Upcoming
Events
Do you
want to list an event on Onzuka.com?
Contact
Us
(All events on Oahu, unless noted)
2011
November
Aloha State Championship of BJJ
(BJJ & Sub Grappling)
(Kaiser H.S. Gym)
August
State of Hawaii Championship of BJJ
(BJJ & Sub Grappling)
(Kaiser H.S. Gym)
7/1/11
Man Up & Stand Up
(Kickboxing)
Waipahu Filcom Center, Waipahu)
5/28/11
Man Up & Stand Up
(Kickboxing)
Waipahu Filcom Center, Waipahu)
4/23/11
Man Up & Stand Up
(Kickboxing)
Waipahu Filcom Center, Waipahu)
Gladiators for God
(Amateur Muay Thai)
(Wet&Wild Water Park)
March
Hawaiian Championship of BJJ
(BJJ & Sub Grappling)
(Kaiser H.S. Gym)
3/24-27/11
Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Championships
(BJJ)
University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA)
3/12/11
X-1: Dylan Clay vs Niko Vitale
(MMA)
(Blaisdell Arena)
Mad Skills
(Kickboxing, Triple Threat)
Waipahu Filcom Center, Waipahu)
3/11/11
Chozun 1: "the Reckoning"
(Kickboxing)
(The Waterfront at Aloha Tower Marketplace, Honolulu)
2/25/11
808 Battleground Presents
War of Warriors
(MMA)
(The Waterfront At Aloha Tower, Honolulu)
2/20/11
Pan Kids Jiu-Jitsu Championships
(BJJ)
(California State University, Carson, CA )
2/19/11
Man Up & Stand Up
(Kickboxing)
Waipahu Filcom Center, Waipahu)
2/5/11
Garden Island Cage Match 10: Mayhem at the Mansion 2
(MMA, Kickboxing)
(Kilohana Carriage House, Lihue, Kauai)
Amateur Boxing
(Boxing)
(Palolo District Park Gym)
2/4/11
Amateur Boxing
(Boxing)
(Palolo District Park Gym)
1/29/11
Man Up & Stand Up
(Kickboxing)
Waipahu Filcom Center, Waipahu)
Battle At The Barn
(MMA)
(Molokai H.S. Gym, Molokai)
1/8/11
Hawaii Toughman
(Kickboxing)
(Hilo Civic Center, Hilo)
2010
12/17/10
Destiny & 808 Battleground
All or Nothing - Champion vs Champion
(MMA)
(Dole Cannery Ballroom)
12/3/10
Mad Skills
(Kickboxing)
(Filcom Center, Waipahu)
11/27/10
Aloha
State BJJ Championships: Final Conflict
(BJJ & Sub Grappling)
(Kaiser H.S. Gym)
11/6/10
X-1 Island Pride
(MMA)
(Blaisdell Arena)
Man Up & Stand Up Kickboxing Championship
(Kickboxing)
(Filcom Center, Waipahu)
10/30/10
6th Annual Clinton A.J. Shelton Memorial Match Event
(Boxing)
(Palolo District Park Gym, Honolulu)
10/29/10
808Battleground
(MMA)
(Dole Cannery Ballroom, Honolulu)
10/23/10
NAGA
Hawaii
(BJJ & Sub Grappling)
(Radford H.S. Gym)
10/15-17/10
ETERNAL SUBMISSIONS: GI/NO-GI tournament
(BJJ & Sub Grappling)
(Kauai Beach Resort, Kauai)
10/16/10
DESTINY: Undisputed
Beyer vs Manners II
(MMA)
(Waipahu Filcom Center, Waipahu)
Just Scrap
(MMA)
(Hilo Civic Auditorium, Hilo)
10/2/10
Mad Skills
(Kickboxing)
(Filcom Center, Waipahu)
9/11/10
X-1: Heroes
(MMA, Kickboxing)
(Blaisdell Arena)
9/10/10
Man Up & Stand Up
(Kickboxing)
(Filcom Center, Waipahu)
9/4/10
DESTINY:New Era
(MMA, Kickboxing)
(Waipahu Filcom Center, Waipahu)
8/28/10
Big
Island Open
(BJJ)
(Hilo Armory, Hilo)
8/14/10
Hawaiian
Open Championships of BJJ
(BJJ & No Gi)
(Kaiser H.S. Gym)
USA Amateur Boxing
(Boxing)
(Lihue Convention Hall, Lihue, Kauai)
8/13/10
Battleground Challenge 2
(MMA)
(Dole Cannery Ballroom)
8/7/10
Just Scrap
(MMA)
(Hilo Civic Auditorium, Hilo)
8/6/10
Mad Skills
(Triple Threat/Kickboxing)
(Waipahu Filcom Center)
7/24/10
The Quest for Champions 2010 Martial Arts Tournament
(Sport-Pankration, Submission Grappling & Continuous Sparring)
(St. Louis High School Gym)
7/17/10
Maui Jiu-Jitsu Open
(BJJ & No Gi)
(Maui War Memorial, Wailuku, Maui)
Mad Skillz
(Kickboxing, Triple Threat)
(99 Market Shopping Center, Mapunapuna)
7/9/10
Man Up & Stand Up
(Kickboxing)
(Filcom Center, Waipahu)
7/3/10
Amateur Boxing
(Boxing)
(Palolo District Park Gym)
6/26/10
Kauai Cage Match 9
(MMA)
(Kilohana, Gaylords Mansion, Kauai)
6/25-26/10
50th
State BJJ Championships
(BJJ)
(50th State Fair,
Aloha Stadium)
6/24/10
Quest for Champions
(Kumite/Grappling)
(St. Louis High School Gym)
6/19/10
Just Scrap
(MMA)
(Hilo Civic Center, Hilo)
6/18-19/10
Select
Combat
(Triple Threat)
(50th State Fair,
Aloha Stadium)
6/12/10
Destiny: Fury
(MMA)
(Blaisdell Center)
6/11-13/10
MMA Hawaii Expo
(Blaisdell Ballroom)
6/11-12/10
3rd
Annual Pacific Submission Championships
(BJJ & Submission Grappling)
(Blaisdell Exhibition Hall)
6/11/10
Legacy Combat MMA
(MMA)
(Blaisdell Exhibition Hall)
6/4/10
X-1:
Nations Collide
(MMA)
(Blaisdell Arena)
6/3-6/10
World
Jiu-Jitsu Championships
(BJJ)
(The Pyramid, University of California at Long Beach, Long Beach,
CA)
5/22/10
Destiny
(MMA)
(Waiphau Filcom Center)
5/15/10
Scrappla Fest 2
Relson Gracie KTI Jiu-Jitsu Tournament
(BJJ & Sub Grappling)
(Island School, Kauai)
X-1 World Events
(MMA)
(Waipahu HS Gym)
Mad Skills
(Kickboxing)
(Waipahu Filcom Center)
Boxing Event
(Boxing)
(Evolution Training Center, Waipio Industrial Court #110)
5/1/10
Galaxy
MMA: Worlds Collide
(MMA)
(Blaisdell Arena)
4/28/10
Chris Smith BJJ Tournament
(BJJ)
(Hilo)
4/23/10
2010 Hawaii State/Regional Junior Olympic Boxing Championships
(Boxing)
(Palolo District Park Gym)
4/17/10
Hawaiian
Championships of BJJ
(BJJ & Sub Grappling)
(Kaiser
H.S. Gym)
Strikeforce:
Shields vs Henderson
(CBS)
4/16/10
808 Battleground
(Waipahu Filcom Center)
4/8-11/10
Pan
Jiu-Jitsu Championships
(BJJ)
(University California Irvine, Irvine, CA)
4/3/10
Man Up & Stand Up
(Kickboxing)
(Waipahu Filcom Center)
Amateur Boxing Smoker
(Boxing)
(Palolo District Park Gym)
3/27/10
DESTINY: No Ka Oi 2: Oahu vs Maui
(MMA)
(Maui War Memorial Gym, Wailuku, Maui)
3/20/10
X-1: Champions 2
(MMA)
(Blaisdell Arena)
3/20/10
Hawaiian Championships of BJJ
(BJJ & Sub Grappling)
(Kaiser H.S. Gym)
3/14/10
Hawaiian Kimono Combat
(BJJ)
(PCHS 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)
2/19/10
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
2011 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 & Erwin Legaspi.
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! |
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 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 Knife & 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
808
Battleground Presents
War of
Warriors “The Waterfront @ Aloha Tower”
The Waterfront At Aloha Tower
February 25, 2011
|
B.J.
Penn’s Time at Lightweight May Have Come To An End
by Damon Martin
Just a couple of years ago, B.J. Penn was on his way to being
considered the greatest lightweight the sport of MMA has ever
seen. Now, as he gets ready to fight in his second straight bout
at 170 pounds, his days as a lightweight may be behind him forever.
Despite
a 3-3 record overall at welterweight, as Penn gets ready to face
Jon Fitch in the main event at UFC 127, the Hawaiian sounds like
he’s done with cutting weight and making the move down to
lightweight.
“When
it comes to 155 pounds, I don’t even like cutting the weight
to make that weight. It’s not a tough cut for me, I probably
cut about three or four pounds on the day of the weigh-in, but
you’ve got to cut down food and you’ve got to cut your
water down, and I don’t know if that’s a healthy thing,”
he said recently.
Penn
has stated on numerous occasions that he still looks at MMA as
a fight, and not some athletic competition. He also doesn’t
agree with many of the methods that a lot of fighters use to
make weight, and then try to re-hydrate themselves for a fight
24 hours later.
“If
we said let’s meet tomorrow at 12 o’clock to fight
someone and your family honor is on the line, the first thing
I wouldn’t do is stop drinking water and stop eating. I
don’t see how that can help you and make you a stronger
person,” Penn said.
“People
I.V. and do all these things, and I never thought about playing
those games and sticking needles in my arms.”
Weight
cutting really has become a science in the mixed martial arts
world. With wrestlers making up a big portion of the fighters
transitioning into MMA, weight cutting is just a part of the
sport.
While
Penn points to the unhealthy side, several weight cutting gurus
would point to the fact that there are right ways and wrong ways
to shed pounds as weigh-in day approaches.
Former
“Ultimate Fighter” competitor turned trainer Mike Dolce
has worked with several top flight UFC fighters to get them on
weight or help them cut down to a new weight class, and does
so primarily with diet and not extreme measures. Still, Penn
says, he’s not a fan of the methods used to make weight
in this sport and he’s happy that he doesn’t have to
change his lifestyle much before fighting at 170 pounds.
“I
come from a whole different mindset. I believe you get as healthy
as you can and you go fight the best guy possible,” Penn
said.
“I
feel that right now I’m at a great mindset and when we get
to Australia we’re going to fight less than 24 hours after
the weigh-in. I think the weigh-ins are around 4:30 and the show
starts at 2 o’clock the next day, so I’d rather be
in the position that I’m in because I don’t I.V., I
don’t do things like that. I would rather be in the position
to fight 20 hours later, me and Fitch are going to be standing
in the ring looking at each other, and I’m going to be happy
that I was drinking water and eating as much food as I could
the whole time.”
When
Penn has fought at welterweight before in fights against Georges
St-Pierre and for his last fight against Matt Hughes, he’s
come in well under the 170-pound limit, so he’s obviously
still staying in shape, not ballooning up just because he can.
He just prefers eating and drinking normally, without hitting
the sauna to cut a few more pounds before weighing in.
With
such a strong statement, could Penn’s time at lightweight
be finished? Not so fast.
“I
don’t think Dana would ever let that happen,” Penn
joked when asked if he had shut the door on a return to 155 pounds.
If
Penn is successful at UFC 127 against Fitch, UFC president Dana
White has already said the winner would get the slot as the new
No. 1 welterweight contender, so his weight class decision could
already be made for him.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Comparing
Fedor to Sakuraba and why Fedor is MMA’s all-time most divisive
fighter
By Zach
Arnold
Jordan
Breen made the comparison on his radio show yesterday and here’s
what he had to say.
“I
think Fedor’s one of the most interesting guys, possibly
the most interesting guy to talk about from a historical perspective
in MMA because he polarizes people in a way that NOBODY else
does. Now, take someone like (Kazushi) Sakuraba for instance.
Sakuraba’s always been an interesting guy to me because
he’s more important than (what) he has achieved. You can’t
even attempt to tell the tale of what MMA looks like and how
it developed without Sakuraba. His feud with the Gracies (is),
apart from maybe Jiu-Jitsu against Luta Livre, the most important
rivalry in MMA history and you can’t possibly synthesize
the tale of MMA without it. And he was great. And he’s one
of those guys that if he trained today and fought at 170 pounds
earlier in his career, who knows how good Sakuraba would be?
“The
point is, in terms of actually beating really good fighters,
I mean… (Guy) Mezger and Renzo (Gracie) and like (Kevin)
Randleman, like those are like his big wins. Because his wins
were more symbolic than they were accomplishment, if that makes
sense. He’s someone who … his best wins came in an
era in Mixed Martial Arts where it wasn’t about weight classes
and every three months, you know, you’re the champion every
three months and you face a great challenger or anything like
that. It was still kind of a style vs. style thing, still something
more large and nebulous and hard-to-figure-out but the shows
of brilliance that he had even against guys like Anthony Macias
were so spellbinding that they helped move us and shift us in
a way towards learning more true essential facts in MMA like,
maybe, jiu-jitsu isn’t the be-all, end-all or the feud with
the Gracie family really helped give us a sense of what MMA was
really about. But we know his actual wins don’t stack up
to someone like Anderson Silva or Georges St. Pierre. So, he’s
always been kind of curious.
“And
now I think Fedor’s occupied a space like that for a different
reason. He competed in an era with weight classes and with that
idea of facing good competition. But, his post-PRIDE career,
because of the way it was handled, because of the M-1 situation,
because of not going to the UFC, he’s divided people in
a way in which people are nothing short of radicalized. People
either believe that Fedor is the greatest fighter and that any
thing that can be considered besmirching his good name is worth
going psychotic over or, conversely, people act as though this
guy was all smoke-and-mirrors, he never actually beat anyone
good, and partake in some kind of bizarre revisionist history
where apparently there has never been a meaningful Heavyweight
fight in the history of Mixed Martial Arts. Both of them are
patently absurd.
“What
I would say for Fedor is people, some people, will always feel
that, ‘oh, he’s the greatest Heavyweight ever and in
his prime no one cold ever beat him,’ but I think most people
will have a fairly regulated view that ‘this guy’s
the best Heavyweight we’ve seen but maybe his résumé
isn’t beyond reproach.’ And this is something that
I’ll talk about in a minute, you know, vis-à-vis
another e-mail in a moment, but something that was brought up
… broaching the idea that, hey, let’s say Cain (Velasquez)
reigned for three years as UFC champion. What it means to be
UFC champion, the cycle of challengers put in front of you, you
don’t get time for a Matt Lindland or a Mark Hunt or Zuluzinho,
so would it stand to reason if someone like Cain or Junior dos
Santos won the title, if they reigned three or four years, wouldn’t
their résumé that they pile up would be better
than Fedor Emelianenko’s? And possibly, that’s something
that we’d have to cross the bridge when we come to it. But
there’s no getting away from the fact that, yeah, Nogueira
may not great now, but those two wins at the time were against
the best Heavyweight in the world and then the second best Heavyweight
in the world. When (Fedor) fought Mirko Cro Cop, Mirko Cro Cop
was considered, at worst, the third best Heavyweight in the world
by most people and it was the most anticipated fight MMA had
ever seen to that point in time. Arlovski & Sylvia, yeah
they’re not great but they’re both considered Top 10
guys when he beat them. Fedor still beat a very, very hearty
cross-section of most relevant Heavyweights of his era and has
done it more successfully than other Heavyweights.
“Was
he perfect? No, absolutely not. Would have been great to see
him fight a (Josh) Barnett or had he beaten (Fabricio) Werdum,
there are certainly ways his résumé could have
been improved upon. No question. But… he’s still better
than the contemporaries that he was put shoulder-to-shoulder
with in that same era and that’s all we do, we compare other
Heavyweights. For now, he’s the best. Now, there will always
be people who vehemently believe he is THE BEST fighter in the
history of time, just like there are people who probably believe,
I don’t know, uh… Gale Sayers is the best football
player in the history of time or something like that. There are
certain people who excite certain kinds of fanaticism that don’t
die, but I do suspect that most people, not all, but most will
have a fairly moderate and thoughtful view of Fedor Emelianenko’s
career when its all said and done, if it has been all said-and-done
at this point in time.”
Personally,
I think it’s an apples-and-oranges comparison. Fedor’s
whole career was built on destroying everyone. Wins and losses
mattered a lot to him. Kazushi Sakuraba’s career was built
largely on symbolism. He was treat as a midcarder when he was
in UWF-International while the bookers (Yoji Anjoh & Nobuhiko
Takada) were busy putting themselves over. Sakuraba was treated
as a talented job guy during the UWF/New Japan interpromotional
feud. Remember, the beginnings of the Sakuraba/Gracie feud involved
the infamous Los Angeles incident where Yoji Anjoh, who had no
business challenging real fighters, went to Rickson Gracie’s
gym and had Japanese photographers (like Jimmy Suzuki) with him
to shoot an angle to make Anjoh look tough by calling out Rickson.
Of course, we all know what happened there. Once Anjoh got his
ass kicked, the premise of PRIDE was built with Takada answering
the calls back home to step up and defend the UWF family against
Rickson. Takada lost twice and that created the opening for Naoki
Sano, Kazushi Sakuraba, and others.
When
PRIDE was created, it’s purpose was to suck the soul out
of pro-wrestling by using that kind of marketing and booking.
So, when Sakuraba made the transition to MMA fighter, he was
representing Japanese pro-wrestling as a whole in the eyes of
fans. He was the national hero representing a sport that fans
viewed as being attacked by a hybrid sport that integrated techniques
that they had witnessed in pro-wrestling for years.
Fedor
never represented any of that. His Japanese debut was in RINGS.
He won. He fought in the last RINGS match ever in Yokohama. Then
he moved to PRIDE and became the ace. He didn’t ‘feud’
with fighters. Yes, he had a series with Nogueira, but it wasn’t
a storyline feud like Sakuraba vs. the Gracies or other fighters
in PRIDE who were given their own storylines (like Rampage Jackson
being a homeless man living on a bus and talking to pigeons).
Source: Fight Opinion
|
Keith
Hackney: Where Is He Now?
by Jason
Probst
Held
on Sept. 9, 1994, UFC 3 had some notable tweaks from its two
predecessors. It remained in a one-night, tournament format but
with an eight-man field, instead of 16. The canvas, previously
white, was replaced with a more viewer-friendly blue. It was,
in a sense, a social phenomenon coming to terms with its own
success, which was accompanied by an equal dose of notoriety.
Naturally,
that was exactly when Art Davie, then co-owner of the UFC, made
the call to Keith Hackney. It came during the peak time for Hackney’s
primary business, a heating and air conditioning company he founded
in 1980 and still runs today.
His
background included boxing, tang soo do, five years of kenpo
and a year of high school wrestling, in which he made the state
tournament as a 98-pound sophomore. After Hackney responded to
a magazine ad, event organizers told him the roster was full
but that, perhaps, a future slot could be in the works.
“He
said somebody backed out and they had a space for me. It was
one week before the fight,” Hackney says. “I thought
if I said no, they wouldn’t call me back in the future,
so I said, ‘I don’t care. I’ll fight. Get me on
a plane.’ Art said, ‘Whoa! Let me tell you who you’re
competing against.’ I didn’t care. I wanted to fight.”
The
lineup included two-time tournament champ Royce Gracie, Ken Shamrock,
a terrifying muscled guy who went by the nom de guerre of “Kimo”
and a 600-pound sumo fighter, Emmanuel Yarborough. Hackney flew
into Charlotte, N.C, on Thursday night, and despite the UFC’s
subtle efforts to trim away the rougher edges of the event, his
debut reminded everyone watching that an ass kicking is exactly
that.
“We
had a press conference Friday. I was kinda sent to the dogs.
They had a punch bowl and envelopes with our names in them in
a circle,” he says. “Jim Brown was picking them out
of the punch bowl at random. The first guy they picked was the
sumo guy, and the second was me.”
It
was on, like Donkey Kong.
“Yarborough’s
manager told my kids to break out their piggy banks and bet on
him and [jokingly] suggested I take a dive,” Hackney says.
“That was funny.”
Birth
of ‘The Giant Killer’
What
ensued was something that simply cannot be replicated today,
its potent combination of freak-show violence and small-man budo
compressed into 1:59 of chaotic scrapping. Hackney’s destruction
of Yarborough was a first in the modern annals of David versus
Goliath-style beatings, and he became an instant fan favorite
by toppling a man who weighed three times more than him -- and
was 6-foot-8, to boot. Since then, the sport has provided countless
moments to remember, but Hackney-Yarborough remains one of those
gems that seems impossible to replicate. You could not un-see
it.
The
gameplan was simple -- kick ass. To be realistic, the behemoth
was fat, but he was as strong as he was rotund.
“He
was curling 315 pounds 20 times in a row on camera,” says
the 5-foot-11, 200-pound Hackney. “We talked about kicking
his legs, but what kind of leg kick are you going to do on him?
I went in there to give him the fight of his life, and whether
I won or lost, he was gonna know he was in a fight.”
Hackney
aimed to put his kids through college with the money.After some
back-and-forth in the bout -- which included Hackney spilling
out of the cage when Yarborough rammed him against the door --
he went for the kill.
“It’s
a White Crane strike, an open hand palm that comes in a circle
and straight over the top like an overhand right,” Hackney
recalls. “We worked on that in kenpo. I went for the center
of the nose to smash the nose through the head, but I kind of
caught him off-side on an angle.”
Yarborough
crumpled from the blow, delivered by Hackney while he leaped
through the air. Turtled up, the massive sumo man was suddenly
human and could not get back to his feet. Hackney turned on the
afterburners, hammering home a series of winging rights, breaking
his hand in the process, and flinging more at Yarborough’s
head to finish the job.
“The
announcer was yelling, ‘He has no chokes!’ I’m
thinking, ‘You idiot. This guy’s head is bigger than
a basketball. Do you know how big his neck is?’ I tried
to pound on his head like nails on a roof,” Hackney says.
“I put two knuckles into an eye socket. If it
was a normal guy, I’d have crushed his skull.”
Hence,
his nickname, “The Giant Killer,” was spawned. With
his hand injured from the Yarborough bout, Hackney was informed
by the attending physician that he could not continue. It was
a bittersweet exit.
With
a $1000 purse, he was disappointed that he couldn’t continue
to the semifinals against Ken Shamrock, which paid $5000, putting
him a win away from the $64,000 bonanza for the tournament winner.
Ultimately, the prize went to yet another substitute, Steve Jennum,
who defeated Harold Howard when Shamrock could not continue after
his win over Felix Mitchell. Gracie faced a similar predicament.
Banged up and exhausted after his titanic struggle with Kimo
Leopoldo, the two-time UFC tournament winner was in no shape
to advance, either.
“Realistically,
I went in to win that $64,000 to put my kids through college,”
Hackney says. “I came there two days before and didn’t
know the rules. I later found out if I’d gone into the cage
against Ken and then thrown in the towel like Royce did against
Howard, I’d have gotten the five grand. I was pissed afterward.”
Facing
a Legend
Three
months later, UFC 4 loomed. With his hand still ailing, Hackney
went ahead and fought anyway.
By
now, the opponent selection process had evolved, from a punch
bowl to a lottery. Hackney drew Joe Son, who, at 5-foot-4 and
236 pounds, had accompanied Leopoldo into the ring at UFC 3,
charged-up and screaming at the top of his lungs.
“The
lottery bowl -- they bring it out and it’s going in slow
motion,” Hackney says. “Apparently, there were some
problems with it. They had Royce’s ball in the thing, and
it’s like: What is this bulls--t? It’s barely moving,
the ball lifts up, and he gets Ron van Clief [for his first opponent].
After that, the machine is working fantastic. I got Joe Son.”
“It’s
a White Crane strike, an open hand palm that comes in a circle
and straight over the top like an overhand right”
-- Hackney on his famous strike
Hackney
had another competitive tussle, and once more ended the fight
memorably. After Son drove to take him down, he slid across the
mat while sprawling. Then, in side mount with his foe stretched
out on his back, Hackney uncorked what would become known as
the “Nut Shot Heard ’round the World.”
“The
way I looked at it, when we stepped into that cage, we were fighting
within the rules. I didn’t bite or eye gouge anybody. They
were the only things you weren’t allowed to [do], but if
you did it, you’d just lost $1,000,” he says. “But
nobody said anything about groin shots. I’d probably do
some different things today.”
After
softening up Son -- along with any male viewing the event for
the first time -- with the below-the-belt blows, Hackney then
applied a choke for the tapout at 2:44. Fittingly, the clip of
the punches was used later on a Fox News report in 2008, when
Son was arrested after a DNA sample linked him to a 1990 gang
rape.
“While
they were on the news that this UFC guy did whatever, they had
a picture of me smacking him in the balls, saying he got what
he deserved,” Hackney says.
Finally, Hackney had Gracie in his sights. The Brazilian eventually
submitted Hackney with an armbar, but it was tougher fight than
he usually endured. Hackney stuffed Gracie’s first takedown
attempt and landed a few glancing rights, as the UFC hall of
famer worked to clinch and get him to the mat.
“I
was looking forward to fighting him,” Hackney says. “I’ve
got a lot of respect for Royce.”
After
pulling guard, Gracie put the bout where he always wanted them
-- on the mat, where his jui-jitsu simply overwhelmed opponents.
However, Hackney made him work for the eventual armbar submission,
even landing a thudding right hand and giving the champion some
tense moments. Along with the Leopoldo bout at UFC 3, it was
a rare glimpse into Gracie looking vulnerable, something rarely
seen in those early days of his steamroller dominance.
“I
was throwing crosses, and I should have been throwing uppercuts,”
says Hackney, detailing the lengthy clinch battle the duo engaged
in against the cage. “I stuck my hand in his gi. I wanted
to control the ring and make him get frustrated, make him work.
I came pretty close.
“The
thing is the Octagon is set up on different angles,” he
adds. “If you had bare feet, like I did, the vinyl at that
time was better for wrestling shoes. You see how I slipped across
the canvas against Joe Son. The one time I caught Royce, I thought
I’d knocked him out. He was down on the ground and I dropped
a bomb on his head, and it had no place to go. I have a picture
of him with knuckle marks on his forehead afterward, and he signed
it for me. He’s a good guy. Every time he came in, he fought
his heart out.”
Exactly
one year later, Hackney returned at Ultimate Ultimate 95. He
faced Marco Ruas, who had torn through UFC 7, winning the tournament
with three impressive performances. While Ruas was Brazilian,
his game represented an evolutionary step from the jiu-jitsu-based
approach Gracie took. “The King of the Streets” could
stand and strike and had plenty of experience on the Vale Tudo
circuit in Brazil. After a feeling-out process on the feet, Ruas
took down Hackney, then took his back and submitted him with
via rear-naked choke at 2:39.
Distractions
plagued Hackney.
“I
was actually in Denver for two weeks, which was too long. I was
trying to run my business from my hotel room. I was on the phone
all the time. I was getting ready for the fight, not to take
anything away from Marco. He’s a nice guy. I was 195, and
he was much bigger. He was a little stronger than me,” he
says. “I did a million interviews [beforehand]. It was crazy.
My head wasn’t in the fight. If you walk in there and your
head’s not straight, you’re in trouble.”
All
four of Hackney’s bouts were against memorable foes. After
the Ruas bout, Hackney retired. He had too much at risk if he
were injured competing, especially since he was already a successful
businessman. His record was 2-2, and it was time to move on.
“You
have to look at it. I was [grossing] about two million dollars
[annually] in the heating business. I could break my hand, leg
or back versus that sumo guy. You made $1,000, and there was
no insurance, I think, until UFC 6,” he says. “You
had to sign a half-inch thick contract, so even if you died,
your family couldn’t sue. Basically, they owned you.”
Still
the Same Tireless Worker
Hackney’s
heating and air conditioning business has grown steadily. He
has been doing it for 30 years and now mainly focuses on commercial
clients. His longtime gym, Hackney’s Combat Academy, has
been a fixture in Illinois, and he recently opened a second outlet.
Between the two facilities, there are 300 students, and he has
been training in MMA ever since his UFC days.
“We
do installations, service the whole shop, and we have about 150
strip malls we work with and have six trucks,” Hackney says.
“So I can’t complain. I’ve accumulated a lot of
real estate, too. I’ve got my promotional events, and I’m
about to retire from the heating business in the next two or
three years and run my promotion full-time. We’re flipping
a lot of homes, and I’ve got my two schools I’m running.
Right now, I’m working from six in the morning until 11
at night.”
Hackney,
52, seems excited about his latest venture -- American Predator
Fighting Championship. The promotion holds amateur shows in Illinois
and plans to move into doing professional events, as well. Hackney
hopes to build it into a staple of the Midwest MMA scene, operating
as a feeder for the big shows.
“We’re
looking to be a steppingstone for them. I don’t want to
try and compete with the UFC. I don’t have $200 million
dollars,” he says with a laugh. “We want to put guys
into UFC or Strikeforce and take the guys that used to fight
there and give them a chance to work their way back.”
Hackney’s
team includes a handful of professionals and several amateurs
-- about 25 overall. He has also worked hard to impart his experience
and wizened eye to steer people away from the sport if they do
not have the right reasons for getting into it.
“Don’t
fight just for the money. I tell them you shouldn’t be fighting
until at least a full year of training. Work on your conditioning
and technique,” he says. “There are a lot of people
that will use these types of guys and make money off them, so
they need to go to a gym looking out for their well-being, with
somebody that knows what they’re doing, with the right tools
and people around them.
“Everybody
I know today, people that are real, not someone with a shaved
head and tats, all the fighters I’ve dealt with are good
guys,” Hackney adds. “Some of the best people I’ve
met in life have been through fighting. I love this sport. That’s
why it’s been great doing my heating company and making
money, running the organization, doing fight promotions. I’m
looking forward to doing this for the next 20 years.”
Source: Sherdog
|
Better
Decade: Fedor Before Werdum, or Silva Through Belfort?
By Michael
David Smith
Twelve days ago, I would have said that Fedor Emelianenko was
the best fighter in the history of mixed martial arts. Now, I'm
not so sure. The combination of Anderson Silva's spectacular
knockout of Vitor Belfort at UFC 126 and Fedor's loss to Antonio
Silva a week later might force me to reconsider and pick Silva
as the greatest in MMA history, and Fedor as No. 2.
It's
a close call, and any argument about the best fighter in MMA
history is rife with problems. The biggest problem being that
there's not much history to MMA. It's a new sport, and it's a
really new sport if you want to use an apples-to-apples comparison
of fighters competing under modern rules with weight classes.
In fact, I think the arguments about the best fighters in MMA
history are so complex that I don't want to deal with them here.
Instead,
I'd like to ask a simpler question: Who had a better decade:
Silva in the 10 years up to and including his victory over Belfort,
or Fedor in the 10 years before the loss to Fabricio Werdum that
started his current two-fight slide?
First
let's define our terms. Fedor's 10-year period is from the start
of his career, in 2000, through his victory over Brett Rogers
in 2009. Silva's 10-year period is from the first time he fought
outside Brazil, a Shooto fight in the spring of 2001, through
that victory over Belfort.
Fedor's
record for a decade: 31-1
Silva's record for a decade: 26-3.
So
Fedor's record was better than Silva's during their best 10-year
spans, and both Fedor and Silva have one loss that we can more
or less toss out as a fluke: Fedor lost when he was cut by an
illegal elbow, while Silva suffered a disqualification against
Yushin Okami. I'm not sure how relevant either of those fights
are to judging Fedor and Silva.
Silva's
two Pride losses are relevant, however. I've often heard from
MMA fans in the "Pride never die" school who think
Fedor was far better than Silva in the early part of their respective
careers. Some Pride fans think it's not even close. And it's
true that Fedor was way better than Silva in Pride: Fedor went
14-0 in Pride, while Silva went 3-2, and Fedor was fighting better
opposition in Pride than Silva was. Contrasting Fedor's amazing
consistency over the first 10 years of his career with Silva's
two Pride losses, it's hard to even make the case for Silva.
But
a lot of people don't realize just how good Silva was 10 years
ago, and how much he had accomplished before he fought in Pride.
On August 26, 2001, Silva beat Hayato Sakurai by unanimous decision
to win the Shooto middleweight title in a fight that is largely
forgotten by today's fans but was, at the time, a huge development
in the sport. As Jordan Breen wrote in a look at Silva's career
in 2009, Sakurai was 18-0-2 and widely viewed as the best pound-for-pound
fighter in the sport at the time that Silva beat him.
That
victory stood as the best of Silva's career until he signed with
the UFC and went on his current tear. Now I'd rank it as maybe
his sixth-best, after his two wins over Rich Franklin and his
victories over Dan Henderson, Forrest Griffin and Vitor Belfort.
Were
those victories better than Fedor's biggest wins? I'm not sure.
Fedor's two wins over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and his one over
Mirko Cro Cop were monumental, and although there's been some
revisionist history lately about Fedor's last three wins (Tim
Sylvia, Andrei Arlovski and Rogers), those were all legitimate
opponents that Fedor put away handily. Mark Coleman, Kevin Randleman,
Heath Herring and Semmy Schilt were all credible opponents for
Fedor as well, and he dominated all of them, too. It's true that
Fedor fought some ridiculously easy opponents like Yuji Nagata
(career record: 0-2) but he fought a lot of very good opponents,
too.
Silva
has been amazing at moving up in weight classes. He beat Sakurai
at 168 pounds, has dominated the middleweight division and also
moved up to beat a very strong light heavyweight, Forrest Griffin.
Fedor has only fought in the heavyweight division, although one
of the things that makes Fedor amazing is that the vast majority
of his wins have come against bigger opponents.
When
both Silva and Fedor are retired, we're going to look at their
careers and say that Silva accomplished more. Fedor doesn't look
like he has much left, while Silva looks like he was revitalized
by the challenge that Belfort presented. Give them both a couple
more years, and we're probably looking at Silva having some more
spectacular wins, while Fedor is probably done beating elite
opponents.
But
the best 10 years of their respective careers? Fedor gets the
edge. Silva will be judged as greater by history because he lasted
longer, but Silva went through that lull in his career when he
dropped a couple fights in Pride. Fedor gave us a decade of unparalleled
excellence.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
UFC
127
Acer Arena in Sydney, Australia
By Zach Arnold
February
26th in the States (10 PM EST/7 PM PST), February 27th in Sydney
Dark
matches
¦Featherweights:
Tie Quan Zhang vs. Jason Reinhardt
¦Light Heavyweights: Anthony Perosh vs. Tom Blackledge
¦Lightweights: Maciej Jewtuszko vs. Curt Warburton
¦Heavyweights: Mark Hunt vs. Chris Tuchscherer
¦Middleweights: Nick Ring vs. Riki Fukuda
¦Light Heavyweights: James Te Huna vs. Alexander Gustafsson
¦Lightweights: Ross Pearson vs. Spencer Fisher
Main card
¦Middleweights:
Kyle Noke vs. Chris Camozzi
¦Welterweights: Chris Lytle vs. Brian Ebersole
¦Lightweights: George Sotiropoulos vs. Dennis Siver
¦Middleweights: Michael Bisping vs. Jorge Rivera
¦Welterweights: BJ Penn vs. Jon Fitch
Source: Fight Opinion
|
‘Hulk
Hands’ Used to Tall Tasks
by Jason Probst
Tyler
Freeland has an opportunity to be noticed on Friday, and this
time, it is for all the right reasons.
Squaring
off against Diego Melendez, Freeland makes his professional MMA
debut on the undercard of Tachi Palace Fights 8 “All or
Nothing” at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino in Lemoore,
Calif. With an amateur record of 16-4, Freeland trains under
Shawn Tompkins at the Tapout Training Center in Las Vegas. If
videos on YouTube reveal anything about the 26-year-old nicknamed
“Hulk Hands,” it is that he has pretty stout standup
for a guy giving up reach and height.
Standing
4-foot-11, Freeland grew up in Boise, Idaho, his diminutive stature
due to a genetic disorder known as hypochondroplasia. With a
mother who is 5-foot-9 and a dad that is 5-foot-10, there were
no hints Freeland would be short.
“It’s
dwarfism, a bone disorder where my bones stopped growing,”
Freeland tells Sherdog.com. “I’m about four eleven,
but I tell everyone I’m five feet. I need that extra inch.”
Freeland
is heavily muscled, walking around at 160 pounds, and uses footwork
and aggression to close the gap and unload on opponents. All
four of his defeats as an amateur came via triangle choke, a
submission Freeland has worked hard on defending throughout what
has been, by most standards, an exceptionally long amateur career.
“I
wanted to be ready,” Freeland says.
A
father of three children -- ages 4, 3 and 1 -- Freeland is thrilled
with the prospect of finally turning pro. He also recently finished
filming the initial episodes of a reality television show about
himself, which his management is shopping to various networks.
Freeland
worked as a concrete finisher before the economic meltdown of
recent years. Now, he is hungry to make a living in the sport
which, ironically, gives him a place in the stratum, despite
the risks involved and attendant punishment he is likely to endure.
Just as long as he can give it back.
Freeland
faces a familiar foe in Diego Melendez.“I have to close
the distance. I’m gonna wait until they throw a punch,”
Freeland says. “But I have been working with Shawn Tompkins,
and he’s one of the top striking coaches in the world. After
the economy went to s--t, I just started training and fighting.”
Freeland
has made a full eight-week camp for his bout, living with Tompkins
in Vegas while he trains.
“With
his height, it’s always harder to strike with someone taller
than you,” Tompkins says, “but it’s harder to
wrestle with someone shorter. Their level-change is so much faster
than yours.
“What
most impressed me is that he has a lot of power in his hands,”
he adds. “He’s got KO power and very big hands. He
hits hard and is very precise. He has a really good wrestling
pedigree. I’ve just been banking on rounding his game out,
keeping him safe from submissions and working on his standup.
We’ve been having fun and building from there.”
Like
any fledgling pro fighter, Freeland hopes to make waves with
his debut and subsequent matches -- not only for the thrill of
victory but to help with
matters at home.
“I
don’t have any sponsors and I’m trying to find some.
I’m struggling bad right now,” says Freeland. “In
Boise, the training’s not as good. I was helping my fiancé,
but she lives with her grandma and she’s old-fashioned.
She said I can’t move back there and live with them. I’m
upstairs without a paddle. I got a lot on my plate.”
It
has been a long route since growing up in Boise, where Freeland
wrestled competitively beginning in high school. While his short
stature is something to overcome in the striking department,
Freeland turns his height into an advantage on the wrestling
mat, shooting at foes to clutch their waist and then muscling
them to the mat. Compact and strong from years of grappling,
lifting weights and doing blue-collar work, Freeland is a bulldog
once he gets hold of his opponents.
“My
high school wrestling record was 38-4, and in 1999, I was the
Idaho freestyle state champ,” Freeland says. “I took
runner-up two years in a row for the high school state tournament.”
It
was not easy growing up smaller than everyone else. Double-takes
and doses of teasing were the norm for Freeland.
“I
noticed it in about sixth grade. All my friends were growing
and getting bigger. I was like, ‘When is it gonna be my
time?’ I still deal with it. I’m working a wrestling
tournament [now] and kids look at me,” he says. “Their
eyes get big, but I’m used to it.”
For
his pro debut against Melendez, Freeland faces a foe who triangled
him in the amateur ranks. For Hulk Hands, it represents the perfect
opportunity to deliver some payback and start his career on an
upswing.
“I’m
like the white version of Rampage. MMA is my drug.”
-- Tyler Freeland
“They
called me the day before,” Freeland says of his first meeting
with Melendez. “I was at a pool party with my buddies and
I was hammered. [In the fight], we stood for a minute, and then
I double-legged him and ground-and-pounded him, and then he caught
me in a triangle. I’ve been working on my triangle defense
a lot. My submission defense has gotten really good.”
Freeland
fought at 155 pounds as an amateur, but says those opponents
were too tall. Dropping to 145 pounds for his debut, Freeland
eventually hopes make 135, where he can minimize his adversaries’
reach and height advantages while staying relatively stronger
and facing fighters closer to his own size.
“My
dad is huge, too. [Muscle] is just in my genetics,” Freeland
says. “I work out twice a day and I’m active. Getting
used to MMA was a big jump. Then I got used to it and loved it.
My favorite fighter is [Quinton] ‘Rampage’ [Jackson].
I love his attitude and would love to meet him. I’m like
the white version of Rampage. MMA is my drug.”
Source: Sherdog
|
Scott
Coker: Things could have been different if Fedor/Bigfoot Silva
went to a third round
By Zach
Arnold
Yesterday,
the news broke that this past Saturday’s Strikeforce event
from the Izod Center drew an average of 741,000 viewers on Showtime
(with a peak viewership of 1.1 million viewers for Fedor vs.
Bigfoot Silva). Suffice to say, Fedor’s loss to Werdum did
not hurt his drawing power. In a funny way, Fedor is now a bigger
star after that loss than Werdum is. However, will Fedor maintain
his popularity after losing to Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva?
More importantly, will Bigfoot become a bigger star after the
win or will be end up not getting a big rub out of the win in
terms of marketability?
On
Tuesday, Mauro Ranallo had Scott Coker on his radio program to
talk about Saturday’s event from New Jersey and what’s
next for Fedor. Mauro did his best to play it straight and bring
up the conversation or whether or not Fedor should be retired
or make the move down to Light Heavyweight.
(If
you listen to the interview, you’ll notice the singular
answer Mr. Coker has for Fedor’s problems is that he needs
a different kind of training camp.)
When
it came time to address Fedor’s loss to Bigfoot Silva, the
promoter took an interesting angle that I wasn’t really
expecting out of him.
SCOTT
COKER: “Things can happen and they did. It was an exciting
night. I mean, it was an amazing entry into the New York area.
The crowd was so passionate and any time Fedor fights you always
have a feeling electricity in the audience and I felt it that
night and, guys, he will be back. Here’s a guy that was
ready to fight and it was the doctor that stopped the fight.
Fedor didn’t say I want to quit or I’m done or I’m
too tired or I’m hurt, it was the doctor. Fedor would have
continued and I think it’s the third round that, you know,
could have, would have, and should have because the last picture
in my mind from that fight, Mauro, is both of those guys trying
to get up at the end of the second round and honestly they were
both (exhausted), Bigfoot Silva had left everything out there
and just got tired of hitting Fedor and Fedor, you know, trying
to survive that second round, you know, he left it all out there.
And in the third round, you know, boy, it’s like what if.”
MAURO
RANALLO: “Let’s bring us up to speed to what went down
because you’re absolutely right but it’s also fair
enough to say that we have never seen Fedor Emelianenko beaten
down as badly as he was in that second round and, yes, he is
known for his resiliency and those dramatic comebacks, including
in another tournament as we mentioned on the broadcast as well
the 2004 PRIDE Heavyweight GP when he was dropped on his head
in the Monsterplex courtesy of Kevin Randleman and we’ve
seen him take beatings before even against Brett Rogers and Andrei
Arlovski recently, But, the point when the fight was stopped
and I agree that, you know, he has the heart of a warrior, one
of the most humble people I’ve ever met. But his eye was
swollen shut and don’t you agree that the right decision
was made to stop the fight at that time?”
SCOTT
COKER: “Oh, absolutely, I mean, Mauro, don’t get me
wrong. I’m not saying that wasn’t a good call, I’m
saying that the referee made the call, the doctor made the call,
and you know they stopped the fight and if I was looking at that
eye up close I probably would have stopped the fight as well.
I’m just saying that, you know, Fedor I believe was ready
to fight, Antonio Silva was ready to fight. And I think that
Fedor, you know, is always dangerous even when he’s hurt.
So, in that third round it could have turned out to be something
really special but, you know, it’s something that is going
to go down in the history books as, you know, the ‘what
if’ third round and moving on, guys, because I always said
the tournament’s not about one guy. But, in saying that,
we also, you know, plan to have Fedor back and plan to put on
some amazing fights and this tournament’s going to continue
and we will see how the best Heavyweight is come the end of the
year.”
I
am fascinated by the idea that Mr. Coker floated that ‘what
if there was a third round’ theory. Just him saying that,
alone, will turn out to be a Rorschach test for everyone reading
this.
Mauro
then asked Mr. Coker if Fedor’s loss hurt Strikeforce’s
plans to run a PPV event.
MAURO
RANALLO: “How does the loss by Fedor in the opening round
impact your plans for a PPV event this year or are they still
on the table?”
SCOTT
COKER: “Oh, of course. I mean, you know, Fedor is not, um,
you know, just because he’s out of the tournament doesn’t
mean he’s not going to fight. I mean, one of the fights
that I see down the line is Fedor fighting either Alistair (Overeem)
or Fabricio Werdum. So, if Alistair advances, then Werdum vs.
Fedor would be a great fight.”
Will
the (proverbial) golden goose stay in tact?
Source: Fight Opinion
|
Brock
Lesnar Autobiography To Hit Book Shelves On May 24
Want to
get to know more about Brock Lesnar?
Well,
in just a few short months everyone will have a little more insight
into Lesnar’s life and career as his book “Death Clutch:
My Story of Determination, Domination and Survival” by Lesnar
along with co-author Paul Heyman hits stores on May 24.
Lesnar
talked about working on the book last July after defeating Shane
Carwin, and said that he was teaming up with his good friend
Paul Heyman to put his life down on paper.
“Now
I’m finally, I’m writing a book, and Paul’s writing
it, both him and I, and my book will be coming out here in the
near future, and we’ve been spending a lot of time together,”
Lesnar said last year about his autobiography.
The
book will apparently cover a lot of different subjects in his
life, and for fans that have followed Lesnar’s career from
his time at the University of Minnesota to pro wrestling fame
with the WWE, all the way to his days with the UFC, he’s
always been a pretty private person.
When
someone says they’re saving it all for the book, Lesnar
was definitely serious about it.
Heyman
will also be posting teasers for the book on his own site, and
the book is currently available for pre-order on sites like Amazon.com.
The
book will officially be released on May 24, 2011.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Inside
the Belly of the Xtreme Couture Beast
by Cameron Conaway
LAS
VEGAS -- The glamour and ostentation, the nonstop in-your-face
blinking casino lights, the billboards of half-naked women and
the magnificent high-rise buildings. Las Vegas is made possible
by the seemingly impossible.
Wrangling
the Colorado River to create Lake Mead -- the world’s largest
reservoir -- Las Vegas is a world of water created in an essentially
waterless desert. Some call it unsustainable. Some call it man’s
most miraculous accomplishment. Nobody would call it modest.
But at Xtreme Couture Mixed Martial Arts, modesty abounds, as
did the unexpected.
The
training center is filled with all of MMA’s tools of the
trade: a tire to pound on, tons of mat and cage space, battling
ropes, human-shaped heavybags to throw around. This is all housed
in a simple white building with a small “Xtreme Couture”
logo. One might even drive past the location a time or two if
looking for signage befitting the enormous amount of talent inside.
Once
inside, a helpful man at the front desk greeted me. He looked
familiar, but I was too excited to get started with the submission
grappling class to wonder who he was.
“I’m
Ryan,” he said. “I’ll get you hooked up so you
can get started with class.”
I
looked around at the walls and saw pictures of Randy Couture,
Frank Trigg, Tyson Griffin and Ryan Couture. Yes, Ryan Couture
was the modest front desk worker who, before I put it all together,
responded, “I train here sometimes but don’t teach,”
when I asked him if he was an instructor.
As
intense loudness can become a sort of silence, intense silence
can become unbearably loud. Too much expectation often results
in the unexpected. The unexpected came in the form of the pre-workout
conversation I had with a fellow student. The conversation swiftly
moved beyond where we were from and what brought us to Xtreme
Couture. Instead, somehow, we dove into the Darfur Conflict.
This
student had been a U.S. Marine stationed throughout Sudan. A
story unraveled about the bomb that exploded, about the best
friends it killed, about how it left this Marine temporarily
crippled. I listened intently to the horrors seared into memory,
the way the media shows so little of them. I listened to the
difficulties this Marine had and currently has in reintegrating
back into American society, of living life after having witnessed,
among other tragedies, masses of writhing, starving babies being
slaughtered for the sake of ethnic cleansing.
Before
I stepped onto those mats at Xtreme Couture, I reflected: “It’s
all too easy to tuck the world’s problems deep into our
brains. It’s easy to fill a gas tank and not wonder where
the oil came from or where it’s going. It’s all too
easy to go to a grocery store, grab food on the shelf and have
no idea where it came from, how it was grown or how the workers
who grew it were treated.”
This
did not exactly prep my mind for the guard sweeps that instructor
Dennis “The Piranha” Davis showed us, but it did make
me realize how inconsequential MMA can be, even to rabid fans
like ourselves, in the wake of happenings like the Egyptian crisis
or “old” and rarely mentioned events like those still
happening in Darfur. So enthralled was I by this Marine’s
story that I barely noticed when Jay Hieron and Amir Sadollah
walked past me.
Couture
seems much larger in person.Just prior to class I noticed a man
with a neck as thick as my thighs watching a few fighters train.
I looked again. It was Randy Couture. In person, he is far thicker,
far larger and stronger looking than he actually appears on television.
He has the sturdy, functional build that only develops after
years and years of grappling. As someone seasoned to meeting
and training with elite fighters, I did not expect to be nervous
if I saw him.
Yet
another unexpected moment occurred. I froze up and could barely
muster an introduction of myself to him. Randy’s been an
inspiration to me for quite some time, but I sure did not expect
to feel like I had stepped in wet cement when I saw him. He was
intent on watching the training, and I was intent on not bothering
him. I also wanted to get in some good training. My mind was
everywhere. Another unexpected occurrence: With Randy filming
movies and traveling so much, I did not expect that the two hours
I had set aside for visiting his gym would result in my meeting
him.
After
grappling, I trained some kickboxing with another excellent instructor
-- Tim “Bring the Pain” Lane. In the hours prior to
visiting Xtreme Couture, my mind was purely on mixed martial
arts. In the hours that I spent inside Xtreme Couture, my mind
was purely on the beauty and ugliness of humanity. I thought
of Georgia O’Keeffe’s quote: “To create one’s
world in any of the arts takes courage.” I knew I had to
recreate fragments of this experience through the art of writing
so it could be shared with the readers of Sherdog.
At
Xtreme Couture, I learned counters to left hooks, jabs and crosses.
I left the gym wondering about the counters to prejudice, discrimination
and racism.
Cameron
Conaway, NSCA-CPT, CMMACC, was the 2007-2009 Poet-in-Residence
at the University of Arizona’s MFA Creative Writing Program.
He is the author of “Caged: Memoir of a Cage-Fighting Poet,”
(forthcoming Fall 2011 from Tuttle Publishing) which has received
endorsements from UFC Hall of Famer Ken Shamrock, BJJ legend
Saulo Ribeiro and writers Glen Cordoza and Dinty W. Moore. He’s
2-1 as a mixed martial artist. Visit www.CameronConaway.com for
more information.
Source: Sherdog
|
The
idea of Fedor as an alternate in the Strikeforce HW GP is not
popular online
By Zach
Arnold
Everyone’s
talking about Fedor, so let’s discuss what the Cagewriter.com
crew at Yahoo Sports had to say on the matter. The discussion
starts off with talk about Fedor as a Light Heavyweight and then
transitions into a discussion about everyone still wanting the
Fedor gravy train to continue operating. That’s the starting
point for this transcription passage about the idea of Fedor
as an alternate in the Strikeforce HW GP (over fighters like
Shane Del Rosario & Valentijn Overeem).
STEVE
COFIELD: “It’s the way he lost that leads us to the
next point, which was Scott Coker talking about the future as
maybe an alternate in the tournament, which I got to tell you
even a casual fan should be outraged at that. The hardcores will
go ballistic. You can’t put him back in the tournament under
any circumstances. You got other qualified alternates. I know
he’s your big-money guy, but you can’t just make the
image of him getting destroyed go away.”
ADAM
HILL: “You know, there’s people that have bashed on
this tournament. You were not one of them, I was not one of them.
I was excited about this tournament. It completely loses credibility
if he goes back in. I mean, we both had the same reaction when
we heard that. It’s preposterous to put him back in and
that’s, to the hardcore fans especially, just throw it out
there, nobody cares about this tournament any more if that’s
the case. I do think there’s some element and I believe
Strikeforce believes there’s some element of fans that just
want to see Fedor and I think that they probably have it in their
mind that people will be more interested in watching Fedor than
they would any of the other fighters going forward. I don’t
see that. I think that you completely lose integrity. I think
there’s a way to get him back involved in the mix in heavyweight
without putting him in this tournament, but there’s already
some crazy things about this tournament any way. As much as we
both like it, the fact that, you know, Overeem is the favorite
to win the tournament and the prize for winning the tournament
is to fight Overeem? That doesn’t make any sense.”
STEVE
COFIELD: *laughs*
ADAM
HILL: “It’s crazy. Is it that much crazier to say,
okay, Fedor you lose but you’re back in because you’re
the big name, you’re back in, we want you in, people will
watch you, so we’re putting you back in. It’s not that
much crazier. I think for hardcore fans and people that follow
the sport closely, we will say, ‘no, stop it, that’s
ridiculous, that’s dumb.’ I think some people out there
and I think Strikeforce believes some people out there might
say, ‘oh, Fedor’s fighting, let’s watch this.’
I think it’s possible.”
STEVE
COFIELD: “I think the solution is easy. I think he fights
the loser of Overeem and Werdum. That gives him some time off.
He can recover, if he’s got a serious injury. He can also
get himself more mentally prepared and physically prepared to
fight these big guys and kind of get back on track and that would
be a big fight against the loser of that fight and then the winner
out of that, especially if they’re impressive, maybe can
fight the winner of the tournament at the end of the year or
early 2012. That makes sense. Putting him back in? Just crazy.”
ADAM
HILL: “Okay, I really like that idea, it’s actually
a good idea. I think it would be a marketable fight and one that
people, both hardcores and casual fans, would be interested in.
Here’s the problem — if Overeem loses, so it’s
Fedor vs. Overeem for the title both coming off losses? That
would be a difficult sell, I think.”
STEVE
COFIELD: “That’s a tough one, too. They better root
hard for Overeem to make it to the finals in this thing, at least
make it to the finals if not win it.”
ADAM
HILL: “And that’s the problem with Overeem having the
belt and competing in the tournament and the belt not being on
the line. What happens when he loses? That means you have a champion,
at some point, defending the title coming off a loss against
somebody who either won the tournament or somebody’s coming
off three wins, it’s crazy.”
STEVE
COFIELD: “It’s like the College World Series (Omaha).
You’re doing double elimination. You have to beat Overeem
twice. If it’s someone who knocks off Overeem and goes on
to win the tournament, they’re going to have to beat him
again to get the title. That is weird.”
ADAM
HILL: “There you go. Fedor’s back in. It’s double
elimination … to move on. It’s just, it is the problem
that was set up and it was set in place by having Overeem in
the tournament and not defending the title and the title being
on the line at the end against Overeem, who’s in the tournament.
It’s just a weird mix.”
Source: Fight Opinion
|
M-1
and Showtime Reach Broadcast Deal, First Event Airs on March
25
By Mike
Chiappetta
International fight promotion M-1 Global and premium U.S. cable
channel Showtime have reached a deal to televise four U.S. events
in 2011, MMA Fighting has learned.
The
first event will take place on March 25 at the Constant Convocation
Center in Norfolk, Va. and air at 11 p.m. ET. It will be the
first of four M-1 U.S. Challenge shows to appear on the network
this year, sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed.
The
deal is expected to be officially announced on Friday morning.
M-1
is best known as the company that manages the career of Russian
MMA great Fedor Emelianenko, but a promotional arm has been running
events in Europe and other parts of the world for over a decade.
The
March 25 event will feature a headlining match between M-1 lightweight
champion Artiom Damkovsky and Jose Figueroa, sources told MMA
Fighting.
Also
on the card is a match for the vacant middleweight belt, pitting
Team Quest's Tyson Jeffries against the winner of a March 5 fight
between Plinio Cruz and Magomed Sultanakhmedov. Former UFC fighter
Vinny Magalhaes will also compete on the card, against an opponent
to be determined.
Showtime
has previously aired MMA events from EliteXC, and is the current
broadcast home of Strikeforce. Its most recent MMA broadcast,
February 12's Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva event, drew a peak
total of 1.1 million viewers. The cable channel has about 18.2
million subscribers in total.
M-1
has been a co-promoter on two Strikeforce/Showtime events, but
March 25 will mark its first time out as a solo promoter on the
channel.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Sherdog
Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings
Was
this Fedor Emelianenko’s final walk to the cage?
For
nine years, Fedor Emelianenko stayed undefeated. For more than
seven years, he ruled the heavyweight division. Now, we might
have seen “The Last Emperor” for the last time.
On
Feb. 12 in East Rutherford, N.J., Antonio Silva battered Emelianenko
for the duration of their second round in the cage, forcing a
doctor stoppage after 10 minutes and handing the Russian his
second loss in a row. The eye-opening upset sends Silva into
the semi-finals of Strikeforce’s heavyweight grand prix,
while Emelianenko has indicated retirement might be next for
him.
Strikeforce’s
heavyweight grand prix has already shaped up to be one of the
dominant MMA stories of 2011. A wild and entertaining first leg
of the tournament, coupled with the potential retirement of one
of MMA’s legends, only further solidifies that notion. The
first portion of the grand prix has already proved more eventful
than many imagined, and half the bracket still has yet to take
to the cage, including ranked entrants Alistair Overeem and Fabricio
Werdum, set for battle in April.
Heavyweight
1.
Cain Velasquez (9-0)
The hope was that Velasquez would make the first defense of his
UFC heavyweight title in April or May against Junior dos Santos.
However, rehab did not mend his torn rotator cuff, and surgery
became a necessity. Therefore, the first defense of the new champion
will likely come this summer -- or later.
2.
Brock Lesnar (5-2)
Recluse? What recluse? The infamously standoffish Lesnar is now
in the middle of taping the 13th season of “The Ultimate
Fighter,” where he will coach against Junior dos Santos.
The season will set up a high-stakes heavyweight clash between
the two, likely on June 11 at UFC 131, which might mark the UFC’s
return to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
3.
Fabricio Werdum (14-4-1)
With his elbow injury healing, Werdum looks ready to return to
action. Coming off his June win against Fedor Emelianenko, “Vai
Cavalo” will be cast right back into the fire, as he takes
on Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem in the quarterfinals
of the promotion’s heavyweight grand prix, slated for April
9 in Japan.
4.
Junior dos Santos (12-1)
Rather than wait for UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez
to heal from his rotator cuff injury, “Cigano” has
opted to stay active. Dos Santos will coach opposite Brock Lesnar
on the 13th season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” culminating
in a clash between the two heavyweights, tentatively scheduled
for UFC 131 on June 11.
5.
Shane Carwin (12-1)
Carwin was scheduled to face “The Ultimate Fighter”
Season 10 winner Roy Nelson at UFC 125 on Jan. 1. However, due
to ongoing spinal problems, he opted for surgery. After a successful
procedure, the Colorado native has returned to training and now
eyes a purported bout with Cheick Kongo at UFC 131.
6.
Frank Mir (14-5)
After a rumored fight with hot heavyweight prospect Brendan Schaub
fell through, Mir has signed on to meet former International
Fight League champion Roy Nelson at UFC 130 on May 28. The pair
has a history, as Nelson previously defeated Mir in a grappling
match at a North American Grappling Association event.
7.
Antonio Silva (16-2)
When he burst on the scene in 2005, many hypothesized that Silva
was the man to topple Fedor Emelianenko. The stakes changed,
but on Feb. 12 in the Meadowlands, that is exactly what happened.
“Pezao” pounded the legendary Russian, forcing a doctor
stoppage after the second frame and punching his ticket to the
semifinals of Strikeforce’s heavyweight grand prix.
8.
Fedor Emelianenko (31-3, 1 NC)
It might go down as the last time we saw “The Last Emperor.”
On Feb. 12 in East Rutherford, N.J., Emelianenko was battered
by Antonio Silva, and the Russian, unable to see out of his right
eye, was halted by the ringside physician after the second round.
Following the bout, Emelianenko indicated retirement was a definite
possibility -- a decision that would end the career of the greatest
MMA heavyweight of all-time.
9.
Alistair Overeem (34-11, 1 NC)
MMA fans have wanted to see the 2010 K-1 World Grand Prix winner
back inside the cage against high-level, meaningful heavyweight
opponents. They will finally get their wish on April 9. Strikeforce
has plans for Overeem to meet Fabricio Werdum in a hotly anticipated
Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix quarterfinal matchup in Japan.
10.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-6-1, 1 NC)
“Minotauro” continues to mend from the hip surgery
that took him out of a rematch with Frank Mir in September. Nogueira
now targets August’s UFC show in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,
as his desired comeback date. It would be a fitting return for
one of Brazil’s greatest MMA idols.
Other
contenders: Josh Barnett, Cole Konrad, Roy Nelson, Ben Rothwell,
Brendan Schaub.
Light
Heavyweight
1.
Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (19-4)
“Shogun” expected to tangle with former UFC champion
Rashad Evans in the first defense of his light heavyweight title
on March 19. However, a knee injury to Evans means that Rua will
instead meet star prospect Jon Jones at UFC 128 in a fight that
quickly excited and ignited the MMA public.
2.
Rashad Evans (15-1-1)
In a cruel bit of coincidence, Evans’ decision to wait for
UFC champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua’s knee to heal
before fighting him for the 205-pound crown culminated in his
own knee injury. The blow forced Evans out of their March 19
clash. Evans’ title shot will now go to his teammate at
Jackson’s Mixed Martial Arts, Jon Jones.
3.
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (31-8)
“Rampage” was originally set to face Thiago Silva at
UFC 130 in May. However, with Silva’s status still up in
the air pending reported commission clearance from his last bout
at UFC 125, Zuffa has erred on the side of caution. “The
Ultimate Fighter” Season 3 alum Matt Hamill has been installed
as Jackson’s tentative opponent -- a move “Rampage”
himself has critiqued on Twitter.
4.
Lyoto Machida (16-2)
It was not long ago that many thought Machida was simply unbeatable
at 205 pounds. Two losses later, Machida heads into a bout with
MMA legend Randy Couture at UFC 129 on April 30 in Toronto, with
many fans having completely forgotten the kind of dominance that
was expected for “The Dragon.”
5.
Jon Jones (12-1)
In a UFC 126 fight many tabbed as a considerable test, Jones
continued his habit of abusing good fighters, as he hustled the
previously unbeaten Ryan Bader on the floor before locking up
a fight-ending guillotine late in round two. A knee injury suffered
by teammate Rashad Evans has opened the door for Jones to vie
for the UFC light heavyweight crown against Mauricio “Shogun”
Rua on March 19 at UFC 128.
6.
Forrest Griffin (18-6)
In his first action in 15 months, Griffin was not perfect. However,
the former UFC light heavyweight champion used top control and
rangy striking to earn a unanimous decision victory over former
middleweight titleholder Rich Franklin at UFC 126. The performance
netted a strong win and put him back in the consciousness of
the MMA public.
7.
Ryan Bader (12-1)
In a matchup of preeminent 205-pound prospects, Bader was definitively
the lesser when he met Jon Jones at UFC 126. For the better part
of two rounds, he was dominated by Jones, who forced “Darth”
Bader to tap to a guillotine late in the second stanza.
8.
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (19-4)
Coming off of a tough decision loss to Ryan Bader in September,
Nogueira will find himself in a more manageable bounce-back fight.
“Minotoro” will take on former UFC light heavyweight
champion Tito Ortiz, winless in more than four years, at UFC
Fight Night 24 on March 26 in Seattle.
9.
Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante (10-2)
“Feijao” surprised onlookers by thumping Muhammed “King
Mo” Lawal in August to take the Strikeforce light heavyweight
title. Now, the Brazilian will make his first title defense on
March 5, when he takes on former two-division Pride Fighting
Championships titleholder Dan Henderson in Columbus, Ohio.
10.
Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal (7-1)
“King Mo” had his crown taken by Rafael “Feijao”
Cavalcante on Aug. 21 in Houston. A slow start and an overreliance
on his stand-up skills saw Lawal play right into Cavalcante’s
game. It resulted in his being stopped just 74 seconds into the
third round, as he suffered the first loss of his MMA career.
Now, Lawal continues to mend from knee surgery that should keep
him out for the first quarter of 2011.
Other
contenders: Rich Franklin, Matt Hamill, Vladimir Matyushenko,
Gegard Mousasi, Thiago Silva.
Middleweight
1.
Anderson Silva (28-4)
It was Silva at his finest. In one of his most anticipated bouts
to date, the UFC middleweight champion ducked, dodged and weaved
around Vitor Belfort’s punches before slamming a front kick
into his face that struck him down. The sensational first-round
stoppage could potentially lead to the much-anticipated clash
between Silva and welterweight king Georges St. Pierre, should
GSP best Jake Shields in April.
2.
Chael Sonnen (25-11-1)
Sonnen was expected to face Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 128 in March.
However, the embattled middleweight took yet another hit after
pleading guilty to federal charges of money laundering, forcing
the UFC to put the freeze on Sonnen’s contract. It leaves
the former middleweight title challenger out of competition for
the near future.
3.
Yushin Okami (26-5)
Such is life for Okami. After earning the most significant win
of his career against Nate Marquardt in November, “Thunder”
was seemingly next on deck for the winner of the UFC 126 match
between Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort. However, Silva’s
remarkable performance has quickly accelerated talks of a super
fight with Georges St. Pierre, putting Okami on the backburner
again.
4.
Nate Marquardt (30-10-2)
Marquardt’s three-year journey to earn another shot at middleweight
ruler Anderson Silva hit another speed bump in Oberhausen, Germany,
in November. For the better part of 15 minutes, Marquardt was
outboxed and outwrestled by a surprisingly aggressive Yushin
Okami, who took the unanimous nod and, with it, a potential UFC
middleweight title shot. The defeat dropped Marquardt back into
the rest of the population at 185 pounds. The former middleweight
King of Pancrase will collide with Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 128
on March 19.
5.
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (14-2, 1 NC)
In a great fight, Souza successfully defended his Strikeforce
middleweight crown for the first time on Jan. 29, submitting
Robbie Lawler in the third round. “Jacare” dominated
on the ground but was badly hurt in the first round, battling
back from the brink of defeat to notch the rear-naked choke win
in the third stanza.
6.
Demian Maia (14-2)
Just as he had done against Mario Miranda in August, Maia controlled
Kendall Grove on the floor on Dec. 4 en route to earning a unanimous
decision. Another thorough if not thrilling win for Maia continues
to help erase the bitter memories of his April debacle with middleweight
champion Anderson Silva in the United Arab Emirates.
7.
Dan Henderson (26-8)
Henderson can barely be considered a middleweight at this point.
Following his Dec. 4 crushing of Renato “Babalu” Sobral,
“Hendo” will challenge Rafael Cavalcante for the Strikeforce
light heavyweight belt on March 5 in Columbus, Ohio.
8.
Jorge Santiago (23-8)
Sengoku’s middleweight champion has signed on for a second
tour of duty with the UFC. Santiago expects to make his return
to the Octagon at UFC 130 in May, when he will take the place
of Wanderlei Silva and challenge Brian Stann in a fantastic middleweight
affair.
9.
Vitor Belfort (19-9)
Though many tabbed Belfort a live underdog heading into his Feb.
6 title challenge against Anderson Silva, it seems hard to imagine
“The Phenom” not becoming synonymous with his brutal
knockout loss to “The Spider” at UFC 126. The Brazilian
fight community has already immortalized the knockout as “bicuda
na fuca,” and it is sure to be a highlight reel staple for
years to come.
10.
Michael Bisping (20-3)
In February, Bisping lost a contentious decision to Wanderlei
Silva in Sydney, Australia. Fifty-three weeks later, on Feb.
27, he will return to the site of the fight, taking on suddenly
relevant journeyman Jorge Rivera at UFC 127.
Other
contenders: Alan Belcher, Robbie Lawler, Hector Lombard, Wanderlei
Silva, Brian Stann.
Welterweight
1.
Georges St. Pierre (21-2)
St. Pierre has proven sterling in Montreal, where he has bashed
Matt Serra and Josh Koscheck. Next for “Rush” will
be an appearance in Toronto on April 30, when he will defend
his welterweight crown against Jake Shields in the main event
of UFC 129 in front of what figures to be a massive crowd at
the Rogers Centre.
2.
Jon Fitch (23-3, 1 NC)
After besting Thiago Alves for a second time, Fitch was hopeful
he would get another crack at the UFC welterweight crown. That
opportunity will go to Jake Shields. Instead of another title
shot, Fitch draws former two-division champion B.J. Penn at UFC
127 on Feb. 27 in Sydney, Australia.
3.
Thiago Alves (18-7)
Alves did not have much time to savor his win over John Howard
at UFC 124 before his name was right back on the UFC docket.
“Pitbull” will return in May, when he is scheduled
to meet surging welterweight contender Rick Story in a high-stakes
bout at 170 pounds.
4.
Jake Shields (26-4-1)
Shields made the jump from Strikeforce to the UFC because he
felt it was the best way for him to prove his mettle against
the world’s best fighters. He will get the ultimate chance
to do so on April 30, when he challenges Georges St. Pierre for
the UFC welterweight crown at UFC 129 in front of tens of thousands
of fans at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.
5.
Josh Koscheck (15-5)
Koscheck’s crushing Dec. 11 defeat to Georges St. Pierre
was not just figurative; it was literal. Following surgery to
repair a smashed orbital bone, Koscheck will spend at least six
months on the shelf before returning to action, potentially stepping
back into the Octagon sometime this summer.
6.
Martin Kampmann (17-4)
In October, Kampmann earned props from the MMA world for his
split decision loss to Jake Shields in a fight many feel he won.
MMA’s foremost Dane has been rewarded with a major bout,
as he will meet Diego Sanchez in a welterweight tilt at UFC Live
3 on March 3 in Louisville, Ky.
7.
Carlos Condit (26-5)
Condit’s resurgent 2010 campaign has earned him an all-action
fight to kick off 2011. At UFC 127 in Sydney, Australia, the
“Natural Born Killer” will take on free-swinging veteran
Chris Lytle in a fight that promises wild action and bears welterweight
contender consequences.
8.
Nick Diaz (24-7, 1 ND)
Diaz’s Jan. 29 victory against Evangelista Santos was, as
usual, thrilling. While “Cyborg” cut into the legs
of Diaz, the Strikeforce welterweight champion blasted back with
punches, until his slick armbar ended the fight in round two.
His second successful title defense may set up a fight with British
banger Paul Daley in the coming months.
9.
Dan Hardy (23-8, 1 NC)
After ripping off four straight wins to begin his tenure in the
Octagon, Hardy was bested in both of his 2010 outings. “The
Outlaw” will look to start off 2011 on a more productive
note come March 26, when he welcomes back serious hitter Anthony
Johnson at UFC Fight Night 24.
10.
Paul Daley (26-9-2)
Daley is scheduled for tune-up action at BAMMA 5 on Feb. 26 in
Manchester, England. However, most view the bout as a mere stay-busy
venture, as Strikeforce eyes a potential welterweight title clash
between “Semtex” and champion Nick Diaz later this
year. That fight would likely provide massive fireworks should
it go down.
Other
contenders: Ben Askren, Jake Ellenberger, John Hathaway, Jay
Hieron, Mike Pyle.
Lightweight
1.
Frankie Edgar (13-1-1)
In round one of his lightweight title defense against Gray Maynard
at UFC 125, Edgar looked dead to rights after taking an epic
pummeling from “The Bully.” Somehow, Edgar fought back
valiantly over the last 20 minutes, shutting down Maynard’s
wrestling and becoming the more effective boxer. After five rounds,
Edgar had forced a split draw in a sensational fight, as well
as a third fight with Maynard at UFC 130 on May 28.
2.
Gilbert Melendez (18-2)
After a potential New Year’s Eve rematch with Dream champion
Shinya Aoki fell apart, Strikeforce champ Melendez was left with
no clear next opponent. In the meantime, “El Nino”
has taken to calling out welterweight contender Paul Daley, announcing
his interest in a 165-pound catchweight bout against the hard-hitting
Brit.
3.
Gray Maynard (10-0-1, 1 NC)
Through five minutes at UFC 125, it seemed a lock that Maynard
would leave Las Vegas with the UFC lightweight crown. But while
“The Bully” crushed Frankie Edgar in the first round,
the champion battled back over the next four to force a draw
and retain his title in an early “Fight of the Year”
contender. The pair will square off for the third time on May
28 at UFC 130 in Las Vegas.
4.
B.J. Penn (16-7-1)
Penn and Matt Hughes were rivals for nearly six years. However,
in the rubber match between the former UFC champs, it took “The
Prodigy” just 21 seconds to brutally put Hughes down for
the count. Next for Penn will be another fight at 170 pounds
-- and a major one, at that -- as he meets Jon Fitch in the UFC
127 headliner on Feb. 27 in Sydney, Australia.
5.
Shinya Aoki (26-5, 1 NC)
It was not really an MMA bout, but Aoki was embarrassed by cosplaying
K-1 Max veteran Yuichiro Nagashima on New Year’s Eve in
Tokyo. After surviving the kickboxing round of their “mixed
rules” bout, Aoki was clobbered with a giant knee just four
seconds into the MMA round by “Jienotsu,” making for
a bitter end to 2010.
6.
Eddie Alvarez (21-2)
In his Oct. 21 bout with Roger Huerta, Alvarez was positively
destructive, using his uppercut and newly-found low kicks to
batter the UFC veteran and force the cageside doctor to halt
the fight after 10 minutes. Postfight, Alvarez took the opportunity
to call out Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez,
and the Bellator Fighting Championships promotion itself further
exacerbated the call for the crossover megafight. Bellator’s
Season 4 tournament to determine Alvarez’s next challenger
kicks off in March.
7.
Kenny Florian (13-5)
A knee injury took Kenny Florian out of a proposed Jan. 22 bout
with Evan Dunham. As the knee injury heals, the former UFC lightweight
title challenger is looking at a return in the early spring,
possible at UFC 130 or 131, and likely at 145 pounds.
8.
Tatsuya Kawajiri (27-6-2)
On New Year’s Eve, Kawajiri dulled the bitter sting of his
July submission loss to Shinya Aoki by soundly handling former
Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson. Kawajiri used
top position to dominate “The Punk” en route to an
impressive unanimous decision win, perhaps paving the way for
the “Crusher” to compete stateside in 2011.
9.
Jim Miller (19-2)
A winner of six straight bouts in the hyper-competitive UFC lightweight
division, Miller is inching ever closer to a coveted 155-pound
title shot. In order to keep that dream afloat, he will have
to deal with “The Prince of Persia,” Kamal Shalorus,
at UFC 128 on March 19. The upside? The fight will be contested
in Miller’s home state of New Jersey.
10.
Sean Sherk (36-4-1)
With 40-plus fights and over a decade in the sport, injuries
have piled up for Sherk. As a result, the 37-year-old “Muscle
Shark” has taken time off to heal and rehab, and is now
targeting a potential summer return to the Octagon.
Other
contenders: Clay Guida, Melvin Guillard, Benson Henderson, Anthony
Pettis, George Sotiropoulos.
*With
his Jan. 22 loss to Melvin Guillard, previously 10th-ranked Evan
Dunham falls from the lightweight top 10.
Featherweight
1.
Jose Aldo (18-1)
Aldo continues to rehab the back injury which forced him out
of a slated Jan. 1 title defense against Josh Grispi. When he
comes off the mend, the Brazilian phenom will launch straight
into preparation for UFC 129 on April 30 in Toronto, where he’ll
take on Mark Hominick in his first UFC title defense.
2.
Hatsu Hioki (23-4-2)
In the most significant fight of his career, Hioki was brilliant
in wresting the Sengoku featherweight crown from Marlon Sandro.
Over five thrilling rounds, Hioki was clinical on the feet and
otherworldly on the ground, threatening Sandro in every position
for 25 minutes in Hioki’s best performance to date.
3.
Chad Mendes (10-0)
Mendes showcased his aggressive and well-rounded style in the
biggest fight of his young career, as he pummeled a tough Michihiro
Omigawa over three rounds at UFC 126. With the win, Mendes puts
himself on the cusp of a UFC featherweight title shot.
4.
Manny Gamburyan (11-5)
With his corking of former WEC champion Mike Thomas Brown in
April, Gamburyan earned his shot at Jose Aldo. However, when
the two met at WEC 51 on Sept. 30, the tough Armenian had very
little to offer the Brazilian, who leisurely strolled through
the first round before turning up the heat and halting Gamburyan
in the second. Gamburyan is set to return against Raphael Assuncao
at UFC 128 on March 19.
5.
Michihiro Omigawa (12-9-1)
Omigawa’s return to the Octagon was not a pleasant one,
as the Yoshida Dojo product was beat up on the feet and on the
floor by hot prospect Chad Mendes at UFC 126. With the loss,
Omigawa is 8-2-1 as a featherweight, but 0-3 inside the confines
of the UFC.
6.
Marlon Sandro (17-2)
Sandro’s fearsome punching power was no match for the rangier,
slicker and more technical Hatsu Hioki, who took apart the Brazilian
on the feet on Dec. 30. Sandro, a Nova Uniao black belt in Brazilian
jiu-jitsu, was also in constant danger on the floor against the
Japanese standout. Sandro dropped the unanimous decision, with
his consolation prize being the respect he received for the toughness
he exhibited in defeat.
7.
Diego Nunes (16-1)
Since hooking up with top Brazilian team Nova Uniao, “The
Gun” has showed marked improvement with each appearance.
At UFC 125 on Jan. 1, Nunes took his game to another level, out-striking
former featherweight ruler Mike Thomas Brown en route to a split
decision and positioning himself near the top of the contenders
list at 145 pounds.
8.
Joe Warren (6-1)
While it’s tough to say whether Warren is, as he claims,
“the baddest man on the planet,” the former Greco-Roman
wrestling champion showed otherworldly toughness in his Sept.
2 bout with Joe Soto. Warren came back from a hellacious beating
in the fight’s opening round to knock out Soto and take
the Bellator featherweight title 33 seconds into round two.
9.
Dustin Poirier (9-1)
Prior to UFC 125, few fans knew Poirier’s name. However,
after a crushing display of offense against the heavily-favored
and well-regarded Josh Grispi, it is fair to say the 21-year-old
Poirier has emerged as another young stud in the 145-pound division.
10.
Josh Grispi (14-2)
After a disastrous promotional debut at UFC 125 in January, when
he was blown out by Dustin Poirier, “The Fluke” will
get back on the horse this summer. Grispi will take on George
Roop at “The Ultimate Fighter 13” Finale on June 4.
Other
contenders: Raphael Assuncao, Bibiano Fernandes, Mark Hominick,
Hiroyuki Takaya, Rani Yahya.
*With
his Jan. 22 loss to Rani Yahya, formerly seventh-ranked Mike
Thomas Brown exits the featherweight rankings.
Bantamweight
1.
Dominick Cruz (17-1)
Seldom does hyperactivity look easy, but that is Cruz. He continued
to show the evolution of his slick punching and unpredictable
style on Dec. 16, as he shut out the tough Scott Jorgensen over
five rounds at WEC 53. The win set the table for a major bantamweight
showdown against the only man to ever beat “The Dominator,”
former WEC featherweight king Urijah Faber, once Cruz recovers
from hand surgery.
2.
Joseph Benavidez (13-2)
Despite his two losses to Dominick Cruz and the fact that he
may be a natural 125-pounder, Benavidez has picked off more top
bantamweights than nearly any other 135-pound fighter. Stepping
in for an injured Brian Bowles, Benavidez added another Top 10
win to his ledger by dominating Wagnney Fabiano and choking the
Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt into submission at WEC 52.
3.
Brian Bowles (8-1)
Bowles has been plagued by injuries of late, but he finally appears
set for a return, 362 days after he lost the WEC bantamweight
crown to Dominick Cruz. Bowles will need every shred of good
health when he takes on Greg Jackson-trained bomber Damacio Page
in a rematch at UFC Live 3 on March 3 in Louisville, Ky.
4.
Urijah Faber (24-4)
The fight world is clamoring for a rematch between Dominick Cruz
and Faber, the only man to defeat the UFC bantamweight champion.
However, Cruz’s recent hand surgery will postpone such a
bout until at least late 2011. The “California Kid”
will not sit on the shelf, however: Faber will take on hard-punching
ex-WEC champ Eddie Wineland at UFC 128 on March 19 in Newark,
N.J.
5.
Scott Jorgensen (11-4)
Jorgensen was game and valiant until the end, but he simply had
nothing to offer bantamweight kingpin Dominick Cruz in their
Dec. 16 title clash. For 25 minutes, Jorgensen was hit with punches
in bunches on the feet and taken down repeatedly in a one-sided
decision loss that snapped a five-fight win streak.
6.
Miguel Torres (39-3)
Torres’ road back to the top of the bantamweight division
just got tougher. The former 135-pound ace has signed on to meet
tough Brit Brad Pickett at UFC 130 on May 28. The winner figures
to take a considerable leap forward in the bantamweight pack.
7.
Takeya Mizugaki (13-5-2)
In his Nov. 11 bout with Urijah Faber, Mizugaki was viciously
choked unconscious by the former featherweight star in Faber’s
bantamweight debut. Mizugaki’s next bout will be a comparatively
softer touch, as he is tentatively scheduled to meet Francisco
Rivera at UFC Live 3 on March 3.
8.
Brad Pickett (20-5)
After a thrilling three-round decision win over Ivan Menjivar
in Montreal, “One Punch” will take a significant jump
up in competition. The tough Brit will take on former bantamweight
ruler Miguel Torres at UFC 130 on May 28 with a considerable
stake in the 135-pound division on the line.
9.
Masakatsu Ueda (12-1-2)
Taking on late replacement Ralph Acosta in Tokyo on Jan. 10,
the former Shooto 132-pound world champion showed all the facets
of his evolving game. Ueda exhibited some improving standup skills,
but more chiefly, put his expert grappling on display. Ueda and
Acosta showed off their technical wrestling chops before Ueda
closed the show with his patented Brabo choke.
10.
Demetrious Johnson (8-1)
At UFC 126, Demetrious Johnson showed once again that, regardless
of size, he possesses all the goods to hang at 135 pounds. Johnson
put together his combination striking and lightning-fast takedowns
to take a one-sided decision over Japanese star Norifumi “Kid”
Yamamoto. It was the third win in just over four months for “Mighty
Mouse.”
Other
contenders: Antonio Banuelos, Wagnney Fabiano, Zach Makovsky,
Michael McDonald, Eddie Wineland.
*With
his return to the featherweight division, formerly ninth-ranked
Rani Yahya exits the bantamweight rankings.
Flyweight
1.
Jussier da Silva (9-0)
In his high-pressure stateside debut, Da Silva aced his assignment,
liberally taking the back of WEC veteran Danny Martinez en route
to a tidy unanimous decision win under the Tachi Palace Fights
banner. Next up for “Formiga” is a bout with another
WEC alum, Ian McCall, at Tachi Palace Fights 8 in February. A
victory there could set him up for a shot at the promotion’s
flyweight champion, Ulysses Gomez.
2.
Yasuhiro Urushitani (18-4-6)
It was a non-title fight, but in his Nov. 19 appearance against
a tough Takuya Mori, Urushitani looked every bit the top 123-pounder
in professional Shooto. Urushitani brutally bashed Mori in the
first round, earning his first knockout in the Shooto ring in
his decade-long career.
3.
Mamoru Yamaguchi (25-5-3)
It seems like Shooto’s afroed ace has decided he likes fighting
in America: after besting Greg Guzman in Highland, Calif. last
August, Mamoru will return to action in the Golden State this
spring. The former two-division Shooto world champ will step
in for Alexis Vila to face John Dodson at Tachi Palace Fights
9 on May 5 in Lemoore, Calif.
4.
Yuki Shojo (10-5-2)
One of the flyweight division’s most exciting commodities,
Shojo will return to action for the first time in nearly a year
on March 12. At “Shootor's Legacy 2” in Tokyo, he’ll
take on former 114-pound title challenger Noboru “Shinpei”
Tahara in what promises to be an entertaining tilt.
5.
Ryuichi Miki (10-4-3)
A third bout with Yasuhiro Urushitani was the chance of a lifetime
for Miki, who had the opportunity to vie for the Shooto 123-pound
world title. However, as in the pair’s first two encounters,
it was Urushitani who walked out the victor and remained champion
on May 30.
6.
Kiyotaka Shimizu (7-3-2)
The flyweight “King of Pancrase” played a minor role
in Japan’s New Year’s season festivities. Shimizu was
a last-minute addition to the Sengoku Raiden Championship “Soul
of Fight” card on Dec. 30, as he defeated Ichiro Sugita
by split decision in a one-round, five-minute “jacket rules”
bout. Real opposition for the Pancrase champion will likely come
in February or March.
7.
Alexis Vila (8-0)
In front of a pro-Cuban crowd on Feb. 12 in Miami, Vila smashed
out his ninth career win, putting away Lewis McKenzie in the
second round under the Mixed Fighting Alliance banner. The question
for the 1996 Olympic bronze medalist becomes a matter of when
he steps into the cage with another Top 10 flyweight and faces
the division’s best.
8.
Fumihiro Kitahara (9-2-1)
Kitahara’s first bout against a true A-level flyweight did
not go as he had hoped. The 2008 Shooto rookie champion took
on former two-division Shooto world titleholder Mamoru Yamaguchi,
who needed just over two minutes to put his shin on Kitahara’s
head, leaving him flat on the mat.
9.
Mitsuhisa Sunabe (13-6-4)
Sunabe was unsuccessful in his bid to regain his flyweight “King
of Pancrase” title on Dec. 5 against rival Kiyotaka Shimizu,
as the pair battled to a split draw. However, the bout’s
lack of resolution and high level of excitement has paved the
way for a fourth clash between Sunabe and Shimizu later this
year.
10.
John Dodson (11-5)
Dodson has seen his opponent for Tachi Palace Fights 9 change,
but the swap may actually be a step up for “The Magician.”
Originally set to face Alexis Vila, the Olympic bronze medal
wrestler’s withdrawal from the fight has paved the way for
Dodson to instead take on former two-division Shooto world champion
Mamoru Yamaguchi on May 5 in what should be an action-packed
affair.
Other
contenders: Louis Gaudinot, Ulysses Gomez, Darrell Montague,
Alexandre Pantoja, Masaaki Sugawara.
Source: Sherdog
|
Bellator
Champ Ben Askren In Non-Title Affair With Nick Thompson
by Ken
Pishna
Bellator Fighting Championships on Wednesday announced that its
welterweight champion, Ben Askren, will be back in action this
season in a non-title fight, while the tournament contenders
battle it out for a shot at his belt.
Askren
returns to the Bellator cage for the first time since winning
the title when he faces UFC veteran Nick Thompson at Bellator
40. The event takes place on April 9 at the First Council Casino
in
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Man
Up & Stand Up Today
Waipahu Filcom Center
Saturday February 19, 2011
Doors open at 6:00
Yes
sir, its been 3 weeks from the first man-up & stand-up show.
Here it comes one mo gen baby. The last Man-up had some jaw
dropping and also a few jaw breaking blows that got the crowd
roaring. This time around will be another hamma show with Charles
Hazelwood as the main in his first title defense against Jessie
Lindley who had a 12 second knockout in his last fight which
was an mma event. We’ll see if Jessie can get the same
results with ten ounce gloves against the Champ. As everyone
knows, Charles is well-known for his damaging leg kicks. So
it would be best for Jessie to end this fight with the same fashion
that he did his last fight. But that’s every fairy tale
that all of Charles’s opponents like to write until he kicks
them back to reality and rewrites a different ending. Come and
see if fairy tales do come true in this fight.
Also
making his first title defense, will be Joseph Garcia against
another young up and coming star who goes by the name of Ethan
Kerfoot. Garcia puts his punch, kick and knee combinations together
as well as his coaches (Edwards brothers) do. He may be only
16 but do not underestimate this young boy. Ethan who is also
16, is another one to not underestimate. He has the speed, he
has the reach, don’t know if he has the looks to be the
new champ but he don’t care (nah j/k). These two young
studs will put on a display of some major skills when the bell
rings. Will Garcia remain the champ after Saturday or will Combat
50 create another champion. Be there
Also
there will be the 6 yr old 45# title and 7 yr old 60# title on
the line. Come and watch these youngsters take each other to
the wreckshop with no crying, no tantrums and no retreat. Yup
das right, this is how we build them here on Man-up & Stand-up.
Some
other fights that will be showstopping as well as jaw dropping
is the Reckless Ronnie Villahamosa vs Justin Dulay (champion
vs champion), Kalai Mcshne vs Donovan Calluruda (fireworks-guaranteez),
Mike Uemoto vs Isaac Hopps, just come down and see for yourself
because theres too much to mention. Please believe.
TODD
PARK
160
LAWRENCE HINOJOSA
CHARLES HAZELWOOD
185
JESSIE LINDLEY
KALAI MCSHANE
125
DONOVAN CALLURUDA
MIKE UEMOTO
145
ISAAC
HOPPS
PAUL BOTER
140
OLA LUM
RECKLESS RONIIE VILLAHMOSA
155
JUSTIN
DULAY
BUBBA KEKUA
165
JOSEPH ENAENA
DJ CASERIA
120
RYOTA TEZUKA
JOSEPH GARCIA
160
ETHAN KERFOOT
ANTHONY REYES
135
JENSEN DELACRUZ
JACOB CARTER
45
DIESEL VISTANTE
KONA
60
STANFORD AQUINO
ALVIN KANEHAILUA
200
BEN BOYCE
SOFA
220
KANOE KAHIKINA
ANDREW QUIZON
155
MARICE PHILLIPS
SHAWN DESANTOS
130
JOEY BALAI
CHANTE STAFFORD
115
DARRYL QUINTAS
MAKANA WIGGLESWORTH
150
ISAAC SABALA
ALIKA KUMUKOA
115
ISRAEL LOVELACE
KALEI AIWOHI
125
THOMAS REYES
ANTHONY MURAKAMI
140
LINK MERRIT
DONTEZ COLEMAN
125
JORDAN VIRA
CHANTELL BOYCE
160
AVEMAO PSYCHO PETERS
MAKOA DESANTOS
100
NAZ HARRISON
RAD RAJAH BRAZWELL
75
NYLEN KUKAHIKO
All
matches & participants are subject to change
Source: Derrick Bright
|
Greg
Jackson: Arlovski Doesn’t Have a Weak Chin
Andrei Arlovski suffered his fourth straight defeat Saturday,
but trainer Greg Jackson remains hopeful that the former UFC
heavyweight champion can still get his career back on track.
“I
think he’s going to come back a better fighter,” Jackson
said recently on the Sherdog Radio Network’s “Beatdown”
show. “You have to remember I’m a diehard optimist.
It’s really hard to discourage me or tell me it shouldn’t
be done or it can’t be done. I’m a guy that I think
I know what to do to fix it. I’m going to try everything
I can to do that.”
Arlovski
was knocked out in the first round of his Strikeforce heavyweight
matchup against Sergei Kharitonov. Jackson explained that Arlovski
followed the game plan initially but then veered away from it.
“He
kind of hesitated standing in front of [Kharitonov] and was grabbing
around the neck and doing stuff that we hadn’t planned,”
Jackson said. “For me, that’s part of the learning
process. It didn’t go our way because we made some fundamental
mistakes that we weren’t supposed to make. Of course you
don’t want to stand in front of Kharitonov no matter who
you are. He’s got bombs in either of those hands of his.
We were doing very, very well following the game plan and we
kind of had a lapse.”
One
major criticism of Arlovski is his chin. However, Jackson disagreed
that his fighter’s ability to take a punch is the issue.
“He
got hit really hard by ‘Bigfoot’ Silva as well. He
was taking some hard shots and was able to weather that storm,”
Jackson said of the May 2010 decision Arlovski dropped to Antonio
Silva. “He lost the decision of course, but still, he took
some shots and was able to hang in there. It’s just these
guys that he’s fighting, if you make one mistake with any
of them, you’re going to get eaten.”
In
Jackson’s view, Arlovski is consistently making the same
mistake. The trainer did not go into particulars, but he said
he has a beat on it now.
“I’m
really identifying the mistake. It went a little deeper than
I thought it did,” Jackson said. “Identifying that
mistake and changing what we do there is going to be a big, important
factor. I don’t think he has a weak chin. I think he’s
fighting in a heavyweight division where these guys would knock
down a house if they hit it.”
Jackson,
who began working with Arlovski some before the Silva fight,
is recognized by many as the top trainer in the sport. He believes
Arlovski can still be one of the top heavyweights as well.
“I
really learned a lot about Andrei and what we need to change
and do differently,” Jackson said. “I don’t discourage
easily. I want to go right back to the drawing board and attack
what I think we need to attack to make him a better fighter.”
Source: Sherdog
|
Jorge
Santiago Signs Multi-Fight Contract For UFC Return
by Ken
Pishna
Former Sengoku middleweight champion Jorge Santiago, as expected,
has signed to return to the UFC.
His
imminent return had been widely reported, but as of this past
weekend, Santiago was at the Srikeforce: Fedor vs. Silva event
in New Jersey without a contract in hand. Although Santiago’s
manager was not available at the time of publication, MMAWeekly.com
sources close to the situation on Wednesday confirmed that a
multi-fight agreement has received Santiago’s signature.
Although
a recent MMAJunkie.com report mentioned Santiago’s return
as likely for UFC 130 against Brian Stann, MMAWeekly.com sources
believed that, while the fight could still happen, it has not
yet been signed.
Santiago
was being courted both by the UFC and Strikeforce. He has a history
with both promotions.
The
Brazilian had a stint with the UFC in 2006 that saw him go 1-2
overall before he exited the organization. Santiago then went
on to win a one night, four-man tournament for Strikeforce in
which he finished off Sean Salmon and Trevor Prangley.
He
returns to the UFC following a 7-1 stint in Japan where he won
the Sengoku middleweight title and defended it twice.
Amidst
much speculation about the future of the Japanese fight promotion,
Santiago and Dave Herman were both released from their contractual
obligations to Sengoku.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
My
First Fight: Frank Shamrock
By Ben Fowlkes
When Frank Shamrock paroled out of Folsom Prison in the early
nineties, he had narrowed his career choices down to three possibilities.
"I
was going to be a physical therapist, or an exotic dancer, or
I was going to do this no-holds-barred fighting thing that Ken
[Shamrock] was doing. And I didn't know anything about any of
them."
Shamrock
had spent most of the last decade in one institutionalized setting
or another, whether it was group homes, youth crisis centers,
or prison. His adopted father, Bob Shamrock, pointed him in the
direction of the Lion's Den, then an unknown gym for a mostly
unknown sport, and run by Frank's adopted older brother Ken.
The first day Shamrock walked in the door, he was told he'd be
getting a "tryout."
"You
did 500 squats, 500 sit-ups, 500 leg-lifts, 250 push-ups, then
you fought Ken for 20 minutes," Shamrock says. "After
that it took me about four days before I could walk down the
stairs again. I was just traumatized, and I didn't know you could
tap. Ken was tearing my ankles and knees out, and I was just
taking it. I didn't know you could tap and I was trying to be
this tough guy. That was my intro to it."
The ten minutes seemed like literally 40 seconds. Then they rang
the bell and it was over.
-- Frank Shamrock
For reasons even he can't fully articulate, Shamrock kept coming
back. The next thing he knew, his brother had arranged for him
to spend eight weeks living and training in a dojo in Japan.
"I
had spent three years in jails and prisons, and then all of a
sudden I'm in Japan in this dojo. It was just so surreal. I was
this young kid and nobody even knew what I was doing there."
What
he was doing, as it turned out, was preparing for a fight in
the King of Pancrase tournament in December of 1994. Along with
his brother Ken, the 22-year-old Shamrock joined early MMA luminaries
such as Matt Hume, Maurice Smith, and Vernon "Tiger"
White on the fight card that night in Tokyo.
In
the first round of the tournament, and for his first professional
bout, Shamrock drew a Dutchman by the name of Bas Rutten.
"What
I remember distinctly is being so freaking scared and nervous,"
says Shamrock. "It seemed like I could feel the lights in
the building, like I could feel the electricity running into
my body. It was the weirdest thing in the world. Then the fight
started."
Rutten
was more experienced in the sport, having already had eight fights
in Pancrase by that point. When they locked up early in the bout,
Shamrock remembers being awed by Rutten's raw power.
"He
had that old man strength. He was just super strong, and he absolutely
smacked the sh-t out of me five or six times."
At
one point, Rutten snapped a front kick directly into Shamrock's
nose. He heard it crunch and he knew right away it was probably
broken. It occurred to him that he had to shoot for a takedown
and get the fight to the ground.
"I
had maybe two or three moments of clarity in the whole fight,"
says Shamrock. "One was when I took him down, and I remember
the feeling of kind of floating through the air. Another was
when he was front choking me and he said, 'Aha, I've got you!'
You know, in that booming Bas voice of his? He was weird like
that; Bas was always talking to me. He's the one who taught me
to talk to people in fights."
And
yet, even as Rutten was telling Shamrock that he was done, Shamrock
could feel himself slipping out of the choke. In his corner his
brother Ken was shouting instructions, but to Frank it might
as well have been in another language. The experience was so
bizarre, he was struggling to understand it even as it was happening.
"I
remember a couple points in the match kind of looking up and
thinking, my God, I'm fighting this crazy bald guy in front of
a bunch of people in Japan. How did this happen?" Shamrock
says. "The ten minutes seemed like literally 40 seconds.
Then they rang the bell and it was over."
Shamrock
walked back to his corner after the fight and met with the begrudging
approval of his adopted older brother.
"He
was like, 'You did good,'" Shamrock says. "All I could
say was, 'He broke my nose!' That was the first time I'd ever
had my nose broken. It was like he caught me right on the tip
of it with his wrestling shoe and kind of snapped the cartilage.
It's still in the same shape and form that Bas put it in. That's
what you see today."
I still thought everybody in this sport was crazy, and I was
wondering if I was a little bit crazy too.
-- Frank Shamrock
Though it was as big a surprise to him as to anyone, when the
fight was over it was Shamrock who got his hand raised. Then
he had to go back to the locker room and prepare himself to fight
again that same night, though the fear and confusion still hadn't
worn off.
"My
first ten fights or so it was like that. I was just so scared.
You can see if you go back and watch them that there are moments
where I just stop and look around, like, what's going on here?
I was so scared for all those fights," he says.
"You
have to remember, I had come from a pretty hard life. There was
all this abuse and everything else, so the idea of fighting for
sport was pretty heavy. Fighting to me was about fighting for
your life, you know. It was about killing people or protecting
people or stopping people from killing you. That's what it had
been for me. So I went into those fights thinking, they're trying
to kill me."
He
would go on to lose via submission against Manubu Yamada later
that same night. It was a bittersweet way to follow his first
win with his first loss, but already Shamrock knew he had found
something he wanted to be a part of, even if it all seemed to
go by in a blur. There was no way he could have known that this
was how he'd spend the next fifteen years of his life.
"I
still thought everybody in this sport was crazy, and I was wondering
if I was little bit crazy too," he says. "The whole
thing was like a dream. I had to go back and watch it on tape.
Then I was like, yeah, we're all freaking nuts."
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Simon
Rutz: Yeah, K-1 is likely heading to bankruptcy soon
By Zach
Arnold
When
we last left you on the Simon Rutz/K-1 front, he was supposed
to promote an It’s Showtime event at Amsterdam Arena with
K-1 fighters. He ended up announcing a cancellation for the event
due to what he said was K-1 not paying some fighters and not
being able to get him a roster to book a card. So, the show fell
through.
In
this new interview today (Dutch), Simon says (pardon the pun)
that K-1 is headed towards bankruptcy. Now, I should note that
bankruptcy is nothing new in the Japanese fight business. It’s
happened many times with various pro-wrestling companies where
a shell company will declare bankruptcy, avoid or minimize payments
to creditors, and either transfer assets or start over anew under
a new shell company. So, the idea of FEG declaring bankruptcy
doesn’t mean that K-1 in theory would die.
(On
a side note, Dan Herbertson reports that Dave Herman has been
released from his Sengoku contract and may be heading to the
UFC. Dan also notes that several more fighters may get their
releases in the near future.)
The
crux of the Dutch newspaper article is that Simon Rutz cannot
run kickboxing events in the city of Amsterdam. The political
climate is hostile, he claims, because the city’s Mayor
(and police) feel that criminals from the underworld appear at
major fighting events to show off and/or recruit new members
and/or create trouble. As a result, Mr. Rutz says that the mayor
wants to keep It’s Showtime events out of the area. When
Simon talked about the canceled Amsterdam Arena show due to problems
with K-1, he expanded his comments by saying he wondered if he
could even run a show at this point in the city due to legal
pressure. He said that he’s welcomed with open arms around
the world to run It’s Showtime events but he can’t
run shows now on home turf. Mr. Rutz said that the community
complains about not having big sporting events and yet he wants
to bring big shows to town and he’s facing pressure to not
run shows. He says that he is tired of political/legal battles
and that it takes a lot of stamina to organize fight shows. He
claims that in order to run shows in Amsterdam he has to go out
of his way to prove that he’s not connected to organized
crime and that the legal fees would cost him a lot of money.
Mr. Rutz questioned why he should have to wait until a new Mayor
is elected in order to run shows at Amsterdam Arena.
Source: Fight Opinion
|
Brilz
Replaces Hamill, Faces Davis at UFC 129
by Mike Whitman
Phil Davis once again has a dance partner for UFC 129.
Jason
Brilz (Pictured) has stepped in to fight the NCAA Div. I wrestling
champion in a light heavyweight affair on April 29 at the Rogers
Centre in Toronto. Sherdog.com confirmed the contest with a source
close to the bout on Wednesday; the matchup was first reported
by MMAJunkie.com.
Davis
was originally slated to meet “The Ultimate Fighter 3”
cast member Matt Hamill at the event. However, Hamill was reportedly
pulled from the contest in order to replace Thiago Silva against
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at UFC 130 in May.
UFC
129 will be headlined by a welterweight title clash between dominant
champion Georges St. Pierre and recent UFC acquisition Jake Shields.
In the co-main event, World Extreme Cagefighting featherweight
king Jose Aldo will defend his newly-issued UFC strap for the
first time against hometown favorite Mark Hominick.
Davis
is one of the UFC’s brightest prospects. An undefeated 205-pounder
with an outstanding wrestling pedigree, “Mr. Wonderful”
has gone a perfect 4-0 inside the Octagon. The 26-year-old made
his promotional debut in February 2009 at UFC 109, earning a
unanimous decision over former WEC light heavyweight champion
Brian Stann. Davis then submitted Alexander Gustafsson with an
anaconda choke at UFC 112, and followed that victory by outpointing
Rodney Wallace at UFC 117 in August. Most recently, Davis submitted
Tim Boetsch at UFC 123 with a one-handed kimura that has been
dubbed “The Mr. Wonderful.”
An
11-year veteran of the sport, Brilz began his career in 2000,
competing steadily until his UFC debut at UFC Fight Night 15
in September 2008. Brilz earned victories over Brad Morris and
the aforementioned Boetsch, but subsequently tasted defeat for
only the second time in his career when he was outpointed by
Eliot Marshall at UFC 103. After rebounding with a decision win
over Eric Schafer last March, the 35-year-old put forth a great
effort against former Pride Fighting Championships star Antonio
Rogerio Nogueira, losing a contentious split decision to the
Brazilian at UFC 114.
Source: Sherdog
|
Card
for UFC 3/3
Louisville (KFC Yum! Center)
Versus event
By Zach
Arnold
TV:
Versus
¦Light
Heavyweights: Igor Pokrajac vs. Todd Brown
¦Middleweights: Rousimar Palhares vs. Dave Branch
¦Middleweights: Rob Kimmons vs. Dongi Yang
¦Featherweights: Cub Swanson vs. Erik Koch
¦Lightweights: Thiago Tavares vs. Shane Roller
¦Light Heavyweights: Steve Cantwell vs. Cyrille Diabate
¦Lightweights: Joe Stevenson vs. Danny Castillo
¦Bantamweights: Brian Bowles vs. Damacio Page
¦Middleweights: Alessio Sakara vs. Chris Weidman
¦Middleweights: CB Dollaway vs. Mark Munoz
¦Welterweights: Diego Sanchez vs. Martin Kampmann
Source: Fight Opinion
|
Strikeforce:
Out Of Dad’s Shadow, Ryan Couture Pushing For Big Year
by Ken Pishna
Ryan
Couture’s venture into MMA has been anything but conventional.
As
the son of one of the sport’s most beloved and legendary
fighters, UFC Hall of Famer Randy “The Natural” Couture,
Ryan has experienced a level of attention and scrutiny few up-and-coming
fighters at the beginning of their careers have endured.
Yet,
through it all, he’s adjusted and more importantly, is making
a name for himself as a fighter to be dealt with on his own merits.
MMAWeekly.com
caught up with Couture as he finalized preparations to face Lee
Higgins at Friday’s Strikeforce Challengers 14 in Cedar
Creek, Texas, to discuss his career, being the son of an icon,
and what lays ahead for his future.
MMAWeekly:
Before we get into your upcoming fight, let’s go back to
last August and your pro debut win over Lucas Stark. How do you
feel about that whole experience?
Ryan
Couture: I thought it was a really good experience. It was just
like a bigger and better version of my amateur fights. I feel
like I had some good practice runs and dealt with some of the
media attention – but not nearly on that scale – and
I felt like stepping up to that next level went really well.
MMAWeekly:
Did you anticipate the level of interest and coverage you ended
up receiving?
Ryan
Couture: I kind of expected it, just because people are so interested
in dad and everything he does. I kind of had a feeling some of
that would trickle down. I also had seen the sort of the frenzy
caused when Kim (Couture, Randy’s ex-wife) was trying to
make a go as a fighter, so I had an idea that I would be catching
more attention than people starting out. It kind of exceeded
my expectations, but I enjoyed it.
MMAWeekly:
You were scheduled to return in October, but had to bow out of
the fight due to a staph infection. Was it disappointing, or
having been around the fight game so long, had you learn to accept
it as part of the sport?
Ryan
Couture: I had a lot hard work in and was having a really good
training camp up to that point, so that setback was definitely
a letdown. At the same time, like you said, having been around
the sport a long time, I know those kinds of infections and injuries
are part of the game. It was hard to be too beat up over it,
but spending the night in the hospital when I was supposed to
be in the cage was definitely a downer.
MMAWeekly:
Let’s talk about this Friday’s bout with Lee Higgins.
What do you think about the fight?
Ryan
Couture: I like the way our styles match up. We’re both
at our best on the ground and we both like to submit guys, so
I think it will be a crowd pleaser. I think whichever one of
us gets out of position and gives the other the advantage on
the ground is probably going to end up being on the losing end.
I’ve just got to make sure I’m sharp and make sure
I’m on point with my grappling.
I
hope to have the chance to show off some of my striking, I do
have an advantage there, but every time I go out there and try
to knock somebody out I end up grappling with them anyway.
MMAWeekly:
Would you like to have a fight where you just go out and bang
with someone and see what happens?
Ryan
Couture: I’m not really big on the whole standing there
and trading with (my opponents). I’d like to go out there
and hit somebody and not get hit. I don’t feel the need
to be in a brawl and bang it out with anybody, but I definitely
would like to show off the striking that I’ve worked so
hard to develop.
MMAWeekly:
Is your goal for this year to continue to take it slowly, one
fight at a time, or is there a sense of urgency to capitalize
on the buzz that surrounds you?
Ryan
Couture: At this point, I want to take fights that make sense
for where I’m at, where my skills are at, and match up with
guys who are a good challenge and help me take the next step
towards the fighter I want to be. I’d like to get four fights
and four wins in this year and then I think if I can do that
I can have a good head of steam going and good momentum to start
moving up the ranks this year.
MMAWeekly:
Thanks for your time Ryan. Is there anything you want to say
in closing?
Ryan
Couture: As always a huge thanks to my whole team at Xtreme Couture
and Xtreme Couture Management for helping me get in shape and
getting all this lined up and making it possible. I want to thank
everyone that’s taken an interest in my career and supported
me. I urge everyone to tune into Showtime Friday night and check
out the fights; it’s going to be a great show.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
‘Semtex’-Headlined
BAMMA 5 to Stream Live on Web
by Mike
Whitman
The British Association of Mixed Martial Arts today announced
that its Feb. 26 BAMMA 5 event will stream live on the promotion’s
website as an online pay-per-view.
The
event, which takes place at Manchester Evening News Arena in
Manchester, England, will be headlined by a BAMMA welterweight
title clash between Strikeforce contender Paul “Semtex”
Daley and Deep champion Yuya Shirai.
Fans
will be able access the live stream at www.bammatv.com for a
fee of $10. The promotion also announced that $5 repeat screenings
of the show will be available after the live stream. A $12 option
will grant fans access to the live stream and seven days of unlimited
on-demand access.
“We’ve
been looking at international streaming for some time and it
makes total sense to kick this off with BAMMA 5,” said BAMMA
Vice President of Business Development Liam Fisher stated in
a release. “Paul Daley-Yuya Shirai is one of the most internationally
significant MMA fights so far this year and bridges together
three different MMA promotions. It would be a crime to not show
this fight around the world.”
The
show, which will also feature a heavyweight tilt between former
UFC champion Ricco Rodriguez and “The Ultimate Fighter 10”
cast member James McSweeney, will also be broadcast live in the
United Kingdom on cable channel SyFy. According to the release,
the network has signed on to broadcast five planned BAMMA events
this year.
Source: Sherdog
|
Eddie
Goldman: The Strikeforce HW GP show at the Izod Center was a
disorganized mess
By Zach
Arnold
In
his own words. It’s funny — every time I post something
about Sherdog or someone else in the MMA media discussing Showtime’s
role in MMA or how they produce events, the network’s office
ends up reading about it (from here) one way or another and phone
calls end up getting made.
“I
got to say that the way this event was organized at the Izod
Center managed to piss off and annoy and alienate most of the
New York/New Jersey & East Coast Mixed Martial Arts media
and notable people. They did not know how to set up the event
for the media, putting people all over the building, behind fans.
They did not have one media section like you do in boxing and
has been done at other events. The seating showed no understanding,
ZERO understanding and zero care for who were the people that
really understand the sport of Mixed Martial Arts. And it showed
some type of favoritism, even to the point where there were empty
seats and some people that have been covering the sport while
some of the people who did these credentials and did this seating
were still in diapers and watching Hulk Hogan. It annoyed people
so much that it was done in such an irrational way. The end result
is that many people that I spoke with, despite a lot of people
being positive about the event overall particularly the main
event, not wanting to come back to any Strikeforce events. That
is a huge failure because people felt that way before the first
fights started.
“They
really blew an opportunity to become the anchor in the New York/New
Jersey area and hopefully we will have Mixed Martial Arts in
New York this year, again we’re fighting for it. We had
our great rally on February 8th, Strikeforce Heavyweight champion
Alistair Overeem came to that, of course. Frank Shamrock, who
announces Strikeforce events for Showtime, came to it and many,
many other people and we put up a lot of information for that.
Strikeforce was in a position, by supporting the really and working
with the MMA community and media here, to really build some good
will. Well, y’all squandered that Saturday night, February
12th. It’s not even just a question of apologies being due,
it’s a question of having people that are respectful. Otherwise,
you know what’s going to happen? You’re going to run
this damn sport into the ground very quickly, just like has happened
with boxing and people aren’t going to put up with it. You’re
going to be run into the ground much faster than boxing because
you won’t have that long, long period of prominence as a
sport to buoy you up as is continuing to happen with boxing,
which is really going on fumes to a large degree at this point.
But we’ll see if there are changes made and, if not, you
know it’s going to be bad for the sport of Mixed Martial
Arts and if it does get legalized in New York, it won’t
be the national promotions that exist that are going to be able
to capitalize that much off it. They might run some big shows
once or twice, but it will be somebody new, somebody brand new
from this New York area that’s going to develop, that’s
going to use this as a base and develop a major organization.
“So,
you blew it boys. It’s time to fess up to that and make
some damn changes.”
Source: Fight Opinion
|
Denis
Kang Signs With Korea's Road FC
By Ray Hui
Canadian middleweight Denis Kang has inked a multi-fight non-exclusive
deal with the Korean upstart MMA promotion Road FC.
Kang
is a possibility for the Road FC 2 card on April 16 in Seoul
-- that is, if he emerges unscathed from a March 26 meeting with
The Ultimate Fighter alum Jesse Taylor.
Kang
(33-12-2), who is of Korean and French descent, made a name for
himself in MMA in 2004 with another Korean promotion, Spirit
MC. That year Kang won seven straight Spirit MC fights, including
a three-fight, single-night tournament, to secure a deal the
following year with PRIDE Bushido. Spirit MC collapsed in 2008,
but returned last year with a small "Amateur League"
show.
While
Kang's successes continued through his PRIDE Bushido career,
a loss to Yoshihiro Akiyama at a K-1 MMA event in October 2007
was the beginning of the end of his standing as a top middleweight.
He compiled a 4-4 record since the Akiyama loss and in 2009 was
cut from the UFC after three fights.
Last
year, Kang bounced back with a submission win on a W-1 show in
Canada and a split draw against former WEC champion Paulo Filho
at Impact FC 2. His March 26 opponent on a Battlefield Fight
League card in Canada, Taylor (17-6), is on a three-fight winning
streak.
The
Road FC promotion held its inaugural show last October. The promotion
is designed as a small event, but since there's a lack of MMA
promotions in Korea, can be considered the top show there by
default.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Jeremy
Stephens vs. Jonathan Brookins Expected For TUF 13 Finale
by Ken
Pishna
A fight pitting Jeremy Stephens against Jonathan Brookins has
been added to “The Ultimate Fighter 13? finale fight card
on June 4 at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.
The
bout, first reported by MMAJunkie.com, has been independently
confirmed by MMAWeekly.com sources.
Stephens
(19-6) is widely regarded as one of the more exciting fighters
in the UFC’s lightweight division due to his brawling style.
He has had difficulty gaining much traction, amassing a 6-5 record
in the Octagon. Stephens is coming off of a victory over Marcus
Davis at UFC 125 on New Year’s Day.
Having
fought for both the WEC and Bellator in the past, Brookins (12-3)
made his name in the UFC by winning the twelfth season of “The
Ultimate Fighter.” He defeated Michael Johnson in the TUF
12 finale, despite being embroiled in a lawsuit from Bellator
claiming that he was still under an exclusive contract with them.
The
last time Brookins fought for Bellator was in April of 2009.
He then fought twice for G-Force Fights in 2009 and 2010 before
joining the cast of TUF 12.
Aside
from the TUF 13 finals, the June 4 fight card is also expected
to feature former WEC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis in
his UFC debut against fan favorite Clay Guida.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Giving
credit to both BJJ and Bigfoot Silva after Saturday’s Strikeforce
main event showing
By Zach
Arnold
Lost
in all of the talk about Fedor losing for the second time in
a row is the fact that he faced a bigger opponent who used better
technique and more physicality to win the fight. Eddie Goldman
reminds us that we should take some time and focus on the fighter
who advanced into the second round of the 2011 Strikeforce HW
GP tournament.
“One
of the key lessons from the incredible victory of Antonio ‘Bigfoot’
Silva over Fedor Emelianenko is: never underestimate Brazilian
Jiu-Jitsu. Yes, we’ve all seen it now. We know a triangle
choke, we know an armbar, we know all these moves that Brazilian
Jiu-Jitsu has. That doesn’t mean that you can stop its effectiveness
now just because you’ve seen it. Fabricio Werdum showed
that against Fedor Emelianenko. This is not a Royce Gracie vs.
Dan Severn where over 90% of the people watching the show, including
the announcers, never had seen a triangle (lock) before. Virtually
everybody had seen it before and yet he still was effective with
it. What Bigfoot Silva did in getting that takedown in the very
beginning of the second round, really ducking the punch from
the shorter Fedor, and Bigfoot Silva came in really with a wrestling
move and dominated Fedor Emelianenko going from mount, side control,
north/south, all those moves, we all have seen that before. Yet
because of his speed, his timing, his technique, he was effective
in them. Again, even though they were no longer the property
or understood by a tiny number of people.
“I
think this is a very important lesson that’s being lost
in this whole discussion because as shocking as Fedor’s
loss was, we also have to pay props to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and
its practitioners because the two fighters that have now beaten
him. Yes, he’s declining, he doesn’t seem to have the
speed or explosiveness that he did a few years ago, but the two
fighters that have beaten him are both primarily from Brazilian
Jiu-Jitsu and, of course, have adapted that to Mixed Martial
Arts. Never underestimate Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. This was a set
of techniques that was developed really primarily for a smaller
fighter to take on a larger opponent, including of course in
self-defense situations. Now you had a bigger fighter, Bigfoot,
much taller, stronger, bigger, and heavier, bigger reach than
Fedor and able to dominate him with that and Fedor was not able
to do much from the ground at all. That’s not a criticism
of his style of Sambo. That’s just a criticism of his ground
work and the training that he had for this fight because, again,
in the end this is Mixed Martial Arts. You use what works and
you take from all styles but the tendency has been in recent
years for a lot of people in MMA to discount Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Don’t count it out. It still is great and it’s still
is really one of the key foundations of Mixed Martial Arts.”
As
for why Fedor lost and what failed him…
“Bigfoot
said his basic game plan was to take Fedor down and ground ‘n
pound him, which is what he did. But he certainly made numerous
attempts to finish the fight on the ground with the submissions,
getting his back, getting side mount, north/south, basically
doing whatever he wanted on the ground and Fedor looked pretty
helpless and clueless. I suspect, rather than him being clueless
although he may have looked that way, that he’s just slowing
down. His body is breaking down and cannot do what he wants it
to do any more, which is why he said after the fight that he
would retire. We’re going to see whether that happens or
not.”
Despite
Fedor’s recent two losses to BJJ fighters, Eddie says that
shouldn’t whitewash the career of the former PRIDE ace:
“His
last two fights, he’s been dominated by the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
stars (Fabricio) Werdum and Bigfoot (Silva). That does not erase
the fact that he was undefeated for 10 years in a sport where
losses are commonplace, even for the best fighters including
of course Werdum. Including of course Bigfoot Silva, and every
other fighter in the Strikeforce tournament. And this is also
a sport where losses are not career-killers unlike they are in
boxing. Fedor’s record is unprecedented in the relatively
short history of Mixed Martial Arts and because of its length
and because of the caliber of fighters that he fought will be
very, very difficult to duplicate. And it’s not just in
the PRIDE days when he defeated Nogueira and Cro Cop and Coleman
and Randleman and so many other fighters, Fujita, you can look
up all those guys up. But also later. Look at his victories over
Tim Sylvia that some of the marks in the media were saying that
he was afraid to fight after Sylvia left UFC. Look at his victory
over Arlovski. Both those guys were Top 5 heavyweights, consensus,
in the world at the time they fought Fedor and they’ve never
been the same since. Those were all historic victories even though,
as I said, he’s obviously at age 34 starting to fade.”
“And
don’t, at all, discount the great career of Fedor Emelianenko,
even if he never has another fight, even if he never has another
high-profile victory. He’s an all-time great, arguably the
greatest Mixed Martial Arts heavyweight and fighter of all time
and nothing can erase that history.”
Eddie
did say on his radio show that Fedor being brought back into
the SF tournament as an alternate would ruin the tournament’s
legacy and that the tournament should be legitimate as opposed
to pull old Japanese-style marketing tactics.
Source: Fight Opinion
|
Former
UFC Fighter Dan Lauzon Stabbed During Late Night Altercation
By Mike
Chiappetta
Mixed martial artist Dan Lauzon suffered a non-life threatening
stab wound during a late night fight in a Bridgewater, Mass.
pub parking lot, according to a published report from local paper
The Enterprise.
The
newspaper's website originally named the 22-year-old in its report
before removing his name. A source close to Lauzon confirmed
to MMA Fighting that the original report was accurate and that
Lauzon needed stitches to close a cut.
His
brother, UFC lightweight Joe Lauzon, wrote a blog post that indirectly
addressed the situation, writing, "Luckily everything was
okay and it wasn't a big deal as was originally thought."
Dan
Lauzon (14-4) has fought three times in the UFC in two different
runs with the promotion, losing all three bouts. Since parting
ways with the UFC following a UFC 114 loss to Efrain Escudero,
he has won two straight fights.
According
to the Enterprise report, he was stabbed with a knife at the
top of his shoulder during a fight "with a group of men."
No further details were released.
Unfortunately
for Joe Lauzon, while leaving from his house to rush to his brother's
aid, he rolled his ankle, spraining it badly in the process.
The injury will force him to the sidelines for at least a week
and caused him to miss a planned military goodwill trip to Iraq.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Man
Up & Stand Up Tomorrow
Waipahu Filcom Center
Saturday February 19, 2011
Doors open at 6:00
Weigh
Ins
Friday Feb 18
Waipahu Filcom
5:30PM
Yes
sir, its been 3 weeks from the first man-up & stand-up show.
Here it comes one mo gen baby. The last Man-up had some jaw dropping
and also a few jaw breaking blows that got the crowd roaring.
This time around will be another hamma show with Charles Hazelwood
as the main in his first title defense against Jessie Lindley
who had a 12 second knockout in his last fight which was an mma
event. We’ll see if Jessie can get the same results with
ten ounce gloves against the Champ. As everyone knows, Charles
is well-known for his damaging leg kicks. So it would be best
for Jessie to end this fight with the same fashion that he did
his last fight. But that’s every fairy tale that all of
Charles’s opponents like to write until he kicks them back
to reality and rewrites a different ending. Come and see if fairy
tales do come true in this fight.
Also
making his first title defense, will be Joseph Garcia against
another young up and coming star who goes by the name of Ethan
Kerfoot. Garcia puts his punch, kick and knee combinations together
as well as his coaches (Edwards brothers) do. He may be only
16 but do not underestimate this young boy. Ethan who is also
16, is another one to not underestimate. He has the speed, he
has the reach, don’t know if he has the looks to be the
new champ but he don’t care (nah j/k). These two young studs
will put on a display of some major skills when the bell rings.
Will Garcia remain the champ after Saturday or will Combat 50
create another champion. Be there
Also
there will be the 6 yr old 45# title and 7 yr old 60# title on
the line. Come and watch these youngsters take each other to
the wreckshop with no crying, no tantrums and no retreat. Yup
das right, this is how we build them here on Man-up & Stand-up.
Some
other fights that will be showstopping as well as jaw dropping
is the Reckless Ronnie Villahamosa vs Justin Dulay (champion
vs champion), Kalai Mcshne vs Donovan Calluruda (fireworks-guaranteez),
Mike Uemoto vs Isaac Hopps, just come down and see for yourself
because theres too much to mention. Please believe.
TODD
PARK
160
LAWRENCE HINOJOSA
CHARLES HAZELWOOD
185
JESSIE LINDLEY
KALAI MCSHANE
125
DONOVAN CALLURUDA
MIKE UEMOTO
145
ISAAC HOPPS
PAUL BOTER
140
OLA LUM
RECKLESS RONIIE VILLAHMOSA
155
JUSTIN
DULAY
BUBBA KEKUA
165
JOSEPH ENAENA
DJ CASERIA
120
RYOTA TEZUKA
JOSEPH GARCIA
160
ETHAN KERFOOT
ANTHONY REYES
135
JENSEN DELACRUZ
JACOB CARTER
45
DIESEL VISTANTE
KONA
60
STANFORD AQUINO
ALVIN KANEHAILUA
200
BEN BOYCE
SOFA
220
KANOE KAHIKINA
ANDREW QUIZON
155
MARICE PHILLIPS
SHAWN DESANTOS
130
JOEY BALAI
CHANTE STAFFORD
115
DARRYL QUINTAS
MAKANA WIGGLESWORTH
150
ISAAC SABALA
ALIKA KUMUKOA
115
ISRAEL LOVELACE
KALEI AIWOHI
125
THOMAS REYES
ANTHONY MURAKAMI
140
LINK MERRIT
DONTEZ COLEMAN
125
JORDAN VIRA
CHANTELL BOYCE
160
AVEMAO PSYCHO PETERS
MAKOA
DESANTOS
100
NAZ HARRISON
RAD
RAJAH BRAZWELL
75
NYLEN KUKAHIKO
All
matches & participants are subject to change
Source: Derrick Bright
|
MMA
Top 10 Rankings: Fedor Loses, Shakes Up Heavyweight Ranks
The updated MMAWeekly.com World MMA Rankings were released on
Wednesday, Feb. 16. This system ranks the Top 10 MMA fighters
from all across the world in each of the seven most widely accepted
weight classes.
Taken
into consideration are a fighter’s performance in addition
to win-loss record, head-to-head and common opponents, difficulty
of opponents, and numerous other factors in what is the most
comprehensive rankings system in the sport.
Fighters
who are currently serving drug-related suspensions are not eligible
for Top 10 consideration until they have fought one time after
the completion of their suspension.
Fighters
must also have competed within the past 12 months in order to
be eligible for Top 10 consideration unless they have a bout
scheduled within a reasonable time frame.
Below
are the current MMAWeekly.com World MMA Rankings, which are up-to-date
as of Wednesday, Feb. 16.
HEAVYWEIGHT
DIVISION (over 205 pounds)
1. Cain Velasquez
2. Fabricio Werdum
3. Brock Lesnar
4. Junior Dos Santos
5. Alistair Overeem
6. Antonio Silva
7. Fedor Emelianenko
8. Shane Carwin
9. Frank Mir
10. Sergei Kharitonov
LIGHT
HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION (205-pound limit)
1. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua
2. Rashad Evans
3. Quinton Jackson
4. Lyoto Machida
5. Jon Jones
6. Forrest Griffin
7. Thiago Silva
8. Ryan Bader
9. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
10. Randy Couture
MIDDLEWEIGHT
DIVISION (185-pound limit)
1. Anderson Silva
2. Yushin Okami
3. Nathan Marquardt
4. Demian Maia
5. Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza
6. Jorge Santiago
7. Robbie Lawler
8. Michael Bisping
9. Hector Lombard
10. Vitor Belfort
WELTERWEIGHT
DIVISION (170-pound limit)
1. Georges St-Pierre
2. Jon Fitch
3. Jake Shields
4. Thiago Alves
5. Josh Koscheck
6. Nick Diaz
7. Paul Daley
8. Martin Kampmann
9. Carlos Condit
10. Chris Lytle
LIGHTWEIGHT
DIVISION (160-pound limit)
1. Frankie Edgar
2. Gilbert Melendez
3. Gray Maynard
4. Shinya Aoki
5. Eddie Alvarez
6. Tatsuya Kawajiri
7. Jim Miller
8. Kenny Florian
9. George Sotiropoulos
10. Anthony Pettis
FEATHERWEIGHT
DIVISION (145 pound-limit)
1. Jose Aldo
2. Chad Mendes
3. Manny Gamburyan
4. Diego Nunes
5. Hatsu Hioki
6. Dustin Poirier
7. Mark Hominick
8. Michihiro Omigawa
9. Josh Grispi
10. Hiroyuki Takaya
BANTAMWEIGHT
DIVISION (135 pounds or less)
1. Dominick Cruz
2. Brian Bowles
3. Joseph Benavidez
4. Scott Jorgensen
5. Miguel Torres
6. Urijah Faber
7. Brad Pickett
8. Demetrious Johnson
9. Eddie Wineland
10. Masakatsu Ueda
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Storylines
from Strikeforce ‘Fedor vs. Silva’
by Jason Probst
Antonio Silva delivered a shocking upset Saturday night, stopping
Fedor Emelianenko after two rounds and possibly even retiring
the Russian great. Silva’s win came on the heels of another
potentially career-busting knockout, as Sergei Kharitonov took
out former UFC champ Andrei Arlovski in their Strikeforce heavyweight
grand prix quarterfinal.
Strikeforce’s
tournament was designed to take the promotion to another level
in 2011, with the Silva-Emelianenko winner facing the victor
of the April 9 Fabricio Werdum-Alistair Overeem matchup in what
would be a major fight. Kharitonov is set to meet the winner
of Josh Barnett-Brett Rogers, but a reshuffling of expectations
is possible for some -- certainly not all -- in the wake of Silva’s
upset, which eliminated the tournament’s biggest attraction.
Below,
a closer look at the storylines that emerged from the first round
of the grand prix.
Fedor’s
Legacy, Version 3.0
MMA
historians were probably the most disturbed by Saturday night’s
card, with Silva’s dismantling of Emelianenko providing
a shocking example of how a legendary fighter can become suddenly
human.
Was
Fedor ever a great fighter? Unequivocally, yes. But he’s
not the same fighter he used to be. Theories on why that is may
vary, but the size and skill of today’s heavyweights cannot
be ignored as factors.
Great
fighters, over time, turn from sprinters to quarter-mile runners.
They still have the ability to do amazing things, but not as
often and with the sustained effectiveness that defined their
prime. Emelianenko showed flashes of his old self in the opening
round against Silva, using fast hands and thundering shots, but
was literally fighting a giant who towered over him.
Silva,
who reported his fight night weight at 285 pounds, was simply
too big for the 230-pound Emelianenko in all the places it mattered.
The Brazilian “Bigfoot” absorbed Fedor’s punches,
pinned him against the cage and absolutely dominated on the ground.
Once possessing some of the slipperiest hips on the planet, Fedor
no longer had the ability to make things happen, at least not
against a massive Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt like Silva.
D. Mandel
Silva
dominated Fedor on the floor.
To
Fedor’s credit, he’s still a wonderfully tough son
of a gun. His escape from Silva’s crushing arm-triangle
choke was breathtaking theater, and none could help but wonder,
as Fedor returned to his corner after the second round with his
right eye swollen shut, if the legend would come out slugging
and turn the fight around.
That
is exactly what Fedor has given to the MMA world all these years:
the sense of high drama, his comebacks from all kinds of dire
situations. On this night, it was not to be, as the fight was
waved off before the final round.
It
is hard to hold this bout against Emelianenko, same as it was
hard to judge Muhammad Ali for retiring on his stool against
former sparring partner Larry Holmes. But it’s also eminently
clear that today’s heavyweights are bigger and better than
ever. How that plays out in defining Fedor’s legacy is left
to the historians.
Silva’s
ground game and imposing style are going to be tough for anyone.
He has clearly improved since his decision loss to Werdum in
2009, and anybody he gets on the ground for a good stretch is
going to have serious problems.
Did
the UFC Get it Right?
During
the Fedor sweepstakes of 2009, the UFC reportedly offered Emelianenko
$30 million for six fights, though the Russian’s management
at M-1 Global flatly denied that such an offer was ever made.
When talks broke down, fans and pundits had varying opinions
on which party was in the right.
Since
then, the UFC has assembled a robust heavyweight division. But
when it comes to negotiation, price has everything to do with
market conditions, and conditions were absolutely perfect in
summer 2009 for a Fedor acquisition. On July 11, at the heavily
promoted UFC 100, superstar Brock Lesnar destroyed Frank Mir
in their bitter rematch, prompting much discussion of a Lesnar-Fedor
megafight.
The
UFC went fishing for Fedor, and MMA media produced reams of coverage
on the dance between Zuffa LLC and M-1, with plot twists and
recriminations aplenty regarding the reasons for the negotiations’
breakdown.
There
is no telling whether the UFC actually put a $30 million deal
on the table with Emelianenko, but regardless of what Fedor was
offered in 2009, he would not command a fraction of the price
today.
One
of the known sticking points in negotiations was the UFC’s
refusal to co-promote events with M-1 Global, as Strikeforce
did on Saturday. At this point, it is apparent that the UFC made
a wise move in refusing to do so. In 2009, Fedor’s free
agent status was a tantalizing prospect, but the UFC has shown
consistently that it will not fold to those it does not agree
with.
Fedor’s
performance on Saturday showed that, whatever that UFC offered
the Russian heavyweight, it may well have been for a once-great,
shopworn champion. Fighters can only carry a promotion for so
long, but the brand itself has to be promoted once those fighters
are no longer at the top.
Source: Sherdog
|
Years
of Watching MMA Helped Heroic Joe Lozito Help End Murder Manhunt
By Mike
Chiappetta
Joe Lozito is a longtime fan of mixed martial arts. He remembers
watching UFC 1 back in 1993, he once attended an EliteXC event
with Kimbo Slice just to watch Joey Villasenor, and on his 12th
wedding anniversary, he surprised his wife Andrea with tickets
to UFC 101. Ask him which fighters he's enjoyed watching most
over time, and he'll unfurl a laundry list ranging from Dan Severn
to Eddie Alvarez to Keith Jardine, who he admits is probably
his favorite. Lozito goes on and on, afraid to leave anyone out.
"I
admire the heck out of all the guys," he says. "I hate
to list them because I don't want to short-change anyone and
leave them out."
In
the beginning, though, Lozito had a preference for freestyle
wrestlers, which makes his story a little bit ironic and a whole
lot heroic. Because last Saturday at just a few minutes before
9 a.m. ET, Lozito executed a takedown for the ages, one that
would have made any MMA fighter proud. His heroic actions helped
capture alleged multi-murderer Maksim Gelman on a New York city
subway train.
Though
he lives in Philadelphia, Lozito works in the box office at Lincoln
Center's Avery Fisher Hall on Manhattan's Upper West Side. He
makes the two-hour commute going from the train to the New York
city subway, and was on the last leg, just a few minutes from
his final destination. He had no idea a madman was on the loose
when he was confronted by 23-year-old Gelman with knife in hand.
As Gelman drew close, he flashed the blade.
I knew if I sat there and turtled up, I was not getting off that
train alive.
-- Joe Lozito
"You're going to die. You're going to die," Gelman
told him.
In
a blink, a series of thoughts went through Lozito's head.
"I
knew if I sat there and turtled up, I was not getting off that
train alive," Lozito told MMA Fighting. "If I fought
back, there was also a chance I wouldn't get off the train alive,
but I didn't want to be a sitting duck. It was survival at its
purest instinct."
Taking
the offensive, the 6-foot-2, 260-pound Lozito, who had been sitting
down, shot in at Gelman's mid-section, with the impact sending
the two crashing to the ground. Gelman slashed at him, but Lozito
instinctively went for the madman's wrists, eventually forcing
the knife out of his hands with the help of fast-acting transit
officers Terrance Howell and Tamara Taylor along with off-duty
Detective Marcelo Razzo.
During
the fight, Lozito suffered wounds on his head, face, arm and
hand.
"I
don't know the total number of stitches and staples but the wound
on the back of my head, I saw a picture of it yesterday and it
looked like a Friday the 13th movie," he said. "I don't
know the number other than it's a lot. The EMTs and doctors did
an amazing job."
Though
he's never trained in MMA due to his work hours and commute,
Lozito credits his years of watching the sport with helping him
to keep a presence of mind about the situation.
"It
was my instinct to get him down," Lozito said. "Like
getting an opponent down in MMA, what do you do? You go for the
legs. When we were on the ground he was flailing at me with that
knife. I just wanted to get control of that right wrist. In the
process, he got me on my thumb and left triceps, but I was aiming
towards getting control of his wrist for sure."
Gelman
had allegedly murdered four people and injured five during a
weekend of violence before he was finally captured. Lozito has
repeatedly said he doesn't consider himself a hero, but most
others would beg to differ, including his wife Andrea, New York
police and UFC president Dana White.
White,
who happened to be in New York over the weekend, heard about
the story and met with Lozito, offering his family a VIP experience
at the upcoming UFC 128 event in Newark, New Jersey. Lozito says
it's more than just a nice display of gratitude. He said in the
time since the traumatic event, he's had trouble sleeping due
to recurring thoughts of the traumatic incident. But he says
the experience of meeting White and the promise of what's to
come has him at least occasionally thinking of more positive
things.
"I've
been trying to equate it to something else to tell people how
exited I was, so I would say it was like a 13-year-old girl meeting
Justin Bieber," Lozito said. "The UFC has treated us
so spectacularly. His generosity is amazing. The reality is they
didn't have to do anything, but the fact that he was nice enough
to do this, and ask if our kids would want to go, and what could
he do for my kids ... There's really no words I can say that
describe my emotions towards Mr. White and the UFC. It's not
something they had to do. This is ridiculous to me. It's lunacy
that he wants to meet me."
"I'm
blown away," White told TMZ after the meeting. "Not
only is what he did brave, incredible and unselfish, but he's
one of the most humble guys you'll ever meet."
Andrea
Lozito says Joe is the type of person that always puts himself
last, as evidenced by his long daily commute to help support
his family -- which includes 10-year-old Joseph and 7-year-old
Dominic -- and keep them in the neighborhood they prefer. Lozito
has been making the long round-trip since 2005.
"His
mind set is, 'I'm doing what I'm supposed to do,'" she said.
"As humble as he's coming across in this incident, that's
how he lives everyday life. Another person might not have been
brave enough or had the presence to take him down. If it was
me, I probably would have cowered in fear, and I wouldn't be
here. I think he still doesn't realize what he's done."
Lozito
is not only a longtime MMA fan, but he also used to work at Madison
Square Garden, and has followed with interest the developments
of the state government as they have failed to pass legislation
to sanction the sport. He says if he was asked, he'd have no
problem speaking up on behalf of the sport to the powers that
be. MMA's most vocal opponent in the state has been Assemblyman
Bob Reilly, who infamously said, "Violence begets violence,"
theorizing that the sport is bad for society. Yet, here we have
an MMA fan who is a good family man, a fan who was put in a situation
where he says watching MMA is partly responsible for the instincts
that helped him end a manhunt, capture an alleged multi-murderer,
and stay alive.
"I
just wish these people would take the time to learn the athletes
and ins and outs of the sport," he said. "If the UFC
or MMA needed me to be a face and a voice for the fans, I'm all
for that. We're a good group of fans. We're not thugs or criminals.
I've been to many events and have not sat next to a neanderthal
yet. Like any other fan base, you'll have some bad eggs, but
you can't let the actions of a few people ruin it for the rest.
MMA fans are great fans, and if Mr. White ever came to me and
said, 'Would you mind speaking as the voice of the fans,' I'd
run through a wall for them, the way they've treated me and my
family.'"
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Fedor
Emelianenko still has will to fight
By Josh Gross
Fedor Emelianenko's storied mixed martial arts career will not
come to an end following Saturday's technical knockout loss to
Antonio Silva.
Emelianenko,
34, expressed his desire to continue fighting on Tuesday, his
promoter, M-1 Global, confirmed to ESPN.com.
"I
rushed to declare my retirement," Emelianenko told media
in Moscow, according to translated reports. "I am capable
of having a few more fights."
Fedor Emelianenko can't fight in New Jersey for at least 90 days
as a result of Saturday's injuries.
Moments after a New Jersey State Athletic Control Board-licensed
doctor stopped the bout between the second and third periods
due to severe damage around Emelianenko's right eye, the former
Pride heavyweight champion declared it might be time to retire.
Members
of his camp suggested the best heavyweight of the last decade
could take up to two weeks to determine the fate of his career
-- apparently he needed just two days.
Evgeni
Kogan, head of global operations for M-1, of which Emelianenko
holds an ownership stake, "seriously doubted" reports
that the heavyweight would attempt to win his sixth World Combat
Sambo Championships title Feb. 25 in St. Petersburg. Reports
in Russian media suggested Emelianenko would make a quick turnaround
despite the pummeling he suffered against Silva.
"He
is very keen to fight again though," Kogan said.
Emelianenko
(31-3) remains under contract to Strikeforce for three bouts
after signing an extension earlier this year. Strikeforce CEO
Scott Coker said if Emelianenko remained active, a bout against
the loser of April 9's Strikeforce Heavyweight World Grand Prix
quarterfinal between Fabricio Werdum and Alistair Overeem would
likely come next. Coker also suggested that Emelianenko is eligible
to return to the tournament as an alternate.
Reports
following Saturday's card indicated Emelianenko suffered a broken
orbital bone and required hospitalization. Neither is true, several
sources close to the fighter said.
Emelianenko's
bout against Silva (16-2), which headlined the first leg of Strikeforce's
single-elimination eight-fighter tournament in front of a crowd
of 11,287 at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J., established
a record for viewership of mixed martial arts on Showtime. The
average audience -- 741,000, with a peak rating of 1.1 million
during the main event -- bested an August 2009 card featuring
Gina Carano and Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos by more than
20 percent.
Josh
Gross covers mixed martial arts for ESPN.com.
Source: ESPN
|
Dave
Meltzer: Strikeforce needs to move on from Fedor and they’ll
be better for doing so
By Zach
Arnold
A
three-parter from Sunday night’s radio show de jour.
The
first passage deals with Fedor wanting to retire and why no one
seemingly will let the man do so.
BRYAN
ALVAREZ: “When I read last night Scott Coker, I don’t
know if we talked about this on the show last night, but Coker
and Vadim Finkelchtein, both of them, talking about ‘oh,
ho, no he’s not retiring, he’s going to come back,’
and Coker just seems like he completely blew off the idea that
Fedor was retiring and Vadim seemed to be strongly suggesting
that this poor guy was going to coming back.”
DAVE
MELTZER: “What’s Vadim without Fedor?”
BRYAN
ALVAREZ: “Well, that’s the point. And then today when
I read in the update today that people that actually spoke Russian,
when they heard what Fedor said and then what Roseanne translated
it was completely different or at least different in the sense…”
DAVE
MELTZER: “It wasn’t completely different, but she lightened
it. He was saying that he retired and she was saying that he
was thinking of retiring.”
BRYAN
ALVAREZ: “Yeah, let this poor damn guy retire! If he wants
to retire, let him go.”
DAVE
MELTZER: “I think there’s too many people relying on
him, you know, I mean he’s going to (have to) go out kicking
and screaming, they’re not going to accept it.”
BRYAN
ALVAREZ: “This, right here, is a tragedy if it happens.”
DAVE
MELTZER: “It feels really sad in a lot of ways. If he doesn’t
want to fight, you know, let him not fight.”
BRYAN
ALVAREZ: “I mean just this idea of, you know… I don’t
know, all three of them really annoyed me. Coker and just like
not taking it seriously at all.”
DAVE
MELTZER: “Well… you know the thing with Coker is that
Coker’s probably been watching too much wrestling and seeing
all these guys retire and they never do so he just doesn’t
take it so seriously.”
BRYAN
ALVAREZ: “Yeah, but, man it just came off so callous. And
the same thing with M-1. I mean, Vadim is obviously…”
DAVE
MELTZER: “I didn’t hear, you know, maybe he did come
callous. I only…”
BRYAN
ALVAREZ: “I’m just reading the quotes, I don’t
even know how he said it. But, you know… every quote was
like, ‘oh, no, he’ll be back, in fact he may be an
alternate’ and this and that. Just like, man, the guy made
it clear he really doesn’t want to do this now and why would
you throw a guy back in there who you’re forcing to, I don’t
know.”
DAVE
MELTZER: “Well, they’re not going to force him. I mean,
you know… I mean at the end of the day, he can not fight.”
BRYAN
ALVAREZ: “The Russians may force him.”
DAVE
MELTZER: “The Russians may force him. That’s true.
That’s true, which is really quite sad.”
The
second passage deals with why Mr. Coker, M-1, and others just
won’t let go of Fedor when they should for the sake of the
man’s career and for the sake of their business goals.
DAVE
MELTZER: “OK, here’s the other thing. With the amount
of money that it costs to get this guy, okay? He has to draw
and we don’t even know if he drew for this one, but even
going forward is he going to draw going forward? I don’t
know. I mean, it’s almost like they’re better off without
him.”
BRYAN
ALVAREZ: “Yeah.”
DAVE
MELTZER: “I mean, it’s like… you know… to
me it’s like, okay, now he’s lost twice, he doesn’t
have leverage, he can’t hold you up, he can’t renegotiate
after every show. They can’t have, you know, make you say
M-1 Global as the promotion on your show and things like that.
So, you know, it’s like, okay, he’s served his purpose
and, you know, if he wants to come back and fight… but he
shouldn’t, you know, he shouldn’t be able to dictate
anything because he’s got no power any more. If he wants
to fight, fine, that’s cool, you know. If he doesn’t
want to fight, that’s cool, move on. You know, don’t
like act like it’s still two fights ago where, you know,
he’s… people are believing he’s number on the
world so there’s some sort of a value in having as number
one in the world even though, again, he still wasn’t a big
enough draw. But now, I mean, what’s the deal? He’s
just another, he’s just another Heavyweight fighter who,
you know, I mean was once great, you know, just like he’s
a step above Nogueira. Once, again, what’s Nogueira now?
He’s just a guy on the roster. That’s Fedor. Fedor’s
a, you know, I mean, you know, former Living Legend and all that,
but… you know, if he’s not there, I don’t think
that Strikeforce goes down the tubes if Fedor isn’t there,
at all.”
BRYAN
ALVAREZ: “No.”
DAVE
MELTZER: “You know, I mean, they got to be preparing for
the future. I mean, no matter what, I don’t know that Fedor
has given no indication he’s going to come back and dominate
and certainly not as a Heavyweight with the new crop of Heavyweights
that’s there. So… I mean, you don’t need to bend
over backwards for him. You know, like this whole thing with
wins and losses, it’s like if a guy loses he loses his leverage.
…”
BRYAN
ALVAREZ: “Let me say one more thing about when you talk
about building for the future. You know, obviously, you know
I give Coker a little bit of the benefit of the doubt because
I mean, obviously, the big story last night was Fedor and that’s
all anybody was ever asking about. But, same time, it’s
like all these interviews is just Fedor, Fedor, he may come back,
he may be an alternate, you never know what’s going to happen
in the tournament, guys may come back in. It’s just like,
talk about who won. Let’s talk about Bigfoot and…”
DAVE
MELTZER: “They did the same thing with Werdum! You know,
if you think about it, like Werdum should be so much more of
a big star than he is.”
BRYAN
ALVAREZ: “Yeah!”
DAVE
MELTZER: “I mean, he submitted Fedor, and it was like when
it was over, a lot of this is the fan base, too. Again, like,
the fans, everyone, everywhere all they’re talking about
is Fedor this, Fedor that, Fedor this, and you know that’s
what happens when you’re kind of a superstar in some ways.
You know, no one’s talking about, you know like when Cain
Velasquez beat Lesnar, people were talking about Cain Velasquez.
For whatever reason, you know, when Silva won, they’re all
talking about Fedor. It’s like Silva didn’t prove anything,
you know, I don’t know. I mean, you know, Silva may go win
this whole thing for all we know. I mean, he’s got as good
of a, you know, I don’t want to say he’s got as good
of a shot as anybody but he’s certainly got a shot.”
Dana
White: Fedor has been bad for the sport and has caused damage
The
launching point is about Dave’s Sunday phone call with Dana
White. He said that Mr. White had arrived in New York and that
he spent the majority of the call ranting and raving against
Fedor ‘nuthuggers’ and about his Twitter battles.
“It
is different. I mean, the one thing when, you know, I looked
at all that stuff that he’s doing on Twitter and I’m
just thinking, you know, he’s the head of this league and
it’s like, granted, you know Dana’s going to be what’s
Dana’s going to be and I don’t think that’s necessarily
a negative and I mean, you know, if we’re adding the pluses
and minuses on this business that Dana White’s had, it’s
very, very strongly on the plus side, you know. There are minuses,
of course, but the thing is like, I just could not imagine like,
you know, the head of the NBA or any sports league going on there,
you know, getting, you know… Going on Twitter, getting mad
at people who are saying that, you know, you should treat Fedor
with more respect. And I mean, from his perspective, you know,
because that was what he was ranting about… in his mind,
Fedor is a guy who, you know, ruined, you know, I mean not single-handedly
but had a hand in ruining several companies because of his outrageous
demands. Then again, to me, it’s the companies’ fault
for paying him, you know, I mean if it was up to me, you know,
you can’t pay a guy for more than he’s worth as a draw
unless you have a bottomless pit of money and evidently all these
companies who went out of business whether they said had a bottomless
pit of money, evidently at the end they did not…
“And,
so, you know, so (Dana’s) going like, how did (Fedor) help
the business by putting these companies out? And, for all these
years, you know, if he was so great for the business, all these
fights that people wanted to see, he wouldn’t do ‘em.
You know, so, you know, again and I guess the flip argument is
he didn’t want to work for UFC and he did agree to fight
(Josh) Barnett. He did fight, you know, Sylvia and Arlovski,
you know, which whatever that means, you know, people can debate
that back and forth. But it wasn’t like in the last couple
of years he, I mean the only one he, you know, I mean, Kharitonov
hadn’t really been around. He was going to fight Barnett
but the drug test thing got in his way so it wasn’t like
he backed off of a Barnett fight or wouldn’t fight Barnett.
He didn’t fight Overeem but, you know, the fact is that
he entered this tournament where there was a pretty good darn
chance that he would fight Overeem and, you know, the Russians
for whatever you want to say, they didn’t try to force their
hand on the bracketing and say, ‘no, no, no, he needs to
be on this other side with Josh Barnett.’ They, you know,
I don’t know if they could have but evidently the fact is
that, you know, he was on a collision course with either, you
know, Werdum or Overeem, except that he lost.”
Source: Fight Opinion
|
Eddie
Alvarez Defends Bellator Lightweight Title Against Pat Curran
on April 2
by Damon
Martin
Eddie Alvarez will finally get to defend his Bellator lightweight
title, and last season’s tournament winner Pat Curran will
finally get his shot.
The
lightweights have been paired up to meet with the Bellator championship
on the line on April 2 as a part of season 4 series airing on
MTV2. Sources close to the match-up confirmed the bout and the
date with MMAWeekly.com on Wednesday. MMAFighting.com was the
first to report the bout.
Curran
was originally supposed to face Alvarez after his improbable
run through the lightweight tournament last year, including a
win over former UFC lightweight Roger Huerta. An injury forced
him to the sidelines where he waited for a chance to finally
get a crack at Alvarez.
Even
though Curran has been out since June, Alvarez stayed busy fighting
Huerta in October 2010, and dominated the former Sports Illustrated
cover boy by TKO after two rounds of action.
Alvarez
has been on a tear over his last six fights, finishing all of
his opponents along the way.
Alvarez
vs. Curran will lead the way on the April 2 card which takes
place as part of the season 4 format for Bellator airing on MTV2.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Dana
White on boxing prices: 'That model doesn't work'
By Sergio Non
Recommend Do large revenues trump large audiences?
The
size of a crowd at an event isn't as important as the size of
the live gate, boxing promoter Bob Arum said this week, during
a roundtable with USA TODAY journalists. The head of the Ultimate
Fighting Championship begs to differ.
Pricing
tickets expensively might generate short-term profits, but it
detracts from a sport's ability to build a loyal fanbase, UFC
President Dana White believes. He spoke to USA TODAY about it
on Wednesday:
Q:
You've had a string of sellouts lately. How has your average
ticket price held up?
Very
well.
I
don't want to do crazy, overpriced tickets like boxing does.
Somebody asked me, "How come you guys don't do gates like
boxing does? $20 million, $30 million gates?" Because boxing's
a completely different model.
That
model doesn't work. Real people buy tickets to the UFC events.
These guys (in boxing) did all these events in Las Vegas, and
the tickets were insanely priced where fans couldn't even buy
them, and the casinos bought them all up.
We
don't do that. We sold 55,000 tickets in Toronto to UFC fans.
Q:
If you can get a big live gate, why not go for it?
I
consider what we're doing right now a big, live gate, especially
in this economy.
Q:
Ok, but if you can do a bigger live gate, why not do it?
I
just don't think that's good for long term. I just don't think
you do that. I don't think you charge that much money for tickets.
We
already have one of the highest ticket prices in sports, if you
look at our average ticket price, and we kill it.
I
mean, how greedy are you going to get? (chuckles)
About
55,000 tickets sold last week for UFC 129, set to take place
April 30 at Toronto's Rogers Centre. That's more than double
the North American record for a live crowd.
UFC
President Dana White, left, met Joseph Lozito on Monday. Police
say Lozito helped stop a serial stabber in New York. Although
he has no formal training, Lozito says he tried to use techniques
he saw used in UFC fights. CAPTIONBy Frank Franklin II, APBoxing
has topped 50,000 at least three times for indoor venues in the
United States.
Manny
Pacquiao-Joshua Clottey drew almost 51,000 last year at Cowboys
Stadium in Dallas. More than 63,000 showed up when Muhammad Ali
fought Leon Spinks in 1978 at the Louisiana Superdome in New
Orleans. Almost 59,000 saw Julio Cesar Chavez take on Pernell
Whitaker in 1993 at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
Source: USA Today
|
George
Roop Gets New UFC Deal
By Matt
Erickson
Despite a TKO loss in his UFC debut last month, featherweight
George Roop has signed a new five-fight deal with the promotion.
Sources
close to Roop's camp told MMA Fighting the news and confirmed
the Tucson, Ariz.-based fighter had also signed the deal for
his next fight against Josh Grispi at the Season 13 finale of
"The Ultimate Fighter" in June.
Roop
lost to Mark Hominick, his former training partner and teammate
under Shawn Tompkins, at the UFC's Fight for the Troops show
at Fort Hood, Texas, last month. Hominick knocked Roop down several
times in the first round, and ultimately earned the TKO win just
1:28 into the fight.
And
though his stint in the WEC in 2010 saw him go 1-1-1, giving
him just one win in his last four fights, the Zuffa brass gave
him another fight and a new contract.
Roop
is in his second stint with the UFC. In 2008, he was a cast member
of Season 8 of "The Ultimate Fighter" as a lightweight.
Following that season, he went 1-2 in the company with a split
decision loss to Shane Nelson, a split decision win over Dave
Kaplan and a submission loss to George Sotiropoulos.
Following
the loss to Sotiropoulos, he was cut loose. He dropped to featherweight
for a win in his home city of Tucson at a Rage in the Cage event
before signing with the WEC – where he dropped to bantamweight
to fight former champion Eddie Wineland. But Wineland dominated
Roop in the standup game, sweeping a 30-27 unanimous decision.
Roop
got back to work less than two months later in his return to
featherweight – where the 6-foot-1 fighter says he is the
most comfortable – and had a Fight of the Night bout against
Leonard Garcia that resulted in a split draw. He picked up another
bonus check at WEC 51 last September when he knocked out "The
Korean Zombie," Chan Sung Jung, with a head kick.
In
October 2009, Roop's 7-year-old son Julian died. His win a month
later got him into the WEC. And after moving back to Tucson from
Las Vegas, where he was training with Tompkins, Roop told MMA
Fighting last month he believes the move home was best for him
and his fiancee, who recently gave birth to a son, Payden, to
go along with Roop's fraternal twins.
"I'm
back in Tucson, so I'm loving that," Roop said. "I've
got all my friends here, all my old training partners, a lot
of my old coaches – and my No. 1 old training partner, (Bellator
bantamweight) Ed West."
Roop's
fight against Grispi takes place at The Pearl at The Palms in
Las Vegas on June 4 as part of the TUF 13 finale card, which
will be headlined by a lightweight contenders fight between Clay
Guida and final WEC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Law
Practice Set, Tyron Glover Takes MMA Return to MFC 28
by Mick
Hammond
It’s not often an athlete can take five years off from a
sport and come back and compete at the same level they had before,
let alone be better, but that’s something Colorado lightweight
Tyrone “T-Money” Glover is intent on achieving.
Having
spent five years off from MMA to concentrate on getting his law
practice up and running, Glover returned this past November with
an impressive win over Nick Buschman in the Fight to Win promotion.
“I
thought I’d have a little bit of ring rust, but I kind of
went right out there and did well,” said Glover to MMAWeekly.com.
“It
helped that I had a good presence in the audience who came out
to support me. I’m real big on feeling like the fans in
the crowd out there are showing up to see a great performance
and that’s what I delivered. I felt good and felt like I
got right back in my groove and was good to go.”
When
Glover left MMA in 2005, the lightweight division was in disarray
with few promotions supporting the weight class and the UFC lacking
a champion. With circumstances different in the present day,
Glover felt he still had what it took to continue where he had
left off.
“I
really wanted to get back in there,” he stated. “I
had a milestone I wanted to accomplish. I wanted to get my law
career started and I felt that I still had the body; I still
had the skills and resources that I should take another shot
at it and give it another go.”
Not
only was Glover intent on returning for himself, fellow fighter
Josh Ford served as a form of inspiration for his return.
“He
actually fought in July and I cornered him,” commented Glover.
“He did all the training having a family and two businesses
and was able to make it happen. So I figured if he could make
it happen, I could make it happen.”
Enter
the expert trainers and top tier training partners at the famed
Grudge Training Center and Glover now finds himself competing
on the upcoming HDNet televised MFC 28: Supremacy show on Feb.
25 against Robert Washington.
“He’s
a real tough wrestler who definitely has the gas to go all three
rounds and keep up the pressure,” said Glover of Washington.
“What you should expect is that this guy’s gonna bring
it and so am I.
“I’m
a finisher. Five of my six fights have been finished in the first
round by submission. I like to get in there and get out. I’m
looking to finish hopefully in the first, but I’ll take
it in the second or third (as well).”
For
Glover, his success outside MMA means that he can focus on a
very specific aspect of the sport.
“The
overall goal is to make improvements in every training camp and
fight I have,” he stated. “I don’t necessarily
have a goal as far as how many wins I want to rack up, whether
I want to grab a belt or not. I feel like making those sorts
of goals are sort of out of your control.
“The
things I can control is how much I’m improving between each
fight, how much more focused I become with each fight, and how
much a complete martial artist I become each day.”
Glover
isn’t content on reveling in past glory, but instead wants
to forge a new chapter for himself and be even better than before.
“I’d
like to thank all my training partners at Grudge, Easton and
Paragon Jiu-Jitsu; my sponsors: Full Tilt Poker, No Gi and Ink’d
Out; and everyone that’s helped me,” he closed out.
“Go to TyroneGlover.com for all the information on my next
bout, Feb. 25, MFC on HDNet Fights.
“I
go out there to perform and part of my performance is ending
the fight. So look for me to go out there and win in impressive
fashion.”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Dave
Meltzer criticizes HDNet being allowed to discuss UFC on the
Strikeforce prelims show
By Zach
Arnold
I’m
not sure what to make of this, so make of this radio show commentary
what you will.
“It
was a fantastic show, I thought, you know, as far as compared
to previous Strikeforce shows. I mean they… they built up
the next round of the tournament, they made the tournament out
to be a big deal. They had the video packages. You know, they
promoted Gina Carano’s return. I just thought overall and,
you know of course, they had very good fights so I mean that,
you know, that’s something different but from a production
standpoint a lot of the weaknesses that, you know, Strikeforce
has had, you know not so much Strikeforce has had, that Showtime’s
had because Showtime’s the one that does this. It seems
as they kind of like learned and it was just a really fast-paced
I thought very entertaining show.
“It
really felt like, it felt like a major league show. You know,
it didn’t feel like they were the secondary group other
than some very strange things that they did during this show
but that’s, you know… they have the mentality that
they are a sport and their main competitor has the mentality
that they are a business and I see that, you know, it’s
just a different, you know, different thing. I mean it just amazed
me when, you know, again, it’s HDNet covering it as a sport
and, you know, Greg Jackson’s there and they interview Greg
Jackson and ask him about, you know, how Rashad Evans is doing
and how Jonny Jones is doing and, you know, its your competitor
and your competitor who’s running in a month, you know,
in the same market basically and it was just weird to see. I
mean I understand that they’re saying ‘well, we’re
just covering it like it’s a sport,’ but you know UFC
wouldn’t do that, you know, and… you know they have
to realize that they are in a war and the guy who’s on top
in the war absolutely knows he’s in a war and behaves like
he’s in a war, and you know as their television goes if
they’re going to say, ‘well, we’re not in a war,’
they’re probably going to lose a war when you pretend you’re
not in it and the other guy who’s more powerful than you
knows he’s in it and is pounding on you, so… It’ll
take, you know, I don’t know, it was just really, really
interesting to see that they… they have the mentality that
they’re not in a war.”
Later
on in the radio show…
“An
easy thing to watch and they did the Greg Jackson interview which
was just… interesting. I mean, I get it from their standpoint
because because from an HDNet standpoint you watch Inside MMA…
in their minds, they are people who are covering the sport of
MMA. Okay? But they were, you know, covering a promotion by,
you know, then going out there and acting like that the promotion’s
rival is actually the more important promotion and that’s
kind of weird when you’re watching, you know, a Strikeforce
event and they’re basically telling you, ‘yo, you know
like, you know there’s Jon Jones and Rashad Evans and all
this, this is like the important stuff.’ “
Let
me also mention (before I forget) some comments Alistair Overeem
made last week to Josh Gross & Jon Anik at ESPN.
JOSH
GROSS: “The belt’s not on the line, we know that. But
do you still feel, as champion, that every fight you’re
in is a championship fight, essentially you’re defending
the title the way people perceive you to be?”
ALISTAIR
OVEREEM: “I don’t know. I don’t know. I mean,
the belt is not on the line so that means the belt is not on
the line. I am a champion, yes I am a K-1 champion, yes I am
the DREAM Heavyweight champion, yes, but does everything, am
I representing these organizations? I think I’m representing
myself.”
(Later
on…)
INTERVIEWER:
“You’ve basically been huge in Japan for a long time
now. Do you feel that it’s time that you got over here and
fought on North American soil a little more to get your name
built up? It seems a lot of people know the name but they don’t
see a lot of fights.”
ALISTAIR
OVEREEM: “Yeah, I definitely do think that. I’ve been
wanting to fight in Strikeforce for a while but, yeah, the problem
Fedor didn’t want to fight me, Werdum was injured after
that fight, there were no interesting fights for me and for me
the challenge was to do the K-1. That was my goal and I won that
tournament, but now it’s time for me to come to the States.
Yeah, I’m going to do the fight(s) and show the American
fans some great stuff. The time is here now and I believe this
is going to be it.”
Interesting
times ahead in the Strikeforce portion of the MMA world. I like
the idea of HDNet covering the preliminary fights and airing
them. Showtime should be doing this, but we know the reported
reason they don’t (‘airing undercard fights is a UFC
thing’). Some TV coverage is better than none at all.
Source: Fight Opinion
|
New
York MMA: An underground story
By Josh
Gross
Contrary
to public opinion, mixed martial arts can be found in New York.
Unsanctioned, untaxed and unencumbered by athletic commission
oversight -- so long as alcohol isn't served and fighters aren't
paid -- the sport can and does happen in the city.
Since
2003, the Underground Combat League has promoted 23 cards in
and around Manhattan. From gyms to warehouses to, most recently,
a mosque, promoter Peter Storm, 34, has maintained a place for
mixed-style fighting -- in this case the kind that harks back
to UFC 1 and its "anything goes" rules -- in the only
state in the country where professional MMA is illegal, rendered
so after then Gov. George Pataki labeled the sport "barbaric"
and urged the state legislature to outlaw it in 1997.
If
it sounds similar to "Fight Club," Storm likes that
impression; it helps his UCL's branding.
"But,"
he said, "the truth is, that's not what it is. Nobody is
fighting on rooftops, throwing each other through glass. None
of that stuff. It's guys who are mixed martial artists based
out of New York, and what they want to do is test their skills
on a level playing field where, if they feel like they can do
well, they can progress."
Jonathan
Rodriguez, 22, and Israel Martinez, 27, have fought for Storm
several times. Self-described "nobodies" in New York's
underground scene, both claim they love to fight and are fortunate
to do so.
To
prove their point, on Feb. 8 they stood in front of 250 Broadway,
enduring wind-swept lower Manhattan at lunch hour. Massive snowdrifts
from winter's megastorms were gone, but it was cold enough for
unprepared pedestrians to congregate near street vendors who
were selling $5 beanies.
The
address wasn't random.
Inside
sit the offices of Sheldon Silver, speaker of the New York State
Assembly. He's also known as the man in Albany (where he was
on this day) who determines which bills hit the assembly floor.
Although vocal MMA opponents such as Democratic Assemblyman Bob
Reilly object to the legalization of the sport on so-called moral
and societal grounds, it's Silver who will determine the immediate
fortunes of MMA, as he does everything else in the state.
Thus
far, despite millions of dollars invested by Zuffa to lobby Silver's
stronghold in upstate New York, despite economic impact statements
that promise millions of dollars for the Empire State's coffers
once the Ultimate Fighting Championship can legally run events
there, the speaker has not felt the need to move.
Several
weeks earlier, the UFC held a news conference at Madison Square
Garden to raise awareness for its efforts. The session was aimed
at convincing recently elected Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo to
include language for the legalization of MMA in his first budget.
The governor did not oblige, which is why Rodriguez, Martinez
and approximately 50 other MMA die-hards rallied within the shadow
of City Hall to support the Coalition to Legalize Mixed Martial
Arts -- a nonpartisan group of volunteers created by Stephen
Koepfer, whose mission is exactly as it sounds.
Thus
far, despite millions of dollars invested by Zuffa and despite
economic impact statements that promise millions of dollars for
the Empire State's coffers once the UFC can legally run events
there, New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has not
felt the need to move.
"At
the press conference, when someone asked [UFC president] Dana
[White] if he was frustrated and angry about this, he said he
wasn't really frustrated because they don't need New York; [UFC]
can make their money elsewhere," said Koepfer, better known
in these circles as "Sambo" Steve. The 42-year-old,
who was born and raised in Queens, said, "That's not the
attitude you want to have when you're speaking for New Yorkers."
The
rally -- the first of its kind -- motivated Rodriguez, a student
at Borough of Manhattan Community College, to attend a second
gathering planned for Albany this March.
"It
starts here," he said. "We have to get the letters
out. They have to hear our voice. If we really want it and we're
really as passionate about it as we say, we're going to do anything
that it takes."
"If
the legislators don't know what we want," Koepfer said,
"they won't vote for it."
And
if they don't vote for it, nothing will change -- including events
promoted by the Underground Combat League. Storm connects with
fans via text messaging and social media, where information about
upcoming cards is disseminated 48 hours before events. An average
of three to four cards take place each year.
Jim
Genia, a journalist who has covered the local New York fight
scene closely since 2001, covers Underground Combat League in
his forthcoming book, "Raw Combat.
"Its
greatest purpose is that it was accessible," Genia said
of Storm's New York City-based cards. "It provides a service
to fans and fighters alike because it gives them a taste of what
mixed martial arts competition is."
For
some, that makes sense.
Kevin
Wall, 49, grew up within earshot of Evel Knievel's motorcycles
in Butte, Mont., and fights "'cause I can." Local kung
fu students hoping to match their style against another martial
arts style can do so in the UCL. And young prospects with aspirations
of one day holding a UFC championship belt, a la underground
veteran Frankie Edgar, can make their debuts here as well.
Edgar's
bout in 2005 is registered as the only amateur fight of his career
-- a first-round technical knockout victory via strikes against
the Underground Combat League's best fighter at the time, Eric
Uresk -- according to MMA.tv, which was hired by the Association
of Boxing Commissions to be its official record keeper for MMA.
Results,
however, aren't always traceable. The inability to track who's
doing what on any given weekend is a major hazard of unsanctioned
events like Storm's, said Nick Lembo, who has served as counsel
for the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board since 1995.
This
is one of several major differences between amateur MMA in New
Jersey -- a model program since its implementation in 2005 --
and the unregulated kind in New York.
Peter Storm isn't just the promoter of New York-based Underground
Combat League -- he's also a fighter.
To
compare neighboring states, New Jersey features 19 amateur weight
categories. Underground Combat League has none. And although
Storm attempts to match opponents by size and experience, he
has made fights between competitors with more than a 100-pound
weight differential. Kicks to the head are prohibited in New
Jersey, as are elbow strikes, heel hooks and other techniques.
Virtually anything goes in New York; it's up to the fighters
involved to determine their rules.
Prefight
and postfight medical examinations are required in New Jersey.
Not so in New York, where a medical presence rarely extends beyond
EMTs, who are paid by Storm.
Amateur
fighters in the Garden State are also subject to blood testing
for HIV and hepatitis B and C.
"I
can't tell you how many [times] you have someone that has hep
C or HIV or fails a drug test," Lembo said. "You're
really putting everyone at risk without checking for those things."
Contestants
over the age of 40 in New Jersey must submit MRI/MRA head scans,
stress tests and an evaluation of blood flow through the arteries
to be licensed. If they don't, or if they lose like Wall did
in New Jersey and refuse to meet additional testing requirements,
they won't get licensed. In New York, you can fight after your
license is denied just across the Hudson River, and you don't
have to pay $900 in fees for the privilege.
Storm
trumpeted the safety record of his cards, suggesting that concussions
and a couple of broken arms -- one of which was his; he fights,
too -- are as bad as it gets.
"I
think it's partially luck, it's partially the natural oversight
of referees in the sport that guys don't get seriously injured,"
said Genia, the journalist who has attended 22 of the league's
23 events, missing just one for his wedding in Thailand.
The
only thing remotely similar between amateur MMA in New York and
New Jersey is a passion for the game and the lack of compensation
for fighters.
"It's
what I enjoy doing," Rodriguez said. "It's what gets
me away from the stress of school, of work, of everyday life.
It's what I'm into. I'm going to continue to do it no matter
if it does become legal in New York or not."
Source: ESPN
|
Hughes
and BJ Penn’s training
Adversity
makes strange bedfellows… or is it politcs?
Nevertheless,
mixed martial arts competition seems to make for odd alliances
as well.
Case
in point, who would have thought that after a three-fight series
that saw B.J. Penn win twice and Matt Hughes once, that the two
former UFC welterweight champions would be training together?
That’s
what happened recently when the Hawaiian fighting legend invited
the UFC Hall of Famer to Hawaii to help Penn train for his UFC
127 main event bout with Jon Fitch. Hughes gladly accepted.
“B.J.
Penn had texted me a couple of weeks ago to see if I had some
time to come out and train and get him ready for Fitch. After
that initial call, I checked my schedule, said I could come,
and had him send me Fitch’s last five fights,” Hughes
wrote in his official blog on Monday.
It
seems a little odd on the surface, seeing as how the two have
had a rivalry that lasted nearly seven years. Training with Hughes
in preparation for Fitch makes perfect sense for Penn, however.
Fitch is an accomplished wrestler with a decent stand-up game
and a few submissions that he’s really good at. Hughes is
also an accomplished wrestler with a decent stand-up game and
a few submissions that he’s really good at.
The
magic number in MMA rivalries appears to be three. So it’s
unlikely that the two will set foot in the Octagon together any
time soon, especially with Hughes nearing the end of his storied
career, making it the right time for their careers to converge.
“I
think we got some good training in,” wrote Hughes. “I’d
love to sit here and tell you what we worked on, but I just can’t.
“It
was a great experience for me. First off, I got to train with
BJ; I think we would both say that we’re a lot alike. And
number two, I got to spend some quality time with my daughter.
I’m on the road a lot and usually my family is at home.
This time I was gone for nine days and got to take my four-and-a-half-year-old
daughter with me.”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Gilbert
Melendez: “I Really Truly Believe I’m the No. 1 Fighter
in the World”
Now
that he has a new contract in place, Strikeforce lightweight
champion Gilbert Melendez is ready to get back to the business
of fighting, and he’s ready to prove he’s the top 155-pounder
in the world.
Melendez
hasn’t set foot in the cage in nearly a year following his
win over Shinya Aoki last April. Since that time, Melendez welcomed
a new baby into the world and recovered from a thumb injury,
but now he’s healthy and ready to dominate again.
The
first order of business was getting a new deal done with Strikeforce,
and now that it’s behind him, he’s ready to fight again.
“There’s
a couple of things to weigh out with Strikeforce. Strikeforce
is a great organization, and they’ve taken care of me really
well,” Melendez told MMAWeekly Radio. “Everyone knows
the UFC is the biggest organization out there, branding yourself
and getting your name out there, it’s no secret that they’re
the best. There wasn’t much to weigh out. These agreements
are structured for a champion not easily to walk away, but there
was things to debate about with Strikeforce here and there.
“But
at the end of the day I came to the conclusion that it was a
great deal on the table and they showed how much I mean to the
organization. At the end of the day I’m pretty happy with
my deal and yes I’m getting taken care of pretty well.”
With
a new contract in place, Melendez is a happy man financially
and he’s ready to once again prove he’s the best in
the world.
He
already believes that he’s the top lightweight fighting
today, but if he has to knock a few people out to prove it, he’s
up to the task.
“I
think it’s important for me to dominate now. I really truly
believe I’m the No. 1 fighter in the world, and the only
way I’m going to get that spot is by dominating,” Melendez
said. “I can’t have these draws or get knocked down
or almost lose, I need to completely dominate everyone out there.
I think I’m ready to do that.
“I’m
going to try to make a statement, and that’s how I’m
going to do it.”
Melendez
didn’t clarify if he meant the statements about draws or
almost being finished as thinly veiled jabs at current UFC lightweight
champion Frankie Edgar, who currently occupies the top spot in
most ranking systems as the best fighter at 155 pounds, who drew
in his last fight against Gray Maynard.
Regardless
of what the intentions of the statements were, Melendez is ready
to back up anything he says with his actions in the cage and
that starts with his next fight.
Melendez
doesn’t have an opponent yet, he plans on fighting on the
next major Strikeforce show, which will likely land him on the
April card.
“I’m
ready to go. Give me the next big show, I’m ready to go,”
Melendez stated. “I think if things got settled a little
earlier with the contract issues I would have been fighting a
little bit sooner, but since I got done recently, I’m planning
on fighting on the next big show. I’ve been waiting for
way too long.”
Rumors
have circulated that Dream lightweight Tatsuya Kawajiri may be
the next opponent for Melendez. For now it’s wait and see,
but look for Strikeforce’s lightweight champion to return
to action very soon.
Source: MMA Weekly |
UFC
126 Fighters Return Clean Drug Test Results; No Word Yet On Thiago
Silva
The
Nevada State Athletic Commission on Monday revealed that 13 fighters
were subjected to screening for performance enhancing substances
and drugs of abuse at UFC 126. All 13 fighters produced negative
results, meaning they all tested clean.
The
following UFC 126 athletes were tested: Vitor Belfort, Anderson
Silva, Rich Franklin, Forrest Griffin, Jake Ellenberger, Jon
Jones, Miguel Torres, Donald Cerrone, Chad Mendes, Paul Taylor,
Demetrious Johnson, Mike Pierce, and Kyle Kingsbury.
UFC
middleweight champion Anderson Silva knocked out Vitor Belfort
in the UFC 126 main event.
There
were 15 fighters drug tested at UFC 125. Of those, 14 returned
negative results. The one fighter left under scrutiny is Thiago
Silva. The NSAC has yet to release any result for Silva’s
test.
In
the meantime, sources have indicated that Silva has been removed
from a proposed UFC 130 bout against Quinton “Rampage”
Jackson.
Executive
Director Keith Kizer recently told MMAWeekly.com only that Silva’s
test was “still being processed.”
Source: MMA Weekly |
Reuben
Duran Steps Up To Face Takeya Mizugaki At UFC On Versus 3
Takeya
Mizugaki is getting a new opponent for UFC on Versus 3 and his
name is Reuben Duran.
Duran’s
agency, Iridium Sports Agency, made the fight announcement via
its official Facebook page Monday night. In addition, Duran signed
a new contract with the UFC consisting of five fights –
the first fight being against the Japanese fighter on March 3.
MMAWeekly.com
originally reported that Mizugaki was slated to fight Francisco
Rivera on the Versus card, but an undisclosed injury during training
recently forced Rivera off the event. MMAJunkie.com was the first
to report on Rivera’s withdrawal.
Duran
(7-2-1) has spent some time fighting for the King of the Cage
promotion in addition to some smaller Southern California promotions,
such as All-Star Boxing and Long Beach Fight Night. He’s
currently on a four-fight winning streak with three of those
four wins being finishes. The Redlands, Calif. native started
his professional career in 2006.
Mizugaki
(13-5) is no stranger to the Zuffa cage. The former WEC bantamweight
is coming off a submission loss to Urijah Faber at WEC 52, dropping
his record to 2-3 since joining the organization in 2009. The
fight at UFC on Versus 3 will be Mizugaki’s first in the
UFC since the company merged with the WEC at the beginning of
2011.
UFC
on Versus 3 is scheduled to take place in Lousville, Ky., and
is headlined by a welterweight match-up between Martin Kampmann
and Diego Sanchez.
Source: MMA Weekly |
"It
will be hard to beat Bigfoot now”
Antonio
“Bigfoot” Silva was the underdog on the fight with
Fedor Emelianenko, which happened on the night between Saturday
and Sunday, but he shut everybody’s mouth with a perfect
performance. On 10 impeccable minutes, the heavyweight slaughtered
the Russian myth and guaranteed his vacancy on the semifinals
of Strikeforce’s tournament, and we chatted with the manager
Alex Davis, who was more than glad with the historical win.
What
did you think of the fight?
I’ve
always knew Bigfoot could do it. His journey until here was very
hard. Only me, Bigfoot and God know how much he suffered to get
here. Bigfoot suffered a lot, worked very hard, and now he showed
what he’s a big dog now. It’ll be hard to beat him
now.
Fedor
was considered the favorite to win the title of this Grand Prix.
Now Bigfoot beat him up, is he the favorite for the title?
I
think so, but we’re not even thinking about it now. We were
just enjoying the win. He proved what he’s capable of. When
Bigfoot punches you on the ground and pound, no one can handle
it. Now he’ll rest and wait for the next on the line.
He’ll
fight the winner between Fabricio Werdum vs. Alistair Overeem
on the semifinals. What do you expect of this fight?
Werdum
is a friend of ours, that’s a paradox. We cheer for him
and at the same time we don’t want to fight him. As a business,
we want him to win so that a Brazilian is assured to be on the
finale. I’m cheering for him.
Did
the big guys of Strikeforce say anything after the fight to you?
The
event was calm, but I want to make a critic for Fedor’s
managers: He’s a really nice guy, a great champion, he has
beat everybody for 10 year, but his managers could never let
him fight Bigfoot after the loss. We’ve asked for this fight,
but it wasn’t the moment for him to fight Bigfoot.
Do
you know when the semifinals will be?
We
don’t have any idea, we’re just enjoying this victory
feeling. We’re not looking beyond this fight.
Fedor
had most Brazilian fans at his side, who admire him since Pride.
Do you want to leave a message for the fans?
We
are also Fedor’s fans, we like him, we cheer for him and
we want him to return. We invaded the Russian blockage and talked
to Fedor after the fight, we begged him not to stop, he’s
a great champion. He’s a historical fighter. As for Big
Foot, he’s a honest and family guy, he deserves to be where
he is. He suffered a lot to get here. He deserves it more than
anybody else. I’d like to thank all fans that cheered for
him, he’ll give many joy for you, guys.
Source: Tatame
|
Gabe
Ruediger Released by the UFC, Contemplating Move to 145lbs
Back-to-back
losses in the UFC’s rapidly thinning lightweight division
is tough to overcome, and so with that Gabe Ruediger was released
from the promotion recently.
Sources
close to the fighter confirmed the release to MMAWeekly.com on
Monday.
Ruediger
went 0-2 during his return stint to the UFC, with losses to Joe
Lauzon and Paul Taylor.
The
former “Ultimate Fighter” cast member had picked up
six wins in a row to earn his way back into the UFC, but suffered
a couple of tough losses upon his return.
While
his release does mean Ruediger’s next fight won’t be
in the UFC, it doesn’t mean he’s deterred from returning.
The California based fighter is currently contemplating a potential
move to featherweight after having very little weight to cut
before his last bout at 155lbs.
No
official move has been decided, but Ruediger may decide to try
the weight class out in the future.
The
UFC’s lightweight division will be a dog eat dog world for
the next several shows after the promotion merged with the WEC
and pushed the 155lb division to over 70 fighters under contract.
Multiple
sources have told MMAWeekly.com that eventually the UFC wants
the division to be with less than 30 fighters under contract.
Source: MMA Weekly |
Scott
Jorgensen vs. Ken Stone Added to TUF 13 Finale Show in June
Scott
Jorgensen will look to get back on the path to the top of the
bantamweight division when he faces Ken Stone at the upcoming
“Ultimate Fighter” 13 finale show in June.
The
bantamweight bout is the latest edition to the growing card taking
place on June 4 in Las Vegas. Sources close to the negotiations
confirmed the fight to MMAWeekly.com on Monday. Heavy.com initially
reported the booking.
Jorgensen
(11-4) returns to action for the first time since suffering a
loss to UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz last December.
The Idaho native was riding a 5-fight win streak before falling
to the current title holder at 135lbs.
Ken
Stone (9-2) will definitely try to make more out of his UFC debut
than he did his WEC debut when he gets back in the cage in June.
Stone suffered a vicious knockout loss to former WEC champion
Eddie Wineland in December during his first fight with the promotion.
There
has been no official announcement about the June 4 card, but
it is expected to be headed up by former WEC lightweight champion
Anthony Pettis against Clay Guida in the main event.
Source: MMA Weekly |
Brazilian
national champ wins Naga absolute
Davi
Ramos is the current Brazilian national lightweight No-Gi champion.
The
athlete won the World Pro tryouts in the Brazilian city of Natal
and is all set to pursue the title in Abu Dhabi.
Now
Davi just won the absolute division at Naga, in the USA.
“I
had four matches, and the first won I won by 4 to 0. The second
won I finished with a kneebar, and the third I sunk an armbar.
In the final I got an armbar again but the guy body slammed me
and was disqualified. I’d like to thank everyone for cheering
for me, especially Master Casquinha, the general at Top Brother,
my buddy Gilbert Durinho, and my sponsors,” says the fighter.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
Fedor
Retiring? Two Very Important People Don’t Believe He’s
Done
It’s
not an easy moment for fans of any sport to watch a great walk
away. Sometimes, however, it’s even harder when an athlete
doesn’t walk away at the right time.
Few
will remember Michael Jordan wearing a Washington Wizards uniform,
or old school football fans watching Johnny Unitas strut out
in a San Diego Chargers uniform. Fedor Emelianenko is considered
one of the greatest fighters the sport of MMA has ever known,
but watching him look human for only the second time in his storied
career was hard for many fans.
Fedor's
final walkout? (Courtesy of Brandon Chase)Fedor lost to Antonio
“Bigfoot” Silva on Saturday night, and promptly hinted
at his retirement in his post-fight interview. The Russian has
suffered back-to-back losses for the first time ever in his career,
and probably for the first time ever people saw him truly get
manhandled by a much larger fighter.
Still,
many don’t want to see him walk away right now. Two very
important people involved in Fedor’s carer don’t believe
he will walk away. Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker spoke about Fedor’s
decision, saying he believes that Fedor will return and may even
get a slot as an alternate in the tournament if someone else
falls out.
“You
know how that goes. People get very emotional during a fight
and we’ll see. My position is we have many more fights with
Fedor and I think he’ll honor his contract,” Coker
said.
“There’s
absolutely a possibility that he could be a replacement. There
could be an injury and we could get Fedor back in the tournament,
but either way he’ll be fighting high-level competition.”
Coker
has put together a competition committee for the Heavyweight
Grand Prix. The members of that group would be the ones to determine
who would get an alternate slot should the tournament need a
replacement.
Another
person who is confident that Fedor is not done is his close friend
and longtime manager Vadim Finkelstein, who feels in his heart
of hearts that the Russian will not call Saturday night his last.
“I
think Fedor was just really upset that he lost the fight because
he was so, the way the fight finished, because he was so prepared
for the fight. I don’t think it was a clear-cut loss. If
it doesn’t get stopped by the doctor, we don’t know
what would have happened in that third round. Because of that
I think we will see Fedor return,” Finkelstein stated.
Ultimately,
Finkelstein says he will leave it up to Fedor to decide if he
is truly done or if he will go for another few rounds in the
cage. Just by knowing him well, however, Finkelstein is confident
fans haven’t seen the last of the great Fedor Emelianenko.
“The
decision is Fedor’s, but I think I know him quite well and
I think he’s still full of strength, and I think he will
continue,” Finkelstein commented. “But the decision
of course is up to him.”
Two
of the most powerful figures in Fedor’s fight career believe
he will return, but will he ever return to the form that saw
him climb to the top of the heavyweight division, where he ruled
for so many years? Can fans get behind a mid-level Fedor Emelianenko?
That
is truly the question that remains.
Source: MMA Weekly |
Freddie
Roach: St-Pierre vs. Silva is the Pacquiao vs. Mayweather of
MMA
Count
boxing guru Freddie Roach among those who can't wait to see UFC
welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre (21-2 MMA, 15-2 UFC)
fight middleweight champion Anderson Silva (27-4 MMA, 12-0 UFC).
After
watching boxing's biggest fight go the way of the dodo bird,
the trainer, who's been a fistic consultant for both champs,
thinks it's the biggest possible draw for MMA.
"It's
Pacquiao-Mayweather in MMA," Roach told UFC broadcaster
Joe Rogan on this week's episode of "UFC Ultimate Insider."
"It's one guy going up in weight to fight the bigger and
better supposedly better guy."
Roach,
who's trained some of boxing's biggest stars including multi-division
champ Manny Pacquiao, knows about the heartache that comes with
lost opportunity. After endless months of rumors about a possible
megafight between Pacquiao and welterweight champ Floyd Mayweather,
he gave an interview this past November in which he said the
fight would never happen.
To
see a meeting of MMA greats in their prime must be a small consolation.
At
this point, the 50-year-old Roach said he has a closer relationship
to St-Pierre. The welterweight champ sought him out as he prepared
for his sixth title defense at UFC 124 against Josh Koscheck,
and later asked Roach to be his cornerman (Roach declined due
to prior commitments).
Roach
marveled at the discipline St-Pierre brought to the table during
their work together and predicted a left hook knockout of Koscheck.
(No such luck for St-Pierre, though he broke Koscheck's orbital
bone in the first punch of the fight and dominated the standup
action en route to a unanimous decision.)
It's
been more than a year since Roach worked steadily with Silva,
though his time with the middleweight champ certainly left an
impression.
"Anderson
is a better boxer at this point," Roach said.
But
while Roach believes St-Pierre is somewhat of an underdog, he
thinks he might be able to change that.
"There's
some things I've learned about Anderson that I think I can help
Georges with," he said. "Because I've worked with [Anderson]
closely, and Anderson is a very clever fighter."
So
clever, in fact, that Roach thinks Silva has often mailed it
in during his long reign as middleweight champion.
That
won't be an issue for this fight, he added.
"That's
one fight I don't think you have to worry about Anderson not
getting up for," he said. "He will get up for [St-Pierre].
Because he doesn't always get up for fights like talented people
do at times. Sometimes it comes so easily and natural to them
that they get a bit lazy.
"But
for that fight, I expect both guys to be at their best. Georges
is stronger physically and can rough him up on the inside. Anderson's
more of a technician and knows distance. Distance is the key
to that fight."
Now,
it's just a matter of St-Pierre getting past Jake Shields (26-4-1
MMA, 1-0 UFC) at UFC 129, which takes place April 30 at Rogers
Centre in Toronto.
Roach
will have to cool his jets until then.
Source: Yahoo Sports
|
Wanderlei
Silva challenges Vitor Belfort: “Where are you running to?”
When
UFC came to Brazil for the first time, in 1998, Wanderlei Silva
debuted on the event, but was defeated by Vitor Belfort. After
that fight, Wanderlei reached the top of the world on Pride,
but never got his so dreamed rematch. With Vitor’s loss
to Anderson Silva, on UFC 126, “The Axe Murderer” proposed
the challenge, on a phone talk with TATAME. “And now, where
are you running to?”, asked Wanderlei. “I’d give
him the number one (on the line to fight me) easily, I’m
challenging him … I want him”. It’s up to you,
Dana White and Joe Silva.
Exclusive:
Vitor Belfort welcomes rematch against Wanderlei Silva
It
looks like that Vitor Belfort wants Wanderlei Silva’s “number
one ticket”.
Few
hours after “The Axe Murderer” calling out Vitor Belfort
in exclusive interview with TATAME, we spoke with “The Phenom”,
who accepted the challenge and left the decision about the highly
expected rematch in Dana White’s hands.
“Let's
do it, brother. I accept it”, Vitor said, praising the fighter
he defeated by TKO in UFC Brazil, in 1998. “He’s a
great athlete, a great champion, and it would be a pleasure to
fight him. It’d be a highly anticipated fight, very important
for the sport.
“Whatever
Dana (White) says I’ll do, I never chose opponents and I
won’t do it now. But he made the challenge and I’m
accepting it. I just don’t wanna wait for the UFC Rio to
come back, I wanna fight first”, he added.
Will
Brian Stann wait, and the UFC set the rematch between former
UFC and Pride champions? It’s up to you now, Dana White.
Source: Tatame
|
Strikeforce
Grand Prix goes for big bang early
At
first glance, the seeding for the Strikeforce Grand Prix, an
eight-man heavyweight tournament that begins on Saturday at the
Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J., seems like a blind draw.
Fedor
Emelianenko, the man many still regard as the finest heavyweight
in the world, and Alistair Overeem, the Strikeforce heavyweight
champion, are on the same side of the bracket.
The
idea of having the two stars meet in the finals was dashed by
the seemingly odd opening-round pairings. Emelianenko will take
on Antonio Silva in Saturday’s main event and Overeem will
meet Fabricio Werdum in another opening-round match, on April
9 at a site not yet determined. Werdum is second, Emelianenko
third, Overeem sixth and Silva 10th in the MMAWeekly.com heavyweight
rankings.
Emelianenko,
who hasn’t fought since his nearly 10-year winning streak
was snapped by Werdum on June 26, shrugged at the odd matchups.
“I
haven’t thought about it at all and all I have thought about
is training for [Silva],” Emelianenko said. “I didn’t
take part in the structure of the brackets, so I don’t know
why it is like it is. You have to fight the [best] guys anyway
to win.”
The
Grand Prix is a great idea for no other reason than it creates
the possibility for Emelianenko to fight three times in the same
year for the first time since 2005. He’s only fought eight
times in the last five years and once in the last 14 months.
Overeem
holds the Strikeforce heavyweight belt, but it’s the legendary
Russian who gives the division significance. Without Emelianenko,
the tournament is far less interesting. Andrei Arlovski vs. Sergei
Kharitonov won’t exactly fill seats. Saturday’s event
will likely sell out, due to Emelianenko.
An
Overeem-Emelianenko final would have drawn massive interest.
As would an Emelianenko-Werdum rematch, with Emelianenko chasing
revenge.
Coker,
though, opted to guarantee the fans the significant matches upfront.
By pitting the Overeem-Werdum winner against the Emelianenko-Silva
winner in the semifinals, he’s gone just about as far as
he can to get the match he wants without having made it in the
first round.
Now,
all of that presumes that Emelianenko, a better than 3-to-1 favorite,
gets past Silva. While Silva (17-4) is a quality fighter, it
would be another upset of monumental proportions if he defeated
Emelianenko.
“The
odds are all in Fedor’s favor, but the odds do not reflect
reality,” Silva said. “The truth is, this fight could
go either way. I am very confident and I’m here to win.”
Emelianenko
didn’t lose for a decade and it’s hard to imagine him
losing back-to-back fights. It’s never a complete shock
when a 260-pound man wearing four-ounce gloves knocks out another,
but Emelianenko has such a significant speed advantage and such
a better all-around game that it’s difficult to envision
him losing.
As
a result, projecting him into the second round guarantees Strikeforce
one of its dream fights, given he will fight the Overeem-Werdum
winner.
“I
wanted to make sure we did what we could to give the fans the
fights they wanted to see,” Coker said.
That,
though, could leave its finale as something of an anticlimactic
event. On what is clearly the “B” side of the bracket,
Arlovski, the one-time UFC heavyweight champion who hasn’t
won a fight in more than two years, will meet Kharitonov. Kharitonov
has only fought once in the last 21 months and that came on New
Year’s Eve, when he beat light heavyweight Tatsuya Mizuno.
In
the other fight in that bracket, Josh Barnett meets Brett Rogers.
Barnett, another former UFC heavyweight champion, is clearly
a talent, but he’s twice failed postfight drug screenings
and still isn’t licensed in California, where he failed
a test before a planned 2009 bout with Emelianenko. That failure
led to the demise of Affliction as a fight promoter.
Coker
is considering putting the April 9 show in Japan, where there
is no testing for anabolic steroids. But if he does not, he’ll
have to find a state which would allow Barnett to fight despite
his failure to clear his business with the California State Athletic
Commission.
Texas
comes immediately to mind, since it accepted boxer Antonio Margarito
as an opponent for Manny Pacquiao last year after California
denied Margarito a license. Coker said he has had interest from
up to 10 states if he opts not to bring the April show to Japan.
If
Barnett comes out of the “B” side, the legitimacy of
the finale can not be questioned. Coker, though, gambled by seeding
the field in a way that guaranteed better early-round matches.
Overeem’s
belt won’t be at stake because all Grand Prix bouts are
three rounds and not the five-rounders required for a championship.
If someone other than Overeem wins, that will diminish the significance
of the title until Overeem defends it against the winner.
Still,
while the tournament is not without its oddities, it figures
to produce several good fights and gives American fans an opportunity
to see Emelianenko on national television as many as three times
in a short span.
The
soft-spoken Emelianenko got it right when he said, “When
you have the best fighters in the world fighting each other,
it’s a good thing.”
Source: Yahoo Sports |
Josh
Grispi vs. George Roop Verbally Agreed for TUF 13 Finale Show
A featherweight bout is likely to be added to the upcoming “Ultimate
Fighter Season 13 Finale” fight card on June 4 pitting Josh
Grispi against George Roop.
Verbal
agreements are in place for the fight according to sources speaking
to MMAWeekly.com on Sunday. The Boston Herald first reported
the rumored bout.
Grispi
(14-2) looks to get back on track after suffering a one-sided
loss to Dustin Poirier in his Octagon debut at UFC 125 in January.
The New Englander had originally been scheduled to face UFC featherweight
champion Jose Aldo at the event, but an injury sidelined the
Brazilian and Grispi drew Poirier instead.
It
did not end well for him.
Also
looking to bounce back after a loss in his last fight is former
“Ultimate Fighter” cast member George Roop (11-7-1).
Roop fell to training partner Mark Hominick in late January,
and hopes to get back to form when he faces Grispi in June.
While
the bout has not been signed at this point, both fighters have
verbally agreed to the bout.
Source: MMA Weekly |
Former
WEC champion Paulo Filho fights rising prospect in Brazil
Recife
will be the stage for a huge MMA event on April 29th. Announcing
the official card, the International Fighter Championship will
have as its main event of the evening the bout between the experienced
Paulo Filho, former champion of WEC and former Pride star, and
the young prospect Ronny Marques. But that’s not all. There’ll
also be the international challenges: Gregor Gracie against the
Argentine Mariano Hinojal, and names like Ronys Torres, Rodrigo
Artilheiro, Mario Soldado and Claudia Gadelha are also confirmed.
COMPLETE
CARD:
International
Fighter Championship
Recife,
Pernambuco, Brazil
Friday,
April 29th of 2011
-
Renato Castro vs. Luis de França;
-
Claudia Gadelha vs. Beta Tavares;
-
Marcos Vinicius vs. Rony Jason;
-
Caio Magalhães vs. Erick Wanderley;
-
Mario Soldado vs. Reneer Forte;
-
Cassio Jacaré vs. Rodrigo Artilheiro;
-
Ronys Torres vs. Filhão;
-
Thawã Ril vs. Carlos Prate;
-
Gregor Gracie vs. Mariano Hinojal;
-
Paulão Filho vs. Ronys Marques.
Source: Tatame
|
Emelianenko’s
downfall years in the making
EAST
RUTHERFORD, N.J. – The familiar script seemed ready to play
out one more time.
Fedor
Emelianenko, the greatest heavyweight in mixed martial arts history,
gave up considerable size, height and reach to an intimidating
foe. The stoic native of Stary Oskol, Russia, would find himself
in trouble.
Somehow,
he’d fight his way out, floor his opponent with a big overhand
right, and add to his collection of action-movie finishes.
The
34-year-old was overwhelmed by Brazilian giant Antonio Silva
on Saturday night, taken down to the Izod Center mat and pummeled
with an endless array of punches and submission attempts.
There
was no heroic comeback. The second round ended. Emelianenko’s
face was a hideous mess, his right eye swollen shut. The cageside
doctor was not about to let him continue with a possible cracked
orbital bone.
The
fight ended, and so did an era.
It
may seem like Emelianenko was suddenly knocked from his perch
over the course of two brutal rounds of action, but the seeds
for his downfall were sown while he was still riding high.
When
the Japan-based PRIDE folded four years ago, Emelianenko was
almost universally regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter
in the world. Other fighters flocked to the UFC, but Emelianenko’s
management, headed by Vadim Finkelstein, took a different path.
They aggressively sought every last dollar and succeeded beyond
their wildest dreams, wringing massive contracts out of wanna-be
promotional marks like BodogFight and Affliction.
That
could only happen as long as Emelianenko maintained his unbeatable
mystique, which meant from 2007 and onward, the Russian no longer
pushed himself against the best competition the fight world had
to offer. Emelianenko fought middleweight Matt Lindland in the
first and only Bodog event of note. He fought inexperienced Hong
Man Choi in Japan. He disappeared from the scene for months on
end, as promotional partnerships fell apart and Finkelstein and
Co. sought new deals.
Meanwhile,
the rest of the heavyweight division was fighting and improving
as the talent pool deepened. The UFC offered Emelianenko a reported
$5 million per fight and an immediate shot at then-champion Brock
Lesnar in the summer of 2009. The offer was turned down, and
Emelianenko instead went to Strikeforce.
Fedor
struggled in his first Strikeforce match, against unheralded
Brett Rogers. But Emelianenko rallied and won with a home-run
knockout punch, so his lackluster performance until that point
went largely unnoticed.
In
June, Emelianenko was submitted in under two minutes by Fabricio
Werdum, a fighter who previously was best known for being cut
from the UFC roster.
Of
course, even the best can be caught by a jiu-jitsu ace like Werdum,
so Emelianenko again was given a pass.
Saturday
night, though, left no doubt that the heavyweight division has
passed Fedor by. No matter how much heart he possessed in the
cage, or how much class he possesses outside it, a 230-pound
heavyweight can’t isolate himself, be controlled by management
that always seemed to come up with reasons to avoid elite opponents,
and remain at the top of the class.
His
opponent, Silva, is a solid and respectable pro, but not one
who was considered elite before Saturday night. Silva had no
signature wins before defeating Fedor, with an array of journeymen
like Ricco Rodriguez and Mike Kyle among his conquests.
Silva
was 285 by the time he entered the cage Saturday, a 55-pound
advantage over his foe. He had 4½ inches of height on
Emelianenko and a considerable reach advantage. Even in the back-and-forth
first round, Silva had an obvious strength advantage. The second
round was like watching a schoolyard bully torment a victim,
and while Emelianenko showed great courage in surviving a 10-8
round, he simply had no answer for anything Silva dished out.
“A
lot of people say he has the strength of a bear,” Silva
said at the post-fight press conference, “but I have the
strength of a Bigfoot.”
The
ever-gracious and humble Emelianenko, who went to the hospital
immediately after the fight, seemed to make his intentions clear
in the cage. “Maybe it is the time to leave,” he told
an interpreter. “Maybe it is the last time. Maybe it is
my time.”
But
the money men seemed in complete denial of what went down. Finkelstein,
whose M-1 “promotion” basically exists as Emelianenko’s
personal vehicle, isn’t in any rush to let go of his meal
ticket.
“Everyone
saw how the fans greeted him,” Finkelstein said. “He’s
had a wonderful career. I think the stoppage isn’t such
a clear-cut thing. He will find the strength to go on in the
future. … With God’s help, we will see Fedor back in
the cage.”
Strikeforce
promoter Scott Coker, understandably, was trying to put his best
face on an evening that delivered the fans a night of exciting
action, but wreaked havoc on the marketability of his Grand Prix
tournament. The two fighters considered the biggest names to
American fans – Emelianenko and former UFC heavyweight champion
Andrei Arlovski – were defeated, the latter via his third
knockout in his past four fights.
That
leaves Coker trying to sell the public on several fighters who
for the most part are high quality but not ticket sellers or
ratings draws, like Werdum and Strikeforce heavyweight champ
Alistair Overeem.
Coker
floated the idea Emelianenko could be reinserted into the tournament
down the road as an alternate.
“Fedor
always comes back,” said Coker. “As for retirement,
people get emotional. … I expect he’ll be back. You
never know, he could come back [into the tournament] if there’s
an injury.”
But
this, quite frankly, would make a farce of the entire tournament
concept. What’s the point of having a tournament if someone
who was brutally eliminated is given a free pass back into the
competition?
Hopefully,
it won’t get to that. Hopefully, if Emelianenko really does
want out, he’ll be allowed to retire. Despite all the big
fights his management left on the table over the years, despite
the long absences and subpar opposition, Emelianenko’s legacy
is still that of the sport’s first great heavyweight, the
man who used his heart and skill to overcome his foes time and
again, the man who made new MMA fans the world over.
If
he gets out now, that legacy will stay unspoiled.
Source: Yahoo Sports
|
The
Old King is Gone, Long Live the King: Silva Wins, Fedor Contemplates
Retirement
Le
Roi est mort, vive le Roi!
Translated
from French, it means “The King is dead, long live the King.”
While in literal terms of what happened on Saturday night at
Strikeforce, Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva won the biggest
fight of his career, stopping Fedor Emelianenko after two rounds,
which led to the Russian’s shocking statement that his career
may have come to an end.
Coming
back from the first true loss of his historic career, Fedor Emelianenko
stepped into the cage in New Jersey on Saturday night promising
a return to form from his glory days spent in Pride Fighting
Championships.
There
were moments in the fight where Fedor showed flashes of his brilliance,
blasting away at Silva’s head, looking for the knockout
almost as soon as the first bell rang.
The
Russian looked for a guillotine choke early as well, then getting
the fight to the ground where he tried to open things up with
some of his patented ground and pound, then looking for a kimura
before Silva popped out.
It
was almost at that moment with the fighters back on their fight
that Silva’s immense size difference seemed to shift the
momentum directly in his favor. The Brazilian landed a takedown
with seconds left to go in the first, and then duplicated the
move as the 2nd round opened.
Once
on the ground, Silva moved to mount and just started crashing
Emelianenko with heavy fists, forcing the former Pride champion
to roll just to keep the fight from coming to an end. Repeatedly,
Silva dropped bombs on Fedor’s head, and it looked like
the fight might be stopped but he showed true heart and battled
back just enough to keep alive.
When
the round ended, a battered and bruised Emelianenko went back
to the corner where cameras showed his right eye completely shut
and bruised from swelling endured from Silva’s punches.
The doctors saw enough that Emelianenko could not see anything
and the fight was stopped.
Silva
immediately celebrated the huge win before he headed over to
his opponent’s corner where he bowed and kneeled to pay
homage to the great former champion.
The
hype going into Saturday night was about Fedor’s return,
but it was promptly ended by Silva’s dominance. The Brazilian
took a huge step forward in his career, while also moving on
in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix.
“All
the people say Fedor, Fedor, Fedor. I’m training too hard,
and I showed the world now,” Silva said following the victory.
A
somber New Jersey crowd cheered as Emelianenko stepped up to
the microphone after the fight. Bloodied and bloodied, Fedor
explained his performance against Silva, while also alluding
to what may have been his final time inside the cage.
“Something
happened at the very beginning and maybe I didn’t re-adjust
myself,” Fedor said. “Maybe it’s time to leave.”
With
a Russian contingency strong in the crowd, obviously heart broken
at the thought of losing one of their true legends, Fedor spoke
again and contemplated that it may be the end of the road for
him in the fight game.
“Yes,
maybe, it’s the last time. Maybe it’s high time. Thanks
for everything. I spent a great beautiful long sport life. Maybe
it’s God’s will,” Fedor spoke about his possible
retirement.
“Thank
you very much for your love, for your warm reception, for your
support. Thanks God for everything.”
If
this truly is the end for Fedor Emelianenko, MMA fans may have
just watched one of the greatest fighters to ever step foot in
the sport, walk away for good.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
UFC
129 Sold Out, Shatters Records With 55,000 Tickets
The
Ultimate Fighting Championship on Saturday announced that tickets
for UFC 129: St-Pierre vs. Shields at Rogers Centre in Toronto
on April 30 sold out minutes after being made available to the
public. Rogers Centre was originally configured for 42,000 seats,
but due to overwhelming demand, UFC and Rogers Centre officials
reconfigured the venue to accommodate 55,000.
UFC
129 will be the first major mixed martial arts event to ever
be held in Ontario, marking the promotion’s debut in Canada’s
largest city.
The
event doubles the largest attendance record in UFC and North
American mixed martial arts history. UFC 124: St-Pierre vs. Koscheck
2, held at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Dec. 11, 2010, previously
held the attendance record with 23,152 fans.
UFC
officials also announced that the gate revenue for UFC 129 will
also double the promotion’s previous record. The previous
gate record for a UFC event was $5.4 million, which was set on
Saturday, Dec. 30, 2006 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas
for UFC 66: Liddell vs. Ortiz. UFC officials did not yet release
the total gate revenue for UFC 129.
With
two UFC records already shattered, officials announced UFC 129
as the largest single-day event gate in the history of Rogers
Centre, which has played home to some of the world’s top
entertainment and sporting events.
“UFC
continues to set new milestones,” UFC president Dana White
said. “We’ve sold 55,000 tickets in our first stadium
event in Toronto and we continue to take the UFC to the next
level.”
“Based
on the lightning quick sell-out, there is no doubt that UFC’s
fan base is extremely passionate”, said Silvio D’Addario,
VP Events, Rogers Centre. “We’ve worked closely with
UFC to configure our venue to provide the best fan experience
possible and we look forward to hosting this historic event.”
While
UFC 129 is sold out, tickets for the UFC Fan Expo at the Direct
Energy Centre in Toronto on April 29-30 are still available at
www.ufcfanexpo.com. The Expo features the largest collection
of UFC fighters ever to appear in one location, exciting special
events, interactive Q&A sessions, meet and greets, training
and development sessions, the Octagon, and much more.
Source: Yahoo Sports
|
Gina
Carano Announces Her Return to Strikeforce In 2011, June Targeted
Gina
Carano is coming back to Strikeforce to compete in their women’s
division after more than a year away from the sport.
The
Las Vegas based fighter was in attendance for the Strikeforce
show on Saturday night in New Jersey, where she announced her
intentions to return to MMA in 2011.
Strikeforce
CEO Scott Coker has long talked about Carano returning to the
sport, and believed that despite her new found acting career
she would come back to fighting.
“I
believe in her heart just like these other athletes that go into
the movies, even though they have success in the film industry
such as Quinton Jackson or Cung Le, like he’s doing right
now, and Gina, I saw parts of her movie and it was fantastic,
but equal time, you’re still a fighter at heart. I know
they want to compete,” Coker told MMAWeekly Radio recently
about Carano.
When
prompted about her return, Carano said it all came down to a
personal challenge.
“I
think I just need to settle the score with myself really. I just
need to get back in there for me,” she said.
While
no definitive timetable has been determined for her return to
the cage, Carano has been back in training at Xtreme Couture
in Las Vegas. Her film “Haywire” opens this summer.
Coker,
at Saturday’s post-fight press conference, indicated that
the promotion is targeting June for Carano’s return, but
hasn’t locked down a date yet.
The
women’s division has expanded in the time since Carano’s
exit, but Cris “Cyborg” Santos, the fighter who handed
Carano her only career loss, still reigns atop the 145-pound
division as champion.
Carano
has widely been considered one of the most popular fighter on
the Strikeforce roster, and her return will only bolster the
promotion’s ratings on future Showtime broadcasts.
(Updated
Feb. 13 at 12:30 a.m. PT to include June as a target date for
Carano’s return.)
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Sergei
Kharitonov Crushes Arlovski to Move On in Strikeforce Heavyweight
Grand Prix
He
was called a dark horse in the tournament, but for those that
have seen Sergei Kharitonov before, knew he was capable of doing
what he did on Saturday night as he knocked out Andrei Arlovski
in the first round of their fight to kick off the Strikeforce
Heavyweight Grand Prix.
Over
the last few years and since the end of Pride Fighting Championships,
Kharitonov has appeared around MMA circles only a few times,
but over the last year he signed on with Strikeforce and picked
up his activity.
He’s
also been fighting in K-1 and he showed off those striking skills
as he lit up Arlovski with punches, walking forward like a machine
looking for the knockout blow.
The
former UFC champion has fallen on hard times of late, dropping
three fights in a row, and he once again showed little improvement,
finding himself trapped against the cage with Kharitonov bearing
down on him.
Clipping
Arlovski with a quick right hand, Kharitonov dropped the Belarussian,
and followed him to the ground, blasting him with a few more
punches. A second later, Arlovski was knocked out cold.
Kharitonov
channeled his inner Ivan Drago as he spoke to the crowd in his
native tongue, drawing strength from his home countrymen and
women in attendance on Saturday night.
“I
look around the stands and I saw so many people from Russia and
Russia is the best, Russia is No. 1,” Kharitonov said.
If
critics are calling Kharitonov a dark horse, he’s not listening,
because he’s convinced that when this Grand Prix is over,
everyone will be calling him champion.
“I
could care less what the experts think,” Kharitonov said.
“I know I’m going to win this tournament.”
Kharitonov
will now move on to face the winner of the upcoming bout between
Josh Barnett and Brett Rogers taking place in April.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
AZ
Open: Kron vs JT off, $3000 Black Belt Open class on
With
the cancellation of the battle between Kron Gracie and “JT”
Torres at the Arizona International Open due to Gracie getting
injured, the Gustavo Dantas-promoted championship has added another
category to draw the cream of the sport’s crop in the USA.
The
sixth Arizona Open, on the 26th and 27th of February, will pay
out $3,000 in prize money to the top-placed competitors in the
absolute black belt division: $2,500 to the champion and $500
to the runner-up.
“Normally,
the divisions with prize money only happen in the summer, at
the Arizona State Championship. But with Kron’s unfortunate
injury to his knee, he won’t be able to face JT. So that
fans and the fighters themselves will be rewarded, we created
this absolute category with prize money in hopes of drawing world-class
competitors to Arizona,” Gustavo Dantas informed GRACIEMAG.com.
Sign-ups
only go till February 21, so better hurry. Click here to fight
for the dough or to sign up for the other divisions at the Arizona
Open.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
|
2/14/11
Happy Valentine's Day |
UFC
129 Sold Out, Shatters Records With 55,000 Tickets
The
Ultimate Fighting Championship on Saturday announced that tickets
for UFC 129: St-Pierre vs. Shields at Rogers Centre in Toronto
on April 30 sold out minutes after being made available to the
public. Rogers Centre was originally configured for 42,000 seats,
but due to overwhelming demand, UFC and Rogers Centre officials
reconfigured the venue to accommodate 55,000.
UFC
129 will be the first major mixed martial arts event to ever
be held in Ontario, marking the promotion’s debut in Canada’s
largest city.
The
event doubles the largest attendance record in UFC and North
American mixed martial arts history. UFC 124: St-Pierre vs. Koscheck
2, held at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Dec. 11, 2010, previously
held the attendance record with 23,152 fans.
UFC
officials also announced that the gate revenue for UFC 129 will
also double the promotion’s previous record. The previous
gate record for a UFC event was $5.4 million, which was set on
Saturday, Dec. 30, 2006 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas
for UFC 66: Liddell vs. Ortiz. UFC officials did not yet release
the total gate revenue for UFC 129.
With
two UFC records already shattered, officials announced UFC 129
as the largest single-day event gate in the history of Rogers
Centre, which has played home to some of the world’s top
entertainment and sporting events.
“UFC
continues to set new milestones,” UFC president Dana White
said. “We’ve sold 55,000 tickets in our first stadium
event in Toronto and we continue to take the UFC to the next
level.”
“Based
on the lightning quick sell-out, there is no doubt that UFC’s
fan base is extremely passionate”, said Silvio D’Addario,
VP Events, Rogers Centre. “We’ve worked closely with
UFC to configure our venue to provide the best fan experience
possible and we look forward to hosting this historic event.”
While
UFC 129 is sold out, tickets for the UFC Fan Expo at the Direct
Energy Centre in Toronto on April 29-30 are still available at
www.ufcfanexpo.com. The Expo features the largest collection
of UFC fighters ever to appear in one location, exciting special
events, interactive Q&A sessions, meet and greets, training
and development sessions, the Octagon, and much more.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Three
Strikeforce Heavyweight Alternate Bouts End in Three First Round
Finishes
Three
Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix alternate fights resulted
in three finishes with Shane Del Rosario, Chad Griggs and Valentijn
Overeem all coming away with wins.
Shane
Del Rosario kept his record unblemished with a first round armbar
submission over Lavar Johnson to put himself in the prime position
as an alternate for the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix should
anyone not be able to continue beyond the first round.
Johnson
showed his power with big punches in the first few moments of
the fight, but Del Rosario weathered the storm and kept out of
any real trouble.
Following
a few exchanges with both men landing efficient strikes, Del
Rosario took the fight to the mat, and it was the beginning of
the end for Johnson. Del Rosario shifted to the mount quickly
and began to reign down blows on Johnson who defended well, but
was in deep trouble on his back.
With
the seconds ticking away in the first round, Del Rosario took
the chance on a submission and went for an armbar. It looked
like Johnson might slip out, but Del Rosario kicked his hips
up and locked out the elbow, causing his opponent to tap out.
Del
Rosario now sits as the man who will get the first call should
any of the participants of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand
Prix not be able to continue after the first round.
“It’s
just an honor to fight the same night as these guys. I’m
going to go home, train hard, I’m now the first alternate
so if they call me up, I’ll be ready to go, ready to fight
hard,” Del Rosario said after the win.
People
tried to call Chad Griggs’ win over Bobby Lashley a fluke.
He was out to prove otherwise and he did so by punching Gian
Villante over and over again, until he was TKO’d, to win
at Strikeforce in New Jersey.
Griggs
was swinging hard and heavy as soon as the fight started, and
Villante didn’t show much head movement to avoid the strikes.
Griggs flurried on Villante a couple of times during the short
fight, and Villante showed great resiliency but it was short
lived.
Villante
fired back with a head kick of his own, blasting open Griggs’
ear, which resulted in blood flowing down the side of his head.
Griggs didn’t back down however and he popped Villante with
a big punch, dropping the former NFL hopeful. A few more punches
on the ground and referee Yves Lavigne stepped in to stop the
fight giving Chad Griggs the win.
According
to CompuStrike, Griggs landed an astonishing 85% of his strikes,
with 25 power strikes landed.
Valentijn
Overeem made quick work of Ray Sefo at Strikeforce on Saturday
night, finishing the K-1 legend with a neck crank early in the
first round of their heavyweight bout.
There
was no giant secret that Sefo had his biggest advantage on the
feet, and once he started to settle into his striking, Overeem
took the fight right to the ground.
Once
he was in side control, Overeem positioned himself under Sefo’s
head and put pressure on the neck, and got the tap to get the
submission win.
Valentijn
is currently an alternate in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand
Prix, and he has said if the stars align and he’s somehow
pulled into the tournament he’d even fight his brother,
Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem, if they met
in the finals.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
‘Bigfoot’
Silva destroys Fedor Emelianenko to move on Strikeforce GP
Antonio
Silva wrote his name on MMA history with 10 minutes of much adrenaline
against Fedor Emelianenko, considered for the whole world the
best heavyweight of all times. On a striking first round, Bigfoot
and Fedor traded punches while standing and the Russian tried
to surprise the Brazilian on the ground with a kimura, but Silva
controlled it easily. But the best was to come on the following
round. The aggressiveness of the Brazilian was so great that
Fedor turned his back in order to defend himself and needed to
escape from a rear naked choke.
With
his back on the ground again, Emelianenko was punched a lot on
the ground and pound game, and Bigfoot also fit a tight katagatame,
that made the Russian sweat a little more to escape. Few seconds
before the round ended, Big Foot fit a knee lock, and Fedor tried
to pay back with a foot lock. With a destroyed face and a swollen
eye, Fedor was stopped by the doctor to return on the following
round, conceding the win to Big Foot.
The
Russian Sergei Kharitonov was the first fighter that fought and
moved forwards on the heavyweight GP of Strikeforce. The fighter
knocked out the former champion of UFC, Andrei Arlovski after
landed tough coups, getting knockdowns and finishing the fight
on the ground, turning Arlovski off. On the first fight of the
main card, Valentijn had some troubles against Ray Sefo. Keeping
a sequence of two wins, the Hollander took his opponent down
and submitted K-1 World GP 2000’s champion, Ray Sefo with
a choke in a little more than one minute of fight.
Igor
Gracie submits John Salgado on his debut on Strikeforce
The
Brazilian Igor Gracie had a great performance on his debut on
Strikeforce. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, who did the
co-main event of the prelims, was beer on the first round, when
he got a takedown and grabbed John Salgado’s back. On the
second round, Gracie needed few more than three minutes to submit
his opponent with a tight katagatami, getting the third win within
five fights.
COMPLETE
RESULTS:
Strikeforce:
Fedor VS Silva
East
Rutherford, Now Jersey, United States
Saturday,
February 12nd of 2011
Main
card:
-
Antonio “Big Foot” Silva defeated Fedor Emelianenko
by TKO (doctor stoppage) at R2;
-
Sergei Kharitonov knocked out Andrei Arlovski at R1;
-
Shane del Rosario submitted Lavar Johnson with an armbar at 4min31s
of R1;
-
Valentijn Overeem submitted Ray Sefo with a choke at 1min37s
of R1;
-
Chad Griggs defeated Gian Villante by TKO at 2min49s of R1.
Preliminary
card:
-
John Cholish submitted Marc Stevens with a knee lock at 3min57s
of R2;
-
Josh LaBerge defeated Anthony Leone by TKO (doctor stoppage)
at R1;
-
Jason McLean defeated Kevin Roddy on a split decision of the
judges;
-
Igor Gracie submitted John Salgado with a katagatami at 3min4s
of R2;
-
Sam Oropeza defeated Don Carlo-Clauss by KO at 4min10s of 1R.
Source: Tatame
|
Exclusive
Antonio Silva words and pics: “If he’d have come back,
I’d have hurt him more”
Brazil’s
Antonio “Big Foot” Silva predicted the outcome of his
fight against Fedor Emelianenko here on GRACIEMAG.com: “I
expect to end the fight raining down blows on him from top position.”
And that’s just what he did this Saturday night in New Jersey.
Big
Foot got the takedown in the second round, used his Jiu-Jitsu
well and punished the Russian from the top. From the beating,
Fedor ‘s right eye closed up completely, and he was deemed
unfit to return to battle by the doctor. Now the Brazilian awaits
the winner of the fight between Fabrício Werdum and Alistair
Overeem in the next stage of the GP.
“A
lot of folks see this big chin and think it will be easier to
knock me out. But this here is like a bumper on a truck!”
Jiu-Jitsu
“I
train a lot of Jiu-Jitsu and no one had seen my potential on
the ground yet. I tried using it a lot against Fedor, but he’s
one of the best in the world.”
“His
strength on the ground is the armbar, but I didn’t get in
his guard. I knew I’d do better if I kept him from using
it.”
Striking
“He
got me in the first round. After that, I was certain he wasn’t
going to knock me out.”
Size
counts
“My
weight along with my technique helped a lot. I read an interview
where it said he has the strength of a bear, but I have the strength
of Big Foot!”
Werdum
or Overeem?
“I
don’t pick, I fight anyone. I don’t like fighting Brazilians,
but I’m rooting for Werdum to beat Overeem. The good part
is that the final will have a Brazilian for sure.
Strategy
“When
I pushed him up against the cage he was breathing hard. I knew
I’d win if I could take him down.”
Beating
Fedor
“The
guy showed he’s the best for ten years. Now they’re
going to say he wasn’t that good? Anyone with a mouth can
say what they want, but they also hear to what they don’t
want to hear.”
“Werdum
and I showed there’s no such thing as superman or robocop.
Werdum started it and I proved it was a fairy tale.”
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
Dana
needs to wait 5 fights (or 4 years) to confirm Anderson’s
the best
Anderson
Silva or Fedor Emelianenko? That seems to be the doubt lingering
on the minds of MMA fans and analysts alike as to who the best
of all times is.
It
could be Anderson. But UFC president Dana White, who hasn’t
a doubt about it, will only have his confirmation in five fights.
Or in early 2015, whichever comes first. At least that’s
what say the numbers, colder than the sambo fighter’s gaze.
Anderson
wasn’t yet a black belt but was already teaching Jiu-Jitsu
in Curitiba, Brazil, when he was submitted twice at the Japanese
Pride FC event, in 2003 and 2004, by the wily Daiju Takase and
Ryo Chonan. He has a third loss, in 2000, on his MMA debut, to
Luiz Azeredo.
The
Spider of today is a different fighter. He’s at his peak.
But Russian emperor Fedor Emelianenko’s zenith was, so far,
higher.
Anderson
is riding a 16-fight winning streak, not counting the disqualification
“loss” to Yushin Okami in Hawaii. He has been lossless
for a little over six years. If he maintains his invincibility
for five fights, he will beat Fedor’s numbers.
Yes,
up until tapping to Fabricio Werdum at Strikeforce, Fedor went
from 2000 to 2010 without tasting defeat. He notched 20 wins
– not counting the dozen victories obtained in the Rings
promotion, which purists may argue did not follow the rules of
present day MMA.
Fedor,
like Anderson, ravaged a grip of former UFC champions. But the
Russian has gone more fights (and time) undefeated.
To
Dana White, Silva is the best the sport has ever known because
he hasn’t lost since joining the UFC, in 2006. If you agree
that MMA didn’t come into existence in that year, there
are still five fights (or four years) to go to confirm it.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
Rafael
“Sapo” Natal Out of UFC on Versus 3 Fight Against Alessio
Sakara
If
Alessio Sakara is going to fight at UFC on Versus 3, it will
be against a third opponent, since he was first slotted on the
March 3 card.
Renzo
Gracie fighter Rafael “Sapo” Natal has been forced
off the UFC on Versus 3 card against Sakara due to a knee injury
suffered in training.
Sources
close to the fighter confirmed his status with MMAWeekly.com
on Saturday. Versus.com first reported the change.
Natal
was already a replacement for original opponent Maiquel Falcao,
who had to drop out of the bout due to injury. Natal apparently
suffered a knee injury while training for the Sakara bout. There’s
been no timetable set for his return to action.
Sakara
has been out of action since March 2010 when he defeated James
Irvin. He has been set to fight a couple of times since then,
but his own injuries and illness have kept him out of action.
There’s
been no word of a possible replacement for Natal on the UFC on
Versus 3 fight card.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Strikeforce
‘Fedor vs. Silva’ Live Play-by-Play
Jason
McLean vs. Kevin Roddy
Round 1
A decent, if not great showing as we start the first preliminary
of the evening. The men touch gloves and both fighters exchange
leg kicks. The Pellegrino MMA-trained Roddy looks to be the aggressor
of the two in the early going going after McLean. Roddy misses
on a right hook but follows up with a one-two that only does
a little damage. McLean is doing very little to start this opening
round. Roddy comes in for a combination and McLean counters,
but again with very little punches on either side. A whole lot
of nothing from this opening round as McLean seems to be struggling
with Roddy's range. Roddy moves in on McLean, allowing McLean
to connect with a one-two. Very little of significance in this
opening round until a very late takedown by McLean puts Roddy
into the fence. It could be enough to give McLean the round,
but Sherdog.com scores it 10-10.
Round
2
Dave
Mandel
McLean
(right) vs. RoddyLow kicks are exchanged again to start the round
and Roddy continues to paw with his right. He finally follows
up with a brief flurry before both fighters go back to circling.
McLean is looking to time Roddy's movements and Pellegrino is
urging his fighter to go after McLean in the corner. Roddy responds
with more aggression but also clips McLean with a low blow, bringing
a stop to the action. After a brief rest we get the restart in
the action and McLean finally times Roddy the right way and comes
in full force on his opponent with a big flurry taking the taller
fighter down with his shots. The ensuing scramble sees Roddy
get back up to his feet as McLean is unable to capitalize. With
a minute to go in the round, McLean is on his horse looking to
counter Roddy again. A couple of kicks fail to find their mark
for Roddy at the end
of the round that goes the way of McLean, 10-9.
Round
3
McLean tries to come in on Roddy to start the round and catches
a right hook for his troubles. A takedown scores for McLean about
a minute into the round, but little comes from it as Roddy gets
back up. Roddy tries to turn the tables on McLean, and after
a less than stellar looking takedown attempt gets McLean on his
back up against the cage and in mount. McLean tries to maneuver
his way into a better position underneath Roddy but the longer
Roddy takes McLean's back with 90 seconds left to go in the round.
McLean is trying to turn into Roddy while fighting off the rear-naked
choke attempt and a body triangle. With less than 30 seconds
to go McLean manages to turn all the way into Roddy but has to
fight off an armbar attempt as the round closes. Sherdog.com
scores the third round in favor of Roddy 10-9.
Official
scores: 29-28 (twice) and 28-29 in favor of McLean, who takes
the split decision.
Anthony
Leone vs. Josh LaBerge
Round 1
D.
Mandel
LaBerge
(left) vs. LeoneReferee Keith Peterson is in the cage for this
featherweight contest. Laberge takes the inside and the men circle
for a minute before LaBerge ties up. Leone pushes him into the
fence and scores with a few knees inside before they disengage.
They clinch again and trade knees, then Leone snaps off a hard
low kick. He just misses with a spinning back fist. Leone really
attacking the leg of LaBerge, who then drops Leone with a knee.
Leone survives with a single-leg, but he’s now bleeding
badly from his nose. He drags LaBerge down and gets to side control,
bleeding all over LaBerge until the round ends.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Leone
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Leone
Lutfi Sariahmed scores the round 10-9 LaBerge
In
between rounds, the cageside physician has a look at Leone’s
nose and deems him unfit to continue. Josh LaBerge gets the win
via doctor stoppage after five minutes.
Don
Carlo-Clauss vs. Sam Oropeza
D.
Mandel
Oropeza
(top) vs. Carlo-ClaussRound 1
Keith Peterson returns to officiate this 170-pound bout. The
southpaw Oropeza misses with a left high kick over the head of
the shorter Carlo-Clauss. They clinch and Oropeza shoves his
man into the fence. There’s a bit of inside fighting and
trading of blocked knees before they split. Oropeza misses with
the same close head kick, then another. With about 90 seconds
left, Oropeza finally thuds the high kick off the head of Carlo-Clauss,
who shoots in survival mode. Oropeza sprawls and spins around
to Carlo-Clauss’ back. He lands a dozen or more unanswered
punches to the turtling Carlo-Clauss before Peterson steps in
to wave it off. The result is announced as a verbal submission
due to strikes at the 4:10 mark.
Igor
Gracie vs. John Salgado
Round 1
D.
Mandel
Kevin
Mulhall is the ref for this welterweight bout. Salgado scores
with a few punches over the low guard of Gracie. They tie up
along the fence and Gracie lifts Salgado into the air before
slamming him down and taking side control. Gracie hops onto Salgado’s
back, locks up a body triangle and rolls onto his back. Gracie
looking for the rear-naked choke but can’t get the forearm
under the chin. Salgado slams his head backward into Gracie’s
face and receives a warning from Mulhall. Salgado twists into
the cage and tries to shake Gracie, but the body triangle is
still in place. Salgado on his side now with Gracie on top using
hammer fists. Gracie rolls to his back again with about two minutes
left and gets back to hunting for the choke. Salgado is keeping
his hands on Gracie’s to negate the choke, but he’s
playing strictly defense.
Salgado
uses both of his hands to control Gracie’s right wrist.
Salgado goes for a headlock in the last seconds, but Gracie gets
into mount as the round ends.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Gracie
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Gracie
Lutfi Sariahmed scores the round 10-9 Gracie
Round
2
Salgado comes out with low and spinning kicks, trying to keep
his distance as the second round opens, but Gracie soon plows
him to the mat. Gracie pins him against the fence sitting and
traps both of Salgado’s legs in a triangle. Salgado grabs
for a guillotine, but Gracie hops into mount and tries to pin
down Salgado’s left arm. Salgado gets the limb free, but
Gracie is fully mounted and trying to flatten his man out with
three minutes still to go. Body punches from the top, then Gracie
postures up for a few to the face. Salgado spins out from the
cage and slips loose, but Gracie gets right on his back. Salgado
turns over and Gracie sinks in a deep arm-triangle choke. Salgado
appears to consider tapping just before he goes unconscious.
Ref Mulhall immediately steps in for the save at 3:04 of the
second frame.
Marc
Stevens vs. John Cholish
Round 1
D.
Mandel
Cholish
(right) vs. StevensKevin Mulhall is back for this welterweight
matchup, the final preliminary bout of the evening. Cholish catches
Stevens leaning with a switch kick and a punch, then goes down
into Stevens’ guard. Stevens gets loose and Cholish looks
to have a guillotine for a moment, but Stevens slips out, gets
to his feet and presses Cholish into the fence. Cholish reverses
and seems to hurt Stevens with a flurry of knees to the midsection.
They split and go back to head-hunting. Stevens changes levels
for the takedown, but it’s Cholish who gets underhooks and
winds up in side control, drilling knees to Stevens’ body.
Cholish tries to step over and Stevens regains a deep half-guard.
Stevens now gets full guard, hanging on underneath with 30 seconds
left. Big punch from Cholish on top opens up a cut near Stevens’
eye before the end of
the round.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Cholish
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Cholish
Lutfi Sariahmed scores the round 10-9 Cholish
Round
2
Both men looking energetic as the second frame begins. Cholish
stuffs another Stevens takedown 30 seconds in and winds up in
Stevens’ guard, raining down punches. Stevens throws up
a triangle attempt which Cholish easily slips free of. From half-guard,
Cholish scoots Stevens from the middle of the cage to the base
of the fence. Cholish is posturing up and punching, but not keeping
busy enough for ref Mulhall, who issues a confusing standup order.
Stevens is looking wiped, hunting for a big punch as Cholish
kicks to the body. Stevens goes for a takedown, doesn’t
get it, but does take Cholish’s back standing. Cholish rolls
under, grabs the right leg of Stevens and wrenches it back. Stevens
grimaces in pain and taps to the kneebar at 3:57 of the second
round.
Valentijn
Overeem vs. Ray Sefo
Round 1
Dan Miragliotta is the referee in charge of the night’s
first heavyweight bout. Overeem opens with an inside leg kick
and Sefo returns the favor. Sefo with a left hook and an overhand
right. He rushes Overeem into the cage with a right hand and
the Dutchman circles out. Front kick from Overeem. Sefo jumps
into the pocket with a combo. Overeem changes levels and puts
Sefo down against the fence with a single-leg. From side control,
Overeem cranks the neck of Sefo and quickly forces the tap out.
The official time is 1:37 of the first round.
Gian
Villante vs. Chad Griggs
Round 1
Yves Lavigne is our referee. Griggs comes in swinging and Villante
answers with some uppercuts in the clinch. Villante lobbing low
kicks before they tie up again and Griggs tags him with a haymaker.
Griggs cracks him with another big punch and Villante rushes
him into the fence to slow the action. Lavigne instructs them
to work and Griggs punches to the body. They disengage and Griggs
lands a one-two, prompting Villante to shoot again. This time,
Griggs sprawls and lands some shots on the kneeling Villante.
Villante looks to be in real trouble before landing a head kick
on Griggs. Lavigne halts the action at an inopportune time to
get Villante’s mouthpiece back in. They get back to work
and Griggs starts throwing bombs. A right hand drops Villante,
but he gets back up. Griggs gives chase and lands another huge
right, and Villante goes crashing to the mat. Griggs pounces
and blasts away until Lavigne jumps in at 2:49 the mark.
Shane
del Rosario vs. Lavar Johnson
Round 1
Yves Lavigne returns to ref another heavyweight tilt. Del Rosario
goes high with a kick and clashes with a punch from Johnson.
They clinch and trade knees before Del Rosario pins Johnson against
the fence. Del Rosario is warned for holding the cage, then gets
reversed by Johnson with the over-unders. Johnson trips him to
the mat and Lavigne again warns Del Rosario of the cage grabbing.
Johnson works from the open guard of Del Rosario, who twists
and pushes off the cage, scrambling to his feet. He comes forward
with a head kick and a few punches, but Johnson ties up again.
This time, he can’t get Del Rosario down, but does pop him
with a knee in the clinch and a punch to the body. Del Rosario
clinches up now, drilling hard hooks to the ribs of Johnson.
They split and Johnson comes forward throwing shots. Del Rosario
slips them and takes Johnson down, then jumps into mount. Del
Rosario has full mount in the middle of the cage with two minutes
left. He postures up and throws a few shots, riding high on Johnson’s
chest. Johnson doing well to hold his arms out and defend the
punches, but some are still getting through. Del Rosario spins
off to Johnson’s right arm and extends the limb. Johnson
stacks up and looks to escape, but Del Rosario has it tight and
gets the tap at 4:31, running his unbeaten record to 11-0.
Andrei
Arlovski vs. Sergei Kharitonov
Round 1
Kevin Mulhall is our referee for the semi-main event. Arlovski
fires a low kick and Kharitonov comes over the top. Switch kick
and a right hand find their targets for Arlovski. They clinch
and Arlovski pops his man with a few uppercuts underneath. Arlovski
kicks low and high, keeping on the outside as Kharitonov presses
in from the center. Jabs landing for Arlovski now, and a quick
one-two. Kharitonov ties up and tries to dirty-box, but Arlovski
shoves him off. Kharitonov lands a pair of right hands and gets
Arlovski against the fence, where Sergei drops him with a looping
right. Kharitonov shucks the legs and wails away from side control.
He lands a right, a left and another right. The last punch turns
out Arlovski’s lights and Mulhall steps in to rescue the
downed Belarusian. The official time of the brutal knockout is
2:49 of the first round.
Fedor
Emelianenko vs. Antonio Silva
Round 1
Referee Dan Miragliotta is in charge of tonight’s main event.
The men meet in the center of the cage and Fedor slings grazing
overhand punches. He comes in again and eats a counter left from
Silva, but keeps moving forward. Silva flicks out a leg kick
as Fedor inches toward him. Fedor lobs a punch and the tie up,
Silva pushing the Russian into the cage. Short inside knees from
Silva before Miragliotta restarts them. Fedor is throwing wild,
lands a few blows, but eats a hard punch from Silva in return.
Emelianenko’s nose appears to be bloodied less than halfway
through the round. Silva gets an underhook and leans his huge
frame on Emelianenko. The Brazilian doubles over for a takedown
and Fedor grabs a guillotine. Silva looks for a takedown, but
Fedor stays up and dives into Bigfoot’s guard. He doesn’t
stay there long, as Silva grabs at a leg. Fedor jumps back down
into half-guard and lands short punches on Silva. The bigger
Silva muscles his way to the feet and pins Fedor agains the fence
again. Silva lands a right hand, initiating a flurry of punches
from both men. Silva scores a takedown with 10 seconds left and
finishes the round at the base of the cage.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-9 Emelianenko
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-9 Emelianenko
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-9 Silva
Round
2
Silva times a punch from Fedor and takes the Russian down immediately.
Silva keeps tight in Fedor’s half-guard as Fedor throws
short punches from underneath. Silva passes to Fedor’s right,
moves to north-south and then into full mount. Fedor eats a few
punches and gives up his back, but Silva can’t get the rear-naked
choke before Fedor twists around again. More punches from Silva
on top and Fedor turns over again. With Fedor again on his back,
Silva pins Emelianenko down and lands hard shots, further bloodying
Fedor. Miragliotta is taking a close look, but Fedor is dodging
punches from mount. Still, the situation looks dire as Silva
jumps off to the right side of Emelianenko. Silva has a tight-looking
arm-triangle choke, but Emelianenko will not tap. After a few
tense moments, Silva relents and winds up back in Emelianenko’s
half-guard. Still 90 seconds left on the clock and both men look
spent. Fedor’s face is badly lumped up. Silva drops back
for a kneebar, but Fedor resists and goes for a toe hold of his
own. Silva wags his finger and that’s where the round ends.
Jordan
Breen scores the round 10-8 Silva
Chris Nelson scores the round 10-8 Silva
Mike Whitman scores the round 10-8 Silva
Emelianenko’s
right eye is grotesquely swollen shut and referee Dan Miragliotta
waves the contest off in between rounds two and three on the
advice of the cageside doctor. Silva’s corner doesn’t
seem immediately aware of the decision and continues prepping
for the third period. When they find out, the Brazilian team
reacts with joy before Silva walks over and bows in front of
Emelianenko.
Source: Sherdog
|
X-1:
CHAMPIONS III
Blaisdell Arena, Honolulu, Hawaii
March 12, 2011
MAIN CARD:
185lb X1 World Title: Niko Vitale vs Dylan Clay (Colorado)
155lb X1 World Title: Harris Sarmiento vs Max Holloway
145lb X1 World Title: Ricky Wallace vs Eben Kaneshiro (Kauai)
135lb X1 World Title: Russel Doane vs Van Oscar Penovaroff (Kona)
UNDERCARD:
185lb X1 State Title: Collin Mansanas vs Sale Sproa t(Molokai)
145lb X1 State Title: Dustin Kimura vs Kurrent Cockett (Maui)
170lb X1 State Title: Zane Kamaka vs Jordan Kekino (Maui)
135lb Womens State Title: Raquel Paaluhi vs Nicole Johnson (Cali)
HW X1 State Title: Lolohea Mahe (Maui) vs Puka Bell (Hilo)
155lb X1 State Title: Steven Saito vs Will Shutt (Iowa)
HW X1 Amateur Title: Paea Paongo vs Kala Koa (Maui)
Source: Event Promoter
|
Alan
Belcher Back in Training, Looking at Summer Return to the UFC
by Damon
Martin
The
long road back for Alan Belcher finally has a light at the end
of the tunnel. The UFC middleweight has returned to training
and will return to action this summer.
Belcher’s
manager, Malki Kawa of Authentic Sports Management, says that
he is back in training and looking to step back into the Octagon
in June or July.
“Absolutely,
Alan’s going full speed ahead,” Kawa said about Belcher’s
progression.
The
fact that Belcher is fighting at all now is somewhat miraculous.
Prior to his scheduled fight in September 2010 against Demian
Maia, Belcher suffered an eye injury while training in Brazil
that not only almost cost him his career, but nearly cost him
his eyesight.
Will
and determination have never been a problem for Belcher, and
after getting the good news after a second surgery was performed
on his eye, he knew he’d be able to resume his fight career
in 2011.
“If
I start back hard in January, it’s probably going to take
me a little while to get back in fight shape. I want to have
a good base under me before I accept a fight, but once I do it
will be on,” said Belcher when speaking with MMAWeekly after
he was cleared to train again.
“Whatever
is soon, but when I’m ready. As soon as I’m ready.”
It
looks like that timeline has been determined and Belcher is back
in training now, but making sure that when he officially returns
to the UFC he is in top form.
Prior
to being sidelined with the injury, Belcher and reeled off back-to-back
wins in the UFC and hopes to build on that when he finally gets
back in the summer.
There
are a number of challenges ahead for the Mississippi based fighter,
but with his career resurrected, Belcher is ready for anyone.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Against
Shogun, Jones Will Fight the Body, Not the Name
Fresh
off a Feb. 5 submission win over Ryan Bader, Jon Jones will be
back in the cage March 19 to challenge Mauricio “Shogun”
Rua for the UFC light heavyweight championship.
Jones
discussed the matchup and more Tuesday during an appearance on
Bruce Buffer’s “It’s Time” show on the Sherdog
Radio Network. Quick quotes from Jones follow.
On
getting a title shot: “I’m just embracing this moment
and trying not to be intimidated by any of it. I’m excited.
I’m trying to remember that no fight’s a big fight
and not to fight anyone’s name or face but fight the body.
Fight the body and do the things that I’m normally doing
in training camp. I feel really great.”
On
fighting again just six weeks after beating Bader: “Usually
I spend the first two weeks of my training camp getting in shape.
I’m already in shape, so I have a great base to start off
[from] physically. I can even make myself that much better physically.
I’ll have an eight-pack instead of a six-pack my next fight
hopefully.”
On
the role of film study in his preparation for Shogun: “I
think studying is going to be the biggest piece. Know what I’m
doing. That’s something I take very seriously.”
On
transcending MMA: “I think the biggest difference between
being considered a great fighter and being remembered like a
guy like Ali, those guys change the world in a way. Guys like
Ali, he stood for something outside of fighting. Guys like Bruce
Lee -- no one ever remembered Bruce Lee as being that Chinese
guy. He’s that brilliant guy who changed the world in a
way. I’ve got to figure out what my passion’s going
to be outside of fighting to really make a major impact on society.”
On
his endorsement deal with K-Swiss: “I’ll be the first
MMA athlete to have a shoe. That’s something we’re
going to start designing after this fight. … I think it’s
going to be like a whole brand. There’s going to be shoes
and sweaters and jeans and all types of really cool things.”
On
whether he would have accepted a fight against Anderson Silva
as quickly as he accepted the Shogun offer: “No. No, because
my goal is to be the UFC light heavyweight champ, not to fight
superfights. Even though it would be an honor to fight Anderson
and I would definitely take a fight against him, no. I would
have had to put more thought into training properly and studying
because there’s a lot that would go into fighting the pound-for-pound
best fighter in the world. With Shogun, he has something I want.
I have nothing to lose by fighting Shogun.”
Source: Sherdog
|
Josh
Barnett: Strikeforce Grand Prix Will Be 'Total Earth-Shaker'
in MMA
By Mike
Chiappetta
NEW YORK -- Josh Barnett has made it very clear that he doesn't
care about titles or fanfare or even the public perception of
him, and he's just as adamant that performance should stand on
its own merits. In other words, forget about what's come before
today, and focus on what stands in front of you now.
As
such, he wants fans to put aside existing thoughts or preconceptions
about the UFC/Strikeforce rivalry and see the Strikeforce Heavyweight
Grand Prix for what it is.
Flanked
by the seven other tournament fighters at The Lighthouse at Chelsea
Piers, Barnett demanded the MMA world's attention.
"If
someone's just going to say, 'If it's not the UFC, then it's
not as good,' then you're really sort of s------ on all that
we're doing here," Barnett said. "So I just want everybody
to look at it from a completely objective standpoint for what
it is, for what we bring to the table, and for what we're going
to accomplish."
During
a Wednesday press conference, Barnett took the reigns as the
unofficial fighters' spokesman, expounding on the tourney's purpose,
its participants and its ultimate affect on the world of MMA
at large.
"Everyone's
going to view this differently," he said. "Everyone's
going to filter it through their own lens. For sure, this is
going to be significant. I think that it's the greatest collection
of heavyweights. But it's not just a paper thing. Everyone here
has walked the walk before. Most of the guys in here have held
titles of some sort."
It's
a fair point. Barnett and Andrei Arlovski were both UFC champions,
Alistair Overeem a Strikeforce and DREAM champion, Antonio Silva
was EliteXC's only heavyweight champ, and Fedor Emelianenko ruled
over PRIDE for years.
In
his first round fight, scheduled to take place in April, Barnett
(26-5) faces Brett Rogers. But asked if he considered himself
the favorite to win the tournament, Barnett insisted there was
no reason to speculate on that when the tournament would decide
a winner in due time.
"Speculation
is retarded," he said. "There's no reason for it. Speculation
is for you guys, not for us. We don't speculate. Our ranking,
our understanding, our place will be shown by action. So for
us to say we're the favorite, we're not the favorite, it's all
bulls---. It doesn't matter. You're the favorite when you've
won, you're the loser when you lost. So you guys pick a favorite,
you rank us, you create the lines and put the money down and
let us f--- each other up, how about that?"
The
April fight could potentially be Barnett's first in the US since
a positive drug test in the summer of 2009 ruled him out of an
Affliction card. He's won six fights in a row, and there is a
debate amongt fans over whether Barnett deserves a spot in the
heavyweight top 10 rankings.
Not
surprisingly, most heavyweight rankings are dominated by the
UFC, but several of the Grand Prix fighters, including Barnett,
Overeem, Werdum, Silva and Emelianenko are all in the mix as
well. Putting them under the spotlight of a tournament field
with the promise of several clashing seems to ensure that some
of the attention that eluded them before will reach them now.
And that, if nothing else, seems purpose enough for the Grand
Prix.
"If
this tournament comes through as expected and planned, this is
going to be a total earth-shaker in the world of MMA," Barnett
said.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
What
makes Anderson pretty much a superhero?
by Carlos
Eduardo Ozório
In an interview on Brazil’s Sportv network mentioned here
on GRACIEMAG.com, Vitor Belfort made the following comment about
the kick that led to his knockout in his title challenge at UFC
126 last Saturday: “If he tries that kick ten times, he’ll
only land it once. But he landed it, so what can I do? Total
credit to him, he’s a great champion. I’ll come back
even stronger.”
Yes,
credit to Anderson. Yes, Belfort has just what it takes to come
back even stronger and to become champion, who knows maybe even
have a better go at it in a rematch against Anderson. Nevertheless,
the kick was no fluke nor would he only land it once in ten tries.
Truth
is, history proves the opposite. We can look back at the fight
against Forrest Griffin, a much heavier adversary and one who
was once light heavyweight champion, at the top of the pecking
order. Anderson knocked him out with a left – in theory
his weakest hand – and even while stepping backwards on
top of that. And he had already floored Forrest with pinpoint
striking earlier.
He
may one day lose, but Silva is different. I’ll go out on
a limb to say, drawing a comparison with soccer, that his style
of fighting is like Garrincha’s style of play – he’s
a showman –, but he’ll likely have a longer career
and more achievements, like Pelé.
What
Anderson does in the octagon is art. Besides successfully performing
techniques most others ignore doing, mixing moves from Jiu-Jitsu,
capoeira, muay thai, boxing, taekwondo and aikido, among other
fighting styles, his main characteristic is precision. Anderson
is very precise, homing in on a precise point on an opponent
within a fraction of a second. He seems to see his opponent in
slow motion. If that’s something out of a comic book or
movie, then his nickname “The Spider” is well deserved.
In
the video below, during a laid back training session while going
through final preparations for the fight, you can already see
it. Even while doing light training, one can tell how Anderson
performs the moves like almost no one else on the planet can.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
Sherdog
Official Mixed Martial Arts Rankings
MMA’s
eight kings remain intact, but the last four weeks have given
rise to considerable shake-up.
Anderson
Silva’s brilliant standing punt of Vitor Belfort in their
UFC middleweight title matchup at UFC 126 on Feb. 6 firmly reiterated
the hold “The Spider” has on the middleweight division,
amidst questions of waning prime and ambition. However, that
is not to say 185 pounds has been without some reshaping.
One
of Silva’s regular training partners at X-Gym, Strikeforce
middleweight champion Ronaldo Souza, retained his title in his
first defense against Robbie Lawler on Jan. 29. The performance
was one that places “Jacare” alongside the middleweight
elite, as he showed all the world-class ground ability that made
him a coveted prospect and the toughness to overcome the early
knockdown and damage that “Ruthless” was able to deliver.
Flux
continued at 205 pounds, as blue-chipper Jon Jones carved out
the most significant win of his career against Ryan Bader at
UFC 126, moving up in the light heavyweight world and securing
a UFC title shot on March 19 against Mauricio Rua.
Meanwhile,
at 155 pounds, touted up-and-comer Evan Dunham suffered a setback
on Jan. 22, falling to hard-charging Melvin Guillard in the first
round, again reminding us of the competitive shark tank that
is the lightweight division.
However,
no change has been as prominent as that at 145 pounds. While
former champion Mike Thomas Brown fell twice in three weeks --
first to Diego Nunes on Jan. 1 and then to Rani Yahya on Jan.
22, both by split decision -- unbeaten Team Alpha Male product
Chad Mendes joined the ranks of the top featherweights with a
fantastic Feb. 6 showing against Japanese standout Michihiro
Omigawa, dominating the Yoshida Dojo product for 15 minutes.
Heavyweight
1.
Cain Velasquez (9-0)
The hope was that Velasquez would make the first defense of his
UFC heavyweight title in April or May against Junior dos Santos.
However, rehab did not mend his torn rotator cuff, and surgery
became a necessity. Therefore, the first defense of the new champion
will likely come this summer -- or later.
2.
Brock Lesnar (5-2)
Recluse? What recluse? The infamously standoffish Lesnar is now
in the middle of taping the 13th season of “The Ultimate
Fighter,” where he will coach against Junior dos Santos.
The season will set up a high-stakes heavyweight clash between
the two, likely on June 11 at UFC 131, which might mark the UFC’s
return to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
3.
Fabricio Werdum (14-4-1)
With his elbow injury healing, Werdum looks ready to return to
action. Coming off his June win against Fedor Emelianenko, “Vai
Cavalo” will be cast right back into the fire, as he takes
on Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem in the quarter-finals
of the promotion’s heavyweight grand prix, slated for April
9 in Japan.
4.
Fedor Emelianenko (31-2, 1 NC)
The world’s eyes are fixed on East Rutherford, N.J., waiting
to see if “The Last Emperor” can respond to his shocking
June loss to Fabricio Werdum. Emelianenko returns to action Feb.
12 in the first round of Strikeforce’s heavyweight grand
prix against mammoth Brazilian Antonio Silva.
5.
Junior dos Santos (12-1)
Rather than wait for UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez
to heal from his rotator cuff injury, “Cigano” has
opted to stay active. Dos Santos will coach opposite Brock Lesnar
on the 13th season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” culminating
in a clash between the two heavyweights, tentatively scheduled
for UFC 131 on June 11.
6.
Shane Carwin (12-1)
Carwin was scheduled to face “The Ultimate Fighter”
Season 10 winner Roy Nelson at UFC 125 on Jan. 1. However, due
to ongoing spinal problems, he opted for surgery. After a successful
procedure, the Colorado native has returned to training and now
eyes a purported bout with Cheick Kongo at UFC 131.
7.
Frank Mir (14-5)
After a rumored fight with hot heavyweight prospect Brendan Schaub
fell through, Mir has signed on to meet former International
Fight League champion Roy Nelson at UFC 130 on May 28. The pair
has a history, as Nelson previously defeated Mir in a grappling
match at a North American Grappling Association event.
8.
Alistair Overeem (34-11, 1 NC)
MMA fans have wanted to see the 2010 K-1 World Grand Prix back
inside the cage against high-level, meaningful heavyweight opponents.
They will finally get their wish on April 9. Strikeforce has
plans for Overeem to meet Fabricio Werdum in their hotly-anticipated
quarter-final matchup in the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix
in Japan.
9.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-6-1, 1 NC)
“Minotauro” continues to mend from the hip surgery
that took him out of a rematch with Frank Mir in September. Nogueira
now targets August’s UFC show in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,
as his desired comeback date. It would be a fitting return for
one of Brazil’s greatest MMA idols.
10.
Antonio Silva (15-2)
Silva has the chance to shock the world, put a wrench in the
works, tip over the apple cart and many other metaphors. On Feb.
12, “Bigfoot” takes on longtime heavyweight ruler Fedor
Emelianenko in the opening round of Strikeforce’s heavyweight
grand prix, in what is easily the biggest fight of his career.
Other
contenders: Josh Barnett, Cole Konrad, Roy Nelson, Ben Rothwell,
Brendan Schaub.
Light
Heavyweight
1.
Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (19-4)
“Shogun” expected to tangle with former UFC champion
Rashad Evans in the first defense of his light heavyweight title
on March 19. However, a knee injury to Evans means that Rua will
instead meet star prospect Jon Jones at UFC 128 in a fight that
quickly excited and ignited the MMA public.
2.
Rashad Evans (15-1-1)
In a cruel bit of coincidence, Evans’ decision to wait for
UFC champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua’s knee to heal
before fighting him for the 205-pound crown culminated in his
own knee injury. The blow forced Evans out of their March 19
clash. Evans’ title shot will now go to his teammate at
Jackson’s Mixed Martial Arts, Jon Jones.
3.
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (31-8)
In a crucial bout in November, “Rampage” earned a split
decision win over former UFC champion Lyoto Machida. Another
tough Brazilian is next on deck, as Jackson will take on Thiago
Silva at UFC 130 on May 28 in a bout with obvious and considerable
stakes at 205 pounds.
4.
Lyoto Machida (16-2)
It was not long ago that many thought Machida was simply unbeatable
at 205 pounds. Two losses later, Machida heads into a bout with
MMA legend Randy Couture at UFC 129 on April 30 in Toronto, with
many fans having completely forgotten the kind of dominance that
was expected for “The Dragon.”
5.
Jon Jones (12-1)
In a UFC 126 fight many tabbed as a considerable test, Jones
continued his habit of abusing good fighters, as he hustled the
previously unbeaten Ryan Bader on the floor before locking up
a fight-ending guillotine late in round two. A knee injury suffered
by teammate Rashad Evans has opened the door for Jones to vie
for the UFC light heavyweight crown against Mauricio “Shogun”
Rua on March 19 at UFC 128.
6.
Forrest Griffin (18-6)
In his first action in 15 months, Griffin was not perfect. However,
the former UFC light heavyweight champion used top control and
rangy striking to earn a unanimous decision victory over former
middleweight titleholder Rich Franklin at UFC 126. The performance
netted a strong win and put him back in the consciousness of
the MMA public.
7.
Ryan Bader (12-1)
In a matchup of preeminent 205-pound prospects, Bader was definitively
the lesser when he met Jon Jones at UFC 126. For the better part
of two rounds, he was dominated by Jones, who forced “Darth”
Bader to tap to a guillotine late in the second stanza.
8.
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (19-4)
Coming off of a tough decision loss to Ryan Bader in September,
Nogueira will find himself in a more manageable bounce-back fight.
“Minotoro” will take on former UFC light heavyweight
champion Tito Ortiz, winless in more than four years, at UFC
Fight Night 24 on March 26 in Seattle.
9.
Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante (10-2)
“Feijao” surprised onlookers by thumping Muhammed “King
Mo” Lawal in August to take the Strikeforce light heavyweight
title. Now, the Brazilian will make his first title defense on
March 5, when he takes on former two-division Pride Fighting
Championships titleholder Dan Henderson in Columbus, Ohio.
10.
Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal (7-1)
“King Mo” had his crown taken by Rafael “Feijao”
Cavalcante on Aug. 21 in Houston. A slow start and an overreliance
on his stand-up skills saw Lawal play right into Cavalcante’s
game. It resulted in his being stopped just 74 seconds into the
third round, as he suffered the first loss of his MMA career.
Now, Lawal continues to mend from knee surgery that should keep
him out for the first quarter of 2011.
Other
contenders: Rich Franklin, Matt Hamill, Vladimir Matyushenko,
Gegard Mousasi, Thiago Silva.
Middleweight
1.
Anderson Silva (28-4)
It was Silva at his finest. In one of his most anticipated bouts
to date, the UFC middleweight champion ducked, dodged and weaved
around Vitor Belfort’s punches before slamming a front kick
into his face that struck him down. The sensational first-round
stoppage could potentially lead to the much-anticipated clash
between Silva and welterweight king Georges St. Pierre, should
GSP best Jake Shields in April.
2.
Chael Sonnen (25-11-1)
Sonnen was expected to face Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 128 in March.
However, the embattled middleweight took yet another hit after
pleading guilty to federal charges of money laundering, forcing
the UFC to put the freeze on Sonnen’s contract. It leaves
the former middleweight title challenger out of competition for
the near future.
3.
Yushin Okami (26-5)
Such is life for Okami. After earning the most significant win
of his career against Nate Marquardt in November, “Thunder”
was seemingly next on deck for the winner of the UFC 126 match
between Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort. However, Silva’s
remarkable performance has quickly accelerated talks of a super
fight with Georges St. Pierre, putting Okami on the backburner
again.
4.
Nate Marquardt (30-10-2)
Marquardt’s three-year journey to earn another shot at middleweight
ruler Anderson Silva hit another speed bump in Oberhausen, Germany,
in November. For the better part of 15 minutes, Marquardt was
outboxed and outwrestled by a surprisingly aggressive Yushin
Okami, who took the unanimous nod and, with it, a potential UFC
middleweight title shot. The defeat dropped Marquardt back into
the rest of the population at 185 pounds. The former middleweight
King of Pancrase will collide with Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 128
on March 19.
5.
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (14-2, 1 NC)
In a great fight, Souza successfully defended his Strikeforce
middleweight crown for the first time on Jan. 29, submitting
Robbie Lawler in the third round. “Jacare” dominated
on the ground but was badly hurt in the first round, battling
back from the brink of defeat to notch the rear-naked choke win
in the third stanza.
6.
Demian Maia (14-2)
Just as he had done against Mario Miranda in August, Maia controlled
Kendall Grove on the floor on Dec. 4 en route to earning a unanimous
decision. Another thorough if not thrilling win for Maia continues
to help erase the bitter memories of his April debacle with middleweight
champion Anderson Silva in the United Arab Emirates.
7.
Dan Henderson (26-8)
Henderson can barely be considered a middleweight at this point.
Following his Dec. 4 crushing of Renato “Babalu” Sobral,
“Hendo” will challenge Rafael Cavalcante for the Strikeforce
light heavyweight belt on March 5 in Columbus, Ohio.
8.
Jorge Santiago (23-8)
In a rematch of one of the most underrated fights of 2009, Santiago
and Kazuo Misaki turned in arguably the best bout of 2010. The
back-and-forth five-round war culminated in Santiago -- who had
already been nearly knocked out and submitted in the fight --
retaining his Sengoku middleweight crown by pounding on a hapless
Misaki until his corner threw in the towel.
9.
Vitor Belfort (19-9)
Though many tabbed Belfort a live underdog heading into his Feb.
6 title challenge against Anderson Silva, it seems hard to imagine
“The Phenom” not becoming synonymous with his brutal
knockout loss to “The Spider” at UFC 126. The Brazilian
fight community has already immortalized the knockout as “bicuda
na fuca,” and it is sure to be a highlight reel staple for
years to come.
10.
Michael Bisping (20-3)
In February, Bisping lost a contentious decision to Wanderlei
Silva in Sydney, Australia. Fifty-three weeks later, on Feb.
27, he will return to the site of the fight, taking on suddenly
relevant journeyman Jorge Rivera at UFC 127.
Other
contenders: Alan Belcher, Robbie Lawler, Hector Lombard, Wanderlei
Silva, Brian Stann.
Welterweight
1.
Georges St. Pierre (21-2)
St. Pierre has proven sterling in Montreal, where he has bashed
Matt Serra and Josh Koscheck. Next for “Rush” will
be an appearance in Toronto on April 30, when he will defend
his welterweight crown against Jake Shields in the main event
of UFC 129 in front of what figures to be a massive crowd at
the Rogers Centre.
2.
Jon Fitch (23-3, 1 NC)
After besting Thiago Alves for a second time, Fitch was hopeful
he would get another crack at the UFC welterweight crown. That
opportunity will go to Jake Shields. Instead of another title
shot, Fitch draws former two-division champion B.J. Penn at UFC
127 on Feb. 27 in Sydney, Australia.
3.
Thiago Alves (18-7)
Alves did not have much time to savor his win over John Howard
at UFC 124 before his name was right back on the UFC docket.
“Pitbull” will return in May, when he is scheduled
to meet surging welterweight contender Rick Story in a high-stakes
bout at 170 pounds.
4.
Jake Shields (26-4-1)
Shields made the jump from Strikeforce to the UFC because he
felt it was the best way for him to prove his mettle against
the world’s best fighters. He will get the ultimate chance
to do so on April 30, when he challenges Georges St. Pierre for
the UFC welterweight crown at UFC 129 in front of tens of thousands
of fans at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.
5.
Josh Koscheck (15-5)
Koscheck’s crushing Dec. 11 defeat to Georges St. Pierre
was not just figurative; it was literal. Following surgery to
repair a smashed orbital bone, Koscheck will spend at least six
months on the shelf before returning to action, potentially stepping
back into the Octagon sometime this summer.
6.
Martin Kampmann (17-4)
In October, Kampmann earned props from the MMA world for his
split decision loss to Jake Shields in a fight many feel he won.
MMA’s foremost Dane has been rewarded with a major bout,
as he will meet Diego Sanchez in a welterweight tilt at UFC Live
3 on March 3 in Louisville, Ky.
7.
Carlos Condit (26-5)
Condit’s resurgent 2010 campaign has earned him an all-action
fight to kick off 2011. At UFC 127 in Sydney, Australia, the
“Natural Born Killer” will take on free-swinging veteran
Chris Lytle in a fight that promises wild action and bears welterweight
contender consequences.
8.
Nick Diaz (24-7, 1 ND)
Diaz’s Jan. 29 victory against Evangelista Santos was, as
usual, thrilling. While “Cyborg” cut into the legs
of Diaz, the Strikeforce welterweight champion blasted back with
punches, until his slick armbar ended the fight in round two.
His second successful title defense may set up a fight with British
banger Paul Daley in the coming months.
9.
Dan Hardy (23-8, 1 NC)
After ripping off four straight wins to begin his tenure in the
Octagon, Hardy was bested in both of his 2010 outings. “The
Outlaw” will look to start off 2011 on a more productive
note come March 26, when he welcomes back serious hitter Anthony
Johnson at UFC Fight Night 24.
10.
Paul Daley (26-9-2)
Daley is scheduled for tune-up action at BAMMA 5 on Feb. 26 in
Manchester, England. However, most view the bout as a mere stay-busy
venture, as Strikeforce eyes a potential welterweight title clash
between “Semtex” and champion Nick Diaz later this
year. That fight would likely provide massive fireworks should
it go down.
Other
contenders: Ben Askren, Jake Ellenberger, John Hathaway, Jay
Hieron, Mike Pyle.
Lightweight
1.
Frankie Edgar (13-1-1)
In round one of his lightweight title defense against Gray Maynard
at UFC 125, Edgar looked dead to rights after taking an epic
pummeling from “The Bully.” Somehow, Edgar fought back
valiantly over the last 20 minutes, shutting down Maynard’s
wrestling and becoming the more effective boxer. After five rounds,
Edgar had forced a split draw in a sensational fight, as well
as a third fight with Maynard at UFC 130 on May 28.
2.
Gilbert Melendez (18-2)
After a potential New Year’s Eve rematch with Dream champion
Shinya Aoki fell apart, Strikeforce champ Melendez was left with
no clear next opponent. In the meantime, “El Nino”
has taken to calling out welterweight contender Paul Daley, announcing
his interest in a 165-pound catchweight bout against the hard-hitting
Brit.
3.
Gray Maynard (10-0-1, 1 NC)
Through five minutes at UFC 125, it seemed a lock that Maynard
would leave Las Vegas with the UFC lightweight crown. But while
“The Bully” crushed Frankie Edgar in the first round,
the champion battled back over the next four to force a draw
and retain his title in an early “Fight of the Year”
contender. The pair will square off for the third time on May
28 at UFC 130 in Las Vegas.
4.
B.J. Penn (16-7-1)
Penn and Matt Hughes were rivals for nearly six years. However,
in the rubber match between the former UFC champs, it took “The
Prodigy” just 21 seconds to brutally put Hughes down for
the count. Next for Penn will be another fight at 170 pounds
-- and a major one, at that -- as he meets Jon Fitch in the UFC
127 headliner on Feb. 27 in Sydney, Australia.
5.
Shinya Aoki (26-5, 1 NC)
It was not really an MMA bout, but Aoki was embarrassed by cosplaying
K-1 Max veteran Yuichiro Nagashima on New Year’s Eve in
Tokyo. After surviving the kickboxing round of their “mixed
rules” bout, Aoki was clobbered with a giant knee just four
seconds into the MMA round by “Jienotsu,” making for
a bitter end to 2010.
6.
Eddie Alvarez (21-2)
In his Oct. 21 bout with Roger Huerta, Alvarez was positively
destructive, using his uppercut and newly-found low kicks to
batter the UFC veteran and force the cageside doctor to halt
the fight after 10 minutes. Postfight, Alvarez took the opportunity
to call out Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez,
and the Bellator Fighting Championships promotion itself further
exacerbated the call for the crossover megafight. Bellator’s
Season 4 tournament to determine Alvarez’s next challenger
kicks off in March.
7.
Kenny Florian (14-5)
A knee injury took Kenny Florian out of a proposed Jan. 22 bout
with Evan Dunham. As the knee injury heals, the former UFC lightweight
title challenger is looking at a return in the early spring,
possible at UFC 130 or 131, and likely at 145 pounds.
8.
Tatsuya Kawajiri (27-6-2)
On New Year’s Eve, Kawajiri dulled the bitter sting of his
July submission loss to Shinya Aoki by soundly handling former
Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson. Kawajiri used
top position to dominate “The Punk” en route to an
impressive unanimous decision win, perhaps paving the way for
the “Crusher” to compete stateside in 2011.
9.
Jim Miller (19-2)
A winner of six straight bouts in the hyper-competitive UFC lightweight
division, Miller is inching ever closer to a coveted 155-pound
title shot. In order to keep that dream afloat, he will have
to deal with “The Prince of Persia,” Kamal Shalorus,
at UFC 128 on March 19. The upside? The fight will be contested
in Miller’s home state of New Jersey.
10.
Sean Sherk (36-4-1)
With 40-plus fights and over a decade in the sport, injuries
have piled up for Sherk. As a result, the 37-year-old “Muscle
Shark” has taken time off to heal and rehab, and is now
targeting a potential summer return to the Octagon.
Other
contenders: Clay Guida, Melvin Guillard, Benson Henderson, Anthony
Pettis, George Sotiropoulos.
*With
his Jan. 22 loss to Melvin Guillard, previously 10th-ranked Evan
Dunham falls from the lightweight top 10.
Featherweight
1.
Jose Aldo (18-1)
Aldo continues to rehab the back injury which forced him out
of a slated Jan. 1 title defense against Josh Grispi. When he
comes off the mend, the Brazilian phenom will launch straight
into preparation for UFC 129 on April 30 in Toronto, where he’ll
take on Mark Hominick in his first UFC title defense.
2.
Hatsu Hioki (23-4-2)
In the most significant fight of his career, Hioki was brilliant
in wresting the Sengoku featherweight crown from Marlon Sandro.
Over five thrilling rounds, Hioki was clinical on the feet and
otherworldly on the ground, threatening Sandro in every position
for 25 minutes in Hioki’s best performance to date.
3.
Chad Mendes (10-0)
Mendes showcased his aggressive and well-rounded style in the
biggest fight of his young career, as he pummeled a tough Michihiro
Omigawa over three rounds at UFC 126. With the win, Mendes puts
himself on the cusp of a UFC featherweight title shot.
4.
Manny Gamburyan (11-5)
With his corking of former WEC champion Mike Thomas Brown in
April, Gamburyan earned his shot at Jose Aldo. However, when
the two met at WEC 51 on Sept. 30, the tough Armenian had very
little to offer the Brazilian, who leisurely strolled through
the first round before turning up the heat and halting Gamburyan
in the second. Gamburyan is set to return against Raphael Assuncao
at UFC 128 on March 19.
5.
Michihiro Omigawa (12-9-1)
Omigawa’s return to the Octagon was not a pleasant one,
as the Yoshida Dojo product was beat up on the feet and on the
floor by hot prospect Chad Mendes at UFC 126. With the loss,
Omigawa is 8-2-1 as a featherweight, but 0-3 inside the confines
of the UFC.
6.
Marlon Sandro (17-2)
Sandro’s fearsome punching power was no match for the rangier,
slicker and more technical Hatsu Hioki, who took apart the Brazilian
on the feet on Dec. 30. Sandro, a Nova Uniao black belt in Brazilian
jiu-jitsu, was also in constant danger on the floor against the
Japanese standout. Sandro dropped the unanimous decision, with
his consolation prize being the respect he received for the toughness
he exhibited in defeat.
7.
Diego Nunes (16-1)
Since hooking up with top Brazilian team Nova Uniao, “The
Gun” has showed marked improvement with each appearance.
At UFC 125 on Jan. 1, Nunes took his game to another level, out-striking
former featherweight ruler Mike Thomas Brown en route to a split
decision and positioning himself near the top of the contenders
list at 145 pounds.
8.
Joe Warren (6-1)
While it’s tough to say whether Warren is, as he claims,
“the baddest man on the planet,” the former Greco-Roman
wrestling champion showed otherworldly toughness in his Sept.
2 bout with Joe Soto. Warren came back from a hellacious beating
in the fight’s opening round to knock out Soto and take
the Bellator featherweight title 33 seconds into round two.
9.
Dustin Poirier (9-1)
Prior to UFC 125, few fans knew Poirier’s name. However,
after a crushing display of offense against the heavily-favored
and well-regarded Josh Grispi, it is fair to say the 21-year-old
Poirier has emerged as another young stud in the 145-pound division.
10.
Josh Grispi (14-2)
Grispi was all set to challenge Jose Aldo for featherweight supremacy
at UFC 125. Then, Aldo was forced out of the fight with a back
injury, and “The Fluke” instead squared off with Dustin
Poirier. The lesser-known Poirier shocked onlookers by pummeling
the Massachusetts native from bell to bell, taking a commanding
unanimous decision and knocking Grispi out of title contention.
Other
contenders: Raphael Assuncao, Bibiano Fernandes, Mark Hominick,
Hiroyuki Takaya, Rani Yahya.
*With
his Jan. 22 loss to Rani Yahya, formerly seventh-ranked Mike
Thomas Brown exits the featherweight rankings.
Bantamweight
1.
Dominick Cruz (17-1)
Seldom does hyperactivity look easy, but that is Cruz. He continued
to show the evolution of his slick punching and unpredictable
style on Dec. 16, as he shut out the tough Scott Jorgensen over
five rounds at WEC 53. The win set the table for a major bantamweight
showdown against the only man to ever beat “The Dominator,”
former WEC featherweight king Urijah Faber, once Cruz recovers
from hand surgery.
2.
Joseph Benavidez (13-2)
Despite his two losses to Dominick Cruz and the fact that he
may be a natural 125-pounder, Benavidez has picked off more top
bantamweights than nearly any other 135-pound fighter. Stepping
in for an injured Brian Bowles, Benavidez added another Top 10
win to his ledger by dominating Wagnney Fabiano and choking the
Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt into submission at WEC 52.
3.
Brian Bowles (8-1)
Bowles has been plagued by injuries of late, but he finally appears
set for a return, 362 days after he lost the WEC bantamweight
crown to Dominick Cruz. Bowles will need every shred of good
health when he takes on Greg Jackson-trained bomber Damacio Page
in a rematch at UFC Live 3 on March 3 in Louisville, Ky.
4.
Urijah Faber (24-4)
The fight world is clamoring for a rematch between Dominick Cruz
and Faber, the only man to defeat the UFC bantamweight champion.
However, Cruz’s recent hand surgery will postpone such a
bout until at least late 2011. The “California Kid”
will not sit on the shelf, however: Faber will take on hard-punching
ex-WEC champ Eddie Wineland at UFC 128 on March 19 in Newark,
N.J.
5.
Scott Jorgensen (11-4)
Jorgensen was game and valiant until the end, but he simply had
nothing to offer bantamweight kingpin Dominick Cruz in their
Dec. 16 title clash. For 25 minutes, Jorgensen was hit with punches
in bunches on the feet and taken down repeatedly in a one-sided
decision loss that snapped a five-fight win streak.
6.
Miguel Torres (38-3)
It didn’t set the world on fire, but Miguel Torres rode
a strong jab to a one-sided unanimous verdict over Antonio Banuelos
at UFC 126 on Feb. 6. The performance has earned Torres flak,
as it so strongly departed from the blood-and-guts fight style
that helped him rise to prominence as the former WEC bantamweight
king.
7.
Takeya Mizugaki (13-5-2)
In his Nov. 11 bout with Urijah Faber, Mizugaki was viciously
choked unconscious by the former featherweight star in Faber’s
bantamweight debut. Mizugaki’s next bout will be a comparatively
softer touch, as he is tentatively scheduled to meet Francisco
Rivera at UFC Live 3 on March 3.
8.
Brad Pickett (20-5)
Always a thrill, Pickett excited again at WEC 53 against dynamic
Canadian Ivan Menjivar, earning a unanimous decision victory
in a highly entertaining, back-and-forth contest. The victory
was Pickett’s third in four fights since joining Zuffa LLC’s
bantamweight ranks 12 months ago.
9.
Masakatsu Ueda (12-1-2)
Taking on late replacement Ralph Acosta in Tokyo on Jan. 10,
the former Shooto 132-pound world champion showed all the facets
of his evolving game. Ueda exhibited some improving standup skills,
but more chiefly, put his expert grappling on display. Ueda and
Acosta showed off their technical wrestling chops before Ueda
closed the show with his patented Brabo choke.
10.
Demetrious Johnson (8-1)
At UFC 126, Demetrious Johnson showed once again that, regardless
of size, he possesses all the goods to hang at 135 pounds. Johnson
put together his combination striking and lightning-fast takedowns
to take a one-sided decision over Japanese star Norifumi “Kid”
Yamamoto. It was the third win in just over four months for “Mighty
Mouse.”
Other
contenders: Antonio Banuelos, Wagnney Fabiano, Zach Makovsky,
Michael McDonald, Eddie Wineland.
*With
his return to the featherweight division, formerly ninth-ranked
Rani Yahya exits the bantamweight rankings.
Flyweight
1.
Jussier da Silva (9-0)
In his high-pressure stateside debut, Da Silva aced his assignment,
liberally taking the back of WEC veteran Danny Martinez en route
to a tidy unanimous decision win under the Tachi Palace Fights
banner. Next up for “Formiga” is a bout with another
WEC alum, Ian McCall, at Tachi Palace Fights 8 in February. A
victory there could set him up for a shot at the promotion’s
flyweight champion, Ulysses Gomez.
2.
Yasuhiro Urushitani (18-4-6)
It was a non-title fight, but in his Nov. 19 appearance against
a tough Takuya Mori, Urushitani looked every bit the top 123-pounder
in professional Shooto. Urushitani brutally bashed Mori in the
first round, earning his first knockout in the Shooto ring in
his decade-long career.
3.
Mamoru Yamaguchi (25-5-3)
It seems like Shooto’s afroed ace has decided he likes fighting
in America: after besting Greg Guzman in Highland, Calif. last
August, Mamoru will return to action in the Golden State this
spring. The former two-division Shooto world champ will step
in for Alexis Vila to face John Dodson at Tachi Palace Fights
9 on May 5 in Lemoore, Calif.
4.
Yuki Shojo (10-5-2)
One of the flyweight division’s most exciting commodities,
Shojo will return to action for the first time in nearly a year
on March 12. At “Shootor's Legacy 2” in Tokyo, he’ll
take on former 114-pound title challenger Noboru “Shinpei”
Tahara in what promises to be an entertaining tilt.
5.
Ryuichi Miki (10-4-3)
A third bout with Yasuhiro Urushitani was the chance of a lifetime
for Miki, who had the opportunity to vie for the Shooto 123-pound
world title. However, as in the pair’s first two encounters,
it was Urushitani who walked out the victor and remained champion
on May 30.
6.
Kiyotaka Shimizu (7-3-2)
The flyweight “King of Pancrase” played a minor role
in Japan’s New Year’s season festivities. Shimizu was
a last-minute addition to the Sengoku Raiden Championship “Soul
of Fight” card on Dec. 30, as he defeated Ichiro Sugita
by split decision in a one-round, five-minute “jacket rules”
bout. Real opposition for the Pancrase champion will likely come
in February or March.
7.
Alexis Vila (8-0)
Vila was scheduled for the biggest fight of his career against
Greg Jackson product John Dodson at Tachi Palace Fights 9 in
May. However, Vila opted out of the fight, and will instead take
a considerably less challenging bout in against Lewis McKenzie
in Miami on Feb. 12.
8.
Fumihiro Kitahara (9-2-1)
Kitahara’s first bout against a true A-level flyweight did
not go as he had hoped. The 2008 Shooto rookie champion took
on former two-division Shooto world titleholder Mamoru Yamaguchi,
who needed just over two minutes to put his shin on Kitahara’s
head, leaving him flat on the mat.
9.
Mitsuhisa Sunabe (13-6-4)
Sunabe was unsuccessful in his bid to regain his flyweight “King
of Pancrase” title on Dec. 5 against rival Kiyotaka Shimizu,
as the pair battled to a split draw. However, the bout’s
lack of resolution and high level of excitement has paved the
way for a fourth clash between Sunabe and Shimizu later this
year.
10.
John Dodson (11-5)
Dodson has seen his opponent for Tachi Palace Fights 9 change,
but the swap may actually be a step up for “The Magician.”
Originally set to face Alexis Vila, the Olympic bronze medal
wrestler’s withdrawal from the fight has paved the way for
Dodson to instead take on former two-division Shooto world champion
Mamoru Yamaguchi on May 5 in what should be an action-packed
affair.
Other
contenders: Louis Gaudinot, Ulysses Gomez, Darrell Montague,
Alexandre Pantoja, Masaaki Sugawara.
Source: Sherdog
|
Over
40,000 Tickets Sold on Record-Breaking First Day of UFC 129 Sales
By Mike Chiappetta
A UFC 129 sellout at the Rogers Centre in Toronto is virtually
assured after fans snapped up over 40,000 tickets in the first
day of pre-sales to UFC Fight Club members.
UFC
Director of Canadian operations Tom Wright told MMA Fighting
that within 6-7 minutes of the box office opening, more seats
had been added to meet the demand, and within an hour, available
tickets were down to single seats.
The
number of tickets sold has already shattered the the current
paid North American MMA attendance record, which was just set
at UFC 124 in Montreal, when 23,152 filled the Bell Centre.
"Sales
were terrific, is the easiest way to say it," Wright told
MMA Fighting. "As you might know, it took a long time to
properly setup and scale Rogers Centre for UFC 129. This is our
first time out of hockey and basketball venues and into a baseball
and football stadium. We took great pains to make sure it's a
great experience for fans."
Wright
said there will be a limited number of tickets left for Friday's
pre-sale and for Saturday's general public sale.
He
added that more seats would be added to try to accommodate as
many fans as possible without compromising the live event experience,
saying that 50,000 fans seemed "a tall order" given
the stadium configuration.
Wright
noted that UFC 129 will feature 14 screens, two "Fan Zones"
and bleachers that will take up space and kill other seats.
The
event is also likely to shatter the North American MMA gate record,
but Wright could not yet confirm that, saying, "We hope
to have that information as early as this weekend, but I like
our chances." Adding more juice to the record-smashing weekend
will be the UFC Fan Expo, which could draw as many as 100,000
people, according to Wright.
The
show's main event features UFC welterweight champion Georges
St. Pierre defending his belt against No. 1 contender Jake Shields.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
An
absolute-fighting featherweight: Rafa Mendes to brave rougher
waters
by Marcelo
Dunlop
Rafael and Guilherme Mendes didn’t want to hear about just
doing the European Open Championship. After winning at the end
of January in Lisbon they set about spoiling the ladies in their
lives. So the burly brothers took Momma Mendes and the girlfriends
for a tour around Europe.
Today
the brothers are teaching in Canada. But Rafa had a chat with
GRACIEMAG.com and made mention of plans to compete in the absolute
in Abu Dhabi. The waters he’ll face there are quite a bit
more turbulent than what he braved in Venice, but he doesn’t
hear about it. Check out what he had to say!
What
places did you get to see while touring Europe?
The
trip was really cool. Guilherme and I went around with our mom
and girlfriends. We set up a trip around Europe with them and
some friends from the gym after the competition, and it was great.
We visited Lisbon, Paris, Venice, and Rome. We took the chance
to do some seminars during the trip, which was great too. Of
what I liked best, I really enjoyed seeing the inside of the
Colisseum. I was in Rome last year and knew it was a pretty place,
but this time I had the pleasure of going inside and getting
to see it – it left me speechless. I kept imagining how
the gladiators must have felt in there. Sinister! Traveling with
the family is really pleasant; so is visiting those incredible
places, we gained a lot from it.
Where
in Europe will Jiu-Jitsu be strongest in a few years, in your
opinion?
The
European Championship is causing Jiu-Jitsu in Europe to grow
a lot. But I can’t point out any one strongest nation, since
there are a lot of tough guys in the competition and I haven’t
had the pleasure of getting to know all that many countries yet.
Overall, Jiu-Jitsu in Europe is evolving really quickly and I
believe the European Open may be a major factor in that happening.
A number of champions are already coming out of Europe, like
the brown belt weight and absolute champion (Denmark’s Alexander
Trans).
As
feras no Coliseu: inspiração nos gladiadores pra
lutar o Pan e o World Pro.
You beat Renan Borges with one of your interesting slides to
the back. How did you do it?
The
move is what we at the gym call “berimbolo.” I’ve
been doing it since I was a blue belt. In the middle of the “tangle”
of the guard I attack the opponent’s back. I’ve been
doing the position for a long time, I’m improving on it
every day at the academy. I didn’t start doing it just yesterday
or a month ago, I’ve been working on it for ten years, and
it is getting more and more effective in competition.
Will
we see you in the absolute division in Abu Dhabi again this year?
We’ll
be there for sure, but first I’m going to concentrate on
winning my weight group and holding on to my title “at home,”
as I have the previous two years. After winning my weight group
I’ll enter the absolute to help the Atos gang out. We’ll
fight to keep the absolute belt among us. I’m going to tangle
with the big guys, everyone likes seeing a skinny guy go up against
giants.
Do
you think you’ll get to train with Sheikh Tahnoon again?
I’ll
do my best. I’ll focus on having a good showing, and God
winning, I’ll have another chance to train with Sheikh Tahnoon.
I already got to train with him on three occasions and we’ve
maintained our friendship. He’s an incredible guy.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
Tim
Kennedy vs. Melvin Manhoef Official for Strikeforce in Ohio March
5
Tim Kennedy will still get to fight on the upcoming Strikeforce
card in Ohio and will face heavy hitter Melvin Manhoef in a middleweight
bout on the card.
MMAWeekly.com
previously announced the match-up, and on Thursday Strikeforce
made the bout official for the March 5 card taking place at the
Nationwide Arena in Columbus.
Manhoef
enters the fight on a two bout losing streak and needs to get
a win when he faces Kennedy. For such a dangerous fighter, desperation
might make him that much more deadly.
“I
come to fight and give my very best,’’ Manhoef said
about the fight. “I am very, very hungry. I need to win
this fight. I am looking forward to fighting Tim Kennedy.’’
Kennedy
returns to action for the first time since losing a middleweight
title fight against Ronald “Jacare” Souza in 2010.
He’s hoping to get back in the title hunt, and the first
test is against Manhoef.
The
bout between Kennedy and Manhoef will be a featured bout on the
Strikeforce card headlined by light heavyweight champion Rafael
“Feijao” Cavalcante against Dan Henderson.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Decorated
Judoka Kheder Joins Bellator Lightweight Tournament
by Mike Whitman
Accomplished
judoka and 2000 Sydney Olympian Ferrid Kheder will compete in
Bellator Fighting Championships’ upcoming fourth-season
lightweight tournament, the promotion announced on Wednesday.
The eight-man grand prix will begin in March and air live on
MTV2.
The
“Hurricane” joins Rob McCullough, Carey Vanier, Michael
Chandler and Lloyd Woodard in the tournament field, making five
participants now official. Patricky Freire, Marcin Held and Toby
Imada are also expected to compete in the tournament, though
their participation has not yet been ratified by the promotion.
Currently
training at Kings MMA in Huntington Beach, Calif., Kheder’s
most recent bout was embroiled in controversy. After three rounds
of action against Hermes Franca in Costa Rica on Dec. 19, the
fight went to the judges’ scorecards. Though most observers
believed that Franca had secured a clear victory, Kheder was
awarded a decision win. The bout was later overturned to a no-contest.
The 35-year-old French Tunisian had won five straight bouts prior
to his fight with Franca.
“I’m
absolutely determined to win this tournament,” Kheder said
in a press release “I think I’m one of the best in
the world when I have the proper training and I’m fully
prepared. I have three fights to win in this tournament, and
then I’ll have the opportunity to fight for the title against
one of the best lightweights in the world. I know this is a really
huge opportunity for me.”
As
with all of Bellator’s tournaments, the winner of the lightweight
bracket will be awarded $100,000 in total pay, as well as a shot
at Bellator lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez. Kheder was originally
slated to compete in Bellator’s second lightweight tournament
in spring 2010, but was forced to withdraw due to appendicitis.
Source: Sherdog
|
Carlos
Condit Withdraws From UFC 127, Hopes for June Return
By Mike Chiappetta
A mild knee injury has knocked Carlos Condit out of his scheduled
UFC 127 fight with Chris Lytle, MMA FIghting has confirmed.
Sportsnet.ca
first reported the possibility of his withdrawal.
The
injury is likely to keep Condit out of serious training for 5-6
weeks, his manager Malki Kawa told MMA Fighting.
Kawa
said that Condit's goal is to return to action in June.
The
surging Condit had won three straight fights, including an October
knockout over former No. 1 contender Dan Hardy.
The
former WEC welterweight champion has won 11 of his last 12 overall,
with his only loss coming in a close split-decision to Martin
Kampmann.
Meanwhile,
Condit will be replaced by Brian Ebersole, a source close to
the UFC told MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani, confirming a report
from FightNewsAustralia.com. Ebersole (44-15, 1 no contest) would
be making his UFC debut on the heels of a seven-fight win streak.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Relson
Gracie Seminar at O2 Tonight!
Our instructor, Relson Gracie, 8th Red-Black belt, will be holding
a seminar at:
O2 Martial Arts Academy
98-019 Kam Hwy, #208A
Aiea, Hawaii 96701
Saturday, February 12
7:00-9:00PM.
The cost is $20 per person.
We encourage all Relson Gracie students to attend!
Don’t miss a chance to train with a legend. If you normally
take the Saturday class, please feel free to come into another
class during the week to make up the missed class.
|
STRIKEFORCE
World Grand Prix -- Heavyweight Tournament Today!
The STRIKEFORCE World Grand Prix -- Heavyweight Tournament begins
this Saturday, Feb. 12, live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/PT,
delayed on the West Coast) with two quarterfinal fights from
the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. The first live, non-televised
undercard bout starts at 7:30 p.m. ET.
In the main event, Fedor Emelianenko (31-2, 1 NC) returns to
action against Antonio “Big Foot” Silva (15-2) in a
STRIKEFORCE and M-1 GLOBAL co-promoted event. The opening quarterfinal
will match former world champion Andrei Arlovski (15-8) against
Russian star Sergei Kharitonov (16-4), the last fighter to defeat
current STRIKEFORCE and DREAM Heavyweight World Champion Alistair
“The Demolition Man” Overeem.
The
other two quarterfinal matchups at a site and date to be announced
are: Overeem (34-11, 1 NC) versus the only man to tap out Fedor,
the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist Fabricio Werdum (14-4-1),
and hard-hitting Brett “The Grim” Rogers (11-2) against
Josh Barnett (29-5).
Dyami
Arroyo of The Bronx was the first to show at 8:30 a.m. Despite
cold, bitter, windy conditions, he kept his spot at the head
of the line. "There was no way I was going to miss a chance
to meet Fedor and the greatest heavyweights in the world,'' he
said. "As soon as I heard about this, I told my boss I was
taking the day off.''
His
buddy, Freddie Diaz, of Queens, says he called in sick. "I
love STRIKEFORCE, but this is a dream-come-true for any MMA fan.''
Said
Brooklyn's Joe Doyle, who arrived a little after Arroyo and Diaz:
"To get this kind of access to these kinds of fighters is
unbelievable,'' he said. "There was no way I wasn't going
to be here. I am really happy that STRIKEFORCE did something
like this for us. No other MMA organizations do anything like
this around here.''
Source: Johnny Bey
|
808
Battleground Presents
War of
Warriors “The Waterfront @ Aloha Tower”
The Waterfront At Aloha Tower
February 25, 2011
|
BAMMA
5 Card Official with 12 Fights
by Mike Whitman
The
bill for BAMMA 5 is now full with 12 fights, as the British Association
of Mixed Martial Arts has added two new main card attractions
to the Feb. 26 event. Joining the card is a pair of middleweight
scraps pitting Alex Makhonin against Xavier Foupa-Pokam and John
Phillips against Jean-Francois Lenogue.
The
event, which goes down at the Manchester Evening News Arena in
Manchester, England, will be headlined by a welterweight title
clash between hometown favorite Paul Daley and Deep champion
Yuya Shirai. In the co-main event, former UFC heavyweight champ
Ricco Rodriguez will square off with “The Ultimate Fighter”
Season 10 alum James McSweeney in a heavyweight tilt.
Once-beaten
in nearly three years of professional competition, Makhonin rides
a seven-fight win streak into his contest with “Professor
X.” The Lancaster Morecambe MMA product has finished 75
percent of his career victims and has never been knocked out.
In
Foupa-Pokam, Makhonin faces a UFC vet on a two-year skid. After
running off seven consecutive victories, the Frenchman has lost
six of his last seven fights since making his UFC debut in April
of 2009. The 28-year-old dropped bouts to Dennis Kang and Drew
McFedries before being released by the promotion. Though Foupa-Pokam
rebounded with a victory in his native country in March 2010,
he would go on to lose three straight fights, most recently dropping
a bout to fellow UFC exile Lucio Linhares.
Phillips
is a 25-year-old Welshman who made his pro debut in 2005, winning
six of his first seven fights. A veteran of the now-defunct Cage
Rage organization, Phillips has won five consecutive bouts heading
into his fight at BAMMA 5. Most recently, he made short work
of James Zikic, knocking his fellow Brit out in just 94 seconds
at BAMMA 4 in September.
A
black belt in judo, Lenogue is on a skid similar to his countryman
Foupa-Pokam. Though the 38-year-old comes off a victory in his
last outing, he has lost five of his last six. A veteran of Pride
and Shooto competition, Lenogue also works as an actor and stuntman
in films. The Frenchman owns eight of his 14 career victories
by knockout or submission.
BAMMA
5
February 26, 2011
Manchester Evening News Arena
Manchester, England
BAMMA
Welterweight Title Fight
Paul Daley vs. Yuya Shirai
Ricco
Rodriguez vs. James McSweeney
Alex Makhonin vs. Xavier Foupa-Pokam
John Phillips vs. Jean-Francois Lenogue
Daniel Thomas vs. A.J. Wenn
Lee Barnes vs. Mohsen Bahari
Rob Mills vs. Lee Cohoon
Jason Ball vs. Peter Duncan
Paul Cook vs. Tom Maguire
Tim Newman vs. Diego Vital
Costas Doru vs. Liam James
Frankie Slater vs. Jeremy Petley
Source: Sherdog
|
Strikeforce:
Shane Del Rosario Sees Lavar Johnson As The Next Step
by Mick
Hammond
After years of being considered an up and coming fighter, Strikeforce
heavyweight Shane Del Rosario is finally being given the opportunity
to step up and make a name for himself as a legitimate contender.
Standing
in Del Rosario’s way is a fellow fighter looking to make
his mark on the big stage in Lavar Johnson. The two match up
for the first alternate spot in Strikeforce’s Heavyweight
Grand Prix starting this Saturday at the IZOD Center in East
Rutherford, N.J.
“We
both thought after leaving the Challengers Series we thought
we’d be fighting big name opponents, but we’re fighting
each other and that’s just how it is,” Del Rosario
told MMAWeekly.com about this weekend’s fight.
Even
if he’s not being given the kind of fight he initially thought
he’d get by stepping up into Strikeforce’s main show,
Del Rosario is grateful of the situation he finds himself in.
“This
is a good thing for me,” he said. “Whether I get in
the tournament or not, there’s going to be big names on
each card, like Fedor (Emelianenko) on this one, and that means
it will be watched worldwide, so people are going to get a chance
to see me fight.”
While
he’d like to be part of the main tournament draw, Del Rosario
knows better than to underestimate Lavar Johnson.
“He’s
not someone to look over,” stated Del Rosario. “He’s
not an easy fight. He hits hard and finishes fights, so I’ve
got to go into this smart, look for the win and hopefully get
the first alternate spot in the tournament.”
Like
Del Rosario, Johnson has been on a tear, finishing his last seven
opponents.
When
asked how he compares to other opposition Del Rosario has faced,
he said of Johnson, “Every heavyweight hits hard, but I
guess he’s got more speed than some of the guys I’ve
fought like Lolohea Mahe or Brandon Cash.
“I
think it’s very similar when it comes to all heavyweights
– one punch can knock you out – so you’ve got
to be smart and keep your hands up.”
Should
Del Rosario not make it into the tournament, he feels there is
one fighter in particular people should keep an eye on.
“I
definitely think it’s going to be (Alistair) Overeem, Fedor
or (Fabricio) Werdum,” commented Del Rosario. “You
can’t overlook Josh Barnett though; he’s a very tough
opponent and has fought a lot of really tough guys.
“It’s
going to be a really good tournament to watch and it’s hard
to tell what’s going to happen at this point, but Alistair
is really dominant right now, and I can’t see him not being
in the finals.”
Having
spent five years training, fighting, and earning the respect
needed to make it to the highest level of MMA, Del Rosario intends
to shine as bright as possible and have people leaving the arena
Saturday night remembering his name above all others.
“I
want to thank Team Oyama, Innovative Results, Metal Mulisha,
Rockstar, Power Balance, and Full Tilt Poker,” he concluded.
“Check out my fight. It’s going to be exciting with
Lavar Johnson, and I hope to put on a good show and try to steal
Fight of the Night for you guys.”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Urijah
Faber Picks Fedor Emelianenko to Win Strikeforce Grand Prix
By Mike
Chiappetta
Interest in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix is not solely
limited to fans. The fighters, too, will be keeping an eye on
the field of eight over the next few months. Even the fighters
in the UFC.
Among
those is Urijah Faber, the ex-WEC featherweight champ who will
be making his UFC debut as a bantamweight at UFC 128.
Faber
-- a student of the game who calls Japanese fighter Kazushi Sakuraba
his favorite fighter of all time -- was recently asked about
his pick to win the tournament, and he went with the legendary
Russian mixed martial artist Fedor Emelianenko.
Emelianenko
will have to rebound off his loss to Fabricio Werdum last June,
but many believe he'll be able to do just that. As a fighter
who'd had to fight through adversity himself, Faber thinks the
34-year-old has the mental and physical capabilities to rally
back.
"I
think it wasn't a fluke, because Werdum's very good, but it's
not something that would happen very often," Faber said
during a recent UFC event in Las Vegas. "It's one loss.
Fedor is a world champion in combat sambo, a national champion.
He's grown up being a fighter, and he's the best fighter in the
tournament. But [Josh] Barnett is also a really tough dude. So
I think it'll be up to [Alistair] Overeem, Barnett and Fedor,
and Fedor will win."
Emelianenko's
first-round matchup against Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva
takes place on Saturday at the Izod Center in East Rutherford,
New Jersey.
His
loss to Werdum snapped a 29-fight unbeaten streak that stretched
almost a decade. Oddsmakers originally made Emelianenko the favorite,
though betting patterns have caused Overeem to leapfrog him.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Chasing
‘The Pit Bull’ Mystique
by Tristen Critchfield
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Andrei Arlovski does not have much use for
shades of grey.
When
the Belarusian submitted Tim Sylvia to capture the interim heavyweight
title at UFC 51 six years ago, he was in the midst of a six-fight
winning streak in which he finished all but one of his opponents
inside of the first round. Life was good. Knockouts accumulated,
fangs flashed and Arlovski was generally regarded as one of the
best heavyweights in the world. Back-to-back losses to Sylvia
followed, and the World Sambo Championship silver medalist has
been chasing his old mystique ever since.
While
recently on his way to catch a flight out of Chicago to Albuquerque,
N.M., to train at Jackson's Mixed Martial Arts -- the third such
journey of his career -- the Affliction veteran received a bitter
reminder of his current standing.
“My
girlfriend drove me to the airport and stopped by Starbucks,”
he says. “A guy came to me and said, ‘You’re Arlovski
… a good fighter.’”
It
was not intended as an insult, but the 32-year-old received a
different message.
“I
was so mad because, before, people told me I was the s--t, he
was the best, you know? Just a good fighter? I have only white
or black, I don’t want the grey. Everything or nothing,”
Arlovski says. “I was very mad about it. That’s why
I came and trained hard.”
Arlovski
hopes the dedicated training will pay off, as he faces Sergei
Kharitonov at Strikeforce/M-1 Global “Fedor vs. Silva”
on Saturday at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J. The bout
will serve as one of four quarter-finals in the Strikeforce heavyweight
grand prix. Seeds have not been assigned to the eight fighters
scheduled to compete in the tournament, but it goes without saying
that the former UFC champion will not be favored in a bracket
that includes Fedor Emelianenko, Fabricio Werdum, Josh Barnett
and current Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem.
Sergei Kharitonov File Photo
Arlovski
respects Kharitonov’s hands.
His
first match against Kharitonov figures to provide enough of a
challenge. The former Pride Fighting Championships standout holds
notable victories over Overeem, Werdum, Pedro Rizzo, Mike Russow,
Semmy Schilt and Murilo “Ninja” Rua in his MMA career.
“He’s
a tough fighter, no doubt,” Arlovski says. “I had a
promotion tour to New York for this tournament. Somebody interviewed
me, and he called me at the time the underdog. No problem. [Kharitonov]
has heavy hands; he’s tough. I have to focus on his weapons
and be ready for this.”
Arlovski
enters the grand prix on the heels of a three-fight losing streak
that has called everything from his dedication to his chin into
question. While revisiting each setback, he is able to pinpoint
what caused him to lose focus.
In
his January 2009 first-round knockout loss to Emelianenko, it
was the crowd.
“I
saw that my kicks and my punches hurt him, and, for some reason,
I jumped because people started screaming ‘Pit Bull,’”
Arlovski says. “It was cool when I did the flying knee against
Ben Rothwell [at Affliction ‘Banned’], but it doesn’t
work against Emelianenko.”
When
Brett Rogers shocked him via 22-second TKO at Strikeforce “Lawler
vs. Shields” five months later, his mind was divided between
the cage and the sweet science.
“No
doubt he knocked me out,” Arlovski says. “He’s
tough. He’s dangerous. I didn’t focus on that fight
because my mind was on my pro boxing debut. I paid for this.”
In
his most recent outing, against Antonio Silva at Strikeforce
“Heavy Artillery” in May, “The Pit Bull”
failed to register much in the way of offense, but he was able
to absorb several significant punches in the opening round. Although
Arlovski went on to lose a unanimous decision, he feels he silenced
at least a few who doubted his ability to take a hit.
“He
landed a couple good right hands on my chin. I hope I shut some
mouths who said that I have a weak chin,” he says. “I
lost that fight, but I’m pretty much happy about it because
I saw some improvement and I saw my mistakes.”
During
the Albuquerque leg of Arlovski’s training camp, stand-up
coach Mike Winkeljohn has focused on getting the talented striker
to utilize his speed, as well as his power. Working with light
heavyweights like Rashad Evans and Jon Jones has only served
to intensify the camp’s emphasis.
“Andre’s
that guy that’s an incredible athlete that for some reason
his last couple fights he has stopped using his athleticism,”
Winkeljohn says. “And he was standing in front of his opponent.
He’s got some great quickness, so we’re definitely
working on a lot of footwork drills, working on his speed and
getting him to attack the angles. If Andrei gets his head on
straight, he can go with just about anybody out there.”
“Andre’s
that guy that’s an incredible athlete that for some reason
his last couple fights he has stopped using his athleticism.”
-- Trainer Mike Winkeljohn
As
both Wineljohn and Arlovski have mentioned, sometimes the 23-fight
veteran lacks the focus necessary for sustained success.
When
his mind centers on performing in the cage, the returns can be
fruitful. Before his current losing stretch, Arlovski knocked
out Roy Nelson; it remains the only time “Big Country”
has been finished by strikes in his career.
Arlovski
sounds adamant when he speaks of wanting to return to the upper
echelon of heavyweights in MMA, but he also expresses interest
in boxing and K-1 ventures.
“If
he fights the way he performs in the gym, he should have a good
night,” said Greg Jackson, who will be in Arlovski’s
corner for the first time since the Belarusian began training
in his acclaimed dojo.
With
the three opponents who are responsible for his losing streak
all a part of the heavyweight field in the Strikeforce grand
prix, Arlovski should not lack for motivation.
“It’s
unfinished business for me,” he says. “The tournament
is a great opportunity, but one step at a time. First, I have
to face Kharitonov, and we’ll see what happens after.”
Source: Sherdog
|
“Silva
has never lost in the UFC. You know how impossible that is to
do?”
Dana White seems to have gotten the monkey off his back since
UFC 126 this Saturday in Vegas. The greatest fear the president
of the organization had – that of the fight between Anderson
Silva and Vitor Belfort, rather than being a fight for the ages,
being the “worst of all times” – didn’t end
up happening.
Mission
accomplished, the promotional kingpin spoke to a group of reporters
after the show, as he usually does.
During
the conversation, as reported by US Today’s Sergio Non,
Dana White confirmed that besides Rio de Janeiro, the UFC will
return to Japan this year; heaped praise on Anderson, Jon Jones
and Shogun; and he revealed what he most hates in life.
Check
out highlights from what Dana White had to say:
UFC
in Japan and Sweden:
“Besides
Sweden, the UFC will go to Japan. Everything’s going well
on that front. That’s on our calendar for next year.”
Anderson
the best in the world
“I
don’t think anyone can argue Anderson isn’t the best
pound-for-pound fighter in the world. He may have bad days. You
can be the best golfer in the world and have bad days. You can
be the best baseball player in the world and have bad days. But
the guy (Silva) hasn’t lost since he came to the UFC. You
know how impossible that is to do? It’s impossible!”
GSP
vs. Anderson Silva
Welterweight
champion Saint-Pierre had asked for nine months to make it to
Anderson’s middleweight division. Dana gave his answer:
“No, the fight will happen (before that).”
Small-scale
MMA events
“Some
smaller events do a good job, others don’t. Just because
you have a cage or ring doesn’t mean you should promote
fights.”
Shogun
vs. Jon Jones for light heavyweight belt
“I
was impressed with how calm Jones was. He was calm, relaxed,
smooth. And he had crazy pressure on him for this fight with
Ryan Bader. But he had the posture of a champion. I feel the
kid has all the tools to one day be the best fighter of all times.
It will be interesting to see him against Shogun, who usually
bulldozes everyone standing. And Shogun has good takedown defense.
What
Dana White really hates
“I
thought Miguel Torres fought well. (…) The crowd always
wants both fighters to go after each other, but we understand
how the fighters go in there with a set strategy. What I hate
is when the guy goes in there, takes the guy down and just stays
there on top of the other for five minutes to win. That drives
me crazy. No one wants to see that!”
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
Cyborg
eyes return on March 5th: “I’ll focus on my Jiu-Jitsu
trainings”
By Guilherme
Cruz
Evangelista
Cyborg had the chance of disputing Strikeforce’s belt against
the American Nick Diaz and, despite having done a good presentation
and have done a good Exchange for over nine minutes, he end up
making a mistake the only time the fight went to the floor and
was submitted with an armbar, at ten seconds for the end of the
round.
Back
home, the athlete of Chute Boxe talked to TATAME and regretted
his loss. “That’s it, you make a mistake and the fight’s
over. He deserves some credit too, because he did it so he earned
the win”, said, explaining why he decided to take the fight
to the ground. “I’ve always found a way out on my legs,
that was the idea, and in order to guarantee a round in my favor
I took him down, but it end up being exactly what he wanted.
Now I can’t keep regretting it, I’ll focus more on
my Jiu-Jitsu trainings. The fight was good so far, he had a good
moment when fit a good punch on my chin, but it was going the
right way”.
Sad
about the defeat, Cyborg guarantees he’ll comeback in great
style, and nothing better than a win to “erase” the
bad result with Diaz. “I’ll take a week off so my body
rests and then I’ll return to the trainings, and I think
I’ll fight sooner than you could imagine. They’ve told
me about an event on March 5th, but didn’t say me anything
about an opponent yet… But I’ll be ready”, reveals,
already thinking about a new title shot. “I believe I can
earn another chance if I win one of two fights, and this time
I won’t make a mistake. I’ll correct my mistakes of
this last fight… I can fight anyone on my weight class”,
concluded, confident.
Source: Tatame
|
Two
Worlds monsters back: “I want to see if I’ve still
got some wood to burn!”
They’re heavy, really heavy. Both have more than one World
Championship gold medal. Both dropped out of competition rhythm,
concerned with their gyms, their MMA fights, the everyday things.
But
now they’re back, and their opponents best know about it.
Who better to tell them but GRACIEMAG.com.
The
first of the two is recovered from injuries that kept him out
of competition in late 2010. Now, Gabriel Vella has already set
a date for his return: the Paulista Championship at the end of
February. “I’m training normally and feel ready to
return to competition. I saw how great the European Open was,
the gang put on a great show. The way new talent is coming up
through the ranks has me even more motivated to compete,”
says the two-time world champion, with his sights on two more
important tournaments. “I want to compete at the Gramado
World Pro tryouts and at the Pan.”
The
second is Marcio “Pé de Pano” Cruz, a two-time
absolute world champion in 2002/2003. The Brazilian living in
Florida is already back training hard in the gi, has been making
trips to Brazil to test himself, and if he’s not thinking
of winning a gold medal, his sights are on placing in the ultraheavyweight
division.
“I
want to see if I’ve still got some wood to burn or if I’m
all ash. I’m training hard in the gi, I just don’t
know how far I can make it. All I know is that in California
I’m going to set someone back, you can be sure of it,”
says Pé de Pano.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
MMA
Top 10 Light Heavyweights: Jon Jones Moves to No. 2
By Michael
David Smith
The last time I ranked the Top 10 light heavyweights in mixed
martial arts, I wrestled with the question of who's the No. 2
fighter in the weight class: Lyoto Machida, Rampage Jackson or
Rashad Evans?
Now
I have the answer: None of the above.
Jon
Jones put on his fourth consecutive spectacular performance in
beating Ryan Bader at UFC 126, and I can no longer put Jones
below anyone other than champion Shogun Rua. With just about
any other fighter of Jones' age and experience I'd say the UFC
is rushing him into a title shot in this situation, but with
Jones I can't argue: He has proven that he deserves to be considered
the second-best light heavyweight in the sport.
So
I've got Shogun and Jones, who will meet in the main event at
UFC 128, at 1-2 in our light heavyweight rankings. Find out where
the rest of the division stacks up below.
(Editor's
note: The individual fighter's ranking the last time we did light
heavyweights are in parentheses).
1.
Shogun Rua (1): The champ is still No. 1, although so many great
light heavyweight fights have taken place since the last time
Rua stepped into the Octagon that the Top 10 of this division
looks a lot different than it did when he won the belt. In March
he'll get a chance to show emphatically that he's still the best
light heavyweight in the world.
2.
Jon Jones (5): It says a lot about the way fans view Jones that
he's actually the betting favorite against Rua. I think he'd
be the betting favorite against anyone in the world at 205 pounds
with the exception of Anderson Silva -- which says a lot about
Silva, too.
3.
Lyoto Machida (2): Although he's been leapfrogged by Jones, the
Dragon stays on top of the Machida-Evans-Jackson triangle because
his win over Evans was dominant and his loss to Jackson was,
in my view, a bad decision. He'll return to the Octagon in April
against Randy Couture.
4.
Rashad Evans (3): A knee injury in training will cost Evans his
shot at the title. In hindsight, I'm sure he wishes he had taken
a fight last fall while Rua was recovering from knee surgery,
instead of waiting for a title shot that now won't come. Evans
hasn't fought since beating Rampage Jackson in May, and it will
be a few more months before he fights again. If Jones wins the
title from Rua, Evans is saying he might change weight classes
rather than fight a teammate. So we may never see Evans in a
light heavyweight title fight again.
5.
Rampage Jackson (4): Rampage could have had a title shot if he
had wanted to take Shogun on short notice, but he said he wasn't
ready. Instead he'll take on Thiago Silva in May as scheduled
-- and maybe fight for the title if he wins that.
6.
Thiago Silva (7): Silva would certainly be worthy of a title
shot if he were to beat Rampage, but I think he's at least two
wins away. Unfortunately, he hasn't really caught on as a star,
despite an exciting style that he's used to build up a 15-2 record,
with 11 wins by knockout or TKO.
7.
Forrest Griffin (8): A Griffin-Shogun fight would have made plenty
of sense, with Griffin now on a two-fight winning streak, and
with Griffin owning a victory over Shogun. But the UFC knows
it has a burgeoning star in Jones, and wants to fast-track him
to a title shot.
8.
Dan Henderson (9): Henderson can solidify his status as the best
light heavyweight outside the UFC with a win over Strikeforce
light heavyweight champ Rafael Cavalcante in March. Henderson,
who won three MMA tournaments in his 20s and two Pride belts
in his 30s, will now try to go for a Strikeforce belt at age
40.
9.
Ryan Bader (6): I hope people don't write Bader off just because
he was trounced by Jones -- at age 27, Bader is the second-youngest
fighter on this list, and he has a long career ahead of him.
There's no shame in being 12-1, with the one loss coming to Jon
Jones.
10.
Rafael Cavalcante (10): Feijao is a lethal striker who will give
Henderson all he can handle. Win or lose, Feijao is also constitutionally
incapable of participating in a boring fight.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Toronto
Set On Making UFC 129 A Sell-Out
The Ultimate Fighting Championship set the North American mixed
martial arts attendance record at 23,152 when Georges St-Pierre
defeated Josh Koscheck at UFC 124 on Dec. 11, 2010 at the Bell
Centre in Montreal.
Canada
came through for the MMA juggernaut once again, with UFC Fight
Club members reportedly snapping up more than 40,000 tickets
to UFC 129, the promotions Toronto debut, in a special pre-sale
on Thursday.
The
original configuration for the Rogers Centre called for a setting
for 42,000 seats for UFC 129. Sportsnet.ca’s Joe Ferraro,
however, on Thursday said that UFC officials released more tickets,
likely setting the stadium up for a final configuration of somewhere
around 45,000 seats.
Thursday’s
UFC Fight Club pre-sale in and of itself obliterates the record
set at UFC 124. There is an additional pre-sale event set for
Friday for UFC newsletter subscribers before tickets go on-sale
to the general public on Saturday.
It
appears fans in Toronto are set on a sell-out for UFC 129, where
Canadian Georges St-Pierre will attempt to defend his UFC welterweight
title against Jake Shields.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Villante:
Football’s ‘10 Times’ More Dangerous Than MMA
After
tryouts with various NFL teams didn’t work out, Gian Villante
decided to try something he sees as safer: MMA.
“I
feel like football’s 10 times more dangerous and savage
than MMA is,” Villante said Monday on the Sherdog Radio
Network’s “Beatdown” show. “I’ve got
10 times worse injuries playing football than I did with MMA.”
The
25-year-old native of Wantagh, N.Y., was a standout linebacker
at Hofstra University. Since transitioning to fighting, he has
compiled a 7-1 record and earned prospect status as Ring of Combat’s
heavyweight champion. He fights Chad Griggs on Saturday in an
alternate bout for Strikeforce’s heavyweight tournament.
“In
[MMA], we have weight divisions. We see the shots that are coming,”
Villante said. “In football, you don’t see it. It’s
a 400-pound guy coming as fast as a car can move sometimes, and
you don’t see him. He’s coming to clean your clock,
and you’re not even looking at him. … That’s why
these guys are getting these head injuries and shoulders are
dislocating and all that stuff.”
Villante
has cleaned a few clocks himself. All seven of his wins have
been finishes, including a knockout via a head kick. Clearly
the athleticism he used on the football field has translated
to the ring.
“If
we don’t feel like we’re getting the right opportunity
somewhere, why not take your talent somewhere else? Football
players, most of us are pretty good athletes,” Villante
said. “Big, strong guys that are explosive, fast athletes.
In mixed martial arts, that bodes well for knockout power.”
Of
course, Villante was not just a football player. He also wrestled
at Hofstra.
“I
think wrestling’s very important too,” he said. “If
you get a guy who just played football and has no wrestling experience,
you’re going to have some trouble in there. I think that’s
where it kind of helped me mix in and start off my career real
fast and in the right direction.”
Villante
has a two-year, six-fight deal with Strikeforce. Although he
sees his future in the light heavyweight division, he said the
alternate matchup against Griggs and a possible slot in the heavyweight
tournament was too good to pass up.
“Chad
Griggs isn’t a huge heavyweight,” Villante explained.
“He’s 235, I believe. Nothing too big. He’s a
guy that I think is a good fight for me.”
Griggs
is coming off an upset win over Bobby Lashley last August. Villante
was impressed with the fact that Griggs was not scared of his
larger opponent.
“He’s
a guy that comes to fight,” Villante said. “I’m
not going to intimidate him if I flex at him because I guess
Bobby Lashley is a little bigger than I am. ... I think you can
expect fireworks because we’re two guys that have pretty
much finished every fight we’ve been in.”
Villante
is expecting another finish and another win on Saturday as well.
“Like
a football linebacker, if I see a hole, I’m going to go
through. If I see an opening, if I see a guy hurt, I’m going
to finish it,” Villante said. “If I get on him and
I can catch him with something early, then I’m not going
to take it easy. I’m going to try to finish the fight right
away.”
Source: Sherdog
|
Relson
Gracie Seminar at O2 Tomorrow
Our instructor, Relson Gracie, 8th Red-Black belt, will be holding
a seminar at:
O2 Martial Arts Academy
98-019 Kam Hwy, #208A
Aiea, Hawaii 96701
Saturday, February 12
7:00-9:00PM.
The cost is $20 per person.
We encourage all Relson Gracie students to attend!
Don’t miss a chance to train with a legend. If you normally
take the Saturday class, please feel free to come into another
class during the week to make up the missed class.
|
Developer
eyes Pipeline for isles' first UFC Gym
The facility would offer mixed martial arts training along with
more typical equipment and be affiliated with isle fighter BJ
Penn
By Andrew Gomes
Jiujitsu,
Zumba and weightlifting could replace concerts, comedy and alcohol
consumption at the recently closed Pipeline Cafe.
The
former nightclub in Kakaako is being eyed as a potential location
for a fitness club that would integrate elements of mixed martial
arts and be affiliated with local fighter and UFC star BJ Penn.
If
a deal with landowner Kamehameha Schools can be reached, the
converted warehouse near Ward Centers would become Hawaii's first
UFC Gym — a fitness center concept marrying the traditional
health club with mixed martial arts training.
UFC
Gyms are a partnership between Las Vegas-based mixed martial
arts fight organizer UFC and New Evolution Ventures, a California-based
gym development firm led by the founder and former chief executive
of 24 Hour Fitness, Mark Mastrov.
New
Evolution has been involved with gym brands including Madonna's
Hard Candy Fitness, Steve Nash Fitness World, Crunch, YogaWorks
and Planet Fitness.
Described
as an ultimate fitness club, UFC Gyms feature typical weight
machines, cardio equipment and group instruction in activities
such as yoga and Pilates. But the gyms also teach wrestling,
Muay Thai kickboxing and other disciplines of mixed martial arts,
along with training aids such as punching bags, tractor tires
and the caged ring known as the Octagon.
"This
is not a fighter gym," Dana White, UFC president, says in
a video on the UFC Gym website. "This is a gym for you,
your family. It doesn't matter what age or what you're into.
If you're into doing weights and getting on the cardio equipment,
that is available for you. But there's so many more things."
The
first club opened a little more than a year ago in Concord, Calif.,
followed by a second in Los Angeles. A third in Corona, Calif.,
is under development.
The
UFC has been working for about two years on opening a UFC Gym
affiliated with Penn in Hawaii, and one affiliated with Georges
St-Pierre in that champion fighter's native city, Montreal.
JD
Penn, BJ Penn's brother and manager, said the signature gym planned
for Hawaii will exhibit a Penn flavor and be a place where people
can see the fighter nicknamed "The Prodigy" train.
"We're
excited to be a part of this new venture," JD Penn said.
"I think it's going to be huge."
Adam
Sedlack, senior vice president of UFC Gym, said he couldn't comment
on the prospects of individual sites for a gym in Hawaii. But
he said the company has been looking all over Oahu for a viable
location, including Kapolei, Waikele and Waikiki.
"We
are aggressively looking at getting out there," he said,
adding that UFC Gyms can range from 35,000 to 65,000 square feet.
Kamehameha
Schools declined to comment about leasing the Pipeline Cafe space.
The club closed Monday after more than a decade in business because
its fire protection system was discovered to be insufficient
and not feasible for owner Greg Azus to fix.
Source:
Star Advertiser
|
Strikeforce:
Big Foot brushes up grappling with Shaolin and Co.
by Marcelo
Dunlop
Heavyweight Antonio “Big Foot” Silva and his team don’t
want to hear of any surprises coming from Fedor Emelianenko on
the ground this coming weekend, and they paid a visit to our
GMA-affiliate academies.
Before
the Strikeforce GP, the first stage of which happens this Saturday,
Pezão went to train at Vitor Shaolin’s Jiu-Jitsu
academy in New York.
The
training session included stalwart fighters like Benrei, Carlos
Augusto, Guto Inocente, “Big Foot”, Vitor “Shaolin”,
Marcos “Loro”, Gabriel Miglioli, and Alex Davis.
To
find out more, visit www.bjjnewyorkcity.com and www.vitorshaolin.tv.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
Storylines
That Emerged from UFC 126
by Jason Probst
With
Anderson Silva and Jon Jones playing leading-man roles at UFC
126, the fight world was treated to a memorable and truly important
event. Below, a look at the storylines that emerged from Saturday
night’s action.
Silva-GSP
Looms, Like It or Not
After
yet another epic knockout, Anderson Silva is left standing alone
atop the middleweight division, especially with Chael Sonnen
out of the mix for the time being. The champ’s sudden, crushing
stoppage of Vitor Belfort was a great ending, but one so abrupt
that it begs the question: who is the next feasible challenger?
Certainly someone with high-level wrestling is in order, as Silva
remains simply lethal on his feet.
At
the UFC 126 postfight press conference, Dana White addressed
the long-running issue of a super-fight between Silva and welterweight
king Georges St. Pierre. The UFC president said that the bout
is likely to happen should St. Pierre defeat challenger Jake
Shields at UFC 129 on April 30.
If
St. Pierre does win, particularly in the Secretariat-like fashion
he’s shown of late, a match with Silva seems obvious. Both
will have cleaned out their respective divisions for the most
part, particularly St. Pierre, whose stable of challengers consists
of guys he has already dominated. St. Pierre-Silva would hardly
be fair to top welters like Shields, Jon Fitch, Thiago Alves
or B.J. Penn (should he defeat Fitch later this month), but public
perception shapes matchmaking decisions.
The
thing is this: St. Pierre should not be moving up to middleweight,
especially when he doesn’t have to from a biological standpoint.
He walks around at a solid 190-195 pounds and makes the cut to
170 like clockwork, retaining his natural size and strength advantage.
Combined with his superior athleticism, it makes him virtually
the perfect welterweight.
True
middleweights such as Silva walk around north of 210 pounds.
To add the proper weight, St. Pierre would really be pushing
his biological envelope, and it’s this writer’s opinion
that it would be a dubious transition if done in the timeline
required for Silva-GSP -- most likely, late 2011 -- as opposed
to filling out naturally over a longer stretch. The latter option
could take 3-4 years and still pose problems, as GSP is simply
not a natural 185-pounder.
As
boxer Michael Spinks showed in 1985 when he moved from 175 to
210 pounds to defeat Larry Holmes, only to later be crushed in
91 seconds by Mike Tyson, it doesn’t matter how many reps
a guy has done in the gym when he’s being hit by a bigger
man who was naturally larger to begin with.
Greatness
comes to those who dare to be great, and GSP certainly has the
wrestling and explosiveness to give Silva some problems. But
part of me recoils at the idea of him risking a terrible beating
merely to satisfy fans who have become bored with a dominant
title run. St. Pierre is on the short list of the game’s
most marketable fighters, and he owes no debt to the middleweight
division.
To
GSP’s credit, he’ll probably accept the challenge.
However, if he adds weight by simply bulking up as he has indicated
and loses to Silva, it’s going to be that much harder to
return to 170. St. Pierre-Silva is a tremendous and eminently
marketable fight, but one for which St. Pierre should be paid
handsomely, because taking on “The Spider” would be
going above and beyond the call of duty.
‘Bones’
Jones Shows Mojo, a la GSP and B.J.
"Shogun"
will put his title on the line against Jon Jones at UFC 128.After
dispatching of Ryan Bader with a second-round choke, Jon Jones
learned that he had earned a title shot against 205-pound champ
Mauricio “Shogun” Rua during one of the more memorable
postfight interviews in recent history. At 23 years and 8 months
of age, Jones will become the third-youngest UFC title challenger
when he meets the Brazilian at UFC 128 on March 19, just slightly
older than St. Pierre (23 years, 5 months) and B.J. Penn (23
years, 4 weeks).
What’s
interesting is that, while both St. Pierre and Penn reached the
rarified air of the emerging superstar, they each lost their
first chance at UFC gold. St. Pierre was looking impressive in
his initial meeting with champ Matt Hughes, but a mental mistake
in the waning seconds of the first round cost him an armbar submission
loss. Penn, a 3-1 favorite over then-champ Jens Pulver, succumbed
to the rigors of a five-round bout.
Both
Octagon greats rebounded from those experiences. If Jones beats
a talented champ like Rua at 23, several years before his ostensible
prime, odds are good that he won’t lose for a while.
Rua’s
leg kicks and wealth of experience, especially in long fights,
are the big advantages he’ll take into the match. But the
funny thing about Jones is that he continually sails over the
bars set for him, even against supposed tough tests like Brandon
Vera, Matt Hamill, or Bader.
The
Rua bout will be Jones’ ultimate proving ground and Bones’
performance Saturday night guaranteed that the world will be
watching. Given their current trajectories, the biggest fight
of 2012 could be Jon Jones vs. Anderson Silva.
The
Curse of Japan Continues with ‘Kid’
Heading
into his bout with Demetrious Johnson, Norifumi “Kid”
Yamamoto was a slight -115 favorite at the sports books. Given
Kid’s edge in experience, it seemed a bit low, but betting
lines are a nebulous mix of public sentiment, perception, and
insiders constantly striving to play off those two. It turns
out they were right, as Yamamoto was outworked by Johnson over
15 minutes, dropping a unanimous decision in his Octagon debut.
With
considerable mileage on his body, the 33-year-old Yamamoto’s
best days are likely behind him. His tough debut mirrored those
of other top fighters from Japan who floundered in their transitions
stateside, including “Shogun” Rua, Takanori Gomi and
Mark Hunt.
Layoffs,
ring rust and various injuries have played roles in those losses,
and there’s the fact that Johnson is a pretty good fighter
himself. But, at this point, it’s clear that coming from
overseas with a big name is anything but a lock when trying to
make it in the UFC.
Glove-Touch
Etiquette Needs Clarification
Fighters
aren’t required to touch gloves at the start a bout, but
it does provide a nice tradition of sportsmanship to kick off
a contest. There’s always an interesting interplay with
the fighters’ prefight eye contact, and most of the time,
touching gloves goes off without a hitch.
In
the lightweight bout between Donald Cerrone and Paul Kelly on
Saturday, Kelly violated that sense of sportsmanship by touching
gloves and then immediately heaving an overhand right. Thankfully,
Cerrone’s reflexes allowed him to duck the shot, and he
submitted Kelly in the second round. To Cerrone’s credit,
he didn’t complain about the move afterward, even when Kelly
interrupted his postfight interview to issue a cheap apology
that he was “just going to work” with the punch.
What
if Kelly’s punch had landed, stunning Cerrone or even knocking
him out? Everyone involved would have had a mess on their hands.
Since touching gloves is optional, this is more of an ethical
breach than a rules infraction, albeit one with potential for
extreme ugliness.
There’s
an obvious body language fighters undertake when touching gloves.
They extend their lead hands and walk to the opposite side, essentially
making it impossible to land a clean (i.e. not cheap) strike.
If Cerrone extended his glove and Kelly planned on punching him,
he shouldn’t have touched gloves simply to get himself within
firing range.
This
was a near-miss and will be lost to the sands of time, but just
imagine if it had happened in the main event and ended the fight
10 seconds in. Guys who touch gloves and then go berserk need
to be in another sport, or they need to make it eminently clear
before the fight starts that they have no interest in doing it.
Griffin,
Ellenberger Show Value of Game Planning
Forrest
Griffin and Jake Ellenberger demonstrated tactical smarts in
their respective bouts, watching the clock while timing takedowns
to win key rounds. Against Rich Franklin, Griffin hit a key takedown
at the end of the third round to seal three 29-28 scorecards
from the judges. Ellenberger, meanwhile, used the clock intelligently
as well.
After
a tough first round in which Carlos Eduardo Rocha unleashed a
flurry of submission attempts, Ellenberger steered clear of the
Brazilian’s dangerous guard, except to hit key takedowns
at the end of the second and third rounds. It’s one thing
to dive into a tricky guard; it’s a much lesser risk to
do so with 30 seconds or less to go in a round.
Broken
down into its disparate parts, a three-round fight is exactly
that -- three separate fights, of which a fighter must win two
in order to emerge victorious. Clock awareness is a big factor
in fights, and both Griffin and Ellenberger showed solid time
management skills in taking hard-earned decision wins.
Source: Sherdog
|
Carlos
Condit Out of UFC 127, Hoping to Return to the Octagon in June
by Damon
Martin
Carlos Condit will have to wait to continue his climb up the
welterweight title ladder as he has been forced out of his bout
against Chris Lytle at UFC 127 after a knee injury suffered in
training.
The
news of Condit’s withdraw was confirmed to MMAWeekly.com
by his manager Malki Kawa, and was initially reported by Sportsnet.CA
on Wednesday.
According
to Kawa, Condit will be sidelined for approximately 3 to 5 weeks
dealing with the injury and they are shooting for a June return
to the cage for the Team Jackson trained fighter.
Condit
was coming into UFC 127 off of a huge win in his last fight,
a devastating knockout of former welterweight title contender
Dan Hardy in 2010.
As
for his opponent Chris Lytle, he remains in a holding pattern
waiting for UFC matchmaker Joe Silva to find a replacement.
It’s
expected that the UFC will find someone to step in and face the
Indianapolis based fighter, but as of now no one has been slotted
into the spot.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Jon
Fitch UFC 127 Fight Journal
By Jon
Fitch
Jon
Fitch will be providing MMA Fighting with exclusive blogs leading
up to his UFC 127 showdown against B.J. Penn on Feb. 26 (live
on pay-per-view at 10 p.m. ET). Check out his debut below.
There
is less than two weeks to go before I trek Down Under and battle
B.J. Penn, and I'm not sure which of those two things I'm more
excited about. I'll be facing Penn on Saturday, February 26 at
Sydney's Acer Arena and couldn't be happier with either the opponent
or venue.
I'm
at the stage in my career right now where I want to be fighting
for titles and in main events. I am now a mature and seasoned
headline fighter and I want to experience more of these big nights.
I don't want to be appearing in the preliminaries or at the bottom
end of a main card.
I
am going to use this opportunity to prove to everyone that I
am deserving of a second UFC welterweight title shot. I've long
competed at a good level and actually have the second highest
win percentage in UFC history, so I think I've paid my dues.
It's
an added bonus for me to headline a show in Australia, too, I'm
now part of the push to make mixed martial arts stick in Australia
and it's a real privilege. Judging by the amazingly quick ticket
sales for this event – fastest in UFC history - I don't
think any of us have anything to worry about. Australia gets
it.
I
had my first-ever taste of Australia when we held the initial
press conference for this event in December. It was truly an
amazing experience and, in fact, if you visit my official YouTube
page (OfficialJonFitch) you can find a series of video diaries
I shot while Down Under.
As
part of the promotional tour, we did a couple of autograph signings
which were crazy. We had to stay one extra hour on one day and
an extra two hours on another day, just to get through the line
of fans that were waiting for autographs and pictures. An overwhelming
amount of people showed up and queued in Melbourne and we were
determined to make sure everyone got an autograph. It seemed
like the whole of Australia came out for us that afternoon. It
was a pretty humbling experience for a guy like me to see that
so many people care about what we're doing and aspire to meet
us.
I
had some time to run around and check things out with my wife
and Australia seemed like a great country. Even when we doing
the normal tourist thing, though, we'd bump into fans on the
street and they'd recognize me. I remember a couple of fans stopping
me at a set of lights and turning ghost-white and forgetting
to walk. They didn't know any of us UFC guys were in town that
week, so it must have come as a big surprise to suddenly be crossing
the road with a UFC fighter. I really get a kick out of seeing
the excitement that other people experience from watching this
sport. It truly means a lot to me.
I've
always wanted to one day visit Australia, but I've never really
had a reason to go there before. I haven't had the time to go,
either. So, when this chance with the UFC came up, it was a great
excuse to go and explore a new territory and do something I've
always wanted to do.
UFC
127 presents me with a great opportunity to visit Australia and
hopefully come home with a few more fans. With that in mind,
I've been working super hard in the gym in preparation for this
fight. I've got everything moving in the right direction to ensure
I peak at just the right time. Although our time zones are completely
different, fight time never changes.
Source: MMA Fighting
|
10
February Tussles Worth Watching
by Tim Leidecker
What
are the leading nations in the world for mixed martial arts?
Obviously, the United States, Brazil, Japan and England come
to mind. We all know the promotional big guns, but which farm
leagues are there to ensure the talent streams do not break down?
In
our monthly “10 Tussles” series, we take you around
the globe in an effort to broaden your MMA horizons, showcasing
the best fights that might not get much attention otherwise.
As
always, the list does not focus on the well-promoted main event
bouts from major organizations you already know to watch, but
rather on fights from all over the planet that are worth seeing.
The UFC, Strikeforce, Dream and Sengoku Raiden Championship are
excluded by design.
Hamid
Corassani vs. Paul Reed
The Zone FC 8 “Inferno,” Feb. 26 -- Gothenburg, Sweden
Highly
regarded Swedish prospect Corassani, on a quest to make it down
to 145 pounds, hopes to hit his mark this time after missing
it once and fighting at a 150-pound catchweight twice in 2010.
His opponent will be Reed, the Scottish warhorse, who, at age
39, finds himself on a farewell tour from the sport of mixed
martial arts. The Bristol-based redhead’s recent move to
lightweight met with underwhelming results, but his last three
appearances at 145 pounds have all ended in choke submissions.
A hard, dogged war awaits fans at the Lisebergshallen.
Mario
Rinaldi vs. Tony Lopez
G-Force Fights “Bad Blood 5,” Feb. 26 -- Grand Rapids,
Mich.
Florida
promotion G-Force Fights travels to Michigan to promote an event
outside of Miami-Dade County for the first time in its two-year
existence. In the luggage is a heavyweight clash between Abu
Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Championships and
EliteXC veteran Rinaldi and former King of the Cage champion
Lopez. The 265-pound Rinaldi posted a significant win over former
UFC heavyweight titleholder Ricco Rodriguez in July 2009 but
has struggled lately, winning only one of his three fights since.
“Kryptonite” Lopez holds a pair of wins over current
UFC heavyweight Joey Beltran and has become a good striker for
a big man.
James
Doolan vs. Michal Hamrsmid
On Top 1 “Celtic Park,” Feb. 26 -- Glasgow, Scotland
Even
though quality promotions are popping up across the United Kingdom
left and right, Scotland so far has remained underrepresented.
Fledgling organization On Top Promotions wants to change that
with its inaugural effort, held at the Kerrydale Suite inside
the Celtic Park, the home field of 42-time Scottish football
champions Celtic FC. Headlining the show will be local hero Doolan
against Czech striker Hamrsmid. Doolan is currently ranked fifth
in Europe at 145 pounds; “Hasa” stands at 10th. The
Prague Gladiator was widely considered one of the top featherweights
in Europe before a glut of injuries slowed him down in the last
three years.
Cristiano
Marcello vs. Oriol Gaset
Nitrix “Champion Fight 6,” Feb. 19 -- Brusque, Brazil
Southern
Brazilian promotion Nitrix is entering the third year of its
existence. After starting strong with four events in 2009, it
only managed to put on two shows last year. Nitrix has already
featured prominent names like current UFC middleweight Maiquel
Jose Falcao Goncalve and Team Nogueira’s Andre “Chatuba”
Santos, and it continues that tradition by booking Pride Fighting
Championships veteran and former Chute Boxe Brazilian jiu-jitsu
head coach Marcello in the main event of “Champion Fight
6.” His opponent will be Spanish striker Gaset, who trains
out of Team Kaobon, alongside Terry Etim, Paul Kelly and Paul
Taylor.
Alexis Vila File Photo
Vila
will take on Lewis McKenzie in Miami at “New Generation
4.”
Alexis
Vila vs. Lewis McKenzie
MFA “New Generation 4,” Feb. 12 -- Miami, Fla.
When
asked about the best wrestlers in MMA, former Strikeforce light
heavyweight champion Muhammed Lawal listed Daniel Cormier, Joe
Warren, Sara McMann, Stephen Abas, Yoel Romero Palacio and Vila,
an unbeaten 39-year-old Cuban.
The
American Top Team fighter was a two-time freestyle wrestling
world champion in 1993 and 1994, as well as a bronze medal winner
at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Undefeated in eight professional
MMA appearances, Vila will face well-rounded King of the Cage
veteran McKenzie in what will arguably be his toughest test to
date.
Rosi
Sexton vs. Roxanne Modafferi
Cage Warriors 40, Feb. 26 -- London
The
month’s most meaningful women’s MMA match on the independent
circuit was put together by arguably England’s finest matchmaker,
Ian Dean, and his team at Cage Warriors Fighting Championship.
In the main event of its 40th show, CWFC’s home-grown talent,
Sexton, will take on the Tokyo-based Modafferi. “The Happy
Warrior” is coming off the first knockout loss of her career
and an unfortunate bout cancellation on New Year’s Eve;
she will be even hungrier to get back in the winner’s circle.
However, submission specialist Sexton has won all of her fights
on British soil.
Ryan
Jimmo vs. Dwayne Lewis
MFC 28 “Supremacy,” Feb. 25 -- Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Arguably
Maximum Fighting Championship’s biggest domestic star following
the loss of Ryan Ford in September, heavy-hitting karateka Jimmo
will enter the MFC ring for the ninth time to headline its “Supremacy”
event. In the other corner will be a familiar face in Lewis.
Jimmo and Lewis faced one another four years ago. The first meeting
between the two strikers ended in Jimmo winning a decision. Jimmo
is riding a 13-fight win streak, and Lewis has won nine of his
last 10 fights. The confidence of both men figures to be at an
all-time high.
Masakazu
Imanari vs. Hiroshi Nakamura
Deep 52 Impact, Feb. 25 -- Tokyo
Originally
scheduled to fight Korean tune-up opponent Jae Hun Moon at Deep’s
cancelled Macao debut on Jan. 8, Shinya Aoki’s adopted brother,
Imanari, will get a significantly tougher start into his 2011
campaign, as he faces Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling
World Championships finalist and Shooto veteran Nakamura. A teammate
of UFC veteran Yoshiyuki Yoshida, Nakamura is known for his strong
top game and stifling submission defense. Having never been submitted
in his 20 professional mixed martial arts appearances, can Nakamura
shut down the “Ashikan Judan” heel hook attack?
Jussier
“Formiga” da Silva vs. Ian McCall
Tachi Palace Fights 8 “All or Nothing,” Feb. 18 --
Lemoore, California
It
is encouraging to see the world’s premier flyweight, da
Silva, kept busy on a regular basis. While Shooto managed to
find him only two opponents in 2009-10, Tachi Palace Fights has
now had him co-headlining its last two shows within a two and
a half-month timespan. After outpointing Danny Martinez in December,
the Nova União Kimura product will now face former WEC
bantamweight McCall. The Californian striker went the distance
with current UFC 135-pound champion Dominick Cruz in January
2009 and bounced back with a win on the regional circuit in November.
Paul
Daley vs. Yuya Shirai
BAMMA 5, Feb. 26 -- Manchester, England
It
has been almost two years since British bad boy Daley last fought
on U.K. soil. Since the 95-second destruction of Lithuanian journeyman
Aurelijus Kerpe in March 2009, the 27-year-old muay Thai specialist
has gone on to earn a UFC welterweight title eliminator bout
in spectacular fashion, only to lose it in embarrassing fashion.
However, a knockout over Dream veteran Shirai could land Daley
a shot at reigning Strikeforce welterweight champion Nick Diaz.
Source: Sherdog
|
Thiago
Silva: “I’m not injured, and I’m looking forward
to fight Rampage”
By Guilherme
Cruz
Rashad
Evans in for Thiago Silva against Rampage Jackson? Not so fast.
According to the Brazilian fighter, the recent news of an “injury”
are not true, and he’s fighting Rampage at UFC 130. “Injured?
Me? I’m very healthy and looking forward to fight Rampage.
That’s not true”, Thiago told TATAME, supported by
ATT’s Conan Silveira. “Nobody called us about anything,
the fight is on”. Stay tuned for more news.
Source: Tatame
|
Melendez
re-signs with Strikeforce and addresses future
Two-time Strikeforce lightweight champion (155 pounds) Gilbert
“El Nino” Melendez (18-2) has signed a new, multi-year
agreement with the San Jose, California-based mixed martial arts
promotion.
“Strikeforce
is my home, they’ve always been like family to me and I’m
looking forward to continuing my career with them,” said
the 5-foot-9, 27-year-old protégé of Jiu-Jitsu
master Cesar Gracie and Muay Thai legend Jongsanan Fairtex. “There
are a lot of great fights out there for me – lots of challenges.
I can’t wait to get back into the cage, do my thing and
show the world that I’m still at the top of my game.’
Universally
recognized as one of the top 155-pounders in the world, Melendez
has won four in a row and five of six.
Melendez
of San Francisco, by way of Santa Ana, California, last fought
on April 17, 2010, retaining his belt with a dominant five-round
decision over Japanese superstar Shinya Aoki in Nashville, Tennessee,
that aired live on The CBS Television Network.
The
one-sided triumph over the highly regarded Aoki came in Melendez’s
first title defense since regaining his crown with a hard-fought
five-round unanimous decision over the fighter that had dethroned
him, Josh Thomson, on Dec. 19, 2009, at HP Pavilion San Jose,
California.
Melendez,
who turned pro on Oct. 18, 2002 and won his initial 13 starts,
owns other notable victories over MMA standouts Aoki, Clay Guida
andTatsuya Kawajiri. Melendez captured his interim lightweight
belt with a second-round knockout (punches) over Rodrigo Damm
on April 11, 2009, in San Jose.
“I’m
healthy again and excited about fighting again real soon,’’
the personable, charismatic Melendez said. “It doesn’t
matter who I fight. I just want to get back in there and rip.’’
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
UFC's
Darren Elkins Dropping From Lightweight to Featherweight
By Matt
Erickson
On the verge of returning from a knee injury that has kept him
on the shelf, Darren Elkins will drop down a class when he comes
back.
Elkins,
an Indiana-based lightweight who went 1-1 in his two UFC appearances
last year, will drop to featherweight for his next bout in the
promotion. Elkins confirmed the plan with MMA Fighting on Wednesday.
Elkins
(12-2, 1-1 UFC) was scheduled to fight Edson Barboza at UFC 123
in November, but a knee injury forced him out of the contest
just 10 days before the bout – news that was first reported
by MMA Fighting. Chicago-area fighter Mike Lullo replaced Elkins
and suffered a TKO loss to Barboza, eating a barrage of leg kicks
in the process from the Muay Thai-based newcomer.
Elkins
said he recently was given clearance from a doctor to return,
but does not yet have an opponent for his featherweight debut.
He said making the drop is something he has been thinking about,
though.
"I've
been wanting to make (the drop) for a while," Elkins said.
"(At my size), 155 isn't much of a cut. I just feel like
it's a better weight for me."
Elkins
won his UFC debut at UFC Live on Versus 1 last March. The former
Indiana state champion wrestler took Duane Ludwig down early
in the fight, snapping his leg in the process for a TKO victory.
But in his second bout for the promotion, at UFC Live on Versus
2 last August, Elkins was walking back to the locker room with
a loss about as quickly as he had won his debut. Against Charles
Oliveira, Elkins again scored an early takedown – but was
caught in a guillotine that Oliveira quickly transitioned to
an armbar. Elkins tapped out 41 seconds into the fight.
Elkins
said his injury rehab has given him all his strength and flexibility
back, and that UFC matchmaker Joe Silva was agreeable to him
dropping from lightweight to featherweight.
Last
fall, the UFC announced a merger with sister promotion WEC, which
brought 135-, 145- and 155-pounders into the UFC. Only the lightweight
division was a crossover between the two promotions, meaning
the 155-pound class had a sudden influx of talent. There are
currently 56 lightweight fighters listed at UFC.com, but only
26 featherweights. (The site has Elkins listed under its welterweight
roster.)
Source: MMA Fighting
|
Retirement
Not in Davis’ Plans
by Tristen Critchfield
The
explosive right hand of Jeremy Stephens might have removed Marcus
Davis from the UFC payroll, but 37-year-old Maine native has
no plans to retire.
Since
his third-round knockout loss to Stephens at UFC 125 “Resolution”
on New Year’s Day, the former professional boxer returned
home to spend time with his family and focus on the growth of
his gym. He has also made it a point to pore over flaws in his
game in hopes of future improvement.
“[I’m]
studying always, studying things that I did wrong, studying things
that I could do to improve. That’s the thought,” Davis
told Sherdog.com. “That’s what our whole job as human
beings is -- to always look to get better at everything, regardless
of if it’s fighting or being a parent or whatever our job
is. Becoming stronger, smarter -- that’s what we do.”
The
Irish-American standout appeared to be getting the best of Stephens
in the early going before the decisive blow was struck at the
MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
“I
don’t even understand how anybody could even say [it was
a] close fight. If you watched the fight, up until he actually
hit me and I went out, he never landed a punch other than when
we were clinched against the cage,” he said. “I felt
like I was very much in control.”
Davis
said his manager, Joe Cavallaro, is in preliminary discussions
with at least two organizations regarding future fights. The
Team Sityodtong representative said that a promotion in the United
States, as well as one in the U.K., has expressed interest in
his services.
“My
job is to train and prepare for fights,” Davis said. “It’s
my manager’s job to book those fights. I know a lot of interest
has come from the U.K., so we are talking to people over there.
I don’t know what’s gonna happen.”
“The
Irish Hand Grenade” had a lengthy run at welterweight in
the UFC before dropping down to 155 pounds for his Jan. 1 clash
with Stephens. From September 2006 to January 2008, he reeled
off a six-fight winning streak in the Octagon before dropping
a unanimous decision to Mike Swick at UFC 85. “The Ultimate
Fighter” Season 2 alum has fallen on hard times recently,
however, losing four of his last five bouts. With those struggles
in mind, Davis holds no grudge regarding his release from MMA’s
premier organization.
“I
haven’t performed my best in the last year and a half, and,
therefore, they gotta kick me out to make room for the guys that
are performing their best,” he said. “I don’t
hold anything against the UFC. I’m still friends with [UFC
President] Dana [White] and [matchmaker] Joe Silva and all those
guys. It was business. It wasn’t personal at all.”
When
Davis does return to the cage, he plans on remaining at 155 pounds
for the foreseeable future. While fighting at 170, Davis said
he would often endure as much as a 45-pound cut to make weight.
The cut to 155 will be much less grueling from what he said is
his current weight of 180 pounds.
“I’m
not actually entertaining any offers at 70,” he said. “[Lightweight]
is honestly where I should have been my entire career, and that’s
where I’m gonna be. Right now, it’s not difficult for
me maintaining and staying close to that weight.”
Source: Sherdog
|
|