MMA News Thread

[Shogun Locc]

Jake Shields wants a fight with Shinya Aoki

With the dearth of welterweights current in Strikeforce, former EliteXC champion Jake Shields has decided to look outside the promotion for his next welterweight opponent. The guy Shields would like to fight after his middleweight battle with Robbie Lawler in Japanese star Shinya Aoki.

“Aoki is a guy I’d like to fight, and Strikeforce has mentioned him as a potential opponent,” Shields said.

Originally, Shields was very close to squaring off with former UFC fighter Joe Riggs. That was not a fight Shields wanted to have.

“Personally, I was never really excited about it,” Shields said. “I said I would do it because I’ll fight anyone they want, but the fight doesn’t get me too excited.”

Strikeforce has also talked about another possibility down the line for Shields.

“Strikeforce has brought up the name of Frank Trigg,” Shields said.

Trigg and Shields have had a war of words through various forums that has gone on for a few years. The two have never faced each other, and each fighter has mentioned the other when asked why the fight has not taken place.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Andrei Arlovski still slated for pro boxing debut on April 11

Getting knocked out by Fedor Emelianenko this past January during Affliction and M-1’s “Day of Reckoning” hasn’t stopped Andrei Arlovski from pursuing his dreams of being a pro boxer.

Fighters Only Magazine has re-confirmed that Arlovski will make his professional boxing debut on the undercard of HBO’s April 11 telecast of Winky Wright vs. Paul Williams in Las Vegas. An opponent for Arlovski has yet to be named.

Arlovski who has been working with famed boxing trainer Freddie Roach almost a year now in anticipation of his pro boxing debut. The loss to Emelianenko has apparently only served to fuel his fire.

Although Arlovski lost to Emelianenko, many ringside observers noted that Arlovksi’s hands and foot movement were much improved after working with Roach, who has trained world champions such as Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao.

Plans are to place Arlovski in about a half dozen fights before he takes a step up in competition. He will continue to compete in MMA, where he holds a 15-6 career record and at one time held the UFC heavyweight title.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Aleksander Emelianenko: "We Offered Josh Barnett a Rematch and He Refused"

Hello! There are many news. I can already say where I'm getting offers to continue my career - from Holland's Golden Glory, Japan's DREAM, president of the UFC Dana White wants me to fight for them. All the contracts offered are long term, so I have not made up my mind yet, where I will compete. I'm thinking and preparing for the fight against Ibrahim Magomedov on March 29th.

I'm preparing in several Petersburg's gyms at the same time with my permanent trainer Yuri Razumov. And now I can say, that it's more convenient to prepare this way - I have many more sparring partners.

Also, I made, actually still making a new tattoo. I got a little tired of smartasses, who see in me some criminal authority, and want to prove that I can put any drawing that I like on my body. Now, I'm going to have a drawing of the moment from the famous Kulikovskoy battle on my chest "Battle of Aleksander Peresvet with Mongol-Tatar knight Chelubey"

I wanted to get this tattoo for a long time. In my childhood when I saw this picture in one of the books, I got very fond of it. And now that I found a very good master, decided, that it's the most fitting moment.

The tattoo is not ready yet. Almost every day he's working on it. And there will be more work after the fight. But when it's all ready it should look great.


Aleksander, there was some official information on Sherdog, that you weren't allowed to fight in the States because of hepatitis. Did you hear that. How much truth is in it?

It's all nonsense. I did not get in on the first Affliction show, because there were some problems with documents. I flew in, and passed the medical commission. Everything was fine. Then they tell me that I flew in too late and cannot compete. And before the second event, I injured my hand. I sensed that I would not be able to compete at full strength and asked them myself not to schedule the fight. I'm hoping to compete on the third Affliction show this summer in America.

How many seconds would you last against your brother? Do you think about a rematch with Crocop?

I never thought about a fight with my brother, because we will never fight against each other. We offered a rematch to Crocop many times, but he refused; and now Mirko is not the same anymore; his last fights showed that. And my loss to him should not be overestimated. I was only 23 years old then, my fourth fight in MMA, and Filipovic was already a top fighter.

I read your interview in a newspaper where you said that you would beat anybody. Don't you think there's nobody really left to beat at this point?Nogueira, Silva, Couture are old and beaten - Mir, Gonzaga, Herring - not interesting and beaten - and today's champion Lesnar - he's laughable to look at! Whom would you like to fight?

Agreed, there's nobody to beat, so that's why I don't care who I fight with. I want to fight who others consider the best.

I would love to see your fight with Cheick Kongo! Can you tell us if you have a will to rematch Barnett and Crocop?

I already answered about Crocop earlier. We offered Barnett a rematch and he refused. But last summer in America, during the first Affliction show, he came up to me all green and with shaking lips said "Sasha, I agree to fight with you". Therefore, possibly, revenge between us will take place.

 

[Shogun Locc]

BJ Penn looking to Defend LW Belt

We’re looking for a return, we have to defend the lightweight title. It’s been long, it’s been overdue since we defended the lightweight title. I had to heal up some of my injuries that I suffered from the Georges St. Pierre fight. I’m all good now so we’re gonna move forward with my same team, my same camp and we’re gonna make a run to defend the lightweight title — I think it’s either late July or early August.

 

[Shogun Locc]

iBN Sports and Karyn Bryant Join Forces For Online MMA Content

Bryant’s channel launches March 17th, 2009, with coverage of the Showtime/Strikeforce press conference promoting their new MMA partnership and upcoming April 11th event.

Foothill Ranch, Calif. – March 17,2009 – iBN Sports, a premiere Internet-based broadcast sports television network, announced that it has reached an agreement with television and cable anchor, Karyn Bryant. iBN Sports and Bryant will collaborate to produce original programming on a designated Karyn Bryant Channel over the iBN Sports network. The focus of this collaboration will center on the fight world, specifically Mixed Martial Arts given Bryant’s history with Showtime Championship Boxing and most recently her work on CBS’ Elite Xtreme Combat for primetime network television. In addition, Bryant will host her own radio show on iBN Sports Radio Online.

Bryant’s professional career is diverse, having worked for multiple television and cable companies, covering a wide range of subjects within the music, sports, and news & entertainment genres. As such, the agreement with iBN Sports provides Bryant the platform to fully explore all of her passions in a fresh and creative medium that is branded as her own signature channel. Concepts for a celebrity based cooking show and athlete/celebrity interviews are in the mix. Fans can tune in to watch, comment, chat, blog, and view live as well as Video-on-Demand programming from a library of Bryant’s events, interviews and shows. In addition, this association will cast Bryant for future iBN Sports Fight Site events.

“I am thrilled to work with iBN and do my part to feed the insatiable appetite of MMA fans. iBN is on the leading edge when it comes to internet broadcasting, and I’m honored to be given the opportunity to explore my passions for sports and entertainment on such a highly regarded platform,” said Karyn Bryant. “MMA excites me like nothing else, and I intend to highlight the best the sport has to offer with MMA H.E.A.T.™ I believe a fighter needs four fundamental elements: Heart. Endurance. Aggression. Technique.™ I’ll be exploring these four principles both in the cage and out in the “real world.” 2009 will undoubtedly be a huge year for MMA and I look forward to being a part of the festivities,” said Bryant.

“The iBN Sports team is truly excited by this partnership with Karyn,” said Sam Strayer, Producer of the Fight Site for iBN Sports. “With Karyn’s experience, professionalism, and on-camera presence, she will have a major impact on MMA and the MMA fan. Her knowledge and insight about the sport is highly regarded within the industry,” said Strayer. “What’s more, is that Karyn is truly a renaissance woman, not limited to just MMA or even sports for the matter. Her shows will encompass all of her passions and iBN Sports is looking forward to bringing the full breadth of her creativity to our worldwide fans,” said Strayer.

Visit http://www.ibnsports.com for more information on the company and to view live and on-demand sporting events for free.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Badr Hari Out! Tanigawa Not Happy

FEG president Sadaharu Tanigawa announced today that Badr Hari has cancelled his participation at the K-1 Yokohama event on the 28th due to poor health/bad shape. Tanigawa was not happy with this at the press conference. Instead, Peter Aerts will take Hari’s place against Errol Zimmerman.

It was also revealed that Ruslan Karaev will not participate either. He was supposed to fight in the 4-man K-1 Heavyweight title tournament but is out with a back injury. The awesome Tyrone Spong will take his place and in turn, J-NETWORK Heavyweight champion Singh Heart Jaideep will take Spong’s place in the tournament reserve fight against Keijiro Maeda.

FieLDS K-1 WORLD GP 2009 in YOKOHAMA
Date: March 28th, 2009
Place: Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan

Superfights (3×3, 2×3 Ext.):
Alistair Overeem vs. Remy Bonjasky
Peter Aerts vs. Errol Zimmerman
Ewerton Teixeira vs. Jerome Le Banner
Junichi Sawayashiki vs. Glaube Feitosa

K-1 Heavyweight Title Tournament Fights (3×3, 1×3 Ext.):
Manhoef/Chalid vs. Spong/Saki
Melvin Manhoef vs. Chalid “Die Faust”
Tyrone Spong vs. Gokhan Saki

K-1 Heavyweight Title Tournament Reserve Fight (3×3, 1×3 Ext.):
Keijiro Maeda vs. Singh Heart Jaideep

 

[UCDgreek]

Affliction Entertainment in talks to air third MMA event opposite UFC 100 on July 11

Apparently there is still some fight left in “The T-Shirt Guys” over at Affliction Entertainment.

Five Ounces of Pain is reporting that Affliction is taking a page out of the UFC counter programming handbook and contemplating a third mixed martial arts event this summer for Saturday, July 11 — the same day as the much anticipated UFC 100.

According to the report, Affliction would consider hosting the event on network or basic cable television to avoid the very difficult task of trying to lure away potential PPV buys from Zuffa.

And the UFC is no stranger to counter programming.

They hastily assembled UFC Fight Night 14 to draw interest away from the debut of Affliction: “Banned” on PPV last July with a main event between Anderson “The Spider” Silva and James “The Sandman” Irvin.

For Affliction’s second effort, “Day of Reckoning” on January 24, the UFC answered with a replay of UFC 91 “Lesnar vs. Couture.”

The UFC also went up against the EliteXC debut show on CBS last May with a tribute to perhaps the most popular mixed martial artist on the planet, Chuck Liddell, called “Ultimate Iceman.”

Even the new-look Strikeforce is getting a taste. On the same night and at the same time as their April 11 event, Spike TV will debut UFC 94: “St. Pierre vs. Penn 2,” which of course is now known simply as “Greasegate,” thanks to some questionable tactics by the corner of GSP.

It’s not unreasonable to think this third show could be the last from Affliction. The idea of going head-to-head with one of the biggest events in UFC history is more of an “F-you” than it is a step towards continued brand development.

While still in the planning stages, it will be interesting to see what Affliction has in store for its third event and what impact it might have on the fighters who decide to participate in the broadcast. Being an accomplice to this kind strategy could be detrimental to a fighter who may be considering a UFC career down the road.

wow what an awful idea. affliction is run by orangutans.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Everyone on Weight; King Mo, Kawamura on Stage

TOKYO -- At a closed weigh-in Thursday, all fighters reportedly made weight for Sengoku 7th Battle.

Muhammed Lawal and Ryo Kawamura then held a humorous exchange of words regarding their light heavyweight main event at the news conference that followed.

“Tomorrow, against a huge, dangerous opponent, and all the beautiful queens of his kingdom, a lone Japanese guy is going to that kingdom to attempt a coup d’état. Watch out,” Kawamura dramatically proclaimed to chuckles of approval.

“Man, that was funny,” responded a smiling Lawal. “I feel like what he said, it was cool, it was funny, but it ain’t true. There’s only one true king, and that’s King Mo, and I’m going to prove that by beating up this boy, [Kawamura], on my left.”

A consummate student of the game, Lawal said he has watched much of Kawamura’s previous fights, with performances against Keiichiro Yamamiya and Kevin Randleman of particular interest in developing his opinions of the Pancrase champ.

The revelation came as a surprise to Kawamura.

“Really? He watched my fights? And he liked them? I didn’t know he was watching,” Kawamura said. “If he’s watching the fights of some mediocre guy like me, that means he must know a lot about the community and not just about the elites. That’s good. He’s probably watching over all the community -- he’s truly a king, but he’s not a dictator.”

Remaining in character, Lawal continued to paint Kawamura as a threat regardless.

“I like him as a fighter, but he made a direct attack against my kingdom and my queens, and that’s not tolerable at all. I took that as a direct attack towards me, so I’m going to defend my kingdom.”

Toward that end, King Mo reiterated his goal of winning his first fight by submission. Pointing out Dean Lister in the crowd, who has come to Japan as one of Lawal’s cornermen, King Mo declared, “I’m a white belt under Dean Lister. He’s one of the kings of Abu Dhabi [Combat Club], one of the kings of submission. I’m looking to submit [Kawamura] this time for my fans, for something different.”

As for Kawamura, things aren’t looking as clear. When queried how he envisioned the fight unfolding, the light heavyweight King of Pancrase said he has no idea.

“Most of the time, I can assume how a fight will go, but I’ve never tried a coup d’etat before. So I guess I don’t know how it’ll all turn out.”

Most of the fighters in the featherweight tournament were modest and reserved, reflecting the up-and-coming nature of the prospect-laden field and also the lack of media attention they have received until now.

“Tomorrow, our fight is the first of the night, so I have to make it really exciting or people will walk out. From the outset, I’ll go aggressively and will finish [Denis],” said Seiya Kawahara, throwing down the gauntlet to opponent Nick Denis.

Ronnie Mann had similar comments for his opponent, Tetsuya Yamada.

“I know my opponent is young, but he’s entering a man’s sport,” Mann said. “I’m not going to pull any of my punches and will finish him in the first round.”

The 18-year-old Yamada remained calm and respectful in his comments, however, reaffirming his commitment in spite of his age and inexperience.

“I really had a tough time cutting weight, but my condition is [still] perfect,” he said. “I’ll probably be the weakest [in] tomorrow’s tournament, but I’d still like to fight aggressively and excite the fans.”

Shooto vet Shintaro Ishiwatari’s mind was seemingly elsewhere when commenting on his tournament bout against Chan Sung Jung.

“Yesterday, Japan lost to Korea in the World Baseball Classic,” he said with a heavy face. “However, I’ll give my best to win this fight tomorrow.”

ZST rep Masanori Kanehara was enthusiastic in his prefight comments: “Finally, the day has come. That’s the way I feel now. I come from the ZST ring, and we don’t have decisions. Thus, I’d like to finish the fight by KO or submission.”

Nam Phan and opponent Hideki Kadowaki kept it classy, with Phan giving respect to Kadowaki’s achievements in the sport.

“I’m very eager and very honored to be fighting a former Shooto world champion in Hideki Kadowaki,” Phan said.

The typically witty and offbeat Kadowaki was reserved and soft-spoken in his response, instead commenting on how he’d like to perform Friday.

“I hope fear won’t overcome me tomorrow. With a pure heart and relaxed body, I would like to fight with all my passion,” Kadowaki solemnly pledged.

Finally, Hatsu Hioki, the consensus tournament favorite and literal Sengoku featherweight tournament poster boy, acknowledged and thanked all the people that supported him in making his way to the promotion.

Regarding the event’s poster and how prominently he is featured on it, Hioki humbly commented that he “just so happened to be the first one named as being in the tournament, so I think that’s the only reason why I’m on the poster like that. I believe all the fighters are great, though, and I’m only just one among them.”

Quotable

“This is my second time in Japan. I was here about 10 years ago, competing in amateur wrestling, so it’s pretty cool to be here, competing again in front of Japanese fans. It’s an honor, really, to be fighting Sandro in the first round. Hopefully, I put on a good show.” -- Matt Jaggers

“Tomorrow, I’d like to confuse my opponent, like a cat or a beast.” -- Michihiro Omigawa

“I think the first ‘Rambo’ film is great, but at the very end, he fails, doesn’t he? So it’s not going to be good if I bomb the gas station. Anyway, let’s see what we can do tomorrow.” -- Ryo Kawamura, an avid ‘Rambo’ fan, on which film in the series summed up his feelings on the fight

“I don’t have a queen, and I don’t have any power, so no. I think I’m a challenger, just a contender to King Mo.” -- Ryo Kawamura, on establishing his own kingdom

“I don’t think that sounds good. If my name was Seiya, like ‘King Seiya,’ it’d fit. ‘King Mo’ and ‘King Ryo … ?’ I don’t think so.” -- Ryo Kawamura, on the title of “King Ryo”

“To me, it’s not a big deal. It’s a fight, so I’m going to treat it like it’s my first fight. I’m coming in 0-0, and so is he. What happened in the past means nothing. I defeated Fabio Silva, but that was in the past, so it means nothing. The main event? That just means the crowd sees me last. That’s it.” -- Muhammed Lawal on fighting in his first main event

“That’s a great question. I have no idea really, but I know I am looking to add. As a matter of fact, there will be a sweepstakes. I’m looking for the next two new queens to add to my kingdom, but as far as the number goes, I have no idea. I have to go back and check my stock.” -- Muhammed Lawal on the growing number of his “queens”

“In the Kingdom? Always well. I make sure that everyone’s all taken care of. I provide for the kingdom, so as long as I’m winning, everybody’s happy. There’s no stock market crash, and everyone’s income and economy is [good] … so long as I’m winning.” -- Muhammed Lawal on the “economy” of his kingdom

Bout order and official weigh-in results:

Seiya Kawahara (143.3) vs. Nick Denis (142.9)
Tetsuya Yamada (143.3) vs. Ronnie Mann (142.6)
Shintaro Ishiwatari (143.3) vs. Chan Sung Jung (143.1)
Masanori Kanehara (143.1) vs. Jong Man Kim (142.9)
Marlon Sandro (143.3) vs. Matt Jaggers (143.3)
Michihiro Omigawa (142.9) vs. L.C. Davis (142.6)
James Thompson (271.8) vs. Jim York (264.6)
Hideki Kadowaki (143.1) vs. Nam Phan (142.9)
Hatsu Hioki (143.3) vs. Chris Manuel (141.5)
Muhammed Lawal (203.5) vs. Ryo Kawamura (205)

 

[Shogun Locc]

MELENDEZ HAS NO FRIENDS AT 155; EYES REMATCH

Gilbert Melendez wants to set the record straight with Josh Thomson.

It’s not the loss on his record from their June fight that burns him – although losing's never fun. In the end, it was his performance that kept him up at night, making it all the more easy to re-sign with Strikeforce when thoughts of moving elsewhere crossed his mind.

“In history, I want to go down with a better performance than that. Even if I lose, I know I’m better than what I did.”

That was in the back of his head when the two spoke the weekend before news of a rematch at “Shamrock vs. Gracie” broke. While the fight came as a surprise to Thomson – he wanted to re-start their relationship as occasional training partners – Melendez said he never ruled out a second meeting.

“I want to make things really clear – I’ve only got one friend in the 155-pound weight division, and that’s Nathan Diaz,” he told MMAWeekly.com. “Josh is a training partner. Yeah, if I win this fight, and he never wants to fight me again, we can (train together). If I lose this fight, I’m not going to be very happy and I’m going to want to fight him again. It’s just awkward, because he’s a good guy and I respect him, but at the end of the day, I can’t be making friends with 155-pounders."

For now, any good feelings towards Thomson will have to wait.

“Maybe some guys can hug and be friends – it’s just not in my nature to do that and go fight a guy like that,” he said. “I’ve gotta get some aggression towards him and want to hate him. It’s nothing personal, but that’s just how you’ve gotta to be. At least I have to be, to pull out the beast.”

Prior to their first bout, Thomson laid bare his problems with an injured shoulder that would make him less than 100 percent for the fight. But when “Melendez vs. Thomson” rolled around, he turned in a stellar performance that saw him dominate the then-lightweight champion. Melendez struggled to sync his rhythm with Thomson's range.

At the press conference for the April 11 event, Thomson appeared none too happy with the idea of getting ready for a second encounter.

“I'm actually dreading this fight,” he said.

But Melendez wasn’t swayed by Thomson’s professed hesitancy.

“I don’t play into that,” he said. “I know he’s being really cool right now and everything, but I can’t let that (expletive) get in my way right now. As far as I’m concerned, he wants to kill me just as bad, he’s healthy, he’s perfect, and by the time he gets in there, he’s going to be smiling like he always does, ready to go. I’m taking everything as a game, like he’s trying to work his angles. Everything is strategy. Even if it’s not, I’m treating it like it is.”

Though both fighters agree that another five-round war is ahead, Melendez says he’ll be more ready for it this time.

“More than anything, you’re going to see a guy that’s in better shape, and not looking as flat, and someone motivated to be in there,” he said. “I’ve got a couple tricks in my sleeve, too.”

 

[Shogun Locc]

A Brief History of Flyweight Time

The MMA universe is expanding, and more rapidly than you think. On the eve of Shooto world champion Shinichi "BJ" Kojima defending his title and divisional mantle against Yuki Shoujou and the growing excitement surrounding Zuffa's plans to integrate the 125-pound division into WEC in the near future, it is an apropros time to talk history and take stock of all things flyweight in this sport's space and time.

The last two years have represented enormous strides promotionally, competitively and financially for the sub-lightweight classes both globally and in North America. While the purses still lag a bit behind fighters 155 pounds and north, featherweight fighters are not only viewed as legitimate citizens of the fighting populace but are actively celebrated to the point where discussion of a Mike Thomas Brown-Urijah Faber rematch is fervent and heated. 2008 saw Miguel Torres' in-cage brilliance put the bantamweight division on the MMA map for the majority of fans, and while he has yet to reach Chuck Liddell levels of cultural consciousness, his ascent is both startling and refreshing, given the fact that it was just a few short years ago that the viability of lightweights in MMA was still routinely mocked.

However, while we may laud these recent developments for western MMA discourse, the world of Shooto was playing host to bouts at 137 pounds since its professional inception in 1989, with bouts at 126 pounds as early as March 1992, a full 20 months before UFC 1 even took place. If there is one sterling contribution to the greater MMA consciousness that Shooto must be commended for, it is an unflinching and unwavering dedication to MMA truly as sport, which has long manifested itself in the form of providing and promoting a venue for lower weight fighters.

Yamaguchi’s Reign

The history of the flyweight division as we know it, however, is a bit more brief. It was in 2001 that Shooto authorities decided to fully establish a 123-pound weight class, following the competitive success of their 143- and 132-pound divisions in years prior. September 2002 saw the division's first significant bout, as former 132-pound world champion Mamoru Yamaguchi was upset by BJJ all-star Robson Moura, who was making his MMA debut. Moura's surprise win accelerated the promotional plan for the division heading into 2003, as Shooto promoters created a series of bouts in the division designed to divine a world champion by year's end.

That March, Yamaguchi dominated Homare Kuboyama to a lopsided decision. Two months later, upstart Yasuhiro Urushitani put on a single-leg takedown defense clinic and upset the grappling king Moura, setting the stage for a Yamaguchi-Urushitani bout at the 2003 year-end show to crown the first world 123-pound champion of professional Shooto.

The bout was transformative in more than just one way. While Yamaguchi would take a unanimous decision and begin his reign as the king of the blossoming division, becoming the only man to hold Shooto world titles in two weight classes, the bout also marked the champion's more familiar image: At the behest of his sponsors, he abandoned his earlier skate punk aesthetics, growing a mustache and an afro in the style of 1970s Japanese boxing icon Yoko Gushiken.

For nearly the next three years, Yamaguchi reigned over Shooto's 123-pound division, and by extension, the flyweight world, which was essentially fully contained within Shooto's walls. However, despite the length of his reign, a host of factors undermined his potential as champion. In his first title defense in August 2004, he won a majority decision against his rival Robson Moura, avenging his upset loss two years prior. Unsatisfied with a close points loss, Moura erupted and launched a protest against the decision, which the International Shooto Commission granted, making the bout a draw and erasing Yamaguchi's revenge.

His reign also saw the rise of the first significant non-Shooto flyweight, as brash-talking firebrand Setsu Iguchi ran up a 7-0 record in GCM events, including an upset of perennial top Shooto contender Yasuhiro Urushitani. Iguchi's crossover to Shooto was inevitable, and it was thought that while the flyweight division was still globally relegated to the small stage, Yamaguchi-Iguchi could be the division's first serious superfight. The bout even prompted the normally straight-lace folks from leading Shooto promoter Sustain to manufacture a pro-wrestling-style showdown between the two fighters in the ring following Yamaguchi's May 2005 decapitation of hapless Stonnie Dennis.

Unfortunately, the cruelty of reality conquered the designs of the flyweight showdown as Iguchi floundered following his Shooto debut. By the time the Yamaguchi-Iguchi bout happened in May 2006, not only had the promotional juice of the fight evaporated, it was a foregone conclusion, as Shooto's afroed ace hacked Iguchi's face apart with clinch knees en route to a one-sided doctor stoppage.

The Second King

In need of validating performances against interesting rivals -- the plot device that so often defines the greatness of prizefighters -- Yamaguchi's foil then became Shinichi "BJ" Kojima. Their trilogy, however, would be his ultimate undoing as champion. Despite seemingly having done enough to take a points win their March 2006 bout, Yamaguchi only retained his belt on a draw. When they rematched seven months later, it took just 98 seconds for Kojima to take Yamaguchi's back and choke him unconscious to take his throne. In their third encounter this past September, Yamaguchi was 78 seconds from regaining his title on the scorecards when he was snagged in a guillotine that gave Kojima the thrilling come-from-behind victory.

As the second king of the flyweights, BJ Kojima's reign has been uninspiring to say the least. While his theatrical comeback in the third bout with Yamaguchi was a high point, his miserable showing in his first title defense against Yasuhiro Urushitani in March 2007 and his embarrassing, aborted jump up to bantamweight have marred his stature. He is, nonetheless, a favorite heading into his March 20 title defense against the dynamic and exciting Yuki Shoujou, who should at least provide an action-packed bout for the largely flagging champion.

The Future of the Flyweight Division

Ultimately, the outcome of the Kojima-Shoujou bout may not matter. While it is for figuratively all the flyweight marbles, the division is beginning to bubble and brew anew. The current climate of the flyweight division may be extremely ephemeral. We already witnessed the radical restructuring of the featherweight and bantamweight divisions once they globalized, as the weight classes escaped their tiny enclaves in Japan and international fighters got the opportunities they long deserved.

California's Palace Fighting Championship has already quickly carved its niche as a brilliant regional venue, and their emphasis on the flyweight division has been formative. Likewise, Washington D.C.'s Ultimate Warrior Challenge staged their first 125-pound bout in February in which John Dodson and Jose Villarisco stole the show with the blazing brand of action that often typifies the division. In a climate of earnest copycatism, more promoters are going to be looking to follow suit, especially with Zuffa's revelation that the WEC cage may host 125-pounders by the tail end of 2009.

The international talent pool is deepening rapidly. For years, there have been scores of talented athletes who, based on their weight, have had little opportunity to compete in MMA. Some, such as aforementioned Greg Jackson product John Dodson or gritty Guamanian Jess Taitano, have had to routinely take fights at bantamweight or above in order to stay active. Others, like the aforementioned Jose Villarisco or grappling stud Ulysses Gomez, have just recently made MMA debuts because their natural weight classes are now accessible.

At this juncture, the division can rapidly expand on the principle of "if you build it, they will come." For instance, just by virtue of Shooto Brazil holding regular events over the last year, the promotion has fostered the development of several outstanding Brazilian flyweight prospects such as Jucie Formiga, Ralph Lauren and Maicon William.

The crossovers are going to pour in, multiplying exponentially as more promotions afford flyweights the card space. As one of the most popular nak muay in the stadiums of Thailand, Rambaa "M-16" Somdet was the first significant crossover to the flyweight division and will serve as a template for strikers. Robson Moura paved the way for BJJ star crossovers, a role now filled by brilliant BJJ world champion Daniel Otero. And, last but surely not least, the potential influx of outstanding wrestlers from the collegiate and international ranks will be something to behold. 1996 Olympic freestyle bronze medalist Alexis Vila has quietly already racked up a 5-0 record, and he may be the most intriguing prospect in the entire division.

For years, systematic discrimination of the lower weight classes was MMA's version of "turtles all the way down"-style idiocy. At a time that the flyweight division was getting its act together in Japan, many western fans were questioning whether Jens Pulver and B.J. Penn were worthy of headlining a UFC pay-per-view and scoffing at the notion that 155-pounders could ever sell. The eventual acceptance of the lightweight division started the snowball of interest that has led fans to not just tolerating but championing MMA's featherweights and bantamweights.

The flyweight division's holistic integration into MMA is only a natural progression. With the promotional blueprints for organizations both regional and international alike in the near future, flyweights are assured the shine they're long overdue. Kojima-Shoujou, for all its value in the moment, is not likely to give us our first truly great flyweight. However, as the division rapidly globalizes, that moment may not be so many light years away. Then, as Hawking might suggest, we shall all -- philosophers, scientists and just ordinary people -- be able to take part in the discussion of the way flyweights exist.

 

[Shogun Locc]

UFC could host a show in Detroit by year's end

The Ultimate Fighting Championship could return to Michigan for the first time in 13 years for a show at Detroit's Joe Louis Arena or the Palace at Auburn Hills in late 2009 or early 2010.

The news come from the Detroit Free Press, which interviewed UFC Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Marc Ratner.

Current UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans, a former Michigan State University wrestler, could be the event's headliner, according to Ratner.

In the report, Ratner points to Michigan's, and specifically Detroit's, strong Spike TV ratings and number of pay-per-view buys as a reason to visit the state. Michigan is one of nearly 40 U.S. states that regulates MMA.

The UFC hosted its first and only Michigan event in May 1996 when "UFC 9: Motor City Madness" took place at Detroit's Cobo Arena. The event drew a then-UFC record with 11,200 attendees, who watched what is now remembered as one of the worst fights in UFC history.

The event almost never happened because of political pressure (led by then-MMA critic and Arizona Senator John McCain), and the matter ultimately was settled in court. However, event organizers were forced to modify their rules, and fighters were threatened with arrest if they struck with closed fists. The rules ruined many fights, including a 30-minute main event between Dan Severn and Ken Shamrock. Severn won the lackluster affair via split decision.

As for the return trip, Joe Louis Arena could accommodate nearly 21,000 fans. The Palace of Auburn Hills (also known as "The Palace") is located in a Detroit suburb and could seat up 25,000 fans.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Bobby Lashley following in Brock Lesnar’s footsteps

Bobby Lashley raced across the cage at the bell, picked up Joshua Franklin and viciously slammed him to the floor.

This all in the first 15 seconds of the one-time World Wrestling Entertainment star's professional mixed martial arts debut on Dec. 13 in Miami.

Lashley, exhibiting an uncommon mixture of speed, quickness, power and strength, went on to win that bout in 41 seconds, showing the kind of potential that makes promoters want to get his name on a contract.

He's powerfully built, comfortable performing in front of a crowd and athletic enough that one could easily forget you're watching a 250-pound man move around the cage.

Sounds kind of familiar, doesn't it?

It's the same sort of path UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar took after departing professional wrestling. And although Lashley doesn't see the many similarities that are drawn between himself and Lesnar, he hopes to replicate Lesnar's success.

"Brock has obviously done exceptionally well in the short period of time he's been fighting," the physically massive but exceptionally soft-spoken three-time NAIA national champion said. "Anyone who is in this profession would like that kind of success."

Lashley, 32, faces veteran Jason Guida on Saturday in a combined boxing/MMA pay-per-view card in Pensacola, Fla., in the second step of his professional journey.

The one-time soldier professes great respect for Guida and insists he expects a difficult test despite Guida's so-so 17-19 record. Lashley isn't short on competitive experience, having wrestled four years in high school and in college, as well as in the Army, but he concedes that someone with nearly 40 pro MMA fights is a challenge for a guy with less than a minute of pro experience.

"I definitely have to take into consideration that he has a lot of ring experience," Lashley said. "Anyone with that kind of experience poses some danger to a newcomer. I can't just go in expecting to dominate the match because I know the guy has some tricks from being around so long."

That hardly means that Lashley plans an extended feeling-out process. He's significantly bigger than Guida and plans to find out how well Guida will be able to deal with his size.

If Lashley is true to his word, Guida's going to have a 250-pound knot of muscle in his face not long after the bell rings.

"I'm throwing these 250 pounds in his face real quick and see if he has what it takes to withstand the abuse and the punishment," Lashley said. "If he does, it's going to lead to a longer fight. If he doesn't, I'm thinking it will be a real short fight."

Many fighters as large as Lashley are ponderous and can't fight at a sustained pace for long periods of time. But he insists he'll be able to push from the start – "I am in phenomenal shape right now," he says – because he wasn't always a heavyweight.

He began growing very quickly while he was in college and morphed into a physical specimen who retained the fast-twitch muscles of someone much smaller.

As a freshman in high school, he was a 110-pounder wrestling at 112. As a sophomore, he began wrestling at 119, but was getting bigger almost by the day and competed at 125, 130 and 135 all in the same year. He was a 140-pounder as a junior and a 160-pounder as a senior.

He was recruited to wrestle for Missouri Valley College as a 158-pounder. Problem was, he had already shot up to 195 by the time he hit campus. He never stopped growing and quickly became a massive heavyweight with a bantamweight's instincts.

"You think of heavyweights as slow-moving, big, strong guys, but I grew up and learned the sport small," Lashley said. "I learned how to move with a faster pace of training when I was small, and I was able to keep going at that pace as I got bigger and kept growing."

After winning three NAIA wrestling championships in his four years at Missouri Valley, he had a stint in the Army, winning two Armed Forces championships. He then caught the eye of the WWE's Vince McMahon, who knew that Lashley's physique, athleticism and personality made him a natural for professional wrestling.

He was put into the WWE's developmental program and competed in Ohio Valley Wrestling. By 2005, he was in the WWE. Lashley went on to a successful career and captured the ECW title.

He endured the grueling regimen of a professional wrestler, competing up to 250 days a year despite all manner of injuries. But McMahon lost interest in him not long after Lashley had shoulder surgery.

Lashley hadn't lost the desire to compete and decided to make the move to MMA, where he has trained with the vaunted American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Fla. Like Lesnar, who instantly became one of the UFC's biggest pay-per-view attractions thanks to the fan base he'd accumulated as a pro wrestling, Lashley understands that much of the interest in him these days can be attributed to his relationship with the WWE.

"This is a fight, but you have to remember that fighting is still entertainment," Lashley said. "The fact that I'm bringing a different fan base to fighting and a large fan base will help me. I'm in my second fight and I'm one of the top names on the pay-per-view. That's because I am bringing a different fan base with me. I don't mind the pressure of the expectations, because I've been an athlete and I'm used to that. I have a job to do and I've trained hard for it."

Lashley is smart enough to realize that while his WWE affiliation has gotten him in the door, he's going to have to prove himself to the MMA fans who may be skeptical about him.

"This is a results-oriented business, and it's up to me to take advantage of the opportunity I have been given," Lashley said. "Of course I want to make it to the highest levels of this business. Who doesn't? I'm not expecting anything to be given to me, though.

"I want to create a buzz, but I want to do it by the way I fight."

 

[Shogun Locc]

Belfort vs. Fedor? “It’s up to Fedor”

Right after a first round knockout against Matt Lindland, at Affliction 2, Vitor Belfort challenged the biggest star of the organization, Fedor Emelianenko. Without any confirmation of the company, the Brazilian still wants to face the biggest heavyweight in all times, undefeated for eight years. “We’re waiting now to see if they’ll put this fight on. It’s up to Fedor, he decides everything, he’s in that position. We want challenges and we’re waiting for the answer”, said Belfort.
According to Vitor, M-1 wants the fight, but Tom Atencio wants to put Emelianenko against Josh Barnett. “The guys from M-1 wants this fight, but Tom Atencio and the Affliction wants to put him with Barnett, who is their big boy, but I’m waiting. If this fight doesn’t happen at Affliction 3, it can be on the next one”, says. While waiting for a final decision about his next fight, Belfort will start filming a DVD with his biography. “We’re doing a DVD about my career, my story. I’ll film where I lived in the US, Carlson Gracie’s first gym… It’ll be pretty cool, I’ll show my family, me taking my son Davi to the school, my training, everything. I’m going to the United States in April to start this project”, revealed Vitor, waiting for his third child with his wife, Joana Prado.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Debut Date Set! Shigeki Osawa Enters The Battle

Shigeki Osawa will fight on the same night as fellow SENGOKU Training Player Maximo Blanco as he makes his MMA debut at the April 5th Pancrase event. Osawa was announced as a SENGOKU Training Player at the same time as Blanco was and is also a great Amateur Wrestler.

When Osawa was announced as a SENGOKU Training Player last year he had just returned home from the 8th World University Wrestling Championship in Greece where he won gold in the 60 kg division. He also won the All-Japan Freestyle Wrestling Championship 60 kg division in 2007.

Osawa has been training MMA full-time at the Yoshida Dojo since October of last year. He has been practicing together with Michihiro Omigawa. His debut opponent will be Hideo Matsui, who is also looking for his first MMA victory.

 

[Unk1ne]

Belfort vs. Fedor would be a good fight

 

[Robby2Slobby]

UFC could host a show in Detroit by year's end

The Ultimate Fighting Championship could return to Michigan for the first time in 13 years for a show at Detroit's Joe Louis Arena or the Palace at Auburn Hills in late 2009 or early 2010.

The news come from the Detroit Free Press, which interviewed UFC Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Marc Ratner.

Current UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans, a former Michigan State University wrestler, could be the event's headliner, according to Ratner.

In the report, Ratner points to Michigan's, and specifically Detroit's, strong Spike TV ratings and number of pay-per-view buys as a reason to visit the state. Michigan is one of nearly 40 U.S. states that regulates MMA.

The UFC hosted its first and only Michigan event in May 1996 when "UFC 9: Motor City Madness" took place at Detroit's Cobo Arena. The event drew a then-UFC record with 11,200 attendees, who watched what is now remembered as one of the worst fights in UFC history.

The event almost never happened because of political pressure (led by then-MMA critic and Arizona Senator John McCain), and the matter ultimately was settled in court. However, event organizers were forced to modify their rules, and fighters were threatened with arrest if they struck with closed fists. The rules ruined many fights, including a 30-minute main event between Dan Severn and Ken Shamrock. Severn won the lackluster affair via split decision.

As for the return trip, Joe Louis Arena could accommodate nearly 21,000 fans. The Palace of Auburn Hills (also known as "The Palace") is located in a Detroit suburb and could seat up 25,000 fans.

Damn. It'd be about time.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Kojima, Ueda Retain Shooto Titles; Gomi Announces Return

TOKYO -- Champions Shinichi Kojima and Masakatsu Ueda retained their respective 123- and 132-pound titles at Shooto “Tradition 6” on Friday at Korakuen Hall.

However, former Pride Fighting Championships titleholder Takanori Gomi stole some of their thunder, as he announced his plan to return to the Shooto ring for the first time in six years. The one-time Shooto 154-pound king will face current champion Takashi Nakakura on May 10 at JCB Hall in Tokyo.

Yuki Shoujou’s willingness to stand toe-to-toe with Kojima (10-3-5) made the main event exciting. In the first round, Shoujou threw kicks and combinations, secured a double under hook clinch and worked for a takedown. “BJ” defended perfectly by supporting himself on the ring post, and, at the last second, he shifted his weight and fell on top of Shoujou.

The second round went much better for Kojima, as he caught Shoujou’s opening kick and used it to secure a takedown. From top position, “BJ” threw punches and timed Shoujou’s attempt to stand with a crisp knee. Towards the end of the round, Kojima threw some wild hooks that landed, and both men stood in front of one another exchanging punches.

The third round started and ended quickly, as Shoujou (8-5-2) clinched Kojima in the corner and attempted a double-leg takedown. “BJ” reacted quickly, as he sprawled and then spun to Shojou’s back, securing a rear-naked choke without hooks. Shoujou tried to free himself, but the choke was deep and he went unconscious; referee Toshiharu Suzuki stepped in and called it off 38 seconds into the third round.

In the co-main event, Ueda showed he deserved his place among the world’s elite.

So Tazawa was active from the bottom and threw up many submission attempts, but he could not get the momentum going in his favor and failed to get out from underneath Ueda. At the start of the first round, Ueda immediately shot in for a takedown. Inside Tazawa’s guard, Ueda (9-0-2) postured up and landed some ground-and-pound. Tazawa used an active guard and moved his hips well to setup armbar attempts. He put Ueda in some compromising positions, but the 132-pound champion defended and maintained top position.

The second round provided more of the same, as Ueda dropped Tazawa with a right hook and proceeded to pressure, posture and pound. Ueda secured mount and took Tazawa’s back, as he strengthened his foothold in the match. In the third round, Ueda shot in deep, and Tazawa locked his legs around his head and arms. Ueda calmly stood up, walked over to his corner and shook off Tazawa. Near the end of the round, Ueda threw a right hook that wobbled Tazawa (8-4-3), and they exchanged blows until the bell.

Judges scored the match 30-26, 30-27, and 30-27 for Ueda.

In another matchup of bantamweights, Hiromasa Ogikubo took on Tetsu Suzuki.

The first round featured lots of action, as both fighters got takedowns and scrambled back to their feet. Suzuki (8-7-3) went for a scissors takedown and almost secured a foot lock, and, at the end of the round, he scored with a beautiful throw.

For the rest of the match, Ogikubo (6-0-2) countered with kicks to the body when Suzuku came in with punches. Ogikubo also used under hooks and the clinch to dirty box and control the pace of the fight. Compared to Suzuki’s somewhat unorthodox striking, Ogikubo looked more comfortable standing up. Also when Suzuki (8-7-3) managed takedowns, Ogikubo immediately scrambled to his feet, refusing to give the world-class grappler time to work his ground game. In the end, the judges awarded the undefeated Ogikubo a unanimous decision.

Elsewhere, Michiyuki Ishibashi scored the “Knockout of the Night” with his 13-second finish of Takayuki Okochi.

Ishibashi (2-5-1) timed an attempted left kick perfectly and delivered a right straight that landed cleanly and put down Okochi (7-13-3).

Finally, Atsushi Takeuchi won an exciting match against the previously unbeaten Mikitoshi Yamagami. “ATCH Anarchy” used low kicks, overhand lefts and experience to overcome the reach and height advantage of the 21-year-old Yamagami (3-1). Takeuchi (6-4-2) has won two straight.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Penn, Attorney Vow to Fight On

Despite continued criticism from both media and fans alike, B.J. Penn and his camp remain committed to their goal of an equitable resolution to what has become known as “Greasegate.”

Penn and his attorney, Raffi Nahabedian, believe they are fighting the good fight. Both have expressed hope that their complaints will exempt others from suffering the fate Penn did in January at UFC 94. They believe St. Pierre’s corner illegally applied Vaseline to the welterweight champion, affecting the outcome of the fight, but St. Pierre’s team has said his cornermen were not applying Vaseline but instead performing a breathing technique.

While there may be a touch of altruism in the motivation of Penn’s camp, their main focus is overturning St. Pierre’s victory. However, they seemed to have run into a brick wall Tuesday in the form of Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Keith Kizer.

“Anyone can come to me and say, ‘Keith, we think there is a concern here. We think you should look at this,’” said Kizer after a hearing Tuesday that heard testimony from both sides. “And I look at it with the [Attorney General’s] office and decide whether it rises to the level of a disciplinary complaint or not.”

Kizer went on to make it clear that he does not believe there is cause to pursue a complaint.

“I have no plans to bring a complaint against anybody in this case,” he said.

Kizer’s decision to forgo a disciplinary complaint does not close all avenues for recourse to the Penn camp, but it severely limits their options. Now they must hope for a member of the commission to bring a complaint -- something that seems highly unlikely.

It is hard to see, when looking at Kizer’s statements and actions, how the Penn contingent could be successful in achieving their stated objective. Nahabedian vocalized his frustration after the hearing.

“In terms of him being done,” said Nahabedian in regards to Kizer’s decision not to seek a disciplinary complaint, “I don’t know, one, how he could be done, which is kind of a strange thing because I don’t even know what he did to begin with. So how could you be done with something if you don’t even know what you started with? I don’t know that.”

It is the perceived lack of action by Kizer that has Nahabedian searching for answers.

“As an attorney, it’s about fact-finding,” he said. “As a commission member, as an executive director, you would think that his purpose is a fact-finding mission to obtain all the facts, all the evidence and to make an educated legal judgment upon the commission as to your determination. Do I feel he did that? Not at all.”

Vowing to continue the fight, Nahabedian said he and his client will use every means at their disposal to resolve this case in their favor.

“We’re, by no means, done. We have the ability to exhaust administrative remedies and then take the matter into civil remedies as well,” he said. “This is something that B.J. believes in. This is something the Penns believe in. I think it’s something every fan of MMA and every fighter of MMA should take very seriously because it could happen to them.”

NSAC Chairman Bill Brady, speaking with Sherdog.com after the hearing, declined to comment on any action the commission might consider regarding the actual fight and its outcome, but he did state that he felt the proceedings have and will continue to have a positive effect on the sport and the regulatory body.

“Things are already better because of this fight and the questions being raised around it. They’re already better. I’ve seen it. I’ve watched the fights and everybody is aware of it,” he said. “And we as a commission are better, and will get better, because of this. There may be regulations coming forward. As far as how this will affect the Penn-St. Pierre fight, I have no comment.”

Penn illuminated the thought process behind continuing to push for something that has become so unpopular.

“If you have a problem with me making a formal complaint, what does that say about yourself? If you have a problem with me questioning if somebody cheated or not, what does that say about yourself?” he asked. “If [St. Pierre] didn’t cheat, the truth will come out; he will be acquitted. If he did cheat, the truth will come out; he will get in trouble.”

Though Penn and Nahabedian hold out hope for further investigation, it seems the commission has already reached its decision.

 

[Shogun Locc]

‘King Mo’ Reigns in ‘Seventh Battle’ Main Event

TOKYO -- Muhammed Lawal thoroughly outworked light heavyweight King of Pancrase Ryo Kawamura en route to a unanimous decision victory in the main event at Sengoku “Seventh Battle” on Friday at the Yoyogi National Stadium Second Gymnasium.

In addition, the promotion’s featherweight tournament stormed out of the gates, with consensus favorite Hatsu Hioki notching an opening-round submission.

Though Lawal (4-0) did not secure the tapout he claimed he was pursuing before the bout, his match with Kawamura proved to be a one-sided affair.

“King Mo” relentlessly pressed for takedowns, whipping down the hapless Kawamura (9-4-2) to all fours. Riding off to the side, Lawal launched a battery of punches to the head and face of the Japanese champion, who repeatedly crawled to nearby ring posts to hide from his assault. In response to repeated takedowns and four big slams, Kawamura’s scuttling into the corner to hide became a recurring scene throughout the fight.

Kawamura had nothing to offer Lawal, as the young prospect went the distance for the first time and took a lopsided decision by 30-24, 30-27, 30-27 scores.

Afterward, Lawal indicated that an injury to his right knee kept him from sinking in his hooks on the turtled Kawamura; he claimed he was hurt while training with UFC veteran Dean Lister.

“I injured my knee about a week ago,” Lawal said. “I kinda tweaked it rolling around, and I tried to rehab it as much as I could before the fight.”

In a masterful performance, Hioki (18-3-2) put a grappling clinic on Chris Manuel, as he captured a dominant armbar-induced submission and handed the World Extreme Cagefighting veteran his first defeat.

Hioki passed from half guard to mount from the opening takedown, and Manuel immediately surrendered his back. Though Manuel (6-1-2) soon extricated himself from the precarious position, Hioki put the American Top Team product on his back again soon after. Eventually passing to mount, Hioki set up a triangle choke while sitting on Manuel and dropping punches. Manuel attempted to defend, but Hioki refused to be denied and pulled out the armbar for the tap 4:12 into round one.

In another featherweight grand prix showdown, Former Shooto 143-pound champion Hideki Kadowaki and Strikeforce veteran Nam Phan kept their fight on the feet until Phan landed a home run right hand for the technical knockout stoppage.

Phan (15-5) pressured on the feet, as he chased Kadowaki with punches. The southpaw Kadowaki returned the favor in kind, countering with sharp jabs and quick left straights. Phan pumped two distracting jabs before swinging with the fight-ending right hook. The South Vietnamese fighter lunged to finish the downed Kadowaki (13-9-2), but referee Yoshinori Umeki dove in for the save at the 3:09 mark.

Meanwhile, UFC veteran Michihiro Omigawa thoroughly controlled rising star L.C. Davis and seized a surprising but well-earned unanimous decision.

The key for Omigawa (5-7-1) was his ability to take the fight to Davis in the clinch, where he repeatedly scored with the trip takedown and eventually passed to side control and mount. Davis (13-2) was unable to defend against either and was taken down almost at will. Once on the mat, he ate short punches on the bottom. All three judges gave the bout to Omigawa. Scores were 30-28, 30-28 and 30-27.

Marlon Sandro had an even easier time in his grand prix debut.

The undefeated Sandro was headed for a solid unanimous decision victory but ended up choking out a standing Matt Jaggers in the second period.

Sandro (13-0) had the fight well under control, as he imposed top position dominance in both rounds before Jaggers bucked to get to his feet in the second. Sandro instantly wrapped his arms into the arm triangle, cinching it against the ring post. Rather than submitting, Jaggers (9-5) staggered forward, fell asleep and forced referee Samio Kimura to stop the bout 2:57 into the second period.

Tournament action did not end there.

Shintaro Ishiwatari and Chan Sung Jung threw caution to the wind in the “Fight of the Night,” as they went tit for tat on the feet.

“The Korean Zombie” pressed forward, firing a steady stream of punches that smashed into Ishiwatari; a big left dropped him early. Ishiwatari (6-2-3) quickly recovered, as he bucked off Jung in the side mount crucifix and threw his own punches and a grazing high kick. Unfazed, Jung pressed forward with more punches, wounded his Japanese foe and forced him to surrender his back. From there, Jung (3-0) sunk the rear-naked choke for the finish 4:29 into the first round.

In the evening’s opening bout, King of the Cage Canada champion Nick Denis ran roughshod over young Pancrase killer Seiya Kawahara.

Dropping Kawahara with a big high kick in the opening minute, Denis (7-0) turned it on with knees to the body and followed with a flurry of punches that floored Kawahara (6-2) again a minute later. On the ground, Denis unleashed a barrage of hammerfists and backed them up with brutal knees to the right side of Kawahara’s head. Denis resumed punching soon after, but the referee had seen enough and jumped in for the save 2:36 into the match.

Other fighters who advanced in the featherweight draw included Masanori Kanehara -- a unanimous decision winner over Jong Man Kim -- and Ronnie Mann -- who outpointed Tetsuya Yamada in a unanimous decision. Kanehara (12-5-5) has won back-to-back fights for the first time since 2007. Mann (17-1-1) has rattled off five wins in a row.

Finally, heavyweight James Thompson did not deviate from his usual modus operandi of charging in on his opponent, but his typical tenacity worked against him and opened him up for “Big” Jim York’s counterpunches.

Despite momentarily rocking York (10-2) halfway through the bout, Thompson (14-10) was knocked down twice by York’s punches, the second of which was a stiff left that dizzied him enough for referee Tomoki Matsumiya to step in for the stoppage 4:33 into the opening round.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Fight Path: From humble beginnings, Roger Bowling on verge of big break

There isn't a whole lot to say, really, about Neville, Ohio. The tiny Ohio River village has 127 people in 38 families and is mostly unknown to even the people living near it.

It's also the starting point for our story about Roger Bowling.

But it's not a place of fond memories, either. Living with a mother working two jobs and a drug-addicted father who caused Christmas money to turn into bail money, Bowling looked forward to the day when he turned 18 and he could leave the village.

From those small beginnings, Bowling has started a struggle to become a bigger name in the mixed martial arts world. Now 5-0 as a professional with a reputation in the MMA Big Show that causes potential opponents to avoid him, Bowling has continued his training in southwest Ohio and turned in first-round knockout victories as fast as 9 seconds.

For those who like hard-working fighters, Bowling is a perfect fit. He started his fighting career in bar shows that taught him he had strong enough blows to engineer those knockouts. He has trained everywhere from after-hours gyms to the wrestling room of a local high school.

He remains relatively soft-spoken, apologizing continuously for delaying an interview so he could first take care of daughter responsibilities.

Now he wants a chance to be on a bigger stage and show people that his difficult family life hasn't hampered his ability to be successful.

"I'm 26 (years old)," Bowling said, "and I don’t want to waste any more time."

Small town, hard times

Bowling's family began when his mother, part of a gypsy clan that moved often, arrived in Neville and met his father, a village resident. The family generated three children, with Bowling as the oldest, and its share of tough circumstances.

Bowling's mother provided most of the limited money for the family while working two jobs, including one as a school bus driver. It's difficult for Bowling to talk about his father, whom he described as a drug addict who didn't work and was in and out of jail during his childhood. At least once, the family had to take money saved for Christmas presents to the county jail to serve as bail.

Wanting to be an athlete, Bowling bussed to a nearby town to play football as a youth, but he also received some training in the home. His athletic, stocky mother would often wrestle with her son in the home, providing a strong opponent.

Unfortunately, Bowling's youth athletic activities were limited by a lack of transportation.

"Mom would've given us the world if she could have," Bowling said. "I just wanted to do anything I could to make her happy, but things were kind of tough for us. I was looking forward to the time I could leave here."

At 18 years old, he did. Bowling left the house to live with a girlfriend, go to vocational school to learn welding and make a happier life. Fighting wasn't at the front of his mind at the time, but it soon would be.

Bar shows to knockouts

Just as Bowling's life has small roots, so does his fighting career. The setting was Annie's, a Cincinnati establishment that held a regular stream of fight nights. Bowling was a regular contender, and he went without a loss in nine fights there.

"It wasn't anything big, just three one-minute rounds," Bowling said. "But I loved it. I would take my friends to watch, and I thought it was such a good time."

Bowling learned more about that athleticism he didn't have a full opportunity to develop as a kid.

"I'm not trying to brag, but I'm good at anything I try," Bowling said. "We could pick up some horseshoes right now and I guarantee that I could do well before long. I really push myself, I feel like I have to be good at what I do."

Soon, that included fighting. After competing at Annie's, and in other toughman-like competitions, Bowling took some time away from fighting to get things straight with his job and family.

About four years ago, Bowling hooked on with a local group called Team G-Force, which gave him his first taste of MMA. After training with the group for just three months, Bowling had his first fight. His opponent was 6-foot-6, and Bowling's training, in truth, had consisted mostly of "just beating the hell out of each other."

That first fight, though, ended with a broken nose for the opponent and a victory. Within 18 months, he was the first fighter in his gym to turn pro and he gained title belts in MMA Big Show and the now-defunct American Fight League.

But Bowling knew he needed a more serious training routine to find greater success. Soon, he met another local fighter with wrestling skills named Dustin Winterhalt. Together, they went into Team G-Force’s gym after hours because Bowling had a key. Winterhalt also got them into a local high school where he helped with the wrestling team.

Bowling's ensuing fights became known for their quick and powerful endings. One experienced fighter, Shamar Bailey, experienced his only loss to Bowling, and in 27 seconds. Another fighter, Seth Baczynski, who has 10 MMA wins against four losses, met a 9-second end against Bowling just two weeks ago.

Now Bowling continues to search for his big break, which he thinks he can meet strongly with his athleticism and work ethic.

"I just want a chance," Bowling said. "I've had to work for everything I've got, and I work hard for it. People will see that if I get the opportunity."