Upcoming
Events
Do you
want to list an event on Onzuka.com?
Contact
Us
(All events on Oahu, unless noted)
2009
November
Aloha
State Championship
of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
(BJJ & Sub Grappling)
10/10/09
NAGA
Hawaii
(BJJ/Sub Grappling)
(Hawaii, Tentative)
August
Hawaiian
Open Championship
of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
(BJJ & Sub Grappling)
8/29/09
MAUI OPEN 2009
Submission Grappling Challenge
(Sub Grappling)
(Maui War Memorial Gym)
UFC
102
(PPV)
8/9/09
WEC
(Las Vegas, NV)
8/8/09
UFC
101: Declaration
(BJ Penn vs. Kenny Florian)
8/1/09
Affliction: Trilogy
Fedor vs. Barnett
(Honda Cetner, Anaheim, CA)
7/25/09
Gracie Tournament
(Kalaheo H.S. Gym)
7/23/09
JUST SCRAP
(MMA)
(Pipeline Cafe)
7/20/09
Dream 10: Welterweight GP Final
(Japan)
7/11/09
UFC
100: Lesnar vs. Mir
(Las Vegas, NV)
7/10/09
Man up and Stand up
(Kickboxing)
(Waipahu Filcom Center)
6/27-28/09
OTM's 2009
Pac Sub
(Gi & No-Gi competition)
(Blaisdell Exhibition Hall)
6/20/09
The
Ultimate Fighter 9:
Team US vs Team UK Finale
6/13/09
Destiny
(MMA)
(Waipahu Filcom)
UFC
99: Comeback
Silva vs. Franklin
(Cologne, Germany)
6/7/09
WEC: Brown vs. Faber 2
(Versus)
6/6/09
Quest for Champions 2009 Tournament
(Sport Pankration, Sub Grappling)
(Kalani HS Gym)
Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields
(St. Louis, MO)
6/4/09 - 6/7/09
World
JJ Championships
(BJJ)
(California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA)
5/30/09
Event of the Champions
(Triple Threat, Kickboxing, Grappling)
(Elite Auto Group Center)
5/26/09
Dream 9
5/23/09
UFC
98: Evans vs. Machida
(PPV)
5/16/09
KTI's Scrappa Lifestylez
Scrapplers Fest
(BJJ/Submission Grappling)
(Kauai)
5/9/09 - 5/10/09 &
5/16/09 - 5/17/09
Brazilian Nationals JJ Championships
(BJJ)
(Carson, CA)
5/9/09
X-1 Kona
(MMA)
(Kekuaokalani Gym, Kona)
15th Grapplers Quest Las Vegas
(BJJ/Sub Grappling)
(Las Vegas, NV)
5/2/09
Destiny
(MMA)
(Waipahu Filcom)
Uprising MMA
(MMA)
(Maui)
May 2009
Abu Dhabi World Submission Wrestling Championships
(Sub Grappling)
(Tentative)
4/25/09
MMA Madness Water Park Extravaganza
(MMA)
(Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park, Kapolei)
4/18/08
Kingdom
MMA
(MMA)
(Blaisdell Arena)
NY
International JJ Championships
(BJJ)
(Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
4/11/09
Hawaiian
Championship of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
(BJJ & Sub Grappling)
(Kaiser High)
X-1: Temple of Boom
(Boxing & MMA)
(Palolo Hongwangi)
4/10/09
HFC: Stand Your Ground XII
(MMA, Kickboxing)
(Dole Cannery Ballroom)
4/4/09 - 4/5/09
NAGA
World Championship
(BJJ/Sub Grappling)
(NJ, Tentative)
3/28/09
Garden Island Cage Match
(MMA)
(Hanapepe Stadium, Hanapepe, Kauai)
3/27/09
- 3/29/09
Pan
Am JJ Championships
(BJJ)
(Carson, CA)
3/27/09
Tiger Muay Thai Competition
(Muay Thai)
(Tiger Muay Thai Gym, Sand Island Road)
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
Hawaii Amateur Pankration Association: "Hit and Submit"
(Pankration & Muay Thai)
(O-Lounge Night Club, Honolulu)
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)
2/27/09
X-1 World Events
NEW BEGINNING"
(MMA)
(Maui War Memorial Gym, Wailuku, Maui)
2/21/09
Destiny
(MMA)
(Filcom Center, Waipahu)
UFC
95
(PPV)
(London, England)
2/15/09
X1 World Events
Temple of Boom: Fight Night III
(MMA)
(Palolo Hongwanji)
2/8/09
IWFF
Submission Wrestling Tournament
(No-Gi)
(IWFF Academy, Wailuku, Maui)
2/7/09
4th Annual Clint Shelton Memorial
(Boxing)
(Palolo Gym)
Manup and Standup
(Kickboxing)
(Kapolei Rec Center, Kapolei)
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)
|
|
June
2009 News Part 2
|
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, Wednesday and
Thursday with Kaleo Kwan, PJ Dean, & Chris Slavens!
Kids Classes are also
available!
Click
here for info!
Take classes from the Onzuka brothers in a family-like environment! |
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! |
 |
Fighters'
Club TV
The Toughest Show
On Teleivision
Tuesdays
at 8:00PM
***NEW TIME***
Olelo Channel 52 on Oahu
Also on Akaku on Maui
Check
out the FCTV website! |
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
"A
weak man has doubts before a decision, a strong man has them
afterwards."
Karl Kraus
|
UFC
6/20 TUF 9 Finale (Las Vegas)
By Zach Arnold
Dark
matches
Light
Heavyweights (205 pounds): Mike Ciesnolevicz vs. Tomasz Drwal
Welterweights (170 pounds): Brad Blackburn vs. Edgar Garcia
Lightweights (155 pounds): Melvin Guillard vs. Gleison Tibau
Main card
Lightweights
(155 pounds): Ross Pearson vs. Andre Winner
Welterweights (170 pounds): Chris Lytle vs. Kevin Burns
Lightweights (155 pounds): Joe Stevenson vs. Nate Diaz
Lightweights (155 pounds): Diego Sanchez vs. Clay Guida
Source: Fight Opinion
|
'Mayhem'
vs. 'Jacare' title rematch slated for DREAM 11
 
Jason "Mayhem" Miller and Ronaldo "Jacare"
de Souza will look to settle the score in September for the DREAM
middleweight belt at DREAM 11 in Tokyo, Japan.
"I'm fighting Jacare in September," Miller wrote today
on his Twitter account. "Can't wait."
Souza
holds a victory over Miller from DREAM 4 in the quarterfinals
of last year's DREAM Middleweight Grand Prix. When Gegard Mousasi
vacated his belt to move up in weight, Miller and Souza were
assigned to meet in May for the belt, but a cut on "Jacare"
due to an accidental illegal knee by Miller led to a no contest
at DREAM 9.
DREAM
11 will also feature the conclusion of the DREAM Featherweight
Grand Prix. The semifinalists are Bibiano Fernandes (5-2), Joe
Warren (2-0), Hiroyuki Takaya (11-6-1) and Hideo Tokoro (22-16-1).
The matchups haven't been announced but it will likely be Fernandes-Warren
and Takaya-Tokoro.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Josh
Barnett - All-American Superhero
Press Release
SEAL BEACH, California (June 3, 2009)— With his chiseled
jaw and Mr. Incredible looks, Josh “The Babyfaced Assassin”
Barnett could be the leading man in a Hollywood film or a character
straight out of the anime that he loves so much. He has a superhero
frame—at 6’3”, 250 pounds, one can almost picture
the “Babyfaced Assassin” wrapped in a cape, standing
atop a tall building, scanning the city below for any evil doers.
He is a well-spoken, charismatic figure whose persona is as compelling
as his impressive fight record.
Josh’s showmanship has won him many exuberant fans, making
him a kind of cult icon to his admirers. But it’s his down-to-earth
behavior that has gained him a reliable supply of die-hard followers.
A self-proclaimed nerd, the heavyweight is a big fan of video
games, comic books, anime, and muscle cars, much like his fan
base, who easily relate to him and his favorite pastimes. He
often speaks frankly and has been known in the past to get on
message boards and debate with fans and other fighters.
Barnett’s easy smile and conversation make him a favorite
of interviewers, and his trademark humor and bravado make him
an always entertaining performer for audiences to watch. And
Josh pulls no punches in front of a microphone, either. He is
always armed with a number of jokes and a large dose of playful
sarcasm to keep things from becoming predictable.
But Barnett is not all image—he’s also full of substance.
Ranked number two on Sherdog’s top ten heavyweights of the
world list, Barnett is a force to be reckoned with. The youngest
UFC® Heavyweight Champion of all-time, he is one of the most
respected heavyweights in MMA and a celebrated wrestling star
in Japan. In Japan, Barnett is idolized and considered the ultimate
American warrior. And although he has a deep fondness for Japanese
culture, he always represents his home country with great pride.
On August 1st, Barnett will be on home turf, playing a starring
role at Affliction M-1 Global’s Trilogy opposite his costar
and opponent, the reigning WAMMA Heavyweight Champion, Fedor
Emelianenko. The two personas couldn’t be any more different.
Difference in personality aside, these two powerful heavyweights
will surely bring an explosive performance to their bout at Honda
Center in Anaheim.
And Barnett is ready to face the number one ranked mixed martial
artist in the world. He has been studying the fighting of his
opponent for years, as he does all potential opponents. The former
UFC® Heavyweight Champion and current King of Pancrase is
a highly tactical, sound fighter whose world-class submission
wrestling skills are notorious. Although his grappling base comes
from catch-wrestling, he has an evolved fighting style that combines
a well-rounded standup and ground game. Barnett also has size,
strength, and conditioning on his side. He’ll be utilizing
all of his assets to win the recognition of all in MMA, and to
score the role of a lifetime—the baddest man on the planet.
Tickets for Affliction M-1 “Trilogy,” ranging between
$50.00 and $600.00, go on sale June 8 at Honda Center Box Office
(1.714.704.2500) and also online at Ticketmaster.com and all
Ticket Master outlets (1.714.740.2000).
Affliction
Already a mainstay for the most elite athletes, heaviest bands,
A-listers and the fashion conscious, Affliction Clothing's ability
to set the bar high in fashion is evident in its collection's
indulgence of style and design, focus on quality, and its trademark
series of divinely executed, dark and powerful themes. (www.afflictionclothing.com)
The
Trump Organization
The Trump Organization encompasses global real estate development
and global licensing, sales and marketing, property management,
golf course development, entertainment, entertainment and product
licensing, brand development as well as restaurants and event
planning. Donald J. Trump is the Chairman and President of the
Trump Organization, a privately held company in New York. (www.Trump.com)
Golden
Boy Promotions
Los
Angeles-based Golden Boy Promotions was established in 2002 by
Oscar de la Hoya, the first Hispanic to own a national boxing
promotional company. Golden Boy Promotions currently has over
60 fighters under contract, from future hall of famers Bernard
Hopkins, Sugar Shane Mosley and Juan Manuel Marquez to current
world champions Ricky Hatton, David Haye, Joel Casamayor, Israel
Vazquez and Gerry Peñalosa. Also included on the company’s
roster are top contenders Jeff Lacy, Juan Diaz, Daniel Ponce
De Leon, Jhonny Gonzalez, Librado Andrade, Rocky Juarez and Rey
Bautista; 2004 Olympians Abner Mares, Vicente Escobedo and Rock
Allen; and highly regarded prospects Danny Garcia, Jermell Charlo,
Hylon Williams and Carlos and Juan Velasquez. (www.goldenboypromotions.com)
M-1
Global and M-1 Challenge
M-1
Global has been one of the leading Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) organizations
in the world for over a decade. International MMA stars who have
fought under the M-1 banner have included Fedor Emelianenko,
Andrei Arlovski, Aleksander Emelianenko, Keith Jardine, Alistair
Overeem, Yushin Okami, Ben Rothwell, Mike Pyle, Melvin Manhoef,
Roman Zenstov, Denis Kang, Martin Kampmann, Omar Suloev, and
Chalid Arrab, to name a few. (www.m1mixfight.com)
Source: The Fight Network
|
DIEGO
CALLS OUT FLORIAN, SAYS "I'M #1 CONTENDER"
by Steven Marrocco
Diego Sanchez made a surprise appearance on a Thursday media
teleconference promoting the season nine finale of “The
Ultimate Fighter.” He wasted little time making waves, calling
Kenny Florian out.
Sanchez
is set to face Clay Guida in the main event of the show, held
Saturday at The Palms’ Pearl Theater in Las Vegas. He characteristically
left his title future with the UFC. But in the same breath, he
laid the foundation for a rematch with the original TUF alum.
“One
of the reasons for me dropping to 155 was the fact that Kenny
Florian is coming up on his second title shot, and this is a
guy that I walked through four years ago,” said Sanchez.
“And everybody thinks that, yeah, we’ve both evolved,
we’ve both changed, we’re both different fighters,
we’ve both improved a lot. But the fact is that I walked
through him and it wasn’t even a fight, and this is the
number one contender. So in my mind, I am the number one contender
right now.”
Guida
says he’s a contender too if he beats Sanchez.
In
April 2005, Sanchez and Florian fought for the first Ultimate
Fighter crown on a night widely considered to have given birth
to the sport’s current popularity. At middleweight, both
were fighting heavy; Florian was 30 pounds above scale, while
Sanchez was up 15 pounds. The fight was a blowout – Florian
later said he “froze” and called the experience a turning
point in his career.
Since
that fateful night, both fighters have risen, and fallen, in
the ranks of UFC contenders. Sanchez made his mark in the welterweight
division before two losses in 2007 motivated a drop to lightweight;
Florian dabbled once at 170 pounds before making 155 his home.
To
sweeten the pot, Sanchez pitched the rematch as an endpoint to
coaching spots for the pair on the eleventh season of the reality
show.
“I
think that if he wins and I win, that would make a great fight
for the fans, and possibly two great coaches for the next season
after Rashad and Rampage,” he said. “It would be an
awesome rematch. He’s going to want a shot at redemption
and I want a shot at the title, so it definitely plays out for
a good story line.”
Then,
Sanchez put another twist in the story. He wants B.J. Penn to
retain his title against Florian at UFC 101 in August.
“I’m
rooting for B.J. Penn,” he said. “I would like B.J.
Penn to win; that’s a guy I’ve always wanted to fight.”
While
Sanchez certainly left a lot on the table, his plans would not
take focus from this weekend’s fight.
“I’ve
got Clay Guida in front of me right now, and that’s the
only thing my mind is focused on,” finished Sanchez. “Putting
on the best performance of my career, and going in there and
actually earning and proving to people that there is a real number
one contender here at 155. I’m here for now and I want to
dominate.”
For
how long – that’s another story.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Remaining
UFC 100 Bouts Confirmed
By FCF Staff
The Ultimate Fighting Championship has confirmed the remaining
bouts for the promotion’s upcoming UFC 100 event, which
will be held July 11th, at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, in
Las Vegas, Nevada. The card will feature 2 title fights, as Brock
Lesnar will defend his heavyweight belt against interim champion
Frank Mir, while Georges St. Pierre will look to retain his welterweight
championship vs. Thiago Alves. The card will also include a middleweight
bout between season 9 TUF coaches, Michael Bisping and Dan Henderson.
At
welterweight, the highly regarded Jon Fitch (18-3) will look
to avenge AKA teammate Josh Koscheck’s loss to Paulo Thiago
(11-0) in February, as he’ll take on the undefeated Brazilian.
Fitch has not competed since January, when he worked is way to
a Unanimous Decision victory over Akihiro Gono.
Noted
Japanese middleweight Yoshihiro Akiyama (12-1) will make his
UFC debut against Alan Belcher. Akiyama is coming off a submission
victory over Masanori Tonooka at Dream 6 last September, while
Belcher (14-5) submitted Denis Kang at January's UFC 93 in his
last bout, in one of the fighter’s biggest wins to date.
At
lightweight, Mac Danzig (18-6-1) will look to end his two fight
losing skid against Jim Miller, as the former TUF winner has
lost back-to-back fights against Josh Neer and Clay Guida. Miller
is coming off a decision loss to Gray Maynard at UFC 96 in March,
after the IFL veteran won is first two Octagon bouts.
Other
fights which have been announced for the UFC 100 card include:
Jon Jones (8-0) vs. Jake O’Brien (11-2), CB Dollaway (9-2)
vs. Tom Lawlor (5-1-1) and Matt Grice (10-2) vs. Shannon Gugerty
(11-3).
Source: Full Contact Fighter
|
Crusher
Kawajiri vs. Masato booked for K-1 MAX; Kid Yamamoto also booked
By Zach Arnold
7/13
in Tokyo at Nippon Budokan. K-1 rules match.
FINAL
8 Tournament
Drago
vs. Yuya Yamamoto
Giorgio Petrosyan vs. Albert Kraus
Artur Kyshenko vs. Andy Souwer
Nicky Holtzken vs. Buakaw Por Pramuk
Reserve fight: Yoshihiro Sato vs. Joeri Mes
Reserve fight: Kidoyasu vs. Leroy Kaestner
62 kg: Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto vs. Jae Hee-Cheon
60 kg: Atsushi Yamamoto vs. Kazuhisa Watanabe
Hinata vs. Dzhabar Askerov (U.A.E.)
Source: Fight Opinion
|
'Roger
fighting's a sight for sore eyes'
Xande assesses Worlds 2009
While
Alexandre Ribeiro limped around the stadium, Saulo lamented the
injury. "To me it was overtraining from MMA training,"
suspected the elder brother.
With
a tear in his lateral medial ligamente of his knee, Xande brought
his training to a halt and had no alternative but to participate
at the Worlds as a spectator. Betting on two-time champ Roger
Gracie from the start, he spoke with GRACIEMAG shortly after
the 14th World Championship came to a close.
How
do you assess this Worlds? Are you still sad to have had to watch
the whole thing from the stands?
Xande
Ribeiro: The sadness is gone, since watching Roger fight is always
a sight for sore eyes, watching Marcelo Garcia return, brown
belt Zach Maxwell doing well, it was all very exciting.
On
Saturday at the Worlds, Romulo (Barral) had impressed me a lot,
Ricardo Demente too, and Roger I already expected an exhibition
like that from, passing, mounting and submitting everyone.
But
Jiu-Jitsu is still going the ways of what I have been criticizing,
with lots of matches decided by advantages, folks clutching sleeves,
half-half-guards, guys with their butts in the air so the ref
won't know who is attacking and who is stalling. I think the
rules should be rethought some, all that needs to be done is
to analyze the positions making the sport ugly and just put an
end to the position.
In
Jiu-Jitsu at a time there was no leglock, they invented the leglock.
There was no toe-hold, and they invented it. If they really did
invent a position that's of detriment to Jiu-Jitsu's practice,
cancel the position, make it illegal.
What
bothered you most in the matches?
Now
it's all about wrapping up the legs, grabbing the foot, sinking
the weirdest grip possible... and wait for the opponent to do
something. Or in oter words, stalling and lots of fighters just
look at the ref the whole time, causing the crowd to put on the
pressure. It's all very sad, it hinders the sport's development.
To
me, it's a bother not seeing anyone attacking the neck from the
guard, no one going for the arm, or playing with a hand on the
collar, opening the game up a bit. What's happening is that no
one wants to encounter the truth, and the truth, and the truth
in Jiu-Jitsu is being hidden. Roger is a guy who shows the truth,
he goes there, shows his game and manages to execute it. And
several other athletes go in there and show what they're made
of. Others are really concerned with the result, which is of
course important, buit that doesn't mean it hides the quality
of their Jiu-Jitsu. I play Jiu-Jitsu for me, to define myself
as a fighter. The results come naturally.
And
have you any comments regarding Roger?
It's
no mystery Roger is my greatest adversary in Jiu-Jitsu history,
as I should be to him... Now we've faced each other eight times!
We go at it a lot, in a history going on ten years. What's cool
is how we both do really basic Jiu-Jitsu, we like to finish and
we get results.
I
already expected such a performance from him, after all he really
is superior to everyone, and I expected him to always end up
on top and win. Because like I'd been saying, these days no one
knows how to defend anymore, he mounts and no one can get him
off, and they give up, because no one has defensive resources.
And that's in Jiu-Jitsu, a self-defense sport. They just grab
sleeves, grab collars, and stop. When they come up against a
guy who's sharp, who atacks, they can't hold out and tap out,
look at Marcelo's victorious campaign too. But despite the criticism
they're all to be congratulated.
What
can be done then to defend the beautiful and attacking Jiu-Jitsu?
We
could bring together several of the sport's champions to analyze
video and work on rules. Let's see that the disputes keep changing
till we get out of this situation, which compromises the beauty
of the match. That's if folks want it that way, if they think
it's worth it.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
Shogun
preparing strategy for Machida
By Eduardo Ferreira
After
two victories in the UFC octagon, the last one against the former
light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell, Maurício Shogun
wil had the chance for the UFC belt against the champion Lyoto
Machida. In exclusive interview to TATAME.com, Shogun spoke for
the first time about the training for the title fight and guaranteed
he’ll be ready for the challenge.
“I’m
focused, but I still have more four months to get ready for this
fight. This fight will be very tough, it’s hard to find
sparrings with Lyoto’s style, that’s why I’ll
prepare myself the best way for this fight”, says Shogun.
The Pride GP champion also comments Wanderlei Silva’s fight
against Rich Franklin, at UFC 99, and talked about a possible
training with the Axe Murderer and Rafael Cordeiro and more.
Stay tuned on TATAME.com and check, tomorrow, and exclusive interview
with Shogun.
Source: Tatame
|
Sherdog.com’s
Guide to TUF 9
by Scott Holmes
On the final episode of this season’s “The Ultimate
Fighter,” coach Dan Henderson sits surrounded by his team.
With only one fight remaining, the boys nosh on some ribs and
soak up their last moments together –- a last supper, if
you will.
After
all the pig has been polished off, Henderson and Frank Lester
talk about Hendo’s prominent and cauliflowered ears.
“I
like ‘em,” says Hendo. “I never have anybody f---
with me because of my ears.”
Lester
agrees that such ears would give him pause -- at least when Henderson
is around. Before dinner, Lester had no problem aping his coach,
walking around with two asparagus bunches to his head in homage.
Henderson
gives Lester one last pep talk before his bout with James Wilks,
as the U.S. team hopes their boy can exact revenge on the man
who removed four of his teeth in their last bout.
“James
is such a pompous pr--k,” says Damarques Johnson. “I
want Frank to hurt him badly.”
At
least Lester has earned the U.K. squad’s respect. While
the Yanks eat, Wilks gets a pep talk of his own as his teammates
warn him that Lester has changed since their last meeting.
“Now”
says Dean Amasinger, “he’s going to be more relaxed
when he fights you. You’ve got to bring your A game.”
Wilks
figures that he’s the favorite, seeing as how he won the
last time, and while he respects Lester’s chin, Wilks’
only true worry is that he’ll make a mistake on his end.
Lester
is off to get his final workout in.
“I’m
starting to feel like that cage is home,” says Lester.
Coach
Henderson implores Lester to adjust his standup style with more
straight punches. Lester tends to rely on throwing wide hooks,
exposing himself down the middle. Hendo is clear that he wants
to see less of Lester trying to load up his shots and Lester
vows to do just that.
Lester
and Wilks are both classy, respectful combatants. Before they
square off, Wilks spends time in Lester’s room, asking about
his daughter back home. Lester dotes on her as he hands Wilks
a marker to sign his jersey.
Lester
admits that his stance on Wilks has softened and that Wilks has
“grown on me a little bit.” This is amazing when you
remember that Wilks knocked four of Lester’s teeth out less
than two weeks ago.
There
are visible changes in Lester. Before he was all fury and now
he’s become more philosophical. He speaks to Wilks about
the change before their weigh-in as the two share a sauna. Lester
talks about how he usually found himself “fighting with
a little rage” but this isn’t the case this time having
lived with his opponent.
While
the U.S. team feasts on ribs and BBQ, their U.K. counterparts’
final meal is decidedly English. Well, English by way of India,
as Amasinger whips up a good chicken curry for the lads, which
they dig into with gusto.
“I
couldn’t wish for a better team,” says coach Bisping.
“I’ve said it many, many times.”
Bisping
is the cock of the walk with the lightweight finale being an
all-U.K. affair. He’s also pleased with his teams’
representation of the sport and their country. Maybe Bisping
should wait to gush, as Wilks decides to clown him.
Wilks
tricks Bisping by pretending to press a penny into his coach’s
forehead. Bisping thinks that the penny is stuck there and begins
to slap himself in the back of the head about a dozen times before
catching on that there’s nothing there. Hilarity ensues.
After
dinner is over and the coaches have left, Andre Winner flees
into the backyard after slapping Dean Amasinger in the jaw with
a healthy portion of chicken.
Winner
winds up getting shoved into the pool and as he attempts to exit
said pool, he is greeted with a bag of flour in the face. While
foreign to some, this is a move known in some circles of the
United States as “antiquing.” The U.K. team goes out
the way they came in, laughing and having the time of their lives.
While
they party, Lester lets a few errant tears go as he sits on the
bed and talks with Damarques Johnson. Johnson advises Lester
to embrace the challenge of this next fight and allays his worries.
Johnson assures Lester that he has nothing to be concerned about,
that Lester has represented himself, his family and country very
well.
“Win,
lose or draw tomorrow Frank, dude, you’re going to be a
rock star,” says Johnson, getting a chuckle from Lester.
Lester
steps into the Octagon for the third time in as many weeks and,
once again, he fights his heart out. As much as coach Henderson
would like to see his pupil throw straight punches more, Lester
still relies on his looping shots. However, they are just no
match for Wilks. The Brit picks the battered American apart,
landing punches knees and kicks from every conceivable angle.
Henderson
repeatedly begs for Lester to “be first” when it cones
to the exchange, but it is Wilks that follows the advice. Wilks
darts in and moves back out, causing a worn-out Lester to constantly
have to chase him down.
The
first two rounds are a slugfest, with Wilks pushing the action.
Lester hangs tough until the third round, when the damage and
fatigue begin to take a toll. Wilks looks every bit the finalist,
staying very sharp from the opening bell until he finishes Lester
off. A few knees to the head in the final minutes from Wilks
and Lester crumples to the canvas for good.
Several
times during the fight Wilks mocks Lester’s style and mimics
his movements, which doesn’t sit too well with Lester’s
teammates.
“If
James tries to taunt me, he will only make it worse for himself
because I will take that Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and shove
it up his ass,” says Johnson , who faces Wilks in the finals
this Saturday.
Henderson
is very proud of Lester and his efforts, and attributes his loss
to “too many wars over a short period of time.”
“What
we found out is there’s no doubt, Wilks is the better fighter,”
says UFC President Dane White. “But Lester, without a f---ing
doubt, is one of the toughest sons of bitches I’ve ever
been around.”
Looking
drained and defeated and sitting there bruised and bloody, Lester
receives support from his coaches and teammates in the locker
room, as the last man standing from Team U.S.A. steps into the
Octagon alone.
Damarques
Johnson receives some good-natured ribbing from the Brits as
he squares off with Wilks for the final matchup announcement.
“That
dude, I don’t know what it is,” says Johnson. “His
mannerisms, his f---ing face just tugs on my life cord and makes
me want to hurt somebody.”
Wilks
is a little more reserved with his commentary.
“I
was confident when I got here and I’m confident I’ll
win in the finale,” he says.
“Tough
bastards,” says Henderson, as he walks around shaking the
hands of the U.K. team. “This experience has really made
me want to beat Bisping that much more. He’s a nice guy
but for lack of a better word, he’s just a d---- bag.”
Bisping
has observations of his own and marvels at how Hendo “never
got riled up once.”
“Maybe
I could be a little more cool, calm and collected,” notes
Bisping.
Bisping
also has thoughts about their upcoming fight at UFC 100 on July
11.
“I
think he underestimated the team and with a bit of luck, he’ll
underestimate me,” says Bisping.
On
Saturday, live on Spike TV, it will certainly be interesting
to see Ross Pearson and Andre Winner be forced to put friendship
aside for the lightweight TUF title. Friendship won’t be
the issue for the bigger boys with Johnson’s unabashed hatred
for Wilks boils over in the welterweight final.
In
a nutshell, this season’s country versus country experiment
went pretty well -- for the Brits, that is. They came in hungry,
focused and with a chip on their shoulder. They seemed to bond
over the experience and their coach’s competitive attitude
galvanized them as a team. In fact, they may have even had an
unwitting effect on their counterparts, seeing as how this was
probably the most uneventful season when it came to house drama.
Don’t
get used to it though. The next season of TUF should be a reality
fan’s dream with the combination of Quinton Jackson and
Rashad Evans coaching the likes of Kevin Fergsuon and other heavyweight
monsters. Get the popcorn ready.
Source: Sherdog
|
CLAY
GUIDA AIMING FOR THE HEAD OF THE CLASS
by Brian Lopez-Benchimol
Stepping up to his biggest challenge inside the UFC, Clay Guida
has gone from proverbial gatekeeper to a possible immediate contender
to the lightweight title currently held by B.J. Penn.
Taking
on Ultimate Fighter Season One winner Diego Sanchez, a former
top ranked welterweight who is now a lightweight commodity, “The
Carpenter” turned “TUF Killer” will try to make
it three in a row over Ultimate Fighter winners this Saturday
Night as the main event of the evening when Season Nine “Team
U.S.A. vs. Team U.K.” wraps up, crowning two new winners
in the lightweight and welterweight class.
Scoring
his biggest win to date, a split-decision victory over Ultimate
Fighter bad boy Nate Diaz this past January (earning fight of
the night honors once again), Guida will look to build on his
momentous rise in stock when he goes for his fourth win in a
row inside the Octagon against a man he sees as one of the best
in his division. None-the-less, he's not short of confidence
going into the bout.
“He’s
going to be the biggest opponent I’ve had and I think he’s
going to be a little bit more used to cutting the weight now,
because I want him on his best game, just like I want all of
my opponents,” explained Guida.
“I
don’t want any excuses after I punish him and he’s
going to be looking around; it’s going to be a really lonely
place in that cage when he’s in there with me, I can guarantee
that.”
Knowing
full well the perks that come when defeating someone as highly
regarded as Sanchez, Guida is using this opportunity to stake
his claim, not only to those who have labeled him as an “underdog,”
but also to establish his rightful spot amongst the elite in
his weight class, moving one step closer to what is every hungry
fighter’s dream... challenging for the title.
“I’m
here to show that I am the best fighter in the UFC at the lightweight
division. I know deep down in my heart that I’m gonna out
work you in the cage; I’m gonna out work you in the gym.
I think it matters more in the cage, but the work's done this
week. I’ve already done my training camp, victory is in
hand, I know it.”
Now
with all the hard work finished and the prize within his grasp,
Guida will look to approach this fight with this same demeanor
that he has with his past successful performances, remaining
patient and sticking to his game, while not allowing others to
dictate the action, which was admittedly a flaw that he tends
to get caught up with. Yet, he asserts that he has cut his faults
to become a stronger fighter.
“I
thank Roger (Huerta). It was an amazing fight. I’m surprised
that, if you look at that fight, we were standing toe-to-toe,
slugging it out; I was getting the takedowns and frustrating
him. I was surprised; we were landing some heavy punches. A lot
of times, that’s the way to test someone’s chin, but
also I made him fight my fight for a while, but then I got caught
up in his style which is to brawl. Make it a brawl, that’s
the way that he’s been victorious.”
With
those experiences in the past, Guida will utilize his confidence
and “go get 'em” style to not only earn his biggest
win to date in front of another ruckus Las Vegas crowd (with
The Ultimate Fighter Finales infamous for their legendary fights),
the Illinois native will also fulfill a lifelong dream, that
may be realized with one defining moment on Saturday night.
“I
want to test myself against every fighter. I want to show everyone
that I am a dominant fighter in the lightweight division, in
the world. Line them up. Night and day, I think about Diego,
that’s it.”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Quote
of the Day
"Victorious
warriors win first and then go to war,
while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win."
Sun-tzu
|
STRIKEFORCE
PREVIEW: VILLASENOR VS CYBORG
by Ricardo Mendoza
Joey Villasenor vs. Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos
Jackson’s
Submission Fighting middleweight Joey Villasenor faces off with
free swinging Chute Boxe middleweight Evangelista “Cyborg”
Santos. These two were supposed to meet last year in a Strikeforce
show, but a visa issue prevented the fight from happening. Expect
fireworks from these two, as neither fighter wants it to go the
distance.
One
thing that could be expected of these two would be a brawl, but
for Villasenor that would be a mistake. That is exactly what
Santos wants. Instead, Villasenor should stay on the outside
and use his technical advantage over Santos by picking his shots
and slowly wearing him down. If the fight sees any action on
the floor, Villasenor would be wise to use his wrestling to control
the wily Santos.
A
win for either fighter could be big, as it seems that Strikeforce
will crown an interim middleweight champion later this year.
Nick
Thompson vs. Tim Kennedy
Former
Bodog welterweight champion Nick Thompson faces off with U.S.
Army Ranger Tim Kennedy. Thompson will be moving up from welterweight
for this fight, while Kennedy fights for the first time in 18
months. This should be an interesting clash of styles as these
two fighters try to move up the ranks.
If
the fight stays on the feet for the majority of the time, it
should be rather interesting, as Thompson will have a reach advantage
over Kennedy. He will look to stay on the outside and land effective
combinations, while Kennedy will look to get on the inside and
turn the fight into a brawl. Thompson should be the better fighter
on the ground as he has shown that he has some submission ability.
Kennedy on the other hand likes to brawl, but is also an effective
wrestler. Neither fighter really has a feeling out process, so
expect them to get right at each other.
Jorge
Gurgel vs. Conor Heun
UFC
veteran Jorge Gurgel takes on Southern California lightweight
Conor Heun. Both fighters will be making their Strikeforce debuts
and will no doubt be looking to impress the higher ups to climb
the ladder in the lightweight division. Like most lightweight
bouts, expect the pace to be quick and exciting.
Gurgel
is a talented Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, but you wouldn’t
know it because he never takes the fight the ground. If he stays
on the feet with Heun, he will more than likely get out struck
like in his past fights and lose another decision. Gurgel needs
to take the fight on the ground, where he has a huge advantage
over the inexperienced Heun. On the other hand, if Heun can keep
the fight on the feet, he will be able to get the biggest victory
of his career.
Sarah
Kaufman vs. Shayna Baszler
Canadian
striker Sarah Kaufman faces off with submission specialist Shayna
Baszler. This will be the first time in Strikeforce history that
a women’s fight will be contested with five-minute rounds.
Neither fighter tends to go the distance, so expect a quick and
precise finish to the fight.
Kaufman
obviously has the big advantage standing as she is a beast on
the feet and that is Baszler’s glaring weakness. If the
fight hits the ground, than Baszler has a much better chance
to win the fight with a submission. All Kaufman has to do is
keep the fight on the feet and it will only be a matter of time
before she ends it, while Baszler needs to do everything to get
the fight on the ground if she wants to win.
Cory
Devala vs. Luke Rockhold
Local
Washington based fighter Cory Devala takes on American Kickboxing
Academy prodigy Luke Rockhold. This will be a big fight for both
men, as Devala needs to rebound from a loss his last time out
and a win for Rockhold could be the thing that propels him into
the mixed martial arts limelight. Expect a quick and exciting
fight as both fighters promised to finish.
This
is a rather interesting clash of styles with Devala playing the
role of the striker and Rockhold being the submission fighter.
If the fight stays on the feet, Devala will have an advantage,
but not by much as Rockhold has greatly improved his striking.
No one would know it, however, as he finishes all his fights
on the ground. On the ground, Rockhold is the better fighter
and has shown it in his young mixed martial arts career. For
Devala to win the fight, he’ll need to sprawl and brawl,
while Rockhold wants to end it with a submission on the ground.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
BELLATOR
CHAMPIONSHIP CLASHES NOW OFFICIAL
Bellator Fighting Championships will close out its inaugural
season on Friday at the Seminole Hard Rock in Holloywood, Fla.
Bellator XII features the championship bouts in both the middleweight
and lightweight divisions.
All
four of the championship fighters made weight, setting up a big
night for the promotion. Eddie Alvarez weighed in at 155 pounds
and Toby Imada at 154.25 to make the lightweight title fight
official. In the middleweight class, Hector Lombard made weight
at 184.5 pounds and Jared Hess at 184.25.
Bellator
XII will be televised Saturday night on Spanish-language station
ESPN Deportes.
Bellator
XII
Weigh-in Results
June 19, 2009
Hollywood, Fla.
Bellator
Lightweight Championship:
-Eddie Alvarez (155 lbs) vs. Toby Imada (154.25lbs)
Bellator
Middleweight Championship:
-Hector Lombard (184.5 lbs) vs. Jared Hess (184.25 lbs)
-Sami
Aziz (145.5 lbs) vs. Fabio Mello (145.75 lbs)
-Jorge Masvidal (159 lbs) vs. Eric Reynolds (159.5 lbs)
-Sergio Morais (168.5 lbs) vs. Josh Martin (170.25 lbs)
-Valerie Coolbaugh (124.25 lbs) vs. Rosi Sexton (123.25 lbs)
-Troy Gerhart (151.5 lbs) vs. Luis Palomino (149 lbs)
-Yvonne Reis (146.5 lbs) vs. Stefanie Guimaraes (144 lbs)
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Shogun:
'I'd only not face Wanderlei'
Fighter comments on title challenge against Lyoto Machida
Carlos Ozorio / Portal das Lutas
After solidifying his place in the UFC with two knockout wins,
over Chuck Liddell and Mark Coleman, Mauricio Shogun is confirmed
to face Lyoto Machida. The bout is worth the organization's light
heavyweight belt, which could land Shogun back at the top of
the world, a post he was used to occupying back in the days of
Pride.
Portal
das Lutas - How did you feel about getting a shot at the title
so quickly?
Mauricio
Shogun - I was really happy about the title challenge. When Dana
White told me I was really happy. Lyoto's my friend, we train
together. We've been in contact but there's no way to turn down
the fight.
PDL
- Is there anyone you would never face?
MS
- The only guy I've said I would never face is Wanderlei (Silva).
He is my true friend and I have a special affection for him.
PDL
- After facing three tough guys (Forrest Griffin, Mark Coleman
and Chuck Liddell), now you have this shot at the title. Would
you rather do a few more fights and better adapt to the event?
MS
- The one who decides whether the fight is for the belt is Dana
White. When I joined the UFC, there already was the perspective
of a shot at the belt soon, for what I had shown in Pride. Against
Coleman I didn't fight that great, but against Liddell I did
well. That's what Dana White had to work with. I'm new in the
house, but I have experience and I'm happy for the opportunity.
PDL
- For the second time in the organization there's an all-Brazilian
title challenge, the other being between Anderson Silva and Thales
Leites. How important is that?
MS
- It shows how strong Brazil is in MMA. I believe that, after
soccer, MMA is the sport that best represents Brazil abroad.
And we are very well represented, because we really sport the
jersey. I'm certain the athletes fight for the country. Brazil
is still needy of heroes in sport and it's great motivation.
We're out there to represent Brazil.
PDL
- What do you think of Lyoto?
MS
- Lyoto is a well-rounded fighter, good standing,on the ground
and has good wrestling. He's the man to beat, undefeated and
has shown his worth. I repect him, but I'm going to train a lot
to come home with the win.
PDL
- Would you like to send a message out to your fans?
MS
- I can't promise victory, but I guarantee I'll do my all to
represent our country, my team and my state. I would like to
thank all my fans and tell them they are my greatest motivation
in training every day.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
More
Bouts Confirmed for UFC 102
By FCF Staff
A
day after the Ultimate Fighting Championship confirmed that Randy
Couture would take on Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in the main event
of the promotion’s upcoming August 29th show in Portland,
Oregon; several more bouts have been added to the card.
As
expected, in a compelling light-heavyweight match-up, Keith Jardine
(14-6-1) will square off with Thiago Silva (13-1). Both men will
be looking to get back on track, as Jardine is coming off a Unanimous
Decision loss to Quinton Jackson at UFC 96 in March, while Silva
is coming off his first career defeat, a first round KO loss
at the hands of current champ Lyoto Machida this past January.
In
a bout between two of the promotion’s more notable middleweights,
Nate Marquardt (28-8-2) will take on the rapidly rising Demian
Maia (10-0). Marquardt is coming off back-to-back TKO victories
over Martin Kampmann and Wilson Gouveia, since he lost by Split
Decision to Thales Leites, at UFC 85 last June. Maia recently
submitted Chael Sonnen in the first round of their UFC 95 bout
in February, for his fifth straight victory since signing with
the UFC.
The
other tilts which have been announced for UFC102 include:
Chris
Leben (18-5) vs. Jake Rosholt (5-1)
Matt Hamill (8-2) vs. Brandon Vera (10-3)
Wilson Gouveia (12-6) vs. James Irvin (14-5-1)
Junior Dos Santos (7-1) vs. Justin McCully (9-4-2)
Nick Catone (7-1) vs. Mark Munoz (5-1)
Matt Veach (11-0) vs. Evan Dunham (8-0)
UFC 102
Main Event; More TUF Finale Bouts Announced
By FCF Staff
The
official site for the Ultimate Fighting Championship has announced
several more bouts for this Saturday’s “Ultimate Fighter”
Season 9 Finale in Las Vegas, Nevada, as well as the main event
for the August 29th, UFC 102 event in Portland, Oregon.
As
previously reported, former UFC light-heavyweight and heavyweight
champion Randy Couture will take on the promotion’s former
interim heavyweight champ, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, in the main
event of this summer’s UFC 102 card. Couture (16-9) has
not competed since last November at UFC 91, when his two fight
winning streak came to an end against Brock Lesnar, who laid
claim to the heavyweight title with a second round TKO stoppage.
Nogueira
(31-5-1) is coming off a disappointing second round loss at the
hands of Frank Mir at UFC 92 in December, after the former Pride
champion defeated Heath Herring and Tim Sylvia in his first 2
UFC bouts.
In
addition to the aforementioned UFC 102 main event, the promotion
has also confirmed several more fights for this coming Saturday’s
TUF 9 Finale. At lightweight, Melvin Guillard will take on Gleison
Tibau, welterweight’s Brad Blackburn and Edgar Garcia will
square off, as will light-heavyweights Mike Ciesnolevicz and
Tomasz Drwal.
The
event will be headlined by a lightweight tilt between Diego Sanchez
and Clay Guida, and will also feature the finals from the current
season of “The Ultimate Fighter.” Joe Stevenson vs.
Nate Diaz and Kevin Burns vs. Chris Lytle are also scheduled
for the event.
Source: Full Contact Fighter
|
UFC
99 aftermath: Ken Imai’s magic with Mirko Cro Cop
By Zach Arnold
Dana White’s stance against one-fight deals has proved prescient.
He gave in this one time to Mirko Cro Cop and agent Ken Imai
and got bit in return. Mirko’s headed back to Japan.
Give
credit to Ken Imai — he took his client, who had little
or no leverage in the MMA marketplace, and Team Mirko managed
to work over Dana White beautifully. He got his one fight against
a relatively ’safe’ opponent and now will cash in with
a new deal with DREAM.
“Isn’t
that a dirty [expletive] thing to do?” White asked rhetorically
after being queried about Filipovic’s deal with DREAM. “He
[expletived] me. The first time in the history of the company
I do one over the phone. He promised me a three-fight deal and
he [expletived] me.”
No,
Dana, Mirko didn’t screw you over. Ken Imai didn’t
screw you over. They played you like a fiddle, but they didn’t
screw you over. You gave them an opening, they took advantage
of it like anyone would in this cutthroat business, and they
turned it into something bigger and better.
So
I guess we should be ready for Dana White playing the victim
here and talking about how he got screwed over, hoping that we
forget about all the other past incidents with talent including
Jon Fitch over video game rights and John Hackleman over whether
or not UFC should force Chuck Liddell into retirement.
As
for Mirko saying one thing and doing another to Dana’s face…
well, take a look at Mirko’s past history in the fight business
and how he handled his deal with power agent Miro Mijatovic before
joining Ken Imai and Sakakibara in PRIDE. No surprises there.
Dana made a one-fight deal with the devil and the devil acted
like the devil does.
Source: Fight Opinion
|
Mayweather-Marquez
fight delayedComment Email Print Share By Dan Rafael
ESPN.com
Floyd Mayweather Jr., set to exit his year-plus retirement to
face Juan Manuel Marquez on July 18 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas,
suffered a rib injury in training late last week, forcing him
to postpone the welterweight fight on Sunday.
"I
am extremely disappointed that this fight has to be postponed,"
Mayweather (39-0, 25 KOs) said in a statement. "I was training
very hard and looking forward to getting back in the ring."
Marquez
(50-4-1, 37 KOs) said in a statement from his training camp in
Mexico that he was also disappointed.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. injured his ribs late last week and was
unable to work through it. The extent of the injury was unknown.
"I will remain focused, in shape and ready to fight whenever
the fight is rescheduled for," the lightweight champion
said. Marquez will receive a minimum $4 million payday for the
fight.
Golden
Boy CEO Richard Schaefer, one of the promoters of the fight,
told ESPN.com that Mayweather was injured late last week but
tried to work through the injury but was unable to.
"It
was very painful," Schaefer said. "I don't know the
extent of it is, but he went to go see a doctor and he is in
tremendous pain, so we have no choice but to postpone the fight.
He obviously knows how dangerous of an opponent Marquez is and
he wants to make sure he is in the best shape possible.
"We
will find out more in the next few days as he goes and sees the
doctor again. He definitely wants to fight and he wants to fight
Marquez. He knows it's a big fight. But at the same time, he
knows he has to be in the best shape. He said, 'Let's see what
dates are available and let's postpone it.' We want to make sure
he is OK. Like he said when he came back at the press conference,
this isn't just for one fight. He wants to make sure he is perfectly
healthy and ready to go."
Rescheduling
the fight will be a difficult task and largely depends on when
Mayweather is available. If Mayweather is healthy, a likely date
is Sept. 19, which is the weekend of Mexican Independence Day
and a weekend where there is traditionally a major fight involving
a Mexican boxer. Marquez is regarded as Mexico's No. 1 active
fighter.
"I've
been on the phone talking to HBO, talking to the MGM Grand, talking
to our sponsors, and my talking to my team about all of the issues,"
Schaefer said. "The new date will depend on doctor's orders.
Will it be a month later? Two months later? We don't know. He
needs to heal. But I was a told its was probably a cartilage
thing, not a broken rib or anything."
Mayweather
officially ended his retirement on May 2 when he announced he
would fight Marquez. They were scheduled to fight at a catch-weight
of 144 pounds, more than Marquez has ever fought and the lightest
weight for Mayweather since 2005.
Mayweather
hasn't boxed since knocking out Ricky Hatton in December 2007.
The former five-division champ was slated to fight a rematch
with Oscar De La Hoya but instead abruptly retired last June,
turning his attention to show business.
Dan
Rafael covers boxing for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated
Press was used in this report.
Source: ESPN
|
Mayweather
stalls Marquez with a bad rib -here comes Manny vs. Floyd
Floyd Mayweather cancels his July 18 return (Photo/AP)It was
announced today by Golden Boy Promotions that Floyd Mayweather
would be pullinf out of his scheduled July 18 fight with Juan
Manuel Marquez.
"I
am extremely disappointed that this fight has to be postponed,"
said Mayweather. "I was training very hard and looking
forward to getting back in the ring on July 18th."
Funny,
an injured rib is much harder to verify than a broken hand or
torn ligament. The ambiguity of Floyd's injury timed with a
recent report of Bob Arum's willingness to split the purse 50-50
for a future fight between Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao makes
me think Floyd became injured to go directly to a fight with
the Filipino.
Sure
Floyd was favored to beat Marquez -- a man coming up to fight
as a welterweight for the first time -- but the Mexican ring
technician was no walk in the park tune-up.
Look
for Floyd to skip past Marquez, with no re-scheduling, and fight
Manny Pacquiao during November, 2009.
Pacquiao
Would Whip Cotto?
My
column yesterday caused a handful of Manny-Maniacs to tell me
that their idol could whip Miguel Cotto based on the Puerto Rican's
performances against Antonio Margarito and Joshua Clottey.
Don't
get it twisted my Filipino friends, Manny is one for the ages,
but Cotto was being challenged by legitimate welterweights, not
souped up featherweights.. Manny does not have the physicality
to over power Cotto in the manner that Clottey and Margarito
were able to. Not to say that Manny could not when, but Cotto
vs. Pacquiao would be an even ordeal -- at best!
Source: Examiner
|
Cheick
Kongo received 251 punches to the head
Cheick Kongo, outwrestled at UFC 99 on Saturday, was the recipient
of an unusually number of punches to the head.
According to FightMetric.com, which labels itself as the "home
of the world's first comprehensive mixed martial arts statistics
and analysis system," the total number of shots Cain Velasquez
(6-0) landed on Kongo (14-5-1) was 262, of which 251 were to
the head.
CompuStrike,
on the other hand, which is utilized by Strikeforce, counted
176 strikes landed out of 340 strikes thrown on the ground. Only
20 out of 360 of Velasquez's strikes came from standing.
The
high number of punches called into question Velasquez's ground
and pound punching power. While Kongo was thoroughly dominated
on the floor, he was arguably never close to being finished.
Velasquez, though, has finished all five of his previous opponents,
and the amount of shots landed could be a testament to Kongo's
high tolerance for punishment.
As
a precautionary measure, Kongo was taken to the hospital after
the fight for a CAT scan and was cleared of any serious injury.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Team
USA West to Face Russia Imperial at July 4 M-1 Challenge
Press Release
Amsterdam,
Holland -- While friends and family will be back at home in the
U.S. celebrating the Fourth of July Holiday at BBQs and fireworks
displays, Team USA West will find itself amerced in a best-of-five
series with Team Russia Imperial in Seoul, South Korea.
And
when the 2009 "M-1 Challenge Presented by Affliction"
(www.M-1Global.com) resumes with its "Sixth Edition"
inside the Seoul Arena, Group B leading USA West (2-0 in team
challenges and 8-2 overall individually) will find itself going
head-to-head with an Imperial team that will not feature a single
member from its 2008 M-1 Challenge Championship team.
After
beginning its '09 campaign with two team losses, Fedor Emelianenko's
Imperial team has made wholesale changes as it looks to unearth
its next generation of superstars looking to follow in the footsteps
of Emelianenko, Roman Zentsov, and Kirill Sidelnikov.
While
lightweight Mikhail Malyutin and heavyweight Alexey Oleinik were
absent from Team Imperial in Brazil in May, the team still retained
three holdovers from last year's squad with welterweight Erik
Oganov, middleweight Dmitry Samoilov, and light heavyweight Mikhail
Zayats. But Zayats, Samoilov, and Oganov will all be sitting
out July's challenge in order to create roster space for rising
prospects Marat Ilaev (welterweight), Radmir Gabdulin (middleweight),
and Viktor Nemkov (light heavyweight).
Illaev,
Gabdullin, and Nemkov will join holdovers Amirkhan Mazikhov and
Maksim Grishin as Imperial faces a USA West team with its sights
set on clinching a semifinal berth in the '09 M-1 Challenge post-season
along with its first-ever Group title.
Not
looking to coast into the playoffs, four of five fighters that
helped USA West to its 4-1 win over South Korea in Japan this
past April will be back, with light heavyweight Raphael Davis
the lone fighter from the roster not set to compete on July 4.
However,
team owners Steve Bash and Roy Engelbrecht have gone out and
recruited King of the Cage light heavyweight champion Tony Lopez
(12-2) to step up as a replacement against Nemkov, who has compiled
a 4-0 record competing in M-1 Challenge events and earned his
spot on the Imperial roster by going 2-0 in the M-1 Selections.
Returning
at lightweight for USA West will be rising lightweight prospect
David Jansen, who improved to 11-0 following his unanimous decision
victory over Yui Chul Nam during April's M-1 Challenge event
in Japan. The Team Quest member has already fought three times
this year with his other wins having come againstBodogFIGHT veteran
Matt Lee as well as Rio Heroes alum Flavio Alvaro.
Representing
USA West at welterweight will be Fabio "Negao" Nascimento.
Nascimento, a decorated jiu-jitsu black belt, improved to 9-4
following his majority decision victory over Myeon Ho Bae in
his M-1 Challenge debut this past April in Japan. Negao will
look to move his M-1 Challenge record to 2-0 when he faces Ilaev,
who was promoted from Imperial's Selection roster to its Challenge
roster following last month's first round submission over Havazh
Beldurov.
USA
West's middleweight slot will once again be manned by Giva "The
Arm Collector" Santana (12-1), who recorded an astonishing
eleventh career victory via armbar during his M-1 Challenge debut
this past April against South Korea's Min Suk Heo. The former
member of the Brazilian Armed Forces, Santana will take on Gabdulin,
a 4-1 fighter who has recorded all of his wins via submission
despite his reputation for possessing outstanding Muay Thai skills.
Despite
having dual contract with Strikeforce and M-1, former EliteXC
veteran Shane Del Rosario will once again compete for USA West
as its designated heavyweight. The professional Muay Thai fighter
improved to 6-0 in his MMA caeer following his first round knockout
over Dool Hee Lee in Japan this past April.
In
addition to the best-of-five series between Group B rivals USA
West and Russia Imperial, the remainder of Group B will be in
action as host country South Korea takes on Brazil Naja while
Group C teams Finland and Bulgaria will square off.
The
current lineup for the July 4 event is as follows:
USA
West vs. Russia Imperial -
Lightweight
(-70 kg/154 lbs.) - Dave Jansen (USA) vs. Amirkhan Mazikhov (RUS)
Welterweight (-76 kg/167.2 lbs.) - Fabio Nasicmento (USA) vs.
Marat Ilaev (RUS)
Middleweight (-84 kg/184.8 lbs.) - Giva Santana (USA) vs. Radmir
Gabdulin (RUS)
Light Heavyweight (-93 kg/204.6 lbs.) - Tony Lopez (USA) vs.
Viktor Nemkov (RUS)
Heavyweight (+93 kg/+ 204.6 lbs.) - Shane Del Rosario (USA) vs.
Maksim Grishin (RUS)
South
Korea vs. Brazil -
Lightweight
(-70 kg/154 lbs.) - Nam Yui Chul (KOR) vs. Hacran Dias (BRA)
Welterweight (-76 kg/167.2 lbs.) - Do Hyung Kim (KOR) vs. Eduardo
Pamplona (BRA)
Middleweight (-84 kg/184.8 lbs.) - Jae Young Kim (KOR) vs. Daniel
Acacio (BRA)
Light Heavyweight (-93 kg/204.6 lbs.) - Doo Hee Lee (KOR) vs.
Alexander Machado (BRA)
Heavyweight (+93 kg/+ 204.6 lbs.) - Hae Joon Yang (KOR) vs. Joaquim
Ferreira (BRA)
Source: The Fight Network
|
Carano
Shuns ‘Freak Show One-Woman Act’
by Loretta
Hunt
Gina Carano doesn’t want to go it alone -- which is why
the sport’s first female superstar said she opted to renegotiate
her contract with the fast ascending Strikeforce promotion rather
than entertain an offer with the UFC.
The
San Jose-based promotion announced that it had re-signed the
undefeated raven-haired fighter during its June 6 event broadcast
on Showtime. Carano (7-0) meets rival Cristiane “Cyborg”
Santos (7-1) on Aug. 15 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.
Not surprisingly, the 145-pound championship bout will be the
first-ever women’s match to serve as a headliner for a major
U.S. promotion.
“Strikeforce
is taking female fighting seriously and I feel like I’m
definitely part of something, rather than a freak show one-woman
act here,” Carano told Sherdog.com Tuesday.
It
didn’t have to go this way. After the collapse of Pro Elite
last October, Carano and a slew of other capable fighters were
very much in need of a new home.
Carano,
27, met with UFC owners Lorenzo Fertitta and Dana White in February,
the day before Strikeforce announced a multi-year broadcast deal
with Showtime.
In
recent years, White’s take on women’s MMA had been
both steadfast and adamant: he didn’t want to see it in
the Octagon. But Carano’s star power –- she fought
two EliteXC events on CBS and stole the show as the quiet and
sultry assassin “Crush” on NBC’s “American
Gladiators” revival in a year’s time –- even blinded
White after a while.
“I
think she’s got all the tools, so what I’m willing
to do is bring Gina into the WEC,” White told the press
last November. “We could do fights whenever there’s
a challenger for Gina.”
Carano
admits she was tempted to join the sport’s No. 1 promotion.
“I
had an option to go and be a part of something great, something
that I think every fighter looks at, you know, the UFC and thinks
this is it, this is what you want to do,” said Carano. “The
UFC is like the older brother, like where you always wanted to
do, so to actually have the option of being the first female
to be a part of that was great.”
Cristiane
"Cyborg" Santos will be a stiff test for Gina Carano.
Strikeforce obtained Carano’s contract in February through
an assets acquisition deal it had made with Pro Elite, whose
funds had run dry. Carano would likely have had to take her battle
to the courts to dispute the acquisition. Luckily, Carano thought
about more than herself in making her decision.
“I
thought I’d been putting in work here at Showtime and women
are finally starting to get recognition,” she said. “There’s
this Cyborg fight that everybody’s stoked on, and I just
felt that if God really wants me to be a part of something, then
I feel like being part of something as a group with all of the
other female fighters and building something up, rather than
being this one-person show is going to be better for the females
that come after me. I decided to stay and fight. I feel a part
of something and I think that’s more important than just
looking out for me.”
Of
course, a pay raise doesn’t hurt either. Four months of
closed-door negotiations between Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker
and Carano’s reps at the L.A.-based Wasserman Media Group
eventually yielded a new multi-fight agreement Carano said she’s
“happy with.” Carano was paid $25,000 for her last
victory over Kelly Kobold in October –- a bout that 5.2
million viewers ogled on CBS.
At
one point, Coker politely referred to Carano’s re-negotiations
as a “holdout at (training) camp.”
“It
wasn’t about trying to hold out,” said Carano. “Once
we all buckled down and got talking, it got done immediately.
But there were certain things I needed to get organized with
my management and a bunch of other things. There’s just
things that I needed to get organized with myself and we needed
to go through the contract and be very specific. I was in a good
negotiating spot and they didn’t rush anything, so it went
along as it should have.”
Whatever
the price his organization shelled out for “The Face of
Women’s MMA,” Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker will likely
come out the biggest winner.
Carano
has been a conductor for positive press and broke through mainstream
barriers when she was named one of Yahoo’s Top 10 Influential
Women of 2008, alongside New York State Senator and former first
lady Hilary Clinton, vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin,
media guru Oprah Winfrey, and movie star and humanitarian Angelina
Jolie.
“I
think that this will be a fight that will be right up there with
the Shamrock-Cung Le fight,” said Coker. “I think it’s
going to be right up there with the big boys.”
Coker
said the Aug. 15 event could be among his top two all-time draws.
Coker said Strikeforce sold over 18,000 tickets for its Frank
Shamrock-Cesar Gracie face-off in March 2006. Tickets for Carano-Cyborg
went on sale Monday.
“Showtime
and CBS have been building up this fight for the last year and
a half,” said Coker. “People were waiting for this
fight six, eight months, a year ago. They did all the promoting
and the marketing and the building up the stature of this fight.
We’re the lucky ones that get to promote it.”
Source: Sherdog
|
JOEY
VILLASENOR HEADS STRIKEFORCE,
LOOKING UP
by Brian Lopez-Benchimol
Joey Villasenor will be making his long anticipated return to
the cage this Friday at the Strikeforce Challengers Series on
Showtime. He will be headlining the event, staring across the
cage at fellow Pride veteran Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos.
The two are looking to move one step closer and vie for a shot
at the Strikeforce middleweight title, which has gathered dust
and cobwebs galore since it last made an appearance when Cung
Le defeated Frank Shamrock in what seems to be ages ago.
Another
EliteXC unfortunate, “Smokin” Joe has been chomping
at the bit to get his chance back in the Octagon since his last
appearance, a first round knockout over Phil Baroni over one
year ago at EliteXC’s “Primetime.”
“I
am so excited and hungry. Having a whole year off while you’re
healthy puts a lot of things in perspective. I always said I
hate cutting weight and even though I do, I sure do miss it.
That’s where I’m at right now, I’m doing this
interview in the damn sauna,” joked Villasenor while a guest
on the MMAWeekly Radio show.
Now
back into the fold with Strikeforce, he will look to regain the
momentum he had going in 2008 when he meets Chute Boxe’s
Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos on Friday night, a fight
that Villasenor says is over a year in the making.
“I
was supposed to fight him a year and a half ago when I fought
(Ryan) Jensen; remember Jensen stepped in a week before the fight.
In all reality, I’ve been training for this fight for over
a year and a half, outside of watching film on Robbie (Lawler)
and getting ready for his fight.”
In
what was aforementioned, the Albuquerque, N.M., native was initially
expected to return to action last October, squaring up against
former EliteXC champion Robbie Lawler for the middleweight title.
Lawler, one of only six men to defeat the New Mexican in his
32 professional fights would have been Villasenor's biggest win
to date, but when ProElite went under, so did his chances of
staking claim to Top 10 supremacy.
Though
admittedly now being a few fights behind contendership in his
new home with Scott Coker's Strikeforce, Villasenor wants to
make an immediate statement and make an example of Cyborg. A
win, after he returns to action over 13 months removed from a
3-fight win streak, could possibly catapult him to either an
immediate title shot or, at the very least, one step closer.
“My
focus is on (Cyborg), but you always have to be mentally prepared
for your next challenge and I guarantee you that after Cyborg,
there’s going to be somebody else," he stated. "So
I’m mentally preparing myself for that next step and that
next step could be Jake Shields or Robbie Lawler.
“If
I have a great fight and a great win, I definitely want a worthy
and marketable opponent. I’m getting to a point in my career
where thirty-plus fights, I’ve proven myself, and now I
just want to fight the best.”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Tim
Sylvia shows up in blogger shape and pays dearly against Ray
Mercer
By Zach Arnold
Showing up at 310 pounds, Tim Sylvia in TV commercials leading
up to Saturday night’s event in Birmingham, Alabama said
that he was fighting for the honor of MMA against a former boxing
champion. Even Jens Pulver questioned what Tim Sylvia was doing
in a match against Ray Mercer… a match originally scheduled
to be a boxing contest in a cage. It turned into an “MMA
rules” fight.
Ray
Mercer knocked out Tim Sylvia in 10 seconds on Saturday night.
Bad Left Hook has video of the KO. The video is glorious to watch
in that Mercer, who was supposed to be the heel here, was completely
100% cheered by the Birmingham crowd. You can audibly hear a
fan on the video before the KO happens say, “…going
to knock his ass out.” Then, boom, the KO. Even better is
watching Mercer, acting as spry as a pup, celebrate like it was
the biggest win of his career. I don’t blame the man one
bit for celebrating. What did he have to lose going into this
fight? Nothing. Sherdog described Sylvia as someone ‘who
went down like a giant California redwood.’ As someone who
knows a thing or two about California redwood trees, I would
say yes, in fact, Tim did go down like a redwood tree being cut
by a bunch of loggers.
Mark
La Monica described this whole incident in the best way possible
— “9 seconds of shame: Tim Sylvia vs. Ray Mercer.”
We
know what kind of damage this will do for Sylvia’s fighting
career. What I am more interested in is seeing how much damage
Monte Cox has suffered to his reputation for a) the way he’s
managed Tim Sylvia in my opinion and b) putting Sylvia in this
kind of position against someone like Mercer, who was having
to box in Sweden for the last couple of years. My take is that
Cox should not go away from this ordeal unscathed. This whole
ordeal is a huge stain on him professionally. Everyone will rightfully
rip on Tim, but Monte Cox is the one who deserves the biggest
spotlight of public shame here.
Update:
Keep an eye out for the California State Athletic Commission
this week. They may very well tell Sylvia that he can’t
fight Paul Buentello in early August for Affliction if they use
a 60-day medical suspension for his KO loss to Ray Mercer in
Alabama.
Source: Fight Opinion
|
Tim
Sylvia Off 'Affliction: Trilogy'
By Ariel Helwani
Tim Sylvia's shocking nine-second knockout loss to Ray Mercer
on Saturday has proven to be more costly than originally thought.
Affliction Entertainment vice president, Tom Atencio, informed
FanHouse on Monday that Sylvia has now been taken off the upcoming
"Affliction: Trilogy" card. "It's his second knockout
in a row, and I don't want to take a chance on anything,"
Atencio said. "The fight is less than 60 days away."
Atencio
added that no one from the California State Athletic Commission
contacted him about taking Sylvia off the card, but he felt it
was in Sylvia's best interest to take some time off to heal.
Atencio
said that Paul Buentello will still fight on the card, and will
probably face the winner of the Pedro Rizzo-Gilbert Yvel fight,
which takes place at the June 27 "Ultimate Chaos" event
in Biloxi, Miss.
On
Sunday, Buentello told FanHouse that he wished Sylvia never took
the fight to begin with.
"...
You gotta take a step back and go, 'Man, you know, it would be
great to fight him but what would it do for me now? What would
it do for me now in front of the fans?' I don't know if the hype
is still there after him getting beat," Buentello said.
"Affliction:
Trilogy" is scheduled to take place on August 1 from the
Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. The event is headlined by Fedor
Emelianenko vs. Josh Barnett.
Source: Fan House
|
Guida
Looking to Cement “Title Picture” Presence
By Kelsey Mowatt
It wasn’t long ago that Clay Guida, although highly respected
by many throughout the sport, was viewed as a ‘gate keeper’
of sorts in the UFC’s lightweight division. While putting
on memorable, but losing, performances against Din Thomas and
Tyson Griffin, the charismatic veteran continued to demonstrate
why he was one the division’s more entertaining fighters.
After earning a Split Decision win over Marcus Aurelio in August,
2007, Guida was asked next to face one of the promotion’s
rising stars at the time in Roger Huerta, and although he appeared
to be on his way to an upset victory, Huerta pulled out a third
round submission win. Guida was becoming a fan favorite, but
with a UFC record of 2-3 at that juncture, it didn’t appear
as though contending for a title was in the 27 year-old fighter’s
immediate future.
But
Guida got back on track last April with a first round TKO stoppage
of Samy Schiavo, and after putting together back-to-back decision
wins over former TUF winners in Nate Diaz and Mac Danzig, Guida
demonstrated that his relevance extended far beyond just entertainment.
“It
was a huge learning curve after the Huerta fight I think,”
said Guida, when asked to comment on his recent winning streak.
“It was one of those things where I was kind of immature;
I would go out there with reckless abandon, and I think people
have noticed that in my last few fights I’ve slowed the
pace. I’ve slowed my opponent down; I still keep up a strong
pace, but I’m more poised and more patient in my fighting
style. I don’t just go out there like a wild man and waste
a bunch of energy. I knew I had it in me to get back in the mix,
and in a year, year-and-a-half time, I think we’re definitely
where no one who can stand in front of me, especially Diego.”
Next
Saturday night, at “The Ultimate Fighter” Finale in
Las Vegas, Guida will take on yet another former winner of the
program in Diego Sanchez. The former welterweight is coming off
his successful debut at 155lbs., as Sanchez worked his way to
a Unanimous Decision victory over Joe Stevenson in February.
“We
sought it out,” said Guida, when asked about how his fight
with Sanchez came about. “We approached the UFC about it,
and Joe Silva thought it was a great idea. We thought what a
great opponent; he will be my toughest opponent yet, but what
a great opportunity to get positioned in the title picture.”
After
finally incurring defeat at the hands of Jon Fitch and Josh Koscheck,
Sanchez eventually elected to drop down to the lightweight division
to make a run at 155lbs. Guida maintains that seeking out the
fight with Sanchez was solely due to the fighter’s impressive
resume, an opportunity to entrench his own status as a contender,
rather than having any ill will towards his next opponent.”
“That
stuff doesn’t bother me,” said Guida, when asked for
his thoughts on Sanchez, who is one of the promotion’s more
intense competitors. “Everybody’s a little different;
it takes all kinds. We’re all a little bit out there, but
I’m going to make “The Nightmare” seem like he’s
daydreaming, make him seem like he’s a little bit more out
of touch with reality after I get my hands on him.”
And
as far as Guida’s assessment of Sanchez’s lightweight
debut?
“I
thought he fought a smart fight, but I don’t think Joe Stevenson
put anything out there to put him in danger at all,” Guida
told FCF. “He didn’t get to his ground game which is
Joe’s best skill set. His hands looked good but he just
stuck to the 1-2, didn’t throw any kicks; didn’t attempt
any takedowns to keep Diego on his toes. Diego did the traditional,
stood in front and boxed, threw some good kicks, he did a good
job, but we saw two great grapplers not display a ground game
for more than 30 seconds combined in the whole fight.”
“I
think the weight cut in that fight was a little bit rough on
him, but he’ll probably be a little more used to it for
this one,” Guida added. “Either way it doesn’t
matter to me. No one has been able to keep up with the pace I
bring to the cage and he’s going to be just like everybody
else. He’s going to be my toughest fight yet, but he’s
not going to be able to handle the weight cut and the furious
pace that I bring.”
Source: Full Contact Fighter
|
Quote
of the Day
“Creativity
can solve almost any problem. The creative act, the defeat of
habit by originality, overcomes everything.”
George Lois
|
Minotauro
talks training for Randy Couture
One
of the most expected fights of the UFC history is confirmed to
the UFC 102 main event. Former UFC and Pride champion, Rodrigo
“Minotauro” Nogueira enters the octagon to face Randy
Couture, at August 29th in Portland, United States. In exclusive
interview to TATAME Magazine’s June’s issue, the Brazilian
spoke about the fight.
“He’s
a very expert and tactical fighter, will try to take me down
and work on the ground and pound, I think he’s gonna believe
in his striking, but my striking is better, I’m doing a
lot of boxing. He’s an athlete. In the stand up, we’ll
have a lot of things to show, I think it’s gonna be a great
fight”, commented the Brazilian. Besides the heavyweight
clash, other five Brazilian may fight in the UFC 102 octagon,
like Demian Maia, Thiago Silva, Junior dos Santos, Wilson Gouveia
and Gabriel Gonzaga.
Source: Tatame
|
José
Aldo eyes Mike Brown’s title
José
Aldo doesn’t give chances to his opponents in the WEC. The
fighter won his fifth consecutive fight, needing only 8 seconds
to destroy Cub Swanson and get the bonus for the best knockout
of the night. Aldo confesses that didn’t expect a victory
that fast, but was very happy with the extra money he received.
"I
really didn’t expect that the fight ended so quickly, because
we trained to fight all three rounds, but, when I have a gap
to fit the strikes at the beginning, I don’t let go and
it happened. This extra award has come to help me much... I’m
very happy, thank God", said the fighter, who already imagines
a possible confrontation against the WEC champion, Mike Brown.
"It
would be a great fight, I think he’d want to strike with
me and then try to take me down. I’m training a lot on the
ground and I’m progressing very well. I’ve already
seen three of his fights and I believe that I have chances. When
my time comes, you can be sure that I’ll study better his
game to be able to put on a good strategy", guaranteed Aldo.
Source: Tatame
|
Malfacine
ant the second golden Worlds
With
3x1 in the advantages, Bruno Malfacine celebrated, for the second
time in his career, the world title of Jiu-Jitsu in black belt.
Facing Caio Terra in the grand final, the responsible for his
elimination in the tournament in 2008, Malfacine recovered in
big style.
"In
2007 I was champion, but in 2008 I entered a little devolved
and fought bad, it was his day. He was able to beat me in a great
battle, considered the best of the event. Since then, I was expecting
a lot for this fight, because I had lost and, a year before,
had been champion. I lost to him in puerility, so I waited a
lot for this moment, which I knew it would come on the right
time. Nothing better than wash the soul in a World Cup final",
celebrates Malfacine, recalling the path to the title.
"In
the quarter-final, I fought with a Japanese, I got his back and
finalized. The semi I did with Felipe Costa, where I got the
side and beat too. The final I won in the points, because it
had a lot of strategy. I couldn’t mistake. I had the opportunity
to almost get him, the position was properly, but we had to return
standing. But it is good", recalls the champion, already
thinking in the time of returning to the tatamis. "Now I
just have to celebrate and correct the mistakes for the next
championship", ended.
Source: Tatame
|
Kyra
Gracie
Three
times world champion, Kyra Gracie experimented a different sensation
in 2009. Hitting the beam in weight and in open class, the fighter
left California with two silver medals in the bag. In conversation
with TATAME, Kyra talked about her journey in the World Cup and
guarantees: "I think I fought very well". In the exclusive
interview, which you check below, the black belt talked about
the rivalry with Luana Alzuguir, the defeat to Lana Stefanac
and promised to go after the third title in ADCC, in September.
You
stayed in second in weight and open class. What is the evaluation
that you do of your participation in the BJJ Worlds?
I
think I fought very well. Yesterday (Saturday) my day was perfect,
I had several tough fights. My semifinal was with Penny, who is much heavier, and I’m
happy to be lightweight and reach the final of the absolute.
I had a good fight with Lana, I think what counted was that I
felt my body because of the fights of yesterday (Saturday).
And
the fight against Luana, she said that there was a rivalry between
you... How was this fight?
It
isn’t just her that wants me, everybody wants to beat me,
right? I already beat her twice and now she won. It’s good
to see the new girls coming, and we’ll still have many fights
together... It’s wait and see.
This
encourages you more to train and compete hard?
Certainly,
I feel encouraged to compete winning or losing. I’m always
competing and I like to be here, I’ll always be fighting
the next championships.
Tell
us a little about the open class fight, where you got a giant.
I
knew it would be hard, but didn’t expect her to be so strong.
She took me of the ground and I flew, took off my kimono in the
middle of the fight, but I’m happy with my performance,
because, there, I could prove my Jiu-Jitsu. In the end I still
fell over, it was good.
And
now, will you dispute the ADCC?
It
has the Abu Dhabi and I have to recover from an injury in the
back. I was out off the Brazilian because I was a little hurt,
and I wanted to save me a little and go back to training to dispute
the ADCC, in September.
Who
do you think will be in your way for the third title?
In
Brazil it has Michelle, here in the United States has a girl
who has even been champion, but she’s purple belt. It didn’t
appear the full list yet. This year is only two categories and
I’ll fight open class and weight.
Source: Tatame
|
Royler
hails Cobrinha's fourth
“I always root for attacking Jiu-Jitsu”
The
latest four-time featherweight world champion, Rubens Charles,
had a special spectator in the first row of the CSU Long Beach
pyramid.
Royler
Gracie, champion of the very category in 1996/97/98/99, was matside
at the 14th Jiu-Jitsu World Championship, celebrating with the
troupe from Gracie Humaita, even convincing Rickson to pose for
photos wearing the blue t-shirt with the yellow shield, the team’s
uniform.
After
screaming himself hoarse at nephew Kron, orienting (also four-time
world champion) Leticia Ribeiro, Royler witnessed Cobrinha’s
conquest, equaling his achievement of winning four featherweight
gold medals in a row. GRACIEMAG had a chat with the master about
the Alliance star’s latest title:
Did
you root for Cobrinha?
Royler:
I always root for attacking, beautiful and forward-moving Jiu-Jitsu,
and I saw Cobrinha being crowned four-time champion as something
really great for the sport. He, Bruno Frazatto, runner-up, and
the other kid, Rafael Mendes are really technical, they’re
all to be congratulated, but Cobrinha’s fourth just makes
the sport all the greater. I don’t know if he’s going
to try for his fifth, or if the guys will take over his post
next year, but this year I liked the result, which showed how
the sport has evolved. Ten years from now I’ll be rooting
for us to have another four-time featherweight champion, and
I think we will.
The
final itself wasn’t that pretty, for having drawn out too
long, but I understand perfectly well that no one wanted to risk
losing. Those two in an academy would surely have a really lively
training session, much better to watch, but the final of the
World Championship is a different department.
Is
winning ugly a thousand times better than losing pretty?
Ah,
of course. A few years down the road the only part remembered
is the world title. What’s better, to win by an advantage
or lose by that advantage and regret it? The conquest is best,
which remains forever in the history of the Worlds. Notice how
I’m not criticizing the kids, the match was a bit ugly compared
to what they could have shown, but that doesn’t mean I don’t
admire Cobrinha’s Jiu-Jitsu, or Bruno’s. I don’t
want them to get me wrong…
A
match between four-time champions would be a big deal for Jiu-Jitsu,
and you never lost the desire to compete. Can fans cross their
fingers and hope to see a bout like that in the ADCC, in September?
Look,
I was there in Long Beach biting my nails to complete, and that
feeling, the desire to fight I think I’ll never lose. But
without sponsorship, to stop everything to just train, is tough.
It would be interesting, because despite the age and less physical
strength compared to what I had ten years ago, these days I feel
I miss positions a lot less in the gym, and I don’t let
submissions escape me that I used to. But without sponsorship
it’s unlikely.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
ADCC
East Coast Trials results
Five more Americans qualified for the main event in Barcelona
The
East Coast American trials for this year ADCC happened last Saturday
(June 13) at Collins Arena of Brookdale College, in Lincroft,
New Jersey.
Five
athletes, one for each weight division, conquered their places
for the main event that will be held in the end of September,
in Barcelona.
Results:
Over
99kg:
1. Tom DeBlass (Ricardo Almeida)
2. Peter Kerantzas (New Britain Judo)
3. Azunna Anyanwu (Lloyd Irvin)
-99kg:
1. Gerardi Rinaldi (Silver Fox / Renzo)
2. Peter Nolan (Xtreme Couture)
3. Rick Macauley (East Coast)
-88kg
1. Chris Weidman (Serra BJJ)
2. James Brasco (Pablo Popovich)
3. Shohin Ghaffari (Renzo Gracie)
-77kg
1. Enrico Cocco (Freestyle Fighting)
2. Jacob Wolkmann (Minnesota M. A.)
3. Brian McLaughlin (Hudson Valley)
-66kg
1. Jayson Patino (ATT)
2. Justin Raider (Lovato BJJ)
3. Jason Scully (BJJ United)
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
Wand
and White to discuss retirement
Brazilian wants another shot in octagon
Times
are hard for Wanderlei Silva and, after his fifth loss in six
fights, at UFC 99, and the possibility of his retirement has
been launched. However, it doesn’t seem to be what the Brazilian
wants right now. At 32, Wand believes he still has some tinder
left to burn and would like another shot at Rich Franklin, with
whom he had a very evenly matched fight Saturday, the outcome
of which has caused some outcry.
“Please,
I want a rematch Dana (White). You’re the boss, but I want
a rematch, I want to fight Rich Franklin again. The judges sometimes
have their own opinion, but I think I want to fight again,”
said the Brazilian at the post-even press conference, in Germany.
Recently,
Dana White caused some controversy in retiring Chuck Liddell,
one of the UFC’s biggest stars, live at a press conference,
after his loss to Mauricio Shogun. This time the stance of the
organization’s president was different: “We'll get
back to Vegas and we'll call Wanderlei in, we'll sit down and
talk to him and see what he wants to do,” he said.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
Romero
Jacare speaks
Alliance master assesses performance at Worlds
Romero
Jacare followed the performances of his students at Alliance
this World Championship in Long Beach and didn’t want to
be left out of GRACIEMAG.com’s follow-ups with athletes
and instructors. The teacher took the chance to comment on the
team’s conquest, Cobrinha’s fourth title, Lepri’s
defeat and even spoke about the most arduous battle of his life.
Check it out.
What
did you make of Alliance’s performance this Worlds?
Our
athletes’ technical level is exceptional, we have the best
team in the world. We had a camp here in Atlanta before the Worlds
and I could see how the work we’ve been doing throughout
the years has started to bear fruit. The secret is love, dedication
and work. I think no one loves our athletes more than we do.
I dedicate myself 100% to them, giving my best as a teacher and
trying to always make them understand the meaning of team, our
history, where we come from, where we want to be, from back in
Rolls’ days to present day. We have 25 years of tradition;
we’ve participated in all the Worlds, always making it to
the winners’ stand. We’ve won four times before and
we have the team and organization to win a lot more. We’re
looking to improve even more. And to those who left us, there
is a lesson: without command, hierarchy or respect you will never
get anywhere.
Cobrinha
has had an excellent time. He won his fourth at featherweight
and equaled Royler’s accomplishment. What’s it like
working with him in Atlanta?
It’s
always a pleasure to speak of Cobrinha. He’s a complete
athlete and having him in Atlanta is like being given a gift.
He’s a very humble person, has great character and is responsible.
We have a really good relationship, like father and son. When
he went to Abu Dhabi he was full of confidence but, as he has
been winning everything for some years now, the athletes and
teachers are coming up with strategies to try and stop him, to
not let the match play out, with positions I don’t even
bother knowing or teaching. The day I start teaching my students
to stall a fight and win by doing so, I’ll retire. Jiu-Jitsu
is attacking, always going for the submission. But as the Federation
is allowing it, we have to play using the rules. That’s
what I told him. He’s really vain, and wants to always put
on a show, but thank goodness he listened to me, we put together
the right strategy, with lots of specific training and the win
came around naturally. He has without a doubt evolved, but he
still has to improve on a lot to beat him. I’m certain the
Federation will analyze what happened at the Worlds and the rules
will changing, promoting movement and not stalling.
Langhi
is another black belt who has been keeping strong competition
pace, what did you think of his first World title as a black
belt?
Michael
is a spectacular athlete. He’s very dedicated, has a great
head on his shoulders, trains a lot and is always concerned with
improving on the fundamentals, has an exceptional guard and Fabio
Gurgel is improving on his top game a lot, his submissions, polishing
up his game to make him a well-rounded athlete. He will still
evolve a lot and bring us much joy. This year he fought and won
everything, the Brazilian Nationals, Pan, European and the Worlds,
need I say more?
And
the setback suffered by Lucas Lepri?
Lucas’s
defeat was unexpected. He had lots of chances to beat Gilbert
Durinho, he’s more well-rounded, but made mistakes during
crucial moments in the match. He knows where he made mistakes,
he’s very aware and will not make the same mistake again.
These are things that happen in the life of an athlete and our
job is to correct it and improve upon it. We have a really great
athlete/teacher relationship and complete confidence in each
other.
Speaking
of this friendly relationship with the athletes, they always
show themselves to be confirmed with your health. How’s
your health? Can you say?
When
I returned to Brazil in January I started feeling really bad,
I went to the hospital but couldn’t figure it out. I returned
to the hospital and stayed for a month. After lots of tests and
exams a genetic renal disease was detected. I got really sick,
but with God’s help I’m now better, being treated by
specialists and with faith in God I’ll be cured. Those were
really tough moments and things are still rough. My family and
students are giving me support. It’s my toughest battle,
but I’ll win it. I’m being treated, taking prescription
medicine. It’s tough to after living such a healthy life,
training every day, but God knows what he’s doing. I accept
this test humbly. It’s in His hands. I pray to be able to
carry on my mission here on Earth and while I’m here I’ll
do my all to help others, educate my daughter and improve the
lives of those who come knocking on my door.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
Paulo
Thiago ready for Fitch
Fighter overjoyed for UFC 100 main card appearance
One
of the greatest revelations from Brazilian MMA of recent times,
undefeated in 11 matches, Paulo Thiago is in his final phase
of preparations for another big challenge. On July 11 the Brazilian
beast faces off against another hard nut to crack at the historic
UFC 100 event, John Fitch. Check out the chat Portal das Lutas,
GRACIEMAG.com partner site, had with the fighter.
Portal
das Lutas – You fight at the historic UFC 100 event. Beyond
that, it will be one of the headlining fights, just under the
title disputes between Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir and Thiago
Alves against Georges St-Pierre.
Paulo
Thiago – It’s awesome. I was in the United States with
Wallid (manager) and at the time we talked about how fighting
at UFC 100 would be really cool, without the slightest thought
it could come true. Wallid replied saying that any UFC would
be good, but soon after he came up with the news I’d face
Fitch at UFC 100. I was stunned. Now I just have to keep up the
hard work and wait for fight time.
PDL
– Things happened quickly for you. You debuted in the UFC
as an underdog, beat one of the organization’s toughest
and are now in a hugely important event, against another top
fighter. What do you make of that?
PT
– I can only thank God and Dana White and Joe Silva, who
are giving me a chance to show my worth. They put another tough
guy in my way because the last time folks said I won by luck.
I think it will now be a shootout to see how I do.
PDL
– There’s less than a month till the bout. Have you
studied Jon Fitch a lot?
PT
– He’s a well-rounded fighter, a guy who trades well,
takes down well and fights from the top with ground and pound
and with a varied Jiu-Jitsu game. We think the way to beat him
is on the ground. He’s the kind of guy who will try for
the takedown and we’re prepared for that and believe the
fight will play out mostly on the ground this time.
PDL
– An how are you feeling about this challenge?
PT
– I’m in the final stretch in my training and everything
is going really well. This is the time I’ve had the most
time to train for a fight, so I’m feeling really well prepared
and can’t wait for time to come.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
CARANO,
CYBORG, WOMEN GET 5-MINUTE ROUNDS
Late last week, leading mixed martial arts promoter STRIKEFORCE
received approval from the state athletic commissions supervising
its upcoming events—Washington (Friday, June 19); and California
(Aug. 15)—to have its female professional mixed martial
arts bouts contested at the professional standard of five-minute
rounds.
Until
now, three-minute rounds were the norm for most female fights
in the United States.
“We
are proud to be leading this movement in Mixed Martial Arts,”
said Scott Coker, Founder and CEO of STRIKEFORCE. “This
will allow the women competing at the elite professional level
ample time to set up and fully execute a particular fight strategy.
This is another great day for all of us in MMA.”
An
internal statement from STRIKEFORCE Rules Director Cory Schafer,
announcing the news to the company, read in part: “...limiting
each round to three minutes in duration was designed (by state
athletic commissions) as a safety measure for the protection
of less experienced fighters, with no designation for gender.
It was never intended as a gender bias against female professionals…”
Schafer’s
statement continued, “Use of this standard will level the
playing field for (the) female athletes in providing them with
the time necessary to develop and execute their striking and
grappling strategies in each round.”
“It
is great that the largest stage females have in MMA is setting
a solid foundation in implementing five-minute rounds,”
said Gina Carano, who is set to face Cris Cyborg in the first
women’s main event, a championship fight (five, 5-minute
rounds) on August 15 on SHOWTIME. “I feel Strikeforce is
taking female fighters seriously, which means we will be seeing
some amazing fights in the future and I am honored to be a part
of it.”
“This
is a great opportunity for Shayna (Baszler) and me to have this
happen before our fight,” said Sarah Kaufman (9-0 of Victoria,
B.C.) who will face Baszler on Friday night’s Strikeforce
Challengers card in Kent, Wash. (SHOWTIME, 11 p.m. ET/PT). “I
am always ready to go five-minute rounds and I know Shayna will
also be ready. More importantly, this is long-awaited recognition
that we are competing at the highest level of the sport.”
Source: MMA Weekly |
BIG
EXPECTATIONS FOR LUKE ROCKHOLD AT SHO MMA
It’s no surprise that Luke Rockhold is going to be featured
on this Friday’s Sho MMA: Strikeforce Challenger Series
event in Kent, Wash. Long has he been heralded by the promotion’s
management as one of their future stars, and for good reason.
Since
making his debut in 2007, Rockhold has increasingly moved up
against tougher competition, and all but once he has come out
on top.
Most
recently he toppled Team Quest up-and-comer Buck Meredith in
just over four minutes, insuring that he once again had yet to
leave the first round in any of his bouts.
Rockhold’s
increasing impressiveness has lead to this Friday’s opportunity
as he steps in against Cory Devela, who himself is looking to
rebound off a loss to Terry Martin this past September, in a
bout that could easily steal the evening’s show.
“It
definitely feels like I’m moving in the right direction,”
Rockhold said to MMAWeekly.com about the path his career is taking
with this upcoming match-up.
“I
think this is a good fight for me, a perfect opponent, and I’m
looking to show everybody what I’ve got and why I’ve
been training so hard.”
According
to Rockhold, this is a match-up that’s been on his radar
for some time.
“I’ve
been looking at him for a while,” he stated. “I thought
it would be a good next step fight for me, (taking things to)
the next level.”
As
for what makes Devela the perfect next step, he says it all comes
down to how styles make fights.
“He
tends to push the pace and attack a lot with a kind of wide-open
crazy style – for me that plays right into my game plan,”
said Rockhold. “I’m a good defensive striker and I
think I’ll handle his unorthodox style well.
“From
what I understand, he doesn’t think I have any stand-up
at all, so he’s going to get a surprise if he comes in wild,
for sure.”
Rockhold
says it’s up to him to work his own game to ultimately determine
the fight’s outcome.
“As
long as I go out there and perform to what I can do, I don’t
see him being a problem,” he exclaimed.
“I
think it’s going to be an overall good fight, and if he
can hold me off on the ground, I’m looking forward to standing
with him. Wherever it goes, I’m happy to oblige.”
Rockhold
plans on taking some time off after this fight regardless of
the outcome, but when he does return to action, a wealth of top-level
fighters could be on his radar in the 185-pound weight class,
including Benji “Razor” Radach, Nick Diaz, Scott Smith
or possibly even Frank Shamrock.
“I’m
not scared to get in there with pretty much anybody,” he
said. “It’s just a matter of time before I get those
fights.
“I
train with a lot of the best guys, so I know where I’m at,
and I’m not that far away from anybody. I’m looking
forward to (taking on) all comers.”
A
win this Friday could go a long way towards Rockhold justifying
all the belief others are putting into him and make him the next
bona fide star to look for on Strikeforce’s horizon.
“I
want to thank Inspirit, Santa Cruz Skate & Surf Shop, SCORE
Clinic, the American Kickboxing Academy and all my trainers,”
he concluded. “Look out fans; it’s going to be a good
fight all-around. Expect anything to happen – but I don’t
expect it going three rounds – that’s for sure.”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
MMAWEEKLY
WORLD MMA RANKINGS UPDATED
The latest MMAWeekly World MMA Rankings were released on Wednesday,
June 17. This system ranks the Top 10 MMA fighters from all across
the world in each of the seven most widely accepted weight classes.
Taken
into consideration are a fighter's performance in addition to
his win-loss record, head-to-head and common opponents, difficulty
of opponents, and numerous other factors in what is the most
comprehensive rankings system in the sport.
Fighters
who are currently serving drug-related suspensions are not eligible
for Top 10 consideration until they have fought one time after
the completion of their suspension.
Fighters
must also have competed within the past 12 months in order to
be eligible for Top 10 consideration.
Below
are the current MMAWeekly World MMA Rankings, which are up-to-date
as of June 17.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
HEAVYWEIGHT
DIVISION (over 205 pounds)
#1
Heavyweight Fighter in the World: Fedor Emelianenko
2.
Josh Barnett
3.
Frank Mir
4.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
5.
Randy Couture
6.
Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic
7.
Brock Lesnar
8.
Brett Rogers
9.
Cain Velasquez
10.
Andrei Arlovski
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
LIGHT
HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION (205-pound limit)
#1
Light Heavyweight Fighter in the World: Lyoto Machida
2.
Rashad Evans
3.
Forrest Griffin
4.
Quinton Jackson
5.
Mauricio "Shogun" Rua
6.
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
7.
Keith Jardine
8.
Thiago Silva
9.
Renato "Babalu" Sobral
10.
Luis Cane
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
MIDDLEWEIGHT
DIVISION (185-pound limit)
#1
Middleweight Fighter in the World: Anderson Silva
2.
Yushin Okami
3.
Nathan Marquardt
4.
Jorge Santiago
5.
Dan Henderson
6.
Robbie Lawler
7.
Vitor Belfort
8.
Kazuo Misaki
9.
Yoshihiro Akiyama
10.
Demian Maia
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
WELTERWEIGHT
DIVISION (170-pound limit)
#1
Welterweight Fighter in the World: Georges St. Pierre
2.
Jon Fitch
3.
Thiago Alves
4.
Jake Shields
5.
Josh Koscheck
6.
Matt Hughes
7.
Martin Kampmann
8.
Carlos Condit
9.
Mike Swick
10.
Nick Thompson
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
LIGHTWEIGHT
DIVISION (160-pound limit)
#1
Lightweight Fighter in the World: Shinya Aoki
2.
Eddie Alvarez
3.
B.J. Penn
4.
Tatsuya Kawajiri
5.
Joachim Hansen
6.
Kenny Florian
7.
Gesias "JZ" Calvancante
8.
Josh Thomson
9.
Frankie Edgar
10.
Satoru Kitaoka
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
FEATHERWEIGHT
DIVISION (145 pound-limit)
#1
Featherweight Fighter in the World: Mike Brown
2.
Urijah Faber
3.
Hatsu Hioki
4.
Wagnney Fabiano
5.
Jose Aldo
6.
"Lion" Takeshi Inoue
7.
Raphael Assuncao
8.
Leonard Garcia
9.
Joe Warren
10.
Antonio Carvalho
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
BANTAMWEIGHT
DIVISION (135 pounds or less)
#1
Featherweight Fighter in the World: Miguel Torres
2.
Brian Bowles
3.
Masakatsu Ueda
4.
Takeya Mizugaki
5.
Akitoshi Tamura
6.
Will Ribeiro
7.
Damacio Page
8.
Joseph Benavidez
9.
Manny Tapia
10.
Marcos Galvao
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Quote
of the Day
“Do
what you feel in your heart to be right - for you'll be criticized
anyway. You'll be damned if you do, and damned if you don't.”
Eleanor Roosevelt
|
Congratulations
to O2's Newest Purple & Yellow Belts!
Too Live
Stu Kam and the Amazing Jonathan Testutani received their purple
belts on Monday night. Both have been tearing up the mats for
a while now and all the higher belts are very glad that they
are now purples so it does not look that bad when they are all
over them like a cheap suit.
We
look forward to them helping to bring up the next wave of our
stars of the academy.
Congratulations
also to our top team of kids. Kaizen Nino, Casey Nitta, Liam
Mason, and Kapena Fitzgerald were awarded their yellow belts
on Sunday (Kapena on Monday night)! These kids are just unbelieveable
with the amount of technique they show at such a young age.
|
UFC'S
RATNER: CRO COP'S WIN WON'T BE OVERTURNED
Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic’s sudden UFC return
brought a hero’s welcome from hundreds of Croatian fans
perched in Lanxess Arena. The UFC 99 bout’s ending and aftermath
were a different story.
In
real time, Cro Cop hurt opponent Mustapha Al-Turk with a punch
and finished him off against the cage. But after referee Dan
Mirgliotta waved the bout off, a replay revealed an inadvertent
eye poke had taken Al-Turk out of the game.
Al-Turk’s
manager, Ken Pavia, told Fighters Only he would contest the decision.
“We
are going to appeal that. We don't think it's right that it should
be a TKO,” said Pavia. “The referee should have got
onto the eye poke. Look at Henderson vs. Franklin at UFC 93 in
Dublin. Franklin got a timeout when he got eye-poked.”
Marc
Ratner, UFC Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, Monday told
MMAWeekly.com an appeal was not possible.
“It’s
very simple,” said Ratner. “By the unified rules...
first of all the referee didn’t see the foul. What you’re
asking is can we go to instant replay. You’re saying now
that the fight’s over, can you take a look at it? If the
referee had seen the finger and stopped the fight immediately,
he could have given a stop for five minutes to recover, and then
if (Al-Turk) couldn’t have gone on, it would have been a
no-contest.”
Ratner,
who headed the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) prior
to current Executive Director Keith Kizer, chalked the incident
up to a judgment call on Mirgliotta’s part.
“In
any sport, a judgment call cannot be overturned,” he continued.
“It’s one of those things that happens, but nobody
saw it around the Octagon until the replay.”
A
similar controversy occurred last July when Kevin Burns accidentally
poked Anthony Johnson in the eye in the final round of their
fight at “Silva vs. Irvin.” Referee Steve Mazzagatti
did not see the infraction and ruled the fight a TKO after Burns
finished off Johnson. Pavia’s subsequent appeal to the Nevada
State Athletic Commission was rejected for “lack of remedy.”
Pavia
and Al-Turk were unavailable for comment at the time of publication.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
WHITE
WANTS FRANKLIN TO MAKE RUN AT 205 TITLE
"(Rich Franklin) is gonna fight (Mike) Swick at 170."
That
was UFC president Dana White's response at the post-fight press
conference to questions of what was next for Rich Franklin after
the former middleweight champion's unanimous decision victory
over Wanderlei Silva at UFC 99 in Germany this past weekend.
That
comment was quite obviously made in jest, referring back to Swick's
earlier comments that he wanted bigger fights after four-straight
victories in the welterweight class.
In
all seriousness, the UFC president intends for Franklin to move
right back up from the 195-pound catchweight fight with Silva
and remain in the light heavyweight division.
"We
want Rich to stay at 205 pounds. He's gonna stay in the 205-pound
division and take a run at the title," said White, addressing
a class that has seen its title change hands four times in the
past two years.
"This
opportunity popped up for him and Wanderlei to fight. It was
at a great weight; he felt great at that weight. It was Wanderlei's
first time making that weight. To him it was a big fight, close
to the weight he wants to be at."
The
two made the most of the fight, exciting German fans with a Fight
of the Night performance, but Franklin's win left Silva begging
for more.
"Please,
I want a rematch Dana (White). You're the boss, but I want a
rematch," he pleaded at the press conference. "I want
to fight Rich Franklin again. Judges sometimes have an opinion,
but I'm thinking I want to fight Rich Franklin again. I want
a rematch."
That
doesn't appear to be in the cards anytime soon, however.
"I
think (Rich's) next fight is gonna be with one of the top guys
at 205," stated White.
That's
fine by Franklin, who, before the Silva fight, foretold his future,
"(Wanderlei's) a 205-pound fighter, so winning this fight
would definitely put me in the mix of things at 205 pounds. How
close to the title it puts me, I’m not really sure, and
I really don’t care at this point and time. My main objective
is to win the next fight that’s in front of me, and if at
some point in time that turns into a title run, then great.”
According
to White, that's exactly where the win over Silva puts him. And
Franklin's never been one to argue. He pretty much toes the company
line.
"I've
always been one of those fighters that fights for the organization,"
he stated. "If they want me to fight a fight at 205, I'll
fight at 205. If they want me to go back down and fight at 185,
I'll fight at 185... whatever Dana asks me to do."
And
Dana wants him to make that run.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
UFC
102: JARDINE VS SILVA, MARQUARDT VS MAIA
Just
one day after officially announcing the UFC 102 event for Portland,
Ore., the Ultimate Fighting Championship has announced the majority
of the fight card. A bout between former UFC champions Randy
Couture and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira headlines the Aug. 28 event
at the 20,000-seat Rose Garden.
Other
match-ups that highlight the promotions first foray into the
Pacific Northwest include a light heavyweight bout between Top
10 fighters Keith Jardine and Thiago Silva. Jardine is coming
off of a loss to Quinton Jackson at UFC 96, while Silva enters
the bout on the back of a loss to current light heavyweight champion
Lyoto Machida.
Another
pivotal bout announced for UFC 102 is a middleweight showdown
with title shot implications. Ranked No. 3 in the world and aiming
for another shot at Anderson Silva is Nate Marquardt. He will
attempt to hand rising submission wizard Demian Maia his first
loss. Maia is currently 10-0.
UFC 102: AUGUST 29, 2009
venue: TBA in Portland, Oregon
Main
Bouts:
-Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-5-1; #5 Heavyweight in the World)*
vs. Randy Couture (16-9; #6 Heavyweight in the World)*
-Keith Jardine (14-5-1; #8 Light Heavyweight in the World)* vs.
Thiago Silva (13-1; #9 Light Heavyweight in the World)*
-Jake Rosholt (5-1) vs. Chris Leben (18-7)
-Nate Marquardt (28-8-2; #3 Middleweight in the World)* vs. Demian
Maia (10-0; #10 Middleweight in the World)*
-Matt Hamill (7-2) vs. Brandon Vera (10-3)
Preliminary
Bouts:
-James Irvin (14-5) vs. Wilson Gouveia (12-6)
-Junior dos Santos (8-1) vs. Justin McCully (9-4)
-Nick Catone (6-1) vs. Mark Munoz (5-1)
-Matt Veach (11-0) vs. Evan Dunham (8-0)
-Gabe Gonzaga (10-4) vs. Chris Tuchscherer (17-1)
-Mike Russow (11-1) vs. Todd Duffee (4-0)
Main
card airs on pay-per-view for $44.95 in the United States
*
Based on MMAWeekly.com World MMA Rankings
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Mailbag:
Still climbing
By Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports
There
are times that, in the U.S., it’s easy to believe that mixed
martial arts has “made it.”
But
then one goes to a fight in Germany and hears that some believe
the fights are held to the death, that bouts are conducted without
gloves and that essentially anything goes inside the cage.
Surveying
that scene gives one pause, but it’s also a reason to hope
for the future. There is so much misinformation about the sport
that still exists and many misconceptions abound.
The
mainstream media, both in the U.S. and around the world, largely
ignores the sport. Ultimate Fighting Championship president Dana
White has gone on record repeatedly saying that someday the UFC
will be bigger than soccer around the world.
That’s
an exaggeration, but it’s obvious that MMA is going to only
get bigger as the barriers keep getting broken down and the media
begins to understand the sport.
The
sport has gotten to the cusp of the mainstream in the U.S., largely
without mainstream media coverage. When that coverage comes –
and, sooner or later, it will – MMA will be regarded in
the U.S. as one of the big five sports, along with the NFL, Major
League Baseball, the NBA and the NHL.
Before
I get on to the mailbag, I’d like to invite you to follow
me on Twitter. Feel free to send me questions for the mailbag
there, too, though I’ll need your first and last name and
hometown.
With
that, let’s get to your questions and comments in this week’s
edition of the boxing mailbag.
‘Cro
Cop’ heading to DREAM
I
think you should definitely retract your report on Mirko “Cro
Cop” Filipovic leaving the UFC, especially the way you made
it seem like Mirko was the bad guy. Mirko responded to these
rumors and said, “I don’t know why Dana fell for the
hype and rumors before talking to me. I hoped we could talk to
continue working together, and the only problematic thing is
how long I have to wait between the fights. I don’t want
to sit at home for months and wait for somebody to call me to
fight. I’m grateful for the opportunity in Cologne, and
despite Dana’s harsh words, I’m ready to prolong my
contract.”
Ian Miller
Houston
Cro
Cop is absolutely, 100 percent going to fight in DREAM. His quotes
were an attempt to save face, because he did not realize that
media knew about the situation. He plans to run for political
office again in his native Croatia when his fighting days are
done and doesn’t want a story in the public that he went
back on his word. That, of course, is exactly what he did. He
is going to fight for DREAM in July, September and on New Year’s
Eve, barring injuries. Bank on that. And also bank on the fact
that he will never fight in the UFC again.
How
do you feel Cro Cop’s future as an MMA fighter is tarnished
by his recent actions? Do you feel it will hinder future relationships
with MMA organizations? I mean, he boldface lied to not only
Dana White but the people that were asking him about his future
before the fight. Very unprofessional and speaks volumes about
who he is.
Marcus Williams
Tempe, Ariz.
Lying
doesn’t say a lot about him as a man, but it has nothing
to do with his fighting ability, Marcus. Obviously, DREAM was
only too happy to swipe him from the UFC. Promoters know he’s
a big name who will help sell them tickets. I don’t think
they’ll worry if he fibs every now and then.
For
all of those fans who ask why the UFC won’t sign Fedor Emelianenko
to a one-fight deal to fight Randy Couture or Brock Lesnar, just
look at how the Cro Cop deal turned out. It’s just free
publicity for a rival promotion. Mark my words: As long as Dana
White and the Fertittas run the UFC, there will NEVER be another
one-fight contract offered to a high-profile fighter.
Joe Wilson
Charlotte, N.C.
You’re
right, of course, Joe. But a lot of fans look at it only from
what fights they want to see and not from a business standpoint.
Interestingly, before the fight last week, Wanderlei Silva told
me that “Fedor is a very simple man” who Silva believed
was getting poor advice. He thought Emelianenko should have signed
with the UFC a long time ago and was hurting his career by not
doing so.
Velasquez
and the heavyweight belt
I’m
glad you enjoyed UFC 99 in Cologne, as I did myself. However,
I do worry about your ability to focus on the cage, from however
close by, when reading your article on Cain Velasquez. If he
becomes heavyweight champion, it would only be because all others
are unavailable. In other words: He will not. The holes in Velasquez’
game are huge! Granted, he controlled Cheick Kongo pretty much
throughout the match with relative ease. But, apart from the
fact that he wore him down striking, that was ‘only’
because Kongo’s ground game is nonexistent. On a few occasions,
he even could have easily put on a rear naked choke and didn’t!
God knows why not, and probably he doesn’t either. Before
this fight I saw him as a top contender, now I think he’ll
be just that, a top contender. No more. I would love to see him
fight again soon, though.
Lutek Dabrowski
Rotterdam, Holland
A
lot more people probably agree with you than with me, Lutek,
but I’m not going to change my opinion. I think Velasquez
performed well below his own standards on Saturday, and he still
dominated Kongo, a guy many were touting as a potential champion.
He’s not ready today, but he’s not far away, believe
me.
It’s
gotta be Cain and Shane Carwin next, right?
Isho Wurmser
San Salvador, El Salvador
That
would be a great, great fight to watch, but I think it is still
a ways off. I may be proven wrong, but I’m not sure that’s
the next one. I’d love it, though, because it is one of
the fights on my list of must-see bouts.
I
have to laugh at your article on Cain Velasquez, 6-0 or not.
All he proved Saturday were two things. One, he has huge holes
in his stand-up game, and two, Kongo has no ground game. He showed
an extreme lack of power and ability to finish when it comes
to facing a top-caliber opponent and as a diehard MMA fan, I
have to take offense to someone saying that was a championship-level
performance. He controlled a man with no ground game because
of his excellent wrestling background. I can tell you three things
for sure: He would never control Lesnar that way due to strength,
size, and wrestling ability. Plus Brock hits harder then Kongo.
Secondly, the same goes for Carwin and I don’t even like
Carwin. He is stronger, faster, and would not be controlled like
that by Cain. Even Frank Mir, whom I despise, would have finished
Cain on the ground.
Shane Bowen
Sumter, S.C.
I
didn’t say Cain had a championship-level performance. I
noted he made many mistakes and that the performance wasn’t
as good as he has been in the past. But I said his potential
is enormous and he’ll be a champion some day. I stand by
that.
Why
the spoilers?
As
a devout MMA follower, it always pains me to see results announced
before I see the fight. Sometimes I don’t see the fight
on PPV but can catch a replay later in the week. I understand
that I may come across a headline after the fight, but Yahoo!
posted a photo on its main sports page that I saw at 4 p.m. PST
on Saturday. This was four hours before I was supposed to order
the fight! The headline gave away the result, so I knew he won
the fight before I had a chance to see it. Can you please talk
to your staff and the Web guys to see if this can be avoided
in the future? Thank you.
Sean McGrath
Portland, Ore.
I
feel your pain, Sean, but I’m not sure there’s much
we can do. A lot of people ask this question after the European
fights, which is why I’m posting your question. Here’s
the problem: When DO we run the results? Now, just to make a
point, you say you often catch the result later in the week.
So when is it OK to show it? And just because you’ve seen
it a few days later, doesn’t mean the guy in Minneapolis
has, correct? So when is appropriate to run, then? We’re
a news organization and we’re going to provide results,
Sean. I apologize, but there’s no way around it. Should
we not have run the NBA Finals result the other night because
there were people who went to a movie and TiVOed the game? If
you don’t want to know, don’t visit sites that cover
MMA, including ours, because the results are going to be there.
German
reaction
I
was curious how the German media is reacting to seeing its first
sanctioned MMA event. You and your colleagues reported the wild
allegations about what happens at MMA events. With everything
at UFC 99 being close to business as usual, has there been any
change of heart from the media in Germany?
Daniel Aalderks
Sioux Falls, S.D.
I
flew home to Las Vegas from Germany on Sunday, so I didn’t
see first-hand. However, at the post-fight news conference, there
was none of the sensationalism or over-reacting that had occurred
previously.
Source: Yahoo Sports |
How
much more can Silva give?
COLOGNE,
Germany – There is little doubt that Wanderlei Silva is,
physically at least, nowhere near the fighter he was three or
four years ago, when he was dominating the PRIDE Fighting Championship’s
middleweight division.
He’s
long been among a handful of the most popular fighters in mixed
martial arts, but his popularity may be at an all-time high despite
losing to Rich Franklin in a 195-pound catchweight bout Saturday
at Lanxess Arena in the main event of UFC 99.
The
crowd of 12,854 roared its approval when Silva walked to the
cage and then cheered him vociferously throughout the back-and-forth
slugfest.
Franklin,
the former UFC middleweight champion, used movement and more
accurate punching to pull out the win in the entertaining fight.
But as he spoke to in-ring interviewer Joe Rogan after the bout,
the crowd booed lustily.
It
is rare to ever hear Franklin booed, as he’s long been one
of the UFC’s top attractions and entertaining fighters.
Such was the love the crowd had for Silva, who has now lost five
of his last six, that it scorned Franklin in favor of the Brazilian.
Franklin
said it didn’t bother him and that he actually half-expected
it, given Silva’s rock star status among MMA fans.
“Wanderlei
has done more in this sport than I have,” Franklin said.
“I have a lot of respect and admiration for him as a fighter,
much like the fans.”
Every
now and then, Silva rocked Franklin with one of the powerful
rights than helped him score some of the most dramatic knockout
victories in the sport’s history. Too often, though, Silva
threw only one punch at a time and Franklin, using his lateral
quickness and cage awareness, would dance easily out of range.
If
Silva were a two-fisted puncher, he may have had a chance to
change the outcome. Instead, Franklin was able to circle frequently
away from danger and, except for brief moments when he was on
queasy street, he was never in serious jeopardy.
Silva
at one stage said he wanted a rematch with Franklin, though he
later said he wasn’t sure what the future would hold for
him.
“I
don’t know about my future,” he said softly, picking
at welts and abrasions that covered his face. “My fans are
the reason I fight. I love it. The emotion inside the octagon
is unbelievable. I love it and I love to share the emotion with
the fans. The fans understand this and because of that, the fans
respect me.”
So,
too, do his opponents. Franklin agreed to meet Silva at a limit
of 195 pounds on Saturday as Silva is transitioning from 205
pounds to 185.
Franklin
conceded he felt the power at 195 and said he thought Silva could
make a major impact at 185.
“He’s
always coming forward and once his arms start moving, he’s
quick, he’s explosive and he’s dangerous,” Franklin
said. “I got caught up in it in the second round and he
rocked me a little in there.
“I’ll
tell you what: Wanderlei’s been fighting at 205 pounds and
he’s a strong fighter. Moving down to 185, he’s going
to be strong in that weight class. He’s dangerous. He has
knockout power for the 205-pound weight class. When he gets down
to 185, it’s going to be even that much worse [for Silva’s
opponents].”
Whether
he’ll ever make it into the cage for a 185-pound match remains
a question, however. Unlike in April, where he said at the postfight
news conference following UFC 97 that ex-light heavyweight champion
Chuck Liddell would retire, UFC president Dana White wasn’t
willing to end Silva’s career on Saturday.
He
said he’d have a conversation with Silva soon in Las Vegas,
where both men live. Silva is one of the sport’s treasures
and White needs to do right by him.
What
the right answer is, though, is ticklish. No doubt, when he recovers
from Saturday’s bout, Silva is going to want to fight again.
One
of the reasons he’s so beloved is because he’s always
ready to go to battle.
Occasionally,
though, fighters like that need to be saved from themselves.
He’s been knocked out hard three times in his last six fights
and has lost all but one of those.
He’s
a wealthy man and said he won’t have to work again once
his fighting career is over. Fighters take a risk every time
they step into the cage, but the risk increases after a lengthy
career and a fighter ages. Silva has lost at least a half-step
of quickness and is now getting hit more flush than ever.
With
the quality and precision of strikers at an all-time high in
the sport, that’s not a good sign for a guy who makes his
living standing in front of an opponent and throwing knockout
blows.
If
Silva opts to fight again, which I suspect he will, UFC matchmaker
Joe Silva (no relation) will have to choose his opponent very
carefully. And he’ll have to pay particular attention to
Silva’s reflexes.
Silva
has done far too much for the sport to be trotted to the gate
just because he’s a draw. The minute the UFC brass sees
the signs of deterioration, they need to go to Silva and pull
the plug on a wonderful career.
That
night may not be here, but it’s clearly near.
Source: Yahoo Sports
|
Notebook:
Cro Cop leaves UFC
COLOGNE,
Germany – Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic’s return
to the Ultimate Fighting Championship was a short one.
Not
long after stopping Mostapha Al-Turk in the first round of UFC
99 on Saturday at Lanxess Arena in his first fight in the UFC
since back-to-back losses in 2007, Filipovic informed UFC president
Dana White that he had signed a three-fight contract with the
Japan-based DREAM.
White
had signed Filipovic less than a month ago to a one-fight deal,
the first time in more than nine years that he’d done that.
He had worked out terms on two additional fights, but said he’d
only put pen to paper for Saturday’s bout.
He
brought Filipovic back because he knew the Croat is still very
popular and Filipovic insisted he wanted to make a run for the
title.
That
proved not to be the truth. After turning down much tougher opposition,
including Cain Velasquez, who defeated Cheick Kongo later on
the card, he wound up with the lightly regarded Al-Turk.
But
instead of getting a shot at big names like Randy Couture or
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and fighting his way into title contention,
Filipovic opted to bolt for Japan.
“Isn’t
that a dirty [expletive] thing to do?” White asked rhetorically
after being queried about Filipovic’s deal with DREAM. “He
[expletived] me. The first time in the history of the company
I do one over the phone. He promised me a three-fight deal and
he [expletived] me.”
Filipovic
looked unsteady and hardly impressive in defeating Al-Turk, who
is winless in the UFC. He never landed one of his vaunted kicks
and the fight ended not from a punch but when he poked Al-Turk
in the eye with his finger.
Referee
Dan Miragliotta didn’t see the poke, so it was regarded
as a clean blow and Filipovic won by stoppage.
Filipovic
was fighting five months to the day after knee surgery, one of
several injuries he said kept him from performing at his best
in his first stint in the UFC. Before the fight, he called his
1-2 UFC record “the black spot” on his career.
While
speaking with reporters on a prefight conference call, Filipovic
enthused about his return and said he was gunning for a title
shot. All the while, he apparently knew he was in it for a one-fight
deal.
He
texted White on White’s cellular phone and told him he wanted
to return. White said Filipovic declined numerous opponents.
Apparently,
Filipovic, who is from Croatia, wanted to fight in Germany and
use the UFC bout as a tuneup. He did and is now Dream bound,
but he’ll almost certainly never fight in the UFC again.
“He
didn’t keep his word,” White said, who said he’d
had a two-hour talk with Filipovic on the day Filipovic texted
and asked to be able to return. “He talked about honor and
all this other [expletive] and he [expletived] me.
“He
fed me this bull [expletive] about wanting to take a run for
the title, and what I think he did was, he went out and did this.
He turned down every other [expletive] fighter I offered him,
because I needed him to fight Cain. He didn’t just poke
Al-Turk; he poked me, too.”
As
is his custom, Filipovic skipped the postfight news conference
and could not be reached to comment on the DREAM deal.
Hardy
played mind games: Dan Hardy won his grudge match against Marcus
Davis, pulling out a split decision. He won 29-28 on the scorecards
of judges Doug Crosby and Tony Weeks. Davis prevailed on Andy
Roberts’ card by the same score. Yahoo! Sports also had
it 29-28 for Davis.
There
was bad blood between the two because of a war of words on the
Internet. Hardy said he was just trying to provoke Davis because
he figured correctly that Davis would take it seriously and that
it might affect the way he fought.
“I
used a lot of psychological warfare and it bothered him,”
Hardy said. “My intention was to bother so it would have
an effect on the fight.”
Davis
stormed from the cage and declined to shake hands with Hardy.
He also failed to appear at the postfight news conference, though
he issued a statement in which he demanded a rematch.
“He
came into my dressing room to talk after and I said I won,”
Davis said in his statement. “He said it was close and he
wouldn’t argue. That took something, I guess, but he’s
not apologized for going too far with the talking. I won the
fight.”
Bonus
babies: Rich Franklin and Wanderlei Silva had an entertaining
slugfest before the crowd of 12,854 and wound up winning Fight
of the Night honors. They took home an extra $60,000 each for
that.
Mike
Swick, who stopped Ben Saunders in the second round, won Knockout
of the Night. The Submission of the Night went to Terry Etim,
who defeated Justin Buchholz with a D’Arce choke. Swick
and Etim also earned an extra $60,000.
Big
fights: Swick said he was looking for a big fight after scoring
back-to-back wins over Jonathan Goulet and Saunders in fights
in which he was the bigger name and had the most to lose.
He
said he’d like a fight with former welterweight champion
Matt Hughes, saying it would be an honor for him.
White
had another suggestion since Swick kept talking about big fights.
“Swick
is going to fight Rich [Franklin] next at 170,” White said,
jokingly, since Franklin fights at light heavyweight.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
TJ
GRANT TO FACE DONG HYUN KIM AT UFC 100
Just 24 hours after learning that Rory Markham had to withdraw
from his Ultimate Fighter Team U.S.A. vs. Team U.K. Finale bout
against T.J. Grant, MMAWeekly.com has confirmed that Grant will
now be removed from the event altogether. The Canadian will instead
take the place of countryman Jonathan Goulet at UFC 100 to face
Dong Hyun Kim.
Sources
close to the newly formed bout told MMAWeekly.com that both fighters
have agreed to the meeting and that bout agreements have been
issued.
The
new match-up was a logical choice after Markham withdrew due
to a quadriceps injury, as Goulet had just recently notified
UFC officials that he would be unable to compete at UFC 100 due
to a dislocated shoulder, like Markham, suffered in training.
Grant
now moves over to the preliminary portion of the historic UFC
100 fight card. He is currently on a five-fight winning streak,
including his Octagon debut at UFC 97, a split decision win over
tough Japanese fighter Ryo Chonan.
Kim
is undefeated in 13 bouts. His record stands at 11-0-1 with 1
no contest. He won a split decision in his UFC debut against
Matt Brown last September, before losing a split decision to
Karo Parisyan at UFC 94. The bout with Parisyan was later changed
to a no contest – keeping Kim's undefeated record intact
– when the Armenian fighter tested positive for Hydrocodone,
Hydromorphone, and Oxymorphone, three banned substances recognized
for their pain relieving qualities.
UFC
100 is headlined by a heavyweight unification bout between current
champion Brock Lesnar and current interim champion Frank Mir,
as well as a welterweight title bout with Georges St. Pierre
defending against Thiago Alves.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
UFC'S
BRAD BLACKBURN EYES MORE SUCCESS
One of the bigger surprises since the folding of the IFL has
been welterweight “Bad” Brad Blackburn.
Of
all the fighters the UFC brought over from the now-defunct promotion,
Blackburn more than likely received the least amount of attention
during the transition, but he’s quickly proving that he
belongs in his new surroundings.
Having
won three fights in a row overall, Blackburn returns to the UFC
for this Saturday’s Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale intent on
continuing his winning ways and proving he is someone to keep
an eye on in the 170-pound weight class.
“I’m
feeling good,” said a confident Blackburn to MMAWeekly.com.
“I had a good training camp for this one, and I feel I’m
in better shape than I was for my last fight, so I’m ready
to go.”
Having
competed on the big stage before, he knows what to expect from
the UFC experience, unlike his opponent, Edgar Garcia, who will
be making his first appearance in the Octagon.
It’s
that veteran experience that Blackburn hopes will stem the tide
of the fight.
“I’m
going to try to fight smarter, and that will most likely be an
advantage for me,” he stated. “I’ve had a lot
of wars, and he really hasn’t yet. I haven’t seen him
in there with anyone that’s been a threat to him, so I don’t
know how’s going to react to when he gets tested.
“He
might be okay with it, or not, but I’m ready for a three-round
war and am mentally prepared for this to get ugly. It could be
a good fight to watch, but not a good fight to be in.”
Blackburn
explains it’s just the nature of the beast when it comes
to the way he handles business in the cage.
“That’s
just the way I fight – I kick, I punch, sometimes I get
quick knockouts, and sometimes I have wars,” he stated.
“Even if I’m tired, I keep swinging.
“Sometimes
I get Fight of the Night and sometimes I don’t, but no matter
what, my fights are going to be exciting – I’ve never
had a boring fight.”
With
the UFC tightening up the reigns on its roster, it’s imperative
that for any fighter that wishes to make any kind of headway
in the promotion to stay on the winning track, which is exactly
Blackburn’s goal.
“I
feel that as long as I keep winning, I can only be denied for
so long,” he said. “My number one focus is to win this
fight, and then after that is to win my next one, and so on.
“I’m
game to fight anybody, and I think it’s proven, and I just
need to make it happen when the bell rings. I’ll keep taking
what I get and I just need to make sure I keep winning.”
Having
made a successful first step into the UFC, Blackburn looks to
continue his surprise run and go from a little-regarded commodity
to an invaluable asset in the future.
“I’d
like to thank all the guys at Victory Athletics, Next Level Boxing
and West Coast Fitness,” he closed out. “To all the
fans, check me out; my fight will be exciting as usual.
“When
they ring the bell, I’ll be fighting. I don’t bounce
around and look at people, I come in swinging.”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Quote
of the Day
“Self-confidence
is the first requisite to great undertakings.”
Samuel Johnson
|
Fighters'
Club TV Tonight!
Channel
52
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!
|
BJPENN.COM
IS LOOKING FOR AMATEUR FIGHTERS ON OAHU!
We
are currently accepting applications for our first amateur MMA
event on Oahu.
Event:
JUST SCRAP
Date: July 23, 2009 (Thursday)
Location: Pipeline Cafe
Time: Doors open at 6PM, first bout at 7PM
We
are looking for amateur fighters in all weight classes.
All interested fighters please email timmyjustscrap@yahoo.com for an application
|
TIM
SYLVIA KNOCKED OUT OF AFFLICTION BOUT
Following a nine-second knockout loss at Adrenaline 3 Saturday
night, Tim Sylvia has been removed from Affliction “Trilogy”
on Aug. 1. The former UFC heavyweight champ was scheduled to
take on former UFC contender Paul Buentello.
The
news was first reported by AOL Fanhouse and subsequently confirmed
by MMAWeekly.com.
Affliction
vice president Tom Atencio said the decision was made out of
concern for Sylvia’s health.
“I
just think it’s too soon, and Monte (Cox, Sylvia’s
manager) thinks it is too,” said Atencio. “We all agree
that it should be 90 days off and I just don’t want to be
that promoter that takes a chance. Tim’s a friend of mine,
and even if he wasn’t a friend, it’s just too dangerous.”
Atencio
said Buentello would likely face the winner of Gilbert Yvel vs.
Pedro Rizzo, the co-main event of June 27’s “Ultimate
Chaos” in Biloxi, Miss. Atencio will face Randy Hedderick
on the event’s undercard.
“But
it depends on how beat up they are, obviously,” he qualified.
“I don’t want to bring one of those guys in if they’re
all beat to hell, too.”
Sylvia
recently signed a new contract with Affliction and may return
at the end of the year or in the first quarter of 2010, Atencio
noted.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
UFC
102 SET FOR PORTLAND ROSE GARDEN
The UFC’s first trip to the Pacific Northwest is officially
set at last.
The
promotion on Monday announced UFC 102, featuring Randy Couture
vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, to be held Aug. 29 at the Rose
Garden in Portland, Ore. The arena plays host to the NBA's Portland
Trailblazers and a variety of concerts and events.
“We’re
extremely excited to be heading to Portland,” said UFC president
Dana White. “When you get two mixed martial arts legends
that are all heart and have wanted to fight each other for years,
plus the fact that Randy has roots in Oregon, that tells me that
not only will the crowd be electric, but it’s also a night
where the fighters will be looking to cement their legacies.”
MMAWeekly.com
first reported the long anticipated main event in February as
the headliner for UFC 101 on Aug. 8. The event was later rebooked
as UFC 102 on Aug. 29 when recently passed MMA legislation green-lighted
Philadelphia for UFC 101 "Declaration,” featuring Anderson
Silva vs. Forrest Griffin.
Couture
declined an offer to face Nogueira in December of 2007 subsequent
to his resignation from the UFC in October. Upon returning in
August of 2008, he faced wrestling import Brock Lesnar at UFC
91 and lost his heavyweight title via TKO. The UFC Hall of Famer
was offered the fight again at UFC 96, but an elbow surgery ruled
out the meeting.
During
Couture’s absence, Nogueira won the interim heavyweight
title by submitting former champion Tim Sylvia at UFC 81. He
lost the interim title at UFC 92 when Frank Mir stopped him with
strikes.
Couture,
who turns 46 next week, will begin camp in late June after wrapping
action movie “The Expendables” with action star Sylvester
Stallone. Nogueira will make an appearance as a villain.
“Nogueira
is the type of fighter that is dangerous everywhere,” said
Couture. “He’s difficult to knock out and he’s
a world class jiu-jitsu player. I will have to train very diligently
and very specifically for him. Also, the fact that I’m fighting
in Oregon makes me want to put on a great show and win for these
fans.”
Nogueira
recently told Fighters Only that his loss to Mir postponed retirement
and motivated another run at the title.
“I’m
honored to face such a great fighter as Randy Couture,”
Nogueira said. “I wanted to fight him for some time now
and I know to become a legend you have to beat a legend.”
Tickets
for the event go on sale Saturday, June 20 and are priced between
$50 and $600.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Shogun
preparing strategy for Machida
After
two victories in the UFC octagon, the last one against the former
light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell, Maurício Shogun
wil had the chance for the UFC belt against the champion Lyoto
Machida. In exclusive interview to TATAME.com, Shogun spoke for
the first time about the training for the title fight and guaranteed
he’ll be ready for the challenge.
“I’m
focused, but I still have more four months to get ready for this
fight. This fight will be very tough, it’s hard to find
sparrings with Lyoto’s style, that’s why I’ll
prepare myself the best way for this fight”, says Shogun.
The Pride GP champion also comments Wanderlei Silva’s fight
against Rich Franklin, at UFC 99, and talked about a possible
training with the Axe Murderer and Rafael Cordeiro and more.
Stay tuned on TATAME.com and check, tomorrow, and exclusive interview
with Shogun.
Source: Tatame
|
Langhi
and the perfect year in the black belt
With
only two years in black belt, the lightweight Michael Langhi
already had begun bothering. With titles in European, Pan-American
and Brazilian of Jiu-Jitsu, the athlete from Alliance came to
the World Cup of Jiu-Jitsu like a favorite, and showed that it
wasn’t for nothing. "I’m very happy, it was always
a dream. This is my second year of black belt and I won the European,
Pan American, the Brazilian, now the World Championship... I
think that, among the finalists, I‘m the only one who fought
in all the events and that went well in all of them, so I’m
very happy", celebrates the black belt, recalling the path
he made towards the title.
"Saturday
I did two fights where I could finalize quickly, and Sunday I
did three fights. I fought on the quarter-final with (Augusto)
Tanquinho, an athlete who I face for the third time. He came
very well prepared, I think he had studied my game... I think
it was the toughest fight of the competition", said Langham,
who had no easy fight from the semifinal. "I made the semifinal
with Furão (Philipe Della Monica), who I had fought last
year, and made the final against Durinho, who I had already won
four times previously. They are athletes who are fighting for
a long time, know each other and sometimes is difficult for us
to expose ourselves, because everyone knows the other’s
game".
Billing
the gold between the middle weights, Langhi helped, also, the
Alliance to take home the fourth trophy of champion in teams.
"The determining factor for this, beyond the team’s
union, is the leadership of Fábio Gurgel in Brazil and
Jacaré in the United States. It has many teams that were
to be among the best in the world. What they speak is spoken,
is the leadership what makes us be growing. Of course we have
much to improve, but we are on track", concluded the champion.
Source: Tatame
|
Mendes
and the "debut" in BJJ Worlds
Accustomed
to fight between the feathers beside his brother Rafael Mendes,
Guilherme accepted the proposal of the Atos team and declined
to, among the feathers, try to snap a title for the team. And
it worked. Beating the world champion Samuel Braga for an advantage,
Gui won the first world title in the black belt. "I hope
this title is the first of many", concludes.
Since
he came to the black belt, Guilherme went knocking on the beam,
while his brother glowed. In this World Cup, however, the situation
was reversed. "Thank God everything went right, I won all
the battles very well, felt comfortable in the category, trained
for that and thank God I reached. Favorite is always who train
and as we train a lot, we are always favorites and I’ll
always be there to bother", ended the champion, who can
board toward to Japan: "Rafael is going to Japan fight the
Deep, Submission event, and I just got a proposal... Maybe I’ll
go to Japan too", finalized.
Source: Tatame
|
RORY
MARKHAM OUT OF TUF 9 FINALE VS TJ GRANT
Miletich Martial Arts fighter Rory Markham is out of his scheduled
bout against Canadian fighter T.J. Grant due to injury. The two
had planned to fight on The Ultimate Fighter Team U.S.A. vs.
Team U.K. Finale at The Palms in Las Vegas on Saturday night.
"I
had to cancel the fight due to a quad injury," Markham told
MMAWeekly.com on Monday. He indicated that the injury was sustained
during training, but is hopeful that he'll be able to return
to the Octagon sometime around August or so.
Markham
was coming off of a tough knockout loss at UFC 95 to rising British
star Dan Hardy. He did, however, have a highlight reel knockout
of his own over Brodie Farber in his UFC debut last July. So
even at 1-1 in the Octagon, we're likely to see Markham return
due to his knockout or be knocked out style.
After
rising through the ranks in Canada, T.J. Grant finally made his
mark in the UFC earlier this year in April, winning a split decision
over veteran Japanese fighter Ryo Chonan.
It
was unclear at the time of publication who would step in to fill
the void for the UFC at this late date, the finale just five
days away.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Quote
of the Day
“Self-confidence
is the first requisite to great undertakings.”
Samuel Johnson
|
Man
up and Stand up Returns!
Filcom Center Waipahu
Friday, July 10
|
Beatdown
10 Results
185 lbs
Kaahu Alo (Freelance) vs Rocco Macene (West Point MMA)
Alo by unanimous decision after 3 rounds
Heavyweight
Paki Kamake'eaina (Freelance) vs Richard Perriera (West Point
MMA)
Kamake'eaina by TKO (verbal submission) at 2:53 in round 2.
Heavyweight
Ko'o Kamalamala (Freelance) vs Usber Jari (Penn Training &
Fitness)
Jari by TKO at 1:18 in round 1
185
lbs
Jeff DeCastro (Freelance) vs Leo Kawelo (Shoot Hawaii)
Kawelo by TKO in round 2.
170
lbs
Jeff Thome (Freelance) vs Kealii Kanekoa (Puna)
Kanekoa by unanimous Decision
XMA
Heavyweight
Kevin Hobbs (Freelance) vs Alika 'Da Janitor' Cadang (Shoot Hawaii)
Cadang by TKO in round 2.
165
lbs
Brian 'Action' Jackson (Penn Training & Fitness) vs Ashton
'False Crack Medivac' Castro (Freelance)
Jackson by TKO due to strikes iin round 2.
Heavyweight
Jon 'Boom Boom' Estabilio (Team Big Daddy) vs Curtis 'Dirty Curty'
Pedro (Team Submit)
Estabilio by TKO (tapout due to strikes) at 27 seconds in round
1.
145
lbs
Abe Cortes-Kaleopaa (Freelance) vs Donald Gonzalez (Puna)
Cortes-Kaleopaa by armbar at 3:44 in round 1.
155
lbs
Kaleo 'Lights
Out' Kwan (O2 Martial Arts Academy) vs Raymond Castro (Penn Training &
Fitness)
Kwan by one punch KO (over hand right) at 53 seconds of round
2.
185lbs
Dale Kamai (Waianae) vs Sergio 'Da Monster' Mamone (Team Monster)
Mamone by TKO ref stoppage due to punches in round 1.
|
WANDERLEI
NOT DONE, WANTS A REMATCH
Questions surrounding Wanderlei Silva's fighting future and whether
he should continue fighting have swirled in recent months, escalating
following the Unanimous Decision loss to Rich Franklin in Cologne,
Germany at UFC 99, but the former Pride champion made it clear
at the post-fight press conference what he want to do. He wants
a rematch with Franklin.
UFC
president Dana White left the door open for Silva to decide if
he wants to continue competing.
"Wanderlei
Silva's one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. He's become
a big part of our team. We care about this guy. He's around all
the time. He works out in the gym and we'd love to keep him around
no matter what he decides to do," said White. "It's
one of those things where we'll get back to Vegas and we'll call
Wanderlei in, we'll sit down and talk to him and see what he
wants to do."
Silva
didn't wait until they returned to Vegas to make his decision.
"Please,
I want a rematch Dana (White). You're the boss, but I want a
rematch," Silva pleaded to the UFC president. "I want
to fight Rich Franklin again. Judges sometimes have an opinion,
but I'm thinking I want to fight Rich Franklin again. I want
a rematch."
Silva,
known for his aggressive style and highlight reel knockouts is
one of the most popular and exciting mixed martial artists in
the world, but losing five or his last six fights, three by brutal
knockouts, has many wondering if the 32-year-old Brazilian should
hang up his gloves. Silva is not one of them.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
FRANKLIN
REFLECTS ON FIGHT, SILVA'S 185 FUTURE
Rich Franklin prepared to play the hit-and-run game with Wanderlei
Silva at UFC 99.
The
former UFC middleweight champion said footwork was a key factor
in avoiding the machine gun bursts of punches Silva is known
for.
“We
just decided that we were going to use a lot of footwork as much
as we could and try to move around,” said Franklin following
the fight. “The thing about Wanderlei is that he comes forward,
and once his arms get started moving, he’s explosive and
he’s dangerous.”
Silva
did not look as explosive and dangerous against Franklin as in
previous outings. It was rumored he had to make a 12-pound cut
the day prior to make the 195-pound weight limit, and his energy
seemed to wane in the middle of the fight. But his punching power
had not left him.
Franklin
forgot that in the second round and paid for it.
“I
knew that if I stood in one spot, I was going to end up getting
caught with a couple of punches,” he said. “Once (Silva)
starts punching, he doesn’t stop until things get finished.
I know I stood in the second round one time and got caught there
and that was the beginning of it. I actually got caught behind
the ear. Everything kind of faded to black for a second, but
I was able to recover.”
Silva
tried in vain to land another big shot in the third, but Franklin
stayed mobile and avoided the onslaught.
The
crowd booed Franklin’s unanimous decision victory, but he
felt the scores were justified.
“I
was confident that I was up two rounds at the beginning of the
third round,” he said. “Going into that, he changed
up his footwork a little bit for the first two, two and a half
minutes of the round, he was moving in a different way, and it
had me confused. But I felt I had done enough to win the fight,
even though I was in trouble in the second round.”
He
said a much-publicized trip to Anderson Silva’s gym didn’t
merit the drama it created.
“You
go out to a place like that and it’s just another camp,”
he said. “We were there for eight or nine days. He was gracious
enough to work with me and I thank him for that. (I learned)
little tips and tricks. Good training partners. I’ll take
nuggets of information from that training camp, learning a few
styles of the way they train, but other than that, it wasn’t
like I was shown the secret to winning the fight.”
Franklin
characteristically left plans of his light heavyweight future
to the UFC. He did not comment on a rematch with Silva, who was
clear in his desire for a second fight. He did, however, believe
Silva would thrive in his old weight division.
“Wanderlei’s
been fighting at 205, he’s a strong fighter, and I think
moving down to 185, he’s going to be strong in that weight
class,” he said. “He’s got knockout power for
a 205-pound fighter, so when he goes down to 185, it’s going
to be that much worse (for his opponents).”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
SWICK
READY TO MAKE A MOVE; MATT HUGHES NEXT?
Mike "Quick" Swick has been nothing short of perfect
since moving from middleweight down to the crowded UFC welterweight
division. He has gone 4-0 in the Octagon at 170 pounds, including
Saturday night's UFC 99 dismantling of the previously undefeated
Ben Saunders.
Aside
from Saunders, Swick's hit list includes Josh Burkman, Jonathan
Goulet, and Brandon Wolff. All of them solid opposition, but
none more highly regarded than Swick himself.
That
is about to change.
"This
is my tenth fight in the UFC, I'm 9-1. I want to fight for the
title," he stated in the Octagon after his second round
TKO victory. "I want to fight top guys, Matt Hughes, Georges
St. Pierre, Thiago Alves."
It
was a refrain that he repeated at the UFC 99 post-fight press
conference, not demanding, but making it clear that he wants
to stop treading water in his new division. He wants what most
fighters want, for his efforts to turn into a run at the title.
"I
trained really hard, put a lot of time in. I want a big fight.
I've had two fights with really tough opponents that weren't
high-ranked and I had a lot more to lose than to gain, and I
accepted," he commented. "Now I'm in a position where
I want to have something to gain when I push myself as hard and
train so hard. I want a title shot."
He
knows a title shot doesn't come easy, however, and he has alternative
plans.
"I
understand if not. And if not, I'd love to fight Matt Hughes.
He's one of the most decorated fighters in UFC history... it
would be an honor to fight him."
UFC
president Dana White seemed to agree with Swick's assessment,
not committing him to Matt Hughes or any other specific opponent.
He did agree, though, that it's time for Swick to start moving
up.
"Swick's
ready for a big fight. Part of the problem is keeping Swick healthy.
That's half the battle. Swick's been around, obviously, since
season one (of The Ultimate Fighter). We love this kid; he's
ready. As long as he stays healthy, I'm sure he'll get a big
fight."
Part
of the problem for Swick stepping up in the division is that
the UFC already has two of his American Kickboxing Academy teammates
– Jon Fitch and Josh Koscheck, both Top 5 ranked fighters
– are running neck and neck near the top of the class. But
as long as Swick keeps winning, they'll have to find room up
there for him somewhere.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Quote
of the Day
Let your
heart feel for the afflictions and distress of everyone, and
let your hand give in proportion to your purse."
George Washington, 1732-1799, 1st President of the United States
|
UFC
99 'The Comeback' Play-By-Play Results
Live results of the UFC's debut in Germany, UFC 99 "The
Comeback," from the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany.
A 195-pound catchweight bout between former UFC champ Rich Franklin
and former PRIDE champ Wanderlei Silva headlines the event.
Matt
Williams, who pens "The Real Deal" columns for MMAFighting.com,
will be joining us to score the rounds.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FIGHT
#1 - Marcus Davis (171) vs. Dan Hardy (170)
Hardy
walks out with a red Mohawk and a black bandanna covering his
mouth. Before Davis makes his way down the aisle, he stands by
the entrance way with a flag of Ireland.
R1:
The crowd is in support of Hardy. They measure each other out
with kicks. Davis throws a punch to enter clinch. Davis looks
for the takedown and peppers Hardy with left hands. After a minute
of working, Davis trips Hardy and lands in full mount. Hardy
escapes to closed guard. Davis moves to Hardy's back and connects
with rights to Hardy's head. Davis momentarily takes front headlock
and moves to back, but Hardy escapes to his feet. Hardy unleashes
a punch combo and Davis looks a bit dazed. Hardy may have stole
the second round. 10-9 for Davis.
R2:
Hardy works leg kicks. Davis looks to set up a knockout punch.
Hardy drops Davis with a left knee. Hardy is inside Davis' closed
guard. Davis has never been knocked out. Davis attempts an armbar
from guard, but eventually gives it up. Davis actively working
from guard. The referere stands them up and they restart with
just over minute left in the round. Davis goes clinch and they
separate on a Hardy knee. Davis lands a left and Hardy smiles.
Davis scores the takedown into Hardy's guard. Davis briefly passes
to side but only gets half guard. 10-9 for Hardy.
R3:
Davis enters Hardy's guard. Davis passes half guard and scores
points with left hands. Davis sits back for a leglock. Hardy
escapes several submission attempts. They stand in clinch. Hardy
takes Davis down into guard. The referee checks on Davis' cut.
There's lines up blood all over Davis' face. The fight is allowed
to be continued. The referee stands them up with 48 seconds left.
Hardy lands a kick, Davis throws a left. Hardy with a kick to
the body and a left hook. Hardy lands a left hook and the fight
ends in clinch. 10-9 for Hardy.
MMAFighting.com
scores the fight 29-28 for Hardy. This was a very tough fight
to score and you can make a strong case either fighter.
The
judges score the fight 29-28 Hardy, 29-28 Davis and 29-28 Davis.
Davis
angrily walks off after hearing the final scorecard.
Dan
Hardy wins via split decision
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FIGHT
#2 - Spencer Fisher (154) vs. Caol Uno (155)
After
five years away in Japan, Uno is back with the UFC. The two-time
UFC title contender bounces down the aisle to "Smells Like
Teen Spirit" by Nirvana. UFC middleweight Yushin Okami is
in Uno's corner. Fisher shadowboxes down the aisle to "God's
Gonna Cut You Down" by Johnny Cash.
R1:
They size each other up for the first fifty seconds until Uno
shoots for the takedown. Fisher stuffs it and lands knees to
the shoulder. They stand up in clinch. Fisher has double underhooks
and lands knees. The referee separates them with two minutes
left. Fisher tags Uno with a left punch. Fisher lands a leg kick.
Fisher throws a combo and lands a right hook. Uno shoots and
Fisher defends. They're back in clinch with Fisher's back against
the fence. Fisher exits with a knee. A short exchange and they
clinch again to the sound of the bell. 10-9 for Fisher. Uneventful
round, but Fisher scored with knee.
R2:
Uno scores the takedown 15 seconds into the round. Fisher stands
up in clinch and returns with knees. Uno shoots again and Fisher
defends. Uno falls to his back in hopes of Fisher entering Uno's
guard. Uno stands up. Uno lands leg kicks and shoots again. Fisher
defends and briefly works for control of Uno's back. Uno spins
into Fisher's guard. Uno stands up and Fisher trips Uno to his
back. They stand and clinch. Uno lands uppercuts. Uno shoots
and gives it up. Back in clinch and Fisher tries for a sweep
but Uno falls into side control. Fisher escapes and they are
back in clinch. Uno pulls guard with 30 seconds left. Uno gets
to his knees and they lightly battle in clinch until the bell
rounds. Fisher bangs his head against the fence in frustration.
10-9 Uno.
R3:
Uno shoots into clinch. Fisher lands knees. Fisher lands a left.
Uno goes for the takedown but the cage is helping Fisher from
giving up the takedown. Fisher gets up and they go back into
clinch. Uno drops down for the double and then single. They stand
back up in clinch. The referee separates them with a little over
2:30 left. Uno lands a leg kick but slips back. Uno plays off
his back. Uno stands up. Fisher lands a right hook and puts Uno
down. Uno escapes to his feet. They are battling against the
fence with 1:30 left in the fight. Fisher unloads and Uno drops
down for the takedown. Uno close to full mount on Fisher. Uno
lands elbows and punches in Fisher's half guard. Uno back in
mount with punches. Uno secures full mount and goes for the rear-naked
choke but the bell sounds. Uno may have won the fight in the
last minute. 10-9 Uno.
MMAFighting.com
scores the round 29-28 for Uno.
All
three judges disagree with us and score it for Fisher. No scores
announced by Bruce Buffer.
Spencer
Fisher wins via unanimous decision
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FIGHT
#3 - Mike Swick (169) vs. Ben Saunders (169)
The
always happy Saunders is pumped walking to the Octagon. A determined
Swick casually walks out to the sound of 2Pac.
R1:
Swick circles left. Saunders goes moves straight towards Swick
and pulls guard. Swick lands punches but is frustrated that Saunders
is simply holding him in butterfly and not going for a sweep.
"Are you going to hold me all night?" Swick tells Saunders.
Saunders responds: "Let's stand up b--ch!" Swick stands
up with two minutes left and enters Saunder's guard. The referee
stands them up with 1:34 left in the round. Saunders connects
with a left kick to the body. They trade punches. They clinch
up. Saunders reaches high with a right knee. Round one ends in
clinch. Saunders rubs Swick's head. 10-9 for Swick.
R2:
Saunders with a kick. Swick enters with knees and Saunders responds
with knees of his own. Swick trips Saunders and takes full mount
right way. Saunders escapes to guard. Swick with punches. The
referee stands them up. They trade a knee. Both fight very cautiously.
That is until Swick comes in and chases Saunders with rights
and Saunders is dropped. Swick follows with lefts to finish Saunders.
Mike
Swick wins via TKO (punches) - R2 (3:47)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FIGHT
#4 - Mirko Cro Cop (233) vs. Mostapha Al Turk (236)
R1:
Cro Cop blocks with rights. Al Turk throws a right. Al Turk aggressively
kicks. Cro Cop shrugs of a takedown attempt. Al Turk lands a
leg kick and swings a heavy right. Al Turk repeats. Al Turk presses
Cro Cop against the cage and Cro Cop pushes Al Turk off. Al Turk
wants to knock out Cro Cop with the right. Cro Cop is fighting
conservatively most likely timing. Cro Cop unleashes left and
rights and AL Turk is back ing off. Cro Cop drops Al Turk and
follows with punches. Cro Cop allows Al Turk to stand. Cro Cop
with more punches. Al Turk is poked in the eye and gives up his
back. No stoppage or check. Cro Cop follows with punches and
the fight is stopped.
Mirko
Cro Cop wins via TKO (punches) - R1 (3:06)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FIGHT
#5 - Cain Velasquez (239) vs. Cheick Kongo (230)
R1:
Kongo jabs. Kongo lands two big rights and dazes Velasquez. Velasquez
goes right for the takedown. Velasquez looks to have recovered
from the punch. Velasquez with hammerfists with control of Kongo's
back. Velasquez finishes the takedown in side control. Velasquez
drops punches and Kongo gives up his back. Velasquez goes for
a choke. Kongo escapes to his back. Kongo gives up his back again.
Kongo gets to his feet but is taken back down. Velasquez with
punches. Kongo gives up his back. Velasquez pushes to full mount
against the fence. Kongo gives up his back again and eats rights.
Velasquez is controlling Kongo on the ground with punches. Kongo
stands up and Velasquez picks him up for the big takedown. Velasquez
controls Kongo for the rest of the round. Kongo stands up into
clinch and lands a knee. 10-9 for Velasquez. Matt is giving it
10-8 for Velasquez.
R2:
Kongo drops Velasquez with a right. They clinch and Velasquez
takes Kongo down. Velasquez climbs to full mount. Kongo gives
up his back. Velasquez continues to work ground and pound punches.
Kongo stands and taken right back down. Velasquez with more rights
in side control. Kongo gives up his back and Velasquez with more
punches. Velasquez adds knees to the body. Kongo begins to bleed
from his nose. Kongo is taking a beating. Velasquez climbs to
side and then full mount. 10-9 for Velasquez.
R3:
Kongo lands a couple of shots and Velasquez shoots. Kongo stuffs
it and goes for a takedown of his own. Kongo puts Velasquez down
but shortly after Velasquez has Kongo's back. And that could
be it for Kongo. Velasquez rains down rights. Velasquez moves
to full mount and Kongo gives up his back. Velasquez continues
to pound away. Kongo stands up. Kongo throws knees in clinch.
They trade punches. Velasquez put Kongo down at 1:50. Velasquez
easily takes full mount. Velasquez drops punches and elbows.
Kongo is taking a ton of punches but he's still fighting back.
Velasquez furiously raining down punches but time runs out. 10-9
for Velasquez.
Kongo
was thoroughly dominated but at the same time was never in real
trouble.
The
judges give it to Velasquez and no scores are announced.
Cain
Velasquez wins via unanimous decision
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FIGHT
#6 - Rich Franklin (194) vs. Wanderlei Silva (194)
R1:
Silva misses two punches. Franklin throws a straight left. Silva
lands a leg kick. Silva swings and Franklin avoids the punches.
Franklin doing a good job of using head movement. Franklin lands
a kick to the body and Silva counters with a big right that is
blocked. Silva misses a high kick. A kick to Frankin's body is
blocked. Silva scores the takedown. They stand and Silva has
a guillotine but can't hold on. Franklin passes to from half
to mount. Franklin takes Silva's back and lands punches. They
separate with 12 seconds left. Silva appears winded. 10-9 Franklin.
Franklin
tells his corner he thinks he broke Silva's nose.
R2:
Silva's kick to the body is blocked and Franklin's counter punch
misses. Franklin presses with punches. Franklin lands an inside
leg kick. Silva misses a huge right. Franklin misses a big left.
Franklin aggressively looks for the knockout . Franklin lands
a jab and drops Silva. Silva gets back up. Silva's high kick
is blocked. Franklin lands a kick to the body. Franklin is winning
the stand up. Franklin avoids Silva's big combo. Silva lands
a nice right. Franklin backs off a little. Silva goes for the
kill. Silva with left and rights. Franklin survives but Silva's
punches have taken a toll. They both slip. Very close round.
Silva mounted the comeback in the end that should give him the
round. 10-9 Silva.
R3:
Franklin lands a left. They exchange punches. Silva goes for
the finish and Franklin avoids. Silva hits a knee. Silva calls
on the crowd for cheers. Franklin doing a good job slipping Silva's
punches. Franklin with a kick to the body. They exchange punches.
Silva is unloading and Franklin responds. Franklin scores the
takedown. Silva kicks him off but Franklin returns with lefts.
Franklin holds onto Silva's back. Silva with back elbows and
Franklin with punches for the finish! Another tough round to
score. 10-9 Franklin. Matt says 10-9 Silva.
Rich
Franklin wins via unanimous decision.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FULL
RESULTS:
John
Hathaway def. Ricky Story via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28,
30-27)
Stefan Struve def. Denis Stojnic via submission (RNC) - R2 (2:37)
Paul Kelly def. Roli Delgado via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28,
29-28)
Paul Taylor def. Peter Sobotta via unanimous decision
Dennis Siver def. Dale Hartt via submission (RNC) - R1 (3:23)
Terry Etim def. Justin Buchholz via submission (D'arce choke)
- R2
Dan Hardy def. Marcus Davis via split decision (29-28, 29-28,
28-29)
Spencer Fisher def. Caol Uno via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28,
29-28)
Mike Swick def. Ben Saunders via TKO (punches) - R2 (3:47)
Mirko Cro Cop def. Mostafa Al Turk via TKO (punches) - R1 (3:06)
Cain Velasquez def. Cheick Kongo via unanimous decision (30-27,
30-27, 30-27)
Rich Franklin def. Wanderlei Silva via unanimous decision (30-27,
30-27, 29-28)
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Franklin,
Silva, Swick, Etim earn $60,000 bonuses
Rich Franklin, Wanderlei Silva, Mike Swick and Terry Etim each
received a $60,000 bonus for thier performances Saturday at UFC
99 "The Comeback" in Cologne, Germany.
Former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin and former PRIDE
light-heavyweight champion Wanderlei Silva took part in a back
and forth battle and were presented with the much-deserved Fight
of the Night award. In the end, though, it was Franklin who won
the fight with scores of 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28.
The
Knockout of the Night went to Mike "Quick" Swick, who
dismantled fellow "The Ultimate Fighter" alum Ben Saunders
with a flurry of punches. Once his opponent was grounded, Swick
put an end to Saunders' night with repeated left punches.
There
were three submissions total, all in the undercard, and it was
a D'arce choke applied by Terry Etim on Justin Buchholz that
won Submission of the Night.
The
post-fight bonuses were also $60,000 at the previous UFC pay-per-view
event, UFC 98 "Evans vs. Machida" on May 23.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Andrei
Arlovski boxing debut delayed again
Former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski will have to
wait longer for his initial entry into the world of professional
boxing.
Arlovski has been issued a 60-day medical suspension by Missouri's
Office of Athletics for his 22-second knockout loss Saturday
to Brett Rogers at Strikeforce "Lawler vs. Shields"
in St. Louis. The suspension will make him ineligible to compete
in his boxing debut scheduled for June 27.
Arlovski
last year signed a contract to box for Oscar De La Hoya's Golden
Boy Promotions, but an active MMA career, a minor hip injury
and a role in the upcoming "Universal Soldiers: The Next
Generation" film with Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren
have prevented Arlovski from following through with boxing.
Arlovski
trains boxing with Mike Garcia of JABB Boxing in Chicago and
famed boxing trainer Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Boxing Club
in Los Angeles.
Arlovski,
15-7 in MMA, is coming off two consecutive first-round knockout
losses.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Sylvia-Mercer
Goes MMA
by Loretta Hunt
Tim Sylvia and Ray Mercer will now meet in a heavyweight mixed
martial arts bout at Adrenaline III this Saturday at the BJCC
Arena in Birmingham, Ala.
The
matchup of former UFC champion and former boxing champion will
headline 14 additional MMA bouts in the cage. The event will
no longer be regulated.
Originally
scheduled as a six-round boxing bout, Adrenaline owner and promoter
Monte Cox said he made the decision to re-categorize the match
on Thursday.
“I
got a call from the Pennsylvania commissioner saying that the
boxing match is illegal because we weren’t getting regulated
by a U.S. commission,” said Cox on Thursday.
With
no regulatory body present in Alabama, the Canadian-based River
Cree Combative Sports Commission had agreed to step in and oversee
the event.
Cox
said he believed he had completed all the necessary requirements
asked of him, which included procuring a letter from Alabama’s
governor welcoming the Canadian commission into the jurisdiction.
However,
Association of Boxing Commissions President Tim Lueckenhoff told
Sherdog.com that neither he nor the ABC organization had been
approached directly to regulate the bout. Further, Lueckenhoff
said he’d thought Sylvia-Mercer would be an MMA contest
and not a boxing bout. Lueckenhoff said federal law currently
has no jurisdiction over MMA bouts, but laws are in place over
boxing under the Professional Boxing Safety Act.
In
a press release issued by the ABC on Thursday, the organization
denounced the “unwarranted and illegal” boxing match.
The release also noted that the River Cree commission, as well
as referee John McCarthy, had withdrawn their involvement from
the bout and event.
“Canadian
boxing commissions are not authorized to supervise boxing matches
in the U.S.; and, patently, it is wholly inappropriate for one
representative from a Canadian boxing commission, together with
an MMA referee, to supervise a boxing match,” said Bruce
C. Spizler, chairman of the ABC legal committee in the release.
“I
told the promoter I would do it if it was a sanctioned event,”
McCarthy told Sherdog.com Thursday. “As soon as it became
apparent that that would not happen, I pulled out.”
In
March, it had been reported that the New Jersey State Athletic
Control Board (NJSACB) said it would not regulate the bout, prompting
Cox to move the bout to another venue.
“Everyone
thinks I came to Alabama because it’s unsanctioned here,”
said Cox, “but why would I go to so much trouble to try
and get this event regulated if that were the case?”
Cox
also said the Mashantucket Pequot Athletic Commission, which
oversees events at the Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut, had agreed
to regulate the event in March, but a financial agreement could
not be reached with the casino.
The
event was moved to Alabama for sponsorship opportunities, Cox
said. Cox said he would not be able to procure new regulation
for the event in time.
Sylvia
(24-5) has not competed since he succumbed to a rear-naked choke
from former Pride Fighting Championships titleholder Fedor Emelianenko
in just 36 seconds at Affliction “Banned” 11 months
ago. The 33-year-old has dropped back-to-back bouts for the first
time in his career but holds victories against former UFC heavyweight
champions Andrei Arlovski (twice) and Ricco Rodriguez, among
others. His only professional defeats have come to Emelianenko,
Arlovski, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Randy Couture and Frank Mir,
all of whom are ranked in the top 10.
The
48-year-old Mercer (0-0), a former heavyweight boxing champion,
has made only one appearance in mixed martial arts, as he submitted
to Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson in an exhibition match
regulated by the NJSACB back in 2007. Mercer compiled a 36-7-1
mark in professional boxing and won a gold medal at the 1988
Summer Olympics.
Adrenaline
III
Saturday, June 13
BJCC Arena
Birmingham, Ala.
Tim
Sylvia vs. Ray Mercer
Sasuke Zapata vs. Rich Clementi
Chris Davis vs. Jeremy Horn
Juan Zapata vs. Joe Jordan
Keith Johnson vs. Nick Rossborough
John Salter vs. Roberto Traven
Josh Martin vs. Tony Godbold
Josh Barnes vs. Brad Tidwell
Bryan Goldsby vs. Joey Maimberga
Tuan Pham vs. Sean Hall
Amateur
Bouts
Justin Trawick vs. Brandon Esch
Keith Cunagin vs. Robert Rodda
Daniel Ritchie vs. Adrian Miles
Ron Mitchell vs. Brandon Powell
Barry Clifford vs. Matt Smart
Brian
Knapp contributed to this report.
Source: Sherdog
|
Frank
Wants Diaz Rematch..
"Certain things didn’t go well leading up to that fight,
during practice I popped a few ribs – it was really painful
at the time but I thought it wouldn’t have a big impact
on the fight, but as you could see it obviously did. I could
feel that I couldn’t get any power in my shots so I had
to keep it standing. Before the fight, I was told that I had
to rest my ribs for a while so I couldn’t work out on the
stability ball which is crucial to getting a good workout, most
guys like to train BJJ, boxing or whatever but the stability
ball encompasses all of those aspects into one. It was weird
because usually I can go 3 rounds no problem but it was like
my body started shutting down after the first round. I think
that fight was a blessing is disguise, I changed up my training
schedule and bought a new stability ball which I’ve been
working out on to help me with my balance. But props to Diaz
he did a great job. Of course the Diaz fight didn’t sit
well with me so I definitely would like to get a rematch. There’s
still plenty of fights left out there for me before I call it
a day, if Tito wants to do it I wouldn’t mind kicking his
ass again, I’m sure we could agree to a catch weight. "
Now
that Frank is training with a new stability ball how will anyone
ever find the courage to face him?
Source: Gracie Fighter
|
MMA
Live (June 11th, 2009) show recap
By Zach Arnold
If
you want me to continue doing these recaps, please leave a comment
on this post. Even if you aren’t interested in the recaps,
at least let me know if you have no interest. I need to gauge
the interest level here. Thanks.
This
week’s show hosts: Jon Anik, Miguel Torres, and Franklin
McNeil
The
show opens with discussion of the WEC Arco Arena event in Sacramento
last Sunday. Miguel said the results from the card set up WEC’s
future matchmaking nicely. Franklin said it was the best card
ever for WEC and that the show drew an impressive 1.1 cable rating
on Versus.
Next,
Jon Anik interviewed WEC Featherweight champion Mike Brown. Brown
said that he was happy with his performance, going five rounds
and grinding out a decision. He said that Faber fought like a
warrior and put on a good show. Did Faber’s broken hand
take away anything from his victory? Brown said no, it didn’t,
because Urijah’s right hand is not his only weapon and he’s
such a dangerous and versatile fight with all sorts of elbow
strikes. Faber wasn’t 100%, but Brown felt that the broken
hand didn’t really change the outcome of the fight. Brown
stated that his corner was confused as to what hand of Faber’s
was injured and that it led to confusion on his part during the
later rounds. The champion said that he hopes his win last Saturday
proves that the first win wasn’t a fluke and that he gains
a measure of respect. Brown said that it’s Jose Aldo’s
turn for the next title shot, but that he would be open to fighting
Faber a third time if there was high fan demand for it.
Next
up was an interview with Kenny Florian, who did commentary for
the WEC show on Versus. Florian said that Faber’s broken
hand impacted the fight but that he also impressed with Urijah’s
ability to adapt with his big power punching taken out. The broken
hand happened when Urijah punched Brown on the top of his head
with an overhand right. Florian said that any time a fighter
gets an injury, you have to expect these things happening in
a fight and deal with it. As for why Brown didn’t attack
the broken hand, Kenny said that it’s tough to do because
when you are in the cage you are so focused on what your game
plan is that you don’t automatically just exploit a broken
hand or attack a certain side right away because it could alter
your game plan negatively. Urijah also did a good job of disguising
the injury.
Miguel
Torres said that it’s time for Jose Aldo to get the next
title shot.
Florian
talked about Donald Cerrone’s win over James Krause and
how much the Cowboy wants to fight Jamie Varner in the Fall.
Cerrone is one of the hardest worked guys out and he really wants
to hurt Varner.
Franklin
McNeil said that it was the end of Jens Pulver’s career
after losing to Josh Grispi last Sunday because Pulver went down
to 145 pounds and is losing fights there like he did at 155 pounds.
Miguel says that Grispi has a bright future and is very impressive
at the age of 20.
Discussion
of Strikeforce’s show last Saturday in St. Louis was the
next panel topic. As for Jake Shields beating Robbie Lawler,
Torres said that he always takes a fighter with technique over
power any day of the week. Franklin said that Jake’s stand-up
game leaves a lot to be desired. Both men agreed that Shields
should move back down to 170 pounds and stay active.
Brett
Rogers made an appearance on the show for an interview with Jon
Anik.
Q:
When did it first hit you that you could do damage in MMA? Brett
said fight by fight, he’s getting more confidence and he
always wants to be pushed. Getting a win over Andrei Arlovski
was a huge win because it proved that he could hang with the
big boys.
Q:
What was the strategy in the fight? Keep the pressure on Andrei,
jump the gun. Don’t treat it like a normal fight.
Q:
Was the key to being accurate in your striking? Take training
real seriously, work real hard at ambition, and focus on accuracy
being crisp and clean because of Andrei’s stand-up skills.
Q:
How is it to move from a job at Sam’s Club to MMA? It’s
a fun sport, the sport is growing, and looking back at what Brett
used to do in the past versus now, he said it’s like living
a dream come true. He wants to keep things strong and put on
good fights.
Q:
Will Brett fave Alistair Overeem for the Strikeforce title in
August? Rogers says he’s expecting the fight in either August
or September and he hopes that Alistair watched the Arlovski
fight to see how serious of a contender he is.
Franklin
McNeil said that Andrei’s chin is a real problem especially
going into boxing. He noted that Andrei does not move his head
and he keeps his chin up a lot. The key for success is to make
himself less of a target to strikers and that this will be a
problem for him.
Onto
Nick Diaz’s big win over Scott Smith — Jon Anik asks
if people are getting sick and tired of watching Scott Smith
take brutal beating after brutal beating? Miguel says that Nick
has come a long way and his boxing is dramatically different
compared to his UFC days. Franklin said that Smith probably had
no idea how great of a boxer Diaz would be and what kind of punishment
on the striking he would endure. If Scott knew how much power
Diaz had, he probably wouldn’t have taken the fight so soon.
Miguel says the next fight for Nick should be against Cung Le
and that Nick can put him away.
E-mail
question: This past week we saw Nick Diaz and Jake Shields move
up in weight and walk away with dominant victories. How big of
an advantage do training partners have going into a fight when
they are on the same card?
Miguel
says it’s a huge advantage, as training partners never have
a break — training and fighting all year round, giving them
a mental and a physical advantage.
Next
up is a UFC 99 PPV preview. Jon Anik asks…
Is
UFC 99 PPV worthy? Franklin says with the top two fights on the
card, it’s worth it and the undercard makes it enough of
a deal for me. Miguel says that given how young Cain Velasquez’s
career is so far in UFC, the show should have aired on Spike
TV for more exposure.
Onto
the main event of Rich Franklin vs. Wanderlei Silva… Miguel
says both men need to win and that Rich better watch out for
Wanderlei’s clinch game. Franklin McNeil said that Rich
needs to keep the pressure on Wanderlei and see how the guy’s
body holds up from making the weight cut. If Wanderlei has anything
left, he needs to show it here because it could be his last chance.
Will
Cain Velasquez be able to beat Cheick Kongo? Torres says yes,
and Franklin says he doesn’t like Cain taking this fight
at this time given Kongo’s striking ability and better ground
game defense. He said Cain’s chin will be tested. Anik points
out that Ryan Bader thought this was a terrible match-up for
Cain.
As
for the undercard matches, Franklin says that Mike Swick is going
to have to figure out how to deal with Ben Saunder’s longer
reach and that Saunders is a little underrated on the ground.
As for Mirko Cro Cop, Miguel says that he’s still a draw
and an attraction but that he probably doesn’t have it as
a fighter any more.
Time
for an interview with Jake Rossen about UFC 99. Three key things
Jake will be focusing on:
1)
What Mirko Cro Cop has following his surgeries
2) Seeing Uno back in the octagon against Spencer Fisher a great
fight
3) What will the German reaction be to UFC?
Then
it was time for some notes on Bellator and their next event at
Mohegan Sun Arena.
Time
for reader Q & A.
Q:
How come standing submissions aren’t used more often, such
as arm triangles and D’Arce chokes, when fighters are in
a clinch for a long period of time? It seems like it would be
a good opportunity to surprise the opponent.
A:
Miguel says that when you’re in the clinch, you’re
thinking a lot about striking or going for a takedown. If you
miss on your submission attempt, you end up giving your back
or leaving yourself in a bad position.
Q:
I have noticed that fighters talk about their age being a factor
in their performance. At what age do you feel your decline begins/
at your age, do you feel your body taking a toll from MMA?
A:
Miguel says that he’s only 28, but started fighting at age
17 so he does feel some wear and tear. He believes a fighter
peaks at age 33 or 34.
Source: Fight Opinion
|
Tatsuya
Kawajiri to face Masato in K-1 superfight
DREAM lightweight Tatsuya Kawajiri has agreed to test his striking
skills in the K-1 ring for a second time.
And his opponent will be even more daunting than his first.
Kawajiri
will fight K-1 star Masato in a kickboxing superfight at K-1
World MAX 2009 on July 13 in Tokyo, Japan. The matchup was one
demanded by Japanese fans on an online poll.
Despite
entering his K-1 debut this past New Year's Eve with concerns
for his own safety, Kawajiri (24-5-2 MMA, 1-0 Kickboxing) emerged
as the victor against veteran Kozo Takeda with a knockout in
the first round. He's also won two straight as a fighter for
DREAM, submitting Ross Ebanez in March and outpointing Gesias
"JZ Calvan" Calvancante in May.
Masato
(53-6-2 Kickboxing) is one of K-1's elite and most popular competitors.
A two-time K-1 World MAX champion, Masato has only lost to one
person since 2004: fellow two-time K-1 World MAX winner Andy
Souwer.
The
K-1 event on July 13 features the final eight of the K-1 World
MAX 2009 tournament. The matchups are DRAGO vs. Yuya Yamamoto,
Artur Kyshenko vs. Andy Souwer, Giorgio Petrosian vs. Albert
Kraus and Buakaw Por.Pramuk vs. Nieky Holzken.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
First
UFC Gym to Open in Concord, California
Press Release
Las Vegas, NV (USA) – The UFC® Octagon™ isn’t
just for fighters anymore. Now, for the first time in the 15-year
history of the Ultimate
Fighting
Championship®, anyone - no matter how young or old –
can experience what it’s like to train in the most exciting
sport in the world thanks to the launch of the UFC® Gym™.
UFC and New Evolution Fitness Company (NEFC) announced today
that Concord, California will be the first home to the ultimate
fitness destination, one that combines a complete UFC experience
with mixed martial arts and fitness.
“We are excited to open our first UFC Gym, it’s going
to have something for everyone in the family, from traditional
mixed martial arts classes, to all-around fitness classes, personal
training and a gym just for kids,” said Dana White, UFC
President. “We are going to redefine the fitness industry,
and get everyone excited about fitness again, starting with the
first UFC Gym in Concord, California.”
NEFC
Co-founders, Mark Mastrov and Jim Rowley, both from the East
Bay, believe that Concord, CA is the ideal location for the first
UFC Gym. “Born, raised and now residing in the East Bay,
we wanted our first UFC Gym to be close to home. This facility
will allow us to carefully monitor and fine-tune the UFC Gym
concept for future growth and provide our community with fitness
training in new dynamic ways,” said Mark Mastrov.
An
interactive tour, available through UFCgym.com, reveals concepts
for the overall layout. The site also shows classes and schedules,
the variety of fitness areas, and the many options for personal
training and private mixed martial arts instruction. Special
self-defense classes for women will be available, as well as
a “UFC Kids Gym,” a place for children 14 and younger
to experience fun and interactive fitness classes of their very
own.
While
every UFC gym will have the most sophisticated cardio equipment
and more than 25-tons of free-weights, it will also have the
luxury of spacious locker rooms with dry saunas, and a place
to relax for snacks and drinks inside “The Arm Bar”.
Plus an exclusive UFC Gym Store where you’ll find the very
latest in UFC apparel and products.
The
first UFC Gym enrollment center is set to open on Wed. June 17th
and is located at The Willows Shopping Center, 1975 Diamond Blvd
in Concord, CA 94520. For additional information, click onUFCgym.com.
Earlier
this year, UFC and NEFC announced a partnership with Welterweight
Champion Georges “Rush” St-Pierre, and Lightweight
Champion BJ “The Prodigy” Penn to build “St-Pierre”
and “Penn” UFC Gyms, with locations planned for St-Pierre’s
native city of Montreal and Penn’s home state of Hawaii.
UFC
Gym is the first major brand extension for the Ultimate Fighting
Championship, the all-time industry leader in the sport of mixed
martial arts. In alliance with NEFC owners Mark Mastrov and Jim
Rowley, developers of many of the world’s most successful
fitness brands, UFC Gyms will give UFC enthusiasts and fitness
seekers alike the opportunity to practice the training techniques
of famed UFC athletes, including Georges St-Pierre and BJ Penn
in their respective UFC gyms.
UFC
Gym is the first to combine the world of mixed martial arts and
fitness to create the ultimate fitness experience. For more information,
please visit UFCgym.com.
About
The Ultimate Fighting Championship®
The Ultimate Fighting Championship® is the world’s leading
professional mixed martial arts organization and offers the premier
series of MMA sports events. Owned and operated by Zuffa™,
LLC, and headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., UFC® produces
over twelve live pay-per-view events annually that are distributed
residentially through North American cable and satellite providers
including iNDEMAND Networks, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN Entertainment,
BellTV, SaskTel Max™, Shaw Pay-Per-View, Viewers Choice,
and WOWOW in Japan, and Premiere
Combate and SporTV in Brazil, and via the Internet worldwide
on Yahoo! Sports, and commercially through Joe Hand Promotions
in the U.S. and Canadastar in Canada. In addition to its North
American distribution, UFC programming is distributed in over
100 countries and territories throughout the world.
Ultimate Fighting Championship®, Ultimate Fighting®,
UFC®, The Ultimate Fighter®, Submission®, As Real
As It Gets®, Zuffa® , The Octagon™ and the eight-sided
competition mat and cage design are registered trademarks, registered
service marks, trademarks, trade dress and/or service marks owned
exclusively by Zuffa, LLC and licensed to its affiliated entities
and other licensees in the United States and other jurisdictions.
All other marks referenced herein may be the property of Zuffa,
LLC, its affiliates or other respective owners.
About New Evolution Fitness Company
Based in Northern California, New Evolution Fitness Company (NEFC)
is a private equity firm focused on the Health and Fitness industry,
providing capital and operating partnerships, management oversight,
and expertise to emerging brands around the world. NEFC was founded
by Mark Mastrov, an industry visionary and developer of some
of the world’s most successful fitness brands and Jim Rowley,
a long time fitness professional.
Source: The Fight Network
|
Bellator
Welterweight Finalists Vie for $100,000
by Jason Probst
With a pair of promising welterweights squaring off, Bellator’s
Lyman Good-Omar De La Cruz tournament finale should be a good
one.
Given
the stakes of a $100,000 (Good and De La Cruz have already netted
$75,000 each) purse going to the winner, the June 12 bout caps
off an eight-man tournament. With each man staking two wins thus
far in the new promotion’s effort to tap into the as-yet
untapped Latin market, Good (pictured) and De La Cruz are mixed
martial artists with different backgrounds and styles. But both
share a common hunger to win, and win big. The bout will be televised
on ESPN Deportes June 13.
De
La Cruz (5-1), who is from the Dominican Republic, is one of
the emerging talents from the Alliance Training Center in San
Diego. The gym is home to big-name fighters like UFC light heavyweight
contender Brandon Vera and WEC prospect Dominick Cruz.
Currently
enrolled in medical school in his homeland, De La Cruz hopes
to become a doctor, but the Bellator tournament was the right
opportunity at the right time. De La Cruz does not speak English,
but his grappling speaks volumes, said Eric Del Fierro, who trains
the fighter. Still, De La Cruz earned a first-round technical
knockout by strikes over former UFC middleweight champion Dave
Menne in the tournament semifinal.
“The
thing with Omar is, nobody’s really seen what he has. He’s
a jiu-jitsu guy,” said Del Fierro. “But the last fight,
he actually stuck to the game plan and he did great.”
Pitted
against Good, who is a quick striker with a well-rounded game,
it’s a definite jump for De La Cruz, said Del Fierro.
“He
has to stick to the game plan. He has maybe fought one fighter
at this level. He came to me from the Dominican Republic and
there’s not the level of talent there,” Del Fierro
said. “But he hangs with everybody at my gym. He does good
both standing and on the ground.”
De
La Cruz has thus far shown an agile ground game, with a slick
style on the mat. He finds openings while grappling and seems
to have a natural feel for positions and tactics.
Good
(9-0), meanwhile, has shown better standup. His movement and
striking suggest a fighter with a solid upside, and, perhaps
one more fan-friendly given the potential exposure he’ll
get in the Bellator promotion.
Raised
in the tough confines of Spanish Harlem, he’s excited to
face a fighter that seems as willing as he is to lay it on the
line, and seize the tournament championship.
“I
see his mentality coming into the fight,” said Good. “His
technical points make him strong physically. His fight with Menne,
it stood out how hungry he was. And that’s the same exact
story as me. We’re kids that have never known any money,
and given that incentive, that’s gonna make a guy hungry.”
With
12- and 14-year-old sisters, Good is a proud graduate of military
school and wants to make a better life for his family.
“I
grew up with a bit of harsh circumstances, grew up in hood rampant
with crime. In Spanish Harlem, rape, crime, drugs, murder…
they just never go away,” Good said. “Under those circumstances,
you either make or break. I made it out OK. It wasn’t easy.
Now I consider that my sisters are now growing up in same environment
I did. I want to give them a different upbringing. He’s
a guy that’s balls to the wall, and I’m exactly the
same way.”
De
La Cruz has trained with several top black belts in the San Diego
area, visiting two or three times a year to prepare and fine-tune
for fights.
“It’s
a little shocking,” Del Fierro said. “He mostly does
his training with us. We got good jiu-jitsu guys at our camp.
He’s real difficult to tap, and at passing the guard and
getting up. Brandon Vera and him go at it. He doesn’t get
submitted and neither does Brandon. He’s focused for sure.
He’ll make some good money on this.”
Good
knows the opportunity before him as well. Training at Tiger Schulmann’s
Karate in Elmwood, N.J., he’s literally as close to the
fight as he can be.
“Part
of the preparation for all these fights is, I’ve been living
in my training facility for the past three and a half months,”
Good said. “ And sleeping on a regular mattress in the cage.”
Source: Sherdog
|
Yoshizo
Machida
By Guilherme Cruz
If Lyoto Machida’s game appears indecipherable to the opponents,
the responsible for that is Yoshizo Machida. Master and father
of the champion, the Japanese is the man behind the preparation
of the light heavyweight king of the UFC, undefeated after 15
fights. In interview to TATAME.com, Yoshizo spoke about the fight
against Rashad Evans, in UFC 98, the emotion with the conquest
and the big challenge that comes ahead, to keep the belt in the
MAchida family, and more.
How
was the party for the conquest in the UFC?
They
closed the airport, the firemen were waiting for us, Lyoto walked
on top of the fire truck and we run the whole city, but it was
raining a lot. The plane delayed nearly 40 minutes and we were
all soaked by the rain (laughs). But the people really cheered
for us, and we were grateful. On Monday, the mayor called us
for breakfast, said they liked a lot, because it was the first
world title of Pará. People were very happy. Lyoto, now,
is traveling. He went to Brasilia, then goes to Rio Grande do
Norte, Ceará... He has to rest, because he was three months
training very tight, so he took the family and went to travel.
And
what did you think of the fight? Were you at the corner?
Shinzo
stays guiding, but I also guide a bit, because our program is
that. He really trained for three months, but mainly trained
Karate, hit bag a lot, the makiwara... He trains a lot of basement,
and I think the success is this. Everything that we used there
was Karate stroke, the kick, the punch...
In
the last fights, Lyoto showed a big improvement in his performance...
His
punch improved, because we hired a professor of physical education
to do the working out job, these things, and this improved a
little. He trained that a lot.
What
was the strategy for this fight? Did you imagine that he would
want to fight standing, instead of trying to go to the ground?
I
imagined, because Rashad didn’t attack, and Lyoto neither.
But, in the first round, we analyzed his rhythm, studied the
distance, everything. Then, from the second round, he shook his
arm, the elbow behind, and we expected this to enter. Technically,
we were already prepared.
How
was the emotion of seeing your son knocking out Rashad and getting
the UFC belt?
Now
is the most difficult. Half was happy, half has to take care,
because we have to keep this belt. He is already scheduled to
train, because I think the next fight is already scheduled for
October, this is more or less certain.
The
next opponent may be Shogun. How do you think the fight will
be?
He’s
a very good opponent, so it’s good for Lyoto. It can be
against anyone, we aren’t worried about the opponent. Our
training is a little different from the other people, is more
psychological concentration and the technical part. Most of them
become nervous, anxious, but we are calm. Before the fight, behind
the scenes, we didn’t even train... Our training is totally
different.
This
is category is the most movimented in the UFC, with the belt
changing hands all the time. How to keep the title for a longer
time?
Our
style is different, you see that the guys are from Kickboxing,
Jiu-Jitsu, and our is really like the old Karate, we’ve
shown them our Karate. If anything happens, okay, we go again
from the beginning.
This
conquest served, also, to put the Karate for once in the MMA...
Yes
... People from São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, who train
with me, were praising my son, that the Karate is coming back,
because he had fallen too much. Our team was, including, Brazilian
champion, we brought 36 medals. Both sides were successful. The
mayor called us now to create an arrangement of needy people,
and this will greatly improve in Pará, working also with
the Secretary of Environment and Tourism, because here it’s
really stopped.
Source: Tatame
|
Gomi
coming to America?
by Jake Rossen, Sherdog.com
After winning his most recent fight, Takanori Gomi is ready to
take the U.S. by storm.
If
all goes according to plan, Takanori Gomi may be stepping on
to American fight soil for the first time. MMAWeekly reports
that Gomi is in negotiations with Affliction to appear on its
Aug. 1 show.
Once
considered to have a legitimate claim to be the best in a murky
160-ish weight class, Gomi has seen his stock drop recently with
consecutive losses in Sengoku. He won his past fight, which may
not sound like much but sure is one hell of a lot better than
a three-fight losing streak.
Affliction
vice president Tom Atencio later told Fanhouse that Gomi will
not meet rumored opponent Brett Cooper. Whether he'll fight --
and against whom -- is still TBA.
Source: ESPN
|
Marcelo
Garcia and Sergio Moraes’ Gentleman’s Agreement
Sergio Moraes and Marcelo Garcia decide the winner of the middleweight
division via rochambeau. Photo courtesy Stephen Hall.
It’s
been in the jiu-jitsu news often recently: the controversial
gentleman’s agreement, where two Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitors
who train together are the last remaining athletes in a division
at a tournament, and they decide the winner amongst themselves
instead of competing. The practice makes sense if you are one
of the two remaining athletes and you want to avoid the sweet
of bringing home a new medal combined with the sour of it being
at a close friend’s expense. However from the point of view
of just about everyone else in the room, the gentelman’s
agreement is unpopular because it robs the spectators the opportunity
to watch the two best competitors in a division compete against
each other.
The
BJJ community is deeply divided on the topic. In a recent poll
here on The FightWorks Podcast.com, 54% of respondents said they
were in favor of gentleman’s agreements being permitted,
and 46% were against gentleman’s agreements.
Many
were wondering whether last weekend’s 2009 BJJ World Championship
might be soured (from the spectators’ point of view) by
gentleman’s agreements. For those who were concerned, the
outcome was not so bad: in the black belt divisions of both genders,
there was only one, which took place between Marcelo Garcia and
Sergio Moraes, two Alliance athletes who closed out the hyper-competitive
black belt middleweight division together.
So
how did these two elite athletes decide who would bring home
the gold medal? Would they use the traditional method of basing
the decision on seniority, which still leaves the possibility
of one competitor feeling shafted? The guys from Alliance eliminated
the possibility of such resentment. As first spotted here and
as shown in the photo above, the decision over who would win
the gold and who would win the silver medal between Sergio Moraes
and Marcelo Garcia was decided in the most neutral manner: by
playing Rock, Paper, Scissors. Whatever your feelings are on
the gentleman’s agreement in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, you have
to enjoy the fun that Moraes and Garcia had with the situation.
Make
sure you tune in to this coming Sunday’s episode of The
FightWorks Podcast to hear Fabio Gurgel discuss the gentleman’s
agreement between his Alliance competitors Sergio Moraes and
Marcelo Garcia.
Source: Fightworks
|
Gladiator
Challenge Presents 'Gold Rush' on June 13
Press Release
Gladiator
Challenge, one of the longest-running MMA promotions in operation
today, will present 14 MMA bouts at "GOLD RUSH" on
Saturday, June 13th at 5 PM. In addition, GC will be making its
debut at Nevada's Wendover Nugget Hotel & Casino with this
event. Information on the Wendover Nugget can be found at http://www.wendovernugget.com,
and fans can purchase tickets to "GOLD RUSH" at http://www.virtualboxoffice.com,
or call (888) 826-8858.
The
main event was slated to feature MMA super-veteran "Mr.
International" Shonie Carter, but he is unable to appear.
In his place, Gladiator Challenge veterans will collide as fight
finisher Lee Doss (12-8) takes on the very experienced Jake "The
Snake" Paul (12-13) in an anticipated bout between two crowd-pleasing
fighters.
Both
Doss and Paul are determined to prove that they belong in the
main event, and will lay it all on the line to prove it. In the
co-main event, ex-training partner of former UFC Light Heavyweight
Champion Rashad Evans "Coach" Chris McLeod will clash
with newcomer Andy Medina. Head trainer of The Highway Hitmen,
a fight team from Elko, NV, McLeod is ready to show his team
and the Gladiator Challenge fans how it's done in the cage.
The
Wendover Nugget Hotel & Casino is excited to have Gladiator
Challenge bring a "GOLD RUSH" to their town. General
Manager Mauricio Cuellar said, "We're very excited to bring
Gladiator Challenge and its MMA action to the Nugget. We've been
looking for a way to bring new excitement to our venue, and MMA
is the perfect way to do this. We're extremely pleased to have
an agreement with Tedd Williams and Gladiator Challenge, and
we're looking forward to a long, mutually-beneficial relationship."
He added, "I'm a big fan of MMA, and folks have been stopping
me on the casino floor, asking about us providing MMA events
at the Nugget. Now, thanks to Tedd and GC, the Wendover Nugget
Hotel & Casino is Wendover's finest place to play with the
hottest MMA action in the state."
Gladiator
Challenge Owner and Promoter Tedd Williams says, "Gladiator
Challenge is always happy to bring the sport of MMA to new venues,
and we're very pleased that the Wendover Nugget Hotel & Casino
will be the next site to enjoy all the action. We plan to hold
between three and six events a year at the Nugget, and we feel
confident that this agreement will bring new customers to the
Nugget, while exposing the Gladiator Challenge brand of MMA to
a new area of fight fans." And Tedd has a message for local
fight fans: "There's nothing like seeing Gladiator Challenge
live and in-person. You won't want to miss these fights..."
For
more information on Gladiator Challenge and all its events, please
visit http://www.gladiatorchallenge.com.
For
additional information please contact:
Phil
Lanides, Publicist - (408) 439-3245, phil@fightofyourlife.com
Tedd
Williams, Owner/Promoter - info@gladiatorchallenge.com
ABOUT
GLADIATOR CHALLENGE:
Gladiator
Challenge is a world-class mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion
established in 1999 by Tedd Williams. A former UFC fighter, Williams
is a former national AAU Sambo Champion (1997), a former California
State Judo Champion (4th Degree Black Belt under "Judo"
Gene LeBell) and a former college All-American wrestler (Cerritos
Jr. College, 1988-89). Gladiator Challenge runs 12-18 MMA events
per year, and has featured MMA superstars Uriah "The California
Kid" Faber, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, James Irvin,
Tyson Griffin, Dan "The Beast" Severn, "Sugar"
Rashad Evans, Scott "Hands of Stone" Smith, "The
Maine-iac" Tim Sylvia, Joe "Daddy" Stevenson,
Mac Danzig, Jerry Bohlander, "Krazy Horse" Charles
Bennett, Chris Leben, Chael Sonnen, Jake Shields, "The Secret
Weapon" Pete Spratt, Nate "The Rock" Quarry, Jason
"The Punisher" Lambert, Bobby "The Bad Seed"
Hoffman, and Cal Worsham, among many others. Gladiator Challenge
can be found online at http://www.gladiatorchallenge.com
Source: The Fight Network
|
‘It
may have been my last’
Four-time world champion Cobrinha unsure whether he'll be there
next year
Gabriel Menezes
Cobrinha
had his revenge for the loss suffered to Rafael Mendes in Abu
Dhabi
Jiu-Jitsu
is an endless source of joy, wisdom and fulfillment for Rubens
Charles “Cobrinha” Maciel. And there isn’t much
explaining to do, one need only take a look at his list of career
wins and talent in Jiu-Jitsu, with every passing year.
Last
weekend the Alliance black belt conquered yet another World title
at featherweight and brought his count to four, drawing even
with Royler Gracie (1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999). Curiously, Cobrinha
began his campaign ten years after Royler, winning the world
featherweight category from 2006 to 2009.
At
this year’s Pan-American, he snapped up his third and capped
his successful campaign (2007, 2008, 2009). Victorious is thus
a just adjective for this Brazilian from Parana, who moved to
Sao Paulo at three years of age, had a rough time when his unemployment
meant he had to sleep on the mat at the academy and have lunch
at his friends’ houses and with nine years of career under
his belt had already etched his name into the annals of Jiu-Jitsu
history.
Shortly
after Cobrinha’s conquest he had the following interview
with GRACIEMAG.com.
How
was your match with Bruno Frazatto?
I
kept trying to attack the whole time and when there was one minute
left till the end I managed to reach a good position. I think
this match was one of the best I’ve ever had with him. I
know he came in with a strategy, but it didn’t end up working
out. I sought not to let him get me into the position he wanted
me in. He decided to fall back on some other resources he had,
with an excellent guard. I tried to get his leg out from in front
of my face and his legs were all over the place. He showed how
great his guard is. I hope he keeps it up and shows this Jiu-Jitsu
of his till the end. That’s the Jiu-Jitsu everyone wants
to see.
There
was a lot of talk surrounding your bout with Rafael Mendes. What
was it like to face him in the semifinal?
There
was no pressure at all, if just because nothing in my life has
ever been easy. I always had to fulfill my goals under pressure,
always falling and getting back up. Now I have one thing to confess:
I’m a very vain person and that was hindering me. That was
what concerned me the most. I had several conversations with
Romero Jacare and he gave me some advice. This was because every
time I’d face the guy I wanted to catch him and would end
up leaving the position and in doing so I’d get the advantage
in the match. Jacare called me to talk and told me: “Look,
you have to play by the rules. You have to. That’s the path.
So I’d try and listen to him, but my vanity spoke louder.
So that was the pressure I had on me, to deal with my vanity,
until I managed to deal with it. It wasn’t easy because
I always go into a match determined to finish, to show off what
I’d practiced, but there are matches where there’s
no way to do that. That’s what Jacare was trying to put
in my head. When Fabio Gurgel arrived in Atlanta he told me the
same thing: “This time play by the rules.” That’s
what was going through my head “will I be able to overcome
my own vanity?”
What’s
your motivation to carry on competing?
My
motivation in continuing to compete is that everything I have
is thanks to Jiu-Jitsu. That’s what makes me compete. I
still have motivation to spare in competing, but I can’t
just compete. An athlete can’t live only on the glory of
his conquests. We have bills to pay at the end of the month.
We have the goal of one day retiring happily. We have to race
against time to do so. I think that’s what I’m going
through now.
You
said you would stop, but now you say you’ll go for your
fifth world title. How did this idea come about and why do you
think it’s time to stop?
I
always seek to establish goals in my life. So when I started
competing I wanted to become black belt world champion. When
I managed to achieve that goal I had to do it a few more goals,
so I decided it would be to win four as a featherweight. After
all, few people have managed such an achievement. As far as I
know only Royler has, a legend of the gentle art. I set this
goal and now I’ve fulfilled it. I did say I would fight
next year, but I think it’s still too early to speak of
the next Worlds. Perhaps this was my last. I’m going to
dedicate myself to teaching and trying to convey a bit of my
knowledge and experience. I think being a top athlete involves
lots of things, lots of dedication, patience and recognition.
I think now is the time to take a break and start reaping a bit
of what I’ve sowed, having more time to teach seminars and
private lessons, which I had to cancel to dedicate myself wholly
to training for the Worlds.
To
close, is there anything else you’d like to say?
There
are a few people I’d like to thank for this year. Dr. Deborah
Pearson, if it weren’t for her I wouldn’t have competed.
A week before the 2009 Pan I hurt my back and she treated me.
Teice, my physical trainer, who teaches a training method called
cross fit. My students who worked double time to help me in training,
and Romero Jacare and Fabio Gurgel, for having brought the crew
from Brazil over to bring up the level in training and keep the
team unified. I want to thank all my fans in Jiu-Jitsu, because
I know how they suffer when I fight. I couldn’t forget to
mention Master Mauro Pacifico, and my wife Daniela for putting
up with me during my diets. She says it’s no easy task (laughs).
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
American
online gamblers beware
By Zach Arnold
A
lot of offshore online sportsbooks have closed down business
to American customers in the last few years.
It
was thought that perhaps President Obama could change the mood
and tenor of authorities going after people who play poker or
use sportsbooks online. Turns out, not so much.
The
irony of “the land of the free and the home of the brave”
pursuing online gamblers as aggressively as they have is not
lost on me, considering in the UK you can not only gamble online
(and in person) but your winnings aren’t taxed, either.
I
don’t endorse this behavior but if you do MMA betting online,
obviously the linked story above is a warning signal.
Source: Fight Opinion
|
Quote
of the Day
"In
attempts to improve your character, know what is in your power
and what is beyond it."
Francis Thompson
|
Beatdown
10 This
Saturday!
Hilo Civic Auditorium
Fights Start at 7 PM
O2's Kaleo Kwan vs Raymond Castro!
|
UFC
99 6/13 Lanxess Arena (Germany)
By Zach Arnold
As
the card currently stands:
Dark
matches
Welterweights
(170 pounds): John Hathaway vs. Rick Story
Heavyweights: Denis Stojnic vs. Stefan Struve
Lightweights (155 pounds): Paul Kelly vs. Rolando Delgado
Welterweights (170 pounds): Paul Taylor vs. Peter Sobotta
Lightweights (155 pounds): Dennis Siver vs. Dale Hartt
Lightweights (155 pounds): Terry Etim vs. Justin Buchholz
Main card
Heavyweights:
Mirko Cro Cop vs. Mostapha Al Turk
Lightweights (155 pounds): Spencer Fisher vs. Kaoru Uno
Welterweights (170 pounds): Marcus Davis vs. Dan Hardy
Welterweights (170 pounds): Mike Swick vs. Ben Saunders
Heavyweights: Cheick Kongo vs. Cain Velasquez
Catch weight (195 pounds): Rich Franklin vs. Wanderlei Silva
Source: Fight Opinion
|
UFC
99 PREVIEW: THE SUPPORTING CAST
by Ricardo Mendoza
Cain Velasquez vs. Cheick Kongo
Highly
touted heavyweight prospect Cain Velasquez faces off with French
heavyweight slugger Cheick Kongo. This is essentially a number
one contender’s bout for the UFC heavyweight title as there
are no real contenders after next month’s unification bout
between Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir.
Kongo
should have the advantage on the feet, simply because of his
extensive kickboxing background, but one thing that he has lacked
is power in his strikes, as he usually has to put together long
combinations to get the job done. Velasquez has tons of power
in his strikes and his technical striking has improved immensely
since he made his UFC debut. On the ground, Velasquez has the
biggest advantage with his wrestling ability, while Kongo isn’t
nearly as skilled on the ground.
This
is Velasquez’s biggest test to date and if he can be successful
in the fight he will likely be in line for a shot at the UFC
heavyweight title. The same goes for Kongo. Velasquez should
be able to control the fight at his choosing because of his superior
wrestling ability. Velasquez needs to take Kongo down and pound
out a victory with strikes, while Kongo needs to keep the distance
with kicks and avoid the takedown at all costs.
Both
fighters know what’s on the line, so expect them to go for
the kill.
Mike
Swick vs. Ben Saunders
American
Kickboxing Academy welterweight Mike Swick faces off with American
Top Team welterweight Ben Saunders. Both fighters are undefeated
in the UFC welterweight division and this fight will do a lot
to determine a possible title challenger sometime later in the
year.
Swick
has a slight advantage on the feet with his speed and technical
ability, while Saunders has a better rounded striking arsenal
with kicks and knees. The key in the fight could be which fighter
is better adapted to fight on the ground at this point in his
career. Neither fighter is known too much for his ground ability,
but both have a more then capable ground game.
For
Swick to win the fight, he’ll need to stay on the outside
and attack with combinations, then getting out of the way quickly.
Saunders will look to close the distance and use some dirty boxing,
while incorporating knees in the clinch. If either fighter gets
into trouble on the feet, don’t be too surprised to see
either one go for the takedown and work from the top with ground
and pound.
Marcus
Davis vs. Dan Hardy
Ultimate
Fighter 2 participant Marcus Davis faces off with eccentric British
bad boy Dan Hardy. These two, plain and simple, don’t like
each other. Davis is offended by comments made by Hardy in the
media calling him a fake Irishman, which attacks his heritage.
Davis
is obviously the more skilled fighter on the feet with his extensive
boxing background, but Hardy is dangerous on the feet simply
because of the power behind his strikes. If the fight hits the
ground then both fighters hold different advantages. Hardy is
the better wrestler, while Davis is the better submission fighter.
The fight could very well come down to what happens on the ground.
Hardy
needs to use the same game plan that Mike Swick used against
Davis last year and take him down, where he can work from the
top with ground and pound. Davis will look to keep the fight
on the feet and string together combinations to stop Hardy. This
fight won’t make it the full 15 minutes, as neither fighter
is too fond of the other. Expect this one to have a definitive
conclusion.
Spencer
Fisher vs. Caol Uno
Miletich
Fighting Systems lightweight Spencer Fisher faces off with Japanese
MMA legend Caol Uno. This is an important fight for both fighters.
For Fisher, he would get a win over a legend, while Uno would
get a win over a relevant fighter in the UFC in marking his return
after nearly six years away.
Uno
has the distinct advantage on the ground, in terms of both wrestling
and submissions. Fisher is obviously the better striker of the
two and he must be aggressive on the feet in order to exploit
Uno’s weakness. Another thing that the fight could come
down to is conditioning, as the pace of the fight is sure to
be a quick one. The fighter with better conditioning will have
the edge.
Uno
will look to get the fight on ground quickly, where he can overwhelm
Fisher with technique and catch him after Fisher makes a mistake.
If Fisher wants to win the fight then he’ll need to keep
the distance and attack with combinations, staying out of range
for a takedown. Don’t be surprised if the fight turns out
to be the best of the night.
Mirko
Cro Cop vs. Mustapha Al-Turk
Pride
Openweight Champion Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic takes
on British wrestler Mustapha Al-Turk. Both fighters are coming
off losses in their last UFC appearances and will be looking
to get back on the winning track here. A loss for either could
mean a closed door to a UFC return for the time being.
Cro
Cop will obviously have the advantage on the feet because of
his extensive kickboxing background and his ability to end the
fight at any instant with one strike. If the fight goes to the
ground then neither has much of an advantage over the other,
as both seem to be rather equal on the ground. Al-Turk is best
suited as a wrestler, but Cro Cop negates that with his ability
to sprawl and get back up to his feet.
All
Cro Cop has to do is defend Al-Turk’s takedowns and it will
only be a matter of time before he ends the fight with a single
strike. Al-Turk’s takedowns don’t seem to be all that
impressive for a wrestler and can be defended easily, as long
the other fighter has a decent sprawl, like Cro Cop does. Don’t
expect the fight to make it to the end of the first round.
Terry
Etim vs. Justin Buchholz
British
lightweight sensation Terry Etim faces off with Alaskan lightweight
Justin Buchholz. These two were originally scheduled to meet
at UFC 95, but a staph infection forced Buchholz out of the fight.
Etim has the advantage when it comes to technical striking, while
Buchholz has the edge in power. If the fight goes to the ground
then Buchholz has the advantage in wrestling and submissions.
Neither fighter has seen the judges’ scorecards all that
often and don’t expect that to happen in this fight either.
Dennis
Siver vs. Dale Hartt
German
lightweight striker Denis Siver faces off with American lightweight
Dale Hartt. Siver will be fighting in front of his home crowd
and will look to even his UFC record. Hartt has been training
with Greg Jackson in preparation for this fight and it should
payoff. Siver will look to keep the fight on the feet and finish
with strikes, while Hartt needs to get the fight to the ground
and exploit Siver’s lack of a ground game. Expect this one
to have the crowd on the edge of their seats.
Paul
Taylor vs. Peter Sobotta
British
striking specialist Paul Taylor faces off with local German fighter
Peter Sobotta. Taylor has shown in his past UFC bouts that he
is more than willing to trade shots. Sobotta will have the full
support of the rowdy German crowd in this fight. Taylor is the
better striker of the two and needs to keep the fight on the
feet to score the victory. Sobotta will want the fight on the
ground to use his submission technique to overwhelm Taylor. Don’t
expect the fight to go to the distance.
Paul
Kelly vs. Rolando Delgado
Wolfslair
Academy fighter Paul Kelly faces off with Ultimate Fighter 8
participant Rolando Delgado. Kelly will be making his lightweight
debut after fighting at welterweight for his whole career. Kelly
is the better fighter on the feet and is the better wrestler
of the two. Delgado has the advantage in submissions and will
need to work for one to win the fight. Kelly needs to either
keep the fight on the feet or use his wrestling to pound out
a victory with strikes over the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist
Delgado.
Denis
Stojnic vs. Stefan Struve
Bosnian
heavyweight kickboxer Denis Stojnic takes on Dutch submission
fighter Stefan Struve. Both fighters were stopped by strikes
in their UFC debuts and will be looking for his first win in
the UFC, while the other will more than likely be given his walking
papers. Stojnic has the advantage on the feet with his kickboxing
experience and Struve on the ground with submissions. The key
in the fight will be whether or not Stojnic can keep the fight
on the feet. If he can’t then Struve will have a joyful
night.
John
Hathaway vs. Rick Story
Undefeated
British welterweight John Hathaway takes on Northwestern wrestler
Rick Story. Hathaway looked impressive in his UFC debut, but
will be facing a much tougher opponent in Story. Story is a solid
wrestler and has shown that in his past couple of fights. Hathaway
will look to overwhelm the wrestler with strikes form the top,
but could have a tough time taking Story down. Both fighters
favor fighting on the ground, so whoever can dictate the pace
of the fight on the feet could very well win.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
UFC
99 'The Comeback' Preview
by Robert Rousseau
UFC 99: The Comeback will come to us all live on June 13, 2009
from the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany. Interestingly, this
event will be watched by hardcore MMA fans for three likely reasons.
First, the UFC will be in Germany, which is kind of cool. Second,
Wanderlei Silva will be dropping down to a catch weight to take
on Rich Franklin in a battle of two MMA legends. And finally,
Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic is back (say what you will,
but people do tend to tune in to see what the former kickboxer
might do, good or bad).
Rich Franklin (26-4) vs. Wanderlei Silva (32-9-1): Rich Franklin
seems to define the term mixed martial artist, as he possesses
the full repertoire of skills needed to compete at the highest
level of the sport. Franklin has power on his feet and demonstrates
diverse striking skills. He also possesses strong takedowns,
takedown defense, and underrated submission skills. Beyond that,
Franklin always comes to fights in shape.
Putting
it another way, his only losses have come at the hands of Lyoto
Machida, Anderson Silva, and Dan Henderson. That says something.
Wanderlei
Silva is a legend in the sport. Yes, he possesses excellent striking
skills, to include a tremendous amount of power, excellent kicks,
and a devastating clinch. But it's his sheer ferocity- his killer
instinct, if you will- that has mesmerized fans for so long.
On the ground, Silva is difficult to submit and has pretty good
takedown defense. But he's never been a submission threat in
MMA.
Unfortunately,
Silva has been on a terrible downward slide lately, losing four
of his last five fights (three by devastating knockout).
Prediction:
On the ground it would appear that Franklin will have the edge
here. There was a time when on his feet, no one seemed to hold
an edge over Silva. But he's taken a lot of abuse in recent fights
and Franklin is a very smart and dangerous striker. Expect the
combination of the threat of Franklin taking this fight to the
ground- giving Silva something else to worry about- to give Franklin
an edge on his feet. Connecting with more strikes will eventually
allow him to finish things off on the canvas.
Rich
Franklin wins via TKO in round two.
Cheick
Kongo (24-4-1) vs. Cain Velasquez (5-0): Cheick Kongo is a freak
of nature when it comes to size and athleticism. Further, he
has very good striking skills (and of course, power). On the
ground, he's improved immeasurably over the last several fights.
Along with this, his takedown defense is solid and his submission
defense is improving.
Cain
Velasquez has outstanding wrestling skills. Further, he's proven
to be quite adept on his feet as well, having looked good in
winning all five of his fights by way of TKO. It's hard to know
what his submission skills or submission defense is like, as
that really hasn't been a point of contention in his short career
to date.
Prediction:
Kongo's ground skills and takedown defense have improved a lot.
But with Velasquez, he still may find it difficult to stay on
his feet. Since Kongo isn't much of a submission threat, expect
Velasquez to do just enough on his feet to keep the bout close.
Eventually, that will lead to a takedown and ground and pound.
Cain
Velasquez wins via decision.
THE
REST OF UFC 99
Mike
Swick (13-2) vs. Ben Saunders (7-0-2): Both guys have strong
striking skills and lots of reach. Expect Swick's more vast experience
against top flight competition to be the difference.
Mike
Swick wins via decision.
Marcus
Davis (21-5) vs. Dan Hardy (21-6): First, there's some bad blood
here, making this an interesting encounter. Both guys are also
quite tough and like to strike. But the difference is that Davis's
striking skills, particularly in the area of boxing, are world
class. His better technical skills on his feet should be the
difference.
Marcus
Davis wins via decision. Hardy is a tough guy to stop.
Spencer
Fisher (23-4) vs. Caol Uno (25-11-4): It's hard to find a more
compelling match up amongst guys that are just under championship
radar than this one. Uno is a huge submission threat that's crafty
and good at everything. Fisher may be the better stand up fighter
and is stronger. His better wrestling will allow him to dictate
where the fight goes, and that may be the difference.
Spencer
Fisher wins via decision.
Mirko
"Cro Cop" Filipovic (24-6-2) vs. Mostapha Al Turk (6-4):
Lately, it's been hard to call Cro Cop's fights; you never know
which guy will show up. Still, you have to believe that Turk
doesn't have a chance unless he gets things to the ground. Perhaps
Filipovic's UFC coming out party?
Mirko
"Cro Cop" Filipovic wins via TKO in round one.
Terry
Etim (12-2) vs. Justin Buchholz (9-2): Etim is a tough guy and
a well-rounded fighter.
Terry
Etim wins via first round submission.
Dennis
Siver (13-6) vs. Dale Hartt (6-1): Siver is a good fighter. But
Hartt, coming from Team Sityodtong, has some excellent striking
skills.
Maybe
he pulls one out here.
Dale
Hartt win via third round TKO.
Paul
Taylor (9-4-1) vs. Peter Sobotta (8-1): Taylor has been on the
big stage before.
Paul
Taylor wins via decision.
Paul
Kelly (9-1) vs. Rolando Delgado (8-3-1): Kelly is probably just
too physical.
Paul
Kelly wins via first round TKO.
Denis
Stojnic (12-2) vs. Stefan Struve (20-3): If Struve takes this
fight to the ground, he wins. If not, he loses.
Denis
Stojnic wins via first round TKO.
John
Hathaway (11-0) vs. Rick Story (7-2): Tough fight to call.
John
Hathaway wins via TKO in round three.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
5
Things to Watch for at UFC 99
by Danny Acosta
The Ultimate Fighting Championship touches down in Deutschland
this Saturday, as the Las Vegas-based promotion embarks on an
historical first trip to Germany. The card can serve both to
entertain international fans and endear the sport to a new nation.
Here
are five storylines to follow at UFC 99 “The Comeback”
at the Lanxess Arena in Cologne.
1.
Former Champions Interested in Change
Compromise
equates to meeting in the middle -- exactly what former Pride
205-pound champion Wanderlei Silva and former UFC middleweight
titleholder Rich Franklin will do when they clash in the main
event at a catchweight of 195 pounds.
Silva’s
once elite status has turned tumultuous, and he believes shedding
some of his skin for a 185-pound rebirth can return him to his
skull collecting ways. However, Franklin’s interrupted ascent
to 205 pounds -- this after Anderson Silva effectively exiled
the former middleweight king -- serves as a significant roadblock
for “The Axe Murderer” and his attempted return to
prominence.
Most
hope Silva acclimates to weight cutting and Franklin grows comfortable
with a heavier frame. It seems to be an easier move for Silva,
though. Franklin has already started his divisional shift, posting
a 1-1 record in light heavyweight bouts against Matt Hamill and
Dan Henderson. Dropping an extra 10 pounds when he planned to
pack them on looks like a rough proposition, but trouncing Silva
has monetary and resume-building rewards.
Should
Silva perform well, it builds much-needed momentum for his entry
into a division desperate for a star power injection. If he loses,
it only stings on the highlight reels. Meanwhile, Franklin claims
a title run in a new weight class would be more than just a side
effect from his one-sided encounters with Anderson Silva.
The
UFC typically steers away from special attraction fights, but
this showdown between former titleholders seems mutually beneficial,
whether it ends with a big left hook from Franklin or an onslaught
of knees from Silva. For live spectators -- perhaps viewing their
first mixed martial arts event -- it has been called a “dream
fight.”
2.
Heavyweight Headlines
American
Kickboxing Academy standout Cain Velasquez infuses the heavyweight
division with young, scary talent, but the backbone of the weight
class still lies in dangerous veterans like Mirko "Cro Cop"
Filipovic. Both are primed to make headlines, for better or worse,
at UFC 99.
Mirko
Cro Cop needs a win.The Velasquez hype train followed the two-time
All-American right out of Arizona State University and into professional
MMA. After just two fights, he hit the UFC Octagon and rattled
off three dominating performances. Head AKA trainer Javier Mendez
sees the Salinas, Calif., native as the sport’s next superstar
and expects him to take his place alongside former Mendez students
like B.J. Penn and Frank Shamrock.
Velasquez
was originally scheduled to face Pride Fighting Championships
veteran Heath Herring, but an illness left Cheick Kongo to replace
“The Texas Crazy Horse.” The French kickboxer wields
powerful strikes that can threaten anyone in the heavyweight
division, including Velasquez. At this early stage in the Mexican-American
heavyweight’s career, any veteran poses stiff challenges.
Kongo, perhaps teetering on the brink of a title shot, wants
nothing more than to capitalize on inexperience and impress UFC
brass by siphoning Velasquez’s momentum. Another win for
Velasquez would strengthen his place as one of the sport’s
top prospects.
Filipovic
re-enters the Octagon after a self-admitted underwhelming 1-2
foray in 2007. He will face Mustapha al Turk, a fighter battered
relentlessly by Kongo in his UFC debut in December. Al-Turk’s
inexperience at the elite level and his grappling-oriented offense
looks like a “Cro Cop” gift card on paper. However,
the Croatian’s mental game fluctuates, which adds uncertainty
and intrigue to his return. Anything less than a left high kick
knockout victory will make him look less like the 2006 Pride
Open Weight Grand Prix winner and more like the disinterested
fighter who prodded through Eddie Sanchez. Emphatic victories
go a long way, and when “Cro Cop” wins with an exclamation
point, it goes even further.
3.
Welterweight Gold and Grudge
Georges
St. Pierre’s reign of near picture-perfect terror over the
welterweight division includes wins against two of top three
170-pound fighters at the American Kickboxing Academy: Josh Koscheck
and Jon Fitch. That leaves Mike Swick. Plagued by injures and
a shift from middleweight to welterweight, the newly minted Guerilla
Jiu-Jitsu purple belt will look for a fourth straight victory
against Ben Saunders. An American Top Team representative, the
unbeaten Saunders turned Brandon Wolff’s forehead into a
balcony the same night Swick knocked out Jonathan Goulet.
For
all of the depth at welterweight, the division lacks a clear
number one contender beyond the St. Pierre-Thiago Alves contest
at UFC 100. Swick can secure his spot or defer to the tall, rangy
Saunders, who would receive a golden ticket to top-tier credibility
with a win here.
On
the opposite end of the pre-fight noise spectrum, not much can
be said for Dan Hardy and Marcus Davis that has not been said
already. Their bad blood seems more potent than that which existed
between Matt Hughes and Matt Serra. The two stand-up stylists
have the skills set to match their hateful pre-fight bravado.
Contender implications take a back seat to pride in this one.
4.
Lightweight Show Stealers
Anytime
Spencer Fisher fights, expect a “Woo!” and a war. His
opponent, Caol Uno, serves as a nice retro addition to the UFC
roster and fancies himself a fighter, too. This bout features
two highly regarded veterans who aim to entertain, even though
they fall just short of the best in the world at 155 pounds.
The
UFC’s lightest weight class often features fights with non-stop
action, and Terry Etim vs. Justin Buchholz shapes up as a matchup
that will following in that tradition. Etim, one of the division’s
tallest fighters will face one of its shortest. Each needs to
impose his will in fast, hurtful fashion.
In
addition, look for Paul Kelly to employ his bulldozing style
in his divisional debut when he takes on “The Ultimate Fighter”
alum Roli Delgado.
5.
New Market Mayhem
Like
any good promotion, the UFC caters to its local audience in preliminary
action. Native German Dennis Siver earned his second UFC win
in five tries when he knocked out Nate Mohr with a flash-forward
spinning back fist at UFC 93. Dale Hartt will hunt for a more
notable UFC performance after getting his lone Octagon win on
Corey Hill’s freak injury. Disposing of the tough home favorite
could do wonders for his stock.
Meanwhile,
European heavyweights Stefan Struve and Denis Stojnic simply
seek their first UFC wins in a submission-fighter-versus-striker
match. Finally, “Fight of the Night” collector Paul
Taylor welcomes great German hope Peter Sobotta to the UFC in
a welterweight tilt.
Source: Sherdog
|
KIMBO'S
TRAINER SAYS HE'S READY FOR ROUND TWO
by Steven Marrocco
Randy Khatami says Kimbo Slice is ready for the 15 heavyweights
who want a piece of him.
Khatami,
a trainer at Elite MMA with Bas Rutten, was one of Slice's chief
trainers since the bearded fighter announced his entry into MMA.
Early
last month, Khatami began working with Slice again after a six-month
layoff. Slice told him he would return soon – to what, he
didn’t know, but he wanted to be ready.
Rutten
had a well-publicized falling out with Slice after his 14-second
loss to Seth Petruzelli at EliteXC’s “Heat” in
October.
“Bas
and I talked it over,” said Khatami. “Bas, he wasn’t
happy with the lack of hunger, and the lack of drive and some
other things, and it is Bas’ gym, and I’m a part of
the gym as well. It’s one of those things where I told him
I was going to do it, and here I am doing it now.”
Khatami
worked on Slice’s striking while Raul Montolfo, a Carlos
Gracie Jr. black belt, prepped his ground game.
“He
came in hungry,” said Khatami. “In my eyes, he came
in hungry like he was before the Tank Abbott fight. It was a
pleasure for me to see.”
Weeks
later, Slice’s next chapter was set – as a cast member
of “The Ultimate Fighter” season 10. Once a network
TV headliner, Slice would be sequestering himself in a house
with cameras and 15 up-and-comers who would in all likelihood
want to take his head off.
Khatami
didn’t have much time to prepare. His goals were focused.
“One
hundred percent sparring,” he said. “We sparred every
single day. We did not do that in the past. Because he had so
much to learn, so many more technical things that Bas was showing
him, he really didn’t have time to spar. You’re talking
about a guy that didn’t know anything, that basically came
from the streets. We were sparring with him every single day.”
Slice’s
TUF appearance has already generated a huge amount of interest
in the show, but the odds are stacked against him. UFC president
Dana White said Slice’s future hangs largely on his first
fight. If he’s blown out of the water, chances are slim
he’ll make it to the Octagon. If he wins, and keeps winning,
a lucrative contract awaits him. But one thing’s for sure:
he has far more to lose than gain.
That
could weigh heavy on anyone’s mind.
“I
feel that 95 percent of the game is mental, and I spent a lot
of time with him on the mental side,” said Khatami. “As
far as what happened before, he’s just got to take his loss
and move forward. He accepts that and he’s going to move
forward. I told him the best revenge is success.
"He
needs to go out there and show all those people that don’t
like him and talk bad about him, even Dana White, go out there
and be successful and everybody will forget all those things
that happened to him.”
Before
Slice left, the two met one last time to discuss the show.
“The
biggest thing is that he’s mentally there, and he’s
ready to go,” said Khatami. “That’s why I feel
pretty confident right now. He’s got the physical attributes,
it’s just that he has to be mentally there.”
When
Slice finishes his reality stint, he’ll be back at the gym
after a week in Florida with his family.
“He
does have a lot to lose, but I think he made the right decision,”
said Khatami.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Gina
Carano Is Back!
 
LONG AWAITED
STRIKEFORCE CHAMPIONSHIP SHOWDOWN
WITH CRIS “CYBORG” MARKS BIGGEST WOMEN’S FIGHT
IN HISTORY
Saturday,
August 15, Live on SHOWTIME at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT
From HP Pavilion, San Jose, Calif.;
Tickets Go On Sale Monday
After
an eight month hiatus, mixed martial arts’ (MMA) leading
lady, the undefeated and extremely popular Gina “Conviction”
Carano (7-0) will compete in the first fight of her multi-fight
agreement with STRIKEFORCE and is set to square off with rival
powerhouse Cris “Cyborg” (7-1) in what is one of the
most eagerly anticipated battles of all time, Saturday, August
15, live on SHOWTIME® at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif.
Carano
and Cyborg, the consensus two best female fighters in the world,
will be the first women in MMA history to headline a major MMA
fight card. In addition, they will fight for the first STRIKEFORCE
145-pound Female Championship.
“I’m
really excited to be coming back and to have a new home with
Strikeforce,” said the 27-year-old Carano, whose combination
of stunning looks and athleticism have cemented her role as the
face of women’s MMA. In a Yahoo! online poll that named
the “Top 10 Influential Women of 2008,” Carano ranked
fifth, placing ahead of First Lady Michelle Obama and famed journalists
Katie Couric and Barbara Walters.
“I’ve
wanted this fight with Cyborg for a long time and so have the
fans so it was important to me that it happen in my first fight
back. I’ve been training hard the last few months and come
August 15, I will be in the best shape of my life. This fight
will absolutely deliver on all the hype.”
The
live SHOWTIME telecast of STRIKEFORCE: “Carano vs. Cyborg”
will begin at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT (tape delayed on the west coast)
and will include up to five bouts.
Tickets
for STRIKEFORCE: “Carano vs. Cyborg,” priced from $30,
go on sale Monday at 10 a.m. PT at the HP Pavilion box office
(408-287-7070) as well as at all Ticketmaster locations (800-745-3000),
Ticketmaster online (www.ticketmaster.com), and the official
STRIKEFORCE website (www.strikeforce.com).
Carano
has soared to superstardom over the last two years while dominating
opponents live on CBS and SHOWTIME. She raised her profile further
during a stint as “Crush” on NBC’s athletic competition
series American Gladiators. Carano is represented by Wasserman
Media Group.
The
matchup with Cyborg will be the second start of Carano’s
career under the STRIKEFORCE banner. On December 8, 2006, she
turned the tides on a determined Elaina Maxwell, a protégé
of Cung Le, and pulled out a unanimous judges’ decision
at STRIKEFORCE: “Triple Threat.”
The
media has emphatically shown its appreciation for Carano’s
individuality. She has been prominently featured in a number
of national magazines including Muscle And Fitness and Maxim.
Big Biz Magazine voted her “The Hottest Woman In America”
in its Spring 2008 issue and Maxim ranked her number 16 in its
Hot 100 list published in May 2009. Carano has also been profiled
in the popular ESPN documentary series E:60.
The
23-year-old Cyborg, who hails from Brazil, has established herself
as Carano’s top rival by leveraging her superior strength
and striking skills to pummel opponents. In her last start, also
her Strikeforce debut, Cyborg manhandled Hitomi Akano on April
11, stalking and battering the Japanese fighter before finishing
Akano at the 35 second mark of the third round.
Cyborg
is a member of Brazil’s famed Chute Boxe fight squad and
trains alongside her husband and fellow Strikeforce competitor,
Evangelista “Cyborg.”
After
co-promoting two events live on SHOWTIME in 2007 and 2008, STRIKEFORCE
in March 2009 signed a multi-year agreement to stage live MMA
events on the premium cable television network.
Source: Strike Force
|
War
Gods Card Falling Apart
After being given a red light by the the CSAC, War Gods decided
to go ahead anyways without the Athletic Commission's approval.
Since they were on Indian land it was conceivable that the show
could go on. Alas it seems money problems and other issues have
doomed this card. Fighters, Kit Cope, Vernon White, Andy Wang
and others will be left high and dry.
We have suggested to Kit and Lucas Gamaza to get something to
eat and call it a day.
update..
Promoter Roy Leon has informed us that inspite of the CSAC the
show will still be happening. Lucas Gamaza and Kit Cope will
not be participating but the show will go on with fewer fights.
Source: Gracie Fighter
|
Gurgel
on Alliance’s 2nd in a row
Commander comments on team performance at 2009 Worlds
By Gabriel Menezes
Fabio
Gurgel is already back in Sao Paulo after a long journey to win
the 2009 World Championship, in Long Beach. “I just stepped
in at home, thank God,” said the black belt leader of Alliance
to GRACIEMAG.com.
Alliance
conquered its second team title in a row beating its own scoring
record (last year it tallied 117 and in 2009 121), Cobrinha was
crowned four-time featherweight champion, Langhi captured his
first, Bruno Malfacine “put an end to the featherweight
curse,” Marcelo Garcia did well in his return to gi competition
closing out with Sergio Moraes… The results couldn’t
have been much better.
In
the opinion of Gurgel, however, they could have. In the following
interview GRACIEMAG.com readers will see how the general didn’t
hide his sadness for Lucas Lepri’s loss to Gilbert Durinho
and Tarsis Humphrey’s defeat at the hands of Romulo Barral.
GRACIEMAG.com:
What’s your assessment of Alliance’s performance this
Worlds?
Fabio
Gurgel: Hard to say. We had a close to perfect championship.
I think not everyone’s going to win all the time and we
didn’t expect that. But I think we went in with a strong
team with a great chance of winning again. We trained a lot for
it. We’ve been training and doing physical conditioning
work since last Worlds, because making it is one thing, maintaining
it is another. I had to build the athletes’ consciousness,
make everyone train a lot and keep up a good competition rhythm.
To answer your question, I think our disappointment had to do
with Lucan Lepri, who was a firm favorite to win, and ended up
losing a match we didn’t expect him to. But everyone else
lived up to expectations. It was a nearly perfect championship.
GM:
How does the team feel having conquered its second?
FG:
Marvelous. It’s recognition of the arduous work everyone’s
been doing, the team’s dedication, the organization, folks
believing more and more in the work we’re doing, everyone
participating. I think Alliance is a model of good organization.
Of course there’s no formula. Truth is we have a formula
that works for us but might not for other teams. We broke our
own record, managed to keep in ahead with a good lead in points.
GM:
Last year Alliance scored 117 points and second place scored
66. This year you went up to 121 and Gracie Barra scored 88.
What are your thoughts on those results?
FG:
I think Alliance and Gracie Barra are the most organized academies
doing the most global work, that’s why they end up standing
out more than the others. Since the beginning we’ve known
it would be a tight dispute.
GM:
What is responsible for the increase in points?
FG:
117 to 121 is real close. But we did our job just like last year,
the difference being that in 2008 we went in with the motivation
of conquering the title we hadn’t won in 10 years, and this
year we came in as favorites. Alliance is the only team to make
it to the winners’ stand in all the main championships.
I like to joke that we’re used to playing away from home,
because we don’t have championships where we have our main
gyms. There aren’t any in Sao Paulo, nor in Atlanta. So
we travel to Rio to compete at the Brazilian Nationals, we travel
to Europe, the USA. We’re always traveling, but we manage
to get on the winners’ stand at all of them.
GM:
Is any athlete particularly happy about their performance?
FG:
It’s hard to speak for the athlete, but I think they all
did well. But two people didn’t yet have the title and deserved
to, and they were Michael Langhi and Bruno Malfacine. I think
Michael, to tell you the truth, is now Jiu-Jitsu’s athlete
of the year. He fought in everything in gi competition this year
and won all the main titles. Another is Tarsis Humphreys, who
had a match with Romulo Barral that I feel he won, from the zero
to zero score there’s no way you can call Barral the champion,
so it was a bit hard to swallow that silver medal. But as I said:
you can’t win them all. To illustrate how things are. Vella
beat Braulio in the same position Tarsis was in with Barral and
the judges gave the match to Vella in one and Barral in the other.
But those things happen when you have a zero-zero score, we can’t
complain.
GM:
You recently told GRACIEMAG.com you would like to see Marcelo
Garcia training in the gi instead of MMA. What do you make of
his return?
FG:
Marcelo has always been a reference within Alliance. He’s
been with the team since the split-up; he carried the “boat”
on his own till now. He joined the team already at top level,
already strong and everyone had the joy of seeing him fight.
I always took the stance that he should not have left, but that
was his personal decision. And now he’s back and really
motivated, happy to return to competition. We want him to feel
at home. I think he had a marvelous championship and Sergio Moraes
did too. We have a great middleweight duo that’s going to
make a lot of noise for some time.
GM:
What are the next steps for the team?
FG:
We're going to take off the gi for a while, as we have ADCC coming
up in three months, so we'll put some emphasis on the ADCC and
then the Brazilian Team championship and keep up the work. Our
plan is to get better and better, stronger and stronger and more
organized.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
The
man who beat Fedor to make MMA debut
Cashing in on his win last November over Fedor Emelianenko at
the 2008 World Combat Sambo Championships, Bulgarian wrestler
Blagoi Ivanov will make his MMA debut against Kazuyuki Fujita
at World Victory Road: Sengoku 8 on August 2 in Japan.
At the Sambo tournament in the over 100 kg division, Ivanov defeated
Fedor in the semifinals and advanced to take home the gold medal
in the final. Ivanov won on points against Fedor, 8 to 5. Fedor,
the champion for three straight years prior, left with bronze.
Combat
Sambo is a popular Russian sport which combines throws with limited
striking and submissions.
Fedor
had defeated Ivanov in February and with the signing of Ivanov,
World Victory Road is wishing that the two could meet down the
line in a rubber match under MMA rules.
Fedor's
camp said last month that Fedor is in negotiations to fight with
a promotion in Japan but did not reveal which one.
Ivanov's
opponent, Fujita (15-7-1), is an experienced MMA fighter and
pro wrestler. Fujita is arguably the fighter closest to beating
Fedor. At PRIDE 26 in June 2003, Fujita dazed Fedor with a right
but would end up succumbing to a rear-naked choke.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Ultimate
Fighter 9 Report
Blaine van der Griend
This week on the Ultimate Fighter...
Seven
fighters remain in the competition, but tonight with two lightweight
semi-final bouts, two fighters will be eliminated, while the
other two will face each other in the ultimate finale for the
lightweight contract.
At
the US training session, Cameron Dollar is training vigorously,
as coach Henderson looks on in approval. It seems like the room
as been pretty much emptied out and this show is concentrating
solely on the four fighters, who have to fight.
Henderson
delivers his keys to victory for the camera of what he believes
Cameron has to do to win his fight. It was very elaborate.
Cameron
complains that his ribs are hurting and Henderson advises him
to not do anything to further strain that during training. He
even goes as far as to tell the assistant coach to take it easy
on Cameron's ribs during the sparring session to avoid further
injury (I'm sure Andre Winner will take it just as easy).
Meanwhile,
at the UK training session, Bisping is watching Andre Winner
like a hawk. He delivers his own keys to victory as to why he
believes Winner will win, and it's not as elaborate as Henderson's
(he basically says Winner will go out there and kick Cameron's
ass. Actually I think those were his exact words). Andre says
he's going to focus more on slugging it out with Cameron during
the fight.
Back
at the house, the British team is teasing Winner for sucking
his thumb. The whole time, Winner is in denial that he does that,
but eventually admits it. I wonder if Cameron plans to use that
against him in the fight.
Prior
to the fight, each fighter has their last minute sparring session
in the locker rooms (it's hard to believe, but I haven't seen
or heard from Jason Pierce at all this episode).
It's
fight time...
Team
USA's Cameron Dollar vs. Team UK's Andre Winner:
There
is a flurry of offence to begin things, as both guys come out
aggressively. Cameron lands an uppercut and goes for a takedown,
but Winner avoids it with a sprawl. Cameron gets the takedown
in his second attempt and tries to go for Winner's leg, but to
no avail. Cameron lands an overhand right and secures a takedown
again, but lands in the wrong position, as Winner has full mount
and applies a triangle for the tapout victory.
Winner:
Andre Winner by triangle
After
the fight, Bisping looks like a proud father and Winner says
he feels that he represented his country, himself and his family
to the best of his ability. Cameron is obviously disappointed
and says the opportunity slipped away, after he's come this far.
Henderson thinks Cameron has a great future in the sport of MMA.
Back
at the UK training session, it's now Ross Pearson's turn to take
the hot seat. In what could have been a huge disappointment for
the UK team, Pearson separated his shoulder during training,
leaving Bisping with a look on his face like he just soiled himself.
But apparently the shoulder separation happens frequently according
to Pearson and just needed to be popped back into place. It was
some sort of medical problem.
At
the US training session, Jason Dent is running the cage, as Dana
White comments that he was not impressed with Dent's last fight
at all. Dent says he might be the healthiest fighter in the house
and plans to prove all the naysayers (Dana White) wrong in this
fight. He says Ross is in his way and he plans to knock him out
of the way. Dent adds that he's never won a fight by decision,
so he has to finish this fight.
It's
fight time...
Team
USA's Jason Dent vs. Team UK's Ross Pearson:
Round
1:
Dent
seems a bit jumpy in this fight. He gets forced into the cage,
but fights back with a knee. Ross answers back with some knees
of his own. Dent then goes for a guillotine, but Ross avoids
it. Ross applies a clinch, which Dent fights out of with uppercuts.
Both fighters exchange punches and several of them miss the target.
Dent is unable to take Pearson down, but ends the round strong
with a flurry of punches.
Round
2:
This
starts right where the last round left off. Dent delivers an
overhand right, but gets forced up against the cage. He quickly
switches positions, but is unable to do anything with it. Ross
lands an overhand right of his own and a knee. He tries for a
takedown, but Dent gets up almost immediately. Dent lands some
knees, but can't get a takedown. Pearson takes Dent down instead
and drops some heavy bombs. Dent goes for a couple of armbar
attempts, but neither works as the round ends.
Round
3:
This
round starts aggressively with Dent landing an overhand right,
much like how the last round started. Pearson tries a takedown
and Dent tries for a guillotine on the way down, but is unable
to secure it. Dent is on his back and lands an up-kick and then
tries an armbar, which Pearson avoids yet again. Pearson now
has Dent's back and delivers some punches to the side of his
face. Dent fights back a little at the end of the round, but
unfortunately it wasn't enough.
Winner:
Ross Pearson by unanimous decision
So
there you have it. The lightweight final for the ultimate finale
will be Ross Pearson vs. Andre Winner. Bisping gloats as usual
after the fight, saying he predicted an all UK final all along.
Next
week's episode features the final fight of the season. It will
be a return match between Team USA's Frank Lester and Team UK's
James Wilks. The winner faces Demarques Johnson in the middleweight
final on the ultimate finale.
Source: The Fight Network
|
German
MMA History 101
by Tim Leidecker
Germany has a longstanding martial arts tradition. The country
has produced outstanding fighters like heavyweight world champion
boxer Max Schmeling and Olympic judoka Udo Quellmalz, along wtih
Olympic gold medalist and current Greco-Roman wrestling national
team coach Maik Bullmann over the past 100 years. As a mixed
martial arts nation, however, Deutschland has not made much of
an impression.
With
the UFC making its first appearance in Cologne this Saturday,
Sherdog.com decided to shine some light on the little-known history
of German MMA.
The
German Helio
Erich
Rahn was the son of a notable Berlin tradesman whose connections
extended into China and Japan. When the imperial Japanese ambassador
visited the Rahn family, little Erich played with the diplomat’s
sons. They scrapped in a friendly manner and quickly finished
the German, despite his being much bigger physically.
Katsukuma
Higashi was for Rahn what Mitsuyo Maeda would become for Helio
Gracie 15 years later. Around the turn of the century, the German
teen-ager was so overwhelmed by the Hozan-ryu master’s techniques
that he quit his day job to study jiu-jitsu fulltime. In 1906,
he opened the first German jiu-jitsu school in Berlin.
Four
years later, he became the main martial arts instructor for the
Berlin police. Ultimately, he received a special teaching position
at the German capital’s military academy. Following World
War I, he toured Germany and challenged and defeated the country’s
best boxers and wrestlers.
Thanks
to his efforts, jiu-jitsu soon became a competition sport throughout
Germany. At age 40, Rahn retired from active competition. Unfortunately,
World War II and the resulting countrywide martial arts ban imposed
by the Allies erased much of his legacy from the history books.
Few martial arts experts, even in Germany, know of Rahn’s
contribution to the sport.
From
Fight Club to Free Fight
The
beginnings of the present MMA scene in Germany are closely connected
to Andreas Stockmann. A former close combat instructor for the
German Democratic Republic, Stockmann fled the country after
breaking with the system. After arriving in Western Germany,
he participated and eventually promoted some of the first underground
fight events in 1990.
“The
early years were crazy,” the now 47-year-old says. “We
were fighting bare-knuckle in old warehouses and abandoned factories.
The only reason the police didn’t arrest all of us was because
they liked the shows and attended them off-duty themselves.”
The
climate became more organized when Stockmann founded the Free
Fight Association -- the first governing body for MMA events
in Germany -- in 1994 and started promoting official events.
“We
were looking to turn away from the grimy image the sport had
over here,” Stockmann says. “That’s why the new
millennium marked a totally new beginning for us, as we adopted
the Unified Rules of MMA and started working more professionally.”
Since
2002, the FFA has held the Southern German MMA Championships
on an annual basis. In 2005, regional championships in the west
and north of the country were added, with the east following
suit three years later. The popular amateur MMA series New Talents
was installed, as well.
Notable
Fighters
Peter
Angerer remains one of just two German fighters who have been
invited to take part in the prestigious Abu Dhabi Submission
Fighting World Championships and the only German to have faced
both an eventual K-1 champion, Semmy Schilt, and a three-time
Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion, Marcio Feitosa, in his career.
Mario
Stapel was the first German to fight in Shooto.Meanwhile, Mario
Stapel became the first German fighter to compete in Japan for
the Shooto promotion back in 2002. He was credited as the first
German BJJ black belt competing in MMA. The 32-year-old Hessian
joined Matt Hughes’ H.I.T. Squad last year following an
abysmal 2007. Stapel has already fought UFC veterans Orlando
Weit and Duane Ludwig, plus “The Ultimate Fighter”
Season 9 alumnus Andre Winner.
The
list of notable German gladiators, though short, does not end
there.
Chalid
Arrab has emerged as perhaps the most successful example of German
martial arts on the international circuit. The Golden Glory member
fought twice in the Pride “Bushido” series and holds
a knockout win against Fedor Emelianenko’s longtime main
training partner, Roman Zentsov. “Die Faust” performed
even better in K-1, where he won the World Grand Prix in Las
Vegas in 2006.
Finally,
Dennis Siver became the first German fighter to reach the UFC.
The former national kickboxing champion has racked up a trio
of respectable wins against Paul Jenkins, Said Khalilov and,
most notably, “Judo” Jim Wallhead. He was signed by
UFC parent company Zuffa LLC in early 2007, and although his
record with the promotion stands at 2-3, he scored two spectacular
knockouts against Naoyuki Kotani and Nate Mohr.
Heart
of German MMA Beats in East, West
The
“big six” German promotions reside exclusively in the
eastern and western parts of the country. Although the north
and the south are slowly following suit, they remain largely
a no man’s land for MMA.
Based
out of Minden in North Rhine Westfalia, the Outsider Cup stands
as the country’s longest-running newcomer show. Fighters
like Siver, Nordin Asrih and Andreas Kraniotakes have passed
through its ranks.
The
Shido promotion calls southwest Germany home. Founder Peter Angerer
puts the focus on amateur MMA, as well. Still, well-known international
fighters like Shonie Carter, Franco de Leonardis and Pierre Guillet
have graced the Shido ring in past super fights.
More
opportunities exist for local fighters.
Darmstadt
serves as the base for the Tempel Fight School and its popular
event series. The promotion traditionally puts on both MMA and
kickboxing bouts and has enjoyed regular appearances from the
likes of Martin Zawada, Daniel Weichel and Dawid Bazaik.
Meanwhile,
Fight Club Berlin, in the nation’s capital, has become notorious
for the rundown charm of its traditional venue -- the Kesselhaus
at the Kulturbrauerei. Steve Mensing and Tomasz Drwal have served
as the promotion’s major stars throughout the years. FCB
also works together closely with outstanding Polish stable Berserker’s
Team.
The
long-running Magdeburg event series La Onda was connected to
Fight Club Berlin via the WFCA East. Originally from a Thai boxing
background, promoter Sascha Poppendieck has embraced MMA more
and more in recent years. Grzegorz Jakubowski, Andre Reinders
and Maik Stumbries have fought many wars inside the La Onda ring.
Last
but definitely not least, the Free Fight Championship represents
central Germany out of Leipzig. The promotion, run by heavyweight
turned promoter Marko Zschörner, traditionally attracts
the biggest crowds and has produced some top prospects in Peter
Sobotta, Sebastian Kliesch and Lars Rooch.
Optimistic
Outlook
The
German MMA landscape certainly appears to be changing.
“Much
has changed in the past 24 months,” Willy Steinky -- the
founder of GroundandPound.de, Germany’s leading MMA Web
site -- told Sherdog.com. “For many years, German fans didn’t
have much to cheer about when it comes to how our fighters have
fared internationally, but right now, there is a new spirit of
optimism going through the country.”
It
should be interesting to see how long it takes Germany to catch
up to Europe’s leading mixed martial arts nations like England,
Russia, France and Sweden. Can the new generation link to the
legendary achievements of Schmeling and Quellmalz in the boxing
ring and on the judo mat?
“New
shows are popping up left and right, and there is a new generation
of fighters who have grown up with the sport and who are showing
a lot of potential to exceed the achievements of their predecessors,”
Steinky adds. “Fighters like Alan Omer, Peter Sobotta, Dawid
Bazaik, Pascal Krauss, Nico Penzer or Benjamin Brinsa are still
very young but are already showing a lot of promise.”
Source: Sherdog
|
Hey,
did you hear Tim Sylvia is boxing in a cage this Saturday?
By Zach Arnold
Rich
Franklin vs. Wanderlei Silva? Marcus Davis vs. Dan Hardy? Whatever,
get your tickets now for Tim Sylvia vs. 48-year old Ray Mercer
in a boxing match inside of a cage! Let’s hear comments
from Jens Pulver:
“I
don’t know what the goal is. I do know that I don’t
care how old Ray Mercer is, you don’t win a world title
unless you can thump, especially in boxing. He just knocked out
like the number four guy or something, one of the ranked guy.
He’s still… he’s not to be messed with. And, uh,
we’ll have to see what Tim can do with that because having
had five pro bouts in boxing, it’s a whole different world.
People talk about it and I tell them, ‘Do not confuse the
two. Boxing and MMA are two different worlds, and I mean two
different worlds. You look at someone like a Mayweather or a
Pacquiao that can do that with just hands, they’re incredible.
And, no, you’re not going to find a trainer partner in MMA
that can do that to you. If you want to go pro in boxing, go
pro in boxing and find out. They can do some amazing things.
So, Tim’s going to find out real quick. But as for my relationship
with Tim, I love him. I think Tim’s a great guy. He’s
also the Godfather to my son. I love him on a personal scale.
Professionally, sometimes you have to step back and go, ‘Damn,
Tim, what are you doing?”
Update:
The infamous Greg Sirb of Pennsylvania told Monte Cox that he
had to make the fight back into MMA instead of boxing. For online
reports about Sirb’s boxing background, check out the series
Charles Jay wrote about him a few years ago. Those of you in
Pennsylvania might want to read it, especially.
Source: Fight Opinion
|
Barnett:
Bring more judokas into MMA
Recommend Leave it to pro wrestling's standard bearer in mixed
martial arts to frame Olympic judo gold medalist Satoshi Ishii's
MMA choice in historic terms.
"He
says part of the reason he signed in Sengoku is because I'm fighting
there," heavyweight fighter Josh Barnett said last week.
"I'm glad he understands the severity of that statement.
... If that bout gets made, then I'll be proud to go out there
and continue my catch wrestling versus judo and again beat another
judoka to show catch wrestling's superiority."
Barnett
was speaking last week at Affliction Entertainment's New York
event to promote his August bout with Fedor Emelianenko. But
a reporter asked Barnett about Ishii's recent decision to sign
with Japan's Sengoku promotion, and he was happy to go along
with it. Click on the video (recorded by Beau Dure) to hear more
of Barnett's exposition.
Although
he's not a judo practitioner, Barnett said he wants more judo
stars in MMA because elite judokas are high-level athletes. An
influx of judo stars would also give him more opportunities,
at least in Japan, to maintain a rivalry between pro wrestling
and judo that stretches all the way back to at least 1916, when
Ad Santel defeated Tokugoro Ito.
Barnett
cited a desire to commemorate Santel-Ito as one reason why he
agreed to face Hidehiko Yoshida on Sengoku's debut show last
year. Although Barnett and Yoshida are friends, the Japanese
fighter's background as a judo gold medalist in the 1992 Olympics
provided a pro wrestling-judo hook for Barnett.
Mixed
martial arts has become an artform unto itself these days, but
a revival of judo versus pro wrestling would give Barnett a platform
to remind the world of MMA's historic roots in style clashes
that go beyond the jiu-jitsu story built by the Gracie family.
MMA
in its broadest sense has a long shared history with pro wrestling.
The late 1800s and early 1900s saw a few examples of style-versus-style
matches pitting boxers against wrestlers or different grappling
arts against each other, such as Indian wrestling versus "catch-as-catch-can"
or simply "catch" wrestling, although those grappling
styles were blending into an overarching "pro wrestling"
form by the time Santel and Ito squared off.
As
its matches become mostly fixed, pro wrestling in the United
States became stigmatized as a disreputable carnival act, and
many U.S. fans now flee from the notion of pro wrestling and
MMA as brothers.
Yet
many moves accepted in MMA and modern submission grappling were
used in pro wrestling decades ahead of the Gracies' arrival in
the United States. Brazilian jiu-jitsu's "kimura" was
called a chicken wing or double wristlock in pro wrestling long
before Masahiko Kimura beat Helio Gracie in 1951 with the same
move known as a reverse ude-garami in judo. The "rear-naked
choke" is just a sleeper hold. An "Americana"
is a keylock. Closed guard is essentially a body scissors. And
most leglocks still go by their pro wrestling names.
Japan
views MMA and pro wrestling as facets of the same industry, with
the only difference being that one has predetermined ("worked")
outcomes and the other doesn't. Before the Gracies joined a Hollywood
producer to create the Ultimate Fighting Championship, veterans
of various Japanese pro wrestling promotions started Shooto and
Pancrase, and later organized Rings and Pride Fighting Championships,
sometimes going so far as to put worked and non-worked matches
on the same card.
On
the North American scene, Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley might
be the newest pro wrestling alumni in mixed martial arts, but
they come from World Wrestling Entertainment, which generally
features more flamboyant, less practical techniques than Japanese
"shoot-style" pro wrestling. Among U.S. fighters, the
real pro wrestlers remain Barnett and Ken Shamrock, who not only
spent years working events with predetermined outcomes, but use
MMA fighting styles based on a foundation of pro wrestling moves.
Among
Barnett's trainers over the years was legendary pro wrestling
coach Billy Robinson, who also taught Japanese submission wizard
Kazushi Sakuraba. Shamrock learned much of his MMA trade from
Masakatsu Funaki and Minoru Suzuki, who were graduates of the
New Japan Pro Wrestling Dojo. Shamrock also trained under Karl
Gotch, known as the "god of pro wrestling" in Japan.
A
match-up between Barnett and someone such as Ishii can keep the
lineage alive.
Source: USA Today
|
Quote
of the Day
"The
greatest of faults, I should say, is to be conscious of none."
Thomas Carlyle
|
Beatdown
10 This
Saturday!
Hilo Civic Auditorium
Fights Start at 7 PM
O2's Kaleo Kwan vs Raymond Castro!
|
WOMBAT'S
WORLD OF COMBAT
Predictions
for UFC 99: The Comeback
by Jeff "Wombat" Meszaros
Just
a month ago, Dana White retired Chuck "The Iceman"
Liddell like the last scene from "Old Yeller" where
the kid shoots his dog and everyone cries. If you've never seen
"Old Yeller" imagine "Marley and Me" except
add a part where the dog fights a bear. Anyway, I find it ironic
that the main event for "UFC 99: The Comeback" is now
a match between two other fighters who have been brutally knocked
out a few times but have somehow escaped castration. It's a good
thing these guys aren't horses. Otherwise, the UFC president
would be walking around the stable with a shotgun and a pair
of dice, randomly sending some of them to the glue factory and
others back to the track. Why did Liddell get a nostril full
of flaming gunpowder when Franklin and Silva didn't? Who knows.
Personally, I don't think Liddell is quite done yet. Hell, I've
been saying for years that a fight between "The Iceman"
and Franklin would sell out any stadium in America. Of course,
this fight is in Germany; which explains why they're having an
American fight a Brazilian. Wait a second. That doesn't make
any sense at all. Of course, neither does calling an event "The
Comeback" when you damn well know that both guys are in
the twilight of their careers. Then again, who is going to buy
tickets to an event called "One Last Fight Before I Retire
And Open a Restaurant"?
Rich
Franklin vs. Wanderlei Silva
Back
when "The Axe Murderer" was making his career in Pride,
stepping on the faces of hapless Japanese opponents, Franklin
was ruling the UFC, knocking out more guys than an anesthesiologist
working overtime. Still, I never had any desire to see these
two dudes fight each other. I wanted to see Silva fight Liddell
and Henderson, but not Franklin. Now "The Axe Murderer"
has been KO'd by both the guys I wanted to see him fight, and
he's moving on to fight some guys I never had fight nerd fantasies
about seeing him go up against. Honestly, both of these guys
should be fighting at 185, but Franklin has nowhere to go at
middleweight now that Anderson Silva has sent him to the plastic
surgeon twice and after the abuse Wanderlei has taken, he probably
has more metal in his body that Wolverine, making him 20 pounds
heavier than he should be. What happens here? If Franklin gets
caught in a clinch and KO'd by knees again, Dana White should
come into the octagon and pepper spray him, just to teach him
a lesson. Personally, I don't see that happening. Realistically,
Silva will charge at him like a wild dog and take horrible abuse
from the outside as Franklin picks him apart with counterpunches.
Then, at the post fight press conference, Dana White will announce
that Wanderlei will never fight again, and then press a button
that drops him down a trap door, never to be seen again. My Guess:
Franklin by decision.
Cheick
Kongo vs. Cain Velasquez
Anyone
who chooses to stand and trade strikes with Cheick Kongo deserves
exactly what they get; namely, kidney stones the size of tennis
balls after absorbing at least a dozen furious kicks to the body.
Any fighter with any sense of self-preservation will hurl themselves
at him like they're on fire and he is a large tub of cool water.
The alternative is to get punched in the face until your nose
is essentially an empty envelope of skin. It wasn't long ago
that Kongo and Heath Herring clashed to decide who had the worst
takedown defense in MMA. It was close, but I think Kongo might've
edged out the win in that contest. Accordingly, Velasquez should
enter the octagon salivating like a starving hound that's being
presented with a thick T-Bone steak. As long as he can avoid
the leaping knees of Kongo, he should be able to beat the crepe
out of the huge Frenchman. My Guess: Velasquez by decision.
Mike
Swick vs. Ben Saunders
In
his last fight, Ben Saunders knee'd Brandon Wolff in the forehead
until it looked like a silicone breast implant had somehow found
its way in there. If you've ever wondered why forehead implants
are not popular, you need look no further than that match. Afterwards,
Wolff looked like the super-villain "The Leader" who
I suspect is going to be in the next Hulk movie. Unfortunately
for "Killa B", Swick has fought and beaten about a
dozen fighters who are a lot better than him and who I'm not
going to bother naming here. If you don't know who they are,
go kick yourself in the head. My Guess: Swick by TKO.
Marcus
Davis vs. Dan Hardy
This
is another fight where the two combatants are saying they don't
like each other. I'm not going to go so far as to call anyone
a liar, but I am starting to have some serious skepticism about
the "bad blood" we're seeing in some fights. The recipe
is usually the same. Two dudes hate each other, they fight and
then they immediately hug and say the bad blood is all over.
Screw that. I'm just a jiu jitsu nerd, but I have rolled with
a lot of guys I don't like and afterwards I usually hate them
even more. My Guess: Davis by decision.
Spencer
Fisher vs. Caol Uno
Either
I'm experiencing severe memory loss, or a lot of Spencer Fisher's
recent fights have not made the pay-per-views. It is possible
that both statements are true. Honestly, though, the last time
I remember seeing him fight is when he nailed Matt Wiman with
a flying knee, just as Wiman was waving his finger at him in
an "oh no you didn't" sort of way that you normally
only see fat black women use. Ok, fine, he's fought a few times
since then, but nothing has been as awesome since. How long has
it been since Uno graced the cage? Offhand, I can only remember
him leaping at B.J. Penn and then getting KO'd a second later;
and that fight was from six years ago at least. What's truly
crazy is that Uno still looks like a 14-year old kid. Does he
have to shave? I don't think so. Personally, if I ignore the
razor for two days in a row, I look like I've spent a month living
in the bush in carnal relations with a badger. The bottom line
is, I think North Americans have more testosterone in their bodies
than Japanese people; who live longer thanks to their diet of
green tea and sushi, but can't compete with guys like Fisher,
who are full of beer and steak and grew up in the American midwest,
where if your tractor gets stuck in a ditch, you have to pull
it out of there yourself. My Guess: Fisher by TKO.
Paul
Kelly vs. Rolando Delgado
I
forget which season Delgado was on The Ultimate Fighter, but
I remember that he was scorned for having a suspect black belt
in jiu-jitsu. Then he ate about five hundred hard body shots
from Junie Browning, who took a break from acting like a chimp
in the house to whip the crap out of him. I actually found the
link to the video of Delgado's black belt exam, which consisted
of him getting beaten up badly, then running away and falling
down, and then somehow knocking out the guy who was kicking his
ass with a blindly-thrown up-kick. Getting a black belt in jiu-jitsu
for that seems like getting a degree in chemistry for accidentally
blowing up your garage while trying to make crystal meth. My
Guess: Kelly by TKO.
Denis
Stojnic vs. Stefan Struve
This
is like a battle between pudgy and lanky; neither of which are
body types well-suited to the octagon. Stojnic looks like some
kind of chubby mobster type; the kind you see in track suits,
standing around outside butcher shops drinking coffee and smoking.
Struve is nearly seven feet tall, but only three pounds heavier;
like some massive drinking-straw or praying-mantis-man designed
by evolution to catch birds out of tree-tops. Stand these two
next to each other and they probably look like "o1".
My Guess: Struve by decision.
Jeff
Meszaros welcomes readerback at wombat@fcfighter.com and can
be heard as the host of FCF Radio.
Source: Full Contact Fighter
|
WEC
41: purses released
Jose Aldo takes best knockout bonus
The
WEC released the reported purses paid to the athletes after the
41st installment of the event, held Sunday night. The fighter
with the fattest pay check is Jens Pulver, who curiously was
not one of the stars of the main card.
Brazilian
Jose Aldo took home a US$ 10,000 check for the best knockout,
for his 8-second flying-knee win over Cub Swanson, in addition
to his $17,625 purse. Seth Dikun took a considerable raise by
winning submission of the night for his flying triangle on Rolando
Perez, on top of his $3,940 purse. And headliners Urijah Faber
and Mike Brown each took $10,000 bonuses for fight of the night,
for their title-bout.
The
complete list is as follows, not counting bonuses:
Mike
Brown: US$ 25,256
Urijah Faber: US$ 25,790
Jose
Aldo: US$ 17,625
Cub Swanson: US$8,940
Donald
Cerrone: US$ 17,682
James Krause: US$ 1,692
Josh
Grispi: US$ 17,381
Jens Pulver: US$ 31,253
Manny
Gamburyan: US$ 26,960
John Franchi: US$ 3,108
Rafael
Rebello: US$ 3,650
Kyle Dietz: US$ 1,840
Anthony
Pettis: US$ 3,302
Mike Campbell: US$ 2,950
Antonio
Banuelos: US$ 9,840
Scott Jorgensen: US$ 5,530
Frank
Gomez: US$ 3,962
Noah Thomas: US$ 2,350
Seth
Dikun: US$ 3,940
Rolando Perez: US$ 2,890
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
Juanito
Ibarra sues Tito Ortiz and MMA Media outlets
By Zach Arnold
TMZ
has the story:
Ibarra
is suing Tito and all the blogs and publications that ran Tito’s
interview for defamation, invasion of privacy and emotional distress.
As
a word of advice, suing blogs and web sites is usually not a
very good idea. For starters, most web sites and bloggers in
MMA are more than willing to post comments from multiple parties
in a story. Meaning, if Ibarra wanted to get his side of the
story out against Ortiz, he could easily have done so in a public
manner to clear his name. 5th Round has the comments that Ortiz
made that Ibarra is likely suing him over. By Ibarra suing these
individuals in such a public manner, it will ensure on various
search engines that some of the first stories that will pop up
when you search for “Juanito Ibarra” are about the
comments Ortiz made about him. In essence, if Ibarra had just
let this go, you would have had to search out specifically to
find Tito’s comments. Now, because TMZ and other media outlets
are covering this lawsuit, Tito’s negative comments about
Ibarra will gain more exposure than could have been imagined.
Here’s a perfect example of this effect in a real life case
that happened two years ago.
Plus,
if there are any former clients of Ibarra’s that are disgruntled,
they may come out of the woodwork and negatively comment about
him in the press. The lawsuit is a questionable, at best, public
relations strategy.
Second,
once you start suing the media, then the media takes it very
personally and can make things difficult in terms of follow-up
posts and negative attention. Plus, by naming specific clients
(allegedly) in his suit, all Ibarra is doing is giving these
people more attention and recognition. Plus, creating a lot of
headaches for yourself. University of Tennessee law professor
Glenn Reynolds explains why it’s a bad strategy to launch
libel & defamation lawsuits against bloggers. Some tangible
examples of this in action can be found here.
Third,
the majority of writers and media covering MMA are not rich.
There isn’t a whole lot of money to obtain via a lawsuit.
Going after Tito Ortiz, someone who has fame and money, is one
thing — but going after someone who makes $30-40,000 USD
a year (or around that salary range) is another.
The
Los Angeles Times is reporting that two of the media outlets
Ibarra is suing are Yahoo Sports and MMA News.
It’s
one thing to legally sue someone who has money (Tito Ortiz &
Yahoo), but it’s another thing to have a situation where
the defendants in this case can use their financial resources
to get together and build a strong legal defense in court. In
a case like this, how do you prove ‘intent’ as far
as: a) publishing something false and b) doing so with malice?
Source: Fight Opinion
|
More
on the Juanito Ibarra lawsuit against Tito Ortiz and MMA web
sites
By Zach Arnold
Read
my initial post on the story here.
According
to the lawsuit filing, here are the following people Ibarra sued:
David Carpinello, Justin Bolduc, Punch Drunk Gamer, Yahoo Sports,
Cage Potato, Serge Marches, Darragh Creamer, Fight Sports Magazin,
Kris Karkoski (MMA Frenzy), Jim Bankoff, Tyler Bleszinski, Lauren
Fisher, Bloody Elbow (SB Nation), Josh Kampschmidt, Robyn Lass,
Ballhype, Pramit Mohapatra (Fight Ticker), Matt Boone (MMA News),
Chris Howie, Sam Caplan (Five Ounces of Pain), and The Houston
Chronicle. The boilerplate statement made in the lawsuit about
the defendants is that the defendant “is, and at all times
herein mentioned was, an individual, residing and/or transacting
business in the State of California.” The filing also claims
that Ibarra’s lawyers believe that some of the people they
are suing used fake names (alter egos) and will be revealed whenever
possible.
Here
is the crux of the lawsuit filing claim:
At
the time of Defendants’ publications of these false and
defamatory statements, implications and meanings, Defendants
knew of their falsity or were made with reckless disregard as
to their truth or falsity and failed to use reasonable care to
determine the truth or falsity of each statement set forth above.
The
statements made above would be highly offensive to the reasonable
person.
Plantiff
is a private citizen and his reputation is not a matter of public
concern.
Defendants’
false and defamatory campaign of self-promotion was published
continously over the internet twenty-four hours a day, seven
days a week and continues unabated to this day.”
How
is Ibarra’s legal team going to be able to prove malice
here?
How is Ibarra a private citizen given his public profile and
the multiple interviews he has done over the years?
In the lawsuit filing (point 32 in the introduction), the filing
itself shoots down the fact that Ibarra is a ‘private citizen.’
32.
During the last 28 years, Plaintiff has been engaged in the pugilist
and the mixed martial arts industries. Plaintiff has trained
and/or worked with more than fifteen world champions in such
fields and both Olympic Gold medal winners and Amateur champions.
In addition, Plaintiff is the founder of USA MMA, Inc., a non-profit
organization that organizes amateur MMA shows nationwide, the
co-founder of the National Trainer and Cutman Association, the
founder of the World Class MMA and Boxing Inc. fitness club and
has been the recipient of numerous awards in the industry.
33.
During the period from July, 2005 through July, 2008, Plaintiff
was the trainer and manager of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson
(”Jackson”), a well known mixed martial artist and
a prominent figure in the Ultimate Fighting Champion industry.
During this period, Jackson obtained six straight wins, including
a UFC championship. On his sixth win, Jackson became the first
and only undisputed light heavyweight champion of the world.
He’s
a public figure and the standard of libel/defamation shoots up
significantly in the legal system here in the States.
Most MMA web sites, if they operate like I do, probably would
have given a chance for Ibarra to get his side of the story out
if he wanted. His legal team is going to have to prove that the
bloggers and web sites he has named in this case somehow refused
to give his (Ibarra) side of the story. In this day and age,
you can hire any sort of PR firm who will give out statements
to all sorts of writers to refute charges made against you. To
file this lawsuit at this time considering when Tito Ortiz’s
remarks were initially made, I mean…
IF
YOU ARE ON THIS LIST OF DEFENDANTS, I want to hear from you personally.
Also, if you are a lawyer out there reading this on the West
Coast (I’m looking at you, Todd) and would like to comment
on this case in-depth, I’d like to hear from you as well.
After
reading this laundry list of defendants in the Ibarra lawsuit,
all I can say is that this is not the way I would have handled
this situation.
Source: Fight Opinion
|
Tito
Ortiz becomes unrestricted free agent
Former UFC light-heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz (15-6-1) beginning
this weekend is free to receive an offer from any promotion without
having to reveal the offer to the UFC.
Ortiz's contract with the UFC ended last year when he lost against
Lyoto Machia at UFC 84 "Ill Will" on May 24. Although
Ortiz was allowed to negotiate with other promotions, the UFC
retained the right to match any offer until June 5, 2009.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
IFC
to Manage Rogue Warrior Fighting Championships
Press Release
Along
with the rapid growth of mixed martial arts, has come great interest
in incorporating MMA combative techniques into the hand to hand
training programs of the United States Armed Forces. Many of
the techniques that you see in the fighting cage have become
the primary combat tools for hand to hand combat. The Army has
even gone beyond training and now hosts Army Combative Championships
every October. Three times Army Combative individual champion
Tim Kennedy explains, "The development of the combatives
program in the Army has moved so far, so quickly and as a soldier
it's reassuring to see the Army getting the right people to train
us in the right techniques." The other services are also
incorporating the increasing popular techniques and it is not
surprising to find that our nations finest are also becoming
some of the world’s best MMA fighters.
The
Red, White, Black and Blue professional MMA Championships will
seek to find the 4 best military fighters in four weight divisions.
Participants will be either current members of the military or
recently separated from the service. The fighters will compete
in a elimination tournament series of professional Mixed Martial
Arts fights in the fighter’s weight class. The fights will
be regulated by the applicable commission of the jurisdiction
and will use the Unified MMA Rules. All fighters will be insured.
The fights will be held in the IFC's 30 foot steel cage. There
will be four elimination events with a final. The champions will
receive cash awards and the prestigious ROGUE WARRIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
title belt in their weight class.
The
events will be hosted by Richard Marcinko. Marcinko is the bestselling
author of ROGUE WARRIOR, REDCELL and 15 other titles. A Navy
Seal action game based on Marcinko's highly acclaimed ROGUE WARRIOR
novel will be released this fall for all of the popular game
platforms. Marcinko is a highly decorated Navy veteran who holds
four Bronze Stars and one Silver Star among his decorations (see
bio at dickmarcinko.com).
The
proceeds from the events will go to the Stars and Stripes Foundation
whose sole purpose is to aid our wounded veterans and to help
them reacclimatize to society. It is important to note that Stars
and Stripes is operated entirely by non paid volunteers. It is
a registered nonprofit 501c (3).
The
events will be managed by IFC Caged Combat an organization of
veteran martial artists who have produced nearly 100 MMA events
since 1996. Among the great IFC fighters have been Chuck Liddell,
Igor Vovchanchin, Rich Franklin, Matt Lindland, Dan Severn, Jens
Pulver, Tim Sylvia, Eugene Jackson, Roger Huerta and many more
of the stars who make up the sport today.
Source: The Fight Network
|
Leopoldo
Sets Record Straight
by Loretta Hunt
Kimo Leopoldo feels he hasn’t gotten a fair shake.
The
six-time UFC veteran’s name and face were splashed across
the headlines when he was arrested Feb. 16 in a Tustin, Calif.,
parking lot.
Leopoldo
was apprehended for two felonies and one misdemeanor, which included
an allegation for possession of methamphetamine. The drug was
found in the car that the fighter was standing next to at the
time of his arrest.
What
wasn’t reported, however, was the fallout.
In
March, Leopoldo’s charges were reduced to three misdemeanors
for possession of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and a decommissioned
police jumpsuit, which had been reported as lost some 10 years
prior, according to the Orange County’s District Attorney’s
Office.
Leopoldo
has denied ownership of the marijuana and drug pipe, as well
as the methamphetamine, which was taken from the car during what
the fighter called “an illegal search and seizure.”
Unable to prove the drug belonged to Leopoldo, the district attorney’s
office did not charge him for methamphetamine possession. He
was also erroneously identified as the owner of the vehicle in
the early stages of the arrest.
“I
wasn’t charged with it. I wasn’t on methamphetamine
and I was not tested for methamphetamine,” said Leopoldo,
who was waiting for his friend and driver to return to the vehicle
when two plain-clothes officers approached him.
Leopoldo,
who had recently undergone knee surgery and was partially immobile
at the time, said he was also held and interrogated for nearly
an hour at the scene before he was taken into custody.
“They
misjudged me, character-profiled me and basically wronged me,”
said Leopoldo. “Everything I was accused of was wrong. None
of it was justified.”
Leopoldo
is confident that his day in court will lead to his vindication
later this year.
The
tarnishing of his name and reputation isn’t so easy to reverse,
though. Numerous sites, including Sherdog.com, reported that
Leopoldo had been busted for methamphetamine with little to no
follow-up.
“People
were quick to jump on the methamphetamine accusation with me,
just linking me with this drug,” he said. “Because
I’m from Hawaii and I’ve had some sort of past, they
want to hold on to that past and not let you move on to your
future.”
Leopoldo’s
future included a campaign for the executive officer’s position
for the California State Athletic Commission.
In
fact, the fighter said he was wearing the policeman’s uniform
for a photo shoot planned for his online campaign “Kimo
Policing the Streets,” a way in which the fighter hoped
to illustrate his intentions to make a positive impact on the
community in the state role.
Although
Leopoldo couldn’t reveal where he obtained the jumpsuit
due to pending litigation, he said he certainly hadn’t realized
that wearing it was illegal.
“It
wasn’t an official, everyday uniform you’d see a police
officer [wear],” said Leopoldo. “It was a Dickies mechanics
outfit. It looked like something you could get at a costume shop.”
A
longtime resident of Huntington Beach, Calif., Leopoldo felt
he had ample experience and a keen understanding of the coveted
position left vacant by the exiting Armando Garcia in late 2008.
“I’ve
been with the sport from the beginning,” said Leopoldo.
“I’ve been through a lot of the logistics. I’ve
had a lot of experience co-promoting events. I’m a fan of
the game, so I know what the fans want.”
If
elected to the position, Leopoldo said he planned not only to
drum up some of the sport’s business back California’s
way, but also to concentrate on improving fighters’ economic
situation.
“I
was really going to focus on getting everyone’s opinions
and making it more equal for everybody,” he said. “It
shouldn’t be so the promoter or one person is making all
the money. The fighters don’t even have retirement plans
or getting a fair shake at these contracts because they have
no names. They’re signing their lives away to promoters,
and it just isn’t right.”
However,
the 14-year fighting veteran was not named among three finalists
selected from the applicant pool earlier this year. To date,
the role has still not been filled.
Leopoldo,
the first man to derail Royce Gracie’s run for a tournament
title back at UFC 3 when the Brazilian later withdrew from exhaustion,
believes the negative press helped shut that door.
“Being
in the wrong place at the wrong time, I’m partly –-
I can’t say I’m 100 percent [blameless],” he said.
“Definitely how quickly everyone jumped on it and publicized
it and put it out there, it definitely didn’t give my chances
a very good percentage.”
The
tattoo-covered Hawaiian, epitomized for his fighting spirit in
the cage as much as his easy-going attitude outside of it, is
ready to move on in other ways though.
Leopoldo
signed a one-year, three-film deal with a Canadian production
company in May. Leopoldo, who was cast alongside Giovanni Ribisi
and Scott Cain in the 2006 film “The Dog Problem,”
will play a demon in the upcoming horror film. Shooting begins
in early June in Studio City, Calif.
“There’s
some good things coming to me right now besides fighting,”
said Leopoldo. “I’ve done a few films in the past and
I think I’ve had a pretty natural knack for it.”
Leopoldo
won’t stray too far from his roots. He’s slated to
co-promote events under the New Era Fighting banner in Mexico
and Dubai in the coming months.
A
return to the cage isn’t out of the question for the 41-year-old
fighter either.
“I
do want to fight one more time. I got one more good one in me,”
says Leopoldo, who deferred his swansong opponent to the fans.
Leopoldo
said fans can voice their choices at FightEngine.com, but admits
he’d love to rematch Bob Sapp in MMA. Leopoldo dropped a
kickboxing match to the 340-pound, former NFL behemoth in June
2006.
“It
depends on what the fans want to throw at me, but I want one
last one and I want it to be a freak show,” he said.
After
a rocky start in 2009, the father of an 18-year-old son said
he’s also finding his way back onto the appearance circuit
and is currently entertaining offers.
Leopoldo,
who tested positive for steroid use in Nevada in 2004 and then
in California in 2006, doesn’t shy away from his indiscretions
of the past. He does ask, however, that he be held responsible
only for the acts he’s actually committed.
“Because
of that tag that’s on me, believe me, where I go to fight,
they check me once, twice, three times to make sure,” said
Leopoldo. “It doesn’t bother me, because I no longer
have any a affiliation with that type of lifestyle, so bring
it on. I’m innocent of all the things they’re accusing
me of. We cleared those felonies. We’ll clear those misdemeanors
as well.”
Kimo
Leopoldo can be reached at FightEngine.com or at kimo@newerafighting.com.
Source: Sherdog
|
Silva
in UFC 99: “It will be a bloody fight”
By Guilherme Cruz
Today’s afternoon, night in Germany, the UFC 99 will make
its first edition in the beer land, but there’s an American
wanting to put water in the beer of the Brazilian Wanderlei Silva.
Beginning his journey towards the middle weight, Wand will face
Rich Franklin in an intermediary weight, and want to return to
the victories in the Ultimate.
"I'm
working a lot for this fight, I’m training a lot and giving
my best in all trainings. I'm at my best, because I know the
importance of this fight. It has two alternatives: either I knockout
the guy, or he knockout me, it will be a bloody fight... This
fight won’t be warm, because I’m not a warm fighter",
says Wanderlei, in an video interview published in his blog.
"I respect the guy, but not now, he is my opponent and I
know I have to kick his ass on the 13th, because this is very
important for my career".
Beyond
promising a great presentation, the Mad Dog takes to ask for
the support of the fans. "Now, more than ever, I want to
ask for the support of the crowd, of my fans, who will make a
barbecue on June 13... I know the responsibility, I’m with
a very big weight in the back. I know I have to win, and need
a lot of the cheer of you all. I promise, I’ll make a worth
presentation to all of you", said Wanderlei.
Source: Tatame
|
Brown
Happy with Latest Title Defense
By Kelsey Mowatt
Only
days removed from his second title defense in 3 months, a Unanimous
Decision victory over Urijah Faber at WEC 41 on Sunday, Mike
Brown sounded understandably happy when FCF caught up with him
earlier today. The win, which was the 22nd of the American Top
Team fighter’s career, was his second over Faber, as Brown
stopped the former champion last November to lay claim to the
WEC Featherweight Championship. In what has likely been a couple
of whirlwind days for Brown, the champion finally found some
time to sit down and watch the video of the fight Tuesday.
“I
saw it once yesterday,” Brown said. “The fight went
well. I was happy to go five rounds; that’s something new.
I’ve never been five rounds before. Urijah’s a warrior
man. He busted his hand pretty bad and was fighting like a champ.”
Faber’s
broken right hand has been the focal point of a lot of the event’s
post-fight coverage, as the former champion had stopped using
it by the fight’s midway point. While Brown was quick to
credit Faber for fighting through the injury, at the same time,
he does not feel that it should diminish his own accomplishments
either.
“No,
it doesn’t bother me it all,” said Brown, when asked
if the ‘what if’ scenarios that continue to be played
out regarding Faber’s hand bother him. “He had two
healthy hands in the first fight. He’s also a guy who’s
very dangerous; he’s not just someone with a big right hand
you know? He usually throws a lot of elbows and stuff anyways.
I think I outlasted him a lot, with my wrestling, so I was happy
with my performance.”
“That’s
pretty good for me,” Brown added. “He’s a really
good fighter and I’ve beaten him two different ways. I’m
proud of that.”
With
2 wins over Faber now under his belt and a first round submission
victory over Leonard Garcia in March, it appears that the WEC
will now turn to Jose Aldo to have him challenge Brown for his
title. The rapidly rising featherweight blasted Cub Swanson with
a flying knee just 8 seconds into their bout Saturday, Aldo’s
fifth straight WEC win, to set himself up as the division’s
number one contender.
“If
I was the WEC that’s the fight I would be putting together,”
Brown told FCF. “It makes the most sense. I don’t know
who would be in front of him. He’s mowing through people;
he’s undefeated in the organization, and he’s exciting.
He’s beating people up.”
Although
Brown was extremely complimentary towards Aldo, he also believes
that the 22 year-old has yet to face a fighter of his caliber.
“No,
I think I’m the best fighter,” said Brown, when asked
if Aldo has faced a level of competition that is comparable to
the champion. “I’m ready for the challenge though.
There are so many great guys out there and he’s right at
the top of the heap. Those are the kinds of guys I want to fight.
I think I hit hard and I have good wrestling so I think I’m
a tough fight for him.”
According
to the California State Athletic Commission, Brown was paid just
over $25,000 for his efforts at WEC 41, and although that figure
may not represent the ATT fighter’s total compensation for
the win, the 33 year-old-fighter has certainly earned a raise
since his last WEC contract was negotiated. (Brown was paid an
additional $10,000 for winning ‘Fight of the Night’
honors alongside Faber)
“I’m
hoping for it man,” Brown said, when asked whether or not
he’s looking forward to earning some bigger paydays in the
future. “I’m sure they’re going to want to renegotiate
my contract, I have two more fights to go, so I think they’ll
want to renegotiate before my next one. I don’t know exactly
when, but I’m guessing that we will get a new contract soon
I hope.”
Source: Full Contact Fighter
|
Malfacine:
“I ended the curse”
Caio Terra comments on points suffered and attack in final
“You
see that? I put an end to the curse,” smiled Bruno Malfacine,
after getting his medal. He was referring to the roosterweight
curse, whereby the category had not known a two-time champion
since Omar Salum won in 1999 and 2000.
Jiu-Jitsu’s
lightest category this year only had seven competitors, but…
“You on the site noticed at black belt it had the least
people, but you forgot to say there were four world champions
signed up. Or in other words, every match was a final,”
noticed Caio Terra.
But
Bruno and Caio, champions in 2007 and 2008, respectively, are
truly a cut above their competition. Malfacine dispatched Felipe
Costa with an interruption from the ref. “I didn’t
tap and went to ask the referee. But the three refs said they
saw me tap, so I must have responded to the attack with some
kind of gesture, it was well stretched and I can’t say I
would not tap latter. But also I would never consciously deny
having tapped,” remarked Felipe, champion in 2003.
Now
Caio Terra latched onto the foot of Bernardo Pitel, 2001’s
champion, and guaranteed his place in the final. In the final,
Bruno managed a neck attack. Caio tried to turn the fight around
with a deep triangle he was sure would do the trick, but it was
too late.
“First
he sunk a choke that didn’t get past my chin, we both rolled
out of the area and the ref signaled two points for him,”
lamented the Cesar Gracie student. “In the end he was saved
by the clock, as he was stuck in my triangle, he barely escaped
passing out.”
“No
way, I was hanging on, and I never would have tapped. It’s
the final of the World Championship, right? But I will admit
I did lose a bit of control over the fight at the end, but I
wouldn’t have let the gold slip away from me for anything,”
said Bruno, now world champion twice over.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
Leonardo
Santos and the future at Sengoku
By Guilherme Cruz
After
five consecutive victories in Brazil, being the last four in
the first round, Leonardo Santos returned to the Japanese MMA,
where he made his debut in the professional rings. Facing Kazunori
Yokota, the Brazilian made the fight that would determine the
next candidate for the belt of the event, against the champion
Satoru Kitaoka. In 15 minutes of fight, the black belt of the
Nova União ended defeated in the split decision, but disagrees
with the result.
"The
fight was very tight, but I didn’t give all that I trained.
I was well trained, confident and happy, but I think I felt the
time zone, I was a little sleepy. In my opinion, of other reporters
and even Kitaoka, I won the fight", says Léo, recalling
the fight. "The fight was very tight. I won the second round,
I was more aggressive. I dominated the four minutes of fight,
passed, got the back, but, remaining 30 seconds, he left the
position and turn in front of me. He came like a crazy trying
to beat me, but nothing that hit me, just showing aggressiveness
in this 30 seconds, which impressed the judges".
Even
winning the fight that would determine the next challenger to
the title, Yokota wasn’t scheduled to face the champion,
who will defend, on August 2, the title against Mizuta Hirota.
"We sent a letter to there complaining, because whoever
won the fight would fight for the belt, but they didn’t
put Yokota to fight with Kitaoka, so I'm waiting to see what
happens", said the black belt in the expectation for the
definition of his future in Sengoku. "I have more fights
in the contract, but we have to wait. I have a contract of one
year with them. We didn’t ask for a rematch, we only said
that we don’t agree with the result. We’ll let on their
hands to see what will be done", concluded the fighter.
Source: Tatame
|
Glazer
still sees Fox Sports closed to MMA
Recommend
Fox Sports journalist Jay Glazer has been trying for awhile to
convince his bosses to start covering mixed martial arts, but
he's still banging his head against a wall.
"While
he's 'tried like crazy' to get Fox to air MMA, they're 'not budging,'
" USA TODAY sports TV columnist Michael Hiestand writes
in tomorrow's edition of the newspaper.
Glazer,
who has a few professional fights under his belt, was part of
the studio team for the compilation of Pride re-runs that used
to air on his main employer's cable TV cousin, Fox Sports Net.
He also was a play-by-play broadcaster for Affliction Entertainment's
pay-per-view show in July.
Although
his main job involves covering the NFL for Fox, Glazer would
prefer to make the same living by covering MMA.
"I'd
love it," Glazer told Sherdog.com's MMA Sunday School podcast
in February 2008. "Absolutely. I would leave football for
that in a heartbeat, no doubt. ... I love football, don't get
me wrong. It's my career. But MMA is my passion."
It's
a sentiment shared by many of the NFL players whom Glazer follows,
but not the executives who sign his paycheck. Although the Fox
Television's entertainment side reportedly considered a deal
with UFC at one point, Fox Sports officials haven't been shy
about their distaste.
"We
don't need the money that badly," Fox Sports President Ed
Goren said last year.
Apparently
the company does need it that badly for its website, which has
plenty of MMA stories on its boxing page, partnerships with The
Fight Network and Insidefighting.com, and a co-branded site wth
Razorgator for selling tickets UFC events.
Fox
Sports also has no problem using the Internet to show video of
Glazer training NFL players such as Arizona Cardinals quarterback
Matt Leinart to fight. Just don't expect to see Glazer talking
about real fighters on Fox's over-the-air product in the near
future.
Source: USA Today
|
Quote
of the Day
“Chance
is always powerful. Let your hook be always cast; in the pool
where you least expect it, there will be a fish.”
Ovid
|
Beatdown
10 This
Saturday!
Hilo Civic Auditorium
Fights Start at 7 PM
O2's Kaleo Kwan vs Raymond Castro!
|
Destiny
this Saturday!
5 days
more before this exciting action packed event.
Get
your tickets while they last @ West Side Fight Gear, OTM Fight
Shop, Fighters Corner and all TCA Wireless Locations islandwide.
Or call (808) 277-2335
$30
gen presale, $35 @ door
$40 reserved seating, $50 @ door (guarantees you a seat whether
you are early or late)
Main
Event
-145lbs
Tim "Majik" Moon vs Ricky "Real Deal" Wallace
2
former Cobra Kai students go at it...Tim "Majik" Moon
has trained with UFC veteran Joe Stevenson @ his Cobra Kai school
in Cali and also with grappling sensation Baret Yoshida.
While
Ricky "Real Deal" Wallace has trained under Cobra Kai
vegas under Marc Laimon/Sonny Nohara and also UFC veteran Chris
"The Crippler" Leben.
June
13th, you'll see two top technical fighters go head to head...with
the high level of instructors these two fighters have had over
the last couple of years, it'll make for an exciting, fast paced
fight...I guarantee this fight will end in KO or Submission.
Won't go the distance for a decision.
Note:
Moon is going into this fight with a 15-2 record and hasn't lost
a fight in nearly 2 years...His last four fights have ended in
the 1st round in under a minute with all wins coming by way of
ko or submission! Winner of this fight will be fighting for our
DESTINY 145lb World Belt on Aug 22nd in Maui.
-145lbs
Toby "2quick" Misech (LAVA MMA, Hilo) vs Chad Pavao
(Hakulia)
Two
of the best up n coming 145lb stand up fighters in Hawaii will
battle it out for our now VACANT 145lb DESTINY Amateur championship
belt...Belt became vacant after our former champ Dustin Kimura
declared he'll be turning pro in our next event.
This
will most likely be the fan favorite fight of the night, with
stand up fireworks that Hawaii fans come to enjoy @ DESTINY Events.
Toby Misech, nicknamed "2quick" by our promotion after
displaying some unbelievable handspeed in our very 1st DESTINY
event against than undefeated Bulls Pen fighter Julius Fajotina,
will square off against one of the most underated and probably
most unknown fighter in Hawaii right now in Chad Pavao.
Chad
hasn't had a time to shine in the bigger events yet, but trust
me this young fighter is a stud in the making...Multiple time,
undefeated kickboxing champion who owns a win over current pro
MMA Hawaii top 10 fighter Tyson Nam. Don't leave your seat during
this fight!
-135lbs
Keola Silva (HMC) vs Mark Tajon (Bulls Pen)
Highly
touted HMC fighter Keola Silva makes his return to MMA against
Mark Tajon. Both fighters anxious to get back into the cage after
a little lay off...
Ola,
at one time was considered by many as the future of the 135lb
pro division after going undefeated in his amateur career and
impressively winning the 140lb X1 Tourney in which he beat 3
different fighters in one night to take home the belt. Unfortunately,
his pro debut ended in a no-contest due to accidental foul in
the 1st rd...and he's been sidelined without a match since. Not
because he wanted to, but because nobody wanted to face Ola,
until Mark Tajon stepped up.
Mark
is another up n comer who is over looked a lot by many. Not too
many people know that he owns a submission win over top 10 135er
Russel Doane...Tajon upsetted Doane right after Russell put himself
on the map with his KO win over Tyson Nam in ICON. He'll look
to play that spoiler roll again and move himself closer to the
crowning of our flyweight championship sometime later this year.
-145lbs
Justin Wong (HMC) vs Nui "Soljah Boy" Wheeler (Team
Souljahz)
-205lbs
Aron Rose (Team SYD) vs Larry Pereira (Team C.A.T.)
-135lbs
Joshua Santos (Lava MMA, Hilo) vs Jourdan Fontes (Inner Circle
Grappling)
-145lbs
Richard Barnard (Gods Army) vs Miles Hayes (Team M.A.C.P.)
-205lbs
Corey Basconis-Taum (freelance) vs Nathan Patopoff (Team C.A.T.)
-135lbs
Zachary Close (freelance) vs Steve Albanese (Team M.A.C.P.)
-145lbs
Pedro Garcia (freelance) vs Charles Matias (freelance)
-145lbs
Hizson Linkee (Gods Army) vs Layton Pacheco (freelance)
-125lbs
Joel Garcia (freelance) vs Jan Quimoyog (Inner Circle Grappling)
-155lbs
Ikaika Cabebe (freelance) vs Trey Corrales (Team C.A.T.)
-185lbs
Chris Santiago (Gods Army) vs Charles Hazelwood (Combat 50)
-140lbs
(female amateur bout)
Lii Furuta vs T.J. Rodrigues (Bazuko MMA)
Our
very first every female match in DESTINY MMA World Events!
-140lbs
Jonah Visante (Team SYD) vs Jai Troche (No Remorse/UFS)
-125lbs
Jaycobi Visante (Team SYD) vs Jamin Tayaba (Inner Circle Grappling)
FIGHT CARD SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Source: Destiny
|
AT
UFC 99, TERRY ETIM HAS 6 MONTHS TO UNLEASH
Terry Etim has lived, breathed, shed blood and hammered his training
for well over six months with Justin Buchholz in mind. Originally slated to fight at UFC 95,
the bout was scratched when his opponent pulled out due to an
undisclosed injury, only to be replaced with Brian Cobb.
Another
win later and the fight is back on for UFC 99 on Saturday night
in Germany. Etim is pumped.
“I
have been training for this guy for two long grueling camps now,
both of them 10 weeks long. So I am really looking forward to
finally making this happen,” explains the Liverpudlian.
So
has much changed in anticipation of this bout?
“Not
really, we analyzed him in depth at the beginning and we’re
still sticking to that plan.”
Styles
make fights and Etim is completely aware of this. He understands
that they each have their strengths and weaknesses and the key
to victory in his mind isn’t about being stuck on a predefined
path, his intention is to maximize his own chances of success.
“I
need to make him play to my strengths, where I feel I am at my
best," offers Etim. "I can handle any situation I am
put into.
“He
has won most of his fights in the first round, but I don’t
see that happening this time. I know he will want to take me
down, despite what he may say otherwise and when he does, he
will eat a few shots. I have been working so hard for this fight
that I really don’t see him having an edge on me.”
Etim
is confident at the moment, not only about his fight, but his
standing in the promotion as well. In a time where the UFC has
been announcing fighter cuts across its roster, Etim can rest
assured of his place having inked a new four-fight deal that
will take him deep into 2010.
“The
changing point for me in my career came when I beat Sam Stout.
I finally felt comfortable that this is my home, that I deserve
to be here, and it's reassuring to know that the UFC feels the
same way with this deal,” he commented.
Taking
into account the level of competition he has faced, and is now
up against, the fights will only get tougher, but the rewards
become greater.
“I
can’t look past this fight. If you look past a fight, you
get into trouble. It’s just not my way. I just want to win
this and then maybe get another two fights before the year is
up. I have to stay active.”
At
23 years old, Etim is at an age where he is arguably part of
the new wave of MMA competitors, guys that are complete in all
disciplines without a noticeable bias towards any particular
skill. He has elements of a fight that he may enjoy more, but
with more submission victories than TKO’s, you could be
fooled into thinking he preferred the ground, despite his clear
striking proficiency.
“I
try to pinpoint improvements and keep advancing in all areas:
wrestling, Thai, and ground," he said. "All the guys
I train with push me hard and it’s because of them that
I am where I am. Fighting is my life and I will always be involved
in it. I am a student of the game and I look up to people like
Georges St. Pierre.”
Some
fighters measure their success by titles, others by wealth and
fame. Etim measures his success by how much he improves his skills.
With a 12-2 record and five fights in the upper echelon of the
MMA circuit, the world is his oyster. His plan is the same now
as it was when he started – growth.
“I
look back at how much I have improved since I started in this
game and I take heart from that. I look at where I could be in
five years and then 10 years and that’s what motivates me.
I am always learning and always trying to bring on new skills.”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
UFC
99 IS AT 195, BUT 205 IS FRANKLIN'S HOME
Rich Franklin has caught the catchweight fever, but don’t
expect him to fall below 205 pounds for the foreseeable future.
This
Saturday, the former middleweight champion headlines UFC 99 with
Wanderlei Silva at 195 pounds, 10 lighter than his previous two
outings. For the third time, he’s crossing time zones for
a big fight, this one at the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany.
Silva
walks around between 210 and 220 pounds and is on his way down
to middleweight.
Both
have agendas in their divisions.
For
Franklin, it’s a chance to climb the ladder once again.
At middleweight, his prospects were slim.
“Basically,
(the UFC) made it pretty clear to me that they were putting me
in a gatekeeper position,” said Franklin. “I couldn’t
fight top contenders because they didn’t want me to fight
Anderson (Silva) again. Me fighting top contenders could possibly
eliminate title matches and that’s not something they were
interested in doing."
The
205-pound division has seen the title change hands four times
since the end of Chuck Liddell’s reign in May 2007.
“From
my position, it looked like I was going to end up fighting guys
on the back end of their title losses, which was something I
definitely wasn’t interested in doing for the rest of my
career," continued Franklin. "At which point I made
the decision I would move to light heavyweight.”
Conversely,
Silva’s future at 205 isn’t promising. The former Pride
champ hopes a victory over Franklin will propel him towards a
serious run at the 185-pound divisional title, where he has bad
blood with old friend Anderson Silva.
Franklin
is still trying bulk up at 205, where he fought much of his early
career, so 195 won’t be a problem. He was at 210 when MMAWeekly.com
spoke with him.
“As
far as I’m concerned, my next fight with Wanderlei Silva,
this one happens to be at a catchweight,” said Franklin.
“But he’s a 205-pound fighter, so winning this fight
would definitely put me in the mix of things at 205 pounds. How
close to the title it puts me, I’m not really sure, and
I really don’t care at this point and time. My main objective
is to win the next fight that’s in front of me, and if at
some point in time that turns into a title run, then great.”
So
far, fighting in foreign lands has been a double-edged sword.
On one hand, he gets the rock star treatment from fans that have
never seen a live UFC event, much less a star in the flesh. On
the other, he’s playing teacher again, getting questions
from 2000 in 2009. He has to get there earlier so his body adjusts
– an extra day for each time zone he crosses. Sometimes,
finding the right food is hard.
Financially,
it’s the same, he says.
“The
UFC has put me on three cards overseas now, and when they called
me and asked me to fight on the German card, there was no resistance
from me,” said Frankllin. “I don’t work on a percentage
of pay-per-view buys. The UFC bonuses me, they bonus me according
to what they feel like I earn, I guess, and that’s that.
My MO with the UFC is whatever they ask me to do, whatever they
need, I do for them. They’ve always treated me well.”
It’s
clear Franklin knows what to expect against Silva, though it
won’t make the fight any easier.
“We’ve
all seen Wanderlei fight many times,” he said. “You
know what he’s going to do. He’s going to time some
things and then he’s going to come in with his combinations,
at which point if he lands, great. If he doesn’t land, he’s
going to look to tie-up in the clinch and start throwing some
knees. Those are his big tools, and you’ve seen them time
and time again. If you try something new and it doesn’t
work out, you’re eventually going to go back to your bread
and butter anyway, and that’s what he does best, so that’s
what we need to definitely make sure we’re prepared for.”
He’s
unswayed by professional and armchair pundits who’ve questioned
Silva’s abilities after three knockout losses.
“That
thought process is out there that maybe Wanderlei has lost a
step,” said Franklin. "He’s also had a nice, impressive
victory as well. The punching power is still there, the destruction
is still there, and anything is possible with an explosive fighter.
I’m definitely not walking into this fight thinking I’m
fighting a beat-down version of him. As far as I’m concerned,
he’s just as dangerous now as he was when he was in Pride.”
There
are several cards remaining on the UFC’s 2009 calendar,
but Franklin doesn’t want to make any predictions on a return.
“It
depends on how much abuse I take in this fight,” he said.
“After the Henderson fight, I threw so many left leg kicks
that my shin and ankle have taken a tremendous amount of abuse.
I had trouble walking out of the stadium that night. It took
me a while until I was back on my feet ready to train. We’ll
see where I am after the fight. I would like to fight a third
time this year.”
As
for middleweight, only a “swan song” could bring him
back to the division that brought him a UFC belt.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
UFC
99: MUSTAPHA AL-TURK READY FOR CRO COP
If a man is less than fazed about the return of Mirko “Cro
Cop” Filipovic to the UFC, it is British heavyweight Mustapha
Al-Turk.
“I
was initially taken aback at the announcement, but hey, it’s
a big opportunity for me and since then I have just immersed
myself in training. He is an opponent like any other. I take
all of them seriously.”
The
encounter – which is slated to kick off the main card of
UFC 99 in Cologne, Germany, on the June 13 – will mark Al-Turk’s
second venture into the promotion’s heavyweight ranks following
a disappointing debut against Wolfslair product Cheick Kongo.
He is keen to make a different impression this time round.
“I
don’t know what happened to me in that fight,” explains
the heavyweight with a hint of confusion, adding, “it just
wasn’t me out there. Kongo did a really good job on me.
He was in the zone and all credit to him for that. It happened
the once and it won’t happen again. I was looking around
the whole time from the moment I started walking to the cage,
kind of lost in the moment.”
Unlike
a lot of the British guys that have made their debut on home
soil, Al-Turk was offered a chance to show his worth in Las Vegas
in a fight that took him away from his family over the Christmas
holidays. It was a tough fight that nobody wanted at the time
and it made an impression on him. Moving forward to Cro Cop,
he believes that his training will keep him on track and his
head in the right place this time.
“It’s
pretty short notice because of the opponent change. So I have
had to make some amendments to my game plan, such as the switch
to southpaw, but I am over that now and with the good guys we
have at London Shootfighters, I should be in a really good place
on the night,” he offers.
Analyze
his opponent and you draw a mix of conclusions. He has been knocked
out cold before by Kevin Randleman, and even more impressively
by Gabriel Gonzaga with his own signature high kick. But he has
also recorded an array of wins against top flight competition
that would make any fighter proud. Although he hasn’t shown
the same form that won him the Pride Open Weight Grand Prix,
he is a relatively unknown but dangerous prospect this time round.
Which Cro Cop will show up?
“I
certainly don’t see him as a spent force. I am taking him
very seriously as I think this is the biggest fight of my career
so far. I have to neutralize his offense and find my openings.
Knowing his abilities, I will take nothing for granted, but in
the back of my mind, I know he can be knocked out. We have seen
that before, so I need to find that opportunity.”
Ultimately,
Al-Turk feels that victory will be his and he doesn’t mind
how it comes, be it ground and pound, standing or via decision.
A win is a win and all he can see is his hand raised in glory
at the end of the encounter.
He
closes with a philosophical view of things, “I am not going
to limit myself and close doors on my chances. I will see what
he has for me and find a way to win with the tools I have been
given.”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
SOMETHING
TO PROVE, CRO COP RETURNS TO UFC
For Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic motivation is the sole
reason he fights at an elite level.
The
Croatian kickboxer turned MMA fighter Tuesday spoke to the media
of his return to the UFC after a 21-month absence. He faces British
fighter Mustapha Al-Turk at UFC 99 in Cologne, Germany on Saturday.
Filipovic
lost two of his three appearances in the Octagon after winning
the Pride Absolute Grand Prix in dominating fashion almost three
years ago. There were physical problems to contend with, Cro
Cop said, like his knee and foot, but mostly, his mind wasn't
right after the tournament.
“I
think I was just empty in my head,” he reflected. “It
was a head problem, not body. In my case, motivation is the biggest
thing. I remember in the Grand Prix final, I don’t want
to underestimate anybody, but anybody could enter the ring that
night, there was no chance for me to lose that night. I was just
so motivated I can’t explain.”
Cro
Cop returned to the country that made him a star after the UFC
debacle, winning two fights against serviceable opponents with
one no contest to top-ranked Alistair Overeem.
He
was recovering from a May knee surgery when he reached out to
UFC president Dana White.
“I
think I owe a lot to the UFC and the UFC fans,” he said.
“I owe a lot. Right after the surgery, when I was in the
hospital, I was just thinking and I had it in my mind, I will
fight in Cologne. Because UFC was coming to Germany, where (there’s
the) biggest Croatian community there, and it was my biggest
wish to participate there. Even my doctor didn’t believe
I would make it, but I did.”
White
would not confirm a one-fight deal with the Croatian star, but
said a formal deal was still being finalized. It was the first
time in nine years at the UFC helm that he’d booked a fighter
over the phone.
Cro
Cop said he was currently at 233 pounds and had shut out everything
in regular life to get ready for the fight.
“Nothing
but training and every morning I have to take my dogs out in
the forest, and that’s all I’m doing,” he said.
"I’m practically not going out of the house. That makes
me happy, and I want to stay that way. I’m staying out of
all things that can take out my concentration and energy for
training.”
Cro
Cop says he underestimated what it would take to fight in the
cage his first time in the UFC and will not do so this time around.
“It
was not so easy to adapt,” he said. “It’s much
easier to go from the cage to the ring than the ring to the cage.
Many experienced fighters from the UFC, they like to use the
cage, their elbows. It’s not so easy when someone puts you
on the wire, you just cannot move. In the ring, you can just
put your head out of the ropes, referee will stop the fight,
they will put you back to the middle of the ring, and it’s
much easier for escape. But if you’re on the wire and you
don’t know how to escape, you’re in trouble.”
Al-Turk,
primarily known as a ground and pound artist, would appear a
prime candidate to exploit the weakness, but Cro Cop says he’s
ready for wherever the fight goes.
“Definitely
Al-Turk will try to take me down. I watch his fights, but even
if he goes to the ground, so what,” said Cro Cop. “I
will get back on my feet again.”
Cro
Cop said a title shot was his primary motivation for returning
to the cage.
“Like
every fighter in the world in the beginning of their career,
the motivation for most of them is money, how to secure his life,
the life of his family,” he said. “Today, those things
are behind me, but I have the strongest motivation... I just
want to return to the top. I just want to prove to everyone that
they were wrong.”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
DESPITE
HEADACHES, UFC 99 & 101 NEARLY SOLD OUT
Resistance be damned, UFC president Dana White says UFC 99 will
go on.
The
promotion’s first trip to Germany hasn’t exactly been
smooth sailing.
Front
page news decrying mixed martial arts as a bloodsport was the
first harbinger of trouble. Now, television partner Setanta Sports
could go under before it gets a chance to televise the event
for British audiences.
All
in a day’s work, says White.
“The
fight business is so much fun, it’s always fun stuff happening,”
laughed White on a Tuesday teleconference announcing Mirko "Cro
Cop" Filipovic's UFC return. “I mean, what are you
gonna do? There’s nothing we can do. We’re going to
have to roll with this thing and see what happens.”
White
assured the media his staff was “all over it,” and
promised a solution if there were any last minute changes in
the broadcast truck. There are several U.K.-based networks that
could step into the mix, though White did not detail any ongoing
negotiations.
The
political heat, White could take.
“It’s
still there, but it’s nothing new,” he said. “This
is what we do. I remember when we went to the U.K. Lorenzo and
I were literally in a hotel room, dealing with stuff right up
until we went to the event. It’s all part of the process.
This is nothing new – just this is a little more public
than most places we go to.
“Everybody
always asks me if I’m frustrated, if I’m aggravated.
No, I’m used to it. It’s what we do. It takes time.
We get in there, we educate people, and we get it going.”
A
goal that once looked insurmountable – MMA in New York –
was realized in the Empire State’s assembly last week when
the Tourism, Sports, and Arts Committee passed legislation to
legalize the sport.
“I
was very confident we’d get New York done,” continued
White. “We got Germany done, we’re going for France
next. It’s all just a process.”
The
UFC president said he was very happy with ticket sales for the
promotion’s next two trips outside Las Vegas.
“Philly’s
almost sold out already,” he said. “We’re almost
sold out in Germany right now. This sport isn’t going anywhere.”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
JAKE
SHIELDS ONLY WANTS BIG FIGHTS NOW
"I just want to do the big fights," said Jake Shields
after his first-round submission of No. 2 ranked middleweight
Robbie Lawler at Strikeforce on Saturday night. "I think
I showed I can fight at both. I bulked up a little for this fight.
I'm still moving good. I'm in great shape. I think I can fight
at either weight.
"Obviously
guys are a little bigger at middleweight, but I feel like I'm
faster there, so I'll fight where ever they want me."
Talking
to MMAWeekly.com on Monday, Shields added, "I felt really
comfortable up there. Robbie's obviously a strong guy, but I
didn't feel overwhelmed by him at all. I definitely could deal
with him."
Having
run roughshod over the majority of the welterweight competition
in the mixed martial arts world outside of the Ultimate Fighting
Championship, Shields, currently the No. 4 ranked welterweight
fighter in the world, really has no choice but to try his hand
in another weight class.
The
majority of the 170-pound Top 10 fighters in the world are under
contract to the UFC, and that promotion's resistance to working
with other promoters severely limits the opposition for Shields
at the top of the class.
Of
course, the win over Lawler quickly opened doors for Shields,
who wasted no time in capitalizing on his newly found prominence
in the middleweight category.
"I
want the title. Cung Le's a good friend of mine, but I think
Cung, you either got to give me that belt or you have to step
up and fight me," said Shields, commenting on the Strikeforce
middleweight belt. "You're a great friend of mine, but that
belt, I want it."
Critics
of Shields' move would point out that he appeared to have a lot
of trouble with the stand-up game in the fight with Lawler. But
then again, that's never been the strongest part of his game,
even at welterweight, not to mention that he's not the only fighter,
welterweight or middleweight, to have trouble standing with Lawler.
"I
locked up, but he's a bull and I realized I didn't want to try
and fight Robbie with power versus power. I got thrown around
in the clinch. I felt his power, so I changed my game plan a
little bit," said Shields, intelligently adjusting his strategy
to cope with Lawler's strength. "I went to the outside.
I was trying to do a little stand-up and get him throwing on
me so I could shoot from there."
He
was eventually able to use what he knows best, his submission
game, to lock Lawler up in a guillotine choke that caused the
larger man to submit.
If
he gets the fight he wants, with Cung Le, he'll have to count
on the same sort of strategy. Le is also larger and stronger
than Shields, and much like Lawler, his forte is striking, albeit
of a more technical variety.
"I
think for me right now, the biggest fight probably would be Cung
Le. I have a feeling he's probably not gonna want to do that,
so we're just gonna have to see what happens."
Shields
next move hasn't yet been revealed, but he's already of the mind
that he'll be meeting Lawler in the cage again down the road.
"It
was a good fight... I wouldn't be surprised a few years down
the road me and Robbie will meet again. It was just my night."
Source: MMA Weekly
|
M-1
EXEC CONTINUES UFC PLEA FOR FEDOR FIGHT
Publicly, M-1 Global COO Joost Raimond is still bullish on the
prospect of co-promoting with the UFC.
One-on-one,
he admits his company’s calls have fallen on deaf ears.
“It’s
an invitation we’ve been screaming on the tops of roofs
for two years,” Raimond told MMAWeekly.com following the
Los Angeles press conference for Affliction “Trilogy.”
Still,
he made his pitch once again, both in New York and Los Angeles.
His hope: to break the stalemate and bring M-1 Global and the
UFC to the negotiating table. It was half challenge, half plea.
“I
think one of our great competitors has always been the UFC and
still is the UFC,” Raimond said Thursday in Hollywood. “I
think there’s a big difference, though. Our standpoint towards
MMA is that it’s all about the fights, it’s all about
the athletes, it’s all about us trying to bring you the
best fights possible, and bringing out the true champions.
“I’m
not a sucker for statistics, but we did a little bit of homework,
and we came up with an interesting fact. If you look at the UFC
over history, if you include the interim heavyweight champions,
they’ve had 17 champions in total. Mr. Fedor Emelianenko
has done eight fights against UFC champions, against five different
opponents. If we exclude his fights against Mr. Nogueira, who
was a formidable opponent in his time, Fedor spent less than
15 minutes in the ring with these UFC champions and defeated
them all. What we would like to see is that in future, we bring
out the champions from any organization, whether it’s UFC
or another organization, and we bring out the best fights.
“I’d
like to reach out with an invitation to Mr. Dana White, Mr. Brock
Lesnar, and Mr. Frank Mir to come out to our show, the Trilogy
show, and I’m sure we can arrange some front seat tickets,
and they can watch a real championship fight. Hopefully we can
follow up in the same lines as what the UFC has done for Mr.
Mirko Cro Cop in a one-fight deal. I think we can make that happen
for other occasions, and we’d like to make that happen.”
Raimond
said it’s been two years since an offer was on the table
from the Las Vegas-based promotion. Emelianenko and manager Vadim
Finkelstein then rejected the deal, saying it was too restrictive.
Fans
and media continue to hound both companies with questions about
a possible Octagon debut for the Russian star.
Raimond
says M-1 Global and the UFC remain in contact, although no negotiations
have taken place.
“There’s
ongoing communication once and a while, but not always very specific,”
he said. “It’s not that they come out with a true proposal.
We have a standing invitation to bring out their fighters and
match them up against fighters from our organization or other
organizations to bring out the best fights.”
M-1’s
hope is that fans will eventually force the UFC to make a deal.
“I
think the only way that the UFC will perhaps open up a little
bit, and allow their fighters to go elsewhere and compete is
when the fans ask for it,” said Raimond. “It’s
not going to happen if I ask for it, but if the fans ask for
it, it may.”
Raimond
laughed when informed of a viral campaign to chant Emelianenko’s
name during UFC 100 next month.
“That
would be a good idea,” he said. “That would be fun.”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
WANDERLEI
SILVA AGAINST THE ROPES AT UFC 99
With
a nickname like "The Axe Murderer," you're either one
of two things: a serial killer or one of the top fighters in
the world.
Probably
best described as "happy go lucky" outside of the cage,
Wanderlei Silva
falls into the latter category.
But
in his fight with Rich Franklin at UFC 99 on Saturday, a 195-pound
catchweight bout, Silva finds himself fighting for his reputation,
and quite possibly, his future within the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Having
lost four of his last five bouts, albeit all to world-class opposition,
he knows where he stands.
"I
need to (win). Every time I want to give the great show. I like
to shake the emotions. This sport, you need to (win). For me,
personally, (win) or lose, it no matter. I like the emotion this
sport has. But this time I need to fight for (win). I really
need this."
In
Franklin, Silva also realizes that coming out with a win is no
small task. He relishes the fight, as he always does, but he
knows that Franklin poses a significant threat.
"He's
a tough guy. He's complete. He's good on the ground; very, very
good stand-up. I think him and I are going to have a very exciting
fight," said Silva in his assessment. But even knowing where
he stands, he has no exit plan. "Every time I'm fighting
against the rope. I'm going, going. I never give up."
Besides,
as he is descending to the 185-pound division, there is a fight
that he very much wants, against former Chute Boxe teammate Anderson
Silva, the current UFC middleweight champion and a training partner
of Franklin's for this UFC 99 bout.
"Of
course everyone want to fight the champion. I want to fight with
him," said Wanderlei of the other Silva. The two have been
part of an escalating war of words in recent weeks, Wanderlei
especially critical of his former training partner's performance
in recent bouts.
"Maybe
now, after I pass Rich, it's possible I fight for the champion.
I want to fight Anderson.
"Of
course, I would have a lot of emotion (fighting him) cause I
train with him a lot of times and I know his faults and he know
my faults. I trained a lot after he leave. He train a lot. But
I see him fight many, many times; maybe I know what I need to
know to beat him."
First
he has to know how to beat Rich Franklin at UFC 99 or a shot
at Anderson at middleweight really makes no sense to the promotion
or the fans. Winning one of his last five fights, and one of
three in the Octagon, Wanderlei believes he has made the necessary
adjustments to take a step forward and defeat Franklin.
"Before,
I change too much my life. I go from my old gym, I move here.
Now I don't have more excuse because I have the gym, I have the
coach, I have the sparrings, I have it all," he explained
in reference to recently opening his own gym, the Wand Fight
Team Training Center, in Las Vegas.
"I'm
training very well to fight in Octagon. I like to fight in Octagon.
Now I am training full time in Octagon. I have the technique
with the fence for to help me in the fight."
If
he hasn't found the proper approach to fighting in the Octagon,
it may well be time for Wanderlei to re-consider his future,
but he's not quite ready to go there.
"I
am 33, but I start when I am 13. I have 20 years on my career.
The body feelings, you don't want to stop. I love to fight. I
wake up in the morning and I'm going to fight, I go to train.
Now I have a gym, I come in here and teach class, but it's different.
I don't' know what's gonna happen after I'm stopping (fighting)."
And,
for now at least, he doesn't need to consider life after fighting.
Right now, he is all focused on Rich Franklin and making the
training in his own Octagon in Las Vegas pay off.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
MCFEDRIES
KICKED OUT OF MFS GYM, HOPES TO RECONCILE
Drew McFedries’ comments at UFC 98 have cost him his place
in Pat Miletich’s gym.
The
hard-slugging middleweight Wednesday told MMAWeekly.com he has
been kicked out of MFS Elite’s flagship training center
in Bettendorf, Ia.
Following
a 37-second destruction of Xavier Foupa-Pokam last month, McFedries
said his work with Matt Pena and the H.I.T. Squad, headed by
former MFS regulars Matt Hughes and Robbie Lawler, was a key
factor in his victory.
“I
really didn’t get a lot of support from my own team at MFS,”
said McFedries. “Which is sad, that’s my hometown.”
McFedries
said Miletich contacted him after the fight and told him it was
“time to move on.” After returning to Bettendorf, McFedries
attended a meeting with the gym’s regulars, including Miletich,
and the decision was made final.
Miletich
initially told AOL Fanhouse he was taken aback by McFedries’
statement.
"My
entire team and myself were furious with Drew McFedries because
we worked our ass off to get him ready for that fight,"
he said. "Four different guys offered to go with him to
that fight (and) he turned them all down. He went and took one
of his buddies to the fight. Then, he not only thanked guys from
another camp, which is fine, but it could have stopped there.
But to say what he said about his teammates and his team for
no logical reason was wrong. He needs to either apologize to
his team and do an interview stating the true facts of what went
on, or I think there's probably going to be some issues.”
McFedries
said his comments came from difficulties prior to the fight in
getting MFS teammates to corner him. After his comments, he spoke
to several of them about the issue.
“I
see their reasoning, but they just never brought it up to me,”
he said. “I guess those were the things we needed to work
out, have a sit down and have a back and forth about what was
going on in the gym. And at that point, it was too late. I think
we could have had more of a resolution.”
Miletich
initially declined comment on the dismissal. Later, he wrote
via text message that McFedries “is a good guy, but needs
to explore other opportunities so he appreciates what he had
here.”
While
McFedries acknowledges he chose his words poorly, he still believes
the issue exists.
“I
think there are other guys in the gym that feel the same way,”
he said. “But they’re not going to speak up, because
they’re afraid, they’re afraid of the same result happening
to them that happened to me.”
He
did not know what his next move was.
“I’m
unaffiliated,” he said. “All my loyalties have been
to Pat Miletich’s gym, period. No matter where he is, that’s
where my loyalties have gone. I was hoping we could talk and
fix things, rather than him just kicking me out. Because things
don’t change then.
“I
may need to go and try some other people, but I would definitely
like to reconcile. I do want to train there. That’s the
only place I’ve ever wanted to be at. I think Pat Miletich
has a great amount of knowledge. He’s helped me out in so
many ways that I can’t even name.
"I
think he’s taking this situation as me trying to slander
him, but it’s not. I said what I said. Was it the correct
statement? No. I wish I could go back and clarify things. I put
this general statement out there, and people took from it what
they wanted. I was upset that I don’t have the guys that
I trained with at my match.”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
CSAC
SUSPENDS SEVEN FIGHTERS AFTER WEC 41
Seven fighters will sit on the bench following Sunday's record-setting
WEC 41 in Sacramento, Calif.
The
California State Athletic Commission on Wednesday released the
names and terms of fighter's suspensions.
Former
WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber, who released x-rays
of his mangled right hand following his unsuccessful rematch
against current champ Mike Brown, headed the injury list.
Here
are the notes from the CSAC's release:
Urijah
Faber--suspended 180/180 or cleared by physican for broken right
hand, possible broken left hand as well.
Cub
Swanson--suspended 180/180 head injury need CT scan, facial lacerations.
Manny
Gamburyan--suspended 180/180 or physician clearance broken right
hand.
John
Franchi--suspended 60/60 left cheek laceration.
Antonio
Banuelos--suspended 180/180 or cleared by Opthmological physican
for right eye cornia no reflex.
Noah
Thomas--suspended 60/60 for facial lacerations and 180/180 (or
clear by physican) for nasal fracture.
Seth
Dikun--suspended x-ray right foot possible fraxture 180/180 or
clear by physican.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Fighters'
Club TV Tuesdays!
Channel
52
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!
|
|