MMA News Thread

[Shogun Locc]

MICHAEL BISPING GETS READY FOR THE SECOND TIME

For the second time in as many months, Michael Bisping has been working and training for a match-up against Chris Leben. The first time around, Leben had to pull out of the bout to serve time for a past legal offense, but now the fight is on and the British fighter has had plenty of time to think about this one.

Before fighting Jason Day in his last UFC bout, Bisping had game planned and prepared for Leben. He is now able to recycle that knowledge for the fight scheduled for UFC 89 this weekend in England.

“This time when the fight was scheduled I kind of already had an idea of how the fight was going to go and what I needed to do,” said the Brit in a recent interview with MMAWeekly Radio. “I was already watching his tapes, now I started doing that again. The gameplan’s still the same.”

While the gameplan itself hasn’t been revealed, one big key to Bisping’s success could be his patience to deal with Leben’s incredible chin and ability to withstand a ton of punishment.

“You’ve definitely got to be patient with fights like Chris. I’ve fought guys like Chris before in kickboxing and early in my MMA career, guys that could take a great shot and keep coming,” Bisping commented. “You can’t think you’ve hurt them and then stay in the pocket and get caught with that big shot.

“Take your time and just keep chipping away. If you don’t knock him down with your first first few shots, just keep chipping away and the knockout will come.”

Bisping has also had the chance to look at Leben’s past fights and understands that speed and quickness could be major problems for his American counterpart, who loves to unload big, devastating shots in his fights.

“That’s the way I’ve always liked to fight, even at light heavyweight,” said Bisping about his quickness. “Because, I was an undersized guy at light heavyweight, I liked to rely on speed as opposed to on raw power if you will, and I think that will be the case in this one. Now I’m lighter and I feel even faster.”

The one part of this fight that many fans expected to see prior to this weekend was a verbal war between Bisping and Leben, who have both been known to let their feelings show when an opponent has a few words for them.

Despite never backing down from either a physical or verbal challenge, Bisping and Leben have both remained pretty respectful going into this one, and the Englishman thinks its because they may be cut from the same cloth.

“Leben seems like my kind of guy, seems like the kind of guy I’d like to go out and have a beer with,” Bisping commented. “To be honest he’s said the same thing, he’s been pretty respectful towards me. All it takes is one of us to say one wrong thing, (then) it’s in the gutter.”

Michael Bisping will let his fight skill do the talking for him when he faces Chris Leben on Saturday night at UFC 89 in England.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Starnes Seeks Destiny

It’s been nearly half a year since Kalib Starnes stepped into the Octagon in Montreal against Nate Quarry at UFC 83; time that the Surrey, British Columbia native has spent healing, reflecting, and now preparing for a Nov. 15 match against Kala "Kolohe" Hose in Hawaii.

Starnes suffered a broken foot near the start of his middleweight bout with Quarry that he says prevented him from implementing his game plan and caused him to retreat for most of the bout.

The result wasn’t pretty. In addition to the loss to Quarry, Starnes received an amount of scorn and verbal abuse from fans and pundits alike rarely seen in MMA. They accused him of avoiding confrontation and called him a coward.

“People like to be on the side that’s winning, said Starnes. “They’re supportive when you’re winning and critical when you’re losing. I still get some sweet hate mails pretty regularly. There are some gyms with guys who begged me to come in there and train and do seminars before that fight and who wouldn’t return my calls or talk to me afterwards.”

It was a difficult time for Starnes, who weathered the storm and remains sage about the experience.

“It’s good. It separates people who are really supportive and back you from people that are just trying to jump on your wagon while you’re successful,” he said. “Such is life. It’s more a learning experience and I don’t find it particularly motivational or that depressing, it’s just learning how people are.”

Starnes couldn’t walk on his foot for three months and took the time to rest, spend time with his daughter, and take some online courses. Once he was able to, he started training at the Suitela Fitness and Defence Centre in Surrey.

“Right now I’ve been doing a lot of strength and conditioning with an excellent personal trainer named Adrian Crowe at least four days a week doing power-lifting and heavy circuits,” he said. “I’m a lot stronger than I’ve ever been. Now I’ve been drilling a lot with a fighter named Andrew Peterson and he’s been my main training partner.”

In the aftermath of UFC 83, Starnes said he asked to be released from his contract, to which they agreed.

“It was something I’m happy about,” he said. “I’m glad I’m not fighting there and will be fighting independently where I want and for whoever wants to pay me.”

Since UFC 83, Starnes said he’s been offered fights everywhere from New York to Florida to New Jersey, but the one he’s decided to accept is against Hose on Nov. 15 in Hawaii’s fledgling Destiny promotion.

“He’s a good, tough opponent who has some good wins. His win over Phil Baroni was real impressive and he’s definitely a good, solid, tough opponent,” Starnes said.

Starnes’ standing with his two previous clubs, the Revolution Fight Team in British Columbia and American Top Team in Florida might still be a question for fans. Starnes credits Revolution and Rob Velek for much of his success. He’d also like to return to ATT someday.

“I really liked training there and all of the people were great to me and I have no complaints or anything negative to say about ATT,” said Starnes. “I really liked [Ricardo] Liborio, Howard Davis Jr., and a lot of other people there like Dan Lambert and [Andre] Benkei, who were all great to me, so maybe one day.”

 

[Shogun Locc]

GSP joins the club

UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre experienced what he called “the high point in my career” last Saturday, as he received his black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu from Bruno Fernandes at the Tristar Martial Arts Academy in Montreal.

The report, which comes from Graciemag.com, says that St. Pierre was taken by surprise with the promotion and said that along with achieving his black belt in karate and winning the UFC title, this was one of the three happiest moments of his life.

Canada’s most established and beloved mixed martial artist, the 25-year-old St. Pierre (17-2) recently signed a deal with talent agency CAA Sports, joining the ranks of Derek Jeter, LeBron James and Tony Hawk.

And what did Fernandes say when affixing the belt around the widely admired welterweight’s waist?

"Welcome to the club."

 

[Shogun Locc]

Davis' Power Doesn't Scare Granite-Chinned Kelly

When UFC 89 convenes this Saturday in Birmingham, England, Michael Bisping will not be the only British fighter looking to dodge explosive left crosses.

A little further down the lineup, Bisping’s Wolfslair Academy teammate Paul Kelly will have his hands full with Boston-based veteran Marcus Davis. Like Bisping’s opponent, Chris Leben, Davis wields a nap-inducing left hand.

A granite tough ground-and-pound artist, Kelly believes it’s the perfect time to challenge a southpaw, especially for fighters at the Wolfslair Academy.

“It’s crazy,” Kelly says. “None of our lads have really [fought] southpaws, and suddenly there are three of us fighting them at the same time. We all have a similar focus. Everything is back-to-front with [southpaws], but we’re getting it all worked out.”

Kelly, set to make his second appearance in the UFC, claims to have been unaffected by “Octagon jitters.” A professional for a little less than three years, the 24-year-old seems comfortable competing under the bright lights on his sport’s biggest stage.

“I’m cool,” Kelly says. “Mentally, I have never been the type of fighter who convinces himself he has to win. My outlook has always been to go in and have a good fight, and there’s no reason to change my mindset for this fight. It suits me, so why change it?”

Davis (14-4) has won 11 of his last 12 fights and presents a formidable challenge for anyone at 170 pounds. The 35-year-old carries with him two of the heaviest hands in the welterweight division. Kelly has worked with professional boxer Tony Quigley Jr. in an attempt to simulate what he will face at UFC 89.

“I’m in a good place right now,” Kelly says. “We’re a bit worried about Marcus’ power, but I’ve got a pretty solid chin. When I spar, people often say the same: ‘F--king hell. What’s in your head?’ I’m very confident in my ability to take a punch. Tony hits as hard as anyone I have ever sparred with.”

Wolfslair conditioning coach Lee Gwynne feels the pressure in the Kelly-Davis bout rests firmly on the American’s shoulders.

“Paul’s going in as an underdog, and he’s not really going in the fight with a lot to lose,” Gwynne says. “Marcus lost his last fight, while Paul won his. Davis is highly ranked, and a win over him will elevate Paul.”

In advance of his showdown with Davis, Kelly admits the rigors of his brutal training regimen have taken their toll on him physically.

“It’s so hard,” the Liverpool, England, slugger says with a sigh. “I can’t even feel how fit I am right now because I’m so tired. The day begins with a mile-and-a-half warm-up and then three five-minute sprints of one mile each flat out, then back for breakfast, then on to the Wolfslair [for sparring, grappling and conditioning], then home to sleep for a few a few hours.”

It does not end there.

“I’m also doing weights on Tuesday and Thursday, doing kettle bells and circuits,” Kelly says. “I’m so knackered there are times I hate everyone, but Lee Gwynne has been with me from the start. I couldn’t do it without him. He keeps me so disciplined.”

Gwynne’s attention to detail knows no bounds.

“Recently, I [got] home at 10:15 [p.m.], and he was waiting for me absolutely fuming,” Kelly says. “As punishment, they made me do two workout sets on my day off. He’s my mentor, on my case 100 percent, 24 hours a day.”

Gwynne likes what he sees in Kelly.

“Paul can best be described as an old diesel engine; it takes a while to get him warmed up, but he goes on forever once you get him motivated,” he says. “There are always a lot of tensions come fight time, and people get very touchy, but make no mistake, Paul’s looking forward to this fight, and he’s more than ready to do three five-minute rounds.”

Kelly also benefited from Ricco Rodriguez’s presence. The former UFC heavyweight champion worked alongside Kelly at the Wolfslair Academy, as he prepped for his Oct. 4 bout against Rob Broughton at Cage Gladiators IX. The atmosphere at the camp wowed Rodriguez.

“The level of hard work and dedication in the gym is phenomenal,” Rodriguez says. “Working out alongside these guys has really motivated me to stay home and focus.”

Kelly started out at as a middleweight, but he has settled in nicely at 170 pounds. Two weeks prior to his bout with Davis, he tipped the scales around 185.

“I don’t plan on being much heavier than that by fight time,” Kelly says. “My strength has always been through the roof, but I read [that Davis] is not doing too much in the way of weights for this fight, so he can focus more on speed and agility. I need to be prepared for that, too.”

Kelly has sharpened his wrestling skills, as well. The Wolfslair Academy brought in quality coaches to assist with his preparation, including International Fight League veteran and “The Ultimate Fighter” season seven cast member Gerald Harris. World-class Bulgarian wrestlers were also welcomed into the camp.

“I have always felt comfortable strength-wise with the wrestling,” Kelly says. “Everyone who has rolled with me tells me how strong I am; I have always felt stronger than anyone I have rolled with.”

Davis plied his trade as a hard-hitting boxer before becoming a full-time mixed martial artist. In recent fights, the American has demonstrated his versatility and progression with several impressive submission victories. Kelly does not plan to take anything for granted should their bout hit the floor.

“In top position, I have never been bridged, but even if I am on top imposing my will, I need to watch out for his submissions,” Kelly says. “He’s said a few bad things recently, like he’s going to punch holes in me. I’ve got full respect for Marcus.”

When asked what he expects come fight time, Kelly made only one guarantee.

“Don’t blink,” he says. “It’s going to be a good, action-packed fight. Marcus and I could be ‘Fight of the Night.’ I wouldn’t ever predict a fight outcome, but one thing I will predict is that I’ll leave my heart and soul in that cage.”

 

[Shogun Locc]

Joe Doerksen added to Sengoku 6 card

Veteran fighter and former UFC middleweight Joe Doerksen (40-12) has agreed to meet Izuru Takeuchi (25-9-6) in a World Victory Road middleweight grand prix reserve bout.

That fight, and a host of others, take place Nov. 1 at Sengoku 6.

The event, which takes place at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, features the semifinals and finals of World Victory Road's middleweight and lightweight grand prix tournaments.

Doerksen, who announced his participation via a MySpace bulletin, recently suffered three consecutive losses in the WEC and UFC before he left the Zuffa LLC-owned organizations. He returned in August at a one-off event in Canada and defeated John Meyer (5-3) via split decision.

Aside from those three Zuffa losses, Doerksen has won his past eight fights.

He'll now meet Takeuchi, a longtime Pancrase fighter who's riding a five-fight win streak. The former middleweight King of Pancrase, who will make his WVR debut, has gone to decision in six of his past seven fights.

The winner of the Doerksen-Takeuchi fight could be a substitute for Siyar Bahadurzada, Jorge Santiago, Kazuhiro Nakamura or Yuki Sasaki, GP middleweight semifinalists who also compete that night.

In the night's lightweight grand prix, semifinalists Mizuto Hirota, Kazunori Yokota, Satoru Kitaoka and Eiji Mitsuoka also compete.

The latest Sengoku 6 card includes:

Josh Barnett vs. TBA
Muhammad "King Mo" Lawal vs. TBA
Middleweight GP final
Siyar Bahadurzada vs. Jorge Santiago^
Kazuhiro Nakamura vs. Yuki Sasaki^
Bang Seung Hwan vs. Jorge Masvidal*
Lightweight GP final
Mizuto Hirota vs. Kazunori Yokota+
Satoru Kitaoka vs. Eiji Mitsuoka+
Joe Doerksen vs. Izuru Takeuchi~
+ - Lightweight GP semifinals
^ - Middleweight GP semifinals
* - Lightweight GP reserve bout
~ - Middleweight GP reserve bout

 

[Shogun Locc]

FRANK SHAMROCK: "HIS BODY IS 44 YEARS OLD AND IT DOESN'T WORK LIKE IT USED TO!"
link:http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content3616.html?PHPSESSID=c02ccf87e15a70029d9cd587cd52227d
"Well, he's probably in a wheelchair now because he couldn't get out to the ring against Kimbo. You know what I mean? But really, it's been a matter of logistics and every time I got close, Ken took another fight and then something bad happened. So it's like this is a 2nd strike and I don't think there's going to be a 3rd. I think we have to fight or I gotta let it go," stated legendary Frank Shamrock as he talked about his highly anticipated clash with his brother Ken. You don't want to miss what else he had to say as he talks more about Ken and shares his thoughts on the recent CBS EliteXC card, Kimbo Slice, why he thought Seth Petruzelli was a bad matchup, his own willingness to step in for his brother and much more.

 

[Shogun Locc]

SOKOUDJOU: "I PLAN ON GETTING PAID. I NEED SOME CHRISTMAS MONEY!"
link: http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content3606.html
If you missed the chat session with UFC light heavyweight Sokoudjou, check out the entire transcript to see what he had to say. "I plan on getting paid. I need some Christmas money. Whether it's on the ground or standing up, I don't plan on losing," he stated and you don't want to miss what else he had to say about his upcoming clash with Luis Cane as well as his thoughts on Rashad Evans, Kimbo Slice, Dan Henderson, Ricardo Arona, Quinton Jackson, Wanderlei Silva, Anderson Silva, a move to heavyweight and much more.

 

[Shogun Locc]

UFC 90 preview: Sean Sherk training for Tyson Griffin

 

[Shogun Locc]

MMANews.com Exclusive: Interview with Karl James Noons

It has been a rocky road between EliteXC and former lightweight champion KJ Noons over the last few months. EliteXC had been adamant about the fact they wanted to see Noons defend his title against Nick Diaz on October 4th when the organization held its third card on CBS but negotiations fell through.

The fall out would lead to EliteXC stripping Noons of the belt that he had won from Diaz when it was vacant title, stating that they felt Noons was ducking Diaz for a rematch.

According to Noons that could not be further from the truth and among other things, money appeared to play a key factor in the situation not working out. Diaz would be set to make nearly three times the amount of money than Noons, who was champion, would.

It has been back and forth in the media since the war of words began and in is MMANews.com exclusive interview, Noons talks with Chris Howie about his trip into the free agent market, his boxing career, who he would like to fight, and what it would take for him to come back to EliteXC.

Chris Howie with MMANews.com: So what exactly is the scoop on you becoming on a free agent?

KJ Noons: First and foremost I would like to say that I gave EliteXC notice via email that I wanted to give the belt back and wanted to become a free agent because we couldn’t come to terms. Later that week I was sitting at home and I started getting calls saying that they took the belt from me. I said whatever and went to talk to them and hash some things out for a few days and come up with ideas for bringing me back. They can argue what it is and say that I owe them two fights but I wouldn’t hold my breath because I have them beat in court or however you want to look at it, so to avoid all that mumbo jumbo I am going to box and move forward. Hopefully other organizations see the light in me. I am really interested in a Takanori Gomi fight or any top lightweights at the 155lb or 160lb for that matter.

MMANews.com: Are you open to fighting in Japan?

KJ Noons: Yeah man. I’m open to fighting anybody anywhere. That is why I am going to start boxing again.

MMANews.com: So are you officially a free agent from EliteXC because after the stories broke that you were a free agent, Jeremy Lappen went on record to say that you were not a free agent.

KJ Noons: Of course he is going to say that. We negotiated to try and get me on the November 8th card but to be fair I wasn’t going to fight a guy (Nick Diaz) for three times less money and they never got back to me to sign a new deal anyway. When they made it official that Nick was going to fight Eddie (Alvarez)… I can’t sit on the sidelines forever, I have to move forward and do my thing. So, I mean, call it what it is and they can say whatever they want but going the way that company is, I know…I don’t come out and do interviews unless I know I have my stories lined up and I am confident that I can fight anywhere.

MMANews.com: With your boxing contract, wasn’t that initially part of your original deal with ProElite?

KJ Noons: Yeah that was with Gary (Shaw) and I am a free agent on that to. I was promised a certain amount of fights that I was never given making it another breach of contract so I am just going to do some free lance boxing until somebody else picks me up.

MMANews.com: What was preventing you from fighting on the November 8th card?

KJ Noons: Maybe the fact they wanted Diaz and Eddie.

MMANews.com: It has appeared that EliteXC has been trying very hard to have Nick Diaz as their Champion, what are your thoughts on that?

KJ Noons: Well first of all, the reason the fight with Nick never happened was because I wasn’t fighting a guy for three times less money. What gain is there for me in fighting a guy I have already beat, there is no financial gain and there is no gain for me in world rankings? That is why I pitched to them for me to fight Eddie because with that I will honor what is on my contact and if I win my ranking goes up and I benefit in that. The only benefit in me fighting Nick Diaz was EliteXC getting ratings. Why am I getting paid three times less for the Nick fight? I was down for the Nick fight. That would be a way easier fight than Eddie, anyone with half a brain knows that. So let’s make that happen but unfortunately to make it happen we are talking about pocket change to them but they would rather spend half a million dollars on other people (presumably Kimbo Slice, who made $500,000 in a 14 second loss to Seth Petruzelli on October 4th).

MMANews.com: Were they open to the you and Alvarez fight?

KJ Noons: One thing I have learned is that it is not really about what anybody wants or what will be better for anyones career, it is about getting ratings and the fight with Nick was better for them but I am not fighting for three times less money. Especially against a guy I’ve already beat.

MMANews.com: Who are you picking in the Diaz/Alvarez fight?

KJ Noons: I think Eddie wins for sure.

MMANews.com: Do you feel EliteXC may be putting all their eggs in one basket so to speak in the lightweight division with Nick Diaz? And that is not to take anything away from Nick’s talent.

KJ Noons: I’m not sure. I don’t really want to bad mouth anyone but they probably don’t see the value in me right now but hopefully someone else will.

MMANews.com: So you feel that they didn’t see the value in their lightweight champion and that is why they wouldn’t bend in terms of negotiations for the fight with Nick?

KJ Noons: No, and they stripped me. Now I am a free agent and we have to come to terms on a new contract. We’ll see. Maybe they will bring me back in the future, I don’t know. I have to move forward and get my life going. That is why I am boxing and if anyone is willing to entertain me to come on board with them I’m down for it, and I am also down for going back with EliteXC but it has to make sense.

MMANews.com: What are your plans for the boxing world?

KJ Noons: I’m just going to box small fight. I’m not trying to do a Roy Jones fight for an Oscar De La Hoya fight. I’m not saying I am the best boxer ever but I want to see how it goes and if it doesn’t work out I’ll come back to MMA.

MMANews.com: When will your next boxing match be?

KJ Noons: November 13th at 155lbs in the LA area.

MMANews.com: Do you feel at some point you will be back full time in MMA?

KJ Noons: We’ll see what happens. I haven’t said much since I was stripped or even before I was stripped. Now the cat is out of the bag and hopefully somebody will want to bring me onboard and if not I will just box.

MMANews.com: Is your EliteXC deal a legally binding agreement?

KJ Noons: Legally, I can fight for anyone.

MMANews.com: In EliteXC’s eyes can you fight for anyone?

KJ Noons: Who knows what EliteXC thinks. They think a lot of things.

MMANews.com: What are your thoughts on the EliteXC/Seth Petruzelli situation that has been making waves lately?

KJ Noons: No comment.

MMANews.com: [laughs] Fair enough. Who are some lightweights in MMA that you have your eye on?

KJ Noons: I think Gomi would be a great fight. I think Joachim Hansen would be a great fight, anyone that is a champion. There is a lot of great talent in the lightweight division so I don’t think it would be hard to find tough fights.

MMANews.com: How do you feel you match up with Gomi? He has lost some of his stock since the downfall of Pride.

KJ Noons: I think I match up well with him. I like his style. He likes to stand and trade. He’s been at the top for a long time and beaten a lot of guys. He hasn’t fought a lot recently but maybe they are just having a tough time finding guys for him to fight.

MMANews.com: All contract disputes aside, is there anything you would like to say to your fans out there?

KJ Noons: Just thanks to all my family, friends, and fans for sticking with me through all this.

MMANews.com: Alright KJ, thanks for speaking with me today.

KJ Noons: No problem man, thanks for letting me say my piece.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Can Fedor Emelianenko vs. Andrei Arlovski put Affliction back on track?

After a heavily publicized debut show in July, little has happened for the Affliction promotion – at least inside the ring.

Outside the ring, though, has featured a series of false starts.

The company's latest plan is for a show early next year headlined by the consensus best heavyweight in the world, Fedor Emelianenko, against former UFC champion Andrei Arlovski.

But the match, expected to be held Jan. 24 in Anaheim, Calif., has not been signed at this point.

The company's only real public presence in recent weeks was on the Oct. 4 EliteXC CBS card. Arlovski's win over Roy Nelson on the Ft. Lauderdale card was presented on the show as a match from the Affliction promotion.

Affliction's parent T-shirt company had a half-dozen commercials on the broadcast, with two separate ones, repeated a few times each, built around Arlovski and Emelianenko.

Arlovski won, as expected, via knockout over former IFL champion Nelson. In addition to appearing in the TV commercials, Arlovski seemed the natural opponent for Emelianenko on the next show.

"It's still being finalized," said Atencio. "But it looks like it will happen."

Arlovski (15-5), who held the UFC heavyweight title for 14 months in 2005-06 when the company's popularity started exploding, was one of the company's more popular fighters in recent years. But, largely due to a lack of opponents that people cared about, he never had that big match to put him over the top or become a drawing card, even though it was felt he had that potential.

With his unique look, a mouthpiece with fangs, combined with a crowd-pleasing aggressive stand-up style, the championship version of Arlovski was such a marketable heavyweight that every major MMA promotion, including some boxing people, and World Wrestling Entertainment all expressed interest in him.

But something happened on April 15, 2006, while seemingly en route to another devastating knockout win over Tim Sylvia, who he had finished in just 47 seconds the night he won the title. After knocking Sylvia down early in the first round, he aggressively went for the finish, left himself open, took a short uppercut to the chin, and suddenly it was lights out.

There was no denying Arlovski's punching power. He was quicker than almost any heavyweight, and had shown great takedown defense against high level wrestlers. He also had a background in sambo to where he's never been even in danger of being submitted in an MMA match. But in his road to heavyweight domination, all of a sudden he had a question mark. His chin.

In looking at the match with Emelianenko, that becomes the big factor.

Arlovski has the better traditional stand-up movement and a multi-pronged attack that includes good low kicks and even better knees. But Emelianenko hits far harder than Sylvia. Emelianenko has been stunned in fights, but he shows superhuman recuperative power. Arlovski was tagged by Nelson and recovered right away, and his last two fights have shown none of the cautiousness of last two years in UFC. The Nelson fight was slow, but it was more because Nelson was able to close distance and wrestle Arlovski to the ground, rather than Arlovski laying back and not wanting to exchange.

The questions Arlovski had to answer really stemmed from his third match with Sylvia, at UFC 61. It was a very different Arlovski who lost a close decision in a match where both men were so cautious that it killed interest in UFC's heavyweight division until Randy Couture returned. Even though Arlovski blew out his knee midway through the fight, the story line was that he was gun-shy from the knockout.

When Arlovki's UFC contract expired earlier this year, Affliction bid high, and UFC, which had the right to match the offer, declined to do so.

While complete terms were never released, Arlovski's first fight on the deal was for $500,000 guaranteed and a $250,000 win bonus as he took apart Ben Rothwell in a match where the devastating striker, who had disappeared a few years earlier, suddenly returned and showed no fear against the 260-pound knockout artist, winning one of the most entertaining heavyweight fights in recent years.

Arlovski tore down the house with the best fight on the Affliction debut show, and his popularity in front of a sellout crowd was rivaled only by Emelianenko, who the show was promoted around.

Against Nelson, Arlovski scored a devastating knockout from a right in the second round of a fight that was booed until Arlovski took control. Despite Arlovski being the only name on the show with a UFC main-event pedigree, his fight was the only one which lost viewers, and the crowd reaction to him was surprisingly tepid, opening up questions as to whether Arlovski has the mainstream name to pull pay-per-view numbers against Emelianenko in a non-UFC show.

The planned Emelianenko-Arlovski match is the first bit of good news for the company in awhile. Affliction's planned second show, originally scheduled for this past Saturday night in Las Vegas, was canceled because of poor tickets sales for an Arlovski vs. Josh Barnett match that was to determine the top contender for Emelianenko, the World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts champion.

After the Vegas card was canceled, a relationship was announced with Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions for pay-per-view shows that would combine both boxing and MMA. While not officially announced, the promotion had been booked for Jan. 17 in Anaheim, Calif., at the Honda Center.

Now, the Anaheim date looks like it's being moved back a week, since UFC scheduled a pay-per-view that same night from Dublin, Ireland, and Affliction promoter Tom Atencio immediately said he didn't think it was in anyone's best interest to run head-to-head on pay-per-view.

The Jan. 24 date would appear as safe as any, since UFC has pay-per-views on Jan. 17 and Jan. 31, as well as a possible "Fight Night" on Spike TV on Feb. 7. At this stage of the game, it would be very difficult to add yet another show.

The Jan. 24 show, despite the talk in the past, will not include boxing. The problem seems to be an inability to get the right boxing match on a date this early. And there are still a lot of questions regarding if that concept can fly, given the two sports have an entirely different fan base.

"Right now we're planning on four shows for the year with Golden Boy," said Atencio. "But this won't be one of them. It will be a stacked MMA show."

 

[Shogun Locc]

UFC SIGNS WITH TOPPS TO CREATE TRADING CARDS

The Topps Company and the Ultimate Fighting Championship have announced an agreement that will give Topps exclusive rights to produce UFC brand trading cards featuring current, future and former UFC athletes. The deal lasts through May 2011 for UFC trading cards and stickers.

The new collector brand will allow fans to experience the history and excitement of UFC and will include all of the biggest mixed martial arts moments from the start of the brand at UFC 1 to the upcoming Nov. 15 mega-fight UFC 91, featuring returning Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture vs. Brock Lesnar (predicted to be the organization’s biggest event ever), and all the action-packed fights to come.

“MMA continues to become one of the most popular sports in the country and Topps is looking forward to joining forces with UFC’s rising stars and illustrious history,” said Warren Friss Topps’ GM of Sports & Entertainment. “We are extremely excited to work with UFC and give our collectors access that has never before been available in our industry.”

As part of the deal, UFC will provide Topps with unique elements of their organization including images and memorabilia such as match-used gloves and pieces of the UFC Octagon. These will give the loyal fan a literal piece of the UFC or that special event. These cards are highly collectible and sought after and usually sequentially numbered to a limited quantity. Some of the UFC brand cards available to collectors will feature: Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell, Matt Hughes, Brock Lesnar, Royce Gracie, Forrest Griffin, Quinton Jackson and many others.

"We are excited to be working with Topps to showcase our incredible athletes on UFC trading cards," said Dana White, UFC President. "We look forward to having great success with Topps, and to giving UFC fans a product they can collect and trade with other fans of our sport.”

The UFC trading cards will launch in early 2009.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Nothing new: Michael Bisping UFC 89 interview with MMAmania.com

Since dropping to middleweight, Michael “The Count” Bisping (16-1) has been on a mission to establish himself as a top 185-pound contender.

And he’s off to a brilliant start — The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) Season 3 winner has looked impressive in first-round stoppages over Jason “Dooms” Day (17-7) at UFC 85 and Charles “Chainsaw” McCarthy (10-5) — (who Bisping sent into retirement) at UFC 83.

But his biggest test (at 185, anyway) is certainly the one he faces this Saturday night, October 18, at The National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, England. That’s where he’ll face off against Chris “The Crippler” Leben (18-4) in the main event at UFC 89: “Bisping vs. Leben.”

We caught up with Bisping today to see how he plans to handle “The Crippler’s” punching power (he doesn’t seem too worried about it), find out about his evolving ground game (he’s been training in Japanese jiu-jitsu since he was eight years old) and to get his take on the possibility of serving as a coach on the upcoming TUF 9: “U.S. vs. U.K.”

Let’s get to it.

Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): You are set to headline a big fight here against Chris Leben at UFC 89. What’s it mean to you to be the headliner?

Michael Bisping: It means everything, to be honest. I was just thinking about this last night when I was on a run. Three fights ago I was the headliner in New Jersey. Obviously I lost that, you know. But two good wins and I’m able to headline again, and in my home country — it means a lot. So, fingers crossed, I win this fight and it won’t be the last time.

Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): Looking at your record, you’ve faced some tough competitors, including Rashad Evans and Matt Hamill. Do you think this fight is your biggest test at 185?

Michael Bisping: It’s not my biggest test overall. It’s nothing new to me. (Leben) is going to want to brawl … box. I consider Rashad Evans to be a much tougher fighter than Chris Leben. But yeah, certainly at 185, it’s my toughest test.

(Unintelligible cursing at a motorist). Sorry about that. I’m driving a car, and this fucking wagon is trying to run me off the road. Sorry, man, carry on.

Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): (Laughs). No worries. Do you think headlining this fight could mean a title shot is next, assuming you beat Leben?

Michael Bisping: No, I don’t think so. Nothing’s been said to me about that. I just take one fight at a time, so I don’t want to get ahead of things. To be honest, I don’t think so. I think I need maybe one or two more fights yet.

Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): It’s been talked about that The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) Season 9 will be a U.S. vs. U.K. season. Obviously, there’s speculation that you could be tapped to serve as coach. Has that thought crossed your mind?

Michael Bisping: Yeah, definitely it’s crossed my mind. I haven’t spoken to the UFC about it. I’m just focusing on this fight at the moment. I don’t want any distractions, but who knows.

Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): So would you be interested in the position if you were approached for it?

Michael Bisping: Oh yeah, definitely, yes. The Ultimate Fighter was great for my career, and I have a lot of fond memories from there. So yeah, yeah, I’d definitely be interested.

Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): I want to talk about training a bit. How have you been preparing for this fight against Leben that differs from your typical training camp?

Michael Bisping: Well, I’ve been going back to basics. I had a black belt in Japanese jiu-jitsu when I was a kid. So I’ve gone back to a lot of that. I’ve been … practicing my prat falls. (Laughs) No, I’m kidding. (Laughs)

No, for this fight, the first thing I had to do was to bring in some southpaws, because the guy’s a southpaw and that presents a few problems. So I had to do that.

We had Rampage come over, we had “Lunchbox” (Brian Talbert), Ricco Rodriguez … you know, a bunch of guys from the States came over to help me train. Of course, like I said we had some southpaws from the U.K. come up.

Aside from that, I just tried to improve my all around game. I try not to focus too much on what my opponent’s going to do; I try to focus on what I’m going to do. I watch their tapes and try to figure … try to assume what they’re going to do, and build a game plan around that. But basically for this fight all I’ve done is work with southpaws and try to improve my all around game.

Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): You mentioned Rampage, but you also have Cheick Kongo over there now, correct?

Michael Bisping: Yes, sorry, that’s right. Yeah, Cheick Kongo has been over as well. The camp’s been great. We’ve had a lot of guys coming in from overseas, but we’ve got some great talent in the Wolfslair as well, so there’s been no shortage of people to train with on a daily basis.

Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): Yeah it sounds like the Wolfslair is really taking off now with a lot of new talent?

Michael Bisping: Yeah, the Wolfslair is doing great as a gym. People like Rampage, Kongo and myself … Paul Kelly, but we’ve got a bunch of other tough guys that are coming through the ranks who I’m sure people will be hearing about real soon.

Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): When was the last time you were knocked out, whether it was in training or in a fight?

Michael Bisping: Never. Never ever ever. So it makes me laugh that Leben thinks my main weakness is my chin.

Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): So you don’t think his power is going to be an issue at all?

Michael Bisping: Listen, if I swing my hand from my waist at somebody’s head, I’ll guarantee I’ll knock them out. But whether I’ll land that in a fight is a different thing.

I believe that Leben’s got knockout power, so I’m not too disrespectful of that. But I think I can take his punches, and I think I can avoid his punches.

Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): I read somewhere that you said you don’t plan to “brawl a brawler.” Without giving anything away, how do you fight Chris Leben without making yourself vulnerable to his brawling tendencies?

Michael Bisping: Well, as I said before, it goes back to fighting your fight. You formulate a game plan based on their strengths and weaknesses, and you try and be professional and stick to it.

It’s not what I’ve said, it’s an old adage: box a brawler, brawl a boxer. It’s a well-known boxing saying, and it’s true. If a guy wants to brawl with ya, if he wants to stand there tot for tot, don’t give him what he wants. That’s what he wants. In a fight like that, someone’s gonna get knocked out. In my view, it might be them.

It’s very exciting for the fans, but it’s not the smartest thing to do. I mean, who knows, it might end up happening on the night, but it’s not the plan.

Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): Joe Rogan says frequently that Chris Leben’s ground skills are highly underrated. If this fight goes to the ground, what do you see happening there?

Michael Bisping: To be honest, yeah, I think you’re right, he probably does have an underrated ground game. But I think I do as well.

But looking at his fights, he knows what he’s doing in terms on MMA, but I don’t think he’s got the greatest of ground games. I certainly don’t think I’ll be in any danger of being submitted.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ll be fully on guard and make sure I make no mistakes. Because I’m sure if I leave an arm hanging out — if I make any mistakes — I’m sure he’s good enough to capitalize on it. But if I don’t make any mistakes, I don’t see myself getting submitted. And who knows, maybe Chris could leave an opening for me to actually submit him?

Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): You mentioned training with Paul Kelly, who faces a tough fight in Marcus Davis next, which also occurs on the same night as your fight. How do you see that going for Paul?

Michael Bisping: It’s Paul’s second fight in the UFC, so it’s a tough fight. That said, it’s not a fight that he hasn’t got the skills to win.

Marcus Davis has proved himself to be a great fighter and a tough fighter, but if Paul Kelly goes in there and fights to the best of his abilities, he’s got every chance of winning that fight, and it’s definitely going to be a good fight to watch. I know it will. Paul’s style makes for a great fight, and I’m sure we’re going to see one Saturday night.

Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): Yeah, I thought his last fight against Paul Taylor was very entertaining to watch.

Michael Bisping: Yeah, that’s right. It was a great fight.

Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): Well Michael, it’s always a pleasure to talk with you, and I wish you luck against Leben. I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to this fight. I want to give you a chance to thank your sponsors or to give any parting words for your fans?

Michael Bisping: Thanks very much. First, I just want to apologize if it’s a bad line or anything like that. I’m just driving on the freeway on the way to the venue right now.

But yeah, I just want to say for everyone who supports me, thanks so much for all the support I get and for cheering me on. It really means the world to me. I get a lot of support through my Web site, Bisping.tv. They mean a lot to me. I’ll be doing a video blog all week this week at the fight. If people want to check out the video blogs, they can see that on my Web site.

And I just want to say thanks to all my sponsors … and I hope everyone enjoys the fight Saturday night.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Tyson Griffin talks future UFC lightweight title shot, possible rematch vs. Urijah Faber, whether he’s a gym jumper, and more in new 5 Oz. interview

While no guarantees are being made to Tyson Griffin regarding his lightweight fight at UFC 90 on Oct. 25 against former UFC lightweight champion Sean Sherk, the stakes are very high.

Griffin has worked hard climbing his way up a long UFC lightweight ladder with four consecutive victories inside the Octagon over Clay Guida, Thiago Tavares, Gleison Tibau, and Marcus Aurelio. A win over Sherk could earn him a future title shot against current champion B.J. Penn, or put him in a position where he could be fighting for number one contendership.

Griffin doesn’t need anyone to explain to him what’s at stake. One of the most exciting fighters in the UFC’s lightweight division, Griffin has earned his way to the top through hard work. In the midst of a hard training camp at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, Griffin recently took a break from training to speak exclusively with FiveOuncesOfPain.com to discuss a potential rematch vs. Urijah Faber; his response to past comments by Nick Diaz that he’s a “gym jumper” for leaving the Cesar Gracie camp; whether he has any particular interest in a fight vs. Diaz’s younger brother, UFC lightweight Nate Diaz; who the best pure wrestler is in the UFC’s lightweight division; and more.

Sam Caplan: In a recent interview you said you had no interest moving down to 145 lbs. to fight Urijah Faber again. What if he was willing to move up to 155 lbs. and fight you in the UFC?

Tyson Griffin: I’m up for anything that the UFC puts in front of me. He had the opportunity a long time ago to move up to my weight class, which is the only way the rematch is going to happen and it hasn’t happened yet. I’m not opposed to anyone at 155, I’m just not one to cut the weight and be a 145 pounder.

Sam Caplan: You’ll be fighting Sean Sherk next at UFC 90 on Oct. 25. He’s a former UFC lightweight champ and a former number one contender. If you beat him, do you feel like you’ll deserve a guaranteed shot at the lightweight title?

Tyson Griffin: I don’t think they’ll be any guarantee but I definitely think that if I win over Sean Sherk that I’m deserving of a title shot or at least a chance to fight for a number one contendership if they don’t have a title fight soon. I think it will be a big move for my career and big jump in rankings for the UFC.

Sam Caplan: Sherk’s a good wrestler and you’re a good wrestler. Who do you consider to be the better wrestler of the two?

Tyson Griffin: I guess we’ll see Oct. 25. We both never really wrestled at a Division I level but we both have Division I-level training partners and it’ll be interesting to see who comes out on top as far as wrestling skills.

Sam Caplan: What do you think of Sherk’s standup?

Tyson Griffin: I think he’s well-rounded. He uses his punches, his kicks, his elbows; he does everything. He’s a true mixed martial artist and it’s going to be a fun fight.

Sam Caplan: As far as the lightweight division in the UFC is concerned, who do you consider the best pure wrestler?

Tyson Griffin: Awwww man… best pure wrestler? I mean I’d have to go with my training partner, Gray Maynard. He’s got the most credentials and the most skills and he’s honestly one of the best wrestlers I’ve ever worked with in MMA.

Sam Caplan: Gray Maynard is an up-and-coming guy in the UFC and is quickly moving up the rankings after some big wins. Both of you train at Xtreme Couture with a lot of talented fighters and I was wondering if training there prevents you from fighting teammates such as Gray Maynard? If that fight was offered to you, would you be able to accept it?

Tyson Griffin: I don’t think that I could. He’s my training partner. He’s the guy I train with every day right now and unless they offered us a whole lot of money… I mean, we beat up each other pretty good every day in the gym but unless they offered us a whole lot of money, I don’t see that fight happening.

Sam Caplan: You used to train out of Cesar Gracie’s camp in California before moving over to Xtreme Couture. Nick Diaz has been critical of you in the past by labeling you a “gym jumper.” Can you talk about your decision to switch camps and your feelings about Nick Diaz?

Tyson Griffin: I don’t have any feelings or at least any hard feelings towards Nick Diaz. But I decided to make the move out here (and) it was David Terrell who decided to bring me out here in the first place so I can’t really say I jumped to anything because I tried to have a relationship with both gyms and Dave wasn’t for it and that’s not my problem. I want to be the best fighter that I can be and this is where I can be the best fighter.

Sam Caplan: Nick Diaz fights for EliteXC so that’s a fight that can’t happen. Nate Diaz just recently improved his UFC record to 5-0. Is that a fight that interests you at all?

Tyson Griffin: Not at all. If our careers collide, our careers collide but I don’t take anything personal. I’m not a big s— talker; I talk with my hands. If our careers collide, then so be it.

Sam Caplan: At UFCs 63, 67, 72, and 76 you won either a submission of fight of the night bonus. How big of a difference in lifestyle do those bonuses make for a fighter?

Tyson Griffin: I guess it depends on how you take it. Personally, I’ve used that money to help my family out and make my way of living a little bit better but I haven’t really splurged much. I have a house here that I am buying pretty soon so I’m going to be use the money to pay my mortgage. But I’m not a big glamor guy. I don’t need big fancy watches or big fancy cars.

Sam Caplan: Training at Xtreme Couture in Vegas, how often do you see Randy Couture?

Tyson Griffin: Right now? Every day, man. He’s getting ready for his fight. He’s in the gym working his butt off every day.

Sam Caplan: How do you see his fight at UFC 91 against Brock Lesnar going down?

Tyson Griffin: I just see Randy coming up with a good game plan like he always does and pushing the pace of the fight and breaking Brock’s conditioning and breaking his will and maybe finishing him before the round is up.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Andre Gusmao vs. Antonio Mendes set for UFC 93 on Jan. 17

UFC 93 on January 17 from the O2 in Dublin, Ireland is shaping up to be a showcase for light heavyweights. With headlining bouts between Rich Franklin vs. Dan Henderson (to be contested at 205 pounds) and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs. Mark Coleman already set, an intriguing clash at 205 between Andre Gusmao and Antonio Mendes has also been added to the card.

The news of Gusmao vs. Mendes at UFC 93 is according to a report in the Oct. 13 print edition of the Wrestling Observer.

Gusmao trains out of Renzo Gracie’s gym in New York and will look to redeem himself after suffering the first loss of his professional career in his UFC debut this past August at UFC 87.

Originally scheduled to face Tomasz Drwal, Gusmao was instead paired up on short notice with fellow-East Coast fighter Jon Jones, a true rookie to MMA who trains out of Team Bomb Squad.

Despite being heavily favored, Gusmao’s training in the Brazilian arts of jiu-jitsu and Capoeira proved to be no match for the athletic Jones, who walked away with a unanimous decision victory in an upset. The loss dropped the former IFL light heavyweight’s record to 5-1.

Like Gusmao, Mendes is both a native of Brazil and also coming off a loss in his UFC debut. His record fell to 15-3 after submitting to punches from Thiago Silva at 2:24 of round 1 at UFC 84 this past May.

Prior to signing with the UFC, Mendes made a name for himself Internationally competing for promotions such as Poland’s KSW and Russia’s M-1. His last win took place during an M-1 and MFC co-promotion in July of 2007 when he recorded a second round TKO over Kiril “Baby Fedor” Sidelnikov of Red Devil Fight Team fame.

It’s currently uncertain whether the Gusmao vs. Mendes matchup will be a part of UFC 93’s non-televised preliminary card or the televised main card.

 

[Shogun Locc]

M-1 Global, Affliction & Golden Boy conference. Big step forward.

This Thursday there will be press-conference held in New York with M-1 Global's Vadim Finkelstein, Affliction's Tom Atencio and Golden Boy's representatives. Expected to be made are several statements that are going to introduce the next page of MMA history. Watch the news.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Jorge Santiago: Rated Exclusive Interview
http://www.mmarated.com/videos/v/20081014/jorge_santiago__rated_exclusive_interview-6109.html

 

[Shogun Locc]

"A Night of Combat II" salaries: Ramirez, Hieron and Pyle top earners

MMAWeekly has obtained the fighter salary information from the Nevada State Athletic Commission for "Night of Combat II" that was hosted by Superfights MMA and Kim Couture's KC Concepts on Saturday, Oct. 11 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

The following figures are based on the fighter salary information that promoters are required by law to submit to the state athletic commissions, including the winners' bonuses.

Although mixed martial arts fighters do not have collective bargaining or a union, the fighters' salaries are still public record, just as with every other major sport in the United States. Any undisclosed bonuses that a promoter also pays its fighters, but does not disclose to the athletic commissions (specifically, pay-per-view bonuses, fight of the night bonuses, etc.), are not included in the figures below.

In the listings below, "Main Event Fighters" are defined as fighters who compete in the main event of a show. "Main Card Fighters" are defined as fighters whose fights appear on the main card, but not in the main event. "Preliminary Card Fighters" are defined as fighters whose matches take place before the live broadcast goes on the air, regardless of whether or not those matches end up airing on the TV or Internet broadcast.

The total payout of fighter salaries for Night of Combat II was $160,500, which compares to total gate receipts of $32,405, according to the NSAC. There were 1,063 tickets sold to the event, 672 given away as comps, leaving 7,176 unsold tickets.

MAIN EVENT FIGHTERS

– Hector Ramirez ($20,000/win bonus was $5,000) def. Rick Roufus ($15,000/win bonus would have been $5,000)

MAIN CARD FIGHTERS

– Jay Hieron ($20,000) def. Chris Kennedy ($8,500)

– Mike Pyle ($20,000) def. Brian Gassaway ($15,000)

– John Alessio ($15,000) def. Gideon Ray ($15,000)

– Josh Haynes ($10,000/win bonus was $5,000) def. Sean Salmon ($7,000/win bonus would have been $5,000)

– Jonathan J.J. Mix ($3,000) def. John Halverson ($3,000)

– Patrick Gonsalves ($1,500) def. Shawn David ($1,500)

– Elena Reid ($1,500) def. Stephanie Palmer ($1,500)

– Ryan Hess ($1,500) def. Ian Omalza ($1,500)

NIGHT OF COMBAT 2 DISCLOSED FIGHTER PAYROLL: $160,500

Night of Combat II is scheduled to air on HDNet on Friday, Oct. 17.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Takanori Gomi part of World Victory Road's updated Sengoku 6 card

Highly ranked lightweight and former PRIDE champion Takanori Gomi (29-3) will return at World Victory Road's Sengoku 6 event to meet Sergey Golyaev (10-6).

The Japanese-based organization added that fight, and two others, to its official fight card overnight.

Also on tap for the Nov. 1 event, which takes place Nov. 1 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, is a bout between light heavyweights Muhammad Lawal (1-0) and Fabio Silva (11-4).

The organization also confirmed a bout between UFC veteran Joe Doerksen and former King of Pancrase Izuru Takeuchi that MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) mentioned on Tuesday.

Gomi most recently fought in August at Sengoku 4 and defeated Sung Hwang Pang (5-2) via unanimous decision. The PRIDE 2005 Lightweight grand prix winner has lost just once in his past 17 fights, which included a loss to Marcus Aurelio in April 2006 and a no-contest with Nick Diaz in February 2007. (Diaz defeated Gomi via submission, but the outcome was overturned by the Nevada State Athletic Commission after Diaz tested positive for marijuana.)

He'll now meet Golyaev, a member of the Russian Red Devil Club who's riding a three-fight win streak. The M-1 veteran will return to professional competition for the first time in nearly two years.

Lawal, meanwhile, will look to build off his pro MMA debut at Sengoku 5, where he defeated 65-fight veteran Travis Wiuff with a first-round TKO. "King Mo," a former NCAA Division II amateur wrestling champion who fell short in a bid for the 2008 Olympics, will now meet Silva, a former K-1 fighter who snapped recent back-to-back losses with a second-round KO of Yoshiki Takahashi at Sengoku 3.

Silva has won nine of his past 11 fights.

The latest Sengoku 6 card now includes:

Josh Barnett vs. TBA
Muhammad "King Mo" Lawal vs. Fabio Silva
Sergey Golyaev vs. Takanori Gomi
Middleweight GP final
Siyar Bahadurzada vs. Jorge Santiago^
Kazuhiro Nakamura vs. Yuki Sasaki^
Joe Doerksen vs. Izuru Takeuchi~
Lightweight GP final
Mizuto Hirota vs. Kazunori Yokota+
Satoru Kitaoka vs. Eiji Mitsuoka+
Bang Seung Hwan vs. Jorge Masvidal*
+ - Lightweight GP semifinals
^ - Middleweight GP semifinals
* - Lightweight GP reserve bout
~ - Middleweight GP reserve bout

 

[Shogun Locc]

Steve Cantwell vs. Razak Al-Hussan possible for UFC Fight Night 16

All may not be lost for WEC light heavyweight champion Steve Cantwell.

After defeating Brian Stann for the WEC belt earlier this year, and with Zuffa's decision to fold the WEC's 205- and 185-pound weight classes into the UFC, Cantwell was slated to rematch Stann at "UFC Fight Night 16: UFC Fights for the Troops" in December.

Although Stann was recently forced off the card with a broken foot, UFC newcomer Razak Al-Hussan (5-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) could get the fight with Cantwell (6-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) instead.

A source close to Al-Hussan, an undefeated Des Moines-based fighter who made his professional debut in 2007, today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that the fighter has accepted the bout and his camp is awaiting word from Cantwell's.

If accepted, the bout would be the latest addition to a quickly filling UFC Fight Night 16 card. The event, which serves as a fundraiser for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, takes place at the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, N.C., in conjunction with the Fort Bragg military installation.

UFC Fight Night 16 airs live on Spike TV.

Cantwell scored a bit of an upset when he defeated Stann via second-round TKO at WEC 35 in August. The 21-year-old had suffered a defeat to Stann once before -- via 41-second TKO at WEC 26 in 2007 -- before avenging the loss in his most recent bout. The trilogy was set to take place in December, but fiveouncesofpain.com first reported that Stann had suffered a foot injury earlier this month.

Although Cantwell is the WEC's reigning champion, UFC officials have not publicly stated whether he -- or any other WEC fighters -- have job security in the UFC. The WEC's middleweight and light-heavyweight divisions will be folded into the UFC by early 2009.

Cantwell could strengthen his case with a victory over Al-Hussan. As MMAjunkie.com first reported in July, Al-Hussan was expected to make his octagon debut in August at UFC 87 against Andre Gusmao. However, a few weeks prior to the bout, Al-Hussan suffered a chest injury and was forced out of the bout. (UFC newcomer Jon Jones got the fight instead.)

 

[Shogun Locc]

Brett Rogers vs. Paul Buentello nearly set for Nov. 8 EliteXC event

Undefeated heavyweight Brett Rogers (8-0) has agreed to meet Affliction fighter Paul Buentello (26-10) at EliteXC's Nov. 8 show.

The event, "EliteXC: A Night of Champions," takes place at the Reno Events Center in Reno, Nev., and airs on Showtime.

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) learned of the fight from a source close to Buentello, and fiveouncesofpain.com today earlier confirmed the fight with Rogers’ trainer, Mike Reilly of Team Bison in St. Paul, Minn.

According to the report, bout agreements should be signed this week.

The fight will air on the night's televised main card.

Rogers, one of EliteXC's top heavyweight prospects, last competed in May at "EliteXC: PRIMETIME," MMA's first-ever network-televised event. Facing Jon Murphy on the CBS-televised card, Rogers secured a 61-second TKO. It was his eighth straight victory via first-round stoppage -- all of which have come via strikes.

Rogers will look to go for his ningth straight win against Buentello, who went 3-1 in the UFC from 2005-2006 before signing with Strikeforce and later Affliction. Buentello, who's won five of his past six fights, rebounded from a loss to Alistair Overeem in November 2007 (for the vacant Strikeforce world heavyweight title) and defeated Gary Goodridge at "Affliction: Banned" in July.

Buentello had been scheduled to fight Roy Nelson at "Affliction: Day of Reckoning" this month, but the event was recently postponed and is expected to take place Jan. 24. Like they've done with other fighters, Affliction executives permitted Buentello to compete outside of the organization in the meantime.

"EliteXC: A Night of Champions" features title fights between middleweight champion Robbbie Lawler and Joey Villasenor, as well as Nick Diaz and Eddie Alvarez for the organization's lightweight title that was recently vacated by K.J. Noons.

The latest card includes:

Champ Robbie Lawler vs. Joe Villasenor (for EliteXC middleweight title)
Eddie Alvarez vs. Nick Diaz (for vacant EliteXC lightweight title)
Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante vs. TBA
Paul Buentello vs. Brett Rogers
Hector Lombard vs. Scott Smith
Kaitlin Young vs. Sarah Kaufman