MMA News Thread

Shogun Locc · Oct 8, 2008

MMAWEEKLY WORLD MMA RANKINGS UPDATED

The latest MMAWeekly World MMA Rankings were released on Wednesday, October 8. This system ranks the Top 10 MMA fighters from all across the world in each of the six most widely accepted weight classes.

Taken into consideration are a fighter's performance in addition to his win-loss record, head-to-head and common opponents, difficulty of opponents, and numerous other factors in what is the most comprehensive rankings system in the sport.

Fighters who are currently serving drug-related suspensions are not eligible for Top 10 consideration until they have fought one time after the completion of their suspension.

Fighters must also have competed within the past 12 months in order to be eligible for Top 10 consideration.

Below are the current MMAWeekly World MMA Rankings, which are up-to-date as of October 8.

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HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION (over 205 pounds)

#1 Heavyweight Fighter in the World: Fedor Emelianenko

2. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira

3. Josh Barnett

4. Andrei Arlovski

5. Tim Sylvia

6. Fabricio Werdum

7. Gabriel Gonzaga

8. Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic

9. Aleksander Emelianenko

10. Sergei Kharitonov

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LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION (205-pound limit)

#1 Light Heavyweight Fighter in the World: Forrest Griffin

2. Quinton Jackson

3. Lyoto Machida

4. Rashad Evans

5. Chuck Liddell

6. Wanderlei Silva

7. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou

8. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira

9. Keith Jardine

10. Rich Franklin

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MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION (185-pound limit)

#1 Middleweight Fighter in the World: Anderson Silva

2. Paulo Filho

3. Robbie Lawler

4. Matt Lindland

5. Kazuo Misaki

6. Yushin Okami

7. Nathan Marquardt

8. Dan Henderson

9. Gegard Mousasi

10. Yoshihiro Akiyama

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WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION (170-pound limit)

#1 Welterweight Fighter in the World: Georges St. Pierre

2. Jon Fitch

3. Thiago Alves

4. Josh Koscheck

5. Jake Shields

6. Matt Hughes

7. Matt Serra

8. Diego Sanchez

9. Carlos Condit

10. Karo Parisyan

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LIGHTWEIGHT DIVISION (160-pound limit)

#1 Lightweight Fighter in the World: B.J. Penn

2. Takanori Gomi

3. Eddie Alvarez

4. Shinya Aoki

5. Joachim Hansen

6. Tatsuya Kawajiri

7. Gesias "JZ" Calvancante

8. Mitsuhiro Ishida

9. Josh Thomson

10. Joe Stevenson

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FEATHERWEIGHT DIVISION (145 pounds and under)

#1 Featherweight Fighter in the World: Urijah Faber

2. Akitoshi Tamura

3. Hideki Kadowaki

4. Hatsu Hioki

5. "Lion" Takeshi Inoue

6. Mike Brown

7. Jeff Curran

8. Rafael Assuncao

9. Wagnney Fabiano

10. Antonio Carvalho

Shogun Locc · Oct 8, 2008

PETRUZELLI ADDRESSES PAYOFF CONTROVERSY AND FUTURE WITH ELITEXC

In just a matter of 2 hours, Seth Petruzelli went from an undercard fighter to the man who would soon knock out Internet and YouTube legend, Kimbo Slice, in a scant :14 seconds in their main event fight last Saturday night.

Originally, Petruzelli was scheduled to face Aaron Rosa in a light heavyweight contest and he explained during a recent appearance on MMAWeekly Radio exactly how it all went down to put him in a fight that will now live in infamy.

“I was actually warming up for my fight against Aaron Rosa in the back and Elite XC came back and said we need to talk to you for a second,” Petruzelli commented. “I automatically got nervous thinking that Aaron backed out or something like that and then he’s like, ‘look I’ve got a huge opportunity if you decide to take it, Ken got cut on his eye and can’t fight, and we want you to fight Kimbo.”

“It took about :10 seconds to let it all settle down and I said heck yeah.”

The fight with Kimbo lasted only about 4 seconds longer than it took Seth to decide to take the match-up, but almost immediately after the fight controversy struck.

During an appearance on a local Orlando radio station on Monday, Petruzelli was quoted as saying that Elite XC officials hinted at a bigger payday if he stood with Kimbo and avoided the ground game. Petruzelli said it was actually a bonus for a knockout win, something common in many fight promotions.

“All it was, was a knockout bonus that I just didn’t say it was a knockout bonus,” said Petruzelli. “The UFC offers that, they offer submission bonus, they offer for fight of the night, and all I was saying was that I wanted to take the knockout bonus and not take him down.”

“So it kind of got misconstrued as me saying that they wanted me just stand up and get it, but that was just all me saying I wanted to try to get the knockout bonus.”

When speaking to MMAWeekly Radio on Tuesday night, Elite XC head of fight operations, Jeremy Lappen, confirmed that knockout bonuses are a regular part of Elite XC fights and some fighters even have knockout bonuses as a part of their contracts with the promotion.

With that controversy behind him, Petruzelli is not most excited to look to the future, but he’s unsure what weight class he will ultimately compete in.

“That’s the question I’ve been asking myself, if want to move back up to heavyweight, stay lean and stay at a lighter weight, but move up and fight heavyweight because I’m pretty much undefeated in every heavyweight fight,” Petruzelli stated. “When I moved to light heavyweight is when I had my last 2 losses so that’s going to be the question.”

“But the 205lb belt is up for grabs for Elite so that’s kind of staring me in the face too so I don’t really know at this point.”

The light heavyweight title in Elite XC is likely to be handed down in the near future and at least one of the competitors will be highly regarded Brazilian fighter, Rafael “Feijao” Calvancante, who is still slated to be on the Nov 8 card, but has no opponent yet.

Elite XC Vice President Jared Shaw informed MMAWeekly.com on Monday that while the promotion would welcome a fight between Feijao and Petruzelli, he believes that asking the new star to prepare for a title fight on only 4 weeks notice is just unfair.

And while Petruzelli says he will gladly step up if the offer is made, he would also like a little more downtime after this big win over Kimbo Slice.

“If they offered to me I’d 100% take it, but personally I would love to just wait a little bit and maybe the first of the New Year or something like that for stepping back in there,” Petruzelli said in closing.

Shogun Locc · Oct 8, 2008

IN HIS OWN WORDS: BACK SURGERY SPURS TITO ON

This was the biggest decision of my career… back surgery

Since the Randy Couture fight, I have had lower back problems. Each fight it got worse. I have made it though the last eight fights by physical therapy, methylprednisolone pills, and spinal injections for last three fights.

I fought injured time and time again for the fans. After the Rashad (Evans) fight, I told the fight doctor I was having excruciating back pain. It was so bad that my security had to carry me from the Octagon to my dressing room to the press conference and back.

This continued for the next four months. If anyone has had back pain, you know the pain I deal with. It got to be so bad that I was barely able to get up off the couch or drive for longer than 20 minutes.

Now try to imagine training for eight hours a day and having to fight formidable opponents like Rashad, and (Lyoto) Machida. From November of 2007 to May of 2008, I did two separate injections and worked my ass off in physical therapy so I was able to fight Machida.

During the second round of the fight I felt the same pain as I did in the Rashad fight. After the fight, I told the fight doctor I was having back pain. It never got better. I didn't want to fall into the terrible life of having to take painkillers in order to be capable of making it through training.

I simply refuse to fall into that trap. I started to look into other ways to help my back pain. I have done everything from rehab to injections to make it better and nothing has succeeded.

I was made aware that Nate Quarry had the same problem as me and got surgery. He fought nine months after surgery and did it with power and quickness. I started to look for doctors to see how they could help me.

I researched four different back doctors and all of their techniques seemed brutal and risky. I saw that Nate was operated on by NuVasive out of San Diego. I spent a day at the office going over all the positives and negatives. All the positives outweighed the negatives.

The doctor that I went with was Dr. William Smith.

The kicker to this whole story is that the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) denied my claim for coverage of my debilitating back injury OBVIOUSLY acquired in the Octagon. This was the last kick in the gut made by the UFC.

After all of the battling, and allegiance I pledged to them, they now have stooped so low as to not give me the medical care I so desperately needed. I am not surprised at there last effort to hurt me, so I took it upon myself to get surgery in hopes that my fight career will jump back on track and I will be back to the explosive monster I always have been.

On Oct. 6, 2008, my extensive back surgery was performed in Las Vegas by Dr. Smith. It lasted three hours due to the doctor’s careful hand and my densely muscled core that had to be separated in order to get to my spine. My doctor was impressed with my quick recovery, and an hour after surgery I was on my feet and walking to the car.

This is now the beginning of a new era. There will never be a question again about where my heart lies… and that is with my fans.

I am focused on a quick recovery, and I will be back in the cage with a renewed outlook on fighting.

I am a new Tito Ortiz… one with a bright fight future… one ready to power through the light heavyweight class and get the belt around my waist again.

Mark my words… the best is yet to come.

– Tito "The Huntington Beach Badboy" Ortiz

Shogun Locc · Oct 8, 2008

ELITEXC'S FINAL EVENT OF 2008 NEARLY COMPLETE

The final show for EliteXC in 2008 is taking shape as the promotion’s head of fight operations, Jeremy Lappen, disclosed the majority of the card during an appearance on MMAWeekly Radio on Tuesday night.

The main event, as previously announced, will pit EliteXC middleweight champion Robbie Lawler against top ranked opponent Joey Villasenor in a rematch of a fight the two waged under the Pride banner a couple of years back.

Lawler won that fight in 22 seconds after catching Villasenor with a flying knee. Now, Villasenor will get his chance at redemption.

Also on the card, Eddie Alvarez, the No. 3 lightweight in the world according to MMAWeekly.com’s World MMA Rankings, returns to action in the U.S. to take on Nick Diaz to crown a new EliteXC lightweight champion.

Alvarez burst onto the lightweight scene earlier this year with a phenomenal run in the Dream Grand Prix in which he was the only fighter to go undefeated and picked up wins over Top 10 fighters such as Tatsuya Kawajiri and Joachim Hansen.

Also confirmed is a women’s bout as top Canadian female Sarah Kaufman makes her EliteXC debut against a heavy handed Kaitlin Young.

Scott Smith returns to action on Nov. 8 for the first time since suffering a loss to Robbie Lawler in July. He will face Hector Lombard, a former Pride competitor, currently riding a 10-fight win streak with one draw being the only detractor from his last 11 fights.

Lappen also confirmed that top light heavyweight Rafael “Feijao” Calvancante will be on the card, but an opponent has not yet been secured. Rumors have placed both Cyril Diabate and new star Seth Petruzelli in the running for the fight, but nothing has been solidified.

Plans call for at least five of the Nov. 8 fights to be telecast on Showtime.

Shogun Locc · Oct 8, 2008

Spike TV Considering Airing UFC 93 For Free

Today, MMARated.com has learned that, as is the case with most European UFC cards, Spike TV is considering airing the event on tape delay in primetime. The network will be airing UFC 89 from Birmingham, England, on tape delay next Saturday.

This news is very promising for MMA fans as not only will they potentially have the chance to see four of the best 205-pounders compete for free, but this card comes nudged between UFC 92 on December 27 (Mir vs. Nogueira, Evans vs. Griffin, Jackson vs. Silva), the Affliction/Golden Boy show (as of now scheduled for January 24, but who the heck knows these days) and UFC 94 (St-Pierre vs. Penn) on January 31. So, you know, finances will be a little tight.

Shogun Locc · Oct 8, 2008

Kevin Randleman Talks Couture vs. Lesnar, Future And Much More

Randleman On His Fighting Future:

“I’m going to be in shape everyday...I want to fight six times a year, and I’m going to get the opportunity to.”

Randleman On His Love Of Fighting And Why MMA Fans Should Stay Just Fans:

“I love street fighting, because in street fighting there’s no John (McCarthy) who drops out of the clouds and says, “OK, let’s get it on! I love how people talk about how tough they are...bitches...you are not tough. Just because you watch a (expletive) UFC show and you see some smokin’ Joe coming off of a checkout line come on and maybe take second in an [Ultimate Fighter] show, that’s not you. These guys have been thugs long before, they just wanted an opportunity. Just because you think you can fight, come in the gym one day and let me punch you, then you’ll understand that [you’ll] just want to be a fan…This is my job, bitches!...I want to get kicked in my teeth. If my teeth fall out, I come home, my girl knows she’s going to get some great sex. I don’t care. Next day I get up and I’m stronger! So all you amateurs out there remember, you can get punched in the face by your sister, BUT I’M NOT YOUR SISTER!”

Shogun Locc · Oct 8, 2008

"TUF6" runner-up Tommy Speer wins in return in Minnesota

For the first time since back-to-back losses in the UFC, which included a first-round submission loss to Mac Danzig in the show's live finale, "The Ultimate Fighter 6" runner-up Tommy Speer (10-3 MMA, 0-2 UFC) picked up an MMA victory.

Speer, who left the UFC after a 51-second knockout loss to Anthony Johnson in April, defeated MMA newcomer and former Marines Combatives veteran Joe Julianelle (0-1) this past Saturday.

The MMA/boxing event, dubbed "10-4 Thunder," took place at Graham Arena at the Olmsted County Fairgrounds in Rochester, Minn.

Speer, fighting at a catch-weight of 180 pounds, simply overwhelmed his opponent and defeated Julianelle with a first-round TKO. The victory took less than a minute.

It was Speer's first professional victory since May 2007, when he defeated Sidney Silva first-round knockout at WEC 27. That victory pushed Speer's win streak to five straight (all via stoppage) and helped earned him a ticket onto the sixth season of the UFC's reality series.

On the show, the 24-year-old defeated Jon Koppenhaver and Ben Saunders, both by unanimous decision, before scoring a knockout of George Sotiropoulos to advance to the show's live finale against Danzig, a former King of the Cage champion and the cast's most experienced fighter. After the losses to Danzig and Johnson, Speer was released from his UFC contract so he could compete in smaller shows.

The "10-4 Thunder" card also played host to a victory from former UFC fighter Chad Reiner (19-6 MMA, 0-2 UFC), who defeated Zack Strand (4-2) via TKO. Reiner, who lost to Johnson and Josh Burkman in the UFC, is 6-3 since leaving the organization.

Shogun Locc · Oct 8, 2008

LAUZON PUNCHES WAY TO BEING A COMPLETE UFC FIGHTER
link: http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content3571.html?PHPSESSID=40355509183e19b1f1639058832b30d7
UFC lightweight contender Joe "J-Lau" Lauzon demonstrated his improved boxing skills September 17 en route to stopping Kyle Bradley (13-6) at 1:34 of the second round on UFC Fight Night 15 in Omaha, Nebraska. The 24-year-old Lauzon (17-4, 4 KOs, 13 submissions), star of The Ultimate Fighter 5 television reality show, is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist whose striking or punching ability has been an afterthought, at least until his fight against Bradley.

Shogun Locc · Oct 8, 2008

SUPERFIGHTS MMA: ALESSIO RETURNS FROM BREAK

It’s difficult enough winning a mixed martial arts bout when healthy, but winning a fight when injured, that’s a whole other game; even more so when that injury is a broken arm.

Such is the case for John Alessio, who in his last match suffered such an injury at the hands of striker supreme Pete Spratt in June. Not only did he fight through the pain, but he also ended up winning the match, proving himself to be a true warrior.

Four months and one surgery later, Alessio is set to return to action this coming Saturday at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas against Gideon Ray at Night of Combat II. The event is promoted by Superfights MMA and Kim Couture’s KC Concepts.

"I went in for surgery, they put a titanium plate on my arm, was in a cast for about five or six weeks and as soon as it came off I was back at training,” said Alessio of his injury. “It’s been a couple months now, and I’ve been training full-bore, feeling good and I’m excited to get back in there.

“I like to fight a lot, and that’s the first time I had a real setback from an injury in a fight. I’ve never had to do that before, sit on the sidelines, so I’m really excited to get back in the ring.”

As Alessio explains, fighting with a broken arm was a gut check, and one he fortunately was able to persevere through.

“Winning a fight with a broken arm is really a test,” he stated. “It’s a test of where you’re at as far as what kind of pain you’re willing to go through and take; what kind of heart you have.

“I think I proved to myself and a lot of fans and fighters out there that it’s going to take a lot more than a broken bone and all that to keep me from a win. I would say I passed with flying colors.”

Never one to back down from a challenge, he wasted no time in finding a difficult task for his return fight in Gideon Ray, a fellow former Ultimate Fighting Championship product.

“I’m not taking Gideon Ray lightly at all,” said Alessio. “He’s a veteran who is going to stay calm during the match and is coming to Vegas to fight.

“I just look forward to going out there, putting on a good fight and coming out victorious. I believe in myself and feel I’m better than him in pretty much all aspects in the game.”

He is quick to point out that while many in the MMA community have pegged him as a striker, the label may be a misnomer, as he intends to showcase a complete game against Ray.

“I’m not going to sit there and swing until I fall down – I’m telling you that right now,” he commented. “I’m going to mix it up and bring a full arsenal to the ring.

“This is not boxing – it’s mixed martial arts – I plan on giving him kicks, punches, slamming him on the ground and working jiu-jitsu or ground and pound. I don’t want him to think I’m going to do any one thing in particular; I’m just going to bring a full bag of tricks.”

Don’t expect Alessio to take things easy if he emerges from this weekend’s fight healthy. After sitting on the sidelines during the summer, he’s eager to get back to work, the sooner the better.

“Get me back in the ring as fast as you can,” he stated with a chuckle. “I don’t care who, where or when. I want to fight.

“I’m looking for my next fight right away. I’m just going to go from there and keep plugging away. I’ve only had two fights this year; so if possible, I’d like to walk out of this year with five fights and make up for lost time.”

Had injury not sidelined him, we might have seen a much different situation play out for Alessio this fall.

“I’m signed with EliteXC, but there were no big fights that interested me that were offered to me right away with them, so I took this fight with Kim Couture’s promotion here,” he admitted.

“There was the Jake Shields possibility, but they wanted me to fight in September, which was a little too soon after the broken arm to go into a five-round title fight.”

Alessio went on to say about that possible match-up, “I really want that fight with Jake Shields, but I want to go into that fight 100 percent ready, healthy and cardiovascular-wise. When I take that fight, I’m taking it to win, so I’ll probably be fighting for Elite at the beginning of the year.”

Before then, however, his attention is firmly focused on this weekend and Gideon Ray. Back from injury and healthy, he’s looking to put on a show and build momentum to carry him into the New Year.

“Come check out the show on Oct. 11 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas,” he concluded. “Tickets are cheap, so no excuses. It’s going to be aired on HDNet on Oct. 17, so if you can’t make it out to the show, check it out on TV.

“I want to thank Tapout, Gamma-O, my friends, fans and family for supporting me. Come check out the titanium plate, I’m going to use it as much as I can to bash Gideon Ray’s head in.”

Shogun Locc · Oct 8, 2008

Four-time NCAA All-American Phil Davis makes pro MMA debut Saturday

Four-time NCAA All-American and 2008 NCAA national champion Phil Davis (0-0), who finished his Penn State wrestling career with a 26-1 record his senior year, will make his professional MMA debut this weekend at "The Aawakening."

The event, produced by Frederic Belleton’s NoBoundary Mixed Martial Arts, takes place Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Jungleplex in Plymouth, Mass.

Davis, who finished his collegiate career just this year, replaces Karn Gregorian (illness) and will fight Brett Chism (8-2) in the night's main event.

(Gregorian recently won a spot on the cast of "The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir" but was forced off the show after suffering a fractured nose in his elimination fight.)

After finishing his senior season with a stellar 116-20 career record and a 2008 national championship (197 pounds), Davis created a buzz over the summer by announcing his intentions of turning pro in MMA. ESPN The Magazine did a feature on the aspiring fighter, calling him the "latest hot MMA prospect," and he accepted an offer from Lionheart Management, which also manages former University of Iowa All-American and "TUF" alumnus Paul Bradley.

However, Davis' first pro fight will be no cakewalk. Chism is a hard-hitting two-year vet who's currently riding a four-fight win streak (three via stoppage). Although known mostly for his stand-up, Chism has powerful takedowns and an effective ground-and-pound game.

Quite simply, he's a dangerous first opponent for Davis, a fighter who's likely to sign with the UFC or another top organization if he can score a few victories to start his career. Look no further than Oklahoma State's Jake Rosholt (who was 4-0 before signing with the WEC), Arizona State's Cain Velasquez (2-0 before his UFC signing) and Oklahoma State's Johny Hendricks (3-0 before his WEC signing) for examples of the fast track for collegiate wrestling champions.

"I've significantly improved my standup and ju-jitsu and have transitioned myself from a pure wrestler into a complete MMA fighter," stated Davis.

Shogun Locc · Oct 8, 2008

NELSON UNHAPPY WITH POLITICS OF ARLOVSKI FIGHT

Following a successful run as International Fight League heavyweight champion, Roy Nelson suffered his first loss in his last six fights after he faced off against former UFC champion Andrei Arlovski at CBS-EliteXC Saturday Night Fights.

The loss didn’t come without some controversy though, as Nelson was working on his ground attack from side control, a universally known dominant position, when the referee stood the fighters up.

“A quote from Kimbo… it is what it is,” said Nelson in an interview with MMAWeekly.com about the stand up. “The thing is I had a Kimura and I let the Kimura go to go to side control to go get the mount. As soon as I let go of the Kimura to go into side control where I could just basically make Andrei work a little bit more, and just kind of tire him out, and make him feel the weight. As soon as I did that, first thing they did was stand me up.”

Nelson wasn’t the only fighter on the card that night to question the refereeing. During an appearance on MMAWeekly Radio, EliteXC welterweight champion Jake Shields also mentioned that shortly after taking Paul Daley down in their fight, just as he was transitioning to mount, the referee was warning them to keep busy or the fight would be stood up.

According to Nelson, he also heard about the referee situation from Shields, but added that he doesn’t feel that was the real problem he was facing when challenging a popular fighter like Andrei Arlovski.

“Jake was telling me about it, but the difference between me and Jake is they wanted Jake to win,” Nelson commented.

In the end, Nelson feels the referee situation adversely affected his performance and while the overall experience soured him to those particular referees, he’s open to returning to EliteXC.

“I felt like I was fighting two people,” Nelson said about the referees last Saturday night. “I would fight for Elite, it all depends where we’re fighting at and who’s the ref. If we were fighting in Vegas, and I know the refs and they actually know what a Kimura is, that kind of makes for a big difference. Cause the reason they’re telling me to work for a better position and you’ve got someone in a submission, usually they have to get out.”

Still the overall situation could go even deeper because the former IFL champ says that Arlovski may have had prior knowledge about their fight, giving him more time to prepare.

“We were having dinner afterwards and Andrei’s guys were coming over and they were just talking about how they had been studying me and watching film and stuff and they’ve been doing it for over three weeks, and I was like, ‘huh?” Nelson stated. “And I didn’t say anything to them, but it makes you kind of wonder, three weeks? I thought you were on the same (one) week plan that I was? When you see all the politics all unfold and that made it very interesting.”

Nelson holds no ill will towards Arlovski for the situation and hopes the two fighters have the chance to fight again in the future.

“Andrei did a great job. I got caught and that’s why when I lost to him I went up to Andrei and say, ‘Hey, can we do this again,’” Nelson said. “He was gracious, I underestimated him a little bit from the stand-up point.”

The short notice was a major factor in the fight and something Nelson says won’t likely happen again as he believes he needs at least a four or five week camp to prepare for a specific opponent, especially one in the Top 10 like Arlovski.

While nothing has been made official yet, he is also hopeful to return to a previously scheduled fight against Paul Buentello in Affliction in January. But this loss has added motivation to the Las Vegas native’s mindset for his next fight and he issued a warning to whoever the opponent is.

“I don’t know who I’m going to fight next, but I feel bad for the next guy.”

Shogun Locc · Oct 8, 2008

EliteXC And Ken Shamrock Are Stuck With Each Other For A Little While Longer

Following the Ken Shamrock debacle on Saturday night there was a lingering question (well, one of among many) hovering around the post-fight press conference: Would EliteXC still be interested in promoting another Ken Shamrock fight in the future considering how he almost single-handedly sabotaged the most important show in their history?

EliteXC's head of fight operations Jeremy Lappen and VP Jared Shaw seemed very hesitant to discuss Shamrock's future with the organization because, you know, he pretty much screwed them good. If Shamrock really sustained a freak injury don't you think they would have just said something along the lines of, "Well, these things happen in our sport. Our heart goes out to Ken and we hope he gets well soon"? Instead, we got this kind of response from $kala.

"Ya, you know, for me that's tough right now because I'm honest," Shaw said. "With Ken Shamrock I just don't really know right now if he found a way out or he actually had an accident happen."

Hmm. I bet both sides had plenty of time to figure out if this injury was legit or not so Shaw's response pretty much told me all I needed to know.

So, back to the question of whether EliteXC will still be working with Shamrock. The answer, as of right now, is surprsingly yes. The promotion's next major show is in Reno, NV, which is also known as "Shamrock country." As a result, Shamrock's "Lion's Den" gym will be providing a ton of local undercard fighters to compete on November 8th. In addition, according to his MySpace page, Shamrock's son, Ryan, (not to be confused with this Ryan Shamrock) will also fight on the card. We can also pass along the exciting news that boxer Jonathan Reid will be competing in his first MMA fight on the card. He's lost 10 of his last 11 boxing matches, so I am expecting big things out of him come next month.

Obviously, this deal was struck before Saturday night's drama in Sunrise, Fla., so I wouldn't take this co-promotion of sorts as sign that Shamrock will be fighting for EliteXC anytime soon. As for Shamrock himself, here's hoping the disgraced MMA legend shows up on November 8th to further convince us that "he is ready to fight anytime, any place." That would be hilarious.

Shogun Locc · Oct 8, 2008

Thiago Alves: Rated Exclusive Interview
videolink:http://mmarated.com/videos/v/20081008/thiago_alves__rated_exclusive_interview-6105.html

Shogun Locc · Oct 8, 2008

UFC CLARIFIES MEDICAL INSURANCE CLAIMS BY TITO

In a statement released to MMAWeekly.com on Tuesday night, former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz openly discussed his ongoing bout with back problems and his decision to have surgery to repair his back.

“I have made it though the last eight fights by physical therapy, methylprednisolone pills, and spinal injections for my last three fights,” he recounted. “I took it upon myself to get surgery in hopes that my fight career will jump back on track and I will be back to the explosive monster I always have been.”

He didn’t stop there, however. In his statement, Tito went on to claim that his former employer, the Ultimate Fighting Championship, denied the claims for medical coverage for his back.

“The kicker to this whole story is that the UFC denied my claim for coverage of my debilitating back injury obviously acquired in the Octagon,” he said. “After all of the battling, and allegiance I pledged to them, they now have stooped so low as to not give me the medical care I so desperately needed.”

In response to Tito’s claims, Zuffa, LLC, the parent company of the UFC, issued a statement clarifying its position as it relates to a fighter’s claims for medical coverage when competing for the promotion.

“It has come to the attention of Zuffa, LLC (Zuffa) that Tito Ortiz alleges the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) denied an insurance claim following the UFC 84 event. In light of Mr. Ortiz’ inaccurate statements, Zuffa is compelled to set the record straight,” read the statement provided to MMAWeekly.com.

Zuffa continued, explaining its position as the purchaser of insurance for the fighters it employs, but added that does not give them authority over a claim made to the insurance company.

“The UFC does not have the authority to deny or approve any insurance claims asserted by UFC athletes. Rather, Zuffa purchases medical insurance coverage for the benefit of fighters at levels significantly higher than those required by state athletic commissions. The decision regarding whether a filed claim is valid and therefore approved is determined exclusively through the standard review process of the insurance company AIG.”

Shogun Locc · Oct 8, 2008

JAKE SHIELDS WANTS THE BEST, EVEN AT 185

Jake Shields has his eyes on the future after an impressive win that saw him defend his EliteXC welterweight title for the first time by defeating Paul Daley on Saturday night in Florida.

Shields worked a beautiful ground game that kept him in the dominant position for the majority of the fight, including the mount that give him the chance to finish the fight with an armbar.

Currently riding an 11-fight win streak including wins over top opponents such as Nick Thompson, Carlos Condit, and Yushin Okami, the EliteXC champ is ready to conquer his next great challenge, the middleweight division.

Previously interested in a showdown with Top 10 middleweight Matt Lindland before the fight with Daley came about, Shields expressed his desire to test himself once again during an appearance on MMAWeekly Radio on Monday night.

He commented that he is willing to face any top competition at 170 pounds, but if those top opponents aren’t there then he is willing to go up in weight to continue his growth in the sport.

Two top names on the list of possible opponents are EliteXC middleweight champion Robbie Lawler and Matt Lindland, who is still slated to perform with the Affliction promotion, presumably at its January event co-promoted by Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions.

While Shields would not commit to which of those fighters he would rather face, a fight between Robbie Lawler and Joey Villasenor is currently scheduled for Nov. 8, which means he would likely have a long while to wait to face the winner of that fight.

For now Shields will concentrate on opening his new school and gym next week, as he predicts that his win over Daley will likely be his last fight for 2008.

Shogun Locc · Oct 8, 2008

Cris Cyborg on EliteXC win

Cris Cyborg has seven professional MMA bouts. Her record shows six wins and one loss, which happened at the beginning of her career, in 2005. At EliteXC, last Saturday, the Brazilian put the crowd on their feet during her fight against Japan’s Yoko Takahashi.

The Curitiba-born athlete is no longer a surprise, neither to promoters or spectators. Proof of this is that there is already rumor that she may fight Gina Carano. According to EliteXC president Jared Shaw, the fight is going to take place in February.

About the match, Chute Boxe leader Rudimar Fedrigo says he believes his athlete is up to the challenge. “I truly think Cris is going to be champion,” he told GRACIEMAG.com yesterday.

Cris commented on the possibility of fighting Carano. “Gina said she would train harder and dedicate herself more to fight me. I said I want to fight for the belt, no matter who holds it – I’ve got nothing against Gina. People liked my work. I was able to show [against Takahashi that I know more than just muay thai,” said Cris.

She also talked about how tough her latest opponent is: “Takahashi is one of Japan’s best and I didn’t even know, I only found out afterwards. The promoters were impressed because I fought in a higher weight class, 148 pounds. It was fine by me, but my weight is 140. They liked it that I won even that way.”

Fedrigo was also pleased with Cris Cyborg’s performance. “The bout was very satistying, and the crowd loved it. Cris’s opponent show a lot of heart, a true Japanese samurai. She went the distance, always going after the fight. She made Cris’s victory even more valuable,” said the master.

Shogun Locc · Oct 9, 2008

Josh Barnett 'The Watchman'

In a PunchDrunkGamer Exclusive, top 3 Heavyweight Josh Barnett took some time to talk about Andrei Arlovski, Fedor Emelianenko, his fighting future, more video games, movieland, the fall of Kimbo Slice and Randy Couture versus Brock Lesnar.

PDG: What did you think of the fights last weekend on CBS?
Barnett: I thought they were pretty good and the first fight of the night really set a good pace for the rest of the card. If you tuned in to watch some fights, then you certainly got what you are looking for.

PDG: It looked like ‘Ninja’ Rua and Benji Radach almost double ko’ed each other twice in that fight.
Barnett: It sure did look that way, they were really going at it and it was an exciting fight.

PDG: What did you think of Gina Carano’s performance?
Barnett: Her conditioning and strength looked really good and her boxing looked very much improved.

PDG: Kelly Kobald came out fast to start the fight and it looked like that got Gina fired up and she took the fight to her.
Barnett: The thing about getting bum-rushed like that is that it can really disturb the rhythm of an experienced fighter. When you get that opponent that comes balls to the wall to start the fight, it can make even the most experienced fighter look bad. It can be a problem in the fight when you are not used to that kind of pressure to open the fight. I think Gina responded very well though.

PDG: Gina definitely didn't show any effects from her weigh-in ordeal which has now become routine.
Barnett: A lot of guys face that same scenario, so I don't think it is that big of a deal.

PDG: Let's move to the world of Barnett; what were your thoughts when the recent Affliction show was canceled?
Barnett: It was very unfortunate and I was really at a loss of words. Any time you have been training really hard for a fight and it doesn't happen. It is very disappointing. I was notified just about a month before the event was to take place and we were just really increasing the training at that point.

PDG: So do you plan on fighting on the Affliction card set for January 24th?
Barnett: I do and I really hope that since the event was postponed that we can make this next show something special. I think that with all of the fighters that they will have available for that event with the new partnership with Goldenboy; I think Affliction has the opportunity to put a show on that will be better than what any other organization can do.

PDG: There has been talk about possibly having a boxing match or two during that event; what are your thoughts on that?
Barnett: I have not heard a lot of the details about that but I did hear that they were considering having at least one boxing match. Because of the time that a boxing match can possibly take, I would imagine they wouldn't have more than one.

PDG: Don't you think that having a boxing match in the middle of a mixed martial arts event could turn away hard-core fans?
Barnett: I think that MMA fans need to become a little more refined. All of the different parts of fighting have a lot of positives to offer. Boxing at its best is really an incredible thing to be able to watch. It is not just about slugging each other; there is a lot of technique involved. Not to mention timing and strategy. Imagine having a great boxing match with an MMA super fight on the same card.

PDG: I agree but it would definitely depend on what boxing match-up was on the card.
Barnett: Agreed. If it turned out to be a bad boxing match though, I think we could make up for it.

PDG: So what was the deal with all of the rumors about you not wanting to fight Andrei Arlovski this past weekend?
Barnett: Some Internet reporter jumped the gun! No offense but whatever Intel they were using was wrong. I was in Japan and I definitely did not turn the fight down. Tom Atencio was unable to get a hold of me and so he offered the fight to Roy Nelson. It was more of a mis-communication error and no I was not happy about. It's over and done with and the two of them had a good fight and Arlovski picked up another win.

PDG: What did you think of the stoppage in the fight?
Barnett: I thought that it was right on. The one thing I disagreed with was when the ref stood them up when Nelson was working a double wrist lock and he was in side control. There was no reason to put them back on their feet. I also thought that the Kimbo Slice fight was stopped prematurely; they could have let that fight go a little longer. He wasn't like some punchdrunk fighter wandering the ring, he knew he was getting hit and he tried to single leg the referee. Who knows what would've happened....if anyone was watching Strikeforce the other night. Those guys were getting peppered, knocked down and were coming back and winning the fight.

PDG: Yeah, the event was here in Denver and I was there. There were definitely some very good fights.
Barnett: Like I've said before here on PDG, I like to watch the old Superbrawl fights and some of those guys get mounted, stomped and pounded....then the aggressor gases, gets reversed and gets owned. They talk about stopping fights for our safety but you know what? We sign a waiver before we get in that ring. So it is not like we are expecting to not be hit. We know we are doing.

PDG: Since you brought up Kimbo; you have been in the sport for a long time. What are your thoughts on him losing to the first experienced fighter that was not a tailor-made opponent for him?
Barnett: I was sitting in the bar and a bunch of people started cheering. The bar had a bunch of other fighters there and everyone was cheering except for me, I was actually upset. I wanted Kimbo to win and I was cheering for him. I wasn't real sure about him fighting Ken Shamrock because I have always been a big fan of Ken. It is really hard for me to watch Ken go out there and under perform like he has as of late compared to when I first started watching him compete. Kimbo is still a relative newcomer to this sport and I don't have any problem with how he has been brought up into the spotlight so fast. I like watching him fight and I wanted to see his ongoing progression fight to fight. I was disappointed because I wanted to see Kimbo do well.

PDG: I see your point but I definitely would have rather seen Shamrock knock him out.
Barnett: Yeah, I would rather have seen the outcome of Kimbo vs Shamrock. But I knew that Seth Petruzelli was a decent fighter with experience and that he was going to be game. In my mind though, a fight between Kimbo and Shamrock would not have had any losers.

PDG: So do you expect Kimbo to come back with any relevance?
Barnett: Absolutely, I can't imagine any reason why he wouldn’t. I didn't get to hear all of his post fight comments but he doesn't seem like a guy that would up and quit.

PDG: Since your flight was canceled; how much are you training right now?
Barnett: Still training hard because there is a possibility that I could fight November 1st on the Sengoku card. I am also going to be pro wrestling for the IGF in November. Other than that, I also have a fight coming up for Affliction. So I have to be ready to go and injury free for whatever comes my way.

PDG: So what about Sengoku? Any thoughts or opponents in mind?
Barnett: I think they could definitely use me on the card and I would like to help bring in the fans for the event. I don't want to wait until January for my next fight. As far as possible opponents go, I really don't have that information yet.

PDG: Speaking of the January Affliction card; some are reporting that you definitely will not be facing Fedor Emelianenko.
Barnett: This is business and a lot of things can happen. I would not say definitely anymore! There are a lot of things wrapped into a fight with Fedor and once negotiations begin it is an ongoing process. Affliction needs a big main event for that card and that is definitely a fight that everybody wants to see. As two of the top fighters in the world and consummate professionals, I can see why fans want to see us fight on January 24th.

PDG: I can say I want to see that fight. To one of your former opponents; did you get a chance to see Mirko ‘Cro Cop’ fight at DREAM. 6?
Barnett: I did, I was in Japan. I was very surprised because he has not looked like himself for some time now. Allistair Overeem stood right in front of CC and basically said throw what you got and with his height advantage, he was able to shelf that LHK attempt and put CC on the mat. Overeem is a big guy and unlike Aleks Emelianenko he was able to push CC around and use his strength and footwork in that fight.

PDG: Overeem looks like a different fighter at heavyweight than he did at light heavyweight.
Barnett: To me, Overeem has always looked awesome. I don't know what kind of conditioning he has now but if you are unable to push him to the point where he gases, it doesn't really matter.

PDG: All right let's get to some video games; what are you playing now?
Barnett: I am playing HALO 2 of all games. I didn't have an Xbox from the beginning but now I have my Xbox 360 that I got from my buddy Justin Levins. He gave me a copy of HALO 2 that he got with the console and I had played split screen with my dad and some of my friends before but I had never played the campaign mode before.

PDG: I can't blame you; the campaign on HALO 2 is very entertaining.
Barnett: It is pretty good, the way the story is told and the pace of the game kind of remind me of Half-Life 2. In my opinion it is not as good as Half-Life 2 but it is a very enjoyable play. A couple of my friends told me that they didn't even like HALO 3, which really surprised me.

PDG: That is surprising because I thought the campaign on HALO 3 blew away HALO 2.
Barnett: I am doing well on this game and once I finish it I will move on to HALO 3. I also have already pre-ordered Fallout 3, so I'm pretty hyped about that.

PDG: That game looks kick ass.
Barnett: I am a huge Fallout fan. I just recently picked up a packet online that contains Fallout 1 and 2 tactics.

PDG: Have you been playing anything on the PC lately?
Barnett: No because of all the travel I haven’t had much time lately. But that reminds me that when I was in Japan last. I played Streetfighter IV in the arcade and it was awesome.

PDG: They have that game in the arcade?
Barnett: They have everything over there long before we get it here in the US. I was in there looking for another game and saw Streetfighter IV. What they do is they have a big arcade and it is divided a couple of sections. They have interactive games and so forth on one level, card games. Where you actually have cards that are used to play the games and so there is an interactive mat in front of the game that you set the cards down on depending on what type of game it is. So they're playing an RPG game, then you’re laying down magic and that kind of stuff. They have some really cool games and it is an interesting way of playing them. On the other level, they will have what is called UFO catchers and battle arcades which are all connected. They always have the latest fighting game and then a lot of other classic games that people can battle against each other on. All the machines are back to back so you can sit down to play one and somebody else can just sit down on the other side of you to challenge you. I played with the MMA-Sambo character, Abel on SF IV and did pretty well until a couple of guys came in and kicked my ass.

PDG: That's really cool; how are the graphics and playability of the game?
Barnett: It was awesome....it is a really cool game and I look forward to playing it here in the states.

PDG: So you haven’t played the new Warhammer yet?
Barnett: No but I did finish Dawn of War ‘The Sisters of Battle’. There are two new Warhammer games coming out, Brian Monahan and myself were looking at the Dawn of War II and I am really hyped up for that game to come out. And then Shayna Baszler sent me a youtube link for the new Warhammer 40k: Space Marine. It's a third person shooter game where you get to use a variety of weapons to assault other space marines. Either way I am picking both games up.

PDG: I saw they came out recently with the beta for Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning.
Barnett: Yeah that's the online role-playing version. I haven't even had a chance to touch the Warhammer fantasy games. I try to stay away from the online multiplayer games because they just suck you in. It takes so much time to get to a certain level in those games that you end up playing forever. You could spend your whole life playing those games [laughs].

PDG: Gears of War 2 is coming out soon; is that a game your going to get?
Barnett: I still haven't finished the first one which is really tough but it is definitely an awesome game. I got to the part of the game where you have to stay in the light or you get killed and I just haven't had the time to play past that point. I can imagine that GOW 2 is going to be special because the graphics on the first game, which was one of the early X360 games; were amazing and blew most games out of the water.

PDG: Being a big comic book fan, are you excited that ‘The Watchmen’ is being made into a movie?
Barnett: Part of me thinks that they will ruin this and part of me wants to know what the ‘Comedian’ is going to look like on film. That has to be pretty cool. It is one of the greatest comic books that you are ever going to come across and the creator Alan Moore has come out with some great stories. It gives you a whole different way of looking at superheroes.

PDG: What about the new 'Max Payne' movie?
Barnett: To be honest, I don't remember all the demons and that kind of stuff from Max Payne. When I first saw the commercial I thought that they were advertising the DVD for Constantine again. I played Max Payne 1 on the PS2 and I remember that you mostly fought men but that there were some monsters; I do not recall any demons though. It looks like an interesting movie and I am sure that Mark Wahlberg will definitely have a better performance than he did in the movie ‘The Happening’. It was like the director sat in his chair and told all of the actors to act like they had never acted before.

PDG: That movie came out on DVD this week and I was planning on getting it.
Barnett: Don't bother; I watched it on fast forward on the plane. I don't want to spoil it in case you or anyone else decides to buy that DVD but you can pretty much figure out the whole movie in the first half hour. Don't buy the DVD, if it's ever on TV, then that's your two hours to waste.

PDG: Thanks for the warning; back to fighting. What do you think of the upcoming fight between Randy Couture and Brock Lesnar?
Barnett: It is definitely a mega fight match up as far as garnering the fans interest and their money. It is more about what Lesnar does to prepare for this flight since it is going to be five rounds....Randy is definitely going to be prepared to weather any storm that he has to. If Brock blows up at the beginning of the fight and Randy can hold on, then he has a great chance. By all means though, Lesnar is a younger, stronger, more aggressive and better wrestler. Randy definitely has him in the fight experience department though. Heath Herring has a better submission game than Randy and look how that fight turned out. Randy is a much better wrestler than Herring is though. Randy has had a lot of big wins but he was coming off of several losses prior to that. So we will see what happens in this fight.

PDG: Are you going to train Mark Coleman for his upcoming fight against ‘Shogun’ Rua?
Barnett: I would for sure if he asks; he knows the door is always open here for him.

PDG: Thanks for the time Josh; is there anything else you wanted to add?
Barnett: Thanks Dave, I look forward to fighting very soon and come January 24th, I hope we are able to put together a card that will leave the fans speechless!! Thanks to all my sponsors including Whipple Superchargers.

Shogun Locc · Oct 9, 2008

'Bigfoot' Enlists Big Gun for Steroids Appeal

Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva and his manager Alex Davis have hired world-recognized doping lawyer Howard Jacobs to represent the EliteXC heavyweight champion at a California State Athletic Commission hearing Oct. 22 in Los Angeles.

Jacobs represented former UFC lightweight champion Sean Sherk during his five-month appeals process with the CSAC, after the Minnesotan tested positive for Nandrolone in July 2007. Sherk’s sentence was eventually reduced from one year to six months.

Dubbed “The Athlete’s Lawyer,” Jacobs has fielded doping appeals for Olympic sprinter Marion Jones and Tour De France winner Floyd Landis, among others.

Silva, a native of Brasilia, Brazil, tested positive for the anabolic agent Boldenone following his July 26 victory over Justin Eilers in Stockton, Calif., according to results released by the CSAC.

The 28-year-old American Top Team member was suspended for one year and fined $2,500. Silva and his representatives immediately contested the allegations, which were based on two separate test results of the same urine sample handled by Quest Diagnostics and the World Anti-Doping Agency-approved Laboratoire De Controle Du Dopage in Montreal.

Silva’s manager Davis said his client could never take steroids for fear of fatality due to a pre-existing medical condition. Silva, who stands at 6-foot-4 and weighs close to 300 pounds, suffers from the chronic disease acromegaly, which causes enlargement of the extremities and face due to an overactive pituitary gland.

In June 2007, Silva (11-1) was denied licensure in California when an abnormal brain scan showed signs of a tumor. The Brazilian underwent surgery two months later to remove the tumor and fought twice afterward.

Silva, who moved to the Coconut Creek, Fla., two years ago to train with American Top team and speaks little English, pleaded his case to Jacobs through his management and coaches.

“I believe we will be able to show that [Silva] did not use Boldenone,” said Jacobs. “I have enough information, assuming the state athletic commission gets us the laboratory documents; I think I’ll be able to present a compelling case.”

Part of Jacob’s case may hinge on a clean sample the fighter reportedly produced shortly after his suspension was announced. Jacobs said the sample was tested at a “well-respected” laboratory separate from the two Silva’s initial samples had gone to, but would not name the facility. Boldenone is recognized for its comparatively longer half-life, which ranges from six months to a year and a half, according to numerous medical Web Sites.

“As soon as we could, we had an additional sample provided and it was negative,” said Jacobs. “There’s a variety of reasons we did it which I’ll get into at a later date.”

EliteXC reps have already announced that they will await Silva’s appeal before making a decision regarding the heavyweight title.

Shogun Locc · Oct 9, 2008

Fully healed and training, "Babalu" ready for Southworth on Nov. 21

After suffering a knee injury in mid-August and undergoing surgery in early September, Renato "Babalu" Sobral is healed and again training full-time in preparation of a Nov. 21 title fight with Strikeforce world light heavyweight champion Bobby Southworth (9-5).

Richard Wilner, Sobral's laywer and manager, today alerted MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) of the upcoming fight -- one of two title fights planned for the event.

The Nov. 21 Strikeforce event takes place at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., and features the first title defense of recently crowned Strikeforce world lightweight champion Josh Thomson.

Thomson's opponent has not yet been determined.

Sobral was originally scheduled to fight Southworth at "Strikeforce at the Mansion II" earlier this month in Beverly Hills, Calif., (and later Anthony Ruiz after Southworth had suffered a knee injury), but "Babalu" was sidelined by an injury suffered during a training session for the fight.

After sustaining the injury, Sobral underwent an MRI, and two different doctors recommended surgery. Sobral went through with an arthroscopic procedure to correct a medial mediscal tear.

"It was a success," Wilner said soon after the surgery.

Sobral (30-7), a former UFC fighter who signed with Strikeforce following a victory over David Heath at UFC 74, is currently riding a three-fight win streak, which included a unanimous-decision victory over Mike Whitehead at Affliction's debut event in July. He's won 13 of his past 15 fights.

He's also preparing to open his own gym. Gracie Barra Cerritos (www.babalubjj.com), a 4,000-square-foot facility located in Cerritos, Calif., has a grand opening on Oct. 18.

Southworth, meanwhile, most recently defeated Anthony Ruiz via unanimous decision in a June title fight. It was his third victory in his past four fights -- all of which have taken place with Strikeforce.

Shogun Locc · Oct 9, 2008

SUPERFIGHTS MMA: 'IT'S TIME' FOR MIKE PYLE

When this month’s Affliction show was postponed, many of the fighters were left to wonder if they would have to wait until the rescheduled date next year or if they’d get an opportunity to fight before then.

Luckily for them, the promotion stepped up and helped many of the scheduled fighters find spots on cards for various promotions, including this weekend’s Superfights MMA show, which ironically takes the place of Affliction’s scheduled event at the Thomas and Mack Center on Saturday night in Las Vegas.

Among those who were able to get on the card, produced in association KC Concepts, the company of UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture’s wife Kim, is welterweight standout Mike “Quicksand” Pyle.

He will be making his debut in his adoptive hometown of Las Vegas when he takes on MMA veteran Brian Gassaway this weekend.

“I’m ready to take on Brian Gassaway,” stated an enthusiastic Pyle. “I’m in great shape, ready to do it, so let’s do it.”

Currently Pyle is riding a three-fight winning streak this year, and he’s looking forward to fighting on the card with a multitude of teammates, as well as helping Kim Couture out in the promotion side of things.

“I’m going to be fighting here with all my boys that I train with, so that will be pretty cool,” he said. “I haven’t done that since the International Fight League days.

“Kim and Randy give back so much from the gym, they give a lot to us, so I can give back to them now.”

At Superfights MMA, Pyle will have a tough test on his hands in Gassaway, a fighter who has fought just about everywhere and experienced just about everything in the game.

“I’ve got most of my wins by submission, and I think that’s his weakest area, so I’m going to capitalize on that,” commented the Xtreme Couture fighter.

Just because Pyle sees an area he feels he has an advantage in, it doesn’t mean that the writing is necessarily on the wall when it comes to his fight strategy.

“I’m going to fight him and whatever it takes for me to win, I’m going to do,” he stated. “If things aren’t going my way in one area, I’ll look for the takedown and try for a submission, but if I feel like I can take him standing, that’s what I’ll do.”

Pyle is signed to Affliction Entertainment in the U.S. and World Victory Road (Sengoku) in Japan, where he would like to be able to take the next step in his career.

“I’d like to go back to Japan soon after this fight. End this year with five (wins) in a row, that’d be nice for the calendar year,” he said. “We’ll see how it goes.

“Hopefully Affliction teaming up with (Oscar De La Hoya’s) Golden Boy (Promotions) will become something and prosper. I plan on getting the belt there and holding on to that. I’d like to represent them as a welterweight champion.”

Either way, there’s currently a sense of urgency coursing through Pyle’s veins.

“It’s time,” he proclaimed. “A lot of people know I can do it, and I know I can do it; it’s just a matter of being in the right place at the right time and getting the opportunity to make it happen.”

Pyle can get one step closer to his goal with a good showing this Saturday night against Gassaway, and further the course of his team and their matriarch in the process.

“Thanks for Xtreme Couture for helping us fighters out who were out of a show; thanks to them for stepping up and putting us on the card, we appreciate it,” he closed out.

“Come check out some of the best fighters in the world from Xtreme Couture at the Thomas and Mack Center, this Saturday, Oct. 11. We’re all going to represent and show everyone the hard work we put in at the gym, and showcase it on someone’s face.”

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