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(All events on Oahu, unless noted)
2005
12/10/05
Proving
Grounds -
ROTR
Qualifer
(MMA)
(Hilo Civic Center)
11/19/05
ROTR 9
(MMA)
(Blaisdell Arena)
11/14/05
3rd American National BJJ Championships
(Torrance Unified School District, Torrance, CA )
10/29-30/05
Brazilian Team Titles
(Equipes)
(Brazil)
10/05
Proving
Grounds -
ROTR
Qualifer
(MMA)
(Lahaina Civic Center, Maui)
9/05
Proving
Grounds -
ROTR
Qualifer
(MMA)
(Kauai)
8/27-28/05
International
Masters & Seniors BJJ Tournament
(Tijuca Tenis Clube, Tijuca, Brazil)
8/05 (tentative)
ROTR 8
(MMA)
(Las Vegas, NV)
7/23-31/05
World BJJ
Championships (Mundial)
(Tijuca Tenis Clube, Tijuca, Brazil)
7/21-23/05
World Cup of BJJ
(BJJ)
(São Paulo, Brazil)
7/9/05
Proving
Grounds -
ROTR
Qualifer
(MMA)
(Hilo Civic Center)
5/7/05
ROTR 7
(MMA)
(Blaisdell Arena)
5/7-8 & 14-15 & 21-22/05
Brazilian National BJJ Tournament
(Youth, Adult, Master & Senior)
(Tijuca Tenis Clube, Tijuca, Brazil?)
4/2/05 or 4/9/05
Super Brawl
(MMA)
(Blaisdell Arena)
4/1-3/05
Pan American
& Team Title USA vs Brazil BJJ Tournament
(BJJ)
(California State University Dominguez Hills, Carson, CA)
3/05
SUMA
(Kickboxing)
(Hyatt Waikiki)
3/26/05
Proving
Grounds -
ROTR
Qualifer
(MMA)
(Lahaina Civic Center, Maui)
3/25/05
Shooto Hawaii: Pro/Am
(MMA)
(Blaisdell - Hawaii Suite)
3/12/05
The Second Annual Maui
Jiu-Jitsu Open
BJJ tournament
(BJJ)
(Maui War Memorial Gym, Wailuku, Hawaii)
3/6-7/05
Hawaii State High School Wrestling Championships
(Blaisdell Arena)
3/5/04
So You
Think You Tough 8
(Boxing, MMA)
(Kauai)
Proving Grounds -
ROTR
Qualifer
(MMA)
(Honolulu)
3/4-6/05
Arnold
Schwarzenegger Gracie World Submission Championships
(BJJ & Submission Grappling)
(Columbus, Ohio)
2/27/05
2005
Hawaiian Championship of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
(BJJ & Submission Grappling)
(Saint Louis H.S. Gym)
G-3
(Kickboxing)
(Palama Settlement Gym)
2/19/05
Kickin' It
(Kickboxing)
(Kapolei High School)
2/12/05
So You Think You Tough 7
(Boxing, MMA)
(Kona Gym, Kona)
2/5/05
UFC
51: Super Saturday
(MMA)
(Las Vegas, NV)
|
|
January 2005 News
Part 3
Wednesday night and Sunday
classes (w/ a kids' class) now offered!
 
For the special Onzuka.com
price, click on one of these banners above! |
Tuesdays at 8:30PM on
Olelo Channel 52
New Time! |
Quote
of the Day
"Whatever your discipline, become a student of excellence
in all things. Take every opportunity to observe people who manifest
the qualities of mastery. These models of excellence will inspire
you and guide you toward the fulfillment of your highest potential."
Tony Buzan, Peak Performance Expert and Creator of "Mind
Mapping"
|
Ultimate
Fighter on Spike at 9:00 PM Tonight!
What's up everybody! Just wanted to remind you catch the Ultimate
Fighter on Spike TV tonight (9:00 PM on channel 76 in Hawaii,
visit theultimatefighter.tv for full schedule). I've been told
that Fokai will begin appearing on the show starting tonight.
It will be worn by UFC president Dana White. Keep an eye out!
Thanks everybody!!
-Rich
|
KICKIN
IT 2005 (AMATEUR KICKBOXING)
KAPOLEI
HIGH SCHOOL GYMNASIUM
FEB. 19, 2005 (DOORS OPEN AT 7:00PM)
MAIN EVENT
WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
NICK CORREA (140-146#) ALEX ZARIELLO
HSD (2-2) MUAY THAI (2-1)
DUE TO THE FACT THAT NOONE FOUGHT FOR THE 2004 KICKIN IT WELTERWEIGHT
CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE AND THE BELT HAD BEEN BOUGHT ALREADY. CORREA
AND ZARIELLO WILL GO TO WAR TO FIGHT FOR THE BELT THAT WASN'T
CLAIMED BY ANYONE. CORREA WHO STEPPED UP 2 WEIGHT DIVISIONS BECAUSE
HIS OPPONENT PULLED OUT WILL FACE THE NEXT QUALIFIED KICKIN IT
FIGHTER WHICH IS ZARIELLO IN A MUAY THAI MATCH. BOTH FIGHTERS
STAND CLOSE TO 5'11" AND WILL PROBABLY WEIGH IN AT 146#.
OTHER EXCITING BOUTS
PRESTON LEE 160-165# JUSTIN DANO
ANIMAL HOUSE HSD
ERIN GUILLORY 135-140# CLINT K.
ANIMAL HOUSE FREELANCE
ROBBIE OSTAVICH 80-85# KONA KEAALOHA
JESUS IS LORD HSD
AIKA SAMSON 135-140# KEONI KIPAPA
ANIMAL HOUSE TEAM YOKUZUNA
MIGUEL ASUNCTION 205-210# PAULO SHERIDAN
ANIMAL HOUSE MASTER BRO. ABE
DENVER GONSALVES 195-200# BENJAMIN PARKER
HSD TEAM PERCEPTION
ALAN ALCARAZ 160-165# KEA HUALATON
JESUS IS LORD ROB MONROE'S KICKBOXING
WALTER HA0 170-175# KAIKA TROYFU
ANIMAL HOUSE JESUS IS LORD
BRANDON GANITANO 145-150# DARREN JOSE
ROB MONROE'S K.B. HSD
PIT 150-155# HANS LEE
TEAM YOKUZUNA ANIMAL HOUSE
ALAN ULIT 170-175# BRYAN INGRAM
ANIMAL HOUSE ROB MONROE'S KICKBOXING
KAHALE 260# MIKE KIPAPA
DOGZ 4 LIFE TEAM YOKUZUNA
ALL MATCHES MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS OUT ON NONE OF THE KICKIN IT SHOWS. YOU
GET TO SEE SOME FIGHTERS TURN FROM ANIMALS TO KICKBOXERS BY THE
END OF THE YEAR. THIS IS WHERE SOME OF THE BEST LOCAL KICKBOXERS
COME TO BANG. MISMATCHES ARE VERY RARE HERE WHICH IS WHY KICKIN
IT USUALLY HAS 8 OR MORE FIGHTS ON EVERY CARD. ITS WORTH THE
$15-$20 YOU SPEND TO GET IN . THIS CARD WILL FEATURE ALOT OF
FIRST TIME FIGHTERS WHICH MEANS THEY WILL BRING THEIR PRIDE AND
THEY'LL LEAVE THEIR BRAINS AT HOME CAUSE DAS HOW WE KICK IT!!!
Source:
Promoter |
POSTAL
CONNECTIONS: PRIDE OFFERS ROYCE A BIG MONEY SPOT IN THE MIDDLEWEIGHT
GP
By Tape Lord
Hello
my friends,
My
postal connections in the DSE/PRIDE organization are telling
me that DSE/PRIDE has made a big money offer to Royce Gracie
to secure his participation in the upcoming PRIDE Middleweight
GP.
According
to these sources, Royce has been offered between USD$450-475,000
per fight, plus a win bonus.
It
is said that Royce is still considering the offer, and will give
a final word in a few weeks.
Source: Fight Sport |
Quote
of the Day
"A good heart is better than all the heads in the world."
Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton, 1803-1873, British Novelist and Poet
|
Hansen
Out of EUPHORIA;
Franca Gets Rematch with Edwards
at February 26th Event
By Loretta Hunt
There's something different about Brazilian Hermes Franca. You
can hear it in his voice as he talks about his upcoming rematch
with Yves Edwards, a fight that has come about in the last week
now that former SHOOTO champion Joachim Hansen has withdrawn
from the card with complications from a broken hand. Franca was
originally scheduled to meet up against Rich Clementi for the
February 26th USA Versus the World event at the Trump Taj Mahal
in Atlantic City, New Jersey. With Hansen now officially out,
Franca has been shuffled into the Norwegian's slot and Clementi
will get a fresh opponent.
"I
think that it will be better than Rich Clementi, because I want
to face Yves Edwards again," a grounded Franca says of the
switch. "I fought him before, so I know his game. He knows
my game too, but it's better than fight against Clementi because
I don't know Rich Clementi's game. Against Yves Edwards, I know
what he's going to do, you know?"
It
was only ten months ago that a noticeably slighted Franca swallowed
a painful split decision loss to lanky Texan Edwards at UFC 47.
Following his defeat to Josh Thomson just two months prior at
UFC 46, Franca and his American Top Team comrades pulled no punches
in expressing their dissatisfaction with the Edwards decision.
However,
much has changed for the Brazilian lightweight in the past year.
An in-house dispute last July forced Franca to seek new training
arrangements elsewhere. Longtime friend and former PRIDE heavyweight
champion Antonio Nogueira gained Franca entrance to the famed
Brazilian Top Team, where he trained for three months this past
summer. "Oh they are amazing," Franca comments of his
new alliance. "I was training with the best like Minotauro
[Antonio Nogueira], Rogerio his brother, Buscape, a lot of guys
with my weight division like Rafael Diaz, Fabio Mello. It was
like a new student at a new school."
With
both his former ATT and current BTT brethren cheering from the
sidelines, a gleeful Franca returned to October 2004's EUPHORIA
2, almost instantaneously jumping an overwhelmed Phil John's
guard and submitting him in forty-seven seconds flat. He followed
up the victory with a thirty-seven second knockout of Internet
trash-talker Manny Reyes, a fight Franca says he took solely
on the urging of his fans. And while Johns and Reyes can by no
means be considered at the top of the lightweight food chain,
the once head-strong Franca says he is grateful for the practice.
"Day by day, I got more experience," Franca says. "I
fought my first EUPHORIA [against Johns]. I fought Manny Reyes
and I know he's nobody, but I fought. I had one more fight so
it was experience."
Franca
has also launched his own Jupiter, Florida academy, The Armory,
in the last few months with partner Joe Hooligan. While the added
responsibilities of running his own school keep him from returning
to Brazil, various BTT teammates, including Rogerio Nogueira,
have made the trip over to assist in Franca's training. American
Top Team members Marcus Aurelio and Thiago "Pitbull"
Alves are also preparing Franca for his upcoming rematch, a rematch
he would have given his eye teeth to get ten months ago when
he was convinced he had been robbed blind.
Today, the 10-2 Franca's resentment has all but diminished. "It
was a good fight, you know? But he won," Franca now shares
easily. "I don't want to give excuses. He won. I have the
chance to face him again. I think I can change my game. Maybe
I have big surprise, you know? We never know. Fights you never
know. I hate talking about fights because we never know. But,
I'm training hard.
Source: FCF
|
Roger
Gracie defeats Ronaldo Jacare
Roger Gracie has defeated Ronaldo Jacare in the finals of the
absolute category of the European Jiu-jitsu Championships in
Lisbon, Portugal with a score of 2-0. The match spent most of
the time with both athletes standing and attempting throws, but
it was on the mat that Roger executed a sweep that got the points
guaranteeing him the top of the podium in this season's first
CBJJ tournament.
Before
getting to the finals, Roger defeated Roberto Abreu and Rodrigo
Soluço, tapping them with chokes from the mount.
Jacare passed through Fabrício Nascimento (mount choke)
and
Lúcio Lagarto (points 6-2).
from
Graciemag.com
translated for our readers
Source: Gracie Fighter
|
DSE
President talks Pride 29
Rebound from New Year's Burnout
Prelude to Middleweight GP
After getting a bellyful of action in PRIDE and K-1 at the end
of 2004, MMA fans in Japan and around the world are beginning
to feel the pains of hunger for more. At this point, it appears
as though the next installment in PRIDE's "number series,"
PRIDE 29, might be just what fans need to make the transition
from year-end burnout to the Middleweight Grand Prix, which starts
in April.
In
a recent interview, Dream Stage Entertainment president, Nobuyuki
Sakakibara vowed to continue creating cards for the number series
that are every bit as exciting as the Grand Prix format. In the
same interview, he hinted at what the main themes for PRIDE 29
would be, saying, "We want to put together some matches
that will forecast what's going to happen in the Middleweight
Grand Prix. Not necessarily all elimination matches, but also
a number of matches between fighters who have already been chosen
to compete in it. . . We also want to give Mirko a fight that
will be his first step to attaining his goal for this year, which
is to win the heavyweight title."
The
DSE boss went on to tantalize fans by revealing that Igor Vovchanchyn
would be competing in the middleweight ranks this year and naming
a host of top name fighters who he is considering for PRIDE 29.
True
to his word, Sakakibara and Nobuhiko Takada met with the press
in DSE's Tokyo head office on Thursday and announced five matches
for the February 20 event. Headlining the show will be the "Croatian
Terminator" Mirko "CroCop" Filipovic versus Mark
Coleman, who will be looking to avenge the loss of his protégé
Kevin Randleman to Mirko in last year's Man Festival.
According
to Takada, Coleman is currently training with Chuck Liddell and
is close to being back in the form he was in during his glory
days. Takada explained, "[After his victory on 12/31] Mirko
offered to compete in our February show. As far as we were concerned,
Mirko had proven himself worthy to fight for the championship
a long time ago, so we suggested he take a warm-up fight in that
show. But he told us that if he's going to fight he wants to
fight a top class fighter, and called out Coleman after his fight
with Randleman. It's going to be a dangerous fight for him. You
might look at it as a prelude to the title fight."
Three
middleweight fights were announced that will provide the "Grand
Prix forecast" Sakakibara mentioned. Quinton "Rampage"
Jackson will face Murilo "Ninja" Rua. This marks Rampage's
return to the ring after his loss to Wanderlei Silva on last
Halloween's PRIDE 28 card, a match many consider to be the best
of 2004. By beating Silva's training partner- 'Ninja', he hopes
to put himself back squarely into the champion's sights.
Igor
Vovchanchyn will take on Pancrase heavyweight champion Yoshiki
Takahashi in a middleweight fight. This fight is a must-see,
if for no other reason than to see how big a bruising Igor can
shell out at middleweight.
The
card, as it stands now, is rounded out by a middleweight matchup
in Alistair Overeem versus Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, and a heavyweight
matchup in Choi Mu Bae versus Sergei Kharitonov.
Takada
reiterated to the press that the middleweight fights are not
elimination fights. However, he added, "If any of the fighters
lose big early on, or don't put on a good show, there's a good
possibility that they will be eliminated." This comment
will likely light a fire under the competitors, encouraging them
put on a good show for the fans.
Other
names mentioned by Sakakibara and Takada who have not officially
been signed at this point are Ryan Gracie, Kazuhiro Nakamura,
Hirotaka Yokoi, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, Ricardo Arona,
Mario Sperry, and Paulo Filho.
By
all indications thus far, it looks as though PRIDE 29 will more
than live up to DSE president Sakakibara's promise to keep the
number series interesting. It will definitely set the stage for
the Middleweight GP and heavyweight title race. In some small
way maybe it will even bring back the excitement and anticipation
MMA fans felt at the end of last year.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Catching
Up with Dave Menne
In the modern era of MMA, more and more fighters are opening
up training facilities and starting fight promotions as a means
to supplement income as well as create a longevity for themselves
after their fighting days are over. One such fighter who is taking
on these responsibilities along with a continuing fighting career
is former UFC Middleweight Champion Dave Menne.
"The
school is going well, "said Menne, "like anything there
are good things and bad things, but good things are happening
now. Before we'd have three good things happen then ten bad things
would happen, but it's getting better. We were in a deep freeze
a week and a half ago, it was negative ten degrees, there was
a ton of snow, but it's clearing up and last week things picked
back up. The place is coming together and looks nice now, but
it is still a work in progress. It's about six months from being
what I want it to be."
Currently
Menne's school is known as Minnesota Combat Arts but the name
is soon going to change because of Menne's recognition that there's
a stigma that comes with the fight game which turns off non-fighting
individuals. "I incorporated under the MCA name but I'm
going to change it to Northway Martial Sports and Fitness. Sometimes
you get the regular population turned off at the idea of fighting
and think it's only fighters who should be at the facility. So
the name change is to make it easier for people to know that
anyone can come in here and train, not just fighters," commented
Menne.
Along
with his facility Menne has recently gotten into the fight promotion
game with the help of manager Monte Cox. Currently Menne is eyeing
the prospect of putting on a show in the near future, "We
have an Extreme Challenge event ready to go for April. We are
just looking for a venue right now so it's hitching on finding
the right place and date. We're trying to get a Saturday because
Friday is not the best time in the metro area to have a show.
People trying to get to the show hit traffic and that can cause
a problem. Luckily we've been able to put together a few cards
that people would be willing to take their time to travel to
get to."
Not
only does Menne wish to continue to work with others on promotions,
he is hoping to branch out on his own soon as well, "I'm
hoping this is going to segue into a separate identity. That
way we can do our own shows here locally and if something bigger
comes up we can do a co-promotion under two names. The first
order of business is growing into a 2000 seat arena before anything
and then go from there."
With
all that is going on in Menne's business life one may wonder
if he plans on taking it easy with his career, but according
to Menne this year is going to be a continuation of his always
busy fight schedule, "I'm hoping to fight 6-8 times this
year. I would say hopefully in the spring I'll have my next fight.
A lot of it depends on if I can have all business taken care
of in order."
Menne
continued, "The gym needs to take some semblance of order
to the point that I'm not putting in 14-16 hour days between
teaching, painting or laying mats. Hopefully I can try to put
more energies into training and get a regular working schedule
for myself and people in place to help me train."
When
asked if he would go elsewhere to train for a given amount of
time as he has done in the past, Menne seemed cautiously optimistic
with such a prospect, "I would consider it, it's somewhat
liberating to get away from everything and just train. To do
that I'd have to make sure things are a little more in order;
including, getting people who are versed in teaching classes,
so the regular students are not feeling you have to be there
for them to get a good work out. It would be nice to get a little
vacation."
Menne's
concentration on his growing facility has given him time to do
things that have been long overdue for his career. One is having
surgery on his eyes as Menne has fought the majority of his career
with extremely poor eyesight; "I'm looking into getting
corrective surgery. I can only see a foot or foot and a half
in front of me depending on the light. I'm going to get PRK done
because there is no incision. With Lasic surgery they have to
cut your eye and they won't let you fight in Vegas if you have
that. After I get it done I will only have to recover for about
a month before I can be cleared to fight."
The
decision came after Menne was forced to wear contact lenses during
his fights which caused their own amount of problems. "In
a lot of fights, if not all of them, I lost at least one during
the fight, more often than not I lost both. When I fought in
Kuwait I didn't lose any and I think when I fought Gil Castillo
I only lost one, those are about the only times I can remember
off the top of my head when I didn't lose both. Sometimes I'd
blink them out and other times they'd get knocked out and it
caused some problems with depth perception."
Menne
has also finally gotten an official home on the web as a means
to get the word out on his philosophies, career, and gym, "We
just got www.DaveMenne.com set up. It's just a few pages right
now but it's brand new and we'll be expanding it. We're going
to change one part about how many titles I have. I only really
count the UFC belt and the ones when I beat a guy who was a top
one or two fighter."
In
the coming months Menne will again be taking on the familiar
role of cornerman as he continues his involvement in the lives
of the fighters that train under him, "I've got a couple
of guys fighting on the XKK (Xtreme Kage Kombat) next week. Roger
(Huerta) will be fighting in Mississippi in March on a show with
Darrell Smith and Naoyuki Kotani."
Huerta
is currently considered by many to be one of the top American
lightweight prospects and has recently relocated from Texas to
Minnesota full time but not without issue. "Yeah, he's up
here full time now and whining about the cold. I guess it could
be worse, he could be training up in Canada, or maybe the North
Pole," said Menne with a laugh.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Japanese
Fighters that fought in Hawaii Win:
Fukuda & Suda Win, Bow Loses
Shooto Results
Fight 1: Kyotaro Nakao (STG Yokohama) draws with Sakae Kasuya
(K'z FACTORY) 20-19, 19-19, 19-19.
Cruiserweight Class B
Riki Fukuda (PUREBRED Tokyo) def. Masaya Inoue (PARAESTRA Kakogawa)
by Decision
Bantamweight Class B
BJ (AACC) def Daiji Takahashi (Akimoto Dojo Jungle Junction)
by 3-0 Decision 20-18, 20-19, 20-18
Middleweight Class B
Shinya Aoki (PARAESTRA Tokyo) def. Keith Wisniewski (USA / Duneland
Vale Tudo) By Round 1 2:22 Armbar
Welterweight Class A
Ganjo Tentsuku (PUREBRED Omiya) def. Takumi (PARAESTRA Osaka)
by 3-0 Decision 30-28, 30-27, 30-27
Bantamweight Class A -non title-
Mamoru (STG Yokohama) def. Junji Ikoma (Chokushin Kai) by Decision
30-27, 30-27, 30-26.
Light Heavyweight -non title-
Masanori Suda (Club J) def. Brian Ebersole (USA / American Kickboxing
Academy) by Round 3 Submission (RNC) 2:59
Pacific-Rim Championship Tournament Final
Welterweight Class A
Koutetsu Boku (PUREBRED Tokyo) def. Ryan Bow (USA / PUREBRED
Omiya) 2-0 Decision 29-29, 29-28, 29-28
Source: MMA Weekly
|
BJJ:
NU athletes may fight at CBJJ
Away
from BJJ Confederation competitions since 2002, when BJJ Olympic
Confederation was created, Nova União is ready to come
back. According one of the team leaders, André Pederneiras,
Nova União athletes may fight at CBJJ, but they will not
fight under NU's flag, which has major issues with BJJ Confederation's
president Carlos Gracie Júnior.
-
We don't agree with Carlinhos' ideas, but I cannot bother my
pupils. Athletes from other teams compete on both Confederations,
but Nova União ones only can compete at CBJJO. However,
fighters will be representing their teachers and not Nova União
- Pederneiras explained.
Source: Tatame
|
G-Shooto:
Tavarez returns to Japan
First female Brazilian to fight MMA in Japan, Kimura/Nova União's
black belt Michelle Tavares has already started her Vale-Tudo
trains to face a new challenge: G-Shooto, all Female MMA event,
which happens on March 17. BJJ black belt will also have a chance
to have a rematch with her first opponent: Yuka Tsuji. All because
Yuka will face a Japanese opponent on February 15 and the winner
gets on Michelle at G-Shooto.
-
I have chances to face Yuka once again. In Japan, people tell
me that she only talks about facing me again!" said Tavares,
who defeated the Japanese in July of 2003, at Deep. Missing only
three weeks to the min fight, she will be hitting Rio de Janeiro
to sharpen ground skills with André Pederneiras, Nova
União's trainer. In last April, Michelle did the main
fight of Bitetti Combat 3, when submitted Mayara Carneiro (Nordeste
Combat) via katagatami.
Source: Tatame
|
Quote
of the Day
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of
a dog, it's too dark to read."
Groucho Marx, 1890-1977, American Comedian
|
Super Brawl
& Steinlager Present:
FULL
CONTACT SHOWDOWN #1
Results!
Super Brawl: Full Contact Showdown #1
Kahuna's Sports Bar & Grill Ballroom, Kaneohe Marine Corps
Base, Kaneohe, Hawaii
January 28, 2005
By Chris Onzuka - Chris@Onzuka.com
The
offspring of Super Brawl emerged in of all places, a Marine Corps
base on the windward side of Oahu and featured one the Kaneohe
stationed Marines, Steve Brynes and another Kaneohe native in
Kolo Koka headlining the event. Super Brawl plans to run smaller
events called the Full Contact Showdown series that will keep
the Super Brawl name in the public's eye and possibly have the
event be a feeder show for Super Brawl. Military servicemen and
women along with a few locals packed into the ballroom for the
first MMA event to take place on this side of the island. A moment
of silence was taken to pay tribute to those Kaneohe soldiers
who recently paid the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq. When the fights
started, the crowd was on fire.
One
of Hawaii's best fighters, Harris Sarmiento returned to action
in an exhibition kickboxing match that contained a few "extra"
rules. Kicks were allowed to be caught, fighters thrown to the
ground and a lot more took place in this match that had the crowd
at a fever pitch. Both fighters started roughing each other up,
with Sarmiento catching Wa'o's kicks and punching him to the
ground. After trying to throw each other down, Sarmiento got
a warning from the referee for throwing a punch while both fighters
were on the ground. The match had a lot more brawling until the
referee called for a break and, in the heat of battle, Sarmiento
threw a head kick that landed right in Ha'o's face. That was
enough for the referee and he called the match. Kaneohe Marine,
Steve Brynes made his crew proud by destroying his opponent.
Brynes looked very polished for his debut, using striking to
close the distance, taking the fight to the ground, working quickly
into the mount and unloading with strikes for the submission..
Kolo
Koka, who grew up in Kaneohe, could not have ended the event
any better, but recovering from an early takedown by Estrada,
landing a solid knee. Estrada scrambled up to his feet while
Kolo took his back and pulled off a beautiful belly to back suplex,
causing Estrada to land right on his shoulder. Koka quickly followed
up with strikes, not allowing Estrada time to recover, causing
the tap out. Based on their response, the crowd definitely loved
the show and the promoters promised to bring another show back
and hopefully more of the Kaneohe natives will be on the card.
Exhibition:
Amateur Kickboxing
Kai "Boy" Kamaka III (808 Fight Factory) vs. Richard
Kailoa
Draw
Amateur
MMA: 3 Rounds X 3 Minutes
David Grenados (California) drew Ryan Lee (Bulls Pen)
Draw [(29-28), (28-29), (28-28)] after 3 rounds.
Exhibition
Kickboxing: 3 Rounds X 1.5 Minutes
Walter Ha'o (Animal House) def. Harris "Hitman" Sarmiento
(808 Fight Factory)
Disqualification for striking after the referee called for a
break in the third round.
185lbs.
MMA: 3 Rounds X 3 Minutes
Steve "El Toro Blanco" Byrnes (Bulls Pen) def. Jesse
Rangel (California)
Submission due to strikes from the mount at 1:32 minutes in Round
1.
Main
Event:
165lbs. MMA: 3 Rounds X 3 Minutes
Kolo Koka (Team MADD) def. Candido Estrada (Fresno, CA)
Submission due to strikes at 55 seconds in Round 1.
|
2005 Hawaii Junior
State Championships of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Is Today
The tournament which was referred to as the Gracie's Kids Tournament
(I just made that up) finally has an official name, 2005 Hawaii
Junior State Championships of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Venue:
Relson Gracie Main Academy
844 Queen Street, 2nd Floor
Date: January 29, 2005
Time: 10AM - 2PM
9:30AM Rules Clinic
8:30AM Weigh-ins
Ages 16 and under
Inviting all competitors ages 5 to 16 years old
Sponsored by the Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Associations of Hawaii
The Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Associations of Hawaii would like
to cordially invite you and your students to join us at the 2005
Hawaii Junior State Jiu-Jitsu Championships on January 29, 2005
at this year's Host Club-The Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy
in Honolulu, Hawaii. We
have invited youth competitors from schools around the state including HMC, Brazilian Freestyle
Jiu-Jitsu, Gracie Kailua, BJ Penn Jiu-Jitsu, and every Relson
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Association including: Honolulu, Aiea, Kaneohe,
HK and more. We are excited and eager to see all of Hawaii's
youth exhibit their great talent at this exclusive event.
We strongly recommend that all competitors and coaches be at
the tournament no later than 8:30 AM on Saturday to weigh-in
and to find parking (Parking stalls are available at Queen Bee
Restaurant on the corner of Queen St. and Cooke St. between 8-2
PM; there are also parking spaces on adjacent streets-please
observe neighboring business signs and city and county regulations
as to avoid ticketing and towing). The rules clinic will be held at 9:30
AM with the competition beginning promptly at 10 AM.
The top four competitors in each division will receive a trophy
(one 1st place, one 2nd place, and two 3rd places) generously
provided by Hawaiian Pacific Chiropractic. In addition to awards,
all competitors will be qualified to win other prizes. We would
love to see all competitors, spectators, family, martial artists,
etc. gather in this friendly atmosphere established to promote
the awesome art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu among our youth in this
great state of Hawaii.
Sincerely,
Ronn T. Shiraki
Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Kaneohe Team
If Ronn Shiraki has not contacted you, please email him at: Kaneoheteam@yahoo.com
Tournament Rules and Regulations
· Registration fee is $20
· All competitors must compete with a clean white or all
blue Jiu-Jitsu GI (kimono). No mixed colors or black GI will
be allowed.
· Any competitor who displays unsportsmanlike-like conduct
before, during, or after the match, will be disqualified and
forfeit the registration fee.
· It is the competitor's responsibility to find out when
his / her match will take place.
· Any competitor who does not show up before his/ her
match will automatically forfeit the match and registration.
· Any competitor who deliberately tries to hurt an opponent,
(including slamming while in the guard) will be disqualified.
· The competition organizers are not liable for any injury
and/or accident involving competitors.
· We reserve the right to combine weight categories.
· This information may be amended or changed at any time.
· The athletes will not be allowed to apply traumatic
holds; only competition sport Jiu-Jitsu holds will be permitted.
· All parents of youth participants must fill out a waiver
prior to weigh-in.
Divisions and Time Limits
are as follows
Ages Limits Time
5 Mixed 2 minutes
(5 year olds will start on knees)
6 Mixed 3 minutes
7-8 Mixed 4 minutes
9-10 Mixed 4 minutes
11-12 Mixed 4 minutes
13-14 Mixed 4 minutes
15-16 Mixed 5 minutes
Note: Weight classes (to be determined at tournament)
Competitors may be moved up or down a division depending on weight.
Competition Scoring System
· Throws and Takedowns 2 points
· Knee on the Belly 2 points
· Technical Sweeps 2 points
· Passing the Guard 3 points
· Front Mount Position 4 points
· Back Mount Position with Hooks 4 points
Illegal Techniques
The following techniques have been banned to protect the youth
competitors from injury. Judges will stop techniques if harm
appears imminent (referee decisions are Final).
· No Straight foot-locks (ages 15 and 16 only)
· No Toe-holds
· No Heel-hooks
· No Knee-bars
· No Small joint manipulation (fingers and toes)
· No Wrist-locks
· No Fish-hooks
· No Neck-cranks
· No Slamming
· No Can-openers
· No Swearing
· No Spitting
· No Striking of any kind
Contact Person
Ronn T. Shiraki
Phone: 387-1961 Email: Kaneoheteam@yahoo.com
|
Happy
New Year’s Fighters’ Club TV Fans!
Sorry for the delay over the holidays, but things were really
hectic, so me and the guys thought we’d take a month off.
The good news is that we’re back in action and Episode 28
has been cut and submitted to Oceanic Ch.52 (Olelo—Oahu)
programming. It will air in our usual timeslot, Tuesday nights
at 830pm. Look for the premier on Feb. 1st, and then repeats
on the 8th, 15th, and 22nd.
Episode
28 features:
Highlights
from Superbrawl 37 (Haw. Adv. Waterpark)
-Anthony
Torres vs. Shawn Taylor
-Kai
Kamaka vs. Tony Espitia
-Ronald
“the Machine Gun” Jhun vs. Jason “Mayhem”
Miller (+intvw w/ Jason)
-Intvw
w/ Superbrawl Promoter T.Jay Thompson
Highlights
from the 155Lbs SUMA (Stand Up Martial Arts) tournament at the
Hyatt Regency
-Harris
Sarmiento, David Yeung, Kaleo Kwan, Ryan Roy, Jerry Farabay,
Jack Thames, Tristan Witt
-Intvws
w/ SUMA announcer Mike Tanaka and fighters, Jack Thames and Kaleo
Kwan
Technique
of the Week: by special “request” (you’ll see
what we mean) FCTV Host Mark Kurano w/ his famous “Judo
Chop”
and
don’t miss the outtakes where you’ll get to see your
favorite FCTV hosts (Chris O. Mike O. and Mark K.) give you some
insight on how a show’s made…
Comments,
Questions, Suggestions to:
fightersclubtv808@hotmail.com
Mahalo!
|
TITO
ACCEPTS SHAMROCK'S CHALLENGE,
APPEARS
ON BEST DAMN SPORTS SHOW
Ken
Shamrock came on MMAWeekly Radio last week and challenged Tito
Ortiz to a fight. Shamrock thought that Tito turned him down.
According to Ortiz on his own website, that isn't the case.
"One
week and two days left till I get in the octagon. This fight
will be a great one. I feel confident and ready to go to war.
This will be one of the toughest fights I have fought in a long
time. I am in great shape and no injurys for once. I will have
my hands full but so will Belfort. This fight will go down in
history as one of the best. I want to say something to Ken. I
accept the challange if you wants it. Its up to Zuffa now! I
want to thank all of my fans for the support. Tell everyone about
the fight on feb 5th.....PLEASE..... - Tito Ortiz
Ortiz
was on last night's Best Damn Sports Show on Fox Sports Network.
He promoted the fight with Vitor and said he learned a lot in
his losses to Couture and Liddell.
He
also introduced the top three submissions in UFC history. First
one was Ken Shamrock over Dan Severn, second clip they showed
was Evan Tanner over Robbie Lawler and third was Matt Hughes
over Frank Trigg.
It
was a quick segment as Ortiz appeared with Tom Arnold (who at
one time referred to grappling as gay porn) and former NBA player
and Detroit Pistons player John Salley.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
"DO
OR DIE" FOR THE CROW?
David "The Crow" Loiseau faces a tough opponent next
Saturday night at UFC 51. He steps in against the "Diesel"
Joe Riggs. Loiseau was recently featured on MMAWeekly SoundOff
Radio's 18 fighters in 18 days and spoke about Joe Riggs and
the fight. The countdown to UFC 51 continues.
Joe
Riggs is a very local and confident fighter. Some may even say
cocky. Loiseau was asked if he's seen some of the comments made
by Riggs. "Honestly man, I don't go on the internet man.
I don't go on these things before a fight. I focus on what I
have to do. I've just heard that he's very confident and he's
looking right past me. That's perfect with me, you know, because
anybody with a little bit of intelligence who will fight me in
the middleweight division, will know that he's in for a war.
I'll give a war to anybody. Anybody that makes 185, you know,
is in a war. If you think you're just going to walk through me,
fine man, you're just going to have a big wake up call."
Further
commenting on Riggs, Loiseau said, "I have a lot of respect
for Joe. I've trained very hard for this guy. You know, I've
seen him fight. I know what he's able to do, and he's a solid
fighter. A very, very solid fighter. He's strong. He's got good
conditioning. He's solid and I respect him a lot and that's why
I trained so hard. I'm just happy to fight man. I'm just happy
to fight. You know, I'm not in it for the money. I love this
sport, man. I love to fight, man. If I were a millionaire, I'd
fight for you guys for free."
David
has trained hard for this fight as he has stated. When asked
if he focused on anything specific in his preparation for Joe
Riggs, Loiseau replied, "Make sure conditioning was at it's
best. You know, make sure conditioning was, my conditioning was
going to be off the hook."
Looking
at the fight itself and how it may play out, David commented,
"We'll know when the bell rings man. We're both exactly
alike. We're both able to ground and pound and stand up. You
know what I'm saying? We're both good. We're strong in the clinch.
We're strong on the ground. He's knocked out people on the ground.
So did I. I knocked out people standing up. I don't know if he
did, but he knocked down some guys. I don't know if he knocked
them out. We're both very versatile. We're both the future of
the sport."
Concluding
the interview, Loiseau thanked his sponsors. "I'd like to
thank Joey Oddessa of www.BetOddessa.com, thanks for the support.
MVP Nutrition, KTFO.tv, thanks for the support. Tri-Star Gyms,
thanks for the support. MMAWeekly.com, thanks for the support."
To hear the interview in its entirety, like "The Crow's"
toughest fight, click on the radio archive.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
WHO
HAS THE BETTER GROUND GAME?
CHRIS LYTLE TALKS ABOUT HIS GAME
Chris
"Lights Out" Lytle has slowly crept his way into the
top ten welterweights in the world. February 5th, he faces another
top ten ranked welterweight, Karo Parisyan. In a night that will
name an interim UFC Heavyweight Champion, finally crown a UFC
Middleweight Champion, the Lytle vs. Parisyan bout will make
more clear the UFC Welterweight pecking order. Chris Lytle spoke
with MMAWeekly SoundOff Radio about the fight with Parisyan and
the possibility of a future title shot.
Karo
Parisyan plans to put "The Heat" on Chris Lytle. Chris
is used to putting out flames though. He works full time as a
firefighter, regularly putting in 56 hours a week at the fire
station. About working as a fireman, Lytle stated, "I love
my job that I do here and, it's a pretty good schedule. It gives
me time to kind of do it so....It gives me a good balance. Coming
here, it kind of keeps in my mind, everything in perspective
and everything. I still get plenty of time to train. Not quite
as much as I would like but, I think I make up for it in other
areas like I'm smarter about how I train. I feel like I live
a pretty good lifestyle. I don't go out drinking and whatnot,
doing other things that kind of make it harder on me. I feel
I've gotten smarter as I've gotten older. This job here, I just
love it. I can't see ever quitting it."
Chris
gets the opportunity to do a little bit of training at work.
"I can lift weights and I can run and stuff but, I mean,
I don't really have any mats or anything set up for that. Some
of the stations have like a punching bag, heavy bag. I can hit
the bag and stuff but, if I had mats and someone to come in here
with me, I could. That wouldn't be a problem. I just don't have
the access to that right now." Said Lytle.
Discussing
his opponent, Karo Parisyan, Lytle has this to say, "I've
watched about three of his fights I think. He's an excellent
fighter. I mean, just watching him, watching the way operates
on the ground. It's just so smooth. It just kind of flows from
one move right to another. It's nice to watch actually but, I
think this is just a really good match up for both of us just
because, I mean, the way I see the fight. He knows what I'm going
to try to do. I know what he is going to try to do. I don't think
there's going to be too many surprises. It's just going to be
who can impose their will on the other man."
Lytle
feels he has the advantage standing but, when asked who has the
advantage on the ground, Chris responded, "I definitely
know that's where he wants to be. I don't know. I've never felt
like I've been in terrible trouble when I've been on the ground.
So, I don't really know who would have the advantage there. I
feel like I would have my advantage on the my feet so I would
say he's definitely going to feel comfortable on the ground.
I know that for a fact. Like I said, he's extremely skilled at
the way he moves on the ground but, it's kind of hard to get
a feel until you're in there with him. You know what I mean?"
Lytle
was asked how this fight will play out and if he feels like he
can get a knock out over Karo. Chris stated, "I don't think
anybody in this sport is above being taken out on their feet.
I mean, with the small gloves you wear, it's only going to take
one or two punches. I wouldn't rule it out but, I'm preparing
to win the fight anywhere the fight goes. I don't really care.
I'm training for the ground. I'm training for the feet. It all
just depends on when that break is going to come."
Click
on the radio archive and listen to what the world's most dangerous
man had to say about his upcoming fight in April.
The
show is free for those who listen live at 9am Pacific/12 Noon
eastern by logging on www.mmaweeklyradio.com
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
MMA
PUBLIC BETTING ON TERRELL OVER TANNER
You've
heard the term, put your money where your mouth is. It seems
the MMA public is putting their money on David Terrell according
to oddsmaker Joey Oddessa.
Joey
is the premiere handicapper in MMA as he has a new website called
betoddessa.com and he is also a consultant for one of our sponsors
at sportsbook.com. He has broken down the latest odds on what
is going on and how the public is betting.
Line
started with David Terrell -140 Evan Tanner +120 ......The public
criticized me for opening Terrell the favorite, but it was the
right move. TERRELL is being bet UP A LOT. Tanner has gotten
some buyback, but TERRELL is now -175/+155. I still like Tanner.
Line
started Vitor Belfort -125 Tito Ortiz+105 ..............this
bout currently sits at the same number. There has been 2 way
action thus far, SLIGHTLY more on BELFORT , but NOT enough to
move the line. BELFORT -125/+105.
Line
started Andrei Arlovski -120 Tim Sylvia -100 ........................TIM
SYLVIA is now the FAVORITE at -120/+100. Thre are smaller bets
on ARLOVSKI, but most big bets were on TIM SYLVIA.
Line
started Nick Diaz -230 Drew Fickett +190.............Short money
on FICKETT. nothing significant , but went to -225/+185 on DIAZ.
Chris
Lytle -110 Karo Parisyan -110.........2 way action........great
line. Hasn't Moved since opening. PK -110/-110.
Joe
Riggs -185 David Loiseau +165 ..........Public money on Riggs....nothing
huge yet.......Riggs moved to -200/+170. Despite public opinion,
I think Loiseau may well be able to pull off the upset of the
night. This line is gonna be interesting nearer to fight time.
Phil
Baroni -300 Pete Sell +250......Line hasnt moved a bit with Baronis
replacement. He is relatively unknown..........small bet on Underdog
may just be the guys taking a shot on the biggest underdog on
the card.
Started
at James Irvin -130 Mike Kyle +110...........Huge Money on Irvin.....the
newcomer to the UFC. Kyle looks like shit in training and insiders
are taking a shot at the newcoimer. IRVIN is currently the FAVORITE
at -175/+155.
Line
started at Justin Eilers -110 Paul Buentello -110 ...........A
good amount of money moving in on EILERS, possibly because he
is better known of the two after his KO win over Mike Kyle in
UFC. EILERS sitting at -145/+125 now.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
PRIDE
MIDDLEWEIGHT GP NEWS
The word amongst insiders in the Japanese media is that the PRIDE
Middleweight GP will consist of a 16-man field. Two fighters
from each team will be allowed.
DSE/PRIDE
will also host part of the GP in the United States, in the state
of California.
Fighters
who are unofficially confirmed for the GP:
Vanderlei Silva*
Ricardo Arona
Rogerio 'Minotoro' Nogueira
Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson
Dan Henderson
Igor Vovchanchyn
Murilo 'Ninja' Rua
Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua
Yuki Kondo
Sergei Kharitonov
Hirotaka Yokoi
Kazuhiro Nakamura
Fighters
who are probable for the GP:
Alistair Overeem
Ryan Gracie
Yoshiki Takahashi
Sanae Kikuta
Makoto Takimoto
Fighters
who are currently injured, but will be in the GP if they recover
in time:
Hidehiko Yoshida
Kazushi Sakuraba
Fighters
who DSE/PRIDE may try to sign for the GP:
Randy Couture
Tito Ortiz
Vitor Belfort
Enson Inoue
*
If Vanderlei Silva is signed, one of the Rua brothers will be
out.
Source:
Fight Sport
|
PRIDE
LIGHTWEIGHT GP NEWS
The word amongst insiders in the Japanese media is that PRIDE
and SHOOTO will work together for the upcoming PRIDE Lightweight
GP.
SHOOTO
will release a few of their top fighters to compete in the GP.
The word is that SHOOTO welterweight champ Tetsuya Kawajiri will
definitely be participating. Alexandre 'Pequeno' Nogueira, Vitor
'Shaolin' Ribeiro, and Rumina Sato might also be scheduled to
participate as well.
Fighters
who are unofficially confirmed for the GP:
Takanori Gomi
Jens Pulver
Tetsuya Kawajiri
D. Mishima
Luis 'Buscape' Firminho
Marcus Aurelio
Fighters
who are probable for the GP:
Vitor 'Shaolin' Ribeiro
Hermes Franca
Ralph Gracie
Joachim Hansen
Alexandre 'Pequeno' Nogueira
Rumina Sato
Fighters
who DSE/PRIDE may try to sign for the GP:
B.J. Penn
Yves Edwards
Matt Serra
Kaoru Uno
Norifumi 'Kid' Yamamoto
Naoyuki Kotani
Yoshiro Maeda
Source:
Fight Sport
|
PRIDE
NEWS
Sportsnavi reports that the DSE/PRIDE president Sakakibara will
be traveling to Brazil to finalize contracts with some fighters.
Japanese
media insiders are saying that Sakakibara will most likely meet
with Vanderlei Silva and make a big money offer to re-sign him.
On
the way back home, Sakakibara is also scheduled to stop in Las
Vegas to see UFC 51, and to to negotiate with some UFC fighters
about competing in the upcoming PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix.
Source:
Fight Sport
|
Taking
the ultimate fight to Hollywood
By Sean Moeller
The
following article was in the Quad Cities newspaper yesterday.
John
Herzfeld flew from his Santa Monica, Calif., home right into
the grip of an Iowa subzero wind chill factor for some inspiration.
In
the Quad-Cities for four days last week to research a film he’s
writing and directing about the professional sport of ultimate
fighting, Herzfeld watched a day of tough sparring. Then he sat
for an evening next to Jens Pulver, one of the world’s fiercest
lightweight mixed-martial arts fighters, in the lobby of Champions
Fitness Center in downtown Bettendorf.
.
Standing around in sweats, eating protein milkshakes and arguing
over whether they could get a plain chicken sandwich at Famous
Dave’s were the rest of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s
best: Tim Sylvia, Matt Hughes, Robbie Lawler, Justin Eilers and
one of the sport’s first stars, Quad-Citian Pat Miletich.
Filmmaker
John Herzfeld, left, films mixed-martial arts fighters Pat Miletich,
center, and world champion Matt Hughes at the Champion Fitness
Center in Bettendorf. Herzfeld is studying the fighters for a
film his is writing.
.
Layered in UFC and Miletich Fighting Systems T-shirts, untucked
and hanging halfway down his thighs, Herzfeld was fidgety with
the jolt he got from experiencing the grueling workouts firsthand.
.
“This is the best of the best, as I’ve been told,”
he said, when asked why he chose Team Miletich as the subjects
for his as-yet-unwritten-and-unnamed movie project. “I have
never, ever seen conditioning and workouts as I’ve seen
this week. It’s mind-blowing. These guys live in inherent
drama. I feel exhausted just having watched them.
.
“I’m putting some serious dough on guys coming from
here.”
.
Herzfeld is no amateur filmmaker. He directed Robert De Niro
and Edward Burns in the 2001 movie “15 Minutes,” won
a number of awards with the HBO film “Don King: Only in
America” and wrote and directed the cultish drama “2
Days in the Valley.”
.
While here, he endured various workouts with the fighters, tagged
along with them when they weren’t at the gym and probed
deep into their personal lives so he can better pen his screenplay.
He circled the middle of the mat with a handheld video camera,
recording every movement, comment and bloody nose. In all, he
received a candid look inside at the fighters’ motivations
and machinations.
.
“I’ve been asking them, ‘Why do you do this?’
‘Could there be a tougher way to make a living?’ ‘Could
you put anything more on the line?’ You have to have a reservoir
in you. In this case, it’s full of rage and wanting to beat
the (crap) out of somebody. Where they strike back is in fighting.
They become driven to be the best in the sport,” Herzfeld
said.
.
Miletich and Pulver agreed that the short visit never felt like
an intrusion.
.
“I think he got a pleasant shock. I think he’s impressed
with our guys,” Miletich said. “He hung out with us
from the time we woke up to the time we went to bed. He wanted
to see what our lives are like. He wanted to hear about the tough
times we had on our way to the top. He heard about the miseries
and the good times we had.”
.
“He was real cool,” Pulver added. “It wasn’t
a problem at all. He was just one of the guys. We all would get
together and almost reminisce with each other, which we don’t
do too much. It was actually kind of nice.”
.
The movie is being written for actor Mark Wahlberg, a good friend
of Herzfeld’s who also happens to be a fan of the UFC. He’s
hoping to spend three months after the Feb. 5 UFC 51 event in
Las Vegas, which he’ll attend as the final bit of legwork,
writing the script. He plans to begin filming by the end of summer.
His goal is to depict the fighters and the sport as it is, not
how it’s been perceived by a disillusioned public.
.
“This is a sport for highly trained athletes. It’s
not just a bloodsport and it’s not just human cockfighting,
as it’s been referred to,” he said. “There are
many inspiring films made about sports, but in 99 percent of
them, the audience already knows the sport. I’ve got to
educate and illuminate as I entertain them. Most people still
think it’s ‘That thing, that thing, that gruesome sport.’
I’ve got to make it clear what this sport’s all about.
.
“And it’s got to be accessible to women, girlfriends,
adults and children. It must do that. Otherwise it will be just
another Jean-Claude Van Damme movie. I’m not putting him
down, but there’s a limited audience for that.”
.
Herzfeld foresees using many of the fighters he got to know last
week when the cameras begin to roll.
.
“Without a shadow of a doubt,” he said. “Some
might not even be fighters in the movie. Strange enough, I could
see Pat or Matt playing trainers.”
.
He’s already given Miletich a verbal commitment.
.
“I’d love to be a part of this,” Miletich said.
“He told me I’d at least have a speaking part in the
movie, which is nice. As far as any of the other guys, he didn’t
say. And I didn’t pry.”
.
Sean Moeller can be contacted at (563) 383-2288 or at smoeller@qctimes.com.
.
WHAT IT IS
.
MMA, or mixed-martial arts, is a sport in which competitors use
interdisciplinary forms of fighting that include Jiu-Jitsu, Judo,
kickboxing, boxing, karate, wrestling and other forms to their
strategic and tactical advantage in a supervised match. The
.
Ultimate Fighting Championship, or UFC, is the leading body of
the sport who he is John Herzfeld is a writer/director/ producer
who is best known for his work in television. Among his more
notable projects:
.
• “Dr. Vegas” — writer/director/
.
producer
.
• “15 Minutes” — writer/director/
.
producer
.
• “Casualties of Love: The Long Island Lolita Story”
— director/
.
producer
.
• “The Ryan White Story” — director
.
• “The Paper Chase” — director
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
Quote
of the Day
"Teachers open the door but you must walk through it yourself."
Chinese Proverb
|
Super Brawl
& Steinlager Present:
FULL
CONTACT SHOWDOWN #1
TONIGHT
Kahuna's Sports Bar & Grill Ballroom
Kaneohe MCBH
Today!
Friday, January 28, 2005
7 pm Doors Open 8 pm First Bell
$20 Military / $25 Non-Military
Kolo Koka vs. Candido Estrada (SoCal)
Steve Byrne (Hawaii Marine) vs Ray Lizama
6-7 other fights
Non-Military
wanting to attend should call 375-1645 or email superbrawl21@yahoo.com (Patrick) in advance
for getting on base.
Military will be opening the gate to general public, but are
hoping to have a controlled list as back-up if thousands of fans
show up.
Weigh-in / Press Conference 6:30pm @ Windward Mall on Thursday,
January 27, 2005.
Source: Promoter
|
Pride
29 - Fists of Fire
Date : February 20 2005
Place: Saitama Super Arena
DSE/PRIDE
announced five match ups for PRIDE 29:
Mirko
Cro Cop vs. Mark Coleman
(Croatia/Team Cro Cop) (USA/Hammer House)
Quinton
"Rampage" Jackson vs. Murilo Ninja
(USA / Team Oyama) (Brazil /Chute Boxe Academy)
Alistair
Overeem vs. Rogerio 'Minotoro' Nogueira
(Holland/Golden Glory) (Brazil/Brazilian Top Team)
Igor
Vovchanchyn vs. Yoshiki Takahashi
(Ukraine/PMMA) (Japan/Pancrase Ism)
Choi
Mu Bae vs. Sergei Kharitonov
(CMA-KPW KOREA) (Russia/Russian Top Team)
Fighters
to appear:
Ryan
Gracie
Kazuhiro Nakamura
Hirotaka Yokoi
Mauricio Shogun
Source:
Koichi Kawasaki
|
BRAZILIAN
INSIDER:
VITOR LOOKS UNSTOPPABLE IN SPARRING
By Ricardo Alonso
Hello
my friends, here is the inside news from Brazil:
I
have heard from a very reliable source that Vitor Belfort has
been running through all his sparring partners (including Ricardo
Arona, Mario Sperry, Murilo Bustamante, and even Rodrigo 'Minotauro'
Nogueira) in the BTT sparring sessions in preparation for his
upcoming fight against Tito Ortiz.
He
is more focused then he's ever been and he's very angry at Tito
right now for all the shit talk and a comment he supposedly made
about Vitor's family problems just last month.
A
famous sports psychologist/anger specialist, Dr. Jacob Pinheiro
(who used to work with Brazilian car racing legend Ayrton Senna),
has been helping Belfort to focus all the anger and rage he has
regarding his sister's tragedy and Tito's comments into his performance
against Tito.
This
source says that Vitor is coming to destroy Tito without mercy
and will look to knock him out or submit him at every opportunity.
According
to this source, the last time Vitor really disliked an opponent
was against 'Tank' Abbott, Vanderleli Silva, Gilbert Yvel, and
Marvin Eastman. But they have never seen him dislike an opponent
as much as Tito Ortiz. In my opinion, this is very bad news for
Ortiz.
Source:
Fight Sport
|
"THE
DIESEL" READY FOR UFC 51
The "Diesel," Joe Riggs will take on David Loiseau
in just over a week at UFC 51. Riggs is on an eight fight win
streak and is looking to extend it to nine. Riggs spoke with
MMAWeekly SoundOff Radio about the fight, his opponent and who
he'd like to fight next. 18 fighters in 18 days continues with
Joe Riggs.
David
Loiseau has put together a couple of nice wins since losing back
to back fights to Jorge Rivera and Jeremy Horn. When asked about
Loiseau, Riggs said, "He's a tough guy." Joe added,
"He doesn't seem like a hard-nose guy. That's going to cause
him some problems. It's going to be his demise in the end."
Riggs
said he doesn't really know what to expect in this fight. He
commented, "I don't even know what he's going to do. I think
he's going to stand up, but his last couple of fights he choose
to try and take the guy down. I mean, it's Mixed Martial Arts.
We could be standing there throwing leather, or you know, I could
end up putting elbows to his face again. I don't know. I have
no idea." Joe may not have an idea about how the fight will
play out, but he was confident he would be the winner. He predicted,
"It will probably be over in the first round. I'll beat
him in the first round." When questioned what the mode of
victory will be, Joe replied, "KO or TKO."
The
185lb. division has become stacked with talent and viable contenders.
The belt is back up for grabs between Evan Tanner and David Terrell.
Discussing who the best fighter is at 185, Riggs commented, "I
think there are a cluster of guys. I think I'm in the top of
the heap though. You've got guys like Tanner, Terrell, Lindland,
myself. I mean, it's hard to pick. You probably can't make that
call until after February 5th....You're going to find out if
David Terrell is the real deal or not. You're going to find out
if Evan Tanner is back. It's going to be an interesting weekend."
Not
looking past David Loiseau, Riggs feels if he beats Loiseau that
he should be in line for a title shot against the winner of the
Tanner and Terrell bout. He only mentioned two names when questioned
who deserves a shot at the title next. He stated, "Me or
Franklin."
The
"Diesel" has a short list of guys he wants to fight.
A very short list. One name in fact; Lee Murray. "I still
want to fight Lee Murray. I want to fight that guy. I would love
to fight Lee Murray. I'd love to fight that guy. Wouldn't that
be fun? You guys would laugh your asses off how bad I'd embarrass
him." Commented Riggs.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
Check
out what's in the current issue of FCF ...
Kick-Off:
A UFC 51 Super Saturday Preview.
Pride
Shockwave crowns their undisputed heavyweight champ in New Year's
action and the "Axe Murderer" takes a loss!
K-1
Dynamite: Royce Gracie takes out 484 lb Sumo champion.
2004:
The Year in Review.
We
announce the FCF 2004 Fighter of the Year.
Fans
and some of our reporters also discuss who they'd choose for
fighter of the year.
Lone
Wolf: Evan Tanner talks about his choice to leave Team Quest
as he tackles his title shot alone.
Stepping
up for a Fight: MMA Fighters in the fight of their lives over
in Iraq.
The
Brazilian Beat The latest on Vitor, Wanderlei, Minotauro, Brazilian
Challenger and much more!
Shooto
2004 Year End Show: Rumina on a winning streak, Kawajiri takes
out Shaolin.
A
Shark in Shallow Waters: Sean Sherk destroying everything and
everyone in front of him, but just can't seem to get back into
the big show. Find out what's going on with the "Muscle
Shark."
ADCC
Brazilian Trial: Roger Gracie's star continues to rise.
SuperBrawl
38: Sylvia finally has his day with Sims.
Mass
Destruction 18 .
Rumble
in the Ring 10 .
Martial
Law keeps MMA alive in the Big Apple.
August
Wallen interview: meet the Nordic MMA mastermind.
Rich
Clementi BioFile.
Fight
fans Pride Shockwave and the upcoming UFC 51.
In
our monthly columns...
In
Matt Hume's techniques, Tony Sablan & Frank Colcher demonstrate
a Cross-body Kimura/Chicken-wing Grip.
In
the Punchers Corner, champion kickboxer Derek Panza discusses
Converting Sparring to Fighting.
Former
AMC Pankration strength & conditioning coach Mark Ginther
discusses Training, Diet and ... BLOOD TYPE?!.
Every
issue of Full Contact Fighter is jam-packed with fight news from
the U.S. to Brazil to Japan. FCF travels the globe to bring the
fights to you. Get yours today! Available at Tower Records stores
around the world or by subscription...
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FASTEST service call in your credit card order
(516)676-0033
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Source:
FCF
|
GROSSMAN
INSIDER:
'THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER' RATINGS FROM SPIKE TV
By Josh Grossman
Spike TV insiders e-mailed me with the following information:
The
second telecast of 'The Ultimate Fighter' kept its momentum,
beating projections across the board.
The
telecast showed significant growth among the male viewers aged
18-34, male viewers aged 18-49, and male viewers aged 25-54.
Highest gains versus projections were male viewers aged 18-24
(+30%), male viewers aged 21-34 (+32%), people aged 18-49 (+30%),
and people aged 21-34 (+44%).
The
second telecast delivered 1,201(000s) among households, garnered
a 1.36 HH rating, and had an average audience of 1,688.000 viewers.
In Spike's main demos, Ultimate Fighter delivered a 468(000s)
among male viewers aged 18-34, a 802 among male viewers aged
18-49, a 706 among people aged 18-34, and a 1,193 among people
aged 18-49.
The
21an-up audience composition remained at 81% and had a Male/Female
skew of 68/32.
Source:
Fight Sport
|
The
Savage Truth: MMA Media—Friend or Foe?
by Greg Savage
When
I think about reasons why mixed martial arts has failed to realize
the optimistic goals many fans and pundits placed at the feet
of their anointed saviors—the Fertitta brothers and Dana
White—after their purchase of the UFC early in 2001, I think
of several things.
I
think of things like running over the allotted time and cutting
off the main event of the UFC’s first show after returning
to the pay-per-view arena; seeing champions bolt the organization,
leaving their belts (oops, “trophies”) behind along
with a tarnished championship lineage; and I think of MMA’s
smaller promoters who disregarded the long-term success of the
sport in order to carve out their own little fiefdoms and a larger
piece of a much smaller pie.
So
you could imagine my reaction when my jackass buddy from the
UFC told me that the MMA media is holding the sport back. I was
pretty shocked to say the least. Knowing the ins and outs of
the scene I figured it was common knowledge that MMA press corps
could not hold back a charging Chihuahua much less the entire
sport of mixed martial arts.
Then
I started thinking about all of the crazy things I have seen
involving the ever changing but always growing MMA press corps
during my six years covering the sport.
I
have seen many so-called journalists openly cheer for fighters,
while others have even dared to shout instructions to fighters
in the cage. I have even seen a “journalist” in tears
at the sight of his favorite fighter lying unconscious on the
canvas.
The
worst thing about it is I am not even shocked anymore by the
way some of these people act.
The
best part is when someone calls them on it. You get the responses
like “What am I supposed to do? He is my friend.” Which
in turn begs the question: How in the hell are we supposed to
believe anything you say is unfettered due to personal bias?
Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t think it’s possible.
Another
pet peeve of mine is these people who straddle an ethical line
by trying to cover the sport while working for a promoter. Can
anyone tell me how someone can be taken seriously when they are
expected to provide an objective view of their employer’s
event? Ding, ding, ding … that’s right, they can’t.
Yet
another bone I have to pick is with writers who just refuse to
be critical of anyone or anything. These types usually fall back
on the trusty “Support the Sport” standard—and
no I am not talking about MMAWeekly.com’s Ken Pishna—without
realizing that they would be doing a much bigger service by pointing
out things that should be changed, rather than being a worthless
“apple polisher.”
Now
don’t get me wrong, Sherdog.com is no bastion of perfection
in the otherwise screwed up world of MMA reporting. But we do
try our best to provide our readers with an unbiased account
of events we cover as well as clear, concise—albeit sometimes
wrong—opinions about the happenings surrounding the sport
we all want to see reach its full potential, whatever that is.
We
have brought in my boy Josh Gross to shore up the editorial content
and try to bring a semblance of professionalism to an enterprise
littered with hucksters and profiteers.
It
will be a long journey, not only for the sport but also for those
covering it, before we reach a level of respectability—if
we ever make it at all. In the meantime, it’s a good thing
we have the loyal opposition over at MMA forums including the
much maligned Fightsport.com—at least the guys have an original
thought—to provide an equally amateurish, yet completely
valid place for people to vent their unpopular opinions.
Now
with all that said, I find myself looking back and still wondering
how anyone at Zuffa could believe that the MMA media, with its
limited reach and often homer attitude towards the sport, could
be the reason mixed martial arts has not taken off and burst
into the mainstream of North American sporting events.
I
tend to think it is the nature of the sport itself that limits
its potential, but what do I know? I could be setting the sport
back another five years with this column.
Source:
Sherdog
|
BRIGGS
FINED USD$2 MILLION FOR STREET FIGHT
Former Boxing champion Shannon Briggs has been ordered by a court
to pay USD$2 million to a former University of Miami football
player he punched out during a barroom incident.
Here
is the story that was reported by the Associated Press:
MIAMI
- Former heavyweight boxer Shannon Briggs was ordered to pay
$2 million to former University of Miami lineman Brian Stinson
for breaking his eye socket during a nightclub fight in 2001.
Jurors
on Friday sided with Stinson, who said his football career was
cut short because of the injuries.
"This
was not a fight," said Stinson's lawyer, Ken Padowitz. "This
was a brutal beating."
A
doctor testified that Stinson has limited vision in his left
eye. The player was forced to miss scouting camps and now works
as a counselor at a university in Washington.
Briggs
said he would appeal.
"I
am a big target and people think I have big pockets," he
said. "It was a football party and I was a boxer. I shouldn't
have been there."
Stinson,
27, testified that he began chatting with an unidentified woman
at the bar after he arrived with a group of Hurricane players.
He said Briggs berated her and then cursed him, shoving him through
a door into an alley. Stinson said when he tried to return, Briggs
punched him.
"All
I could see were fists, and it was awful," he testified.
The
33-year-old Briggs countered that he was leaving the club when
a woman called his name. He tried talking to her but was rebuffed
by Stinson and Miami defensive end Quincy Hipps. After some shoving,
bouncers tossed Stinson into the alley. Briggs said Stinson returned
and tried to tackle him.
Briggs
has 25 first-round knockouts during a 12-year boxing career.
He earned a 12-round majority decision over two-time heavyweight
champ George Foreman in 1997, causing Foreman to retire at the
time. The next year, Briggs was stopped in the fifth round by
Lennox Lewis.
Source:
Fight Sport
|
HALLMAN
THE LATEST TO JOIN AMERICAN TOP TEAM
Dennis “Superman” Hallman has been one of the most
consistent fighters in the MMA world. Having competed in the
sport now for eight years, there’s little if anything Hallman
hasn’t seen in his time in the sport. Recently Dennis joined
forces with the American Top Team in their expansion into the
northwest with the opening of their new school in Olympia, Washington.
MMAWeekly’s Mick Hammond caught up with Hallman to discuss
his involvement with the ATT and the activities of his Victory
Athletics fight team.
Hallman,
a longtime member of Victory Athletics, has joined the ATT on
a full time basis as an instructor at the school and will fight
under the banner of both teams as he explained, “I’m
part of the ATT now, but I’m still VA. I’m teaching
at the ATT school, but I’ll also be fighting for them. All
my guys are going to be ATT also.”
Currently
there are around 30 members of Victory Athletics including Benji
“Razor” Radach, Justin Davis and Brad Blackburn. According
to Hallman, “The original guys will still carry the VA flag,
but any new guys who join the team will be part of the ATT.”
Due
to his hectic training and teaching schedule it could be a while
before we see Hallman back in the ring fighting, “I don’t
know when I’ll fight next. I’ve got nothing scheduled,
I’ve always been teaching my guys and now we have a big
facility to work at and set up.”
Hallman
is very optimistic about his participation in the ATT’s
new facility and how things have been progressing so far, “It’s
a great facility, we are working on getting people signed up.
I’ve got all my guys from VA in fight training so it’s
packed already, the regular classes we are now looking at to
grow.”
While
Hallman’s schedule is keeping him from fighting, VA teammate
Benji Radach is eager to get back into the ring for the first
time since suffering a broken jaw at the hands of Chris Leben
last June in Sportfight. According to Hallman, “March or
April is when it looks like he’ll be fighting again. He’s
getting back in training slowly, I think his jaw is ready to
go, but we don’t want to jump the gun. We talked about March
or April and it sounds good to him.”
Along
with Radach, Brad Blackburn is looking to rebound off a loss
at Sportfight as he prepares for his upcoming fight against Jay
Jack in Ring of Fire 15 on February 12th in Colorado. “He’s
doing great, “ said Hallman, “He was just rolling with
(Jeff) Monson and Fabiano (ATT Olympia’s lead BJJ instructor).
He needs to be able to rehydrate better; he didn’t do that
in his last fight (against Brendan Melendez in January’s
Sportfight). After his fight he was bone dry. We had a show here
and then he went down to Oregon for the weigh-ins, cutting weight,
and didn’t do the right thing with his body to get fluids
back after he weighed in. We didn’t have someone down there
with him, we should have.”
Not
only is Hallman busy with his own team but he’s also been
working with Evan Tanner as he prepares for his upcoming fight
against David Terrell at UFC 51. “He’s coming down
tonight, “ commented Hallman, “Benji rolled with him
and I did last Thursday. He’s going to train here this week
before he goes (down to Vegas).”
Hallman
finished out the conversation by commenting on the immediate
upcoming activities of himself and the ATT, “Benji is going
to corner Evan and I might go if I can get a sponsor to pay for
it. I’ll be going down to Florida soon and I’ll be
out in Colorado with Brad on the 12th. We’re going to have
fights here for our big Grand Opening on March 12th. We had a
smaller show here for our opening in January, but this one is
going to be a decent sized one at the gym.”
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
Quote
of the Day
"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good
egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked."
Bernard Meltzer, American Law Professor
|
Jhun
vs Shields?
Onzuka.com Exclusive
A
fight between UFC veteran and Shooto World number 6 ranked Ron
"The Machine Gun" Jhun and former Shooto Champ and
Cesar Gracie standout Jake Shields is being proposed for sometime
around April of this year.
Jhun impressively proved why he is number 6 in the world by beating
a game Shigetoshi Iwase (ranked number 8) of Japan this past
Saturday at Punishment in Paradise. The Machine Gun has his eyes
set for the World Championship at the year end show, but he needs
to prove to the Shooto Commission that he should be first in
line as the champion looks to defend his title. Jhun is focused
mentally, spiritually, and physically which showed in his last
solid performance. The Machine Gun is fully loaded!
A possible way to jump to the number one ranking is to beat the
current number one ranked fighter and former champ Jake Shields.
Cesar Gracie seems receptive to the fight that is proposed to
be held here in Hawaii and is said to have indicated that Shields
loves to fight in Hawaii. Shields won the title in an exciting
fight with Ron's brother-in-law Ray "Bradda" Cooper
who may be fighting at 155 lbs for the first time in his career
on March 25 at the Blaisdell Hawaii Suite in a Pro/Am card.
Onzuka.com
will keep you informed if this fight and Bradda's fight becomes
a done deal.
These
should be barn burners! |
***For
Immediate Release***
Rumble
on the Rock 6 Premieres on Pay Per View
The
mixed martial arts mega-fight card that pitted superstars B.J.
Penn (9-1-1) and Rodrigo Gracie (5-1) against one another at
Honolulu, Hawaii's Blaisdell Arena will premiere on iNDemand
and TVN
Pay Per View television on Saturday, February 19th at 9 PM Eastern
Standard Time (6 PM Pacific Standard Time.) Presented by the
newly formed K-1 Fighting Network, the event also saw a return
to mixed martial arts action by 2003 K-1 USA champion Carter
Williams (37-9) as well as Royler Gracie (4-2-1).
Arguably
the top pound for pound competitor in the sport of mixed martial
arts, Penn achieved what most dismissed as the impossible by
climbing from The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)'s 154
pound limit weight division to its 168 pound limit class and
easily defeating reigning champion Matt Hughes by way of rear
naked choke to claim the latter's 168-pound limit title on January
31st. Following the magnificent win over Hughes in the octagon,
the 25-year-old Hawaiian successfully showcased his skills in
Japan where he secured a victory over world Muay Thai champion
and mixed martial arts contender, Duane Ludwig, by way of arm
triangle choke during K-1's inaugural mixed martial arts event
on May 22, 2004.
One
of seven brothers who boast the heritage of martial arts fighting's
most decorated family name, Rodrigo has continued a tradition
of excellence pioneered by his elder siblings during his
first five mixed martial arts starts. A winner of four consecutive
matchups in Japan, the 29-year-old earned his greatest victory
to date on February 15th of last year when he gained a unanimous
judges decision over heralded contender, Hayato Sakurai.
In
other Rumble on The Rock 6 action that will air during the Pay
Per View broadcast, Williams made his fourth career start under
mixed martial arts rules opposite Tom "Green Beret"
Howard (0-3) while another esteemed member of the famed Gracie
clan, Royler, faced Kazuyuki Miyata (7-2-4). Fans will also be
able to see the returns of UFC heavyweight veterans Wesley "Cabbage"
Correira (13-7) and 6 foot 9 inch Wes "The Project"
Sims (5-6).
Rumble
on the Rock 6 can be purchased on iNDemand and TVN for a price
of $19.95.
Rumble
on the Rock is a Hawaii-based mixed martial arts fight promotion
that was launched by Prodigy Productions two years ago. Recently,
Prodigy Productions partnered with K-1 Fighting Network, a division
of the Japan-based K-1 Corporation, to bring mixed martial arts
sporting events to a growing fanbase.
Source: Mike Afromowitz
|
Catching
Up With The World’s Most Dangerous Man – An Interview
with UFC Living Legend Ken Shamrock
Part 1 by Benny Henderson Jr.
You can say what you want to say about Ken Shamrock, but you
can never question his heart, hard work, determination or his
ability - just ask his past opponents and his crew at the Lion’s
Den.
The
“World’s Most Dangerous Man” has fought in Pancrase,
battled it out in UFC, pounded his opponents in PRIDE and has
even pinned Triple H in the WWF/E, and at the ripe young age
of forty this living legend is showing no signs of wanting to
call a halt to his spectacular career.
Shamrock
has also been involved in some the most unforgettable matches
in mixed martial arts history, such as rivalries, rematches and
Pay Per View blockbusters with the likes of Royce Gracie, Dan
Severn, Kimo Leopoldo, and Tito Ortiz.
Which
leads us to the current question making the rounds through MMA
circles - will there be a Shamrock-Ortiz II? At this point nobody
knows, but one thing is for sure - Ken wants revenge and he knows
that a rematch would be one of the biggest PPV events in the
history of the UFC and he is willing to call Tito out for the
fight.
In
2002, the two stepped in the octagon and faced off in UFC 40,
where Shamrock lost in round three (Submission due to fatigue).
Yet after two surgeries and a two year layoff, Shamrock returned
to the steel cage to take on Kimo at UFC 48, and with a hard
knee to the head that produced a knockout at 1:28 of the first
round, Shamrock was back and he captured his first UFC win since
the two met eight years earlier at UFC 8.
Needless
to say, the dangerous one wants another face off against the
Huntington Beach Bad Boy. After a big trash-talking episode at
the UFC 48 press conference between the two it appears that the
war of words at this point will be the only action between the
two. Will it manifest into a big time throwdown for all the fans
to witness? Once again, nobody knows at this point. But hey,
after Ken’s years in the business he knows to take the lows
with the highs and just keep on moving on and that is just what
he will do if the rematch doesn’t materialize. Ken is a
killer in the octagon and a gentle family man at home, and the
hall of famer took the time out for Max Fighting to discuss his
thoughts on Tito Ortiz and a possible rematch, along with his
views on his accomplishments and most memorable moments throughout
his career.
Benny
Henderson Jr. - Hey Ken, how have things been going for you?
Ken
Shamrock – Well, so far everything is going great. I had
knee surgery and I recovered from that back in November and I
had shoulder surgery in August and I recovered from that, so
I am back strong again and looking forward to trying to get a
fight in April.
BH
- There has been a lot of talk about you and Tito Ortiz; what
exactly is the bad blood between you and Tito Ortiz?
KS
- Well it really started back in the day when he fought Guy Mezger
and he wore a shirt out that said “Gay Mezger is my bitch”
and that kind of irritated me, and we have been jawing back and
forth for a long period of time. And then we got into the ring
and we fought and he beat me, so I accepted the fact he beat
me, no problem. But that is Tito, he keeps jawing his mouth.
Even after he beat me, and I never said I had to take it because
he beat me, but then he came back after I fought Kimo and in
the middle of the press conference challenged me to a fight.
He said that he would like to fight me next and of course I got
upset and I accepted the fight. So now that the fight is being
put together, all of a sudden Tito Ortiz wants to take some time
out. I am a little bit upset at the fact that he stood up and
opened his mouth and now he is not going to back it.
BH
- You just recently called Tito Ortiz out, and pretty much just
blasted him in saying that you were punking him out and so on.
Are you doing your best to piss him off with your statements
so he will get mad and fight you?
KS
- Well yeah. I mean when I heard that he wasn’t going to
take the fight, that made me angry because he is the one who
actually challenged me. I’ve always wanted to fight him
and there was supposed to be a rematch with him after the first
fight and it never happened. I kept asking Dana when it was going
to happen because that was the fight that I wanted but it was
never the right time so I had to fight Kimo, and I beat Kimo
very handily. And I still wanted that fight; instead he gave
it to Vitor Belfort, which is fine. But now that Dana said put
this fight on after the Belfort fight, they refused to take the
fight and it wasn’t the fact that they just refused to not
take the fight because Tito just wanted to take a vacation or
something; they refused to take the fight, saying that it did
nothing for his career, it did nothing for him to fight me and
it does everything for me to fight him, and that is absolutely
ridiculous for them to make that statement. I have been around
this business for a long time and I have had some of the biggest
fights in the UFC and I know that rivalry is what builds stars.
And this is a rivalry, this is a rematch and rematches build
champions; they build stars. This is a rematch and I have made
this comment many times before - you know Muhammad Ali got beat
by Joe Frazier; does that make Ali a weaker fighter? Maybe that
day. But he came back and beat Frazier twice after that. So for
them to make that comment and put me down just because he beat
me one time and say that a rematch doesn’t do anything for
him, where did they get to make that comment? I have been in
this thing for a long time and I have fought everybody and I
have been in it since the very first one and for them to make
a comment like that is totally ridiculous and it pissed me off
for them to say that and thinking that Tito Ortiz is bigger than
the event. Tito Ortiz is not that popular.
BH
- How big do you think a Shamrock-Ortiz II would be for you the
fighters and the UFC?
KS
- I think it will be huge. I think it will be the biggest Pay
Per View since the first time we fought, and the first time we
fought it drew big numbers. There’s one thing you can always
look at - Gracie and Shamrock, Severn and Shamrock, Kimo and
Shamrock, and Ortiz and Shamrock, those matches have drawn the
biggest PPV rates in UFC history. It is on paper, it is a fact;
what is the common denominator in all those fights? Ken Shamrock.
I am not saying that I am better than Tito Ortiz. I’m not
saying that I am more popular than Tito Ortiz. I’m not making
any claims to that, but I am stating a fact.
BH
- Let’s say if there is a chance for a Shamrock-Ortiz II.
How much different do you think this fight will go?
KS
– Well, you know talk is cheap. I can sit here and tell
you what I am going to do, I can sit here and do this and do
that, but talk is cheap. I like to step in the ring and put it
on him, but obviously that is not going to happen because they
are not going to take the fight. It would be different if they
said, ‘listen Tito Ortiz is burned out right now and his
confidence is down and he doesn’t feel like stepping in
the ring after this fight and he needs to take some time off.’
Then I would back off; I got no problem with that. But don’t
use me as a cop out. If they are not going to fight me because
they want to take time off or time out or because he wants to
go do something else, then say that, but don’t say that
it isn’t good for Tito Ortiz and it does everything for
Ken Shamrock and I don’t know what this does for us. Well
listen, the fight Tito and I had produced the biggest numbers
since ZUFFA took over and it will be different this time; it
will probably draw bigger numbers. Does it do anything for Tito
Ortiz? Yes. Does it do anything for Ken Shamrock? Yes. So the
fight makes sense but do they want to take it and for what reason
do they not want to take it? It’s not because it wouldn’t
do anything for them, which they are claiming, and that is totally
bogus.
BH
- What is a regular day in the life for Ken Shamrock?
KS
- Well it is usually like this morning. This morning I got up
at five in the morning and went and worked out 5:30 to 6:30,
I did some drills and training with some resistance, cardio,
and then I usually get home around 7:15. I get home and I make
my kids breakfast and then I take them to school; my wife and
me shuttle them. (Laughs) Once we get the kids to school we go
and have breakfast and go out and then the kids get home about
two o’clock so we take care of the kids and the homework
and we drive them to sports, to learning centers, to church,
to whatever, you name it.
BH
- Out of your thirty-five fights which is most memorable?
KS
- I would have to say the first Super Fight Championship when
I beat Severn; that was definitely a highlight. Royce Gracie,
when we fought for the second time and they carried him out of
the ring. I would have to say Tito Ortiz, even though I got beat
in that fight, I think that was a memorable moment because that
was the first time I actually really ever lost a fight and the
way the fans reacted towards me after the fight was a highlight
for me, just for the fact that it didn’t change from the
time I walked in to the time I walked out. Even though I got
beat, the fans were still sticking their hands out and yelling
at me and saying, ‘hey, it’s all right man, we still
love you.’ You know I think those are some special times,
all were special moments.
BH
- Your stint with the WWF how do you think it affected your career?
KS
- I would say that I have taken a couple of steps back because
being on the road with the WWF takes a lot way from your training;
it is a different type of atmosphere and different world. So
when I decided to get back into fighting I was definitely a few
years behind and it took me a while to catch up. But all and
all I would have to say that the WWF was very interesting and
fun, but at the same time I learned a lot about life.
BH
- Ok, very important question Ken. Is professional wrestling
Fake? (Laughs)
KS
- (Laughs) I can’t answer that or I’d have to kill
you.
BH
- (Laughing) Well, ok then, don’t worry about it.
BH
– I’ve got to say one more thing about the WWF. Man,
I beat you so many times in the WWF game. (Laughs) Well, you
did get me a few times with that leg lock submission but for
the most part I got ya.
KS
- (Laughs) Ah, you the champ man.
BH
– Shoot, it would be the only damn way I could beat you.
(We both are laughing)
BH
- What will you do if you don’t get the Ortiz rematch?
KS
- I’ll move on. You know, I’ll find out what the next
thing is out there. Like I said, I don’t pick the fights.
I just fight what is in front of me. I’ve always said that
Tito Ortiz is the fight that I wanted and Dana is going to make
it happen, but now that Dana made it happen and did what he said
he was going to do for me, now Tito Ortiz won’t take it.
I will just have to let it go. He is not going to take the fight,
obviously he is giving different excuses not to fight for whatever
reasons they are, I don’t know, because obviously he isn’t
being honest and whatever they are saying is bull crap. It doesn’t
do anything for him and it does everything for me? That is just
some trash talk right there it doesn’t make any sense. If
he doesn’t take the fight then I will let it go and fight
whoever they put out in front of me.
BH
- With all your accomplishments throughout your career, which
are you most proud of?
KS
- There are a lot of them. I think just being able to capture
the UFC title was a big thing for me and then being able to get
to where I am at right now, I think that is probably the biggest
accomplishment. Through my whole career I have overcome some
obstacles and have gotten in the place where I need to be now.
And I don’t believe there are too many people that could
have gone through what I have gone through. Now, I have put myself
in a lot of those positions and I was put in a lot of those positions.
I don’t think that there are many human beings that would
be standing where I am right now if they have went through the
things I have gone through since I was ten years old to where
I am at right now.
Stay
tuned for part two of the interview with Ken Shamrock where he
will give his thoughts on his return, the Lion’s Den, his
future, and his legacy.
Source: Maxfighting
|
U.S.A.
Takes on the World: Horn and Edwards Lead American Charge for
February 26th Event
EUPHORIA Mixed Fighting Championship is proud to announce its
return to Atlantic City, New Jersey on February 26th with USA
vs the World, live from the Trump Taj Mahal Casino and Resort.
EUPHORIA has combed the globe for the best and brightest to grace
its ranks and bring fans its own blend of universal competition.
Representatives from Norway, Brazil, Mexico, Spain, Japan and
Canada have been enlisted to test an elite contingent of American
warriors for an 8-fight card of international action.
Returning
to EUPHORIA following impressive turns at its last event, UFC
veteran and Texan Thugjitsu master Yves Edwards meets Norwegian
scrapper and former SHOOTO champion Joachim Hansen in a departure
from the lightweight tournament format. “After careful consideration,
EUPHORIA has decided to concentrate on single bouts to build
its international stable of fighters,” says EUPHORIA matchmaker
Miguel Itturate of the change. “We feel this shift will
only strengthen future title bouts down the line.” Also
onboard, are EUPHORIA 2 victors Hermes Franca and Rich Clementi.
Brazilian Top Team fighter Franca could be the man to beat on
the ground, but will punishing striker Clementi allow it to even
get there?
In
light-heavyweight action, American classic Jeremy Horn makes
his EUPHORIA debut against KOTC veteran Keith Jardine. With over
100 fights under his belt, Horn has become an emblem for the
sport with his slick ground stylings, cool showmanship and uncanny
ability to always come out on top. Opponent Keith Jardine’s
star has been on the rise with a recent submission victory over
Red Devil Sports Club’s Arman Gambaryan in December’s
M-1 event. Does Jardine have what it takes to catch the uncatchable
Horn?
Rounding
out the EUPHORIA 3 card, a mix of returning favorites and established
newcomers put their countries’ pride on the line. From unflappable
rising heavyweight Travis Wiuff to Spain’s number one prospect
Daniel Tabera, EUPHORIA 3 promises to be like no other.
Don’t
miss out on the EUPHORIA experience. Tickets are available now
and can be purchased directly through the Taj Mahal Box Office
(609-449-5150) and through all Ticketmaster locations (1-800-736-1420
or www.ticketmaster.com). Visit www.euphoriamfc.com, the official
web site of the EUPHORIA experience, for the latest news and
updates.
Source: Maxfighting
|
Quote
of the Day
"Teachers open the door but you must walk through it yourself."
Chinese Proverb
|
MMA
and Kickboxing Calendar for 2005
MMA
and Kickboxing are exploding here in Hawaii and there are now
a lot of events where local talent have an opportunity to compete.
Start marking down your calendar and make plans to support these
events and the event sponsors!
January
28, 2005 Full Contact Showdown -
Super Brawl Qualifier (Kahuna Sports Bar - Kaneohe Marine Corps
Base)
February 19th, 2005 Kickin' It (Kapolei H.S.)
March
5, 2005 Honolulu-Qualifier/Tentative
Rumble On The Rock – Proving Grounds 4
March 25, 2005 Shooto Hawaii: PRO/AM Card (Blaisdell Hawaii Suites)
March
26, 2005 Maui –Lahaina Civic/Qualifier
Rumble On The Rock – Proving Grounds 5
April
2nd or 9th - Super Brawl (Blaisdell)
May
7, 2005 Honolulu/Blaisdell/ROTR 7
July
9, 2005 Hilo/Civic Center Qualifier
Rumble On The Rock – Proving Grounds 6
August
2005 Vegas/Tentative/ROTR 8
September
2005 Kauai Qualifer
Rumble On The Rock – Proving Grounds 7
October
2005 Maui/Lahaina Civic Center
Rumble On The Rock – Proving Grounds 8
November
19, 2005 Honolulu/Blaisdell/ROTR 9
December
10, 2005 Hilo Civic Center
Rumble On The Rock – Proving Grounds 9
|
KICKIN
IT IS BACK
WHAT: KICKIN IT 2005 (AMATEUR & SEMI-PRO KICKBOXING)
WHERE: KAPOLEI HIGH SCHOOL
WHEN: FEB. 19, 2005 (SATURDAY) 7:00P.M.
IF YOU MISSED THE LAST KICKIN IT WHICH WAS THE SEQUEL ,(CHAMPIONSHIP)
YOU MISSED OUT ON SOME OF THE BEST AMATEUR KICKBOXERS IN HAWAII
GOING TOE TO TOE WITH EACH OTHER.
THOSE WHO FOUGHT FOR TITLES SHOWED OFF SOME CRAZY SKILLS. ON
FEB. 19, 2005, KICKIN IT WILL START ANOTHER YEAR OF KICKBOXING.
FIGHTERS HAVE TILL THE END OF THE YEAR TO BUILD UP THEIR RECORDS
AND SKILLS TO POSSIBLY FIGHT FOR A BELT AT THE ENDING OF 2005.
ALL FIGHTERS MUST HAVE FOUGHT AT LEAST 4 TIMES ON THE KICKIN
IT CARDS TO QUALIFY TO FIGHT FOR A BELT. THOSE WHO DIDN'T FIGHT
FOR BELTS LAST YEAR BUT HAVE A FIGHTING RECORD ON THE KICKIN
IT CARDS WILL ADD ON TO THEIR RECORDS IF THEY COMPETE ON THE
KICKIN IT CARDS THIS YEAR. THOSE WHO HAVE FOUGHT FOR BELTS LAST
YEAR WILL HOLD THEIR SAME RECORD BUT WILL HAVE TO HAVE AT LEAST
4 FIGHTS ON THE KICKIN IT CARDS THIS YEAR TO QUALIFY TO FIGHT
FOR A BELT AT THE END OF 2005. THE FIGHTERS WITH THE 2 BEST RECORDS
FROM THEIR DIVISIONS WILL FACE OFF TO FIGHT FOR A BELT.
FIGHTERS WHO HAVE FOUGHT FOR MONEY WILL BE CONSIDERED SEMI-PRO
MEANING THEY WILL HAVE THE OPTION TO FIGHT WITHOUT A HEADGEAR
AND THEY WILL BE FIGHTING WITH 10 OZ. GLOVES AGAINST THEIR EQUAL.
SEMI-PRO FIGHTERS WILL NOT BE MATCHED UP AGAINST AMATEUR FIGHTERS
UNLESS AGREED UPON BOTH COACHES (NOT BOTH FIGHTERS).
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN ONE OF THE KICKIN IT
SHOWS, PLEASE E-MAIL BRIGHTJ001@HAWAII.RR.COM.
YOU WILL BE MATCHED AS EVENLY AS POSSIBLE FOR MISMATCHES ARE
VERY RARE ON THE KICKIN IT CARDS.E-MAIL YOUR NAME, WEIGHT, HEIGHT,
AGE, CLUB, AND EXPERIENCE. BE ON THE UP AND UP ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE
AND AGE.
THE FEB. 19TH CARD IS ALREADY FULL AND ALL WINNERS WILL WIN TROPHIES
INSTEAD OF JUST BRAGGING RIGHTS. THE NEXT KICKIN IT CARD WILL
PROBABLY BE IN EARLY MARCH FOR TEENAGERS (19 & UNDER) AT
THE SPORTS CARNIVAL IF WE CAN GET ENOUGH TEENAGERS.
Source: Promoter |
Posted
on: Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Girls get
in the ring
By Zenaida Serrano
Advertiser Staff Writer
Melvie
Cuestas had just taken a few punches to the face and knew there
would be more. As the 14-year-old braced herself, she could feel
her heart racing and tears welling up in her eyes.
Melvie Cuestas, 16, works out on a punching bag at a Kalihi gym.
The Farrington High School junior is among a growing number of
females who are stepping into the testosterone-driven sport.
Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser
Kakaako Boxing Club member Gina Ramos, 15, trains at a Kalihi
gym as one of her coaches, Bruce Kawano, watches. Gina, who has
been part of the club since she was 12, said she "started
off boxing boys because there weren't any girls to fight."
Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser
Despite all her protective gear — chest protector, mouth
piece and headgear — nothing could prepare the young Kalihi
boxer for those first real hits.
"She
was so good, so fast," said Melvie, now 16, remembering
her opponent and her first sparring session more than a year
ago at Kalakaua Recreation Center. "I felt so intimidated."
She
found herself wondering if she would land at least one good hit
and fearing that she might end up with a black eye. Would she
be able to last the first round?
The
Farrington High junior is among a growing number of females heeding
the call of boxing rings nationwide. The number of girls and
women registered with USA Boxing Inc., the governing body for
all amateur boxing in the United States, went from 572 in 1995
to 2,212 last year.
"Overall,
it has increased because of the exposure that (boxer) Laila Ali
has given, and Jacqui Frazier and Christy Martin," said
Ed Galapia, head coach of Kalakaua Boxing Club and one of Melvie's
coaches.
Boxing
officials may see another spike in women's membership with the
release of "Million Dollar Baby," a Clint Eastwood
flick that offers a glimpse into women's boxing — the good,
bad and ugly. The adult drama, to be released in Hawai'i theaters
Friday, stars Eastwood as Frankie Dunn, a hardened boxing trainer,
and Hilary Swank as Maggie Fitzgerald, a poor waitress who dreams
of establishing herself as a fighter.
Eastwood
and Swank won Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 16 for "Million
Dollar Baby" — Eastwood for best director and Swank
for best actress — and the film is being called a strong
Oscar contender. In the movie, Swank's character toughs it out
in a testosterone-driven sport.
GRAB
PHONE, LEARN TO JAB
Dozens of boxing clubs statewide train both men and women. For
the nearest club, call:
•
Ralph Martin, USA-Boxing Hawai'i president: 306-7654
•
Bruce Kawano, Hawai'i Junior Olympic chairman: 542-1181
But boxing isn't just for men anymore, said Bruce Kawano, Hawai'i
Junior Olympic chairman.
"People
think that boxing is about throwing punches and beating each
other up," said Kawano, a one-time professional fighter
who has been coaching boxers since 1994. "But they don't
realize that with boxing, a lot of it is about defense, technique
and strategy."
Kawano
also stressed the safety involved with amateur boxing, which
requires female fighters to use padded gloves, headgear and chest
protectors.
"So
it's safe," Kawano said. ... "If you hit somebody hard,
you hit them with four inches of padding — a couple inches
with the glove and a couple inches with the headgear."
Teen
in training
Kawano coaches for Kakaako Boxing Club and has worked with up-and-comer
Gina Ramos, 15, of Kalihi. Gina, who has been part of the club
since she was 12, was Melvie's first sparring opponent.
During
a recent training session at a Kalihi gym, Gina took to a punching
bag with unforgiving hooks and jabs. The Moanalua High sophomore
— at 5-feet-3 and 94 pounds — had on a pink tank top
and tousled ponytail that danced around with each blow to the
bag.
"Everybody
said that boxing was only for boys, and I wanted to prove them
wrong," said Gina, taking a break from her workout.
A
self-described tomboy, Gina grew up with two younger brothers,
one of whom was a boxer and introduced her to the sport when
she was 10. Gina has kept up with boxing because it keeps her
in shape and "it's really fun," she said.
"I
started off boxing boys because there weren't any girls to fight,"
Gina said in her soft, girlish voice. "I did good and surprised
everybody."
Over
the years, Gina constantly felt she had to prove herself, fighting
in a sport dominated by men and living in the shadow of her brother,
who had made a name for himself at local boxing tournaments.
Such challenges only made her stronger.
"I fought once when I had the flu," Gina said. ...
"I really wanted to fight, and I didn't care about how much
it hurt because I wanted to show everyone that I could do it."
When
preparing for specific fights, Gina can be found training nearly
every day after school, often two to three hours each time.
"She's
very disciplined," said Gina's father, Greg Ramos. He and
wife Amy Ramos, both 35, own a towing company.
Like
any typical local girl, Gina enjoys going to the beach with her
family. The aspiring clothing designer also likes to sing and
play the guitar, and is a member of her school's paintball, science
and photography clubs.
"But
she loves boxing and I'm proud of her," Greg Ramos said.
" She actually got started because my son needed a sparring
partner ... and she just got really good."
The
hard-hitting sport truly is one of Gina's first loves.
"Boxing
means a lot to me because it shows me that I can stand up for
myself and for what I believe in," she said.
Gina's
biggest fight was in 2003 at the National Labor Day Championships
in Kansas City, Mo.
She
lost by a split decision but came home with a silver medal, further
convincing her that she would take this sport "as far as
it can go," she said, possibly even making a career of it.
Until then, she looks forward to participating in the state Junior
Olympics in April.
"Gina
has a lot of potential," Kawano said. "She's a good
defensive boxer and she's got good footwork."
A
packed schedule
Melvie
has yet to experience her first official USA Boxing fight but
continues to train for Police Activities League bouts.
"This
is another way of relieving stress," said Melvie —
also a petite 5 feet tall and 99 pounds — during a recent
after-school workout. "A lot of teens nowadays, because
they have a lot of free time, they get into a lot of trouble.
(Boxing is) a way to get you out of trouble."
Melvie
fits training into a schedule that includes school and a part-time
job at a fast-food restaurant. She typically works out two to
three days a week after school and for at least two hours each
session at Kalakaua Recreation Center.
Other
favorite pastimes include shopping with friends and eating out
with family, said Melvie, who wants to go into psychiatry, childcare
or "anything that helps people."
Melvie's
dad, Victor Cuestas, 44, is a single father who holds two jobs.
His packed schedule means he has yet to see Melvie in action,
but he knows how much the sport means to her and supports her
endeavors.
"What
she loves, I love, too," said Cuestas, an immigrant from
the Philippines.
Melvie
enjoys boxing so much that she highly encourages other girls
to get into the sport.
"Men
aren't the only ones who have the ability or power to (do this),"
Melvie said. "Girls have it, too. They just have to believe."
In
fact, Melvie got her own sister, 13-year-old Mayleen, to join
Kalakaua Boxing Club in September. The Kalakaua Middle School
8th-grader said several of her friends also have joined, thanks
to her big sister.
"I
think she inspires a lot of girls," Mayleen said.
When
not in fight mode, Melvie is a playful teen, her eyes perfectly
made up with black liner and shimmery shadow. But once her gloves
are on, so is the game.
Wearing
a black tank top, gray camouflage shorts and Converse shoes,
Melvie worked a punching bag until she glistened with sweat.
She looked like a hardened fighter — a far cry from the
nervous newbie she described earlier.
"She's
earned every (amount of) respect that she has gotten so far,"
said Galapia, her coach.
He
praised Melvie for her physical and mental strength, as well
as her willingness to listen and work hard.
"Women
have always been exceptional in that they train as hard as men,
if not harder, just to be considered equal," Galapia said.
Melvie
has indeed come a long way from her first practice bout more
than a year ago — when fear and intimidation overpowered
her.
"I
didn't want to fight her again," Melvie remembered thinking
during the match.
But
after the first two-minute round, the girls would go at it one
more time. A little sore from hits to her eye and ribs, Melvie
hung tight, doing well for a beginner — punching, blocking
and moving like she had been trained to do. The fight ended with
no official winner or loser, but the feeling of accomplishment
was all that mattered to Melvie.
"I
didn't want to do it anymore," she recalled. "But then,
I guess it's in me to never give up."
Source: Honolulu Advertiser |
Pac-5
athlete followed her heart to success
By Leila Wai
Advertiser Staff Writer
University
High junior Desiree Memea is happy her father can watch her wrestling
matches, partly because he didn't want her to wrestle initially,
but mostly because he isn't even in Hawai'i.
Wrestler Desiree Memea holds a picture of her family, which includes
dad Mack, who is stationed in Bahrain.
Photots by Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser
"He can't yell at me now, because he has to watch from all
the way over there," she said.
Over
there is Bahrain in the Middle East, where her father, Mack Memea,
is a petty officer of the Navy. He watches videos of her matches
that are uploaded on the Internet by one of her coaches, Bryan
Sanders.
"Des
e-mailed an attachment of her final match which she won and what
a great feeling to see her progression from last year 'til now,"
Mack said in an e-mail. "Whatever chance I get I would call
back to see how she did and ask her what she could have done
to counteract her opponent."
When
Memea picked up wrestling a year ago, her father was against
her participating "at first because people were getting
hurt," she said. "He didn't have faith in me at first.
He said, 'Girls can't wrestle, you don't have the mentality to
do it.' "
But
things changed "after I won my first match," she said.
Memea was fourth in the state tournament in 2004, and was a second-team
Interscholastic League of Honolulu all-star. Memea also earned
All-American honors after she placed third in the 175-pound division
at the Junior National Championships last summer at Fargo, N.D.,
This
year she is considered a top state contender for her weight division.
The state tournament is in March.
"When
wrestling came around, my wife and I were surprised that Des
wanted to try out for wrestling," Mack said. "I'm glad
I was wrong. I'm now eating my words. Des later confessed she
was determined to make the team and do well so she would not
have to hear me tell her, 'I told you so.' "
Desiree Memea says it is tough on her family with her dad serving
in Bahrain, but wrestling "helps keep my mind off things."
"I never thought I would be talking to her like I would
my son about moves and strategies in wrestling."
— Mack Memea • Father of Pac-Five wrestler Desiree
Memea
Mack left O'ahu in December and is scheduled to return in June,
just before Memea goes on her second trip to the Junior Nationals.
"It's
sad," Memea said. "It's hard on my mom (Terry), (because)
all my brothers and sisters play sports, too.
"(Wrestling)
keeps my mind off of things because it's always on wrestling."
She
said she speaks to Mack almost every day, and he gives her pointers
on her wrestling.
"He
just thinks he knows," she said. "He watches tapes
(of matches), and tells me, 'She did something like this, so
you should do it, too.' "
Memea
wrestles against the boys on Pac-Five's squad and some of the
coaches, because there is no other girl of weight or caliber
similar to her.
"She's
pretty competitive, so she actually scores points against some
of the boys," Pac-Five coach Aaron Sekulich said.
"I
never thought I would be talking to her like I would my son about
moves and strategies in wrestling," Mack said.
Sekulich
said the competitive nature that drives Memea to beat the boys
is why she has been successful in wrestling.
"She
works hard because she doesn't like to lose," he said. "She's
positive, she's energetic and very friendly. She's very competitive
by nature."
She
may be competitive, but at first she was hesitant about picking
up wrestling, for reasons far different than her father.
"The
whole jumping on the scale and wearing tight clothes isn't my
thing," she said.
Memea,
who lives in 'Ewa Beach, wakes up at 5:30 every morning to get
to school, which is near the University of Hawai'i-Manoa. School
ends at 3:30 p.m., just in time to help her Pac-Five teammates
set up wrestling mats in the Education Laboratory School (formerly
University Laboratory School) cafeteria, where they hold their
practices.
"As
long as all the mats are set up by 4 we don't have to do any
running," she said. "It's not common at all. Everyone
else (at other schools) just goes to a set room. When I first
came, I thought it was normal. Then I went to Kamehameha and
saw they had it all set up all the time."
She
thanked her wrestling coaches, including Sekulich and Pac-Five
associate head coach John Schmidtke, for their help.
"I
love them and I'm thankful for them," she said. "They
got me this far in a short time."
Mack
shares her sentiments.
"I'm
happy for her that she took up wrestling, and I'm very proud
she did it for herself and not what we as parents think she should
have done," he said. "I'm grateful for her wrestling
coaches (also her basketball coach for believing in her) in instilling
the confidence she needed and directing her motivation and desire
to do well in the competition."
Source:
Honolulu Advertiser |
2005 Hawaii Junior
State Championships of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Is Back on Jan 29th!
The tournament which was referred to as the Gracie's Kids Tournament
(I just made that up) finally has an official name, 2005 Hawaii
Junior State Championships of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Venue: Relson Gracie Main
Academy
844 Queen Street, 2nd Floor
Date: January 29, 2005
Time: 10AM - 2PM
9:30AM Rules Clinic
Ages 16 and under
Inviting all competitors ages 5 to 16 years old
Sponsored by the Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Associations of Hawaii
The Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Associations of Hawaii would like
to cordially invite you and your students to join us at the 2005
Hawaii Junior State Jiu-Jitsu Championships on January 29, 2005
at this year's Host Club-The Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy
in Honolulu, Hawaii. We
have invited youth competitors from schools around the state including HMC, Brazilian Freestyle
Jiu-Jitsu, Gracie Kailua, BJ Penn Jiu-Jitsu, and every Relson
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Association including: Honolulu, Aiea, Kaneohe,
HK and more. We are excited and eager to see all of Hawaii's
youth exhibit their great talent at this exclusive event.
We strongly recommend that all competitors and coaches be at
the tournament no later than 8:30 AM on Saturday to weigh-in
and to find parking (Parking stalls are available at Queen Bee
Restaurant on the corner of Queen St. and Cooke St. between 8-2
PM; there are also parking spaces on adjacent streets-please
observe neighboring business signs and city and county regulations
as to avoid ticketing and towing). The rules clinic will be held at 9:30
AM with the competition beginning promptly at 10 AM.
The top four competitors in each division will receive a trophy
(one 1st place, one 2nd place, and two 3rd places) generously
provided by Hawaiian Pacific Chiropractic. In addition to awards,
all competitors will be qualified to win other prizes. We would
love to see all competitors, spectators, family, martial artists,
etc. gather in this friendly atmosphere established to promote
the awesome art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu among our youth in this
great state of Hawaii.
Sincerely,
Ronn T. Shiraki
Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Kaneohe Team
If Ronn Shiraki has not contacted you, please email him at: Kaneoheteam@yahoo.com
Tournament Rules and Regulations
· Registration fee is $20
· All competitors must compete with a clean white or all
blue Jiu-Jitsu GI (kimono). No mixed colors or black GI will
be allowed.
· Any competitor who displays unsportsmanlike-like conduct
before, during, or after the match, will be disqualified and
forfeit the registration fee.
· It is the competitor's responsibility to find out when
his / her match will take place.
· Any competitor who does not show up before his/ her
match will automatically forfeit the match and registration.
· Any competitor who deliberately tries to hurt an opponent,
(including slamming while in the guard) will be disqualified.
· The competition organizers are not liable for any injury
and/or accident involving competitors.
· We reserve the right to combine weight categories.
· This information may be amended or changed at any time.
· The athletes will not be allowed to apply traumatic
holds; only competition sport Jiu-Jitsu holds will be permitted.
· All parents of youth participants must fill out a waiver
prior to weigh-in.
Divisions and Time Limits
are as follows
Ages Limits Time
5 Mixed 2 minutes
(5 year olds will start on knees)
6 Mixed 3 minutes
7-8 Mixed 4 minutes
9-10 Mixed 4 minutes
11-12 Mixed 4 minutes
13-14 Mixed 4 minutes
15-16 Mixed 5 minutes
Note: Weight classes (to be determined at tournament)
Competitors may be moved up or down a division depending on weight.
Competition Scoring System
· Throws and Takedowns 2 points
· Knee on the Belly 2 points
· Technical Sweeps 2 points
· Passing the Guard 3 points
· Front Mount Position 4 points
· Back Mount Position with Hooks 4 points
Illegal Techniques
The following techniques have been banned to protect the youth
competitors from injury. Judges will stop techniques if harm
appears imminent (referee decisions are Final).
· No Straight foot-locks (ages 15 and 16 only)
· No Toe-holds
· No Heel-hooks
· No Knee-bars
· No Small joint manipulation (fingers and toes)
· No Wrist-locks
· No Fish-hooks
· No Neck-cranks
· No Slamming
· No Can-openers
· No Swearing
· No Spitting
· No Striking of any kind
Contact Person
Ronn T. Shiraki
Phone: 387-1961 Email: Kaneoheteam@yahoo.com
|
Quote
of the Day
"Courtesy is the one coin you can never have too much of
or be stingy with."
John Wanamaker, 1838-1922, American Merchant
|
Super Brawl
& Steinlager Present:
FULL
CONTACT SHOWDOWN #1
Kahuna's Sports Bar & Grill Ballroom
Kaneohe MCBH
THIS Friday,
January 28, 2005
7 pm Doors Open 8 pm First Bell
$20 Military / $25 Non-Military
Kolo Koka vs. Candido Estrada (SoCal)
Steve Byrne (Hawaii Marine) vs Ray Lizama
6-7 other fights
Non-Military
wanting to attend should call 375-1645 or email superbrawl21@yahoo.com (me) in advance for
getting on base.
Military will be opening the gate to general public, but are
hoping to have a controlled list as back-up if thousands of fans
show up.
Weigh-in / Press Conference 6:30pm @ Windward Mall on Thursday,
January 27, 2005.
Source: Promoter
|
PUNISHMENT
IN PARADISE
PRESS RELEASE!
On behalf of all who participated and made Punishment In Paradise's
first Shooto show a sucess we at Punishment In Paradise would
like to send a BIG MAHALO to you. We apperciate all the efforts
and BLOOD SWEAT & TEARS you put into it and without you guys
this would have never happened. Also a special thanks to the
fans who without them these shows wouldn't be here.
THANK YOU!!
Also we would like to mention all those fighters that have been
pulling out at the last minute for some reason or pulling out
to fight for another show and notifying us the week of the event
will be suspended from participating in future Punishment In
Paradise events.
GOOD LUCK STEVE!!
We would like to extend a GOOD LUCK to Steve Brynes of Bulls
Pen who agreed to fight Kimo Wolfel of Eastsidaz in Punishment
In Paradise, but his management pulled him out due to a injury
that occured to his ankle from a motorcycle accident, but we're
happy he's fine to fight a week later in Superbrawl.
Source: Promoter
|
Rumble
On The Rock 5 DVD On Sale!
Hawaii’s
Premiere Mixed Martial Arts Event Returns!
Watch
UFC Veteran Wesley
“Cabbage” Correira take on John “The Bull” Marsh.
Also Olympic Silver Medalist and #1 ranked MMA fighter Matt “The
Law” Lindland take on Miletich Fighting Systems Tony “The
Freak” Fryklund in an all out BLOODY war!
Other
Fighters include Joe “Diesel” Riggs, Kickboxing Champion
Danny Steele, Jason Lambert, Royden Demotta, and many more.
Fight
Card:
- John Marsh vs Wesley
“Cabbage” Correira
- Tony “The Freak” Fryklund vs Matt “The Law”
Lindland
- Ronald
“Machine Gun” Jhun vs Ryan “The Lion” Shultz
- Joseph “Diesel” Riggs vs Kendall Groves
- Jason Lambert vs Mike Rogers
- Royden
Demotta
vs Vance
Pu
- Justin
Mercado
vs Harris
“Hitman” Sarmiento
- Kaynan
Kaku vs
Santino Defranco
Get
your copy of this action packed event at BJPENN.COM and RUMBLEONTHEROCK.COM!
Source Promoter
|
Quote
of the Day
"Enthusiasm is a telescope that yanks the misty, distant
future into the radiant, tangible present."
Source Unknown
|
Super
Brawl & Rumble On The Rock Event Schedule
A lot of people have been asking when the next Super Brawl and
Rumble On The Rock will be held. We have just received a few
tentative dates and more information about the events will be
posted shortly. Check out our Events Schedule at the right.
Starting with the next Super Brawl, which wil be held next Friday,
January 28th on Kaneohe Marine Corps Base at Kahuna's Sports
Bar & Grill. The main event will feature Kaneohe's own, Kolo
Koka vs. Candido Estrada and another Kaneohe resident, Steven
Byrne taking of Ray Lizama.
Keep your eyes on our events schedule for the latest scheduled
events.
|
ADCC
champ makes plans to MMA
On vacations in Rio de Janeiro, Saulo Ribeiro is ready to get
back to Ohio with new plans. The ADCC champion at the -88kg division,
Saulo already trains for the May event while having MMA in his
mind. Away from Vale-Tudo since 2002 (when he defeated Jason
Ireland at Fightzone 5), the Gracie Humaitá black belt
has been dealing with some North American organizations.
"After
ADCC, I want to lose some weight and hit 78kg. I have been dealing
with the King of the Cage and the UFC. I hope to make my return
in July," the Royler Gracie's pupil stated.
Meanwhile,
Saulo is working hard to win again in ADCC. His training will
be done in the United States and a big test is scheduled on March
6, at the Arnold Gracie Submission Championships. "I have
been training with a lot of tough guys in Ohio. I have been improving
my wrestling," Ribeiro guarantees. The 6 time BJJ World
Champion, Saulo has been preparing his team for a new challenge;
to rule the Pan-American Jiu-Jitsu Tournament on April 2nd and
3rd in California.
Source: Tatame
|
KANG
JOINS ATT
The
American Top Team announced that Canadian MMA veteran Denis Kang
has joined their team.
Source: Fight Sport
|
PRIDE
CONFIRMS FIGHTSPORT.COM SCOOP
DSE/PRIDE
confimred what Fightsport.com first reported on October 14th,
2004, that Igor Vovchanchyn will participate in the upcoming
PRIDE middleweight GP.
Source: Fight Sport
|
Quote
of the Day
"There is no waste of time in life like that of making explanations."
Benjamin Disraeli, 1804-1881, British Statesman and Prime Minister
|
BLOODLINE
PRESENTS
PUNISHMENT
IN PARADISE 9:
Game To The End Results
Kapolei High School Gymnasium, Kapolei, Hawaii
January 22, 2005
Punishment In Paradise started off the New Year with a bang!
PIP's largest crowd to date came out to see the Machine Gun,
Ron Jhun return to SHOOTO and restart his quest for the SHOOTO
Middleweight title. His first stop on that mission was to try
and get past 8th ranked, Shigetoshi Iwase. Iwase showed impressive
ground skills and an unstoppable double leg take down. Iwase
minimized Jhun's successful formula of being able to secure a
position and start unloading on his opponent from the top. Jhun
won two out of the three rounds, but Iwase finished strong winning
the last round by most accounts. It is very possible that with
a few more wins against ranked fighters, Ron Jhun could propel
up to a title shot within a year or two.
A
fighter was remembered due to recently being killed by a gun
shot. John Menedez from California was scheduled to face Hawaii's
John Kukahiko, but due to this unfortunate event, the fight was
scrapped. A 10 bell tribute to his memory was shared by Hawaii's
fans.
Other
highlights were the absolute war being fought between Kimo Woelfel
(Eastsidaz) and Tillis Sionesini (808 Fight Factory). They threw
more leather than tornado in the Midwest. Since it was an exhibition,
the fight was ruled a draw. There were also two devastatingly
effective choke holds. The first was by Mark Oshiro, where he
locked in a headlock choke, similar to the one Carlos Newton
used on Pat Miletich to obtain the UFC Welterweight title. The
other choke came from the hands of Maluhia Kuahiwinui, who choked
Kevin Delima unconscious. The referee was on top of the action
and called the bout off almost immediately after seeing Delima
go unconscious. Another heated battle that ended early was the
Kaimi Santiago-Casey Daniels fight. Both fighters exchanged punches
with Santiago getting the upper hand with punches that would
probably have KO'd anyone else. Santiago eventually had to concede
the match due to re-injuring his knee.
123lbs.
Kickboxing (3 Rounds X 1 1/2 Minutes)
Bruce Niimoto (Jesus Is Lord, Waipahu) def. Koichi Tanji (HMC,
Kalihi)
Unanimous decision [(29-28), (29-28). (29-28)] after 3 rounds.
Exhibition:
Amateur Fighting Competition Bout (3 Rounds X 1 Minute)
Henry Berger (Bulls Pen, Kalihi) def. Hansen Apo (Eastsidaz,
Waimanalo)
Unanimous decision [(28-27), (29-27). (30-28)] after 3 rounds.
Exhibition
(Non-Shooto Sanctioned): Light Heavyweight Class B (2 Rounds
X 3 Minutes)
Kimo Woelfel (Eastsidaz, Kailua) drew Tillis Sionesini (808 Fight
Factory, Waipahu)
Draw
135lbs.
MMA SHOOTO Class B (2 Rounds X 5 Minutes)
Ryan Lee (Bulls Pen, Waipahu) def. Precio Nierras (Kalakaua Gym,
Kalihi)
Submission via arm bar from the mount at 2:11 minutes in Round
1.
160lbs.
MMA SHOOTO Class B (2 Rounds X 5 Minutes)
Rob Villapando (808 Fight Factory, Waipahu) drew Dean Lista (HMC,
Kalihi)
Draw [(19-19), (19-19), (19-19)] after 3 rounds.
135lbs.
MMA SHOOTO Class B (2 Rounds X 5 Minutes)
Mark Oshiro (Bulls Pen, Kalihi) def. Jumar Dumaoal (808 Fight
Factory, Waipahu)
Submission via headlock choke at 1:32 minutes in Round 1.
145lbs.
MMA SHOOTO Class B (2 Rounds X 5 Minutes)
Maluhia Kuahiwinui (Puna Boyz, Hilo) def. Kevin Delima (Bulls
Pen, Kalihi)
Submission via guillotine at 30 seconds in Round 1. Delima was
choked unconscious.
Welterweight
MMA SHOOTO Class B (2 Rounds X 5 Minutes)
"Sugar" Shane Nelson (BJ Penn MMA, Hilo) def. Kaleo
Kwan (Eastsidaz, Kailua)
Majority decision [(20-18), (20-19), (19-19)] after 3 rounds.
Light
Heavyweight MMA SHOOTO Class B (2 Rounds X 5 Minutes)
Casey Daniels (Team MMAD, Kailua) def. Kaimi Santiago (Puna Boyz,
Hilo)
Verbal submission after the end of Round 1 (Santiago re-injured
his knee)
Middleweight
MMA SHOOTO Class A (3 Rounds X 5 Minutes)
Ronald "Machine Gun" Jhun ((#6 Ranked Shooto, Honolulu,
HI) def. Shigetoshi Iwase (#8 Ranked Shooto, Japan)
Unanimous decision [(29-28), (29-28). (29-28)] after 3 rounds.
|
G-3
Tournament Is Back!
Palama Settlement Gym, Kalihi, Hawaii
Sunday, February 27, 2004
All instuctors, students, fans and competitors are welcomed.
This is Hawaii's only Full Contact and FULL protection standup
fighting tournament. There are three tiers to this type of kickboxing
tournament which allows for fighters to gain experience in a
safe environment.
More details about the event will be provided shortly.
Source: Event Promoter
|
DEEP
Fight Card
February 12th, 2005
Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
Ryo
Chonan vs. Roan 'Jucao' Carneiro
D. Mishima vs. Taisho
Yoshiro Maeda vs. Masakazu Imanari
Satoko Shinashi vs. Mari Kaneko
Atsushi Ishii vs. Tashiro
Ryuhei Sato vs. Yuya Shirai
Tetsuya Onose vs. Sato
Yutaro Miyamoto vs. Nobuhiro Obitani
Source: Fight Sport
|
WEC
Results
A night of heavyweight action at the Golden Palace in Lemoore,
CA. with lots of action and brutal knockouts. The fight of the
night was the stand-up war between the veteran Shonie Carter
and MMA newcomer, Jorge "Van Damme" Oliveira. The first
round saw a back and forth battle between the 2, in which neither
was able to take the other down. The result was a vicious and
bloody standing duel. Carter seemed to have swung the momentum
to his side with some hard punches and spinning backfists that
stunned Oliveira in the 2nd round. The fight was very close and
it was evident that the 3rd round would decide this bout. In
the 3rd round Oliveira recomposed himself and landed with a brutal
right kick to Carter's face, knocking out his mouthpiece. After
another kick to Carter's head, Oliveira had secured a victory
over a determined veteran in his debut MMA fight. Very impressive.
This fight wasn't the most technical we've seen (both fighters
missed frequently with wild shots) but it was highly entertaining.
Fight
#1 (265lbs)
Van Palacio defeated Fred Diaz by Split Decision
Fight
#2
WEC Tournament 1st Heavyweight Fight (265lbs)
Jody Poff defeated Houssain Oushani by front choke, 1st rd
Fight
#3
WEC Tournament 1st Heavyweight Fight (265lbs)
Brandon Verra defeated Andre Mussi by KO, 1st rd
Fight
#4
WEC Tournament 2nd Heavyweight Fight (265lbs)
Mike Whitehead defeated Terrell Dees by Neck Crank, rd 1
Fight
#5
Heavyweight Fight (265lbs)
Allan Weickart defeated Jeremy Freitag by TKO, 1st rd
Fight
#6
Heavyweight Tournament Final (265lbs)
Brandon Verra defeated Mike Whitehead by TKO (broken nose) ,
2nd rd
fight
#7 (155lbs)
Olaf Alfonso def Chin Seng KO 1:13 1st rd
fight
#8 (205lbs)
Jorge Oliveira def Shonie Carter Decision (Unanimous) 5:00 3rd
rd
fight
#9
Brad Imes def Lace Pele Submission 2:04 1st rd
fight
#10
Jason Lambert def Richard Montoya Submission 2:45 1st rd
fight
#11
Dan Christiansen def Andre Roberts Submission (Armbar)
Source: Gracie Fighter
|
TEXAS
LEGALIZES MIXED MARTIAL ARTS… SORT OF
By Ken Pishna, MMAWeekly.com
The
Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation has adopted new
rules in regards to Combative Sports effective February 1, 2005.
Of specific interest to mixed martial arts competitors and promoters
is a change to the rules regarding striking in mixed martial
arts contests.
In
the past in Texas only open handed, Pancrase-style strikes were
allowed in mixed martial arts competitions. According to the
new rules adopted by the Department of Licensing and Regulation,
“(1) If both contestants wear gloves, closed fist punching
and frontal palm/heel strikes are permitted. (2) If both contestants
are not wearing gloves, frontal palm/heel strikes and closed
fist punches are not permitted, except to the body.”
On
the surface, this sounds as if Texas has finally caught up to
the generally recognized standards of mixed martial arts around
the United States. They’ve come close, but they are not
quite there yet.
Looking
further into the rules regulating mixed martial arts in Texas,
the newly adopted rules read, “(n) The following tactics
are fouls and may result in disqualification or point deduction
at the discretion of the referee. (2) Punching or frontal palm/strikes
while the opponent’s head is touching the mat.”
While
closed-fist strikes is a welcome addition to mixed martial arts
in Texas, the prohibition of striking an opponent while his head
is on the mat is somewhat awkward. The rule basically bans effective
striking to the head while on the ground. Yes, an opponent can
still be struck if his head is up off the mat, but that is not
a very common circumstance and trying to elevate an opponent’s
head before striking isn’t very practical.
Still,
the new rules bring Texas much closer to the generally accepted
practices of most mixed martial arts competitions across the
United States allowing closed-fist striking in most instances.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Brazilian
Muay Thai Fighter: Moisés Gibi
By Eduardo Ferreira
On
the way to Europe
30
years old and 15 dedicated to fighting. Moisés Batista
de Souza, known as Gibi, has as records: 26-2-0 and two World
titles: Thai Boxe and Low Kick. Before packing to Europe, Gibi
had few words with TATAME. During an exclusive chat, he talked
about his plans in Europe and revealed that MMA is one of his
goals. Read the full interview bellow:
So,
tell me. Are you departing to Europe...
In
fact, I am on my way to Portugal and then I will travel through
Europe. I will spend about 40 days in there. In Portugal I will
train at Never Shake and I have been dealing four bouts for me
in there until February 26, when I join Muay Thai Super League,
in Austria. But I will only have sure next week.
Tell
me about your fight style.
I
started as a Muay Thai fighter, but I've trained Kickboxing and
Karate Seiwakai with Master Ademir da Costa. Today, I am a Low
Kick and Thai Boxe World Champion by WAKO (-78kg division).
Tell
me about the differences between those modalities and Muay Thai?
Muay
Thai you can punch and kick. You can also use the elbow and knee.
Kickboxing doesn't allow you to use knee or elbow. Low Kick and
Thai Boxe you cannot use knee and elbow, but knee, even duiring
the clinch.
During
the last event you fought, you ended defeated. What really had
happened?
After
my last victory in Mexico, I got too tired. But people told me
to fight. It was a important event and I did the best I could.
I got three knock downs and was defeated by TKO. I lost a invincibility
of 10 years. Now I have 26 victories and only two loses. Now
we are working hard over a rematch against this fighter from
Holland.
Tell
me about your plans to 2005?
I
am on my way to Europe. I didn't expect this invitation so fast.
They really liked me and they want me to stay as long I can in
there. I think I'll be able to join the circuit. I've signed
a three years contract with Muay Thai Super League and I must
fight five times per year. In August and October they will do
a new tournament joining together the eight best fighters and
prizing the champions with 70,000 Euros.
Tell
me about both belts.
I
will have to leave them behind. WAKO wanted me to fight at February
19 in Milan, in Italy, but its tôo close from my other
fight on next February 26. So I called it out!
Do
you have plans to fight Vale-Tudo?
-
I've received many invitations to fight Vale-Tudo, but I am aware
I don't know how to defend myself on the floor. I have few teachers
that can give me a hand on it and I have plans to train with
them. So I may ha
Where
do you train?
I
train in São Paulo at Oficina Corpo e Mente. Francisco
Veras is my Muay Thai trainer, Zuleica is my Personal-trainer.
I also train at Paulo Zorello's gym, because I have good sparring
in there. I also train with Never Shake guys.
Source: Tatame |
COFFEE GUY
EXCLUSIVE:
ZUFFA BANS ANOTHER SPONSOR
Zuffa has banned any sportsbook, oddsmaker,or anyone associated
with gambling to be mentioned or worn by a UFC fighter. They
cannot mention a website, or a person,such as Danny Sheridan
or Joey Oddessa.
Fighters
effected by this include:
Randy
Couture
Tito Ortiz
Evan Tanner
Matt Lindland
Nick Diaz
David the crow Lousieau
Paul Buentello
Other
insiders I talk to have the opinion that with Zuffa banning more
and more sponsors, more fighters will be more desperate for money.
In the opinion of many insiders, this will enable Zuffa can sign
them for less then the pitance they recieve now.
Source: Fight Sport |
INTERVIEW
WITH EVAN TANNER'S TRAINER
This
past December MMA veteran Evan Tanner made news by leaving famed
Team Quest to begin training full-time with Curtis Crawford at
Ultimate Fitness and Fighting Arts. The move came as a surprise
to many in the MMA community; especially, considering that many
had no inclination to whom Crawford is. MMAWeekly’s Mick
Hammond recently spoke with Crawford to shed some light on the
man who will now lead Evan Tanner into his UFC 51 Middleweight
Championship bout against David Terrell on February 5th in Las
Vegas.
One
of the biggest curiosities to many people has been exactly where
has Crawford come from? To many he was a nameless entity who
cornered Tanner in his fights last year, but in truth Crawford
has a lengthy connection to MMA, “Nobody really had known
I had a background in this. I’ve had a few fights in MMA.
I fought in Superbrawl in a heavyweight tournament a couple years
back and fought on a Tito Ortiz show also,” said Crawford.
Crawford
continued, “I started boxing at 15 and then started training
with (former UFC Heavyweight Champion) Maurice Smith at 17. I
was his kickboxing sparring partner for two years back in the
WKA days. I was always a boxer and had come close to winning
an amateur title; I turned pro when I was 18 when Maurice asked
me if I wanted to get into fighting. I’m not bragging but
I’ve been around awhile, I’ve been kickboxing forever,
and Maurice got me into the MMA stuff. I’ve also trained
with Dennis Hallman, Frank Shamrock and TK (UFC veteran Tsuyoshi
Kosaka).”
The
connecting point that lead Crawford to begin working with Evan
was that for a time Crawford trained at Team Quest before starting
his own gym. Crawford explained how the two hooked up,“I
couldn’t get up to train with Maurice (in Seattle) so I
started training at Team Quest. When Evan first walked in I was
with Team Quest. We started going at it real hard, it kind of
woke him up a little bit, I showed him a few things with his
hands, Evan and I really clicked.”
For
a short time it appeared as if Crawford may become a bigger part
of Team Quest but it never came about. “Randy (Couture)
asked me a couple of times to help out but everybody was in and
out with different schedules. There were some differences in
attitudes and I left because I wanted to do it my own way and
start my own thing,” commented Curtis.
After
Crawford formed Ultimate Fitness Tanner began to split time between
both gyms with Crawford acting as Evan’s striking coach.
Then in December Tanner left Quest and Crawford became his head
trainer as Curtis explained, “I had problems with Team Quest
and started training on my own. I started completely on my own
money. I was telling Evan to come over and train with me and
I think he made the right move. We can work on stuff that he
couldn’t work on with Team Quest. It’s easy to work
on one part of your game but it’s hard to put everything
together. We’re able to put his striking together with his
grappling.”
According
to Crawford, Tanner’s game has grown tremendously since
the two started working together, “He’s more wide in
his movement. He circles around a lot more; he’s not so
straight in. He used to step into punches, but now he works his
way in and sees things that he couldn’t before. He would
stay back and not do anything, now he can see stuff coming so
he counters and moves a lot better. He still gets tense sometimes
when he works real hard but he’s learning to relax. He’s
got his kicks together too, he wasn’t doing that at Team
Quest, he’s versed now.”
Crawford
continued, “He’s moving a lot, I knew he had footwork
but he wasn’t using it, so we’ve worked on it and got
it better. He’s cutting down angles and cutting off the
ring, it’s really devastating when you learn to control
a fight like that. When he throws he sits down with his punches
and follows through. He’s deadly on his feet right now he
uses a lot of in and out, he steps in and punches and then steps
out quickly.”
When
asked how the new Tanner compares to the old, Crawford said,
“If he fought Rich (Franklin) again it would be a different
story. He didn’t have hands; you need to put two and two
together with your feet and hands. His didn’t work together,
he was a lot stiffer and he needed to get out there and loosen
up. I see a lot of stuff in Evan that could have been brought
out before, but he didn’t have people to work with. He soaks
everything in like a book, he tries everything. People get out
there sometimes and don’t try it, they freeze, Evan won’t
do that, he learns something and goes out and does it.”
As
the subject of Tanner’s preparation for his fight against
Terrell was brought up, Crawford was tight lipped about strategy,
“He’s got to fight so I can’t tell you what we
are working on but it’s a lot of good stuff. Evan’s
really quiet about the stuff he’s working on. I will say
Dave has a lot of openings, big time openings, and that’s
going to be an advantage to us. Evan pointed those out to me
when we were watching tape. He would see things and before I
could say anything he already pointed it out. He spots things
a lot quicker now, it shows me he’s ready now, Dave better
be careful.”
Not
only has Tanner been working diligently with Crawford, but he
recently spent time with other fighters working on refining his
game, “Evan’s working with Dennis (Hallman) and Benji
(Radach) on his grappling this week. What’s funny is they
(Team Quest) go everywhere to train and they got mad when Evan
came and worked with me. I have nothing against them, but I think
you should let guys train where they want to train at. You should
let them use their own style, they can’t train your way
all the time, let them train their way they learn a lot easier
and you can see it.”
Crawford
concluded the conversation by saying, “I know how to handle
MMA and I work well with the MMA guys. People are going to see
the quality that I can put in. We’re just trying to get
going, the gym is getting better, we’re getting a cage in
there, it looks nice and more gym-like. After this fight, win
or lose, Evan is going to be a winner. He has a lot of energy
and skills now and he’s more exciting. I get so pumped watching
him fight and train that I want to go in there with him.”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Quote
of the Day
"Courtesy is the one coin you can never have too much of
or be stingy with."
John Wanamaker, 1838-1922, American Merchant
|
Brazilian
Portuguese Language Classes!
The Farrington Community School for Adults' Brazilian Portuguese
class will start
on 2/05 so call & register.
They can go to website: Farrington Community School for Adults.
http://165.248.6.166/data/adulteducclasses.asp?Submit=Submit&location=477&coursetypedin
We
need at least 2 more students to keep the class open. Registration
closed yesterday but they always accept more if they come in
right away. Otherwise I take another semester off & sleep
in on Saturdays.
It's
only a little more than $30 and $26 for books for a steal in
learning Portuguese in a relaxed environment. You need to jump
on this opportunity!
Saturdays
February 5, 2005 to April 16, 2005
8:30 am to 11:30 am
Farrington High School Room U202
CONVERSATIONAL
BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE
NUTSHELL COURSE DESCRIPTION
With concentration on everyday, modern Brazilian usage, special
attention is paid to quickly gain understanding of polite, informal
and colloquial language, verb conjugations, past & present
tenses, masculine-feminine nouns & adjectives (big obstacles
in Romance language-learning) with goals of attaining native
pronunciation and fluency of speech. Brazilian regional variations
in proununciation and vocabulary are recognized.
This
class is ideal for:
1) Those interested in travel to Brazil
2) English speakers with Brazilian friends/spouses/partners
3) Practitioners of Brazilian martial arts (Capoeira, Jiu Jitsu)
4) Speakers/students of other Latin-derived languages.
ABOUT
THE INSTRUCTOR:
Sandy
Tsukiyama de Oliveira, a Honolulu native, was drawn to the musical
culture of Brazil while studying for her BA in Ethnomusicology
at UH Manoa in the 1970s. Portuguese language studies were at
UH-Manoa with Dr. Stefan Baciu, and at Windward Commnunity School
for Adults with Cecy de Souza Browne. Sandy worked as a Spanish
& Portuguese-speaking tour escort for over 10 years receiving
hands-on experience in the language locally while promoting the
Hawaii visitor industry.
She
lived in Rio de Janeiro, from 1980-83; spending the first year
at the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro Escola de Música
on Rotary International Post-Graduate Fellowship for International
Understanding, afterward working as a vocalist in upscale restaurant/bars
and teaching English.
Performing
in Brazilian music groups (The Rio Trio, Mistura, Banda Carioca)
after her return to Hawaii, Sandy maintained her contact with
Brazilian culture in the community while pursuing education in
simultaneous conference interpretation at UH Manoa Center for
Interpretation and Translation Studies. She then continued in
the field of Secondary Education, receiving certification for
Spanish and Special Education.
Sandy
has worked freelance as an English/Spanish/Portuguese interpreter/translator,
as well as in Federal and State courts, for the Honolulu Police
Dept., US Immigration and Naturalization Service, various international
conferences, is on staff for the Bilingual Access Line of Helping
Hands Hawaii and is a member of the Hawaii Interpreters and Translators
Assn. Currently a Special Education teacher at Roosevelt High
School, she has been teaching Portuguese at FCSA for the past
four years.
TEXTBOOK:
Fala Brazil! Português Para Estrangeiros
by Pierre Coudry & Elizabeth Fontão (Pontes Editores)
Accompanying cassettes/CD available
RECOMMENDED
SUPPLEMENTAL BOOKS:
501
Portuguese verbs
by John J. Nitti & Michael J. Ferreira (Barron's)
Portuguese
Verbs and Essentials of Grammar
by Sue Tyson-Ward (Passport Books) |
Shooto
Hawaii Is Back!
SHOOTO HAWAII: PRO/AM Card
March 25,
2005
Amateur
Shooto will be added to this Pro Card. We are looking at having
6 Amateur Bouts anyone interested can email us at
linebredllc@hawaii.rr.com
There will be something new, AMATUER SHOOTO. Linebred, LLC will
be introducing a new twist to things. Amateur Shooto consists
of 2 X 3 minute rounds with a full head gear, Shin guards and
NO punching when fight goes to the ground.
Currently,
we are recruiting fighters for this new endeavor. If you ever
wanted to try MMA and did not want to be thrown to the wolves,
this is the event for you. Full safety equipment is required
and no punching on the ground so you can try out shorter and
fewer rounds and don't have to worry when you get to the ground.
Amatuer Shooto is designed to ease fighters in to professional
MMA action and allow the fighters to build their skill and experience
safely.
Contact
the promoters today to sign up by visiting www.shootohawaii.com
Source: Event Promoter
|
The
Arnold Schwarzenegger Gracie Is In March!
The Arnold Schwarzenegger Gracie World Submission Championships
will be held in Columbus, Ohio on March 4-6, 2005. Information
is posted on our website:
www.gracieworlds.com
Our
Official Hotel Sponsor is offering free transportation to and
from the venue and an "Early Bird Reservation Special"
of $55.00 a night please click on the following link for details:
http://gracieworlds.com/BestValueinn.htm
Official
Sponsors- Biz, GLC, Zebra Mats, Casca Grossa, Ringside, Best
Value Inn, BodyGuard Magazine, Grappling Magazine!
Source: Event Promoter
|
Robson
Moura Fight Officially Ruled Draw
ALTERATION TO THE FIGHT RESULT OF WORLD BANTAM-WEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
[Jan. 2005]
The
challenger, Robson Moura brought a case before ISC because he
had an objection to the fight result which was held on September
26, 2004 at Tokyo Korakuen Hall.
ISC
checked the fight video, discussed and reached the conclusion
that the 1st round should have been 10:9 for Moura. The judge,
Tomokatsu Ura's was 10:10 which was an obvious mistake.
Therefore,
the fight result is changed to "Technical Draw" dated
on December 10, 2004. Also, ISC remove Ura from his position,
the chief of Judge department and he is suspended from judging
indefinitely.
Toshiharu
Suzuki
Secretary-General of the ISC
Source: Shooto |
NJ
Athletic Control Board Amends MMA Medical Testing Deadlines
By Loretta Hunt
Partly
in response to feedback it has received from both the boxing
and MMA communities, the New Jersey Athletic Control Board recently
amended three testing requirements for communicable bodily fluid
viruses pertaining to unarmed combatants. In effect December
6th, the testing time frame for Hepatitis B and C, and HIV were
expanded from 14 to 180 days prior to scheduled competition.
The amendment will also affect judges and referees who are required
to submit to the testing as well. In addition, the requirement
to submit negative tests for these three viruses solely for licensing
purposes was eliminated.
As
part of their medical examination, competitors will now be required
to fill out a Communicable Bodily Fluid Virus High-Risk Questionnaire
that will be reviewed by a ringside physician or the Board's
Medical Advisory Council Chairman.
"To
my knowledge and upon review of the medical experts that were
contacted, there was no report of any transmissions of the three
communicable diseases due to participation in a combative sporting
event held in any jurisdiction around the world," says Nick
Lembo, counsel for the NJSACB. "We have caught a multitude
of individuals who do have these diseases and prevented them
from entering competition."
"It's
a great thing for MMA," said prominent East Coast promoter
Kipp Kollar, whose Reality Fighting event has become a bona fide
hit in New Jersey. "In many cases, it's the fighters, and
sometimes the promoters, who have to foot the bills for these
tests among many others."
Source:
FCF
|
COFFEE
GUY EXCLUSIVE: TITO PUNKED OUT BY 145-POUND FIGHTER IN MEXICO
By Coffee Guy
The
following exclusive report was sent to us by our Zuffa informant
called 'Coffee Guy':
Well
it looks like Lee Murray isn't the only "Lee" that
Tito Ortiz has had problems with on the street. This time however
Tito's opponent was a much smaller fighter by the name of Tommy
Lee, in an incident that happened in Juarez, Mexico.
The
promoter of the event supplied transportation from the hotel
to the venue via small cars that fit three to four people with
the thinking that everything would run smoothly. That is until
the 'Huntington Beach Bad Boy' entered into the situation.
Tito
Ortiz was there cornering Ricco Rodriguez who was fighting Mike
Seal in the main event.
Before
the event the very mild-mannered Tommy Lee was minding his own
business waiting in the car in order to go to his fight when
Tito Ortiz approached the car opened the door on Lee's side peaked
inside to only to find out it was full. The former LHW champ
then demanded that someone in the car get out because in his
words, 'I am riding in this one'.
Tommy
Lee, although stunned that someone would make such a demand let
alone a public figure like Tito Ortiz, then proceeded to grab
the door that Tito was holding open and slammed it shut telling
Tito to find a different car to get into.
Tito's
response was that of getting in the window telling Tommy that
he was going to kick his ass and acting like a retarded ape with
Tommy responding that he wasn't afraid of him.
>From
what I was told everyone there was stunned by the incident and
laughing because of the ass that Tito made himself look like.
When people questioned Lee about the incident, his response was
that he weighed 145 pounds and that Tito wouldn't have the balls
to touch him and if he did he wouldn't back down.
Poor
Tito was humiliated in front of everyone, as usual, and meekly
went off to find another form of transportation.
Source:
Fight Sport
|
Sherk
Pessimistic About His Future in the Ring
by Josh Gross
At 27-1-1, it could be said that Sean Sherk is the best mixed
martial artist to have never won a major championship. After
six years competing everywhere from Mahnomen, Minnesota to Tokyo,
Japan, one of the sport’s most active and dominant fighters
says he’s finally had enough of “flaky” promoters,
weak-kneed challengers and, most troubling, the lack of money—all
of which has led to him to a crossroads.
“I’m
not fighting in the small shows anymore,” promised Sherk
from his home in Minnesota. “I’m not fighting for chump
change like I have been doing.”
“I
paid my dues,” he continued, “more than anybody else
in this sport, in my opinion. … And I’ve done everything
I needed to do to become a successful fighter.”
It’s
hard to argue against him.
Undefeated
in his first18 fights before losing a competitive decision to
Matt Hughes in the only major title shot of his career, Sherk
is 10-0 since April 2003—but none of those wins came against
fighters of note and all, except for an appearance in PRIDE Bushido,
took place in low- or mid-level events.
“The
last two years have been pretty tough, fighting in the small
shows,” Sherk, far removed from being in the main event
on a UFC pay-per-view, admitted.
The
tough times grew, ironically enough, out of what should have
been the zenith of his career.
With
Sherk’s UFC contract scheduled to end 10 days before the
Hughes fight in Miami, DeWayne Zinkin—who signed the welterweight
powerhouse away from his longtime manager Monte Cox several months
before the April championship bout—played hardball with
UFC promoter Zuffa, demanding double what the fight would have
otherwise paid.
The
UFC counter-offered, however Zinkin’s belief that Sherk—hardly
a favorite inside Zuffa’s Las Vegas office before the renegotiation—would
beat Hughes, led him to stand firm.
For
the contender, it was a costly mistake. He got his new deal,
but not without a clause that allowed Zuffa to terminate the
contract—and Sherk’s ability to fight in the UFC—if
he failed to take Hughes’ belt.
It
was a costly gamble.
Nearly
two years later, the life-long wrestler, a self-described “six-day
a weaker”—changed by the responsibilities of a wife,
his baby boy Kyler, and a new home—has parted ways with
Zinkin. Even still, he said, phone calls to the UFC go unreturned
and the prospect of getting back in the show seem slim at best.
Fighting
nine times in 11 months from December ’03 to November ’04
helped pay the bills. But small-time promoters made life difficult,
moving him to the conclusion that something had to give.
“It
was a really humbling, eye-opening experience for me,” Sherk
said. “At that point in time I realized I can’t make
a living in this sport anymore.”
Sherk
isn’t the only fighter feeling the pinch of a promoter’s
market, but he’s surely the best example.
Matt
Lindland, never one to be quiet about wanting high-paying fights,
understands where Sherk is coming from. Over the past year Lindland
has spent a great deal of time working on the other side of the
fence, promoting the Portland, Oregon-based SportFight.
At
end of this past summer Lindland contacted Sherk and asked if
he’d be interested in fighting fellow wrestler Heath Sims.
Still actively pursuing bouts, Sherk said he was.
But
then the roof caved it.
“Within
a three-month time span I had about five fights fall through,”
Sherk recalled. “I couldn’t find any fights at all;
couldn’t find any promoters; had a kid—so I had to
go back and get a regular job.”
For
the first time since he began fighting, Sherk “just had
to take a break,” and did for nearly 10 weeks, which, by
Sherk Standards, might as well have been 10 years.
Wanting
to make sure the February fight between Sherk and Sims—which
had only been discussed, not signed—was still a go, Lindland
called the top-ranked welterweight last month. With Sherk’s
autumn frustration lingering, he broke the news to Lindland that
he wouldn’t be available to fight.
“How
much is it worth for me to train full-time instead of working
on my business?” he asked rhetorically, referring to the
hardwood flooring business he opened with a partner last month.
“To be honest with ya, I can’t make a living as a fighter.
There is a few guys out there making a living, but for the most
part people aren’t making a living at it. I’ve got
no retirement fund; I’ve got no 401K.
“I’m
31 years old—I don’t want to end up being 40 years
old [and] broke because I’ve been chasing this dream too
long.”
This
was uncharted territory for the native Minnesotan, who was usually
the one that faced the bad end of a cancelled fight.
“I
got a lot of names from guys who’ve turned down fights with
me,” Sherk said. “And that’s been a problem, too.
I haven’t fought a guy worth a shit in two years. I’ll
be the first one to admit that—but that’s not my fault.
It’s not for lack of effort, because I tell every promoter
the same thing: ‘Get me the best guy you can.’ I want
to fight the best guys out there. And no good guys want to fight
because they’re afraid to lose.
“If
they’re already in the UFC, well, if they fight me and lose
then they’re out of the UFC. If they’re on their way
into the UFC, if they’re right on the borderline, they fight
me and lose, well now they’re not in the UFC anymore—and
that’s where everybody wants to be, the UFC. So I can’t
get any fights with top guys. I fight all these chumps, not to
take anything away from them of course, just not the same ability.
You know, it doesn’t do anything for me except for giving
me a payday so I can continue fighting full time. But then they
fight because they have nothing to lose. One punch, one kick,
one knee, one elbow … they can get lucky and win the fight,
well then they’re in the next UFC.”
For
Sherk, it’s yet another reminder of how difficult it can
be to enjoy success in mixed martial arts, a sport, he says,
in need of serious oversight.
He
offered three ideas: a sanctioning body whose jurisdiction would
cover the entire United States so “not just anybody can
pop up and throw on a show—because there are so many flaky
promoters out there and they’re just giving the sport a
black eye”; a union designed to “protect fighters so
promoters can’t just cancel the fight on one week’s
notice and basically tell you to fuck off, not give you any money
or anything for all the training that you put into the fight”;
a ranking system “so when you’ve got a top guy who
everyone knows is one of the best guys in the world—and
I’m not just talking about myself, there’s other guys
that have been in the same position—they can’t just
get black-balled from the big shows.”
But
until those things happen, all Sherk can do from going mad is
laugh.
“I
look at the people who are fighting in that show now, and it’s
a joke,” he said. “They got a guy fighting in the next
show (Drew Fickett) that turned down three fights with me.
“When
I found he was on the next UFC, I busted out laughing. I said,
‘I can’t believe this. So that’s how you get into
the UFC—by turning down fights with top guys.’”
It’s
not that simple, of course. As Sherk knows, like in any business,
it usually boils down to money. And undoubtedly it costs the
UFC—or any other promoter for that matter—a heck of
a lot less to sign a Drew Fickett than a Sean Sherk.
Whether
it’s the UFC or PRIDE, which Sherk says is an option he’s
having explored, one thing and one thing only will get him back
in the ring: a decent payday.
“I
won’t fight for less than 20-grand right now, depending
on the opponent,” he swore. “If it’s a top guy
and I’m gonna have to train for three months, then obviously
I want a lot more than that.
“I’m
going to set my price, and if people aren’t willing to meet
that price then, too bad.”
Source:
Sherdog
|
WEC
"Heavyweight Explosion" on January 22nd
WEC: Heavyweight Explosion will take place at the Palace Indian
Gaming Center in Lemoore, California. These are the scheduled
bouts:
-
Dan Christiansen vs. Andre "The Chief" Roberts
-
Jason Lambert vs. Richard Montoya for WEC Light Heavyweight Title
-
Jorge Oliviera vs. Shonie "Mr. International" Carter
-
Heavyweight tournament: Terrell Dees vs. Mike Whitehead
-
Heavyweight tournament: Andre Mussi vs. Houssain Oushani
-
Tournament alternate: Christian Wellisch vs. Brandon Verra
-
Rick Collup vs. Brad Imes
-
Jeff Houghland vs. Olaf Alfonso
-
Van Palacio vs. Fred Diaz
-
Jeremy Freitag vs. Allan Weickart
-
Troy Miller vs. Rafael "The Real Deal" Del Real
Source:
MMA Fighting
|
Nilson
and Ximú return to Pancrase
After fours bouts at Pancrase, Nilson Castro returns to Pancrase
rings next March 6. Chute Boxe striker will face Japanese Keiichiro
Yamamiya. Other to step inside the ring is Brazilian Gustavo
Ximú. During his last time, he defeated Yamamiya in Japan.
Gracie Barra Combat Team takes on Yuki Sasaki (28-10-1). Both
of them met at 2002's Deep, when the fight ended tied. That new
bout will be a great rematch.
Source:
Tatame
|
Catching
Up With The World’s Most Dangerous Man
An Interview with UFC Living Legend Ken Shamrock
Part 1
by Benny Henderson Jr.
You can say what you want to say about Ken Shamrock, but you
can never question his heart, hard work, determination or his
ability - just ask his past opponents and his crew at the Lion’s
Den.
The
“World’s Most Dangerous Man” has fought in Pancrase,
battled it out in UFC, pounded his opponents in PRIDE and has
even pinned Triple H in the WWF/E, and at the ripe young age
of forty this living legend is showing no signs of wanting to
call a halt to his spectacular career.
Shamrock
has also been involved in some the most unforgettable matches
in mixed martial arts history, such as rivalries, rematches and
Pay Per View blockbusters with the likes of Royce Gracie, Dan
Severn, Kimo Leopoldo, and Tito Ortiz.
Which
leads us to the current question making the rounds through MMA
circles - will there be a Shamrock-Ortiz II? At this point nobody
knows, but one thing is for sure - Ken wants revenge and he knows
that a rematch would be one of the biggest PPV events in the
history of the UFC and he is willing to call Tito out for the
fight.
In
2002, the two stepped in the octagon and faced off in UFC 40,
where Shamrock lost in round three (Submission due to fatigue).
Yet after two surgeries and a two year layoff, Shamrock returned
to the steel cage to take on Kimo at UFC 48, and with a hard
knee to the head that produced a knockout at 1:28 of the first
round, Shamrock was back and he captured his first UFC win since
the two met eight years earlier at UFC 8.
Needless
to say, the dangerous one wants another face off against the
Huntington Beach Bad Boy. After a big trash-talking episode at
the UFC 48 press conference between the two it appears that the
war of words at this point will be the only action between the
two. Will it manifest into a big time throwdown for all the fans
to witness? Once again, nobody knows at this point. But hey,
after Ken’s years in the business he knows to take the lows
with the highs and just keep on moving on and that is just what
he will do if the rematch doesn’t materialize. Ken is a
killer in the octagon and a gentle family man at home, and the
hall of famer took the time out for Max Fighting to discuss his
thoughts on Tito Ortiz and a possible rematch, along with his
views on his accomplishments and most memorable moments throughout
his career.
Benny
Henderson Jr. - Hey Ken, how have things been going for you?
Ken
Shamrock – Well, so far everything is going great. I had
knee surgery and I recovered from that back in November and I
had shoulder surgery in August and I recovered from that, so
I am back strong again and looking forward to trying to get a
fight in April.
BH
- There has been a lot of talk about you and Tito Ortiz; what
exactly is the bad blood between you and Tito Ortiz?
KS
- Well it really started back in the day when he fought Guy Mezger
and he wore a shirt out that said “Gay Mezger is my bitch”
and that kind of irritated me, and we have been jawing back and
forth for a long period of time. And then we got into the ring
and we fought and he beat me, so I accepted the fact he beat
me, no problem. But that is Tito, he keeps jawing his mouth.
Even after he beat me, and I never said I had to take it because
he beat me, but then he came back after I fought Kimo and in
the middle of the press conference challenged me to a fight.
He said that he would like to fight me next and of course I got
upset and I accepted the fight. So now that the fight is being
put together, all of a sudden Tito Ortiz wants to take some time
out. I am a little bit upset at the fact that he stood up and
opened his mouth and now he is not going to back it.
BH
- You just recently called Tito Ortiz out, and pretty much just
blasted him in saying that you were punking him out and so on.
Are you doing your best to piss him off with your statements
so he will get mad and fight you?
KS
- Well yeah. I mean when I heard that he wasn’t going to
take the fight, that made me angry because he is the one who
actually challenged me. I’ve always wanted to fight him
and there was supposed to be a rematch with him after the first
fight and it never happened. I kept asking Dana when it was going
to happen because that was the fight that I wanted but it was
never the right time so I had to fight Kimo, and I beat Kimo
very handily. And I still wanted that fight; instead he gave
it to Vitor Belfort, which is fine. But now that Dana said put
this fight on after the Belfort fight, they refused to take the
fight and it wasn’t the fact that they just refused to not
take the fight because Tito just wanted to take a vacation or
something; they refused to take the fight, saying that it did
nothing for his career, it did nothing for him to fight me and
it does everything for me to fight him, and that is absolutely
ridiculous for them to make that statement. I have been around
this business for a long time and I have had some of the biggest
fights in the UFC and I know that rivalry is what builds stars.
And this is a rivalry, this is a rematch and rematches build
champions; they build stars. This is a rematch and I have made
this comment many times before - you know Muhammad Ali got beat
by Joe Frazier; does that make Ali a weaker fighter? Maybe that
day. But he came back and beat Frazier twice after that. So for
them to make that comment and put me down just because he beat
me one time and say that a rematch doesn’t do anything for
him, where did they get to make that comment? I have been in
this thing for a long time and I have fought everybody and I
have been in it since the very first one and for them to make
a comment like that is totally ridiculous and it pissed me off
for them to say that and thinking that Tito Ortiz is bigger than
the event. Tito Ortiz is not that popular.
BH
- How big do you think a Shamrock-Ortiz II would be for you the
fighters and the UFC?
KS
- I think it will be huge. I think it will be the biggest Pay
Per View since the first time we fought, and the first time we
fought it drew big numbers. There’s one thing you can always
look at - Gracie and Shamrock, Severn and Shamrock, Kimo and
Shamrock, and Ortiz and Shamrock, those matches have drawn the
biggest PPV rates in UFC history. It is on paper, it is a fact;
what is the common denominator in all those fights? Ken Shamrock.
I am not saying that I am better than Tito Ortiz. I’m not
saying that I am more popular than Tito Ortiz. I’m not making
any claims to that, but I am stating a fact.
BH
- Let’s say if there is a chance for a Shamrock-Ortiz II.
How much different do you think this fight will go?
KS
– Well, you know talk is cheap. I can sit here and tell
you what I am going to do, I can sit here and do this and do
that, but talk is cheap. I like to step in the ring and put it
on him, but obviously that is not going to happen because they
are not going to take the fight. It would be different if they
said, ‘listen Tito Ortiz is burned out right now and his
confidence is down and he doesn’t feel like stepping in
the ring after this fight and he needs to take some time off.’
Then I would back off; I got no problem with that. But don’t
use me as a cop out. If they are not going to fight me because
they want to take time off or time out or because he wants to
go do something else, then say that, but don’t say that
it isn’t good for Tito Ortiz and it does everything for
Ken Shamrock and I don’t know what this does for us. Well
listen, the fight Tito and I had produced the biggest numbers
since ZUFFA took over and it will be different this time; it
will probably draw bigger numbers. Does it do anything for Tito
Ortiz? Yes. Does it do anything for Ken Shamrock? Yes. So the
fight makes sense but do they want to take it and for what reason
do they not want to take it? It’s not because it wouldn’t
do anything for them, which they are claiming, and that is totally
bogus.
BH
- What is a regular day in the life for Ken Shamrock?
KS
- Well it is usually like this morning. This morning I got up
at five in the morning and went and worked out 5:30 to 6:30,
I did some drills and training with some resistance, cardio,
and then I usually get home around 7:15. I get home and I make
my kids breakfast and then I take them to school; my wife and
me shuttle them. (Laughs) Once we get the kids to school we go
and have breakfast and go out and then the kids get home about
two o’clock so we take care of the kids and the homework
and we drive them to sports, to learning centers, to church,
to whatever, you name it.
BH
- Out of your thirty-five fights which is most memorable?
KS
- I would have to say the first Super Fight Championship when
I beat Severn; that was definitely a highlight. Royce Gracie,
when we fought for the second time and they carried him out of
the ring. I would have to say Tito Ortiz, even though I got beat
in that fight, I think that was a memorable moment because that
was the first time I actually really ever lost a fight and the
way the fans reacted towards me after the fight was a highlight
for me, just for the fact that it didn’t change from the
time I walked in to the time I walked out. Even though I got
beat, the fans were still sticking their hands out and yelling
at me and saying, ‘hey, it’s all right man, we still
love you.’ You know I think those are some special times,
all were special moments.
BH
- Your stint with the WWF how do you think it affected your career?
KS
- I would say that I have taken a couple of steps back because
being on the road with the WWF takes a lot way from your training;
it is a different type of atmosphere and different world. So
when I decided to get back into fighting I was definitely a few
years behind and it took me a while to catch up. But all and
all I would have to say that the WWF was very interesting and
fun, but at the same time I learned a lot about life.
BH
- Ok, very important question Ken. Is professional wrestling
Fake? (Laughs)
KS
- (Laughs) I can’t answer that or I’d have to kill
you.
BH
- (Laughing) Well, ok then, don’t worry about it.
BH
– I’ve got to say one more thing about the WWF. Man,
I beat you so many times in the WWF game. (Laughs) Well, you
did get me a few times with that leg lock submission but for
the most part I got ya.
KS
- (Laughs) Ah, you the champ man.
BH
– Shoot, it would be the only damn way I could beat you.
(We both are laughing)
BH
- What will you do if you don’t get the Ortiz rematch?
KS
- I’ll move on. You know, I’ll find out what the next
thing is out there. Like I said, I don’t pick the fights.
I just fight what is in front of me. I’ve always said that
Tito Ortiz is the fight that I wanted and Dana is going to make
it happen, but now that Dana made it happen and did what he said
he was going to do for me, now Tito Ortiz won’t take it.
I will just have to let it go. He is not going to take the fight,
obviously he is giving different excuses not to fight for whatever
reasons they are, I don’t know, because obviously he isn’t
being honest and whatever they are saying is bull crap. It doesn’t
do anything for him and it does everything for me? That is just
some trash talk right there it doesn’t make any sense. If
he doesn’t take the fight then I will let it go and fight
whoever they put out in front of me.
BH
- With all your accomplishments throughout your career, which
are you most proud of?
KS
- There are a lot of them. I think just being able to capture
the UFC title was a big thing for me and then being able to get
to where I am at right now, I think that is probably the biggest
accomplishment. Through my whole career I have overcome some
obstacles and have gotten in the place where I need to be now.
And I don’t believe there are too many people that could
have gone through what I have gone through. Now, I have put myself
in a lot of those positions and I was put in a lot of those positions.
I don’t think that there are many human beings that would
be standing where I am right now if they have went through the
things I have gone through since I was ten years old to where
I am at right now.
Stay
tuned for part two of the interview with Ken Shamrock where he
will give his thoughts on his return, the Lion’s Den, his
future, and his legacy.
Source:
Maxfighting
|
Assuério
Silva
By Marcelo Alonso
Discovering
Karate
At
the age of 30, Assuério Silva is doing an important moving
on his career. After leaving his former training partners from
Muay Thai Dream Team, Heavyweight fighter joined Karate Master
Ademir da Costa for changing experiences. An MMA vet, Assuério
will help Ademir to adapt his Karate students to the MMA reality.
In the other side, Kyokushin Karate legend will sharp Assuério's
stand up game for his next fights. In an exclusive to TATAME.com,
Assuério talks about his new partnership, Karate advantages
for MMA and what he's expecting of this Karate invasion.
What
did happen to Muay Thai Dream Team?
Actually, Muay Thai Dream Team never existed. We tried to build
it, but there were many people thinking just on their personal
problems. Usually, there isn't training there. I was looking
for a master, someone that could help me during the practice.
One day, I met Ademir in Japan and he invited me to watch a Karate
tournament produced by him. At that time I could see how good
Ademir experience will be for me.
And
how is the relationship between you and Ademir?
Besides being a Karate legend, Ademir is a great guy. I always
admired him as a fighter and, after meeting him in São
Paulo, I realized he's also a great character. Master Ademir
is very experienced outside and inside the ring. I respect him
for all he has done to the Martial Arts and I'm sure I'll evolve
a lot as a fighter.
What
were your impressions about the Karate tournament? Would you
like to compete in a tournament like that?
No, I'm a Professional MMA fighter and I don't intend to compete
in a Karate tournament. But I could realize that Karate will
be very important for me in many ways. Karate style taught by
Ademir is very aggressive.
In
which way do you think Karate will help you in a MMA fight?
It will help me on my training routine, with kicking techniques,
discipline and heart. Most of Ademir's pupils are excellent kick-boxers.
How
can Karate be better than Muay Thai?
Muay Thai is a very efficient Martial Art that can be completed
by Karate in many ways, such as side kicks. Karate has many side
kick techniques and Muay Thai has only one. I was really impressed
with the way they train to put some body parts more resistant
than they are. Karate transforms some body parts, such as hands
and chins, into weapons.
After
this time with Ademir, do you think you have improved your game?
I learned many kicking techniques. After this time, I'm feeling
me better. I want to be Pride Heavyweight champion.
Now
do you have good sparring teammates?
Sure I have. Ademir students are excellent strikers. They are
warriors, they have strength and I believe in one year we will
have some MMA champs. Master Ademir has some tough fighters at
up-to-70kg and up-to-90kg categories; they just have to be adapted
to MMA reality. I was really impressed by Luciano Basile. Soon,
he will be one of top fighters at up-to-93kg category. He'll
be a big problem for many people.
Source:
Tatame
|
Quote
of the Day
"Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent
instantly recognizes genius."
Arthur Conan Doyle, 1859-1930, British Author known for the Sherlock
Holmes stories
|
BLOODLINE
PRESENTS
PUNISHMENT
IN PARADISE
WEIGH-INS TONIGHT 6:30PM!!
Tonight
at En Fuego's Grill & Poke in Kapolei (674-8805 for Directions)
we will start 6:30pm sharp, So if you want to meet your favorite
fighters and get an autographed poster come down to En Fuegos
Kapolei bring a camera and the fighters will be more than happy
to take a picture with fans.
FINAL
DAY FOR PRESALE!!
Just
to let you guys know tonight is the last night for presale for
P.I.P. tickets for $25.00 because after the weight ins tickets
will be $35.00! Check the above P.I.P. banner FOR TICKET OUTLETS!!
or call 620-5638
Source:
Event Promoter
|
Hawaii
Fighters Pepper SHOOTO RANKINGS
SHOOTO World Ranking on December 2004
Selected by Ranking committee of the ISC
Bantamweight / -56kg
C Mamoru, Shooto Gym Yokohama, Japan
1 Robson Moura, Nova Uniao, Brazil - Up (*)
2 Yasuhiro Urushitani, RJW Central, Japan - Down (up Moura)
3 Junji Ikoma, Chokushinkai, Japan
4 Daiji Takahashi, Akimoto Dojo Jungle Junction, Japan
5 Homare Kuboyama, Shooto Gym K'z Factory, Japan
6 Masatoshi Abe, AACC, Japan
7 Hiroaki Yoshioka, Paraestra Tokyo, Japan
8 Takeyasu Hirono, Keishukai Gods, Japan
9 Ichaku Murata, New Ground, Japan
* There was bringing a case from Moura. The fight with Mamoru
was corrected
to the draw by ISC.
Featherweight
/ -60kg
C Ryota Matsune, Paraestra Matsudo, Japan
1 Marco Louro, Nova Uniao, Brazil
2 Kentaro Imaizumi, SK Absolute, Japan
3 Akitoshi Hokazono, Cobra-kai, Japan
4 Daniel Lima, Five Rings Dojo, Australia
5 Jin Akimoto, Akimoto Dojo Jungle Junction, Japan
6 Masahiro Oishi, Shooto Gym K'z Factory, Japan
7 Shuichiro Katsumura, Shooto Gym K'z Factory, Japan
8 Ryan Ackerman, Grappling Works, U.S.A.
9 Jose Aldo, Nova Uniao, Brazil
10 Miguel Torres, Corral Martial Arts, U.S.A.
(all the same)
Lightweight
/ -65kg
C Alexandre Franca Nogueira, World Fight Center, Brazil
1 Joao Roaque, Nova Uniao, Brazil - Up (down Takaya)
2 Gilbert Melendez, Cesar Gracie Academy, U.S.A. - New (win Takaya)
3 Hiroyuki Takaya, Tanaka Juku, Japan - Down (lose Melendez)
4 Makoto Ishikawa, Purebred Omiya, Japan - Up (win Abe)
5 Stephen
Paling, Jesus is Lord, U.S.A. - Down (up Ishikawa, new Melendez)
6 Rumina
Sato, Shooto Gym K'z Factory, Japan - Up (win Toida)
7 Hiroyuki Abe, AACC, Japan - Down (lose Ishikawa)
8 Naoya Uematsu, Shooto Gym K'z Factory, Japan - Down (up Ishikawa,
Sato, new Melendez)
9 Jens Pulver, Team Extreme, U.S.A. - Down (up Sato, new Melendez)
8 Katsuya Toida, Keishukai Toi-Katsu Dojo, Japan - Down (lose
Sato)
Welterweight
/ -70kg
C Tatsuya Kawajiri, Team TOPS, Japan - New Champ (win Ribeiro)
1 Vitor Ribeiro, Nova Uniao, Brazil - Down (lose Kawajiri)
2 Joachim Hansen, Team Scandinavia, Norway
3 Ryan Bow, Purebred Omiya, U.S.A.
4 Mitsuhiro Ishida, Team TOPS, Japan
5 Kaoru Uno, Keishukai, Japan - Up (*)
6 Luis 'Buscape' Firminho, Brazilian Top Team, Brazil - Down
(up Uno)
7 Kotetsu Boku, Killer Bee, Japan - Down (up Uno)
8 Daisuke 'Amazon' Sugie, Alive, Japan
9 Gesias Cavalcanti, American Top Team, Brazil
10 Justin Bruckman, Shah Franco, Canada
* There was bringing a case from Uno. He was admitted to have
the will to participate in Shooto.
Middleweight
/ -76kg
C Akira Kikuchi, Shooto Gym K'z Factory, Japan - New Champ (win
Shields)
1 Jake Shields, Cesar Gracie Academy, U.S.A. - Down (lose Kikuchi)
2 Ray Cooper,
Jesus is Lord, U.S.A.
3 Jutaro
Nakao, Shooto Gym Osaka, Japan
4 Sauli Heilimo, Team Scandinavia, Finland
5 Kuniyoshi Hironaka, Academia Az, Japan
6 Ronald
Jhun, 808 Fight Factory, U.S.A.
7 Chris
Lytle, Integrated Fighting Academy, U.S.A.
8 Shigetoshi Iwase, Team TOPS, Japan
9 Keith Wisnewski, Duneland Vale Tudo, U.S.A.
10 Luis 'Besouro' Jr., Renovacao Fight Team, Brazil
Lightheavyweight
/ -83kg
C Masanori Suda, Club J, Japan
1 Dustin Denes, American Top Team, U.S.A.
2 Egan
Inoue, Grappling Unlimited, U.S.A.
3 Martijn
de Jong, Tatsujin Dojo, Holland
4 Scott Henze, Freelance, U.S.A.
5 Curtis Stout, American Jiu-Jitsu Academy, U.S.A.
6 Shiko Yamashita, Paraestra Sapporo, Japan
7 Ryuta Sakurai, R-Gym, Japan
8 Jon Fitch, Americn Kick Boxing Academy, U.S.A.
9 David Bielkheden, Hilti BJJ Member of Team Scandinavia, Sweden
10 Ivan 'Batman' Jorge, Carlson Team, Brazil
(all the same)
Pacific
rim Ranking on December 2004
Selected by Ranking committee of the PRSU
Featherweight
/ -60kg
C Vacant
1 Kentaro Imaizumi, SK Absolute, Japan
2 Akitoshi Hokazono, Cobra-kai, Japan
3 Daniel Lima, Five Rings Dojo, Australia
4 Jin Akimoto, Akimoto Dojo Jungle Junction, Japan
5 Masahiro Oishi, Shooto Gym K'z Factory, Japan
6 Kimihito Nonaka, Purebred Omiya, Japan
7 Shuichiro Katsumura, Shooto Gym K'z Factory, Japan
8 Hisao Ikeda, Purebred Omiya, Japan
(all the same)
Lightweight
/ -65kg
C Vacant
1 Gilbert Melendez, Cesar Gracie Academy, U.S.A. - New (win Takaya)
2 Hiroyuki Takaya, Tanaka Juku, Japan - Down (lose Melendez)
3 Makoto Ishikawa, Purebred Omiya, Japan - Up (win Abe)
4 Rumina Sato, Shooto Gym K'z Factory, Japan - Up (win Toida)
5 Stephen
Paling, Jesus is Lord, U.S.A. - Down (up Ishikawa, Sato, new
Melendez)
6 Naoya
Uematsu, Shooto Gym K'z Factory, Japan - Down (up Ishikawa, Sato,
new Melendez)
7 Hiroyuki Abe, AACC, Japan - Down (lose Ishikawa)
8 Katsuya Toida, Keishukai Toi-Katsu Dojo, Japan - Down (lose
Sato)
9 Hideki Kadowaki, WKSS, Japan - Down (up Ishikawa, Sato, new
Melendez)
10 Taiyo Nakahara, Keishukai, Japan - Down (up Ishikawa, Sato,
new Melendez)
Welterweight
/ -70kg
C Vacant
1 Ryan Bow, Purebred Omiya, U.S.A. - Up (Kawajiri acquired the
World Title)
2 Kotetsu Boku, Killer Bee, Japan - Up (Kawajiri acquired the
World Title)
3 Mitsuhiro Ishida, Team TOPS, Japan - Up (Kawajiri acquired
the World Title)
4 Kaoru Uno, Keishukai, Japan - Up (*)
5 Takaharu Murahama, Gracie Barra VT Team, Japan
6 Yoichi Fukumoto, Keishukai Chiba, Japan
7 Takumi, Paraestra Osaka, Japan
8 Daisuke 'Amazon' Sugie, Alive, Japan - Up (Kawajiri acquired
the World Title)
9 Takashi Nakakura, Shooto Gym Osaka, Japan - Up (Kawajiri acquired
the World Title)
10 Kenichiro Togashi, Paraestra Hiroshima, Japan - New
* There was bringing a case from Uno. He was admitted to have
the will to participate in Shooto.
Middleweight
/ -76kg
C Vacant
1 Jake Shields, Cesar Gracie Academy, U.S.A. - Again (lose the
World Title)
2 Ray Cooper,
Jesus is Lord, U.S.A.
3 Jutaro Nakao, Shooto Gym Osaka, Japan
4 Kuniyoshi Hironaka, Academia Az, Japan - Up (win Komas)
5 Ronald
Jhun, 808 Fight Factory, U.S.A. - Down (up Hironaka)
6 Shigetoshi Iwase, Team TOPS, Japan - Down (up Hironaka)
7 Mark
Moreno, Bulls Pen, U.S.A.
8 Deshaun Johnson, HMC, U.S.A.
9 Cris Brown, Extreme, Australia
10 Kolo Koka, Grappling Unlimited, U.S.A.
Source:
ISC
|
News
and Rumors From Japan
by Stephen Martinez
Let’s
start with the obvious: This is not Masa writing another of his
funny articles from Japan. So now that everyone is aware of this,
let me introduce myself. I’m Stephen Martinez and my role
at Sherdog is taking pictures of some of the Japanese shows covered
by the website.
So
why am I writing this? Well let’s say I got a knee injury
while training and I have plenty of time to spare, so Masa asked
me to write something. Since there are no shows to cover until
the next SHOOTO on January 29, I'll write about rumors and behind-the-scenes
from some promotions in Japan.
Let’s
start with SHOOTO and their upcoming show. The main event on
January 29 pits teammates fighting for the Pacific Rim Championship
Tournament Final. Now this is a special situation rarely seen
in events like SHOOTO.
Both
Ryan Bow and Koutetsu Boku belong to Enson Inoue`s Purebred gym. Bow represents the
Omiya branch and Boku represents the Tokyo branch under Norifumi
“Kid” Yamamoto. Now why do I say this is a special
situation? Well SHOOTO doesn’t like to place fighters from
the same stable against each other.
This
reminds me when Rumina Sato and Takanori Gomi used to train together
at K`z Factory. As soon as the SHOOTO commission offered both
fighters a title match for the vacant welterweight belt, Gomi,
without thinking twice, moved to Kikuchi Dojo. What happens next
is history as Gomi defeated Sato to start his reign of terror
inside SHOOTO.
This
situation could be similar to Boku and Bow, but the little twist
is Boku just joined Purebred Killer Bees after starting and spending
a long portion of his career under K`z Factory SHOOTO gym. Now
what do these two gentlemen do to resolve this problem? Like
two good teammates they agreed to fight just in case they meet
in the finals, so this is exactly what’s going to happen
next Saturday.
On
the same card SHOOTO has a non-title match with the current bantamweight
champion, Mamoru, who was “victim” of some replay videos,
the judges and one big tantrum.
The
date was September 26, 2004. It was the main event of SHOOTO’s
show at Korauken hall with Mamoru facing Robson Moura for the
bantamweight title. The result was Mamoru by decision (29-29,
30-29, and 29-28). Everything was fine until Moura returned to
the lockers and basically destroyed the whole place, enraged
as to why he lost the match.
The
solution fell into the hands of the SHOOTO commission President,
who personally apologized and asked Moura’s camp to use
the official protest system available in SHOOTO for the judges
to review the match. Just a few days ago the commission changed
the official result from Mamoru’s win to a technical draw.
DEEP
has an upcoming show February 12 with some interesting match-ups.
The main event features SHOOTO and PRIDE Bushido veteran Dokonjonosuke
Mishima versus Taisho for the new DEEP lightweight title. Very
interesting match, but I think Taisho is giving some pounds to
the heavier Mishima. Some rumors state the winner of this match
will secure a spot for the upcoming PRIDE Bushido and a possible
position inside the rumored Lightweight Grand Prix.
Another
interesting match-up from this card pits Brazilian Top Team representative
Roan “Jucao” Carneiro against the owner of the most
electrifying submission move of 2004, Ryo “Piranha”
Chonan. Coming fresh from the victory over Anderson Silva in
PRIDE, Chonan is set to face another grappler in the ADCC Brazilian
trials champion.
The
other announced match places Pancrase demolition machine Yoshiro
Maeda against the master of leg locks, Masakazu Imanari, in a
featherweight match. Now this is somewhat like a rematch between
these two fighters since they already met in Caol Uno`s grappling
show, Contenders. Imanari got the edge there by submission, but
Maeda is a hard striker with solid ground game.
Finally
there is a little surprise from the new partnership between GCM
(Contenders, Demolition) and K-1. The big company joined forces
with the dynamic, small promotion to create the very first Japanese
MMA show using a cage. I know this is not the first time in Japan
a promotion has run an event with cage (UFC Japan), but this
is the very first time a native Japanese promotion is using the
fenced-in area.
In
Japan, many trademarked promotions that use the ring, like battlefield
GCM and K-1, are looking to explore something new and at the
same time bring something different to the Japanese audience.
The
new promotion name is D.O.G. (Destruction of Octagon Gear) and
the first event will be held March 12 at Differ Ariake in Tokyo.
So far there are two matches announced: SHOOTO veteran Katsuya
Toida is facing Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto protégée
Atsushi Yamamoto. Toida is a submission specialist and a veteran
of the SHOOTO circuit. His last fight was in December when he
got badly knocked out by another SHOOTO legend, Rumina Sato.
Yamamoto
is a carbon copy of his teacher “Kid” Yamamoto, with
good wrestling skill and ground-and-pound technique, but he also
was knocked out in his last match in Pancrase. So this is basically
a “no lose” situation for both fighters if they want
to keep their names active in upcoming shows.
The
other fighters scheduled to participate so far are a nice mix
from the young Japanese MMA scene and bring experience from organizations
like King of The Cage, Pancrase, DEEP, Demolition and PRIDE Bushido.
Some of the names already announced are: Ken Ozawa versus Miki
Shida, and scheduled to participate but without opponents are
Hidetaka Monma, Eiji Mitsuoka and Yoshin Okami.
The
cage looks more like the KOTC style rather than the UFC style
(size wise). Some of the rules so far are three five-minute rounds
or two five-minute rounds; kicking a downed opponent will be
allowed; and the infamous eight-count after knockdowns, used
in some promotions like SHOOTO and Demolition, is discarded.
This
is all from the land of the raising sun until the next time when
Masa and I will be covering from ringside at any upcoming show
in Japan. — Stephen
Source:
Sherdog
|
THE
JAKE R. REPORT:
NEW NHB TV SHOW MAY GO NATIONAL
As I first reported in an exclusive report last year on this
website, the Brazilian NHB television show entitled 'Passing
The Guard', began airing on a Los Angeles television station.
The television show featured real vale tudo clips from past fights
in Brazil, as well well as PRIDE matchups, edited to show the
exciting aspects of NHB to those unfamiliar with the sport.
Given
a late time slot on a smaller station in what was essentially
an infomercial, expectations for the show were not great. However,
I have been informed that various network executives in the television
industry were thrilled with the results under the circumstances.
As
I mentioned in my initial story, the possibility existed for
the TV show to go national. Not only is this now becoming more
likely, but my sources have informed me that three seperate companies
have expressed strong desire in taking 'Passing The Guard' on
a national basis. As it currently stands, if one of the offers
is accepted, the time frame for the national debut will be late
this year.
In
addition, longterm and reliable sources to the Jake R Report
have informed me that 'Passing The Guard' has already received
verbal agreements from PRIDE, the UFC, and various other NHB/MMA
organizations to air fight footage if the show does indeed go
national.
Keep
reading the Jake R Report, where I always go where the scoop
is.
This
exclusive Jake R Report was filed on January 20th, 2005, at 1
pm.
***Jake R Internet Exclusive: Must credit the Jake R Report when
discussing this article***
Source:
Fight Sport
|
'PEQUENO'
VS. ROQUE POSSIBILITY
Alexandre "Pequeno" Nogueira
Brazilian
magazine 'tatame' reports that SHOOTO wants to sign the matchup
of Alexandre 'Pequeno' Nogueira vs. Joao Roque for their card
in March.
All
that remains is for both fighters to agree.
Source:
Fight Sport
|
1.8
Million People Watch "Ultimate Fighter" Debut
by Josh Gross
Overnight
ratings are in for the premiere episode of Spike TV's "Ultimate
Fighter." The Reality Show debuted with a 1.5 rating Monday
night, translating to roughly 1.8 million viewers, Sherdog.com
was told by sources within the industry.
With
a relatively weak lead-in from WWE's RAW, which drew a lower-than-usual
3.0 -- due possibly to the Martin Luther King holiday -- and
no national PR campaign for the "Ultimate Fighter"
debut, these numbers appear to be very solid, and executives
at both Spike TV and Zuffa are said to be ecstatic.
Source:
Sherdog
|
BENNETT
BREAKDOWN:
WHAT "ULTIMATE FIGHTER" RATINGS MEAN
MMAWeekly’s very own Ryan Bennett breaks down what the ratings
mean for the UFC. The UFC confirmed to MMAWeekly yesterday that
the show drew close to a 1.5 rating. (Actual number looks to
be 1.42) What does that mean?
Bennett,
who currently works at the NBC affililate in Santa Barbara/San
Luis Obispo doing sports casts during the 6pm and 11pm news breaks
it down.
Alright
people everybody and their dog has emailed me about the tv numbers
and after reading your emails there is a common question. What
is a ratings point and what does it mean for the UFC?
1
rating point is equivalent to about 1.084 million homes watching
for cable networks. So basically a 1.5 ratings would be around
1.75 or 1.8 million homes. The WWE’s Monday Night Raw, despite
some sites reporting it got around a 3.0, got around a 3.8 rating.
It’s very conceivable the numbers will be even better this
week for the UFC.
The
interesting thing about the 1.5 rating number for Ultimate Fighter
is the fact that we are comparing a 1.5 number to other cable
numbers, who show their programs in PrimeTime.
Ultimate
Fighter isn’t in prime time in most time zones. Basically
in most time zones primetime is either 7pm-9pm or 8pm-10pm depending
where you live. On the coasts they consider up to 11pm. This
show STARTS at 11pm so the Ultimate Fighter show is clearly not
in prime time, which mean's it's pretty amazing what kind of
number it's drawing.
Think
about this for a moment. The old WWE show “Tough Enough.”
That show was basically the WWE’s version of Ultimate Fighter.
Looking back at tough enough's numbers, the Tough Enough show
was routinely drawing a 1.2 rating. It wasn’t until their
grand finaly that they started pulling 2.5's. Tough Enough was
shown during PRIMETIME television on MTV. It was in a great time
slot at either 7pm or 8pm, not 11pm.
I’m
willing to bet your co-worker wasn’t staying up until 11pm
to watch a reality tv show. Those who did though weren’t
disappointed. As one guy who follows the ratings closely told
me “The UFC should be doing back flips pulling over a 1
rating for a show at 11pm.”
MMAWeekly's
Ivan Trembow also had this interesting tidbit of information.
Trembow said "What people are losing track of is the fact
that 1.0 is still a great rating for cable. TNA Impact, the pro
wrestling show on Fox Sports Net that gets a huge amount of promotion,
gets around a 0.15 rating every week. They would kill for a 1.0,
as would the vast majority of shows on cable. The Best Damn Sports
Show Period, the so-called flagship show of Fox Sports Net which
is constantly shoved down everyone's throats in commercials on
FSN and Big Fox, only averages about a 0.20. They would kill
for a 1.0. I don't know how the expectations got set so ridiculously
high for the UFC reality show, but anything over 1.0 is a huge
hit. In the 18-49 demographic, the show did a very strong 1.49
rating. In the 18-34 demographic, the show did an even stronger
1.50 rating. "
Agreed
Ivan. If this number could even grow slightly each week, then
you will see weekly programming for the UFC right around the
corner. The sport still has a long way to go; however, it's definitely
moving in the right direction.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
POSTAL
CONNECTIONS:
RIZZO MAY FIGHT ON PRIDE 29 CARD
Hello
my friends, my postal connections in the DSE/PRIDE organization
are telling me that DSE/PRIDE have made a very good offer to
Pedro Rizzo.
If
Rizzo accepts, he would be included on the upcoming PRIDE 29
card on February 20th.
Source:
Fight Sport
|
Nova
União against Japan in Shooto
Nova União starts 2005 ambitious. Leading four of six
categories at Shooto ranking, Nova União wants to feature
its six best athletes against Japanese fighters. Team leader
André Pederneiras is just waiting to put his fighters
in the last two categories with no NU athletes: Middleweight
and Light Heavyweight.
-
Our biggest problem is that we are on the top of four divisions
of the ranking. Guys in Japan are creating some obstacles. But
I hope to rule the other two categories and make new champions.
Doing that, I will propose a challenge against Japan - Dedé
warned.
Dedé
named the available figthers to run for the gap: ' Tony de Souza,
Tibau, Peterson Mello and Luis Pimpolho over the Middleweight.
As Light Heavyweight we have Thales Leites,' said the NU director,
which saw his team being pointed as the second best team in Japan.
The first one is Brazilian Top Team.
-
Japanese did a seven pages report about Nova União. In
the end, they did a ranking of the best teams. Nova União
got in second place, right behind BTT. This happened because
they considered Vitor Belfort on the team. But he hasn't fight
by Top Team. They also didn't include our foreign fighters, as
Tony de Souza - Pederneiras said.
Source:
Tatame
|
YANAGISAWA
WANTS TO FIGHT IN PRIDE
Ryushi Yanagisawa spoke with the Japanese media and stated that
he would like to fight in DSE/PRIDE.
Yanagisawa
is a veteran of Pancrase and RINGS. Yanagisawa's last fight in
RINGS was a unanimous decision loss to Fedor Emelianenko back
in 2001.
Source:
Fight Sport
|
2005 Hawaii Junior
State Championships of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Is Back on Jan 29th!
The tournament which was referred to as the Gracie's Kids Tournament
(I just made that up) finally has an official name, 2005 Hawaii
Junior State Championships of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Venue: Relson Gracie Main
Academy
844 Queen Street, 2nd Floor
Date: January 29, 2005
Time: 10AM - 2PM
9:30AM Rules Clinic
Ages 16 and under
Inviting all competitors ages 5 to 16 years old
Sponsored by the Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Associations of Hawaii
The Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Associations of Hawaii would like
to cordially invite you and your students to join us at the 2005
Hawaii Junior State Jiu-Jitsu Championships on January 29, 2005
at this year's Host Club-The Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy
in Honolulu, Hawaii. We
have invited youth competitors from schools around the state including HMC, Brazilian Freestyle
Jiu-Jitsu, Gracie Kailua, BJ Penn Jiu-Jitsu, and every Relson
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Association including: Honolulu, Aiea, Kaneohe,
HK and more. We are excited and eager to see all of Hawaii's
youth exhibit their great talent at this exclusive event.
We strongly recommend that all competitors and coaches be at
the tournament no later than 8:30 AM on Saturday to weigh-in
and to find parking (Parking stalls are available at Queen Bee
Restaurant on the corner of Queen St. and Cooke St. between 8-2
PM; there are also parking spaces on adjacent streets-please
observe neighboring business signs and city and county regulations
as to avoid ticketing and towing). The rules clinic will be held at 9:30
AM with the competition beginning promptly at 10 AM.
The top four competitors in each division will receive a trophy
(one 1st place, one 2nd place, and two 3rd places) generously
provided by Hawaiian Pacific Chiropractic. In addition to awards,
all competitors will be qualified to win other prizes. We would
love to see all competitors, spectators, family, martial artists,
etc. gather in this friendly atmosphere established to promote
the awesome art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu among our youth in this
great state of Hawaii.
Sincerely,
Ronn T. Shiraki
Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Kaneohe Team
If Ronn Shiraki has not contacted you, please email him at: Kaneoheteam@yahoo.com
Tournament Rules and Regulations
· Registration fee is $20
· All competitors must compete with a clean white or all
blue Jiu-Jitsu GI (kimono). No mixed colors or black GI will
be allowed.
· Any competitor who displays unsportsmanlike-like conduct
before, during, or after the match, will be disqualified and
forfeit the registration fee.
· It is the competitor's responsibility to find out when
his / her match will take place.
· Any competitor who does not show up before his/ her
match will automatically forfeit the match and registration.
· Any competitor who deliberately tries to hurt an opponent,
(including slamming while in the guard) will be disqualified.
· The competition organizers are not liable for any injury
and/or accident involving competitors.
· We reserve the right to combine weight categories.
· This information may be amended or changed at any time.
· The athletes will not be allowed to apply traumatic
holds; only competition sport Jiu-Jitsu holds will be permitted.
· All parents of youth participants must fill out a waiver
prior to weigh-in.
Divisions and Time Limits
are as follows
Ages Limits Time
5 Mixed 2 minutes
(5 year olds will start on knees)
6 Mixed 3 minutes
7-8 Mixed 4 minutes
9-10 Mixed 4 minutes
11-12 Mixed 4 minutes
13-14 Mixed 4 minutes
15-16 Mixed 5 minutes
Note: Weight classes (to be determined at tournament)
Competitors may be moved up or down a division depending on weight.
Competition Scoring System
· Throws and Takedowns 2 points
· Knee on the Belly 2 points
· Technical Sweeps 2 points
· Passing the Guard 3 points
· Front Mount Position 4 points
· Back Mount Position with Hooks 4 points
Illegal Techniques
The following techniques have been banned to protect the youth
competitors from injury. Judges will stop techniques if harm
appears imminent (referee decisions are Final).
· No Straight foot-locks (ages 15 and 16 only)
· No Toe-holds
· No Heel-hooks
· No Knee-bars
· No Small joint manipulation (fingers and toes)
· No Wrist-locks
· No Fish-hooks
· No Neck-cranks
· No Slamming
· No Can-openers
· No Swearing
· No Spitting
· No Striking of any kind
Contact Person
Ronn T. Shiraki
Phone: 387-1961 Email: Kaneoheteam@yahoo.com
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