MMA News Thread

[Shogun Locc]

JAKE SHIELDS: 'I'M GOING TO FIGHT FOR A TITLE'

Just a few short months ago it seemed as if former Shooto champion Jake Shields was going to square off against former Ultimate Fighting Championship contender Drew Fickett for the EliteXC welterweight title.

The match was signed, sealed and ready to deliver when Shields suffered a back injury in training, derailing the potentially explosive match-up.

The fight was then rescheduled to take place in Hawaii on this coming Saturday, but complications with Shields’ recovery and an announcement that Fickett himself had sustained an injury forced the bout to be put on hold for a later date.

Then as if there wasn’t enough doubt of when the fight was going to take place, it was announced that Fickett would be traveling to Canada to face rising prospect Ryan Ford for the Maximum Fighting Championship’s 170-pound title on Friday, July 25.

Surprised, say the least, by his scheduled opponent’s sudden urge to possibly further place their bout in jeopardy by risking injury, Shields took an opportunity to address the situation and how it affects his quest to gain the EliteXC belt.

“I’m definitely going to fight, and from what I understand, it’s going to be a title shot,” he said of the coming months. “All my fights for EliteXC I’ve finished in the first round. I’ve done my job and now I’m just waiting for a title.

“Hopefully it will be me and Drew Fickett. That’s a fight I want, he wants, and I know the fans want to see it. Hopefully nothing weird goes on there (against Ryan Ford in MFC) and our fight will take place, but if not, I’ll fight anyone Elite throws at me – as long as it’s for a title.”

According to Shields, while a date hasn’t been set in stone yet, his title fight looks to happen sometime in the early Fall, perhaps in front of the largest American audience ever to witness an MMA event.

“I’m thinking September,” he commented on a possible return date. “I’m hoping sooner, because I’m ready to fight right now.

“Obviously I haven’t fought in a while. I got injured before my last fight and had to pull out, which is not something I wanted to do. I’d like to fight within a month, but I have to be realistic, and I’m thinking it will probably be at the next CBS show in September.”

As for his nagging back injury that caused all this commotion in the first place, Shields says it’s firmly behind him and it’s time to move forward.

“I’m 100 percent,” he exclaimed. “I was struggling with it for a while – a lot longer than I wanted – and it took me a few months to get 100 percent, but I did the right things and now I am, and I’m more motivated than ever.”

“I’m ready to do some big things this year and next year.”

Regardless of what happens with Drew Fickett in the coming months, Jake Shields’ goal is within his grasp, and barring another freak occurrence, he’s going to grab hold and not let go.

“I plan on taking that title in September against anyone that they throw at me,” he reiterated with confidence.

 

[Shogun Locc]

GASSAWAY STREAKS INTO ADRENALINE WITH NEW FOE

As the ruling class of the MMA landscape gets younger by the day, there is still a wealth of veteran fighters looking to keep their careers relevant in hopes of making one last run towards the big time. Among them is Illinois welterweight product Brian Gassaway.

Having been in on the ground floor while the sport was being built, this 12-year veteran is still going strong and looking to put together the kind of winning streak that will get him back to the national stage.

After taking some time off to recoup from injury and illness, Brian will be seeking to add to his current three-fight winning streak as a featured fighter this Saturday, June 14 at Adrenaline MMA’s debut in Chicago.

“It’s a great feeling,” said Gassaway of making his return at Adrenaline. “There’s not just the UFC anymore, there’s a lot of organizations that are showcasing a lot of talented fighters, so I’m proud to be part of this.

“Monte (Cox, Adrenaline’s promoter) has been putting on shows for years, so he definitely knows what he’s doing as far as putting on a good show, plus there’s not a bad match-up on the card.”

Gassaway will be stepping back into action after being part of one of the more gruesome moments in recent MMA memory when his last fight, against fellow veteran Jose “Pele” Landi-Jons, ended when Landi-Jons broke his shin attempting a leg-kick in their fight.

When asked if being part of such a freak accident would cause him to in any way hesitate or be apprehensive in his coming Adrenaline fight, Gassaway responded, “That’s something that you really can’t worry about.

“I would have more of a mental crutch if it would have happened to me. I might be more apprehensive to throw a kick full power, but as far as I go, I don’t worry about it.”

Heading into Saturday’s bout, Gassaway’s attention will be on his new opponent, just named a week prior to fighting.

“Tony Fryklund got hurt, I’m not sure what it is, but he had to pull out of the fight,” he announced. “I was looking forward to that fight, it would have been very exciting for everyone to watch, but now I’m fighting Forrest Petz.

“I know he likes to bang, and I think he has good boxing skills, good hands, which I think is a great match-up for me. Styles make fights and with our styles I think everyone’s going to come away from this fight a winner.”

According to Gassaway, he feels his years of developing a precise striking style could be the determining factor in the fight.

“He’s not afraid to stand and trade,” commented Gassaway. “As long as I can keep good, crisp technique and not try to brawl with him, I’ll be fine.

“I’m not a brawler – I’m more of a stick and move, using angles kind of striker. I’m going to use my reach and try to end the fight like that.”

Should he add to his winning streak and look impressive against Petz, Gassaway could see himself back in the limelight.

“I definitely want to see myself fighting in organizations such as the WEC or UFC,” he commented. “As far as I know, I still have a couple fights under my contract with the WEC, so I would definitely love to see myself in there again.

“It’s just a matter of showing people what I’m capable of doing now. It’s all about testing yourself and I’d love to do that with the best guys in the world – that’s what it’s all about.”

With ample tread still left on the tires of his career, Brian Gassaway is intent on making the latter portion of his career the time he will be most remembered for, continuing this Saturday night in Chicago.

“I know that Premier Fighter is sponsoring us, so thank you to them,” concluded Gassaway. “It’s going to be a great night of fights, and every fight on the card is solid, so come out and support Chicago MMA.

“I’m not afraid to get in there and trade with people. It can go to the ground, that’s fine, but there’s nothing like cracking somebody in the head – and that’s what I do.”

 

[Shogun Locc]

ALVES TALKS UFC 85 WEIGHT CUT & TITLE SHOT

Accepting the fight against Matt Hughes as the main event of UFC 85, Thiago Alves understood the importance of the bout. A title shot could be on the line. Superstar status in the world of MMA could be on the line. But for all the status that followed the fight of his lifetime, Alves was unable to make the 170-pound weight limit.

“I sprained my ankle really, really bad, the Thursday the week before the fight at the sparring session. I was out for three days and I couldn’t do much. I couldn’t walk and I took an x-ray and everything,” Alves explained during an appearance on MMAWeekly Radio on Monday night. “I didn’t break anything, but I sprained the ankle. The ligament was really bad, everything was really swollen, so I just did physical therapy.”

Immediately, Alves took it upon himself to notify his manager and the management of the Ultimate Fighting Championship about the injury.

“I called my manager, Mr. Dan Lambert, and I told him to call Joe Silva and everything, to ask permission so I could take a cortisone shot, that was pretty much it. I couldn’t do anything for three days, so my weight got really heavy,” Alves commented. “I couldn’t work out. When you take a cortisone shot, you kind of hold water in your body, and I was doing fine, but the last four pounds I couldn’t make it, I couldn’t do it. I sat in the sauna; it was really bad. I apologize to the UFC, I apologize to all my fans.”

Despite Alves’ willingness to battle through the pain to make the fight happen, his doctors actually advised against his participation in the bout because of the severely sprained ankle.

“I talked to my doctor and everything and I told them ‘No I want to fight. It doesn’t matter; I want to fight. I want to fight.’ They said, ‘Listen, if you have any broken bones, you’re not going to fight. I’m not going to sign off for you to fight.’ Just thankful not to have anything broke, and thank God I didn’t,” stated Alves.

“He said, ‘I still think you shouldn’t fight.’ Look at my ankle right now, it’s even swollen right now, because of the fight, it’s even bigger than it was before the fight, but everything’s good. It was all worth it.”

Alves confirmed in the interview with MMAWeekly Radio that because he didn’t make weight he would have to give his opponent, Matt Hughes, 10% of his purse. The former champion was aware of the situation and was okay taking the fight.

Hughes himself confirmed as much following the fight.

Still adamant about trying to make the weight for the fight happen, Alves said the whole situation did take its toll mentally because he was unable to make 170 pounds.

“I called my manager crying, going crazy, ‘I can’t make the weight, I’ll have to pass out, Dan, I can’t make the weight.’”

The upper management of the UFC dealt with the situation professionally, as did Hughes, and the fight was allowed to continue. In the end, Alves walked out with a knockout victory over the two time former welterweight champion and now that the fight and the weight situation are behind him, Alves has gold on his mind.

“We’re waiting right now for the UFC to call. I think I got one more fight in the contract, so we got to re-negotiate the contract and everything. I think the next fight’s going to be for the title,” Alves said. “I’ve got to wait for Georges St. Pierre and Jon Fitch to fight and we’ll see. I want to be the champion. I know I’m going to be the champion, I know it. It’s just a matter of time.”

And while St. Pierre and Fitch battle for the UFC welterweight title on Aug. 9 in Minnesota, Alves says he’ll be sitting front row center waiting for the winner to emerge and he’ll be ready for the challenge.

“I’ll be there,” he stated. “I’ll be more than ready. I’m ready right now.”

 

[heyzel]

Has Zuffa Sold The UFC To FOX?

by Ariel Helwani,

Forget UFC 85, the talk of the MMA world this weekend focused squarely on Dana White's forthcoming announcement. By now, you must be caught up on the particulars (White has promised to announce something on Thursday that will blow our collective minds) and you've surely heard all the rumors (Floyd Mayweather Jr. fighting in the UFC seems to be the popular choice).

We worked overtime this weekend trying to seduce or bribe every single source we know close to the UFC to find out, or at the very least get some sort of clue, as to what this announcement might be. Sadly, there's nothing official to report but we've heard one story that makes the most sense.

First, let's look at two stories we heard and why they are probably not the announcement followed by the most logical one:

* Anderson Silva will fight Chuck Liddell in September: This is a hot rumor that appears to have some validity behind it. Silva has mentioned that he would like to fight at 205 lbs, there doesn't appear to be any true challengers to his middleweight crown and Shogun Rua will not be healthy by September to face Liddell. Personally, I am not a fan of this matchup as I don't like the idea of a champion fighting outside of his weight class. That aside, do you really think White would rent out a secret location to tell his employees about a Silva vs. Liddell fight? I didn't think so.

* UFC has partnered with Golden Boy Promotions: Now, this might be big enough to announce to his employees but I just don't see it happening simply because the UFC doesn't need Golden Boy right now. Sure, money talks but I just don't see how a partnership with the GBP helps the UFC in any way. Now, we all know how it helps GBP and we all know about their relationship with HBO but, still, no upside for the UFC. Why would they want to share their gate profits or PPV sales with another entity when they are doing just fine on their own?

And, finally...

* Zuffa has sold the UFC to FOX: Ah yes, the big (and most logical) one which comes to us from a reliable source. We've heard the UFC on FOX rumors for quite some time and we've also heard the rumors that the promotion was on sale. We also know that the UFC was not willing to work with a network unless they had full production control. However, what if a network bought them for a hefty price? Then, all of a sudden, that issue is, well, an non-issue. The bottom line is that this is the kind of announcement you rent a secret location for.

Is the Zuffa/UFC era about to end? Have the Fertittas and White cashed out? Thursday can't come soon enough

 

[heyzel]

MIGUEL TORRES: "ONCE I SEE MY OWN BLOOD, I GO CRAZY MAN"

They still have a couple of guys out there…there are some guys out there…I have guys in front of me waiting. I think in a couple of years, I'll move up in weight, but right now I'll stay at 35 and try to take care of business," stated WEC bantamweight champion Miguel Torres as he talked about his future plans after his impressive win over Yoshiro Maeda. You don't want to miss what he had to say as he breaks down his performance and much more in this must read interview. Check it out! read more

http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content2822.html?PHPSESSID=697f6e00942c0995f5ddb330c8481ca4

 

[heyzel]

KAITLIN YOUNG: "I DID FEEL DISRESPECTED AND PUT IN A REALLY BAD POSITION"

By Percy Crawford | June 10, 2008

"I would hate to be the one that chose not to fight her. I have a hard time believing that Elite would want to use me on any large card again even if I did fail. They gave me a little bit of enticement with the percentage of Gina's earnings as well. It would have been silly for me not to. If I had all of the money in the world and I knew I could get some other big fights, maybe I would've because I did feel disrespected and put in a really bad position," stated female mixed martial artist Kaitlin Young as she talked about her decision to still fight despite the fact that her opponent, Gina Carano, came in 4.5 pounds over the weight limit. Check out what else she had to say as she talks more about Carano, the CBS/EliteXC card, her future plans and more. read more

http://www.fighthype.com/?PHPSESSID=697f6e00942c0995f5ddb330c8481ca4

 

[heyzel]

Dana’s surprise coming early?

White and Lesnar on CNBC Today
UFC President Dana White and heavyweight sensation Brock Lesnar will appear live on CNBC’s “Power Lunch” today to announce an exciting new UFC deal. The show airs at 12:40pm ET.

It’s worth noting that CNBC is a financial / business channel, so I don’t think this has anything to do with Heath Herring being re-announced as Brock’s opponent. Again I’d just like to apologize to God, Krishna, Buddah, and of course Allah (most holy and high) for anything I may have done to upset y’all. That being said, I implore you: don’t let the big announcement be that the WWE is buying into the UFC. Blow some lightning bolts out your asses if you have to, smite Dana and hurl a pox on Lesnar. Whatever you guys gotta do.

 

[heyzel]

HDNet to preview "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Thomson"

by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Jun 10, 2008 at 10:09 am ET
HDNet, the all-high-definition cable station that is home to a growing amount of MMA content, has produced a preview show for the June 27 "Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Thomson" event.

The 30-minute show, "Unfiltered: Melendez vs. Thomson" debuts this Friday, June 13, at midnight ET (9 p.m. PT) on HDNet.

The upcoming Strikeforce event features a headline fight between Strikeforce world lightweight champ Gilbert Melendez and Josh Thomson. The June 27 event takes place at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., and airs live on HDNet.

Back in February, HDNet and Strikeforce announced a three-event deal. The June 27 event will be the second of the three events to air live on the channel, which is owned by Mark Cuban.

In addition to Melendez vs. Thomson, the upcoming event features a title fight between Strikeforce world light heavyweight champion Bobby Southworth and challenger Anthony Ruiz. Veteran Shonie Carter also meets Luke Stewart

 

[heyzel]

Jakks Pacific signs Ultimate Fighting license

NEW YORK (Associated Press) - Toy maker Jakks Pacific Inc. said Tuesday it has signed a four-year license agreement with the Ultimate Fighting Championship organization to develop a line of collector-focused action figures.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The new UFC product line is expected to launch next year. It will feature figures of UFC fighters Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell, Brock Lesnar, Antonio "Minotauro" Nogueira, Michael "The Count" Bisping and UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson "The Spider" Silva, among others.

The license also includes the UFC Octagon and other role-play items

 

[heyzel]

Tyson Griffin confident he's on path to title shot

by Alton Dunham on Jun 10, 2008 at 12:44 pm ET
With three Fight of the Night and one Submission of the Night awards to his credit, Tyson Griffin (11-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) is looking to add to his impressive resume with a win over submission ace Marcus "Maximus" Aurelio (14-5 MMA, 2-1 UFC), a fight that takes place in July at UFC 86.

Griffin guest-hosted a recent edition of TAGG Radio (www.taggradio.com), the official radio partner of MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com), to discuss pre-fight preparations, where he feels he stands in the UFC's lightweight division, and even recent comments made by Nate Diaz.

Griffin most recently defeated Gleison Tibau via unanimous-decision in February but took off little time after the win.

"I hopped back into the gym after my last fight to help Gray (Maynard) get ready for his fight," Griffin said. "After that I started lifting for the first time ever. ... I started doing a lot of power lifting with Jake Bonacci (Xtreme Couture strength and conditioning coach). The lifting actually kept my body lean, and I've gotten bigger and stronger, so when I started training for this fight and doing cardio, the weight just kept falling off and made my life easier."

With less than a month to go, the California native has also begun pushing himself with full speed practices, often leading to bruises and black eyes.

"My motto is, if you are not getting beat up in training, then you are not doing something right," he said. "Training should be a lot harder than the fight."

The Xtreme Couture fighter also took advantage of adding an unexpected training partner in former PRIDE lightweight champion Takanori Gomi (28-3), a man who has faced Aurelio twice in the past.

"That's the cool thing about being in Vegas," he said. "There are tons of fighters who come in and out of the city. Gomi came in for two days and was training with us. It went great. (Later) he asked me to take a picture, and when the camera snapped, he [jokingly] whispered 'future fight?'"

Griffin's immediate opponent, Aurellio, is a third-degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt with 10 of his 16 career victories coming by way of submission. However, Griffin -- who has been preparing with the likes of 2007 Abu-Dhabi absolute champion Robert Drysdale -- doesn't feel threatened by Aurelio's style.

"I am completely comfortable in the jiu-jitsu game as far as MMA," Griffin said. "When you mix punching in, it takes submissions to a different style. There are a lot of submissions you can't really do or go for because you are going to put your head in a position where you are going to get punched. In MMA I am comfortable against anybody, whether they are a black belt, brown belt, whatever."

Griffin, who made the move from northern California to train at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, has also seen his share of controversy lately, most notably from the Diaz brothers, who felt his departure was "disloyal" to the Cesar Gracie fight team.

"I did leave a team, but it wasn't that team that I was with for a long time," Griffin said. "I was affiliated with them, yes, but I wasn't training with them everyday like I was with NorCal Fighting Alliance."

The lightweight standout also speculated that the controversy created by the Diaz brothers was probably more hype that hurt feelings.

"I don't have any animosity toward them," Griffin said. "That's all them, and they're probably just trying to promote and get a fight going."

Griffin also explained that he was more interested in moving closer to the UFC lightweight title than settling grudges. That's why he's largely ignored talk of a possible grudge match with Nate Diaz.

"I don't really see a reason to fight him," Griffin said. "Just talking crap is not a reason for me to fight somebody. [Maybe] if his career grows ... but If he isn't (ranked) above me, I don't see a reason to fight him. I want to keep moving myself up in the rankings and keep improving my stock as a fighter."

With a win over Aurelio in his next outing, Griffin can do just that and posture himself as a future No. 1 contender.

"I always want to keep improving myself, keep myself in the gym, and keep motivated to train," Griffin said. "I assume the (Kenny) Florian vs. (Roger) Huerta winner will get a chance to fight for the title, and then who knows? In the meantime, I assume I will have to have another fight after Aurelio before a title fight is even brought up."

For now, he is content training and challenging himself against the best the UFC has to offer.

"I am just going to keep doing my thing and keep fighting bigger name opponents," Griffin said.

 

[heyzel]

McCarthy, ABC to Review ‘Grounded Knees'

Tuesday, June 10, 2008
by Brian Knapp ([email protected])

"Big" John McCarthy will propose legalizing knees to the head of a grounded opponent when the Association of Boxing Commissions meets for its annual convention July 2-5 in Montreal. McCarthy, who retired from officiating in December, made the revelation during Sherdog.com's Beatdown radio show on Monday.

"It's a good technique," said McCarthy, who refereed 535 matches during his 15-year career. "It's a very effective tool, and it opens fights up."

The most recognized referee in the game has met privately with ABC representatives in the last few months to discuss amendments to the sport's Unified Rules of Combat. The ABC will unveil their efforts at its annual gathering, where its membership of nearly 80 state and tribal athletic commissions throughout North America will review them.

McCarthy also addressed the controversy surrounding referee Dan Miragliotta, who was criticized for his officiating in the Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson-James Thompson (Pictures) main event at EliteXC "Primetime" on May 31 in Newark, N.J., and the Brandon Vera (Pictures)-Fabricio Werdum (Pictures) heavyweight matchup at UFC 85 on Saturday in London.

"A lot of people are all over Dan," McCarthy said. "Refereeing - it's opinion. Some people are going to look at you and say, ‘You're right,' and some people are going to look at you and say, ‘You're wrong.' We're all human."

Miragliotta made what many viewed as a crucial error in judgment in the Ferguson-Thompson bout on CBS, when he forced the fighters to stand after Thompson had passed Ferguson's guard and secured side control on the ground in the second round.

"When your opponent gets to side control, there are very few things you can do," said McCarthy, who was offered the chance to officiate the Ferguson-Thompson fight. "When you take a fighter out of side control, you're giving the advantage to one fighter over another. James was in a dominant position, and Dan stood them up."

Miragliotta again found himself in the spotlight over the weekend, when he halted the match between Vera and Werdum at UFC 85. Werdum, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, had achieved a dominant position and was striking from the full mount, though Vera appeared to be deflecting most of Pride Fighting Championships veteran's shots when Miragliotta intervened with 20 seconds to go in the first round.

Vera lashed out at the referee in a post-fight press conference.

"That ref sucks," he said. "I'm pissed."

McCarthy admits Miragliotta left himself open for criticism.

"Would I have stopped the fight? No, I wouldn't," McCarthy said. "You've got to give Brandon a chance to get out of that position, and you've got to give Fabricio the chance to make it a definitive victory."

Miragliotta, however, was not the only referee around which questions swirled. Herb Dean (Pictures)'s decision-making was the subject of post-fight analysis, too, after he penalized Nate Marquardt twice in his middleweight showdown with Thales Leites (Pictures). Marquardt was docked for throwing what was clearly an illegal knee in the second round and was penalized again in the third for an elbow that looked clean on replays. McCarthy described an illegal strike to the back of the head as one that lands from the crown of the head to the base of the spine with a one-inch variance on to each side of the centerline. McCarthy referenced a mohawked fighter to illustrate the illegal area.

"Was it illegal?" McCarthy asked in regard Marquardt's elbow. "No, it wasn't."

McCarthy also pointed out that nothing was said about Marquardt's pile driver at the end of the fight in which he hoisted Leites and spiked him on his head - a move that was blatantly illegal under unified rules.

"That's one throw you cannot do," McCarthy said. "The only other time I've seen it was when Bob Sapp (Pictures) did it to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Pictures) in Pride."

McCarthy maintains an active role in helping to improve judging and officiating at MMA events. He railed against the current establishment in the sport and said he retired as a referee because of the "good old boys" network that existed within some athletic commissions.

"I left because people were put into positions based on who they know, not what they know," McCarthy said. "It really drove me nuts. I did not want to be a part of that. It's a problem within our sport, and it needs to change

 

[Shogun Locc]

BJJ Phenom ‘Jacare’ Set for Toughest Test to Date

Ronaldo Souza (Pictures) is universally regarded as one of the most talented Brazilian jiu-jitsu artists in the world. He has also compiled an 8-1 record in MMA, which he will take into the Dream middleweight grand prix quarterfinals on Sunday.

Martins Denis spoke with the man known as "Jacare" on his transition to MMA, his training with Randy Couture (Pictures) and his upcoming bout against Jason "Mayhem" Miller.

Sherdog.com: How is your life nowadays? Where do you live?
Jacare: My life is a run. I am always traveling. I am in Sao Paulo, Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

Sherdog.com: What do you miss most about living in Manaus, Brazil?
Jacare: I miss the academy, ASLE headquarters. This is a family. I miss my friends. To summarize, I miss a lot, a lot of good things.

Sherdog.com: Last year you fought four times, two times in Brazil. How was your training at ASLE? A lot of people cannot imagine how it is.
Jacare: The training was everyday in three different periods: morning, evening and night. We focus a lot on Brazilian jiu-jitsu and conditioning and, of course, the stand-up game. Several people already went to Manaus and were impressed with the technique, heart and stamina of the team. To train in Manaus is not easy. Many do not make it. The air seems to be like a sauna -- humid and heavy. The climate is terrible, and the master, Henrique Machado, pushes a high pace.

Sherdog.com: You have a great relationship with your master, Henrique Machado. With you living outside of Manaus now, how is that relationship?
Jacare: I have a strong relationship with him, but he is no longer with me and probably will not be with me for upcoming commitments.

Sherdog.com: So this is the reason he was not in your corner at your Japanese debut?
Jacare: I always traveled alone. I fought seven BJJ Mundials without him coaching me. I was training in Las Vegas and he was in Manaus, so I decided not to call him for that fight.

Sherdog.com: Why did you delay fighting outside Brazil after Gracie FC?
This is a question I prefer not to respond to. I am sorry.

Sherdog.com: You were close to signing with WEC. What happened?
Jacare: I had proposals from Affliction and EliteXC too, but Dream's proposal was much more lucrative. And I think Dream is the return of Japan to big shows. Japan needed this to be on the top again.

Sherdog.com: But did you receive a proposal to be part of ‘TUF'?
Jacare: This is not true, and I cannot talk regarding this great promotion.

Sherdog.com: You are in Dream and you are in the grand prix. What is your situation with the organization?
Jacare: I am a Dream fighter, and this is my situation [laughs].

Sherdog.com: Is your contract only for the grand prix?
Jacare: Not only for the grand prix. It goes on besides.

Sherdog.com: Was all of your preparation for the grand prix in the United States?
Jacare: All was done in Las Vegas at Xtreme Couture and with Alejara. I think my wrestling and my stand-up game improved a lot since then.

Sherdog.com: And this debut in Japan, did you stay calm or nervous?
Jacare: For sure a bit nervous, but I love to feel this adrenaline. If I lose this one day, well, I will stop fighting.

Sherdog.com: Dream booked you first against Frank Trigg (Pictures) and then finally ended up confirming you against the newcomer Ian Murphy (Pictures). How did this change affect your preparation?
Jacare: I always enter to do my best and I enter to fight well, using all I have to win. I do not want to win well; my intention is to fight well. I know if I fight well, I will have great fights and this means that it will be very hard to lose to someone else.

Sherdog.com: What did you try to do in the first second of your fight against Murphy? Was that a frustrated attempt at a flying knee?
Jacare: I saw a gap and tried that flying knee. That attempt was pure instinct. In my opinion, that was not frustration; I only did not connect.

Sherdog.com: Was that OK for you or did you nearly endanger yourself when the flying knee missed?
Jacare: I am a fighter with a ground background, and it does not matter if I am underneath or on the top. I was very comfortable.

Sherdog.com: You are at Xtreme Couture, and the team has a high-level group of fighters. How is your exchange of experience and training with the members?
Jacare: I have a nice relationship with Wanderlei Silva (Pictures). He taught me a lot. We did exchange our experiences. Martin Kampmann (Pictures) is superb on the feet, and I learned aspects from him too. We are great friends. Tyson Griffin has all the tools to be the UFC lightweight champion. He trains a lot. Forrest Griffin (Pictures) is the man who trains the most here, and he is the guy who trains the most with me. Our training is tough nearly everyday. Randy Couture (Pictures) is extremely educated and helps me a lot with the throws. He is fantastic!

Sherdog.com: How did you become part of the team?
Jacare: Our first contact started after our submission fight, but only now I went to train in his academy. Gilberto from Jiu-Jitsu Pro Gear introduced us, and now I am here.

Sherdog.com: You mentioned the relationship with the team is nice, but what about the beginning of it?
Jacare: In the first week they hit me with too much. I was not training and I was adapting at the new academy. But I am glad about that initial suffering, which was learning also, for training with all the guys.

Sherdog.com: Talking about Forrest Griffin (Pictures), you train a lot with him. What are his real chances of taking the UFC light heavyweight belt from the hands of Quinton Jackson (Pictures)?
Jacare: His chances of winning the fight are huger than people imagine. He trains a lot, has excellent cardio and very good Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He can surprise his adversary in all aspects, but I guess his cardio is his strongest point.

Sherdog.com: Back to Dream. Your next fight is against Jason Miller. How is training?
Jacare: I am not training at Xtreme Couture this time. Some unexpected situations happened, and I could not go to Las Vegas. I am focusing on Brazilian jiu-jitsu to win this fight.

Sherdog.com: Do you think Miller will go to the ground against you?
Jacare: If he keeps this fight on the feet, avoiding the ground, I am here for him. If he keeps it on the feet, this will be a favor he will do for me.

Sherdog.com: What do you think of him?
Jacare: I think he is really crazy [laughs]. And, at the same time, he is a good fighter with good endurance and good ground. I do not think he has perceivable weaknesses. His greater experience does not mean anything to me. I am very focused for this fight.

Sherdog.com: And about the rest of this grand prix? Do you think Kazushi Sakuraba (Pictures) took the tougher opponent in Melvin Manhoef (Pictures)?
Jacare: I think everyone took tough foes. There is not a tomato can among the eight fighters. I do not think Saku took the toughest. If he trains a bit more, he will come across like the winner.

Sherdog.com: Do you feel a big responsibility to be successful in the transition from BJJ and submission tournaments to MMA? I mean not only in the transition but also to be number one in mixed martial arts too?
Jacare: It was never my intention to be only one more [fighter]. My will is to be among the top in the world. I achieved this fighting BJJ and submission, and in MMA this is not going to be different. I know I need to learn and I will. I am improving surprisingly. I can take the punishment and I will do everything to be a great champion in MMA. I will show that I am an athlete that develops in each fight. I will show the purpose I have in MMA.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Noons: No Regrets Sitting Out CBS Event

EliteXC lightweight champion KJ Noons (Pictures) said he doesn't regret turning down a contract extension to fight for the historical CBS "Primetime" event on May 31, which served as the sport's inaugural run on live broadcast television. The three-hour program was the most watched MMA event ever with an average audience of 4.9 million viewers.

"They wanted to extend my contract to be on the card. You know, I didn't want to do that," said Noons during a teleconference on Monday touring his next bout this Saturday. "I just wanted to do what's best in my favor, you know what I mean? I didn't want to sign an extension just yet."

Noons, 24, carries a seven-month layoff into his first title defense against the seasoned Yves Edwards (Pictures) at EliteXC "Return of the King" on Saturday at the Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The headlining bout will be aired live on Showtime beginning at 10 p.m. EST/PST -- an opportunity that appealed more to Noons than the CBS broadcast, he said.

"It turned out better for me," said the native Hawaiian currently residing in San Diego, Calif. "Now I'm headlining on a Showtime card. So I'm not on the undercard. I'm fighting a very well‑versed opponent, Yves Edwards, and I'm very excited for the whole card."

Noons says his resistance to signing a longer extension with Pro Elite, parent company to EliteXC, did not strain his relationship with the fast-growing organization. His bout with Edwards will be the first of a recently signed three-fight deal.

Jeremy Lappen, Head of Fight Operations for Pro Elite, reiterated Noons' satisfaction with the arrangement.

"When we looked at all the different events we had lined up, when we were talking about the CBS card and our first date, one of the dates that we were actually looking at was April 26 in Hawaii. And that's when we discussed it with KJ. And with it being in Hawaii, and KJ being from Hawaii and being our champion, than KJ-Yves was the perfect battle for that."

The April 26 event was later moved to June 14 to make way for the CBS extravaganza on May 31. The event drew 8,000 spectators to the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., but more importantly, peaked with 6.51 million viewers during its climatic conclusion.

Lappen says chatter around Pro Elite's Los Angeles offices was positive following the organization's broadcast debut success. The event garnered heaps of post-fight coverage, including two simultaneous articles in the New York Times and TV features on ESPN's SportsCenter and others.

Much of the commentary was negative, however, revolving around a questionable main event that pitted former YouTube backyard brawling sensation Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson against British heavyweight James Thompson (Pictures). The bout was scrutinized at various moments due to its refereeing, while the entire event was dissected for its fighter and production choices.

Lappen said the company took its critiques in stride.

"The news of how it did was terrific. CBS was very excited, which is obviously important," Lappen said. "I think there was some negative press from I'd call it more the hardcore community. Honestly, we expected that somewhat. I didn't expect it to be so severe. But the fight card that we put together, we stood behind. It was a fight card aimed to hit more of the mainstream audience. I think he we did that."

Both CBS and EliteXC have confirmed that a second event will air on the network as early as late summer. "Slice" has not been solidified to anchor the sophomore effort, though EliteXC Live Events President Gary Shaw told Sherdog.com that the 34-year-old marketing phenomenon could face Brett Rogers (Pictures), also a victor on May 31, in October.

Heading into their own main event this Saturday, Noons and Edwards were supportive of EliteXC's recent efforts.

"On the May 31 card, they were promoting our fight on Showtime. I think that helped a bit," said the 31-year-old Edwards, a veteran of 10 UFC events since 2001. "We'll get a few more viewers for it. A few more people will get to see some good fights."

Noons, who also sports a 7-1 record (5 KOs) in pro boxing, was quick to defend the home where he earned the lightweight title following a first-round TKO over Nick Diaz (Pictures) at EliteXC "Renegade" last November in Corpus Christi, Texas.

"I don't know why there is so much negativity," said Noons. "Maybe I'm a hardcore (with) what you want to call underground. If they want to be so negative, why don't everybody that has something negative to say go train for eight weeks and try to get in a cage in front of 10,000-20,000 people. And then fight in front of five or six million people. That's not as easy. Some of the calls -- maybe the calls weren't the greatest. But give the fighters some credit."

 

[Shogun Locc]

Rejuvenated Yves Edwards earns long-awaited title shot

It's a fight nearly 11 years in the making for Yves Edwards, but he wants no part of the championship hype.

The veteran of 48 bouts, including battles with Caol Uno, Nate Marquardt, Josh Thompson and Hermes Franca, gets his first shot at a major title when he faces former training partner KJ Noons in the lightweight main event of EliteXC's latest show Saturday in Honolulu, Hawaii.

No fighter straps on the gloves and pours countless hours into training without thoughts of winning a title. Edwards is no different, but as he told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com), the opportunity is not something on which he's focusing.

"I don't think it's going to sink in until after I get it, and I'm glad I'm feeling that way," said Edwards, who makes his home in Conroe, Texas, north of Houston, and splits training between Texas and American Top Team's training center in Florida. "You can start to get too excited and, all of sudden, you get in the cage and that dude don't want to lose, and then things change."

Just a year ago, a title shot seemed a remote possibility for a fighter in the midst of the worst slide of his career. The crowd favorite and master of the self-labeled "Thugjitsu" style of fighting had lost five of six fights, with his lone victory coming against a sub .500 opponent. His contract with the UFC wasn't renewed, and he was struggling to regain the form that made him one of the world's top lightweights in 2004 and early 2005.

Edwards, 31, didn't recognize it himself, but his game wasn't evolving. Fortunately for him, an old friend had the gumption to step forward and tell Edwards what he needed to hear. Lin Oeding, who, along with Edwards, was one of the first mixed martial artists in Houston, delivered the harsh truth.

"He opened my eyes," said Edwards (34-13-1). "He told me the game is bigger than me staying here in Houston and is bigger than doing the same thing I've been doing for the past six or seven years."

The intervention wasn't something Edwards asked for, and he wasn't keen on change at the time. Grudgingly, he gave in. The move was the beginning of reigniting his career.

"He introduced me to some really good wrestlers and brought me out to California to train with different boxing coaches and guys like Manny Gamburyan and Antonio McKee," Edwards said. "It made me decide that I needed to branch out. I was a little too comfortable in my own zone."

Edwards took the change in training a step further by connecting with American Top Team in September of 2007. He hasn't lost since. A three-fight winning streak has earned him a shot at Noons (6-2), who claimed the EliteXC 160-pound title by beating Nick Diaz this past November. The fight is an experience mismatch on paper, in Edwards' favor.

"No matter what people think about them (EliteXC) trying to set it up so that Nick Diaz would rule the weight class, Diaz is a tough son of a bitch, and KJ took him out," Edwards said. "I can't look past this kid."

The fight offers a true contrast in styles. The 25-year-old champion Noons is the much better boxer, while Edwards has a decided edge in jiu-jitsu.

Edwards and Noons met nearly nine years ago shortly after Noons graduated from Clements High School in the Houston suburb of Sugar Land. Edwards' trainer at the time, Saul Soliz, brought Noons in for some sparring. Edwards recalls being impressed by the teenager's power and boxing skills.

He knew Noons had potential.

"We hit it off pretty well and had a good time," said Edwards. "He was a good kid. I think the future holds a lot of good things for him. This is the only fight I want him to lose."

 

[Shogun Locc]

Rich Franklin reflects on recent visits with wounded soldiers

UFC middleweight star Rich "Ace" Franklin has long been an adamant supporter of the troops serving in the U.S. military.

And while professional athletes from all sports often schedule PR-friendly visits to various military outposts, Franklin recently visited two military hospitals in the Washington, D.C. area completely on his own accord.

Franklin posted briefly about his experience on Rich Franklin.com (www.richfranklin.com) in an edition of his column "The Franklin Equation" entitled "Toughness Has a Gold Standard."

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) recently spoke with Franklin about the trip, which included a stop at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center late last month.

"We were primarily dealing with soldiers that had been hit by IEDs (improvised explosive devices)," Franklin said. "You hear about that stuff on the news, and you hear about it and you know it's real, but actually going to the hospital and seeing what's happening to these guys, it really lets you know that there are guys out there that are putting their life on the line doing the things that they have to do for this country."

Franklin said he maintains a strong connection to those serving in our military because he nearly served alongside them.

"There was a part of me that always wanted to go into the military," Franklin said. "I was at one point in time thinking about flying planes and was considering going to aviation school and all. But I didn't, and there's always been a part of me that says, 'Perhaps, I should have gone in the military.' And since I didn't, I feel like maybe I didn't do part of my duty. And with those guys out there on a daily basis, that are doing their civic duty that perhaps I felt like I should have contributed to, this is my way of giving back to them. Going to the various bases, visiting the wards and putting on seminars for guys, it's a way to give back to the military."

In his column, Franklin mentioned the personal motivation he received when witnessing the strength and determination of the wounded soldiers encountered during these trips.

Franklin echoed those sentiments when discussing the visit.

"The most surprising thing to me about the whole visit was not the reception that I got, but the morale between the hospital and these guys," Franklin said. "A lot of these guys are in good spirits considering that they'd lost a limb. There were guys that I'd see that had lost several limbs, and a gentleman that would never be able to walk again -- a gentleman that had to learn how to walk two or three times from all the surgeries that he's had.

"When you walk into a room, and you can see people that are in these kinds of situations with a positive attitude, it really makes you think about the kind of troubles that you have in life. When you feel like you're down on your luck, and times are hard, you think about that kind of stuff and you say, 'You know what, life is not as bad as I make it.'"

And while Franklin knows not everyone has the star power to walk in to the room and change a soldier's spirits, he believes all of us have the ability to brighten someone's day.

"When I see somebody in an airport, when I'm traveling, in uniform, I walk up to them and I just say, 'Hey – you know what? I want to say thank you for the service you do for this country,'" Franklin said. "Regardless of whether you agree with the war or not, the people that are over there are making sacrifices on a daily basis doing what they do. I know there are probably some guys over there in Iraq that sit there on a daily basis after they've been there for seven or eight months thinking to themselves, 'Why the heck am I here?' And I know their morale has dipped down.

"I just say, 'Thanks for the service you do for this country; I really appreciate it.' I've said that to guys before, and you see a smile come across their face. They know that what they're doing really does make a difference."

 

[Shogun Locc]

Latest Iron Ring Ratings

According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the 5/27 episode did a 0.6 (517,000 viewers). This signifies a leveling off trend after seeing the ratings dip recently.

 

[Shogun Locc]

5Oz. Feature: Nick Diaz could have his hands full on Saturday

Nick Diaz’s star was beginning to shine brighter than ever last year after EliteXC decided to sign him to a new, long-term contract and put a big promotional push behind him. The promotion even went so far as to go against the “Unified Rules of MMA” and create a new lightweight class of 160 pounds, almost specifically for the benefit of Diaz.

But a funny thing happened on Diaz’s way to the title, he ran into a buzzsaw in K.J. Noons, who picked Diaz a part during EliteXC’s “Renegade” event in Corpus Christi, Texas this past November. Despite his protests, he was TKO’d vs. Noons after a doctor recommended the fight be stopped following the first round due to multiple lacerations to Diaz’s face.

An attempt to get Diaz back on the winning track was tried this past March on the undercard of the Frank Shamrock vs. Cung Le co-promotion between Strikeforce and EliteXC. But a planned bout vs. Korean kickboxer Jae Suk Lim never took place, as the California State Athletic Commission would not license him in time for the bout.

Diaz’s much needed comeback win took place on May 11, where he defeated Katsuya Inoue at 6:45 of round 1 during DREAM.3 in Japan. The fight was stopped after Inoue’s corner threw in the towel due to the massive pummeling he was taking from Diaz.

Fast forward to this Saturday, and Diaz is scheduled for a featured fight during EliteXC’s “Return of the King” that many pundits are viewing as another layup. The thing is, while Diaz is justifiably the favorite, Muhsin Corbbrey is hardly an automatic win.

Lest we forget the last time Diaz fought in Hawaii, as it was during EliteXC’s “Uprising” event last September in which Diaz won in controversial fashion against a then little-known local opponent in Mike Aina. Defying the oddmakers, Aina stood toe-to-toe with Diaz and lost a decision many felt he should have won.

Aina held his own with Diaz because of his toughness. However, Corbbrey poses an even bigger threat to Diaz because he has a technical proficiency that Aina does not possess. In many ways, Diaz will be fighting an opponent on Saturday that is similar to him.

When you look at the similarities between Diaz and Corbbrey, they are striking. Diaz is only one of three grapplers promoted to the level of black belt by Cesar Gracie. He has also competed in the world’s most presitigous grappling events and holds a victory over renowned grappler Jorge Pantino in jiu-jitsu competition.

Meanwhile, Corbbrey once trained jiu jitsu under Lloyd Irvin and was a gold medalist during the second annual Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Open. While Corbbrey no longer trains under Irvin, he currently keeps his grappling chops sharp by training with former UFC lightweight fighter Din Thomas.

Diaz has garnered respect from many hardcore fans because of his ability to fight both standing and on the ground. Despite having world class credentials on the mat, Diaz has worked hard on his striking and has trained with former WBA and WBC World Champion Luisita Espinosa in a quest to perfect his hands. He’s even competed in one professional boxing match, winning via decision.

But Corbbrey has worked extensively on his striking as well. Training under the guidance of Manu Ntoh, Corbbrey’s professional Muay Thai record is a stellar 9-1. Meanwhile, he also trains boxing under John Blanken and currently holds a pro record of 5-2-1. As an amateur, Corbbrey won the open division at the Georgia Games.

It’s hard to understand why there are those who aren’t giving Corbbrey much of a chance since it’s apparent that Corbbrey has the credentials to hang with Diaz wherever the fight may go. However, there is one hurdle that Corbbrey must overcome in order to have a shot at pulling off the upset.

A counter-fighter by trade, Corbbrey is notorious for being a slow starter. Against the unheralded Bobby McMaster during his second-ever ShoXC appearance last October, Corbbrey was being dominated by McMaster until McMaster got careless. He left his neck out and Corbbrey capitalized by submitting him with a guillotine choke with just one second left in round 1.

He will not get such a reprieve against Diaz, which could spell trouble as Diaz is not one who is shy about imposing his will upon another fighter. If he allows Diaz to consistently dictate the terms of the fight, Corbbrey is destined to lose via unanimous decision. As such, Corbbrey needs to establish himself early and prevent Diaz from getting off early.

One advantage Corbbrey has in his favor is that with no one expecting him to win, Corbbrey has nothing to lose. He’s also a man who clearly understands the magnitude of the opportunity he will be receiving Saturday night.

“It means a lot,” Corbbrey responded when asked about the chance to fight Diaz on SHOWTIME during a recent media outing. “It’s going to come down to who wants it a little bit more. Every fight he goes in to, he fights tooth and nail to the end. This is going to be a tough, hard fight. I’m going to have to stand in there and get gritty with him. But it’s a huge opportunity. I have a ton of respect for him.”

While Corbbrey has respect for Diaz, he has yet to earn widespread respect from the critics. However, a strong showing vs. Diaz will change that. An upset victory would change even more.

 

[Shogun Locc]

5Oz. Feature: Nick Diaz could have his hands full on Saturday

Nick Diaz’s star was beginning to shine brighter than ever last year after EliteXC decided to sign him to a new, long-term contract and put a big promotional push behind him. The promotion even went so far as to go against the “Unified Rules of MMA” and create a new lightweight class of 160 pounds, almost specifically for the benefit of Diaz.

But a funny thing happened on Diaz’s way to the title, he ran into a buzzsaw in K.J. Noons, who picked Diaz a part during EliteXC’s “Renegade” event in Corpus Christi, Texas this past November. Despite his protests, he was TKO’d vs. Noons after a doctor recommended the fight be stopped following the first round due to multiple lacerations to Diaz’s face.

An attempt to get Diaz back on the winning track was tried this past March on the undercard of the Frank Shamrock vs. Cung Le co-promotion between Strikeforce and EliteXC. But a planned bout vs. Korean kickboxer Jae Suk Lim never took place, as the California State Athletic Commission would not license him in time for the bout.

Diaz’s much needed comeback win took place on May 11, where he defeated Katsuya Inoue at 6:45 of round 1 during DREAM.3 in Japan. The fight was stopped after Inoue’s corner threw in the towel due to the massive pummeling he was taking from Diaz.

Fast forward to this Saturday, and Diaz is scheduled for a featured fight during EliteXC’s “Return of the King” that many pundits are viewing as another layup. The thing is, while Diaz is justifiably the favorite, Muhsin Corbbrey is hardly an automatic win.

Lest we forget the last time Diaz fought in Hawaii, as it was during EliteXC’s “Uprising” event last September in which Diaz won in controversial fashion against a then little-known local opponent in Mike Aina. Defying the oddmakers, Aina stood toe-to-toe with Diaz and lost a decision many felt he should have won.

Aina held his own with Diaz because of his toughness. However, Corbbrey poses an even bigger threat to Diaz because he has a technical proficiency that Aina does not possess. In many ways, Diaz will be fighting an opponent on Saturday that is similar to him.

When you look at the similarities between Diaz and Corbbrey, they are striking. Diaz is only one of three grapplers promoted to the level of black belt by Cesar Gracie. He has also competed in the world’s most presitigous grappling events and holds a victory over renowned grappler Jorge Pantino in jiu-jitsu competition.

Meanwhile, Corbbrey once trained jiu jitsu under Lloyd Irvin and was a gold medalist during the second annual Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Open. While Corbbrey no longer trains under Irvin, he currently keeps his grappling chops sharp by training with former UFC lightweight fighter Din Thomas.

Diaz has garnered respect from many hardcore fans because of his ability to fight both standing and on the ground. Despite having world class credentials on the mat, Diaz has worked hard on his striking and has trained with former WBA and WBC World Champion Luisita Espinosa in a quest to perfect his hands. He’s even competed in one professional boxing match, winning via decision.

But Corbbrey has worked extensively on his striking as well. Training under the guidance of Manu Ntoh, Corbbrey’s professional Muay Thai record is a stellar 9-1. Meanwhile, he also trains boxing under John Blanken and currently holds a pro record of 5-2-1. As an amateur, Corbbrey won the open division at the Georgia Games.

It’s hard to understand why there are those who aren’t giving Corbbrey much of a chance since it’s apparent that Corbbrey has the credentials to hang with Diaz wherever the fight may go. However, there is one hurdle that Corbbrey must overcome in order to have a shot at pulling off the upset.

A counter-fighter by trade, Corbbrey is notorious for being a slow starter. Against the unheralded Bobby McMaster during his second-ever ShoXC appearance last October, Corbbrey was being dominated by McMaster until McMaster got careless. He left his neck out and Corbbrey capitalized by submitting him with a guillotine choke with just one second left in round 1.

He will not get such a reprieve against Diaz, which could spell trouble as Diaz is not one who is shy about imposing his will upon another fighter. If he allows Diaz to consistently dictate the terms of the fight, Corbbrey is destined to lose via unanimous decision. As such, Corbbrey needs to establish himself early and prevent Diaz from getting off early.

One advantage Corbbrey has in his favor is that with no one expecting him to win, Corbbrey has nothing to lose. He’s also a man who clearly understands the magnitude of the opportunity he will be receiving Saturday night.

“It means a lot,” Corbbrey responded when asked about the chance to fight Diaz on SHOWTIME during a recent media outing. “It’s going to come down to who wants it a little bit more. Every fight he goes in to, he fights tooth and nail to the end. This is going to be a tough, hard fight. I’m going to have to stand in there and get gritty with him. But it’s a huge opportunity. I have a ton of respect for him.”

While Corbbrey has respect for Diaz, he has yet to earn widespread respect from the critics. However, a strong showing vs. Diaz will change that. An upset victory would change even more.

 

[Shogun Locc]

5Oz. Feature: Nick Diaz could have his hands full on Saturday

Nick Diaz’s star was beginning to shine brighter than ever last year after EliteXC decided to sign him to a new, long-term contract and put a big promotional push behind him. The promotion even went so far as to go against the “Unified Rules of MMA” and create a new lightweight class of 160 pounds, almost specifically for the benefit of Diaz.

But a funny thing happened on Diaz’s way to the title, he ran into a buzzsaw in K.J. Noons, who picked Diaz a part during EliteXC’s “Renegade” event in Corpus Christi, Texas this past November. Despite his protests, he was TKO’d vs. Noons after a doctor recommended the fight be stopped following the first round due to multiple lacerations to Diaz’s face.

An attempt to get Diaz back on the winning track was tried this past March on the undercard of the Frank Shamrock vs. Cung Le co-promotion between Strikeforce and EliteXC. But a planned bout vs. Korean kickboxer Jae Suk Lim never took place, as the California State Athletic Commission would not license him in time for the bout.

Diaz’s much needed comeback win took place on May 11, where he defeated Katsuya Inoue at 6:45 of round 1 during DREAM.3 in Japan. The fight was stopped after Inoue’s corner threw in the towel due to the massive pummeling he was taking from Diaz.

Fast forward to this Saturday, and Diaz is scheduled for a featured fight during EliteXC’s “Return of the King” that many pundits are viewing as another layup. The thing is, while Diaz is justifiably the favorite, Muhsin Corbbrey is hardly an automatic win.

Lest we forget the last time Diaz fought in Hawaii, as it was during EliteXC’s “Uprising” event last September in which Diaz won in controversial fashion against a then little-known local opponent in Mike Aina. Defying the oddmakers, Aina stood toe-to-toe with Diaz and lost a decision many felt he should have won.

Aina held his own with Diaz because of his toughness. However, Corbbrey poses an even bigger threat to Diaz because he has a technical proficiency that Aina does not possess. In many ways, Diaz will be fighting an opponent on Saturday that is similar to him.

When you look at the similarities between Diaz and Corbbrey, they are striking. Diaz is only one of three grapplers promoted to the level of black belt by Cesar Gracie. He has also competed in the world’s most presitigous grappling events and holds a victory over renowned grappler Jorge Pantino in jiu-jitsu competition.

Meanwhile, Corbbrey once trained jiu jitsu under Lloyd Irvin and was a gold medalist during the second annual Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Open. While Corbbrey no longer trains under Irvin, he currently keeps his grappling chops sharp by training with former UFC lightweight fighter Din Thomas.

Diaz has garnered respect from many hardcore fans because of his ability to fight both standing and on the ground. Despite having world class credentials on the mat, Diaz has worked hard on his striking and has trained with former WBA and WBC World Champion Luisita Espinosa in a quest to perfect his hands. He’s even competed in one professional boxing match, winning via decision.

But Corbbrey has worked extensively on his striking as well. Training under the guidance of Manu Ntoh, Corbbrey’s professional Muay Thai record is a stellar 9-1. Meanwhile, he also trains boxing under John Blanken and currently holds a pro record of 5-2-1. As an amateur, Corbbrey won the open division at the Georgia Games.

It’s hard to understand why there are those who aren’t giving Corbbrey much of a chance since it’s apparent that Corbbrey has the credentials to hang with Diaz wherever the fight may go. However, there is one hurdle that Corbbrey must overcome in order to have a shot at pulling off the upset.

A counter-fighter by trade, Corbbrey is notorious for being a slow starter. Against the unheralded Bobby McMaster during his second-ever ShoXC appearance last October, Corbbrey was being dominated by McMaster until McMaster got careless. He left his neck out and Corbbrey capitalized by submitting him with a guillotine choke with just one second left in round 1.

He will not get such a reprieve against Diaz, which could spell trouble as Diaz is not one who is shy about imposing his will upon another fighter. If he allows Diaz to consistently dictate the terms of the fight, Corbbrey is destined to lose via unanimous decision. As such, Corbbrey needs to establish himself early and prevent Diaz from getting off early.

One advantage Corbbrey has in his favor is that with no one expecting him to win, Corbbrey has nothing to lose. He’s also a man who clearly understands the magnitude of the opportunity he will be receiving Saturday night.

“It means a lot,” Corbbrey responded when asked about the chance to fight Diaz on SHOWTIME during a recent media outing. “It’s going to come down to who wants it a little bit more. Every fight he goes in to, he fights tooth and nail to the end. This is going to be a tough, hard fight. I’m going to have to stand in there and get gritty with him. But it’s a huge opportunity. I have a ton of respect for him.”

While Corbbrey has respect for Diaz, he has yet to earn widespread respect from the critics. However, a strong showing vs. Diaz will change that. An upset victory would change even more.

 

[Shogun Locc]

KJ Noons: Nick Diaz is “a big crybaby”

KJ Noons had some choice words for the man that he beat to win EliteXC’s 160 lbs. title late last year at EliteXC: Renegade after a reporter asked him about the notion that he’s been dodging Diaz:

“But I don’t dodge anybody. As a champion, you can’t duck anyone. You only have one option. You fight the best. Whoever that is, that’s who I fight. Unfortunately, Nick’s not the best now. I have to fight the top guy as the champion. Right now that guy is Yves Edwards.

“Of course, it would be great to fight Nick in the future. It would be a great payday for me. (But) Nick is such a big crybaby. Let him rebuild himself and then we’ll fight again. I’d love an easy payday.

“It’s ridiculous what Diaz’ camp was saying. Why would they think I’m dodging him? I gave him plastic surgery on his face. That’s a fact. As long as he can get a doctor’s note, (I’m all for) round two.’’

And of course, Nick Diaz fires back:

“Noons is a little (expletive) and it doesn’t even matter what I am thinking about him because we are not fighting. Noons won on a cut. He is only a paper champion. His days are numbered.’’