MMA News Thread

[heyzel]

NEW OPPONENT, SAME PLAN FOR WEC'S LOGAN CLARK

Logan Clark, originally slated to face Bryan Baker at WEC 33 on March 26, will instead face Scott Harper. Clark announced the bout on his website on Wednesday.

Clark was actually a last minute replacement for the injured Nissan Osterneck. During the past week, however, current middleweight champion Paulo Filho withdrew from his title defense having recently checked himself into a rehabilitation clinic for a reported substance abuse problem, leaving challenger Chael Sonnen without an opponent.

“Since the WEC was having difficult time finding someone to fight Sonnen on short notice,” said Clark, “they have decided to bump Bryan Baker up to fighting Sonnen since he is an undefeated WEC contender who might be able to give Sonnen a good challenge.”

Clark maintains a 7-1 professional record with his only loss being a unanimous decision to Eric Schambari in his last bout for World Extreme Cagefighting.

Harper has never fought on an event of this magnitude, but comes into the bout with an 8-3 professional record.

“Scott may have a few losses but hasn’t dropped a fight since joining American Top Team this last year,” Clark stated. “He is on a three-fight win streak with three submission stoppages. He looks to have a good ground game but not exceptional stand-up. This means that I will be able to stick with my previous game plan and look for the knockout standing.”

 

[heyzel]

Tiki vs. Stewart Set for March 29 Strikeforce/EliteXC

Undefeated Strikeforce prospect Luke Stewart (5-0) will meet veteran fighter Tiki Ghosn (9-7) at next weekend's Strikeforce/EliteXC show in San Jose, Calif.

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) learned of the fight from Ghosn's camp, and his manager, Ken Pavia, confirmed the bout on today's edition of TAGG Radio (www.taggradio.com).

The event takes place at the HP Pavilion and airs live on Showtime. Strikeforce world middleweight champ Frank Shamrock takes on Cung Le in the night's main event.

Stewart, who's fought professionally only with Strikeforce, has finished four of his five victories via knockout. The 27-year-old Californian most recently scored a stunning, 19-second knockout (via knee) of Bryson Kamaka at a November Strikeforce event.

He'll now take on Ghosn, a former UFC and WEC fighter who will make his Strikeforce and EliteXC debut at the event. The 31-year-old will look to snap a four-fight losing streak that's included defeats to Chris Lytle and Xtreme Couture fighter Dave Terrel.

The televised card for the event has not yet been announced.

 

[heyzel]

ICON Champ Hose Reflects on Victory

by John Morgan [john-morgan] on Mar 19, 2008 at 9:28 am in - News -
After waiting through three prior title fight cancellations, middleweight Kala Kalohe Hose (6-1) made the most of his opportunity Saturday night, earning the vacant championship belt in a brutal five-round war with UFC and PRIDE veteran Phil Baroni (10-9).

Hose, still nursing his wounds from the epic battle, discussed the fight on Tuesday's edition of TAGG Radio (www.taggradio.com), a content partner site of MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).

"I'm all black-eyed" Hose said. "My left foot is still banged up, all swollen... Actually I thought that he only caught me a few times, but I watched the video yesterday, and I was like, 'Oh, I was getting my ass kicked!'"

The fight, contested in Hawaii, did not fall under the jurisdiction of a state athletic commission. Therefore, both soccer kicks and head stomps, reminiscent of past PRIDE matches in Japan, were allowed. Both fighters used the techniques extensively.

"I'd rather have PRIDE rules than UFC rules," Hose said. "I feel better with the PRIDE rules."

Baroni was in control of the fight early, but Hose, while admittedly rocked at points, felt the drawn-out battle played in his favor.

"That was our game plan, actually," Hose said. "When he took me down -- to hold him and let him tire himself out. I was tired myself, and I didn't want to rush in to throw a wild shot or wear myself out, so I was trying to come at him at a smooth pace. But I was definitely tired... Actually, he woke me up after he stomped my head. I was like 'Oh man, I'm in trouble. I better do something.'"

Much was made of the typical Baroni-esque pre-fight banter, but Hose said it was all part of the show and that the two fighters actually shared a common respect for each other.

"All that media stuff, Phil is not like that off camera," Hose said. "I was really surprised. We were hanging out together, cracking jokes. It was like he was one of my good friends."

The victory would seem to lead to another opportunity for Robbie Lawler, from whom the belt was stripped due to inactivity, to match up with Hose. But the new champion isn't concerned with which fighters ICON executives believe deserve the first shot.

"I'm not really sure who my next opponent is," Hose said. "They haven't told me anything yet. But I'll fight anybody. I don't really care who they put in front of me. It doesn't matter."

To hear the full interview, download Tuesday's edition of TAGG Radio, available for free in the TAGG Radio Network archives.

 

[heyzel]

Clark-Harper Completes March 26 WEC Card

Earlier this week, Bryan Baker was chosen as a late replacement to fight Chael Sonnen at next week's WEC event. Unfortunately, it left his original opponent, Logan Clark (7-1), without a fight.

However, WEC officials scrambled to find Clark (also known as "The Pink Pounder") a new opponent, and they succeeded. Clark will now face Scott Harper (8-3) at the event, which takes place March 26 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nev. The event airs live in high-definition on the VERSUS network at 9 p.m. ET.

Clark alerted MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) of the opponent change overnight.

Clark, who competed in the UFC before his move to the WEC, most recently dropped a unanimous decision to Eric Schambari. It was the first loss of his career, and MMAjunkie.com has learned that a rematch between the two fighters was briefly considered for next week's WEC event. Instead, Clark, the owner of Rochester MMA, was booked to fight Harper.

The Georgia-based Harper is a veteran of the Full Throttle and International Sport Combat Federation organizations. He's riding a current three-fight win streak and has finished five of his eight victories via submission.

"His ground game looks to be solid, but I think I will have an advantage on my feet," Clark told MMAjunkie.com.

Sonnen was originally scheduled to fight WEC middleweight champ Paulo Filho in the night's main event, but the title-holder had to pull out of the event to seek treatment for substance abuse. The Doug Marshall vs. Brian Stann was instead bumped up to the headline bout.

Now, with the Clark-Harper fight, the full card for next week's event includes:

MAIN CARD (TELEVISED)

Champ Doug Marshall vs. Brian Stann (for WEC light heavyweight title)
Bryan Baker vs. Chael Sonnen
Marcus Hicks vs. Ed Ratcliff
Steve Cantwell vs. Tim McKenzie
Blas Avena vs. Hirumitsu Miura
PRELIMINARY CARD (NOT TELEVISED)

John Alessio vs. Brock Larson
Rich Crunkilton vs. Sergio Gomez
Alex Serdyukov vs. Ryan Stonitsch
Chris Manuel vs. Kenji Osawa
Logan Clark vs. Scott Harper

 

[heyzel]

Report: Chris Lytle to return at UFC 86

UFC welterweight fighter Chris Lytle has agreed to make his Octagon return at UFC 86 on July 5 in Las Vegas, according to a report by The Fight Network.

TFN is quoting a source close to Lytle as confirming the news that also indicated that an opponent for the bout has not been determined.

The UFC has yet to officially announce Lytle’s involvement on the show, which will be headlined by a UFC light heavyweight title defense by current champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson taking on challenger Forrest Griffin.

The Indiana native last competed during the undercard of UFC 81 in February. He recorded a TKO due to strikes over newcomer Kyle Bradley at just 0:33 of round 1.

 

[heyzel]

Blatnick sees MMA as viable career option for amateur wrestlers

By Todd Martin
Special to CBSSports.com





In the early days of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the fledgling sport of MMA gained its share of powerful enemies. Influential politicians like John McCain called for a ban on the sport, decrying the perceived barbarism of UFC events. UFC struggled to combat this backlash, and it lost its share of battles before turning the tide for good in recent years.

During this early period, one of the UFC's most prominent advocates both publicly and behind the scenes was Jeff Blatnick, a highly respected figure in the world of wrestling. Blatnick was a high school state champion, Division II collegiate national champion and Division I collegiate All-American.

Blatnick's stature was further enhanced when in 1982 he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease. Blatnick went through radiation therapy, had his spleen removed, and returned to training just six months later. Blatnick then went on to win a gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling in the 1984 Olympic Games.

This background gave Blatnick the credibility to argue that MMA was not in fact a sleazy, savage spectacle. But first, he had to develop a taste for the sport. In December of 1994, UFC asked Blatnick to serve as a commentator for UFC events. At the time, he knew little about the sport except that fellow wrestler Dan Severn would be competing.

"I was standing there wondering what was going on," Blatnick recalls. "Once I saw that first fight with [Royce] Gracie and the skills he brought into the fight it was very impressive. It sparked a keen interest in me and I've loved it ever since."

When Gracie submitted Severn via triangle choke in one of the defining early fights of the UFC, it further altered Blatnick's outlook.

"To see someone of that physical stature make Dan Severn tap was very impressive," Blatnick says. "When it was happening I didn't quite know that Dan was in trouble until you could see Dan trying to wiggle back out and that he couldn't breathe. Then I realized it. I hadn't really seen jiu jitsu. That's when I started trying to study it."

To learn about the sport, Blatnick began rolling with submission wrestlers and jiu jitsu practitioners. It allowed him to begin to understand the ins and outs of the game.

"As an athlete I made a living off feeling pressure and figuring how to get out of it," Blatnick notes. "As a wrestler you'd think I'm dominating you if I've got you on your back. But it doesn't work that way. That's your best defensive position and you can launch offense and catch people in submission locks. I had to get out there and feel what it was like."

With Blatnick firmly entrenched in MMA culture, he became a part of the movement to develop MMA as a sport. A key moment came prior to UFC 12 in 1997. UFC 12 was originally scheduled to take place in New York, but the state elected to ban MMA and the event was moved to Alabama. The New York ban still exists, and UFC is heavily lobbying the state to legalize MMA so the promotion can run a card at Madison Square Garden. The New York ban served as an impetus for the adoption of a UFC rule book.

"The whole idea behind it was to show our policies and procedures so if someone from the state commission came in they would be able to pick up our manual and follow step by step everything a fighter would go through from medical testing right through the bout conduct rules," Blatnick says.

While many news outlets have perpetuated the false notion that current UFC owners Zuffa brought in a whole set of rules for the sport, the truth is that MMA rules evolved over a period of time. At UFC 1, there were only the most basic of rules prohibiting biting and eye gouging. Later bans on fish hooking and low blows were added.

As there became a need for additional rules, new rules were put into place.

"Fighters are creative," Blatnick observes. "Fighters would hold onto shorts so we made a rule that you can't grab onto clothing. They would grab the fence, so no grabbing onto the fence. People would target cuts and the fingers were free so we had to make a rule that you couldn't pull apart cuts. I think the biggest one was no head butts."

All of these rules were codified at UFC 13, where UFC's Mixed Martial Arts Council created a Manual of Rules & Procedures which addressed medical safety, judges, referees and bout conduct.

The rules continued to evolve from that point. At UFC 14, gloves became mandatory. At UFC 22 in 1999 the 10 point must system was adopted, along with five minute rounds. Smaller changes continued to be made as well.

Weight divisions also evolved over time. Initially there was only one weight class. At UFC 12, the promotion divided fighters weighing over 200 pounds and fighters weighing under 200 pounds. At UFC 16, the 170 pound division was added. UFC 26 saw the debut of the 155 pound division.

The culmination of this process came in early 2001. Zuffa purchased the UFC, and in April the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board adopted the unified rules of MMA. These rules were modeled after the MMAC rules, and included some cosmetic changes such as a ban on shoes and a ban on throwing the point of the elbow straight down.

UFC adopted the unified rules at UFC 31 on May 4, 2001 along with the current weight classes of 155, 170, 185, 205 and 265 pounds. This began the modern state of MMA regulation.

Beyond his role as a commentator and in the UFC's rule making process, Blatnick became a fan of mixed martial arts. MMA has opened up a world of opportunities for successful wrestlers once they finish their wrestling careers, a development Blatnick is greatly pleased by.

"I loved [MMA] and tried to talk wrestlers into this for years. Now I hear people talking about it all the time," Blatnick notes. "It's something younger wrestlers are very much aware of. It gives an opportunity at a career once they are done with their college and/or Olympic dreams."

Like many older wrestlers, Blatnick wishes MMA had been around when he was finishing his wrestling career.

"There's no question I would have looked into it," Blatnick says. "I liked the fact that it could show that wrestling is a viable entity of its own and a great base to become successful."

Blatnick's background was in Greco-Roman wrestling, and he feels that style is particularly well suited for MMA. Randy Couture, Dan Henderson and Matt Lindland are among the Greco stars that have successfully transitioned into MMA.

"Freestyle athletes have a variety of attacks on the legs, based on the fact that they aren't going to get punched," Blatnick explains. "A Greco guy knows how to do a single leg, and when it comes to the upper body he knows how to clinch effectively. If you have the ability to clinch you not only can get that double leg but you can also throw the upper body or create the angles to throw punches."

While Blatnick left the UFC under Zuffa ownership, he wishes the company well: "I know Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta and think they're great people. They brought MMA to the forefront. I have to give them good grades in running the company, making money and giving fighters names."

Blatnick continues to be involved in both wrestling and MMA. He announces the NCAA wrestling championships and will also provide commentary for the YAMMA MMA event April 11.

 

[heyzel]

Sherk should face life ban

By MARK GILBERT

SEAN SHERK should be banned from mixed martial arts for life, according to Cage Rage promoter Andy Geer.


The UK-based promotion – a rival of Dana White’s UFC – says the former lightweight champion is a terrible example for youngsters looking to break into the sport because of his drugs bust.


Sherk was banned from competing in MMA for six months after testing positive for steroids in July 2007 but has since been given a second chance by UFC president White and faces BJ Penn at UFC 84 in May.


In an interview with our sister paper, the News of the World, Geer blasted: "Sean Sherk should be eradicated from the sport altogether. He knowingly took performance enhancers to intentionally cheat his way to the top.


“The guy sets a terrible example to the sport and to allow him to walk back in sets a worse one. It's not how we would have handled the situation.


"We're trying to protect the sport. If you look at what's happening at the top level of drug abuse - the WWE - you see that those guys are literally killing themselves with steroids.


"With drugs being so cheap and readily available, we're committed to doing whatever it takes to prevent our guys giving in to temptation and sticking needles in their a***s.


"It's costly, but testing is necessary to keep everything safe and fair whilst staying competitive

 

[heyzel]

KIM COUTURE: "I WOULD DEFINITELY PREFER THE CAGE"

By Percy Crawford | March 19, 2008

"For my next fight, I need to get more amped up," stated Kim Couture as she discussed her next fight, her official MMA debut on April 5th in Portland, Oregon. Check out what else she had to say as she shared her thoughts on her performance during her February 29th fight debut at the Xtreme Couture Smoker Event

http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content2240.html?PHPSESSID=697f6e00942c0995f5ddb330c8481ca4

 

[heyzel]

Lyoto Machida Complete career highlight

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Iog_d1E540g

 

[Shogun Locc]

Interview with Joe Lauzon

There are a lot of jobs out there that are considered "tough." For a variety of reasons, firefighters, bouncers, MMA bloggers ; ) are looked at, as more manly or tougher than a barista or hair stylist. Those who typically work in the information technology field are usually closer to barista than badass, but looks can be deceiving. Based on appearance alone, you might think Joe "J-Lau" Lauzon fits the bill of a typical IT guy. But the now former computer network administrator is definitely more than just your average joe. In fact, he is one of the best young fighters in the world. The Brockton, Massachusetts native and Ultimate Fighter alum will get a chance to destroy the "IT guy" stereotype by trying to destroy Kenny Florian at next month's Ultimate Fight Night. I had the chance to chat with Joe as he prepares for his big fight.

TK: How's training been going so far?
JL: Training's been going good. I've had a really good training camp out in Hawaii. I had a better idea of what to work on compared to the last time I was out there and definitely had a better training camp this time.

TK: Describe your typical day during your time in Hawaii.
JL: I'd get up around 7:00 AM, get breakfast, get to the gym by 8:00 AM, work on my core, lift, run, do 5-8 rounds on the bag, do some wrestling drills and other typical conditioning stuff for about 3 hours. Afterwards, I head home, eat, shower, go to the beach and just do whatever for the middle part of the day. I then get back to the gym by 5:00 PM to do my boxing, kickboxing, grappling, MMA rounds, and sparring over about 3 hours.

TK: Do you feel any additional pressure being the main event on what's widely considered the most stacked Ultimate Fight Night ever?
JL: Not really. The main event status really only matters to the media and marketing people. I don't want to lose a fight whether I'm the main event or the under card. I don't feel any added pressure. Whether it's the first fight or the main event, I still have to get past Kenny Florian.

TK: What do you think about Kenny as a fighter?
JL: He's very good. He's great on the ground and has really good Muay Thai. He's got great kicks, great knees and elbows. He's also got great cardio and can just go for days and days. Even in his fight with Sean Sherk, he didn't look that tired after 5 rounds. We're both from Boston, I've talked to him a bunch of times before and he's a super nice guy.

TK: Without giving too much detail, what's your game plan against him?
JL: I'm going to look to take Kenny down. I think he tends to kick a lot more than I do. I think I have better hands, but he has better kicks, so I want to get in tight and get him on the ground. I know he's got great jiu-jitsu, but I'm comfortable being on top no matter who's on the bottom. You know, I just want to take him down, put him on his butt, put him on the fence and beat him up.

TK: What is it like to train with UFC lightweight champion BJ Penn?
JL: You really can't ask for a better training partner and better coach than one of the best fighters on the planet, let alone the best guy in your weight class. You always try to plan for the worst case scenario and training with him is the worst case scenario. BJ Penn is the worst person you can fight, everyone else is like a cakewalk in comparison.

TK: You've also had the chance to recently train with WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber. What's that been like?
JL: It's been good. Like BJ, Urijah is the best fighter in his weight class. He's a little guy and no matter who he trains with, he's always the smallest guy, which makes for incredible technique, incredible work ethic and a very smart fighter. Bigger guys tend to rely on their strength and are used to muscling people around. Guys like Urijah have to rely on good technique so I couldn't have asked for a better training partner.

TK: How do you like to spend your free time?
JL: I spend a lot of time on the computer and watching TV, just fooling around. I spend a lot of time on myspace, checking out MMA forums, watching random fight videos and random technique videos. I'm not in MMA because it's my job, I really love it. I can't tell you how many times I've watched a random video online, seen something I really liked and tried to incorporate it into my own game. I'm always searching for good, new stuff.

TK: Before becoming a full-time fighter, you worked in the IT industry. Do you miss that life?
JL: I don't miss the work per say. It was nice to have the security before, where no matter what happened while training or fighting, I could still go to work. If I had an injury, it wasn't a big deal pulling out of a fight because I still had income and my rent wasn't dependant on fighting. So the safety blanket aspect was nice, but I definitely don't miss going to work everyday for 8 hours, then going to train. I can finally do what I want and just train.

TK: When you told your co-workers that you were a professional MMA fighter, what was their initial reaction like?
JL: I didn't really make it public knowledge for the most part. When I did get black eyes and things like that, I'd just tell everyone I got hurt while wrestling. It went like that for a while until a few of my co-workers who wrestled in high school, started asking more questions. I kind of let them in on what I was doing and it slowly spread. It wasn't until UFC 63 (note: a win over former champion Jens Pulver) that it really started to get out. I basically had to tell them I needed a week off so I could fight on pay per view. That was a huge deal in the office and everyone watched it together. After the fight, there I was Monday morning at work. Overall, a very cool experience.

TK: What are some not so obvious benefits of being a professional MMA fighter?
JL: You almost feel like a C or D level celebrity. For the most part, I don't think are "famous," but we kind of are in some way. I've gotten out of speeding tickets and other little things like that. I don't drink, but when I got out to the clubs or bars, the bouncers tend to know me because they watch the UFC and let me in with no hassles. I also have random people buy me drinks and things like that. Nothing huge, but there are a lot of nice little things.

TK: Several internet rumors are floating that you are going to walk out to your next fight wearing a t-shirt that bears the words"Creepy Joe." (Several Sherdog posters have given Joe that unflattering nickname). Is this true? Do you like that nickname?
JL: I hate that nickname. People want to see me run with it, but that's definitely something I don't want to do. I agree that "J-Lau" is pretty bad, but there's not much I can do about that. My friends have started calling me that too, to kind of bust my balls. If one of your friends has a terrible nickname of course everyone jumps on it. So it's just kind of stuck. People I don't even know call me that which is kind of funny. I understand "J-Lau" is kind of bad, but "Creepy" is a lot worse.

TK: Do you have any advice for young, up and coming fighters?
JL: Set your goals high, but don't bank on it 100 percent. I knew I would do pretty well in fighting, but I still went to college. You may be the best fighter, but you could easily blow a knee or get injured and it could end your fight career. You don't want to be stuck and not have a high quality of life just because you get hurt or something like that. Make sure to have a backup plan.

For more information on Joe Lauzon visit:
http://joelauzon.com/
http://www.myspace.com/lauzonrsd

 

[Shogun Locc]

Report: Angle to make ‘MMA debut’ in Osaka


Nikkan Sports has a report claiming that Antonio Inoki is interested in Kurt Angle making his MMA debut on the IGF 4/12 Osaka Prefectural Gym show. According to Inoki, Angle will likely participate with open-fingered gloves and that it may be a 3-way MMA match involving Naoya Ogawa & Josh Barnett. Making this story even better is the fact that Angle has to work a TNA PPV the next day (4/13) in the States.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Roy Jones Jr. responds to Anderson Silva's challenge

Boxing legend Roy Jones Jr has responded to Anderson Silva's challenge to him. The seemingly unstoppable 185 pounder Silva wants to prove that MMA too has technique, and issued a challenge to Jones from his personal website.
Jones responded in an interview, "The trip was great. The fans over there seemed highly interested in having me go over there to showcase my talents and put on a show with him. They know if I'm there it's guaranteed to be a good show. Right now I'm also hearing that this guy Silva is really talking about fighting me in a boxing match and I think that's bigger than Beyer. If he comes up again, I mean he got on his website that he wants Roy Jones Jr, if he's serious that might mean more to me than going to Germany and fighting Beyer. In Germany I know I'm going to knock Beyer out because that's the way I have to win over there. But with Silva, I know I can outbox him and be good. It would be smarter for me to fight I don't know his first name, but Silva first and then Beyer or the winner of Bernard and Calzaghe."

 

[Shogun Locc]

Exclusive Interview with MMA Veteran Brian Ebersole

Brian Ebersole was kind enough to talk to MMAFightline.com about his big win over Gordon Gaef at King of the Cage and his future.
MMAFightLine.com: Brian, I’d like to thank you for taking the time out to speak with MMAFightline.com. You're coming off a big win against Gordon Gaef at King of the Cage – Perth in October 2007. What are your thoughts on that fight?

Ebersole: I knew he'd have heavy hands, and that he was a strong, athletic bloke. I didn't think he could wrestle with me, so I proved it. It was tough though, having his teammate/coach as the referee. Tama TeHuna did a bit of a disservice to the MMA community that night, with his actions. The sport lost a bit of respect, as many knew of the situation.

All in all, I had a blast though. Talking to Tama, while laying, choking, and bashing on Gordon made me giggle a few times during the bout. I've always been a teacher, so I went and taught. Cheaters never win, and I doubt Gordon feels too great about the entire situation. Hopefully he'll have the strength to keep himself out of those situations in the future.

MMAFightLine.com: I understand you moved to Australia last year. What prompted the move?

Ebersole: I came to Australia, to fight and visit. I had a wonderful two month stay, and was offered a job selling real estate while in QLD. Hard to turn down the chance at $100k/year. Knowing I'd still fight a few times, I decided to move back in hopes of saving money and being able to resume full time training with a real bank account.

MMAFightLine.com: Where do you train?

Ebersole: I'm living in Perth, WA. Training at Fitness n Fight Centre, just outside of the city's centre.

MMAFightLine.com: Do you teach any classes?

Ebersole: I teach ten classes per week, yes. That's how I make the better part of my income now. What a blessing it is to be able to teach and train for a living.

MMAFightLine.com: Who are you training with now?

Ebersole: Everyone I can get my hands on. I've got great teammates, and some very talented strikers. Daniel Dawson and Mark DeMori are two of Australia's best boxers. Clint Joyce and Marc Oakes, proven up and coming talents in MMA. And I've had some awesome guys come in to train with me.

Gerald Burton Batty and Steve Kennedy came in together and have stuck around. They've afforded me some opportunities with other talented folks, bringing in a great freestyle wrestler and a BJJ/Judo Black Belt, both of which were my weight. And two other local BJJ mainstays have been working with me plenty, Poitr Clements and Dave Machura.

All in all, I've been fortunate to have such talent come through my doors without ego, and train.

MMAFightLine.com: What is your weekly training routine like? What do you do – muay thai, jiu jitsu, cardio, etc.?

Ebersole: It varies. I've been an athlete all my life, and I've come to believe that one cannot stick with any routine for too long. I go through phases where I run and where I seek cardio elsewhere. Same with lifting weights, and again, seeking strength training through other forms.

Basics--I train twice a day, and three times a day when I'm lucky and energetic. Obviously working both striking and grappling, and the occasional sparring session to mix the two.

The treadmill has been my friend as of late, but again, I do leave it alone for days at a time (pushing myself with bagwork/mitts/wrestling to get a cardio benefit)

With my training, I take my best available workout. And by best, that depends on my health, mood, previous day's work, and who I'm working with.

MMAFightLine.com: You recently signed a 5 fight contract with HFC (Canada). How did that come about?

Ebersole: I had a goal, to sign a multi-fight deal for this year. I had entertained the option of signing with two organizations. I'd contacted Mike Camp, who's been a longtime friend, and expressed my wishes. He shopped me around to a few organizations and presented me with the HFC deal via email. It worked for me, as it set out a "season' basically. I fight every 6-8 weeks, and I'm absolutely pleased to have structure--where most MMA'ers are free-agents working from bout to bout with little to no idea of their six month outlook. Six months could bring 6 fights, or 1.............and that's not a place to be in, when you make your living through competing.

MMAFightLine.com: When’s your next fight and where?

Ebersole: March 29th, in Hull, Quebec Canada.

MMAFightLine.com: In 2006, the California State Athletic Commission suspended you for what they claimed to be a fixed fight against Shannon Ritch at an FCP event. Can you explain for those that don’t know what happened and your thoughts on the subject?

Ebersole: I've had so many thoughts on the subject, since then. Some have been light hearted, others very sinister. Not sure when I'm going to challenge the entire CSAC to a Kumite-style tournament, but that's my only logical solution before I can work with them again.....

But here we go, with my side.......I had an opponent pull out two weeks before the event. The matchmaker rang me and said he met Shannon Ritch at a show, and Shannon wanted the fight. I laughed out loud and told them to fill the spot and let me know who it was, Shannon or otherwise. Of course, the fight goes to Shannon "the negotiator" Ritch for a purse lower than any other opponent would have accepted on short notice.

Now, I'd fought the Cannon in Mexico, 4 years prior. Yes, he almost beat me, until I smashed him. He had a leg lock attempt that ended with him in mount, tapping to the first blow. Since then, we've exchanged mma.tv postings in good humor, fight information (openings for fighters), and he even helped me get a $300 sponsor for a bout once. Oh, and a re-match in AZ fell through as the Commission there didn’t' accept my New Jersey medicals for some reason. So we grappled on the event instead, in a demo/exhibition.

Fight weekend. I have a laugh with the Cannon at weigh ins and tell him I'm gonna smash him. He knows better, and so do I---He'd tap well before he took punishment.

Before the bout, I tell Frank that I'm taking the Cannon into round two. I had some things I wanted to try, and Frank gave me the OK. Truly, I wanted to half-way embarrass him. He's only been to the 2nd round once, maybe twice. I wanted to be remembered as the guy who exposed the Cannon. Figured a few rounds of him running on the feet and flopping on the ground would do just that.

Well on my way to clowning the Cannon, two minutes into Rd. 1---Armando Garcia is in my corner telling Frank and my best friend from University that I "need to do something". Mind you, I'd already taken him down and pounded on him against the cage, and had some fun standing. 4 min. into the bout, I take Shannon's back, flatten him and arch up. Uncomfortable position, especially with my Shonie Carter cup in his back. Looking for the choke, I was, when he screamed and verbally submitted. Much to my displeasure, I took my place center ring and had my hand raised. I truly wasn't done, and this was the 2nd time I've had a disappointing finish with the guy.

As I step out of the cage, the CSAC commissioners engage me with displeasure and announce I'm suspended. What!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Frank speaks with Mr. Garcia, I refuse to sign the suspension document, and I don't receive my purse. And with the suspension, I lose my opportunity to fight in the IFL, with which I was the Razorclaw captain with a nice contract. The meetings with the CSAC didn't yield a result, and I was forced to pay a $2,500 fine before competing in March of the next year on an IFL event (as a replacement at 205). Fun ride, but without it, I'd not be in Australia. Blessings come from tragedy.....................

MMAFightLine.com: The CSAC has also been criticized by other fighters such as Sean Sherk for lacking appropriate procedures to appeal suspensions. What changes do you think the CSAC should make to be more in line with other athletic commissions?

Ebersole: In my case, they didn’t' make an appeal or even a resolution possible. They brought me in to talk (long drive to Sacramento), and Mr. Garcia basically gave me the bad cop treatment, as his other commissioner played good cop. Trying to see if my answers would toe the line, I guess. I think they need to attend a workshop/seminar or ten, where other long-standing commissions/commissioners discuss policy and procedure. They're a closed-minded arrogant bunch.

MMAFightLine.com: Who do you think are the top 5 fighters in your division?

Ebersole: In no particular order---Dan Henderson, Anderson Silva, Frank Shamrock, Nate Marquardt, Paulo Fihlo.

MMAFightLine.com: Who do you pick Henderson or Anderson Silva and why?

Ebersole: I picked Henderson, because of my wrestlers' heart. But Anderson's skill set is amazing, and he'd dangerous everywhere. What a fight it was, to watch.

MMAFightLine.com: What are your thoughts on the Couture/UFC dispute?

Ebersole: I don't have enough information on the subject. I would speak on points that may not be the sticking points. Randy makes a good payday, each outing. The UFC is turning a profit. If money is the only issue, I'd be surprised.

MMAFightLine.com: Who wins Randy or Fedor?

Ebersole: Fedor wins 7 of 10 right now, but three years ago...Randy wins 6 of 10 I believe.

MMAFightLine.com: If you had the choice to fight anyone, who would it be and why?

Ebersole: Frank Shamrock. Because I love him, and I could live with myself if he beat me. Plus, it would make me famous, and maybe land us on a highlight reel for years to come.

Besides Frank, maybe Bob Sapp. I think I'd do just fine. And again, famous and highlight reels........................

MMAFightLine.com: In the IFL, you were with Frank Shamrock’s team. Do you still train with him at all when you are in the US?

Ebersole: I haven't been able to travel back to the US since moving to Australia, save my cousin’s Illinois wedding. I would love to have the flexibility and resources to train with Frank and the team before bouts. But I don’t' have that luxury unfortunately, as I have teaching commitments here in Perth, WA. Leaving for too long would not sit well with my team, boss, or myself for that matter. But I do hope to take a holiday and see my family and my "mma family" sometime early '09.

MMAFightLine.com: Frank has announced several upcoming fights against Ken Shamrock and Cung Le. How do you think he matches up against both of them?

Ebersole: He's a phenomenal athlete, so not too many can match him there. Cung isn't tough enough to beat Frank. He can wrestle and he has kicks, but not a complete game. He has the information on the game, as his camp at American Kickboxing Academy is strong. But having it in your head and having your body "know" something are two different things. He'll find himself thinking too much vs. Frank, and Frank will take advantage.

Vs. Ken. Well, has Ken had a real fight in the last two years??? Just dobbed one in the UK, from all accounts. Dobbed one vs. Franklin in the UFC. I know he went at Tito, but he was hopelessly outmatched as he could never get past a wrestling match with Ortiz. I think Frank would keep him standing and punish him for all the B.S. he was put through as a young boy at the Lion's Den. I didn't think Frank would ever consider fighting Ken, but I can see why he'd want a crack at him in a public forum. Ken deserves the beating Frank could give.....

MMAFightLine.com: What are your thoughts on the IFL?

Ebersole: Not too sure what to think of them, as they've re-structured everything. The '07 set-up was great to me. I love the team concept. And they treated the fighters very well. Purse, accommodation, food allowance, professional interviews, and a great production. We'll see what the changes bring for them, as they continue to find themselves as an organization. There certainly are enough talented fighters to make an interesting year.

MMAFightLine.com: Any other news you’d like to get out there?

Ebersole: I've found a great place, here in Perth. With my knowledge and experience in MMA, Fitness n Fight Centre's training facilities, and the networking I've done---I have a great situation for fighters to come train. I'd like to start advertising Fight Camps/Training Camps.

Housing, training, possibility for work, and certainly for professional bouts are all available. Whether from Australia or overseas, beginning or experienced, there's a place for you here (short term or long term) to improve your skill set and learn about the game. Let alone, have a bit of a "working holiday".

MMAFightLine.com: Any sponsors you’d like to plug?

Ebersole: I'd like to thank VAS, for there support. I'd met the family behind the company during my first months in Australia, and have come to respect all that they stand for. They're truly patrons of the art. They put in much more than they receive, by sponsoring individual fighters and entire events. They've helped Australian MMA from behind the scenes, and without their support some of Australia's larger shows may not be around today.

www.vas.tv grab a T-shirt folks.......

MMAFightLine.com: Brian, I’d like to thank you again for speaking with me. Any final words for your fans?

Ebersole: I'm sorry. They won't let me compete without the shorts, or I would. I've tried to seek an organization with "looser standards", but nobody is willing to budge. You'll just have to look out for locker room footage, floating around the internet. It's there, where are you???

 

[Shogun Locc]

WEC Champ Doug "Rhino" Marshall -- An MMAjunkie.com Interview

In the world of MMA, nothing is more coveted than the title, and few athletes are more celebrated than the champions who hold them. In the WEC there are names such as Torres, Condit, Filho and Faber. All the while, fans seem to ignore the 205-lb. Rhino in the room.

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) spoke to Doug "Rhino" Marshall (7-2), the WEC'S light-heavyweight champion, just seven days before his title defense against Brian Stann (5-0). The bout headlines next week's WEC event, which takes place March 26 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nev. It airs live on VERSUS.

Marshall spoke about a number of topics, including his peculiar start in the sport, his upcoming opponent, and the haters that fuel one of the most overlooked champions in MMA.

MMAjunkie.com: I've heard you have one of the most unique stories about getting into the sport. How did you get started in MMA?

Doug Marshall: Well, I was always a fan of the UFC, and as a young man, I got into my fair share of fights. My dad and I were at a WEC show, and we had both had a few beers. This guy (Anthony Arria) enters the cage, and I point at him and tell my dad that I could kick his ass. My dad told me to shut up and have another beer or do something about it. I started training the following Monday at a small gym. What a lot of people don't know is the first thing I started working on was my Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

MMAjunkie.com: And three short months later, you had a 32-second submission victory in your debut.

Doug Marshall: Once I had my first fight, I fell in love with the competition, and I was driven to put on a great show for the crowds.

MMAjunkie.com: And then you fought Arria and defeated him in 22 seconds via armbar. Anyway, what is your training like now? Are you doing anything different to prepare for Brian Stann?

Doug Marshall: I do six days Muay Thai and four days Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

MMAjunkie.com: Do you have a game plan going into this fight?

Doug Marshall: Win any way I can -- stand up or on the ground. (Stann) has heavy hands, he is strong and fast... but I'm not worried.

MMAjunkie.com: With all of your fights going two rounds or fewer, are you ever concerned about your cardio?

Doug Marshall: I'll do what I have to do. I train hard and can go five, five-minute rounds. But nothing can prepare a guy for nerves. The main event -- this is the fourth or fifth show I've headlined. Also, people don't think about what I call "damage." It's kind of like a video game. You hit a guy and his power bar goes down. Some guys you hit and their bar goes way down and they don't recover.

MMAjunkie.com: I recently read an interview with Stann, and he was asked what he thought your biggest weakness is. He said your mental toughness and ability to overcome adversity. Thoughts?

Doug Marshall: [laughs] Are you kidding me? He's out of his mind. I've been through some stuff -- my second and sixth fights. He's been in the cage with no one near my level. I believe he is strong, but I'll break him.

MMAjunkie.com: A lot is being made of Stann's undefeated record and military service.

Doug Marshall: I respect him for his service. I have all the respect in the world for all the armed forces of the United States of America and what they do. Without them, I wouldn't be able to do what I do. But when we get in the cage, it'll be time to go.

MMAjunkie.com: As the WEC light heavyweight champion, you don't seem to get a lot of press or fanfare. Do you have any thoughts on why this might be?

Doug Marshall: I'm really not sure. Maybe it's my tattoos or the fact that I don't train at a big camp like "The Pit" or "Xtreme Couture." Things have improved in that area since I got with Denaro Sport Marketing. The extra attention has fueled me to ruin the competition.

MMAjunkie.com: How do you deal with your critics?

Doug Marshall: It seems like the more popular I get, the more haters there are. Sometimes right before my fights, I like to look at the Internet forums. It fuels me to read the haters and then prove them wrong.

MMAjunkie.com: Looking back on you losses, if you could get one of them back, which one would it be?

Doug Marshall: Tim McKenzie. I cut from 240 to 190 lbs., and I did it too fast and the wrong way.

MMAjunkie.com: Any final thoughts on next week's fight? How do you see it playing out?

Doug Marshall: I think it will end on the feet. He hasn't felt the power of the Rhino. I'm gonna drop him.

MMAjunkie.com: Any shout-outs for your supporters or sponsors?

Doug Marshall: I'd like to thank my sponsors: Hostility Clothing, Warrior Wear, Fight Gear Outlet, Condom Depot, Life Extensions, and US Fruit and Veg, Inc. Also I would like to thank my trainer, Mike Popp. He turned everything around for me and has made me a complete full-time fighter.

MMAjunkie.com: And if people want to get in touch with you?

Doug Marshall: If people want to visit my website, they can go to DougMarshall.tv, or if they want to reach me directly, myspace.com/dougtherhino.

 

[Shogun Locc]

CBS & EliteXC’s ‘Saturday Night Fights’ to begin May 31

Quoteworthy:

“Keep an eye out for the first airing of advertisements for CBS & EliteXC’s “Saturday Night Fights” during the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. The rumored event date is May 31st!”

Not the big announcement EliteXC Live Events President Gary Shaw promised yesterday but VERY interesting nonetheless. Hopefully, there is more to follow real soon.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Urijah Faber on fights with Jens Pulver, Miguel Torres, Kid Yamamoto and rematch with Tyson Griffin (Audio)

http://modavox.wmod.llnwd.net/a2303/o21/solomon/pbw031708.wma

 

[Shogun Locc]

UFC 84 video of ‘Ill Will’ promo for May 24 fights

 

[Shogun Locc]

EDGAR EXPECTS EXCITEMENT AT UFC FIGHT NIGHT

One of the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s top lightweight up-and-comers, Frankie Edgar is preparing to step into the cage again, this time to face Gray Maynard in Broomfield, Colo., for the latest installment of UFC Fight Night.

The UFC hasn’t been to Colorado in years, and the venue's location does possibly provide at least one interesting challenge for the men who will be competing there… it’s a mile high.

It raises the question of whether the higher (than average) altitude will affect the fighters’ performance in the cage. Edgar, however, is not concerned.

“I think you give yourself a couple of days to get acclimated to it and you’re pretty much good to go.”

According to the man dubbed “The Answer,” though, it is not wondering about how the altitude may or may not affect your performance or worrying about your opponent’s strategy for the fight that drives you crazy, but simply the anticipation of the upcoming event.

Edgar stated, “The anticipation is just nuts, you just want to get in there.”

When he does step into the Octagon on April 2, he will be looking to do two things. First and foremost he wants to leave the Octagon a winner, all fighters do. But secondly, Edgar said, “Hopefully I get to show something new. I’m continually trying to improve my game, so I hopefully I get to show something new.”

Many fighters have conveyed that the relentless day-in, day-out training that they experience can become monotonous over a two to three month training camp, and Edgar is no different. He constantly looks for ways to mix up his routine.

“I change it up a lot… whether it’s conditioning or circuit training in the morning or evening or wrestling or jiu-jitsu in the morning or evening, I just try to mix it up a lot.”

If Edgar is indeed victorious over Maynard in Colorado, he will have strung together a line of victories over such names as Tyson Griffin (11-1 in his career), Mark Bocek (5-1 in his career), Spencer Fisher (20-4 in his career) and Gray Maynard (4-0 in his career).

With UFC wins over opponents like the aforementioned, at only 26 years of age, Edgar is a man who well could be at the top of the heap in the lightweight division for many years to come.
As the number in his win column continues to grow, many fans are now considering Edgar to be one of the top contenders in the lightweight class and are expecting him to receive a title fight if he can string together just a couple more wins.

Where does Edgar thinks he stands in the UFC’s lightweight division?

“I consider I’m one of the top dogs in the weight. It may take one or two (more fights), it may take three or four; whatever it is, I’m cool with it. I just want to fight tough guys, and fighting tough guys will get me that title shot.”

He continued, “In order to be the best you’ve got to beat the best, you know what they say.”

So what does Edgar believe fans can expect to see when the fight between he and Maynard is underway?

“Excitement man, excitement. You know he comes forward, I come forward, it’ll be fun… good times.”

 

[Shogun Locc]

MMAWEEKLY WORLD MMA RANKINGS UPDATED

The latest MMAWeekly World MMA Rankings were released on Wednesday, March 19. This system ranks the top ten MMA fighters from all across the world in each of the six most widely accepted weight classes, as voted on by MMAWeekly.

We take into consideration a fighter's performance in addition to his win-loss record, head-to-head and common opponents, difficulty of opponents, and numerous other factors in what is the most comprehensive rankings system in the sport.

Fighters who are currently serving drug-related suspensions are not eligible for top ten consideration until they have fought one time after the completion of their suspension.

Fighters must also have competed within the past 12 months in order to be eligible for top ten consideration.

Below are the current MMAWeekly World MMA Rankings, which are up-to-date as of March 19.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION (over 205 pounds)

#1 Heavyweight Fighter in the World: Fedor Emelianenko

2. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira

3. Randy Couture

4. Josh Barnett

5. Tim Sylvia

6. Andrei Arlovski

7. Fabricio Werdum

8. Gabriel Gonzaga

9. Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic

10. Aleksander Emelianenko

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LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION (205-pound limit)

#1 Light Heavyweight Fighter in the World: Quinton Jackson

2. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua

3. Chuck Liddell

4. Lyoto Machida

5. Keith Jardine

6. Forrest Griffin

7. Wanderlei Silva

8. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou

9. Ricardo Arona

10. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

MIDDLEWEIGHT DIVISION (185-pound limit)

#1 Middleweight Fighter in the World: Anderson Silva

2. Paulo Filho

3. Rich Franklin

4. Denis Kang

5. Robbie Lawler

6. Nathan Marquardt

7. Kazuo Misaki

8. Yushin Okami

9. Dan Henderson

10. Frank Trigg

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

WELTERWEIGHT DIVISION (170-pound limit)

#1 Welterweight Fighter in the World: Georges St. Pierre

2. Matt Serra

3. Jon Fitch

4. Matt Hughes

5. Josh Koscheck

6. Karo Parisyan

7. Jake Shields

8. Diego Sanchez

9. Carlos Condit

10. Marcus Davis

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

LIGHTWEIGHT DIVISION (160-pound limit)

#1 Lightweight Fighter in the World: Takanori Gomi

2. Tatsuya Kawajiri

3. Shinya Aoki

4. Gesias "JZ" Calvancante

5. Mitsuhiro Ishida

6. Gilbert Melendez

7. B.J. Penn

8. Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro

9. Joe Stevenson

10. Joachim Hansen

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

FEATHERWEIGHT DIVISION (145 pounds and under)

#1 Featherweight Fighter in the World: Akitoshi Tamura

2. Urijah Faber

3. "Lion" Takeshi Inoue

4. Antonio Carvalho

5. Masakazu Imanari

6. Hatsu Hioki

7. Jeff Curran

8. Tenkei Fujimiya

9. Rafael Assuncao

10. Hideki Kadowaki

 

[Shogun Locc]

Jacar&#233; helps Wand to the next fight at UFC

Former Pride champion, Wanderlei Silva is counting with a first class team to win his next compromise at UFC, which happens at next May 24th against Keith Jardine at edition 84 of the event. &#8220;As the Football, every team has good and bad moments. We were in a bad moment and we&#8217;re turning the game. This time I&#8217;m doing a maintenance job on his physical preparation, because Wand is dedicated to Muay Thai, where he is counting with Phil Baroni, Gilbert Melendez and Gilbert Yvel&#8217;s help&#8221;, told us Wand&#8217;s personal training Rafael Alejarra.

But the Brazilian is not leaving his ground train aside, unlike, for this fight Wand is counting with the support of three BJJ world champions, Andre Galv&#227;o, Robert Drysdale and now Ronaldo Jacar&#233;. &#8220;Jacar&#233; came to complete the team with us and is going to train with Wanderlei until the fight, at this moment they are training knee&#8221;, revealed Alejarra, who was contacted by BJ Penn to make his physical preparation to his confront against Sean Sherk. &#8220;I was contacted by BJ, but was impossible to travel to Hawaii because his fight is in the same event that Wanderlei will fight&#8221;, explained.