MMA News Thread
- Thread starter Shogun Locc
- Start date
Deep bone bruise for Quinton Jackson, due back in gym next week
With no serious damage done to his left leg, former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson is expected back in the gym Monday.
Jackson, who lost a hard-fought and -- in the eyes of many -- controversial five-round decision to Forrest Griffin at UFC 86 Saturday, had his leg examined today and was cleared to resume training next week. He will have to avoid any immediate direct contact to the still-tender lower part of the leg.
"After the fight, he had a knot the size of a cantaloupe on his shin," Jackson's trainer, Juanito Ibarra, told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "I've never seen anything like it in all the years I've been in the fight game. It was ugly. The next day it went down. Today, there's no bump at all. The doctor said he's fine. It's a deep bone bruise now. He's totally fine. There's no damage. All we're waiting for now is the rematch."
Jackson's shin, not the knee, absorbed most of the punishment from Griffin's kicks, according to Ibarra, who believes the rematch should happen right away.
"Why shouldn't it?" he asked. "Forrest said after the fight he didn't want to do it again, but he had to, remember? He said that because he felt in his heart he didn't win that fight. Let the kids heal, and let's get it on."
Three days after the back-and-forth battle, Ibarra is still steamed about the outcome and plans to follow through on protesting the decision with the Nevada State Athletic Commission. While he gives Griffin credit for employing a strong fight plan, Ibarra can't grasp the scoring of round one, calling the fact that two judges scored the round for Griffin "ludicrous."
Judges Adalaide Byrd and Roy Silbert gave the first five minutes to Griffin by a 10-9 score, despite Jackson knocking Griffin down and appearing to control the action.
"My grounds (for protest) are the first round -- how it was scored," Ibarra said. "I want them to prove to me how a round is to be scored, per the rules that the judges have to follow, and tell me how they came up with what they came up with. I thought the worst nightmare in the world could have been a draw, but a loss unanimously … I can't swallow it. I can't swallow it."
Ibarra says his advice to Jackson in the rematch would be to mix it up with Griffin more by using a double jab and trying to get inside to throw more punches. That was something that became increasingly difficult to do Saturday night due to Griffin's effectiveness with the leg kicks.
As for Ibarra's pre-fight promise to retire if Griffin pulled the upset, he had this to say:
"I'm not going anywhere. I don't go against my word, but look at the video. Did it say I'm retiring from the fight game? No. You know what I'm retiring from? The waterfront. I've been a longshoreman for 28 years. I'm retiring from the waterfront."
You'll find him in the gym.
With no serious damage done to his left leg, former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson is expected back in the gym Monday.
Jackson, who lost a hard-fought and -- in the eyes of many -- controversial five-round decision to Forrest Griffin at UFC 86 Saturday, had his leg examined today and was cleared to resume training next week. He will have to avoid any immediate direct contact to the still-tender lower part of the leg.
"After the fight, he had a knot the size of a cantaloupe on his shin," Jackson's trainer, Juanito Ibarra, told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "I've never seen anything like it in all the years I've been in the fight game. It was ugly. The next day it went down. Today, there's no bump at all. The doctor said he's fine. It's a deep bone bruise now. He's totally fine. There's no damage. All we're waiting for now is the rematch."
Jackson's shin, not the knee, absorbed most of the punishment from Griffin's kicks, according to Ibarra, who believes the rematch should happen right away.
"Why shouldn't it?" he asked. "Forrest said after the fight he didn't want to do it again, but he had to, remember? He said that because he felt in his heart he didn't win that fight. Let the kids heal, and let's get it on."
Three days after the back-and-forth battle, Ibarra is still steamed about the outcome and plans to follow through on protesting the decision with the Nevada State Athletic Commission. While he gives Griffin credit for employing a strong fight plan, Ibarra can't grasp the scoring of round one, calling the fact that two judges scored the round for Griffin "ludicrous."
Judges Adalaide Byrd and Roy Silbert gave the first five minutes to Griffin by a 10-9 score, despite Jackson knocking Griffin down and appearing to control the action.
"My grounds (for protest) are the first round -- how it was scored," Ibarra said. "I want them to prove to me how a round is to be scored, per the rules that the judges have to follow, and tell me how they came up with what they came up with. I thought the worst nightmare in the world could have been a draw, but a loss unanimously … I can't swallow it. I can't swallow it."
Ibarra says his advice to Jackson in the rematch would be to mix it up with Griffin more by using a double jab and trying to get inside to throw more punches. That was something that became increasingly difficult to do Saturday night due to Griffin's effectiveness with the leg kicks.
As for Ibarra's pre-fight promise to retire if Griffin pulled the upset, he had this to say:
"I'm not going anywhere. I don't go against my word, but look at the video. Did it say I'm retiring from the fight game? No. You know what I'm retiring from? The waterfront. I've been a longshoreman for 28 years. I'm retiring from the waterfront."
You'll find him in the gym.
CHRIS LYTLE WEIGHING HIS OPTIONS AFTER LOSS
It was a gruesome sight to see. UFC welterweight Chris Lytle on the mat, trapped against the chain link fence, a pool of blood expanding from beneath his head.
No cut in recent memory bled like the one Lytle sustained against Josh Koscheck at UFC 86. It was a sight sponsors cringe at, and for Lytle, the worst-case scenario – another night trapped under a world-class wrestler.
Rest assured, though, that Lytle is okay. MMAWeekly.com caught up with him back in his home of New Palestine, Ind., where he still works as a full-time firefighter.
“I’m feeling fine, it was just a nasty cut,” he said. “I’ve got my stitches and I’m feeling fine.”
Even as he was stood up in the final minute of the third round, his face dyed the color of “Hellboy,” Lytle was game.
“I could see everything and I was trying to hit him, but he was moving a lot,” he continued. “I thought it was my one chance, I better get going. He did a good job of moving away.”
It’s not the first time a cut has drastically altered the course of his fight. Lytle’s bout with Thiago Alves at UFC 78 was stopped after the second round due to a cut over his eye. That one bled badly as well. A nine-year veteran of MMA and boxing, Lytle has his fair share of scar tissue around his eyes.
Fighters often undergo plastic surgery to have excess scar tissue removed. EliteXC fighter Nick Diaz recently had his ocular bone shaved down to prevent cutting during fights. Lytle has not considered surgery, due to the fact that the cut he sustained Saturday was on a different part of his face.
“If it was the same area getting cut repeatedly, then I’d have to look into it. I never really thought it was an issue.”
Though after Saturday, it might be something he needs to look at. Lytle doesn’t know how much blood he lost, but said he felt exhausted when he stood up in the third round.
“I didn’t really feel woozy,” he said. “I felt like I could bounce around a little bit, but I felt more exhausted than usual. I think that’s pretty normal.”
Lytle has one fight remaining on his UFC contract. Since emerging from the fourth season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” he has won three of seven appearances in the Octagon. He has often struggled against wrestling-based fighters. Lytle makes it clear that he wishes to remain with the UFC, but may be open to other offers if the numbers aren’t right.
“I haven’t looked at my next fight,” he said. “I’ll probably do that and see where I stand, then find out my options, who would be interested in me. I’m a loyal person almost to a fault. Obviously, I feel like I would do whatever I could to stay with the UFC. They’ve been good to me. But I’d be stupid not to listen to everything that’s out there right now.”
It was a gruesome sight to see. UFC welterweight Chris Lytle on the mat, trapped against the chain link fence, a pool of blood expanding from beneath his head.
No cut in recent memory bled like the one Lytle sustained against Josh Koscheck at UFC 86. It was a sight sponsors cringe at, and for Lytle, the worst-case scenario – another night trapped under a world-class wrestler.
Rest assured, though, that Lytle is okay. MMAWeekly.com caught up with him back in his home of New Palestine, Ind., where he still works as a full-time firefighter.
“I’m feeling fine, it was just a nasty cut,” he said. “I’ve got my stitches and I’m feeling fine.”
Even as he was stood up in the final minute of the third round, his face dyed the color of “Hellboy,” Lytle was game.
“I could see everything and I was trying to hit him, but he was moving a lot,” he continued. “I thought it was my one chance, I better get going. He did a good job of moving away.”
It’s not the first time a cut has drastically altered the course of his fight. Lytle’s bout with Thiago Alves at UFC 78 was stopped after the second round due to a cut over his eye. That one bled badly as well. A nine-year veteran of MMA and boxing, Lytle has his fair share of scar tissue around his eyes.
Fighters often undergo plastic surgery to have excess scar tissue removed. EliteXC fighter Nick Diaz recently had his ocular bone shaved down to prevent cutting during fights. Lytle has not considered surgery, due to the fact that the cut he sustained Saturday was on a different part of his face.
“If it was the same area getting cut repeatedly, then I’d have to look into it. I never really thought it was an issue.”
Though after Saturday, it might be something he needs to look at. Lytle doesn’t know how much blood he lost, but said he felt exhausted when he stood up in the third round.
“I didn’t really feel woozy,” he said. “I felt like I could bounce around a little bit, but I felt more exhausted than usual. I think that’s pretty normal.”
Lytle has one fight remaining on his UFC contract. Since emerging from the fourth season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” he has won three of seven appearances in the Octagon. He has often struggled against wrestling-based fighters. Lytle makes it clear that he wishes to remain with the UFC, but may be open to other offers if the numbers aren’t right.
“I haven’t looked at my next fight,” he said. “I’ll probably do that and see where I stand, then find out my options, who would be interested in me. I’m a loyal person almost to a fault. Obviously, I feel like I would do whatever I could to stay with the UFC. They’ve been good to me. But I’d be stupid not to listen to everything that’s out there right now.”
SENGOKU IV Preview Video!
videolink: http://www.sengoku-official.com/pc/movie/cm_movie_sengoku04.html?height=506&width=684
videolink: http://www.sengoku-official.com/pc/movie/cm_movie_sengoku04.html?height=506&width=684
Thomas Denny: Nick Diaz isn’t ‘gonna have a fight to fight’ if he doesnt make 160
“Oh man, I thought [Nick Diaz missing weight] was ridiculous. If I was Muhsin Corbbrey, I wouldn’t even have taken the fight. When you’re at that level, and obviously he didn’t dedicate himself and didn’t train like he was supposed to, how the hell do you come nine pounds over weight? I could understand one pound, a pound-and-a-half, cause scales are off; but nine pounds? That’s not even trying. Let’s see if he makes weight for my fight. If he comes into my fight nine pounds over weight, he’s not gonna have a fight to fight.”
Thomas “Wildman” Denny discusses Nick Diaz failing to make weight for his June 14 fight in Hawaii against Muhsin Corbbrey in a recent interview. Denny faces Diaz in Stockton, Calif., on the July 26 Elite XC “Saturday Night Fights” card on CBS at the same weight he failed to make (160 pounds). Some argue that Diaz was bulking up for his welterweight title fight with Hayato “Mach” Sakurai under the Japanese promotion — DREAM — and was given somewhat of a pass. But, the fact remains that Diaz did come in nine pounds over for a fight for which he had plenty of notice. And that is inexcusable, regardless of how many people are so willing to just sweep it under the rug. Denny has a valid point. Lets hope Diaz doesn’t run into those same issues for this fight. Fans are already upset about having the “Mach” fight put on hold, and are perhaps even less thrilled about having to wait for the rematch between him and Elite XC division champion, KJ Noons. Missing a fight in his own backyard for failing to make weight again would give critics who feel Diaz lacks professionalism even more ammo.
“Oh man, I thought [Nick Diaz missing weight] was ridiculous. If I was Muhsin Corbbrey, I wouldn’t even have taken the fight. When you’re at that level, and obviously he didn’t dedicate himself and didn’t train like he was supposed to, how the hell do you come nine pounds over weight? I could understand one pound, a pound-and-a-half, cause scales are off; but nine pounds? That’s not even trying. Let’s see if he makes weight for my fight. If he comes into my fight nine pounds over weight, he’s not gonna have a fight to fight.”
Thomas “Wildman” Denny discusses Nick Diaz failing to make weight for his June 14 fight in Hawaii against Muhsin Corbbrey in a recent interview. Denny faces Diaz in Stockton, Calif., on the July 26 Elite XC “Saturday Night Fights” card on CBS at the same weight he failed to make (160 pounds). Some argue that Diaz was bulking up for his welterweight title fight with Hayato “Mach” Sakurai under the Japanese promotion — DREAM — and was given somewhat of a pass. But, the fact remains that Diaz did come in nine pounds over for a fight for which he had plenty of notice. And that is inexcusable, regardless of how many people are so willing to just sweep it under the rug. Denny has a valid point. Lets hope Diaz doesn’t run into those same issues for this fight. Fans are already upset about having the “Mach” fight put on hold, and are perhaps even less thrilled about having to wait for the rematch between him and Elite XC division champion, KJ Noons. Missing a fight in his own backyard for failing to make weight again would give critics who feel Diaz lacks professionalism even more ammo.
Thomas Denny: Nick Diaz isn’t ‘gonna have a fight to fight’ if he doesnt make 160
“Oh man, I thought [Nick Diaz missing weight] was ridiculous. If I was Muhsin Corbbrey, I wouldn’t even have taken the fight. When you’re at that level, and obviously he didn’t dedicate himself and didn’t train like he was supposed to, how the hell do you come nine pounds over weight? I could understand one pound, a pound-and-a-half, cause scales are off; but nine pounds? That’s not even trying. Let’s see if he makes weight for my fight. If he comes into my fight nine pounds over weight, he’s not gonna have a fight to fight.”
Thomas “Wildman” Denny discusses Nick Diaz failing to make weight for his June 14 fight in Hawaii against Muhsin Corbbrey in a recent interview. Denny faces Diaz in Stockton, Calif., on the July 26 Elite XC “Saturday Night Fights” card on CBS at the same weight he failed to make (160 pounds). Some argue that Diaz was bulking up for his welterweight title fight with Hayato “Mach” Sakurai under the Japanese promotion — DREAM — and was given somewhat of a pass. But, the fact remains that Diaz did come in nine pounds over for a fight for which he had plenty of notice. And that is inexcusable, regardless of how many people are so willing to just sweep it under the rug. Denny has a valid point. Lets hope Diaz doesn’t run into those same issues for this fight. Fans are already upset about having the “Mach” fight put on hold, and are perhaps even less thrilled about having to wait for the rematch between him and Elite XC division champion, KJ Noons. Missing a fight in his own backyard for failing to make weight again would give critics who feel Diaz lacks professionalism even more ammo.
“Oh man, I thought [Nick Diaz missing weight] was ridiculous. If I was Muhsin Corbbrey, I wouldn’t even have taken the fight. When you’re at that level, and obviously he didn’t dedicate himself and didn’t train like he was supposed to, how the hell do you come nine pounds over weight? I could understand one pound, a pound-and-a-half, cause scales are off; but nine pounds? That’s not even trying. Let’s see if he makes weight for my fight. If he comes into my fight nine pounds over weight, he’s not gonna have a fight to fight.”
Thomas “Wildman” Denny discusses Nick Diaz failing to make weight for his June 14 fight in Hawaii against Muhsin Corbbrey in a recent interview. Denny faces Diaz in Stockton, Calif., on the July 26 Elite XC “Saturday Night Fights” card on CBS at the same weight he failed to make (160 pounds). Some argue that Diaz was bulking up for his welterweight title fight with Hayato “Mach” Sakurai under the Japanese promotion — DREAM — and was given somewhat of a pass. But, the fact remains that Diaz did come in nine pounds over for a fight for which he had plenty of notice. And that is inexcusable, regardless of how many people are so willing to just sweep it under the rug. Denny has a valid point. Lets hope Diaz doesn’t run into those same issues for this fight. Fans are already upset about having the “Mach” fight put on hold, and are perhaps even less thrilled about having to wait for the rematch between him and Elite XC division champion, KJ Noons. Missing a fight in his own backyard for failing to make weight again would give critics who feel Diaz lacks professionalism even more ammo.
The Future of MMA? Look at South Korea
Amateur MMA doesn't have to be about getting slugged for free with four-ounce death mitts to boost an acronym of the month undercard at the county fairgrounds.
It doesn't have to be a one-fight formality prior to a $200-to-win mismatch in a dodecahedral cage a week and three states away, either. While it's doubtful that MMA will be welcomed into the Amateur Athletic Union any time soon, amateur events in Nevada and New Jersey are headed in the right direction, willing to forgo short-term, single-event success in order to work toward the long-term goals that will benefit the sport as a whole.
South Korea, however, has had a successful amateur MMA league for years. A feeder system for Spirit MC, South Korea's largest MMA promotion and a Pro Elite partner organization, the impetus for Spirit MC Amateur League came not from the professional promotion itself but from small gym owners around Korea.
"There were plenty of MMA gyms, but regular, professional fighters were the only ones going to them," said Beom Seok Kim, the matchmaker for Spirit MC and SAL's administrator. "I talked with quite a few MMA masters about this. Younger students would go for a few months and then quit because they had no tangible goals to work toward. Unlike tae kwon do or kung fu or hapkido, there is no grading in MMA and no belt designation to work toward. So at first it was just about keeping students in the gyms."
And then there was the question of safety in a sport where injury, to some small extent, is virtually guaranteed in every contest.
"It's been 34 events now, one a month for almost three years, and we have yet to have a serious injury," Kim said. "There have been bruises and broken noses, some sore arms, and headaches, sure, but nothing where a fighter had to stay in the hospital."
The rules for SAL are similar to those for most amateur MMA events. Knees and elbows to the face are illegal, but knees and elbows to the body, even of a grounded opponent, are allowed. Heel hooks and twisting kneebars are off limits. Of course, there are no soccer kicks or stomps. Armbar stoppages are quick, usually before the arm is completely extended, and in situations of ground-and-pound, the referee is supposed to step in when a fighter has lost 10 percent of his ability to defend himself. The referees who work SAL are the same ones who work the professional events.
Headgear, elbow pads, kneepads and shin pads are provided. Fighters supply their own groin protection. Unlike most amateur MMA organizations, SAL has opted to go with puffy, closed-thumb, 12-ounce gloves.
Big gloves shrink the holes and make for boxing-style striking that is tighter and more combination oriented. Work from the clinch is generally solid, and knees to the body are frequent, though dampened by the pads. As one might expect from athletes in a country where at least a third of the kids study tae kwon do, there are plenty of kicks.
On the ground, armbars rule. It is difficult to free an arm wearing big gloves, and slams to free an armbar locked from guard are illegal. Submissions that require a tight, closed grip, such as a kimura, are rare. Chokes are a bit easier to defend against while wearing headgear.
Despite the precautions, many of the fights turn into wars, and a free SAL event is typically twice the show of a $40-a-seat professional promotion in North America. With more protection, fighters let go with their strikes. There is blood and there are knockouts. The backboard has been used on several occasions. It's still MMA, with its inherent risks, but an SAL entry fee comes with good insurance. Medical expenses for injuries suffered in the ring are covered 100 percent, excluding MRIs. All fighters are given a free physical before weigh-in, and there are doctors ringside.
The emphasis is on safety, professionalism and fun, and the result is that events often feature 20 or more fights. There is a lawyer who participates regularly, and also a university professor. High school students also fight, and with a parental permission form, kids as young as 15 can take part.
Moon Hoi Choi acts as a cornerman for his 16-year-old son, Sung Bin.
"Some kids say that it's stressful to have their fathers along, but my son and I are training partners and I think he feels good about it. … The world is full of sports, but every sport comes with its own risks. To be honest, my son has been training MMA for three years without a serious injury. Of course, there were minor injuries. MMA might look more violent than other sports, but in my opinion it's safer than boxing or soccer."
Every effort is made to ensure even pairings, such as employing a goal-oriented system akin to traditional martial arts belt designation that is also designed to keep students in the gyms and the gym owners happy. Three bouts or more with at least one win moves a fighter to the yellow level. Five fights or more with at least three wins earns a blue designation. At six wins a competitor reaches the black level.
Fees for a first-time fighter run the equivalent of $60, but the fee decreases at subsequent levels. When a fighter reaches the black level, he is typically offered the opportunity to recover his investment.
The most common way for a SAL fighter to enter the "major leagues" is via a challenge match, or opening match, prior to the main card of a regular Spirit MC show. These fights are comprised of two three-minute rounds, but unlike the amateur contests, challenge matches are free of headgear or pads and the fighters lace up four-ounce gloves. Soccer kicks and stomps also become legal.
This is where Spirit MC begins to see the payoff for SAL. Some of Spirit MC's best fighters and biggest draws have come by way of challenge matches. Others have made the transition via "Go! Super Korean," the Korean equivalent of the UFC's "The Ultimate Fighter," a wake of name recognition and free highlight reel TV content clinging to their amateur league experience. SAL alumni Yoon Youg Kim and Kyeong Ho Kan have both fought in title fight main events. Ho Jin Kim (Pictures) and Nam Sun Kim (Pictures) also fight near the top of Spirit MC Cards.
K-1 Hero's veteran and Sprit MC standout A Sol Kwan, who, ironically, lost his first two SAL matches, is a vocal advocate of SAL.
"Lots of guys train, but most quit before they get the chance to test themselves," he said. "Amateur league gives fighters the opportunity to fight regularly and follow their dreams. I often hear from fighters who want to move from amateur to professional the way I did, and that makes me very happy."
Kwan's home gym, Mokpo Pride Academy, is host to Mokpo Combat Challenge, an affiliate of SAL that uses the same equipment and rules. Plans are currently in the works to create or incorporate leagues from eight other cities around Korea, including Busan, Daegu and Jeonju, into the SAL system.
"The plan is to have tournaments in each city," says Beom Seok Kim, "and to determine a champion from each to come to Seoul and fight in a second tournament which will determine an overall champion. I'm confident that we'll find one or two guys in each weight class with the talent to become a professional fighter."
And that is what makes it all worthwhile for the executives at Spirit MC.
Good MMA amateur leagues aren't just about safety and recreation. They're about expanding the MMA talent pool and helping the exceptional fighters to move to the next level. They're about creating better professionals who put on more exciting shows that people want to watch. They're about gate receipts, TV ratings, pay-per-view buys, public perception and the credibility of the sport. In the end, they can even be about clothes and energy drinks and beer and motorcycles … and there is nothing wrong with that.
The model is already out there. It's free to copy, and it works.
Amateur MMA doesn't have to be about getting slugged for free with four-ounce death mitts to boost an acronym of the month undercard at the county fairgrounds.
It doesn't have to be a one-fight formality prior to a $200-to-win mismatch in a dodecahedral cage a week and three states away, either. While it's doubtful that MMA will be welcomed into the Amateur Athletic Union any time soon, amateur events in Nevada and New Jersey are headed in the right direction, willing to forgo short-term, single-event success in order to work toward the long-term goals that will benefit the sport as a whole.
South Korea, however, has had a successful amateur MMA league for years. A feeder system for Spirit MC, South Korea's largest MMA promotion and a Pro Elite partner organization, the impetus for Spirit MC Amateur League came not from the professional promotion itself but from small gym owners around Korea.
"There were plenty of MMA gyms, but regular, professional fighters were the only ones going to them," said Beom Seok Kim, the matchmaker for Spirit MC and SAL's administrator. "I talked with quite a few MMA masters about this. Younger students would go for a few months and then quit because they had no tangible goals to work toward. Unlike tae kwon do or kung fu or hapkido, there is no grading in MMA and no belt designation to work toward. So at first it was just about keeping students in the gyms."
And then there was the question of safety in a sport where injury, to some small extent, is virtually guaranteed in every contest.
"It's been 34 events now, one a month for almost three years, and we have yet to have a serious injury," Kim said. "There have been bruises and broken noses, some sore arms, and headaches, sure, but nothing where a fighter had to stay in the hospital."
The rules for SAL are similar to those for most amateur MMA events. Knees and elbows to the face are illegal, but knees and elbows to the body, even of a grounded opponent, are allowed. Heel hooks and twisting kneebars are off limits. Of course, there are no soccer kicks or stomps. Armbar stoppages are quick, usually before the arm is completely extended, and in situations of ground-and-pound, the referee is supposed to step in when a fighter has lost 10 percent of his ability to defend himself. The referees who work SAL are the same ones who work the professional events.
Headgear, elbow pads, kneepads and shin pads are provided. Fighters supply their own groin protection. Unlike most amateur MMA organizations, SAL has opted to go with puffy, closed-thumb, 12-ounce gloves.
Big gloves shrink the holes and make for boxing-style striking that is tighter and more combination oriented. Work from the clinch is generally solid, and knees to the body are frequent, though dampened by the pads. As one might expect from athletes in a country where at least a third of the kids study tae kwon do, there are plenty of kicks.
On the ground, armbars rule. It is difficult to free an arm wearing big gloves, and slams to free an armbar locked from guard are illegal. Submissions that require a tight, closed grip, such as a kimura, are rare. Chokes are a bit easier to defend against while wearing headgear.
Despite the precautions, many of the fights turn into wars, and a free SAL event is typically twice the show of a $40-a-seat professional promotion in North America. With more protection, fighters let go with their strikes. There is blood and there are knockouts. The backboard has been used on several occasions. It's still MMA, with its inherent risks, but an SAL entry fee comes with good insurance. Medical expenses for injuries suffered in the ring are covered 100 percent, excluding MRIs. All fighters are given a free physical before weigh-in, and there are doctors ringside.
The emphasis is on safety, professionalism and fun, and the result is that events often feature 20 or more fights. There is a lawyer who participates regularly, and also a university professor. High school students also fight, and with a parental permission form, kids as young as 15 can take part.
Moon Hoi Choi acts as a cornerman for his 16-year-old son, Sung Bin.
"Some kids say that it's stressful to have their fathers along, but my son and I are training partners and I think he feels good about it. … The world is full of sports, but every sport comes with its own risks. To be honest, my son has been training MMA for three years without a serious injury. Of course, there were minor injuries. MMA might look more violent than other sports, but in my opinion it's safer than boxing or soccer."
Every effort is made to ensure even pairings, such as employing a goal-oriented system akin to traditional martial arts belt designation that is also designed to keep students in the gyms and the gym owners happy. Three bouts or more with at least one win moves a fighter to the yellow level. Five fights or more with at least three wins earns a blue designation. At six wins a competitor reaches the black level.
Fees for a first-time fighter run the equivalent of $60, but the fee decreases at subsequent levels. When a fighter reaches the black level, he is typically offered the opportunity to recover his investment.
The most common way for a SAL fighter to enter the "major leagues" is via a challenge match, or opening match, prior to the main card of a regular Spirit MC show. These fights are comprised of two three-minute rounds, but unlike the amateur contests, challenge matches are free of headgear or pads and the fighters lace up four-ounce gloves. Soccer kicks and stomps also become legal.
This is where Spirit MC begins to see the payoff for SAL. Some of Spirit MC's best fighters and biggest draws have come by way of challenge matches. Others have made the transition via "Go! Super Korean," the Korean equivalent of the UFC's "The Ultimate Fighter," a wake of name recognition and free highlight reel TV content clinging to their amateur league experience. SAL alumni Yoon Youg Kim and Kyeong Ho Kan have both fought in title fight main events. Ho Jin Kim (Pictures) and Nam Sun Kim (Pictures) also fight near the top of Spirit MC Cards.
K-1 Hero's veteran and Sprit MC standout A Sol Kwan, who, ironically, lost his first two SAL matches, is a vocal advocate of SAL.
"Lots of guys train, but most quit before they get the chance to test themselves," he said. "Amateur league gives fighters the opportunity to fight regularly and follow their dreams. I often hear from fighters who want to move from amateur to professional the way I did, and that makes me very happy."
Kwan's home gym, Mokpo Pride Academy, is host to Mokpo Combat Challenge, an affiliate of SAL that uses the same equipment and rules. Plans are currently in the works to create or incorporate leagues from eight other cities around Korea, including Busan, Daegu and Jeonju, into the SAL system.
"The plan is to have tournaments in each city," says Beom Seok Kim, "and to determine a champion from each to come to Seoul and fight in a second tournament which will determine an overall champion. I'm confident that we'll find one or two guys in each weight class with the talent to become a professional fighter."
And that is what makes it all worthwhile for the executives at Spirit MC.
Good MMA amateur leagues aren't just about safety and recreation. They're about expanding the MMA talent pool and helping the exceptional fighters to move to the next level. They're about creating better professionals who put on more exciting shows that people want to watch. They're about gate receipts, TV ratings, pay-per-view buys, public perception and the credibility of the sport. In the end, they can even be about clothes and energy drinks and beer and motorcycles … and there is nothing wrong with that.
The model is already out there. It's free to copy, and it works.
Herring a New Man for Lesnar Bout
When your career is studded with high-profile opponents and you've tangled with the best in the world, and beaten some of them, it's easy to become complacent. But for Heath Herring (Pictures), the journey to an elusive championship has taken a stark turn thanks to a new conditioning regimen and the renewed confidence it brings.
With a record of 28-13 (1 NC), Herring, a longtime staple of the Pride organization, takes on Brock Lesnar (Pictures) Aug. 9 in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. As the co-main event underneath the Georges St. Pierre (Pictures)-Jon Fitch (Pictures) welterweight title bout, the two heavyweights offer up a compelling clash of backgrounds, and resumes, that makes for a virtual coin flip considering the disparities in experience.
For while Lesnar, 1-1, is a physical specimen, a former NCAA champ and a seeming caricature of what the casual fan would think a mixed martial artist should be, Herring learned the game coming up the hard way, emerging from the anonymity of the small stateside shows as a viable product with hard-nosed wins against guys he wasn't supposed to beat. He learned his lessons in the relentless proving ground of Pride, establishing his name with wins over Tom Erikson (Pictures), Mark Kerr (Pictures) and Igor Vovchanchyn (Pictures).
Now that he's in the UFC, and in better shape than ever, he feels it's his time to make a serious run.
Training at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas and other locales, "The Texas Crazy Horse" is preparing to take on a 265-pound physical marvel in Lesnar, who looked impressive against Frank Mir (Pictures) in February before being submitted via kneebar in 90 seconds of furious action. It was Lesnar's UFC debut, and he looked equal parts fearsome debutante and unschooled practitioner.
It's Herring's job to write the next chapter, and he plans on taking the supersized wrestling powerhouse out, as he's done before against bigger guys.
"Training's been going good. I'm at three or four different places in Vegas," Herring said. "I've got Mike Whitehead (Pictures) helping me, [muay Thai trainer] Rob Kaman is coming up, and I'm at Couture's with that crew over there. Randy's been helping me with some different things."
Couture said Herring came in with a clear idea of how to approach the Lesnar fight.
"He's come into the gym to get some bigger partners and get some wrestling, a little mat time with some wrestlers," Couture said. "He's been great, sometimes a little stubborn in that he has a clear picture of what he wants to do and how he sees the fight going. We have to work on him sometimes to get him to see a little different perspective and potentially see that something could work a different way. But I think overall, he's working hard. He's got a good head on his shoulders."
The multiple-time UFC champion described Herring as a "wide-open fighter" who will let it all hang out against Lesnar.
"I think he sees this as a potential fight that he can win if he sticks to some certain skill sets, and he has a pretty clear picture of what that is in his head," Couture said. "For me or somebody to come in and say, ‘You can do this and this might happen' and ‘You should work on this position in case this happens,' he's like ‘no, no.' He's pretty set on how he sees it and what he wants to do, which is fine. It's great. It's his fight. He's the one that has to go out there."
Although the 6-foot-4, 250-pound Herring is rarely the smaller man in a fight, Lesnar's strength is his greatest asset. It's the kind of deficit Herring faced in his biggest wins, particularly when he beat Erikson, a 280-pound wrestler who, in the mid- to late-1990s, was widely regarded as perhaps the toughest guy you could fight anywhere.
Unknown and unfazed, Herring took Erikson out with a rear-naked choke. It's almost as though the bigger his opponents get, the better Herring performs.
"That was my second fight in Pride. When they offered the fight to us, I knew it would be something I could do," he said.
Since that signature win, Herring has had mixed success against the top heavies. He's fought UFC heavyweight champ Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Pictures) three times, losing two decisions and once by choke.
But even then, he's seen the glimpse of what could have been. In his second UFC bout in July 2007, his rubber match with Nogueira saw him stun the Brazilian with a booming kick to the head in the opening round, but, true to form, Nogueira recovered and rallied for the victory by decision. It was an improvement over his UFC debut in January of that year, where Herring was taken down and shut down by Jake O'Brien in a grappling-heavy snoozer that saw little of the fire that made him a fan favorite in Pride.
Herring has also fought top foes like Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) and Mirko Filipovic (Pictures), losing by TKO to both.
But he insists he's a new man now. And off the heels of his gutty decision over dangerous Cheick Kongo (Pictures) in March, where he battled to the wire and pulled out a tough victory, Herring feels he's got the kind of top-notch conditioning he never had before.
"Tony Aponte is one of my best trainers and my closest friends," Herring said of his new strength and conditioning coach, whom he credits with helping him drop weight and improve his stamina. "He's just amazing. The body transformation is incredible."
Usually hovering around the 265-pound heavyweight limit, Herring now fights at 15 or more pounds below that. He's noticeably more toned, and, as the Kongo fight demonstrated, less prone to running out of gas down the stretch, which cost him in the third Nogueira fight and others.
Aponte oversees Herring's diet and conditioning regimen, and has overseen the regimen of several other top fighters in these areas, including UFC lightweight champ B.J. Penn (Pictures). For him, Herring is a project with a big upside, even against Lesnar, whose overpowering strength and expectable improvement over the Mir fight make the bout a compelling one on a very stacked card.
"A lot of guys, their training is there, but their nutrition is not," Aponte said. "What they're doing is putting the body into ketosis and weakening themselves. They're losing weight but losing muscle with it. That's why they'll go a round or two, then gas out. B.J. Penn (Pictures) is an example of that. I think the questions of his cardio are pretty much ended. The last round Heath went with Nogueira, he looked better than the first round of the Nogueira fight."
Aponte said that while the two got together coming into the Kongo fight, Herring still hasn't reached his full physical potential, but he's getting better as the team gels and the new regimen of diet and conditioning takes effect.
"I got him ready, but we didn't have a lot of time for the Kongo fight and that turned out successful," Aponte said. "He's turned himself around. He was in terrible shape before. He was really lethargic, a lot slower. I got together with Rob Kaman and what I specialize in is getting the athlete superman strong. I measure caloric intake and try to get them leaner and stronger. His body fat was about 28 percent before, but when he fought Kongo it was about 13 percent. He was 260 before. Now he‘s about 251, with 10 percent body fat. He's in the best shape of his life."
Herring expects that Lesnar won't change too much from the game plan against Mir. Essentially, aim to overpower him, take him down and deliver a frantic blitz of punches, hammerfists, and the kind of ruckus that the UFC brought Lesnar in to create. In a way, it's a redux of Herring facing intimidating powerhouse grapplers like Erikson and Kerr, guys he was able to outthink and defuse before stopping them.
"Brock did exactly what I expected him to do against Mir. He came out, ran out and grabbed Mir and took him down and beat him down," Herring said. "I can't expect he is going to do things much different."
That's when being a veteran comes in handy. Despite losing to top-notchers like Emelianenko, Nogueira and Filipovic, there's little that Herring hasn't seen, hasn't been drilled in the grill with, thrown up against or run headlong into in his career. He figures Lesnar's lack of that kind of experience is an advantage for him.
"There's nothing that's been thrown at me that I haven't seen before. It does give you the confidence that you can handle it," he said of his past bouts. "Absolutely. Career-wise, for him, this fight doesn't make any sense. He's one and one. But I want to accomplish things. I want to get to the top of the sport and not have to worry about getting another job. That would be a nice thing to do."
Given Lesnar's explosive style, and Herring's newfound confidence, it should be a lot of fun to watch him try.
When your career is studded with high-profile opponents and you've tangled with the best in the world, and beaten some of them, it's easy to become complacent. But for Heath Herring (Pictures), the journey to an elusive championship has taken a stark turn thanks to a new conditioning regimen and the renewed confidence it brings.
With a record of 28-13 (1 NC), Herring, a longtime staple of the Pride organization, takes on Brock Lesnar (Pictures) Aug. 9 in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. As the co-main event underneath the Georges St. Pierre (Pictures)-Jon Fitch (Pictures) welterweight title bout, the two heavyweights offer up a compelling clash of backgrounds, and resumes, that makes for a virtual coin flip considering the disparities in experience.
For while Lesnar, 1-1, is a physical specimen, a former NCAA champ and a seeming caricature of what the casual fan would think a mixed martial artist should be, Herring learned the game coming up the hard way, emerging from the anonymity of the small stateside shows as a viable product with hard-nosed wins against guys he wasn't supposed to beat. He learned his lessons in the relentless proving ground of Pride, establishing his name with wins over Tom Erikson (Pictures), Mark Kerr (Pictures) and Igor Vovchanchyn (Pictures).
Now that he's in the UFC, and in better shape than ever, he feels it's his time to make a serious run.
Training at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas and other locales, "The Texas Crazy Horse" is preparing to take on a 265-pound physical marvel in Lesnar, who looked impressive against Frank Mir (Pictures) in February before being submitted via kneebar in 90 seconds of furious action. It was Lesnar's UFC debut, and he looked equal parts fearsome debutante and unschooled practitioner.
It's Herring's job to write the next chapter, and he plans on taking the supersized wrestling powerhouse out, as he's done before against bigger guys.
"Training's been going good. I'm at three or four different places in Vegas," Herring said. "I've got Mike Whitehead (Pictures) helping me, [muay Thai trainer] Rob Kaman is coming up, and I'm at Couture's with that crew over there. Randy's been helping me with some different things."
Couture said Herring came in with a clear idea of how to approach the Lesnar fight.
"He's come into the gym to get some bigger partners and get some wrestling, a little mat time with some wrestlers," Couture said. "He's been great, sometimes a little stubborn in that he has a clear picture of what he wants to do and how he sees the fight going. We have to work on him sometimes to get him to see a little different perspective and potentially see that something could work a different way. But I think overall, he's working hard. He's got a good head on his shoulders."
The multiple-time UFC champion described Herring as a "wide-open fighter" who will let it all hang out against Lesnar.
"I think he sees this as a potential fight that he can win if he sticks to some certain skill sets, and he has a pretty clear picture of what that is in his head," Couture said. "For me or somebody to come in and say, ‘You can do this and this might happen' and ‘You should work on this position in case this happens,' he's like ‘no, no.' He's pretty set on how he sees it and what he wants to do, which is fine. It's great. It's his fight. He's the one that has to go out there."
Although the 6-foot-4, 250-pound Herring is rarely the smaller man in a fight, Lesnar's strength is his greatest asset. It's the kind of deficit Herring faced in his biggest wins, particularly when he beat Erikson, a 280-pound wrestler who, in the mid- to late-1990s, was widely regarded as perhaps the toughest guy you could fight anywhere.
Unknown and unfazed, Herring took Erikson out with a rear-naked choke. It's almost as though the bigger his opponents get, the better Herring performs.
"That was my second fight in Pride. When they offered the fight to us, I knew it would be something I could do," he said.
Since that signature win, Herring has had mixed success against the top heavies. He's fought UFC heavyweight champ Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Pictures) three times, losing two decisions and once by choke.
But even then, he's seen the glimpse of what could have been. In his second UFC bout in July 2007, his rubber match with Nogueira saw him stun the Brazilian with a booming kick to the head in the opening round, but, true to form, Nogueira recovered and rallied for the victory by decision. It was an improvement over his UFC debut in January of that year, where Herring was taken down and shut down by Jake O'Brien in a grappling-heavy snoozer that saw little of the fire that made him a fan favorite in Pride.
Herring has also fought top foes like Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) and Mirko Filipovic (Pictures), losing by TKO to both.
But he insists he's a new man now. And off the heels of his gutty decision over dangerous Cheick Kongo (Pictures) in March, where he battled to the wire and pulled out a tough victory, Herring feels he's got the kind of top-notch conditioning he never had before.
"Tony Aponte is one of my best trainers and my closest friends," Herring said of his new strength and conditioning coach, whom he credits with helping him drop weight and improve his stamina. "He's just amazing. The body transformation is incredible."
Usually hovering around the 265-pound heavyweight limit, Herring now fights at 15 or more pounds below that. He's noticeably more toned, and, as the Kongo fight demonstrated, less prone to running out of gas down the stretch, which cost him in the third Nogueira fight and others.
Aponte oversees Herring's diet and conditioning regimen, and has overseen the regimen of several other top fighters in these areas, including UFC lightweight champ B.J. Penn (Pictures). For him, Herring is a project with a big upside, even against Lesnar, whose overpowering strength and expectable improvement over the Mir fight make the bout a compelling one on a very stacked card.
"A lot of guys, their training is there, but their nutrition is not," Aponte said. "What they're doing is putting the body into ketosis and weakening themselves. They're losing weight but losing muscle with it. That's why they'll go a round or two, then gas out. B.J. Penn (Pictures) is an example of that. I think the questions of his cardio are pretty much ended. The last round Heath went with Nogueira, he looked better than the first round of the Nogueira fight."
Aponte said that while the two got together coming into the Kongo fight, Herring still hasn't reached his full physical potential, but he's getting better as the team gels and the new regimen of diet and conditioning takes effect.
"I got him ready, but we didn't have a lot of time for the Kongo fight and that turned out successful," Aponte said. "He's turned himself around. He was in terrible shape before. He was really lethargic, a lot slower. I got together with Rob Kaman and what I specialize in is getting the athlete superman strong. I measure caloric intake and try to get them leaner and stronger. His body fat was about 28 percent before, but when he fought Kongo it was about 13 percent. He was 260 before. Now he‘s about 251, with 10 percent body fat. He's in the best shape of his life."
Herring expects that Lesnar won't change too much from the game plan against Mir. Essentially, aim to overpower him, take him down and deliver a frantic blitz of punches, hammerfists, and the kind of ruckus that the UFC brought Lesnar in to create. In a way, it's a redux of Herring facing intimidating powerhouse grapplers like Erikson and Kerr, guys he was able to outthink and defuse before stopping them.
"Brock did exactly what I expected him to do against Mir. He came out, ran out and grabbed Mir and took him down and beat him down," Herring said. "I can't expect he is going to do things much different."
That's when being a veteran comes in handy. Despite losing to top-notchers like Emelianenko, Nogueira and Filipovic, there's little that Herring hasn't seen, hasn't been drilled in the grill with, thrown up against or run headlong into in his career. He figures Lesnar's lack of that kind of experience is an advantage for him.
"There's nothing that's been thrown at me that I haven't seen before. It does give you the confidence that you can handle it," he said of his past bouts. "Absolutely. Career-wise, for him, this fight doesn't make any sense. He's one and one. But I want to accomplish things. I want to get to the top of the sport and not have to worry about getting another job. That would be a nice thing to do."
Given Lesnar's explosive style, and Herring's newfound confidence, it should be a lot of fun to watch him try.
Joe Stevenson talks UFC 86 win, second title shot
New light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin wasn't the only "Ultimate Fighter" alumnus looking to improve his stock at this past Saturday's UFC 86 event. Season two winner Joe "Daddy" Stevenson (29-8 MMA, 6-2 UFC), who had previously lost a lightweight title bout to B.J. Penn, defeated Gleison Tibau (15-6 MMA, 3-3 UFC) to get back on the winning track.
"Joe Daddy" was a recent guest on TAGG Radio (www.taggradio.com), the official radio partner of MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com), where he discussed his big submission win over the ATT standout.
"I really didn't want to finish this fight with a guillotine," Stevenson said. "I wanted to drop him. It just didn't work out for me this time."
However, Stevenson nearly found himself on the wrong side of a submission attempt, spending much of the first round fighting off an omoplata. Midway through the second round, however, a frustrated Stevenson came back to lock in a deep guillotine choke during a Tibau takedown attempt.
"I think he was really caught off guard," said Stevenson, who's the first fighter ever to submit Tibau. "I don't think he expected my guillotine to be as good as it was."
The Victorville, Calif. native hadn't fought since his January title loss to BJ Penn, and Stevenson said he needed to shake off some ring rust before he could figure out his opponent.
"I guess it was good to get some of the cobwebs off," Stevenson said. "I figured out [Tibau] is incredibly strong. (However), he doesn't want to peter out so he uses it in bursts. If you can catch him when he is trying to rest, that is when you are going to do your big damage."
Looking back now, the 26-year-old feels he should have capitalized more on Tibau's rhythm so he could secure a stoppage earlier in the fight.
"I made the mistake of not just following up when I knocked him down with my right hand," Stevenson said. "(Also), when I took him down, I should have just exploded with forearms on him. I was thinking, 'I've got to be careful. This guy is super strong and (has) a black belt.' Honestly, I think I didn't fight him to my best ability."
So, regardless of the fact that he walked away a victor, the always-modest Stevenson still believes his outing was sub-par.
"I was pretty upset with my performance; I thought I could have done 10 times better," said Stevenson, who's now 6-2 since winning "The Ultimate Fighter" season two. "I am really critical of myself."
One factor that may have hampered Stevenson's performance was an assortment of injuries he sustained prior to the fight.
"I came into that fight not even 100 percent. ... I was really hurt," Stevenson said. "I had a bruised femur and a hurt elbow."
However, the 10-year-veteran joked that he may never fight at full capacity since injuries are a common part of the fight game.
"Honestly, with the right camp, I'm sure you can come in 100 percent," Stevenson joked. "I just haven't done it yet."
Now that he is back in the win column, Stevenson plans to commemorate the official grand opening of his new gym, Joe Stevenson's Cobra Kai, as well as allow his injuries to heal. Stevenson is also looking forward to getting another shot at the UFC lightweight title, a chance that may come sooner rather than later if he continues to win.
"Joe (Silva) was telling me two or three wins," he said.
New light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin wasn't the only "Ultimate Fighter" alumnus looking to improve his stock at this past Saturday's UFC 86 event. Season two winner Joe "Daddy" Stevenson (29-8 MMA, 6-2 UFC), who had previously lost a lightweight title bout to B.J. Penn, defeated Gleison Tibau (15-6 MMA, 3-3 UFC) to get back on the winning track.
"Joe Daddy" was a recent guest on TAGG Radio (www.taggradio.com), the official radio partner of MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com), where he discussed his big submission win over the ATT standout.
"I really didn't want to finish this fight with a guillotine," Stevenson said. "I wanted to drop him. It just didn't work out for me this time."
However, Stevenson nearly found himself on the wrong side of a submission attempt, spending much of the first round fighting off an omoplata. Midway through the second round, however, a frustrated Stevenson came back to lock in a deep guillotine choke during a Tibau takedown attempt.
"I think he was really caught off guard," said Stevenson, who's the first fighter ever to submit Tibau. "I don't think he expected my guillotine to be as good as it was."
The Victorville, Calif. native hadn't fought since his January title loss to BJ Penn, and Stevenson said he needed to shake off some ring rust before he could figure out his opponent.
"I guess it was good to get some of the cobwebs off," Stevenson said. "I figured out [Tibau] is incredibly strong. (However), he doesn't want to peter out so he uses it in bursts. If you can catch him when he is trying to rest, that is when you are going to do your big damage."
Looking back now, the 26-year-old feels he should have capitalized more on Tibau's rhythm so he could secure a stoppage earlier in the fight.
"I made the mistake of not just following up when I knocked him down with my right hand," Stevenson said. "(Also), when I took him down, I should have just exploded with forearms on him. I was thinking, 'I've got to be careful. This guy is super strong and (has) a black belt.' Honestly, I think I didn't fight him to my best ability."
So, regardless of the fact that he walked away a victor, the always-modest Stevenson still believes his outing was sub-par.
"I was pretty upset with my performance; I thought I could have done 10 times better," said Stevenson, who's now 6-2 since winning "The Ultimate Fighter" season two. "I am really critical of myself."
One factor that may have hampered Stevenson's performance was an assortment of injuries he sustained prior to the fight.
"I came into that fight not even 100 percent. ... I was really hurt," Stevenson said. "I had a bruised femur and a hurt elbow."
However, the 10-year-veteran joked that he may never fight at full capacity since injuries are a common part of the fight game.
"Honestly, with the right camp, I'm sure you can come in 100 percent," Stevenson joked. "I just haven't done it yet."
Now that he is back in the win column, Stevenson plans to commemorate the official grand opening of his new gym, Joe Stevenson's Cobra Kai, as well as allow his injuries to heal. Stevenson is also looking forward to getting another shot at the UFC lightweight title, a chance that may come sooner rather than later if he continues to win.
"Joe (Silva) was telling me two or three wins," he said.
State officials weigh in on new weight classes
A wise man once said "to change and change for the better are two different things."
The Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) last week found itself toeing that fine line when the group released its newly revamped recommendations for the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts. While there were several issues addressed in the new form, only one has caused an uproar: the changing of MMA's traditional weight classes to a new 14-tier system.
Several of the country's most influential athletic-board directors also disagree with the new weight class standards, and a few shared their thoughts with MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).
As part of the new guidelines, existing weight classes would be totally revamped. For example, the currently popular light-heavyweight division (185.6-205 pounds) would become a "middleweight" division (185.1-195) and a "super middleweight" division (195.1-205). Likewise, the current 170-pound welterweight class would instead be 165.1-175 pounds, and a new "super welterweight" division would run from 175.1 to 185 pounds.
Additionally, a current heavyweight class (205.1 to 265 pounds) already light on talent would be further diminished under the new system, which would change the weight class from 225.1 to 265 pounds.
"I know that in Ohio, we are not going to go with the weight-class rules," Bernie Profato, executive director of the Ohio State Athletic Commission, said. "That's affirmative."
Nick Lembo, legal counsel for the New Jersey Athletic Control Board, agreed.
"The weight classes in New Jersey are going to stay according to the original unified rules," Lembo said.
The issue of uniformity
The standards issued by the ABC are simply a guideline of recommendations that each state is free to adopt in whole or modify as it sees fit. However, every one of the directors that spoke with MMAjunkie.com stressed the importance of uniformity in regards to MMA regulation.
In fact, one of the co-author's of the new standards, legendary MMA referee "Big" John McCarthy, said that's exactly why the changes are needed.
"We (in the MMA community) say that we go by the unified rules," McCarthy said. "Well, there are too many places that change them. Every commission starts to change those rules the way they want.
"It should be that [the state athletic commissions] all follow one set of rules. Wherever you go, it's the same. That's what you need to have -- consistency for not only the fighters, (but also) the officials and the fans of the sport."
Unfortunately, the only unity created thus far appears to be the united front of several of the commissions against the new codes. The primary argument against the weight-class adjustments has been the lack of a need for change.
"Where did it need to be fixed?" Profato asked. "I've had over 300 MMA fight (cards) in the state of Ohio. ... Not one time have we ever heard, 'Hey, we've got to change these weight classes."
A need for change?
McCarthy, whose days in MMA lead back to nearly the birth of the sport in the U.S., said that type of reactionary attitude could eventually lead to currently unforeseen issues within the sport.
"(UFC President) Dana White's a guy who's saying ... that this is going to be the biggest sport in the world," McCarthy said. "So do you wait until that point, or do you say, 'Hey, you know what? We're getting more and more athletes getting into this sport all the time.'
"Why should you wait until you have too many people with these few weight classes? It's silly; start to look at things from the beginning."
McCarthy also said he considers the new weight classes the next logical step in the evolution of a sport that began as an open-weight affair.
"Look at where the UFC came from; there were no weight class," McCarthy said. "Then there were two. Back at UFC 12, which Dana wouldn't know about anyway, but back at UFC 12, there was a change where we had lightweight and heavyweight. There was a lightweight that was up to 199.9 pounds, (and) heavyweight was 200-plus.
"Then [UFC officials] decided, 'No, that's going to be our middleweight.' At UFC 16, they brought in the lightweights and said that was up to 170 pounds because, 'Look, weight does make a difference in the sport.' When you start talking about people with good technical abilities, the big guys are going to beat the small guys. If you have two guys of different sizes, and they have the same technical ability, the big guy usually has the advantage.
"It's the evolution of the sport, and there are more guys getting involved in it."
But several of the commissioners explained there wasn't a reason to expand or even define weight classes, as current rules allow promoters to make a fight at any weight they want. We have seen several recent examples of this situation, with a number of "catch weight" fights in both the UFC and EliteXC. A UFC 60 main event between 170-pound champ Matt Hughes and Royce Gracie -- which was held at 175 pounds -- is one such example.
"I'm not even sure if commissions need to be that involved in what the weight classes are," Keith Kizer, executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, said. "What matters is the weight, not what you call them. ... Any promoter can come in and say, 'These two guys are going to fight. Maximum weight 225 (pounds).'
"They don't need a separate weight class."
More data needed
State executives also expressed concern over the lack of data collected before the ABC decided to make such a change.
"When it came to the weight classes, we needed to have a more detailed discussion," Lembo said. "When I wrote the first draft of the (original) unified rules in New Jersey, it involved comments from the fans, the media, fighters, managers, promotions and other commissions and doctors. And to just go to such a drastic change with the very limited amount of discussion that we had on the topic, I'm not in favor of it."
Profato echoed Lembo's sentiments that more study was needed before making such a radical change to the current system.
"I think we have to sit down and kind of look at the direction we're going," Profato said. "Set up a committee, a strong committee, with the big states -- Nevada, Ohio, California, New Jersey -- and get eight or 10 people on that committee. Take these things one little piece at a time. Decipher it. Study it."
The UFC's best interest
As with any change in MMA, the support of the sport's largest promotion -- the UFC -- is paramount for the adjustment to gain any real traction. White, who oversees the day-to-day operation of the world's largest MMA promotion, has already gone on record vehemently opposing the changes, and he's been adamant that the UFC won't adopt them.
McCarthy said he expected as much from his former employer. However, he said that White was not considering the best interest of the sport, or its competitors, as a whole.
"Dana White is a promoter," McCarthy said. "If he doesn't like something, he's going to lash out about it. Dana's a guy with power right now. He promotes the biggest promotion there is in the sport, and he truly has a lot of control over the sport right now because the UFC is so powerful.
"He promotes the UFC. The UFC is what he cares about. Does Dana truly care about fighters that are fighting in EliteXC? Does he truly care about fighters in a TFA event in California -- or in the Backwoods Brawl, or whatever? He doesn't care because it's not the UFC."
Overhaul of the ABC itself?
Many commissioners also felt that beyond setting aside the weight-class changes for the time being, the result of the proceedings highlight the need for changes in the way the Association of Boxing Commissions is run, especially in regards to its treatment of MMA.
"What happened [at the ABC conference] should be tabled," Lembo said. "I think the ABC, if they're going to get involved in MMA, should change the name of the organization. I think they should change their bylaws to include MMA, and I think you need a full MMA committee. And all these issues need to be vetted through the committee and studied with all of the interested parties, and then the committee presents a document to the ABC membership at the convention, and it's voted upon with justifications and reasons for the changes."
Kizer also felt the new rules were drafted under less-than-ideal circumstances.
"The whole point of uniform rules is to make them unified," Kizer said. "Nobody was using these weight classes. Now if some people were using these weight classes and some people weren't, that might make some sense. This wasn't a unification. This was to create a whole new set of rules on short notice that no one had any input in drafting other than (Canadian commissioner Dale Kliparchuk) and John McCarthy.
"Usually we do committees and things like that, so it's just very disturbing. I definitely want John McCarthy's input on it, but it seems like more so he wrote them and said, 'These aren't the unified rules. These are the John McCarthy rules.' And they may have some validity to them, but that's not how we get things done at the ABC. Or at least, that's not how we used to, and I'm very unhappy."
McCarthy denied being solely responsible for the drafting of the new weight classes.
"It wasn't like I came about wanting to change weight classes," McCarthy said. "This is not about what John McCarthy wants. I wish I could make things the way that I wanted, but I can't do that. This is a bunch of different people from different commission that end up coming together and saying they need changes in something, or they want to make changes, and that's how it all comes about."
With commissioners throughout the country obviously opposed to the new set of weight classes, it appears that the ABC's decision new guidelines will be quickly tossed aside. The earliest the ABC can revisit the issue is at its 2009 conference in New Orleans.
"Since the meeting, I've been contacted by several other states, and I have their support," Lembo said. "I would anticipate that the ABC is going to be reviewing this matter and possibly amending that guideline."
A wise man once said "to change and change for the better are two different things."
The Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC) last week found itself toeing that fine line when the group released its newly revamped recommendations for the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts. While there were several issues addressed in the new form, only one has caused an uproar: the changing of MMA's traditional weight classes to a new 14-tier system.
Several of the country's most influential athletic-board directors also disagree with the new weight class standards, and a few shared their thoughts with MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).
As part of the new guidelines, existing weight classes would be totally revamped. For example, the currently popular light-heavyweight division (185.6-205 pounds) would become a "middleweight" division (185.1-195) and a "super middleweight" division (195.1-205). Likewise, the current 170-pound welterweight class would instead be 165.1-175 pounds, and a new "super welterweight" division would run from 175.1 to 185 pounds.
Additionally, a current heavyweight class (205.1 to 265 pounds) already light on talent would be further diminished under the new system, which would change the weight class from 225.1 to 265 pounds.
"I know that in Ohio, we are not going to go with the weight-class rules," Bernie Profato, executive director of the Ohio State Athletic Commission, said. "That's affirmative."
Nick Lembo, legal counsel for the New Jersey Athletic Control Board, agreed.
"The weight classes in New Jersey are going to stay according to the original unified rules," Lembo said.
The issue of uniformity
The standards issued by the ABC are simply a guideline of recommendations that each state is free to adopt in whole or modify as it sees fit. However, every one of the directors that spoke with MMAjunkie.com stressed the importance of uniformity in regards to MMA regulation.
In fact, one of the co-author's of the new standards, legendary MMA referee "Big" John McCarthy, said that's exactly why the changes are needed.
"We (in the MMA community) say that we go by the unified rules," McCarthy said. "Well, there are too many places that change them. Every commission starts to change those rules the way they want.
"It should be that [the state athletic commissions] all follow one set of rules. Wherever you go, it's the same. That's what you need to have -- consistency for not only the fighters, (but also) the officials and the fans of the sport."
Unfortunately, the only unity created thus far appears to be the united front of several of the commissions against the new codes. The primary argument against the weight-class adjustments has been the lack of a need for change.
"Where did it need to be fixed?" Profato asked. "I've had over 300 MMA fight (cards) in the state of Ohio. ... Not one time have we ever heard, 'Hey, we've got to change these weight classes."
A need for change?
McCarthy, whose days in MMA lead back to nearly the birth of the sport in the U.S., said that type of reactionary attitude could eventually lead to currently unforeseen issues within the sport.
"(UFC President) Dana White's a guy who's saying ... that this is going to be the biggest sport in the world," McCarthy said. "So do you wait until that point, or do you say, 'Hey, you know what? We're getting more and more athletes getting into this sport all the time.'
"Why should you wait until you have too many people with these few weight classes? It's silly; start to look at things from the beginning."
McCarthy also said he considers the new weight classes the next logical step in the evolution of a sport that began as an open-weight affair.
"Look at where the UFC came from; there were no weight class," McCarthy said. "Then there were two. Back at UFC 12, which Dana wouldn't know about anyway, but back at UFC 12, there was a change where we had lightweight and heavyweight. There was a lightweight that was up to 199.9 pounds, (and) heavyweight was 200-plus.
"Then [UFC officials] decided, 'No, that's going to be our middleweight.' At UFC 16, they brought in the lightweights and said that was up to 170 pounds because, 'Look, weight does make a difference in the sport.' When you start talking about people with good technical abilities, the big guys are going to beat the small guys. If you have two guys of different sizes, and they have the same technical ability, the big guy usually has the advantage.
"It's the evolution of the sport, and there are more guys getting involved in it."
But several of the commissioners explained there wasn't a reason to expand or even define weight classes, as current rules allow promoters to make a fight at any weight they want. We have seen several recent examples of this situation, with a number of "catch weight" fights in both the UFC and EliteXC. A UFC 60 main event between 170-pound champ Matt Hughes and Royce Gracie -- which was held at 175 pounds -- is one such example.
"I'm not even sure if commissions need to be that involved in what the weight classes are," Keith Kizer, executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, said. "What matters is the weight, not what you call them. ... Any promoter can come in and say, 'These two guys are going to fight. Maximum weight 225 (pounds).'
"They don't need a separate weight class."
More data needed
State executives also expressed concern over the lack of data collected before the ABC decided to make such a change.
"When it came to the weight classes, we needed to have a more detailed discussion," Lembo said. "When I wrote the first draft of the (original) unified rules in New Jersey, it involved comments from the fans, the media, fighters, managers, promotions and other commissions and doctors. And to just go to such a drastic change with the very limited amount of discussion that we had on the topic, I'm not in favor of it."
Profato echoed Lembo's sentiments that more study was needed before making such a radical change to the current system.
"I think we have to sit down and kind of look at the direction we're going," Profato said. "Set up a committee, a strong committee, with the big states -- Nevada, Ohio, California, New Jersey -- and get eight or 10 people on that committee. Take these things one little piece at a time. Decipher it. Study it."
The UFC's best interest
As with any change in MMA, the support of the sport's largest promotion -- the UFC -- is paramount for the adjustment to gain any real traction. White, who oversees the day-to-day operation of the world's largest MMA promotion, has already gone on record vehemently opposing the changes, and he's been adamant that the UFC won't adopt them.
McCarthy said he expected as much from his former employer. However, he said that White was not considering the best interest of the sport, or its competitors, as a whole.
"Dana White is a promoter," McCarthy said. "If he doesn't like something, he's going to lash out about it. Dana's a guy with power right now. He promotes the biggest promotion there is in the sport, and he truly has a lot of control over the sport right now because the UFC is so powerful.
"He promotes the UFC. The UFC is what he cares about. Does Dana truly care about fighters that are fighting in EliteXC? Does he truly care about fighters in a TFA event in California -- or in the Backwoods Brawl, or whatever? He doesn't care because it's not the UFC."
Overhaul of the ABC itself?
Many commissioners also felt that beyond setting aside the weight-class changes for the time being, the result of the proceedings highlight the need for changes in the way the Association of Boxing Commissions is run, especially in regards to its treatment of MMA.
"What happened [at the ABC conference] should be tabled," Lembo said. "I think the ABC, if they're going to get involved in MMA, should change the name of the organization. I think they should change their bylaws to include MMA, and I think you need a full MMA committee. And all these issues need to be vetted through the committee and studied with all of the interested parties, and then the committee presents a document to the ABC membership at the convention, and it's voted upon with justifications and reasons for the changes."
Kizer also felt the new rules were drafted under less-than-ideal circumstances.
"The whole point of uniform rules is to make them unified," Kizer said. "Nobody was using these weight classes. Now if some people were using these weight classes and some people weren't, that might make some sense. This wasn't a unification. This was to create a whole new set of rules on short notice that no one had any input in drafting other than (Canadian commissioner Dale Kliparchuk) and John McCarthy.
"Usually we do committees and things like that, so it's just very disturbing. I definitely want John McCarthy's input on it, but it seems like more so he wrote them and said, 'These aren't the unified rules. These are the John McCarthy rules.' And they may have some validity to them, but that's not how we get things done at the ABC. Or at least, that's not how we used to, and I'm very unhappy."
McCarthy denied being solely responsible for the drafting of the new weight classes.
"It wasn't like I came about wanting to change weight classes," McCarthy said. "This is not about what John McCarthy wants. I wish I could make things the way that I wanted, but I can't do that. This is a bunch of different people from different commission that end up coming together and saying they need changes in something, or they want to make changes, and that's how it all comes about."
With commissioners throughout the country obviously opposed to the new set of weight classes, it appears that the ABC's decision new guidelines will be quickly tossed aside. The earliest the ABC can revisit the issue is at its 2009 conference in New Orleans.
"Since the meeting, I've been contacted by several other states, and I have their support," Lembo said. "I would anticipate that the ABC is going to be reviewing this matter and possibly amending that guideline."
Anthony Johnson ready to entertain at July 19 UFC
UFC welterweight Anthony Johnson truly believes things happen for a reason.
So after trying out for "The Ultimate Fighter 6" and feeling good about his performance, he wasn't too disappointed when the show's producers skipped him over for 16 other UFC hopefuls.
After all, the very next week, Johnson's manager called and broke the news: he had just been offered a contract with the UFC.
"It worked out great for me," Johnson, who next meets Kevin Burns at UFC Fight Night 14 event in Las Vegas on July 19, told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "God had a plan for me. I wasn't supposed to be on the show. There were bigger and better things in store for me."
In that UFC debut, Johnson (5-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) went on to defeat fellow welterweight Chad Reiner in stunning fashion at UFC Fight Night 10. After taking the fight on just one week's notice, he knocked out his opponent in a mere 13 seconds.
"I respect the guys who go on the show and all that stuff," said Johnson, 24. "But I also think it makes us guys who didn't make it to work a little harder, push it a little more, try to prove ourselves more."
There was a buzz about Johnson after that remarkable octagon debut, but since he had just four professional fights, some wrote him off as a fluke -- a hard-hitting wild swinger who had gotten his 15 minutes of fame.
However, what few fans realized was that for all his striking prowess, Johnson's real skills were developed in amateur wrestling. In fact, he first plunged into the sport at the age of 8.
"My granddad put me into it because I always watched the WWF back in the day," Johnson said. "I always liked physical sports. Anything that came with the possibility of getting hurt, I was down with it."
Johnson stuck with the sport, and after two state high school titles in Georgia, he picked up a junior college national championship in 2004 while wrestling for Lassen Community College in California.
Johnson, who's since picked up a blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, displayed some of those wrestling skills in a loss to Rich Clementi at UFC 76, but in April at UFC Fight Night 13, it was right back to his stand-and-trade approach. And it worked as he defeated Tommy Speer -- the runner-up from "The Ultimate Fighter 6" -- with a quick and violent 51-second TKO.
So, why didn't we see any of those wrestling skills?
"Overall, I think that's how you see who's the better man and the better athlete -- by seeing who can really take a punch and dish it out," Johnson said. "People want to see that. That's why everyone pays so much money to come watch a fight. They want to see people beat up. I know it sounds brutal, but it's the truth."
So, Johnson is happy to oblige. But what about that jiu-jitsu experience?
"I'm just a blue belt; it's not like I'm a brown belt or anything, and I'm not going to say I'm phenomenal by any means," he said. "I try, though. But I know that I need to do it. You have to know how to handle yourself out there. To me, though, that's the most boring part (of MMA) -- it's the jiu jitsu and rolling around with some other dude."
With his quick hands and a growing arsenal of kicks, Johnson is content to keep a fight standing. And now, training with Strikeforce world middleweight champion Cung Le -- a San Shou kickboxer who's one of the few who has successfully adapted the skills to MMA -- Johnson knows his striking will only get better.
Johnson, who trains just about daily with his mentor, said that Le has taught him the technique he was lacking.
"I really wanted to develop kicks," he said. "I don't mind kicking, but there's a right way and a wrong way to do it. I was kicking the wrong way but thought it was right. Man, was I wrong."
Le, though, quickly straightened him out. In fact, the two have become nearly inseparable at the Cung Le Martial Arts Training in Milpitas, Calif. Despite the fighters competing in different weight classes, Johnson said he's built more like a middleweight, and Le is built more like a welterweight.
"We both have the right builds for the other one," he said. "It makes our training time very effective."
Johnson expects that training to lead to a victory against Burns in what will be his first live, nationally televised fight. However, his two previous wins were shown via tape delay, and yes, it's garnered him some attention.
"I raise pit bulls, and I go to a lot of shows for my kennel," said Johnson, who's completely against dog fighting. "At first, it was no problem. But now start to notice people kind of giving me a weird look and whispering to each other and looking back at me. It's easy to tell who the UFC fans are."
His popularity could reach an all-time high with a victory on July 19, and while a 3-1 record in the UFC could mean a step up in competition, Johnson isn't about to declare himself among the division's top fighters just yet.
"I mean, I think I can hang with anyone, and I'll fight anyone," he said. "But to be near a title shot, you need to beat Jon Fitch, Thiago Alves, Diego Sanchez, Karo Parisyan -- I'd have to beat so many guys to even be considered a top fighter.
"Everyone is going to say, 'He needs three wins and he's a contender.' I'm like, 'Yeah, but those are three of the toughest fighters I'd ever have to face.'
"I don't know. In my mind, I already think I'm a contender now because of how hard I work. But I think this is the toughest division in the sport. Anyone from the top 10 could take out the No. 1 guy. It's that close."
For Johnson, though, it's all about building a legacy. And to do that, he needs one thing.
"I just want to be the UFC champion," he said. "That's it. I want to be the UFC champion, and I want everyone to remember me as the guy who went out and give it everything he had -- that I gave it all every fight."
UFC welterweight Anthony Johnson truly believes things happen for a reason.
So after trying out for "The Ultimate Fighter 6" and feeling good about his performance, he wasn't too disappointed when the show's producers skipped him over for 16 other UFC hopefuls.
After all, the very next week, Johnson's manager called and broke the news: he had just been offered a contract with the UFC.
"It worked out great for me," Johnson, who next meets Kevin Burns at UFC Fight Night 14 event in Las Vegas on July 19, told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "God had a plan for me. I wasn't supposed to be on the show. There were bigger and better things in store for me."
In that UFC debut, Johnson (5-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) went on to defeat fellow welterweight Chad Reiner in stunning fashion at UFC Fight Night 10. After taking the fight on just one week's notice, he knocked out his opponent in a mere 13 seconds.
"I respect the guys who go on the show and all that stuff," said Johnson, 24. "But I also think it makes us guys who didn't make it to work a little harder, push it a little more, try to prove ourselves more."
There was a buzz about Johnson after that remarkable octagon debut, but since he had just four professional fights, some wrote him off as a fluke -- a hard-hitting wild swinger who had gotten his 15 minutes of fame.
However, what few fans realized was that for all his striking prowess, Johnson's real skills were developed in amateur wrestling. In fact, he first plunged into the sport at the age of 8.
"My granddad put me into it because I always watched the WWF back in the day," Johnson said. "I always liked physical sports. Anything that came with the possibility of getting hurt, I was down with it."
Johnson stuck with the sport, and after two state high school titles in Georgia, he picked up a junior college national championship in 2004 while wrestling for Lassen Community College in California.
Johnson, who's since picked up a blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, displayed some of those wrestling skills in a loss to Rich Clementi at UFC 76, but in April at UFC Fight Night 13, it was right back to his stand-and-trade approach. And it worked as he defeated Tommy Speer -- the runner-up from "The Ultimate Fighter 6" -- with a quick and violent 51-second TKO.
So, why didn't we see any of those wrestling skills?
"Overall, I think that's how you see who's the better man and the better athlete -- by seeing who can really take a punch and dish it out," Johnson said. "People want to see that. That's why everyone pays so much money to come watch a fight. They want to see people beat up. I know it sounds brutal, but it's the truth."
So, Johnson is happy to oblige. But what about that jiu-jitsu experience?
"I'm just a blue belt; it's not like I'm a brown belt or anything, and I'm not going to say I'm phenomenal by any means," he said. "I try, though. But I know that I need to do it. You have to know how to handle yourself out there. To me, though, that's the most boring part (of MMA) -- it's the jiu jitsu and rolling around with some other dude."
With his quick hands and a growing arsenal of kicks, Johnson is content to keep a fight standing. And now, training with Strikeforce world middleweight champion Cung Le -- a San Shou kickboxer who's one of the few who has successfully adapted the skills to MMA -- Johnson knows his striking will only get better.
Johnson, who trains just about daily with his mentor, said that Le has taught him the technique he was lacking.
"I really wanted to develop kicks," he said. "I don't mind kicking, but there's a right way and a wrong way to do it. I was kicking the wrong way but thought it was right. Man, was I wrong."
Le, though, quickly straightened him out. In fact, the two have become nearly inseparable at the Cung Le Martial Arts Training in Milpitas, Calif. Despite the fighters competing in different weight classes, Johnson said he's built more like a middleweight, and Le is built more like a welterweight.
"We both have the right builds for the other one," he said. "It makes our training time very effective."
Johnson expects that training to lead to a victory against Burns in what will be his first live, nationally televised fight. However, his two previous wins were shown via tape delay, and yes, it's garnered him some attention.
"I raise pit bulls, and I go to a lot of shows for my kennel," said Johnson, who's completely against dog fighting. "At first, it was no problem. But now start to notice people kind of giving me a weird look and whispering to each other and looking back at me. It's easy to tell who the UFC fans are."
His popularity could reach an all-time high with a victory on July 19, and while a 3-1 record in the UFC could mean a step up in competition, Johnson isn't about to declare himself among the division's top fighters just yet.
"I mean, I think I can hang with anyone, and I'll fight anyone," he said. "But to be near a title shot, you need to beat Jon Fitch, Thiago Alves, Diego Sanchez, Karo Parisyan -- I'd have to beat so many guys to even be considered a top fighter.
"Everyone is going to say, 'He needs three wins and he's a contender.' I'm like, 'Yeah, but those are three of the toughest fighters I'd ever have to face.'
"I don't know. In my mind, I already think I'm a contender now because of how hard I work. But I think this is the toughest division in the sport. Anyone from the top 10 could take out the No. 1 guy. It's that close."
For Johnson, though, it's all about building a legacy. And to do that, he needs one thing.
"I just want to be the UFC champion," he said. "That's it. I want to be the UFC champion, and I want everyone to remember me as the guy who went out and give it everything he had -- that I gave it all every fight."
Andrei Arlovski's trainer: "Nothing set" for pro boxing debut
Despite a recent report of a possible September bout, legendary boxing trainer Freddie Roach says his new pupil, MMA superstar Andrei Arlovski (12-5), has not yet finalized plans for a professional boxing debut.
Roach and Arlovski each addressed the media in a conference call today promoting Arlovski's bout with fellow heavyweight Ben Rothwell at "Affliction: Banned," which takes place July 19 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
"I've been training Andrei for boxing, yes," Roach said. "I know he has a future in boxing, of course. But I don't believe there's anything set out there."
ESPN.com previously reported that Arlovski would "likely" compete on the undercard of the Sept. 13 Joel Casamayor vs. Juan Manuel Marquez fight card.
Roach has trained a number of world boxing champions throughout his career, including current WBC world super featherweight and world lightweight champion Manny Pacquiao.
"Someday down the line, if Andrei wants to go into boxing, I'm sure he'll be a top-10 heavyweight at boxing also," Roach said.
Arlovski, a noted striker who has been criticized for a more conservative approach to his bouts as of late, said Roach has been helpful in refocusing him on the stand-up aspects of MMA.
"I'm very proud to train with Freddie Roach," Arlovski said. "He's a great coach. He (has) taught me a lot."
Despite Roach's admitted lack of MMA knowledge, the former professional boxer will be in Arlovski's corner for the bout with Rothwell.
"Freddy has shown me a lot of technique," Arlovski said. "He has shown me what can be good for me against Ben Rothwell."
As MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) previously reported, Arlovski (12-5 MMA, 10-4 UFC) signed with Affliction last month. The Chicago-based fighter reigned as the UFC's heavyweight title-holder from February 2005 to April 2006.
Since losing a July 2006 title fight to then-champ Tim Sylvia, Arlovski's has pieced together three consecutive victories. Arlovski fulfilled the fight commitment of his previous UFC contract when he defeated Jake O'Brien at UFC 82 in March, and the UFC lost its exclusive rights to negotiate with the Belarusian fighter on May 1.
Despite a recent report of a possible September bout, legendary boxing trainer Freddie Roach says his new pupil, MMA superstar Andrei Arlovski (12-5), has not yet finalized plans for a professional boxing debut.
Roach and Arlovski each addressed the media in a conference call today promoting Arlovski's bout with fellow heavyweight Ben Rothwell at "Affliction: Banned," which takes place July 19 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
"I've been training Andrei for boxing, yes," Roach said. "I know he has a future in boxing, of course. But I don't believe there's anything set out there."
ESPN.com previously reported that Arlovski would "likely" compete on the undercard of the Sept. 13 Joel Casamayor vs. Juan Manuel Marquez fight card.
Roach has trained a number of world boxing champions throughout his career, including current WBC world super featherweight and world lightweight champion Manny Pacquiao.
"Someday down the line, if Andrei wants to go into boxing, I'm sure he'll be a top-10 heavyweight at boxing also," Roach said.
Arlovski, a noted striker who has been criticized for a more conservative approach to his bouts as of late, said Roach has been helpful in refocusing him on the stand-up aspects of MMA.
"I'm very proud to train with Freddie Roach," Arlovski said. "He's a great coach. He (has) taught me a lot."
Despite Roach's admitted lack of MMA knowledge, the former professional boxer will be in Arlovski's corner for the bout with Rothwell.
"Freddy has shown me a lot of technique," Arlovski said. "He has shown me what can be good for me against Ben Rothwell."
As MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) previously reported, Arlovski (12-5 MMA, 10-4 UFC) signed with Affliction last month. The Chicago-based fighter reigned as the UFC's heavyweight title-holder from February 2005 to April 2006.
Since losing a July 2006 title fight to then-champ Tim Sylvia, Arlovski's has pieced together three consecutive victories. Arlovski fulfilled the fight commitment of his previous UFC contract when he defeated Jake O'Brien at UFC 82 in March, and the UFC lost its exclusive rights to negotiate with the Belarusian fighter on May 1.
Edwin Dewees confirms multi-fight deal with Affliction
As part of his agreement to fill in for Vernon White at the July 19 "Affliction: Banned" event, Edwin Dewees has earned a multi-fight deal the upstart promotion.
Dewees (35-12), who fights former PRIDE stand-out Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (13-3) at the Affliction show, trains at Ken Shamrock's Lion's Den in Scottsdale, Ariz., and representatives from the gym today confirmed the signing.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"This is obviously a great opportunity for me," Dewees stated in today's press release. "Affliction has done an unbelievable job in organizing a world-class event, with some of the biggest names in the sport on the fight card."
As MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) first reported, White was scratched from the event after failing a drug test (due to a banned diuretic) following a May 31 Xtreme Fighting Association event in Las Vegas. Affliction Vice President Tom Atencio immediately targeted Dewees a former UFC fighter and cast member from "The Ultimate Fighter 4."
"We definitely had our sites set on Dewees, and I am very happy to announce that he has signed a multi-fight deal with us," Atencio stated. "Dewees was our first choice as a replacement for White. He is a great addition to our all-world-caliber card."
Although the White-Nogueira fight had been slated for the FSN portion of the event, the cable station will now instead air a bout between Vitor Belfort and Terry Martin (in addition to Paul Buentello vs. Aleksander Emelianenko). The Dewees vs. Nogueira fight will take place on the un-aired preliminary card.
For the latest on "Affliction: Banned," including the night's pay-per-view main card, check out the MMA Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.
* * * *
Speaking of Affliction, the organization today confirmed that more than 250 media members from around the globe have requested credentials for the event.
In addition to the U.S., the requests have come in from Russia, Japan, Korea, Germany, Great Britain, Canada, Brazil, Australia and New Zealand, according to the organization.
The July 19 event takes place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
As part of his agreement to fill in for Vernon White at the July 19 "Affliction: Banned" event, Edwin Dewees has earned a multi-fight deal the upstart promotion.
Dewees (35-12), who fights former PRIDE stand-out Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (13-3) at the Affliction show, trains at Ken Shamrock's Lion's Den in Scottsdale, Ariz., and representatives from the gym today confirmed the signing.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"This is obviously a great opportunity for me," Dewees stated in today's press release. "Affliction has done an unbelievable job in organizing a world-class event, with some of the biggest names in the sport on the fight card."
As MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) first reported, White was scratched from the event after failing a drug test (due to a banned diuretic) following a May 31 Xtreme Fighting Association event in Las Vegas. Affliction Vice President Tom Atencio immediately targeted Dewees a former UFC fighter and cast member from "The Ultimate Fighter 4."
"We definitely had our sites set on Dewees, and I am very happy to announce that he has signed a multi-fight deal with us," Atencio stated. "Dewees was our first choice as a replacement for White. He is a great addition to our all-world-caliber card."
Although the White-Nogueira fight had been slated for the FSN portion of the event, the cable station will now instead air a bout between Vitor Belfort and Terry Martin (in addition to Paul Buentello vs. Aleksander Emelianenko). The Dewees vs. Nogueira fight will take place on the un-aired preliminary card.
For the latest on "Affliction: Banned," including the night's pay-per-view main card, check out the MMA Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.
* * * *
Speaking of Affliction, the organization today confirmed that more than 250 media members from around the globe have requested credentials for the event.
In addition to the U.S., the requests have come in from Russia, Japan, Korea, Germany, Great Britain, Canada, Brazil, Australia and New Zealand, according to the organization.
The July 19 event takes place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
UFC Quick Quote: Brandon Vera could stay at 205 after UFN 14 Reese Andy fight
…everybody’s saying that my power looks and good and actually my kicks look faster and harder now. I was 212 (pounds) today at the end of practice … I think it’s working to an advantage. It’s making me hungry and meaner…. I wouldn’t mind staying at 205. It’s all up to UFC in their grand scheme of things. We’ll see what’s going on and what they have in mind…. Talent-wise, man, the who’s who of 205 in the world is in the UFC right now. It’s ridiculous, it’s a whole long laundry list of who’s who. And the heavyweight division — you can pull, I think, maybe six guys out of the heavyweights. So yeah, I would say that 205 is way more stacked.”
– Former heavyweight contender Brandon Vera — who will make his light heavyweight debut against Reese Andy at UFC Fight Night 14 on July 19 — tells the USA Today that he could remain in the 205-pound division if the organization sees fit. However, “The Truth” is still bitter about his loss to Fabricio Werdum at UFC 85: “Bedlam” last month, which he and many others feel was stopped prematurely. He would like to avenge the loss at some point … especially if Werdum is able to one day soon capture the heavyweight strap.
…everybody’s saying that my power looks and good and actually my kicks look faster and harder now. I was 212 (pounds) today at the end of practice … I think it’s working to an advantage. It’s making me hungry and meaner…. I wouldn’t mind staying at 205. It’s all up to UFC in their grand scheme of things. We’ll see what’s going on and what they have in mind…. Talent-wise, man, the who’s who of 205 in the world is in the UFC right now. It’s ridiculous, it’s a whole long laundry list of who’s who. And the heavyweight division — you can pull, I think, maybe six guys out of the heavyweights. So yeah, I would say that 205 is way more stacked.”
– Former heavyweight contender Brandon Vera — who will make his light heavyweight debut against Reese Andy at UFC Fight Night 14 on July 19 — tells the USA Today that he could remain in the 205-pound division if the organization sees fit. However, “The Truth” is still bitter about his loss to Fabricio Werdum at UFC 85: “Bedlam” last month, which he and many others feel was stopped prematurely. He would like to avenge the loss at some point … especially if Werdum is able to one day soon capture the heavyweight strap.
Elite XC media workout for ‘Unfinished Business’ on July 26
Elite XC Middleweight Champion “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler, Jake Shields, Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith, and Cris Cyborg — four of the talented fighters who will compete in Stockton, Calif., on July 26 at “Unfinished Business” — participated in an open media workout yesterday at “The Ultimate Training Center” in Roseville, Calif.
Smith and James “The Sandman” Irvin are part owners of the gym.
Cyborg — wife of Pride FC veteran Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos — will face Shayna Baszler on the main card that will air on CBS. The winner of the bout will more than likely take on Gina Carano sometime in the fall for the right to become the first Elite XC female champion.
After months of delays, Shields will finally get his crack at the Elite XC welterweight gold. He’ll lock horns with Nick “The Goat” Thompson for the vacant 170-pound strap in a fight is one of the most anticipated fights in the organization’s history. The two are coming in on a combined 21 fight winning streak.
Something has got to give.
Shields had this to say during the question and answer portion of the media workout:
“I feel really good and have been working very hard for a long time. The fact that my title shot is finally here is as good as it can get for me. Being on CBS only makes it that much more exciting. This fight card will give all of us a lot of exposure. I respect Nick. He is definitely a tough fighter, but I have fought a lot of tough guys throughout my career. We’re both on nice winning streaks, but one has to end and I don’t plan on it being my mine.”
Lawler and Smith fought in the co-main event on the May 31 debut of “Saturday Night Fights” on CBS. They waged an all out war for nearly three rounds before falling victim to the dreaded “no contest” after an inadvertent thumb to the eye from the champ.
Because of the action and excitement the first fight provided and the unfulfilling conclusion resulting from the early stoppage, this rematch is one the entire MMA world has their eyes on.
Here’s a quote from each of the main event participants from yesterday:
Robbie Lawler:
“I watched our first fight one time right after I got back home from New Jersey, but I haven’t watched it since. This is going to be another great fight. We both go out and give our best. My game plan is to adapt. I don’t try to picture what is going to happen inside the cage. The fact we have fought each other won’t lend any advantages to either of us. I love to fight and I am looking forward to fighting and defending the title on July 26 in Stockton on CBS.”
Scott Smith:
“I am really looking forward to fighting Lawler again. I look back at our first fight and all the things I did wrong and that alone has given me more confidence. I know I can fight better than I did last time. My head movement was terrible and I got hit way too much. I expected Lawler to come out more aggressively but he fought a very intelligent fight. I’m known as a slow starter and he wound up taking me apart in the first round. I had a bad game plan and he took advantage.”
Elite XC Middleweight Champion “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler, Jake Shields, Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith, and Cris Cyborg — four of the talented fighters who will compete in Stockton, Calif., on July 26 at “Unfinished Business” — participated in an open media workout yesterday at “The Ultimate Training Center” in Roseville, Calif.
Smith and James “The Sandman” Irvin are part owners of the gym.
Cyborg — wife of Pride FC veteran Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos — will face Shayna Baszler on the main card that will air on CBS. The winner of the bout will more than likely take on Gina Carano sometime in the fall for the right to become the first Elite XC female champion.
After months of delays, Shields will finally get his crack at the Elite XC welterweight gold. He’ll lock horns with Nick “The Goat” Thompson for the vacant 170-pound strap in a fight is one of the most anticipated fights in the organization’s history. The two are coming in on a combined 21 fight winning streak.
Something has got to give.
Shields had this to say during the question and answer portion of the media workout:
“I feel really good and have been working very hard for a long time. The fact that my title shot is finally here is as good as it can get for me. Being on CBS only makes it that much more exciting. This fight card will give all of us a lot of exposure. I respect Nick. He is definitely a tough fighter, but I have fought a lot of tough guys throughout my career. We’re both on nice winning streaks, but one has to end and I don’t plan on it being my mine.”
Lawler and Smith fought in the co-main event on the May 31 debut of “Saturday Night Fights” on CBS. They waged an all out war for nearly three rounds before falling victim to the dreaded “no contest” after an inadvertent thumb to the eye from the champ.
Because of the action and excitement the first fight provided and the unfulfilling conclusion resulting from the early stoppage, this rematch is one the entire MMA world has their eyes on.
Here’s a quote from each of the main event participants from yesterday:
Robbie Lawler:
“I watched our first fight one time right after I got back home from New Jersey, but I haven’t watched it since. This is going to be another great fight. We both go out and give our best. My game plan is to adapt. I don’t try to picture what is going to happen inside the cage. The fact we have fought each other won’t lend any advantages to either of us. I love to fight and I am looking forward to fighting and defending the title on July 26 in Stockton on CBS.”
Scott Smith:
“I am really looking forward to fighting Lawler again. I look back at our first fight and all the things I did wrong and that alone has given me more confidence. I know I can fight better than I did last time. My head movement was terrible and I got hit way too much. I expected Lawler to come out more aggressively but he fought a very intelligent fight. I’m known as a slow starter and he wound up taking me apart in the first round. I had a bad game plan and he took advantage.”