MMA News Thread

[Shogun Locc]

IFL ANNOUNCES APRIL 4 RETURN TO NEW JERSEY

The International Fight League on Wednesday officially announced its April 4 return to New Jersey. Champions Vladimir Matyushenko, Jay Hieron, and Wagnney Fabiano will defend their belts as part of a nine-bout fight card at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J.

As part of the new “camp” format of the IFL, April 4 will also feature matches between athletes from Renzo Gracie Academy, Midwest Combat, Miletich Fighting Systems, and American Top Team.

American Top Team is one of the camps that is outside the IFL’s core group of camps, something that is also a departure from past seasons of the promotion.

IFL East Rutherford, N.J.
Friday, April 4, 2008
(order TBD)

American Top Team vs. Miletich Fighting Systems
145 lbs.: TBD vs. LC Davis
170 lbs.: Emyr Bussade vs. Rory Markham
205 lbs.: Lew Polley vs. Mike Ciesnolevicz

Midwest Combat vs. Renzo Gracie Academy
155 lbs.: Bart Palaszewski vs. Deividas Taurosevicius
170 lbs.: TBD vs. Delson Heleno
*205 lbs.: **Vladimir Matyushenko vs. Jamal Patterson

Additional Championship Bouts
*170 lbs.: **Jay Hieron vs. Mark Miller
*145 lbs.: **Wagnney Fabiano vs. Shad Lierley

Additional Bouts
155 lbs.: Chris Horodecki vs. TBD

*Championship Bout
**Current Titleholder

 

[heyzel]

Kongo talks about Mirko's departure

Breaking News Today, Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic announced today that he was leaving the UFC:


Wednesday DREAM, the new collaborative efforts between FEG (K-1, HERO’S) and former DSE staff (PRIDE), held a press conference to discuss future plans and a brand new signing.

PRIDE’s 2006 Open-Weight Grand Prix champion Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic has officially parted with the UFC and joined DREAM. “Cro Cop” went 1-2 in the UFC, winning in a mediocre showing and losing by knockout and decision. Prior to his UFC career he was neck and neck with Fedor Emelianenko for the top dog at heavyweight after defeating fighters such as Josh Barnett, Wanderlei Silva, Aleksander Emelianenko, and Igor Vovchanchyn.

Filipovic will make his DREAM debut on the upcoming March 15 card against a currently unknown opponent.

PDG has learned that his currently contract is for three fighters over a year. Details regarding his departure for the UFC are currently unavailable and PDG will have release the details ASAP.


Comments from other fighters about Cro Cop's Depature:



Kevin Randleman:

"My first response is oh well. I am not fighting in the UFC so it really doesn't matter to me one way or the other. Alot of people didn't believe in him anymore but he is good enough to win in the UFC. It takes time to adjust to the cage. I don't think it is good or bad for the sport and I am really not surprised that he left."

Mark Coleman:

"Basically, I could really care less. It was his choice, he came into the UFC and got whipped and now he left. I wouldn't say that I am suprised but now he is going to have to live with coming in, getting smashed and not finishing the job."

Bas Rutten:

"I feel bad to hear that he is leaving because I really wanted to see the Cro Cop that I knew from Japan because I think that he wasn't the same Cro Cop in the UFC, so I can understand if he wants to go to another organization. God Speed!!"

"Babalu" Sobral:

"I have heard of the new organization and I am surprised the UFC isn't suing him yet. Good for Cro Cop, he didn't have a good experience in the UFC so it is good that he is able to go fight somewhere else. He is a very good fighter."

Cheick Kongo:

"Cro Cop needs some juices and there he can use them without getting in trouble."

http://www.punchdrunkgamer.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=129&Itemid=0

I agree with kongo on this

 

[Shogun Locc]

Breaking News Today, Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic announced today that he was leaving the UFC:


Wednesday DREAM, the new collaborative efforts between FEG (K-1, HERO’S) and former DSE staff (PRIDE), held a press conference to discuss future plans and a brand new signing.

PRIDE’s 2006 Open-Weight Grand Prix champion Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic has officially parted with the UFC and joined DREAM. “Cro Cop” went 1-2 in the UFC, winning in a mediocre showing and losing by knockout and decision. Prior to his UFC career he was neck and neck with Fedor Emelianenko for the top dog at heavyweight after defeating fighters such as Josh Barnett, Wanderlei Silva, Aleksander Emelianenko, and Igor Vovchanchyn.

Filipovic will make his DREAM debut on the upcoming March 15 card against a currently unknown opponent.

PDG has learned that his currently contract is for three fighters over a year. Details regarding his departure for the UFC are currently unavailable and PDG will have release the details ASAP.


Comments from other fighters about Cro Cop's Depature:



Kevin Randleman:

"My first response is oh well. I am not fighting in the UFC so it really doesn't matter to me one way or the other. Alot of people didn't believe in him anymore but he is good enough to win in the UFC. It takes time to adjust to the cage. I don't think it is good or bad for the sport and I am really not surprised that he left."

Mark Coleman:

"Basically, I could really care less. It was his choice, he came into the UFC and got whipped and now he left. I wouldn't say that I am suprised but now he is going to have to live with coming in, getting smashed and not finishing the job."

Bas Rutten:

"I feel bad to hear that he is leaving because I really wanted to see the Cro Cop that I knew from Japan because I think that he wasn't the same Cro Cop in the UFC, so I can understand if he wants to go to another organization. God Speed!!"

"Babalu" Sobral:

"I have heard of the new organization and I am surprised the UFC isn't suing him yet. Good for Cro Cop, he didn't have a good experience in the UFC so it is good that he is able to go fight somewhere else. He is a very good fighter."

Cheick Kongo:

"Cro Cop needs some juices and there he can use them without getting in trouble."

http://www.punchdrunkgamer.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=129&Itemid=0

I agree with kongo on this

Kongo can't prove shit and it's not like fighters in the ufc have not juiced

 

[Shogun Locc]

Joe Riggs vs. Cory Devela Booked for Feb. 23 “Strikeforce at the Dome”

With Cedrick Mark scratched from the event with a shoulder injury, former UFC fighter Joe Riggs (27-9) has stepped in as a replacement and will fight Cory Devela (7-1) at next weekend’s “Strikeforce at the Dome” show.

The Feb. 23 event, presented by BodogFIGHT, takes place at the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Wash. and airs live on HDNet. Big boys Bob Sapp and Jan “The Giant” Nortje meet in the night’s main event.

Last month MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) reported that Riggs will fight Joey Villasenor at a March 29 event co-promoted by EliteXC and Strikeforce. And although just five weeks separate next weekend’s fight and the March bout, Riggs will fight at both.

“Joe stepped to fight Cory, but he will still be fighting Joey next month,” said Ken Pavia, his manager. “However, we’re not looking past Cory. He’s a very tough guy.“

Riggs, a longtime UFC fighter, hasn’t competed professionally since a September 2007 victory over Eugene Jackson. Riggs scored a first-round knockout of the veteran fighter at a special Strikeforce show that was held at the Playboy Mansion. And despite being getting in a car accident on his way to the show’s weigh-ins, Riggs was expected to compete at last month’s World Cagefighting Organization event. However, the California State Athletic Commission eventually shut down the event in fear promoters wouldn’t be able to pay its fighters.

Devela, meanwhile, most recently scored a unanimous decision over “The Ultimate Fighter 1” cast member Lodune Sincaid at a December 2007 SportFight event.

* * * *

In addition to Riggs, Strikeforce announced that Eddy Ellis (13-14-1) will replace Duane “Bang” Ludwig at next week’s event and will fight veteran Steve Berger (20-17-2).

Earlier this week, the upstart World Victory Road organization that Ludwig will fight former PRIDE lightweight champ Takanori Gomi at its inaugural show on March 5.

Confirmed bouts for the 10-fight event now include:

Jan “The Giant” Nortje vs. Bob Sapp
Cory Devela vs. Joe Riggs
Rick Roufus vs. Maurice Smith
Steve Berger vs. Eddy Ellis
Brad Blackburn vs. Ray Perales
Ryan Healy vs. Jorge Masvidal

 

[Shogun Locc]

Movie trailer for David Mamet’s MMA movie ‘Red Belt’ with UFCs Randy Couture
here is link: http://mmamania.com/2008/02/14/movi...s-mma-movie-red-belt-with-ufcs-randy-couture/
this looks better than that bullshit never backdown crap.

 

[Shogun Locc]

UFC 83: Matt Serra on the mental state of ‘Captain Canada’ Georges St. Pierre heading into rematch

Quoteworthy:

“Well after what happen the first time with him tapping out, I mean they called it a TKO, but he taped. I think now a lot of his attitude towards me has to do with his mental state. I think he needs me to be the bad guy. I mean whatever he’s got to do to get himself there is fine with me. I mean if he has to lie on the couch, and listen to his shrink to tell him to put Matt Hughes head on my body that’s cool. I definitely don’t hold him in the same light as Matt Hughes, but I think he’s got to put himself in the mindset that he doesn’t like me, and that’s cool. I got a lot of friends and family, so if he wants to be enemies it’s not the end of the world.”

UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Serra talks about his upcoming fight with Georges St. Pierre at UFC 83: “Serra vs. St. Pierre II” on April 19 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec. “The Terror” talks a lot about what goes into his fight preparation, as well as reaffirms that he is 100 percent healthy.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Mark Coleman Interview

With 2007 bring a glorious year for MMA development, 2008 started with the right foot for the sport. With the high demand for products, services and information about this sport that is breaking audience records from north to south at , it was created the first Mixed Martial Arts fair of the sport, the NAMAE - North American Mixed Martial Arts Expo. The event was a big sucess, even being the first one dedicated only to the sport. The fans had the opportunity to get closer to their idols, take pictures and get some autographs. Some fighters showed their new labels and sold their own products directly to the public, and some less known athletes had the chance to get new sponsors to guarantee a better future. At the event halls, we bumped into Randy Couture, Tito Ortiz, Dan Henderson, Rampage Jackson, Sean Shark, Thierry Sokodjou, Eddie Bravo, Don Frye, Allan Góes, Marco Ruas, Kendall Grove, Shonie Carter, Jon Koppenhaver, Mark Coleman and others. Mark Coleman, in fact, spoke to our reporter in , Cristiane Ripari, and told us about his waiting from the future of the sport.

Which are your plans for the future, after Pride’s closing?

My life got a little confusing after that UFC bought Pride. I thought that I would go right to UFC, but it didn’t happen. It’s their decision. So I’ll have to win my back to UFC again. Definitely I’ll fight with somebody… I intend to fight in February or March so that they offer me a better proposal.

Have you contacted UFC or was contacted from them?

I believe that they’re making it difficult for more experienced fighters. But I have a lot of contacts with other organizations. I only have to decide which one is better for me.

Do you know something about the M-1?

It’s a new business, they’re only ate the beginning. I’ll check if they have any interest in me. I hope the best for them.

What have you being doing?

I’m living at Columbus, Ohio . That’s where my daughters live. I’m training with local fighters. But where my fight gets closer, I’ll move to somewhere else to train with other people and stay away from distractions.

Is there anyone that you wanna fight?

I’ll fight with who my fans want.

Which was the hardest and the best fight of your career?

I believe that Fedor was the toughest opponent. Nogueira is very good too. I had to say that, because I’m being interviewed by a Brazilian magazine (laughs). I had a lot of tough fights. My favorite was probably against Igor Vovchanchyn at Grand Prix finals, or maybe when I won the UFC against Dan Severn. The fight wasn’t one of the bests, but I won the first heavyweight title at UFC and that was very important for me.

What’s your opinion about this boom at MMA?

It’s very exciting. Sincerely, I didn’t expected that it would attract so many people. But I’m glad that exploded this way and that’s good for everybody, including for me. I try to keep me healthy to come back soon to the octagon or ring!

 

[Shogun Locc]

Sweden fighter trains at BTT for UFC 82

Recently into Brazilian Top Team (BTT), the athlete from , David bielkheden, came to last Thursday to get ready for his fight at UFC 82, that happens at Nationwide Arena, at Columbus, Ohio (). David will face Diego Sanchez at 77kg category, that trains ground work with the six-time Jiu-Jitsu World Champion Saulo Ribeiro. “Diego trains ground work with Saulo, so I don’t need to say what will be his tactic. David is training and gatting everything better to this fight”, said Bebeo Duarte, one of BTT leaders. At the same event, the UFC middleweight champion, Anderson Silva, will put his belt in game against Dan Henderson.

 

[naner12]

Who cares if guys in Pride juiced? I never understood why people got so pissy about others making that claim that it's possible that guys in Pride were juicers. It wasn't illegal over there so it shouldn't be an issue whether they did or not and I'm pretty sure most fighters juiced at one point or another in their careers.

With the Cro Cop situation I agree on both sides. Dana has no reason to keep paying Cro Cop $200-250,000 that he was paying him because he didn't show results when in Kongo he was giving a stand up fight that he should've won and Cro Cop has no reason to take a pay cut if he doesn't have to. Jake Shields had the the best quote when they asked who he wanted to fight and it was something like "the worst fighter for the most money." Shit is their job and it's how they make their living.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Anderson Silva Looking At Moving Up To Light Heavyweight?

Chris Fries and The JDH recently interviewed Ed Suarez, manager of Anderson Silva and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueria on The Lights Out Show. Suarez made some very interesting comments regarding Silva and Big Nog.
Suarez On Silva:

“We would consider going up in weight…”

“…I don’t think there’s a middleweight in the world that could beat him…You’d have a hard time having a light heavyweight in the world that could beat him.”

Suarez On Nogueira vs. Fedor:

“He (Fedor) hasn’t fought any top opponents over the past couple years…we would love to fight Fedor.”

 

[heyzel]

KIMBO LOOKING TO KNOCKOUT TANK

Street fighting legend and Internet sensation Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson takes on mixed martial arts' brawling icon David "Tank" Abbott Saturday, Feb. 16 in the main event of EliteXC's card from the Bank United Center in Miami, Fla.

Famous for his parking lot battles and backyard brawls shown on various websites such as SublimeDirectory.com and YouTube.com, Kevin Ferguson made his MMA debut in Nov. in EliteXC finishing journeyman fighter Bo Cantrell in 19 seconds.

“I feel I have come a long way in a short time in my Street to Elite transition," Ferguson told the media Wednesday afternoon. "There is a big difference in just fighting some dude and what goes on in Mixed Martial Arts."

"Tank" Abbott made a name for himself on MMA's biggest stage, the Ultimate Fighting Championship, throughout the 1990's. Known for his devastating punching power, Abbott's highlight reel includes some of the most brutal knockouts in MMA history.

“The only thing I want to do is win, but the main thing is I want to break something along the way – a chin or jaw, rib, arm, some skin, anything," commented Ferguson.

“For sure, though, someone is going down and maybe getting knocked out, and that someone is not going to be me.’’

EliteXC broadcaster and fight analyst "The Fight Professor" Stephen Quadros spoke with MMAWeekly.com about the match up. "Kimbo is quite the phenomenon. He's very focused. I've spoken to Bas Rutten and I've spoken to everyone around him in training, he's a great student."

"This match is such a perfect match for Kimbo. The question is will Tank train? There's the huge if factor. If Tank trains, then Tank is going to be dangerous. If Tank doesn't, he's buying into his own legacy of getting off the bar stool and walking into the fight like he's done so many times and he probably isn't going to win this fight because Kimbo will come out there and he will be slicing and dicing."

Quadros continued, "If Tank trains and takes this fight seriously, this could be a pick em affair. Kimbo has been dangerous against people that we've never heard of before. Bo Cantrell didn't really offer any resistance."

"Kimbo's really got to be aggressive in this fight. He can't hang back. If he hangs back, he's going to give Tank Abbott and chance to do what he did against Wesley 'Cabbage' Corriera. Tank landed a bomb and it was over. Kimbo can't decide to test his chin to Tank Abbott's punch. Nobody can. Tank is one of the all time hardest hitters in the short history of our game. I think if Tank is in shape this is going to be a competitive fight and it's going to possibly be a violent fight as well."

FIGHT CARD:

Preliminary Bouts:

-Dave Herman vs. Mario Rinaldi
-John Doyle vs. Rafael Feijao
-Jon Kirk vs. Yosmany Cabezas
-Eric Bradley vs. Mikey Gomez
-Lorenzo Borgameo vs. Mike Bernhard

Main Card Bouts:

-Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson vs. David "Tank" Abbott
-Antonio Silva vs. Ricco Rodriguez
-Yves Edwards vs. Edson Berto
-James Thompson vs. Brett Rogers
-Kyle Noke vs. Scott Smith
MMAWeekly.com

 

[heyzel]

Inside the mind of "Kimbo

http://www.sherdog.com/videos/videos.asp?v_id=1448

soild interview kimbo is a wild boy

 

[Shogun Locc]

CONDIT TALKS WEC TITLE AND POSSIBLE UNIFICATION

“The Natural Born Killer” Carlos Condit continued his reign as the World Extreme Cagefighting welterweight champion by finishing Carlo Prater in the first round on Wednesday night. The New Mexico native was proud to perform in front of his hometown crowd and was happy with the victory.

“I’m still kind of speechless about it,” said Condit about fighting in front of his hometown fans. “It really hasn’t even set in for me. Two or three months of really hard training, and thinking about it constantly, trying to keep my mind off it before the fight, and now that it’s over and now that it went my way, I think it’s going to take a second to set in really.”

As the fight started, it was questioned if Prater would choose to stand and trade with Condit, who has a reputation as one of the most dangerous strikers at 170 pounds, but the champion wasn’t surprised when he went for the takedown.

“He is really good at throws from the clinch and that’s something we saw in a lot of his videos, that he can break balance and trip and sweep very well,” Condit stated. “So, once we hit the ground, it was plan B.”

Plan B worked just fine, as Condit was able to apply a fight-ending guillotine choke just minutes after the takedown and finish the fight.

“I draped my body over, maybe looking for a kimura or maybe a switch to a sit out,” he commented about his positioning. “There’s a couple different things you can do from there, and he defended some of that stuff well. But when you defend on your side, sometimes you can leave your neck open and I just snagged it. He put an arm in to defend, but I was able to get enough pressure around his neck to get him to tap.”

After winning the title by submission, Condit has now finished his last two opponents in the first round, also by submission, but the New Mexico native is hoping to one day again show off the stand-up game that most of his recent opponents have feared.

“I’d definitely like to have somebody, an opponent who would stand, so I could exhibit my skills and show people what I can do,” Condit said. “I’ve been, as well as working on my jiu-jitsu, I’ve been really trying to perfect a lot of my tools in my stand-up. So when I get a chance to get somebody like that, people are going to be very impressed.”

Now Condit will take a few days off to relax, but then he’ll head back to the gym and keep his game ready for the next opponent that will try to pry the welterweight title from around his waist.

Rumors have surfaced recently that the upcoming welterweight match-up between Brock Larson and John Alessio will crown the No. 1 contender for Condit’s title, but having defeated both fighters in the last year, the incumbent is hoping for new opposition.

“I haven’t heard much about that. I guess they’re going to make one of those guys the contender, supposedly,” he commented. “I kind of wouldn’t be too happy about that. I think I beat those guys pretty decisively. I know John Alessio has had a chance to… he’s really worked his way back up, but I’d kind of like to fight somebody new.”

One day in the future, Condit would also like to unify titles with the Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight titleholder and that’s a challenge he welcomes at any time.

“I hope so, that would be an ideal scenario,” he said about the possibility of unifying the WEC and UFC titles. “I definitely want to fight some of their (fighters). They have the top welterweights in the world, and that’s where I want to be, so I’ve got to fight those guys, right? Hopefully that happens, and I’m doing my job one fight at a time and see what’s on the horizon.”

For now, Condit will wait to see who is next to take a shot at his welterweight title.

 

[Shogun Locc]

MIGUEL TORRES: A DECADE IN THE MAKING

Newly crowned World Extreme Cagefighting bantamweight champion Miguel Torres spoke with MMAWeekly.com about his victory over Chase Beebe and the Jiu-Jitsu transition that forced Beebe to tap out and relinquish the belt.

"To be able to be a world champion for the WEC is a real honor for me," said Torres. "It's been a long ride and I haven't even hit my peak yet, so for me, it's a real honor."

Heading into the fight, Torres thought Beebe's strengths would play to his strengths. "I knew he'd play into my game. I knew he'd try to strike with me and I knew once I hit him he'd shoot in on me," Torres told MMAWeekly.com

"Once we got to the ground I knew he'd be in my world. It's wrestling vs. Jiu-Jistu, so if a guy has good Jiu-Jitsu and knows how to strike from the bottom, it's going to work."

Torres was right, his Jiu-Jitsu defeated the wrestler and the fight unfolded as he envisioned. It was a transition of submissions that led to the eventual end of the fight.

"I started off with an inside kimura lock from the guard. I wrapped one of his arms up and started cranking on the inside of his arm, and inside kimura. He started slipping out of that. From there I switched for an umaplata sweep. When I rolled him over and tried to control him a little bit, as he tried to get up back to his knees, he exposed his neck," explained Torres

"I knew he'd give up his neck when he tried to take me down from there so I attached the anaconda choke first. I think I tried jumping two or three times and I couldn't get my legs around him the right way. Finally, when I did, his neck started slipping out of the choke so I modified it into a guillotine. I put a five-finger guillotine on him."

Torres continued, "I've been working on that, I want to say about three or four years, that combination, over and over and over again, so it was second nature."

Miguel Torres has been competing in MMA for nearly a decade, it's been a long time coming. With that experience and only one blemish on his 22 fight professional record, Torres could hold the WEC bantamweight title for a long time.

"I think now is my time and I'm going to be here for a while."

The new WEC bantamweight titleholder told MMAWeekly.com, "I look at every fight I've ever had and every training session has been leading up to this moment. Some people say, 'how long have you been training for this fight, or what have you been doing to get ready for this fight?' Every experience I've had in MMA has been getting me ready for this fight. Every experience, every time I've traveled, every person I've rolled with led to this experience. I've been training for ten years for this."

 

[Shogun Locc]

UFC 84 RUMORS

UFC 84: MAY 24, 2008 IN LAS VEGAS
venue: MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada

-B.J. Penn (#7 Lightweight in the World)* vs. Sean Sherk
-Lyoto Machida (#5 Light Heavyweight in the World)* vs. Tito Ortiz
-Rashad Evans vs. Thiago Silva
-Wilson Gouveia vs. Goran Reljic
-Rousimar Palhares vs. Ivan Salaverry
-Dong-hyun Kim vs. Jason Tan

-Wanderlei Silva (#8 Light Heavyweight in the World)* vs. TBA

 

[Shogun Locc]

Zuffa files "another" suit against Randy

In its latest and most aggressive legal move against its reigning heavyweight champion, Zuffa LLC, the parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, filed a preliminary injunction against Randy Couture that seeks to prevent him from appearing at, or in promotion for, the International Fight League show on Feb. 29 at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.

The 90-page injunction, filed in a Nevada court by attorneys for Zuffa LLC on Feb. 1, claims Couture's association with the IFL, while still under a contract he signed with Zuffa in Dec. 2006, will cause the company irreparable harm and violates terms of his deal.

"If Couture is permitted to terminate his employment and promptly take his well-known name and likeness during the restricted period to one, or more, of Zuffa's competitors so that it can be used to promote upcoming events in other MMA leagues, the harm to Zuffa's business goodwill cannot be calculated," reads the motion, which later points to a clause in Couture's contract that states "injunctive relief may be granted...without the necessary proof of actual damage."

The motion likens Couture's involvement with the IFL to cases where prominent on-air radio and television personalities were banned by courts from appearing on competing stations while non-compete agreements were still in effect. How a judge responds to Zuffa's injunction request will set a precedent regarding the legal validity of such terms in UFC contracts.

Last month, Zuffa LLC sued Couture for breach of contract citing many of the same IFL-related examples. The injunction could prevent Couture from appearing at the Feb. 29 event or on any other non-UFC MMA card until October. It may also thwart the IFL's plans to use Couture's gym, Xtreme Couture Mixed Martial Arts, as a promotional tool since it bears his name.

Xtreme Couture plans to field a team at the Feb. 29 IFL event, and Couture has said he intends to corner fighters from his camp at the show. Zuffa's lawyers, who attached e-mails about the IFL card to its injunction request as evidence, argue such promotional material constitute "direct or indirect competition" against the UFC.

Zuffa bases its motion on the so-called "Employment Agreement," a three-year deal Couture signed in Dec. 2006. The contract places a one-year restricted period on Couture associating himself with, or working with a promoter of, any non-UFC event. That one-year period was said to have kicked in on Oct. 11, 2007, when Couture informed the UFC by fax that he was resigning from the promotion. He later cited UFC's statements about how much he was paid relative to other fighters and the company's unwillingness to co-promote a fight against Fedor Emelianenko as his reasons for leaving.

The motion calls the contract's terms "entirely reasonable under Nevada law" and states they do not "impose an undue burden on Couture or impair his ability to earn a living."

The injunction request charts Couture's history in the UFC, starting with his May 1997 debut. It documents his title victories, exposure through "The Ultimate Fighter" reality series and retirement after a second straight loss to Chuck Liddell in Feb. 2006. The motion claims Couture still owed Zuffa two fights at the time of that retirement under a contract he signed in November 2005.

It goes on to say Couture approached Zuffa in 2006, asking about other employments opportunities in the UFC. This is when Couture's non-fighting employment agreement with Zuffa, the basis of the injunction request, was reached. The deal, signed in Dec. 2006, hired Couture at a $200,000 annual salary to do, among other things, lobby state athletic commissions to embrace mixed martial arts and act as an on-air analyst for UFC broadcasts.

"Couture, in essence, was to be a public ambassador for MMA in general and the UFC in particular," the injunction request reads.

The motion states Couture approached Zuffa about fighting again in Jan. 2007 and soon signed a four-fight contract that guaranteed him a $250,000 per-fight purse and a cut of pay-per-view revenue. The motion's narrative moves on to Couture's resignation from the UFC, referring to his resignation fax as "cryptic" and pointing out the fax was dated Sept. 18, 2007, even though it was sent Oct. 11, 2007. The suit claims Zuffa accepted his resignation that day.

"Zuffa advised Couture that it interpreted his letter to mean that he was ?retiring' from MMA or other professional fighting competition as Couture cannot simply ?resign' under the terms of the Promotional Agreement given that he is obligated to fight in two more bouts," the motion reads.

It also claims Couture's public comments after the resignation, including those he made during a press conference televised on HDNet, were "false and disparaging" and constitute a contract violation. Couture last fought in August, when he successfully defended the UFC heavyweight championship against Gabriel Gonzaga.

 

[King Spadez]

UFC 83: Matt Serra on the mental state of ‘Captain Canada’ Georges St. Pierre heading into rematch

Quoteworthy:

“Well after what happen the first time with him tapping out, I mean they called it a TKO, but he taped. I think now a lot of his attitude towards me has to do with his mental state. I think he needs me to be the bad guy. I mean whatever he’s got to do to get himself there is fine with me. I mean if he has to lie on the couch, and listen to his shrink to tell him to put Matt Hughes head on my body that’s cool. I definitely don’t hold him in the same light as Matt Hughes, but I think he’s got to put himself in the mindset that he doesn’t like me, and that’s cool. I got a lot of friends and family, so if he wants to be enemies it’s not the end of the world.”

UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Serra talks about his upcoming fight with Georges St. Pierre at UFC 83: “Serra vs. St. Pierre II” on April 19 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec. “The Terror” talks a lot about what goes into his fight preparation, as well as reaffirms that he is 100 percent healthy.

Am I the only one who still wants to see Serra vs. Hughes?

 

[heyzel]

Cuban's HDNet Fights Enters Couture-UFC War

February 15, 2008
by Adam Swift ([email protected])

The resignation of Randy Couture (Pictures) and his subsequent continuous dispute with the UFC took an unexpected turn Wednesday.

With the mixed martial arts industry focused on the Zuffa v. Couture proceedings scheduled to begin with a preliminary hearing March 4 in Las Vegas, billionaire Mark Cuban and his HDNet Fights company has quietly entered the fray, opening a second front in the Couture-UFC war, Sherdog.com has learned.

On Wednesday, in district court in Dallas, HDNet Fights filed suit against Zuffa seeking a declaratory judgment concerning the contractual status of Couture under his Zuffa promotional contract. In an ironic twist, Zuffa's co-defendant in the suit is technically none other than Couture himself.

Couture had fired the first shot in what has become a heated legal battle when he officially resigned from the UFC on Oct. 11, 2007. A war of words ensued -- complete with dueling news conferences and frequent, often testy, verbal sparring in the media -- that culminated in a lawsuit filed by Zuffa in Nevada district court on Jan. 14.

The lawsuit filed by HDNet Fights asks the Texas court to provide the company with declaratory relief -- a ruling on when Couture's promotional contract will expire. A favorable ruling could clear the way for a highly anticipated showdown between Couture and Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) this fall, potentially promoted by HDNet Fights.

The Texas lawsuit represents the first direct legal challenge of Couture's promotional contract with the UFC. As Sherdog.com first reported, it is Couture's employment contract and its one-year non-compete clause, not his promotional contract, that is at the center of Zuffa's complaint against Couture in Nevada. Zuffa has not entered the promotional contract into evidence in that case; however, it has offered the judge the opportunity to view it in private.

Couture's contractual status, pursuant to his promotional contract, has been hotly debated since his resignation. UFC President Dana White has been resolute in his stance that Couture owes the UFC two more fights due to a so-called "retirement clause" reportedly found in Couture's contract.

In a letter made public in recent court filings, White responded to Couture's resignation: "With regard to your fighting career, I presume that your letter refers to your Exclusive Promotional and Ancillary Rights Agreement dated January 19, 2007 ("Agreement"). Pursuant to Section 10.3 of the Agreement, I presume that you have decided to ‘retire' from MMA or other professional fighting competition. Assuming that is your intention, Zuffa, LLC is electing to suspend the Term of the Agreement for the period of such retirement."

Couture has stated publicly that he believes his promotional contract expires at the end of its term, believed to be 18 months. If that is the case, following the expiration of the non-compete clause in his employment contract in October, he would be free to fight outside the UFC this fall.

Adam Swift is the Editor of MMAPayout.com and a regular contributor to Sherdog

 

[Shogun Locc]

Am I the only one who still wants to see Serra vs. Hughes?

I would like to see that fight aswell.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Mirko Cro Cop discusses departure from the UFC, a possible rematch with Fedor and more

Mirko Cro Cop updated his MMA-ID blog today and he talked about a myriad of topics that had people scratching their heads when they found out that he was leaving the UFC. Some felt that Cro Cop’s departure was forced upon him, but he cleared it up by saying, “I had no problem in getting released from my UFC contract” and that “Mr. White acted very professional”. He admits that he never felt completely comfortable in the cage and that he hopes to, “return one day to fight in the cage.”
Mirko is welcoming a possible rematch with the main who laid out the blueprint on how to pressure him in a fight, Fedor. “The moment our first fight finished I wanted to fight him again. He’s a brilliant fighter and it would be a honor to fight him again.” Obviously he would have to string together a couple of wins to warrant that fight.

By the way, Cro Cop did respond to Cheick Kongo’s comment about needing steroids to fight:

“I have a message for Kongo. Listen, I thought that you are a sportsman, a professional like everyone else in this sport. You were lucky enough to fight against me during the deepest crisis of my career. You probably ate a lot of vegetables and potatoes to look like that? I’ll be back in the cage and I hope you will be in the opposite corner. Then we’ll see for how long you’ll be able to talk.”