MMA News Thread

[heyzel]

UFC Star To Make Boxing Debut - 4/11

UFC Star Terry Martin will make his professional boxing debut on Friday, April 11th at THE ODEUM RUMBLE, an evening of world class professional boxing at the Odeum Sports and Expo Center in Villa Park, presented by Dominic Pesoli’s 8 Count Productions, HOME OF THE BEST IN CHICAGO BOXING.

The Chicago born and raised 27 year old Martin, having established himself in mixed martial arts over the last five years with a record of 18-4 with ten knockouts and five submissions, will face Ricardo Upchurch of Mansfield, Ohio in a four round cruiserweight bout.

With a resemblance facially and in build to Mike Tyson, Martin has been able to not only build a successful mixed martial arts career but also is working towards his Doctorate at the Adler School of Professional Psychology. Previously Martin earned a BA in psychology from Northern Illinois University followed by the completion of his Masters degree at Concordia University.

The seven bout event is headlined by a terrific junior middleweight clash between Chicago based veterans Luciano Perez and Carlos Molina. The crosstown showdown between the Mexican natives is scheduled for eight rounds.


Terry Martin vs. Ricardo Upchurch, four rounds, cruiserweights,

 

[Shogun Locc]

More headaches for YAMMA organizers

Veteran fighter Gary Goodridge (23-15-1), who was scheduled to fight Eric "Butterbean" Esch (10-5-1) in a "Masters Superfight" at YAMMA Pit Fighting's debut show, suffered a knockout at an event this past weekend.

The KO, which came to Mu Bae Choi in South Korea, has also knocked Goodridge out of the April 11 YAMMA event.

According to a New Jersey Athletic Control Board representative who spoke to fiveouncesofpain.com, Goodridge will not be cleared to fight at next weekend's event due to concerns over health and safety.

The loss of Goodridge is the latest in a series of changes to the YAMMA event, which takes place at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, N.J.

Yesterday, MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) reported that Mark Kerr, taking the spot of an injured Don Frye, had been announced as a new opponent to fight Oleg Taktarov in the night's main event. However, the same NJACB official said that Kerr is still serving a suspension issued in Connecticut and that he will not be approved for the YAMMA event unless he's reinstated, according to fiveouncesofpain.com.

With Goodridge and possibly Kerr gone from the card, both of the night's "Masters" fights are in jeopardy.

In addition to those two fights, the YAMMA event is expected to feature an eight-man heavyweight tournament. The field includes George Bush, Alexey Oleynik, Sherman Pendergarst, Marcelo Pereira, Ricco Rodrigiez, Tony Sylvester, Chris Tuscherer and Travis Wiuff.

 

[Shogun Locc]

UFC Quick Quote: Karo Parisyan thinks Georges St. Pierre will maul Jon Fitch

It’s not my call to say if Jon Fitch deserves a title shot or not. He beat (Chris) Wilson, who was his last opponent. Based on that performance, if St. Pierre beats (Matt) Serra, I don’t think he’s going to be able to touch St. Pierre. St. Pierre will just maul him, easy. As far as deserving the title, I would say give him a title shot. He has beaten everybody. He is undefeated in the UFC, but honestly, I thought Diego (Sanchez) kinda beat him.”

– “The Heat” tells Brawl Sports that he feels Jon Fitch will be outclassed if he ever fights Georges St. Pierre based on his most recent winning performance against Chris Wilson at UFC 82: “Pride of a Champion” last month. In addition, playing a little reverse psychology, Parisyan indicates that Fitch deserves a title shot even though he has lobbied for his chance ever since pulling out of a scheduled title fight against then-champion Matt Hughes in 2005. The only problem is St. Pierre has to beat Matt Serra at UFC 83 later this month to gain the 170-pound strap, making a possible match up between Fitch and St. Pierre very questionable. Not to mention Karo could get the nod over Fitch with a thrilling performance against Thiago Alves on national television later this evening at UFC Fight Night 13.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Kimbo Slice vs. James Thompson CBS Saturday Night Fights Elite XC main event booked?

The rumored match up between Kimbo Slice (2-0) and James Thompson (14-8) is apparently booked for the CBS Saturday Night Fights EliteXC main event at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., on May 31, according to Carson’s Corner.

Bob Carson — the host of the mixed martial arts radio show — revealed that his team has received official confirmation from high ranking ProElite officials, ending (or so it appears) weeks of speculation regarding a possible opponent for the magnetic Miami native.

Ken Shamrock, Ron Waterman and others have also been discussed in the past as possible challengers.

Slice is on a two-fight win streak since his MMA debut in late 2007, defeating Bo Cantrell via submission (punches) and most recently Tank Abbott via knockout at EliteXC: “Street Certified” this past February. He is perhaps the most recognizable and marketable star on the EliteXC roster despite his lack of experience. That is due in large part to Slice’s exposure on YouTube.com as a street fighter who beat beat all but one foe (Sean Gannon).

He now trains with former UFC champion and MMA legend, Bas Rutten, to improve his all around skill and technique. However, it’s more than likely possible that any skill set besides striking won’t come into play against “The Colossus.”

Thompson is a former Pride FC and Cage Rage veteran who made a name for himself in the sport with an intimidating physique and good punching power. However, he looked noticeably less jacked in his EliteXC debut, during which Brett Rogers put him to sleep in less than three minutes. It was his second straight loss via knockout and the third time in his last four fights.

And that’s Thompson in a nutshell: Either he gets knocked out or he knocks someone out. In fact, in 22 professional fights he has only gone the distance once time (a win over Dan Severn). According to the report, the British fighter will train for the Slice bout in Las Vegas and work with Brazilian jiu-jitsu coach, Marc Laimon, and others to prepare for the heavyweight showdown.

It would be a shock to see Thompson attempt to turn this into a grappling contest. More than likely expect this one to remain upright for as long as possible until either Slice or Thompson drops.

It’s the kind of exciting and memorable finish that EliteXC will look to deliver on its network television debut.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Up And Comers! Knockout Power

A presentation of a few fighters who might have a bright future and should be looked at by the bigger fighting organizations. In this post, 3 fighters under age 25 from Russia, Japan and Korea are presented.

Kirill Sidelnikov

Russian Kirill Sidelnikov is only 19 years old and is a student of Fedor Emelianenko. He has only had three MMA fights thus far but Fedor speaks very highly of him. He lost his second MMA fight against the experienced Antonio Mendes, but did well until the fight was stopped due to a cut. He also has good results from Combat Sambo championships.

vs. Dong Woo Shin http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3qmdu_m1-mfc-kiril-sidelnikov-vs-shin-don_extreme
vs. Antonio Mendes http://www.m1mixfight.com/multimedia/video/category/fights/2008/3/kirill/
vs. Martin Soltisyk http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4w6jt_4-kirill-sidelnikov-vs-martin-solti_sport

SHOJI

SHOJI is 24 years old and the current Lightweight King Of Pancrase. He won the title by defeating DREAM veteran Artur Umakhanov via TKO in January. Five out of his six victories were won with strikes and he finished all of them by using all the weapons of a striker, kicks, punches and knees. SHOJI’s next fight is on April 27th at Pancrase Shining Tour 3 where he will face Pancrase 5th ranked Koji Oishi.


Kwang Hee Lee

Korean Kwang Hee Lee is 21 years old and the current Spirit MC Welterweight Champion. Kwang hits very hard and is not afraid to soccer kick his opponents head repeatedly. He is 5-0 and all of his victories are by KO/TKO. His next fight is in SENGOKU II on May 18th where he will face Pride veteran Eiji Mitsuoka.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Sakuraba - "It's not 100% that I'm fighting"

--- How is the scab on your right knee doing?
The scab..um..somehow it healed ugh (laughter). But my other leg is swollen so it's impossible for me to be in the tournament....

--- What? But it was announced at the press conference.
That was a situation where I was asked to unlock the door for Funaki-san, and when I came to open the door, the matchup was announced (laughter).

--- So your opponent is Brazil Kyokushin's Andrews Nakahara.
He's a Kyokushin champion. It seems to me that karate guys know how to inflict pain...

--- On his profile, it says he has strong "Brazilian kicks".
But I have a Brazilian punch. It's a punch that I learned at Chute Boxe.

--- Will it be your first time to face a Kyokushin fighter?
Yup, it's my first time. Well as usual, it's a bit scary not knowing what's going to come my way. Even if I get the videos, I'm sure they'll only be of karate matches so it won't help me much... At any rate, I'm sure the kicks will hurt. But it's not like it's 100% that I'm fighting (laughter)"

--- Can you tell us the reason why you don't like tournaments? (laughter)
I don't like it that there's something after the finish line. I like to concentrate on one fight. There's also the problem with my leg.

--- Oh, do you mean the new injury to your left leg?
Heh. It's really swollen! Look, look! (rolls up his pant leg) It's swollen, right?

--- Yeah, a little bit...
Whaaat? It's completely swollen! If you look at it from an angle, you can tell. See, see? Plus, I've been saying I can't participate in tournaments ever since I got in the ring last time to greet the fans.

--- It's just that your injury has shifted from your right leg to your left leg. (laughter)
Well if I have to say which one, my right leg is more seriously injured. Wait, not seriously injured - I mean critically injured. (laughter) Will it heal..hmm..probably not..ugh (laughter)

--- Your upcoming fight will be the first time that you represent Laughter7. Are there any differences from a mental state standpoint?
Not at all. It's not 100% decided so I'm not 100% into it. Actually, its always the case, but I don't get pumped up at all even when my matchup is decided. It's when I enter the arena on fight day that I get all pumped up.

--- Say you do fight at DREAM.2 (laughter). Since it's been a while since you've fought at Saitama Super Arena, I would guess that you have some strong feelings.
Oh..Saitama! But I think those feelings will come once I get to the arena. Last time at DREAM.1 I was there to shake hands with others, but not to fight, so yeah. But I think once the bell rings my feelings will change.

--- Do you like Saitama Super Arena?
Yes I like it. As soon as you get off the highway, you're at the arena. That's the best! In the past when I fought in Saitama, it was usually on Sundays. I'd blast down the empty highway, get off at the exit, and I'm already at the arena! That's the best!!

--- Wait, you're talking about traffic conditions? (laughter)
One time, I had a lackluster fight at Saitama. That day the traffic congestion was hell! (laughter)

--- Hahaha! So traffic conditions actually influence you. (laughter)
One time I was stuck in heavy traffic and at the moment I arrived at the parking garage, I went straight up to the ring for the opening ceremony. I had a really terrible fight (laughter).

--- Hopefully there won't be any traffic on April 29 (laughter).
What day is April 29th?

--- It's a Tuesday on a national holiday.
Oh, that's not good.... Is that the start of Golden Week? That's really bad! (laughter) Maybe I will take the train. But if I can't grab a seat that won't work because my legs are a ticking bomb (laughter). If I get kicked with the tips of some leather shoes I won't be able to fight!

--- You're going to have to pray for no traffic (laughter). Lastly, can you give some words of enthusiasm heading towards the fight with Nakahara?
Can I just say one thing?

--- What?
I look forward to it!...probably.

--- Probably? (laughter)
Yes probably. (laughter)

 

[Shogun Locc]

Ben Rothwell talks UFC, Adrenaline MMA, and whether he’s involved in a conflict of interest

CagePotato.com: Tell us about the new organization that you signed with, Adrenaline MMA. What’s your contract with them like and how did you decide to go with them instead of one of the other companies that offered you a deal?

I was trying to find the best company to go with. M-1 had been talking to me, obviously Monte Cox was the head of it and he gave me an idea of what they were looking at. I was trying to hold out while they figured out their business with Fedor. I had other organizations looking at me, but I wanted to wait and see what the best deal would be. Fedor’s management was just impossible to deal with, so that hurt M-1, but Monte and everyone else there decided, ‘Hey, we can still be an organization’, so they created Adrenaline.

They’re not missing a beat, because they had everything planned and now they can still go ahead with it, minus Fedor and the Russians. As soon as that was decided I got the phone call to get signed and I said absolutely.

It’s a good deal. Three fights, non-exclusive, so it’s a very cool thing for two reasons. Number one, I’m getting paid a flat rate win or lose. Now I can go out and just throw everything I have without worrying because I know I’m getting paid. The second thing is the non-exclusive thing. If there’s a lot of time between shows or an opponent doesn’t come through, if I a get a call from Japan I can go over there and fight. It’s very cool and I’m very happy.

Showing his journalistic chops, Fowlkes comes right out and asks Rothwell if he feels there’s a conflict of interest being managed by Monte Cox, who is also the CEO of Adrenaline MMA:

But since he’s your manager and he’s been working on this new organization, did you ever worry that he might not entertain or really pursue offers from other organizations because he wanted you for his company?

There is that possibility, but that’s when the dollar signs come into the picture. Would someone else offer me a better deal now? Maybe, but I know what they were offering prior to this, and it wasn’t what I’m getting now. Adrenaline has stepped up to pay me what I want, and the other companies, they missed their chance.

With the non-exclusive deal, I can almost tell you, though it hasn’t been announced, that you’re going to see me fight in another organization this year. I’ll be fighting for Adrenaline and another organization. I can almost guarantee you that. With that said, I’m not worried about missing other opportunities because of this.

I also found the following question pretty interesting…

Did you talk seriously with the UFC at any point, and do you think that a fighter these days still has to get to the UFC before he gets mainstream recognition?

The UFC is a big deal for a fighter because of the kind of recognition you get. So many people are watching it, so they are the big dog. They were interested in me, for sure, and they put offers on the table that weren’t bad. But there were other organizations that were offering more money and I didn’t want to pass that up.

I also knew that if something happened with these other organizations, the UFC would still be there. All I’m doing is building my stock and making a name for myself right now. Then, if and when I do go to the UFC, I have some name recognition, not just another guy who has to prove himself.

Two observations here.

First, Rothwell now has a lucrative three fight non-exclusive deal with Adrenaline MMA. I’ve read a lot of people complain that he’s managed by the same guy running Adrenaline, Cox. People complain about a conflict of interest, but I don’t see any downside for Rothwell.

The other thing I wanted to point out was the UFC’s decision to offer Rothwell a contract. In spite of so many promotions that are now in existence, we’ve yet to see very many bidding wars. In spite of their need for heavyweights and their financial resources, the UFC still opted not to get involved in a bidding war.

With the way the UFC is conducted its business, they remind me of the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots, and that’s not a bad thing. The Patriots and Eagles have been very successful despite the introduction of the salary cap to the NFL because they always manage their money well. Most importantly, they never allow the market to dictate value. They evaluate a player and decide what he’s worth to them. If the player’s asking price is in line with what they are offering, they make a deal. If not, they let the player go elsewhere. It’s as simple as that.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Affliction Update

MMAPayout.com has received unconfirmed reports that Affliction's promotional effort will move forward despite the collapse of a potential partnership with Golden Boy. The company's first show is now believed to be tentatively scheduled for July in Houston. Originally the promotion, with Golden Boy, was rumored to be targeting a June debut in Las Vegas.

The promotion is rumored to have signed a number of major fighters to non-exclusive contracts, although none have been announced, lucrative enough that multiple sources have told MMAPayout.com that the payroll of an event featuring all of the company's contracted fighters could far exceed the average UFC payroll.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Xtreme Couture GI Foundation 5K Freedom Run

The Xtreme Couture GI Foundation is holding a 5k run on May 17 in Henderson, Nevada. In addition to participating, sponsorship opportunities are available.

5-time UFC Champion Randy “The Natural” Couture started The Xtreme Couture GI Foundation after visiting with amputees at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. The foundation was especially formed to raise money and awareness for those wounded in action and their families. to date, more than 24,000 U.S. Troops have been wounded in the war against terrorism, which doesn’t include the many more suffering the mental effects. The Xtreme Couture GI Foundation’s goal is to help fit amputees with top of the line prosthetic devices to allow them to live a normal life and to continue living an active and athletic lifestyle.




FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL VALERIE AT
702-616-1022 (OFFICE) OR EMAIL [email protected]

 

[Shogun Locc]

Chonan is ready for the UFC 85

Chonan told the press about his next fight in the UFC which hasn't been announced officially yet but is almost determined. His opponent will be Roan "Jucao" Carneiro who he defeated by KO in DEEP though he was losing.

I got an offer a month ago. I wanted to fight someone who I have never fought before to be honest. I wasn't satisfied with our fight in DEEP and Jucao does better than me in the UFC, so I will have a good motivation to fight him again. I had minor injuries when I fought him. I believe I could have better fight if I was in the better condition.

Jucao complained that the ref broke in so many times and had demanded to rematch when he came to Japan for DEEP 25 IMPACT.

I'll finish him and shut his mouth. Though I admit he is one of the top class fighters who has good physical strength and great techniques. I see why he cannot be a top fighter in the UFC and I'll prove it. We fought under the DEEP rules which were different from the UFC. I will adjust myself to the UFC.

Chonan trained in Team Quest last April and Oct. He also went Thai to develop his Muay Thai techniques last Feb.

I'm going to keep training Muay Thai in Team Quest. I heard there were many Muay Thai coaches from Thailand in the US now. I drive to different gyms for training if needed, however, I think Team Quest at Temecula bring me many opportunities to exchange techniques with other fighters.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Aoki updated his blog

Shinya Aoki updated his blog on Mar 31.


Thank you for supporting me in DREAM. I'm not satisfied with the result and apologize to my fans for a delay updating my blog. Shinya Aoki has never given up and won't in the future. I will do all I can in anything.

Yarennoka! is a word which is a source of my power and encourages me a lot. Yarennoka also means a relationship of mutual trust. Whenever I was asked whether I can do or not, I think I already know my answer.

 

[rylor206]

Damn shogun you are a savage for posting this stuff up during fight night.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Damn shogun you are a savage for posting this stuff up during fight night.

well I do what I can

 

[Shogun Locc]

"Shamrock vs. Cung Le" Does $1.1 Million Gate

A crowd of 16,326 generated over $1.1 million of live gate revenue for the “Shamrock vs. Cung Le” mixed martial arts mega-event at San Jose’s HP Pavilion on Saturday, March 29th.
“It was an incredible night all around,” said Scott Coker, CEO, Strikeforce, which co-promoted the event with EliteXC. “Our main event between Frank Shamrock and Cung Le was an epic battle that lived up to, if not exceeded, everyone’s expectations. The energy in the arena was as electric and intense as that at a Superbowl. You could really sense the magnitude of the fight and what was at stake in it through the emotions each fighter’s thousands of fans were expressing.”

In the main event, Le was crowned the new Strikeforce world middleweight (185 lb. limit) champion after a broken right wrist forced Shamrock to retire between rounds three and four.

Prior to the stoppage, Le was imposing his will with repeated round kicks to the body and side of Shamrock’s head as well as quick hands that found their mark on Shamrock’s face.

In the second half of the third round, though, Shamrock made a bold stand, backing Le into one side of the cage and tagging him with several punch combinations that appeared to put Le in trouble.

Two days prior to the event, NBC and Strikeforce announced that their two entities had entered a partnership agreement to produce the first-ever 52 week mixed martial arts series for a major TV network. “Strikeforce on NBC” will air every Saturday from 2-2:30 am ET, beginning on April 12th. Each show will be comprised of fighter profiles as well as Strikeforce mixed martial arts fights and highlights.

Before the close of 2008, three Strikeforce events will be distributed live on the Mark Cuban-owned HDNet. Strikeforce programming is also available in 22.5 million homes across Europe, The Middle East, and parts of Africa courtesy of Extreme Sports Channel.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Travis Lutter On Anderson Silva: "I'd Kick His Ass"

The Serial Killer" Travis Lutter was the guest on the most recent edition of PWB's Official Podcast Hotline with Lex and Ian, located at http://www.pwbpodcastlive.com. In a no-holds-barred interview, Lutter tackled several topics:
On his fight at UFC 83 against Rich Franklin:

"You know it's basically just like every other fight like mine, I'm gonna take him down and I'm gonna beat him up and do what I do man."

On a potential rematch with UFC middleweight champion, Anderson Silva:

"I'd kick his ass, you know, that's the way I look at it. I think Anderson's a great fighter and he does what he does, and I think he's probably the best stand-up fighter out there. But I think I have the unique ability to be able to take him down and beat him up and I was showing that in the fight right up until the time I got caught…"

On potential contenders for Anderson Silva's middleweight title:

"In the UFC, I don't really see anybody else that's gonna beat him, you know at 185 pounds. You know, I mean there might be a dark horse out there, you know, that's kind of flying under the radar. Demian Maia, he's looked good, but he hasn't faced really tough competition yet…it'll be interesting to see how he does as he faces tougher and tougher competition…other than that, I really don't see anybody that the UFC has that's gonna beat Anderson."

 

[Shogun Locc]

RANDLEMAN ANNOUNCED FOR SENGOKU II

World Victory Road on Thursday officially announced the participation of former Ultimate Fighting Championship titleholder Kevin Randleman and New Zealander Jim York for its May 18 Sengoku II fight card. The event is scheduled to take place at the Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo.

Randleman confirmed his participation to MMAWeekly.com early in March, but his opponent has yet to be announced. He hasn’t competed since losing to Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in October 2006.

Randleman is also signed to face Jeff Monson in June at the Global Fighting Championships in Charlotte, N.C.

Based out of New Zealand, York has fought his past three fights in Asia, including his last two in Tokyo. He has amassed a 9-1 professional record without ever going to a decision.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Exclusive: The African Assassin: Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou

PunchDrunkGamer’s Dave Carpinello had a chance to speak with light-heavyweight “Sokoudjou” about his upcoming fight with Kazuhiro Nakamura at UFC 84, training with Team Quest and his experiences in the world of mixed martial arts.

PDG: What have you been doing since your last fight with Lyota Machida?
Sokoudjou: I have been hiding from the public eye and training. I have been working on some things that I needed to improve on that I didn’t work on before my last fight.

PDG: What is your current training schedule?
Sokoudjou: Two sessions per day and usually five days a week. On Saturdays, sometimes I train and sometimes I just take it easy and sleep so that my body can recuperate.

PDG: How many hours are the workouts when you are doing two a days?
Sokoudjou: It depends on what we are working on; the sessions can be very long sometimes and very short other times. It also depends on how I feel, I have to listen to my body and not over-train.

PDG: What do you know about your opponent; Kazuhiro Nakamura?
Sokoudjou: He is a pretty tough guy with good grappling. He doesn’t have perfect striking but he is good at, so I would have say that he is a well rounded fighter. He makes it tough for his opponents to get to him. I think this is going to be a very good fight.

PDG: Do you see any advantages that you think you will have in this fight?
Sokoudjou: I am prettier than him [laughs]. Does that count?

PDG: Maybe in the eyes of the ring girls........
Sokoudjou: [laughs] It is a fight that you might think you have an advantage in some area but nowadays fighters are very well rounded. It is about the fighter who shows up in better shape and is more prepared for the fight. So, I don’t really see myself as having any advantages, I just need to make sure that I am ready and that I show up to fight.

PDG: What changes to your game have you made since your loss to Machida?
Sokoudjou: I think I was over-training and not listening to my body. I am training smarter this time around and I am just trying to be the best fighter at the gym.

PDG: Who are training partners this time?
Sokoudjou: Right now, Dan Henderson and some other guys. Next week I have some other fighters coming in to work with me and get me ready for next month. It will be a gym full of strikers, wrestlers and grapplers.

PDG: Last week you were in the corner of Brian Stann at the WEC event, when he knocked out Doug Marshall. What did you think of his victory?
Sokoudjou: It was beautiful............I was nervous before the fight but I knew he would come out of the fight with the victory. He did exactly what we worked on in his training. I was very happy for him.

PDG: It was a short, furious fight and it looked like Stann might go down until he landed that left hook.
Sokoudjou: He knew "Rhino" was going to come at him swinging wildly. I think he did a good job covering himself and then did a great job with his counter-strikes.

PDG: Back to your career; what are some of the differences fighting in the cage in the UFC as opposed to the ring when you were in PRIDE?
Sokoudjou: I am not going to say that there is that much difference. When I was in PRIDE, they had the best fighters and now the UFC has the best fighters. As far as the cage versus the ring, when you are in the center of the ring or cage you don’t feel anything around you. I don’t think the cage had anything to do my performance against Machida. The UFC has the best fighters and I plan on becoming one of them someday soon.

PDG: Some fighters prefer one or the other; does it make a difference to you?
Sokoudjou: Actually the ring is tougher to fight in because guys can make it harder for you to take them down by holding onto the ropes. There are so many ways that you can use the ropes to your advantage that you cannot do in the cage. The only time that you can hold onto the cage is when you get your fingers into the holes. In the ring, you can use your elbow, your armpit, your knees and even your neck. The cage is much better for takedowns than the ring. In the ring, you can also take breaks by stepping out of the ropes.

PDG: You mentioned Dan Henderson; he recently lost to Anderson Silva. What did you think of the fight?
Sokoudjou: It was a pretty good fight up until when he got caught by that knee and then from there, he tried his best but.............Its a shame, he trained hard to go home with the belt but that is fighting, there is one winner and one who goes home without a victory.

PDG: How many fights would like to have this year including your upcoming one with Nakamura?
Sokoudjou: I would love to fight every three to four months. I hate being home, training when there is no fight scheduled. I would prefer to have materials to work on. It sucks that it takes six months between fights because I love to get in there and compete and I want to fight as many times as possible. I wish it was something that I could control but I can’t. If I could I would fight every month.

PDG: Is there anyone in particular that you would like to fight after Nakamura?
Sokoudjou: I really am just taking each fight one at a time. In the UFC, every opponent is a potential threat, so you don’t want to look past anyone. I would like to fight more often and it doesn’t matter who they put in front of me. I will be ready and I will show up and fight.

PDG: What has been your most memorable experience so far in MMA?
Sokoudjou: Seeing Wanderlei Silva in the front row was the best moment in MMA for me.

PDG: Anything that you would have done differently so far in your career?
Sokoudjou: I would have fought three to four fights between my last fight in PRIDE and my first fight in the UFC. Then again, I am a fighter and all I can do is train and wait for the businessmen to put the fights together. So more fights is the only thing I would have changed. I think that during that long layoff, I stayed the some because I didn’t really have anything to work on and other fighters were getting more experience in the cage.

PDG: Thanks again for your time; is there anything that you would like to add?
Sokoudjou: Thanks for the interview and to all my fans. I am looking forward to my fight in May at UFC 84. I want to thank all my sponsors and the fighters that train with me at Team Quest.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Horodecki looks to start 2008 with a bang


London, Ontario native and International Fight League (IFL) mixed martial artist Chris Horodecki was riding a wave of momentum into the final stretch of 2007. Undefeated in his professional career and with four wins already that year, many were expecting him to be crowned the company's first lightweight champion at the IFL World Grand Prix Finals in December.

In what is considered a big upset, Horodecki was defeated by Ryan Schultz after a series of nasty strikes on the ground.

2008 is after all a brand new year, and following some time off to refocus, Horodecki is looking to return to his winning ways. First on his hit-list is IFL newcomer Nate Lamotte on Fri., April 4 at IFL New Blood New Battles.

He took the time to speak with SLAM! Sports about his career and the state of MMA.

Q: What do you know about Nate Lamotte?

A: He's taking a step up in competition -- he's a local guy from the New York area -- he's trying to propel his career and I'm not going to let him do that. It's going to be a tough battle for him. I've seen him fight; he's a scrapper and he's definitely not going to lay down.

What have you been doing to get ready for him?

I know he's a wrestler so he's going to look to take me down -- it's no secret. Not a lot of fighters are going to want to play the stand-up game with myself or some of the other guys from my camp.

He'll try to take me down, get on top and earn the win, but I'm ready for that. I will have a little something to say about it.

With this being his first IFL fight, are you looking to make an example of him?

No, a fight's a fight, regardless of where it's held, how many rounds there are or if it's for the belt. At the end of the day, it's one man's will against another.

That's the whole game and I enjoy doing this. I prepare for every opponent with intensity and it shows come fight night.

You're coming off your first career loss to Ryan Schultz. What have you been doing differently since then?

I had to take a little step back and refocus. After that fight, my body was tired. Because of the grand prix, I had two hard fights and intense training camps back to back. It took a toll on my body.

So I went home to rejuvenate myself and then came back to the grind. I've been working on my wrestling a lot with Randy (Couture) and it's all going to show in this fight.

How long have you been training with Xtreme Couture?

Ever since they opened; they've been around for a year.

How has this affected your game?

It's a real confidence booster to see the level of competition in the same room. You know in the back for your mind that you're training with the world's best in all sorts of different disciplines, as well as MMA. Steel sharpens steel and that's the motto we go by here.

Assuming you get past Lamotte, what's next?

I just want to get back on the winning track. I had such a great run up until the end of last year. So I look to start off this year with a bang.

If I fight for the belt, I fight for the belt. If not, that's fine. I'm patient and I'll keep putting on exciting fights.

Are you looking for another match with Schultz?

Of course. We'll see how everything works out, but I can't think past my next fight.

Where do you rank the IFL in the world of MMA?

I definitely see them being up there in the chase. In terms of competition, our fighters are as good as any.

What's your reaction to some of the nasty comments Dana White has said about the IFL?

At the end of the day, he's a business man. The way I see it, there's enough pie for everyone to have a piece. You look at the UFC and they're being a little selfish ... they don't really want to give anyone a piece.

Just take a look at how they're suing Randy Couture. They don't want him to branch out and use his name for anything else.

He was pulled from a recent IFL show.

Exactly. They can't even use his name if he's cornering one of his fighters. It's ridiculous. I think it's selfish.

Who at 155 lbs. would you like to face in the future?

I'm not really into calling people out. I look at one fight at a time and I love what I do.

So you don't look at a fighter and say, "He'd be an interesting challenge for me?"

Not really. Anyone with a good stand-up game is going to make a recipe for an exciting fight. If someone's willing to trade, it's going to be an exciting fight.

One last thing, what's your prediction for the upcoming fight between Georges St. Pierre and Matt Serra?

I'm a huge Georges St. Pierre fan. Inside and outside of the ring, he's such a respectable person. Fortunately, I'll be there for the show. My training partner Sam Stout is also on the card.

I do predict Georges St. Pierre to come out on top and get his belt back. But if anyone deserves a championship, it's Matt Serra. He's had an up and down career, but he's always a scrapper and really likable guy.

But I do see Georges St. Pierre coming out on top.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Underdog Role A Familiar One For Lierley

Before June 1, 2007, Shad Lierley was a virtual unknown in the world of mixed martial arts. The former NYU wrestler sported a 2-0 record, though his friends and family still wondered about his decision to quit his job in real estate development to pursuer a career as a pro fighter.

In other words, Lierley was like any other fighter just beginning his career: striving for recognition, trying to make a name for himself. On the night of June 1, however, that all changed. That’s when Lierley turned in the performance of a lifetime in a three-round battle with Chris Horodecki.

Though Lierley would lose the decision, the bout was dubbed “fight of the year” by some, and the attention immediately put Lierley on the map. It looked as though his career was just taking off, but only now, ten months later, is Lierley finally getting back in the ring.

Despite all his promise, it took something as small as a toe injury to sideline Lierley and keep him from capitalizing on an opportunity to fight for a title in IFL World Grand Prix.

Now Lierley is hoping to put the disappointments of the past few months behind him and pick up where he left off last June. His toe is completely healed, he has his first fight in a weight class more suited to his natural size, and best of all, he gets to make his return with a title fight against one of the IFL’s most formidable champions, Wagnney Fabiano.

“Wagnney’s a tough guy and he’s world class on the ground,” said Lierley. “He’s tough anywhere, when you look at it. He’s been able to take down good wrestlers. He took down L.C. Davis with relative ease and he’s been submitting opponents left and right, so he’s no joke.”

In fact, Fabiano has submitted all his opponents in the IFL, and only once has he needed more than one round to do so. If Lierley is going to put an end to that streak and claim the featherweight title, he’s going to have to come up for an answer for Fabiano’s ground game.

“I’m not expecting this to be a ground war or a standing war. I’m expecting it to be an MMA fight. It can go anywhere.

“I’m not uncomfortable on the ground. I like being on the ground. That’s where all my training before I started MMA took place. I want to try and keep it standing because I like to stand and bang, but if we go to the ground I’m not going to freak out. If I’m on the bottom I’m going to fight to get up, and if I’m on top I’m going to ground and pound him.”

One difference between this bout and his previous MMA fights that Lierley expects will be to his benefit is the weight class. Having fought previously as a lightweight before the IFL and other organizations began to embrace the 145-pound division, Lierley can now finally compete against opponents closer to his own size.

“I love 145. It’s not a cut for me at all,” he says. “I’m eating healthy at 150, so I basically just skip breakfast and I’m there.”

It’s a unique position for a relatively inexperienced fighter to find himself in. Just a little over a year since turning pro, he has the chance to take a title from one of the world’s most respected featherweights.

Fabiano’s record speaks for itself, and it includes wins over fighters far more experienced than Lierley. That’s part of why the kid from Alaska knows he’s the underdog heading into this one.

Then again, the same was true heading into his bout with Chris Horodecki. This time, with the championship rounds ahead of him, Lierley will be striving for a different outcome.

One great fight put him on the map. One more could make him a champion.

 

[Shogun Locc]

'Butterbean'-Smith Now Headlining Yamma

Things have gotten even more complicated for Yamma Pit Fighting.

After a whirlwind of replacements, Sherdog.com has learned that Pat Smith will face Eric "Butterbean" Esch (Pictures) on Yamma's April 11 debut card in Atlantic City. Smith's manager, Tommy Rojas, confirmed the bout to Sherdog.com Wednesday evening.

Smith replaces Gary Goodridge (Pictures), who was originally slated to face Esch. However, FiveOuncesofPain.com reported on Wednesday that the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board, which has oversight on Yamma's card in Atlantic City, revealed that Goodridge would not be approved to fight due to health and safety concerns stemming from his knockout by Mu Bae Choi (Pictures) in South Korea on March 30.

Smith, 44, was originally penciled in to face Oleg Taktarov. However, the UFC 1 veteran was arrested on March 21 in Bryan County, Okla., after leading police on a high-speed motorcycle chase at speeds of up to 130 miles an hour. Smith was reportedly charged with felony attempting to elude, possession of a prescription drug without a valid prescription, and reckless driving. Charges were reduced to misdemeanors, Rojas told Sherdog.com, salvaging his fighter's appearance on the pay-per-view card.

The NJSACB also revealed to FiveOuncesofPain.com that the proposed bout between Mark Kerr (Pictures) and Oleg Taktarov has yet to be approved.

Kerr is still under indefinite suspension by the Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulation after failing prefight medical testing before a slated August 2007 bout with Sean O'Haire (Pictures). Kerr, named Taktarov's replacement opponent earlier this week, stepped in for Smith, who was himself a replacement for the Russian's original opponent, Don Frye (Pictures).