MMA News Thread
- Thread starter Shogun Locc
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live stream of some fights going on in brazil right now (Amazon Forest Combat)
http://www.redetv.com.br/aovivo/
http://www.redetv.com.br/aovivo/
Resurrection Fighting Alliance had a lot of old school vets on the show this weekend, turned out to be some good fights.
[video=youtube;4EdjjYPcNmM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4EdjjYPcNmM[/video]
Gilbert is fuckin huge at LHW and pretty shredded
[video=youtube;KJMx0GvMlQc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=KJMx0GvMlQc[/video]
50 year old Maurice Smith with the vicious head kick
oh and ol gay porn guy himself Dakota Cochrane got choked the fuck out 3 weeks after failing to get on TUF lol
[video=youtube;4EdjjYPcNmM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4EdjjYPcNmM[/video]
Gilbert is fuckin huge at LHW and pretty shredded
[video=youtube;KJMx0GvMlQc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=KJMx0GvMlQc[/video]
50 year old Maurice Smith with the vicious head kick
oh and ol gay porn guy himself Dakota Cochrane got choked the fuck out 3 weeks after failing to get on TUF lol
Sean McCorkle loses to obese journeyman
LOL!! I can't believe Sean McCorkle was just in the UFC last year fighting guys like Mark Hunt and Stefen Struve. He just got his ass whooped this past weekend by an obese can that nobody has heard of.
http://www.mma-core.com/videos/fights/Brian_Heden_vs_Sean_McCorkle_WMMA_1/10027928
LOL!! I can't believe Sean McCorkle was just in the UFC last year fighting guys like Mark Hunt and Stefen Struve. He just got his ass whooped this past weekend by an obese can that nobody has heard of.
http://www.mma-core.com/videos/fights/Brian_Heden_vs_Sean_McCorkle_WMMA_1/10027928
Melendez vs. Thomson III, Kyle vs. Cavalcante targeted for Strikeforce's May event
Gilbert Melendez (20-2 MMA, 10-1 SF) and Josh Thomson (19-4 MMA, 10-2 SF) will soon settle a score.
Multiple sources close to the event today told MMAjunkie.com that verbal agreements are in place for a rubber match between the current and former Strikeforce lightweight champ at "Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier," which takes place May 19 at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., and airs live on Showtime. (Preliminary-card fights air on Showtime Extreme.)
Additionally, a non-title light-heavyweight matchup between former champ Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante (11-3 MMA, 4-2 SF) and Mike Kyle (19-8-1 MMA, 3-3-1 SF) is expected to take place.
Melendez had been rumored to fight a UFC import and had been linked at one point to former UFC champ B.J. Penn and Anthony Pettis, but the crossover fights did not materialize. Although UFC president Dana White opened the door for the possibility of current UFC fighters moving to Strikeforce, no major names have joined the Zuffa-owned promotion.
Thomson defeated Melendez in July 2008 to take the Strikeforce title before giving it back 17 months later in a rematch. The American Kickboxing Academy fighter most recently defeated onetime welterweight title challenger K.J. Noons, which put him into contention for another shot at the lightweight champ.
Melendez, who's one of the top fighters not currently fighting in the UFC, made his third consecutive title defense with a unanimous-decision victory over Jorge Masvidal in December. He's now 7-1 in his past eight fights. The lone loss came in a 2008 title fight with Thomson, though Melendez avenged the defeat a year later as part of his current six-fight win streak.
Cavalcante returned to action this past September after losing his belt to now-UFC fighter Dan Henderson in March 2011. He defeated Yoel Romero Palacio by second-round TKO at "Strikeforce Grand Prix: Barnett vs. Kharitonov."
The May 19 fight serves as a chance for Cavalcante to avenge a knockout loss to Kyle in his Strikeforce debut, which came in July 2009.
Kyle is getting back on the horse after he was forced to withdraw from a fight with former champ Gegard Mousasi this past month at "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey." His most recent Strikeforce appearance came in September 2011 when he outpointed Marcos Rogerio de Lima at "Strikeforce Grand Prix: Barnett vs. Kharitonov," which followed a knockout loss to Antonio Silva in December 2010.
Gilbert Melendez (20-2 MMA, 10-1 SF) and Josh Thomson (19-4 MMA, 10-2 SF) will soon settle a score.
Multiple sources close to the event today told MMAjunkie.com that verbal agreements are in place for a rubber match between the current and former Strikeforce lightweight champ at "Strikeforce: Barnett vs. Cormier," which takes place May 19 at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., and airs live on Showtime. (Preliminary-card fights air on Showtime Extreme.)
Additionally, a non-title light-heavyweight matchup between former champ Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante (11-3 MMA, 4-2 SF) and Mike Kyle (19-8-1 MMA, 3-3-1 SF) is expected to take place.
Melendez had been rumored to fight a UFC import and had been linked at one point to former UFC champ B.J. Penn and Anthony Pettis, but the crossover fights did not materialize. Although UFC president Dana White opened the door for the possibility of current UFC fighters moving to Strikeforce, no major names have joined the Zuffa-owned promotion.
Thomson defeated Melendez in July 2008 to take the Strikeforce title before giving it back 17 months later in a rematch. The American Kickboxing Academy fighter most recently defeated onetime welterweight title challenger K.J. Noons, which put him into contention for another shot at the lightweight champ.
Melendez, who's one of the top fighters not currently fighting in the UFC, made his third consecutive title defense with a unanimous-decision victory over Jorge Masvidal in December. He's now 7-1 in his past eight fights. The lone loss came in a 2008 title fight with Thomson, though Melendez avenged the defeat a year later as part of his current six-fight win streak.
Cavalcante returned to action this past September after losing his belt to now-UFC fighter Dan Henderson in March 2011. He defeated Yoel Romero Palacio by second-round TKO at "Strikeforce Grand Prix: Barnett vs. Kharitonov."
The May 19 fight serves as a chance for Cavalcante to avenge a knockout loss to Kyle in his Strikeforce debut, which came in July 2009.
Kyle is getting back on the horse after he was forced to withdraw from a fight with former champ Gegard Mousasi this past month at "Strikeforce: Tate vs. Rousey." His most recent Strikeforce appearance came in September 2011 when he outpointed Marcos Rogerio de Lima at "Strikeforce Grand Prix: Barnett vs. Kharitonov," which followed a knockout loss to Antonio Silva in December 2010.
Spencer Fisher vs. Sam Stout III added to UFC on FX 4 in Atlantic City
Another trilogy fight is in the works, this one for UFC on FX 4.
Lightweights Sam Stout (17-7-1 MMA, 6-6 UFC) and Spencer Fisher (24-8 MMA, 9-7 UFC) are set for a third fight at the event, which takes place June 22 at Revel Atlantic City in Atlantic City, N.J.
Sportsnet.ca reported the matchup, which MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) later confirmed.
UFC on FX 4's main card airs on FX, and FUEL TV is expected to carry the prelims.
Stout and Fisher split a pair of bouts with Stout victorious by split decision at UFC 58 and Fisher unanimously ahead on scorecards at UFC Fight Night 10. The lightweights' first meeting was considered an instant classic.
Since then, Stout has won four performance bonuses in a string of exciting performances, though his octagon record has been less than stellar at 5-4. Most recently, he dropped a unanimous decision to Thiago Tavares at UFC 142 in January.
Fisher has fared slightly worse, going 4-5 since his second meeting with Stout. As of late, his record is in severe decline with a 1-4 mark in his past five outings. He, too, suffered a loss to Tavares (by second-round TKO) in his most recent outing at UFC 134.
An exciting scrap is something both fighters need at this point
Another trilogy fight is in the works, this one for UFC on FX 4.
Lightweights Sam Stout (17-7-1 MMA, 6-6 UFC) and Spencer Fisher (24-8 MMA, 9-7 UFC) are set for a third fight at the event, which takes place June 22 at Revel Atlantic City in Atlantic City, N.J.
Sportsnet.ca reported the matchup, which MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) later confirmed.
UFC on FX 4's main card airs on FX, and FUEL TV is expected to carry the prelims.
Stout and Fisher split a pair of bouts with Stout victorious by split decision at UFC 58 and Fisher unanimously ahead on scorecards at UFC Fight Night 10. The lightweights' first meeting was considered an instant classic.
Since then, Stout has won four performance bonuses in a string of exciting performances, though his octagon record has been less than stellar at 5-4. Most recently, he dropped a unanimous decision to Thiago Tavares at UFC 142 in January.
Fisher has fared slightly worse, going 4-5 since his second meeting with Stout. As of late, his record is in severe decline with a 1-4 mark in his past five outings. He, too, suffered a loss to Tavares (by second-round TKO) in his most recent outing at UFC 134.
An exciting scrap is something both fighters need at this point
UFC's Diego Sanchez considering lightweight return, likes Anthony Pettis matchup
While healing from recent surgery, Diego Sanchez had an idea.
Unable to lift weights due to shoulder surgery and slowly trimming down because of it, the current welterweight today told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio) he's seriously considering a return to the lightweight division.
And he even has a few potential matchups in mind.
"I'm probably going to be going down to 155 for the next fight," he said. "And there are some possible opponents I'm looking at."
Sanchez has been on the mend since his UFC on FUEL TV 1 loss to Jake Ellenberger in February. After two years of dealing with a torn labrum, he decided to go under the knife and is now on the mend following successful surgery.
The time off has given him plenty of time to think about his immediate future.
"We'll see where I end up, but I'm still kind of a lighter welterweight," he said. "I really try to lift weights, but the shoulder injury sort of set me back. As I heal up, my body's going to get a little smaller, so I might just go down to 155."
Prior to the Ellenberger loss, Sanchez picked up welterweight wins over Paulo Thiago and Martin Kampmann. All three bouts won "Fight of the Night" bonuses, and the past two came in main-event fights.
Sanchez has had recent success at welterweight and could continue getting big fights. Yet his three-fight lightweight run ended in a lopsided TKO loss to then-champ B.J. Penn.
So why consider a move back there?
"The last time I was at 155, I was just a wreck," he said. "Mentally, I was still young and partying a lot, and I was still smoking weed. I was just a wild child. Now that I'm grounded and have my life together and am married, I'm just focused. So maybe 155 might be a better weight for me.
"Like (UFC president) Dana White said, maybe I can jump from either weight class as long as I do it professionally. And I will. If I have to go down to 155, it's only going to make me more strict with health and nutrition and diet. That's my hardest part (of training). But at 155, there's no messing around. You've got to do it right."
In the talent-rich lightweight and welterweight divisions, Sanchez knows he can get a good fight at either weight. But at 155 pounds, he sees one matchup he likes more than others: former WEC champ Anthony Pettis, who recently was skipped over for a title shot so the organization could book champ Benson Henderson vs. Frankie Edgar in a rematch.
Like Sanchez, Pettis recently underwent shoulder surgery.
"We'll be recovering about the same time," Sanchez said. "I think he got the same surgery as me, so it'd be an event playing field. I told Dana I really liked that fight.
"I want to fight a guy who's a fan favorite and who has a lot of fans and is a big draw. It'd make us both better, the sport better. Plus, the guy has a win over the champ, so that'd bump me up right to the top (of the division)."
If not Pettis, Sanchez also likes the idea of fighting Nate Diaz. He met the cantankerous fighter's older brother way back in 2005 at The Ultimate Fighter Finale 2, where Sanchez won a unanimous decision. Nick Diaz has made no secret of his disdain over the decision, so little brother Nate could look to avenge it.
Sanchez, though, isn't worried so much about the bad blood as the matchup itself.
"Them Diaz brothers are just scrappers," he said. "It'd be a 'Fight of the Night.' You're going to get the ground game, standup. You're going to get it all. You're going to get a real fight with a Diaz."
Some point to that Penn loss a reason Sanchez shouldn't go back to lightweight. After all, Penn has suffered through tough times recently (and may be retired for all we know). Additionally, since the Sanchez win, Penn has won just one out of five fights.
Sanchez, though, said he got a vintage Penn in their December 2009 fight, which was stopped in the fifth round as Sanchez's face gushed blood.
"I fought the best B.J. Penn ever that night," he said. "That was the best B.J. Penn ever. Anyone who knows MMA knows that. That was the legend. That was the epitome of the legend of B.J. Penn.
"I went in there and got caught early in the fight, and I never recovered. He beat me down in that first round. I watch it now, and I'm like, 'How did I survive that?'"
Of course, Sanchez isn't considering a return to lightweight simply because Penn is now out of the picture. He's no more likely to get a title at 155 pounds than he is at 170 pounds. He just thinks he's better suited for lightweight, especially now that he has his personal life and training in order.
But yeah, priority No. 1 is a title.
"No doubt about it, it's a title shot," he said. "That's what you want. You want to be the champion. I'm 30 years old. I'm coming into my peak. More than anything, mentally and spiritually, I ain't that foolish young kid anymore.
"I'm turning a corner with my striking, and I really feel at my best. On the right night and the right opponent, I could put the belt around my waist. That's my dream."
While healing from recent surgery, Diego Sanchez had an idea.
Unable to lift weights due to shoulder surgery and slowly trimming down because of it, the current welterweight today told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio) he's seriously considering a return to the lightweight division.
And he even has a few potential matchups in mind.
"I'm probably going to be going down to 155 for the next fight," he said. "And there are some possible opponents I'm looking at."
Sanchez has been on the mend since his UFC on FUEL TV 1 loss to Jake Ellenberger in February. After two years of dealing with a torn labrum, he decided to go under the knife and is now on the mend following successful surgery.
The time off has given him plenty of time to think about his immediate future.
"We'll see where I end up, but I'm still kind of a lighter welterweight," he said. "I really try to lift weights, but the shoulder injury sort of set me back. As I heal up, my body's going to get a little smaller, so I might just go down to 155."
Prior to the Ellenberger loss, Sanchez picked up welterweight wins over Paulo Thiago and Martin Kampmann. All three bouts won "Fight of the Night" bonuses, and the past two came in main-event fights.
Sanchez has had recent success at welterweight and could continue getting big fights. Yet his three-fight lightweight run ended in a lopsided TKO loss to then-champ B.J. Penn.
So why consider a move back there?
"The last time I was at 155, I was just a wreck," he said. "Mentally, I was still young and partying a lot, and I was still smoking weed. I was just a wild child. Now that I'm grounded and have my life together and am married, I'm just focused. So maybe 155 might be a better weight for me.
"Like (UFC president) Dana White said, maybe I can jump from either weight class as long as I do it professionally. And I will. If I have to go down to 155, it's only going to make me more strict with health and nutrition and diet. That's my hardest part (of training). But at 155, there's no messing around. You've got to do it right."
In the talent-rich lightweight and welterweight divisions, Sanchez knows he can get a good fight at either weight. But at 155 pounds, he sees one matchup he likes more than others: former WEC champ Anthony Pettis, who recently was skipped over for a title shot so the organization could book champ Benson Henderson vs. Frankie Edgar in a rematch.
Like Sanchez, Pettis recently underwent shoulder surgery.
"We'll be recovering about the same time," Sanchez said. "I think he got the same surgery as me, so it'd be an event playing field. I told Dana I really liked that fight.
"I want to fight a guy who's a fan favorite and who has a lot of fans and is a big draw. It'd make us both better, the sport better. Plus, the guy has a win over the champ, so that'd bump me up right to the top (of the division)."
If not Pettis, Sanchez also likes the idea of fighting Nate Diaz. He met the cantankerous fighter's older brother way back in 2005 at The Ultimate Fighter Finale 2, where Sanchez won a unanimous decision. Nick Diaz has made no secret of his disdain over the decision, so little brother Nate could look to avenge it.
Sanchez, though, isn't worried so much about the bad blood as the matchup itself.
"Them Diaz brothers are just scrappers," he said. "It'd be a 'Fight of the Night.' You're going to get the ground game, standup. You're going to get it all. You're going to get a real fight with a Diaz."
Some point to that Penn loss a reason Sanchez shouldn't go back to lightweight. After all, Penn has suffered through tough times recently (and may be retired for all we know). Additionally, since the Sanchez win, Penn has won just one out of five fights.
Sanchez, though, said he got a vintage Penn in their December 2009 fight, which was stopped in the fifth round as Sanchez's face gushed blood.
"I fought the best B.J. Penn ever that night," he said. "That was the best B.J. Penn ever. Anyone who knows MMA knows that. That was the legend. That was the epitome of the legend of B.J. Penn.
"I went in there and got caught early in the fight, and I never recovered. He beat me down in that first round. I watch it now, and I'm like, 'How did I survive that?'"
Of course, Sanchez isn't considering a return to lightweight simply because Penn is now out of the picture. He's no more likely to get a title at 155 pounds than he is at 170 pounds. He just thinks he's better suited for lightweight, especially now that he has his personal life and training in order.
But yeah, priority No. 1 is a title.
"No doubt about it, it's a title shot," he said. "That's what you want. You want to be the champion. I'm 30 years old. I'm coming into my peak. More than anything, mentally and spiritually, I ain't that foolish young kid anymore.
"I'm turning a corner with my striking, and I really feel at my best. On the right night and the right opponent, I could put the belt around my waist. That's my dream."
Rampage Jackson Attempts To Get Out Of Contract With Rape Video
lol Rampage trying to use the Miguel Torres method to get out of his contract by making a funny video where he shows people how to rape.
[video=youtube;GAz0LI4FBVY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAz0LI4FBVY&feature=player_embedded[/video]
lol dude will never get out of his contract, might as well fight his last fight, make another million or 2, then bounce.
lol Rampage trying to use the Miguel Torres method to get out of his contract by making a funny video where he shows people how to rape.
[video=youtube;GAz0LI4FBVY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAz0LI4FBVY&feature=player_embedded[/video]
lol dude will never get out of his contract, might as well fight his last fight, make another million or 2, then bounce.
the part about Spong is lulz
BJJ Phenom Braulio Estima On His Heavily Anticipated MMA Debut
It's always fun to play the "How would Elite Level Black Belt X do in MMA" game and sometimes, we're fortunate enough to see a few make the crossover. Soon we'll be seeing one of the top BJJ players in the world make that jump. Braulio Estima is currently in South Florida with the Blackzilians camp in preparation for his MMA debut later this summer. I recently spoke with the grappling ace about his debut and signing with Authentic Sports Management.
Stephie Daniels: You're currently at the Blackzilians camp. Are you there solely to train, or will you be doing other things, as well?
Braulio Estima: Originally, I came here to train MMA with my new team and to help Rashad (Evans) with his upcoming fight. There are other guys with fights coming up, too. Eddie (Alvarez) is going to be fighting in a couple weeks against Aoki. I also came to do some seminars in Orlando at Gracie Barra. I'm having a good time here.
Stephie Daniels: How long are you planning to stay?
Braulio Estima: About two weeks, but I might extend a little bit because it's been so good. I'm so overwhelmed. There are so many things that I learned in one week. I'm so excited about my new journey. The team -- I cannot say a bad word about them. Everyone has been treating me so well and they're so friendly. It's been an amazing experience, and I feel like I've known them for a long time already.
Stephie Daniels: What is the projected time frame for your MMA debut?
Braulio Estima: The original plan is to fight around July this year. I just wanted to come here to get to know the new team, and it's been beyond my expectations. It makes me feel like a white belt again. It feels so good to learn again, because I spend most of my time teaching, teaching, teaching. At this time in my career, I'm just like a sponge, learning a lot, and applying to my understanding and concept of fighting. It might take a little longer or a little less. It's a lot about finding the right show for my debut, and I want to make sure that I'm well prepared. I'm really looking forward to it.
Stephie Daniels: How long have you been training MMA as a whole?
Braulio Estima: I've been training for the last couple years. After the accident last year, my focus was on my match with "Jacare" [Ronaldo Souza] at ADCC. After that, I started training MMA again and the last four months or so I've been doing a lot more work on it.
Stephie Daniels: Who were you training with?
Braulio Estima: I was training with Roger Gracie and the guys from London Shootfighter. I was also training with the guys from Rough House: Paul Daley and Dan Hardy. For my wrestling I have my personal coach, Jeff, who is a very respected wrestler in the UK. He was the one that prepared me for ADCC. I always have him to train with.
Stephie Daniels: A lot of elite level Jiu-Jitsu players have trouble transitioning into MMA. What do you plan on doing to successfully make the crossover?
Braulio Estima: If you want to step over into MMA, you need to open your mind wider. You cannot stick to the same game plan as when you're doing BJJ. A lot of Jiu-Jitsu guys tend to be more aware of going to the ground. I think it's about the right strategy according to your game. I'm not going to go there to knock people out. I'm not going to go there to exchange if I don't need to. My game will be to bring the strategy to what I'm good at. The way that I train striking and wrestling is to bring the fight towards what I'm good at. I'm not going to be there on the firing line, exchanging punches, trying to see who is the fastest to knock each other out. I want to make a game that suits me. I will approach my opponent to get the clinch to make the situation better for my Jiu-Jitsu. I'm going to be fighting people that have years ahead of me in striking, so I cannot abandon my Jiu-Jitsu. I want to go there, and impose my game. I want to set the rhythm. I want to shock the world.
Stephie Daniels: I interviewed Eddie Bravo a few days ago, and he mentioned your upcoming MMA debut. He spoke very highly of you, and said that he considers you to be among the top three Jiu-Jitsu guys in the world. What are your thoughts on receiving such high praise from one of your peers?
Braulio Estima: That's so good to hear. I'd just like to say thanks to Eddie Bravo. I always follow him on the podcasts. He's a very, very good guy at BJJ, and I use a lot of things that he does. It's so cool to hear from him, something of this level. I'm very grateful to hear that.
Stephie Daniels: Bravo said he believes that in order to make a successful trasition to MMA, you have to have a good clinching style of Jiu-Jitsu. Would you agree that this is true?
Braulio Estima: Yes. This is an important fundamental in getting the fight to the ground. A lot of people try to get in the mid-range and that gives more options for your opponent to hit you. My game-plan is to make sure my opponent doesn't have much range to hit me, and whatever punches come won't do much damage. Obviously we need to use our striking, but once you close the gap and close them off; to keep control. The main thing is control before anything else.
Stephie Daniels: What weight class do you plan on fighting at?
Braulio Estima: My objective is to fight at welterweight. Right now, I'm 187-pounds so I'm planning to only fight at welterweight.
Stephie Daniels: Have you already been approached by any promotions to have your debut?
Braulio Estima: I've been contacted by several little shows, especially in the UK and Brazil, and a few in America as well. When I signed the agreement with my new team, they have an agents group, ASM (Authentic Sports Management), and Glenn Robinson runs it. He's my manager now, and he's dealing with all that. He has all the contacts. There's a lot of interest. We're just trying to pick the right time when I'm ready to go. I know once I start, it's going to be a very fast situation, and after a year or two I want to be fighting against the top guys.
I'm ready for it. I know it's not going to be an easy journey, but I never expected it to be. I just want to go there and do my job, and when the time is right, I'll be ready. No matter what happens, I will be ready.
Stephie Daniels: When did you sign with ASM and how has your experience been with them?
Braulio Estima: I signed with them a few months ago, like at the beginning of the year. Glenn is such a nice guy. He really looks after you. He has a bunch of top fighters and I think they all complement each other -- top strikers, top wrestlers and he wanted to bring in someone that has a good level in BJJ, so he approached me. When I came here and joined the camp, I felt so welcome and so sure of my decision. I'm already making plans to come back for 2 months straight before my debut. I think that will be the best thing for me.
Stephie Daniels: How has training with Rashad been?
Braulio Estima: I've been training with Rashad every day pretty much. He's looking very sharp. We've been training specific situations on the ground. He's a very smart guy, he's clever, and he picks up things very quickly.
Stephie Daniels: Have you had the opportunity to spar with Tyrone Spong yet?
Braulio Estima: I haven't yet, but by the sounds of what I hear, I'm actually glad I haven't [laughs]. I don't think it would be a very fun time for me just yet. I've been training with a lot of the other guys though. I've been training with Gesias "JZ" Cavalcante, Eddie and Jorge Santiago. The coaches there are so amazing, and I've learned so much in this short time. I'm over the moon to be around them.
BJJ Phenom Braulio Estima On His Heavily Anticipated MMA Debut
It's always fun to play the "How would Elite Level Black Belt X do in MMA" game and sometimes, we're fortunate enough to see a few make the crossover. Soon we'll be seeing one of the top BJJ players in the world make that jump. Braulio Estima is currently in South Florida with the Blackzilians camp in preparation for his MMA debut later this summer. I recently spoke with the grappling ace about his debut and signing with Authentic Sports Management.
Stephie Daniels: You're currently at the Blackzilians camp. Are you there solely to train, or will you be doing other things, as well?
Braulio Estima: Originally, I came here to train MMA with my new team and to help Rashad (Evans) with his upcoming fight. There are other guys with fights coming up, too. Eddie (Alvarez) is going to be fighting in a couple weeks against Aoki. I also came to do some seminars in Orlando at Gracie Barra. I'm having a good time here.
Stephie Daniels: How long are you planning to stay?
Braulio Estima: About two weeks, but I might extend a little bit because it's been so good. I'm so overwhelmed. There are so many things that I learned in one week. I'm so excited about my new journey. The team -- I cannot say a bad word about them. Everyone has been treating me so well and they're so friendly. It's been an amazing experience, and I feel like I've known them for a long time already.
Stephie Daniels: What is the projected time frame for your MMA debut?
Braulio Estima: The original plan is to fight around July this year. I just wanted to come here to get to know the new team, and it's been beyond my expectations. It makes me feel like a white belt again. It feels so good to learn again, because I spend most of my time teaching, teaching, teaching. At this time in my career, I'm just like a sponge, learning a lot, and applying to my understanding and concept of fighting. It might take a little longer or a little less. It's a lot about finding the right show for my debut, and I want to make sure that I'm well prepared. I'm really looking forward to it.
Stephie Daniels: How long have you been training MMA as a whole?
Braulio Estima: I've been training for the last couple years. After the accident last year, my focus was on my match with "Jacare" [Ronaldo Souza] at ADCC. After that, I started training MMA again and the last four months or so I've been doing a lot more work on it.
Stephie Daniels: Who were you training with?
Braulio Estima: I was training with Roger Gracie and the guys from London Shootfighter. I was also training with the guys from Rough House: Paul Daley and Dan Hardy. For my wrestling I have my personal coach, Jeff, who is a very respected wrestler in the UK. He was the one that prepared me for ADCC. I always have him to train with.
Stephie Daniels: A lot of elite level Jiu-Jitsu players have trouble transitioning into MMA. What do you plan on doing to successfully make the crossover?
Braulio Estima: If you want to step over into MMA, you need to open your mind wider. You cannot stick to the same game plan as when you're doing BJJ. A lot of Jiu-Jitsu guys tend to be more aware of going to the ground. I think it's about the right strategy according to your game. I'm not going to go there to knock people out. I'm not going to go there to exchange if I don't need to. My game will be to bring the strategy to what I'm good at. The way that I train striking and wrestling is to bring the fight towards what I'm good at. I'm not going to be there on the firing line, exchanging punches, trying to see who is the fastest to knock each other out. I want to make a game that suits me. I will approach my opponent to get the clinch to make the situation better for my Jiu-Jitsu. I'm going to be fighting people that have years ahead of me in striking, so I cannot abandon my Jiu-Jitsu. I want to go there, and impose my game. I want to set the rhythm. I want to shock the world.
Stephie Daniels: I interviewed Eddie Bravo a few days ago, and he mentioned your upcoming MMA debut. He spoke very highly of you, and said that he considers you to be among the top three Jiu-Jitsu guys in the world. What are your thoughts on receiving such high praise from one of your peers?
Braulio Estima: That's so good to hear. I'd just like to say thanks to Eddie Bravo. I always follow him on the podcasts. He's a very, very good guy at BJJ, and I use a lot of things that he does. It's so cool to hear from him, something of this level. I'm very grateful to hear that.
Stephie Daniels: Bravo said he believes that in order to make a successful trasition to MMA, you have to have a good clinching style of Jiu-Jitsu. Would you agree that this is true?
Braulio Estima: Yes. This is an important fundamental in getting the fight to the ground. A lot of people try to get in the mid-range and that gives more options for your opponent to hit you. My game-plan is to make sure my opponent doesn't have much range to hit me, and whatever punches come won't do much damage. Obviously we need to use our striking, but once you close the gap and close them off; to keep control. The main thing is control before anything else.
Stephie Daniels: What weight class do you plan on fighting at?
Braulio Estima: My objective is to fight at welterweight. Right now, I'm 187-pounds so I'm planning to only fight at welterweight.
Stephie Daniels: Have you already been approached by any promotions to have your debut?
Braulio Estima: I've been contacted by several little shows, especially in the UK and Brazil, and a few in America as well. When I signed the agreement with my new team, they have an agents group, ASM (Authentic Sports Management), and Glenn Robinson runs it. He's my manager now, and he's dealing with all that. He has all the contacts. There's a lot of interest. We're just trying to pick the right time when I'm ready to go. I know once I start, it's going to be a very fast situation, and after a year or two I want to be fighting against the top guys.
I'm ready for it. I know it's not going to be an easy journey, but I never expected it to be. I just want to go there and do my job, and when the time is right, I'll be ready. No matter what happens, I will be ready.
Stephie Daniels: When did you sign with ASM and how has your experience been with them?
Braulio Estima: I signed with them a few months ago, like at the beginning of the year. Glenn is such a nice guy. He really looks after you. He has a bunch of top fighters and I think they all complement each other -- top strikers, top wrestlers and he wanted to bring in someone that has a good level in BJJ, so he approached me. When I came here and joined the camp, I felt so welcome and so sure of my decision. I'm already making plans to come back for 2 months straight before my debut. I think that will be the best thing for me.
Stephie Daniels: How has training with Rashad been?
Braulio Estima: I've been training with Rashad every day pretty much. He's looking very sharp. We've been training specific situations on the ground. He's a very smart guy, he's clever, and he picks up things very quickly.
Stephie Daniels: Have you had the opportunity to spar with Tyrone Spong yet?
Braulio Estima: I haven't yet, but by the sounds of what I hear, I'm actually glad I haven't [laughs]. I don't think it would be a very fun time for me just yet. I've been training with a lot of the other guys though. I've been training with Gesias "JZ" Cavalcante, Eddie and Jorge Santiago. The coaches there are so amazing, and I've learned so much in this short time. I'm over the moon to be around them.
UFC 146 latest: 'Hendo' interested in Dos Santos title fight
SINCE IT AINT POSTED YET...
A few days after Alistair Overeem failed a drug test and likely cost himself a title shot, UFC officials have announced no replacement for his UFC 146 bout with heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos.
However, there have been some interesting developments.
Veteran middleweight and light heavyweight Dan Henderson has expressed his interest in the bout, and UFC president Dana White seemingly has ruled out the possibility of Frank Mir stepping in.
UFC 146, of course, takes place May 26, and the pay-per-view main card airs from Las Vegas' MGM Grand Garden Arena. Overeem (36-11 MMA, 1-0 UFC) was expected to take on Dos Santos (14-1 MMA, 8-0 UFC) in the championship headliner, but the former Strikeforce and DREAM champ recently failed a surprise drug test (his T/E ratio was 14:1, well over the 6:1 cutoff), and the Nevada State Athletic Commission is now unlikely to license him for the fight.
In recent days, fans have launched campaigns to push for everyone from Mark Hunt (8-7 MMA, 3-1 UFC) to Fedor Emelianenko (33-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC) to Fabricio Werdum (15-5-1 MMA, 3-2 UFC) to be the replacement. However, many considered Mir (16-5 MMA, 14-5 UFC), who's currently slated to fight ex-champ Cain Velasquez (9-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) on the UFC 146 main card, the leading candidate.
But UFC president Dana White seemed to discount that possibility in a recent tweet when responding to a fan.
"Mir vs. Cain will happen," he tweeted early this morning, suggesting he won't break up that matchup.
Perhaps the UFC could look in a different weight class. Henderson (29-8 MMA, 5-2 UFC), for example, "for sure" would take the fight if offered, he tweeted on Friday.
Henderson is on a 7-1 run that includes fights at middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight. The heavyweight win came over Emelianenko under the Strikeforce banner. Henderson scored a knockout win then signed with the UFC and topped light heavyweight Mauricio "Shogun" Rua in a "Fight of the Year" performance at UFC 139.
Henderson certainly has the marketability, and his recent credentials – including wins over then-Strikeforce champ Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante, Michael Bisping and Rich Franklin – speak for themselves. But even when fighting at heavyweight, Henderson weighed in at just 207 pounds. Dos Santos, by comparison, weighed 239 pounds for his title-clinching win over Velasquez in November.
Still, he may be a leading candidate. In a recent interview with MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com), Hunt said he doesn't expect to get the fight, and Emelianenko – who was unlikely anyway because of a contentious relationship between the UFC and the fighter's management – has been announced for a June 21 event in Russia, possibly against Bobby Lashley.
Additionally, the other top-level heavyweights from the UFC 146 main card – Roy Nelson (16-7 MMA, 3-3 UFC) and Antonio Silva (16-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) – are coming off losses.
SINCE IT AINT POSTED YET...
A few days after Alistair Overeem failed a drug test and likely cost himself a title shot, UFC officials have announced no replacement for his UFC 146 bout with heavyweight champion Junior Dos Santos.
However, there have been some interesting developments.
Veteran middleweight and light heavyweight Dan Henderson has expressed his interest in the bout, and UFC president Dana White seemingly has ruled out the possibility of Frank Mir stepping in.
UFC 146, of course, takes place May 26, and the pay-per-view main card airs from Las Vegas' MGM Grand Garden Arena. Overeem (36-11 MMA, 1-0 UFC) was expected to take on Dos Santos (14-1 MMA, 8-0 UFC) in the championship headliner, but the former Strikeforce and DREAM champ recently failed a surprise drug test (his T/E ratio was 14:1, well over the 6:1 cutoff), and the Nevada State Athletic Commission is now unlikely to license him for the fight.
In recent days, fans have launched campaigns to push for everyone from Mark Hunt (8-7 MMA, 3-1 UFC) to Fedor Emelianenko (33-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC) to Fabricio Werdum (15-5-1 MMA, 3-2 UFC) to be the replacement. However, many considered Mir (16-5 MMA, 14-5 UFC), who's currently slated to fight ex-champ Cain Velasquez (9-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) on the UFC 146 main card, the leading candidate.
But UFC president Dana White seemed to discount that possibility in a recent tweet when responding to a fan.
"Mir vs. Cain will happen," he tweeted early this morning, suggesting he won't break up that matchup.
Perhaps the UFC could look in a different weight class. Henderson (29-8 MMA, 5-2 UFC), for example, "for sure" would take the fight if offered, he tweeted on Friday.
Henderson is on a 7-1 run that includes fights at middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight. The heavyweight win came over Emelianenko under the Strikeforce banner. Henderson scored a knockout win then signed with the UFC and topped light heavyweight Mauricio "Shogun" Rua in a "Fight of the Year" performance at UFC 139.
Henderson certainly has the marketability, and his recent credentials – including wins over then-Strikeforce champ Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante, Michael Bisping and Rich Franklin – speak for themselves. But even when fighting at heavyweight, Henderson weighed in at just 207 pounds. Dos Santos, by comparison, weighed 239 pounds for his title-clinching win over Velasquez in November.
Still, he may be a leading candidate. In a recent interview with MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com), Hunt said he doesn't expect to get the fight, and Emelianenko – who was unlikely anyway because of a contentious relationship between the UFC and the fighter's management – has been announced for a June 21 event in Russia, possibly against Bobby Lashley.
Additionally, the other top-level heavyweights from the UFC 146 main card – Roy Nelson (16-7 MMA, 3-3 UFC) and Antonio Silva (16-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) – are coming off losses.
CSAC Amendment Would Allow TUEs For Marijuana And TRT
http://www.fightline.com/fl/news/2012/0410/548115/chael-sonnen/
According to Sports Illustrated, the California State Athletic Commission has passed an amendment that will allow therapeutic use exemptions for testosterone replacement therapy and marijuana.
Testosterone and marijuana weren't singled out by the commission, who declared TUEs available for any fighter needing medication that is legal in the state but banned for competition. The medication must not grant the competitor an advantage over their opponent.
The amendment will not be passed into law for some time, as it must go through a lengthy review process by other state boards. Even then, it may not be adopted as state law.
Interestingly, controversial UFC middleweight Chael Sonnen kicked off this whole process.
After showing elevated testosterone levels and testing positive for synthetic testosterone following his UFC 117 loss to Anderson Silva, Sonnen was suspended for a year by the CSAC. During this process, Sonnen claimed that he suffered from hypogonadism and was undergoing TRT for treatment. He said that the previous CSAC officials gave him a pass on it.
There were no existing protocols (and technically still aren't) for granting TUEs at that time and the CSAC has decided to set guidelines in place to avoid such a mess in the future.
http://www.fightline.com/fl/news/2012/0410/548115/chael-sonnen/
According to Sports Illustrated, the California State Athletic Commission has passed an amendment that will allow therapeutic use exemptions for testosterone replacement therapy and marijuana.
Testosterone and marijuana weren't singled out by the commission, who declared TUEs available for any fighter needing medication that is legal in the state but banned for competition. The medication must not grant the competitor an advantage over their opponent.
The amendment will not be passed into law for some time, as it must go through a lengthy review process by other state boards. Even then, it may not be adopted as state law.
Interestingly, controversial UFC middleweight Chael Sonnen kicked off this whole process.
After showing elevated testosterone levels and testing positive for synthetic testosterone following his UFC 117 loss to Anderson Silva, Sonnen was suspended for a year by the CSAC. During this process, Sonnen claimed that he suffered from hypogonadism and was undergoing TRT for treatment. He said that the previous CSAC officials gave him a pass on it.
There were no existing protocols (and technically still aren't) for granting TUEs at that time and the CSAC has decided to set guidelines in place to avoid such a mess in the future.