MMA News Thread
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Kickboxing legend Rick Roufus looking towards MMA title, "Night of Combat"
When NBA legend Michael Jordan stepped away from basketball in the prime of his career to pursue a job in baseball, many questioned his sanity. But for Jordan, failure wouldn't result in broken limbs or concussions.
But at 41-years-old, six-time kickboxing world champion -- and former WBC boxing champion -- Rick Roufus (4-3) is seven months into his search for an MMA light-heavyweight title. Roufus recently told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) he's enjoying the challenge.
"It's a new challenge to me," Roufus said of his decision to pursue MMA success. "Something to conquer -- a new belt, a new goal, a new direction. I'm going to be the only guy to go from American kickboxing to boxing to Thai boxing and to MMA, winning titles in all of them."
Roufus is currently working with the world-famous Lion's Den in Scottsdale, Ariz., and he credits UFC veterans Joe Riggs and Edwin Dewees for his growth as a mixed martial artist.
"I've got to be honest, in the beginning it was intimidating being in the cage," Roufus admitted. "It was different. You get thrown, and you're not used to it. You throw a technique, a kick or a punch, and the next thing you know you're on the ground. But now I'm doing it, and I'm not afraid to throw techniques and say, 'Hey, if you want to try and take me down, come on in.'"
Though Roufus holds 57 professional kickboxing wins, along with another 13 professional boxing victories, the Wisconsin native admitted his growth process has required restraint on his part.
"Patience is a virtue," Roufus explained. "I guess sometimes you want to leap before you can jump.
"I'm learning a lot from Edwin and Joe. Both of those guys have been in the UFC, and both of their knowledge has helped me tremendously. I've pulled my laurels out when I came in this, and I was like, 'Hey, it's a new fresh start and a new beginning.' I'm excited, so the sky's the limit."
And despite starting his MMA career so late in life, Roufus refuses to set his goals any lower than when he was among kickboxing's most dominant fighters.
"To win that 205-pound belt, that's my goal right now," Roufus said. "Ideally the public wants to see the best fights. If Chuck (Liddell) is still around, Wanderlei (Silva), and I get a chance in the UFC, great. But I guess we'll see what happens after this fight. I love fighting big fights. I love the challenge, and I love the opportunity."
Roufus' next test on his path to major organization is a bout with UFC veteran Hector Ramirez (7-3-1) on Oct. 11 at the recently announced "Night of Combat II" in Las Vegas.
Roufus admits to knowing little about "Sick Dog." Roufus assumes Ramirez would like to take advantage of any holes the former kickboxing champion has on the ground, but he admits that some MMA fighters seem willing to try and test themselves against a striker with such an elite pedigree.
"He's a banger and he's a wrestler," Roufus said of Ramirez. "That's all I know. He's probably going to try and get me down to the ground.
"But then again, some of these MMA guys may want to stand with me. A lot of these guys, that's what they're trying to do with each other. I don't know if he'll try and stand with me."
Roufus knows many MMA fans may not be aware of his legendary résumé. But Roufus believes he can convert those fans with what he brings to the cage.
"A lot of action," Roufus said. "I never know what I'm going to hit, how I'm going to kick. I come from all different directions, angles. I'm very awkward, deceptive. Just don't blink."
And though Roufus has his sights set high, the wily veteran knows not to look past his next challenge.
"Right now I'm going to worry about Hector," Roufus said. "My goal is to get to the UFC or Affliction. Before I do any thinking ahead, I'm going to win this fight right here and not worry about what comes next.
"This is going to take me to where my goal is, and that's to get the 205-pound belt."
When NBA legend Michael Jordan stepped away from basketball in the prime of his career to pursue a job in baseball, many questioned his sanity. But for Jordan, failure wouldn't result in broken limbs or concussions.
But at 41-years-old, six-time kickboxing world champion -- and former WBC boxing champion -- Rick Roufus (4-3) is seven months into his search for an MMA light-heavyweight title. Roufus recently told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) he's enjoying the challenge.
"It's a new challenge to me," Roufus said of his decision to pursue MMA success. "Something to conquer -- a new belt, a new goal, a new direction. I'm going to be the only guy to go from American kickboxing to boxing to Thai boxing and to MMA, winning titles in all of them."
Roufus is currently working with the world-famous Lion's Den in Scottsdale, Ariz., and he credits UFC veterans Joe Riggs and Edwin Dewees for his growth as a mixed martial artist.
"I've got to be honest, in the beginning it was intimidating being in the cage," Roufus admitted. "It was different. You get thrown, and you're not used to it. You throw a technique, a kick or a punch, and the next thing you know you're on the ground. But now I'm doing it, and I'm not afraid to throw techniques and say, 'Hey, if you want to try and take me down, come on in.'"
Though Roufus holds 57 professional kickboxing wins, along with another 13 professional boxing victories, the Wisconsin native admitted his growth process has required restraint on his part.
"Patience is a virtue," Roufus explained. "I guess sometimes you want to leap before you can jump.
"I'm learning a lot from Edwin and Joe. Both of those guys have been in the UFC, and both of their knowledge has helped me tremendously. I've pulled my laurels out when I came in this, and I was like, 'Hey, it's a new fresh start and a new beginning.' I'm excited, so the sky's the limit."
And despite starting his MMA career so late in life, Roufus refuses to set his goals any lower than when he was among kickboxing's most dominant fighters.
"To win that 205-pound belt, that's my goal right now," Roufus said. "Ideally the public wants to see the best fights. If Chuck (Liddell) is still around, Wanderlei (Silva), and I get a chance in the UFC, great. But I guess we'll see what happens after this fight. I love fighting big fights. I love the challenge, and I love the opportunity."
Roufus' next test on his path to major organization is a bout with UFC veteran Hector Ramirez (7-3-1) on Oct. 11 at the recently announced "Night of Combat II" in Las Vegas.
Roufus admits to knowing little about "Sick Dog." Roufus assumes Ramirez would like to take advantage of any holes the former kickboxing champion has on the ground, but he admits that some MMA fighters seem willing to try and test themselves against a striker with such an elite pedigree.
"He's a banger and he's a wrestler," Roufus said of Ramirez. "That's all I know. He's probably going to try and get me down to the ground.
"But then again, some of these MMA guys may want to stand with me. A lot of these guys, that's what they're trying to do with each other. I don't know if he'll try and stand with me."
Roufus knows many MMA fans may not be aware of his legendary résumé. But Roufus believes he can convert those fans with what he brings to the cage.
"A lot of action," Roufus said. "I never know what I'm going to hit, how I'm going to kick. I come from all different directions, angles. I'm very awkward, deceptive. Just don't blink."
And though Roufus has his sights set high, the wily veteran knows not to look past his next challenge.
"Right now I'm going to worry about Hector," Roufus said. "My goal is to get to the UFC or Affliction. Before I do any thinking ahead, I'm going to win this fight right here and not worry about what comes next.
"This is going to take me to where my goal is, and that's to get the 205-pound belt."
FRANK MIR TALKS TUF AND TITLE FIGHT
In a recent interview with MMAWeekly.com, Frank Mir reflected on his experiences with the eighth season of “The Ultimate Fighter” and moving forward to face Antonio Rogrido Nogueira at UFC 92 on Dec. 27 at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino.
Mir says he's found the right training chemistry for his fight with the former Pride champion. Before moving to Striking Unlimited with Ken Hahn—now Mir’s assistant coach on the show—Mir found himself dominating his training partners in the gym. His schedule was rigid and unvaried. Though it stroked his ego to blow through the weekend warriors and two pro fighters there, it was giving him a false sense of security, and ultimately, hurting his ability to persevere in later rounds.
“Wrong mindset,” he said. Mir's 2006 UFC performances many to question his heart, and forced him to take a good look at how he was preparing himself for battle. Hahn now emphasizes wearing Mir down with a steady stream of fresh sparring partners at the new gym, some of which are from the reality show. He may dominate initially, but after a while, he gets humbled.
“There’s been a couple of times towards the end where, on video, if you just watched it and that was by itself, you didn’t know I had sparred a lot before that, you’d be like, ‘damn, dude, you suck,’” he said.
Mir still slugs through reps of weight training and conditioning drills—he’d be crazy not to—but he also places more emphasis on learning by doing. He now videotapes every session, gathering information he loves to hoard. He tries to change things up often, to be smart about his training. Some say it justifies being out of shape; he says it keeps him excited about MMA.
“I’ve noticed that I have a tendency to engage too quickly, and not use my mind to my fullest potential,” he said. “That’s one thing I’ve done in training now that’s helped me through my commentating, is realizing that the best fighters slow the pace and really bring it down to the intelligent aspect. So that’s one thing I’ve done, to pull back and really watch how I fight.”
Mir’s says his TUF experience was a laboratory, as he and Hahn tried to create the perfect environment for young MMA hopefuls to grow. A UFC fighter for eight years, it was easy for him to forget the hunger that brought him into the world’s premier MMA organization. He had to find it for himself after 2006, and pass it on to his students on the show.
“It’s not that you don’t appreciate being a UFC fighter, but you get used to being a UFC fighter and that only means something if you’re the champion,” he said. “Sometimes you’ve got to sick back and realize, wow, it’s just special to be in the UFC, obviously the champ’s the champ, but I’m still fighting in the UFC. That in and of itself is an accomplishment. It motivates you just to train harder in the gym, and it makes you appreciate life more.”
If it’s true that Mir always jumps the gun, his fight with Nogueira is a perfect test. Nogueira is the best example of a fighter who comes on strong in later rounds. Mir has only fought the distance once; Nogueira has made his home there. The Dec. 27 fight is Mir’s chance to silence critics who say he hasn’t got the gas in his tank to see Nogueira to the end.
“I finally have an opportunity in a fight where if I win, there’s nothing anybody can say about it,” he said. “The guy is super, super tough. A win over him, there’s no excuses. I can finally be a time where I look at the critics and say, now what? I don’t have to hear that he made a mistake, or he gassed, or he underestimated me,” he said. “I get to fight a guy who’s one of the top guys, who’s taken me seriously, and through victory, I prove everything.”
In a recent interview with MMAWeekly.com, Frank Mir reflected on his experiences with the eighth season of “The Ultimate Fighter” and moving forward to face Antonio Rogrido Nogueira at UFC 92 on Dec. 27 at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino.
Mir says he's found the right training chemistry for his fight with the former Pride champion. Before moving to Striking Unlimited with Ken Hahn—now Mir’s assistant coach on the show—Mir found himself dominating his training partners in the gym. His schedule was rigid and unvaried. Though it stroked his ego to blow through the weekend warriors and two pro fighters there, it was giving him a false sense of security, and ultimately, hurting his ability to persevere in later rounds.
“Wrong mindset,” he said. Mir's 2006 UFC performances many to question his heart, and forced him to take a good look at how he was preparing himself for battle. Hahn now emphasizes wearing Mir down with a steady stream of fresh sparring partners at the new gym, some of which are from the reality show. He may dominate initially, but after a while, he gets humbled.
“There’s been a couple of times towards the end where, on video, if you just watched it and that was by itself, you didn’t know I had sparred a lot before that, you’d be like, ‘damn, dude, you suck,’” he said.
Mir still slugs through reps of weight training and conditioning drills—he’d be crazy not to—but he also places more emphasis on learning by doing. He now videotapes every session, gathering information he loves to hoard. He tries to change things up often, to be smart about his training. Some say it justifies being out of shape; he says it keeps him excited about MMA.
“I’ve noticed that I have a tendency to engage too quickly, and not use my mind to my fullest potential,” he said. “That’s one thing I’ve done in training now that’s helped me through my commentating, is realizing that the best fighters slow the pace and really bring it down to the intelligent aspect. So that’s one thing I’ve done, to pull back and really watch how I fight.”
Mir’s says his TUF experience was a laboratory, as he and Hahn tried to create the perfect environment for young MMA hopefuls to grow. A UFC fighter for eight years, it was easy for him to forget the hunger that brought him into the world’s premier MMA organization. He had to find it for himself after 2006, and pass it on to his students on the show.
“It’s not that you don’t appreciate being a UFC fighter, but you get used to being a UFC fighter and that only means something if you’re the champion,” he said. “Sometimes you’ve got to sick back and realize, wow, it’s just special to be in the UFC, obviously the champ’s the champ, but I’m still fighting in the UFC. That in and of itself is an accomplishment. It motivates you just to train harder in the gym, and it makes you appreciate life more.”
If it’s true that Mir always jumps the gun, his fight with Nogueira is a perfect test. Nogueira is the best example of a fighter who comes on strong in later rounds. Mir has only fought the distance once; Nogueira has made his home there. The Dec. 27 fight is Mir’s chance to silence critics who say he hasn’t got the gas in his tank to see Nogueira to the end.
“I finally have an opportunity in a fight where if I win, there’s nothing anybody can say about it,” he said. “The guy is super, super tough. A win over him, there’s no excuses. I can finally be a time where I look at the critics and say, now what? I don’t have to hear that he made a mistake, or he gassed, or he underestimated me,” he said. “I get to fight a guy who’s one of the top guys, who’s taken me seriously, and through victory, I prove everything.”
Sengoku V Lineup Official
TOKYO -- With the recent failure of Dream 6 to capture a desired television audience still fresh in the minds of many, attention now turns to Sengoku V. The event features the opening round of the promotion’s middleweight grand prix and the mixed martial arts debut of one of the world’s premier submission grapplers this Sunday at the Yoyogi National First Gymnasium.
The Shinjuku Sunroute Plaza Hotel played host to weigh-ins and the pre-fight press conference for Sengoku 5 on Saturday. All 16 competitors made weight successfully, though Jorge Masvidal and South Korean lightweight A Sol Kwon needed multiple attempts to do so.
Five-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion Alexandre “Xande” Ribeiro will collide with professional wrestler Takashi Sugiura in the main event.
“It’s an honor for me to have my first MMA fight here in Japan, where all the greatest fighters of all time fought,” Ribeiro said. “I’m going to go [in] tomorrow and showcase everything that I’ve trained for and represent jiu-jitsu and Brazil.”
Sugiura (1-2) has not fought since he succumbed to stomps against Ryuta Noji at a Pancrase show in April 2006. He remained respectful throughout the press conference and revealed he would take part in a professional wrestling match on the eve of his bout with Ribeiro.
“My condition is OK as of now, but I [won’t] know until the end of the match tonight,” he said. “There are some people saying that I’m underestimating my opponent. However, that’s not true. My job is a pro wrestler. I have to work. I can’t miss my fight. I have a kid and family, and I have a mortgage. I have to take care of my family. Please forgive me for fighting a pro wrestling match tonight.”
With another BJJ all-star, Roger Gracie, having bowed out of Sengoku V with a reported rib injury, Muhammed “Mo” Lawal will step in to face Pride Fighting Championships and UFC veteran Travis Wiuff in a bout featuring one of the widest experience gaps in history. Lawal, a Pan Am gold medalist in freestyle wrestling, has never competed in a professional MMA contest; Wiuff (53-11), by contrast, has fought 64 times.
“I’m fighting another great athlete,” Wiuff said. “I don’t think the experience difference is really that big of a deal. He’s been competing but just in a little bit different form. Mo’s a great wrestler, outstanding athlete and trains with a great team.”
What Lawal lacks in experience he makes up for with confidence. He arrived at the press conference with a scantily clad, umbrella-toting assistant who turned heads.
“This is how I am,” he said. “I’m like this 24/7. I’m actually like that 25/8 -- 25 hours a day, eight days a week. I feel good, I look good, smell good, and I’ll probably be the same way after the fight, so let’s bang. I’m ready.”
The eight middleweight tournament participants were also on hand. They will vie for a shot at 2006 Pride welterweight grand prix champion Kazuo Misaki.
Looking to rebound from an unsuccessful tour in the UFC, Kazuhiro Nakamura will drop down from light heavyweight to face Golden Glory striker Paul Cahoon. The 29-year-old Nakamura (11-8) has not competed since he lost to Team Quest juggernaut Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou at UFC 84 in May.
“I’ve been fighting in the 93-kilogram division, and most of those fighters in that division were bigger than me,” Nakamura said. “Meeting today with Paul Cahoon, I didn’t feel any physical pressure. I really don’t know why, but I’m really passionate about this fight. I have a lot of fire in me right now. I would like to show my heart and physical ability in the ring.”
A tournament favorite, American Top Team’s Jorge Santiago seemed more focused on his protein shakes than his opponent, World Extreme Cagefighting veteran Logan Clark. Having battled Misaki in a unanimous decision loss in June, Clark (11-2) had a bit of fun at Santiago’s expense.
“Mr. Santiago has a very nice tan,” Clark said. “It makes me feel sorry for being a pale-skinned Canadian. Look for us to kick the crap out of each other and have a good time doing it.”
The well-traveled Yuki Kondo earned his spot in the tournament with a fairly unimpressive TKO victory against journeyman Ryuji Ohori at a Pancrase show in August. Still, his opponent, Misaki teammate Yuki Sasaki, remains impressed and respects what Kondo (49-22-6) has accomplished in the sport.
“Watching his eyes at the weigh-in,” Sasaki said, “I felt his mental and physical strength and that he has been at the top of Pancrase for a long time.”
The Chute Boxe Academy’s Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos -- paired in the tournament with Shooto 183-pound champion Siyar Bahadurzada -- was already pointed towards the future.
“I will fight anybody; I will be the champion,” Santos said. “I really don’t have a special impression towards my opponent. I’m trying to get myself ready for tomorrow night.”
Bahadurzada (13-3-1) has won seven of his last eight fights and expects fireworks in his bout with Santos. He has not competed since he submitted to a Misaki guillotine choke at the Sengoku premiere in March.
“Two strikers, Cyborg and I … it’s going to be a vicious, vicious fight tomorrow night,” Bahadurzada said. “He is ready to fight, and I’m ready to fight. I think he saw the fire in my eyes. I'm here to fight, and he saw that.”
Sengoku V Weigh-In Results
Xande Ribeiro (92.6 kg) vs. Takashi Sugiura (92.7 kg)
Travis Wiuff (111.9) vs. Muhammed Lawal (99.8)
Yuki Kondo (82.8) vs. Yuki Sasaki (82.9)
Kazuhiro Nakamura (82.9) vs. Paul Cahoon (81.9)
Jorge Santiago (82.3) vs. Logan Clark (82.7)
Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos (81.7) vs. Siyar Bahadurzada (82.5)
Kiuma Kunioku (69.7) vs. A Sol Kwon (70 kg)
Jorge Masvidal (69.7) vs. Ryan Schultz (69.6)
TOKYO -- With the recent failure of Dream 6 to capture a desired television audience still fresh in the minds of many, attention now turns to Sengoku V. The event features the opening round of the promotion’s middleweight grand prix and the mixed martial arts debut of one of the world’s premier submission grapplers this Sunday at the Yoyogi National First Gymnasium.
The Shinjuku Sunroute Plaza Hotel played host to weigh-ins and the pre-fight press conference for Sengoku 5 on Saturday. All 16 competitors made weight successfully, though Jorge Masvidal and South Korean lightweight A Sol Kwon needed multiple attempts to do so.
Five-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion Alexandre “Xande” Ribeiro will collide with professional wrestler Takashi Sugiura in the main event.
“It’s an honor for me to have my first MMA fight here in Japan, where all the greatest fighters of all time fought,” Ribeiro said. “I’m going to go [in] tomorrow and showcase everything that I’ve trained for and represent jiu-jitsu and Brazil.”
Sugiura (1-2) has not fought since he succumbed to stomps against Ryuta Noji at a Pancrase show in April 2006. He remained respectful throughout the press conference and revealed he would take part in a professional wrestling match on the eve of his bout with Ribeiro.
“My condition is OK as of now, but I [won’t] know until the end of the match tonight,” he said. “There are some people saying that I’m underestimating my opponent. However, that’s not true. My job is a pro wrestler. I have to work. I can’t miss my fight. I have a kid and family, and I have a mortgage. I have to take care of my family. Please forgive me for fighting a pro wrestling match tonight.”
With another BJJ all-star, Roger Gracie, having bowed out of Sengoku V with a reported rib injury, Muhammed “Mo” Lawal will step in to face Pride Fighting Championships and UFC veteran Travis Wiuff in a bout featuring one of the widest experience gaps in history. Lawal, a Pan Am gold medalist in freestyle wrestling, has never competed in a professional MMA contest; Wiuff (53-11), by contrast, has fought 64 times.
“I’m fighting another great athlete,” Wiuff said. “I don’t think the experience difference is really that big of a deal. He’s been competing but just in a little bit different form. Mo’s a great wrestler, outstanding athlete and trains with a great team.”
What Lawal lacks in experience he makes up for with confidence. He arrived at the press conference with a scantily clad, umbrella-toting assistant who turned heads.
“This is how I am,” he said. “I’m like this 24/7. I’m actually like that 25/8 -- 25 hours a day, eight days a week. I feel good, I look good, smell good, and I’ll probably be the same way after the fight, so let’s bang. I’m ready.”
The eight middleweight tournament participants were also on hand. They will vie for a shot at 2006 Pride welterweight grand prix champion Kazuo Misaki.
Looking to rebound from an unsuccessful tour in the UFC, Kazuhiro Nakamura will drop down from light heavyweight to face Golden Glory striker Paul Cahoon. The 29-year-old Nakamura (11-8) has not competed since he lost to Team Quest juggernaut Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou at UFC 84 in May.
“I’ve been fighting in the 93-kilogram division, and most of those fighters in that division were bigger than me,” Nakamura said. “Meeting today with Paul Cahoon, I didn’t feel any physical pressure. I really don’t know why, but I’m really passionate about this fight. I have a lot of fire in me right now. I would like to show my heart and physical ability in the ring.”
A tournament favorite, American Top Team’s Jorge Santiago seemed more focused on his protein shakes than his opponent, World Extreme Cagefighting veteran Logan Clark. Having battled Misaki in a unanimous decision loss in June, Clark (11-2) had a bit of fun at Santiago’s expense.
“Mr. Santiago has a very nice tan,” Clark said. “It makes me feel sorry for being a pale-skinned Canadian. Look for us to kick the crap out of each other and have a good time doing it.”
The well-traveled Yuki Kondo earned his spot in the tournament with a fairly unimpressive TKO victory against journeyman Ryuji Ohori at a Pancrase show in August. Still, his opponent, Misaki teammate Yuki Sasaki, remains impressed and respects what Kondo (49-22-6) has accomplished in the sport.
“Watching his eyes at the weigh-in,” Sasaki said, “I felt his mental and physical strength and that he has been at the top of Pancrase for a long time.”
The Chute Boxe Academy’s Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos -- paired in the tournament with Shooto 183-pound champion Siyar Bahadurzada -- was already pointed towards the future.
“I will fight anybody; I will be the champion,” Santos said. “I really don’t have a special impression towards my opponent. I’m trying to get myself ready for tomorrow night.”
Bahadurzada (13-3-1) has won seven of his last eight fights and expects fireworks in his bout with Santos. He has not competed since he submitted to a Misaki guillotine choke at the Sengoku premiere in March.
“Two strikers, Cyborg and I … it’s going to be a vicious, vicious fight tomorrow night,” Bahadurzada said. “He is ready to fight, and I’m ready to fight. I think he saw the fire in my eyes. I'm here to fight, and he saw that.”
Sengoku V Weigh-In Results
Xande Ribeiro (92.6 kg) vs. Takashi Sugiura (92.7 kg)
Travis Wiuff (111.9) vs. Muhammed Lawal (99.8)
Yuki Kondo (82.8) vs. Yuki Sasaki (82.9)
Kazuhiro Nakamura (82.9) vs. Paul Cahoon (81.9)
Jorge Santiago (82.3) vs. Logan Clark (82.7)
Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos (81.7) vs. Siyar Bahadurzada (82.5)
Kiuma Kunioku (69.7) vs. A Sol Kwon (70 kg)
Jorge Masvidal (69.7) vs. Ryan Schultz (69.6)
Ninja ready to ‘heat’ Radach in EliteXC
After a great knockout against Tony Bonello in June, Murilo “Ninja” Rua now prepares himself to face another challenge, what might give him a title shot with another impressive victory. “My preparation to face Benji Radach is very good, like always, and I’m working my stand up game and MMA with Carioca and Mauricio Veio for this fight. Benji is a good Boxing and Wrestling fighter, so I’m preparing myself on theses parts too”, said Rua, that faces Radach in October 4th event. Doing his debut on Saturday Night Fight’s live CBS transmission, Murilo gets even more motivated to do a great show and impress the American fans. “I’ll go after the knockout all the time, and the quickest I can. I wanna do the fight of my life and enjoy the public, and I’m happy with this new opportunity”, told Rua, who may get a title show if he defeats Benji. “I think I’ll get a title show if I win this fight, it’s almost set”, revealed. One of the most expected fights is this event is Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos’ second fight in the event, after a “double” knockout in her first fight at Elite, and Ninja bets on his former team partner.“Cris is an excellent fighter, has great Muay Thai skills and is very aggressive, has everything to win this fight. I saw on fight of his opponent (Yoko Takahashi) and I think she’s not as good as Cris, not so technical…”, bets, commenting the main event of the evening, with Kimbo Slice facing Ken Shamrock. “It’s hard to say, but I think Ken can surprise him, but I think Kimbo is more powerful to knock him out, but if Ken is well prepared he can be a trouble too”. Check below the complete card of EliteXC’s next edition.
COMPLETE CARD (subject changing):
ElteXC – ‘Heat’
Bank Atlantic Center, Florida, USA
Saturday, October 4th of 2008
Main event:
- Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson vs. Ken Shamrock;
- Jake Shields vs. Paul “Semtex” Daley;
- Andre “The Pitbull” Arlovski vs. Roy “Big Country” Nelson;
- Gina “Conviction” Carano vs. Kelly Kobald;
- Murilo “Ninja” Rua vs. Benji Radach;
Undercard:
- Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos vs. Yoko Takahashi;
- Mike Aina vs. James Edson Berto;
- Seth Petruzelli vs. Aaron Rosa;
- Robert McDaniel vs. Alexander “Storm” Shlemenko;
- Lorenzo Borgomeo vs. Mickey Gómez;
- David Gomez vs. Nicholas Cardella;
- David Martinez vs. Nicolae Sinicio.
After a great knockout against Tony Bonello in June, Murilo “Ninja” Rua now prepares himself to face another challenge, what might give him a title shot with another impressive victory. “My preparation to face Benji Radach is very good, like always, and I’m working my stand up game and MMA with Carioca and Mauricio Veio for this fight. Benji is a good Boxing and Wrestling fighter, so I’m preparing myself on theses parts too”, said Rua, that faces Radach in October 4th event. Doing his debut on Saturday Night Fight’s live CBS transmission, Murilo gets even more motivated to do a great show and impress the American fans. “I’ll go after the knockout all the time, and the quickest I can. I wanna do the fight of my life and enjoy the public, and I’m happy with this new opportunity”, told Rua, who may get a title show if he defeats Benji. “I think I’ll get a title show if I win this fight, it’s almost set”, revealed. One of the most expected fights is this event is Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos’ second fight in the event, after a “double” knockout in her first fight at Elite, and Ninja bets on his former team partner.“Cris is an excellent fighter, has great Muay Thai skills and is very aggressive, has everything to win this fight. I saw on fight of his opponent (Yoko Takahashi) and I think she’s not as good as Cris, not so technical…”, bets, commenting the main event of the evening, with Kimbo Slice facing Ken Shamrock. “It’s hard to say, but I think Ken can surprise him, but I think Kimbo is more powerful to knock him out, but if Ken is well prepared he can be a trouble too”. Check below the complete card of EliteXC’s next edition.
COMPLETE CARD (subject changing):
ElteXC – ‘Heat’
Bank Atlantic Center, Florida, USA
Saturday, October 4th of 2008
Main event:
- Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson vs. Ken Shamrock;
- Jake Shields vs. Paul “Semtex” Daley;
- Andre “The Pitbull” Arlovski vs. Roy “Big Country” Nelson;
- Gina “Conviction” Carano vs. Kelly Kobald;
- Murilo “Ninja” Rua vs. Benji Radach;
Undercard:
- Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos vs. Yoko Takahashi;
- Mike Aina vs. James Edson Berto;
- Seth Petruzelli vs. Aaron Rosa;
- Robert McDaniel vs. Alexander “Storm” Shlemenko;
- Lorenzo Borgomeo vs. Mickey Gómez;
- David Gomez vs. Nicholas Cardella;
- David Martinez vs. Nicolae Sinicio.
Quinton Rampage Jackson vs Wanderlei Silva 3 UFC 92 fight set (not UFC 93)
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson (28-7) and former Pride FC middleweight champion Wanderlei Silva (32-8-1) will collide at UFC 92 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, on December 27.
The blockbuster light heavyweight match up was first discussed for the UFC 91: “Couture vs. Lesnar” show on November 15 and then the UFC 93 Super Bowl weekend event on January 31. Those dates did not work out, however, and the bout is now slated to enhance the New Year’s Eve weekend mixed martial arts bonanza.
“The Axe Murderer” and “Rampage” of course share quite a bit of history, fighting twice overseas in Japan under the Pride FC banner. Silva was victorious on both occasions and in rather convincing fashion — the fights ended with brutal knockouts.
Since that time, Jackson has indicated that he was not necessarily competing on a level playing field. He and/or his handlers have hinted at everything from unchecked steroid use to crooked officiating. One thing is for certain — Jackson is now a much improved fighter who is dedicated to training with partners who can elevate his game.
That was something that he was clearly missing in “The Land of the Rising Sun.” And now he gets to prove that with the right approach — and under strict supervision of a regulated sanctioning body — he can exact revenge once and for all.
Silva’s last appearance was an absolute mauling of “The Dean of Mean” Keith Jardine at UFC 84: “Ill Will” back in May. He definitely looked like the “Axe Murderer” of old with a quick and vicious knockout. For “Rampage,” this will mark his first fight after his highly publicized run-ins with the law and his subsequent split with long-time trainer, Juanito Ibarra.
He will also look to bounce back from his controversial unanimous decision loss to Forrest Griffin at UFC 86: “Jackson vs. Griffin” in July, which cost him his 205-pound title.
This is definitely a huge fight that the hardcore fans have been dreaming about — Silva and Jackson have an epic feud and a real distaste for one another. This should definitely be another instant classic.
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson (28-7) and former Pride FC middleweight champion Wanderlei Silva (32-8-1) will collide at UFC 92 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, on December 27.
The blockbuster light heavyweight match up was first discussed for the UFC 91: “Couture vs. Lesnar” show on November 15 and then the UFC 93 Super Bowl weekend event on January 31. Those dates did not work out, however, and the bout is now slated to enhance the New Year’s Eve weekend mixed martial arts bonanza.
“The Axe Murderer” and “Rampage” of course share quite a bit of history, fighting twice overseas in Japan under the Pride FC banner. Silva was victorious on both occasions and in rather convincing fashion — the fights ended with brutal knockouts.
Since that time, Jackson has indicated that he was not necessarily competing on a level playing field. He and/or his handlers have hinted at everything from unchecked steroid use to crooked officiating. One thing is for certain — Jackson is now a much improved fighter who is dedicated to training with partners who can elevate his game.
That was something that he was clearly missing in “The Land of the Rising Sun.” And now he gets to prove that with the right approach — and under strict supervision of a regulated sanctioning body — he can exact revenge once and for all.
Silva’s last appearance was an absolute mauling of “The Dean of Mean” Keith Jardine at UFC 84: “Ill Will” back in May. He definitely looked like the “Axe Murderer” of old with a quick and vicious knockout. For “Rampage,” this will mark his first fight after his highly publicized run-ins with the law and his subsequent split with long-time trainer, Juanito Ibarra.
He will also look to bounce back from his controversial unanimous decision loss to Forrest Griffin at UFC 86: “Jackson vs. Griffin” in July, which cost him his 205-pound title.
This is definitely a huge fight that the hardcore fans have been dreaming about — Silva and Jackson have an epic feud and a real distaste for one another. This should definitely be another instant classic.
Prangley hopes to fight again soon
Trevor Prangley looked impressive in securing a recent decision victory over former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Anthony Ruiz. Prangley does not want to make a habit of fighting at 205 though.
“I’m going back to 185,” said Prangley, “I weighed in at 203 without cutting. I want to go back to where I should be.”
Prangley was slated to face Matt Lindland in the ill-fated Affliction show that was scheduled for October. Lindland and Prangley have been rumored to be fighting for a couple of years now - ever since they were both working with BodogFight. Prangley still has his sights set on that specific match-up.
“I’d love to fight Matt Lindland. The guy has been ranked in the top 10 for how many years now? Seems like almost since MMA began,” Prangley said.
With a possible match-up against Lindland a few months away, Prangley wants to keep busy in the meantime.
“I hope I am on (the Affliction show). I’d like to be,” said Prangley, “I am going to get try to get on the next Strikeforce show in November or try to fulfill one of my fights with Dream. Either way, I want to fight again before the Affliction show.”
Trevor Prangley looked impressive in securing a recent decision victory over former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Anthony Ruiz. Prangley does not want to make a habit of fighting at 205 though.
“I’m going back to 185,” said Prangley, “I weighed in at 203 without cutting. I want to go back to where I should be.”
Prangley was slated to face Matt Lindland in the ill-fated Affliction show that was scheduled for October. Lindland and Prangley have been rumored to be fighting for a couple of years now - ever since they were both working with BodogFight. Prangley still has his sights set on that specific match-up.
“I’d love to fight Matt Lindland. The guy has been ranked in the top 10 for how many years now? Seems like almost since MMA began,” Prangley said.
With a possible match-up against Lindland a few months away, Prangley wants to keep busy in the meantime.
“I hope I am on (the Affliction show). I’d like to be,” said Prangley, “I am going to get try to get on the next Strikeforce show in November or try to fulfill one of my fights with Dream. Either way, I want to fight again before the Affliction show.”
Hansen, 'JZ' and Mousasi Featured on HDNet's 'Inside MMA'
videolink: http://www.sherdog.com/videos/recent/Hansen-JZ-and-Mousasi-Featured-on-HDNets-Inside-MMA-1784
HDNet’s Inside MMA comes to you this week from the Dream middleweight grand prix finals in Saitama, Japan. Join Bas Rutten, Kenny Rice and Ron Kruk as the IMMA crew chats with Joachim Hansen, Gegard Mousasi, Alistair Overeem, Matt Hume, Yves Edwards and More! Highlights include SportFight XXIV “Domination” and the latest Strikeforce event from the Playboy Mansion.
videolink: http://www.sherdog.com/videos/recent/Hansen-JZ-and-Mousasi-Featured-on-HDNets-Inside-MMA-1784
HDNet’s Inside MMA comes to you this week from the Dream middleweight grand prix finals in Saitama, Japan. Join Bas Rutten, Kenny Rice and Ron Kruk as the IMMA crew chats with Joachim Hansen, Gegard Mousasi, Alistair Overeem, Matt Hume, Yves Edwards and More! Highlights include SportFight XXIV “Domination” and the latest Strikeforce event from the Playboy Mansion.
FEG: Dream Promotion Going Nowhere
Fighting and Entertainment Group remains resolute that its Dream promotion is in the mixed martial arts business to stay, despite rampant speculation to the contrary following dismal television ratings for Dream 6 on Tuesday in Japan.
After the Hero’s promotion had begun to sag in the ratings department, FEG retooled its MMA program earlier this year. FEG worked with former staffers from Pride parent company Dream Stage Entertainment to create the decidedly more Pride-flavored Dream promotion in an attempt to reinvigorate the Japanese public’s interest in MMA and revitalize television ratings.
The Dream project yielded little television turnaround, as the promotion’s first primetime broadcast on the Tokyo Broadcasting System for its inaugural March event netted a dismal 8.9 rating. That was fifth out of the six major Japanese networks during the time slot and bested only the perennial sixth-place finisher -- TV Tokyo. The promotion’s second primetime TBS broadcast -- the finale of the Dream lightweight grand prix in July -- saw marginal improvement with a 10.0 rating. However, FEG executive Sadaharu Tanigawa announced following the event that unless ratings for the Sept. 23 middleweight grand prix final were higher, Dream may not make it past the month of September.
Japan’s leading television research firm, Video Research Ltd., on Wednesday reported that the primetime broadcast of Dream’s middleweight grand prix finale mustered only a 9.0 rating on TBS. The news ignited instant speculation that FEG’s MMA program would face immediate retooling if not outright elimination due to the anemic ratings. Such prognostication was reinforced for many by Dream event producer Keiichi Sasahara, who told Japanese media Wednesday that he and FEG had already turned their focus to the company’s annual K-1 Premium Dynamite!! show on New Year’s Eve -- the biggest night of the year for both television and combat sports in Japan.
However, FEG’s American director, Mike Kogan, told Sherdog.com that Dream is not facing the nightmarish scenario many have been led to believe.
"Japan is going through decline in martial arts interest, in general, so the problem is not with Dream as an event or FEG’s ability to put [on] the right matches or exciting fights,” Kogan said. "We are working on rebuilding that audience and reigniting their interest in martial arts. FEG in a form of K-1 has been on national TV [in Japan] for over 14 years. We know how to get ratings, so we will make it happen in 2009 and will reach the numbers we used to produce."
Beginning in 2006 with the Hero’s promotion, FEG has acquired four primetime television slots per year with TBS, a model that was adhered to this year for upstart Dream. In the past, non-primetime MMA events promoted by FEG were often shown in heavily edited form on network television later in the evening, or now in the case of Dream, live on SkyPerfecTV pay-per-view in their full, unedited fashion.
Kogan maintains Dream will continue on into 2009, and the blueprint for the promotion and its television presence will remain largely unchanged.
"Nothing has changed going forward. Dream is not going anywhere; we will have events next year as planned, and they will be televised on TBS," Kogan said. “Details at this point are being worked out, as to the number of events. It most likely will be six as this year. And just like this year, some will be in primetime and some will not, but all will be available on SkyPerfecTV PPV."
Last October, FEG promoted a Hero’s event in Seoul, South Korea, headlined by Yoshihiro Akiyama’s meeting with Denis Kang. Initially, such an event was tentatively penciled into Dream's 2008 schedule for this October, likely with another Akiyama headliner in Seoul in store. However, absolute silence regarding the card following the Dream middleweight grand prix was taken as further evidence of disaster for Dream.
"For this year, we are going to concentrate on New Year’s Eve K-1 Dynamite!! event," Kogan said. "We also have K-1 World Grand Prix finals in December and, as such, the talent is spread pretty thin as is. To add another show in Korea right now would make it very hard for fighters to train for that, and then come back and potentially fight again on Dynamite!! New Year’s Eve is very important for TV ratings time, so we will concentrate on that event for the end of the year."
Fighting and Entertainment Group remains resolute that its Dream promotion is in the mixed martial arts business to stay, despite rampant speculation to the contrary following dismal television ratings for Dream 6 on Tuesday in Japan.
After the Hero’s promotion had begun to sag in the ratings department, FEG retooled its MMA program earlier this year. FEG worked with former staffers from Pride parent company Dream Stage Entertainment to create the decidedly more Pride-flavored Dream promotion in an attempt to reinvigorate the Japanese public’s interest in MMA and revitalize television ratings.
The Dream project yielded little television turnaround, as the promotion’s first primetime broadcast on the Tokyo Broadcasting System for its inaugural March event netted a dismal 8.9 rating. That was fifth out of the six major Japanese networks during the time slot and bested only the perennial sixth-place finisher -- TV Tokyo. The promotion’s second primetime TBS broadcast -- the finale of the Dream lightweight grand prix in July -- saw marginal improvement with a 10.0 rating. However, FEG executive Sadaharu Tanigawa announced following the event that unless ratings for the Sept. 23 middleweight grand prix final were higher, Dream may not make it past the month of September.
Japan’s leading television research firm, Video Research Ltd., on Wednesday reported that the primetime broadcast of Dream’s middleweight grand prix finale mustered only a 9.0 rating on TBS. The news ignited instant speculation that FEG’s MMA program would face immediate retooling if not outright elimination due to the anemic ratings. Such prognostication was reinforced for many by Dream event producer Keiichi Sasahara, who told Japanese media Wednesday that he and FEG had already turned their focus to the company’s annual K-1 Premium Dynamite!! show on New Year’s Eve -- the biggest night of the year for both television and combat sports in Japan.
However, FEG’s American director, Mike Kogan, told Sherdog.com that Dream is not facing the nightmarish scenario many have been led to believe.
"Japan is going through decline in martial arts interest, in general, so the problem is not with Dream as an event or FEG’s ability to put [on] the right matches or exciting fights,” Kogan said. "We are working on rebuilding that audience and reigniting their interest in martial arts. FEG in a form of K-1 has been on national TV [in Japan] for over 14 years. We know how to get ratings, so we will make it happen in 2009 and will reach the numbers we used to produce."
Beginning in 2006 with the Hero’s promotion, FEG has acquired four primetime television slots per year with TBS, a model that was adhered to this year for upstart Dream. In the past, non-primetime MMA events promoted by FEG were often shown in heavily edited form on network television later in the evening, or now in the case of Dream, live on SkyPerfecTV pay-per-view in their full, unedited fashion.
Kogan maintains Dream will continue on into 2009, and the blueprint for the promotion and its television presence will remain largely unchanged.
"Nothing has changed going forward. Dream is not going anywhere; we will have events next year as planned, and they will be televised on TBS," Kogan said. “Details at this point are being worked out, as to the number of events. It most likely will be six as this year. And just like this year, some will be in primetime and some will not, but all will be available on SkyPerfecTV PPV."
Last October, FEG promoted a Hero’s event in Seoul, South Korea, headlined by Yoshihiro Akiyama’s meeting with Denis Kang. Initially, such an event was tentatively penciled into Dream's 2008 schedule for this October, likely with another Akiyama headliner in Seoul in store. However, absolute silence regarding the card following the Dream middleweight grand prix was taken as further evidence of disaster for Dream.
"For this year, we are going to concentrate on New Year’s Eve K-1 Dynamite!! event," Kogan said. "We also have K-1 World Grand Prix finals in December and, as such, the talent is spread pretty thin as is. To add another show in Korea right now would make it very hard for fighters to train for that, and then come back and potentially fight again on Dynamite!! New Year’s Eve is very important for TV ratings time, so we will concentrate on that event for the end of the year."
LIVE FIGHTS ON RIGHT NOW FREE ON WWW.DONKINGTV.COM
The main event if Jeff Monson vs Mark Kerr. Didn't even know Don King was getting into MMA.
The main event if Jeff Monson vs Mark Kerr. Didn't even know Don King was getting into MMA.
Ueda Retains Title on Draw
TOKYO -- Thanks to Shooto’s rules on draws in championship bouts, 132-pound champion Masakatsu Ueda successfully defended his title Sunday in the main event of Sustain’s third installment of Shooto Tradition.
Event though the event took place at the same time as World Victory Road’s Sengoku 5, Korakuen Hall was packed for Ueda’s matchup against Brazil’s Marcos “Louro” Galvao.
In the first period, Ueda stalked Galvao about the ring, trading low kicks and pawing jabs. Though known for his superior technical wrestling ability, Ueda was unsuccessful in capturing takedowns, only barely dragging Galvao to the mat midway through the second.
Instead, Ueda showed off his ever-evolving standup, courtesy of Rambaa Somdet. He mixed things up with combinations of hard low and body kicks to punches that had the Brazilian backpedaling.
After stuffing most of the champ’s takedowns, though, “Louro” punished him with stinging counter hooks and hard knees to the body and jaw. Be that as it may, the dogged Ueda continued to push forward regardless of the counters, trading blow for blow en route to setting up takedowns.
By the time the fight went to the scorecards, all three judges’ opinions clashed. One judge ruled the bout a draw (29-29) with the two remaining judges splitting for Ueda (30-29) and Galvao (29-28).
Though the main event ended in a disappointing split draw, the theme of the evening appeared to be that of “swangin’ and bangin’” for the rest of the fights.
Yuki Shoujou’s tactic of careening head-on into his opposition had failed miserably against Mamoru Yamaguchi in February, but it worked Sunday against another perennial top 123-pounder in Yasuhiro Urushitani. Known for his slick counter-fighting skills, Urushitani proved slippery as always. An undaunted Shoujou persevered, though, constantly pushing for single-leg takedowns and low kicks.
After suffering what looked to be a broken nose from three high-flying Urushitani knees in the third, things looked bleak for Shoujou. But a botched takedown was just the break he needed to lock a guillotine on Urushitani for the tap at 3:23.
In a 143-pound bout, Shintaro Ishiwatari came out swinging and forced the Tenkei Fujimiya of old to awaken and return the favor. With both men throwing with the intent to decapitate, Ishiwatari’s balls-out approach saw that he met his mark first, scoring the knockdown despite eating Fujimiya’s best shots.
With his wild, unruly hooks, Ishiwatari racked up headshot after headshot. Referee Toshiharu Suzuki called the bout after Fujimiya had been knocked down a second time at 4:08 into the first round.
“M-16” Rambaa Somdet dismantled Shinpei Tahara throughout their 15-minute 115-pound bout.
By the second round, Somdet had Tahara limping and cowering in corners, unsure of whether to expect the low kick or a stiff right to the face. Tahara’s attempts to keep Somdet down met with limited success as well, as Somdet either reversed, or in one particular instance, kept Tahara at bay with a spider guard that created enough distance for him to punch from the bottom before scrambling to his feet.
Though suffering a point deduction for a knee to the face while Tahara was grounded, Somdet’s complete destruction of his opponent made sure that he received the unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-26).
Coming in with the intent to hammer away at Takuya Mori on the feet, Masaaki Sugawara quickly found that the Sapporo native was happy to return the favor. Sugawara opened with low kicks and finished out with multi-punch combinations, but Mori tagged him with counters just as often as he was tagged himself, thanks to his constant stance switching.
The bloodier of the two, Sugawara pulled ahead in the third with a picture-perfect right straight that put Mori down, where Sugawara ended the bout on top with hammer fists. Two judges ruled the fight in Sugawara’s favor (30-27, 29-28) for a majority decision while one ruled the bout a draw (29-29).
In the 115-pound rookie tournament semifinal, Junji Ito shellacked Yoshitaka Aki with punches on the feet. Ito followed with lunging ground-and-pound punches from standing until the referee saved Aki at 4:01 into the first round.
Atsushi “Mitsuru” Kobayashi got the TKO over Hiroshige Tanaka by way of a vicious knee that put Tanaka down while changing levels. After answering the count, Tanaka shot again but was reversed and caught in a guillotine. It was here that the referee noticed the copious amounts of blood coming down the right side of Tanaka’s face, forcing him to call the bout at 59 seconds into the second period.
Mimicking “Wicky” Akiyo Nishiura, Kentaro Watanabe danced straight toward opponent Kota Funaki in spite of the stinging counters to slug it out and win the unanimous decision in their 123-pound rookie tournament semifinal.
Takuya Sato took the majority decision over Naoki Hirayama in their 154-pound rookie tournament semifinal bout
TOKYO -- Thanks to Shooto’s rules on draws in championship bouts, 132-pound champion Masakatsu Ueda successfully defended his title Sunday in the main event of Sustain’s third installment of Shooto Tradition.
Event though the event took place at the same time as World Victory Road’s Sengoku 5, Korakuen Hall was packed for Ueda’s matchup against Brazil’s Marcos “Louro” Galvao.
In the first period, Ueda stalked Galvao about the ring, trading low kicks and pawing jabs. Though known for his superior technical wrestling ability, Ueda was unsuccessful in capturing takedowns, only barely dragging Galvao to the mat midway through the second.
Instead, Ueda showed off his ever-evolving standup, courtesy of Rambaa Somdet. He mixed things up with combinations of hard low and body kicks to punches that had the Brazilian backpedaling.
After stuffing most of the champ’s takedowns, though, “Louro” punished him with stinging counter hooks and hard knees to the body and jaw. Be that as it may, the dogged Ueda continued to push forward regardless of the counters, trading blow for blow en route to setting up takedowns.
By the time the fight went to the scorecards, all three judges’ opinions clashed. One judge ruled the bout a draw (29-29) with the two remaining judges splitting for Ueda (30-29) and Galvao (29-28).
Though the main event ended in a disappointing split draw, the theme of the evening appeared to be that of “swangin’ and bangin’” for the rest of the fights.
Yuki Shoujou’s tactic of careening head-on into his opposition had failed miserably against Mamoru Yamaguchi in February, but it worked Sunday against another perennial top 123-pounder in Yasuhiro Urushitani. Known for his slick counter-fighting skills, Urushitani proved slippery as always. An undaunted Shoujou persevered, though, constantly pushing for single-leg takedowns and low kicks.
After suffering what looked to be a broken nose from three high-flying Urushitani knees in the third, things looked bleak for Shoujou. But a botched takedown was just the break he needed to lock a guillotine on Urushitani for the tap at 3:23.
In a 143-pound bout, Shintaro Ishiwatari came out swinging and forced the Tenkei Fujimiya of old to awaken and return the favor. With both men throwing with the intent to decapitate, Ishiwatari’s balls-out approach saw that he met his mark first, scoring the knockdown despite eating Fujimiya’s best shots.
With his wild, unruly hooks, Ishiwatari racked up headshot after headshot. Referee Toshiharu Suzuki called the bout after Fujimiya had been knocked down a second time at 4:08 into the first round.
“M-16” Rambaa Somdet dismantled Shinpei Tahara throughout their 15-minute 115-pound bout.
By the second round, Somdet had Tahara limping and cowering in corners, unsure of whether to expect the low kick or a stiff right to the face. Tahara’s attempts to keep Somdet down met with limited success as well, as Somdet either reversed, or in one particular instance, kept Tahara at bay with a spider guard that created enough distance for him to punch from the bottom before scrambling to his feet.
Though suffering a point deduction for a knee to the face while Tahara was grounded, Somdet’s complete destruction of his opponent made sure that he received the unanimous decision (29-27, 29-27, 29-26).
Coming in with the intent to hammer away at Takuya Mori on the feet, Masaaki Sugawara quickly found that the Sapporo native was happy to return the favor. Sugawara opened with low kicks and finished out with multi-punch combinations, but Mori tagged him with counters just as often as he was tagged himself, thanks to his constant stance switching.
The bloodier of the two, Sugawara pulled ahead in the third with a picture-perfect right straight that put Mori down, where Sugawara ended the bout on top with hammer fists. Two judges ruled the fight in Sugawara’s favor (30-27, 29-28) for a majority decision while one ruled the bout a draw (29-29).
In the 115-pound rookie tournament semifinal, Junji Ito shellacked Yoshitaka Aki with punches on the feet. Ito followed with lunging ground-and-pound punches from standing until the referee saved Aki at 4:01 into the first round.
Atsushi “Mitsuru” Kobayashi got the TKO over Hiroshige Tanaka by way of a vicious knee that put Tanaka down while changing levels. After answering the count, Tanaka shot again but was reversed and caught in a guillotine. It was here that the referee noticed the copious amounts of blood coming down the right side of Tanaka’s face, forcing him to call the bout at 59 seconds into the second period.
Mimicking “Wicky” Akiyo Nishiura, Kentaro Watanabe danced straight toward opponent Kota Funaki in spite of the stinging counters to slug it out and win the unanimous decision in their 123-pound rookie tournament semifinal.
Takuya Sato took the majority decision over Naoki Hirayama in their 154-pound rookie tournament semifinal bout
Strikes Bring Ribeiro Sengoku V Victory
TOKYO -- In what was supposed to be a display of world-class Brazilian jiu-jitsu prowess, Alexandre “Xande” Ribeiro instead put away professional wrestler Takashi Sugiura with a series of knees and punches in the featured bout at Sengoku V on Sunday at the Yoyogi National First Gymnasium.
In the final minute of the fight, with Ribeiro (1-0) showing signs of fatigue, he unleashed one last attempt to finish Sugiura. He landed with punches and followed with a right knee that sent Sugiura (1-3) into the corner. Ribeiro then delivered another knee that opened a sizable cut over his opponent’s eye and forced the stoppage 4:18 into round three.
While it may not have been the debut the mixed martial arts world was expecting from the five-time BJJ world champion, Ribeiro was upbeat.
“I think it was a great experience, a totally different world for me,” he said. “I think today I walked inside the ring as a man, and I walked out a different man.
Ribeiro set the tone for the bout early, when he opened up with a right hand, followed with a high kick and attempted a takedown against Sugiura. Later in the first round, the Brazilian succeeded in his attempt to push the fight to the ground after he stunned his opponent with a straight right and followed with a double-leg takedown.
After struggling past a half-guard lockdown, Ribeiro moved to mount and delivered some ground-and-pound. However, he failed to secure an armbar as the round drew to a close. Sugiura proved a worthy test for Ribeiro and thwarted his takedowns in the second round. Not until the closing seconds of the period did Ribeiro manage to get him on the ground, and by that time he had little time with which to work.
Ribeiro turned up the heat in the third and ultimately finished Sugiura, who fought for the first time in two and a half years.
“I never thought I would be so excited, yet calm,” Ribeiro said. “I really appreciate I got to fight three rounds. I got a little bit tired. It’s a new experience. It’s hard to really deal with the amount of power and technique you need to use.”
The quest to find Kazuo Misaki a worthy opponent got under way, as eight men from six countries entered the quarter-finals of the Sengoku middleweight grand prix.
American Top Team’s Jorge Santiago proved too tall a task for bearded Minnesotan Logan Clark to overcome.
Clark (11-3) survived a kimura attempted and struck well in the first, but his luck ran out in the second. Santiago (18-7) secured takedown and, after missing with an armbar, coaxed the tapout with an arm triangle choke 3:35 into the second round.
In his first trip to 185 pounds, Kazuhiro Nakamura easily managed to outwork Golden Glory’s Paul Cahoon. Nakamura’s superior footwork was the story of the fight, as it allowed him to score with solid right hands from the outside. Cahoon was left flat-footed and frustrated, unable to reach his opponent. All three judges sided with Nakamura (12-8), and while he controlled the action, he never seriously hurt Cahoon (10-12).
Another quarter-final ended in unfortunate fashion.
Siyar Bahadurzada promised violence at the pre-fight press conference, and though his bout with Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos induced pain, it was not in the manner expected. Santos landed with better effect in the opening exchange and forced Bahadurzada to try for an early takedown.
Santos (16-12) spun inside a body lock during the takedown and landed in mount. However, as he posted out, the Brazilian gruesomely dislocated his elbow, forcing an immediate stoppage just 22 seconds into the match. Oblivious to the fact that a freak injury brought him to victory, Bahadurzada (14-3-1) mounted the ring ropes and let out a scream as Santos was carried out on a stretcher.
In a fight most viewed as a potential snooze fest, Yuki Sasaki submitted Yuki Kondo with a second-round rear naked choke to move into the grand prix semi-finals. After an uneventful first round that featured circling from both men, Sasaki secured a takedown in the second and went to work. He secured back control on Kondo, sank in the choke and forced the tapout out 1:08 into the round.
Ribeiro was not the only MMA rookie to impress at Sengoku V.
Muhammed “Mo” Lawal dispatched veteran Travis Wiuff with surprising ease. After gyrating his way to the ring with a troupe of dancers, Lawal (1-0) used swift footwork to dart in and out with punches and keep his foe on his toes. After he faked a shot, Lawal leaped in with a Superman punch, stunned Wiuff (53-12) and sent him reeling into the ropes. Lawal then scored with an easy double leg and pounded away for the stoppage just 2:11 into the fight.
“I’m taking out all bums -- anyone who is trying to run into my kingdom with my four queens,” Lawal said. “I gotta defend them. Look how good they look.”
In a highly anticipated lightweight showdown, Jorge Masvidal stopped International Fight League champion Ryan Schultz with first-round ground-and-pound. Masvidal (14-3-1) countered a Schultz one-two combination, landed a crisp straight right and followed with a flying knee that sent Schultz (20-11-1) to the canvas. He then finished the Team Quest standout with strikes on the ground; the end came 1:57 into round one.
In another non-tournament lightweight affair, Kiuma Kunioku’s submission attempts and ground control earned him a unanimous decision over A Sol Kwon’s stomps and striking. Kunioku (34-22-9) has now won three straight fights.
TOKYO -- In what was supposed to be a display of world-class Brazilian jiu-jitsu prowess, Alexandre “Xande” Ribeiro instead put away professional wrestler Takashi Sugiura with a series of knees and punches in the featured bout at Sengoku V on Sunday at the Yoyogi National First Gymnasium.
In the final minute of the fight, with Ribeiro (1-0) showing signs of fatigue, he unleashed one last attempt to finish Sugiura. He landed with punches and followed with a right knee that sent Sugiura (1-3) into the corner. Ribeiro then delivered another knee that opened a sizable cut over his opponent’s eye and forced the stoppage 4:18 into round three.
While it may not have been the debut the mixed martial arts world was expecting from the five-time BJJ world champion, Ribeiro was upbeat.
“I think it was a great experience, a totally different world for me,” he said. “I think today I walked inside the ring as a man, and I walked out a different man.
Ribeiro set the tone for the bout early, when he opened up with a right hand, followed with a high kick and attempted a takedown against Sugiura. Later in the first round, the Brazilian succeeded in his attempt to push the fight to the ground after he stunned his opponent with a straight right and followed with a double-leg takedown.
After struggling past a half-guard lockdown, Ribeiro moved to mount and delivered some ground-and-pound. However, he failed to secure an armbar as the round drew to a close. Sugiura proved a worthy test for Ribeiro and thwarted his takedowns in the second round. Not until the closing seconds of the period did Ribeiro manage to get him on the ground, and by that time he had little time with which to work.
Ribeiro turned up the heat in the third and ultimately finished Sugiura, who fought for the first time in two and a half years.
“I never thought I would be so excited, yet calm,” Ribeiro said. “I really appreciate I got to fight three rounds. I got a little bit tired. It’s a new experience. It’s hard to really deal with the amount of power and technique you need to use.”
The quest to find Kazuo Misaki a worthy opponent got under way, as eight men from six countries entered the quarter-finals of the Sengoku middleweight grand prix.
American Top Team’s Jorge Santiago proved too tall a task for bearded Minnesotan Logan Clark to overcome.
Clark (11-3) survived a kimura attempted and struck well in the first, but his luck ran out in the second. Santiago (18-7) secured takedown and, after missing with an armbar, coaxed the tapout with an arm triangle choke 3:35 into the second round.
In his first trip to 185 pounds, Kazuhiro Nakamura easily managed to outwork Golden Glory’s Paul Cahoon. Nakamura’s superior footwork was the story of the fight, as it allowed him to score with solid right hands from the outside. Cahoon was left flat-footed and frustrated, unable to reach his opponent. All three judges sided with Nakamura (12-8), and while he controlled the action, he never seriously hurt Cahoon (10-12).
Another quarter-final ended in unfortunate fashion.
Siyar Bahadurzada promised violence at the pre-fight press conference, and though his bout with Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos induced pain, it was not in the manner expected. Santos landed with better effect in the opening exchange and forced Bahadurzada to try for an early takedown.
Santos (16-12) spun inside a body lock during the takedown and landed in mount. However, as he posted out, the Brazilian gruesomely dislocated his elbow, forcing an immediate stoppage just 22 seconds into the match. Oblivious to the fact that a freak injury brought him to victory, Bahadurzada (14-3-1) mounted the ring ropes and let out a scream as Santos was carried out on a stretcher.
In a fight most viewed as a potential snooze fest, Yuki Sasaki submitted Yuki Kondo with a second-round rear naked choke to move into the grand prix semi-finals. After an uneventful first round that featured circling from both men, Sasaki secured a takedown in the second and went to work. He secured back control on Kondo, sank in the choke and forced the tapout out 1:08 into the round.
Ribeiro was not the only MMA rookie to impress at Sengoku V.
Muhammed “Mo” Lawal dispatched veteran Travis Wiuff with surprising ease. After gyrating his way to the ring with a troupe of dancers, Lawal (1-0) used swift footwork to dart in and out with punches and keep his foe on his toes. After he faked a shot, Lawal leaped in with a Superman punch, stunned Wiuff (53-12) and sent him reeling into the ropes. Lawal then scored with an easy double leg and pounded away for the stoppage just 2:11 into the fight.
“I’m taking out all bums -- anyone who is trying to run into my kingdom with my four queens,” Lawal said. “I gotta defend them. Look how good they look.”
In a highly anticipated lightweight showdown, Jorge Masvidal stopped International Fight League champion Ryan Schultz with first-round ground-and-pound. Masvidal (14-3-1) countered a Schultz one-two combination, landed a crisp straight right and followed with a flying knee that sent Schultz (20-11-1) to the canvas. He then finished the Team Quest standout with strikes on the ground; the end came 1:57 into round one.
In another non-tournament lightweight affair, Kiuma Kunioku’s submission attempts and ground control earned him a unanimous decision over A Sol Kwon’s stomps and striking. Kunioku (34-22-9) has now won three straight fights.
Benji Radach completes comeback to the big time at "EliteXC: Heat"
Twenty-eight months is a long time to think about what could have been.
But that's exactly what American Top Team's Benji Radach (18-4) did after a 2004 loss to Chris Leben.
"A lot of it was just sitting around all that time wanting to get back to [MMA]," Radach recently told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "I was real hungry the whole time. I was injured -- one surgery after another. It was such a down period of time."
After suffering just one defeat in his first 15 bouts, including three appearances for the UFC, Radach dropped two straight fights and fell into obscurity. But the 29-year-old said he never lost faith his day would come again.
"I knew that I'd come out on top at some point," Radach said. "Things started clearing up for me. I went out to American Top Team and started training full time out there. Thanks to Dan Lambert and Ricardo Liborio I got back on my feet."
Radach got a second chance at his MMA career when the now-defunct IFL came calling.
"Thanks to (team coach) Bas Rutten I got on the (IFL's Los Angeles) Anacondas, and started whooping butt," Radach said. "I think that was a lot of it -- just the hunger and wanting to comeback so bad for so much time. I really put my all into it.
"Training full time was a big deal to get back in shape. And training with a great group of guys there at [American Top Team], I came back and started finishing fights. And that's kind of my style anyway -- I'm a pretty big finisher. It just kind of worked out for me. I got some good fights, some tough guys, and stepped into it.
Radach reeled off five straight wins in the IFL, four of which didn't make it out of the first round. A December setback at the hands of Matt Horwich was Radach's last appearance for the IFL.
"It sucked that [the IFL] went under," Radich admitted. "I was hoping that they would pull it out. Their shows were awesome. They treated all the guys well. And it was fun to fight on a team against another team.
"You bleed and sweat with the guys, and then you go and fight another team. That was really, really cool."
With the collapse of the IFL, the resurgent Radach was once again a sought-after commodity. Radach used the leverage to land a three-fight deal with EliteXC.
Next Saturday Radach will make his debut for the organization against Murilo "Ninja" Rua (16-8-1) in the first bout of the CBS-broadcast portion of "EliteXC: Heat."
"It's huge," Radach said of the opportunity. "That's why I went with EliteXC, because they had this deal with CBS. The past CBS shows were big. This one I think is going to be even bigger.
"There's a lot of people that don't know anything about me. They might have watched me in a couple of my fights in the IFL, but I've been throwing down for a while -- since 2000. I've got a lot to bring.
"It's going to be a good opportunity for me."
Radach has been finding several good opportunities as of late. A new position as the Director of Instructors Training for LA Boxing's new MMA program has allowed Radach to train full-time while still on the job.
"I work full-time, and train here at the offices in the morning," Radach explained.
Radach said he hopes to give back to the MMA community by helping to place fighters in LA Boxing instructor positions, as well as the development of a new sponsorship program.
But with a week left before his debut before a national-television audience, Radach must focus on himself and the game plan he will use for his always-dangerous opponent.
"(My focus is on) just fighting my fight, mainly," Radach said. "Just not letting him fight his fight. I can't let him set up and get his grind.
"I just plan on stalking him and taking it to him. Fight my fight and bring it to him. I think I'll do that. I think I'll win this fight."
With a win, Radach would certainly be amongst the best in EliteXC's middleweight division. And while a title shot would be an added bonus, Radach simply wants to compete with the best.
"I just want to be recognized as one of the top guys in the world," Radach explained. "Just keep on fighting. I love the sport. I love competing. I love training. I love everything about this game. I just expect to be at the top -- fighting the best guys and beating the best guys."
Twenty-eight months is a long time to think about what could have been.
But that's exactly what American Top Team's Benji Radach (18-4) did after a 2004 loss to Chris Leben.
"A lot of it was just sitting around all that time wanting to get back to [MMA]," Radach recently told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "I was real hungry the whole time. I was injured -- one surgery after another. It was such a down period of time."
After suffering just one defeat in his first 15 bouts, including three appearances for the UFC, Radach dropped two straight fights and fell into obscurity. But the 29-year-old said he never lost faith his day would come again.
"I knew that I'd come out on top at some point," Radach said. "Things started clearing up for me. I went out to American Top Team and started training full time out there. Thanks to Dan Lambert and Ricardo Liborio I got back on my feet."
Radach got a second chance at his MMA career when the now-defunct IFL came calling.
"Thanks to (team coach) Bas Rutten I got on the (IFL's Los Angeles) Anacondas, and started whooping butt," Radach said. "I think that was a lot of it -- just the hunger and wanting to comeback so bad for so much time. I really put my all into it.
"Training full time was a big deal to get back in shape. And training with a great group of guys there at [American Top Team], I came back and started finishing fights. And that's kind of my style anyway -- I'm a pretty big finisher. It just kind of worked out for me. I got some good fights, some tough guys, and stepped into it.
Radach reeled off five straight wins in the IFL, four of which didn't make it out of the first round. A December setback at the hands of Matt Horwich was Radach's last appearance for the IFL.
"It sucked that [the IFL] went under," Radich admitted. "I was hoping that they would pull it out. Their shows were awesome. They treated all the guys well. And it was fun to fight on a team against another team.
"You bleed and sweat with the guys, and then you go and fight another team. That was really, really cool."
With the collapse of the IFL, the resurgent Radach was once again a sought-after commodity. Radach used the leverage to land a three-fight deal with EliteXC.
Next Saturday Radach will make his debut for the organization against Murilo "Ninja" Rua (16-8-1) in the first bout of the CBS-broadcast portion of "EliteXC: Heat."
"It's huge," Radach said of the opportunity. "That's why I went with EliteXC, because they had this deal with CBS. The past CBS shows were big. This one I think is going to be even bigger.
"There's a lot of people that don't know anything about me. They might have watched me in a couple of my fights in the IFL, but I've been throwing down for a while -- since 2000. I've got a lot to bring.
"It's going to be a good opportunity for me."
Radach has been finding several good opportunities as of late. A new position as the Director of Instructors Training for LA Boxing's new MMA program has allowed Radach to train full-time while still on the job.
"I work full-time, and train here at the offices in the morning," Radach explained.
Radach said he hopes to give back to the MMA community by helping to place fighters in LA Boxing instructor positions, as well as the development of a new sponsorship program.
But with a week left before his debut before a national-television audience, Radach must focus on himself and the game plan he will use for his always-dangerous opponent.
"(My focus is on) just fighting my fight, mainly," Radach said. "Just not letting him fight his fight. I can't let him set up and get his grind.
"I just plan on stalking him and taking it to him. Fight my fight and bring it to him. I think I'll do that. I think I'll win this fight."
With a win, Radach would certainly be amongst the best in EliteXC's middleweight division. And while a title shot would be an added bonus, Radach simply wants to compete with the best.
"I just want to be recognized as one of the top guys in the world," Radach explained. "Just keep on fighting. I love the sport. I love competing. I love training. I love everything about this game. I just expect to be at the top -- fighting the best guys and beating the best guys."
Kimbo Slice unconcerned by Ken Shamrock’s ground experience
If only one man is standing when the bout ends between Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson and Ken Shamrock, it's a good bet it will be Slice.
While critics have been quick to discount Slice's development as an all-around mixed martial artist, there's no denying that, on his feet, Slice has the ability and the power to knock out whomever is in front of him. And when all the pre-fight picks are in ahead of the Slice versus Shamrock main event match-up on EliteXC CBS Saturday Night Fights on Oct. 4, the consensus will undoubtedly be Slice by KO.
Conventional fight wisdom suggests that the only avenue for victory for Shamrock goes through a submission. The 44-year-old UFC Hall-of-Fame fighter hasn't stopped an opponent with strikes in more than eight years and has looked less and less at home in stand-up mode with each passing round. For Shamrock, the equalizer in the fight will be getting Slice horizontal, a position in which James Thompson was very effective against Slice back in May.
The Bas Rutten-trained fighter was out of his element while pinned on his back, up against the cage against Thompson. It showed a vulnerability that hadn't been exposed in his first two fights, but Slice prefers to look at the upside of overcoming that poor second round.
"Against Thompson I learned that no matter what happens, nothing will hurt me," Slice said. "It's mind over matter. Mentally, I knew I was alright. It may have looked like I was in trouble, but I was fine. It's mind over matter."
Since posting his third MMA win in as many tries, Slice has been a more dedicated fighter in preparing for Shamrock. He spent six weeks training with Rutten in California, says his camp has pushed him harder than ever, and believes he has upgraded his cardio since the Thompson fight. Slice also downplays the notion that Shamrock will have an edge if the fight goes to the ground.
"I question Ken’s ground game," Slice said. "He's going to try and find a way to make me uneasy, but that's not going to happen. I'm never uptight. I've worked on punches, takedowns, takedown defense, chokes, armbars, you name it. Anything that Shamrock tries on me, I am prepared for."
If only one man is standing when the bout ends between Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson and Ken Shamrock, it's a good bet it will be Slice.
While critics have been quick to discount Slice's development as an all-around mixed martial artist, there's no denying that, on his feet, Slice has the ability and the power to knock out whomever is in front of him. And when all the pre-fight picks are in ahead of the Slice versus Shamrock main event match-up on EliteXC CBS Saturday Night Fights on Oct. 4, the consensus will undoubtedly be Slice by KO.
Conventional fight wisdom suggests that the only avenue for victory for Shamrock goes through a submission. The 44-year-old UFC Hall-of-Fame fighter hasn't stopped an opponent with strikes in more than eight years and has looked less and less at home in stand-up mode with each passing round. For Shamrock, the equalizer in the fight will be getting Slice horizontal, a position in which James Thompson was very effective against Slice back in May.
The Bas Rutten-trained fighter was out of his element while pinned on his back, up against the cage against Thompson. It showed a vulnerability that hadn't been exposed in his first two fights, but Slice prefers to look at the upside of overcoming that poor second round.
"Against Thompson I learned that no matter what happens, nothing will hurt me," Slice said. "It's mind over matter. Mentally, I knew I was alright. It may have looked like I was in trouble, but I was fine. It's mind over matter."
Since posting his third MMA win in as many tries, Slice has been a more dedicated fighter in preparing for Shamrock. He spent six weeks training with Rutten in California, says his camp has pushed him harder than ever, and believes he has upgraded his cardio since the Thompson fight. Slice also downplays the notion that Shamrock will have an edge if the fight goes to the ground.
"I question Ken’s ground game," Slice said. "He's going to try and find a way to make me uneasy, but that's not going to happen. I'm never uptight. I've worked on punches, takedowns, takedown defense, chokes, armbars, you name it. Anything that Shamrock tries on me, I am prepared for."
CAGE WARRIORS M-1 CHALLENGE, RUSSIA VS USA
The debut M1-Challenge show in the U.K. was surrounded in controversy following a stoppage of the second incarnation of Matteo Minonzio vs local hero Wayne Buck. Their first encounter was a win in favour of Minonzio by way of vicious Muay Thai knee in the clinch that opened a huge cut under his right eye forcing a doctor’s stoppage. The highly anticipated rematch ended with Buck tapping the canvas when the fight hit the ground, forcing referee Marc Goddard to call a halt to the bout.
The fight itself leading up to this was a mixed bag with both fighters feeling out and trying to catch the others timing; Buck landed a vicious low kick, but every time things got scrappy, Minonzio would clinch and hammer away with the knees - it appeared that Buck had little answer to the plumb. Clearly rocked from their second major exchange, Buck went down and appeared to tap as Minonzio set about his offence. Buck protested the stoppage saying he was looking to post and avoid falling out of the ring. Marc Goddard was adamant that he saw the fighter tap. Only a review of the footage post-event will provide an undisputable answer.
The other local hero, "Judo" Jim Wallhead, made short work of his Brazilian opponent by way of a frenetic ground and pound offence. After flirting briefly with punches it was clear that Igor Arujo wanted to take him down and work from top position. Charging for the clinch and into his corner, he attempted to throw Wallhead but landed flat on his back, it was all the invitation the Briton needed to set his adversaries eyes rolling.
Fight of the night honours went to Christian Smith and Cliff Hall who had the entire crowd on their feet as they tore into each other with everything they had. Smith looked to be the more aggressive and stronger of the two in the bout, muscling Hall around the ring and into the clinch several times, both landing knees. Smith scored with the first takedown and worked for side control before snatching mount, but it wasn't long before the positions were reversed and Hall pulled out to the fighter up/fighter down stance. Showcasing his versatility, Smith executed a smooth butterfly trip from his back followed by a quick scramble to top position, the round concluded with him landing heavy leather.
Round two started with a high kick from Hall but it didn't connect, clinching up, he worked the knees but found himself on the wrong end of a big slam onto the rock solid canvas. Clearly pumped, Smith unleashed a relentless and surprisingly precise onslaught of punches to force the referee stoppage - A hugely impressive win for him against a tough opponent.
In a battle of the heavyweights, Kirill Sidelnikov had to endure the hard charge of American wrestler James Jack who shoot and bundled his opponent into the corner but unable capitalise on the position with strikes. Restarting due to a lack of progress, Jack's instinctive shoot after getting tagged with a couple of heavy strikes proved fruitless and allowed the tough Russian to commence a ground and pound offence that gave the referee no option but to call time.
American Beau King came out with a dynamic kick, spinning back-fist combination followed by a knee on opponent Mikhail Malyutin forcing him to move quickly out of range. Clearly mindful of King’s approach, he shot upon his next approach to secure the takedown into guard and commenced his offensive. The two fighters set about a swap of positions, but it was becoming apparent that the Russian was the more confident of the two on the matt, working for the body triangle and towards the end of the round - securing King’s back with a pilot from the north/south position. With mere instances before the bell signalling the end of the first round, Malyutin’s persistence with a rear naked choke paid off and he secured the tap from the tough American.
Sergey Kornev controlled position and used his experience over the vastly overmatched, but tough Rosen Dimitrov via ground and Pound extending his undefeated record to 10-0. Mikhail Zayats and John Cornett blasted into each other with an exciting first round before slowing the pace a little into the second as exertions took their toll on Cornett. Increasingly lowering his hands due to fatigue, Zayats was hunting for a KO finish and almost scored with a vicious left hook that rocked the American and forced him down to the canvas. Bizarrely, after enduring the onslaught, Cornett submitted verbally 15 seconds from the bell and denying the Russian a chance to finish the bout.
In other action, Erik Oganov defeated Strikeforce veteran Brandon Magana via Majority Decision, Dimitriy Samoylov endured a tough first round before coming alive in the second against Bryan Harper to pick up the nod via Majority Decision. Mysail Khamanaev overcame the experienced Belgian Wim De Putter via Majority Decision.
Gadzhimurad Omarov and Nills van Noord nullified each other’s offensives registering an equal score from the judges at the end of the second round, prompting a final third deciding round that fell in unanimously in favour of Omarov. Also recording unanimous decision victories were Jason Ponet over Sergey Verdesh and Akhmed Sultanov over Sylwester Oleksy.
Full Results
-Matteo Minonzio def Wayne Buck via Tapout (Strikes) 2:51 R1
-Jim Wallhead def Igor Araújo via KO (GNP) 1:19 R1
-Kirill Sidelnikov def James Jack via GNP 1:27 R1
-Mikhail Malyutin def Beau King via RNC 5:00 R1
-Mikhail Zayats def John Cornett via Verbal Submission (injury) 4:45 R1
-Christian Smith def Cliff Hall via KO (GNP) 0:33 R2
-Sergey Kornev def Rosen Dimitrov via GNP 2:59 R2
-Erik Oganov def Brandon Magana via Majority Decision 5:00 R2
-Dimitriy Samoylov def Bryan Harper via Majority Decision 5:00 R2
-Mysail Khamanaev def Wim De Putter via Majority Decision 5:00 R2
-Jason Ponet def Sergey Verdesh via Unanimous Decision 5:00 R2
-Gadzhimurad Omarov def Nills van Noord via Unanimous Decision 5:00 R3
-Akhmed Sultanov def Sylwester Oleksy via Unanimous De
The debut M1-Challenge show in the U.K. was surrounded in controversy following a stoppage of the second incarnation of Matteo Minonzio vs local hero Wayne Buck. Their first encounter was a win in favour of Minonzio by way of vicious Muay Thai knee in the clinch that opened a huge cut under his right eye forcing a doctor’s stoppage. The highly anticipated rematch ended with Buck tapping the canvas when the fight hit the ground, forcing referee Marc Goddard to call a halt to the bout.
The fight itself leading up to this was a mixed bag with both fighters feeling out and trying to catch the others timing; Buck landed a vicious low kick, but every time things got scrappy, Minonzio would clinch and hammer away with the knees - it appeared that Buck had little answer to the plumb. Clearly rocked from their second major exchange, Buck went down and appeared to tap as Minonzio set about his offence. Buck protested the stoppage saying he was looking to post and avoid falling out of the ring. Marc Goddard was adamant that he saw the fighter tap. Only a review of the footage post-event will provide an undisputable answer.
The other local hero, "Judo" Jim Wallhead, made short work of his Brazilian opponent by way of a frenetic ground and pound offence. After flirting briefly with punches it was clear that Igor Arujo wanted to take him down and work from top position. Charging for the clinch and into his corner, he attempted to throw Wallhead but landed flat on his back, it was all the invitation the Briton needed to set his adversaries eyes rolling.
Fight of the night honours went to Christian Smith and Cliff Hall who had the entire crowd on their feet as they tore into each other with everything they had. Smith looked to be the more aggressive and stronger of the two in the bout, muscling Hall around the ring and into the clinch several times, both landing knees. Smith scored with the first takedown and worked for side control before snatching mount, but it wasn't long before the positions were reversed and Hall pulled out to the fighter up/fighter down stance. Showcasing his versatility, Smith executed a smooth butterfly trip from his back followed by a quick scramble to top position, the round concluded with him landing heavy leather.
Round two started with a high kick from Hall but it didn't connect, clinching up, he worked the knees but found himself on the wrong end of a big slam onto the rock solid canvas. Clearly pumped, Smith unleashed a relentless and surprisingly precise onslaught of punches to force the referee stoppage - A hugely impressive win for him against a tough opponent.
In a battle of the heavyweights, Kirill Sidelnikov had to endure the hard charge of American wrestler James Jack who shoot and bundled his opponent into the corner but unable capitalise on the position with strikes. Restarting due to a lack of progress, Jack's instinctive shoot after getting tagged with a couple of heavy strikes proved fruitless and allowed the tough Russian to commence a ground and pound offence that gave the referee no option but to call time.
American Beau King came out with a dynamic kick, spinning back-fist combination followed by a knee on opponent Mikhail Malyutin forcing him to move quickly out of range. Clearly mindful of King’s approach, he shot upon his next approach to secure the takedown into guard and commenced his offensive. The two fighters set about a swap of positions, but it was becoming apparent that the Russian was the more confident of the two on the matt, working for the body triangle and towards the end of the round - securing King’s back with a pilot from the north/south position. With mere instances before the bell signalling the end of the first round, Malyutin’s persistence with a rear naked choke paid off and he secured the tap from the tough American.
Sergey Kornev controlled position and used his experience over the vastly overmatched, but tough Rosen Dimitrov via ground and Pound extending his undefeated record to 10-0. Mikhail Zayats and John Cornett blasted into each other with an exciting first round before slowing the pace a little into the second as exertions took their toll on Cornett. Increasingly lowering his hands due to fatigue, Zayats was hunting for a KO finish and almost scored with a vicious left hook that rocked the American and forced him down to the canvas. Bizarrely, after enduring the onslaught, Cornett submitted verbally 15 seconds from the bell and denying the Russian a chance to finish the bout.
In other action, Erik Oganov defeated Strikeforce veteran Brandon Magana via Majority Decision, Dimitriy Samoylov endured a tough first round before coming alive in the second against Bryan Harper to pick up the nod via Majority Decision. Mysail Khamanaev overcame the experienced Belgian Wim De Putter via Majority Decision.
Gadzhimurad Omarov and Nills van Noord nullified each other’s offensives registering an equal score from the judges at the end of the second round, prompting a final third deciding round that fell in unanimously in favour of Omarov. Also recording unanimous decision victories were Jason Ponet over Sergey Verdesh and Akhmed Sultanov over Sylwester Oleksy.
Full Results
-Matteo Minonzio def Wayne Buck via Tapout (Strikes) 2:51 R1
-Jim Wallhead def Igor Araújo via KO (GNP) 1:19 R1
-Kirill Sidelnikov def James Jack via GNP 1:27 R1
-Mikhail Malyutin def Beau King via RNC 5:00 R1
-Mikhail Zayats def John Cornett via Verbal Submission (injury) 4:45 R1
-Christian Smith def Cliff Hall via KO (GNP) 0:33 R2
-Sergey Kornev def Rosen Dimitrov via GNP 2:59 R2
-Erik Oganov def Brandon Magana via Majority Decision 5:00 R2
-Dimitriy Samoylov def Bryan Harper via Majority Decision 5:00 R2
-Mysail Khamanaev def Wim De Putter via Majority Decision 5:00 R2
-Jason Ponet def Sergey Verdesh via Unanimous Decision 5:00 R2
-Gadzhimurad Omarov def Nills van Noord via Unanimous Decision 5:00 R3
-Akhmed Sultanov def Sylwester Oleksy via Unanimous De
JASON BRILZ: UFC HOMETOWN STANDOUT
It may be enough for a fighter to have their dream come true to participate in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, but to do so in front of your hometown crowd and succeed in spectacular fashion is a whole other thing all together.
Such is the case for longtime Midwest fan favorite Jason Brilz.
Long considered something of a star in the making, Brilz entered UFC Fight Night 15 earlier this month expected to do well, but he did much more than that, dominating Brad Morris en route to a second round TKO.
“It went pretty much how we thought it was going to go,” he said of his win. “I figured he’d probably land a few more shots standing up – we trained for that – but it worked out well for me.
“It was really made special that it was in Omaha, so I had a lot of friends and family (in attendance). The UFC was great, they took care of me and it was a very fun experience.”
When asked where he goes from here, having made such a tremendous debut under the circumstances, Brilz replied with a chuckle, “It’s kind of the pinnacle of my career right now.
“I made the joke that I could kind of leave my gloves in the cage, because it’s not going to get any better than fighting in the UFC, in my hometown – it doesn’t get any better.”
Most fighters having put an impressive stamp on their big time debut may kick things into high gear to get in as much attention in and out of the cage as possible, but not Brilz, who has taken some flack for his decision to make fighting secondary to his family and other career.
“It’s still going to be like a hobby,” he commented of fighting. “When I say it’s a hobby, I mean one fight is not going to make or break me – it’s a hobby financially.
“I go into every single fight as prepared as I could be; I work my tail off. I guess for me, mentally, it’s easier to call it a hobby, because then it’s not a big deal if I lose; if I do, I go back to the drawing board, game plan and try again.”
As far as fighting itself goes, where other fighters may be more conservative to prolong their career, Brilz would rather make the most with the limited time his fighting career has compared to the other factors in his life.
“I’ve always told the promoter to get a guy that’s going to beat me,” he said. “I love being the underdog, and I really just want to see where I’m at.
“If I get whooped on, so be it, but at least I know where I’m at and what I need to work on.”
At one time Brilz did decide to put everything into the fight game, with mixed results in his opinion.
“I tried to go full-time fighting once, and it lost its appeal,” he admitted. “You can only train so much a day, and I think I’m already at that point.
“There’s a huge opportunity for me to learn more; and I’ve got great workout partners and coaches, so I’m not prepared to uproot my family and move. It’s still the fight game, and one overhand right in any fight and you’ll get a whole new career, anything can happen.”
Due to his firefighting work being particularly intense during the summer months due to fire season, Brilz would like to get in some more action during the winter months prior to heading into the New Year.
“I’d love to get another fight in, in November, December or January,” he stated.
“I’d like to have about three fights (a year). I’d like to have two early, between January and April, and then take the summers off, and then take one in the fall up until November or December.”
While many other fighters would be more concerned with pushing their careers to the limit above most other things, Brilz has already achieved a great deal in his personal career at the pace he’s going.
With a 16-1-1 record, it would be hard to dispute it’s been working for him, as he works his way slowly, but surely up the 205-pound rankings.
“I’d like to say thanks to CrossFit Omaha and Premier Fighter; MidAmerica Martial Arts, Ryan Jensen, Joe Baulder and the Ellenberger brothers (Jake and Joe),” he concluded.
“Thanks to all the fans out there, they’ve been unbelievable for their support for the last nine years. Watch out for me; hopefully I should have another fight before the year’s out.”
It may be enough for a fighter to have their dream come true to participate in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, but to do so in front of your hometown crowd and succeed in spectacular fashion is a whole other thing all together.
Such is the case for longtime Midwest fan favorite Jason Brilz.
Long considered something of a star in the making, Brilz entered UFC Fight Night 15 earlier this month expected to do well, but he did much more than that, dominating Brad Morris en route to a second round TKO.
“It went pretty much how we thought it was going to go,” he said of his win. “I figured he’d probably land a few more shots standing up – we trained for that – but it worked out well for me.
“It was really made special that it was in Omaha, so I had a lot of friends and family (in attendance). The UFC was great, they took care of me and it was a very fun experience.”
When asked where he goes from here, having made such a tremendous debut under the circumstances, Brilz replied with a chuckle, “It’s kind of the pinnacle of my career right now.
“I made the joke that I could kind of leave my gloves in the cage, because it’s not going to get any better than fighting in the UFC, in my hometown – it doesn’t get any better.”
Most fighters having put an impressive stamp on their big time debut may kick things into high gear to get in as much attention in and out of the cage as possible, but not Brilz, who has taken some flack for his decision to make fighting secondary to his family and other career.
“It’s still going to be like a hobby,” he commented of fighting. “When I say it’s a hobby, I mean one fight is not going to make or break me – it’s a hobby financially.
“I go into every single fight as prepared as I could be; I work my tail off. I guess for me, mentally, it’s easier to call it a hobby, because then it’s not a big deal if I lose; if I do, I go back to the drawing board, game plan and try again.”
As far as fighting itself goes, where other fighters may be more conservative to prolong their career, Brilz would rather make the most with the limited time his fighting career has compared to the other factors in his life.
“I’ve always told the promoter to get a guy that’s going to beat me,” he said. “I love being the underdog, and I really just want to see where I’m at.
“If I get whooped on, so be it, but at least I know where I’m at and what I need to work on.”
At one time Brilz did decide to put everything into the fight game, with mixed results in his opinion.
“I tried to go full-time fighting once, and it lost its appeal,” he admitted. “You can only train so much a day, and I think I’m already at that point.
“There’s a huge opportunity for me to learn more; and I’ve got great workout partners and coaches, so I’m not prepared to uproot my family and move. It’s still the fight game, and one overhand right in any fight and you’ll get a whole new career, anything can happen.”
Due to his firefighting work being particularly intense during the summer months due to fire season, Brilz would like to get in some more action during the winter months prior to heading into the New Year.
“I’d love to get another fight in, in November, December or January,” he stated.
“I’d like to have about three fights (a year). I’d like to have two early, between January and April, and then take the summers off, and then take one in the fall up until November or December.”
While many other fighters would be more concerned with pushing their careers to the limit above most other things, Brilz has already achieved a great deal in his personal career at the pace he’s going.
With a 16-1-1 record, it would be hard to dispute it’s been working for him, as he works his way slowly, but surely up the 205-pound rankings.
“I’d like to say thanks to CrossFit Omaha and Premier Fighter; MidAmerica Martial Arts, Ryan Jensen, Joe Baulder and the Ellenberger brothers (Jake and Joe),” he concluded.
“Thanks to all the fans out there, they’ve been unbelievable for their support for the last nine years. Watch out for me; hopefully I should have another fight before the year’s out.”
Fatherhood, Hughes Grudge Match await Serra in ’09
If Matt Serra were matchmaker for a day, little uncertainty exists as to who he would meet next inside the Octagon. His dislike for former welterweight champion Matt Hughes and his desire to take on the former Pat Miletich protégé have been well documented.
Fortunately, the 34-year-old Long Islander will not need to channel his inner Joe Silva, as he expects his return to come against his longtime rival in a matter of months.
“We’re looking for a fight with Hughes around January or February,” Serra told Sherdog.com.
Initially slated for December 2007, the showdown between Serra and Hughes was put on the back burner after Serra suffered a herniated disc in his back during training. While a knee injury sustained by Hughes in his TKO loss to Thiago Alves in June has postponed the anticipated matchup yet again, Serra welcomes the wait; he incurred his own injury in his loss to reigning UFC welterweight king Georges St. Pierre at UFC 83 in April
“I severely bruised my ulnar nerve,” said Serra, who won and then lost the 170-pound title in back-to-back bouts with St. Pierre. “I’m really just starting to train now. [The UFC] told me it was going to take that long [for Hughes to recover], and the first thing I said was, ‘That’s a good thing.’ Even if they did offer me another fight [before I fight Hughes], it wouldn’t make sense to me.”
The Serra-Hughes rivalry has all but subsided since it peaked on season six of “The Ultimate Fighter,” during which Serra made his return to the reality series, not as a competitor but as a coach and the newly crowned UFC welterweight champion. Despite statements Hughes made questioning the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt’s credentials as a top welterweight, Serra needs no extra fuel for the fire.
“This fight should happen,” Serra said. “A lot has been said by both sides, and I don’t plan on talking without walking. I plan on fighting. I would love to be the nail in his coffin.”
Serra, a former lightweight, does not feel weight will factor into his attempts to impose his will against Hughes, who, for much of his career, has succeeded through his ability to outwrestle and outmuscle opponents.
“Matt Hughes is a one tricky pony, but he’s very good at that one trick,” Serra said. “Top position is his thing, both submission wise and ground-and-pound. That’s what he’s the master of, and I know that. I feel that my jiu-jitsu is going to have to be where it should be, and I plan on doing more wrestling.”
Though fighting in a division where he is almost always smaller than the man standing across the cage from him, the 5-foot-6 Serra feels comfortable as a welterweight and intends to continue his career at 170 pounds.
“There are more fights that make sense for me at welterweight,” he said. “I used to fight at 155 pounds, and that [weight] cut is brutal.”
Aside from plans to fight Hughes and other elite welterweights in the near future, Serra -- who married his wife, Ann, in May 2007 -- also expects to become a father next year.
“I’m really excited about that,” Serra said. “Everything is happening at the right time.”
How the new addition to his family will affect him as a mixed martial artist remains uncertain. Serra, however, thinks he will be able to balance his personal and professional responsibilities. “I’m fortunate enough that we don’t both have to work, with my academies, seminars and fighting,” Serra said. “There were times when there was so much pressure on me. Now I fight because I want to fight. I don’t have to fight. I’m looking forward to my fight with Hughes, and I’m living the dream.”
If Matt Serra were matchmaker for a day, little uncertainty exists as to who he would meet next inside the Octagon. His dislike for former welterweight champion Matt Hughes and his desire to take on the former Pat Miletich protégé have been well documented.
Fortunately, the 34-year-old Long Islander will not need to channel his inner Joe Silva, as he expects his return to come against his longtime rival in a matter of months.
“We’re looking for a fight with Hughes around January or February,” Serra told Sherdog.com.
Initially slated for December 2007, the showdown between Serra and Hughes was put on the back burner after Serra suffered a herniated disc in his back during training. While a knee injury sustained by Hughes in his TKO loss to Thiago Alves in June has postponed the anticipated matchup yet again, Serra welcomes the wait; he incurred his own injury in his loss to reigning UFC welterweight king Georges St. Pierre at UFC 83 in April
“I severely bruised my ulnar nerve,” said Serra, who won and then lost the 170-pound title in back-to-back bouts with St. Pierre. “I’m really just starting to train now. [The UFC] told me it was going to take that long [for Hughes to recover], and the first thing I said was, ‘That’s a good thing.’ Even if they did offer me another fight [before I fight Hughes], it wouldn’t make sense to me.”
The Serra-Hughes rivalry has all but subsided since it peaked on season six of “The Ultimate Fighter,” during which Serra made his return to the reality series, not as a competitor but as a coach and the newly crowned UFC welterweight champion. Despite statements Hughes made questioning the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt’s credentials as a top welterweight, Serra needs no extra fuel for the fire.
“This fight should happen,” Serra said. “A lot has been said by both sides, and I don’t plan on talking without walking. I plan on fighting. I would love to be the nail in his coffin.”
Serra, a former lightweight, does not feel weight will factor into his attempts to impose his will against Hughes, who, for much of his career, has succeeded through his ability to outwrestle and outmuscle opponents.
“Matt Hughes is a one tricky pony, but he’s very good at that one trick,” Serra said. “Top position is his thing, both submission wise and ground-and-pound. That’s what he’s the master of, and I know that. I feel that my jiu-jitsu is going to have to be where it should be, and I plan on doing more wrestling.”
Though fighting in a division where he is almost always smaller than the man standing across the cage from him, the 5-foot-6 Serra feels comfortable as a welterweight and intends to continue his career at 170 pounds.
“There are more fights that make sense for me at welterweight,” he said. “I used to fight at 155 pounds, and that [weight] cut is brutal.”
Aside from plans to fight Hughes and other elite welterweights in the near future, Serra -- who married his wife, Ann, in May 2007 -- also expects to become a father next year.
“I’m really excited about that,” Serra said. “Everything is happening at the right time.”
How the new addition to his family will affect him as a mixed martial artist remains uncertain. Serra, however, thinks he will be able to balance his personal and professional responsibilities. “I’m fortunate enough that we don’t both have to work, with my academies, seminars and fighting,” Serra said. “There were times when there was so much pressure on me. Now I fight because I want to fight. I don’t have to fight. I’m looking forward to my fight with Hughes, and I’m living the dream.”
'Razor' Radach Feels Sharp After Layoff
Benji “Razor” Radach knows all about long layoffs.
Earlier in his career, he spent nearly three years away from MMA after suffering a broken jaw in 2004 at the heavy hands of Chris Leben. It was the first in a long string of, well, crippling physical ailments that had Radach wondering if some higher power was trying to tell him to find another line of work.
So the fact that his fight Saturday for EliteXC against its former middleweight champion, Murilo“Ninja” Rua, will be his first in nine months is the proverbial piece of cake. If anything, Radach said, rather than being mentally or physically challenging, the layoff has actually been a good thing, following, as it did, a very fight-stacked 2007.
“I think it’s really been therapeutic,” Radach, 29, said. “Cause I fought a lot last year. Six times. So it was just cram-packed with training hard and beating my body up. And you know, you have to heal up from everything. And I really needed a break just to get the hunger back. Now, I’m going to go into this fight healthy and strong and ready to win.”
Whatever adversity Radach has faced in the cage -- and of 21 professional fights, he’s only suffered four losses -- pales in comparison to a very trying period from June 2004 to February 2007 that is the stuff of fighters’ bad dreams.
“It was pretty much injury after injury,” Radach recalled. “I had the broken jaw. Then I had a herniated disc in my neck and lost all this muscle in my right pec and right tricep. It was like I was paralyzed. I couldn’t even do a pushup. It was pretty bad.
“And then I injured the ACL on my right leg and I ended up tearing my meniscus. Then I had a bad staph infection and was fighting that for three months. I had a catheter in my arm all the way to my heart. I was in the hospital for like three weeks with a 104 temperature. It was real bad.
“It was just one down thing after another after another,” he said. “I definitely thought that maybe someone was trying to tell me, maybe a higher power, that I need to find something else to do.”
But as Nietzsche famously noted, that which does not kill us makes us stronger, right?
“I didn’t know how to take it all,” Radach said. “Do I keep on trucking and there would be light at the end of the tunnel? And I just kept on trucking, man. And the light came cause I really did good last year.”
Radach returned triumphantly to the ring for the IFL on Feb. 2, 2007, stopping Ryan McGivern, then followed that with four more wins. In his sixth fight back, last Dec. 29, he lost via KO to Matt Horwich. His match against Rua will be his first since that defeat.
“To have a really cool first year back, stepping into the ring with a tough opponent (McGivern) right off the bat and fought him and beat him and it was just a huge accomplishment for me,” Radach said.
Radach’s bout with Rua (16-8-1) is his first under a three-fight deal he signed with EliteXC in the wake of the IFL’s demise.
“He’s very tough,” Radach said of the well-rounded 28-year-old Brazilian, a muay Thai and jiu-jitsu specialist. “He’s got good boxing. He’s got a good ground game. Pretty much my goal in this fight is not to be on the bottom. If there’s any kind of clinch game, I’m taking him down. I want to be on top, implementing my game.
“I’m not gonna be on my back, cause he’s dangerous on top, and if he takes me down, I’m right back on my feet. And I’m gonna be swinging for the fences with him on the feet,” said Radach, who, despite coming from a strong wrestling background, has become a knockout artist, racking up 15 of his 17 victories by way of strikes.
Radach’s training regiment hasn’t exactly been orthodox, involving, as it does, driving hundreds of miles all over Southern California to various MMA gyms from his home base in Santa Ana, where he holds down a corporate job as director of instructor training for LA Boxing.
“I’ve really been bouncing around,” he said, to Bas Rutten’s Elite MMA in Thousand Oaks (a 140-mile round trip from Santa Ana), Dan Henderson’s Team Quest in Murietta (a 120-mile round trip), and HB Ultimate Training Center in Huntington Beach (a mere 30-mile round trip).
At the latter gym, Radach’s been fortunate enough to train with a steady stream of A-list fighters who just happened to be in town, including Michael Bisping and Josh Thomson. He’s also trained with Huntington Beach’s resident bad-ass, Tito Ortiz.
“So it’s sorta been hit and miss, but thank God all those guys were coming through at the right time, cause without them on an everyday basis there, there’s not really guys my weight there,” Radach said. “And they’re there to push me. Also, I push myself pretty hard.”
Indeed. He even trains at LA Boxing’s corporate offices every morning before work.
“Get a killer workout in the morning on the heavy bag and a TRX suspension system, take a shower here at the office, then sit here trying to find instructors in different parts of the world,” Radach said. “They’re (LA Boxing) getting something from all the publicity of me fighting and stuff, so they’re allowing me to train and stay in shape. So it’s really working out cool, man.”
Heath Sims, who co-owns Team Quest’s Murietta gym, said Radach’s training is going well, especially considering he took the Rua fight on just five weeks’ notice.
“He’s really been getting back up to speed and getting his conditioning up and getting his weight down, coming in training with all our good guys, so I think he’s going to be ready,” Sims said.
Sean McCully, an LA Boxing founder who coaches Radach’s standup, said he’d prefer for Radach to have more of a traditional, less gas-guzzling training routine.
“But he’s young and he’s motivated, so he’s trying to get as much good training and good information as possible,” McCully said. “Benji’s a real hard worker and he’s been training really hard for the fight and he’s gotten in really great shape over the last month or so.”
Radach too would rather train at one gym.
“Because you get more rest,” he said. “You don’t have to worry about driving, getting back late, trying to get some sleep and going to work the next day. I was spoiled last year training (solely at American Top Team in Florida), doing it full time, fighting all year long.
“But you know, I got a cool job that I gotta hold on to. I’m not getting rich from fighting right now, so I have to make sure I have something for after.”
If he beats Rua on CBS this Saturday, though, Radach could take a big step toward better paydays and a brighter future in MMA. Bas Rutten, who has worked with Radach, believes he can beat Rua and any other middleweight.
"Benji's one of those guys, who if he's 100 percent in shape, I'll bet him against Anderson Silva, and I really mean this,” Rutten said. “People don't realize how much force and violence he can bring. It's really sick, the way he hits the focus pad. Benji's wrestling is sick. He's got submissions. The only thing is, when he gets tired, he lets himself open and sometimes he gets hit. So the way he's training now is, he's really working hard on his cardio. He's in shape, let me tell you."
Benji “Razor” Radach knows all about long layoffs.
Earlier in his career, he spent nearly three years away from MMA after suffering a broken jaw in 2004 at the heavy hands of Chris Leben. It was the first in a long string of, well, crippling physical ailments that had Radach wondering if some higher power was trying to tell him to find another line of work.
So the fact that his fight Saturday for EliteXC against its former middleweight champion, Murilo“Ninja” Rua, will be his first in nine months is the proverbial piece of cake. If anything, Radach said, rather than being mentally or physically challenging, the layoff has actually been a good thing, following, as it did, a very fight-stacked 2007.
“I think it’s really been therapeutic,” Radach, 29, said. “Cause I fought a lot last year. Six times. So it was just cram-packed with training hard and beating my body up. And you know, you have to heal up from everything. And I really needed a break just to get the hunger back. Now, I’m going to go into this fight healthy and strong and ready to win.”
Whatever adversity Radach has faced in the cage -- and of 21 professional fights, he’s only suffered four losses -- pales in comparison to a very trying period from June 2004 to February 2007 that is the stuff of fighters’ bad dreams.
“It was pretty much injury after injury,” Radach recalled. “I had the broken jaw. Then I had a herniated disc in my neck and lost all this muscle in my right pec and right tricep. It was like I was paralyzed. I couldn’t even do a pushup. It was pretty bad.
“And then I injured the ACL on my right leg and I ended up tearing my meniscus. Then I had a bad staph infection and was fighting that for three months. I had a catheter in my arm all the way to my heart. I was in the hospital for like three weeks with a 104 temperature. It was real bad.
“It was just one down thing after another after another,” he said. “I definitely thought that maybe someone was trying to tell me, maybe a higher power, that I need to find something else to do.”
But as Nietzsche famously noted, that which does not kill us makes us stronger, right?
“I didn’t know how to take it all,” Radach said. “Do I keep on trucking and there would be light at the end of the tunnel? And I just kept on trucking, man. And the light came cause I really did good last year.”
Radach returned triumphantly to the ring for the IFL on Feb. 2, 2007, stopping Ryan McGivern, then followed that with four more wins. In his sixth fight back, last Dec. 29, he lost via KO to Matt Horwich. His match against Rua will be his first since that defeat.
“To have a really cool first year back, stepping into the ring with a tough opponent (McGivern) right off the bat and fought him and beat him and it was just a huge accomplishment for me,” Radach said.
Radach’s bout with Rua (16-8-1) is his first under a three-fight deal he signed with EliteXC in the wake of the IFL’s demise.
“He’s very tough,” Radach said of the well-rounded 28-year-old Brazilian, a muay Thai and jiu-jitsu specialist. “He’s got good boxing. He’s got a good ground game. Pretty much my goal in this fight is not to be on the bottom. If there’s any kind of clinch game, I’m taking him down. I want to be on top, implementing my game.
“I’m not gonna be on my back, cause he’s dangerous on top, and if he takes me down, I’m right back on my feet. And I’m gonna be swinging for the fences with him on the feet,” said Radach, who, despite coming from a strong wrestling background, has become a knockout artist, racking up 15 of his 17 victories by way of strikes.
Radach’s training regiment hasn’t exactly been orthodox, involving, as it does, driving hundreds of miles all over Southern California to various MMA gyms from his home base in Santa Ana, where he holds down a corporate job as director of instructor training for LA Boxing.
“I’ve really been bouncing around,” he said, to Bas Rutten’s Elite MMA in Thousand Oaks (a 140-mile round trip from Santa Ana), Dan Henderson’s Team Quest in Murietta (a 120-mile round trip), and HB Ultimate Training Center in Huntington Beach (a mere 30-mile round trip).
At the latter gym, Radach’s been fortunate enough to train with a steady stream of A-list fighters who just happened to be in town, including Michael Bisping and Josh Thomson. He’s also trained with Huntington Beach’s resident bad-ass, Tito Ortiz.
“So it’s sorta been hit and miss, but thank God all those guys were coming through at the right time, cause without them on an everyday basis there, there’s not really guys my weight there,” Radach said. “And they’re there to push me. Also, I push myself pretty hard.”
Indeed. He even trains at LA Boxing’s corporate offices every morning before work.
“Get a killer workout in the morning on the heavy bag and a TRX suspension system, take a shower here at the office, then sit here trying to find instructors in different parts of the world,” Radach said. “They’re (LA Boxing) getting something from all the publicity of me fighting and stuff, so they’re allowing me to train and stay in shape. So it’s really working out cool, man.”
Heath Sims, who co-owns Team Quest’s Murietta gym, said Radach’s training is going well, especially considering he took the Rua fight on just five weeks’ notice.
“He’s really been getting back up to speed and getting his conditioning up and getting his weight down, coming in training with all our good guys, so I think he’s going to be ready,” Sims said.
Sean McCully, an LA Boxing founder who coaches Radach’s standup, said he’d prefer for Radach to have more of a traditional, less gas-guzzling training routine.
“But he’s young and he’s motivated, so he’s trying to get as much good training and good information as possible,” McCully said. “Benji’s a real hard worker and he’s been training really hard for the fight and he’s gotten in really great shape over the last month or so.”
Radach too would rather train at one gym.
“Because you get more rest,” he said. “You don’t have to worry about driving, getting back late, trying to get some sleep and going to work the next day. I was spoiled last year training (solely at American Top Team in Florida), doing it full time, fighting all year long.
“But you know, I got a cool job that I gotta hold on to. I’m not getting rich from fighting right now, so I have to make sure I have something for after.”
If he beats Rua on CBS this Saturday, though, Radach could take a big step toward better paydays and a brighter future in MMA. Bas Rutten, who has worked with Radach, believes he can beat Rua and any other middleweight.
"Benji's one of those guys, who if he's 100 percent in shape, I'll bet him against Anderson Silva, and I really mean this,” Rutten said. “People don't realize how much force and violence he can bring. It's really sick, the way he hits the focus pad. Benji's wrestling is sick. He's got submissions. The only thing is, when he gets tired, he lets himself open and sometimes he gets hit. So the way he's training now is, he's really working hard on his cardio. He's in shape, let me tell you."
‘Samuray’ Mendes back to UFC in 2009
After debuting in UFC with a loss against Thiago Silva in the 84th edition, Antonio ‘Samuray’ Mendes will be back in action in January 2009. The Europe Top Team athlete, who fought seven times in 2007 and won all the fights, will fight at January 17th in Dublin, Ireland, and might face another Brazilian fighter. After facing Thiago Silva, Samuray might fight with Andre Gusmão, that also did one fight in the event and loss to Jon Jones by unanimous decision
After debuting in UFC with a loss against Thiago Silva in the 84th edition, Antonio ‘Samuray’ Mendes will be back in action in January 2009. The Europe Top Team athlete, who fought seven times in 2007 and won all the fights, will fight at January 17th in Dublin, Ireland, and might face another Brazilian fighter. After facing Thiago Silva, Samuray might fight with Andre Gusmão, that also did one fight in the event and loss to Jon Jones by unanimous decision
EliteXC signs Canadian heavyweight Tim Hague
FiveOuncesOfPain.com has learned that King of the Cage Canada heavyweight champion Tim Hague has signed a one-year contract with EliteXC. No date or opponent has been announced for Hague’s debut.
Hague, a native of Edmonton, Alberta, possesses a mixed martial arts record of 8-1. Hague holds victories over notable names such as UFC veteran Sherman Pendergarst, Ruben Villareal and Jared Kilkenny. Hague’s sole professional loss came via split decision to Miodrag Petkovic at HCF: Destiny.
Hague and Petkovic are currently slated to rematch at Raw Combat: Resurrection on October 25, 2008 at the Calgary Corral. Also featured on the card is a middleweight bout between Denis Kang and Marvin Eastman.
FiveOuncesOfPain.com has learned that King of the Cage Canada heavyweight champion Tim Hague has signed a one-year contract with EliteXC. No date or opponent has been announced for Hague’s debut.
Hague, a native of Edmonton, Alberta, possesses a mixed martial arts record of 8-1. Hague holds victories over notable names such as UFC veteran Sherman Pendergarst, Ruben Villareal and Jared Kilkenny. Hague’s sole professional loss came via split decision to Miodrag Petkovic at HCF: Destiny.
Hague and Petkovic are currently slated to rematch at Raw Combat: Resurrection on October 25, 2008 at the Calgary Corral. Also featured on the card is a middleweight bout between Denis Kang and Marvin Eastman.