IFL files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection
link: http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/885475/000095012308011064/y71304e8vk.htm
link: http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/885475/000095012308011064/y71304e8vk.htm
MMA News Thread
- Thread starter Shogun Locc
- Start date
HDNET FIGHTS AND COMPUBOX INK DEAL FOR COMPUSTRIKE MMA FIGHT STATS
link: http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content3445.html?PHPSESSID=6791ebd3e4b75dea90bc2618143855bc
HDNet Fights announced today that it is partnering with CompuBox, Inc. to provide CompuStrike real time statistics for the network's next ten MMA events. HDNet will also make use of the CompuStrike statistics on the network's weekly MMA program, "Inside MMA."
link: http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content3445.html?PHPSESSID=6791ebd3e4b75dea90bc2618143855bc
HDNet Fights announced today that it is partnering with CompuBox, Inc. to provide CompuStrike real time statistics for the network's next ten MMA events. HDNet will also make use of the CompuStrike statistics on the network's weekly MMA program, "Inside MMA."
UFC's Dustin Hazelett awarded BJJ black belt from Jorge Gurgel
For UFC welterweight Dustin Hazelett (11-4 MMA, 4-2 UFC), 2008 has proven to be a breakout year.
After a solid showing against top contender Josh Koscheck earlier this year, the 22-year-old fighter posted a stellar victory over Josh Burkman in June that garnered Hazelett two hefty "fight night" bonuses and a loyal fan following.
However, during a Tuesday ceremony at Jorge Gurgel's MMA academy in West Chester, Ohio, Hazelett scored his biggest accomplishment to date: a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt.
With a packed house of students, friends and family, Gurgel issued six belts to his students. The lone black belt went to Hazelett, whom Gurgel called his "star student."
"It was pretty surprising," said Hazelett, who needed just five years and 10 months to earn the rare honor. "Usually when you get promoted, you reach a point where you're like, 'Man, I really deserve it.' And then you get your ass kicked, and you're like, 'Man, I probably really don't deserve this.' And then you reach a point where you're like, 'Well, it'll come when it comes,' and you stop worrying about it.
"That's where I was."
Gurgel, who earned his black belt from American Top Team stand-out and fellow UFC fighter Marcus Aurelio, said the decision to promote Hazelett was made with no reservations.
"I'm very stingy about giving belts," said Gurgel, who's awarded only four black belts to date. "Dustin has gotten to the point where he is world recognized for his jiu jitsu. He's only 22 years old. His work ethic is incomparable. It's literally incomparable."
"I only give belts -- after the purple belt -- I only give belts by competition standards, by winning competitions and by smoking everyone else, by showing true Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills ... in the UFC and in outside competitions. Dustin got to the point where I could not, even if I wanted to, I couldn't hold him back. He earned the belt. He deserved it."
Hazelett, who turned pro in 2004 soon after his 18th birthday, made his UFC debut in 2006. Three of his four victories inside the octagon have come via submission -- none more dramatic than his most recent. At The Ultimate Fighter 7 Finale in June, Hazelett transitioned masterfully from one submission to the next and ultimately forced Josh Burkman to tap out from an arm-bar set up by a whizzer. He earned $20,000 Submission of the Night and Fight of the Night bonuses, and though un-televised on Spike TV, the fight was streamed for free on UFC.com.
"You pay your dues, you pay your dues, you pay your dues, and then at some point you start to reap some of the rewards," Hazelett said. "I think I'm reaching that point where I'm starting to reap some of the rewards from it."
Gurgel, who began his training 15 years ago in Brazil, knows that MMA has given jiu-jitsu students another outlet for competition. But he's also seen an unfortunate byproduct of the sport's booming growth.
"The morals and values of martial arts in general ... have been really, really watered down," Gurgel said. "Back in the day, all we fought for was the respect and to honor our teacher and our school. That's why I fought. That was it."
He sees those same qualities in Hazelett.
"He earned it," Gurgel said. "I'm not giving away anything. I hate giveaways. Everything is earned. Like everyone else, he earned it. He should be really proud of himself. He earned it. ... He's a star student and a great representative of the academy."
Hazelett said this latest honor will only further fuel his training camp. Although he can't comment on the fight until the UFC officially announces it, Hazelett is expected to fight Tamdan McCrory at UFC 91 in November. Another victory in the UFC could mean further exposure, but Hazelett doesn't expect to come an overnight star right away.
"Most of the recognition I'm getting is like Internet recognition from the hardcore fans, which I've been getting for a while now," Hazelett said. "Most fans don't know who I am. I walk around and very, very rarely get recognized."
However, Gurgel said that won't be the case for long. He expects big things when it comes to Hazelett's future in MMA.
"There's no limits," Gurgel said. "He can definitely be a world champion. He's too young and too talented and too mature for his age not to be."
For UFC welterweight Dustin Hazelett (11-4 MMA, 4-2 UFC), 2008 has proven to be a breakout year.
After a solid showing against top contender Josh Koscheck earlier this year, the 22-year-old fighter posted a stellar victory over Josh Burkman in June that garnered Hazelett two hefty "fight night" bonuses and a loyal fan following.
However, during a Tuesday ceremony at Jorge Gurgel's MMA academy in West Chester, Ohio, Hazelett scored his biggest accomplishment to date: a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt.
With a packed house of students, friends and family, Gurgel issued six belts to his students. The lone black belt went to Hazelett, whom Gurgel called his "star student."
"It was pretty surprising," said Hazelett, who needed just five years and 10 months to earn the rare honor. "Usually when you get promoted, you reach a point where you're like, 'Man, I really deserve it.' And then you get your ass kicked, and you're like, 'Man, I probably really don't deserve this.' And then you reach a point where you're like, 'Well, it'll come when it comes,' and you stop worrying about it.
"That's where I was."
Gurgel, who earned his black belt from American Top Team stand-out and fellow UFC fighter Marcus Aurelio, said the decision to promote Hazelett was made with no reservations.
"I'm very stingy about giving belts," said Gurgel, who's awarded only four black belts to date. "Dustin has gotten to the point where he is world recognized for his jiu jitsu. He's only 22 years old. His work ethic is incomparable. It's literally incomparable."
"I only give belts -- after the purple belt -- I only give belts by competition standards, by winning competitions and by smoking everyone else, by showing true Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills ... in the UFC and in outside competitions. Dustin got to the point where I could not, even if I wanted to, I couldn't hold him back. He earned the belt. He deserved it."
Hazelett, who turned pro in 2004 soon after his 18th birthday, made his UFC debut in 2006. Three of his four victories inside the octagon have come via submission -- none more dramatic than his most recent. At The Ultimate Fighter 7 Finale in June, Hazelett transitioned masterfully from one submission to the next and ultimately forced Josh Burkman to tap out from an arm-bar set up by a whizzer. He earned $20,000 Submission of the Night and Fight of the Night bonuses, and though un-televised on Spike TV, the fight was streamed for free on UFC.com.
"You pay your dues, you pay your dues, you pay your dues, and then at some point you start to reap some of the rewards," Hazelett said. "I think I'm reaching that point where I'm starting to reap some of the rewards from it."
Gurgel, who began his training 15 years ago in Brazil, knows that MMA has given jiu-jitsu students another outlet for competition. But he's also seen an unfortunate byproduct of the sport's booming growth.
"The morals and values of martial arts in general ... have been really, really watered down," Gurgel said. "Back in the day, all we fought for was the respect and to honor our teacher and our school. That's why I fought. That was it."
He sees those same qualities in Hazelett.
"He earned it," Gurgel said. "I'm not giving away anything. I hate giveaways. Everything is earned. Like everyone else, he earned it. He should be really proud of himself. He earned it. ... He's a star student and a great representative of the academy."
Hazelett said this latest honor will only further fuel his training camp. Although he can't comment on the fight until the UFC officially announces it, Hazelett is expected to fight Tamdan McCrory at UFC 91 in November. Another victory in the UFC could mean further exposure, but Hazelett doesn't expect to come an overnight star right away.
"Most of the recognition I'm getting is like Internet recognition from the hardcore fans, which I've been getting for a while now," Hazelett said. "Most fans don't know who I am. I walk around and very, very rarely get recognized."
However, Gurgel said that won't be the case for long. He expects big things when it comes to Hazelett's future in MMA.
"There's no limits," Gurgel said. "He can definitely be a world champion. He's too young and too talented and too mature for his age not to be."
5 Oz. Exclusive: Prospects Torrance Taylor and Tiawan Howard to debut for EliteXC on Oct. 10
A pair of brothers who happen to be two of the best fight prospects in Ohio are set to make their EliteXC debuts in October.
FiveOuncesOfPain.com was the first to report several months ago that half-brothers Torrance Taylor (pictured) and Tiawan Howard had signed multi-fight contracts with EliteXC. And now we can be the first to report that they have been added to EliteXC’s ShoXC event to take place on Friday, Oct. 10 at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana.
We confirmed the news while speaking with their manager, Mike Camp of F1 Management.
While opponents have yet to be finalized, EliteXC officials have confirmed that tentative matchups have been set for the two. Taylor, a dynamic lightweight striker, is likely to face former UFC veteran Jeff Cox while Howard, who normally competes at welterweight, will move up to middleweight to face Hector Urbina.
Both Taylor and Howard made it to the finals of the IFL Draft during the promotion’s tryouts in New York last year. They were part of an impressive class that included James “Binky” Jones and Jim Bova of EliteXC, Danillo Villefort of the WEC, Matt Brown of the UFC, former BodogFIGHT veteran Matt Lee, and top unsigned prospects LeVon Maynard of Virginia and Al Iaquinta of New York.
Taylor, 20, is just 7-4, according to Sherdog’s fight finder, but holds three career victories over former UFC veterans Jason Dent, Junior Assuncao, and Luke Caudillo. His two most recent victories were in May against Assuncao while competing for the AFL and then in June against Caudillo during a Ring of Fire show.
Howard, 33, is 5-2 according to Sherdog’s fight finder. His four fight win streak was snapped on August 2 in a decision loss to Micah Bender during the IFBL’s Fight Night 12. Prior to that he recorded consecutive wins over Mohammed Rashad, Mark Lesley, Travis Burnett, and Chris Thomas.
Cox is based out of Cleveland and is 9-6, according to Sherdog. He is 0-2 in his UFC career with losses to Gleison Tibau at UFC Fight Night 10 and Manny Gamburyan at UFC Fight Night 13. His most recent fight was a loss to Bart Palaszewski during Adrenaline MMA’s inaugural show on June 14.
Urbina, 12-4, according to Sherdog, also competed on Adrenaline MMA’s first-ever show, recording a second round TKO over David Kleczkowski. This will be his second appearance on ShoXC with his EliteXC debut having taken place in August of 2007, where he recorded a unanimous decision victory over Ray Lizama. He also holds notable victories over John Doyle and former Green Bay Packers running back Herbert “Whisper” Goodman. The 20-year old has also suffered notable losses to Tim Kennedy and Jason “Mayhem” Miller.
The Oct. 10 ShoXC event will be televised live on SHOWTIME at 11 p.m. ET and will be headlined by heavyweight prospect Dave Herman taking on TUF 2 veteran Kerry Schall.
A pair of brothers who happen to be two of the best fight prospects in Ohio are set to make their EliteXC debuts in October.
FiveOuncesOfPain.com was the first to report several months ago that half-brothers Torrance Taylor (pictured) and Tiawan Howard had signed multi-fight contracts with EliteXC. And now we can be the first to report that they have been added to EliteXC’s ShoXC event to take place on Friday, Oct. 10 at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana.
We confirmed the news while speaking with their manager, Mike Camp of F1 Management.
While opponents have yet to be finalized, EliteXC officials have confirmed that tentative matchups have been set for the two. Taylor, a dynamic lightweight striker, is likely to face former UFC veteran Jeff Cox while Howard, who normally competes at welterweight, will move up to middleweight to face Hector Urbina.
Both Taylor and Howard made it to the finals of the IFL Draft during the promotion’s tryouts in New York last year. They were part of an impressive class that included James “Binky” Jones and Jim Bova of EliteXC, Danillo Villefort of the WEC, Matt Brown of the UFC, former BodogFIGHT veteran Matt Lee, and top unsigned prospects LeVon Maynard of Virginia and Al Iaquinta of New York.
Taylor, 20, is just 7-4, according to Sherdog’s fight finder, but holds three career victories over former UFC veterans Jason Dent, Junior Assuncao, and Luke Caudillo. His two most recent victories were in May against Assuncao while competing for the AFL and then in June against Caudillo during a Ring of Fire show.
Howard, 33, is 5-2 according to Sherdog’s fight finder. His four fight win streak was snapped on August 2 in a decision loss to Micah Bender during the IFBL’s Fight Night 12. Prior to that he recorded consecutive wins over Mohammed Rashad, Mark Lesley, Travis Burnett, and Chris Thomas.
Cox is based out of Cleveland and is 9-6, according to Sherdog. He is 0-2 in his UFC career with losses to Gleison Tibau at UFC Fight Night 10 and Manny Gamburyan at UFC Fight Night 13. His most recent fight was a loss to Bart Palaszewski during Adrenaline MMA’s inaugural show on June 14.
Urbina, 12-4, according to Sherdog, also competed on Adrenaline MMA’s first-ever show, recording a second round TKO over David Kleczkowski. This will be his second appearance on ShoXC with his EliteXC debut having taken place in August of 2007, where he recorded a unanimous decision victory over Ray Lizama. He also holds notable victories over John Doyle and former Green Bay Packers running back Herbert “Whisper” Goodman. The 20-year old has also suffered notable losses to Tim Kennedy and Jason “Mayhem” Miller.
The Oct. 10 ShoXC event will be televised live on SHOWTIME at 11 p.m. ET and will be headlined by heavyweight prospect Dave Herman taking on TUF 2 veteran Kerry Schall.
Josh Koscheck vs Yoshiyuki Yoshida possible for UFC Fort Bragg
Top welterweight contender Josh Koscheck could possibly meet up with Yoshiyuki Yoshida at UFC Fight Night 16: “Fights for the Troops” during the three-hour Spike TV special that will take place from Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, N.C., on December 10.
MMAmania.com has heard whispers about the solid 170-pound match up from several independent sources over the course of the last few days.
Koscheck has won nine of 11 bouts inside the Octagon since his stint on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) back in early 2005, transforming from a world class wrestler into a dangerous well-rounded fighter in less than three years.
He has faced top competition in the loaded division in his last five appearances, including a showdown with current welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre (he was not champion at the time). He lost that bout via three-round decision but won over a legion of new fans with the performance for being able to hang with the uber talented Canadian.
Koscheck has since defeated rising star Dustin Hazelett with a second round technical knockout at UFC 82: “Pride of a Champion” back in March and grizzled veteran Chris Lytle via bloodbath, er, unanimous decision at UFC 86: “Jackson vs. Griffin” this past July.
With another win, the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) standout will be knocking on the door for a title shot along with the winner of the bout between Diego Sanchez and Thiago Alves at UFC 90: “Silva vs. Cote” next month.
However, it will not be easy … “Zenko” is quite the exotic import.
Yoshida — the former Cage Force and Shooto star — was successful in his UFC debut at UFC 84: “Ill Will” when he submitted TUF alum Jon Koppenhaver via anaconda choke. The Judoka is the winner of nine straight fights and was looking to make it 10 against Karo Parusyan at UFC 88: “Breakthrough: earlier this month before “The Heat” inexplicably withdrew from the bout just 24 hours before the bout with an injury.
If the bout is signed by both fighters it will likely serve as the main event — or at the very least — the co main event of the evening.
UFC Fight Night 16: “Fights for the Troops” will pay tribute to the United States servicemen and women serving in the armed forces. The Spike TV broadcast will coincide with a telethon during which viewers will be encouraged to call in donate money to support the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.
Top welterweight contender Josh Koscheck could possibly meet up with Yoshiyuki Yoshida at UFC Fight Night 16: “Fights for the Troops” during the three-hour Spike TV special that will take place from Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, N.C., on December 10.
MMAmania.com has heard whispers about the solid 170-pound match up from several independent sources over the course of the last few days.
Koscheck has won nine of 11 bouts inside the Octagon since his stint on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) back in early 2005, transforming from a world class wrestler into a dangerous well-rounded fighter in less than three years.
He has faced top competition in the loaded division in his last five appearances, including a showdown with current welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre (he was not champion at the time). He lost that bout via three-round decision but won over a legion of new fans with the performance for being able to hang with the uber talented Canadian.
Koscheck has since defeated rising star Dustin Hazelett with a second round technical knockout at UFC 82: “Pride of a Champion” back in March and grizzled veteran Chris Lytle via bloodbath, er, unanimous decision at UFC 86: “Jackson vs. Griffin” this past July.
With another win, the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) standout will be knocking on the door for a title shot along with the winner of the bout between Diego Sanchez and Thiago Alves at UFC 90: “Silva vs. Cote” next month.
However, it will not be easy … “Zenko” is quite the exotic import.
Yoshida — the former Cage Force and Shooto star — was successful in his UFC debut at UFC 84: “Ill Will” when he submitted TUF alum Jon Koppenhaver via anaconda choke. The Judoka is the winner of nine straight fights and was looking to make it 10 against Karo Parusyan at UFC 88: “Breakthrough: earlier this month before “The Heat” inexplicably withdrew from the bout just 24 hours before the bout with an injury.
If the bout is signed by both fighters it will likely serve as the main event — or at the very least — the co main event of the evening.
UFC Fight Night 16: “Fights for the Troops” will pay tribute to the United States servicemen and women serving in the armed forces. The Spike TV broadcast will coincide with a telethon during which viewers will be encouraged to call in donate money to support the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.
The Ultimate Fighter tryouts season 9 ‘U.S. vs U.K.’ set for October
During the Ultimate Fight Night 15 Spike TV broadcast, ringside commentator Mike Goldberg announced that the promotion is already in search of mixed martial arts hopefuls for the next season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 9.
TUF 9 will feature a mix of welterweights (170 pounds) and middleweights (185 pounds) in a tournament-style format that will culminate with two winners — one from each weight class.
The wrinkle this season appears to patriotism, pitting fighters from the states and across the pond against one another in a show dubbed, “U.S. vs. U.K.”
Subtitles will likely be included.
Open casting calls have been coordinated in both countries to scout qualified prospects — October 20 in London, England, and October 27 in Chicago, Illinois.
During the Ultimate Fight Night 15 Spike TV broadcast, ringside commentator Mike Goldberg announced that the promotion is already in search of mixed martial arts hopefuls for the next season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 9.
TUF 9 will feature a mix of welterweights (170 pounds) and middleweights (185 pounds) in a tournament-style format that will culminate with two winners — one from each weight class.
The wrinkle this season appears to patriotism, pitting fighters from the states and across the pond against one another in a show dubbed, “U.S. vs. U.K.”
Subtitles will likely be included.
Open casting calls have been coordinated in both countries to scout qualified prospects — October 20 in London, England, and October 27 in Chicago, Illinois.
5 Oz. Exclusive: Jason Guida signs with EliteXC
Jason Guida, who was shown last night on Spike TV and the UFC’s hit reality television series “The Ultimate Fighter” as being dismissed from the competition after failing to make weight, has signed with EliteXC.
FiveOuncesOfPain.com confirmed the news on Tuesday with EliteXC Vice President Jared Shaw.
Guida, the younger brother of UFC lightweight competitor Clay Guida, will debut during the promotion’s Oct. 10 ShoXC event at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana. Shaw could not comment on his opponent, but sources have informed Five Ounces of Pain that Guida is expected to fight Polish middleweight/light heavyweight prospect Mamed Khalidov.
Guida’s record varies greatly depending on what source you refer to but is 17-17, according to Sherdog’s fight finder. In addition to TUF, Guida has received national exposure on HDNet while competing in the main event of the debut show for Adrenaline MMA this past June. Facing heavyweight Mike Russow, Guida lost via first round submission. He also has suffered notable defeats against Terry Martin, Thales Leites, Travis Wiuff, Rory Markham, Vernon White, and Marvin Eastman.
Khalidov has competed exclusively in Poland and Lithuania and if he finalizes an agreement with EliteXC, the Oct. 10 show would mark his first fight on U.S. soil. Currently on a six fight win streak, Khalidov is 9-3 overall.
Jason Guida, who was shown last night on Spike TV and the UFC’s hit reality television series “The Ultimate Fighter” as being dismissed from the competition after failing to make weight, has signed with EliteXC.
FiveOuncesOfPain.com confirmed the news on Tuesday with EliteXC Vice President Jared Shaw.
Guida, the younger brother of UFC lightweight competitor Clay Guida, will debut during the promotion’s Oct. 10 ShoXC event at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Indiana. Shaw could not comment on his opponent, but sources have informed Five Ounces of Pain that Guida is expected to fight Polish middleweight/light heavyweight prospect Mamed Khalidov.
Guida’s record varies greatly depending on what source you refer to but is 17-17, according to Sherdog’s fight finder. In addition to TUF, Guida has received national exposure on HDNet while competing in the main event of the debut show for Adrenaline MMA this past June. Facing heavyweight Mike Russow, Guida lost via first round submission. He also has suffered notable defeats against Terry Martin, Thales Leites, Travis Wiuff, Rory Markham, Vernon White, and Marvin Eastman.
Khalidov has competed exclusively in Poland and Lithuania and if he finalizes an agreement with EliteXC, the Oct. 10 show would mark his first fight on U.S. soil. Currently on a six fight win streak, Khalidov is 9-3 overall.
UFC FIGHT NIGHT $30,000 BONUSES HANDED DOWN
Following UFC Fight Night 15 in Omaha, Neb., Ultimate Fighting Championship officials informed MMAWeekly.com of the fighter bonuses as handed down by the promotion after the event’s conclusion.
Each fighter was handed a $30,000 bonus for their efforts including Fight of the Night, Knockout of the Night and Submission of the Night.
“Ultimate Fighter” season 5 winner Nate Diaz pulled off a split decision win over a very game opponent in Josh Neer and both fighters were rewarded with a Fight of the Night bonus.
Alessio Sakara sent a message to the middleweight division that he will always bring the fight as he finished off newcomer Joe Vedepo with a vicious head kick that earned him a Knockout of the night.
Wilson Gouveia made an impressive debut in the 185-pound weight class with a slick armbar submission, picking up the win over Ryan Jensen, and a $30,000 Submission of the Night bonus as well.
UFC FIGHT NIGHT 15 AWARDS AND BONUSES:
Fight of the Night:
-Nick Diaz vs. Josh Neer
Knockout of the Night:
-Alessio Sakara
Submission of the Night:
-Wilson Gouveia
Following UFC Fight Night 15 in Omaha, Neb., Ultimate Fighting Championship officials informed MMAWeekly.com of the fighter bonuses as handed down by the promotion after the event’s conclusion.
Each fighter was handed a $30,000 bonus for their efforts including Fight of the Night, Knockout of the Night and Submission of the Night.
“Ultimate Fighter” season 5 winner Nate Diaz pulled off a split decision win over a very game opponent in Josh Neer and both fighters were rewarded with a Fight of the Night bonus.
Alessio Sakara sent a message to the middleweight division that he will always bring the fight as he finished off newcomer Joe Vedepo with a vicious head kick that earned him a Knockout of the night.
Wilson Gouveia made an impressive debut in the 185-pound weight class with a slick armbar submission, picking up the win over Ryan Jensen, and a $30,000 Submission of the Night bonus as well.
UFC FIGHT NIGHT 15 AWARDS AND BONUSES:
Fight of the Night:
-Nick Diaz vs. Josh Neer
Knockout of the Night:
-Alessio Sakara
Submission of the Night:
-Wilson Gouveia
Guida Talks Win over 'Ultimate Fighter'
videolink: http://www.sherdog.com/videos/recent/Guida-Talks-Win-over-Ultimate-Fighter-1769
Sherdog.com’s TJ De Santis caught up with Clay Guida to discuss his dominating victory over “The Ultimate Fighter” season six champion Mac Danzig.
videolink: http://www.sherdog.com/videos/recent/Guida-Talks-Win-over-Ultimate-Fighter-1769
Sherdog.com’s TJ De Santis caught up with Clay Guida to discuss his dominating victory over “The Ultimate Fighter” season six champion Mac Danzig.
Showtime gives EXC $1 million USD; EXC fails to get $3.5 million USD in financing
By Zach Arnold |
There are two new SEC filings by Pro Elite (form 8k & form SC 13D) that discuss the financial details regarding the company getting a Senior Secured Note with Showtime for $1 million USD. That money was issued on September 11th.
On September 10, 2008, ProElite, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into a Senior Secured Note (”Note”) payable to Showtime Networks, Inc. (”Showtime”) and a first amendment to the security agreement dated June 18, 2008 with Showtime (”Amendment No. 1 to Security Agreement”), copies of which agreements are attached hereto as Exhibits 2.6 to 2.7 and incorporated herein by reference. The Company received the note proceeds of $1,000,000 (one million) on September 11, 2008. The note bears interest at ten percent (10.0%) per annum, payable at maturity, and matures on June 18, 2009. The Note is secured by a first priority interest in the assets of the Company. The Note and accrued interest may be repaid, in whole or in part, without penalty at anytime prior to maturity. Mandatory repayment of the Note will be made from any license fees due to the Company under the Exclusive Distribution Agreement dated November 16, 2006 between the Company and Showtime.
However, if you read the rest of the 8k filing, you will see the following:
The Company previously reported in its most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q (and an immediately preceding current report on Form 8-K) that the Company was actively negotiating to consummate a financing of approximately $3.5 million in secured debt (with a funded amount of $3.0 million after an original issue discount of $0.5 million) and believed a successful closing was reasonably likely, but there was no assurance that it would be successful in doing so at all or on a timely basis. Such reports further stated, among other things, that any failure to obtain the needed financing in the immediate future would also have a material adverse effect on the Company’s liquidity and capital resources and ability to continue as a going concern.
The Company no longer believes that a successful closing of the $3.5 million secured debt (with a funded amount of $3.0 million) will occur. Although the Company has received $1 million pursuant to the Note, such funds are less than the $3.0 million needed to avoid the consequences described in the preceding paragraph and in the Company’s prior reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The $1 million funding defers such consequences only for a brief period of time while the Company continues to evaluate its options on how to respond to its severe liquidity problem.
In other words, the financial end game is very near here for Elite XC. Will Showtime/CBS pull the trigger and purchase the assets of Pro Elite if the company financially fails soon? If CBS network executives do buy the assets and run their own MMA organization, it will be fascinating to see who they hire and who they would keep on-board to run the operations.
During the Japanese MMA boom period a few years ago, it was the TV network executives and chief producers (think: Kunio Kiyohara of Fuji TV) who controlled a lot of the shots for PRIDE & K-1’s matchmaking. How would the landscape look with an American TV executive calling the shots in terms of booking
By Zach Arnold |
There are two new SEC filings by Pro Elite (form 8k & form SC 13D) that discuss the financial details regarding the company getting a Senior Secured Note with Showtime for $1 million USD. That money was issued on September 11th.
On September 10, 2008, ProElite, Inc. (the “Company”) entered into a Senior Secured Note (”Note”) payable to Showtime Networks, Inc. (”Showtime”) and a first amendment to the security agreement dated June 18, 2008 with Showtime (”Amendment No. 1 to Security Agreement”), copies of which agreements are attached hereto as Exhibits 2.6 to 2.7 and incorporated herein by reference. The Company received the note proceeds of $1,000,000 (one million) on September 11, 2008. The note bears interest at ten percent (10.0%) per annum, payable at maturity, and matures on June 18, 2009. The Note is secured by a first priority interest in the assets of the Company. The Note and accrued interest may be repaid, in whole or in part, without penalty at anytime prior to maturity. Mandatory repayment of the Note will be made from any license fees due to the Company under the Exclusive Distribution Agreement dated November 16, 2006 between the Company and Showtime.
However, if you read the rest of the 8k filing, you will see the following:
The Company previously reported in its most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q (and an immediately preceding current report on Form 8-K) that the Company was actively negotiating to consummate a financing of approximately $3.5 million in secured debt (with a funded amount of $3.0 million after an original issue discount of $0.5 million) and believed a successful closing was reasonably likely, but there was no assurance that it would be successful in doing so at all or on a timely basis. Such reports further stated, among other things, that any failure to obtain the needed financing in the immediate future would also have a material adverse effect on the Company’s liquidity and capital resources and ability to continue as a going concern.
The Company no longer believes that a successful closing of the $3.5 million secured debt (with a funded amount of $3.0 million) will occur. Although the Company has received $1 million pursuant to the Note, such funds are less than the $3.0 million needed to avoid the consequences described in the preceding paragraph and in the Company’s prior reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The $1 million funding defers such consequences only for a brief period of time while the Company continues to evaluate its options on how to respond to its severe liquidity problem.
In other words, the financial end game is very near here for Elite XC. Will Showtime/CBS pull the trigger and purchase the assets of Pro Elite if the company financially fails soon? If CBS network executives do buy the assets and run their own MMA organization, it will be fascinating to see who they hire and who they would keep on-board to run the operations.
During the Japanese MMA boom period a few years ago, it was the TV network executives and chief producers (think: Kunio Kiyohara of Fuji TV) who controlled a lot of the shots for PRIDE & K-1’s matchmaking. How would the landscape look with an American TV executive calling the shots in terms of booking
WEC's Marcus Hicks takes role in upstart Texas-based organization
Marcus Hicks (8-1) appears at ease when fighting.
Three straight submission victories in the WEC lightweight division earned the Texas native a shot at the title. In an August fight with current WEC lightweight champion Jamie Varner, the 33-year-old suffered his first career loss after absorbing a brutal flurry of strikes from the champ.
In his well-deserved rest period following that WEC 35 bout, Hicks has entered another side of the MMA business.
"The Wrecking Ball" has joined forces with a new promotion in the Dallas area, Supreme Warrior Championship. Hicks has been installed in the role of an adviser for the upstart organization.
Hicks discussed his position in the SWC while a guest on Wednesday’s edition of TAGG Radio (www.taggradio.com), the official radio partner of MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).
"I am just an adviser," Hicks said. "(I'm) just trying to give some support."
The young company promotes its inaugural event this Friday from the Garland Events Centre in Garland, Texas. The SWC will host 10 bouts in hopes its opening venture will be successful.
With Texas being the home to several mid-level organizations, as well as having hosted UFC 69, the state is quickly becoming a growing scene in the MMA community.
"MMA is starting to become a hot sport out here," Hicks said. "It is starting to sneak up everywhere."
Although no local television deal has been secured for the show, Hicks stated that the organization is actively pursuing the chance to broadcast the card through alternate forms of media.
"We don't have a TV contract," Hicks said. "But I think we may have something on the Internet set up."
Hicks also clearly outlined the SWC's vision for the growth of the organization and the fighters involved.
"We are trying to treat the fighters well and give them a place to grow, and not over-match them, so they can develop," Hicks explained.
It may seem strange to some that a still-up-and-coming fighter such as Hicks would be active in the promotional aspect of the fight game. With a promising career ahead of him, Hicks discussed his duties and where he fits in with his new role.
"It is pretty easy because I don’t do anything," Hicks quipped. "I just give them advice and use my experience and help them in what they should do."
Hicks also discussed the future of his ongoing MMA career and his place in the WEC. To hear the full interview, download Wednesday's edition of TAGG Radio, available for free in the TAGG Radio archives.
Marcus Hicks (8-1) appears at ease when fighting.
Three straight submission victories in the WEC lightweight division earned the Texas native a shot at the title. In an August fight with current WEC lightweight champion Jamie Varner, the 33-year-old suffered his first career loss after absorbing a brutal flurry of strikes from the champ.
In his well-deserved rest period following that WEC 35 bout, Hicks has entered another side of the MMA business.
"The Wrecking Ball" has joined forces with a new promotion in the Dallas area, Supreme Warrior Championship. Hicks has been installed in the role of an adviser for the upstart organization.
Hicks discussed his position in the SWC while a guest on Wednesday’s edition of TAGG Radio (www.taggradio.com), the official radio partner of MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).
"I am just an adviser," Hicks said. "(I'm) just trying to give some support."
The young company promotes its inaugural event this Friday from the Garland Events Centre in Garland, Texas. The SWC will host 10 bouts in hopes its opening venture will be successful.
With Texas being the home to several mid-level organizations, as well as having hosted UFC 69, the state is quickly becoming a growing scene in the MMA community.
"MMA is starting to become a hot sport out here," Hicks said. "It is starting to sneak up everywhere."
Although no local television deal has been secured for the show, Hicks stated that the organization is actively pursuing the chance to broadcast the card through alternate forms of media.
"We don't have a TV contract," Hicks said. "But I think we may have something on the Internet set up."
Hicks also clearly outlined the SWC's vision for the growth of the organization and the fighters involved.
"We are trying to treat the fighters well and give them a place to grow, and not over-match them, so they can develop," Hicks explained.
It may seem strange to some that a still-up-and-coming fighter such as Hicks would be active in the promotional aspect of the fight game. With a promising career ahead of him, Hicks discussed his duties and where he fits in with his new role.
"It is pretty easy because I don’t do anything," Hicks quipped. "I just give them advice and use my experience and help them in what they should do."
Hicks also discussed the future of his ongoing MMA career and his place in the WEC. To hear the full interview, download Wednesday's edition of TAGG Radio, available for free in the TAGG Radio archives.
Confident Paul Daley ready to dethrone EliteXC champ Jake Shields
In mixed martial arts' relatively short history, it has been a rare occasion in which a British fighter has been featured on a prominent card. At "EliteXC: Heat," Paul Daley (18-6-2) will follow in the recent steps of countryman James Thompson, as "Semtex" gets his opportunity in an Oct. 4 battle with Jake Shields (21-4) -- live on network television for the EliteXC welterweight crown.
Daley recently told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that he is relishing the prospect of this massive fight -- and that he feels he is more than capable of ending Shields' 10-fight winning streak while taking his title in the process.
"This is a great fight for me," Daley said. "[Shields] has gotta do what his game is, I gotta do mine. So it should be an entertaining fight -- before I knock him out."
Reigning over the U.K.'s local circuit for several years, Daley made his explosive entry to the U.S. scene with a 2007 knockout of eight-year veteran Duane "Bang" Ludwig at "Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Baroni." Currently riding a six-fight win streak -- all six by stoppages due to strikes -- confidence is at its peak for the 25-year-old.
Now being featured in an American network-television broadcast card, Daley will seek to become the first-ever British title-holder in a major MMA organization. Some MMA pundits view this as the biggest bout ever contested by a British fighter.
"It's a tough question," Daley said of that opinion. "(Michael) Bisping versus (Rashad) Evans (at UFC 78) was a big fight. But then Evans was not a top-10 fighter, nor was the fight on CBS."
Not content with sticking to his normal training regime for this upcoming fight, Daley decided to seek higher-level sparring partners. This led him to Holland where he found some of the best training and partners the region had to offer.
"I worked out with Melvin Manhoef, Antonio Carvalho, Jason Jones and some other guys to get ready for Shields," Daley explained.
Carrying the momentum of a 10-fight win streak en route to the EliteXC welterweight title, Shields has looked impressive as of late while showing huge advances in his game. Shields has been finishing opponents with ferocity while demonstrating a dominant top-position grappling game.
Daley respects the skills and stylistic challenge that the Cesar Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt poses.
"[Shields] is a great fighter and very good at what he does," Daley admitted. "But I'm ready."
No stranger to holding titles himself, Daley was the Cage Rage welterweight champion and also held King of The Ring Muay-Thai gold. However Shields represents a large step up in competition as Daley attempts to elevate his stature in the fight game.
A win over Shields would lift the Nottingham-native into stardom. The highly ambitious Daley views the fight as the beginning of a glorious career which the 25-year-old envisions for himself.
"I want to fight more great fights, defend the belt," Daley said. "Maybe fight in the Dream welterweight grand prix -- if it happens -- and then maybe go to the UFC."
However, before Daley can map out his future, he must first face the huge task of defeating Shields. Not one to shy away from bold claims, Daley issued his plan for the fight.
"I'm going to win via knockout or a referee's stoppage."
In mixed martial arts' relatively short history, it has been a rare occasion in which a British fighter has been featured on a prominent card. At "EliteXC: Heat," Paul Daley (18-6-2) will follow in the recent steps of countryman James Thompson, as "Semtex" gets his opportunity in an Oct. 4 battle with Jake Shields (21-4) -- live on network television for the EliteXC welterweight crown.
Daley recently told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that he is relishing the prospect of this massive fight -- and that he feels he is more than capable of ending Shields' 10-fight winning streak while taking his title in the process.
"This is a great fight for me," Daley said. "[Shields] has gotta do what his game is, I gotta do mine. So it should be an entertaining fight -- before I knock him out."
Reigning over the U.K.'s local circuit for several years, Daley made his explosive entry to the U.S. scene with a 2007 knockout of eight-year veteran Duane "Bang" Ludwig at "Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Baroni." Currently riding a six-fight win streak -- all six by stoppages due to strikes -- confidence is at its peak for the 25-year-old.
Now being featured in an American network-television broadcast card, Daley will seek to become the first-ever British title-holder in a major MMA organization. Some MMA pundits view this as the biggest bout ever contested by a British fighter.
"It's a tough question," Daley said of that opinion. "(Michael) Bisping versus (Rashad) Evans (at UFC 78) was a big fight. But then Evans was not a top-10 fighter, nor was the fight on CBS."
Not content with sticking to his normal training regime for this upcoming fight, Daley decided to seek higher-level sparring partners. This led him to Holland where he found some of the best training and partners the region had to offer.
"I worked out with Melvin Manhoef, Antonio Carvalho, Jason Jones and some other guys to get ready for Shields," Daley explained.
Carrying the momentum of a 10-fight win streak en route to the EliteXC welterweight title, Shields has looked impressive as of late while showing huge advances in his game. Shields has been finishing opponents with ferocity while demonstrating a dominant top-position grappling game.
Daley respects the skills and stylistic challenge that the Cesar Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt poses.
"[Shields] is a great fighter and very good at what he does," Daley admitted. "But I'm ready."
No stranger to holding titles himself, Daley was the Cage Rage welterweight champion and also held King of The Ring Muay-Thai gold. However Shields represents a large step up in competition as Daley attempts to elevate his stature in the fight game.
A win over Shields would lift the Nottingham-native into stardom. The highly ambitious Daley views the fight as the beginning of a glorious career which the 25-year-old envisions for himself.
"I want to fight more great fights, defend the belt," Daley said. "Maybe fight in the Dream welterweight grand prix -- if it happens -- and then maybe go to the UFC."
However, before Daley can map out his future, he must first face the huge task of defeating Shields. Not one to shy away from bold claims, Daley issued his plan for the fight.
"I'm going to win via knockout or a referee's stoppage."
UFC 92: CB Dolloway vs Jorge Rivera
The Ultimate Fighter 7 runner-up CB Dollaway (7-1) will make his third straight Octagon appearance when he takes on UFC veteran Jorge Rivera (15-7) at UFC 92 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, on New Year’s Eve weekend according to WrestlingObserver.com.
“The Doberman” was unsuccessful in his bid to win it all at the TUF 7 finale on June 21, but he was able to rebound and score an impressive submission victory over Jesse “Yellow Submarine” Taylor less than a month later at Fight Night 14.
Facing him will be a very tough albeit inconsistent fighter in Rivera. “El Conqistador” came up short against Martin Kampmann at UFC 85 after a very impressive KO victory over Kendall Grove at UFC 80.
This should be a good test for Dollaway. Rivera has knockout power and has ended 10 of his 15 wins by (T)KO. No doubt Dollaway will try and utilize his wrestling to keep things on the ground until he can find a submission against the crafty veteran.
UFC 92 is scheduled for December 27 and features the light heavyweight championship bout between Forrest Griffin and Rashad Evans as well as the heavyweight tournament elimination bout of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Frank Mir.
The Ultimate Fighter 7 runner-up CB Dollaway (7-1) will make his third straight Octagon appearance when he takes on UFC veteran Jorge Rivera (15-7) at UFC 92 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, on New Year’s Eve weekend according to WrestlingObserver.com.
“The Doberman” was unsuccessful in his bid to win it all at the TUF 7 finale on June 21, but he was able to rebound and score an impressive submission victory over Jesse “Yellow Submarine” Taylor less than a month later at Fight Night 14.
Facing him will be a very tough albeit inconsistent fighter in Rivera. “El Conqistador” came up short against Martin Kampmann at UFC 85 after a very impressive KO victory over Kendall Grove at UFC 80.
This should be a good test for Dollaway. Rivera has knockout power and has ended 10 of his 15 wins by (T)KO. No doubt Dollaway will try and utilize his wrestling to keep things on the ground until he can find a submission against the crafty veteran.
UFC 92 is scheduled for December 27 and features the light heavyweight championship bout between Forrest Griffin and Rashad Evans as well as the heavyweight tournament elimination bout of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Frank Mir.
It’s too early to give up on Houston Alexander
I’m getting a little tired of all the accusations that Houston Alexander hasn’t been training on the ground. How do any of us know for sure what Alexander has or hasn’t been doing? Just because someone doesn’t show fluent ground fighting skills in a full-on fight doesn’t necessarily mean it’s from a lack of effort. At the risk of sounding like a snob, I think more people need to go to their local MMA gym and take advantage of a free trial and take a few jiu-jitsu classes.
I realize not everyone has the time, money, or physical ability to train MMA on a regular basis but it can’t hurt to take a few classes just to get an idea of what becoming proficient in jiu-jitsu entails. I’m not saying the opinion of someone who doesn’t train doesn’t matter, but I do believe that if they made an effort to spend some time on the mat that they would have a completely different perspective. There are some people, such as B.J. Penn, who have a natural aptitude for grappling and pick it up with ease. And then there are the rest of us who feel dyslexic when being instructed how to perform ground-based fighting maneuvers.
Learning jiu-jitsu is not the same as trying to pick up a striking-based martial art. I’ve studied several different martial arts and can tell you that jiu-jitsu is by far the most challenging I have ever learned. But the challenge goes beyond that, as trying to improve in it is one of the most frustrating endeavors I have ever encountered in my life. My progress has not only been slow but there have been periods of time where I’ve experienced a regression. It’s not easy seeing people who have been training less than me advance quicker than me but the only thing I can do is not give into the frustration and just keep training harder. It sucks having done this for a couple of years and still being a novice but I know I’m not alone in finding jiu-jitsu a difficult martial art to pick up.
A lot of people are making an assumption by stating Alexander hasn’t worked hard enough to improve on the ground. Again, we don’t know how hard he’s been working. Yes, it is possible that Alexander hasn’t been applying himself properly or isn’t training with the right people. But it’s also possible to spend months drilling jiu-jitsu moves and show no real progress when it comes time to compete. Once adrenaline kicks in and you’re competing at full speed, it’s virtually impossible to display all the technique you’re able to execute in a practice environment. If we were to watch Alexander train on the ground, there’s a chance we might be surprised with what we saw. But as soon as a fight begins, a lot of technique goes out the window and instinct takes over. That’s why I am in awe of guys like Penn who not only can kick ass, but can also execute beautiful technique while doing so.
At 36, time is not on Alexander’s side. There is a huge learning curve for most people when it comes to jiu-jitsu. If you hear of a brown or black belt in their early-20s, it means they’ve been training since their early teens. The older you get and the more standup technique you learn, the harder jiu-jitsu is to pick up. Learning jiu-jitsu when you have a standup background is like trying to learn a second language. Even if you become fluent in the second language, you are still going to think in your first language and there will be a brief delay as you make a translation in your mind. In a combat situation, that split second it takes to process something could mean the difference between being able to take advantage of an obvious submission or giving up your back. I’ve lost track of the number of times I’ve been on my back and tried to go for a Kimura after someone posts their arm out too far only to see the arm disappear and have the guy wind up on the other side of me as I bring my hips off the mat.
Another issue that Alexander could be dealing with is his conditioning. The man is built like a power lifter. I’ve found that you use a lot of muscles in jiu-jitsu and wrestling that you rarely ever use. I’ve seen overweight guys come in and roll and never get tired and then I’ve seen guys who look to be in incredible shape and halfway through they are toast. It didn’t make sense to me until I started rolling more but it’s clear that the overweight guys had been rolling a lot and the right muscles were the ones that were in the proper condition. I just don’t know if Alexander is conditioned properly to hang on the ground with a black belt for an extended period of time. Once your muscles turn to jello on the ground and they stop responding to your brain’s commands, you might as well tap.
Another conclusion people are jumping to is that Alexander has been cut by the UFC. While it appears there is some validity to rumblings that Dana White told Alexander’s camp that if he didn’t win last night he might need to get some wins outside of the organization, that doesn’t mean he’ll be dropped from his contract. After some losses, Melvin Guillard was told it might be in his best interest to fight on smaller shows. He followed the advice but was still under contract to the UFC the entire time.
Alexander might be coming off three consecutive losses but he remains an asset to the company. There are a lot of great fighters out there that nobody cares about. But Alexander has charisma and a look that has developed him a sizable fanbase over a short period of time. Say what you want about Alexander, but has he ever had a fight that has ever been boring? While he looked like a fish out of water once again on the ground, it looked in the early going as if he was going to steamroll Eric Schafer.
While most of the UFC’s competition on the national scene is down, they’re not out. If Alexander suddenly were to become a free agent then his manager, Monte Cox, would be flooded by phone calls from the likes of Affliction, EliteXC, Strikeforce, and the AFL. No one can deny that Alexander has lost a lot of steam following his shocking upset over Keith Jardine at UFC 71 but he’s also just one wrecking ball TKO away from getting his mojo back.
Alexander could certainly stand to gain by taking some fights on smaller shows but it would be a mistake for the UFC to give up on him so soon. He’s proven people wrong before and I believe he’ll do it again.
I’m getting a little tired of all the accusations that Houston Alexander hasn’t been training on the ground. How do any of us know for sure what Alexander has or hasn’t been doing? Just because someone doesn’t show fluent ground fighting skills in a full-on fight doesn’t necessarily mean it’s from a lack of effort. At the risk of sounding like a snob, I think more people need to go to their local MMA gym and take advantage of a free trial and take a few jiu-jitsu classes.
I realize not everyone has the time, money, or physical ability to train MMA on a regular basis but it can’t hurt to take a few classes just to get an idea of what becoming proficient in jiu-jitsu entails. I’m not saying the opinion of someone who doesn’t train doesn’t matter, but I do believe that if they made an effort to spend some time on the mat that they would have a completely different perspective. There are some people, such as B.J. Penn, who have a natural aptitude for grappling and pick it up with ease. And then there are the rest of us who feel dyslexic when being instructed how to perform ground-based fighting maneuvers.
Learning jiu-jitsu is not the same as trying to pick up a striking-based martial art. I’ve studied several different martial arts and can tell you that jiu-jitsu is by far the most challenging I have ever learned. But the challenge goes beyond that, as trying to improve in it is one of the most frustrating endeavors I have ever encountered in my life. My progress has not only been slow but there have been periods of time where I’ve experienced a regression. It’s not easy seeing people who have been training less than me advance quicker than me but the only thing I can do is not give into the frustration and just keep training harder. It sucks having done this for a couple of years and still being a novice but I know I’m not alone in finding jiu-jitsu a difficult martial art to pick up.
A lot of people are making an assumption by stating Alexander hasn’t worked hard enough to improve on the ground. Again, we don’t know how hard he’s been working. Yes, it is possible that Alexander hasn’t been applying himself properly or isn’t training with the right people. But it’s also possible to spend months drilling jiu-jitsu moves and show no real progress when it comes time to compete. Once adrenaline kicks in and you’re competing at full speed, it’s virtually impossible to display all the technique you’re able to execute in a practice environment. If we were to watch Alexander train on the ground, there’s a chance we might be surprised with what we saw. But as soon as a fight begins, a lot of technique goes out the window and instinct takes over. That’s why I am in awe of guys like Penn who not only can kick ass, but can also execute beautiful technique while doing so.
At 36, time is not on Alexander’s side. There is a huge learning curve for most people when it comes to jiu-jitsu. If you hear of a brown or black belt in their early-20s, it means they’ve been training since their early teens. The older you get and the more standup technique you learn, the harder jiu-jitsu is to pick up. Learning jiu-jitsu when you have a standup background is like trying to learn a second language. Even if you become fluent in the second language, you are still going to think in your first language and there will be a brief delay as you make a translation in your mind. In a combat situation, that split second it takes to process something could mean the difference between being able to take advantage of an obvious submission or giving up your back. I’ve lost track of the number of times I’ve been on my back and tried to go for a Kimura after someone posts their arm out too far only to see the arm disappear and have the guy wind up on the other side of me as I bring my hips off the mat.
Another issue that Alexander could be dealing with is his conditioning. The man is built like a power lifter. I’ve found that you use a lot of muscles in jiu-jitsu and wrestling that you rarely ever use. I’ve seen overweight guys come in and roll and never get tired and then I’ve seen guys who look to be in incredible shape and halfway through they are toast. It didn’t make sense to me until I started rolling more but it’s clear that the overweight guys had been rolling a lot and the right muscles were the ones that were in the proper condition. I just don’t know if Alexander is conditioned properly to hang on the ground with a black belt for an extended period of time. Once your muscles turn to jello on the ground and they stop responding to your brain’s commands, you might as well tap.
Another conclusion people are jumping to is that Alexander has been cut by the UFC. While it appears there is some validity to rumblings that Dana White told Alexander’s camp that if he didn’t win last night he might need to get some wins outside of the organization, that doesn’t mean he’ll be dropped from his contract. After some losses, Melvin Guillard was told it might be in his best interest to fight on smaller shows. He followed the advice but was still under contract to the UFC the entire time.
Alexander might be coming off three consecutive losses but he remains an asset to the company. There are a lot of great fighters out there that nobody cares about. But Alexander has charisma and a look that has developed him a sizable fanbase over a short period of time. Say what you want about Alexander, but has he ever had a fight that has ever been boring? While he looked like a fish out of water once again on the ground, it looked in the early going as if he was going to steamroll Eric Schafer.
While most of the UFC’s competition on the national scene is down, they’re not out. If Alexander suddenly were to become a free agent then his manager, Monte Cox, would be flooded by phone calls from the likes of Affliction, EliteXC, Strikeforce, and the AFL. No one can deny that Alexander has lost a lot of steam following his shocking upset over Keith Jardine at UFC 71 but he’s also just one wrecking ball TKO away from getting his mojo back.
Alexander could certainly stand to gain by taking some fights on smaller shows but it would be a mistake for the UFC to give up on him so soon. He’s proven people wrong before and I believe he’ll do it again.
Demian Maia vs. Nate Quarry at UFC 91
With a perfect MMA career after eight wins in eight fights, Demian Maia remains unbeatable after three submission victories in UFC’s octagon, and he’s already training for his next bout. The UFC 91’s most important fight will be Randy Couture’s back to Ultimate against an young Brock Lesnar for the heavyweight title, and Demian Maia will face Nathan Quarry, at November 15th. Against the new opponent, Demian keeps training hard in Brazil, still without a specific training for Nate.
"I didn’t study his fights yet, I’ll receive a DVD with his fights, but I only watch my opponents’ fights when the fight gets closer. I’m training a lot my stand up game like for the last fight, but every time I can I do some BJJ trainings”, said the black belt, that helped Frank Mir to coach his team at The Ultimate Fighter 8. “I helped him there in June and the show debut yesterday. I’m his BJJ coach. As I couldn’t get there in the beginning, and asked them to call Robert (Drysdale) and then I went there to help Frank Mir’s team”, said Demian, that enjoyed the new experience. “It was very cool, different… I never did nothing like that before, it’s interesting”, told the black belt, that remains in Brazil until October, when he goes to USA to get ready for the fight with Rafael Alejarra.
With a perfect MMA career after eight wins in eight fights, Demian Maia remains unbeatable after three submission victories in UFC’s octagon, and he’s already training for his next bout. The UFC 91’s most important fight will be Randy Couture’s back to Ultimate against an young Brock Lesnar for the heavyweight title, and Demian Maia will face Nathan Quarry, at November 15th. Against the new opponent, Demian keeps training hard in Brazil, still without a specific training for Nate.
"I didn’t study his fights yet, I’ll receive a DVD with his fights, but I only watch my opponents’ fights when the fight gets closer. I’m training a lot my stand up game like for the last fight, but every time I can I do some BJJ trainings”, said the black belt, that helped Frank Mir to coach his team at The Ultimate Fighter 8. “I helped him there in June and the show debut yesterday. I’m his BJJ coach. As I couldn’t get there in the beginning, and asked them to call Robert (Drysdale) and then I went there to help Frank Mir’s team”, said Demian, that enjoyed the new experience. “It was very cool, different… I never did nothing like that before, it’s interesting”, told the black belt, that remains in Brazil until October, when he goes to USA to get ready for the fight with Rafael Alejarra.
WORKOUT QUOTES: KIMBO SLICE & GINA CARANO
link: http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content3446.html?PHPSESSID=ba8c6782285f27122a6184e09e671f41
There was a tremendous turnout at the Kimbo Slice and Gina Carano open media workout Wednesday at Legends Mixed Martial Arts Training Center in Los Angeles. The fighters will appear on the upcoming third installment of CBS ELITEXC SATURDAY NIGHT FIGHTS, broadcast live from the BankAtlantic Center, in Sunrise, Fla., on Saturday, Oct. 4 (9-11 p.m., ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.
link: http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content3446.html?PHPSESSID=ba8c6782285f27122a6184e09e671f41
There was a tremendous turnout at the Kimbo Slice and Gina Carano open media workout Wednesday at Legends Mixed Martial Arts Training Center in Los Angeles. The fighters will appear on the upcoming third installment of CBS ELITEXC SATURDAY NIGHT FIGHTS, broadcast live from the BankAtlantic Center, in Sunrise, Fla., on Saturday, Oct. 4 (9-11 p.m., ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.
MIKE WINKELJOHN: "IF I WERE FORREST, I WOULD BE A LITTLE SCARED RIGHT NOW!"
link: http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content3447.html
"One thing about Rashad is that he's got tree trunk legs. He looks small, but he's a running back. We're doing sprints up the Alps and working on explosive things and he gets so much power from his legs. On the ground, he has a lot of weight down there in his hips and Forrest cannot outwrestle Rashad. If I were Forrest, I would be a little scared right now. The thing with Forrest is if he's not the toughest, he's one of the toughest fighters out there. That man will walk through fire to get the job done. I think he's great. It's weird because just like against Chuck, Rashad gets to face him after Keith Jardine has beat him so that gives us an edge in strategy. We kind of have an idea of what he does," stated Mike Winkeljohn, one of the coaches for Rashad Evans, as he talked about a fight with UFC light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin. Check out what else he had to say as he talks in depth about Rashad's gameplan that got him his impressive win over Chuck Liddell and much more.
link: http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content3447.html
"One thing about Rashad is that he's got tree trunk legs. He looks small, but he's a running back. We're doing sprints up the Alps and working on explosive things and he gets so much power from his legs. On the ground, he has a lot of weight down there in his hips and Forrest cannot outwrestle Rashad. If I were Forrest, I would be a little scared right now. The thing with Forrest is if he's not the toughest, he's one of the toughest fighters out there. That man will walk through fire to get the job done. I think he's great. It's weird because just like against Chuck, Rashad gets to face him after Keith Jardine has beat him so that gives us an edge in strategy. We kind of have an idea of what he does," stated Mike Winkeljohn, one of the coaches for Rashad Evans, as he talked about a fight with UFC light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin. Check out what else he had to say as he talks in depth about Rashad's gameplan that got him his impressive win over Chuck Liddell and much more.
Ken Shamrock talks Kimbo Slice, Brock Lesnar and more
CBS is reaching a lot of new fans and people that are just getting into mixed martial arts; what should they know about Ken Shamrock?
"Ken Shamrock never quits. He keeps coming and coming, he loves to fight and he loves to entertain."
You made a joke about pulling guys off the street corner to use as training partners when preparing for Kimbo; obviously that was a joke but do you consider Kimbo to be a dangerous opponent?
“Oh he’s dangerous. I’m mean, he’s not the most skilled fighter, he doesn’t have all the submissions down and his striking is getting better... he’s got a lot of learning to do but when he does he will be very dangerous.
“Right now he is just starting out in this business, he is 4-0 or something, there is a lot of learning for him to do and he is stepping up awful fast. But with the power that he has and the way that he fights he is a dangerous opponent.”
His previous opponents (Bo Cantrell, Tank Abbot, James Thompson) aren’t noted for their submission skills; are EliteXC making a mistake in putting you in the cage with their cash cow?
“No I don’t think they are making a mistake at all, I think they are doing exactly what they need to do. They think that Kimbo has a shot at beating me and I have a shot at beating Kimbo, it’s a win-win situation for them. If Kimbo wins, they have a superstar, he just beat somebody who has a name. If Kimbo loses then they’ve got me! (laughs)”
Why Kimbo?
“Why not? The guy’s got instant notoriety, everybody knows him. He’s getting all kind of coverage on mainstream TV. The guy is an intimidating looking character, he is getting a lot of publicity because of the way he looks – and he knocks people out.
“He is getting a lot of people looking at him so for somebody like myself who is already popular and already out here, it’s only going to increase my visibility by fighting someone like him so yeah, I jumped at that.
“Everybody is going to be watching this fight - you’ve got Kimbo, who is rising fast, and myself, who started in this business and brought it to where it is today.”
You have been fighting for over fifteen years; How do you find fight preparation these days, are you having to train a lot smarter or are you still keeping pace with the younger guys?
“Yeah you’ve really got to change you’re training up quite a bit you know, you’ve got to pick days that you want to go hard and you want to make sure that if anything in training feels like it has pulled or it is aching a little bit you’ve got to go away and get it looked at. Anything like that takes a lot longer to heal now. When you were young you could go on and ignore it because you would heal so fast.
“Now I’ve got a strength and conditioning coach, a chiropractor , a massage therapist, a doctor, plus boxing, grappling, kickboxing and wrestling trainers, so I’ve got all the angles covered. In the early days it was get in the ring and fight, after finding any training partners you could.”
After Kimbo is done with, where do you go from there? What fights do you want and what is left for you to achieve in this sport?
“I’m not looking to ‘achieve’ things in the sport, I’m looking to do things that I like to do, and right now that’s fight. I love this business, it will be a sad day when I have to step aside and say I am done.”
Tito Ortiz is apparently still a free agent, would you be interested in another fight if EliteXC signed him or has that beef died down now?
“Right now, I’m thinking about Kimbo, I’m not gonna look past that. I think everybody knows me pretty well – whoever they put in front of me, I will fight them, you Know? But right now, that’s Kimbo Slice.”
You’re already an established MMA legend; is it just the money that keeps you fighting or is there more to it than that?
“I love this, where else are you going to get the chance to get up in the morning and go and train with your buddies twice that day? And then at the end of the day you get to go in front of millions of people and fight. And then you get paid on top of it! I mean come on, it’s a great job.(laughs)”
As one of the few guys still fighting that has been there since day one, what are your thoughts on the way the game has developed over the years?
“It has developed into a very professional sport, every part of the game is being pinpointed just like they do in the NFL or the NBA or anything else where they work in the off-season on their strength and explosiveness and technique.
“It’s the same for fighting now, you’ve got people doing your strength and conditioning, your takedowns, your clinches, it’s so broken down now to the point that the fighters that are getting in the ring now are getting so much better training than we were getting ten or even five years ago.”
You fought in the very first UFC tournament; Who among the current crop of UFC stars do you like to watch?
“A guy that I’m keeping an eye on, I really want to see how he does, is Brock Lesnar. He’s an impressive looking figure, he comes out and he goes at it. It will be really interesting to see how he does in his next couple of fights, whether he is going to be able to stay in and last a long time or whether he is going to be a flash in the pan.
“I like Georges St. Pierre, I like the way he comes out to fight and I love to watch Quinton (Jackson) as well, he’s a great athlete and he loves to knock people out. Randy Couture is another favourite of mine and I like Chuck Liddell because he likes to knock people out too.”
CBS is reaching a lot of new fans and people that are just getting into mixed martial arts; what should they know about Ken Shamrock?
"Ken Shamrock never quits. He keeps coming and coming, he loves to fight and he loves to entertain."
You made a joke about pulling guys off the street corner to use as training partners when preparing for Kimbo; obviously that was a joke but do you consider Kimbo to be a dangerous opponent?
“Oh he’s dangerous. I’m mean, he’s not the most skilled fighter, he doesn’t have all the submissions down and his striking is getting better... he’s got a lot of learning to do but when he does he will be very dangerous.
“Right now he is just starting out in this business, he is 4-0 or something, there is a lot of learning for him to do and he is stepping up awful fast. But with the power that he has and the way that he fights he is a dangerous opponent.”
His previous opponents (Bo Cantrell, Tank Abbot, James Thompson) aren’t noted for their submission skills; are EliteXC making a mistake in putting you in the cage with their cash cow?
“No I don’t think they are making a mistake at all, I think they are doing exactly what they need to do. They think that Kimbo has a shot at beating me and I have a shot at beating Kimbo, it’s a win-win situation for them. If Kimbo wins, they have a superstar, he just beat somebody who has a name. If Kimbo loses then they’ve got me! (laughs)”
Why Kimbo?
“Why not? The guy’s got instant notoriety, everybody knows him. He’s getting all kind of coverage on mainstream TV. The guy is an intimidating looking character, he is getting a lot of publicity because of the way he looks – and he knocks people out.
“He is getting a lot of people looking at him so for somebody like myself who is already popular and already out here, it’s only going to increase my visibility by fighting someone like him so yeah, I jumped at that.
“Everybody is going to be watching this fight - you’ve got Kimbo, who is rising fast, and myself, who started in this business and brought it to where it is today.”
You have been fighting for over fifteen years; How do you find fight preparation these days, are you having to train a lot smarter or are you still keeping pace with the younger guys?
“Yeah you’ve really got to change you’re training up quite a bit you know, you’ve got to pick days that you want to go hard and you want to make sure that if anything in training feels like it has pulled or it is aching a little bit you’ve got to go away and get it looked at. Anything like that takes a lot longer to heal now. When you were young you could go on and ignore it because you would heal so fast.
“Now I’ve got a strength and conditioning coach, a chiropractor , a massage therapist, a doctor, plus boxing, grappling, kickboxing and wrestling trainers, so I’ve got all the angles covered. In the early days it was get in the ring and fight, after finding any training partners you could.”
After Kimbo is done with, where do you go from there? What fights do you want and what is left for you to achieve in this sport?
“I’m not looking to ‘achieve’ things in the sport, I’m looking to do things that I like to do, and right now that’s fight. I love this business, it will be a sad day when I have to step aside and say I am done.”
Tito Ortiz is apparently still a free agent, would you be interested in another fight if EliteXC signed him or has that beef died down now?
“Right now, I’m thinking about Kimbo, I’m not gonna look past that. I think everybody knows me pretty well – whoever they put in front of me, I will fight them, you Know? But right now, that’s Kimbo Slice.”
You’re already an established MMA legend; is it just the money that keeps you fighting or is there more to it than that?
“I love this, where else are you going to get the chance to get up in the morning and go and train with your buddies twice that day? And then at the end of the day you get to go in front of millions of people and fight. And then you get paid on top of it! I mean come on, it’s a great job.(laughs)”
As one of the few guys still fighting that has been there since day one, what are your thoughts on the way the game has developed over the years?
“It has developed into a very professional sport, every part of the game is being pinpointed just like they do in the NFL or the NBA or anything else where they work in the off-season on their strength and explosiveness and technique.
“It’s the same for fighting now, you’ve got people doing your strength and conditioning, your takedowns, your clinches, it’s so broken down now to the point that the fighters that are getting in the ring now are getting so much better training than we were getting ten or even five years ago.”
You fought in the very first UFC tournament; Who among the current crop of UFC stars do you like to watch?
“A guy that I’m keeping an eye on, I really want to see how he does, is Brock Lesnar. He’s an impressive looking figure, he comes out and he goes at it. It will be really interesting to see how he does in his next couple of fights, whether he is going to be able to stay in and last a long time or whether he is going to be a flash in the pan.
“I like Georges St. Pierre, I like the way he comes out to fight and I love to watch Quinton (Jackson) as well, he’s a great athlete and he loves to knock people out. Randy Couture is another favourite of mine and I like Chuck Liddell because he likes to knock people out too.”
Mixed martial arts fighting its way into the mainstream
Rich Franklin used to spend his days teaching math to high school students. Today, he spends his evenings in an octagon-shaped cage grounding and pounding fighters into submission in front of thousands of screaming fans.
"I do love teaching and working with the students, but I can't imagine sitting at home on a Friday night grading math tests or sitting in a faculty meeting," he said at a news conference in Atlanta, Georgia.
Franklin is one of the new stars of a rapidly growing sport called Mixed Martial Arts.
Their fights are filling arenas and attracting large numbers of male television viewers between the ages of 18 and 49, according to the Ultimate Fighting Championship, a pioneering brand in the sport.
Unlike boxing, MMA fighters use a hybrid of techniques from wrestling, kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and more.
Franklin began fighting professionally while still working as a teacher in Cincinnati, Ohio. He started playing football at a young age but didn't think he had the talent to play professionally, so he got into martial arts as a hobby after high school.
He trained through college, and on a dare, he entered an amateur fight and won. After his fourth year of teaching, he decided to gamble his job security to fight professionally full time.
"I'd rather be one of those guys who did and failed than wonder what could've, should've, would've been when I was 50," he said. See photos from UFC 88 »
Having left the classroom behind, Franklin has achieved success as a fighter in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He has held the Middleweight title, had commercial endorsements, and recently earned $100,000 with a victory at UFC 88.
Mixed martial arts has a controversial past. Critics view the sport as a bloody free-for-all akin to gratuitous Tough Man competitions, where average Joes with no formal training duke it out for prize money.
Rashad Evans, an undefeated UFC fighter, says that although the fights are full contact, it is not no-holds-barred brawling. "I wish people were more educated about the sport to know that it is not a Tough Man competition," he says.
Franklin views his fights as a physical chess match where fighters must know how to defend themselves against various fighting styles.
Fellow fighter Karo Parisyan, a judo specialist, agrees. He explains, "There are so many ways to win that you have to be constantly thinking. You make one mistake, and it's checkmate."
In a recent bout, although Franklin's face is bruised and bleeding, he waits patiently and releases a lightning-fast kick to his opponent's rib cage. The contact of his shin snaps like a bullwhip. His challenger falls to the floor of the cage, visibly in agony, and Franklin adds another win to his record.
Immediately after inflicting a TKO, Franklin rushes over to his opponent. He congratulates him and says, "Hats off to Matt, he fought a great fight."
Nate Marquardt fell in love with the sport at a young age. Today, at age 29, he already has had 40 professional fights. His fights, especially the losses, have taught him valuable lessons. "After you lose, a champion gets better, and losing was a blessing in disguise for me, because it helped me recognize my mistakes," he said.
Before his last fight, he had to drop 15 pounds, mostly water weight, from his already lean frame only days before the weigh-in. He said it wasn't easy, but he cut his intake of carbs and sodium, and he sat in a sauna, which did the trick.
Marquardt trains year round in pursuit of his dream to become the UFC's next Middleweight Champion. His success has afforded him the luxury to do so. He earned $56,000 from his last victory. When he doesn't have a fight coming up, he teaches at his gym in Aurora, Colorado, a couple of times a week.
He agrees that the lifestyle of a fighter gives him more flexibility to spend time with his immediate family than if he had a regular 9-to-5 job. He works his training schedule around spending time with his wife and caring for his 8-year-old daughter.
Marquardt may not have had his fighting opportunities if there hadn't been a vast overhaul in the sport. MMA was on the verge of extinction because of a political backlash in the late 1990s. One notable critic, Republican presidential nominee John McCain, once called it the equivalent to "human cockfighting."
Dana White purchased the fledgling Ultimate Fighting Championship for $2 million in 2001. His goal was to establish the UFC as the Super Bowl of the sport. He helped legitimize it by establishing rules and promoting the fighters' skills instead of showcasing the brutality. Forbes estimates the company will make $250 million this year.
A UFC contract provides the potential for fighters to make a good living. Forrest Griffin, the UFC's current Light Heavyweight champ, earned $250,000 for a recent win in a main event. Sponsorships from sports drinks and apparel also help to supplement their income.
UFC fights have earned more money than concerts by such marquee artists as Elton John and Billy Joel, according to a UFC press kit. At times, the organization says, they have had more viewers than Monday Night Football and NASCAR. In Montreal, they brought in more than 21,000 people to an event, the largest live audience to witness MMA in North America to date.
Televising fights has increased the number of fans embracing the sport. And at live events and autograph sessions, fans can mingle freely with their favorite fighters and take pictures with them.
"So many people are behind the sport now, and people are falling in love with it, so it's a matter of time before it's everywhere," says fighter Uriah Faber.
Rich Franklin used to spend his days teaching math to high school students. Today, he spends his evenings in an octagon-shaped cage grounding and pounding fighters into submission in front of thousands of screaming fans.
"I do love teaching and working with the students, but I can't imagine sitting at home on a Friday night grading math tests or sitting in a faculty meeting," he said at a news conference in Atlanta, Georgia.
Franklin is one of the new stars of a rapidly growing sport called Mixed Martial Arts.
Their fights are filling arenas and attracting large numbers of male television viewers between the ages of 18 and 49, according to the Ultimate Fighting Championship, a pioneering brand in the sport.
Unlike boxing, MMA fighters use a hybrid of techniques from wrestling, kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and more.
Franklin began fighting professionally while still working as a teacher in Cincinnati, Ohio. He started playing football at a young age but didn't think he had the talent to play professionally, so he got into martial arts as a hobby after high school.
He trained through college, and on a dare, he entered an amateur fight and won. After his fourth year of teaching, he decided to gamble his job security to fight professionally full time.
"I'd rather be one of those guys who did and failed than wonder what could've, should've, would've been when I was 50," he said. See photos from UFC 88 »
Having left the classroom behind, Franklin has achieved success as a fighter in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He has held the Middleweight title, had commercial endorsements, and recently earned $100,000 with a victory at UFC 88.
Mixed martial arts has a controversial past. Critics view the sport as a bloody free-for-all akin to gratuitous Tough Man competitions, where average Joes with no formal training duke it out for prize money.
Rashad Evans, an undefeated UFC fighter, says that although the fights are full contact, it is not no-holds-barred brawling. "I wish people were more educated about the sport to know that it is not a Tough Man competition," he says.
Franklin views his fights as a physical chess match where fighters must know how to defend themselves against various fighting styles.
Fellow fighter Karo Parisyan, a judo specialist, agrees. He explains, "There are so many ways to win that you have to be constantly thinking. You make one mistake, and it's checkmate."
In a recent bout, although Franklin's face is bruised and bleeding, he waits patiently and releases a lightning-fast kick to his opponent's rib cage. The contact of his shin snaps like a bullwhip. His challenger falls to the floor of the cage, visibly in agony, and Franklin adds another win to his record.
Immediately after inflicting a TKO, Franklin rushes over to his opponent. He congratulates him and says, "Hats off to Matt, he fought a great fight."
Nate Marquardt fell in love with the sport at a young age. Today, at age 29, he already has had 40 professional fights. His fights, especially the losses, have taught him valuable lessons. "After you lose, a champion gets better, and losing was a blessing in disguise for me, because it helped me recognize my mistakes," he said.
Before his last fight, he had to drop 15 pounds, mostly water weight, from his already lean frame only days before the weigh-in. He said it wasn't easy, but he cut his intake of carbs and sodium, and he sat in a sauna, which did the trick.
Marquardt trains year round in pursuit of his dream to become the UFC's next Middleweight Champion. His success has afforded him the luxury to do so. He earned $56,000 from his last victory. When he doesn't have a fight coming up, he teaches at his gym in Aurora, Colorado, a couple of times a week.
He agrees that the lifestyle of a fighter gives him more flexibility to spend time with his immediate family than if he had a regular 9-to-5 job. He works his training schedule around spending time with his wife and caring for his 8-year-old daughter.
Marquardt may not have had his fighting opportunities if there hadn't been a vast overhaul in the sport. MMA was on the verge of extinction because of a political backlash in the late 1990s. One notable critic, Republican presidential nominee John McCain, once called it the equivalent to "human cockfighting."
Dana White purchased the fledgling Ultimate Fighting Championship for $2 million in 2001. His goal was to establish the UFC as the Super Bowl of the sport. He helped legitimize it by establishing rules and promoting the fighters' skills instead of showcasing the brutality. Forbes estimates the company will make $250 million this year.
A UFC contract provides the potential for fighters to make a good living. Forrest Griffin, the UFC's current Light Heavyweight champ, earned $250,000 for a recent win in a main event. Sponsorships from sports drinks and apparel also help to supplement their income.
UFC fights have earned more money than concerts by such marquee artists as Elton John and Billy Joel, according to a UFC press kit. At times, the organization says, they have had more viewers than Monday Night Football and NASCAR. In Montreal, they brought in more than 21,000 people to an event, the largest live audience to witness MMA in North America to date.
Televising fights has increased the number of fans embracing the sport. And at live events and autograph sessions, fans can mingle freely with their favorite fighters and take pictures with them.
"So many people are behind the sport now, and people are falling in love with it, so it's a matter of time before it's everywhere," says fighter Uriah Faber.
