Upcoming
Events
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event on Onzuka.com?
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(All events on Oahu, unless noted)
2007
11/10/07
Aloha State
Championship of BJJ
(BJJ/Sub Grappling)
(Klum Gym UH Manoa)
10/6/07
Punishment
In Paradise 18
(MMA &
Kickboxing)
(Dole Cannery)
7/28/07
Maui Jiu-Jitsu Tournament
(BJJ & Sub Grappling)
(Maui War Memorial Gymnasium, Wailuku, Maui)
7/13/07
Punishment
In Paradise 17
(MMA & Kickboxing)
(Dole Cannery)
6/23/06
Ultimate Fight Night
(BJ Penn vs Jens Pulver)
(Spike TV)
6/22/07
Got
Skills
(Kickboxing/MMA)
(Waipahu Filcom)
6/16/07
Hawaiian Open of BJJ
(BJJ/Sub Grappling)
(Klum Gym UH Manoa)
6/3/07
The Quest for Champions 2007
(Sport-Pankration, Submission-Grappling, Continuous Sparring
and Sport-Jujitsu)
(Saint Louis High School Gym)
5/20/07
Pride
Fighting Championships:
(PPV)
(Lightweight Grand Prix)
5/19/07
Kickin it
(Kickboxing)
(Waipahu Filcom Center)
5/5/07
Punishment
In Paradise 16
(MMA & Kickboxing)
(Dole Cannery)
4/28/07
Pride
Fighting Championships:
(PPV)
(Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV)
Maui MMA Event
(MMA)
(Maui)
K-1 World GP
(Kickboxing)
(Honolulu)
4/24/07
Professional Boxing
(Boxing)
(Waipahu Filcom Center)
4/9/07
UFC
GSP vs Hughes 3
(PPV)
4/7/07
Got Skills
(Kickboxing)
(Waipahu Filcom Center)
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)
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)
|
|
March 2007 News
Part 1
|
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!
Take classes from the Onzuka brothers in a family-like enviornment! |
 
For the special Onzuka.com
price, click on one of these banners above! |
 |
Fighters' Club TV
The Toughest Show On
Teleivision
Tuesdays at 7:00PM
***NEW TIME***
Olelo Channel 52 on Oahu
Akaku on Maui
Check
out the FCTV website! |
Got a question for us? Email info@onzuka.com or click here to send us an email.
Quote
of the Day
"The
man who has done his level best...
is a success, even though the world may write him down a failure."
B.C. Forbes, 1880-1954, Scottish Journalist
|
2007
Hawaiian Championship of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Today!
FIRST LEG of "TRIPLE CROWN SERIES"
University of Hawaii Klum Gym
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Junior
Competitions
9:45AM-1:00PM GI & No GI
Adults Competitions
1:00PM-4:30PM Gi
4:30PM-7:00PM No GI
GENERAL
INFORMATION:
- FORMAT: Gi/No Gi Sport BJJ; Single Elimination; See back for
additional information.
- OAHU RESIDENTS/DEADLINE: Registration Form, payment and weigh-in
on Friday, March 9, UH Athletic Complex, 2nd Fl Studio #4, Noon-1
pm, 7:30-8:30 pm OR HKF Martial Arts Ctr, 94-295 Pupuole St.,
2nd Fl., 7:30-8:30 pm.
(Application Forms will be available at weigh-in sites, as well
as our website at www.brazilian-freestyle.com)
- OUTER ISLAND RESIDENTS/DEADLINE: Registration Form ONLY must
be received by Wed., Mar. 7, 3:00 pm.
Form can be submitted in the following ways:
1) Mail To: Triple Crown BJJ, 311 Ohua Ave., #102B, Hon., HI
96815,
2) Fax to: 808-955-2588,
3) E-mail to: barroshawaii@hotmail.com. Outer Island weigh-ins
will be held on the morning of the event from 7:30am-9:30am at
the event site, and entrance fees collected upon arrival. Outer-Island
and Pre-Registration applicants who fail to make weight as designated
on their pre-registration form will automatically forfeit their
match, and no refunds will be provided.
(Note: These are the same registration guidelines as set forth
by the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation/PanAmerican
Jiu-Jitsu Championships).
4) Can also follow registration guidelines as set forth for Oahu
Resident applicants.
- ENTRANCE FEES: $60 Adult/$30 Kids for multiple divisions
- CONTACTS: Romolo Barros @ 392-8330/E-Mail at Barroshawaii@hotmail.com.
Application and more details are at: http://www.brazilian-freestyle.com/events.htm
Source:
Brazilian Freestyle JJ website
|
808
Fight Factory's Bryson Kamaka & Ed Newalu Fight on KOTC
On March 10, in Las
Vegas, Bryson Kamaka will be replacing Thomas Denny in a World
Title fight he will facing Aaon Witherspoon current KOTC Champion.
Ed Newalu will also be on the same card fighting for the 135
World Title vs. Ryan Diaz.
We would like to thank all our sponsors with these guys we would
not be able to get it done.
Xyience,Sprawl,Knoxx MMA,Pamalu Bed Liners,Da Hui and Swain Mats.
Aloha,
Kai
Source: Kai Kamaka
|
ICON
SPORT: EPIC COMPLETE CARD
BLAISDELL ARENA, HONOLULU, HAWAII
SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 2007
view TV spot here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBUdjsI-X4w
Tickets available at www.ticketmaster.com, Times Supermarkets,
Blaisdell Box Office
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MIDDLEWEIGHT MAIN EVENT
Frank Twinkle Toes Trigg (J-Sect/R1, Las Vegas) vs. Ruthless
Robbie Lawler (Miletich FS, Iowa)
Trigg makes his first title defense after dismantling Mayhem
Miller in December and then destroying top-ranked Kazuo Misaki
in February. Lawler is coming off two devastating knockout wins.
Leather will fly. This will be an unforgettable main event.
MAIN CARD
Jason Mayhem Miller (Team Quest, CA. ) vs. Hector Urbina (Team
Wolfpack, Ohio)
Mayhem has the fire in his belly after losing the Icon title
to Trigg. But Urbina, at 8-2, is no easy challenge. Can Mayhem
get back to his winning ways?
Charuto Verissimo (BJ Penn MMA/HMC) vs. Lars Haven (Team Wolfpack,
Ohio)
Once a top ranked welterweight, Charuto continues his rise back
to the top now in Icon’s middleweight division. Haven is
an undefeated young warrior who sees that a win over Charuto
would launch him into the upper echelon of MMA.
Po’ai Suganuma (BJ Penn MMA) vs. Nathan Carey (Team Wolfpack,
Ohio)
Hilo-born Po’ai is an intelligent, articulate, and charming
college graduate with a degree in computer science…AND he’s
an absolute MMA wrecking machine in the 205lb Light Heavyweight
class. He studied judo as a child and matured into a talented
grappler, winning the State wrestling championship for Waiakea
High School. He’s been fighting MMA in Japan since 2005,
so most of Hawaii has never heard of him. His first test in Icon
is a tough one as he takes on 6-1 Nathan Carey.
STATE LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Marshall Harvest (Animal House) vs. Justin Bucholz (Bulls Pen)
It’s Ewa Beach versus Town in one of the most anticipated
lightweight match-ups in years. Harvest, Ewa Beach’s talented
grappler, was a student of world renowned jiu-jitsu master Barret
Yoshida. Bucholz is an amazing athlete who is skilled at every
aspect of the MMA game.
UNDER CARD
Kala Kolohe Hose (Hard Knocks) vs. Ron Verdadero (Jesus Is Lord)
No Icon fighter has shown as much improvement over the last year
as Waianae warrior Hose, literally going from wild brawler to
skilled MMA assassin. Like Hose, Verdadero has taken his game
to the next level, showing off improved athleticism and devastating
ground-and-pound in his last fight.
Kimo Woelfel (Eastsidaz) vs. Dereck Keasley (Team Wolfpack, Ohio)
Waimanalo brawler Woelfel will be tested by slugger Keasley.
PJ Dean (O2 Martial Arts Academy) vs. Derek Stadler (HMC)
Waianae’s own KO artist, PJ Dean, is considered by most
fight critics (and all opponents) to have some of the heaviest
hands in all of Hawaii. His first Icon test is against Stadler,
who has shown that he knows how to submit strikers via his solid
jiu-jitsu foundation.
Thomas Ferguson (Team Devastation) vs. Carvin Mafatau (Team Wolfpack,
Ohio)
Waianae’s Ferguson has one-punch knockout power. So does
his opponent Mafatau. Buckle up fight fans, these two heavyweights
are going to stand and bang.
Devon Damo (Animal House) vs. Dwayne Haney (Bulls Pen)
Damo’s last Icon appearance was a dominating kickboxing
win. Haney just won his Icon debut in February via rear naked
choke submission. This bout will be fast and fun.
Jay Bolos (Animal House) vs. Ryan Lee (Bulls Pen)
Bolos is a champion kickboxer converted to MMA fighter. Ryan
Lee is a seasoned MMA soldier who has fought every one who’s
anyone in the 135lb division. Guaranteed to be a stand-up war.
Isaiah Cobb-Adams (Animal House) vs. Vinny Delos Santos (Team
Soljah)
Its Ewa Beach versus Waianae as well-rounded Cobb-Adams meets
kickboxer-turned-MMA-fighter Delos Santos.
Source: Event Promoter
|
Sérgio
Cunha: Analyzing Pride and IFL
By Bernardo Seabra
The
Muay Thai trainer from BTT, Sérgio Cunha, in excluive
interview to site TATAME, analysed the defeats of Rogério
Minotouro and Wanderlei Silva at Pride Las Vegas, and the victory
of Rafael Feijão at IFL. “Sokoudjou will never more
do a right punche like that one”, said Cunha about the KO
suffered by Minotouro, but the trainer said that it will just
delay the plans of Minotouro getting the Midleweight belt this
year. “Some Brazilian athlete must take this belt from Henderson
, and I hope he cames here to BTT”, said Cunha in exclusive
intervieto site TATAME you may check out right now:
What
did ou think about the KO applyied by Rafael Feijão at
IFL?
That
was amazing. I was pretty happy. I was already expecting that,
because he was really well prepared. He has all the conditions
to be our new talent this year at the category until 93kg.
What
about the KO of Rogério given by Sokoudjou? What did he
do wrong?
I
believe that Sokoudjou did a right blow under a million blows.
That was a luck blow, that really hurts when gets anyone. I respect
Sokoudjou, who is pretty tough, but that was luck. He will never
more get a punche like that one during his career. People in
Las Vegas was thinking that Minotouro would win, people believed
him more than Cro Cop at UFC, who was also the favorite. If that
bout didn’t go to the ground I know that Minotouro would
KO Sokoudjou. With only 20 seconds of bout, that was no mistake
but Thierry had some luck.
Do
you think that Minotouro’s defeat will disturb the running
for the belt?
It
disturbs a little bit, but only because it delays a little bit
the belt conquest. But at this year we will get this belt. He
does more two bouts and I believe that on August he will fight
for the belt. I even don’t know if Henderson will get this
belt. We will wait to see what happens.
What
did you think of Wanderlei Silva’s defeat?
Wanderlei
faced a motivated Dan Henderson. He was fighting at home, the
audience was supporting him, he was pretty motivated and well
prepared. Only who was at the Pride knows what Wanderlei passed
trough, he also did go to the hospital the night before of the
event. Henderson is pretty smart, really competent e he knows
how to use it.
Who
do you think could win Henderson until 93kg and until 83kg?
Until
83kg he is pretty hard to break, but after the bout they did
at the GP final, I believe that Murilo is able to win. I also
think that Paulo Filho and Denis Kang have conditions to win.
Until 93kg I believe in Rogério. Shogun is tough and Nakamura
is a athlete who is growing, he is always a big surprise.
Which
are Dan Henderson’s weak and strong points?
Strong
point it is hard to say, but I think that he doesn’t fights
so well down someone and he is not so good defending himself
from the hooks. He has a few weak points and a lot of good and
strong points. He has race, trains hard and studies his adversaries.
Some Brazilian athlete needs to get this belt, and I hope he
cames here to BTT.
Source: Tatame
|
Josh
Koscheck talks upcoming UFC 69 bout with Diego Sanchez
By Robert Cheshire
“It is a fight and I would love to be the first person that
puts that notch on Diego” – Josh Koscheck
I
caught up with Josh recently during a break in his training schedule.
We talked about his upcoming fight with Diego Sanchez at UFC
69 in Houston, TX on April 7th and his other plans for the future.
Josh has been training hard and is making great strides towards
removing the notion that he is or ever will be called “The
Blanket” again.
RC:
Everyone knows how the feud between you and Chris Leben started.
How did it start between you and Diego?
JK:
After we fought on the show we pretty much didn’t like each
other. When we saw each other he would give me dirty looks and
would run his mouth saying he kicked my ass. This and that you
know. I don’t really know; I just know we don’t like
each other. The whole aspect of us getting to fight again is
going to be a bitter sweet victory.
RC:
Which one do you dislike more?
JK:
(laughter) Whew…Ummm, I don’t know.
RC:
You dislike them both on different levels.
JK:
Yeah, with Leben just because of his antics and his attitude.
However, with Diego it’s more his personality, his look,
how he tries to hotdog you and s--t like that. I honestly just
don’t like either of them that well.
RC:
What did you think of Diego’s Valentine’s Day message
to you on your myspace account?
"HAPPY
VALENTINES DAY HUMAN BLANKET, I HOPE YOU PACK SOME BALLS IN YOUR
SUIT CASE WHEN YOU COME TO H TOWN, PLEASE DONT TRY TO DRY HUMP
ME LIKE ALL YOUR OTHER BORING ASS FIGHTS. IM READY RIGHT NOW!!!!
I ASKED DANA FOR YOU!! P.S. YOU AINT GOT HANDS" - Diego
Sanchez
JK:
Actually, I thought it was funny that he would go that low to
post something on my myspace. I have a friend that runs it for
me and I don’t even go on there and check the messages.
I heard it through the grapevine. It’s pretty funny and
that shit doesn’t bother me. I don’t get on the forums
or read the interviews. I’m just focused on my training
and worrying about myself. I don’t care what Diego is doing
or posting on myspace. He is obviously nervous about the fight
or he wouldn’t go on there and do that.
RC:
Your only UFC loss was from Drew Fickett where you were dominating
until those last few seconds when you got caught with the knee.
Where do you see yourself in line for a title shot?
JK:
I’m not worried about a title shot right now. I’m just
focusing on Diego Sanchez. I’m not even focused on gold
right now. I still have a lot of work to do. My priority is focusing
on my training for the next month and doing what I have to so
I can win my fight on April 7th.
RC:
What camp are you training with right now?
JK:
I’m still with American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose.
Training is going well and I have a lot of great training partners.
I’ve been training with Jon Fitch getting him ready for
his fight. I’ve also been training with Mike Swick, Josh
Thomson, Bobby Southworth, Trevor Prangley, Jake shields, Gilbert
Melendez, and just an endless amount of talent in training partners.
RC:
I know that you sometimes go to other camps and help people train
for their fights. Do you still do that?
JK:
I did that in the beginning because I wanted to get as much experience
as I could with different people. I have that experience now
so I’m focusing on my career and my training. Now, if someone
is willing to pay me to come in and train with them I would do
that.
RC:
I can tell with your last few fights that you have improved on
your striking and that you were visibly discouraged in your post
fight interview from the Joslin fight where you tried to show
the other elements of your striking game but had to return to
your strong point with the wrestling and weren’t able to
showcase some of your other strengths.
JK:
Yeah, in my last fight I didn’t get to strike and I was
disappointed with that. I just didn’t have my movement.
I think because I had been working super hard on my strikes I
had too high of expectations; higher than normal so I was disappointed.
The important thing is you win and move on. You put yourself
up there in top contention for a title someday.
RC:
You have a role in the movie “Never Submit” that starts
filming around April right?
JK:
Yeah, I got a part in the movie and it should be pretty dope!
Hopefully it turns out to be a good movie. It has always been
a dream of mine since I was a kid to get into the movies and
fighting has opened that opportunity for that. I’ve got
my lines and have been working on them in my spare time. It has
been fun. It’s going to be a good opportunity for me to
get my foot in the door. If I do a good job, which most of the
things I touch I do a good job with, hopefully I will have other
opportunities in the future to do more movie roles.
RC:
I have read the synopsis for the movie and it looks like they
do a good job of portraying a mma fighter.
JK:
The thing about me is that I didn’t want to be a fighter
in the movie. I want to show my acting and not get stereotyped
as just being a fighter. I can do other skills and want to just
straight up act and show that. I want to expand on the movie
industry in the future
RC:
So you’re not going to be a fighter in the movie?
JK:
No, I’m not.
RC:
OK, because I was going to say that I heard that the UFC is no
longer supportive of this movie due to Imperia Entertainment
violating an agreement with the UFC and Dana and was going to
ask where that left you. Since you’re not a fighter in the
movie I guess that changes things a bit.
JK:
I don’t know the whole logistics to it, but I can do whatever
I want in the movie. If I choose to be a fighter I could do it
but I chose not to because I don’t want to be stereotyped
into being a fighter in a fighting movie. If I take the right
roles early in my career I think it will be beneficial to my
future. I want to be in a leading role someday.
RC:
When you were on season one of The Ultimate Fighter they made
a big deal of saying you, Bobby Southworth and Chris Leben had
to pay for damages to the house. However, since then it appears
that the fighters are encouraged to tear things up. What are
your thoughts on that?
JK:
Yeah, they should reimburse us! (laughter)
RC:
That was my thought.
JK:
I’m just a fighter trying to make some money. I want to
be able to support myself and become financially set and that’s
why I’m fighting. I’m fighting because I have the opportunity
to make some money. I’m tired of eating Ramen noodles, macaroni
& cheese, and hot dogs. Eventually, I want to win that belt
and make some real money. That’s why I’m fighting.
RC:
Yeah, it doesn’t seem fair that Chris goes through a door
and you all have to pay for it then Mikey Burnett is encouraged
to go through a wall and we don’t hear anything else about
paying for damages.
JK:
That’s life and you have to deal with it. That was then
and this is now and times are changing. Lorenzo, Frank, Dana
and the producers said we had to pay for it. They are the bosses
and we are the grunts so we have to do what they say.
RC:
Are you at liberty to say how much you had to pay?
JK:
I honestly don’t remember and don’t have a clue how
much they made us pay. I just remember they did take it out of
our checks.
RC:
What have you thought about some of the other seasons of The
Ultimate Fighter?
JK:
I think they are good. Obviously, everyone is going to remember
the first season because it was the originator. I think the other
seasons are very good and have their strong points and some their
weak points. Ultimately, it’s the best thing for the sport
to continue to have The Ultimate Fighter on Spike TV to get the
publicity the sport needs to grow the fan base for fighters.
Growing the fan base helps everyone make more money. If the sport
doesn’t grow then you will never see pay increases for the
fighters or million dollar purses on a consistent basis for more
than just a few fighters in the UFC.
RC:
Right! Plus it helps so much with the fan base knowledge. My
wife started watching the UFC shows on Spike just because I did
and the last couple of seasons she has been able to remember
who many of the different TUF and UFC fighters are. The first
few times she did that I was like “this is my wife that
knows this?!?” That’s why I think it’s fantastic
to build the knowledge base.
JK:
That’s what it is. It’s about people becoming educated
on the sport and understanding the sport. That brings in more
fans. Once we get more fans and the UFC grows, the fighters make
more money. That’s what I’m doing. I don’t want
to fight for s--t money the rest of my life. I want to make a
living and make it where my family someday won’t have to
worry about working.
RC:
The exposure gets you more name recognition too which can help
with acting or whatever else it is you want to do.
JK:
Absolutely and until we have that recognition and the sport grows
to where it needs to be we are going to be in that same boat.
We need to grow as a whole not just as one organization but as
a whole community in mixed martial arts.
RC:
Has there been anyone that has impressed you on the other seasons?
JK:
There are a lot of good fighters. I think that anybody that steps
in there to fight has respect just because he has the balls to
step in there and go one on one with another guy that is training
just to kick your ass. There are a lot of guys that are doing
well since they were on the show. I’m real impressed with
Melvin Guillard. I love the way he fights. He is tough and loves
to bang and is very athletic. He is going to be hard to beat.
RC:
Is there anybody from the other seasons that you would like to
fight?
JK:
I don’t really care who I fight. Be it Diego, Leben, Matt
Hughes, St. Pierre, Karo Parisyan or anybody the UFC wants to
put in front of me I just want to fight some of the best in the
weight class and put myself in contention for a title shot. Then
I can win the title and make some real money.
RC:
Is your contract for several more fights or is it about to be
renewed?
JK:
I should be up for another contract in about 6 – 8 months
if the UFC wants to keep me. Hopefully I will get to stay with
the best organization around and that is the UFC. I’m going
to do everything in my power to keep wining and they will have
to keep me (laughter). You never know. Right now I have a good
relationship with the UFC and I’m very loyal to them. I
do what I can to support them and I don’t think there is
another organization that can compare to the UFC and I hope I’m
their champion someday.
RC:
In the news they recently talked about Eric Wray passing away.
Did you know him or train with him much?
JK:
Yes I did actually. It was a sad thing. We came into practice
on Wednesday and they were talking about it and I’m like
“WHAT?!?” It really is a sad thing. He was not only
someone I know and trained with but it sucks that he had to go
out like that. He was a good kid. He had a good record and his
only loss was to Von Flue at Strike Force. He was an up and coming
kid. He was young and it was sad to see someone be addicted to
something. I don’t know all the details of how he passed.
May God be with him and his Family. For you young kids out there
– keep your head on straight and stay out of the drugs.
RC:
Do you have any sponsors that you would like to thank since you
can’t do it in the ring anymore.
JK:
Yes I do. I actually have a new clothing line coming out called
Mar Clothing and it should be out this Spring. I also have several
sponsors and you can go to my website at www.kosmma.com to check
them out.
RC:
Is there anything you’d like to add or say to the fans?
JK:
Fans – keep supporting me. I know a lot of people go online
and bitch about how much the UFC pays its fighters but it is
all about you guys. You’ve got to keep buying the PPV’s,
keep supporting your fighters and go to their web pages and buy
their gear. That is what supports the up and coming fighters.
A lot of them have it hard trying to support themself and train
full time. If you want to see this sport grow we’ve got
to take care of our young fighters.
RC:
That’s all the questions I have. I appreciate you taking
the time for the interview.
JK:
Hey, no problem. You have a good day.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Quote
of the Day
"This
life is worth living, we can say, since it is what we make it."
William James, 1842-1910, American Psychologist/Professor/Author
|
2007
Hawaiian Championship of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Tomorrow!
Weigh-ins
Today!
FIRST LEG of "TRIPLE CROWN SERIES"
University of Hawaii Klum Gym
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Junior Competitions
9:45AM-1:00PM GI & No GI
Adults Competitions
1:00PM-4:30PM Gi
4:30PM-7:00PM No GI
GENERAL
INFORMATION:
- FORMAT: Gi/No Gi Sport BJJ; Single Elimination; See back for
additional information.
- OAHU
RESIDENTS/DEADLINE: Registration Form, payment and weigh-in on
Friday, March 9, UH Athletic Complex, 2nd Fl Studio #4, Noon-1
pm, 7:30-8:30 pm OR HKF Martial Arts Ctr, 94-295 Pupuole St.,
2nd Fl., 7:30-8:30 pm.
(Application Forms will be available at weigh-in sites, as well
as our website at www.brazilian-freestyle.com)
- OUTER ISLAND RESIDENTS/DEADLINE: Registration Form ONLY must
be received by Wed., Mar. 7, 3:00 pm.
Form can be submitted in the following ways:
1) Mail To: Triple Crown BJJ, 311 Ohua Ave., #102B, Hon., HI
96815,
2) Fax to: 808-955-2588,
3) E-mail to: barroshawaii@hotmail.com. Outer Island weigh-ins
will be held on the morning of the event from 7:30am-9:30am at
the event site, and entrance fees collected upon arrival. Outer-Island
and Pre-Registration applicants who fail to make weight as designated
on their pre-registration form will automatically forfeit their
match, and no refunds will be provided.
(Note: These are the same registration guidelines as set forth
by the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation/PanAmerican
Jiu-Jitsu Championships).
4) Can also follow registration guidelines as set forth for Oahu
Resident applicants.
- ENTRANCE FEES: $60 Adult/$30 Kids for multiple divisions
- CONTACTS: Romolo Barros @ 392-8330/E-Mail at Barroshawaii@hotmail.com.
Application and more details are at: http://www.brazilian-freestyle.com/events.htm
Source:
Brazilian Freestyle JJ website
|
Mir
Out, McCully In Versus Hardonk
by Josh Gross
Former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir has fallen off April
5's UFC Fight Night Card with an undisclosed injury, Sherdog.com
learned Wednesday. Taking the 27-year-old Mir's place versus
Dutch striker Antoni Hardonk is UFC newcomer Justin McCully.
Mir
(9-3-0) has fallen hard since suffering serious leg injuries
stemming from a motorcycle accident in Sept. 2004. Returning
to the Octagon last year, Mir went 1-2, losing in the first round
to Marcio Cruz and Brandon Vera while taking a close decision
against Dan Christison.
McCully
(7-3-2) had not fought for three years before winning twice in
Oct. 2006. Losing to Evan Tanner in the finals of Pancrase's
1998 New-Blood tournament, McCully fought actively until 2000.
Today he is best known for being a training partner of former
UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz.
Source: Sherdog
|
HMB
martial arts champ convicted of molestation
By Michelle Durand
A Brazilian martial arts champion and instructor accused of giving
inappropriate massages to four boys, including three students,
is facing two years in prison and life-long registration as a
sex offender after pleading no contest to one felony and three
misdemeanors counts of child molestation.
Joao
Pierini, 35, changed his plea at a pre-trial conference rather
than stand trial on the original nine charges including contributing
to the delinquency of a minor, annoying a child under 18, sexual
battery and lewd and lascivious behavior. If convicted of those
charges, he faced up to five years in prison. Instead, he is
looking at no more than two years in prison when sentenced April
14.
The
plea bargain is satisfactory because he copped to the felony
and must register as a sex offender, said Chief Deputy District
Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.
Pierini’s
plea nearly ends a case that has flown through the local court
system since his December arrest. Pierini previously waived a
preliminary hearing and was set for trial March 19 until he changed
his plea.
On
Dec. 15, four boys ages 15 to 17 allegedly ran into Pierini at
a local Starbucks coffee shop and he invited them back to his
studio, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at 2830 N. Cabrillo Highway in Half
Moon Bay, where he also lives.
Pierini
reportedly gave the boys his keys, told them to put their beer
in the refrigerator and said he’d meet them there.
As
they drank beer, Pierini offered the boys massages. The first
victim later reported Pierini massaged his genital area until
he got up and rejoined his friends without sharing what had happened.
The next day, he asked the other boys if they had a similar experience
and they agreed. The boys told the first victim’s father
and they reported the situation to the Half Moon Bay police.
Pierini
is a 25-year jiu jitsu veteran with a third-degree black belt,
according to the biography posted on his workplace Web site.
The
Web site also advertises therapeutic massage for trainers.
Pierini
moved to the United States from Sao Paolo, Brazil in 1999 and
opened the Half Moon Bay school with Jim Irizarry. The two also
created the Joao Pierini Association and a competition known
as the California Open International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu &
Submission Grappling Championships.
According
to the Ultimate Fighting Championship Web site, in 2002 Pierini
fought under the moniker “The Tasmanian Devil."
He
remains in custody in lieu of $500,00 bail and has no prior convictions
in San Mateo County.
Michelle
Durand can be reached by e-mail: michelle@smdailyjournal.com
or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 102. What do you think of this
story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.
Source: The Daily Journal/MMA Weekly
|
Minotouro’s
bane speaks
"To tell you the truth, I knew I was going to war for about
fifteen minutes"
Already
considered to be one of the greatest upsets in MMA's recent history,
the Cameroonian Rameau Thierry Sokondjou is still coming to terms
with his sudden fame after knocking out the Brazilian Rogério
Minotouro Nogueira in only 23 seconds at Pride 33, on February
24. In an interview carried out in the USA, the African recognized
he did not expect to leave the ring victorious so quickly.
“To
tell you the truth, I knew I was going to war for about fifteen
minutes. I knew he (Minotouro) was a good boxer and had never
been knocked out, but me beating him like that was kind of not
unexpected,” said Sokondjou.
The
fact that he was so heavily regarded as the underdog before the
fight that someone betting US$ 100 would take home US$ 1,300,
did not scare the Cameroonian. "Those "many people"
get paid for saying what they're saying, and I get paid to fight...
and the more they talk, the more it will make me train harder
to prove them wrong just like I proved them wrong by beating
Nogueira... Nobody expected me to win, but I did,” he said.
Sokondjou
also recalled how he started training at Team Quest, where he
trained side-by-side with the recently-crowned middleweight champion,
Dan Henderson. “Actually it was back in 2004 when Dan Henderson
was getting ready to fight Nakamura and was looking for someone
who knew Judo.
I got the call from my boss (I was a bouncer in a local club
at the time) then went to train with him and I liked it thereafter.
Rulon Gardner was fighting Yoshida and I helped him train as
well. Those two experiences made me stay with Team Quest and
also the people out there, really friendly and they're a real
family...” he finished.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
Quote
of the Day
“Peace
and justice are two sides of the same coin.”
Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1890-1969, 34th President of the United
States |
White
vs. Ortiz Approved
LAS
VEGAS (AP) - Nevada regulators on Monday approved an unusual
grudge match between Ultimate Fighting Championship president
Dana White and the "bad boy" of Huntington Beach, Calif.,
Tito Ortiz.
White,
is the 37-year-old president of the mixed martial arts promotion
company that has become a heavyweight in the pay-per-view business.
Ortiz (15-5-0) is one of its toughest, most popular combatants.
Ortiz
made the three-round match - in which both fighters will box
only, no grappling - a condition of his recent contract negotiations.
White
was once Ortiz' manager, but the two "had a real bad falling
out" in 2003, White said.
"The
last time Tito and I boxed was six years ago and he's a lot better
than he was six years ago," White said after a hearing at
the Nevada Athletic Commission, which approved the fight 3-1.
"I'm a lot older than I was six years ago, so we'll see."
Regulators
expressed concern that White would be seriously hurt by Ortiz,
32.
But
most commissioners were reassured by sparring tapes showing White
in the ring against another heavyweight from two months ago.
White said he's been training since last July.
"I've
seen Tito as a boxer, and he's probably not as good as you are,"
commission chair Dr. Tony Alamo told White.
Ortiz
will weigh in at 205 pounds, while White weighs 196 pounds, both
the boxing equivalent of heavyweight fighters.
The
fight March 24 will likely take place at the UFC training center
in Las Vegas and be broadcast later on the company's Web site,
http://www.ufc.com , the company said.
Source: MMA Weekly |
Press
Release
X-1 world
events-presents-Xtreme Fighting 2
March 17, Saturday
Blaisdell Arena
Get
your tickets now before the last minute rush!
Double Main Event
Wesley 'Cabbage' Correira vs Chris 'Monstser' Marez
Falaniko
Vitale vs Mavrick 'Soul Collector' Harvey
K1 rules Kickboxing
Kaleo Kwan vs Danny Steele
X-1
Championship Title Defense
170 welter wt. Mark Moreno vs Nik Lentz
155
light wt. Kolo Koka vs 'Sugar'Shane Nelson
145
super Lt wt. Eddie Yagin vs Brandon Foxworth
Womens match
Kelly Cobalt vs Tonya Evinger
MMA
matches
Fernando
Gonzalez vs Jay Carter
Harris
Sarmiento vs Henry Martinez
David
Padilla vs Dirty'Dave'Moreno
Kaipo
Gonzales vs Paco Woods
Preliminary
match
Steve
Farmer vs Scott Anderson
Another
X-1 World Event
Source: Event Promoter
|
UFC
PRES FORESEES SANCTIONING IN EVERY STATE
Since 2001, the Ultimate Fighting Championship has run the better
part of their shows in Las Vegas, Nevada. Along the way, they
took a couple of detours, most frequently in New Jersey and Connecticut,
but as of late, they have started to push out beyond the normal
hot spots, seeking out emerging markets for their product. That
should come as no surprise as they have plans for more than 30
shows this year alone and that number is growing all the time.
In
the past year, they have already expanded their reach to Sacramento,
Anaheim and San Diego in California; Hollywood, Florida; and
most recently to Columbus, Ohio. "We’re gonna start
doing fights all over the country," said UFC President Dana
White on a recent edition of MMAWeekly Radio. "We’re
going to Ohio, we’re gonna go to Texas, we’ve been
in California... we’re looking to go over to all these new
markets. We’re going to the UK. We’re gonna start traveling
the show around a lot more."
Of
course, not every state in the U.S. has actually sanctioned mixed
martial arts competition and the UFC has no plans to go where
there is no sanctioning. Their way around that? Simple, just
hire the Executive Director of the most influential athletic
commission in the country and have him work on getting sanctioning
not only in the places where the UFC wants to go, but even where
they don't.
When
asked by radio host Damon Martin how close states like Illinois
and Michigan – with cities like Chicago and Detroit –
are to sanctioning, White responded, "We’re working
on that. That’s why we hired Marc Ratner." Ratner is
the former Executive Director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission
and now works for the UFC.
"Our
goal has always been to get this thing sanctioned in every state,"
stated the UFC President. "We might never do a show in Idaho...
But someone is doing a show in Idaho and one of the big concerns
for us has always been when these rinky dink little shows go
out there and not do all the things they’re supposed to
be doing: medical testing, drug testing, etc., etc., and then
somebody getting seriously hurt. That’s what we’ve
always been worried about, so we want to make sure that this
sport is sanctioned in every state."
White
continued, "I want states that I don’t even plan on
going to, sanctioning mixed martial arts. We have a plan for
this sport. We want this sport to grow and become legitimate
worldwide. It takes a lot of work to get this done and believe
me, we haven’t even begun. It’s gonna be a long hard
battle for the rest of my life and as long as I’m involved
in this sport."
Source: MMA Weekly |
Shogun
choosed to face Henderson
The
champion of the categories until 83kg and until 93kg of the Pride,
Dan Henderson has already a defined adversary for the belt dispute,
if the decision depends of the Brazilian audience choose, who
did vote at the TATAME poll and answered “Who must face
Dan Henderson for the belt?”. Maurício Shogun was
the biggest champion of this poll with 54% of votes, followed
by Paulão Filho who got 11%. Paulão got in this
poll because he was the only one who never faced Henderson at
the category until 83kg. In the third place, Ricardo Arona drew
with Wanderlei Silva with 10,5% of votes, the fourth place was
for Vítor Belfort with 10% and the last one placed was
Rogério Minotouro with only 4,5% of votes.
Don’t
miss the new poll of site TATAME and answer who you would like
to watch fighting at the Lightweight GP of the Pride. The options
are: the athletes from BTT Milton Vieira and Junior Buscapé;
the athletes from Chute Boxe Luis Azeredo and Jean Silva; the
athlete from Gracie Tijuca Fabrício Morango; the athlete
from Nova União Leo Santos; the athlete from RFT Luciano
Azevedo; the athlete from GBCT Fabrício Monteiro; and
the athlete from ATT Marcus Aurélio. Check it out and
give your vote!
Source: Tatame |
COACH
YASUDA TALKS IFL SABRES' REBIRTH
When
compared to the other Head Coaches on the various IFL teams,
Sabres' coach Ken Yasuda stands out for a myriad of reasons.
Most
obviously, unlike the other coaches, Yasuda was never an active
MMA fighter, but that doesn’t make him any less a competitor
or qualified to run an IFL team.
A
former Major League-drafted baseball player, Ken has trained
in martial arts since he was six, eventually creating a newer,
more practical martial art, Choshin Ken, before moving onto competitive
weightlifting, becoming one of Japan’s most famous bodybuilders.
Having
worked on strength and conditioning with fellow IFL coach Don
Frye of the Scorpions, PRIDE’s “Ironhead” heavyweight
Kazuyuki Fujita, and MLB All-Star Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattle
Mariners, Ken’s drive for excellence is nothing short of
phenomenal.
After
taking over the Sabres' head coaching position for this year’s
IFL full-year season, Yasuda led the team to its first ever victory
this past February against the Scorpions, and now Ken looks to
lead his team to success March 17th in Los Angeles, California,
against Marco Ruas’ Condors.
“First
of all, our guys were much better conditioned than they were
for the last event [in February],” said Yasuda of the Sabres
heading into March 17th. “That was kind of like a warm-up
event for everybody. Now, we stayed in shape, trained harder,
and we did all the analysis of Marco’s fighters, so we’re
in much better shape and educated.”
Ken
continued, “We did our homework, so we’re ready to
go. We feel very good, and the team is more organized. We practice
as a team every day. Last September, everybody was living in
different areas, so we weren’t really organized. The first
time everybody was together was when we came to the event, but
now, it’s a totally different story.”
Last
September, as Yasuda mentions, was the month when the Sabres
made their dismal IFL debut, going 0-5 to the Anacondas. But
much has changed since then, including the ousting of Japanese
pro wrestling legend Antonio Inoki as the team’s Head Coach,
and the ascension of Ken into the role.
“That
time was a little confusing,” admitted Yasuda. “The
obligation wasn’t clear on who should do how much and as
we went on, basically I was doing everything. At the last minute
I had to do everything to get done to make it happen. So there
was an issue.”
“Then
it changed and I became the official Head Coach and so everything
is on-time and organized, it’s just so much better this
way,” further commented Ken.
Another
factor contributing to the Sabres’ newfound success this
year is the team’s overhauled roster. Gone are many of the
inexperienced fighters and in their place stepped veterans such
as Antonio McKee and Vladimir Matyushenko.
“One
thing they [the veteran fighters] probably hadn’t experienced
was the teamwork, but to get ready for a fight, they know what
to do,” said Yasuda. “So that saves a lot of time and
extra energy, no more trying to figure out who needs what to
get into tip-top shape.”
Ken
added, “[Kazuhiro] Hamanaka is the youngest guy and he can
learn from the veterans how to mentally and physically prepare
for a fight. So the younger ones are benefiting and the older
ones are showing how to behave as professional fighters and get
ready.”
When
it comes to the Sabres’ match-up with the Condors on March
17th, Yasuda believes that his team has a good chance of knocking
off Ruas’ squad, as long as they don’t have any lapses
in concentration.
“I
think in terms of strength and conditioning, I think we’re
way ahead of the game,” exclaimed Ken. “I also scientifically
and physiologically watch and make diet and training plans, everything,
which I don’t think Marco’s team is doing.”
“We
have more balanced skills. A lot of our guys’ backgrounds
is in wrestling, so they can fight on the ground, and we’ve
improved a lot in our stand-up. So, I think overall we are ahead
of the game and as long as we don’t make mistakes, we’ll
be okay,” continued Yasuda.
As
for the rest of the season, which could end up being a grueling
12-month marathon – depending on the team’s performance
– Ken knows what must be done for long-term success in the
IFL.
“Basically
the key, and most important thing, is not to get injuries,”
explained Yasuda. “So we’re always careful in practice
and we always have to be in tip-top shape. I also think the hardest
thing is that if somebody is switched, then we have to see if
the new guy is going to adjust to this team.”
Ken
added, “We’re like a small family, so if someone new
doesn’t get along with the others, then it’s not good
for the team and the guy won’t do well, most likely. So
it’s very important to have the same guys to make a family,
so the real teamwork will kick in. As long as we take care of
those two things, I don’t that it’s going to be a problem
to finish up this season strong.”
Should
everything come together, the Sabres could very well be this
season’s sleeper team in the IFL. As Yasuda states, as long
as everyone fights hard and puts all they have into it, then
there is no way the Sabres won’t at least be one of the
most exciting teams in the IFL.
“At
this event we will show what we’ve got,” said Ken.
“We’re very excited and we’re there to win and
show we’ve got heart. Everybody is going to be impressed,
regardless of what’s going to happen.”
“Watch
us on [IFL] Battleground, we’re going be shown a lot on
Episode 3, which I think is going to be [premiering on] March
24th. They did interviews with Vlady and Antonio, and I think
they’re going to shoot a lot at this upcoming event, so
people will get to know us more,” concluded Yasuda.
Source: MMA Weekly |
Pedro
Rizzo travels on Monday to USA
The
striker Pedro Rizzo travels on next Monday (5) to wih his Wrestling
trainer Beto Leitão to fight at the event Art of War,
tat will be held on March 9th at the American Airlines Center
, in Dallas city. Pedro Rizzo, who will meet his master Marco
Ruas on , will fight for the heavy belt of the event against
Justin Eillers. “I am pretty confident in my victory now.
That will be good for me to be back fighting in a smaller event,
showing a victory”, said Rizzo, who already studied Eillers’s
game.
-
I already watched almost everything, all of his bouts at UFC...
He KO’d Mike Kyle, he was KO’d by Paul Buentello, he
did a good bout with Arlovski until he gets hurt… So I know
he is an aggressive guy, he is good on Wrestling, he is prett
complete athletes… This is the chance I have got to be back
at the market, to be back after one year with no fighting. And
I hope that this year will be a good year of fights – finished
Rizzo.
Source: Tatame |
Quote
of the Day
“It
takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.”
E. E. Cummings, 1894-1962, American Poet/Painter/Playwright |
Nick
Diaz, another black eye?
You
want drama? You don't need Dr. Phil because you needn't look
any further than the MMA community. A surprising number of athletic
commission sponsored failed drug tests have been reported this
year. Starring in these dramatic presentations were Kevin Randleman,
Kit Cope, and Thiago Alves to name just a few. These aren't guys
that you would necessarily dislike to any extreme like might
Tank Abbot or Ricardo Arona. No, these are fighters that arguably
have a certain amount of love and respect from fans that go with
their names and have had their reputation tarnished over the
past six months.
Testing
positive for steroids is one thing, but illegal drugs is another.
Steroids pop up in other sports quite often and the backlash
is severe for the athlete that uses them, in the press and from
the associations they are affiliated with. Lance Armstrong comes
to mind. After he was accused of using steroids the greatest
American cyclist of all time had his name drug throught the mud
until it the allegations were proven wrong. It was too late,
the damage had been done and there will always be a question
surrounding his Tour De France domination. MMA fighters are gaining
respect slowly, but surely and I can assure you that the boxing
mafia would love to have their cronies report as often as possible
that they were popping for drugs.
The
only athlete I could see that the US press wouldn't hammer if
they popped for steroids would be Tiger Woods because hey, he's
Tiger Woods.
The
UFC has the American consumer on a string right now and have
a great opportunity to show the United States government how
incredibly talented the fighters are and how safe the sport of
MMA really is. The world of MMA is one that is populated with
many mean looking, tattooed guys that are not all as eloquently
spoken as Randy Couture, and that is strike number one for a
lot of potential fans. Generally, this is quickly forgotten because
of the tremendous amounts of respect shown between these fighters
before and especially after an MMA fight, breaking the stereotypes
that the detractors of the sport cling to so dearly. The Ultimate
Fighter reality show did wonders for the understanding and humanization
of the sport and built a large amount of interest and respect
for MMA as a whole. All it takes is a few nicks in the armor
and it can all go downhill.
With
the UFC no longer holding events just in Las Vegas and taking
their product in to the suburbs of America, I see this as a crucial
moment in MMA.
I basically see the public accepting the MMA sport for the most
part, but I can't see those athletic commissions that are currently
on the bubble for bringing MMA in to their communities wanting
to bother with it if there are drugs or scandals coming along
with it. Fighters testing positive for steroids is one thing,
but illegal drugs are another. People who use illegal drugs are
considered criminals and there's yet another answer to the question,
"Why isn't mixed martials allowed here in(your state here)".
Back
on task here, Nick Diaz just accomplished the greatest feat of
his young career when he defeated the former number one lightweight
fighter in the world and PRIDE champion, Takanori Gomi. Now,
that win is publicly tarnished, if only slightly among hardcore
fans, by allegedly testing positive for a non-performance enhancing
drug, and of all things marijuana.
That
makes it even worse for MMA in my opinion because steroids would
be expected in a sport that involves such high levels of stress
on an athlete's body. Maybe I am naive, I don't know. I will
say this, I didn't expect world class fighters to be ruining
their bodies with smoking, but as I am finding out, a lot of
these fighters came from environments where this might have been
the standard, and it's hard for them to leave it behind.
Do
I think it's a widespread problem across the board? No, not really.
I
hope that this is not a recurring problem because MMA is on the
rise and coming to a town near you if the UFC and other organizations
have their way.
Let's just hope that bad press involving drugs doesn't come with
them
Source: MMA Weekly
|
BREAKING
NEWS: NICK DIAZ FAILS DRUG TEST
Breaking News on MMAWeekly: Nick Diaz has failed the drug test
that he took shortly before his win over Takanori Gomi at Pride
33: The Second Coming. Diaz tested positive for marijuana, according
to the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Diaz
will have an opportunity to defend himself at a Nevada State
Athletic Commission hearing in the future.
The
typical punishment for MMA fighters or boxers who test positive
for marijuana in the state of Nevada has been a six-month suspension,
with the most recent example being professional boxer Mikhail
Lyubarsky, who was suspended for six months at his NSAC disciplinary
hearing just this morning.
Diaz
defeated Takanori Gomi by submission at Pride 33: The Second
Coming in a huge upset.
In
addition to being under contract to Pride, Diaz was also under
contract with the Showtime-backed EliteXC to fight on a future
EliteXC card. It is not yet known how or if Diaz' positive test
will affect his status with Pride or EliteXC.
Diaz
Was Hesitant to Take Drug Test
MMAWeekly
spoke with NSAC Executive Director Keith Kizer about Diaz's failed
drug test, and Kizer noted that Diaz was initially hesitant when
he was asked to give a urine sample.
Kizer
said, "It was interesting because when the inspectors went
to take the urine sample before his fight, Mr. Diaz said no at
first. He wanted to give the sample in a stall. The sample has
to be given in front of an inspector, and he wouldn't do it.
Well, we've played that game with Mr. Randleman, so we weren't
going to have that, but he refused to do it. So I said, 'That's
fine, no problem, but you're not going to be fighting, of course.
If you're not going to take the drug test, that's fine, but you're
not fighting tonight.'"
Kizer
continued, "So I talked to Turi [Altavilla] at Pride and
then he apparently talked to Nick, and then he was more than
happy to give us a sample. The fight would have been called off
otherwise. I don't know if his hesitance to take a drug test
has anything to do with his positive drug test and whether there's
any correlation there, but it's definitely a factor that I will
be bringing up with the commissioners. Mr. Diaz was the only
fighter [on the Pride 33 card] who showed any hesitance in taking
a drug test."
Fight
Result May or May Not Be Changed to "No Contest"
The
official policy of the NSAC used to be that the result of a fight
would stay the same, no matter what banned substances were found
in the winning fighter's system, but that policy has changed
in recent years.
Now,
if a fighter wins a bout and tests positive for steroids, stimulants,
or other performance-enhancing drugs, the official result is
changed to a no-contest.
Whether
or not that will apply to marijuana as well remains to be seen.
When asked specifically about the official result of the Diaz-Gomi
fight, Kizer told MMAWeekly that the issue will have to be decided
by the commissioners. He added that all of the factors will be
considered before it's decided whether the official result of
the fight should be changed to "no contest" or whether
it should stay the same (Diaz wins by submission).
Regarding
the subject of marijuana use among mixed martial artists in general,
Kizer said to MMAWeekly last month, "The main issue with
marijuana is it slows the reflexes, putting the fighter at much
greater risk. We would not let a fighter compete who is coming
off arm surgery and has not fully recovered his reflexes, or
who is under the influence of alcohol because of the same issue.
Additionally, it may also deaden some pain. That could hurt the
fighter... he may not tap out when he should and he suffers broken
bones or torn ligaments as a result... or that could unfairly
help him if he can trade punches more easily with his opponent."
Potential
Disciplinary Suspension a Moot Point?
Due
to the fact that Diaz suffered a broken orbital bone during the
fight against Gomi and had already been medically suspended by
the NSAC for six months, any potential disciplinary suspension
for marijuana could end up being a moot point, depending on the
length of the disciplinary suspension.
If
Diaz were to be given a six-month disciplinary suspension that
coincided with his six-month medical suspension, the disciplinary
suspension would essentially be a moot point because he wasn't
going to be fighting for six months anyway. The fighter in that
case has actually lost zero days when they "could have fought"
but weren't allowed to fight because they were being punished.
In
other states such as New Jersey, if a fighter is medically suspended
and also fails a drug test, the fighter's disciplinary suspension
begins on the day that his or her medical suspension ends.
This
is not currently the case in Nevada. When asked if the NSAC plans
to change its policy on this matter in the future, Kizer said
that it's up to the commissioners, but he added, "Any drug
violation occurs before any injury, so I am not sure if you should
punish a fighter more because of his injuries."
Nine
Other Pride Fighters Pass Drug Tests
All
of the other fighters who were drug tested at Pride 33: The Second
Coming tested negative for all banned substances, including steroids,
stimulants, and recreational drugs.
The
ten fighters that the Nevada State Athletic Commission chose
to test following their respective fights at Pride 33 on February
24th were Nick Diaz, Takanori Gomi, Wanderlei Silva, Dan Henderson,
Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, Alistair Overeem, Antonio Rogerio
Nogueira, Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, Joachim Hansen, and Jason
Ireland. The remaining eight fighters on the card were not drug
tested.
At
Pride's first event in the United States last October, three
of the ten fighters who were drug tested failed their tests (Vitor
Belfort, Kevin Randleman, and Pawel Nastula).
According
to the Nevada State Athletic Commission, the total cost of drug
testing one fighter for performance-enhancing drugs, stimulants,
recreational drugs, and all other banned substances is $278.40.
The
NSAC spent a total of $2,784 on drug testing for Pride 33: The
Second Coming, while the total cost of drug testing every single
fighter on the card would have been $4,454. The event drew $2,033,098
in ticket sales.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
UFC
68 FIGHTER SALARIES
MMAWeekly has obtained the fighter salary information for UFC
68, which took place this past Saturday in Columbus, Ohio.
The
following figures are based on the fighter salary information
that the UFC is 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 undisclosed bonuses
that the UFC also pays its fighters, but does not disclose to
the athletic commissions (specifically, PPV bonuses for PPV main
event fighters), are not included in the figures below. Also
not reflected below are the taxes that the fighters have to pay.
Following
the fighter salaries for UFC 68 are the fighter salaries for
UFC Fight Night 8, which took place on January 25 in Hollywood,
Florida.
In
the listings below, "Title Match & Main Event Fighters"
are defined as fighters who compete in the main event of a show
and/or compete in a title fight on 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 PPV broadcast.
In
addition, next to each fighter's name is the number of UFC fights
that he has had, not counting fights that took place during Ultimate
Fighter seasons because those fights are officially classified
as exhibitions.
UFC
68--- March 3, 2007
Title
Match & Main Event Fighters
-Randy
Couture: $250,000 (17th fight in UFC; defeated Tim Sylvia)
-Tim
Sylvia: $100,000 (11th fight in UFC; lost to Randy Couture)
Main
Card Fighters
-Matt
Hughes: $150,000 (18th fight in UFC; defeated Chris Lytle)
-Rich
Franklin: $42,000 (9th fight in UFC; defeated Jason MacDonald)
-Renato
"Babalu" Sobral: $21,000 (9th fight in UFC; lost to
Jason Lambert)
-Martin
Kampmann: $20,000 (3rd fight in UFC; defeated Drew McFedries)
-Jason
Lambert: $18,000 (5th fight in UFC; defeated Renato "Babalu"
Sobral)
-Jason
MacDonald: $14,000 (3rd fight in UFC; lost to Rich Franklin)
-Chris
Lytle: $10,000 (8th fight in UFC; lost to Matt Hughes)
-Drew
McFedries: $5,000 (2nd fight in UFC; lost to Martin Kampmann)
Preliminary
Match Fighters
-Jon
Fitch: $28,000 (5th fight in UFC; defeated Luigi Fioravanti)
-Matt
Hamill: $10,000 (3rd fight in UFC; defeated Rex Holman)
-Luigi
Fioravanti: $8,000 (4th fight in UFC; lost to Jon Fitch)
-Jamie
Varner: $6,000 (2nd fight in UFC; defeated Jason Gilliam)
-Gleison
Tibau: $6,000 (2nd fight in UFC; defeated Jason Dent)
-Rex
Holman: $3,000 (1st fight in UFC; lost to Matt Hamill)
-Jason
Gilliam: $3,000 (1st fight in UFC; lost to Jamie Varner)
-Jason
Dent: $3,000 (2nd fight in UFC; lost to Gleison Tibau)
Disclosed
Fighter Payroll: $697,000
UFC Fight
Night 8--- January 25, 2007
Main
Event Fighters
-Rashad
Evans: $24,000 (5th fight in UFC; defeated Sean Salmon)
-Sean
Salmon: $3,000 (1st fight in UFC; lost to Rashad Evans)
Main
Card Fighters
-Heath
Herring: $60,000 (1st fight in UFC; lost to Jake O'Brien)
-Hermes
Franca: $24,000 (7th fight in UFC; defeated Spencer Fisher)
-Jake
O'Brien: $18,000 (3rd fight in UFC; defeated Heath Herring)
-Spencer
Fisher: $13,000 (6th fight in UFC; lost to Hermes Franca)
Preliminary
Match Fighters
-Nathan
Marquardt: $44,000 (4th fight in UFC; defeated Dean Lister)
-Ed
Herman: $24,000 (3rd fight in UFC; defeated Chris Price)
-Din
Thomas: $24,000 (6th fight in UFC; defeated Clay Guida)
-Rich
Clementi: $20,000 (3rd fight in UFC; defeated Ross Pointon)
-Josh
Burkman: $14,000 (5th fight in UFC; defeated Chad Reiner)
-Dean
Lister: $11,000 (3rd fight in UFC; lost to Nathan Marquardt)
-Chris
Price: $7,000 (2nd fight in UFC; lost to Ed Herman)
-Ross
Pointon: $5,000 (2nd fight in UFC; lost to Rich Clementi)
-Clay
Guida: $5,000 (2nd fight in UFC; lost to Din Thomas)
-Chad
Reiner: $3,000 (1st fight in UFC; lost to Josh Burkman)
Disclosed
Fighter Payroll: $299,000
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Does
Nick Diaz deserve top honors?
For
years Nick Diaz has been trying to break through the thick shell
encasing the world's top spots in MMA. He has had his share of
ups and downs in his career on the main stage of the UFC. Arguably,
his greatest UFC "up" was when he defeated Robbie Lawler
at UFC 47. He knocked out the knockout artist and anytime you
can do that it's a good thing and one that will get you noticed
right away. He instantly became a fan favorite and most new his
name and began to follow his career more closely. It's not easy
to miss Diaz that's for sure. Nick is always outspoken and often
surrounded by controversy. All of that was put aside and this
weekend he proved he was one of the best. The question now remains,
does he deserve a top spot and the mainstream respect that has
eluded him for so long?
If
you asked me last year if Nick would ever be considered a top
fighter in any weight class I would have said yes. I would have
also clarified to you that I didn't think it would happen anytime
soon. I was publicly corrected by Mr. Diaz when he submitted
one of the greatest lightweight fighters of all time, Takanori
Gomi this weekend at PRIDE's second U.S. show. What does this
mean for Nick's status as a fighter and how will it shake up
the lightweight division?
Just
looking at Nick's past UFC track record, it won't tell you his
whole story right away. Nick lost three of his last five fights
in the UFC. He lost to Diego Sanchez by unanimous decision, Joe
Riggs by unanimous decision, and Sean Sherk by the same. He came
back strong and defeated Josh Neer and Gleison Tibau back to
back. Nick was a much better fighter than his record showed him
to be and the UFC was foolish to dismiss him in my opinion. He
would part ways with the UFC and was quickly scooped up by PRIDE
probably for the best. Ever since the Lawler knockout, Nick has
been hell bent on repeating that performance in every fight and
trying the same taunting that took Robbie out of his game and
made Diaz an instant star. It did make something happen that
I thought should have happened a long time ago. Nick dropped
down a weight class.
At
PRIDE's show on February 24, Nick would drop to 160 pounds, PRIDE's
version of the lightweight division. This was a ver ysmart move
if you ask me. Nick trains hard and has always been in top shape,
but most have always felt he would fare better in the lighter
weight class because of his size.
When at that weight Diaz is much quicker and sharper than when
he is carrying the extra ten pounds at the American welterweight
division's 170 pound weight limit. On Saturday, he was paired
up against the most talented lightweight striker in the world
today by most accounts, Takanori Gomi.
Diaz
would put on an encore worthy performance. His strikes were accurate
and strong leaving Gomi frustrated and desperate to land some
of his own in response. At one point Diaz would be rocked badly
and it seemed like the fight might be over as he fell to the
mat in what seemed like some sort of weird slo-mo. He would fight
on and put on one of the greatest overall showings of his career.
Gomi seemed to have answers to everything Diaz was attempting,
but this would not last long as Nick would return fire fast and
often.
After
trying everything in his arsenal to KO Diaz on his feet or pound
him out on the ground, Gomi was spent. His hands were down and
he was undeniably exhausted. Nick was just warming up and despite
Takanori landing a few bombs, Diaz would win the exchanges in
the striking department with his trademark taunting in full effect.
The end finally came when Gomi fell into Nick's guard and Diaz
locked in a spectacular submission, a rarely seen gogoplata.
Gomi tapped to the leg choke and the rest is history. It would
later be reported that Diaz had a fractured right orbital bone
suffered during the fight, but was still able to pull off the
upset. With that amazing victory, where does this place Nick
Diaz in the pecking order?
I
say top 5. Definitely, without a question top 5 in the world.
He beat the best fighter in that weight class and deserves to
be included on that list.
In
my opinion, the top 5 lightweight fighters in the world right
now are:
5)Shinyo
Aoki
4)Nick Diaz
3)Gilbert Melendez
2)Takanori Gomi
1)Hayato Sakurai
Sakurai
is going to be standard across the board now that Gomi lost,
I would assume. Hayato Sakurai is one of the greatest fighters
of all time and is deservedly number one right now. Aoki has
impressed me as has Melendez lately placing them in my top 5
easily. The competition in the lightweight division is so fierce
right now and the division is so large that making it in to the
top 10 is saying something. With a solid victory over the former
number one fighter in the world, in my opinion Diaz has definitely
managed to crack the
elite top 5 and land securely at #4.
All
of this being said, the question remains.... when am I going
to see Melendez versus Diaz?!?!
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Quote
of the Day
“If
you cannot be a poet, be the poem.”
David Carradine, American Actor
|
Raw
Episode 48 Airs Tonight
the RAW
version of Fighters' Club TV Episode 48 has been submitted to
Olelo programming and will run in our normal timeslot: 7pm Tuesdays
on
Oceanic Ch52 (Olelo-Oahu)
Episode
48 features
-our
very own Mike Onzuka's "behind the scenes" look at
a filming of
ICON's preview show.
-footage
from ICON's "All In" including interviews and highlights
of
Jeremy Williams vs Derek Thorton, Scott Junk vs John "Furious"
George,
and Trigg vs Mayhem
-a
"stalker" level look at the ring girls of Icon
-Technique
of the Week featuring ENSON INOUE
comments,
questions, and suggestions to: fctv@onzuka.com
|
ICON
SPORT TV SHOW PREMIER AT EASTSIDE GRILL THIS SUNDAY
FREE TICKETS!
FREE MERCHANDISE!
We at Icon Sport are really excited about the ucpoming preview
TV show for the March 31st EPIC event...almost as excited as
we are for the event itself. And we'd like to invite every Hawaii
MMA fan to join us at Eastside Grill as we premier the TV show THIS SUNDAY, MARCH 11th @ 9:30PM. Come early, because
we will be giving away some hard-to-get Tshirts (not in stores
or the inter-web) and a pair of tickets to the Icon Sport: EPIC
event.
Trust me, you guys and gals are going to love this show. Trigg
and Lawler do a lot of trash-talking. Mayhem gives a one-of-a-kind
interview, filmed the day after he lost his belt to Trigg. That
interview was one of my favorite video moments ever. Mayhem really
bares his soul, you won't want to miss it. The show also gives
a better look at Charuto's sizzling return. We also introduce
the BEST Hawaii fighter that most of you don't know about: Po'ai
Suganuma. Lastly, we take a look at the Icon Lightweight State
Title match-up of Marshall Harvest of Animal House and Justin
Bucholz of Bulls Pen.
And, oh yeah, I don't want to forget to mention Mark Kurano's
excellent analysis and commentary. He's a natural. Play your
cards right and you may even get his autograph.
We are really proud of the show. We hope you'll join us for food,
drinks, and MMA.
If you haven't seen the 30-sec TV spot for EPIC check out here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRbGJDF41T0
Eastside Grill is located on University, mauka of the King Street/University
intersection, directly across from Varsity Movie Theater. Parking
is available in the secure lot/garage or in the adjacent metered
lot. They serve great food and the Steinlager is always flowing!
Mahalo!
Patrick Freitas
Icon Sport
superbrawl21@yahoo.com
|
Schilt
wins newly created K-1 super heavyweight title
In a historic night for K-1, 2005 and 2006 K-1 World Grand Prix
champion Semmy Schilt won the newly created K-1 super heavyweight
title Sunday at the K-1 World GP in Yokohama, Japan.
Schilt
scored a second round knock out over Ray Sefo in a rematch from
their 2005 K-1 World GP quarterfinals bout.
K-1
also introduced the heavyweight (under 100 kg) division with
Musashi vs. Yusuke Fujimoto and Ruslan Karaev vs. Badr Hari to
set up a title bout for the new division's title.
Badr
Hari had a come-from-behind performance to earn his title shot.
After being knocked down by Ruslan Karaev and appearing to be
on the brink of losing, Hari came back with a finishing knockout
at 2:46 of the second round.
To
the disappointment of K-1, Fujimoto and Musashi went three lackluster
rounds and had to be given an extra round to be more aggressive.
Fujimoto reacted appropriately by knocking out Musashi at 1:23.
Badr
Hari will fight Fujimoto for the K-1 heavyweight title at the
K-1 World GP in Honolulu, Hawaii on April 28.
The
two champions holding the belt in September earn a spot on K-1
World GP Final Elimination in Seoul, Korea.
Full
Results:
Semmy Schilt def. Ray Sefo via KO - R2 0:26
Yusuke Fujimoto def. Musashi via KO - R4 1:23
Badr Hari def. Ruslan Karaev via KO - R2 2:46
Mighty Mo def. Hong-Man Choi via KO - R2 0:50
Junichi Sawayashiki def. Jerome Le Banner via unanimous decision
- 3 rounds
Zabit Samedov def. Tsuyoshi Nakasako via majority decision -
3 rounds
Alexandre Pitchkounov def. Hiraku Hori via KO - R1 2:27
Gokhan Saki def. Hiromi Amada via KO - R2 3:00
Mitsugu Noda def. Cyril Abidi via unanimous decision - 3 rounds
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Drugs
scandal threatening to knock down Holyfield
Owen Slot, Chief Sports Reporter
A new drugs scandal in the United States is believed to be so
potentially damaging that it has been dubbed “The East Coast
Balco” and yesterday the first global name was implicated:
Evander Holyfield, the four-time heavyweight boxing champion.
Holyfield
issued an immediate denial, but evidence has emerged from raids
on a number of pharmacies on the East Coast that raises serious
questions about his connections with pharmaceutical companies.
Holyfield,
44, started his professional career as a cruiserweight more than
20 years ago. He always traded on his moniker, “The Real
Deal”, and was long viewed as one of the more admirable
figures in the sport. However, that reputation has taken a considerable
hammering in recent years as he has ignored all the evidence
of his advancing years and refused to retire from the ring.
Holyfield
has won only four of his past ten bouts, yet it was only on Tuesday
that he was fuelling the media at a Manhattan press conference
with predictions about his achievements at his next bout, which
is only 15 days away. The contest is in Corpus Christi, Texas,
against Vinny Maddalone, a 33-year-old brawler with an unremarkable
record who, Holyfield attested, would be just another statistic
on his march to becoming undisputed world heavyweight champion
again.
But
even as he spoke, investigators were beginning to analyse their
findings from two drugs raids in Florida earlier that day. They
were carried out by federal and state agents, one on a clinic
in Orlando called the Signature Pharmacy, the other on the Palm
Beach Rejuvenation Center in Jupiter. The former is a client
of the latter, apparently to the tune of some £10 million.
It
is the size of the business that has attracted the interest of
investigators. The fact that their work has thrown up the names
of some notable athletes is, to them, something of a sideshow.
The
first name to appear in newspaper reports on Wednesday was Richard
Rydze, a team physician for the Pittsburgh Steelers American
football franchise, who is alleged to have used his credit card
to buy $150,000 worth of human growth hormone from the Signature
Pharmacy.
Yesterday,
however, a report from CNNSI.com was alleging that the client
lists had led investigators to Holyfield, too. Holyfield was
not named in person but the name “Evan Fields”, caught
their attention. “Fields”, it allegedly turned out,
shares the same birth date as Holyfield — October 19, 1962
— and his address in Fairfield, Georgia, was similar. On
telephoning the number on the documents, the call was answered
by Holyfield himself, investigators allege.
According
to reports, “Evan Fields” did not receive prescriptions
directly through the mail but picked them up through a Georgia
physician, whose offices were also raided. The drugs allegedly
came from Applied Pharmacy, in Mobile, Alabama, which itself
was raided by investigators last autumn.
Two
other names have been linked through the Applied Pharmacy client
lists, one associated with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
baseball franchise and José Canseco, a retired baseball
slugger, whose openness about his drugs history is such that
he has made a considerable amount of money from selling a book
about it.
Investigators
are looking into documents which apparently allege that “Fields”
picked up supplies of syringes plus three vials of testosterone
and two vials of Glukor, a drug used to treat male impotency
but also believed to be used by body-builders before and after
steroid cycles; five vials of Saizen, a brand of human growth
hormone, and other related supplies. It is claimed that he returned
for further treatment for hypogonadism, a form of male impotency.
Holyfield’s
statement yesterday said: “I do not use steroids. I have
never used steroids. I resent that my name has been linked to
known steroid users by sources who refuse to be identified in
order to generate publicity for their investigation.”
Rise
and fall of The Real Deal
1984
Wins bronze medal at Los Angeles Olympics
1986 Beats Dwight Qawi to win WBA cruiserweight title
1990 Knocks out James “Buster” Douglas for world heavyweight
title
1992 Loses title to Riddick Bowe on points
1993 Regains title from Bowe in bout halted by “fan man”
1993 Loses title to Michael Moorer
1996 Regains title in huge upset against Mike Tyson
1997 Has part of ear bitten off in rematch with Tyson
1999 Controversial draw against Lennox Lewis in New York; loses
rematch
2000 Wins vacant WBA title against John Ruiz
2004 Banned in New York on medical grounds
2006 Relicensed in Texas, wins two bouts
Source: Times Online/Fight Opinion
|
Quote
of the Day
"Only
the weak are cruel. Gentleness can only be expected from the
strong."
Leo Buscaglia, 1924-1998, American Author and Expert on Love
and Human Relationships
|
View
the exciting new Icon Sport: EPIC 30-second TV spot here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRbGJDF41T0
PRESS RELEASE
Contact:
Patrick Freitas
Icon Sport Promoter
(808) 232-3481 **NEW NUMBER**
superbrawl21@yahoo.com
“Icon
Sport: EPIC” T.V. Preview Show
March 3, 2007 Honolulu, HI. Hawaii MMA fans won’t want to
miss the preview show for the March 31st Icon Sport event, EPIC.
The program features a close look at the event’s World Championship
main event between Frank Trigg and Robbie Lawler, the return
of Mayhem Miller, the uprising of Charuto Verissimo, the introduction
of future-star light heavyweight star Po’ai Suganuma, and
insight into the State lightweight championship between Marshall
Harvest and Justin Bucholz. Trash-talking rivals, up-close interviews,
in-depth fight analysis, and some of the best fight-action cinematography
are just a few of the highlights.
The 30-minute program, which airs 14 times exclusively on K5
The Home Team (KFVE, Channel 5), can be found in all Hawaii TV
listings as “Icon: Trigg vs. Lawler Preview.” Showtimes
are also listed below:
Sunday, March 11 @ 9:30 p.m.
Sunday March 18 @ 9:30 p.m.
Monday, March 19 @ 11 p.m.
Tuesday, March 20 @ 11 p.m.
Wednesday, March 21 @ 11 p.m.
Thursday, March 22 @ 11 p.m.
Sunday, March 25 @ 9:30 p.m.
Monday, March 26 @ 11 p.m.
Tuesday, March 27 @ 11 p.m.
Wednesday, March 28 @ 11 p.m.
Thursday, March 29 @ 11 p.m.
Thursday, March 29 @ Midnight Encore
Friday, March 30 @ 11 p.m.
Friday, March 30 @ Midnight Encore
View the exciting new Icon Sport: EPIC 30-second TV spot here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRbGJDF41T0
Source: Event Promoter
|
To
the MAXson: Silva’s late night meant defeat
By Matt Maxson
This past Saturday, the Mixed Martial Arts community witnessed
the fall of a legend. Wanderlei Silva, PRIDE Fighting Championships
Middleweight champion and 2003 Grand Prix Tournament winner,
finally lost his title as Middleweight champion to Dan Henderson
after holding onto the belt for five years.
The
fight, which was dubbed in promotional posters as being an exhibition
of Silva’s talents, turned out to be quite the opposite
as the Chute Boxe prodigy was knocked out 2:08 into the third
round.
Very
few saw the fight turning out the way it did, though reports
stated that the champ had checked into a hospital the night prior
to the fight to get antibiotics for a strep throat infection.
However, later that night at approximately 1 a.m., I, with several
of my friends, spotted Silva strolling through the Caesar’s
Forum Shops with a girlfriend in tow.
What
would lead a fighter to do something so brash and stupid as to
being out and about in Las Vegas the night before a big fight?
I don’t know, and neither does anybody else. Silva was knocked
completely unconscious during his fight with Henderson and supposedly
made another trip to the hospital, unavailable for comment before
leaving for Brazil.
This
last fight was Silva’s second straight by knockout loss
and places his career in serious jeopardy. A fighter with everything
to lose lost it all and in my mind could have been much better
off if he had stayed the night in bed.
The
question this leaves now is about the future of the Japan-based
company and its forward push into the American market. Witnessing
the losses of two of their most prized 205-pounders, Silva and
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, while witnessing a paid attendance
of under 10,000 for the second straight fight, PRIDE must seriously
consider its ability to stay above water in the United States.
This event drew the ninth largest crowd in MMA history for Nevada
right behind PRIDE’s last event at the Thomas & Mack.
The top eight spots belong to the UFC.
DreamStage
Entertainment, PRIDE’s principal owning company, has stated,
however, that an event is planned for April to be held in Japan
again, its first of the new year. No names of fighters appearing
have been put forth, but it is most likely that Heavyweight champion
Fedor Emelianenko, the last of PRIDE’s stable fighters,
will return for another title defense.
Source: The Rebel Yell/Fight Opinion
|
Sakuraba
Returns to HERO'S Ring in March
by Jordan Breen
HERO'S parent company Fight Entertainment Group has officially
added three bouts to the line-up of its March 12 card at Nagoya
Rainbow Hall, with some considerable starpower.
The
card will see Japanese icon Kazushi Sakuraba in his first in-ring
action after the Yoshihiro Akiyama greasing controversy, which
embroiled the Japanese fight industry in early 2007. The return
to the ring for "The Gracie Hunter" will be a soft
touch, as he is scheduled to meet unheralded Ukrainian "Playboy"
Jurij Kiselov. The 30-year-old Kiselov's most notable competition
has come in the Lithuanian HERO'S events, where he has suffered
two unceremonious knockout losses.
Devastating
Dutch striker "Marvellous" Melvin Manhoef will return
to HERO'S competition for the first time since his loss to the
aforementioned Akiyama in the HERO'S 2006 187-pound tournament
final last October. Manhoef will take on former King of Pancrase
Yoshiki Takahashi, who has just returned to Japan after spending
the last few weeks in Costa Rica for the filming of bodogFight,
in which Takahashi took on Mark Burch.
Also,
veteran Yoshihisa Yamamoto will take on a fellow former pro-wrestler
Katsuyori Shibata. The 27-year-old Shibata has fought one MMA
bout, defeating another pro-wrestler, Ice Man, at Jungle Fight
in May of 2004. Shibata has since dedicated himself to mixed
martial arts training under Pancrase pioneer Masakatsu Funaki.
Source: Sherdog
|
MMA
LEGALIZED IN PENNSYLVANIA
by Mitch Gobetz
Pennsylvania
has become the latest state to remove the ban of mixed martial
arts. There was a meeting held yesterday with the Pennsylvania
State Athletic Commission to remove the ban, and apparently,
they will begin to write the regulations.
After
an online petition was submitted to the athletic commission,
they decided to have a meeting about the enabling of mixed martial
arts. The petition contained more than 950 electronic signatures.
Executive
director Gregory Sirb confirmed the news to MMAWeekly about the
athletic commission approving what they called “MMA-style
events”. With Pennsylvania approving MMA, they will likely
follow the unified rules in use by most athletic commissions
in the United States.
Philadelphia
is likely to be the largest target market in Pennsylvania for
MMA due to its size, and Pittsburgh is another attractive target
market.
With
the UFC expanding to new markets, this could open up another
venue for them to look at for a future event. The Wachovia Center
in Philadelphia would likely be the first place that most promoters
would target since it holds more than 21,000 people for NBA basketball
games.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
MyNetworkTV
Presents “Countdown to Battleground”
Excitement
Builds for Broadcast Premiere of Mixed Martial Arts Programming
New
York, March 1, 2007 – MyNetworkTV, the broadcast home of
the International Fight League, announced today that it will
present “Countdown to Battleground” on Wednesday, March
7 at 8 p.m. (EST/PST). The one-hour special will give audiences
a sneak preview of the new MyNetworkTV show, “IFL Battleground.”
The
program is designed to introduce audiences to the IFL and mixed
martial arts, as well as the athletes and teams that make up
the league. “Countdown to Battleground” will include
interviews with the fighters and the five legendary coaches,
Ken Shamrock, Renzo Gracie, Pat Miletich, Bas Rutten and Frank
Shamrock. Audiences will also get a taste of the action-packed
fast-paced competition through recaps of recent IFL events.
“We
are excited to bring viewers a taste of the powerful battles,
intense rivalries and inspiring stories that will be featured
this season on ‘IFL Battleground,’” said Greg
Meidel, President, MyNetworkTV.
“We
are looking forward to exposing these great athletes and our
legendary coaches and the sport of MMA to the largest TV audience
ever,” said Gareb Shamus, co-founder and CEO, International
Fight League. “This preview will give viewers an intense
glimpse of the action and the personalities that will be coming
every Monday night starting March 12.”
MyNetworkTV
is a primetime general entertainment broadcast television network.
Targeted to Adults 18-49 and broadcast television’s only
all Hi-Definition network, it reaches over 95% of the country.
MyNetworkTV provides its affiliates 12 hours of programming Monday
through Saturday. Currently, MyNetworkTV airs Twentieth Television’s
dramas “Wicked Wicked Games,” starring Oscar-winning
actress Tatum O’Neal, and “Watch Over Me,” with
Dayanara Torres, Casper Van Dien and Catherine Oxenberg. For
more information, please visit www.mynetworktv.com.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Quote
of the Day
"For
every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace
of mind."
Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1803-1882, American Poet and Essayist
|
Press
Release
X-1 world
events-presents-Xtreme Fighting 2
March 17, Saturday
Blaisdell Arena
Double Main Event
Wesley 'Cabbage' Correira vs Chris 'Monstser' Marez
Falaniko
Vitale vs Mavrick 'Soul Collector' Harvey
K1 rules Kickboxing
Kaleo Kwan vs Danny Steele
X-1
Championship Title Defense
170 welter wt. Mark Moreno vs Nik Lentz
155
light wt. Kolo Koka vs 'Sugar'Shane Nelson
145
super Lt wt. Eddie Yagin vs Brandon Foxworth
Womens match
Kelly Cobalt vs Tonya Evinger
MMA
matches
Fernando
Gonzalez vs Jay Carter
Harris
Sarmiento vs Henry Martinez
David
Padilla vs Dirty'Dave'Moreno
Kaipo
Gonzales vs Paco Woods
Preliminary
match
Steve
Farmer vs Scott Anderson
Another
X-1 World Event
Source: Event Promoter
|
UFC
68 The Uprising Results
-Jamie Varner def. Jason Gilliam by TKO (choked unconscious from
rear naked choke) at 1:34 of Round 1
-Gleison
Tibau def. Jason Dent by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
-Jon
Fitch def. Luigi Fioravanti by submission (rear naked choke)
at 3:05 of Round 2
-Matt
Hamill def. Rex Holman by TKO (referee stoppage due to strikes)
at 4:00 of Round 1
-Jason
Lambert def. Renato “Babalu” Sobral by KO at 3:36 of
Round 2
-Matt
Hughes def. Chris Lytle by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27,
30-27)
-Rich
Franklin def. Jason MacDonald by TKO (corner stoppage) at 5:00
of Round 2
-Martin
Kampmann def. Drew McFedries submission (side triangle choke)
at 4:06 of Round 1
UFC
HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT
-Randy
Couture def. Tim Sylvia by unanimous decision (30-25, 30-25,
30-25)
RANDY
COUTURE IS THE NEW UFC HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Belfort:
“Wand has not a good chin”
Training for his fight at the Cage Rage 21, which will be held
on April 21st in , Vítor Belfort enjoyed the opportunity
to analyses the bout between Wanderlei Silva and Dan Henderson
on last Staurday (24) at Pride 33. He already faced both athletes;
he defeated Wanderlei Silva by KO at UFC and lost to Henderson
by unanimous decision at the first edition of Pride Las Vegason
last year, so Belfort was already waiting this result.
-
I didn’t get surprised. I was already expecting this result,
because Wanderlei hasn’t got a good chin. Wand didn’t
do any mistake, but Henderson was better than him. The KO doesn’t
lie, nobody can complain. Henderson showed that has much more
game than Wanderlei has – said Belfort , who also analyzed
the bout of Rogério Minotouro against Romeau Thierry Sokoudjou.
“Rogério didn’t have any luck. He wasn’t
KO’d at the second round that happened in the beggining
of the bout. It happens. It is obvious that if the bout was for
the ground, Rogério would submit him”, evaluated
the black belt.
Vitor
also talked about his adversary at Cage Rage 21 e how he is trainin
for the bout. “I don’t remember his name, but I know
he is a real Italian, a European champion. I will fight to win
this bout, because he is a tough fighter, he is good on the Wrestling
game and has a heavy hand”, told Belfort.
Source: Tatame
|
Fabrício
Werdum From Pride to UFC
By Eduardo Ferreira
Fabrício Werdum is one more athlete who is leaving the
Pride ring to get the UFC octagon. The Brazilian fighter will
fight at the UFC 70, which will be held on April 21st in , against
the former-champion of the heavy category of UFC Andrey Arlovski.
BJJ world champion, Werdum received us under an exclusive interview
where he talked bout the organization change, about the bout
against Arlovski, his training and about a possible confrontation
with his former team mate Mirko Cro Cop and with Gabriel Napão,
who Werdum already defeated at Jungle Fight 2. Check out now
the complete interview:
How
was that change from the Pride to the UFC?
My
manager Ken May said that I was going to fight at the Pride 33,
but it seems that they didn’t accept the purse we asked
them, so he though that was better to me to go fighting at UFC.
He didn’t explained to me very well, but I know they will
pay me much better there, I think almost the double that I am
receiving at the Pride organization.
But
didn’t you have a contract with the Pride?
No,
my contract is with Ken May, my contract finishes on December
and I want to renovate. I want to be the champion this year.
I am at UFC now so I want to be the champion there. I did a contract
of four bouts with the UFC and I want to dispute the belt on
the third or on the fourth bout of my contract.
You
were Cro Cop’s trainer during some time and you both always
said that you didn’t want to face each other. He also left
the Pride for the UFC and also wants the belt…
If
we have to face each other some day, we will. He wants the belt
as like me. We will try to avoid this to happen, because we were
from the same team, we have the same manager and we are friends.
He wants me to go back there to train. I went to recently to
do some seminars in and then I went to and we enjoyed the opportunity
to meet him and I wanted to know how he was going on. We talked
a lot.
You
faced and defeated Gabriel Napão at Jungle Fight. Now
he is also at UFC and you can possible face each other to get
the belt. How would be this bout against him today?
Napão
is pretty well know, he had only one defeat I think, that was
for me at the Jungle Fight. I think that this fight would be
much different today. They are both more professionals and at
that bout we didn’t have the same technique. I wish to face
him again and if I have to face him to get this belt we will
fight.
How
is your trainings now?
I
suffered an operation on my throat and nose in the beginning
of the year. I spent three weeks at home to feel myself better,
but I am back to trainings now. I have been training the ground
game with Mário Reis and Márcio Fortes, who is
also a black belt. And I am doing the preparation with a Cuban
fighter who is here with me and I am always training Boxing with
Cafuringa.
What
do you expect of this bout against Andrei Arlovski?
When
we don’t know when will be held our next bout we didn’t
get so motivated, but now I have this fight against Arlovski
and I am pretty excited. I like face tough guys, famous guys
like Arlovski, he is former champion of this category. I don’t
like to face someone who is starting now. Arlovski is dangerous
standed up, he likes to do the counter attack, but I am training
much Boxing. If I have to exchange punches with him I will and
if I had the opportunity to take him down will be much better,
because my good game is the BJJ. I will train a lot to do a good
bout and be able to dispute the belt soon.
What
did you think about Wanderlei Silva and Rogério Minotouro’s
bouts at Pride 33? Where do you think they were wrong?
Minotauro
was really well prepared. His adversary can be good, but I think
that his cross punch was luck. He did that blow for luck. Minotouro
has not a bad chin, but that cross punch attacked him hardly.
If they face each other again, Minotouro will win. But talking
about Wanderlei, I really think Dan Henderson was better than
him. I think the American athlete wanted it much more. Wanderlei
didn’t make a mistake, he had suffered a punch before, and
so he was KO’d with that cross punch.
Who
do you think that was able to defeat Henderson until 83kg and
until 93kg?
Until
83kg I think Paulão Filho defeats him easily and until
93kg the man is Maurício Shogun.
Source: Tatame
|
Michigan
MMA and Toughman
By Robert Rousseau
Back in 2003, a mother of four named Stacy Young was killed as
her husband, Chuck Young, watched. In fact, there were plenty
of people present to witness the event—1500, to be approximate—
as the tragedy unfolded. These eyewitnesses were different than
your standard variety.
You
see, they had paid money to watch the event Stacy Young had decided
to participate in. Taken further, Young died while competing
in a Toughman contest in Florida against a woman with reportedly
much more experience fighting than she.
In
1994, a man named Terry Vermaelen— then a Louisiana Locksmith
with 56 amateur fights and three Louisiana Golden Gloves titles
to his credit— stepped into a Toughman ring in Louisiana
against Bobby Troy Depue. Vermaelen had reportedly come to realize
that Toughman competitors tended to get away with things that
amateur boxers couldn’t (such as holding the back of an
opponent's head). Thus, he utilized this knowledge and overall
boxing experience to make short work of DePue.
By
the second round, the fight was over. Soon after, DePue collapsed
and died.
The
list of unfortunate tragedies seems long (at least eight, maybe
more). Names like Michael Kuhn (Texas Toughman Contest) and Art
Liggins (Idaho) are some of the other people that have met with
terrible consequences for participating in Toughman events.
Now,
unfortunately, MMA fans in the state of Michigan are worried
that Art Dore’s shenanigans (the man who founded Toughman)
are being lumped in with mixed martial arts in the state of Michigan.
The state of Michigan has recently issued a Cease and Desist
Order against Adorable Productions and current promoter Gregory
Allen Ahrens (affiliated with Dore) to block future cage, ultimate
fighting, and Toughman events.
Despite
the fact that this Cease and Desist order names ultimate fighting—which
is the component of it that has many in the MMA community up
in arms—much of the worry may be unwarranted. After all,
when G. Archie Millben, Enforcement Director for the Bureau of
Commercial Services in Michigan’s Department of Labor and
Economic Growth (DLEG), was asked whether this was really all
about one particular situation and not amateur mixed martial
arts as a whole, he responded by saying, “at this time,
that’s true.” Further, he continued to shed light by
voicing the following:
“The
statute [being used] prohibits professional mixed martial arts;
if they hold an amateur contest and don’t pay the individuals,
we’re not interfering with that.”
Which,
by the way, is exactly the reason why the Cease and Desist Order
came down. “We got reports that there were a number of events
where the contestants were being paid,” says Millben. “[Contestants]
had a notice on their website that there was a 25 dollar per
contestant charge and a 50 dollar payout. Once we saw that that
was going on, then we issued a Cease and Desist Order.”
In
short, it’s hard to argue against that. After all, if the
contestants were paid, then that’s illegal in Michigan (professional
MMA, not amateur, is illegal). Further, the fact that Art Dore
and Toughman (a co-promoter with Ahrens in this particular venue)
are calling their events MMA events is not something mixed martial
arts wants to be associated with; hence, the order may be a good
thing for MMA fans. Mixed martial artists are much more than
guys with (sometimes) no training willing to throw punches at
one another in a ring. In fact, they’re some of the best-
conditioned athletes in the world.
That
said, at least at present, MMA enthusiasts in this Big Ten state
probably don’t need to be worried. Michigan’s DLEG
does not appear to be after amateur mixed martial arts as a whole;
rather, it’s trying to stop one organization from operating
in a reportedly illegal fashion.
However,
there also may be some good news for Michigan MMA fans, at least
on the professional front (though holding your breath may not
be warranted). According to Millben, recently there have been
some lobbying efforts with the legislature in the hopes of making
professional mixed martial arts legal in Michigan. Further, he
notes that, “if [these lobbying efforts] were to be approved
by the legislature and signed by the governor, then they’re
looking at an effective date of June 2007.” Millben cautions,
that although there is a significant amount of support for the
initiative, the governor has yet to show any support for professional
MMA in their state. Besides, the legislature hasn’t approved
anything yet.
So
they wait.
Still,
Millben’s final words on the matter of professional MMA
in Michigan would seem to make sense to a lot of fans.
“There’s
a lot of (MMA) events happening out there; we’d just as
soon regulate them than allow them to continue in the form in
which they’re continuing. Our responsibility is to protect
the public, and I don’t think you’re protecting the
public if something is happening and you don’t make some
effort to regulate it.”
Enough
said.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Three
bouts added to K-1 HERO's March 12th
FEG has added Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Jurij Kiselov, Melvin Manhoef
vs. Yoshiki Takahashi, and Yoshihisa Yamamoto vs. Katsuyori Shibata
to Hero's at the Nagoya Rainbow Hall in Nagoya on March 12th.
Current
Fight Card:
Caol
Uno vs. Ali Ibrahim
Kazuyuki Miyata vs.Black Mamba
Hiroyuki Takaya vs. Andre Dida
Ryuki Ueyama vs. Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro
Hideo Tokoro vs. Katsuhiko Nagata
Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Jurij Kiselov
Melvin Manhoef vs. Yoshiki Takahashi
Yoshihisa Yamamoto vs. Katsuyori Shibata
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Quote
of the Day
"Teamwork
is what the Green Bay Packers were all about.
They didn't do it for individual glory.
They did it because they loved one another."
Vince Lombardi, 1913-1970, Hall of Fame American Football Coach
|
Shane
Ahlo Makes it to Semi-Finals!
O2 Martial
Arts Academy student and close family friend Shane Ahlo has made
it to the final four at 152 lbs. He was unseeded going in to
the state tournament which makes it a huge accomplishment to
make it this far. This is do or die time for him and we are all
behind him!
State high school wrestling semifinal matches set
Advertiser
Staff
CHEVRON/HHSAA
WRESTLING STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Blaisdell Arena
BOYS
Saturday's
semfinal matchups
103
pounds
No.
1 Jordan Lai (Saint Louis) vs. Roger Ramones (Kahuku); No. 3
Jason Spiker (Kaiser) vs. Dallas Collier ('Aiea)
112
pounds
No.
1 Mark Caberto (Saint Louis) vs. Gino Pelosi ('Aiea); Bryson
Fukushima (Punahou) vs. Cody Gomes (Kamehameha)
119
pounds
No.
1 Reid Oshiro (Punahou) vs. Raymond Mathewson (Wai'anae); Branden
Mina (Waipahu) vs. No. 2 Nick Matayoshi ('Iolani)
125
pounds
No.
1 Travis Okano (Lahainaluna) vs. No. 4 Ryan Higa (Waiakea); No.
2 Arnold Toriumi (Punahou) vs. No. 3 Chad Diamond (Mililani)
130
pounds
No.
1 Jaysen Patao (Baldwin) vs. Andrew Chung ('Iolani); No. 2 Keani
Nishigaya (Saint Louis) vs. Jared Panlasigui (Lahainaluna)
135
pounds
No.
1 Kamaehu Matsuoka (Konawaena) vs. Kevin Tomita (Kaiser); No.
2 Keli'i Palencia (Kamehameha) vs. No. 3 Matthew Higa ('Aiea)
140
pounds
No.
1 Daniel Chow (Punahou) vs. Shane Yakabe (Kaiser); No. 2 Reynell
Transfiguracion (Kealakehe) vs. No. 3 Brock Bal ('Aiea)
145
pounds
No.
1 Richard Torres (Kahuku) vs. Kameona Hokoana (Kamehameha); No.
2 Josh Plechaty (Punahou) vs. Joseph Brandon Lawrence (Roosevelt)
152
pounds
No.
1 Lake Casco (Lahainaluna) vs. Shane Ahlo (Saint Louis); Kekoa Rosales (Kamehameha) vs. Tyson
Tynanes-Perez (Campbell)
160
pounds
No.
1 Clinton Manley (Moloka'i) vs. Nicholas Pait (Pear City); No.
2 Lowen Tynanes-Perez (Campbell) vs. Kalae Parish (Kapolei)
171
pounds
No.
1 Landon Kerbow (King Kekaulike) vs. Christian Pavo (Pearl City);
No. 2 C.J. Criado (Kaiser) vs. No. 3 Truman Chun ('Iolani)
189
pounds
No.
1 Damon Carr (Kahuku) vs. Harrison Flores ('Aiea); Nelson Fernandez
(Roosevelt) vs. Kalena Herrera (Moanalua)
215
pounds
No.
1 Kazden Ikehara (Kamehameha) vs. Weston McIntosh (Pahoa); No.
3 Joshua Schippman (Waialua) vs. Roman Pearl (Kahuku)
285
pounds
No.
1 Mike Mullen (Leilehua) vs. Ana Tuiasosopo (Saint Louis); Miles
Tynanes-Perez (Campbell) vs. Tyler Laufi (Pearl City)
GIRLS
Saturday's
semifinal matches
98
pounds
No.
1 Taylor Ibera (Farrington) vs. Kesie-Ann Mita (Mid-Pacific);
No. 2 Macy Yonamine (Kamehameha) vs. Renee Michell (Kealakehe)
103
pounds
No.
1 Keiko Akamine ('Iolani) vs. Brandie Dela Rama (Mililani); No.
2 Ren Yamashita ('Aiea) vs. No. 3 Alexandra Aoki (Konawaena)
108
pounds
No.
1 Carla Watase ('Iolani) vs. Kalae Johnson (Kahuku); No. 2 Tehani
Ibarra (St. Anthony) vs. No. 3 Samantha Batoon (Farrington)
114
pounds
No.
1 Megan Morisada ('Iolani) vs. No. 4 Joy Yamashita ('Aiea); No.
2 Victoria Milanio (Lahainaluna) vs. Chaelyn Tan (Kapolei)
120
pounds
No.
1 Tani Ader (Farrington) vs. Jada Antolin (Pearl City); Cianah
Hee (Kahuku) vs. Courtney Kinimaka (Kapolei)
125
pounds
No.
1 Danica Auna (Kahuku) vs. No. 4 Mary Brzezowski (Kamehameha-Hawai'i);
No. 2 Ariella Ing (Moanalua) vs. Kaleo Souza ('Aiea)
130
pounds
No.
1 Pi'ikea Kalalau (Baldwin) vs. Kelia Parilla (Kamehameha); No.
2 Amanda Keli'iho'omalu (Kahuku) vs. Punahele Luafalemana (Moloka'i)
140
pounds
No.
1 Kara Takasaki (Punahou) vs. Jillian Fontanilla (Pearl City);
No. 2 Stephanie Geltmacher (Kalaheo) vs. Hoku Kubota (Kamehameha-Maui)
155
pounds
Taisha
Santiago (Kamehameha) vs. Ilima Macfarlane (Punahou); Monique
Dillner (Kailua) vs. Crystal Kalakau (Farrington)
175
pounds
No.
1 Ashley Lilo (Farrington) vs. Leya-Justina Luafalemana (Moloka'i);
No. 2 Kailee Andrade (Baldwin) vs. Ashley Abalos (Wai'anae)
220
pounds
No.
1 Hoku Nohara (Kamehameha) vs. No. 4 Naoli Weller (Hilo); No.
2 Oliva Fatongia ('Iolani) vs. No. 3 Vicky Green (Wai'anae)
Source:
Honolulu Advertiser
|
UFC
68 The Uprising Today!
UFC 68
The Uprising
Oceanic Digital 701 (PPV)
Live 5:00 to 8:00 pm
Replay 8:00 to 11:00 PM
UFC 68: “The Uprising”:
Main
Card:
Tim Sylvia vs. Randy Couture - UFC Heavyweight Title
Chris Lytle vs. Matt Hughes (170lbs)
Drew McFedries vs. Martin Kampmann (185lbs)
Rich Franklin vs. Jason MacDonald (185lbs)
Jason Lambert vs. Renato Sobral (205lbs)
Prelims:
Rex Holman Vs. Matt Hamill (205 lbs)
Jon Fitch Vs. Luigi Fioravanti (170lbs)
Gleison Tibau Vs. Jason Dent (155lbs)
Jason Gilliam Vs. Jamie Varner (155lbs)
|
Kickin
It 2007 Part 2 Today!
WHAT -
KICKIN IT 2007 PART 2
WHEN - MARCH 3, 2007 SATURDAY
WHERE - WAIPAHU FILCOM CENTER
IF YOU THINK OUR FIRST KICKIN IT 2007 WAS A GOOD CARD. CHECK
OUT THIS LINE UP. SOME OF THE MOST TALENTED AMATEUR KICKBOXERS
WILL BE FOUND HERE ON KICKIN IT MARCH 3RD. OTHER PROMOTERS WILL
BE LOOKING TO USE THESE GUYS TO HIGHLIGHT THERE SHOWS IN THE
FUTURE. A LOT OF THE BEST FIGHTERS COME THRU THE KICKIN IT CIRCUIT
FIRST. THIS IS WHERE THEY START A FOUNDATION. (NO FOUNDATION
- NO BUILDING).
SUNSEA FERGUSON 165 BRADLEY ARAKAKI
TEAM DEVASTATION PAPAKOLEA FIGHT CLUB
BENJI "ENDLESS" RODRIGUES 172 TODD YOUNG
HSD (6 - 1) VEGAS FIGHT CLUB (5 - 1)
JOSH BAKER 170 JON MCDONALD
EWA FREESTYLE GRAPPLING TEAM ISLAND THUNDER
RICHARDSON SUNGA 145 JERELL MUNOZ
VEGAS FIGHT CLUB HSD
TONY BELEN 160 HARRISON KOLO
INNER CIRCLE PAPAKOLEA FIGHT CLUB
JASON LOPES 185 KAWIKA PAIA
JESUS IS LORD PAPAKOLEA FIGHT CLUB
KOLOA KAHALEWAI 225 KINGSTON PATCHO
TEAM ANILAND TEAM DEVASTATION
KANA LOA 110 RIN DAO
BANGAHZVILLE BULLSPEN
PIN DAO 100 JERMICHAEL
BULLSPEN NAKOA FIGHT TEAM
RICKY MURILLO 155 CLINT KEALOHA
BANGAHZ VILLE WESSIDE CONNECTION
DIDO RODRIGUES 95 WESLEY DENIGO
WAIANAE KICKBOXING BULLSPEN
JAMES OWANA 300 OTO KAHALEWAI
WESSIDE CONNECTION TEAM ANILAND
MANA WOOLSEY 130 ISIAH MANALO
4TH ROAD KICKBOXING EAST OAHU FIGHT CLUB
KOICHI TANJI 135 TBA
HMC
TONY PERERA 140 PULL OUT DUE TO INJURY
WAIANAE KICKBOXING
DAVIN KIM 125 JULIO MORENO
FIVE - 0 BOXING CLUB BULLSPEN
JUDE 230 RANCE BROWN
TEAM DEVASTATION PAPAKOLEA FIGHT CLUB
EZEKIEL LOPES 195 BRANDON MARTIN
NAKOA FIGHT CLUB 4TH ROAD KICKBOXING
NUI WHEELER 140 RYAN LEE
TEAM SOLJAH BULLSPEN
KEITH CRESPO 125 BRANDON AMANONCE
PAPAKOLEA FIGHT CLUB TEAM DEVASTATION
MAIKA TALEIAI 150 RICHARD BERNARD
EWA FREESTYLE GRAPPLING HSD
DAVID LUI 135 SHONE KIM
HMC PAPAKOLEA FIGHT CLUB
TICKETS AVAILABLE AT ALL PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS OR CALL 699-5290.
PARTICIPANTS AND MATCHES MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
Source: Promoter
|
Mixed
martial arts grabbing PPV
By Adam Goldman
Associated Press
Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic kicks Eddie Sanchez in the
head during an Ultimate Fighting Championship bout at Las Vegas'
Mandalay Bay.
Ultimate
Fighting Championship via AP
NEW YORK — In the tough business of putting on pay-per-view
events, Ultimate Fighting Championship is no longer getting counted
out.
The
upstart company that specializes in mixed martial arts matched
the once-dominant World Wrestling Entertainment Inc. in pay-per-view
revenues during 2006 and surpassed boxing-titan HBO. The three
companies make up the bulk of the pay-per-view business.
"It
was a killer year," UFC president Dana White said.
UFC,
a privately held company owned by Zuffa LLC, does not release
financial results, and White would not discuss them. But an industry
executive familiar with the results said the company's 10 pay-per-view
events generated more than $200 million in customer retail revenue.
WWE
said it had 16 events that generated approximately $200 million
in revenue, and HBO had 11 events, reporting revenue of $177
million.
Typically,
the companies take home about half of those customer retail revenues,
with cable companies getting the rest. The cost of the fights
vary. People paid $39.95 to see UFC fighters pummel each other,
while WWE's brawls ranged between $34.95 to $49.95. HBO's most
expensive events cost $49.95.
The
performance marks a significant turnaround for the Las Vegas-based
company — once maligned as nothing more than a money-losing
venture that promoted brawlers in a cage. UFC fought back using
a television show on Spike TV, getting more states to sanction
the fights and drawing huge crowds to the live events.
The
strategy has appeared to work in a big way, helping spur more
PPV buys — sales of one event per household — thanks
to the popularity of UFC fighters such as Tito Ortiz and Chuck
Liddell. UFC has a major PPV fight Saturday in Columbus, Ohio,
where heavyweight champ Tim Sylvia and Randy Couture will slug
it out.
"UFC
has reinvigorated the pay-per-view category," said Deana
Myers, a senior analyst at Kagan Research LLC that tracks the
industry.
To
spark interest in pay-per-view events, WWE and UFC also air bouts
on various networks. WWE's shows — "SmackDown,"
"RAW" and "Extreme Championship Wrestling"
— have been the top-rated shows on their respective networks.
HBO helps promote its fighters on "Boxing After Dark."
FOREIGN
AUDIENCE
One
big difference between WWE and UFC is their audiences. Thirty-nine
percent of WWE's buys came from international viewers. UFC doesn't
have a slice of the international arena but intends to grab market
share from WWE when it holds its first pay-per-view fight in
Manchester, England on April 21. White noted UFC has initiatives
in Canada, Mexico and England, where it recently opened an office
in London.
Dave
Meltzer, editor of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, says competition
between the WWE and UFC has heated up. He said WWE overexposed
itself with too many events, hurting its bottom line. WWE's year-over-year
buys were down 400,000 from 2005, according to the company. On
the other hand, UFC's 5 million buys were a fivefold increase
from 2005.
Media
analyst Michael A. Kelman of Susquehanna Financial Group says
the pay-per-view business will not be a major growth driver for
WWE. But other WWE businesses such as video sales and its film
division should bolster the company's future financial prospects.
Geof
Rochester, WWE's senior vice president of marketing, said pay-per-view
buys comprised 25 percent of its diversified business.
Like
Myers, Meltzer believes some of WWE's audience is gravitating
to the UFC.
"It's
a pay-per-view rivalry," Meltzer said. "I'm not saying
it's huge, but it exists. Right now, UFC is definitely hot."
Meltzer
added that WWE needs to find a new superstar like "The Rock,"
a crowd favorite who drew hordes of viewers.
"What
UFC is doing that WWE and boxing haven't done as well is create
new stars," he said.
WAITING
FOR A CHAMP
HBO,
for instance, has continued to rely on Oscar De la Hoya while
a true heavyweight champion emerges, one with star power like
Mike Tyson — who drew nearly 2 million buys twice in his
heyday.
"The
heavyweight champ of the world has always been the mythical strongest
man in the planet. It's important for the sport," said Mark
Taffet, HBO's senior vice president of sports operation and pay-per-view.
HBO hopes a new champion will surface from heavyweight unification
matches that could take place this year.
Rochester,
of the WWE, said the company is incubating new stars.
"We
have the next Rock in John Cena," he said, referring to
one of WWE's most popular wrestlers.
UFC
managed to grow despite the lack of a heavyweight star, but the
company recently inked a deal with the burly Croatian Mirko "Cro
Cop" Filipovic. He's fighting in Manchester in April.
Most
fans don't know Cro Cop, but he has glimmers of being the UFC's
Mike Tyson.
"He's
the most spectacular knockout artist of any weight," said
Meltzer, the editor of the newsletter. "American fans love
knockout artists."
Taffet
said he isn't worried about UFC's rise. The two companies are
negotiating over HBO possibly airing a UFC fight.
Source: Honolulu Advertiser
|
Does
Nick Diaz deserve top honors?
By Sean McClure
For years Nick Diaz has been trying to break through the thick
shell encasing the world's top spots in MMA. He has had his share
of ups and downs in his career on the main stage of the UFC.
Arguably, his greatest UFC "up" was when he defeated
Robbie Lawler at UFC 47. He knocked out the knockout artist and
anytime you can do that it's a good thing and one that will get
you noticed right away. He instantly became a fan favorite and
most new his name and began to follow his career more closely.
It's not easy to miss Diaz that's for sure. Nick is always outspoken
and often surrounded by controversy. All of that was put aside
and this weekend he proved he was one of the best. The question
now remains, does he deserve a top spot and the mainstream respect
that has eluded him for so long?
If
you asked me last year if Nick would ever be considered a top
fighter in any weight class I would have said yes. I would have
also clarified to you that I didn't think it would happen anytime
soon. I was publicly corrected by Mr. Diaz when he submitted
one of the greatest lightweight fighters of all time, Takanori
Gomi this weekend at PRIDE's second U.S. show. What does this
mean for Nick's status as a fighter and how will it shake up
the lightweight division?
Just
looking at Nick's past UFC track record, it won't tell you his
whole story right away. Nick lost three of his last five fights
in the UFC. He lost to Diego Sanchez by unanimous decision, Joe
Riggs by unanimous decision, and Sean Sherk by the same. He came
back strong and defeated Josh Neer and Gleison Tibau back to
back. Nick was a much better fighter than his record showed him
to be and the UFC was foolish to dismiss him in my opinion. He
would part ways with the UFC and was quickly scooped up by PRIDE
probably for the best. Ever since the Lawler knockout, Nick has
been hell bent on repeating that performance in every fight and
trying the same taunting that took Robbie out of his game and
made Diaz an instant star. It did make something happen that
I thought should have happened a long time ago. Nick dropped
down a weight class.
At
PRIDE's show on February 24, Nick would drop to 160 pounds, PRIDE's
version of the lightweight division. This was a ver ysmart move
if you ask me. Nick trains hard and has always been in top shape,
but most have always felt he would fare better in the lighter
weight class because of his size.
When at that weight Diaz is much quicker and sharper than when
he is carrying the extra ten pounds at the American welterweight
division's 170 pound weight limit. On Saturday, he was paired
up against the most talented lightweight striker in the world
today by most accounts, Takanori Gomi.
Diaz
would put on an encore worthy performance. His strikes were accurate
and strong leaving Gomi frustrated and desperate to land some
of his own in response. At one point Diaz would be rocked badly
and it seemed like the fight might be over as he fell to the
mat in what seemed like some sort of weird slo-mo. He would fight
on and put on one of the greatest overall showings of his career.
Gomi seemed to have answers to everything Diaz was attempting,
but this would not last long as Nick would return fire fast and
often.
After
trying everything in his arsenal to KO Diaz on his feet or pound
him out on the ground, Gomi was spent. His hands were down and
he was undeniably exhausted. Nick was just warming up and despite
Takanori landing a few bombs, Diaz would win the exchanges in
the striking department with his trademark taunting in full effect.
The end finally came when Gomi fell into Nick's guard and Diaz
locked in a spectacular submission, a rarely seen gogoplata.
Gomi tapped to the leg choke and the rest is history. It would
later be reported that Diaz had a fractured right orbital bone
suffered during the fight, but was still able to pull off the
upset. With that amazing victory, where does this place Nick
Diaz in the pecking order?
I
say top 5. Definitely, without a question top 5 in the world.
He beat the best fighter in that weight class and deserves to
be included on that list.
In
my opinion, the top 5 lightweight fighters in the world right
now are:
5)Shinyo
Aoki
4)Nick Diaz
3)Gilbert Melendez
2)Takanori Gomi
1)Hayato Sakurai
Sakurai
is going to be standard across the board now that Gomi lost,
I would assume. Hayato Sakurai is one of the greatest fighters
of all time and is deservedly number one right now. Aoki has
impressed me as has Melendez lately placing them in my top 5
easily. The competition in the lightweight division is so fierce
right now and the division is so large that making it in to the
top 10 is saying something. With a solid victory over the former
number one fighter in the world, in my opinion Diaz has definitely
managed to crack the
elite top 5 and land securely at #4.
All
of this being said, the question remains.... when am I going
to see Melendez versus Diaz?!?!
Source: Maxfighting
|
Quote
of the Day
"If
you want to conquer fear, don't sit home and think about it.
Go out and get busy."
Dale Carnegie, 1888-1955, American Author and Achievement Expert
|
KICKIN
IT WEIGH INS TODAY
KICKIN IT WEIGH INS ARE GOING TO BE HELD AT ILIMA INTERMEDIATE
ON FRIDAY, MARCH 2 AT 6:30 PM
IF EVERYONE MAKES WEIGHT, WE ARE SCHEDULED FOR 22 FIGHTS. TICKETS
HAVE BEEN GOING LIKE CRAZY. JUST AS CRAZY AS THE AMOUNT OF TALENT
THAT WILL BE PERFORMING THAT NIGHT. THESE FIGHTS WILL HAVE PEOPLE
ASKING "WHEN IS THE NEXT ONE" AGAIN. KICKIN IT ALREADY
HAS 7 FIGHTS THAT WE HAD TO PUT ON HOLD DUE TO THIS CARD IS TOO
FULL. SO CALL IN IF YOU WANT TO BE ON THE NEXT ONE (FIRST TO
CALL - FIRST TO GET MATCHED).
WHAT - KICKIN IT 2007 PART 2
WHEN - MARCH 3, 2007 SATURDAY
WHERE - WAIPAHU FILCOM CENTER
IF YOU THINK OUR FIRST KICKIN IT 2007 WAS A GOOD CARD. CHECK
OUT THIS LINE UP. SOME OF THE MOST TALENTED AMATEUR KICKBOXERS
WILL BE FOUND HERE ON KICKIN IT MARCH 3RD. OTHER PROMOTERS WILL
BE LOOKING TO USE THESE GUYS TO HIGHLIGHT THERE SHOWS IN THE
FUTURE. A LOT OF THE BEST FIGHTERS COME THRU THE KICKIN IT CIRCUIT
FIRST. THIS IS WHERE THEY START A FOUNDATION. (NO FOUNDATION
- NO BUILDING).
SUNSEA FERGUSON 165 BRADLEY ARAKAKI
TEAM DEVASTATION PAPAKOLEA FIGHT CLUB
BENJI "ENDLESS" RODRIGUES 172 TODD YOUNG
HSD (6 - 1) VEGAS FIGHT CLUB (5 - 1)
KAI HOLLENBECK 170 JON MACDONALD
HMC TEAM ISLAND THUNDER
RICHARDSON SUNGA 145 JERELL MUNOZ
VEGAS FIGHT CLUB HSD
TONY BELEN 160 HARRISON KOLO
INNER CIRCLE PAPAKOLEA FIGHT CLUB
JASON LOPES 185 KAWIKA PAIA
JESUS IS LORD PAPAKOLEA FIGHT CLUB
KOLOA KAHALEWAI 225 KINGSTON PATCHO
TEAM ANILAND TEAM DEVASTATION
KANA LOA 110 RIN DAO
BANGAHZVILLE BULLSPEN
PIN DAO 100 JERMICHAEL
BULLSPEN NAKOA FIGHT TEAM
DIDO RODRIGUES 95 WESLEY DENIGO
WAIANAE KICKBOXING BULLSPEN
JAMES OWANA 300 OTO KAHALEWAI
WESSIDE CONNECTION TEAM ANILAND
MANA WOOLSEY 130 ISIAH MANALO
4TH ROAD KICKBOXING EAST OAHU FIGHT CLUB
KOICHI TANJI 135 ISIAH GANABAN
HMC WESSIDE CONNECTION
TONY PERERA 140 PULL OUT DUE TO INJURY
WAIANAE KICKBOXING
DAVIN KIM 125 JULIO MORENO
FIVE - 0 BOXING CLUB BULLSPEN
JUDE 230 RANCE BROWN
TEAM DEVASTATION PAPAKOLEA FIGHT CLUB
EZEKIEL LOPES 195 BRANDON MARTIN
NAKOA FIGHT CLUB 4TH ROAD KICKBOXING
NUI WHEELER 140 RYAN LEE
TEAM SOLJAH BULLSPEN
KEITH CRESPO 125 BRANDON AMANONCE
PAPAKOLEA FIGHT CLUB TEAM DEVASTATION
MAIKA TALEIAI 150 RICHARD BERNARD
EWA FREESTYLE GRAPPLING HSD
DAVID LUI 135 SHONE KIM
HMC PAPAKOLEA FIGHT CLUB
THOMAS MATHIAS 135 JUMAR ESCOSIO
WAIANAE KICKBOXING EWA FREESTYLE GRAPPLING
TICKETS AVAILABLE AT ALL PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS OR CALL 699-5290.
PARTICIPANTS AND MATCHES MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
Source: Event Promoter
|
PIP
Postponed to May 5th!
All scheduled Punishment In Paradise events will be postponed
to May 5th.
If
you have any questions, you may contact Brennan at bdkamaka@comcast.com
Source:
Brennan Kamaka
|
Wrestlers
vying for state titles
Nohara and Watase can wrap up their fourth straight championships
By Paul Honda
phonda@starbulletin.com
»
State Wrestling: Division by Division
In the art of combat, few champions will let a single word stray.
In
fact, when it comes to wrestling, the norm is as follows:
»
Most coaches never accept the status of being the favorite.
» Fear, of missing the cut at weigh-in, of a severe mistake
on the mat, of anything in general, cannot be ignored.
»
Nearly every wrestler has no clue what his or her exact overall
win-loss record is, or won't admit to knowing it.
When
the Chevron/HHSAA State Wrestling Championships begin tomorrow,
there will be top seeds in 25 classes -- 14 on the boys side,
11 in the girls tournament.
Only
two of them, Randolyn "Hoku" Nohara of Kamehameha and
Carla Watase of Iolani, have a chance to win a fourth state crown.
Punahou
is the favorite in the boys team competition, though Kamehameha
gave the Buffanblu a run in the Interscholastic League of Honolulu
championships last weekend.
Challengers
from the Oahu Interscholastic Association and Maui Interscholastic
League could make it very interesting. Kaiser captured the OIA
title, upsetting perennial powerhouse Kahuku.
"We
have a big group of sophomores who came in last year as freshmen,"
longtime coach Mike Kim said. "This is a tough sport, and
normally, we lose a lot of the freshmen. This group stuck it
out. That's what makes 'em special."
Baldwin
squeezed in to win the MIL championship. Dark-horse contenders
include Aiea, Pearl City, Saint Louis, Iolani and Lahainaluna.
Kim,
now in his 16th year as head coach, sees the road to a state
title through Buffanblu-tinted glasses.
"Punahou
is so strong. On paper, everyone else is fighting for second,"
he said. "For us to win it, it'll take a lot of help from
other teams. Punahou has qualified all 14 of their wrestlers.
"In
preseason, they were head and shoulders ahead of everybody, but
that gap has closed. Come state-tournament time, anything can
happen. We just want to be in position to have a chance."
Kahuku,
which won the OIA girls title, is a consensus favorite. Farrington,
which lost to the Red Raiders by only six points, is also loaded
with talent and experience.
Iolani
won the ILH girls title last weekend, edging Kamehameha by only
two points. Leadership is a key component for the Raiders, who
do not suit up anyone at 125 and 170.
"We've
had great leadership," coach Yoshi Honda said, referring
to Watase. "In basketball and some other sports, you can
do a lot for your teammates. In wrestling, it's very rare to
make people around you better and that's what she does."
Honda
has seen just about everything in his years as a wrestler and
coach. After winning three state titles at Radford, he was an
assistant at Iolani for 13 seasons under Carl Schroers before
taking the helm for the past decade. His biggest concern after
Iolani won the league title on Saturday was the seeding process
that followed on Sunday.
He
came away from the HHSAA meeting satisfied.
One
of the more closely watched divisions could be the boys 145,
where Richard Torres of Kahuku and Josh Plechaty of Punahou could
square off. Torres and Plechaty have banged heads many times
already this season. In his three seasons, Torres has two second-place
finishes and a third. Plechaty won the 103 class as a freshman,
but didn't place as a sophomore (119) and was fourth last season
at 140.
"We
both want it pretty badly," Plechaty said.
Aside
from Punahou, Lahainaluna's boys are sitting comfortably with
10 qualified wrestlers, all of whom will have a bye through the
qualifying round. Only four Lunas will wrestle in the opening
round for qualification.
Other
boys teams look like this: Kamehameha, nine (plus four unqualified);
Kahuku, eight (plus two); Iolani, eight (plus two): Kaiser, seven
(plus four); Punahou, five (plus eight); Saint Louis, five (plus
five).
The
girls numbers favor the powers: Kahuku, nine (all qualified);
Farrington, nine (all qualified); Iolani, eight (plus one); Kamehameha,
seven (plus two); Lahainaluna, six (plus two).
"Wrestling
is won on the backside," said former Pac-Five coach Keith
Matsumoto, who assists the HHSAA. "So, one kid who pins
in a match in the consolation bracket can make a big difference.
"People
might not understand how important that is. That's why it's the
ultimate team sport."
BACK
TO TOP
State
Wrestling: Division by Division
Here's a breakdown of the top wrestlers, all league champions,
in each weight class.
GIRLS
98
1. Taylor Ibera, Farrington; 2. Macy Yonamine, Kamehameha; 3.
Renee Michell, Kealakehe; 4. Lianne Gumboc, Baldwin.
Pin
points: Ibera won the consolation title last year. ... Gumboc
lost in the qualifying round. ... Yonamine dominated the ILH
meet with two falls followed by a 14-0 win in the final.
103
1.
Keiko Akamine, Iolani; 2. Ren Yamashita, Aiea; 3. Alexandra Aoki,
Konawaena; 4. Maria Sedano, Lanai.
Pin
points: Akamine had won by fall twice, then won her ILH title
match 9-1. She lost in last year's state final to Castle's Candace
Sakamoto. ... Yamashita was ousted in the qualifying round of
states last season.
108
1.
Carla Watase, Iolani; 2. Tehani Ibarra, St. Anthony; 3. Samantha
Batoon, Farrington; 4. Bethly Carmelotes, Kealakehe.
Pin
points: Watase won titles at 98 and 103 (twice) and has a 134-2
career record in Hawaii. Observers believe Batoon could push
Watase, however. ... Ibarra reached the quarterfinal round last
year.
114
1.
Megan Morisada, Iolani; 2. Victoria Milanio, Lahainaluna; 3.
Shina Tohara, Kealakehe; 4. Joy Yamashita, Aiea.
Pin
points: Morisada won three tight matches, including a 4-3 win
over Danica Auna (Kahuku) last year to win the crown. She got
past Reiko Campos 2-0 in the ILH final on Saturday.
120
1.
Tani Ader, Farrington; 2. Raena Campos, Kamehameha; 3. Alyssa
Morimoto, Baldwin; 4. Danielle Hubbard, Konawaena.
Pin
points: Ader was second in the state as a freshman (108) and
won the crown as a sophomore (114). ... Campos, the younger sister
of Reiko, reached the state final last season before losing to
Chirae Pascua of Mililani. ... Morimoto reached the state quarterfinals
at 114 last year.
125
1.
Danica Auna, Kahuku; 2. Ariella Ing, Moanalua; 3. Kiana Parilla,
Kamehameha; 4. Mary Brzezowski, Kamehameha-Hawaii.
Pin
points: Auna moved up two classes after taking the 114 title
a year ago. ... Ing pinned her first two foes last year in the
130 division before losing in the final to Piikea Kalalau (Baldwin).
... Parilla reached the 130 quarterfinals last year. This season,
she pinned both opponents in the ILH championships. ... Brzezowski
lost in the first round of the 114 class last season.
130
1.
Piikea Kalalau, Baldwin; 2. Amanda Keliihoomalu, Kahuku; 3. Jt
Ojerio, Punahou; 4. Grillena Jack, Hilo.
Pin
points: Kalalau is the defending champ in this class. ... Keliihoomalu
lost in the first round of the 125 class last year. ... Ojerio
made it to the 125 quarterfinals last time. She pinned both foes
at the ILH championships. ... Jack lost in the first round of
the 140 division last year.
140
1.
Kara Takasaki, Punahou; 2. Stephanie Geltmacher, Kalaheo; 3.
Jaime "Hoku" Kubota, Kamehameha-Maui, 4. Erenia Michell,
Kealakehe.
Pin
points: Takasaki was dominant last year, pinning all of her foes
en route to the state title. She also pinned her foes in Saturday's
ILH championships. ... Geltmacher lost to Takasaki in last year's
quarterfinals. ... Kubota lost in last season's first round to
Geltmacher. 155
1.
Amanda Soliai, Kahuku; 2. Kulia McGurn, Kamehameha-Maui; 3. Lindsey
Tufono, Iolani; 4. Kacie Davis, Kamehameha-Hawaii.
Pin
points: Soliai pinned her first three foes before losing to Moanalua's
Alicia Fu 2-1 in last year's state final. ... Tufono, daughter
of former Iolani football standout Junior Tufono, lost in the
quarterfinals of the 175 class last year. ... McGurn lost in
the first round last season.
175
1.
Ashlee Lilo, Farrington; 2. Kailee Andrade, Baldwin; 3. Ariel
Moniz, Hilo; 4. Rebecca Jong, Punahou.
Pin
points: Lilo dropped down a class this year after losing in last
season's 220 semifinals to Iolani's Olivia Fatongia. ... Andrade
reached the quarterfinals last season. ... Moniz lost in the
first round last year. ... Jong was in the 155 class last season,
falling to Alicia Fu in the quarterfinals.
220
1.
Randolyn "Hoku" Nohara, Kamehameha; 2. Olivia Fatongia,
Iolani; 3. Vicky Green, Waianae; 4. Naoli Weller, Hilo.
Pin
points: Nohara has been unstoppable throughout her career, but
has experienced some level of resistance from Fatongia in the
past.
BOYS
103
1. Jordan Lai, Saint Louis; 2. Robbie Herbst, Baldwin; 3. Jason
Spiker, Kaiser; 4. Keian Shon, Hilo.
Pin
points: Lai is undefeated, on track after losing in the state
quarterfinals last season. ... Herbst reached the semifinals
last season before losing to Punahou's Bryson Fukushima. ...
Shon lost in the qualifying round last year. ... Lai's toughest
foe could be Brysson Morita of Iolani, who lost to Lai 4-3 in
the ILH final.
112
1.
Mark Caberto, Saint Louis; 2. Richie Mitchell, Honokaa; 3. Bill
Takeuchi, Pearl City; 4. Rodrigo Tabladillo Jr., Lahainaluna.
Pin
points: Caberto (30-1) reached the semifinal round last year.
... Mitchell lost in last year's first round in the 103 division.
... Takeuchi lost in last year's 103 quarterfinals. ... Bryson
Fukushima of Punahou could be a sleeper. Last year's state 103
champ lost to Caberto 3-2 in the ILH final.
119
1.
Reid Oshiro, Punahou; 2. Branden Mina, Waipahu; 3. Stanley Nakamura,
Kamehameha-Maui; 4. Nick Lafarga, Kealakehe.
Pin
points: Oshiro is back after finishing second at 112 last year
to Mina, who drew the second seed in this class. ... Nakamura
lost in the first round at 112 last season to Nick Matayoshi
(Iolani). ... Lafarga reached the 112 quarterfinals last year.
... Matayoshi is a dark horse here after losing to Oshiro in
the ILH final 1-0.
125
1.
Travis Okano, Lahainaluna; 2. Arnold Toriumi, Punahou; 3. Chad
Diamond, Mililani; 4. Ryan Higa, Waiakea.
Pin
points: Okano was the 119 champion a year ago. ... Diamond was
ousted in the qualifying round last season.
130
1.
Jaysen Patao, Baldwin; 2. Keani Nishigaya, Saint Louis, 3. Leonard
Transfiguracion, Kealakehe; 4. Chayne Chang, Farrington.
Pin
points: Patao reached the 125 final last year. ... Nishigaya
was fifth at 119 in 2005 and third at 125 last season. He was
dominant in the ILH championships and is 24-0. ... Transfiguracion
is the latest in a line of outstanding brothers from West Hawaii.
He lost in the quarterfinals last year. ... Chang was ousted
in the 119 quarterfinals last year.
135
1.
Kamaehu Matsuoka, Konawaena; 2. Kelii Palencia, Kamehameha; 3.
Matthew Higa, Aiea; 4. Chris Kaleikini, Baldwin.
Pin
points: Still one of the most competitive divisions, Matsuoka
reached the semifinal round last year. ... Palencia jumped three
divisions after placing second at 119 last season. ... Higa lost
in the first round last year. ... Kaleikini reached the 130 semifinals.
140
1.
Daniel Chow, Punahou; 2. Reynell Transfiguracion, Kealakehe;
3. Brock Bal, Aiea; 4. Daniel Quinlan, Lahainaluna.
Pin
points: Chow, last year's 135 champion, won't have to face nemesis
Richard Torres (145). Neither will Transfiguracion, who lost
to Torres in the 135 quarterfinals. ... Bal lost in the first
round at 135. ... Kamehameha's Omar Mirza, who pushed Chow to
the edge in the ILH final, is a definite contender.
145
1.
Richard Torres, Kahuku; 2. Josh Plechaty, Punahou; 3. Cody Mendoza,
King Kekaulike; 4. Junior Fisher, Hawaii Prep.
Pin
points: Fisher lost in last year's qualifying round.
152
1.
Lake Casco, Lahainaluna; 2. Garrett Cockett, Moanalua; 3. Brad
Tamashiro, Hilo; 4. Shane Irish, Iolani.
Pin
points: Casco lost in the 145 semifinals last year. ... Cockett
reached the semifinal round. ... Irish made it to the 140 semifinals.
160
1.
Clinton Manley, Molokai; 2. Lowen Tynanes-Perez, Campbell; 3.
Keola Williams, Iolani; 4. Tyson Anderson, Keaau.
Pin
points: Manley is back to defend his title. ... Tynanes-Perez
advanced to the 152 semifinals a year ago. ... Williams lost
in the quarterfinals last season.
171
1.
Landon Kerbow, King Kekaulike; 2. Clinton Criado, Kaiser; 3.
Truman Chun, Kamehameha; 4. Luke Knittle, Konawaena.
Pin
points: Kerbow is back after losing to Mike Egesdal in the final
last year. ... Chun went to the semifinal round, where he lost
to Kerbow. ... Knittle lost in the first round. ... Iolani's
James Fitzpatrick is the dark horse after losing to Chun by just
one point in the ILH final.
189
1.
Daymon Carr, Kahuku; 2. Brandon Kingsbury-Santiago, Kealakehe;
3. Jamin Meletia, Kamehameha; 4. Keloni Kamalani, Kamehameha-Maui.
Pin
points: Carr was a semifinalist in the 152 class last year. ...
Cody Kamakana of Iolani is clearly a contender. He lost to Meletia
in the ILH final, 5-3.
215
1.
Kazden Ikehara, Kamehameha; 2. Mike Walter, Maui; 3. Joshua Schippman,
Waialua; 4. Justin Shiraki, Konawaena.
Pin
points: Ikehara was solid en route to the ILH title. He was second
last year, losing only to Jared Silva-Purcell of Saint Louis.
... Walter reached the 189 quarterfinals last season. ... Shiraki
lost in last year's first round.
285
1.
Mike Mullen, Leilehua; 2. Mykenna Ikehara, Kamehameha; 3. Michael
Pohina, Kamehameha-Hawaii; 4. Gregory Puaoi, Molokai.
Pin
points: Mullen lost in the 215 quarterfinals last year. ... Ikehara
lost in the qualifying round last season, as did Pohina. ...
Puaoi made it to the quarterfinals. ... Saint Louis' Ana Tuiasosopo,
who lost in sudden death to Ikehara in the ILH final, is another
serious contender.
Source: Star Bulletin
|
The
2007 Hawaii State/Regional Junior Olympic Championships Are Set!
The 2007 Hawaii State/Regional Junior Olympic Championships will
be held on Sat, March 24th, 2007 at 7p.m. Palolo District Park.
Boxers from 8 yrs old to 16 will compete for State titles, with
the 15 and 16 year old champions advancing to the National Junior
Olympics which will be held at the U.S. Olympic Education Center
in Marquette, Michigan on June 25- July 1st. Any questions feel
free to email me back.
Thanks,
Bruce Kawano
Source: Bruce Kawano
|
Rough
Morning for "The Iceman"
by Josh Gross
Memo
to Chuck Liddell's future opponents: Slip the UFC light heavyweight
champion a NyQuil-based mickey and you should have a much better
chance of taking the belt.
In
Dallas to promote Warner Bros. latest theatric release "300,"
Liddell appeared on Good Morning Texas Thursday. From the outset
Liddell was not lucid, as he slurred his words and had difficulty
putting together sentences.
The
UFC champ told Sherdog.com via text messaging that he is very
ill and had taken "NyQuil too late."
"I
couldn't understand a thing [Liddell] was saying," GMT host
Gary Cogill said later for a video piece on the WFFA Channel
8 Web site.
"He
takes a lot of Nyquil when he's sick," said Liddell's trainer,
John Hackleman. "He goes to bed at 4 a.m. and wakes up at
noon, so if they got him up in the morning I can see how he'd
be like that."
During
the interview, Cogill interjected and asked Liddell if he was
OK. Later, Coghill said Liddell momentarily fell asleep.
"I've
seen him really close to that before," said Hackleman.
During
the conversation with Cogill, Liddell was asked when his next
bout would be and whom he would like to fight. "The Iceman"
answered that he would return to the Octagon in May. Stammering
to recall the name of an opponent, he eventually mentioned boxer
Tommy Morrison.
Asked
about Morrison, Liddell told Sherdog.com that he was "joking"
about the Rocky V star several days ago. Forced to retire from
professional boxing after testing positive for the HIV virus
in 1996, Morrison was in the news recently after tests no longer
showed any traces of the virus known to cause AIDS. Morrison
boxed in West Virginia Thursday, Feb. 22, winning by knockout.
Source: Sherdog
|
Gomi
to try for revenge in April
The man to beat Minotouro should also fight again shortly
Pride
president, Nobuyuki Sakakibara said he is surprised with the
way Takanori Gomi lost to Nick Diaz: submitted by gogoplata.
In an interview after Pride 33, which took place this Saturday,
the leader of the Japanese organization commented on the loss
to the Japanese fans: “Gomi vs Diaz was a great fight, but
Gomi went in unprepared and was very stressed out before the
fight. Gomi will recover and we will have a revenge match in
April. They may even participate in the lightweight GP to take
place in May, said Sakakibara.
To
the big boss, another one that should return soon is Sokondjou,
who beat Rogério Minotouro. “You might think it was
unfortunate (the knockout of the Brazilian in only 23 seconds),
but I knew of his potential. Sokondjou will be back in April
and it will be a great fight, whoever his opponent might be,"
he declared.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
Quote
of the Day
“There's
no substitute for guts.”
Paul "Bear" Bryant, 1913-1983, Hall of Fame American
College Football Coach.
|
PRIDE
FIGHTER SALARIES FOR THE SECOND COMING
MMAWeekly has obtained the fighter salary information for Pride
33: The Second Coming, which took place on Saturday, February
24th in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The
following figures are from the fighter salary information that
Dream Stage Entertainment was required by law to submit to the
Nevada State Athletic Commission. Although MMA fighters are not
unionized, the fighters' salaries are still public record in
the United States, just as with every other major sport in the
US.
The
question of, "How much do Pride's fighters make when they
fight in Japan?" still remains unanswered, but the fighter
salaries for this event do provide a great deal of insight into
this question.
Given
that Pride's Japan-based shows often fill the 35,000-seat Saitama
Super Arena, it's likely that the salaries for the USA event
were smaller than the salaries for a show in Japan, but it's
unlikely that the two sets of numbers would be drastically different
from one another.
Just
as with UFC fighter salaries, any undisclosed bonuses that Pride
also pays its fighters, but does not disclose to the athletic
commissions, are not reflected in the figures below.
As
with UFC salaries, we're listing "Main Event Fighters,"
"Main Card Fighters," and "Preliminary Fighters."
All non-main-event fighter for this card are listed below as
"Main Card Fighters" because there were no preliminary
bouts on this card. None of the fights were taped before the
show went on the air, so there were no "Preliminary Fighters."
Though
our listings still note which fighters won their fights and which
fighters lost, there were no winners' bonuses on this card. In
addition, next to each fighter's name is the number of fights
that he has had in Pride.
Main
Event Fighters
-Wanderlei
Silva: $150,000 (28th fight in Pride; lost to Dan Henderson in
main event)
-Dan
Henderson: $50,000 (18th fight in Pride; defeated Wanderlei Silva
in main event)
Main
Card Fighters
-Mauricio
"Shogun" Rua: $50,000 (13th fight in Pride; defeated
Alistair Overeem)
-Takanori
Gomi: $20,000 (15th fight in Pride; lost to Nick Diaz)
-Antonio
Rogerio Nogueira: $20,000 (10th fight in Pride; lost to Rameau
Thierry Sokoudjou)
-Nick
Diaz: $15,000 (1st fight in Pride; defeated Takanori Gomi)
-Joachim
Hansen: $15,000 (6th fight in Pride; defeated Jason Ireland)
-Hayato
Sakurai: $10,000 (11th fight in Pride; defeated Mac Danzig)
-Frank
Trigg: $10,000 (2nd fight in Pride; defeated Kazuo Misaki)
-Kazuo
Misaki: $10,000 (8th fight in Pride; lost to Frank Trigg)
-Sergei
Kharitonov: $10,000 (11th fight in Pride; defeated Mike Russow)
-Alistair
Overeem: $10,000 (14th fight in Pride; lost to Mauricio "Shogun"
Rua)
-Travis
Wiuff: $10,000 (1st fight in Pride; lost to James Lee)
-Rameau
Thierry Sokoudjou: $10,000 (1st fight in Pride; defeated Antonio
Rogerio Nogueira)
-Mac
Danzig: $10,000 (1st fight in Pride; lost to Hayato Sakurai)
-Jason
Ireland: $10,000 (1st fight in Pride; lost to Joachim Hansen)
-Mike
Russow: $10,000 (1st fight in Pride; lost to Sergei Kharitonov)
-James
Lee: $10,000 (1st fight in Pride; defeated Travis Wiuff)
Disclosed
Fighter Payroll: $430,000
Source: MMA Weekly |
TRIGG
BREAKS DOWN PRIDE 33 ON RADIO TONIGHT
Frank "Twinkle Toes" Trigg, fresh off a unanimous decision
win over #4 ranked middleweight Kazuo Misaki, joins hosts Damon
Martin and Jeff Cain on MMAWeekly SoundOff Radio tonight 9PM
EST 6PM PT to discuss his fight and the aftermath of what ended
up being one of the grestest mixed martial arts events in history,
Pride 33, "The Second Coming."
The
fighter/broadcaster pulled double duty Saturday night, fighting
victoriously in the second bout of the evening then accompanying
the rest of the broadcast team to call the action.
Since
his brief retirement, and moving from the welterweight to the
middleweight division, Trigg has put together back to back wins
over Jason "Mayhem" Miller and Kasuo Misaki. He is scheduled to
defend his ICON Sport Middleweight Championship March 31st against
Robbie Lawler in Hawaii.
Don't
miss tonight's show. YOU KNOW!!
Source: MMA Weekly
|
WANDERLEI
SILVA POST-FIGHT INTERVIEW
Prior to Saturday night, Wanderlei Silva was the only man in
history to hold the Pride Middleweight Championship. That distinction
no longer holds true. Silva suffered one of the most crushing
defeats of his entire career at the Thomas & Mack Center
in Las Vegas, Nev. where Dan Henderson knocked him out with a
left hook that left him sprawled on the canvas.
After
a morning of reflection, Wanderlei spoke with members of the
media to discuss his thoughts on the fight. Obviously he was
rather disappoint saying through interpreters that, “I didn’t
expect to lose the belt this way.” And of course, he is
hopeful of a rematch.
Not
making any excuses, Wanderlei also talked about having to make
a trip to the hospital the day before the fight.
Check
out the entire interview now in MMAWeekly TV’s In The Cage.
If you’re not already an MMAWeekly.com Premium Member, you
can become a Premium Member for just $5 bucks a month and gain
complete access to MMAWeekly’s vast library of videos and
the radio show archives.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
A
WORD FROM THE ASIAN SENSATION...
…dis·as·ter
-noun
A
calamitous event, esp. one occurring suddenly and causing great
loss of life, damage, or hardship, as a flood, airplane crash,
or business failure.
Operating
under financial turmoil, DSE continued forward with their second
U.S. show in hopes to make a further impact in a market currently
dominated by the UFC. Pride 33: The Second Coming produced many
exciting fights and was easily one of the best events of the
year. Of the nine scheduled fights, only one went to a decision.
So why was it a disaster?
What
makes an organization is its stable of fighters. Pride’s
large roster consists of some of the best fighters in the world.
Any time a marquee fighter loses, it can have an adverse affect
on an organization. In this case, four of Pride’s stars
faltered on a crucial night for the Japanese organization.
2006
Welterweight Grand Prix winner Kazuo Misaki dropped a decision
to the resurging Frank Trigg. Misaki wasn’t able to defend
Trigg’s takedowns and remained relatively inactive from
his guard.
Antonio
Rogerio Nogueira was knocked by relatively unknown Rameau Thierry
Sokoudjou just 23 seconds into the first round. Considered by
many as the next in line for the Pride Middleweight belt, the
shocking loss derailed the Brazilian Top Team fighter’s
momentum.
In
the most intriguing match of the night, Lightweight Champion
Takanori Gomi and former UFC welterweight Nick Diaz produced
an exciting fight in their non-title bout. After gaining the
advantage early on, Gomi was unable to get past Diaz’s reach
and was seemingly exhausted at the end of the first round. Diaz
continued to use his size and reach to frustrate Gomi on their
feet, causing the champion to go for a takedown. Once in Diaz’s
guard, Gomi fell victim to a gogoplata, forcing the Team Rascal
fighter to tap.
Did
I ever mention that I dislike non-title matches?
The
inane non-title fight reared it ugly head again, this time in
a very devastating fashion. Having openly stated that he intends
to challenge the best fighters in the UFC, Gomi’s loss to
Nick Diaz was a huge setback. UFC pundits will view Gomi as a
fighter who couldn’t beat a former Octagon veteran and the
defeat couldn’t come at a worse time. Pride dodged a bullet
when Gomi destroyed Mitsuhiro Ishida at Shockwave 2006 in a non-title
bout but history has repeated itself this past weekend. For Diaz,
he is now a champion without a crown. Expect Pride to schedule
a rematch later this year.
Team
Quest’s Dan Henderson dealt a devastating blow to Pride
by knocking out long reigning Middleweight Champion Wanderlei
Silva. DSE hoped to continue promoting Silva as the man who would
dethrone UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Chuck Liddell but it’s
highly unlikely the match-up will materialize any time soon.
The opening highlight video hyped Wanderlei with phrases such
as “Is he a god?” and “Is he the devil?”
He was neither. Dan Henderson turned out to be more than just
a stepping stone. Although Silva has fallen, it’s still
possible to push Dan Henderson or Mauricio “Shogun”
Rua into the spotlight. A potential match-up between Liddell
and Rua is very intriguing.
Ed
Fishman’s recent comments further add to the chaos for DSE.
The President of Pride USA issued a challenge to the UFC to put
each organization’s top two fighters in each of the four
weight classes against each other in a best-of-eight “Winner
Take All” format. Both companies would put up $20 million
and the first organization to win 5 of the 8 bouts would take
home the $40 million prize. After Saturday night, I believe laughter
could be heard somewhere in Las Vegas and the voice had an uncanny
resemblance to that of Dana White.
So
can things get any worse for Pride? We will found out in about
a week.
When
it Rain, it Pours.
The
fallout from Yoshihiro Akiyama’s greasing scandal continues.
It appears that Shi Sei Do, a cosmetic company, has cancelled
the Judoka’s TVCF contract due to an overwhelming amount
of complaints and protest by the Japanese public. Coupled with
the rumor that K-1 has/intends to relieve him of his services,
Akiyama’s future career in MMA looks rather grim.
Long
Overdue
Vitor
“Shaolin” Ribeiro will finally make his debut in a
major organization. With an impressive record of 17-1, the former
Shooto Champion is scheduled to face Ryuki Ueyama at K-1 Hero’s
Nagoya Rainbow Hall show on March 12th. The addition of Ribeiro
should bolster Hero’s lightweight division.
Fights
scheduled so far:
Ali
Ibrahim vs. Caol Uno
Kazuyuki
Miyata vs. Black Mamba
Hiroyuki
Takaya vs. Andre Dida
Vitor
“Shaolin” Ribiero vs. Ryuki Ueyama
Katsuhiko
Ngata vs. Hideo Tokoro
Baka
Survivor
Shinya
Aoki proved that his first win over Akira Kikuchi wasn’t
an accident. The 167-pound Shooto Champion successfully retained
his title with a split decision victory over the Killer Bee fighter
in a highly anticipated rematch. Split decision? I thought Aoki
won the first two rounds convincingly and the third was relatively
even. Regardless, Aoki was victorious and further impressed fans
with his grappling prowess. I can’t wait to see Shinya when
the Pride Lightweight Grand Prix kicks off in May.
Hisae
Falters
One
of my favorite female MMA fighters, Hisae Watanabe, lost a decision
to Korea’s Su Hi Ham at DEEP 28th Impact in a non-title
bout. The DEEP Women’s Champion was unable to get past Ham’s
technically superior striking. Ham took the fight to Watanabe
and it was hard to watch Hisae block all of those shots with
her face. Ham landed straight punches at will and was able to
withstand Hisae’s punching power. Coming in as a big underdog,
Su Hi Ham was very impressive in her MMA debut.
Ken
Kaneko…
…I
will miss you. Ok, I lied
K-1
Hero’s American Debut
Back
in December, FEG President Sadaharu Tanikawa stated in an interview
that K-1 Hero’s would make its U.S. debut in 2007. In a
recent article with Nikkansports, Tanikawa said the first American
show would be held on May 19th in Las Vegas. K-1 is planning
to co-headline the event with former WWE star Brock Lesnar and
UFC pioneer Royce Gracie. If K-1 can improve its matchmaking,
it could potentially make an impact in the U.S. One thing is
for certain, K-1 has more money than Pride.
MMAos
February
is MMAos month. Are you wearing your official MMAos t-shirt?
Source: MMA Weekly
|
UFC
68 Saturday Afternoon
UFC 68 The Uprising
Oceanic Digital 701 (PPV)
Live 5:00 to 8:00 pm
Replay 8:00 to 11:00 PM
Heavyweight Title
Tim Sylvia vs Randy Couture
Matt Hughes vs Chris Lytle
Rich Franklin vs Jason MacDonald
Babalu Sobral vs Jason Lambert
|
Kickin
It 2007 Part 2
WHAT -
KICKIN IT 2007 PART 2
WHEN - MARCH 3, 2007 SATURDAY
WHERE - WAIPAHU FILCOM CENTER
IF YOU THINK OUR FIRST KICKIN IT 2007 WAS A GOOD CARD. CHECK
OUT THIS LINE UP. SOME OF THE MOST TALENTED AMATEUR KICKBOXERS
WILL BE FOUND HERE ON KICKIN IT MARCH 3RD. OTHER PROMOTERS WILL
BE LOOKING TO USE THESE GUYS TO HIGHLIGHT THERE SHOWS IN THE
FUTURE. A LOT OF THE BEST FIGHTERS COME THRU THE KICKIN IT CIRCUIT
FIRST. THIS IS WHERE THEY START A FOUNDATION. (NO FOUNDATION
- NO BUILDING).
SUNSEA FERGUSON 165 BRADLEY ARAKAKI
TEAM DEVASTATION PAPAKOLEA FIGHT CLUB
BENJI "ENDLESS" RODRIGUES 172 TODD YOUNG
HSD (6 - 1) VEGAS FIGHT CLUB (5 - 1)
JOSH BAKER 170 JON MCDONALD
EWA FREESTYLE GRAPPLING TEAM ISLAND THUNDER
RICHARDSON SUNGA 145 JERELL MUNOZ
VEGAS FIGHT CLUB HSD
TONY BELEN 160 HARRISON KOLO
INNER CIRCLE PAPAKOLEA FIGHT CLUB
JASON LOPES 185 KAWIKA PAIA
JESUS IS LORD PAPAKOLEA FIGHT CLUB
KOLOA KAHALEWAI 225 KINGSTON PATCHO
TEAM ANILAND TEAM DEVASTATION
KANA LOA 110 RIN DAO
BANGAHZVILLE BULLSPEN
PIN DAO 100 JERMICHAEL
BULLSPEN NAKOA FIGHT TEAM
RICKY MURILLO 155 CLINT KEALOHA
BANGAHZ VILLE WESSIDE CONNECTION
DIDO RODRIGUES 95 WESLEY DENIGO
WAIANAE KICKBOXING BULLSPEN
JAMES OWANA 300 OTO KAHALEWAI
WESSIDE CONNECTION TEAM ANILAND
MANA WOOLSEY 130 ISIAH MANALO
4TH ROAD KICKBOXING EAST OAHU FIGHT CLUB
KOICHI TANJI 135 TBA
HMC
TONY PERERA 140 PULL OUT DUE TO INJURY
WAIANAE KICKBOXING
DAVIN KIM 125 JULIO MORENO
FIVE - 0 BOXING CLUB BULLSPEN
JUDE 230 RANCE BROWN
TEAM DEVASTATION PAPAKOLEA FIGHT CLUB
EZEKIEL LOPES 195 BRANDON MARTIN
NAKOA FIGHT CLUB 4TH ROAD KICKBOXING
NUI WHEELER 140 RYAN LEE
TEAM SOLJAH BULLSPEN
KEITH CRESPO 125 BRANDON AMANONCE
PAPAKOLEA FIGHT CLUB TEAM DEVASTATION
MAIKA TALEIAI 150 RICHARD BERNARD
EWA FREESTYLE GRAPPLING HSD
DAVID LUI 135 SHONE KIM
HMC PAPAKOLEA FIGHT CLUB
TICKETS AVAILABLE AT ALL PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS OR CALL 699-5290.
PARTICIPANTS AND MATCHES MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
Source: Promoter
|
Island
Warriors
Saturday,
March 17, 2007
Maui War Memorial Gym
Fights start at 6 pm
Source: Promoter |
Kickboxing
Benefit Event for Mrs. Faagai
March 25, 2007
This kickboxing event was put together to help raise funds to
help Mrs. Faagai who is fighting off cancer. Please come out
and support this event to help the Faagai family. Her son, Jacob
Faagai will be returning to the ring to headline the event.
Here are the event details (more to follow as it becomes available)
Kickboxing Benefit Event
Waianae H.S. Gym, Waianae, Hawaii
March 25, 2007
Source: Brennan Kamaka
|
Xande
Riberio DVD Out Soon & Filmed in Hawaii!
The documentary
about current Absolute Black Belt World Champion Xande Riberio
is being pre-sold at http://www.bjjmart.com. Check out the training
background of Xande under the guidance of multiple time Black
Belt World Champion brother Saulo Riberio as Xande prepared for
the Mundials and how Xande finally claimed the championship and
the title of best Jiu-Jitsu practioner on the planet!
Here
is the summary on www.bjjmart.com:
Xande
Ribeiro Road to a Championship DVD
"The Road To A Championship"
The
road to the top is built on sacrifice, dedication and a lot of
heart
Everybody
wants to be a champion but very few people have what it takes.
This is the history about one person’s dream to be the best
and the road he took to get there. Xande Ribeiro went to Oahu,
Hawaii in June 2006 for the last stages of preparation for the
biggest challenge of his life: Win the Absolute in the World
BJJ Tournament.
In
the "The Road To A Championship" you will be able to
follow Xande’s training including some special water exercises.
You will hear directly from him, the mental approach and fight
strategies that led to his success. Additionally Xande showcases
some of his favorite techniques that he has used successfully
in competition including the 2006 World Championships
Pre-Order
only expected ship date March 14th
DVD
50 minutes
Source: JD |
|
