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Feb 7, 2006
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2008 OLYMPIAN BEN ASKREN CONSIDERING MMA

Ben Askren, a 2008 Olympic wrestler, who just returned from the Beijing Olympics will soon decide if he will continue to work toward the 2012 games in London or make a move into the sport of mixed martial arts.

The University of Missouri wrestler, who won the 2006 and 2007 NCAA National Championship in wrestling in the 174-pound weight class, is a long time fan of the sport and sees the level of competition he could face as a whole new challenge.

“I see it as the ultimate competition, one man against another man, very limited rules, and the toughest guy wins. So that’s definitely what I like about it,” said Askren during an appearance on MMAWeekly Radio.

He competed at 174 pounds while in college and at 163 pounds while in the Olympics, but he said if fighting is his ultimate choice, he would compete in the 170-pound welterweight division.

He has worked in Missouri with a local gym rolling in jiu-jitsu a couple of times a week already, but has very limited striking experience to his credit. Askren is realistic about a move into MMA and knows he has a lot to learn.

“I’m not going to go in the cage unprepared,” he stated. “I’m a worker and I’m going to work. I’m going to get good at what I do. I want to get good at jiu-jitsu, get good at striking, and I’m going to go in there prepared.”

The Olympian stated in the interview that he’s a fan of fighters such as Mauricio “Shogun” Rua and Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic, and has seen the success of past top wrestlers such as Matt Lindland and Josh Koscheck in MMA.

“Pretty much any high level wrestler that applies themselves to mixed martial arts does well in it,” he commented. “I think you’d be hard pressed to find one that actually trained in mixed martial arts and didn’t do well.”

Just getting home from China a few days ago, Askren has thoughts of possibly competing in the Olympics again, while also mulling the decision to coach at his alma mater or making the move to MMA. It’s a decision he will make very soon.

“That’s a decision I’ve got to make coming up really soon, maybe in the next couple weeks,” he said. “There’s a definite possibility I might just focus on MMA. I don’t want to say 100 percent, but it’s definitely a possibility.”

Of course being an Olympic level wrestler, Askren also wants to fight the very best in the world if he does transition into MMA.

“I want to face tough opponents, I don’t want to face ‘cans,’ as they call them,” he commented.

Askren’s next move will be to attend the upcoming World Extreme Cagefighting event to take a look at high level mixed martial arts first hand. WEC 36 takes place on Sept. 10 in Florida and features a main event title bout between defending featherweight champion Urijah Faber and challenger Mike Brown.
 
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Tito Ortiz confirms ongoing negotiations with Affliction, EliteXC, UFC

Current free agent light-heavyweight Tito Ortiz (15-6-1), despite various reports of a nearly-done deal with Affliction, recently confirmed he remains in active negotiations with Afflcition, EliteXC and even the UFC.

Ortiz discussed the dealings while a guest on the most recent edition of "Inside MMA" on HDNet.

"I've got to make sure I make the right business decision for my future," Ortiz said of the negotiations. "I've been doing this for 11 years now. And I still have five or six years ahead of me to compete. And I want to make sure that it's going to be a company that's going to back me, that's going to support me."

Ortiz said that both Affliction and EliteXC were "possibilities" as future employers. And despite years of strained negotiations between Ortiz and UFC President Dana White, Ortiz did not rule out a return to the organization.

"UFC?" Ortiz asked. "(There is) a small chance of that happening. Things between me and Dana White? I'm shoving it off and I'm going on with my life. And I'm going to wash my hands and make sure that my future is going to be very, very great."

"Inside MMA" hosts Kenny Rice and Bas Rutten asked Ortiz specifically about his negotiations with EliteXC as part of a larger discussion on the financial stability of the organization. Ortiz seemed to be impressed by EliteXC's pitch.

"EliteXC, they're not really worried about the brand itself," Ortiz said. "They want to start making superstars. When you have CBS, Showtime and these other networks that are going to back you, you can't do wrong.

"So it's just a factor of them signing a big name -- like myself. Guys will follow. Once guys follow and see that the company wants to take care of them -- not worry about their brand, but worry about making superstars as EliteXC is trying to do -- that will be the next step for all of us."

Ortiz said that negotiations were still in the early stages with EliteXC, and that he felt he was at "about a two" on a scale of one to 10 in progress. But "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" felt his services would be beneficial to the overall success of the EliteXC brand.

"You never know who they sign with," Ortiz said of EliteXC. "If they sign a Tito Ortiz they're going to be in business for the rest of their careers."
 
Feb 7, 2006
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5 Oz. Exclusive: Murphy and Quach off of Sept. 26 ShoXC card

EliteXC’s recent string of bad luck is continuing as FiveOuncesOfPain.com has learned of major alterations to the promotion’s next ShoXC event planned for Sept. 26 at the Chumash Casino in Santa Ynez, Calif.

Bao Quach had been scheduled to fight Wilson Reis for the vacant EliteXC bantamweight (140 lbs.) title in the show’s main event. However, Reis informed Five Ounces of Pain this morning that Quach is off the card due to a facial injury.

According to Reis, King of the Cage flyweight (135 lbs.) champion Abel Cullum is expected to be named as Quach’s replacement. Reis also indicated that despite the opponent change, the vacant title will still be on the line.

Five Ounces of Pain also spoke with Ed Hsu, the manager of heavyweight Jon Murphy, who revealed that Murphy is no longer scheduled to face Shane Del Rosario on the show.

Hsu stated that Murphy is off the card for undisclosed reasons and that he was unaware if a replacement to face Del Rosario had been named.

In addition to the Reis vs. Cullum match, welterweights Matt Makowski and Erik Apple are set to square off while Malaipet Team Diamond and David “Tarzan” Douglas will do battle in a 160 lbs. lightweight contest.
 
Feb 7, 2006
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Nick Diaz’s camp responds to K.J. Noons

GracieFighter.com, a website owned and operated by Cesar Gracie, the trainer for Nick Diaz, has issued a point-by-point response to a recent statement released by K.J. Noons regarding his recent fallout with EliteXC and his decision not to accept a title defense vs. Diaz during the promotion’s next show on CBS on Oct. 4.

In a week of explosive statements, the tone of the response from Gracie’s camp to Noons is right there with everything else we’ve read this week.

In response to Noons’ comments about believing that EliteXC breached his contract after he was released from his boxing contract by Gary Shaw Promotions several weeks ago, the Gracie Camp said, “Earth to K.J.; you don’t have a boxing career. No one in the boxing world knows who you are.”

The Gracie Camp also believes Noons contradicted himself by saying he wouldn’t fight Diaz over contract concerns when his manager, Mark Dion, had said that they were willing to fight Eddie Alvarez on Oct. 4, the fighter they consider to be the number one contender for Noons’ lightweight title.

“If you will not fight Diaz due to a breach of contract by EliteXC,” the Gracie Camp began to ask. “Then why would you fight Alvarez for the same terms?”

Noons has also complained about his feeling that the company has not done enough to promote him. He specifically cited an example of how EliteXC brought in Diaz to do an autograph signing at one point. Gracie Fighter was able to shed some light on the situation.

“Nick Diaz, Jake Shields and Frank Shamrock were flown in to shoot an instructional trailer on grappling for the CBS show,” the site claims. “The signings were an afterthought. You weren’t flown in because you aren’t a grappler. We are sure they will fly you in if they need an instructional on whining.”

Oh, but Gracie Fighter was just getting warmed up. The site has even gone so far as to accuse Noons’ father of being an alcoholic while responding to Noons’ criticism of EliteXC allowing Diaz to enter the cage following his successful title defense against Yves Edwards on June 14 in Hawaii at “Return of the King.”

“Bringing a fighter into the ring to promote an upcoming fight is standard practice,” Gracie Fighter stated. “Your (I could of been a contender) drunk father, started a near riot and should be banned from further events and immediately placed in an Alcoholics Anonymous treatment center for his own self respect.”

The site also responded to Noons’ complaints about the lack of money he has made while competing for EliteXC and the fact that he has been threatened with a lawsuit over alleged claims by EliteXC that he has not honored his contract.

“Promoters will sue when you don’t fulfill the terms of your contract, just ask Randy Couture,” Gracie Fighter responded. “By the way, you are not Randy Couture and the fight world is not holding it’s breath waiting to see if you will fight again… $83,000? There are several fighters that are a lot better than you fighting for a lot less. Pay your dues and quit being a little bitch.”

Gracie Fighter also is piling on to the open criticism of Noons’ management, going so far as to claim that he is giving up too much of a percentage of his earnings to Dion.

“You are paying your management too high of a percentage and here’s some advice you should consider” they are completely incompetent,” Gracie Fighter stated.
 
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Cyborg Training Footage! Preparing For The GP

Here is a video from August 21st of Evangelista Cyborg training for his quarterfinal match against Siyar Bahadurzada in the SENGOKU Middleweight GP.
 
Feb 7, 2006
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Thiago “Pitbull” Alves Interview

The most natural destiny for Thiago “Pitbull” Alves after the impressing knockout against Matt Hughes is a titleshot, but after that he’ll have to prove his talent one more time against a tough opponent: Diego Sanchez. “I’m preparing something different (for Sanchez). He developed his stand-up game, I’m looking forward to exchange some punches with him, to show him the difference between a Striker and somebody that just learned it now”, said Pitbull. In an exclusive interview to TATAME, that you’ll read here tomorrow, the ATT athlete spoke about the fight, the next match (if wins) against St. Pierre and a dream fight against BJ Penn, and a lot more. Check tomorrow, here at TATAME, the exclusive interview with Thiago Alves.

How is the preparation for the next fight?

It’s great… I still have nine weeks for the fight, but I’m ready for tomorrow if I needed. I’m doing a good diet and my preparation is fucking great, couldn’t be better.

How do you think will be the fight?

I’ll knock him out. He’s tough, goes for the fight, and that’s what I like, come right to me. He brings a lot of pressure for the fight, a strong pass, and I wanna see if he handles my pass too. My intention is always a knockout.

Will you fight like you did against Matt Hughes or you prepared something different this time?

I’m preparing something different... He developed his stand-up game, I’m looking forward to exchange some punches with him, to show him the difference between a Striker and somebody that just learned it now. I’ll wait and work on his mistakes too.

After this fight, will you finally face Georges St. Pierre for the WW belt?

Yes. We had a press conference last week and went to Chicago , and Dana (White) said that who wins this fight will get a title shot. Is kill or die now!

Were you expecting a title shot after you knockout over Hughes?

Man, I were expecting that, but UFC always does this type of things… I had my fight, put me on media, grew my image and now I’ll have to beat another one to sell more pay-per-view… I expected this type of thing too…

How would be a fight between you and GSP?

It would be awesome. I respect him a lot, he’s a good person, a gentleman, don’t keep saying shit about the other fighters, and is complete. He’s a huge Striker, has a good Wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu, but I believe I’m a better Striker than he is. With all respect, I bet on me.

Did you watched his fight against Jon Fitch?

Yes, I was there and it was a hell of a fight. Jon impressed me a lot because he kept until the end, but I expected more from him… He’s tough, but St. Pierre was better, but he didn’t impressed me neither.

Which was Jon Fitch’s mistake?

He waited too much, and GSP is great on strategies and put him down on the beginning. He works well on the others mistake. When you see a guy like him on TV you create this image in your head, and it can’t happen… You both are humans, has two arms and two legs, and up there is only you, God and no one else.

Which do you think would be GSP’s strategies against you?

I don’t think too much and what will be my opponent’s strategies against me, but he’d probably wouldn’t stand with me and try to put me down. He would try to do everything, and I’m ready for that, I want that, because it’s all about me, I control the fight.

BJ Penn said he’d like to face St. Pierre … What do you think about that?

BJ is great, man. I’m a big fan of him, he’s a phenon. On the first fight (between them), BJ got tired, but he was doing well. I think it’s great, I wanna fight the best and it would be great to face him. Win St. Pierre and then BJ, I don’t wanna nothing more in my life (laughs).

How do you think will be Thiago Silva’s fight with Lyoto Machida?

It’ll be a great fight. He’s a great fighter and is training hard… UFC will watch one of 2008’s greatest fights. I’ll be there and Thiago will win!

How are you doing your weight cutting now that Andre Benkei left ATT?

Benkei left ATT because he had too, he wasn’t well here, but I’ll continue with him. Where Benkei is, I’ll be with him. He will continue with some ATT athletes and now he’s a freelancer, he can train whoever he wants and it won’t be a problem. I support him, but I’ll continue at ATT.
 
Feb 7, 2006
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Hideo Tokoro interview

DREAM official website posted an interview of Hideo Tokoro, which was taken place on Aug 22.
- Happy birthday. You are now 31 years old.
Thank you. 3 and 31 are my lucky number, and so I think I have a great year.
- What do you think about your last fight in DREAM.5?
I prepared well and my condition was excellent. I'm not satisfied with my performance because I couldn't KO Yamazaki. I found out my weakness through my last fight; I cannot finish a fight, and my striking skills and submitting skills have no harmony.
- You didn't have hard time dieting?
Nope. It's hard to say if I'm good at adjusting my weight or not. I always keep my weight under control, and so I suppose I won't have hard time dieting next time as well.
- Your record in DREAM is now 2-0. I suppose everything is going smoothly for you.
I'm glad I have good results so far. I moved down to the featherweight and won 2 times in a row by decision. I feel comfortable fighting in this class. I will feel much better when I win clearly by submission or KO.
- Your next fight is on Sep 23 in Dream.6. Your opponent is Atsushi Yamamoto.
He is a strong fighter. I will show many different techniques to win this fight.
- Do you think you can prove in your 3rd appearance in DREAM?
I suppose so. I will gain a confidence as a strong fighter when I defeat him.
- How's your condition?
It's common for professional fighters to carry major or minor injuries. I have a couple of injuries, but I'm fine.
- What do you think about Yamamoto?
He is a good grappler, and so my next fight will be tough.
- Is a grappler hard for you to deal with?
Yes. Grapplers are good at avoiding to be submitted and punching from a mount position. They are also tough. I remember a sparring with a grappler 3 years ago. I was impressed to see his dynamic movement, good wrestling and strong grip. In my next fight Mental condition is a key to win.
- Sasahara said he might give you a chance to fight Kid Yamamoto in NYE, if he recovers by then and you continue to win.
My next fight means a lot. If I win, I will be able to fight in NYE and get a chance to challenge Kid. I believe Japanese MMA will get more attention when I get an opportunity to challenge Kid.
- Any message to your fans?
I cannot lose my next fight. I have to win to fight Kid. Challenging himwill mean a lot for me and my career. I do my best.
 
Feb 7, 2006
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The Education of Fedor

“Happy Secretary’s Day.”

Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) repeats the words into a portable microphone set up in a back area inside “Big” John McCarthy’s gym in Valencia, Calif.

A rotund sound recordist annunciates each syllable again, hoping the soft-spoken Russian will pick up on the subtle corrections. Emelianenko recites the telephone greeting again thoughtfully, struggling to mimic what he’s just heard to make the technician happy.

It’s a rare moment where the world’s greatest fighter seems almost –- vulnerable. It only lasts for a moment.

Ten minutes later, Emelianenko is back in the gym standing inside a boxing ring raised a few feet off the floor. A camera crane hovers over the grinning fighter’s head, while a staff of 30 people congregates around TV screens and more cameras that peek between the ropes from all different angles.

Today the gym has become the set for an episode of Fox Sport Network’s “Sports Science,” which has enlisted the master grappler to demonstrate the finer points of chokes and holds.

The director yells “Action,” and Emelianenko takes McCarthy’s back in the blink of an eye, clutching the 6-foot-4, 280-pound retired referee like a koala bear hugging a thick tree trunk. A 15-year fixture around the sport, McCarthy has grappled with the greats, from the infamous Rickson Gracie (Pictures) to the cunning Randy Couture (Pictures) to the incredibly flexible B.J. Penn (Pictures).

Still, McCarthy doesn’t seem quite ready for the fluidity and speed in which this pudgy, unassuming-looking man moves. Nobody in the room does really, and that is part of what makes Fedor Fedor.

“He’s very explosive in his hips with very fast movements,” says McCarthy afterward. “He’s very quick in trying to move to those positions that he wants to get to with that explosiveness. He’s just a phenomenal athlete.”

Is Emelianenko as good as his 28-1 record suggests?

Just ask Tim Sylvia (Pictures), who fought “The Last Emperor” at Affliction “Banned” on July 19 and questioned if Emelianenko was human after the 6-foot-8 giant crumbled to a short series of punches that lasted all but 36 seconds.

Ask the 15,000 ruckus spectators that witnessed the fight in Anaheim, Calif., their mouths dropped open, astonished that the two-time former UFC heavyweight champion could be folded with such efficiency.

William Lamb, of Blue Entertainment Sports Television (BEST), which has handled Emelianenko’s endorsement deals in the U.S. and beyond for over a year now, believes the Sylvia fight answered a lot of questions amongst potential sponsors who hadn’t seen the fighter ply his trade before.

“There was such an unknown quantity about Fedor,” says Lamb. “Was he going to be like the former Pride guys that went to the UFC and maybe lost or had some vulnerability? There were all these questions about his striking ability, different aspects of his game, and I think he answered all those critics.”

In Japan during the earlier part of the decade, Emelienenko’s talents knew no rival. The sambo world champion debuted for Pride Fighting Championships in 2002 and never looked back as he cleared through a colorful division that included a handful of the world’s elite specimens.

But when Pride closed up shop in March 2007, its undisputed heavyweight champion was forced to fend for himself like all the rest. The U.S. MMA market was on an upswing with the UFC and “The Ultimate Fighter” reality TV show in the driver’s seat, so many fighters migrated there. But Emelianenko’s management wouldn’t succumb to the promotion’s stringent contractual obligations, so Emelianenko has floated between other organizations, agreeing to one fight at a time.

In a market dominated by all things UFC, BEST’s challenge has been to educate sponsors, media, and fans to the fact that the world’s number-one fighter competes outside of the world’s number-one promotion.

The company has had to take it one step at a time. Even purchasing a piece of real estate on Emelianenko’s shorts for his July 19 fight was met with hesitation at first from some traditional MMA companies.

“Prior to the fight, no one wanted to take a chance, no one wanted to sign up because they didn’t know what they were going to get,” said Lamb.

Thirty-six seconds and a few hours later however, the same companies called back offering twice the asking price to place their logos on the fighter’s trunks in his next bout.

The goal now is to reach beyond the usual suspects who advertise in MMA.

“It’s more associating him with winning and mainstream brands. Fedor can take the sport to another level and that what we’re trying to pursue,” says Lamb. “We’re looking for the Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, Reebok, Puma company to take the sport to the next level, that sees the passion of the sport and why Fedor is different than any other fighter.”

Lamb and BEST -- which juggles everything from sponsorship and endorsements, press, strategic partnerships, and television deals for its clients –- believe Emelianenko’s uniqueness could earn him the same notoriety of fellow clients like Andy Roddick and Reggie Bush.

“Fedor is a remarkable fighter. He’s the Mike Tyson of MMA, that guy that is so explosive and so dominant in this sport,” says McCarthy. "The biggest problem is he’s Russian and a lot of people here in North America don’t know him. The hardcore people know him, but the average fans don’t really know how good he is."

Four trips away from his Russian homeland in the last year have served to saturate the Fedor brand into U.S. consciousness. Emelianenko has been up to the task, though his inability to speak fluid English has slowed down the process.

“He will work at doing press, at doing photo shoots like it’s his training, like it’s his job. He takes it very seriously,” says Lamb. “The second he gets off the airplane to the second he leaves, he’s doing something. Whether it’s an interview or a dinner with potential sponsors or a photo shoot, it’s all in a row. He doesn’t get a break.”

Virtually all of Emelianenko’s interviews are conducted through a translator, which makes it difficult for the media to ascertain the man behind the impish grin and relaxed demeanor.

BEST, wisely perhaps, has chosen not to pressure Emelianenko to speed up his foreign language studies at this time. For those that dig a little, the quiet 31-year-old is a fascinating dichotomy of character –- a calculated killer in the ring and a scholar who reads Dostoevsky and water-paints outside of it.

However, Lamb does understand that the time will come when Emelianenko might get the opportunity to sit across from Jay Leno or David Letterman and its one they don’t want to pass by.

“He understands English. He speaks it,” says Lamb. “What’s going take some time is getting him comfortable conversing in it. Now he’s at a point where everybody’s listening to him, so when he speaks English maybe something doesn’t translate or he makes a mistake and it’s everywhere. I would be hesitant in his situation as well.”

Emelianenko isn’t without his charms. The “Sports Science” crew can attest to that every time Emelianenko flashed his affable smile or nodded his head gently in pleasant agreement.

The man of little words also seems to excel when he interacts with his fans, and appears truly grateful for the praise he receives from them.

“In New York, there was this huge line of people wanting Fedor to sign things and he just dug in and enjoyed meeting these people and taking photos,” remembers Lamb. “Nobody was paying attention with cutting the line off and he just kept going and would have kept doing it if there had been 10,000 people in line. He really does like associating with his fans.”

While Emelianenko seems more at ease snapping off a picture or signing one of his Japanese action figures than he does sitting down to a TV interview, not every fan will get the opportunity to meet him at his most approachable angle.

Which is where BEST comes in. Selling a non-English speaking athlete to the American masses has taken a year’s work so far and could take another one on top of that, but it certainly doesn’t hurt that this athlete is widely considered the best of his kind to ever walk the planet.

“He doesn’t have that bombastic personality. He’s very quiet, unassuming, and humble so it’s hard to get people to know who he is,” says McCarthy. “But he is the best heavyweight fighter out there and people need to know how good he is because they should want to see him fight.”

When Emelianenko returns to the states in October to watch Affliction’s second event in Las Vegas, that’s just what BEST will try and convince people of.
 
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NOGUEIRA HANGING TUF, PREPARING FOR MIR

Season 8 of “The Ultimate Fighter” will be starting on Sept. 17 with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Frank Mir as coaches. This season will feature lightweights and light heavyweights looking to become the next emerging star in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Nogueira defeated Tim Sylvia back in February to become the interim UFC heavyweight champion and has not fought since. He will take his years of wisdom and experience and implement them to the fortunate members of his team this season. Helping with the coaching duties will be some of the best in the business as UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva and top light heavyweight contender Lyoto Machida will be there to assist. “I'm sure you'll see them pop on there,” said Nogueira's manager, Ed Soares.

Nogueira has been involved in some of the most memorable match-ups in mixed martial arts history. His unbelievable victories over Bob Sapp and Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic were some of the most exciting fights ever in the sport.

He signed with the UFC not too long after the Zuffa acquired Pride Fighting Championships. His first fight in the Octagon was against Heath Herring, a man that he had defeated twice before. After nearly being knocked out in the first round, “Minotauro” came back and was dominant in the following rounds. His subsequent title fight with Tim Sylvia was vintage Nogueira, as he was getting dominated in the first round, and came back to submit Sylvia in the third round to gain the interim title.

Even though Nogueira has tons of success in the sport and is the promotion's reigning heavyweight king, he is not well known to the casual fan. Soares is hoping his exposure on The Ultimate Fighter will gain Nogueira some popularity points with the casual fan.

“In the American market, I still don't think he was that well known,” Soares said in a recent interview with MMAWeekly Radio. “Going through this process on The Ultimate Fighter was a quick resolution to making him become more of a household name. Granted he did have to take nine months off from fighting, but I feel the exposure this show is going to get him is going to help his career.”

After Season 8 concludes, Nogueira will defend his belt from former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir. Mir has only had two consecutive wins and will now be challenging for the belt, mainly due to the lack of depth in the heavyweight division in the UFC.

He has most recently defeated the former professional wrestler-turned-mixed martial artist Brock Lesnar after Mir had a very shaky few minutes to start the fight. Mir was on the verge of being pounded out by the Minnesota native, but hung on and kept his composure when Lesnar made a mistake that allowed Mir to secure a knee bar.

While he may not be the ideal No. 1 contender, the UFC is simply out of options in the short term and this fight has the potential promotional hype to sell, especially being on the end of the year card.

“I don't know if Frank was the No. 1 contender, but at this point, who would be? Maybe a Cheick Kongo? But Heath Herring beat Cheick Kongo. With Frank Mir, there's something to promote there,” explained Soares. “He was the former heavyweight champion. He's known to be the No. 1 heavyweight American grappler. Obviously Nogueira is the best Brazilian heavyweight grappler. I think it has all the ingredients to be a good fight.”

First things first as Nogueira will wait for The Ultimate Fighter to air and showcase his coaching style to the thousands watching. The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir premiers on Sept. 17 at 10PM EST/PST on Spike TV.
 
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PELLEGRINO LOOKS INTO THE MIRROR AT UFC 88

Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight Kurt Pellegrino is the midst of his own personal transition period.

After years of training and fighting out of Florida, under the eye of other people, Pellegrino has struck out on a new path, returning to his native New Jersey in hopes of rebuilding a career that has always seemingly been on the cusp of something big, but never quite breaking through.

Eager to put the memory of his most recent outing behind him, he has stepped up to face an equally difficult challenge in Thiago Tavares at the upcoming UFC 88 in Atlanta.

“I’m real excited to get my feet back in the octagon,” stated Pellegrino. “I’m looking to erase that loss (to Nate Diaz at UFC Fight Night 13 in April) with a big win over Thiago.

“That’s why I suggested this fight; was to move on and not fight a lesser opponent, but in my eyes, fight an extremely dangerous and tough fighter.”

As he puts it, having a good showing and getting back on the winning track against Tavares is imperative for his career.

“It’s really important; because that’s not the Kurt Pellegrino I wanted everyone to see (against Diaz),” he stated. “Everyone said I looked great in that fight, but I really don’t believe them, because how I felt heading in to the fight (with) complications going on.

“This is by far the healthiest Kurt, whether I win or lose against Thiago – and losing is definitely not in my mind as an option – this is really the best I’ve ever felt.”

Pellegrino’s reinvigoration comes much to the credit of his move back to New Jersey and the new team he’s surrounded himself with.

“Now I control my own state, I run my own school and control my destiny,” he exclaimed. “I brought in the best people in the world to help me with this fight, and Sept. 6, people will see that.

“I’ve got a great team with me now, with my agent, Dean Albrecht. I’ve brought in Kevin Kern, Kenny Florian’s strength and conditioning coach, and I’ve been mentoring under Kenny Florian, who is my new coach and is going to be in my corner.”

When it comes to his match-up against Tavares, Pellegrino sees a lot of similarities, making for he feels could be an intriguing fight.

“I call this the mirror fight,” he said. “Thiago’s got good hands, good kicks, jiu-jitsu and is above average in the weight class.

“This fight has the making of being a phenomenal fight, that’s why I took it. If I want to beat someone, I want to beat myself; and I consider Thiago the closest person in the UFC to myself.”

With three losses in the UFC, it’s hard to gauge exactly where he stands in the lightweight division. Pellegrino feels that this fight could very well be the determining factor to where he’s headed.

“I always keep steamrolling ahead, and fate will only tell me where I go from now,” he stated. “Of course, everyone wants to keep winning and be the UFC champion; I just want to perform to the best of my abilities.

“If that gets me to the top, then let’s rock ‘n roll, but right now I can’t even look ahead of me, because I have Thiago in front of me. Once I beat him, I’ll be able to answer that question; but right now I have to beat him even to answer that question.”

Recognizing what needed to change and then making the most possible effort to do so, Kurt Pellegrino is re-working his career, one fight at a time, starting with UFC 88.

“First of all I really want to thank the person that made this happen for me, my wife,” he concluded. “I want to thank my school, Kurt Pellegrino Mixed Martial Arts (www.PellegrinoMMA.com); Kevin Kerns, Sharron Wentworth, Kenny Florian, Gil Torres, and every single one of my idiot crew in Jersey.

“All you guys sitting there watching, this is the best Kurt you’re going to see, and after this, you’re going to see an even better one. So you guys check it out, and thank you so much for your love and support.”
 
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Wolfslair manager comments on signing of "Rampage" Jackson

The life of Quinton "Rampage" Jackson has been bizarre recently, to say the least.

Struggles in the courtroom and a parting with coach and mentor Juanito Ibarra have left the former UFC light heavyweight champion's life chaotic.

Recently Jackson announced he had inked a deal with Wolfslair management. The British-based gym is home to UFC fighters Michael Bisping and Paul Kelly, as well as several other highly regarded U.K. prospects.

Manager of the stable Anthony McGann recently spoke to MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) on the formation of Jackson's new deal.

"We have had a relationship with Quinton for a while now, so that made this arrangement possible," McGann said. "We became friends when he came over for a seminar which never happened, and he ended up staying at my house.

"For UFC 75 in London, Quinton came over with Cheick Kongo and we ran a training camp at the 'Lair. It is here where he struck up a very good rapport with our striking coaches -- Tony Quigley our boxing coach and Dave Jackson our [muay-thai] coach."

Since the announcement many have questioned why Jackson chose to align himself with a British-based camp. McGann elaborated further on why Jackson chose the Lancashire, England gym.

"Quinton has become very friendly with many of our guys," McGann explained. "Obviously he already was good friends with Michael (Bisping), but he has really came to like and respect the younger members of our team such as Paul Kelly and Tom Blackledge."

With Jackson a resident of California, uncertainty has arisen over the fighter’s future training camps. McGann laid out the plans for Jackson's upcoming fights.

"For fights in America we will simply run camps at Big Bear, Calif.," McGann said. "So, nothing much will change in that regard. He will train with mostly the same group of guys except we will oversee the training instead of (former trainer) Juanito (Ibarra).

"However, if Quinton is headlining one of the U.K. cards, he will train at our Wolfslair gym and do his whole camp in England, so there is no problem whatsoever with Quinton’s training schedule."

Various critics have questioned McGann and head trainer Lee Gwyne’s business credentials and leadership capabilities. McGann eased concerns by stating his intentions for the charismatic UFC star.

"Our experience with Michael Bisping will help us a lot," McGann explained. "We have built up a good relationship with the UFC ever since Michael was on 'The Ultimate Fighter 3.'

"We also have the ability to get big sponsorship deals for our guys. We are more than capable of handling the business side of Quinton’s career."

Speculation has been rife of when Jackson will make his return to the octagon. Due to his recent legal issues, there has been a clamor over what lies ahead for the colorful star.

"December looks most likely to be the date for his return," McGann said. "It is not hard to work out who is possible opponents. The problem is with the 205-pound class, many of the top fighters are all ready booked for fights or are injured.

"I think it is certain to be either (Mauricio) 'Shogun' (Rua) or Wanderlei Silva."
 
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Amir Sadollah to return at UFC 91

by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Aug 31, 2008 at 12:50 pm ET
Amir Sadollah (1-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC), a little-known fighter who navigated a surprising run to become the winner of "The Ultimate Fighter 7," expects to make his official post-"TUF" return at UFC 91.

Sadollah mentioned the return, but no possible opponent, during a guest visit at this past Saturday's Combat Sports Challenge 26 event, according to fiveouncesofpain.com.

UFC 91 takes place Nov. 15 at the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, Ore.

Sadollah, who earned a place on the "TUF 7" cast through an open tryout, entered the reality show with just a 4-0 amateur record and no professional fights of which to speak.

However, the 28-year-old defeated former UFC fighter Steve Byrnes (6-1) in a newly created elimination round, Gerald Harris (8-2) in the opening round, Matt Brown (8-6) in the quarterfinals, C.B. Dollaway (7-1) in the semifinals, and after fellow finalist Jesse Taylor was kicked off the show, Sadollah again defeated Dollaway at the show's live finale back in June. All five victories came via knockout or submission.

Although a smaller middleweight, Sadollah, a former surgical technician, has mentioned no intentions of moving to the welterweight division
 
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MACHIDA THE NEXT LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CONTENDER?

by Tom Hamlin


Undefeated light heavyweight Lyoto Machida quietly entered the Ultimate Fighting Championship in December of 2006 as an asset of the defunct World Fighting Alliance and quickly became the dark horse of his weight division. Former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz begrudgingly fought the last fight of his contract against Machida at UFC 84 in May and was sent packing by the Brazilian’s methodical attack. Casual fans finally took notice of Machida’s threat.

His methodical nature is a blessing and a curse. The UFC’s marquee division is short on undefeated contenders – everyone has a blemish on their record. But Machida’s patient, karate-infused style, along with his native Portugese tounge, has not made him an easy subject to market, or an easy fighter to book. He remains the aficionado’s choice of light heavyweights.

Machida’s next challenge is against Thiago Silva at UFC 89 on Oct. 18 in Birmingham, England. Silva, another wrecking ball of a Brazilian with Machida’s 13-0 record, has torn through all but one of his four UFC opponents with strikes. It’s a good fight for Machida, but manager Ed Soares said he expected his client to get a title shot after defeating Ortiz.

“I do feel that Thiago’s a tough fighter,” Soares said. “I understand why they picked Thiago. I personally as a manager would have liked him to fight somebody with a bigger name.

“Yes, we were looking for a title shot. But just the way that it all worked out, it was going to be a while before he gets a title shot. Lyoto wanted to stay busy, and once again, being a business, I understand why they put this fight together. Both guys are 13-0. It’s kind of like who’s going to be the first one to get to 14? They have to have some sort of storyline to promote, and this makes sense. Both guys are going to enter the Octagon undefeated, and one is going to leave with a loss.”

With Chuck Liddell, Rashad Evans, Wanderlei Silva, and perhaps Quinton Jackson in title queue, Machida can expect up to a year before he faces the light heavyweight champion. The contender implications of the Silva fight are unknown, but Soares balks at the idea that Machida can’t find fights.

“If they don’t want to fight him, that’s they’re deal,” Soares said.” I wouldn’t want to fight any of our guys either. Our guys are all tough guys, they’re all very technical, and you make a wrong move, expect to be punished. It doesn’t necessarily make my job any harder, I think the UFC’s job may be a little bit harder.”

Soares handles the American business affairs of UFC champions Anderson Silva and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, and is very familiar with the challenges of bringing Brazilian fighters to an American audience. So far, his champions have been able to transcend cultural and language barriers with their relatable fighting styles — Silva pummels you, Nogueira submits you. Machida’s traits, whether inherent to all of his fights or a consequence of the styles he’s faced in the Octagon, are not an easy sell.

Soares says the UFC is hoping for an epic bout, one that can establish Machida as the clear contender if he wins. After all, he can only hover around the top of the division for so long before a big marketing push. From Soares’ perspective, it’s the missing piece to his appeal.

“From a business standpoint, they need to market Lyoto a little bit more,” he said. “At the end of the day, they have to build him up. It doesn’t make sense for them to have a champion (as) a relatively unknown fighter. If he was to beat Forrest Griffin, they have to put all that marketing machine on him to build up his pay-per-views.

“If he wins (the Silva) fight, hopefully that will give them a little bit more leverage, and a little bit more stuff to talk about, and more stuff to help promote him.”
 
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Climbing Back: MMAmania.com exclusive UFC 88 interview with Dan Henderson

Despite the fact that the UFC Middleweight Champion of the World, Anderson Silva, has called Rich Franklin his toughest opponent in the Octagon to date, a lot of fans see through it as a show of respect to the former UFC champion. Instead, they point to Dan Henderson as having the best showing against the champ thus far.

Henderson looked to have decidedly won the first round. He took Silva down and nearly smothered him for the better part of two and a half minutes.

However, things changed significantly midway through the second round. Silva was able to land some shots that dropped Hendo, where the champ was able to take his back and secure a rear naked choke. Henderson tapped with just 10 seconds left on the clock, leaving many fans to wonder what would have happened, had he survived the round.

Now 22-7 with wins over Wanderlei Silva, Vitor Belfort, “Minotauro” Nogueira, “Babalu” Sobral, “Ninja” Rua, Murilo Bustamante, Ryo Chonan and many more, Dan Henderson faces the challenge of climbing back up the middleweight ladder to gain another title shot.

He’ll first have to face rising submission master Rousimar “Toquinho” Palhares (8-1), who recently submitted Ivan Salaverry at UFC 84 with a sick armbar that should make any highlight reel out there. The two will face off on Saturday, September 6 at UFC 88: “Breakthrough.”

It’s a fight Henderson was hoping would go to a bigger name. In fact, Hendo would have preferred to fight an opponent like Rich Franklin. The bigger the name, the closer you get to a title shot.

When I caught up with Henderson, he shed some light on his fight with Silva, his upcoming opponent, and the reasons he misses PRIDE.


Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): I first wanted to get your take on the whole middleweight/light heavyweight thing. I’ve read on more than one occasion that you reportedly would prefer fighting at 205. Is this true?

Dan Henderson: Well, I prefer not to cut weight, and I compete just as well there as I do at 185, so …

Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): So it’s just because cutting weight sucks?

Dan Henderson: Well, I have fun fighting no matter what. But I do just as well at 205 as I do at 185. So yeah … just cutting weight isn’t the funnest thing to do.

Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): Did the UFC ask you to stay at middleweight for the time being?

Dan Henderson: No, they didn’t ask. I told them that I wanted to try to get a rematch with Anderson Silva. So they left me down at that weight class, but they didn’t give me an opponent that would expedite that … just because nobody knows him. Not because he’s not tough, just because nobody knows him.

Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): So do you think that that’s going to hinder your chance of getting back into the title shot picture?

Dan Henderson: Well, I definitely need to win no matter who I fight. And this guy’s just as tough as anybody else in the UFC. But he’s not well-known, so no, it won’t bump me up that quickly.

Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): Would you have preferred to have fought Rich Franklin, which was rumored?

Dan Henderson: Yeah. I’d prefer to fight the big-name guys. That’s why I’m in the sport, to test myself against the top guys.

Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): Well let’s talk briefly about your fight with Silva. You looked great in the first round. You took him down and looked to be nearly smothering him for about two and a half minutes of Round One. He looked clearly frustrated. What was your strategy going into that fight?

Dan Henderson: Take him down, beat him up. I felt that I should have been able to do that for five rounds, but something happened, and my body felt a little bit tired and fatigued that second round. So I didn’t go after that takedown like I should have.

Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): Was he making adjustments in the second round, then, that prevented the takedown?

Dan Henderson: No, I had a pretty good opportunity to do it. You know, he’s not going to be a really easy guy to takedown in a fight — nobody is. I think it was me just letting the opportunity go, and waiting for the next opportunity, and I shouldn’t have.

Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): By the time Silva secured the choke, there was less than 20 seconds left on the clock, and you eventually tapped with just 10 seconds left. Were you aware of how much time was on the clock, and would it have mattered at that point, meaning would you have lasted another 10 seconds before losing consciousness?

Dan Henderson: No, I wasn’t aware of it, but I don’t know if it would have mattered anyway. Once that’s in, it don’t take long at all. Even if I didn’t tap, I would have been out in a second or two anyway. But you never know.

Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): Let’s talk about your upcoming opponent. Rousimar Palhares is one of the fastest rising talents of the Brazilian Top Team. You’re no stranger to fighting opponents who are, or once were, associated with that organization (I’m thinking of Bustamante, the Nogueira brothers, Ricardo Arona, etc.). Do you get any extra motivation when fighting a guy from a team like that? Are there any grudges associated at the team level for you?

Dan Henderson: No, I don’t hold grudges with anybody. It’s a sport, and I’m aware of that. I don’t really have any dislikes toward anybody. I respect all the fighters out there. It’s a fight, and obviously I don’t want to lose to anybody.

Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): Palhares has very dynamic submissions and will clearly prefer this fight on the ground, I’m assuming.

Dan Henderson: I’m assuming that too.

Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): (Laughs) But just because he is so dangerous on the ground, is that going to preclude you from taking the fight to the ground, or do you think you can over-power him no matter where the fight goes?

Dan Henderson: Typically, unless the guy is really good on his feet, I like to stand up. That’s usually my best chance of finishing an opponent. I would normally, even if the guy wasn’t all that good on the ground, I would stand with him and try to finish the fight with a knockout.

I’m definitely aware of his danger on the ground and his submissions. That’s something I’m not going to play to in his strength, but I’m also not afraid to be there. The fight will end up there, and I’m not afraid to be there. But my best chance of finishing the fight is standing up. And his only chance of finishing a fight is on the ground.

Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): You’re listed as 6’1” and Palhares is listed as 5’8” —

Dan Henderson: I’m not 6’1”. No, I don’t have no idea where the hell that number came from. I’m 5’11”.

Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): Okay, well, there is still some height advantage there, and I’m assuming a potential reach advantage. Do you think that kind of thing will help you in this particular fight for what you want to do?

Dan Henderson: Obviously it’s always nice to reach a guy from a little bit farther away, but who knows? Couldn’t tell ya. I’ll let you know afterwards.

Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): How important is a win for you at this point? Is this a make or break situation?

Dan Henderson: I’m not going to retire if I lose, if that’s what you mean by “make or break.” Either way, I don’t plan on losing any fights. Just because of the fact that I’ve lost my last two doesn’t make me try harder to not lose this one. I was giving it my all in my last two. But I’m a little bit angry at my own performance in my last fight especially, so I’ve learned from some mistakes and just want to make sure I’m aggressive in this fight and definitely try to finish it the whole time.

Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): So you’re not planning on going anywhere anytime soon?

Dan Henderson: No.

Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): Since moving back to the UFC from PRIDE, do you think there’s been any noticeable difference in the level of competition, or have you noticed any problems adjusting to the Octagon, as opposed to the ring?

Dan Henderson: Yeah, it’s taken a little bit of time to get used to the Octagon. But as far as talent goes, I think it’s already spoken for itself as far as who the UFC’s champions are. PRIDE had some top guys. Nogueira’s in there as the champ, and he wasn’t even the champ in PRIDE anymore. Quinton Jackson was in there for a while, and obviously he just lost. Anderson Silva had lost in PRIDE and got booted out of there, and now he’s the UFC champ.

I just think that the fighters are tough anywhere, and that’s what I’ve always said. PRIDE just happened to pull more from an international group of fighters, and I think in that respect, they had a little bit tougher competition. Plus, most of the time there, they had just two weight classes …

I’ve always said that the fights are pretty much the same, but PRIDE just put on a better show, production-wise. And that was the main difference. I miss PRIDE because of that. Other than that, I think the fighters are just as tough in the UFC. They’re tough anywhere now.

Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): Silva is next due to fight Patrick Cote. How do you see that fight going?

Dan Henderson: I just don’t see anything Cote would be able to do to Anderson. I think his biggest problem has been his submission defense and his takedown defense, and that’s not Cote’s specialty.

Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): I’ve been reading Randy Couture’s new book, Becoming the Natural. Obviously, you appear in the book significantly, as Couture talks about the two of you entering the fight game together and starting Team Quest. Have you had a chance to read the book?

Dan Henderson: No, I haven’t.

Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): Have you talked to him about it at all?

Dan Henderson: No, I haven’t done that either. I’ve been pretty busy training. I just haven’t got a copy of it yet.

Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): Well he talks a bit about how Olympic wrestling competition helped him prepare for mixed martial arts. I was wondering if you see anyone from the Beijing Olympics making a successful transition to MMA, like Ben Askren or somebody like that.

Dan Henderson: Yeah, absolutely, I think a lot of those guys could definitely make that transition well. It’s just a matter of if they commit to wanting to do it. Once they do, it’d be great if they got in a camp that came from that same background of wrestling.

I’ve already done trial and error on a lot of Greco and wrestling techniques, and I know what stuff to not even bother with already. So I can definitely relate to them and help weed out the techniques that aren’t good for MMA. So any gym like that is what they should be getting into.

After this fight, I’m definitely going to be talking to some of the guys — the wrestlers — and seeing who has an interest in that.

Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): Have you been approached by anyone yet?

Dan Henderson: Um … not really. Not really.

Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): Well, Dan, I really appreciate you taking the time to talk with us. I also wanted to give you an opportunity to see if you have any parting words for your fans, or if you wanted to thank any sponsors that we can plug on the site?

Dan Henderson: Yeah, I always appreciate the fan support of myself and of the sport. I’m always continuing to try and be exciting. Check out ClinchGear.com.
 
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Thiago Silva backs Antônio “Bigfoot”

Training partners, Thiago Silva heard about Antônio “Bigfoot”’s fail on EliteXC’s drug test and called TATAME to defense him. If they’re separated by a lot of pounds, nobody could imagine that they actually train together at American Top Team. “I live with him here all the time, he’s my brother and I never saw him taking anything. He didn’t used anything, he actually does a treatment to reduce his GH from the body, because of his natural problem… He’s the last person in the world that I’d think that could fail the test”, said Thiago. With EliteXC’s support, Bigfoot and his manager, Alex Davis, started his defense at Athletic Commission.
 
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Nova União dominates Shooto Brasil 8

Again, Nova União’s athletes showed a great performance at Shooto 8, winning their eight fights on the event, a great show at Delfim’s training center, at Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro. With UFC stars like Georges St. Pierre, Anderson Silva and Thales Leites watching the fights, the athletes did great on the ground, with a lot of submissions. At the first fight, Leonardo Santos showed why he’s considered the number one on the ground and, with less than two minutes, put Alan Lopes down and put a perfect triangle, finishing the fight.

Second place at BJJ world championship (CBJJE), Yan Cabral showed his game plan since the beginning, when he attempted a kata-gatame on the first round, but ringed the bell. Back to the second round, he put a perfect americana, that finished the fight. On the last fight of the event, the best Brazilian Striker, Vitor Miranda, put Sidney Silva down with an impressing high kick on the second round. Coming from great victories and eyeing Shooto ’s belt, Ralph Loren lost to Juciê Formiga on the ground, after a great rear naked choke on the very first round.

Another great fight, Alexandre Pinheiro and Zeilton “Nenzão” Rodrigues showed a great performance. After a knock down and get his right eye closed, Alexandre showed a lot of heart and submitted Nenzão with a rear naked choke on the second round. Brazilian and South American Shooto president, André Pederneiras announced that Shooto’s next edition, that might happen in October or November, will have six title fights. Check below the complete results of the event and stay tuned on TATAME.com to check a complete photo gallery of the event.

COMPLETE RESULTS:

Shooto Brazil 8
Delfim, Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro
Saturday, August 30th of 2008

- Juciê Formiga (Kimura/ Nova União) submited Ralph Loren (RFT) with a rear naked choke on the 2R;
- Diego Nunes (Minotauro Team) submited Marcelo França (Edinei Pedroso) with a guillotine choke on the 1R;
- Carlos Alberto Betão (RFT) defeated Zanon Pitbull (Anderson Silva) by unanimous decision;
- Dinarti (Kimura/ Nova União) submited Alexandre Brandão (Pamplona) by heel hook on the 2R;
- Yan Cabral (Nova União) submited Francis Guilde (Relma) with an americana on the R2;
- Renan Barão (Kimura/ Nova União) defeated Bob Esponja (TFT) by unanimous decision;
- Alexandre Pinheiro (JP Caverna) submited Zeílton Rodrigues “Nenzão” (Pejor) with a rear naked choke on the R2;
- Leo Santos (Nova União) submited Alan Lopes (BP Team) with a triangle on the R1;
- Willamy Chiquerim (Nocaute Fight) submited Matheus Machado (BP Team) with a hand triangle on the R1;
- Vítor Miranda (Nova União) defeated Sidnei Silva (Edinei Pedroso) by KO (high kick) on the R2.
 
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M-1 Challenge №6 results.

Quick results from the 6-th installment of M-1 Challenge 2008 season. Korea vs, USA, Japan vs. World and 3 superfights.

Team Japan vs World Star Team

Daisuke Nakamura(Japan) def Wim de Putter(World) by decision

Norman Paraisy(World) def Hidehiko Hasegava(Japan) by decision

Jordan Radev def Yuya Shirai(Japan) by decision

Bruno Carvalho(World) def Tatsuuya Mizuno(Japan) by decision

Stefan Struve(World) def Yuji Sakuragi(Japan) by triangle choke in 1 st round

World Team 4-1 Team Japan

Superfight

Park won Sik def Furdjel de Wind by decision

Team USA vs Team Korea

David Gardner def Kim Jang Yong by KO in 1st round

Jake Ellenberger def Seo doo Won by TKO (doctor stoppage) in 2nd round

Lim Hyuin Gyu def Brandon Magana by submission in 2ns round

Na Mu Jin def Bryan Harper by TKO in round 1

Jeremiah Constand def Kim Ji Hoon by submission in round 1

Team USA 3-2 Team Korea

Superfigt 2
Heo Min Seok def Radmir Gabdullin by decision

Superfight 3

Lee Sang Soo def Roman Zentsov by submission in 1st round
 
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Brett Cooper Vs. Patrick Speight Added To Affliction 2

With just a little over a month to go before the second offering of MMA from Affliction, the card has been officially finalized and is set to take place from the Thomas and Mack Center is Las Vegas on October 11th.

Vice President of Affliction Tom Atencio confirmed that the final fight to be added to the card will see Welterweights Brett Cooper and Patrick Speight in the ring.

Cooper may be best known for his TKO victory over new addition to the UFC roster Rory Markham in December 2007 during the finals of the IFL World Grand Prix. Including the win over Markham, Cooper is riding a four fight win streak going into the Affliction bout with Speight.

On the other side of the cage will be Patrick Speight who will be bringing an unfeated record into the bout at 7-0 with his last win coming on August 2nd when he beat David Gardner via a split decision at Total Combat 30.

The Cooper/Speight fight will be part of the HDNet portion of the show that will air 5 prelim fights leading into six Pay Per View fights.
 
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Affliction 2 Finalized, 5 Fights On HDNet w/ 6 On PPV

Affliction 2: Day of Reckoning is now finalized and with 11 bouts on tap for the October 11th, card the company is ready to go for it's second foray into the MMA event after a successful first show that seen Fedor Emelianenko demolish Tim Sylvia to become the WAMMA Heavyweight Champ.

MMANews.com was unable to confirm the card with Affliction Vice President Tom Atencio

The card is set to house a main event that will feature former UFC Heavyweight Champions Josh Barnett and Andrei Arlovski go to battle in a WAMMA Heavyweight Elimination bout to decide who will face Emelianenko for the Heavyweight Title in 2009.

The Pay Per View broadcast from the Thomas and Mack Center is Las Vegas, NV will see six bouts on the show while the other five bouts will be shown on HDNet during a special broadcast that will lead into the PPV portion and feature Paul Buentello facing Roy Nelson in the main event.

The card was set to see Renato "Babalu" Sobral in action but as MMANews.com reported last week, Sobral was taken off the card when the company was unable to sign Tito Ortiz.

There will also be a special performance by heavy metal legend Ozzy Osbourne during the PPV event similiar to the Megadeth performance during the first show.

The PPV Portion of the show will feature:

-Josh Barnett vs. Andre Arlovski
-Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Vladimir Matyushenko
-Matt Lindland vs. Trevor Prangley
-Chris Horodecki vs. Dan Lauzon
-Pedro Rizzo vs. Ben Rothwell
-Jay Hieron vs. Drew Fickett

The HDNet portion will see:

-Roy Nelson vs. Paul Buentello
-Mike Pyle vs. Jason High
-Albert Rios vs. Antonio Duarte
-Jay White vs. Chase Gormley
-Brett Cooper vs. Patrick Speight