MMA News Thread

[Shogun Locc]

Efrain Escudero vs. Nik Lentz tapped as latest addition to UFC Fight Night 20

While the event isn't yet official, the UFC is working quickly to add contests to UFC Fight Night 20.

AOL FanHouse was the first to report, and MMAjunkie.com has since confirmed with sources close to the event, that lightweights Efrain Escudero (12-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) and Nik Lentz (17-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) have agreed to meet at the event.

The as-yet-unannounced UFC Fight Night 20 card is expected to take place Jan. 11 in Virginia and air live on Spike TV.

Escudero looks to keep his undefeated record unblemished. The surprise "The Ultimate Fighter 8" champion looked impressive in a September TKO win over Cole Miller. The win was Escudero's first career win by TKO, though he has earned nine victories by submission.

Lentz carries a nine-fight unbeaten streak into the contest, a stretch that includes a November 2007 draw with Kyle Jensen. Lentz made his UFC debut on the prelims of UFC 103 in September and earned a unanimous-decision win over fellow UFC newcomer Rafaello Oliveira.

With the addition to the card, UFC Fight Night 20 now includes:

* Efrain Escudero vs. Nik Lentz*
* Tom Lawlor vs. Aaron Simpson*
* Mike Guymon vs. Rory MacDonald*

* - Not officially announced

 

[Shogun Locc]

Chris Leben looks to break slide in UFC Fight Night 20 bout with Jay Silva

Former "The Ultimate Fighter" cast member and fan-favorite brawler Chris Leben (18-7 MMA, 8-5 UFC) will look to break his current two-fight losing streak when he returns to action in January.

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has learned from sources close to the event that Leben has verbally agreed to meet Jay Silva (5-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) at UFC Fight Night 20.

While the event has yet to be officially announced, UFC Fight Night 20 is expected to take place Jan. 11 in Virginia and air live on Spike TV.

In his most recent appearance, Leben was submitted by Jake Rosholt in the third round of their UFC 102 contest. The loss followed a unanimous-decision defeat at the hands of Michael Bisping in October 2008.

After earning victories in his first five UFC bouts, Leben has since gone just 3-5 in his past eight fights.

Silva fights for the second time in the UFC. The California resident suffered a unanimous-decision loss to C.B. Dollaway at September's UFC Fight Night 19. Despite the loss, Silva gained favor with the crowd during the contest with his powerful striking and impressive display of heart.

The matchup could deliver fireworks should the pair choose to stand and trade.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Chris Leben looks to break slide in UFC Fight Night 20 bout with Jay Silva

Former "The Ultimate Fighter" cast member and fan-favorite brawler Chris Leben (18-7 MMA, 8-5 UFC) will look to break his current two-fight losing streak when he returns to action in January.

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has learned from sources close to the event that Leben has verbally agreed to meet Jay Silva (5-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) at UFC Fight Night 20.

While the event has yet to be officially announced, UFC Fight Night 20 is expected to take place Jan. 11 in Virginia and air live on Spike TV.

In his most recent appearance, Leben was submitted by Jake Rosholt in the third round of their UFC 102 contest. The loss followed a unanimous-decision defeat at the hands of Michael Bisping in October 2008.

After earning victories in his first five UFC bouts, Leben has since gone just 3-5 in his past eight fights.

Silva fights for the second time in the UFC. The California resident suffered a unanimous-decision loss to C.B. Dollaway at September's UFC Fight Night 19. Despite the loss, Silva gained favor with the crowd during the contest with his powerful striking and impressive display of heart.

The matchup could deliver fireworks should the pair choose to stand and trade.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Jesse Lennox vs. Rick Story on tap for UFC Fight Night 20 in Virginia

The rapid-fire additions to the as-yet-unannounced UFC Fight Night 20 card haven't stopped just yet.

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has learned from sources close to the event that welterweights Jessie Lennox (11-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) and Rick Story have verbally agreed to meet at the event.

UFC Fight Night 20 event is expected to take place Jan. 11 in Virginia and air live on Spike TV.

Lennox carries a four-fight win streak into the contest. The Iowa resident defeated Danillo Villefort via third-round TKO win due to cut in Lennox's August debut for the UFC.

Lennox is now 2-0 under the Zuffa, LLC banner after earning a knockout win over Blas Avena at January's "WEC 38: Varner vs. Cerrone." All 11 of Lennox's career wins have come by stoppage.

Meanwhile, Story looks to follow-up on his highly profitable UFC 103 win over Brian Foster. Story's second-round submission win earned him $130,000 in bonuses by earning both the evening's "Submission of the Night" and "Fight of the Night" awards.

The win was Story's first in the UFC after dropping his organizational debut to John Hathaway at UFC 99 in June.

 

[Shogun Locc]

URIJAH FABER BREAKS DOWN BROWN VS. ALDO

Former World Extreme Cagefighting featherweight titleholder "The California Kid," Urijah Faber, will be watching the WEC 44 main event between current champion Mike Thomas Brown and challenger Jose Aldo with a keen eye.

Having lost the belt to Brown at WEC 36 in November 2008 and giving up a unanimous decision in a rematch, Faber knows Brown well.

"As far as being well-rounded, I think Mike Brown's the more well-rounded fighter," Faber told MMAWeekly.com. "He's definitely the bigger and the stronger."

Sizing up Aldo, Faber commented, "Jose Aldo has a natural talent for striking that puts him above a lot of the guys in the WEC. I would say as far as the striking goes and being dangerous with kicks and punches, I've got to give the edge to Jose Aldo.

"Both guys are mentally tough," added the former champion. "Speed is going to be a factor, but wrestling is always going to be a factor also. I think it could go either way. It's going to be speed versus power and experience. It's going to be a great fight. I'm looking forward to that."

Mike Brown puts his WEC featherweight title on the line against Jose Aldo on Nov. 18 at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

 

[Shogun Locc]

CHASE GORMLEY FINALLY GETS HIS FIGHT AT UFC 104

For heavyweight Chase Gormley, just having a fight, let alone one in the UFC, is reason to be excited.

The newcomer was scheduled to take on Ben Rothwell at Affliction’s third show, “Trilogy,” before he got the call that the fight and promotion were kaput. He wasn’t out of work, though: the UFC wanted to honor his contract, importing his meeting with Rothwell to UFC 104.

Then, the ground shifted beneath him again. The UFC forwent a title eliminator between Shane Carwin and Cain Velasquez at the Los Angeles event and plugged Carwin into the main event of UFC 106 with Brock Lesnar. Rothwell, a former IFL champion, took Carwin’s place, and Gormley was out a fight once again.

The promotion didn’t leave him hanging long. Stefan Struve, a six-foot-11-inch Swedish hightower who’d survived one of the nastiest cuts in recent memory at UFC 99, was hungry for a fight. Gormley accepted.

“The last three or four fights have gotten cancelled anyways, so at least I still have a fight,” he told MMAWeekly.com in an exclusive video interview. “So I can’t really complain. I’m still happy.”

Gormley admits his anonymity in the heavyweight division makes it easy for casual fans to count him out, but he plans on proving himself a formidable competitor.

“These guys don’t know what they’re getting into,” he said. “They think I’m just some throw me fight that they’re gonna get, and they’re gonna be in for a rude awakening when I show up.”

 

[Shogun Locc]

Wagnney Fabiano Interview

With ten years of career dedicated to MMA, Wagney Fabiano is considered one of the biggest names of the division. Anyway, the BJJ black belt was surprised on his last fight, being submitted by Mackens Semerzier. “He got me on the triangle and I don’t know when was the last time that someone got me on that position in Jiu-Jitsu and Sumission’s career, even in trainings“, the Nova União fighter commented. In the exclusive interview, Wagnney talked about the plans for the future, the life in Canada and revealed that fight is not priority in his life anymore.

What do you think was your mistake on this fight?
My mistake was to fight... I was passing by problems, I didn’t want to say to don’t keep giving excuses, my mistake. He got me on the triangle and I don’t know when was the last time that someone got me on that position in Jiu-Jitsu and Sumission’s career, even in training. Nobody ever caught me on this position because I stand up fast. Because of a little injury, my rib cracked when I was going to stand up and I came back. My mistake was to fight, but he did his work and I congratulate him.

Even unconsciously, did you underestimate him because he has only three fights?
I never think like this, I don’t underestimate anyone. I remember when I had three fights I was a really tough, but that’s the way things are. But he had six fights, and that was his seventh.

What will you do now?
I’ve never got so much hurt like this time, it was hard. For you have an idea, I wasn’t going to fight in September because I had no conditions, I had a serious injury on the knee and ten days before the fight my rib cracked. About my next fight, I might do at bantamweight division, well see. If they want me to stay at featherweight, there’s no problem for me too. I have two more fights on the contract, now they’re taking all the athletes to Las Vegas, there’s gonna be a meeting with everybody, and suddenly, we’ll have some surprise from there. They said they’ll talk about the athletes and the event’s future, they may want to take some athletes to the UFC, I don’t know. We don’t know anything until November 1. They talked to me that, when I’m better, they want to put me to fight again, they want me back as soon as possible.

Your plan is move to bantamweight?
Nowadays, yes, because Junior (José Aldo) will fight for the belt, he’s making some noise now, so they can’t promote two guys that won’t face each other, because of that they got Junior and putted me on the under card, and this is prejudicial to me, I have no sponsorship... I think it’s better to go down, because I think Junior will win. That kid is a phenomenon.

How do you think it’s gonna be his fight with Mike Brown?
I think this fight won’t go to the fifth round, I think Junior will knock him out before that. Besides Brown’s a tough guy, very good and have the strength to knock anyone out, I think his game doesn’t match with Junior’s. If he stands up, he’ll be punched. If he tried to put down, he won’t gonna make it... It’s gonna be a big fight.

What are you doing in Canada? Relaxing?
Relaxing? (laugh). I’m living here. Life in Brazil is too much complicated, we don’t win millions (of dollars) with WEC (laugh). So, it’s hard, we have no way to make money, we have bills to pay, the training are pretty expensive. Unfortunately, I had to come to keep my life here. I’m giving private classes, seminaries, studying, making some tests to have a career here... Life goes on.

What are your plans now?
I have two things in my mind that I’m studying to be. The first one is to be a fireman, the second is to go to Police... They opened a lot of opportunities here in Canada, so I’m studying and focusing on that stuff. I won’t be a fighter for the rest of my life.

Are you thinking about retirement now?
Honestly, that’s the main thing to me now, I want to stabilize my life on that way, get a job and a career. Something that this last fight made me think a lot... I was passing thru an bad financial situation, three weeks before the fight I hurt my knee and I couldn’t fight on September 2. my manager called them warning that and I stop to think. It’s hard, I have family, wife and kids, that’s complicated. We don’t make millions on WEC, we have debts and responsibilities. I was thinking that I can’t live like this. That’s when this thought came, to get a job, some career that I can have MMA as a hobby, not as a profession. It’s less pressure, I know my family will be good, that would be an extra money, won’t be something to pay the bills, like nowadays. I’ll make some tests and, if God wants, everything is gonna be alright.

 

[Shogun Locc]

DEEP&CMA Big Thanksgiving! Atsushi Returns

Besides GLADIATOR III coming up, DEEP and CMA will hold another card just a week later (November 10th) which will also consists of many Japan vs. Korea fights.

Yesterday a fight between DREAM Featherweigh GP participant Atsushi Yamamoto and Korean Kyung Ho Kang was announced for the card.

Other fights to look out for is a CMA KPW Heavyweight title fight between Ryuta Noji and Ryan Goodman, Ryushi Yanagisawa vs. Dool Hee Lee, and Hidetaka Monma vs. Dong Hyun Kim

 

[Shogun Locc]

ZST.22 ~7th Year Anniversary~! SENGOKU Champion Kanehara Returns

The first card announcement for ZST.22, which will take place on November 23rd, was made today. In the only announced fight for the card, Osami Shibuya, who has done good lately, will take on the undefeated Nobutatsu Suzuki in a Light Heavyweight fight.

An all-star cast of participants was also announced for the card. SENGOKU Featherweight GP winner and champion Masanori Kanehara will return for a fight before his title defense on NYE, Naoyuki Kotani will try to extend his winning streak to two fights, Masayuki Okude will go for the submission, and “Original Super High School Student” Tetsuya Yamada will look to get a victory after a couple of losses.

 

[B-Buzz]

Overeem time!
http://nl.justin.tv/mma_stream

...that was quick lol, I think his entrance took longer than the fight.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Bart Palaszewski set to return at WEC 45

Bart Palaszewski (32-13 MMA, 1-2 WEC) will look to snap a two-fight WEC losing streak when he returns to the organization in December.

AOL Fanhouse was the first to report Palaszewski's return at the as-yet-unannounced WEC 45 event in December, and MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has since confirmed the news with sources close to the event.

Palaszewski's opponent has not yet been determined.

Additionally, MMAjunkie.com has learned that WEC officials hope to release details on the December show as soon as next week.

Palaszewski earned a win this past weekend at a local Wisconsin show, a fight "Bartimus" took outside of the WEC with the promotion's consent.

Inside the WEC cage, Palaszewski has suffered back-to-back losses to Anthony Njokuani and Ricardo Lamas. Palaszewski is just 3-5 in his past eight contests.

While WEC 45 is expected to take place in December, the organization has yet to announce a date or location for the event. The event was expected to be headlined by a lightweight title unification bout between current champion Jamie Varner and interim champion Benson Henderson, but questions surrounding "Smooth's" health have left the contest in question.

 

[Shogun Locc]

AT 8-0, NOR CAL'S DAVID MITCHELL IS ON THE RISE

The success of fighters such as Joe Soto have helped catapult the Nor Cal Fighting Alliance back in the spotlight after team leader David Terrell’s exit from the UFC a couple years back.

The spotlight does not solely shine on the reigning Bellator featherweight champion however, as there are other up-and-coming fighters on the team quickly making a name for themselves.

Among the young talent on the rise at Nor Cal is David Mitchell, who after his most recent victory at the debut show for Tachi Palace Fights earlier this month, is now looking to step up to the next level.

“Yeah that was the plan,” said Mitchell to MMAWeekly.com on his decision to face former Ultimate Fighter 6 cast member War Machine. “I was undefeated, 7-0, so it was time to step up and take better fights.

“I’m extremely pleased to get a win over a solid, well-known guy like that. I’m going to train harder and start moving up the ladder, start making some money and get my name out there.”

As glad as he is to have successfully made the move up in competition, Mitchell is still critical of how he fought.

“I was pleased to pick up the win, but I was definitely disappointed in my performance,” he admitted. “There’s always things I can do to get better, but a win’s a win, and I’ll take it.”

For much of the fight Mitchell was on his back, but still managed to pull out the win by controlling the action from a position that disadvantages a lot of fighters.

“The guy didn’t have strong top game,” he stated of War Machine. “He was very exhausted during the fight. He was yelling things to his corner like, ‘I’m too tired, don’t talk to me,’ so I knew he was starting to wear down.

“I neutralized his top game, tried to get some damage in and I guess the judges appreciated it and I got the win.”

While Mitchell earned the split decision victory, there was a moment where the outcome wasn’t so clear.

“You leave it in the judges’ hands you don’t know what’s going to happen either way,” he commented. “I just held my hands up at the end of the fight because I went in there, never gave up, and fought a hard fight against a super tough guy.”

With a perfect 8-0 record, it could be easy for Mitchell to begin calling out fighters, looking to force an opportunity, but like many of his teammates, he’s willing to be patient and let the fights come to him.

“I might be able to get something in later this year,” he stated. “Basically, I’m a fighter, Tom Call is my manager, and David Terrell is my coach, so I let them handle (the business side of things). I just come to fight.”

As part of the Cesar Gracie school of fight teams, the Nor Cal Fighting Alliance has a bright future thanks in part to fighters like Mitchell, who show no signs of slowing down any time soon.

“I’d like to thank Tiger Rose Tattoo, Fairtex, AdapTx Labs and Dethroned,” he said in closing. “The support I have around me is huge.

“With the Nor Cal Fighting Alliance I think you’re going to see some big things from us in the future. I don’t think you’ve seen nearly the best David Mitchell yet. I can get much better and I’m going to bring it in my next fight.”

 

[Shogun Locc]

BROCK LARSON VS. BRIAN FOSTER AT UFC 106

An undercard match-up between welterweights Brock Larson and Brian Foster is signed, sealed, and delivered for UFC 106, MMAWeekly.com has learned from multiple sources close to the bout.

UFC 106 is slated for Nov. 21 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas and features a headlining bout between heavyweights Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin.

Larson (29-3) is coming off a disappointing decision loss to newcomer Mike Pierce at UFC Fight Night 19, snapping a two-fight win streak earned since transferring from the WEC's shuttered 170lb. division to the UFC.

Foster (12-4) fought Rick Story tooth and nail at UFC 103 before succumbing to an arm triangle choke in the second round. The undercard fight was broadcast on pay per view and given Fight of the Night honors. It was his first loss in three professional appearances.

 

[Shogun Locc]

UFC newcomer Rodney Wallace meets Brian Stann at The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale

UFC newcomer Rodney Wallace (9-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC) will make his debut for the organization at December's The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale in a light-heavyweight contest with Brian Stann (7-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC).

The bout was first reported by FiveOuncesOfPain.com, and MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has since confirmed the addition with sources close to the event.

The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale is scheduled for Dec. 5 at The Palms Casino & Resort in Las Vegas.

Stann looks to build on a unanimous-decision win over Steve Cantwell at UFC Fight Night 19 in September. The win gave Stann a 2-1 win in his trilogy with Cantwell and gave "All American" his first win in the UFC.

Stann put together a 5-1 record in the WEC, including a brief run as the light heavyweight champion, before transitioning to the UFC.

A two-time M-1 Challenge veteran, Wallace fought most recently in September. The light-heavyweight fought three times that night, earning an eight-man tournament title for Vendetta Fighting Chamionship.

Six of Wallace's nine career wins have come by decision.

With the addition to the card, The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale now includes:

* Matt Hamill vs. Jon Jones
* Frankie Edgar vs. Kurt Pellegrino
* Finalist No. 1 vs. Finalist No. 2
* Dennis Hallman vs. John Howard*
* Brian Stann vs. Rodney Wallace*
* Mark Bocek vs. Matt Veach*
* Lucio Linhares vs. Rousimar Palhares*

* - Not officially announced

 

[Shogun Locc]

Cain Velasquez is not on Andrei Arlovski’s level

” … I don’t put Cain at Andrei’s level. With Andrei, I tried to say it wasn’t that big a fight and there wasn’t pressure, but my body knew how big it was. It was kind of like when GSP fought Matt Hughes and he gave him too much respect. That’s what happened with me and Andrei. I gave him too much respect. But I don’t put Cain on his level at all. I don’t feel any more pressure than when I fought on an Adrenaline show. It’s like, he’s good? Fine, I’m good too. I feel a lot better about how I’ll perform.”

 

[Shogun Locc]

Gesias prepares return, eyes Strikeforce

Without victories since the conquest of K-1 Hero’s tournament, in 2007, , the American Top Team lightweight is recovering from a knee injury and expects to be back to the ring in 2010. “I’ll slow down now. Next year I’ll be back slowly“, Gesias said, commenting the title fight between Shinya Aoki and Joachim Hansen.

“I knew the fight would be like that. Aoki hold the fight and gave no space to Hansen use the hand. Aoki was strategical, played his game, and in the end, when Hansen got distracted, he was submitted. If Hansen knocked Aoki out, I wouldn’t be surprised too”, the two times Hero’s champion said, talking about a possible rematch with both.

“I don’t care who’s in front of me... I’m coming back and I know that I have to make my space and as Hansen lost and they wanted to give me, ok, but I’m not asking for any fight. I don’t want to pass in the front of anybody, I want to do my job”, Gesias explained, talking about a possible fight at Strikeforce. “Nobody told me anything, I was scheduled to fight at Dream now. I got hurt, I won’t fight this year anymore, but I’m interesting. I live in United States and the event is growing a lot, it would be good to me”.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Pequeno returns to Japan: “I’m ready”

Former king of Shooto, event where he conquered the belt and defended it in seven opportunities, Alexandre “Pequeno“ Nogueira will be back to the Japanese rings on October 30, at Japan Open. Against the champion Lion Takeshi, the Brazilian expects to return with big style. “He’s a tough fighter, he got my belt when I went to K-1. I’ll get this Japanese and see what will happen. I’m ready for this fight. I’ll do my best and conquest Japan again“, Nogueira said. “If I win this fight, I’ll fight for the belt with him in near future… Japanese press said that he will only be a real champion if he beats me”.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Vale Tudo Japan 09! Rumina Sato Vs. Joe Warren Announced

A new fight was added to Vale Tudo Japan 09 today and it’s a big one. The legendary Rumina Sato will take on DREAM Featherweight GP semifinalist Joe Warren in a 63kg fight.

Update: Rumina said that he wants to win beautifully and show the people a submission victory.

Vale Tudo Japan 09
Date: October 30th, 2009
Place: JCB Hall in Tokyo, Japan

VTJ Rules, 71kg, 5×5 mins:
Takanori Gomi vs. Tony Hervey

VTJ Rules, 65kg, 5×5 mins:
Lion Takeshi vs. Alexandre Franca Nogueira

VTJ Rules, 63kg, 3×5 mins:
Rumina Sato vs. Joe Warren

Shooto Welterweight Title Fight, 3×5 mins:
Willamy “Chiquerinho” Chiquerim vs. Kenichiro Togashi

Shooto Bantamweight Fight, 3×5 mins:
Mamoru Yamaguchi vs. Jesse Taitano

VTJ Rules, 67kg, 3×5 mins:
Tenkei Fujimiya vs. Tito Jones

Participants:
Yoichiro Sato

 

[Shogun Locc]

With Australian debut looming, UFC signs countrymen James Te Huna

The Ultimate Fighting Championship makes its Australian debut in February 2010, and in anticipation of the event, the promotion has added a countrymen to the roster.

Australian MMA veteran James Te Huna has signed a multi-fight deal with the UFC.

The signing was first reported by Fighters Only, though the UFC has yet to announce the deal officially.

Te Huna, a 205-pounder who trains with PRIDE veteran Mark Hunt, enters the UFC with an 11-4 career record and a current five-fight win streak. The past four have come via knockout, including a first-round KO of two-time UFC fighter Anthony Perosh at an Aug. 21 CFC event in Australia.

In fact, all but one of the six-year professional fighter's wins have come via stoppage. His two most recent losses, meanwhile, came to former UFC fighter James Lee and CFC champion and Judo stand-out Hector Lombard.

The UFC holds its first-ever Australian show on Feb. 21 at Acer Arena in Sydney. Te Huna is expected to debut at the event.

 

[Shogun Locc]

BRITISH STANDOUT JIM WALLHEAD WANTS A HOME

Jimmy Wallhead is probably the best unsigned prospect in the U.K. at the moment. A strong showing at all levels of The Ultimate Fighter 9 selection stage led to him being flown stateside for assessments and medicals before returning home, awaiting good news... it never came. He was deemed too experienced for the show.

“I was there when Dre (Andre Winner) got the call that he was in, and I was pumped thinking ‘here it comes’... then I was told that I was ‘too experienced’ for the show,” explains the exasperated welterweight.

Since then he has had to contend with injuries, opponent pullouts, and a host of other problems that has prevented him from staying as active as he would have liked.

“What do I do? What can I do? There has been stages where I have let it get to me, it’s affected my training and I have been really depressed, like not getting into The Ultimate Fighter and things, and I think, shall I stick with it and hopefully it will pay off?” he explains to MMAWeekly.com, adding that he will need to seriously consider his future if things don’t improve.

“I have not put a time limit on it yet, but sooner or later I am going to have to if things don’t improve. By next year if I don’t sense something coming from somewhere I am going to have to go into more of a coaching role in order to provide for my family.”

Wallhead’s upcoming fight against Che Mills at “Knuckle-up at the Manor” on Nov. 1 is representative of the last challenge on the U.K. scene. There literally isn’t anyone he can face of similar calibre at the moment. Everyone else is either in the UFC, a teammate or in other places. He is in desperate need of international fights and more importantly a place to call home.

“At one point I even thought the fight with Che wasn’t going to go ahead, just purely for financial reasons, but people have thankfully lent me money to get me through,” he reveals.

“I really like Che, he is a really nice guy. I spent some time with him out in Vegas at the trials and that. Recently he has been blowing a bit cold; he’s not been doing himself justice. His last couple of performances haven’t been to the standard that I know he’d want, but I am not taking it that he will turn up to fight me like he has at his last couple of fights,” he explains. “He is a very dangerous fighter, a very good fighter, if he rolls up like he fought (Marius) Zaromskis, it’s going to be a fun, but long, hard night”

To further complicate matters for “Judo Jim,” the U.K. mixed martial arts landscape is relatively barren. There are shows that are running, but none have really stepped into the cavity once occupied by Cage Rage and Cage Warriors. What are his options?

Domestically there is little for him. He understands the situation the UFC are in at the moment with a wealth of talent, but he still harbours ambitions of touching down in the Octagon.

“(UFC U.K. president) Marshall Zelaznik and guys like that have been fantastic with me, but it’s not only up to them. I know they are cutting a lot of guys and stuff, now they give you that one fight, don’t they? And if you don’t do well then they cut you. So at least give me that one opportunity, that’s all that I want you know? That one opportunity in there and give me a chance to build on it,” he implores.

Stylistically, Wallhead’s suffocating ground game would work well within the confines of a cage and his boxing has come on so much that it is hard to compare his stand-up now to what it was a few years ago. If the UFC can’t find a home for him at the moment, he is looking to find his way into Strikeforce, Dream, or Sengoku.

I can almost see his CV now…

Welterweight fighter, 17-5-0 record with only one loss since 2007, currently riding a five-fight win streak, will travel for work.