MMA News Thread

[Shogun Locc]

Royler analyzes Gracie’s return to the UFC

The first semester of 2010 will be special to MMA. In February and April, two fighters will put the name Gracie back to the UFC, event built by the most important family on MMA. Talking to TATAME.com, Royler showed excitement to the debut of Rolles (UFC 109) and Renzo (UFC 111). “I think Renzo has everything beat Matt Hughes“, guarantees the four times BJJ world champion, who talked about the controversy black belt gave to Rashad Evans on the quick chat that you see below.

What did you think about Renzo’s decision to debut in the UFC at age of 43?
Renzo is Jiu-Jitsu’s emperor, even the enemies like him. He’s spectacular, always laughing to everyone and I know he’s training hard. It’s a tough fight and he knows that, but if I had to bet, I’d bet on Renzo. I think he has everything to beat Matt Hughes.

You helped Royce on the preparation for the fight against Matt Hugues... Did you talked to Renzo?
When I talked to him and he said he had signed I asked how it’s going to be. He said “man, relax, I got it” (laughs). There’s nothing to say, he has a good energy, a good team...

How do you see Rolles’ debut on UFC?
He’s training with Renzo and he’s definitely using it. Renzo has a lot of tips to give. Experience makes difference. If Rolles gets the calm that Renzo won with experience, he can have a promising future on MMA.

Rolles gave the black belt to Rashad Evans. Besides he had never trained with gi, he won the black belt of No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu. What do you think about this graduation?
Each one gives the belt for a reason, who am I to criticize who’s giving a belt? The guy has to know something about self defense, about Jiu-Jitsu, ground, passing a guard... He can’t only be a tough guy, because he doesn’t represent the top of Jiu-Jitsu. Rashad can use any belt, he’s a born fighter, he trains. Rolles gave it, but in my gym he would have to train with gi .But I don’t contest it.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Werdum vs. Fedor “99% confirmed” in April

Fabrício Werdum revealed to TATAME.com that the rumored fight against Fedor Emelianenko will probably take place in April 16th. “The fight against Fedor is 99% confirmed to April 16th. I have three months to train to the most important fight of my life”, Werdum said, confident in a victory. “I already have a strategy set. I can’t submit a guy like Fedor in the arm, in the leg, he would never tap… I’ll make history. Beat Fedor doesn’t mean I’m better than him, because he’s the man, but I’ll be better than him in that night”.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Jorge Santiago, "Maxi" Blanco announced for Sengoku Raiden Championships 12

The Japanese-based World Victory Road promotion today announced the first two official participants for the organization's first event of 2010.

Sengoku middleweight champion Jorge Santiago (21-8) and Maximo Blanco (4-2-1) and will both fight on the Sengoku Raiden Championships 12 card, though opponents were not named.

Sengoku Raiden Championships 12 takes place March 7 at the the 13,000-seat Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.

Santiago returns to action for the first time since a November loss to Mamed Khalidov in a non-title affair. Khalidov is also expected to compete on the card, though strangely he has not been granted a rematch along with an official chance to claim the belt.

Prior to the loss, Santiago had owned a current nine-fight win streak that included wins over notables such as Kazuhiro Nakamura, Yuki Sasaki, Trevor Prangley, Jeremy Horn and Andrei Semenov. The American Top Team product was expected to fight Vitor Belfort at "Affliction: Trilogy" in his first U.S. appearance since November 2007, but the event was scrapped a few days before the Aug. 1 event date.

Santiago is rumored to face Kazuo Misaki in a rematch of a thrilling January 2009. Santiago earned a come-from-behind technical submission win over Misaki with just 94 seconds remaining in the five-round first meeting.

Meanwhile, Blanco, known in Japan as "Maxi," comes to the card on a two-fight win streak. The 26-year-old Venezuelan turned pro in August 2008 and opened his career just 2-2-1, but he has reeled off back-to-back TKO wins in recent appearances.

A 2007 Pan American Games bronze medalist in freestyle wrestling, Blanco has fought exclusively in Japan, competing for both Sengoku and Pancrase.

 

[drunkaholic707]

Ben Saunders happy with jiu-jitsu brown belt but still focused on MMA career

An airline ticket to the mat spelled success for UFC welterweight Ben Saunders (8-1-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC).

Saunders, 26, received a long-delayed brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu from coach Ricardo Liborio on Wednesday and was hip-tossed to seal the deal. Usually, jiu-jitsu promotions come with a run through a gauntlet of dojo members who whip the lucky contestant with their belts. This time, a takedown sufficed.

Saunders, a flagship member of American Top Team's Orlando branch, said he was honored by the promotion and would work toward a black belt as his fight career allowed.

"I feel I'm right on track," Saunders told MMAjunkie.com (mmajunkie.com). "I'll get my black belt eventually and maybe open up my academy later on in life."

Saunders said he's been on the verge of promotion for quite some time, but UFC fights with Mike Swick and Marcus Davis delayed scheduled belt tests in the spring and summer of 2009. But after pressing the issue with perpetually busy American Top Team patriarch Liborio on Tuesday, Saunders underwent an hour-long test and passed with flying colors.

Saunders began training in Jeet Kune Do at the age of 14 and held a job at McDonald's to pay for his new hobby. Eager to gain a deeper knowledge of the fight game, he migrated to UFC veteran Din Thomas' gym four years later for serious study in the building blocks of MMA, including jiu-jitsu.

Saunders' original introduction to martial arts was at age 8, when his brother Jacob took up karate and used him as a sparring dummy for spinning back kicks. After catching the bug in 1993 after watching UFC 1, Saunders went aggressively after a combat education and rolled with UFC veterans at Thomas' school eventually to find his way to American Top Team.

"Whether I had to work a full-time job or not, my No. 1 full-time job was to train and get better," Saunders said. "That was more a college for me. It's not for everybody."

Saunders began fighting professionally in 2004 and hasn't looked back since. He earned his ticket to the UFC with an appearance on "The Ultimate Fighter 6," and he's since gone 4-1 in the promotion.

As for his jiu-jitsu progression, Saunders said youth is on his side when it comes to taking the next step up: black belt.

"I'm young now; I need to do everything I can to try to make it (in mixed martial arts) now as opposed to working a full-time job and going to school full-time and kind of fooling around with it," Saunders said. "I'm looking more along the lines of my career as opposed to opening up my own academy, where having a brown or black belt helps tremendously with the business aspect of it.

"I probably should have gotten it a little bit earlier, but it is what it is. I'm concentrating more on my career."

As for a classroom education, Saunders said he'll eventually have time for that, too.

"I can always go back to school, whether I'm crippled or not," he said.

Saunders next UFC fight will be against Martin Kampmann at UFC 111 on March 27 in Newark, N.J.

 

[drunkaholic707]

UFC 113 pushed back one week to May 8, still takes place in Montreal

 

[drunkaholic707]

Sarah Kaufman says Feb. 26 bout with Takayo Hashi will be for Strikeforce title

Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said it probably would be, and now undefeated 135-pound female fighter Sarah Kaufman (10-0 MMA, 2-0 SF) says it is.

Kaufman posted on her Twitter account late Wednesday night that her Feb. 26 bout with Takayo Hashi (12-1 MMA, 0-0 SF) will indeed determine Strikeforce's first-ever 135-pound female champion.

The bout serves as the co-feature for the recently announced "Strikeforce Challengers VI: Prangley vs. Amoussou" event, which takes place at the San Jose Civic Auditorium in San Jose, Calif., and airs on Showtime.

Kaufman brings an undefeated record to the cage, and eight of her 10 wins have come via TKO. The 24-year-old Canadian had a banner year in 2009 after defeating Shayna Baszler and Miesha Tate under the Strikeforce banner while also dispatching of Sarah Schneider in a Palace Fighting Championships event.

The three wins were enough to earn Kaufman a nomination as the 2009 Fighters Only Female Fighter of the Year.

Meanwhile, Hashi fought just once in 2009, but she currently carries an eight-fight win streak. Hashi, who has earned four of her career wins by submission while working the full time on her remaining eight victories, has dropped just one bout since turning pro in 2004.

While Strikeforce officials weren't immediately available for comment on the matter, Coker recently suggested to Sherdog.com that the bout would have title implications.

Strikeforce's only other current female champion is Brazilian slugger Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos, who holds the title in the 145-pound division.

Santos puts her title on the line against top challenger Marloes Coenen at the Jan. 30 event, "Strikeforce: Miami."

 

[drunkaholic707]

Report: Kenny Florian vs. Takanori Gomi expected for main event of UFC Fight Night 21

That crafty Kenny Florian (12-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) has done it again.

Just one week after denying to MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that he had any knowledge of a potential bout with Japanese import Takanori Gomi (31-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC), Florian is expected to reveal on today's edition of ESPN.com's "MMA Live" that he will face "The Fireball Kid" at UFC Fight Night 21 in North Carolina.

News of the impending announcement was first posted on the official Twitter account of "MMA Live," a show that Florian co-hosts. Fellow co-hosts Jon Anik and Franklin McNeil have since followed suit.

While not yet officially announced, UFC Fight Night 21 is expected to take place March 31 in North Carolina and serve as the lead in for the debut episode of "The Ultimate Fighter 11" on Spike TV.

When speaking to MMAjunkie.com this past week, Florian seemed to be angling for a pay-per-view slot rather than a Spike TV appearance.

"I don't make the business decisions, obviously, but it really doesn't make a lot of sense to not have us on pay-per-view," Florian said. "I think a lot of people would want to see that fight if it was going to happen, and I don't see – if it was going to happen – how it could be on Spike TV."

In addition to news of the Florian-Gomi matchup, the "MMA Live" Twitter post makes mention of a new contract for Florian, which may have eased the lightweight's concerns of where the bout was broadcast.

Once considered among the best lightweights in the world, Gomi comes to the UFC after more than 11 years of fighting in Japan. Quick and powerful when in peak form, Gomi owns career wins over notables Marcus Aurelio, Seung Hwang Bang, Ralph Gracie, Mitsuhiro Ishida, Tatsuya Kawajiri, Duane Ludwig, Jens Pulver and Hayato "Mach" Sakurai, among others.

Meanwhile, Florian, a former cast member of the original "The Ultimate Fighter" series, has an impressive four-year run in the UFC that includes 10 wins and just two losses. Both defeats came in lightweight title shots, and Florian will certainly leap to the front of the pack once again should he secure a win over Gomi.

 

[drunkaholic707]

DaMarques Johnson, UFC 112 both appear headed to Abu Dhabi

"The Ultimate Fighter 9" finalist and former MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) blogger DaMarques Johnson (10-7 MMA, 1-1 UFC) is the latest name associated with the as-yet-unannounced UFC 112 event.

Johnson posted notice of his new assignment on Twitter late Wednesday night, though he stopped short of saying whom he will fight.

"Just got off the phone," Johnson stated. "Looking like it's going to be April 10, UFC 112. Time to put on my work pants."

Johnson seeks to build off the momentum of his first official UFC win.

Johnson faced Edgar Garcia on the preliminary card of UFC 107 this past December, and he battled through early adversity in a striking exchange to lock in a fight-ending triangle choke moments later.

The win netted Johnson an extra $65,000 as the evening's "Submission of the Night" winner.

The victory was an important step for Johnson, who was dominated in The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale by an impressive James Wilks.

While UFC 112 has yet to be officially announced, the event is expected to take place in Abu Dhabi. Concerns over a suitable venue have lead to speculation that the event might be moved to Las Vegas or a European venue, but a UFC press conference in association with its new partner, Flash Entertainment, scheduled in the United Arab Emirates for next Wednesday, Jan. 27, appears to point toward the card taking place in its originally intended location.

Multiple reports have indicated a large tent could be the setting for the event, resulting in UFC 112 serving as the promotion's first outdoor event.

 

[drunkaholic707]

Strikeforce's Nick Diaz: Marius Zaromskis fight isn't about ducking Jay Hieron

Many fans who have followed the short trajectory of the Strikeforce welterweight title were up in arms when it was announced that Marius Zaromskis (13-3 MMA, 0-0 SF) will face Nick Diaz (20-7 MMA, 2-0 SF) for the 170-pound belt at "Strikeforce: Miami."

An exciting fight, sure, but what about Jay Hieron (18-4 MMA, 1-0 SF)?

Despite Hieron's claim that Diaz ducked him (even as Hieron turned down a fight with the Lithuanian head-kick artist), Diaz won't be drawn into a war of words and said it's nothing personal.

"I'm just fighting who they want me to fight," Diaz said Wednesday on a conference call promoting the Jan. 30 fight, which will be broadcast on Showtime. "Whatever. That's how it is. I'm just fighting who they want me to fight."

Diaz was scheduled to fight Hieron for the vacant Strikeforce welterweight title at "Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg" this past August, but Diaz missed a pre-fight drug test mandated by the California State Athletic Commission. Diaz was removed from the card after missing a second test.

The chronically brash fighter said he is unaware of the snafu and said it will not keep him from fighting in the state again.

Just before stepping on the call, Diaz told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio) that he'd made a lot of changes in his life, and cutting the trash talk may just have been one of them.

"I try not to open my mouth," Diaz admitted.

Diaz, who had just woken before the media blitz and was hazy on its start time, said he had no problems facing Hieron down the line.

"I'm ready to fight anybody," Diaz said. "If they can make it, then let's do it. I'm ready to fight Jay Hieron and everybody in this weight class to get to the top. Whatever, I'll do it."

The point, he said, was that he was done with the extra hype. He had a fight to focus on.

"[Zaromskis], nobody knows who he is, but in my opinion, he's pretty important," Diaz said.

Despite a reputation as a brawl-at-all-consequences fighter, Diaz said he will take the fight where Zaromskis was weakest.

"He kicked a lot of [his previous opponents] in the head," Diaz said. "He gets them going backward a little bit. I'm a little bit taller than those guys. I'm not saying I couldn't easily duck into a head kick, but I watched the guy and how he fights. I know how those guys got caught with kicks. I'm a lot different style than (Hayato) Sakurai.

"I'm a different style of fighter than anybody in mixed martial arts right now."

Diaz also said he is fed up with the focus of the casual fan and said they lack a sense of history. He paid tribute to Bob Shamrock, his first MMA coach and Ken and Frank Shamrock's adopted father who recently passed away, and said he called Frank "a legend" out of respect after defeating him this past April on Strikeforce's first exclusive broadcast on Showtime.

"I don't think people respect people who used to fight in PRIDE and the UFC," Diaz told MMAjunkie.com Radio. "How do you forget about these people? It's crazy.

"We're talking about Forrest Griffin now, who's terrible in my opinion. I like Forrest, don't get me wrong. I don't like to talk bad about these guys, but come on. It's not fair. We should be talking about the people who started this [expletive]."

In a sense, fighting Zaromskis is a victory to Diaz because the bout isn't all about attracting the current generation of UFC-centric fans.

Diaz, a native of Stockton, Calif., started training at the age of 16 and had his first professional fight at 18. After amassing a 7-2 record, he made his UFC debut, thanks in part to Bob Shamrock's recommendation.

Still, Diaz wagered that Strikeforce's stable of welterweights would decimate the UFC's and said he'd love to fight Georges St-Pierre and Matt Hughes, whom he said he had been trying to fight since 2002.

"[Strikeforce welterweights are] better than anybody in the UFC, except for maybe the top guys," Diaz said.

Diaz, who is coming off a seven-month layoff, likened his emergence to the strategic drafting cyclists execute in competition — and with teammates Gilbert Melendez and Jake Shields preparing for bouts, his time to step into the lead is coming soon.

And with a Strikeforce belt around his waist, that lead could be steep.

"I've had a lot of changes in my life, so it's good to have had a long break," Diaz said.

 

[drunkaholic707]

UFC Fight Night 20 scores record $753,962 live gate with 8,078 attendees

The latest UFC-Spike TV collaboration, UFC Fight Night 20 at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Va., officially drew 8,078 attendees for a UFC Fight Night record live gate of $753,962.

A spokesperson for the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, which oversees the state's Professional Boxing and Wrestling Program, confirmed the official tallies with MMAjunkie.com.

On the night of the Jan. 11 event, UFC officials initially announced an estimated crowd of 8,500 and a $730,000 gate.

The event took place on the campus of George Mason University at the 10,000-seat Patriot Center. A modified seating configuration was used for UFC Fight Night 20.

To date the UFC has hosted 20 installments of the UFC Fight Night series. UFC Fight Night 13, which took place in April 2008 with a Kenny Florian vs. Joe Lauzon headliner, previously held the live-gate record with $753,429. The event took place at the Broomfield Event Center (now known as the the Odeum Colorado) in Broomfield, Colo.

UFC Fight Night 20 topped that mark by $533, which means just a few individual ticket sales made the difference.

The event, which featured a headliner of Gray Maynard vs. Nate Diaz, was the UFC's first to take place in the state of Virginia.

 

[drunkaholic707]

UFC 108 draws offical attendance of 13,529 for $1.97 million gate

The UFC's first event of 2010, "UFC 108: Evans vs. Silva," drew 13,529 attendees for a $1,969,670 paid gate at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Of the total attendance, 5,314 tickets were issued complimentary. An additional 599 tickets went unsold.

Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Keith Kizer today emailed the official numbers to MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).

The attendance was slightly higher than the 13,255 attendees originally reported by UFC president Dana White at the evening's post-event press conference, though the live gate was down slightly from the estimated $2 million the UFC exec also shared.

The revenue per ticket of the 8,004 tickets sold for UFC 108 equated to $246.09 each.

The official attendance figure means UFC 108 was the ninth-most attended UFC event ever held at MGM Grand Garden Arena, just edging out UFC 54, which had 13,520 attendees in August 2005.

Despite being plagued by an unprecedented rash of injuries in the weeks leading up to the event, UFC 108 delivered on in-cage excitement with a number of quality bouts and spectacular finishes.

The full list of UFC-MGM Grand Garden Arena events by attendance (as calculated by MMAjunkie.com) include:

1. 14,885: UFC 94 (January 2009)
2. 14,733: UFC 84 (May 2008)
3. 14,728: UFC 71 (May 2007)
4. 14,562: UFC 52 (April 2005)
5. 14,272: UFC 91 (November 2008)
6. 14,166: UFC 92 (December 2008)
7. 13,770: UFC 40 (November 2002)
8. 13,671: UFC 66 (December 2006)
9. 13,529: UFC 108 (January 2010)
10. 13,520: UFC 54 (August 2005)
11. 12,606: UFC 98 (May 2009)
12. 12,100: UFC 49 (August 2004)
13. 12,000: UFC 56 (November 2005)
14. 10,000: UFC 36 (March 2002)
15. 9,000: UFC 34 (November 2001)

 

[drunkaholic707]

UFC announces UFC 110 viewing party at Acer Arena in Sydney, Australia

While tickets for the UFC's upcoming Australian debut sold out before a single bout was even announced, fans Down Under can still head to Sydney's Acer Arena to soak in the atmosphere.

The UFC recently announced it will on Friday release a special allotment of tickets for a "UFC 110: Nogueira vs. Velasquez" viewing party that takes place inside Acer Arena's Grand Ballroom.

Tickets for the viewing party go on sale Jan. 22 at 9 a.m. AEDT at Ticketek.com.

UFC officials describe the viewing opportunity as "an exclusive theater experience" with high-definition screens, and the entire 10-bout fight card will be shown. Additionally, the UFC promises three international UFC fighters will host a special Q&A session prior to the broadcast of the first bout.

Finally, all ticket holders will receive a special commemorative laminate and official UFC 110 event program.

"We are thrilled to be able to give our passionate Australian fans another chance to be able to experience this historic event in person," the UFC's Managing Director of International Development, Marshall Zelaznik, said.

"Fans will get up close and personal with UFC fighters and then watch the entire fight card on big screens along with other UFC fans. There will be a great atmosphere and it will be the next best thing to being in the actual auditorium."

 

[Shogun Locc]

Deividas Taurosevicius vs. L.C. Davis booked for WEC 47 main card

Fast-rising featherweights Deividas Taurosevicius (12-3 MMA, 2-0 WEC) and L.C. Davis (15-2 MMA, 2-0 WEC) are now expected to meet at "WEC 47: Bowles vs. Cruz" on March 6.

The fight was leaked Thursday on the official Twitter account of Davis' friend and DREAM veteran, Jason High, and subsequently confirmed by MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) with sources close to the fight.

WEC 47 is slated for the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio during the Arnold Fitness Expo in a spot taken by the UFC for the past three years. In the event's headliner, bantamweight champion Brian Bowles will make his first title defense against top challenger Dominick Cruz.

The 32-year-old Taurosevicius is less-than-two-weeks removed from an impressive decision win at WEC 46 over "2009 upset performance the year" candidate Mackens Semerizer.

The WEC imported Taurosevicius this past August following the cancellation of "Affliction: Trilogy" and subsequently booked his promotional debut two months later at WEC 43. The Lithuanian native ground-out a split-decision victory over Javier Vazquez.

In his eight years as a professional mixed martial artist, Taurosevicius has never been stopped and carries a notable win over UFC veteran Dan Lauzon.

Davis, 29, recently earned a unanimous-decision over Brazilian up-and-comer Diego Nunes at WEC 44. Davis flashed superior wrestling skills en route to the win. A Miletich Fighting Systems product, Davis earned his WEC stripes in his promotional debut by defeating Vazquez at WEC 42 this past August.

Davis, who fights out of Kansas City, also made his way to the WEC with the collapse of Affliction, and he previously fought in the IFL and Sengoku.

The main card of WEC 47 will be broadcast on Versus.

 

[Shogun Locc]

TIBAU VS. UNO ADDED TO MARCH 31 FIGHT NIGHT

After adding a main event to the UFC Fight Night show on March 31, the promotion is quickly filling up the undercard as a lightweight bout pitting American Top Team fighter, Gleison Tibau, against Japanese stand-out, Caol Uno, has been added to the show.

The news was originally reported on Tatame.com, and sources indicated to MMAWeekly.com on Thursday that the fight was indeed a go.

A veteran of 10 UFC fights, Gleison Tibau has faced some of the stiffest competition in the lightweight division including bouts against Tyson Griffin, Joe Stevenson, and Jeremy Stephens.

Training out of Florida by way of American Top Team, Tibau hopes to build on his last win, a victory over Josh Neer in October.

Caol Uno is also a multi-time competitor in the UFC, spending time there a few years ago before returning last year after spending several years competing in his home country of Japan.

Since coming back to the UFC, Uno is 0-1 with a draw to his credit so the fight against Tibau is pivotal for his future in the division, which is considered one of the most stacked weight classes in the promotion.

More fights are expected to be announced in the coming days for the Fight Night event which will lead into the eleventh season of the "Ultimate Fighter."

 

[Shogun Locc]

STRIKEFORCE CHAMP JAKE SHIELDS HEADS TO TUF 11

Current Strikeforce middleweight champion Jake Shields is going to the UFC.

Not as a fighter, but as an assistant coach to Chuck Liddell on the eleventh season of “The Ultimate Fighter."

Shields announced the news on his official website, JakeShields.com. He will serve as a wrestling and jiu-jitsu coach for Liddell for the next six to seven weeks.

This will not be the first time a fighter from a different promotion has appeared on the popular reality show. Former EliteXC middleweight champion Robbie Lawler assisted his friend and coach, Matt Hughes, during the sixth season of The Ultimate Fighter.

Shields is considered one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world, currently recognized as a Top 10 middleweight, and before moving 185 pounds, a top five welterweight.

Currently, the middleweight champion is still waiting on final word if his fight with Dan Henderson will happen on CBS in April or not.

When contacted by MMAWeekly.com, Shields said, "I'm still not sure if this Hendo fight is happening, so I figured this would be a good opportunity. Chuck is a great training partner and lots of great training in Vegas."

Earlier on Wednesday, WEC fighter "Razor" Rob McCullough announced his involvement as a coach on his friend Tito Ortiz's team as well.

Shields flies to Las Vegas on Thursday to begin filming on Friday. The reality show will center on middleweights this year.

 

[Shogun Locc]

NO OPPONENT YET, LASHLEY JUST WANTS TO FIGHT

The next Strikeforce show is rapidly approaching, but Bobby Lashley is still a man without an opponent. Moving from Yohan Banks to Jimmy Ambriz to currently having no fighter named, Lashley continues to train and ready himself for a bout next Saturday night.

Speaking with MMAWeekly.com on Wednesday night, Lashley was still unclear on who he would face, and while rumors have been circulating that former UFC heavyweight Wes Sims could get the call, nothing is certain.

"Next week, that's the only thing I know," Lashley said.

Obviously the unknown factor can play havoc in a fighter's camp, but the former WWE star has tried to maintain the strongest training he can to prepare for any opponent.

"I've been dealing with a good amount of stress the last few weeks, just trying to get everything situated," Lashley commented. "I'm one man, and I just want to have an opportunity to fight, and it seems kind of hard because one thing it's opponents, and then where and when, and all that, so it's a little stressful.

"I'm trying to keep my eye on the prize. I keep training and try to stay ready so whoever they pick, hopefully I'll be ready for them."

After opening an American Top Team affiliate gym in Denver where he trains, Lashley has balanced his time between fighting and his job in the pro wrestling industry. He is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. Lashley says he feels he can keep the two jobs and balance both, but he is hopeful to keep a full fight schedule in 2010.

"I just want to fight, that's what it all boils down to. I just want to fight," said Lashley. "If I could get six fights this year, that would be great. It's a little far fetched, especially considering my opponents are going to get stiffer and stiffer, but at least four fights this year."

 

[Shogun Locc]

Patrick Cote ready to rematch Anderson Silva and become world champion

"If I fight (Anderson Silva) again I think I am going to do the same thing, I think I learned that if you’re not scared of him right away you have a good chance to win and that’s what I did. I was there in the first second of the fight, I took the center of the Octagon and I showed him I wasn’t scared of him. This guy is not a machine; he is a human like me and you, so you have to believe in yourself. The worst part of fighting Anderson Silva is that it’s so hard finding training partners like him, nobody moves like him and nobody fights like him. So if I fight him again the surprise aspect of how he moves and how he fights is not going to be a surprise anymore, I know him and how it feels to be in the same Octagon with him, so that is going to be a huge advantage for me. I want big fights all the time. I don’t do this sport to be number 2, to be second, I want to be world champion -- I think I have the ability to be world champion."

 

[Shogun Locc]

Strikeforce to Launch Women’s Tournament in April

Loretta Hunt of Sherdog.com reveals the latest plans of Scott Coker and Strikeforce’s to hold eight-women tournaments at 135lbs and 145lbs through the Challenger series starting this April.

Strikeforce 145-pound champion Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos and Gina Carano, whom Santos defeated by first-round technical knockout last August in San Jose, Calif., will not compete in the tournaments, said Coker.

“We’re looking for the next women to fight the Gina Caranos and the Cris Cyborgs of the world,” Coker said.

Coker said the tournaments’ quarterfinals and semifinals would be “sprinkled” over a few events.

Sarah Kaufman, an undefeated Canadian striker who’s shined in her two Challengers appearances against Miesha Tate and Shayna Baszler, will not compete in the 135-pound tournament bracket.

“I think we’re going to be promoting Sarah against (Takayo) Hashi for our (vacant) 135-pound title,” said Coker. “I think that fight’s happening sooner than later — February or March, for sure.”

Hashi, a Smackgirl veteran, has been victorious in her last eight outings. Her only career loss came to Strikeforce veteran Hitomi Akano at a Smackgirl event in August 2005.

Coker said the tournament winners would likely face the promotion’s champions in their next bouts.

The tournaments, originally announced to launch at the end of 2009, were postponed into the new year for logistical reasons.

Payout Perspective:

Gina Carano is without a doubt the strongest draw in women’s MMA, but the debate still rages as to whether she’s the only one and whether the women’s side of the sport can gain any traction without Carano. This tournament will go a long way to answering both questions by putting the women on display and allowing any potential stars to emerge.

Dana White has often said that there just aren’t enough talented women in any particular division to make it worthwhile. Perhaps a tournament like this is a stepping stone towards that goal.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Paulo Filho bets on Belfort against Anderson

Paulo Filho will be back to Brazilian stages on Bitetti Combat 6, and he’s already training for the combat. The organization of the event didn’t confirm who’s going to be the opponent of the black belt, but the black belt revealed to TATAME.com that his opponent may be Marvin Eastman. In interview to TATAME.com , Filho talked about the next UFC fights, as Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort and the return of Rodrigo Minotauro and Wanderlei Silva, and the possibility of Ricardo Arona signing with the UFC.

Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort?
Vitor trained and with a good head is almost unbeatable. He punches very well, he’s explosive and he’s proving it. I know him since he was a kid on Carlson’s time. He’s talented and dangerous. He’s complete, with a good Wrestling, boxing, good Jiu-Jitsu to MMA... With a good mind I believe on him on any category, against anyone. Anderson is amazing, I don’t even have what to say about him, but, honestly, I think if they are equal, Vitor takes it. Vitor is very dangerous, very fast. I think he beats not only Anderson, but anyone. With his kids coming, he’s more focused. I look at him and I see that he has that tiger eye again.

Rodrigo Minotauro vs. Cain Velasquez?
Minotauro will submit. Velasquez has race, a good Wrestling, rhythm, but where his fight ends is where Minotauro’s start. There’s no way for him to beat Minotauro. He will be submitted. He’s limited on the ground. If he takes Rodrigo down, he be trapped in a submission. Velasquez won’t punish him, it’s a good fight to Rodrigo.

Wanderlei Silva vs. Michael Bisping?
I think Bisping is an athlete with good prepare, he goes for it, but Wanderlei is much more fighter. But I think America wasn’t good for him. He does remarkable ights, he has a tough hand. This bad phase of his that passed was because someone told him he couldn’t anymore, but if he already did it, how he can’t now? If I talked to him I’d say “man, believe in you, when you were a champion these guys were only starting“. If he doesn’t forget it, it’s knockout.

Ricardo Arona in the UFC?
Arona well trained is spectacular. Ricardo is a brilliant guy. He defeated Fedor, what else will I say about him? He takes down very well, has a classic Jiu-Jitsu, heart... He has everything to be a champion, it depends only on him.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Rolles Gracie interview

Gracie family, responsible for the creation of UFC, saw only one of his representatives to fight on the octagon. Although, years after Royce to win 11 fights on the tournament, will be Rolles Gracie’s turn, son of the legend Rolls, to debut on Ultimate. With scheduled fight to February 6, against Mustapha Al Turk, the black belt talked to TATAME about the expectation for the fight, the trains on United States, analyzed the category and bets on “Jiu-Jitsu’s easy going” to beat Brock Lesnar.

How’s the expectation to debut on UFC?
I’m really excited. The train is very good, better impossible. I’m satisfied with my student’s support here, fans are sending messages on my website, twitter, facebook... I’m excited with everyone’s care and support.

How’s the training with Renzo and the preparation for this fight?
I’m with a great team of trainers. Greg Jackson, guys are nice, and Renzo, with all his experience... He has a scheduled fight too, I’m here in New York training with him, I have a phenomenal Boxe trainer, the same of Ricardo “Cachorrão” (Almeida), he changed the boxing around here... Greg Jackson is phenomenal too, I like to go to New Mexico to test myself, make sparring with the guys there. Greg is a nice guy too, receive me well, he knows MMA game a lot. The guys I train there have a game like the guys I’ll fight with.

Greg Jackson commands other MMA names, as St Pierre, Rashad Evans, Nate Marquardt... Have you ever trained with those guys?
There’s Shane Carwin, who I trained with in Beverly Hills, there’s (Keith) Jardine, who’s from New Mexico, there’s Brian Stann, who fought a month ago and is in the same card as I am, and some people not so much known. Here in New York there’s some guys from IFL, André Gusmão, Ricardo Cachorrão’s students...

What do you know about your opponent, Mustapha Al Turk, who’s coming from defeat on that controversy fight against Cro Cop. What did you study about his game?
I can’t say that he’s an easy opponent because he lost to Cro Cop, because was a bad match to his game. He’s complete, has a good boxing, good drops, he was champion of the ADCC in 2003 and he’s coming for all or nothing, because he’s coming from two defeats on UFC and he can be cut. Because of that he can be a dangerous opponent. I’m focused on this fight to don’t disappoint my fans.

How is your focus for this fight?
I’m training everything, I believe a lot in my Jiu-Jitsu. I also want to learn some stuff as boxing, Muay Thai, Wrestling, to take the fight wherever I want to. That’s not a mystery, everyone knows I’ll always want to take the fight to the ground and he will want to stand up, so I have to exercise other modalities.

How do you do to have good ground training outside Brazil?
I met a lot of tough guys in New York too, man, they’re amazing where I train. They win every championship there.

How do you feel being the second Gracie to fight on UFC, bringing back the name of the family to the biggest event of the world?
It’s good to be back. I respect my family a lot, is good to know where I came from and the family got famous here on United States because of UFC. It’s good to be back home, I’m coming to win my place.

You said you wanted to make more fights before to close with UFC, but already signed. What made you change your mind?
Guys talked and everyone thought it was time, I heard a lot who’s around me, as Renzo. He thought I was ready to my first fight on Ultimate and UFC guys thought too... If everyone thought it I believe.

How do you analyze your category on UFC?
It has only tough guys, it’s one of the hardest. There’s only great fighter as Brock Lesnar, Minotauro, Cigano, Shane Carwin, Frank Mir, Cain Velasquez... This division is tough.

Did you get upset for fighting on prelims, that aren’t aired live?
No, man. When I show my work it will be a matter of time to be on the main card. I see it as good thing, I know when I’ll fight.

UFC is putting Brazilians facing each other... How do you see the possibility to face Napão, Minotauro or Cigano on the future?
It’s a possibility because we Brazilians are the best of the world, but we’re professionals. I admire them, Minotauro, Napão. It’s like on Jiu-Jitsu, we’ll get in there as if we were training.

What’s your guess to the fight between Minotauro and Velasquez?
Minotauro takes that. He’s a warrior, his game is right, he had a phenomenal presentation against Couture. He use to be good against guys with base in Wrestling.

The fight between Cigano and Napão as changed to March. How do you see this fight?
This one will be good to watch. It’s hard to say who will win, it will be good to the audience.

Who do you think that may be the perfect game to beat Brock Lesnar?
He gets better on each fight. It has to feel the fight, use some entrance of him. Power won’t work against him, because he’s the strongest on this category... To beat him has to be on technique, and that Jiu-Jitsu have a lot.