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"Strikeforce: Destruction" official weigh-in results
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- MMAjunkie.com was on scene for today's "Strikeforce: Destruction" event weigh-ins at the Hotel DeAnza in San Jose, Calif.
The weigh-ins preceded Strikeforce's year-end event that takes place Friday at the HP Pavilion in San Jose.
The main card, which features Strikeforce world light heavyweight champion vs. Renato "Babalu" Sobral and Yves Edwards vs. Duane Ludwig, airs live on HDNet. Also on the televised main card are Scott Smith, Terry Martin, Joe Riggs and Kim Couture.
Today's weigh-ins began at approximately 9:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. PT), one hour later than originally scheduled.
MMAjunkie.com will have full round-by-round updates and official results of the 13-fight card on Friday beginning at approximately 9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT).
Official weigh-in results:
Terry Martin (186) vs. Scott Smith (185.5)
Champ Bobby Southworth (204) vs. Renato "Babalu" Sobral (204)
Yves Edwards (164) vs. Duane Ludwig (163)
Kim Couture (132) vs. Lina Kvokov (133)*
Luke Stewart (170.5) vs. Joe Riggs (170.5)+
Nik Theotikos (185) vs. Luke Rockhold (185.5)^
Lemont Davis (173) vs. Brian Schwartz (175)
Josh Neal (184) vs. Kurt Osiander (185)
Cyrillo Padilha (156) vs. Bobby Stack (155)
Tony Johnson (184) vs. Eric Lawson (185)
Darren Uyenoyama (136) vs. Brad Royster (134)
Alvin Cacdac (143) vs. Jose Palacios (145)
Zakary Bucia (169) vs. Adam Steele (168.5)
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- MMAjunkie.com was on scene for today's "Strikeforce: Destruction" event weigh-ins at the Hotel DeAnza in San Jose, Calif.
The weigh-ins preceded Strikeforce's year-end event that takes place Friday at the HP Pavilion in San Jose.
The main card, which features Strikeforce world light heavyweight champion vs. Renato "Babalu" Sobral and Yves Edwards vs. Duane Ludwig, airs live on HDNet. Also on the televised main card are Scott Smith, Terry Martin, Joe Riggs and Kim Couture.
Today's weigh-ins began at approximately 9:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. PT), one hour later than originally scheduled.
MMAjunkie.com will have full round-by-round updates and official results of the 13-fight card on Friday beginning at approximately 9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. PT).
Official weigh-in results:
Terry Martin (186) vs. Scott Smith (185.5)
Champ Bobby Southworth (204) vs. Renato "Babalu" Sobral (204)
Yves Edwards (164) vs. Duane Ludwig (163)
Kim Couture (132) vs. Lina Kvokov (133)*
Luke Stewart (170.5) vs. Joe Riggs (170.5)+
Nik Theotikos (185) vs. Luke Rockhold (185.5)^
Lemont Davis (173) vs. Brian Schwartz (175)
Josh Neal (184) vs. Kurt Osiander (185)
Cyrillo Padilha (156) vs. Bobby Stack (155)
Tony Johnson (184) vs. Eric Lawson (185)
Darren Uyenoyama (136) vs. Brad Royster (134)
Alvin Cacdac (143) vs. Jose Palacios (145)
Zakary Bucia (169) vs. Adam Steele (168.5)
Outside the Octagon
Renato “Babalu” Sobral has an empty patch of skin reserved for the name of the baby he and his wife Natasha are expecting in five months.
“I still have room for my boy,” he says excitedly, pointing to a vacant nine-inch piece of real estate on his left forearm.
Sobral, who challenges Bobby Southworth for his Strikeforce light heavyweight title on Friday in San Jose, Calif., already has the name of his daughter, Maria Fernanda, tattooed across this chest, while the rest of his arms –- from shoulder to wrist – are covered with a snaking tribal pattern and various other shapes.
The 33-year-old Brazilian believes the markings are a way of keeping his family closer to him. It’s a touching gesture for a man recognized for his brooding, icy stares inside the Octagon. But there are a lot of things about Sobral that many don’t know.
For one, Sobral is an entrepreneur. He immigrated to the U.S. a few years ago with the hopes of opening a gym of his own someday. Babalu, nicknamed for the brand of bubble gum he chomped on in his youth, realized that dream this October when he opened the Gracie Barra Cerritos in southern California.
Though not the most opportune time to open a business amidst a flighty economy, Sobral, a black belt under Carlos Gracie Jr., seems a more patient man than he was a year ago.
“I know the situation is getting bad, but what can I do? Close the doors? I have to keep going. I still believe in America,” he says through a thick Portuguese accent, “and besides, people still like to work out to get the stress away. I think that’s what everyone has to do –- keep going, keep going.”
Sobral has done just that with his fighting career, despite his high-profile release from the UFC in August 2007. Beating on opponent David Heath for the first round, Sobral switched to an anaconda choke in the second set, but when Heath tapped out to the hold, Sobral refused to let go, ignoring the instructions of the referee until his Heath’s body went limp in his hands.
The act was deliberate -- Sobral said he wanted to teach Heath some respect after the Oklahoma fighter had allegedly called him a “motherf-----” at the weigh-ins the day before.
It was also costly.
A week later, UFC President Dana White released the Brazilian from his contract and the Nevada State Athletic Commission fined Sobral half of his $50,000 for disregarding the referee.
A fighter can be passionate, but many thought it malicious and unbecoming of a sport still finding its legs.
It was a turbulent time for Babalu.
A month earlier, Sobral was arrested in Tampa, Fla., for allegedly spitting on a bouncer outside a club at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
“I feel very bad because I make some of my fans upset about me, but on the fight, you get so hyped [that sometimes] you do some wrong steps. I did the wrong step and I paid for it,” he says. “I am what I am. I don’t pretend to be anybody.”
Sobral’s confidence has not gone unnoticed.
Like a stag that strays from his pack, the Brazilian’s departure from the UFC could have spelled disaster, but his accomplished 30-7 career –- which includes a gripping IFC tournament victory in 2003 and 15 career wins by submission -– has kept him in demand.
In the last year, Sobral has signed non-exclusive deals with no less than five promotions, Strikeforce and Affliction Entertainment among the most notable.
“For me, I have my name, so I’m not scared to be unemployed,” he says. “I think still, you can have a life outside the UFC. You can do well. I do well. Maybe not a guy just beginning, but I do pretty well outside the UFC.”
Sobral seems content away from the bright lights of the Octagon, and though he’s fought only twice since leaving the promotion, he hears of and sympathizes with the struggles of his Brazilian compatriots still inside the UFC.
“Having as many fighters as the UFC [does], it’s very good fighters but they don’t have the chance to show off very much because they don’t have a fight for everyone,” he says. “Sometimes you fight twice a year, maybe once, maybe you don’t fight. Gabriel Gonzaga doesn’t fight for a long time. Many fighters think like that.”
There is one downside to fighting outside the world’s most formidable promotion though.
“It’s kind of hard to find the fighters to fight who are a challenge,” he says. “They [the UFC] holds pretty much everybody in my weight class, so I might be moving up or down.”
If his bout with Southworth is fruitful, Sobral has plans to move down to 195 pounds and face another UFC-exiled opponent in Matt Lindland at Affliction 2 “Day of Reckoning” on Jan. 24 in Anaheim, Calif.
And despite a dismal few months for the sport that have included the demises of two high-profile MMA promotions, Babalu is hopeful.
“I’m very confident in Affliction and Strikeforce. They do it step by step,” he says. “They give the fighters the business and they do well. They pull all the parts together and they’ve had some big shows.”
Sobral’s “big show” happens Friday in San Jose. It’s the Brazilian’s first headlining bout since he fought Chuck Liddell at UFC 62 in August 2006.
Sobral, a favorite in the bout, says he has respect for the champion Southworth, but that the fans must get what they came for.
“If he doesn’t come at me, he’s going to lose,” Sobral says of Southworth. “He has to come at me. I’m going to push this.”
Renato “Babalu” Sobral has an empty patch of skin reserved for the name of the baby he and his wife Natasha are expecting in five months.
“I still have room for my boy,” he says excitedly, pointing to a vacant nine-inch piece of real estate on his left forearm.
Sobral, who challenges Bobby Southworth for his Strikeforce light heavyweight title on Friday in San Jose, Calif., already has the name of his daughter, Maria Fernanda, tattooed across this chest, while the rest of his arms –- from shoulder to wrist – are covered with a snaking tribal pattern and various other shapes.
The 33-year-old Brazilian believes the markings are a way of keeping his family closer to him. It’s a touching gesture for a man recognized for his brooding, icy stares inside the Octagon. But there are a lot of things about Sobral that many don’t know.
For one, Sobral is an entrepreneur. He immigrated to the U.S. a few years ago with the hopes of opening a gym of his own someday. Babalu, nicknamed for the brand of bubble gum he chomped on in his youth, realized that dream this October when he opened the Gracie Barra Cerritos in southern California.
Though not the most opportune time to open a business amidst a flighty economy, Sobral, a black belt under Carlos Gracie Jr., seems a more patient man than he was a year ago.
“I know the situation is getting bad, but what can I do? Close the doors? I have to keep going. I still believe in America,” he says through a thick Portuguese accent, “and besides, people still like to work out to get the stress away. I think that’s what everyone has to do –- keep going, keep going.”
Sobral has done just that with his fighting career, despite his high-profile release from the UFC in August 2007. Beating on opponent David Heath for the first round, Sobral switched to an anaconda choke in the second set, but when Heath tapped out to the hold, Sobral refused to let go, ignoring the instructions of the referee until his Heath’s body went limp in his hands.
The act was deliberate -- Sobral said he wanted to teach Heath some respect after the Oklahoma fighter had allegedly called him a “motherf-----” at the weigh-ins the day before.
It was also costly.
A week later, UFC President Dana White released the Brazilian from his contract and the Nevada State Athletic Commission fined Sobral half of his $50,000 for disregarding the referee.
A fighter can be passionate, but many thought it malicious and unbecoming of a sport still finding its legs.
It was a turbulent time for Babalu.
A month earlier, Sobral was arrested in Tampa, Fla., for allegedly spitting on a bouncer outside a club at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
“I feel very bad because I make some of my fans upset about me, but on the fight, you get so hyped [that sometimes] you do some wrong steps. I did the wrong step and I paid for it,” he says. “I am what I am. I don’t pretend to be anybody.”
Sobral’s confidence has not gone unnoticed.
Like a stag that strays from his pack, the Brazilian’s departure from the UFC could have spelled disaster, but his accomplished 30-7 career –- which includes a gripping IFC tournament victory in 2003 and 15 career wins by submission -– has kept him in demand.
In the last year, Sobral has signed non-exclusive deals with no less than five promotions, Strikeforce and Affliction Entertainment among the most notable.
“For me, I have my name, so I’m not scared to be unemployed,” he says. “I think still, you can have a life outside the UFC. You can do well. I do well. Maybe not a guy just beginning, but I do pretty well outside the UFC.”
Sobral seems content away from the bright lights of the Octagon, and though he’s fought only twice since leaving the promotion, he hears of and sympathizes with the struggles of his Brazilian compatriots still inside the UFC.
“Having as many fighters as the UFC [does], it’s very good fighters but they don’t have the chance to show off very much because they don’t have a fight for everyone,” he says. “Sometimes you fight twice a year, maybe once, maybe you don’t fight. Gabriel Gonzaga doesn’t fight for a long time. Many fighters think like that.”
There is one downside to fighting outside the world’s most formidable promotion though.
“It’s kind of hard to find the fighters to fight who are a challenge,” he says. “They [the UFC] holds pretty much everybody in my weight class, so I might be moving up or down.”
If his bout with Southworth is fruitful, Sobral has plans to move down to 195 pounds and face another UFC-exiled opponent in Matt Lindland at Affliction 2 “Day of Reckoning” on Jan. 24 in Anaheim, Calif.
And despite a dismal few months for the sport that have included the demises of two high-profile MMA promotions, Babalu is hopeful.
“I’m very confident in Affliction and Strikeforce. They do it step by step,” he says. “They give the fighters the business and they do well. They pull all the parts together and they’ve had some big shows.”
Sobral’s “big show” happens Friday in San Jose. It’s the Brazilian’s first headlining bout since he fought Chuck Liddell at UFC 62 in August 2006.
Sobral, a favorite in the bout, says he has respect for the champion Southworth, but that the fans must get what they came for.
“If he doesn’t come at me, he’s going to lose,” Sobral says of Southworth. “He has to come at me. I’m going to push this.”
DREAM again slow to pay fighters, rep says money on the way
Following a recent five-month delay in payment to lightweight contender Nick Diaz, the Japanese-based DREAM promotion has again run behind on compensating its fighters.
The participants in question this time are heavyweight Jimmy Ambriz (13-11-1) and lightweight Todd Moore (9-3). Both U.S.-based fighters participated in September's DREAM.6 event.
"As far as I'm concerned, they pretty much have stiffed us," Moore told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "The fight was Sept. 23, and we're going on into [late November] and they still haven't paid. That's two months. That sucks, man."
MMAjunkie.com was able to speak to Moore despite, what he said, have been his recent attempts at dodging phone calls from bill collectors awaiting the money the Texan earned in a first-round submission loss to Shinya Aoki. The three-year professional said he has never before found himself in this predicament.
"The closest thing was I had one bounced check from one promoter, but he eventually paid within the same month," Moore said. "And he informed me, 'Hey, I had a couple of bounced checks, just to give you a heads-up.' Then he was able to pay me back pretty quickly. (It was) by far quicker than DREAM has been."
Mike Kogan, the U.S. representative for DREAM's parent company Fight Entertainment Group, said the missing money was simply an oversight by the company's accounting department.
"They're not getting stiffed," Kogan said of Moore and Ambriz. "Let me put it this way: They'll get their money. There's been reports in the past that we were a little slow in paying, and to a lot of the American fighters, it might seem a little weird. Because with the commission here against how the promoters pay in the U.S. -- right after the event they get their checks -- we don't do that. But that's disclosed in the contracts."
Moore and Ambriz's agent, Ken Pavia of MMAagents.com, said he was aware of the delayed payment requirements of the Japanese-based promotion. But Pavia points out that the contract stipulated the money would be paid before the end of October, and that DREAM officials have proved difficult to deal with during the process.
"[DREAM] can't [pay at the event] anymore because of some sort of Japanese tax audit, which requires, for paper trails, them to wire the money," Pavia said. "They told us that we would have it soon thereafter. And it's been what, two months now?
"They told us it was wired twice, and it wasn't. We never received it. Once [DREAM officials said] it got kicked back, and the second time they re-wired it, and they don't know what the problem is. But it hasn't made it to us. And that was two weeks ago."
Kogan insisted the fighters would be quickly compensated once the accounting errors were corrected.
"As far as I know the contract stipulates that all fighters will get paid within the month following the month in which they fought," Kogan said. "So if they fought in September, then they would have been paid in October. If they still haven't been paid then, there's probably either some kind of accounting error or backlog or something else unrelated to any kind of a problem -- more of an administrative issue.
"I know for a fact that our accounting department issues payments -- not just for fighters, but in general -- every 15 days. So if they were backlogged in October, they might have put it onto the November roster."
Diaz's most recent appearance for DREAM was a May win at DREAM.5 over Katsuya Inoue. It took until October for Diaz to receive his purse for the bout.
Kogan explained that while that situation may seem controversial at first glance, it was again a simple mistake that was quickly addressed.
"Believe it or not -- some of this stuff sounds kind of ridiculous, but this has happened in the past," Kogan said. "In Nick Diaz's case, I don't know who, but obviously there's a lot of people that work for FEG in our accounting department. And half of them don't even know what Nick Diaz looks like. They're just paper-pushers. Well somebody apparently filed his (account) as paid. So as far as our accounting was concerned, he was paid.
"I don't know why they filed it that way. So after months and months of me bitching and bitching and bitching, they kept looking and kept looking and kept looking. Finally somebody said, 'Well wait a minute. We thought that blah, blah, blah.' And he was paid immediately. Actually he received his money right in time since he's out of a job right now."
Kogan insisted both Ambriz, who took a bout with Sergei Kharitonov at the last possible moment on the September card, and Moore would be compensated fairly and accurately -- and that the entire situation was a non-story.
"I fear for MMA if it's newsworthy that Ambriz hasn't gotten paid yet," Kogan said. "If that's what's on the mind of MMA fans, then fire away and report it.
"I think they're probably more interested in what 80 fighters being held hostage by a ProElite/CBS war, who are unemployed and unable to look for a job, they want to know. Ambriz will get his money, trust me, within the next week at the latest."
Ambriz hopes Kogan's assurances are realized, but feels the situation demands a touch more concern.
"I just really want to be paid, basically," Ambriz said. "I put the work in and it's the compensation time. I don't want this to get stretched out into a legal situation. But if that's what we have to do, that's what I'll do.
"You put your work in and contracts are signed. Live up to your end of the contract."
Following a recent five-month delay in payment to lightweight contender Nick Diaz, the Japanese-based DREAM promotion has again run behind on compensating its fighters.
The participants in question this time are heavyweight Jimmy Ambriz (13-11-1) and lightweight Todd Moore (9-3). Both U.S.-based fighters participated in September's DREAM.6 event.
"As far as I'm concerned, they pretty much have stiffed us," Moore told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "The fight was Sept. 23, and we're going on into [late November] and they still haven't paid. That's two months. That sucks, man."
MMAjunkie.com was able to speak to Moore despite, what he said, have been his recent attempts at dodging phone calls from bill collectors awaiting the money the Texan earned in a first-round submission loss to Shinya Aoki. The three-year professional said he has never before found himself in this predicament.
"The closest thing was I had one bounced check from one promoter, but he eventually paid within the same month," Moore said. "And he informed me, 'Hey, I had a couple of bounced checks, just to give you a heads-up.' Then he was able to pay me back pretty quickly. (It was) by far quicker than DREAM has been."
Mike Kogan, the U.S. representative for DREAM's parent company Fight Entertainment Group, said the missing money was simply an oversight by the company's accounting department.
"They're not getting stiffed," Kogan said of Moore and Ambriz. "Let me put it this way: They'll get their money. There's been reports in the past that we were a little slow in paying, and to a lot of the American fighters, it might seem a little weird. Because with the commission here against how the promoters pay in the U.S. -- right after the event they get their checks -- we don't do that. But that's disclosed in the contracts."
Moore and Ambriz's agent, Ken Pavia of MMAagents.com, said he was aware of the delayed payment requirements of the Japanese-based promotion. But Pavia points out that the contract stipulated the money would be paid before the end of October, and that DREAM officials have proved difficult to deal with during the process.
"[DREAM] can't [pay at the event] anymore because of some sort of Japanese tax audit, which requires, for paper trails, them to wire the money," Pavia said. "They told us that we would have it soon thereafter. And it's been what, two months now?
"They told us it was wired twice, and it wasn't. We never received it. Once [DREAM officials said] it got kicked back, and the second time they re-wired it, and they don't know what the problem is. But it hasn't made it to us. And that was two weeks ago."
Kogan insisted the fighters would be quickly compensated once the accounting errors were corrected.
"As far as I know the contract stipulates that all fighters will get paid within the month following the month in which they fought," Kogan said. "So if they fought in September, then they would have been paid in October. If they still haven't been paid then, there's probably either some kind of accounting error or backlog or something else unrelated to any kind of a problem -- more of an administrative issue.
"I know for a fact that our accounting department issues payments -- not just for fighters, but in general -- every 15 days. So if they were backlogged in October, they might have put it onto the November roster."
Diaz's most recent appearance for DREAM was a May win at DREAM.5 over Katsuya Inoue. It took until October for Diaz to receive his purse for the bout.
Kogan explained that while that situation may seem controversial at first glance, it was again a simple mistake that was quickly addressed.
"Believe it or not -- some of this stuff sounds kind of ridiculous, but this has happened in the past," Kogan said. "In Nick Diaz's case, I don't know who, but obviously there's a lot of people that work for FEG in our accounting department. And half of them don't even know what Nick Diaz looks like. They're just paper-pushers. Well somebody apparently filed his (account) as paid. So as far as our accounting was concerned, he was paid.
"I don't know why they filed it that way. So after months and months of me bitching and bitching and bitching, they kept looking and kept looking and kept looking. Finally somebody said, 'Well wait a minute. We thought that blah, blah, blah.' And he was paid immediately. Actually he received his money right in time since he's out of a job right now."
Kogan insisted both Ambriz, who took a bout with Sergei Kharitonov at the last possible moment on the September card, and Moore would be compensated fairly and accurately -- and that the entire situation was a non-story.
"I fear for MMA if it's newsworthy that Ambriz hasn't gotten paid yet," Kogan said. "If that's what's on the mind of MMA fans, then fire away and report it.
"I think they're probably more interested in what 80 fighters being held hostage by a ProElite/CBS war, who are unemployed and unable to look for a job, they want to know. Ambriz will get his money, trust me, within the next week at the latest."
Ambriz hopes Kogan's assurances are realized, but feels the situation demands a touch more concern.
"I just really want to be paid, basically," Ambriz said. "I put the work in and it's the compensation time. I don't want this to get stretched out into a legal situation. But if that's what we have to do, that's what I'll do.
"You put your work in and contracts are signed. Live up to your end of the contract."
New free agent Jake Shields seeks new home, possibly with UFC
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Former EliteXC welterweight champion Jake Shields (22-4-1) has officially reached free agent status after the collapse of his former organization.
Now 30 days after filing a breach of contract against his former employer, Shields told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that the company is in breach of contract and that he's excited to test the open market in search of a new home.
"My 30 days is up today," Shields said on Thursday. "Today I consider myself a free agent. EliteXC still has no reply, but as far as the contract goes, I'm a free agent today."
With recent wins over world-class competition in Paul Daley, Nick Thompson, Mike Pyle, Carlos Condit and Yushin Okami, among others, to his credit, Shields will certainly be in immediate demand.
"My dad manages me," Shields said. "He's just started looking around today. Obviously the UFC being the top show that I'm looking at, but I'm definitely going to look around a little bit. Hopefully I'll be signed somewhere in the next month and be fighting within two or three months."
Currently riding an impressive 11-fight win streak, Shields was left as a title-holder for a now-defunct organization when EliteXC's parent company, ProElite Inc., folded. The Californian competed four times for EliteXC and has mixed feelings about the departure of the promotion.
"It kind of sucked because it was great exposure," Shields said. "People started to know me around. But [leaving EliteXC] could be a good thing, too.
"They didn't have a lot of people for me to fight. I was looking to go up a weight (class) and fight Robbie Lawler because they had no one. Now I can stay at my weight."
Currently ranked as the No. 4 fighter in the world at 170 pounds by WAMMA rankings committee, Shields has his eyes on the talent-rich welterweight division of the UFC.
"I want to fight some of those guys in the UFC," Shields said. "I haven't had a chance to talk to (UFC President) Dana (White) about numbers, but it's certainly a show that I would like to be in right now and hopefully get in there and mix it up."
But while the UFC would certainly seem to have the edge as a potential home for Shields, the Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu product simply wants to face the world's toughest competition.
"It's not necessarily because it's the UFC," Shields said. "It's because that's where the fighters are. I mean the UFC is the show. I've been watching it since I was a kid. So I do want to fight there. But I just think that it's all about fighting the top fighters.
"If [UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre] was in Affliction, then that's probably where I would want to go fight. I'm looking to be a top fighter, and you've got to fight the top guys to be the No. 1. That's just how it goes."
Wherever Shields next destination turns out to be, the grappling expert predicts the answer will come sooner rather than later.
"I couldn't imagine it being more than a couple of week before I'm signed with somebody," Shields said. "Obviously it probably takes a week or two, three weeks. I don't know how long it's going to take my dad to negotiate. You've got to feel around a little bit. But I would think within a couple weeks."
And once signed, Shields insists he will be ready to go right away.
"I'm ready to fight now," Shields said. "I've been training every day. I could be ready to fight in six weeks. If I have an offer in six weeks, I'll be ready to fight in six weeks."
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Former EliteXC welterweight champion Jake Shields (22-4-1) has officially reached free agent status after the collapse of his former organization.
Now 30 days after filing a breach of contract against his former employer, Shields told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that the company is in breach of contract and that he's excited to test the open market in search of a new home.
"My 30 days is up today," Shields said on Thursday. "Today I consider myself a free agent. EliteXC still has no reply, but as far as the contract goes, I'm a free agent today."
With recent wins over world-class competition in Paul Daley, Nick Thompson, Mike Pyle, Carlos Condit and Yushin Okami, among others, to his credit, Shields will certainly be in immediate demand.
"My dad manages me," Shields said. "He's just started looking around today. Obviously the UFC being the top show that I'm looking at, but I'm definitely going to look around a little bit. Hopefully I'll be signed somewhere in the next month and be fighting within two or three months."
Currently riding an impressive 11-fight win streak, Shields was left as a title-holder for a now-defunct organization when EliteXC's parent company, ProElite Inc., folded. The Californian competed four times for EliteXC and has mixed feelings about the departure of the promotion.
"It kind of sucked because it was great exposure," Shields said. "People started to know me around. But [leaving EliteXC] could be a good thing, too.
"They didn't have a lot of people for me to fight. I was looking to go up a weight (class) and fight Robbie Lawler because they had no one. Now I can stay at my weight."
Currently ranked as the No. 4 fighter in the world at 170 pounds by WAMMA rankings committee, Shields has his eyes on the talent-rich welterweight division of the UFC.
"I want to fight some of those guys in the UFC," Shields said. "I haven't had a chance to talk to (UFC President) Dana (White) about numbers, but it's certainly a show that I would like to be in right now and hopefully get in there and mix it up."
But while the UFC would certainly seem to have the edge as a potential home for Shields, the Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu product simply wants to face the world's toughest competition.
"It's not necessarily because it's the UFC," Shields said. "It's because that's where the fighters are. I mean the UFC is the show. I've been watching it since I was a kid. So I do want to fight there. But I just think that it's all about fighting the top fighters.
"If [UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre] was in Affliction, then that's probably where I would want to go fight. I'm looking to be a top fighter, and you've got to fight the top guys to be the No. 1. That's just how it goes."
Wherever Shields next destination turns out to be, the grappling expert predicts the answer will come sooner rather than later.
"I couldn't imagine it being more than a couple of week before I'm signed with somebody," Shields said. "Obviously it probably takes a week or two, three weeks. I don't know how long it's going to take my dad to negotiate. You've got to feel around a little bit. But I would think within a couple weeks."
And once signed, Shields insists he will be ready to go right away.
"I'm ready to fight now," Shields said. "I've been training every day. I could be ready to fight in six weeks. If I have an offer in six weeks, I'll be ready to fight in six weeks."
Josh Thomson seeks big fight in return, targets Frank Shamrock
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- San Jose, Calif., resident and Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson (16-2) was devastated when a toe injury three weeks ago forced him out of Friday's "Strikeforce: Destruction" event.
Now in the recovery process, Thomson told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) he is already eying a few big-name opponents for his return.
"I'm looking for big fights," Thomson said. "I'd love to fight Ralph Gracie. I'd love to fight Frank Shamrock. I'd like to fight Eddie Alvarez. I'd like to fight those guys. And those to me, and (Joachin) Hansen, they warrant coming in off the street to get an automatic title shot -- or like a union fight or superfight."
Thomson was originally slated to fight veteran Yves Edwards (34-14-1) in a rematch of the pair's classic 2004 battle at UFC 49. Edwards earned a first-round knockout win in that affair.
While Thomson was looking forward to avenging one of his two career losses, a training injury proved too severe for "The Punk" to compete in the bout.
"I threw a push kick right into someone's elbow," Thomson said. "It jammed the big toe (on my right foot) and bent it all the way back. It's like turf toe. So I jammed it so hard that it caused turf toe in the joint. And then as well, by bending it all the way back I had a partial tear in one of the muscles that leads into your arch -- from the big toe to your arch. So it's like a double whammy."
Thomson said he did everything possible in an attempt to work through the issue. Currently riding an eight-fight win streak, he said consideration for his future prompted him to eventually withdraw.
"I was seeing a therapist twice a day," Thomson said. "I was really even considering getting a cortisone shot to see if it would help. The cortisone they said only would have aggregated the muscle, or it would have brought the inflammation down and the joint possibly could have damaged some more and put me out longer once the cortisone wore off. So with having the belt now, I'm really looking forward to a long career. I really want to just focus on my next fight instead of this one."
Thomson doesn't yet know who he will face in that next fight, but the 30-year-old is eying a potential return to San Jose, Calif., for Strikeforce as a possibility. And despite a sizable weight difference between the two, Shamrock is at the top of a short list for possible opponents.
"If we can find a way to do a catch weight at like 177 (pounds), I would do it all day long," Thomson said. "He weighted in at 183 (pounds) against Cung Le, and I know that he doesn't cut a whole lot of weight. He walks around at about 195 or 196 (pounds). Jon Fitch makes 170 (pounds), and he walks around at 196 (pounds).
"It really comes down to whether Frank wants to fight. I love the way he fights. I think he's a great fighter, always have. We've had our differences, but I think it's going to be a great fight."
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- San Jose, Calif., resident and Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson (16-2) was devastated when a toe injury three weeks ago forced him out of Friday's "Strikeforce: Destruction" event.
Now in the recovery process, Thomson told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) he is already eying a few big-name opponents for his return.
"I'm looking for big fights," Thomson said. "I'd love to fight Ralph Gracie. I'd love to fight Frank Shamrock. I'd like to fight Eddie Alvarez. I'd like to fight those guys. And those to me, and (Joachin) Hansen, they warrant coming in off the street to get an automatic title shot -- or like a union fight or superfight."
Thomson was originally slated to fight veteran Yves Edwards (34-14-1) in a rematch of the pair's classic 2004 battle at UFC 49. Edwards earned a first-round knockout win in that affair.
While Thomson was looking forward to avenging one of his two career losses, a training injury proved too severe for "The Punk" to compete in the bout.
"I threw a push kick right into someone's elbow," Thomson said. "It jammed the big toe (on my right foot) and bent it all the way back. It's like turf toe. So I jammed it so hard that it caused turf toe in the joint. And then as well, by bending it all the way back I had a partial tear in one of the muscles that leads into your arch -- from the big toe to your arch. So it's like a double whammy."
Thomson said he did everything possible in an attempt to work through the issue. Currently riding an eight-fight win streak, he said consideration for his future prompted him to eventually withdraw.
"I was seeing a therapist twice a day," Thomson said. "I was really even considering getting a cortisone shot to see if it would help. The cortisone they said only would have aggregated the muscle, or it would have brought the inflammation down and the joint possibly could have damaged some more and put me out longer once the cortisone wore off. So with having the belt now, I'm really looking forward to a long career. I really want to just focus on my next fight instead of this one."
Thomson doesn't yet know who he will face in that next fight, but the 30-year-old is eying a potential return to San Jose, Calif., for Strikeforce as a possibility. And despite a sizable weight difference between the two, Shamrock is at the top of a short list for possible opponents.
"If we can find a way to do a catch weight at like 177 (pounds), I would do it all day long," Thomson said. "He weighted in at 183 (pounds) against Cung Le, and I know that he doesn't cut a whole lot of weight. He walks around at about 195 or 196 (pounds). Jon Fitch makes 170 (pounds), and he walks around at 196 (pounds).
"It really comes down to whether Frank wants to fight. I love the way he fights. I think he's a great fighter, always have. We've had our differences, but I think it's going to be a great fight."
UFC 91 draws 10,845 paid for $4.8 million gate
"UFC 91: Couture vs. Lesnar," which took place Nov. 15 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, drew 14,272 spectators for a live gate of $4,815,675.
However, 3,427 of the 14,272 total attendance received complimentary tickets for the show.
The figures were today emailed to MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) by Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director Keith Kizer.
The UFC had high hopes for UFC 91, and UFC President Dana White maintains the pay-per-view event could do a record 1.2 million "buys." And though the organization initially predicted a record gate for the event, which featured Brock Lesnar's second-round TKO of former heavyweight champ Randy Couture, the show ultimately fell a bit short.
The $4.8 million gate still ranks fourth all-time in UFC history. UFC 66, an event that took place in December 2006 and featured a rematch between Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz, still holds the record ($5,397,300).
Here's how UFC 91 ranks in UFC history:
UFC 66 (Liddell vs. Ortiz II), December 2006: $5,397,300 gate (12,191 attendance)
UFC 83 (St. Pierre vs. Serra II), April 2008: $5,100,000 (21,390 attendance)*
UFC 79 (St. Pierre vs. Hughes), December 2007: $4,994,050 (9,704 attendance)
UFC 91 (Couture vs. Lesnar), November 2008: $4,815,675 (13,224 attendance)
UFC 71 (Liddell vs. Jackson), May 2007: $4,304,740 (13,224 attendance)
"UFC 91: Couture vs. Lesnar," which took place Nov. 15 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, drew 14,272 spectators for a live gate of $4,815,675.
However, 3,427 of the 14,272 total attendance received complimentary tickets for the show.
The figures were today emailed to MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) by Nevada State Athletic Commission executive director Keith Kizer.
The UFC had high hopes for UFC 91, and UFC President Dana White maintains the pay-per-view event could do a record 1.2 million "buys." And though the organization initially predicted a record gate for the event, which featured Brock Lesnar's second-round TKO of former heavyweight champ Randy Couture, the show ultimately fell a bit short.
The $4.8 million gate still ranks fourth all-time in UFC history. UFC 66, an event that took place in December 2006 and featured a rematch between Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz, still holds the record ($5,397,300).
Here's how UFC 91 ranks in UFC history:
UFC 66 (Liddell vs. Ortiz II), December 2006: $5,397,300 gate (12,191 attendance)
UFC 83 (St. Pierre vs. Serra II), April 2008: $5,100,000 (21,390 attendance)*
UFC 79 (St. Pierre vs. Hughes), December 2007: $4,994,050 (9,704 attendance)
UFC 91 (Couture vs. Lesnar), November 2008: $4,815,675 (13,224 attendance)
UFC 71 (Liddell vs. Jackson), May 2007: $4,304,740 (13,224 attendance)
With budding movie career, Cung Le only available for "something huge"
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- When undefeated Strikeforce middleweight champion Cung Le (6-0) defeated MMA legend Frank Shamrock (23-9-2) earlier this year, the Vietnamese San Shou stylist's popularity was at an all-time high.
Le has since capitalized on that popularity by transitioning from the cage to the silver screen. Le recently discussed with MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) why he hasn't seen MMA action since that March bout.
"March 29 to be exact," Le said. "I just came back from Berlin, shooting a movie with Dennis Quaid, Ben Foster, the producers of 'Resident Evil,' Jeremy Bolt, Robert Kulzer. I was over there for two-and-a-half months. And before I went over there, I was really locking into my character, taking private lessons with acting coaches.
"I went out there, and I didn't stay up with the MMA world. I was just focused. I really wanted to do a good job because it was a really big-time movie and a big step for me."
While the decision to temporarily walk away from the sport while he was on his way to the top may seem strange to some, Le views the move as a pioneering opportunity of sorts.
"I feel like if someone in the MMA world were able to make it into the film world, the sky's the limit," Le said.
Le said the project in Berlin was just the tip of the iceberg in his cinematic development.
"In two weeks I leave to Beijing, China, to do a cameo role for Woo-ping (Yun), who is the action director for 'The Matrix,' 'Kill Bill,' 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,'" Le said. "They gave me dialogue in Chinese. I have to memorize that. I open this huge epic fight scene. It's definitely like a whirlwind for me."
Le said the progress he is making in the film world may soon open a few new opportunities for his fellow fighters.
"I already told Josh (Thomson) I'm doing a few projects where they're giving me a lot of room to like, 'Hey, what fighters should we get?'" Le said. "I told Josh and a couple of my other fighters I'm going to pull them in to doing a couple of fight scenes. I think right now I've got a verbal commitment on a big project, a really good budget. They're going to surround me with good actors and let me star in the movie. But nothing has been signed, so I don't want to give too much away."
Le said he doesn't want fans to think he has given up on MMA. But the 36-year-old wants to take advantage of every opportunity available to him at this time.
"I'm taking all these crazy meetings in Los Angeles," Le said. "I want to take advantage of these opportunities before -- it's not like I'm some spring chicken, you know."
But even as Le is continuously offered new acting possibilities, Le said MMA is still close to his heart.
"Right now my focus is on the movies, but I'm still training just in case something big happens," Le said. "I came up through fighting. I came up through martial arts. I would never abandon that.
"Whether it's a big fight that everyone demands, or it's doing something that will boost the MMA or martial arts world and have one of its own in something else -- but still carrying the name -- then I'm going to try to be the best I can in whatever I do. But in the meantime, just hold tight and support me in this. I'm always going to support MMA, martial arts, and we'll see. Let's take it one day at a time."
In the meantime, Le said he is still staying in shape in anticipation of a potential "huge" bout.
"I still got a lot in me," Le said. "I've got some great fighters in my gym. So right now I'm just coaching and doing the movie thing. I'm staying in shape just in case something huge comes up. And I'll be ready to go."
And what does Le consider a "huge" fight?
"It'll probably never happen, but everyone's all, 'When are you going to fight (UFC middleweight champ) Anderson Silva?'" Le said. "I'm just happy and honored that they would speak the same breath with that. I believe Anderson is pound-for-pound the best in the world. Well-rounded, very powerful.
"But someone like me, I would engage. I wouldn't run."
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- When undefeated Strikeforce middleweight champion Cung Le (6-0) defeated MMA legend Frank Shamrock (23-9-2) earlier this year, the Vietnamese San Shou stylist's popularity was at an all-time high.
Le has since capitalized on that popularity by transitioning from the cage to the silver screen. Le recently discussed with MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) why he hasn't seen MMA action since that March bout.
"March 29 to be exact," Le said. "I just came back from Berlin, shooting a movie with Dennis Quaid, Ben Foster, the producers of 'Resident Evil,' Jeremy Bolt, Robert Kulzer. I was over there for two-and-a-half months. And before I went over there, I was really locking into my character, taking private lessons with acting coaches.
"I went out there, and I didn't stay up with the MMA world. I was just focused. I really wanted to do a good job because it was a really big-time movie and a big step for me."
While the decision to temporarily walk away from the sport while he was on his way to the top may seem strange to some, Le views the move as a pioneering opportunity of sorts.
"I feel like if someone in the MMA world were able to make it into the film world, the sky's the limit," Le said.
Le said the project in Berlin was just the tip of the iceberg in his cinematic development.
"In two weeks I leave to Beijing, China, to do a cameo role for Woo-ping (Yun), who is the action director for 'The Matrix,' 'Kill Bill,' 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,'" Le said. "They gave me dialogue in Chinese. I have to memorize that. I open this huge epic fight scene. It's definitely like a whirlwind for me."
Le said the progress he is making in the film world may soon open a few new opportunities for his fellow fighters.
"I already told Josh (Thomson) I'm doing a few projects where they're giving me a lot of room to like, 'Hey, what fighters should we get?'" Le said. "I told Josh and a couple of my other fighters I'm going to pull them in to doing a couple of fight scenes. I think right now I've got a verbal commitment on a big project, a really good budget. They're going to surround me with good actors and let me star in the movie. But nothing has been signed, so I don't want to give too much away."
Le said he doesn't want fans to think he has given up on MMA. But the 36-year-old wants to take advantage of every opportunity available to him at this time.
"I'm taking all these crazy meetings in Los Angeles," Le said. "I want to take advantage of these opportunities before -- it's not like I'm some spring chicken, you know."
But even as Le is continuously offered new acting possibilities, Le said MMA is still close to his heart.
"Right now my focus is on the movies, but I'm still training just in case something big happens," Le said. "I came up through fighting. I came up through martial arts. I would never abandon that.
"Whether it's a big fight that everyone demands, or it's doing something that will boost the MMA or martial arts world and have one of its own in something else -- but still carrying the name -- then I'm going to try to be the best I can in whatever I do. But in the meantime, just hold tight and support me in this. I'm always going to support MMA, martial arts, and we'll see. Let's take it one day at a time."
In the meantime, Le said he is still staying in shape in anticipation of a potential "huge" bout.
"I still got a lot in me," Le said. "I've got some great fighters in my gym. So right now I'm just coaching and doing the movie thing. I'm staying in shape just in case something huge comes up. And I'll be ready to go."
And what does Le consider a "huge" fight?
"It'll probably never happen, but everyone's all, 'When are you going to fight (UFC middleweight champ) Anderson Silva?'" Le said. "I'm just happy and honored that they would speak the same breath with that. I believe Anderson is pound-for-pound the best in the world. Well-rounded, very powerful.
"But someone like me, I would engage. I wouldn't run."
PENN TO DEFEND BOTH TITLES IF HE BEATS ST. PIERRE
Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight titleholder B.J. Penn moves back up to the welterweight division to take on UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre on Super Bowl weekend, Jan. 31, in Las Vegas for the welterweight title. Speculation about what weight class Penn's fighting future would be in if he defeats St. Pierre has swirled since the bout agreements were signed.
According to UFC president Dana White, if Penn beats St. Pierre, he will be the first fighter to hold two UFC titles at the same time and will defend both belts.
"Once you win the title and you accomplish so many things in the fight business, then it becomes about legendary status, making your mark, going down as one of the greatest fighters of all time," said White.
"The problem I always talk about with B.J. is trying to contain this kid and keep him focused on staying at 155 and defending his title there. He's been doing that. And I think now is the time. Now is a great time. He's saying if he wins the 170-pound title, he's going to defend both titles."
"Should B.J. win, one of the things he would do is defend two titles at the same time," White continued. "Nobody has ever done that. It's never been done."
Penn has held the UFC welterweight title before, winning it by defeating long-time champion Matt Hughes at UFC 46, ironically on the same day he'll rematch St. Pierre, Jan. 31, 2006.
"I want to leave a mark in this sport," Penn told the media during a recent press conference. "When I was 22-years-old, I wanted to become the lightweight champion of the world. I'm going to be 30-years-old next month and I want to become the best ever. And this is my chance."
But BJ Penn's not thinking about defending his lightweight championship right now. He's focused on Georges St. Pierre. "I could think about that stuff all day, but really I've got to concentrate on the first step ahead of me. And it's a big one. It's Georges St. Pierre," said the UFC lightweight titleholder. "I really can't look past that night... I'm just concentrating on the man that everyone says is the best."
Ultimate Fighting Championship lightweight titleholder B.J. Penn moves back up to the welterweight division to take on UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre on Super Bowl weekend, Jan. 31, in Las Vegas for the welterweight title. Speculation about what weight class Penn's fighting future would be in if he defeats St. Pierre has swirled since the bout agreements were signed.
According to UFC president Dana White, if Penn beats St. Pierre, he will be the first fighter to hold two UFC titles at the same time and will defend both belts.
"Once you win the title and you accomplish so many things in the fight business, then it becomes about legendary status, making your mark, going down as one of the greatest fighters of all time," said White.
"The problem I always talk about with B.J. is trying to contain this kid and keep him focused on staying at 155 and defending his title there. He's been doing that. And I think now is the time. Now is a great time. He's saying if he wins the 170-pound title, he's going to defend both titles."
"Should B.J. win, one of the things he would do is defend two titles at the same time," White continued. "Nobody has ever done that. It's never been done."
Penn has held the UFC welterweight title before, winning it by defeating long-time champion Matt Hughes at UFC 46, ironically on the same day he'll rematch St. Pierre, Jan. 31, 2006.
"I want to leave a mark in this sport," Penn told the media during a recent press conference. "When I was 22-years-old, I wanted to become the lightweight champion of the world. I'm going to be 30-years-old next month and I want to become the best ever. And this is my chance."
But BJ Penn's not thinking about defending his lightweight championship right now. He's focused on Georges St. Pierre. "I could think about that stuff all day, but really I've got to concentrate on the first step ahead of me. And it's a big one. It's Georges St. Pierre," said the UFC lightweight titleholder. "I really can't look past that night... I'm just concentrating on the man that everyone says is the best."
Sambo vs Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Fedor Emelianenko to compete in 2009 ADCC Championships
Life as a competitor in the Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) just got a lot more interesting.
Current WAMMA heavyweight champion and four-time World Combat Sambo Champion Fedor Emelianenko has signed on to compete in the 2009 ADCC Championships according to ADCombat.com.
Quoteworthy:
Fedor Emelianenko, after conquering the World of MMA, wants to show the world he is also the best submission grappler in the World. Fedor wants to make history and expand on the pioneer spirit of what Mark Kerr did in the late 90’s when he was the champion of Pride and became the Weight and Absolute Champion of ADCC and went on to defend his title in the Superfights for two editions.
Anyone even remotely interested in grappling or submission fighting is sure to be excited at the prospect of seeing Emelianenko bring his formidable grappling skills to the world of ADCC.
Despite placing third last weekend in the semifinals of the 2008 World Combat Sambo Championships behind Bulgaria’s Blagoi Ivanov, Emelianenko has a total of 11 first place finishes in Sambo tournaments around the world, including four world titles.
He’s also finished his last five mixed martial arts fights via submission, and will be a dangerous opponent for anyone on the mat.
As if that wasn’t enough, 2008 Dream Middleweight Champion Gegard Mousasi will also throw his hat into the ADCC submission ring after going on an 11-0 tear in the world of mixed martial arts.
More on “The Young Vagabond”:
Mousasi, the winner of the 2008 Dream Middleweight Grand Prix where he defeated former World ABJJ Absolute and ADCC middleweight Champion Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza in the final, also wants to test his ground skills against the top names in submission grappling. This sets up some humongous possible match-ups such as a rematch with “Jacare” or facing current ADCC Middleweight Champion and rising UFC star Demian Maia.
Life as a competitor in the Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) just got a lot more interesting.
Current WAMMA heavyweight champion and four-time World Combat Sambo Champion Fedor Emelianenko has signed on to compete in the 2009 ADCC Championships according to ADCombat.com.
Quoteworthy:
Fedor Emelianenko, after conquering the World of MMA, wants to show the world he is also the best submission grappler in the World. Fedor wants to make history and expand on the pioneer spirit of what Mark Kerr did in the late 90’s when he was the champion of Pride and became the Weight and Absolute Champion of ADCC and went on to defend his title in the Superfights for two editions.
Anyone even remotely interested in grappling or submission fighting is sure to be excited at the prospect of seeing Emelianenko bring his formidable grappling skills to the world of ADCC.
Despite placing third last weekend in the semifinals of the 2008 World Combat Sambo Championships behind Bulgaria’s Blagoi Ivanov, Emelianenko has a total of 11 first place finishes in Sambo tournaments around the world, including four world titles.
He’s also finished his last five mixed martial arts fights via submission, and will be a dangerous opponent for anyone on the mat.
As if that wasn’t enough, 2008 Dream Middleweight Champion Gegard Mousasi will also throw his hat into the ADCC submission ring after going on an 11-0 tear in the world of mixed martial arts.
More on “The Young Vagabond”:
Mousasi, the winner of the 2008 Dream Middleweight Grand Prix where he defeated former World ABJJ Absolute and ADCC middleweight Champion Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza in the final, also wants to test his ground skills against the top names in submission grappling. This sets up some humongous possible match-ups such as a rematch with “Jacare” or facing current ADCC Middleweight Champion and rising UFC star Demian Maia.
UFC Quick Quote: Josh Koscheck stays focused during Fitch fiasco
"I don’t want to have any distractions in my preparation. I’m three weeks away from [the Yoshida] fight and I haven’t read anything on the internet, I’ve stayed away from all of it. The bullshit of the contracts or whatever is going on, that’s part of the game. The UFC are in the contract business. I just want to get paid, I want to fight and I want to have a retirement plan. I’m going to be 31 in a couple of days. I want to have money in the bank so that I don’t have to do this for the rest of my life. I felt bad for Jon. I support Jon Fitch in any decision that he decides to make, I support any of our teammates in any decision that they decide to make. It’s friendship and we have a very strong team here."
"I don’t want to have any distractions in my preparation. I’m three weeks away from [the Yoshida] fight and I haven’t read anything on the internet, I’ve stayed away from all of it. The bullshit of the contracts or whatever is going on, that’s part of the game. The UFC are in the contract business. I just want to get paid, I want to fight and I want to have a retirement plan. I’m going to be 31 in a couple of days. I want to have money in the bank so that I don’t have to do this for the rest of my life. I felt bad for Jon. I support Jon Fitch in any decision that he decides to make, I support any of our teammates in any decision that they decide to make. It’s friendship and we have a very strong team here."
Jake Rosholt: “I have the potential to be a lot better”
Jake Rosholt could very well be the future of the middleweight division but only a year and a half into his mixed martial arts career he’s good with taking things one fight at a time. There are a whole lot of people that are expecting really big things out of the 26-year old Oklahoma native and it’s easy to see why.
Rosholt is arguably one of the most accomplished collegiate wrestlers to have ever made the transition over to mixed martial arts. In high school, Rosholt, won three state titles for the Sandpoint High School Bulldogs and went on to become the 189-pound high school national champion in 2001.
Upon graduation, Rosholt went on to wrestle for Oklahoma State University where the success would continue. At OSU, Rosholt became one of the most decorated wrestler’s in the school’s history, going on to win the 184-pound NCAA Division I wrestling title in 2003 and the 197-pound title in 2005 and 2006. The young standout was also a Big 12 Conference champion in 2004 and would complete his collegiate career as a four-time NCAA All-American.
After college, Rosholt joined Ted Ehrhardt’s Team Takedown and made the trip down to Las Vegas to begin his MMA training with one of the best fight camps in the world at Xtreme Couture. After five pro bouts, the three-time NCAA champ is undefeated, with all of his victories ending inside the distance.
Rosholt represents the latest in a growing list of successful collegiate wrestlers such as Josh Koscheck, Matt Hamill, Rashad Evans, Jon Fitch, and Gray Maynard that has gone on to become successful MMA fighters.
Making his Zuffa debut at WEC 36 vs. Nissen Osterneck, Rosholt showed a strong chin after getting rocked numerous times while still managing to turn the tables and win the fight by TKO at the 3:48 mark of round 2.
Many questions were answered during the Osterneck fight but some still remain, most notably whether Rosholt’s striking is polished enough to allow him to make a successful transition from the WEC’s 185 lbs. division to the UFC’s. Critics were quick to pan Rosholt’s striking display at WEC 36 but convienently overlooked the fact that Rosholt hasn’t even been training MMA for two full years.
But Rosholt is not making any excuses. During a recent interview with FiveOuncesOfPain.com, the for OSU Cowboy acknowledged his striking was an aspect of his game that could stand to improve.
Fiveouncesofpain.com: Thanks for taking this time with us Jake and congratulations on your big win over Nissen Osterneck at WEC 36. Did the fight go down the way you thought it would?
Jake Rosholt: Not at all. I really wasn’t expecting Osterneck to have such good stand up. I was wanting to use some of my stand up and try to get more comfortable there. I went out there and I was getting beat up pretty good on my feet but I feel like I was able to dominate the ground game whenever I was able to take it there. When the fight was standing he was taking it to me so I was not doing a very good job on my feet.
Fiveouncesofpain.com: Have you had a chance to watch the fight and what are your thoughts on your performance?
Jake Rosholt: The main thing I can take away from it is that it was a pretty gutsy performance. I got hit pretty hard several times and it just reiterates that I have to go back and keep working on my stand up and get comfortable so I can go out there and be comfortable in the ring. I just feel I need some more experience and I need to keep working on that part of my fight game.
Fiveouncesofpain.com: There was one moment in the fight it looked as if Osterneck had wobbled you just a little. How hurt were you?
Jake Rosholt: I definitely took a couple good shots that caught me on the temple and left me a little bit dazed. There was a couple times in the fight that I was definitely seeing some stars out there.
Fiveouncesofpain.com: Would you credit being able to bounce back and recover so quickly to anything?
Jake Rosholt: I don’t know if I can credit it to anything. I’ve been hit a few times in sparring where I was seeing some stars but it’s definitely different when you get out there and you have those little five ounce gloves on and your blocking punches with your face instead of your hands.
Fiveouncesofpain.com: You have amazing wrestling credentials. Some of the best MMA has ever seen. How difficult of a transition into MMA has it been for you?
Jake Rosholt: It’s been pretty good. I pick up on stuff pretty easy and I like to learn technique and things like that but for sure the stand up and boxing has been the hardest for me. That’s easy to tell in my fights when I get out there it’s pretty easy to tell that I’m not that comfortable on my feet yet but it will get there. It’s just going to take some time. I just started fighting a year and a half ago so I’m still really young and really green in the sport.
Fiveouncesofpain.com: Can you tell me a little bit about the team you train with and some of the guys you were training with for Osterneck?
Jake Rosholt: I do a lot of my training down at Cobra Kai with a bunch of people down there and then I do most of my stand up and sparring at Xtreme Couture. I’m in the gym every day with some of the best fighters in the world so I’m very privileged in that way. I think that that’s more than anything why it’s so frustrating looking back on the fight and getting beat up so bad on my feet. I feel like I’m such a better fighter than that and it just didn’t show at all.
Fiveouncesofpain.com: So what’s next for you. Are you expecting your next fight to be with the UFC?
Jake Rosholt: You know I don’t know. Hopefully within the next couple of weeks I’ll know but I’ll just kind of wait and see.
Fiveouncesofpain.com: What do you think about UFC’s middleweight division. Is that a jump that you are welcoming with open arms?
Jake Rosholt: I’m definitely ready but I just want to get the right fights. I just don’t want to get over my head before I’m ready but I’m ready to fight there. If they’re ready for me and they want me then that’s where I’ll be. There’s really no other place I’d want to fight. I definitely think there’s lots of people in the UFC for me to fight and progress along the way.
Fiveouncesofpain.com: How long do you see yourself competing in mixed martial arts?
Jake Rosholt: I’ll be doing it as long as I can keep being successful and my body will hold up. I’m 26 years old right now and I have a lot of learning and growing to do. I have potential to be a lot better and I have many years ahead of me.
Fiveouncesofpain.com: Hey Jake, thanks so much for your time. Are there any sponsors you would like to thank before I let you go?
Jake Rosholt: Ecko, MMA Warehouse, Tapout, Hitman and Primos Hunting Calls.
Jake Rosholt could very well be the future of the middleweight division but only a year and a half into his mixed martial arts career he’s good with taking things one fight at a time. There are a whole lot of people that are expecting really big things out of the 26-year old Oklahoma native and it’s easy to see why.
Rosholt is arguably one of the most accomplished collegiate wrestlers to have ever made the transition over to mixed martial arts. In high school, Rosholt, won three state titles for the Sandpoint High School Bulldogs and went on to become the 189-pound high school national champion in 2001.
Upon graduation, Rosholt went on to wrestle for Oklahoma State University where the success would continue. At OSU, Rosholt became one of the most decorated wrestler’s in the school’s history, going on to win the 184-pound NCAA Division I wrestling title in 2003 and the 197-pound title in 2005 and 2006. The young standout was also a Big 12 Conference champion in 2004 and would complete his collegiate career as a four-time NCAA All-American.
After college, Rosholt joined Ted Ehrhardt’s Team Takedown and made the trip down to Las Vegas to begin his MMA training with one of the best fight camps in the world at Xtreme Couture. After five pro bouts, the three-time NCAA champ is undefeated, with all of his victories ending inside the distance.
Rosholt represents the latest in a growing list of successful collegiate wrestlers such as Josh Koscheck, Matt Hamill, Rashad Evans, Jon Fitch, and Gray Maynard that has gone on to become successful MMA fighters.
Making his Zuffa debut at WEC 36 vs. Nissen Osterneck, Rosholt showed a strong chin after getting rocked numerous times while still managing to turn the tables and win the fight by TKO at the 3:48 mark of round 2.
Many questions were answered during the Osterneck fight but some still remain, most notably whether Rosholt’s striking is polished enough to allow him to make a successful transition from the WEC’s 185 lbs. division to the UFC’s. Critics were quick to pan Rosholt’s striking display at WEC 36 but convienently overlooked the fact that Rosholt hasn’t even been training MMA for two full years.
But Rosholt is not making any excuses. During a recent interview with FiveOuncesOfPain.com, the for OSU Cowboy acknowledged his striking was an aspect of his game that could stand to improve.
Fiveouncesofpain.com: Thanks for taking this time with us Jake and congratulations on your big win over Nissen Osterneck at WEC 36. Did the fight go down the way you thought it would?
Jake Rosholt: Not at all. I really wasn’t expecting Osterneck to have such good stand up. I was wanting to use some of my stand up and try to get more comfortable there. I went out there and I was getting beat up pretty good on my feet but I feel like I was able to dominate the ground game whenever I was able to take it there. When the fight was standing he was taking it to me so I was not doing a very good job on my feet.
Fiveouncesofpain.com: Have you had a chance to watch the fight and what are your thoughts on your performance?
Jake Rosholt: The main thing I can take away from it is that it was a pretty gutsy performance. I got hit pretty hard several times and it just reiterates that I have to go back and keep working on my stand up and get comfortable so I can go out there and be comfortable in the ring. I just feel I need some more experience and I need to keep working on that part of my fight game.
Fiveouncesofpain.com: There was one moment in the fight it looked as if Osterneck had wobbled you just a little. How hurt were you?
Jake Rosholt: I definitely took a couple good shots that caught me on the temple and left me a little bit dazed. There was a couple times in the fight that I was definitely seeing some stars out there.
Fiveouncesofpain.com: Would you credit being able to bounce back and recover so quickly to anything?
Jake Rosholt: I don’t know if I can credit it to anything. I’ve been hit a few times in sparring where I was seeing some stars but it’s definitely different when you get out there and you have those little five ounce gloves on and your blocking punches with your face instead of your hands.
Fiveouncesofpain.com: You have amazing wrestling credentials. Some of the best MMA has ever seen. How difficult of a transition into MMA has it been for you?
Jake Rosholt: It’s been pretty good. I pick up on stuff pretty easy and I like to learn technique and things like that but for sure the stand up and boxing has been the hardest for me. That’s easy to tell in my fights when I get out there it’s pretty easy to tell that I’m not that comfortable on my feet yet but it will get there. It’s just going to take some time. I just started fighting a year and a half ago so I’m still really young and really green in the sport.
Fiveouncesofpain.com: Can you tell me a little bit about the team you train with and some of the guys you were training with for Osterneck?
Jake Rosholt: I do a lot of my training down at Cobra Kai with a bunch of people down there and then I do most of my stand up and sparring at Xtreme Couture. I’m in the gym every day with some of the best fighters in the world so I’m very privileged in that way. I think that that’s more than anything why it’s so frustrating looking back on the fight and getting beat up so bad on my feet. I feel like I’m such a better fighter than that and it just didn’t show at all.
Fiveouncesofpain.com: So what’s next for you. Are you expecting your next fight to be with the UFC?
Jake Rosholt: You know I don’t know. Hopefully within the next couple of weeks I’ll know but I’ll just kind of wait and see.
Fiveouncesofpain.com: What do you think about UFC’s middleweight division. Is that a jump that you are welcoming with open arms?
Jake Rosholt: I’m definitely ready but I just want to get the right fights. I just don’t want to get over my head before I’m ready but I’m ready to fight there. If they’re ready for me and they want me then that’s where I’ll be. There’s really no other place I’d want to fight. I definitely think there’s lots of people in the UFC for me to fight and progress along the way.
Fiveouncesofpain.com: How long do you see yourself competing in mixed martial arts?
Jake Rosholt: I’ll be doing it as long as I can keep being successful and my body will hold up. I’m 26 years old right now and I have a lot of learning and growing to do. I have potential to be a lot better and I have many years ahead of me.
Fiveouncesofpain.com: Hey Jake, thanks so much for your time. Are there any sponsors you would like to thank before I let you go?
Jake Rosholt: Ecko, MMA Warehouse, Tapout, Hitman and Primos Hunting Calls.
DUSTIN HAZELETT: "I WANT TO BE THE BEST MMA JIU JITSU GUY IN THE WORLD!"
link:http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content3848.html?PHPSESSID=a9bdceb55ebdc16a7ddbfe714025b451
"One of my goals, as far as where I want to be, is to become one of the best MMA Jiu Jitsu guys in the world...the way I use Jiu Jitsu in MMA…Jiu Jitsu in MMA is different from Jiu Jitsu in Jiu Jitsu tournaments. You throw in punches, kicks and stuff and it's a whole different ballgame. I want to be known as one of the best guys who adapts his Jiu Jitsu to MMA and uses MMA Jiu Jitsu using the strikes with the grappling and stuff," stated Dustin Hazelett as he talked about his Jiu Jitsu skills and his future plans. Check out what he had to say about his impressive win over Tamdan McCrory and much more.
link:http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content3848.html?PHPSESSID=a9bdceb55ebdc16a7ddbfe714025b451
"One of my goals, as far as where I want to be, is to become one of the best MMA Jiu Jitsu guys in the world...the way I use Jiu Jitsu in MMA…Jiu Jitsu in MMA is different from Jiu Jitsu in Jiu Jitsu tournaments. You throw in punches, kicks and stuff and it's a whole different ballgame. I want to be known as one of the best guys who adapts his Jiu Jitsu to MMA and uses MMA Jiu Jitsu using the strikes with the grappling and stuff," stated Dustin Hazelett as he talked about his Jiu Jitsu skills and his future plans. Check out what he had to say about his impressive win over Tamdan McCrory and much more.
DreamFighters.com Exclusive Andre Arlovski Interview
DreamFighters.com was able to catch up with Andrei Arlovski after his training day to chat about a few things. We touch bases on Crocop, boxing, police force, fedor and more!
DreamFighters.com: Andrei, thank you for taking the time for speaking to me at
DreamFighters.com
* No problem. It’s my pleasure.
DreamFighters.com: How is training going right now? Who are you training with?
* Training is going well. My training team is the same as always. Sean Bormet and John Kading in wrestling, Dino Costeas in jiu jitsu, Freddie Roach and Michael Garcia in boxing, Tim Allegretti and Alex Satia in strength and conditioning
DreamFighters.com: How are you training different for your title fight against Fedor E. ?
* My training is the same as always
DreamFighters.com: What is you gameplan against a fighter like fedor? (mainly what
aspect of fighting do you think you are better than Fedor at?)
* You should be able to see it on Jan 24th
DreamFighters.com: If you win against Fedor, is there anyone else besides Fedor you
would like to fight or have a rematch with?
* I never choose my opponents that is promoters job. There are a lot of great heavyweights out there
DreamFighters.com: Dana White has recently said he would like you back in the UFC -
Would you ever go back to the UFC, or is Affliction your new home?
* I have a great relationship with Dana, Lorenzo and a lot of people at the UFC. At this time I have a contract with Affliction that I will full fill. I always full fill my obligations. Who knows what happens then?
DreamFighters.com: There was much talk before about you making your Pro boxing debut -
Still plan to do that or no?
* Yes, That is something I like to do
DreamFighters.com: Not many people know that you were a police officer back in Belarus.
What made you want to be a police officer, and what changed your mind
in comming to the USA to fight in the UFC?
* I always wanted to be a police officer. I admire people of the police forces a lot. In my opinion it is one of the most important, dangerous and psychologically difficult jobs out there. When the opportunity to fight in the UFC was presented I could not pass. I had to try this for myself
DreamFighters.com: Do you still travel back to Belarus? And if so, do people recognize
you as a big celebrity?
* I go to my home country all the time. More and more people starting to recognize me there and give me their support.
DreamFighters.com: Many fans know you were a bodybuilder back in the day. Many fans
would like to know what kind of weight training routine Andrei
Arlovski goes through?
* I do a lot of cardio and functional training. Also I incorporate free weights sometimes.
DreamFighters.com: Was there a fighter in particular you looked up to when first
entering the sport of MMA?
* Yes, Mike Tyson
DreamFighters.com: What do you think of Mirko Crocop’s current situation, as he lost
2 out of his last 3 fights, and his last fight (overeem) he looked
very out-match - As a fighter, do you think he is at a point where he
needs to hang up the gloves, or are fans over analyzing his current situation?
* Fight game is 90% mental. I think Mirco still has everything he needs to be dominant force in the sport. Mentally he needs to bring his game back. All fighters go through this stage sooner or later.
DreamFighters.com: Is there anyone in particular you would like to thank? Sponsors,
Fans, people?
* I would like to thank all my fans, friends and family for their love and support over the years. Also, I would like to thank all of my sponsors that are in my corner. Some of them, such as Prestige Auto and Geneva Seal, truly became the members of my team. And special appreciation I would like to extend to the members of my team. Please visit the “Team PitBull” section on my site www.arlovski.com where you can read about them
DreamFighters.com: Andrei, we really appreciate you taking the time to speak to us.
We at DreamFighters.com have always been huge fans.
* Thank you very much for your support. God Bless.
Please everyone go check out www.Arlovski.com - It’s without a dout the best MMA fighter website out there. Very interactive with fans, and ALWAYS new content!
DreamFighters.com was able to catch up with Andrei Arlovski after his training day to chat about a few things. We touch bases on Crocop, boxing, police force, fedor and more!
DreamFighters.com: Andrei, thank you for taking the time for speaking to me at
DreamFighters.com
* No problem. It’s my pleasure.
DreamFighters.com: How is training going right now? Who are you training with?
* Training is going well. My training team is the same as always. Sean Bormet and John Kading in wrestling, Dino Costeas in jiu jitsu, Freddie Roach and Michael Garcia in boxing, Tim Allegretti and Alex Satia in strength and conditioning
DreamFighters.com: How are you training different for your title fight against Fedor E. ?
* My training is the same as always
DreamFighters.com: What is you gameplan against a fighter like fedor? (mainly what
aspect of fighting do you think you are better than Fedor at?)
* You should be able to see it on Jan 24th
DreamFighters.com: If you win against Fedor, is there anyone else besides Fedor you
would like to fight or have a rematch with?
* I never choose my opponents that is promoters job. There are a lot of great heavyweights out there
DreamFighters.com: Dana White has recently said he would like you back in the UFC -
Would you ever go back to the UFC, or is Affliction your new home?
* I have a great relationship with Dana, Lorenzo and a lot of people at the UFC. At this time I have a contract with Affliction that I will full fill. I always full fill my obligations. Who knows what happens then?
DreamFighters.com: There was much talk before about you making your Pro boxing debut -
Still plan to do that or no?
* Yes, That is something I like to do
DreamFighters.com: Not many people know that you were a police officer back in Belarus.
What made you want to be a police officer, and what changed your mind
in comming to the USA to fight in the UFC?
* I always wanted to be a police officer. I admire people of the police forces a lot. In my opinion it is one of the most important, dangerous and psychologically difficult jobs out there. When the opportunity to fight in the UFC was presented I could not pass. I had to try this for myself
DreamFighters.com: Do you still travel back to Belarus? And if so, do people recognize
you as a big celebrity?
* I go to my home country all the time. More and more people starting to recognize me there and give me their support.
DreamFighters.com: Many fans know you were a bodybuilder back in the day. Many fans
would like to know what kind of weight training routine Andrei
Arlovski goes through?
* I do a lot of cardio and functional training. Also I incorporate free weights sometimes.
DreamFighters.com: Was there a fighter in particular you looked up to when first
entering the sport of MMA?
* Yes, Mike Tyson
DreamFighters.com: What do you think of Mirko Crocop’s current situation, as he lost
2 out of his last 3 fights, and his last fight (overeem) he looked
very out-match - As a fighter, do you think he is at a point where he
needs to hang up the gloves, or are fans over analyzing his current situation?
* Fight game is 90% mental. I think Mirco still has everything he needs to be dominant force in the sport. Mentally he needs to bring his game back. All fighters go through this stage sooner or later.
DreamFighters.com: Is there anyone in particular you would like to thank? Sponsors,
Fans, people?
* I would like to thank all my fans, friends and family for their love and support over the years. Also, I would like to thank all of my sponsors that are in my corner. Some of them, such as Prestige Auto and Geneva Seal, truly became the members of my team. And special appreciation I would like to extend to the members of my team. Please visit the “Team PitBull” section on my site www.arlovski.com where you can read about them
DreamFighters.com: Andrei, we really appreciate you taking the time to speak to us.
We at DreamFighters.com have always been huge fans.
* Thank you very much for your support. God Bless.
Please everyone go check out www.Arlovski.com - It’s without a dout the best MMA fighter website out there. Very interactive with fans, and ALWAYS new content!
Satoshi Ishii says he’ll fight at least once in 2009
A day after opening his management office "Twill33," Satoshi Ishii was honored on Tuesday with a Purple Ribbon for contributions to education and culture in a ceremony in Tokyo.
Afterwards Ishii gave another update on his future in mixed martial arts.
"I thought about not belonging to any organization for a year," Ishii said. "However, I made up my mind to concentrate to my training. I have never talked to Sengoku. I'm going to pursue my dream. I will make an official announcement shortly. I'm going to prepare to fight at least once next year."
A day after opening his management office "Twill33," Satoshi Ishii was honored on Tuesday with a Purple Ribbon for contributions to education and culture in a ceremony in Tokyo.
Afterwards Ishii gave another update on his future in mixed martial arts.
"I thought about not belonging to any organization for a year," Ishii said. "However, I made up my mind to concentrate to my training. I have never talked to Sengoku. I'm going to pursue my dream. I will make an official announcement shortly. I'm going to prepare to fight at least once next year."
Kazushi Sakuraba had an interview with DREAM
DREAM official website posted an interview of Kazushi Sakuraba on November 18. This interview was taken place on November 12 in Tokyo.
"As soon as I showed my interest fighting Kiyoshi Tamura 2 to 3 months ago, DREAM offered him a fight with me in its NYE event. It was OK for me even if he turned down the offer, because he is one of many fighters in my list. I wasn't actually expected that he took. I wondered why he accepted this time despite the fact that he had refused to fight me many times in the past. I'm sure he accepted conditionally; therefore, I requested one thing: fighting without gloves. If he accepted unconditionally, I didn't request anything."
"I seriously want to fight without gloves because recent MMA fights are not as exciting as before, and look like sports entertainment. For me, MMA is not sports but a battle. I'm not afraid that my face is covered with blood. I also requested to fight without time limit. That was a joke. "
"We belonged to the same event, U-INTER, long time ago. I knew him, but he was my senior and not my friend. I want to punch his face and knock him out badly."
Sakuraba expresses his impression about Tamura in the interview with an MMA magazine “GONG” which publishes on November 22:
“ Other fighters do all the hard work, and he reaps the benefits. I don't like someone like like him. I have nothing I like about him.”
DREAM official website posted an interview of Kazushi Sakuraba on November 18. This interview was taken place on November 12 in Tokyo.
"As soon as I showed my interest fighting Kiyoshi Tamura 2 to 3 months ago, DREAM offered him a fight with me in its NYE event. It was OK for me even if he turned down the offer, because he is one of many fighters in my list. I wasn't actually expected that he took. I wondered why he accepted this time despite the fact that he had refused to fight me many times in the past. I'm sure he accepted conditionally; therefore, I requested one thing: fighting without gloves. If he accepted unconditionally, I didn't request anything."
"I seriously want to fight without gloves because recent MMA fights are not as exciting as before, and look like sports entertainment. For me, MMA is not sports but a battle. I'm not afraid that my face is covered with blood. I also requested to fight without time limit. That was a joke. "
"We belonged to the same event, U-INTER, long time ago. I knew him, but he was my senior and not my friend. I want to punch his face and knock him out badly."
Sakuraba expresses his impression about Tamura in the interview with an MMA magazine “GONG” which publishes on November 22:
“ Other fighters do all the hard work, and he reaps the benefits. I don't like someone like like him. I have nothing I like about him.”
HDNet Fights and FEG USA announce extended partnership
DALLAS (November 21, 2008) - HDNet Fights announced that it has extended its existing partnership with FEG USA, Inc. to present the DREAM Mixed Martial Arts events in 2009 and beyond. This announcement makes HDNet the exclusive North American television destination for the DREAM MMA events.
"We're very happy to expand and continue this successful partnership with FEG USA, Inc.," said Andrew Simon, CEO of HDNet Fights. "DREAM is known for having the best MMA tournaments and superfights in the world and clearly has the greatest production and fighter entrances in the sport. This partnership solidifies our commitment to being THE Home of MMA."
"It has been a good year for DREAM," said Mike Kogan of FEG USA, Inc. "We are glad that FEG is able to continue its partnership with HDNet and bring more DREAM action to North American Fans."
Airdates and times for the upcoming DREAM events will be announced at a later date.
DALLAS (November 21, 2008) - HDNet Fights announced that it has extended its existing partnership with FEG USA, Inc. to present the DREAM Mixed Martial Arts events in 2009 and beyond. This announcement makes HDNet the exclusive North American television destination for the DREAM MMA events.
"We're very happy to expand and continue this successful partnership with FEG USA, Inc.," said Andrew Simon, CEO of HDNet Fights. "DREAM is known for having the best MMA tournaments and superfights in the world and clearly has the greatest production and fighter entrances in the sport. This partnership solidifies our commitment to being THE Home of MMA."
"It has been a good year for DREAM," said Mike Kogan of FEG USA, Inc. "We are glad that FEG is able to continue its partnership with HDNet and bring more DREAM action to North American Fans."
Airdates and times for the upcoming DREAM events will be announced at a later date.
HDNet Fights announces deal with FEG USA for rights to air K-1 events in North America
DALLAS (November 21, 2008) - HDNet Fights announced today that it is partnering with FEG USA, Inc. to bring the extremely popular K-1 World Grand Prix and K-1 World MAX tournaments to HDNet. K-1 is an electrifying form of kickboxing that combines techniques from various martial arts disciplines. HDNet will be the exclusive home of
K-1 in North America.
"K-1 is one of the most popular and exciting combat sports in the world and we're proud to present it on HDNet," said Andrew Simon, CEO of HDNet Fights. "If you are a fan of DREAM, you are going to love the explosive non-stop, stand-up action of K-1 and K-1 MAX."
"K-1 features the best stand-up fighters in the world and draws enormous crowds everywhere," said Mike Kogan of FEG USA, Inc. "We are very excited to have HDNet bring the 2008 K-1 World Grand Prix Final, 2009 K-1 World Grand Prix and 2009 K-1 World MAX tournaments to North American viewers."
HDNet's coverage kicks off December 6 at 12:00 a.m. PT with LIVE coverage of the biggest show of the year, the 2008 K-1 World Grand Prix Final. The event will be repeated later that evening at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. K-1 stages regional qualifiers throughout the year, which culminate in the K-1 Grand Prix, an annual one-night, 8-man tournament to determine the best stand-up fighter in the world.
The 2008 World Grand Prix Final on HDNet will feature the following tournament match-ups, which will lead to the crowning of the 2008 Grand Prix Champion:
3-time Grand Prix Champion and K-1 Legend Peter Aerts (62-21 w/ 28Kos, Holland) vs K-1 Heavyweight Champion Badr Hari (11-3 w/ 10Kos, Morocco)
Errol Zimmerman (5-0 w 5Kos, Holland), Ewerton Teixeira (5-0 w 5Kos, Brazil)
Gokhan Saki (7-1 w 4Kos, Turkey), Ruslan Karaev (11-6 w 6Kos, Russia)
2-time Grand Prix Champion Remy Bonjasky (33-8 w 15Kos, Holland), and Jerome Le Banner (43-16-2 w 29Kos, France).
(The participating fighters may change due to injuries or their physical condition).
The deal encompasses six events from the 2009 K-1 tournament and six events from the 2009 K-1 MAX tournament.
DALLAS (November 21, 2008) - HDNet Fights announced today that it is partnering with FEG USA, Inc. to bring the extremely popular K-1 World Grand Prix and K-1 World MAX tournaments to HDNet. K-1 is an electrifying form of kickboxing that combines techniques from various martial arts disciplines. HDNet will be the exclusive home of
K-1 in North America.
"K-1 is one of the most popular and exciting combat sports in the world and we're proud to present it on HDNet," said Andrew Simon, CEO of HDNet Fights. "If you are a fan of DREAM, you are going to love the explosive non-stop, stand-up action of K-1 and K-1 MAX."
"K-1 features the best stand-up fighters in the world and draws enormous crowds everywhere," said Mike Kogan of FEG USA, Inc. "We are very excited to have HDNet bring the 2008 K-1 World Grand Prix Final, 2009 K-1 World Grand Prix and 2009 K-1 World MAX tournaments to North American viewers."
HDNet's coverage kicks off December 6 at 12:00 a.m. PT with LIVE coverage of the biggest show of the year, the 2008 K-1 World Grand Prix Final. The event will be repeated later that evening at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT. K-1 stages regional qualifiers throughout the year, which culminate in the K-1 Grand Prix, an annual one-night, 8-man tournament to determine the best stand-up fighter in the world.
The 2008 World Grand Prix Final on HDNet will feature the following tournament match-ups, which will lead to the crowning of the 2008 Grand Prix Champion:
3-time Grand Prix Champion and K-1 Legend Peter Aerts (62-21 w/ 28Kos, Holland) vs K-1 Heavyweight Champion Badr Hari (11-3 w/ 10Kos, Morocco)
Errol Zimmerman (5-0 w 5Kos, Holland), Ewerton Teixeira (5-0 w 5Kos, Brazil)
Gokhan Saki (7-1 w 4Kos, Turkey), Ruslan Karaev (11-6 w 6Kos, Russia)
2-time Grand Prix Champion Remy Bonjasky (33-8 w 15Kos, Holland), and Jerome Le Banner (43-16-2 w 29Kos, France).
(The participating fighters may change due to injuries or their physical condition).
The deal encompasses six events from the 2009 K-1 tournament and six events from the 2009 K-1 MAX tournament.
