MMA News Thread
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Sato-Tamura, Inoue-Young Set for Shooto
Shooto promoter Sustain has nearly completed its May 3 lineup at JCB Hall in Tokyo. Four fights have been added to the card, including opponents for Shooto stars Rumina Sato (Pictures) and "Lion Takeshi" Takeshi Inoue (Pictures).
In a 143-pound contest, Sato will take on recently deposed Shooto world champion Akitoshi Tamura (Pictures).
One of 2007's most unlikely breakout fighters, Tamura lost the Shooto world championship to equally unlikely challenger Hideki Kadowaki (Pictures) via majority decision in a lackluster affair last month.
Curiously, Sato's last action came in September, when he was upset by the aforementioned Kadowaki, who choked out the iconic shootor in the first round.
Also in 143-pound action, Inoue, another former Shooto world champion, will take on an unexpected opponent in Trenell "Savant" Young. Inoue has won both of his bouts since losing his title to Akitoshi Tamura (Pictures) last May, submitting Dutchman Marc Duncan (Pictures) in July before hammering Katsuya Toida (Pictures) to a unanimous decision last November. Young hasn't fought since dropping a unanimous decision to Deividas Taurosevicius (Pictures) last August.
Despite his resume, Young has been granted only a Class B Shooto license, casting his bout with Inoue as a two-round affair.
In other Class B action, Sustain has announced a 143-pound contest between Hayate Usui (Pictures) and Sakae Kasuya (Pictures), and a 115-pound bout between Noboru Tahara (Pictures) and Katsuya Murofushi (Pictures).
The promotion also announced the official participation of up-and-coming lightweights Yusuke Endo (Pictures) and Shinji Sasaki (Pictures).
Sherdog.com previously reported that either Endo or Sasaki would potentially face Frenchman Bendy Casimir (Pictures) pending Casimir's April 19 bout in England with Andre Winner (Pictures). Casimir defeated Winner by majority decision, which clears the way for a May 3 fight in Japan notwithstanding an injury coming out of his bout with Winner.
Shooto promoter Sustain has nearly completed its May 3 lineup at JCB Hall in Tokyo. Four fights have been added to the card, including opponents for Shooto stars Rumina Sato (Pictures) and "Lion Takeshi" Takeshi Inoue (Pictures).
In a 143-pound contest, Sato will take on recently deposed Shooto world champion Akitoshi Tamura (Pictures).
One of 2007's most unlikely breakout fighters, Tamura lost the Shooto world championship to equally unlikely challenger Hideki Kadowaki (Pictures) via majority decision in a lackluster affair last month.
Curiously, Sato's last action came in September, when he was upset by the aforementioned Kadowaki, who choked out the iconic shootor in the first round.
Also in 143-pound action, Inoue, another former Shooto world champion, will take on an unexpected opponent in Trenell "Savant" Young. Inoue has won both of his bouts since losing his title to Akitoshi Tamura (Pictures) last May, submitting Dutchman Marc Duncan (Pictures) in July before hammering Katsuya Toida (Pictures) to a unanimous decision last November. Young hasn't fought since dropping a unanimous decision to Deividas Taurosevicius (Pictures) last August.
Despite his resume, Young has been granted only a Class B Shooto license, casting his bout with Inoue as a two-round affair.
In other Class B action, Sustain has announced a 143-pound contest between Hayate Usui (Pictures) and Sakae Kasuya (Pictures), and a 115-pound bout between Noboru Tahara (Pictures) and Katsuya Murofushi (Pictures).
The promotion also announced the official participation of up-and-coming lightweights Yusuke Endo (Pictures) and Shinji Sasaki (Pictures).
Sherdog.com previously reported that either Endo or Sasaki would potentially face Frenchman Bendy Casimir (Pictures) pending Casimir's April 19 bout in England with Andre Winner (Pictures). Casimir defeated Winner by majority decision, which clears the way for a May 3 fight in Japan notwithstanding an injury coming out of his bout with Winner.
Lombard Arrives in U.S.
When Hector Lombard (Pictures), a 2000 Olympian in judo, was scheduled to face Karo Parisyan (Pictures) last year, one question immediately came to mind: How could a Cuban refugee living in Australia obtain a visa into the United States?
The question remained after one denial. Then Lombard returned a second time to the U.S. Embassy and received another resonant no on his application to enter the United States.
Six months later ProElite has signed the current Australian Cage Fighting Championship middleweight champion. In fact, Lombard is already in the United States, where he trained in Hollywood, Calif., before moving on to Team Quest in Temecula.
"I'm an Australian citizen now," Lombard explained. "This is a big difference from the first time I tried to come."
With that question solved, another has materialized. Why did Lombard choose EliteXC instead of the UFC?
"I opted for EliteXC because I can fight more and I can act in [Australia] as well," said Lombard, explaining that the EliteXC contract was more flexible. "Soon this sport will be really big in Australia. Everyone already talks about it, and the last CFC was in the newspaper, channel 9 and 10 FoxSport. Australian people are tough. Plus we play rugby, the hardest game of all. I believe MMA will be the future sport."
Lombard doesn't know yet when he will debut in the United States or whom he will fight. First he will defend his CFC belt against Fabiano Capoani (Pictures) on May 23 in Australia.
When Hector Lombard (Pictures), a 2000 Olympian in judo, was scheduled to face Karo Parisyan (Pictures) last year, one question immediately came to mind: How could a Cuban refugee living in Australia obtain a visa into the United States?
The question remained after one denial. Then Lombard returned a second time to the U.S. Embassy and received another resonant no on his application to enter the United States.
Six months later ProElite has signed the current Australian Cage Fighting Championship middleweight champion. In fact, Lombard is already in the United States, where he trained in Hollywood, Calif., before moving on to Team Quest in Temecula.
"I'm an Australian citizen now," Lombard explained. "This is a big difference from the first time I tried to come."
With that question solved, another has materialized. Why did Lombard choose EliteXC instead of the UFC?
"I opted for EliteXC because I can fight more and I can act in [Australia] as well," said Lombard, explaining that the EliteXC contract was more flexible. "Soon this sport will be really big in Australia. Everyone already talks about it, and the last CFC was in the newspaper, channel 9 and 10 FoxSport. Australian people are tough. Plus we play rugby, the hardest game of all. I believe MMA will be the future sport."
Lombard doesn't know yet when he will debut in the United States or whom he will fight. First he will defend his CFC belt against Fabiano Capoani (Pictures) on May 23 in Australia.
WEC fighters could be headed to UFC
Fighters from the Ultimate Fighting Championship's partner organization, World Extreme Cagefighting, could be headed to the UFC as the organization tries to further distinguish the two fight promotions.
According to a recap of Dana White's UFC 83 fan Q&A session provided by the Canadian Press, some of the WEC's middleweights and light heavyweights could be folded into the UFC.
"We're going to make the WEC the smaller weights and the UFC will be the heavier weights," White said. "We'll probably take some of the guys in the higher weights, the champions over there and bring them into UFC. We're still trying to figure that out."
The most intriguing options come from the WEC's middleweight division, which includes champion and world top-five middleweight Paulo Filho and top challenger Chael Sonnen. (In fact, Sonnen is listed on the UFC.com roster of fighters.)
The new blood could provide some instant contenders in the UFC's thin middleweight division. Currently, champion Anderson Silva has breezed through the competition, already defeating top contenders Rich Franklin, Nate Marquardt and Dan Henderson.
There are some other options, such as Ricardo Almeida, Martin Kampmann, Thales Leites, Michael Bisping and Patrick Cote, but all are probably a few wins away from a title shot. None arguably have the starpower to carry a main-even fight -- not without a few more wins, anyway.
After his victory over Matt Serra to reclaim the UFC's welterweight title, Georges St. Pierre has been discussed ad nauseam as a potential opponent for Silva. While St. Pierre and Silva are both open to the idea, the UFC is unlikely to book the two fighters and sacrifice one of its champs unless all other options are exhausted -- or unless the mega-fight is used to promote an event in New York City or some other new host site.
Filho, who recently entered rehabilitation for an unspecified drug problem, would seem the logical choice for Silva's opponent, but the former training partners and friends say they're unwilling to fight each other. Still, Filho could be a solid opponent for Franklin or Henderson, world-class fighters and huge fan favorites who failed in recent title shots.
One WEC division that has struggled mightily since the UFC purchased the organization in December 2006 is light heavyweight. Long-reigning former champ Doug Marshall was never really promoted like other title-holders, and he recently lost the belt to Brian Stann, a marketable war veteran -- but a fighter with just six career fights. The WEC has struggled to find contenders.
Don't be surprised if that division is the first to go.
Regardless, White's recent comments should cool recent rumors that the UFC might fold the WEC completely. Although the organization has a deal with the Versus network, the WEC hasn't exactly been a major draw. A March 26 event in Las Vegas drew just 697 paid attendees for a meager gate of $107,150. However, the organization recently left Sin City for the first time post-Zuffa to go to New Mexico, and the WEC will head to Sacramento in June for a fight between WEC featherweight champ Urijah Faber and Jens Pulver. It's expected to be Zuffa's biggest WEC event to date.
Fighters from the Ultimate Fighting Championship's partner organization, World Extreme Cagefighting, could be headed to the UFC as the organization tries to further distinguish the two fight promotions.
According to a recap of Dana White's UFC 83 fan Q&A session provided by the Canadian Press, some of the WEC's middleweights and light heavyweights could be folded into the UFC.
"We're going to make the WEC the smaller weights and the UFC will be the heavier weights," White said. "We'll probably take some of the guys in the higher weights, the champions over there and bring them into UFC. We're still trying to figure that out."
The most intriguing options come from the WEC's middleweight division, which includes champion and world top-five middleweight Paulo Filho and top challenger Chael Sonnen. (In fact, Sonnen is listed on the UFC.com roster of fighters.)
The new blood could provide some instant contenders in the UFC's thin middleweight division. Currently, champion Anderson Silva has breezed through the competition, already defeating top contenders Rich Franklin, Nate Marquardt and Dan Henderson.
There are some other options, such as Ricardo Almeida, Martin Kampmann, Thales Leites, Michael Bisping and Patrick Cote, but all are probably a few wins away from a title shot. None arguably have the starpower to carry a main-even fight -- not without a few more wins, anyway.
After his victory over Matt Serra to reclaim the UFC's welterweight title, Georges St. Pierre has been discussed ad nauseam as a potential opponent for Silva. While St. Pierre and Silva are both open to the idea, the UFC is unlikely to book the two fighters and sacrifice one of its champs unless all other options are exhausted -- or unless the mega-fight is used to promote an event in New York City or some other new host site.
Filho, who recently entered rehabilitation for an unspecified drug problem, would seem the logical choice for Silva's opponent, but the former training partners and friends say they're unwilling to fight each other. Still, Filho could be a solid opponent for Franklin or Henderson, world-class fighters and huge fan favorites who failed in recent title shots.
One WEC division that has struggled mightily since the UFC purchased the organization in December 2006 is light heavyweight. Long-reigning former champ Doug Marshall was never really promoted like other title-holders, and he recently lost the belt to Brian Stann, a marketable war veteran -- but a fighter with just six career fights. The WEC has struggled to find contenders.
Don't be surprised if that division is the first to go.
Regardless, White's recent comments should cool recent rumors that the UFC might fold the WEC completely. Although the organization has a deal with the Versus network, the WEC hasn't exactly been a major draw. A March 26 event in Las Vegas drew just 697 paid attendees for a meager gate of $107,150. However, the organization recently left Sin City for the first time post-Zuffa to go to New Mexico, and the WEC will head to Sacramento in June for a fight between WEC featherweight champ Urijah Faber and Jens Pulver. It's expected to be Zuffa's biggest WEC event to date.
Kawamura vs. Randleman announced for "Sengoku II"
Hard-hitting Ryo Kawamura (8-2-2), a longtime Pancrase fighter, has been selected to fight former UFC and PRIDE fighter Kevin Randleman (16-12) at World Victory Road's "Sengoku II" event.
The Japanese-based organization made the announcement earlier today. The event takes place at the Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo, Japan.
Kawamura, a light heavyweight who's finished five of his eight career victories via knockout, will make his second WVR appearance. The 26-year-old competed at the first Sengoku show and defeated previously undefeated Antonio Braga Neto (5-1) via unanimous decision.
Randleman, who held the UFC heavyweight title from November 1999 to November 2000, will fight for the first time in 19 months. After an October 2006 loss to Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at PRIDE 32, Randleman failed a drug test (for submitting a fake sample), was hospitalized with kidney damage in January 2007, was arrested for drunk driving in August 2007, and then suffered a nasty staph infection in October 2007 that left a softball-sized hole in his thigh.
Once one of the sport's most dominant fighters, the two-time NCAA Division I national wrestling champion has since lost five of his past six fights -- and seven of his past nine.
He's currently slated to headline a June 21 Global Fighting event against Jeff Monson.
In addition to Kawamura vs. Randleman, WVR on Monday confirmed that former UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett had also been booked for the event.
The latest WVR card now includes:
Josh Barnett vs. TBA
Kwang Hee Lee vs. Eiji Mitsuoka
Satoru Kitaoka vs. Ian Schaffa
Jorge Santiago vs. Yuki Sasaki
Yoshihiro Nakao vs. Jim York
Dan Hornbuckle vs. Mike Pyle
Ryo Kawamura vs. Kevin Randleman
Roger Gracie vs. TBA
Hard-hitting Ryo Kawamura (8-2-2), a longtime Pancrase fighter, has been selected to fight former UFC and PRIDE fighter Kevin Randleman (16-12) at World Victory Road's "Sengoku II" event.
The Japanese-based organization made the announcement earlier today. The event takes place at the Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo, Japan.
Kawamura, a light heavyweight who's finished five of his eight career victories via knockout, will make his second WVR appearance. The 26-year-old competed at the first Sengoku show and defeated previously undefeated Antonio Braga Neto (5-1) via unanimous decision.
Randleman, who held the UFC heavyweight title from November 1999 to November 2000, will fight for the first time in 19 months. After an October 2006 loss to Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at PRIDE 32, Randleman failed a drug test (for submitting a fake sample), was hospitalized with kidney damage in January 2007, was arrested for drunk driving in August 2007, and then suffered a nasty staph infection in October 2007 that left a softball-sized hole in his thigh.
Once one of the sport's most dominant fighters, the two-time NCAA Division I national wrestling champion has since lost five of his past six fights -- and seven of his past nine.
He's currently slated to headline a June 21 Global Fighting event against Jeff Monson.
In addition to Kawamura vs. Randleman, WVR on Monday confirmed that former UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett had also been booked for the event.
The latest WVR card now includes:
Josh Barnett vs. TBA
Kwang Hee Lee vs. Eiji Mitsuoka
Satoru Kitaoka vs. Ian Schaffa
Jorge Santiago vs. Yuki Sasaki
Yoshihiro Nakao vs. Jim York
Dan Hornbuckle vs. Mike Pyle
Ryo Kawamura vs. Kevin Randleman
Roger Gracie vs. TBA
More on Liddell injury, possible UFC 85 replacement
Chuck Liddell, the Ultimate Fighting Championship's most well-known star, has been pulled off the June 7 main event at the O2 Arena in London due to a partial hamstring tear suffered in training on April 11.
The UFC made the official announcement Monday after Liddell told company president Dana White about the severity of his injury. Liddell had continued light training over the past week in hopes he could salvage his pay-per-view main event fight with Rashad Evans.
It was the first time in Liddell's 10-year career that he has canceled a fight, which has included fighting Tito Ortiz twice with a torn MCL, and fighting Quinton Jackson in Japan with a torn quadriceps.
Liddell said the injury, which won't require surgery, took place while doing light training, and he heard the muscle pop. He was hoping it wasn't serious but trainer John Hackelman immediately thought he had hurt it pretty bad as the entire muscle became discolored.
"I hyperextended it," Liddell said. "I probably didn't warm up enough, or it was a freak injury.
"I think I can fight by August," said Liddell, who will need four to six weeks to rehab before he can begin hard training.
"Unfortunately, Chuck Liddell tore his right hamstring during training last week, and being the warrior that he is, he still wanted to fight, which is the reason everyone in the world loves him," said White in a release. "But I wouldn't let anyone fight with his leg looking that way. Let him heal and come back and fight when he is 100 percent."
Liddell said he was lucky that the partial tear was in the belly of the muscle and not the insertion, so it should heal faster.
After the injury, he continued to train his upper body and was swimming without much stress on his legs, while doctors advised him against fighting.
"I can't walk without a limp," he said, but noted the pain is manageable, and in recent days has been able to ride the bike, but not at a fast pace, and has started throwing light kicks in the swimming pool as well as doing bodyweight squats. But he can't push off or do any kind of normal fight training.
UFC is attempting to both get a replacement to face the undefeated Evans, 16-0-1, as well as add a couple of matches to the show to make up for Liddell not appearing. They are going to schedule 13 matches instead of 11 as originally planned. James "Sandman" Irvin, who tied a UFC record with an eight second knockout of Houston Alexander on April 2 in Broomfield, Colo., is among those under consideration.
Brandon Vera vs. Fabricio Werdum in a heavyweight match was the scheduled No. 2 match on the show.
The O2 Arena in London, which holds 16,200 fans for a UFC setup, was a few hundred tickets shy of sold out as of Monday according to UFC officials, who noted that even with higher ticket prices, sales were ahead of the pace of the debut show on Sept. 8 headlined by the Quinton Jackson vs. Dan Henderson UFC vs. Pride title unification match.
Liddell said he had never told White in advance about any injuries, but felt he had to tell him about this one. White, likely figuring if Liddell called to tell him about it that it had to be serious, told Liddell it wasn't a smart move to take the fight with the injury, which could worsen in training or fighting and threaten his career longevity.
Chuck Liddell, the Ultimate Fighting Championship's most well-known star, has been pulled off the June 7 main event at the O2 Arena in London due to a partial hamstring tear suffered in training on April 11.
The UFC made the official announcement Monday after Liddell told company president Dana White about the severity of his injury. Liddell had continued light training over the past week in hopes he could salvage his pay-per-view main event fight with Rashad Evans.
It was the first time in Liddell's 10-year career that he has canceled a fight, which has included fighting Tito Ortiz twice with a torn MCL, and fighting Quinton Jackson in Japan with a torn quadriceps.
Liddell said the injury, which won't require surgery, took place while doing light training, and he heard the muscle pop. He was hoping it wasn't serious but trainer John Hackelman immediately thought he had hurt it pretty bad as the entire muscle became discolored.
"I hyperextended it," Liddell said. "I probably didn't warm up enough, or it was a freak injury.
"I think I can fight by August," said Liddell, who will need four to six weeks to rehab before he can begin hard training.
"Unfortunately, Chuck Liddell tore his right hamstring during training last week, and being the warrior that he is, he still wanted to fight, which is the reason everyone in the world loves him," said White in a release. "But I wouldn't let anyone fight with his leg looking that way. Let him heal and come back and fight when he is 100 percent."
Liddell said he was lucky that the partial tear was in the belly of the muscle and not the insertion, so it should heal faster.
After the injury, he continued to train his upper body and was swimming without much stress on his legs, while doctors advised him against fighting.
"I can't walk without a limp," he said, but noted the pain is manageable, and in recent days has been able to ride the bike, but not at a fast pace, and has started throwing light kicks in the swimming pool as well as doing bodyweight squats. But he can't push off or do any kind of normal fight training.
UFC is attempting to both get a replacement to face the undefeated Evans, 16-0-1, as well as add a couple of matches to the show to make up for Liddell not appearing. They are going to schedule 13 matches instead of 11 as originally planned. James "Sandman" Irvin, who tied a UFC record with an eight second knockout of Houston Alexander on April 2 in Broomfield, Colo., is among those under consideration.
Brandon Vera vs. Fabricio Werdum in a heavyweight match was the scheduled No. 2 match on the show.
The O2 Arena in London, which holds 16,200 fans for a UFC setup, was a few hundred tickets shy of sold out as of Monday according to UFC officials, who noted that even with higher ticket prices, sales were ahead of the pace of the debut show on Sept. 8 headlined by the Quinton Jackson vs. Dan Henderson UFC vs. Pride title unification match.
Liddell said he had never told White in advance about any injuries, but felt he had to tell him about this one. White, likely figuring if Liddell called to tell him about it that it had to be serious, told Liddell it wasn't a smart move to take the fight with the injury, which could worsen in training or fighting and threaten his career longevity.
Matt Hughes: “I found myself rooting for Serra”
In Matt Hughes’ most recent blog entry on his website he gave his recap of the Matt Serra and Georges St. Pierre bout that took place this past Saturday at UFC 83.
From Matt-Hughes.com:
GSP had a good game plan to take Matt Serra down and wear him out. I found myself rooting for Serra at the end of the second round, I wanted him to make it to the third round. I thought if it would get to the third round GSP would decide to stand up with him and possibly knock him out. I just wanted Matt to get beat on for five rounds, not just two; but I knew the ref was about ready to stop it. The UFC said that if Serra loses I get him, but I don’t know when that will be. I’m going to guess six to eight months, so I’ve found myself watching my diet and exercising more.
In Matt Hughes’ most recent blog entry on his website he gave his recap of the Matt Serra and Georges St. Pierre bout that took place this past Saturday at UFC 83.
From Matt-Hughes.com:
GSP had a good game plan to take Matt Serra down and wear him out. I found myself rooting for Serra at the end of the second round, I wanted him to make it to the third round. I thought if it would get to the third round GSP would decide to stand up with him and possibly knock him out. I just wanted Matt to get beat on for five rounds, not just two; but I knew the ref was about ready to stop it. The UFC said that if Serra loses I get him, but I don’t know when that will be. I’m going to guess six to eight months, so I’ve found myself watching my diet and exercising more.
Din Thomas to drop to 145 lbs.
In a recent interview with MMA on Tap, UFC lightweight Din Thomas, discussed a drop down to featherweight (145 lbs.). The TUF 4 veteran made mention of the two consecutive defeats he has suffered recently to Kenny Florian (UFC Fight Night 11) and Josh Neer (UFC Fight Night 13) as a reason for the cut.
From MMA on Tap:
“The UFC’s lightweight division is the most complex division in the world,” Thomas said. “There’s like four different roads to a title shot going on right now and within any of the roads, no one can afford to lose. While I know I can win against any lightweight in the world on a given day, I fell twice in a row. Therefore, I’m going to bow out. Good luck to those guys. I’m going to drop down to 145 lbs and see if those guys down there will embrace me.”
Personally, I think this is a great idea provided he ends up in the WEC and the weight cut doesn’t completely zap him of energy. Thomas’ reach could prove to be quite a headache for the smaller featherweights as it is already a substantial problem for most 155 pounders. Add to that the possibility of a rematch with former UFC lightweight champion, Jens Pulver and I think it makes for a very positive move for Thomas.
In a recent interview with MMA on Tap, UFC lightweight Din Thomas, discussed a drop down to featherweight (145 lbs.). The TUF 4 veteran made mention of the two consecutive defeats he has suffered recently to Kenny Florian (UFC Fight Night 11) and Josh Neer (UFC Fight Night 13) as a reason for the cut.
From MMA on Tap:
“The UFC’s lightweight division is the most complex division in the world,” Thomas said. “There’s like four different roads to a title shot going on right now and within any of the roads, no one can afford to lose. While I know I can win against any lightweight in the world on a given day, I fell twice in a row. Therefore, I’m going to bow out. Good luck to those guys. I’m going to drop down to 145 lbs and see if those guys down there will embrace me.”
Personally, I think this is a great idea provided he ends up in the WEC and the weight cut doesn’t completely zap him of energy. Thomas’ reach could prove to be quite a headache for the smaller featherweights as it is already a substantial problem for most 155 pounders. Add to that the possibility of a rematch with former UFC lightweight champion, Jens Pulver and I think it makes for a very positive move for Thomas.
Kalib Starnes' Side of the Story
Starnes told The Fight Network that he requested his release from the remainder of his UFC contract, which had been carried over from his appearance on "The Ultimate Fighter" reality series and ensured him three fights per year.
"[UFC matchmaker] Joe Silva told me that it usually takes a couple of days for their legal department to complete the paperwork and that he would send me all of the paperwork to indicate that my contract has been dissolved," Starnes said. "Later on in the afternoon, after I had spoken to Joe Silva, a story was released by some reporter from Yahoo! in which Dana White said that he had released me from my contract. I received no documentation on that, and it came after I asked to be released."
Starnes - who dropped a unanimous decision to Quarry and was booed by his fellow Canadians for failing to engage - called White's comments unprofessional and inappropriate.
"In my opinion, it was inappropriate to make public statements regarding my character and my future and so on the way that he has, especially without having the courage and the respect to call me up and speak with me personally," Starnes said. "All of these comments come from a man that has never had a fight in his entire life who claims to be the ultimate authority on fighting and courage. I couldn't be happier than to be released from the most oppressive contract I've ever been under in my life."
According to the American Top Team-trained fighter, injuries led to his switch from an offensive to defensive mode against Quarry. For a majority of the fight, Starnes back pedaled out of harm's way and away from his opponent's dangerous punches. A former challenger for the UFC middleweight championship, Quarry battered Starnes with leg kicks throughout the three-round bout.
"Right now, I have a broken foot [that] I sustained with the first kick I threw in the fight," Starnes said. "My leg is purple and black from my knee up, I have a black eye, a sprained jaw, and he's questioning my desire to fight? If that isn't enough to satisfy him and the crowd, I can show them the medical report. I can barely walk. [Quarry] totally destroyed my thigh with those kicks. I'm sure a lot of people would rather see me suffer a traumatic brain injury and be rendered unconscious. That's too bad. If that's what they want, they're paying the wrong guy $10,000 to get his brain smashed in."
Starnes then invited White to walk a few feet in his shoes.
"Dana White wouldn't stand and trade with a guy [like Quarry] who had an 80 or 90 percent knockout ratio with injuries like I had Saturday night," Starnes said. "He wouldn't cross the street for $10,000. I don't have anything to prove to anybody. I'm not about to stand there and get smashed to pieces. After I knew my foot was broken, I was trying to back up and work off the jab and keep moving so I didn't get knocked out."
Starnes told The Fight Network that he requested his release from the remainder of his UFC contract, which had been carried over from his appearance on "The Ultimate Fighter" reality series and ensured him three fights per year.
"[UFC matchmaker] Joe Silva told me that it usually takes a couple of days for their legal department to complete the paperwork and that he would send me all of the paperwork to indicate that my contract has been dissolved," Starnes said. "Later on in the afternoon, after I had spoken to Joe Silva, a story was released by some reporter from Yahoo! in which Dana White said that he had released me from my contract. I received no documentation on that, and it came after I asked to be released."
Starnes - who dropped a unanimous decision to Quarry and was booed by his fellow Canadians for failing to engage - called White's comments unprofessional and inappropriate.
"In my opinion, it was inappropriate to make public statements regarding my character and my future and so on the way that he has, especially without having the courage and the respect to call me up and speak with me personally," Starnes said. "All of these comments come from a man that has never had a fight in his entire life who claims to be the ultimate authority on fighting and courage. I couldn't be happier than to be released from the most oppressive contract I've ever been under in my life."
According to the American Top Team-trained fighter, injuries led to his switch from an offensive to defensive mode against Quarry. For a majority of the fight, Starnes back pedaled out of harm's way and away from his opponent's dangerous punches. A former challenger for the UFC middleweight championship, Quarry battered Starnes with leg kicks throughout the three-round bout.
"Right now, I have a broken foot [that] I sustained with the first kick I threw in the fight," Starnes said. "My leg is purple and black from my knee up, I have a black eye, a sprained jaw, and he's questioning my desire to fight? If that isn't enough to satisfy him and the crowd, I can show them the medical report. I can barely walk. [Quarry] totally destroyed my thigh with those kicks. I'm sure a lot of people would rather see me suffer a traumatic brain injury and be rendered unconscious. That's too bad. If that's what they want, they're paying the wrong guy $10,000 to get his brain smashed in."
Starnes then invited White to walk a few feet in his shoes.
"Dana White wouldn't stand and trade with a guy [like Quarry] who had an 80 or 90 percent knockout ratio with injuries like I had Saturday night," Starnes said. "He wouldn't cross the street for $10,000. I don't have anything to prove to anybody. I'm not about to stand there and get smashed to pieces. After I knew my foot was broken, I was trying to back up and work off the jab and keep moving so I didn't get knocked out."
UFC 85: Michael Bisping vs. Chris Leben? (Update)
Preface: This is a theoretical post for the most part and not a fight announcement. UPDATE: MMAmania.com has just learned that Leben has signed a contract to fight in London … hmmm.
Sherdog.com is reporting that James Irvin is being considered as a possible replacement for the injured Chuck Liddell to take on Rashad Evans at UFC 85 in London, England, on June 7.
That doesn’t seem to make much sense … not as a main event, anyway.
Of course, options are limited because there aren’t too many marquee match ups that can headline a major UFC event with about six weeks notice. Georges St. Pierre vs. Jon Fitch for the welterweight title would be the logical fight — both fighters are in shape.
However, “Rush” has complained about some injuries (shoulder/hand) in some post UFC 83 fight interviews. And it’s doubtful that he would risk further injury and take a big fight less than 100 percent on short notice.
Moving the 205-pound showdown between Wanderlei Silva and Keith Jardine slated for UFC 84: “Ill Will” is an option. However, booking a 185-pound tilt between sluggers Michael Bisping and Chris Leben might be a better one.
Why not?
Sure, it doesn’t have a Liddell-type draw … but what fights do besides others that include Tito Ortiz? And we all know that’s not going to happen.
Leben called out Bisping and “The Count” is a popular local attraction. “The Crippler” is one of the best personalities to market a fight — love him or hate him — and is on a nice little run.
No matter what happens it’s safe to say that fans are going to complain short of a title fight. And those chances are slim. In short, the ace up the sleeve right now is to include Bisping on this card and hopefully add another solid match up (who knows — that could be Evans vs. Irvin after all).
Let’s remember: There are some nice fights already slated for this event such as Marcus Davis vs. Mike Swick, Brandon Vera vs. Fabricio Werdum, Nate Marquardt vs. Thales Leites … this list goes on.
Add two more solid, high-profile fights — one that includes Bisping (who has already been a main eventer in New Jersey of all places) — and that might be the answer.
Time will tell.
Preface: This is a theoretical post for the most part and not a fight announcement. UPDATE: MMAmania.com has just learned that Leben has signed a contract to fight in London … hmmm.
Sherdog.com is reporting that James Irvin is being considered as a possible replacement for the injured Chuck Liddell to take on Rashad Evans at UFC 85 in London, England, on June 7.
That doesn’t seem to make much sense … not as a main event, anyway.
Of course, options are limited because there aren’t too many marquee match ups that can headline a major UFC event with about six weeks notice. Georges St. Pierre vs. Jon Fitch for the welterweight title would be the logical fight — both fighters are in shape.
However, “Rush” has complained about some injuries (shoulder/hand) in some post UFC 83 fight interviews. And it’s doubtful that he would risk further injury and take a big fight less than 100 percent on short notice.
Moving the 205-pound showdown between Wanderlei Silva and Keith Jardine slated for UFC 84: “Ill Will” is an option. However, booking a 185-pound tilt between sluggers Michael Bisping and Chris Leben might be a better one.
Why not?
Sure, it doesn’t have a Liddell-type draw … but what fights do besides others that include Tito Ortiz? And we all know that’s not going to happen.
Leben called out Bisping and “The Count” is a popular local attraction. “The Crippler” is one of the best personalities to market a fight — love him or hate him — and is on a nice little run.
No matter what happens it’s safe to say that fans are going to complain short of a title fight. And those chances are slim. In short, the ace up the sleeve right now is to include Bisping on this card and hopefully add another solid match up (who knows — that could be Evans vs. Irvin after all).
Let’s remember: There are some nice fights already slated for this event such as Marcus Davis vs. Mike Swick, Brandon Vera vs. Fabricio Werdum, Nate Marquardt vs. Thales Leites … this list goes on.
Add two more solid, high-profile fights — one that includes Bisping (who has already been a main eventer in New Jersey of all places) — and that might be the answer.
Time will tell.
Big John McCarthy UFC comments on Dana White and more (Video)
videolink: http://mmamania.com/2008/04/22/big-john-mccarthy-ufc-comments-on-dana-white-and-more-video/
videolink: http://mmamania.com/2008/04/22/big-john-mccarthy-ufc-comments-on-dana-white-and-more-video/
Pro Elite 10-K Notes
ProElite released its 10-K annual report last week. The company has lost a total of $31.3 million through the end of 2007, including $27.1 million last year alone. As with the IFL, the company's auditors have also expressed "substantial doubt" about ProElite's ability to continue as a going concern. However, the company's practical reality is much brighter thanks to the continued financial support of CBS/Showtime, whereas the IFL must find a financial patron.
The company generated $5.3 million in revenue in 2007 including $4.6 million in live event revenue, $447,679 in television and pay-per-view revenue, and $184,192 in merchandise, DVDs, and licensing fees. Live event expenses total $9.6 million including $2.9 million in production costs paid to Showtime. The company ran 18 events which would bring the cost per event to around $533,000, nearly one-third of the $1.2 million per event spent by the IFL. The difference would seem to be a step discount in production costs provided by Showtime, however, that's really just speculation, especially in comparing across companies and accounting practices.
In 2007 the company received no license fee from Showtime and bore all the production costs. This year the company will be receiving a licensing fee, reported by Dave Meltzer to be between $50,000 (for ShowXC events) up to $500,000 (for major events), to be split between ProElite and Showtime and the network will bear the cost of production. As part of the deal Showtime received a number of stock warrants and the right to appoint one member of the ProElite board of directors.
ProElite.com was the most eye catching item line on the company's balance sheet, costing $3.3 million in 2007 while generating only $68,782 in revenue. That is a mind boggling amount of money to spend on a website. The website is an integral part of the company's business plan:
Our business plan is to capitalize on the popularity and growth of mixed martial arts in building an “elite” fight brand, EliteXC, while also taking advantage of the Internet to capture fans, fighters and organizations in combat sports with its ProElite.com social networking web site. We plan on reaching MMA fans and participants through normal marketing channels (print, television, radio) and harnessing the efficient networking available over the Internet. We are in the process of acquiring multiple on- and off-line brands to increase our entertainment properties, content libraries and tool set offerings for fighters, fans and organizations in and around MMA. EliteXC, our fight brand, produces and promotes live events featuring the top fighters in MMA while ProElite.com has created an MMA grassroots online social network. We cross-promote our Internet and live properties so that each can strengthen the other.
The filing also recognized what many outside the company have identified as a major flaw in the company's management, absentee executives:
The Company’s executives, directors and shareholders have business relationships requiring them to advise, manage and/or provide services to other businesses. The Company has engaged in transactions with some of these businesses. Due to the wide-ranging network of contacts and business relationships of our executives, directors and shareholders, the Company was not always able to devote sufficient resources to identify, monitor and report all transactions with such businesses in a timely manner.
These executives appear to have been well paid based on the salaries of CEO David DeLuca ($200,000), President of EliteXC Gary Shaw ($435,724), and President of ProElite.com Kelly Perdew ($475,224). The company recently went through a management restructuring with DeLuca being promoted to Chairman of the Board and replaced by Charles Champion as CEO. The move was made shortly after the CBS deal was announced and is believed to represent CBS's increasing influence on the company.
ProElite released its 10-K annual report last week. The company has lost a total of $31.3 million through the end of 2007, including $27.1 million last year alone. As with the IFL, the company's auditors have also expressed "substantial doubt" about ProElite's ability to continue as a going concern. However, the company's practical reality is much brighter thanks to the continued financial support of CBS/Showtime, whereas the IFL must find a financial patron.
The company generated $5.3 million in revenue in 2007 including $4.6 million in live event revenue, $447,679 in television and pay-per-view revenue, and $184,192 in merchandise, DVDs, and licensing fees. Live event expenses total $9.6 million including $2.9 million in production costs paid to Showtime. The company ran 18 events which would bring the cost per event to around $533,000, nearly one-third of the $1.2 million per event spent by the IFL. The difference would seem to be a step discount in production costs provided by Showtime, however, that's really just speculation, especially in comparing across companies and accounting practices.
In 2007 the company received no license fee from Showtime and bore all the production costs. This year the company will be receiving a licensing fee, reported by Dave Meltzer to be between $50,000 (for ShowXC events) up to $500,000 (for major events), to be split between ProElite and Showtime and the network will bear the cost of production. As part of the deal Showtime received a number of stock warrants and the right to appoint one member of the ProElite board of directors.
ProElite.com was the most eye catching item line on the company's balance sheet, costing $3.3 million in 2007 while generating only $68,782 in revenue. That is a mind boggling amount of money to spend on a website. The website is an integral part of the company's business plan:
Our business plan is to capitalize on the popularity and growth of mixed martial arts in building an “elite” fight brand, EliteXC, while also taking advantage of the Internet to capture fans, fighters and organizations in combat sports with its ProElite.com social networking web site. We plan on reaching MMA fans and participants through normal marketing channels (print, television, radio) and harnessing the efficient networking available over the Internet. We are in the process of acquiring multiple on- and off-line brands to increase our entertainment properties, content libraries and tool set offerings for fighters, fans and organizations in and around MMA. EliteXC, our fight brand, produces and promotes live events featuring the top fighters in MMA while ProElite.com has created an MMA grassroots online social network. We cross-promote our Internet and live properties so that each can strengthen the other.
The filing also recognized what many outside the company have identified as a major flaw in the company's management, absentee executives:
The Company’s executives, directors and shareholders have business relationships requiring them to advise, manage and/or provide services to other businesses. The Company has engaged in transactions with some of these businesses. Due to the wide-ranging network of contacts and business relationships of our executives, directors and shareholders, the Company was not always able to devote sufficient resources to identify, monitor and report all transactions with such businesses in a timely manner.
These executives appear to have been well paid based on the salaries of CEO David DeLuca ($200,000), President of EliteXC Gary Shaw ($435,724), and President of ProElite.com Kelly Perdew ($475,224). The company recently went through a management restructuring with DeLuca being promoted to Chairman of the Board and replaced by Charles Champion as CEO. The move was made shortly after the CBS deal was announced and is believed to represent CBS's increasing influence on the company.
Distak optimistic about Filho return
Josuel Distak, Boxing coach of Minotauro Team and Vitor Belfort, is training Paulão Filho to his return to the octagon after personal problems that the fighter faced. Distak is very confident with his return. “Paulão get out of the depression we are searching for his best shape and he is 100%, now he is with common sense. Their friends are helping him and we are focusing at the training. For this time, we are not ask to stop the fight, we certainly are going to send the opponent to orthopedist”, said the coach.
Josuel Distak, Boxing coach of Minotauro Team and Vitor Belfort, is training Paulão Filho to his return to the octagon after personal problems that the fighter faced. Distak is very confident with his return. “Paulão get out of the depression we are searching for his best shape and he is 100%, now he is with common sense. Their friends are helping him and we are focusing at the training. For this time, we are not ask to stop the fight, we certainly are going to send the opponent to orthopedist”, said the coach.
Wanderlei bets at Jacaré
Teammates at Xtreme Couture, Randy Couture’s team at Las Vegas , Wanderlei Silva bet at Ronaldo Jacaré at his debut at Japanese ring. Selected to face Frank Trigg at Dream middleweight GP schedule for April 29, Jacaré has the Mr. Pride confidence. “Jacaré is going as the underdog. As he don’t have many fights he is not well-known but training with him, I appoint his as the favorite”, said Wand that analyzed the best skills of Jacaré: “He has 1,75 tall and he is tall and strong for the category. I said to him to make his game, to make what he knows better. At the clinch, is very difficult to get out without suffer any damage. He is getting better each day and I think he is one of the favorites”.
Teammates at Xtreme Couture, Randy Couture’s team at Las Vegas , Wanderlei Silva bet at Ronaldo Jacaré at his debut at Japanese ring. Selected to face Frank Trigg at Dream middleweight GP schedule for April 29, Jacaré has the Mr. Pride confidence. “Jacaré is going as the underdog. As he don’t have many fights he is not well-known but training with him, I appoint his as the favorite”, said Wand that analyzed the best skills of Jacaré: “He has 1,75 tall and he is tall and strong for the category. I said to him to make his game, to make what he knows better. At the clinch, is very difficult to get out without suffer any damage. He is getting better each day and I think he is one of the favorites”.
RICH CLEMENTI MAKES QUICK RETURN TO UFC 84
Despite having gone the distance this past weekend in his UFC 83 bout with Sam Stout, Rich Clementi will be making a quick turnaround and fight again on May 24.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship announced on Tuesday that Rob Emerson has had to withdraw from his bout with Terry Etim scheduled for UFC 84 in Las Vegas. Clementi steps in to take his place.
Clementi battled Stout for the duration of their three-round fight, emerging on the winning end with the judges awarding a split decision in his favor. The win was Clementi’s fifth straight and his eighth bout in the past year and a half.
Etim will be fighting for the first time in his professional career outside of England. He has managed a 10-1 record on his home turf, his only loss coming by way of decision to Gleison Tibau when the UFC was last at the O2 Arena in London this past September.
UFC 84 is headlined by a lightweight championship bout between current titleholder B.J. Penn and former champion Sean Sherk. Other feature bouts include Wanderlei Silva vs. Keith Jardine and Tito Ortiz vs. Lyoto Machida.
UFC 84 Bouts (officially announced):
-B.J. Penn vs. Sean Sherk
-Lyoto Machida vs. Tito Ortiz
-Keith Jardine vs. Wanderlei Silva
-Thiago Silva vs. Antonio Mendes
-Wilson Gouveia vs. Goran Reljic
-Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou vs. Kazuhiro Nakamura
-Yoshiyuki Yoshida vs. Jon Koppenhaver
-Rousimar Palhares vs. Ivan Salaverry
-Shane Carwin vs. Christian Wellisch
-Dong-hyun Kim vs. Jason Tan
-Terry Etim vs. Rich Clementi
Despite having gone the distance this past weekend in his UFC 83 bout with Sam Stout, Rich Clementi will be making a quick turnaround and fight again on May 24.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship announced on Tuesday that Rob Emerson has had to withdraw from his bout with Terry Etim scheduled for UFC 84 in Las Vegas. Clementi steps in to take his place.
Clementi battled Stout for the duration of their three-round fight, emerging on the winning end with the judges awarding a split decision in his favor. The win was Clementi’s fifth straight and his eighth bout in the past year and a half.
Etim will be fighting for the first time in his professional career outside of England. He has managed a 10-1 record on his home turf, his only loss coming by way of decision to Gleison Tibau when the UFC was last at the O2 Arena in London this past September.
UFC 84 is headlined by a lightweight championship bout between current titleholder B.J. Penn and former champion Sean Sherk. Other feature bouts include Wanderlei Silva vs. Keith Jardine and Tito Ortiz vs. Lyoto Machida.
UFC 84 Bouts (officially announced):
-B.J. Penn vs. Sean Sherk
-Lyoto Machida vs. Tito Ortiz
-Keith Jardine vs. Wanderlei Silva
-Thiago Silva vs. Antonio Mendes
-Wilson Gouveia vs. Goran Reljic
-Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou vs. Kazuhiro Nakamura
-Yoshiyuki Yoshida vs. Jon Koppenhaver
-Rousimar Palhares vs. Ivan Salaverry
-Shane Carwin vs. Christian Wellisch
-Dong-hyun Kim vs. Jason Tan
-Terry Etim vs. Rich Clementi
13 QUESTIONS FOR ELITEXC STAR JOEY VILLASENOR
1. Your career started out at 15-0 – Do you feel you received the respect that kind of start deserves?
Well yeah and actually my career didn’t start at 15-0, I was 3-3 then I won 16 to 17 straight or something like that. I’ve put in a lot of hard work and I’ve been in this sport for a long time, so yeah I think I’ve earned it.
2. You’ve fought for a few of the other guys before signing with EliteXC - how important is the personal and professional treatment of the fighters to you?
I think it’s probably the most important thing - how you're treated by a company and by people in that company. We’re not a dime a dozen, we’re MMA fighters and we need to be treated with respect in all facets. It sucks when you feel treated like a robot or something.
3. What role do spirituality, family and moral values play in the career and life of Joey Villasenor?
This question is pretty easy, I think that’s why I do it. I fight, not just for the passion and the love of the sport, but for the love of my friends and my family. I want to share these things with these people. It’s the number one thing. I ain't makin' millions, ya know?
4. At what point in your career did you come into contact with Greg Jackson and how did you know you wanted to work with him?
Early on in my career - about 7 years ago. 7-8 yrs ago I heard about him, met him, then started cross training with him. The rest is history. I moved down to Albuquerque like 5 years ago and I've been with him consistently since then.
5. What changes in your work ethic, style, conditioning do you feel might not be as fine-tuned as they now are, if not for working alongside Greg Jackson?
I would have to say that the biggest thing is my mental game, then being exposed to a lot of great athletes, the physical training and the conditioning. Nutrition is something that each individual athlete does himself… its not run by the gym, it’s what works for them.
6. Of all the highly talented fighters in your camp, who pushes you the hardest and makes you dig deep during training for a fight?
I think all of us would have the same answer - Mr. Keith Jardine. He’s an animal and the team captain.
7. Which fight taught you the most, good and bad, about yourself as a fighter?
I would have to say the Ninja fight. The Ninja fight really was the biggest fight mentally and physically. I learned a lot from it. We changed my training program and added different conditioning programs. I found out where my limits were and overpushed them in that fight. Similar things happened with the Jensen fight. I think the Ninja fight helped me prepare for the Jensen fight and for these types of fights mentally.
8. Which fighter(s) do you look up to the most and why?
My girlfriend, Holly Holm. She’s a pro boxer and a two time ring magazine female boxer of the year. She trains very hard and she motivates me because she trains so hard. That makes me feel like I have to go out there and match her. She's young, tough and beautiful. She carries around the weight of being a star athlete in Albuquerque. She’s regarded as the number one female boxer in the world and she handles it great. She’s very inspiring.
9. How important is being the right type of athlete in the eyes of kids, in and out of the cage?
I think it's very important. I think it's one of the most important things out there. I think it's where the word professional comes into play as an athlete - greatness in and outside of the cage. Kids want to be champions, on TV and to do all the things the athletes want to do. We need to show them the right way to carry themselves outside of the sporting event.
10. What’s your favorite joke? – be it a joke book joke, a comedian’s joke you watched, etc.
My favorite joke…hmm, that's hard...one joke that I always tell is this:
A bear and a rabbit are taking a dump next to each other, outside in woods. The bear looks down at the rabbit and asks, "Do you have trouble with shit sticking to your fur?" The rabbit says, "No. Not at all." So the bear grabs the rabbit and and wipes his ass with him.
(A pause - then Joey Laughs Out Loud (LOL)
11. You’ve been called “Smokin’ Joe” and “The Dream-Smasher” – if you were legally allowed only ONE nickname, which would you go with 100% of the time, and why?
Well legally, if I was allowed just one, I’d have to go with 'Smokin Joe' because that is what most people know me as. The Dream Smasher will always be with me in my heart. He will always be my “aka” - but legally it'd be 'Smokin' Joe'.
12. Greg Jackson is respectfully referred to as ‘Yoda’ – if you had to liken other guys in your camp to other Star Wars Characters, who would they be?
Oh shoot let me see....um...(slightly long pause)
Keith Jardine would have to be Chewbacca.
Nate Marquardt would be C-3PO
Mike Winkeljohn (my coach) would be Darth Vader
Rashad Evans would be Jar-Jar Binks
I would be Wicket W. Warrick the little E-wok. The coolest, nicest E-wok.
13. If you could appear in ANY horror movie or franchise like Nightmare on Elm Street (a dream horror movie), which would you want to be in and what would you be doing in it?
Hands down, hands down Friday the 13th. I would be making love to a girl and then just killed, slashed. You know how Jason does it...those damn teens and their makin' love.
1. Your career started out at 15-0 – Do you feel you received the respect that kind of start deserves?
Well yeah and actually my career didn’t start at 15-0, I was 3-3 then I won 16 to 17 straight or something like that. I’ve put in a lot of hard work and I’ve been in this sport for a long time, so yeah I think I’ve earned it.
2. You’ve fought for a few of the other guys before signing with EliteXC - how important is the personal and professional treatment of the fighters to you?
I think it’s probably the most important thing - how you're treated by a company and by people in that company. We’re not a dime a dozen, we’re MMA fighters and we need to be treated with respect in all facets. It sucks when you feel treated like a robot or something.
3. What role do spirituality, family and moral values play in the career and life of Joey Villasenor?
This question is pretty easy, I think that’s why I do it. I fight, not just for the passion and the love of the sport, but for the love of my friends and my family. I want to share these things with these people. It’s the number one thing. I ain't makin' millions, ya know?
4. At what point in your career did you come into contact with Greg Jackson and how did you know you wanted to work with him?
Early on in my career - about 7 years ago. 7-8 yrs ago I heard about him, met him, then started cross training with him. The rest is history. I moved down to Albuquerque like 5 years ago and I've been with him consistently since then.
5. What changes in your work ethic, style, conditioning do you feel might not be as fine-tuned as they now are, if not for working alongside Greg Jackson?
I would have to say that the biggest thing is my mental game, then being exposed to a lot of great athletes, the physical training and the conditioning. Nutrition is something that each individual athlete does himself… its not run by the gym, it’s what works for them.
6. Of all the highly talented fighters in your camp, who pushes you the hardest and makes you dig deep during training for a fight?
I think all of us would have the same answer - Mr. Keith Jardine. He’s an animal and the team captain.
7. Which fight taught you the most, good and bad, about yourself as a fighter?
I would have to say the Ninja fight. The Ninja fight really was the biggest fight mentally and physically. I learned a lot from it. We changed my training program and added different conditioning programs. I found out where my limits were and overpushed them in that fight. Similar things happened with the Jensen fight. I think the Ninja fight helped me prepare for the Jensen fight and for these types of fights mentally.
8. Which fighter(s) do you look up to the most and why?
My girlfriend, Holly Holm. She’s a pro boxer and a two time ring magazine female boxer of the year. She trains very hard and she motivates me because she trains so hard. That makes me feel like I have to go out there and match her. She's young, tough and beautiful. She carries around the weight of being a star athlete in Albuquerque. She’s regarded as the number one female boxer in the world and she handles it great. She’s very inspiring.
9. How important is being the right type of athlete in the eyes of kids, in and out of the cage?
I think it's very important. I think it's one of the most important things out there. I think it's where the word professional comes into play as an athlete - greatness in and outside of the cage. Kids want to be champions, on TV and to do all the things the athletes want to do. We need to show them the right way to carry themselves outside of the sporting event.
10. What’s your favorite joke? – be it a joke book joke, a comedian’s joke you watched, etc.
My favorite joke…hmm, that's hard...one joke that I always tell is this:
A bear and a rabbit are taking a dump next to each other, outside in woods. The bear looks down at the rabbit and asks, "Do you have trouble with shit sticking to your fur?" The rabbit says, "No. Not at all." So the bear grabs the rabbit and and wipes his ass with him.
(A pause - then Joey Laughs Out Loud (LOL)
11. You’ve been called “Smokin’ Joe” and “The Dream-Smasher” – if you were legally allowed only ONE nickname, which would you go with 100% of the time, and why?
Well legally, if I was allowed just one, I’d have to go with 'Smokin Joe' because that is what most people know me as. The Dream Smasher will always be with me in my heart. He will always be my “aka” - but legally it'd be 'Smokin' Joe'.
12. Greg Jackson is respectfully referred to as ‘Yoda’ – if you had to liken other guys in your camp to other Star Wars Characters, who would they be?
Oh shoot let me see....um...(slightly long pause)
Keith Jardine would have to be Chewbacca.
Nate Marquardt would be C-3PO
Mike Winkeljohn (my coach) would be Darth Vader
Rashad Evans would be Jar-Jar Binks
I would be Wicket W. Warrick the little E-wok. The coolest, nicest E-wok.
13. If you could appear in ANY horror movie or franchise like Nightmare on Elm Street (a dream horror movie), which would you want to be in and what would you be doing in it?
Hands down, hands down Friday the 13th. I would be making love to a girl and then just killed, slashed. You know how Jason does it...those damn teens and their makin' love.
The Knee Strike Takedown Defense, by John Gunderson
In John Gunderson’s line of work, defending the takedown is a necessity. But rather than simply sprawling to avoid it, one of Gunderson’s favorite techniques involves going on the offensive to stop an opponent’s takedown attempt.
In this exclusive IFL.tv demonstration, Gunderson (15-6) shows us how to use the knee strike to stop a takedown.
It’s the kind of maneuver that’s proved useful of Gunderson’s career, particularly in a division with so many talented wrestlers. While he’s coming off a decision loss to IFL lightweight champion Ryan Schultz, Gunderson still remains one of the league’s top lightweights, largely due to his well-rounded game and mental toughness.
Remember that MMA is for the ring and the gym, and these techniques should only be used in a safe, supervised training environment. In other words, don’t try this at home.
In John Gunderson’s line of work, defending the takedown is a necessity. But rather than simply sprawling to avoid it, one of Gunderson’s favorite techniques involves going on the offensive to stop an opponent’s takedown attempt.
In this exclusive IFL.tv demonstration, Gunderson (15-6) shows us how to use the knee strike to stop a takedown.
It’s the kind of maneuver that’s proved useful of Gunderson’s career, particularly in a division with so many talented wrestlers. While he’s coming off a decision loss to IFL lightweight champion Ryan Schultz, Gunderson still remains one of the league’s top lightweights, largely due to his well-rounded game and mental toughness.
Remember that MMA is for the ring and the gym, and these techniques should only be used in a safe, supervised training environment. In other words, don’t try this at home.
Growing Up Gracie
Believe it or not, Renzo Gracie didn’t always want to be a fighter. Even growing up in Brazil’s first family of jiu-jitsu, there was a time when he harbored other aspirations. As odd as it may sound, the MMA legend once thought that his future was in law. A conversation with his grandfather, however, made him think twice.
You see, in the Gracie family, formal education was considered a virtue, but it ranked somewhere below jiu-jitsu on the list of priorities, as did most things.
“I didn’t believe this,” Renzo Gracie says now, recalling an argument he had when, as a young boy, his grandfather told him that school was not as important as his training. “I wanted to be a lawyer. He told me, ‘You won't be a lawyer. You’re a fighter. I can see it in your eyes.’”
Of course, his grandfather turned out to be right. Imagining Gracie as a lawyer now seems almost comical, just as it does to imagine almost any member of the Gracie clan doing anything other than unarmed combat. It just makes so much more sense to see them as fighters, especially when you consider that growing up in a house full of Gracies is bound to lead to a scrap or two.
“Growing up in the Gracie family, it was really something,” he says. “It was to have all your heroes around you all the time. All the people that I admire, they live in my house: my uncle, my father, my grandfather. I had a chance even back then to watch them fighting and competing in the sport and I was really looking forward to becoming a champion too.
“Besides that, it was very entertaining. It was a bunch of crazy guys, they argue over little things, then go fight in the grass. I lost count of times that we were having lunch and in the middle of an argument my father would kick us out to the grass to see who was the right one. It was whoever won at jiu-jitsu. So you always tried to be better so you would be always right.”
To some it might sound like a modern variation of medieval honor duels, but you can’t argue with the results. A life spent battling for respect prepared Renzo Gracie for his career in MMA, where he would become not only a respected veteran of the sport, but also one of its most likable and charismatic figures.
His career has included many memorable bouts, from his loss to Sakuraba to his DQ win over Frank Shamrock. The latter provoked ill feelings on both sides. Though Gracie says he’s mostly put his end of the rivalry to rest, his experience in the bout gave him reason to recommend that a friend bet against Shamrock in his recent fight with Cung Le.
“Frank Shamrock, he is the type of guy who, in a tough fight, he asks for the bill. That’s what we say in Brazil. He calls for the bill, meaning he finds some way out of the fight. And when that bill comes, he thinks the bill is his best friend.”
So maybe he hasn’t put all of his rivalries to the rest. Even so, Gracie says, he can look back on a career spent in the martial arts with no regrets.
This point was hammered home for him recently when a friend posed a hypothetical question to him.
“He said, ‘What if you knew you only had one year to live? What would you do?’” Gracie recalls.
Instead of answering right away, he turned the question around and asked his friend to answer it first. The man replied that the first thing he would do is quit his job.
“And this man,” Gracie says. “Do you know what he did for a living? He was a lawyer.”
But Gracie – who thanks to his grandfather’s advice, pursued another career path – had a different answer to the question.
“I wouldn’t change much about my life, even if I knew I was going to die. 99% of it would stay the same. The only thing I would do is tell the people I love how I feel about them, and say goodbye.”
Believe it or not, Renzo Gracie didn’t always want to be a fighter. Even growing up in Brazil’s first family of jiu-jitsu, there was a time when he harbored other aspirations. As odd as it may sound, the MMA legend once thought that his future was in law. A conversation with his grandfather, however, made him think twice.
You see, in the Gracie family, formal education was considered a virtue, but it ranked somewhere below jiu-jitsu on the list of priorities, as did most things.
“I didn’t believe this,” Renzo Gracie says now, recalling an argument he had when, as a young boy, his grandfather told him that school was not as important as his training. “I wanted to be a lawyer. He told me, ‘You won't be a lawyer. You’re a fighter. I can see it in your eyes.’”
Of course, his grandfather turned out to be right. Imagining Gracie as a lawyer now seems almost comical, just as it does to imagine almost any member of the Gracie clan doing anything other than unarmed combat. It just makes so much more sense to see them as fighters, especially when you consider that growing up in a house full of Gracies is bound to lead to a scrap or two.
“Growing up in the Gracie family, it was really something,” he says. “It was to have all your heroes around you all the time. All the people that I admire, they live in my house: my uncle, my father, my grandfather. I had a chance even back then to watch them fighting and competing in the sport and I was really looking forward to becoming a champion too.
“Besides that, it was very entertaining. It was a bunch of crazy guys, they argue over little things, then go fight in the grass. I lost count of times that we were having lunch and in the middle of an argument my father would kick us out to the grass to see who was the right one. It was whoever won at jiu-jitsu. So you always tried to be better so you would be always right.”
To some it might sound like a modern variation of medieval honor duels, but you can’t argue with the results. A life spent battling for respect prepared Renzo Gracie for his career in MMA, where he would become not only a respected veteran of the sport, but also one of its most likable and charismatic figures.
His career has included many memorable bouts, from his loss to Sakuraba to his DQ win over Frank Shamrock. The latter provoked ill feelings on both sides. Though Gracie says he’s mostly put his end of the rivalry to rest, his experience in the bout gave him reason to recommend that a friend bet against Shamrock in his recent fight with Cung Le.
“Frank Shamrock, he is the type of guy who, in a tough fight, he asks for the bill. That’s what we say in Brazil. He calls for the bill, meaning he finds some way out of the fight. And when that bill comes, he thinks the bill is his best friend.”
So maybe he hasn’t put all of his rivalries to the rest. Even so, Gracie says, he can look back on a career spent in the martial arts with no regrets.
This point was hammered home for him recently when a friend posed a hypothetical question to him.
“He said, ‘What if you knew you only had one year to live? What would you do?’” Gracie recalls.
Instead of answering right away, he turned the question around and asked his friend to answer it first. The man replied that the first thing he would do is quit his job.
“And this man,” Gracie says. “Do you know what he did for a living? He was a lawyer.”
But Gracie – who thanks to his grandfather’s advice, pursued another career path – had a different answer to the question.
“I wouldn’t change much about my life, even if I knew I was going to die. 99% of it would stay the same. The only thing I would do is tell the people I love how I feel about them, and say goodbye.”
Liddell pulls out of match with injury
Chuck Liddell, the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s most well-known star, has been pulled off the June 7 main event at the O2 Arena in London due to a partial hamstring tear suffered in training on April 11.
The UFC made the official announcement Monday after Liddell told company president Dana White about the severity of his injury. Liddell had continued light training over the past week in hopes he could salvage his pay-per-view main event fight with Rashad Evans.
It was the first time in Liddell’s 10-year career that he has canceled a fight, which has included fighting Tito Ortiz twice with a torn MCL, and fighting Quinton Jackson in Japan with a torn quadriceps.
Liddell said the injury, which won’t require surgery, took place while doing light training, and he heard the muscle pop. He was hoping it wasn’t serious but trainer John Hackelman immediately thought he had hurt it pretty bad as the entire muscle became discolored.
“I hyperextended it,” Liddell said. “I probably didn’t warm up enough, or it was a freak injury.
“I think I can fight by August,” said Liddell, who will need four to six weeks to rehab before he can begin hard training.
“Unfortunately, Chuck Liddell tore his right hamstring during training last week, and being the warrior that he is, he still wanted to fight, which is the reason everyone in the world loves him,” said White in a release. “But I wouldn’t let anyone fight with his leg looking that way. Let him heal and come back and fight when he is 100 percent.”
Liddell said he was lucky that the partial tear was in the belly of the muscle and not the insertion, so it should heal faster.
After the injury, he continued to train his upper body and was swimming without much stress on his legs, while doctors advised him against fighting.
“I can’t walk without a limp,” he said, but noted the pain is manageable, and in recent days has been able to ride the bike, but not at a fast pace, and has started throwing light kicks in the swimming pool as well as doing bodyweight squats. But he can’t push off or do any kind of normal fight training.
UFC is attempting to both get a replacement to face the undefeated Evans, 16-0-1, as well as add a couple of matches to the show to make up for Liddell not appearing. They are going to schedule 13 matches instead of 11 as originally planned. James “Sandman” Irvin, who tied a UFC record with an eight second knockout of Houston Alexander on April 2 in Broomfield, Colo., is among those under consideration.
Brandon Vera vs. Fabricio Werdum in a heavyweight match was the scheduled No. 2 match on the show.
The O2 Arena in London, which holds 16,200 fans for a UFC setup, was a few hundred tickets shy of sold out as of Monday according to UFC officials, who noted that even with higher ticket prices, sales were ahead of the pace of the debut show on Sept. 8 headlined by the Quinton Jackson vs. Dan Henderson UFC vs. Pride title unification match.
Liddell said he had never told White in advance about any injuries, but felt he had to tell him about this one. White, likely figuring if Liddell called to tell him about it that it had to be serious, told Liddell it wasn’t a smart move to take the fight with the injury, which could worsen in training or fighting and threaten his career longevity.
Chuck Liddell, the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s most well-known star, has been pulled off the June 7 main event at the O2 Arena in London due to a partial hamstring tear suffered in training on April 11.
The UFC made the official announcement Monday after Liddell told company president Dana White about the severity of his injury. Liddell had continued light training over the past week in hopes he could salvage his pay-per-view main event fight with Rashad Evans.
It was the first time in Liddell’s 10-year career that he has canceled a fight, which has included fighting Tito Ortiz twice with a torn MCL, and fighting Quinton Jackson in Japan with a torn quadriceps.
Liddell said the injury, which won’t require surgery, took place while doing light training, and he heard the muscle pop. He was hoping it wasn’t serious but trainer John Hackelman immediately thought he had hurt it pretty bad as the entire muscle became discolored.
“I hyperextended it,” Liddell said. “I probably didn’t warm up enough, or it was a freak injury.
“I think I can fight by August,” said Liddell, who will need four to six weeks to rehab before he can begin hard training.
“Unfortunately, Chuck Liddell tore his right hamstring during training last week, and being the warrior that he is, he still wanted to fight, which is the reason everyone in the world loves him,” said White in a release. “But I wouldn’t let anyone fight with his leg looking that way. Let him heal and come back and fight when he is 100 percent.”
Liddell said he was lucky that the partial tear was in the belly of the muscle and not the insertion, so it should heal faster.
After the injury, he continued to train his upper body and was swimming without much stress on his legs, while doctors advised him against fighting.
“I can’t walk without a limp,” he said, but noted the pain is manageable, and in recent days has been able to ride the bike, but not at a fast pace, and has started throwing light kicks in the swimming pool as well as doing bodyweight squats. But he can’t push off or do any kind of normal fight training.
UFC is attempting to both get a replacement to face the undefeated Evans, 16-0-1, as well as add a couple of matches to the show to make up for Liddell not appearing. They are going to schedule 13 matches instead of 11 as originally planned. James “Sandman” Irvin, who tied a UFC record with an eight second knockout of Houston Alexander on April 2 in Broomfield, Colo., is among those under consideration.
Brandon Vera vs. Fabricio Werdum in a heavyweight match was the scheduled No. 2 match on the show.
The O2 Arena in London, which holds 16,200 fans for a UFC setup, was a few hundred tickets shy of sold out as of Monday according to UFC officials, who noted that even with higher ticket prices, sales were ahead of the pace of the debut show on Sept. 8 headlined by the Quinton Jackson vs. Dan Henderson UFC vs. Pride title unification match.
Liddell said he had never told White in advance about any injuries, but felt he had to tell him about this one. White, likely figuring if Liddell called to tell him about it that it had to be serious, told Liddell it wasn’t a smart move to take the fight with the injury, which could worsen in training or fighting and threaten his career longevity.