MMA News Thread

[Shogun Locc]

Affliction VP says Edwin Dewees could replace "Tiger" White

The July 19 "Affliction: Banned" event recently suffered its first card casualty, as K.O. Dynasty Management confirmed that Vernon "Tiger" White had been pulled from the event.

Affliction Vice President Tom Atencio today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that the organization now has its sights set on UFC veteran Edwin Dewees (35-12-0) as a possible replacement to face Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (13-3).

"We're interested in Edwin Dewees," Atencio said. "I haven't had a chance to talk to him, but I know somebody's reaching out to him, and hopefully that will work out. But we're in talks right now."

As we reported earlier today, White was pulled from the card after testing positive for a banned diuretic after a May 31 Xtreme Fighting Association event in Las Vegas. Atencio said no sanctions have yet been levied on White, but he also said that Affliction could not wait until a decision was issued by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.

"I haven't talked to [White], but I know that he has a hearing on the ninth of July," Atencio said. "We just can't wait that long to find out what's going to happen to him."

In his place could step Dewees, a Lions Den fighter who spent two thirds of his career with the Arizona-based Rage in the Cage organization. Recently, after winning five of six fights, the 25-year-old fell into a four-fight losing skid. However, he rebounded in April for his most recent win: a first-round submission victory over Richard Blake at a NoLimit Fighting event.

Although he was hardly the biggest name on a star-studded card, the loss of White comes on the heels of the UFC's announcement that it will hold a card featuring middleweight champion Anderson Silva on the same evening as the "Affliction: Banned" event -- and air it on Spike TV for free. Although a portion of the Affliction card also airs on basic cable via FSN, the main card comes with a $39.95 pay-per-view price tag.

However, Atencio remains confident that the drawing power of the evening's fighters will still attract MMA's hardcore fans.

"Anybody that was going to buy our pay-per-view, I think they're still going to buy it," Atencio said. "I think the people that weren't going to buy it, [the UFC event] just gives them something to do now. I don't think it really changed the hardcore fans' outlook."

The Affliction executive also hinted at a still-to-come major marketing push that the organization hopes will bring in the casual audience as well.

"Right now, we haven't even broken water (on marketing) yet," Atencio said. "We're waiting until the push because we know a lot of people, especially the casual fan, they'll forget about it if we push too soon. ... We've sold about 8,000 tickets so far, and that's with minimal advertising."

Featuring three ex-UFC champions, both Emelianenko brothers, and the greatest assembled cast of recognizable names on a card outside the UFC, Atencio believes his card will stand up to any challenges between now and July 19.

"July 19 pay-per-view -- it's going to be the biggest MMA card in history," he said. "There's no denying that."

 

[Shogun Locc]

EliteXC VP Jared Shaw Weighs In on Recent Rumors

In response to recent reports of EliteXC President Gary Shaw’s possible departure from the promotion, MMARated conducted an interview with VP Jared Shaw. When asked whether Gary Shaw would be relieved of his EliteXC duties, Jared replied:

All the reports I have read have been absolutely erroneous. There’s no truth to CBS pushing Gary Shaw out or anything like that. Gary might not be as much in the limelight because of his other business, which is boxing. He’s also spending a little more time at home with the rest of his family. You’re going to see Jared Shaw everyday so you don’t have to think that Gary Shaw is gone. I don’t know why they would keep one Shaw and not another. We’re both here and Gary is still a major force. He’s still spoken to everyday…He’s a major part of this company and everything he’s done as a promoter we’ll continue to utilize and continue to follow his lead.

 

[heyzel]

Giving UFC Its Proper Due

by Robert Workman




Over the years, mixed martial arts-based video games haven't been given their proper due, outside of the remarkable Ultimate Fighting Championship game Crave produced for the Dreamcast eight years ago. THQ hopes to change all that, though. It recently acquired the exclusive Ultimate Fighting Championship license and is putting it to good use in the forthcoming simulation game UFC Undisputed 2009. Although it's still got a ways to go before it meets its spring 2009 release date, it shows great potential.

Handling the creation of the UFC game is Yukes, the same development house that handles THQ's World Wrestling Entertainment games. However, it isn't the same engine—UFC Undisputed is built from the ground up. The octagon clearly has several differences from a four-sided wrestling mat. A recent trailer for the game shows the amount of detail that Yukes put into the game thus far. Fighters look like actual representations of themselves, right down to their victory stances. Current UFC champion Quentin "Rampage" Jackson, for example, lets out a howling roar after winning a bout.

The UFC Undisputed roster will contain 85 fighters, although only two have been revealed at this point—Jackson and Forest Griffin, two fighters that are set to collide at an upcoming pay-per-view event. The trailer THQ revealed to us showed the fighters going back and forth, smacking each other around and switching off between submission holds. One minute, Griffin has Jackson locked up in an armbar. The next, Jackson kneels over a crumpled Griffin, pounding away at his face with his left and right fists.

During a demonstration of the game, we saw how deep this action gets, with a number of countermoves, defensive tactics and knockdown opportunities. Yes, you can take out your opponent with one punch during a match, but the timing on it has to be perfect—just like in a real UFC bout. While we weren't able to get hands-on time with this early build, it looks like a smooth experience. The guys at Yukes had a blast showing off the game, even though they had the real-life fighters, Griffin and Jackson, trying to do backseat coaching on how to get the knockdown.

UFC Undisputed 2009 will also give you the option to create your own fighter. You can set up their attributes and put them in whatever class you feel is necessary for their skills, ranging from lightweight to heavyweight. From there, you'll follow certain techniques as you become a contender in the UFC ranks, with a number of fighting disciplines available to choose from. Do you feel more comfortable trying your luck with Brazilian Ju-Jitsu? Or perhaps you want to try your luck with old-school Judo? It seems like part of the fun involves going through the trial-and-error system with each style, seeing which one suits you best. No word yet if the Career Mode for your newly created superstar will follow the same guidelines as Spike's UFC-themed reality show The Ultimate Fighter, but that would be cool.

There really isn't that much to the presentation yet, what with only two boxers and one arena revealed thus far. However, what's here is still noteworthy. The UFC fighters look very realistic, with wobbly facial expressions after taking a punch to the face and real-time injuries developing on their bodies. They get a little too sweaty over time, making them shinier than in previous games, but that's easy to overlook. The animation is spot-on, and we were actually surprised that the game doesn't run into any clipping problems, an issue that affects Yukes' WWE games. UFC commentators Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg also keep up on the action, showing genuine surprise after a quick strike and proclaiming their love for the sport. THQ reps mentioned that the duo spent dozens of hours in the studio recording dialogue, nailing down the timing of each in-game event. Seeing as how the WWE games have problems with this, it'll be good to see THQ get the tempo right for UFC.

Along with a career mode that will let you establish your own UFC legacy (including a stop at the UFC Hall of Fame) and exhibition fights where you can show your local friends a thing or two, UFC Undisputed 2009 will also support online play through Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network. Although THQ stayed mum on how these fights would work (or if you could form your own virtual posse), it reassured us that online functionality is a must. Tournaments are a possibility as well, but nothing's been confirmed as of yet.

UFC Undisputed 2009 looks to make the lackluster fighting games featuring the brand a thing of the past, focusing instead on a hard-hitting future with lots of action and excitement. Once more fighters enter the virtual ring, we'll get a better idea of the diversity. For now, though, it looks like a solid brawler. And any game that pays strict attention to the UFC ring girls, with all their virtual hotness, can't be bad. Be sure to check for more coverage soon, including an interview with the project manager and a hands-on report. Get ready for a beatdown

 

[heyzel]

'Elite' fights to hit arena

By Scott Linesburgh
Record Staff Writer
June 26, 2008 6:00 AM
STOCKTON - Elite Xtreme Combat will bring its brand of mixed martial arts to Stockton, hoping once again to put a rear-naked choke hold on a national television audience.

Elite XC announced on Wednesday that its July 26 show at Stockton Arena will be broadcast live to parts of the nation on Showtime and CBS as part of its "Saturday Night Fights" series. It will be the first event broadcast on a major network from the arena, and tickets will be on sale at 10 a.m. Friday.

The featured fighters include Stockton resident Nick Diaz and Elk Grove's Scott Smith, who will take part in the main event against middleweight champion Robbie Lawler.

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS
Elite Xtreme Combat

When: July 26, Stockton Arena (9,835)

Fight schedule: Live card at 3:15 p.m.; Showtime card at 5 p.m.; CBS show at 6 p.m.

Broadcast: Tape delayed, Showtime at 8 p.m.; CBS at 9-11 p.m.

Featured bouts: Robbie Lawler vs. Scott Smith for middleweight title; Jake Shields vs. Nick Thompson for welterweight title; Nick Diaz vs. Thomas Denny, lightweights

Ticket prices: $35-$700

Tickets available: Friday at Stockton Arena box office; stocktontickets.com
"I'm just so glad it's here and not Texas or some other random state," said Diaz, who will meet Thomas Denny in a lightweight bout. "This should be huge and I think it's great for the city. I'm glad I'm going to be a part of it."

Elite XC, which generally is considered one of the top MMA companies in the country along with Ultimate Fighting Championship, held its first show on CBS on May 31 and drew impressive ratings. The show averaged 4.7 million viewers and peaked at 6.5 million.

Pro Elite, Inc., which owns Elite XC, was looking for a venue for its second program and settled on the arena.

"Stockton, to us, is a great MMA town and there's been a lot of good fighters from the area, including Nick," said Douglas DeLuca, chief executive officer of Pro Elite. "It's in proximity to a lot of cities and has a beautiful arena. It's what we were looking for."

Stockton Arena general manager Jacqui James said she had been talking with the company for a while.

"The producers came in and did a walk-through, and they were very happy," James said. "We hope to bring in more of these types of events, like mixed martial arts and boxing. They will do well here."

On Tuesday, former three-time boxing champion Tony "The Tiger" Lopez announced his intent to promote a boxing event at the arena later this year.

Stockton Arena has hosted MMA events in the past, but not by a national organization. Arena capacity is 9,835, and ticket prices will range from $35-$700.

Doug Wilhoit, the CEO of the Stockton Chamber of Commerce, said the publicity could be valuable to the city.

"There's going to be a national TV audience that will see 'Live from Stockton, California' flash on their screens, so it's a very positive thing," Wilhoit said. "There are going to be people who will come in and want to spend the night, go to a restaurant or get gas, so it will help the city."

DeLuca said he's pleased with the quality of the fights on the show. Lawler and Smith will meet in a rematch of their May 31 bout, a bloody brawl which was called a no-contest in the third round after Smith was hit in the eye and couldn't continue. Diaz, 24, has a 17-7 record and is posturing for a shot at a title.

"Nick's an exciting fighter, people like to watch him," DeLuca said. "I think this is a stellar card."

 

[heyzel]

NHL veteran trains with Chuck Liddell

The NHL forward is now on the Central Coast training with UFC superstar Chuck Liddell, his trainer John Hackelman and the rest of The Pit fight team. Hordichuk actually sought out Hackelman to improve his hockey game.

"John, I think, is one of the best trainers in the world and [has] produced some of the best fighters in the world," Hordichuk said about his reason for contacting Hackelman. "In hockey, there is a lot of fighting, and that's sort of my role. The guys nowadays are getting a lot bigger and stronger, and I'm always going to stay my same size, so I thought, why not get the edge and come train here at The Pit with John?"

Added Hackelman about his newest client's progress, "His punching power has probably increased five times. Just by the turn of the hip and whipping the shoulder around."

Dropping the gloves was the reason Hordichuk got his shot in the NHL, and the reason he's stayed for nine seasons in the league.

"I knew that if I wanted to make in the NHL I wasn't skilled enough to put the puck in the net and my skating at the time was all right. But I said, you know, if I want to play with the big boys, I've got to be one of the big boys," said Hordichuk.

One of Darcy's biggest hits while training at The Pit was when he got a few pointers from the man himself, Chuck Liddell.

"It brings a smile to my face. Obviously I need pictures to prove it, because obviously everyone back home doesn't believe this small kid that grew up on a farm that wasn't supposed to play in the NHL all of a sudden is training with one of the best fighters in the world," said Hordichuk.

It is safe to say when Hordichuk hits the ice next season he will be one of the most feared altar boys out there.

"His punching power is a lot better. I think he's going to drop some guys on the ice," predicted Hackelman.

"If I can't punch beat them up on the ice, I'll choke a hold on the ice," joked Hordichuk about his new skills.

 

[heyzel]

Rothwell can make statement at Affliction

By Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports


To most passengers who were hustling to their gates at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, the two large men eating lunch together didn’t merit so much as a second glance.

But those who know mixed martial arts had to do a double take when they walked by and saw Ben Rothwell and Andrei Arlovski sharing a quiet meal together while awaiting a flight to Chicago.

The men meet on the July 19 Affliction card at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., in a pivotal match for each fighter.

Arlovski, a former UFC champion, has accomplished about all there is to accomplish in the sport. But Rothwell is on the rise and a win over Arlovski would cement him as one of the game’s elite heavyweights.

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Still, Rothwell, an avid cook himself, didn’t see anything unusual about having lunch with a man he would soon be fighting.

“Andrei’s a good guy and this it is not like we hate each other,” Rothwell said. “It’s just a business deal.”

But it’s the biggest business deal of Rothwell’s young life. The 26-year-old is 29-5 in his career, but hasn’t faced anyone with Arlovski’s combination of size, power, athleticism and record.

Rothwell is ranked ninth among heavyweights by the World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts, and 10th by Sherdog.com.

Arlovski, by contrast, is ranked fifth by Sherdog and sixth by both WAMMA and MMAWeekly.

Rothwell was one of the rising stars of the International Fight League for whom he went 9-0 . But when his contract ran out after the IFL event in September, he never reconsidered signing with the organization that is now on a death watch.

He declined to fight in its inaugural Grand Prix in December and instead watched Roy Nelson claim its heavyweight belt.

It didn’t, however, bother him a great deal.

“I fought for them, from September (2006) to September (2007) eight times and I made a certain amount of money in the last fight, with Ricco (Rodriguez),” Rothwell said. “They wanted me to fight in the Grand Prix for only a little more money than I had made the last time. What incentive did I have to fight in that Grand Prix?

“My body hurt. I gave my body up, fighting as often as I did. (IFL commissioner) Kurt Otto was trying to talk me into it and I asked him what incentive there was for me to do it. He said, ‘The belt, Ben. The belt.’ All I did was laugh. The belt doesn’t pay my mortgage.”

A trinket he could put in his trophy case and admire for years was the last thing Rothwell wanted. He wanted not only the compensation that fights against elite talents like Arlovski would bring, but also the ability to test himself against the best in the world.

His biggest win is over Rodriguez, a one-time UFC champion who was past his peak when he met Rothwell in September. So Rothwell opted to turn to Affliction, which began collecting top heavyweights like the New York Yankees have big contracts.

“This fight is a rite of passage for me,” said Rothwell, a hulk of a man who once drew interest while he was in high school from Florida State’s football program. “I’m pleased that I’m ranked where I am, but I’ve been kind of knocking at the door at the bottom of the top 10 for a while now.

“Fighting for belts is pointless. A fight with a guy like Andrei does a lot more for me. Who is to say what a belt is worth? But if I beat a guy like Andrei, the things it can do for my career are amazing.”

Rothwell knows Arlovski’s game all too well. Arlovski won the UFC title by submitting Tim Sylvia at UFC 51. But Sylvia got the last laugh by knocking out Arlovski in the first round at the rematch at UFC 59 and then by winning a unanimous decision in the rubber match at UFC 61.

Rothwell was Sylvia’s primary training partner for those bouts and played the role of Arlovski.

“I did study Andrei very closely so I could help Tim as best as I could,” Rothwell said. “So I think I know what he can do as well as anyone.”

Rothwell isn’t the same fighter as Sylvia, who meets Fedor Emelianenko in the card’s main event, but believes the experience emulating Arlovski will be beneficial.

More than anything, though, he’s excited to have hit the big time. With highly regarded talents like Emelianenko, Sylvia and Arlovski under contract, Affliction is offering a big opportunity to ambitious young heavyweights such as Rothwell.

Work through that list of fighters and you’ve instantly become a star in the sport. He got into it by chance, after leaving football in frustration and wandering into a gym.

He saw fighters doing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and got onto a mat with a 155-pounder who was going to show him some of the moves.

Rothwell outweighed him by more than 100 pounds, but he was shocked at the ease with which the man could maneuver on the mat.

“He was just showing me what you do on the ground and I realized pretty quickly that this little guy could have kicked my butt so quickly and so easy, and I started to go nuts,” Rothwell said. “I just had to learn more. I’d always loved to fight, but I never thought it would lead to this.”

Nine years later, Rothwell is on the verge of a breakthrough into the big time.

But he doesn’t want to think of what a win might do for his career just yet. He wants to focus on making sure he does win.

“You can’t get ahead of yourself and think of the implications (of a win) before you fight the fight,” Rothwell said. “I’m fighting a guy who is as dangerous as anyone in the world. I’m where I want to be now, but I can only focus on preparing for the fight and not for all the things that would happen (with a win).”

 

[heyzel]

Lyoto Machida: The Inevitable Contender

There are a lot of things that bug me about Lyoto Machida.

He’s a striker who hasn’t knocked out a UFC opponent. He talks at length about this striking style that doesn’t finish. He fights off of his back foot. He throws combinations almost as rarely as he moves forwards. He gets credit as being the top striker at 205, when there are a half dozen guys who have finished more fights standing up than he has.

Still, while I’m open about the problems I have with the way that Machida fights, there’s one thing I won’t deny: he’s going to get a title shot.

He’s one of the only fighters in the division without a loss on his recent record, and the only one who’s one a substantial winning streak against the opponents that the UFC cares about.

The UFC has used him as a high profile hitman. They brought him in to prove that Sokoudjou wasn’t as destructive as everyone thought. They brought him in to end the UFC career of Tito Ortiz on a note that will make it much harder for the former Champ to get resigned in a major organization.

However maliciously he might be used, though, it’s clear that the UFC likes him, and they’ve been giving him premium placement and the most substantial opponents that they are willing to let him bash by decision. It won’t be long until he gets a shot at the belt, and I think it’s fair to say that if he beats his next opponent decisively (even by decision) the UFC will see him billed as a top contender.

What’s really problematic is that none of the top guys in the division have the tools to beat Machida. All of them are going to try and do exactly what every other one of Machida’s opponents has done: chase him.

The fighter that chases Machida will loose every time, because of Machida’s counterstriking style. We saw it with Ortiz. We saw it with Heath. We saw it with Nakamura.

As painful as it may be for me to acknowledge the man who will kick your ass by decision as the next top contender for the championship when I would much rather see Thiago Silva, it’s inevitable. Thiago is hard to market. His style is exciting for me, but for the fans who like to see the fancy kicks and displays of karate-kid style combat, Machida is the easy pick with the highlight reel and the names on his hitlist.

Machida will get one more fight, probably against either Thiago or Wanderlei Silva, and as long as he keeps his record squeaky clean, he will be stepping in for a five round fight around the end of the year.

 

[heyzel]

UFC Lobbyists - Who Will Be Waiting in the “Lobby” ?

By Charles Jay



The UFC, which has put its tentacles into legislatures on the state level, is now entering the battlefield on a national basis. They have hired a Washington lobbying firm, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, in order to state their case on the Hill.

This reflects on something I was telling my buddy Zach Arnold a long time ago; that sooner or later, there were going to be louder noises about national regulation coming from the various states, funneled through something called the ABC - the Association of Boxing Commissions - a trade association which is just that, an association of nearly every boxing commission in the country. And if you’ve paid attention, you know that these boxing commissions, which sometimes come by another name, such as an “athletic commission” or in the case of Michigan, an “unarmed combat commission,” are chiefly enlisted to regulate boxing. They have boxing people in control, and have often seen the sport of mixed martial arts through that prism. Since they are generally products of government bureaucracy, they are embedded in a culture that encourages more and more regulation, not to mention one of political patronage, so you can bet that in this atmosphere, there is always going to be the possibility of those in control using the power granted by the state to influence things in the favor of one entity or another.

To be fair and balanced about this thing, the UFC has been perfectly willing to play that “game” to its advantage within states, as some of its lobbyists, whether on the national level or the local level, have been able to freeze out a promoter or two, sometimes by virtue of the very laws that are able to pass in the legislature, or some careful “nudging” of state officials to impose sanctions upon promoters that may or may not even be legal. That is something you can be assured we’re going to examine here in the coming days, but the point is that they are light years ahead of their competitors in this regard. I know something about how boxing regulation works, perhaps as much as any writer ever has in the United States, and if you care to Google “Charles Jay Operation Cleanup” you can partake in as much of its 800-plus pages as you can dig up; that is, if you are so inclined.

MMA is going to become a political football.

This comes from the UFC press release:

“UFC is at the point where they are one of the fastest-growing sports leagues, and we want to make sure members of Congress are aware of the changes MMA has undergone,” said Makan Delrahim, a former top Justice Department official who is now a lobbyist at Brownstein Hyatt.

Well, that lobbyist is behind the eight-ball already. Because guess what? They could care less what changes MMA has undergone. In fact, the “changes” the sport has undertaken actually make it a MORE attractive target for people who are of the mindset to regulate anything that walks, simply because they see more money in it. When you look at the summaries surrounding the establishment of the new commission in Michigan that included provisions for MMA, for example, there was hardly a word about how much safer regulation would make the sport, but rather, how much money could be realized from it. Comparisons were made with the neighboring state of Ohio, which has hosted UFC events.

You see, it’s not about what good little boys the UFC have been by tidying up their act. It’s about how much THEY can profit off it.

And so there is going to be a move to include mixed martial arts not only in the existing legislation that involves boxing, the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act, as well as an effort to resurrect the Professional Boxing Amendments Act to encompass mixed martial arts as well. If John McCain is elected president, he may have other things on his mind, but if he pushes for this bill, it might have a better shot at passing. That would be something to worry about. Thus far every incarnation of his legislation has failed (in fact, I have been part of those efforts to defeat it), and in large measure, there was the heavy participation of lobbyists who were retained by the International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association.

I must say that I fall on the side of the UFC and their lobbying efforts in this specific case. What was written last week on MMAPayout was true, in that “Inclusion of the UFC under the two aforementioned boxing reform acts would basically turn the standard UFC fighter contract on it’s ear.” But unlike boxing, the sport of MMA has not done a half-bad job at self-regulation, and besides, if there is a restraint of trade in a UFC contract, that is certainly something that can be contested through the civil courts. Taxpayers don’t need to foot the bill to protect fighters, do they?

As we often say, stay tuned. Now these guys are really in my whee

 

[heyzel]

Marcus Hicks: Married To Fighting

By Frank Curreri

He is, in his own words, nearly half the man he used to be. And that’s a good thing, because 155-pound fighter Marcus Hicks once weighed about 245 pounds.

He says he is married to fighting. No time for women, little time even to watch television. He is something of a minimalist who likes to keep life simple. He’s content to be a single-minded gym rat and more of a loner than a socialite. Most days the stocky Texan trains six to eight hours, occasionally reminding himself of what WEC lightweight champion Jamie Varner once said about him.

“I remember that last December 12th Jamie said he would smash me,” Hicks said. “Oh, I remember it. So I don’t need any motivation getting ready for this fight.”

Hicks isn’t the kind of man to escalate a war of words with another fighter, so he doesn’t lob any threats back at Varner. But don’t mistake Hicks for a turn-the-other-cheek kind of guy. Inside of the cage, the former pro boxer and Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt is 8-0 and has finished every opponent.

“I’m sure this fight’s not going to go the distance,” Hicks said. “The longer the fight goes the better it is for me. The shorter it is the better it is for me. My confidence comes from my training. I push myself to the limit. Come fight night I don’t have to worry about being tired. All I have to do is bring the fight to him. My training pretty much does everything.

“I think we match up pretty good but at the end of the end of the night I’m sure I’m going to win.”

That is as much vanity, egoism and trash talk as any journalist can pry from Hicks’ insanely polite tongue, which is constantly saying “Yes sir” and “No sir.”

And it is precisely because of his extreme modesty, and reluctance to talk at length about himself, that Hicks packs credibility when discussing aspects of his game that exist but have yet to be revealed in the cage.

“I don’t think I have showcased my standup near to my ability,” said the former Golden Gloves champ, who has won just twice by TKO. “I think I’ve only shown maybe 10 to 15 percent of my boxing potential. I’ve studied Muay Thai for like two or three years but I haven’t really shown a lot of my kicks and elbows.”

Built like a mini Marvin Eastman, Hicks lives in Lewisville, Texas, on the outskirts of Dallas. He owns an MMA gym there and has seen his clientele double thanks to his exposure in the WEC and 3-0 record with the organization. “The Wrecking Ball” considers his WEC debut against Sergio Gomez to be the toughest fight of his career. It was a fast-paced, back-and-forth affair and Hicks was in big trouble when Gomez pounded his left eye.

“It was closed shut, it was done,” Hicks said. “He closed my eye in the beginning of the fight and I couldn’t see out of it the rest of the fight. The doctors were pretty much going to stop the fight. I asked for one more round. So it was going to be all or nothing.”

“I took a little bit of a beating. He was pretty much having his way until he kept taking me down. That was a mistake because I don’t have to see to do jiu-jitsu, I can pretty much just feel. That was a fight where if I was going to quit, that would be the one.”

Hicks’ brush with defeat ended when he finished Gomez with a guillotine choke.

While BJ Penn is widely considered the top 155 pounder in the world, Hicks aims to someday be regarded in the same vein. To that end, he is willing to make huge sacrifices, and the 32-year-old says even love will have to wait.

“It’s hard to be married in a relationship when you’re a fighter because it requires too much discipline and time,” he said. “It’s pretty much impossible. You have to pretty much be married to fighting.”

 

[heyzel]

RORY MARKHAM ON SIGNING WITH THE UFC

Thursday, June 26, 2008 - by Mick Hammond -



After a year plagued with injury and inconsistency in 2007, former International Fight League welterweight Rory Markham has turned himself around in 2008, and is on the cusp of a major career breakthrough.

Rebounding off a year-ending loss in December by defeating Jay Ellis at the debut Adrenaline event in Chicago just a couple short weeks ago, Markham’s good fortune got even better when the dream call came through saying he’d be taking on Brodie Farber at the upcoming Ultimate Fighting Championship’s Fight Night 14 event on July 19. The main event features UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva making his 205-pound debut against James Irvin.

“This is one of those things where I set a goal for myself when I started my journey down this path and the end result was to be in the UFC, and this is that dream coming to fruition,” said Markham.

According to him, the timing couldn’t have been better.

“It feels like everything was set in place just right,” he stated. “I trained hard for Adrenaline and ended up having an easy night, an injury-free night, and now I’m going to have an eight-week camp for this coming UFC fight.

“I’m in shape, having a nice healthy time right now and my conditioning is great, and now I’m ready to get back down to (Pat Miletich’s camp in) Iowa to really get grinding.”

Having worked out four weeks for his Adrenaline fight and now having to turn around and do it again for his UFC debut, it could be conceivable that Markham might be biting off more than he can chew physically, but he doesn’t feel that’s the case.

Thanks to the breakneck scheduling of the IFL over the past couple of years, he’s used to having little to no time off between match-ups.

“I’ll tell you this much, the IFL can really get you ready for a quick turn-around,” he commented with a chuckle. “As much as I griped and moaned about those seven fights a year, it’s allowed me to make this happen.”

Stepping into a new environment, especially as one as pressure filled as the UFC, has played havoc with many debuting fighters’ nerves.

Markham however, feels that while he will have some butterflies, having fellow former IFL fighters debuting on this same event and the IFL television experience will help him get over any issues.

“Having guys like Brad (Blackburn) and Reese (Andy) there will feel a little like home, but it will also be a little nerve racking in a new environment,” he stated.

“It feels like everything that I’ve done up to this point has almost groomed me for this moment. So I don’t think I’m going to be taken too back by the UFC jitters. There’s going to be some, but for the most part I feel like I’ve been there, done that.”

Markham’s opponent, Brodie Farber, will be making his UFC debut as well on July 19. A former Rage in the Cage middleweight title holder, Farber has mainly competed in Mexico lately, with his biggest fight coming in the form of a loss to former UFC lightweight champ Sean Sherk for the Sportfight promotion in 2004.

“A lot of the guys he has fought don’t have the experience I do, nor have they had the name recognition or record – so I’m a little more seasoned than Brodie,” commented Markham.

“I know he’s going to be tough. That first UFC fight people come out to really lay it out on the line, which is what I like.”

Having been a major 170-pound star for the IFL, Markham essentially starts over from the ground level in the UFC, but it’s a challenge he’s looking forward to in a place he’s always dreamed of being.

“This is my first fight coming up, so I’m low man on the totem pole, but I’ll tell you this much; with my ability and the power I hold in my hands, I have all the confidence in saying that I believe I can knock out anyone in the welterweight division,” he stated.

“I thank all my current fans and I hope to make more. I always try to be an exciting fighter for the fans and that recipe is not going to change in the UFC, if anything, it’s only going to get better – so thank you for the support

 

[heyzel]

Despite setback, AFL still pursuing Kim Couture

by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Jun 26, 2008 at 10:30 am ET
After a disastrous professional debut in which the much-talked-about Kim Couture (0-1) suffered a broken jaw in two places and a fractured nose, many wondered aloud whether the American Fight League's intentions to sign the high-profile fighter would remain intact.

A resounding "Yes" has been issued by the Kentucky-based fight organization.

"The AFL is still very much interested in signing Kim Couture," stated AFL CEO B.J. Santiago in a recent press release. "We would be honored to have her on board."

The Kentucky-based AFL has recently garnered national attention with the highly publicized signings of several ex-UFC fighters, as well as WWE import Bobby Lashley. The organization also made a strong commitment to the development of a women's division in the AFL and kicked off that effort with the signing of female MMA star Tara LaRosa.

Santiago and LaRosa were both on hand at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas this past Friday for Couture's bout with fellow debutant Kim Rose (1-0). The co-main-event fight was part of a part-MMA, part-boxing event.

"Kim had a tough loss in Las Vegas, but she proved to the world she's got a fighter's heart," Santiago stated.

Last week, the AFL told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that it intends to sign "20 to 30" female fighters this summer. Couture had been identified by Santiago as a primary target for the organization. The one-sided decision loss Couture suffered over the weekend did nothing to diminish the AFL's interest.

"Despite suffering a broken jaw on the first punch in the first round, she fought like a lion and just kept going," Santiago stated. "The tenacity she displayed in the ring was unbelievable. I've never seen anything like it."

Santiago and the AFL will have to remain patient, though. According to medical records obtained by MMAjunkie.com from the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Couture is currently serving a medical suspension that runs through Dec. 18 pending doctor's clearance. Even if cleared, she doesn't expect to train at 100 percent until the fall.

Despite the setback in Couture's debut, Santiago feels the 32-year-old further cemented her potential position with the AFL.

"With this fight, Kim moved out of her husband's shadow to create her own identity as a serious competitor," Santiago stated. "I already admired Kim, but now I have a whole new level of respect for her as a person. This fight is testament to the type of athlete she wants to become. With some additional training and experience, I believe she will develop into an exceptional fighter."

 

[Shogun Locc]

Kharitonov Eyes for ‘Bigfoot’ at EliteXC

Sergei Kharitonov (Pictures) could be the one.

Brazilian behemoth Antonio Silva has verbally agreed to face the stoic Russian boxer for the vacant heavyweight crown at EliteXC's July 26 "Saturday Night Fights" at the Stockton Arena in Stockton, Calif.

The bout is currently pending approval from the California State Athletic Commission, according to a rep from Silva's American Top Team.

If greenlighted, the featured bout will be televised live on Showtime beginning at 8 p.m. ET/PT, a prelude to the promotion's sophomore effort on CBS later that evening.

Silva will face extra scrutiny to get cleared for active duty in the Golden State. The 6-foot-4, nearly 300-pound goliath was removed from a K-1 "Dynamite USA" roster over a year ago after pre-fight medical tests revealed a pituitary gland tumor in the 26-year-old's cranial region.

Under the commission's recommendation, "Pezao" underwent surgery last summer to remove the tumor.

Silva, who is known as "Bigfoot" in U.S. circles, has fought two times since. ATT's largest competitor submitted Jonathan Wiezorek (Pictures) in the first round at EliteXC "Renegade" last November in Corpus Christi, Texas, then pulled off a split decision victory over former UFC heavyweight champion Ricco Rodriguez (Pictures) at February's EliteXC "Certified" in Miami.

Kharitonov, an airborne trooper for Russia's Armed Forces, should prove a formidable foe for the 10-1 Brazilian. The 27-year-old Russian Top Team member has accumulated a 15-3 record, highlighted by his tenure with Pride Fighting Championships, with key victories against Brazilian kickboxer Pedro Rizzo (Pictures), K-1 king Semmy Schilt (Pictures), and UFC heavyweight contender Fabricio Werdum (Pictures).

A pugilist with world-class experience, Kharitonov holds his two most recent successes over American wrestler Michael Russow (Pictures) and hot-and-cold Dutch striker Alistair Overeem (Pictures), who Kharitonov pummeled to a referee stoppage at a K-1 Hero's event in September 2007. The pair originally met in February 2006 in Pride, where Overeem earned the first-round stoppage with brutal knees from side-control.

 

[Shogun Locc]

The Calm Before ‘El Nino’

PLEASANT HILL, Calif. -- Despite the shade available thanks to tree after cookie-cutter tree, this town -- true to its name except for today -- is suffering through a crushing, dry heat that is crawling toward the mid-90s.

Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez (Pictures) smiles as he stretches. Cesar Gracie (Pictures)'s camp, tucked away in one of the million commerce havens in the area, is emptier than usual. Lit only with whatever sun finds its way through the neatly arranged trees, MMA stars Jake Shields (Pictures), Nick Diaz (Pictures) and Nate Diaz are lingering around the same mats on which Melendez relaxes.

Chatting with an unusually low energy, Melendez talks with everyone in the gym until he starts to roll on the mats. Nick begins to tangle him up. Gilbert fights out. They are flowing.

The movement comes together seamlessly between the black belt and the purple belt, carrying them all the way off the mat. They exchange anaconda chokes -- one successful and one not. It's not important to know who caught whom. It continues. Replacing the professional Everlast timer found in most gyms, Gracie calmly says, "Time."

Melendez is known for his unrelenting pace: a pace that earned him the nickname "El Nino" early in his career, that saw him break down UFC fireball Clay Guida (Pictures) to capture the gold he wears today, that kept up with "The Endless Fighter" Mitsuhiro Ishida (Pictures) in the lone loss of his career.

But today he works patiently in Nate Diaz's guard. The winner of "The Ultimate Fighter" grapples him off the mat opposite the side where Nick ran Melendez out minutes before. Melendez works even with random body parts fighting off of the bare floors.

"Time."

Two ceiling fans are dormant above the mats. The heat alone is reason enough to turn them on. Factor in the sweat, the rising body heat and leaving them off should be a misdemeanor. Round after round, each minute pushes past 2 p.m. and the day's high temperatures.

In the midst of all the slow, technical grappling and calculated scrambles, Melendez slams Nick Diaz in a sort of wakeup call to the entire gym. The sudden burst of energy that leads to the thud of Diaz's body seems natural. It relays an undeniable truth about Melendez. When he is calm, don't expect it to last.

"Time."

Gracie, in green cargo shorts and a red Ecko shirt, jumps on the mat as if he were in fight shorts and a rash guard. He demonstrates some move variations with Melendez. Once, twice. Question, answer.

When asked about Melendez, Gracie says with a sense of disbelief that he is "an animal."

The champion is now done training for his bout Friday with Josh Thomson (Pictures). The calm continues, the storm yet to come. The 155-pound clash has dynamic written all over it.

"I was born for this," Melendez says.

It took the Pride veteran a while to realize that, though. Jake Shields, once a colleague of his at San Francisco State University, invited his teammates to train to fight. Everyone looked at the clean-cut Southern Californian and pegged him as a liar. He doesn't fight, they thought.

"Nah, I never seen you in any UFCs," said the Mexican-American Melendez, who thought he was "badass already."

His swagger and curiosity prompted him to accompany Shields -- then working his way through Gladiator Challenge -- to Cesar Gracie's camp, where a chubby white belt humbled him with a double armbar. Jesse Taylor (Pictures), of "The Ultimate Fighter" fame, was the only other SFSU wrestler to take up Shields' offer, but Melendez was the only one who stuck around.

This is the origin of the Jake Shields Fight Team. Both are loyal disciples of Cesar Gracie, but Melendez credits the Rumble on the Rock tournament champion with bringing him into the sport and making him the first member of the Shields squad.

Melendez dropped out of school and began living paycheck to paycheck. Work check to fight check. Construction and running plates to WEC, Shooto and Strikeforce, all on his way to becoming a full-time fighter.

Now recognized as one of the best lightweights in the world, he faces a familiar -- and dangerous -- foe in Thomson.

The UFC veteran welcomed Melendez from the East Bay to the South Bay to train at his gym, American Kickboxing Academy. The two sparred. They hit each other in Javier Mendez's ring. They rolled on Dave Camarillo's mats. They understood each other, exposed each other and taught each other. They fought.

As well-rounded mixed martial artists, the results were never the same. Melendez won. Melendez lost. Of course it was sparring. They went hard but not their hardest. There was nothing to fight for. That is not the case this Friday night.

"We've done about 15 times for free. Now we're gonna get paid for it," says Melendez.

The champion stopped making the hour-plus drive to San Jose in September 2007, anticipating the fight that failed to materialize after Thomson lost the inaugural Strikeforce title to Clay Guida.

A torn shoulder shelved Thomson and the bout further, but the friends are ready to mix it up now. The fight has no manufactured hype. "The Punk" has been tame and respectful. Both expect a war and, as Melendez points out, no one is undertraining or overconfident. To prepare for five five-minute rounds of combat, they also stopped speaking to each other over the past few months.

Melendez sees the fight simply: "It's who is going to be more ready, who is going to want it more. We're both going to edge it out either way."

For Thomson, a win restores him to the status he carried into a 2004 clash with Yves Edwards (Pictures) for the strapless 155-pound UFC crown. For Melendez, a win is another notch on his star-studded belt. More importantly, it is an elite victory in the United States to be broadcast on HDNet.

"It's huge because Gilbert definitely deserves that," says Gracie, who believes Melendez's jiu-jitsu for MMA is black belt level. "He fought most of his career in Japan and he's well known over there. Very famous. With that, he wasn't seen here a lot on TV unfortunately.

"Hardcore fans know who he is, but common people don't. They're gonna get an opportunity to see him fight in the States, and he can show his talents."

The trainer was as motivated as his fighter after the first loss of Melendez's career. A reliance on top position found Melendez losing against Ishida last December. With Thomson enjoying a size advantage in the 25-minute fight, Gracie ensures that Melendez will be ready to get up and escape when needed.

The loss to Ishida has invigorated Melendez too. It taught him the importance of having a game plan and executing it. In front of Thomson's hometown, that will be essential.

Melendez doesn't fear a pro-"Punk" crowd, however. He believes San Jose is just as much his.

"I have to make it a little personal for myself," he says. "I feel like he's standing in my way of my success. I have to do what I have to do to succeed."

Whatever cheers and jeers emanate through the HP Pavilion, "El Nino" promises to run in the direction of the storm.

"I predict a war," Melendez says, "and I predict Gilbert Melendez coming out with a ‘W,' man, because he wants it more."

 

[Shogun Locc]

Hughes' Court Case Dismissed

A battery and assault lawsuit filed against former UFC welterweight champion Matt Hughes (Pictures) in Clark County District Court was dismissed by plaintiff Jed Leist on June 16 after the parties settled out of court.

The case, which also cited intentional infliction of emotional distress, false imprisonment and negligence from Hughes, was filed on March 28, 2007, and scheduled to go before a jury trial on June 30.

According to court documents, the alleged altercation occurred "on or about" October 13, 2006 inside the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino following UFC 64 "Unstoppable."

The suit contended Hughes and/or other unnamed defendants "grabbed and placed" Leist in a hold "as to cause injury and damage." Hughes' actions were "unwanted, not consented or authorized," by the plaintiff and inflicted "over his protests," stated the documents.

Prior to the dismissal, Leist was seeking damages in excess of $10,000 per each charge plus attorney's fees and additional expenses due to "severe humiliation, mental anguish and emotional distress."

The suit also claimed Leist was both partially and permanently disabled from the alleged assault.

Multiple attempts to reach Hughes, Leist, and their representation by telephone and email were not answered.

An anonymous source in the fight community who was not an eyewitness to the incident told Sherdog.com that Leist approached Hughes and asked the wrestler to put him in a rear-naked choke for a photo.

According to the source, Hughes obliged Leist's requests for him to tighten the choke "for realism" and forced Leist to tap out. Hughes then walked away, though Leist appeared to be nearly choked unconscious.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Unruly Jesse Taylor just part of the “TUF" experience for Matthew Riddle

At this past weekend's "The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rampage vs. Team Forrest" live finale, MMA newcomer Matt Riddle (1-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) surprised many with a dominant decision victory over his more experienced opponent, Dante Rivera (10-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC).

Riddle discussed the fight, as well as his entire experience as a cast member of "The Ultimate Fighter," on Wednesday's edition of TAGG Radio (www.taggradio.com), the official radio partner of MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).

Prior to the bout, Rivera had promised to retire if he lost. Riddle, confident in victory, went ahead and commissioned a retirement plaque. But he never presented the hardware to Rivera after the victory.

"I have his retirement plaque hanging on my wall right now," Riddle said. "I brought it to the weigh-ins, but Dante threatened to break it if I gave it to him after the fight."

The friendly rivalry ultimately ended with a broken promise; despite the loss, Rivera says he has no plans to retire.

Riddle won his elimination bout on "The Ultimate Fighter" in stunning fashion, delivering a brutal knockout to Dan Simmler to earn his way into the "TUF" house. Once there, however, Riddle suffered a submission defeat to Tim Credeur and was eliminated. That didn't keep the 22-year-old from enjoying the experience.

"I loved it," Riddle said of his time on the show. "I was one of the guys that lost early, so I just hung out by the pool, drank and ate as much as I could. ... The only thing that sucks is that there are no girls. When I first got out, all I wanted to do was talk to girls."

Riddle said if he could change one aspect of his experience, it would be the coaching he received as a member of Team Rampage while on the show.

"I like Rampage (Jackson) as a person," Riddle explained. "Do I think Rampage is the best coach? No. I mean, everyone was losing on our team until there was like two left, and he kind of lost focus. We still had good corners. We still had Juanito (Ibarra) and Zack (Light), but (even) with Rampage there was only two people."

On second thought, there may have been one other thing Riddle would have changed. If it were up to him, he wouldn't have shared a house with Jeremy May, who could go down as the most detested cast member in "TUF" history.

Although May riled just about every one of his roommates while on the show, he created a beef with Riddle only recently. According to Riddle, May has taken to the MMA forums and accused him of being a marijuana user.

"I hate that kid; I don't like [Jeremy] at all," Riddle said. "He's a loser. [Expletive] him. If anything, it looks like he smokes pot because the [expletive] can't throw punches for more than a minute without getting exhausted and getting punched in the face."

While May was certainly this season's villain, and Riddle may have been more remembered for his antics than his skills had he not won Saturday night, this season of "The Ultimate Fighter" will always be remembered for the shocking, post-filming problems surrounding eliminated finalist Jesse Taylor.

Riddle shared his recollections of Taylor's costly final nights in Las Vegas.

"I was in the limo when [Taylor kicked out the window], and it wasn't just the window," Riddle said. "The night before, he got kicked out of another club for wrestling around all in the bathroom, out of control.

"Then the following night, we went out with Rampage to PURE (nightclub), and the security didn't want to kick Jesse out because he is so big and a fighter, and the last thing they needed was this guy going crazy. So they asked me ... and a bunch of guys from the show to escort him out. When we told [Taylor] he got kicked out, he flipped out in Caesars Palace.

"We were all dragging [Taylor] through the casino and trying to get him out the front door, and security was threatening to hit him up with pepper spray and Tazers because he was out of control. We finally got to the front door, and we literally couldn't find a taxi, so I had to pay for a limo.

"In the limo, we are still holding him down because he was so pissed off and going crazy. Eventually, about 10 minutes into the ride, he calms down, and we get back to the Palace Station. Now, Zuffa (the UFC's parent company) owns the Palace Station, so that's why they have all the video footage. So what does JT do the second we park? (He) lies down on his back and kicks out the biggest window in the limo."

The rest of the story was told on "The Ultimate Fighter," and Taylor's actions cost him a spot in the finals. Riddle agreed that the behavior had to be reprimanded.

"I mean, we can smash the house, but that is a controlled environment," Riddle said. "When you are out in the real world, you can't be kicking windows out -- especially when you are in the finals and you are going to be representing the sport. You can't be getting wasted and breaking things in public."

In the season finale of the show, UFC President Dana White did leave a possible opening for Taylor's return to the UFC. Taylor has since stated that he's cleaned up his life by cutting out alcohol, which can only help the cause.

Riddle hinted that he believes that Taylor's invitation may be quickly fulfilled.

"From what I hear, JT is going to be back really soon."

Riddle also discussed his new training partners at Arizona Combat Sports, as well as further details of life on "The Ultimate Fighter."

 

[Shogun Locc]

NAM PHAN SEEKS REDEMPTION AT STRIKEFORCE

At his Strikeforce debut in December of 2006, California grappling standout Nam Phan fought hard, but fell short in his goal of defeating one of the promotion’s top lightweights in Josh “The Punk” Thomson.

Just over a year and a half later, Phan returns to the promotion looking to take the next step in his career as he takes on Billy Evangelista in a feature bout as part of Strikeforce’s HDNet broadcast this coming Friday night.

“I’m very excited to fight Billy Evangelista,” stated Nam.

“I was supposed to fight him back in November, but I think he got hurt or something like that, and we weren’t able to fight. But it’s ready to happen this time and it should be an interesting fight.”

Phan is currently riding a two-fight winning streak and will be looking to end Evangelista’s undefeated ways in a bout that Nam feels could be one of the most exciting fights on Friday’s card.

“I always bring a lot of pressure, always a lot of action,” he said. “Win, lose, or draw I think it’s going to be an exciting fight.

“Billy’s a banger too, so I think there’s going to be a lot of haymakers thrown in this fight.”

With both fighters not being afraid to stand and trade, Nam thinks the night’s equalizer could be his always-dangerous submission skills.

“I think my ground is definitely far more advanced than his, but he has good wrestling defense, making it difficult to get him down for jiu-jitsu. If I have a chance to get him down, it will definitely make the difference in the fight,” he commented.

Phan is looking at this fight as an opportunity to prove to his critics that he belongs in the lightweight title discussion, especially coming off of back-to-back losses for the first time in his career prior to his current winning streak.

“Having back-to-back losses to two really great fighters (in Thomson and Gesias Calvancante) I needed to mentally recoup,” stated Nam. “I had a couple of warm-up fights and now I’m back up in Strikeforce again and I think I’m mentally ready to have tough fights again.

“I’m very excited to show Strikeforce what I’m really made of.”

After Friday’s fight, Phan’s attention will shift towards his business that will allow him in the future to focus more directly on bigger fights and make a more serious run towards title contention.

“I’m opening up my own MMA academy here in my hometown of Garden Grove, so after this fight I’m going to take a break and focus my time on my academy,” he said. “Now that I have the academy, I have strong financial income, so I don’t have to worry about trying to hustle fights.

“Right now I just have to wait for Strikeforce to call me, rather than try to find small fights and wonder when my next paycheck is coming in. I’ll just train and get ready for the big fights now, instead of the little ones.”

Hoping to put his name along side the likes of Josh Thomson, Gilbert Melendez and the other top lightweights in Strikeforce, Nam Phan is seeking to put on a breakout performance against another rising star in Billy Evangelista in one of Friday’s most anticipated bouts.

“I want to say thank you to Toe2Toe and Budo Videos for sponsoring me in this fight,” closed out Phan. “Thank you to the whole Vietnamese community for supporting me; my family, my lovely girlfriend, and all my fans.

“I hope everyone can come up to San Jose, watch the fight and enjoy the show – because when you come to see me fight, all you’re going to see is fireworks, big striking bombs and slick submissions.”

 

[Shogun Locc]

Brandon Vera: ‘I just needed more time’ to prepare for Lyoto Machida (Video)
videolink: http://mmamania.com/2008/06/26/bran...more-time-to-prepare-for-lyoto-machida-video/
“The Truth” accepted fights to take on Wanderlei Silva and Dan Henderson at UFC Fight Night 14 on July 19; however, he and his camp felt he needed more time to prepare for the “nasty” style of the undefeated Machida. He looks forward to a future fight with the “Dragon,” bur for now he’ll take on UFC newcomer Reese Andy at light heavyweight:

 

[Shogun Locc]

Report: Kimbo vs. Rogers a go for October

According to a report by FightLine.com, a much anticipated heavyweight clash between Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson and Brett Rogers is set for October.

“This fight will happen in October,” EliteXC Vice President Jared Shaw is quoted as saying in the article, although he was uncertain whether the fight would be televised on SHOWTIME or CBS. However, the report indicates that the Slice vs. Rogers matchup will most likely take place on CBS’ October telecast, which is also likely to feature a rematch between K.J. Noons and Nick Diaz as well as a possible fight involving Gina Carano.

When contacted by FiveOuncesOfPain.com on Wednesday while seeking a comment regarding whether Rogers would be involved with EliteXC’s next CBS telecast on July 26, a source within Rogers’ camp indicated that all comminications with the promotion have pointed to Rogers’ next fight taking place in October against Slice.

Both Rogers and Slice were victorious during EliteXC’s CBS debut on May 31. In the first-ever fight televised on network television in primetime, Rogers recorded a first round knockout against Jon Murphy. In the night’s main event, Slice was declared the winner in the third round against James Thompson in what was considered by many to be an early stoppage.

Following the show, an altercation between Slice and Rogers took place at the post-fight press conference for the event. Rogers was critical of Slice’s performance and didn’t hide his feelings and when Slice stood up upon taking offense, the two nearly came to blows.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Thomson Betting Odds

Gilbert Melendez -380 Josh Thomson +310

Bobby Southworth -245 Anthony Ruiz +195

Nam Phan -150 Billy Evangelista +120

Joe Riggs -345 Luke Stewart +275

 

[Shogun Locc]

EliteXC Return of the King Rating

According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (now available online at F4Wonline.com), EliteXC: Return of the King did a 1.4 rating (350,000 viewers) on Showtime on 6/14. That would seem to indicate some momentum coming out of the CBS debut as it outdrew the far more hyped Shamrock-Le event that drew a 1.2 rating. The number is good enough for fourth highest of the company's Showtime broadcasts with what on paper would be one of the weaker cards from a star perspective.

The top five EliteXC on Showtime ratings:


Kimbo Slice v. Tank Abbott - 1.9
Frank Shamrock v. Baroni - 1.71
Frank Shamrock v. Renzo Gracie - 1.62
KJ Noons v. Yves Edwards - 1.4
Frank Shamrock v. Cung Le - 1.2