MMA News Thread

[heyzel]

The UFC light heavyweight championship fight between Forrest Griffin and Quinton Jack

By Steve Cofield
Boxing clearly has taken a step back over the last 20 years. One common theme that drives me nuts is the constant bitching about tight decisions. It has hurt the sport immensely. Trainers, fighters and promoters consistently undermine the integrity of their own sport by calling into question the legitimacy of decisions.

Juanito Ibarra was visibly flipping out in the Octagon when his guy Quinton Jackson lost the decision at UFC 86. He decided to bring boxing's trash to the world of MMA on Sunday when he told Sherdog.com he was going to file a protest:


"We got robbed. We won the majority of the fight."

"I got it. I got it. I'm not waiting. Next fight," said the coach, who explained that he approached UFC President Dana White and co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta in the Octagon about making a rematch. "I asked for it, immediately, in the cage, and Forrest agreed. The rematch is going to go like I first thought. Forrest is going to try to do more, and next time he's gonna get beat."


Boxing had another episode last week when the Humberto Soto-Francisco Lorenzo fight ended on a DQ. Joe Cortes and the Nevada State Athletic Commission made a decision in the ring, the WBC wouldn't honor the decision and then Soto seen here with Rafael Hernandez said the ref Cortes had a racial agenda. Lovely. Hopefully Juanito will levy that charge next!



The Ibarra protest won't change anything and only adds fuel to the fire for internet idiots and more importantly media MMA haters who started chirping around the Kimbo Slice-James Thompson stoppage.

Apparently Sherdog did not ask Ibarra if he would be part of the Jackson-Griffin rematch. Remember Ibarra

 

[heyzel]

So Why’d ESPN Ignore the UFC All Weekend?

Couple of readers wrote in wondering why the mighty WWL elected to pay very little mind to Rampage Jackson’s UFC loss to Forrest Griffin over the weekend (it was a title fight). These readers wondered why, about a year ago, ESPN the Magazine plastered UFC’s Chuck Liddell on the cover (and his weigh-in was aired on ESPNews, maybe?), and relentlessly pushed him on the .com. These readers wondered why, a month or so ago, this same fawning ESPN treatment was heaped upon Kimbo Slice, a MMA fighter who toils in Elite XC.

Is it a “star” thing? Are the stodgy, old school corner offices in Bristol still not sold on the sport? Or did MMA simply fall victim to a Red Sox-Yankees weekend that also included allegations that A-Rod has been cheating on his wife with Madonna, a significant MLB trade and an epic tennis match?

Perhaps. Or is it simply that Dana White didn’t want to play ball with ESPN last year, and when the two couldn’t reach a partnership, sports fans - that’s you guys - get stuck with Spelling Bees and Hot Dog Eating contests and MMA is relegated to the ‘other sports tab’ on the front page of ESPN’s website. This must be how hockey fans feel

 

[heyzel]

Torres: Faber fight will happen at some point

Miguel Torres and Urijah Faber put on very impressive performances at the last WEC event. That leads to the inevitable question of if the two champions will eventually face each other.

I know me an Faber are going to fight in the future,” said Torres, “It’s going to have to happen. The people would love to see it. I would love to do it. I know that he would too.”

Torres was also quick to say the fight is not going to happen just yet. He wants the fight to become as big as it possibly could first.

It’s just a matter of the motivation of the paycheck. The WEC has the two best fighters at 135 and 145. They’re not going to want to put a superfight together for a while. They’re going to let me dominate my weight class and let (Faber) do his thing,” Torres said.

Holding off on the dream match for a little while is both a good and bad idea. If both fighters are successful, the fight just gets that much bigger. However, as we’ve seen all too much (see: Mirko Cro Cop vs. Gabriel Gonzaga) , if either fighter loses, the match-up could quickly fall apart

 

[heyzel]

Q&A with Brock Lesnar

By Mark Chalifoux for baltimoresun.com



With UFC 86 in the rearview mirror it’s time to look ahead to some of the summer’s other big fights. One of those will be a battle between UFC heavyweights Heath Herring and mixed martial arts newcomer and former professional wrestler Brock Lesnar Aug. 9 at UFC 87 in Minneapolis, Minn. Lesnar, who lives in Minneapolis-St. Paul, will be entering the Octagon for the second time in his career, following a first-round submission loss to former heavyweight champion Frank Mir at UFC 81. Lesnar's UFC 87 matchup with Herring was arranged after his original opponent, Mark Coleman, pulled out of the fight with a knee injury. Lesnar recently took the time to talk to me by phone about his career and his preparation for UFC 87.

MMA Stomping Grounds: Why did you decide to get into mixed martial arts?

Brock Lesnar: Oh man, um ... originally it was the decision to be a part of the NFL because contractually I couldn’t fight in MMA, so I just knew I was done being a pro wrestler for the time being, at least for the company I was working for. (Editor's note: Lesnar played for the Minnesota Vikings for a little over a month during the 2004 preseason, before being released by the team).

MMA Stomping Grounds: How was the transition to MMA?

Lesnar: I’ve enjoyed it. I’m able to train at home and be at home every night. It brings me back to the competitive side of who I am. It’s something I wish I would’ve done a long time ago, but hindsight is 20/20.

MMA Stomping Grounds: What was your biggest concern with joining the UFC?

Lesnar: I didn’t really have any concerns. My biggest concern was, financially, making sure that I wanted to do it.

MMA Stomping Grounds: What was it like making your debut in the UFC on the main stage against a fighter like Mir?

Lesnar: Well, it was an honor. I’m glad the company thinks highly enough of me to put me in a co-main event and it was an exciting first fight for me. It was only 90 seconds long [and] an outcome that I would like to reverse, but I enjoyed it. It takes awhile for people to find exactly who they are, and I think this is definitely me, for sure. We’re all put on this earth for some odd reason and some job title and I think this is what I should be doing.

MMA Stomping Grounds: What do you like the most about mixed martial arts?

Lesnar: This is who I am and it’s a chance for me to live out, competitively, who I am and I enjoy the sport. It’s a growing sport and it's become very big -- and it’s going to get bigger -- and I’m just glad to be a part of it. Life is all about timing, too. I’m glad the timing has worked out for me to be a part of this.

MMA Stomping Grounds: What part of the UFC’s growth excites you the most?

Lesnar: We just signed a merchandising deal with a company to make action figures of myself and other fighters, and [the UFC] is growing in different areas. It’s becoming a legitimate contender to pro wrestling, hockey, basketball, football ... it’s becoming one of those sports. Before long I imagine there will be trading cards and all kinds of merchandise that give fighters another avenue to make money, instead of just fighting.

MMA Stomping Grounds: How would you respond to fans of the sport and fighters lower on the totem pole who believe you got a big push because of your popularity in wrestling?

Lesnar: Tough [expletive deleted], buddy. Get in line. That’s just the way it is. This is a business and it’s a sport, it’s entertainment and it’s all three of those words wrapped into one. [UFC president] Dana White and [co-owners] the Fertitta brothers didn’t buy this company to say, ‘Hey let’s see if we can run this thing into the ground and not make a dime.’ They bought it to make millions and make it what it is, and that’s what they are doing. I’m just trying to have fun and get a little piece of the pie. I really enjoy it. I’m proud and honored to be a part of it. And it’s not like I didn’t pay any dues either. I wrestled amateur when I was 5 years old and put more miles in airplanes and working out. I’m 31 this year and I’ve paid dues. If [other fighters] want to be mad I think they should focus on how they can become a big contributor. They are mad because they aren’t making any money.

MMA Stomping Grounds: What was your reaction when Coleman had to pull out of UFC 87?

Lesnar: After looking at Mark, I respect Mark a lot but it worked out for the better. Mark, I believe, is over the hill and had been out of the league and regardless of the injured knee, I don’t think it would’ve made a difference.

MMA Stomping Grounds: What did you think when they proposed Herring instead?

Lesnar: Heath is a younger guy, he definitely has a lot of experience and he’s a tough SOB. He’s a brawler and brings to the plate a whole variety of things that we’re looking at as a fighter. He’s well rounded with hands, feet and it’s a challenge for me, and I accepted the challenge when Mark pulled out. I’m looking at this fight where I’ve got a lot to gain and he has a lot to lose.
My back is against the wall in this fight too, because I said from the beginning I wanted to fight credible opponents and that’s what Dana is handing me in Frank Mir and Heath Herring.

MMA Stomping Grounds: What do you think about another newcomer to mixed martial arts, Kimbo Slice?

Lesnar: I don’t have a comment on that. It’s not worth commenting on it.

MMA Stomping Grounds: What’s been the toughest part of your transition to mixed martial arts?

Lesnar: Well there’s one thing I’ve got that you can’t take away and that’s a huge wrestling background. Another thing too is I’ve been able to keep my mouth shut and my eyes and ears open, and my trainers will tell you that. I’m trying to learn and absorb as much of the fight game as I can to be a well-rounded fighter and prepared for anything. I’m just another one of the guys who has his sights on becoming the UFC heavyweight champion.

MMA Stomping Grounds: After seeing the success Cheick Kongo had in taking Herring to the ground, do you think your wrestling will give you an advantage?

Lesnar: I would imagine it would, I hope so. For me, I’ve got to be well prepared on my feet too. I might run into somebody I won’t be able to take down so I’ll have to stand and bang as well. Wrestling has taken kind of to the backburner as I try to brush up with my jiu-jitsu, hands and feet to become well rounded so I will see no surprises when I get into the Octagon.

MMA Stomping Grounds: What do you think is the biggest misconception people have about you?

Lesnar: I don’t know. I don’t really care.

MMA Stomping Grounds: What’s one thing about you that most people might not know that you think they should?

Lesnar: That I love my family very much.

MMA Stomping Grounds: Are you looking forward to fighting in Minnesota?

Lesnar: Oh, absolutely. Any time I don’t have to get on an airplane and to be in front of my hometown [fans] is great. The state of Minnesota has been great to me and now people that want to come and see this and witness a UFC event don’t have to get on a plane and spend a lot of money. It’s right in the backyard and it’s a good thing for the city and for the state

 

[heyzel]

GUILLARD TALKS UFC 86 KNOCKOUT OF THE NIGHT

July 08, 2008 - by Jeff Cain


Melvin Guillard's quick knockout win over Dennis Siver at UFC 86 garnered the Ultimate Fighter season two alumni a $60,000 Knockout of the Night bonus.



"It was a good victory,” Guillard told MMAWeekly.com. "I trained hard for it, and I was ready. I came in. I executed. I stayed focused, and I done my job."



In the opening exchange Guillard dropped Siver to the canvas with a punch and nearly ended the fight. "I thought I had him and I tried to rush it," said the New Orleans native when asked about the first knockdown. "He went for an arm bar. My coaches told me to back out and reset." And that's exactly what he did.



"I backed out and reset. I fired off again, and I got the shot. I'm happy with my performance," said the 25-year-old lightweight.



"When I caught him the first time I knew he couldn't handle my power because I hit him good the first time and kind of dropped him fairly easy," explained Guillard. "From there I figured if I hit him good again I knew I'd get him. I also felt he was a little rocked. He wasn't all there, so I just went at him again and I ended up getting the right hand."



Heading into UFC 86 Guillard had lost back-to-back bouts in the Ultimate Fighting Championship to Joe Stevenson and Rich Clementi before getting a much needed win in Rage in the Cage over Eric Regan.



Questioned what has changed since losing to Clementi, Guillard responded, "I became a man. I grew up. I cut out all the b.s. in my life. I really had to grow up as a person and not just a fighter."



The recent loss of his father, hurricane Katrina, the pressures the notoriety of being on The Ultimate Fighter brings, testing positive to cocaine; Melvin Guillard has faced adversity personally and professionally. But he thinks it's all made him a better man.



"Every tragedy, every battle that I've been through has made me a stronger person," said the Houston resident. "I thank my coaches and close family that's been supporting me even through the rough times, when I got popped for the drugs and everything. I had a down-slide, but now I'm on an up-slide.



"I battled a lot of tragedies in my life right now: My dad, Katrina. I had a lot of stuff going on. I was still trying to be focused on fighting, but in my heart I was still crying. I just started putting all the bad stuff behind me. Just put it on the side right now and think about positive things and focus on what's important, and that's being a fighter. Right now, what's important to me is the UFC."

 

[midwest314]

Michael Bisping: Fedor Emelianenko could be fighting injured

It’s going to be good to see if Fedor is still the man but I’ve heard on the grapevine from inside sources that he could be injured. But this is time for Fedor to step up. Everyone knows what Tim Sylvia is all about but Fedor’s had an aura about him for a long time. The guy was devastating in Pride but he’s had a long lay off now and his last couple of fights have been against smaller guys. It’ll be interesting to see if he’s still got what he had in Pride - which I’m sure he has - because the guy’s probably the best fighter in MMA history.

is bisping on crack? fedor last few fights against smaller guys? did he miss the hong man choi fight? LOL!! he is certainly not small. he makes tim sylvia look small

 

[WayCide-Ridah]

in height i believe fedor is smaller than timmy

 

[Shogun Locc]

Breaking the Rules

There are certain traditions that are expected to be followed during a telecast of any mixed martial arts contest: ring girls putting their surgeon's work on display, labored prefight insults and -- most crucial of all -- commentators audibly musing about how they don't quite understand the rules.

Murky comprehension of regulation is, in most cases, due to murky exposition and not any sort of learning or language disability on the part of the broadcaster. (The mind-numbing patter of some professional voices would sometimes have you believe otherwise.) Most recently, there was divisive talk on what constitutes the back of the head when addressing illegal strikes: Is it a "Mohawk" stripe of no-contact, as industry ambassador "Big" John McCarthy believes, or a site ranging from ear to ear?

This confusion often spreads to the in-ring officials themselves, who are obviously a priority audience when it comes to understanding the rules.

To ease perplexed minds, McCarthy and athletic commission members recently sketched some amendments to the Unified Rules that look to spread some proverbial turf builder on the MMA landscape.

Strikes to the back of the head are now clearly delineated -- the Mohawk definition prevailed. Elbow strikes are no longer limited to "arcing" movements, a limitation that was preposterous since its inception. You can now drive the point of your elbow into your opponent's soft tissue with abandon. Amazingly, bureaucracy works.

Sometimes.

Stifling the good news to come out of last week's National Association of Boxing Commissions gathering was the piggybacking of new weight divisions onto the rule addendums. Athletes can now fit themselves into the narrowest of factions ranging from 105 pounds (the "Screech" class) to over 265 pounds (the "Orson Welles" division).

Most significantly, new classes allow for athletes to weigh in at 195 pounds and 225 pounds, stop-gaps in between the middleweight and heavyweight divisions; a "super lightweight class" at 165 pounds is intended to provide a bridge between athletes too small for welterweight and too big for lightweight; and welterweights can weigh up to 175 pounds.

I'm no Web code genius, but this would be an excellent spot for an Excedrin banner.

Creating weight classes that measure combatants down to the ounce is one of the more efficient ways to create audience apathy. The UFC's five champions are a manageable lot, with casual fans likely able to recite the majority of them if asked. Expecting viewers to keep tabs on 10 title belts is a neurally suffocating request.

It's not unlike the theory behind seven-digit phone numbers -- that's as much as a person can reasonably be expected to remember. Any more and they're lost.

There's simply no precedent for fracturing the divisional lines that warrants such a dramatic alteration. Athletes failing to make weight -- most recently, Thiago Alves (Pictures) and Nick Diaz (Pictures) -- are a condition of the sport's nature that will continue regardless of whether athletes are trying to make 195 pounds or 175. There will be no cessation of fighters looking for every advantage possible. If anything, an increased number of classes just means an increased number of dehydrated opportunists.

There's some mild intrigue in the idea of bridging the light heavyweight and heavyweight classes. With the system currently in place, a 210-pound heavyweight could conceivably meet a 265-pound heavyweight. While some would argue that the heavier fighter's assumed cardio issues level the playing field, it's a hard sell to the lighter athlete -- who is being pinned to the mat and brutalized via mass, not technique.

UFC's Randy Couture (Pictures) was a recurring victim of that discrepancy, dropping consecutive fights to both Josh Barnett (Pictures) and Ricco Rodriguez (Pictures) after he had grown tired of throwing around their 20 additional pounds. If other weight divisions don't have to concern themselves with combating that much of a size differential, why should the heavyweights?

Amendments also struck smothering from the allowable offenses, a tactic most recently seen when Dan Henderson (Pictures) shushed Anderson Silva. While purists may argue that every possible weapon should be left in, covering an opponent's mouth to restrict air flow is a move deprived of any skill and looks uncomfortably like something you'd see in a prison cell. It won't be missed.

The most glaring omission to the meeting's notes was the lack of discussion over judging criteria, easily the most controversial and attention-deprived segment of the sport. Few events pass where viewers or commentators don't express surprise or confusion at the way scoring was tabulated, or why judges placed the emphasis they did on certain techniques.

Leaving the importance of striking over grappling or position over control as a subjective perception is unfair to athletes, who are subject to the whims of scorers. Is a takedown worth more than a submission attempt, or vice versa? If a fighter spends 90 percent of a round on top and landing flaccid strikes, is that more valuable than two armbar attempts from the guard? Could judges pass a written test on common fighting techniques and definitions?

Critics should grant that the sport as we know it has only been around for seven years, and it takes time to develop and sculpt something resembling an infrastructure.

But if ring officials can't decipher the codes of conduct, what chance do the fans have?

 

[Shogun Locc]

Fight Biz: UFC forced Affliction’s jump from clothing company to fight promoter

Affliction was perfectly content with being an apparel company.

With its fashion-forward T-shirts appearing on the backs of actors, rock stars and mixed martial artists, the Signal Hill, Calif.-based company had carved out a niche for its label in pop culture. In less than three years, the Affliction brand had become synonymous with cool, with its artistic prints spotted at movie premieres, in magazines and on plenty of UFC fighters.

That is until the UFC banned the brand. So, Affliction turned to produce its own fights – a move not even in its business plan prior to the UFC dust-up.

"That's the funny thing about it," said Affliction Entertainment Vice President Tom Atencio. "They (UFC) created their own opposition, their own competition. We would have never done it."

With that as the backdrop, "Banned" seems to be an appropriate moniker for Affliction's first attempt at staging an MMA event. The combined FSN/pay-per-view show is scheduled for July 19 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., and with just over a week to go, more than 8,500 tickets have been sold.

And while starting a new MMA venture these days seems to be as easy as stringing three letters together, Affliction is debuting with a card that rivals that of even the best UFC shows. With the likes of Fedor Emelianenko, Tim Sylvia, Josh Barnett, Andrei Arlovski, Matt Lindland, Renato Sobral and Ben Rothwell set to fight, Affliction boasts the finest lineup ever for a start-up promotion.

Atencio credits his long and varied involvement in MMA for allowing him to build relationships with fighters and bring instant street cred to Affliction. Atencio collaborated with Joe Moreira in the mid-1990s to run jiu-jitsu tournaments in California, spent some time as a fight photographer, and even fought himself in Mexico on a Total Combat show in 2005.

"It's been a passion of mine, so, for us, it was an easy transition," he said. "We already had the relationships with all of these fighters. These guys trust me, and I trust them and from word of mouth, some of the other guys came on board. I've known Pedro Rizzo for 10 years plus. I've known ‘Babalu' 10 years plus, Josh Barnett for three years … it's just relationships I've built, and these guys know that if I say I'm going to do something, I'm going to do it."

But, even with that top-shelf talent, Atencio realizes the first show is far from a guaranteed success.

"We're taking a huge risk," Atencio admitted. "With pay-per-view, there's a chance you're going to fall on your face. Hopefully, it doesn't happen with us. Mainstream (television) is not easy either. They're both very, very difficult to obtain, so when FOX was interested, that was really big for us."

A minimum of two fights will air on FSN, with Alexsander Emelianenko versus Paul Buentello and Vitor Belfort against Terry Martin slated to run. The PPV, with the main event of Fedor versus Sylvia, will follow at a standard rate of $39.95.

The soft-spoken Atencio loathes talking money, and he won't detail the dollars being shelled out to promote the event or his fighter payroll, which is expected to deliver career-high paydays for several athletes on the card. The number Atencio is willing to discuss is the one that will determine the show's bottom line.

"If we make our money back or we get close to breaking even, or if we do better than that, and we actually make a profit, then we're doing something right," said Atencio, who adds that the company has exceeded its original event budget. "We're in this for the long term. Right now, we're looking at three events. If it's as successful as we anticipate, then we're going to take it for another three and go from there."

Affliction's second show is expected in late October or early November.

And business icon Donald Trump is along for the ride – at least for now. Affliction made a splash last month, confirming that Trump had made an investment in the company's MMA business. Trump's involvement – Atencio declined to state how much of the company the real-estate mogul owns – has the potential to raise the profile of the promotion and open doors to other investors.

In addition, Trump's relationship with Tito Ortiz might help pave the way for Ortiz to join Affliction. Ortiz appeared on a celebrity edition of Trump's hit NBC TV show "The Apprentice" last year and has said he's looking to move on from the UFC. Affliction hasn't had discussions with Ortiz, but if "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" is serious about parting ways with the UFC, Affliction seems like a logical new home. Atencio says he's open to talking.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Shamrock expanding Lion's Den, eyes promoting

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) caught up with Ken Shamrock a couple of weeks ago, and we detailed his desire to fight one more time before bringing the curtain down on his hall-of-fame career.

While Shamrock is still passionate about fighting, the majority of his time is focused on expanding the footprint of his Lion's Den training centers. Shamrock founded the original Lion's Den in Susanville, Calif., back in the mid-1990s, and later moved the gym to Reno, Nev. Last month, Shamrock opened up an 8,000-square-foot Lion's Den complex in Scottsdale, Ariz., led by Scott Peters, a former offensive lineman for the Arizona Cardinals.

Shamrock is now hoping to take his fighting and training franchise national and has identified several prospect cities for training centers.

"We have one in North Carolina, one in Connecticut, one in Vegas, three in Detroit and two in Sacramento," said Shamrock. "I've always wanted to do this; I just haven't had the time. By October, we should have three or four of those up and running."

In addition to establishing gyms in cities across the country, Shamrock is looking to produce MMA events in those markets as a means of further building visibility for the gyms.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Lyoto: “In my opinion, Quinton won”

Directly interested in the Light weight belt, Lyoto Machida disagree from the judges decision that appointed Forrest Griffin as the new champion against Quinton Jackson. “In my opinion, Quinton defeated Forrest, but they give it to Forrest. I think that now they are going to put him against Chuck Liddell to him to take the belt again. I think they prefer Chuck with the belt, he is a former champion, has more marketing and sell more”, analyzed Lyoto that also commented Anderson Silva debut at the category. “I think Anderson is going well at any category. He is fast and very technique, I think this is his difference”, commented Lyoto, that doesn’t want to face his friend at the Ultimate. “I had never thought about that. He is a very good friend and helps me a lot. He is a little much older than me and always gives me tips, so I don’t want to face him”, said Lyoto.

 

[Shogun Locc]

UFC 90 tentatively planned for Oct. 25

UFC 90 will likely take place Oct. 25, sources close to the event tell MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).

UFC President Dana White first mentioned the possibility of the upcoming show during this past weekend's UFC 86 event, and a few fighters' managers and agents tell us that the organization has begun initial calls to recruit fighters for the Oct. 25 event.

In theory, UFC 90 will take place a week after "UFC 89: Bisping vs. Leben" -- on pay per view, most likely in Chicago.

Although the UFC intended for UFC 89 to air on Spike TV -- and use it a way to promote the following week's UFC 90 event on pay per view -- a deal has not yet been reached with the basic cable station. UFC 89 takes place at The National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, England, and features a main event between Michael Bisping vs. Chris Leben.

As of now, Spike TV officials aren't commenting on the possibility of airing UFC 89, but with a so-so main event, the cable station is unlikely to fork over major dollars -- like they did with a UFC 75 event headlined by Quinton Jackson and Dan Henderson -- for the rights to air the Bisping vs. Leben event.

If the UFC and Spike TV are unable to reach a deal for UFC 89, the UFC would be unlikely to host pay per views on back-to-back weekends, so UFC 90 could be bumped to a later date.

However, if UFC 90 does go on as planned, it could be the first-ever UFC event to take place in Illinois, a state that passed legislation in September 2007 that called for the the Illinois Athletic Commission to regulate mixed-martial events. During a press conference this past weekend, White said the organization was close to doing an event in Chicago, long considered a lucrative and untapped market for the UFC, in late October.

The event would likely take place at Allstate Arena or the United Center. The 20,000-capacity Allstate Arena, which is located just outside Chicago in Rosemont, Ill., has been considered the front runner ever since the UFC officials expressed a desire to visit the Windy City in 2007.

 

[Shogun Locc]

UFC 86 medical suspensions: Quinton Jackson's leg under review

More than half of the UFC 86 roster has been suspended with injuries ranging from head and facial lacerations to shoulder and leg injuries.

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) today obtained the list of official suspensions from the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which oversaw the July 5 event at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.

Quinton Jackson, who lost his title and suffered a unanimous-decision defeat to Forrest Griffin in the night's main event, is suspended until Jan. 2 for possible leg injuries, though he can be cleared early by a doctor.

Jackson was hobbled in the second round by back-to-back leg kicks from Griffin, though he had shaken off most of the effects from the blows by the third round. Jackson doesn't expect the leg to keep him sidelined, MMAjunkie.com is told.

The full list of suspensions includes:

Quinton Jackson - suspended until Jan. 2 due to possible left knee, tibia, fibia and thumb injuries (can be cleared early by orthopedic doctor); minimum suspension until Aug. 5 with no contact until July 27 for precautionary reasons
Forrest Griffin - suspended until Sept. 4 due to right-upper-eyelid laceration (can be cleared early by doctor)
Chris Lytle - suspended until Sept. 4 due to laceration near right eye (can be cleared early by doctor)
Josh Koscheck - suspended until Aug. 5 with no contact July 27 for precautionary reasons
Marcus Aurelio - suspended until Jan. 2 due to possible left-thumb ligament injury (can be cleared early by orthopedic doctor); minimum suspension until Aug. 5 with no contact until July 27 for precautionary reasons
Justin McCully - suspended until Jan. 2 due to possible left-shoulder injury (can be cleared early by doctor)
Cole Miller - suspended until Sept. 4 due to facial lacerations (can be cleared early by doctor)
Jorge Gurgel - suspended until Jan. 2 due to right tibia, fibia and elbow injuries (can be cleared early by orthopedic doctor)
Dennis Siver - suspended until Aug. 20 with no contact until Aug. 5 for precautionary reasons
Justin Buchholz - suspended until Sept. 4 due to scalp laceration (can be cleared early by doctor)

 

[Shogun Locc]

Shayna Baszler vs. Cris Cyborg added to “Saturday Night Fights

A female bout to best contested at 140 pounds between Shayna Baszler and Cristiane Cyborg has been added to the card for the next installment of CBS’ “Saturday Night Fights” on July 26 at 9 p.m. ET.

The event, which is scheduled to take place at the Stockton Arena in Stockton, Calif., will also feature an EliteXC middleweight title rematch between Robbie Lawler and Scott Smith; Jake Shields vs. Nick Thompson for the vacant EliteXC welterweight title; and a 160 pound lightweight clash between Thomas “Wildman” Denny and Stockton’s own Nick Diaz.

Baszler is 3-0 since joining EliteXC with wins over Jan Finney, Jennifer Tate, and Keiko “Tama Chan” Tamai. All three of her victories took place during ShoXC events that were televised on SHOWTIME. This will be Baszler’s first major EliteXC bout and it will take place on primetime network television.

Cyborg, who is married to professional mixed martial artist Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos, is 4-0 as a pro fighter, according to Sherdog’s fight finder. Competing exclusively in Brazil, Cyborg’s most notable victory took place at Samurai Storm 9 in November of 2005, where she recorded a unanimous decision victory over Vanessa Porto.

Cyborg is somewhat of an enigma in that there is strong sentiment amongst some hardcore fight fans that she has the potential to be the top female fighter in the world at 140 pounds. However, Cyborg has yet to garner that recognition as she has yet to fight on a major platform. Several attempts in recent months to bring to the U.S. have failed due to visa issues.

An extremely strong fighter with dangerous standup ability, her fight with Baszler will make for a unique blending of styles. While Baszler is very capable on her feet, she could be surrendering considerable size to Cyborg. However, on paper, it would appear that Baszler could have a strong advantage when it comes to the ground.

While nothing official has been stated by EliteXC officials, there have been rumblings that the winner of the Baszler vs. Cyborg fight could find themselves in the mix for a second CBS fight this October against Gina Carano.

“Saturday Night Fights” on CBS will be preceded by a one hour telecast on SHOWTIME at 8 p.m. ET the same night that will feature Antonio Silva and Justin Eilers fighting for the vacant EliteXC heavyweight title. Rising featherweight Wilson Reis is slated to fight Brian Caraway and it has also been officially announced that light heavyweight Rafael Feijao has been added to the card against a yet to be announced opponent.

 

[Shogun Locc]

More On Rampage And New Era Zune Deal

Cap-maker New Era and digital music player Zune will collaborate on limited-edition caps, podcasts and events targeted at the music-loving, trend-setting, lifestyle-conscious consumer. As part of the partnership, New Era will create a podcast series that will be available exclusively on Zune Marketplace and New Era's website for a limited time. Two podcasts are set to be released each month beginning on July 22.

The first podcast entitled "Drummer Boy" will feature an exclusive interview with Travis Barker, one of the leading influencers of music, fashion, and media. "Rampage" will feature UFC Light Heavyweight champ Quinton "Rampage" Jackson discussing his evolution as an athlete as he has become one of the world's best fighters.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Shinya Aoki updated his column in Kamipro.com

I went to see a grappling event, DEEP X, after training last Saturday. Grappling event nowadays is different from what it used to be. Grapplers in an event used to be so aggressive that they aimed at submitting their opponents all the time. Now this is a competition to compete scores and not many submissions are seen, which does not quite entertain myself personally. however, I guess this event is being improved from a different point of view. My favorite MMA style is to end my fight by submitting or KO. I'm not going to force my opinions on others, but I believe that's what MMA fans want to see and the best attraction in MMA.

In this event, the most impressive fighter was a female fighter, Miku. She has excellent techniques and did a transformed front sleeper, which is currently very popular among MMA fighters, easily without any hesitation. There are not many fighters who can use this submission very beautiful right on time. I suppose she studied hard to gain new skills with her high motivation. I respect people like her. Guys showed us more powerful and energetic performance. I enjoy watching tactics, such as offenses and defenses of pass guard and sweep.

I have less than 2 weeks before my next fight. I keep regular hours every day for quite a while because I have fights subsequently. After my upcoming fight, I want to relax and eat favorites. I know MMA is not only my work but my hobby, so I will start training without taking a break. I'm going to have productive days for my fight.

Last summer, I was filled with insecure feelings; specifically, I was anxious about losing my fighting ground(PRIDE) and frustrated about that I couldn't do anything to prevent PRIDE from lapsing. I could do nothing but wait. I didn't lose my pride as a PRIDE fighter and believed that the situation would take a turn for the better. I know our fans felt the same way with me. As a result, we had Yarennnoka, and now I fight in DREAM. I think the fans moved MMA promoters and created the NYE event. All I can do for my fans who support MMA and me is to get a title. I think what I did in my past was right and I'm proud of myself.

 

[Shogun Locc]

AFTER AFFLICTION, FEDOR TO FIGHT 2 MORE IN 2008

As the July 19 date for his showdown with Tim Sylvia at Affliction quickly approaches, Fedor Emelianenko already has two more fights planned for 2008, according to his manager Vadim Finkelstein.

“Two more fights are planned for Fedor in 2008,” said Finkelstein in an interview on the M-1 Mix Fight official website. “The first one in October in the context of the next Affliction show in conjunction with M-1 Global, and the second one at New Year’s Eve in Japan.”

It is more than likely that his final fight on New Year’s Eve will be fought under an FEG sponsored show, which runs both DREAM and K-1.

No opponents were mentioned for either bout, although the Affliction bout is likely to pit him against one of the other top heavyweights that are also fighting on July 19. Josh Barnett clashes in a rematch with Pedro Rizzo and Andre Arlovski makes his first move outside of the UFC in the past eight years, when he faces former IFL star Ben Rothwell.

At the moment, the consensus top-ranked heavyweight is in final preparations for his fight against Tim Sylvia, which will be contested for the vacant WAMMA heavyweight championship, making the heavyweight super fight a five-round bout. It will take place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Mac Danzig Trashes Rampage

"I might be a little biased because Forrest is a good friend and training partner, but in my opinion Forrest won the fight hands down, three rounds to two. He outworked him from beginning to end, and even though not everything he threw landed, at least he fought the whole time instead of just looking for one big shot. You know, Forrest trained hard for this fight and it showed. He was training in the gym everyday, not running around with a chain around his neck, telling people he's a thug."

 

[MOREBASS]

^ LOL @ a little biased. That sounds like some straight hateration to me.

 

[B-Buzz]

lol Mac's the biggest asshole on the planet, that's not even that bad for him.