MMA News Thread

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Strikeforce: Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal Likely to Face Roger Gracie or Ovince St. Preux Next

Muhammed Lawal is still without an opponent for his June 18 Strikeforce fight in Dallas, but either Roger Gracie or Ovince St. Preux will be the one to step up and give “King Mo” his royal welcome.

Although the June 18 date for his return is yet to be confirmed by the organization, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker shared Gracie’s and St. Preux’s names as candidates to take on Lawal.

“Roger Gracie would be a potential opponent, maybe OSP,” Coker told MMAWeekly.com on Wednesday.

Lawal (7-1) was last seen attempting to defend his Strikeforce light heavyweight title against Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante at Strikeforce: Houston in August of last year. The night didn’t end well for “King Mo,” as Cavalcante beat him on the feet and defended well against the takedown en route to taking the 205-pound title from Lawal. Since then, Lawal has been sidelined with a knee injury and seen no action.

MMAWeekly.com previously reported that June appeared to be the month in which Lawal was looking to return from his layoff.

“I’m healing great,” Lawal told MMAWeekly.com. “(I’m) looking to fight in June.”

Gracie (4-0) had his first mixed martial arts match nearly five years ago, but has focused much of that time on submission and jiu-jitsu competitions. A fight against Lawal would be his second MMA fight of 2011. His first was a win over Trevor Prangley by rear naked choke at Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Cyborg in January. All four of Gracie’s wins have come by submission.

St. Preux (10-4), otherwise known as “OSP,” is a product of the Strikeforce Challengers series. The former University of Tennessee football player impressed in his last three outings, beating fighters such as Antwain Britt, Benji Radach, and Ron “Abongo” Humphrey. A fight with Lawal would be an immediate step up in competition for OSP.

 

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Japan Cup Tournament Delayed, Now Starts April 26th

An upcoming eight-man bantamweight tournament, dubbed the Japan Cup, has been delayed by eight days and will now begin on April 26th. A source close to the new promotion confirmed to MMARising.com on Tuesday that fighters competing on the card have been notified of the change in date.

Spearheaded by former Pride Fighting Championships president Nobuyuki Sakakibara and vice president Hiroyuki Kato, the Japan Cup will feature a three-round bantamweight tournament that spans across two events. The winner and one or more of the semi-finalists will advance on to DREAM.


Names of the tournament participants have not yet been released, but MMARising.com has learned that a number of Japanese fighters are confirmed to compete. As previously reported, the quarterfinals and semi-finals of the tournament will take place in one night, with the tournament final to follow in May. The timetable for the final may also be adjusted to accommodate the date change for the April card, but this has not yet been confirmed.

The tournament champion, along with one or more semi-finalists, will then advance on to take part in the planned DREAM Bantamweight Grand Prix later this year. The Japan Cup tournament is expected to feature Japanese and possibly Korean fighters only, while tentative plans for the DREAM GP call for an international affair with fighters from around the world.

A reason for the delay is not known, but recent earthquake and tsunami disasters in Japan have likely hindered the promotion’s ability to assemble its first event. A venue for the April 26th event is expected to be confirmed in the coming weeks and will likely seat between 2,000 and 3,000 spectators.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Damkovsky, Figueroa On Weight for M-1 Challenge 24 Main Event

All eight main-card competitors made their contracted weights for Saturday's M-1 Global Challenge 24.

The event, which goes down March 26 from the Ted Constant Convocation Center on the campus of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va., will be headlined by a lightweight title fight between champion Artiom Damkovsky (155) and challenger Jose Figueroa (155).

Scheduled for an 11 p.m. ET broadcast on Showtime, the event will also feature a co-main event pitting Magomed Sultanakhmedov (183.2) against Tyson Jeffries (184.2) for the vacant middleweight strap. The broadcast, which will be delayed on the west coast, will also showcase a light heavyweight tilt between Vinny Magalhaes (204.4) and Jake Doerr (204.2), as well as another lightweight scrap pitting Alexander Sarnavskiy (155.4) against Beau Baker (154.6).

Not all event participants came in on point, however, as Stacy Grant came in overweight for her 135-pound affair against Bethany Marshall. The bout will go on as planned, but Grant will reportedly give 20 percent of her fight purse to her opponent due to the weight issue. Additionally, an undercard bout between Max Martyniouk and Phillip Wyman was canceled for undisclosed reasons.

Only 26 years old, Damkovsky has won five straight fight. The Belarusian earned three consecutive unanimous decisions in 2010 to capture the M-1 Selection Eastern European lightweight tournament title and capped the year with a TKO over Mairbek Taisumov in October to win the promotion's world title. Damkovsky's fight against Figueroa marks his first defense of his championship belt.

Figueroa represents Damkovsky's American counterpart, having won the M-1 Selection Americas lightweight tourney last year. A Bellator veteran, Figueroa has finished all but one of his career victims, earning five submission wins to his credit. The American Top Team Orlando product most recently earned a win in the aforementioned tournament's final round, notching a TKO over George Sheppard just 34 seconds into their championship fight.

Full M-1 Challenge 24 Weigh-In Results:

Artiom Damkovsky (155) vs. Jose Figueroa (155)
Tyson Jeffries (184.2) vs. Magomed Sultanakhmedov (183.2)
Vinny Magalhaes (204.4) vs. Jake Doerr (204.2)
Alexander Sarnavskiy (155.4) vs. Beau Baker (154.6)

Jason Norwood (184) vs. Mojo Horne (185)
Marcus Daniels (135) vs. Bryan Lashomb (134.6)
Bethany Marshall (133.4) vs. Stacy Grant (138.4)
Colton Smith (170) vs. Brian Nielson (169.6)
Bobby Gurley (230) vs. Johnny Curtis (233)
David Derby (150.2) vs. George Sheppard (155.6)
Jason Hillicker (135) vs. Jessie Riggleman (135.4)

 

[Shogun Locc]

UFN 24's DaMarques Johnson: "At the end of the day, it's just a fistfight"

SEATTLE – This whole fighting thing is a lot simpler than people make it out to be, according to UFC welterweight DaMarques Johnson.

You don't need to consult your parents, your Magic 8-Ball or your priest. It comes down to one simple question: Do you want to fight or not?

For Johnson (12-8 MMA, 3-2 UFC), the answer is yes. That's why he stepped up on short-notice to meet "The Ultimate Fighter 7" winner Amir Sadollah (4-2 MMA, 4-2 UFC) at UFC Fight Night 24.

The two meet Saturday at the event, which takes place at Seattle's KeyArena, and the main card airs live on Spike TV. Johnson's bout is part of the broadcast.

"The thought process was Amir Sadollah was sitting on this barstool next to me and dumped a beer in my lap," Johnson told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) about his short-notice decision. "If it was someone like Melvin Manhoef or someone a whole lot bigger (and) a whole lot scarier, I'd probably think about it. Call a friend to fight him at the bar. So then I probably wouldn't take that fight."

Does that mean Sadollah doesn't pass muster as a tough guy?

"No, I'm not saying that at all," Johnson said. "Every fight is a challenge. I'm just saying it's this fight."

Sadollah is an opponent, and a payday. And the path of Johnson's career just doesn't play a big part in whether or not he steps up. Previously, he was gunning for a fight with Michael Bisping (along with just about everyone else in the middleweight division), though that was more for personal gain that career gain.

A loss to Sadollah certainly wouldn't be good news, but that won't keep Johnson from stepping up.

"I don't think like that," he said. "It's not like I was out of the gym. I've fought people on five minutes' notice before, so it's one of those."

Johnson doesn't know Sadollah personally but said the "TUF" winner probably would agree about the circumstances of taking the fight and the preparation for it.

"From everything I've seen of him, he seems a lot like myself where he doesn't really prepare one specific thing for one specific guy," he said. "There's a lot of aspects, and a lot of guys change in the given time. There are a lot between fights, so it's really hard to prepare specifically for one guy. I think he's just ready to fight whoever.

"The game plan changes a little, but for the most part, he's still going to come out there and try and whip my ass."

So there you have it. There's no reason to think too deeply about the meaning of Johnson vs. Sadollah. It's just a fight.

Try to enjoy it.

"It's pretty simple," Johnson said. "Just try to punch him just as much, or more. At the end of the day, it's just a fistfight."

 

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Meeting between Strikeforce, UFC and Showtime executives deemed a success

It might be a bit awkward to have a sit-down with someone who, until very recently, was your avowed business rival.

But that apparently wasn't the case when executives from Strikeforce, UFC and Showtime met this past week in New York City to discuss the shape of things following the UFC's recent buyout of Strikeforce.

"I think it was a good business meeting," Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) on Wednesday.

Of course, the UFC was the newest presence at the table. Strikeforce and Showtime struck a broadcast deal in February 2009 following the collapse of ProElite Inc. and its fight promotion EliteXC. The Strikeforce-Showtime deal has the potential to run until 2014, Coker said.

The Strikeforce executive joined Showtime VP of Sports Programming Ken Hershman and UFC co-owner and executive Lorenzo Fertitta (in addition to support staff for the three companies).

Absent was UFC president Dana White, who said he would stay out of the mix when his promotion's purchase of the California-based promotion became official earlier this month.

White and Hershman share a wintry relationship born out of unsuccessful negotiations to bring the UFC to the premium-cable channel prior to its partnership with Spike TV. White has not been shy in the media about his dislike of Hershman.

"I think the key thing about this – we'll call it a transition – is I don't want to make anybody feel uncomfortable," White told MMAFighting.com about the meeting, which he also characterized as positive. "We own this company now and it's going to be run separately."

Fertitta said during the announcement of the buyout that he would suggest changes in the format of Showtime-televised Strikeforce events but that the ultimate decision rests with the network.

"To make it real clear, Showtime controls the production, which includes the announcers; it includes how the show is broadcast – all those different things," Fertitta said. "I'm sure that we'll give our input, and whether or not they take our input is entirely up to them."

Coker wasn't about to give a play-by-play of the meeting's contents, but he said Fertitta's presence was a positive one.

"We talked about every aspect of the business, and Strikeforce," he said. "But the details I really don't want to get into. I think they addressed every different aspect of the business, and Lorenzo told me and he told everybody at Showtime, 'Look, we're committed to putting on the shows and the quality that they're used to. Nothing is going to change.'

"He's going to deliver on his part. I really believe that."

As to what happens when the deal between Showtime and Strikeforce expires, Coker hopes the two continue to do business.

"Strikeforce could be on Showtime until 2014, and my belief is that if we continue having great ratings and putting big fights on, I think we'll continue having our Showtime deal," he said.

But a change in Strikeforce's TV-based business model is imminent.

"With Strikeforce, I believe you'll see us in the pay-per-view business before the end of the year," Coker said.

 

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Coker: If Strikeforce Is Profitable, It Will Continue

Following Strikeforce’s sale to the UFC, conventional wisdom suggests Strikeforce will close up after its various contracts expire.

However, Scott Coker (Pictured) believes Strikeforce’s future is in his and his team’s hands.

“At the end of the day, [the UFC] gave the WEC a good opportunity to try to flourish,” the Strikeforce CEO said Wednesday on the Sherdog Radio Network’s “Beatdown” show. “I just think it didn’t pan out the way they wanted. That’s why inevitably it went the way that it did.”

The WEC ended up merging with the UFC, a move that could also await Strikeforce in the future.

“I think our brand name is very strong,” Coker argued. “I think it’s stronger than it’s ever been and I think the Showtime relationship has been good for everybody and good for mixed martial arts and has given a lot of fighters some great opportunities. If we can continue to grow and continue to build this business the way that we have been … if we’re profitable and the company is doing very well, then I don’t see why it would not continue.”

Coker said Strikeforce’s contract with Showtime could extend to 2014. He doesn’t expect the promotion’s relationship with the network to change.

“I’m going to run Strikeforce and I’m going to keep building this thing as much as I can,” Coker said. “We’re going to work as hard as we can. … I think it will be ready for pay-per-view by the end of the year.”

Showtime would control production of a pay-per-view, Coker said, but the UFC’s resources would also be at his disposal.

“One of the things I’m really excited about, if you look at the muscle behind the UFC brand, now we have access to that,” he said. “We have access to their marketing machine and their PR machine and just all of the nuts and bolts of that company. They’ve been very helpful. They’ve been very engaging. Everybody’s been extremely friendly. We’re going to use some of those resources and we’re going to go out there and blow up Strikeforce.”

If Strikeforce is folded into the UFC, though, women fighters could be hit the hardest. While Strikeforce has promoted some of the biggest women’s bouts, UFC President Dana White has expressed little interest in having them in the Octagon. Coker isn’t looking that far down the road; for now, women have a home in Strikeforce.

“We are not going to mess with anything,” Coker said. “The girl fights will continue on Strikeforce. We have a big fight with Gina coming up at some point this year. We expect to have Marloes Coenen back, have ‘Cyborg’ back. To me, the platform will still be there. We still believe in the girls fighting and the girls’ ability to compete at the highest level. We’re going to continue with the girls.”

 

[Shogun Locc]

UFC Fight Night 24: Johnson insists he'll make weight, Hardy says he doesn't care

Some fighters take it as a sign of disrespect when their opponents miss weight. Fans certainly don't like it, and promoters generally aren't amused, either.

Athletic commissions not only don't like it, they hit a fighter where it really hurts – the pocketbook.

But one-time title challenger Dan Hardy (23-8 MMA, 4-2 UFC), who meets massive weight-cutter Anthony Johnson (8-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) on Saturday at UFC Fight Night 24, doesn't really care one way or the other.

Johnson can eat all the Burger King, pancakes and cookies he wants, as long as he shows up to fight at Saturday's event, which takes place at Seattle's KeyArena and airs live on Spike TV.

"It makes no difference to me," Hardy told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmmajunkie.com). "If he comes in overweight, that shows me a lack of discipline. It also means he's got more than one chin to hit, as well, which is going to work out in my favor."

Johnson may not have a second chin or spare tire around his waist right now, but he certainly wasn't a svelte, ripped fighter about three months ago. The welterweight admitted today that he ballooned up to 231 pounds while sidelined from knee surgery. That number is 11 pounds more than the 50 pounds he cut to make the 171-pound limit for a fight with Yoshiyuki Yoshida at UFC 104.

Or 45 pounds, anyway.

Johnson missed the UFC 104 cutoff by five pounds and was fined a percentage of his purse. He was so drawn out he needed to be carried to weigh-ins.

Johnson had no problems making weight the next time around when he fought Josh Koscheck at UFC 106, but Hardy thinks the drastic cut sapped him of the will to fight as the fight wore on. Koscheck submitted him late in the second round.

Johnson's team has several times tried to convince him to move to middleweight, if not light heavyweight. However, those efforts have been unsuccessful.

So the big question remains if there will be a problem when Johnson hits the scale Friday.

For his part, "Rumble" insists the concern is far overblown.

"There's a lot of haters out there," Johnson said. "Everybody thinks I'm not going to make weight. I like that. That just keeps me motivated.

"All you haters, I welcome you. Keep doubting me. Keep coming. I need you in my life."

Johnson said he's been working closely with a nutritionist for this camp and anticipates no issues at Friday's weigh-ins. But with all of Johnson's past problems, Hardy doesn't find it hard to believe there would be another.

And, of course, if there's a miss, Hardy does get a nice little bonus: part of Johnson's check.

"The Outlaw" said he couldn't care less.

"For his best interest, he's got to make weight," he said. "The fans are going to look down at him if he doesn't. Obviously, the UFC won't be happy with him, so the pressure's on him.

"I don't really care. Regardless what happens, I've trained 11 weeks for this fight, and it's going to happen."

Hardy, for one, can't wait to get back into the cage.

"Now, I'm in the hotel," he said. "I know he's here, and I know he's up for the fight. I'm switched on – I'm ready. I'm all Charlie Sheened out."

 

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UFC Fight Night 24 preview: With win over Nogueira, is Davis ready for title shot?

There is the next big thing, and then the next big thing after that. Maybe.

A lot of MMA observers think Phil Davis (8-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) is the latter, and newly minted UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones is the former.

Less than a week after Jones' decimation of Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, the focus has shifted lightning-fast to not only the next contender to the light-heavyweight crown, but the next contender remotely qualified to match the brilliance displayed by the new champ.

A little more than a month ago, Davis agreed to vacate a bout at UFC 129 with Jason Brilz for a headlining spot on UFC Fight Night 24 against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (19-4 MMA, 2-1 UFC). A big opportunity, no doubt. But since Jones rattled Rua's bones, Davis' fight has taken on a much greater significance. All of the sudden, the former NCAA wrestling champ is being vetted for the next contender's slot.

That's got to be a serious strain on Davis, who stepped in for injured Tito Ortiz. The question now is, can he ignore it enough to perform against the veteran Nogueira?

UFC Fight Night 24 takes place Saturday at Seattle's KeyArena. The night's main card airs on Spike TV (10 p.m. ET/PT), and a five-bout preliminary-card stream kicks off 7:30 p.m. ET (4:30 p.m. PT) on Facebook.

Davis said he's aware of the hype trailing him, and he can only say one thing at this point in his young career: I'll try.

"I think it's an honor that people think that I'll fight for the belt one day," he said. "And the Lord willing, one day I will."

But you won't hear him making any predictions about when that day comes, and you probably won't see him signing his name, "UFC champion 2011."

"I don't know," he said when asked by MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) whether he could be ready for a title shot with a win over Nogueira. "You know, I'm really not the guy to say ... where I'll fight next. Right now, I have to worry about Nogueira. I don't get to fight him, (and) there is no title shot. That's the most important thing right now."

Davis certainly looks like a future force at 205 pounds, but so far, he has yet to face top-tier competition. He's routed Brian Stann, Alexander Gustafsson, Rodney Wallace and Tim Boetsch on his climb up the light-heavyweight ladder. What's more, he's done it in a less than a year. Nogueira represents the most accomplished and most experienced opponent he's yet faced.

It's been such a fast rise that Davis acknowledged that he needs more time to develop his skills. So far, he's been running fight camp after fight camp as his UFC career blossomed.

"I'm going to take some time off after this fight to improve my game," he said. "For this fight, I came back definitely a little bit sooner than I wanted to. But this fight also is giving me an opportunity just to step back and look over the last four or five fights and see what I need to improve on and see what I'm making mistakes and give me a little bit of time to get myself together before the next person I'm going to fight."

You could say Nogueira has done the bulk of his learning in a 10-year career in MMA. He's looking to get as far as he can in the limited amount of time he has left. So he's unconcerned about his opponent switch from Ortiz to Davis. Whatever gets him to the belt fastest is what he wants.

"They're about at the same level right now in the division [I'm] in," Nogueira said through translator Derek Lee.

The Brazilian PRIDE veteran said he's worked on his wrestling to raise it to the level of his boxing, which traditionally has been viewed as his strongpoint. But when measured with Davis' collegiate experience on the mats, it's clear where each fighter will try to take the fight.

And if Nogueira has struggled against anybody in the octagon, it's been against wrestlers who've rounded out their game sufficiently in the standup realm. He nearly lost to Brilz at UFC 114 and fell decisively short against Ryan Bader at UFC 119.

It may be too early to anoint Davis the next big thing, but Saturday's test will show whether he's on his way to that status.

 

[Shogun Locc]

UFN 24's "Bruce Leroy" calls reality-show experience valuable, surprisingly enjoyable

Reality television was fun while it lasted for Alex Caceres (4-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC), better known as "Bruce Leroy."

Now, it's time for the real show to begin.

His first official UFC fight is slated for Saturday against Mackens Semerzier (5-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC). The featherweights meet on the preliminary card of UFC Fight Night 24 at Seattle' KeyArena in a bout that streams live on Facebook.

UFC Fight Night 24's main card airs on Spike TV (10 p.m. ET/PT) and is headlined by a light-heavyweight matchup between Phil Davis and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.

While Caceres did defeat Paul Barrow and Jeff Lentz on "The Ultimate Fighter 12," neither counted toward his professional record. Nor did his eventual loss in the quarterfinals to Michael Johnson since the Nevada State Athletic Commission recognizes the contests as exhibitions.

That explains why he's technically a UFC newbie.

Nevertheless, it was a wise career move for Caceres to go through the experience on the show. It gave him a chance to continue to develop as a fighter while helping build his individual brand in the process.

It was fruitful any way you slice it.

"I was one of the only people that had a good time on the show," Caceres recently told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio). "Everybody else was kind of missing home and stuff. People were saying I was getting on their nerves and what not, but I had a good time."

Some castmates and viewers were rubbed the wrong way by what they perceived as a cocky attitude. It was all too often punctuated with an ear-to-ear grin – not only outside the cage, but also occasionally during the heat of battle.

"It's relaxing," Caceres said. "When I get in [the cage], basically I am expressing myself. I'm not trying to hold anything back, so there's no tension. There shouldn't be. It's what I do. You have got to like what you do, and if you're not enjoying it, then it becomes work. I don't like to work."

From the conclusion of the show until present day, Caceres has taken his training to a whole new level in an effort to impress in his debut with the hopes of becoming a promotional mainstay.

He left his home state of Florida to train with Firas Zahabi at his Tristar Gym in Montreal. Eventually he migrated some 400 miles south to New York after receiving an invitation from one of his former coaches on "The Ultimate Fighter," John Danaher.

Danaher is a world-renowned jiu-jitsu instructor who teaches at the Renzo Gracie Academy in New York City.

"[Danaher] invited me as well to come there and to do some training, and that's exactly what I did," Caceres said. "I came down to New York, and it just so happens I like it better here."

It's where he's been spending a lot of time preparing diligently for Semerzier, who despite not having a sterling resume of late is a dangerous opponent. "Mack da Menace" currently is riding a three-fight losing streak but has faced quality competition on a consistent basis. It's better collective opposition than Caceres has faced in his career up to this point.

"He's a tough guy," Caceres said. "I can't really say anything bad about him. He looks good in all his fights. He comes out there to bang sometimes. I see he likes standing up, so it should be an exciting fight for me and him.

"I know he's lost three in a row, but I can't really feel sorry for him. He's in my way. I'm in his way."

Something gives Saturday night.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Despite hiccups, "Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley" main card still set for April 9

Despite some hiccups along the way, the televised main card for next month's "Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley" event is good to go.

This month's earthquake and tsunami disaster in Japan, as well as the UFC's recent purchase of Strikeforce, initially cast some doubt on the Showtime-televised card.

But all four bouts are official for April 9, Strikeforce spokesperson Mike Afromowitz recently confirmed with MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).

San Diego's Valley View Casino Center hosts "Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley," and a welterweight title fight between champion Nick Diaz (24-7 MMA, 5-0 SF) and challenger Paul Daley (27-9-2 MMA, 2-0 SF) headlines the show.

Daley cast some doubt on the matchup following the UFC-Strikeforce purchase earlier this month. Daley, who was fired by the UFC after a post-fight suckerpunch of opponent Josh Koscheck in 2010, fired off a series of posts on The Underground and suggested he might not want to fight for the Zuffa LLC-owned Strikeforce any longer.

The British slugger, though, is going through with the bout.

Also secured for the card is a lightweight title fight between champ Gilbert Melendez (18-2 MMA, 8-1 SF) and Tatsuya Kawajiri (27-6-2 MMA, 0-0 SF). Officials had put K.J. Noons on standby as a possible replacement following the chaos of the Japanese disaster, but they're now confident Kawajiri is good to go.

In addition to the title fights, the "Strikeforce: Diaz vs. Daley" main card includes lightweights Lyle Beerbohm (16-1 MMA, 5-1 SF) vs. DREAM champion Shinya Aoki (26-5 MMA, 0-1 SF) in a non-title fight and light heavyweights Mike Kyle (18-8-1 MMA, 2-3-1 SF) vs. Gegard Mousasi (30-3-1 MMA, 2-1 SF).

Afromowitz said the event's preliminary card will be finalized in the coming days.

 

[Shogun Locc]

UFC Fight Night 24's Leonard Garcia brawling for fight fans, not keyboard warriors

SEATTLE – With four-straight split decisions on his record, UFC featherweight contender Leonard Garcia (15-6-1 MMA, 2-3 UFC) knows all about controversial results.

His wild, brawling style has helped him steal a round or two along the way, and MMA fans and pundits have often criticized "Bad Boy" for a handful of perceived gift victories.

As he enters Saturday's Spike TV-broadcast UFC Fight Night 24 bout with Chan Sung Jung (10-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) – a rematch of 2010's World MMA Awards Fight of the Year – Garcia knows all about the criticism. He just has yet for someone to say it to his face.

"For every bad comment that I read – I've never heard one – but for every bad comment that I read, I hear 10 or 20 great ones," Garcia told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "The UFC Fan Expos, everywhere where I'm greeted by great people, I feel like the guy sitting behind the computer talking mess doesn't mean that much to me. It's the people who go to the shows and watch the fights religiously. Those are the people that I care about, and those are the ones I'm putting on a show for."

Garcia was originally expected to face Nam Phan at this weekend's event in a rematch of a controversial bout from this past December's The Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale event. Garcia used his trademark haymakers to woo the judges, and the effort netted him a split-decision win.

Most observers, including UFC president Dana White, felt the decision was unjust, but Garcia said judges are doing just fine. He points to Diego Sanchez's recent win over Martin Kampmann as the perfect example of why aggression should (and often does) win fights – even against a more technical fighter.

"It's like Diego Sanchez and Martin Kampmann," Garcia said. "You watch a fight like that, and Kampmann definitely landed the cleaner shots. Diego brought the fight, though. Had Diego not been there, that would have been a fight where Kampmann wins on points. Diego went out there and got crazy and ended up swaying the judges into (giving him) two rounds. I agree with that.

"I think if a guy is in there trying to press the fight, that's what people want to see. That's what people turn their TVs on for, and that's what they pay their ticket for. I could play it safe, take somebody down, hold them down for the whole round. I don't want to pay to see that. I want to see two guys get out there and get after it. I want to see guys look like Rocky Balboa after a fight. I like to be that guy.

"I think judges are right. If you're pushing the fight, and you're being aggressive, you should win the fight. It shouldn't be the guy sitting back."

So while Garcia said he's been working diligently on his wrestling, don't expect to see any lay-and-pray from the Greg Jackson-trained fighter. Garcia said his coaches have tried to have him take a more technical approach to the sport, but the scrappy grinder admits he sometimes lets his mind wander during intense exchanges.

Consider his recollection of the second round of his first fight with "The Korean Zombie."

"I remember at the end of the second round, I was like, 'You know what? He's been hitting me a lot. I'm going to drop my hands and let him hit me a couple times just to mess with him mentally,'" Garcia said. "So I stepped back, I remember I put my hands down, smiling. He hits me. He rings off like four good shots. I was like, 'Oh, [expletive]. This was a bad idea.' I remember thinking that during the fight.

"It's just funny situations that happen in fights where you think of doing something cute, and you pay for it. That definitely was the case that time."

Whether or not Saturday's rematch lives up to the quality of their first epic encounter remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Leonard Garcia isn't changing, regardless of what the keyboard warriors recommend.

"My mindset every time I go into a fight – and my preparation for a fight – is to get ready for a war," Garcia said. "It's not just because I like those type of fights. That's just my fighting style.

"I broke my hand in the first fight in the very first round and ended up breaking it really bad toward the end of the fight. If my hand holds up this time around, I don't think it will go as far as it did last time."

 

[Shogun Locc]

M-1 Champion Artiom Damkovsky Plans To Leave A Lasting Impression On U.S. Fans

Over the past year, no M-1 Global fighter’s stock has risen as much as Artiom Damkovsky’s has.

Entering 2010, Damkovsky had gone 2-2 in his last four bouts and it wasn’t clear what direction his future was headed.

Damkovsky responded by having the best year of his career, first by winning the M-1 Selection Eastern European Lightweight Grand Prix, and then by capping off 2010 by taking the promotion’s 155-pound world championship.

“Last year seemed to fly by,” Damkovsky told MMAWeekly.com. “I had three tough fights to win the Selections tournament – all going to decision – and a war with (Mairbek) Taisumov to win the lightweight belt.

“Each round added more experience and I fought from every position (in the advantage, at a disadvantage, in trouble, and in control). Continually being tested has helped me evolve into a more mature, confident fighter.”

Understandably, Damkovsky’s title win was the perfect ending to a grueling year, and he intends to make sure he’s deserving of such an accomplishment.

“I was really happy about it,” he said. “I worked so hard and trained so hard to capture this goal and it was such an overwhelming feeling to achieve it.

“I feel a sense of responsibility to my fans; a need to defend. I can feel that many people believe in me and my abilities and I’m not going to let them down!”

Damkovsky’s first title defense will come on Friday, March 25, as part of M-1 Global’s historic first live event on Showtime. According to Damkovsky, history is something he’s used to being a part of with the promotion and he will make the most of his opportunity.

“I’m already in M-1’s history as their first ever lightweight champion, (and) I hope that (March) 25 will be another successful page in my career,” he stated. “Being part of M-1’s debut show on Showtime is also an honor; I want to put on a great show for fans in America.

“Many will be seeing me for the first time, and (I want to) leave them with a strong impression of the level of European fighters. Putting on an excellent fight will also show the fans that M-1 puts on entertaining shows.”

Damkovsky’s first title defense will come against American Top Team prospect Jose Figueroa in a fight that may be more a clash of physical differences than fight styles.

“Obviously his height is a big advantage, which will pose a challenge, but I’ve trained hard to prepare for this and will neutralize it,” said Damkovsky.

“As for his weaknesses, (he is very well-rounded and) there is nothing specific, but it appears he doesn’t possess any single outstanding characteristic in is his fighting style.”

After a breakout year that saw him rise to the top of M-1’s lightweight division, Damkovsky’s plan for 2011 is simple: keep winning and keep it entertaining.

“I’m very grateful for the support of all my fans. I will do my best to not to let them down and put on a great fight,” he concluded. “It’s an honor to travel to the U.S. for the first time and fight in front of an American crowd and on Showtime. Thank you to M-1 for this opportunity.

“The goal is to have a minimum of two successful title defenses in awesome battles.”

 

[Shogun Locc]

M-1′s Evgeni Kogan on M-1 Challenge Showtime Debut, Fedor and Strikeforce Acquisition

This Friday marks the beginning of a new era for M-1 Global. After years of putting on events all over the world, the promotion will finally make its debut on major pay television when their Norfolk, Va., M-1 Challenge event will be broadcast live on Showtime.

The show is set to feature some of the best fighters in the promotion, both American and international, including two title bouts.

M-1 Global Director of Operations Evgeni Kogan recently spoke to MMAWeekly.com about this historic event, as well as the recent reshaping of the MMA landscape and the future of his promotion.

MMAWeekly: Before we talk about M-1 Global’s Showtime debut, I’m curious to get your thoughts on the recent acquisition of Strikeforce by the UFC and what sort of impact might this have on the MMA landscape.

Evgeni Kogan: It’s incredible how fast the landscape can change in this sport. New opportunities are presented faster than one can keep up with. As for whether the purchase is good or bad for the sport, we’ll see the impacts over the next one to two years. For M-1 Global, it doesn’t really affect our plans.

MMAWeekly: To confirm previous reports, this deal will have no effect on M-1 Global’s relationship with Strikeforce or Showtime, correct?

Evgeni Kogan: Correct. The purchase has no affect on our relationship with Strikeforce or Showtime. We’ve enjoyed working together with Strikeforce in the past and look forward to working together with Strikeforce in the future.

Our position and day-to-day operations haven’t changed at all. Our promotion’s fighters are signed under the M-1 brand and we have a full slate of events we are currently executing.

Fedor (Emelianenko’s) contract is with Showtime Networks Inc. and as noted, he is happy fighting on Showtime/CBS. We hope that this continues to be a productive relationship which lasts for a long time. It’s business as usual for M-1 Global.

MMAWeekly: Give us your thoughts on having M-1 Global on Showtime and the effect it can have on the company.

Evgeni Kogan: There is no better market to seriously compete in than the U.S. and our televised events on Showtime will greatly impact our success in North America.

After our March 25 card, there will be three more Challenge events inside the U.S. and three more in Europe after the April 28 card in St. Petersburg, (Russia). With the established relationship with Showtime, giving the M-1 Challenge events a home here made excellent sense.

Ken Hershman has been vocal about having Showtime televise quality cards, which showcase top prospects and lesser-known international stars; the M-1 Challenge fits perfectly into this equation.

We are extremely happy about the venture between M-1 Global and Showtime. This is a premium network in North America and great home for the M-1 Challenge events. It’s a tremendous opportunity to introduce the M-1 promotion to our growing North American fan base and showcase our rising prospects.

Personally, I’m beyond excited and elected to (travel to the U.S. early) to do everything I can to make this event as successful as possible.

MMAWeekly: The card is set to feature some of the best international and American talent the promotion possesses. How important was it to feature such a diverse line-up of stars on this debut show?

Evgeni Kogan: Showcasing this array of talent is incredibly important. M-1 has some of Europe’s top fighters signed and having them featured on the Showtime telecast adds credibility to the caliber of athlete’s coming from overseas.

Artiom Damkovsky, Magomed Sultanakhmedov, and Alexander Sarnavskiy may not be names that the North American fans are used to hearing but after March 25, they’ll be hot topics in the forums. Vinny Magalhaes, Tyson Jeffries, and Jose Figueroa are all North American fighters M-1 is developing and they’re seizing their opportunities to build a following.

Tyson and Jose are also special since they’re direct products of the M-1 Selection tournament, which provides the proving ground for young fighters to succeed and grow. Now they’ve landed key spots on Showtime’s live broadcast. This is truly an amazing opportunity for all these fighters to shine.

MMAWeekly: What is the thing you want to most get across to new fans about M-1 Global with this broadcast?

Evgeni Kogan: We want to drive awareness that M-1 Global is a promoter of exciting and entertaining cards; cards where fighters aren’t afraid to leave everything on the canvas and finish. M-1 Global has been putting on shows since 1998 and we need to show the North American fan base why our events are exciting and why we’ve been around for 13 years.

MMAWeekly: Sounds exciting, Evgeni. Thanks for taking time out for us. Is there anything you want to say in conclusion?

Evgeni Kogan: Thank you as well, Mick. I really want to convey to our growing fan base that M-1 Global is listening to their feedback and implementing the necessary changes to become a major player in the sport. We’re out searching the world for the next superstars and will continue to put on exciting, entertaining events.

Through 2011 and beyond, M-1 cards will be some of the most exciting events that fans will watch either through our live streaming telecasts or network broadcasts on Showtime. The Challenge cards in (particular) will raise the bar in terms of expectations and we’re excited to begin introducing some of Europe’s top prospects to North America on March 25.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Brendan Schaub on Final Strike Landed on Mirko CroCop: “I Wish It Never Happened”

When Brendan Schaub cracked Mirko CroCop with a huge right hand at UFC 128, it not only brought an end to the Croatian’s time in the UFC, it also earned Schaub a “Knockout of the Night” bonus.

Just a split second after the right hand landed with CroCop crashing to the mat, Schaub followed up with one more big bomb to put an exclamation point on the evening, finishing the fight in emphatic fashion.

Unfortunately, replays showed CroCop knocked out from the first shot and the second seemed somewhat unnecessary, and Schaub came under fire for the late blow.

Now that the fight is over and he’s had a moment to go back and watch the outcome, Schaub didn’t think he did anything wrong in the heat of the action, especially considering how fast it happened, but it is something he regrets.

“When people are first telling me I’m like what are they talking about? I didn’t have any clue, and I asked my coaches and they’re like no I don’t get it. I re-watched it and I get what people are saying,” Schaub told MMAWeekly Radio about the final strike in the fight.

“In the heat of the moment, and you’re fighting a guy like Mirko CroCop, when I hit him I saw him go limp and he started to get back up. Now that’s not a guy you want to get back up, that guy’s a monster. So, I better get another one in. The other thing too, I don’t stop until the ref pulls me off. It’s one of those things you don’t stop until Herb (Dean) gets in.”

The split second is all it took for Schaub to land the final blow as referee Herb Dean rushed in for the stoppage. On replay and in slow motion, the last punch looked unnecessary, but much like many fights before that, hindsight is always 20/20.

“I wish it never happened, I wish Herb had got there faster so it didn’t happen. I’m not the guy who looks to hurt a guy when he’s down and out like that at all. That is something I wish had never happened,” Schaub admitted.

The fight which will likely go down as CroCop’s last in the UFC, was a huge win for Schaub.

The former “Ultimate Fighter” competitor has now picked up four wins in a row, with three of them coming by way of TKO. Schaub is proud that he was able to beat a legend in Mirko CroCop, but still understands why fans were giving him a hard time after the finish last Saturday night.

“When I saw it in slow motion, I was like ‘aww man’ cause literally CroCop’s my favorite,” Schaub said.

For his part, Schaub is feeling pretty good after the fight despite a busted up nose courtesy of a short elbow from CroCop early in the fight. The Colorado fighter will now heal up and wait for a call from the UFC about his next bout in the Octagon.

 

[Shogun Locc]

 

[Shogun Locc]

Takaya On SF San Diego! Opponent Is Robert Peralta

FEG announced today that DREAM Featherweight champion Hiroyuki Takaya will join his fellow Japanese fighters Tatsuya Kawajiri and Shinya Aoki in participating on the April 9th Strikeforce San Diego event. His opponent will be Gladiator Challenge’s Robert Peralta.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Jansen-McAfee Targeted for Bellator 39

Two WEC veterans will lock horns on April 2, as Dave Jansen meets Scott McAfee in a lightweight duel at Bellator 39.

Sherdog.com confirmed the bout with multiple sources on Friday. Bellator 39 goes down from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., and will be headlined by a lightweight title fight between reigning champion Eddie Alvarez and Season 2 tournament winner Pat Curran. Also slated for the event is a pair of welterweight scraps, as UFC exile Ben Saunders meets Matt Lee and former Bellator 170-pound king Lyman Good squares off with Olympic judoka Rick Hawn in the first welterweight tournament semifinal.

Formerly of Team Quest and now training at a variety of gyms in the Pacific Northwest, Jansen is likely best known by fans for his three appearances inside the WEC. Undefeated through nearly three years of pro competition, Jansen made his WEC debut in 2009, outpointing Rich Crunkilton at WEC 43. However, back-to-back defeats followed for the Oregonian, as Jansen was bested by both Kamal Shalorus and Ricardo Lamas in 2010.

McAfee has won four of his last five fights. The Alaskan is a veteran of the defunct Palace Fighting Championship promotion and made his first and only WEC appearance in 2007, losing by first round guillotine choke to Marcus Hicks. In 2008, the lightweight moved from Alaska to Sacramento, Calif., to train with Team Alpha Male. The 27-year-old has finished all but one of his career victims and has never been knocked out.

 

[Shogun Locc]

The one to blame for Jon Jones’ ground game

The new UFC light heavyweight champion of the world has been evolving on the ground, that’s been proved when he submitted Ryan Bader, on UFC 126, and when he defended the takedown attempts of Mauricio Shogun Rua on UFC 128. But, who’s the responsible for the ground game trainings of the new champion? “Jiu-Jitsu helps me to pick good positions and I do like GSP does when he uses his elbows. I have to thank my Jiu-Jitsu coach, he’s the responsible for my evolution on the floor, he’s a Brazilian named Igor, and he’s helped me a lot”, revealed Jones on the press conference after UFC 128.

Gracie Barra’s black belt, Igor Araujo is the man who has been sharpening Jones’ ground game. Getting ready for an MMA bout Friday, on Real Fight FC, in Byelorussia, where he’ll go for the twentieth win of his career, the Brazilian gave an exclusive interview to TATAME, talking about Jones’ training, his evolution and told what he expects of Jones’ duel with Rashaed Evans.

How did you meet Jon Jones?

During the trainings. I’ve moved to New Mexico on the beginning of the year, but I once trained with Greg Jackson in November last year.

How much time did you work together for this Shogun’s bout?

A total of four weeks. Every afternoon me, him and usually Greg Jackson worked on Shogun’s good Jiu-Jitsu positions. On the week of the fight I went to New Jersey with him and we worked on this every single day.

How do you evaluate Jon Jones’ ground game?

Man, he’s really smart, he’s a quick learner, but to talk about Jiu-Jitsu you have to put a kimono on him, so he if he wears one, he’d be a white belt. But for MMA he has a good ground game, he has evolved a lot since we started training together. He really gives his whole best, and his ground game on MMA… He finished Bader, Shogun couldn’t sweep him, so he’s good on the ground.

Were you expecting a striking win as it was?
I hoped he’d win, but I was surprised the way it happened.

How were things before the fight?

He was pretty confident. He has tattooed on his chest one word that makes reference to the Bible, that is “I do all for the ones who strengthen me”. He’s a religious guy. God and self-confidence and hard trainings brings you closer to victory. But I believe that talking thing is more for promoting the fight, because he really respects Shogun.

He’ll now fight Rashad Evans, his team mate. Will you work with him for this bout?

I’ll be at the gym training, that’s for sure, and I believe all guys will train there too, we’re working together side by side, for our careers, because everybody has fights to do and, if I can help him, I’ll do it for sure.

How do you think this fight will be like? What are Rashad’s odds?

A good fight, Rashad is also pretty good, but Jones’ doing fine, I believe he’ll hold this belt for a long time.