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Shamrock Talks ‘Science’ of Le Fight
videolink: http://www.sherdog.com/videos/videos.asp?v_id=1506
Sherdog.com's Greg Savage recently spoke with Frank Shamrock (Pictures), who takes on Cung Le (Pictures) Saturday on the Showtime-televised Strikeforce-EliteXC fight card.
What are Shamrock's thoughts on his opponent? How does the former UFC champion expect the contest to unfold?
videolink: http://www.sherdog.com/videos/videos.asp?v_id=1506
Sherdog.com's Greg Savage recently spoke with Frank Shamrock (Pictures), who takes on Cung Le (Pictures) Saturday on the Showtime-televised Strikeforce-EliteXC fight card.
What are Shamrock's thoughts on his opponent? How does the former UFC champion expect the contest to unfold?
Sonnen Ready to Tangle with WEC and UFC Champs
Riding high after an absolutely dominating 30-26, 30-25, 30-25 unanimous decision victory over previously undefeated Bryan Baker (6-1), WEC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen (20-9-1) is ready to take on all comers. And first on his list is UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva (21-4).
Sonnen discussed his desire to transition to the UFC, as well as a possible upcoming rematch with personally embattled WEC middleweight champion Paulo Filho (16-0), on today's edition of TAGG Radio (www.taggradio.com), a content partner of MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).
"I sent an email to (UFC and WEC matchmaker) Joe Silva when I thought I was competing with Paulo, and I just said 'Look, I'm going to beat up Paulo, and I'm going to call out Anderson,'" Sonnen said. "'Am I going to look like a fool, or does that interest you?' And he wrote me back pretty candidly, and said 'You're wasting your time. We're not going to inter-mingle the two promotions right now. You're not going to get to fight Anderson.'"
But with Zuffa seemingly holding true to its word to maintain the UFC and WEC as separate entities, Sonnen does not feel the door is closed on an eventual match-up with Silva. In fact, the soon-to-be 31-year-old Oregonian feels the bout is inevitable.
"My argument to Joe Silva was very simple," Sonnen reasoned. "I'm the only guy under Zuffa contract, one with the courage to fight (Silva) and two, with the physical ability to beat him. So, at some point, when all the guys under Zuffa contract find a million reasons not to get in there with him, and I'm the only guy for him, not only will I get in there with him, I want in there with him. They're going to have to make that match happen."
The Sonnen-Baker fight was a late addition to this Wednesday's WEC card, as Sonnen was originally scheduled to compete in a rematch of a loss at WEC 31, against Paulo Filho. The fight was scrapped when Filho pulled out to deal with personal issues, including depression and possible chemical dependency concerns.
Recent reports out of Brazil have suggested that Filho was simply not training properly, and the middleweight had grown to 230-plus pounds. Sonnen wants the fight bad enough that he's willing to take Filho on at any weight class.
"I want to win that championship; that's one goal," Sonnen explained. "I also want to beat Paulo Filho; that's another. If I can't complete both of those at the same time, that's fine. I will fight Paulo when he weighs 230 pounds I've never said he needs to come down and weigh 'X' amount. I've never set a goal to beat a 185-pound Paulo Filho. The plan is to beat up Paulo Filho, and that's where it ends. If he wants to weigh 230, I'm not going to complain.
"So if we can put the fight together, if he wants to meet at 205, (or) if he wants to just make it a heavyweight fight, again, we're not going to complain on the contract there."
Sonnen said he did not know when his next fight would take place, but a return date at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Vegas at an as-yet-unannounced August date was a possibility. Sonnen expressed his desire to make a quicker return, however, and find a spot on the WEC's June 1 card in Sacramento, Calif.
"I'll be back in the gym tomorrow, so that would be great to be able to go again in two months."
Sonnen also discussed his respect for his opponent Baker (whom Sonnen feels could be a major force in the near future), as well his involvement in Oregonian politics. To hear the full interview, download Thursday's edition of TAGG Radio, available for free in the TAGG Radio archives.
Riding high after an absolutely dominating 30-26, 30-25, 30-25 unanimous decision victory over previously undefeated Bryan Baker (6-1), WEC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen (20-9-1) is ready to take on all comers. And first on his list is UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva (21-4).
Sonnen discussed his desire to transition to the UFC, as well as a possible upcoming rematch with personally embattled WEC middleweight champion Paulo Filho (16-0), on today's edition of TAGG Radio (www.taggradio.com), a content partner of MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).
"I sent an email to (UFC and WEC matchmaker) Joe Silva when I thought I was competing with Paulo, and I just said 'Look, I'm going to beat up Paulo, and I'm going to call out Anderson,'" Sonnen said. "'Am I going to look like a fool, or does that interest you?' And he wrote me back pretty candidly, and said 'You're wasting your time. We're not going to inter-mingle the two promotions right now. You're not going to get to fight Anderson.'"
But with Zuffa seemingly holding true to its word to maintain the UFC and WEC as separate entities, Sonnen does not feel the door is closed on an eventual match-up with Silva. In fact, the soon-to-be 31-year-old Oregonian feels the bout is inevitable.
"My argument to Joe Silva was very simple," Sonnen reasoned. "I'm the only guy under Zuffa contract, one with the courage to fight (Silva) and two, with the physical ability to beat him. So, at some point, when all the guys under Zuffa contract find a million reasons not to get in there with him, and I'm the only guy for him, not only will I get in there with him, I want in there with him. They're going to have to make that match happen."
The Sonnen-Baker fight was a late addition to this Wednesday's WEC card, as Sonnen was originally scheduled to compete in a rematch of a loss at WEC 31, against Paulo Filho. The fight was scrapped when Filho pulled out to deal with personal issues, including depression and possible chemical dependency concerns.
Recent reports out of Brazil have suggested that Filho was simply not training properly, and the middleweight had grown to 230-plus pounds. Sonnen wants the fight bad enough that he's willing to take Filho on at any weight class.
"I want to win that championship; that's one goal," Sonnen explained. "I also want to beat Paulo Filho; that's another. If I can't complete both of those at the same time, that's fine. I will fight Paulo when he weighs 230 pounds I've never said he needs to come down and weigh 'X' amount. I've never set a goal to beat a 185-pound Paulo Filho. The plan is to beat up Paulo Filho, and that's where it ends. If he wants to weigh 230, I'm not going to complain.
"So if we can put the fight together, if he wants to meet at 205, (or) if he wants to just make it a heavyweight fight, again, we're not going to complain on the contract there."
Sonnen said he did not know when his next fight would take place, but a return date at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Vegas at an as-yet-unannounced August date was a possibility. Sonnen expressed his desire to make a quicker return, however, and find a spot on the WEC's June 1 card in Sacramento, Calif.
"I'll be back in the gym tomorrow, so that would be great to be able to go again in two months."
Sonnen also discussed his respect for his opponent Baker (whom Sonnen feels could be a major force in the near future), as well his involvement in Oregonian politics. To hear the full interview, download Thursday's edition of TAGG Radio, available for free in the TAGG Radio archives.
Winners of NBC's "The Biggest Loser," Jim and Bill Germanakos, To Host IFL Weigh-In at La Boxing in Secaucus, N.J., On Thursday, April 3
NEW YORK, March 27, 2008 – The International Fight League (OTC.BB: IFLI) today announced that twins Jim and Bill Germanakos, the most recent winners of NBC’s hit show “The Biggest Loser,” will host the IFL weigh-in next Thursday, April 3, at 3 p.m. at L.A. Boxing in Secaucus, N.J., and give tips to the athletes trying to make weight for the IFL “New Blood, New Battles” show at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J.The fights will take place on Friday, April 4, at 7:30 p.m.
“These athletes are in unbelievable shape, but if there are any quick tips that we can help them with to shed a few ounces as they hit their desired weight, it will be our pleasure,” Bill Germanakos said. “The sport of Mixed Martial Arts is a great base for training and weight loss since it involves so many aspects of conditioning, including strength and flexibility and self discipline, so this will be fun for us as we continue to spread our message of healthy lifestyle to a larger audience.” All information for Jim and Bill can be found at WeightLossTwins.com.
Among the rising Mixed Martial Arts stars scheduled to compete on the 10-bout April 4 card are:
20 year old lightweight phenom Chris “The Polish Hammer” Horodecki against newcomer Nate Lamotte
IFL middleweight champ and Long Island native Jay “The Thorobred” Hieron against once beaten “Military” Mark Miller
Undefeated IFL featherweight champion Waggney Fabiano against NYU All-America wrestler and once beaten Shad Lierley
IFL light heavyweight champion and Belarussian Olympian Vladimir “The Janitor”
Matyushenko against Jersey City’s (Gracie Jiu Jitsu and Gleason’s Gym boxing trained) Jamal “The Suit” Patterson
NEW YORK, March 27, 2008 – The International Fight League (OTC.BB: IFLI) today announced that twins Jim and Bill Germanakos, the most recent winners of NBC’s hit show “The Biggest Loser,” will host the IFL weigh-in next Thursday, April 3, at 3 p.m. at L.A. Boxing in Secaucus, N.J., and give tips to the athletes trying to make weight for the IFL “New Blood, New Battles” show at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J.The fights will take place on Friday, April 4, at 7:30 p.m.
“These athletes are in unbelievable shape, but if there are any quick tips that we can help them with to shed a few ounces as they hit their desired weight, it will be our pleasure,” Bill Germanakos said. “The sport of Mixed Martial Arts is a great base for training and weight loss since it involves so many aspects of conditioning, including strength and flexibility and self discipline, so this will be fun for us as we continue to spread our message of healthy lifestyle to a larger audience.” All information for Jim and Bill can be found at WeightLossTwins.com.
Among the rising Mixed Martial Arts stars scheduled to compete on the 10-bout April 4 card are:
20 year old lightweight phenom Chris “The Polish Hammer” Horodecki against newcomer Nate Lamotte
IFL middleweight champ and Long Island native Jay “The Thorobred” Hieron against once beaten “Military” Mark Miller
Undefeated IFL featherweight champion Waggney Fabiano against NYU All-America wrestler and once beaten Shad Lierley
IFL light heavyweight champion and Belarussian Olympian Vladimir “The Janitor”
Matyushenko against Jersey City’s (Gracie Jiu Jitsu and Gleason’s Gym boxing trained) Jamal “The Suit” Patterson
Gilbert Melendez talks belt unification, training and those crazy Diaz boys!
videolink: http://shamrockvsle.proelite.com/stuff/video/104072/Gilbert_Melendez-Prefight
videolink: http://shamrockvsle.proelite.com/stuff/video/104072/Gilbert_Melendez-Prefight
Cung Le -Prefight interview
link: http://shamrockvsle.proelite.com/stuff/video/104076/Cung_Le_-Prefight
link: http://shamrockvsle.proelite.com/stuff/video/104076/Cung_Le_-Prefight
Gary Shaw and Nick Diaz on the CSAC
videolink: http://shamrockvsle.proelite.com/stuff/video/104077/Gary_Shaw_and_Nick_Diaz_on_the_CSAC
looks like the reason nick diaz is off the card is because the CSAC is a idiot
videolink: http://shamrockvsle.proelite.com/stuff/video/104077/Gary_Shaw_and_Nick_Diaz_on_the_CSAC
looks like the reason nick diaz is off the card is because the CSAC is a idiot
Exclusive: Rick "The Jet" Roufus
PDG: Your first mixed martial arts fight was last month against Maurice Smith; even though you lost, what positives if you take from the fight?
Rick: It was a positive experience for me as I have known Maurice for a very long time. Back in the 1980s when I was getting started in kickboxing; which I went on to win six World Titles in. Maurice was still doing kickboxing but then he branched off and started doing mixed martial arts. He got a lot of experience in the 1990s working with Frank Shamrock and eventually went on to beat Mark Coleman for the UFC heavyweight title. I learned a lot from that fight; a side from getting a feel for the cage in an actual fight. I won't be fighting a fighter that has that big of a weight advantage in an MMA fight again. I learned that it doesn't matter how good your standup game is if you are fighting someone that is very good at takedowns and grappling. It was a very humbling experience.
PDG: Smith outweighed you by almost 30 pounds.
Rick: Yeah, I didn't really notice it at the weigh-ins but then when I got in the cage and looked at him I said to myself “Holy Christ”.
PDG: Being that was your first MMA fight; how was the training leading up to the fight?
Rick: I started training back in August because I had scheduled fights coming up but something went wrong with each one and they never materialized for me. The organizations either folded or switched promoters and so finally I decided to take the fight with Maurice.
PDG: So are you going to with MMA or is there a chance that you will go back to K-1?
Rick: Absolutely, I am going to stick with MMA. I won't rule it out but I don't see me returning to stand up fighting. I haven't heard from K-1 in a while and my focus right now is 100% on MMA. K-1 and the Japanese are pretty hard to deal with.
PDG: Okay, so how many more fights would you like to have this year?
Rick: As many as I can get. I am fighting in the semi-main event this Saturday night in Oklahoma. Mark Kerr is also going to be on the card as the other co-main event. I have been training at the Lion's Den down here in Arizona with Edwin Dewees. I have been working a lot on the ground trying to improve my submission and grappling techniques.
PDG: The “Battle on the Border” is the event you are fighting in; who is your opponent and what do you know about him?
Rick: I am fighting a guy out of Arizona named Mike and his record is 8-6. I've been told that he is a boxer with decent submissions so it should be a good test to see where my training is at. I actually just found out about the fight yesterday so I don't have a whole lot of information about the event or my opponent.
PDG: Your fight with Maurice was just a little over a month ago; did you go right back to the gym and start training again?
Rick: Yes, I did because I was very frustrated with my performance in that fight. You know, you do six months of training for a fight that only lasts 1:50 and it is kind of a shock to your system. I don't take losing very good so it was best to get right back into the gym.
PDG: How is the training going; what is your schedule like?
Rick: It's almost like going to a martial arts class and being a white belt. You have to drop a lot of what you thought you knew and you try to learn a lot of it for the first time. I'm trying to grasp as much knowledge as I can and take a lot of smaller fights to build up my experience. I train every day from four until seven o'clock. I usually only take Wednesday and Sunday off and I have been working on my conditioning by running almost everyday. On Mondays, I work a couple hours with my standup trainer and I also do some high altitude running in the nearby mountains here. Most of the time though I am working with Edwin on submission, grappling and wrestling. I am one of the oldest if not the oldest fighter at the gym but I am showing up every day and working out 100%.
PDG: You've done boxing, kickboxing and now MMA; which one of the three sports is more punishing to your body?
Rick: Before I started training MMA I would've said the Thai boxing and kickboxing because those fights are nonstop action. Now I would have to say MMA because of all the different aspects, some days I wake up so sore that I don't want to get out of bed. But if you want to be successful, you have to put in the hard work no matter how sore your body is. So overall I would have to say that MMA is harder on your body because you work every part of your body.
PDG: How many more years do you expect to keep fighting?
Rick: Right now I am still hungry and I don't have any timeline as far as my career goes. As long as I can still compete, go to the gym and it is still fun, I will be fighting. I probably won't stretch it out as long as Maurice has and be fighting still when I'm 46 but the sky is the limit and we will see what happens.
PDG: After this fight Saturday night, do you have any other fights scheduled?
Rick: Yes, I have another fight coming up in three weeks in Romania against Mike McDonald. I fought him already twice in kickboxing but this is going to be an MMA fight. I believe the event is USA vs. the World. I have also been talking with World Victory Road about fighting on their next card in May.
PDG: So after you get a couple of fights under your belt; are there any fighters out there in particular that you would like to fight?
Rick: I am going to stay in the 205 lb weight class but if I was offered a fight with Mirko “Cro-Cop”, I would definitely take that fight. I would take that fight without a doubt. Other than that, I would like to fight Chuck Liddell, Wanderlei Silva and Houston Alexander.
PDG: What are your thoughts on the Shamrock vs. Le fight this weekend?
Rick: Cung comes from a standup background and even though he has converted to MMA now. He is taking on one of the best submission grapplers ever. What can I say Frank Shamrock is the best. I just hope that Cung is prepared because he definitely bit into a Big Apple for this fight. Cung’s only chance is to keep Frank off of him and that is going to be tough to do for the whole fight.
PDG: Thanks for taking the time Rick, is there anything else you'd like to add?
Rick: It was a pleasure and I appreciate the interview. I want to thank all of my fans and my sponsors including HeadBlade.
PDG: Your first mixed martial arts fight was last month against Maurice Smith; even though you lost, what positives if you take from the fight?
Rick: It was a positive experience for me as I have known Maurice for a very long time. Back in the 1980s when I was getting started in kickboxing; which I went on to win six World Titles in. Maurice was still doing kickboxing but then he branched off and started doing mixed martial arts. He got a lot of experience in the 1990s working with Frank Shamrock and eventually went on to beat Mark Coleman for the UFC heavyweight title. I learned a lot from that fight; a side from getting a feel for the cage in an actual fight. I won't be fighting a fighter that has that big of a weight advantage in an MMA fight again. I learned that it doesn't matter how good your standup game is if you are fighting someone that is very good at takedowns and grappling. It was a very humbling experience.
PDG: Smith outweighed you by almost 30 pounds.
Rick: Yeah, I didn't really notice it at the weigh-ins but then when I got in the cage and looked at him I said to myself “Holy Christ”.
PDG: Being that was your first MMA fight; how was the training leading up to the fight?
Rick: I started training back in August because I had scheduled fights coming up but something went wrong with each one and they never materialized for me. The organizations either folded or switched promoters and so finally I decided to take the fight with Maurice.
PDG: So are you going to with MMA or is there a chance that you will go back to K-1?
Rick: Absolutely, I am going to stick with MMA. I won't rule it out but I don't see me returning to stand up fighting. I haven't heard from K-1 in a while and my focus right now is 100% on MMA. K-1 and the Japanese are pretty hard to deal with.
PDG: Okay, so how many more fights would you like to have this year?
Rick: As many as I can get. I am fighting in the semi-main event this Saturday night in Oklahoma. Mark Kerr is also going to be on the card as the other co-main event. I have been training at the Lion's Den down here in Arizona with Edwin Dewees. I have been working a lot on the ground trying to improve my submission and grappling techniques.
PDG: The “Battle on the Border” is the event you are fighting in; who is your opponent and what do you know about him?
Rick: I am fighting a guy out of Arizona named Mike and his record is 8-6. I've been told that he is a boxer with decent submissions so it should be a good test to see where my training is at. I actually just found out about the fight yesterday so I don't have a whole lot of information about the event or my opponent.
PDG: Your fight with Maurice was just a little over a month ago; did you go right back to the gym and start training again?
Rick: Yes, I did because I was very frustrated with my performance in that fight. You know, you do six months of training for a fight that only lasts 1:50 and it is kind of a shock to your system. I don't take losing very good so it was best to get right back into the gym.
PDG: How is the training going; what is your schedule like?
Rick: It's almost like going to a martial arts class and being a white belt. You have to drop a lot of what you thought you knew and you try to learn a lot of it for the first time. I'm trying to grasp as much knowledge as I can and take a lot of smaller fights to build up my experience. I train every day from four until seven o'clock. I usually only take Wednesday and Sunday off and I have been working on my conditioning by running almost everyday. On Mondays, I work a couple hours with my standup trainer and I also do some high altitude running in the nearby mountains here. Most of the time though I am working with Edwin on submission, grappling and wrestling. I am one of the oldest if not the oldest fighter at the gym but I am showing up every day and working out 100%.
PDG: You've done boxing, kickboxing and now MMA; which one of the three sports is more punishing to your body?
Rick: Before I started training MMA I would've said the Thai boxing and kickboxing because those fights are nonstop action. Now I would have to say MMA because of all the different aspects, some days I wake up so sore that I don't want to get out of bed. But if you want to be successful, you have to put in the hard work no matter how sore your body is. So overall I would have to say that MMA is harder on your body because you work every part of your body.
PDG: How many more years do you expect to keep fighting?
Rick: Right now I am still hungry and I don't have any timeline as far as my career goes. As long as I can still compete, go to the gym and it is still fun, I will be fighting. I probably won't stretch it out as long as Maurice has and be fighting still when I'm 46 but the sky is the limit and we will see what happens.
PDG: After this fight Saturday night, do you have any other fights scheduled?
Rick: Yes, I have another fight coming up in three weeks in Romania against Mike McDonald. I fought him already twice in kickboxing but this is going to be an MMA fight. I believe the event is USA vs. the World. I have also been talking with World Victory Road about fighting on their next card in May.
PDG: So after you get a couple of fights under your belt; are there any fighters out there in particular that you would like to fight?
Rick: I am going to stay in the 205 lb weight class but if I was offered a fight with Mirko “Cro-Cop”, I would definitely take that fight. I would take that fight without a doubt. Other than that, I would like to fight Chuck Liddell, Wanderlei Silva and Houston Alexander.
PDG: What are your thoughts on the Shamrock vs. Le fight this weekend?
Rick: Cung comes from a standup background and even though he has converted to MMA now. He is taking on one of the best submission grapplers ever. What can I say Frank Shamrock is the best. I just hope that Cung is prepared because he definitely bit into a Big Apple for this fight. Cung’s only chance is to keep Frank off of him and that is going to be tough to do for the whole fight.
PDG: Thanks for taking the time Rick, is there anything else you'd like to add?
Rick: It was a pleasure and I appreciate the interview. I want to thank all of my fans and my sponsors including HeadBlade.
Rampage Jackson: Wanderlei Silva is the ‘Chump Murderer’
“I think that if I fought Wanderlei Silva in the UFC I would have beat him. Wanderlei was the Chuck Liddell of Pride. If you were beating Wanderlei on the ground, the referee’s would stand you right up. It happened to me. It happened to other fighters that fought him…. Me and Silva don’t even talk to each other. Silva is the type of guy that thinks everyone should be afraid of him. The way I react around him is different. I am not afraid of Wanderlei Silva. They call him ‘The Axe Murder’ because he destroys people in his fights. They threw him chumps and he murdered them. Look at his record of guys he fought. This guy is ‘The Chump Murderer.’ I speak my mind around him and he looks at me all crazy like I shouldn’t be saying that. I think some of the referees took payoffs in Pride. In Japan, I promise you something was up.”
While a guest on the Opie and Anthony radio show, reigning UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson reflected on his two crushing losses to Wanderlei Silva while the two competed under the Pride FC banner overseas in Japan. It’s widely believed that Silva will drop down to middleweight after his upcoming fight with Keith Jardine at UFC 84: “Ill Will,” which would put a damper on seeing a third match up — this time inside the Octagon — anytime soon.
“I think that if I fought Wanderlei Silva in the UFC I would have beat him. Wanderlei was the Chuck Liddell of Pride. If you were beating Wanderlei on the ground, the referee’s would stand you right up. It happened to me. It happened to other fighters that fought him…. Me and Silva don’t even talk to each other. Silva is the type of guy that thinks everyone should be afraid of him. The way I react around him is different. I am not afraid of Wanderlei Silva. They call him ‘The Axe Murder’ because he destroys people in his fights. They threw him chumps and he murdered them. Look at his record of guys he fought. This guy is ‘The Chump Murderer.’ I speak my mind around him and he looks at me all crazy like I shouldn’t be saying that. I think some of the referees took payoffs in Pride. In Japan, I promise you something was up.”
While a guest on the Opie and Anthony radio show, reigning UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson reflected on his two crushing losses to Wanderlei Silva while the two competed under the Pride FC banner overseas in Japan. It’s widely believed that Silva will drop down to middleweight after his upcoming fight with Keith Jardine at UFC 84: “Ill Will,” which would put a damper on seeing a third match up — this time inside the Octagon — anytime soon.
Leonard Garcia arrested in connection to the El pasco Cocain ring
WEC featherweight Leonard Garcia has been arrested in connection with an El Paso, TX cocaine ring, according to a report from KCBD NewsChannel 11 in Lubbock, TX:
Thirteen members of an alleged drug trafficking organization are off Lubbock streets after a four-year investigation. Authorities say the cocaine ring spans from El Paso to the Hub City.
NewsChannel 11 has learned one of those arrested is mixed martial arts fighter Leonard Garcia. He was arrested Tuesday in allege connection with the cocaine ring. Garica is currently ranked sixth in the featherweight class in MMA. He has fought in UFC and Ultimate Fighting championships.
If convicted, three of those arrested could face up to 40 years in prison and up to a $2 million fine. The others could face up to life in prison and up to a $ 4 million fine.
http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2008/03...rested-in-connection-to-el-paso-cocaine-ring/
WEC featherweight Leonard Garcia has been arrested in connection with an El Paso, TX cocaine ring, according to a report from KCBD NewsChannel 11 in Lubbock, TX:
Thirteen members of an alleged drug trafficking organization are off Lubbock streets after a four-year investigation. Authorities say the cocaine ring spans from El Paso to the Hub City.
NewsChannel 11 has learned one of those arrested is mixed martial arts fighter Leonard Garcia. He was arrested Tuesday in allege connection with the cocaine ring. Garica is currently ranked sixth in the featherweight class in MMA. He has fought in UFC and Ultimate Fighting championships.
If convicted, three of those arrested could face up to 40 years in prison and up to a $2 million fine. The others could face up to life in prison and up to a $ 4 million fine.
http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2008/03...rested-in-connection-to-el-paso-cocaine-ring/
Gabe Lemley: Exuding Confidence
Gabe Lemley, Gilbert Melendez’s opponent for Saturday night’s EliteXC/Strikeforce show, doesn’t sound too confident going into the bout. From a Pro Elite press release with quotes from the pre-fight presser:
“My first impression of Gilbert (Melendez) was that this is not a good idea because he is such a great fighter.”
At least Gabe is a realist. He took this fight on three weeks’ notice and walks around at 155 lbs., unlike Melendez who probably cuts 10-15 lbs. to get down to 155. He’s never faced a fighter like Melendez and in all likelihood, Melendez will make short work of him. When you’re making these kind of statements at the pre-fight presser, though, you may be in for a long night.
Gabe Lemley, Gilbert Melendez’s opponent for Saturday night’s EliteXC/Strikeforce show, doesn’t sound too confident going into the bout. From a Pro Elite press release with quotes from the pre-fight presser:
“My first impression of Gilbert (Melendez) was that this is not a good idea because he is such a great fighter.”
At least Gabe is a realist. He took this fight on three weeks’ notice and walks around at 155 lbs., unlike Melendez who probably cuts 10-15 lbs. to get down to 155. He’s never faced a fighter like Melendez and in all likelihood, Melendez will make short work of him. When you’re making these kind of statements at the pre-fight presser, though, you may be in for a long night.
TIM SYLVIA EXPECTED TO PART WAYS WITH UFC
Five years, eleven fights, and five titles after joining the Ultimate Fighting Championship, it appears that Tim Sylvia is leaving the Octagon.
Sylvia hinted at the departure on his website’s blog this Wednesday, stating, “I’ve got a couple of big announcements to make about my career.”
He had one fight left on his current contract following a losing title bid against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 81. A source close to the negotiations confirmed to MMAWeekly.com that Sylvia was given his leave last week. The divorce was made final early this week.
Sylvia’s manager, Monte Cox, declined to confirm the exit and would not comment on his fighter’s status.
The Bangor, Maine native made his UFC debut on September 27, 2002, defeating Wesley Correira by TKO at UFC 39: “The Warriors Return.” Since defeating Ricco Rodriguez for the heavyweight title at UFC 41, Sylvia was a constant fixture at the top of the division, fighting for the belt on eight separate occasions.
Sylvia’s tenure with the UFC was not always harmonious. After two lackluster title defenses at UFC 61 and 65, Sylvia strained his relationship with fans and the UFC brass. Long outspoken about the UFC’s business decisions, he attacked former WWE wrestler Brock Lesnar’s pay scale and hinted at his willingness to the leave following UFC 81.
“I want to stay with the UFC but I am going to go were the money is right now,” Sylvia wrote on his website. “Brock is making more money then me [and] that has to change. In case [you] didn't know my manager runs M1 so I have a pretty good in so we will see what happens in the next few months.”
Since Fedor Emelianenko’s exit from M-1, the organization is without marquee talent. Despite Sylvia’s hot/cold relationship with fans, Cox is likely to be first in line for his services.
Five years, eleven fights, and five titles after joining the Ultimate Fighting Championship, it appears that Tim Sylvia is leaving the Octagon.
Sylvia hinted at the departure on his website’s blog this Wednesday, stating, “I’ve got a couple of big announcements to make about my career.”
He had one fight left on his current contract following a losing title bid against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 81. A source close to the negotiations confirmed to MMAWeekly.com that Sylvia was given his leave last week. The divorce was made final early this week.
Sylvia’s manager, Monte Cox, declined to confirm the exit and would not comment on his fighter’s status.
The Bangor, Maine native made his UFC debut on September 27, 2002, defeating Wesley Correira by TKO at UFC 39: “The Warriors Return.” Since defeating Ricco Rodriguez for the heavyweight title at UFC 41, Sylvia was a constant fixture at the top of the division, fighting for the belt on eight separate occasions.
Sylvia’s tenure with the UFC was not always harmonious. After two lackluster title defenses at UFC 61 and 65, Sylvia strained his relationship with fans and the UFC brass. Long outspoken about the UFC’s business decisions, he attacked former WWE wrestler Brock Lesnar’s pay scale and hinted at his willingness to the leave following UFC 81.
“I want to stay with the UFC but I am going to go were the money is right now,” Sylvia wrote on his website. “Brock is making more money then me [and] that has to change. In case [you] didn't know my manager runs M1 so I have a pretty good in so we will see what happens in the next few months.”
Since Fedor Emelianenko’s exit from M-1, the organization is without marquee talent. Despite Sylvia’s hot/cold relationship with fans, Cox is likely to be first in line for his services.
DAVID LOISEAU IN NEED OF A HARDCORE WIN
by Mick Hammond - MMAWeekly.com
It could be said that it’s no or never for former UFC middleweight contender David “The Crow” Loiseau.
Following a stretch that saw him win five fights in a row en route to a UFC 185-pound title match against then champion Rich Franklin; Loiseau has struggled, losing four of five fights, at times looking quite lethargic in the process.
With a new year comes new opportunities for success however, as David seeks to rebound this Saturday night in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada in an important headlining role for the fast-rising Canadian MMA promotion Hardcore Championship Fighting.
“I feel great, I’m in great shape and just toning down right now, making sure I’m on weight for Friday’s weigh-ins,” said a relaxed and confident Loiseau earlier this week. “I’m ready to let loose.”
“I’m looking forward to fighting; to put on a good fight or put on a good show, it doesn’t matter where or when. When it’s a fight you want to show up, fight good, fight hard and have a good fight. It’s important, and it’s what I’m going to do, show up and fight who I’ve got to fight and win.”
David’s eagerness to return to action comes off the heels of a controversial split-decision loss to Jason Day in Loiseau’s last HCF appearance in February.
In the fight, which was a last-minute addition to the card, David utilized a new aspect of his game, wrestling, to control much of the action in the second and third rounds after a stagnant first round.
“I’ve been wrestling with the Montreal Wrestling Club, and for the past eight months I’ve been wrestling very hard,” stated Loiseau. “In my last fight I took my opponent down a couple of times, picked him up and slammed him, double-legged him and out-grappled him.”
“That’s why a lot of people were surprised with my last performance, because I didn’t get taken down once. I took my opponent down, out-wrestled him, and was on top, so I do work on my weaknesses.”
Despite showcasing a more complete fighting style, the judges saw the match in Day’s favor. And while he’s not happy with the outcome, David has moved on in anticipation of his upcoming fight.
“I was ready; I have no excuses, that’s not how I am,” commented Loiseau on the loss. “A lot of guys do that, but that’s not how I am.”
“I actually won the fight, I won the fight – I just got screwed by the judges. Anybody that watches the fight can see that.”
At Saturday’s HCF, David is scheduled to take on Todd Gouwenberg, an aggressive young fighter that had won four fights in a row before losing his last bout to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at the same event Loiseau lost to Day.
“I checked out the fight there live and also saw the video and saw a couple things for sure (I can capitalize on),” said David of Gouwenberg’s game. “I think it’s going to be an exciting fight. He comes forward, comes to fight and is a strong guy, so it’s going to be action-packed.”
Loiseau knows that in order to work his way back to title contention, he has to win now and keep winning as the year progresses.
“One thing I want to do is take fights one fight at a time,” stated David. “My goal is to one day become the best fighter in the division, and to do that I’ve just got to take it one fight at a time. That’s it, work hard, train hard and fight hard.”
“I want to thank all my sponsors for this fight for supporting me. Come and check out the fights this Saturday, March 29th; and check out my website, www.CrowTime.tv, it’s where you can get all the info on my upcoming fights, seminars, and all things The Crow.”
by Mick Hammond - MMAWeekly.com
It could be said that it’s no or never for former UFC middleweight contender David “The Crow” Loiseau.
Following a stretch that saw him win five fights in a row en route to a UFC 185-pound title match against then champion Rich Franklin; Loiseau has struggled, losing four of five fights, at times looking quite lethargic in the process.
With a new year comes new opportunities for success however, as David seeks to rebound this Saturday night in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada in an important headlining role for the fast-rising Canadian MMA promotion Hardcore Championship Fighting.
“I feel great, I’m in great shape and just toning down right now, making sure I’m on weight for Friday’s weigh-ins,” said a relaxed and confident Loiseau earlier this week. “I’m ready to let loose.”
“I’m looking forward to fighting; to put on a good fight or put on a good show, it doesn’t matter where or when. When it’s a fight you want to show up, fight good, fight hard and have a good fight. It’s important, and it’s what I’m going to do, show up and fight who I’ve got to fight and win.”
David’s eagerness to return to action comes off the heels of a controversial split-decision loss to Jason Day in Loiseau’s last HCF appearance in February.
In the fight, which was a last-minute addition to the card, David utilized a new aspect of his game, wrestling, to control much of the action in the second and third rounds after a stagnant first round.
“I’ve been wrestling with the Montreal Wrestling Club, and for the past eight months I’ve been wrestling very hard,” stated Loiseau. “In my last fight I took my opponent down a couple of times, picked him up and slammed him, double-legged him and out-grappled him.”
“That’s why a lot of people were surprised with my last performance, because I didn’t get taken down once. I took my opponent down, out-wrestled him, and was on top, so I do work on my weaknesses.”
Despite showcasing a more complete fighting style, the judges saw the match in Day’s favor. And while he’s not happy with the outcome, David has moved on in anticipation of his upcoming fight.
“I was ready; I have no excuses, that’s not how I am,” commented Loiseau on the loss. “A lot of guys do that, but that’s not how I am.”
“I actually won the fight, I won the fight – I just got screwed by the judges. Anybody that watches the fight can see that.”
At Saturday’s HCF, David is scheduled to take on Todd Gouwenberg, an aggressive young fighter that had won four fights in a row before losing his last bout to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at the same event Loiseau lost to Day.
“I checked out the fight there live and also saw the video and saw a couple things for sure (I can capitalize on),” said David of Gouwenberg’s game. “I think it’s going to be an exciting fight. He comes forward, comes to fight and is a strong guy, so it’s going to be action-packed.”
Loiseau knows that in order to work his way back to title contention, he has to win now and keep winning as the year progresses.
“One thing I want to do is take fights one fight at a time,” stated David. “My goal is to one day become the best fighter in the division, and to do that I’ve just got to take it one fight at a time. That’s it, work hard, train hard and fight hard.”
“I want to thank all my sponsors for this fight for supporting me. Come and check out the fights this Saturday, March 29th; and check out my website, www.CrowTime.tv, it’s where you can get all the info on my upcoming fights, seminars, and all things The Crow.”
TRYOUTS FOR THE IFC FIGHTS APRIL 26 IN LAS VEGAS
By Press Release | March 28, 2008
The International Fighting Championship tryouts will be held at Richard Steele Boxing Club located at 2475 W. Cheyenne Ave. #110 North Las Vegas, NV 89032. Richard Steele, who is considered one of the world's most prolific referees of all time, owns the establishment
http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content2318.html?PHPSESSID=697f6e00942c0995f5ddb330c8481ca4
By Press Release | March 28, 2008
The International Fighting Championship tryouts will be held at Richard Steele Boxing Club located at 2475 W. Cheyenne Ave. #110 North Las Vegas, NV 89032. Richard Steele, who is considered one of the world's most prolific referees of all time, owns the establishment
http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content2318.html?PHPSESSID=697f6e00942c0995f5ddb330c8481ca4
Nogueira making a heavyweight impact
By Miguel Lopez,
REDONDO BEACH --- Just last month he took part in a war for the UFC's interim heavyweight title against 6-foot-8, 260-pound slugger Tim Sylvia. And the fight at UFC 81 was a one-sided war for three and a half rounds, with Sylvia getting the better of Brazilian Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira with heavy jabs, straight rights and a few uppercuts that planted Nogueira on the canvas a few times, and just when the war seemed to be coming to an end, Nogueira decided enough was enough and the Brazilian Jujitsu black belt took Sylvia down and moments later forced Sylvia to submit due to a deep guillotine-anaconda choke.
The win not only gave Nogueira the heavyweight title but it showcased to the U.S. fans the heart and toughness that made the Brazilian a mixed martial arts icon in his home country, and in Japan during his tenure with Pride FC.
"I went into (the fight) trying to take him down but he had a good defense for my takedowns so I was waiting for my chance to get the opening for that decisive takedown," said Nogueira, whose hunt for that opening was greeted multiple times by hard rights to the face. "I know what I was risking looking for that takedown. I have faced many hard fighters before so I wasn't too surprised when he knocked me down, but every time that happens I get up. That's my heart fighting.
"I fought (Sylvia's) game when we were standing up and when we got to my game, on the ground, the fight was over."
In his memorable fights in Japan
and even his debut fight for UFC, Nogueira took some severe punishment throughout the bout and appeared to be all but done. Yet somehow, he had enough in the gas tank to pull off the win and earn a bigger fan base.
"I like having hard fights like my last one," said Nogueira, who sports a 31-4-1 record. "It was the best fight of the night, I like making my fight a good show, too."
Although 6-foot-4, 240-pound Nogueira utilizes his Brazilian Jujitsu black belt techniques to win most of his fights, he admits that the ground technique was not his first love; rather, he looked at it as an interesting form of fighting but nothing he thought he could pursue.
When Nogueira was 14-years-old he and his twin brother, Antonio Rogerio, spent most of their free time in a gym practicing mostly boxing. And at about that time was when he got a glimpse of the technique that he is now recognized for when he watched the early UFC fights that featured a countryman of his, Royce Gracie.
"I watched a lot of Royce Gracie - I was amazed with his jujitsu because we weren't familiar with it," said Nogueira with a smile. "I grew up watching the UFC and that was about the time when I was doing boxing and saw how jujitsu was being used and when I saw it, I was like 'wow.' "
A few years later, Nogueira had a first-hand encounter in his home gym when he came across a jujitsu class that was being taught while on his way to his boxing lesson, which was being taught in the other side of the same gym.
"To get to my boxing (class) I had to cross the section where they were practicing BJJ and each time I crossed that section I looked repeatedly at what they were doing, and the next day I found myself in the jujitsu class, I was about 17 at the time," said Nogueira who was introduced to martial arts, Judo, at the age of 5.
The new endeavor came to the heavyweight naturally as some of the grappling he learned in Judo crossed over jujitsu, and it a matter of months, Nogueira was leaving a mark in the submission community.
"I was good at it because I had practiced ground fighting before but only a little submission, so jujitsu came natural," Nogueira said. "In a few months I was winning tournaments and in three years I got my black belt, I loved it. I quit school and dedicated myself to the sport."
Nogueira was set to follow his dream of becoming a professional fighter and that career choice sat well with his mother but not with his father. Nogueira's father was a lawyer and expected both of his sons to follow in his footsteps, the twin brothers were approximately a year away from completing their law degree when they decided to quit the family business and pursue mixed martial arts.
"At the beginning of my career my family was against it because I left school and my twin brother did the same and he was only months from being a lawyer in Brazil and I was attending law school," said Nogueira with a grin. "And my dad had (desks) in his office set up for us to work once we became lawyers. - My dad wasn't interested in combat sports but my mom was a different story. But now he is a big fan, he supports me a lot now and once he saw that I was good and serious about it he supported me."
The family support that Nogueira has received throughout his nine-year fighting career has helped him achieve two of his dreams, the first being crowned the Pride FC heavyweight champion in 2001 and the second, when he stopped Sylvia on Feb. 2 and captured the UFC's interim heavyweight title thus becoming the only fighter to win both titles.
Now his next dream seems to be one that he has earned, but still may elude him.
"Fighting Randy Couture is one of the things that motivated me to fight in the UFC," said Nogueira, of the fighter who currently holds the other half of the heavyweight title in the UFC. But Couture has stepped away from UFC in hopes of setting up a dream with undefeated Russian fighter Fedor Emelinanko and the 45-year-old has stated that this 'super fight' is the only fight he wants to have before stepping away.
The UFC still has Couture under contract for one more fight, but Couture is adement of not returning to the Octagon because he feels the UFC didn't make an effort to put the 'super fight' together among other disagreements. The matter is currently in the hands of lawyers, and Nogueira's hopes of becoming the undisputed UFC champion may not materialize.
"Once you have the title, you have to defend it," Nogueira said of Couture. "He and Fedor are some of the best fighters in the world but if they want to be THE best then they have to fight here in the UFC. If they want to have any belt in any organization they have to be prepared to fight the best fighters in the world every two or three months. - That's how you hold the title."
Antonio Rodrigo wants to show the world that he is the best heavyweight and he is prepared to beat all the best fighters available, even if they don't include Couture.
"I like his style and the type of aggressive fighting he brings - I think if that fight was to happen it would be exciting. He has a big name and I have a big name in MMA, too" Nogueira said. "I was waiting to fight him but even with that not happening, I get to fight some of the best fighters in the world here in the UFC. We have the best heavyweights here in the UFC and the show must go on."
No timetable has been given to Nogueira on his first title defense but says he hopes to be back competing in early summer versus whomever the UFC puts in front of him.
[email protected]
By Miguel Lopez,
REDONDO BEACH --- Just last month he took part in a war for the UFC's interim heavyweight title against 6-foot-8, 260-pound slugger Tim Sylvia. And the fight at UFC 81 was a one-sided war for three and a half rounds, with Sylvia getting the better of Brazilian Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira with heavy jabs, straight rights and a few uppercuts that planted Nogueira on the canvas a few times, and just when the war seemed to be coming to an end, Nogueira decided enough was enough and the Brazilian Jujitsu black belt took Sylvia down and moments later forced Sylvia to submit due to a deep guillotine-anaconda choke.
The win not only gave Nogueira the heavyweight title but it showcased to the U.S. fans the heart and toughness that made the Brazilian a mixed martial arts icon in his home country, and in Japan during his tenure with Pride FC.
"I went into (the fight) trying to take him down but he had a good defense for my takedowns so I was waiting for my chance to get the opening for that decisive takedown," said Nogueira, whose hunt for that opening was greeted multiple times by hard rights to the face. "I know what I was risking looking for that takedown. I have faced many hard fighters before so I wasn't too surprised when he knocked me down, but every time that happens I get up. That's my heart fighting.
"I fought (Sylvia's) game when we were standing up and when we got to my game, on the ground, the fight was over."
In his memorable fights in Japan
and even his debut fight for UFC, Nogueira took some severe punishment throughout the bout and appeared to be all but done. Yet somehow, he had enough in the gas tank to pull off the win and earn a bigger fan base.
"I like having hard fights like my last one," said Nogueira, who sports a 31-4-1 record. "It was the best fight of the night, I like making my fight a good show, too."
Although 6-foot-4, 240-pound Nogueira utilizes his Brazilian Jujitsu black belt techniques to win most of his fights, he admits that the ground technique was not his first love; rather, he looked at it as an interesting form of fighting but nothing he thought he could pursue.
When Nogueira was 14-years-old he and his twin brother, Antonio Rogerio, spent most of their free time in a gym practicing mostly boxing. And at about that time was when he got a glimpse of the technique that he is now recognized for when he watched the early UFC fights that featured a countryman of his, Royce Gracie.
"I watched a lot of Royce Gracie - I was amazed with his jujitsu because we weren't familiar with it," said Nogueira with a smile. "I grew up watching the UFC and that was about the time when I was doing boxing and saw how jujitsu was being used and when I saw it, I was like 'wow.' "
A few years later, Nogueira had a first-hand encounter in his home gym when he came across a jujitsu class that was being taught while on his way to his boxing lesson, which was being taught in the other side of the same gym.
"To get to my boxing (class) I had to cross the section where they were practicing BJJ and each time I crossed that section I looked repeatedly at what they were doing, and the next day I found myself in the jujitsu class, I was about 17 at the time," said Nogueira who was introduced to martial arts, Judo, at the age of 5.
The new endeavor came to the heavyweight naturally as some of the grappling he learned in Judo crossed over jujitsu, and it a matter of months, Nogueira was leaving a mark in the submission community.
"I was good at it because I had practiced ground fighting before but only a little submission, so jujitsu came natural," Nogueira said. "In a few months I was winning tournaments and in three years I got my black belt, I loved it. I quit school and dedicated myself to the sport."
Nogueira was set to follow his dream of becoming a professional fighter and that career choice sat well with his mother but not with his father. Nogueira's father was a lawyer and expected both of his sons to follow in his footsteps, the twin brothers were approximately a year away from completing their law degree when they decided to quit the family business and pursue mixed martial arts.
"At the beginning of my career my family was against it because I left school and my twin brother did the same and he was only months from being a lawyer in Brazil and I was attending law school," said Nogueira with a grin. "And my dad had (desks) in his office set up for us to work once we became lawyers. - My dad wasn't interested in combat sports but my mom was a different story. But now he is a big fan, he supports me a lot now and once he saw that I was good and serious about it he supported me."
The family support that Nogueira has received throughout his nine-year fighting career has helped him achieve two of his dreams, the first being crowned the Pride FC heavyweight champion in 2001 and the second, when he stopped Sylvia on Feb. 2 and captured the UFC's interim heavyweight title thus becoming the only fighter to win both titles.
Now his next dream seems to be one that he has earned, but still may elude him.
"Fighting Randy Couture is one of the things that motivated me to fight in the UFC," said Nogueira, of the fighter who currently holds the other half of the heavyweight title in the UFC. But Couture has stepped away from UFC in hopes of setting up a dream with undefeated Russian fighter Fedor Emelinanko and the 45-year-old has stated that this 'super fight' is the only fight he wants to have before stepping away.
The UFC still has Couture under contract for one more fight, but Couture is adement of not returning to the Octagon because he feels the UFC didn't make an effort to put the 'super fight' together among other disagreements. The matter is currently in the hands of lawyers, and Nogueira's hopes of becoming the undisputed UFC champion may not materialize.
"Once you have the title, you have to defend it," Nogueira said of Couture. "He and Fedor are some of the best fighters in the world but if they want to be THE best then they have to fight here in the UFC. If they want to have any belt in any organization they have to be prepared to fight the best fighters in the world every two or three months. - That's how you hold the title."
Antonio Rodrigo wants to show the world that he is the best heavyweight and he is prepared to beat all the best fighters available, even if they don't include Couture.
"I like his style and the type of aggressive fighting he brings - I think if that fight was to happen it would be exciting. He has a big name and I have a big name in MMA, too" Nogueira said. "I was waiting to fight him but even with that not happening, I get to fight some of the best fighters in the world here in the UFC. We have the best heavyweights here in the UFC and the show must go on."
No timetable has been given to Nogueira on his first title defense but says he hopes to be back competing in early summer versus whomever the UFC puts in front of him.
[email protected]
San Jose's Cung Le developing into Strikeforce star
By Joshua Molina
The racist taunts on the playground were relentless.
Cung Le, then a skinny, shy 8-year-old, pretended he didn't hear them. But the hurtful words felt like daggers in the heart. Then the attacks turned physical. A trip, a push, a punch.
Tired of black eyes and bloody noses, "in the fifth grade, I started to fight back," said Le, now 35.
A rising star in mixed martial arts and one of the best San Shou-style fighters in the world, the San Jose resident and Vietnamese emigre has gone from being taunted on the playground to hailed as a hero inside the cage.
In the biggest mixed martial arts fight in Bay Area history, Le battles another San Jose resident - the charismatic, cocky pioneer of the sport, Frank Shamrock - at the HP Pavilion on Saturday night. Shamrock, aka "The Legend," who has never been knocked out or submitted, said he will prove he's the true champion of San Jose.
"The truth will come out in a beautiful, explosive and violent way," Shamrock said.
The two popular athletes will battle for Shamrock's Strikeforce middleweight championship, and the war of the hometown heroes has San Jose fight fans abuzz. Both fighters will earn comfortable "six-figure salaries," said Mike Afromowitz, vice president of Strikeforce, who is co-promoting the fight with EliteXC.
Promoters are expecting a full house - 18,265.
On the outside, Le is 5 feet, 10 inches tall and 185 pounds of well-conditioned muscle. He carries himself ithe confidence but a refreshing lack of arrogance. When he speaks, it is not to tout his in-cage conquests. Rather, he's soft-spoken and humble.
"I am not even nervous," he said of fighting Shamrock, from his new 10,000-square-foot gym in Milpitas. "I am not even stressed."
Le, a hero in San Jose's Vietnamese circles, wears yellow and red trunks, designed in the style of the red and yellow flag of South Vietnam before the 1975 communist takeover, to show respect for his homeland.
For a timid boy who grew up idolizing Bruce Lee and Michael Jordan, his journey to the biggest fight of his career has been full of drama.
Born in Saigon, the boy and his mother, Anne, fled Vietnam amid gunfire just days before the fall of Saigon. Le's grandfather, a police chief, used his government ties to secure a helicopter rather than escape by boat, and they were flown to a Philippine refugee camp.
That day, the 2-year-old boy said goodbye to his father, who chose to stay in Vietnam. Le today won't mention his father's name; he doesn't want to give him undue attention.
"He wanted his freedom to do the things he wanted to do with his life," said Cung Le's mother, Anne, of her ex-husband. Anne Le said of her ex-husband. "He didn't want to have a regular family."
A church family sponsored a move to the United States. Le struggled to fit in.
"I really couldn't do anything," he said. "They were bigger and stronger. I felt helpless. I had no one to turn to."
But in the seventh grade, Le started wrestling at Burnett Academy in San Jose. And the days of being teased came to an end. He became a star wrestler, winning freestyle and Greco-Roman tournaments at San Jose High and at West Valley College.
Le later combined his wrestling skills with kickboxing and master San Shou-style martial arts, a Chinese form of combat, that combines kicks and punches with throws and takedowns. He was undefeated.
With the surge in popularity of mixed martial arts, and the promise of more lucrative paydays, Le jumped into the fray and joined Strikeforce. He is 5-0 in MMA.
As he prepares for his fights, Le sleeps in a hypoxic tent, which simulates high altitudes by lowering oxygen availability and boosts his conditioning.
Le has two sons, Cung Michael, 7, and Anthony, 3. He is divorced and has sole custody. Whatever happens Saturday night, Le said, fatherhood comes first. He makes breakfast every morning for his boys - usually breakfast burritos made with egg whites served with fresh juice - an "80 percent organic diet," he said.
"I want to be a better father to my children than my father was to me," Le said.
His kids will be in the audience Saturday, alongside thousands of screaming Le fans. Those rabble-rousers who used to beat him up in elementary school might even be watching.
"I know they see me," Le said with a massive, proud grin, thinking back to the days he used to take beatings rather than give them.
"That's bragging rights for them."
By Joshua Molina
The racist taunts on the playground were relentless.
Cung Le, then a skinny, shy 8-year-old, pretended he didn't hear them. But the hurtful words felt like daggers in the heart. Then the attacks turned physical. A trip, a push, a punch.
Tired of black eyes and bloody noses, "in the fifth grade, I started to fight back," said Le, now 35.
A rising star in mixed martial arts and one of the best San Shou-style fighters in the world, the San Jose resident and Vietnamese emigre has gone from being taunted on the playground to hailed as a hero inside the cage.
In the biggest mixed martial arts fight in Bay Area history, Le battles another San Jose resident - the charismatic, cocky pioneer of the sport, Frank Shamrock - at the HP Pavilion on Saturday night. Shamrock, aka "The Legend," who has never been knocked out or submitted, said he will prove he's the true champion of San Jose.
"The truth will come out in a beautiful, explosive and violent way," Shamrock said.
The two popular athletes will battle for Shamrock's Strikeforce middleweight championship, and the war of the hometown heroes has San Jose fight fans abuzz. Both fighters will earn comfortable "six-figure salaries," said Mike Afromowitz, vice president of Strikeforce, who is co-promoting the fight with EliteXC.
Promoters are expecting a full house - 18,265.
On the outside, Le is 5 feet, 10 inches tall and 185 pounds of well-conditioned muscle. He carries himself ithe confidence but a refreshing lack of arrogance. When he speaks, it is not to tout his in-cage conquests. Rather, he's soft-spoken and humble.
"I am not even nervous," he said of fighting Shamrock, from his new 10,000-square-foot gym in Milpitas. "I am not even stressed."
Le, a hero in San Jose's Vietnamese circles, wears yellow and red trunks, designed in the style of the red and yellow flag of South Vietnam before the 1975 communist takeover, to show respect for his homeland.
For a timid boy who grew up idolizing Bruce Lee and Michael Jordan, his journey to the biggest fight of his career has been full of drama.
Born in Saigon, the boy and his mother, Anne, fled Vietnam amid gunfire just days before the fall of Saigon. Le's grandfather, a police chief, used his government ties to secure a helicopter rather than escape by boat, and they were flown to a Philippine refugee camp.
That day, the 2-year-old boy said goodbye to his father, who chose to stay in Vietnam. Le today won't mention his father's name; he doesn't want to give him undue attention.
"He wanted his freedom to do the things he wanted to do with his life," said Cung Le's mother, Anne, of her ex-husband. Anne Le said of her ex-husband. "He didn't want to have a regular family."
A church family sponsored a move to the United States. Le struggled to fit in.
"I really couldn't do anything," he said. "They were bigger and stronger. I felt helpless. I had no one to turn to."
But in the seventh grade, Le started wrestling at Burnett Academy in San Jose. And the days of being teased came to an end. He became a star wrestler, winning freestyle and Greco-Roman tournaments at San Jose High and at West Valley College.
Le later combined his wrestling skills with kickboxing and master San Shou-style martial arts, a Chinese form of combat, that combines kicks and punches with throws and takedowns. He was undefeated.
With the surge in popularity of mixed martial arts, and the promise of more lucrative paydays, Le jumped into the fray and joined Strikeforce. He is 5-0 in MMA.
As he prepares for his fights, Le sleeps in a hypoxic tent, which simulates high altitudes by lowering oxygen availability and boosts his conditioning.
Le has two sons, Cung Michael, 7, and Anthony, 3. He is divorced and has sole custody. Whatever happens Saturday night, Le said, fatherhood comes first. He makes breakfast every morning for his boys - usually breakfast burritos made with egg whites served with fresh juice - an "80 percent organic diet," he said.
"I want to be a better father to my children than my father was to me," Le said.
His kids will be in the audience Saturday, alongside thousands of screaming Le fans. Those rabble-rousers who used to beat him up in elementary school might even be watching.
"I know they see me," Le said with a massive, proud grin, thinking back to the days he used to take beatings rather than give them.
"That's bragging rights for them."
Frank Shamrock takes on Cung Le in mixed martial arts showdown
The Shamrock name still sells in mixed martial arts. So apparently does that of Cung Le.
Le, a martial arts star who switched to mixed martial arts two years ago, takes on MMA veteran Frank Shamrock on Saturday night (9 p.m. ET) at the HP Pavilion in San Jose for Shamrock's Strikeforce world middleweight title.
Gary Shaw, co-promoter of the Strikeforce-EliteXC show, expects the two local fighters to draw a crowd of 15,000 to 17,000 plus a gate in excess of US$1 million.
"This is truly for the king of the Bay Area and the king of San Jose," Shaw said on a conference call. "One of them is going to walk with his head high that night and through town the next week or two and the other won't feel quite as good."
Like Shaw, the 35-year-old Shamrock can talk a good fight. And thanks to a layoff and what some might call judicious choice of opponents in recent years, he can point to an unbeaten run that dates back to 1997 - save a disqualification loss to Renzo Gracie last February.
He fought once in 2000, 2003 and 2006 and twice in 2007, most recently last June when he submitted Phil Baroni - another fighter who has been round the MMA block a few times.
Le promises to be a good payday for Shamrock and the veteran has his eye on a few more, citing a possible rematch with Tito Ortiz and a fight against his adoptive older brother Ken Shamrock. "There's a lot of strength in brand values in some of these old-timers like myself."
Frank Shamrock was the UFC's first light-heavyweight champion. He won the title in December 1997 and defended it four times before retiring in November 1999 after beating Ortiz.
"I've got so many belts I don't have a place to put them. I just stack 'em up in my gym," Shamrock, whose website has a photo showing him holding some five championship belts, said loftily. "I realized a long time ago that belts don't mean anything. It's easier to become a champion than to stay a champion. For me it's just a way of life and if they give me a belt that's great, if they don't I could really care less.
"I've got to have something that challenges me," he added.
Le may do just that. A former star practitioner of the Chinese martial arts of Sanshou (think kickboxing with throws), he moved to MMA two years ago after an unbeaten kickboxing career and has run up a 5-0 record since. That record includes wins over "The Ultimate Fighter" alumni Sam Morgan and Jason Von Flue and veteran Tony (the Freak) Fryklund.
Born in Vietnam, he left the country when he was almost three.
"I was fortunate to have a grandfather who was chief of police and we were able to be airlifted out, under gunfire though but three days before the fall of Saigon," Le said in an interview. "A lot of people didn't have that luxury."
Now 35, Le is fast and unorthodox. His highlight reels are full of opponents distracted by a punch and then felled by a sweep of the legs. The elegant fighter moves like an upright breakdancer.
"It's a good matchup because Frank has the edge on me on the ground and I have the edge on standup," Le said. "And I think my movement will be the key factor to this whole fight because I'm going to be in and out and you can't hit what you can't see.
"One moment I'll be in his face, but I'm not just going to be in front of his face. I'm going to be feeding him some shinbone and four-ounce leather and I'm going to be in and out. I'm not going to stay in there for him to tie me up and look for my ankles."
Shamrock, however, said he will stand and punch with Le.
"My art has been tweaked many years ago to be a striking art," he said. "And for the past decade most of what I've studied has been striking and I think it's just time for me to try out my striking. It might be a little dangerous, but it's not like we're not in a dangerous sport. I have the utmost confidence in what I do. I think Cung Le is a great striker but I don't think he's prepared for an MMA striking match and that's just my strategic analysis of the match so I'm going for it."
Le doesn't buy it.
"I think it's a big smokescreen," he said. "Frank's a very intelligent fighter and of course he's going to put it out there that he's going to strike with me and, really, I think he's going to test the waters a little bit and then probably jump for half-guard or look for the ankle lock and start hunting for my knees." Adding to the spice surrounding the fight is the fact the two men have sparred before. Just how much is a topic for debate.
"We only did Sanshou and I sucked at Sanshou," said Shamrock. "That was a great many years ago and that was at the beginning of my understanding of striking. Now it's just a different level, different story. Time will tell. My actions in the ring will make everybody understand."
Countered Le: "He didn't just spar with me in Sanshou, we did kickboxing, we did Muay Thai, we did kickboxing with throws, everything what he would do in MMA except when it came to the ground."
Both men have also dabbled with acting. Shamrock's resume includes an appearance on "Walker, Texas Ranger. Le has appeared in the yet-to-be released films "Fighting" and "Tekken."
In typical Shamrock-speak, the champion predicted a short night Saturday.
"If Cung Le runs from me, I think that it might last a while, because it'll take me a little while to run him down. ... I don't think we'll go past two or three rounds," he said. "I'm going to push the pace really hard and try to finish it in two, because my wife's pregnant and I want to make sure I'm home with her just in case the baby pops out. I don't think it's going to be a long fight."
Le isn't fazed by such talk.
"I feel that he is very arrogant and cocky, ego-driven but that could be Achilles heels when it comes to fighting me."
Copyright © 2008 The Canadian Press
The Shamrock name still sells in mixed martial arts. So apparently does that of Cung Le.
Le, a martial arts star who switched to mixed martial arts two years ago, takes on MMA veteran Frank Shamrock on Saturday night (9 p.m. ET) at the HP Pavilion in San Jose for Shamrock's Strikeforce world middleweight title.
Gary Shaw, co-promoter of the Strikeforce-EliteXC show, expects the two local fighters to draw a crowd of 15,000 to 17,000 plus a gate in excess of US$1 million.
"This is truly for the king of the Bay Area and the king of San Jose," Shaw said on a conference call. "One of them is going to walk with his head high that night and through town the next week or two and the other won't feel quite as good."
Like Shaw, the 35-year-old Shamrock can talk a good fight. And thanks to a layoff and what some might call judicious choice of opponents in recent years, he can point to an unbeaten run that dates back to 1997 - save a disqualification loss to Renzo Gracie last February.
He fought once in 2000, 2003 and 2006 and twice in 2007, most recently last June when he submitted Phil Baroni - another fighter who has been round the MMA block a few times.
Le promises to be a good payday for Shamrock and the veteran has his eye on a few more, citing a possible rematch with Tito Ortiz and a fight against his adoptive older brother Ken Shamrock. "There's a lot of strength in brand values in some of these old-timers like myself."
Frank Shamrock was the UFC's first light-heavyweight champion. He won the title in December 1997 and defended it four times before retiring in November 1999 after beating Ortiz.
"I've got so many belts I don't have a place to put them. I just stack 'em up in my gym," Shamrock, whose website has a photo showing him holding some five championship belts, said loftily. "I realized a long time ago that belts don't mean anything. It's easier to become a champion than to stay a champion. For me it's just a way of life and if they give me a belt that's great, if they don't I could really care less.
"I've got to have something that challenges me," he added.
Le may do just that. A former star practitioner of the Chinese martial arts of Sanshou (think kickboxing with throws), he moved to MMA two years ago after an unbeaten kickboxing career and has run up a 5-0 record since. That record includes wins over "The Ultimate Fighter" alumni Sam Morgan and Jason Von Flue and veteran Tony (the Freak) Fryklund.
Born in Vietnam, he left the country when he was almost three.
"I was fortunate to have a grandfather who was chief of police and we were able to be airlifted out, under gunfire though but three days before the fall of Saigon," Le said in an interview. "A lot of people didn't have that luxury."
Now 35, Le is fast and unorthodox. His highlight reels are full of opponents distracted by a punch and then felled by a sweep of the legs. The elegant fighter moves like an upright breakdancer.
"It's a good matchup because Frank has the edge on me on the ground and I have the edge on standup," Le said. "And I think my movement will be the key factor to this whole fight because I'm going to be in and out and you can't hit what you can't see.
"One moment I'll be in his face, but I'm not just going to be in front of his face. I'm going to be feeding him some shinbone and four-ounce leather and I'm going to be in and out. I'm not going to stay in there for him to tie me up and look for my ankles."
Shamrock, however, said he will stand and punch with Le.
"My art has been tweaked many years ago to be a striking art," he said. "And for the past decade most of what I've studied has been striking and I think it's just time for me to try out my striking. It might be a little dangerous, but it's not like we're not in a dangerous sport. I have the utmost confidence in what I do. I think Cung Le is a great striker but I don't think he's prepared for an MMA striking match and that's just my strategic analysis of the match so I'm going for it."
Le doesn't buy it.
"I think it's a big smokescreen," he said. "Frank's a very intelligent fighter and of course he's going to put it out there that he's going to strike with me and, really, I think he's going to test the waters a little bit and then probably jump for half-guard or look for the ankle lock and start hunting for my knees." Adding to the spice surrounding the fight is the fact the two men have sparred before. Just how much is a topic for debate.
"We only did Sanshou and I sucked at Sanshou," said Shamrock. "That was a great many years ago and that was at the beginning of my understanding of striking. Now it's just a different level, different story. Time will tell. My actions in the ring will make everybody understand."
Countered Le: "He didn't just spar with me in Sanshou, we did kickboxing, we did Muay Thai, we did kickboxing with throws, everything what he would do in MMA except when it came to the ground."
Both men have also dabbled with acting. Shamrock's resume includes an appearance on "Walker, Texas Ranger. Le has appeared in the yet-to-be released films "Fighting" and "Tekken."
In typical Shamrock-speak, the champion predicted a short night Saturday.
"If Cung Le runs from me, I think that it might last a while, because it'll take me a little while to run him down. ... I don't think we'll go past two or three rounds," he said. "I'm going to push the pace really hard and try to finish it in two, because my wife's pregnant and I want to make sure I'm home with her just in case the baby pops out. I don't think it's going to be a long fight."
Le isn't fazed by such talk.
"I feel that he is very arrogant and cocky, ego-driven but that could be Achilles heels when it comes to fighting me."
Copyright © 2008 The Canadian Press