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(All events on Oahu, unless noted)
2010
February
BJJ Tournament
(tba)
2009
12/17/09
Scrap MMA Event
(MMA)
(Pipeline Cafe)
12/12/09
Quest for Champions
(Pankration/Sub Grappling)
(Kalani HS)
12/5/09
Aloha
State Championship
of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
(BJJ & Sub Grappling)
(Kaiser H.S. Gym)
12/4/09
Man Up & Stand Up
(Kickboxing)
(Waipahu Filcom)
11/21/09
X-1 LIGHTS OUT
(MMA)
(Kekuaokalani Gym, Kona)
UFC
106
(Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas)
11/14/09
UFC
105
(United Kingdom)
11/8/09
X-1 Scuffle at Schofield
(MMA)
(Tropics, Schofield Barracks)
11/7/09
Mad Skills
(Kickboxing/Triple Threat)
(Waiphu Filcom)
11/6/09
Up & Up
(MMA)
(Kapolei High School)
11/1/09
Boxing
(Palolo District Park Gym)
10/31/09
H.A.P.A.
Hawaii Amateur Pankration Association
Hit-And-Submit
#4
(Pankration)
(Filcom Center, Waipahu)
10/30/09
Niko's MMA Event
(MMA)
(Veterans Hall, Keehi Lagoon)
10/24/09
X-1:
Scuffle on Schofield 2: Homebound Heroes
Press conference, autograph signing & picture taking
(Tropics Rec Center, Schofield Air Force Base, Wahiawa)
UFC
104
(Staples Center, Los Angeles)
10/18/09
NAGA
Hawaii
(BJJ/Sub Grappling)
(Pearl City H.S. Gym)
10/17/09
Just Scrap
(MMA)
(Hilo Civic Auditorium, Hilo)
10/10/09
Man Up & Stand Up
(Kickboxing)
(Waipahu Filcom)
10/3/09
Destiny Unfinished Business
(MMA)
(Waipahu Filcom)
9/19/09
UFC
103
(American Airlines Center, Dallas)
9/16/09
UFC
Fight Night 19
(Cox Convention Center, Oklahoma City)
9/12/09
Hawaiian
Open Championship
of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
(BJJ & Sub Grappling)
(Kaiser H.S. Gym)
Up & Up
(MMA)
(Blaisdell Arena)
8/29/09
MAUI OPEN 2009
Submission Grappling Challenge
(Sub Grappling)
(Maui War Memorial Gym)
Island Assult
(Boxing)
(Blaisdell Arena)
UF1C
102
(Rose Garden, Portland)
8/22/09
Destiny: Maui vs. Oahu
(MMA)
(War Memorial Gym, Maui)
8/15/09
Mad Skills
(Kickboxing & Triple Threat)
(Filcom Center, Waipahu)
8/9/09
WEC
(Las Vegas, NV)
8/8/09
UFC
101: Declaration
(BJ Penn vs. Kenny Florian)
(Wachovia Center, Philadelphia)
8/1/09
Affliction: Trilogy
Fedor vs. Barnett
(Honda Cetner, Anaheim, CA)
7/25/09
X-1
Scuffle On Schofield
(MMA)
(Tropics Recreation Center, Schofield Barracks)
Amateur Boxing at Palolo
(Boxing)
(Palolo Gym)
Gracie Tournament
(Kalaheo H.S. Gym)
**Cancelled**
7/23/09
JUST SCRAP
(MMA)
(Pipeline Cafe)
7/20/09
Dream 10: Welterweight GP Final
(Japan)
7/11/09
UFC
100: Lesnar vs. Mir
(Mandalay Bay Events Center, Las Vegas, NV)
7/10/09
Man up and Stand up
(Kickboxing)
(Waipahu Filcom Center)
6/27-28/09
OTM's 2009
Pac Sub
(Gi & No-Gi competition)
(Blaisdell Exhibition Hall)
6/20/09
The
Ultimate Fighter 9:
Team US vs Team UK Finale
6/13/09
Destiny
(MMA)
(Waipahu Filcom)
UFC
99: Comeback
Silva vs. Franklin
(Cologne, Germany)
6/7/09
WEC: Brown vs. Faber 2
(Versus)
6/6/09
Quest for Champions 2009 Tournament
(Sport Pankration, Sub Grappling)
(Kalani HS Gym)
Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields
(St. Louis, MO)
6/4/09 - 6/7/09
World
JJ Championships
(BJJ)
(California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA)
5/30/09
Event of the Champions
(Triple Threat, Kickboxing, Grappling)
(Elite Auto Group Center)
5/26/09
Dream 9
5/23/09
UFC
98: Evans vs. Machida
(PPV)
5/16/09
KTI's Scrappa Lifestylez
Scrapplers Fest
(BJJ/Submission Grappling)
(Kauai)
5/9/09 - 5/10/09 &
5/16/09 - 5/17/09
Brazilian Nationals JJ Championships
(BJJ)
(Carson, CA)
5/9/09
X-1 Kona
(MMA)
(Kekuaokalani Gym, Kona)
15th Grapplers Quest Las Vegas
(BJJ/Sub Grappling)
(Las Vegas, NV)
5/2/09
Destiny
(MMA)
(Waipahu Filcom)
Uprising MMA
(MMA)
(Maui)
May 2009
Abu Dhabi World Submission Wrestling Championships
(Sub Grappling)
(Tentative)
4/25/09
MMA Madness Water Park Extravaganza
(MMA)
(Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park, Kapolei)
4/18/08
Kingdom
MMA
(MMA)
(Blaisdell Arena)
NY
International JJ Championships
(BJJ)
(Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
4/11/09
Hawaiian
Championship of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
(BJJ & Sub Grappling)
(Kaiser High)
X-1: Temple of Boom
(Boxing & MMA)
(Palolo Hongwangi)
4/10/09
HFC: Stand Your Ground XII
(MMA, Kickboxing)
(Dole Cannery Ballroom)
4/4/09 - 4/5/09
NAGA
World Championship
(BJJ/Sub Grappling)
(NJ, Tentative)
3/28/09
Garden Island Cage Match
(MMA)
(Hanapepe Stadium, Hanapepe, Kauai)
3/27/09
- 3/29/09
Pan
Am JJ Championships
(BJJ)
(Carson, CA)
3/27/09
Tiger Muay Thai Competition
(Muay Thai)
(Tiger Muay Thai Gym, Sand Island Road)
3/21/09 - 3/22/09
$30k Grapplers Quest/Fight Expo/Make a Wish Weekend
(BJJ/Sub Grappling)
(Del Mar, CA)
NAGA US Nationals
(BJJ/Sub Grappling)
(Georgia)
3/14/09
Hawaii Amateur Pankration Association: "Hit and Submit"
(Pankration & Muay Thai)
(O-Lounge Night Club, Honolulu)
NAGA Vegas
(BJJ/Sub Grappling)
3/7/09
UFC 96
(PPV)
(Columbus, OH)
Grapplers Quest Beast of the East
(BJJ/Sub Grappling)
(Wildwood, New Jersey)
2/27/09
X-1 World Events
NEW BEGINNING"
(MMA)
(Maui War Memorial Gym, Wailuku, Maui)
2/21/09
Destiny
(MMA)
(Filcom Center, Waipahu)
UFC
95
(PPV)
(London, England)
2/15/09
X1 World Events
Temple of Boom: Fight Night III
(MMA)
(Palolo Hongwanji)
2/8/09
IWFF
Submission Wrestling Tournament
(No-Gi)
(IWFF Academy, Wailuku, Maui)
2/7/09
4th Annual Clint Shelton Memorial
(Boxing)
(Palolo Gym)
Manup and Standup
(Kickboxing)
(Kapolei Rec Center, Kapolei)
UFC Fight Night
(PPV)
(Tampa, FL)
1/31/09
UFC 93 BJ vs GSP
(PPV)
(MGM Grand, Las Vegas, NV)
1/30/09
MMA Event
(MMA)
(Schofield Barracks)
1/24/09
Eddie Bravo Seminar
(BJJ)
1/17/09
UFC
93
(PPV)
(Dublin, Ireland)
1/10/09
MAT ATTACK Jiu-Jitsu & Submission Grappling Tournament
(Sub Wrestling)
(Lihikai School, Kahului, Maui)
1/3/08
Uprising - Maui
(MMA)
(Paukukalo Hawaiian Homes Gym)
Hazardous Warfare - Maui
(MMA)
(Lahaina Civic Center)
|
|
November
2009 News Part 3
|
Casca Grossa Jiu-Jitsu
is now the O2 Martial Arts Academy with 7 days a week training!
We are also offering Kali-Escrima (stick fighting) on Monday
nights with Ian Beltran and Kickboxing Tuesday, Wednesday and
Thursday with Kaleo Kwan, PJ Dean, & Chris Slavens!
Kids Classes are also
available!
Click
here for info!
Take classes from the Onzuka brothers in a family-like environment! |
Looking
for a hotel room on Oahu?
Check out this reasonably priced, quality hotel in Waikiki!
For
the special Onzuka.com price, click banner above! |
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Fighters'
Club TV
The Toughest Show
On Teleivision
Tuesdays
at 8:00PM
Olelo Channel 52 on Oahu
Also on Akaku on Maui
Check
out the FCTV website! |
Onzuka.com
Hawaii Underground Forum is Online!
Chris, Mark,
and I wanted to start an official Onzuka.com forum for a while
now. We were searching for the best forum to go with and hit
a gold mine! We have known Kirik, who heads the largest and most
popular forum on the net, The Underground for years.
He
offered us our own forum within the matrix know as MMA.tv. The
three of us will be the moderators with of course FCTV808 being
the lead since he is on there all day anyway!
We
encourage everyone from Hawaii and our many readers around world
to contribute to the Hawaii Underground.
If you
do not have a login, it's simple and fast to get one.
Click here to set up an account.
Don't worry about using Pidgin English in the posting. After
all it is the Hawaii Underground and what is a Hawaii Underground
without some Aloha and some Pidgin?
To
go directly to the Onzuka.com Hawaii Underground Forum
click here!
|
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to Advertise on Onzuka.com?
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information!
Short term and long term advertising available.
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1 million hits and counting!
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O2
Martial Arts Academy
Your Complete Martial Arts School!
Click here for pricing and more
information!
O2 Martial Arts features Relson Gracie Jiu-Jitsu taught by Relson
Gracie Black Belts Chris and Mike Onzuka and Shane Agena as well
as a number of brown and purple belts.
We also offer a Boxing and Kickboxing classes with a staff that
is unmatched. Boxing, Kickboxing, and MMA champions Kaleo Kwan
and PJ Dean as well as master boxing instructor Chris Slavens
provide incredibly detailed instruction of the sweet science.
To top it off, Ian Beltran heads our Kali-Escrima classes (Filipino
Stickfighting) who was trained under the legendary Snookie Sanchez.
Just a beginner with no background? Perfect! We teach you from
the ground up!
Experienced martial artist that wants to fine tune your skill?
Our school is for you!
If you want to learn martial arts by masters of their trade in
a friendly and family environment, O2 Martial Arts Academy is
the place for you!
|
Want to Contact
Us? Shoot us an email by Clicking Here!
Follow O2 Martial Arts news via Twitter at:
http://www.twitter.com/O2MAA
Quote
of the Day
“The
art of progress is to preserve order amid change and to preserve
change amid order.”
Alfred North Whitehead
|
NOG
VS. VELASQUEZ EXPECTED AT UFC 110
Ask and ye shall receive.
“In
February I’ll be ready to fight when they ask me to fight.
In February I think I’ll be in shape. I’d love to fight
in Australia. If they put me on the card, I would love to fight
there,” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira told MMAWeekly.com recently,
addressing his return from a fourth staph infection in the past
year.
He
was initially slated to face fellow heavyweight contender Cain
Velasquez on Jan. 2 at UFC 108, but the infection derailed those
plans.
Despite
several reports that UFC 109 on Feb. 6 was under consideration,
MMAWeekly.com has confirmed an MMAJunkie.com report that UFC
109 is not likely. Sources close to the bout informed MMAWeekly.com
that UFC 110 in Sydney, Australia, is expected to host the bout.
It
looks like Nogueira gets his wish.
The
addition of Nogueira vs. Velasquez would give the UFC a strong
twin bill headlining its down under debut. Wanderlei Silva on
Wednesday confirmed plans to “kick the Michael Bisping ass”
in Sydney.
After
losing the interim UFC heavyweight title to Frank Mir at UFC
92, Nogueira (32-5-1) returned with an impressive victory over
UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture at UFC 102 in August. The win
immediately put his name back in the hat of contenders to the
belt currently held by Brock Lesnar.
Velasquez
(7-0) is coming off a dominating TKO stoppage of Ben Rothwell
at UFC 104. Three years into the sport, Velasquez has made a
quick rise to the top of the heavyweight division with five of
his victories taking place in the Octagon and only one having
gone to a decision.
Despite
the re-scheduling of the bout, coupled with the shelving of UFC
heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar and number one contender Shane
Carwin, Velasquez has taken the uncertainty of his next bout
in stride.
“I
just think it’s part of the sport when people get hurt,”
he told MMAWeekly.com at UFC 106. “It just so happens that
a lot of people got hurt in this weight class.”
Lesnar’s
condition is such that it is unclear when he will be able to
return to action, though his camp insists he will return. That
has led the UFC to consider crowning an interim UFC heavyweight
champion, but it is unclear whether Nogueira, who has held that
distinction before, and Velasquez will fight for an interim title.
Regardless,
Velasquez doesn’t discount his opponent.
“Nogueira,
you can never count him out,” he said. “You hurt him,
whatever – he’ll still submit you and beat you. He’s
just a super tough guy.”
UFC
110 has yet to be formally announced by the promotion, but is
expected to take place on Feb. 21 at the 21,000-seat Acer Arena
in Sydney, Australia.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
SINOSIC
VS. HASEMAN REMATCH REPORTED FOR UFC 110
The UFC is expected to put together a rematch between Australians
Elvis Sinosic and Chris Haseman when the promotion heads down
under on Feb. 21 for UFC 110 at the Acer Arena, according to
a Thursday report by the Brisbane Times.
The
bout has been more than a decade in the making. The two first
met in March of 1997 in Australia. Haseman won the bout by submissions,
driving his chin into Sinosic’s eye. The rules have been
upgraded since then. Such a maneuver would now be illegal.
Neither
has been much of a factor in recent years, though their home
country popularity should help draw fans.
The
38-year-old Sinosic (8-11-2) hasn’t fought since 2007, when
he lost back-to-back bouts to Paul Cahoon and Michael Bisping.
He submitted Jeremy Horn at UFC 30 in early 2001 to earn a shot
at the UFC light heavyweight championship then-held by Tito Ortiz.
He failed in his attempt to capture the title later that year.
Haseman
(20-16), now 40 years of age, has fought once since 2004, that
being a victory over Yuji Hisamatsu in November of 2008. He has
fought once before in the Octagon, a loss to Evan Tanner at UFC
38. Haseman spent the majority of his career in the now defunct
Rings organization in Japan. He has a notable loss to number
one ranked heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko in the Rings World Title
Series Grand Final in 2002.
UFC
110 is expected to feature co-main event bouts pitting Antonio
Rodrigo Nogueira against Cain Velasquez in a heavyweight bout
and Wanderlei Silva against Michael Bisping in the middleweight
division.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
JUNIE BROWNING STARTS REBUILDING ON SATURDAY
Junie Browning headlines “MMA Big Show: Onslaught”
Saturday night at the Belterra Casino Resort & Spa in the
Cincinnati area against Scott Cornwell.
“The
Ultimate Fighter” season 8 bad boy was released by the Ultimate
Fighting Championship following an arrest on Oct. 6 in Las Vegas.
The bout with Cornwell is Browning’s first since being let
go by the UFC.
The
24-year-old Lexington, Ky., native is happy to be fighting close
to home as he tries to rebuild his career.
“My
first fight out of the UFC I was hoping I could fight somewhere
close to home so I could have my friends and family who couldn’t
watch the fight when like I fought in Vegas or Tennessee,”
Browning told MMAWeekly.com “It gives them the opportunity
to come see me fight.
“I’m
pretty good at putting on a show especially in front of a hometown
crowd, so I’m going to continue to do that where I left
off before I went to the UFC.”
On
name recognition alone, Browning could have signed with a more
established promotion, but wants to gain experience before re-emerging
on the big stage.
“I
probably could have jumped into one of the bigger shows right
off the bat, but I didn’t want to,” said the Kentuckian.
“It’s almost a good thing. I can go around and get
some more experience beating up some people in some smaller shows
and then go back and be a little bit more prepared.”
Browning
is optimistic about his future and believes it’s just a
matter of time before he’s back competing against top tier
talent.
“I’ll
be back. You can only beat up so many people outside of the UFC
before they let you back,” commented the controversial fighter.
“I don’t want to be a fake fighter, like all hype.
I promise I’ll be back and when I do come back I’ll
be the best. I know I will. It’s just a matter of time.
“I
might drift off a little bit, but I’ll do a pretty good
job of keeping my name out there just putting on a show and then
I’ll get right back into one of the bigger shows and smash
people’s faces in.”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
WEC:
Wagnney drops to bantamweight
After teammate Jose Aldo conquered the WEC featherweight title,
Wagnney Fabiano decided to drop to bantamweight (135lbs, 61kg),
as he aspires to the organization’s title and would never
consider facing Aldo.
And the Nova Uniao black belt already has a likely date and opponent
for his debut in his new weight division. The bout should take
place January 10, against Frank Gomez.
Wagnney goes into the fight after his second career loss, while
Gomez won his last two outings. The post of division champion
is currently held by Brian Bowles, who ended the reign of Carlson
Gracie student Miguel Torres in his last fight.
After
teammate Jose Aldo conquered the WEC featherweight title, Wagnney
Fabiano decided to drop to bantamweight (135lbs, 61kg), as he
aspires to the organization’s title and would never consider
facing Aldo.
And
the Nova Uniao black belt already has a likely date and opponent
for his debut in his new weight division. The bout should take
place January 10, against Frank Gomez.
Wagnney
goes into the fight after his second career loss, while Gomez
won his last two outings. The post of division champion is currently
held by Brian Bowles, who ended the reign of Carlson Gracie student
Miguel Torres in his last fight.
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
Minotouro
vibrant about fight with Forrest:
“Let’s fight!”
Native of the Brazilian state of Bahia Rogerio Minotouro is riding
high on a six-fight winning streak – he hasn’t lost
since 2007. Better still, the 33-year-old fighter had an exemplary
debut in the UFC, with a knockout over the heavy-hitting Luiz
Banha. Still in the United States, Minotouro (18w, 3l) called
up GRACIEMAG.com at 3 am. We missed that one, but we chased him
down and had a chat with the bruiser. Top on the discussion agenda
was a possible showdown with Forrest Griffin, who had his last
win on the 21st, too. Here’s what he had to say:
I never expected to knock him out. Rogerio Minotouro
You managed a stunning knockout win over Banha. Before the bout,
your muay thai coach Luiz Alves remarked about how well your
striking preparation had been going…
I really had been working a lot on my striking with a lot of
boxing. I focused on that and even took some criticism; the folks
were saying I was training more boxing than other fundamentals.
I never expected to knock him out, but I was under the impression
the fight would play out standing. I respected him, if just because
Banha is a really tough athlete, someone with a lot of will and
who hits hard. I knew he was dangerous, which is why I worked
so hard on striking – to put up a front.
Do you feel the crowd and promoters were impressed?
It was a great result for me and I won the best way I could.
It was good because I debuted against an opponent with a name
and I like to fight great adversaries, it just motivates me more
in training. As it was my debut in the UFC, I feel it went as
best it could. I’ve been wanting to fight there for a while
– it’s now the world’s biggest event, where the
world’s best fighters meet for the greatest challenges of
their careers.
You had a great run at Pride, the former biggest event in the
world. Do you now feel more mature and capable of making UFC
history for it?
I see my career as being in a better place now. Nowadays, I’m
certain I’m more mature, objective, I train more and have
greater responsibilities. I currently have a team, and that greatens
my obligation to everyone, and makes me train more. I want to
train not just for my fights, but to help my teammates and my
brothers. I’ve trained a lot with Rodrigo and improved my
Jiu-Jitsu. My wrestling has improved, too; that’s a flaw
I had, and I’ve managed to fix it. There’s nothing
to say about the boxing. More so since I started training with
Luiz Alvez (muay thai) and Dorea (boxing), and with sparring
partners Cigano, Feijao, not to mention Rodrigo… In a nutshell,
I have what I need to be in the UFC.
A lot of folks have been asking for a fight with Forrest Griffin,
who beat Tito Ortiz the same night you debuted. What do you think
of that?
It would be a good fight. Forrest is an aggressive guy who fights
on his feet, and I like that. He also has excellent Jiu-Jitsu
and absurd wind. It would be a really good fight.
How were you treated in your new home?
It was pure joy. I was really well received by the folks from
the event. The whole time Dana would say, “Welcome to you
new home.” I felt really comfortable with the treatment
I received. All the employees welcomed me and said they had been
waiting for me. Since Rodrigo does a good job and has a good
relationship with everyone there, I felt the doors were already
open.
What is your assessment of the light heavyweight division (under
94kg), which includes Lyoto, Tito, Shogun, Rashad and Thiago
Silva, among others?
It’s the toughest category. It will be great and I’ll
have fun. Let’s fight!
Native
of the Brazilian state of Bahia Rogerio Minotouro is riding high
on a six-fight winning streak – he hasn’t lost since
2007. Better still, the 33-year-old fighter had an exemplary
debut in the UFC, with a knockout over the heavy-hitting Luiz
Banha. Still in the United States, Minotouro (18w, 3l) called
up GRACIEMAG.com at 3 am. We missed that one, but we chased him
down and had a chat with the bruiser. Top on the discussion agenda
was a possible showdown with Forrest Griffin, who had his last
win on the 21st, too. Here’s what he had to say:
I never expected to knock him out. Rogerio Minotouro
You
managed a stunning knockout win over Banha. Before the bout,
your muay thai coach Luiz Alves remarked about how well your
striking preparation had been going…
I
really had been working a lot on my striking with a lot of boxing.
I focused on that and even took some criticism; the folks were
saying I was training more boxing than other fundamentals. I
never expected to knock him out, but I was under the impression
the fight would play out standing. I respected him, if just because
Banha is a really tough athlete, someone with a lot of will and
who hits hard. I knew he was dangerous, which is why I worked
so hard on striking – to put up a front.
Do
you feel the crowd and promoters were impressed?
It
was a great result for me and I won the best way I could. It
was good because I debuted against an opponent with a name and
I like to fight great adversaries, it just motivates me more
in training. As it was my debut in the UFC, I feel it went as
best it could. I’ve been wanting to fight there for a while
– it’s now the world’s biggest event, where the
world’s best fighters meet for the greatest challenges of
their careers.
You
had a great run at Pride, the former biggest event in the world.
Do you now feel more mature and capable of making UFC history
for it?
I
see my career as being in a better place now. Nowadays, I’m
certain I’m more mature, objective, I train more and have
greater responsibilities. I currently have a team, and that greatens
my obligation to everyone, and makes me train more. I want to
train not just for my fights, but to help my teammates and my
brothers. I’ve trained a lot with Rodrigo and improved my
Jiu-Jitsu. My wrestling has improved, too; that’s a flaw
I had, and I’ve managed to fix it. There’s nothing
to say about the boxing. More so since I started training with
Luiz Alvez (muay thai) and Dorea (boxing), and with sparring
partners Cigano, Feijao, not to mention Rodrigo… In a nutshell,
I have what I need to be in the UFC.
A
lot of folks have been asking for a fight with Forrest Griffin,
who beat Tito Ortiz the same night you debuted. What do you think
of that?
It
would be a good fight. Forrest is an aggressive guy who fights
on his feet, and I like that. He also has excellent Jiu-Jitsu
and absurd wind. It would be a really good fight.
How
were you treated in your new home?
It
was pure joy. I was really well received by the folks from the
event. The whole time Dana would say, “Welcome to you new
home.” I felt really comfortable with the treatment I received.
All the employees welcomed me and said they had been waiting
for me. Since Rodrigo does a good job and has a good relationship
with everyone there, I felt the doors were already open.
What
is your assessment of the light heavyweight division (under 94kg),
which includes Lyoto, Tito, Shogun, Rashad and Thiago Silva,
among others?
It’s
the toughest category. It will be great and I’ll have fun.
Let’s fight!
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
Paulo
Thiago predicts “a good year” at UFC
With
ten fights on his career, Paulo Thiago won the chance to debut
on UFC at the beginning of the year, and had two victories on
three fights, beating Jacob Volkmann on the last weekend. And
Paulo previews a 2010 even better.
“I’m
waiting for UFC to say what’s gonna happen, they didn’t
tell me nothing yet. I think it’s gonna be a good year,
I’ll train hard to face whoever UFC tells me to”, Thiago
said, who didn’t won easily.
“I
thought it was a hard fight, a though guy on the ground, with
a good Wrestling, but was everything okay. I trained a lot and
it was kind of how he have planed”, Paulo celebrates, who
dominated the fight standing, but passed for bad moments on the
ground.
“I
knew that he was going to try to go to the ground, but I tried
the knock out the whole time. He has a heavy hand, I passed for
some good and some bad moments on the ground… I tried to
work the ground and pond, but the time was up”, remembers.
With
new previews to return to the octagon, Paulo knows that he’s
in one of the toughest categories of the event, but he guarantees
that he’s ready to the opponent that his bosses chose. Even
if it is Josh Koscheck, who was considered one of the biggest
names of the weight, but was knocked out by Paulo on his debut.
“I don’t believe that this rematch can happen so soon,
but, if they put it, I’m ready”, finished.
Source: Tatame
|
PLAYBOY'S
LATASHA MARZOLLA RETURNS FRIDAY
After
spending the last couple of years making an impact in the kickboxing
world, former Playboy model LaTasha Marzolla has set her sights
on conquering MMA and proving she’s more than just a pretty
face.
Earlier
this year in her MMA debut, Marzolla took her first step in achieving
her goal by defeating Christy Tada via TKO at the end of the
first round of their fight.
Eager
to continue her success, she returns Friday night as the headliner
of the latest installment of Tuff-N-Uff at the Orleans Casino
in Las Vegas.
“I’m
really excited,” Marzolla told MMAWeekly.com of her return.
“I trained really hard, I’m prepared, I have really
good people in my corner and I’m ready to fight.”
After
years of being a staple on various K-1 cards in Vegas and abroad,
Marzolla turned to MMA feeling now is the time if she wishes
to make a career of fighting.
“I
had a baby a couple years ago, and I decided this is my last
shot,” she stated. “I knew I was going to focus on
my kids, my training, and I was going to go for it.
“About
a year ago I showed up at (Xtreme) Couture’s. I went to
watch Gina (Carano) fight, and signed up and here I am.”
At
Tuff-N-Uff on Friday, Marzolla takes on a fellow former kickboxer
turned MMA fighter in Kate McGray.
“She’s
an awesome stand-up fighter,” she said of McGray. “She’s
got great cardio, good hands, and I’m glad I’m fighting
her. It should be good experience for me.”
While
both fighters come from a striking background, don’t expect
an all out slugfest according to Marzolla.
“I
really want to go to the ground bad, and I’m really excited
about my boxing (as well),” she stated. “I want to
mix it up a little bit, but I never know what’s going to
go on until I’m in there.”
As
for the naysayers who think she is just a model looking to cash
in on the latest sensation, Marzolla says otherwise.
“I
really don’t care what people think,” she stated. “I’m
the one in my gym working my butt off; it just so happens that
before I did any fighting that I was in Playboy.
“It’s
not like I used fighting to get somewhere. I was already a Playboy
model, I just happened to step in the ring, so if they want to
say that, that’s fine, but I know that once they watch me
fight, they’ll know that it’s just not another (over-hyped)
model or made up.”
A
win over McGray could go a long way in furthering Marzolla’s
fight exposure and could lead to an opportunity to turn pro and
fight for a bigger show. If she has her say about it, however,
her move up will happen on her own terms when she’s ready.
“I’m
just going to keep on fighting and see what happens,” she
commented. “I need some more experience under my belt.
“Every
fight I learn a little bit more about myself and what I have
to work on and go from there. No stress and no worries about
going pro; I’m just going out to enjoy myself out there.”
So
while other people will be dealing with their turkey-induced
comas and cranberry sauce overloads on Friday, Marzolla will
instead be stepping into the ring, looking to prove she’s
the real deal in women’s MMA.
“I’d
like to thank Gil Martinez for working on my boxing with me,
Dennis Davis for being an awesome ground coach, and Elaina Maxwell
for being my inspiration,” she concluded. “Come check
out Tuff-N-Uff Friday, Nov. 27, and watch some great fights.
“I
would love to give everybody what they’re looking for. I
train really hard and I hope I can do some impressive things.
I really want to show that I work hard and I deserve to do well.”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Quote
of the Day
"What
we become depends on what we read after all the professors have
finished with us.
The greatest university of all is the collection of books."
Thomas Carlyle
|
UFC
107 Preview: Ben Henderson Goes Four Rounds Against BJ Penn
by Nick
Thomas
So day one just ended down here in costa Mesa, CA...went pretty
well, right when we got to the RVCA facility jumped right in
and did four mma rounds with BJ, so I found out right away what
I personally wanted to know, which is, 'is BJ really that hard
to take-down???', the answer is without a doubt, yes he is...like
I said we did 4 rounds, I was doing my best Diego sanchez impression,
hehe, but I didn't get killed nearly as bad as I thought I was
going to, so that's a big plus, I am a little out of shape and
going four was pretty good I thought on my part, especially considering
the competition doesn't get much tougher in the whole world...
For
the 2nd practice of the day we just did some stand-up sparring
situations then ended practice with some bag and mitt work...of
course BJ's trainers are world class, he himself is all-world
class so it was just really an honor and privledge for me to
be able to work with them and kinda see how THE world champ does
things...I'm excited for the rest of the 8-9 days I'm down here,
hopefully some of his all-world classness rubs off on me and
I'll be able to learn a lot from BJ, Shane, Rob (Emerson, who
I forgot to mention was down here as well...he's a beast), and
all of BJ's trainers...tomorrow morning is grappling, so I'm
of course really looking forward to being choked out by BJ a
bunch of times...
Source: Bloody Elbow
|
UFC
106: Demian training hard for Dan Miller
By Guilherme Cruz
Demian Maia was close to fight for the belt, but the knock out
loss to Nate Marquard changed his plans. After the first defeat
in the career, Demian is back to trainings, looking to the fight
against Dan Miller on UFC 109, in February. Im training, doing
my preparation, training Jiu-Jitsu, boxing and strength training.
Hes a complete guy, fights standing up, on the ground, won a
lot of fights by submission and has a good Wrestling, the black
belt said, who trained with Rodrigo Minotauro Nogueira, Junior
Cigano dos Santos and Rogirio Minotouro Nogueira.
I had already trained with Rogirio and Rodrigo, they're excellent
on Jiu-Jitsu. I had never trained with Cigano, but I got surprised.
He still have a lot to develop, but he has a good ground and
he's very talented, learns very fast, I think that in a little
while he's gonna be excellent The guys are amazing, complements
Damian, who sent TATAME.com some images of the big train in his
gym.
And Maia praises Dos Santos ground game. I think he has all the
conditions to become champion. He's excellent, has a good boxing
and he moves as a lightweight with heavyweight punch, and he
has a good ground, analyzes, celebrating Minotouros victory,
who debuted with a knockout on UFC.
It was excellent, man. Hes my friend, we train together and I
was supporting him a lot. I was very happy because he won, and
won very well. Hes an excellent athlete, said, surprised by the
fact that the fight ended is less than two minutes. Banha (Luis
Cane) didnt found himself, I thought Banha was going to find
himself a little bit more. I thought that Rogirio was going to
win, but Banha got pretty lost. Rogirios game is complicated,
hes boxing is not easy to understand, finished.
Source:
Tatame
|
Does
Lil Nog deserve a title shot already?
By Isaac Brekken, AP
3 Recommend Antonio Rogerio Nogueira ought to be fighting for
championship gold soon, if career accomplishments and proven
skill mean anything.
The
man called Lil Nog -- he's a light-heavyweight version of his
identical twin, heavyweight ex-champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
-- had a perfect debut for the Ultimate Fighting Championship
last weekend. His dismantling of Luiz Cane in less than two minutes
at UFC 106 was as one-sided as a fight can get, with Nogueira's
left hand rocking Cane repeatedly until it drove him to the mat
for the finish and a Knockout of the Night bonus.
Nogueira,
the No. 9 lightweight in the USA TODAY/SB Nation consensus rankings,
brings a different approach for the 205-pound weight class. Many
light-heavyweights in the Top 25 rely on wrestling and Muay Thai
striking or power punches -- Nogueira has the division's best
MMA jiu-jitsu and the most technical approach to boxing, with
sound footwork and a snapping jab to set up his left hand.
So
why not a shot next at the winner of Lyoto Machida-Mauricio Rua?
Bloody
Elbow's Leland Rolling suggests Nogueira might need at least
one more big-name fight before getting a chance at the top. And
there are sound business reasons for building up Lil Nog with
two or three more fights before throwing him into the title mix.
But
he's been proving his worth for years. Saturday's show was merely
the latest display of excellence in an eight-year run that includes
wins over an MMA legend (Kazushi Sakuraba), a former king of
Pancrase and UFC tournament winner (Guy Mezger), a current heavyweight
champion (Alistair Overeem, twice) and the only man to hold two
major titles simultaneously (Dan Henderson).
Those
fights happened in Pride Fighting Championships, but UFC has
granted championship bouts before to fighters based on their
Pride accomplishments.
Wanderlei
Silva was supposed to fight then-champion Chuck Liddell in 2006
before Mirko Filipovic blew up the plan by erasing Silva in the
Pride Open Weight Grand Prix that year.
UFC
President Dana White said more that consensus No. 1 heavyweight
Fedor Emelianenko would get an immediate title shot if he signs
with the organization.
Perhaps
the most relevant examples include a would-be B.A. Baracus and
the brother who shares two names and a middle initial. The title
paths of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Quinton Jackson each required
only one UFC victory over a journeyman -- Heath Herring in Nogueira's
case, Marvin Eastman in Jackson's.
Neither
win was particularly impressive. At least Lil Nog made his UFC
entry by making a Top-10 fighter look amateurish.
Critics
could argue that Nogueira and Jackson were elevated because their
divisions were thin at the time, while the UFC has abundant talent
in the current 205-pound group.
The
crop isn't as thick as it seems. Mauricio Rua will get his title
rematch whenever the champion is ready to go, but the rest of
the light-heavyweight field has issues:
•
Because Rashad Evans and Thiago Silva lost so convincingly to
Machida already, the winner of their UFC 108 showdown will still
need another victory over a big name to regain credibility.
•
The same holds true for Randy Couture, whose decision victory
over Brandon Vera at UFC 105 was too close for comfort.
•
The enormously talented Jon Jones lacks a major win and will
still lack one even if he beats Matt Hamill on Dec. 5.
•
Jackson quit MMA to make movies.
•
Keith Jardine, Tito Ortiz, Vera and Cane have to restart after
losing their last fights.
•
Anderson Silva has no interest in facing Machida because of their
friendship.
Nogueira
doesn't really want that bout either. Ed Soares, whose stable
of Brazilian fighters includes Silva, Machida and the Nogueiras,
is skeptical about matching them up in the near future.
"Maybe
some day that could potentially happen, but Nogueira's got quite
a few fights ahead of him before that," Ed Soares said in
August.
But
unlike Silva, who has his own playground at 185 pounds, Nogueira
has nowhere else to go. Until his brother decides to call it
a day, Lil Nog is stuck at 205 pounds.
Giving
the next shot to Nogueira also helps the entire division.
Everyone
gets a clean slate if Nogueira takes the title from Machida.
Evans, Thiago Silva or Ortiz against Lil Nog appears to be more
competitive than any of them in a rematch with Machida. Forrest
Griffin and Couture offer much better style match-ups with Nogueira
than against Machida, and Couture comes with a built-in storyline
stemming from his UFC 102 fight with Big Nog.
If
Nogueira fights Rua instead, it could be an even easier fight
to sell. Just keep replaying their fantastic performance from
in the Pride 2005 Middleweight Grand Prix.
(Yes,
I'm biased -- Shogun-Lil Nog remains one of my favorite fights.
It also should be one of yours)
Revenge
plotlines aside, Nogueira battling for the title at least buys
time for to build everyone else in the division. There's no need
to rush someone to the head of the class when you already have
a guy who's proven he belongs there.
Unfortunately,
Machida-Rua II won't happen until May 1, if UFC's plan holds
up. Nogueira shouldn't wait so long for his next bout, so he'll
have to prove himself at least one more time before he gets his
shot.
Source: USA Today
|
Georges
St-Pierre: Even the invincible have scars
By Elliot Worsell
Georges ‘Rush’ St-Pierre remembers the day well. He
remembers the sounds, the apprehension, the racing heart and
the first devastating blow. He recalls the monumental task ahead
of him and the need to conquer his fear.
Georges
is 11-years-old and he’s about to engage in the biggest
fight of his career.
“One
time I was leaving school with my friend Mathieu and we were
approached by a group of local delinquents, a few years older
than the both of us,” says St-Pierre.
“We
were both heading to the bus with a group of other friends we
knew. These friends were not tough guys or popular kids. They
were your typical nerds or geeks. They were clever kids and didn’t
like confrontation. While we were waiting for the bus, we spotted
the three delinquents nearby and then started to hear a spitting
sound. It almost sounded like it was starting to rain. We turned
around to face the delinquents and Mathieu raced on up ahead.
I went after Mathieu and stopped him. I then noticed that there
was saliva all over the back of his coat.”
St-Pierre’s
worst fears were confirmed. Not for the first time in his pre-pubescent
life, the French-Canadian had been a target for school bullies.
This time was different, though.
“Mathieu
took the coat off and I prepared myself to go back at the delinquents
and tell them they had made a mistake,” continues St-Pierre.
“Mathieu didn’t want to go back and give them what
for – he just wanted to go home. Like most of the kids at
school, he was scared of these delinquents and would give them
whatever they asked for. I was different and felt we needed to
prove a point. Even if we got our asses kicked, at least we would
have fought back and showed them they couldn’t get away
with this sort of thing.”
So
St-Pierre went back into the firing line - or perhaps more aptly,
spitting line – to confront both his fears and the bullies.
This was the final straw for St-Pierre.
“I
let Mathieu be and went back alone,” says St-Pierre. “I
pretended I forgot something – a pencil case maybe –
and then headed back towards school and the delinquents on the
wall. As I went by the delinquents, I closed my fist behind my
back and clenched it tight. They had no idea what was coming.
I hid the fist and smiled as I walked on by. Then, as soon as
I got level with them, I raced towards the first bully and hit
him square on the jaw. He went down hard and the other two bullies
jumped on me.
“I
wouldn’t say I won the fight that day. There were too many
of them and they were too big. I did win a mental battle, though.
I showed those guys that I’d always be the kid willing to
fight back. They pretty much left me alone after that. I was
too much of an effort for them.”
Though
he didn’t know it at the time, St-Pierre’s refusal
to be beaten or dominated would act as the pre-cursor to a stellar
career in the burgeoning sport of mixed martial arts. Just a
bleary-eyed child at the time, St-Pierre was already laying down
the foundations to a life in competition. Despite his mini triumph
in Montreal that day, St-Pierre’s parents were quick to
end any vigilante aspirations Georges may have had.
“My
mom was in tears when she saw what the bullies had done to me,”
laughs St-Pierre. “She wanted to know what was going on
and wanted to know the names of the kids that would be evil enough
to do this stuff to me.
“That
was bad enough, but my dad went one step further and actually
contacted the school and visited the bullies’ homes. It
was the right thing to do from a parent’s point of view,
but it was incredibly embarrassing for me. You don’t want
to be seen telling your parents about school stuff. You don’t
want your mum and dad sorting your problems out for you. That
brought me a lot of shame.”
St-Pierre
didn’t stay ashamed of his parents’ pro-active approach
for long. After all, it was his father who first introduced a
young Georges to Kyokushin karate at seven years of age.
“My
father was a black belt in Kyokushin karate and he was a massive
inspiration for me growing up,” says St-Pierre. “I
was keen to follow the family tradition. I wanted to be a success
in martial arts, because I knew it meant so much to my father
and it was such an integral part of his life.
“I
wanted to follow my father’s path and almost felt like I
would let him down if I failed or decided to go in another direction.
Everybody plays ice hockey in Canada, but it never really gripped
me like it did other children my age. They were all big fans
of the sport and would collect all the magazines and trading
cards. I just never followed it like that.”
In
between fending off school bullies and learning various martial
arts techniques, St-Pierre would compete in athletic competitions
and watch Jean-Claude Van Damme movies. His favourite movie back
then was ‘Bloodsport’ and his other favourite pastime
happened to be the odd game of chess.
“I
would try everything the school would have to offer and would
sign up to all the sports clubs as quick as possible,” explains
GSP. “I did the 100-metres, the 400-metres, the high jump,
long jump and also played chess.
“That
may seem like a weird combination but, to be honest, my love
of chess helped my career in mixed martial arts perhaps more
than any other sport I played. They call mixed martial arts human
chess and it’s totally true. Chess is all about using your
opponent’s insecurities and weaknesses against him and strategising
a way to win. It’s exactly the same in mixed martial arts,
only a little more physical.”
Though
a quiet and unassuming child growing up, St-Pierre never shirked
the physical side of life. His father was a master in the combat
arts and it was in St-Pierre’s nature to stand up for what
was right. He hated seeing younger classmates get picked on and
he hated it even more when he was at the centre of the bullies’
attentions.
“Even
though I trained karate, sometimes you just face too many bigger
guys and have to take a beating,” says St-Pierre. “That
happened a lot at school. I would probably be able to beat all
the kids one-on-one, but they would gang up on me and would often
be much older and bigger. I usually had to fend off three or
four guys at any one time.
“Gradually
in time, I persisted and they left me alone.”
Pain
is supposed to heal with time and yet St-Pierre shakes his head
every time the adage is used. His post-fight injuries may heal
up in a matter of weeks, but the memories of his early fights
– those of the unsanctioned and unorganised variety –
linger like saliva on a hood.
“I
learnt a lot of life lessons from my time at school,” admits
Georges. “The funny thing is, a lot of the scars I have
in my head are from my time at school, not from any of my experiences
in mixed martial arts. People find that hard to believe. They
see me as this strong and dominant UFC champion and just assume
that I’ve always been the one handing out the beat downs.
That’s not true at all, though. The most pain I ever suffered
was when I was growing up in school.”
The
28-year-old continues: “Competing in mixed martial arts
is fairly easy, compared to what I had to go through as a child.
You’re afforded weeks and months of preparation time for
a fight in the UFC. You can train your body and mind to get ready
for a certain fight. You know the time, place and reason for
your next fight. You can visualise the outcome. On the school
playground it’s completely different. I often didn’t
know when a fight would break out or why an older kid would be
kicking and punching me. There is no time to prepare or negotiate
at school.”
St-Pierre
never looked for time to negotiate or plan for events at school.
He was just a kid. The only responsibility he had back then was
getting to class on time and handing in homework on the specified
day. Despite the fact GSP would go on to become synonymous with
the fast-rising sport of mixed martial arts, a young Georges
was always the kid walking in the other direction.
“People
sometimes get the wrong impression of fighters and just assume
that we always want to fight and show our skills off in any possible
situation,” he says. “They think we’re always
looking to beat someone up. It’s not true at all. I have
never fought in the street or to just show off. MMA is my art
– it’s the skill I use in performance.
“If
my karate teacher had found out I was fighting in the street,
I would have been thrown out and told to never return. That would
have been the end of my karate. I didn’t want to get kicked
out and I knew it was a bad idea to even think about fighting
in the street.”
Despite
his reluctance to get involved on the school playground-turned-fight
arena, St-Pierre noticed changes in his body at age 14 that allowed
him to walk through the school corridors with his head held higher
than his peers.
“I
remember at 14 years of age I was probably the strongest guy
in school,” admits St-Pierre. “I wasn’t the tallest,
but I was the strongest. Everybody knew it. I was stronger than
all the other athletes, all the older guys and was even stronger
than my own dad. We would mess around on the school field and
I would take down the biggest, tallest guy in the school at will.
It wasn’t even a contest.
“I
was never aggressive at school. I didn’t go out to try and
prove a point with anyone. I just wanted to feel strong so that
I could have that confidence to stand up for what was right.
By the time I was 14, I was no longer scared to stand up for
myself. The bullies knew that, too.”
Everybody
knew it. Years later, St-Pierre would receive all the indication
he needed that the bullies knew what he hoped they knew.
“I
never got proper revenge on the guys that bullied me back then,”
says St-Pierre. “I would fight back, of course, but I never
really got the sense that I’d won until a couple of years
ago.
“I
was walking through a mall in Montreal and I happened to see
one of the bullies – now grown up – walk past me in
the opposite direction. We both saw each other and our eyes locked.
He saw me and I saw him, albeit for only a couple of seconds.
My stare locked on him, but he was very quick to look down at
his feet and shuffle along quickly. He didn’t want to look
at me any longer. He had obviously seen me on television and
heard about my life since our school days. He knew what I had
become. I didn’t know what he’d become.”
Most
men would have to be pulled down from the rooftop following such
an ego-boosting shot to the arm. Not St-Pierre, though. Sure,
the satisfaction was prevalent, but Georges only looks forward
nowadays.
“Maybe
I got vengeance in a psychological way,” ponders GSP. “It
certainly felt good to know what he knew and to see it on his
face. Ultimately, I see revenge as a really negative energy.
You should never live with anger or the desire to get revenge
over somebody. It’s very dangerous to fight or compete with
that mindset.”
So,
what had Georges St-Pierre become? Well, for starters, he’s
now arguably the world’s greatest mixed martial artist.
He boasts a professional record of 19-2 and has twice won the
coveted UFC world welterweight title. In a career spanning nearly
eight years, St-Pierre has twice defeated BJ Penn and Matt Hughes,
and also claims wins over Thiago Alves, Jon Fitch, Sean Sherk,
Matt Serra and Josh Koscheck, amongst many others.
St-Pierre
has combined God-given gifts with an unparalleled work ethic
to become the template for the modern day mixed martial artist.
Despite never competing as a wrestler in college, St-Pierre is
now considered the go-to guy for all aspiring MMA students and
teachers. Not only that, St-Pierre can also call on devastating
striking capabilities and a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
In short, St-Pierre is mixed martial arts in 2009.
“I
have a theory on my success, and it’s to do with both the
idea of nature and nurture,” says St-Pierre. “I’m
very much into philosophy and believe that everything in life
is down to a combination of genetics and natural environment.
I have good genes, good health, lots of fast twitch muscle fibres
and have been blessed with many things from my parents.
“I
have also benefited from my natural environment a great deal.
I’m blessed to be in a position where I can train with the
best guys in the world and can improve my skill set on a daily
basis. I have all the tools in my arsenal right now and not many
people are able to train the way I do. They don’t have the
same opportunities.”
Ultimately,
St-Pierre was born to be a mixed martial artist. Even as a kid
he was dabbling in karate, wrestling, boxing and jiu-jitsu as
ways of fending off school yard foes and delinquent rivals. He
was reacting to situations – aware that one bully may require
a swift fist to the face, while others may drag him to the floor.
St-Pierre never knew when he might be ambushed or taken by surprise.
Although his arm was yanked in other directions while growing
up, St-Pierre’s focus on the noble arts remained strong.
“I
worked a few jobs growing up,” remembers St-Pierre. “I
taught some seminars in the army, worked as a bouncer, and also
helped delinquent teens turn their lives around.
“I
did a number of speeches and lessons for these delinquents and
it was kind of strange to think that these were the same kind
of kids that once terrorised me at school. Everything seemed
to come full circle and I was now trying to help out these kids.
I figured that if what I said and did could inspire these kids
to change their ways, it would be worthwhile. If I could help
some child at school not get bullied like I was, my work would
be of great use.”
Without
knowing, St-Pierre may have inadvertently helped the school life
of a young kid in Montreal and, in turn, removed the ingredients
and drive from a potential UFC champion.
Source: UFC.com
|
Bobby
Razak Sheds Light on Struggle to Legalize MMA
by Ray Hui
As
one of the early documentarians of MMA, filmmaker Bobby Razak
is used to providing an inside look at the lives of fighters
and personalities in the sport. But for his latest project, he's
reaching out to individuals outside of MMA. Specifically, lawmakers
in New York and Toronto.
"It's
really to bring light to what is going on," Razak told FanHouse.
"To show certain people in the hierarchy the New York state
commissions, the Toronto commissions to show what our sport is
about, how impressive it is, what good it does to the economy,
what good it does to troubled youth. This is a great sport. These
are great people and let's let them do what they want to do."
Recognized
for his work on TapouT film shorts, Razak was recently hired
by fashion designer and entrepreneur Mark Ecko for a marketing
campaign to raise awareness towards the struggle to legalize
MMA.
The
sport has evolved over the years and the majority of states have
welcomed the revamped sport, but New York and Toronto remain
MMA hotbeds where lawmakers have not been convinced.
"What
I experienced in New York and Toronto is not really the people,
but the political powers that be," Razak said. "It's
key people in the political realm who are stopping and not allowing
the sport of mixed martial arts to become legal. The people are
behind us. It's really just more the political powers and the
hierarchy that are blocking us from flowering into fruition and
going to the next level."
Attempts
at legalizing MMA in New York have failed twice the last two
years and Razak says it might take a changing of the guards to
bring MMA to the Big Apple.
"That
was the biggest thing I realized. I was thinking: Push the people
and make the people realize they need to legalize MMA, but it's
not really in the hands of the people. It's in the hands of a
few select senators. The people in power need to be educated."
Razak
hopes the educational process and continual pressure from the
public and outside senators and congressmen supportive of MMA
will eventually encourage lawmakers in Toronto and New York to
legalize the sport.
The
format of the films are similar to Razak's work with TapouT and
Dethrone Royalty. A 30-second commercial spot will air to direct
viewers towards a website to watch the complete short films.
Besides
the campaign, Razak continues work on two full length documentaries,
Sangre Nueva and Und3rdogs.
Sangre
Nueva is about the impact of Mexican fighters in MMA and is scheduled
to be finished the first week of January 2010. Meanwhile, Und3rdogs
will be completed in April/May 2010. There's currently no distribution
for either film, but Razak's plan is to bring Sangre Nueva to
Sundance.
"It
shows how far the Mexican athlete has come and the impact of
the Mexican athlete and what the Mexican athlete brings to the
MMA game," Razak said of the film, featuring Cain Velasquez,
Miguel Torres and Gilbert Melendez.
For
Und3rdogs, Razak collected footage from filming MMA the past
14 years to tell the story of what he describes as "the
history of MMA with a special southern California twist."
"For
me that was a very special film," Razak said. "That
was Charles 'Mask' Lewis' last vision. We had worked on that
film for three years, and after he died, it was my duty to continue
that. It's a beautiful and amazing historic film."
Until
those films are released, Razak looks forward to the premiere
of his two, 10-minute short films through Ecko featuring Frank
Shamrock, David Louseau, Patrick Cote, Robert Drysdale, Mark
Ecko, FanHouse's Ariel Helwani and others.
The
30-second commercial spot and two films are slated to begin airing/streaming
mid-December.
Source:
MMA Fighting
|
Q
and A with Matt Serra - Trigg Fight Confirmed
Former UFC welterweight champion Matt Serra recently dropped
by The Fight Network studio in Toronto to discuss his past exploits,
what he's up to these days and what the future has in store.
Here, TFN's Ariel Shnerer recaps some of John Pollock's interview
with "The Terror":
We
know you are a big fan of the UFC Undisputed game. Do you have
any insight on the followup game coming out next year? Matt Serra:
You know what's funny is they just called me recently to do some
graphics and stuff. So I will be in that game and Serra Mixed
Martial Arts will be in there also, which is cool, you know?
I still play it and it's funny man because I play it online and
people talk trash on there. I've got kids on there telling me:
"Look, he's even short in the game," and I'm yelling,
"Hey, what are you talking about?" I don't use my real
name on there. They're fighting Matt Serra in the game but they're
really fighting me and they're talking trash. It's just hysterical
man. When I think about it, I'm 35. It's pretty sad, but I'm
in a video game so it's cool.
The
word on the Internet is Matt Serra-Frank Trigg on Feb. 6. What
can you tell us about that? It's funny, you know. I came out
here to plug the figurine, and I called UFC this morning and
I got the OK to talk about my fight. I just signed on it the
other day and they gave me the thumbs up. So yeah, it is true.
I will be fighting Frank Trigg "Twinkle Toes" on Feb.
6 in Las Vegas. Style-wise, I think that's a fun fight. On paper,
that's a fun fight. He's not going to be like Matt Hughes. Even
if he does get me down, he's the type of guy that will try to
work you over. Matt Hughes was just kind of trying to hold on.
Trigg has his back against the wall. I'm coming off two losses
fair and square. St-Pierre beat me my second fight. The Hughes
fight, whatever. Whatever you want to say about that. But on
my record, I've got two losses in a row so I need this and he
needs this, so it's going to be exciting.
I
know you really wanted a rematch with Matt Hughes. What did the
UFC tell you about a potential rematch? How can you just leave
it like that? You can't really walk out of there and make it
seem like you beat me. You said you wanted all the blood for
your wife and this and that. But I don't want to sit here and
trash Matt Hughes only because we did fight. We did have it out.
There should be a level respect after you fight somebody. Having
said that, I thought I won the first and third rounds. But I'd
like to go at it again and have somebody end it. Whatever. We're
moving on. Through his manager, he said, "Move on, we're
done with it." Who knows? Maybe we'll go at it again. But
right now I have Frank Trigg, and just because he got taken out
by Koscheck, I don't look at this as an easy fight. He's a wrestler.
He's a strong dude. He has got some big wins under him and he's
going to be a tough opponent. He's got his back against the wall.
Renzo
Gracie, who you have trained under, is rumoured to be coming
into the UFC at UFC 109. What are your thoughts on him coming
in and his assets at this stage? I love Renzo man. He taught
me everything I know about Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The guy has done
so much for me in life in general. He's like a part of my family.
That doesn't mean he'll return my phone call right away. I heard
this stuff too and I texted him asking what's up. He'll probably
get back to me in like a month. He's all over the place man.
I tried to track him down. He's over in the Middle East; he's
in Brazil; he's a character, you know? He's awesome. He's got
experience on his side. He's been in there with some of the best
guys and he's fought all over the place. Again, his mind for
fighting is very unique. He's going to do fine. I'm excited to
see who he's fighting against. The rumour was against (Matt)
Hughes. But I know as much as you at this point.
What's
the latest on the status of legalizing MMA in New York? You know,
I've done my part. I've spoken to everyone. I don't know where
we're having problems getting it legal over there. Why are all
these other states and other countries making cash? Why not New
York? Especially nowadays, you know. It will help the businesses.
It will help New York in general. I don't know what the problem
is.
What
would be bigger to you: being welterweight champion or being
on a card at Madison Square Garden? You know what? I was the
champ, so I can always go to my grave saying I was the champ.
But I'd love to fight at the Garden. There's a lot of fight history
there, you know? That would definitely be high in my "things
to do" list. Shoot, man, it better happen soon if you know
what I'm talking about. I'm not planning to retire anytime soon
but let's do it at some point in the next few years.
We've
seen a lot of catch-weight bouts over the last year. How is fighting
at 170 pounds? Have you explored fighting at 160 or 165? I'm
not the tallest at 170, that's for sure. But I still feel I can
swim with those sharks. I got the belt at that weight. I've beaten
some tough guys at welterweight. I would love to do a catch-weight.
Man, people say, "You're 5-foot-6," and, "You
should fight at 155." But I'm kind of a thick guy. I make
jokes about pasta and pizza. Yeah man, I like that New York stuff.
But when I'm training for a fight, obviously I don't eat that.
But it's just hard for me to make 155. It's not impossible. I
can do it. I've done it in the past. But as I get older, it's
even worse. Making 155, you know, those guys down there aren't
much easier. You've got to get a hold of those little (expletive),
they're fast. I'll be big but a lot of times, guys want to get
down to that weight because they want to be a wrestler or be
the biggest. But I can fight off my back man. If somebody puts
me down, the fight is not going to be over. A lot of the guys,
they can't say the same thing. I feel I'm well-rounded enough.
My stand-up caught up with my ground game and I can be dangerous
anywhere. I'm looking for exciting fights at this stage in my
career. If it leads back to a belt, that's phenomenal. My last
fight, I won "Fight of the Night." I would love to
do that every card. But yeah, I would love to fight at a catch-weight.
Those five pounds suck. [But] 160 or 165, I would love it.
Would
you coach again?
Yeah. I would definitely consider it. I had a blast. Believe
it or not, I really enjoyed being on [The Ultimate Fighter],
not that I want to be back in there. It was a rich experience
coaching. You got a bunch of guys and you end up caring for the
guys and next thing you know, they've got to fight each other.
It becomes a little bit of a circus.
Source: The Fight Network
|
Three
media notes on UFC that will cause a mixed reaction
By Zach Arnold
First,
this morning on ESPNs news ticker (which airs on all their main
television channels), they ran with a headline that said that
Houston Alexander told KEZO-FM 92.3 (Z-92) that he would be fighting
Kimbo Slice on December 5th in Las Vegas. Now, this match has
been (if you are a hardcore MMA fan) one of the worst kept secrets
in the world, but it was supposed to be a secret nevertheless
because of all the teases UFC has made on The Ultimate Fighter
about whether or not Kimbo would return to the tournament as
a fighter replacement.
Making
ESPNs news item interesting is that on the Todd n Tyler radio
show page, they use the following news teaser: Our UFC fighter
buddy whos fighting a guy whose name we cant legally say yet.,
but its a big fight on Spike TV, Saturday December 5th.
So
the radio show doesnt actually say who it is, but ESPN attributes
the news item to them during their Houston Alexander interview.
(Listen to the interview here.) The catch is that ESPNs report
is based on Sherdogs report. Read the Sherdog item to see how
it plays off the radio show teaser.
Second,
there was recently a radio discussion about how low the PPV buyrate
will be for Survivor Series, which used to be one of WWEs biggest
events of the year. The discussion, for a second, turned to last
weekends UFC 106 PPV event: BRYAN ALVAREZ: God, you know what
sucks is they cant even blame it on UFC because that Tito buyrate
aint going to be all that good.
DAVE
MELTZER: No, but it doesnt help when you have both on the same
[weekend], but no no, the Tito buyrate isnt going to be big either,
I dont think. That one I actually have a handle on, and so far
I mean I dont have a good handle on it, but it aint going to
be that big.
Third,
a media note related to the second item. MMA Junkie has a news
item that says: UFC 106 draws 10,529 attendees (6,631 paid) for
$3 million gate. Whats striking about that number is that Dana
White gave out the 10,529 number at the post-fight press conference
and given the $3 million gate, it made some sense that the paid
number would be a good portion of the overall attendance figure.
However, 6,631 paid for a crowd size of 10,529 is the type of
number that should be alarming as far as UFC shows in Las Vegas
is concerned.
A
lesson you learn quickly as a promoter is that tickets = currency.
If you give tickets out to charities or to potential sponsors
and it helps you make some business in-roads, thats acceptable.
But when you have to comp. at least a third of your show, look
out. The message it sends to fans who pay for tickets is this
why should we buy tickets early when we can get free or discounted
ones near show time? Even more disheartening about the MMA Junkie
report is while the paid gate of $3 million is respectable, the
face value of the comps was $2.3 million dollars. Simple math
says that the value of each paid ticket was around $450 and the
value of each comp ticket was close to $600. What it indicates
is that fans are not buying the more expensive seats and that
UFC needs to start adjusting to the marketplace by lowering the
cost of premium seats. They dont need to discount every seat
price, since they still do command good money for the tickets
they sell. Whats interesting about this situation is that Dana
White has been asked by a few reporters (including Yahoo writer
and ESPN radio host Steve Cofield) if he would ever lower ticket
prices like promoters did for the Shane Mosley/Antonio Margarito
fight at the Staples Center last January and Whites response
was one of those all options on the table responses, but the
delivery of it made you feel like it wasnt something that would
be seriously considered. Well, given the amount of injuries with
top stars and several top fighters taking time off, something
has to give here for UFC. Im not sure what the right answer is,
but its an answer that the company really needs to sit down and
take some time to analyze. The numbers from the UFC 106 show
are a warning sign of things to come, despite how cursed the
show was from the beginning.
Source:
Fight Opinion
|
SINOSIC
VS. HASEMAN REMATCH REPORTED FOR UFC 110
The
UFC is expected to put together a rematch between Australians
Elvis Sinosic and Chris Haseman when the promotion heads down
under on Feb. 21 for UFC 110 at the Acer Arena, according to
a Thursday report by the Brisbane Times.
The
bout has been more than a decade in the making. The two first
met in March of 1997 in Australia. Haseman won the bout by submissions,
driving his chin into Sinosics eye. The rules have been upgraded
since then. Such a maneuver would now be illegal.
Neither
has been much of a factor in recent years, though their home
country popularity should help draw fans.
The
38-year-old Sinosic (8-11-2) hasnt fought since 2007, when he
lost back-to-back bouts to Paul Cahoon and Michael Bisping. He
submitted Jeremy Horn at UFC 30 in early 2001 to earn a shot
at the UFC light heavyweight championship then-held by Tito Ortiz.
He failed in his attempt to capture the title later that year.
Haseman
(20-16), now 40 years of age, has fought once since 2004, that
being a victory over Yuji Hisamatsu in November of 2008. He has
fought once before in the Octagon, a loss to Evan Tanner at UFC
38. Haseman spent the majority of his career in the now defunct
Rings organization in Japan. He has a notable loss to number
one ranked heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko in the Rings World Title
Series Grand Final in 2002.
UFC
110 is expected to feature co-main event bouts pitting Antonio
Rodrigo Nogueira against Cain Velasquez in a heavyweight bout
and Wanderlei Silva against Michael Bisping in the middleweight
division.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
K-1
WGP: the complete analysis of the fights
December 5 is the most expected Day by K-1 fans. Promising a
real show of exchanging, the K-1 World GP will realize its last
step, and Brazil will be represented by Ewerton Teixeira. Warming
to the battles, we convoked Artur Mariano, expert on the subject,
to analyze each fight of the tournament. The difference on the
finals this year is that there isnt a favorite for the title,
and we had on the last years Semmy Schilt, until the elimination
by Peter Aerts last year, said Artur.
Ruslan Karaev x Badr Hari
Ruslan Karaev: is a talented athlete, had a great moment at the
beginning of the career on K-1. Passed thru a phase, when he
was knock out some fights in a row, and was out of the rings
for a while to recover his self esteem. Hes back to the tops.
Badr Hari: is an athlete that may be the big revelation of K-1
on the last two years. Hes getting important results. Hes emotionally
unbalanced, that cost the title of the finals of the GP 2008,
when he punched and kicked Remy Bonjasky.
Favoritism: both athletes have great level, but Badr Hari has
a better timing to enter blows, more physical power. Hes not
strategist, Hari goes for it and giver all of him, he comes as
favorite on this quarter finals.
Alistair Overeem x Ewerton Teixeira
Alistar Overeem: hes an athlete that fights Muay Thai for many
years in Holland, but only now hes showing up on K-1. He could
get an important victory against Peter Aerts to guarantee his
spot on the finals
Ewerton Teixeira: is our only representative. He grew fast last
year, on his first year of K-1 assured his spot on the GP finals.
This year he showed regularity and assured once again his spot
on 2009 GP.
Favoritism: the Brazilian is growing, but He Will get a though
Guy, because Overeem has a punch and a Power bigger than Evertons.
The Brazilian has a faster kick and theres some balance on the
speed. The Dutch comes with favoritism to this fight.
Jerome Le Banner x Semmy Schilt
Jerome Le Banner: hes considered the king without a crown. Its
part of K-1s history, he was almost champion twice. Hes standing
almost every year on the finals of the GP. Its not the same fighter
anymore; he lost speed and self confidence that he used to have.
Semmy Schilt: hes married with a Brazilian and he was the big
name of K-1 on 2005, 2006 and 2007, when he was champion for
the third time in a row. An athlete have never done that. He
showed that he knows how to use his size of 6,95 foot, and thats
harder to his opponents. On the last year, Peter Aerts took the
spot of Schilt, and theres a big expectation about his performance
on the finals.
Favoritism: Banner has the better punch and physical strength,
but Schilt has better kick and knees. By the historical of Semmy
Schilt, He gets in as favorite to this combat.
Errol Zimmerman x Remy Bonjasky
Errol Zimmerman: is n athlete that has been in a lot of Muay
Thai competitions in Holland, He had his biggest chance on K-1
GP Amsterdam 2008, when He was the big Champion of the night.
On this same year, he could the spot on the finals to the GP.
Then he started to show up between the tops of K-1.
Remy Bonjasky: hes now the Champion of K-1 GP. Maybe hes the
most strategist athlete of K-1, he always plays on opponents
mistake. On the last year he faked an injury on a indiscipline
of Badr Hari to become the champion.
Favoritism: both athletes have a looked like game, physical strength,
punch, moves... Errols speed is a little better, and the kick
and the strategy of Bonjasky are better. Bonjasky enters as favorite
to this fight.
Source:
Tatame
|
10
Turkeys: The Biggest Disasters in MMA This Year
by Jake Rossen
Theres
shame in labeling a Thanksgiving-themed blog posting with any
variation of biggest turkeys, roasted birds, stuffed this-or-that,
etc. Its obvious and lazy and possibly an insult to you, the
reader, who expects better.
But
if it werent for meeting low expectations, I wouldnt be meeting
any at all. And so I give you the bird. Forgive me. In honor
of the holiday meat of choice, the 10 biggest blunders, disasters,
and face-plants in the sport for 2009. And if you think this
is bad, remember that we have another five weeks to go.
10.
Chuck Liddell: Ballroom Dancer
Unless its based around paternity results, a primetime network
slot on a reality show is good for fighters and good for the
sport. But that counter is out the window when you consider Dancing
with the Stars participant Chuck Liddell is semi-retired, has
the charisma of Styrofoam, and all the grace of someone who has
been punched in the head for 20 years straight. And this doesnt
even consider the bowler, the feather-boas, and the dance routines
that looked like he had stuck his finger in a light socket before
taking the stage. Forget his repeated
concussions: This is the kind of hurt that stays with you.
9.
Afflicted
Dissatisfied with spinning off apparel that wouldve looked dated
in a 1985 Misfits video, clothing company Affliction invested
millions into a gawky, garish pay-per-view production featuring
non-sequitur musical acts and papered crowds. The entire thing
was insufferable, but at least we were promised a competitive
fight between Fedor Emelianenko and Josh Barnett. Then Barnett
urinated motor oil. Then the promotional arm of the company folded.
We learned spending millions to make thousands was unsound business.
But
at least its over, right? No. No, no. Freed from his contract,
Emelianenko fought a tire-changer from Sams Club. Affliction
is the tragedy that keeps on giving.
8.
GreaseGate
I cant override the psychological block created to smother details
of B.J. Penns complaint against Georges St. Pierre earlier in
the year. It had something to do with accusations St. Pierre
had his team lubricate his back in order to make it difficult
for Penn to defend himself from guard. There were commission
hearings, media notices, possibly some kind of Congressional
petition -- all over a blob of Vaseline errantly smeared on St.
Pierres spine, all paid for by the taxpayers of Nevada. Ask for
an itemized bill, gang.
7.
Silva/Leites: Blame Canada
The greater the exclamations, the greater the expectations: no
one was the recipient of more pre-fight hype this year than Anderson
Silva, who entered into an April fight with Thales Leites as
nothing less than a state-subsidized serial killer. Viewers expected
Mortal Kombat; what they got was E.T., the Video Game, with Silva
reluctant to strike, reluctant to grapple, and reluctant to refund
any money. Not only 2009s worst main event, but one of the worst
in history: Silvas personal Rocky V.
6.
Holiday Hams
Despite having the screen presence of the catering truck, fighters
are being recruited by casting agents and producers with alarming
and increasing regularity. (If you dont believe me, you could
suffer through Blood & Bone, the Oceans 11 of movies with
an MMA fetish.) Stunt casting has robbed of us of at least two
proper Cung Le bouts in 2009; it appears set to shelve Gina Carano
through the middle of next year. And theres not much else to
be said for Quinton Jackson in the The A-Team, which might do
for Jackson what Stone Cold did for Brian Bosworth. Or worse.
Fighters are not actors, actors are not rappers, and fans are
not so easily swayed.
For
the purposes of the point, Ill admit to watching professional
wrestling as a youth. (A small, socially awkward youth, with
suspected psychological afflictions. Nothings changed.) If you
were Hulk Hogan or Bret Hart, the last guy you wanted to see
officiating your match was Earl Hebner, a dirty, double-crossing
snake of a referee who blew calls, ignored fouls, and -- in at
least one instance -- had his evil twin enlisted by Ted DiBiase
to rig a match in his favor. (Rigging a pro wrestling bout was
a little too rich in irony for 1980s audiences.)
2009
has been a record year for Hebners spiritual offspring, who have
watched fighters foul, poke eyes, grab fences, and launch air-to-groin
strikes with military precision. Properly and duly bloodied,
a fighter can then look forward to a judge declaring the comatose
man in the opposite corner the winner.
There
are many fine officials working for commissions. There are also
several in dire need of remedial training.
4.
CSUC
Authority is supposed to at least give the appearance of infallibility,
a concept that the California State Athletic Commission has never
spent much time exploring. After controversial Executive Director
Armando Garcia resigned in late 2008, reform was supposed to
sweep through
offices: instead, they were met with accusations that regulators
accepted free tickets to boxing and MMA events; that Commission
members charged with overseeing hand wraps nearly missed Antonio
Margaritos hands being wrapped in brain-rattling plaster; and
that an MMA fighter who had tested positive for Hepatitis C had
been allowed to fight, with the board later declaring that test
a false positive. And this is just what happened to leak out.
3.
Junie Browning
A Kentucky misanthrope with the all the charm of a mutating virus,
Junie Allen Browning turned a 2008 season of The Ultimate Fighter
into his own personal reality series; some viewers were absolutely
certain that it was a put-on, and that no individual could be
so genuinely putrid. Brownings ultimate gotcha: he was worse.
Months after being worked over by Cole Miller in April, Browning
was arrested for threatening hospital workers who were trying
to assist him when he was brought in for a Klonopin overdose.
The UFC quickly bounced him, but he will want for a nothing in
a world where Doctor Drew needs to replenish his Celebrity Rehab
cast on a biannual basis. Browning fights Saturday. Try to care.
2.
Inaction Jackson
Not since Ken Shamrock huffed and puffed his way through a contemptible
coaching job has an athletes image been battered the way Quinton
Jacksons has in the current season of The Ultimate Fighter. The
show had barely begun airing before Jackson announced he was
pulling out of a December 12 bout with rival coach Rashad Evans;
onscreen, Jackson ribbed contestants -- not genially, but with
a sharp streak of menace and disrespect, riffing on everything
from names (he forgot them) to man-boobs (he groped them). When
his fighters were tied in knots -- which happened virtually every
time they fought -- he was too preoccupied with his own image
to bother tending to them. Reality TV may be a manipulative game,
but its also a bit like alcohol: it just makes you more of what
you already are. And we dont need any more of Jackson.
1.
Jose Canseco
The only man in history to headline a celebrity boxing show in
an Aston, Pa., ice rink against Danny Bonaduce, the only former
major league baseball player to face Hong Man Choi in the Yokohama
Arena, and the only name athlete to film a reality show about
his attempt to kick testosterone injections -- all in one tremendous
year. The thing that Jose Canseco would not do for money has
not been invented yet: if you have sight of a bald eagle, a rock,
Jose Canseco, and a $100 bill, you will have a memorable afternoon.
Until then, have an E-Cigarette on him.
Source:
Sherdog
|
K-1
by the Numbers
by Michael David Smith
The
K-1 World Grand Prix Final 2009 is the biggest event in kickboxing,
and it will be broadcast live in the United States on HDNet in
the early hours of Saturday morning, December 5. The Grand Prix
final is a great event, but it's an event most American sports
fans don't know about. So if you're one of those fans, take a
moment to get some details from K-1 announcer Michael Schiavello.
K-1
Grand Prix: Running the Numbers
By Michael Schiavello
If
you're a self-professed fight sports geek like myself then your
boffin's brain will calculate stats and facts like Rainman counting
cards at black jack table. Here's some of the numbers through
all 16 K-1 Grand Prix tournaments since 1993.
The
K-1 Grand Prix first took place on April 3, 1993 at the Yoyogi
Dai-Ichi Stadium in Tokyo. A sell-out 10,000 fans saw Croatian
legend Branko Cikatic (trained by Thom Harinck) knockout Ernesto
Hoost in the final to win the crown and become the first ever
K-1 Grand Prix Champion. Aged 38/208, Cikatic to this day remains
the oldest K-1 Grand Prix champion in history.
The
following year the polar opposite statistic would be made when
"The Lumberjack" Peter Aerts (also trained by Thom
Harinck) became the youngest ever K-1 Grand Prix Champion when
he beat Rob Van Esdonk, Patrick Smith and Masaaki Satake to win
the crown at age 23/217. In 1995, Aerts became the first ever
back-to-back and two-time K-1 Grand Prix Champion when he won
the title with a knockout of Jerome LeBanner in just 1:37 of
the first round. In doing so Aerts also became the second-youngest
GP Champion aged 24/226.
In
1998, aged 28/71, Aerts wrote his name into the record books
again as both the first ever three-time K-1 GP champion and the
fastest ever tournament winner. It took Aerts just 6:43 to knockout
all three opponents and win the crown in the most devastating
combat sports tournament victory. He stopped Masaaki Satake in
2:40; knocked down Mike Bernardo twice in 2:53; and then KO'd
Andy Hug with a head kick in just 1:10 in the final.
Aerts's
6:43 record is likely to never be beaten. The closest any other
GP Champion has come was Semmy Schilt's 11:56 win in 2005 and
then Branko Cikatic's 12:09 win in 1993. In GP history, 11 of
the 16 wins have broken the sub-20 minute mark. They are: Aerts
1998 6:43; Schilt 2005 11:56; Cikatic 1993 12:09; Bonjasky 2003
13:44; Aerts 1995 14:39; Bonjasky 2008 15:42; Schilt 2007 15:51;
Aerts 1994 17:13; Hoost 1997 19:15; Hoost 1999 19:35; Hug 1996
19:58.
The
slowest GP victory on record was Remy Bonjasky's 2004 victory
which took him a total of 36:00. The only other fighter to break
the 30 minute mark was Ernesto Hoost in 2000 who took 30:00 exactly.
Though he is famed for his knockout prowess, it still took Mark
Hunt 26:32 to win the 2001 GP (and become the only non-European
to win the title). Semmy Schilt's 2006 win took 27:00 exactly.
A
handful of fighters have put together truly extraordinary winning
records in the K-1 Grand Prix. None moreso than triple K-1 GP
Champion Semmy Schilt who boast a 9-0 record in the GP and has
never lost a GP tournament. Current champion Remy Bonjasky holds
an impressed 12-2 GP record, while Ernesto Hoost is 17-10 and
Peter Aerts is 16-11. Aerts also holds the record for participating
in ever K-1 Grand Prix since its inception in 1993. He will fight
in the reserve match this year and if he does not find his way
into the tournament true, it will be the first time in history
we would have seen a K-1 Grand Prix WITHOUT Peter Aerts!
Both
Peter Aerts and Ernesto Hoost hold the record for the most appearances
in the final, both having made it five times to the last match,
with Hoost being the only 4-time Grand Prix champion. Andy Hug,
Remy Bonjasky and Semmy Schilt are tied in second for most final
match appearances with three each, while Musashi and Jerome LeBanner
have both appeared twice in the final match. Other final match
participants include Branko Cikatic (1993), Masaaki Satake (1994),
Mike Bernardo (1996), Mirko Cro Cop (1999), Ray Sefo (2000),
Mark Hunt (2001), Francisco Filho (2001), Glaube Feitosa (2005)
and Badr Hari (2008).
Peter
Aerts holds the record for the most knockdowns in the K-1 Grand
Prix with 15. Ernesto Hoost is second with 14 and Remy Bonjasky
is third with 10, including knockdowns in all three GP fights
in 2008.
K-1
has always been geared towards the fans both as a live arena
sport and on television. In 1997 the Grand Prix was held for
the first time at the Tokyo Dome where 54,000 tickets sold out
in just one hour. In 1998 63,800 fans watched Peter Aerts's record-setting
destruction. In 1999 58,200 people saw Ernesto Hoost defeat Mirko
Cro Cop in the final. In 2000 a massive 70,200 watched Hoost
become champion again when he defeated the insanely popular Ray
Sefo in the final. In 2001 Mark Hunt shocked the world in front
of 65,000 people and in 2002 Ernesto Hoost won his fourth title
(even though he lost to Bob Sapp in the quarter
finals) in front of 74,500 fans.
For
the fighters winning the K-1 Grand Prix means being crowned the
finest striker on the planet. It can also make you a rich man
quickly! Over the years Ernesto Hoost was won over US$1.3 million
in GP prize money alone. Peter Aerts has won US$480,000 from
his three GP victories; Remy Bonjasky has pocketed $US1.2 million
from his three wins as has Semmy Schilt.
The
Dutch have a traditional strangle-hold on the K-1 Grand Prix
title with 13 of the 16 Grand Prix wins from Dutch fighters.
Non-Dutchmen to win the crown include Branko Cikatic of Croatia
(1993), Andy Hug of Switzerland (1996) and Mark Hunt of New Zealand
(2001). The Grand Prix runners-up have been more mixed in their
nationalities and include two Brazilians (Francisco Filho 2001,
Glaube Feitosa 2005); two Japanese (Masaaki Satake 1994, Musashi
2003/2004); a Frenchman (Jerome LeBanner 1995, 2002); a New Zealander
(Ray Sefo 2000); a Croatian (Mirko Cro Cop 1999); and a South
African (Mike Bernardo 1996).
For
all of its majesty, the K-1 Grand Prix remains the hardest combat
sports crown to capture. Only seven different men have shared
the title over the last 16 years. Their names will forever be
etched into the annals of time. They are: Branko Cikatic (1993);
Peter Aerts (1994, 1995, 1998); Andy Hug (1996); Ernesto Hoost
(1997, 1999, 2000, 2002); Mark Hunt (2001); Remy Bonjasky (2003,
2004, 2008), Semmy Schilt (2005, 2006, 2007). Hoost is the sport's
only ever four time champion, while Schilt is the sport's only
ever triple consecutive champion.
Source:
MMA Fighting
|
Starting
Over From Scratch: Rewriting the Judging Criteria in the Unified
Rules
by Mike
Fagan
The Machida/Shogun main event at UFC 104 is just one of a rash
of fights hindered by a vague judging criteria.
Of all the problems with judging in MMA, the most glaring and
easily fixable is the letter of the judging criteria in the Unified
Rules. Try to explain what is written to a new or casual fan.
I dare you.
"Well,
see, there's five criteria. Striking, grappling, fighting area
control, aggression, and defense. Judges need to look at those
criteria in that order. BUT if a round spends more time on the
ground, grappling takes precedence to striking. What constitutes
effective grappling? Lemme see here...'successful execution of
takedowns and reversals.' Blah blah blah..."
Tweaking
and clarifying the judging criteria is an exercise in futility.
So, I went ahead and rewrote the rules. (They're after the break.)
Here's what I've done:
1.
Removed fighting area control, aggression, and defense from the
criteria - I'd like to quote this bit from Bad Left Hook in regards
to "ring generalship" in boxing:
This
is for the boxer who was able to force the other fighter into
fighting their fight. This is sort of a BS catch-all, like when
people talk about 'intangibles' in other sports. There really
isn't a good way of measuring ring generalship, so a lot of folks
just ignore it. Unfortunately, I feel like some judges use this
as an excuse to score a round a certain way when there really
isn't a defensible way of scoring the round the way they score
it.
In
my opinion, all three of these points are unnecessary and superfluous.
If a fighter is striking or grappling effectively, there's a
good chance they're also controlling the fighting area, fighting
aggressively, and/or preventing their opponent from doing the
same.
In
addition, what does it matter if I'm coming forward or moving
backwards, if I'm hitting you with clean and damaging strikes?
It can actually create an interesting contradiction, with Lyoto
Machida being a prime example. A judge may view him lacking aggression,
constantly moving away from his opponent. But you can turn it
around and argue that he's controlling the fighting area, making
his opponent chase him around the cage.
2.
Consolidated effective striking and grappling into effective
offense - Most fans of MMA agree that the ultimate goal of a
fighter is to finish the fight. That necessitates that we should
reward fighters only for actions that directly lead to a stoppage.
Grappling advances have been removed as effective offense (but
not removed from the criteria, more on that in a bit). Instead,
we only look at two things: clean strikes and threatening submission
attempts (defined in the rewritten rules). Takedowns and guard
passing are tools for putting yourself in position to deliver
effective offense, but they are only a means to an end.
3.
Introduced positional control - Positional control only comes
into play if a fighter exhibited dominant grappling position
(defined in the rules as maintaining "side control, back
control, or mount") for the majority of the round. In addition,
a fighter may only win the round via positional control if neither
fighter separates him or herself from the other with regards
to effective offense. I inserted this clause into the rules as
I believe there is some value in being able to hold down an opponent
for an extended period of time.
4.
Clarified the ten-point must system - Not too many changes. I've
liberalized the scoring, and provided examples of the qualities
associated with each scoring option.
By
streamlining the entire criteria to just look at "effective
offense," we've made a judge's job that much easier. They
no longer must try to balance five separate criteria, each vague
in their own right. And for the fighters, we've made their job
simpler (or at least, clearer): attack your opponent and avoid
being attacked. It's the absolute essence of MMA, and now it
is reflected in its bylaws.
I
also made a slight change to rules regarding the actual judges
as well.
Finally,
I want to point out that this is a first draft. I believe it
is superior to the current judging criteria, but there are still
points that could be clarified further. I'm sure there are also
potential holes that haven't crossed my mind.
On
to the rules...
13:46-24A.13
Judging
(a) All bouts will be evaluated by three or five judges.
(b)
When applicable, judging stations should be equipped with television
monitors. Judges are permitted to watch the monitors during the
bout. Between round replays will not be shown to officials for
the purpose of judging.
(c)
The 10-Point Must System will be the standard system of scoring
a bout. Under the 10-Point Must Scoring System, 10 points must
be awarded to the winner of the round and nine points or less
must be awarded to the loser, except for an even round, which
is scored (10-10).
(d)
Judges shall evaluate mixed martial arts contests by effective
offense and, in lieu of a distinction in effective offense, positional
control.
(e)
Effective offense includes clean, effective strikes and threatening
submission attempts. A threatening submission attempt is any
grappling hold in which the threatened fighter must use counter
grappling measures to prevent being submitted.
(f)
Positional control should only be utilized in the absence of
separation in effective offense and when more than half the round
was contested with at least one fighter on the ground. A fighter
may be given a round for positional control if he or she maintained
dominant position (defined as side control, back control, or
mount) for a majority of the round.
(g)
The following objective scoring criteria shall be utilized by
the judges when scoring a round;
(1)
A 10-10 round is awarded when neither fighter has done enough
to separate his or her performance from his or her opponent.
If a judge does not feel confident scoring a round for either
contestant, a judge should score the round 10-10.
(2)
A 10-9 round is any round in which a fighter demonstrates a basic,
but clear level of superiority. A 10-9 round may be characterized
by a greater amount of effective strikes landed, a knockdown,
or threatening submission attempts.
(3)
A 10-8 round is any round in which a fighter demonstrates a significant
level of superiority. The round winner will typically have put
himself in position to finish the bout during the round. A 10-8
round may be characterized by multiple knockdowns, a knockdown
followed by effective ground strikes, multiple near submissions,
or a lopsided amount of effective strikes landed.
(4)
A 10-7 round is any round in which a fighter put himself in position
to finish the bout multiple times.
(5)
A 10-6 round is any round in which a fighter was in position
to finish the bout for a majority of the round and the round
loser had limited to no offensive outbursts.
(h)
For the purposes of grappling, the guard (defined as a grappling
position in which a grounded fighter, on his back, has both legs
in between in between his and his opponent's hips) should be
considered a neutral position. A fighter striking from his or
her opponent's guard should be given more credit than a fighter
striking from his or her back.
Source: Bloody Elbow
|
Quote
of the Day
"Honesty
is the first chapter of the book of wisdom."
Thomas Jefferson
|
Murilo
Ninja vs. Niko Vitale at Shine Fights
By Guilherme Cruz and Erik Engelhart
With a three-fight contract signed with Shine Fights, Murilo
Ninja Rua confirmed to TATAME.com that hell make his debut against
former Strikeforce middleweight Falaniko Niko Vitale. I wanna
keep fighting to be on the tops, I wanna ight for the belt, Rua
said.
Before fighting in the US, the Brazilian faces Jason Jones at
Bitetti Combat 5, which takes place at December 5. Im well prepared
for my fight, Ill do my best and a great show to the ans and
bring the victory. I wanna be back to the biggest events, promises
the fighter.
Source:
Tatame
|
NOG
VS. VELASQUEZ EXPECTED AT UFC 110
by Ken Pishna
Ask and ye shall receive.
In
February Ill be ready to fight when they ask me to fight. In
February I think Ill be in shape. Id love to fight in Australia.
If they put me on the card, I would love to fight there, Antonio
Rodrigo Nogueira told MMAWeekly.com recently, addressing his
return from a fourth staph infection in the past year.
He
was initially slated to face fellow heavyweight contender Cain
Velasquez on Jan. 2 at UFC 108, but the infection derailed those
plans.
Despite
several reports that UFC 109 on Feb. 6 was under consideration,
MMAWeekly.com has confirmed an MMAJunkie.com report that UFC
109 is not likely. Sources close to the bout informed MMAWeekly.com
that UFC 110 in Sydney, Australia, is expected to host the bout.
It
looks like Nogueira gets his wish.
The
addition of Nogueira vs. Velasquez would give the UFC a strong
twin bill headlining its down under debut. Wanderlei Silva on
Wednesday confirmed plans to kick the Michael Bisping ass in
Sydney.
After
losing the interim UFC heavyweight title to Frank Mir at UFC
92, Nogueira (32-5-1) returned with an impressive victory over
UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture at UFC 102 in August. The win
immediately put his name back in the hat of contenders to the
belt currently held by Brock Lesnar.
Velasquez
(7-0) is coming off a dominating TKO stoppage of Ben Rothwell
at UFC 104. Three years into the sport, Velasquez has made a
quick rise to the top of the heavyweight division with five of
his victories taking place in the Octagon and only one having
gone to a decision.
Despite
the re-scheduling of the bout, coupled with the shelving of UFC
heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar and number one contender Shane
Carwin, Velasquez has taken the uncertainty of his next bout
in stride.
I
just think its part of the sport when people get hurt, he told
MMAWeekly.com at UFC 106. It just so happens that a lot of people
got hurt in this weight class.
Lesnars
condition is such that it is unclear when he will be able to
return to action, though his camp insists he will return. That
has led the UFC to consider crowning an interim UFC heavyweight
champion, but it is unclear whether Nogueira, who has held that
distinction before, and Velasquez will fight for an interim title.
Regardless,
Velasquez doesnt discount his opponent.
Nogueira,
you can never count him out, he said. You hurt him, whatever
hell still submit you and beat you. Hes just a super tough guy.
UFC
110 has yet to be formally announced by the promotion, but is
expected to take place on Feb. 21 at the 21,000-seat Acer Arena
in Sydney, Australia.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
Dream
and Sengoku to Co-Promote New Years Eve Card
By FCF Staff
As
expected, the Fighting and Entertainment Group (Dream) and World
Victory Road (Sengoku) have announced that the two companies
will team up to co-promote the Fields Dynamite!! event, which
will take place New Years Eve, at the Saitama Super Arena in
Saitama, Japan. WVR had originally planned on promoting its own
event at the Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo.
Moving
over to the Dream card is the highly anticipated bout between
Olympic Judo Gold Medalists Hideki Yoshida and MMA newcomer Satoshi
Ishii, who were originally booked for the Sengoku event. Dynamite
will also feature the finals for Dreams Super Hulk tourney, which
will see Ikuhisa Minowa take on Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou.
Although
no other MMA bouts have been confirmed yet for the December 31st
event, notable competitors like Kazushi Sakuraba, Shinya Aoki,
Kazuo Misaki, Akihiro Gono and Hayato Mach Sakurai, among others,
attended a press conference announcing the promotions upcoming
partnership.
The
card will also feature several kickboxing bouts, one of which
will include K-1 vet Masato taking on Andy Souwer.
Source:
Full Contact Fighter
|
Equal
rights: Women's MMA back on frontburner
by Jake Rossen/Sherdog.com
Stephen Albanese/Tailstar.com
Kerry
Vera has legitimate potential in the 135-pound division. Let's
hope she stays there.
Leland
Rolling of BloodyElbow.com took a break from the post-UFC 106
discussion to point out the increasing appeal of Kerry Vera.
Vera, wife of UFC light heavyweight Brandon, needed less than
a round to mug Kim Couture during last Friday's Strikeforce Challengers
program. Rolling figures she could be the 135-pound version of
Gina Carano.
It's
a little early for the 2-0 Vera to be the "Gina Carano"
of anything, but it does speak to an interesting dilemma in women's
MMA. Collectively, there are a number of talented and captivating
females in the sport -- but they happen to be spread across the
125-, 135- and 145-pound weight divisions, meaning that any one
class can sort itself out fairly quickly. It makes you wonder
if, based on the relative popularity of the standouts, we won't
see promotions try to shoehorn female fighters into catchweight
bouts in an attempt to keep the public's interest. If Vera begins
steamrolling people, there might be some casual-fan confusion
over her not meeting 145-pound champion Cristiane "Cyborg"
Santos.
In
April, Santos -- whose physique puts some male fighters to shame
-- couldn't even make 145 for a contest with Hitomi Akano, who
once won a 128-pound Japanese title. (Predictably, she bullied
Akano for the win.) It would be a shame if Vera, 125-pound Megumi
Fujii or any other smaller-stature fighter was pressured by promoters
or the public to take fights beyond their physical capability.
Source: ESPN
|
UFC
106 Bonuses: Wrong Choices and Ortiz’s Abysmal third Round
I usually think the UFC is really good at picking the “of
the night” winners, but I’m not so sure the promotion
got it right last Saturday night. No offense to Josh Koscheck,
he put on a solid performance, but I don’t think he should
have won sub of the night nor do I think his bout with Anthony
Johnson should have earned fight of the night.
Sub
of the night should have gone to Kendall Grove.
Little Nog probably deserved KO of the night, but a strong case
could be made for Ben Saunders
Fight of the night should have gone to Jacob Volkmann and Paulo
Thiago
On
another note regarding UFC 106, I jokingly wrote that Forrest
Griffin landed about 288 strikes on Tito Ortiz in round three.
Well now we actually have the Compustrike numbers and it wasn’t
quite that many, but the numbers show just how lopsided of a
round it was:
In
rounds one and two Ortiz landed 44 of 83 strikes, Griffin landed
51 of 112. Pretty even especially when considering Ortiz took
Griffin down three times in four attempts.
The
third round though saw Ortiz pretty much let Griffin punch at
him while mounting no offense of his own. In round three Ortiz
landed 6 of 17 strikes while Griffin landed 49 of 116.
Source: Sports by the numbers
|
Sherdog.coms
Pound-for-Pound Top 10
It
was hard to imagine Jose Aldo not joining this list at some point.
It just happens that his ascent was a tad quicker than expected.
In
the biggest fight of his young career, the native of Manaus,
Brazil, dominated WEC featherweight champion Mike Thomas Brown
from bell to bell, vanquishing him just 80 seconds into the second
round. The victory gave Aldo not only the WEC featherweight crown
and the 145-pound mantle but also likely solidified him as the
favorite to win "Fighter of the Year" honors from the
full gamut of MMA outlets.
However,
there is something to be said for tempering expectations of dominance
for newly crowned champions. Coming off his brutal blowouts of
Thiago Silva and Rashad Evans, it was assumed that Lyoto Machida
would easily reign over the light heavyweight division. However,
his contentious unanimous decision over Mauricio "Shogun"
Rua on Oct. 24 has cast doubt as to whether the karateka from
Belem will lord over 205 pounds.
Then
again, some things don't change. Fedor Emelianenko made his Strikeforce
debut on Nov. 7 against an unbeaten Brett Rogers. Despite some
early drama, Fedor showed why he's the greatest heavyweight in
MMA history, crushing Rogers in the second round to stay atop
the division he has ruled since 2003.
1.
Anderson Silva (25-4)
After sparking the ire of MMA fans with a woeful performance
against Thales Leites in April, Silva resuscitated his hype in
August with an epic beatdown of former UFC light heavyweight
champion Forrest Griffin. Unfortunately for Silva, an enigmatic
and lingering elbow injury has kept him on the shelf ever since.
The injury has postponed a slated bout against fellow Brazilian
Vitor Belfort, which Dana White and company are now praying can
find a February date. However, what is perhaps more important
is that the middleweight division appears to be turning a corner
of sorts, with a string of potential challengers emerging for
Silva that includes Belfort, Marquardt and Maia, who offer more
appealing matchups than the likes of Leites and Cote.
2.
Georges St. Pierre (19-2)
The search for St. Pierre's next challenger took longer than
anticipated, but we now finally have an answer: Come February,
it will be "The Outlaw" Dan Hardy vying for the UFC
welterweight title and 170-pound supremacy against "Rush."
Despite Hardy's 4-0 mark in the UFC, the matchup has drawn criticism
from the MMA populace, which doesnt see the bout as an especially
stiff test for St. Pierre. However, there is something to be
said for the fact that St. Pierre's last three title defenses
have all come against pound-for-pound quality fighters in Jon
Fitch, B.J. Penn and most recently Thiago Alves. That standard
of competition is hard for any fighter -- even one on a 12-1
run -- to measure up to.
3.
Fedor Emelianenko (31-1, 1 NC)
The longest tenured of any of MMA's pound-for-pound stalwarts,
Emelianenko has lorded over the heavyweight division for nearly
seven years, a staggering amount of time to reign in any sport,
let alone MMA. In Emelianenko's major introduction to the American
audience, he crushed previously unbeaten Brett Rogers in front
of millions of primetime viewers on CBS, showing both the skills
expected of the sport's top heavyweight as well as a flair for
the dramatic. Although his pound-for-pound status is always mitigated
by the lack of quality depth at heavyweight, even in Strikeforce
Emelianenko has some worthy potential opponents such as Alistair
Overeem and Fabricio Werdum.
4.
Lyoto Machida (16-0)
It may not be the worst decision of 2009, but it was certainly
the least popular. Machida's unanimous points verdict over Mauricio
"Shogun" Rua in October so inflamed the MMA world,
all parties involved agreed to a rematch. The necessity of hand
surgery for "The Dragon" pushed the date of the fight
back until May 1 in Montreal, but it will still be one of 2010's
biggest bouts when it does happen. The whole Machida-Rua scenario
should serve as a vivid reminder that the anointing oil is often
called for prematurely in MMA.
5.
B.J. Penn (14-5-1)
Penn may be the most gifted fighter on this list. At UFC 101,
he showed exactly why the MMA world anointed him from day one.
He put on arguably his most consummate performance as a prizefighter,
nullifying Kenny Florian for 15 minutes before routing him in
the fourth frame and finishing him by submission. The next challenger
to Penns UFC lightweight title will be Diego Sanchez at UFC 107
on Dec. 12. If Penn chooses to continue his reign as a lightweight
-- the role everyone but he himself has long desired -- he will
only climb this list and validate his enormous talent.
6.
Jose Aldo (16-1)
Perhaps it is fitting that 2009 will come to a close with Jose
Aldo on top of the 145-pound division, punctuating a year in
which the featherweight class has played a prominent role on
all corners of the globe. Since his WEC debut in June 2008, Aldo
is 6-0 with six stoppages, including four in 2009 alone. In his
WEC title capture over Mike Thomas Brown, Aldo was positively
dominant in crushing a pound-for-pound entrant. The featherweight
division continues to expand and improve, and may have some flux
still in store, but Aldo's youth, skill set and killer instinct
have positioned him as a potentially long-term dominant figure.
7.
Jon Fitch (19-3, 1 NC)
Fitch is not a name that often comes up when the pound-for-pound
world is discussed. He is not a divisional leader, and he doesn't
have a style that lends itself to drama and excitement in the
way of Silva, Emelianenko or Penn. However, Fitch carries a gaudy
10-1 mark in the UFC, racking up top-10 victories in MMAs historically
deepest and most talented division. Fitch's unflashy stockpiling
of scalps may not make him the UFC's most popular commodity,
but it warrants recognition. Next on the agenda for the AKA product
is a tough but unheralded Mike Pierce at UFC 107 on Dec. 12.
8.
Mike Thomas Brown (22-5)
With 10 straight victories, including dominant wins over the
likes of Jeff Curran, Leonard Garcia and former divisional ruler
Urijah Faber twice, Brown more than earned his place on this
list. However, the sturdy veteran was outmatched and outgunned
in his third WEC title defense against Jose Aldo on Nov. 18.
While Brown will undoubtedly be knocking off other elite featherweights
in the future, the lopsided performance does cast some doubt
on his ability to recapture the divisional mantle.
9.
Brian Bowles (8-0)
In August, Bowles rewrote the script on the bantamweight division.
He soundly clobbered Miguel Torres, who had been tabbed as the
all-action fighter to bring the bantamweight division to the
public. Now Bowles is the big fish in a quickly expanding pond,
given the task of becoming the first truly sustainable and dominant
bantamweight MMA has had. Bowles' road to owning the 135-pound
division will continue in March, when he'll receive what should
be a thrilling challenge against once-beaten prospect Dominick
Cruz.
10.
Thiago Alves (16-6)
A knee injury kept Alves from meeting Jon Fitch in a rematch
of their June 2006 bout, in which the AKA product had upkicked
and pounded the Brazilian into a stoppage. While Alves did not
get the chance to simultaneously move on from his one-sided loss
to Georges St. Pierre in August and avenge his loss to a fellow
divisional standout, he still remains one of the Big Three in
the ever-outstanding 170-pound division. Pitbull has a host of
crushing wins over quality fighters -- the very criterion at
the heart of the sport's "best."
Source:
Sherdog
|
UFC
Targeting GSP vs. Dan Hardy for UFC 111
by Mike Chiappetta
The
UFC is targeting a March 2010 date for welterweight champion
Georges St. Pierre's title defense with No. 1 contender Dan Hardy,
a source with knowledge of the situation told FanHouse.
Once
formally agreed to by both sides, the matchup would likely be
the main event of UFC 111, which is expected to take place at
the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
The
28-year-old St. Pierre (19-2) is one of MMA's hottest commodities
after signing major sponsorship deals with Gatorade and Under
Armour within the last year. He has been out of action since
injuring his groin during the course of a successful defense
against Thiago Alves at July's UFC 100.
A winner of six straight matches, St. Pierre is considered to
be among the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world, holding
wins over notables including BJ Penn, Jon Fitch, Matt Hughes
and Alves.
Hardy,
meanwhile, vaulted into the title picture with a string of four
straight wins in the UFC, most recently defeating Mike Swick
in a No. 1 contenders match at UFC 105 earlier this month.
Known
for his red mohawk, the ability to play pyschological games with
his opponent and a rapidly improving all-around game, the flashy
Brit has won 12 of his last 13 matches and has a career mark
of 23-6.
The
fight between the two had been rumored for Australia's UFC 110
event, but now it appears that New Jersey is the likely destination.
If
it is held in New Jersey, the event would be the first UFC visit
to the state since UFC 78 in Nov. 2007. With neighboring New
York likely to host a crucial vote on MMA sanctioning in 2010,
the UFC's visit next door could also serve as a lobbying tool,
giving New York legislators an up-close look at the organization
and its financial impact in bringing an MMA fight night to the
state.
Source:
MMA Fighting
|
Let
It Reign: Handicapping UFC Champions
by Jason Probst
With
its present lineup of five champions, the UFC has a group that
ranks far superior than any of its predecessors in the history
of the organization and the sport. In addition, they rank higher
in their respective weight classes -- only Brock Lesnar lacks
top dog status, ranking second behind Fedor Emelianenko -- than
any previous UFC roster.
That
represents a major change from the past, when typically a champion
existed alongside a roster of numerous challengers who were much
more competitive than todays contenders, at least from a betting
perspective. For an in-depth look at the champions and odds on
future challengers, read insider Joey Oddessas breakdown here.
Yet
for the seeming convergence of dominant champions, a UFC title
itself has not proven a long-running job description in the past.
With the average UFC championship reign at just 1.38 defenses,
being top dog in a given division rarely lends itself to a lengthy
streak of defenses. A breakdown of the math follows:
Lightweight:
3 reigns, 4 defenses, 1.33 defenses per reign
Welterweight: 8 reigns, 14 defenses, 1.75 defenses per reign
Middleweight: 5 reigns, 8 defenses, 1.6 defenses per reign Light
Heavyweight: 10 reigns, 15 defenses, 1.5 defenses per reign
Heavyweight: 14 reigns, 10 defenses, 0.71 defenses per reign.
For
tabulation purposes, a scheduled bout does not count as a successful
defense if a challenger misses weight or the match takes place
between an interim titleholder and champion.
Thats
why the current crop of champions is different. If you lined
up all five, it would be a tough call to guess how many defenses
each would make during their current reigns. Outside of light
heavyweight titleholder Lyoto Machida, none of them have a challenger
who registers less than 3-to-1 to dethrone them, and each has
a good shot at making a lengthy run. UFC middleweight king Anderson
Silva currently holds the promotional record for consecutive
title defense with five, along with Tito Ortiz.
That
very dynamic of dominance is another theme with which the sports
top organization must deal -- building champions over an extended
run as opposed to the topsy-turvy turnover that defined past
reigns. It is a whole new angle from which to market top fighters
and will probably inspire more belt-heavy cards, given the increasing
likelihood of challengers that are longshots with bookies.
A
look at each champion and how his potential challengers stack
up
follows:
Biggest
in-house threat: Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
Given
the radically different matchup Lesnar faces in eventual challenger
Shane Carwin, it might seem tempting to put Carwin here, given
his one-punch power and impressive strength. But whereas Carwin
has the physical strength to potentially match grappling with
Lesnar, Nogueira is probably the only fighter in the division
that may actually get more dangerous for Lesnar once the champion
takes him down.
With
a twice-flipped odometer and a score of memorable wars under
his belt, Nogueira is as battle-tested as they come, and his
sweeps and submissions, plus trademark toughness, could be the
right mix to dethrone Lesnar, should he recover from his current
health crisis. It could also turn into one of the more brutal
beatings ever handed out in the sport, if Lesnar shows the stifling
control and top game he displayed against Frank Mir at UFC 100.
Acquisition
youd love to see: Fedor Emelianenko.
Given
their parallel title reigns in rival organizations, Emelianenko,
who knocked out Brett Rogers earlier this month, might have missed
his best chance at beating Lesnar by signing with Strikeforce.
The Minnesota powerhouse continues to improve, and the window
closes with each fight the two have. With Emelianenkos two distance-going
wins over Nogueira, the Brazilian would be a perfect comparative
opponent for Lesnar, assuming he gets by Carwin in his next defense.
Also,
Lesnar enjoys the rare privilege of being able to dictate where
the fight will go, given his wrestling ability. If his stand-up
continues to improve, he will put that much more of an advantage
between himself and potential opponents.
Who
will turn the trick? A big hitter, plain and simple. Outside
of Nogueira, nobody in the UFC possesses the kind of submission
credentials and guard to stop him once they are taken down. An
imposing takedown artist might put Lesnar on his back and take
him out of his element, but keeping him there could prove equally
tough. Carwin has a shot at it.
Cain
Velasquez looked tremendous in steamrolling Ben Rothwell, but
considering how many times Rothwell and Cheick Kongo regained
their feet against Velasquez, it becomes hard to see him controlling
Lesnar in a pure wrestling sense. However, Velasquez has shown
a busy ground-and-pound and has a good intuitive sense of how
to strike downed opponents from almost any position. If he can
suck Lesnar into a fast-paced, cardio-taxing battle, he could
create problems for the champion.
Biggest
in-house threat: Mauricio Rua
The
decision versus Machida went against him at UFC 104, but Ruas
performance was a case study in game plan execution and admirable
patience. He developed a sound strategy and stuck to it, consistently
finishing exchanges and landing the harder shots.
If
Machida wins their eventual rematch, it will likely be close.
Do not let that fool you regarding the champions staying power
against other contenders; few, if any, have the tools to match
up with him the way Rua does. Outside of a Matt Serra-style stunner,
it is hard to see anyone outworking the clever Machida.
Acquisition
youd love to see: Gegard Mousasi
The
streaking light heavyweight has a gaudy record of 27-2-1, and
since his last defeat in 2006, he has reeled off 14 consecutive
wins. Mousasi reminds one of a younger Georges St. Pierre --
the updated software version that does everything so well, one
wonders if hes real.
Wholl
turn the trick? Rua -- or a guy we have not heard of yet, with
a blue-chip wrestling background and Mark Schultz-caliber takedowns.
Biggest
in-house threat: Vitor Belfort.
Belfort
is the only middleweight with the stand-up skills to worry Silva.
With his blazing speed and explosiveness, Belfort returned to
the UFC with a vintage stoppage of Rich Franklin at UFC 103,
showcasing the Mike Tyson-esque quality that has made him a fan
favorite for more than a decade. Belforts physical strength and
ground game also give him a great chance, as he does not necessarily
have to bank on a stand-up fight to win. How he will adjust if
he cannot dictate to Silva remains the wild card. That and Belforts
extremely dangerous striking make this a compelling matchup.
Acquisition
youd love to see: Outside of Dan Henderson, not a single middleweight
ranked in the top 10 outside the UFC presents a credible threat.
Henderson
-- rumored to be flirting with Strikeforce -- still has the tools
to give Silva problems. With that said, Silva has proven so cool
under fire that he consistently works his way out of trouble.
Hendersons opening round against Silva was a masterpiece at UFC
82, but the two-time Olympian still came up short.
Wholl
turn the trick? While the prospect of an unlikely upset remains
a possibility with which every champion has to deal, Silva has
one of the best chins in the game, so it remains a remote chance
at best someone -- outside of Belfort, at least -- will catch
him with a fight-changing shot from which he cannot recover.
More likely, the fighter to eventually dethrone him will be someone
fighting him as Randy Couture did against Chuck Liddell in their
first encounter. It will require a perfect game plan, implemented
against the smallest margins of error.
Biggest
in-house threat: Thiago Alves
The
bruising, big-framed welterweight gave a credible effort in his
decision loss to GSP in July. Alves figures to keep improving
along with the champion, and their paths will surely cross again
down the road. The current crop of contenders does not pose the
same threat as Alves, whose striking, takedown defense and overall
strength are a potent mix.
Acquisition
youd love to see: Nick Diaz
The
weight-jumping Diaz has continued to improve his game and has
proven to be one of the most durable fighters in the business.
Diaz notched significant wins in Strikeforce over Frank Shamrock
and Scott Smith, but he has not fought since he stopped Smith
last June. A no-show over a scheduled drug test with the California
State Athletic Commission nixed a Strikeforce bout with former
International Fight League titleholder Jay Hieron.
With
his high-volume stand-up style and dangerous ground game, Diaz
would still figure to be a longshot against St. Pierre. Plus,
he would have to beat some tough contenders to get the chance,
a feat he could not pull off in his first run in the organization.
However, with his conditioning and grind-them-down style, he
seems built for five-round fights. Who would not want to see
him match up with GSP?
Wholl
turn the trick? St. Pierre has rendered top-level wrestlers virtually
impotent with his seamless blend of striking and athleticism.
However, with the next wave of athletes coming into the sport,
it has become apparent that the division will experience a huge
boost in talent in the next 2-3 years, particularly as college
wrestlers develop the requisite skills for MMA. If Alves cannot
do it in a rematch, the guy to beat St. Pierre will be an elite
wrestler with heavy hands.
Biggest
in-house threat: Diego Sanchez.
The
former welterweight has cut down to 155 -- he had not been that
light since high school -- and has shown increasing flashes of
his old self with wins over Joe Stevenson and Clay Guida. Sanchezs
high-energy pace and cardio are his best assets. However, given
the time he spent on his back against Guida, the jury remains
out on the effectiveness of his grappling at this weight.
Like
many fighters battling for a competitive edge, the decision to
drop a weight class often leaves him sapped come fight time,
given the rigors of a dangerously excessive cut. If Sanchez can
combine his trademark cardio and pressure with his scramble-and-smash
style against Penn, he appears to be a live dog.
This
one should be compelling as the UFC 107 headliner, particularly
if Sanchez can be effective on the feet early. If so, watch out.
If not, Penn should win handily in a replay of his Sean Sherk
stoppage at UFC 84.
Acquisition
youd love to see: Eddie Alvarez.
The
current Bellator champion notched another win in Dream when he
submitted Katsunori Kikono on Oct. 25. A rough customer with
an aggressive style and all-out attack, Alvarez has the best
chance of any non-UFC lightweight to beat Penn. Shinya Aokis
submissions may be the best in the game, but stateside commissions
would not allow him to sport the trademark leggings he does in
Japan; those are especially effective in helping set up finishing
moves. Plus, Penns submission defense can only be described as
stellar. In fact, he has proven so good on the ground that, at
155, he rarely if ever fails to dictate what goes on there.
Wholl
turn the trick? If one cross-compared the skill sets of all five
UFC champions, Penn rates the best from a pound-for-pound perspective.
He has proven a solid striker with subtle stand-up defense and
a granite chin, and he gives opponents fits in a tie-up, whether
he defends a takedown or attempts one. He has also proven incredibly
dominant from top position, and once he obtains it, the fight
essentially ends. There are better wrestlers (Brock Lesnar and
Georges St. Pierre) and strikers (Anderson Silva, Lyoto Machida
and St. Pierre), but Penn has proven more dangerous from more
ranges and positions than any of them.
The
big challenge for Penn remains himself and staying motivated
to defend his crown. Forever in search of greater tests, his
lightweight reign could become an amazing one, given the depth
of the division and high-energy foes. Aggressive scrappers like
Sanchez, Gray Maynard, Frankie Edgar and Tyson Griffin comprise
the top tier of deserving challengers. It provides a full cupboard
for the Hilo, Hawaii, native and could serve up a memorable reign
if he brings his A game for the next few years.
If
Penn loses his 155-pound crown, it will be to an opponent pitching
a perfect game -- likely a great wrestler with good stand-up
and the tenaciousness to wear down Penn, a la St. Pierre.
Source:
Sherdog
|
Gabriel
Gonzaga out of UFC 108
The Brazilian Gabriel Napco Gonzaga is another victim of the
staph infection at UFC. After Rodrigo Minotauro Nogueira because
of the infection, the same problem affected Gonzaga, whos out
of the fight against Junior dos Santos, scheduled to UFC 108,
in January. With the loss, UFC loses one more heavyweight, once
that Brock Lesnar is also in the yard. On the other categories,
the athletes list out of conditions to fight is just getting
bigger, counting with names as Anderson Silva, Lyoto Machida,
Thiago Alves and Ricardo Almeida.
Source:
Tatame
|
PRANGLEY
UP FOR TITLE, THEN BACK TO STRIKEFORCE
by Damon Martin
A veteran of more than 20 fights, including turns in the UFC
and Strikeforce, Trevor Prangley will look to keep his current
four-fight win streak going as he takes on Marcus Sursa Friday
at Shark Fights. The two will battle for the promotion's 205-pound
divisional title.
Being
a part of big fights is nothing new to Prangley, who recently
won and then was promptly stripped of a light heavyweight title
while competing in Maximum Fighting Championships. A contract
dispute led to his departure from the organization and to hear
Prangley tell it, the whole situation was disappointing.
"I
don't know if it was the best thing, but it was the thing that
worked for me at that time," Prangley told MMAWeekly Radio
about his exit from MFC. "I wish we could have worked with
them, but it just didn't work out that way. I would still like
to be fighting there, but it just didn't work out."
It
didn't take long for him to start fielding offers. Soon after
his fight this weekend, he plans a move back to 185 pounds and
fighting in Strikeforce, a promotion he's called home before.
"I
should be in Strikeforce at the latest in February next year
or so I've been told," Prangley commented. "I'm excited
to go back to 85. I've been fighting at 205 the last few fights.
It's tough to get fights at 85, but that's the weight I'm at
and when we get to bigger shows like Strikeforce the guys aren't
going to have an opportunity to duck it like they have on the
outside."
Before
Strikeforce comes his title fight in Shark Fights and a dangerous
opponent in Marcus Sursa, who has been training full time with
Greg Jackson's camp in New Mexico to prepare for the championship
bout.
"I'm
going to do what I always do, go out and control the pace of
the fight and do as much damage as I can," Prangley stated
about his game plan for Sursa. "That's the only game plan
you can do with a kid like that, he's going to come out wild
and bouncing around like he always does and it's always a dangerous
fight that way."
Dangerous
fights are nothing new to Prangley, but this fight could be his
most dangerous. Of course Prangley is heavy favorite heading
into the bout, but Sursa will undoubtedly try to build his name
by beating an established fighter on Friday night.
"These
are the ones with the biggest risk. I get more nervous for these
little fights than I do for the big ones," said Prangley.
"People understand if you go into a big named fight and
you're fighting a big named guy why you lose, but when I go into
a fight like this when you look at it on paper I'm the guy who
should win, so it's a little more nerve wracking for me. I've
got a lot riding on this fight, I'm going to go out there and
do what I do best."
Prangley
will take on Marcus Sursa on Friday night in Shark Fights before
making his move back to middleweight and Strikeforce in 2010.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
Ben
Saunders and Mike Swick have a war of words online
By Zach Arnold
I
guess theres interest in the two having a re-match.
Ben
Saunders:
I
used to be a Swick fan and respect him, but I feel I got to experience
part of the underground rumors as for how AKA tends to be a bit
arrogant. KOS was nice to me at the fights for UFC 106. So I
got no problems with him, Fitch never did nothing, so no problems.
I didnt even say whats up to Bob at UFC 106 fights cause the
post ufc 99 remarks. Dave Camerillo actualy said whats up and
was nice, even though he was in the mix of things after my fight
with Swick. But I was respectful back. I mean I cant say its
real serious or anything now. I dont lose sleep or anything,
I dont hate any of them. Its just not how I am, and I feel treat
people the way you want to be treated. If you want to be disrespectful
then I wont respect you is all. Now Swick is saying its not true.
But I know what I heard, maybe you guys didnt think I would hear
it, or feel bad about it now. Maybe it was just over excited
post fight comments, so small and insignificant to you that you
dont remember. But I wouldnt make it up. I am not really even
to mad anymore, but I do remember how pissed I was and agitated
after that fight because of it. Before that incident even happened
all I kept thinking were the positives of my situation and try
to not get worked up over it. It really got to me after they
did that and it lit a fire in me that lasted a few weeks. Including
me picturing Swicks face before and during the Marcus Davis fight.
I am dissapointed with my fight with Swick and would love a rematch.
But I am not trying to Hype a rematch. And didnt expect to do
a call out for one and get it. Just expressed my interest in
it when asked if i would like one, and know it will happen sometime
even if not as soon as I would like. There is a lot of good match
ups for me in the WW division. Im here to fight anyone.
It
was just Swick and his cornermen at UFC 99 that did it. So I
am not saying the whole team or school or anything about that.
I am just saying i have heard stories around and I felt I experienced
a bit of it first hand. Trying to emphasize that they felt I
got Knocked Out as opposed to being TKOed and then laughing about
it is pretty lame. So Strong words or not, its how I feel.
Mike
Swick in reply:
Dude
dont put words in my mouth. I came in your locker after the fight
and hung out with you for 30 minutes watching the rest of the
fights. I wasnt even hanging out with my team. I had a lot of
respect for you before this fight and after. I was just talking
about you during my UFC party the other night saying how cool
you are and how much potential you have. I didnt hear anyone
of my team say anything about you getting knocked the &*%$
out and if I did they know it would piss me off people off because
I dont disrespect people. I have been a martial artist since
I was 8 and believe in respect and honor. You can talk to any
former opponent I have ever had and none will tell you I was
disrespectful before or after the fight.
If
your just trying to hype a rematch then just ask for one. If
the UFC wants to do it I will sign. You dont have to try and
make me look disrespectful on the internet.
Mike
Swick now:
Saunders,
what you are saying about our post fight is 100% inaccurate.
I was totally cool to you and still think your a really cool
dude.
No
one from my Team disrespected you in anyway and would never say
what you thought they said. 100% respect from me bro. Really
Saunders? Just read your interview. Your gonna try and make me
look disrespectful then say you were injured for our fight?
If
you want a rematch just ask the UFC. If they want to do it I
will sign that contract ASAP While you are reading those two
go at it with each other, I have an article that you can read
here talking about UFC dealing with overexposure problems right
now.
Source:
Fight Opinion
|
New
MMA Study May Lead to Influx of Advertisers
by Mike Chiappetta
When
Under Armour signed Georges St. Pierre to an endorsement deal
earlier this month, the mixed martial arts world took notice,
though it likely did not resonate in the larger sports business
world.
But
the release of a recent study may have the inverse effect.
Scarborough
Sports Marketing's new demographic survey, conducted over a six-month
span, revealed a young audience with a high income. According
to their statistics, MMA fans are 15 percent more likely than
the average American adult to have a household income of over
$75,000.
The
results of the study shouldn't be discounted. The findings are
particularly newsworthy because they come from an independent
source not affiliated with the sport. In the past, the UFC has
trumpeted similar facts in hopes of drawing in new advertisers,
but now major companies with major ad dollars will see it from
a reputable firm, giving them more confidence in the buying power
of the MMA consumer.
That
could and should lead to bigger advertisers entering the sport,
following other trailblazers like Budweiser, Burger King, Gatorade
and Under Armour. For most of the sport's existence, small MMA-related
companies have comprised the majority of advertisers.
Perhaps
the only small negative of the release is the confirmation of
the sport's overwhelmingly male fan base. Many major, mainstream
companies prefer to advertise their product to a diverse audience.
Still,
the relative wealth of MMA fans should help draw in some companies
who'd been previously reluctant to use MMA as a marketing vehicle
for their products.
"Sports
marketing has proven its value through a difficult economic climate,
and MMA can help marketers capitalize on their customers' engagement
with sports," said Howard Goldberg, senior vice president
of Scarborough Sports Marketing in the release.
The
company also noted that MMA fans are well above the average for
ownership of high-tech items such as HDTV's and video game systems,
and that the fan group represents a vast part of the market for
those planning to buy a new car or truck within the next year.
The
confirmation of the MMA fan's youth, buying power and willingness
to spend combined with the lower price tag that comes from advertising
in MMA should make it a prime target for an influx of ad dollars
in the coming years.
Source:
MMA Fighting
|
Quote
of the Day
"You
have a lifetime to work, but children are only young once."
Polish Proverb
|
OTM's
Black Eye Friday Specials Today!
Get down to OTMA
Fight Shop on 1255 S. Beretania Street before all the good stuff
is gone!
|
Aloha
State Championships of BJJ
12/5/09
Kaiser High School Gym
Deadline: Friday, November 27th to get a free tournament shirt
Aloha
State BJJ Championships
Kaiser High School Gymnasium
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Superfights
Shane
Agena (O2 Martial Arts Academy) vs. Jarred Espina (Powerhouse
Jiu-Jitsu)
Aaron
Moeller (Moeller Jiu-Jitsu) vs. Carlos Kiko
|
Rafael
Feijco: I have a lot more to show
By Guilherme Cruz
After the debut with a performance below of the expectations,
being knocked out by Mike Kyle, Rafael Feijco Cavalcante came
back better on the last Friday (20) and, against Aaron Rosa,
needed two rounds to win by TKO. Everything went fine, but I
still have more to show, Feijco guarantees, talking about the
strategy.
I could do what we have decided, to work on close distance, as
he was taller than me, and make him to get tired on the first
round. He got slower and we worked on the on the counter attack,
Rafael explains, excited with the complements of the events promoters.
they liked a lot, they said that they got worried about my first
fight, but I explained the weight thing, that havent hit well.
But now things worked, I hit the weight laughing.
With eight victories in ten fights, the athlete revealed that
he must be back to the event at the beginning of 2010. They asked
if I would fight in February, and Im ready, guarantees, without
imagining who may be his opponent. I have no idea, theres so
many people out there Dan Henderson got in the event, theres
King Mo (Lawal)... Theres a lot of new athletes, said, looking
to the belt of the category, now with Gegard Mousasi. Thats my
expectation, Ill train for it.
Source:
Tatame
|
Edgar
Looking to Remain in Title Shot Picture
By Kelsey Mowatt
On
December 5th, at The Ultimate Fighter Finale in Las Vegas, Nevada,
Frankie Edgar will look to remain within striking distance of
a title shot, when the highly regarded lightweight squares off
with the undefeated Matt Veach. Edgar was forced to change gears
earlier this month, when he was informed that his original scheduled
opponent, Kurt Pellegrino, would be unable to compete due to
an injured back. Edgar went from facing an opponent in Pellegrino,
who has gone 6-3 in the UFC, to one in Veach, who has fought
just once in the Octagon, defeating Matt Grice in February. Edgar
concedes researching his new opponent has been somewhat difficult.
To
be honest with you, no I havent, said Edgar (10-1), when asked
by FCF if hes been able to find out much about Veach (11-0).
I got the one round that he fought in the UFC. Ive taken a few
things from that fight but he hasnt fought since February, so
Im expecting him to come in and be a better fighter than he was
then. Im sure hes improved since then. I guess Im going to have
to find out under fire, during the fight.
Especially
because it came midway through my training camp, said Edgar,
acknowledging that he was disappointed to find out that Pellegrino
was out of the fight. You focus on a guy, what his style is,
thinking about him every day, so it throws a bit of a curve into
your training camp. Its just something you have to deal with.
Of
course Veach arrived in the UFC with impressive credentials,
as the former collegiate wrestler had won 10 straight, since
transitioning into MMA in 2006.
I
know he comes from a great camp, said Edgar. Training with (Matt)
Hughes and his guys at the HIT Squad, so I know he has a strong
wrestling background like myself. Hes pretty big, cuts a lot
of weight, so I expect him to be a big strong wrestler. His last
fight he caught the guy and ended up knocking him out. So he
has power in his hands as well.
Edgar
has fought experienced wrestlers in the Octagon before, defeating
former champion Sean Sherk and Tyson Griffin, with his only professional
loss coming to Gray Maynard.
Its
something you have to address, Edgar noted, while discussing
Veachs wrestling background. Just like if youre fighting a great
jiu-jitsu guy or whatever. You have to try to curve your training
camp towards it and build your strategy around it. I wrestle
everyday myself so it shouldnt be too much of a stretch.
The
28-year-old-fighter has now gone 5-1 in the UFC, and if he can
get by Veach, it will be interesting to see where Edgar is positioned
by the promotion in terms of the title picture.
I
think Im close, said Edgar. I think my last win (a UD victory
over Sherk in May) was a great start on a trek towards the title.
I think thats who you have to beat in our weight class if you
want to get a title shot. I accomplished that and another win
over Matt, a win or maybe two after that, then hopefully I can
fight for it soon.
Source:
Full Contact Fighter
|
Huerta
awaits his suitors
by Jake Rossen/Sherdog.com
Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com
Roger
Huerta has enough game -- and other intangibles -- to continue
being an asset to the UFC.
It's
not often that a fighter coming off consecutive losses is in
high demand, but records don't always tell the entire story.
Roger Huerta lost to former No. 1 contender Kenny Florian via
decision; he split scorecards with imminent No. 1 contender Gray
Maynard; he remains better-looking than most of us. No reason
to hang his head. Now Huerta is available to take bids for his
services.
Although
his UFC contract has expired, the promotion has the right to
match any monetary offer for up to one year, which is good for
Huerta: It means he can leverage competitor interest against
the UFC. And that interest may be considerable. Strikeforce,
Bellator and others likely will perceive Huerta as a key to the
burgeoning Latino market.
The
problem with his remaining in the Octagon is that Huerta has
hit the wall. He couldn't beat Florian or Maynard, which gives
champion B.J. Penn odds on deconstructing both his game plan
and his face. (It may not matter: Huerta's style, like Forrest
Griffin's, is to lose the tough fights but win fans with lockjaw
determination.) Strikeforce is on solid footing, but the whims
of CBS dictate the company's long-term viability as a major player;
Bellator hasn't yet spent beyond its means, and it won't likely
start with Huerta.
As
with fellow free agent Dan Henderson, Huerta will find his best
bet remains the UFC. He just can't act like it.
Source: ESPN
|
UFC
106: Ortiz vs. Griffin 2 Fighter Salaries
Forrest
Griffin and Tito Ortiz each earned $250,000 for their main event
fight at Saturday's UFC 106 in Las Vegas.
Griffin's
total prize included a $150,000 bonus for winning the fight,
while Ortiz's salary remained at $250,000.
Griffin
avenged a April 2006 loss to Ortiz by returning the favor with
a split decision win after three rounds. When the two first met
at UFC 59, Ortiz earned $200,000 for the win while Griffin earned
only $16,000.
Below
are the disclosed paydays the UFC reported to the athletic commission
and do not necessarily represent a fighter's final earnings.
Forrest
Griffin, $250,000 ($150,000 win bonus) def. Tito Ortiz, $250,000
Josk Koscheck, $106,000 ($53,000 win) def. Anthony Johnson, $17,000
Paulo Thiago, $16,000 ($8,000 win) def. Jacob Volkmann, $6,000
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, $100,000 ($30,000 win) def. Luiz Cane,
$19,000
Amir
Sadollah, $30,000 ($15,000 win) def. Phil Baroni, $25,000
Ben Saunders, $20,000 ($10,000 win) def. Marcus Davis, $27,000
Kendall Grove, $44,000 ($22,000 win) def. Jake Rosholt, $15,000
Brian Foster, $12,000 ($6,000 win) def. Brock Larson, $26,000
Caol Uno, $20,000 drew Fabricio Camoes, $10,000
George Sotiropoulos, $20,000 ($10,000 win) def. Jason Dent, $8,000
Additionally,
performance bonuses, a $70,000 bonus to each fighter for each
award, were handed out at the post-fight press conference for
Fight of the Night: Josh Koscheck vs. Anthony Johnson, Knockout
of the Night: Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Submission of the
Night: Josh Koscheck.
Source:
MMA Fighting
|
Study:
MMA fans are young, wealthy, and tech-savvy
by Dustin Zuch
A comprehensive study organized by Scarborough Sports Marketing
comes to the conclusion that those reading MMAFrenzy.com (or
any MMA website) are more likely to be between the ages of 18-30,
homeowners, own video game systems, and possess a household income
in the upper echelon of the income bracket.
The
results of the study were initially publicized in a report by
SportsBusiness Daily and posted by Bloody Elbow. An excerpt from
the report summarizes the overall study and statistics contained
therein.
Mixed
Martial Arts (MMA) is attracting young, wealthy, high-tech consumers,
according to Scarborough Sports Marketing’s first-ever look
at the sport. MMA fans are defined as those adults who watched
the sport on broadcast or cable TV during the past year. The
six-month survey of 221,000 adults ages 18+ in 81 top U.S. markets,
including every big-league city, found that MMA fans are 15%
more likely than the average American adult to have a household
income of at least $75,000 and 10% more likely to own a second
home. MMA fans also are above the national average for current
ownership of high-tech household items such as HDTVs, VOD service,
video game systems and broadband Internet.
The
demographics highlighted by this study are quite believable.
Most MMA fans are usually on the younger side and most folks
would be hard pressed to find someone that didn’t own some
sort of video game system or high speed internet connection.
Where
the results of this study become disconcerting is at the point
where some people might pigeonhole MMA fans. A bunch of young
adults who sit around their HDTVs playing Xbox 360 and watching
PRIDE reruns, right? Whereas fans themselves know that their
brethren are mostly working class individuals of all ages and
walks of life. Heck, one has to be hard working to be able to
afford a night out at a UFC event in Las Vegas…
Nonetheless,
the study conducted would appear to hit home with many of those
that love the sport of MMA and consider themselves to be hardcore
fans.
Source: MMA Frenzy
|
Should
Tito Ortiz have won the decision at UFC 106?
By Zach Arnold
If Jordan Breen thinks MMA judge Glenn Trowbridge is the most
dangerous man in the sport, then what will he think about fellow
MMA writers who thought Tito Ortiz should have won the decision
against Forrest Griffin on Saturday night? Ortiz didnt win on
the score cards Saturday night, but MMA writers Josh Gross (Sports
Illustrated) and Carlos Arias (Orange County Register) believe
that he should have. Josh Gross:
I
had Tito winning the first and second. Griffin obviously took
the third. Carlos Arias:
@titoortiz
This is Carlos from OC Register. You won the 1st and 2nd rounds
and lost the 3rd. You should have got the dec. Everybody knows
it.
Dana
has to go w/you and Forrest on TUF 11. That will be huge ratings
and set up the rubbermatch. Good luck homie. Youll get him.
If
the tone from Carlos towards Tito is a little off-setting to
you, the reality is that it seems to be pretty much the norm
amongst the bigger mainstream MMA writers. When I was going over
the video of the post-fight press conference for UFC 106 on Saturday
night, the media sure acted like fans. There was an audible cheer
and whooping going on when Dana said that Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
won a Knockout of the Night bonus.
Source:
Fight Opinion
|
HARD
WORK PAYS OFF FOR DAN HARDY
by Steven Marrocco
In an age where hundreds of fighters are under contract with
the UFC, Dan Hardys short road to a title shot is somewhat of
an anomaly.
Maybe not for heavyweight, but for welterweight, one of the most
talent-laden divisions in the sport, four fights to a title shot
is lickety split. Just ask Lyoto Machida.
Then again, its also a testament to the dominance of champion
Georges St-Pierre. The French-Canadian has pretty much cleaned
out the division, and many thought to be rightful heirs to contendership
have stumbled upon each other.
Hardy has lived 27 years of a life less ordinary, so he isnt
much thrown by the twist of fate. But hes no less keen on the
opportunity.
Its just hard work, said Hardy. Im not overly athletic, Im not
overly talented... I shouldnt be where I am in the sport, really.
Its just getting up every day, putting the time in, and just
doing everything to be as perfect as I can be.
Hardy is expected to face St. Pierre at the yet-unannounced UFC
111 on March 13 in Newark, N.J.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Lyoto
confirms fight with Shogun via Twitter
Adept of Twitter, Lyoto (@lyotomachidafw) confirmed what TATAME
already published last week: the new meeting between the Brazilians
will happen on May 1st 2010, without a chosen location yet. On
Novembers edition of TATAME Magazine, both athletes already talked
about the rematch.
Watching the fight later I saw that I won four rounds, but Im
an UFC athlete and I respect their criteria, Lyoto said, talking
about the strategy used by his opponent on the combat. On the
past fights, I could put my strategy in a better way, so I think
it was a strategy game. Were fighting for the most disputed category
of the biggest event of the world, were talking about high level.
On the other hand, Shogun believes he was superior. Im sure that
I won. Everyone thought that I won, but I think that they gave
him the victory because of some interests, analyzes the challenger,
talking about the strategy to the revenge. Ill study with my
team to see all that again. He will get in different on the next
fight, thats for sure.
Source: Tatame
|
Fighter
Dies After Golden Glory Sparring Session
by Tim Leidecker
Vitali
Mitu, of Soldanesti, Moldova, collapsed and could not be revived
following a sparring session last Thursday with three-time K-1
World Grand Prix Champion Semmy Schilt at Golden Glorys gym in
Bucharest, Romania, according to Romanian newspaper Gardianul.
While initial reports by eyewitnesses claimed that Mitu, 22,
broke down after receiving a knee strike to the chest by the
6-foot-11, 300-pound Schilt, an autopsy has since revealed otherwise.
Mitu
has suffered from acute interstitial pneumonia as well as a lung
edema and acute bleeding, Professor Dan Dermengiu, of INML Mina
Minovici, the forensic institute of Bucharest, told Romanian
sports site www.prosport.ru. Our examination has not shown any
type of chest pains. Also there are no traumatic injuries that
have been caused by a strike, but only some minor marks stemming
from the resuscitation attempts.
Bas
Boon, Schilt's manager, declined comment until after the fighter
completes the K-1 Grand Prix on Dec. 5.
Schilts
muay Thai coach, Dave Jonkers, has since posted on a Dutch message
board and expressed his condolences.
The
incident was a sad end to two weeks of good, intense training,
the 54-year-old trainer wrote. Vitali has been transferred back
to Moldova today and will be laid to rest on Wednesday. Our prayers
are with his family, trainers and teammates. Rest in peace!
Schilt,
36, had been in the southeast European country to prepare for
his quest to regain his crown at the K-1 World Grand Prix in
Yokohama, Japan. Mitu, a political science student, had come
to Bucharest seven years ago to pursue his dream of becoming
a professional fighter.
Fighting
was his life -- that was the last thing he told me, Mitus mother
was quoted by Moldovan newspaper Unimedia.
Mitu
is survived by his parents and a sister.
Source:
Sherdog
|
Strikeforce
Challengers: Woodley vs. Bears Salaries
Proving
that a famous last name sells, Kim Couture earned an event-high
$10,000 at Strikeforce: Challengers on Friday at the Memorial
Hall in Kansas City, Kan.
Couture,
the ex-wife of Randy Couture, was stopped by punches in the co-headliner
to Kerry Vera, the wife of UFC fighter Brandon Vera. The women's
fight came six days after the male counterparts fought at UFC
105.
Vera
earned $4,000 to show and another $4,000 for her victory.
In
the main event, Tyrone Woodley earned $3,500 to show and another
$3,500 as a win bonus, while Rudy Bears won $2,500. Woodley submitted
Bears with a triangle choke at 2:52 of the first round.
Couture
was issued a 60-day suspension following the fight.
The
four fighters in the co-headliners were the only salaries made
available to FanHouse by the Kansas athletic commission.
Source:
MMA Fighting
|
Conan
Silveira
By Guilherme Cruz
Luis
Banha Cane was getting closer to a title shot, but the loss to
Rogirio Minotouro Nogueira will delay the Brazilians plans. One
of the leaders of American Top Team, Conan Silveira believes
that the setback suffered on UFC 106 will be a fuel to make stronger,
making him come back with more will. Hes going to work hard now
and to plan everything to go for it again, Conan guarantees,
talking with TATAME.com about Thiago Silva and Kimbo Slices training
to their next fights in the UFC.
What did you thought about the fight between Banha and Minotouro?
It was a tough fight, I thought that both fighters respected
each other and thats that thing, who wins is the best of the
night, and Minotouro had the initiative. Its hard to give an
opinion about the fight because are two tough fighters, you dont
know which way the fight goes.
Do you think that Banha respected Minotouro too much?
I think both respected each other a lot, but Minotouro took the
initiative. Thats what I say to you, its hard to give an opinion,
could have been Banha, who goes first take the advantage.
Banha was close to a title fight, if he has won. How is the expectation
to his return on UFC?
Thats a part that nobody likes, the defeat, but we have a thought
that this is the right way to work. Well come back to the base
and work, to fix what didnt work, what wasnt done, and lets move
on. The expectation is always to fix the mistakes. Well work
harder, to plan everything and go for it. Thats our teams mind.
Banha is very young and very tough, is the expectation that he
turns around soon?
Thats for sure, its not the end for him, its the opposite, it
will make him stronger, will make him to come back with more
will. Thats American Top Teams mind, and hes gonna work hard
and plan everything to go for it again.
Hows ATT schedule to this end of year?
There are a lot of fights, theres Kimbo (Slice), Wilson Gouveia
coming, will fight on December 12, and then theres Thiago Silva,
who fights January 2.
How do you see Thiagos fight against Rashad? With a victory hes
close to the belt again
Thats an opportunity not just for Thiago Silva, but for Rashad
too. Its a tough fight, but as I said before, after the fight
that Thiago lost to Lyoto, everyone was going to see a different
Thiago and I think that hell show more difference on this fight
thats coming. Everyone can expect for a tough fight, but clever.
How is Kimbo Slice, wholl debut on UFC against Houston Alexander?
The expectation is huge, were working hard with him, improving
his game, sharing our experiences of training I believe that
hes gonna get this victory. People will see a better Kimbo.
You just came back from Australia. How was Hector Lombards fight
up there?
It was against Kalib Starnes, a former UFC and TUF fighter. He
started the fight and the guy got in the clinch with Hector,
and Hector took him down and fell inside the guard, exploding
on ground and pound, he hit three elbow and on the third he asked
to stop.
Source:
Tatame
|
Quote
of the Day
"The
part can never be well unless the whole is well."
Plato
|
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UFC
106 POST FIGHT BONUSES
A big win for Josh Koscheck over Anthony Johnson on Saturday
night led to a big bonus for the American Kickboxing Academy
welterweight as he walked away with 2 of the awards from the
UFC during the night's usual bonuses handed down.
For
their part of "Fight of the Night", Koscheck and Anthony
Johnson earned $70,000 each, while the former "Ultimate
Fighter" competitor also picked up an additional $70,000
for "Submission of the Night" for his 2nd round rear
naked choke victory.
The
double bonus is a rare occasion in the UFC, but Koscheck earned
his way to a win, a possible title shot down the road, and $140,000
for his short notice performance on Saturday night.
The
other bonus at UFC 106 landed in the hands of newcomer, Antonio
Rogerio Nogueira, who pounced on fellow Brazilian Luis Cane,
in the first round of their light heavyweight match-up with a
slew of strikes that ended the fight early. Nogueira, a mainstay
in Pride for many years, made the most of his UFC debut and earned
the $70,000 bonus for "Knockout of the Night."
Source: MMA Weekly
|
The
Mystery of the Silvas
White leaks exit of Wanderlei from UFC 110 card
The
president of the UFC left some questions lingering in the air.
Dana White didn’t confirm the bout between Wanderlei Silva
and Yoshihiro Akiyama, at UFC 110, to mark the event’s maiden
excursion to Australia. The matchup was expected for February
21.
“That
may change. We’re moving some things around,” said
White to MMAJunkie, without providing greater detail.
However,
White (alongside the Fertittas, via Twitter) guaranteed the bout
between Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort would take place February
6, despite the Spider having said he has not fully recovered
from elbow surgery.
What
shall become of the Silvas?
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
Anderson:
“I wanna choke the doctor”
Anderson
Silva is addicted on fights, but the elbow injury forced the
UFC middleweight champion to take some months of forced vacations,
even more after the surgery. And for someone who was on the octagon
12 times on the last four years, a few months is too much time.
“I
can’t train“, complains Anderson, ’threatening’
the doctor. “I wanna choke the doctor“, jokes, knowing
that he needs to respect the recovering time. “I have to
make the physiotherapy, there’s no way. The thing is to
be calm, to see the right time. When it’s all right, I’ll
go back to training“.
On
the last week, a lot of rumors were talking about a possible
return of Vitor Belfort on UFC 109, in February, and that Anderson
may be his opponent. According to Silva, the return in February
is not that right. “I don’t know, who decide is the
doctor, but I’m here...“, said the champion, who may
put the UFC’s belt in line for the second time against a
Brazilian opponent.
COMPLEMENTS
TO THE “MINI ANDERSON“
Last
Wednesday (18), José Aldo conquered the WEC featherweight
title, and what José Aldo made passing thru the American
Mike Brown gave him the nickname “Mini Anderson“, and
reference to the six knockout victories on the event.
“Man,
I get really happy to be a reference, it’s nice that people
thinks that... We’re training a lot to see the results“,
Anderson said, complementing Aldo’s performance. “This
guy is a talent, a young kid that’s building his space.
He has a great team behind him and he has everything to stay
as champion for many years and to bring more happiness to his
team and to Brazil“.
Source: Tatame |
Silva:
“I’m sure I won” fight against Werdum
Antonio
“Bigfoot” Silva wanted to eliminate Fabricio Werdum
to get a shot against Fedor Emelianenko, and almost got it in
the first round, when he knocked Werdum down, but decided to
let him up and go to striking again.
With
an unanimous decision loss, Silva went back to American Top Team
headquarters with a broken hand, but promises to go back with
full speed. “I made a good work here in ATT, but unfortunately
I hurt my hand, but I kept fighting. I lost the third round clearly,
but I’m sure that I won the others”, Sivla guarantees,
in the exclusive interview you’ll read tomorrow at TATAME.com.
Antonio
Silva
Antonio
“Bigfoot” Silva wanted to eliminate Fabricio Werdum
to get a shot against Fedor Emelianenko, and almost got it in
the first round, when he knocked Werdum down, but decided to
let him up and go to striking again. With an unanimous decision
loss, Silva went back to American Top Team headquarters with
a broken hand, but promises to go back with full speed. Check
below an exclusive interview with the heavyweight.
What
did you think about the fight?
The
fight wasn’t better because the judges gave the decision
to Werdum. After the fight I went home and watched the fight
and calculated, and I’m sure that I won. I won the first
round was totally mine, the second was tight, but I could a knockdown
at the beginning, and the third I really lost, I felt the physical
part and because I’ve hurt my hand when the first round
started, when that knockdown happened. I’m using parget
now, in a little while I’ll be back to the doctor to know
how it is.
The
decision that would be more fair it would be to me, but I have
said before that we can’t leave on judges’ hands, but
I wasn’t competent enough. I had opportunities, but I asked
to stand up because Werdum is a great athlete, a great person,
but I knew that he couldn’t submit on the ground. The only
way he had to beat me was on decision. I had opportunity to finish
the fight and I didn’t… I say here to the guys that
who gives shows is ‘Xuxa’, the thing is to go there
and win, but I wanted to make a beautiful fight, and God punished
me.
What
did it missed for you to win the fight?
What
missed is that, if I stood hitting for about 20 seconds, giving
a pressure, I would have finished the fight there. Including,
Master Rafael Cordeiro, after the event, Said that he thought
the fight would end there, because I go to the ground and finish
on ground and pound, but I didn’t wanted to finish the fight
on that moment, I thought better to say him to be stand up and
to try to knock out on top, to do a beautiful fight, and I could
another knockdown later. I made a good work here in ATT, but
unfortunately I hurt my hand, but I kept fighting. I lost the
third round clearly, but I’m sure that I won the others.
People
of the event talked something?
After
the fight, the matchmaker of Strikeforce came to talk to me on
the locker room and said that he thought that I won and said
I’m sorry, saying that the Committee judges. I’m sure
that I won, everyone said that here. I’ve been in Disney
now and, from each ten person, nine said that I won. I’m
happy for fighting with Werdum and I was satisfied with my performance,
but the results weren’t better because they didn’t
raised my arm.
Do
you think that the constroversy decision had something to do
with the fact the you to sue the Atheletic Comission because
of doping?
I
think not, even because Chicago’s Comission is new…
I don’t think that there’s anything to do with California’s
committee, even because California’s Comission helped me
in a lot of stuff that Chicago’s was demanding, as exams
ans other things. The thing was I didn’t catch that fight
since the beginning… I slowed down at the beginning of the
second round and it counted. And there’s also Fabrício
Werdum’s name, that sometimes may sell more with Fedor x
Werdum than with me, that was stopped for one year. He won ADCC,
used to fight UFC while I was stopped, and this can have made
the difference on decision’s time, but the important is
that I won’t let it escape on the next.
For
how long will you stay stopped?
I
went to the doctor after the event, in Chicago, and they immobilized
me. When I came in my city, I went to the doctor and they order
to keep the plaster until December 10, and then I took off and
they will evaluate again. If it’s better, I’ll start
the physiotherapy, or I do two more weeks of plaster. The year
ednded to me, I only must be back on the second half of January.
I was on the card on December 31 (on Sengoku), but we make some
plans and God make others. It was for me to have ended the fight
at the beginning, to be good and prepared to the next, but my
self confidence was so big that I made a bad choice to myself.
Werdum
must be Fedor’s next opponent. How do you think this fight’s
gonna be?
They’re
considering it and I hope that put Werdum against him, because
my audience is for the Brazilian, but I think that they may put
Overeem against Fedor, because they want to put Overeem against
Fedor, because they want Fedor to have the belt. About the fight,
I think it’s gonna be complicated to Werdum if it goes on
top, and Fedor is very good on the ground, but we have to respect
Werdum. If it stands up, I thinks that Fedor takes it, if it
goes to the ground Werdum may complicate.
And
Fedor’s victory over Brett Rogers?
It
was a beautiful fight, make the audience stand up… He showed
once again that he’s a warrior, he hurt the nose at the
beginning of the first round, suffered a deep cut, had a ground
and pound of the guard, and Brett has a lot of strength, he’s
stupid on the strength, but he handled the pressure and defined
the fight. He’s the man… When he was born, God put
the finger and said that he’s the man, like Romário
said (laugh). There’s no words for him, overcoming, race,
determination…
Do
you still dream about facing Fedor?
Now
I went to the end of the line, but I’ll be back stronger,
with my head better, because some defeats teach more than victories.
I could have knocked out at first, but my self confidence…
I knew he couldn’t beat me, but I lost my self confidence
and I learned with that. If I have an opportunity, I won’t
let it pass. If I have to knock out with one second of fight,
it will be with one second. My way is just a little late, I get
back to the end of the line, but I’ll be there and face
Fedor.
Did
you met him on the backstage of the event?
Yes,
in the hotel, on CBS backstage... He’s a good guy, humble,
showed why he’s there. He answers everyone, takes pictures
with everyone, there’s no bad time to him. The guy is very
humble, he has to be an example to a lot of arrogant people that
we see on MMA. He’s the best of the world and very humble.
Source: Tatame |
Machida
vs. Shogun II set to May 1, 2010
Lyoto
Machida and Maurício Shogun are set to rematch at May
2, 2010. According to several USA-based websites the Brazilians
will face each other for the light heavyweight title one more
time, after Lyoto’s controversial unanimous decision victory
in the first meet, at UFC 104.
Source: Tatame
|
Koscheck
will have to wait for title shot
LAS
VEGAS – Josh Koscheck came into UFC 106 hoping that an impressive
win would get him a title shot.
He
left with the first half of the deal after a strange but highly
lucrative win. But the second half will have to wait as the UFC
is still going with England’s Dan Hardy as the next contender
for welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre.
Koscheck
(16-4) finished the much-larger Anthony Johnson with a choke
at 4:47 of the second round in the co-main event of UFC 106 on
Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in a crowd-pleasing
match that took fight of the night honors.
The
two fighters know each other well and had worked out several
times together in the past. Both train out of San Jose, Calif.,
although each fighter’s main gym is in different parts of
the city. Koscheck trains at the American Kickboxing Academy
camp, while Johnson trains under Cung Le.
“I’ve
been here for a long time, it’s been five years,” said
Koscheck, who was a cast member and one of the top villains on
the first season of “The Ultimate Fighter” in early
2005.
“It
is what it is. I don’t really care (about not getting the
title shot) as long as I’m a fighter and I get paid.”
Koscheck
earned $106,000 regular pay for the win and picked up an additional
$140,000 in bonuses, garnering submission of the night as well
as fight of the night.
He
was a late replacement on this show, as he wasn’t scheduled
to fight until Jan. 11. But when the Brock Lesnar vs. Shane Carwin
main event fell through, he was asked a little more than three
weeks ago to face Johnson (8-3) to give the show a second top
match. Johnson had just fought on Oct. 24 in Los Angeles but
was unscathed in knocking out Yoshiyuki Yoshida in 41 seconds.
Koscheck,
the last fighter to win a round from St. Pierre in a fight two
years ago, came into the fight with a strategy to weather a first-round
storm standing. He figured that Johnson would tire first and
then he’d go to work in Round 2 with his wrestling and work
to finish Johnson by submission, which ended up happening.
But
there were some unique twists and turns as Koscheck’s plan
unfolded.
The
most notable twist came in the first round, when fans thought
the fight may have a premature ending after Koscheck was seemingly
injured by an illegal knee. After neither fighter was able to
gain much of an advantage early on, Koscheck went in for a takedown.
Johnson avoided it and threw a knee right to Koscheck’s
face when Koscheck was down.
The
near-sellout crowd of 10,529 fans booed heavily, thinking Koscheck,
who was complaining about his vision, was going to bail on the
fight. Koscheck said that was never the case, and that it wasn’t
the knee but an eye poke a moment later that was the problem.
UFC
president Dana White said that in watching the tape, they saw
that one of Johnson’s fingers went in Koscheck’s eye.
Koscheck took several minutes, noting that his vision was blurry,
while fans booed heavily.
“I’ve
had it happen to me in practice several times and it takes a
few minutes before the blurriness goes away,” he said. “I
was never thinking about not going on, I was just trying to make
sure I got up to five minutes for the blurriness to go away.”
In
the second round, Johnson twice signaled that his eye was poked,
and as he was signaling the second time, Koscheck threw a hard
punch, which made the crowd boo Koscheck.
After
Johnson recovered, there were a series of crazy standing exchanges
before Koscheck went back to his wrestling skills that made him
an unbeaten NCAA champion in 2001, putting Johnson on his back.
Koscheck
landed hard punches and elbows to bloody up his foe before finally
sinking in the choke and getting the tap with 13 seconds left
in the round.
“I
was blown away by his performance,” said White. “We’ve
butted heads a lot in the past, but that was a great performance.
Koscheck
claimed he was going to stand and trade with Johnson before the
fight. It was a decision many questioned because Johnson had
what was billed as a 4-inch height advantage. Johnson was so
much larger in the cage that he looked like he was in a different
weight class.
Koscheck
noted that Johnson’s ground game is still his weakness.
“He
should start training at our camp, but he’d have to move
up to 185.”
Koscheck,
while being interviewed after winning, issued a challenge to
Hardy, who was at ringside, to come fight in the U.S. to see
who the real No. 1 contender is.
White
noted that he promised the winner of the Hardy vs. Mike Swick
fight last Saturday night in Manchester, England, the next shot
at St. Pierre. With Johnson out of the mix, Koscheck, Jon Fitch
and Thiago Alves, all of whom St. Pierre has beaten, look to
be battling for the next spot in line.
“Really,
I like Dan Hardy, he’s a showman,” Koscheck said. “I
hope he has a great fight with St. Pierre. If it takes five,
six, seven, eight or nine wins, I’ll get my shot.”
Koscheck
garnered attention earlier in the week when he said he’d
like to fight 10 or 12 times in 2010, far more than the usual
cycle of three fights a year that most UFC fighters are on when
not battling injuries.
“I’d
like to fight every month, train three weeks and then fight,”
he said. “It’s better to fight in the cage than in
the gym.
“If
somebody gets hurt, and they need a sub for Dec. 12, I’m
ready.”
Source: Yahoo Sports
|
GRIFFIN
SETTLES THE SCORE WITH ORTIZ
If there was any question as to where Forrest Griffin's head
was at following his last fight, the former "Ultimate Fighter"
winner answered emphatically as he battled his way to a split
decision win over Tito Ortiz in the main event of UFC 106 on
Saturday night in Las Vegas.
The
mental jitters that everyone questioned about Forrest Griffin
heading into the fight against Ortiz faded away quickly as the
former "Ultimate Fighter" winner came out strong in
round 1 with a good jab and his signature leg kicks.
It
didn't take long for the stand-up to coax Ortiz into a takedown
as he shot in and put Griffin on his back as he opened up a barrage
of elbows and punches. Griffin defending well and used a kimura
to make Ortiz roll and get back to the feet. The round closed
with Griffin using some more striking to push Ortiz back, with
the Georgia native getting the better of the punches.
Ortiz
battled back in the 2nd round with a series of takedowns that
loomed large in the judges' minds, as he put Griffin on his back
and opened up his ground attack. As Griffin defended he ate a
strike that opened up a huge cut over his eye, but he quickly
moved and swept Ortiz and ended up on top of the "Huntington
Beach Bad Boy." Not much damage was landed, but Griffin
sweeping Ortiz was a great way for him to end the round.
The
never ending gas tank of Forrest Griffin likely earned him the
win with the third round as he came out strong, landing unanswered
strikes as Ortiz simply put up his hands to defend, while not
firing much of anything back. As Griffin fired a kick, Ortiz
shot for a takedown, but his opponent defended and the fight
stayed standing.
Griffin
continued to move forward and batter Ortiz with punches and kicks
for which his opponent simply had no answer for. The fight came
to an end with Ortiz still struggling to stop the stand-up of
Forrest Griffin, who came alive once again late in a fight to
get the win.
The
judges' scorecards read across with 2 of the 3 giving the win
to Forrest Griffin by split decision. Griffin spoke candidly
to the Las Vegas crowd following the win, which comes on the
heels of his devastating loss to pound-for-pound king, Anderson
Silva, in August.
"I
see Anderson (Silva) over there, he broke me," Griffin said
with extreme honestly after getting the nod for the win. "Tito
was a great fight for me to come back, we'll have to do a third
that's 1-1 man."
With
a split decision in both of their fights, Griffin seemed more
than willing to get a rubber match put together with Ortiz to
settle the score once and for all.
"You
could tell he was a guy getting ready for Mark Coleman, no offense,
and he's a guy coming off back surgery. We'll do it again, I
won't break my foot, he'll be in better shape," Griffin
commented.
For
his part, Ortiz was obviously upset with the loss, and talked
about having another back injury heading into the fight, while
also dealing with a fractured skull apparently. Still, he gave
his opponent credit for the win.
"Forrest
is a better man tonight, I've got to give it to him," Ortiz
stated with a heavy heart after the loss.
Back
on track after 2 losses, Griffin moves back into the thick of
the light heavyweight division, while Ortiz will try to get healthy
and see where he fits into an ever growing 205lb weight class.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
ORTIZ/GRIFFIN
3 IN THE WORKS?
LAS VEGAS— There is plenty of unfinished business between
Forrest Griffin and Tito Ortiz.
“I
think there’s a rubber match there,” said UFC President
Dana White after the pair's second meeting Saturday.
Ortiz
wants a third fight after Griffin turned the tables on him with
a split decision victory at UFC 106, exacting revenge for a split
decision loss at UFC 59.
“I
thought I won the fight," Ortiz said at the post-fight press
conference at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. “I thought
I pulled it off two rounds to one.”
Two
judges disagreed with the five-time light heavyweight champion,
with scores of 30-27 and 29-28. One judge gave Ortiz two rounds
with a 29-28 nod.
Much
of the fight hinged on Griffin’s ability to stop Ortiz’s
takedown and put together combinations in the open. He did most
of the time, but gave up takedowns in the first and second round.
On the feet, he had the edge.
Ortiz,
however, felt he dominated the first two rounds, though he admits
he faltered in the third and might have “overstepped his
boundary” in fighting Griffin. To him, though, it was enough.
“A
ref called it 30-27….(expletive), are you blind or something?”
His
voice broke.
“I’m
sorry I let my fans down,” he said. “I fought. I came
in and fought my heart off.”
Despite
telling fans he was one hundred percent going into the fight,
Ortiz said he had suffered new bulged discs in his upper back/neck
area and had briefly been in traction before the fight. In the
Octagon afterwards, he said he had cracked his skull in training.
“The
wind was sucked out of me,” he said of the final round.
“I fought with heart. The last ten seconds came around,
and I said, it’s time to swing for the fences. I kind of
gave away the third round.”
Nevertheless,
Griffin and Ortiz had a short pow-wow as the judges made up their
minds. Griffin was unsure if he’d done enough to get the
win. He had suffered too: in training for the fight, he said
he had broken his foot.
“Forrest
looked at me and said, ‘did you get it?’” said
Ortiz. “I said, ‘yeah, I got it.’”
After
giving it some thought backstage, Griffin was more confident
in his victory.
“I
thought you could even give me the second round,” said Griffin.
“But I thought I won the last one, until I saw it on video,
and then I realized, I didn’t win the last one.”
Ortiz
replied: “As Forrest said, 'who won the fight?' Well, he
answered his own question. He said, ‘I feel like I was on
my back the whole time.’”
Griffin
shot back: “I still thought I won, though. I just thought
I might have (expletive) of.”
UFC
president Dana White wanted no part of the debate. “I’m
not a judge,” he replied when Griffin asked him who won.
“You
got robbed the first fight, I got robbed in the second,”
Ortiz persisted.
Not
so, said Griffin. Like Ortiz, he had felt robbed in the arena
three years ago, but changed his mind later.
“You
can go home and watch this one too and say the same thing,”
Ortiz spat.
“Hopefully
not,” said Griffin.
White
smiled. Could the two build towards a rematch on the next season
of “The Ultimate Fighter?”
“I
don’t know,” he said.
Griffin
was game for a rematch--with the boss’ permission.
“I
think me and Tito kind of have the same strategy, which I think
I got onboard a little before Tito, and that’s do what Dana
says,” he said. “That’s pretty much what my strategy
for the last five years of my life, and it’s worked out
pretty good, so I’m gonna keep doing that.”
While
Ortiz was disappointed with the outcome of Saturday, he had no
doubts he would return, and hoped for a rematch with Griffin
in January or February.
“Dana,
my career is in your hands,” he said. “I’m 34,
compared to Couture, who started his career at 34, I have a lot
more fights in me. I want to fight. I want that title back.”
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Quote
of the Day
"Your
life is what your thoughts make it."
Marcus Aurelius
|
Fighters'
Club TV Tonight!
Channel
52
8:00 PM!
If
you are not on the Onzuka.com Hawaii Ground forum, you are missing
the latest news from upcoming events, get to rub elbows with
numerous promoters and fighters, and get to voice your opinion
on any subject you can dream up. Hit the links above to sign
up for a free account and start posting away!
|
Man-up
and Stand-Up
Dec 4 Friday
Filcom Center Waipahu
Doors open at 6:00 pm
BE
SURE YOU GET YOUR TICKETS FOR THIS SHOW BECAUSE THIS WILL BE
ONE SHOW FULL OF BANGAS THAT LOVE TO SWING. ALIKA KUMUKOA VS
JAMEN TABUYA WILL DEFINITELY BE A TOE TO TOE / BLOW FOR BLOW
BATTLE. THESE GUYS PACK SOME MAJOR POWER. UNDEFEATED FIGHTERS
WILL MEET IN THE SQUARE TO TRY AND STAY UNDEFEATED LIKE THE CALLAHAN
VS LAQUISTA MATCH, ALSO THE MANUMA VS CHANTELLE MATCH. THESE
FOUR FIGHTERS WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A FLAWLESS RECORD BUT ON DEC
4, ONE OF THESE FIGHTERS WILL MEET DEFEAT. GRUDGE MATCHES WILL
ALSO TAKE PLACE ON THIS NIGHT BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE JUST DON’T
KNOW HOW TO TAKE THINGS FOR WHAT IT IS. WHEN YOU’RE FROM
HAWAII YOU’RE RAISED NOT TO SWALLOW YOUR PRIDE BUT WHEN
YOU DO. IT LEAVES A BAD AFTER TASTE, SO I’VE BEEN TOLD (NAH).
SECOND CHANCES ARE OFFERED HERE OR SHOULD WE SAY CHANGES. BE
SURE TO CHECK IN NEXT WEEKEND ON THE FINAL UPDATED CARD.
DEC
4 2009 IS THE NIGHT MAN-UP & STAND-UP SHOWS ITS APPRECIATION
TO ALL OF THE FIGHTERS THAT HAVE SUPPORTED THE EVENT AND HAS
DONE WELL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR(S). THERE WILL BE TITLES FOR FIGHTERS
WITH HEADGEAR (AMATEUR), FIGHTERS WITH NO HEADGEAR (SEMI PRO),
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR, GRUDGE MATCHES ETC. THIS YEAR THERE WILL
BE SOME MAJOR TALENT FIGHTING THEIR HEARTS OUT TO WALK HOME WITH
A BELT. THE UNDERCARD WILL ALSO BE FEATURING MAJOR SKILLED FIGHTERS
THAT WILL BE MAKING THEIR AIM ON ALL THE TITLES THAT WILL BE
GIVEN OUT THAT NIGHT. MAN-UP & STAND-UP HAVE ALWAYS SHOWN
ITS APPRECIATION AT THE END OF EVERY YEAR FOR ALL OF YOU FAITHFUL
SUPPORTERS. AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO AS LONG AS WE’RE
HERE. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS.
PETE
SEFO SUPER HEAVYWEIGHT OTTO HOOPII
NATACIA
MANUMA FEMALE HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE CHANTELLE OF ISLAND THUNDER
TAZZY
WETLING FEMALE MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE VANNA OF TEAM SUBMIT
EMIL
LAQUISTA AMATEUR WELTERWEIGHT TITLE JORDAN CALLAHAN
SOTA
NAKANO TEENAGE SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE JACOBY SMITH
KALAI
MCSHANE TEENAGE SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE ISRAEL ALVAREZ
ALIKA
KUMUKOA SEMI PRO BANTAMWEIGHT TITLE JAMEN TABAYA
RED
DAVIS SEMI PRO MIDDLEWEIGHT TITLE FERDINAND RAMIREZ
NICK
CORREA GRUDGE MATCH TITLE COLIN MACKENZIE
SHAWN
BURROUGHS LIGHTWEIGHT ROOKIE OF THE YEAR JORDAN ANDUHA
SAI
HOLBRON GRUDGE MATCH TITLE PHILLIP AKUI
KEO
DEANE WELTERWEIGHT ROOKIE OF THE YEAR JASON “J ROC”
ROCEMAR
JAN
QUIMOYOG TITLE DEFENSE ALVIN BERTO
TONY
PERRERA 155 SHAISON LAUPOLA
SPUDS
TIGER 150 MACK
JUSTIN
KAHALEWAI 130 KEOKI NEGRON
JESSICA
TAVARES 120 CHEVY DECASTRO
MIKE
ELI 185 JESSIE LINDLEY
RICKY
PLUNKETT 145 MACK WASHINGTON
KAILIN
CURRAN 115 JAZMINE CHUN
ROYAL
KAUA (O2 Martial Arts Academy) 150 BLAKE VELLANEDA
JUSTIN
DULAY (O2 Martial Arts Academy) 160 JUSTIN BURGESS
KOA
LYU (O2 Martial Arts Academy) 150 NEIL DECANAY
CODY
165 JOE KAULULAAU
JOSEPH
CARTER 135 BRANDON PAI
TAZ
KAHALEWAI 60 KAENA DESANTOS
MIKE
UEMOTO 135 RICHARD BERNARD
ALL
MATCHES AND PARTICIPANTS MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Source:
Derrick Bright
|
Fifteen
years of fight in a historical edition
It’s
15 years of a lot of fight. On the anniversary of TATAME Magazine,
who gets the gift is you, who loves Jiu-Jitsu and MMA and run
to the newsstand every month to know everything that happens
on the rings and mats around the world. To know how did Jiu-Jitsu
became a fever and MMA became a phenomenon in a dozen of countries,
TATAME Magazine prepared a special edition this month, with a
retrospective of the facts and characters the marked the history
of fights around the world.
UFC’s
creation, making Vale-Tudo become MMA; Jiu-Jitsu organized, with
world championships and idols; the cross training and the wrestlers
age; Chute Boxe’s creation; the rivalry with Brazilian Top
Team, the high moment of Pride and the fight between the teams;
the revolution of the soft art on Arabic’s; the unattainable
Fedor Emalianenko; the goodbye to the Masters Helio, Carlos and
Carlson Gracie; the show with Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida...
Nothing
is out of this historical edition, that also had the participation
of the biggest names of MMA’s history. “I’m a
fan of TATAME since the first editions. I got really excited
when you published photos of me winning the Bahia Championship,
still with the blue belt”, remember Rodrigo Minotauro, followed
by Lyoto Machida. “What I like most in TATAME is that you
show the fighters before the fame”, complements.
To
Wanderlei Silva, Pride’s icon, TATAME marked his history.
“It’s an honor to me to make part of this magazine’s
history. It’s a pleasure that I had my first cover on TATAME”,
said Wand, supported by the leader of his old team, Chute Boxe.
“TATAME is the most important martial arts magazine in Brazil”,
says Rudimar Fedrigo. One of the first men on Vale-Tudo, Royce
Gracie, is also on our pages.
“TATAME,
with some time, educated the audience that MMA is not a violent
sport”, said Royce Gracie who showed the power of Jiu-Jitsu
on UFC’s first editions. Following Royce’ steps and
keeping the Brazilian hegemony on UFC, Anderson remember his
beginning. “The story that marked me most was when I won
Brazilian Killer, was the first time that I was on a cover. At
the time my mom was still alive and got proud, it marked me a
lot”, Anderson Silva.
Source: Tatame |
Marlon
Sandro eyes Sengoku title in NYE
Marlon
Sandro doesn’t wanna relax. One week after the ight at Japan,
knocking Yuji Hoshino out in the first round, the Nova União
fighter was back to the gym, focusing to the return in the end
of the year. In the exclusive interview with the fighter, Sandro
talked about the victory and the possible fight or the title.
You
just came from Japan with the victory, tell us, how was the fight
in Japan?
Thanks
God I could turn around, I trained a lot with the guys, I said
that I wanted to knock out or to submit, Dedé had already
ordered that and I’m trying to accomplish, and thanks God
it was lucky.
Did
your expectation was that the fight would end on the first round?
It
was... We go thinking that three rounds thing, but we always
want to finish the fight as soon as possible...
Before
this fight you had a controversy defeat, what are you thinking
for your future? Do you expect to come back this year?
I
had this defeat on the first round, but it didn’t shake
me, I’m prepared with that, we pass for it, we fall, stand
up, and thanks God I could stand up again and they were talking
about me fighting on December 31 and I said that I would accept,
I asked there to fight for the title, and I hope it is for the
title.
How
do you think this fight would be?
I
would definitely exchange with him, I would try the knock out,
for sure. He’s a complete guy, he has a lose leg there,
kicks well, but I would search the knockout again, for sure.
On
this fight you thanked the audience in English, are you taking
classes? How’s the English?
Thanks
God, teacher Michel is helping us, Vale-Tudo guys, we have studentship,
we take classes... I’ll get better. That’s for communicate
with the audience and the managers and that’s very good,
I could thank to the sponsorships and I asked for the title in
English too.
You
just got back from Japan, from a though fight, and he came back
training hard with the guys here...
Thanks
God I didn’t got hurt, then I came, the guys were needing
some help, that’s what we do, always one helping each other.
Everybody
has a schedule fight here, Thales too, how’s the expectation
to Ultimate?
The
expectations are the best, we were a little down for some time,
but we stood up again. Thales Leites will be back with all the
power too, to recover, Junior is training hard, well prepared
to this fight and the expectations are the best, well trained,
well prepared psychology, physically and technically.
Source: Tatame |
UFC
boss faces biggest promotional test
Dana
White was supposed to spend this week promoting his Ultimate
Fighting Championship 106 card at the Mandalay Bay Events Center
in Las Vegas. It was to star his biggest box office draw, heavyweight
champion Brock Lesnar.
Instead
White flew Tuesday to Bismarck, N.D., showed up at the local
hospital and found Lesnar, in heavy post-op sedation, while family
and friends fretted about the future.
Lesnar
had surgery to help solve a bacterial infection in his intestinal
tract that helped cause the postponement of Saturday’s fight
against Shane Carwin and left his long-term future in doubt.
“The
family was worried big time, they were freaking out,” White,
the UFC president, said Wednesday. “Brock was in big pain,
he was hurting.
“We
don’t know if he’ll ever fight again.”
White
cautioned that things could still go either way. He could fight.
He could not. No one knows at this point. Lesnar was resting
Wednesday at his home in Alexandria, Minn. and was scheduled
to visit the famed Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. early next
week for a battery of tests.
“He
had a hole in his intestine,” White said. “The (stuff)
was leaking into his stomach. That’s what was causing him
so much pain. That and he had abscesses.
“The
doctor told him he hasn’t been right for a year. His immune
system has been trying to fight this thing and that’s why
he was susceptible to getting sick.”
That
likely explains Lesnar’s original diagnosis of mono. He
had been weakened to the point that he was unable to train for
the Carwin fight for much of October. That prompted the original
delay in the fight. Then last week, the intestinal problem flamed
up and Lesnar was hospitalized.
“We’ll
find out more next week,” White said. “We’re going
to send him to the Mayo Clinic for a couple of days. I don’t
know what to say. It’s looking better now than last week,
but what that means, I don’t know.”
White
said no decision would be made on setting up an interim heavyweight
championship until he knew how long Lesnar might be out.
For
White, the Lesnar illness is just the latest bit of unfortunate
news for his promotion. After a record-setting summer highlighted
by a reported 1.6 million pay per view buys for UFC 100 on July
11, which Lesnar headlined, there’s been a rash of injuries,
illnesses and bad luck.
Lesnar
is just one of three champions who have been forced to sit out
for an extended period. Middleweight Anderson Silva is recovering
from elbow surgery but will fight in February and welterweight
champion Georges St. Pierre is still coming back from a groin
injury.
In
addition, light heavyweight draw Rampage Jackson bailed on a
highly anticipated December fight with Rashad Evans to play “B.A.
Baracus” in the “A-Team” remake. Jackson said
he’s retired, although who knows how long that will last.
Veteran heavyweight Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira is recovering from
a staph infection. And popular former PRIDE champion Dan Henderson
is unlikely to re-sign with the UFC, and could be heading for
rival Strikeforce.
“This
sounds crass but when you’re dealing with humans as your
product, crap happens,” White said. “It’s no different
in football or baseball. I always say, the only guarantee when
my big toe hits the floor in the morning is that something bad
is about to happen.”
White
is rightfully hailed as a skilled fight promoter. He’s been
the front man as the UFC has gone from bleeding millions to being
worth an estimated $1 billion.
He’s
in the midst of proving it like never before. There’s no
better example than Saturday’s UFC 106, which had its Lesnar-Carwin
main event postponed and then its other top fight, Tito Ortiz
vs. Mark Coleman, get switched due to a Coleman injury.
Ortiz
is now returning to the Octagon against Forrest Griffin, a rematch
of a hotly contested 2006 match won by Ortiz on a split decision.
Likewise,
headline fights were dropped from both December and January pay-per-view
cards. And the current season of Spike TV’s the Ultimate
Fighter, taped last summer, is promoting a fight between coaches
(Evans and Jackson) that won’t happen any time soon.
“It’s
about the fights, though,” White said. “The one thing
no one can ever say is that we don’t deliver good fights.
People always look at a card and say it’s not going to be
any good. Then it ends up being the best card of the year. Just
because Brock Lesnar is not in the main event doesn’t mean
there won’t be great fights.
“If
you’re a fight fan you want great fights. We deliver great
fights.”
This
all true, however there is no denying the impact of losing star
fighters for extended periods. That’s especially the case
with a crossover sensation like Lesnar.
White,
however, points to the television ratings from last Saturday’s
UFC 105, which was shown on basic cable’s Spike TV and performed
better in the young men demographics than the Nov. 7 Strikeforce
card on CBS.
Although
the Strikeforce card, featuring its big heavyweight draw, Fedor
Emelianenko, produced far greater overall numbers, White says
he won the male 18-34 demo by 49 percent.
“And
we had to go up against a big boxing match (Manny Pacquiao-Miguel
Cotto) and college football, which we also beat in the demo,”
White said.
This
is White at his best, somehow spinning one of the most challenging
recent stretches for the company into a positive.
Long-term,
the UFC will be fine. White will have Silva and St. Pierre return
in 2010. He said Lyoto Machida will give a rematch for his light
heavyweight belt to Mauricio Shogun Rua on May 1 in Montreal.
Machida won a close decision last month in Los Angeles.
And
with Brock Lesnar, who knows? If he does return, he’ll likely
be more popular than ever.
“If
he’s done what he’s done at less than 100 percent,
then imagine how he’ll be if he is 100 percent,” White
noted.
At
this point, White said he was just pleased that the health scare
doesn’t seem to be worsening and there’s hope that
with proper treatment, Lesnar should be able to live a healthy
life.
As
for Lesnar’s future as a fighter, even for Dana White, that’s
a secondary concern.
Source: Yahoo Sports |
SAUNDERS
AND GROVE DOMINATE PRELIMS AT UFC 106
It was a night of quick finishes during the preliminary fights
at UFC 106 shown on Spike TV as Ben Saunders kneed his way to
a devastating victory over Marcus Davis, while Kendall Grove
submitted Jake Rosholt in the first round of their middleweight
match-up.
Suffering
the first loss in his UFC career in his last fight against Mike
Swick apparently woke up a sleeping giant in Ben Saunders as
he pummeled and punished Marcus Davis in their welterweight showdown
on Saturday night. Saunders used his huge reach advantage to
keep Davis at bay early, forcing the Maine native to look for
a body clinch to even things up a bit.
Every
time Saunders had the chance, he locked his hands behind Davis'
head and worked for knees from the clinch. Davis did a good job
defending early on, throwing uppercuts and overhand punches to
try and keep Saunders from landing anything big. As the round
wore on, Saunders persistence paid off as he locked on the Muay
Thai clinch one more time and this time Davis couldn’t escape.
Two
big knees coming straight up the middle landed flush on Davis'
head, and the second sent the season 2 "Ultimate Fighter"
alum crashing to the mat.
"I've
been working my clinch a lot, I didn't get to show it to you
all in the (Mike) Swick fight, I apologize for that. I knew I
had to come out here tonight and represent and make up for that,"
Saunders commented about his knee strikes that brought an end
to the fight.
Showing
absolute respect for his opponent, Saunders had great things
to say about Marcus Davis following the fight as he becomes the
first man to finish the former pro boxer with strikes since moving
into MMA.
"I'm
on top of the world, this is great, this is the most amazing
fight I've ever had," Saunders said in celebration following
the win. "I respect Marcus more than any opponent I've ever
had, he's got so much talent and experience, I just hope I can
be in his situation in ten years."
A
couple of solid early takedowns didn't help former NCAA wrestling
champion, Jake Rosholt, who found himself on the bad end of a
triangle choke from Kendall Grove, who gets back on the winning
track at UFC 106. Rosholt opened up with a big slam on Grove,
but the Hawaiian did a good job of defending and working his
way back to the feet.
After
getting a takedown of his own, Grove eventually ended on his
back and actually gave up the mount to Rosholt. The former "Ultimate
Fighter" quickly moved back to full guard and then baited
his opponent with an omo plata, and then transitioning quickly
to a triangle choke.
Almost
as quickly as Grove could lock on the submission, Rosholt was
tapping out. The fight moves Grove to 6-3 in the Octagon, while
Rosholt drops to 1-2, suffering a loss after looking very impressive
in his last fight in a win over Chris Leben.
Source: MMA Weekly |
NOGUEIRA,
SADOLLAH AND THIAGO WIN ON UFC UNDERCARD
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira made the most of his Ultimate Fighting
Championship debut, knocking out Luis Cane in the first round.
Nogueira
displayed faster, more accurate hands, landing straight lefts
that had Cane in full retreat mode. After dropping Cane with
a punch, Nogueira followed him to the ground finishing him off
with two more shots before referee Steve Mazzagatti called a
halt to the action at the 1:56 mark of round one.
“I’ve
been training man,” Nogueira commented after the bout. “I
just showed how hard I train.”
“The
Ultimate Fighter” season 7 winner, Amir Sadollah, ruined
Phil Baroni’s return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship
Octagon with a clear-cut unanimous decision win.
Baroni
came out like he usually does in the opening moments of the fight,
aggressive and throwing big punches. Sadollah weathered the early
storm and gained control of the fight.
Sadollah
landed leg kicks at will and delivered knees from inside the
clinch on his way to victory. Baroni’s questionable gas
tank became a factor as the fight entered the later rounds.
“It’s
a pleasure just stepping in the ring with Baroni and fighting
somebody as tough as that,” Sadollah said following the
fight. “I like to throw kicks and I felt like it was one
part of my game that I could work well.”
Paulo
Thiago and Jacob Volkmann had a back and forth battle with Thiago
getting the unanimous decision nod due to superior striking,
dropping Volkmann on two different occasions.
On
the ground, the two put on a display of technical grappling,
transitioning from position to position each putting the other
in dangerous positions.
Source: MMA Weekly |
KOSCHECK
SUBMITS JOHNSON, CALLS FOR TITLE SHOT
Beating yet another top ten level opponent, Josh Koscheck went
back to his roots on Saturday night as he out wrestled and out
grappled Anthony Johnson, and then submitted his former training
partner with a rear naked choke in the 2nd round of their welterweight
co-main event at UFC 106.
The
wrestling between two wrestling champions went right out the
window in the early going between Johnson and Koshcheck as both
fighters decided to turn the fight into a kickboxing match instead.
Koscheck clubbed Johnson early with a big right hand, while Johnson
returned the favor with a series of kicks and great jabs.
With
the fighters scrambling off the mat midway through the first,
Johnson threw a knee that glanced Koscheck's head while he still
had his knees on the mat. The fight was paused as Koscheck was
given plenty of time to recover, although he favored his eye,
which appeared to take no damage with the strike.
Koscheck
finally used his grappling late in the first round as he took
Johnson down and tried to move to take his back, but he persevered
well and the round came to an end.
In
the 2nd round, Koscheck landed some illegal blows of his own,
albeit accidentally, as he poked Johnson in the eye twice in
the early going. Johnson recovered, but quickly gave up a takedown
to the former NCAA wrestling champion and struggled to defend
from the bottom.
As
Johnson tried his best to stay out of trouble, it was Koscheck's
relentless ground that eventually brought an end to the fight.
Using his superior grappling, Koscheck slipped around to the
back, and locked on a rear naked choke, slipping his forearm
underneath the chin of Anthony Johnson and the tap out quickly
followed.
A
huge win for Josh Koscheck that vaults him even higher in a very
tough welterweight division, and after the fight the American
Kickboxing Academy product was quick to call out a fighter he
doesn't believe has earned a title shot just yet.
"I
know there's somebody here that thinks he's the #1 contender,
he "thinks" he's the #1 contender, and I think he hasn't
fought anybody, and he's sitting right over there, his name's
Dan Hardy," Koscheck shouted after the win. "He ain't
fought nobody like me. Guaranteed, I'm the #1 freaking contender
in this weight division. I'm fighting Georges St. Pierre in March,
Dana White, you know it. February, I know they're looking for
a card, Dan Hardy/Josh Koscheck sells, let him fight in the States
first."
The
fight between Hardy and St. Pierre seems set in stone, but with
an impressive win over Anthony Johnson, Josh Koscheck puts himself
in an enviable position for a future title shot.
Source: MMA Weekly |
Minotouro:
‘I changed plans to win’
Rogerio finds his target on Banha two minutes into the fight.
Photo by Josh Hedges
Fighter took best knockout of UFC 106 bonus
Rogerio
Minotouro didn’t feel the weight of his Octagon debut at
UFC 106, this Saturday, and managed a concussive win over Luiz
“Banha” Cane, one of the revelations of the MMA’s
new generation.
At
the post-event press-conference, by Tito Ortiz’s side, Minotouro
commented on the knockout.
“Before
the fight I could see he had good boxing. I figured I would use
Jiu-Jitsu techniques, but changed plans. I won by knockout and
am happy,” said the Brazilian.
For
the good performance, Rodrigo Minotauro’s twin brother doesn’t
forget to thank his team.
“It’s
my first time here and I felt a lot of pressure. Everyone knows
what the UFC is, but I have a good team, good coaches, so I was
really confident for this fight. They helped me a lot and I think
that is why I fought well,” he said in finishing.
With
the technical knockout, 1:56min into the fight, Minoto also secured
the knockout of the night bonus, to the tune of US$ 70 thousand
dollars.
Another
to gain some extra financial padding was Josh Koscheck. His fight
with Anthony Johnson was voted best of the night – oddly,
as the fight was stopped several times for fingers in the eyes
and illegal blows. Beyond that, the second round rear-naked choke
earned him submission of the night – also odd, considering
Kendall Grove’s first round triangle.
Thus,
the bleached-blond with the attitude took home US$ 140 thousand
more than he could have hoped for.
Source: Gracie Magazine |
Quote
of the Day
"We
are not here merely to make a living. We are here to enrich the
world."
Woodrow Wilson
|
X1
World Events Results
“Light’s Out”
Nov 21, 2009
Kekuaokalani Gym, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Main
Card
185
- Chris Cisneros (Hawaiian MMA) def Kaleo Padilla (Kona BC) TKO
r3
145
- Justin Mercado (MMAD) def Tyler Kahihikolo (Average Joes) unan
dec r3
170
XMA - Kaeo Meyers (Kona BC) def Ronald Hayward (PFC) TKO (dr
stop) 1:20 r2
170
- Dave Pakele (Average Joes) def Elijah Young (BJ Penn) unan
dec r3
145
XMA - Spencer Higa (HIBC) def Peni Taufaao (Team Assassin) unan
dec r3
Undercard
(Amateur)
140
- Timothy Meeks (HIBC) def Keean De Sa (Freelance) TKO
HW - Chad Thomas (HIBC) def Austin Taufa (Kona BC) TKO (strikes)
1:30 r1
145 - Waylen Cerenio (HIBC) def Petey Vital (Demon MMA) unan
dec r2
155 - Dylan Fillekes (Average Joes) def Elia Mundon (PFC) TKO
(strikes) :57 r2
170 - Palema Amone (Average Joes) def Kapono Kuikahi (Hawaiian
MMA) TKO (strikes) 2:35 r1
145 - Brensen Hansen (MMAD) def Daniel Friend (HIBC) unan dec
r3
140 - Randee Soria (808FF) vs Levi Agcalon (HIBC) Draw r2
185 - Dayton Kalai (HIBC) vs Miles Paaiva (Freelance) Maj Draw
r2
135 - Kuulei Ohia (MMAD) def Riquo Abadilla (HIBC) TKO r1
160 - Ryan Dela Cruz (808FF) def Malu Benedicto (PFC) armbar
r1
150 - Lani Fauhiva (Average Joes) def Sharmaine Kahele (HIBC)
TKO (corner stop) r1
170 - Liatama Amisone (HIBC) def Martin Medina (Kona BC) unan
dec r2
140 - Treven Mukai (Hawaiian MMA) def Roy Higa (HIBC) maj dec
r2
130 - Mark Gersaba (Average Joes) vs Keola Arakaki (HIBC) draw
r2
145
KB - Carlos Garrido (Kona BC) def Jacob Kepa (HIBC) maj dec r3
120
- Sarah Kahele (HIBC) def Sivada Koulthasen (Team Submit) TKO
(corner stop) r1
*all
are MMA matches unless noted
Source:
X-1 World Events
|
WOODLEY
& VERA WIN AT STRIKEFORCE CHALLENGERS
KANSAS CITY, KS (November 21, 2009) – In an explosive performance,
top welterweight (170 pounds) prospect Tyron “T-Wood”
Woodley extended his perfect record to 5-0 by submitting battle
tested Rudy Bears (13-6) with an arm triangle choke in the first
round (2:52), live on SHOWTIME, Friday night in the main event
of the STRIKEFORCE Challengers mixed martial arts (MMA) telecast
from Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas.
Kerry
Vera’s (2-0) Muay Thai skills led her to a brutal first
round (3:35) TKO on Kim “Sugar Free” Couture (1-2)
in the featured women’s 135 pound matchup.
Early
in the first round, Bears, of Kansas City, Missouri was able
to fight off the 27-year-old Woodley, a two-time All American
wrestler for University of Missouri. But while the two were in
the clinch Woodley scooped up and slammed Bears to the canvas.
Woodley
quickly passed guard, and as Bears attempted to turn over, Woodley
attempted an armbar. Bears escaped and brought the fight back
to stand up position.
Shortly
thereafter, Woodley secured a double leg takedown and passed
Bears’ guard to gain side control before slapping on an
arm triangle choke that forced Bears to tap out at the 2:52 mark
of the opening round.
In
the first round of the female bout, Couture ate several punches.
While in the clinch against the fence her opponent unloaded two
straight knee strikes to her Couture’s mid-section.
After
Couture backed up, Vera swung away with her hands and connected
with a flurry of lefts and rights, battering Couture until the
referee jumped in and stopped the fight. Vera was declared the
winner by way of TKO at the 3:35 mark of the first round.
Local
star Bobby Voelker (21-7) turned the tides on Huntington Beach,
California’s Erik “Bad” Apple (10-2), who came
out of the gates swinging in the first round of their welterweight
(170 pounds) matchup.
The
remarkably resilient Voelker weathered an early storm, scrambling
to his feet after Apple dropped him with an overhand right. After
absorbing a one-two punch combination, Voelker fired back with
his own hands that backed up Apple.
Voelker
tripped Apple to the ground and attempted to finish Apple with
a flurry of punches from inside Apple’s half guard before
the closing bell sounded.
In
the second stanza, a left hook from Voelker stunned his opponent.
Apple attempted to counter, but was caught with another left
to the chin.
Voelker
took Apple down again. After Apple stood up, Voelker dropped
him with a hard right hand. Voelker pounced on his downed opponent,
unloading a series of right and left hands.
As
Voelker continued to punish him and Apple turtled up, the referee
stepped in and stopped the action at the 1:23 mark of the second
round.
In
his first appearance since suffering an upset defeat at the hands
of Mike “Mak” Kyle, Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante
(8-2) spent much of the first round of his matchup with Aaron
Rosa (12-3) trying to control Rosa against the fence.
Cavalcante
changed his tempo in the second round, taking Rosa down. The
referee stood the fighters up, however, and issued Cavalcante
a warning for striking his opponent with elbows to the head from
inside Rosa’s guard. (Striking a down opponent to the head
with elbows is illegal).
After
the action resumed, Cavalcante lunged at Rosa and tagged him
with a knee strike to the head that put Rosa on his back. Cavalcante
quickly pounced on Rosa and hammered him with punches until the
referee stopped the contest at the 3:25 mark of the second round.
“King”
Kevin Casey (3-1) of Los Angeles, California made quick work
of Iowa’s Chad Vance (7-4), taking Vance down in the early
going of the first round. Vance gave up his back and Casey used
the opportunity to unleash several punches before sinking in
a rear naked choke from which Vance tapped out at the 1:41 mark
of the first round.
Spencer
Pratt, star of MTV’s smash hit reality series “The
Hills,” was on hand to support Casey, his friend and business
partner, from cageside.
Complete
STRIKEFORCE Challengers Results:
Main Card:
Kevin Casey def. Chad Vance – Submission (rear naked choke)
– 1st Round (1:41)
Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante def. Aaron Rosa – TKO
(strikes) – 2nd Round (3:25)
Bobby Voelker def. Erik Apple – TKO (strikes) – 2nd
Round (1:23)
Kerry Vera def. Kim Couture – TKO (strikes) – 1st Round
(3:35)
Tyron Woodley def. Rudy Bears – Submission (arm triangle
choke) – 1st Round (2:52)
Preliminary
Card:
Lucas Lopes def. Dominic Brown – TKO (strikes) – 2nd
Round (:45)
Mike Chandler def. Rich Bouphanouvong – TKO – 3rd Round
(2:07)
Darryl Cobb def. Gary Tapasua – Split Decision (3 Rounds)
(30-27, 28-29, 29-28)
Nick Nolte def. Andrew Waters – Submission (Triangle Choke)
– 1st Round (3:45)
Brian Davidson def. Russel Patrick – TKO (strikes) –
1st Round (:29)
Lee Gibson def. Joe Wilk – TKO (strikes) – 1st Round
(4:39)
Source: MMA Weekly
|
UFC
106: RESULTS/PLAY-BY-PLAY AND PICS
The Ultimate Fighting Championship heads back to its home base
in Las Vegas for UFC 106 on Saturday night at the Mandalay Bay
Events Center. Making his own return, Tito Ortiz steps back in
the Octagon a year and a half since his last fight to take on
Forrest Griffin. The headline bout is a rematch from UFC 59,
where Ortiz won a split decision.
MMAWeekly.com
will be carrying live results of the full fight card. The preliminary
bouts are scheduled to begin at approximately 4:45 p.m. PT /
7:45 p.m. ET. The main card is scheduled for 7 p.m. PT / 10 p.m.
ET and is also available on pay-per-view. At least two preliminary
bouts will air on Spike TV at 6 p.m. PT / 9 p.m. ET.
Be
sure to refresh you browser frequently for all the latest results,
play-by-play and photos from the event...
UFC
106 PLAY-BY-PLAY:
-Forrest
Griffin vs. Tito Ortiz
R1-
Josh Rosenthal calls the action. They touch gloves and we’re
off. Tito engages first with a combination, but it’s Forrest’s
return that scores points. Forrest counters a punch with a leg
kick. Tito goes high but misses. Tito scores with a right hand.
Forrest returns with a slightly low kick, then Tito repays him
with the same. Tito scores with a straight right. Tito shoots
from the open and gets an easy takedown. Like three years never
passed, Tito is on top with elbows and punches to the body. Forrest
goes for a kiumura and pulls Tito off him, forcing Ortiz to shoot
again for a takedown. Again, Forrest threatens with a kimura,
but gives it up and the two are locked against the fence. From
the over-under the two trade knees. Tito attempts a wizard then
throws Forrest off. Forrest scores with one-two. Forrest with
a leg kick. Forrest scores with a combination. Tito jats a heavy
jab, then a follow up one-two. Tito shoots but gets only leg.
Griffin gives him a leg kick for his trouble, then a jab. Tito
with a high kick that’s mostly blocked. Forrest with a front
kick. The two clash but nothing doing. They clinch and move to
the cage. Tito slaps at Forrest’s ears as the round comes
to an end.
MMAWeekly
scores the round 10-9 for Griffin.
R2-
They clash and trade punches. Forrest stumbles off a combination.
He throws a leg kick and gets planted on the mat, where right
elbows start coming fast. The Tito of old. However, Griffin is
controlling Ortiz’s hand better and is tying up the action,
using his legs to control Tito’s posture. And slowly but
surely, Griffin works his way back to his feet, prompting screams
from the audience. Griffin lands a counter fight hand. Griffin
attempts superman prompting a failed shot. Griffin with a front
kick that sends Ortiz’s mouthpiece flying. Short stoppage
to clean out mouthpiece. Griffin tees off with a combination
of punches. Ortiz shoots in and gets the takedown. Griffin tries
to buck him off with his legs, but Ortiz comes to rest in half
guard. Ortiz having far more difficultly posturing up for elbows,
and the ones he lands don’t have a lot of steam on them.
Ortiz with a nice left elbow from guard. Griffin’s right
eye is cut. Ortiz smells guar, but Griffin sweeps him to the
screams of the audience. In an instant, Ortiz is eating short
grinding left elbows and punches as the round ends.
MMAWeekly
scores the round 10-9 for Ortiz.
R3-
They trade but nothing lands clean for either. Griffin attempting
to work his combos. He makes Tito eat a right hand, then attacks
the legs. Tito with a jab. Tito blocks a high kick. Forrrest
with a one-two. Tito with a jab. Griffin lands a punch of a combination.
Right hand from Griffin cracks Tito, then nice right hand and
leg kick. Tito’s pace has slowed measurably. Griffin leg
kicks and Tito goes for the shot, but this time, Griffin is ready
and stuffs it. In the open, Griffin is putting together combinations
and scoring far more frequently, particularly with leg kicks.
Griffin with a nice body shot. Griffin gets through Tito’s
defense with several hooks. A Griffin right hand rocks Tito.
Ortiz is taking the shots, but he’s offering little offense
in counter to Griffin. Straight right down the pipe for Griffin.
Battling practice for the TUF winner. Ortiz offers a feeble shot,
but he’s running on empty. He appears to be just trying
to make it to the bell. Griffin’s combinations are finding
their way through. Griffin and Ortiz swing away one last time
as the bell sounds.
MMAWeekly
scores the round 10-9 Griffin.
One
judge gives Tito the fight with a 29-28 margin, while two judges
give Griffin the fight with 30-27, 29-28.
-Josh
Koscheck vs. Anthony Johnson
R1-
Yamasaki calls the action. Johnson with a legkick, Kos repays.
Kos puches in, and a shot lands, with Johnson checking himself
like something strange happened. Kos follows with a leg kick.
Johnson with a leg kick. Johnson with a high kick that gets blocked.
Kos wings a right hand. Kos gets off a right hand counter in
an exchange, but Johnson tags him with a serious jab. Then another
jab for Johnson. Johnson with an inside leg kick. Kos with a
jab. Johnson with a hard inside leg kick. Johnson hits Kos with
a big right hand, but misses with a high kick. Johnson backs
him into the cage but can’t land the kill shot. Kos goes
for takedown and lift-slam, but Johnson is too heavy. Action
stalls with Kos in front headlock position. Johnson throws an
illegal knee as he stands. Koscheck’s face registers shock,
then he drops to his back. Kos is clutching his eye and wobbling.
Upon replay, it looks distinctly like the knee bounced off his
forearm. The cageside doctor checks Koscheck out. A point is
taken from Johnson. The doctor and Yamasaki are having a conversation.
The bout is going to go on. Kos comes in with two hooks. Johnson
with left high kick that gets blocked. Kos catches Johnson with
a glancing right hand. Joson repays with a leg kick. Kos shoots
for a takedown but the cage stops it. Kos wrestles Johnson to
the mat and gets his back in the scramble, but Johnson has hand
control. Kos trying to put his hooks in. Kos with a nice knee
to the body. Kos sits back and almost sinks in the choke, but
Johnson scrambles and nearly takes Kos down as the bell rings.
MMAWeekly
scores the round 9-9.
R2-
Johnson with a jab. Another jab. He mixes it up with a leg kick.
Johnson catches a finger to the eye as he closes distance, but
the action is restarted quickly. Kos misses with big right hand,
and catches Johnson with a kick to the body. Kos scores with
another combination that has Johnson rocked, but again, a punch
grazes his eye, and the action is stopped. No deduction has been
taken. Upon restart, Johnson and Kos get into a fireight, with
Johbson landeing two glancing blows before Kos ducks under and
takes him down. Kos postures up and lands an elbow from up top.
He’s working short grinding elbows, and scoring. Johnson
can’t seem to get Koscheck off him. Kos landing more right
elbows. Johnson trying to tie the action up. Johnson turns to
his side and Kos angles for mount. Johnson has almost given up
his back. Koscheck gets his arm under Johnson’s neck and
cinches in choke, forcing Johnson to tap out at 4:42.
-Paulo
Thiago vs. Jacob Volkmann
R1-
Referee Steve Mazzagatti calls the action. Soutpaw Volkmann charges
in with combo, but is rebuffed. Thiago stalking in with his right
hand cocked. Thiago goes high with a kick, but gets hand. Thiago
and Volkmann exchange short punches in a tie-up before clinching
against the cage. Volkmann works punches and knees. In a flash,
Thiago has him down in side guard. Volkmann works his way back
up and reverses against the cage, holding a wizard in place.
Thiago gets a trip takedown and quickly gets mount, prompting
a scramble from Volkmann to scoot his back up against the cage.
Thiago working to flatten the Minnesota MMA pupil, but ends up
in guard. Thiago stands out of it after guard opens. Thiago lands
a leg kick and narrowly avoids getting taken down before coming
to rest in clinch against the cage. They trade knees before Volkmann
breaks off. Thiago rocks Voklman with a hook and uppercut and
lands another combination at the bell that drops Volkmann. When
he stands, he’s not in good shape. Doctors are checking
on him.
MMAWeekly
scores the round 10-9 for Thiago.
R2-
There’s a sense that it’s a matter of time for Volkmann
when the two are standing. Whenever they exchange, Thiago’s
punches land hard and rock Volkmann. But he isn’t out of
it yet: he manages to take Thiago down and works his punches
at Thiago’s back as Thiago tries to right himself. Thiago
escapes eventually, and they’re back in the clinch. They
trade knees. Mazzagatti calls for action. Thiago lands a nice
knee in the clinch. Volkmann breaks off and lands a kick to the
body that has Thiago shooting. Volkmann sprawls and takes Thiago’s
back, before briefly getting mount. The two roll end over end
until Thiago pulls out and stands over, coming down with a big
punch. Volkmann works to tie Thiago’s hands up. Thiago stands
overhead when the guard opens and comes down with another big
punch, but it merely glances. He works from side guard as round
comes to an end.
MMAWeekly
scores the round 10-9 for Thiago.
R3-
Volkmann gets tagged with a right. The two trade punches careening
across the cage and Volkmann gets the worse of it, catching a
punch that sends him to the mat. Thiago follows him down and
seizes upon a head and arm choke before Volkmann reverses and
forces the Brazilian to drive for a takedown. No dice though,
the two stalemate again and return to their feet. Volkmann shoots
from the open and misses miserably. Thiago stands overhead and
walks straight into a takedown as he lurches forward. One thing
seems clear: Thiago is exhausted and can’t finish Volkmann,
who wrestles out of bad positions over and over again. This time,
he locks Thiago in a crucifix and rains down punishment. Thiago
escapes and Volkmann takes his back. He can’t hold the position,
the two grapple fruitlessly for position. Somehow, Volkmann cinches
a D’Arce choke in transition. It looks bad for the Brazilian,
but he muscles his way out and gets side control, where he lands
a few elbows until the bell rings.
MMAWeekly
scores the round 10-9 for Volkmann.
Judges
score the bout 29-28, 30-27, 30-27 for Paulo Thiago
-Antonio
Rogerio Nogueira vs. Luis Cane
R1-
Steve Mazzagatti calls the action. Th southpaws meet in the center
of the cage. Cane slowly inching in. Cane with a leg kick. Then
another. Short right lands for Lil Nog. Lil Nog with an inside
leg kick. Cane cutting off the cage, scores with left hand. Lil
Nog counters with left hand and one-two. Lil Nog with a stiff
jab. Lil Nog’s next one two rocks Cane. Cane runs away on
wobbly legs. Lil’ Nog pursues, pouring the punches on, one
combination after the other, as Cane desperately tries to re-set.
Lil' Nog sets up for a plumb but misses and follows with a left
that drops Cane solidly, prompting Mazzagatti to step in at 1:56.
Phil
Baroni vs. Amir Sadollah
R1-
Yves Lavigne calls the action. Baroni comes straight in and brutalizes
Amir’s torso with body shots as Amir attempts to lock in
a plumb and fire back with knees. The two lock up against the
cage, where Baroni catches Amir with a couple of uppercuts while
fighting off knees coming straight up the pipe. Amir with nice
leg kick. Amir with a nice jab, but catches a punch for his effort.
Another plumb and knees from the clinch. Baroni does likewise
and lands a knee and punch in close. Action as stalled. Frenzied
first exchange; the two might hve blown their wads early. A battle
in the plumb. Baroni really working hard to negate Amir’s
clinch with punches, but the knees he’s taking are taking
the wind right out of him. He grabs a takedown and stands over
Amir at the cage’s edge, firing down punches. Amir wall
walks for an armbar, but Baroni keep his hips square and stands
out of it. He stands over and lets Amir gets up, then tries to
punch the TUF winner into oblivion. Amir looks to have the better
cardio though, and is persistent with his knees. Amir locks in
a clinch and lands a glancing punch before hinting at a takedown.
Amir lands a couple of knees from the plumb against the cage,
prompting Baroni to grab a leg. The NYBA can’t finish the
takedown against the cage and eats more knees inside the clinch
to end the round.
MMAWeekly
scores the round 10-9 for Amir Sadollah
R2-
Baroni counters leg kick with punch. Amir chases Baroni bakwards
with punches and kicks, but Baroni slips a nice punch in. Baroni
hits Amir with a hook and the two tie up. More shots land inside
for Baroni. Amir with a nice front kick. The two clinch against
the cage again. This fight is going to come down to cardio, and
it appears Amir has the better. Baroni counters another kick
with a body shot, but the two are wrapped up again. Braoni’s
face is bleeding badly. Amir is throwing nasty elbows from the
clinch that have sliced Baroni up. Baroni scores a few shots
as Amir breaks off, but he stays stagnant, inviting Amir to come
in with a flurry of punches and knees. Amir is having batting
practice on Baroni’s face and body, and Baroni is waiting
for that big shot. Baroni breaks off finally, but can’t
score. Amir leaps after him with a flying knee to the body and
the two are locked in the clinch again. More knees; this is a
war of attrition. Amir with a huge left elbow inside the clinch.
Both men are bloodied and swinging for the fences. Amir’s
leg kicks are met with punches, but they’re glancing, and
they’re not deterring him. Nor are the punches that come
from Baroni in the clinch.
MMAWeekly
scores the round 10-9 for Amir Sadollah
R3-
Amir leads with leg kick. Baroni is trying to time his punches
accordingly, but he’s eating kicks in the process. A huge
punch lands for Baroni, but Amir just keeps coming. The two eat
punches simulataously. Baroni is swinging wildly and taking well
timed shots to the legs. Both men have sustained a tremendous
amount of punishment. Amir with a Superman punch. Amir lands
a punch-kick-elbow combination but gets a smile from Baroni.
The two wrestle in the clinch and exchange knees. It’s the
same story: leg kicks from Amir met by glancing punches from
Baroni. Amir going to town with front kicks and swinging, chopping
leg kicks. Baroni just keeps coming though: he’s taken so
many punches, but he’s not stopping. A punch has opened
a river of blood on Baroni's forehead. Amir is moving in for
the kill, punches and elbows and knees are coing fast and furious,
but somehow, Baroni is still standing upright. A head kick lands
for Amir. Baroni is still swinging back. Amir trying to take
off Baroni’s head with kicks, then coming in with slicing
elbows. What’s keeping the NYBA up is hard to imagine. He
will not quit, even after taking kick after kick after kick after
elbow until the bell rings. He is the Jake LaMotta of MMA.
MMAWeekly
scores the round 10-9 for Amir Sadollah
Judges
score the bout 30-27, 30-27, 29-28 for Sadollah.
Ben
Saunders vs. Marcus Davis
R1-
Josh Rosenthal calls the action. Two southpaws...Saunders leads
with a high kick and Davis misses a jab in counter. Davis closes
and gets tied in a plumb, but Davis presses them into the cage
and the two work knees. Davis breaks off and returns with punches.
Again, it’s Ben’s knees versus Davis’ punches,
and Davis is the one grabbing for a leg and a trip takedown.
Saunders takes potshots at the knees. Davis tries to keep a body
lock and muscle Saunders down, but it looks like Saunders has
the strength advantage in the clinch. Davis breaks off and takes
several knees in a subsequent clinch. Davis with a leg kick.
A Davis combo is derailed by Saunders’ jab, and Davis’
counter is met with a clinch against the cage. Saunders again
working the plumb, but segues to a pummel and then breaks off.
Saunders jab is giving Daivis a lot of trouble. Saunders locks
in the plumb again and lands a knee that puts Davis out cold,
the first time in his MMA career that he’s been out cold.
A few more punches are an afterthought as Rosenthal waves off
the bout at 3:24 of the first.
-Kendall
Grove vs. Jake Rosholt
R1-
Yamasaki calls the action. Grove paws in with jabs, and Rosholt
does likewise. Rosholt jabs in and goes for a double slamming
Kendall on the mat. He drags Kendall around the mat at his back
and slams him down again when he attempts to right himself. Grove
looking to control Rosholt’s arms, but with Rosholt hanging
over him, it’s like the wrestler is hanging off him. Grove
escapes and clinches up with Rosholt before landing his own takedown.
Grove hoists himself up and throw an elbow. Rosholt has little
trouble getting back to his feet, where he lands a left hook
and what looks like an illegal knee downstairs before grabbing
a takedown in the subsequent scramble. Rosholt works from half
guard and passes to mount. Grove gives up his back and Rosholt
transitions to an arm triangle choke….but Grove still has
his legs around Rosholt’s torso and fakes an armbar before
transitioning to a triangle choke that has Rosholt tapping quick.
Great reversal and key win for Grove. The official time is 3:59.
Brian
Foster vs. Brock Larson
R1-
Yves Lavigne calls the action. Southpaw Larson keeps a low stance
as both men circle around each other. Larson lands the first
punch as the two rumble around the cage in a semi-clinch, but
he takes a shot against the cage. In the next collision, Brock
goes for a guillotine, then catches a leg. Foster catches him
with a good punch from there, but Larson hoists him up and slams
him anyways. Foster scrambles forward, but Larson stays at his
back as the two stand against the cage. Larson has Foster’s
torso secured, but Foster has a leg and uses it to reverse Larson.
Foster lands overhead and lands a nice punch from up top. Larson
pitches forward but meets a flurry of punches which appear to
stun him. Larson tries to lock up the action, then goes for Foster's
arm, but Foster pours on the punches. Foster stands overhead
and contends with Larson’s flailing legs. Larson kicks Foster
off him and as Foster gets up, Larson throws an illegal kick
that hits Foster in the eye. Lavigne stops the action and has
the doctor look at the damage. After a break, Lavinge deducts
a point and restarts the action with the doctor’s okay.
Larson storms in with a punch an lands a glancing blow but Foster
tosses him off as the two lock up. Larson grabs a guillotine
and knees Foster in the head with Foster’s left arm still
plastered to the mat. Lavigne stops the action once again and
deducts another point. Seconds after the restart, the bell rings,
prompting boos from the audience.
MMAWeekly
scores the round 10-7 for Foster.
R2-
Foster leads with a kick. Foster closes distance slowly and narrowly
misses with a combination. Larson’s head is straight up
when he advances, and pays for it with two solid punches as he
attempts to lock Foster up. A lightning fast counter right scores
for Foster. Foster with a leg kick. Foster loose and limber,
trying to get Larson to look at his right hand, then feinting
with left jabs. Larson comes in with hesitant leg kick and nearly
gets his head taken off with a punch. Larson gets hurt with a
spinning back kick and a hard punch that causes him to retreat.
Foster slams him down onto the mat, punching out, and Larson
turtles up before finding guard. Foster stands out of it and
stalks his prey down. Foster catches Larson with an uppercut
as Larson ducks in and plasters him with more punches until Larson
taps out as Lavigne is stepping in to save him. Foster does a
backflip in the center of the cage to punctuate his dominance.
The official time is 3:25.
-Caol
Uno vs. Fabricio Camoes
R1-
Mario Yamasaki calls the action. Southpaw Uno leads with a leg
kick. Camoes goes high with a kick, but the slap is more 'ahhh'
than substance. Uno working to cut Camoes off in the cage. Camoes
catches a leg kick and takes Uno down, and Uno pitches forward
to front headlock position before righting himself. Camoes comes
in with a flurry, but nothing big lands. Uno’s counterattack
opens up another takedown for Camoes, who works to pass guard.
Camoes stands overhead pensively, and leaps down on Uno. Uno’s
too experienced for that, and pops right up. Camoes presses and
the two end a sloppy exchange on the ground, where Camoes hops
onto Uno’s back. At once, Uno is fighting for his life,
and after slowly working arm in, Uno escapes from defeat and
pops up. Uno with a leg kick, then another to stop Camoes advance.
Uno making a fabit of attacking legs. Camoes attempts to lock
up clinch, but Uno pitches forward and mounts briefly against
the cage. The two wrestle for position and Uno eventually takes
guard, working to punish Camoes with punches. A few shots score,
but Camoes ties up. Camoes is working for an armbar as bell sounds.
MMAWeekly
scores the round 10-9 for Camoes.
R2-
Uno again attacking the legs. Camoes chases him back with a flurry
of punches. A nice right hand lands for Camoes, and after the
two lock up, he wheels to Uno’s back and slams him down.
Uno pops up and finds his way to Camoes’ guard. Uno postures
up to throw punches and Yamasaki stops the action to deduct a
point for an apparent illegal upkick from Camoes. After restart,
Camoes cage-walks for an armbar and locks it in, but Uno’s
elbow isn’t locked. Camoes taking shots every time Uno postures
up. Camoes rolls his way over and rights himself. He catches
Uno with several hard hooks in the open and takes Uno down off
a body lock. Camoes scrambles to Uno’s back, but without
hooks, Uno simply reverses and takes the Brazilian’s guard.
Uno with a couple of short elbows. Uno can’t get much done
with guard, and cameos eventually reverses and again unloads
with punches and a knee from the clinch as round two ends.
MMAWeekly
scores the round 9-9.
R3-
Both men looking a little winded, but Uno keeps busy with a leg
kick and rand hand. When he advances too far though, Camoes lets
him have it with punches inside. Uno gets tagged several times,
missing a spinning backfist, and shoots for the first time on
the Brazilian. The two lock up and work a clinch game against
the cage, where Camoes lands a glancing elbow. They break off,
and Uno slips on a kick and nearly eats a big hook. Uno with
kick to the body as he rights himself. Camoes returns with a
double hook combo and a knee. Uno grabs a leg and gets the takedown.
Uno works to pass Camoes’ guard, but can’t get around
the Brazilian’s legs. Uno pops up and lands a couple of
punches, prompting Camoes to grab Uno’s right leg in what
looks to be a scissor lock attempt. Uno passes guard and ends
up at Camoes’ back, but Camoes has an arm and nearly rolls
into a kimura. When he does, though, he ends up mounted briefly.
Camoes bucks and Uno stays at his back, landing a few good punches
in transition as the round and fight come to an end.
MMAWeekly
scores the round 10-9 Uno.
The
judges score the bout 29-27, 28-28, and 28-28 for a Majority
Draw.
-George
Sotiropoulos vs. Jason Dent
R1
– Yves Lavigne calls the action. George paws in with a shot
to the body, then goes high with a kick, prompting a smile from
Jason. Tentative strikes from both men. Dent hits George with
a couple of nice punches as George gets a Muay Thai clinch. Dent
breaks free and scores with a counter hook combo, but George
is undeterred. Dent scores another counter combo, but George
fires back with a kick. Jason scores with a nice jab to the body.
They’re both searching for something, but suddenly, George
nails a nice double leg and instantly passes to half guard. Dent
works to control George’s legs but George stand up and passes
to side control. Dent is floundering on his side and George controls
his body. George attempts to mount and drops a nice elbow on
Dent in transition. George gets mount and begins pounding Dent
out. Dent turns to his side. It appears just a matter of time
now. George hurls down a couple of nice elbows and punches and
bases out when Dent tries to buck. George pounds away to the
bell.
MMAWeekly
scores the round 10-9 Sotiropoulos.
R2-
George lands a leaping one-two, then follows with another combo
that scores. Dent fires back with a combo and baits George. George’s
punch count is higher, but on the feet, it appears Dent’s
strikes are landing cleaner. Dent lands a kick to the body but
gets taken down quick, where again, George easily passes to half
guard. Jason escapes out the side door but George grabs him and
takes his back. Jason gets to his back and tries to fend off
another mount attempt. George passes to north-south and bides
his time with punches to Dent’s belly. George throws elbows
and gives Dent enough room to scramble to his feet. Dent immediately
grabs an arm and hints at a kimura, but George powers him down
and gets mount. George pounds away with punches and elbows. As
Dent scrambles, George grabs his right arm and works to finish
an armbar. Dent does not want to give up his arm, but after George
isolates it, it’s over. Official time is 4:36.
UFC
106 QUICK RESULTS:
Main
Bouts (On Pay-Per-View):
-Forrest Griffin defeats Tito Ortiz by split decision (29-28,
30-27, 29-28)
-Josh Koscheck def. Anthony Johnson by Submission (Rear Naked
Choke) at 4:42, R2
-Paulo Thiago def. Jacob Volkmann by Unanimous Decision (29-28,
30-27, 30-27)
-Antonio Rogerio Nogueira def. Luis Cane by TKO (Strikes) at
1:56, R1
-Amir Sadollah def. Phil Baroni by Unanimous Decision (30-27,
30-27, 29-28)
Preliminary
Bouts (On Spike TV):
-Ben Saunders def. Marcus Davis by KO (Knee) at 3:24, R1
-Kendall Grove def. Jake Rosholt by Submission (Triangle Choke)
at 3:59, R1
Preliminary
Bouts (Non-Televised):
-Brian Foster def. Brock Larson by TKO (Strikes) at 3:25, R2
-Caol Uno vs. Fabricio Camoes ruled Majority Draw (29-27, 28-28,
28-28)
-George Sotiropoulos def. ason Dent by Submission (Armbar) at
4:36, R1
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Griffin,
Ortiz deliver for UFC
LAS
VEGAS – With a slew of injuries, illnesses and defections
thinning the ranks, the Ultimate Fighting Championship and its
president, Dana White, have had a more difficult time fielding
a quality lineup than the Cleveland Browns.
As
awful as the Browns are, that’s saying a lot.
But
with heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar (perforated intestine),
light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida (broken hand), middleweight
champion Anderson Silva (right elbow surgery) and welterweight
champion Georges St. Pierre (torn abductor muscle) on the shelf
with injuries, White didn’t need to know that a month ago,
Tito Ortiz suffered bulging disks in his neck when he was dumped
on his head in practice in Big Bear, Calif. And he certainly
had no interest in hearing that Forrest Griffin broke his right
foot while kicking in a practice three weeks ago in Las Vegas.
Still,
Griffin and Ortiz went on and put on a show at the Mandalay Bay
Events Center in a UFC 106 fight card that lacked the big-time
star power a heavyweight title fight between Lesnar and Shane
Carwin would have provided. Nonetheless, the card was still filled
with action from top to bottom.
But
it wouldn’t be a UFC fight card if there wasn’t a scoring
controversy, and much of Saturday’s post-fight news conference
was devoted to the verdict that judges Lester Griffin and Marcos
Rosales ruled in favor of Griffin.
Lester
Griffin, no relation to Forrest, scored the bout 30-27 for Griffin,
the winner of Season 1 of “The Ultimate Fighter.” Rosales
had it 29-28 for Griffin, the same as Yahoo! Sports, while judge
Glenn Trowbridge had it 29-28 for Ortiz.
But
this fight should not remembered for a scoring controversy, but
rather for the character, courage and determination of two former
champions who both had demons to overcome and who nonetheless
went out and sacrificed their bodies and put their hearts on
the line.
Griffin
was coming off a first-round knockout loss to Anderson Silva
in which he was dropped with a jab. He sprinted out of the ring
without a word after the fight and rarely spoke to the media
in the three months afterward.
Ortiz
had for several years gone through a bitter – and very public
– feud with White, his one-time manager. After his contract
expired last year following a loss to Machida at UFC 84, Ortiz
underwent spinal fusion surgery that was potentially career-ending.
He
wanted to take a tune-up fight to ease himself back into action
and was supposed to be the co-main event on Saturday in a bout
against Mark Coleman, with the heavyweight championship fight
between Lesnar and Carwin set to headline.
But
Coleman tore knee ligaments and pulled out and then Lesnar became
ill and had to withdraw. White not only needed an opponent for
Ortiz, but a new main event. He called Griffin, who literally
was on his honeymoon, and asked him if he’d take the fight.
“I
cut the honeymoon short and started to train,” Griffin said.
Ortiz
was excited to accept the fight with Griffin, whom he defeated
via split decision at UFC 59 in 2006. In retrospect, it might
not have been such a wise move. Ortiz, though, is convinced that
despite the loss, he’ll be able to return to the elite level
he once had when he ruled the 205-pound division for three years.
“I’ll
be there (on top) again,” Ortiz said. “For me coming
back, this was supposed to be a warm-up fight. Me and Dana talked
about it being a warm-up fight, but Forrest is no warm-up fight,
being ranked fifth in the world. I might have bitten off a little
too much, but I still thought I won the fight. “I’m
far from being over. You don’t understand. I’m 34 years
old. I just want to get back in the gym after having that long
layoff like that. I think I might have overstepped my boundaries
by coming back too quick. After back surgery, back (to training)
after only one year, I want to see another athlete do what I
do after one year of having two-level fusion. I think I’ve
broken some records.”
Neither
man was as good as he was when he was at his peak, but much has
happened since their halcyon days.
Ortiz
nearly broke down in tears, his voice quivering and filled with
emotion, as he talked about what the fight meant to him.
He
later lobbied White to name himself and Griffin as coaches for
Season 11 of “The Ultimate Fighter,” which will begin
filming in January, to set up the rubber match between them.
White was noncommittal, but Griffin said he’d do it if he
were asked.
“Me
and Tito kind of have the same strategy, though I got on board
a little before Tito, which is to do what Dana says,” Griffin
deadpanned, eliciting laughter from the media and an impish grin
from White. “That’s what is best for us. That’s
been my strategy pretty much for the last five years of my life,
and it’s working pretty good. I’m going to continue
to do that.”
Listening
to White has helped Griffin become one of the sport’s biggest
stars. His star was dimmed considerably by the loss to Silva
– and by his reaction to it. On Saturday, however, he came
back and fought a typically tenacious Griffin type of fight.
Despite
the foot injury, he willingly kicked Ortiz, who tried to claim
at the press conference that he checked most of them. He was
always in Ortiz’s face, throwing punches, and he battled
hard even when he was dumped on his back and eating elbows.
“I
broke my foot, all right?” Griffin said, jokingly. “I
had a broken foot and I was still kicking with a broken foot.
I want some props for that.”
They
both deserved props for fighting despite their injuries. Ortiz
came back from the spinal fusion surgery much more quickly than
anticipated and fought despite bulging disks in his neck.
His
doctor advised him not to fight. Ortiz couldn’t box after
that and could only do light conditioning work, which was probably
why he was so out of gas by the third round.
“I
thought his shots were actually pretty good, at least until he
ran out of gas,” said Chuck Liddell, Ortiz’s long-time
rival. “You have to have that conditioning and he didn’t
have it. But his shot looked good early and he took Forrest down
pretty easily.”
Ortiz
did little in the third round because his conditioning betrayed
him, and that was enough to give Griffin the win. All three judges
gave Griffin the third round and two of the three (Lester Griffin
and Rosales) gave him the second.
This,
though, was one of those fights where the outcome didn’t
really matter. When you see an athlete willing to sacrifice his
body completely for the cause, the outcome is often irrelevant.
The
history books will show that on Nov. 21, 2009, Griffin won and
Ortiz lost. But to most of the 10,529 fans, as well as the many
others who saw it on TV, both men left the cage as winners on
Saturday.
And
in a spell in which injuries and other problems in the UFC are
the worst they’ve ever been, White came out a winner, too.
He
left Saturday knowing he can still count on Griffin and Ortiz
to be top-of-the-bill stars.
Source: Yahoo Sports
|
CHRIS
LYTLE VS. DONG HYUN KIM AT UFC 110
Welterweights Chris Lytle and Dong Hyun Kim will meet down under
at UFC 110, MMAWeekly has confirmed with sources close to the
bout. AOL Fanhouse first reported the news Friday.
UFC
110 is expected to take place Feb. 23 at the Acer Arena in Sydney,
Australia, though the promotion has yet to officially announce
the event.
For
Lytle (49-17-5), it's his first fight back since a blown ACL
forced him to withdraw from a bout with Carlos Condit at UFC
FIght Night 19 in September.
Kim
(14-0-1) has been inactive since July, when he earned a unanimous
decision victory over T.J. Grant at UFC 100. The victory put
the Korean fighter back on the winning track after a decision
loss to Karo Parisyan at UFC 94 (the loss was later changed to
a no contest when Parisyan tested positive for painkillers).
Lytle
has met mixed success since his turn on the fourth season of
"The Ultimate Fighter," going 5-5 in the Octagon. The
35 year-old Indiana still holds a full-time position as a firefighter
in Indianapolis.
The
bout's position on the card is unknown at this time.
Source: MMA Weekly
|
Rafael
Feijao wins by knockout
Mrs. Vera gets revenge for her family and dethrones Kim Couture
Broadcast
from Kansas live on CBS, Strikeforce Challengers: Woodley vs
Bears was the stage for the latest chapter of the Couture-Vera
family feud, as Kerry Vera exacted revenge for the decision her
husband lost last weekend with a second-round TKO of Kim Couture,
whose husband took that contentious decision.
Also
featured were two Brazilian second-round TKOs, from Rafael “Feijao”
and Lucas Lopes, and a first-round arm triangle from Tyron Woodley
over Rudy Bears, in the evening’s main event.
Strikeforce
Challengers
Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas
November 20, 2009
Lucas
Lopes defeated Dominic Brown by TKO in R2
Mike Chandler defeated Richard Bouphanouvong by TKO in R2
Darryl Cobb defeated Gary Tapasua by unanimous decision
Nick Nolte submitted Andy Waters via triangle in R1
Brian Davidson defeated Russell Patrick by TKO in R1
Kevin Casey submitted Chad Vance by rear-naked choke in R1
Rafael “Feijão” defeated Aaron Rosa by TKO in
R2
Bobby Voelker defeated Erik Apple by TKO in R2
Kerry Vera defeated Kim “Sugar Free” Couture by TKO
in R2
Tyron Woodley defeated Rudy Bears by arm triangle in R1
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
Bitetti
Combat: Rizzo vs Overeem
Rizzo vs Monson at last Bitetti Combat, in photo by Gabriel Menezes
Dec 12 event defines card
Bitetti
Combat organizer Amaury Bitetti announced this Saturday, in his
column for the sports journal “Campeao!”, the card
for the upcoming Dec-12 event, to take place in Barueri, Sao
Paulo.
Besides
the return of some of last events stars, like Pedro Rizzo and
Murilo Ninja, the event also brings in some international fighters.
Besides Jeff Monson’s return to Bitetti Combat, Holland’s
Valentijn Overeem, brother of Alistair, is confirmed. The experienced
Dutchman, who even faced Minotauro in the days of old, has wins
over Randy Couture and Renato Babalu.
Other
international beasts to do battle in Bitetti’s cage are
Travis Wiuff, who has 57 wins on his record; Tommy Speer, who
gained notoriety on the The Ultimate Fighter reality show; and
Golden Glory’s Jason Jones.
“We
have yet to confirm a female fight, which would be a first. Another
matchup may also appear,” comments Amaury.
“We
would like to once again thank Roberto Dinamite and Rio de Janeiro
governor Sergio Cabral for their help. Nor can we forget Barueri
mayor Rubens Furlan and secretary of sports Jose Calili,”
says promoter Fernando Miranda.
Check out the card as it stands:
Pedro Rizzo vs Valentijn Overeem (Holland)
Murilo “Ninja” vs Jason Jones (Holland)
Fabio Maldonado vs Travis Wiuff (USA)
Gustavo Ximu vs Ricco Washington (USA)
Glover Teixeira vs Jeff Monson (USA)
Eduardo Pamplona vs Tommy Speer (USA)
Alessandro “Alemao” Steffen vs Francimar “Bodao”
Source: Gracie Magazine
|
Quote
of the Day
"The
man who can make hard things easy is the educator."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
|
UFC
106: Ortiz vs. Griffin 2 Results
We have live UFC 106 results from the Mandalay Bay Events Center
in Las Vegas. In the co-headliners, Tito Ortiz takes Forrest
Griffin and Josh Koscheck faces Anthony Johnson.
Pay-Per-View
Forrest Griffin def. Tito Ortiz via split decision
Josh Koscheck def. Anthony Johnson via submission (RNC) - R2,
4:47
Paulo Thiago def. Jacob Volkmann via unanimous decision
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira def. Luiz Cane via TKO - R1, 1:56
Amir Sadollah def. Phil Baroni via unanimous decision
Undercard
Ben Saunders def. Marcus Davis via TKO (knees) - R1, 3:24
Kendall Grove def. Jake Rosholt via submission (triangle choke)
- R1, 3:59
Brian Foster def. Brock Larson via TKO (punches) - R2, 3:25
Fabricio Camoes vs. Caol Uno ended in a majority draw
George Sotiropoulos def. Jason Dent via submission (armbar) -
R2, 4:36
Source: MMA Fighting
|
MMA
Top 10 LWs: B.J. Penn by Far the Best
by Michael David Smith
The
lightweight division in mixed martial arts consists of B.J. Penn
and everyone else.
We
all know that Penn, the UFC champion, has established himself
as the top lightweight in the sport. But after Penn, there are
about a dozen guys who are practically interchangeable. That
list includes UFC fighters like Penn's next opponent (Diego Sanchez),
his last opponent (Kenny Florian), and some past and future UFC
opponents like Gray Maynard, Frank Edgar and Sean Sherk.
And
the list of lightweights who could make a case for being at or
near No. 2 in the lightweight division also includes Dream champion
Shinya Aoki, Bellator champion Eddie Alvarez, Sengoku champion
Mizuto Hirota and Strikeforce champion Josh Thomson. So my list
of the 10 best lightweights in MMA is basically B.J. Penn and
a toss-up among everyone else.
Top
10 Lightweights in MMA
1. B.J. Penn
2. Kenny Florian
3. Shinya Aoki
4. Eddie Alvarez
5. Diego Sanchez
6. Gray Maynard
7. Frank Edgar
8. Sean Sherk
9. Joachim Hansen
10. Mizuto Hirota
Source:
MMA Fighting
|
UFC
105 does average in the cable ratings
By Zach Arnold
Remember
those reported predictions last week by Spike TV management claiming
that they thought they could draw 5 million viewers for Randy
Couture vs. Brandon Vera? I thought it was non-sense, too, and
I was wondering why the ratings information for this show werent
released sooner. If the ratings had been hot, you would have
heard about it by Monday night or Tuesday morning.
Instead,
its Wednesday and you have to dig around to find them.
The
UFC 105 show did a 1.9 rating, which is a disappointment. They
are pushing they beat CBS in the younger demos but fell short
overall.
At
MMA Memories last week, one of the questions I asked is whether
or not the public cares about Randy Couture as passionately as
they once did. Its hard to put all the blame on Couture here
Vera isnt a compelling opponent and it was hard to take the idea
of Mike Swick vs. Dan Hardy as a #1 contenders match seriously.
That said, when you beat your chests going into the show and
say youre going to do better than Strikeforce on CBS, well
Compare
how UFC 105 did versus the minute-by-minute ratings for the Strikeforce
show. Even though UFC 104 (Cain Velasquez vs. Ben Rothwell, Machida
vs. Shogun) did reportedly better than expected PPV buys, the
company right now is in a cold pattern since UFC 100 last July
in Vegas.
Source:
Fight Opinion
|
Marlon
Sandro eyes Sengoku title in NYE
By Guilherme Cruz
Marlon Sandro doesnt wanna relax. One week after the ight at
Japan, knocking Yuji Hoshino out in the first round, the Nova
Unico fighter was back to the gym, focusing to the return in
the end of the year. In the exclusive interview with the fighter,
Sandro talked about the victory and the possible fight or the
title.
You just came from Japan with the victory, tell us, how was the
fight in Japan?
Thanks God I could turn around, I trained a lot with the guys,
I said that I wanted to knock out or to submit, Dedi had already
ordered that and Im trying to accomplish, and thanks God it was
lucky.
Did your expectation was that the fight would end on the first
round?
It was... We go thinking that three rounds thing, but we always
want to finish the fight as soon as possible...
Before this fight you had a controversy defeat, what are you
thinking for your future? Do you expect to come back this year?
I had this defeat on the first round, but it didnt shake me,
Im prepared with that, we pass for it, we fall, stand up, and
thanks God I could stand up again and they were talking about
me fighting on December 31 and I said that I would accept, I
asked there to fight for the title, and I hope it is for the
title.
How do you think this fight would be?
I would definitely exchange with him, I would try the knock out,
for sure. Hes a complete guy, he has a lose leg there, kicks
well, but I would search the knockout again, for sure.
On this fight you thanked the audience in English, are you taking
classes? Hows the English?
Thanks God, teacher Michel is helping us, Vale-Tudo guys, we
have studentship, we take classes... Ill get better. Thats for
communicate with the audience and the managers and thats very
good, I could thank to the sponsorships and I asked for the title
in English too.
You just got back from Japan, from a though fight, and he came
back training hard with the guys here...
Thanks God I didnt got hurt, then I came, the guys were needing
some help, thats what we do, always one helping each other.
Everybody has a schedule fight here, Thales too, hows the expectation
to Ultimate?
The expectations are the best, we were a little down for some
time, but we stood up again. Thales Leites will be back with
all the power too, to recover, Junior is training hard, well
prepared to this fight and the expectations are the best, well
trained, well prepared psychology, physically and technically.
Source: Tatame
|
Shane
Carwin Defends Brock Lesnar
by Ray Hui
Shane
Carwin, who was scheduled to challenge Brock Lesnar for the UFC
heavyweight title, has been critical of Lesnar in the past, but
Carwin is now the one coming to the defense of the champ as he
recovers from bacterial infection in his intestinal tract.
"I
am sure most of you know I am not the leader of the Lesnar Fan
Club," Carwin posted Tuesday on the MixedMartialArts.com
forums. "That being said, antics or not, he is OUR UFC HWT
Champion. He beat a future Hall of Famer to keep that belt and
he NEEDS our prayers and good thoughts right now."
Carwin
is defending Lesnar from inappropriate comments and jokes towards
Lesnar's condition and talk of an interim championship.
Lesnar
is not the most liked fighter, especially for his Lesnar's post-fight
actions following UFC 100, and Carwin has been vocal in the past
to about his distain towards Lesnar's pro wrestling antics.
"He
may be a champion but he has a long ways to go before he earns
the respect of a champion," Carwin stated after Lesnar's
win over Frank Mir.
But
with Lesnar in a serious health condition, Carwin feels sympathy
for the Lesnar outside the cage.
"Brock
has a wife, kid, and friends that depend on him to make their
lives better," Carwin wrote. "You do not have to support
Brock and his antics but you should have respect for the human
side of what is happening here.
"This
is not a ploy to sell more tickets, he is the biggest draw this
sport has ever had. This is not him ducking me or any other fighter.
This is about a man who is fighting an illness for his career,
family and friends.
"Talk
of stripping a man of his title due to illness will set this
sport back farther then anything Brock has ever said. We need
our Champions healthy and defending. I know the show will go
on but to be a Champion you must beat a Champion."
Carwin
is encouraging others to put aside their disapproval of Lesnar
at this difficult time.
"If
you sit around bashing Brock or making fun of this because of
his antics you might be the very same thing you despise,"
Carwin wrote. "As an MMA fan, as a human be concerned that
one of OUR OWN has fallen and needs our support.
"Get
well soon UFC Heavyweight Champ Brock Lesnar."
Source:
MMA Fighting
|
Reports:
Brock Lesnar is back home recovering after surgery
By Zach Arnold
Lesnars
chiropractor told the Associated Press that the big man is back
home in Minnesota. Dana White says he is planning on an interim
title fight for the Heavyweight division.
Lets
hope it is better than Randy Couture vs. Mark Coleman in February.
On their newsticker tonight, ESPN ran with the story saying that
the fight would be the first bout featuring two UFC Hall of Famers
fighting each other.
In
other UFC-related news, they reportedly have banned Clinch and
RVCA as sponsors (more from Josh Gross). Clinch is the clothing
line that Dan Henderson backs. RVCA is a sponsor of Fedor and
BJ Penn and Vitor Belfort.
Source:
Fight Opinion
|
Gomi
Visits American Kickboxing Academy
Takanori Gomi joined training practice with the fight team at
American Kickboxing Academy on Tuesday in San Jose, Calif., Sherdog.com
has learned.
Bob
Cook, one of AKAs head trainers, said the Japanese striker mostly
grappled with UFC welterweight contender Jon Fitch, Strikeforce
champion Josh Thomson, Justin Wilcox, as well as with middleweight
Trevor Prangley and UFC heavyweight Cain Velasquez.
The
former Pride lightweight champion is in the U.S. reportedly to
take meetings with both the UFC and Strikeforce. Cook is a consultant
for Strikeforce.
Gomi
also attended the Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto boxing match last
Saturday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
One
of Japans biggest attractions during the Pride era, Gomi dropped
back-to back losses against Sergey Golyaev and Satoru Kitaoka
in Sengoku, but rebounded in the last half of 2009 with victories
over Takashi Nakakura in Shooto and Tony Hervey in Vale Tudo
Japan 2009 in late October. Gomi carries a third-round submission
loss to UFC lightweight champion B.J. Penn from October 2003.
Source:
Sherdog
|
Pat
Barry: From Rice to Riches
by Ray Hui
UFC
heavyweight Pat Barry earned a $120,000 bonus on top of his $14,000
fight purse for his victory last month at UFC 104 in Los Angeles.
A dramatic increase in wealth and recognition, especially for
someone who, a week prior, had nothing to his name, was eating
rice and ketchup, and was still hopelessly awaiting acceptance
from a former mentor.
Barry
improved his MMA record to 5-1 by stopping former training partner
Antoni Hardonk in the second round with punches. For Barry, who
has been competing since 2002, it took much more than a single
training camp and enduring two accidental eye pokes and leg kicks
during the fight for his big payday.
"People
think it took seven-and-a-half minutes to make all this money,"
Barry told FanHouse. "It took seven years to make this.
This wasn't seven-and-a-half minutes of work. This is seven years
straight -- no family, not around my friends, not married, I
got no kids. It's just me on the grind, chasing the dream. It
took seven years to finally make a payday."
Ketchup
and instant rice
The
30-year-old Barry had lived off the bare minimum while chasing
the dream. Barry had nothing flashy to show for his efforts.
The majority of Barry's money went towards food, rent and training
expenses.
"A
lot of people, what they don't know is that us fighters, the
majority of us don't make the money that the world perceives
us to be making. YouTube doesn't pay anything. They think just
because you're on YouTube, you're rich. We might make decent
money, but what it costs for us to be prepared and to be ready,
it really does kill a large portion of what we bring in for fights."
Barry
was broke coming into his UFC 104 fight. He had lost his savings
from making a loan that was never returned.
"That's
what I was told: Never ever, ever loan out any amount of money
that you aren't willing to never see again. And I did. I loaned
out pretty much everything I had, and it was gone from there."
Without
a dollar to his name to spend for food, Barry, who weighs over
237 pounds, spent the three days prior to his arrival in Los
Angeles living off of whatever food he could find in his apartment,
trying merely to keep himself nourished before the UFC provided
him with a per diem in the days leading up to the fight.
"I
was left with pretty much nothing," Barry said. "We
got to Los Angeles on Tuesday and the Saturday before we left,
I was sitting at home with zero dollars, man. I had nothing,
man. I wasn't going to be able to pay rent, electricity, buy
food, get gas, I wasn't going to be able to do anything. About
the first of November, all that was going to be done, I was going
to be put out and with nowhere to live.
"In
my house I had a box of instant white rice like the five-minute
rice and some ketchup," Barry continued. "And was like,
'Eat this until we get to LA, Saturday, Sunday, Monday.' That's
what I was doing."
Barry
refused to tell two of the closest people in his life, his coach
and his mother, of the financial strain he tied himself in. Responsibility
builds character.
"I'm
the one that put myself into the financial bind and I didn't
want to depend on anybody else to save me, because how hard would
you work for something if anytime you're about to hit the ground,
someone catches you. Not hard at all. "
The
sacrifice and reward
There's
no telling how long a career lasts in the UFC. When you're only
as good as your last fight, all it takes is a single loss for
a fighter to be released. Having already fallen in a submission
loss in May, Barry couldn't afford back-to-back losses.
"Every
time we step in the ring, it's a gamble," Barry said. "No
matter how prepared we are, anything can happen on any given
day. It was a bet. It was a big risk that I took cause I could
have came out with absolutely nothing, but I got in and I did
what needed to be done, and I able to reap the benefits of it."
And
reap the benefits he did. On top of the purse and win bonus for
a combined $14,000, according to the California State Athletic
Commission, Barry won the Knockout of the Night and Fight of
the Night award for more bonuses totaling $120,000.
"I
would have guessed some kind of bonus for Cry of the Century,"
Barry said. "I definitely would have gotten the hardest
cry in UFC history award. I wouldn't be surprised by that, or
coolest backflip ever seen ever by a heavyweight, but I wouldn't
have guessed Fight of the Night or Knockout of the Night. And
to get both of them, it's still unbelievable now."
With
his prize, Barry was able to rebuild his savings and send money
to his family in New Orleans. He also paid off the debt that
he had accrued along the way to make it to this stage. But after
paying off taxes, trainers, sponsors and credit card bills, Barry
continues to live at most a modest lifestyle.
"I'm
not as awesomely rolling as people think," Barry said. "But
with the lifestyle that I've been living, I'll be able to last
for a while off of this. But in actuality it's not as much as
people think because take into consideration how much I made
and how long it took me to make it. That's like almost minimum
wage for seven years straight.
"If
this has been going this whole time and this was the fifth or
sixth time I did this, then yeah, I'll tell you I'm rich. But
now I don't have to worry about eating white rice and ketchup
for a long time."
There's
the financial and personal sacrifice to be a fighter, and while
Barry was compensated reasonably well, the fight took a toll
on his body. Doctors told him the damage from that one fight
will sideline him for the next several months.
"I
broke my left thumb, so I've got two pins placed in my hand to
put my thumb back together," Barry said. "And it wasn't
until a week after the fight where the adrenaline starts wearing
off, that I started noticing all the different bumps and bruises
that I have. My leg's a little sore, my right hand hurts a little
bit, from the punches that I landed. But I also have the right
square of my right side of my face are all numb, like I've got
some nerve damage on the face where I can't feel my tooth, half
of my lip, half of my nose or my right eyelid. I can feel the
pressure when I push on it. It's like I got a Novocain shot at
the dentist."
Recognition
Upon
winning, Barry fell to his knees and cried. But to find out why
Barry was especially emotional during the fight, you have to
look back at a time when he was in pursuit of becoming a champion
in a different sport.
"I
went out to Amsterdam," Barry said. "Chasing the K-1
dream, to be the greatest kickboxer in the galaxy."
In
2004, Barry debuted for K-1 and by 2006, he received the unique
opportunity to train at the VAS gym under K-1 legend Ernesto
Hoost.
"I
was a teammate and he had a few of us that surrounded him being
his training partners and when he was hired, he became coach
and he pulled four of us in: Myself, Jerrel Venetiaan, Paul Slowinski
and Antoni Hardonk, who was already in the UFC," Barry said.
"So there were three kickboxers and one MMA guy, so we trained,
and trained and trained and I lived between Amsterdam and China
for like five years, mainly in Amsterdam and I felt as if I wasn't
being taken seriously, or my ability wasn't being acknowledged.
I felt like I was not getting the time in or the attention. And
this was over years.
"I
ended up having a not-so-great falling out with Ernesto because
I've known him so many years and it's got to the point where
the last two years, I'm asking myself 'What am I doing here?'
and why won't I just go home and go somewhere else?' But you're
training with the best in the world and this guy, he's my hero,
and everything I ever wanted was to be like this guy, as good
if not better than him. I was training with him and we were friends."
Paydays
were far and between. Barry was only fighting twice a year, and
between having to pay rent, his own training gear and the pressure
he was putting on his family back home, he was forced to make
a change.
"Eventually
I decided to leave," Barry said. "I can't do this anymore.
I just felt time was flying by and everybody else was getting
these opportunities, and I'm not so I've got to go.
"And
when I went, I never heard from [Hoost] again," Barry said.
"He never said bye, nothing. When I left, that was it. It
was like I didn't matter.
"Five
years, five years and when I said I'm not coming back, the response
was pretty much, "So?' That wasn't fair. There wasn't nothing.
No, 'Hey, when are you coming back?' Nothing. I was just going
and it didn't matter to anybody."
Barry
returned to the US and switched over to MMA with Duke Roufus
in Milwaukee. Like his goals as a kickboxer, Barry immediately
set high expectations for himself.
"That
whole 'Hype or Die' (his nickname) concept, if you're going to
do it, do it all the way and be the best or don't even bother
trying. That's like Yoda said, 'Do or do not, there is no try.'"
Barry
decided that if MMA was the next step in his evolution as a fighter,
he was going to fight for the UFC to face the best competition.
And when he thought of MMA, the first person that came to his
mind was a familiar face from Amsterdam.
"Antoni
Hardonk is in the UFC, and he's a dangerous guy in the UFC and
he's also my training partner so fighting him is what I'm aiming
for, for a few reasons. He's awesome, he's great, and to get
inside the ring with someone his caliber and win is a testament
to myself and also my hard work, but at the same time maybe I'll
finally get the recognition from Ernesto that I've always wanted.
Maybe I'll get the recognition, the acknowledgement that I am
good, that I do work hard, that I never got."
Giving
back
Barry
comes from a family of teachers. Sharing knowledge with someone
is leaving them with something that will never go away. He carries
that mentality with him when he's teaching classes at the gym,
and knew that once he reached some form of financial stability,
he could turn that attitude back home.
"I
am from New Orleans, which still has a few aftereffects from
the hurricane that happened years ago, but I want to give back.
I think New Orleans is the greatest country in the world ...
I said that right, New Orleans is the greatest country in the
world. I've loved this place since day one and I never want to
be anywhere else."
Barry
teamed with his cousin from USA Bridge Builders. Together, they
are putting together a non-profit foundation for kids, appropriately
named "Hype or Die Kids". Similar to the NFL's Play
60, Barry will encourage kids to play outside. Barry also plans
to visit the city twice a year and will travel around schools
to teach kickboxing.
"Now
that I'm finally in a position to finally make that happen and
giving back a little bit-then that's what I've been doing. I've
been setting that up, but I'm taking my time with my thumb, I
sing to it every night to speed up the recovery process because
I want to get back in there when I have the momentum," said
Barry, who is currently in a cast.
While
he recovers, Barry's time is spent with the non-profit and teaching
kids classes at the Roufus camp.
"I'm
surrounded by the greatest people in the world," Barry said.
"My team, my coach. He's the greatest thing that has ever
happened to me. Not just coach-wise. He's my friend, and that's
what means more to me than anything else. The dude is just all-around
... he's a great man. And he's got my back. He's there for me.
"My
entire team is everything that I've always wanted, everything
that I never knew I wanted. With these guys, we're all going
to go to the top of the world, and we're going to make a massive
crater in this sport. This sport is going to evolve when I'm
finished with it."
As
for Ernesto Hoost, he hasn't heard from his former mentor. And
it doesn't matter.
"Not
anymore," Barry said. "I've waited two years just waiting
to get some sort of [recognition] and I don't need it anymore."
Source:
MMA Fighting
|
Quote
of the Day
"How
you think when you lose determines how long it will be until
you win."
Gilbert K. Chesterton
|
X1
World Events Today!
“Light’s Out”
Nov 21, 2009
Kekuaokalani Gym, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
THIS
SATURDAY, IT WILL BE
“LIGHTS
OUT”
AS
X-1 WORLD EVENTS
PRESENTS
ITS NEXT FIGHT CARD
Cisneros
vs. Padilla Headlines, “Cabbage” Returns
Honolulu,
HI (USA): Fifty of Hawaii’s top young MMA fighters will
look to put each other’s “LIGHTS OUT” this Saturday,
November 21st as X-1 World Events presents its next fight extravaganza
at the Kekuaokalani Gym in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. In the main event,
Hilo MMA’s Chris Cisneros will battle Kaleo Padilla of Kona
BC. The co-main event will feature the return of one of Hawaii’s
top MMA fighters, as former UFC heavyweight contender Wesley
“Cabbage” Correira will lock horns with Elward Westbrook.
Tickets are available for $25 (floor), $50 (VIP), and $100 (rows
1&2), and can be purchased at Sergio Mamone Gym (808.961.0003),
CD Wizard (808.969.4800), Lulu’s (808.331.2633), Big Island
Surf (808.935.1430), Hilo Fight Company (808.895.1489), Pacific
Island Fitness (808.334.1977), Big Island Built (808.959.6243),
Waikoloa Chevron (808.883.8550), as well as at http://x1events.com/
Hawaii’s
biggest and best fight camps will be represented, as combatants
from B.J. Penn’s MMA, Hilo MMA, Kona BC, Team MMAD, Average
Joes, PFC, HIBC, Team Assassin, Universal Combat, Bang Inc.,
Demon MMA, 808 Fight Factory, Hawaiian MMA, Knoa BC, and Team
Submit will be on the card, which is subject to change. For more
information about the card and the fighters, log on to http://www.x1events.com/
“We
are extremely excited to bring a fighter like “Cabbage”
back to X-1, as he embodies the fighting spirit that our promotion
is all about. ‘LIGHTS OUT’ is going to be a fantastic
show, and I believe that every fight, from Cisneros-Padillo on
down, is going to rock the gym!” said Mike Miller, Owner/Promoter
of X-1 World Events.
“LIGHTS
OUT” will feature live performances from Mianlan, Ace HD,
and Kid Dynamite. The X-1 and Vandal weigh-ins and after-party
will take place at Lulu’s, and doors for the event at the
Kekuaokalani Gym will open at 4:00 PM on the day of “LIGHTS
OUT.” For more information, please contact Sonny Westbrook
at 808.895.5016.
The
full fight card includes:
X1
World Events “Light’s Out”
Nov 21, 2009
Kekuaokalani Gym, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Main
Card
185
- Chris Cisneros (Hawaiian MMA) vs Kaleo Padilla (Kona BC)
HW
- Wesley Correira (Hilo) vs Elward Westbrook (Kona BC)
145
- Justin Mercado (MMAD) vs Tyler Kahihikolo (Average Joes)
170
XMA - Ronald Hayward (PFC) vs Kaeo Meyers (Kona BC)
170
- Elijah Young (BJ Penn) vs Dave Pakele (Average Joes)
145
KB - Peni Taufaao (Team Assassin) vs Spencer Higa (HIBC)
Undercard
140
- Keean Desat (Freelance) vs Timothy Meeks (HIBC)
HW - Austin Tauasa (Kona BC) vs Chad Thomas (HIBC)
145 - Petey Vital (Demon MMA) vs Waylen Cerenio (HIBC)
155 - Elia Mundon (PFC) vs Dylan Fillekes (Average Joes)
170 - Kapono Kuikahi (Hawaiian MMA) vs Palema Amone (Average
Joes)
145 - Brensen Hansen (MMAD) vs Daniel Friend (HIBC)
140 - Randee Soria (808FF) vs Levi Agcalon (HIBC)
185 - Dayton Kalai (HIBC) vs Miles Paaiva (Freelance)
135 - Kuulei Ohia (MMAD) vs Riquo Abadilla (HIBC)
160 - Ryan Dela Cruz (808FF) vs Malu Benedicto (PFC)
150 - Chermaine Kahele (HIBC) vs Lani Fauhiva (Average Joes)
170 - Liatama Amisone (HIBC) vs Martin Medina (Kona BC)
140 - Treven Mukai (Hawaiian MMA) vs Roy Higa (HIBC)
130 - Mark Gersaba (Average Joes) vs Keola Arakaki (HIBC)
145
KB - Jacob Kepa (HIBC) vs Carlos Garrido (Kona BC)
120
- Sivada Koulthasen (Team Submit) vs Sarah Kahele (HIBC)
About
X-1 World Events
Founded
in 2004 by Mike Miller, X-1 World Events is a world-class mixed
martial arts (MMA) promotional company based in Honolulu, HI.
Locally-owned and operated, X-1 delivers exciting live arena-based
entertainment events to fight fans all over the islands. The
events feature some of the MMA world’s most talented fighters,
including UFC, Pride, and Abu-Dhabi veterans such as former UFC
champions Dan “The Beast” Severn and Ricco Rodriguez,
UFC veterans Jeff Monson, Kimo Leopoldo, Chad “The Grinder”
Reiner, “Sugar” Shane Nelson, Brandon Wolff, Wes “The
Project” Sims, Ronald “The Machine Gun” Juhn,
Wesley “Cabbage” Correira, and Falaniko Vitale, as
well as Pride veterans Chris Brennan and Ron “H2O-Man”
Waterman. X-1 World Events can be found online at http://www.x1events.com/
Source: X-1 World Events
|
Brazilian
Pro Picks: Cane vs. Nogueira
By Guilherme Cruz
On the next Saturday, UFC will be back to Las Vegas with one
more fight between Brazilians. Preparing to UFC 106, TATAME.com
asked the experts opinion for the combat between Rogirio Minotouro
Nogueira and Luis Banha Cane. Check below the bets of each one
and stay on to know everything about the next edition of Ultimate,
that takes place this Saturday (21).
Ricardo Arona:
Both are excellent strikers. Rogirio representing the English
Boxe and the Muay Thai, and Banha showed that hes very tough
on the last fight, that was very disputed. And this fight may
have good moments on the ground, and I think that Rogirio has
a better ground and may find another way to the victory, maybe
even easier. I hope that Rogirio wins, hes my friend and I support
him.
Conan Silveira:
It will be a very tough fight for both, high level and a lot
of intelligence. I think that well see how the fight is gonna
be on the first round, if it will go to the distance or not,
but I believe that it will be decided on the first round, at
the most on the second. Both are great fighters, have a brilliant
future whatever the result is, but fight is fight and we choose
our side. I think that if he brings to the octagon everything
that was made on the gym, he has good weapons. And I wanted to
answer Minotauro: Cane will stop Minotouro (laughs).
Anderson Silva:
Rogirio is very well prepared. Were training and correcting some
mistakes, so they wont surprise us on the fights... We cant win
always, but were working on it. Were working to mark the field,
so people can understand that we came to win.
Rodrigo Minotauro Nogueira:
(Cane) is a tough guy, he goes for it all the time. I couldnt
see him making the guard, but he has no losses for now, he has
a brilliant career. Im sorry Cane, but Rogirio will stop you.
Thiago Silva:
I have never seen him so ready as hes now. I think hell give
a show, you can expect it. Im a Brazilian, its not nice to see
them fighting, but I support the guy from my team, thats my friend,
and I think Banha will win, definitely.
Vitor Belfort:
Rogirio is an expert fighter, he knows what he has to do. Ill
support him and Im sure that hes gonna be a good fight.
Eduardo Pamplona:
Its a tough fight... I cant say more because of my trainings,
because Im not following, but Banha is a talented guy, everybody
knows, he showed that.
Luis Dsrea:
Thats, for sure, the stronger category, that has the best. Banha
is an excellent athlete, have a good quality with the hands.
Ive observed a lot of fights of him, I saw him fight on Minotauro
Fight, then I saw on UFC. Hes a strong athlete, kicks hard, he
searches the fight, has a good ground, is a top fighter. Rogirio,
to me, has a lot of abilities on the arms, a great ground, hes
a complete fighter, coming from victories. I think that Rogirio
has more abilities. Banha is very strong, but Rogirio can conciliate
power with moves, he has a Boxe very good, a Muay Thai to defend
himself and attack, the great ground... Its gonna be a high level
fight, because theyre two complete athletes, but Rogirio is very
good. We wouldnt like to fight against a Brazilian, but the organizers
chose and the promoters have the power... Its gonna be a though
fight, to history, but I think that, for his moves, abilities
and experience, Rogirio will win this fight. The experience will
make the difference and well surprise Banha.
Alexandre Baixinho:
I thinks its gonna be a though fight to Minotouro, but his Boxe
is sharp, I have faith in Minotouro, but I expect that after
the fight both stays on UFC and that they doesnt dismiss more
Brazilians.
Paulo Borracha:
Big fight. For the work time and international experience, I
believe more in Minotouro. Sokoudjou (defeated by Banha on UFC)
didnt defeat Minotouro on UFC, were other conditions and another
preparation, thats different On United States related to Japan.
Its the same that to beat Liddell and Rich Franklin nowadays.
Minotouro is versatile, I think that both will take well the
exchanging and, if someone fit the right blow, the other wont
take... Its gonna be like Minotouro against Shogun. Both didnt
wanted to go to the ground, they were standing up, hitting each
other and wanted to show that were the best there. I think thats
gonna happen on Minotouro against Banha, I think this fight will
be on top, but I think its hard that happens a knock out. If
no one fit a strong blow, someone may go to the ground, but if
some strong blow enters the other will want to exchange standing
up.
Luiz Alves:
I expect a tough fight. I trust on Rogirio because hes more expert
and his Boxe is better, but we cant give more space to Banha
because hes a tough guy, has a dangerous Muay Thai. But I trust
a lot on the Boxe and on the ground of Rogirio.
Alex Davis:
Rogirio is my friend, Banha is his fan... They doesnt train together,
but he has an old relationship with me, I was the first to put
him to fight outside Brazil, he trained a lot of times on ATT
and hes everyones friend up there. Banha likes him a lot, we
didnt wanted this fight. Its gonna be a though fight, no one
needs to talk about Rogirio, he has an excellent ground and Boxe.
Banha is very though, its gonna be a dramatic fight. The only
thing that cheers me up is that, if Banha pass thru Rogirio,
he will have possibilities to fight for the title in a close
future.
Antonio Bigfoot Silva:
Its hard to say, because both are great strikers, Ive trained
a lot with Minotouro, brother of my godfather, and he has a very
sharp hand, a hand that goes with address... He makes no mistakes.
He Banha has a good ground too, but is there for a time and everyone
saw that hes a good guy, he has a good hand too, a good ground.
Its hard to say whos gonna win.
Fabrmcio Morango Camues:
Im suspect to say, Ive trained with Rogirio on the last days
and I followed him. I dont know Banhas train, but for Rogirios
experience, his calm on the ring... Theyre both lefts, but I
thinks that Rogirio is better on the exchanging, and on the ground
trains here he has a good vision. I think its gonna be a big
fight. I hope that Banha is well trained. I vote on Nogueira
family, I cannot cheer against them. Its gonna be Rogirio, by
knock out on the second round.
Paulo Filho:
Minotouro is a tough veteran, he never made a bad part, always
fought with the best and gave big shows. Hes a foward guy, trains
hard, hes calm to fight. He has a great physical prepare and
he fought with the best. He fought with Shogun, hes a striker,
that didnt wanted to exchange with him, preferred the takedown.
Banha is coming and I think its a bad fight for Banha... Not
making less of him, but I think he must make other some fights.
Minotouro is one of the best in the world and he had the opportunity
to show his work.
Source: Tatame
|
Tito
Ortiz: 'There's Going to Be a Belt in My Future for Sure' by
Mike Chiappetta
At
34 years old, and out of action for almost 18 months, Tito Ortiz
doesn't miss a beat during UFC 106 fight promotion. The former
UFC light-heavyweight champion still finds ways to needle his
opponent, still has no problem reciting his resume, still talks
about his big dreams.
But
there's a change, too. There's much more nuance and subtlety
in his delivery today. Perhaps changed by a nasty divorce with
the UFC, followed by back surgery and a long rehabilitation,
followed by a kiss-and-make-up with Dana White, Ortiz -- at least
for now -- is a quieter, more mature version of himself. That
is a change that he hopes will contrast sharply with his athletic
performance. Before he was talking loudly, but getting no results;
he hasn't won a fight since 2006. Now, he speaks more softly,
but trusts his body to deliver the real statement.
"There's
going to be a belt in my future for sure," Ortiz told FanHouse
in a recent interview. "It's 'Dream it, work it, win it.'
That's the dream comeback. But it's one fight at a time, and
I don't want to look past this one."
Ortiz's first step back on the comeback trail began on Oct. 6,
2008, when he was operated on by Dr. William Smith in Las Vegas.
Ortiz underwent a surgery similar to the one performed on fellow
UFC fighter Nate Quarry in 2006. In fact, Ortiz spoke with Quarry
before agreeing to the procedure, which addressed three injured
vertebrae.
"I
was terrified," he said. "There was a possibility of
me never competing again. I hope it helps people understand how
important fighting is to me. I could have just went on and continued
my clothing company Punishment Athletics, did stores and gyms
and made a good living, or I could take a big risk to get surgery
done."
Standing
across the cage from him at UFC 106 will be a man he met once
before: Forrest Griffin. The two first competed in April 2006.
It was Griffin's fourth official UFC fight, and Ortiz won a close,
split-decision. In the time since, it's been suggested that Griffin
was too green at that point in his career to face such an experienced
veteran. It must be pointed out, however, that the fight was
the 15th of Griffin's career.
Also
in the time since, Griffin won and then lost the UFC light-heavyweight
championship, making this a battle of two ex-kingpins desperate
to work their way back towards the top. In the three-and-a-half
years since, a lot has happened to both men, but Ortiz sees little
different in his foe.
"I
really don't see that much of a change in him," he says.
"I think Forrest is a guy who is often in the right place
at the right time. He works hard, and hard work usually pays
off. He's taking the fight on six week's notice, but he's a gym
rat who's always in shape. It's just me making sure my timing
is on, and that I push the fight."
As
far as how the action will flow, Ortiz is unsure. He trusts his
back, and believes the explosiveness that marked his takedowns
in the early part of his career has returned. He also believes
there are questions about Griffin's durability that will be put
to the test.
"I'm
going to give Forrest all he can handle," he says. "I
think I'm a lot stronger and faster, and his head is softer than
mine. He's been knocked out in his last couple fights (against
Rashad Evans and Anderson Silva), and I've never been knocked
out in my career. Yes, Chuck Liddell stopped me, but I was never
unconscious. Let me knock on wood that that's never going to
happen... I hope he comes in shape, because if he doesn't, he's
going to get hurt."
The
last line comes out with a pause, and almost as an obligation.
Ortiz
has always been known as much for trash talk and self-promotion
as his in-ring success. It almost makes you wonder if the "Huntington
Beach Bad Boy" character that was once upon a time omnipresent,
is now only for the cage.
"I
think so," he says. "I've grown up a lot. You'll see
the 'Bad Boy' in the cage no matter what. I'll do what it takes
to win. It's survival of the fittest there. But outside of the
cage, I want to be more of a role model. Forrest recently said,
'I don't want to be a role model,' but I do. I think it's my
job as a fighter. This has grown into a huge stage, and I want
to teach these kids to get educated."
The
change comes largely from his personal growth. In March 2009,
Ortiz and his girlfriend Jenna Jameson had twin boys, Jesse and
Journey (he also has a seven-year-old son, Jacob, from his first
marriage). Because of his back injury, it marked the first extended,
uninterrupted time he could spend with his family in years.
After
being thrust into his Big Bear training camp again, that time
came to a close. He went from seeing Jacob every weekend and
seeing Jenna and the twins every day to phone calls. In that,
Ortiz reconnected with what he was fighting for.
"It's
been really hard," he says. This camp has been really challenging
for me mentally and emotionally because I'm not with them. I've
been with them and available to them for the last 18 months.
Now, all I do is eat, sleep and train. It's difficult, but I
have to train hard to provide for my family. I have three kids
to feed, and I want to make sure they have nothing to worry about
in their futures. When I was a kid, I had nothing. I can't have
that for them."
Now,
less than a week away from his return to the cage, the training
is winding down, and Ortiz will return to a place in which he's
reached the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. He's been
loved and hated. And for the first time in a long time, he has
no idea how he'll be received by the crowd.
Will
he be a returning hero or villain?
"I'm
expecting cheers, but you never know," he says. "Forrest
is fighting in his town, but I've been fighting there longer
than him. I hope there will be a lot of cheers, but either way,
I'm excited. Whether it's cheers or boos, I'm going to fight
with a lot of heart and a lot of determination."
Told
that the betting line has swung in Griffin's favor -- in essence,
that at least bettors doubted he'd return with a victory -- Ortiz
finally showed the fire that marked the "Bad Boy."
"I
love it," he said. "Now that makes me excited. I love
to be the underdog. I came from the streets and was never supposed
to succeed in life, but I did it. I became successful. Keep betting
against me, because I love proving people wrong."
Source:
MMA Fighting
|
Cobrinha
vs Mendes was best of ADCC, says Braulio
Absolute champion in Barcelona releases free lessons video
By Gabriel Menezes
Braulio
Estima made the cover of this months GRACIEMAG, with his Rebel
Jiu-Jitsu. After a gala exhibition in Spain, Carcara took the
opportunity to extend his travels to other points on the globe.
During
the second half of January Ill take a tour of the United States,
making the most of the time off between championships, says Estima,
who lives in England.
I
aim to go from east to west: Boston, New York, Michigan, Indiana,
Colorado, California and Hawaii, returning through Albuquerque,
Santa Fe, Texas and Florida. Anyone interested in having me at
their academy, please contact me by email: braulioseminar@googlemail.com,
as Im still organizing my itinerary, says the Pernambuco native.
Braulio
has been enjoying the repercussions of the GRACIEMAG cover, the
second time he makes it. Its a shame the subtitle with my name
is so small! he chuckles, then changing his tone to serious.
Everyone said it was great. I signed a bunch of them, even a
special one for my brother. I like it, I want more, says the
champion, before going on to assess ADCC 2009.
To
me the Rafael Mendes versus Cobrinha match was the best one,
real intense and technical. They didnt stop one second over 40
minutes. They impressed me not just with the movement, but with
positions of all kinds and several escapes. Sharp attacks and
defense, excellent, the absolute champion assayed.
Another
standout was Marcelo, who even in losing the under 77kg final
(to Pablo Popovitch) showed excellent attacks, always going for
the finish which we never tire of praising. Vinicius Pezao also
surprised a lot of people with his attacks. Werdum and Xande
(his adversary in the open weight final) also has an excellent
championship, he opined. And anyone wishing to learn some of
Braulio Estimas slick Jiu-Jitsu techniques can download an entire
class taught by the fighter, who inked a deal with Cagefilm.com
and has been shooting footage of his techniques ever since the
ADCC. Tim Lord, owner of cagefilm.com, proposed I teach a weekly
class, continuously, where I explain what lies behind invisible
Jiu-Jitsu. Its coming out great. I show several details and aspects
like how I position myself, plan strategize, in every Jiu-Jitsu
position possible, how I deal with different reactions from my
opponent and so on. The series is perfect. Check out the first
class gratis, invited the fighter.
Source:
Gracie Magazine
|
California
Amateur MMA Organization Granted Distinction by CSAC
By FCF Staff
The
California Amateur Mixed Martial Arts Organization (CAMO) has
announced today, that the California State Athletic Commission
has granted the body distinction, as the official oversight and
regulatory agency for amateur MMA and Pankration events. The
announcement goes on to say:
Regulatory
and oversight responsibilities will be a primary role for CAMO,
however, it will also play the critical role as a service organization,
providing a critical business hub for licensed fighters, promoters,
inspectors, referees and judges, making the business of amateur
MMA and Pankration competition significantly more efficient.
According
to the release, CAMO was organized by MMA insiders and former
Pro Elite officials Jeremy Lappen and JT Steele. Lappen will
function as the organizations CEO and Chairman while Steele has
been named President. The regulatory body will also include an
advisory board whose members are notable MMA veterans Bas Rutten,
Dan Henderson, and Eric Paulson, renowned referee John McCarthy,
as well as business and marketing executives Josh Schwartz, Steven
Rusich and Marc Altieri.
CSAC
Chairman Mario Rodriguez was quoted saying:
The
CAMO executive team had a very well thought out plan to oversee
the amateur program, and they possess such a wealth of experience
and expertise in MMA. These impeccable credentials, and those
of its advisory board, made this a very easy decision for us,
said Rodriguez. MMA has come so far and yet still has such significant
growth potential, making CAMO a critical player in ensuring its
continued growth is grounded in a set of standards to maintain
the utmost safety and competitive integrity at the amateur level
here in California.
CAMO
will begin overseeing events later this month with licensed and
sanctioned events already in place. According to the release,
CAMO has plans to organize an annual California State Amateur
MMA Championship tournament; however, details are to be released
at a later date.
Source:
Full Contact Fighter
|
MACHIDA
VS. "SHOGUN" II TARGETED FOR MAY 1 IN MONTREAL
Lyoto Machida and Mauricio Shogun Rua will rematch for the Ultimate
Fighting Championship light heavyweight title on May 1 in Montreal.
The
news comes from the Twitter account of Yahoo Sports Dan Wetzel,
who quotes UFC president Dana White saying, Lyoto Machida will
fight May 1 in Montreal against Shogun.
The
two first met at UFC 104 on October 24 at that Staples Center
in Los Angeles where the undefeated Machida was awarded a controversial
unanimous decision.
It
was Machidas first title defense and following the event White
said Rua would get an immediate rematch.
The
May 1 date nor the title bout have been officially announced
by the UFC.
Source:
MMA Weekly
|
Public
comments on Brock Lesnars health condition; WCCO TV says Lesnar
has severe case of diverticulitis; Associated Press says Lesnar
to be released from hospital shortly
By Zach Arnold
With
this report from TMZ today stating that Lesnar has some sort
of intestinal disorder, lets take a look at comments that Dave
Meltzer made on late Sunday night on his radio show.
DAVE
MELTZER: Lesnar has um three or four things wrong with him, two
of which are known and one or two of which arent known and um
you know I think that Dana White today was going to
BRYAN
ALVAREZ: Meaning known by UFC?
DAVE
MELTZER: And by him, yeah,
BRYAN
ALVAREZ: Oh, okay, so hes got two things even he doesnt know
whats wrong.
DAVE
MELTZER: At least.
BRYAN
ALVAREZ: Thats not good.
DAVE
MELTZER: Theres a lot, OK, the thing is um he had Mono, he trained
on Mono and that probably is whats causing all these other problems
is that he trained while he was on Mono when he supposed to rest
because he had a fight coming up and he refused to admit that
he was tired even though he was really tired and then he finally
you know so he went up to Canada, he collapsed in Canada early
last week, um, and um was hospitalized and I think he was moved
to a hospital in North Dakota where he at least was as of yesterday
and um Dana White was going to fly there to get him to a better
facility where they could find out more whats wrong with him
because theres whatever the new thing is thats wrong with him
theres also other things wrong with him that the new thing doesnt
cover, hes in really rough shape and um they need to get him
and get him diagnosed and get him back healthy and its uh you
know hes very very depressed from what I understand.
BRYAN
ALVAREZ: Well I can imagine.
DAVE
MELTZER: Yeah, because um him being sick and him being weak does
not go well together and him not fighting doesnt well together
either, you know I think he was very much looking forward to
you know I mean he wanted to fight three times this year and
he ended up fighting once and um next year who knows, I mean
you know you know theres nothing on the schedule as far as like
him fighting again, I mean its just you know Im presuming theyre
going to do an interim championship and uh although who theyll
do with it, I dont know because now with Carwin having knee surgery
(he didnt) that um delays everything as well so its theyre just
screwed but theyll you know I dont know how theyre going to get
out of this one but you know I guess they will you know theyre
working on some off beat ideas I guess but I dont know if theyre
going to get any of them ready for January 2nd.
BRYAN
ALVAREZ: Now the Lesnar thing, I mean I just uh I mean that was
actually what a lot of people were thinking was that he had Mono
and then he just kept trying to train on it and then got a complication
and I dont know as far as the other two things you know I dont
know maybe took a bunch of medication to try and ease the pain
or whatever and then screwed something else up and just
DAVE
MELTZER: There could be any of a million reasons.
BRYAN
ALVAREZ: Snowball effect.
DAVE
MELTZER: Probably, you know, probably just um probably just the
Mono taking its effect with you know once one thing goes wrong
with you its pretty easy for more things to go wrong with you
so I think thats kind of like what happened there.
WCCO,
a local news station in the Minneapolis area, says that Lesnar
is suffering from diverticiulitis: A source told WCCO that Lesnar
has a severe case of diverticulitis, a disease where small pouches
form in the digestive system.
The
Associated Press claims that Lesnar is in the Bismarck, North
Dakota area at a local hospital (stable condition) and that White
is encouraging him to go to the Mayo Clinic.
Source:
Fight Opinion
|
Joe
Lauzon Readying for UFC Return in January
E.
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. A little more than eight months since undergoing
knee surgery, UFC lightweight prospect Joe J-Lau Lauzon (18-4,
5 KOs, 13 submissions) is fully recovered and anxious to get
back into The Octagon. Lauzon, star of The Ultimate Fighter 5
television reality show, had ACL surgery and his meniscus repaired
on his right knee March 6. He is tentatively scheduled to return
to UFC action in early January.
Joe
has a torn ACL in his right knee for 1 = years before requiring
surgery and being sidelined. I felt looseness in my knee but
could still train, Lauzon explained. Doctors at that time said
they didnt want to disturb it. And it wasnt affecting me much.
Two weeks before my last fight (Feb. 8, 2009 WSUB2 vs. Jeremy
Stephens) I felt it like it wasnt wuite right warming up. I tried
to take him down in the first round and I fell over. I needed
stitches in my head and couldnt train for a week, but when I
returned my knee completely locked-up.
Doctors
felt Joe wouldnt be able to fight for 14 months, but hell be
back in action in less than 10, largely due to a committed rehabilitation
schedule and his age (24). Ive always been able to recover quickly
and bounce right back, he noted. Being 24 probably helped, too.
I was lucky to have an awesome doctor (Dr. Pavlovich) and physical
therapist. They let me push at an aggressive pace. I am 100-percent
now; my knee is stronger than ever. It (injured knee) hurt me
grappling -- triangle chokes and anything my that stressed my
knee felt loose. Now its better than ever. My bad knee is more
solid than my other knee. I did so much in rehab to strengthen
it.
A
lot of people have told me a mental block would be the toughest
part coming back to fight. For me, though, thats not a problem.
I have faith in my doctor and coach. They told me my knee is
strong, I feel the same way, and Im not going to worry about
it. Ive always been an instinctive fighter and thats the way
Im going to continue to be. Ive talked to a lot of people. My
strength-and-conditioning coach (Steve
Baccari) has been through it all. Hes had surgery on both knees,
so he knows where I am coming from. I know all about the knee
now where to apply pressure and where to be careful.
Lauzon
not only fights, he coaches about 30 members of Team Aggression
at Lauzon MMA in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. When he wasnt able
to workout, Joe played a lot of Xbox, watched a lot of TV and
movies, and the Wentworth College graduate with a degree in computer
science, naturally, spent a lot of time on line.
I
was still in the gym two weeks after surgery, Lauzon concluded.
I was helping out and running classes. Before surgery, I was
laid-up in bed but afterwards started going to shows to support
and watch our guys fight. I just couldnt get on the mat. Now,
Im ready to go and Ive felt this way for a while. This has been
my longest break. Im chomping at the bit. I must have fought
30 times in six years, so I cant wait to get back.
For
more information about Joe J-Lau Lauzon go online and visit www.joelauzon.com.
Source:
The Fight Network
|
Will
Ribeiro back as judge at Shooto Brasil
By Guilherme Cruz
One of the biggest promises of the bantamweights, Will Ribeiro
had his career of MMA fighter interrupted in December of 2008,
after suffer a serious motorcycle accident on Rio de Janeiro.
One year later, the WECs promise will be back to the fights world.
On Shooto Brasil 14, which takes place on November 28 on Bennett
College, in Rio de Janeiro, Ribeiro will be one of the judges
of the combats. I hope that he can be invited to other events,
so he can make some money and that happens on his treatment costs,
thats expensive, said Andri Pederneiras, inspired by Artur Mariano,
who putted Will as one of the judges of Brazilians Muay Thai
Championship.
If any promoter is interested about helping Will Ribeiro, hiring
him to be lateral judge, get in touch with Pederneiras (55*46*12833)
or Luiz Alves (55*23*53079).
Source: Tatame
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