Upcoming
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(All events on Oahu, unless noted)
2009
10/10/09
NAGA Hawaii
(BJJ/Sub Grappling)
(Hawaii, Tentative)
6/4/09 - 6/7/09
World JJ Championships
(BJJ)
(California)
5/9/09 - 5/10/09 &
5/16/09 - 5/17/09
Brazilian Nationals JJ Championships
(BJJ)
(Carson, CA)4/18/08
NY International JJ Championships
(BJJ)
(Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
5/9/09
15th Grapplers Quest Las Vegas
(BJJ/Sub Grappling)
(Las Vegas, NV)
May 2009
Abu Dhabi World Submission Wrestling Championships
(Sub Grappling)
(Tentative)
4/4/09 - 4/5/09
NAGA World Championship
(BJJ/Sub Grappling)
(NJ, Tentative)
3/27/09
- 3/29/09
Pan Am JJ Championships
(BJJ)
(Carson, CA)
3/21/09 - 3/22/09
$30k Grapplers Quest/Fight Expo/Make a Wish Weekend
(BJJ/Sub Grappling)
(Del Mar, CA)
NAGA US Nationals
(BJJ/Sub Grappling)
(Georgia)
3/14/09
NAGA Vegas
(BJJ/Sub Grappling)
3/7/09
UFC 96
(PPV)
(Columbus, OH)
Grapplers Quest Beast of the East
(BJJ/Sub Grappling)
(Wildwood, New Jersey)
2/21/09
UFC 95
(PPV)
(London, England)
2/7/09
4th Annual Clint Shelton Memorial
(Boxing)
(Palolo Gym)
Manup and Standup
(Kickboxing)
(Waipahu Filcom Center)
UFC Fight Night
(PPV)
(Tampa, FL)
1/31/09
UFC 93 BJ vs GSP
(PPV)
(MGM Grand, Las Vegas, NV)
1/30/09
MMA Event
(MMA)
(Schofield Barracks)
1/24/09
Eddie Bravo Seminar
(BJJ)
1/17/09
UFC 93
(PPV)
(Dublin, Ireland)
1/10/09
MAT ATTACK Jiu-Jitsu & Submission Grappling Tournament
(Sub Wrestling)
(Lihikai School, Kahului, Maui)
1/3/08
Uprising - Maui
(MMA)
(Paukukalo
Hawaiian Homes Gym)
Hazardous Warfare - Maui
(MMA)
(Lahaina Civic Center)
2008
12/27/08
UFC 92
(PPV, Las Vegas, NV)
12/13/08
The Ultimate Fighter 8 Final
(PPV, Las Vegas, NV)
12/10/08
UFC Fight
For The Troops
(Spike TV)
Got Skillz Fighter
(Triple Threat)
(Waipahu Filcom)
11/25/08
X-1 at Cirque Hawaii
(MMA & Kickboxing)
(Cirque Hawaii, Waikiki)
11/22/08
Longman Jiu-Jitsu Open
(BJJ)
(Kauai Veterans Center,
Lihue, Kauai)
Hawaiian
Classic Kickboxing
(Kickboxing)
(Kalaheo H.S. Gym)
11/21/08
UFC: Penn-GSP Press Conference
(Blaisdell Concert Hall)
X1 World
Events
(Boxing & MMA)
(O'Lounge Night Club)
Man Up & Stand Up
(Kickboxing)
(Waipahu Filcom Center)
11/15/08
Destiny
(MMA)
(Aloha Tower Pier)
Aloha State Championship
of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
(BJJ/Sub Grapping)
(Gym #1, UH Manoa)
UFC 91
(PPV, Portland, OR)
11/7/08
HFC Stand Your Ground IX
(Kickboxing & MMA)
(Dole Cannery Ballroom)
10/25/08
X-1
(MMA & Boxing)
(Palolo Hongwangji Hall)
UFC 90
(PPV, Chicago, IL)
10/19/08
Clay Guida Seminar
(Icon Fitness & MMA Gym)
10/18/08
Destiny
(MMA)
(Waipahu Filcom Center)
UFC 89
(PPV, Birmingham, England)
10/17/08
Hawaiian Amateur Pankration Association
Presents
Friday Night Fights At Pipeline Café
(MMA)
(Pipeline Cafe, Honolulu)
10/12/08
HFL Championships
(MMA)
(Waipahu Filcom)
10/11/08
NAGA
(BJJ & Sub Wrestling)
(Blaisdell)
10/10/08
Man Up & Stand Up
(Kickboxing)
(Waipahu Filcom Center)
10/4/08
The Quest
for Champions Martial Arts Tournament
(Sport-Pankration, Submission Grappling and Continuous Sparring)
(Kalani High School Gym)
EliteXC on CBS
(TV)
808MMA
(TV)
9/27/08
X-1 Presents Temple of Boom
(Palolo Hongwanji, Honolulu)
(MMA & Boxing)
9/20/08
Boxing
(Palolo District Park)
(Boxing)
9/17/08
UFC Fight Night 15
(PPV, Omaha, NE)
9/7/08
2008 Samahan Filipino
Martial Arts Tournament
(Forms, Fighting, Masters Demonstrations)
(Pearl City High School Gym)
9/6/08
UFC 88:
Break Through
(MMA)
(PPV)
9/5/08
Got Skillz Fighter
(Kickboxing & MMA)
(Waipahu Filcom Center)
8/23/08 & 8/24/08
Hawaii Training Ctr Boxing
(Boxing)
(Waipio
Industrial Court)
8/15/08
MMA At The O
(MMA)
(O Lounge Night Club)
8/14/08
Paragon Fighter
(Kickboxing)
(O Lounge)
8/9/08
K-1 Hawaii Grand Prix
(Kickboxing & MMA)
(Stan Sheriff Center, UH at Manoa)
Man Up & Stand Up
(Kickboxing)
(Kalaheo High School)
UFC 87
(MMA)
(PPV)
7/26/08
Maui Jiu-Jitsu BJJ Tournament
(BJJ)
(Maui War Memorial Gym, Wailuku, Maui)
7/19/08
Kawano B.C., Palolo B.C., & USA-Boxing Hawai Amateur Boxing
Show
(Boxing)
(Palolo District Park Gym)
Affliction - Fedor vs. Sylvia
(PPV)
7/12/08
Aloha State
Mixed Martial Arts Competition
10AM - 7PM
(Kickboxing & MMA)
(Blaisdell Arena)
7/11/08
Hawaii Fighting Championships 10
(MMA)
(Dole Cannery Ballrooms)
7/5/08
UFC 86 - Jackson vs. Griffin
(PPV)
6/27-29/08
OTM Pacific Submission
Grappling Tournament
(BJJ/Sub Grappling)
(Blaisdell Exhibition Hall)
MMA Expo
(Blaisdell Convention Center)
6/21/08
Hawaii
Xtreme Combat
(MMA)
(Lahaina Civic Center, Lahaina, Maui)
Ultimate Fighter 7 Finale
6/20/08
Paragon
(MMA Hybred)
(O Lounge)
6/15/08
Grapplefest
(Submission Grappling)
Anderson Silva Seminar
Studio 4, UH at Manoa
1-4PM
$100
Mauricio "Shogun" Rua Seminar
Tropic Lightning TKD
Waipahu
5-7PM
$60
6/14/08
EliteXC
(MMA)
(Blaisdell Arena, Honolulu, HI)
6/7/08
UFC 85 - Bedlam
(PPV)
6/6/08
Punishment in Paradise
Pound 4 Pound
(Kickboxing)
(Ahuna Ranch, Maili)
6/5-8/08
World Jiu-Jitsu Championsihps
(BJJ)
(California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, California)
6/1/08
Hawaiian
Open of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
(BJJ/Sub Grapping)
(Gym #1, UH Manoa)
WEC 33
(Faber vs. Pulver)
(PPV)
5/31/08
CBS EliteXC
Saturday Night Fights
(9-11 p.m. ET/PT)
(CBS)
5/25/08
Man Up Stand Up
(Kickboxing)
(Filcom Center, Waipahu)
5/24/08
UFC 84 - Ill Will
BJ Penn vs. Sean Sherk
(PPV)
5/16/08
X-1: Legends
(MMA)
(Blaisdell Arena, Honolulu, HI)
5/9/08
Man Up Stand Up
(Kickboxing)
(Filcom Center, Waipahu)
Hawaii Fighting Championships 9
(MMA)
(Dole Cannery Ballrooms)
5/3/08
Hawaii
Fight League
Season 1, Event 3
(MMA)
(Filcom Center, Waipahu)
Full Force 4
(MMA)
(Maui War Memorial Gym, Wailuku, Maui)
Heart-of-a-Cage-Fighter
(Kauai
Veterans Center, Lihue, Kauai)
4/25/08
Punishment
in Paradise
(Kickboxing)
(Farrington High School)
4/18/08
Local Pride
Friday, April 18, 2008
(MMA)
(Dole Cannery Ballroom)
4/12/08
Man Up &Stand Up
(Kickboxing)
(Filcom Center, Waipahu)
4/6/08
GrappleFest: Submission
Sundays
(Submission Grappling)
(Hawaii Room, Neal Blaisdell Center)
3/29/08
Garden Island Cage Match 7
(MMA)
(Hanapepe Stadium, Hanapepe, Kauai)
Hawaii Fighting Championships 8
(MMA)
(Maui War Memorial)
3/28-30/08
Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship
(BJJ)
(Californina State University, Dominguez Hills, CA)
Registration ends 3/22/08
3/16/08
Sera's Kajukenbo Open Tournament
(Continuous
Sparring, MMA, Submission Grappling)
(Maui High School Gym, Kahului, Maui)
Icon Fitness Gym Tournament
(Submission Wrestling)
(Icon Fitness Gym)
3/15/08
Icon Sport
(MMA)
(Blaisdell Arena)
3/9/08
2008 Pacific Invitational BJJ Tournament
(BJJ )
(Hibiscus Room, Ala Moana Hotel, Honolulu)
3/7/08
Got Skillz Fighter
(Kickboxing/MMA)
(Waipahu Filcom)
3/1/08
USA-Boxing
Hawaii, Palolo B.C. & Kawano B.C. Presents Amateur Boxing
(Boxing)
(Palolo District Park)
2/29/08
X-1 at the O-Lounge
Fight Club Meets Nightclub 4
(MMA)
(O-Lounge, Honolulu)
2/24/08
Icon Grappling Tournament
(Sub Grappling)
(Icon Gym)
2/17/08
Hawaiian
Championship of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
(BJJ/Sub Grapping)
(Gym #1, UH Manoa)
2/15/07
Midwest Invasion: Team Indiana vs. Team Hawaii
(MMA)
(Coyotes Night Club, 935 Dillingham Blvd, Kalihi)
2/8/08
Hawaii Fighting Championships 7
(Kickboxing & MMA)
(Dole Cannery Ballroom)
2/2/08
Man up and Stand up
(Kickboxing)
(Dole Cannery
Ballroom)
1/26/08
X1 World
Events: Champions
(MMA)
(Blaisdell Arena)
1/20/08
Big
Island Open Jiu-Jitsu Tournament
(Konawaena High School)
(BJJ/Sub Grappling)
(POSTPONED)
1/19/08
UFC 80: Rapid Fire
(BJ Penn vs. Joe Stevenson)
Newcastle, England
1/12/08
Hawaii Fight League
Season 1, Event 2
(MMA)
(Dole Cannery Ballroom)
|
|
January 2009 News
Part 1
|
Casca Grossa Jiu-Jitsu
is now the O2 Martial Arts Academy with 7 days a week training!
We are also offering Kali-Escrima (stick fighting) on Monday
nights with Ian Beltran and Kickboxing Tuesday and Thursday with
Kaleo Kwan & Chris Slavens!
Kids Classes are also
available!
Click
here for info!
Take classes from the Onzuka brothers in a family-like environment! |
In Memory of
Lars Chase
Rest in peace my brother
March 10, 1979 - April 2, 2008 |
Looking for a hotel
room on Oahu?
Check out this reasonably priced, quality hotel in Waikiki!
For the special Onzuka.com price, click banner above! |
Check out the FCTV website! |
Fighters' Club TV
The Toughest Show On
Teleivision
Tuesdays at 8:00PM
***NEW TIME***
Olelo Channel 52 on Oahu
Also on Akaku on Maui
Fighters' Club TV Radio
The Toughest Show On
Radio
Mondays at 9:00-10:00AM
AM1500 The Team
(808) 296-1500
- Call
in with questions and comments
with hosts Mark Kurano
& Patrick Freitas |
Onzuka.com
Hawaii Underground Forum is Online!
Chris, Mark,
and I wanted to start an official Onzuka.com forum for a while
now. We were searching for the best forum to go with and hit
a gold mine! We have known Kirik, who heads the largest and most
popular forum on the net, The Underground for years.
He
offered us our own forum within the matrix know as MMA.tv. The
three of us will be the moderators with of course FCTV808 being
the lead since he is on there all day anyway!
We
encourage everyone from Hawaii and our many readers around world
to contribute to the Hawaii Underground.
If you
do not have a login, it's simple and fast to get one.
Click here to set up an account.
Don't worry about using Pidgin English in the posting. After
all it is the Hawaii Underground and what is a Hawaii Underground
without some Aloha and some Pidgin?
To
go directly to the Onzuka.com Hawaii Underground Forum
click here!
|
Want to Advertise on Onzuka.com?
Click here
for pricing and more information!
Short term and long term advertising available.
More than
1 million hits and counting!
|
O2 Martial Arts
Academy Day Classes Start May 2!
Women & Kids Kickboxing Class starts May 4!
Click here
for pricing and more information!
O2MAA Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Day Classes will be held on Monday,
Wednesday, and Fridays from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm and will be taught
by one of Relson Gracie's first black belts, Sam Mahi!
We will be starting a Womens and Kids kickboxing class on Sunday
afternoons from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm. The class will be taught
by none other than O2's Kaleo Kwan! It will be a non-competitive,
fun atmosphere and allow the ladies and kids to get in a quick
workout and learn some legitimate kickboxing technique before
the long work week starts.
New
O2MAA Kid's Jiu-Jitsu Class Starts Friday, December 5 from 5:30
to 6:30 PM!
Adult Wrestling Class Starts Starts Friday, December 5 from 8:30
to 9:30 PM!
|
Want to Contact
Us? Shoot us an email by Clicking Here!
Quote
of the Day
"Try
not to become a man of success but rather to become a man of
value."
Albert Einstein
|
MAT
ATTACK Jiu-Jitsu & Submission Grappling Tournament Today!
Happy Holidays!
We would like to invite you to MAT ATTACK Jiu-Jitsu & Submission
Grappling Tournament.
Change in venue: Lihikai School instead of Binhi At Ani Filipino
Community Center.
Name of event: MAT ATTACK Jiu-Jitsu & Submission Grappling
Tournament.
Open to Kids and Adult competitors.
Info can be forwarded to this email or contact number 250-4882.
Event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, January 10 @ Lihikai
School in Kahului. For more information you can email us or call
(Tyson) 250-4882.
Mahalo.
We hope to see you at the event!
Aloha!
--
Tyson & Leinell Coloma-Nahooikaika
Island Warriors
Freestyle Fighting Academy
1552 Mill Street
Wailuku, Hawaii 96793
www.myspace.com/iwffacademy
"If you can dream it...you can live it!"
|
'UFC
Primetime: St-Pierre vs. Penn' airs next week
"UFC Primetime," the long-awaited UFC version of HBO's
hugely popular "24/7" boxing preview series, premieres
next Wednesday, Jan. 14 at 10:30 p.m. ET on Spike TV.
The three-part "UFC Primetime: St-Pierre vs. Penn"
series will follow welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre and
lightweight champion BJ Penn as they prepare for their welterweight
title showdown at UFC 94 in Las Vegas.
New
30-minute episodes air on Jan. 14, 21 and 28 at 10:30 p.m. ET.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
UFC
94 card line-up (Penn vs. GSP)
By Zach Arnold
As
it currently stands:
Undercard
Welterweights:
Matt Arroyo vs. Dan Cramer
Heavyweights: Jake O’Brien vs. Christian Wellisch
Welterweights: Chris Wilson vs. John Howard
Lightweights: Manny Gamburyan vs. Thiago Tavares
Welterweights: Jon Fitch vs. Akihiro Gono
Main card
Lightweights:
Nate Diaz vs. Clay Guida
Welterweights: Karo Parisyan vs. Dong Hyun-Kim
Light Heavyweights: Stephan Bonnar vs. Jon Jones
Light Heavyweights: Ryoto Machida vs. Thiago Silva
Welterweights: Georges St. Pierre vs. BJ Penn
Source: Fight Opinion
|
COLEMAN
HEADS TO WOLFSLAIR BEFORE DUBLIN
by Damon Martin
As UFC Hall of Famer Mark "The Hammer" Coleman readies
for his return to the Octagon for the first time since 1999,
he plans on leaving for Ireland a little bit earlier than expected
to get past the travel woes and will work with a top U.K. team
in those final days.
Traveling
is nothing new to Coleman who fought for the Pride organization
for many years. The former UFC heavyweight champion regularly
made trips from his home in Columbus, Ohio, to Japan.
While
this trip is a much shorter flight to Dublin, Ireland, the former
Ohio State wrestler asked the UFC for a little more time overseas
to get ready for the fight.
"For
me it's going to be a shorter flight compared to in the past,
but they were scheduled to bring me in on the 12th or 13th, which
is only four days out and fortunately I asked them if I could
get over there a little bit early and they've been great to me,"
Coleman told MMAWeekly Radio recently. "They've been treating
me very good and they had no problem sending me over there a
little bit early."
As
Coleman prepares for his new life as a fighter in the 205-pound
weight class, he will first fly to England before heading to
Dublin for a chance to work with a top U.K. team in the final
days leading up to the his match-up against Mauricio "Shogun"
Rua.
"The
Wolfslair team over there in England, they're going to take care
of me for the first three days over there," Coleman stated.
"I'm going to train with those guys for a couple days and
then fly over to Dublin from England."
The
team at the Wolfslair has gained quite a bit of notoriety lately
beyond just working with middleweight star Michael Bisping. The
team also worked with and helped lead Quinton "Rampage"
Jackson and Cheick Kongo to victories in their fights at UFC
92 in December.
Coleman
worked with his regular team at Hammer House in Columbus for
his fight preparation, but the Wolfslair team will round out
his final days before he re-enters the Octagon.
Coleman
takes on Shogun on Jan. 17 in Dublin, Ireland as part of the
co-main event for UFC 93.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Henderson
Says Franklin Fight Giving Fans What They Want
By Steven Marrocco
Around the time of Rich Franklin’s reign as UFC middleweight
champion and Dan Henderson’s reign as Pride champion, a
popular pipe dream among fans was a meeting between the two stars.
Back then, the Japanese promotion was chugging along, the UFC’s
only true competitor. Given the strained nature of their relations
with Zuffa, LLC, it looked unlikely the fight would ever happen.
Franklin
put it best: funny how things change.
Henderson
was aware of the chatter, but always had something to distract
him.
“It
was something that I knew that wouldn’t happen any time,”
Henderson said in a media teleconference with Franklin for their
upcoming fight at UFC 93 in Dublin, Ireland on Jan. 17. “I’d
always have a different fight or opponent in front of me to focus
on. It was more of the fans talking about it.”
Even
when Pride folded in 2007 and Henderson came aboard with the
UFC, it didn’t look imminent. Henderson liked fighting at
light heavyweight, having warmed to the idea at Pride’s
two US appearances, and wanted first crack at newly minted light
heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson. He
wanted a belt before he appeased needy fans.
But
Henderson’s two shots at a belt did not go so well. Jackson
outworked him to a decision at UFC 75, and a subsequent shot
at Anderson Silva’s middleweight belt ended in a hail of
fists before submission. He had hit the ceiling before working
his way to the top.
After
a short regroup, “Hendo” kept his stock up with a win
over Rousimar Palhares at UFC 88, and set to satisfying the fans.
UFC
matchmaker Joe Silva gave the fighters a choice whether to make
the fight at middleweight or light heavyweight. Both chose the
extra 20 pounds over two months of slow starvation.
“I
don’t like to cut weight if I don’t have to,”
Henderson explained. “I’ve never felt that—and
maybe it’s just a mental thing—but I’ve never
felt like I’m the smaller guy out there when I’m fighting.
I’m out there trying to beat him up just the same and I’ve
never felt weak and that I couldn’t do what I wanted to
do with my opponents, no matter how big they were.”
The
fighters were supremely respectful to one another on the call.
While neither of them are known for trash talking, their hype
couldn’t have been more gentlemanly.
“This
is something that all the fans have been wanting to see,”
Henderson said. “They’ve been talking about it for
years ever since he was UFC champ and I was the Pride champ,
and it’s finally going to happen.
“This
is a job, and a career, and a sport. I don’t need to generate
any anger towards my opponent. I’ve never done that. If
I don’t like my opponent, I don’t focus on that, I
just focus on what I want to do. It’s a sport and that’s
the way it is.”
Henderson
ruled out any serious repercussions to the loser.
“One
of us isn’t going to have to retire after this fight,”
he said.
As
to whether he would prefer making a title run another run at
the 205 belt before 185, the former Pride champ was equally non-committal.
“I’m
okay with going with either weight class,” he said. “I’m
kinda in between, so it doesn’t matter where I’m at.
I would like to eventually get a title shot at either weight
class. It’s just a matter of the match ups that the UFC
puts in, and how well you do in those match-ups.”
Henderson
managed some excitement over fighting on Irish soil, the first
time he had done so in a 30-fight career.
“I
hear great things about the fans over there, and that they get
pretty rowdy, and really love the sport of MMA,” he said.
“So I’m excited to go over there and fight in front
of a new crowd.”
Conventional
logic says Henderson will try to use his superior wrestling skills
to take Franklin down and grind him out, or hope for his powerful
right hand to end the fight. But to that, Henderson couldn’t
manage any hyperbole, either.
“It
pretty much boils down to the gameplan that we want to do,”
he finished.
Source: Full Contact Fighter
|
Franklin
on Henderson:
“I Have a lot of Respect for Dan”
Former Middleweight Champ Carries No Ill Will Towards Next Opponent
By Kelsey Mowatt
There were no disparaging remarks, condescending comments or
even constructive criticisms coming forth in this afternoon’s
pre-fight UFC 93 teleconference call, as the upcoming card’s
main event participants, Rich Franklin and Dan Henderson, were
more than cordial to each other. Despite having no ill will towards
the former Pride champion, Franklin also confirmed that he will
have no difficulties attempting to dismantle Henderson come January
17th, in Dublin, Ireland.
“I
have a lot of respect for Dan and I like him as a person,”
said Franklin. “I’ve seen him at several events, in
the UFC and at other things; we recently did a thing in New York
together. I got to sit and talk with him. Before the fight we’re
friends, and after the fight I’d be more than happy to buy
him a beer, or something like that if he wanted one, but we have
fifteen minutes of some scheduled time that we’re going
to be throwing punches at each other. That’s just the way
things go. What I always tell people is that if I can come in
the gym on a daily basis and punch some of my best friends in
the head, then I won’t have a problem throwing punches at
a guy that I just like.”
Due to the fact that each man has at various times in their career,
either contended for, or held titles in both the middleweight
and light-heavyweight division, many of the call’s questions
were pertaining to weight. Franklin’s upcoming bout with
Henderson will mark his second at 205lbs., since the promotion’s
former middleweight champion returned to the light-heavyweight
division, having failed to defeat the incumbent champ Anderson
Silva for a second time. At UFC 88 in September, Franklin was
impressive, en route to a third round stoppage of prospect Matt
Hamill.
“I
don’t feel like I have to make major adjustments,”
said Franklin, when asked about fighting at 205lbs. once again,
the division where the Cincinnati fighter originally made his
presence felt in the UFC. “Obviously I’m going to try
to put on a little bit of weight. If I can add a few pounds of
muscle to my frame it’s not going to hurt me. Realistically,
fighting Matt, he was a strong guy, he’s probably one of
the stronger guys at 205lbs., but at no point in that fight did
I feel like I was in any kind of trouble or that I was outmatched
in strength, or that I was somewhere where I didn’t belong.
I went back and looked at the fight and it doesn’t appear
to me that carrying the extra weight, through what was pretty
much a three round fight, made any difference. There are some
that probably say it did. I don’t know. I felt comfortable
at 205lbs., and I believe I will continue to feel comfortable
at that weight.”
As
Franklin did last time out to prepare for his bout with Hamill,
the veteran fighter once again headed to the nation’s north-west,
to enlist the services of legendary trainer Matt Hume.
“Matt’s
(Hume) the guy who puts the game plan together and figures out
what you need to be drilling on a daily basis,” Franklin
said, who like Henderson, did not care to share specifics on
the game plan he will employ January 17th. “I spent about
half my camp up there with him in Seattle and I’m back in
Cincinnati now. I’ll be meeting him out there in Dublin
in the upcoming week. Basically you look at your opponent, tape
breakdown, Matt will set up some drills and you just make sure
that you get several good sparring partners and stuff like that,
with guys that, best they can, can mimic what Dan’s going
to try to do during the fight. I’m sure Dan’s done
the same for me. The training thing maintains the same skeleton
each time, it’s just a matter of making little differences
in the nuances here and there.”
One
of the calls more interesting moments was when Franklin was asked
for his thoughts on another possible coaching stint on Spike
Television’s “The Ultimate Fighter.” The winner
of the Henderson, Franklin bout is expected to represent the
U.S. in the program’s upcoming season, which will also feature
a team from the United Kingdom, coached by middleweight contender
Michael Bisping. In keeping with other previous seasons then,
where other rival coaches have fought, it is also expected that
the winner will fight Bisping at 185lbs.
“I
was really excited to do the first season,” said Franklin
when asked whether or not he would be excited to participate
in another season of TUF. “I had never done anything like
that before and it was a cool experience. Going back and doing
it again, no, I’m not as excited about it. Six weeks in
Vegas, I’ve been there for six weeks before, I’m constantly
in Vegas, I’ve gotten to the point where I could care less
for staying in Vegas for that kind of extended period of time.
It’s time away from my family, it’s time away from
either the things I like doing or things that I can do to make
money. The show doesn’t pay real well. So just all round,
I’ve had the experience before so it’s not as appealing,
but anything that the UFC asks me to do I’m always on board
for because they’ve always been good to me.”
Source: Full Contact Fighter
|
Jose
Aldo vs Fredson canceled
Rolando Perez takes Paixao’s place
Jose
Aldo carries on training hard for his fight at WEC 38, on January
25th, in San Diego, California. The native of the city of Manaus
was confirmed to fight his compatriot, Jiu-Jitsu world champion
Fredson Paixao, as reported by GRACIEMAG.com, on December 11th.
However, according to sources, Paixao will not be fighting due
to contractual problems. Jose Aldo will now be facing off against
Rolando Perez.
Little
known internationally, Perez presents a record of 4 wins, 1 loss
and 1 draw, all in the Total Combat organization.
Now
Aldo has 12 wins and only one loss in his MMA career. The black
belt is coming off two technical knockout wins in a row, in his
two fights in the WEC and is undefeated in five fights.
Check
out the card for WEC 38:
-
Jamie Varner vs Donald Cerrone;
- Urijah Faber vs Jens Pulver;
- Danillo Índio vs Mike Campbell;
- Jose Aldo vs Rolando Perez;
- Edgar Garcia vs Hiromitsu Miura;
- Anthony Njokuani vs Ed Ratcliff;
- Dominick Cruz vs Ian McCall;
- Blas Avena vs Jesse Lennox;
- Frank Gomez vs Scott Jorgensen;
- Seth Dikun vs Charlie Valencia
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
Randy
Couture open to fighting 'Minotauro' Nogueira
Unlike in 2007, Randy Couture this time around would not reject
an offer to fight Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
“I’d fight Nogueira,” Couture recently said in
an article on Sherdog.com. “I had other reasons to turn
down that fight last year, but that was a whole different situation.
He’s a tremendous fighter. I’ve watched him for years.”
During
his dispute with the UFC that led to Couture tendering his resignation,
Couture refused to fight Nogueira at UFC 81 in February 2008.
The UFC didn’t strip Couture of his heavyweight belt but
set up an interim title bout at that event which resulted in
Nogueira submitting Tim Sylvia.
When
Couture settled with the UFC, the UFC didn’t pit the two
champions together but instead organized a tournament with the
inclusion of Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir. As it turns out, the
challengers both won, eliminating Couture and Nogueira from the
tournament.
Immediately,
fans clamored for a fight between the two future legends.
“For
sure I would accept this fight against Randy Couture,” Nogueira
said hours after his loss to Mir at UFC 92. “He’s a
great fighter. He just lost his last match but he’s still
a legend in this sport. I’d love to fight him.”
It’s
unknown when Couture will next fight due to Couture’s major
role in Sylvester Stallone’s next film, “The Expendables,”
an action film that will also star Stallone, Jet Li, Jason Staham
and Dolph Lundgren. The film is slated to begin shooting in March.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Injured
Alvarez Sidelined, Jan. 23 Replacement Bout Forthcoming
by Loretta Hunt
Dream ace Eddie Alvarez will not be able to keep his appointment
with ZST standout Naoyuki Kotani in a lightweight contest scheduled
to main event Extreme Challenge “War at the Shore”
on Jan. 23 at the Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City.
Alvarez
(15-2) sustained a leg injury during his brief encounter with
submission expert Shinya Aoki at K-1 “Premium Dynamite 2008”
on New Year’s Eve and has been forced to withdraw. The wily
Japanese groundsman ensnared Alvarez’s leg in the bout’s
opening moments, forcing the tapout to a heelhook at 1:33. The
loss was Alvarez’s second to date.
Though
an MRI has revealed no tears or other substantial damage to Alvarez’s
knee, the popular Philadelphia-bred fighter said ligaments are
“looser than they should be” and he will take the time
to recuperate properly, he told Sherdog Radio’s “Beatdown”
on Wednesday.
Alvarez
(15-2) said if the bout had come a month later he would have
been ready to compete.
Extreme
Challenge promoter Monte Cox, who also manages Alvarez, said
the bout between Alvarez and Kotani will likely be rescheduled
for a later date at the same venue. Cox is currently making final
arrangements for a new main event.
The
24-year-old dynamo had a banner year in the sport, tallying four
victories in a row before he reached Aoki. Two of those wins
came to top-caliber competition in Dream lightweight champion
Joachim Hansen, who Alvarez decisioned in May, and Tatsuya Kawajiri,
who was stopped on strikes in a heated contest for Dream in July.
Alvarez
is still under contract for one more fight with Dream, and will
enter Bellator Fighting Championships’ eight-man lightweight
tournament in April. The newcomer promotion will broadcast 12
weekly events on a one-day tape delay on ESPN Deportes.
Source: Sherdog
|
Lyoto
Machida
By Guilherme Cruz
Getting ready to face Thiago Silva at UFC 94, Lyoto Machida keeps
training toughly at Belém, Brazil, for the challenge of
undefeated, which promises to shake Las Vegas on January 31st.
In an exclusive interview to TATAME, the fighter talked about
his preparation, commented the interview that Dana White, president
of the UFC, points the Brazilian as the future best pound-for-pound
fighter in the world, the chance for the belt and the defeats
of Wanderlei Silva and Rodrigo "Minotauro", also speaking
about the Rashad Evans’ victory at UFC 92, stealing Forrest
Griffin’s title.
How
is the preparation for the fight against Thiago Silva?
I'm
training for this fight for a long time, I’m in the 16th
week of training, so now I'm already in the final straight of
the training, making the replenishment of energy, technical part...
I’m with my father and my brother, and my fitness coach,
who are helping me a lot here in straight final. I’m making
a strategy for the fight too...
You
have already started to worry about the issue of weight?
I’m
with 213 pounds, which is my normal weight and, when it gets
to the time of the fight, I’ll go to the United States with
about 209 pounds, and lose the rest to the fight and then recover
it. I'm familiar with it, I train in this weight and lost it
there.
What
are you training of special to him?
I'm
training a lot my specialty first, the stand up game, my Karate,
I’ve been focusing in this a lot, also the takedown part
and the ground game. I do the complete training, but I prioritize
what I have better, my strongest weapon, stand up fight. We always
make a study of the opponent, I do this for about three months,
seeing how he is, where he works, so I can beat up on these things
not being surprised.
Recently,
Dana White gave an interview and said you have everything to
be the best fighter pound for pound, in the future. What do you
think of that?
I’m
very honored to receive this compliment from Dana White, who
isn’t just an owner or promoter of an event, he understands
the fight and more or less where each one wants to get, where
is mistaking, what's missing, and I’ll strive to reach his
expectations and my fans. I think anyone would be honored and
happy to receive this compliment, but I’ll work with humility
to be better and don’t be thinking that I’m the best.
I don’t think anything like that. Everyone has their stage,
I'm getting better at every fight, training a lot, gaining confidence
and I think this is important for my career.
If
you win Thiago, do you believe that will win the chance for the
belt?
Ithink
that if I don’t win the chance, I’ll be very close.
The category is getting harder every day, the fighting are strong,
then I believe that, after that, if I won’t be a candidate
for the belt... I’ll train more and I think it will even
be good, because I’ll get more fights and get there more
rounded... I think I deserve a chance to dispute the belt, but
it’s a decision of the event and I’m calm about that.
My time will come.
What
did you think of the fight between Wanderlei Silva and Quinton
Jackson?
In
every fight, anything can happen. I thought Wanderlei was the
favorite, even because he had already beaten him twice, but every
day the MMA grows in popularity and technically. Comparing, six
years ago everything was very different, today is more strategic,
if you make a little mistake you can lose the fight. The Americans
are getting better, everybody wants their place in the sun, so
what happened was this. Quinton got a strategy that fitted better
that day, but I’m not saying he is better. As the Minotauro...
That day Frank Mir was better, but Minotauro is able to turn
things around, is young and tomorrow can be better than them
and that's my vision. The MMA is growing so much that one loses
today, the other wins tomorrow, everyone is studying and you
cannot make mistakes.
After
the fight, Dana White spoke about the possibility of "Rampage"
fight for the belt. Do you agree with that?
I
really thought it would happen, Quinton is very popular, is an
ex-champion, and every guy that already had the belt has an bigger
luggage, such as Wanderlei, if he had passed Quinton, I recognize
that he could go to the belt directly. I'm still growing, building
my way, and after I become the champion, all right, I’ll
be at another level they already are. Perhaps for what he has
already done and because of his popularity, he really deserved,
but I'm training, living day to day, doing what I like... I believe
my time will come. I'm not worried whether it will be today or
tomorrow, just know that I’ll have a chance to get this
belt.
Where
you already expecting a victory of Rashad Evans on Forrest Griffin?
I
thought that Forrest would win, but, as always, every fight have
two sides and Rashad is a tough guy, created right a strategy,
know the right time and, every guy like that becomes dangerous,
calls you to his game... It was what he did, waited, waited and
was even worse in the fight, but the chance appeared and he didn’t
lose it, ended the fight. I think Forrest has more resistance,
even more technical on foot, but Rashad is a strategist and this
counts a lot today.
What
is the way to beat him?
Look,
I think Rashad is a complete guy, has the wrestling as a background,
but I see some flaws in his game, although I’m not worried
with him now. My focus is Thiago. I look, but I don’t get
much information of the opponents that I’m not focused,
but I see some holes in his game (Rashad), but I prefer not to
think yet, he is not the one for now.
Source: Tatame
|
Post-UFC
92 MMA Buzz - Okami Title Shot?
Ariel Shnerer
Following
the UFC's most action-packed and surprising card of the year,
several reports have surfaced that could set up some future battles
inside the octagon, including several confirmations at the post-fight
press conference.
Coming
off a unanimous decision triumph over Dean Lister at UFC 92,
Dana White has now confirmed that Yushin Okami is due a UFC middleweight
title shot. "Yushin Okami will be getting a title shot.
Definitely," White is quoted saying. Silva and Okami first
met at a Rumble on the Rock card in January 2006 in a fight that
Okami won via disqualification due to an illegal head kick. "The
Spider" has become one of the world's top pound-for-pound
superstars and for Okami, the rematch is long overdue. However,
Okami may have to sit on the sidelines for an extended period
of time, which is typically the case when the UFC promises title
shots prematurely (ala Kenny Florian, Thiago Alves). Silva is
still slated to face Thales Leites in April, which means Okami
will have to wait upwards of six months before getting the opportunity
to replace Silva on the middleweight throne.
Demian
Maia's official web-site is reporting that he will make his return
to the UFC on Feb. 21 at UFC 95 against Chael Sonnen, the only
man to beat the last reigning WEC middleweight champion Paulo
Filho. Since debuting in the UFC, Maia has racked up four consecutive
victories, including wins over Ryan Jensen, Ed Herman, Jason
MacDonald and Nate Quarry. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt
is now 9-0, visibly less experienced than Sonnen, a Team Quest
product who is 21-9-1. Sonnen earned the biggest win of his career
with a unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Paulo Filho
at WEC 36 iin November. In his first go around with the UFC,
Sonnen went 1-2. With more confidence and experience under his
belt after a largely successful tenure with the WEC, Sonnen hopes
to become a permanent fixture in the UFC middleweight ranks.
The main event of UFC 95 has been confirmed to be a lightweight
tilt between Joe Stevenson and Diego Sanchez, in addition to
Nate Marquardt vs. Wilson Gouveia, Stefan Struve vs. Junior dos
Santos, Terry Etim vs. Justin Buchholz and Shannon Gugerty vs.
Jess Lawson.
Chuck
Liddell will reportedly make his return on March 7 in Colombus,
Ohio. While Liddell already called out his conqueror Keith Jardine,
Dana White is not so enthusiastic about the rematch. "It
will not be Jardine," White is quoted saying. He did however
propose two possible opponents for "The Iceman," including
Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and a rematch versus Wanderlei
Silva. Shogun, at one time the world's premier 205-pound combatant,
takes on Mark Coleman in his return at UFC 93 in January, while
Silva is coming off a brutal first-round knockout against Quinton
"Rampage" Jackson at UFC 92 last Saturday. Before challenging
Jardine, rumors circulated of a possible fourth encounter between
Liddell and UFC Hall of Famer Randy "The Natural" Couture
at light heavyweight.
Liddell
has expressed zero interest in pursuing the rematch with Couture,
but former UFC interim heavyweight champ Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
is a different story. "I would accept the fight with Randy
Couture," he is quoted saying. "It would be a nice
match... He lost his last fight, but he is still a legend."
Two of the top heavyweights in the history of the sport, Nogueira
and Couture are both coming off devastating losses. Nogueira
lost his interim title to Frank Mir in a one-sided pounding at
UFC 92 and Couture was overwhelmed by 265-pound heavyweight stallion
Brock Lesnar en route to losing his UFC heavyweight title via
second-round TKO. The winner of Couture vs. Nogueira would be
getting a much needed boost to their career and a potential title
shot down the road against the winner of Frank Mir vs. Brock
Lesnar.
UFC
President Dana White is quoted saying that the only fighter he
has lost in nine years that he regrets losing is Affliction heavyweight
contender and former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski.
"I jumped on a plane and flew to Chicago with Lorenzo (Fertitta)
and kissed his butt to try to make him not leave," White
said. "He wanted to box on HBO. He had a lot of different
things that he wanted to do that I couldn't let him do."
Arlovski is scheduled to challenge Fedor Emelianenko for the
WAMMA heavyweight title on Jan. 24 at Affliction: Day of Reckoning.
"That will be a very interesting fight. I'll never say that
Fedor is the best until he jumps in there and fights the best
on a consistent basis," he said.
Source: The Fight Network
|
CHAEL
SONNEN EXCITED FOR UFC RETURN
by Mick Hammond
Chael Sonnen is not someone who easily gives up. His determination
both in and out of the cage have lead him to come back from dire
circumstances to the pinnacle of his fighting career.
After
exiting the Ultimate Fighting Championship in 2006, Sonnen went
on a tear, winning five fights in a row before losing a controversial
bout to Paulo Filho for the World Extreme Cagefighting title
in 2007.
Undeterred,
he worked his way to a rematch last year and prospered; not only
earning redemption, but also a return ticket to the UFC in 2009.
“It
was a great year,” said Sonnen looking back on his rollercoaster
ride of a year. “I had some great experiences coaching with
the International Fight League, getting to compete in the WEC
and being signed by the UFC.
“I
only had two matches; I get greedy and want to compete a little
bit more than that, but that’s the way it goes.”
Sonnen
is quick to credit his continued hard work for helping him get
back into the sport’s biggest spotlight.
“I’m
trying to evolve all the time and keep getting better,”
he stated. “I’ve never gotten to a place where to where
I’m too comfortable, feel complacent or feel I’ve got
this sport figured out.
“I
think what happens to a lot of guys is they get complacent. Whether
they get money or fame, something happens where they lose that
motivation. We’ve all seen it happen, so I plan to avoid
that by paying attention to what’s going on, staying motivated
and just keep working hard and not lose sight of the goal.”
Part
of keeping his future in the UFC in focus is by not looking back
on what he’s accomplished and dwelling on it too much.
“It’s
kind of behind me,” commented Sonnen of his rematch win
over Paulo Filho in November. “I haven’t given it much
thought. It’s always important to do a good job, put it
in the rear mirror and move forward.
“Don’t
get me wrong, I’m glad we had it, but I haven’t given
it much thought since.”
Sonnen
is slated to make his Octagon return on Feb. 21 against undefeated
Demian Maia at UFC 95 in London.
“The
upside to (Maia) is that he’s fought three of my teammates,”
said Sonnen. “I helped every one of them get ready, so I’ve
at least got experience in preparing for him and am familiar
with him because my teammates competed with him.”
At
the end of the day it doesn’t matter to Sonnen who he faces,
he’s worked his way back to the pinnacle of the sport and
intends to make the most of his second chance.
“I’m
excited about it,” he stated. “It’s a really neat
opportunity and I’m grateful to have it.
“I
want to thank Zuffa for continuing to grow the sport. To the
fans, thanks for your support and I’ll see you in 2009.”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Surging
Cane Eyes Spring Return
by Gleidson Venga
His name was on the periphery less than a year ago after a disqualification
loss to James Irvin in his UFC debut. Now, Luis Arthur Cane has
climbed into the discussion as a potential light heavyweight
title contender.
Quality
decisive wins against former World Extreme Cagefighting champion
Jason Lambert and Team Quest brute Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou work
wonders with one’s resume. The last 12 months could not
have gone better for Cane.
“It
was, for sure, the best year in my career,” he says. “I
got two good victories in the UFC, and some rankings place me
in the top 10 in my division. I don’t even know if I am,
but some of them say that.”
Elbow
surgery has kept Cane (9-1, 1 NC) out of the Octagon since he
throttled Sokoudjou over the course of two rounds at UFC 89 in
October. Still, the 27-year-old Brazilian has emerged as a viable
threat at 205 pounds. All nine of his wins have ended with a
finish, eight of them by knockout or technical knockout.
“I
had a week’s vacation after the [Sokoudjou] fight; I stayed
quiet,” says Cane, who underwent the procedure on Nov. 1.
“My elbow was hurt going into the fight; I’d suffered
with it for two months. I didn’t stop training, but I couldn’t
train like I wanted to on the ground. I’ve tried a little
muay Thai [since the surgery], but my elbow was a little swollen.
I need to get my elbow better first, so I don’t have any
future problems with it.”
Cane
indicated he turned down the opportunity to fight in March, but
he believes he will be at full strength soon.
Cane's
recent surge inside the Octagon paid off in some financial security.“I
told them I’ll be ready to fight from April on,” he
says. “I asked to come back later in order to have more
time to recover.”
Cane’s
recent surge inside the Octagon paid off in some financial security,
as well, as the UFC inked him to a new contract in wake of his
victory over Sokoudjou three months ago. Apparently, UFC brass
likes what it sees.
“They’re
enjoying my work,” Cane says. “Otherwise, they wouldn’t
have renewed my contract. They’re cutting several athletes,
so, without a doubt, they’re enjoying my work. I feel very
happy with that.”
Cane
also addressed rumors of a potential bout with countryman Anderson
Silva, the reigning UFC middleweight champion who has moonlighted
at 205 pounds and seems likely to continue to do so in the future.
Silva -- the world’s top pound-for-pound fighter, according
to Sherdog.com -- will likely defend his 185-pound belt against
Thales Leites at UFC 97 in April.
“It
was only a rumor,” Cane says. “There are people who
try to get a scoop but only say nonsense. It was nothing. Anderson’s
the best in the world, among all weights, and he’s a very
hard opponent for anyone.”
Though
his disqualification loss to Irvin at UFC 79 in December 2007
still stings -- he lost after he struck Irvin with an illegal
knee 1:51 into the match -- Cane has no interest in a rematch
with the heavy-handed Californian. At the time, some questioned
whether or not Irvin was as wounded as he appeared.
“To
be frank to you, I’m not thinking about that guy,”
Cane says. “I try to look forward, and I don’t see
him. I don’t resent him. I’m focused on my career.
I have nothing personal against him or anyone else, but there’s
no reason for me to fight against this guy again.”
Source: Sherdog
|
Quote
of the Day
"Joy
is prayer - Joy is strength - Joy is love - Joy is a net of love
by which you can catch souls."
Mother Teresa
|
Martial
arts all-star
By Zenaida Serrano
Advertiser Staff Writer
There's
no question that Layne Fujioka, 10, is mad about martial arts.
The Ma'ema'e Elementary School fifth-grader trains in judo and
escrima, and also recently earned a black belt in karate.
"It's
not common to see 10-year-olds do that," said Layne's karate
sensei — or teacher — James Kerr. "I think that's
a testament to his focus."
Layne's
love of the sports started early. He was about 4 years old when
he became fascinated with kung fu-type flicks; he's especially
a fan of Jackie Chan movies.
"It's
fun, and it's good for my body," Layne said.
His
interest is just as great as his dedication; Layne's schedule
includes classes in karate, judo and escrima Tuesdays through
Saturdays. He also helps teach beginning karate on Saturdays.
"He
is a kind and good person, and a fantastic martial artist,"
said Kerr, Layne's sensei of about five years at Smart Karate.
"Layne is a role model, not only for students in our class,
but I think for his peers as well. ... He's an all-around superstar."
While
Layne devotes a lot of time to martial arts, school always comes
first, said Layne's dad, Stuart Fujioka.
"There
are times when he needs to miss practice here and there because
his school work takes priority," Fujioka said.
At
Ma'ema'e, where Layne is a student council co-president and active
in the school community council, Layne studies hard with hopes
of one day becoming a forensic entomologist — he's into
studying insects.
Despite
everything on his plate, Layne still finds time to be a kid.
Like others his age, he enjoys watching "SpongeBob SquarePants"
and playing his Nintendo DS.
But
he encourages his peers to also make time for healthy activities.
"Besides
a good diet and sleep, everyone needs exercise," he said.
Layne
Fujioka
Age: 10
Profession:
Ma'ema'e Elementary School fifth-grader
Home:
Nu'uanu
Height:
4 feet 2
Weight:
65 pounds
Stays
in shape by: Training in karate, judo and escrima
Workout
habits: Karate classes Wednesdays and Saturdays at Smart Karate;
judo Tuesdays and Fridays at Kailua PAL Judo Club; and escrima
Thursdays at Pedoy's School of Escrima
When
and why I started working out: "At age 4 I wanted to learn
how to fight like the guys in the movies. My instructors quickly
taught me that martial arts should not be used to hurt people."
Interesting
fact: Layne won for most pushups, situps and squats done in a
one-minute period for his age division at the 2007 Great Hawaiian
International Fitness Challenge.
My
good food: Tofu
My
bad food: French fries
My
biggest motivator: Senseis James Kerr and Bobby Duckworth "because
they help me to do my best karate."
What
saves my sanity: Playing Nintendo DS and practicing martial arts
Advice
for those in the same boat: "Never give up, work your hardest.
You can achieve anything if you try."
Interested?
Smart Karate: 738-5425, smartkarate@gmail.com, www.smartkarate.com
Kailua
PAL Judo Club: 544-0068
Pedoy's
School of Escrima: 216-3211, www.pedoysescrima.com, gmty@pedoysescrima.com
Reach
Zenaida Serrano at zserrano@honoluluadvertiser.com.
Source: Honolulu Advertiser
|
MAT
ATTACK Jiu-Jitsu & Submission Grappling Tournament Tomorrow
Happy Holidays!
We would like to invite you to MAT ATTACK Jiu-Jitsu & Submission
Grappling Tournament.
Change in venue: Lihikai School instead of Binhi At Ani Filipino
Community Center.
Name of event: MAT ATTACK Jiu-Jitsu & Submission Grappling
Tournament.
Open to Kids and Adult competitors.
Info can be forwarded to this email or contact number 250-4882.
Event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, January 10 @ Lihikai
School in Kahului. For more information you can email us or call
(Tyson) 250-4882.
Mahalo.
We hope to see you at the event!
Aloha!
--
Tyson & Leinell Coloma-Nahooikaika
Island Warriors
Freestyle Fighting Academy
1552 Mill Street
Wailuku, Hawaii 96793
www.myspace.com/iwffacademy
"If you can dream it...you can live it!"
|
RAMPAGE
PLEADS GUILTY,
AGREES TO PLEA BARGAIN
by Ken Pishna
It has been an eventful six months since Quinton "Rampage"
Jackson lost his UFC light heavyweight title to Forrest Griffin
in July of 2008. He has since been involved in a very public
legal episode that involved leading police on a chase that ended
in Newport Beach, Calif.; left longtime trainer Juanito Ibarra
for the U.K.'s Wolfslair; successfully returned to the Octagon
to gain revenge on his nemesis, Wanderlei Silva; and, on Thursday
morning, he began what he hopes will be the closure process to
his legal troubles.
In
an Orange County court on Thursday, Quinton Jackson accepted
a plea bargain in a case stemming from his arrest on July 15,
2008, in exchange for a reversal of his plea from not guilty
to guilty. The arrest came following Jackson allegedly leading
police on a chase that involved hitting other vehicles, running
red traffic lights, driving into oncoming traffic, and ended
in Newport Beach.
He
was originally charged with one felony count of evading while
driving recklessly, one felony count of evading a peace officer
and driving against traffic, three misdemeanor counts of hit
and run with property damage, and one misdemeanor count of reckless
driving. At his preliminary hearing on Thursday, he reversed
his plea to guilty on one misdemeanor count of reckless driving
and one felony count of evading a peace officer and driving against
traffic.
With
the acceptance of the plea bargain, Jackson's sentencing will
be deferred to Jan. 7, 2010. If he meets the requirements of
the plea bargain, the felony count will be dismissed and he will
only be sentenced for the misdemeanor. If he fails to meet the
requirements of his plea bargain, he will be charged and sentenced
on both counts.
Based
on the negotiated plea agreement, Jackson could still receive
up to six months in jail and probation at his sentencing, according
to a statement from the Orange County District Attorney's office.
"Today,
Quinton entered into a plea agreement that was fashioned to place
more time between the instance and the resolution. The agreement
is analogous to a deferred entry of judgment in that the plea
to count two, evading a peace officer and driving against traffic,
will be withdrawn and dismissed at the end of one year if Quinton's
doctors are assured that he has maintained good physical and
mental health and he has complied with the other terms of the
agreement. He will be seeing his doctor's regularly with bimonthly
reports provided to the district attorney. He will also perform
200 hours of community service, which will be designed to reach
as many young people as possible," said Jackson's attorney,
Carol Lavacot, in a prepared statement detailing the requirements
of her client.
It
was also revealed during the hearing that Quinton Jackson has
also agreed to pay restitution on all counts against him, including
the felony that will be dismissed as part of his plea agreement.
"Quinton's
decompensation on July 15, 2008, was precipitated by multiple
factors interacting with one another. None of these factors included
drugs or alcohol. It is the opinion of his doctor's that Quinton
suffered a brief episode of delirium, which was reactive to situational
and metabolic difficulties," explained Lavacot in her statement.
"He is learning to manage the stressors in his life and
has been working with a nutritionist to maintain his physical
as well as his mental health.
"Quinton,
from the beginning, has wanted to take responsibility for his
actions. He has learned a great deal about his physical body
and about mental health. During this next year, Quinton has chosen
to share his knowledge of how good nutrition, exercise, and sufficient
sleep leads to success. He will be speaking to groups of young
people in the hope that his unfortunate incident can be turned
into something positive for others."
As
long as he meets the terms of his agreement, the plea bargain
will keep Jackson out of jail for the next year and in the Octagon.
Having defeated Silva at UFC 92 on Dec. 27, it is speculated
he could return to competition again as soon as June or July.
"I
think it's very fair, considering the circumstances," Jackson's
attorney, Carol Lavacot, told MMAWeekly.com.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Playing
Matchmaker - UFC 92 Aftermath
By Peter Parsons
As
the dust continues to settle from UFC 92, a card that featured
many big name fighters, questions arise as to where these UFC
stars go from here. Below are some match-ups that I want to see
next and why.
Rashad
Evans versus Lyoto Machida
The
light-heavyweight division is stacked with a number of fighters
gunning for a shot at the new champ Rashad Evans. Chuck Liddell,
Quinton Jackson and Forrest Griffin are former champions that
will have to work their way back to a title shot. The most deserving
fighter in the division right now is Lyoto Machida, that is of
course if he gets by fellow undefeated Brazilian Thiago Silva
at UFC 94 on January 31st.
Machida
is coming off a victory over Tito Ortiz, his fifth straight win
in the UFC. Evans is coming off of two consecutive victories
over two huge names in the sport in Chuck Liddell and Forrest
Griffin. What makes this match-up even more marketable is the
fact that both fighters are undefeated. In the sports young history,
we have yet to see a UFC title fight between two undefeated fighters.
Forrest
Griffin versus Chuck Liddell
This
is the fight the UFC brass was hoping for when they set up Rashad
Evans versus Chuck Liddell and for good reason. Chuck Liddell
is one of the, if not the biggest draw in the UFC and to see
him fight to regain his title against the original “Ultimate
Fighter” would have ranked up there as one of the top UFC
pay per views of all time. Liddell versus Griffin would sell
big as a non-title fight because of the immense popularity of
both fighters with a lot still on the line.
Liddell
hasn't fought since his devastating KO loss to Evans in September
and is on a schedule to fight before Griffin. However being the
warrior Griffin is, he is no doubt anxious to get back in the
octagon after losing his title.
Quinton
Jackson versus Mauricio Rua or Mark Coleman
"Rampage"
has said that he wants his rematch against Forrest Griffin. He
has also stated in the past that he wants to "whoop the
ass of everybody who's whooped his ass." Mauricio “Shogun”
Rua holds a victory over Jackson from 2005 in Pride. “Rampage”
has avenged his loss to Marvin Eastman and with his vicious KO
over Wanderlei Silva at UFC 92; he is one stop closer to avenging
his losses, at least to fighters on the UFC roster.
A
rematch with Forrest Griffin is likely to happen down the road,
however I see a Shogun fight being a logical next fight for the
recently trained Wolfslair fighter.
The
reason why I want to see “Rampage” versus “Shogun”
and not “Rampage” versus Forrest right away is because
I don’t like to see rematches too close together. Also,
I think the aforementioned fight between Griffin and Liddell
makes a lot of sense and if not made right away, will likely
never happen.
Jackson
versus Rua would only happen of course if Rua gets by Mark Coleman
on the 17th at UFC 93. If Coleman were able to pull off the upset,
then Rampage versus the UFC Hall of Famer, Coleman, would also
be intriguing.
Antonio
Rodrigo Nogueira versus Randy Couture
These
two fighters are coming off of losing their heavyweight titles.
Many thought that this would be a match-up to unify the titles
before their respective fights with Lesnar and Mir. Couture will
always be one of the biggest draws in the sport as long as he
is fighting and although Noguiera looked bad against Mir, he
is fresh off of coaching the recent season of "The Ultimate
Fighter" where many “TUF” generation fans got
to know the loveable Brazilian.
The
match is a dream fight from 2001 when Nogueira was the Pride
champ and Couture was the UFC champ. It would have the appearance
of a legend versus legend type match-up, but unlike most legend
versus legend matches, they are both current top fighters in
their division. There would be a lot on the line with both fighters
coming off of a loss, not being able to afford two losses in
a row. The winner however would likely be one fight away from
another title shot.
Source: Full Contact Fighter
|
UFC
93 card line-up for PPV (1/17 Dublin)
By Zach Arnold
As
it stands right now:
205
pounds: Rich Franklin vs. Dan Henderson
205 pounds: Mark Coleman vs. Mauricio Shogun
185 pounds: Alan Belcher vs. Denis Kang
185 pounds: Jeremy Horn vs. Rousimar Palhares
170 pounds: Marcus Davis vs. Chris Lytle
170 pounds: Martin Kampmann vs. Alexandre Barros
205 pounds: Eric Schafer vs. Antonio Mendes
205 pounds: Tomasz Drwal vs. Ivan Serati
170 pounds: Tom Egan vs. John Hathaway
155 pounds: Dennis Siver vs. Nate Mohr
Source: Fight Opinion
|
Thales
promises top shape for Anderson
Fighter on his way to Arizona says he will be "110%"
By Gabriel Menezes
Thales
Leites has no doubt he will be facing Anderon Silva in a UFC
middleweight title challenge at UFC 97. While the UFC has not
confirmed the bout, the black belt says it is a done deal and
his time has come to face a fighter widely considered to be the
pound-for-pound best in the world.
“I
don’t see it as even a possibility. To me [the fight with
Anderson] it’s 100% for sure, because the UFC sent me the
agreement and I signed it. Everything on my side has been done
properly. The UFC sent a bout agreement ten days ago and I signed,”
Thales affirmed, in an interview with GRACIEMAG.com.
“Everyone
wishes to have a title dispute some day and my time has come.
I’ll get there 110%, not even 100%. I’ll show up and
put on an awesome fight. I can’t promise victory, but nor
would I say defeat. Now, the one this I can say is it will be
a good fight. Winning or losing, I’m going to have an excellent
fight,” he continued.
To
reach his objective, Thales says he didn’t let up on his
pace in training the end of the year. He carried on training,
working on his wind and today travels to the United States, for
a series of training sessions. “I’m in good shape.
Today I fly out to Arizona, to the academy of my friend Gustavo
Dantas, Arizona Combat Force. There’s a good bunch of guys
at my weight there, including UFC fighters Ryan Bader and CB
Dollaway. There are other really good wrestling guys. There’s
also Jamie Varner, who’s the WEC lightweight champion and
others. I get along with the gang there really well. Afterwards
I may go to Hawaii and stay a week with Werdum, but I’m
not sure. What I’m sure of is I’m going to Arizona
today,” he announced.
“This
is the opportunity of my life. Every last fight is the most important
of my life, but this one carries extra weight, because I’m
going to fight Anderson, who’s a phenomenal guy, someone
who has made history and not just in the UFC… I feel honored
and happy, but now I’m transforming all these feelings into
training. I’m already doing that. I’m 100% focused,”
said Thales in finishing.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
Dean
Lister asks for release from UFC contract
Middleweight Dean Lister requested and was granted a release
from his UFC contract following his loss to Yushin Okami at UFC
92 "The Ultimate 2008" on Dec. 27.
Chatting on The UnderGround Forum, Lister says he's motivated
to work his way back into the UFC.
"Listen
I had a very poor performance my last fight," Lister wrote.
"Truth is that I let my team and my gym, my friends and
definitely myself down for this fight. Its not only that I lost
but I really showed a poor performance. I had a much better showing
against Arona (even though that was only primarily a grappling
fight that I lost) even in Pride who is a better fighter than
Okami for sure. Things just didnt come together for me this fight.
I trained so, so hard, I really trained hard but it didnt work
out."
Despite
a 4-2 record in the UFC, Lister has not been a fan favorite due
to his reliance on his grappling. He's won nine times via submission
but none via (T)KO since debuting in September 2000. Eight of
of Lister's 19 career fights have gone the distance. To his credit,
he's never been finished in a fight.
According
to Lister's management Haykmaker’s Empire in a report on
MMAWeekly, Lister is already in talks with other promotions,
including DREAM and Affliction.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
UFC
FIGHT NIGHT 17 FIGHT CARD
Joe Lauzon and Hermes Franca headline UFC Fight Night 17 in a
lightweight showdown. The event will air live on Spike TV from
the Sun Dome in Tampa, Fla.
Lauzon
most recently defeated Kyle Bradley at UFC Fight Night 15 in
Omaha, Neb. Franca returns to follow up on his winning performance
over Marcus Aurelio at UFC 90 in Chicago.
“It’s
kind of weird, but I’ve gone from undercard to main event,
back to undercard, and now main event again," said Lauzon,
referring to his main event bout against Kenny Florian in Denver.
"I’m not complaining at all. This is a huge fight for
me, second only to my main event in Denver, which was more personal
with both of us from Massachusetts.”
Other
main card bouts feature a heavyweight bout between Cain Velasquez
and UFC newcomer Denis Stojnic, Ultimate Fighter season 6 winner
Mac Danzig faces off with Josh Neer, and Ultimate Fighter season
7 winner Amir Sadollah will battle Nick Catone.
Neer's
position on the fight card came into question last week following
an early morning arrest on New Year's Day in Iowa, but his management
on Tuesday issued a statement saying, "Josh will be fighting
Mac Danzig February 7 in the co-main event in Tampa as scheduled."
UFC
Fight Night 17 Fight Card:
Main
Card Bouts:
-Joe Lauzon vs. Hermes Franca
-Cain Velasquez vs. Denis Stojnic
-Mac Danzig vs. Josh Neer
-Amir Sadollah vs. Nick Catone
Preliminary
Card Bouts:
-Kurt Pellegrino vs. Rob Emerson
-Jake Rosholt vs. Alessio Sakara
-Matt Grice vs. George Sotiropoulos
-Rich Clementi vs. Gleison Tibau
-Anthony Johnson vs. Luigi Fioravanti
Rumored
Bout (not officially confirmed by UFC):
-Steve Bruno vs. Matt Riddle
Source: MMA Weekly
|
The
Fertitta family and USA Capital
By Zach Arnold
Update
(1/6/08): Here are more details about the new Sartini monster
house being constructed.
The
Las Vegas Review-Journal has a story about the US court system,
USA Capital, and investors who lost so much money that they are
living out of cars and selling off homes to try to pay off debts
they have.
However,
one group of investors who put money into USA Capital ended up
recovering all of the money they invested:
The
Fertitta family, founder of Station Casinos in Las Vegas, had
$17 million invested in USA Capital and got it all back when
one of their attorneys was on the oversight committee, Larson
said. The attorney then resigned from the committee.
Anthony
Zerbo, a 76-year-old from San Jose, Calif., invested about $900,000
in USA Capital over six years after seeing an advertisement in
a financial publication.
“When
you’re rolling it over and it’s doing good … you
think first deeds of trust, you can’t go wrong,” Zerbo
said. “Toward the end, things weren’t going good and
we tried to pull back our loans and it wasn’t there.”
The
first thought that came to mind when I read this story is the
story that Bob Meyrowitz repeats over and over again, in which
he claims that Lorenzo Fertitta was on board of the Nevada State
Athletic Commission and that, somehow (according to Meyrowitz),
Fertitta wouldn’t sanction UFC in Nevada and that this turn
of events led to UFC being sold to the Fertittas for $2 million
USD.
Here’s
the actual story about how SEG came to sell the UFC to Zuffa,
gathered from multiple issues of the Wrestling Observer, with
edits made in brackets to fill in context or correct grammar,
and with a timeline clarification courtesy of Whaledog.com: “Meyrowitz
[former UFC president Bob Meyrowitz] would go to InDemand [the
PPV company] and ask what he needed to do to get back on InDemand,
and they said the UFC needed to get sanctioned [by a major sanctioning
body]. He got sanctioned in New Jersey, and was basically told
that he needed to get it sanctioned in Nevada, as that was the
most influential athletic commission in the country. [Meyrowitz]
set up a meeting in Las Vegas, and at the time, sanctioning was
going to happen based on what inside sources were telling both
Meyrowitz and InDemand. Suddenly, the night before the approval
that was going to be the step to put the UFC back on the map,
Meyrowitz was told that he was going to be voted down [the next
day, when his request was scheduled to be voted on by the members
of the Nevada State Athletic Commission]. He didn’t have
the votes. He was also told that if he followed through the next
day, and was voted down, he would never have an opportunity to
be sanctioned. So, he pulled out, they created some cover reason
as to why he was pulling his attempt at sanctioning, and basically
he was screwed. Lorenzo Fertitta [the current co-owner of the
UFC] was an influential member of the Nevada commission at the
time. [Approximately one year later], Fertitta purchased the
UFC [for $2 million], then got sanctioning in Nevada, and then
got on PPV.”
Meanwhile,
life apparently continues to be very good for Fertitta family
members in Orange County (the ritzy Emerald Bay area):
Plans
for one—116 Emerald Bay – call for an 8,924-square-foot
home with an elevator, two basements opening out onto the beach,
plus a pool and spa on the outside deck. The lowest level features
a gym, theater, game room and a “wine alley.”
The
kitchen upstairs will have a walk-in fridge, while the “great
room” will have a bar, TV lounge and pizza oven. The master
suite on the fourth level features a chamber called the “prayer
room,” and the hall has a set of niches for votive candles.
The home will have two garages with room for five cars. Indoors,
it will have 11 bath or powder rooms, four bedrooms plus the
master suite. Completion is expected in 2010.
Property
records list the owners as Blake and Delise Sartini, sister and
brother-in-law to Las Vegas Station Casino bosses Frank and Lorenzo
Fertitta. The couple declined through an intermediary to comment.
Source: Fight Opinion
|
Rampage
Leads Paydays for UFC 92
Ariel Shnerer
Quinton
"Rampage" Jackson led paydays for UFC 92, according
to the official salary figures released by the Nevada State Athletic
Commission on Monday.
Total
fighter payroll was $1,381,000.
Jackson
pocketed $385,000 for a sensational first-round knockout against
Wanderlei Silva. The total includes $225,000 base pay with $100,000
win bonus and $60,000 "Knockout of the Night" bonus.
Meanwhile, Silva took home $200,000. According to the NSAC, Silva
was not promised any win bonus, therefore his total pay would
have remained the same had he been victorious against Jackson.
Frank
Mir was paid $90,000 for his surprising second-round technical
knockout of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. This figure accounts for
$45,000 in base pay with a bonus worth the same amount. In defeat,
Nogueira pocketed $250,000 and fell short of a potential $400,000
payday if he was victorious.
Rashad
Evans made $190,000 for winning the UFC light heavyweight championship
from Forrest Griffin via third-round TKO. This figure includes
$65,000 base pay, $65,000 win bonus and the $60,000 "Fight
of the Night" bonus. Griffin was guaranteed $150,000, falling
short of a potential $100,000 win bonus had he won. In addition,
he took home $60,000 as the other half of the "Fight of
the Night" award.
Salary
figures do not reflect undisclosed locker room bonus, sponsorship
money or under-the-table financial compensation.
From
highest to lowest, here are the full paydays from Saturday's
UFC 92 spectacular, which emanated from the MGM Grand Garden
Arena in Las Vegas:
*
Quinton Jackson: $385,000 ($225,000 to show; $100,000 to win;
and $60,000 “Fight Night” bonus)
* Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira: $250,000 (would have earned an additional
$150,000 had he won)
* Forrest Griffin: $215,000 ($150,000 to show and $60 “Fight
Night” bonus; would have earned an additional $100,000 had
he won)
* Wanderlei Silva: $200,000 (no win bonus)
* Rashad Evans: $190,000 ($65,000 to show; $65,000 to win; and
$60,000 “Fight Night” bonus)
*Frank Mir: $90,000 ($45,000 to show and $45,000 to win)
* Cheick Kongo: $90,000 ($45,000 to show and $45,000 to win)
* Yushin Okami: $32,000 ($16,000 to show and $16,000 to win)
* Antoni Hardonk: $28,000 ($14,000 to show and $14,000 to win)
* Matt Hamill: $20,000 ($10,000 to show and $10,000 to win)
* Clarence Dollaway: $20,000 ($10,000 to show and $10,000 to
win)
* Dean Lister: $19,000 (would have earned an additional $19,000
had he won)
* Ryo Chonan: $18,000 (would have earned an additional $18,000
had he won)
* Reese Andy: $15,000 (would have earned an additional $15,000
had he won)
* Brad Blackburn: $14,000 ($7,000 to show and $7,000 to win)
* Patrick Barry: $10,000 ($5,000 to show and $5,000 to win)
* Mostapha Al-Turk: $7,000 (would have earned an additional $7,000
had he won)
* Mike Massenzio: $5,000 (would have earned an additional $5,000
had he won)
* Dan Evensen: $4,000 (would have earned an additional $4,000
had he won)
* Mike Wessel: $4,000 (would have earned an additional $4,000
had he won)
Source: The Fight Network
|
Couture:
Lesnar-Mir Rematch a Tough Pick
by Loretta Hunt
Don’t be surprised to see Brock Lesnar and Randy Couture
back in the cage together this year.
This
time they’ll be training partners, though.
UFC
heavyweight champion Lesnar inquired about a visit to Xtreme
Couture Mixed Martial Arts in Las Vegas when he spoke with the
UFC Hall of Famer at UFC “Fight for the Troops” on
Dec. 10 in Fayetteville, N.C.
“I
told him that would be fine,” said Couture, who lost his
sixth career title to Lesnar at UFC 91 on Nov. 15 in Las Vegas.
Lesnar
(3-1) trains primarily with Minnesota Martial Arts Academy head
trainer Greg Nelson in Alexandria, Minn., though a stint with
Couture could be a wise play.
The
45-year-old icon has practiced an open-door policy throughout
his career when it comes to expanding his training horizons.
Prior to his rematch with muay Thai stylist Pedro Rizzo at UFC
34 in November 2001, Couture sought out former opponent Maurice
Smith, an accomplished kickboxer, for tutelage. Most recently,
Couture trained with three-time rival Vitor Belfort prior to
the Brazilian’s victory against Terry Martin at Affliction
“Banned” last July.
Couture’s
training preferences haven’t spoiled his future bouts either.
Couture worked out with Tim Sylvia in 2004, and then decisioned
the former heavyweight titleholder at UFC 68 in March 2007.
After
losing to jiu-jitsu black belt Frank Mir in his Octagon debut,
the 31-year-old Lesnar blazed though the UFC in 2008 with a nod
over former Pride gatekeeper Heath Herring before wresting the
title from Couture.
Lesnar,
a 2000 NCAA champion and the WWE’s youngest champion ever,
won’t have the luxury of time as he continues his rapid
MMA matriculation. Lesnar rematches Mir, now the UFC’s interim
heavyweight champion, in a unification match sometime this year.
Mir
(12-3) scored the upset of 2008 when he dropped Antonio Rodrigo
Nogueira on multiple occasions at UFC 92 in December before stopping
the resilient Brazilian for the first time ever with a flurry
in the second round.
“I
think it’s the best we’ve ever seen Frank,” said
Couture. “He looked composed, relaxed and confident going
in. He executed his game plan and did a terrific job. I was very
impressed.”
Mir’s
unexpected victory clears a path for Couture to face the fallen
former Pride heavyweight champion, a bout Couture originally
turned down amidst a contract dispute with the UFC in early 2008.
“I’d
fight Nogueira,” said Couture. “I had other reasons
to turn down that fight last year, but that was a whole different
situation. He’s a tremendous fighter. I’ve watched
him for years. I saw Danny [Henderson] fight him in the KOK [Rings
“King of Kings” tournament in 1999]. I was heading
to fight him myself in the KOK that next year.”
Talk
of Couture’s next assignment began soon after his loss to
Lesnar last November, and the popular fighter’s participation
on the UFC’s debut card in Cologne, Germany, on June 13
seemed an inevitably with his familiarity of the language. Not
only did Couture major in German in college, he served over four
years for the U. S. Army in the foreign country.
Word
even leaked that the UFC had interest in pairing Couture with
Chuck Liddell for a fourth time at UFC 99.
“Nobody’s
talked to me about any fight in Germany,” said Couture.
“I’ve asked [UFC President] Dana [White] because of
all these rumors that have been going around. He said, ‘It’s
just rumors.’”
With
a second career in acting gaining steam, Couture will be hard
pressed to commit to another fight before the summer. He’s
accepted a lead role in Sylvester Stallone’s next film “The
Expendables,” which is scheduled to begin shooting in March
for nine weeks in Brazil and Shreveport, La. Stallone will direct
and also star alongside Couture, Jet Li and Jason Statham.
Lesnar
and Mir will likely clash in the interim, while Couture remains
undecided about that bout’s outcome.
“I
think that kind of depends on Lesnar and how much he’s learned
and is able to keep the fight where he wants to keep it and uses
his advantage, which is his size, strength, and length,”
said Couture. “That’s the question. That’s why
everyone wants to see the fight again. Can Mir take him down
and catch him in another submission? It’s hard to say. I
can’t make a choice right now.”
Source: Sherdog
|
Ronnys
Torres
By Eduardo Ferreira
With eight straight victories in the last 11 months, Ronnys Torres
keeps showing an excellent job in MMA, and will have the biggest
chance of his career in 2009. The Nova União athlete has,
now, to prepare himself to his debut at UFC, entering in the
category dominated by BJ Penn. In an interview to TATAME, Ronnys
spoke about the emotion in making his international debut at
the biggest MMA event, analyzed the category in UFC and the dream
to get a change for the Ultimate belt.
How
do you feel signing with UFC?
I
am very happy, still don’t believe that I’ve signed
with the UFC… When I go to bed I keep imaging getting to
the octagon, and I already chose the gospel music in English
to play… I won’t go there and put gospel music in Portuguese,
the guys won’t understand anything (laughs).
Are
you already studying English?
I
am trying, I will have to study. I saw how much this is important
to the athlete, I went with Marlon to Japan now and I saw how
it is important to speak English. I have to study and I think
that it will help me very much to close fight. There is Dedé
(André Pederneiras) helping me a lot, but I have to learn
to develop with the guys there.
Which
is the expectation for you in UFC?
The
expectations are the best. My time has come, the moment of change
my life and of my family, I will count very much with the power
of all the team here. I always dreamed in fight outside the country,
I never used to imagine to get where I am now. I am living the
happiest moment of my career, I did not expect to sign with UFC.
I came to fight Jiu-Jitsu, I only entered in MMA because I was
getting without money and, today, I am the happiest guy in the
world for signing with the best event of the world. I received
messages of people that did not know me, telling that were my
fans, and now it is the opportunity of my life. If I already
used to train strongly, now it is to train the double, the triple…
I am with good mind, it’s my moment, and I trust very much
in my God. He gave me this opportunity and I’ll do my best.
For
whom do you think that have to pass to get a chance against BJ
Penn?
To
be in the UFC already shows that everybody is tough. It is step
by step that I will arrive to the top, I only ask that God illuminates
me, that everything goes right. Everybody is hard and won’t
have easy jobs, and I will try to conquer my space. It is a ladder
that I will go up until arrive, if God wants, in the belt, that
is my dream.
Who
would you like to face in this category?
Fight
with BJ is something everybody wants and it is one more dream…
I already realized many of them and to sign with is more than
a dream. The will of fight against BJ by the belt is my biggest
dream, get there and do my best, but always with humbleness,
step by step.
Source: Tatame
|
Neer
to fight Danzig at UFC Fight Night despite arrest
UFC lightweight Josh Neer will fight at UFC Fight Night 17 on
Feb. 7 in Tampa, Florida despite his drunk driving and eluding
the police arrest on New Year's Day.
Mickey Dubberly, CEO of Neer's management KO Dynasty, learned
from the UFC Monday that Neer will not be pulled from his televised
fight against Mac Danzig.
"Josh
would like to once again thank his family, fans, friends, training
partners, UFC, and everyone that has supported him thru his career,"
Dubberly stated.
Neer
was booked on second offense operating a vehicle while intoxicated
and eluding the police in the early hours of the new year.
Neer's
car rear-ended another car and Neer took off on a highway that
led police to chase him on speeds over 100 mph. Police used stop
sticks to slow Neer's car.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Quote
of the Day
“It
is no profit to have learned well, if you neglect to do well.”
Publilius Syrus
|
Uprising
MMA Resuts
Maui
Kanamu Roan (Valentino kickboxing) defeated Robert Anduha (North
Shore MMA) by TKO in round 1
Shaun "Buge" Saribay (MMA Built) defeated Jarret Mancao
(Team Na Koa) by armbar in round 1
Kaipo Roan (Valentino Kickboxing) defeated Kiyoshi Carson (wife)
by KO in 26 seconds of the first round
Rickard Perreira (Molokai/ West Point MMA) defeated Sheldon Abad
(Team Mixed Breed) by TKO in round 1
Rocky Planesi (Kolohe Intentionz) defeated Jon Ferrell (Team
Na Koa) by decision
Elijah Manners (Team Na Koa) defeated Jake Noble (Team Issues/
Nak Sou Muay Thai) by TKO in round 1
Main Event: Bobby King (MMA Built) defeated Toby Misech (Lava
MMA) by decision
MAT ATTACK
is this Saturday!
MAT ATTACK BJJ and Submission Wrestling tournament on Maui is
this Saturday.
Weigh ins will be on Friday (9) @ IWFFA from 9am - 8pm.
Source: Leinell Coloma-Nahooikaika
|
Boy
stops pit bull attack with jujitsu choke hold
Story
Published: Jan 6, 2009 at 9:06 PM PST
By BakersfieldNow.com Staff
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - A 9-year-old Bakersfield boy is being called
a hero after he saved a girl and her dog from a pit bull attack.
Drew
Heredia said he and a friend were walking a small dog Dec. 30
when a pit bull jumped on the dog. The unidentified 12-year-old
girl reportedly tried to save her dog, prompting the pit bull
to turn on her.
Heredia
said he jumped on the pit bull and applied a choke hold that
he learned while taking classes at a Brazilian jujitsu studio
in southwest Bakersfield.
"It
was kind of a heart-pounding moment," Heredia said. "It
was very scary."
He
said he held the dog for 20 minutes until an animal control officer
arrived.
“At
first, I wanted to kick it, but then I thought it’s not
a good idea, because it could get my leg,” Heredia said.
The
girl was taken to Mercy Southwest Hospital where she was treated
for puncture wounds.
The
pit bull was quarantined at the animal control office, where
it will be euthanized after 10 days. No one has claimed the dog.
The
girl's dog was injured, but it's expected to survive. The dog
ran away during the attack but returned home Friday afternoon.
Source: Katu.com
|
Cobrinha
expects a year of war
By Marcelo Dunlop
Cobrinha
after one more winning in Aman, 2008. Photo by Laith Al-Majali.
Rubens
“Cobrinha” Charles ended 2008 with the world title
(his third in as many years), the Pan-American (his second),
the No-Gi Worlds (also his second) and the No-Gi Pan-American.
Elected by GRACIEMAG to be the most consistent fighter of the
past year, the ace from Alliance reviewed his year and evaluated
the weight of his conquests. He took the opportunity to make
predictions for 2009 and even sent a message to the latest generation
of aces, who came up from brown belt raring to topple the current
stars.
GRACIEMAG.com:
Cobrinha, after winning everything, what did you have the hardest
time with last year?
The worst was the battle with my body. I should have stayed out
of the Pan and the Worlds, but fortunately I had people around
who believed in me. First there was Romero Jacare lending his
support. Then, and I’ll never forget this, Fabio Gurgel
showed up in the States and we started up a training session.
He soon called me to train with him, and told me: “Cobrinha,
the way you’re going, you will fight and win!” At the
time I just laughed because I knew I was in the worst of condition,
but when this kind of support comes from people with such enormous
experience, it counts a lot, and I decided to step up to the
challenge. Now I can only thank them.
In
2007 you were two-time world champion without dropping a single
advantage point. Was 2008 an even better year for you?
To me 2008 was an excellent year, which I see as the best phase
of my life. I carry on doing what I like, which is to fight,
and I managed to fight in all the championships I had the chance
to. As highlights, first I won the Pan-American (against Bruno
Frazatto), and then the Worlds (again against Bruno), after a
marvelous final I’ll never forget. It’s always good
to win a title… And getting the submission is even better
still! I haven’t counted how many fights I’ve had this
year, nor how many submissions, unfortunately. But there’s
one thing I’m sure of, I always fight for the submission.
What
do you expect from 2009?
I’m not sure yet, but if all goes well I’ll be in the
European. Either way, I’ll be in the Pan for sure, and I
already expect 2009 to be a year of war, in the good sense!
My
category is so tough there are no favorites. To make matters
worse, every year that goes by new Jiu-Jitsu talents show up,
which I always keep on top of, a lot of the time through the
GRACIEMAG.com website. There’s the kid Isaque Paiva, who
I don’t know, but I saw how the kid hardly had his black
belt and showed he’s not here to mess around. Nor can I
overlook Rafael Mendes, who just came up from brown belt and
is already showing maturity.
I
want to take this opportunity to offer some constructive criticism
to the other athletes coming up through the ranks, who seek to
show their Jiu-Jitsu in championships, and not make promises
like “I’m going to do it and it’s going to happen”
because sometimes it seems easy and isn’t. I know everyone
wants to carve out their place in the sport, but to do so one
must respect all their adversaries, and never underestimate anyone.
The thing is to do your part, which is to train and then put
your game to practice.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
GONZAGA
VS CARWIN SIGNED FOR UFC 96
The UFC heavyweight division has been building a number of new
stars lately, but an upcoming match-up now confirmed for UFC
96 in Columbus, Ohio, could very likely present the division's
next top contender. Gabriel Gonzaga will take on Shane Carwin,
sources close to the bout confirmed to MMAWeekly.com on Tuesday.
It
was first revealed on LinkBJJ.com that Gonzaga is already training
for his next bout on March 7, and is actually home in Brazil
working on his jiu-jitsu, which his team believes could be a
key in the bout against Carwin.
Fresh
off of a first round knockout over Josh Hendricks, Gonzaga is
hopeful to get back into title contention with a win over Carwin.
He will return around Jan. 15 to work with his home squad, Team
Link, to prepare him up until the bout.
Looked
at as one of the top prospects in the heavyweight division, Shane
Carwin currently holds a 2-0 record in the UFC, both coming by
way of first round TKO, and is undefeated overall with professional
record of 10-0.
With
just over two minutes of total time spent in the Octagon, Carwin
will have his toughest test to date facing a very experienced
and dangerous opponent like Gonzaga.
UFC
96 will take place on March 7 at the Nationwide Arena. As of
this time, no main event has been announced for the show, but
Gonzaga vs. Carwin is all but assured a main card slot.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
THE
CROW FLIES AGAIN IN THE UFC
One of the most popular Canadian fighters is set to return to
the UFC as David "The Crow" Loiseau has signed a new
fight deal with the promotion. He will likely appear as a part
of the upcoming UFC 97 card on April 18 in Montreal. The news
was confirmed to MMAWeekly.com on Tuesday by sources close to
the fighter.
Loiseau
has always been seen as a tough fighter with tremendous skills
in the cage. While previously in the UFC, the Canadian held a
4-3 record, but did not return after back-to-back losses in 2006.
Since
that time, Loiseau has amassed a record of 4-2, but has recently
reeled off three wins in a row. He now looks to cement himself
back in the UFC's middleweight division.
While
the UFC has made no official announcement regarding Loiseau's
return, it has been rumored that his first fight back may come
against "Ultimate Fighter" season 3 participant Ed
Herman.
The
UFC's return to Montreal will mark its second show north of the
border. The first event featured a main event between hometown
hero Georges St. Pierre in a rematch against Matt Serra that
packed more than 21,000 fans into the Bell Centre.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
BISPING
BREAKS DOWN FRANKLIN VS. HENDERSON
As Rich Franklin and Dan Henderson get ready for their main event
match-up at UFC 93 in Dublin, Ireland, Michael Bisping, who will
serve as coach against the winner on the next season of "The
Ultimate Fighter" reality show weighed in with his thoughts
on the bout and who he believes will win.
Since
dropping to the middleweight division in early 2008, Bisping
has been a hot prospect to make his way to the top of the weight
class and work for a title shot. His best opportunity may come
at the end of the ninth season of The Ultimate Fighter, as he
will face either Henderson or Franklin.
The
popular British fighter says that's exactly the fight he wants.
"I
wanted one of those two guys cause their two of the best in the
world, and probably No. 2 and 3 in the middleweight division,"
Bisping told MMAWeekly Radio recently. "So they're the guys
I want to fight. There's idiots on the Internet that say I dodge
good fighters and this and that, and that kind of annoys me a
little bit and that's why I want to fight these guys."
With
the Franklin vs. Henderson bout on the horizon and the filming
of the show starting soon after the Jan. 17 event, Bisping says
that he will be in Dublin for the show and will keep a very watchful
eye on the main event.
"I've
been watching that fight very closely," he stated. "I
think it's a fantastic fight. I think it's definitely got the
potential, apart from the fact that it's in January, I'd say
Fight of the Year."
So
how does Bisping, who competed and won the third season of The
Ultimate Fighter, feel this fight between Franklin and Henderson
will go?
"Rich
Franklin is probably the smarter fighter out of the two. I think
he's got better footwork, probably more technically composed
fighter. Dan's got great knockout power obviously. They're both
fantastic fighters," Bisping commented.
"If
I had to pick a winner, I'd probably go out on a limb and say
Rich Franklin by decision, to be honest."
Will
it be Rich Franklin returning to The Ultimate Fighter house for
his second term as coach? Jan. 17 will tell the tale.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
UFC
FIGHT NIGHT 17 FIGHT CARD
Joe Lauzon and Hermes Franca headline UFC Fight Night 17 in a
lightweight showdown. The event will air live on Spike TV from
the Sun Dome in Tampa, Fla.
Lauzon
most recently defeated Kyle Bradley at UFC Fight Night 15 in
Omaha, Neb. Franca returns to follow up on his winning performance
over Marcus Aurelio at UFC 90 in Chicago.
“It’s
kind of weird, but I’ve gone from undercard to main event,
back to undercard, and now main event again," said Lauzon,
referring to his main event bout against Kenny Florian in Denver.
"I’m not complaining at all. This is a huge fight for
me, second only to my main event in Denver, which was more personal
with both of us from Massachusetts.”
Other
main card bouts feature a heavyweight bout between Cain Velasquez
and UFC newcomer Denis Stojnic, Ultimate Fighter season 6 winner
Mac Danzig faces off with Josh Neer, and Ultimate Fighter season
7 winner Amir Sadollah will battle Nick Catone.
Neer's
position on the fight card came into question last week following
an early morning arrest on New Year's Day in Iowa, but his management
on Tuesday issued a statement saying, "Josh will be fighting
Mac Danzig February 7 in the co-main event in Tampa as scheduled."
UFC
Fight Night 17 Fight Card:
Main
Card Bouts:
-Joe Lauzon vs. Hermes Franca
-Cain Velasquez vs. Denis Stojnic
-Mac Danzig vs. Josh Neer
-Amir Sadollah vs. Nick Catone
Preliminary
Card Bouts:
-Kurt Pellegrino vs. Rob Emerson
-Jake Rosholt vs. Alessio Sakara
-Matt Grice vs. George Sotiropoulos
-Rich Clementi vs. Gleison Tibau
-Anthony Johnson vs. Luigi Fioravanti
Rumored
Bout (not officially confirmed by UFC):
-Steve Bruno vs. Matt Riddle
Source: MMA Weekly
|
CHAEL
SONNEN EXCITED FOR UFC RETURN
Chael Sonnen is not someone who easily gives up. His determination
both in and out of the cage have lead him to come back from dire
circumstances to the pinnacle of his fighting career.
After
exiting the Ultimate Fighting Championship in 2006, Sonnen went
on a tear, winning five fights in a row before losing a controversial
bout to Paulo Filho for the World Extreme Cagefighting title
in 2007.
Undeterred,
he worked his way to a rematch last year and prospered; not only
earning redemption, but also a return ticket to the UFC in 2009.
“It
was a great year,” said Sonnen looking back on his rollercoaster
ride of a year. “I had some great experiences coaching with
the International Fight League, getting to compete in the WEC
and being signed by the UFC.
“I
only had two matches; I get greedy and want to compete a little
bit more than that, but that’s the way it goes.”
Sonnen
is quick to credit his continued hard work for helping him get
back into the sport’s biggest spotlight.
“I’m
trying to evolve all the time and keep getting better,”
he stated. “I’ve never gotten to a place where to where
I’m too comfortable, feel complacent or feel I’ve got
this sport figured out.
“I
think what happens to a lot of guys is they get complacent. Whether
they get money or fame, something happens where they lose that
motivation. We’ve all seen it happen, so I plan to avoid
that by paying attention to what’s going on, staying motivated
and just keep working hard and not lose sight of the goal.”
Part
of keeping his future in the UFC in focus is by not looking back
on what he’s accomplished and dwelling on it too much.
“It’s
kind of behind me,” commented Sonnen of his big rematch
with over Paulo Filho in November. “I haven’t given
it much thought. It’s always important to do a good job,
put it in the rear mirror and move forward.
“Don’t
get me wrong, I’m glad we had it, but I haven’t given
it much thought since.”
Sonnen
is slated to make his Octagon return on Feb. 21 against undefeated
Demian Maia at UFC 95 in London.
“The
upside to (Maia) is that he’s fought three of my teammates,”
said Sonnen. “I helped every one of them get ready, so I’ve
at least got experience in preparing for him and am familiar
with him because my teammates competed with him.”
At
the end of the day it doesn’t matter to Sonnen who he faces,
he’s worked his way back to the pinnacle of the sport and
intends to make the most of his second chance.
“I’m
excited about it,” he stated. “It’s a really neat
opportunity and I’m grateful to have it.
“I
want to thank Zuffa for continuing to grow the sport. To the
fans, thanks for your support and I’ll see you in 2009.”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
COLEMAN
HEADS TO WOLFSLAIR BEFORE DUBLIN
As UFC Hall of Famer Mark "The Hammer" Coleman readies
for his return to the Octagon for the first time since 1999,
he plans on leaving for Ireland a little bit earlier than expected
to get past the travel woes and will work with a top U.K. team
in those final days.
Traveling
is nothing new to Coleman who fought for the Pride organization
for many years. The former UFC heavyweight champion regularly
made trips from his home in Columbus, Ohio, to Japan.
While
this trip is a much shorter flight to Dublin, Ireland, the former
Ohio State wrestler asked the UFC for a little more time overseas
to get ready for the fight.
"For
me it's going to be a shorter flight compared to in the past,
but they were scheduled to bring me in on the 12th or 13th, which
is only four days out and fortunately I asked them if I could
get over there a little bit early and they've been great to me,"
Coleman told MMAWeekly Radio recently. "They've been treating
me very good and they had no problem sending me over there a
little bit early."
As
Coleman prepares for his new life as a fighter in the 205-pound
weight class, he will first fly to England before heading to
Dublin for a chance to work with a top U.K. team in the final
days leading up to the his match-up against Mauricio "Shogun"
Rua.
"The
Wolfslair team over there in England, they're going to take care
of me for the first three days over there," Coleman stated.
"I'm going to train with those guys for a couple days and
then fly over to Dublin from England."
The
team at the Wolfslair has gained quite a bit of notoriety lately
beyond just working with middleweight star Michael Bisping. The
team also worked with and helped lead Quinton "Rampage"
Jackson and Cheick Kongo to victories in their fights at UFC
92 in December.
Coleman
worked with his regular team at Hammer House in Columbus for
his fight preparation, but the Wolfslair team will round out
his final days before he re-enters the Octagon.
Coleman
takes on Shogun on Jan. 17 in Dublin, Ireland as part of the
co-main event for UFC 93.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
DAN
MILLER STEPS IN AGAINST JAKE ROSHOLT
A change has been made for the upcoming Feb 7 UFC Fight Night
card in Tampa, Fla as MMAWeekly.com confirmed late on Wednesday
night that Dan Miller has stepped in to replace Alessio Sakara
in a middleweight match-up with former WEC fighter, Jake Rosholt.
The
news was confirmed to MMAWeekly.com by sources close to the fight,
and while it was reported that Sakara has been pulled from the
bout, it is unknown at this time the extent or nature of his
injury.
Dan
Miller, much like his brother Jim, has never been one to turn
down a challenge on short notice. He first debuted in the UFC
defeating veteran fighter Rob Kimmons, only to return just over
a month later to fight and get a win over Matt Horwich in an
exciting fight at UFC 90 in Chicago.
Now
Miller steps up once again to face another tough opponent in
Jake Rosholt, who will making his UFC debut.
The
former Oklahoma State wrestler is still currently undefeated
in his MMA career and made his WEC debut in November winning
by TKO over Nissen Osterneck.
The
bout between Miller and Rosholt is likely to remain on the undercard
of the show featuring a main event between Joe Lauzon and Hermes
Franca in a lightweight battle.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Quote
of the Day
“Stress
is an ignorant state. It believes that everything is an emergency.
Nothing is that important.”
Natalie Goldberg
|
Rickson
opens his box
In 2009, Gracie plans to hold seminars in eight Brazilian cities
The
man who most knows Jiu-Jitsu decided to export, at the end of
2008, the knowledge he has acquired over nearly half a century
of life. Thus, when Rickson takes a seat and prepares to open
the box he carries, everyone’s eyes fix on him, with unmasked
eagerness. It’s not a metaphoric box, but a Styrofoam cooler.
From
it, the icon of the gentle art removes a morsel of white cheese,
half a watermelon and a vast bunch of bananas. The scene plays
out in the glorious Flamengo rowing club, where the restaurant
is nearly as run down as the current Carioca squad is, which
explains the suspense. What could the master from that pitiful
buffet?
And
thus fed, and with the aid of a two-liter bottle of an American
brand of isotonic drink that Rickson has noticed had the best
effect on his body, the professor replenishes his energy for
a 150-person seminar, over 12 hours stretching over Saturday
and Sunday. The idea is, in 2009, to take the series of seminars,
which is actually a “course” divided over ten stages,
to eight cities in Brazil.
The
class in Rickson’s city of birth, Rio de Janeiro, on the
11th and 12th of October, was the first stage of his personal
project, which was covered in a six-page report in the mainstream
press. “I want to take awareness of the martial art to the
mainstream. Today, Jiu-Jitsu is efficient as a fighting style,
but not to the point of boosting one’s development,”
said the Gracie to the “Jornal do Brasil” newspaper
on December 14th. On the seminar in Rio, he remarked: “It
was one of the most moving moments in my life. I realized Jiu-Jitsu
is still a family.”
And
there really were even family members among the participants,
alongside world champions, veteran black belts and young white
belts from an assortment of academies. “When I was really
small,” says Kyra Gracie, “I remember having asked
Renzo: ‘Uncle, is Rickson everything they say he is?’
And the answer has stuck in my head since: ‘No. He’s
much more.’”
Kyra
didn’t regret it, and confirmed her cousin’s technique.
In three hours, before lunch time, the Gracie has escaped every
mount, surprised everyone with technical details and tought details
even regarding solid base standing. He showed it in practice
to all the students. And he didn’t even come close to getting
tired, perhaps the most impressive part.
“For
every position, Rickson showed invisible mistakes, practiced
by all fighters or competitors, whether amateur or world class
athletes. Hence, he would show the reasons for losing positions
or excessive use of force when performing simple positions, in
which minute details in adjusting or angling, posture or balance,
mean enormous differences in the final outcome of the position
or, the greater objective, in finishing off the opponent,”
related Breno Sivak, Rickson black belt and co-organizer of the
event.
Felipe
Costa, roosterweight world champion, approved: “Rickson’s
seminar was without a doubt a great investment in my career.
I didn’t learn any revolutionary new technique in the seminar,
it was work on the basics with very interesting concepts, aimed
a pure technique, the whole time.”
After
lunch, Rickson re-started the seminar laying out the importance
of eating properly for quality of life and physical conditioning.
And, on moving his diaphragm to show the benefits of yoga-based
breathing, one of the younger participants at the seminar realized
he was living out a moment from the movies: “Hey dad! That’s
from the movie The Hulk!”
Source: Gracie Magazine |
SANTIAGO
WINS TITLE; GOMI FADES AT SENGOKU 7
American Top Team fighter Jorge Santiago kept his post-UFC streak
intact on Sunday in Saitama, Japan, where he captured the first
Sengoku middleweight championship with a win over No. 5 ranked
middleweight Kazuo Misaki.
It
was a tough back and forth battle over the opening four rounds
of the bout, but in the championship round, it was Santiago that
would find a way to claim victory. After feeling the brunt of
Misaki's kicks for most of the fight, Santiago got the fight
to the mat in the fifth round, and worked his way to mount. Misaki
gave up his back and that was all the ATT fighter needed to lock
on a rear naked choke. Misaki could not escape; the referee stopping
the fight after the Japanese fighter went to sleep.
Santiago
is now 9-0 since a 1-2 trio of fights saw him exit the UFC's
Octagon. That nine-fight streak includes winning two bouts in
one night on two different occasions. Besides defeating Misaki
for the Sengoku title, Santiago's resume during that time includes
wins over Jeremy Horn, Trevor Prangley, Siyar Bahadurzada, and
Kazuhiro Nakamura, amongst others.
While
Santiago's star continues to shine brighter and brighter, former
No. 1 ranked lightweight Takanori Gomi's star continues to fade.
Even though Sergey Golyaev defeated him in November, Gomi was
given a reprieve by World Victory Road and placed in Sunday's
Sengoku lightweight title bout with Satoru Kitaoka. By contrast,
Kitaoka earned his place in the bout by winning two fights in
one night on that same November fight card. He continued his
winning ways on Sunday.
Following
an opening minute of little action, Kitaoka shot in on Gomi.
A brief scramble ensued and Gomi picked Kitaoka up and slammed
him down, causing both fighters to hit the mat with Gomi's arm
tied up by Kitaoka. Gomi attempted to get to Kitaoka's back,
but Kitaoka switched to an Achilles lock. Gomi defended, and
even waved off the referee at one point, but Kitaoka switched
up his hold and arched his back, causing Gomi to tap out.
The
fight marks Kitaoka's fifth straight victory – earning him
the first Sengoku lightweight championship – following a
strong 2008 that saw him go 4-1 on the year.
EliteXC
heavyweight champion Antonio Silva made his promotional debut
on Sunday despite remaining under suspension by the California
State Athletic Commission for a positive test result for the
anabolic steroid boldenone. The commission has no authority over
fights in Japan.
Silva
was successful in his bout with Yoshihiro "Kiss" Nakao,
though it was rather anticlimactic. The two had barely gotten
started, Silva using his superior size to his advantage in a
couple of brief exchanges, before Nakao limped away from Silva
and fell to the mat, the referee halting the fight. There was
no clear indicator as to the cause of Nakao's injury, as he didn't
appear to take any punishment to the leg that collapsed and he
clutched while on his back on the mat.
Team
Quest fighter Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal kept his impressive
streak intact. Following a September professional debut, Lawal
is now 3-0 in MMA, all three victories under the Sengoku banner.
He ended a six-fight winning streak for Yukiya Naito – a
fighter with more than 20 bouts to his credit – with an
opening round TKO at Sengoku 7.
Sengoku
Lightweight Championship:
-Satoru Kitaoka def. Takanori Gomi by Submission (Achilles Lock)
at 1:41, R1
Sengoku
Middleweight Championship:
-Jorge Santiago def. Kazuo Misaki by Submissions (Rear Naked
Choke) at 3:26, R5
-Sanae
Kikuta def. Hidehiko Yoshida by Split Decision, R3
-Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal def. Yukiya Naito by TKO
(Strikes) at 3:54, R1
-Antonio Silva def. Yoshihiro Nakao by TKO (Leg Injury) at 1:42,
R1
-Eiji Mitsuoka def. Sergey Golyaev by Submission (Armbar) at
4:22, R1
-Choi Mu Bae def. Dave Herman by TKO (Strikes) at 2:22, R2
-Maximo Blanco def. Seigo Inoue by KO (Stomp) at 0:38, R1
-Hidetada Irie def. Minoru Kato by TKO (Strikes) at 4:21, R2
Source: MMA Weekly |
Ninja
wants EliteXC back in business
Without
fighting since the collapse of EliteXC, Murilo "Ninja"
Rua whishes to return to the octagon where he shined and won
the belt of the category. "I'm focused now on Mauricio’s
(Shogun) fight and I have nothing planned for my situation yet.
I'm still connected to EliteXC and have to wait. I see it (possibility
to EliteXC’s back) as very good news, I would be very happy
and if the rumors confirm... It’s wait to see", said
Ninja, helping on his brother preparation to UFC 93, against
Mark Coleman. "We’re focused on Mauricio’s fight,
training a lot... I’m sure he’ll bring us one more
victory", bets.
Source: Tatame |
Shogun
and the training with Dos Santos
The
last weeks were full of surprises. After Wanderlei Silva inviting
Rodrigo Minotauro to train in his gym in Las Vegas at TATAME’s
magazine, the ex-rivals finally trained together for his fights
at UFC 92, and another ex-Chute Boxe fighter trained with a Nogueira
pupil at his training center in Rio de Janeiro.
“Cigano
(Junior dos Santos) is also sponsored by Bad Boy, so I went to
Minotauro’s training center to train with him. Cigano is
a great person, just like (Rafael) “Feijão”
(Cavalcante), (Rogério) “Minotouro” (Nogueira)”,
tells Maurício “Shogun” Rua, who congratulated
Rodrigo for the great structure of his center. “It’s
a great training center, well organized, I liked it very much”,
praises the Universidade da Luta leader, who don’t discard
a partnership with Wanderlei and Minotauro in the future.
“I
think it’s the evolution of MMA. I never had problems with
Brazilian Top Team fighters, I always had a good relationship
with Rodrigo and Rogério even being at Chute Boxe, and
if they come to Curitiba one day they’ll be at home. I’ll
do my best to give them the same treatment they gave me at Rio”,
said Shogun.
Source: Tatame |
Recent
fighter deaths raise questions
The
death of former heavyweight title contender Justin Eilers, due
to a gunshot wound at the hands of his stepfather at a Christmas
night party, marked the third death of a recent UFC fighter under
strange circumstances in a short period of time.
Eilers,
30, a one-time starting linebacker at Iowa State University,
began in the fight game while still in high school, breaking
in with current headliner Jens Pulver, and former UFC fighter
Mike Kyle.
His
death followed the Dec. 17 suicide of Justin Levens, 28, who
had a couple of UFC fights in 2006, and was a regular in the
now-defunct International Fight League in 2007. Levens is believed
to have shot his wife, Sara, before killing himself, in the couple’s
Southern California condo.
In
September, Evan Tanner, 37, a former UFC middleweight champion,
died due to heat exposure when camping in the desert near Brawley,
Calif.
Is
the spate of deaths a harbinger of bad things to come, or is
it a random series of coincidences?
There
are no real similarities in the three deaths, so it is hard to
determine if there are any lessons to be gleaned. It’s very
different from pro wrestling, which has had a scary pattern of
early heart attack deaths, mostly of performers with pasts that
included significant steroid and recreational drug issues.
The
only real similarities between the three fighters, other than
they all made it to the UFC level at one point, is all three
were struggling in their careers, and had battled depresson.
The
issues aren’t uncommon among fighters, who often survive
paycheck to paycheck in a sport where only the biggest stars
make top money, are where they are often judged on their last
performance, and careers in the spotlight are often short.
Added
to the mix is the effect of strikes to the head and concussions,
which appear to accentuate those issues.
Chris
Nowinski, author of the book “Head Games,” and founder
of the Sports Legacy Institute, which studies the effect of repeated
concussions leading to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, noted
they have been tied to both cognitive impairment and depression.
Nowinski
started studying the effects on concussions on athletes after
suffering numerous problems himself that he couldn’t fully
understand after damage done as both a football player at Harvard
University and later with World Wrestling Entertainment.
“When
Evan Tanner passed away, the idea of someone who had done that
so many times who may have forgotten the right supplies could
be an example of that,” he said. “With Levens, that
situation was similar to Chris Benoit (the pro wrestler who killed
his wife and son and then killed himself). But this really wouldn’t
apply to the death of Eilers.”
Nowinski
noted that in studies of brain injuries among boxers, the correlation
isn’t just the number of concussions, but also the length
of time spent in the sport and amount of overall shots to the
head taken. He noted the repeated pounding in sparring sessions
over 10 years can lead to significant damage even without full
concussions, noting fighters can have numerous sub-concussions.
Tanner’s
issues with depression were well known, as he wrote about them
often on the Internet. He had also battled alcoholism, which
had led to a lengthy sabbatical from UFC before returning for
a fight in June. After losing his last fight to Kendall Grove,
Tanner had contacted UFC matchmaker Joe Silva and told him he
had a medical issue he needed to take care of, would do so, and
asked for time off before returning.
Levens’
career was going downhill, as he was on a five-fight losing streak,
and was on a six-month suspension by the California State Athletic
commission after a drug test taken in July showed massive amounts
of the painkiller Oxymorphone. Friends noted he had been battling
severe depression for the prior 19 months, since the suicide
death of Jeremy Williams, one of his best friends and a teammate
on the IFL’s Southern California Condors.
But
Brandon Shue, Eilers’ roommate and training partner, who
started him in the fight game when Eilers was a 16-year-old high
school wrestler, pointed the finger at depression as a catalyst
for what ended up happening.
“He
hadn’t been paid in four months,” said Shue. “He
was sick of MMA and said he wanted to go into boxing. He was
really depressed. That’s a big part of what happened. He
had no money for four months and was frustrated with a lot of
people.”
Eilers’
last fight was on July 26, when he was stopped early in the second
round by Antonio Silva, in Stockton, Calif., in a match on Showtime
to determine the first Elite XC heavyweight champion. Silva tested
positive for the steroid Boldenone at the fight, but California
doesn’t yet have a provision in its bylaws allowing a decision
to be overturned if the winner tests positive for a performance
enhancing drug.
After
the match, Eilers, a small heavyweight at about 224 pounds, talked
of cutting to 205. But when Elite XC fell into financial disarray
a few months later, Eilers found his career on ice.
Elite
XC had no more shows scheduled, but they were not releasing fighters
from their contracts because they are still in the midst of trying
to sell their assets, so Eilers couldn’t negotiate for a
new deal.
He
was five months without a fight, broke, depressed about being
unable to afford to buy Christmas presents, and frustrated with
the fight game.
Shue
believes that frustration led to the fireworks that took place
at a Christmas party at the home of his mother and stepfather.
He had been drinking when an ex-girlfriend, the mother of his
eight-year-old son, Tyson, got into an argument with him about
being late on child support payments. This led to an argument
with his mother and stepfather. His mother, Gwen Moore, told
the Canyon County Sheriff’s office that her son got into
her face when she was telling him to be quiet.
“James
(stepfather James Malec, 48) told Justin to back down, but he
wouldn’t, and challenged James to a fight by saying, ‘Come
on, come on, fight me, bring it on, what do you got?’ ”
she told police.
“There
was no evidence of a physical confrontation,” said Lt. Marv
Dashiell of the Canyon County sheriff’s department, although
he did note there was broken glass on the floor, either from
Eilers knocking it off a table or knocking into a table causing
the glass to hit the floor.
Malec,
who had also been drinking and had a concealed weapons permit,
was accused of pulling out a large caliber handgun and shooting
Eilers in the chest, with the bullet puncturing his lung. Police
and paramedics were called and were unable to revive him.
Malec,
former deputy in the Canyon County sheriffs department, was arrested
on charges of second-degree murder and is currently being held
in jail in Canyon County, Idaho on $1 million bond.
Eilers’
listed career record was 19-7-1, but that record states his career
started with a 2002 loss to Dan Severn. Shue noted that dating
back to 1996, Eilers, as a teenager, was regularly fighting in
small shows in Idaho and Wyoming before he started college football
in 1998.
Eilers
had the reputation of winning virtually all his fights on smaller
shows, but was never able to beat top name fighters.
Eilers
got back into the fight game after not making it in the NFL.
He met back up with childhood friend Pulver in 2002, who by that
time had become a big-name fighter, and brought him to the Pat
Miletich’s camp in Bettendorf, Iowa, where he started the
second phase of his career.
He
had four UFC fights between 2004 and 2006. The most memorable
fight would have been his loss to Arlovski, who at the time was
a dominant heavyweight champion, mowing down everyone in less
than two minutes, and Eilers figured to be no different.
Eilers
lasted 4:10 in that fight, in which he broke both hands, one
blocking an Arlovski punch and another from hitting Arlovski
with a solid punch, sprained one ankle, had both his eyes blackened
and suffered a broken jaw. The fight finally ended when he went
to throw a right and his right knee went out, tearing his ACL,
and he collapsed on the ground.
Manager
Monte Cox noted being with him the next day as Eilers limped
through the airport with both hands bandaged, with crutches for
his bad ankle, with his other leg all taped up, and with the
noticeable black eyes. Everyone was staring at him.
“He
said loud enough for everyone to hear, ‘You should have
seen the other guy,’ and then paused. ‘Not a scratch
on him.’ ”
Natalie Goldberg
|
Remaking
Frank Mir: How Ken Hahn gave a BJJ black belt a striking game
Even
more surprising than Frank Mir’s recent UFC 92 victory over
UFC interim heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira was
the manner in which he did it.
The
Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace battered Nogueira not with his ground
work but with a remarkable stand-up game.
Much
of that improvement can be attributed to Mir’s new stand-up
coach, Ken Hahn of Striking Unlimited, who speaks to MMAjunkie.com’s
Jacob Regar about Mir’s transformation and his keys to one
of the year’s biggest upsets.
MMAjunkie.com:
When did you begin coaching Frank Mir?
Ken
Hahn: Eight weeks before the (Antoni) Hardonk fight (in August
2007).
MMAjunkie.com:
What were some of the traits you saw in him that made you interested
in being his coach?
Ken
Hahn: I had already worked with him and had seen him around when
I was at Cobra Kai, but I never approached him. I was training
one of his close friends, and his close friend said to Frank,
“Hey, you’ve been with these other trainers for so
long. Why don’t you give this guy that I’m working
out with a chance?”
So
he started watching me train people, and he said to me, “Well,
you’re opening up a gym/ I’m going to go over there
and try it out.” That’s where [our relationship] started.
I
never really approached him. I’m not the type of guy that’s
going to steal someone’s fighter, but at the same time,
I’m not going to turn him away. If he wants to learn from
me, I’m going to teach him.
Basically,
he did that, so I told him, “I’ve been with a lot of
different fighters at a lot of different levels, and I’m
not going to teach you unless you want to listen. He agreed to
listen no matter what, and I agreed to teach him.
It’s
kind of like those old days in the karate days when you have
to do everything I say or I’m not teaching you. As soon
as you ask “why,” we’re done.
So
as long as he understood that, I told him, “You’re
going to be the best there is, but you’ve got to follow
me and trust me.” And that’s how it all started.
The
first two fights, I didn’t really have a chance for him
to display everything we had been working on. A lot of the skills
we worked on were put in the background because most of the fights
ended by submission.
But
the Nogueira fight was a match made in heaven because I knew
for a fact that â Now, people want to claim that he was
too weathered and that he has been through too many wars, but
I told everybody my opinion that he has been through a lot of
wars and he is going to be slower. Despite that, the type of
training that we provide for Frank is not what regular people
get.
Nogueira
was training with Forrest Griffin and Wanderlei Silva for this
fight; that’s all the people he trained with. Those three
guys just got together and hugged each other while I had Frank
train with reputable professional boxers â one heavyweight
and one light heavyweight. Then I had him spar with kickboxers,
wrestlers and Olympic-level judo players.
When
you have a chance to train with so many different high-level
guys, there’s just no way around improving. You’ve
got to get better.
There’s
a rumor circulating that Frank only worked on striking and didn’t
focus at all on jiu-jitsu, but he was with Robert Drysdale almost
every day. He had privates with him.
Once
again, he was in a position where he was getting tapped out every
day. Then all of a sudden he was getting tapped out every other
day, and then once a week. That means your skills are getting
better and better.
So
that’s completely different than training with all of your
buddies, and there’s no one to really push that drive in
you because you’re already at the top. Who’s going
to tell Nogueira what to do? No one. Who’s going to tell
Wanderlei what to do? No one. Who’s going to tell Forrest
what to do? No one.
The
bottom line is Frank was willing to listen and do whatever I
said. I mean, who’s going to say, “You’re going
to spar professional boxers today? Well, I’m not a boxer.”
I don’t care. You’re going to box them, and you’re
going to survive because that’s what is going to get you
the hand speed. That’s why he was so much more efficient
boxing.
MMAjunkie.com:
What was your game plan for Frank heading into his fight with
Nogueira?
Ken
Hahn: My game plan for Frank was for him to showcase his standup
abilities â for him to be faster, stronger and more confident.
And don’t worry about the jiu-jitsu. Make a name for yourself
by knocking a legend out. I said, “You’ll be known
more for knocking him out than for submitting him.”
MMAjunkie.com:
Given Nogueira’s boxing expertise, did you think Frank would
be able to take advantage of him as well as he did with his hands?
Ken
Hahn: Yes, because I saw his hands on the show. Once I saw him
hit mitts on the show and spar some of his guys, that was it;
I know exactly what he’s capable of.
Plus
he’s had so many fights, you can look at them and see how
many times people have knocked him down, not knocked him out,
but knocked him down. So my strategy was, “You’re going
to knock him down, then keep knocking him down, and when he gets
back up, knock him down again for five rounds, and then you won’t
get tired because you’re not trying to gut him.” That’s
basically what he did.
And
then by the second round, he got so relaxed that he became even
more deadly. If it had gone to the third round he would have
began engaging the kicks. In the first round he threw a couple
of kicks just to see what was going on, but if he would have
followed up with a kick, he would have killed him.
The
first round was rough, the second round started getting better,
but that was it. He couldn’t handle it. The only punches
Nogueira landed were one or two jabs and a low kick. That’s
not good. That means that 80 percent of Frank’s shots landed.
MMAjunkie.com:
Frank was switching up his stance during the fight from southpaw
to orthodox and back-and-forth. Was that something you helped
Frank worked on, or was that more of Frank’s own style?
Ken
Hahn: No, it’s because he was originally a southpaw, and
then he got into that accident, so he switched to regular stance
to favor his non-injured leg. After the (Brock) Lesnar fight,
his leg was fully healed, and we decided to go back to his regular
fighting stance and go back-and-forth.
His
true fighting stance is southpaw, though he integrated the two
fighting stances. You can see he actually had three or four fights
where he fought in regular stance. And that’s enough experience
to be able to defend yourself. But, when you look at how he defended
from a southpaw stance, he looked 20 times better than from a
regular stance.
If
he was fighting from a southpaw stance against Brandon Vera,
he probably wouldn’t have got caught by Brandon’s knee.
But from a different stance, you have to relearn everything from
the beginning.
Frank’s
a lot more confident in that left-hand stance. But he can switch
in and out, and that’s what made him so elusive against
Nogueira. Looking at the distance and the timing, every time
Nogueira tried to step in, he was already gone. And then he would
take an angle and weave and throw his punches. It was like in
slow motion.
And
the thing is, every day he practiced hard. It made the fight
easy. And that’s a classic example of what happened. We
put him through so much hell that once he blocked that four-punch
combination, he thought with a surprised tone, “Oh no, are
you serious? That’s what it’s going to be like?”
And then he tore him apart.
To
be able to block someone’s attack â like a four-punch
combo â and look at him like, “I blocked every single
one of those,” that means your eyes are on the game. You’re
on there. And for someone to look back and block everything you
threw and smile, you’re whole demeanor is going to change.
Not to mention [Nogueira] got dropped three times in one round,
including a sweep. He just never had a chance to recover.
MMAjunkie.com:
Honestly, what’s it like holding Thai pads for someone who
outweighs you by 100 pounds? Does your background in Enshin Karate
and Muay Thai training with Fairtex prepare you for that level
of impact?
Ken
Hahn: I think it does. Even in Enshin Karate, we held pads for
each other, so it was a really good stepping stone to enter Thai
boxing and hold Thai pads.
You’ve
got to understand that holding Thai pads is not just holding
Thai pads. You have to sufficiently hold them in a fighting stance
when you use them. You have to maintain that fighting stance
when you hold them.
A
lot of guys will hold a Thai pad for a kick, and then they will
use their back foot to brace for the impact. But you should be
in a fighting stance and just twist your body to meet the kick,
so you can absorb the impact properly by bending your knees and
such. Does that make sense?
MMAjunkie.com:
It does, but doesn’t it ever hurt your forearms?
Ken
Hahn: Oh, it does. I mean everyone is going to have the pains.
But, basically, I’m not just focusing so much on power when
I’m holding the Thai pads. I mean, I’ve got 200-, 300-pound
heavy bags that they can blast away on if they want to just blast
away.
I
use them more for timing and distancing and technique than for
blasting away â kind of like how boxing focus mitts are.
Most
people associate using the Thai pads with power, and you can
if you are a big guy. But if you’re a small guy holding
them for a big guy, then you have to change it up. You have to
learn how to take the abuse.
At
the same time, I don’t agree with placing the Thai pad on
your thigh because the kicker ends up kicking at a wrong angle
or you will bust the pad holder’s elbow.
MMAjunkie.com:
Rumor has it Frank isn’t the easiest guy to get motivated
for training. What methods did you employ to reach Frank’s
competitive drive and bring it to the surface?
Ken
Hahn: The main thing was making Frank believe that it’s
not a fight-to-fight kind of deal; it’s being a martial
artist. A martial artist trains every day. He wakes up, brushes
his teeth, trains, eats, sleeps and goes and does it all over
again. Whereas a fighter â most of the time â just
fights paycheck-to-paycheck. “Oh, I’ve got to train,
OK?” Five weeks out, train, fight, take six months off.
A
martial artist fights and then takes a couple of days off, and
then he’s right back in training. In fact, in the old days,
when I would fight in the Sabaki Challenge and all that stuff,
it was mandatory for me to come to practice the next day, even
if I could barely walk, at least show up and walk around.
Of
course, all that is is spirit because the next day you are beat
down, you don’t want to move, everything is sore, but to
show up to class and at least move around, that’s the spirit
that you have to develop.
MMAjunkie.com:
In Frank’s post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, he mentioned
experiencing quite a bit of fear prior to entering the cage to
face Nogueira. Were you aware of this, and if so, would you mind
sharing some of the content from your pre-fight pep talk?
Ken
Hahn: Well, I think [Nogueira’s] a hero. He’s an MMA
legend. And he’s definitely a dangerous fighter. Before
fighting Lesnar, I remember Frank met Nogueira in person and
he stood next to him and I told him, “You can’t look
at him as a hero anymore. Now he’s a competitor, and you’re
going to be the guy that kills the hero. You’ve got to fight
him, and you’ve got to beat him.”
So
I think the biggest thing to motivate him was one, making him
believe that he’s a martial artist, and two, letting him
know that you don’t have to throw away anything you learned
in the past.
If
you learned karate, go ahead (and) use the karate, but know when
to use it. If you have a spinning back kick, you can’t use
it in the beginning because it’s not a high-percentage hit,
but if you wait until the third round, then he’s not going
to be expecting it. Launch away.
Another
thing was I just let him have fun. I didn’t yell at him
as much. I didn’t force him to do certain things until after
he built a certain level of stamina.
This
was the first fight that we had five months to train. And we
had injuries and all kinds of crap, but we still pushed forward.
MMAjunkie.com:
Out of all of Mir’s sparring partners leading up to his
fight with Nogueira, who gave him the best run for his money
during stand-up practice? If that’s a Striking Unlimited
secret I will understand.
Ken
Hahn: We had access to pro boxers. … Not guys that just
turned pro. I’m talking about top-30 pro boxers. These guys
are legitimate, 10-fights, seven-KOs, legitimate guys. They are
two Native American brothers. One guy is 175 pounds, and the
other is 260 pounds.
So
when you get both of those guys at pro level hitting him, he’s
going to get punched the way it’s supposed to feel. He’s
going to have the movement to where he can’t touch you.
Why do you think his distancing got so much better? When he has
to chase down pro boxers that move and slip, you start figuring
out the same thing.
If
you roll with a champion jiu-jitsu guy, you’re going to
go, “Whoa, this is different.” But the more you train
with him, the more you pick up. So for standup, having pro boxers
as part of our team that want to work with him was very beneficial.
Those pro boxers teach boxing hear at my gym, Striking Unlimited.
MMAjunkie.com:
Can you drop their names?
Ken
Hahn: Yeah, Derek Hinkey and Tyler Hinkey.
But
I think just offering up different types of fighters for Frank
was important. Sometimes I would feed him guys that weren’t
that good so he could get his skill level up. It’s one thing
to train with the best guys, but you have got to use those guys
efficiently. You can’t spar with them all the time or they
will beat you up. You can spar with them once every other week.
The
other times, you need to be sparring on [crappier] guys so you
can build your confidence and work on stuff without paying the
ultimate price. Try to work on new stuff with a really good guy,
and you’re going to end up getting knocked out. Try it on
the [crappy] guys and they don’t have the skill level to
make you pay, so when they do tag you it’s not going to
be that bad. But if you go against a pro boxer and you drop your
hands trying to do something, you’re out cold.
MMAjunkie.com:
Going into the fight between Mir and Nogueira, what did you perceive
to be the most dangerous areas of Nogueira’s game as they
applied to Frank?
Ken
Hahn: I think if you play into Nogueira’s game and let him
drag the fight out long, that could be dangerous. If you played
Nogueira’s game and came out and tried to take him down
and play the jiu-jitsu game, I think Nogueira would probably
have an easier time wearing Frank out just because he’s
been there so many times live.
No
matter how many times you’ve trained your techniques in
a tournament or practice, it’s not the same thing as live
fire. But the way we trained, I knew his cardio was going to
be there. I actually was sad that it didn’t go longer than
two rounds because that extra ring time experience would have
been beneficial for Frank. If you compare how many fights Frank
has to Nogueira, it’s less than half.
MMAjunkie.com:
Did you or Frank study Nogueira’s past fights as part of
Frank’s fight preparation?
Ken
Hahn: Basically, I watched an entire history of his fights twice,
and then I developed my strategy. The only guys that he submitted
were guys that didn’t have jiu-jitsu, and the submissions
came toward the end of the rounds when his opponents were tired.
But everyone knocks him down, so you can definitely land punches
on him.
And
when I was watching “The Ultimate Fighter” and saw
Ryan Bader sparring with him and punching him in the face, I
was like, “Wait a minute. If Bader’s doing that, you’ve
got to do the same thing.” And if he’s not respecting
the punch, then he’s not respecting Frank until he gets
roughed up. So now when you go back and watch videos, you can
see how many mistakes Nogueira makes. I noticed a lot of important
things the second time I watched his fights.
MMAjunkie.com:
Do you think more people will now start to recognize you as one
of the top stand-up coaches in MMA? Anyone who watched the fight
and read your weekly “TUF8” blogs on MMAjunkie.com
would have recognized many of the same principles and techniques
that you discussed in those blogs being put on display by Frank.
Ken
Hahn: I think the true test will probably be how many new people
start joining my gym; how many people will switch from their
current gym, like Randy’s gym and Warrior gym, to my gym
because their fighters lost?
The
main thing for me is being comfortable with my accomplishments.
I knew where I am and who I am. Remaining level-headed is important.
Basically, I just wanted to create a world champion because if
I can, then that means I can produce more.
MMAjunkie.com:
Are you excited to help Frank prepare once more for a fight with
Brock Lesnar?
Ken
Hahn: Excited? It’s another fight man, and I take it as
a job. I told Frank he would be a champion, but realistically,
it’s up to him now. He’s got to show up. He’s
got to want it because it’s going to be harder now. Now,
he’s not the underdog. There’s just so much more pressure
on him. But as far as training him for his next fight, yeah,
of course, I want to see Brock Lesnar lose.
And
I love going into the octagon and watching my guy display all
of the techniques that I taught him. That I think is more important
as a martial artist. For me it has always been, “I’m
going to make you better than I was.” That’s not what
my other instructor did. A lot of instructors don’t want
you to be better than them because then you make your own gym
and create new competition.
In
the olden days if you truly loved them (your students), you gave
them everything because they were like a child or your brother,
and you wanted to make them as good as possible.
I
don’t do that with everyone, but if you listen and I trust
you, I’m going to give you everything no matter what.
Source: MMA Junkie |
Quote
of the Day
“Stress
is an ignorant state. It believes that everything is an emergency.
Nothing is that important.”
Natalie Goldberg
|
Fighters'
Club TV Tuesdays!
Channel
52
NEW TIME of 8:00 PM!
If
you are not on the Onzuka.com Hawaii Ground forum, you are missing
the latest news from upcoming events, get to rub elbows with
numerous promoters and fighters, and get to voice your opinion
on any subject you can dream up. Hit the links above to sign
up for a free account and start posting away!
|
Manup
and Standup
Kickboxing
Event
Manup and Standup
Feb 7 2009
6:30 pm
Filcom Center
|
FIGHTERS
MAKE WEIGHT FOR SENGOKU 7
World Victory Road's Sengoku 7 takes place on Jan. 4 at the Saitama
Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. The event features two title bouts.
Takanori Gomi faces Satoru Kitaoka in a battle for the Sengoku
lightweight crown, while Kazuo Misaki and Jorge Santiago square
off for the middleweight championship.
One
point of controversy on the fight card is the participation of
EliteXC heavyweight champion Antonio Silva. He is currently under
suspension in California due to a positive test result for the
anabolic steroid boldenone.
The
fighters weighed in on Saturday in Japan and the nine-bout fight
card is now official.
Sengoku
Lightweight Championship:
Takanori Gomi (153.9) vs. Satoru Kitaoka (154.3)
Sengoku
Middleweight Championship:
Kazuo Misaki (182.3) vs. Jorge Santiago (181.2)
Hidehiko
Yoshida (204.8) vs. Sanae Kikuta (201.5)
Muhammed Lawal (204.6) vs. Yukiya Naito (202.4)
Antonio Silva (260.6) vs. Yoshihiro Nakao (225.8)
Eiji Mitsuoka (154.1) vs. Sergey Golyaev (153.9)
Dave Herman (243.2) vs. Choi Mu Bae (260.8)
Maximo Blanco (154.3) vs. Seigo Inoue (154.1)
Hidetada Irie (204.4) vs. Minoru Kato (203.0)
(All
weights are in U.S. pounds. Weights courtesy of Japan-MMA.com.)
Source: MMA Weekly |
AFFLICTION
2008 YEAR IN REVIEW
Now affectionately known as “the t-shirt guys,” Affliction
Entertainment burst onto the MMA scene in 2008 after the UFC
banned them from sponsoring fighters with their flashy brand
of attire. The clothing company soon took to a rash of major
athlete signings and partnerships in its first few months of
business, leading many to believe they were the UFC’s next
serious competitor.
Just
shy of a year from its inception, the jury is still out on whether
the promotion will gain traction with the highly coveted casual
fan, but for an MMA startup, their presence was just about as
loud as, well, their clothing.
AFFLICTION
NABS FREE AGENTS
After
the debacle that was M-1 Global, the feeding frenzy surrounding
free agent Fedor Emelianenko resumed. Talks between Emelianenko’s
reps and the UFC broke down, and shortly after, Affliction drew
headlines by scooping up the No. 1 ranked heavyweight. In June,
more attention followed when UFC heavyweight Andrei Arlovski
could not come to terms with his employer and shortly after signed
with the upstart promotion. Along the way, Affliction picked
up a laundry list of top-tier talent, including Josh Barnett,
Tim Sylvia, Matt Lindland, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Ben Rothwell,
and Vitor Belfort. Such a collection of talent was not cheap
– the payroll for the promotion’s first event, “Banned,”
was a reported $3.3 million, and it was widely expected that
Emelianenko received a signing bonus north of a million dollars.
“BANNED”
SELLS OUT AND GRABS A REPORTED 100,000 PAY PER VIEW BUYS
Named
after their UFC treatment, Affliction’s first event was
held at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. on July 19. By most
accounts, it was a mixed success. While many of the fights were
entertaining, there were several hiccups on the production side
of the show. With 14,832 in attendance, the event was a sellout,
although it was later revealed Affliction purchased somewhere
between 5 and 10 percent of those tickets to distribute among
friends and family. Early speculation put pay per view buy rates
at 80,000, but in an exclusive interview with MMAWeekly.com,
Atencio said the number exceeded 100,000, giving the event a
ballpark figure of $4 million in revenue. Atencio also claimed
his company got a better deal than the standard 40 percent of
revenue offered to most promoters, though he would not specify
the amount. “Banned” also took the unusual step of
melding different mediums, with metal band Megadeth playing between
fights. It would not be the last time the company tried to mix
audiences. While it is certain the event lost money, it was an
impressive showing for a novice promoter.
“DAY
OF RECKONING” STALLS
After
“Banned” put Affliction on the map, speculation centered
on how they would match the luster of the first event without
going broke. Atencio quickly attempted to dispel the idea that
its second show – and promotion – was a cash cow for
unsigned fighters. The highly priced Emelianenko had destroyed
former UFC heavyweight champ Tim Sylvia, but had injured his
right thumb in the process. Arlovski and Barnett had won in their
respective fights, and with Emelianenko out until January of
2009, a contender fight was assembled for the promotion’s
second event. Rumors circulated that fighters were asked to take
pay cuts, though one fighter, Josh Barnett, disputed that claim.
“Day of Reckoning” was scheduled for Oct. 11 at the
Thomas and Mack center in Las Vegas, the stomping ground of the
UFC. In the months prior to the event, Atencio said the industry
leading promotion was interfering with his ability to put the
event together, presumably by legal harassment. A month before
it was to take place, “Day of Reckoning” was postponed
to January of 2009. Ticket sales for the event were reportedly
abysmal, with many estimates under 1,000. Following the gaffe,
Affliction Entertainment’s COO (and Donald Trump underling)
Michael Cohen promised an announcement that would “change
the world of MMA.”
AFFLICTION
PARTNERS WITH GOLDEN BOY
Boxing
ringleaders Golden Boy Promotions was set to collaborate with
Affliction on “Banned,” but reportedly got cold feet
when the clothing company went public with the possible partnership.
With “Banned” in the books as a sellout, talks between
the companies resumed. Following the postponement of “Reckoning,”
Atencio and Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer used the press conference
for an upcoming Ricky Hatton/Paulie Malignaggi boxing match to
announce a formal partnership. The two companies would co-promote
four hybrid boxing/MMA shows, beginning with Jan. 24’s “Reckoning.”
The hybrid idea was later shot down, with the event being re-cast
as an all-MMA event. Then, things got a little stranger, with
Golden Boy reinstating a previously canceled boxing card between
Shane Mosley and Antonio Margarito for the same night as “Reckoning.”
As of this writing, the event is a lock, with a now-healthy Fedor
Emelianenko taking on Andrei Arlovski for the WAMMA heavyweight
title, and Josh Barnett facing Dutch bad boy Gilbert Yvel.
AFFLICTION
TURNS DOWN UFC BID
Hot
on the heels of the postponement and partnership, Affliction
met a crossroads in its short career in promoting. Through various
intermediaries, the UFC requested a meeting with Affliction executives
in Las Vegas. During the meeting, the UFC offered to allow the
clothing company back into the fold with a more formalized partnership,
in exchange for ceasing operations as a fight promoter. Affliction
execs agreed to consider the deal and meet again. When they reconvened
with UFC executives in early October via teleconference, a verbal
slugfest ensued, and the relationship appeared to be over. For
the conceivable future, Affliction would not be seen in the UFC,
other than on the backs of the fashionably conscious fans. Affliction
would later formalize its partnership with M-1 Global, the promotion
headed by Fedor Emelianenko’s manager, Vadim Finkelstein,
to co-promote MMA shows around the world. A rumored network TV
deal with CBS would elude them, and they would go the pay per
view route once again.
Source: MMA Weekly |
NOT
OFFICIAL, CONDIT AWAITS LARSON REMATCH
Carlos Condit sees only one man on the horizon: Brock Larson.
Condit
defeated the Minnesota Mixed Martial Arts Academy standout in
convincing fashion at WEC 29, another blip on his submission
radar. Larson didn’t see an armbar coming off a scramble,
and it was game over.
But
as the top dog of a thin division, the WEC welterweight champion
has to shrug his shoulders. He doesn’t have many choices,
and the ones he has are not camera ready to face him.
“It’s
not ideal, because I have everything to lose, and he has everything
to gain,” Condit told MMAWeekly.com’s Sound Off. “The
pool of contenders is a bit shallow. There’s not a whole
lot of guys for me to fight.”
Condit
has been inactive since August of 2008, when he triumphed over
the tough Hiromitsu Miura in his first title defense to go past
the third round. Rumored returns in December and January have
not materialized, so he’s used the time off for a change
of scenery.
In
November, Condit traded one desert for another, moving from Albuquerque,
N.M., to Tempe, Ariz. He had spent his entire fighting life in
New Mexico, and had reached a plateau in his development. He
was burnt out.
“To
the point where I wasn’t motivated to train,” Condit
explained. “I felt like I’d pretty much done everything
there was to do. The only thing that really got me motivated
out there was running in the mountains and spending time outside.
Other than that, well, I’ve already done all the clubs.
I’ve already sparred with everybody there is to spar with.
I needed something new to do.”
Training
at the city’s other big gym, Jackson’s MMA, wasn’t
really on the table. Condit’s trainer, Tom Vaughn, had made
a name for himself after earning a black belt with Greg Jackson,
opening Fit NHB, the place Condit would call home. Though Condit
would stop in to Jackson’s from time to time, he couldn’t
see himself there, or in Albuquerque, for the rest of his career.
Through
the WEC, Condit befriended Jamie Varner, the promotion’s
lightweight champion, and the two talked about training together.
Condit had friends in Tempe, where Varner’s gym, Arizona
Combat Sports, was located, and he knew of the gym’s pedigree.
They had a room of Division I wrestlers who liked all out wars
in the gym. Like a lot of jiu-jitsu experts, Condit felt wrestling
was his weak point. It didn’t take long for him to see the
benefit of moving.
“Over
there, they’ve got a bunch of really talented wrestlers;
wrestlers who like to fight, who are becoming or are very good
mixed martial artists,” he said.
In
that way, the layoff has treated Condit well. He’s had the
chance to plug holes in his game. The wrestling’s a work
in progress.
“It’s
not come as far as it needs to, but it’s been improving
for sure,” he said.
For
the most part, wrestling was the unanswered question of Condit’s
fight with Larson. Most saw Larson’s mat expertise as the
key to beating Condit’s jiu-jitsu. But he made a mistake
early, and in the absence of sweat, Condit capitalized.
Should
they fight again, Condit sees as much danger as he saw before.
“He’s
a very tough guy, and just because I beat him before doesn’t
mean anything,” he said. “I’m going to have to
be on my toes. I’m very motivated to fight him, and I’m
looking forward to a very tough training camp.”
Condit
would also jump at a rematch with old foe Jake Shields, who defeated
him in a Rumble on the Rock tournament in 2006.
“I’d
definitely like to rematch Jake,” he says. “I would
welcome that fight for sure.”
That
said; nothing is set in stone for the return of the “Natural
Born Killer.” Right now he’s helping Varner prepare
for his upcoming fight with Donald Cerrone – a former training
partner – at WEC 38.
“It
is a bit awkward,” he comments. “I wouldn’t want
to let the cat out of the bag and give Jamie all the secrets
or anything, but on the other hand, I want Jamie to be ready
for this fight. So it’s a bit of a fine line to walk.”
He
expects to return to the WEC in March, where a fight with Larson
seems inevitable if the promotion is not able to import a recognizable
candidate.
“I’d
like to fight more often, but I’m still going to be really
sharp when I come back,” Condit said.
Source: MMA Weekly |
'TUF
8' winner Efrain Escudero to fight Jeremy Stephens
"The Ultimate Fighter 8" lightweight winner Efrain
Escudero will fight in his first non-"TUF" UFC fight
when he takes on Jeremy Stephens at a UFC Fight Night event in
April.
Escudero
(11-0) registered wins over Ido Pariente, Shane Nelson and Junie
Browning on the show and became the season eight lightweight
winner when he defeated favorite Phillipe Nover at the finale
last month.
Stephens
(14-3) is 3-2 in the UFC and will be coming off one of the best
knockouts of 2008 when he delivered a gigantic uppercut to put
out Rafael Dos Anjos.
The
fight will likely take place at the yet-to-be-announced UFC Fight
Night 18 on April 1.
Source: MMA Fighting |
Minotouro
in final stretch before Affliction
Brazilian to face Matyshenko on 24th
Rogerio
Minotouro is getting ready for one of the most important bouts
of his life: the rematch against Vladimir Matyshenko, to take
place January 24th, at Affliction. The fighters faced each other
the first time in 2002, when the Russian beat Minotouro by unanimous
decision. After a short break for New Year’s, the Brazilian
is back in training at full swing and promises to give his opponent
the hardest of times.
“I’m
going to bring him a tougher fight this time. I took a short
rest, but now I’ll be training hard till the day of the
fight,” said Minotouro to Portaldelutas.com.
Before
the end-of-the-year celebrations, Minotouro had already been
training hard. To polish up his takedowns, the fighter had some
outside help.
“We
have two American wrestlers to held us, some guys with really
strong takedowns. Now I’m going to intensify my boxing training
again. I’m working hard and training is really tense,”
he said.
At
the Nogueiras’ training camp, in Rio de Janeiro, the entire
team has been mobilized for the bout.
“We’re
have all our attention turned to Rogerio. We really want this
win and he does too,” said coach Amaury Bitetti.
Source: Gracie Magazine |
Rankings:
One down, one to go
The
first month of a two-month span in which most of the best fighters
in the world compete is complete. They may as well have been
grappling for position in the rankings, given all the comings
and goings. To wit:
•
Rashad Evans enters the poll at No. 6 following his impressive
win over Forrest Griffin for the UFC light heavyweight title
on Dec. 27. Evans never seemed to get his due on his way up,
perhaps because he didn’t exactly set the world on fire
in his first two marquee matches – a draw against Tito Ortiz
and a split decision over Michael Bisping. Since then, though,
Evans has come into his own, with a versatile approach that includes
one of the most effective counter-striking games in the sport.
•
From the “wow, tough crowd” file: Griffin fell out
of the Top 10, finishing 11th. This is still the same guy who
finished Mauricio Rua and Quinton Jackson back to back, and won
the first two rounds against Evans before losing to his unbeaten
foe in the third.
•
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira fell out of the Top 10 after his listless
loss to Frank Mir at UFC 92. Never say never, but it looks like
Big Nog’s UFC interim title reign could have been the legendary
heavyweight’s swan song at the top. Mir, for his part, showed
up in the “votes for others” category with five points,
five behind the man he beat in February, Brock Lesnar.
•
Welterweight Thiago Alves, who finished 11th last month, eased
into the 10 spot without fighting.
Alves,
of course, is expected to meet the winner of the Jan. 31 megafight
between UFC lightweight champion B.J. Penn and welterweight champion
Georges St. Pierre. The match between No. 4 Penn and No. 3 St.
Pierre highlights a month that also includes No. 2 Fedor Emelianenko
against former UFC heavyweight champ Andrei Arlovski, No. 7 Lyoto
Machida vs. unbeaten Thiago Silva, and No. 9 Urijah Faber against
Jens Pulver.
This
month, we welcome new pollster Michael David Smith of AOL.com.
For info on the entire Y! Sports MMA Top 10 panel, go here.
Note:
This month’s poll was compiled before Shinya Aoki’s
win over Eddie Alvarez in Japan on Dec. 31 and thus the poll
does not reflect the result.
10.
Thiago Alves
Points:
19
Affiliation:
UFC
Weight
class: Welterweight
Hometown:
Fortzleza, Brazil
Record:
16 (won last seven)
Last
month’s ranking: unranked
Recent
results: def. Josh Koscehck, unanimous decision, Oct. 25
Analysis:
Seven straight victories and the most complete Muay Thai game
this side of Anderson Silva makes Alves a dangerous foe for the
fighter who comes out of the Georges St. Pierre-B.J. Penn match
with welterweight gold.
9.
Urijah Faber
Points:
24
Affiliation:
WEC
Weight
class: Featherweight
Hometown:
Sacramento, Calif.
Record:
21-2 (lost last one)
Last
month’s ranking: 8
Most
recent result: lost to Mike Brown, R1 TKO, Nov. 10
Analysis:
Faber faces Jens Pulver on Jan. 25 in a rematch with little upside.
The former featherweight champ already handled Pulver in their
June meeting. A loss or poor showing against Pulver, who has
lost four of his past five matches, will only serve to drop his
stock.
8.
Lyoto Machida
Points:
28
Affiliation:
UFC
Weight
class: Light heavyweight
Hometown:
Belem, Brazil
Record:
13-0
Last
month’s ranking: 10
Most
recent results: def. Tito Ortiz, unanimous decision, May 24
Analysis:
Machida might not be the biggest ticket seller, but an impressive
win over fellow unbeaten Thiago Silva in January will make it
very hard to deny “The Dragon” a light heavyweight
title shot.
7.
Quinton Jackson
Points:
47
Affiliation:
UFC
Weight
class: Light heavyweight
Hometown:
Memphis, Tenn.
Record:
29-7 (won last one)
Last
month’s ranking: 9
Most
recent result: def. Wanderlei Silva, KO R1, Dec. 27
Analysis:
Just to review, “Rampage” has won seven of his past
eight fights; beaten the likes of Matt Lindland, Chuck Liddell,
Dan Henderson and Wanderlei Silva; and his only loss in that
span was a coin flip of a decision against Forrest Griffin. Jackson’s
résumé over the past three years holds up against
everyone ranked ahead of him.
6.
Rashad Evans
Points:59
Affiliation:
UFC
Weight
class: Light heavyweight (UFC light heavyweight champion)
Hometown:
Lansing, Mich.
Record:
13-0-1 (won past three)
Last
month’s ranking: unranked
Most
recent result: def. Forrest Griffin, R3 TKO, Dec. 27
Analysis:
Evans was doubted by fans and media alike throughout his rise
to the top. But the tremendous counter-striker, whose success
may be the biggest testament to Greg Jackson’s training
style, has both the gold and the last laugh.
5.
Miguel Angel Torres
Points:98
Affiliation:
WEC
Weight
class: Bantamweight (WEC bantamweight champion)
Hometown:
East Chicago, Ind.
Record:
35-1 (won past 16)
Last
month’s ranking: 6
Most
recent result: def. Manny Tapia, TKO R2, Dec. 3
Analysis:
How good is Torres? He beat Tapia using just his standup –
Tapia’s strength – simply to prove he could. Word on
the street has Torres’ next title defense, against Brian
Bowles, taking place in Chicago in the spring.
4.
B.J. Penn
Points:
128 (one first-place vote)
Affiliation:
UFC
Weight
class: Lightweight (UFC lightweight champion)
Hometown:
Hilo, Hawaii
Record:
13-4-1 (won past three)
Last
month’s ranking: 4
Most
recent result: def. Sean Sherk, R3 TKO, May 24
Analysis:
The Jan. 31 megafight between Penn and St. Pierre marks just
the second time two top-five fighters have met since the Y! poll
began. The first was in September 2007, when then-No. 4 Jackson
defeated then-No. 3 Dan Henderson.
3.
Georges St. Pierre
Points:
133
Affiliation:
UFC
Weight
class: Welterweight (UFC welterweight champion)
Hometown:
Saint-Isidore, Quebec
Record:
17-2 (won past four)
Last
month’s ranking: 3
Most
recent result: def. Jon Fitch, unanimous decision, Aug. 9
Analysis:
When St. Pierre and Penn met last at UFC 59, Penn tagged GSP
early and won the first round, forcing St. Pierre to rally. The
welterweight champ has rarely allowed himself to be put in such
a position since.
2.
Fedor Emelianenko
Points:
135 (4 first-place votes)
Affiliation:
Affliction/M-1 (WAMMA heavyweight champion)
Weight
class: Heavyweight
Hometown:
Stary Oskol, Russia
Record:
28-1, one no-contest (won past nine)
Last
month’s ranking: 2
Most
recent result: def. Tim Sylvia, R1 submission, July 19
Analysis:
After losing in the world sambo championships a couple months
back, Emelianenko decided to skip the media hype for his upcoming
match so he could regain his focus. That could be very bad news
for Andrei Arlovski come Jan. 24.
1.
Anderson Silva
Points:
154 (11 first-place votes)
Affiliation:
UFC
Weight
class: Middleweight (UFC middleweight champion)
Hometown:
Curitiba, Brazil
Record:
23-4 (won past nine)
Last
month’s ranking: 1
Most
recent result: def. Patrick Cote, R3 TKO, Oct. 25
Analysis:
Silva is at his motivated best when he’s challenged by elite
competition. Thales Leites, his rumored next foe, doesn’t
quite fit the bill.
More
•
Votes for others: Forrest Griffin 15; Brock Lesnar 10; Eddie
Alvarez 6; Frank Mir, Dan Henderson 5; Shinya Aoki 4; Mike Brown,
Carlos Condit 3; Jon Fitch, Andrei Arlovski 2; Randy Couture,
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira 1
•
Upcoming matches for ranked fighters: No. 2 Fedor Emelianenko
vs. Andrei Arlovski, Jan. 24, Anaheim; No. 3 Georges St. Pierre
vs. No. 4 B.J. Penn, Jan. 31, Las Vegas; No. 7 Lyoto Machida
vs. Thiago Silva, Jan. 31, Las Vegas; No. 9 Urijah Faber vs.
Jens Pulver, Jan. 25, San Diego.
Source: Yahoo Sports |
Quote
of the Day
“We
cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails.”
Bertha Calloway
|
WEC
2008 YEAR IN REVIEW
When Zuffa purchased World Extreme Cagefighting in late 2006,
the promotion was already a mainstay among most MMA circles,
but with the parent company of the UFC on board the company was
set for a boost in exposure and popularity. What followed was
the WEC making a move to the Versus Network for numerous live
shows throughout the year and several specials that air on the
station regularly.
In
2008, the WEC had a banner year, crowning new champions and becoming
the official home for lighter weight class fighters to get recognized.
This
is the 2008 WEC year in review.
WEC
REMOVES MIDDLEWEIGHT AND LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CLASSES
Probably
one of the biggest stories of all 2008 was the decision by the
WEC to do away with their 185-pound and 205-pound divisions to
focus on lighter weight classes. The promotion had long supported
the idea of staying fresh and new, and by dissolving the two
higher weight classes, it gave the company more room to expand
the featherweight and bantamweight divisions.
"With
every fight, the WEC has proven itself to be a powerful and growing
presence in sports, both with our live events and our programming
on Versus," said Peter Dropick, WEC Vice President of Operations
and Production. "Exciting matchups like Torres vs. Tapia
on Dec. 3 and the incredible fights we have planned for 2009
under this new structure will no doubt establish WEC as the home
of the best lighter weight fighters in the world."
This
decision forced some fighters to move over to the UFC to stay
under the same company umbrella. Former WEC 205-pound division
champion Steve Cantwell already debuted and won his first fight
in the UFC and others like Brian Stann, Chael Sonnen, and Jake
Rosholt are expected to make their Octagon debuts soon.
One
fighter left out of that mix was former 185-pound king Paulo
Filho. After failing to make weight for his last title defense,
he put on a lackluster performance in his fight against Chael
Sonnen and was released from his contract shortly thereafter.
The
move to focus on the lighter weight classes allowed the organization
to make bigger stars out of fighters like Miguel Torres and other
bantamweights and featherweights, but are considered among the
best pound for pound fighters in the world.
MIGUEL
TORRES ESTABLISHED AS ONE OF THE POUND FOR POUND BEST
When
Miguel Angel Torres made his WEC debut by submitting Jeff Bedard
in September 2007, it was obvious that a star was on the rise.
In his next fight, Torres submitted Chase Beebe and became the
promotion's new 135-pound divisional champion.
In
2008, Torres cemented his place among the very best in the world
with one dominant victory over a top-notch competitor and another
battle that could be considered as a "Fight of the Year"
candidate.
His
first official title defense came against Japanese bantamweight
Yoshiro Maeda on June 1. In the end, the champion was able to
hold onto his title, but not without going to war first. A back
and forth stand-up fight, mixed with scrambles at every turn,
Torres was able to punish his opponent and get a stoppage after
round three.
The
fight proved not only that Torres was a great champion, but able
to endure adversity in a fight and battle through his own cuts
and injuries to get the win. His next fight was against Top 10
ranked fighter Manny Tapia in December.
While
most felt that Torres would have his biggest advantage on the
ground, the bantamweight champion instead chose to stand against
his heavy handed opponent. Torrest picked Tapia apart on the
feet en route to a second round stoppage after tagging his opponent
standing and then finishing the fight on the ground.
For
Miguel Torres, 2008 proved to be a very successful year and in
the coming year he may be the WEC's most valuable commodity.
CHANGING
OF THE GUARD AT 145 POUNDS
After
Hurricane Ike pushed their fight back from September to November,
featherweights Mike Brown and Urijah Faber battled it out in
Florida for the WEC 145-pound divisional title. While Brown had
all the credentials to be in the fight, it was Faber who seemed
almost untouchable after an unbelievable run as champion and
solidifying himself as the top dog in the weight class.
What
unfolded was the exact opposite of what most thought would happen
as Brown flattened the champion in the first round, landing a
thunderous right hand that sent Faber crashing to the mat. A
few more strikes followed and shortly thereafter, Mike Brown
was crowned the new featherweight champion of the WEC.
While
Faber never once said he was unbeatable, he just seemed that
way with his resilience in fights and ability to get out of any
bad situation and turn it to his advantage. The tables turned
that night as Faber threw a back elbow strike and got caught
with Brown's right hand.
With
Brown poised to defend his featherweight title in March against
Leonard Garcia and Faber readying for a rematch against Jens
Pulver, the promotion's featherweight class got possibly the
biggest shake-up of champions in 2008.
CARLOS
CONDIT AND JAMIE VARNER WIN BIG
The
bantamweights and featherweights got a lot of deserved attention
this year in the WEC, but the accomplishments of 170-pound divisional
champion Carlos Condit and 155-pound divisional titleholder Jamie
Varner should not be overlooked.
Condit
has long been established as a Top 10 fighter in the deep welterweight
division, but in 2008 the New Mexico native avenged a previous
loss and, much like Miguel Torres, proved himself in possibly
one of his toughest tests to date.
Submitting
Carlo Prater in front of his home state fans in February helped
Condit avenge the first loss of his professional career. His
other title defense, a win over super tough fighter Hiromitsu
Miura, gave the champion a lot of respect from doubting critics
who wondered if his previous wins were just too easy for him.
Jamie
Varner proved that he sat among the elite lightweights with his
dismantling of former champion "Razor" Rob McCullough,
to win the title in February. Many people wanted to pigeonhole
Varner as a wrestler with good submission skills, but instead
of taking McCullough to the ground, he simply out struck the
striker.
Varner
took McCullough out of his game and eventually finished him off
in the third round to capture the WEC lightweight championship.
He then took out former undefeated lightweight Marcus Hicks in
his first title defense to keep the belt around his waist as
he moved into the New Year.
Both
Condit and Varner are sure to be tested in 2009, but the champions
of the WEC's 170 and 155-pound divisions deserve to be mentioned
along with any of the top fighters in either of those weight
classes after their performances in 2008.
WEC
– BEST PROMOTION OF 2008?
Not
to discount any of the other great events that took place in
numerous other promotions in 2008, but the WEC may have stolen
the crown this year as the organization had a number of outstanding
shows from the live fights to the production during the televised
broadcasts, down to the commentating in the booth.
It's
hard to argue with WEC 34, which took place in Sacramento earlier
this year, as possibly the best show of 2008. Two "Fight
of the Year" candidates headlined the event. Urijah Faber
performed in front of his hometown crowd defeating Jens Pulver
in an exciting five-round decision, while Miguel Torres took
out Yoshiro Maeda in a back and forth war for the bantamweight
championship.
WEC
35 also had a number of crowd-pleasing fights including Carlos
Condit defending his belt against Hiromitsu Miura, Jamie Varner
defending his lightweight strap from Marcus Hicks, and Steve
Cantwell exacting his revenge against Brian Stann in their second
fight, recapturing the light heavyweight title.
Overall,
the promotion seemed to hit on all cylinders when it really counted.
The WEC puts on less shows over the course of a year than many
other promotions, but when they put on a show, they seem to know
exactly the formula to follow. UFC interim heavyweight champion
Frank Mir has become an expert as a color commentator in the
broadcast booth, and the production staff puts together a strong
televised product as well.
The
WEC will kick off 2009 in late January with a lot to look forward
to. The promotion plans to finally hit pay-per-view in 2009,
launch a reality series, and quite possibly make a move into
Mexico. But first, the WEC can celebrate 2008 as a big success
in its first full year under the Zuffa regime.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
STEVENSON
READY TO WELCOME DIEGO TO 155
Joe “Daddy” Stevenson got the call to welcome Diego
Sanchez to the lightweight division two weeks ago, and was immediately
excited at the prospect.
“Diego
always comes to fight,” he told MMAWeekly.com.
The
respective winners of “The Ultimate Fighter” season
two and one will headline UFC 95 at the O2 arena in London. It
is Stevenson’s second headlining show in the U.K, and Sanchez’s
first appearance outside the U.S.
“Some
fights are like, man, it isn’t a good one, and it’s
gonna be long and drawn out,” Stevenson continued. “This
fight has the ability to go the whole time like a barnburner,
as well as finished in a second by either of us. So I’m
kind of excited about it.”
Sanchez
fought nine consecutive fights as a welterweight after winning
the first middleweight Ultimate Fighter contest. The San Diego-based
fighter put off the move to 155 for a year following a loss to
contender Jon Fitch. Two wins, at UFC 82 and The Ultimate Fighter
season seven finale, implied a comeback at 170, but for the time
being, Sanchez appears set to make waves at lightweight.
Stevenson
doesn’t think Sanchez will be much different at a lighter
weight.
“It’s
not like a great advantage,” he said. “But every little
thing at the top level helps.”
In
a time where many fighters are looking for greener pastures at
a different weight class, Stevenson has thought about making
a move downward himself. In the past, he’s fought as heavy
as 185 pounds, later making the cut to welterweight for the reality
show.
“I
know I could probably cut even further down, but there’s
no point to cutting even further down than I am,” he said.
“I have no incentive to do it. Not going up, I think it
helps keeping a size advantage, being a little bit bigger with
guys than smaller.”
For
the time being, he will enjoy where he’s at, and try to
keep Sanchez out of his game when they lock horns.
“I
think we’re both pretty good on the ground,” Stevenson
said. “It’s going to be interesting to see who has
the upper hand the whole time and at what point in the grappling.
I’m definitely going to try to keep him out of his element,
to keep him where I’m comfortable.”
Stevenson
says a win over Sanchez will put him back in the contender class
of the division. At UFC 91, he fell short of upsetting the current
heir to contendership, Kenny Florian, and needs a high profile
win to merit a second opportunity at a title shot. He said his
first try, a losing effort against B.J. Penn at UFC 80, expanded
his idea of what he could endure in a fight. Against Sanchez,
that will likely be tested again.
“I’ve
got to take it very seriously,” he said. “It will be
great for one of us and bad for the other. I just need to go
in there and do what I do best.”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
KENDALL
GROVE VS.
JASON DAY AT UFC 96
Ultimate Fighter season three winner Kendall Grove will face
Canadian fighter Jason Day at UFC 96 on March 7 in Columbus,
Ohio. Grove's attorney, Jill Baxter, confirmed the bout on Friday
to 411mania.com.
Following
a two-fight skid, Grove most recently fought on June 21 at The
Ultimate Fighter 7 Finale. He defeated the late Evan Tanner by
split decision.
Day
has been out of action for nearly as long. His most recent fight
was a June 7 TKO loss to British fighter Michael Bisping at UFC
85.
Both
fighters will be looking to kick off 2009 with a successful effort
as the UFC returns to Columbus for the third consecutive year
on the same weekend as the Arnold Sports Festival.
The
event has been formally announced by the UFC, but no bouts have
officially been revealed. There are strong rumors that a bout
between Gabriel Gonzaga and Shane Carwin could materialize at
UFC 96, but sources indicate it has yet to be signed. Other rumors
mark Chuck Liddell and Keith Jardine for the Nationwide Arena,
although they are not likely to rematch, instead fighting in
separate bouts.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Chuck
Liddell wants rematch with Rashad Evans
Chuck Liddell may have lost three of his last four fights but
his mind is still on the UFC light heavyweight championship belt.
"I'll
fight anybody they put in front of me as long as it gets me back
closer to the title." Liddell said in a report on the South
Florida Sun-Sentinel. "I have to try to be the best at what
am I doing. I want Rashad Evans, he's got the title and I'll
take it."
The
two logical opponents for Evans would be an immediate rematch
with Forrest Griffin or a fight against former champ Quinton
"Rampage" Jackson.
Liddell
could have arguably been the number one contender for the belt
had Jackson not defeated Wanderlei Silva at UFC 92. Silva was
Liddell's biggest win since Tito Ortiz at UFC 66 on Dec. 30,
2006.
Liddell
(21-6) could return at the earliest March 7 at UFC 96 in Columbus,
Ohio. White said at the UFC 92 post-fight press conference that
Liddell was a possibility for the event but couldn't name a matchup
for Liddell.
According
to the Sun-Sentinel, Liddell has trained occasionally with the
American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida after losing to Evans
at UFC 88 last September.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Josh
Neer apologizes on TV for latest arrest
UFC lightweight Josh Neer apologized for his latest arrest in
an interview with the WHO-TV Channel 13 News in Des Moines, Iowa.
Neer
was arrested and put in jail in the early hours of the New Year
for a drunk driving and eluding the police incident.
"I
just want to apologize to my friends, my family, and fans. I
made some bad choices and I basically want to move on and put
this behind me," Neer said in the interviewed that aired
Saturday.
Neer
(24-7-1) is coming off his first UFC main event last September
at UFC Fight Night 15 and is scheduled to fight in the co-main
event of UFC Fight Night 17 against Mac Danzig on Feb. 7 in Tampa,
Florida.
When
asked if he has any fear that this latest arrest will end his
days in the UFC, Neer was uncertain.
"I
don't know yet," Neer said. "It's all up to the UFC
at this point. There's nothing I can really do so I just got
to sit back and hopefully they'll let me fight and I'm gonna
move on from this and no more troubles."
According
to Elias Johnson of the Channel 13 News, Neer will find out early
this week if he will fight Danzig.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Demian
on Sonnen
Bout set for February 21
The
news Demian Maia will be facing Chael Sonnen for his next bout
was released at the beginning of last week. The fight with the
former WEC fighter shall go down at UFC 95, on February 21, in
London. Portaldaslutas.com had a chat with Demian, who analyzed
his adversary.
“I
expect he will come in to win on strategy. He will probably try
to take the fight the whole three rounds and avoid the ground.
That’s what I think. I don’t believe he will take many
risks, I think he’ll try to win on points,” the black
belt commented.
“He
fought Paulo Filho and everyone could see Paulo wasn’t well
that day, going through personal problems. He was professional
and respected his contract, otherwise he wouldn’t even have
fought. But Sonnen is someone to be respected, because Paulao,
well or not, is a tough opponent,” he said in finishing.
Source: Gracie Magazine |
Quote
of the Day
"Difficulties
strengthen the mind, as labor does the body."
Seneca
|
Demian
Maia at OTM Fight Shop on Jan 9th!
Happy New Year!
We
are fortunate to have Demian Maia with us and want people to
actually get the chance to meet him for themselves.
This
Friday, Jan. 9th, at OTM Fight Shop. Come meet and greet BJJ
World Champ and UFC Veteran Demian Maia from 5:00 - 6:00pm.
· MMA Record (9-0); (4-0) UFC - all wins via submission
· 2007 ADCC Submission Wrestling World Champion
· 2007 Super Challenge under-83kgs Champion
· 2006 Pan American Champion
· 2005 ADCC Submission Wrestling World Runner-Up
· Three-time World Cup champion
· Two-time World Champion
· Brazilian champion
· 7x state champion
· 4x Brazilian team champion
OTM
Fight Shop
1255 S. Beretania St. (across Cadillac & Times)
591.6620
hawaii@otmfightshop.com
Source: Dane Wicker
|
Post-Dynamite
Notebook: Aoki Wants Bout with B.J. Penn
by Tony Loiseleur
TOKYO -- Japanese submission expert Shinya Aoki made quick work
of Eddie Alvarez on Wednesday in the co-main event of FEG’s
“Dynamite 2008.” After the impressive showing, Aoki
explained that the quickness of his victory was mostly due to
his respect for Alvarez’s power.
“The
reason why I was able to get his leg was because I was really
scared of his power. If he punched me, I thought he’d kill
me,” said Aoki with a jovial laugh. “So instead, I
thought I’d go straight to my finishing move.”
Aoki
was cagey when answering whether he and his peers at Nippon Top
Team employ leg locks thanks to the notion that Western fighters
aren’t proficient in defending them, yet his comments were
telling given their evasiveness.
“We
are obsessive about developing the strongest grappling in MMA,”
he said. “My finishing technique, the outside heel hook,
is really difficult to finish in MMA. It’s not something
I invented, but something that Masakazu Imanari has taught me.
I think we are the best in researching the most effective submission
techniques.”
Aoki’s
submission of Alvarez earned him the World Alliance of Mixed
Martial Arts lightweight championship. Following his win, though,
perhaps inadvertently Aoki drove the message home that even he
still believed in the dominance of UFC lightweight champion B.J.
Penn.
“I
think there’s no doubt that B.J. Penn is still the best
at 155 pounds. He’s most likely the best fighter in the
world. I don’t ignore the UFC,” Aoki commented. “I
respect the UFC because it’s a very high level organization
-- a high summit in the sport.”
The
UFC lightweight king also figures into Aoki’s hopes for
the as-yet uncertain future.
After
disposing of Eddie Alvarez, Shinya Aoki wants B.J. Penn.“Personally,
the most decisive fight in the world, the culmination, the pinnacle
for me is B.J. Penn,” Aoki said on the eve of arguably his
greatest victory. “Please do not misunderstand -- I really
need this to be clearly expressed in the media: Shinya Aoki will
not go to the UFC. I just want to fight B.J. Penn. This is my
selfish wish. I know that everyone says they want Penn, but I
think I’m the number one Japanese fighter to be saying this.”
Alvarez
was unavailable for postfight comment because he was being held
at a nearby hospital for observation, according to Dream event
producer Keiichi Sasahara. While there appeared to be no bone
damage to the American bruiser, Sasahara stated that Alvarez
suffered ligament damage and would likely require several months
to recover.
MMA
Trounces K-1: Reaction from the Fighters
It
was a thoroughly dominant evening for MMA’s own at Dynamite,
as Tatsuya Kawajiri, Gegard Mousasi and Alistair Overeem racked
up first-round stoppages in kickboxing bouts, handily destroying
their K-1 opponents at their own game.
“I
practiced evading low kicks, punching to get under his guard
and lots of flying knees. It’s rare, but you actually got
to see me do everything I trained for in this fight,” Kawajiri
said.
“The
Crusher” also said that while he was happy with the result,
he would likely decline future offers to fight under K-1 rules,
opting instead to aim for the Dream lightweight title in 2009.
Kawajiri’s
opponent, Takeda Kozo, was naturally not in high spirits after
his TKO loss.
“For
me, a fight is a fight between two men,” Takeda said when
asked to explain why he lost to an MMA fighter. “But it
is also hard for us to accept that the K-1 fighters lost against
MMA fighters under K-1 rules. I regret that I could not win tonight.”
Ever
improving, Overeem came into his own as a kickboxer with his
shocking knockout of World Grand Prix 2008 finalist Badr Hari.
Asked
if he would fight Hari under MMA rules, Overeem replied, “He
challenged me, and I was the one who said we’ll fight with
his rules first. This was confirmed by his management, FEG and
my management. A deal’s a deal, so why not?”
Despite
Overeem’s answer, Hari was of a different mind.
“It’s
nothing against the offer, but I’m a standup fighter. It’s
what I do, and MMA is not my sport. There will be no MMA fight
soon or in the future.”
Hari
also noted fatigue and an inability to stay motivated for the
fight.
“I
fought three fights in the Grand Prix [Final], and then two and
a half weeks later, I had to appear here,” he said while
explaining why he lost. “It’s hard for a fighter to
keep their focus and be motivated to fight four big fights in
one month.”
Though
a rematch with Mirko Filipovic looms, Overeem is in no rush to
fight the Croatian, particularly given Filipovic’s upcoming
knee surgery. With Hari defeated, Overeem indicated that he’d
like to split his time between hunting the current K-1 king while
aiming for Fedor Emelianenko in the MMA sphere.
“I
think [Cro Cop is] a great fighter and I’d like to fight
him, but he’s not a priority right now. In the last fight,
I clearly showed that I’m the better fighter, so I want
to look further and challenge Remy Bonjasky,” Overeem said.
“When I challenge somebody, I challenge them to fight their
rules. Challenging to fight them at my rules is stupid. I challenged
them, so I’m going to do it in their rules.”
For
Dream middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi, the K-1 rules bout
was all business and did not reflect an inclination toward future
kickboxing bouts.
“I
just wanted to prove that I can also fight in K-1,” Mousasi
said. “Maybe later in my career, I’ll fight more in
K-1, but I’d need to gain weight to fight there cause the
guys are [265 to 287 pounds].”
Bringing the Focus Back to Japan
Dream
event producer Keiichi Sasahara said the goal of shifting the
focus of the MMA world back to Japan took a step toward realization
at Dynamite 2008.
“Today’s
event was very good and I’m proud of it, but we have to
have successively good events to build enthusiasm so that everyone
will start thinking that Japan is the center of martial arts
again,” Sasahara said. “In March of next year, we’d
like to do a featherweight tournament. I’m planning to have
the event be on pace with our tournaments this year, but with
welterweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight championship
bouts too.”
Regarding
the featherweight grand prix, FEG president Tanigawa admitted
that they still had not come to a decision on the actual weight
limit of the division, let alone how many will participate in
the tourney. As for Tanigawa’s goals in 2009, they remain
at once lofty and barbed toward the world’s current MMA
juggernaut.
“My
hope is for Japanese audiences to save more,” he said. “If
we can save up enough money, I would like to buy out the UFC.
Their casinos are in trouble, aren’t they? That’s my
goal -- to acquire the UFC.”
Miscellaneous
Bits
“Due
to the unexpectedness of lightweight champion Joachim Hansen’s
withdrawal last night, we’re unsure of when he’ll come
back. While we’ll be mindful of whatever his recovery time
will be, we’re still not sure if we’ll match him back
up with [Gesias Cavalcante] or with someone else, but as he is
the true champion, I think we’ll make his next fight a title
bout. Firstly, though, we will await an official, detailed diagnosis.”
-- Keiichi Sasahara
“I
didn’t even see it coming. I can’t even remember it.
I just remember being in the ring, and the next thing I remember,
I was in the dressing room.” -- Mark Hunt
“We
didn’t actually plan tactics, but last night, my trainers
told me he drops his left hand to his belly, so when I come,
I have to counter with the left. So that’s what I did.”
-- Melvin Manhoef
“It
was a hard time for me because I had to train and then after
go to therapy. But this is my job, and I know fans expected to
see me for New Year’s Eve. Now I have time for the operation.
I’m going to do it the day after tomorrow.” -- Mirko
Filipovic
“He
hit me and I started bleeding and couldn’t see anything.
I got scared. If I backed off, I thought the doctor would stop
me. I heard the referee or someone in the background saying,
‘Get the towel,’ so all I could do was to persistently
[pound] aggressively.” -- Hayato Sakurai
“They
always say I don’t fight for my fans, but [the media] always
uses the wrong words, because of course I always fight for my
fans. But the media makes me believe that I don’t have fans.”
-- Semmy Schilt
“I
understand the question, but I don’t know why you would
ask that.” -- Kiyoshi Tamura on whether the outcome of his
bout with Sakuraba would have been different had it happened
five or 10 years ago.
“I
wanted to fight more. Even if I lost, I wanted to lose by submission,
so in that sense, I wanted to fight more.” -- Kazushi Sakuraba
“As
expected, we got along well. I always wanted to fight him, and
I still do many more times. I think we can improve each other.
I think Tokoro is going into the featherweight grand prix, and
I want him to win it. After a few years, after we both improve,
and we can fight again, it would be great.” -- Daisuke Nakamura
“Yeah,
I’d really like to fight him again, but I think I need more
experience so we can become stronger, mutually, and then hope
to have another bout.” -- Hideo Tokoro, his right arm in
a sling, apparently with a broken ulna.
Source: Sherdog
|
MELENDEZ
VOWS 2009 RETURN, WANTS ISHIDA
by Mick Hammond
Even the best fighters can go through a rough patch.
Regardless
of stature in the sport, no one is immune from stumbling occasionally.
It’s rebounding from that rough patch that truly separates
a top tier fighter from the rest. This is the current conundrum
for Gilbert “El Nino” Melendez.
Formerly
the Strikeforce lightweight champion and top-ranked fighter in
multiple weight classes, Melendez now finds himself with two
losses in his last three fights, looking for a way back to prominence.
“The
year as a whole was an okay year for me,” he said of 2008.
“It wasn’t the best, but now that it’s the end
of the year I’m feeling great and looking forward to 2009.”
After
losing his first time ever, to Mitsuhiro Ishida on New Year’s
Eve 2007, Melendez split his fights in 2008, defeating an overmatched
Gabe Lemley in March, and losing his Strikeforce title to Josh
Thomson in June.
“I
got caught up in the stand-up game a lot,” he commented.
“I feel confident with my stand-up and everything, but to
progress in this sport sometimes you have to neglect something.
“I
feel like I neglected my wrestling, and it showed out there.
I got taken down a lot against Ishida and against Josh, too.
I thought I could have prepared better, and I could I have done
better in structuring my fights, but I felt like I always went
out and gave it my best.”
Since
his loss to Thomson in June, he has focused on rebuilding himself
from the outside in, starting with the opening of his own gym
in San Francisco.
“Of
course it’s a long term investment as well, but (I did this)
mainly to have my own gym, my own ring, and practice when I want,”
commented Melendez. “I felt like I was jumping gyms a lot,
and now I live in my own gym and I feel like more than anything,
I built this for myself.
“Right
now, I’m just trying to get good bodies in here to work
out with me. So yes, it was a business investment, but more than
anything it was an investment in me progressing in the sport
and becoming a better and smarter fighter. That was the main
reason.”
Even
though the focus has shifted to his own business, Melendez continues
to work with longtime teammates Jake Shields, and Nick and Nate
Diaz, among others in the Cesar Gracie family of fighters.
With
that side of his career settled, Melendez is focused on regaining
his status as one of the best fighters in the world.
“I
plan on being busy, because I’ve got the itch to fight again,”
he said. “Things kind of brushed my way, like maybe going
to Japan to fight, and I almost kind of wanted to jump on it,
but I love Strikeforce and am having a good time with them.
“I
have one fight left, and I want to focus and do really good on
my next fight for Strikeforce and take it from there.”
There
is one fight in particular he has in his sights for his Strikeforce
return.
“One
person I would love to fight is Ishida,” he exclaimed. “If
they could give me Ishida again on a Strikeforce card, I would
be more than happy to take that fight.
“That’s
who I’m asking for, that’s who I’d like, and you
can put that in bold lettering. I’d like to have a rematch
with him, take the next step and defining myself these next couple
of years.”
According
to Melendez, things may have come too fast, too easy in the past,
but he plans on working hard to regain what he’s lost and
prove he’s one of the best in the world for a long time
to come.
“I
just want to thank my sponsors, Fairtex, Eternal Unlimited, Tagg
Radio, Kelly’s Auto Body Shop in Santa Ana, and everyone
else, thank you,” he concluded. “Just be ready for
2009; I’m going to be fighting a lot.
“If
you want to train, come to El Nino Training Center in San Francisco.
Look us up, we’re around; come join the team and train with
us, it’s going to be an exciting year.”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
DREAM
bests K-1 at 'Dynamite 2008!!'
The DREAM fighters had an unbelievable night on New Year's Eve,
pulling off stunning upsets over K-1 kickboxers at "Dynamite!!
2008" at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
DREAM Middleweight Grand Prix champion Gegard Mousasi won his
K-1 debut by TKO against K-1 veteran Mushashi, who entered with
a kickboxing record of over 80 fights. Mousasi dropped his opponent
twice before stopping him at 2:32 of the first round.
Strikeforce
heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem fighting under K-1 rules
knocked out the K-1 World GP Final runner-up Badr Hari at 2:07
of the first round. The plan is for the two to meet again under
MMA rules at a future DREAM event.
DREAM
lightweight Tatsuya Kawajiri, who feared for his own safety having
to make his K-1 debut in this fight against a veteran Kozo Takeda,
apparently had no reason to worry. Kawajiri dropped Takeda four
times in the first round.
DREAM
heavyweight Mirko Cro Cop handed Hong-Man Choi's second straight
New Year's Eve loss by injuring the giant with leg kicks in the
first round in a fight under MMA rules.
DREAM
Middleweight GP semifinalist Melvin Manhoef showed again why
he could easily be a top ten MMA fighter if only his ground game
wasn't a question mark. Manhoef, stepping in on days notice,
knocked out the heavier Mark Hunt in only 18 seconds with a right
hook square on the chin.
1.
K-1 Koshien Reserve Bout (136.7 pounds)
Taishi Hiratsuka def. Daizo Sasaki via KO - R2
2.
DREAM Open-Weight Bout
Ikuhisa "Minowaman" Minowa def. Errol Zimmerman via
submission (toehold) - R1
3.
K-1 Koshien Semifinal Bout (136.7 pounds)
Koya Urabe def. Tatsuya Kusakabe via TKO - R3
4.
K-1 Koshien Semifinal Bout (136.7 pounds)
Hiroya def. Shota Shimada via unanimous decision
5.
K-1 (156.5 pounds)
Artur Kyshenko def. Yoshihiro Sato via majority decision
6.
DREAM (150 pounds)
Daisuke Nakamura def. Hideo Tokoro via submission (armbar) -
R1
7.
DREAM (165.3 pounds)
Andy Ologun def. Yukio Sakaguchi via KO - R1
8.
K-1 Koshien Final (136.7 pounds)
Hiroya def. Koya Urabe via unanimous decision
9.
DREAM Heavyweight Bout
Bob Sapp def. Kinnikumantaro via TKO - R1
10.
DREAM Heavyweight Bout
Semmy Schilt def. Mighty Mo via submission (triangle choke) -
R1
11.
DREAM (176.4 pounds)
Hayato "Mach" Sakurai def. Katsuyori Shibata via TKO
- R1
12.
K-1 (154.3 pounds)
Tatsuya Kawajiri def. Kozo Takeda via TKO - R1
13.
K-1 Heavyweight
Alistair Overeem def. Badr Hari via TKO - R1
14.
DREAM Heavyweight
Mirko "Cro Cop" def. Hong Man Choi via TKO - R1
15.
K-1
Gegard Mousasi def. Musashi via TKO - R1
16.
DREAM Heavyweight
Melvin Manhoef def. Mark Hunt via KO - R1
17.
DREAM Lightweight Bout/WAMMA Championship Bout
Shinya Aoki def. Eddie Alvarez via submission (heel hook) - R1
18.
DREAM
Kiyoshi Tamura def. Kazushi Sakuraba via unanimous decision
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Ground
& Pound Awards for 2008
By Zach Arnold
From Tim Leidecker
GROUND
& POUND AWARDS 2008 It is time for the Fourth Annual Ground
& Pound Awards, the internet award ceremony that lets you,
the fans, make the decision!
The
year 2008 is now officially in the books and not only international
politics and financial market have experienced major changes,
but mixed martial arts as well.
Former
champions and super stars like Mirko Cro Cop, Wanderlei Silva
and Semmy Schilt said goodbye to the top of the mountain, while
exciting young talents like Gegard Mousasi, Thiago Alves and
Shinya Aoki lay claim to be the sports’ future.
The
UFC is circling solitarily on the MMA firmament and the former
fighting Mecca Japan has to be at full stretch in order not to
fall behind completely.
Contrary
to many other websites and magazines which often have promotional
and or political interests in advancing certain fighters, we
are not deciding the winners ourselves, but we are giving you,the
fans, the opportunity to select the best fighters, fights and
events of the year.
Who
will be Anderson Silva’s heir as Fighter of the Year? Which
is the strongest fight team in the world? And which promotion
consistently puton the best shows? You decide!
The
ballot will be open for fourteen days and once again reflect
theviews of fans, fighters, coaches and promoters around the
world. If you want to smack down your vote as well, you can do
so here:
http://www.groundandpound.de/limesurvey/index.php?sid=27397&lang=en
Voting
runs until January 14 and the results will be published January
15, right here on Fight Opinion! Thanks for voting!
Source: Fight Opinion
|
Coleman
Still Young at Heart
by Tommy Messano
Like most 40-something professional athletes, Mark Coleman hears
the question often. How and when does he envision the curtain
closing on his career?
“That
question does present itself all the time to me,” he says.
“I guess it’s a question that any athlete doesn’t
like to deal with or hear. I consider myself very fortunate because
there has been a lot of time off over the last 10 years, and
that’s been a blessing. My body still feels relatively fresh.
I don’t see the end being that near.”
Nine
years after his last appearance inside the Octagon, Coleman (15-8)
-- one of five men enshrined in the UFC Hall of Fame -- will
meet Brazilian standout and 2005 Pride middleweight grand prix
winner Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 93 “Franklin
vs. Henderson” on Jan. 17 at the O2 Arena in Dublin, Ireland.
Throughout
Coleman’s storied 12-year career, he has tested himself
against some of the world’s premier mixed martial artists,
from the sport’s pioneers -- Don Frye, Dan Severn and Maurice
Smith -- to modern-day pound-for-pound contenders -- Rua, Antonio
Rodrigo Nogueira and Fedor Emelianenko.
A
member of the 1992 Olympic team and an NCAA national wrestling
champion at Ohio State University, Coleman has not competed since
he submitted to a second-round armbar from Emelianenko at Pride
32 in October 2006. During his two years away from competition,
Coleman came to grips with himself, inside the cage and out.
A father to two daughters, parenthood kept him busy.
Now
primed for a rematch against an opponent 17 years his junior,
Coleman must confront naysayers who question the wisdom behind
his decision to return to competition after more than two years
away from it. However, the thought of hanging up the gloves never
crossed the 44-year-old’s mind, as the extended layoff afforded
him time to reflect on what he wanted to accomplish with the
rest of his career.
“Retirement
was never an option,” Coleman says. “I had offers to
fight since then, but my goal was to get back into the UFC. I
waited and turned down some pretty good paychecks in the process.
The reason for the layoff is because I really wanted back into
the UFC. Fortunately, [UFC President Dana White and matchmaker
Joe Silva] decided to bring me back, and I’m grateful.”
Even
in his 40s, Coleman is a beast in the weight room.UFC matchmakers
had no intention of easing Coleman back into the rotation, however,
as they immediately pitted him against Brock Lesnar at UFC 87
in August. Coleman saw a mirror image of himself in Lesnar, a
decorated amateur wrestler who was being showered with the “physical
specimen” and “unstoppable” labels. Fate had other
plans for both men.
“I
knew I was going to have to go into that fight at 100 percent,”
Coleman says. “I was full speed every day at practice, and
when you do that, you risk injury. I tore my [medial collateral
ligament]. I was working on my kicks, believe it or not, and
I got a little kick happy. I threw a lazy one out there and tore
my MCL pretty good.”
Having
missed out on a golden opportunity, Coleman was left to watch
Lesnar from the sidelines, as the former World Wrestling Entertainment
superstar dominated Heath Herring at UFC 87 and began his rapid
climb to a title shot with little in his way to slow him down.
“It
was frustrating,” Coleman says. “I would have preferred
to have been there myself. Who knows? Maybe in hindsight everything
happens for a reason.”
Coleman
predicted success for Lesnar, who went on to defeat another hall
of famer, Randy Couture, for the UFC heavyweight crown at UFC
91 in November.
“When
I first heard Brock Lesnar was coming into the game, I predicted
he would do very well, depending on how much he committed himself,”
he says. “This sport will force you to commit yourself,
or you will end up getting humiliated. As long as he stays dedicated,
he’s going to be tough to beat.”
While
Coleman will face Rua (16-3) at 205 pounds later this month,
he has not ruled out a future return to the heavyweight division,
especially if he finds a bout against Lesnar on the table.
“At
this stage of my career, I can’t look past the next fight,”
he says. “If you want to look in the future and the UFC
offered up Brock Lesnar to me, I realize it would be one hell
of a challenge. I’d certainly give it a shot. If that offer
presented itself, I would definitely take it.”
Itching
to meet the challenge placed before him, Coleman opted not to
stay in his comfort zone. Rather than train exclusively in Columbus,
Ohio, he ventured across the state line into West Virginia in
order to focus on refining his stand-up. Critics have long knocked
Coleman’s perceived dependence on his wrestling skills.
Stuff his takedowns, they claim, and he becomes quite ordinary.
Coleman -- who has not tasted victory inside the Octagon since
he submitted Severn at UFC 12 in 1997 -- knows his shortcomings
better than anyone.
“Unfortunately,
there is a lot I’ve got to learn still,” Coleman says.
“I get better every time I go to the gym; I’m still
picking stuff up. It’s my own fault I don’t already
know all this stuff, but the truth is I’m learning every
day.”
Rua,
like Coleman, finds himself on the mend after tearing a knee
ligament. The 27-year-old Brazilian lost his promotional debut
against Forrest Griffin at UFC 76 and went under the knife soon
after.
Coleman
defeated Rua at Pride 31, though it was not without controversy.
The bout ended when Rua broke his arm while trying to brace himself
during a successful Coleman takedown. Bad blood still flows.
“He
wants me to say it was a lucky win, but I’m not going to
come out and say that,” Coleman says. “I feel I’m
the one who hit the single leg, then turned it into a double
leg, and he is the one who posted his arm and broke it. You create
your own luck in this sport.”
Trumping
Rua again will be no easy task, and Coleman has drafted a unique
strategy for the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. He plans to
go against his instincts and put aside 40-plus years of amateur
wrestling experience. Can he prove the pundits wrong?
“I’ve
been trying to let my hands go for 10-12 years,” Coleman
says. “I do it pretty well in practice, but when the lights
come on, I resort back to wrestling. If I want to take him down,
I will. I do consider ‘Shogun’ very slick and dangerous
on the ground, so hopefully we can try to turn this into a stand-up
war. That’s the game plan, which is subject to change at
any time.”
Source: Sherdog
|
IFL
2008 YEAR IN REVIEW
by Damon Martin
The International Fight League had high hopes of establishing
itself as a major entity in the world of mixed martial arts at
the beginning of 2008, but by mid-year the promotion underwent
major financial strains before finally going out of business
amidst major debt and inability to produce any further live shows.
While
the IFL did go under in 2008, the short-lived promotion managed
to produce a number of talented fighters who have gone on to
compete in other organizations. From the crowning of new champions
to the ill fated "Hex," 2008 was a year of ebbs and
flows for the now defunct IFL.
IFL
CLOSES ITS DOORS
The
night is always darkest before the dawn. Unfortunately for the
IFL, dawn never came and the promotion essentially ceased operations
in June of this year. In a meeting headed by IFL CEO Jay Larkin,
he announced the cancellation of their planned August show. With
that, the promotion never held another event again.
Larkin
came to the IFL to help revive the business, which had struggled
to gain a foothold in the MMA industry. Just weeks after the
IFL had announced the formation of a new fight ring and an August
show set to showcase a number of their champions, things were
canceled and the show came to an abrupt halt.
"We're
trying to minimize with the heads that have to roll because everybody's
been in this together for a while and everybody has a great deal
of respect and affection for each other, but if we don't take
some radical steps there won't be a company," Larkin told
the media in June about the IFL's downsizing.
Efforts
to downsize and secure new funding were unsuccessful and, within
months, numerous IFL athletes had been loaned out to other promoters.
A few months later, more and more IFL fighters had signed exclusive
deals with different organizations, and on Sept. 15, the IFL
officially filed for bankruptcy.
The
promotion eventually sold all of its assets to Mark Cuban's HDNet
group for $650,000, bringing an end to the International Fight
League.
IFL
KICKS OFF 2008 WITH NEW LOOK AND FORMAT
One
of the first major changes that the IFL made in early 2008 was
the debut of a new company logo to accompany a new "camp
vs. camp" format that would debut at its next roster of
fights.
The
format change to "camp vs. camp" went away from the
original idea the league had instituted with a "team vs.
team" format that used different cities from around the
world to field squads that battled it out in a series of five
with the winner moving closer to a team championship. The team
idea never seem to catch on with MMA fans, so the "camp
vs. camp" idea was a way to introduce full MMA teams into
the show.
Gone
were the days of the Los Angeles Anacondas and the Quad City
Silverbacks, now fans would just follow the fighters of Miletich
Fighting Systems or Team Quest, which were simply more recognizable
in the MMA industry.
Former
coach, Bas Rutten, moved into a role of Vice President of Fight
Operations for the IFL, and other teams formed around the new
"camp vs. camp" format that did away with the old guard
of the league.
IFL
INTRODUCES THE "HEX"
Just
about a month before the promotion canceled its August show and
ceased operations, the IFL debuted plans for a new fight ring
called the "Hex." The new six-sided ring was made in
conjunction with Throwdown Industries and featured a five-rope
enclosure for the fights.
"From
a production and live event standpoint, the ring has proven to
be the most fan and media friendly environment, as well as providing
the safest possible environment for our athletes," said
Larkin at the time. "The Hex allows for the larger surface
that is utilized in other MMA organizations while still retaining
the advantages we have enjoyed with the ring."
The
announcement did not exactly wow fans, who were seemingly lukewarm
to the idea of a new ring being the future of the IFL. The Hex
never saw the light of day, as the promotion canceled the show
set for its debut. One can only wonder if the Hex will share
a place in MMA history next to the Yamma?
IFL
FIGHTERS FLOURISH IN NEW HOMES
Once
the IFL officially called it quits for August, many fighters
started popping up in new promotions looking to stay busy while
waiting to see how their contracts would work with the struggling
team-based brand.
Soon
after the promotion announced that it was looking for partners
or buyers, their fighters started appearing more and more in
other shows and signing exclusive deals with companies like the
UFC and the WEC, which signaled the end for the IFL.
The
UFC cashed in with an influx of young talent by way of the IFL,
adding new stars such as brother tandem Jim and Dan Miller, as
well as Rory Markham, Brad Blackburn, Reese Andy, and Andre Gusmao.
Zuffa's other promotion, the WEC, added top featherweight Wagnney
Fabiano, along with lightweight standout Bart Palaszewski to
its roster.
Affliction
cashed in by landing heavyweight champion Roy Nelson, as well
as welterweight champ Jay Hieron. The promotion also added teenager
turned superstar Chris Horodecki and light heavyweight champion
Vladimir Matyushenko to its line-up.
Many
other IFL fighters have popped up in promotions all over the
U.S. and around the globe since the company's demise.
Former
coach and VP Bas Rutten spoke to MMAWeekly.com just after the
company called it a day earlier this year.
"I
thought it was a great ride," he said. "I came to America
to become an entertainer, to do something in the entertaining
business; and I truly believe I had an opportunity to do this
with the IFL. First coming in as a coach, then I went over to
being a host of IFL Battleground with the beautiful Tiffany Fallon,
Kenny Rice, Ron Kruck and all those guys. It was a great experience."
Source: MMA Weekly
|
DREAM
to hold featherweight, welterweight GPs in 2009
The two DREAM Grand Prix tournaments in 2009 will be in the featherweight
and welterweight divisions.
No date has been set yet for the next event but DREAM event producer
Keiichi Sasahara said at the "Dynamite!! 2008" post-fight
conference that the DREAM featherweight tournament will begin
in March.
Sasahara
added that the promotion is planning on at least six events for
the year and will also crown a light heavyweight champion.
Middleweight
champion Gegard Mousasi and lightweight champion Joachim Hansen
will defend their belts.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Quote
of the Day
"Know
the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment
of it. No idleness; no laziness; no procrastination; never put
off till tomorrow what you can do today."
Lord Chesterfield
|
Hazardous
Warfare Today!
Saturday,
January 3, 2009
Lahaina Civic Center
Doors Open at 5 pm
Fight 1:
Exhibition Boxing Match
Fight
2: Gerald Gamit VS Rilley Dutro 135lbs
Freelance I & I/Central B/C
Fight
3: Paul James Dean VS Tyler Kahihikolo 160lbs
O2 Martial Arts Academy Average Joe's
Fight
4: Jake Yasui VS Makana Bertido 205lbs
93 underground/Barbie Twins Kurrupt Ambitionz inc.
Fight
5: Tim Moon VS Jaron Garcia 150lbs
Cobra Kai Next Generation Fight Team
Fight
6: Exhibition Boxing Match
Fight
7: Ronald Veradero VS Chris Long 190lbs
Jesus is the Lord Penn Training & Fitness
15
minute Intermission -
Fight 8: Shawn Brown VS Davide Pakele 175lbs
South Side B/C Average Joe's
Fight
9: Auggie Padeken VS Joshua Ofiu 250+lbs
Team Hawaiian Nation Foot Souljah's
Main
Event: Brandon Visher VS Jonathan Mareno 145lbs
Wailuku B/C Penn Training & Fitness
Source:
Event Promoter
|
Uprising
MMA Event
Today!
January
3, 2008
UPRISING
MMA event relocated to
Paukukalo
Hawaiian Homes Gym
655 Kaumualii St, Wailuku.
THANK YOU!
Leinell
|
Minotauro
comments on loss to Mir
Brazilian recognizes he did not perform as expected
Rodrigo
Minotauro’s loss to Frank Mir at UFC 92 shocked fans the
world over. Minotauro did not put on a good showing and ended
up suffering the first knockout of his career. The fighter admitted
he did not have a great day and recognized Mir’s superiority
in the bout.
“Yes,
it really was a horrible night. Frank Mir was in great shape.
He surprised me standing, got me with a really hard uppercut
in the first round. He moved around better than I did,”
said Minotauro to MMAWeekly.com.
“Everyone
could see I wasn’t a good fighter that night. I didn’t
fight well. I think I can fight a lot better than that,”
he added.
Unhappy
with his performance, but with a lot of desire to recover the
belt, Minota also commented on why he did not appear to be at
his best.
“I’ve
had better performances that this one. I need to get in better
shape. I had a few injuries for this fight, I hurt my knee bad.
Each fight it’s a different story,” he commented.
And
if his intention is to get the UFC belt back, Minotauro already
has an adversary in mind to recover his standing. A fight against
Randy Couture is being speculated. “I would certainly accept
this fight. He’s a great fighter. He lost his last bout
(against Brock Lesnar), but he’s still a legend in this
sport. I would love to fight him,” he said in finishing.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
Zuffa
Adds to WEC 38 Menu
by Brian Knapp
World Extreme Cagefighting featherweight contender Jose Aldo
will lock horns with three-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion
Fredson Paixao at WEC 38 “Varner vs. Cerrone” on Jan.
25 at the San Diego Sports Arena in San Diego, Calif. The WEC
announced the bout, along with several others, earlier this week.
Aldo
(12-1) will enter the match on a five-fight winning streak, having
dispatched Jonathan Brookins and the highly regarded Alexandre
Franca Nogueira by technical knockout in his first two appearances
inside the WEC cage. The talented 22-year-old Brazilian, himself
a decorated grappler, has delivered nine of his 12 career wins
by knockout, TKO or submission. Aldo’s lone defeat came
at the hands of accomplished Pride Fighting Championships veteran
Luciano Azevedo in 2005.
Paixao,
meanwhile, will carry some momentum into his WEC debut. The 29-year-old
has won back-to-back fights, including a majority decision against
Masakazu Imanari inside the Deep promotion in August 2006. However,
Paixao has not competed since he submitted the well-traveled
Thomas Denny with a first-round armbar at a Gracie Fighting Championships
show 20 months ago. He has never been finished in 10 career MMA
bouts, losing only to WEC veterans Marcos Galvao and Yoshiro
Maeda.
The
Aldo-Paixao showdown was not the only match added to the WEC
38 menu.
One-time
Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion Danillo Villefort will square
off with undefeated World Championship Fighting veteran Mike
Campbell in a welterweight bout pairing two WEC rookies.
Based
out of American Top Team, Villefort (8-2) has rattled off four
consecutive victories -- all of them by submission or TKO, three
of them inside one round. The 25-year-old Brazilian last appeared
in May, when he submitted Mike Massenzio with a kneebar at an
International Fight League event.
Campbell
(4-0), meanwhile, has posted three straight knockout wins. A
former power lifter who honed his MMA skills inside the WCF and
Reality Fighting promotions, he has not competed since he stopped
Rob Moskowitz on strikes in just 85 seconds at WCF 5 last summer.
In
another welterweight affair, Japanese standout Hiromitsu Miura
will take on unbeaten newcomer Edgar Garcia, who has finished
five of his first six foes in the opening round.
A
decorated Judo player and Sambo fighter, Miura (9-5) gave WEC
welterweight kingpin Carlos Condit all he could handle in the
WEC 35 main event back in August. The 27-year-old ultimately
succumbed to strikes and fatigue in the fourth round, but he
opened some eyes in what was one of the more competitive WEC
title bouts last year. Miura has never been submitted in 14 career
fights.
Having
cut his teeth inside the Total Combat and Desert Rage promotions,
Garcia last competed in August when he finished Waylon Kennell
with first-round strikes at TC 30. Garcia graduated from the
same high school as Efrain Escudero, the lightweight winner on
season eight of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series.
A
lightweight championship bout pairing 155-pound titleholder Jamie
Varner against the undefeated Donald Cerrone will headline WEC
38, along with a rematch between former WEC featherweight king
Urijah Faber and one-time UFC lightweight champion Jens Pulver.
WEC
38 “Varner vs. Cerrone”
Sunday, Jan. 25
San Diego Sports Arena
San Diego, Calif.
WEC
Lightweight Championship
Jamie Varner vs. Donald Cerrone
Urijah
Faber vs. Jens Pulver
Danillo Villefort vs. Mike Campbell
Jose Aldo vs. Fredson Paixao
Anthony Njokuani vs. Ed Ratcliff
Hiromitsu Miura vs. Edgar Garcia
Dominic Cruz vs. Ian McCall
Frank Gomez vs. Scott Jorgensen
Blas Avena vs. Jesse Lennox
Charlie Valencia vs. Seth Dikun
Source: Sherdog
|
Time
Warner, Viacom in major dispute - what it may mean to UFC fans
By Zach Arnold
Update
(12/31): The two sides have now kissed and made up.
If
you are a subscriber to Time Warner cable and you are a UFC or
TNA fan, you may not be watching either league on your television
set in the near future.
According
to The LA Times:
Viacom
Inc. has threatened to pull its programming in a high-stakes
showdown over pricing. Nearly 2 million homes in the Los Angeles
area that are customers of Time Warner Cable Inc. could lose
such Viacom channels as Nickelodeon, MTV, VH-1, Comedy Central,
Spike, TV Land and BET.
“It
rarely comes to this,” said television consultant Larry
Gerbrandt of Media Valuation Partners in Beverly Hills. “If
they go off the air, no one wins. Customers will get upset at
Time Warner and they could lose subscribers, and Viacom will
lose important advertising revenue.”
The
New York Times says that the cable dispute will effect customers
in major cities such as New York, LA, and Dallas. Nikki Finke
further elaborates.
For
a full media round-up of this developing story, check out this
Orange
County Register post.
Source: Fight Opinion
|
White:
I'd love to see Evans fight 'Rampage'
UFC president Dana White on a radio show appearance Monday expressed
his interest in seeing Rashad Evans make his first light heavyweight
title defense against former champ Quinton "Rampage"
Jackson.
"I'd love to see Rashad and Rampage," White said on
The Carmichael Dave Show on Sports 1140 KHTK. "I think that's
a fun fight."
A
concern with Jackson in a title situation is that the fighter
is currently facing two felony (driving recklessly, evading police)
and three misdemeanor charges (hit and run) that could place
him in jail for up to three years.
However,
White is confident that Jackson's legal problems will not be
an issue and will not play a part in the UFC's matchmaking process.
"Obviously
he has to go to court cause that thing happened," White
told Carmichael Dave. "He had delirium, he had seriously
something wrong with him. It wasn't like he was on drugs, drinking
alcohol, doing any of that stuff, he was doing the right thing
and he got sick. He'll go to court and I don't think he's going
to have any issues."
Jackson
though, stated at the UFC 92 post-fight press conference that
he would prefer to avenge his loss to Forrest Griffin.
"I
want the belt. I want to be champion," Jackson said. "But
I would like to get Forrest first if I could, but like I said
it's up to the UFC."
Another
possible fight for Evans is Lyoto Machida, who could find himself
in title contention if he gets past Thiago Silva at UFC 94 on
Jan. 31, 2009.
"If
he wins this fight, he's definitely in the mix too," White
said. "He's another one of those guys, a lot of people think
his style is too evasive and not engaging, but once he starts
to get comfortable in that Octagon like all the other guys, he's
going to come into his own. He's going to be very exciting and
I expect big things from him."
Machida
is 13-0 with wins over BJ Penn, Rich Franklin, Tito Ortiz and
Stephan Bonnar.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
NEER
REPRESENTATIVE RELEASES STATEMENT
UFC veteran Josh Neer was arrested early New Year's Day by Des
Moines, Iowa, police following an alleged traffic altercation.
He was charged with a second-offense operating while intoxicated
charge and eluding while more than 25 miles-per-hour in excess
of the speeding limit.
A
Polk County officer later confirmed to MMAWeekly.com that Neer
was released on bond Thursday morning and would face a future
court date. Records indicate that his bond was set at $2,000
for the operating while intoxicated charge and $5,000 for the
charge of eluding.
Mickey
Dubberly, CEO of KO Dynasty Sports Management – a representative
of Neer's – on Thursday released the following statement
to MMAWeekly.com:
"We
are still looking into the matter as a lot of the facts are still
unclear. We back Josh 100% in resolving this issue as quickly
as possible, and putting this matter behind us and moving forward.
I know Josh on a personal and business level, and he is a great
person, fighter, and loving father. We apologize to Josh’s
fans, family, friends, and the UFC, while we have to deal with
this incident.
We
are very grateful that the UFC has supported Josh throughout
his career and has given him the opportunity to be a co-main
event. In no way do we ever want to bring any negativity towards
the UFC, as they have been nothing but great to Josh.
Josh
is already looking forward to put this incident behind him, and
is focusing on his fight with Mac Danzig. We would hope everyone
would reserve judgment until all the facts are known in a court
of law instead of just going off of hearsay.
No
further comments will be made until after the court hearing.
Josh wants to thank his friends, fans, family, training partners,
UFC, and everyone that stands behind him for supporting him through
his career."
Sporting
a professional MMA record of 24-7-1, Neer last saw action at
UFC Fight Night 15 in Omaha, Neb., where he lost a split decision
to Ultimate Fighter season five winner Nate Diaz. Neer and Diaz
were awarded the UFC Fight Night 15 "Fight of the Night"
award, which included a $30,000 bonus to each fighter.
Neer
is scheduled to face Mac Danzig at UFC Fight Night 17 at the
USF Sun Dome on Feb. 7 in Tampa, Fla.
JOSH NEER
ARRESTED IN NEW YEAR'S INCIDENT
by Ken Pishna
Josh Neer – a veteran of the Ultimate Fighting Championship
and International Fight League – was arrested early Thursday
morning by Des Moines, Iowa, police, according to the Des Moines
Register. Polk County (Iowa) records show he was charged with
a second-offense operating while intoxicated charge and eluding
while more than 25 miles-per-hour in excess of the speeding limit.
A
Polk County officer later confirmed to MMAWeekly.com that Neer
was released on bond sometime around 9 or 10 a.m. Thursday morning
and would face a future court date. Records indicate that his
bond was set at $2,000 for the operating while intoxicated charge
and $5,000 for the charge of eluding.
The
officer on duty did not have details of the incident immediately
available, but a report by the Des Moines Register indicated
that Neer was allegedly involved in a three-car collision at
a stoplight before attempting to elude police and leading them
on a high-speed chase.
Neer
apparently hit a car from behind at a red stoplight. That car
then rear-ended a police car that was stopped for the light.
Reportedly driving a black Audi Quattro, Neer then allegedly
pulled out, crossing oncoming traffic and leading police on a
chase.
The
report goes on to say that police attempted to stop the Audi
by hitting the back quarter panel of the car with a squad car.
The Audi spun around, but the driver regained control. The chase
eventually wound up on Interstate 80, reportedly reaching speeds
in excess of 100 mph in a 65 mph speed zone.
The
chase finally ended at mile marker 137, where police arrested
Neer.
Sporting
a professional MMA record of 24-7-1, Neer last saw action at
UFC Fight Night 15 in Omaha, Neb., where he lost a split decision
to Ultimate Fighter season five winner Nate Diaz. Neer and Diaz
were awarded the UFC Fight Night 15 "Fight of the Night"
award, which included a $30,000 bonus to each fighter.
Neer
is scheduled to face Mac Danzig at UFC Fight Night 17 at the
USF Sun Dome on Feb. 7 in Tampa, Fla.
No
statement was forthcoming from UFC officials at the time of publication.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
A
Few Words with Phillipe Nover
By Jim Genia
Brooklyn’s
own Phillipe Nover came close. So very close. But at the December
13th TUF 8 Finale he came up short, on the wrong end of a unanimous
decision in a bout that crowned fellow TUFer Efrain Escudero
as “The Ultimate Fighter” – a turn of events that
no doubt disappointed both himself and the fans he’s accumulated
through years of fighting and winning on the East Coast. Yet
it’s not quite back to the drawing board for this heavy-handed
Filipino, because when Dana White declares you the second coming
of Anderson Silva, Georges St. Pierre and the most talented TUF
competitor ever, you can bet your return to the Octagon is guaranteed.
“I’m
good,” says Nover from his nursing job at New York Methodist
Hospital. “Even though taking a loss, I feel healthy. I
didn’t get hurt or anything. Just mentally I’m recovering
since this is the first time I’ve ever lost.”
Now
that the dust has settled, what are his thoughts on his fight
against Escudero? “It’s funny because I trained so
hard for his particular style and knew what I was supposed to
do,” he says. “But when I saw him there I got so eager
and forgot about strategy. I could’ve beaten him if I worked
a different strategy. I just tried to land some big right hands
and some big power shots.” He adds, “I know it probably
wasn’t the most exciting fight, but Efrain did what he had
to do to win. Big praise to him.”
Never
before had a fighter received such accolades from White on “The
Ultimate Fighter”. Did that create pressure for Nover going
into the live SpikeTV finale?
“Definitely it was weighing on my shoulders, but every fighter’s
got pressure on their shoulders,” says Nover. “I felt
there was some weight on me but I don’t know if it played
a role.” He’s quick, however, to point out that Escudero’s
assets – which include a ton of wrestling experience and
a jiu-jitsu black belt – were not something to be trifled
with, and that he knew that. “I think White and everyone
else may have overlooked his skill level, but I never overlooked
his skill level. I knew he was a tough fighter.”
When
TUF airs, the fighters in front of the camera are usually seeing
it all for the first time. Nover’s thoughts on TUF’s
eighth season? “The pranks were pretty wild. They didn’t
show some of the pranks that occurred but they showed the crazy
ones.” And as for being shown inadvertently eating urine-soaked
fruit? “I was definitely disgusted when I ate that fruit.”
He points out how proud his mother was, both of his behavior
and how well he represented the Philippines. “I don’t
have any regrets. I don’t think I acted like a retard. I
wanted to act like a professional fighter to show the world we’re
professionals. I wanted to show we’re disciplined people.
I didn’t party at all – you didn’t see me with
any alcohol.”
Nover’s
return to the Octagon might be as soon as March, although there’s
no word on possible opponents. But he promises to be ready. “I
don’t have the most elaborate wrestling background. I have
14 or 15 years kickboxing and eight years of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
I don’t think my wrestling is that bad… I think my
problem is being able to combine the concepts of wrestling and
kickboxing at the same time… I’ve got to weave the
concepts together.” He adds, “I hope I didn’t
let anyone down. I fought my heart out. My next fight, I don’t
care who it is, I’m not losing twice in a row.”
Source: Full Contact Fighter
|
Demian
speaks about Wand
Black belt faces Sonnen at UFC 95
UFC
92 was definitely not a good day for the Brazilians to participate
in the event. But during the toughest moments a fighter may face
in his career, a friend always pops up to raise their spirits
and self-esteem of the embattled warrior. Demian Maia has been
training with Wanderlei Silva for some time. And the friendship
between the two has gained further strength with the work they
do with physical conditioning coach Rafael Alejarra for MMA.
Demian,
who on February 21st faces Chael Sonnen at UFC 95, told GRACIEMAG.com
he feels Wanderlei had bad luck, since he was doing well in the
fight. “Wand was doing really well, he left the fight in
one piece. He said he didn’t see the punch coming, but he
was doing really well in the fight. The only thing we can’t
control is a strike to the chin, especially in the beginning
of the fight when both have so much energy. That’s something
that happens. You can be in the best shape possible, if you get
hit on the chin, it doesn’t even have to be hard and it
will knock you out.”
Demian
believes in athletes’ potential for overcoming adversity
and feels his friend is prepared to deal with the situation he
is experiencing. “He’s really chill. He’s not
Wanderlei Silva for nothing. His life is about overcoming, like
any other champion, and he has that were strong within him,”
stated the black belt.
As
he was lending his support to Wanderlei, Demian did not see the
fight between Minotauro and Frank Mir, but gave his opinion about
Brock Lesnar’s next opponent. “Mir is a guy who always
rises to the occasion in his fights and is very dangerous. I
think he’ll beat Lesnar. It won’t be an easy fight,
but I think he’ll win,” said Demian in finishing.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
9
Reasons To Be Excited for MMA in ‘09
by Danny Acosta
2008 brought us title victories, devastating defeats and nipple
tweaks. With such an enthralling year of MMA winding down, what
do us lonely souls known as fight fans have to look forward to
once the ball drops and Carson Daly wishes everyone Happy New
Year?
New
York and Expansion
The
UFC advertises on Times Square billboards, but the Octagon can’t
come to New York.
UFC
President Dana White will try to change that in 2009 by getting
MMA sanctioned in The Empire State. He had promised that the
UFC would be featured in Madison Square Garden before 2008 ended,
but it didn’t work out this year.
Marc
Ratner, the UFC’s vice president for government and regulatory
affairs, will have lobbying firm Brown, McMahon & Weinraub
and media-relations political consulting firm Global Strategy
Group at his disposal in the push to legalize MMA in 2009. Momentum
from donations to both Democratic and Republican parties in New
York can’t hurt either. Also, the New York State Athletic
Commission chair is Melvina Lathan, a backer of legalizing MMA.
Approval
remains an uphill battle, though. Settling down also takes adoption
of rules and oversight post-legalization, which can be a lengthy
process.
With
that said, arriving in the nation’s media capital is integral
to domestic expansion with the attention it will bring to the
sport. In addition, it sets a precedent for sanctioning in remaining
states.
Of
course, the UFC has international expansion plans as well. There
have been talks of Mexico and the Philippines and the promotion
is scheduled to touch down in England, Ireland and Germany next
year, proving the UFC’s dedication to cultivating markets
and growing MMA internationally.
Tito
Ortiz
Ortiz,
who departed from the UFC after a May loss to Lyoto Machida,
expects to return to action in the summer of 2009. The sport’s
top free agent is still recovering from back surgery and is yet
to find a fight home. Affliction could be the frontrunner as
Ortiz will commentate during the promotion’s January show,
but “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” has been a long-time
UFC employee. Despite a tumultuous relationship with White, the
former light heavyweight champion reportedly still speaks to
Lorenzo Fertitta about re-entering the Octagon.
Even
with his recent setbacks, Tito Ortiz remains a draw.The bleached
blond has fallen out of favor since posting an 0-2-1 record in
his last three showings, fighting only twice in the past two
years. His bout with Chuck Liddell in December 2006 remains the
UFC’s top pay-per-view, though. A divisive figure his entire
career, Ortiz is a draw regardless of in-fight setbacks.
The
135 & 145 Divisions
With
the WEC nixing its middleweight and light heavyweight divisions,
the 135- and 145-pound classes have gone from nonexistent to
a legitimate lightning rod of excitement and exposure.
In
2008, Urijah Faber defeated Jens Pulver in a coming-out party
for “the little guys.” Faber-Pulver is the most viewed
featherweight fight in history and followed up another “Fight
of the Year” candidate -- a bantamweight title tilt between
Miguel Torres and Yoshiro Maeda.
Torres
remains at the top of his division and will likely fight hot
prospect Brian Bowles in 2009. Meanwhile Faber and Pulver have
fallen down their respective ladders but will battle each other
again in January to start climbing back up. An expected bout
between new featherweight king Mike Thomas Brown and the Greg
Jackson-trained Leonard Garcia is also worthy of anticipation.
Tournaments
In
2008, Eddie Alvarez and Gegard Mousasi became top-ranked fighters
after star performances during tournament action in Dream.
Joachim
Hansen also saw his stock rise. “Hellboy” emerged as
a late replacement for Alvarez -- the man who had axed him from
the lightweight tournament -- to brutally stop grappling wizard
Shinya Aoki. The win propelled the Scandinavian to prominence
in the shark-infested waters of the division while avenging a
2006 loss.
Alvarez
returns to tournament action early in 2009 under the Bellator
Fighting Championships banner. His caliber lends credibility
to the upstart promotion, which will feature a plethora of eight-man
tournaments on ESPN Deportes in the featherweight, lightweight,
welterweight and middleweight divisions. Jorge Masvidal is another
talented potential participant.
Also,
look for more tournaments from Sengoku. The elimination style
of fighting is important to Japanese MMA’s shaky landscape
post-Pride. Additionally, with Strikeforce promoting a successful
one-night tournament in 2007, the San Jose-based organization
could deliver more elimination style fighting.
Fighter
Self-Promotion Benefits Fans
Like
all professional athletes, mixed martial artists have a finite
shelf life. Commoditizing their personalities brings in sponsorship
money and communicates to those writing their checks -- the fans.
Bjpenn.com
has been a leading example of interactive fighter-fan relationships.
Jon Fitch took to the comedy stage during comedian Kristopher
Tinkle’s “Steel Cage Comedy” series to endear
himself to local fans before his championship clash with Georges
St. Pierre. Mike Swick did the same and frequently updates his
YouTube page. Andrei Arlovski has launched his own documentary
series leading up to his fight with Fedor Emelianenko.
As
promotional control of fighter likeness continues to inspire
strong debate, fighters have to remain innovative in order to
stand out in an environment that’s competitive on all fronts.
Fighters are known for being resourceful, and fans will benefit
more than ever in 2009.
Heavyweights
The
UFC’s unofficial tournament between Brock Lesnar and the
winner of Frank Mir-Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira ends in 2009, generating
excitement and controversy for a division that has been the UFC’s
sour point for years. Touted prospects Shane Carwin and Cain
Velasquez will have a defining year in their young careers. Bobby
Lashley’s career will take shape, too, and he might just
punch his ticket to the UFC by year’s end.
Outside
of Zuffa, Andrei Arlovski hopes to be the man to soundly defeat
mythical MMA figure Fedor Emelianenko.
Strikeforce
San
Jose-based Strikeforce had another stellar year, promoting one
of the most exciting battles outside an Octagon: Cung Le vs.
Frank Shamrock. The company followed with a five-round war that
saw long-time champion Gilbert Melendez drop his belt to Josh
Thomson. Strikeforce then returned to the Playboy Mansion and
closed out the year with a devastating knockout win by Scott
Smith over Terry Martin.
A
return to the Playboy Mansion is more than likely for 2009 as
the promotion still has a contract with the magazine empire.
International talent like Kazuo Misaki and Mitsuhiro Ishida will
return as Strikeforce continues to expand its international talent
pool. Le’s star power may see a boost with his major Hollywood
connections, but regardless the middleweight champion will see
action again. Frank Shamrock may also be free from his ProElite
duties and return home. Gilbert Melendez is contractually obligated
for one more fight and wants to make it memorable, and the demise
of ProElite may open up doors for solid fighters to compete under
the Strikeforce banner.
Furthermore,
NBC, which is home to Strikeforce’s late-night fight program,
is rumored to have interest in promoting live fights. CBS hasn’t
quit on fighting yet either and is said to have interest in an
established organization like Strikeforce.
‘UFC
Undisputed 2009’
The
UFC will go interactive and into the homes of gamers everywhere
in 2009. Breakfast time XBOX360 sessions or PS3 binges are not
in everyone’s ideal diet, but gamers are a fervent base
not unlike hardcore MMA enthusiasts. Merge the two, add in online
gaming and insomnia hits the 18-35 male demographic in astronomical
numbers.
Entangling
opponents like Frank Mir or knocking heads off like Wanderlei
Silva without actually having to fight Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
or Quinton Jackson is something fans have long dreamed of doing.
THQ,
which has seen major success developing WWE games, is on board
and seems dedicated to doing the UFC experience justice. Impressive
trailers, however, only go so far. The game will have to speak
for itself. But judging by the lackluster arcade style of UFC
games of yesteryear, “UFC Undisputed 2009” should be
the best UFC game yet.
It
has to be. It features the most lethal move in MMA: the Buffer
180.
Penn
vs. St. Pierre II
Pound-for-pound
supremacy has never been up for grabs like this. UFC lightweight
champion B.J. Penn continues his travels through weight divisions
to fight welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre on Jan. 31.
The fight is a clash of pure talent against well-oiled machinery.
Both combatants want to be remembered as legends in the sport,
and though they already have two of the most impressive ledgers
in MMA, they believe their records are not enough.
When
the two tangle at UFC 94, the winner will likely emerge as the
No. 1 or 2 fighter in the world. The magnitude of the fight sets
high expectations for 2009 -- so high they’ll only be outdone
by the Cheech and Chong reunion tour.
Source: Sherdog
|
Time
Warner holds onto Spike TV, 18 other channels
Time Warner Cable reached a deal early Thursday with Viacom on
carriage fees to retain a total of 19 channels.
If the two had failed to reach an agreement, 13.3 million Time
Warner Cable subscribers would lose out on channels, which includes
MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, VH1 and Spike TV.
Spike
TV, a division of MTV Networks, is the exclusive cable television
home of the UFC and airs "The Ultimate Fighter,""UFC
Unleashed," pay-per-view repeats, countdown shows and more.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Quote
of the Day
"Learning
to live what you're born with is the process, the involvement,
the making of a life."
Diane Wakoski
|
St.
Pierre on Penn: 'I Want to Take Him Out'
by Marcelo Alonso
UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre -- roughly a month
away from his ballyhooed rematch with lightweight king B.J. Penn
-- wants to take care of the business he left unfinished.
St.
Pierre (17-2) will defend his belt against Penn at UFC 94 on
Jan. 31 at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas in what many are
calling the most anticipated bout of 2009. Controversy surrounded
their first confrontation, as the popular Canadian eked out a
split decision over Penn (13-4-1) at UFC 58 in March 2006, and
St. Pierre wants to provide a decisive conclusion to their rivalry.
“This
time, I want to go for the finish,” St. Pierre told Sherdog.com
in an exclusive video interview. “I don’t want to go
to a decision. I want to take him out.”
Should
St. Pierre survive Penn, a showdown with fast-rising Brazilian
striker Thiago Alves could await. The 25-year-old American Top
Team welterweight has won seven consecutive fights -- his list
of recent victims includes former welterweight titleholder Matt
Hughes, Karo Parisyan and Chris Lytle -- and will enter his next
match with plenty of momentum.
Alves
(16-3) last competed in October, when he cruised to a unanimous
decision victory over the highly regarded Josh Koscheck at UFC
90.
“The
way he beat Josh Koscheck was very impressive, and it proved
he’s a very serious contender for the title,” St. Pierre
said. “Right now, I’m focusing on B.J. Penn. When the
time [comes to face Alves], I truly believe that I’m a better
fighter than he is, but there’s only one way to find out.”
Check
out Marcelo Alonso’s full interview and watch St. Pierre
address training partner Patrick Cote’s decision to fight
middleweight champion Anderson Silva on a bum knee and the potential
for him to move up to the 185-pound division after his showdown
with Penn.
Source: Sherdog
|
DYNAMITE!!
2008
Aoki Submits Alvarez in Top Ten Lightweight Clash
“Cro Cop” Chops Down Choi, Manhoef Blasts Through Hunt
By Kelsey Mowatt
The announced attendance was 25,634 paid.
Main
card results:
Kiyoshi
Tamura defeated Kazushi Sakuraba after two rounds by a 3-0 judges’
decision.
Joachim Hansen and JZ Calvan was canceled.
Shin’ya Aoki defeated Eddie Alvarez in R1 in 1'32 with a
heel hold.
Melvin Manhoef defeated Mark Hunt in 18 seconds by KO.
Gegard Mousasi defeated Musashi in R1 by KO.
Mirko Cro Cop defeated Choi Hong-Man in R1 in 6'32 by KO.
Alistair Overeem defeated Badr Hari in R1 in 2'02 by KO.
Tatsuya Kawajiri defeated Kozo Takeda in R1 in 2'47 by KO.
Hayato “Mach” Sakurai defeated Katsuyori Shibata in
R1 by TKO.
Semmy Schilt defeated Mighty Mo in
Bob Sapp defeated Kinniku Mantaro in R1 in 5'22 by TKO (referee
stoppage).
Saitama
Super Arena, Saitama, Japan: Shinya Aoki demonstrated once again
tonight at K-1’s 2008 Dynamite!! 2008 card, that the renowned
submission artist is truly one of the world’s best lightweight
fighters, by tapping out fellow top ranked lightweight Eddie
Alvarez in the first round. The bout was likely the card’s
most notable from a rankings perspective, as although the card
featured numerous MMA and kickboxing bouts, with accomplished
fighters like Mirko “Cro Co” Filipovic, Melvin Manhoef,
Hayato “Mach” Sakurai and Kazushi Sakuraba, none of
them had the intrigue of the Aoki, Alvarez clash. Especially
due to the fact that Joachim Hansen apparently failed his pre-fight
medical, and thus, his highly anticipated rematch with another
top ten ranked fighter in Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante, was
cancelled.
Alvarez
and Aoki had been scheduled to face each other in the final of
Dream’s Lightweight Grand-Prix this past summer, however,
an eye injury which Alvarez incurred in the semi-finals against
Tatsuya Kawajiri, opened the door for Hansen, who as an alternate
went on to stop Aoki.
Alvarez immediately came out pursuing Aoki, and after failing
to land any substantial blows in the bout’s opening moments,
the Japanese fighter attempted to answer with a takedown, which
was easily stuffed by Alvarez. In what was a rather interesting
display, Aoki then began to pursue Alvarez around the ring, scuttling
on the mat, until the referee intervened and insisted he return
to his feet.
After
Alvarez finally managed to trap Aoki in the corner, he attempted
to kick his opponent in the mid-section, however, the Japanese
fighter grabbed on to Alvarez’s leg. As Aoki attempted to
circle to his opponent’s back, Alvarez countered by sweeping
Aoki to the mat, and momentarily landed on top in the full mount
position. The renowned submission artist quickly positioned himself
into half-guard however, and immediately began attacking Alvarez’s
leg with a heel-hook submission. Although Alvarez held on for
several moments as he attempted to work his way out of the perilous
position, Aoki was able to lock in the submission, bringing about
a yell from Alvarez as he tapped out.
Mirko
“Cro Cop” was in desperate need of a win when he took
to the ring to face South Korean giant, Hong Man Choi, as the
once top ranked Croatian fighter has struggled mightily over
the last two years. In what might not go down as one of Cro Cop’s
most memorable performances, the UFC and Pride vet still managed
to get the job done, as Choi finally succumbed to the leg kicks
he had received from the feared striker at 6:32 of the opening
round.
Melvin
Manhoef stepped up in weight class, as last minute replacement
for the ill Jerome LeBanner, to take on Pride and K-1 veteran
Mark Hunt. Only seconds in, after Hunt launched an overhand right
at Manhoef, the Dutchman returned fired with a vicious left,
right hook combo that dropped Hunt to the canvas. Manhoef finished
the deal with two more follow up shots to the downed Hunt; bringing
the bout to a close in less than 20 seconds. It was yet another
amazing display of power from Manhoef, especially when one considers
Hunt’s reputation, for possessing one of the sport’s
most formidable chins.
One
of Japan’s most successful veteran fighters, Hayato “Mach”
Sakurai, was back in action as he took on Katsuyori Shibata.
Although the former amateur and professional wrestler came into
the bout with a somewhat dismal record of 2-5-1, many of Shibata’s
losses have come against considerable opposition in fighters
like Kazushi Sakuraba, Jason Miller and Yoshihiro Akiyama.
After
weathering a ferocious storm from his opponent to begin the bout,
which included Shibata bolting across the ring to lunge at him
as the fight started, the veteran Sakurai soon took control of
the bout via his ground-and-pound game. Although Shibata fought
on valiantly for several minutes, the referee finally brought
the action to a halt at 7:01 to rescue Shibata from any further
punishment.
In
the card’s main event between two well travelled Japanese
veterans, Kiyoshi Tamura worked his way to a Unanimous Decision
over Kazushi Sakuraba. In other action from the MMA side of the
card: Bob Sapp stopped Akihito Tanaka in round one, Daisuke Nakamura
caught Hideo Tokoro with a first round armbar, Andy Ologun dropped
Yukio Sakaguchi with an uppercut and then followed it up with
several more strikes for the first round KO, Semmy Schilt tapped
out Siala Siligia with a triangle choke in round one, and Ikuhisa
Minowa subbed Errol Zimmerman with a first round toe hold.
Source: Full Contact Fighter
|
'Rampage'
earns event-high $385,000 at UFC 92
Quinton "Rampage" Jackson earned an event-high disclosed
salary of $385,000 Saturday at UFC 92 "The Ultimate 2008"
in Las Vegas.
According to the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Jackson earned
$225,000 for the fight and an additional $100,000 for winning
the fight. The UFC also awarded him another $60,000 for the best
knockout of the night, bringing his known salary for the fight
to $385,000.
The
$385,000 is only what is revealed by the UFC, and Jackson earns
more through sponsorships and possibly additional bonuses that
the UFC chooses not to make public.
Silva
earned $200,000 in the loss and would have made the same amount
had he won.
Jackson
vs. Silva at $525,000 was the most expensive fight of the night,
and surprisingly was the second fight on the main card.
Main
eventer Rashad Evans earned $65,000 and a $65,000 win bonus for
a total of $130,000 for his UFC light heavyweight title win over
Forrest Griffin, who earned $100,000 in defeat. Both each earned
an additional $60,000 for participating in the Fight of the Night.
In
the other championship bout, Frank Mir earned $45,000 and a $45,000
win bonus for a total of $90,000 to go along with his interim
UFC heavyweight belt. His opponent Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira pocketed
$250,000.
TUF
7 runner-up CB Dollaway earned $20,000 in his win against Mike
Massenzio, $5,000.
Cheick
Kongo earned $90,000 for his TKO win in the pay-per-view opener
over Mostapha Al Turk, $7,000.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
UFC
92 gate not record
Best ticket Sales remains Liddell vs Ortiz
Held
this last Saturday, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, in Las Vegas,
UFC 92 saw a total crowd of 14,103. The event headlined by title
bouts between Frank Mir against Rodrigo Minotauro and Rashad
Evans against Forrest Griffin, as well as the bout between Rampage
and Wanderlei Silva, collected a total of US$ 3.47 million at
the gate.
Although
UFC president Dana White considered it to be a great night, other
events at the same venue had brought in more and the end-of-the-year
show did not meet expectations, which were to break records.
The previous event, UFC 91, featuring a main event pitting Randy
Couture against Brock Lesnar, drew a greater audience and revenue.
Check
out the list record crowds and revenue at the MGM published on
the MMAJunkie website:
UFC
66: $5.40 million (13,761 ticket holders), Liddell vs. Ortiz
II
UFC 91: $4.82 million (14,262), Couture vs. Lesnar
UFC 71: $4.30 million (14,728), Liddell vs. Jackson
UFC 84: $3.73 million (14,773), Penn vs. Sherk
UFC 92: $3.47 million (14,103), Griffin vs. Evans
UFC 52: $2.58 million (14,500), Couture vs. Liddell II
UFC 54: $2.33 million (13,000), Liddell vs. Horn
UFC 56: $1.99 million (12,000), Franklin vs. Quarry
UFC 40: $1.54 million (13,055), Ortiz vs. K. Shamrock
UFC 49: $1.29 million (12,100), Ortiz vs. Couture
UFC 36: $0.89 million (10,000), Barnett vs. Couture
UFC 34: $0.50 million (9,000), Hughes vs. Newton
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
UFC
sends K-1 a big ’screw you’ message with Satoshi Ishii
By Zach Arnold
Make
no mistake about it — this press release is pure gamesmanship
by Zuffa and a warning shot towards Kazuyoshi Ishii:
“Satoshi
Ishii has the potential to be very successful in mixed martial
arts,” said Dana White, UFC President. “We can’t
wait to start working with Mr. Ishii, we look forward to helping
him with his training, his career, and his eventual debut in
a professional fight.”
It’s
hard to take this seriously, considering how much money Ishii
would be leaving on the table by going to UFC instead of fighting
for K-1. However, this is a very interesting tactic for UFC to
take in relation to doing future business in the Japanese marketplace.
One
side effect of this kind of strategy is that it will solidify
the entire Japanese fight media on the side of Ishii and K-1.
The perception of the ‘evil foreigner invading Japan’
will become alive and well. If UFC does indeed run in Japan in
2009 (with the help of a promoter like Total Sports Asia), you
will see the same kind of panic from the power brokers in the
Japanese fight industry that you saw in 2003 when WWE tried to
make a push by running Yokohama Arena events. Eventually, WWE
flamed out and has scaled back plans for Japan to more or less
ancilliary business (opening an office, merchandising, airing
PPVs on a month delay, etc.) What is UFC’s goal exactly
in the Japanese marketplace?
Source: Fight Opinion
|
CARPE
DIEM: RASHAD EVANS SEIZES UFC GOLD
by Damon Martin
It seems so long ago that Rashad Evans was celebrating his victory
over Brad Imes to win the second season of "The Ultimate
Fighter" reality show, but that opportunity led him to last
Saturday night and the chance to become the new UFC light heavyweight
champion.
In
a division laced with unbelievably tough competition, Evans has
managed to remain undefeated while swimming with piranhas. Now
the former Michigan State wrestler walks with the biggest target
of all on his back with the gold strap around his waist.
"I
believe I would be here one day," Evans told MMAWeekly.com
about his journey to become champion. "I just didn't know
when or how long it was going to take, but I believed I was going
to be here."
While
there can be no real disappointment in a performance that yielded
the result that it did, Evans is still able to critique his own
fight, and he realizes that he will still be able to grow in
the future.
"Just
come out a little bit cleaner. I felt kind of sloppy in the first
two rounds; I don't know where I was at the first couple rounds.
Forrest did a good job of pressing forward and all the things
he was doing," Evans said of his performance at UFC 92.
"I just didn't feel my legs coming through yet, but I knew
I was in great shape, I wasn't even tired yet."
The
end result was a TKO victory over Forrest Griffin, a title belt
now in his possession, and the nickname of "champ"
everywhere he goes. Obviously Evans put forth a great deal of
hard work to get to this point, but even with the gold still
freshly dropped in his hands, he remains humble.
Never
one to forget what got him to where he is; Evans is quick to
point out the determining factor to his championship run.
"The
key element is my team," he commented. "That's the
biggest element right there is my team. Keith Jardine, one of
the toughest guys in my weight class, without him and all the
cats on my team, Joey Villasenor, I couldn't be where I am right
now."
Now
with possibly the most coveted title in all of MMA around his
waist, Evans is ready to face any and all challengers that want
a shot at his UFC light heavyweight title.
"I
knew once I got the belt, I knew my mindset had to change as
far as defending it," he stated. "Even right now, I
feel like there's a lot I want to do better, in the fight early
on I didn't find my rhythm as fast as I wanted to, but I just
want to be able to come out there and put anybody out first round,
or how long it may go."
Names
like Quinton "Rampage" Jackson have already been mentioned,
and others will likely vie for that chance as well, but Evans
is ready for whatever and whoever steps in the cage against him
next.
"Maybe
(Lyoto) Machida or something like that, I don't even know. Whoever
the UFC picks for me to fight, I'm just ready to go in there
and defend the title and make it a great fight," he said.
For
now, Evans will travel home to spend time with his family and
new baby that are happy to welcome him back as husband, father
and, of course, champion.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Zuluzinho
knocked out at Fusion Combat
By Eduardo Ferreira
Former
Pride and K-1 fighter, Wagner “Zuluzinho” da Conceição
is making some fights in the North region of Brazil. In this
time, the son of the legendary Rei Zulú fought at Boa
Vista, Roraima, against Eron Mondragon at Fusion Combat, that
happened in the beginning of the month last (14). The difference
of weight stayed only in the weighting, with Zuluzinho weighting
more than 200Kg (440 pounds), while Mondragon weighted 118Kg
(220 pounds). In the fight, Zuluzinho started better and took
Mondragon down, tried to submit with an armbar, but didn’t
got it and finished the round working on the ground and pound.
Just at the beginning of the second round, Mondragon didn’t
leave Zuluzinho take the fight to the ground and, with a right
punch, knocked Zuluzinho out.
Source: Tatame
|
Afliction
VP Tom Atencio to return to MMA competition
Affliction VP Tom Atencio is eyeing to jump back into fighting
in February, reports the Press-Telegram in Long Beach, California.
"I will fight for somebody else not Affliction," Atencio
told writer Miguel Lopez. "I have been wanting to fight
for a long time. I just haven't had time. I still don't have
time but I want to do it again."
Atencio
has fought once before, winning a three-round decision at Total
Combat 7 on Jan. 29, 2005 in Tijuana, Mexico.
The
41-year-old Atencio plans to compete in the welterweight division.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
|