Upcoming
Events
Do you
want to list an event on Onzuka.com?
Contact
Us
(All events on Oahu, unless noted)
2010
November
Aloha State BJJ Championships: Final Conflict
(BJJ & Sub Grappling)
(Kaiser H.S. Gym)
August
Hawaiian Open Championships of BJJ
(BJJ & Sub Grappling)
(Kaiser H.S. Gym)
3/20/10
Hawaiian Championships of BJJ
(BJJ & Sub Grappling)
(Kaiser H.S. Gym)
3/10/10
Sera's Kajukenbo Tournament
(Kumite, Katas, Grappling)
(Maui War Memorial Gym, Wailuku, Maui)
3/6/10
Destiny Fast N Furious
(MMA)
(Level 4 RHSC)
2/27/10
Hawaiian Kimono Combat
(BJJ)
(PCHS Gym)
2/19/10
808 Battleground
(MMA)
(Filcom, Waipahu)
2/6/10
UpNUp 6: Unstoppable
(MMA)
(Maui War Memorial Gym, Wailuku, Maui)
2/5/10
Man Up & Stand Up
(Kickboxing)
(Waipahu Filcom)
1/30/10
Destiny
(Level 4,
Royal HI Shopping Ctr)
(MMA)
Quest for Champions
(Pankration/Sub Grappling)
(Kalani HS)
1/23/10
Kauai Knockout Championship Total Domination
(MMA & Kickboxing)
(Kauai War Memorial Convention Center, Lihue, Kauai)
1/17/10
X1: Showdown In Waipahu
(Boxing, Kickboxing, MMA)
(Waipahu H.S. Gym)
|
|
February
2010 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
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
Your Complete Martial Arts School!
Click here for pricing and more
information!
O2 Martial Arts features Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu taught by Relson
Gracie Black Belts Chris and Mike Onzuka and Shane Agena as well
as a number of brown and purple belts.
We also offer a Boxing and Kickboxing classes with a staff that
is unmatched. Boxing, Kickboxing, and MMA champions Kaleo Kwan
and PJ Dean as well as master boxing instructor Chris Slavens
provide incredibly detailed instruction of the sweet science.
To top it off, Ian Beltran & Erwin Legaspi heads our Kali-Escrima
classes (Filipino Stickfighting) who were directly trained under
the legendary Snookie Sanchez.
Just a beginner with no background? Perfect! We teach you from
the ground up!
Experienced martial artist that wants to fine tune your skill?
Our school is for you!
If you want to learn martial arts by masters of their trade in
a friendly and family environment, O2 Martial Arts Academy is
the place for you!
|
Want to Contact
Us? Shoot us an email by Clicking Here!
Follow O2 Martial Arts news via Twitter at:
http://www.twitter.com/O2MAA
Quote
of the Day
"If
you want to make peace, you don't talk to your friends. You talk
to your enemies."
Moshe Dayan, 1915-1981
|
Officials
Clinics
Hello MMA,
Martial Arts, and Boxing Community,
If any club or interested parties want to compete in amateur
boxing or become a judge, referee, or coach.
Email me at bkawano@aol.com
Boxing show
on Feb. 20th at Waimea.
Boxing
show on Feb. 27th in Kapaa, Kauai.
Officials Clinic in Kapolei on March 6th.
Boxing event on March 13th, in Puna and a tentative Officials
or Coaches Clinic on March 20th. First show on Oahu is April
3rd, at Palolo District Park.
All Coaches, Officials, have to be registered and certified.
Boxers must register locally.
For more contact and registration info go to www.amateurboxingofhawaii.com
Thank You,
Bruce Kawano
Amateur Boxing of Hawaii Interm Manager.
Ringside Board of Advisors.
NMU Task Force Appointed Member.
|
UFC
110 2/20 in Australia at Acer Arena Today!
By Zach
Arnold
Dark
matches
¦Light
Heavyweights: James Te Huna vs. Igor Pokrajac
¦Middleweights: CB Dollaway vs. Goran Reljic
¦Welterweights: Chris Lytle vs. Brian Foster
¦Light Heavyweights: Stephan Bonnar vs. Krzysztof Soszynski
Main card
¦Heavyweights:
Mirko Cro Cop vs. Anthony Perosh
¦Light Heavyweights: Keith Jardine vs. Ryan Bader
¦Lightweights: Joe Stevenson vs. George Sotiropoulos
¦Middleweights: Wanderlei Silva vs. Michael Bisping
¦Heavyweights: Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Cain Velasquez
Source: Fight Opinion
|
UFC
110 Preview and Predictions on Nogueira vs. Velasquez, More
By Michael
David Smith
The UFC is heading to Australia for the first time this weekend
for UFC 110, and we've got the full preview and predictions right
here.
What:
UFC 110: Nogueira vs. Velasquez
When:
The non-televised undercard starts at 7:30PM ET Saturday (Sunday
morning in Australia) and the pay-per-view card starts at 10PM
ET.
Where:
Acer Arena, Sydney
Predictions
on the five pay-per-view fights:
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Cain Velasquez
The main event is a clash of experience vs. youth, with the battle-tested
Nogueira taking on the 7-0 upstart Velasquez. Velasquez is bigger
and stronger and represents the changing face of MMA in some
ways, with his superior athletic background. But I believe the
old guard is going to come out ahead in this one because I don't
think Velasquez is quite ready to be tested on the ground by
someone who practices Brazilian jiu jitsu at Nogueira's level.
Pick: Nogueira
Wanderlei
SIlva vs. Michael Bisping
This is another match-up featuring a Brazilian legend taking
on a younger, less experienced opponent, although the gap in
experience between Silva and Bisping isn't quite as big as that
between Nogueira and Velasquez. Silva is a horrendous 1-5 in
his last six fights, but all six of those opponents were better
than Bisping. If Silva loses this bout you'd have to say he's
officially finished as a high-level mixed martial artist, and
if he gets knocked out -- as he did in four of those five losses
-- you'd have to say he should consider retiring for his own
health. But I still believe Silva has a great performance left
in him, and I think we'll see that great performance against
Bisping.
Pick: Silva
Joe
Stevenson vs. George Sotiropoulos
Sotiropoulos is the only Australian on the pay-per-view card,
so he'll be a huge fan favorite. Sotiropoulos has won all four
of his UFC fights and has finished them all, but he hasn't faced
anyone nearly as good as Stevenson, who should win this fight
decisively.
Pick: Stevenson
Keith
Jardine vs. Ryan Bader
Jardine has an awkward style that makes him a big match-up problem
for anyone, and he's a big step up in competition for Bader.
But I think Bader, the former Ultimate Fighter winner, is one
of the best light heavyweight prospects in the sport and will
use his superior strength and his wrestling base to take Jardine
down and beat him on the ground.
Pick: Bader
Mirko
Cro Cop vs. Anthony Perosh
Fedor Emelianenko and Kenny Florian made some interesting comments
recently about how Cro Cop has lost his competitive fire, and
I think they have a good point. But Cro Cop is so much more advanced
in his striking than Perosh (who took the fight on two days'
notice after Ben Rothwell dropped out with an illness) that Cro
Cop should get an easy TKO win.
Pick: Cro Cop
Source: MMA Fighting
|
UFC
110 Preview: The Main Card
by Tomas
Rios
The relationship between America and Australia has always been
a bit one-sided. Americans were given the greatness of “Crocodile
Dundee,” beer cans the size of small towns and the backdrop
for the post-apocalyptic awesomeness of “Mad Max.”
In return, Australians received the death and pestilence that
comes with hosting a season of “The Real World.”
UFC
110 “Nogueira vs. Velasquez” looks to even the score
this Saturday at the Acer Arena in Sydney, Australia, as the
UFC sets its sights on the land Down Under.
An
inter-generational heavyweight bout featuring Brazilian legend
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and the unbeaten Cain Velasquez will
headline the show and could shape the short- and long-term future
of the division. More morsels of tasty violence back up the main
event, as Wanderlei Silva boots up his middleweight run against
Michael Bisping and undefeated super wrestler Ryan Bader steps
into the deep end of the pool against Keith Jardine.
Antonio
Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Cain Velasquez
The
Breakdown: Any way one looks at this fight, it comes down to
how much Nogueira has left in his tank -- a tank that survived
being spiked by Bob Sapp, grounded-and-pounded into figurative
paste by Fedor Emelianenko and any other number of absurd beatings
the Brazilian has absorbed.
Velasquez,
however, should fear the Nogueira who handled Randy Couture at
UFC 102. No one can deny Velasquez’s prodigious talent,
but this fight represents his first foray into the big leagues
of the heavyweight division, and his ground-and-pound-centric
style puts him right in Nogueira’s wheelhouse -- the guard.
Perhaps the most impressive part of Nogueira’s performance
against Couture was that he not only neutralized the hall of
famer in the guard but repeatedly swept him and strung together
submission attempts. However, Couture is in the twilight of his
career; Velasquez represents a bigger, younger and more dynamic
challenge.
One
skill that Velasquez possesses -- his deft guard passing at mid
takedown -- will give Nogueira problems. Passing the Brazilian’s
guard can be akin to escaping a Supermax prison, but Velasquez
almost always positions himself to land past the guard when executing
takedowns, and his fluid movement on the mat makes it difficult
for his opponents to regain guard.
Should
Velasquez go the ground-and-pound route, Nogueira will have to
rely on his submission savvy, not only to regain guard but to
work under the relentless pressure his quarry brings. Of course,
Velasquez’s supreme wrestling gives him the luxury of choosing
where the bout goes and when it goes there.
It
has never been difficult to draw Nogueira into a striking match,
and while Velasquez cannot straight-up outbox the Brazilian,
he has proven nasty in close quarters. Nogueira’s reach
and power make him a solid boxer, but he does not control range
well, and his footwork has slowed considerably. That will give
Velasquez plenty of opportunity to step inside and force “Minotauro”
into a phone booth fight.
Nogueira
has made a career out of taking everything his opponents can
bring and turning the tables in the blink of an eye. Velasquez
may have responded to every step up in competition the UFC has
handed him, but nothing can prepare him for this test.
The
Bottom Line: This will be a strong fight, and neither fighter
will dominate it. Nogueira will repeatedly clip Velasquez as
he advances and will give him fits on the mat. Expect the American
Kickboxing Academy product to respond by throwing the entire
kitchen at the Brazilian jiu-jitsu demigod, in the clinch and
from top control. A coin-flip decision goes to Velasquez, and
the rest of the UFC heavyweight division will have someone new
to worry about.
Wanderlei
Silva vs. Michael Bisping
The
Breakdown: Hard to believe that Silva, a man who has enjoyed
one of the most dominant careers the sport has ever seen, has
lost five of his last six fights. His move down to the middleweight
division serves as his proverbial last stand, but a desperate
Silva might be the most dangerous human imaginable, physiologically
speaking.
Bisping
should be thankful that his whole attack has been built around
the stick-and-move philosophy, which will be the only way he
survives this fight. However, Bisping lacks the necessary power
behind his strikes, and the only way to stand one’s ground
against “The Axe Murderer” is to crack him hard and
often. Bisping was not built to do so. Silva’s chin has
been problematic for him throughout his career, but he can take
anything Bisping throws and walk him down, much like Dan Henderson
did at UFC 100. Silva should be even better with that strategy
since his leg kicks are an underrated part of his repertoire
and will go a long way towards taking the spring out of Bisping’s
happy feet.
Getting
the fight horizontal will be an appealing option for Bisping,
but his offensive wrestling consists mostly of telegraphed leg
attacks, which will expose him to the possibility of getting
locked up in the clinch with a professional sociopath. Regardless,
Bisping does not have the game to outwrestle and control Silva
for the better part of 15 minutes.
Those
who cannot hurt or take down Silva usually come up short. Bisping
cannot do either, and the idea of him sticking and moving without
sooner or later getting short-circuited seems like a stretch
of the laws of probability.
The
Bottom Line: This appears to be the best high-profile middleweight
fight Silva could have drawn, and it will show when he hunts
down Bisping. The Brit will have to make his own last stand once
Silva starts to connect, and he will pay with brain cells as
“The Axe Murderer” connects on a vintage clinch combination
of knees for a technical knockout win.
Joe
Stevenson vs. George Sotiropoulos
The
Breakdown: Putting together a 4-0 record in the UFC normally
secures one some hype, but Sotiropoulos has remained all but
anonymous despite his Octagon success thanks to his spot as a
regular preliminary card competitor. That ends with Sotiropoulos’
first dip into the main card pool against Stevenson, a perennial
lightweight contender and Satoru Kitaoka clone.
Keeping
that undefeated mark intact will come down to Sotiropoulos’
ability, or lack thereof, to force Stevenson to work off his
back. Using top control to mesh together his rabid ground-and-pound
and Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills has become the backbone of Stevenson’s
attack. Explosive leg attacks and a newfound ability to combine
takedown techniques make Stevenson a slick wrestler. However,
his guard has always been the Achilles’ heel of his grappling
game, and Sotiropoulos has proven dangerous from top control.
With that said, Sotiropoulos will never be confused as Stevenson’s
equal as a wrestler, and he has not shown himself as an adept
enough striker to keep Stevenson on the end of his jab for the
entire fight.
What’s
more, Sotiropoulos lacks the punching power needed to serve Stevenson
a chin check special. Meanwhile, Stevenson can always fall back
on his wrestling and top control, which should be enough to at
least break even with Sotiropoulos on the mat.
The
Bottom Line: All the hard work on the undercard will go for naught
for Sotiropoulos, as he ends up outclassed in front of his hometown
crowd. Stopping the tough Aussie will be a bridge too far for
“Daddy,” but Stevenson will earn a well-appointed decision
over Sotiropoulos with pitch-perfect top control.
Keith
Jardine vs. Ryan Bader
The
Breakdown: Winning “The Ultimate Fighter” comes with
its perks: plenty of publicity, sponsors throwing gold bricks
wrapped in contracts and matchmaking designed to make one look
like a star. The last of those perks comes with an expiration
date, and Bader’s ride on Easy Street will take a hard right
turn when he takes on Jardine.
How
Bader handles his promotion to the upper crust of the light heavyweight
class depends largely on his ground-and-pound. A powerful overhand
right and some decent fundamentals is about all the masses have
seen from Bader on the feet, and those are nowhere near enough
to make up the difference in striking ability with Jardine.
Notorious
for his unorthodox yet oddly effective striking style, Jardine
will starch Bader given the opportunity, but that depends largely
on the undefeated Arizona Combat Sports standout since Bader
can drag his wild-eyed quarry to the mat any time he pleases.
Throughout his Octagon run, Bader has shown uncommon discipline
for such a young fighter by sticking to his bread and butter
and only testing his striking and grappling when the circumstances
are right.
Having
that composure will help his cause, as Bader will need to be
all ground-and-pound all the time to keep his facial structure
intact. Unless he suddenly decides to play Rock ’Em Sock
’Em robots with Jardine, he has all the tools to win with
little difficulty.
The
Bottom Line: There may be an alternate dimension out there where
Bader rams his chin into Jardine’s punches and forces Mike
Goldberg to declare a new “greatest knockout in UFC history”
for what seems like the 50,000th time, but that dimension exists
somewhere far away from Sydney, Australia. Do not expect anything
terribly exciting, as Bader takes a ground-and-pound-fueled decision.
Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic vs. Ben Rothwell
The
Breakdown: On a card full of fighters making potential last stands,
no fighter has been painted into as deep a corner as Filipovic.
Once thought to be the future of the heavyweight division, the
Croatian’s career has been derailed by injuries and time
to such a degree that a loss to Rothwell may spell the end of
his days as anything better than a sub-standard gatekeeper.
Rothwell
will at least be willing to go toe-to-toe with “Cro Cop,”
but that does not mask the fact that Filipovic is not the same
kind of striker he once was. In Filipovic’s defense, most
of his struggles come against opponents who can neutralize his
kicks by circling to the left and outboxing him -- something
Rothwell cannot do. Circling away from Filipovic’s kicks
takes a certain technical acumen the former International Fight
League standout has not shown throughout his career. Rothwell’s
game consists mostly of mauling and brute force, which does not
seem like a bad approach for someone the size of the Eastern
seaboard.
If
Filipovic has deteriorated further, this fight might be out of
reach for him. However, if there exists even a tiny bit of his
old self, he has more than enough for Rothwell. Hoping for a
return to form for Filipovic has become a favorite hobby of his
hardcore fans, but there has yet to be any reason to believe
that will happen.
The
Bottom Line: Even the greats fall to pieces, but faded greatness
more often than not beats out mediocrity. A full-fledged renaissance
for Croatia’s favorite fighting son may be a pipe dream,
but that does not mean he will implode here. A possible last
hurrah for Filipovic ends with his taking a labored TKO win.
Source: Sherdog
|
UFC
110 Preview: The Prelims
by Tomas
Rios
The UFC 110 prelims are missing the main card’s collection
of name attractions but make up for it with a motley crew of
fights that delivers everything from a Croatian super-prospect
on the mend to the return of Rock and Rumble to the Octagon.
Throw in a main card worthy welterweight scrap and plenty of
local Aussie flavor, and you’ve got yourself some quality
MMA.
Read
on and get down with the knowledge so you can impress your mildly
buzzed friends come pay-per-view time. And remember, drunk people
will take any bet no matter the odds.
Chris
Lytle vs. Brian Foster
The
Breakdown: Say hello to your favorite fight of the undercard,
as Lytle looks to win his fourth straight Fight of the Night
award by taking on the youthfully hyperactive Foster.
A
lot of Lytle’s recent run of violent excitement is owed
to his habit of simply going along with whatever his opponent
wants to do. Not a good idea against Foster, who is rapidly developing
into a nasty striker and physically dominating wrestler as evidenced
by his stunning dismantling of Brock Larson at UFC 106. While
seeing Lytle adopt a more aggressive style has been a welcome
change from his passive approach of old, he doesn’t have
the brute physicality to keep up with Foster in a firefight.
Lytle
is certainly the more fundamentally sound striker. Odds are he’s
going to end up on his back, though, dealing with Foster’s
ground-and-pound long before he can measure a kill-shot. Again,
Lytle may be the more technically proficient grappler, but it
won’t matter much if he can’t corral Foster’s
offensive onslaught.
Banking
on youthful mistakes and veteran savvy is Lytle’s best and
likely only bet, which doesn’t bode well for his chances.
Foster will not only control where this fight goes and when but
also the pace. That right there puts Lytle in a Grand Canyon-sized
hole.
The
Bottom Line: While Foster will get the better of Lytle throughout,
bank on a quality scrap with Lytle testing his quicksilver counterpart
every step of the way. Foster will pass those tests en route
to an impressive unanimous decision nod.
Stephan
Bonnar vs. Krzysztof Soszynski
The
Breakdown: Bonnar’s classic first encounter with Forrest
Griffin will probably ensure that he’ll have a spot in the
UFC until the end of time, but his recent struggles have some
critics suggesting he should move on. Even worse for Bonnar,
Soszynski isn’t the kind of guy to try and get healthy against.
Vastly
underappreciated, Soszynski has developed into a dangerous puncher
and dominating fighter from top control thanks to his trademark
arm-snapping kimura and buck nasty ground-and-pound. One way
or another, it doesn’t look good for Bonnar, who lacks the
power to back Soszynski off and definitely can’t stop the
nouveau Polish hammer from taking him down.
Just
watch Bonnar’s fight with Mark Coleman at UFC 100, and you’ll
see that he’s a fighter who’s unsure of what he wants
to do in the cage. Contrast that with Soszynski, who is single-minded
in his approach and can run over anyone unprepared or unable
to force him out of his comfort zone.
If
you can’t out-strike or out-wrestle Soszynski, beating him
is about as likely as a profitable Tara Reid movie.
The
Bottom Line: If Bonnar’s UFC career is in jeopardy, Soszynski
won’t help matters. Watch for Soszynski to end this one
with a kimura.
C.B.
Dollaway vs. Goran Reljic
The
Breakdown: Career-threatening back problems put Reljic on the
proverbial shelf for nearly two full years, but a medically miraculous
recovery has him back in the Octagon to take on Dollaway. Once
regarded as a surefire middleweight contender in the making,
Dollaway has struggled some due to his porous submission defense.
Developing
a proper awareness of submissions is a challenging task, and
Dollaway hasn’t been up to it thus far. Not a good weakness
to have considering Reljic’s sterling submission skills
and superior striking, which will have Dollaway looking for takedowns
early and often.
It’s
a classic fightsport catch-22. Dollaway probably doesn’t
have the striking to survive on the feet with Reljic, but his
lacking submission defense puts him in danger on the mat too.
Dollaway’s hopes may hinge on just how healthy Reljic’s
back really is.
A
serious back injury is perhaps the most difficult injury to come
back from. It can rob athletes of their physical explosiveness,
which is a big part of Reljic’s game. If the pure athleticism
is gone, it’ll be interesting to see how Reljic adapts to
being a different fighter from the one his fans have grown accustomed
to seeing.
The
Bottom Line: Modern sports medicine keeps serious back injuries
from being the athletic death knell they once were, and in terms
of pure skill, Reljic is the better fighter anyway. Watch for
Dollaway’s habit of carrying his hands low to cost him as
Reljic scores a spectacular high kick KO late in the second round.
James Te Huna vs. Igor Pokrajac
The
Breakdown: After getting wrestle-stomped by Vladimir Matyushenko
in his UFC debut, Pokrajac’s Octagon encore comes against
newcomer and New Zealander Te Huna. Besides having the home crowd
in his corner, Te Huna is getting a custom-made opponent for
his Octagon debut.
Pokrajac
has trouble any time he has to work off his back, and Te Huna
is going to press him every chance he gets in search of a takedown.
It’s a recipe for disaster for Pokrajac, who just doesn’t
have the striking or submissions to give Te Huna any pause.
If
this fight turns into a contest of brute physicality, which it
likely will, Pokrajac is taking a bath on this one. Te Huna may
not be the most fundamentally sound fighter around, but he’s
tough to beat when he can force fights into his comfort zone.
Being
a training partner of Mirko Filipovic, as Pokrajac is, can clearly
get you into the UFC, but it sure hasn’t helped him much
since getting there. Don’t expect Te Huna to be anymore
impressed than Matyushenko by the Croat’s pedigree.
The
Bottom Line: This will be the beer-run fight of the undercard.
Te Huna isn’t going to do anything spectacular, but he will
win. Three rounds of uneventful top control come to a long overdue
end with Te Huna winning a unanimous decision.
Elvis
Sinosic vs. Chris Haseman
The
Breakdown: Anyone with a pulse knew that UFC 110 would sell out
faster than “Avatar” on opening night. Yet the UFC
still felt it necessary to put together Sinosic and Haseman in
an attempt to appeal to local fans who are already getting plenty
of bouts featuring local fighters.
As
for the actual breakdown, both fighters have been largely inactive
the past several years, and it’s anyone’s guess what
they have left in the tank. With that said, Sinosic is probably
the better grappler of the two and has also shown the durability
to survive a world-class beatdown.
Haseman
doesn’t have the game to ground-and-pound Sinosic, which
eliminates the number one problem in Sinosic’s game. A straight-up
grappling match favors the “King of Rock and Rumble,”
as he’s the more fluid and aggressive grappler of the two
while Haseman prefers a more conservative style.
Sinosic
may not be Marcelo Garcia from the guard, but Haseman’s
base isn’t strong enough to hold him down for 15 minutes.
Unless the UFC decides to bring back the old chin to the eye
technique that Haseman used to beat Sinosic the first time around,
this one is looking like sweet revenge for Sinosic.
The
Bottom Line: Not that it matters in the grand scheme of things,
but expect Sinosic to tap out Haseman with a triangle choke.
The more important issue is if Sinosic taps Haseman out and no
one notices, did it really happen?
Source: Sherdog
|
Nogueira:
“The fans can expect two wins”
By Guilherme
Cruz
When Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira and Wanderlei Silva
steps up in the ring in the same night, you can expect the same
result. After more than 10 years of career, both fought 12 times
in the tame night, and the result was always the same: when Nogueira
won, Silva also won. At Pride and UFC, the fighters won nine
times, losing only three.
This Saturday, the Brazilians will fight again at UFC 110, and
“Minotauro” promises a great night. “The fans
can expect two wins”, Rodrigo said to TATAME Magazine. “I
hope I’ll do my best in this fight. I’m excited to
fight in Australia”.
And his game plan is no surprise. “My strategy is try to
block his wrestling and do a good fight, move a lot in the ring
and, when the fight goes to the ground, use a lot of jiu-jitsu”,
explains ready to beat undefeated Cain Velasquez. “Facing
an undefeated fighter is a lot of challenge. I had won all the
time and I’ll do my best to make it happen again”.
Source: Tatame
|
DOES
WIN PUT BISPING ON DECK FOR TITLE SHOT?
by Damon
Martin
Now that Demian Maia has been tagged as the next challenger to
Anderson Silva's middleweight title, and with Chael Sonnen likely
the next up, how far away would Michael Bisping be if he defeats
Wanderlei Silva at UFC 110?
While
his concentration is solely focused on Silva, Bisping broke down
the top contenders in the middleweight division when appearing
on MMAWeekly Radio recently. He believes that with a win he's
definitely in the mix.
"All
fighters, their goal is to get a title shot. Right now my focus
is Wanderlei," Bisping said. "I think one more solid
win against a solid opponent, I should get a title shot.
“I
think Nate Marquardt's going to be out a while. Chael Sonnen
is definitely in the mix; he's had a couple very impressive wins
lately. Demian Maia's obviously getting his. If I keep winning
between the time those guys have fought then that probably puts
me next in line."
Bisping
knows what a tough challenge Wanderlei Silva is, and that's one
of the biggest reasons he knows that a win could mean big things
for him in the 185-pound weight class.
"I
think a win over a guy like Wanderlei, whether or not he's had
a few losses or not, the guy's still one of the best out there.
He's had a fantastic career," said Bisping. "A win
against Wanderlei is obviously a big plus on anybody's record.
If I achieve that where does it put me? My only stoppage has
been to Dan Henderson. Other than that, if I get through (the
fight), I win every chance I've had at middleweight."
Rumors
recently circulated that the winner of Bisping/Silva could face
Yoshihiro Akiyama sometime later this year. With nothing set
in stone, the Brit says he's down to face whoever the UFC puts
in front of him, no different than any time before.
"I've
never questioned an opponent. I'll fight anyone the UFC says,"
Bisping commented. "I think I'm right up there. To be honest,
maybe there's one or two other guys who are more deserving of
a title shot right now, but I think another solid win behind
me and I should be in the mix pretty soon."
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Ryan
Bader: At UFC 110, 'I'll Be the One With My Arm Raised'
By Michael
David Smith
Ryan Bader is best known to MMA fans for winning The Ultimate
Fighter in 2008. But as he prepares to fight Keith Jardine at
UFC 110, Bader says he's a much better fighter now than he was
then.
"I've
improved in pretty much all areas of my game," Bader told
MMAFighting.com. "I was very new to the sport when I entered
The Ultimate Fighter and basically got by on my athletic ability
and my wrestling. I've since added a lot more tools to my game
and continue to develop as a mixed martial artist."
Bader
has a professional record of 10-0, plus three more wins during
his time on The Ultimate Fighter, but he hasn't fought anyone
as good as Jardine. But that doesn't mean he views his fight
on Saturday differently than the other fights in his MMA career.
"This
is just another fight for me," Bader said. "I don't
put Jardine on a pedestal or worry about any kind of step-up.
He's just another fighter standing in the way of me achieving
my goal. I just focus on going out there and beating Keith Jardine.
I don't think about what he's done in the past or how dangerous
he might be. He's just the same as the 13 other guys I've faced."
Jardine
has a unique stand-up style that has given fits to some tough
opponents (including Chuck Liddell and Forrest Griffin, both
of whom Jardine beat) but has also left him susceptible to opponents
with serious punching power (Houston Alexander, Wanderlei Silva
and Thiago Silva all knocked Jardine out in less than two minutes).
Bader acknowledged that it's a curious style for his sparring
partners to prepare him for.
"As
far as his crazy style goes, it's hard to mimic him, but a couple
of guys in the gym have watched videos on him and attempted to
copy him a bit," Bader said. "Other than that, it's
just about watching tapes and spotting certain tendencies he
has in the Octagon. It's true what they say, though, he's very
hard to train for in terms of style. He's very unpredictable,
but I'm confident of controlling him. I think my wrestling, combined
with my improving stand-up, is going to be a hard mixture for
him to deal with and guess where I'm going. I've fought four
legitimate black belts in my career and have had to carry out
specific game plans for each of them. This is the first fight
where I can truly open up, use all my skills and combine my wrestling
with my boxing and kick-boxing. This is almost a freestyle kind
of fight, and not one where you have to worry too much about
a set game plan. This fight could go anywhere at any point, and
that's exciting to me."
Ultimately,
Bader said, he'd like to stop Jardine, but he doesn't want to
press it.
"I
don't have a goal or game plan to knock Jardine out," Bader
said. "I know it can happen at any time in the fight. I'm
aware of the fact that when Jardine loses, it's often quick and
spectacular. He's also good at grinding results out in his longer
fights. I'm also a grinder, though, and I've gone the distance
in my last two fights. I'm not opposed to that kind of fight
if it happens. If we end up going a hard and grueling three rounds,
I'll be more than ready and prepared for it. Whether I win by
stoppage in the first or it goes three rounds, I'll be the one
with my arm raised."
Bader
said he thinks a win over Jardine can set him up for big things
in the future.
"I
have short-terms goals and long-terms goals in this sport,"
Bader said. "My long-term goal is to become the UFC champion
and to hold that 205-pound title. If you're not really in it
to do that, why even bother with a sport like this? I'm not in
the UFC to be mediocre. I also know I can't just get there automatically.
I've got to create short-term goals and simply concentrate on
winning the fight that is immediately in front of me."
Source: MMA Fighting
|
February 2010 Rankings
(Ballots collected on February 9, 2010)
Heavyweight
Rankings (206 to 265 lbs.)
1. Fedor Emelianenko (31-1, 1 No Contest)
2. Brock Lesnar (4-1)
3. Frank Mir (13-4)
4. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-5-1, 1 No Contest)
5. Shane Carwin (11-0)
6. Brett Rogers (10-1)
7. Junior dos Santos (10-1)
8. Alistair Overeem (32-11, 1 No Contest)
9. Cain Velasquez (7-0)
10. Fabricio Werdum (13-4-1)
Light
Heavyweight Rankings (186 to 205 lbs.)
1. Lyoto Machida (16-0)
2. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (18-4)
3. Rashad Evans (14-1-1)
4. Quinton Jackson (30-7)
5. Anderson Silva (25-4)
6. Gegard Mousasi (27-2-1)
7. Forrest Griffin (17-6)
8. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (18-3)
9. Dan Henderson (25-7)
10. Thiago Silva (14-2)
Middleweight
Rankings (171 to 185 lbs.)
1. Anderson Silva (25-4)
2. Dan Henderson (25-7)
3. Chael Sonnen (24-10-1)
4. Vitor Belfort (19-8)
5. Nathan Marquardt (29-9-2)
6. Demian Maia (12-1)
7. Jake Shields (24-4-1)
8. Yushin Okami (23-5)
9. Robbie Lawler (17-5, 1 No Contest)
10. Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza (11-2, 1 No Contest)
Welterweight
Rankings (156 to 170 lbs.)
1. Georges St. Pierre (19-2)
2. Jon Fitch (21-3, 1 No Contest)
3. Thiago Alves (16-6)
4. Josh Koscheck (14-4)
5. Paulo Thiago (13-1)
6. Dan Hardy (23-6)
7. Nick Diaz (21-7, 1 No Contest)
8. Matt Hughes (43-7)
9. Paul Daley (23-8-2)
10. Matt Serra (10-6)
Lightweight
Rankings (146 to 155 lbs.)
1. B.J. Penn (15-5-1)
2. Shinya Aoki (23-4, 1 No Contest)
3. Eddie Alvarez (19-2)
4. Kenny Florian (12-4)
5. Tatsuya Kawajiri (26-5-2)
6. Gray Maynard (9-0, 1 No Contest)
7. Frankie Edgar (11-1)
8. Diego Sanchez (21-3)
9. Joachim Hansen (19-8-1)
10. Gilbert Melendez (17-2)
Featherweight
Rankings (136 to 145 lbs.)
1. Jose Aldo (16-1)
2. Mike Brown (23-5)
3. Urijah Faber (23-3)
4. Hatsu Hioki (20-4-2)
5. Bibiano Fernandes (7-2)
6. Raphael Assuncao (14-2)
7. "Lion" Takeshi Inoue (18-3)
8. Manny Gamburyan (10-4)
9. Marlon Sandro (15-1)
10. Michihiro Omigawa (9-8-1)
Bantamweight
Rankings (126 to 135 lbs.)
1. Brian Bowles (8-0)
2. Miguel Torres (37-2)
3. Masakatsu Ueda (10-0-2)
4. Dominick Cruz (14-1)
5. Joseph Benavidez (11-1)
6. Takeya Mizugaki (12-4-2)
7. Damacio Page (12-4)
8. Scott Jorgensen (8-3)
9. Wagnney Fabiano (13-2)
10. Akitoshi Tamura (14-8-2)
March
2010 Rankings will be published on March 12, 2010
Source: Independent World MMA Rankings
|
Bellator
Confirms Alvarez vs. Neer “Superfight”
By FCF
Staff
Bellator
Fighting Championships has confirmed that the promotion’s
lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez will face accomplished veteran
Josh Neer at one of the promotion’s upcoming May events.
The bout is being categorized as a non-title, non-tournament,
“super fight.”
Alvarez
(19-2) will head into the bout having won 4 straight since he
was tapped out by Shinya Aoki at Dream’s Dynamite event
in 2008. Alvarez laid claim to Bellator’s lightweight championship
by winning the promotion’s first lightweight tourney in
2009. The Philadelphia fighter last competed on October 25th,
when he stopped Katsunori Kikuno at Dream’s 12th event.
The
former Bodog Fight champion is recovering from minor arthroscopic
knee surgery in January.
“I’ve
seen Josh Neer fight, and he’s a banger,” Alvarez was
quoted saying on the official Bellator site. “I love this
fight because he never puts on a dull fight and those are the
kinds of matches that suit me the best. I expect my knee to be
100 percent soon and I’m expecting that this is going to
be my best performance ever.”
Neer
(27-9-1) last competed on February 5th, when he tapped out Anselmo
Martinez with a second round rear-naked-choke at Shark Fights
8. The win was Neer’s second in a row, after completing
a second stint in the UFC, where he went 2-3.
“This
is definitely a tough fight because Alvarez is a really explosive
fighter and one of the top two or three lightweights in the world,”
Neer said. “I think that if I beat him, it would be a huge
win for me and would really help me increase my notoriety. It’s
a great opportunity.”
Source: Full Contact Fighter
|
Bisping
names his weapons for Wand
by Carlos
Eduardo Ozório
Bisping
points out his strengths for Wanderlei fight. Photo: Josh Hedges
On 20 February, England’s Michael Bisping will face Wanderlei
Silva at UFC 110, the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s maiden
incursion into Sydney, Australia. On his future opponent, Bisping
is unafraid of controversy and compares Wand with Chris Leben,
an opponent he beat in the past.
“I
see a lot of similarities. I’m sure there’ll be a lot
of enemies out there on the internet laughing and saying ‘Wanderlei
is not the Leben’, and he’s not. Wanderlei is a great
fighter and I have much respect for him. But in some ways they
are very similar fighters,” said Bisping to MMAWeekly.
“Both
come forward and are aggressive. I think they’re quite similar
in that sense. I think Wanderlei is obviously a little faster,
more aggressive, and probably a little better at it. He’s
definitely going to provide a difficult challenge,” he adds.
However,
if the Brazilian’s weapons are dangerous, Bisping has faith
in what he is wielding.
“I
have a lot of things he should be worried about. Contrary to
popular belief, I hit and kick hard. I have good standup, takedowns
and submissions. I’m strong in the clinch, I have a lot
of experience and know how to win a fight. I definitely present
some problems for him to think about it,” he concluded.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
What
was Demian Maia’s greatest moment in Jiu-Jitsu?
by Marcelo
Dunlop
Forget
for a minute Demian Maia the UFC fighter, and his upcoming bout
against Anderson Silva, on 10 April in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
As
a Jiu-Jitsu fighter, this Sao Paulo native was (is) without a
doubt one of the best athletes of his generation. But what would
be his greatest moment as an amateur athlete, a ground fighter?
Was it the title he won in the 88kg division of ADCC 2007?
GRACIEMAG.com
relayed the question to the fighter himself, who replied as quickly
as he slaps on an armbar: “It was in the gi: the final of
the World Cup 2005, against Jacaré.”
In
fact, at the time of now-extinct tournament, Ronaldo Jacaré
was experiencing a period of supremacy rare in sport, during
which no one could pose a threat, with nobody making it to the
end of regulation time. And no human beat him.
Reminiscent
of Anderson, right?
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
Daley
vs. Koscheck Confirmed for UFC 113
Promotion Announces Lawlor Will Face Credeur
By FCF
Staff
The
Ultimate Fighting Championship has confirmed two more bouts for
the promotion’s upcoming May 8th event in Montreal, Quebec,
a card that will feature a rematch between light-heavyweight
champion Lyoto Machida and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in
the main event.
As
expected, a notable welterweight clash has been confirmed for
UFC 113, as noted British striker Paul Daley will take on perennial
contender Josh Koscheck.
Despite
having lost to both Paulo Thiago and Thiago Alves in his last
five fights, Koscheck (14-4) continues to remain a force in the
welterweight division, as the accomplished wrestler is coming
off back-to-back wins over Frank Trigg and Anthony Johnson.
Daley
(23-8-2) has made quite an impression since arriving in the UFC,
as the veteran has stopped both Martin Kampmann and Dustin Hazelett
in his first two Octagon appearances. Daley’s last loss
came in February, 2009, when Nick Thompson defeated him by UD
at MFC 20.
At
middleweight, the UFC has confirmed that former “Ultimate
Fighters” Tom Lawlor and Tim Credeur will square off.
Lawlor
(6-2) is coming off a hard fought Split Decision loss to Aaron
Simpson at Fight Night 20 in January, which ended the charismatic
fighter’s three fight winning streak.
Credeur
(12-3) hasn’t fought since September when he lost by UD
to Nate Quarry at Fight Night 19, ending the noted grappler’s
six fight winning streak.
Some
of the other bouts scheduled for UFC 113 include Patrick Cote
vs. Alan Belcher, Sam Stout vs. Jeremy Stephens, and Marcus Davis
vs. Jonathan Goulet.
Source: Full Contact Fighter
|
Quote
of the Day
"All
that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do
nothing."
Edmund Burke, 1729-1797
|
808 Battleground
Waipahu Filcom Center, Waipahu, Hawaii
February 19, 2010
Doors open at 5pm
Fights start at 6pm
Russell Doane vs. Jon Delos Reyes
Ron Verdadero vs. Michael Winkelspecht
Ian Dela Cuesta vs. Josh Alvarez
Sae Pagofie vs. Aaron Rose
Bronson Mohika vs. Kenneth Sato
Andrew Costellano vs. Max Halloway
Carlos Orso vs. Matt Stelmach
Allen Soliven vs. Barak Holt
Maki Pitolo vs. Kory Dingdan
Bubu Souza vs. Ryan Macuch
Koa Ramelb vs. Jon Kamakea
Siosaia Palakai vs. Anthony Hinoshita
Storme Kim vs. Terry Ruddle
Nilo Deguiera vs. Jason Morinaga
James Orso vs. Shaison Laupola
Edward Thommes vs. Randy Kamaiopili
George Felix vs. Jonathan Lucious
Ola Faamau vs. David Uncalan
Source: Event Promoter
|
UFC
110 2/20 in Australia at Acer Arena
Tomorrow
By Zach
Arnold
Hawaii Air Times:
UFC 110 Countdown 4PM Channel 559
UFC 110 5PM Channel 701
Dark matches
¦Light
Heavyweights: James Te Huna vs. Igor Pokrajac
¦Middleweights: CB Dollaway vs. Goran Reljic
¦Welterweights: Chris Lytle vs. Brian Foster
¦Light Heavyweights: Stephan Bonnar vs. Krzysztof Soszynski
Main card
¦Heavyweights:
Mirko Cro Cop vs. Anthony Perosh
¦Light Heavyweights: Keith Jardine vs. Ryan Bader
¦Lightweights: Joe Stevenson vs. George Sotiropoulos
¦Middleweights: Wanderlei Silva vs. Michael Bisping
¦Heavyweights: Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Cain Velasquez
Source: Fight Opinion
|
UFC
110 Preview and Predictions
Ariel Shnerer
At
UFC 110, some marquee stars from the now-defunct Pride Fighting
Championships have their backs against the wall in last-ditch
efforts to prove they can go toe-to-toe with today`s younger
breed of MMA fighters.
Two
Brazilian MMA trailblazers and a fading Croatian Special Forces
veteran will try to restore their success from Pride, where they
dominated the sport for years. Each one must pass a grueling
test in the form of a Mexican-American bulldozer, a self-assured
Brit and a durable IFL standout.
The
UFC will make its promotional debut down under as UFC 110 emanates
from the Acer Arena in Sydney, Australia.
Two
of the UFC`s premier heavyweights will collide in the main event
when aging legend Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira battles top prospect
Cain Velasquez.
Here`s
a breakdown of the televised main card this Saturday night:
-Antonio
Rodrigo Nogueira (32-5-1) vs. Cain Velasquez (7-0)
The
winner of this heavyweight bout will be right in the mix for
a title shot in 2010.
The
war-torn Noguiera, 33, is one of mixed martial arts' all-time
greats. "Minotauro," a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu
and Judo, is arguably the greatest heavyweight submission specialist
to ever step foot inside a ring or cage.
In
Pride, Nogueira compiled an immaculate fight resume, dispatching
Josh Barnett, Mark Coleman, Heath Herring, Enson Inoue, Semmy
Schilt, Dan Henderson, Ricco Rodriguez, Fabricio Werdum, Sergei
Kharitonov and Mirko "Cro Cop" along the way.
Always
involved in violent fights, Nogueira has sustained a substantial
amount of punishment over the course of his 11-year tenure as
a pro. After brutal contests against Fedor Emelinaenko and Bob
Sapp in which he was punched senseless and dropped on his head,
Nogueira's reflexes are slower than they once were. However,
Nogueira remains one of the most dangerous competitors in the
UFC.
The
first-ever Pride heavyweight champion bounced back from a loss
to Frank Mir, in which he was severely ill leading up to the
bout, by defeating fellow legend Randy Couture in one of the
2009's most memorable battles.
Nogueira,
whose training partners include Anderson Silva, Lyoto Machida
and his brother Rogerio, does not rely solely on his BJJ base,
which is what has made him so successful.
The
Brazilian has trained with the Cuban boxing team and possesses
good hands, although he might be better suited trying to slap
on a fight-ending submission as quickly as possible against his
foe -- a powerful NCAA Division I wrestler.
Velasquez,
27, has been dominant since his debut in October 2006 and is
now unbeaten in seven pro fights.
After
punishing Cheick Kongo and Ben Rothwell in his last two outings,
the UFC brass deemed Velasquez ready for the biggest test of
his career.
Under
Dave Camarillo at the American Kickboxing Academy, Velasquez
has steamrolled through opponents using his speed, wrestling
base and menacing size. "Velasquez is the perfect mixed
martial artist," said Camarillo.
The
Mexican-American has proven to be dangerous both on his feet
and on the mat, where he has pummeled opponents into oblivion.
If
Nogueira can effectively utilize his savvy submission skills,
he will prevail. On the contrary, however, Velasquez can take
"Minotauro" to the mat. If no reckless chances are
taken, he might be able to punish Nogueira for three rounds.
Assuming the majority of this fight takes place standing, it
can go either way.
The
Velasquez freight train can be a mountainous obstacle to overcome.
But Nogueira, who is finally starting to feel the effects of
years of abuse in the ring, possesses the MMA awareness, expertise
and experience to rise to the occasion.
The
winner of this fight should be matched up against the winner
of Junior dos Santos-Gabriel Gonzaga in March to determine who
will challenge for the heavyweight crown once Brock Lesnar meets
either Frank Mir or Shane Carwin this summer. The UFC's heavyweight
division is more exciting than ever with young contenders and
established veterans looking to cement their place at the top.
Verdict:
Nogueira via Submission, Round 2
-Wanderlei
Silva (32-10-1) vs. Michael Bisping (18-2)
In
another fan-friendly encounter, Silva and Bisping are expected
to trade blows until someone is unconscious on the floor.
Nicknamed
"The Axe Murderer," Silva was one of Pride's most feared
competitors. His victims include Ricardo Arona, Dan Henderson,
Quinton Jackson, Kazushi Sakuraba, Ikuhisa Minowa and Guy Mezger.
Fans
salivated at the idea of Silva returning to the UFC, where he
had dropped bouts to Vitor Belfort and Tito Ortiz early in his
career. Since his return, Silva has come out on the losing end
against Chuck Liddell, "Rampage" and Rich Franklin,
while knocking out Keith Jardine.
Having
lost five of his last six fights, the 33-year-old Silva needs
a performance reminiscent of his Pride days to make an impact
in his 185-pound debut.
Silva,
formerly a member of the famed Brazilian Chute Boxe Academy,
now trains at his own school called "Wand Fight Team"
in Las Vegas. The BJJ black belt has been training with UFC middleweight
kingpin Anderson Silva to prepare for this fight.
Bisping,
30, won the third season of "The Ultimate Fighter"
reality show and went on to win seven of his next nine fights,
losing only to top-ranked fighters Henderson and Rashad Evans.
At
UFC 100, Bisping was on the receiving end of the "Knockout
of the Year" as Henderson, who is now bound for Strikeforce,
took advantage of one of Bisping`s major technical flaws, which
is moving in the direction of your opponent`s power hand. If
Bisping repeats the same mistake against Silva, he will go to
sleep early.
The
Wolfslair MMA Academy standout impressively defeated Denis Kang
at UFC 105 and showcased his underrated ground game.
Bisping
exudes confidence, which has led to claims that he is overrated
by fans and fighters alike. Notwithstanding his critics, Bisping's
improvements as a fighter are undeniable.
The
brash Brit is likely to stand and trade with the Brazilian powerhouse,
in which case he will meet his downfall.
The
winner can look forward to a match-up with Japanese-born Korean
warrior Yoshihiro Akiyama this summer.
Verdict:
Silva via KO, Round 3
-Joe
Stevenson (31-10) vs. George Sotiropoulos (11-2)
Stevenson,
27, recently returned to his winning ways with successive wins
over Spencer Fisher and Nathan Diaz.
Triumphant
on the second season of "The Ultimate Fighter," Stevenson
has since encountered ups and downs in the UFC. Despite impressive
showings against Yves Edwards, Melvin Guillard, Kurt Pellegrino
and Gleison Tibau, Stevenson struggled against some of the division's
top-10 fighters such as B.J. Penn, Kenny Florian and Diego Sanchez.
With
revived confidence in the octagon and MMA trainer extraordinaire
Greg Jackson in his corner, the BJJ and Judo black belt is looking
to get in line for another shot at "The Prodigy."
Stevenson's
evolution as a fighter, having trained under Marc Laimon, Robert
Drysdale and now Jackson, has been his greatest asset. A standout
collegiate wrestler and lifelong BJJ practitioner, Stevenson
is on the brink of reclaiming top-10 status at 155 pounds.
Sotiropoulous,
32, has showcased a flawless ground game since debuting in the
UFC last April. The Australian, who was eliminated from "The
Ultimate Fighter 6" after getting knocked out by journeyman
Tommy Speer, has won three straight fights. In his last two bouts,
Sotiropoulos submitted Jason Dent and George Roop.
A
black belt in BJJ under John Will, Sotiropoulos takes a big step
up in competition when he faces Stevenson, a former lightweight
title challenger.
Sotiropoulos'
submission wizardry has been his defining feature in the UFC,
but Stevenson too is an accomplished grappler, therefore he should
be able to hold his own before capitalizing on an opening for
the TKO win.
Verdict:
Stevenson via TKO, Round 2
-Keith
Jardine (15-6-1) vs. Ryan Bader (10-0)
Jardine,
34, has dropped four of his last six fights and needs a stellar
showing to remind observers of his wins over Brandon Vera, Chuck
Liddell and Forrest Griffin in the not-so-distant past.
Despite
losing a unanimous decision, Jardine delivered an inspiring performance
against "Rampage" at UFC 96 before getting knocked
out by Thiago Silva at UFC 102 last August.
Unorthodox,
awkward and downright strange are some of the words pundits have
used to describe Jardine's unique striking. Sometimes, however,
being unique is an asset in MMA. After all, there are no training
partners to mimic Jardine`s stance in the cage.
"The
Dean of Mean" has the tools to punish opponents standing
if he keeps his distance and avoids power shots, which he demonstrated
by tactically picking apart Liddell to win a decision when they
faced off in 2007.
A
special project at Greg Jackson's MMA in New Mexico, Jardine
has been taken under the wing of Jackson and conditioning coach
Jonathan Chaimberg, who is adamant Jardine has improved drastically
and will shine on Saturday night.
Bader,
26, is unbeaten in 10 professional fights. He is the unlikely
betting favourite despite only three years of experience.
A
two-time All-American anchored at Arizona Combat Sports, Bader
won "The Ultimate Fighter 8" by stopping BJJ ace Vinny
Magalhaes. He impressively dispatched Eric Schafer at UFC 104
last October.
With
stong wrestling and malicious ground-and-pound, Bader is a light
heavyweight prospect with a bright future.
Against
Jardine, however, Bader faces a much tougher test than he has
become accustomed to. If Jardine throws careless leg kicks, Bader
will take him down at will. If Jardine defends intelligently,
keeps his distance and turns this bout into a stand-up chess
match, this will be a much closer fight.
Desperation
is often a motivational tool for fighters. Jardine, who is desperate
for a win, will put it all on the line to ensure he still has
a place in the UFC`s light heavyweight division.
Verdict:
Jardine via Unanimous Decision
-Mirko
"Cro Cop" Filipovic (25-7-2) vs. Ben Rothwell (30-7)
This
is a do-or-die fight for "Cro Cop," who was demolished
by Junior dos Santos at UFC 103 last September.
The
2006 Pride open-weight grand prix winner was once widely regarded
as the most dangerous striker in the sport.
"Cro
Cop" defeated Kazuyuki Fujita, Heath Herring, Igor Vovchanchyn,
Aleksander Emelianenko, Josh Barnett, Kevin Randleman, Mark Coleman
and Wanderlei Silva on his path of destruction in Pride.
Everything
went downhill for the proud Croatian when he suffered back-to-back
losses to Cheick Kongo and Gabriel Gonzaga during his first stint
with the UFC.
Now
35, "Cro Cop" will need to dig deep in order to continue
competing at an elite level.
The
former K-1 sensation is still one of the best technical strikers
in MMA, which will be his primarily tool against Rothwell.
A
28-year-old IFL veteran, Rothwell lost his UFC debut against
Cain Velasquez last October.
Prior
to joining the UFC, Rothwell was trounced by former UFC heavyweight
champion Andrei Arlovski in a fight contested under the Affliction
banner. His biggest career victims include Ricco Rodriguez, Krzysztof
Soszynski, Travis Fulton and Roy Nelson.
A
pupil of Pat Miletich, Rothwell is a well-rounded heavyweight
with skills in all areas.
However,
"Cro Cop" is in a different league when it comes to
pure striking. With a combination of solid takedown defense and
an ability to thwart submission attempts, the Croatian should
be able to successfully employ his gameplan standing before eventually
wearing down Rothwell late in the fray.
Verdict:
"Cro Cop" via KO, Round 3
Source: Fight Network
|
ROTHWELL
OUT, PEROSH IN;
HASEMAN/SINOSIC CANCELED
by Damon
Martin
A last second change has been made to this weekend's UFC 110
card in Australia as Ben Rothwell has been forced to drop out
of his fight against Mirko CroCop due to illness, and will be
replaced by veteran fighter, Anthony Perosh.
Also
the Australian undercard rematch between Elvis Sinosic and Chris
Haseman has been pulled off the card completely due to a late
shoulder injury to Sinosic.
The
UFC announced by moves on Thursday, while also stating that the
card will stand at a total of 9 bouts for the Sunday afternoon
show.
Anthony
Perosh (10-5), who trains along with Elvis Sinosic in Sydney,
Australia, gets the call to step in on short notice and face
the former Pride Grand Prix winner.
Winning
his last fight by TKO in December, Perosh steps in just a day
before the official weigh-in for the event, but with the bout
being contested at heavyweight it shouldn't present any problems.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Fighting
at Elevation
by Jake
Rossen
Last week’s news that Vitor Belfort would not be available
to match skills with Anderson Silva in April led to a sensation
that fight followers are well accustomed to: deflation. You can
practically hear the air hiss out of the conversation.
A
former champion on late-career ascension, Belfort represented
one of the few UFC-available challenges left for Silva. His hands
are sharp, his wrestling is sound and his natural talent no longer
appears to be diluted by adolescent thoughts of self-doubt. More
importantly, he carried into the ring 12 years’ worth of
audience familiarity.
Belfort’s
replacement is Demian Maia, a sensational grappler who is a far
less sensational striker. As we’ve witnessed ad nauseam
already, it takes more than Grappler’s Quest credentials
to contend with Silva. While Maia is probably the best possible
replacement, he is certainly not the best possible opponent.
Moaning
about Belfort’s absence is an indirect acknowledgment of
why many of us pursue fighting sports, either as spectators or
something more intimate. While competitive bouts and demonstrations
of perfected technique are all factors, there is a reason we
might be more entertained by a boring Silva/Belfort fight than
a kinetic “Street Fighter II” homage by Silva/Maia.
It is the principle of Elevation.
Dacher
Keltner, professor of psychology at Berkeley, was -- to the best
of my knowledge -- the first to widely articulate Elevation,
based on a concept by University of Virginia moral psychologist
Jonathan Haidt. Put in basic terms, Elevation is a kind of psychological
massage, a promotion of positive feelings after witnessing a
degree of inspiring or influential human activity.
Haidt
wrote, “Powerful moments of elevation sometimes seem to
push a mental 'reset button,' wiping out feelings of cynicism
and replacing them with feelings of hope, love and optimism,
and a sense of moral inspiration.”
While
this would appear to be incredibly flowery terminology for a
reaction to a cage fight, it’s an excellent explanation
for why fighting seems to inspire such long-term devotion and
emotional wagering. Belfort fighting Silva had several reasons
to warrant engagement: Silva had never faced such an accomplished
striker; Belfort had come to use religion as fuel for his career
resurrection; both men had spent years in center stage, creating
a familiarity not unlike that of famous film actors or sitcom
performers.
Maia,
in contrast, presents as too close to Thales Leites and looked
mortal against Nate Marquardt in a crushing one-punch defeat.
The chips are no longer piled up -- and so our interest slides
off the game. We’re no longer anticipating the high.
When
we do, Elevation provides the fuel for enduring careers. Randy
Couture’s story -- a genial underdog who rejects ageism
-- may actually be stimulating our vagus nerve. Watching him
crush Tim Sylvia, Gabriel Gonzaga and Chuck Liddell could have
antagonized the nerve, sending a visceral response down our spines
and influencing the oxytocin hormone of connection. If you get
a fluttery feeling in your gut when you favorite fighter wins,
science and psychology believe this is the reason why.
(Oxytocin
is also released during a breast-feed, which may be motivation
enough to nurse a child while Brock Lesnar is busy smashing someone.
Honestly.)
Elevation
was later adopted by the film critic Roger Ebert, who described
having real residual effects after viewing a film that struck
emotional chords with him. If fiction can accomplish this, it’s
hardly a stretch to consider how much more impactful the real
drama of a prizefight can be. While some people may prefer --
or even need -- the orchestra and editing that accompanies a
“Rocky” climax, others put more weight on the outcome
of two actual human beings. Watching someone progress through
years, finally succeeding in the barest of sports, is uplifting:
We can live vicariously through that moment, or use it to fuel
what we desire in life.
Fighting
is hardly the only sport to promote Elevation: the sight of someone
painted Smurf-blue at a Giants game is proof of that. But fighting
carries with it a unique set of consequences. When Eli Manning
drops a big game, he will almost certainly return next year for
the remainder of his multimillion-dollar contract. When a fighter
loses a bout, it means being tossed right back down the ladder.
And worse: dismissal, financial woes, depression. Fighting is
blue-collar. There’s less emotional distance.
That
sympathy contrasts Elevation. It’s the morbidity of a fight
that’s fallen through, or disappoints. When Mark Coleman
lost his bout with Couture earlier this month, it was difficult
to walk away inspired. Coleman is a fiercely emotional athlete,
an openly devoted father and a man walking through the last days
of his career. His humility made the loss jarring in a way that
an anonymous athlete cannot possibly duplicate.
In
that same article, Ebert brought the conversation out of movies
and into sports by describing his feeling after watching Michael
Jordan in the 1997 NBA Finals. Clouded by food poisoning, Jordan
played a terrific game and was then virtually dragged off the
court. Said Ebert:
“I
wasn't moved by the victory. That's only basketball. I was moved
by his bravery.”
To
say fighting is a gut check is correct. In many more ways than
one.
Source: Sherdog
|
Ricardo
Arona comments Fedor vs. Werdum
The BJJ Black belt Fabrício Werdum will be Fedor Emelianenko’s
next challenge, and Ricardo Arona, the first Brazilian to face
the Russian heavyweight, commented the fight to TATAME.com.
“I
believe that, to beat Fedor, you have to work the explosion,
because if you stay one second on Fedor’s sight he’ll
hit you and you don’t have time to get away. To avoid a
movement of him you have to see where it starts so you have to
be very quick”, Arona said, believing that the Jiu-Jitsu
and speed are the perfect weapon to do it. “You have to
work the Jiu-Jitsu and explosion, to get in and out”.
Source: Tatame
|
NSAC
Releases UFC 109 Attendance Figures
By FCF
Staff
The
Nevada State Athletic Commission has released the attendance
and gate figures for the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s
recent “Relentless” card, which was held February 6th
at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.
According
to an email sent to FCF by NSAC Executive Director Keith Kizer,
UFC 109 drew an attendance of 10, 753 for a gate of $2,273,000.
7,432 tickets were sold for the event while 3,321 were given
away as complimentary. 84 tickets went unsold.
UFC
109 featured a main event bout between former champions Randy
Couture and Mark Coleman, which saw Couture win by second round
submission. In the card’s other feature attraction, Chael
Sonnen entrenched his position at the top of the middleweight
division, by earning a UD win over fellow contender Nate Marquardt.
Source: Full Contact Figher
|
The
hullabaloo about Mark Coleman getting cut by UFC after main eventing
the last PPV
By Zach
Arnold
I
think the end result is the right call, but the process is a
credibility hit for UFC in regards to them promoting Coleman
in the main event slot. It’s also a hit to Keith Kizer (Nevada
State Athletic Commission) because the commission, on paper,
is the one calling the shots in licensing fighters over a certain
age. Coleman was always a tough call on that front. I don’t
blame Mark Coleman one bit for fighting — you make as much
money as you can before you retire in this business.
Other
news and notes
The
Indianapolis Star has a profile article on Chris Lytle and his
training has been like for him leading up to his February 20th
fight against Brian Foster. The article is more about the story
of Lytle’s current life and how much money he can make before
his career is over.
Marty
Morgan, who trains Brock Lesnar, says Cole Konrad could become
a champion within the next couple of years.
The
UFC 111 March event could be shown in movie theaters across the
States.
Frank
Trigg wonders what is next in his fight career. Matt Serra, who
beat Trigg and sent him out of the UFC, will remain in the Welterweight
division.
Jake
Rosholt will fight in March at the Spirit Bank Event Center in
Bixby, Oklahoma.
Michael
Bisping has not been talking much trash about Wanderlei Silva
in the media, so a lot of the attention on Bisping has been on
his training camp for the UFC 110 fight. Despite beating Denis
Kang a while back, Bisping is still answering media questions
about his loss to Dan Henderson. I swear, that fight out of all
the big fights at UFC 100 is the second-most talked about performance
outside of Lesnar’s win over Frank Mir. Amazing.
Dan
Hardy always seems to pick interesting sponsors. (Remember this
growth hormone sponsor in the past?) He’s now aligned with
Xyience. Yes, the same Xyience that has a bankruptcy trustee
legally questioning the business behavior of Zuffa in the way
Xyience assets were handled. Zombie Xyience will never go away,
it seems, as a sponsor in UFC.
Stick
to fighting, Chael Sonnen. You will be more bruised in politics
than in UFC (and you get bruised quite a bit). Ask Matt Lindland.
Source: Fight Opinion
|
Wanderlei
Silva: “I want to give the fans a big knockout”
by Carlos
Eduardo Ozório
Wand
promises to put on a show at UFC 110. Photo: Josh Hedges
Wanderlei Silva faces Michael Bisping at UFC 110, to take place
February 20 in Australia. Coming off two losses in a row, the
latest a decision dropped to Rich Franklin at UFC 99, Wand knows
how important a win is to him now.
“This
is a new time in my life. I’m hungry. I need a win; I have
to win. I will try for a win from the first minute to the last.
This fight is really important to me. I don’t just have
to put on a show, I have to win,” says an adamant “Axe
Murderer”, who, despite confirming the importance of the
challenge to him, will not stray from his principal characteristic:
that of a showman.
“I
don’t fight for money. I fight because I like it. I like
to get the crowd moving and that’s what I’m going to
do in Australia. I’m going to drive the crowd wild.”
On
Bisping, Wand is respectful.
“I
watched his fights and he really is a great fighter. I’m
studying his game and I’m preparing myself specifically
for him. I’m not going to be fighting an easy opponent.
I’m training hard and he really is a tough guy. I have to
respect all my opponents. Every fight is tough for me.
And,
if he promises to put on a show in Sydney, the Brazilian hopes
the challenge will be a knockout in his favor.
“I
like to fight standing. I’m not afraid of punches or cuts.
I’m not afraid of anything. I want to give the fans a big
knockout. I don’t believe this guy is strong enough to knock
me out. That’s what I feel,” he is quoted as sayin
on the official UFC website.
And
Wand is putting in the time in preparing for this bout.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
Dana
White Details Selection of Anderson Silva's UFC 112 Opponent
By Mike
Chiappetta
In the wake of Vitor Belfort's shoulder injury, UFC President
Dana White and matchmaker Joe Silva were left with a decision
regarding the status of middleweight champion Anderson Silva.
They could pull him off the UFC 112 card, move him up to fight
a non-title light-heavyweight bout or find another contender
to replace Belfort.
White
and Silva chose option three.
During
Thursday's UFC press conference, White detailed the thought-process
behind choosing Demian Maia to oppose the champ.
The
decision essentially came down to a few names: Chael Sonnen,
Maia, Michael Bisping or Wanderlei Silva.
After
handling Nate Marquardt at UFC 109, Sonnen was seen as the most
deserving candidate.
"Obviously
the guy who should get that shot right now is Chael, but he just
came out of a really tough fight. He's busted up," White
said.
Crossing
him off the list, it was down to three. While Bisping or Silva
might have been seen as more attractive style matchups for Silva,
the timing wasn't quite right. From the close of their UFC 110
matchup to the time they'd have to step into the cage to face
Silva would be only seven weeks. That's shorter than an average
training camp, and it would have to encompass time for recovery
from their bout, scouting and preparing for Silva, and another
weight cut.
"It
was too tight," White said.
That
left Maia.
He,
too, had fought on the same card as Sonnen and also suffered
an injury, a laceration on his left eyelid. Maia was sent to
see the UFC's top cut doctor, and it was determined he would
be cleared to fight by April 10.
Maia
was suddenly at the front of the line.
"Listen,
opportunities pop up for people, you know?" White said.
"I like guys who jump and take the opportunity. You'd be
surprised how many guys don't."
As
for what kind of matchup Maia -- who clearly favors grappling
and submission to standup -- can give the feared striker Silva,
that's a whole other question. White, however, is hoping for
the best.
"I
can't worry about that going into a fight," he said. "I
can't see that and try to make a fight for Abu Dhabi and think,
'God, I hope he doesn't fight like Thales Leites did. I think
that Demian Maia is a very talented guy. He's one of the best
fighters in his weight class, and I think he wants to win this
title. Obviously what happened to him in the Marquardt fight
he was not happy about. And I think he wants to come out and
put on the best performance he can."
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Sengoku
3/7 Tokyo, Ryogoku Kokugikan
By Zach
Arnold
¦Heavyweights:
Yoshihiro Nakao vs. Sentoryu (Henry Miller)
¦Welterweights: Akihiro Gono vs. Diego Gonzalez
¦Lightweights: Kiuma Kunioku vs. Leonardo Santos
¦SRC Middleweight Title match: Jorge Santiago vs. Mamed
Khalidov
¦Featherweights: Shigeki Osawa vs. Kyung Ho Kang
Source: Fight Opinion
|
Ellenberger
Jumped at Opportunity to Face Saunders Mar.27th
By Kelsey
Mowatt
Jake
Ellenberger eagerly opened the door when opportunity came knocking
recently, as the 24 year-old-welterweight had no hesitations
in accepting a fight with Ben Saunders, after Martin Kampmann
was forced to withdraw from the March 27th bout due to injury.
In fact, not only was Ellenberger hoping for a high profile opponent
in his third UFC fight, the Nebraska fighter had been eyeing
both Kampmann and Saunders specifically as possible opponents.
“I
had been hoping to fight either him or Kampmann,” said Ellenberger,
when asked for his reaction upon finding out he would face Saunders
at UFC 111 in Newark, New Jersey. “When I got the offer
I didn’t even think twice. I said for sure. I’ve seen
him fight, I’m sure he’s seen me fight, so for sure,
I’m definitely excited to fight him.”
Kampmann
had to drop out of the bout due to a large cut he incurred in
training above his eye; a wound that was likely viewed by thousands,
after Kampmann posted a picture of the gash on his Twitter account.
“Boy
that was nasty,” said Ellenberger. “Yeah, that was
real nasty.”
Of
course Saunders is a recognizable name with many UFC fans, as
not only did the American Top Team fighter compete on the sixth
season of “The Ultimate Fighter”, the charismatic welterweight
has gone 4-1 in the Octagon to date.
“Absolutely;
he did a great job against Marcus Davis and Marcus Davis is no
joke,” said Ellenberger, when asked if fighting Saunders
present him an opportunity to entrench his own presence further
in the UFC. “Beating a veteran like that he’s also
got a pretty good reputation now. Getting to put it all on the
line against him just motivates me to train and work hard.”
The
6’2 Saunders has consistently demonstrated that he is a
dangerous opponent on his feet, particularly while working from
the clinch, where he dismantled both Davis and Brandon Wolff
with knees. Despite Ellenberger’s (22-5) collegiate wrestling
background, he is quick to dismiss the notion that he might be
looking to take Saunders to the mat in their upcoming tilt.
“No,
I’ve seen him fight and I think he’s got a good clinch
but I would like to strike with him, even though he’s taller,”
Ellenberger told FCF. “He’s open in a lot of areas;
he’s got holes. If we go to the ground we can grapple, and
work there, but I would like to strike with him. That’s
where I feel most comfortable.”
“I’m
sure he’s training and worked his wrestling quite a bit
but I think I can take it to the ground when I want to,”
Ellenberger added. “Really for me it’s about staying
out of his guard; like when I fought Carlos (Condit) and Mike
Pyle. I think fighting those guys helped me prepare for that
quite a bit.”
After
losing to Carlos Condit by Split Decision in September, in what
was an extremely competitive and entertaining affair, Ellenberger
earned his first Octagon victory at UFC 108 in January by stopping
the veteran Mike Pyle.
“I
think if I had lost that fight I would probably be done (in the
UFC),” Ellenberger said. “Even though it was a good
fight with Condit at the end of the day I still lost. On paper
I still lost the fight. Really I used that to motivate me against
Pyle to get in there and get a win. I knew if I lost again they
could just say ‘see ya later.’ I just dedicated my
life completely to training, staying disciplined; going into
that fight I was ready to die. I wasn’t leaving without
a victory."
Source: Full Contact Fighter
|
Is
Chael Sonnen better than Anderson Silva?
Photo Josh
Hedges
Every time a ranking is updated, people argues about positions.
Although, the American website “Fight” crossed the
limits. After the victory over Nate Marquardt, the American Chael
Sonnen went to the top of the category ranking, leaving Anderson
Silva, UFC champion and record breaker of victories and titles
defenses on UFC, behind.
But it wasn’t just the ranking of the middleweights that
made people talk. On the category above, Lyoto Machida is on
the deserved first place, but Maurício “Shogun”
Rua, next contender of the title, is only on seventh. Before
him, they putted Randy Couture, who submitted Mark Coleman.
On
featherweights, José Aldo, WEC champion, was the third,
leaving the top to the compatriot Bibiano Fernandes, Dream’s
GP champion. The Japanese Michihiro Omigawa got the second place.
At least they didn’t put Brock Lesnar as number one of heavyweights.
This place is still safe with Fedor Emelianenko.
Source: Tatame
|
Quote
of the Day
"If
you have made mistakes, even serious ones, there is always another
chance for you. What we call failure is not the falling down
but the staying down."
Mary
Pickford, 1893-1979
|
Danny
Hodge: What might’ve been?
With
mixed martial arts in North America being a relatively new sport,
there is always speculation on how different people from the
past would do if the sport was a lucrative endeavor in their
lifetime. Probably the most talked about names thrown out are
Bruce Lee or a young Mike Tyson.
But
if you talk with anyone who has spent any time around the wrestling
community – and that’s both the college wrestling community
and the entertainment-style pro community – one name always
tops the list: Danny Hodge.
“I
wish it had been around when I was young,” said Hodge, now
77, who in 2000 was listed by Sports Illustrated as one of Oklahoma’s
greatest athletes of the 20th century.
Hodge
is well aware of mixed martial arts and the Ultimate Fighting
Championship. As chairman of the Oklahoma State Athletic Commission,
he’s overseen both UFC and Strikeforce events over the past
year.
He
thought about how great it would have been if there were competitions
with almost exactly the same rules back in the Fifties, but none
existed. He even recalls seeing something approximating MMA on
television more than 40 years ago.
“The
first time I saw it was in 1968 in Tokyo,” said Hodge, who
was touring Japan at the time as a pro wrestler in an industry
where he was and remains a backstage legend. “I saw them
doing takedowns. I watched it on television. It was called kickboxing
in those days.”
Hodge’s
credentials in wrestling read almost like a myth. To some, he’s
the Babe Ruth of his sport. Arguably the most physically dominant
college wrestler of all time, Hodge went undefeated en route
to three NCAA championships at 177 pounds for the University
of Oklahoma from 1955 to 1957.
Freshmen
weren’t eligible for varsity competition in those days or
he’d have likely become the first four-time undefeated champion
in history, as he went to the Olympics the first time right out
of high school. Hodge still holds the all-time college record
with pins on 78 percent of his opponents. Most unprecedented
of all, he was never taken down in his entire collegiate career,
something even competitors such as Dan Gable and Cael Sanderson
can’t boast.
Hodge
won a silver medal in the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne. He was
ahead 8-2 in the championship match with seconds remaining; while
rolling through on a move, his shoulders touched the ground and
it was ruled a pinfall, in what was considered one of the worst
referee decisions in international wrestling of its era.
To
this day, he’s the only amateur wrestler to be on a Sports
Illustrated cover (right before the 1957 NCAA tournament) –
something no major MMA name today has been able to achieve. The
sport’s awards for the best college wrestler and best prep
wrestler each year are called The Hodge Trophy and Junior Hodge
Trophy, respectively.
“Do
you know what the average time was in my matches for three years
in the Big Seven tournament?” he asks before answering himself.
“One minute, 33 seconds. Some were a little longer, some
were a little shorter.”
But
it doesn’t end there. After he finished wrestling in college,
he turned to boxing. In one year, he went undefeated as an amateur,
going 17-0 with 12 knockouts en route to winning the national
Golden Gloves championship in Madison Square Garden when that
was still a major sporting event.
Hodge
turned pro as a small heavyweight, although that made for a bitter
experience.
“I
won eight out of ten fights but never got paid,” he said.
Just
a few months into his career, his people were in talks about
a championship match with then-champion Floyd Patterson, showing
how badly he was being rushed because he had a name from wrestling
and the Olympics. He took a savage beating from Nino Valdez,
a one-time top heavyweight contender, just 13 months after his
first amateur boxing match and never fought again.
“Then
I went into pro wrestling. Leroy McGuirk [a former NCAA wrestling
champion who was a promoter in Oklahoma] gave me an opportunity
to make money. In nine months, I was world junior heavyweight
champion.”
He
became one of the biggest names in the entertainment wrestling
world during the 1960s, and was still a major star until having
to retire in 1975 after breaking his neck in an automobile accident.
Hodge
knew submissions as well, but was best known for his supernatural
grip strength. In fact, at 77, he still has it. A few years back,
on live television at the NCAA tournament, this man who could
be mistaken for anyone’s grandfather grabbed an apple, squeezed,
and easily turned it into apple sauce.
In
his prime, Hodge would go into hardware stores, ask for the sturdiest
pair of pliers, squeeze, and snap the pliers in two.
“I
learned hooks [the terminology for submissions in those days]
from Strangler Lewis,” he noted. Lewis was the biggest pro
wrestling star of the Twenties, a man whom historians and old-timers
rank as one of the best legitimate pro wrestlers ever.
Jeff
Blatnick, a 1984 Olympic gold medalist in wrestling who analyzes
and judges MMA events, noted that Hodge was so strong he could
take moves that would not be submission holds for anyone else
and apply a level of pressure that they would be for him.
“I
was always in shape,” Hodge said. “Being in shape is
one of the biggest advantages in sports.’
Watching
Matt Hughes dominate the welterweight division for years as someone
who largely relied on power wrestling always made those familiar
with wrestling wonder: What if you took a guy with far more power,
a higher level of wrestling technique, and throw in boxing ability
and a guy who today would be a welterweight who had knockout
power in the heavyweight division, and include submission ability?
When
Hodge graduated college, he felt compelled to make a living.
There were strict rules of amateurism in sports. Once he turned
pro in boxing, he was no longer eligible for the Olympics. Even
doing entertainment pro wrestling meant he could no longer compete
in the sport he dominated.
“Things
were different in those days,” he said. “Today, people
get paid to train for the Olympics. In my day, they were so strict
I couldn’t even let people buy me a meal.”
If
he came along 50 years later, he’d be making millions.
“Do
I have any regrets? Yes.”
Source:
Yahoo Sports
|
White
tires of hearing pay-per-view complaints
Injuries
tore apart the UFC's star-studded roster over the last eight
weeks. It left the promotion with pay-per-view shows built more
on depth over star power. After UFC 109, when asked about the
fans complaining about PPV prices and value, White flipped his
lid:
"UFC
fans are spoiled," White explained that every UFC PPV can't
be a megacard. "There's gonna be the people that always
bitch and I say what I always say, 'don't buy it!.' If you don't
like the [expletive] card don't buy it. I don't give a [expletive]!"
White
reached a boiling point after hearing and reading the complaints
before the Mark Coleman-Randy Couture card.
"People
who are real fight fans and want to sit home on a Saturday and
watch fights, will watch it. Nobody's [expletive] making you
buy fights and watch the pay-per-view. Watch "American Idol,"
I could care less."
Probably
not the best choice of words by White but he does have a point
when comparing MMA PPV's to what boxing offers. Boxing still
builds its cards around one fight. If that main event is a flop,
the consumer is hosed. At least you get five-to-seven fights
on an MMA card for your $45-$60. Is that enough value? Over the
long haul, the market will determine if UFC is presenting too
many PPVs.
With
a little reflection, White would probably say he does give a
[expletive]. He's just a little cranky right now. To think, this
PPV discussion was before he found about Vitor Belfort being
out of UFC 112!
Source:
Yahoo Sports
|
CANE
VS. DIABATE ON COURSE FOR UFC 114
The May 29 card in Las Vegas for UFC 114 is starting to fill
up fast. The latest contest to be added to the show is Luis Cane
who will make his return to action to face UFC rookie, Cyril
Diabate, making his promotional debut.
The
bout was confirmed to MMAWeekly.com by sources close to the fight
on Saturday, after being initially being reported by MMAFighting.com.
Luis
Cane (10-2) is looking to recover from his last fight, a devastating
loss to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 106 last November. Prior
to that bout, Cane had won three fights in a row including wins
over Steve Cantwell and Thierry Sokoudjou.
The
Brazilian has shown tremendous power in his hands, while working
his way up the light heavyweight division, and looks to get back
on track following the loss to Nogueira.
Making
his UFC debut in May, Cyril Diabate (15-6) will try to make the
most of out his first shot in the Octagon. An experienced fighter
working with several promotions including Pride and Elite XC,
Diabate has been working his way towards the UFC for some time
now.
With
big fight experience against opponents such as Mauricio "Shogun"
Rua and Renato "Babalu" Sobral, Diabate is ready to
prove himself in the UFC after reeling off 5 wins in a row.
The
bout between Cane and Diabate will likely end up on the untelevised
undercard for UFC 114. Stay tuned to MMAWeekly.com for more information
on the upcoming card as it becomes available.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
NOG
HAS HIS EYE ON VELASQUEZ, NOT TITLE SHOT YET
Being a multi-time champion in Pride and the UFC isn't enough
for Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. The Brazilian fighter is ready
to gear up for another run at the heavyweight crown, and the
next step towards that achievement comes at UFC 110 when he faces
rising star Cain Velasquez.
After
battling several dangerous staph infections over the last two
years, Nogueira showed everybody what he had left in the gas
tank when he defeated Randy Couture last August to put himself
right back in the title picture.
Now
readying himself for another powerfully strong and hungry wrestler,
Nogueira knows the challenge ahead is a tough one, but something
he welcomes for this fight.
"We’re
going to see an interesting fight," Nogueira said about
his fight against Velasquez. "I think we can move a lot
in this fight.
"We
can see two heavyweight guys, and a couple others have ways while
we can move very fast. I think that’s a difference between
us and the other heavyweights in the weight division."
The
former Pride champion speaks very highly of Velasquez's ability
to move so quickly as a heavyweight, and believes that's a tough
match-up for anyone in that division.
"We’re
going to move a lot. And that’s impressed me about how he
can move," Nogueira commented. "He’s very structured
for the weight division. I like (to) fight someone like that
so we can show all our skills."
Velasquez
has said in interviews that he doesn't plan on changing his strategy
just because of Nogueira's considerable jiu-jitsu game, and the
Brazilian believes that the ground game is just as alive as ever.
Recent
comments from American Kickboxing Academy welterweight Jon Fitch
stated that he believed the closed guard was "dead"
in MMA, but Nogueira disagrees and feels it can play a part in
this fight or any fight.
"I
don’t think that’s right," he said about the death
of the closed guard. "I believe the ground is very dangerous...
that’s a very important part, the submission game."
As
the main event for UFC 110, Nogueira and Velasquez both understand
that a win puts them one step closer to a title shot, and depending
on how things go with the March fight between Shane Carwin and
Frank Mir, one of them may get the call to face Brock Lesnar
this summer.
“This
fight (Nogueira vs. Velasquez) will happen in Australia first,
then we’ll do the Newark fight (Frank Mir vs. Shane Carwin),
and if those guys come out of that fight healthy, we’ll
do that fight,” UFC president Dana White said recently,
adding that if the winner of Mir vs. Carwin isn’t healthy,
the winner of Nogueira vs. Velasquez would get the call.
Nogueira
is quick to point out that he's still got a very big task in
front of him named Cain Velasquez, and the title is down the
road.
"I
think me and Cain, we’re doing very great in all fights.
I’m talking about my last fight I do very good. He’s
been doing good," said Nogueira.
"
I think we are in a good position to fight for title belt right
now, but that’s not going to happen."
Nogueira
will hope to take at least one step close towards that title
shot when he squares off against Cain Velasquez at UFC 110 on
Saturday night.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
G4'S
HERTER ON NEW UFC AND EA MMA VIDEO GAMES
With sales reportedly at 3.5 million copies, UFC 2009 Undisputed
proved that MMA can transcend media and become a hit beyond the
sports world.
THQ’s
success with their first installment helped pave the way for
Undisputed’s sequel to be released on May 25, as well as
an announced third installment coming in 2011.
Not
one to pass up a booming market, gaming giant Electronic Arts
announced they’d be getting into the act with their own
EA Sports: MMA game.
To
make sense of everything, MMAWeekly.com spoke with Blair Herter,
chief correspondent for G4 Television’s X-Play series, to
get his thoughts on all the recent announcements and what he
sees on the horizon for MMA’s gaming future.
MMAWeekly:
Recent reports say that THQ’s UFC 2009 Undisputed sold 3.5
million copies. Did you ever think that the game could end up
being that successful?
Blair
Herter: I don’t think anyone expected it to sell that many
copies. We both predicted it would do pretty well, but honestly
I didn’t think it would sell 3.5 million copies. You’re
talking about an insane amount of money for a 60-dollar-a-copy
game in a downturned economy.
MMAWeekly:
At the recent UFC 109 event, THQ released information on the
game’s sequel. What do you think we can look forward to
in the next iteration of Undisputed?
Blair
Herter: One of the things that they focused on for the next version
of the franchise is that you can expect better graphics. I’ve
seen the game and the graphics are definitely better. Another
thing they’ve focused on is making the fighting more realistic.
One
of the big complaints they had (from the original game) was that
it was a little cookie cutter. A lot of fighters were very similar
as far as their styles went. They kind of had the grappler mold
and then the fighters were kind of created from that mold and
the fighters fought very similar. What they really tried to do
this year is really try to incorporate a lot of these guys’
real life moves.
One
of the things they did that is kind of a no-brainer is to add
southpaw fighting in the game. You switch stances in a fighting
game and it completely changes all the fighting mechanics –
the way the fighters approach each other and the way they grapple.
I
think you’re going to see them building on the things they
already did right with the massive roster of fighters they had
and are now focused on making those fighters very distinct and
fight in a way those guys fight as opposed to a grappler (template)
or stand-up (template).
MMAWeekly:
EA took notice and shortly after the release of THQ’s game,
announced its own MMA game. Reportedly they are so intent on
making their MMA game a success that they took teams off their
NASCAR series to work on it before ultimately cancelling this
year’s NASCAR game all together. What do you think about
that?
Blair
Herter: Every time we speak, the one thing that everyone talks
about that’s been covering MMA is how much the sport has
exploded and is exploding and how big it’s getting. I think
that just says it right there. That they’re willing to pull
teams from what is a big franchise for them and jump into (the
MMA) market while not having the UFC on board, I think says a
lot about how much of a market EA thinks there is for another
MMA game.
MMAWeekly:
So far all we’ve seen is some roster announcements and brief
pre-rendered footage of EA’s game. Do you think what we’ve
been shown so far is reason enough to be excited for the release?
Blair
Herter: I think what it looks like matters a whole lot less than
how it plays. I don’t think you’re going to see a lot
of differences graphically (between EA’s game and THQ’s
game), and if you do, it’s going to be minimal. The game
needs to play well, because that’s what it’s all about.
Guys
aren’t buying this game because of the pretty graphics;
they’re buying this game because they want to feel like
they’re actually a part of an MMA fight. I think the only
way you can capture that isn’t necessarily by adding advanced
bruise physics or anything like that; it’s the grappling
and fighting mechanics.
I
think they’re going to focus less on making it a really
pretty game and focus more on making it an actual great MMA experience.
MMAWeekly:
And what about the roster of fighters so far? Are Fedor Emelianenko,
Bobby Lashley, and Dan Henderson enough to bring fans to EA’s
product?
Blair
Herter: There are certainly enough people on EA’s roster
to bring in the hardcore and people that are fairly interested
in it, but I think people will play the EA game to see if it’s
different than the THQ game.
They’re
going to buy the THQ game because everybody knows the UFC, and
if they have issues with the THQ game they’re going to pick
up the EA game to see if it improves on the things they have
a problem with in the THQ game.
But
right now I don’t think the roster is what is going to sell
the game, it’s going to be the potential for something different.
EA in itself has a pretty significant fan base, so I think you’ll
see plenty of people buy it because EA is involved.
MMAWeekly:
We’ve seen sales of the Madden football series stagnate
the last couple years because of what many feel is a lack of
evolution due to no competition. When EA does enter the fray
next year, what sort of innovations could we possibly see to
take MMA games to the next level?
Blair
Herter: I think that the (installment to installment) innovations
are going to occur in the game mechanics. You’re going to
see a better grappling system or more accuracy in the stand-up.
That’s what’s going to sell their games. It’s
not going to be adding four more guys or having fights in a different
arena.
The
next big innovation could be a complete control overhaul where
you’re going to see Fight Night (EA’s boxing franchise)
type evolution where suddenly you’re not only using analog
control sticks (to fight). Maybe it will be something like (Microsoft’s
complete motion control system) Project Natal, where you’re
actually using your arms and legs to fight people.
MMAWeekly:
Thanks for your time, Blair; it’s been insightful as always.
Is there anything you want to say to close us out?
Blair
Herter: I want people to check out (Blair) Butler’s MMA
Chokehold segment on Attack of the Show before pay-per-views.
She’s got a really great relationship with the UFC, and
I know Dana (White) and those guys are very excited about it,
so I think you look forward to seeing a lot of your favorite
fighters on that segment.
I’d
just like to say to the fans that we’re committed to covering
more MMA stuff, so you should keep an eye out for that in the
future. At X-Play we have a really good relationship with THQ
and this franchise and in talking with them about it, they’ve
got a lot of really cool events lined up for it as we near launch
date, and we’re going to be part of those things. We really
care about MMA and so you can definitely look forward to EA coverage
as well.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
JOHNSON
INJURED, DANIEL ROBERTS FACES DOOMSDAY INSTEAD
A knee injury has forced Anthony "Rumble" Johnson off
of the upcoming UFC on Versus card in March, and UFC newcomer
Daniel Roberts has been tapped as a replacement to take on John
"Doomsday" Howard in a welterweight match-up on the
show instead.
The
bout was initially reported by the Boston Herald on Sunday, and
independent sources confirmed the bout to MMAWeekly.com as well.
Daniel
Roberts (9-0) gets a chance to step into the UFC octagon for
the first time on just over a month's notice.
Training
out of Oklahoma, Roberts brings with him an undefeated record,
and most recently a win over veteran fighter, Anthony Macias,
in mid-January.
After
training in Thailand recently, John Howard will look to build
on his current 3-fight win streak in the UFC, including wins
over Tamden McCrory and most recently a knockout win over Dennis
Hallman.
There
has been no word if the bout between Howard and Roberts will
remain on the main card as the previous fight was scheduled,
but with a stacked undercard the fight may get moved to the untelevised
portion of the broadcast.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
BLACKBURN
FACES JOHNSON IN ABU DHABI
Welterweights DeMarques Johnson and Brad Blackburn will make
the trip to Abu Dhabi to square off in an undercard bout for
the upcoming UFC 112 show overseas.
The
bout was confirmed to MMAWeekly.com on Saturday by sources close
to the fight. The fight was initially reported by MMAFighting.com.
After
a successful run on the "Ultimate Fighter" reality
show, DeMarques Johnson (10-7) fell victim to James Wilks in
the finals, losing by rear naked choke. The Utah based fighter
bounced back with an ultra exciting performance at UFC 107 last
December, as he submitted Edgar Garcia with a triangle choke
after a back and forth battle early on.
Hoping
to get back on another winning streak, Brad Blackburn (15-10-1)
wants to prove that he was better than his last performance when
he lost a decision to former "Ultimate Fighter" winner,
Amir Sadollah, in January.
Prior
to that fight, Blackburn had won 4 fights in a row, including
his first 3 fights in the UFC.
The
bout between Johnson and Blackburn will be a part of the untelevised
undercard for the show taking place in Abu Dhabi in April.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
Quote
of the Day
"Life
ought to be a struggle of desire toward adventures whose nobility
will fertilize the soul."
Rebecca
West, 1892-1983
|
Maia
to replace Belfort against Silva
Demian
Maia went out of his element in a fight against Dan Miller at
UFC 109 on Feb. 6 in Las Vegas in order to prove he can strike
and is more than just a grappling expert.
The
performance apparently impressed the Ultimate Fighting Championship
brass enough that the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt was chosen
to replace the injured Vitor Belfort and challenge Anderson Silva
for the middleweight championship in the main event of UFC 112
on April 10 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Belfort
announced Thursday that he had surgery on his left shoulder and
would not be healed in time to meet Silva in a highly anticipated
championship match. Because of injuries and other commitments,
the UFC had few options, particularly if it wanted Silva to stay
at middleweight and defend the belt rather than move up a class
and taking a non-title fight at light heavyweight.
The
choice of Maia also carries a risk, because Maia has a cut on
his left eyelid and is medically suspended by the Nevada Athletic
Commission until Aug. 6. Suspensions can be shortened if the
fighter is cleared earlier by a doctor, and the UFC must believe
that Maia will heal quickly.
UFC
president Dana White wasn’t available for comment, but released
a statement praising Maia’s selection.
“It’s
always tough when a top fighter like Vitor Belfort has to pull
out of a big title fight, but we have found a high quality replacement,”
White said. “Top contender Chael Sonnen was not available
due to injuries sustained in his fight with Nate Marquardt, so
top six middleweight Demian Maia will step in to fight for the
title.
“Maia
is an Abu Dhabi grappling champion, a five-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
world champion, and he is 12-1 in MMA and coming off a win over
Dan Miller at UFC 109. Anderson Silva vs. Demian Maia will be
a matchup between MMA’s best striker and MMA’s best
grappler.”
Maia
is 1-1 against the men who fought in the co-main event at UFC
109 for the right to become the middleweight division’s
No. 1 contender. He submitted Sonnen in just 2:37 of the first
round at UFC 95 in London, but was knocked out in only 21 seconds
by Marquardt at UFC 102 in Portland, Oregon.
In
addition to Silva-Maia, there will be a second championship bout
on the card, as lightweight title-holder B.J. Penn meets Frankie
Edgar.
The
UFC wanted a high-profile card for its first foray into the Middle
East. In January, Abu Dhabi-based Flash Entertainment purchased
a 10 percent stake in the company.
Source:
Yahoo Sports
|
FRANKLIN
POSSIBLE; COUTURE UP FOR LESNAR REMATCH
Following his UFC 109 win over Mark Coleman, UFC president Dana
White said Randy Couture was a contender in the UFC light heavyweight
division, but the former two-time UFC light heavyweight titleholder
and three-time heavyweight champion wouldn’t rule out fighting
in the heavyweight division again.
At
the UFC 109 post-fight press conference, Couture said he’s
willing to rematch UFC heavyweight titleholder and former WWE
superstar Brock Lesnar.
“I’ve
not been one to turn down too many fights. If they came to me
and thought that made sense and that’s what they wanted
me to do, I’d seriously consider it and more than likely
do that,” he said.
“I
felt like that fight was going my way. I think I have the tools
and the things I need to beat him if it came to that,” added
the 46-year-old fighter.
Couture
would rather fight sooner than later, but knows there are match-ups
that have to play out before he knows his place in either the
light heavyweight or heavyweight divisions.
“Dana
White said they have a lot of business and a lot of things to
clean up in both the heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions
because of all the injuries and getting guys back healthy again
and back in and back on the cards,” said Couture.
He
expects offers in both divisions to come in, especially with
the rash of injuries forcing marquee fighters out of several
bouts, but Couture also has several acting opportunities before
him.
“I’m
going to entertain those calls when they come in and honestly
evaluate the opportunities as they come and if it’s sooner
than later that’s perfectly fine by me, but if it’s
later that’s all right too,” said the UFC Hall of Famer.
Although
willing to rematch Lesnar, Couture is comfortable competing in
the 205-pound division.
“I’m
enjoying competing against guys my own size to be frank. The
trend in the heavyweight division is these guys are not only
big, they’re damn good fighters,” commented Couture.
“All things being equal, if you give away thirty, forty,
fifty pounds to somebody, it’s a pretty disparaging difference.
I’m having fun playing around and banging with the 205-pounders
right now.”
At
the time of publication, MMAWeekly.com sources indicated a bout
pitting Couture against former middleweight champion Rich Franklin
was being discussed. Couture, however, told Sherdog.com that
while the bout is a possibility, he was weighing it against prior
acting commitments, and that it would probably be August before
such a bout might take place.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
GUILLARD
VS TAVARES AGREED FOR UFC 114
Following a successful outing at UFC 109, Melvin Guillard is
looking to keep on a winning track when he returns to face American
Top Team fighter, Thiago Tavares, in a lightweight bout at UFC
114 in Las Vegas on May 29.
The
bout was confirmed to MMAWeekly.com by sources close to the fight,
with verbal agreements in place, and bout agreements should follow.
MMAJunkie.com initially reported the proposed fight on Saturday.
Melvin
Guillard (23-8-2) recently made the move to pick up his camp
and join Greg Jackson's stable of fighters in New Mexico. The
former "Ultimate Fighter" contestant paid huge compliments
to Jackson and coach Mike Winklejohn for their efforts in getting
him ready for the fight, and he's stated he'll be a part of the
team from here on out.
Stepping
back in action earlier this month, Guillard fought a back and
forth battle with Brazilian, Ronys Torres, and ended up on the
winning end of a decision. Speaking with MMAWeekly Radio earlier
this week, Guillard stated he hope to return to action within
a couple of months and it looks like he'll get his wish.
Hoping
for a healthier year in 2010, Thiago Tavares (14-3-1) had an
injury 2009 campaign that kept him out of fights, including a
bout against Guillard that was scheduled for last June.
The
American Top Team lightweight came back in January, and ended
up going to a draw with Nik Lentz, and Tavares is hoping for
a better result in May when he faces Guillard.
There
is no word if the bout between Guillard and Tavares will end
up on the main card, but it's more likely to air on the untelevised
preliminary portion of the show, or possibly a Spike TV broadcast.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
NCAA
CHAMPION ERIC LARKIN MOVES TO MMA
2003 NCAA Division 1 National Champion, Eric Larkin, will be
making the move from wrestling to mixed martial arts in 2010,
and has signed on with a manager while training for his debut
fight.
A
four-time All-American wrestler at Arizona State, Larkin has
trained wrestling with fighters for some time now working with
Jamie Varner, and other top notch fighters in Arizona.
Larkin
also served as an assistant coach at Arizona State, where their
wrestling program has produced some of the best fighters in MMA
today including Ryan Bader, C.B. Dollaway, and another coach
turned fighter in Aaron Simpson.
Winning
the NCAA Division 1 title at 149lbs in 2003, Larkin has signed
on with the Martin Advisory Group to handle his MMA management.
His new management team also works with top stars like Bader,
Dollaway, and former WEC champion, Carlos Condit.
“Eric
Larkin is a decorated wrestler and Dan Hodge Award Winner and
we are thrilled to have such a high caliber athlete join our
team,” said Dave Martin of Martin Advisory Group.
Larkin
will be working at the Lion's Den in Scottsdale, Arizona as he
works towards making his debut later this year. At this time
it's not confirmed which weight class Larkin will compete at,
but based on his wrestling credentials, lightweight is the most
likely home for the former champion.
Stay
tuned to MMAWeekly.com for more information on Larkin's MMA debut
as it becomes available.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
Anderson
bets in Minotauro and Wanderlei
UFC
middleweight champion, Anderson Silva has some more months ahead
until put his title on game again, against Vitor Belfort. Meanwhile,
Anderson takes the fan position and watches to the fights of
Rodrigo Minotauro and Wanderlei Silva on UFC 110, when the though
Brazilians will face Cain Velasquez and Michael Bisping. On a
quick chat with TATAME, Anderson talked about the fights.
How’s
going the work over Minotauro?
Rodrigo
is there with the teacher (Carlos) Dórea, Cigano is helping
him too and we’ll go there to help him too. We want his
victory.
Do
you already have a strategy?
He
will train as always. He can get good in there, so it’s
to train as always and we helping as we can.
Wanderlei
will face Michael Bisping. Do you think Wanderlei wins? What
does he need to do?
Wanderlei
is on a new phase, he saw a lot of things, and he has to do what
he always did: to train a lot, to go there and gives his best.
After
you solved that misunderstanding, did you talk to train together?
Unfortunately
my life is full of stuff, I have my things, he has his... Sometimes
there’s no time, we doesn’t match the appointments
but I’d like to help him with this fight. Unfortunately
I can’t, but he has a good team. Master Rafael Cordeiro
is supporting on techniques and he will be okay on this fight.
I hope he brings this victory to Brazil.
Source:
Tatame
|
UFC
114 takes shape
Melvin
Guillard had a good showing his last appearance, at UFC 119,
beating Jiu-Jitsu black belt Ronys Torres by judges’ decision.
Now the experienced fighter will have another Gentle Art representative
ahead of him. At UFC 114, on May 29 in Las Vegas, Guillard will
face off against Thiago Tavares. The fight is not yet official,
but the fighter have verbally agreed to it.
A
fight GRACIEMAG.com confirmed First hand for the same event is
the Rogerio Minotouro versus Forrest Griffin matchup. The main
event pits former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans against
also-former champion Quinton Jackson.
Another
Jiu-Jitsu black belt scheduled for the same event is Luis “Banha”
Cane, who should face Cyrille Diabete.
Check
out the card as it stands:
UFC
114
Las Vegas, Nevada
May 29, 2010
Rashad
Evans vs Quinton “Rampage” Jackson
Forrest Griffin vs Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
Todd Duffee vs Mike Russow
John Hathaway vs Diego Sanchez
Dong Hyun Kim vs Amir Sadollah
Chris Leben vs Aaron Simpson
Melvin Guillard vs Thiago Tavares
Efrain Escudero vs Dan Lauzon
Luis Cane vs Cyrille Diabate
Jesse Forbes vs Ryan Jensen
Source:
Gracie Magazine
|
What's
the big secret! Did Strikeforce meet with Canseco or not?
You
know it's a non-fight weekend when we have to post hour-by-hour
updates of Jose Canseco lobbying Strikeforce. Late last night,
Canseco posted a picture of one of his first workouts with Cesar
Gracie in Northern California and said he'd be meeting soon with
officials from Strikeforce.
Earlier
this afternoon, Mike Afromowitz from Strikeforce P.R. told Bloody
Elbow that the promotion had no interest in Canseco and would
not be meeting with him. Now MMAJunkie is being told by Gracie
that the meeting took place today.
Strikeforce
CEO Scott Coker and Canseco gathered today in a San Jose, Calif.-area
restaurant along with esteemed trainer Cesar Gracie to discuss
the possibility of the former baseball star fighting for Strikeforce,
according to Gracie, who spoke with MMAjunkie.com Friday before
the group met.
Huh?
Gracie also began the trash talking for a fight against Herschel
Walker that is likely to never happen.
"Jose
says baseball's better than football, Gracie jiu-jitsu is better
than AKA (American Kickboxing Academy) and he's better than Herschel
(Walker)," Gracie said. "Three strikes and you're out.
People will be amazed what kind of shape this guy is in. He throws
a head kick like Cung Le."
Cung
Le? The 45-year-old Canseco throws kicks like one of the best
kickboxers of the last 25 years. Really? It's starting to sound
like this is local gym rivalry being played out using Canseco
and Walker as the pawns.
During
a recent conversation, AKA fighter Mike Swick said Walker isn't
the type of guy to engage in a celebrity fight showdown.
Source:
Yahoo Sports
|
Quote
of the Day
"Mistakes
are the portals of discovery."
James
Joyce, 1882-1941
|
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!
|
2010
808 Battleground"
Event: FEB 19th, 2010 808 Battleground
Start Time: Friday, February 19 at 5:00pm
Where: Waipahu FILCOM Center
Waipahu
Filcom Center, February 19, 2010 Doors open at 5pm fights start
at 6pm. Call me if you have any beginner fighters that want to
compete 808-366-2005.
|
Vitor:
"When I’m back, they should be ready”
Former
two times UFC Champion, Vitor Belfort would have his shot at
the middleweight crown in April 10, which, with a victory Anderson
Silva, would make his the first fighter to become champion in
three weight divisions in the UFC. However, TATAME.com learned
yesterday that the fighter was injured and wouldn’t fight
or the title anymore. In exclusive interview to TATAME.com, Belfort
talked about the injury, the recovery and a lot more.
Vitor Belfort
Former
two times UFC champion, Vitor Belfort would have his shot at
the middleweight crown in April 10, which, with a victory Anderson
Silva, would make his the first fighter to become champion in
three weight divisions in the UFC. However, TATAME.com learned
yesterday that the fighter was injured and wouldn’t fight
or the title anymore. In exclusive interview to TATAME.com, Belfort
talked about the injury, the recovery and a lot more. Check below
the exclusive chat.
How
did this injury happen?
I
have this problem since last year. I felt my shoulder and did
an infiltration to the fight against Jorge Santiago. Then I did
it three more times. I was going to fight Anderson in January,
but I kept training hard and the UFC was forced to postpone the
fight. We did a MRI and doc Michel Simoni, one of the best in
Brazil and well known overseas, said there was no way, to be
100% I’d have to stop. Now I’ll be back only five months
from now.
How
bad is this injury?
I
went under surgery already. I can’t take too long, even
because of my career and physical conditioning.
How
long will you stay stop?
Around
eight months. The surgery was great, I’m way better now,
but I have to rest. Let’s move on… I’ll work to
be better to come back to fight.
You
did the infiltrations and fought Rich Franklin, but you decided
not to fight now. Why?
Man,
I had this injury and didn’t know how bad it was, and it
only got worse. It was getting worse and then, three fights later,
my shoulder couldn’t handle it anymore. The rhythm is intense,
this injury was in the left shoulder and that’s bad, because
I’m a southpaw…
What
does this fight for the title meant to you?
I
was very important, man. Every fight is important to me, my focus
is on who’s in my front.
How
was the meeting you had with Anderson in Abu Dhabu? You have
said he looked upset…
I
don’t know, maybe to took this to the personal side. I can’t
say what he’s thinking.
After
that, the admiration you had for him changed?
No,
even because he’s very influenced. We have to see what we
really are, don’t matter what people say.
How
do you think is your situation in the UFC now? Will the UFC wait
to match Anderson against you?
The
reality is that I talked to Lorenzzo and he said to me to get
well, he said they’re there to help me. He was a real friend.
He said I can call him when I’m ready
Who
do you think deserve this title shot now?
What
do I think? I’ll mind my own business… I’ll take
care of myself, in what I have to do. My opponent should be careful
for when I come back. When I’m back, they should be ready.
Do
you want to fight or the title as soon as you get better?
I
don’t think this way, I’ll do whatever the UFC wants.
I’ll focus in my work, whoever the UFC thinks it’s
fine.
Do
you think Demian or Sonnen can beat Anderson?
Anyone
inside there has chances, the important is go there confident.
I think everybody has chances.
How
will you work your head now that you’ll stay some months
away?
It’s
work, brother. My new focus now is the physical therapy, work
and focus in what I have to do.
Any
message?
I
wanna thank all my Brazilian and American fans for the support
and admiration, the messages in Twitter. You’ll be with
me in this recovery and in my next fight too.
Source:
Tatame
|
UFC
ANNOUNCES UFC 113, MACHIDA VS SHOGUN OFFICIAL
The UFC officially announced the promotion's return to Montreal,
Canada on Friday with several main card bouts including the main
event that will see Lyoto Machida rematch Mauricio "Shogun"
Rua in a bout for the light heavyweight championship after their
first fight ended in a controversial decision.
Other
fights announced for the upcoming card include Canadian favorite,
Sam Stout, returning home to face Jeremy Stephens in what could
be a slugfest between two dangerous strikers.
Montreal
native, Patrick Cote, comes back after enduring a severe knee
injury that kept him out of the sport for more than a year to
face a surging Alan Belcher, who looks to build on his last win
over Wilson Gouveia when he returns in May.
Marcus
Davis and Jonathon Goulet will face off in a welterweight match-up
in an untelevised undercard fight, while another Canadian, T.J.
Grant, faces former All-American wrestler turned fighter, Johny
Hendricks.
Tickets
for the event will be available to UFC Fight Club members as
of Feb 18, and will go on sale to the general public on Feb 20.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
DEMIAN
MAIA STEPS INTO TITLE SHOT AT UFC 112
Just 24 hours after news broke that Vitor Belfort is out of a
scheduled challenge to UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva
at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi, the Ultimate Fighting Championship has
named a replacement.
Damian
Maia has been tapped to step in to replace the injured Belfort.
Sonnen
was set to face the winner between Silva and Belfort, so he would
have been the logical candidate to step in at UFC 112. Sonnen,
however, suffered a severe cut on his forehead during his recent
UFC 109 bout with Nate Marquardt and is currently under a medical
suspension issued by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, effectively
removing him from consideration.
Maia
(12-1) scored a unanimous decision over Dan Miller at UFC 109,
displaying his much improved stand-up game. Coming out unscathed,
he was the next logical choice to face Silva, even if it was
a bit sooner than he had expected. His victory over Miller followed
up a quick knockout loss to Marquardt at UFC 102.
"My
last loss was very frustrating for me because I was almost there
(for a title shot). Let's see what will happen. I don't want
to make plans, I just want to fight," said Maia after the
victory over Miller. "I want to fight for the title. I know
it will come one day. I know I will have this title one day."
It’s
sooner than expected, but Maia will get his title shot April
10 in Abu Dhabi.
Friday
evening, Maia posted his excitement for the bout on his Twitter
account, saying, “A dream of a lifetime, in one night. @UFC
112.”
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
UFC'S
DYNAMIC DUO SPEEDS GLOBAL EXPANSION
The UFC is taking over the world.
Maybe
not literally, but the UFC is continuously expanding its worldwide
footprint. The latest move was January’s announcement that
the company inked a deal to broadcast events in China through
Sohu.com.
UFC
president Dana White recently commented that the promotion also
plans on running a show in China, and the conquest isn't stopping
there.
After
signing a deal to sell a portion of the UFC to new partners in
Abu Dhabi, the organization is expecting big things to happen
over the next few years to bring MMA to new areas maybe never
thought of before.
"We’re
very aggressive right now on China, South Korea, and India. Those
are the three we’re going after right now," White said.
"India, 300 million males 18 to 34, so we love India and
we’re going to South Korea."
Another
area that has seemed like a natural for the UFC's worldwide travels
is Brazil, but according to White, until recently, they were
only lukewarm to the idea.
"Brazil
wasn’t that attractive to us in the beginning, now that
the Olympics are going there. We’re very into Brazil now,"
White commented.
The
biggest factor in the UFC's ability to make this worldwide expansion
possible is in large part due to owner Lorenzo Fertitta, who
began working full time on the promotion over a year ago and
has been quietly signing international deals ever since.
"We
started working this Abu Dhabi thing about a year ago and look
where we are now with that. I’m telling you, this whole
international expansion... everybody wants to rag on my big announcements,
when I said Lorenzo was coming over here, I couldn’t do
what he did," White said about Fertitta's involvement. "It’s
impossible. You can’t do this many fights and fly to China
and all these other places and do what he did. How fast he has
done this international stuff, it’s staggering.
“I
don’t know. I had this 10-year plan, it might be four years
now that we get all this stuff done."
The
UFC will feature their first show in Abu Dhabi in April with
UFC 112, and if White and Fertitta have their way the sport will
soon expand into brand new areas in 2010 as well.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
STRIKEFORCE
WEIGHS IN ON SHIELDS AS TUF 11 COACH
When the announcement was made that Strikeforce middleweight
champion Jake Shields would be appearing on “The Ultimate
Fighter" season 11 as an assistant coach to Chuck Liddell
just about everyone was curious how that would play out with
his employers and his proposed fight against Dan Henderson in
April.
According
to Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker, the promotion doesn't have a
problem with Shields doing the show, as long as he's training
and ready to go to defend his title.
"Jake
is always looking for more exposure, and try to increase his
brand as an individual," Coker told MMAWeekly Radio recently.
"When I heard about it, it was like when Robbie Lawler was
doing The Ultimate Fighter when Matt Hughes was coaching. We
see it as no different, and Chuck asked him to be the coach,
and where Jake trains it doesn't matter."
One
thing that was made clear is that the fight between Henderson
and Shields is going forward, full steam ahead, for the promotion's
next show on CBS in April.
"Just
make sure that he's training cause he's going to be fighting
Dan Henderson in April," Coker said about Shields.
The
Strikeforce CEO also assured fans that Fedor Emelianenko would
be featured on the April card, which is rapidly approaching,
but as of now an opponent still hasn’t officially been determined.
Former UFC heavyweight Fabricio Werdum is the frontrunner to
get the fight as of now.
Shields
will serve as a grappling and wrestling coach for Liddell on
the popular reality show that just started filming.
The
California based fighter told MMAWeekly.com, "I figured
this would be a good opportunity. Chuck is a great training partner
and lots of great training in Vegas."
Stay
tuned for the official details about Strikeforce's next card
on CBS as it becomes available.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
Hermes
explains retirement: “I did what had to be done”
On
January 9, websites around the world announced the retirement
of Hermes Franca. The Jiu-Jitsu black belt is the Brazilian who
furthest in the UFC lightweight division, having challenged for
the belt in 2007, against Sean Sherk. At the time, he lost by
judges’ decision. In an exclusive GRACIEMAG.com interview,
our GMA Hermes discussed the decision to hang up his gloves and
examines the career.
Your
retirement was widely reported, but you hardly addressed the
subject. In the end, why stop?
Yeah,
I stopped. It was having a hard time concentrating on getting
ready for fights. You have to be 100% focused on training and
I was teaching and working on my Jiu-Jitsu academy. It was hard,
so I said, you know what, I’ll stop’. And I did. I
didn’t put aside the things I like, which is to teach and
train athletes. I’m teaching a lot of Jiu-Jitsu classes
and life goes on. Just I really did stop fighting.
But
you won’t do a farewell fight?
No.
I did what had to be done.
Which
fight marked you most?
All
my fights marked me. I remember when I arrived in the United
States with nothing, having to work. I ended up getting an opportunity
to fight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and then challenged
for the title. I think every fight has its role. Of course, the
first in the UFC (victory over Rich Crunkilton, at UFC 42) you
never forget! It was bliss.
And
who was the opponent that marked you most?
Marcus
Aurelio marked me, because he was my teacher from blue to brown
belt. It was kind of bothersome but that was my most notable
fight.
What
will you do now that you will no longer fight MMA?
I
have a gym in Oregon and the opening will be March 13. I’ll
hold a cool seminar and it’s also realy cool the fact that
so many people around here are stoked. Matt Lindland has already
spoken with me and Chael Sonnen is here, too. Fabiano “Pega
Leve”, a friend of mine, too, so I’m right at home.
Good folks here.
But
will you be an MMA coach?
For
now just Jiu-Jitsu. We have three academies and, in New York
(East West Combat Club), after only four months, we already have
60 students. I cannot forget about Jiu-Jitsu. MMA is difficult
to teach, it’s a problem, a lot of headaches to teach the
athlete. Jiu-Jitsu is exciting and it’s a sport that will
never end. Guybson Sa, a tough 21-year-old from Fortaleza, is
also here helping me.
The
gi is my second skin. Competition Jiu-Jitsu, I’m in”
Hermes France
You
said you won’t fight MMA. But what about in the gentle art,
will you fight?
Absolutely!
The gi is my second skin. I intend to fight at the Pan-American,
coming up in April. I competed at the last two No-Gi Worlds and
have won medals in the past. I like competition and it makes
me keep in shape. In Jiu-Jitsu and submission grappling, I’m
in.
Would
you like to leave a message to someone?
I
want to thank all my fans. I would like to ask that anyone in
the battle not give up the sport, never give up. For me nothing
was easy. I started washing cars in the U.S. and earning $ 200
a week. To get there, I had to fight. And that goes for anything.
I ask everyone to never give up their dreams.
Source:
Gracie Magazine
|
Ronys
already has next opponent in UFC
Five
fighters who saw action at UFC 109 and lost were eventually dismissed.
The same could have happened with Ronys Torres, who dropped a
unanimous decision to Melvin Guillard.
However,
the promoters liked the performance of the Nova União
black belt in Jiu-Jitsu so much that they already set up Ronys’s
next date in the octagon.
According
to GRACIEMAG.com’s sources in the Nova União camp,
Ronys will face off against Jacob Volkmann, in Volkmann’s
first venture into the lightweight category.
In
his last two appearances, Jacob suffered the only losses on his
record, to Paul James and Martin Kampmann. The date is not yet
confirmed, but should not be too far off.
Source:
Gracie Magazine
|
Quote
of the Day
"The
wisest men follow their own direction."
Euripides,
484 BC-406 BC
|
Demian
vs. Anderson: “I still can’t believe it”
After
Vitor Belfort’s injury, first reported by TATAME.com, everybody
waited for Anderson Silva’s new opponent in Abu Dhabi, but
the wait is over. One of the title contenders in the UFC middleweight
division, Demian Maia confirmed via Twitter that he’ll get
the title shot at UFC 112, on April 10.
TATAME.com
is the first to talk with the BJJ ace after the confirmation.
“I knew about it last night. I still can’t believe
it. My manager called me and they asked if I wanted to fight
for the belt. I said ‘of course, you don’t even have
to ask it’”, Demian told.
Coming
from a victory over Dan Miller at UFC 109, Demian will have two
months to get ready and set a strategy for the most important
fight of his life. “I’ll have time to prepare an strategy.
I’m coming from a heavy training and I’m in a fight
rhythm. I’ll let my body rest this week and I’ll start
the training next week”.
“I
still don’t know where I’ll train, but I’ll go
train Boxing with (Luis Carlos) Dorea for sure. My physical preparation
wlll be with (Rafael) Alejarra”, Demian revealed, confirmed
the training with the Nogueira brothers Boxing coach and Wanderlei
Silva’s ex physical trainer.
In
the fight, indeed, Maia promises a lot of Jiu-Jitsu. “If
I say to you that I’m gonna exchange with him I’ll
be lying. It’s the same thing if I say he’ll go to
the ground with me. But I’ll go to this fight ready for
everything. It’s a title fight and the title always was
my dream. I imagined having this title shot a year ago, but I
had two more fights and God, for one reason, gave it to me now”,
said.
Everybody
waited for the UFC to announce Silva vs. Chael Sonnen to the
title fight, also Demian. I think (Chael) Sonnen is not recovered
from the fight against Nate Marquardt and won’t have time
to get ready to this. They looked for the top guys and I was
the choice”, finished the Brazilian. Stay tuned at TATAME.com
for more news on UFC 112.
Source: Tatame
|
Demian
on Anderson fight: “This is the best carnival of my life”
In
a recent GRACIEMAG.com interview, Demian Maia said it would take
some time before he’d get his shot at Anderson Silva in
the UFC. The loss to Nate Marquardt would have perished the possibility.
However, things change. Vitor Belfort’s injury opened up
a berth in the title fight, to be held April 10 in Abu Dhabi.
And Dana White called on the Jiu-Jitsu black belt to fill that
berth.
“It
couldn’t be any better! This is the best carnival of my
life!” celebrates Demian.
“Excellent!
It was just what I wanted, something I fought for my entire life.
I’ve been preparing myself for this my whole life and to
have this opportunity now is great,” he added.
Demian
is overjoyed for chance to face Anderson. Photo: Josh Hedges
You
just fought at UFC 109, on February 6. Can you possibly rest
your body enough to fight again April 10?
This
is the opportunity I can’t pass up. It may happen only once
in my lifetime. It’s not the ideal amount of time, but,
at the same time, it’s not bad. I’m coming off a fight
and I’m not out of rhythm. I’ll rest this week until
half way through next week. Then I’ll get back to training.
That will be enough time for my body to rest, because generally
that’s how long I rest, about 10 days. The difference is
that, this time, I’ll have to pick up the pace a bit quicker
than I plan to with four months of pre time.
What
is your take on this opportunity against Anderson, probably the
most important fight of your career?
I’ve
had seven fights in the UFC, I’ve competed in countless
Jiu-Jitsu championships and been in really difficult situations.
I’ll keep doing what I do and try to be as perfect as possible,
in training and in carrying myself. For sure this will be the
most important fight, but each fight I go into is the most important.
The last one was, the one I lost was, too, because they could
lead me to the title. So it’s always important.
In
the last fight, against Dan Miller, you changed the game and
fought standing. Why that strategy?
It
was really important, because I could test myself standing and
see that it wasn’t just in training that I could fight like
that. I managed to fight safely, controlling the distance safely.
It was also really important to fight three rounds, which I hadn’t
yet done in the UFC. It was worthwhile for the experience and
I’m really happy because I felt safe standing, which I had
never felt before. It was important in my evolution and was something
I needed to do before challenging for the title. But I know I
have much to improve on and many details to correct, for sure.
The
crowd expected you to finish, mainly when you went to the ground…
I
tried to finish, but it didn’t work. I was up against a
black belt. He locked the game up on the ground and defended,
but I didn’t in fact look to fight on the ground. I chose
to fight standing.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
STRIKEFORCE
CHAMP MOUSASI LEAVES M-1 GLOBAL
Gegard Mousasi on Friday confirmed that he has indeed separated
from the promotional and management team at M-1 Global. Reports
of the change first appeared on Sherdog.com.
“After
careful consideration, I have decided that it is in my best interest
to part ways with M-1 Global. During the time I spent under their
wing, M-1 Global, as a promoter and management company, allowed
me to achieve many great things. I appreciate all they have done
for me,” read an email statement from Mousasi sent to MMAWeekly.com.
“I
am looking forward to continuing my fight career, defending my
Strikeforce light heavyweight title and competing in Dream’s
light-heavyweight tournament in 2010.”
A
source close to Mousasi indicated that he felt it was just time
for him to make a change. There has been quite a bit of change
for Mousasi lately as he also recently completed a two-week training
stint with UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre.
M-1
Global representative Apy Echteld told Sherdog.com that the separation
with Mousasi was purely “a business decision” and that
there were “no hard feelings.”
While
nothing has been announced, it is expected that Mousasi –
who has one fight left on his Strikeforce contract – will
defend his title against Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal when
Strikeforce returns to CBS in April.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
ESCUDERO
CLEARED, FACES LAUZON AT UFC 114
It looks like a lightweight fight between "Ultimate Fighter"
winner Efrain Escudero and Dan Lauzon is a go for UFC 114 in
Las Vegas.
Sources
close to the fight confirmed the bout with MMAWeekly.com on Friday.
Originally, the bout was still only a rumor due to a pending
MRI on Escudero's arm following his fight against Evan Dunham
in January, but he has been cleared for action.
After
winning season 8 of "The Ultimate Fighter", Efrain
Escudero (12-1) made an impressive showing for himself with a
TKO win over Cole Miller in his first fight out after the finale
show.
Returning
in January, Escudero lost a tough back and forth battle against
Dunham after being submitted with an armbar in the third round.
The severity of the arm injury following the submission was what
held up the bout with Lauzon being confirmed until now.
Lauzon
(12-3) looks to bounce back in May after losing his return fight
to the UFC when he was submitted by Cole Miller at UFC 108 in
January. The younger of the Lauzon brothers, Dan fought well
in his fight with Miller, but fell prey to a kimura in the first
round.
UFC
114 is expected to take place on May 29 in Las Vegas and will
be headed up by a light heavyweight showdown pitting "Ultimate
Fighter" 10 coaches Rashad Evans and Quinton "Rampage"
Jackson against one another.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
JUSTIN
BUCHHOLZ LATEST FIGHTER RELEASED FROM UFC
Team Alpha Male fighter Justin Buchholz is the latest casualty
of the UFC 109 fighter cuts as the Alaskan native has been released
from his contract following a loss to Mac Danzig last weekend.
The
news of his release was confirmed to MMAWeekly.com by sources
close to the fighter on Friday.
Following
a stint of fights in organizations like ICON and EliteXC, Buchholz
moved over to the UFC in 2008, and entered its lightweight division.
After
going 1-1 including a win over Corey Hill, Buchholz ran into
some tough fights against Terry Etim and Jeremy Stephens, and
he looked to bounce back when facing Danzig at UFC 109.
A
back and forth battle ensued, but Buchholz came up short and
lost a unanimous decision. For now, Buchholz will get back to
training with Urijah Faber and his camp in Sacramento, Calif.,
as several teammates get ready for upcoming fights.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Wallid
bets on Renzo:
“technique only improves with age”
“Renzo’s
going to kick butt, Wallid Ismail told editor Luca Atalla, referring
to the fight between the Gracie and Matt Hughes, scheduled for
UFC 112 in April.
The
scene took place during the weigh-ins for UFC 109 in Las Vegas.
Renzo’s archrival in the 1990s, the Amazonas native was
inspired: “He’ll kick butt, this return of Renzo’s
was a masterstroke of timing. And you can publish that in the
magazine (GRACIEMAG): My money’s on him! ”
He
added: “Yes, because I bet on his technique. And in Jiu-Jitsu,
technique only improves with age. And Renzo is pure technique,
has always been. ”
Present
at the MGM Grand Arena to watch fighter Paulo Thiago (photo),
who submitted Mike Swick, Wallid Ismail was in good shape.
“I’m
training,” he explained. ”But only with friends, that
recreation type training. Because I’ve always been only
about power. Now old age is weighing on me a bit,” the Jungle
Fight promoter quipped.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
Ary
Farias celebrates the European title
Champion
of bantamweight on absolute of the 2010 European on the brown
belt, Ary Farias is smiling a lot in Lisbon, Portugal. After
to get down of the podium, the brown belt talked to TATAME and
revealed his dream to fight on this year’s World’s
with the black belt on. “To fight with the black belt was
always a big dream, since I started on Jiu-Jitsu”, told
Ary, on the chat that you check below.
How
were your fights on Europeu?
I
made three fights on my category, I won the first by submission
and the others on the score. I came back home and returned next
day to the absolute. I lost on the semifinals to a 264 pounds
lion. The fight was 6x6 and one advantage to my opponent. The
fights before were also wars... I fought with two 264 pounds
lions. The gym vibrated seeing a skinny equilibrated to two 264
pounds monsters (laugh).
Was
this year more complicated?
I
think there wasn’t complications, what happened is that
my opponents are always well trained. I was in excellent shape,
training with Cesar Pinheiro and my master Ricardo Vieira and
my brother, Yuri Simões.
Are
you going to fight the Pan American?
I’ll
be there for sure.
You
won everything on the brown and this was your second European
title with the brown. Will black come this year?
Yes,
thank God I’m privileged. I’m having great results
since I was a kid until now. About the black belt, my master
Ricardo Vieira, told me I was going to be with the brown belt
for five more years (laugh). I hope he’s kidding.
Do
you want to fight on the World’s with black belt?
To
fight with the black belt was always a big dream to me, since
I started on Jiu-Jitsu. I think it will happen on the right time,
and everyone will see this time coming.
What’s
your gold this year?
This
year I want to be on the main competitions by CBJJ and IBJJF,
and I want to win all of them, with faith in God. I always come
to win.
Source: Tatame
|
MMA
REGULATION HEADS TOWARD REALITY IN ALABAMA
Are you paying attention New York?
Just
one week after Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle signed mixed martial
arts regulation into law, the vice chair of the Alabama Boxing
Commission, Casey Sears, told MMAWeekly.com that the Cotton State
is ready to usher in its own sanctioning.
Alabama
House Bill HB457 was recently voted out of the Travel and Tourism
Committee. The bill, if signed into law, would give the Alabama
commission, under a new name, authority over mixed martial arts
in the state.
The
bill, according to Sears, would make the following changes:
–Change
the name from “Alabama Boxing Commission” to “Alabama
Athletic Commission”
–Provide
the state the authority to sanction and approve professional
mixed martial arts in the state in the same fashion as professional
boxing.
–Provide
authority to the commission to approve any amateur sanctioning
organization for mixed martial arts operating in the state.
–The
bill will provide standards for promoters and safeguards for
fighters.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Quote
of the Day
"Never
doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can
change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
Margaret Mead, 1901-1978
|
Hawaiian
Kimono Combat
Saturday
2/27/10
Pearl City High School
Registration has to be postmarked by 2/21/10
$50 to enter
$5 spectator fee (kids under 5 are free)
LAST DAY TO REGISTER FEBRUARY 26TH *THURSDAY
MAIL Registration Form to:
It's All Goo LLC
95-1032 Ainamakua Dr. # D
Mililani, HI 96789
Email info@itsallgoo.com Web: www.itsallgoo.com
BJJ tournament
using IBJJF Rules (same as the world championships)
|
Rampage
Jackson to Make UFC Return at UFC 110 ... Sort of
By Mike
Chiappetta
Quinton "Rampage" Jackson hasn't been seen in the vicinty
of a UFC octagon in over six months. His last UFC bout was nearly
a year ago, and since his feud with UFC president Dana White
went public last fall, he's been seen mostly in stills from his
upcoming "A-Team" movie, on TMZ and other Hollywood
shows.
But
the former UFC light-heavyweight champion will at least temporarily
be back in the UFC fold when the organization makes its maiden
voyage to Australia for UFC 110 on Feb. 20.
No,
he won't be fighting. He'll be there cornering his Wolfslair
teammate Michael Bisping in his co-main event bout against Wanderlei
Silva.
"Rampage
is with me right now in Australia," Bisping said during
a Wednesday conference call for the event. "He's been with
my training camp the last few weeks now."
Bisping
couldn't have asked for a fighter with more insight into his
opponent than Jackson, who's fought Silva three times, as recently
as Dec. 2008. In that last encounter at UFC 92, Jackson KO'd
his longtime rival.
The
Brit, who rebounded from a UFC 100 loss to Dan Henderson to win
his return against Denis Kang last November, says he's learned
plenty from Rampage about his next foe.
"Having
Rampage in the camp for the last few weeks gives me great insight
into the fight," he said. "Obviously he's got a long
history with Wanderlei, so he brings some good strategy to the
table and told me what to expect. Just having someone like Rampage
with his vast experience of the fight game around in camp, is
a good thing psychologically. It's also good to break up the
boredom. When the training gets to be a bit hard, he's also good
for a laugh as well. But as I said, someone with his experience
and knowing Wanderlei as well as he does, it's been invaluable
having him and helping me with strategy."
Jackson
is expected to make his in-ring return at UFC 114 on May 29,
facing Rashad Evans. In a nice bit of synergy for Jackson, his
"A-Team" movie in which he stars as B.A. Baracus is
scheduled to open just two weeks later.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Cain
Velasquez: “Now is my time”
by Carlos
Eduardo Ozório
On February 20, Cain Velasquez will be looking to maintain his
unbeaten record against Rodrigo Minotauro. The fight will take
place at UFC 110, in Australia, and the winner will skip to the
front of the line of challengers for the organization’s
heavyweight belt.
“It
will definitely be one of the sternest tests I’ve had so
far. I watch a lot of his fights and love them,” he says.
Velasquez
is confident and knows that, to make it to the belt, he’ll
have to beat opponents of Mino’s caliber. Among the fighter’s
main worries is the Brazilian’s Jiu-Jitsu. Furthermore,
going into his eighth career fight, he will be facing a much
more seasoned opponent, about to make it to the 40-fight mark.
“I
know he’s a very experienced fighter and is always dangerous.
But now is my time,” he says.
In
a recent interview with NOCAUTE magazine, conducted by Nalty
Jr, Cain was respectful and had the following to say about Nogueira.
“He’s
always tough and should never be underestimated him. Even when
he’s losing, he finds a way to reverse and get the submission.
I respect him as a legend of the sport,” says the wrestler,
who has even trained with Minotauro’s teammates, like light
heavyweight champion of the UFC Lyoto Machida.
“I
think he (Lyoto) is a great champion.”
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
AMIR
SADOLLAH VS. DONG HYUN KIM AT UFC 114
by Damon
Martin
Welterweights are set to do battle on May 29 in Las Vegas at
UFC 114 as "Ultimate Fighter" winner Amir Sadollah
returns to action to face Korean Judoka Dong Hyun-Kim.
The
bout was confirmed to MMAWeekly.com by sources close to the fight,
with both fighters verbally agreeing to the tilt. Bout agreements
are expected soon.
Sadollah
(3-1) faced major adversity following his win on “The Ultimate
Fighter," dealing with several injuries that kept him sidelined
for more than a year.
In
his last two fights, Sadollah has shown his devastating striking
diversity, putting on clinics against both Phil Baroni and Brad
Blackburn. Now, Sadollah will face a much different style as
he takes on an undefeated Judo expert.
Making
his UFC debut in 2008, Dong Hyun-Kim (12-0-1) has now won three
fights overall in the Octagon. He has one no contest for a fight
against Karo Parisyan that Parisyan initially won, but had overturned
for testing positive for illegal substances.
Originally,
Kim was set to be a part of UFC 110 and face Chris Lytle, but
an injury put him on the shelf for a few months and he will now
battle Sadollah in May.
The
main event for the UFC 114 card will pit former "Ultimate
Fighter" coaches Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and
Rashad Evans against each other in a light heavyweight grudge
match.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
UFC
110 2/20 in Australia at Acer Arena
By Zach
Arnold
Dark
matches
¦Light
Heavyweights: James Te Huna vs. Igor Pokrajac
¦Middleweights: CB Dollaway vs. Goran Reljic
¦Welterweights: Chris Lytle vs. Brian Foster
¦Light Heavyweights: Stephan Bonnar vs. Krzysztof Soszynski
¦Light Heavyweights: Elvis Sinosic vs. Chris Haseman
Main card
¦Heavyweights:
Mirko Cro Cop vs. Ben Rothwell
¦Light Heavyweights: Keith Jardine vs. Ryan Bader
¦Lightweights: Joe Stevenson vs. George Sotiropoulos
¦Middleweights: Wanderlei Silva vs. Michael Bisping
¦Heavyweights: Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Cain Velasquez
Source: Fight Opinion
|
Legends
Collide on Apr. 3 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas
LAS
VEGAS, NV (February 9) . . . After 17 years the wait is over
as sure-fire future Hall of Famers Bernard "The Executioner"
Hopkins and Roy "The Terminator" Jones Jr. collide
in a long awaited rematch that will finally add the final chapter
to their 17-year rivalry. The Rivals: Hopkins vs. Jones II is
set for Saturday, April 3 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in
Las Vegas. The bout will be broadcast live on pay-per-view beginning
at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
Hopkins (50-5-1, 32 KOs) and Jones (54-6, 40 KOs), two of boxing's
most decorated and recognizable fighters, will put it all on
the line and leave no doubts as to who gets the bragging rights.
Both men have given fans more than two decades worth of brilliant
ring memories.
"A rematch with Roy has been in the back of my mind for
a long time and it's finally going to happen," said Hopkins.
"I have accomplished a lot in my career since that night
in Washington, DC in 1993, and I am going to end this thing between
me and Roy once and for all."
"We're
giving the fans what they want to see. They deserve this fight
and why not supply the fans with their demands?" said Jones.
"Now I can finally terminate the Executioner once and for
all. My new nickname for this fight will be - The Terminator."
"As
a fan, I am excited that the fight is finally happening and that
we don't have to wait any longer to see this great rivalry continue,"
said Oscar de la Hoya, President of Golden Boy Promotions. "This
fight is so exciting and intriguing because of how much is at
stake for both Hopkins and Jones. They would not let anything
get in the way of this fight finally getting made. They both
deserve this after everything they have achieved in their respective
careers."
"We're ecstatic that the fight was made and we're looking
forward to a great event," said John Wirt, CEO of Square
Ring. "There's been a long-standing rivalry between two
of the preeminent boxers of our generation. This fight will establish
once and for all who the better fighter is. This is the fight
Roy always wanted."
"The Bernard Hopkins-Roy Jones fight at Mandalay Bay in
April will be a tremendous event," said Richard Sturm, president
of Sports and Entertainment for MGM MIRAGE. "These two great
legends of the sport remain fan favorites and are sure to bring
another exciting battle to the ring."
On May 22, 1993, Hopkins and Jones fought for the vacant IBF
middleweight belt, the first shot at a world title for both fighters,
in the HBO-televised co-feature to the Riddick Bowe vs. Jesse
Ferguson heavyweight title fight at RFK Stadium in Washington,
DC. At the time of the bout, Jones was undefeated (21-0, 20 KOs)
and a highly-touted Olympian (teammate of Bowe on the 1988 U.S.
team), who received the Val Barker Trophy (for most stylistic
boxer) at the Seoul games despite being robbed of a deserved
Gold Medal.
On the other side of the ring stood the menacing Hopkins (22-1,
16 KOs), a Philadelphia fighter known more for his criminal history
and a stay at a maximum security prison than his steadily rising
ring reputation. Unveiling his "Executioner" ring name
and full face mask to the fans in attendance and national television
audience did nothing to help Hopkins' popularity against the
effervescent Jones.
The fight, which Jones won by unanimous decision, was a hard
fought contest that set the stage for both fighters' respective
paths to boxing stardom. Jones went on to win titles in four
weight classes, including middleweight, super middleweight, light
heavyweight and his historic heavyweight championship. Hopkins,
who claimed Jones' vacated IBF middleweight title in 1995, didn't
lose another fight for 12 years following his battle with Jones.
While Jones ruled as pound-for-pound best for the better part
of a decade, Hopkins took advantage of his middleweight crown
by setting a record of 20 defenses and solidifying his place
as one of the greatest middleweight fighters in the history of
the sport.
At 45 years young, Bernard Hopkins is still rated among the top
pound for pound best in boxing. After his victory over Segundo
Mercado in 1995 for the IBF middleweight title, Hopkins' momentum
began to build as he scored victories over quality contenders
such as John David Jackson, Glencoffe Johnson, Simon Brown, Robert
Allen and Antwun Echols to name a few. The 2000s defined Hopkins'
career starting with his win over Keith Holmes in April of 2001
in the opening round of the Middleweight Unification Tournament
followed by a stunning 12th round stoppage of Felix "Tito"
Trinidad on September 29, 2001 at Madison Square Garden. Following
four more defenses of his middleweight crown, Hopkins was brought
into the mainstream spotlight when faced Oscar de la Hoya in
2004. His ninth round knockout of "The Golden Boy"
allowed Hopkins to attain his 19th title defense - setting a
record and making him the first fighter to hold the belt of all
four major sanctioning organizations at the same time (not to
mention also owning the Ring Magazine title).
In 2006, Hopkins moved up to light heavyweight for the first
time in his career to defeat Antonio Tarver for The Ring Magazine
Light Heavyweight World Championship. He next dominated Winky
Wright at 170 pounds in continuing to prove his ring supremacy.
His signature destruction of the younger and then undefeated
Kelly Pavlik in October of 2008 defined the true meaning of Hopkins'
career, as he took Pavlik to task as a cagey veteran who knows
how to dismantle many a young fighters' championship dreams.
With his most recent win, a dominant performance over Enrique
Ornelas in front of a hometown Philly crowd of nearly 7,000 people,
Hopkins showed the world that age is nothing but a number. Now
his career will come full circle with the Jones fight with Hopkins
hoping for a sweet victory and long awaited revenge.
Roy Jones Jr.'s storied career has had countless defining moments
which have catapulted him to being a household name. Jones was
unstoppable in the 90's as he stunned his opponents with incredible
speed and relentless power. He made history on March 1, 2003
when he thwarted then-heavyweight champion John Ruiz to become
the first former middleweight champion to win the heavyweight
title in more than 100 years.
Jones has always taken pride in defying the critics, which is
in large part why he set his sights on John Ruiz' heavyweight
crown. Following the Ruiz conquest, Jones dropped down to light
heavyweight in order to take on Florida rival Antonio Tarver
on November 8, 2003. It was Jones' hardest fight until that point
in his career. He captured a split decision victory, but it foreshadowed
things to come for the proud, but suddenly vulnerable Jones,
who suffered consecutive defeats to Tarver and a surprising loss
to Glen Johnson.
Down, but not out, Jones came back to score wins in his next
two fights, setting up a highly-anticipated dual with Felix "Tito"
Trinidad at Madison Square Garden on January 19, 2008. A renewed
Jones looked sharp and focused, flooring an overmatched Trinidad
twice, in breezing to a unanimous decision win. Jones returned
to Madison Square Garden in November of that same year and after
12 hard fought rounds came up short against future Hall of Famer
Joe Calzaghe. Jones defeated his next two opponents in Omar Sheika
and Jeff Lacy respectively. Most recently, Jones suffered a devastating
first-round knock out loss on December 2 against Australia's
Danny Green. As Jones is disputing the loss, he remains confident
he can overcome this recent defeat, and take on Hopkins with
that same unbelievable boxing prowess that he has been known
for throughout his record-setting career.
Tickets priced at $750, $500, $300, $200 and $100 are on sale
now at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith's Food
and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino). Ticket sales are limited
to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit
card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also will
be available for purchase at www.mandalaybay.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
The Hopkins vs. Jones II pay-per-view telecast begins at 9 p.m.
ET/6 p.m. PT and has a suggested retail price of $49.95. The
telecast will be available in HD-TV for those viewers who can
receive HD. The main event will begin live immediately following
the college basketball semi-finals. For Hopkins vs. Jones II
fight week updates, log on to www.goldenboypromotions.com.
An exciting undercard will be announced shortly. For more information
regarding the April 3 event, please visit www.goldenboypromotions.com.
Source: The Fight Network
|
Strikeforce:
Miami Fighter Salaries
Jay Furness
The disclosed payouts to the Florida State Boxing Commission,
Lawler and Diaz being the big earners.
The disclosed payouts for Strikeforce's "Miami" fightcard
have been released and there are some big earners in the bunch,
proving that the promotion are aiming to hang with the bigger
competition in terms of compensating their athletes.
As
always, the disclosed salaries only represent the figures given
to the commission and don't take into account other bonuses and
sponsorships or taxes and medical expenses etc.
So,
on the 30th of January, 2010 there were some fighters that appear
to have earned their keep and also some undercard fighters happy
to do their thing without a large cheque to claim afterwards.
Nick
Diaz and Robbie Lawler took home $100,000 base salaries with
no win bonus for their wins over Marius Zaromskis and Melvin
Manhoef respectively. Marquee names for the promotion, it is
unlikely that other organisations would match this kind of payout
at this moment in time; they are being looked after by Strikeforce
in order to keep them happy, no doubt.
The
disparity between champion and challenger for the women's title
was clear, 'Cyborg' claiming $35,000 with her unsuccessful opponent
Marloes Coenen taking just $2,000.
Jay
Hieron could take solace in the fact that he was awarded $65,000
despite only featuring on the undercard.
Full
disclosed payouts:
Main
card
Nick
Diaz $100,000 (no win bonus) def. Marius Zaromskis $30,000
Cris
“Cyborg” Santos $35,000 (includes $15,000 win bonus
and $5,000 championship bonus) def. Marloes Coenen $2,000
Herschel
Walker $600 (no win bonus) def. Greg Nagy $5,000
Robbie
Lawler $100,000 (no win bonus) def. Melvin Manhoef $5,000
Bobby
Lashley $50,000 (no win bonus) def. Wes Sims $25,000
Undercard
Jay
Hieron $65,000 (includes $35,000 win bonus) def. Joe Riggs $30,000
Pablo
Alfonso $3,000 (includes $1,500 win bonus) def. Marcos DaMotta
$2,500
Hadar
Hassan $2,000 (includes $1,000 win bonus) def. Ryan Keenan $2,000
John
Kelly $2,000 (includes $1,000 win bonus) def. Sabah Homasi $1,000
Michael
Byrnes $2,000 (includes $1,000 win bonus) def. David Zitnik $1,500
David
Gomez $2,000 (includes $1,000 win bonus) def. Craig Oxley $1,500
Joe
Ray $1,500 (includes $500 win bonus) def. John Clarke $1,000
Source: MMA Unlimited
|
Freaks
and Geeks
by Jake
Rossen
Attending a prizefighting event at a Colorado bar is not the
time to anticipate great things. But even by the standards of
fourth-rate promotion, the Denver-based Knockout Fights banner
deserves a place in combat sports infamy.
On
a night in 2004, two wheelchair-bound boxers rolled into a ring
and began pummeling each other. That same evening, midgets strapped
on gloves bigger than their torsos and bounced against the ropes,
tiny fists crashing into tiny heads in a display for the amusement
of all.
These
are not arenas where nobility and respectful approximation of
warfare take place. This is the land of the freak show, and people
are watching -- in some cases, in greater numbers than for the
real thing.
Showtime
posted its second-best MMA viewership number ever -- 517,000
viewers -- for its Jan. 30 show, featuring the headlining-by-proxy
fighting debut of NFL player Herschel Walker; Kimbo Slice, a
modified street fighter, participated in two of the UFC’s
highest-rated fights; James Toney, Ricardo Mayorga and Shannon
Briggs are all boxers who plan to titillate audiences by risking
their femurs against leg kicks.
Celebrity
boxing? Try celebrity homicide. But the idea of contorting fight
into spectacle is hardly a new concept.
Primo
Carnera, born in 1906, was a circus strongman with a bear neck
and a heavy punch who was said to have been manipulated by organized
crime into an illegitimate ring attraction. (One opponent was
reputed to have fallen to the ground six times in one round,
though Carnera had never appeared to actually hit him.) Rather
than expel Carnera as a parody of athletics, the public loved
it. He drew 75,000 people for a big fight in Mexico; 70,000 for
one in England. A hulking 6-foot-5, he was a man who audiences
perceived as a superhero in the flesh: Bob Sapp’s prototype.
Could
he box? Not really. Could he win via promotional manipulation
or simply leaning on smaller men? He could.
Carnera
was followed by a fleet of boxers who carried into the ring few
qualifications beyond a human interest story: Joe Savage was
a bare-knuckle boxer who was mauled by pro Bert Cooper; female
kickboxer Lucia Rijker lost to a man in a muay Thai match; Margaret
McGregor fought male Loi Chow and won a decision. (Mike Tyson
was the best of both worlds: a legitimate fighter who ran roughshod
over the sports and police blotters.)
Showtime
drew 517,000 viewers for Herschel Walker's MMA debut.All of this
led, inevitably, to the most grotesque geek show of them all:
the idea of pitting disparate styles against one another and
mopping up the blood afterward. This is what is slightly ironic
about MMA’s current attitude toward the sideshow: As a sport
born from a circus atmosphere, it doesn’t leave itself much
room for comment.
Still,
the participation of men like Walker and Canseco have riled men
like Don Frye, who have chastised the sport for giving shelter
to these types of spectacles. Is Frye forgetting that the idea
of a firefighter pitted against a 400-pound sack lunch in the
form of Thomas Ramirez -- the first “pro” fight on
his resume -- is a freak attraction at its least diluted? And
what about Dana White, who scoffed at Walker while conveniently
forgetting he once tried to organize a boxing match between himself
and Tito Ortiz?
Rather
than bemoan the oddities of combat sport, it might be more pragmatic
to see how they act as fuel. When Carnera circulated, boxing
had taken a nosedive after the departure of Jack Dempsey. Lump
of nothing that he was, Carnera nonetheless reignited passion
for prizefighting. The UFC of the 1990s was nauseating, but it
self-corrected and evolved into something special. If it weren’t
for the morbid curiosities of the paying public, Frye and White
wouldn’t have jobs.
Anomalies
continue to intrigue us. Brock Lesnar had a decorated career
as an amateur wrestler, but did the hundreds of thousands of
people buying his first few fights expect to see a clinical demonstration
of a pin fall -- or a grunting man-rock tossing people over the
cage padding? And didn’t the athletes appearing underneath
Lesnar benefit financially from his participation? As a sponsor
paying an athlete to wear your brand, do you want his ass-billboard
on a card headlined by Lesnar, or by Thiago Silva?
The
danger in criticizing the Herschel Walkers of the combat sports
world is that it ignores the basic human interest story. We watch
fights because we have an emotional investment in the outcome,
and that investment is tenfold if the athletes participating
have endeared themselves in other endeavors. If you grew up watching
Walker play football, you’re probably going to be intent
on seeing him fight. If Jean-Claude Van Damme actually has a
muay Thai match -- as he’s alleged to have set up for later
in the year -- he will attract a sizable number of people who
can quote “Bloodsport” chapter and verse.
There
is a point of saturation, and inviting wheelchair-bound athletes
into a beer hall is probably going past the overflow tube. But
a man who can pass a physical, can display a reasonable aptitude
in the gym to defend himself and is understanding of the risk
involved shouldn’t be the victim of elitist bashing.
They
should listen to the call of P.T. Barnum: They should step right
up.
Source: Sherdog
|
Andrei
Arlovski to Fight in Boxing Exhibition Bout
By Ray
Hui
Still without a deal for a mixed marital arts fight, former UFC
heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski is turning his attention
towards a charity boxing fight on Feb. 27 in Miami, Fla.
Arlovski
will face boxer Fres Oquendo in a four-round exhibition bout
benefiting The Consequences Charity, an organization dedicated
to reducing and preventing adolescent criminal behavior.
"I
am honored to step into the ring with a great fighter like Fres
Oquendo," Arlovski said Wednesday in a statement. "This
is going to be an exciting exhibition match but we already know
the winner: the children we are helping."
Arlovski,
who trains with Freddie Roach, planned to box last year, but
a fight never came to fruition due to injury and a role in a
Universal Soldier film.
On
the MMA front, Arlovski allegedly received an offer to fight
Alistair Overeem at Dynamite!! 2009 on New Year's Eve, but DREAM
replaced him with Kazuyuki Fujita for a reason unknown to Arlovski's
camp.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
KAMPMANN
OFF UFC 111 WITH NASTY GASH OVER EYE
by Ken
Pishna
MMAWeekly.com
on Tuesday reported that Martin Kampmann was out of his UFC 111
bout with Ben Saunders. Midwest fighter Jake Ellenberger is stepping
in to take his place.
We
later confirmed that Kampmann’s withdrawal was due to a
severe cut over his eye, but it just doesn’t really hit
home until you see the photo that accompanies this article.
Even
with the severity of the cut, the Danish fighter is already planning
his return.
“Out
of UFC 111. I got a huge cut in training and can't do any contact
for a while,” Kampmann wrote on Twitter Tuesday night. “Bummed
out about it. But hoping to fight again in May!!”
The
27-year-old Xtreme Couture fighter holds an overall record of
16-3, and has gone 3-1 since dropping down to welterweight, including
a victory over former WEC champion Carlos Condit. He last fought
at UFC 108 where he submitted Jacob Volkmann.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Arona:
“Wanderlei needs to change”
While he’s recovering from a knee injury, Ricardo Arona
keeps himself posted about everything that’s happening on
the MMA rings. Talking to TATAME.com, the former Pride fighter
talked about the next fight of his former rival Wanderlei Silva
against Michael Bisping.
“I
think when things are going wrong, you need to change your way
to see some of them”, said Arona, believing that “The
Axe Murderer” must change something on his style. “He
needs to do what I did, to look the fight from outside, see the
mistakes and get better, see where he can surprise. The surprise
is what makes you win, it’s hard when you know everything
the opponent can do and Wanderlei got predictable as long he
was fighting. I think he needs to expand his weapons to surprise,
because everyone that fights with him knows his way to win and
he needs to change it”, finished.
Source: Tatame
|
Bráulio
talks MMA training and says Rolles fought with injuries
by Carlos
Eduardo Ozório
Now
Bráulio will use his dangerous reverse triangle in MMA.
Photo: Carlos Ozorio
Champion of his weight class and the absolute at the lat ADCC
championship, in 2009, Bráulio Estima is anxious to make
his MMA debut. Under contract to the Shine organization, “Carcará”
feels that defending the Gentle Art in the ring and cage is a
great responsibility, more so as he is a top-ranked competitor
in the style. Nevertheless, he remains confident.
“I’m
excited. I’m not nervous; I like fighting. I can’t
wait to get in the ring. I just got back from a tough training
session and I feel great. I have plenty of time to get in shape,”
he told MMAJunkie.
Bráulio
should do part of his training with another Gracie Barra black
belt, Renato Babalu. Furthermore, he will count on the backing
of renowned MMA trainer Greg Jackson. In a recent interview with
GRACIEMAG.com, the Brazilian was unable to confirm who his opponent
for his debut will be, but said, “I’m going to fight
a guy who’s undefeated in his five-fight career! And he’s
one of the best in the world in his martial art.”
According
to the article, the opponent is a three-time national judo champion.
Estima
also remarked on the loss suffered by his friend Rolles Gracie,
at the hands of Joey Beltran at UFC 109.
“His
performance wasn’t even near what we and he expected. He
carried a ton of injuries in training. He hurt his rib and had
to stop training for a few weeks (Rolles also injured his foot).
But he was excited about fighting and put a lot of pressure on
himself,” he says.
GRACIEMAG.com
posted an exclusive interview with the Gracie, who at no moment
used injuries as an excuse.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
Mark
Coleman Not Retiring, 'Not Sure' if He's Done in UFC
By Michael
David Smith
Four days after he lost to Randy Couture at UFC 109, Mark Coleman
told MMAFighting.com on Wednesday that he's not sure whether
the UFC has decided to cut him from its roster. But Coleman knows
he wants another shot inside the Octagon, and he said he has
definitely not retired.
"I'm
not sure," Coleman said when asked if the UFC has released
him. "I really don't want to comment on that right now until
I know the situation."
Although
Five Ounces of Pain reported on Wednesday that Coleman has been
released from the promotion, Coleman said he hasn't talked with
UFC President Dana White, UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta or anyone
else at the UFC about what his future with the promotion might
be.
And
Coleman said he thinks he has a lot more fight in him. Coleman
said he'd be particularly interested in staying in the UFC to
get a shot at Tito Ortiz, who insulted him following his loss
to Couture, and that even if he doesn't get that fight, he'll
fight someone just as soon as he can.
"I'm
definitely going to keep fighting," Coleman said. "I'm
still trying to figure out what's going on. I want to fight in
the UFC. I want to beat Tito Ortiz -- bad -- but really I just
want to fight in the UFC."
If
the UFC isn't an option for Coleman, other promotions might be.
In Japan, Dream is planning a light heavyweight tournament this
year, and Coleman -- who's popular in Japan from his days fighting
in Pride -- would be a natural fit for that tournament. Coleman
would likely also draw interest from Strikeforce, or from a smaller
promotion that would see value in bringing a well-known fighter
like Coleman on board.
"I'm
healthy," Coleman said. "I'm really just very disappointed
and I feel like I can do better. I have a lot I need to work
on."
Even
at age 45, Coleman sounds like a man who believes he has a few
more good fights left in his career.
"I
just need to train harder," Coleman said. "I need to
work harder."
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Quote
of the Day
"The
greatest of faults, I should say, is to be conscious of none."
Thomas Carlyle, 1795-1881
|
Officials
Clinics
Hello MMA,
Martial Arts, and Boxing Community,
If any club or interested parties want to compete in amateur
boxing or become a judge, referee, or coach.
Email me at bkawano@aol.com
We have a Coaches
and Officials clinic on Kauai this saturday Feb. 13th.
Boxing
show on Feb. 20th at Waimea.
Boxing show on Feb. 27th in Kapaa, Kauai.
Officials Clinic in Kapolei on March 6th.
Boxing event on March 13th, in Puna and a tentative Officials
or Coaches Clinic on March 20th. First show on Oahu is April
3rd, at Palolo District Park.
All Coaches, Officials, have to be registered and certified.
Boxers must register locally.
For more contact and registration info go to www.amateurboxingofhawaii.com
Thank You,
Bruce Kawano
Amateur Boxing of Hawaii Interm Manager.
Ringside Board of Advisors.
NMU Task Force Appointed Member.
|
VERA
STILL MAD ABOUT COUTURE DECISION
by Damon
Martin
There's no doubt that a lot of people questioned the decision
in the fight between Randy Couture and Brandon Vera when the
two light heavyweights clashed at UFC 105 in November.
One
person who definitely had issues with the judgment call was Vera,
who voiced his opinion in a recent interview with MMAWeekly.com.
"Hell
no, (expletive) that decision man," Vera said. "I'm
still mad about that decision."
When
the scorecards were read, Couture got the nod on a unanimous
decision from the judges, but many felt that Vera's ability to
land damage whenever the two did engage was enough for the win.
Couture
was able to press Vera against the cage over and over again and
work the clinch game, but never gained much of an upper hand
outside of positioning. The only real strikes thrown in the fight
came from Vera, who punished Couture with a few good shots during
the bout including a ferocious leg kick to the body.
Still,
Vera is moving on and isn't interested in a second duel with
"The Natural." He says it's on to bigger and better
things.
"Randy
knows, the whole world knows how that fight went," Vera
commented. "So a rematch, if it happens, cool, but would
I ask for one, no I'm trying to get to that title. I'm going
to worry about Jon ‘Bones’ Jones first."
Vera
will face Jones in the main event of the upcoming UFC on Versus
show taking place at the 1st Bank Center in Broomfield, Colo.,
on March 21.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Minotauro’s
40th: experience main weapon against Velasquez
by Carlos
Eduardo Ozório
Minotauro
will celebrate his 40th career fight. Photo: Josh Hedges
On 20 February in Sydney, Australia, Rodrigo Minotauro Nogueira
will see professional MMA action for his 40th time. One of the
greatest fighters of any weight class in the sport, Minotauro
have across the octagon from him Cain Velasquez who, besides
being undefeated (seven wins), comes in with the desire of someone
who wants to be remembered in the sport. In putting on a good
fight, Nogueira believes the difference may be just his greater
experience.
“I’m
still in the game, training like never before. I’ve been
fighting for 11 years and have great passion for what I do,”
he says.
“I
have much more experience than he does. I’ll certainly use
it in the cage. He’s hungry. I’m hungry, too. So I
will use what you all have already seen. I have more experience
in Jiu-Jitsu, my boxing is really good, too, and I believe the
fight will raise my stock,” he added.
The fighters continues to train in the United States, either
at Black House headquarters or at the Nike Academy, where he
does his physical conditioning work with some of the biggest
stars of American football.
“I’m
improving a lot. I feel very motivated. I’ve got a top-notch
physical conditioning coach and I’m better at everything
now,” he warns.
On
the monolith ahead of him in Sydney, the Ricardo De La Riva black
belt knows that must be careful.
“He’s
a top wrestler, has good single-leg and double-leg takedowns
and a smooth transition to the ground. He moves around a lot
and is in good shape. I think he’s using the same style
in MMA as he’s using in wrestling. He just goes and goes
and goes,” he says in analysis.
“There
aren’t a lot of heavyweights who can keep up with him. He
moves like a light heavyweight. Velasquez is not a good finisher
on the ground, but positions himself in such a way that he can
punish and control his opponent. That’s what makes him good,”
Minotauro is quoted as saying on the official UFC website.
One
of the most remarkable fights in Minotauro’s career came
at Pride Shockwave 2002, when he faced the gigantic Bob Sapp
at the peak of his brute strength.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
‘UFC
109 Prelims’ Net 1.7 Million on Spike
Saturday’s airing of “UFC 109 Prelims Live” garnered
an average audience of 1.7 million average viewers (1.2 household
rating), according to Spike TV, making it the highest rated show
of its kind to date. Spike TV said the latest installment saw
a 22 percent surge over previous ‘Prelims’ airings.
During
the one-hour episode, Mac Danzig earned a hard-fought unanimous
decision against Justin Buchholz in a lightweight contest. Melvin
Guillard also got the judges’ nod against newcomer Ronys
Torres in a second 155-pound bout.
In
the coveted demos, “UFC 109 Prelims” earned a 1.6 in
Male 18-49 and a 1.6 in Male 18-34. “UFC 108 Prelims”
drew a 1.3 in M18-49 and a 1.4 in M18-34. Previous “Prelims
Live” shows have drawn 1.3-1.4 average viewers and a 1.0
household rating.
Source: Sherdog
|
More
Bouts Confirmed for March 7th Sengoku
By FCF
Staff
World Victory Road has confirmed three more bouts for the promotion’s
upcoming March 7th Sengoku event, which will take place in Tokyo
Japan at the Ryogoku Kokugikan. In North America the event will
be broadcast live on HDNet.
Sengoku
12 is set to feature a middleweight title fight between champion
Jorge Santiago and Mamed Khalidov. In November, at Sengoku 11,
Santiago was stopped by the Polish fighter in what was a non-title
affair.
At
welterweight, a bout between veterans Akihiro Gono and Diego
Gonzales has been added to the card. Gono (31-15-7) is coming
off back-to-back victories over Yoon Young Kim and most recently,
Hayato Sakurai, after being viciously knocked out by Dan Hornbuckle
last August.
Gonzales
(13-3) went 3-0 in 2009 and most recently worked his way to UD
victory over Yasushi Kitazaki, at a Superior Challenge card in
October. The Swedish fighter hasn’t lost since March, 2006,
when he was stopped by current UFC contender Dan Hardy.
WVR
has also announced that heavyweight Yoshihiro Nakao (8-2) will
fight Henry Miller (6-9) at Sengoku 12, while Leonardo Santos
(6-3) will take on lightweight Kiuma Kunioku (34-22-9).
Source: Full Contact Fighter
|
Antonio
Inoki selected for WWE Hall of Fame
By Zach
Arnold
A fascinating move by Vince McMahon on so many levels (from political
to historical). Inoki and New Japan had a long-term business
relationship with McMahon’s father and Hisashi Shinma, Inoki’s
right-hand man in New Japan, was WWF President for many years.
Inoki had long-been rumored as helping support then-WWF when
WrestleMania hit the ground and then that was it. The WWF would
end up working with the All Japan side in 1990 and then SWS in
1991-1992 before working with WAR in 1994 & 1995 through
Wally Yamaguchi to help out Gen’ichiro Tenryu.
The
most important footnote historically was the promotion of the
Inoki/Ali fight via closed circuit in various big American media
markets. Different wrestling promoters had different fight cards
going on as a lead-in for the broadcasting of the fight. It was
one of those once-in-a-lifetime situations that you won’t
ever see replicated in modern day pro-wrestling or MMA.
The
media spin on Inoki’s entrance into the WWE HOF is that
he will be the first Japanese wrestler inducted into it. Inoki
met with the press and WWE officials today in Tokyo at a press
conference to accept a certificate stating his entrance into
the HOF (pictures here and here). The ceremony will take place
at the Dodge Theatre on 3/27 in Phoenix.
Given
that it’s WWE, I fully expect Yoshi Tatsu (Naofumi Yamamoto)
to be Inoki’s presenter.
Source: Fight Opinion
|
Murilo
Bustamante to fight boxing in Rio
By Erik
Engelhart
Former UFC middleweight champion, Murilo Bustamante doesn’t
fight MMA since 2007, but he’s inactivity in the rings will
end at the end of the month. At February 27, Bustamante fights
Danilo “Moto-Serra” in a boxing challenge at Nobre
Arte training center.
“This
fight will give an extra motivation so I can be back on fighting
this year, I don’t go up on the rings for a long time. It’s
going to be like a training to be a part of the training. We’ll
make a training on Nobre Arte, since Moto-Serra is Claudinho’s
student, and it will help my preparation”, Bustamante said.
Source: Tatame
|
Leo
Santos with date and opponent in Japan
by Carlos
Eduardo Ozório
A Jiu-Jitsu black belt who reached the pinnacle of gi competition
, Leonardo Santos will be back in the Sengoku ring on March 7,
on the same card featuring the Jorge Santiago versus Mamed Khalidov
title bout. Santos’ opponent in Tokyo will be Eiji Mitsuoka.
Leo
is riding a five-fight winning streak when he dropped a split
decision to Kazunori Yokota on his debut for the Japanese organization
in May 2009.
With
16 wins, seven losses and two draws, Mitsuoka is coming off a
loss to the sameKazunori Yokota who overcame Santos. The Japanese
fighter also has grappling as his main weapon, with 10 submission
wins on his record. Among those to have succumbed to Yokota were
Joachim Hansen and Rodrigo Damm. However, he holds a loss to
Santos’s training partner, Vitor Shaolin, in 2006.
Check
out the card:
Sengoku
March 7, 2010
Tokyo, Japan
Jorge
Santiago vs Mamed Khalidov
Leonardo Santos vs Eiji Mitsuoka
Yuji Hoshino vs Wilson Reis
Kyung Ho Kang vs Shigeki Osawa
Maximo Blanco vs Kiuma Kunioku
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
DAMACIO
PAGE VS. ANTONIO BANUELOS SET FOR WEC PPV
by Damon
Martin
As the WEC prepares for their first ever pay-per-view in April
more fights are being lined up to fill the undercard and the
first was confirmed today as bantamweights Damacio Page and Antonio
Banuelos have agreed to meet at the show taking place in Sacramento.
The
bout was confirmed to MMAWeekly.com by sources close to the fight
on Wednesday.
Damacio
Page (15-4) is returning to action following shoulder surgery
that kept him out following his last fight in October 2009. Speaking
recently with MMAWeekly Radio, Page said he was looking to return,
"I'm hoping end of April or early May."
Looks
like the doctors have cleared him to return to action and begin
his quest towards a title shot in the WEC's bantamweight division.
Taking
on the challenge of facing Page will be longtime Chuck Liddell
student, Antonio Banuelos (17-5), who is on a 3-fight winning
streak of his own heading into the pay-per-view.
The
California based fighter has been on a roll lately winning against
some top notch competition in the 135lb weight class including
wins over Scott Jorgensen and Kenji Osawa.
At
this time, it's not confirmed if the bout between Page and Banuelos
will be featured on the televised portion of the pay-per-view
card or not, but with both fighters getting close to title contention
it may end up there.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Muay
Thai trainer leaves Anderson’s camp
A partnership that gave Anderson Silva four victories in four
fights in the UFC octagon ended today. The French Daniel Woirin,
who worked with the UFC middleweight champion in the victories
over Forrest Griffin, Thales Leites, Patrick Cote and James Irvin,
reveled it exclusively to TATAME.com.
“I
thank Anderson for all the time we spent working together. He’s
a champion, a born striker, but we won’t continue working
together in this partnership due to lack of tune in some moments.
I decided to let the way open or him to work his Muay Thai with
anyone he decides”, Woirin explained, satisfied with the
work with Silva. “The last fight we did was the one against
Griffin… I think I ended my work with him in a great way”,
finished. To contact Woirin, you can access his official website.
Source: Tatame
|
From
Joe to Pro: Former Reality TV Winner Signs With UFC
By Mike
Chiappetta
It's not the most traditional career path, but Charlie Brenneman
can say it got him where he wanted to go.
The
season one winner on the Spike reality show "Pros vs. Joes,"
Brenneman recently accomplished another, more significant athletic
goal, signing a four-fight deal with the UFC.
Brenneman
(10-1), a welterweight, trains out of AMA Fight Club in New Jersey,
the same team that has produced UFC's fighting Miller brothers.
A former collegiate wrestler at Lock Haven University, Brenneman
left a teaching career behind a few years ago to chase his MMA
dreams.
Currently
riding a five-fight win streak, his only career loss came at
the hands of current UFC welterweight John Howard in a decision.
In
2006, prior to beginning his pro MMA career, Brenneman won season
one of the Spike show "Pros vs. Joes," competing against
athletes like Kevin Greene, Dominique Wilkins and yes, Herschel
Walker.
He
had his first pro fight in July 2007, and within six months,
he was making his major organization debut for EliteXC. He fought
for the company once, defeating Drew Puzon via decision in his
fifth pro fight.
Brenneman
signed his UFC deal on his 29th birthday.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
General
champion: “I don’t feel old”
By Guilherme
Cruz
Fábio Gurgel put the age barriers away. Celebrating his
40’s the leader of Alliance decided to fight between the
young talents at 2010 European and went great on Lisbon, closing
the heavy category with his student, Bernardo Farias.
“It was a nice experience. I decided to fight the grown
up with 40 to celebrate my birthday and give an example not just
to my students, but to everyone that pratice Jiu-Jitsu. The road
is longer than looks like, you can keep in shape and health”,
explains Gurgel, who submited the two fights before the final.
“Was very cool... And I could win, what was best“.
Besides of the age, the Alliance’s General teels his birthday
made any difference on his development on the Portuguese mats.
“Competition is always though, but wasn’t a big problem.
I do it for a long time. I don’t feel old“, guarantee,
besides feeling the shorter break between one fight and other.
“The worst was the transition between fights, but that wasn’t
a big problem too“, finished.
Source: Tatame
|
Quote
of the Day
"Believe
in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but
reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful
or happy."
Norman Vincent Peale, 1898-1993
|
Falaniko
Vitale
By Guilherme Cruz
Former UFC and Strikeforce fighter, Falakino Vitale is set to
fight Murilo “Ninja” in Shine Fight’s next edition,
and spoke to TATAME.com about the upcoming challenge, his career
and MMA and a lot more. Check below the exclusive interview with
the fighter.
How are the training to the debut at Shine?
It’s pretty awesome. Have been training hard.
You're going to fight Ninja. How do you think this fight is gonna
be?
Well I think it’s going to be great fight. We both bring
a lot to the table. We fought many tough fighters and have a
lot experience between us both. Definitely a war.
Ninja was considered one of the best in his division. How do
you feel fighting a former Pride star?
Well I have a lot respect for Ninja...he awesome at what does.
I feel that he's one of the top fighters in the world. It’s
just an honor to be fighting a guy that is decorated as Ninja.
You already faced tough guys like Lawler, Lindland, Miller and
Okami... Do you think Ninja is gonna be your toughest challenge?
Why?
He's a lot different than most of the guy's I faced. Each of
those fighters I fought had one strong point. Ninja is a balance
fighter. Not sure if he would be the toughest...but definitely
a tough opponent.
You don't fight since 2008. Why?
I've been taking a break. Fighting for 10 years can get to you.
Just wanted to focus more on family and as for myself I've studying
more about the sport. Training different styles and going back
to my Jujitsu back ground.
Do you think this time off will be a problem to you?
I don't think so...I've been taking care of myself real well.
Helping the other fighters to get ready for their fights has
kept me in shape. I think it won't be a problem.
Most of your fights took place in Hawaii. How you decided to
start in MMA?
It's
a long story but I'll make it short. I got Interested in the
sport when I first saw Royce Gracie beating all the bigger guys
in the early UFCs. I wanted to be like Royce. After playing professional
American Football...my friend introduce me to guy who trained
under Relson Gracie in 1996. I trained Jujitsu under Kelly Matsukawa
for a few years. The Training led me to my first fight Dec 1999.
I felt I wasn't ready but being a competitive person as I am...I
just wanted to try it once. After the referee raised my hand...I
was hooked...LOL.
Your family supported this decision?
At first they thought I was crazy...but after watching me fight
they are my biggest fans.
When someone think about Hawaii and MMA, BJ Penn always come
to our minds. Have you ever trained with him? Do you know him?
I know BJ well. I trained with him and at his place before...but
he lives on the Big Island and live on Oahu. Its unfortunate
not to be able to train with him... but I definitely would if
I was able to.
How this training helped you?
I've been training with different guys from different schools
like Eric Kiahi, Chis Leben, Brandon Wolf, Scott Junk. It's hard
to have quality training here in Hawaii because we have limited
resources. But it doesn't matter to us. We are able to get by
with what we have. We just put all our knowledge together and
train hard.
You're a 10-years pro and fought in UFC, Strikeforce... Which
was the best moment of your career and why?
My career had its moments...I just Praised God for giving me
this talent to fight and compete. Through his grace he has kept
me safe, healthy and I praise him for it. I'm just happy to be
able to fight in the UFC and Strikeforce.
What are your goals now?
I'm going to take one fight at a time, not sure whats going to
happen. But if everything pans out I want to be able to compete
at the highest level. Hopefully a title shot in Strikeforce or
the UFC.
Feel free to send a message to your fans and sponsors...
Just
want to say "ALOHA" to all my fans, family and friends
for their support. Especially to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
who has made all this possible.
Source: Tatame
|
Couture
highest paid of UFC 109
by Carlos
Eduardo Ozório
The
Ultimate Fighting Championship released the disclosed payout
for UFC 109, this past Saturday, February 6 in Las Vegas. The
biggest purse went to veteran and former UFC champion Randy Couture,
who defeated Mark Coleman in the evening’s main event. Couture
pocketed $ 250,000.
Here
is the disclosed pay of each fighter on the card:
Randy
Couture: $ 250,000
Mark
Coleman: $ 60,000
Chael
Sonnen: U.S. $ 64,000 + $ 60,000 (bonus best fight)
Nate
Marquardt: $ 45,000 + $ 60,000 (bonus best fight)
Paulo
Thiago: $ 30,000 + $ 60,000 (bonus scoring)
Mike
Swick: U.S. $ 43,000
Demian
Maia: U.S. $ 62,000
Dan
Miller: $ 15,000
Matt
Serra: U.S. $ 150,000 + $ 60,000 (bonus best knockout)
Frank
Trigg: $ 30,000
Mac
Danzig: $ 40,000
Justin
Buchholz: U.S. $ 8,000
Melvin
Guillard: U.S. $ 28,000
Ronys
Torres: U.S. $ 4,000
Rob
Emerson: $ 24,000
Phillipe
Nover: $ 10,000
Phil
Davis: U.S. $ 10,000)
Brian
Stann: $ 17,000
Chris
Tuchscherer: $ 20,000
Tim
Hague: U.S. $ 7,000
Joey
Beltran: $ 12,000
Rolles
Gracie: $ 15,000
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
Thiago
Alves Predicts Jon Fitch Knockout at UFC 111
By Ariel Helwani
Thiago Alves has only lost twice since 2006. That's two losses
in nine fights. And those are the only two losses that are currently
on "The Pitbull's" mind these days. First things first,
avenge his Ultimate Fight Night 5 loss to Jon Fitch at UFC 111
on March 27. Then, the American Top Team says he is ready for
another shot at welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, who
defeated him via unanimous decision at UFC 100.
MMA
Fighting recently caught up with Alves to talk about his recent
injury, which forced him to pull out of a UFC 107 fight against
Fitch, the lessons he learned in the loss to GSP and a potential
fight against Paul Daley in the future.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Wilson
Reis Returning for Bellator's Second Season
By FCF
Staff
Bellator
Fighting Championships has announced today that Wilson Reis (9-1)
will return for the promotion’s second season featherweight
tournament, which is scheduled to begin April 8th. The former
Elite XC champion advanced to the semi-finals of Bellator’s
first tournament last May, but lost by Unanimous Decision to
Joe Soto. The loss was the first of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black
belt’s MMA career.
“Wilson’s
a very talented fighter at 145 and was just one judge’s
decision away from advancing to the featherweight championship
fight last season,” Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney
was quoted saying in a news release from the promotion. “The
Soto-Reis fight was one of the best fights in a season of great
fights and the chance to potentially see a rematch between these
two would be awesome. But first, Wilson has to get through a
gauntlet of great fighters at 145. Plain and simple with Wilson’s
addition, our featherweight tournament is stacked.”
Reis
began fighting professionally in 2007 and since that time has
defeated notable opponents like Brian Caraway and Abel Cullum.
“More
than anything, I want to get my rematch against Joe Soto,”
said the 25 year-old Reis. “I’m a lot more mature now
as a fighter and an athlete … a lot more prepared than I
was before.”
Reis
is the sixth man to be confirmed by Bellator for the upcoming
featherweight tourney; some of the other participants include
Joe Warren, Georgi Karakhanyan, William Romero and Bao Quach.
Source: Full Contact Fighter
|
Hidehiko
Yoshida will retire on 4/25
By Zach
Arnold
He will have a retirement show on 4/25 in Tokyo at Nippon Budokan
(show title = ASTRA). J-ROCK, the agency that backs Yoshida and
was in charge of Sengoku, is promoting the event. The current
plan is for the show to air on SkyPerfecTV as opposed to a free-TV
network. It was noted that the reason Yoshida wanted the event
at Budokan is because that is the same building that hosts judo
championships and major judo events.
With
Yoshida retiring in April, it eliminates the possibility of him
getting booked against Asashoryu should K-1 sign him. (Unless,
of course, Asashoryu and Yoshida do some sort of “exhibition”
match.)
Source: Fight Opinion
|
Serra-Longo
an Exception to the Rule
by Brian
Knapp
LAS VEGAS -- At a time when many fighters switch trainers about
as often as they change underwear, the long-standing relationship
between former UFC welterweight champion Matt Serra and New York-based
striking guru Ray Longo has become an exception to the rule.
Their
union, which has lasted nearly 20 years, paid dividends once
again on Saturday, as Serra knocked out former Icon Sport titleholder
Frank Trigg in a featured bout at UFC 109 “Relentless”
at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. Their match, marked by pre-fight
trash talk from both sides, ended decisively 2:23 into the first
round, with a dazed and confused Trigg flat on his back.
“I
worked a lot with the big guy, Ray Longo,” Serra said. “We
worked a lot of combos standing up. It actually worked out perfectly.”
Most,
including Longo and Serra, expected Trigg to initiate a battle
on the mat, where his considerable wrestling chops and punishing
ground-and-pound figured to give him his best chance at victory.
Instead, the 37-year-old elected to stand, and once Trigg’s
strategy became clear, Longo knew it was only a matter of time.
“I
knew [Serra] was going to knock him out,” Longo said. “We
brought in some 200-pound southpaws, and he was doing great in
sparring.”
The
35-year-old Serra attacked the legs and body in the opening moments,
then dropped Trigg with a ringing overhand right in the center
of the Octagon. He followed his fallen foe to the canvas, where
three powerful punches from the top sealed the deal and left
Trigg incapacitated beneath him.
Success
seemed to mean as much to Longo as it did to his star pupil.
“He’s
a friend,” Longo said. “We have a lot of laughs. He’s
probably my best friend at this point, but we have to balance
that out. It was an awesome feeling. I’ve been with Matt
since he was 18, 19 years old. He’s always had a lot of
faith in me, and I’ve always had a lot of faith in him.”
Longo
beamed as he spoke about their connection and pointed to perhaps
the lowest point of Serra’s mixed martial arts career --
his UFC debut in 2001, when he suffered a knockout at the hands
of Shonie Carter -- as evidence of its strength.
“His
first fight in the UFC, he got knocked out by a spinning backfist,”
Longo said. “He could have walked away [from me] then. There’s
a lot of loyalty between us.”
Source: Sherdog
|
UFC
QUOTABLES: Renzo Gracie comments on Rolles' "embarrassing"
debut performance at UFC 109
By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
"It was embarrasing. I can tell you he wasn't in that bad
of shape. Fact is the nerves drained him of his energy. His stand
up and ground work looked bad, nothing at all like he was doing
in training leading up to the fight and it was if he couldn't
hear what I was telling him. I think the pressure he put on himself
overwhelmed him. He'll learn and be back."
-Renzo
Gracie comments on Rolles Gracie's UFC debut last weekend at
UFC 109 to GracieFighter.com. Meanwhile, ADCC Absolute Braulio
Estima chalked it up to injuries in training, telling MMAJunkie.com
"His performance was nowhere near what we expected and what
he expected," Estima said. "He had a lot of injuries
in training. He hurt his rib and that stopped him training for
a while. But he was very excited to do it and he put a lot of
pressure on himself. It wasn't the best decision to fight."
Penick's
Analysis: Rolles' performance on Saturday was one of the single
worst broadcast on a major event in a long, long time. There
were many scoffing at Herschel Walker getting a spot on Strikeforce's
broadcast, but he at least had an impressive performance in his
debut fight while Gracie looked nothing like the fighter he was
being billed as coming into this one. Whether it was nerves or
injury that led to his performance at the event, in the end it
was surprising that the bout made the broadcast, as it was just
an ugly, ugly fight. Hopefully if he's given another shot he'll
have taken care of whatever affected him in this one as it was
just not good, and Renzo hit it on the head with his comments.
Source: MMA Torch
|
UFC
RELEASES SEVERAL FIGHTERS FOLLOWING 109
by Damon
Martin
Following UFC 109 last weekend, the promotion has released several
fighters including headliner Mark Coleman, as well as Frank Trigg,
Tim Hague, and Phillipe Nover.
Fighters
being released from the UFC following a loss is nothing new,
but after being in a main event, it was somewhat of a surprise
that Coleman's name was on that list. The 45-year-old former
Pride and UFC champion struggled in his fight with Randy Couture
before being submitted by a rear naked choke in the second round.
Since
returning to the UFC last year, Coleman went 1-2 with a victory
over former "Ultimate Fighter" finalist Stephan Bonnar,
while dropping the aforementioned fight against Couture and a
rematch against Mauricio "Shogun" Rua.
Also
on the list of cuts was former top welterweight contender Frank
Trigg, who confirmed his release from the promotion via Twitter
on Wednesday. The multi-time UFC veteran returned to the organization
last year after a stint at 185 pounds, but his welterweight career
didn't fare as well in the UFC.
In
his return bout to the organization, Trigg lost by TKO to top
five ranked welterweight, Josh Koscheck. Looking to bounce back
last weekend, he was caught by a knockout right hand from former
welterweight champion Matt Serra that ended his night and his
UFC career.
Other
cuts from the UFC 109 card include Canadian heavyweight Tim Hague,
who endured back-to-back losses, as well as former "Ultimate
Fighter" finalist Phillipe Nover, who lost his only three
fights in the UFC following his stint on the reality show.
One
fighter who will get a second chance in the Octagon is Rolles
Gracie. Sources close to the fighter indicated to MMAWeekly.com
on Wednesday that the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu champion will get another
shot after falling short in his first fight against Joey Beltran.
As
of now, those are the only cuts that have surfaced from the UFC
following the weekend's event.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Sonnen
would rather face Anderson; Dana retires another fighter
by Carlos
Eduardo Ozório
Despite all the fights being over with, the UFC 109 press conference
kept things heated. Confirmed by Dana White as the first in line
to challenge the winner of the April-10 clash between Anderson
Silva and Vitor Belfort, for the UFC middleweight belt, Chael
Sonnen made no secret of who he is rooting for to win.
“I
hope Anderson wins, because I think Vitor is a much tougher fighter.
If I had to choose between the two, I’d go the low road
and take the easier fight for the title, “he said.
UFC
president Dana White recently called for Chuck Liddell to retire
at a press conference following the Ice Man’s loss to Mauricio
Shogun at UFC 97. Now was the time to do the same with Mark Coleman.
He dismissed any possibility of Coleman facing Tito Ortiz, who
was firing off provocations behind the scenes and who will be
facing the very Chuck Liddell in his next challenge.
“I’m
not thinking of Tito vs. Coleman, stressed White, who believes
he will no longer see the veteran in action.
The
biggest winner of the night was Joey Beltran. Called up as a
last-minute replacement for Mostapha Al Turk in the fight against
Rolles Gracie, the Californian known as the “Mexicutioner”
made the most of his big break, and even hinted how far he is
willing to go to maintain his ascent in the MMA world.
“This
was my first fight in the UFC and I’ve had this on my mind
for five years. I will do everything Dana White and Joe Silva
ask of me. I am small for the division, but I’ll cut some
burritos from my diet if I have to, “he joked.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
Cristiane
Cyborg: “I’m ready to anyone”
By Guilherme
Cruz
Cris Cyborg gave another show of exchanging on United States.
Puting the feminine belt of Strikeforce in game for the first
time, the Chute Boxe athlete made Marloes Coenen as victim on
the third round. Talking to TATAME, the Brazilian that had almost
80% of the victories by knock out, said she wasn’t surprise
with the opponent’s toughness.
“I was ready to five rounds. I saw her card, she was experienced
and I saw, on passage, it wouldn’t be easy”, said,
excited about her growing on American land. “I could search
my space here. I’m traing to evolute and give fans a show
and people like it”, celebrates, making the bosses happy.
“They liked, got really happy. To a good fight both have
to want it. She wanted the victory and we gave a big show”.
After winning five victories on United States, Cris waits for
a definition of her next opponent. “We haven’t argue
about it yet. I’m ready to anyone. It will happen a girls
GP and who win most fight with me. We’ll have to wait a
few fights to see”. Although, the problem is the fighter
should wait for the end of the tournament to see who’s going
to be her next opponent. “Don’t say it, to be on the
fridge is tough... I want to fight as soon as possible”.
Besides
to be back soon on the rings, Cris expects to her husband to
return to Strikeforce, after the victory in Curitiba. “Rudimar
will see it with the event, but I can guarantee that he will
fight soon”, tells the though girl, sending a message to
the Brazilian fans, in special, Curitiba: “I want to thank
people in Chute Boxe that wrote a banner to me... It made me
stronger, it was another show to Brazilian audience... I’ll
get far”, finished.
Source: Tatame
|
MMA
Top 10 Welterweights: Paulo Thiago Is for Real
By Michael David Smith
When
Thiago first signed with the UFC, his 10-0 record looked impressive,
but no one gave him much of a chance against his first opponent,
Josh Koscheck. And even after Thiago won that fight with a first-round
TKO, most people thought he benefited from a lucky punch and
a quick stoppage.
But
now that Thiago has also beaten Mike Swick at UFC 109, there's
no disputing that he's a Top 10 welterweight. Where exactly does
Thiago rank? Find out below in our latest rankings of the Top
10 welterweights in MMA.
(Editor's
note: The individual fighter's ranking the last time we did welterweights
are in parentheses)
1.
Georges St Pierre (1): The UFC is rapidly running out of credible
opponents for the undisputed king of the welterweights. Dan Hardy
probably won't give him much of a challenge at UFC 111.
2.
Jon Fitch (2): At 11-1 inside the Octagon, Fitch has one of the
most impressive records in UFC history. But he hasn't finished
anyone in almost three years, and GSP dominated him.
3.
Thiago Alves (3): Should give Fitch a great challenge at UFC
111.
4.
Nick Diaz (4): The Strikeforce welterweight champ is a great
fighter in need of some good opponents.
5.
Paulo Thiago (9): Can make a strong case that he deserves the
next title shot.
6.
Josh Koscheck (5): He'll have his hands full with Paul Daley
in May, but if he fights a smart fight his superior wrestling
will give him the win.
7.
Dan Hardy (6): It's a stretch to think he can beat St. Pierre.
8.
Matt Hughes (7): After a long layoff, he'll get back into the
Octagon against Renzo Gracie in April.
9.
Mike Swick (8): Now on a two-fight losing streak, Swick will
need to win his next fight to stay in the Top 10.
10.
Jay Hieron (10): A free agent, Hieron may be reluctant to re-sign
with Strikeforce because Strikeforce is reluctant to give him
a shot at Diaz.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Quote
of the Day
"Pessimist:
One who, when he has the choice of two evils, chooses both."
Oscar
Wilde, 1854-1900, Irish Dramatist/Novelist/Poet
|
2010
808 Battleground"
Event: FEB 19th, 2010 808Battleground
Start Time: Friday, February 19 at 5:00pm
Where: Waipahu FILCOM Center
Waipahu
Filcom Center, February 19, 2010 Doors open at 5pm fights start
at 6pm. Call me if you have any beginner fighters that want to
compete 808-366-2005.
|
Hawaiian
Kimono Combat
Saturday
2/27/10
Pearl City High School
Registration has to be postmarked by 2/21/10
$50 to enter
$5 spectator fee (kids under 5 are free)
LAST DAY TO REGISTER FEBRUARY 26TH *THURSDAY
MAIL Registration Form to:
It's All Goo LLC
95-1032 Ainamakua Dr. # D
Mililani, HI 96789
Email info@itsallgoo.com Web: www.itsallgoo.com
BJJ tournament
using IBJJF Rules (same as the world championships)
|
Officials
Clinics
Hello MMA,
Martial Arts, and Boxing Community,
If any club or interested parties want to compete in amateur
boxing or become a judge, referee, or coach.
Email me at bkawano@aol.com
We have a Coaches and Officials clinic on Kauai this saturday
Feb. 13th.
Boxing show on Feb. 20th at Waimea.
Boxing show on Feb. 27th in Kapaa, Kauai.
Officials Clinic in Kapolei on March 6th.
Boxing event on March 13th, in Puna and a tentative Officials
or Coaches Clinic on March 20th. First show on Oahu is April
3rd, at Palolo District Park.
All Coaches, Officials, have to be registered and certified.
Boxers must register locally.
For more contact and registration info go to www.amateurboxingofhawaii.com
Thank You,
Bruce Kawano
Amateur Boxing of Hawaii Interm Manager.
Ringside Board of Advisors.
NMU Task Force Appointed Member.
|
$60,000
BONUSES HANDED OUT FOR UFC 109
The Ultimate Fighting Championship handed out $60,000 bonus checks
for the top performances at UFC 109 at the Mandalay Bay Events
Center on Saturday night. Matt Serra, Paulo Thiago, Chael Sonnen
and Nate Marquardt all earned bonus money.
Fight
of the Night honors went to the middleweight contender bout between
Nate Marquardt and Chael Sonnen. Sonnen dominated the better
part of the fight with superior wresting, although Marquardt
came on in the final round before falling short on the judges’
scorecards.
The
Knockout of the Night went to former UFC welterweight titleholder
Matt Serra who caught Frank Trigg with a right hand, sending
him to the canvas. He finished off the former MMAWeekly Radio
co-host with strikes on the ground half way through the first
round.
Paulo
Thiago scored Submission of the Night with his D’arce choke
of Mike Swick. They fought a close first round, but a counter
punch in the second sent Swick to the canvas where the Brazilian
was able to finish with the choke.
Total
bonus money paid out for UFC 109 was $240,000.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
SONNEN
SAYS TOUGHEST FIGHTS ARE IN THE UFC
Now that Chael Sonnen has proven that he belongs at the top of
the middleweight division, his next fight will be for the 185-pound
title against either Anderson Silva or Vitor Belfort, presumably
later this year.
Following
UFC 109, UFC president Dana White commented that he believes
if current champion Anderson Silva wins he will stay at middleweight
and he has a very interesting match-up waiting for him in Sonnen.
"I
think he will no matter what Chael said. He likes that 185-pound
division. He likes having that title, and I'm a big believer
in cleaning out a division," White said about Silva's desire
to stay at middleweight.
"This
is actually interesting. Marquardt had fought him once, Chael
hadn't, and Chael actually has a very interesting style match-up
with Anderson. The way that this guy's looked in his last two
fights, he just looks better and better and better. I think it's
a very interesting match-up.
"So
whether it's Anderson Silva or Vitor Belfort that wins in Abu
Dhabi, I think Chael's a good fight for both of them."
Never
one to hold back, Sonnen let it be known who he'd rather fight
for the title, and who he believes will be holding the championship
belt when it comes time for his shot.
"I
hope Anderson wins because I think Vitor's a lot tougher fighter.
If I had to choose between the two, I'm going to take the low
road and take the easier opponent to get to the championship,"
Sonnen commented.
"I
really do mean that, Vitor Belfort, in truth, has never lost
a fight in the stand-up realm. The blueprint to beat Vitor's
out there, but it's not to stand up with him. I can't wait for
that fight, but I am picking Vitor."
Taking
nothing away from the level of competition that either Anderson
Silva or Vitor Belfort brings into a title fight, Sonnen knows
the UFC is the place to call home, and he even managed to get
a dig in at Strikeforce along the way.
"At
the end of the day if you want to get to the top of the card
in the UFC, you've got to fight tough guys. If you want to be
a fighter and get in the cage and be a big deal at your local
strip club, go to Showtime. If you want to fight real guys, this
is the place to do it," said Sonnen.
"If
I'm in this company, I know they're going to be tough."
Sonnen
will look to heal up following his war with Marquardt, and then
turn his attention to the April fight between Silva and Belfort
to see who he'll be fighting for the UFC middleweight championship.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
CONDIT
BACK TRAINING, EXCITED TO FIGHT AGAIN
Following back-to-back wars in his first two UFC fights, Carlos
Condit was poised to make a big step forward when he was scheduled
to face British knockout artist Paul Daley at UFC 108. Unfortunately,
cleaning out the garage did Condit in for the fight, as he suffered
a cut and a staph infection that left him hospitalized.
Just
about everybody in MMA is used to the fact that fighters get
injured, and sometimes aren't able to compete. Condit had to
deal with a very strange situation that led to his removal from
the January card, and ultimately it was a scary ordeal that put
him in for a lengthy hospital stay.
"I
was kind of moving some stuff around in my garage and I had some
old junk. I had a broken dry erase board, like a bulletin board
type thing, and I picked it up to kind of toss it over to my
trash pile. I kind of Frisbee tossed it, and it had a sharp piece
of metal, kind of the surface of the dry erase board, and it
sliced me real good," Condit told MMAWeekly.com in an exclusive
interview.
"Initially
what happened was I went down to urgent care, got some stitches,
and they said that I should be cool in a couple days, so nothing
really changed for me.
“I
was back to training and everything, but the next day my hand
started swelling up and hurting like a son of a (expletive) and
that's kind of when I decided I wasn't going to be able to do
the fight and then a couple days later I went to see a hand specialist
and they admitted me to the hospital right away cause I had a
real bad staph infection."
The
staph infection put Condit in the hospital for a six-night stay.
When he was released, he was still not able to train full on
due to an IV that had to be administered for six weeks for antibiotics
to fully flush out the infection.
With
his hand finally healed and the hospital stay behind him, Condit
is now back training at Greg Jackson's gym in New Mexico and
looking forward to a return to action.
"I'm
getting back in the gym, I'm doing about one (practice) a day
so far," Condit said about his training.
The
current news is that he will return to action in June to face
upstart fighter Rory MacDonald in Vancouver at UFC 115. While
the former WEC champion couldn't comment on his next fight, he
admits the timing would be right on.
"I
think a month or so to get back in shape and then maybe two and
a half months to three months to really hit a hard camp, it would
be perfect," Condit commented about a possible June 12 fight.
He
is happy to get back to the business of fighting, but still has
a score to settle with his last scheduled opponent, Paul Daley.
After Condit was removed for the fight, Daley called the New
Mexico fighter several unfriendly words, and claimed he really
wasn't hurt and was just avoiding the fight.
"I
want a chance to shut that dude up, make him eat his words. I
look forward to it," said Condit about Daley. "He's
a (expletive) talker. That's what he does, but whatever, I'll
get my chance."
For
now, Condit is back training at Jackson's and ready to return
to action in the welterweight division.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
The
Weekly Wrap: Jan. 30 - Feb. 5
Matchmaking
A
complete list of significant new fights reported this week. Some
may be repeated from previous sections:
•
David Loiseau vs. Isidro Gonzalez. Mixed Fight League, Feb. 27,
Montreal.
•
Marvin Eastman vs. Steve Bosse. Mixed Fight League, Feb. 27,
Montreal.
•
Shigeki Osawa vs. Kyung Ho Kang. Sengoku Raiden Championships
12, March 7, Tokyo.
•
Rick Story vs. Nick Osipczak. UFC 112, April 10, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
(MMAJunkie.com)
•
Paul Taylor vs. John Gunderson. UFC 112, April 10, Abu Dhabi,
U.A.E. (MMAJunkie.com)
•
Paul Kelly vs. Matt Veach. UFC 112, April 10, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.
(MMAWeekly.com)
•
Urijah Faber vs. Jose Aldo. WEC 48, April 24, Sacramento, Calif.
•
Donald Cerrone vs. Benson Henderson. WEC 48, April 24, Sacramento,
Calif.
•
Mike Thomas Brown vs. Manny Gamburyan. WEC 48, April 24, Sacramento,
Calif.
•
Yoshiyuki Yoshida vs. Michael Guymon. UFC 113, May 8, Montreal.
(MMAWeekly.com)
•
Quinton Jackson vs. Rashad Evans. UFC 114, May 29, Las Vegas.
(Fightersonly.com)
•
Forrest Griffin vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. UFC 114, May 29,
Las Vegas. (MMAJunkie.com)
•
Efrain Escudero vs. Dan Lauzon. UFC 114, May 29, Las Vegas. (Sherdog.com)
•
Todd Duffee vs. Mike Russow. UFC 114, May 29, Las Vegas. (The
Times of Northwest Indiana)
•
Diego Sanchez vs. John Hathaway. UFC 114, May 29, Las Vegas.
(Sanchez Twitter)
•
Aaron Simpson vs. Chris Leben. UFC 114, May 29, Las Vegas. (MMAWeekly.com)
•
Tyson Griffin vs. Evan Dunham. UFC 115, June 12, Vancouver. (MMAWeekly.com)
•
James Wilks vs. Peter Sobotta. UFC 115, June 12, Vancouver. (Groundandpound.de)
Source:
Sherdog
|
The
countdown for Asashoryu fighting in K-1 begins now
With
Asashoryu’s exit from the Sumo world official, K-1’s
long-awaited dream of bringing him into the fold is now a mere
formality. The question is how much will TBS (Tokyo Broadcasting
System) or Fuji TV be willing to pony up to finance a couple
of fights in the promotion? He’s a lock for a NYE date,
but the question is if K-1 can get him sooner.
PRIDE
desperately wanted him when they still around as a promotion
but didn’t have the money to pull it off. In business terms,
PRIDE saw Asashoryu the same way UFC saw Brock Lesnar —
a sure-fire, can’t-miss, giant business acquisition. K-1
sees him the same way. Once they likely get him under contract,
a lot of things will suddenly change for Japanese MMA.
If
K-1 can sign Asashoryu, this will be a significantly bigger deal
than when Sengoku signed Satoshi Ishii. If you thought Yoshida/Ishii
did well in the NYE ratings, then imagine how big business will
be on NYE for Asashoryu’s debut fight. They could easily
book him against Bob Sapp, which would be funny because Sapp
faced Akebono. It would be a natural opponent to book.
As
recently as 15 years ago, Asashoryu would have been a prime target
to enter Japanese pro-wrestling. No longer.
Source:
Fight Opinion
|
Zuffa
knows best - WEC PPVs at $45. Everybody has a price…
…but
I don’t think $45 will generate more than 25,000 PPV buys
for the April 24th event with Urijah Faber vs. Jose Aldo.
Then
again, Affliction did decent PPV buyrates (not enough to stay
in business, however). To Affliction’s credit, they built
their deal around the best Heavyweight in the world who had a
name from the PRIDE days. Yes, WEC has the best talent at 145,
but it’s America and the heavyweights still draw more interest.
Even
if Zuffa gets a 50% cut of the PPV profits at $45 a clip, it
becomes an issue of math regarding whether or not the move to
PPV becomes more profitable. We’ve seen UFC do some ridiculous
business in terms of converting cable viewers to PPV customers
(UFC 100 will forever be the peak example of this), but it’s
hard to see how a largely “I won’t pay a dime”
audience on Versus TV converts a lot of the TV viewers into PPV
customers. If WEC draws on a good day 500,000 viewers, 25,000
PPV buys would be about 5% of the audience. Sounds about right?
Over or under 25,000?
I
don’t have a large issue with the $45 price point in the
following sense… If they charged $30 for the show, would
they really entice more people to buy the show? It’s hard
to believe that a drop off in price point would generate any
more buys than will happen. Just like with WWE, if you want to
pay to watch the show, you will pay to watch the show. If it
was $70 or $80, OK, that’s one thing, but $50 right now
seems to be the price point range for most PPV events. Let’s
say you do drop the price point from $45 to $30 — that means
you would need 3 people to buy the show at the lower price to
match the 2 people you counted on to buy it at $45. Do you think
that there would be enough fans to make up for the 50% slack
to buy the show? Doubtful.
Many
fighters in WEC said they wanted to be on PPV. Well, here you
go. Their wish has been granted. But it’s not under very
good circumstances. The 4/24 date opens up Zuffa to get hammered
by Strikeforce on CBS (should CBS choose to run that date). We
already know that Strikeforce’s show last December from
San Jose matched the same amount of viewers as the WEC show from
LV did on Versus (Donald Cerrone vs. Ed Ratcliff). By opening
themselves up to Strikeforce on CBS, it will no doubt create
the urge in Zuffa circles to run UFC programming on Spike against
the CBS show. By doing that, Zuffa would be essentially cannibalizing
the WEC show and would also give Strikeforce a bump up in media
coverage because of the easy storyline that the media would bite
on.
Which
may be the point of Zuffa’s experiment here. They accomplished
keeping off competition from Versus by having WEC as the vehicle
to do it. Anything else WEC-related is gravy for them. If the
PPV experiment works, great, they make money and the fighters
stay happy. If the PPV experiment fails (most likely), then they
can turn around and say hey, the marketplace has a verdict, and
it’s they don’t want to pay to see you fight. Of course,
as alluded to up above, UFC’s brand is so strong (it’s
not a meme) for bigger shows that without the UFC label, it’s
going to be really difficult for Faber and company to get the
PPV buys.
It’s
not as if you can tell Faber, Torres, etc. that they need to
go out and sell the tickets and PPV buys. They’ve done everything
they can already to put on the most exciting fights possible.
They had their chance to go to Strikeforce and they decided to
stay with WEC. Will it prove to be a mistake for the fighters?
The
odds are likely that WEC on PPV will struggle, but it doesn’t
mean that I am rooting against the fighters. Far from it —
I’d love to see the shows do really well, but the tea leaves
suggest otherwise. Which leads us to the long-ball question —
if a PPV bombs or you have a couple of WEC PPVs that fail to
meet standards internally in Zuffa, then what? WEC keeps saying
that they are in it for the long haul and are starting to expand
worldwide through various TV contracts, but if the league stagnates
business-wise then what? Will a vaunted talent exodus happen
with WEC guys demanding to fight on UFC shows?
One
thing is for sure — the WEC PPV announcement got zero air
time on American sports media. When I saw the “MMA”
tab on ESPN’s news ticker yesterday, I thought the WEC PPV
announcement would be covered. Nope. What was ESPN’s MMA
story? That Jose Canseco wrote on his Twitter account that he
wanted to fight Herschel Walker.
I
guess I may have to show Herschel Walker who the real bad Boy
of the Sports industry is. If the powers that be are reading,
I want in.
My
people spoke with Cesar Gracie today. Looks like things are moving
at a fast pace. Dan Black and Cesar seem to have a plan together.
The
irony of Canseco mentioning Cesar Gracie’s name is that
Cesar can’t get any media ink for his boy Nick Diaz’s
win over Marius Zaromskis at last weekend’s Strikeforce
event. The two big stories coming out of that event: 47-year
old Herschel Walker beating a jaybrone and Rex Ryan getting fined
$50,000USD for flipping the bird. I got a kick out of how many
times the general US sports media called Strikeforce’s event
“the Miami MMA show” on ESPN, about 8 million times.
As
for Herschel’s response to Canseco…
“Jose
wants to do this for money,” Walker said. “My thing
is, if he wants to fight me and he thinks it’s going to
be a circus, I will hurt him. This is not a joke, I will hurt
him, because I don’t do things as a joke. I don’t do
this as entertainment. If we go out and play a flag football
game, that’s entertainment. We’re having fun. But this
MMA fighting, is real. You can get hurt, and he doesn’t
understand it. I do this as an MMA fighter, not as a joke.”
Jose
Canseco vs. Herschel Walker is getting more sports media attention
than the WEC… and we’re in 2010. Ugh.
Source:
Fight Opinion
|
UFC
109: Payout Perspective
Welcome
to another edition of Payout Perspective! This week we’ll
be taking a look at UFC 109: Relentless, which was held on Saturday,
February 6th (Superbowl Weekend) from the Mandalay Events Center
in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event featured a heavyweight clash
between Hall of Famers Randy Couture and Mark Coleman, in addition
to a middleweight contender bout between Nate Marquardt and Chael
Sonnen.
UFC
109 by the Numbers
Attendance
& Gate
In
the post-fight press conference, Dana White announced the attendance
for the event as 10,687 which generated $2.27 million in gate
revenue.
Disclosed
Payouts
Randy
Couture $250,000 def. Mark Coleman $60,000
Chael Sonnen $64,000 ($32,000 show/win) def. Nate Marquardt $45,000
Paulo Thiago $30,000 ($15,000 show/win) def. Mike Swick $43,000
Demian Maia $62,000 ($31,000 show/win) def. Dan Miller $15,000
Matt Serra $150,000 ($75,000 show/win) def. Frank Trigg $30,000
Mac Danzig $40,000 ($20,000 show/win) def. Justin Buchholz $8,000
Melvin Guillard: $28,000 ($14,000 show/win) def. Ronys Torres
$4,000
Rob Emerson: $24,000 ($12,000 show/win) def. Phillipe Nover $10,000
Phil Davis: $10,000 ($5,000 show/win) def. Brian Stann $17,000
Chris Tuchscherer: $20,000 ($10,000 show/win) def. Tim Hague
$7000
Joey Beltran: $12,000 ($6,000 show/win) def. Rolles Gracie $15,000
Total
Disclosed Payouts: $944,000
Disclosed
Bonuses
Fight
of the Night: Chael Sonnen vs. Nate Marquardt ($60,000)
Knockout of the Night: Matt Serra ($60,000)
Submission of the Night: Paulo Thiago ($60,000)
Total
Disclosed Bonuses: $240,000
PPV
Buyrate Prediction
UFC
109 was thought by many to be a candidate for the UFC’s
lowest PPV total of the year, but a great deal of the indicators
we’re seeing suggest that it will likely garner a higher
buyrate than UFC 108’s 300,000.
Interestingly,
Spike scheduled the debut of Countdown to UFC 109 following last
weekend’s UFC 107 replay that countered Strikeforce: Miami
on Showtime. The Countdown capitalized on UFC 107’s massive
lead-in to draw 881,000 viewers, which is the 2nd highest reported
viewership for a Countdown show (4th highest when you include
last year’s UFC 94 Primetime shows). Moreover, the reported
gate revenue for the event was $2.27 million, which is generally
correlated with a buyrate above the baseline of 300,000.
The
regression predicts the following:
*
Countdown to UFC 109 (881,000 viewers): 869,000
* UFC 109 gate receipts ($2.27 million): 438,000
The
UFC 107 replay lead-in really boosted the Countdown to 109 viewership,
which wouldn’t have been nearly as high without it. The
Countdown replay shown later in the week experienced a steep
drop off with 323,000 viewers. If you take 323k figure the prediction
is 200k, which is probably too low. So, the Countdown numbers
really make it tough to sound out a prediction.
Randy
Couture’s popularity continues to increase with every fight,
but the UFC’s attempt to sell this as legend’s bout
largely failed. The organization doesn’t have the momentum
it had when Couture fought Nogueira in August, either (a fight
that did 435,000 buys). Thus, while that exposure from the UFC
107 lead-in to the Countdown program should help, the ceiling
for this fight is likely to be the gate predicted buyrate of
438,000. The low end is probably the UFC’s base of 300,000.
Greg
Saks of Tapology uses internet buzz statistics to predict the
popularity of a PPV, and estimates 315,000. Seems perfectly reasonable.
Business
Story Lines:
Couture
victorious, enters contenders picture at light heavyweight:
Randy
Couture didn’t prove much in beating a clearly over-the-hill
Mark Coleman, but the win is his second in a row at 205lbs. and
likely enough for the UFC to give him a serious contender at
the weight class. You can never discount Couture, and if he were
to win his next fight it would likely provide the UFC with all
the incentive it would need to give him a big money title shot
against whomever happens to be the champion at the time.
Couture-Coleman
underwhelms the casual crowd:
Dana
White suggested at the post-fight presser that Mark Coleman’s
match against Randy Couture was likely his last in the UFC, and
given what we all witnessed, the UFC really has no choice. Coleman
looked awful. Even despite the post-fight chirping with Tito
Ortiz, there’s really no way the UFC could sell its organization
as featuring the best fighters in the world when Coleman is so
clearly not.
I
brought several of my MBA cohort to the bar – as I often
do to get their thoughts/ideas and expose them to the sport –
and they made it clear that watching two 40 somethings in the
main event was a farce. I can’t help but think that impression
was largely representative of most casual fans that don’t
have the perspective of history to understand how much these
two men have done for the sport.
Yes,
the UFC likely profited from this event in the short-term, but
you have to wonder if the main event didn’t turn off more
people than it recruited. MMA is trying to sell itself as a sport
which requires tremendous athleticism, skill, and discipline,
but the casual fan would not have received that message by watching
Mark Coleman moving stiff and upright, with his hands down, taking
jab after jab without offering anything in return.
The
injury situation didn’t help the UFC – hopefully we’re
through the last of that cursed period – but perhaps the
answer is to simply cut an event when it looks like there won’t
be enough talent available to provide a card commensurate with
the level that fans have come to expect and casual fans have
come to hear about.
Sonnen
dominant, likely the next challenger at 185lbs:
The
flamboyant Sonnen likely wasn’t in the title picture, even
with a win over Marquardt, until he started trash talking just
about every fighter in the UFC in the lead up to his bout with
Marquardt. Then he came out on Saturday and absolutely dominated
Marquardt with his wrestling, which provides the UFC with the
justification to throw him in against the winner of Silva-Belfort.
Most
are going to view Sonnen as the middlweight version of Dan Hardy;
an opponent without much of a chance, but the mic skills necessary
to sell his place in a title fight. The difference between Sonnen
and Hardy is that Sonnen is more outlandish, while Hardy is more
playful. Sonnen is the type of guy that most people love to hate;
and if he manages to trash talk Silva like he started to last
week, many are going to tune in just in the hopes of seeing him
get his ass kicked (minus those in my adopted state of Oregon,
of course).
This
could be an excellent way to further showcase the tremendous
skills of a guy like Silva – provided he gets by Belfort
in April. While fans like a good, evenly matched barn burner,
they also like seeing a dominant champion dismantle an opponent
using his tremendous skills (Silva-Griffin for example).
This
fight could really do big business for the UFC if they promote
it strongly enough.
UFC
109 the biggest experiential sporting event this weekend? Maybe:
Sports
marketing guru Joe Favorito writes in the Huffington Post:
This
weekend there will be an event with lots of buzz, a sellout crowd,
fans from all over the world tuning in, passionate supporters
of the athletes buying up thousands of dollars in merchandise
and brands looking to engage a core base of loyalists who spend
money to support and activate against their brands. And then
there will also be the Super Bowl in Miami.
The
event we are referring to is UFC 109, which will take place at
the Mandalay Events Center Saturday night in Las Vegas, and has
become a great alternative for those who love football, but may
love Mixed Martial Arts just as much or even more.
While
there is still more than a little contention over how “hot”
professional Mixed Martial Arts is as a sport, one thing is for
sure, the UFC as an experiential brand, is certainly very hot
and very active for the men’s demo. That will be in full
view again Saturday, both in Vegas on one of the biggest wagering
weekends of the year and for all those who will but Saturday
night’s Pay-per-view. The event will feature a number of
rising stars on the undercard, but will cap off the night with
two of the UFC’s biggest veteran draws, Randy Couture and
Mark Coleman, meeting in the main bout. So what’s the buzz
all about?
The
experiential brand the UFC has created for professional fighting
is what is the base of the draw. The pay per view and attendance,
carefully crafted by UFC head Dana White and his team, is fueled
by the free cable TV model with Spike TV and their “Ultimate
Fighter” cornerstone show, as well as their World Extreme
Cage Fighting cards on VERSUS. Those platforms create the UFC
promotional tool for their athletes. The UFC branding is consistent,
and unlike many sports, they know how to speak right to their
core fan and keep him and her motivated and engaged. When the
UFC show goes on the road from their Las Vegas stronghold, they
are able to pull in the casual fan to come and see what the excitement
is all about. That’s how the experience and the spectacle
works, and how it will make Las Vegas a huge hub of activity
this weekend. From UFC-branded poker events to club after parties,
the fan will be interested, engaged and immersed in the UFC lifestyle
all weekend long. At least until Sunday night’s Super Bowl
kickoff.
Prospect
Watch:
UFC
109 saw the participation of some highly touted prospects in
Phil Davis, Phillipe Nover, and Rolles Gracie, but only Davis
was able to secure a victory. Davis demonstrated a ton of potential
in defeating Brian Stann via unanimous decision – good wrestling,
power and athleticism – but his technique still needs work
as he swung wildly at times. Rolles Gracie, the first Gracie
to fight in the octagon since Royce, was touted because of his
name, but looked terribly sloppy in his debut. There ’s
a reason this fight was the first of the night, and if Rolles
is going to stay in the UFC his game will have to improve dramatically
in just about every aspect: footwork, striking, take downs, etc.
Sponsorship
Watch:
Musclepharm
and Silver Star continued to dominate the sponsorship scene at
UFC 109 with prominent sponsorships on many fighters. Musclepharm,
in particular, was really visible, but the company must ensure
that it’s logo (”MP”) is linked to Musclepharm
and what the company does. Musclepharm’s investment in sponsorship
must go beyond individual fighters, and involve other forms of
activation so that they can round out the message and really
identify with that target UFC audience.
MMAPayout.com
had an interesting conversation with some readers over Twitter
regarding the t-shirt Nate Marquardt wore to the cage. The problem
with the MMA t-shirt market right now is that there exists an
abundance of imitation. Tapout and Affliction no longer own the
skulls and bones image, because everyone is doing it; an Affliction
shirt could just as easily be a Silver Star, Throwdown, or Dethrone
t-shirt these days.
What
that means for t-shirt companies is that they must become more
creative when designing signature walk-out t-shirts, because
they have to find a way to differentiate themselves from other
brands. It must be a distinct design with prominent logo displays
– especially on the front of the shirt (the camera rarely
follows the fighter to the cage, it leads him to the cage). Tapout
has one of the most recognizable logos in the industry, but it
was far from visible (especially in a dark arena and confounded
by the Ed Hardy like glitsy graphic adds).
These
companies are paying big money to support these fighters, but
also to promote their brand and influence purchasing behavior.
Yet, the consumer can’t be influenced to buy the product
if he’s confused about which brand the fighter is wearing.
Source:
MMA Payout
|
Mixed
Reviews on Strikeforce Crowd
Dave
Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer shares his observations regarding
the crowd in attendance at last weekend’s Strikeforce: Miami
show.
It
was clear the crowd for the most part had no idea who international
stars like Manhoef, Zaromskis or Coenen were, as they didn’t
react at all too them. The shocking thing was the lack of reaction
to Cyborg. When all of the Strikeforce stars at ringside were
introduced, like Rogers, Scott Smith, Cung Le, Josh Thomson and
Gilbert Melendez, there was barely recognition to them. The only
two names in the building who were really over were Georges St.
Pierre and Dan Henderson. Walker and Lashley got the biggest
of the fighters, but neither got the kind of reaction you’d
think. It was more a recognition reaction, similar to what Diaz
got. Cyborg got almost nothing. There was a complete lack of
interest in Cyborg vs. Coenen, which wasn’t a good sign
for post-Gina Carano women’s MMA, but I wouldn’t read
a ton into because it was an unusual crowd.
Payout
Perspective:
Strikeforce
may have a good distribution deal and some quality fighters,
but it’s clear the organization still has a long row to
hoe in terms of being able to match the reach and brand image
of the UFC. It’s pretty telling that St-Pierre and Henderson
are more popular than any Strikeforce fighter.
Then,
again, did anyone really expect something different? Strikeforce
has really only emerged as a legitimate player in the last year.
Moreover this last event was essentially pushed around two non-MMA
draws in Walker and Lashley. It wasn’t an experienced, hardcore
MMA crowd; it was a host of casual fans that have seen enough
UFC to understand the sport, know who the big names are, and
curious enough about Walker/Lashley to see a live event.
—–
It
may have been an unusual crowd, but its reaction towards Santos-Coenen
likely indicates that women’s MMA has a difficult journey
ahead in order to be considered a legitimate sporting attraction
of its own. It would be easy to sell the women’s side of
the sport from a sexual angle, but the path to long-term success
will more likely come through the promotion of these women as
the athletic, skilled, and hard working fighters that they are.
That
won’t happen over night (or by scheduling a title fight
around a former NFLer and WWE star). It’s going to take
time to break down the barriers that still exist in today’s
sporting society; just look around the current sports landscape
and ask yourself how many major sports give equal weight to the
accomplishments of men and women.
In
the end, selling a sport based upon skill will prove to be far
more beneficial than selling it upon a gimmick.
Source:
MMA Payout
|
DESTINY:
Fast n Furious
Event:
DESTINY: Fast n Furious
What: Sporting Event
Start Time: Saturday, March 6 at 5:00pm
End Time: Saturday, March 6 at 10:00pm
Where: LEVEL 4 Night Club @ Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center
|
2010
Open Tournament
Aloha everyone,
This
is to inform you that our 2010 Open Tournament will be held on
Saturday, March 20, 2010. As always, we welcome everyone to participate
as we try to make it "A Positive Experience" for everyone.
Attached is the event flyer for your reference. If you have any
questions, e-mail me or call me at 205-9133. Mahalo.
Sigung
Trent Sera
Sera's Kajukenbo
|
|