MMA News Thread

[Shogun Locc]

Michihiro Omigawa vs. Hatsu Hioki announced for Sengoku 11th Battle in November

After a grand prix finale bout fell apart due to injury, featherweights Michihiro Omigawa (7-8-1) and Hatsu Hioki (20-3-2) will now meet in November at World Victory Road's next show.

WVR officials announced the fight during today's Sengoku 10th Battle event.

The Omigawa vs. Hioki bout will be part of Sengoku 11th Battle, which takes place Nov. 7 at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan. Omigawa (and Jorge Santiago and Kevin Randleman) were previously announced for the show, though their opponents weren't initially revealed.

Sengoku 11th Battle is expected to air in North American on HDNet.

Omigawa, a former PRIDE and UFC fighter, suffered three consecutive losses in 2008 after two fights with the UFC and one with DEEP. However, back in March, he entered WVR's featherweight grand prix and strung together three consecutive upsets to advance to the grand prix's finale in August. However, Omigawa fell short of the title and dropped a close split decision to replacement fighter Masanori Kanehara.

Kanehara replaced Hioki, who wasn't cleared for the final because of a concussion. Hioki enters the bout with a nine-fight undefeated streak (eight wins and a draw) dating back to November 2007. The streak included the three victories in the grand prix, though he had to surrender his spot in the finale.

Akihiro Gono and Marlon Sandro are also expected to compete at Sengoku 11th Battle.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Fight Biz Extra: TapouT produces signature shirt to launch Herschel Walker, the fighter

Herschel Walker has yet to throw his first official MMA punch, but he already has his own signature MMA T-shirt.

TapouT has signed a deal with the former gridiron great to produce the Herschel Walker Signature Series shirt, which the company is introducing today.

Strikeforce opened some eyes in the sports world on Monday by announcing it had inked the 47-year-old to a multi-fight contract to compete as a heavyweight.

Walker is one of the most versatile athletes of his generation. The Georgia native played 12 years of NFL football, competed in the 1992 Winter Olympics in bobsledding, was a world-class sprinter in track, and holds a fifth-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. While Walker's transition to MMA has been met with skepticism by some fans, TapouT co-founder Dan "Punkass" Caldwell says the company had no hesitation in collaborating with Walker.

"What we've always tried to do is promote the sport of mixed martial arts," Caldwell told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "We got a little backlash when we started selling our shirts in stores. Some people wanted mixed martial arts to be underground forever. We want this sport to be legitimate, and to be recognized like baseball, basketball and football, and you got to be out there to get it recognized.

"A guy like Herschel Walker, and as big of a name as he was in football, it says a lot about the sport of mixed martial arts. Obviously, he doesn't have to do it for money. He's got the money. He just loves the sport, and we love the sport."

TapouT teamed up with Walker this past weekend with appearances in Dallas around UFC 103. Walker met with fans and signed autographs at two stops on part of TapouT's current world tour to promote its brand and MMA.

The company's deal with Walker calls for one signature T-shirt to be designed, with the potential for a line of apparel in the future.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Following UFC 103 double-bonus performance, this Story has a happy ending

Rick Story and Brian Foster were joking around Saturday night just a few hours after punching each other in the face. Watching a re-broadcast of their UFC 103 fight from the locker room, the talk quickly turned to money.

"He said he was sure I had Submission of the Night," Story recently told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "The only other submission (during UFC 103) was a rear-naked choke.

"I'm not sure which one of us brought it up, but we started talking about Fight of the Night. They showed us on Spike and then again at the end of the pay-per-view, so we knew they must have liked it."

On cue, Dana White and Joe Silva entered the room.

"Congratulations," White said, smiling. "You're rich."

In a rare double-whammy, Story was awarded both bonuses: $65,000 for Submission of the Night and $65,000 for Fight of the Night. Foster received $65,000 for his part in the Fight of the Night.

"It was surreal," Story said. "You work for something for so long, and then it actually happens. It was a dream come true."

While locker room bonuses do little to change the standard of living for stars such as Anderson Silva or Randy Couture, they can literally change the lives of fighters like Rick Story. In less than 10 minutes, he earned more than 10 times the balance of his contract.

"I was getting 10 calls a day from collection agencies," Story said. "There hasn't been a month where I wasn't worried about paying rent or behind on rent. I was always worried about whether I'd get something to eat or when I'd eat next. It was a constant reminder that I'm not successful in this sport. Shoot man, it's been a struggle the whole time. I spent (Monday) paying my debts off."

Story trains at Braveheart Fight Club in Vancouver, Wash. The gym follows a Jerry Maguire, "Less-is-More" approach to fight management and boasts two pro fighters. Story's teammate Mike Pierce won a bout at UFC Fight Night 19 on Sept. 16.

"We train to be exciting and, going into every fight, the focus is to make as much money as possible," Story said. "Regardless if I won or lost, I had to be exciting. I knew if I lost, they would probably cut me, but at least I'd be in the back of peoples' minds."

While exposure is often worth the effort, entry-level fighters can still lose money to fight in the big show. The UFC pays airfare and meal per diem for the fighter and one cornerman. All other expenses are absorbed by the camp.

"We were not going all the way to Texas for $3,000," manager Pat White said. "We wanted to get (the) Fight of the Night (bonus). That was the goal."

Ironically, the source of Story's economic woes was the same that eventually bailed him out. While negotiating a UFC contract, Story was prohibited from fighting elsewhere. That led to a 10-month layoff before UFC 99, where he lost to John Hathaway.

"There was a lull before that fight," Story said. "I am a very goal-oriented person. In school, I had a plan, but it changed when I had the opportunity to become a fighter. But I wasn't fighting and didn't know when I would fight next, so there were definitely points where training was dragging on. This time, they gave me about three weeks to prepare, but I was helping Mike train for his fight, so I was ready."

On a night with little competition, Story-Foster was deserving of the bonus. Foster seemed to get the better of the early going, breaking Story's nose.

"He hit me and scrambled me, and I blacked out for a second," Story said. "He was in front of me and then appeared on the other side. Blood was pouring out of me like a faucet."

But the pain drove Story to fight harder.

"It's weird. Sometimes I have to get hit to say, 'Hey, I am in a fight.'"

Then late in the second round, the back-and-forth fight came to a surprising conclusion due to an unintended submission. As every white belt in the country rolled their eyes in disbelief, Story locked up a head-and-arm triangle while in Foster's guard.

"I was just trying to tire him out and then move to a different position. But I could hear him wheezing, so I squeezed harder," Story said. "My hips were really high and I could hear him gasping for air and I thought I could have this.

"So I squeezed harder."

Foster tapped out seconds later, and the mechanism that would change Story's life was put into motion. The submission was so rare that UFC commentator Joe Rogan could not recall ever seeing it in the octagon.

"Ricky gets unorthodox submissions all the time in training," Pat White said. "He's just so powerful."

Story's gain will also benefit Braveheart. Story said he plans to reinvest part of his bonus money in the gym.

"I want the gym to be successful and grow," Story said. "I am lucky to be in this position."

 

[Shogun Locc]

Danny Castillo vs. Alex Karalexis on tap for WEC 44 in Las Vegas

Rising lightweight contender Danny Castillo (8-1 MMA, 3-1 WEC) goes for his fourth consecutive WEC victory when he meets Alex Karalexis (10-4 MMA, 4-2 WEC) in November at WEC 44.

WEC officials could not confirm the matchup, but a source close to the negotiations told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) verbal agreements are in place.

WEC 44 takes place Nov. 18 at The Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas and airs on Versus.

Featheweight champion Mike Brown meets Jose Aldo in the headline fight of the event, which takes place three days before UFC 106, which is also being held in Las Vegas.

Castillo, who trains with former WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber at Ultimate Fitness in California, made his WEC debut in 2008 with a loss to Donald Cerrone. The fighter, though, has since posted three consecutive victories, including a TKO win over Rafael Dias, a split-decision victory over Phil Cardella, and a first-round stoppage due to strikes over Ricardo Lamas at WEC 42 in August.

Karalexis, meanwhile, makes his seventh consecutive WEC appearance and looks to build off his WEC 39 TKO victory over Greg McIntyre. The former UFC fighter and cast member of "The Ultimate Fighter 1" had been slated to fight Anthony Pettis at WEC 43 before an injury forced him off the card.

The latest WEC 44 card now includes:

* Champ Mike Brown vs. Jose Aldo (for WEC featherweight title)
* Manny Gamburyan vs. Leonard Garcia
* Rob McCullough vs. Anthony Pettis*
* Danny Castillo vs. Alex Karalexis*
* L.C. Davis vs. Diego Nunes*
* John Franchi vs. Cub Swanson*
* Seth Dikun vs. Frank Gomez*

* - Not officially announced

 

[Shogun Locc]

UFC Quick Quote: Matt Hughes has no interest in fighting a ‘kid’ like Josh Koscheck

“I find Koscheck calling me out kind of interesting and I actually don’t know why he is doing that. I was used to kids doing this when I was the champ, but as you know I don’t have the belt now and I’m puzzled as to why Koscheck wants to fight me and not the champion in the weight class. I have no interest in fighting Koscheck and, as he was showing everybody, he’s just a kid. As of yet, the UFC has never come to me and asked me to fight him.”

 

[Shogun Locc]

Cacareco “Bolt“ and the 16s submission

Alexandre “Cacareco” didn’t fight for almost two years, and was chosen to one of the main fights of Jungle Fight São Paulo, who took place in Pacaebú Gymnasium, last Saturday. Coming from four victories by submission in less than 50 seconds, Cacareco started in gret fashion as a Chute Boxe athlete, breaking his personal record. In only 16 seconds, the fighter forced Vagner Curió to tap in a tight heel hook. “I work hard now. I was afraid to be hit by kicks and punches before, now this don’t happened anymore. If the fight is standing up, that’s fine, if it goes to the ground, that’s my specialty“, celebrate Cacareco.

And Alexandre celebrates in Usain Bolt style, the fastest man in the world. “The guy is the fastest runner in the world, and I’m who submit faster in the world. That’s my celebration (laugh)“, jokes, making Rudimar Fedrigo, the Chute Boxe leader, proud,. “He was anxious, for that time he stood still... The victory was really good for him to get back the passion and adrenaline. He’s one of the biggest fighters of Brazil, and his career still has a lot of gas to burn. I’ll use all my knowledge to put him in Japan or USA. He deserves a big event“, tells Rudimar.

Excited and with good trains, Cacareco hopes to get back on category tops. “Chute Boxe makes me train, there’s no friend and no one to call me. This time I trained hard, because master Rudimar made me go to Curitiba and train three times a day... I needed this victory“, said, remembering the moment when he was invited to join the team in Curitiba, thanks to a history published on TATAME’s website. “When master Rudimar called me I was already convinced to stop fighting, with many problems... He talked to me and said something that’s true: we have to persist, even with problems coming. I believed him and now I’m here“.

Coming back to the ring in great fashion, the fighter wants to shine on big MMA events. “That’s the hope, that thing go naturally, with a fair money to maintain the athlete“, affirmed, telling how he built his fight style, after training on some of the biggest MMA teams of the world. “I was always a submitter, and on MMA my submits work better. I came from Luta Livre, then went to Brazilian Top Team, then my ground has the best of all. I took the best of Zé Mário, of Pé de Pano (Marcio Cruz), the best of Toquinho (Palhares)... I make a salad and gets good“, explains, talking about the trains in Curitiba. “If you have any deficiency, you have to search look for the best. The fight world is still small, people don’t have this conscience. The fighter career is really fast, and I’m happy on Chute Boxe “.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Yuji Hoshino Signed! First Opponent Is Marlon Sandro

First generation Cage Force Featherweight champion Yuji Hoshino has signed with SENGOKU. I don’t know if he’ll be presented at the event today but he will fight Marlon Sandro at a future SENGOKU event (probably XI). Which means that Michihiro Omigawa will most likely take on Hatsu Hioki to decide the number 1 contender at XI. Enjoy today’s event.

 

[Shogun Locc]

DREAM announces Oct. 25 event in "The White Cage," nine participants introduced


The Japanese based DREAM organization has been teasing a surprise for its next show, and today that promised change was revealed.

The previously announced DREAM.12 event will take place in a six-sided fenced surface the organization has dubbed "The White Cage."

DREAM released a promotional video to announce that the Oct. 25 event in Osaka, Japan, entitled "Cage of the Rising Sun," will be the organization's first in a cage, while the first nine participants for the event were also revealed.

Check out the embedded clip to see the full video.

Eddie Alvarez, Paulo Filho, Katsunori Kikuno, Yoshiro Maeda, Andrews Nakahara, Alistair Overeem, Kiyoshi Tamura and Marius Zaromskis were all introduced as participants for DREAM.12 on the promotional video, while Murilo "Ninja" Rua was also announced via an additional promotional image on the organization's official website.

Potential opponents for the nine participants were not disclosed.

DREAM.12 airs on HDNet in North America.

DREAM.12 represents the second of two October events for the Japanese-based organization. DREAM.11 is slated for Oct. 6 in Kanagawa, Japan, and features the continuation of the organization's "Super Hulk" tourney, as well as the conclusion of its featherweight grand prix.

 

[Robby2Slobby]

UFC Quick Quote: Matt Hughes has no interest in fighting a ‘kid’ like Josh Koscheck

“I find Koscheck calling me out kind of interesting and I actually don’t know why he is doing that. I was used to kids doing this when I was the champ, but as you know I don’t have the belt now and I’m puzzled as to why Koscheck wants to fight me and not the champion in the weight class. I have no interest in fighting Koscheck and, as he was showing everybody, he’s just a kid. As of yet, the UFC has never come to me and asked me to fight him.”

Who the fuck do you want to fight then? You aren't gonna get a fight with St. Pierre or Alves? You want to get destroyed by Fitch?

He knows Koschek is way too dangerous for him to fight.

 

[YOUNGNUTT]

SO WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER SHOW???
NO NEW EPISODE IS SCHEDULED TO AIR TONIGHT!!!
THEY'RE GONNA AIR A DAN HENDERSON & MICHEAL BISPING ULTIMATE FIGHTER EPISODE INSTEAD!!!
FUCC'N' RAMPAGE MAN, RUIN'N' A WHOLE LOTTA SHIT FOR THE UFC!!!
I DON'T RESPECT HIM FOR THIS AT ALL!!!
FUCC FIGHTERS WHO TRY TO LEAVE AND BECOME AN ACTOR!!!
LEAVE THE ACTING TO ACTORS!!!
YOUR A FIGHTER, SO FIGHT ASSHOLE!!!

 

[Chuy Savedra]

It's scheduled dude.

 

[YOUNGNUTT]

REALLY??? CUZ I GOT MY DVR SET TO RECORD THE SEASON AND NOTHING WAS SCHEDULED FOR TONIGHT, SO I SCROLLED THROUGH THE GUIDE AND IT SAID EPISODES WITH "DAN HENDERSON & MICHEAL BISPING"!!!
FUCC I HOPE YOUR RIGHT, I'M TRY'N' TO SEE KIMBO!!!

 

[Chuy Savedra]

Yeah first it's unleashed at 8 to 10. Then TUF Twice.

 

[B-Buzz]

lol ya that confused me too, but it says 2009 New at the end. I'm guessing they'll be guests or something. They're showing Forrest-Bonnar 1 right now, one of my favorite fights from the show.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Broken Hand Stalls Sylvia’s Dream Debut

A broken hand will prevent Tim Sylvia from making an Oct. 25 debut with the Dream promotion in Japan, said the fighter’s manager Monte Cox.

Cox said the 6-foot-8 Sylvia broke his right hand about a minute and a half into his heavyweight bout with Jason Riley at Adrenaline 4 last Friday in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Sylvia scored a technical knockout 2:32 into the first round. Cox said the 33-year-old Sylvia will be out of action until December.

Sylvia, a former UFC heavyweight champion, had struggled in recent bouts against No. 1 heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko, who choked him out in 36 seconds, and aging boxer Ray Mercer, who dropped Sylvia in nine seconds at Adrenaline 3 last June.

Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem was one of the names floated for Sylvia’s Oct. 25 debut, and Cox said he hopes to get that bout or another of equal proportion on track for the promotion’s planned New Year’s Eve event.

“We were really happy to get the call from Japan and we were seriously considering if we could be ready for a big fight that quickly,” said Cox. “However, the broken hand made the decision for us. Hopefully, we can get that big fight on New Year’s Eve.”

Overeem’s opponent for his rumored Oct. 25 appearance in Dream has not been named. The Dutchman has already been scheduled to face Peter Aerts in K-1’s World Grand Prix “Final 16” on Sept. 26, and could return for the tournament’s finals December in Japan. Overeem has yet to defend his Strikeforce title since winning it in November 2007.

Cox said he’s been in talks with rival promotion Sengoku for Sylvia’s services as well.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Keith Kizer says protocol, not "blacklist," reason for ref John McCarthy's NSAC status

Veteran referee "Big" John McCarthy hasn't refereed a mixed martial arts contest in Nevada in nearly two years.

And as Sherdog.com first reported on Tuesday, a recently denied McCarthy application to the Nevada State Athletic Commission means "Big" John still isn't eligible to officiate in the state.

But as NSAC Executive Director Keith Kizer told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com), conspiracy theorists can take a rest; McCarthy isn't the only veteran referee that the commission simply doesn't have a use for at this time.

"We just don't have as many mixed martial arts events in the state as we used to," Kizer said. "We still have the major events with the UFC, but we don't have as many of the club shows and smaller shows, so we just don't have a need for more referees."

Nevada has added just two referees since Kizer took over for Marc Ratner in 2006: Josh Rosenthal and Kim Winslow. And while McCarthy is certainly the most tenured of the current 30-40 applicants that Kizer has on file, he's not the only experienced referee that has been turned down by the commission.

Larry Landless also has an application that resides in the "pending" file, and Dan Miragliotta's application was also put on hold earlier this year for precisely the same reason.

While the status of a referee's pending application may seem of little consequence to most MMA fans, McCarthy has developed near-superstar status as an iconic face of mixed martial arts since beginning his officiating career at UFC 2 (note his Round 5 MMA action figure and frequent media appearances).

Couple McCarthy's status with a few less-than-complimentary remarks made in regards to the UFC and NSAC during a brief run as analyst for The Fight Network, and his status as an official for those organizations remains a closely watched story.

Some MMA observers have suggested that McCarthy is on a sort of UFC "blacklist" and that UFC officials have let athletic commissions know that the use of "Big" John in an official capacity would result in less events – and less revenue – in those locales.

Kizer scoffed at the notion that this latest development regarding McCarthy was influenced by anything other than the commission's current needs.

"No one from the UFC, including Dana White, has ever contacted me about not using Mr. McCarthy," Kizer said.

With McCarthy's service not needed in Nevada, the longtime referee's next chance to return to the octagon will be at UFC 104 on Oct. 24 in Los Angeles.

McCarthy is already a certified referee in California, and "Big" John recently told MMAjunkie.com he'd make himself available to work the event.

"I'm licensed in California, and if I'm assigned, I'll go," McCarthy said.

Messages left by MMAjunkie.com for California State Athletic Commission Assistant Executive Bill Douglas to determine if the commission would be utilizing McCarthy at the event were not immediately returned.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Smith Wants Shot at Shamrock

Former EliteXC middleweight title challenger and UFC veteran Scott Smith plans to fight again soon, and he wants a crack at one of the Strikeforce promotion’s biggest names.

With the ink barely dry on his new six-fight contract, Smith has placed former Strikeforce middleweight champion Frank Shamrock in his crosshairs.

“We’re both coming off losses to [Nick] Diaz, so it makes sense,” Smith said. “Frank likes to go out there and put on a good show, and so do I.”

Smith expects to compete at an unannounced Strikeforce show in December, perhaps at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. While promotion officials have not settled on a definite opponent for the knockout artist, “they’ve thrown out a bunch of names,” Smith said.

A proven finisher with lethal knockout power, Smith has delivered each of his 16 career victories by knockout, technical knockout or submission. Wins against International Fight League veteran Tim Kennedy, four-division Gladiator Challenge champion Jaime Jara and Australian standout Kyle Noke anchor his resume. Smith’s submission loss to Diaz in June came on the heels of two memorable victories over Terry Martin and the equally potent Benji Radach. Smith, 30, claims to have learned a valuable lesson from his setback against Diaz.

“I was coming off a bad concussion [after the Radach fight],” Smith said. “I got another concussion against Diaz, and it happened a little too easy, I think. I need to start taking more time in between fights like that.”

The chance to compete on platforms like CBS and Showtime was not lost on Smith when agreed to re-sign with Strikeforce.

“It’s huge,” Smith said. “I’ve made more money in sponsorships here than I did with the UFC.”

 

[Shogun Locc]

Tyron Woodley brings hair-on-fire style to Friday's Strikeforce-Showtime event

Tyron Woodley was all set for his would-be professional debut about two years ago, ready for a move after a collegiate wrestling career and quick-strike amateur MMA success.

"Then I broke my hand in an amateur fight," Woodley told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) this week this week. "I took the fight because I didn't want to be rusty, and I got out of the cage and my hand was hurting so bad, but I still didn't think it would take as long as it did."

Woodley's next pro opportunity – after a series of promotion decisions and opponent back-outs – wouldn't actually materialize until February 2009, nearly two years after he thought his first chance was coming. But the later-than-expected start hasn't slowed Woodley.

On Friday, Woodley (3-0) will make just his fourth pro appearance on the main card at "Strikeforce Challengers: Kennedy vs. Cummings" at the SpiritBank Event Center in Tulsa, Okla. Given a six-fight Strikeforce contract after just two pro fights that resulted in two submissions in a total of one minute and 57 seconds, Woodley has been a powerful, suffocating opponent.

Despite the years it took for Woodley to move from the amateur to professional ranks, he feels even more prepared to fight Zach Light (6-8) in the 170-pound bout because of the patience he learned outside of the cage, even as he remained relentless inside of it.

"Look for pressure," said Woodley, a St. Louis native and resident. "I train to break guys in conditioning, so you won't see much space to get room and breathe. I'm constantly going, gnawing away, working the opponent. In every area I want to be a threat, even if I'm on my back."

So a guy walks into a gym

As a kid, Woodley was drawn to sports in which individual achievement was the goal. He found wrestling, and after a state championship senior year in high school, he joined the University of Missouri.

After graduation, Woodley helped to coach the Missouri team and fiddled with freestyle wrestling competitions, but they weren't satisfying his hunger for competition.

"I walked into a gym down the street, and I said, 'I want to fight,'" Woodley said. "They said I could get in one in about two or three weeks, and I said I would take it."

Woodley was still in excellent shape, even though it was December. His time in the Missouri facilities aiding the wrestling team kept him sharp, and he had earned an appreciation for MMA by watching "The Ultimate Fighter."

That's what led him to the gym.

"In wrestling, whether I was wrestling someone in the top 10 or someone I was supposed to beat, I got butterflies, and I over-analyzed," Woodley said. "In (the first MMA amateur fight), my head was in a whole different place. At first, I didn't want the referee to get out of the way.

"Then, I just got in a zone."

Woodley's first fight lasted about 20 seconds. His second went 40 seconds. His third? Fifty seconds. All wins in the first round.

In fact, of Woodley's seven amateur fights, all ended in the first round. But that doesn't mean his pro career came quickly.

After the broken hand canceled his first supposed pro debut, Woodley underwent a series of other disappointments that included promotions canceling fights, opponents backing out, and other seemingly fateful events that kept him an amateur.

Looking back, though, Woodley said it was probably best. By the time he finally made his pro debut in February 2009 in Columbia, Mo., at a Headhunter Productions event (promoted, in part, by another former Missouri wrestler-turned-fighter, Ben Askren), he felt he was better prepared.

"My whole family could be there, there were a lot of people supporting me, and that meant a lot to me," Woodley said. "My original debut was supposed to be in Iowa, then I was scheduled in other places, but I finally did it close to home.

"Things happen for a reason."

Quick path to Strikeforce

The story of Woodley's move to Strikeforce is an almost eerie series of events.

He had a friend, Sean Charles, who coached at Missouri but then took the head coaching job at Fresno State, or at least until the school canceled the wrestling program. Woodley went to California to train with Charles, who then got him in touch with Bob Cook, who serves as a matchmaker for Strikeforce.

Not only that, the gym at which Charles took Woodley to train, the American Kickboxing Academy, was owned by Javier Mendez, a legend in kickboxing and training. In a very short period of time, Woodley had fallen into a circle of MMA big wigs, all coming out of a relationship he formed in Columbia, Mo.

In June, it all came together. Woodley was matched against Sal Woods at "Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields," a major show for one of the world's top promotions, and the organization was hurrying to get him under its umbrella.

"The night before the fight, we were knocking out a contract until 1 a.m.," Woodley said. "I got a six-fight deal."

The June matchup with Woods ended in a first-round submission, which continued Woodley's string of first-round victories. Now, he faces Light and is on the verge of possibly exploding in the MMA world if continues his hair-on-fire style of fighting and early wins.

"I think I have a bright future," Woodley said. "I'm signed to an awesome deal with Strikeforce. I don't have to worry about getting a fight because there's a good level of professionalism there.

"I've been patient, I've been training with a lot of high-level guys, and I give those guys all they can have, and they're some of the best in the world. I think it's my time."

 

[Shogun Locc]

"UFC 104: Machida vs. Shogun" bout order officially announced

Ultimate Fighting Championship officials today announced the bout order for its next pay-per-view offering, "UFC 104: Machida vs. Shogun."

The event takes place Oct. 24 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

The night's televised five-fight main card features a main-event title fight between UFC lightweight champion Lyoto Machida (15-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) and challenger Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (18-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC).

The fight marks the first title defense for Machida, who scored a stunning, second-round knockout of then-champ Rashad Evans at UFC 98 in May. The undefeated karate ace has won 17 consecutive rounds in the UFC with wins over notables such as Thiago Silva, Tito Ortiz and Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou.

Rua, once of the world's most dominant 205-pound fighters, was slowed by injuries in a 2007 loss to Forrest Griffin in his UFC debut. However, after sitting out 2008 due to surgeries, Rua picked up a "Fight of the Night" win over Mark Coleman at UFC 93 in January and a "Knockout of the Night" victory over Chuck Liddell at April's UFC 97 event.

In the night's co-headliner, rising heavyweight contender Cain Velasquez (6-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) takes on UFC newcomer Ben Rothwell (30-6 MMA, 0-0 UFC).

The night's broadcast opens with a welterweight bout between Anthony Johnson (7-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) and Yoshiyuki Yoshida (11-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC). It's followed by Joe Stevenson (30-10 MMA, 7-4 UFC) vs. fellow lightweight Spencer Fisher (23-4 MMA, 8-3 UFC) and Gleison Tibau (19-6 MMA, 5-4 UFC), a late replacement for Sean Sherk, vs. Josh Neer (25-8-1 MMA, 4-5 UFC).

As previously reported, longtime UFC middleweight contender Yushin Okami (23-4 MMA, 7-1 UFC) is again on the un-aired preliminary card when he meets Chael Sonnen (23-10-1 MMA, 2-3 UFC).

The official UFC 104 lineup includes:

MAIN CARD

* Champ Lyoto Machida vs. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (for light-heavyweight title)
* Ben Rothwell vs. Cain Velasquez
* Josh Neer vs. Gleison Tibau
* Spencer Fisher vs. Joe Stevenson
* Anthony Johnson vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida

PRELIMINARY CARD

* Yushin Okami vs. Chael Sonnen
* Patrick Barry vs. Antoni Hardonk
* Rob Kimmons vs. Jorge Rivera
* Ryan Bader vs. Eric Schafer
* Razak Al-Hassan vs. Kyle Kingsbury
* Chase Gormley vs. Stefan Struve

 

[Shogun Locc]

Texas product Will Campuzano replaces injured Akitoshi Tamura at WEC 43

One man's misfortune is another man's gain; look to WEC newcomer Will Campuzano as proof.

Campuzano (6-0 MMA, 0-0 WEC), a Dallas-based bantamweight, makes his WEC debut as a replacement for injured Akitoshi Tamura (14-7-2 MMA, 1-1 WEC) and meets Damacio Page (11-4 MMA, 2-1 WEC) next month at WEC 43 in Texas.

The move was first reported by Ariel Helwani of Versus.com, and MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has since confirmed the change with a source close to the organization.

Luckily for the undefeated Campuzano, who's been on the WEC's radar for much of 2009, his fight with Page remains on WEC 43's Versus-televised main card.

WEC 43 takes place Oct. 10 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas.

The nature of Tamura's injury was not immediately known.

The hard-hitting Campuzano turned pro in July 2008 and has posted six straight victories (all via stoppage) with a variety of organizations. He most recently stopped veteran Tim Snyder (8-2-1 at the time) with a first-round TKO at a May Urban Rumble Championships event.

Page, meanwhile, goes for his fourth win in five fights and his third win in four WEC bouts. Page trotted the globe during his four-year pro career before signing with the WEC in 2008. He recently rebounded from a TKO loss to now-champion Brian Bowles at WEC 35 with a vicious 18-second knockout of Marcos Galvao at WEC 39.