MMA News Thread

[Shogun Locc]

NATE MARQUARDT: "I DEFINITELY WANT TO FIGHT ANDERSON…BUT UNTIL THEN, I WOULD LIKE TO FIGHT DAN HENDERSON"
link: http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content3454.html?PHPSESSID=ec39bfb52e7c84054334c87e304b2df7
"I definitely want to fight Anderson. I don't know when I'm going to get that chance, but until then, I would like to fight Dan Henderson and Michael Bisping and anybody else out there that's a contender," stated UFC middleweight contender Nate Marquardt as he talked about his future plans. Check out what he had to say about his impressive win over Martin Kampmann, his thoughts on Silva vs. Cote, Bisping vs. Leben and much more.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Diaz Brothers In Altercation At UFC Fight Night 15 Post-Fight Presser

In a story that is both strange and expected, sportsillustrated.com is reporting that there was "a scene" at the UFC Fight Night 15 post-fight press conference, with the Diaz brothers, Nick and Nate, at the eye of the storm.

According to the report, Nate was preparing to sit down and make his statements, when older brother Nick launched into what is being called "a tirade" that disrupted the interview and sent UFC staff scrambling. Nick shouted profanities until Nate gave up speaking at the press conference and both brothers ended up in the hallway, continuing to rant and rave.

It's hard to believe that this continues to happen, but at the same time, you just kind of know that it's coming. Both of the Diaz brothers are incredibly talented when it comes to their in-ring performances, but they both seem to be a little maladjusted and immature when it comes to public speaking situations. Granted, some of it is for show to sell their fights, but some of it is just an untapped rage that could end up serving to short-circuit two very promising MMA careers in the long run. Just another day in the 209 apparently.

 

[Shogun Locc]

DREAM 6 Fight Order announced !!!

OLYMPIA DREAM.6 Middleweight GP 2008 Final Round
Date: September 23rd, 2008
Place: Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan

Middleweight GP Final Fight:
12. Mousasi/Manhoef vs. Jacare/Galesic

Single Fights:
11. HW: Mirko CroCop vs. Alistair Overeem
10. LW: Shinya Aoki vs. Todd Moore
9. MW: Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Masanori Tonooka
8. WW: Hayato “Mach” Sakurai vs. Kuniyoshi Hironaka
7. MW: Minowaman vs. Masakatsu Funaki
6. FW: Hideo Tokoro vs. Atsushi Yamamoto
5. HW: Sergey Kharitonov vs. Mighty Mo
4. LW: Ktaro Nakamura vs. Adriano Martins

Middleweight GP Semifinal Fights:
3. Ronaldo Jacare vs. Zelg “Benkei” Galesic
2. Gegard Mousasi vs. Melvin Manhoef

Middleweight GP Reserve Fight:
1. Yoon Dong Sik vs. Andrews Nakahara

 

[Shogun Locc]

Thiago Silva back to UFC in 2009

After the injury and the scrapped fight against Lyoto Machida, Thiago Silva now is focused on the back treatment, getting ready to go back to the octagon as faster as he can and keep the perfect 13-0 MMA history. “I’m doing the physiotherapy well to get better… I’m doing the medical treatment, following correctly, but I still don’t know when I’ll come back. Ultimate said that I won’t fight this year anymore, so I’ll probably be back in January, and I’ll be ready”, said the ATT fighter.

With his injury, Lyoto Machida is also out of UFC 89’s card, and the ATT athlete believes the fight might happen in January. “I don’t know anything by now, I only know that he’s out too. Probably UFC might continue with this fight, and that’s good for me. I don’t choose opponents, these things happen, people get hurt, and inJanuary I”ll be ready and stronger, and they can put anyone”, told Silva, that watched Chuck Liddell’s fight with Rashad Evans.

“I watched that, it was a good punch”, commented, making his bets for the next title fight against Rashad and Forrest Griffin. “I believe Griffin has more potential than Rashad. I think it’ll be a close fight and might go to decision, but I think Griffin will do better. He has more heart, a good stand up game and more ground game… Rashad has a good wrestling, but Griffin has more qualities, in my opinion”.

 

[Shogun Locc]

UFC Fight Night 15 tops out with 2.3 million viewers

Wednesday night's UFC Fight Night 15, featuring a back-and-forth, split-decision victory for "The Ultimate Fighter 5" winner Nate Diaz over veteran Josh Neer, peaked during the main event with 2.3 million viewers tuning into the Spike TV broadcast.

The evening's two-hour broadcast averaged an audience of 1.8 million viewers throughout the night, and a 1.6 rating in the coveted "men ages 18-49" bracket.

Spike TV today announced the ratings for the event, which took place at the Omaha Civic Auditorium in Omaha, Neb.

The marks made the fight card the No. 1 watched cable television broadcast for the evening with men ages 18-24, men 18-34 and men 18-49.

By comparison ESPN's broadcast of a Major League Baseball clash between the playoff-contending Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Devil Rays, as well as ESPN2's broadcast of an early season college football game between Louisville and Kansas State drew a combined 858,000 viewers in the men ages 18-49 demographic.

UFC Fight Night 15 drew 913,000 viewers in the same category.

The ratings mark a significant decrease from UFC Fight Night 14, which peaked with 4.46 million viewers. That event had the benefit of being held on a Saturday night, as well as the presence of UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva in a light-heavyweight bout with James Irvin.

UFC Fight Night 15 served as a lead-in for the premier of "The Ultimate Fighter 8: Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir." The debut episode also earned an impressive average audience of 1.6 million viewers, or a 1.2 household rating, according to Spike TV's report.

 

[Shogun Locc]

UFC 90 televised main card announced

The Ultimate Fighting Championship today announced the official fight card, including the five televised bouts that will be part of the night's pay-per-view broadcast, for next month's UFC 90 event.

UFC 90, which takes place Oct. 25 just outside Chicago at Allstate Arena, features a main event of UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva vs. Patrick Cote.

Diego Sanchez, Thiago Alves, Thales Leites, Fabricio Werdum, Sean Sherk and Tyson Griffin have also been awarded TV time.

Meanwhile, fighters such as rising lightweight contenders Rich Clementi and Gray Maynard, and veterans Spencer Fisher and Hermes Franca, have been relegated to the night's preliminary card.

The full fight card includes:

MAIN CARD (TELEVISED)

•Middleweight champ Anderson Silva vs. Patrick Cote
•Thiago Alves vs. Diego Sanchez
•Thales Leites vs. Goran Reljic
•Fabricio Werdum vs. Junior dos Santos
•Tyson Griffin vs. Sean Sherk
PRELIMINARY CARD (UN-TELEVISED)

•Rich Clementi vs. Gray Maynard
•Spencer Fisher vs. Shannon Gugerty
•Ricardo Almeida vs. Matt Horwich
•Marcus Aurelio vs. Hermes Franca
•Josh Burkman vs. Pete Sell
Tickets to the show are already on sale. It'll be the first-ever UFC event in Chicago; the state only recently passed legislation to begin the regulation of MMA in Illinois.

 

[Shogun Locc]

NOONS TURNS TO BOXING WHILE WAITING ON ELITEXC

It has been a very tumultuous summer for Elitle XC lightweight champion, K.J. Noons, who successfully defended his belt in June, but since that time has been embroiled in a war with the promotion he currently represents.

The champion has continued to train and work towards another fight, but his next battle will be in the boxing ring instead of mixed martial arts.

“I’m actually just training a lot right now. I’m actually getting ready for a boxing fight next month,” Noons stated in an interview with MMAWeekly Radio. “I’ve to stay busy doing something, I can’t just sit on my butt all day long.”

When the Hawaiian first signed on with Elite XC it was under the two different deals that would keep him active in both boxing and MMA, but that agreement has not been met according to Noons.

“I did have two contracts, one was boxing and one with Elite XC, but they didn’t give me any boxing fights either,” commented Noons. “So they breeched that, and now I can kind of go out and box on my own.”

His next boxing match will likely take place in the San Diego area where he will compete at 154lbs. But what about Noons and his future in MMA?

While vague in making any specific statements about his future, Noons seem to indicate that he could be fielding potential offers from other suitors, but couldn’t go into much detail because of legal reasons.

“I’m still with them, I still have the belt, and I still owe them fights,” Noons said. “I’ve pretty much already said my peace, I mean I could have kept on going on and said more things of what I’m kind of tired dealing with them, but I am with them, I do owe them some fights.”

“I’m not totally separating myself from them, but I’m just going to do what kind of makes most sense for me so right now it’s just to box and just stay in shape and whenever a good fight comes along or the best offer for me, you know I’m going to take that.”

The fight that Elite XC has been pushing for Noons is a rematch against Nick Diaz, but in the end, money could be the final factor in putting the fight together.

Still, Noons doesn’t understand why Diaz, who recently argued about his own pay scale, should get the rematch and still make more than the defending champion.

“Tell him to put his money where his mouth is. Put his money up if he wants it so bad, if he’s such a warrior,” Noons stated about Diaz. “He was just (expletive) about how much he got paid on this last CBS card. He’s getting paid 3 times more than me, how do you think that makes me feel?”

It also seems that the Elite XC champion has seen the other Diaz (Nate, who currently fights in the UFC) talking about him and has no problem with that challenge either.

“If Dana (White) is listening, I wouldn’t mind fighting his brother too. I’ll get them both (expletive) plastic surgeries,” Noons said emphatically.

According to Noons, Elite XC has not contacted him recently trying to find a conclusion to this ongoing saga, but he remains hopeful that a deal can be reached.

“Hopefully it gets worked out,” Noons commented. “Hopefully, they want to work with me and treat me right. I’d be more than willing to fight with their company. It just has to make sense.”

 

[Shogun Locc]

SUPERFIGHTS MMA REPLACES AFFLICTION ON OCT. 11

Several Xtreme Couture fighters are stepping up to fight in the wake of the postponement of Affliction’s “Day of Reckoning.”

In association with Kim Couture’s KC Concepts, boxing promoter Skip Kelp’s Superfights MMA will take the Oct. 11 date originally reserved for Affliction’s second pay-per-view card at the Thomas and Mack Center.

The current card is as follows:

Rick Roufus vs. Hector Ramirez
Jay Hieron vs. Bryson Kamaka
Mike Pyle vs. Bryan Gassaway
John Alessio vs. Gideon Ray
Josh Haynes vs. Steve Byrnes
JJ Mix vs. John Halverson
Patrick Gonzalvez vs. Ryan Lamareaux
Ian Omolza vs. Ryan Haas
Elaina Reed vs. Stephanie Palmer

Tickets are currently on sale for the event and range from $15-50.

HD Net will broadcast the event on Oct. 17 on a pre-recorded basis

 

[Shogun Locc]

UFC signs new Heavyweight from Cage Rage

Mustapha Al-Turk has vacated the Cage Rage British heavyweight title and signed a four-fight deal with the UFC.

Fighters Only: How does it feel to be in the UFC?

Absolutely great. I feel that I deserve to be there, I’ve got a lot of skill and I’ve earned my place. I’m not lucky to be there I deserve to be there, I’ve worked really hard and I continue to work hard. You reap what you sow.

It’s a step up [from Cage Rage] with regard to the size of the shows and the level of opponent I will be facing, but that is how you get better and you should always be looking to evolve your game an you need better and better opponents to do that.

Fighters Only: How is this going to affect your training?

I’m going to be working on everything; I don’t think I am lacking in anything really but you have to tailor your game to your opponent.

I’m going to carry on training with London Shootfighters, I don’t believe there is anything that I am lacking that necessitates me moving to a US team. I’ve always been with London Shootfighters, it must be ten years now.

Fighters Only: Your background is quite unusual for a professional fighter, tell us about it.

I’ve got a degree in Pharmacology and I was working for a pharmaceutical company. I put all my effort in my job and my manager was such a horrible person, such a nasty piece of work, that it just put me off it. I slowly veered towards the fighting. I worked so hard for that company, harder than anything I’ve ever done, and it wasn’t working so I thought I’d try the fighting.

I knew I was going to be good, I’ve always known my capability. But actually when I had my first professional fight I was a bit embarrassed about it all. At the time, mixed martial arts wasn’t regarded as a sport, it was regarded as barbaric. People would ask ‘Can you pite, can you pull hair?’.

My family wasn’t behind, I’m not from a typical fighter’s background. My father is a doctor and I come from a very middle-class background so for me to go into MMA, it was like ‘What are you doing, you’ve got a degree?’. I was almost embarrassed to tell them... but now it has become more recognised it has become more accepted.

Fighters Only: Has the evolution of the sport helped you as a fighter?

I used to find it hard to win, I didn’t have confidence because I didn’t have my family behind me and I wasn’t totally proud of myself and what I was doing. It wasn’t accepted as a legitimate sport and I had to keep it hidden from my employer that I was fighting.

Now, my wife and children and sisters are totally behind me, my mother... well, she has never seen my fights and she doesn’t want to hear about it (laughs). But yeah, they’ve accepted it.

I’ve come a long way, I am so happy that I have been given a chance to show my stuff. I believe that I haven’t shown much of my skill, I have got so much more to show.

Fighters Only: What is the situation with Cage Rage now? Have you left the organisation for good?

I finished my contract with Cage Rage, whatever that was worth – I thought contracts go both ways but obviously they don’t...” I finished my fight with [James] McSweeney and that was it.

I need to go forward and it is plain to see that, with regard to heavyweights, that I have got some skill and I should be picked up by organisation and paid with regard to my hard work and skill. If you look at with a lot of the heavyweights in the UK, they can be quite sloppy and the skill is not there and they rely on brute force and big punches.

Fighters Only: What do you do away from the gym?

My main sponsor is Equal Chance, a poker club in London. I love playing poker, they are in the East End and I am always up there. They had a 70-man tournament recently and I came 14th, that was a good night. Some nights there is £20,000 on the table, but the average is more like £1,000 to win.

Fighters Only: I don’t think I could relax with that kind of money on the table!

It is nerve-racking, even if you’ve got like £5 on the table! There is a parallel with fighting, poker and MMA have evolved at exactly the same time. If you think back five or six years ago, you would get poker on one or two late-night channels, now it’s everywhere. Same with fighting, you used to get it once a month, now MMA has dedicated channels.

Fighters Only: Is there really a parallel? I know nothing about cards but it seems it is more about luck than skill.

This is the argument. I always ask the professionals this. It all depends on who you ask, but there is definitely a skill element you know, bluffing and making your move at the right time, that kind of thing. Anybody who plays poker understands fighting – you’re heart is beating, your hands are sweating, the adrenaline is pumping. They all know the buzz, it’s very similar.

Fighters Only: (laughing) So when you’re playing cards you’re actually training as well? Genius!

It’s extremely similar, you show no emotion. I take that into the cage with me. If someone wants to get in my face, try and provoke a reaction they don’t get anything out of me. Sheer poker face! (laughs).

 

[Shogun Locc]

Strikeforce at the Mansion II official weigh-in results

LOS ANGELES -- MMAjunkie.com is on scene for today's "Strikefoce at the Mansion II" official weigh-ins.

In preparations for Saturday's show at the legendary Playboy Mansion in Beverly Hills, Calif., the event's participants hit the scales today at the Crowne Plaza Hotel LAX in Los Angeles.

Strikeforce held its first Playboy event 12 months ago, and this year's installment features a main event of Joe Riggs (28-10) vs. Kazuo Misaki (20-8-2).

Strikeforce world lightweight champion Josh Thomson (15-2) also meets Ashe Bowman (6-4) in a non-title bout, and PRIDE and DREAM veteran lightweight Mitsuhiro Ishida (16-4-1) meets American Kickboxing Academy's Justin Wilcox (5-2), who's fresh off a victory over Gabe Ruediger.

Official results will be posted in real time below:

Kazuo Misaki (185) vs. Joe Riggs (181.5)
Ashe Bowman (154.5) vs. Josh Thomson (155.5)
Mitsuhiro Ishida (156) vs. Justin Wilcox (155)
Cory Devela (185.5) vs. Terry Martin (185.5)
Trevor Prangley (203) vs. Anthony Ruiz (204)
Jesse Juarez (171) vs. Luke Stewart (169.5)
Eric Lawson (184.5) vs. Kenneth Seegrist (183)
Brandon Magana (172) vs. Brandon Thatch (170.5)
Jesse Gillespie (194) vs. Dave Martin (190.5)

 

[Shogun Locc]

EliteXC Strips Noons

EliteXC has taken its lightweight title away from Karl James Noons, EliteXC Head of Fight Operations Jeremy Lappen announced Friday.

“We are stripping KJ of his championship belt for refusing to defend against (Nick) Diaz,” Lappen said in a news release. “It’s a very unfortunate situation but we cannot have belt-holders who refuse to fight the top contenders. We want champions who will fight anyone, anytime, anyplace. That’s the mentality all champions should have.”

The move is the latest in an ongoing battle between EliteXC and Noons, who captured the EliteXC belt when he stopped Diaz on a cut in November 2007.

“I don’t understand why (Noons) would turn down a chance to be a headliner on CBS on Oct. 4,” Lappen said. “KJ then turned down the fight again when we offered him a headlining spot on our next Showtime date against Nick. From my view, it is a fight against a top-named opponent in Diaz.”

In August, however, Noons told Sherdog.com that compensation was his central issue with EliteXC.

“I always wanted to fight Nick Diaz,” Noons had said. “It’s the most marketable fight for me, the best style fight for me. I think the fans want to see it. But you have to pay for something you want to see. … It is about the money and how (EliteXC was) paying somebody I already beat three times more.”

Lappen said Friday that EliteXC would announce a fight for the vacant lightweight title in the near future.

“KJ has two more fights remaining on his contract,” he said, “so we are still looking forward to having him fight for us again soon, but not as our world champion.”

 

[BROWN GUERRERO]

Fuck KJ Noons. Fucking ducking Nick like a faggot.

 

[naner12]

Fuck KJ Noons. Fucking ducking Nick like a faggot.

It's about money. KJ like it or not is their champion and he should get paid like one. Fuck getting paid less for fighting a challenger to your title who you already hold a victory over.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Riggs vs. Misaki headlines Strikeforce at Mansion

From the outside, the plight of name mixed martial artists who are no longer in the Ultimate Fighting Championship doesn't seem too bad.

There are so many organizations that nobody can keep them all straight, but only a small number of former UFC headliners out there.

For someone like Joe "Diesel" Riggs, who in 2005 was a 23-year-old veteran challenging Matt Hughes for the UFC welterweight title, there are plenty of offers and he can command a solid price.

At least when things go right, which they often don't.

Riggs is now a few days shy of his 26th birthday, and will face his biggest name opponent in a couple of years when he takes on Kazuo Misaki in the main event of Saturday night's Strikeforce show at the Playboy Mansion in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Misaki, the 2006 PRIDE Grand Prix champion in the 183-pound weight class, is arguably Japan's top middleweight, and top 10 in the world in many rankings.

Saturday's turn in the spotlight offers Riggs a chance to turn things around after dealing with several stumbling blocks. He has been battling serious back problems for three years. Last year, he became the first pro fighter to publicly admit an addiction to painkillers. Riggs, who says he has put his battles behind him, said he realized he had a problem when he was prescribed 120 pills and had finished them in five days.

In his most recent Strikeforce bout on Feb. 23 in Tacoma, Wash., Riggs' back gave out in the first minute of a fight with Cory Devela. He had to immediately concede the match.

Riggs regrets even going into the Devela fight, given his condition at the time.

"I'd hurt it in training," he said. "I was in the hospital Wednesday to Friday of that week. I tried to fight anyway but it wasn't the best idea."

He was scheduled to fight on June 27 in San Jose, but after disclosing that he had taken a non-narcotic prescription pain medication in the aftermath of his second back operation, the California State Athletic Commission nixed his participation just before the show.

"I had to fight at a catch weight of 178 pounds, coming down from 210," he said. "I trained hard for two months and then they told me now I couldn't fight. It was a waste of time."

But Riggs said he's feeling better than he has since 2005. And he'll need to be against Misaki, who brings a 20-8-2 record into his second fight on U.S. soil after a loss last year to Frank Trigg on PRIDE's second event in Las Vegas. Now a top star with the Sengoku promotion in Japan, Misaki had been negotiating with Strikeforce for more than a year, with the idea of building him for a match with middleweight champion Cung Le. But the timing for his debut didn't work out until now.

Misaki's original claim to fame was beating Phil Baroni and Dan Henderson via decision in 2006 to go into the final four of the PRIDE Grand Prix tournament. But his run appeared over when he submitted to an armbar by current World Extreme Cagefighting middleweight champ Paulo Filho in the semifinals of a four-man, one-night final. But when Filho couldn't continue with a knee injury, Misaki found himself in the final, where he won a split decision over Denis Kang.

Misaki is a well-rounded fighter who prefers to stand up, and makes good use of kicks mixed in with punches. It was mixing up his stand-up attack, along with his quickness standing, that saw him outstrike both Baroni and Henderson.

But his biggest fight was this past New Year's Eve, when he apparently knocked off the most hated fighter in Japan, Yoshihiro Akiyama of South Korea. Akiyama had previously been caught applying lotion to his legs before a match with Japanese legend Kazushi Sakuraba on the prior New Year's Eve show, causing Sakuraba to slip off when he would attempt takedowns.

In a country where honor is considered far more important than winning or losing, the idea he would cheat to try and beat the already beaten-down legend got him suspended from fighting. Misaki was presented as the young Japanese star going for revenge in an incredibly heated match.

The match was even more dramatic because Akiyama knocked him down early. But Misaki came back with a sudden kick to the face which put Akiyama out cold to apparently win.

A few weeks later, after officials studied the replay, it was determined Akiyama was in what would legally be considered a grounded position when he was kicked. He thus had lost to an illegal blow, and the match was ruled a no-contest.

Riggs has scouted that and numerous other matches in recent weeks.

"I've been watching a lot," he said. "I have 20 tapes, and I've probably watched him fight 100 times. I've talked with Trigg to come up with a strategy for him."

Riggs, 28-10, who started out in fighting as a heavyweight and once weighed nearly 300 pounds, did some crazy weight cutting to get down to 170. He'd cut from 210, which is his usual weight, and after dehydrating and rehydrating, would go into the cage at more than 200 pounds, giving him a huge size advantage over his opponents.

The strategy worked well enough that just after his 23rd birthday, he was scheduled for a UFC championship match with Matt Hughes. But when he failed to make weight, it was changed to a non-title match. Hughes beat him quickly with a Kimura.

Riggs beat Nick Diaz in his next match, but his UFC tenure ended with a 4-4 record and a reputation for being a gym monster who somehow didn't perform consistently at his best inside the cage. His final UFC fight found him on the wrong end of a Diego Sanchez highlight-reel knockout at the end of 2006.

He’s fighting this bout at 185 pounds, but plans to move back down to 170 after this match.

"People forget I'm only 25 years old," he said, days before his birthday. "I want to get back into the top 10."

 

[Shogun Locc]

Josh Thomson dreaming of November bout with Japanese star

LOS ANGELES -- With a non-title fight and an after-party at the world-famous Playboy Mansion looming, it would be easy to forgive Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson (15-2) were his focus to stray.

But as Thomson told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) at Friday's "Strikeforce at the Mansion II" weigh-ins, the situation has been a blessing.

"It makes me really focus on my opponent more," Thomson said. "To not have to worry about the fact, 'Oh, gosh. If this goes three rounds, I've got to go two more.' I know I'm more than capable of going three rounds. Three rounds just seems like a walk in the park these days."

Thomson admits to knowing very little about his opponent, the Lion's Den's Ashe Bowman (9-4). But "The Punk" insists that will simply force him to be more aware of his opponent's actions.

"I heard he's a good grappler," Thomson said of Bowman. "I heard he's probably got heavy hands. It's kind of a feeling out process.

"When you don't have tape to watch, you really don't take what anybody says to heart. You just kind of go out there and feel him out yourself, see where the fight goes -- and try to dictate where it goes."

Thomson's June victory over former Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez has vaulted the fighter into the top-10 of WAMMA's most recent lightweight rankings. While Thomson appreciates the recognition, the soon-to-be-30-year-old feels being placed in the final spot on the list is selling him short.

"To be honest, I don't pay attention to any of the rankings because the rankings [expletive] suck," Thomson said. "I think Eddie (Alvarez) should be either two or three, and then me somewhere in there. (Shinya) Aoki got knocked out. He shouldn't be up there.

"Don't get me wrong, I think those guys are all great. But styles make matchups, and you make the most out of your fights when you fight the [expletive]. That's how it works out."

Should Thomson make it past Bowman tonight, as most expect him to, the lightweight champ said he hopes to return to action in November. And while an opponent has yet to be determined, Thomson is planning to face stiff competition.

"I believe that if (Mistsuhiro) Ishida wins here that Ishida and I will fight Nov. 21 in San Jose at the HP Pavilion," Thomson said. "If Ishida loses here today, I believe (Ishida's opponent) Justin Wilcox will fight possibly Gilbert (Melendez).

"I've been lobbying to bring over a top guy from Japan -- possibly (Joachim) Hansen, or possibly Caol Uno since Uno just beat Ishida. I'd love to fight [Uno]. I think that fight here in the States would be a huge draw. Uno has one of the biggest name draws here in the States as well since he's fought in the UFC so much. I just think the two styles together would make a great fight."

Thomson first goal is to make it past Bowman tonight. But regardless of the result, the California native's focus will quickly shift to fighting in front of his hometown, San Jose.

"I want to fight in November whoever the opponent is."

 

[Shogun Locc]

Trevor Prangley: Strikeforce, Affliction and DREAM all on horizon

LOS ANGELES -- South African middleweight Trevor Prangley (17-5) was on a tear.

After back-to-back decision losses to Jeremy Horn and Chael Sonnen forced Prangley out of the UFC in 2006, the 36-year-old won five-straight fights with BodogFIGHT and Strikeforce. However a surprising loss to Jorge Santiago in the finals of Strikeforce's November 2007 four-man tournament was the last time Prangley has stepped in the cage.

But as Prangley told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) at Friday's "Strikeforce at the Mansion II" weigh-ins, a return to more frequent activity is on the way.

"I took a couple months off after the (Strikeforce) tournament," Prangley said. "I had been fighting a lot. When I came back, Bodog fell apart.

"I've just been looking for a home. Now I'm ready to get back on track here now that I've got a contract with Strikeforce, Affliction, and I could possibly be fighting in DREAM here pretty soon.

"I'm excited. I'm ready to get busy again. I've been sitting outside for a little bit too long here."

Prangley had been in training for the now-rescheduled "Affliction: Day of Reckoning." With his scheduled fight with Matt Lindland pushed back to January, Prangley was tapped as a late replacement for tonight's event.

"I was still training because I knew I had to get busy," Prangley said. "I haven't worked in a year, and I need to make some money. So I kept on training and [Strikeforce] was good enough to put be on the card.

"It was an easy transition. I'm a few weeks away from where I would like to be in shape. It is what it is. Being a fighter you've got to do what you've got to do, and this is one of those times that I've got to step up. I'm not 100 percent happy with my conditioning, but I'm definitely conditioned enough to win the fight."

Prangley will be taking on Anthony Ruiz. The two met once before, with Prangley earning a submission victory in October 2006.

The South African said transitioning from planning for Lindland to Ruiz wasn't difficult.

"I don't really care about my opponent," Prangley admitted. "I've always said that in my interviews. I go out there to control the fight and do as much damage as I can regardless of what my opponent does.

"Obviously there's certain fundamentals -- I don't ever want to get taken down, and I don't really want to get punched in the face too much. But I normally try and stick to my game plan, which is aggressive, coming forward, and inflicting as much damage as I can in the first round or two rounds, and hopefully get him out of there.

"If I don't, then I have to go the third and get a decision or whatever. But I'm definitely in there to get him out in the first or second round."

With plans to continue fighting for Strikeforce, as well as making a DREAM debut, Prangley plans on staying very busy. But a January fight with Lindland "Affliction: Day of Reckoning" is still on his radar.

"Of course," Prangley answered when asked abut the fight. "It's Matt Lindland. He's still ranked very high in the world. I want to fight the guy. Good friend of mine, but I want to fight him.

"You get a chance to fight somebody of that caliber, and that highly ranked, I really wanted that. I've always believed that I should be in the top-10 at 185 (pounds), and that was my chance."

After fighting four times in each of the previous four years, tonight's bout with Ruiz will be Prangley's first of 2008. But with multiple contracts in place, Prangley plans to rectify that in the coming months.

"[Fans] should see me, I would think, every two months," Prangley said. "I just want to get busy and keep fighting like I did last year. I was super-busy. I improved a lot doing it that way.

"Early on in my career I'd fight once or twice a year, and I had a hard time improving. The more I fight, the better I get."

 

[Shogun Locc]

Alvarez and Diaz could vie for vacant EliteXC lightweight title

While EliteXC officials declined to offer specifics regarding a possible fight to determine a new lightweight champion for the promotion, sources informed FiveOuncesOfPain.com earlier in the week that the company had been considering an option that would involve Nick Diaz and Eddie Alvarez competing for the newly vacant title in a featured bout during a tentative Nov. 8 card.

The title became vacant after EliteXC announced Friday that K.J. Noons had been stripped of the belt for his refusal to defend the title against Diaz.

Alvarez, who was recently married and is currently on his honeymoon, is just 1-0 while competing under the EliteXC banner but has increased his profile and is considered by many to be a top-ten lightweight following his 3-0 performance during DREAM’s lightweight Grand Prix in Japan.

The Philadelphia native recorded a TKO over Brazilian Andre “Dida” Amade during the GP’s first round in March. He then advanced to the second round in May, where he recorded a unanimous decision victory over Joachim Hansen in a bout that many pundits consider to be a candidate for “Fight of the Year.”

Alvarez then won his semifinal matchup at DREAM.5 in July against Tatsuya Kawajiri via TKO at 7:35 of round 1. However, he was unable compete in the final, which was held the same night, due to injuries sustained in the win over Kawajiri. Hansen would go on to win the tournament after having won a reserve match earlier in the evening.

Alvarez began his career as an undersized and undefeated welterweight prospect. He was 10-0 and the reigning BodogFIGHT 170 lbs. champion until suffering a devastating loss against Nick Thompson during the promotion’s “Clash of the Nations” event in April of 2007. Since dropping to lightweight, Alvarez is undefeated. Overall, he is 15-1 in his career.

If the Diaz vs. Alvarez match is made official, it will mark a second chance for Diaz to claim the promotion’s 160 lbs. title. Last November during EliteXC’s “Renegade” show in Corpus Christi, Texas, the heavily-favored Diaz lost to Noons in a bout to determine the first-ever EliteXC lightweight champion.

Since losing to Noons via first round TKO by way of a doctor’s stoppage due to cuts, Diaz has gone 3-0 with wins over Thomas Denny, Muhsin Corbbrey, and Katsuya Inoue. Like Alvarez, Diaz is also a former welterweight competitor.

 

[Shogun Locc]

A “new” Paulo Filho in exclusive interview

WEC middleweight champion, Paulo Filho was ready to face Chael Sonnen for the second time, but hurricane Ike forced the promoters to postpone the event to November 5th. Back to Brazil, Filho spoke to TATAME about the frustration, Rousimar Palhares’ loss to Dan Henderson, analyzed the UFC light-heavyweight category and sends a message for those who still have a doubt in his new phase and weight problems… Check below the exclusive interview with Paulo Filho.

What did you think about WEC’s postponement?

Nothing happens without God’s permission. I was ready, strong and focused, and this hurricane prejudiced me, but that’s ok. Now I’ll continue training hard to be even more prepared in November.
How was your preparation for this fight?

I was 100%, I came from a bad time and was really well, training hard and ready to fight.

And what about your weight?

I was with the right weight this time. Andre Benkei helped me a lot and on the first day I lost 5kg, it was easy. This problem is past.

Do you think about going to light-heavyweight division?

My weight isn’t this, but I have a contract to do and maybe later I’ll think about going to 205lbs.

You fought only one time in 2008… Does it frustrate you?

If I could choose change something I’d do it, but I’m an employee and I have to do what they want. If I could choose I would have fight more, would be at 205, but what they decide for me is good.

What do you think about Palhares’ loss to Dan Hendeson?

These things happen. Dan Hendeson is a very expert fighter, fights for a long time and fought the toughest guys, but “Toquinho” it way better than him, but felt a little his experience. This loss was a “good thing” for him to see that. He has talent to be very successful, and everybody saw that Toquinho could won that fight. It won’t change his successful career he’ll have.

Do you think there’s anyone to beat Anderson Silva?

Anderson has proven that he’s unbeatable in this division, and fought tough guys and makes it looks easy, and I really think this division is his and he’s the man to be defeated.

How do you see UFC’s light-weight division?

I think that MMA level nowadays, in this division, shows is a lot equal. In my opinion is a lottery. The 205 man has a tougher hand, and you have to do you game to win. Chuck Liddell was surprised by Rashad Evans, he put that punch and congratulations for him.

Do you think Wanderlei has chances to get this belt?

Wanderlei has a tough hand and if he hits you, you’ll definitely go down, he’s a champion.

How do you see Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in this division?

Shogun is an young man, has a lot of time to fight and I think he has everything to be between the tops, just do the right training and learn to fight in the octagon. He has everything to get over this bad time and be the old Shogun again.

Do you think Ricardo Arona still has space in this division?

Arona is unbeatable in this division. He’s the best and is studying some thing to come back and, when he comes back, he won’t lose for anybody.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Cro Cop's Training Part 3 (Interview)
videolink: http://www.nokaut.com/MMA/videos/?l=e&solo_id=160&title=Cro+Cop%27s+Training+Part+3+(Interview)

 

[Shogun Locc]

Yoshihiro Akiyama interview

DREAM official website posted an interview of Yoshihiro Akiyama. This interview was taken place on Sep 12.
- Your opponent in DREAM.6. is Tonooka. Tell me how you feel know.
I have been spending time inefficiently for a while. Now I'm sure I concentrate to my training.
- I suppose you were busy since you worked as a commentator of Beijing Olympic in Korea. How's your condition?
I didn't have much time to train last months; although, I train hard this month and my condition is getting better.
- I heard you reconfirm your passion to Judo again after watching the Olympic.
I like Judo and I haven't forgotten Judo. I think it's my responsibility to make Judo popular. I want to make a Judo team with other fighters who have a Judo background, and I want to create a big Judo association.
- I heard you were going to open your own dojo?
Yes. I hope I can open next year in Osaka where I was born, or in Korea.
- I would like to ask you about DREAM.5. How did you like the event?
DREAM had a different atmosphere with HERO'S. Something was different including the audience.
- What do you think about your opponent?
He is a good striker. His striking skill is definitely better than me.
- Did you train with him?
When I started MMA, I trained in Seido Kaikan for 6 months. It was 3 to 4 years ago. We trained together at that time.
- He said he didn't get along with you. Any opinion?
I don't know why he feels that way.
- Any message to your fans?
I want to win clearly. I'm training my striking skills, and so I hope I can show the improvement in this fight. Although, I'm going to apply all techniques I have including submissions. I hope our fight is exciting enough to encourage many people. This event has many good fights. I believe fans can enjoy watching amazing performances.