MMA News Thread

[Shogun Locc]

New Jersey commission: Emelianenko will honor suspension, not fight in sambo tourney

Fedor Emelianenko (31-3 MMA, 1-2 SF) will pass on competing in combat sambo to honor a medical suspension issued to him by the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board.

NJSACB legal counsel Nick Lembo today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that Emelianenko's camp has assured him the heavyweight won't participate in a national sambo tournament to be held this weekend in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Sambo is a martial art system originally developed for the Russian military and bears many similarities to MMA in its emphasis on both striking and grappling. It's considered a national sport in Russia, and many competitions are held worldwide.

Emelianenko, a longtime sambo devotee, received two medical suspensions following a TKO loss to Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva in the quarterfinals of the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix, which was held Feb. 12 at IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J. He was suspended indefinitely pending a clear CT scan of his head and facial bones and also suspended 90 days for strikes to the head, as MMAjunkie.com previously reported.

"The Last Emperor" hinted he might retire following the loss – his second consecutive setback in a virtually unblemished 10-year career – but a representative for M-1 Global, his managerial and promotional company, earlier this week informed ESPN.com that the fighter would compete in the tournament.

"Fedor's in, definitively," said Evgeni Kogan, M-1 Global's director of operations.

Lembo said he was contacted this past Friday by M-1 Global about Emelianenko's plans and said he explained the terms of the suspension.

"There was some confusion since it was the first time they were dealing with a commission-issued medical suspension, and the confusion surrounded whether the 90 days stays in effect if he provided a clear CT scan of the head and facial bones," Lembo said. "He has provided the required CT scan, and that's under medical review."

Lembo said Emelianenko's suspension could be upheld, reduced, or removed depending on the recommendation of NJSACB doctors. He added that fighters who competed under medical suspension typically had their fight license revoked for one year in addition to being placed on a national registry that would in all likelihood bar them from competing in states with athletic commissions.

Although Emelianenko's loss took him out of the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker hinted that he could be brought back as an alternate in the event of an injury or other complication in the tournament. So, for now, it looks like the Russian is laying low.

"It's my understanding that they are going to honor the suspension and he is not going to compete," Lembo said.

 

[Shogun Locc]

MFC 29 Scheduled for April 8 in Newly Sanctioned Ontario, Canada

Maximum Fighting Championships, in partnership with S.L. Feldman & Associates, announced on Thursday that MFC 29: Conquer will take place in the recently sanctioned province of Ontario. The event is slated for April 8 at The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor.

MFC welterweight champion Douglas Lima will make the first defense of his title on the show.

“I’m very excited and looking forward to the event in Ontario,” said Lima. “I’m happy to be defending my title there. I am training very hard and I’m ready to fight my heart out.”

UFC veterans David Heath and Marvin Eastman will square off in a middleweight bout at MFC 29 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

Other fighters slated for the promotion’s Ontario debut are undefeated welterweight Andreas Spang, and Windsor hometown fighters Chucky Mady at featherweight and unbeaten light-heavyweight Ali Mokdad.

“This will be the biggest and best lineup we have ever put together,” said MFC president Mark Pavelich.

MFC 29: Conquer will air live on HDNet Fights

 

[Shogun Locc]

Mamed Chalidov vs. Thales Leites at KSW 15

At first Mamed was scheduled to fight Matt Lindland, however after his injury KSW promotion was looking for a worthy opponent for their champion. It has been recently announced that Mamed Chalidov (21-4-2) will face former UFC Middleweight contender Thales Leites (18-4) at KSW 15 on March 19 in Warsaw. This will be the main event of the evening.

 

[Shogun Locc]

JMMADOJO.com Interviews Enson Inoue

First of all Enson, we would like to thank you for taking the time to answer some of our questions!

JMMADOJO: You run several MMA gyms across Japan, Guam, Saipan, USA and Thailand under the name of Purebred. How did you come about the name and what is Purebred’s training philosophy?

ENSON: I just thought that Purebred had a strong meaning. The best race horses are the purebred ones. The most expensive dogs are the purebreds. So i figured being a purebred athlete would be ultimate.
The Purebred philosophy is simple, “Kill or be Killed”

JMMADOJO: There are many pro and amateur fighters across all of the Purebred gyms and a lot at your HQ Omiya alone. Do you train or corner any of these fighters personally? (If so, who?)

ENSON: Yes if they personally request me to corner them I do. So far, I’ve cornered Pat Ayuyu, George Sotoropolis, Ise, Tetsuji Kato, and long ago KID.

JMMADOJO: Purebred is one of the most popular gym networks in Japan. Besides being ran by yourself, what makes Purebred such a standout compared to other gyms?

ENSON: We train hard and real.

JMMADOJO: We understand your main gym, Purebred Omiya is ran by ex-pro fighter and SHOOTO veteran Hisao Ikeda, who has been fighting and training for over 16 years. What made you choose and trust Ikeda as the President?

ENSON: He is very serious and doesn’t goof around and in the ring he is all heart!

JMMADOJO: You seemed to have opened many Purebred gyms across Japan and internationally in a short amount of time, what is your major goal for Purebred and do you plan to open any more gyms in the future?

ENSON: The main goal is to raise fighter with no quit in them and with the Kill or be killed attitude.

JMMADOJO: Across all of your gyms, who are your favorite fighters and who do you think will become a champion in the future?

ENSON: George Sotoropolis because of his work ethic

JMMADOJO: You received your Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt from 4th Degree Black Belt, John Lewis who has taught some of the best fighters in the world. After moving to Japan, who was your Instructor and who helped you train for fights?

ENSON: My brother Egan is my main trainer before my fights. Egan teaches me technique, diet, and has some of the best high tech training.

JMMADOJO: We know you are a busy man, so we will keep this interview short. To wrap it up, why should I (Anyone) train at Purebred? And what would I get out of it?

ENSON: They would get to meet me and learn how to train HARD!

Thanks Enson, much respect on behalf of all the fans out there and the team at JMMADOJO, Thanks!

 

[Shogun Locc]

New York MMA: An underground story

Contrary to public opinion, mixed martial arts can be found in New York. Unsanctioned, untaxed and unencumbered by athletic commission oversight -- so long as alcohol isn't served and fighters aren't paid -- the sport can and does happen in the city.

Since 2003, the Underground Combat League has promoted 23 cards in and around Manhattan. From gyms to warehouses to, most recently, a mosque, promoter Peter Storm, 34, has maintained a place for mixed-style fighting -- in this case the kind that harks back to UFC 1 and its "anything goes" rules -- in the only state in the country where professional MMA is illegal, rendered so after then Gov. George Pataki labeled the sport "barbaric" and urged the state legislature to outlaw it in 1997.

If it sounds similar to "Fight Club," Storm likes that impression; it helps his UCL's branding.

"But," he said, "the truth is, that's not what it is. Nobody is fighting on rooftops, throwing each other through glass. None of that stuff. It's guys who are mixed martial artists based out of New York, and what they want to do is test their skills on a level playing field where, if they feel like they can do well, they can progress."

Jonathan Rodriguez, 22, and Israel Martinez, 27, have fought for Storm several times. Self-described "nobodies" in New York's underground scene, both claim they love to fight and are fortunate to do so.

To prove their point, on Feb. 8 they stood in front of 250 Broadway, enduring wind-swept lower Manhattan at lunch hour. Massive snowdrifts from winter's megastorms were gone, but it was cold enough for unprepared pedestrians to congregate near street vendors who were selling $5 beanies.

The address wasn't random.

Inside sit the offices of Sheldon Silver, speaker of the New York State Assembly. He's also known as the man in Albany (where he was on this day) who determines which bills hit the assembly floor. Although vocal MMA opponents such as Democratic Assemblyman Bob Reilly object to the legalization of the sport on so-called moral and societal grounds, it's Silver who will determine the immediate fortunes of MMA, as he does everything else in the state.

Thus far, despite millions of dollars invested by Zuffa to lobby Silver's stronghold in upstate New York, despite economic impact statements that promise millions of dollars for the Empire State's coffers once the Ultimate Fighting Championship can legally run events there, the speaker has not felt the need to move.

Several weeks earlier, the UFC held a news conference at Madison Square Garden to raise awareness for its efforts. The session was aimed at convincing recently elected Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo to include language for the legalization of MMA in his first budget. The governor did not oblige, which is why Rodriguez, Martinez and approximately 50 other MMA die-hards rallied within the shadow of City Hall to support the Coalition to Legalize Mixed Martial Arts -- a nonpartisan group of volunteers created by Stephen Koepfer, whose mission is exactly as it sounds.

"At the press conference, when someone asked [UFC president] Dana [White] if he was frustrated and angry about this, he said he wasn't really frustrated because they don't need New York; [UFC] can make their money elsewhere," said Koepfer, better known in these circles as "Sambo" Steve. The 42-year-old, who was born and raised in Queens, said, "That's not the attitude you want to have when you're speaking for New Yorkers."

The rally -- the first of its kind -- motivated Rodriguez, a student at Borough of Manhattan Community College, to attend a second gathering planned for Albany this March.

"It starts here," he said. "We have to get the letters out. They have to hear our voice. If we really want it and we're really as passionate about it as we say, we're going to do anything that it takes."

"If the legislators don't know what we want," Koepfer said, "they won't vote for it."

And if they don't vote for it, nothing will change -- including events promoted by the Underground Combat League. Storm connects with fans via text messaging and social media, where information about upcoming cards is disseminated 48 hours before events. An average of three to four cards take place each year.

Jim Genia, a journalist who has covered the local New York fight scene closely since 2001, covers Underground Combat League in his forthcoming book, "Raw Combat."

"Its greatest purpose is that it was accessible," Genia said of Storm's New York City-based cards. "It provides a service to fans and fighters alike because it gives them a taste of what mixed martial arts competition is."

For some, that makes sense.

Kevin Wall, 49, grew up within earshot of Evel Knievel's motorcycles in Butte, Mont., and fights "'cause I can." Local kung fu students hoping to match their style against another martial arts style can do so in the UCL. And young prospects with aspirations of one day holding a UFC championship belt, a la underground veteran Frankie Edgar, can make their debuts here as well.

Edgar's bout in 2005 is registered as the only amateur fight of his career -- a first-round technical knockout victory via strikes against the Underground Combat League's best fighter at the time, Eric Uresk -- according to MMA.tv, which was hired by the Association of Boxing Commissions to be its official record keeper for MMA.

Results, however, aren't always traceable. The inability to track who's doing what on any given weekend is a major hazard of unsanctioned events like Storm's, said Nick Lembo, who has served as counsel for the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board since 1995.

This is one of several major differences between amateur MMA in New Jersey -- a model program since its implementation in 2005 -- and the unregulated kind in New York.

To compare neighboring states, New Jersey features 19 amateur weight categories. Underground Combat League has none. And although Storm attempts to match opponents by size and experience, he has made fights between competitors with more than a 100-pound weight differential. Kicks to the head are prohibited in New Jersey, as are elbow strikes, heel hooks and other techniques. Virtually anything goes in New York; it's up to the fighters involved to determine their rules.

Prefight and postfight medical examinations are required in New Jersey. Not so in New York, where a medical presence rarely extends beyond EMTs, who are paid by Storm.

Amateur fighters in the Garden State are also subject to blood testing for HIV and hepatitis B and C.

"I can't tell you how many [times] you have someone that has hep C or HIV or fails a drug test," Lembo said. "You're really putting everyone at risk without checking for those things."

Contestants over the age of 40 in New Jersey must submit MRI/MRA head scans, stress tests and an evaluation of blood flow through the arteries to be licensed. If they don't, or if they lose like Wall did in New Jersey and refuse to meet additional testing requirements, they won't get licensed. In New York, you can fight after your license is denied just across the Hudson River, and you don't have to pay $900 in fees for the privilege.

Storm trumpeted the safety record of his cards, suggesting that concussions and a couple of broken arms -- one of which was his; he fights, too -- are as bad as it gets.

"I think it's partially luck, it's partially the natural oversight of referees in the sport that guys don't get seriously injured," said Genia, the journalist who has attended 22 of the league's 23 events, missing just one for his wedding in Thailand.

The only thing remotely similar between amateur MMA in New York and New Jersey is a passion for the game and the lack of compensation for fighters.

"It's what I enjoy doing," Rodriguez said. "It's what gets me away from the stress of school, of work, of everyday life. It's what I'm into. I'm going to continue to do it no matter if it does become legal in New York or not."

 

[Shogun Locc]

Toney wants to silence Rampage

James Toney is vowing to return to the Octagon, with the boxing champion insisting he wants to knock out Rampage Jackson.

Toney has made just one UFC appearance, and it was a short and far from sweet one as he suffered a submission defeat to Randy Couture. Toney's lack of wrestling skills were exposed by Couture, leading many to suggest that he does not have the talent to fight in UFC, but he is insistent a return will happen.

"Just because I lost the fight with Couture doesn't mean I'm done with MMA," he told BJPenn.com. "I'm still going to go back in there. I have just been handling big business right now. I'm looking forward to getting back in there, hopefully against Rampage Jackson."

Jackson has been critical of Toney, saying: "Your mouth is writing a cheque your ass can't cash. Don't f*** with a n**** like me because I ain't scared of your punk ass. I will whup your ass so bad."

Toney insists that if anyone in UFC stood up to him they would come off second best and feels president Dana White is reluctant to put him in with Jackson.

"Anybody in the MMA game if they are foolish enough to stand toe to toe to me you might as well put a 9mm to your head and pull the trigger," Toney said.

"[Rampage] started running his mouth though and he's got a lot to say but I know Dana won't let him fight me because they know I'll knock his ass out.

"The UFC isn't the fight game, it's only a brand, and I don't need the UFC. If anything the UFC is going to need me. If Rampage Jackson wants to fight me they are going to have to come see me one way or another. So I'm not really worried about all that."

Toney, who will face Damon Reed in an IBA heavyweight boxing clash on Thursday, fancies a rematch with Couture and would be even more keen to face him in a boxing ring.

"I want to fight Randy Couture again too," he said. "I tried to get Randy to come over and fight me in boxing but I know he ain't crazy.

"Randy Couture is a champion, he figured my game out and I don't have no animosity towards him. As far as him, I'd like to rematch him in a boxing ring and see what happens. I went and fought him in his game in the cage; he should come to me and return the favour."

 

[Shogun Locc]

Gegard Mousasi vs. Roger Gracie In Talks for April 9 Strikeforce Card

While the April 9 Strikeforce fight card is still up in the air in many ways, fighters are being contacted about appearing on the show.

The latest fight in talks for the card pits former light heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi against multiple time grappling champion Roger Gracie.

While no bout agreements have been issued, sources have indicated to MMAWeekly.com that the fighters have at least verbally agreed to the match-up at this point.

Mousasi had been rumored to face Mike Kyle in a light heavyweight bout, but as of right now that fight has been taken off the table.

For his part, Mousasi would return to Strikeforce for the first time since losing the title to Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal last April. Since that time, Mousasi won two fights in Dream and a K-1 rules match in Japan late last year.

Roger Gracie currently sports a perfect 4-0 record, recently picking up a win over Trevor Prangely at Strikeforce’s January show. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace has commented about keeping a more active MMA career in 2011, and this fight would certainly fit the bill.

The April 9 fight card has not been solidified as far as location or even if it will end up being a part of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, as originally planned, but talks are ongoing to include lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez as well as welterweight champion Nick Diaz on the card.

 

[Shogun Locc]

10 Questions for Jason Reinhardt

They say you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Few fighters know that reality better than Jason Reinhardt.

His ill-fated Octagon debut against Joe Lauzon ended with his submission after just 74 seconds at UFC 78 in November 2007. It remains the 41-year-old Decatur, Ill., native’s only defeat in 21 professional appearances. Now, more than three years later, Reinhardt (Pictured) will return to the cage to meet Chinese import Tie Quan Zhang in a preliminary featherweight duel at UFC 127 “Penn vs. Fitch” on Saturday at the Acer Arena in Sydney, Australia.

In this exclusive interview with Sherdog.com, Reinhardt discusses what a second opportunity with the UFC means to him, the life-changing experiences he enjoyed while training with Wanderlei Silva and the Wand Fight Team in Las Vegas, the strain his MMA career has put on his marriage and the personal pressures he feels entering his match with Zhang.

Sherdog.com: What does getting another chance to fight for the UFC mean to you?
Reinhardt: The opportunity to get another chance in the UFC means my chance to get out of the insurance business. I feel like I’m honestly fighting for my life. Try knocking on doors every [expletive] day, cold calling, selling life insurance. I’ve done the business for a very long time. I absolutely hate making a living this way. It’s all commission only. I’m very good at it, but, honestly, I hate it. I’ve been trying to figure a way out for a very long time, but I have a family to support, so this is my chance. This is my chance to really do something, to get out of waking up every day, having doors slammed in my face and moving on to the next call. Honestly, 99 percent of people wouldn’t last a week with how I make a living. It’s mentally exhausting. I’m gonna win this [expletive] fight and never have to try and sell another life insurance policy the rest of my life. I’m just being 100 percent truthful. I’m a very dangerous fighter at this point in my life.

Sherdog.com: How have you addressed the vision problems that nixed your scheduled WEC bout with Tie Quan Zhang in September?
Reinhardt: After my fight was cancelled at almost the end of my training camp, I flew home. It sucked, man. I stayed positive, though. At the time in September when all that happened, my wife was saying how this sport has ruined our lives and she didn’t know how much more she could take. We’ve been together 15 years. She’s extremely supportive. I don’t want to make it sound like she’s not, because she is. Our wives go through this s--t right along with the fighter, man. Some fold; some don’t. My wife is a very strong woman, so I assured her I would fly home, get the eye surgery, with no guarantees, and it would all be worth it. I told her, “Don’t divorce me now. S--t, I’ve almost made it.” So, $5,000 later, here we are. My eyes are perfect. The point is you never give up on your dream. You fall down eight times and get up eight times. It was very disappointing when my fight got cancelled towards the end of my camp, but I don’t quit, man. It’s times like that when a man, a fighter, really finds out what he’s made of.

Sherdog.com: What challenges does Zhang pose for you as an opponent?
Reinhardt: Honestly, for this fight, I’ve focused on what I have to do, not what he’s gonna do. I know he’s a great fighter or he wouldn’t be in the UFC. I respect all opponents. We are professionals. However, I look at it like this -- it’s a [expletive] fight. I’m coming to fight, plain and simple. I’m going to make it chaotic for him. My conditioning is so good. I’m gonna run him like a racehorse, until he breaks. Once that bell rings, he’s going to say to himself, “I thought they said this guy was 41.” I’m not 41 years old. I don’t know who made that number up, but I’ve skipped a bunch of birthdays. Just watch the fight. I think the world will be impressed when they see how hard I’ve worked. I’ve definitely put my work in. This is something I take very serious. This is my life, my future, so, no, I don’t see really any challenges he poses for me. He’s never fought anyone like me. I’m not sure what he’s been told about me as an opponent, but if he hasn’t put his long hours in the gym, it’s too late now, because I have. You’ll see.

Sherdog.com: How much time did you spend training with the Wand Fight Team in Las Vegas?
Reinhardt: Well, my whole MMA career I always fought out of Miletich Fighting Systems -- for over 10 years. I lived three hours from the gym and would drive back and forth to Iowa to train for my fights. Oftentimes, I would stay for extended periods of time to train for all my fights, and, oftentimes, I would drive home right after training and make the six-hour round trip, getting home at one and two in the morning and getting up and doing it all over again. I remember logging over 7,500 miles driving back and forth for a title fight I was training for. Just recently, when Pat Miletich sold his gym and the team separated, I had to find a new MMA team. Honestly, the way it all happened with me joining the Wand Fight Team, I only can believe God was responsible for this. All I can say is God was watching over me and placed me with Wanderlei Silva and all his amazing coaches at the Wand Fight Team. Call me crazy or whatever, but God knows Wanderlei has always been my very favorite fighter on the planet, since the beginning. And the way this all happened, it only made my faith stronger in God.

The Wand Fight Team and all the guys are some of the most talented guys in the world, but, more importantly, the coaches know how to treat their fighters; class acts all the way. [They are] very positive, and you don’t feel one ounce of negative energy in the Wand Fight Team gym; all positive. I will be with this team for life. There’s a reason why Wanderlei’s gym was voted the number one MMA gym in the world. This was a very prestigious award and very deserved. Trust me. I’ve been around a long time and seen a lot in this sport.

Sherdog.com: How did that experience impact you?
Reinhardt: The experience of being a part of the Wand Fight Team has changed my life. It’s honestly a fresh of breath air. There’s no bulls--t there. There are no egos. Everyone is there to help everyone. I figured something out after seeing a lot in this sport. You know why there are no egos and no bulls--t inside Wanderlei’s gym? The reason is very simple: everyone, and I do mean everyone, has such an incredible respect for the man and all he’s done and all the enjoyment he’s given us in all his fights that they would never want to disrespect his name or his gym. I find when there are egos and a bunch of idiots inside these MMA gyms it’s because there’s no true leader who guys truly respect. And I mean truly respect, not some superficial type of respect but genuine, real respect. Wanderlei is about the most down-to-earth coolest guy you can meet. When you see the man, you just want to bow to him and show him the respect he deserves. He’s a true leader and represents what this sport should be about. So, to answer your question, it’s impacted me greatly, and it’s something I take very seriously. This is not a joke to me. Wanderlei told me how happy he was with how hard I trained in his gym, and now it’s my job to show him how much I appreciate everything by how hard I fight. I truly feel like I will fight to the death in this fight, especially representing his name. I’m ready to go.

Sherdog.com: Did you do any one-on-one training with Wanderlei?
Reinhardt: Yes, Wanderlei partnered up with me, and we went back and forth with different combinations together. It was very inspiring, to say the least. He spent time with me going over his philosophy on how I should fight. It changed me. After the motivating speeches he gives the team after hard sparring, you just want to fight your ass off for the man -- especially after all he’s given us and all his wars. He’s a true inspiration. Wanderlei is a true master who everyone follows. This is why his gym is so successful. This is a very special individual. He got there through hard work, determination and the never-give-up-no-matter-what mentality. I can relate very much to this. Then, to top it off, you should see and be around his coaches in the gym. In all the years I’ve been in MMA, I’ve never seen so many talented coaches in one gym; so many nice, quality people.

Sherdog.com: Are you concerned at all with the fact that you have not fought in more than three years?
Reinhardt: Honestly, to answer your question bluntly, absolutely not. I’m not concerned in the least bit that I haven’t fought in over three years. I fight every day in the gym -- at Wanderlei’s gym, with some of the best fighters in the world. That’s where my toughest fights are, right there in my gym with my teammates.

Sherdog.com: Why did you spend so much time away from competition?
Reinhardt: I spent some time away from competition because I wasn’t willing to fight for small shows for bulls--t money with the kind of professional MMA record I have. I had different opportunities, but the money they would offer me wouldn’t even pay for my training expenses. It was a joke. I always knew if I held out and was smart about my career, the UFC would take notice, and that’s exactly what happened. After my UFC debut in 2007, [UFC President] Dana White personally told me to go win two more fights and they would have me back. Here we are. It took a little longer than expected, but, to be fair and completely honest, I had some personal issues I had to take care of, which i did, and I’ve never felt better. The biggest fight isn’t even in the cage. It’s outside of it. Being a fighter goes way deeper than just inside the cage. In the beginning of my MMA career, it was never about the money. I remember fighting a pro fight once for 50 bucks, so it never was for the money. I did the whole fighting for honor thing for years. However, you come to a point in your life where you have to think of your family, your future, my daughter’s future. I’m fighting literally for my life with this fight.

Sherdog.com: Had you ever been to Australia?
Reinhardt: No, I’d never been to Australia. My MMA career has taken me to other countries but never to Australia. The flight was very long, but I’ve recovered. It was rough the first two days getting adjusted, but I’m golden now. I’m ready to get this guy outta there.

Sherdog.com: How do you feel going into this bout at UFC 127?
Reinhardt: I can’t tell you how appreciative I am to the fans. Without the fans, there is no fight. I feel the best I’ve ever felt going into a fight. I have the right team supporting me, the team I will be with for the rest of my career, my life -- the Wand Fight Team. I’ve never had this kind of support in my career. I feel that representing Wanderlei’s name, I can’t lose. I refuse to give up. [Zhang] will either have to knock me out cold or choke me unconscious to beat me. That’s the only way, and that ain’t happening. I’m coming to fight. The only way back to my wife and my daughter is through this guy. Talk is cheap. Just tune in and watch what I’m talking about. This isn’t a joke. This isn’t fun. This is war to me -- period.

 

[Shogun Locc]

'Mr. Pride' Shoji to Rematch Misaki in April Retirement Bout

One of the most recognizable fighters of the Pride era is finally ready to call it a career.

At Deep "52 Impact" on Friday in Tokyo, hard-luck veteran Akira Shoji announced he would fight once more before officially ending his professional fighting career. Shoji offered an open invitation to opponents, which was quickly accepted by former Pride grand prix champion Kazuo Misaki.

Misaki and Shoji will meet for the second time at Deep's "53 Impact" on April 23 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. Shoji and Misaki originally met in February 2006 at Deep's "23 Impact," where Misaki floored Shoji with brutal striking before eventually finishing the fight via guillotine in just 2:32. Shoji has not competed since the last-ever Pride event in April 2007, when he was knocked out by Gilbert Yvel in the first round.

Perhaps realizing their second encounter is one in which a win would be difficult, a somber but determined Shoji claimed, "This is my retirement fight, and I don't want my career to end with any regrets, so I want this fight to end in kaishaku."

By "kaishaku," Shoji refers to the Japanese ritual suicide, “seppuku,” in which the person committing suicide has a second individual assist in chopping off his head, provided he is unable to completely disembowel himself.

Falling in line with the drama, an intense Misaki said, "We fought in February 2006, and that fight made me who I am today. I want to show a fight with a samurai's soul. I will crush him."

Shoji, a former Chukyo University judo standout, started his MMA career in 1996 after joining Wajutsu Keishukai. The undersized Shoji went on to compete 23 times for Pride, where he developed a reputation for his gameness in challenging much larger and more talented foes, earning the nickname "Mr. Pride."

Shoji faced a "Who's Who" of MMA, including Igor Vovchanchyn, Mark Coleman, Dan Henderson, Wanderlei Silva, Mauricio Rua and even giant multiple-time K-1 World Grand Prix champion Semmy Schilt. The perpetual underdog also pulled off several upsets, taking wins over the likes of Guy Mezger, Jose Landi-Jons and Alex Stiebling.

More recently, Shoji has served as a professional wrestler with Pride-linked professional wrestling organization Hustle, while also embarking on his career as an MMA official, regularly serving as a judge for both Dream and Deep in the last two years.

 

[Shogun Locc]

‘Tonton’ Joins Bellator Light Heavyweight Draw

Bellator Fighting Championships’ Season 4 light heavyweight tournament field is nearly set, as the promotion on Friday announced Christian M’Pumbu as the seventh official tournament participant.

M’Pumbu (Pictured) joins six other competitors in the quest to become Bellator’s inaugural 205-pound king. “Tonton” enters the draw alongside Tim Carpenter, D.J. Linderman, Chris Davis, Nik Fekete, Richard Hale and Daniel Gracie. A release announcing the participation of Raphael Davis is expected shortly.

While not officially announced by the promotion, Bellator’s light heavyweight tournament is expected to begin March 26 at Bellator 38 from a to-be-named location. The winner of the draw will receive $100,000 in total pay and the title of Bellator’s first-ever light heavyweight champion. Bellator’s Season 4 events will air live on MTV2.

A veteran of both Deep and M-1 competition, M’Pumbu comes to Bellator by way of Paris. The Frenchman -- originally born in the Republic of Congo -- began his professional career in 2004 and ran off nine straight victories. The 33-year-old’s most notable win is likely his 2007 submission victory over current UFC heavyweight contender Stefan Struve. A veteran of 19 professional fights, M’Pumbu has submitted more than half of his career victims and has only seen the third round once in his career.

“I have wanted to take a step up in competition for some time now. I’m ready for this,” M’Pumbu said in a release. “I truly believe that I will be the Bellator world light heavyweight champion. I’m excited about the future. Hard work always pays off.”

 

[Shogun Locc]

Shark Fights Partners with HDNet, Debuts March 11

Texas-based MMA promotion Shark Fights has signed a broadcast deal with HDNet and will make its network debut on March 11. The network confirmed rumors of the HDNet-Shark Fights partnership via Twitter on Friday. Terms of the deal were not immediately known.

What is known is that Shark Fights 14 will air live on HDNet on March 11. The event, which goes down from Fair Park Coliseum in Lubbock, Texas, will be headlined by a middleweight scrap between International Fight League veterans Matt Horwich (Pictured) and Danillo Villefort. Additionally, the bill will feature a co-main event pitting UFC exiles against one another, as Houston Alexander meets James Irvin in a 205-pound tilt.

Shark Fights’ last event was held in September and was headlined by a light heavyweight affair between UFC vets Keith Jardine and Trevor Prangley. The card also featured appearances by Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, Paul Daley, Jorge Masvidal and Tarec Saffiedine, among others.

HDNet has been a longtime home of MMA-related programming. Recently, the network partnered with Strikeforce and M-1 Global to broadcast the undercard of “Fedor vs. Silva” live on Feb. 12. The network also provides American fans an opportunity to watch Japanese events, as HDNet routinely broadcasts Dream and Sengoku Raiden Championship shows. HDNet will air Maximum Fighting Championship 28 on Friday at 10 p.m. ET.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Tazawa is Megaton King, 'Iron' Upsets Imanari at Deep '52 Impact'

TOKYO -- Deep's Megaton heavyweight division is oft-mocked, but Friday at Korakuen Hall, Kazuhisa Tazawa was undeterred, as he submitted Yuji Sakuragi to become the second Megaton champion in the headliner of Deep's "52 Impact."

Since its inception in 2008, the Deep Megaton class has been an MMA cult favorite. Devised by corpulent Deep boss Shigeru Saeki, the Megaton division has pit the largest Japanese fighters against one another, regardless of weight, fitness and sometimes even experience, all for the sake of displaying the thrills of fleshy goliaths pummeling one another.

As Sakuragi has been known for devastating strikes, felling the likes of light heavyweight King of Pancrase Ryo Kawamura, Tazawa wisely took the karateka down to terrorize him on the floor. Tazawa captured Sakuragi's back, whereupon he flattened him out to wail away with hooks to the sides of the head. Sakuragi made little effort to escape and what few instances he did try were woefully ineffective. He covered up well, however, absorbing Tazawa's punches on his arms and hands.

Tazawa thus tired himself and it appeared as if he was done for with the resurgent Sakuragi coming into the second round. Two sloppy takedown attempts later, however, Tazawa quickly stole back mount again and cinched the choke for a quick tap at a mere 54 seconds in, moving to 7-1-1 in his career, with six stoppages.

"My dad had a birthday recently. It's a bit late, but, happy birthday; I got a belt for you," said a breathless but elated Tazawa.

In the post-fight, Tazawa paid mind to former Megaton champion Yusuke Kawaguchi, who he was previously scheduled to meet before an undisclosed injury forced Kawaguchi to vacate his title.

"For my next fight, if I were to face Kawaguchi, I'm confident that I would defeat him," Tazawa added.

Deep 137-pound champion Masakazu Imanari's title was not on the line against Hiroshi Nakamura, but that did not stop "Iron" from employing a flawless game plan to take a unanimous decision upset over the leglock master.

Nakamura played with fire by starting off with hard low kicks, perhaps baiting Imanari to drop for a leglock. Imanari did not take the bait until late in the first round and in the second, but Nakamura's kicks were surprisingly effective, reddening and weakening Imanari's legs.

Cognizant he had dropped the first two frames, Imanari started the third with a flying leg scissors takedown, from which he scrambled for the armbar. Nakamura spun out three times before taking top position and unleashing brutal hammerfists. Nakamura grinded out Imanari the rest of the way, taking a unanimous decision from judges Akira Shoji, Kenichi Serizawa and Yoshinori Umeki. No scores were announced.

"I felt the fight went the way everyone saw it: that I was implementing my game plan, and that it worked," said a jubilant Nakamura after the bout. "I watched a lot of video on Imanari, so I pretty much knew everything he would throw at me. Nothing really surprised me."

The non-title loss is Imanari's second as a Deep champion. In August 2006, he fell to UFC veteran Fredson Paixao via unanimous decision while reigning as Deep's featherweight champ.

With the victory over the "Ashikan Judan," one would expect the 30-year-old Nakamura -- beaten just once in his last 14 fights -- to be afforded a title rematch with Imanari, provided he is not longing to try his hand at fighting abroad, like stablemate Yoshiyuki Yoshida.

"I've never had the experience of winning or defending a belt, and I don't know if I'd stay in Japan or fight abroad in the near future," he said. "Imanari was a name fighter here, and I just hope my next opponent has a name, too."

In 115-pound women's action, Jewels poster girl Saori Ishioka's spirited effort was insufficient to top Korean kickboxing ace Seo Hee Ham.

Ishioka tried unsuccessfully to replicate the success of Ayaka Hamasaki, who defeated Ham in December on the strength of her lead hook. Ham's early counterstriking was surgical, as she landed barrages of left crosses, body kicks and head kicks. Ishioka absorbed the damage, eating two or three blows just to return the one punch or kick that connected cleanly. Ham, 23, easily took a unanimous verdict after two lopsided rounds.

In a messy but crowd-rousing middleweight affair, former Deep middleweight Ryuta Sakurai dug deep to put away Yoshiyuki Nakanishi with a late submission. Entering the bout two pounds overweight, Nakanishi had Sakurai's number early, wobbling him on the feet. Sakurai took over in the third round, however, taking down Nakanishi and mashing with short punches before wrenching out the armbar for the tap at 3:48.

Featherweights Shoji Maruyama and Tomoya Kato were set to slug it out. However, the fight ended on a sour note when a wild exchange in which Maruyama dropped Kato to a knee opened a fight-ending cut over Kato's right eye. It led to a doctor stoppage just 87 seconds into the bout.

Veteran Shigetoshi Iwase made quick work of welterweight Yoshitomo Wantanabe, landing a right hand that put the AACC fighter flat on his back at 2:42 of the first round.

An avid armbar finisher, Takeshi Yamazaki did not disappoint his fans, taking Katsunori Tsuda's left arm just 93 seconds into their featherweight fight. Rather than take the easy way out, Tsuda hung on through a hyper-extended arm until his corner threw in the towel.

In bantamweight action, Tatsumitsu Wada slid by on the judges' cards against Sakae Kasuya with a two-round unanimous decision, while Masato Kobayashi fought conservatively against Ryo Masuda, until bloodying him with wild punches in the bout's final moments en route to taking a unanimous decision.

Heavyweight Ken Hasegawa gave his best Shinya Aoki impression in dispatching Noriaki Oshida, quickly twisting Oshida's right arm behind his back for a tap-inducing hammerlock just 75 seconds into the first round.

Kicking off the show, lightweight Yoshihiro Tomioka used the time-honored tactic of absorbing his opponent's offense to tire him out, taking down an exhausted Luiz Andrade I and punching him out at 4:56 of round two.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Daley Misses Weight; BAMMA Bout Now Non-Title Affair

Paul Daley did it again.

The heavy-handed Brit failed to make weight Friday for his British Association of Mixed Martial Arts welterweight title bout with Deep champion Yuya Shirai.

Reportedly due to issues with the fighter's hotel sauna, Daley initially weighed in at 172 pounds in his first trip to the scale. After reportedly traveling to another location to sweat off the weight in a working sauna, Daley's second attempt at making weight resulted in a reading of 170.4 -- still over the limit for a title fight. Daley's failure to hit his mark will now cause the title bout to become a non-title, three-round affair. Shirai had no issues on the scale, coming in at 169.6 pounds.

This marks the fifth time in Daley's last 11 fights that he has failed to make the welterweight limit. The former UFC contender -- who is likely next in line for a shot at Strikeforce champion Nick Diaz -- most recently missed weight for his Shark Fights 13 bout with Jorge Masvidal in September.

Daley wasn't the only UFC alum to miss weight, however, as one-time heavyweight champion Ricco Rodriguez came in two pounds over his contracted, 215-pound catchweight for his co-main event bout with James McSweeney. Rodriguez, who has recently dropped large amounts of weight, also came in over the limit for his light heavyweight contest with Daniel Tabera at Israel FC “Genesis” in November.

Inside the cage, Daley has fared much better than on the scale, winning seven of his last eight bouts. His lone loss in that span came to former UFC title contender Josh Kosheck in a bout to determine the No. 1 contender for champion Georges St. Pierre's title. After being controlled and out-wrestled for three rounds, a visibly frustrated Daley took a swing at Koscheck's head after the final horn had sounded, resulting in his expulsion from the promotion in 2010.

BAMMA 5 goes down Saturday night from the Manchester Evening News Arena in Manchester, England, and will be streamed live over the promotion's website. Internet users worldwide may watch the event for a fee, and the show will be broadcast live on SyFy network in the U.K.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Gamburyan Injured, Out of UFC 128 Bout with Assuncao

One-time World Extreme Cagefighting featherweight title contender Manny Gamburyan has suffered a back injury and has withdrawn from his March 19 bout with Raphael Assuncao at UFC 128.

Sherdog.com confirmed the injury with a source close to the fighter after MMAFighting.com initially reported the news early Friday morning. It is unknown if the UFC is seeking a replacement for the Armenian judoka.

UFC 128 will emanate from the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., and will be headlined by a light heavyweight title bout between reigning champion Mauricio Rua and Jon Jones. Also scheduled for the card is a pivotal bantamweight scrap showcasing former WEC champions Urijah Faber and Eddie Wineland.

Stocky and powerful, Gamburyan is a pupil of submission master Gokor Chivichyan. “The Anvil” originally competed at lightweight in the UFC, fighting his way to the finals of “The Ultimate Fighter 5” before injuring himself in the championship match with Nate Diaz. Following back-to-back losses in August 2008 and January 2009, Gamburyan debuted at 145 pounds in the quainter cage of the WEC, earning a unanimous decision over John Franchi at WEC 41.

The 29-year-old would harness that momentum into two more victories over hard-hitting Leonard Garcia and former champion Mike Thomas Brown, respectively. Most recently, Gamburyan squared off with dominant champion Jose Aldo in September, his title bid ended by a second-round TKO at WEC 51.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Vinny Magalhaes vs. Jake Doerr in the works for M-1 Challenge on Showtime

Two-time UFC veteran Vinny Magalhaes (6-5) has already been announced as a participant at March's "M-1 Challenge: Damkovsky vs. Figueroa," and now his opponent is all but official.

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has learned from sources close to the organization that Magalhaes and undefeated Wisconsin native Jake Doerr (6-0) have verbally agreed to meet in the evening's co-main event, though bout agreements have yet to be finalized.

Featuring a lightweight title fight between current champion Artiom Damkovsky and challenger Jose Figueroa, "M-1 Challenge: Damkovsky vs. Figueroa" takes place March 25 in Virginia and marks M-1 Global's first M-1 Challenge event to air on Showtime.

Magalhaes is probably best known for his stint as a cast member on "The Ultimate Fighter 8," where he made his way to the season's finals before losing via TKO to Ryan Bader. "Pezao" returned at UFC 97, where he lost a decision to Eliot Marshall and was released by the promotion.

Since leaving the UFC, Magalhaes has earned four wins in five outings. All four victories have come via submission.

Meanwhile, the 30-year-old Doerr has been fighting professionally since 2004. Fighting sporadically since his debut, Doerr was inactive in 2008, fought just once in 2009 and was inactive again in 2010. Nevertheless, the Team Howell fighter remains undefeated as a professional.

In addition to the evening's two featured fights, "M-1 Challenge: Damkovsky vs. Figueroa" features Tyson Jeffries (7-4) and Magomed Sultanakhmedov (14-5) meeting with the vacant M-1 Challenge middleweight title on the line, while lightweights Alexander Sarnavskiy (12-0) and Josh Bacallao (6-2) round-out the main card.

 

[Shogun Locc]

MFC 28: Dwayne Lewis, “No Way I’m Going To Let It Go To A Decision”

Last year proved to be a watershed year for Canadian heavyweight Dwayne Lewis.

“Except for that one loss I had against (Emanuel) Newton, (2010) was a good year,” he told MMAWeekly.com. “I’m progressively getting better – I’m also getting older, so sooner or later the climb is going to decline – but right now I’m having a fun time.”

While Lewis can joke about his skills and age heading in opposite directions, it was his wins last year that proved to be just as upside down.

“Those two kind of went in the direct opposite of what I was expecting,” he said. “I was expecting an all-out war with (Mike) Nickels, just because of the fight he had with David Heath, but he didn’t want to be in there at all.

“With Razak (Al-Hassan), I was expecting to finish him early, and he ended up being a pain in the butt more than anything. I supposed I was too laid back in that fight, my timing was off, but still I should be able to finish him early, but I just couldn’t do it.”

Still, Lewis’ performances were good enough to earn a title shot against Ryan Jimmo on Friday night in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, at MFC 28: Supremacy airing on HDNet.

“Jimmo’s a tough guy,” stated Lewis. “He’s on a good (winning) streak. He’s big, he’s strong and he’s well conditioned. He’s very technical and elusive, where my style is more of a brawling, get in your face type of thing, so I think it’s going to be a great fight actually.”

When asked if he feels someone is going to end up getting knocked out in the fight, Lewis replied, “I would say so.

“There’s no way I’m going to let this go to a decision, win or lose. I’m either going to make Jimmo look really bad, or really good; that’s the way it’s going to go.”

He continued, “I’ve been working on different types of striking and using my kicks more. They’re really good kicks, even though I don’t use them much they have lots of power and lots of speed.

“I would like to use them a little more, (but) when it comes down to push and shove, I’m looking to get Jimmo frustrated and get him into a brawl. That’s more my world.”

Lewis’ focus is firmly affixed to Friday’s fight, as he’s never been one to make grand plans for himself.

“I’ve got a pretty busy personal life. So when it comes to fighting, I just take them as they come and go from one fight to the next,” he said. “I don’t look too far ahead.

“I want to win this fight and just continue on. The belt’s up for grabs, and that’s always an extra bonus, (but) every day just fighting is an accomplishment for me. If I can bring a piece of hardware home to share with my family and friends, that would be awesome.”

Having earned the kind of success that’s taken him to the next level, Lewis doesn’t intend on changing the way he does things, because to him, if it isn’t broken, why fix it?

“I want to thank all my sponsors: Full Tilt Poker, Carmacks, Team Bibeau (Royal LePage), Vallette Roofing, Edmonton Rush, Western RV, HeadBlade, and Heritage Harley Davidson,” he concluded.

“To the fans, keep supporting and keep watching, and I’ll always be looking to put on a good show.”

 

[Shogun Locc]

The Voice Waxes On The Dire State Of Japanese MMA and What 2011 Holds

As MMA continues to grow, it also continues to change. Few people find themselves as immersed in the recent changes as HDNet commentator Michael “The Voice” Schiavello.

Schiavello’s time in Japan over the past year has seen that country’s biggest overhaul of talent since the fall of Pride. He has also been ringside for the rise of North American promotions to the national stage with their inclusion on HDNet.

MMAWeekly.com recently caught up with Schiavello to discuss the ever-changing world of MMA and what he has in store for fans in 2011.

MMAWeekly: Let’s start off with your marathon back-to-back evenings covering Sengoku’s “Soul of Fight” and Dream’s “Dynamite” New Years Eve events. What was it like doing those shows in consecutive days?

Michael Schiavello: That was a crazy experience. Two days, two events, over 45 fights; it was tiring, but a lot of fun! New Year’s Eve in Japan is a magical experience and to commentate two shows in two days featuring an array of stars plus the trademark pomp and pageantry associated with Dynamite, well, I felt extremely privileged.

MMAWeekly: Last year saw major changes for both Sengoku and Dream, especially when it came to their rosters. What are your thoughts on the changes and what may be coming for them in the near future?

Michael Schiavello: I think Japanese MMA is at a major crossroads. The scene has never looked so glib. Either the promotions like Dream and Sengoku do an inventory, a clean out or a re-model or they risk sinking into oblivion and irrelevance in today’s very competitive MMA industry.

I hear Sengoku may be almost over, which is a shame, because I thought they put on a lot of very good, very competitive, well-matched fights. They lacked the glitz and glamour and production values of Dream, but the fights were almost always top notch and they helped develop a lot of new talent we’d never really heard of like Maximo Blanco, Michihiro Omigawa, Marlon Sandro, Masanori Kanehara, Ronnie Mann, and Dave Herman.

As for Dream, well, their product is beautiful production-wise and they have had some fantastic fighters and brilliant shows. But something has still been lacking and not managed to capture the public’s imagination the way it should. It would be a shame for either promotion to fold, it really would.

MMAWeekly: We most recently saw you at the first round of Strikeforce’s Heavyweight Grand Prix. What do you think of the show and who do you feel will ultimately win?

Michael Schiavello: It was a great night. Every fight ended within the distance, there was plenty of violence, some good technique, lots of drama, twists and turns – it had everything!

I thought (Andrei) Arlovski would get clocked, (because) there was no way his glass chin could stand toe-to-toe with (Sergei) Kharitonov. I didn’t pick Bigfoot (Antonio Silva) to beat Fedor (Emelianenko) like he did. I thought it would be a tough fight for Fedor and that Bigfoot would not be a pushover, but to pummel Fedor like he did, to take him down, close him down and mess him up. Wow. That was awesome. He will be tough to beat that’s fort sure.

Ultimately I still have (Alistair) Overeem as the man to beat, but Bigfoot will be a tough adversary should they clash. On the other side of the draw, the thought of (Josh) Barnett vs. Kharitonov is mouth watering!

MMAWeekly: Let’s talk about what you have upcoming this year. What can fans expect from “The Voice” in 2011?

Michael Schiavello: I’ll be in the States a lot this year as we are signing more and more shows. We recently added Titan FC to our broadcast roster, which is very exciting. Joe Kelly does great shows with full houses and is signing tremendous talent left, right, and center, including Phil Baroni and Bobby Lashley on the next show on March 25.

We’re also doing more MFC (on Friday, Feb. 25) and they have big plans and are boosting their roster. There will be more XFC, hopefully more Strikeforce, and I know that the powers that be are close to signing other shows to the network.

In addition to all the commentary work, you will see more of my “The Voice Versus” series this year. I just shot the next two episodes in Las Vegas, the first of which will premiere on HDNet on March 25 at 8 p.m. ET and will feature Wanderlei Silva. Let me tell you now, this is the best episode yet!

MMAWeekly: Sounds great. Thanks for your time, as always, Michael. Is there anything you want to say in conclusion?

Michael Schiavello: Thank you Mick and MMAWeekly.com for your support of HDNet Fights. I’m looking forward to a banner year this year. Fans, make sure you check out our new website, www.HD.net, with a full program guide and feature blogs by myself and the rest of the HDNet team.

Also follow me on twitter @SchiavelloVoice and look out for “The Voice Versus” because I’m going to blow your minds with the shows this year!

 

[Shogun Locc]

 

[Shogun Locc]

Anderson Silva’s coach: “GSP should stay in his division”

After Anderson Silva dominated the UFC middleweight division, the matchmakers tries to find a new challenge for the champion, and it will probably be welterweight king Georges St. Pierre. In case he beats Jake Shields at UFC 129, GSP will move up to the heavier weight division to fight the “Spider”, but the Brazilian’s coach said it wouldn’t be a good idea.

“Georges St. Pierre should stay in his division (laughs), because if he moves up he’d have much headache”, Josuel DIstak told TATAME. “St. Pierre is a strategic fighter. Besides being very dangerous, Anderson also is strategic, so he has two weapons. Anderson has an advantage over St. Pierre because of his reach and game, he has a more efficient Muay Thai and a tough ground game”, analyzes, excited for the bout: “Anderson will be prepared for him”.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Sakakibara And Kato Open Office?! Interesting Weeks Ahead

The iconic former president of the now defunct PRIDE organization, who has been withdrawn from MMA for almost three years, is preparing his return to the world of MMA very soon.

The news ran for several weeks and rumors said that Nobuyuki Sakakibara is preparing to create a new MMA organization by spring with Takahiro Kokuho (former director of Sengoku, ASTRA, and responsible of management company J-Rock), and Hiroyuki Kato (Vice Director of DREAM, Director of PRIDE). The news/rumor was contradicted last week by Mr. Kokuho himself and this week by Keiichi Sasahara (Director of DREAM).

However, according to a source close to IKUSA it would appear that things have advanced and it seems like Mr. Sakakibara and Mr. Kato have already found an office in the Shibuya district in Tokyo. Mr. Kato has always been close to Mr. Sakakibara and always kept in touch with him when being involved with DREAM and will probably hold the reins of the future organization since the reputation of Mr. Sakakibara is not the most popular after the PRIDE affair and his alleged relationship with the Japanese mafia.