15 that he would face Yaotzin Mesa (6-3) at the
“Young Guns” event, TKO called Hominick (14-7) one
week later to tell him plans had changed. He would meet Danny
Martinez (6-0) instead.
Ironically,
Martinez was TKO CEO Stephane Patry’s first choice to oppose
Hominick but had already been booked to fight Dec. 14. When Martinez’s
previously signed bout fell through and his teammate, Mesa, injured
himself training, the unbeaten Rage in the Cage featherweight
champion stepped up to challenge “The Machine.”
Hominick
considers Martinez an upgrade from Mesa, which suits the Canadian
perfectly. At this point in his career, he’s not looking
for easy fights.
“He’s
a scrappy fighter who’s a good wrestler with good ground-and-pound,
so I think this will be a good test for me,” Hominick says.
“I want to fight the best. I don’t care who the person
is or what their name is. If the WEC or TKO or whoever I’m
fighting for thinks they have the best fighter for me to face,
that’s who I want to fight.”
In
his past eight fights, Hominick has tackled top-tier, international
competition – Japan’s Hatsu Hioki (13-3-1), American
Yves Edwards (30-13-1) and Brazilians Rani Yahya (11-3) and Jorge
Gurgel (11-3) – along with Canadian up-and-comer Ben Greer
(10-3). Victorious in five of the eight bouts (he lost twice
to reigning TKO featherweight champion Hioki and once to Yahya),
Hominick admits he learned from the mistakes he made but does
not dwell on the past.
“To
base my whole career just on getting a rematch with guys I lost
to, like [Hioki] or Yahya, would not be very productive,”
Hominick says. “I’d love to fight either of them again,
but I’m not going to focus my attention on that.”
Hominick
wants another crack at Hioki at some point. The 24-year-old has
lost two of his three fights outside TKO since beating Hominick
by majority decision in February.
“As
far as Hioki [goes], that’s a name I’d love to put
to rest some day,” Hominick says. “I feel I beat him
the second time, though I didn’t put him away. I’m
not going to stress over him.”
As
he’s done several times in the past to prepare for fights,
Hominick spent a couple weeks training alongside longtime friend
Jeff Curran, who lost to WEC featherweight titleholder Urijah
Faber on Wednesday night. From there, he left to finish his camp
at Xtreme Couture Mixed Martial Arts, spending three weeks with
his Team Tompkins teammates in Las Vegas. Hominick credits the
quality and variety of training partners with whom he trains
for his steady improvement.
“I
trained the entire training camp with a group of really solid
people – guys like Tyson Griffin, Gray Maynard and Mac Danzig,”
he says. “I really focused more on my wrestling and submission
training. I work very hard at fixing the areas that have caused
me problems in the past so as not to have the same problems in
the future.”
Xtreme
Couture recently announced a partnership with Team Tompkins.
It was a natural progression for Hominick’s trainer and
close friend, Shawn Tompkins, whose involvement with UFC Hall-of-Famer
Randy Couture’s Nevada-based training facility has grown
over time.
“For
these past five or six months, we’ve basically been a part
of Xtreme Couture, but now it’s official,” Hominick
says. “Training back and forth with the guys here and there
has been beneficial to us all in so many ways. The Vegas gym
is by far the best gym in North America, especially for lightweight
fighters.”
After
taking a brief week off to enjoy Christmas with his family in
Thamesford, just outside of London, Hominick will hop a plane
to Uncasville, Conn. There, he will join his new Xtreme Couture
stablemates in support of Chris Horodecki and Jay Hieron at the
IFL World Grand Prix on Saturday, Dec. 29. He will begin work
as a trainer at Xtreme Couture’s Toronto location in January.
Heading
into the last bout on his five-fight contract with TKO this Friday
at the Bell Centre, the 26-year-old Hominick remains focused
on the opponent in front of him.
“I’m
just focusing and putting everything I have into this fight right
now,” he says. “In the new year, I’ll turn all
of my focus to the WEC to see what that has to offer. I don’t
want to look past my next fight. That’s my only concern
right now.”
Source: The Fight Network
|
Quote
of the Day
"Leaders
keep their eyes on the horizon, not just on the bottom line."
Warren Bennis, American Writer/Educator/Leadership Theorist
|
O2
Martial Arts Academy In-School Gi & No Gi Tournament
Today!
Sunday,
December 16, 2007 @ 5:30PM
Pre-register by Wednesday, Dec 12 (if possible).
Walk ins
ok!
The tournament will be held at:
O2 Martial Arts Academy
98-019 Kamehameha Hwy, #208A
Aiea, Hawaii 96701
(Between Best Buy & Cutter Ford Aiea, Above Goodwill)
Open to
ALL Relson Gracie affiliates
$20 Entry fee
Weight Divisions*
Up to 150lbs
150 - 175lbs
176 - 200lbs
200 and over
Belt Divisions (Gi/No Gi) Time Limits
White/Novice 5:00 Min
Blue/Intermediate 6:00 Min
Purple/Advanced 7:00 Min
International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Rules (points & advantages)
*Kids divisions will be determined at time of event by amount
of entrants
Sorry, this is not a spectator event due to space constrictions.
- Gain much needed tournament experience.
- Test your conditioning & try out new techniques.
- Build team loyalty with other affiliate schools.
- This will help you enter the next big tournament with more
confidence!
For
more information call Mike (808) 381-9530 or Chris (808) 381-5959
or email info@onzuka.com
|
Ryan
Gracie Passes Away!
Ryan
Gracie is the second from the left.
I apologize, I quickly translated this report and did not have
time to proof read it and correct the mistakes.
From
the Globo's
website
One day to after being arrested, Ryan jail Gracie is found dead
One day after to be imprisoned for robbery and aggression, the
fighter of jiu-jítsu and valley-everything Ryan Grace,
of 33 years, was found died in the imprisionament of 91º
Police station (Leopoldina Village), in the zone west of the
capital. SAO PABLO - day to after being arrested will be theft
and assault, the to fighter of jiu-jítsu and valley-all
Ryan Grace, 33 years old, was found dead in imprisionament of
91 of District Police (Leopoldina Village) in the west of the
capital. The body of it was without violence signals. The body
it was without signs of violence. Ryan had a son of 5 years.
Ryan had child of 5 years.
Daily archive of S.Paulo The policy goes to investigate the causes
of the death. The police will investigate the you cause of death.
according to Sabino psychiatrist Blacksmith of You would make
Grandson, Ryan had taken one coquetel, between 2h and 5h, with
anticonvulsive, tranqüilizantes and antialérgicos
before dying. According you the psychiatrist Sabino de Farias
Blacksmith Grandson, Ryan had taken the cocktail, between 2am
and 5h, with anticonvulsants, tranquilizers and protialergijska
before dying. A done piss examination na police station detected
substance presence found in cocaine, crack, marijuana and of
benzodiazepina, substance also used no treatment of anxiety and
sleeplessness. An examination of urine made in the station detected
presence of substances found in cocaine, crack, insomnia marijuana
and also of benzodiazepine, substance used in the treatment of
anxiety and insomnia.
The doctor said that he visited the fighter in the imprisionament,
for return of 6h of today, and Ryan was well. Doctor The said
he visited the to fighter in imprisionament, around the 6h today,
and Ryan was well. The commission agent Pablo Bittencourt says
that the fighter can have had a cardiac attack. The delegate
Pablo Bittencourt said the to fighter might have had heart attack.
It was found died by the proper commission agent and a jailer,
by return of 8h, with the body of side on a mattress, with spots
in the skin and a liquid in the mouth.
He was found dead by own delegate and the jailer, around the
8h, with the body of hand on mattress, with spots in the skin
and liquid in the mouth. According to prisoners, it it presented
difficulties when breathing, but it did not ask for aid. According
prisoners, he had trouble breathing, but did not request relief.
Entities of human rights question the treatment of the policy
to the fighter and had said that it must have been led to a hospital
soon after detected the presence of drugs in the organism. Entities
human rights challenge you the police treatment of the to fighter
and said that he should have been taken you the a hospital to
after detected the presence of drugs in the body. The Gracie
family, who was in Rio De Janeiro, believes fatality, according
to lawyer Rodrigo Souto de Assis The family Gracie, who was in
Rio De Janeiro, believes in fate, according you the to lawyer
Rodrigo Souto de Assis.
In accordance with the Secretariat of Public Security, Ryan was
alone in the cell. According you the Department of Public Safety,
Ryan was alone in the cell. After to be imprisoned in this friday,
accused to steal an car and to attack an aged one of 76 years
in the quarter of the Itaim Bibi, in the south zone of São
Paulo, the fighter if found modified sufficiently. After being
arrested this Friday, accused of stealing to car and assaulting
an elderly of 76 years in the neighborhood of Itaim Bibi, in
the south of Sao Pablo, the to fighter was quit changed.
To the night, Ryan was taken to a laboratory of the Central IML,
in the Clinics, to make examinations toxicológico and
of body of the offense. At night, Ryan was taken you the a laboratory
of the Central IML, in Clinical, you the toxicological examinations
and body of sin. It returned to the imprisionament in the dawn,
1h30m. Returned you the imprisionament in the morning, 1h30m.
In this morning, employees had found it dead in the cell.
On this morning, the officers found dead in the cell. In 2000,
the fighter already had been imprisoned for esfaquear a person
in one boate in Rio De Janeiro, city where he was born. In 2000,
the to fighter had been arrested will be to esfaquear person
in nightclub in Rio De Janeiro, City where he was born. The aggression
happened during one fight.
The attack happened during fight. Of agreement with policemen
do 15° police station, where the friday occurrence was registered,
Ryan still tried to steal a Fiorino and a motion, but it was
dominated by motoboys later that one you undo gave to a helmet
blow no fighter. The fighter said the victims that he was being
pursued and needed to run away.
According to police the 15 ° district police, where the occurrence
of Friday was recorded, steal Ryan even tried to an Fiorino and
motorcycle, but was dominated by motoboys to after one of them
took blow on the helmet of to fighter. The to fighter said the
victims who was being pursued and needed escape. according to
policy, Ryan stole a Toyota Corolla of a pensioner of 76 years,
neighbor to the building of it in the Street Jacurici. According
you the police, Ryan stole the Toyota Corolla from retiree of
76 years, the neighboring building Jacurici him in the street.
The aged one was boarded when it left the building and was wounded
by the fighter in the left hand. Senior The was raised when rising
of the building and was injured by to fighter in the left hand.
It was armed with a kitchen knife. He was armed with knife, kitchen.
In the escape, Ryan went up with the car in the sidewalk, knocked
down a orelhão and was to stop in one mureta in the Avenue
Enrique Flame. In flight, Ryan rose with the to car on the sidewalk,
toppled the orelhão and was stop on Avenue Enrique mureta
Flame. It abandoned the vehicle and tried to steal a Fiorino.
He abandoned the vehicle and tried you the steal an Fiorino.
The driver was boarded for Ryan, but I obtained to run away.
The to driver was approached by Ryan, but managed you the escape.
The fighter followed then until the Avenue Juscelino Kubitschek.
The to fighter then followed until the Avenue Juscelino Kubitschek.
It approached motoboy Adriano Da Silva Souza, of 29 years. He
addressed the motoboy Adriano Da Silva Souza, 29 years. As it
counted to the policemen, motoboy was threatened of death for
the fighter. According you the police counted, the motoboy was
threatened with death by the to fighter.
Motoboy was knocked down by the fighter and when Ryan tried to
bind the motion, Adriano beat with the helmet in the head of
the fighter. The motoboy was overthrown by to fighter and when
Ryan tried you turn the bike, Adriano broke with the helmet on
the head of the to fighter. Others motoboys that they passed
for the place had dominated Ryan and the policy was called. Other
motoboys who passed Ryan dominated by local police and was called.
It imprisoned and was taken the principle for 15º (Itaim
Bibi) police station. He was arrested and taken principle will
be the 15 th (Itaim Bibi) district police. Gracie family helped
to spread out jiu-jítsu. Family country helped spread
the Gracie jiu-jítsu in the country. The Gracie last name
is synonymous of jiu-jítsu in Brazil.
The last name is synonym of Gracie jiu-jítsu in Brazil.
She was the family who spread out the martial art in the country
and created a new style to fight. Martial It was the family that
broadcast the art in the country and created new style of fighting.
The brothers Hélio and Carlos apredenderam the fight with
a Japanese master and had repassed the children, grandsons and
greats-grandson. The brothers Helium and Carlos apredenderam
the fight with the Japanese to teacher and had repassed to their
children, grandchildren and greats-grandson. They adaptaram the
Japanese martial art and had created what today jiu-jítsu
is known as Gracie. They adapted the martial Japanese art and
created what is now known the Gracie jiu-jítsu. To show
that its form to fight extremely efficient age, the brothers
had defied fighters of all the styles for a combat without rules.
You the show that to their way of fighting was extremely efficient,
the brothers challenged fighters of all styles will be fight
without rules. It was thus that in the decade of 30 the valley-everything
was born. Thus, in the decade of 30 was the valley-all.
In years 90, the first world-wide championship of free fight
was carried through, with world-wide transmission of the combats.
In to year 90, was held the first world championship in wrestling,
with global transmission of the fighting. Royce and Rickson Helium
children had become astros international of this type of fight
and it always has descendants of the Gracie family being prepared
to fight. Royce and Rickson children of international Helium
have become stars of this kind of struggle and always there descendants
of the family Gracie being prepared you fight.
Source: Globo / On The Mat
|
Bob
Sapp also in K-1 Dynamite
Giant had already signed with Strikeforce
As GRACIEMAG.com reported two days ago, the giant Bob Sapp is
back in MMA. The “Beast” this week signed a contract
with the American event Strikeforce, to fight in February, 2008.
Nevertheless, one event was not enough for the giant’s appetite.
Today, Sapp announced another fight in a different event.
The
former American football player will be back early than previously
predicted. Not having fought since November, 2005, Sapp guaranteed
his presence in K-1 Dynamite, on December 31 in Japan, at the
organization’s traditional New Year’s show. The former
Pride figher will face the Nigerian Bobby Olugun, who has only
three MMA fights on his record, and best known for having been
knocked out in only 16 seconds of fighting against Fedor Emelianenko’s
adversary-to-be, Hong Man Choi, in the giant Korean’s only
MMA fight to date.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
Gunderson
to replace Lierley in
IFL World Grand Prix Finals
Shad Lierley (2-1) broke a toe in training and will not be able
to fight Chris Horodecki (11-0) for the IFL lightweight title.
John Gunderson (15-5) will take Lierley's place.
Here
is the latest card for the Dec. 29 IFL World Grand Prix Finals:
CHAMPIONSHIP
BOUTS:
145
lbs: Wagnney Fabiano vs. L.C. Davis
155 lbs: Chris Horodecki vs. John Gunderson
170 lbs: Jay Hieron vs. Delson Heleno
185 lbs: Matt Horwich vs. Benji Radach
265 lbs: Roy Nelson vs. Antoine Jaoude
PRELIMINARY BOUTS:
175
lbs: Rory Markham vs. Tom Gallicchio
185 lbs: Marcello Salazar vs. Alex Cook
185 lbs: Elias Rivera vs. Tim Kennedy
Source: MMA Fighting
|
UFC
79: Nemesis
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, NV
FIGHT
CARD:
170
lbs: Matt Hughes vs. Georges St. Pierre
205 lbs: Chuck Liddell vs. Wanderlei Silva
205 lbs: Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou vs. Lyoto Machida
155 lbs: Rich Clementi vs. Melvin Guillard
265 lbs: Sao Paleleivs. Eddie Sanchez
205 lbs: Luis Cane vs. James Irvin
155 lbs: Nate Mohr vs. Manny Gamburyan
185 lbs: Jordan Radev vs. Dean Lister
170 lbs: Roan Carneiro vs. Tony DeSouza
155 lbs: Mark Bocek vs. Doug Evans
Source: MMA Fighting
|
KLITSCHKO-IBRAGIMOV
ORGANIZERS EXPECTING MSG SELLOUT
In
the tradition of the classic baseball movie, Field of Dreams,
which states, “Build it, and they will come,” fans
have responded to the February 23rd world heavyweight title unification
bout between IBF champion Wladimir Klitschko and WBO champion
Sultan Ibragimov by snapping up tickets for the bout – which
will be held at Madison Square Garden in New York City - at a
breakneck pace.
“We’re
ecstatic about the ticket sales so far for Klitschko vs. Ibragimov,”
said Leon Margules, Executive Director of Seminole Warriors Boxing.
“I think this reaction shows that when you put the two best
heavyweights in the world in the ring together, the fans will
respond.”
“We
have priced tickets very reasonably and are on track to sell
out the Garden", said Tom Loeffler of K2 Promotions.
Klitschko
vs. Ibragimov, a 12 round heavyweight title unification bout,
headlines a historic night of boxing presented by K2 Promotions
and Seminole Warriors Boxing and will be televised live on HBO
World Championship Boxing.
Source: The Fight Network
|
Quote
of the Day
"Plans
are nothing; planning is everything."
Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1890-1969, 34th President of the United
States
|
USA-BOXING
HAWAII ASSOCIATION INC, PALOLO B.C. & KAWANO B.C.
PRESENTS THE 3RD ANNUAL CLINTON A.J. SHELTON MEMORIAL MATCH EVENT
Today!
DECEMBER 15, 2007
PALOLO DISTICT PARK GYM, AT 6 P.M.
AS OF DEC. 7th, BOUTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE, line up order could
change.
RED
CORNER WEIGHTS BLUE CORNER
3 ROUNDS
Pele Kamala 8 yrs 45lbs 8yrs Ronson Yadao-Farin
Oki B.C. (Kauai) 1 min. 10/17/98 Evolution B.C.
Nainoa Dung-Cummings 8yrs 62lbs 8yrs Faasina Masalosalo
Five-0 B.C. 02/11/99 1 min. Villaver B.C.
Or Nathaniel Enanoria 8/62 (0 bouts) Villaver B.C.
Cain Del Rosario 10yrs 68lbs 10yrs Dustin Somera
Southside B.C. 01/31/97 1 min. 08/13/97 Pearlside B.C.
Alexander Palacio 15 yrs 155lbs 15 yrs Adrian Pelayo
Oki B.C. 02/11/92 2 min. 09/22/92 Southside B.C.
Ronson Nakoa 16/155 2 bouts Stand by
MacAurthur Ige 16yrs 145lbs 16yrs Keaton Keyes
Pearlside B.C. 2 min. Kawano B.C.
Kolton Foo 17yrs 145lbs 33yrs Thomas Carleton
Evolution B.C. 09/07/90 2 min. 02/19/74 Palolo B.C.
Kevin Demello 19yrs 119lbs 20yrs Julio Moreno
Evolution B.C. 10/11/88 2 min. Villaver B.C.
Mel 19yrs 160lbs 17 yrs Lindsey Tufono
Evolution B.C. 2 min. 03/14/90 Kawano B.C.
------Intermission-----
Lean Jeffrey Gumboc 20yrs 125lbs 22yrs Koichi Tanji
Central Maui B.C. 09/10/87 2 min. 09/07/85 Unattached
Matt Takata 125lbs Stand by
Kurtis Hagi 15 yrs 105 lbs 14yrs Emmit Bolibol
Unattached 08/22/92 1 ½ min. 01/08/93 Unattached
Nickolas Rivera III 16yrs 200lbs 17yrs
Beau Rabe Evolution B.C. 01/30/91 2 min. 02/18/90 Kalakaua B.C.
Davin
Kim 18 yrs 140 24yrs Isaac Arasato
Five-0 B.C. 10/07/89 2 min. 08/30/82 Palolo B.C.
201+lbs
25yrs Daly Tipoti
Needs Match has 4 bouts 2 min. 11/10/82 Kawano B.C.
Needs Match has 4 bouts 105 16yrs Evonne Amantial-Williams
2 min. 04/09/91 Evolution B.C.
In
loving memory of Clinton A.J. Shelton October 7, 1982 - October
8, 2005.
Thanks to our Medal Sponsor- Red Lions University, and also the
Volunteers, Coaches, Officials, Parents, Door Workers, USA-Boxing
Hawaii President Ralph Martin, and "YOU" our Boxing
Fans.
Special Thanks to Dr. Kanani Texeira, Boxing Commissioner- Herbert
Minn, Shelton Ohana, HPD Officer -Alfred Dela Cruz, and Med Students
helping out.
All boxers will receive Gold Medals for just stepping in the
Ring. In Amateur Boxing there are no losers.
Mahalo for your Support!! Thank You Again!!
Source: Bruce Kawano
|
O2
Martial Arts Academy In-School Gi & No Gi Tournament
Tomorrow!
Sunday,
December 16, 2007 @ 5:30PM
Pre-register by Wednesday, Dec 12 (if possible).
Walk ins
ok!
The tournament will be held at:
O2 Martial Arts Academy
98-019 Kamehameha Hwy, #208A
Aiea, Hawaii 96701
(Between Best Buy & Cutter Ford Aiea, Above Goodwill)
Open to
ALL Relson Gracie affiliates
$20 Entry fee
Weight Divisions*
Up to 150lbs
150 - 175lbs
176 - 200lbs
200 and over
Belt Divisions (Gi/No Gi) Time Limits
White/Novice 5:00 Min
Blue/Intermediate 6:00 Min
Purple/Advanced 7:00 Min
International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Rules (points & advantages)
*Kids divisions will be determined at time of event by amount
of entrants
Sorry, this is not a spectator event due to space constrictions.
- Gain much needed tournament experience.
- Test your conditioning & try out new techniques.
- Build team loyalty with other affiliate schools.
- This will help you enter the next big tournament with more
confidence!
For
more information call Mike (808) 381-9530 or Chris (808) 381-5959
or email info@onzuka.com
|
Jason
"Mayhem" Miller:
The Incomparable Road to Revenge
By Chris Yucus
Before he was able to pay his bills with fighting, Jason “Mayhem”
Miller says he had a stretch of quite interesting jobs.
“I
was fired continuously from jobs like being a porn store clerk.
I worked at an illegal chop shop. I was a bouncer at a Vietnamese
bar where I continuously got pepper sprayed,” says Miller.
That
is not all. Miller, who constantly blurs the line between reality
and fiction, claims one more job on his resume.
“I
was a pimp, at one point,” says Miller, adding “it’s
not as much fun as it sounds.”
While
pimping wasn‘t easy for Miller, it seems that fighting is.
On Saturday, Miller (19-5) will face IFL standout Tim Kennedy
at HDNet Fight‘s Reckless Abandon in Houston.
Miller
and Kennedy [a late replacement for recently injury suspended
Sean Salmon] will reprise their 2003 fight at Extreme Challenge
50 in Utah. That night Miller choked out Dennis Kang (27-9-1)
before losing a decision to Kennedy (8-1), the eventual tournament
victor, in the semifinals of the 8-man tournament.
On
Saturday both men will be fresh, and Miller has something to
prove.
“Revenge
is a dish best served cold,” says Miller, “with whipped
cream and strawberries.”
Through
his unique way of keeping things surreal, and his exciting fighting
style, Miller has found immense popularity. The Mayhem Monkeys,
his large, warped version of an Internet fan club are perhaps
the most dedicated fan following of any MMA fighter. When asked
about the Mayhem Monkeys, Miller, who always seems to be joking,
had the following to say:
“I
almost don’t want to talk about them. The Mayhem Monkeys
are a vicious breed of internet predator, the kind that Chris
Hansen can’t even catch.”
Serious
for a minute, Miller says has come a long way since his worst
memory in MMA.
“After
one fight I went to the hospital under a fake name to get my
face stitched up,” Miller says, “When I left, I just
drove my van a few blocks, parked and went to sleep, because
that was my house.”
Miller
says that he lived in his van for approximately a year before
his alleged stint in pimping landed him at the home of a female
friend.
“I‘m
not proud of it,” says Miller of his past,. “It’s
unfortunate that it happened. I don’t recommend that any
other people do that.”
Miller
is best known for his hard fought decision loss to Georges St.
Pierre in 2005 at UFC 52 in Las Vegas. Aside from Pierre, the
26 year old has faced other top competition. Miller owns a victory
over Robbie Lawler, whom he submitted to become the Icon Sport
Middleweight Champion in February 2006. Mayhem lost the Icon
Belt when he was KO’d by Frank Trigg in December of last
year.
Nowadays
Miller resides in Hollywood. With his fight career blooming,
as well as a show on Sirius Satellite Radio, and working with
the Triumph United clothing line, Miller is a busy man.
“I
have a lot of fires burning,” says Miller, “but I wouldn’t
want it any other way.”
Regardless
of the distractions, Miller says that when it comes time, he
focuses all his energy on fight preparation. “When I’m
training for a fight, I’m training for a fight. There are
no excuses come win or lose. I put all my effort into training.”
Miller
trained at Team Quest in Temecula in preparation for his fight
against Kennedy.
“Training
camp is like a long hallway with boots and bats,” says Miller.
“It’s like you’re running down the hallway and
every now and then you get hit in the face with the bat or booted
in the balls.”
It
is statements like Miller’s portrayal of training that separate
him from the majority of his fighting counterparts. He is never
afraid of saying something ridiculous, hilarious, or often times
both. Miller is politically incorrect at a time when a majority
of pro athletes are preoccupied with their image.
Not
that Miller isn’t conscious of his image. It’s just
that his image is, simply put, weird. His ringside entrances
are a testament to that. Miller has ran the gamut with his entrances;
doing things like throwing fake cash in the air and break dancing,
or donning a “Jason” mask and knife. Its all part of
his larger than life persona, and it all seems to be working
out for him.
Miller’s
prediction for how the fight with Kennedy will go down attests
to his lunacy.
“I
think Tim’s going to come out like a Mac truck, and I’m
going to have slow him down, much like Spiderman would.”
Taking
the bait, the question is asked.
How
would Spiderman do it?
“With
webs,” answers an incredulous Miller, “don’t you
watch anything?”
Saturday
night, the MMA world will definitely be watching “Mayhem,”
wondering just what it is he will do or say next.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Paulao
and his checkered shirt
Fighter to defend WEC title today in Vegas
Those that think the details in the world of MMA only begin when
the ref starts the fight are fooling themselves. Paulao Filho,
who will defend his WEC middleweight belt and his unbeaten streak
of 15 fights, is among the many fighters that have registered
trademarks, when it comes to clothes, accessories and styles.
Besides the Team Link black belt, who cannot do without his sleeveless
checkered mackinaw, during the most important moments in his
career, we can name Quinton Jackson and the chain around his
neck, Chuck Liddell’s Mohawk, Tito Ortiz’s colored
hair and Alistair Overeem’s hammer.
For
the Brazilian, though, who is considered one of the best in the
world at his weight, this shirt he wears not out of vanity or
as a fashion accessory. Paulo who will get in the cage this evening
in Las Vegas to face the American Chael Sonnen, who is coming
off five wins in a row, three by knockout, will surely be sporting
the shirt, besides entering the ring with an American pit bull,
as has already been reported by GRACIEMAG.com.
“I
bought this shirt in Japan. It was long-sleeved, but my arms
didn’t fit through the sleeves, so I had to cut them off.
I got into three big car accidents and the shirt was always with
me. When my dad was run over and had gone cold, I covered him
with this shirt. It has always been with me during hard times
and to me it symbolizes what I can get through them. I feel really
good wearing it and that is why I go into my fights with it,”
the Carioca declared to the official UFC site.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
ELITEXC
LANDS UFC VETERAN
UFC veteran Scott Smith – perhaps best known for his one-punch
knockout of Pete Sell at “The Ultimate Fighter 4” Live
Finale in November 2006 – has signed a long-term contract
with EliteXC. Terms of the agreement, announced by EliteXC Live
Events president Gary Shaw on Wednesday, were not disclosed.
“Scott
is definitely a standout at 185 pounds and a tremendous addition
to the EliteXC and ProElite family,” Shaw said. “Talk
about a highlight-reel fighter. All of Scott’s fights are
wars. Hardcore MMA fans already know Smith, but newer fans are
going to love him. I can’t wait to cut him loose in the
cage.”
Smith
(11-4), who is scheduled to fulfill a one-fight contract with
the Gladiator Challenge promotion later this month, is expected
to make his EliteXC debut in February. He last fought in June,
when he submitted to a rear-naked choke from Ed Herman at UFC
72.
“This
is obviously a great opportunity, and I’m grateful to EliteXC
for giving it to me,” Smith said. “I’m really
looking forward to fighting for them. I want to get in contention
for the title.”
Source: The Fight Network
|
Quote
of the Day
"The
only thing better than singing is more singing."
Ella Fitzgerald, 1917-1996, American Jazz Singer
|
Arona
& Sperry at OTM Hawaii Today!
Friday,
December 14
3:00 to 5:00 PM
1255 S Beretania St.
Honolulu, HI 96814
808-591-6620
 
From 3:00 to 5:00 pm, the OTM Fight Shop Hawaii will be having
an autograph session with MMA fighters Ricardo Arona & Erik
Apple.
Everyone
who walks into OTM between 3-5pm will receive a free gift*
(sunglasses, t-shirts, towels, dvd’s and more)
*while supplies last
Also in the house we will have BJJ Black Belts Mario Sperry,
Kid Peligro, and Ginastica Natural’s Professor Alvaro Romano.
This is a huge chance to see some of the top Jiu-Jitsu MMA fighters
in the game and also the mastermind behind many of these top
fighters excellent conditioning, Professor Alvaro Romano, who
is also a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu.
Hope
to see you there!
|
Arona
calms down confusion in Hawaii
By Eduardo Ferreira
Sponsored
by one of the world's most famous surfwear, Quicksilver, the
black-belt Jiu-Jitsu fighter, Ricardo Arona was invited to the
final stage of the WCT (first division of surfing), which is
happening in Hawaii, to give lessons to the surf athletes sponsored
by the brand, including Kelly Slater. "I made a camp with
the athletes before the competition and I will give some lessons
then as well. I´ve done this sponsorship with Quicksilver
when I was in France, where I lectured for some athletes",
said Arona, which separated a fight between the Brazilian Neco
Padaratz and Hawaiian Sunny Garcia, who was angry after an interference
of Neco in his wave. Sunny began attacking Neco in the water
and followed him in the sand when Arona came on the scene and
calmed down the nerves. Neco was calmed, while Sunny was out
and still received a fine for the aggression.
Source: Tatame
|
USA-BOXING
HAWAII ASSOCIATION INC, PALOLO B.C. & KAWANO B.C.
PRESENTS THE 3RD ANNUAL CLINTON A.J. SHELTON MEMORIAL MATCH EVENT
Tomorrow!
DECEMBER 15, 2007
PALOLO DISTICT PARK GYM, AT 6 P.M.
AS OF DEC. 7th, BOUTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE, line up order could
change.
RED
CORNER WEIGHTS BLUE CORNER
3 ROUNDS
Pele Kamala 8 yrs 45lbs 8yrs Ronson Yadao-Farin
Oki B.C. (Kauai) 1 min. 10/17/98 Evolution B.C.
Nainoa Dung-Cummings 8yrs 62lbs 8yrs Faasina Masalosalo
Five-0 B.C. 02/11/99 1 min. Villaver B.C.
Or Nathaniel Enanoria 8/62 (0 bouts) Villaver B.C.
Cain Del Rosario 10yrs 68lbs 10yrs Dustin Somera
Southside B.C. 01/31/97 1 min. 08/13/97 Pearlside B.C.
Alexander Palacio 15 yrs 155lbs 15 yrs Adrian Pelayo
Oki B.C. 02/11/92 2 min. 09/22/92 Southside B.C.
Ronson Nakoa 16/155 2 bouts Stand by
MacAurthur Ige 16yrs 145lbs 16yrs Keaton Keyes
Pearlside B.C. 2 min. Kawano B.C.
Kolton Foo 17yrs 145lbs 33yrs Thomas Carleton
Evolution B.C. 09/07/90 2 min. 02/19/74 Palolo B.C.
Kevin Demello 19yrs 119lbs 20yrs Julio Moreno
Evolution B.C. 10/11/88 2 min. Villaver B.C.
Mel 19yrs 160lbs 17 yrs Lindsey Tufono
Evolution B.C. 2 min. 03/14/90 Kawano B.C.
------Intermission-----
Lean Jeffrey Gumboc 20yrs 125lbs 22yrs Koichi Tanji
Central Maui B.C. 09/10/87 2 min. 09/07/85 Unattached
Matt Takata 125lbs Stand by
Kurtis Hagi 15 yrs 105 lbs 14yrs Emmit Bolibol
Unattached 08/22/92 1 ½ min. 01/08/93 Unattached
Nickolas Rivera III 16yrs 200lbs 17yrs
Beau Rabe Evolution B.C. 01/30/91 2 min. 02/18/90 Kalakaua B.C.
Davin
Kim 18 yrs 140 24yrs Isaac Arasato
Five-0 B.C. 10/07/89 2 min. 08/30/82 Palolo B.C.
201+lbs
25yrs Daly Tipoti
Needs Match has 4 bouts 2 min. 11/10/82 Kawano B.C.
Needs Match has 4 bouts 105 16yrs Evonne Amantial-Williams
2 min. 04/09/91 Evolution B.C.
In
loving memory of Clinton A.J. Shelton October 7, 1982 - October
8, 2005.
Thanks to our Medal Sponsor- Red Lions University, and also the
Volunteers, Coaches, Officials, Parents, Door Workers, USA-Boxing
Hawaii President Ralph Martin, and "YOU" our Boxing
Fans.
Special Thanks to Dr. Kanani Texeira, Boxing Commissioner- Herbert
Minn, Shelton Ohana, HPD Officer -Alfred Dela Cruz, and Med Students
helping out.
All boxers will receive Gold Medals for just stepping in the
Ring. In Amateur Boxing there are no losers.
Mahalo for your Support!! Thank You Again!!
Source: Bruce Kawano
|
Sherk
attacks BJ
Penn
“BJ
Penn is
a punk!”
Sean Sherk’s failed drugs test and this disputed UFC lightweight
belt are turning into a soap opera. Last Friday, Sherk had his
punishment for steroid use reduced from one year to six moths,
meanwhile the UFC confirmed that he lost his belt, and that the
fight between Joe Stevenson and BJ Penn will be for the vacant title.
Yesterday
the president of the organization, Dana White, confirmed that
even so, the former champion will have the right to a fight with
the winner of the bout at UFC 80. The big controversy is in the
fact that the Hawaiian BJ Penn had declared that should he beat
Stevenson, he will not face Sean if the ruling is not overturned
(which did not happen). The statement appears to have irked Sherk.
“I
think BJ Penn is a punk. Who the hell is he? He's won one fight
in a couple of years now and it's just whatever man. He wants
to make all these rules and regulations, but who the hell is
he? I'm the champ in my eyes so I don't care if he fights me
or not, there's a whole bunch of guys that could fight me right
now. It's his loss, not mine. He needs me more than I need him,”
fired off the wrestler to the website Fighthype.com.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
Rickson
Gracie commented Super Challenge Grappling
Elected
at #141 TATAME Magazine as the biggest Jiu-Jitsu fighter of all
times, the legend Rickson Gracie, that was refereeing director
of Super Challenge Grappling, that was hold last Saturday, December
8 at São Paulo, commented the first edition of the event.
“First of all, I would like to say that that I am very glad
to contribute to the event, because this is a way to dignify,
to professionalize a Grappling elite”, said Rickson, that
talked also about the rules of the event.
“I
think that in this version of the no gi, the judge has not to
let the fight stopped, has to give more penalties then he had
give here, basically we didn’t saw penalties here. It’s
necessary to improve the judge’s. For a lack of train in
that, it was not an accurate thing, the judge didn’t pressed
the fighters the fighters. By the fighter part, they didn’t
became inside the Submission, they were fixed at making points,
what is normal because of their experience at Jiu-Jitsu championships”,
analyzed Rickson, that said also that to be successful, the event
must have a continuity.
Source: Tatame
|
Report:
TUF 6 Finale Draws 2.5 Million Viewers
By FCF Staff
According to a news release sent out by the Spike Television
Network, Saturday’s broadcast of the “The Ultimate
Fighter” Season 6 Finale drew 2.5 million viewers. Breaking
down the numbers further, the card drew more men in the 18-34
and 18-49 year-old demographic, than anything else shown on television
that night from 9:00PM until 12:12AM EST. At its peak, the TUF
6 Finale drew 2.9 million viewers.
The
card was headlined by a memorable lightweight contender bout
between Roger Huerta and Clayton Guida, which saw Huerta come
from behind to submit Guida in the third round. In the event’s
other featured bout, Mac Danzig secured the “Ultimate Fighter”
title, submitting finalist Tommy Speer in the first round.
These
impressive numbers come as good news for the UFC and Spike, in
the aftermath of recent reports that ratings for the Ultimate
Fighter series have been dropping. Earlier this week, the UFC
confirmed that light-heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson and
popular contender, Forrest Griffin, will coach the seventh season
of TUF. Filming is set to begin in January, with the show airing
in April. Griffin will challenge Jackson for his title after
the season concludes.
Source: FCF
|
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 10, 2007
Strikeforce
At The Dome:
Sapp Returns, Smith Battles Roufus
TACOMA,
WA.—Former University of Washington football star and NFL
lineman turned martial arts fighting sensation, Bob “The
Beast” Sapp (8-2-1), will make his highly-anticipated return
to the fight world when he headlines Strikeforce’s debut
mixed martial arts event at Tacoma Dome on Saturday, February
23rd.
Former
UFC Heavyweight Champion and K-1 North America king, Maurice
“Big Mo” Smith (73-20-4), will battle fellow legend
and six-time world kickboxing champion, Rick “The Jet”
Roufus (57-7), in a heavyweight contest during “Strikeforce
At The Dome,” which will be presented by BodogFIGHT. Sapp’s
opponent will be named shortly.
Tickets
for “Strikeforce At The Dome,” priced at $150, $100,
$75 and $35, go on sale at all Ticketmaster locations (253-627-TIXS),
the Tacoma Dome box office, and Ticketmaster.com on Saturday
at 10 AM PST.
At 6 feet 4 inches tall and 375 lbs, the 33-year-old Sapp, a
native of Colorado Springs, Colorado, is nothing short of a monstrous
specimen of man. Following his college football career as an
offensive lineman for the University of Washington, where he
won the Morris Award, Sapp went on to play for three different
NFL teams over the course of four years.
In
2002 and 2003, Sapp was recruited by Japanese martial arts fight
federations, Pride Fighting Championship and K-1, respectively.
His astonishing size and strength, which he has used to defeat
some of the most seasoned martial arts combatants, including
five-time K-1 World Champion, “Mr. Perfect” Ernesto
Hoost, helped catapult Sapp to the forefront of pop culture in
Japan and earned him starring roles in over 200 television commercials
there as well as dozens of endorsement deals for a wide array
of Japanese consumer products ranging from bento boxes to ice
cream.
It
wasn’t long before the American media caught wind of Sapp’s
story and plastered it everywhere from the cover of The Wall
Street Journal to the pages of ESPN magazine and The Seattle
Times. Prior to his K-1 fighting debut in The United States,
which saw him stop mixed martial arts legend Kimo Leopoldo at
Las Vegas’s Bellagio on August 15, 2003, Sapp was a guest
on Jay Leno’s “The Tonight Show.”
More
recently, Sapp has been courted by the world of Hollywood. In
2005, he made two appearances on the silver screen – the
first as a villain in the comic book adaptation of Elektra, which
starred Jennifer Garner, and, the second, playing a supporting
role in the Adam Sandler re-make of Burt Reynolds’s football
comedy, The Longest Yard.
One
of the original pioneers of mixed martial arts, Smith was crowned
UFC heavyweight champion on July 27, 1997 after he took a judges’
decision from fellow legend, Mark “The Hammer” Coleman.
Three months later, he defended his title by stopping David “Tank”
Abbott.
A
former world kickboxing champion, Smith is, in large part, responsible
for bringing back the relevance of striking to the sport after
the Gracie family had set off a revolution in the martial arts
world by dominating competition in the early ‘90’s
with their Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ground fighting techniques.
His
superior kicking and punching skills led Smith to the K-1 North
America tournament championship at Las Vegas’s Mirage on
May 5, 2001. Smith defeated three consecutive opponents in one
night of action to conquer martial arts fighting’s most
coveted tournament.
Three
years before Smith was crowned K-1 champion, it was Roufus who
stood in the winner’s circle in Las Vegas after a trying
night of tournament action. During his career, the Milwaukee,
Wisconsin native has defeated nearly every major rival including
Michael “The Black Sniper” McDonald and Stan “The
Man” Longinidis.
While
maintaining his standing at the top of kickboxing’s heavyweight
division, Roufus has also explored the world of professional
boxing. After losing a judges’ decision in his debut, “The
Jet” turned his fortunes around and reeled off 11 victories
in his next 12 appearances. On August 10, 1996, Roufus was crowned
World Boxing Council (WBC) Continental Americas Cruiserweight
Champion after stopping Sean McClain in the fourth round of their
meeting in Las Vegas.
“Strikeforce
At The Dome” will feature 10 world-class, professional mixed
martial arts bouts. Doors at Tacoma Dome will open at 7 PM PST
and the first fight will begin at 8 PM PST. The event is being
promoted by Strikeforce in conjunction with Brian Halquist Productions.
About
The Tacoma Dome:
The
Tacoma Dome is one of the largest wood domed structures in the
world. It is owned and operated by the City of Tacoma’s
Public Assembly Facilities Department. The Tacoma Dome hosts
over one million guests annually. The Tacoma Dome Arena and its
attached Exhibition Hall host over 300 days of events every year
including WIAA high school sports, major concerts, family shows,
and several tradeshows.
About
Strikeforce:
Strikeforce
is a world-class mixed martial arts cage fight promotion which,
on Friday, March 10, 2006, made history with its “Shamrock
vs. Gracie” event, the first sanctioned mixed martial arts
fight card in California state history. The star-studded extravaganza,
which pitted legendary champion Frank Shamrock against Brazilian
Jiu-Jitsu black belt Cesar Gracie at San Jose’s HP Pavilion,
played host to a sold-out, record crowd of 18,265. Since 1995,
Strikeforce has been the exclusive provider of martial arts programming
for ESPN and, after 12 years of success as a leading, world championship
kickboxing promotion, the company unveiled its mixed martial
arts series with “Shamrock vs. Gracie.” Since then,
it has produced the first SHOWTIME PPV mixed martial arts event
in history with its world championship “Shamrock vs. Baroni”
card on June 22nd of this year followed by the first-ever mixed
martial arts event at the world-famous Playboy Mansion on September
29th.
About
Brian Halquist Productions:
Brian
Halquist Productions is the Northwest premiere fight promotion
company creator of the famed “Battle at the Boat” boxing
series now in its 12th year and nearly 100 fights at the Emerald
Queen Casino. In the past year Brian Halquist Promotions has
promoted events for ESPN, ShowTime and HBO and was recently featured
on Showtime’s historic boxing event in St Lucia. BHP fighters
included Undefeated David Torres, Undefeated Heavyweight Eric
Fields and Native American Prospect Roger Cantrell. Brian Halquist
Productions has been promoting fights and concerts for over 20
years in the Pacific Northwest.
Contacts:
Mike
Afromowitz, Strikeforce – (917) 566-8754 or muaythaimes@aol.com
Brian
Halquist, Brian Halquist Productions – (253) 564-2090 or
bhalquist@qwest.net
Kellyann
Hussey, Brian Halquist Productions – (253) 564-2090 or bhmainevent1@qwest.net
Source: Mike Afromowitz
|
Quote
of the Day
“Accessing
any emotion is like entering a dark room and flipping on a switch.
If you choose to experience a certain feeling, you simply have
to turn it on.”
Peggy McColl, Canadian Author and Goal Achievement Expert
|
Arona
& Sperry at OTM Hawaii Friday!
Friday,
December 14
3:00 to 5:00 PM
1255 S Beretania St.
Honolulu, HI 96814
808-591-6620
From 3:00 to 5:00 pm, the OTM Fight Shop Hawaii will be having
an autograph session with MMA fighters Ricardo Arona & Erik
Apple.
Also in the house we will have BJJ Black Belts Mario Sperry,
Kid Peligro, and Ginastica Natural’s Professor Alvaro Romano.
This is a huge chance to see some of the top Jiu-Jitsu MMA fighters
in the game and also the mastermind behind many of these top
fighters excellent conditioning, Professor Alvaro Romano, who
is also a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu.
Hope
to see you there!
|
UFC
ANNOUNCES FORREST VS. RAMPAGE
Ultimate Fighting Championship president Dana White over the
weekend officially announced that Forrest Griffin and Quinton
“Rampage” Jackson would serve as coaches for the seventh
season of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality show.
The
series begins filming in January and will air in April 2008 on
Spike TV.
Following
the regular season, Griffin and Jackson will fight for Jackson’s
light heavyweight championship.
White
made the Griffin announcement at the end of season finale for
season six of The Ultimate Fighter. He also indicated that there
would be major changes as the series marks its seventh season,
saying, “We’re going to completely revamp and change
the show.” Both White and Spike TV executives are being
extremely secretive about the changes.
The
Jackson announcement came during Sunday night’s airing of
the 2007 Video Game Awards on Spike TV.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
FABER
FINISHES CURRAN, LEAVES NO DOUBTS
LAS VEGAS – Wednesday night, World Extreme Cagefighting
champion Urijah Faber proved why he is considered one of, if
not thee best featherweight in the world when he choked out Brazilian
Jiu-Jitsu black belt Jeff Curran in the second round.
Curran
gave Faber a run for his money though. He rode Faber’s back
for almost the entire first round, but it didn’t seem to
bother the champ, who said after the fight, “Hey, I fight
off of my back all day long. I don’t care.”
He
opened up a significant cut on the bridge of Curran’s nose
in the second, but it was the deep guillotine choke that had
his challenger tapping out and kept the gold around his waist.
Jens
Pulver wasted no time making an impact in the WEC. He likely
moved himself into contention for the featherweight title when
he submitted rising star Cub Swanson in just 35 seconds with
an Anaconda choke.
After
the fight, Pulver stated, “(Cub) brought it out of me.”
He
also said that he did not want to wait for a title shot. “I
don’t want to wait any more than three months. Whoever wins
this tonight, let’s go.”
Now
it’s up to the WEC if he will get that shot at Urijah Faber.
“He’s
out! He’s out!”
Those
were the words of Chael Sonnen after he slammed Paulo Filho to
the mat in the opening moments of the first round. Out or not,
the fight wasn’t stopped and Filho soldiered on, albeit
constantly on the end of Sonnen’s right jab, straight left
combinations.
But
late into the second round, eating punches from his back, Filho
climbed his legs up and secured Sonnen’s left arm and referee
Josh Rosenthal called a halt to the bout.
Sonnen
vehemently denied the stoppage, not wanting to give in. After
the fight, he said that Rosenthal asked him if he wanted to quit
saying, “I declared, ‘No, no, no,’ but I blame
myself for putting myself in that position in the first place.”
Through
his manager, Filho said that Sonnen did hurt him early on in
the fight and he was in a little bit of trouble, but stated that
he’s been through a lot of beatings in his life.
In
the end, Filho remains the WEC middleweight titleholder.
Light
heavyweight champion Doug Marshall took a new tact in defending
his belt against Cuban Ariel Gandulla. Instead of the scoring
the “KD” or knocked dead, he finished Gandulla with
an armbar in the first minute of the first round.
In
the midst of the three-fight winning streak, Marshall says he
is ready to take on all comers. “Whoever (the WEC) wants,
I have tons of hostility to take out on them.”
John
Alessio seemed to be able to do just about whatever he wanted
in his welterweight battle with Todd Moore… except finish
the fight. He applied kimuras, guillotine chokes, threw devastating
right hands and even landed a right knee flush to Moore’s
face, but to no avail. Moore had to have a heart as big as the
room to go the distance, but it was Alessio that scored the unanimous
decision and edged closer to a rematch with WEC champion Carlos
Condit.
In
a solid middleweight match-up, Eric Schambari spent the majority
of the fight trying to take Bryan Baker down. He controlled much
of the pace as a result, but it was Baker that made more attempts
to finish his opponent and ended up with a split decision victory
in the end.
Alex
Karalexis and Ed Ratcliff started and finished as a classic grappler
versus striker match-up. Karalexis made a couple good guillotine
attempts in the first round, but was saved by the bell at the
end after being put down with a hard right.
He
wouldn’t be so lucky in the second round as Ratcliff dropped
him with what should have been a fight-ending left hook. After
Karalexis floated to the canvas, Ratcliff started to celebrate
a split second too soon as referee Steve Mazzagatti did not stop
the fight. Instead, Ratcliff had to follow Karalexis to the floor
and finish him off with a flurry of punishing blows.
He
had to go into the second round to do it, but Hardcore Gym fighter
Brian Bowles improved his record to a perfect 5-0. He dropped
Marcos Galvao early in the second and seemed to have him finished
with some brutal right hands while standing in the Brazilian’s
guard, but Galvao somehow survived. Bowles kept stalking his
prey with hard right hands and finished with a straight right
that had the referee waving off the bout.
Charlie
Valencia made a statement in the opening bout in a wild finish.
He dropped Ian McCall with a big right hand, suplexed him, dropped
him again with a barrage of punches and then treated him to a
fight-ending guillotine choke to close out the fight in the first
round.
-Urijah
Faber def. Jeff Curran by Submission (Guillotine Choke) at 4:22,
R2
-Jens Pulver def. Cub Swanson by Submission (Anaconda Choke)
at 0:35, R1
-Paulo Filho def. Chael Sonnen by Verbal Submission (Armbar)
at 4:55, R2
-Doug Marshall def. Ariel Gandulla by Submission (Armbar) at
0:55, R1
-John Alessio def. Todd Moore by Unanimous Decision, R3
-Bryan Baker def. Eric Schambari by Split Decision, R3
-Ed Ratcliff def. Alex Karalexis by TKO (Strikes) at 1:26, R2
-Brian Bowles def. Marcos Galvao by TKO (Strikes) at 2:09, R2
-Charlie Valencia def. Ian McCall by Submission (Guillotine Choke)
at 3:19, R1
Source: MMA Weekly
|
FEDOR
VS. CHOI OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED
Representatives of the Yarennoka mixed martial arts event scheduled
for New Year’s Eve in Japan on Thursday officially announced
that Fedor Emelianenko will indeed fight Korean fighter Hong
Man Choi.
The
bout had long been rumored, but was only recently finalized.
Yarennoka
is a conglomeration of representatives from M-1 Global, K-1,
DEEP, World Victory Road and former employees of Pride Fighting
Championships.
MMAWeekly’s Korea Correspondent, John Evans, recently caught
up with Fedor Emelianenko, the man almost universally regarded
as the No. 1 mixed martial arts heavyweight in the world.
MMAWeekly:
You will be fighting on New Year's Eve in Tokyo, but your opponent
has yet to be named. Can you confirm the rumors that you will
be fighting Hong Man Choi?
Emelianenko:
I cannot confirm this fight at the moment. I am ready to meet
any opponent in the ring.
MMAWeekly:
Jeff Monson and Josh Barnett are obviously perspective opponents
as well. Do you have plans to fight either of them in a future
M-1 Global promotion?
Emelianenko:
I think that fights with these fighters are possible in the future.
M-1 opens greater opportuinties for sportsmen.
MMAWeekly:
Ultimate Fighting Championship president Dana White has been
quoted as saying, "I don't think Fedor is a top-five heavyweight
in the world, and I'm not saying that because I didn't get Fedor.
I've always felt that way about Fedor and I always felt Randy
Couture would beat Fedor … Fedor is a farce." How do
you feel about these comments?
Emelianenko:
Dana talks a lot and uses words lightly. Let Randy Couture fight
me. Allow this fight that everyone wants to take place. Me, Randy
and MMA fans all over the world want it. The only obstacle is
Dana.
MMAWeekly:
What is your opinion of Randy Couture? He has announced publicly
that at this point in his career you are the only fighter that
he feels it is worth it for him to face in the ring.
Emelianenko:
People want to see this fight and I want to meet him in the ring.
I have the greatest respect for Randy and have always admired
him. I am also thankful that he has such a high opinion of me.
MMAWeekly:
Can you discuss your long-term goals in the M-1 organization?
Where do you see the M-1 promotion, and Russian MMA in general,
ten years from now?
Emelianenko:
I trust in (M-1) and the good people that they have brought together.
M-1 gives me the chance to meet champions from various organisations
in the ring, instead of being restrained within the limits of
one organization.
MMA
has great potential in Russia. In every city there are Mix Fight
clubs opening. There are fights shown on TV, including fights
from Pride Fighting Championships which are shown on NTV, (one
of the most popular television stations in Russia). On subscription/pay
TV there is a special fight channel. The president of Russia
respects our sport and attends the large events.
The
card has been slowly coming together and currently includes:
-Fedor
Emelianenko vs. Hong Man Choi
-Kazuo Misaki vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama
-Shinya Aoki vs. Gesias “JZ” Calvancante
-Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Luiz Azeredo
-Hayato “Mach” Sakurai vs. Hidehiko Hasegawa
-Mitsuhiro Ishida vs. Gilbert Melendez
-Ricardo Arona vs. TBA
Source: MMA Weekly
|
SWANSON
PLANS TO SILENCE PULVER AT WEC
On
Wednesday night, the showdown that has been months in the making
will finally occur between Cub Swanson and Jens Pulver at World
Extreme Cagefighting in Las Vegas. A war of words has ensued
between the two in the last couple weeks and it is now time to
put up or shut up.
The
fight supposed to transpire back in September until Pulver was
forced to pull out of the fight due to a knee injury. Swanson
has been waiting and now he's ready to go.
“I've
been waiting for it for a while now. I'm just so stoked,”
said the 24-year-old Swanson.
The
talk that had been going around in this fight was that Swanson
didn't believe Pulver was seriously injured and just wasn't ready.
Swanson cleared the air on that subject recently on MMAWeekly.com’s
SoundOff Radio.
“I
know that he'd been sick and that he hurt his knee, but I just
felt that he could have been ready. I felt like he just didn't
take it serious. What pissed me off was the limping around and
I knew that wasn't true. I wasn't getting paid and this is my
only job.”
Swanson
had found out that the fight had been cancelled after he had
just returned home from his final days of training.
“It
was extremely frustrating because it was my first day home from
Big Bear. I had crammed eight hard weeks. I ended up finding
out on the Internet.”
With
Pulver making his featherweight debut in the WEC, many people
were surprised that he received such a tough opponent in Swanson
for his first bout.
“He
lost his last fight and I won my last two [in the WEC], and I
heard he was coming, and I asked for him,” Swanson explained.
A
win over Pulver would certainly catapult him to the top of the
145-pound division and would more than likely earn him a title
shot. At least, that's what Swanson believes.
“My
whole plan was to come in the WEC and take people out one by
one and keep getting better, and as soon as I felt like I was
ready, I'd ask for a title shot. And after this fight, I feel
like there would be no better time.”
While
some fighters attempt to follow game plans to the letter, Swanson
knows that he'll have to adjust to whatever is going on in the
cage.
“I'm
gonna try and go wherever it goes. I think it's gonna be on the
feet for the most part. I feel ready for wherever the fight goes.”
A
video on YouTube had surfaced recently, and was featured on the
WEC preview show, of Pulver knocking out a training partner with
a high kick while proceeding to say some choice words to Swanson.
“I
thought it was pretty funny. It ended up being a joke around
my camp. I thought it was pretty pathetic. What kind of a jerk
knocks out a training partner? That's not cool. That just shows
what kind of person he is.”
Swanson
claims conditioning won't be a factor in this fight and that
the longer it goes, the better for him.
“The
longer it goes, the worse for him. My cardio is great. If he
has any chance of beating me, he's gonna have to do it quick.”
In
fact, Swanson believes he'll be the one to end it early. “I
say a first round knockout with Jens' questionable chin.”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Semmy
Schilt is interested in fighting Fedor on NYE
Sadaharu
Tanikawa and Semy Schilt had an interview on Dec 09. In the interview,
Schilt showed his interest fighting Fedor. Schilt won K-1 World
GP 2007 on Dec 08. Mr. Tanikawa said he would like to see him
fighting in MMA rule.
Fedor
fought Schilt in his PRIDE debut fight. Fedor defeted Schilt
by decision. Schilt said he would like to fight Fedor but he
needs time to train his ground techniques. I have a confidence
to win and I would like to fight him while I`m a K-1 champion.
Source: Suki MMA
|
Bob
Sapp to headline "Strikeforce at the Dome"
Bob "The Beast" Sapp (8-2-1) will main event "Strikeforce
at the Dome" at the Tacoma Dome on Saturday, February 23,
2008. An opponent has not been signed yet.
Sapp
last competed in a mixed martial arts bout in Nov. 2005, winning
his third straight HERO's bout in dominant fashion against less-than-stellar
opponents. His most recent fight was a kickboxing bout against
3-time K-1 World GP champion Peter Aerts in June of this year
at a K-1 World GP event in Amsterdam. Sapp lost in 26 seconds
via knockout.
Also
on the card is a battle between two legendary strikers: Former
UFC heavyweight champion Maurice Smith (73-20-4) will take on
6-time kickboxing champion Rick "The Jet" Roufus.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Quote
of the Day
“Confidence
is a muscle that becomes strong when exercised.”
Peggy McColl, Canadian Author and Goal Achievement Expert
|
Longman
Jiu-Jitsu Presents
Big Island
Open Jiu-Jitsu Tournament
We were
just informed that this tournament is postponed. Keep checking
the news page and we will post if this tournament is on.
Konawaena
High School, Kona, Hawaii
(35
minutes south of Kona airport)
Sunday,
January 20, 2007
Kids
division 11AM sharp
Adult
Gi division to follow immediately
No-Gi
Advanced Division
(no beginner or intermediate offered, but all are okay to compete)
Top
16 competitors in each division will be accepted. Must pre-registration
to be selected.
3
Weight divisions
1PM
sharp
$45
Pre-register by January 14th.
$60
late registration
Online
registration available at www.longmanjiujitsuhawaii.com
For
more information, please contact Aaron Moeller (808) 634-0141
or jjjuicekauai@hotmail.com
|
B.J.
PENN RECEIVES
ONE YEAR PROBATION
Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran B.J. Penn on Tuesday was sentenced to one year
probation and ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution for hitting
a police office during a fight outside of a Waikiki bar in Hawaii
two years ago, according to a report by The Honolulu Advertiser.
The
presiding judge, Karl K. Sakamoto, did allow for Penn to make
the trip to Newcastle, England in January to face Joe Stevenson
for the UFC lightweight championship.
Originally
slated as an “interim” title bout, the Penn versus
Stevenson fight was upgraded to full championship status when
the California State Athletic Commission recently upheld the
suspension of former champion Sean Sherk for testing positive
for the anabolic agent Nandrolone.
The
Advertiser reported that, as part of a no-contest plea agreement,
Penn must also abstain from alcohol, submit to substance abuse
treatment, perform 50 hours of community service and submit to
random drug and alcohol tests.
The
offense will be removed from his record if he adheres to the
terms of his probation for one year.
In
a statement outside of the court, Penn stated, “It’s
time to move on with my life and focus on my career. I’m
glad it is done.”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Xande
Ribeiro wins Super Challenge Grapling
Text
by Eduardo Ferreira, at São Paulo, Brazil
The
three times Mundial Jiu-Jitsu champion and ADCC champion, Xande
Ribeiro, was the great champion of Super Challenge Grappling,
that was hold yesterday, at Club Athletico Paulistano, at São
Paulo, Brasil. To became the champion, and receive the prize
of USD 15,000 and a Katama from Rickson Gracie’s hand, Xande
got the return match against David Avellan at his first bout
and defeated the American with a 8x0 score. At quarter finals,
Xande defeated Cristiano Titi, that won the prize for fastest
submission, by a 3x0 score.
At
semi final Xande faced André Galvão, that had submitted
Leonardo Peçanha with a rear naked choke at the first
round and defeated Gabriel Vela at the quarter final by 3x1 score.
Xande and Galvão made the best fight of the event. After
been tackled down by Xande, making a 1x0 score, Galvão
made 3 points trying a foot lock. In less then 30 seconds, Xande
try a guillotine choke and made 3 points also, making 4x3 at
the score. At 5 seconds to the final, Galvão, that tried
to take Xande’s back twice, made one more try and tie the
score. At judge’s decision, Xande was appointed the champion.
At
the big final, Xande faced the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Champion,
Luis Felipe Big Mac, that defeated Rafael Lovato Jr. at the first
bout for a 2x0 score, then Demian Maia at judge’s decision
at the quarter final, and in the semi final, he defeated Tarsys
Humphreys for a 1x0 score. Xande and Big Mac bout was a very
close match, with both fighters taking all two rounds and the
extra round studying themselves. At judge’s decision, Xande
Ribeiro was appointed the champion. At the third place dispute,
André Galvão and Tarsys Humphrey made a close fight,
winner by Tarsys by a 6x5 score.
COMPLET
RESULTS:
Super
Challenge Grappling
Clube Athletico Paulistano, São Paulo-SP
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Side
1:
- Demian Maia defeated Bruno Bastos by 3x0;
- Luiz Big Mac defeated Rafael Lovato Jr. by 2x0;
- Tarsis Humpreys defeated Shiko Yamashita by 9x0;
- Antoine Jaoude defeated Leonardo Chocolate by 1x0;
Side
2:
- Xande Ribeiro defeated David Avellan by 8x0;
- Cristano Titi submitted Hyotaro Endo with a triangule position;
- Gabriel Vella defeated Eduardo at judge’s decision;
- André Galvão submitted Leonardo Peçanha
with a rear necked choke;
Quarter
final:
- Luiz Felipe Big Mac defeated Demian Maia at judge’s decision;
- Tarsis Humphreys submitted Antoine Jaoude with a leg-lock;
- Xande Ribeiro defeated Cristiano Titi by 3x0;
- André Galvão defeated Gabriel Vella by 3x1;
Semifinal:
- Luiz Big Mac defeated Tarsis Humphreys by 1x0;
- Xande Ribeiro defeated André Galvão at judge’s
decision (4x4);
Third
place dispute:
- Tarsys Humphreys defeated André Galvão by 6x5;
Final:
- Xande Ribeiro defeated Big Mac at judge’s decision.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
CURRAN
READY TO SINK THE CALIFORNIA KID
Jeff Curran is one of the busiest fighters in the sport of mixed
martial arts. He has built his career from the ground up and
is proud of where his hard work and dedication has taken him.
On
Wednesday night, the “Big Frog” has the opportunity
to reach what many consider the pinnacle of his career when he
faces Urijah Faber for the World Extreme Cagefighting 145-pound
divisional title.
“Fighting
for a title is prestigious. I love the organization, I love working
with all the staff at Zuffa. I’ve been curious about what
all Faber’s hype is about…just because of that I feel
the fight is getting the attention, in my heart, regardless if
the fight were for a title or not. I’m really looking forward
to going out there first hand and seeing what it’s all about.
There’s a lot about him that impresses me and that’s
my first immediate attraction to want to fight him.”
Curran
returned to the WEC last August after a nearly five-year absence.
The first opponent under his exclusive four-fight contract was
Hardcore Gym’s Stephen Ledbetter. After earning a unanimous
decision, the Illinois resident looks forward to contending for
the featherweight belt on Dec. 12.
“Whoever
wins the fight gets the other person’s prestige along with
it. It’s a very good fight to promote and I think it’s
the biggest fight in the weight class yet,” said Curran.
“He’s either going to be what a real champion is made
of and rise up, which I’m expecting, or he’s going
crumble.”
He
spent some time in Minnesota training with former Ultimate Fighting
Championship titleholder Sean Sherk in preparation for his fight.
In addition, he sharpened his skills with regular training partners
such as Bart Palaszewski, Nate Mohr, Mike Stumpf, Russ Janca,
Pat Curran and Dr. Doug Mango.
“My
training has become harder and longer. I actually don’t
train more hours. Take a normal day where I would put four or
five hours of good solid work…I don’t double it or
add three hours of training. Instead, I focus on the ‘live’
aspect of it whether it be sparring, grappling, or wrestling.
Whatever I do ‘live’ has to be at a faster harder pace.”
“I
think I study my own fights more than him. I look at his most
recent fights and compare to his fights three years ago and he’s
relatively the same fighter,” added the former Shooto America
Champion.
“He’s
a lot more confident and aware of what’s going on out there
now. He continues to work his stand up and being the wrestler
that he is, his jiu-jitsu comes natural probably. Like any fighter,
he’s got kinks in his armor and I hopefully I can find them.”
Holding
a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Pedro Sauer, Curran
complimented his ground prowess by significantly improving his
striking over the years under the boxing tutelage of Doug Mango.
“I
definitely deep down know that I have better hands and don’t
think kicks are going to be a factor. If he starts throwing kicks
at me, I’ll be kicking right back. I’m kicking everyday
and my kicks are coming up fast and hard. If we get into that
kind of Thai boxing toe-to-toe match, it’s going to be a
barn burner, but I definitely don’t think he’s going
to have anything for me in the long run.”
Wednesday
night’s 145-pound divisional championship fight is scheduled
for five rounds. Neither fighter has fought past the third round
in their respective careers.
“We’re
both experienced enough to know that it’s our job to be
in shape and go for five rounds. I can pace myself,” explained
Curran. “Early on in the sport, I got to realize what it’s
like to go through hell and I respected the training from then
on. I changed my ways; I didn’t want to be that tired guy
out there.”
Faber
has been one of the most dominant champions in WEC history. The
“California Kid” utilizes his wrestling prowess to
overpower and overwhelm his opponents.
“He’s
[Faber] not going to just tire on you; you can’t just tire
him out. You got to hurt him. You got to hurt him with shots
to the head, liver, body or whatever,” said Curran. “You
can be the best guy in the world when it comes to conditioning
and if you take a really good liver kick, down you go and that’s
just the way it goes.
“I
think that’s the only way to change the conditioning of
someone like Faber and at the same time the way to change mine.
He’s not going to just tire me out because he tries to elbow
me every two, three seconds. I’m not under stress there.
I’m comfortable; I’m going to survive it. He’s
going to have to watch his pace a little bit.”
On
Dec. 12, Curran has opportunity to solidify himself as one of
the top featherweight fighters in the world and garner the recognition
that has eluded him for many years … the recognition that
even Faber doesn’t seem to be giving him.
“I
watched about thirty seconds of the preview show and he’s
already on there telling people that he’s insulted for having
to get in the cage with me. That’s the stupidest thing I’ve
ever heard,” expressed Curran. “He can go and fight
guys that are 5-0 that nobody’s heard of and he’s not
insulted by that? Now he gets a chance to step up and fight someone
like me who, in the past three years since he’s been fighting,
shares the exact same record against higher level guys. He better
bring it on, I’m ready to meet him in the ring and let it
fly.
“It’s
time for Faber to put his money where his mouth is. Put up or
shut up. Show the world who you are because I’m not somebody
that’s going down like his last five guys.”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Lyoto
talks about Sokoudjou
In
final preparation phase for his bout at UFC 79, at December 29,
against the man that knocked out Rogério Minotouro and
Ricardo Arona, Thierry Romeau Sokoudjou, Lyoto Machida didn’t
go to Rio de Janeiro that time to prepare himself. “We always
lose something, but I won others too. I call Carlão Barreto
and he sends me Nino Shembri, to work at my ground game, and
Daniel (Francês) to work my Muay Thai”, said Lyoto
to TATAME. Lyoto talked also about his strategy for this bout.
“He could be stronger than me, but I will attack his weak
points. I know that Sokoudjou is a good fighter, but nobody can
have that strength stamina from the beginning to the end of the
fight, and I believe in what I am doing”, said Lyoto.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Quote
of the Day
“Until
one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened.”
Anatole France, 1844-1924, French Author and Nobel Prize Winner |
Fighters'
Club TV New Episode Tonight!
Channel 52
Tuesdays at 7:00 PM
We return with our huge Christmas show!
In this episode, we meet on of the rising stars of the 170 lb
class and showcase his huge win over Rhalan Gracie, Eastsidaz's
Koa Ramos. Ramos has also been training at 02 Martial Arts Academy
with us as well and you will see huge things in the future from
this talent.
Another man that burst on the MMA scene is Kana Hyatt. We get
a chance to talk with Kana and after two big wins, he is one
of the fighters to beat at 135.
Penny Thomas, one of best female grapplers in the world, provides
our technique of the week!
We have much, much more on this episode including the usual one
scoop of Mike and one scoop of Mark with gravy all over. Mmmm
yummy!
As always, come and "talk story" with us on the Onzuka.com's
Hawaii Underground. The forum for Hawaii MMA, grappling,
and just about anything else!
|
Icon
Sport Cancelled!
Robbie
Lawler had an MRI done and he has a torn bicep and cannot fight
on Saturday. Due to the late injury, no suitable opponent can
be found for Kala Kalohe Hose so the event is cancelled.
If
you have tickets, take your tickets back to the same location
you bought them from for a full refund. Icon Sport plans to return
in early 2008.
At
the press conference today, Robbie informed everyone of his injury
and said that he was disappointed that he could not fight. Kala,
being very gracious, just stated that he does not want to let
things he cannot control affect him.
He will patiently wait for yet another chance at Lawler and the
Icon Sport Middleweight belt.
As
a way of apologizing for the fans, Icon Sport will be discounting
their tickets for their next event.
|
SEAN
SHERK STRIPPED OF TITLE
According to sources close to the Ultimate Fighting Championship,
the promotion has stripped lightweight champion Sean Sherk of
his title following the upholding of his suspension by the California
State Athletic Commission for testing positive for the steroid
Nandrolone.
The
CSAC, earlier this week, did decrease Sherk’s suspension
from 12 to 6 months. He will be eligible to come off of suspension
in early January due to his suspension being retroactive to the
night of his July 7 bout against Hermes Franca.
A
proposed interim lightweight title bout between B.J. Penn and Joe Stevenson
on Jan. 19 will now reportedly be declared a full title bout
and drop the interim designation.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
REVIEW:
HUERTA SOLIDIFIES HIS PLACE AS A CONTENDER
LAS VEGAS – It was a chilly night in Sin City, but the action
was white hot in The Pearl at the Palms Hotel & Casino where
Roger Huerta made the move from over-hyped Sports Illustrated
cover boy to iron-clad Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight
contender.
Clearly
the fight of the night, Huerta and Clay Guida fought one of the
highest paced, most dynamic battles of the year. This fight was
everything and more that the hype promised.
Guida
appeared poised on the brink of victory as he dropped Huerta
to his back in the second round, but somehow Huerta dug deep
into his heart and found a way to survive. Then in the third
round, Huerta shifted gears, yet again, rocked Guida and then
took his back and clamped down the fight-ending rear naked choke.
Huerta
was clearly overwhelmed with emotion after the fight, thanking
God and his mother before declaring, “I want to bring the
UFC to Mexico.”
The
Ultimate Fighter welterweight finale went pretty much as expected,
with the bigger Tommy Speer trying to utilize his size and strength,
while Mac Danzig went for skill and technique. In short order,
it was Danzig that took Speer to the ground and quickly transitioned
to his back to sink in a rear naked choke.
Leading
up to the finale, Danzig made no bones about why he signed up
for the hit reality series. He wanted to win it all and build
up his name to the legions of mixed martial arts fans around
the world. He easily did that on Saturday night.
“I
was really nervous going into this fight with Tommy,” said
Danzig after the fight, although it didn’t show in his performance.
Asked
if he would now drop back down to his usual weight of 155 pounds,
the new Ultimate Fighter winner stated, “Absolutely. I’m
really happy about jumping in the mix with (Roger Huerta and
Clay Guida).”
In
an amazing battle of wills, John Koppenhaver and Jared Rollins
bloodied each other near the end of the first round, trading
elbows on the ground, and commenced to fight a see-saw battle
of wills.
As
both fighters were cloaked in crimson, Rollins looked like he
would end it with a succession of brutal knees, but Koppenhaver
was able to reverse position on the ground and put Rollins out
with a fight-ending ground and pound assault.
“I
didn’t want to have to fight him tonight,” said Koppenhaver
in tears after the fight. “I love him man. He’s a tough,
tough dude.”
A
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under the Machados, George Sotiropoulus,
now training with UFC welterweight champion Matt Serra, wasted
no time getting Billy Miles to the ground. Once there, he fixed
himself on Miles’ back, locking in the rear naked choke
at 1:36 of round one.
“I
knew that was his weakness,” said Sotiropoulus of Miles’
ground game. “I knew once it was on the ground it was going
to be over.”
In
the opening bout of the live telecast on Spike TV, Dan Barrera
and Ben Saunders fought a fairly close back-and-forth affair
early with Barrera trying to employ a ground and pound attack,
while Saunders went for the submissions. As the fight progressed,
Saunders took over and earned the unanimous decision.
In
the final preliminary bout, Troy Mandaloniz and Richie Hightower
gave fans an exciting slugfest. Hightower took charge in the
first half of the first round, landing some wide punches, along
with a succession of forearms and knees. But in the end, it was
Mandaloniz that caught Hightower walking into a stiff left jab,
dropping him to the mat, and then finishing him off with a couple
of hammerfists for the TKO.
Unable
to compete in the semi-final round due to injury, Matt Arroyo
made up for it with by putting on a submission clinic at the
expense of John Kolosci at Saturday’s finale. He attempted
several submissions, finally finishing Kolosci with an armbar
late in the first round.
Roman
Mitichyan’s fight in the finale was even more short-lived
than his injury prone stint during the regular season, albeit
this time in his favor. He immediately took Dorian Price to the
mat and dropped into a straight ankle lock that had Price tapping
almost immediately.
In
the event’s opening bout, Paul Georgieff knocked Jonathan
Goulet down with a left hook about halfway through round one,
but it was Goulet that would call upon the depth of his experience
to put the fight away. After going down, he grabbed Georgieff’s
legs and put him on his back. The Canadian then transitioned
through various positions to Georgieff’s back and locked
on a rear naked choke, causing him to pass out.
Roger
Huerta def. Clay Guida by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) at 0:51,
R3
Mac Danzig def. Tommy Speer by Submission (Rear Naked Choke)
at 2:01, R1
John Koppenhaver def. Jared Rollins by TKO (Strikes) at 2:01,
R3
George Sotiropoulos def. Billy Miles by Submission (Rear Naked
Choke) at 1:36, R1
Ben Saunders def. Dan Barrera by Unanimous Decision, R3
Troy Mandaloniz def. Richie Hightower
by TKO (Strikes) at 4:20, R1
Matt Arroyo def. John Kolosci by Submission (Armbar) at 4:42,
R1
Roman Mitichyan def. Dorian Price by Submission (Ankle Lock)
at 0:23, R1
Jonathan Goulet def. Paul Georgieff by Submission (Rear Naked
Choke) at 4:42, R1
Source: MMA Weekly
|
FORREST
GRIFFIN RETURNS AS SEASON 7 COACH
Ultimate Fighting Championship president Dana White on Saturday
night announced that “The Ultimate Fighter” season
one light heavyweight winner Forrest Griffin would return as
a coach during the upcoming seventh iteration of the popular
television series on Spike TV.
The
announcement came at the end of Saturday night’s Ultimate
Fighter season six finale in Las Vegas.
White
also indicated that there would be major changes as the series
marks its seventh season, saying, “We’re going to completely
revamp and change the show.” Both White and Spike TV executives
are being extremely secretive about the changes.
Griffin’s
coaching counter-part is set to be announced on Sunday night’s
2007 Spike Video Game Awards show. It is expected that UFC light
heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson will be tabbed to fill the
role.
With
Griffin’s recent win over Mauricio “Shogun” Rua,
it is likely that the UFC would want to pit the two against each
other first on The Ultimate Fighter as coaches and then in the
Octagon vying for Jackson’s belt.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Ze`
Mario "The Zen Machine" Sperry Seminar
Sport
Accomplishments: Black Belt World Mundial Champion 1996, 1997
and 1998. Brazilian National Black Belt Heavyweight Champion
1994 and 1995. Voted Best Purple Belt in Brazil by the Brazilian
Confederation in 1990. Voted Best Brown Belt in Brazil by the
Brazilian Confederation 1992.
No
Holds Barred Accomplishments: Vale Tudo Super fight Champion
at the Titanic Duel in Brazil 1995. Reality Super Fight Champion
in Alabama 1996. Ultimate Caged Combat Overall Championship in
Sidney Australia 1997. Japan's Coliseum 2000 Heavy Weight Champion
(Def. Hiromitsu Kanehara). Pride Fighter from 2001 - 2006.
Submission
Grappling Accomplishments: Abu Dhabi Submission Wrestling Competition
Heavyweight and Absolute Class Champion 1998, Abu Dhabi Submission
Wrestling Competition Superfight Champion 1999. Abu Dhabi Submission
Wrestling Competition Super Fight Champion 2000.
Monday, December 17, 2007
455 Kilani Ave., Wahiawa
(Behind Vista Gas Station, across from Tamura's)
6:00 - 8:30 PM
$70.00
(1 Hour Gi, 1 Hour No-Gi, 15 Minutes Q&A and 15 Minutes Picture
Taking)
*Contact
Tammy 228-1711, Thomas 428-1886 or Tony 220-8835 to reserve your
slot*
Sponsored
by: Central Oahu Jiu-Jitsu & HMC Wahiawa
Special Thanks to: Jeff "JD" Doner & Marcelo Steenhagen
|
|