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Shogun Locc

Shogun Locc

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Feb 7, 2006
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Report: NSAC requires Sean Sherk to submit extra drug test

Former UFC lightweight champion Sean Sherk will be required to undergo additional drug testing prior to his showdown with reigning 155-pound kingpin, BJ Penn, at UFC 84: “Ill Will” at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 24, according to MMAPredictions.com.

The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) today voted in favor of the extra measure because the “Muscle Shark” tested positive for a banned anabolic agent (Nandrolone) in the wake of his successful title defense against Hermes Franca at UFC 73: “Stacked” in July 2007.

He was subsequently stripped of his crown, suspended and fined by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) — a ruling that he bitterly denies and blames on a mix of dietary supplements, shoddy lab work, breaches in the “chain of custody” and other factors.

It was enough to get his suspension reduced from 12 months to six; however, Sherk’s reputation has taken a big hit in the court of public opinion throughout the ordeal.

Sherk was apparently present for the NSAC proceedings via telephone and agreed to submit the extra sample during the week of April 21 — one full month prior to his fight with Penn.
 
Shogun Locc

Shogun Locc

Sicc OG
#2,162
Feb 7, 2006
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#2,162
Terry Martin trading in his MMA gloves for boxing gloves

UFC fighter Terry Martin will make his professional boxing debut on Saturday night in Villa Park, Illinois according to the Chicago Sun-Times:

‘‘Boxing was my first love,’’ Martin said. ‘‘I started in mixed martial arts after wrestling in college at Northern Illinois University.

‘‘It was a logical progression, but I’ve always had boxing in the back of my mind to get back to. Now’s a good time to get back to boxing, my training and sparring have been very good and I have no problem making weight. At this point I’m more excited about boxing than I am in MMA.’’

Martin will be fighting at 190 lbs. against Ricardo Upchurch, who is 0-1 according to any semblance of a record that I could find online. Apparently Martin has trouble making 185 lbs. in the UFC so fighting at 190 lbs. should be right up his alley. If anyone is in the Villa Park, IL area and has a chance to catch this fight this weekend, be sure to report back and let us know how things went for Martin in his pro debut.
 
Shogun Locc

Shogun Locc

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#2,163
Feb 7, 2006
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EXCLUSIVE ChokeHimOut Interview: Aaron Stark

ChokeHimOut.com recently caught up with Team Quest fighter Aaron Stark. Aaron talked with us about his upcoming fight May 16th at the Mohegan Sun for the IFL, how he is preparing for it and what his future plans are. Aaron also talked about his college wrestling days and being part of Mensa...

C.H.O: Can you tell me about your wrestling experience and who you have wrestled for?

AS: Basically I started out wrestling when I was five years old. I continued to wrestle all the way through college when I won the state title in Oregon my senior year and I got a scholarship to go to the University of Wisconsin. I wrestled as a four year starter for them. I qualified for the NCAA's three times, although I was never an All American. My senior year I lost the last match to become an all American in double overtime so that didn't sit well with me. I did win the freestyle title at theUniversity Nationals the following year, but pretty much ended my wrestling career unsatisfied as I think many are apt to do.

C.H.O: What made you want to go from wrestling into MMA?

AS: I was a fan from the early days of the UFC. I started watching around UFC three or four. I was a big fan but at the same time I wasn't the type of guy that fought. I had never been in a street fight; I had always been kind of scared to fight people. I always thought maybe I would do okay because I had a wrestling background but it was something that was kind of foreign to me. Around 1999 I went on a trip to Poland for wrestling and Chael Sonnon was on that trip with me. I knew him somewhat because we were both from Oregon and both were in wrestling and stuff. Chael had mentioned that he was going to start fighting and kind of mentioned it to me to see if I was interested and really at that time I wasn't. I wish I would have jumped on it back then but it is what it is. After wrestling I moved back home and I missed the competition. My brother in-law Eric was a three time All American at the University of Wisconsin and wrestled along with me. Eric started doing jiu jitsu and I got interested in it and tagged along. I did jiu jitsu for about two years and did some submission wrestling tournaments and started having an interest in fighting. I went to a local amateur fighting event and at the main event one of the guys didn't show up. Randy Couture was doing the announcing for that event that night and he knew who I was from wrestling. He saw me in the audience and said "Why doesn't Aaron Stark come down here and compete". I wasn't going to do it because I had number of beers in me and wasn't in that good of shape. It really got the ball rolling in my mind as far as that goes.

C.H.O:You have two wins and two losses in the IFL so far. What lessons have you learned since fighting in the IFL?

AS: I am always trying to become a more well rounded fighter. I work on my mental preparedness for competing in front of a larger audience and some of the other shows that I have been a part of. Dealing with the ring as opposed to a cage is also important. More than anything I think it's just the same thing you get from fighting anywhere. You need to keep improving and getting better and better which I like to think I have done. I think I have improved markedly since my first fight in the IFL.

C.H.O: Your going into your next fight May 16th with an unannounced opponent as of yet. How important is this fight for you?

AS: You know there all important to me. People ask me "What are your goals in fighting", and I don't know maybe I'm just a crappy long term goal planner. I like to get the best fight that I can get, evaluate the opponent and try and bring my A game and go out there and win that fight. For me there about equal because every one of them is about the same in so far as it's the next fight that I have.

C.H.O: What areas of your game plan are you working the most right now?

AS: I've been working a lot with my submission game. Going from someone who just wants to try and dominate from the top to being a little more well rounded so that if the situation does arise, and I find myself on the bottom, I will be more equipped to deal with that. Also my striking has been a real focus point of mine. We have a new boxing coach at Team Quest and I have been working with him quite a bit, both when he is running practices and also in privates.

C.H.O: Walk me through a typical day of your training.

AS: I get up and I go to work which is about an hours drive from my home. I leave work a little early and drive another hour's drive to Team Quest. I'll do a team practice there. Usually we will do some techniques, rounds and some conditioning afterward. After that I practice what I feel I need to work on. I will go to the 24 hour fitness which I belong to and work cardio and do some weight lifting. Sometimes I will stick around and have an amateur practice at Team Quest later in the night. Sometimes that gives me a little bit of a chance to work with guys that maybe aren't quite as experienced as the guys that are there during the pro practice. It gives me openings to work on stuff that maybe I don?t have down pat just yet.

C.H.O: I read that you are a member of Mensa. What do your fellow Mensa members think about you fighting in MMA?

AS: I have no idea I have never been to a meeting. All Mensa is, is basically an organization that the only requirement for membership is that you score in the top two percent of the population in IQ. I just kind of did it on a whim. I really haven't done anything with it. When you think about it, it's actually kind of a bizarre group (laughs).

C.H.O: Tell me what the future holds for you.

AS: I came off with some injuries in 2007 and I was kind of down on myself. I really re-dedicated myself to training. I'm doing it every day of the week. I usually get at least two if not three workouts on the weekends. I'm just really focused on the whole aspect of fighting. With anything that you bring more dedication to, invariably there is more success.
 
Shogun Locc

Shogun Locc

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#2,164
Feb 7, 2006
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UFC Quick Quote: Jason MacDonald is pissed at Joe Doerksen

This is a guy that I beat fair and square in his home town. He was a UFC veteran and I stepped up to the challenge and beat him by choke in the fourth round. Now regardless of the crap Joe is talking those are the facts. He will say that the fight changed in the first round after I opened up a cut on Joe’s forehead. That is right, the fight did change due to a well timed blow from me that opened up a cut! That happens all the time in fighting, that’s what is all about! However, Joe had three more rounds to recover and get back on track but he did not and I was able to finish him off. There is a name for guys like Joe — it’s called a sore loser. When I lose, at least I do it like a man. So for Joe to keep talking crap is completely ridiculous all it is doing is making me lose respect for a guy I once respected as a fighter! Oh yeah, and it is really starting to piss me off and just add more fuel to my fire. The great thing is we will get to settle it in less then a week!”

– Middleweight Jason MacDonald comments via SportsNet.ca on his upcoming rematch with Joe Doerksen at UFC 83: “Serra vs. St. Pierre 2″ at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, on April 19. “The Athlete” defeated “El Dirte” via submission (rear naked choke) during a UCW event back in 2005. Both fighters are coming off losses and are looking for a win to stay in the 185-pound mix.
 
Shogun Locc

Shogun Locc

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Feb 7, 2006
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Buscapé promises revenge at Dream

After submitting the Japanese fighter Kazuyuki Miyata at Dream’s first edition, Luiz Buscapé already knows his opponent’s name or next lightweight GP, and it’s an already known opponent. At his fight at Pride Bushido 8, at 2005, Buscapé faces Tatsuya Kawajiri and was defeated at unanimous decision. “It’ll be the revenge I wanted for so long. At the first fight I was well but wanted to finish it faster, wasted too much strength and used the wrong strategy. Now we’re doing the right strategy and I’ll go to beat him”, promises the fighter, that already commented the possibility to face his friend Gesias Cavalcanti at Dream’s final.

“Gesias is a friend of mine since our beginning at Rio and I don’t have this motivation to fight against him, but if we need to fight at Dream’s final, I’ll do it. We’re all professional and after that it’ll be normal”, said Buscapé, that wants the belt. “I’m on the best shape of my life and want this belt”, said.
 
Shogun Locc

Shogun Locc

Sicc OG
#2,167
Feb 7, 2006
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ANTHONY JOHNSON: "I CAN HANG WITH GSP"
link: http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content2414.html?PHPSESSID=7fc278cb5a6191b18598911455c4aa1d
"Hopefully within the next 2 or 3 months. I'm keeping my weight down low right now. I honestly want to be on that Rampage and Forrest card on July 5th," stated UFC welterweight contender Anthony Johnson as he talked about his future plans after his impressive knockout victory over Tommy Speer during UFC Fight Night 13. You don't want to miss what he had to say about his performance, his future plans and much more as he promises "whenever the UFC calls me man, I'll be ready for an opportunity to shine again." Check it out!
 
Shogun Locc

Shogun Locc

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#2,168
Feb 7, 2006
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#2,168
Quick interview with Danish UFC fighter: Martin 'The Hitman' Kampmann

Martin 'The Hitman' Kampmann is without doubt one of the best fighters to come out of Europe. Boasting a record which includes 3 wins in the UFC and some spectacular knock outs, the Danish fighter was recently on an unbeaten tear which stretched back to 2005, before suffering a nasty knee injury last year.

Now well on his way to recovery, Martin in back in training and has every intention on making a splash in the middleweight division upon his return, as he explained to Ironlife.com.

What is your martial arts background?

I started out doing karate when I was a kid and later I started doing kickboxing, Thai boxing and amateur boxing - I had a couple of fights under that and then moved on to submission wrestling, my mma training followed on from there. I had watched a few of the UFC tapes and I was just curious.

What do you remember of your early fight with Xavier Foupa-Poukam?

He kept spitting out his mouthpiece. I think actually one of the times he didn’t spit it out - I punched it out of his mouth. He kept spitting it out because he was exhausted and the referee disqualified him for it. It’s not the best way to win, but still it’s a win, so, you know…

Moving on to your fight in the WFA – your first one in the United States, how did that one go?

I fought Edwin Aguilar, I took him down, he got back up – I kept him in the clinch and got him with some good knees. I caught him with an uppercut and knocked him down, I followed him to the floor and the referee stopped the fight.

Since then you’ve moved on to the UFC and had some quite impressive wins – which of the 3 fights do you think was your best?

Thales Leites was probably my best win – he was undefeated coming into the fight and he’s been on a good run after I beat him. So he’s probably my best win, I’d say.

Your most recent opponent, Drew McFedries – he’s an absolute monster and had been knocking people out left, right and centre. Were you at all concerned going into the fight?

I wasn’t concerned, there’s always a risk every time you fight. I changed my game plan up in the middle of the fight and took him to the ground. I didn’t plan to take him to the ground, I thought I’d stand up with him a little bit, but he caught me with some good shots and I thought, fuck this shit, and took him down.

Sorry to hear you got injured, is it ok to talk about what kind of injury you suffered?

I had an LCL tear and an ACL tear and my meniscus was torn. I had my ACL reconstructed, my LCL reconstructed and my meniscus corrected too. With the LCL, you can’t keyhole, you have to actually open up the knee, it’s a big surgery and that’s why I’ve been off for so long.

How have you coped with the recovery process?

It’s tough man, it’s tough to sit on the sidelines and see everyone else fight. You want to walk back in yourself. I’m in training now again though.

How was it that you found your way to Xtreme Couture?

In Summer ’06, I wanted to go to the United States and train. I didn’t know where I wanted to go, I thought about all kinds of different places. I sent out loads of emails.

I eventually met Mike Pyle in Denmark and asked him where he was training. He said he was over at Las Vegas – I ended up coming over and staying at his place in Vegas, he helped me out a lot. Now my home is over here, I’ve pretty much moved over here. There are so many good training partners! Everyone who trains with us.

As a UFC fighter, 185lbs is a funny division to be in at the moment, because if you do well, you might get the dubious honour of facing a complete nightmare; Anderson Silva – are you concerned at all about the prospect of fighting Silva?

I’ll take one fight at a time – it would be great to get that fight down the line, but I’m focussed on winning my next fights.

Have you got any fights signed at the moment?

I’ve got one scheduled, but it’s not official yet, so I can’t talk too much about it.

Apart from the champion – are there any people you want to fight at middleweight?

I have no-one in particular, I’m just going to keep working my way up and eventually fight for a title down the line, that would be awesome.
 
Shogun Locc

Shogun Locc

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Feb 7, 2006
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Mitsuhiro Ishida interview

Mitsuhiro Ishida had an interview with DREAM posted on April 08.



- Your opponent is Caol Uno in the Light tournament 2ND round. What do you think?
Well... He is a strong fighter and I just do my best.
- What did you think when you found out about Uno?
I was like "Does he fight? Really?" I thought he wasn't going to fight in the tournament because he didn't fight in the 1st round. When he said he wanted to fight in May, I though he was talking about one match. I'm not in the position to say anything about the decision the promoter made, although, all other fighters fought in the 1st round and advanced to the 2ND round. Aoki and Calvan fight in Apr and one of them may fight in May as well. It's not fair to start from the 2ND round. I wonder how he could accept this offer. I cannot believe him.
- I heard he was chosen based on his experiences in HERO'S. He will represent HERO'S...
Then, why didn't he start form the 1st round? Calvan is the one who represents HERO'S because he is a champion, but not Uno. A represenative of HERO'S, J.Z.Calvan, fights Aoki!
- So, you can't agree with?
Not at all! Only his supporters and his fans are happy about this decision. I don't know what other fighters think, but I cannot accept this decision.
- Kawajiri said "I have lots to say. I entrust Ishida in the role to show our feelings."
Yes. I was entrusted by Kawajiri. This feeling will be a good pressure and enhance my motivation. I will change my disgust into the energy.
- You cannot let him fight in the final?
Yes. I think so.
- What do you think about him as a fighter?
He is good at controlling his fight. He put pressure on his opponent in the second half. I think it's dangerous if I was put in his pace. He is mentally strong and has strong passion to MMA. That's what I have to be afraid of and he is a tough opponent for sure.
- What do you think you are better than him?
I have stronger motivation to this fight. I know he also has competitive spirit though. This fight will be all about pride.
- What do expect about your fight?
We will have a lot of movements.
- What is the turning point of wining and losing?
I think the concentration is a key. If I lose my attention, I will be put into his pace. He is an all round fighter and it is essential for me to keep my concentration, motivation and stamina to win.
- Everybody is excited to see your fight.
I should stay focused on my training without thinking about what everybody expects from me.
- Do you think you will definitely win? or it will be a big upset if you win?
I don't think my win will be a big upset. He has longer career in MMA and had good results in HERO'S, however, I fought in PRIDE. I don't think I'm in lower level than him, however, he could be stronger than I imagine.
- Any message?
I think there are many people who have same feeling about Uno with me. I will do my best to respond to their expectation.
 
Shogun Locc

Shogun Locc

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#2,170
Feb 7, 2006
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#2,170
Rumor: Fedor vs Sylvia undercard fights added

Just yesterday sherdog released that Fedor will be facing Tim Sylvia over the summer. DreamFighters.com has learned through some sources, and also on the Savage Dog Show, that they have added some fights to the fight card. Here are the rumored bouts:

Tim Sylvia Vs. Fedor

Andrei Arlovski Vs. Ben Rothwell

Babalu Vs. Mike Whitehead

Pedro Rizzo Vs. Josh Barnett

Alexander Emelienenko vs. TBA

These are however rumors, and from limited sources, but we will bring you confirmation once it happens.
 
Shogun Locc

Shogun Locc

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#2,173
Feb 7, 2006
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#2,173
STRIKEFORCE PREVIEWS ITS NBC DEBUT

SAN JOSE, Calif. – A minute and a half preview of “Strikeforce on NBC,” the 52-week mixed martial arts series that premieres from 2-2:30 a.m. ET tomorrow on NBC, is available for viewing on the official Strikeforce homepage. www.strikeforceusa.net

“Strikeforce on NBC” marks the debut of mixed martial arts programming on network television in The United States. The series will include fighter profiles as well as Strikeforce bouts and highlights.

The premiere episode is highlighted by a feature segment on newly crowned Strikeforce world middleweight champion Cung Le. The battle between Le and longtime rival Brian Warren, as well as the fight between Duane “Bang” Ludwig and Tony “The Freak” Fryklund will also air tomorrow night.

"Strikeforce on NBC" represents the latest addition to the network’s late night programming lineup and follows shortly after “Saturday Night Live,” the award-winning variety show in the midst of its 33rd season.
 
Robby2Slobby

Robby2Slobby

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#2,178
Jan 2, 2004
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I don't know what happened, but what I thought would happen after seeing the design is that every fight would go to the ground really fast since they can't stand up against anything and keep there balance, and it seems like the whole thing is just retarded.. I think it works for standing only stuff, but for a full on MMA rules thing, it seems like a terrible idea.
 
Robby2Slobby

Robby2Slobby

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#2,180
Jan 2, 2004
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HDNet is like only a satellite dish thing right now, I think.. i'm not sure.. i might be switching up to direct tv soon if comcast doesn't straighten shit out and pick up the big ten network by football season, so i'll be able to watch shit on hdnet, too, which is cool.
 
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