MMA News Thread

[Shogun Locc]

Testing Torres: What Waits for the Champ

He’s a lean mass of sinew and muscle with a reputation for cracking heads and limbs that has him popping up in pound-for-pound debates left and right. And with good reason, as no one seems willing to venture a name within his own division that would do any better than some random fan wearing a knockoff Affliction T-shirt.

No, you’re not knee-deep in another article pondering if Chuck Norris is the only man who can stop Anderson Silva’s reign of fistic terror. The pugilist in question is Miguel Torres, who has risen to demigod status in the bantamweight division after his clinical vivisection of Manny Tapia on Wednesday.

Of course, fight sport has a long and proud history of demigods, and that same history has taught us that it is a select few who never find their equal. For Torres, joining that elite group means navigating a bantamweight division full of fighters ready to commit deicide.

Who exactly has the fortitude to topple Mt. Torres? I’ve got some ideas.

The Next in Line

Brian Bowles wasn’t supposed to be here, just another southern scrapper with more work ethic than talent. Sure, he’d hold his own, but it was a matter of time before he ran into the wrong fighter and got sent back home with tail tucked between legs.

After taking out elite Shooto contender Marcos Galvao and another highly regarded Brazilian in Will Ribeiro, Bowles now plays second fiddle only to Torres. With a title shot all but wrapped up for Bowles, he now has to resolve the Rubik’s Cube that is the wolf-haired WEC bantamweight champion.

That means using his superior wrestling to frustrate Torres from the opening bell. No, that doesn’t mean a lay-and-pray game plan, as Torres’ grappling makes him far too dangerous to keep on the ground for long stretches of time. Instead, Bowles has to mix it up and keep Torres from getting into a groove whether it be standing or on the ground.

What makes that approach dicey is Torres’ suddenly stifling jab, which left Tapia struggling to find a way to close the pocket without having a fist or an elbow deep in his grill. That and the disparity in the jiu-jitsu department makes Bowles less than a Ric Flair-level custom-made lock, but all things considered, he’s the most ready to tangle on even terms with Torres.

The Wildcard

While WEC 37 served as a launching pad for Bowles’ bantamweight title bid, it was also supposed to be a coming-out party for Jeff Curran. An ill-timed hand injury has Curran’s bantamweight debut on hold for 2008, but no one should be doubting anything about “The Big Frog” save for that tragic nickname.

The sport is flush with examples of weight-cutting giving failed title aspirations a second life, and having already competed as both a lightweight and a featherweight, Curran would likely enjoy a hefty physical advantage over his bantamweight counterparts, Torres included.

Better yet, Curran is one of the few in the division who can roll on the ground with Torres without coming off Tom Cruise-level crazy. The downside is that Curran is nowhere near Torres’ caliber as a striker, and his wrestling likely isn’t enough to corral him either.

Gambling on having the jiu-jitsu to beat Torres is in the same league of stupidity as betting on the Lions to win … anything. The one thing Curran has going for him is that he’s proven his worth against top-flight grapplers such as Hatsu Hioki and Wagnney Fabiano while Torres has yet to take on the grappling elite of his division.

If nothing else, Curran would make for a good barometer of Torres’ grappling skill, and isn’t that every fighter’s dream? To be a good barometer?

The Rookie

Looking down the road, there is a youngster who should be on Torres’ and everyone else’s radar. The protégé of former WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber, Joseph Benavidez was handpicked by MMA’s goldilocks and molded into his mirror image minus 10 pounds.

Sporting the same hyperactive style and penchant for unorthodox techniques, Benavidez turned his recent WEC debut against Danny Martinez into a master’s thesis on MMA. While taking out a journeyman bantamweight, regardless of how impressively you do it, is not fuel for a title run, the first step is always the one most likely to knock you off course and Benavidez handled it beautifully.

Now all that’s left is running through a division fraught with contenders while keeping a level head and topping it all off by locking horns with one of the MMA elite. However, let’s stay away from the doom and gloom by remembering that Benavidez is a true blue-chipper and as his arsenal grows, so do his chances.

Even then, you may need a microscope to measure anyone’s chances of taking out the nouveau one-man illuminati of MMA.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Bowles Deserves Title Shot, Champion Says

Brian Bowles may not have a marquee name yet, but he has a fan in World Extreme Cagefighting bantamweight champion Miguel Torres.

The unbeaten Bowles, now viewed by many as the top contender for Torres’ 135-pound title, submitted talented Brazilian Will Ribeiro with a third-round guillotine choke at WEC 37 on Wednesday at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The 28-year-old Georgian still has never gone the distance in seven professional fights.

Not long after he dispatched Manny Tapia on second-round strikes in the WEC 37 main event, Torres (35-1) turned his attention to Bowles.

“I think Brian deserved this fight a while ago,” he said. “I think we match up very well together. I think he’s a complete fighter and a very dangerous opponent for me. Like I said before, I’m here to fight the best in the world. I know he doesn’t have a huge record, but from what I’ve seen of him, he’s a very honorable opponent.”

Spawned by the same Athens, Ga., gym as reigning UFC light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin, Bowles (7-0) seems content to meet the challenges as they come. However, he likes the idea of testing his skills against Torres, one of the top 10 pound-for-pound mixed martial artists in the world.

“I think he’s awesome,” Bowles said. “Anybody with a record that good is obviously a good fighter. I like to think I match up well with anybody.”

How might he tackle Torres, a man who has not tasted defeat in more than five years? Little would change in terms of preparation, according to Bowles.

“I just like to go into a fight and fight,” he said. “I don’t really have a specific gameplan. I look at what other people do, watch out for their little tricky moves or whatever they do and just bring the fight.”

Though clearly focused on a potential showdown with Bowles, Torres responded to a recent challenge from former WEC featherweight title contender Jeff Curran. He was training to fight Curran when he tore a knee ligament in 2002, and the bout was never rescheduled.

“I know Jeff Curran called me out and was talking some smack,” Torres said. “He’s just trying to get an easy fight without having to work for it.”

Bowles, Torres believes, has better credentials at this point.

“I think Brian Bowles right now at 135 has proven himself the most out of anybody,” he said. “I see a lot of what Brian does and what he’s doing now … I went through [the same thing]. If he wants his time, I think it’s his time.”

 

[Shogun Locc]

New welterweight Martin Kampmann to meet UFC newcomer at UFC 93

After a loss to middleweight Nate Marquardt in September at UFC 88, Martin Kampmann will now drop a weight class and make his welterweight debut at UFC 93.

The event takes place Jan. 17 at The 02 in Dublin, Ireland.

With the night's televised, pay-per-view main card already announced, Kampmann will likely fight on the night's preliminary card. And his manager said it'll likely come against a UFC newcomer.

"They haven't (released his opponent)," Ken Pavia of MMAAgents.com told TAGG Radio (www.taggradio.com), the official radio partner of MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "He is fighting in Ireland definitively, though. There's a couple different guys we're tossing around. They'll be new guys to the UFC."

Kampmann (13-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) debuted in the UFC in 2006 and posted four consecutive victories as a middleweight. The streak, which included a 16-month layoff from March 2007 to June 2008 due to a substantial knee injury, pushed his overall win streak to nine straight wins.

After the knee injury, Kampmann defeated Jorge Rivera at UFC 85, but three months later at UFC 88, he suffered an 82-second TKO drubbing to Marquardt.

MMAjunkie.com reported after the fight that Kampmann was considering a move to welterweight, and earlier this week, fiveouncesofpain.com reported that his 170-pound debut would come at UFC 93.

Although Kampmann was never one of the division's bigger middleweights, the drop to welterweight hasn't been an easy one.

"We did a trial cut to 171 (pounds)," Pavia said. "And (Phil) Baroni helped him. He says, 'Kampmann made it.' I said, 'How did he do?' He goes, 'Oh, man. He was a bitch. He was crying. He never cut (weight) before.' I called Kampmann. I go, 'How did the cut go?' He goes, 'Man, I was a bitch. It was terrible.'"

Although his specific opponent is still being determined, Kampmann, who recently signed a UFC contract extension, is expected to meet a UFC newcomer, likely from the local fight scene in Ireland. After all, the 26-year-old Kampmann isn't committed entirely to 170 pounds and instead sees his upcoming fight as a trial run.

"We're going to rebuild him," Pavia said. "We're changing weight classes. It's a weight he's never fought at before, so we don't want him to jump in against a (Josh) Koscheck or (Jon) Fitch. He's not ready for that, quite frankly. It's his first time at 170 . We're going to see how it goes and see how the weight is. And if it goes well, we'll start climbing the ladder again."

 

[Shogun Locc]

James Thompson likely to return at Jan. 4 Sengoku event

James Thompson (14-9), a veteran heavyweight who hasn't fought since a high-profile loss to Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson in MMA's first ever network-television main event, will likely return to action on Jan. 4 at World Victory Road's upcoming Sengoku event.

Thompson's manager, Ken Pavia, discussed the likely return during Thursday's edition of TAGG Radio (www.taggradio.com), the official radio partner of MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).

It'll be Thomspon's WVR debut, though he had been offered one previous fight in the organization: against highly touted rookie and U.S. Olympic hopeful Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal.

"He was offered King Mo (Lawal) in Japan, but it was on three weeks' notice, and it was not an advisable fight," Pavia said. "You're talking about a wrestler of that caliber on three weeks' notice. So we politely declined, and they offered us [another fight]."

Instead, Thompson, who's lost his past three fights (and seven of his past nine), is expected to compete Jan. 4 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. As previously announced, the event also features a first-ever lightweight title fight between Takanori Gomi and Satoru Kitaoka and middleweight title fight between Kazuo Misaki and Jorge Santiago.

Thompson, who's currently under contract to EliteXC (but allowed to compete in outside organizations while the company fights for its life), will get a major payday for the Sengoku fight, Pavia said.

"The numbers are done," he said. "It's just a matter of opponents. So Jan. 4 in World Victory Road -- it's one of the biggest paydays that my organization has seen. Big, big money fight."

In May Thompson put up a valiant effort against Ferguson, though he'd ultimately suffer a controversial TKO loss in the CBS-televised event. Thompson had dominated the end of the second round, and though he never dropped from punches absorbed early in the third round, the referee called a halt to the bout to award Ferguson the TKO victory. Thompson protested the stoppage to no avail.

Thompson hasn't fought since the May event.

 

[Shogun Locc]

INSTANT REPLAY USED FOR FIRST TIME IN MMA

Instant replay has become an institution for most major sporting events all over the world, and last year the sport of mixed martial arts stepped into that arena when the New Jersey Athletic Control Board instituted the policy, and now it has been instituted in practice as well.

At an event held by New Breed Fighters, an amateur MMA promotion, a ruling by a referee was overturned by the commission after video review.

The fight between Joel Roberts and Ryan Vaccaro was stopped after an apparent tap from Vaccaro, but referee Donnie Caroli was adamant that he did not see a tap from the fighter.

New Jersey Deputy Attorney General Nick Lembo, who was ringside, stepped in and reviewed the video tape after the controversy – per the instant replay rule passed last year – and after several views decided that there was indeed a tap.

After the ruling, the fight was indeed stopped and Roberts declared the winner.

While the instant replay rule had not previously played out in an MMA fight, this newest development could give credence to a standard that has been a major cause of getting the call right in other major sports for years.

 

[Shogun Locc]

CSAC TO RE-INSTITUTE DRUG TESTING FOR MMA

The California State Athletic Commission is one week away from rolling out a new program to streamline and strengthen the drug testing process in one of the country’s biggest hotbeds for MMA.

Newly minted Assistant Executive Officer Bill Douglas finalized the program on Tuesday, and said it will take effect at two upcoming California events, a Roy Englebrecht-promoted boxing card and King of the Cage event scheduled for Dec. 11.

The CSAC will now conduct steroid testing with one of two World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) labs in the country at the University of California, Los Angeles. In early November, the CSAC became its exclusive client for combat sports testing. Among other clients, the UCLA lab currently handles steroid testing for the NFL, NCAA, and the U.S. Olympic Team.

Douglas said the commission has doubled its funding to separate the facilities used for steroid and drugs of abuse testing. The UCLA lab will now exclusively handle performance-enhancing drugs, while the CSAC’s current facility, Quest Diagnostics, will handle drugs of abuse.

“With this budget, we should be able to test every single bout on every single show; no matter the size of the show,” he said.

Douglas clarified that testing every MMA and boxing participant in California was a goal, and not necessarily a rule, but the new funding allowed the commission to conduct at least two steroid tests for every event, in addition to increased testing for drugs of abuse.

Under the WADA lab, the new program will also take a fighter’s supplement usage into account during steroid testing. If, for instance, an athlete discloses on his pre-fight medical questionnaire that he has used a certain supplement, particularly a supplement known by WADA to have issues with steroid contamination, the lab will consider a “false positive” likely.

According to Douglas, the new disclosure forms will address the heated issue of positive tests caused by contaminated supplements. Last year, the commission took heavy criticism after the suspension of former UFC lightweight champion Sean Sherk, who claimed his dietary supplements flagged him for steroids.

“The misconception before this, for whatever reason, with the drug testing for combative sports, everyone is quick to say ‘commission,’” Douglas commented. “Clearly the commission’s crooked. Well, now that we’re under this protocol with everyone else, questioning us is questioning everyone else that has this ‘sterling’ reputation. Same laboratory, same laboratory, same protocol.”

Funding for the new program will be in place for “at a very minimum” of one year, after which the CSAC will need to justify its continued expense to state regulators. California currently faces a budget shortfall of 11.2 billion dollars, and thousands of state employees have faced layoffs. Douglas admitted the state’s fiscal situation put the program on shaky ground, but stressed the need to put it in place.

“What we have right now is what I have to run with,” he said. “Within my duty, I have to do what I can to make sure it’s the best program and the fairest program.”

 

[Shogun Locc]

EVANS AND GRIFFIN HEADED TO THE BREAKING POINT

Perhaps it goes with the territory for a psychology major, but Rashad Evans thinks deeply about his upcoming title fight with Forrest Griffin at UFC 92.

A little over three weeks away from the big night, he wants to make sure he looks at his shot through the right lens.

“It’s an opportunity that I have and I plan on seizing that opportunity, but if I don’t, this is by no means a make or break situation,” Evans says.

As the former Michigan State wrestler approaches a situation of ever increasing pressure, his goal is to let go of its outcome. It’s the kind of paradox he loves to tackle.

“You have to be able to pay a lot of attention to, and be very cerebral about, what you do and the kind of person you are,” he continues. “You really have to be intuitive to yourself.”

The UFC’s light heavyweight belt is arguably the pinnacle of the sport, and with its pursuit comes a tremendous amount of sacrifice. Most fighters never get the chance. With a September knockout victory over perennial favorite Chuck Liddell, Evans brings a career of exceeded expectations to his contendership, and that’s what makes him a dangerous opponent for current champ Griffin.

At 29, Evans knows well of the journey’s costs. Apart from his brethren at Jackson’s MMA, he has isolated himself in preparation for the fight. He trained through the Thanksgiving holiday without his family and will miss them again when Christmas rolls around. He’s accepted the price, begrudgingly, to win the title.

“Now I’m gonna have to try to ruin somebody else’s holiday,” Evans says.

He does plan to catch up with his wife and two daughters, but after the year-end card.

Griffin doesn’t have the highlight reel of Evans, nor does he lay claim to the best technique in any area of the sport’s disciplines. What he has in abundance is toughness and heart, traits that brought him the first UFC belt of “The Ultimate Fighter” alums.

“His greatest attribute is my greatest attribute: he finds a way to get it done,” Evans comments.

Knowing Griffin won’t quit, Evans says the fight is as much about his breaking point as the champion’s.

“My theme for this fight is just going out there to beat myself,” he says. “And I do that every single day in practice. I go out there and try to defeat myself. Because if I know if I can’t beat myself, there’s no way Forrest Griffin can defeat me.”

The usual cadre of training partners are assembled for his camp in Albuquerque, N.M.: Keith Jardine, Joey Villasenor, Nate Marquardt. Some notable additions, like Georges St. Pierre, Elliot Marshal, and Brian Stann, have arrived recently. Evans is deep into high intensity sessions, making the last push before he gives his body a break in the final week before the fight.

If Griffin’s past performances are any indicator, their meeting will be five rounds of high intensity.

“I see the fight coming out fast and furious,” Evans says. “We’re going to be throwing really fast, right away. And then I see it coming to a period, like in the middle, where we’re kind of seeing who’s really going to break. Then somebody’s going to give in, just a little bit. And then the other person is going to jump on them.”

Evans feels a victory might ease a negative perception about him that’s traced back to his appearance on the second season of “TUF.” Despite several spectacular victories, he hasn’t gained traction with casual fans in the same way that, for instance, Griffin has managed to do post-reality show.

“Well, people don’t know how to feel about me,” he explains. “In one aspect, they kind of hate me, because they kind of still see me as the character on the show, that it was portrayed that I’m a ‘showboater’ since that one statement that Matt Hughes made. Then they’re like, he’s not so good because he lays and prays; he barely wins. I can kinda see some of their criticism, and shrug it off, and continue to do my thing.

“But I gotta tell ya, I’m there on those (Internet) forums. The forums are brutal. My wife she goes on there sometimes, and she’ll be like ‘oh my god, I can’t believe they called me a loudmouthed bitch,’ and I’m like, ‘baby, you can’t be reading that stuff, that stuff will drive you crazy.’ I had people that hated me after the Liddell fight, people writing racist, racist (expletive). 'You (expletive) monkey nigger, you…' all kinds of stuff, man. People were upset that I beat Chuck.”

And therein lies another paradox. While Griffin isn’t the MMA institution Liddell is, he’s well liked. Well-liked fighters – not to mention heels – stay employed. At this point, Evans is neither. It’s not only in his best interest as a fighter to perform well and defeat Griffin; it also ensures his livelihood. This is the paradox nobody likes: when the job you love becomes essential to your survival.

“This game, especially the UFC, you’re always one win or one loss away from (expletive) being out of there,” Evans says. “And this is how I make my money. As long as I keep winning, they can’t really kick me out. But if I start losing, you better believe they’re going to get rid of me, you know?”

It's all part of Evans' balancing act between fighting, business, and life. He says he doesn't have it all figured out. Like most people, he's doing the best he can, under admittedly stressful circumstances. One thing he's certain of, though, is when Dec. 27 comes, his mind and body will align.

“It’s just a realization that I can’t control the outcome of anything. I can’t control what he’s going to do,” he says. “I can’t control his technique or stop his technique. The only thing I can do is give everything I have. I have a lot inside. I know I can break him. I know if I go in there and put on the fight of my life, I can walk away, and know I’m going to win that fight.”

And whether Griffin makes him or breaks him, it's an opportunity he's going to take.

 

[Shogun Locc]

UFC Continues Effort Toward German TV Agreement

Contrary to various reports that misquoted a Nov. 24 article in Der Spiegel, Europe’s largest weekly magazine, no broadcasting agreement has been reached with any of the TV channels that Zuffa LLC., the parent company of the UFC, is currently negotiating with.

There is still ample time to hammer out a deal, however. UFC 99 is scheduled to take place on June 13 at the Lanxess Arena in Cologne.

Should Zuffa and ProSieben reach an agreement, it will not only give the Munich-based channel the rights to UFC content in Germany, but to Austria, Switzerland and Eastern Europe as well.

ProSieben has a market share of 6.5 percent for approximately 5.5 million viewers. ProSieben also enjoys strong ratings in the coveted 18-to-34 demographic (sometimes as high as 18 percent) and boasts the most successful German television host in Stefan Raab.

While ProSieben seems destined to air live events and a possible German/European season of "The Ultimate Fighter," Sherdog.com has also confirmed that Zuffa has begun talks with DMAX, a men's lifestyle channel in Germany which is the home of programs like "American Chopper" and "Miami Ink." DMX would be a solid choice to broadcast previous seasons of "The Ultimate Fighter," as well as other programming like "UFC Unleashed" and "UFC Wired."

"It is true, we are currently in talks with the UFC," wrote Stefanie Braun, national press officer for DMAX, in an email to Sherdog.com. "DMAX is interested in ‘Ultimate Fighting’ because young men are interested in it and DMAX, as the men's lifestyle channel in Germany, is catering to exactly this target audience."

 

[Shogun Locc]

Chuck Liddell Not Interested in Fighting Anderson Silva or Randy Couture

Former UFC light-heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell has denied that he will be fighting Anderson Silva at UFC 95 in January.

Speaking to Fighters Only earlier, Liddell said that "nobody has talked to me at all about Randy or Anderson Silva".

"I know there was talk of me fighting [Anderson] in February. That is definitely not true, I’m not fighting until March or April," he explained.

He also expressed disinterest in fighting Randy Couture for a fourth time, saying: "To me at this point it doesn’t make sense."

 

[Shogun Locc]

Werdum and the new life in USA

November was a month with too many changes to Fabrício Werdum. After facing one of the most traumatic defeats of his career, against Junior “Cigano” at UFC, which took him away from a titleshot and culminated in the end of his contract with UFC, the Chute Boxe athlete decided to begin a new life in United States. A week ago in the America, Werdum spoke with TATAME about the recent change. “Better impossible… I’m already at home with my family and training with Rafael Cordeiro. Here is very nice”, said the fighter. “I’m here a week ago and started the trains yesterday. I recovered everything, I came back to train…I’ll stay here two or three years, it’ll be good”, believes the fighter, who liked the new house. “Until now, everything is perfect. The guys here are great, they they’re treating me very well, very educated, they recognize me… In fact, here in United States, they don’t know MMA, they know UFC, and it’s very nice. People are very nice, I’m already at home and my daughter, Julia, is who likes more (laughs)”. When the subject is the new house in MMA, Werdum still has no definitive answer, but denies the recent rumors that Affliction is discarded because of financial incompatibilities. “We’re still in negotiation, my sister entered in contact with them, but until now there is nothing right. We’ll see everything in 2009. I’m recuperating myself from injuries and, for this event now (in January), there’s not way. Affliction is promising more than 16 shows in 2009, mainly do not claiming exclusivity, having the possibility to fight in others events, that is good, but still there’s nothing right”, finished.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Takanori Gomi returns to GRABAKA gym

Takanori Gomi (29-4) began training this week at the GRABAKA gym for his fight at "Sengoku 7" on Jan. 4 in Tokyo, Japan. Gomi will fight Satoru Kitaoka in the promotion's first-ever lightweight title bout.

"The last time I trained with them was about seven years ago to prepare for Rumina Sato," Gomi said Tuesday on his blog, referring to his Shooto championship win in 2001.

Gomi was inspired while training with middleweight Kazuo "Grabaka Hitman" Misaki, who will also fight for a title on Jan. 4.

"I felt the strong fighting spirit from Misaki. He's developed himself by going through battles with top fighters."

Gomi, often criticized for fighting unheralded opponents, admitted that he hasn't been properly motivated to live up to his top ranked status.

"Professional fighters should make every effort to improve themselves," Gomi said. "I am ashamed that I didn't have a higher motivation to become a better fighter the last two years."

 

[Shogun Locc]

Kimbo has landed in Japan!

Kimbo has landed in Japan, he said he wants to know what sort of country Japan is and he wants to see his future, the reason is the K-1 World GP where he is a commentator. This is the first time for him to watch K-1 live and he is wondering if it can influence the way he approaches his future.

When asked if he is going to fight in Japan, he answered that it is a high posibility of that. He is undeceided whether this would be MMA or K-1 rules.

When asked about Dynamite, he did not confirm of deny anything. The rumor is that he is fighting Badr Hari in K-1 rules early next year.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Newton Captures MFC Crown, Daley TKOs Alessio

ENOCH, Alberta -- Emanuel Newton may not have won over the fans, but he did win what he came for. Newton took the Maximum Fighting Championship light heavyweight title from Roger Hollett on Friday via a unanimous decision inside the sold out River Cree Resort and Casino.

Newton, 24, managed to keep Hollett at bay with punches and body kicks throughout the fight as the champion stalked the challenger around the ring. However, it was Newton who landed on the charging Hollett and managed to score a few takedowns en route to being declared the victor via scores of 50-45 (twice) and 49-46.

The initial two rounds were a feeling-out process, with both competitors showing a clear respect for the strengths of the other. The third round saw Hollett pursue Newton more aggressively, but any momentum the Canadian gained was taken away by Newton in the fourth round. The Anotnio KcKee pupil landed a couple of takedowns and exerted solid ground control for the clear-cut victory.

"I came out and did what I wanted to do which was circle," said Newton, who stretched his win streak to nine. "I wish I could have landed some more punches but he was a strong guy. I didn’t think his cardio was going to be there. I usually fight guys who are more technical and Roger would just come in swinging. I just tried to stay out of the way of his punches."

The crowd was restless throughout the fight, booing the fighters at the completion of each round. Hollett came forward as per usual for him, but seemed hesitant to throw combos when he got close. Newton was only able to land one or two punches at a time while trying to avoid Hollett’s advances – a style of fight that did not adhere to the majority of those in attendance.

"In some ways the crowd reaction affects you,” said Hollett. “I wanted to finish it for them, but in the end I wanted the money and the championship first and foremost."

In the main attraction for most, Paul Daley made a spectacular MFC debut over veteran fighter John Alessio, finishing him with a trio of punches midway through the second round.

From the opening bell, the British welterweight used a wide array of leg kicks to wear down Alessio in the standup exchanges. Alessio managed to get the fight to the ground, but could not take advantage from there.

In the second set, Alessio failed with an ankle pick, which left him wide open for Daley to connect with three huge left hands that crumpled Alessio on the ropes. Referee Jon Braak called a halt to the action 2:18 into the second round.

"I saw from his fight with Thiago Alves that leg kicks could work on him so I went with them right from the start -- mostly low but I threw a few high ones as well," said the 25-year-old Daley. "I knew he was going to strike for a bit to set up the takedown so I used that to my advantage."

Daley, who missed weight by four pounds the day before and had to forfeit 25 percent of his purse, said his next bout will be in January -- either for Sengoku or Affliction.

While Daley said he would like to return to the MFC someday, he conceded that "20 hours on a plane is brutal. I hate these long flights to North America."

Derrick Noble and Ariel Sexton put on the most entertaining fight of the evening, as both fighters exchanged barrages of heavy leather throughout their lightweight contest. In the first, each fighter had their opponent on the verge of defeat from heavy blows, but both managed to survive their respective onslaughts.

In the second round, Noble finally managed to get the fight to the ground after a Sexton takedown attempt failed, and Noble took advantage by slapping on a fight-ending guillotine choke at 90 seconds into the round.

Kyle Sandford picked up his seventh consecutive victory with a split decision victory over Joey Gorczynski. Both fighters were cautious and respective of their opponent’s arsenal in a bout that was slowed by a couple of unintentional groin strikes to both fighters. In the end, the judges saw it 29-28 (twice) and 28-29 for the Halifax-based fighter.

Fireworks were expected in the second meeting between Jason Kuchera and Aaron Lofton, but this was not to be, as Lofton finished the rematch in only 44 seconds via a guillotine choke. Seven months earlier, their initial meeting became the leading candidate for MFC fight of the year.

In other bouts:

Ryan Machan def. Mike Sorenson - Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) 4:54 R1
Josh Russell def. Colby Snyder - Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) 1:44 R1
Gavin Neil def. Alain Hernandez - Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) 2:44 R1
Jessie Clarke def. Nolan Clark - TKO (Punches) 4:07 R1
Ryan McGillivray def. Elliott Duff - Submission (Heelhook) 1:33 R1

 

[Shogun Locc]

Hoshino, Mizugaki Become New Champs at Cage Force 9

TOKYO -- Cage Force crowned featherweight and bantamweight champions Saturday at Differ Ariake.

In the featherweight tournament final, Yuji Hoshino pitched a shutout against Shooto wild child “Wicky” Akiyo Nishiura to take the featherweight tournament and become the promotion’s divisional champ. Nishiura showed little inclination to change up the game that had won him the 2006 rookie championship in Shooto’s 143-pound division, fidgeting and feinting before committing to one all-or-nothing flying kick or lunging punch. Hoshino evaded most of Wicky’s attacks, quickly retaliating with jabs of his own or the inevitable takedown.

Having originally competed at welterweight in Pancrase, Hoshino seemed to have a definitive weight and strength advantage, nearly nullifying Nishiura’s preternatural ability to squirm out from underneath to bring the fight back to his territory. Outside of escaping from the bottom in the second round, Wicky was firmly pinned down and mounted almost at will by Hoshino in the first and third periods. From these positions, the Wajutsu Keishukai bruiser piled on the punches and short elbows to win a sound unanimous decision.

Long since considered a journeyman in Pancrase, Hoshino’s drop to featherweight has been a rebirth for the wrestler, as evidenced by his wins over highly regarded featherweights Antonio Carvalho and Takeshi Yamazaki. Nishiura’s road to the finals likewise saw him besting competitive names such as Jong Man Kim and Fan Jin Son.

In the bantamweight tournament final, Takeya Mizugaki bested former Shooto 132-pound champion Masahiro Oishi for the title. Though Oishi put on a spirited, come-from-behind performance against Tetsu “Hadairo” Suzuki in September to get to the finals, he proved no match for Mizugaki, the 2005 Shooto rookie MVP.

Mizugaki picked Oishi apart in the first stanza, taking his pick of low kicks or combinations on the feet while Oishi covered up and ate the punishment. It was just a matter of time until a big knee from the clinch to Oishi’s nose dropped him to the mat. Mizugaki swarmed as Oishi scrambled to evade. Mizugaki proved relentless, however, maintaining dominant position while dropping more and more punches until the referee was forced to intervene at the 57-second mark of round two.

Lightweights Tomonari Kanomata and Eriya Matsuda looked ready to kill each other from the opening moments of their bout. Careening into each other with flurries and kicks, it was a big Matsuda knee that dropped Kanomata flat on his posterior. Matsuda lunged forward to finish off his opponent, but Kanomata was ready, pulling him into a tight armbar. As neither man had worked up a sweat by this point, Kanomata’s grip stuck while he wrenched back the arm for the tap at just 30 seconds into the first round.

Motoki Miyazawa and Shigetoshi Iwase’s welterweight clash came down to the grappling, as neither man had an advantage on the feet. Both planted hard shots on each other’s face, but it was the grappling prowess of Miyazawa in the latter half that shone through. Taking Iwase’s back and dropping a stream of punches to an open cut on Iwase’s forehead midway through, it was just a matter of time until Miyazawa worked the cut enough to warrant the TKO. That stoppage came at 1:47 in the third, as Miyazawa viciously elbowed Iwase’s cut from the bottom in guard.

Despite body kicks and punches, an unfazed Wataru Miki drove forward under fire to finish Masaaki Hasegawa midway through the third period. Hasegawa danced around the cage, circling out and driving jabs and kicks into Miki’s body. Miki stood his ground in the center, pawing at the Krazy Bee fighter until he worked up the courage to charge in for the takedown. Miki’s big chance came halfway through the third, where after passing to side mount, he rained big elbows and knees to the body before spinning into the fight-ending armbar at 1:40.

In the evening’s sole flyweight bout, Takeyasu Hirono defeated Yoshihiro Matsunaga after three rounds of grappling dominance by Hirono. Spurred on by the extremely vocal cheers and cries of his wife, Hirono caught takedowns to land in mount, side mount and back mount throughout all three rounds. Though Matsunaga was able to fend off the chokes and armbar attempts, he ate bunches of small punches and elbows under Hirono, who won a unanimous decision.

Kenta Takagi took out Keitaro Maeda, pounding out the crowd favorite at 1:30 into the first round. Maeda charged forward early with piston punches, eating several himself on the way in. He continued to chase Takagi, but a Takagi right jab followed by a flying right knee to the ribs took the wind out of him, dropping him flat. Takagi pounced on the fallen Maeda, pounding on him until the referee saved him.

Nobutaka Hiyoshi recklessly pressed forward trying to knock out Wataru Takahashi, but soon learned that his standup was no match for Takahashi’s better grappling. Takahashi sucked Hiyoshi down to the ground and passed effortlessly to mount and back mount, where he punished him with punches and chokes. Sapped from fighting off the chokes, Hiyoshi’s aggression decreased round after round -- a clear sign to all three judges to give Takahashi the unanimous decision.

Yoshiaki “Bancho” Takahashi also took a hard-earned majority decision over Shinpei Sotoyama. Though Sotoyama showed decent grappling control, Takahashi scored big on damage points, sending up hard knees in the clinch whenever Sotoyama tried to pull the fight to the floor. As such, two judges ruled the bout for Takahashi, while one dissenting judge ruled the fight a draw.

Preliminary Bouts:

Shuji Morikawa def. Nobuhiro Tsurumaki -- TKO (punches) 0:37 R2
Koji Ando def. Masayoshi Ichikawa -- Submission (rear-naked choke) 2:17 R2
Masahiro Sato def. Hirokazu Nishimura -- TKO (punches) 1:42 R2
Ryota Sasaki def. Ryo Saito -- Submission (rear-naked choke) 1:21 R3

 

[Shogun Locc]

Report: Nate Diaz vs. Clay Guida added to UFC 94

A lightweight showdown between "The Ultimate Fighter 5" winner Nate Diaz (10-2 MMA, 5-0 UFC) and Clay Guida (24-9 MMA, 4-3 UFC) has been booked for "UFC 94: St. Pierre vs. Penn II" according to GracieFighter.com, the official web site for Cesar Gracie's training camp.

An official announcement of the bout has yet to come from the organization.

Guida was unwilling to confirm the matchup when contacted by MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "I haven't signed any contracts yet," Guida said. "But I am looking forward to fighting."

The bout was originally rumored for the Dec. 13 "The Ultimate Fighter 8" finale. A foot injury -- which "The Carpenter" refuses to acknowledge -- suffered by Guida put the matchup on hold until January.

"I don't really know anything about an injury," Guida said. "I've been training for quite some time now. Just getting ready for a fight."

When asked about a possible date for his return to the octagon, Guida was equally coy -- but noted a date that would seem consistent with the report from GracieFighter.com.

"We're shooting for some time in January," Guida said.

Diaz, still undefeated in the UFC, will be in action for the first time since a split-decision win over Josh Neer at September's UFC Fight Night 15. The 23-year-old also hold submission wins in the organization over Kurt Pellegrino, Alvin Robinson, Junior Assuncao and Manny Gamburyan.

Guida will be in search of his third win in a row after defeating Mac Danzig and Samy Schaivo in his only two bouts in 2008. The scrappy Guida had been been just 1-3 in his previous four bouts, including losses to Roger Huerta, Tyson Griffin and Din Thomas.

UFC 94 takes place Jan. 31 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The full card now includes:

MAIN CARD

Welterweight champ Georges St. Pierre vs. lightweight champ B.J. Penn (for welterweight title)
Lyoto Machida vs. Thiago Silva
Jon Fitch vs. Akihiro Gono
Karo Parisyan vs. Dong Hyun Kim
Stephan Bonnar vs. Jon Jones
PRELIMINARY CARD

Nate Diaz vs. Clay Guida
Manny Gamburyan vs. Thiago Tavares
Jake O'Brien vs. Christian Wellisch
Matt Arroyo vs. Dan Cramer

 

[Shogun Locc]

Return to UFC possible for Dennis Hallman

Eleven-year veteran Dennis Hallman (40-12-2 MMA, 1-3 UFC), perhaps best known for a pair of quick submission wins over former UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes, is reportedly under consideration for a return the sport's biggest organization.

Hallman's manager, Ken Pavia, discussed the possibility during Thursday's edition of TAGG Radio (www.taggradio.com), the official radio partner of MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).

"We actually talked to the UFC at length," Pavia said ."And we almost got that (Jon) Fitch fight in January, but (Akihiro) Gono stepped up. But it was between us and Gono. And [Hallman] might come back to the UFC."

Hallman was most recently seen in a November 2007 submission win over Jeremiah Metcalf in the California-based Strikeforce organization. The 33-year-old was then suspended for one year after testing positive for Drostanolone and Nandrolone Metabolite -- two types of steroids -- following the bout.

Pavia said the suspension is now over, and that Hallman is weighing several offers for his services.

"The suspension actually came out late November," Pavia said. "So he's now eligible. It's been like two or three weeks, and we've weighed two or three offers.

"We have legitimate, decent offers for him -- the likes of which he hasn't seen in a while."

Hallman has fought for a variety of organizations in his career, including the IFL, SportFight, Rumble on the Rock and King of the Cage. The Washington native handed Hughes the first two losses of his illustrious career, including a submission win in Hughes' second trip to the octagon at UFC 29.

Hallman would lose his next three bouts for the UFC to Jens Pulver, Frank Trigg and Jorge Rivera.

Pavia also cites Strikeforce as a possible home for Hallman. And despite competing most recently at 185 pounds, Pavia said a move to welterweight also seems likely for Hallman.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Justin McCully contemplates changes after UFC Fight Night 16

When heavyweight Justin McCully (8-4-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) enters the cage for Wednesday night's "UFC Fight Night 16: UFC Fights for the Troops," he will be at a crossroads.

But as the 32-year-old recently told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com), he feels that all paths lead to a successful destination.

"You go from a semi-main event to an undercard with a guy like Gabriel Gonzaga, then back to the Ultimate Fight Night," McCully said. "But I feel very comfortable on the Ultimate Fight Night, and especially fighting for the troops. It's going to be an honor."

An 11-year veteran of MMA, McCully fought just twice between 2000 and 2005. The Team Punishment fighter returned to active competition in 2006, and a three-fight win streak earned him a shot in the UFC against Dutch heavyweight Antoni Hardonk.

McCully entered the April 2007 bout a decided underdog, but was able to grind out a unanimous decision victory. That win earned him a bout with UFC heavyweight contender Gabriel Gonzaga at UFC 86 -- a fight McCully would drop in just under two minutes.

"(Gonzaga was) a bigger, tougher, stronger opponent," McCully said. "And I think I just kind of got swallowed up a little bit by the nerves.

"My training I don't think was exactly right. I think I came in with too much of a scared gameplan. I tried to stick and move instead of dig my feet in and grind it out with him. As you saw, I sold out for that inside leg kick. I was trying to take his legs out from under him and then start banging at him with my hands and put him on his back.

"I think I should have just gone straight to it and gone right after him instead of sticking and moving so much."

McCully said he went back to basics in his training with the now-famous Al "Stankie" Stankiewicz in preparation for his bout with Eddie Sanchez (8-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC).

"I didn't necessarily make any adjustments," McCully said. "But I brought in one of my old boxing trainers, Al 'Stankie.' So I've been hitting my cardio a little bit harder. My boxing, my hands, my wrestling, it's all good.

"I'm not necessarily changing anything up, but I have a more solid foundation in my training camp."

McCully's commitment to improved conditioning has also left him with an important decision for future bouts.

"I'm a little bit lighter right now," McCully said. "I'm coming into this bout about 225 (pounds). I think I'm comfortably in a position where I could probably drop to the 205-pound division if things don't go well in the heavyweight division.

"I'm a small heavyweight right now. Looking at these big heavyweights that are coming in, i.e. the title-holder Brock Lesnar -- it's rumored he was 291 pounds the night of the fight (with Randy Couture). It's going to be a little tough for a smaller heavyweight to deal with that. They're going to have to split the division. Give us another class, like a 225-pound class. Or maybe you'll see 'The Insane One' dropping a division."

While McCully is pondering a possible move to light-heavyweight, he believes a win would still leave him in an enviable position in his current division.

"I'm not going out there with any other intentions than winning and getting back into title contention," McCully said. "That is definitely my goal, to get out there and get a belt. I've been in this game a long, long time. I've been in the gym with some of the best in the world. At any given time, they could have been considered the best in the world -- and I handled them in the gym. I think it's my time to shine.

"With Gonzaga, I slipped on a banana peel. I got swallowed. But that's not the end of the world. I come back, I have a good showing, then I'm 2-1 in the UFC heavyweight division. Brock, he was 1-1 and he got a title shot with Randy. We all know he sells the most seats and that's why he got it. But if you're looking at records, and you're looking at guys he fought?

"For me going from Antoni Hardonk to Gabriel Gonzaga, that's probably the two toughest fights I've ever seen anybody have in the UFC. To go up to an Eddie Sanchez now is a third really quality opponent. I feel that's a tough road. And if I prove myself at 2-1 against those three opponents, then definitely I should be considered as a contender."

Win or lose on Wednesday, McCully is honored to be a part of the UFC's efforts to support the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund and the U.S. Military.

"It's the most amazing feeling," McCully said. "These guys are probably our biggest fans. The Armed Forces Network over in Iraq -- I had the pleasure of going on two USO tours -- and they play UFC non-stop. The guys wake up in the middle of the night just to watch the fights. They're the most avid fans out there. So to be able to compete and perform in front of them, and to be able to give them a little bit of entertainment -- a little break on their day-to-day life of trying to protect our freedom, our country and the American way of life -- is a great honor for me and everybody else that's part of the card.

"I appreciate the UFC for backing these guys up and doing what they're doing for them. So to be a part of it is an absolute dream come true. We're a part of history that night. It's an amazing feeling."

With the 205-pound division now a possibility, McCully will have a decision to make following his bout with Sanchez. Until then, McCully will approach this crossroads in his career with an open mind.

"The first priority for me is always to learn something -- learn about myself, learn more about the game," McCully said. "You never know everything about mixed martial arts, jiu-jitsu. You can always learn more, you can always get better.

"Whatever lesson comes out of this bout, I'm willing to accept it. And God willing, I'll have my hand raised in victory. But if not, then there's something there that I needed to learn. There's a hole in my game, and I'll have to fix it and patch it. If that's what the lesson is that night, then so be it."

 

[Shogun Locc]

Middleweight champ Cung Le focus for Saturday's "Strikeforce on NBC"

A special edition of "Strikeforce on NBC," focusing entirely on middleweight title holder Cung Le (6-0), is scheduled for Saturday night.

"Strikeforce on NBC," which has proven to be a surprise ratings hit for the Peacock Network since its April debut, airs in most markets in late-night Saturday time slots, though the airtimes vary from market to market.

Featured bouts on Saturday include Le's wins over Mike Altman and Brian Warren -- recently voted on Strikeforce's official website as the No. 1 and No. 2 best knockouts, respectively, in the organization's history.

While Le's MMA career is just two years and six fights old, the San Shou expert has provided ample highlights during his brief time in the cage. Le's six bouts, all in the California-based Strikeforce organization, have each ended by knockout or TKO.

The special episode will also replay his victories over Sam Morgan and Tony Fryklund.

Le earned Strikeforce's middleweight title with a dramatic TKO win over Frank Shamrock in March. But in a recent interview with MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com), Le admitted his current focus was on his budding acting career.

"I'm taking all these crazy meetings in Los Angeles," Le said. "I want to take advantage of these opportunities before -- it's not like I'm some spring chicken, you know."

Le did say he would remain open to future opportunities in the cage.

"Right now my focus is on the movies, but I'm still training just in case something big happens," Le said. "I came up through fighting. I came up through martial arts. I would never abandon that."

"Strikeforce on NBC" follows "Poker After Dark" in most markets. Co-hosted by MMA legend Ken Shamrock and ESPN announcer Lon McEachern, the program set a ratings record when the Oct. 18 episode featuring a bout between Trevor Prangley and Anthony Ruiz drew 1.1 million viewers.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Frank Mir training to take ‘Minotauro’ Nogueira the distance at UFC 92

“If I catch Nogueira and he falls down and for some reason I knock him out or I catch him in a kneebar or some kind of choke and I happen to finish him, I’m going to go for it, but I haven’t trained expecting it. I’ve really expected that this fight is going to be a 25-minute fight. If anything my strategy has been more geared towards making sure I win convincingly on the judges’ score cards. Looking at how judges score fights, what counts for points, what do they look for? I’ve geared my training that way because trying to finish Nogueira is not easy. You see the size of Heath Herring’s leg — he took that upside his head, it dropped him, but he was still in the fight. He was able to recover and he made it back and won the fight.”

 

[Shogun Locc]

Alexandre Nogueira one and done with the WEC

At the time of lighter weight pioneer Alexandre “Pequeno” Nogueira’s signing with Zuffa-owned World Extreme Cagefighting, the acquisition flew under the radar of the typical mainstream MMA fan.

However, Nogueira’s arrival in the WEC is one that was heralded by hardcore fans as well as fighters. In fact, former UFC lightweight champion Jens Pulver felt compelled during an interview conducted over the summer to publicly campaign for a match against the 10-year veteran.

However, the Luta Livre-style fighter’s career in the WEC is over after just one bout. During a recent interview with the Brazilian MMA website Tatame, Nogueira revealed that he has been released by the promotion and is currently a free agent.

Nogueira made his WEC debut on June 1 in Sacramento against top featherweight prospect Jose Aldo. Despite being considered by many pundits to be the favorite, the Brazilian fell to 13-5-2 after being TKO’d by Aldo at 3:22 of round 2.

Even though he lost, Nogueira’s biggest setback didn’t take place until after the fight. Soon after the bout, the California State Athletic Commission announced that it was fining Nogueira $2,500 and supending him for a year after it claimed he tested positive for performance enhancing drugs.

Despite not being eligible to compete in the U.S. until May 31 of 2009 at the earliest, Nogueira doesn’t appear interested in serving out his full suspension. During the Tatame interview, the 30-year old indicated that he’s looking to resume his fighting career much sooner and that he and his manager, Alex Davis, are negotiating for a future fight in Japan’s Sengoku promotion.

If Nogueira competes before being reinstated by the commission, CSAC could elect to revoke Nogueira’s license, meaning he would be unable to compete in the state of California well after his one-year suspension had expired.