MMA News Thread
- Thread starter Shogun Locc
- Start date
Report: Brandon Wolff vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida at UFC 98 in May
Welterweights Brandon Wolff (7-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) and Yoshiyuki Yoshida (10-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) will meet at UFC 98, an event that takes place May 23 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
News of the fight was reported in an email newsletter sent to BJPenn.com subscribers.
Like Penn, Wolff, who suffered a knockout loss to Ben Saunders during his UFC debut in December, is based in Hawaii.
MMAjunkie.com could not immediately confirm the bout with either fighter's camp, and a report from fiveouncesofpain.com suggests the fight, though signed, isn't necessarily a lock for the UFC 98 card.
Wolff is a veteran of the WEC, K-1, EliteXC and Rumble on the Rock. His four-fight win streak came to end when he met Saunders, a cast member from "The Ultimate Fighter 6" who overwhelmed the UFC newcomer with brutal knees from the clinch that eventually set up the TKO stoppage.
Wolff began training full time once he signed with the UFC.
Now in a must-win situation, he meets Yoshida, who's also coming off a devestating knockout loss. At UFC Fight Night 16, Yoshida was stopped by Josh Koscheck a little more than two minutes into the main-event fight.
Yoshida made his UFC debut in 2008 at UFC 84. There, he scored a quick submission victory over War Machine (formerly known as Jon Koppenhaver before a legal name change) with an anaconda choke. That victory was his ninth straight, which included nine stoppages. He posted victories over the likes of current UFC fighter Dan Hardy, Katsuya Inoue and Akira Kikuchi during the stretch.
Welterweights Brandon Wolff (7-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) and Yoshiyuki Yoshida (10-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) will meet at UFC 98, an event that takes place May 23 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
News of the fight was reported in an email newsletter sent to BJPenn.com subscribers.
Like Penn, Wolff, who suffered a knockout loss to Ben Saunders during his UFC debut in December, is based in Hawaii.
MMAjunkie.com could not immediately confirm the bout with either fighter's camp, and a report from fiveouncesofpain.com suggests the fight, though signed, isn't necessarily a lock for the UFC 98 card.
Wolff is a veteran of the WEC, K-1, EliteXC and Rumble on the Rock. His four-fight win streak came to end when he met Saunders, a cast member from "The Ultimate Fighter 6" who overwhelmed the UFC newcomer with brutal knees from the clinch that eventually set up the TKO stoppage.
Wolff began training full time once he signed with the UFC.
Now in a must-win situation, he meets Yoshida, who's also coming off a devestating knockout loss. At UFC Fight Night 16, Yoshida was stopped by Josh Koscheck a little more than two minutes into the main-event fight.
Yoshida made his UFC debut in 2008 at UFC 84. There, he scored a quick submission victory over War Machine (formerly known as Jon Koppenhaver before a legal name change) with an anaconda choke. That victory was his ninth straight, which included nine stoppages. He posted victories over the likes of current UFC fighter Dan Hardy, Katsuya Inoue and Akira Kikuchi during the stretch.
Ryan Bader and Junie Browning make UFN 18 main card, Tyson Griffin doesn't
"The Ultimate Fighter 8" winners Ryan Bader and Efrain Escudero, and their controversial castmate Junie Browning, have all made Spike TV's televised main card for UFC Fight Night 18.
However, lightweight contender Tyson Griffin, who snapped a four-fight win streak with a recent loss to Sean Sherk, didn't and will instead meet Rafael dos Anjos on the night's un-aired preliminary card.
The UFC recently confirmed most of the match-ups for the April 1 event, which takes place at the Sommet Center in Nashville for what will be the UFC's Tennessee debut.
UFC Fight Night 18 is headlined by a bout between reigning WEC welterweight champion Carlos Condit (22-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC), who was moved to the UFC after the WEC eliminated its 170-pound weight class earlier this month, and former middleweight and now rising welterweight contender Martin Kampmann (14-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC).
Three other bouts have been promised TV time, according to the UFC.com Events page.
Bader (8-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC), fighting for the first time since his December 2008 victory over Vinicius Magalhaes at the TUF8 Finale, takes on Carmelo Marrero (10-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC), who's 4-0 (with one no-contest) since he was dropped from the UFC following a 1-2 stint in the organization from 2006 to 2007.
Escudero (11-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC), who also makes his post-TUF debut after defeating Phillipe Nover at the show's live finale, meets Jeremy Stephens (14-4 MMA, 4-3 UFC) who recently filled in for an injured Hermes Franca in a UFC Fight Night 17 main event with Joe Lauzon. Stephens suffered a submission loss but is expected to be ready to go for the April 1 event.
Browning (3-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC), who's constant confrontations and drunken behavior nearly forced him off the latest season of "TUF," meets a fellow "TUF" veteran in Cole Miller (14-3 MMA, 3-1 UFC), a very well-rounded American Top Team fighter who will have a decisive jiu-jitsu edge in the bout. Miller hasn't fought since his July 2008 come-from-behind submission victory over Jorge Gurgel.
In the preliminary card's biggest feature, Griffin (12-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) meets dos Anjos (11-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC), who looks for his first UFC win after a devestating knockout loss to Stephens at UFC 91. If history tells us anything, his bout with Griffin should be a good one. In just seven career UFC fights, Griffin has won four Fight of the Night bonuses and one Submission of the Night award.
The latest card now includes:
MAIN CARD (Televised)
Carlos Condit vs. Martin Kampmann
Efrain Escudero vs. Jeremy Stephens
Ryan Bader vs. Carmelo Marrero
Junie Browning vs. Cole Miller
PRELIMINARY CARD (Un-televised)
Rafael dos Anjos vs. Tyson Griffin
Nissen Osterneck vs. Jorge Rivera
Tim McKenzie vs. Aaron Simpson
Ricardo Almeida vs. Matt Horwich*
Rob Kimmons vs. Joe Vedepo*
Brock Larson vs. Jesse Sanders*
Ryan Jensen vs. Steve Steinbeiss*
* - Rumored and not officially announced
"The Ultimate Fighter 8" winners Ryan Bader and Efrain Escudero, and their controversial castmate Junie Browning, have all made Spike TV's televised main card for UFC Fight Night 18.
However, lightweight contender Tyson Griffin, who snapped a four-fight win streak with a recent loss to Sean Sherk, didn't and will instead meet Rafael dos Anjos on the night's un-aired preliminary card.
The UFC recently confirmed most of the match-ups for the April 1 event, which takes place at the Sommet Center in Nashville for what will be the UFC's Tennessee debut.
UFC Fight Night 18 is headlined by a bout between reigning WEC welterweight champion Carlos Condit (22-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC), who was moved to the UFC after the WEC eliminated its 170-pound weight class earlier this month, and former middleweight and now rising welterweight contender Martin Kampmann (14-2 MMA, 5-1 UFC).
Three other bouts have been promised TV time, according to the UFC.com Events page.
Bader (8-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC), fighting for the first time since his December 2008 victory over Vinicius Magalhaes at the TUF8 Finale, takes on Carmelo Marrero (10-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC), who's 4-0 (with one no-contest) since he was dropped from the UFC following a 1-2 stint in the organization from 2006 to 2007.
Escudero (11-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC), who also makes his post-TUF debut after defeating Phillipe Nover at the show's live finale, meets Jeremy Stephens (14-4 MMA, 4-3 UFC) who recently filled in for an injured Hermes Franca in a UFC Fight Night 17 main event with Joe Lauzon. Stephens suffered a submission loss but is expected to be ready to go for the April 1 event.
Browning (3-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC), who's constant confrontations and drunken behavior nearly forced him off the latest season of "TUF," meets a fellow "TUF" veteran in Cole Miller (14-3 MMA, 3-1 UFC), a very well-rounded American Top Team fighter who will have a decisive jiu-jitsu edge in the bout. Miller hasn't fought since his July 2008 come-from-behind submission victory over Jorge Gurgel.
In the preliminary card's biggest feature, Griffin (12-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) meets dos Anjos (11-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC), who looks for his first UFC win after a devestating knockout loss to Stephens at UFC 91. If history tells us anything, his bout with Griffin should be a good one. In just seven career UFC fights, Griffin has won four Fight of the Night bonuses and one Submission of the Night award.
The latest card now includes:
MAIN CARD (Televised)
Carlos Condit vs. Martin Kampmann
Efrain Escudero vs. Jeremy Stephens
Ryan Bader vs. Carmelo Marrero
Junie Browning vs. Cole Miller
PRELIMINARY CARD (Un-televised)
Rafael dos Anjos vs. Tyson Griffin
Nissen Osterneck vs. Jorge Rivera
Tim McKenzie vs. Aaron Simpson
Ricardo Almeida vs. Matt Horwich*
Rob Kimmons vs. Joe Vedepo*
Brock Larson vs. Jesse Sanders*
Ryan Jensen vs. Steve Steinbeiss*
* - Rumored and not officially announced
Jason "Mayhem" Miller returns vs. Kala Hose for debut KINGDOM MMA show
Popular middleweight fighter Jason "Mayhem" Miller (21-6) will return from a nine-month layoff (and alleged retirement) to fight Hawaiian slugger Kala "Kolohe" Hose (7-2) at KINGDOM MMA's debut show.
The event takes place the weekend of March 28 (exact date TBD) at the Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu.
KINGDOM MMA, which recently announced the main-event fight, is the newest venture for ICON Sport and Superbrawl founder T. Jay Thompson.
"I started MMA in Hawaii when nobody gave it a chance," Thompson stated in a press release. "I am more excited today about KINGDOM than I was in the early years about Superbrawl."
Miller, a former UFC and WEC fighter who has a long history fighting in Hawaii, hasn't competed since a June 2008 loss to Ronaldo Souza in last year's DREAM middleweight tournament. Prior to the loss, Miller, 28, has won nine of his previous 10 fights and had emerged as a top-10-ranked middleweight in many polls.
Following the loss, Miller said he was retiring from the sport, though few took the announcement seriously.
He'll look to continue his past dominance against Hawaiian fighters when he meets the hard-hitting Hose, an ICON Sport and EliteXC veteran who's won seven of his past eight fights -- all via knockout. The only loss came to Robert McDaniel at "EliteXC: Return of the King" in Honolulu in June 2008.
Miller and Hose are both former ICON Sport middleweight champions.
No other participants were announced for the upcoming event.
Tickets for the show, ranging from $15 to $150, go on sale Feb. 21 at the Blaisdell Box office and Ticketmaster.com.
Popular middleweight fighter Jason "Mayhem" Miller (21-6) will return from a nine-month layoff (and alleged retirement) to fight Hawaiian slugger Kala "Kolohe" Hose (7-2) at KINGDOM MMA's debut show.
The event takes place the weekend of March 28 (exact date TBD) at the Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu.
KINGDOM MMA, which recently announced the main-event fight, is the newest venture for ICON Sport and Superbrawl founder T. Jay Thompson.
"I started MMA in Hawaii when nobody gave it a chance," Thompson stated in a press release. "I am more excited today about KINGDOM than I was in the early years about Superbrawl."
Miller, a former UFC and WEC fighter who has a long history fighting in Hawaii, hasn't competed since a June 2008 loss to Ronaldo Souza in last year's DREAM middleweight tournament. Prior to the loss, Miller, 28, has won nine of his previous 10 fights and had emerged as a top-10-ranked middleweight in many polls.
Following the loss, Miller said he was retiring from the sport, though few took the announcement seriously.
He'll look to continue his past dominance against Hawaiian fighters when he meets the hard-hitting Hose, an ICON Sport and EliteXC veteran who's won seven of his past eight fights -- all via knockout. The only loss came to Robert McDaniel at "EliteXC: Return of the King" in Honolulu in June 2008.
Miller and Hose are both former ICON Sport middleweight champions.
No other participants were announced for the upcoming event.
Tickets for the show, ranging from $15 to $150, go on sale Feb. 21 at the Blaisdell Box office and Ticketmaster.com.
Free of AFL, Rafael Assuncao seeking April return for Bellator or WEC
As the Kentucky-based American Fight League continues forward under a self-imposed hiatus, one of its most successful fighters is looking for a new home.
Featherweight Rafael Assuncao (12-1) has been granted his release from the AFL and is now seeking an April return to action.
Considered by many MMA analysts to be among the world's top-10 145-pounders, Assuncao today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that the WEC and soon-to-debut Bellator Fighting Championships are the top contenders for his services.
"I'm totally released from the AFL," Assuncao said. "I fought in November in a smaller show in Chicago. It was a good return, but I'm looking forward to getting back in more consistent action.
"I'm looking forward to making a move. I've been ready for a while."
Assuncao was in a bit of a quandary as he patiently waited to learn the fate of the AFL as the organization sorted through what AFL CEO B.J. Santiago has referred to as "a holding pattern" due to difficult financial conditions. Assuncao eventually requested and received his release from the AFL and will now look to make an immediate impact in a new organization.
For Assuncao that new home has come down to either the WEC or Bellator Fighting Championships.
"With Bellator I get a chance to quickly get three fights under my belt -- and possibly a lot of money in those three fights -- which is very appealing," Assuncao said. "On the other hand, the WEC has treated me very well. I've got a little bit of a relationship with the matchmakers there. And it's a Zuffa, LLC, company, so there's security there."
Upstart promotion Bellator Fighting Championships begins their eight-man tournaments in April. The winner of each tournament could make up to $250,000 over the 12-week schedule.
While the thought of that huge payday is appealing to Assuncao, it's not the only factor he's considering.
"It's definitely a hard decision," Assuncao said. "But you have to look at money along with other things. I'm considering both organizations from a lot of different aspects."
Assuncao did make it very clear that regardless of which group earns his contract he was looking to return in April.
"I think April is going to be a good time range for any decision I make," Assuncao said. "Regardless of where we go, I think April is going to be a good time frame."
Bellator Fighting Championships will begin their tournaments during April, while the WEC officially announced its first trip to Chicago, for "WEC 40: Brown vs. Bowles," on April 5.
Assuncao is currently riding a four-fight winning streak and has earned submission wins over the UFC's Joe Lauzon as well as Bellator Fighting Championships' Jorge Masvidal. His lone career loss came to the WEC's Jeff Curran in a 2006 decision.
Assuncao said he hopes to make a decision in the next several days.
As the Kentucky-based American Fight League continues forward under a self-imposed hiatus, one of its most successful fighters is looking for a new home.
Featherweight Rafael Assuncao (12-1) has been granted his release from the AFL and is now seeking an April return to action.
Considered by many MMA analysts to be among the world's top-10 145-pounders, Assuncao today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that the WEC and soon-to-debut Bellator Fighting Championships are the top contenders for his services.
"I'm totally released from the AFL," Assuncao said. "I fought in November in a smaller show in Chicago. It was a good return, but I'm looking forward to getting back in more consistent action.
"I'm looking forward to making a move. I've been ready for a while."
Assuncao was in a bit of a quandary as he patiently waited to learn the fate of the AFL as the organization sorted through what AFL CEO B.J. Santiago has referred to as "a holding pattern" due to difficult financial conditions. Assuncao eventually requested and received his release from the AFL and will now look to make an immediate impact in a new organization.
For Assuncao that new home has come down to either the WEC or Bellator Fighting Championships.
"With Bellator I get a chance to quickly get three fights under my belt -- and possibly a lot of money in those three fights -- which is very appealing," Assuncao said. "On the other hand, the WEC has treated me very well. I've got a little bit of a relationship with the matchmakers there. And it's a Zuffa, LLC, company, so there's security there."
Upstart promotion Bellator Fighting Championships begins their eight-man tournaments in April. The winner of each tournament could make up to $250,000 over the 12-week schedule.
While the thought of that huge payday is appealing to Assuncao, it's not the only factor he's considering.
"It's definitely a hard decision," Assuncao said. "But you have to look at money along with other things. I'm considering both organizations from a lot of different aspects."
Assuncao did make it very clear that regardless of which group earns his contract he was looking to return in April.
"I think April is going to be a good time range for any decision I make," Assuncao said. "Regardless of where we go, I think April is going to be a good time frame."
Bellator Fighting Championships will begin their tournaments during April, while the WEC officially announced its first trip to Chicago, for "WEC 40: Brown vs. Bowles," on April 5.
Assuncao is currently riding a four-fight winning streak and has earned submission wins over the UFC's Joe Lauzon as well as Bellator Fighting Championships' Jorge Masvidal. His lone career loss came to the WEC's Jeff Curran in a 2006 decision.
Assuncao said he hopes to make a decision in the next several days.
Rich Franklin undergoes successful eye surgery to remove scar tissue
Rich Franklin, who suffered a deep eye poke during a UFC 93 main-event loss to Dan Henderson on Jan. 17, underwent successful surgery on Feb. 9 to remove scar tissue from his damaged right eye.
After returning home from the Dublin, Ireland event, Franklin's ophthalmologist initially diagnosed him with a severely scratched cornea.
Earlier this week, he underwent surgery to remove scar tissue that had developed in the affected area.
"The ocular specialist gave Franklin numbing drops followed by several [Lidocaine] injections in the eyeball socket and eyeball itself," Franklin's business manager, J.T. Stewart, said in a statement issued to MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "A scalpel was used to cut the scar tissue growth from the eyeball.
"Franklin also has a scar band attaching itself to the eyelid where the eyelid meets the cheek. After another injection to reduce the swelling, the doctor cauterized the eyeball to stop the bleeding."
In the UFC 93 main event, Franklin suffered a split decision loss. Henderson appeared to win the first round decisively. Franklin took the third, and though many credit Henderson with winning the second, that middle frame has been open to debate. Two of the three judges awarded Henderson the first and second rounds, and Franklin the third, 10-9. However, the dissenting judge scored all three rounds in Franklin's favor. Henderson took the split decision with scores of 29-28, 27-30 and 29-28.
Franklin was battered in that first round with two accidental head butts. They required a combined nine stitches after the fight. The eye poke came late in the third round.
"The worst part of [Monday's] procedure was the first two injections into the eye," Franklin stated. "It is very scary to see the doctor stick a needle and a cauterizing gun on and in your eyeball."
Franklin isn't sure when he'll return to the cage.
In his first interview after the UFC 93 loss, he told MMAjunkie.com he's undecided if he'll remain at 205 pounds or return to the middleweight division, where he held the title from June 2005 to October 2006.
"At this point in time, I'm still [digesting] this decision and really haven't given it any thought," Franklin said. "But the first thought that comes to my mind is that that's up to the organization. I just want to put on good fights for the fans."
Rich Franklin, who suffered a deep eye poke during a UFC 93 main-event loss to Dan Henderson on Jan. 17, underwent successful surgery on Feb. 9 to remove scar tissue from his damaged right eye.
After returning home from the Dublin, Ireland event, Franklin's ophthalmologist initially diagnosed him with a severely scratched cornea.
Earlier this week, he underwent surgery to remove scar tissue that had developed in the affected area.
"The ocular specialist gave Franklin numbing drops followed by several [Lidocaine] injections in the eyeball socket and eyeball itself," Franklin's business manager, J.T. Stewart, said in a statement issued to MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "A scalpel was used to cut the scar tissue growth from the eyeball.
"Franklin also has a scar band attaching itself to the eyelid where the eyelid meets the cheek. After another injection to reduce the swelling, the doctor cauterized the eyeball to stop the bleeding."
In the UFC 93 main event, Franklin suffered a split decision loss. Henderson appeared to win the first round decisively. Franklin took the third, and though many credit Henderson with winning the second, that middle frame has been open to debate. Two of the three judges awarded Henderson the first and second rounds, and Franklin the third, 10-9. However, the dissenting judge scored all three rounds in Franklin's favor. Henderson took the split decision with scores of 29-28, 27-30 and 29-28.
Franklin was battered in that first round with two accidental head butts. They required a combined nine stitches after the fight. The eye poke came late in the third round.
"The worst part of [Monday's] procedure was the first two injections into the eye," Franklin stated. "It is very scary to see the doctor stick a needle and a cauterizing gun on and in your eyeball."
Franklin isn't sure when he'll return to the cage.
In his first interview after the UFC 93 loss, he told MMAjunkie.com he's undecided if he'll remain at 205 pounds or return to the middleweight division, where he held the title from June 2005 to October 2006.
"At this point in time, I'm still [digesting] this decision and really haven't given it any thought," Franklin said. "But the first thought that comes to my mind is that that's up to the organization. I just want to put on good fights for the fans."
Takanori Gomi started his training
After being defeated by Satoru Kitaoka at “Sengoku no Ran” on January 4, Takanori Gomi was taking his time to find the reason why he fought. After watching UFC 94 in Las Vegas, he updates his blog and said, “I know it's almost time for me to wake up to reality. I need to think about my gym and training without escaping. I think I found something very important in this trip.”
“I went to the gym today. I thank my fans for sending me many letters and gifts. I'm not just partying everyday anymore. I started to train wrestling today. I'm sure I can be a strong fighter again when I'm motivated.” said Gomi in his blog on February 5.
He updated his blog after training on February 10: “Please look forward to seeing me coming back to the ring patiently.”
After being defeated by Satoru Kitaoka at “Sengoku no Ran” on January 4, Takanori Gomi was taking his time to find the reason why he fought. After watching UFC 94 in Las Vegas, he updates his blog and said, “I know it's almost time for me to wake up to reality. I need to think about my gym and training without escaping. I think I found something very important in this trip.”
“I went to the gym today. I thank my fans for sending me many letters and gifts. I'm not just partying everyday anymore. I started to train wrestling today. I'm sure I can be a strong fighter again when I'm motivated.” said Gomi in his blog on February 5.
He updated his blog after training on February 10: “Please look forward to seeing me coming back to the ring patiently.”
Saint Petersburg. Press-conference report
Today M-1 Global held a press-conference in St.Petersburg. M-1 Global president Vadim Finkelstein, M-1 Global vice-president Sergey Matvienko, WAMMA champion Fedor Emelianenko answered questions from the media concerning the recent Affliction & M-1 Global 'Day of Reckoning' event, M-1's plans for the future and 'The fifth execution'.
Vadim Finkelstein revealed the plans for 2009 and stated the next Affliction & M-1 Global event will probably take place in July.
In his turn Sergey Matvienko talked about success of joint efforts among Affliction, Golden Boy Promotions, he mentioned the possibility of creating a joint venture by the aforementioned organizations in order to promote major MMA events.
Fedor Emelianenko answered dozens of journalists' questions regarding the Arlovski bout, his future plans, up-and-coming Russian athletes. Fedor noted that despite the loss Kirill Sidelnikov is a very promising young man. This intangible experience will help him come back stronger than ever.
"The fifth execution" producer Ekaterina Vetrova announced preliminary schedule stating the shooting process will finish in March and the movieis set to premiere by the end of 2009. "The fifth execution" will enter not only Russian market but hopefully Asian and European, too.
Today M-1 Global held a press-conference in St.Petersburg. M-1 Global president Vadim Finkelstein, M-1 Global vice-president Sergey Matvienko, WAMMA champion Fedor Emelianenko answered questions from the media concerning the recent Affliction & M-1 Global 'Day of Reckoning' event, M-1's plans for the future and 'The fifth execution'.
Vadim Finkelstein revealed the plans for 2009 and stated the next Affliction & M-1 Global event will probably take place in July.
In his turn Sergey Matvienko talked about success of joint efforts among Affliction, Golden Boy Promotions, he mentioned the possibility of creating a joint venture by the aforementioned organizations in order to promote major MMA events.
Fedor Emelianenko answered dozens of journalists' questions regarding the Arlovski bout, his future plans, up-and-coming Russian athletes. Fedor noted that despite the loss Kirill Sidelnikov is a very promising young man. This intangible experience will help him come back stronger than ever.
"The fifth execution" producer Ekaterina Vetrova announced preliminary schedule stating the shooting process will finish in March and the movieis set to premiere by the end of 2009. "The fifth execution" will enter not only Russian market but hopefully Asian and European, too.
Tim Sylvia in talks to fight former boxing champ Ray Mercer
Long-time MMA promoter and manager Monte Cox is looking to think out of the box for his next Adrenaline MMA shows as he is involved in negotiations to finalize the first-ever matchup between a former heavyweight champions in MMA and boxing.
Cox revealed to FiveOuncesOfPain.com that an Adrenaline event tentatively scheduled for May 30 in Atlantic City, N.J. could be headlined by former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia taking on 46-year old former WBO heavyweight champion “Merciless” Ray Mercer.
If signed, the bout would mark Sylvia’s first fight since losing to Fedor Emelianenko this past July during Affliction’s “Banned” event in a match that determined the first-ever heavyweight champion of the World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts. Prior to that, Sylvia had lost to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 81 last February in a bout in which the vacant interim UFC heavyweight title was on the line.
Sylvia, who held the UFC heavyweight title on two separate occasions, has competed as a pro since 2001 and holds notable wins in his career over Ben Rothwell, Ricco Rodriguez, Andrei Arlovski, Jeff Monson, and Brandon Vera.
He’d be facing an opponent in Mercer who has just one previous MMA fight to his credit, an exhibition match against Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson that took place on a Cage Fury Fighting Championship card in June of 2007. The fought was fought under the unified rules of MMA and the bout ended after Mercer submitted to a guillotine choke.
Despite Mercer’s MMA inexperience, he still poses a unique threat to Sylvia. While the heavy-handed Slice felt it was prudent to take Mercer off his feet, Sylvia is not known for taking fights to the ground and instead may attempt to trade punches with a professional boxer that was good enough to win a Gold medal at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea.
For those who might be unable to attend the proposed matchup in Atlantic City, Cox also revealed that he’s currently involved in negotiations regarding a television partner for the event.
Long-time MMA promoter and manager Monte Cox is looking to think out of the box for his next Adrenaline MMA shows as he is involved in negotiations to finalize the first-ever matchup between a former heavyweight champions in MMA and boxing.
Cox revealed to FiveOuncesOfPain.com that an Adrenaline event tentatively scheduled for May 30 in Atlantic City, N.J. could be headlined by former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia taking on 46-year old former WBO heavyweight champion “Merciless” Ray Mercer.
If signed, the bout would mark Sylvia’s first fight since losing to Fedor Emelianenko this past July during Affliction’s “Banned” event in a match that determined the first-ever heavyweight champion of the World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts. Prior to that, Sylvia had lost to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira at UFC 81 last February in a bout in which the vacant interim UFC heavyweight title was on the line.
Sylvia, who held the UFC heavyweight title on two separate occasions, has competed as a pro since 2001 and holds notable wins in his career over Ben Rothwell, Ricco Rodriguez, Andrei Arlovski, Jeff Monson, and Brandon Vera.
He’d be facing an opponent in Mercer who has just one previous MMA fight to his credit, an exhibition match against Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson that took place on a Cage Fury Fighting Championship card in June of 2007. The fought was fought under the unified rules of MMA and the bout ended after Mercer submitted to a guillotine choke.
Despite Mercer’s MMA inexperience, he still poses a unique threat to Sylvia. While the heavy-handed Slice felt it was prudent to take Mercer off his feet, Sylvia is not known for taking fights to the ground and instead may attempt to trade punches with a professional boxer that was good enough to win a Gold medal at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea.
For those who might be unable to attend the proposed matchup in Atlantic City, Cox also revealed that he’s currently involved in negotiations regarding a television partner for the event.
STRIKEFORCE PAYS $3 MILLION FOR PROELITE ASSETS
In a Securities and Exchange Commission filing released by ProElite, Inc. on Wednesday, the restructuring company disclosed it received $3 million for assets sold to Strikeforce. Those assets included the sale of 42 fighter contracts, a video library of 20 live events, and other assets not specified.
The company also disclosed it would receive a “contingent consideration” of a portion of licensing fees earned by the San Jose-based promotion’s new deal with Showtime Networks. Fees would be paid to ProElite until Feb. 28, 2012, and could be extended. The portion of the fee was not disclosed.
Strikeforce will assume “certain liabilities” of the assets purchased, likely the specific deals within fighter contracts purchased.
Pro Elite’s debt to CBS – the network was an investor in company and funded its last show – was eliminated as part of the agreement with Strikeforce. According to a report on SI.com, Strikeforce paid off all or a portion of the debt.
In an interview with SI.com, ProElite CEO Chuck Champion said the company would re-focus its efforts on its satellite brands – namely King of the Cage – which it purchased in September of 2007.
“ProElite as a company will focus on those assets that are making money, which is principally King of the Cage,” said Champion. “There are a few other issues outstanding that will need to be resolved… but there is capital in the bank in order to be able to do that. So, we'll look for what we do next, now. But this basically takes the company and makes it debt free, dispute free, litigation free.”
In a press release announcing the completion of the sale, Champion said he was pleased at the outcome of a difficult situation.
“Getting to this point has been a long hard road and I’m grateful to Showtime, Strikeforce, the fighters and their managers for their patience and their perseverance.” Adding, “The company has managed its way through a very difficult time and it has done so in a way that has built bridges rather than burn them. Everyone involved deserves a lot of credit for the outcome.”
In a Securities and Exchange Commission filing released by ProElite, Inc. on Wednesday, the restructuring company disclosed it received $3 million for assets sold to Strikeforce. Those assets included the sale of 42 fighter contracts, a video library of 20 live events, and other assets not specified.
The company also disclosed it would receive a “contingent consideration” of a portion of licensing fees earned by the San Jose-based promotion’s new deal with Showtime Networks. Fees would be paid to ProElite until Feb. 28, 2012, and could be extended. The portion of the fee was not disclosed.
Strikeforce will assume “certain liabilities” of the assets purchased, likely the specific deals within fighter contracts purchased.
Pro Elite’s debt to CBS – the network was an investor in company and funded its last show – was eliminated as part of the agreement with Strikeforce. According to a report on SI.com, Strikeforce paid off all or a portion of the debt.
In an interview with SI.com, ProElite CEO Chuck Champion said the company would re-focus its efforts on its satellite brands – namely King of the Cage – which it purchased in September of 2007.
“ProElite as a company will focus on those assets that are making money, which is principally King of the Cage,” said Champion. “There are a few other issues outstanding that will need to be resolved… but there is capital in the bank in order to be able to do that. So, we'll look for what we do next, now. But this basically takes the company and makes it debt free, dispute free, litigation free.”
In a press release announcing the completion of the sale, Champion said he was pleased at the outcome of a difficult situation.
“Getting to this point has been a long hard road and I’m grateful to Showtime, Strikeforce, the fighters and their managers for their patience and their perseverance.” Adding, “The company has managed its way through a very difficult time and it has done so in a way that has built bridges rather than burn them. Everyone involved deserves a lot of credit for the outcome.”
Aoki, Mach Enter Dream Welterweight Tourney
Dream lightweight ace Shinya Aoki has agreed to move back up to welterweight to compete in Dream’s 168-pound tournament, which begins on April 5 at the NGK Insulators Hall in Nagoya, Japan. The announcement was made by promoter Fighting and Entertainment Group on Thursday.
Aoki (19-3), who still holds the Shooto world 168-pound title, had quite a run in the lightweight ranks in 2008 with victories over Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante, Caol Uno, and Eddie Alvarez.
Hayato "Mach" Sakurai (34-8-2) will join Aoki as the second marquee name to enter the tournament. The seasoned veteran last saw action at K-1 Dynamite’s year-end extravaganza, where he dispatched Katsuyori Shibata with strikes at the seven-minute mark.
A source close to the situation has told Sherdog.com that FEG is hoping to pit Aoki against fellow star Sakurai in April's quarterfinals. Sakurai and Aoki met in August 2005, where a then-unknown Aoki took Sakurai to a hotly competitive decision.
In addition, it was announced that another welterweight tournament slot will be filled on Feb. 20, when Deep 40 Impact takes place at Korakuen Hall. The bill will feature the first title defense of unlikely welterweight champion Seichi Ikemoto as he risks his belt against Hidetaka Monma.
Ikemoto, 33, has been inactive since his upset of Hidehiko Hasegawa in July to win the title. The 35-year-old Monma last saw action in November, where he took a thrilling victory over Andre Mafetoni, the cousin of standout heavyweight Gabriel "Napao" Gonzaga.
Monma and Ikemoto first met at Deep 13th Impact in January 2004, where Monma took a second-round submission win.
Go-to guy Ikuhisa Minowa (41-29-8) has also been added to the night’s festivities in a non-tournament bout. The eccentric “Minowa Man” submitted Errol Zimmerman with a toehold in 61 seconds at K-1 Dynamite on New Year’s Eve. Minowa’s opponent has not been named.
Dream lightweight ace Shinya Aoki has agreed to move back up to welterweight to compete in Dream’s 168-pound tournament, which begins on April 5 at the NGK Insulators Hall in Nagoya, Japan. The announcement was made by promoter Fighting and Entertainment Group on Thursday.
Aoki (19-3), who still holds the Shooto world 168-pound title, had quite a run in the lightweight ranks in 2008 with victories over Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante, Caol Uno, and Eddie Alvarez.
Hayato "Mach" Sakurai (34-8-2) will join Aoki as the second marquee name to enter the tournament. The seasoned veteran last saw action at K-1 Dynamite’s year-end extravaganza, where he dispatched Katsuyori Shibata with strikes at the seven-minute mark.
A source close to the situation has told Sherdog.com that FEG is hoping to pit Aoki against fellow star Sakurai in April's quarterfinals. Sakurai and Aoki met in August 2005, where a then-unknown Aoki took Sakurai to a hotly competitive decision.
In addition, it was announced that another welterweight tournament slot will be filled on Feb. 20, when Deep 40 Impact takes place at Korakuen Hall. The bill will feature the first title defense of unlikely welterweight champion Seichi Ikemoto as he risks his belt against Hidetaka Monma.
Ikemoto, 33, has been inactive since his upset of Hidehiko Hasegawa in July to win the title. The 35-year-old Monma last saw action in November, where he took a thrilling victory over Andre Mafetoni, the cousin of standout heavyweight Gabriel "Napao" Gonzaga.
Monma and Ikemoto first met at Deep 13th Impact in January 2004, where Monma took a second-round submission win.
Go-to guy Ikuhisa Minowa (41-29-8) has also been added to the night’s festivities in a non-tournament bout. The eccentric “Minowa Man” submitted Errol Zimmerman with a toehold in 61 seconds at K-1 Dynamite on New Year’s Eve. Minowa’s opponent has not been named.
Florian Denies GSP Email, Plans for Penn Bout
Kenny Florian knew that trash talk would be par for the course gearing up towards a fight with UFC lightweight champion B.J. Penn. However, he didn’t quite expect the kick-off he got on Tuesday.
Penn, who’s been nursing his wounds since his four-round loss to welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre at UFC 94 on Jan. 31, expressed surprise that Florian planned to train with the French Canadian fighter, claiming that Florian had previously contacted Penn to warn him of St. Pierre’s proclivity to “grease up” before fights.
Penn dropped the bombshell statement during his first sit-down video interview since UFC 94 on BJPenn.com.
“That is kind of surprising to me because Kenny is actually the guy who tipped us off that GSP was going to be greasing,” said Penn. “He actually e-mailed me and tipped me off.”
Florian, who once trained with the popular Hawaiian fighter in his homeland, seemed flabbergasted by Penn’s assertion.
“I’ve never emailed a fighter about anything like that. I don’t even have B.J. Penn’s email,” a puzzled Florian told Sherdog.com on Tuesday. “I’d love to see that email. I would say print that email and show it to everybody. Where’s this mystery email?”
Florian, 32, also dispelled any possibility that the two had exchanged the alleged information by other means.
“I haven’t spoken to B.J. -- besides ‘hello’ -- since January of 2007,” he said. “I’ve never trained with [St. Pierre] in the past. I have no motive in saying that. Even if I knew, would I say that? I know of other fighters who have [greased] and I don’t say anything to anybody.”
Florian, who busted through Joe Stevenson in four minutes at UFC 91 last November, has gone 6-0 in the Octagon since his unanimous decision loss to then-champion Sean Sherk at UFC 64 in October 2006.
The Boston native is widely considered the No. 1 contender to Penn’s lightweight throne, though the controversy surrounding greasing allegations by St. Pierre’s corner and subsequent aspirations for a rematch have threatened to derail a Penn-Florian showdown.
Florian (11-3) interpreted Penn’s latest revelation as a step back in his direction at least.
“I was a little worried [about a St. Pierre-Penn rematch coming first],” said Florian. “From what I heard, it did really well with the pay-per-view and a lot of people turned up for it. The UFC certainly could have made a lot of money doing the third one, but I think the overwhelming response was –- I didn’t realize how big of a fight it would be between me and B.J. until I saw the polls and people talking on the Interweb. People want to see me fight B.J. and it feels good to know that.”
Florian suggested that Penn “feels threatened” by the fighter’s intentions to train with St. Pierre, and described the Hawaiian’s comments as “a mind game.” Florian hopes to join the multi-talented 170-pound king in Montreal sometime in March.
Penn’s assessment of Florian the fighter was far less controversial.
“He’s very good,” said Penn during the hour-long interview. “He’s very well rounded. He’s a black belt in jiu-jitsu. He’s obviously improved his wrestling and he’s a southpaw muay Thai fighter with great kicks. He can box, he can elbow, he can knee. He’s a mixed martial artist. He is. I give Kenny that: He’s a mixed martial artist, and I’ve got my work cut out for me.”
The UFC has not officially offered Florian a title shot against Penn (13-5-1) yet, though the part-time ESPN correspondent anticipates a return to the Octagon in June or July. Penn confirmed that his reps are currently negotiating the bout with the UFC.
Known as a cerebral competitor, Florian’s reasons for training with St. Pierre are two-fold.
“He’s trained everyone to fight against me. He trained both [Sam] Stout and [Roger] Huerta to fight me,” said Florian. “and obviously, he got a first-hand account of fighting B.J. –- twice. He’s gone seven rounds with B.J., so that’s some good information to get. Hopefully Georges will forget about the email I sent B.J. Penn and share it with me.”
Kenny Florian knew that trash talk would be par for the course gearing up towards a fight with UFC lightweight champion B.J. Penn. However, he didn’t quite expect the kick-off he got on Tuesday.
Penn, who’s been nursing his wounds since his four-round loss to welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre at UFC 94 on Jan. 31, expressed surprise that Florian planned to train with the French Canadian fighter, claiming that Florian had previously contacted Penn to warn him of St. Pierre’s proclivity to “grease up” before fights.
Penn dropped the bombshell statement during his first sit-down video interview since UFC 94 on BJPenn.com.
“That is kind of surprising to me because Kenny is actually the guy who tipped us off that GSP was going to be greasing,” said Penn. “He actually e-mailed me and tipped me off.”
Florian, who once trained with the popular Hawaiian fighter in his homeland, seemed flabbergasted by Penn’s assertion.
“I’ve never emailed a fighter about anything like that. I don’t even have B.J. Penn’s email,” a puzzled Florian told Sherdog.com on Tuesday. “I’d love to see that email. I would say print that email and show it to everybody. Where’s this mystery email?”
Florian, 32, also dispelled any possibility that the two had exchanged the alleged information by other means.
“I haven’t spoken to B.J. -- besides ‘hello’ -- since January of 2007,” he said. “I’ve never trained with [St. Pierre] in the past. I have no motive in saying that. Even if I knew, would I say that? I know of other fighters who have [greased] and I don’t say anything to anybody.”
Florian, who busted through Joe Stevenson in four minutes at UFC 91 last November, has gone 6-0 in the Octagon since his unanimous decision loss to then-champion Sean Sherk at UFC 64 in October 2006.
The Boston native is widely considered the No. 1 contender to Penn’s lightweight throne, though the controversy surrounding greasing allegations by St. Pierre’s corner and subsequent aspirations for a rematch have threatened to derail a Penn-Florian showdown.
Florian (11-3) interpreted Penn’s latest revelation as a step back in his direction at least.
“I was a little worried [about a St. Pierre-Penn rematch coming first],” said Florian. “From what I heard, it did really well with the pay-per-view and a lot of people turned up for it. The UFC certainly could have made a lot of money doing the third one, but I think the overwhelming response was –- I didn’t realize how big of a fight it would be between me and B.J. until I saw the polls and people talking on the Interweb. People want to see me fight B.J. and it feels good to know that.”
Florian suggested that Penn “feels threatened” by the fighter’s intentions to train with St. Pierre, and described the Hawaiian’s comments as “a mind game.” Florian hopes to join the multi-talented 170-pound king in Montreal sometime in March.
Penn’s assessment of Florian the fighter was far less controversial.
“He’s very good,” said Penn during the hour-long interview. “He’s very well rounded. He’s a black belt in jiu-jitsu. He’s obviously improved his wrestling and he’s a southpaw muay Thai fighter with great kicks. He can box, he can elbow, he can knee. He’s a mixed martial artist. He is. I give Kenny that: He’s a mixed martial artist, and I’ve got my work cut out for me.”
The UFC has not officially offered Florian a title shot against Penn (13-5-1) yet, though the part-time ESPN correspondent anticipates a return to the Octagon in June or July. Penn confirmed that his reps are currently negotiating the bout with the UFC.
Known as a cerebral competitor, Florian’s reasons for training with St. Pierre are two-fold.
“He’s trained everyone to fight against me. He trained both [Sam] Stout and [Roger] Huerta to fight me,” said Florian. “and obviously, he got a first-hand account of fighting B.J. –- twice. He’s gone seven rounds with B.J., so that’s some good information to get. Hopefully Georges will forget about the email I sent B.J. Penn and share it with me.”
Cobb Signs with UFC, Replaces Buchholz
Palace Fighting Championships lightweight champion Brian Cobb will fight Terry Etim at UFC 95 on Feb. 21 in London.
Cobb, 15-4, replaces Justin Buchholz, a source close to Cobb confirmed to Sherdog.com.
A native of San Jose, Calif., Cobb wrestled at Cal State Bakersfield before Urijah Faber introduced him to MMA. He upset UFC veteran Diego Saraiva in May to win the PFC 155-pound title.
Last month Cobb was featured in Sherdog’s Prospect Watch.
Lineup for UFC 95:
Diego Sanchez (No. 5 WW) vs. Joe Stevenson
Dan Hardy vs. Rory Markham
Nate Marquardt (No. 5 MW) vs. Wilson Gouveia
Chael Sonnen (No. 9 MW) vs. Demian Maia (No. 10 MW)
Josh Koscheck (No. 4 WW) vs. Paulo Thiago
Terry Etim vs. Brian Cobb
Junior dos Santos vs. Stefan Struve
Per Eklund vs. Evan Dunham
Neil Grove vs. Mike Ciesnolevicz
Troy Mandaloniz vs. Paul Kelly
Palace Fighting Championships lightweight champion Brian Cobb will fight Terry Etim at UFC 95 on Feb. 21 in London.
Cobb, 15-4, replaces Justin Buchholz, a source close to Cobb confirmed to Sherdog.com.
A native of San Jose, Calif., Cobb wrestled at Cal State Bakersfield before Urijah Faber introduced him to MMA. He upset UFC veteran Diego Saraiva in May to win the PFC 155-pound title.
Last month Cobb was featured in Sherdog’s Prospect Watch.
Lineup for UFC 95:
Diego Sanchez (No. 5 WW) vs. Joe Stevenson
Dan Hardy vs. Rory Markham
Nate Marquardt (No. 5 MW) vs. Wilson Gouveia
Chael Sonnen (No. 9 MW) vs. Demian Maia (No. 10 MW)
Josh Koscheck (No. 4 WW) vs. Paulo Thiago
Terry Etim vs. Brian Cobb
Junior dos Santos vs. Stefan Struve
Per Eklund vs. Evan Dunham
Neil Grove vs. Mike Ciesnolevicz
Troy Mandaloniz vs. Paul Kelly
Fight Path: How Ryan Couture blazed his own path into MMA
Even Ryan Couture, a legitimate crown prince of mixed martial arts, has to be amused at how different his life was just four years ago.
"I was 200 pounds and lazy and working at a bank," Couture laughed this week while taking breaks to assist customers at Xtreme Couture Mixed Martial Arts and Fitness in Las Vegas. "I was thinking, 'What's my future?' I hadn't entertained the idea of relocating. I didn't have any idea this would happen."
Indeed, Couture, son of MMA legend Randy Couture, was building a drastically different life in Bellingham, Wash. His banking career seemed like it could be his future, and he hadn't come near wrestling since finishing high school in suburban Seattle.
Couture struggled with a possible entrance into MMA because of his father's success ("The Natural" is a 12-year Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran and former champion). He was a college graduate, a math major, who was tired of the wrestling years involving constant concern about his weight. He hadn't competed in years.
But quickly, Couture has embraced MMA. On Sunday, he will headline the TUFF-N-UFF Amateur Fighting Championships event in Las Vegas. As his second amateur fight, the bout will help test his mettle in the sport his father helped make famous and perhaps nudge the younger Couture closer to a professional career.
Before all that, Couture reconnected with his famous father, dropped the extra weight, established that he was a quick learner in various martial arts and joined the family business in Vegas.
It wasn't a path he planned, but a path he has embraced.
"As long as I was watching sport, I had that fan instinct to get in there and do it," Couture told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "I realized as I was picking it up that I was working my way into becoming one of the better guys in the room. I did a few grappling tournaments, which reminded me of wrestling tournaments. I felt like I owed to my self to give it a try."
Wrestling with a shadow
Couture grew up knowing his father as a military man and wrestling coach, not as an MMA star. The family moved several times during Couture's youth, from Germany to Tennessee to Oklahoma, where Randy Couture was the wrestling coach at Oklahoma State University.
With a coach in the family, Couture and his sister were often at practices and events, both soaking in the atmosphere and entertaining themselves.
"He loved to goof around with us," Couture said. "He would wrestle with us, me and my friends, and we loved it."
Couture's mother and father split when he was in the sixth grade, and he moved with his mother to a Seattle suburb, where he focused on both wrestling and soccer in his athletic life. After a high school wrestling career, Couture enrolled in Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash., where he became a math major. He graduated in 2004 and took a job at a bank to remain in Bellingham, falling into a routine that might now seem terribly boring.
Soon, Couture entered the gym.
"I decided I was tired of feeling lazy," Couture said.
He reconnected with some college friends who met in a back room at the local Gold's Gym for jiu-jitsu sessions. One of those acquaintances, Cody Houston, later opened West Coast Fight Club in Bellingham, and Couture continued his MMA training.
By January 2008, feeling both lethargic about his banking life and wanting to form a stronger connection with his father, Couture moved to Las Vegas. It was the start of a potentially blossoming MMA career.
Breaking away
Couture, actually, had to talk himself into his amateur MMA debut.
In the fall of 2008, Houston called from Bellingham and said he was setting up an MMA event at his gym. He asked Couture to attend, but after years of training Couture was ready for a fight. He was added to the card, the debut of a legend's son.
"The most difficult part was walking past the big crowd and the cheers," Couture said of the November 2008 event. "I've never been comfortable in front of a crowd. As soon as I got ready, I could see the other guy was as nervous as I was.
"The bell rang, we felt each other out, and I hit him with a combination. He shot in, but I caught him a triangle choke and the whole thing was over in about two minutes."
Couture relished the intense emotional feeling that fight provided, and he desires more. He knew of the TUFF-N-UFF shows from attending to support members of Xtreme Couture in the past, and he was able to join Sunday's card as a headliner. Couture also hopes to be part of another event at Houston's Bellingham gym in March.
The question, of course, is the future. Couture openly discusses the possibility of turning pro but understands he first needs more fighting experience. For now, he's working with his father in the family gym, training, supporting the gym's regulars and hoping fans don't hold unfair expectations because of his last name.
"There was never any pressure from him," Couture said of his father. "I'm excited for the chance to be close to him, and I hope I can make my own name in what I'm doing. I'm not doing it because of him, I'm trying to prove myself."
Even Ryan Couture, a legitimate crown prince of mixed martial arts, has to be amused at how different his life was just four years ago.
"I was 200 pounds and lazy and working at a bank," Couture laughed this week while taking breaks to assist customers at Xtreme Couture Mixed Martial Arts and Fitness in Las Vegas. "I was thinking, 'What's my future?' I hadn't entertained the idea of relocating. I didn't have any idea this would happen."
Indeed, Couture, son of MMA legend Randy Couture, was building a drastically different life in Bellingham, Wash. His banking career seemed like it could be his future, and he hadn't come near wrestling since finishing high school in suburban Seattle.
Couture struggled with a possible entrance into MMA because of his father's success ("The Natural" is a 12-year Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran and former champion). He was a college graduate, a math major, who was tired of the wrestling years involving constant concern about his weight. He hadn't competed in years.
But quickly, Couture has embraced MMA. On Sunday, he will headline the TUFF-N-UFF Amateur Fighting Championships event in Las Vegas. As his second amateur fight, the bout will help test his mettle in the sport his father helped make famous and perhaps nudge the younger Couture closer to a professional career.
Before all that, Couture reconnected with his famous father, dropped the extra weight, established that he was a quick learner in various martial arts and joined the family business in Vegas.
It wasn't a path he planned, but a path he has embraced.
"As long as I was watching sport, I had that fan instinct to get in there and do it," Couture told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "I realized as I was picking it up that I was working my way into becoming one of the better guys in the room. I did a few grappling tournaments, which reminded me of wrestling tournaments. I felt like I owed to my self to give it a try."
Wrestling with a shadow
Couture grew up knowing his father as a military man and wrestling coach, not as an MMA star. The family moved several times during Couture's youth, from Germany to Tennessee to Oklahoma, where Randy Couture was the wrestling coach at Oklahoma State University.
With a coach in the family, Couture and his sister were often at practices and events, both soaking in the atmosphere and entertaining themselves.
"He loved to goof around with us," Couture said. "He would wrestle with us, me and my friends, and we loved it."
Couture's mother and father split when he was in the sixth grade, and he moved with his mother to a Seattle suburb, where he focused on both wrestling and soccer in his athletic life. After a high school wrestling career, Couture enrolled in Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash., where he became a math major. He graduated in 2004 and took a job at a bank to remain in Bellingham, falling into a routine that might now seem terribly boring.
Soon, Couture entered the gym.
"I decided I was tired of feeling lazy," Couture said.
He reconnected with some college friends who met in a back room at the local Gold's Gym for jiu-jitsu sessions. One of those acquaintances, Cody Houston, later opened West Coast Fight Club in Bellingham, and Couture continued his MMA training.
By January 2008, feeling both lethargic about his banking life and wanting to form a stronger connection with his father, Couture moved to Las Vegas. It was the start of a potentially blossoming MMA career.
Breaking away
Couture, actually, had to talk himself into his amateur MMA debut.
In the fall of 2008, Houston called from Bellingham and said he was setting up an MMA event at his gym. He asked Couture to attend, but after years of training Couture was ready for a fight. He was added to the card, the debut of a legend's son.
"The most difficult part was walking past the big crowd and the cheers," Couture said of the November 2008 event. "I've never been comfortable in front of a crowd. As soon as I got ready, I could see the other guy was as nervous as I was.
"The bell rang, we felt each other out, and I hit him with a combination. He shot in, but I caught him a triangle choke and the whole thing was over in about two minutes."
Couture relished the intense emotional feeling that fight provided, and he desires more. He knew of the TUFF-N-UFF shows from attending to support members of Xtreme Couture in the past, and he was able to join Sunday's card as a headliner. Couture also hopes to be part of another event at Houston's Bellingham gym in March.
The question, of course, is the future. Couture openly discusses the possibility of turning pro but understands he first needs more fighting experience. For now, he's working with his father in the family gym, training, supporting the gym's regulars and hoping fans don't hold unfair expectations because of his last name.
"There was never any pressure from him," Couture said of his father. "I'm excited for the chance to be close to him, and I hope I can make my own name in what I'm doing. I'm not doing it because of him, I'm trying to prove myself."
Jones Jr.'s boxing/MMA card features Petruzelli, Lashley, Monson, others
Boxing great Roy Jones Jr. is returning to the ring for a March 21 hybrid boxing/MMA event that features many notables, including a bevy of UFC veterans.
"March Badness," promoted by Jones' Square Ring Promotions in association with Hirsch Borao Boxing, takes place at the Pensacola Civic Center in Florida and airs on pay per view.
Earning headliner status for the MMA portion of the event is Seth Petruzelli, who famously knocked out former EliteXC poster boy Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson in just 14 seconds at five months ago at "EliteXC: Heat."
Petruzelli (10-4), who took the fight on just a few hours' notice when Ken Shamrock was pulled from the card, fights for the first time since the October event. He'll take on former WEC light-heavyweight champion Doug "Rhino" Marshall (9-3).
Also scheduled for the event is former WWE star and three-time NCAA wrestling champion Bobby Lashley (1-0), who's on loan from the American Fight League. The Army vet made his professional debut in December and posted a 41-second TKO victory. His opponent for the March 21 event has not been announced.
In other action, former top UFC heavyweight contender Jeff Monson (27-8), who's 4-1 in his past five fights, takes on IFL heavyweight champion Roy "Big Country" Nelson (13-3), who's five-fight win streak was snapped by Andrei Arlovski during EliteXC's October "Heat" event.
MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has learned that former UFC lightweight and "The Ultimate Fighter 4" cast member Din Thomas, who made his successful featherweight debut during a Feb. 7 show in Missouri, is also in negotiations to appear on the MMA portion of the card.
On the boxing portion of the card, Jones (52-5), an eight-time world champion and former Olympian, takes on Omar Sheika (27-8) in a light-heavyweight contest.
While most of the industry has shunned MMA, Jones has been one of few from the boxing world to heap praise on MMA and its fighters. He and UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva even campaigned for a boxing fight last year before UFC officials stepped in and nixed the plans.
Tickets for "March Badness," which range from $28 to $128, are currently on sale through Ticketmaster.com
Boxing great Roy Jones Jr. is returning to the ring for a March 21 hybrid boxing/MMA event that features many notables, including a bevy of UFC veterans.
"March Badness," promoted by Jones' Square Ring Promotions in association with Hirsch Borao Boxing, takes place at the Pensacola Civic Center in Florida and airs on pay per view.
Earning headliner status for the MMA portion of the event is Seth Petruzelli, who famously knocked out former EliteXC poster boy Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson in just 14 seconds at five months ago at "EliteXC: Heat."
Petruzelli (10-4), who took the fight on just a few hours' notice when Ken Shamrock was pulled from the card, fights for the first time since the October event. He'll take on former WEC light-heavyweight champion Doug "Rhino" Marshall (9-3).
Also scheduled for the event is former WWE star and three-time NCAA wrestling champion Bobby Lashley (1-0), who's on loan from the American Fight League. The Army vet made his professional debut in December and posted a 41-second TKO victory. His opponent for the March 21 event has not been announced.
In other action, former top UFC heavyweight contender Jeff Monson (27-8), who's 4-1 in his past five fights, takes on IFL heavyweight champion Roy "Big Country" Nelson (13-3), who's five-fight win streak was snapped by Andrei Arlovski during EliteXC's October "Heat" event.
MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has learned that former UFC lightweight and "The Ultimate Fighter 4" cast member Din Thomas, who made his successful featherweight debut during a Feb. 7 show in Missouri, is also in negotiations to appear on the MMA portion of the card.
On the boxing portion of the card, Jones (52-5), an eight-time world champion and former Olympian, takes on Omar Sheika (27-8) in a light-heavyweight contest.
While most of the industry has shunned MMA, Jones has been one of few from the boxing world to heap praise on MMA and its fighters. He and UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva even campaigned for a boxing fight last year before UFC officials stepped in and nixed the plans.
Tickets for "March Badness," which range from $28 to $128, are currently on sale through Ticketmaster.com
Report: Quebec commission demands rule changes for UFC 97 (Updated)
The UFC's second trip to Canada may not go quite as smoothly as its first.
According to a report by the French-language website CorusSports.com, Canadian officials have said the UFC is not welcome for an April return trip to the Bell Centre in Montreal with the organization's current policies.
Réjean Thériault, the communications director for the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux, which governs alcohol, racing, gambling and combat sports in Quebec, told CorusSports the UFC's use of elbows and knees to the head do not currently fall in line with the commission's policies.
The commission's current policies only apply to boxing, kickboxing and mixed boxing and do not provide regulations on the use of a cage. Thériault told CorusSports that if the UFC was unable to adapt its own policies to the commission's regulations, the company would not be welcome for its planned April 18 event.
UFC Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Marc Ratner told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) it was too soon to know how this revelation would affect UFC 97.
"I don't have enough information right now," Ratner said. "I just know what I've been told, and we're working on it."
Ratner said the UFC is working diligently to ensure the event goes on as planned.
"I just know peripherally, and we're getting all the information," Ratner said. "We've got to make it work."
Thursday's revelation was particularly curious considering the UFC held the highest-attended event in company history, "UFC 83: Serra vs. St. Pierre 2," in Montreal nearly one year ago. According to the report, the commission was unaware of the UFC's 2008 event -- attended by more than 21,000 people and generating $5.1 million in ticket sales -- until just a few days ago.
Thériault went on to state that there was simply not adequate time to make the necessary regulatory changes in order for the UFC to hold an event in Montreal under the Unified Rules of MMA.
Attempts by MMAjunkie.com to reach Thériault for comment were unsuccessful.
According to an additional report by the Canadian-based Sportsnet.ca, the commission is re-evaluating the rules it uses to govern mixed martial arts after confusion over implemented policies for the Feb. 6 debut show of Stephen Patry's Strikebox. While the event was conducted under standard MMA rules, a supposed "gentleman's agreement" to keep the fights standing was allegedly agreed upon by the fighters involved. When main-event competitor James Thompson did not adhere to the alleged agreement, angry fans began peltng the combatants with beer cans and other objects.
The report goes on to state that sources have indicated the commission may be looking to require "a much smaller cage than the UFC's patented Octagon, prohibiting elbow and knee strikes and requiring that the referee to halt a bout should a fighter get knocked down from a strike in order to ensure the downed fighter is OK to continue."
The UFC's second trip to Canada may not go quite as smoothly as its first.
According to a report by the French-language website CorusSports.com, Canadian officials have said the UFC is not welcome for an April return trip to the Bell Centre in Montreal with the organization's current policies.
Réjean Thériault, the communications director for the Régie des alcools, des courses et des jeux, which governs alcohol, racing, gambling and combat sports in Quebec, told CorusSports the UFC's use of elbows and knees to the head do not currently fall in line with the commission's policies.
The commission's current policies only apply to boxing, kickboxing and mixed boxing and do not provide regulations on the use of a cage. Thériault told CorusSports that if the UFC was unable to adapt its own policies to the commission's regulations, the company would not be welcome for its planned April 18 event.
UFC Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Marc Ratner told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) it was too soon to know how this revelation would affect UFC 97.
"I don't have enough information right now," Ratner said. "I just know what I've been told, and we're working on it."
Ratner said the UFC is working diligently to ensure the event goes on as planned.
"I just know peripherally, and we're getting all the information," Ratner said. "We've got to make it work."
Thursday's revelation was particularly curious considering the UFC held the highest-attended event in company history, "UFC 83: Serra vs. St. Pierre 2," in Montreal nearly one year ago. According to the report, the commission was unaware of the UFC's 2008 event -- attended by more than 21,000 people and generating $5.1 million in ticket sales -- until just a few days ago.
Thériault went on to state that there was simply not adequate time to make the necessary regulatory changes in order for the UFC to hold an event in Montreal under the Unified Rules of MMA.
Attempts by MMAjunkie.com to reach Thériault for comment were unsuccessful.
According to an additional report by the Canadian-based Sportsnet.ca, the commission is re-evaluating the rules it uses to govern mixed martial arts after confusion over implemented policies for the Feb. 6 debut show of Stephen Patry's Strikebox. While the event was conducted under standard MMA rules, a supposed "gentleman's agreement" to keep the fights standing was allegedly agreed upon by the fighters involved. When main-event competitor James Thompson did not adhere to the alleged agreement, angry fans began peltng the combatants with beer cans and other objects.
The report goes on to state that sources have indicated the commission may be looking to require "a much smaller cage than the UFC's patented Octagon, prohibiting elbow and knee strikes and requiring that the referee to halt a bout should a fighter get knocked down from a strike in order to ensure the downed fighter is OK to continue."
FROM THE ASHES OF ICON RISES KINGDOM MMA
T.Jay Thompson watched the implosion of ProElite from his office in Honolulu’s Hawaii Kai neighborhood.
After the troubled company purchased his ICON Sport MMA promotion – his livelihood for 12 years – in late 2007, he says he was given a handsome paycheck for doing nothing. He made suggestions during phone strategy sessions, but no one listened.
Instead, he played confidant for the next year, listening to executives’ growing concern that the company would fold. When it did in November of last year, a mailbox empty of checks was the only change from before.
Out of work for a year and a half, Thompson lost his passion for the sport. But with the impasse around ProElite broken last week, he realized the time was right for a return. He didn’t have much of a choice, anyways.
“I’ve got to work for a living too,” he told MMAWeekly.com. “I’m out of work. We’ve got to make the business model work.”
Thompson is starting a new MMA promotion, Kingdom MMA, which will make its debut on the final weekend of March, depending on the schedule of Hawaii’s ground zero for MMA, Blaisdell Arena.
Kala Kolohe Hose, ICON’s middleweight champion from the ProElite days, will take on former middleweight champ Jason Miller in its main event. Thompson says the main event fighters represent the legacy of ICON (and before that SuperBrawl).
“I believe that legacy needs to continue,” he said.
For now, the promotion is a one-man show. Thompson’s sole employee moved to New York last year. He says he’s still dealing with legal issues from ProElite’s days, and sounds doubtful that he’ll be able to use the ICON name again. But he’s back in the game.
“In the last week, I’ve started getting excited and feeling alive,” he said. “It dawned on me today, I haven’t been in business for myself for a year and a half. So even when I was working, it didn’t have that same feel that I used to have. “
During the conference call for UFC 94, Hawaii’s prodigy, B.J. Penn, believed his supporters would be outnumbered by Georges St. Pierre’s due to the Aloha State’s depressed economy. As a sign of the times, tickets for Kingdom top out at $150 from a starting price of $15.
“We’re priced for the recession,” Thompson says.
The hope – encouraged in small part by recent successes of the UFC and Affliction – is that Hawaii’s love for MMA hasn’t suffered the same fate.
“What I’m betting on is that the people that are struggling, much like I am, are in need of some escape,” said Thompson. “That they’re in need of some quality entertainment.”
Thompson also says Kingdom will likely be offering Strikeforce contracts to winning fighters, part of an as-yet-undefined position with the San Jose-based promotion. Thompson, a longtime friend of CEO Scott Coker, couldn’t be happier about the change in Showtime’s promotional partner.
“It’s a breath of fresh air to know that Scott is going to be running the shows,” he said.
And in March, the longtime promoter will find out if he’s still excited about starting from scratch.
“You may want to ask me that the night of the event and see if I say the same thing, but right now I’m really looking forward to building it from the bottom up.”
T.Jay Thompson watched the implosion of ProElite from his office in Honolulu’s Hawaii Kai neighborhood.
After the troubled company purchased his ICON Sport MMA promotion – his livelihood for 12 years – in late 2007, he says he was given a handsome paycheck for doing nothing. He made suggestions during phone strategy sessions, but no one listened.
Instead, he played confidant for the next year, listening to executives’ growing concern that the company would fold. When it did in November of last year, a mailbox empty of checks was the only change from before.
Out of work for a year and a half, Thompson lost his passion for the sport. But with the impasse around ProElite broken last week, he realized the time was right for a return. He didn’t have much of a choice, anyways.
“I’ve got to work for a living too,” he told MMAWeekly.com. “I’m out of work. We’ve got to make the business model work.”
Thompson is starting a new MMA promotion, Kingdom MMA, which will make its debut on the final weekend of March, depending on the schedule of Hawaii’s ground zero for MMA, Blaisdell Arena.
Kala Kolohe Hose, ICON’s middleweight champion from the ProElite days, will take on former middleweight champ Jason Miller in its main event. Thompson says the main event fighters represent the legacy of ICON (and before that SuperBrawl).
“I believe that legacy needs to continue,” he said.
For now, the promotion is a one-man show. Thompson’s sole employee moved to New York last year. He says he’s still dealing with legal issues from ProElite’s days, and sounds doubtful that he’ll be able to use the ICON name again. But he’s back in the game.
“In the last week, I’ve started getting excited and feeling alive,” he said. “It dawned on me today, I haven’t been in business for myself for a year and a half. So even when I was working, it didn’t have that same feel that I used to have. “
During the conference call for UFC 94, Hawaii’s prodigy, B.J. Penn, believed his supporters would be outnumbered by Georges St. Pierre’s due to the Aloha State’s depressed economy. As a sign of the times, tickets for Kingdom top out at $150 from a starting price of $15.
“We’re priced for the recession,” Thompson says.
The hope – encouraged in small part by recent successes of the UFC and Affliction – is that Hawaii’s love for MMA hasn’t suffered the same fate.
“What I’m betting on is that the people that are struggling, much like I am, are in need of some escape,” said Thompson. “That they’re in need of some quality entertainment.”
Thompson also says Kingdom will likely be offering Strikeforce contracts to winning fighters, part of an as-yet-undefined position with the San Jose-based promotion. Thompson, a longtime friend of CEO Scott Coker, couldn’t be happier about the change in Showtime’s promotional partner.
“It’s a breath of fresh air to know that Scott is going to be running the shows,” he said.
And in March, the longtime promoter will find out if he’s still excited about starting from scratch.
“You may want to ask me that the night of the event and see if I say the same thing, but right now I’m really looking forward to building it from the bottom up.”
MANHOEF BOOKED; MANAGER OPEN TO STRIKEFORCE
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker on Sunday told MMAWeekly.com he was eyeing Dutch terror Melvin Manhoef for a spot on one of the 10 Showtime cards expected for the San Jose-based organization in 2009.
Heavy-handed former EliteXC middleweight champion Robbie Lawler was a front-runner as an opponent, and manager Monte Cox said on Tuesday that there had been “discussions” about a possible bout in April and May, Strikeforce’s first shows planned for the premium cable network.
“I mean, wouldn’t that be a great fight?” Coker said from Los Angeles.
However, Simon Rutz, Manhoef’s manager, said his client's schedule ruled out an appearance on the spring/summer cards. Manhoef’s next commitment was a possible appearance in a K-1 fight against Gohkan Saki on March 28 in Japan, followed by a Showtime-broadcast fight at the Amsterdam Arena against Stephan Leko on May 16.
Rutz was open to an offer from Strikeforce, but the numbers would have to be right.
“Melvin is one and a half years into three-year contract (with K-1),” said Rutz. “But I have some escape clauses in the contract. Maybe I could do something. But one thing is for sure: he earns a lot of money in Japan, and the problem in the United States, is that you must pay a lot of tax there.”
Rutz said Manhoef’s purse for K-1 Dynamite! USA, while reported to the California State Athletic Commission at $50,000, was a higher sum paid through Japanese investors behind the show.
If Strikeforce could do that same, he said they would have his attention.
Rutz said he didn’t know who Lawler was – “I’m not so into MMA from the United States,” he laughed – but that would make no difference should they meet.
The first order of business was getting confirmation from K-1 on the March fight, a difficult task in itself for the notorious late-notice promotion.
“I can speak with (Strikeforce) about that, but first, I must know what their offer is for Melvin,” said Rutz.
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker on Sunday told MMAWeekly.com he was eyeing Dutch terror Melvin Manhoef for a spot on one of the 10 Showtime cards expected for the San Jose-based organization in 2009.
Heavy-handed former EliteXC middleweight champion Robbie Lawler was a front-runner as an opponent, and manager Monte Cox said on Tuesday that there had been “discussions” about a possible bout in April and May, Strikeforce’s first shows planned for the premium cable network.
“I mean, wouldn’t that be a great fight?” Coker said from Los Angeles.
However, Simon Rutz, Manhoef’s manager, said his client's schedule ruled out an appearance on the spring/summer cards. Manhoef’s next commitment was a possible appearance in a K-1 fight against Gohkan Saki on March 28 in Japan, followed by a Showtime-broadcast fight at the Amsterdam Arena against Stephan Leko on May 16.
Rutz was open to an offer from Strikeforce, but the numbers would have to be right.
“Melvin is one and a half years into three-year contract (with K-1),” said Rutz. “But I have some escape clauses in the contract. Maybe I could do something. But one thing is for sure: he earns a lot of money in Japan, and the problem in the United States, is that you must pay a lot of tax there.”
Rutz said Manhoef’s purse for K-1 Dynamite! USA, while reported to the California State Athletic Commission at $50,000, was a higher sum paid through Japanese investors behind the show.
If Strikeforce could do that same, he said they would have his attention.
Rutz said he didn’t know who Lawler was – “I’m not so into MMA from the United States,” he laughed – but that would make no difference should they meet.
The first order of business was getting confirmation from K-1 on the March fight, a difficult task in itself for the notorious late-notice promotion.
“I can speak with (Strikeforce) about that, but first, I must know what their offer is for Melvin,” said Rutz.
MANHOEF BOOKED; MANAGER OPEN TO STRIKEFORCE
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker on Sunday told MMAWeekly.com he was eyeing Dutch terror Melvin Manhoef for a spot on one of the 10 Showtime cards expected for the San Jose-based organization in 2009.
Heavy-handed former EliteXC middleweight champion Robbie Lawler was a front-runner as an opponent, and manager Monte Cox said on Tuesday that there had been “discussions” about a possible bout in April and May, Strikeforce’s first shows planned for the premium cable network.
“I mean, wouldn’t that be a great fight?” Coker said from Los Angeles.
However, Simon Rutz, Manhoef’s manager, said his client's schedule ruled out an appearance on the spring/summer cards. Manhoef’s next commitment was a possible appearance in a K-1 fight against Gohkan Saki on March 28 in Japan, followed by a Showtime-broadcast fight at the Amsterdam Arena against Stephan Leko on May 16.
Rutz was open to an offer from Strikeforce, but the numbers would have to be right.
“Melvin is one and a half years into three-year contract (with K-1),” said Rutz. “But I have some escape clauses in the contract. Maybe I could do something. But one thing is for sure: he earns a lot of money in Japan, and the problem in the United States, is that you must pay a lot of tax there.”
Rutz said Manhoef’s purse for K-1 Dynamite! USA, while reported to the California State Athletic Commission at $50,000, was a higher sum paid through Japanese investors behind the show.
If Strikeforce could do that same, he said they would have his attention.
Rutz said he didn’t know who Lawler was – “I’m not so into MMA from the United States,” he laughed – but that would make no difference should they meet.
The first order of business was getting confirmation from K-1 on the March fight, a difficult task in itself for the notorious late-notice promotion.
“I can speak with (Strikeforce) about that, but first, I must know what their offer is for Melvin,” said Rutz.
Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker on Sunday told MMAWeekly.com he was eyeing Dutch terror Melvin Manhoef for a spot on one of the 10 Showtime cards expected for the San Jose-based organization in 2009.
Heavy-handed former EliteXC middleweight champion Robbie Lawler was a front-runner as an opponent, and manager Monte Cox said on Tuesday that there had been “discussions” about a possible bout in April and May, Strikeforce’s first shows planned for the premium cable network.
“I mean, wouldn’t that be a great fight?” Coker said from Los Angeles.
However, Simon Rutz, Manhoef’s manager, said his client's schedule ruled out an appearance on the spring/summer cards. Manhoef’s next commitment was a possible appearance in a K-1 fight against Gohkan Saki on March 28 in Japan, followed by a Showtime-broadcast fight at the Amsterdam Arena against Stephan Leko on May 16.
Rutz was open to an offer from Strikeforce, but the numbers would have to be right.
“Melvin is one and a half years into three-year contract (with K-1),” said Rutz. “But I have some escape clauses in the contract. Maybe I could do something. But one thing is for sure: he earns a lot of money in Japan, and the problem in the United States, is that you must pay a lot of tax there.”
Rutz said Manhoef’s purse for K-1 Dynamite! USA, while reported to the California State Athletic Commission at $50,000, was a higher sum paid through Japanese investors behind the show.
If Strikeforce could do that same, he said they would have his attention.
Rutz said he didn’t know who Lawler was – “I’m not so into MMA from the United States,” he laughed – but that would make no difference should they meet.
The first order of business was getting confirmation from K-1 on the March fight, a difficult task in itself for the notorious late-notice promotion.
“I can speak with (Strikeforce) about that, but first, I must know what their offer is for Melvin,” said Rutz.