MMA News Thread

[Shogun Locc]

Ohio Athletic Commission issues medical suspensions to six UFC 96 fighters

The Ohio Athletic Commission issued medical suspensions to six fighters who competed at this past weekend's UFC 96 event, which took place March 7 at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

Gabriel Gonzaga, Mark Munoz, Pete Sell, Jason Day and Mike Patt have all been issued suspensions of 30 to 60 days, and UFC newcomer Ryan Madigan had been shut down indefinitely.

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) received the list of medical suspensions from the OAC.

Gonzaga, who suffered a first-round TKO to Shane Carwin in the night's co-main event, was issued a 60-day suspension.

Munoz, who suffered a dramatic knockout via head kick delivered by Matt Hamill, was also issued a 60-day suspension. Munoz lay motionless on the canvas for a few minutes after the knockout, but he ultimately left the cage under his own power.

Sell, whom Matt Brown defeated in lopsided fashion, has been suspended 30 days for the first-round TKO loss.

Michael Patt, who was stopped in the second round by Brandon Vera's leg kicks, was issued a 30-day suspension.

So too was Jason Day, who was TKOd in the first round by Kendall Grove in a preliminary bout.

Finally, UFC newcomer Ryan Madifan, who suffered a first-round knockout to Tamdan McCrory, has been suspended indefinitely. He must receive medical clearance for an injured eye before returning to competition.

Headliners Quinton Jackson and Keith Jardine both left the event without suspensions. However, Jackson, who won the fight and earned a title shot against current champ Rashad Evans, plans to have an injured jaw checked out this week. If it and all other ailments check out OK, he could fight Evans at UFC 98 on May 23. It would be Jackson's third fight in less than five months.

 

[Shogun Locc]

UFC LOOKS TO MAKE EARLY STOP RIGHT FOR RILEY

Three days after it took place, there’s hardly any visual evidence that a fight between Aaron Riley and Shane Nelson took place, but more than 17,000 fans took in what’s been called one of the worst stoppages in UFC history.

The fight’s controversial ending, and some of its aftermath, was seen during a Dana White video blog chronicling UFC 96. Watching the fight on a TV backstage, he blasted referee Rick Fike in front of a small video crew.

“That shouldn’t happen,” he said. “That (expletive) guy who just reffed the fight shouldn’t be in that Octagon. He has no business being there.”

At the event’s post-fight press conference, he voiced similar feelings.

“Those two kids have been in camp for six to eight weeks training,” he said. “They fly out here to fight and it gets stopped like that. Listen, people make mistakes all the time. That was a bad one.”

Riley, now on vacation in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., seemed to be in relatively good spirits when he spoke to MMAWeekly.com, but wanted another chance to prove himself.

“The UFC is looking to make things right, so hopefully I’ll get a rematch in with Shane at some point, but I’m just really looking to get back in action as soon as possible,” he said. “I’ve already expressed that to Joe Silva, and he’s looking to make that happen.

“He told me they were booked through August, but he also told me that if there was a chance to get me in, he’d try to get me in. If anything happens where somebody drops out or gets injured, he can look to juggle the schedule around and get me in.”

Among those wishing him sympathy last Saturday was a member of Nelson’s camp, who agreed the stoppage was premature.

“It was an inexperienced referee,” he continued. “Silva told me the guy was assigned to them by the Ohio State Athletic Commission; they had to use him. I don’t know what his experience level was – it couldn’t have been much. It seemed to me it was his first time out of the gates, personally.”

Though he’ll welcome any fight in the next months, he would prefer to rematch Nelson.

“There would be nothing I’d like to do more than finish that match-up with Shane,” he said. “It wouldn’t even be a rematch – it would be the original match, because that was such a non-event. I had a lot of family drive over to see that. Outside of that, I felt bad for the fans as a whole and the UFC.

“Everybody got cheated out of a great match-up.”

 

[Shogun Locc]

Slice Manager Says Kimbo Still on Ice


Icy Mike, a.k.a. Mike Imber, says details of Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson's new deal with Strikeforce continue to hold the fighter back from a possible May booking.

Communicating with MMAInsider via text, Slice's manager said things were still being ironed out with the San Jose-based promotion.

"It's really tough to say at this point," wrote Imber. "We've gotta sort out details before any (fights)."

Ferguson's contract was one of forty-two picked up from ProElite by Strikeforce, which begins its new relationship with Showtime on April 11 with "Shamrock vs. Diaz."

After the buyout, reports surfaced that Imber was looking for a fight overseas, but nothing materialized.

Last month, CEO Scott Coker told MMAInsider he believed Slice and Carano were under the Strikeforce banner and a "business remedy or legal remedy" would come out of the transfer. Negotiations with Ferguson's lawyer were ongoing, he noted.

Along with Gina Carano, Ferguson remains as one of the most bankable assets not locked down by the expanding promotion.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Report: Akiyama vs. Belcher could be added to UFC 100

The UFC’s newest middleweight acquisition could be making his debut under the brightest of lights. According to a Monday report by MMAjunkie.com, talks are ongoing for Yoshihiro Akiyama to face off against Alan Belcher at UFC 100, scheduled for July 11 in Las Vegas.

According to Junkie, a source close to the negotiations said that while the fight isn’t signed bout agreements could be finalized any day now. If signed, Akiyama vs. Belcher would appear on the same card expected to feature Georges St. Pierre defending his welterweight title against Brazilian Thiago Alves.

Also expected to take place at UFC 100 is a middleweight matchup between Michael Bisping and Dan Henderson, the rival coaches on the upcoming ninth edition of The Ultimate Fighter. A heavyweight title unification match between UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar and interim UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir could headline the event.

The Korean-born Akiyama was just recently signed by the UFC. The former K-1 HERO’s veteran is a world renowned Judo practitioner. He began his MMA career fighting with K-1 in 2007 and has most recently fought for the DREAM organization.

Akiyama is currently 12-1 with two no contests in his brief career with seven of his victories have coming by submission while five have come by knockout. Only two of his fights have ventured past the first round.

Belcher is coming off an upset victory against Denis Kang at UFC 93. Kang, who once lost to Akiyama, looked impressive in controlling the bout until Belcher was able to pull out the win by securing a guillotine choke with seconds remaining in the second round.

Belcher owns a 14-5 overall record and is 5-3 in the UFC with victories over Kang, Ed Herman, Sean Salmon, Kalib Starnes and Jorge Santiago. He reportedly had been slated to fight Alessio Sakara at UFC 99 in Germany this June.

Sources close to Akiyama said the Korean fighter expressed a strong desire to make his UFC debut in America but eventually would like to help the UFC enter into the Asian market.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Torres, Escudero Sign on With Bud Light for Latino Outreach

MMAPayout.com has mentioned previously the efforts to better reach the Latino demos. The UFC is not alone, though, in these efforts, as key sponsors of the UFC are looking for synergies with the UFC”s outreach efforts to better serve Latinos. One of these sponsors is Anheuser-Busch. Bud Light has consistently sought out a better grasp of Latino market share and they have recently boasted of their sponsorship efforts with UFC fighters in their overall spending in the Latino sports segment:

Anheuser-Busch currently sponsors the Mexican National Soccer Team, Chivas de Guadalajara, WEC Bantamweight Champion Miguel Angel Torres and UFC Lightweight Efrain Escudero. ….. The company has the No. 1 and No. 2 beer brands in the Latino market — Bud Light and Budweiser. To learn more about these efforts, please visit http://www.Latinobud.com.

While Torres has been mentioned in regards to Bud Light before, this is the first mention I have heard of Escudero in connection with a Bud Light deal. Efrain’s win in the TUF Finals gave him a high profile that Anheuser felt they could capitalize on to reach the Latino demographic. Torres and Escudero are proof that if you are young, Latino and have archived a level of accomplishment in the MMA, the world will be your oyster marketing-wise. The UFC as well as it’s sponsorship partners are hungry to attract the Latino audience and talented fighters like the two mentioned above will be fast-tracked to these sponsorship opportunities.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Rashad Evans To Create The First Signature Fighter Clothing Collection

(SAN CLEMENTE, CA) - Silver Star Casting and “Suga” Rashad Evans are both undefeated, on the rise, and serious contenders. With the union of two industry forces, Silver Star and Evans are creating a full collection of premium tops and accessories inspired by the the line’s signature high-octane look, and Evans’ status as an undefeated MMA champion.

Evans, who holds the Light Heavyweight champion title, is best known for defeating MMA star, Chuck Liddell, and Ultimate Fighter 3 winner Michael Bisping. Most recently, Evans defeated Forrest Griffin, the winner of the first season of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality TV show, and retained his title of Light Heavyweight champion.

Rapidly becoming the clothing choice for MMA fighters and fans, Silver Star Casting Company’s series of premium signature fighter shirts will be expanded to include the first full signature fighter collection, in collaboration with “Suga” Rashad Evans.

By working with Rashad, we’ve brought a champion from the fight world into the apparel industry to bring a whole new vision and feel to the marketplace” says Silver Star owner, Luke Burrett. “Rashad has Silver Star’s full support and together we’re introducing a product line fight fans can wear with pride.”

The “Suga” Rashad Evans signature collection will include the Silver Star’s signature graphics, premium cuts, and envelope-pushing details. The collection will hit stores in May 2009.

Silver Star Casting is a cutting-edge company that’s not afraid to break the rules. With roots firmly planted in hard-rocking and ass-kicking, its full line of men’s and women’s shirts, outerwear, fleece, headwear, jeans, shoes, belts, buckles jewelry, and watches can be found in over 2000 stores worldwide. www.buysilverstar.com

 

[Shogun Locc]

DREAM Open-Weight GP This Year?!

DREAM EP Sasahara is quoted in the article as saying that he wants it to be the same scale as the IWGP tournaments (in the 1980’s). He also says that he wants to negotiate with Fedor.

 

[T-Spoon]

Faber had others to keep an eye on last Sunday as well. If Brown-Faber II fails to make the pay-per-view rounds, Jose Aldo (14-1) waits in the wings for either fighter. The Nova Uniao standout has blazed through four consecutive opponents in the WEC cage, including his last victim Chris Mickle, who Aldo iced in 99 seconds last Sunday.

“He’s really talented standing up and he seems pretty talented on the ground as well,” said Faber, “but I think they need to test him a little bit more. His last fight was almost like a joke. They put that guy in there at the last minute. I heard he cut a lot of weight. It didn’t look like he was the most well rounded guy on the planet. So not discrediting Jose, he’s making all these guys look bad because he’s extremely talented. I think when I get this title shot with Brown there will be a title shot for Aldo in the near future.”

i'm liking this aldo guy. pretty impressive. i think it'll be a good fight with faber and aldo. aldo has hella good standup. fold.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Former WEC champ Paulo Filho opts to skip Bellator's middleweight tourney

Although originally expected to compete in the upstart Bellator Fighting Championships' eight-man middleweight tournament, former WEC middleweight champion Paulo Filho has opted not to sign with the ESPN Deportes-backed organization.

Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) the two sides were unable to reach an agreement.

The middleweight tournament – and other eight-man tourneys in the featherweight, lightweight and welterweight divisions – commence next month when Bellator hosts 12 consecutive Friday-night events.

The shows will then air on a one-day tape delay on ESPN Deportes as the first-ever ESPN-televised MMA event series.

"Paulo at his best has proven to be one of the best MMA fighters at his weight," Rebney said. "After months of open and friendly negotiations with his manager Ed Soares, we respectfully were unable to reach an agreement. But we wish Paulo the best and hope that he soon regains his top form."

Soares could not immediately be reached for comment.

However, other managers have recently told MMAjunkie.com that Bellator's standard contract is too restrictive for most fighters. However, the organization has signed many notables, including Eddie Alvarez, Jorge Masvidal, Wilson Reis and Hector Lombard.

Filfo, meanwhile, continues his search for a new home.

Following a disappointing and bizarre loss to Chael Sonnen at WEC 36, Filho (16-1) was cut from Zuffa LLC in November. And unlike the WEC's other top light-heavyweight and middleweight fighters, he was not moved to the UFC when the WEC eliminated the two weight classes.

Filho, who suffered his first career loss in 17 professional fights with the unanimous-decision defeat to Sonnen, failed to make weight for the Nov. 5 fight. Filho initially weighed in at 192 pounds and could only get down to 189 – four pounds over the 185-pound limit – despite two additional hours of cut time.

The contest then became a non-title fight, which garnered the once-highly regarded Filho the wrath of the MMA world.

Filho defeated Sonnen a year prior, and the rematch had been scheduled for early 2008. However, Filho had to pull out of the fight to seek treatment for depression and chemical dependency. The Nov. 5 fight was his first since the original Sonnen match in December 2007.

"It's been a rough year," Soares recently said. "Paulo's had some troubles and a lot of personal issues. But in the end, it'll make him a stronger person."

Filho is now reportedly considering fighting for Sengoku or Strikeforce.

 

[Shogun Locc]

April 11 Strikeforce-Showtime broadcast to be countered with UFC 94 replay

Strikeforce's debut on Showtime won't go unchallenged.

The organization's April 11 "Shamrock vs. Diaz" card, which takes place at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., won't be the only MMA event on cable television that night.

Spike TV and the UFC will counter the broadcast with a replay of UFC 94, a January pay-per-view event that featured the long-awaited rematch between UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre and lightweight title-holder B.J. Penn.

The broadcast marks the first time UFC 94 has been available on basic cable TV.

Strikeforce, long considered the most successful MMA organization outside the UFC, recently acquired select assets from the the parent company of the defunct EliteXC organization. Strikeforce picked up more than 40 fighters' contracts, as well as the Showtime deal.

While Strikeforce Promoter Scott Coker and UFC President Dana White have always maintained an amicable relationship, they'll fight it out for viewers on April 11.

Strikeforce offers an intriguing main event between former UFC and Strikeforce champion Frank Shamrock and lightweight stand-out lightweight Nick Diaz, who meet at a catch-weight of 179 pounds. Other top match-ups includes Strikeforce world lightweight champ Josh Thomson vs. Gilbert Melendez, Joe Riggs vs. Jake Shields, Scott Smith vs. Benji Radach and Hitomi Akano vs. Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos.

Strikeforce viewers will need a paid subscription to Showtime, a premium cable channel.

Meanwhile, in addition to St. Pierre vs. Penn, UFC 94 featured Lyoto Machida vs. Thiago Silva, Stephan Bonnar vs. Jon Jones, Karo Parisyan vs. Dong Hyun Kim and Nate Diaz vs. Clay Guida. The event will air on Spike TV, a basic-cable station.

The head-to-head programming is a first for Strikeforce and the UFC. However, the UFC has twice battled Affliction Entertainment's pay-per-view broadcasts.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Lightweight bout between Dale Hartt and Denis Siver on tap for UFC 99

In his first fight since a brutal TKO stoppage over an injured Corey Hill, Dale Hartt (6-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) will return to action in June at UFC 99 to fight fellow lightweight Denis Siver (13-6 MMA, 2-3 UFC).

Bout agreements were recently distributed and are being finalized this week, a source close to the negotiations told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).

Hartt will enter hostile territory when he meets Siver, a German fighter. UFC 99 takes place June 13 at Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany.

Hartt, a four-year MMA veteran, made his UFC debut in July and suffered a first-round submission loss to Shannon Gugerty at UFC Fight Night 14. It was the Las Vegas-based fighter's first career loss. However, he rebounded five months later at UFC Fight Night 16 when he faced towering 6-foot-4 Corey Hill. Early in the second round, Hartt checked a leg kick -- only to see Hill's leg snap in the process.

Hartt earned the TKO victory via injury stoppage at the 0:20 mark.

He now meets Siver, a 30-year-old German fighter who made his octagon debut in April 2007. The submission specialist went 1-3 during his first stint in the UFC, and after picking up a submission win outside the organization, Siver returned to the UFC to defeat Nate Mohr at January's UFC 93 event. He'll now go for his third straight win.

The Hartt-Siver bout will likely end up on the night's un-aired preliminary card. However, UFC officials have not decided if UFC 99 will air on pay per view or Spike TV.

 

[Shogun Locc]

PENN FILES FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH NSAC

After a month of telegraphing their intentions, B.J. Penn and his representatives have filed a formal complaint against Georges St. Pierre.

The 20-page document, filed on Monday with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, requests sanctions against St. Pierre, his cornermen, and other unknown licensees of the commission, and requests a formal hearing into the matter.

The complaint, drafted by Penn legal representative Raffi A. Nahabedian, of the Rosenfeld law firm in Las Vegas, Nevada, alleges that St. Pierre and his camp knowingly used illegal greasing agents to affect the outcome of his fight with Penn at UFC 94 on Jan. 31 in Las Vegas.

Penn succumbed to St. Pierre’s furious ground and pound attack 20 minutes after their encounter began, with Penn’s cornermen throwing in the towel between the fourth and fifth rounds.

Controversy erupted inside the cage between the first and second rounds when the NSAC was alerted to the inappropriate use of Vaseline by St. Pierre cornerman Phil Nurse. Officials wiped the welterweight champion down with a towel between rounds and monitored the corner closely until the bout’s halt.

The document cites unnamed mixed martial arts fighters who complained about St. Pierre’s use of greasing agents as evidence of his culpability.

“It is Penn’s belief… that the aforementioned strategies were intentional and were orchestrated by Pierre as a means to unfairly and illegally defeat Penn in a regulated and sanctioned championship bout that prohibits the aforementioned conduct and that such calculated actions by Pierre were implemented as a means to prevent Penn from defending himself in a manner consistent with that contemplated in unarmed combat due to the highly and unnaturally slippery nature of Pierre during the bout,” the document states.

Penn and his representative also allege that St. Pierre “ingested a substance that would cause his body to become highly and unnaturally slippery during the bout.”

Nurse, Jackson trainer Greg Jackson, and the unknown parties are named as co-conspirators to St. Pierre’s use of the agents.

The complaint requests numerous punishments for St. Pierre’s camp. It asks the commission to fine St. Pierre, Jackson, Nurse, and the unnamed parties up to $250,000; suspend St. Pierre’s license as well as the licenses of Jackson, Nurse, and the unnamed parties; change the result of the bout to a “no contest;” and require Pierre undergo a pre-bout shower to make sure no substances exist on his body.

St. Pierre’s manager, Sherri Spencer, had not read the document and would not comment to MMAWeekly.com until she had reviewed it.

 

[Shogun Locc]

JACKSON INJURED; EVANS VS MACHIDA AT UFC 98

Quinton Jackson earned a shot at the UFC light heavyweight belt currently held by Rashad Evans, but he will be unable to accept the proposed May 23 bout. It appears that Lyoto Machida will instead face Evans for the title in the main event of UFC 98 in Las Vegas.

After losing the light heavyweight championship to Forrest Griffin last summer, Jackson returned with a quick knockout of nemesis Wanderlei Silva at UFC 92 in December, then walked away with a unanimous decision over Keith Jardine last weekend, which was enough to put him in the UFC 98 main event.

The slot was vacated when Frank Mir, due to a recent knee injury, was unable to be properly prepared to face Brock Lesnar to unify the heavyweight championship as planned. Evans had been scheduled to defend at UFC 100 in July, but agreed to push his fight up to UFC 98 when the Mir-Lesnar bout was lost.

UFC president Dana White on Wednesday told Yahoo! Sports' Kevin Iole that the UFC 96 post-fight pain in Jackson's jaw turned out to be torn ligaments that will require surgery and five weeks of no contact. Jackson also hyperextended his left elbow in the Jardine fight.

As White confirmed on Saturday night, if Jackson was unable to accept the bout, they already had Lyoto Machida waiting in the wings, already agreeing to take the fight.

Although Machida's camp was unavailable for comment at the time of publication, Evans' manager, Jervis Cole, informed MMAWeekly.com that Evans has verbally agreed to face Machida at UFC 98. Bout agreements have not yet been signed, but should be shortly.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Shane Carwin to undergo surgery for broken nose

Undefeated UFC heavyweight prospect Shane Carwin has been diagnosed with a deviated septum and will require surgery to repair the injury.

Carwin revealed the news on his personal web site, Shane-Carwin.com.

“(I) ust got home from the specialist and he said my nose requires surgery to repair,” wrote Carwin. “I have a deviated septum and the nose is in pieces.”

According to Carwin, doctors have informed him that he will require six-to-eight weeks to fully heel from the surgery. The recovery time could potentially delay the scheduling of his next fight.

It is believed that Carwin sustained the injury during his first round TKO victory over Gabriel Gonzaga this past Saturday at UFC 96. Carwin shook off a slow start in the fight and put Gonzaga down with punches before forcing the referee to stop the bout.

The victory moved the former NCAA Division II wrestling and football All-American to 11-0 during his pro MMA career with all 11 victories coming via first round stoppage.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Ford Signs On with Bellator Fighting Championships

LOS ANGELES, Mar 11, 2009 — Bellator Fighting Championships and ESPN Deportes announced today a sponsorship agreement with Ford Motor Company. The agreement names Ford as the exclusive sponsor in the automotive category for Bellator Fighting Championships, a 12-episode mixed martial arts (MMA) series set to premiere on ESPN Deportes April 4th. Bellator is the first nationally televised mixed martial arts league focusing on the United States’ prolific Latino market.

Ford’s long-standing position as an automotive leader, coupled with consistently serving the Latino market, has provided it with well-established roots in this powerful market. Ford’s sponsorship of Bellator Fighting Championships will further enforce the company’s commitment to reaching this consumer base, through the fastest growing sport in the United States today - mixed martial arts. The deal marks Ford’s first foray into this exciting, consumer-friendly sport.

Mixed martial arts is becoming increasingly popular in the U.S. with a very strong Latino fan base. In fact, Nielsen research shows that Latino’s over-index on viewership of MMA programming. Bellator is the only company tailoring their promotion for this audience at the national level and we are thrilled to be the first and exclusive automotive partner. “Bellator’s unprecedented access to Latino MMA fans makes them an invaluable partner for Ford, since the innovativeness of our products mirrors each other,” said Dave Rodriguez, Manager of Multicultural Marketing at Ford. “We are also thrilled to be working with ESPN Deportes to reach Hispanic sports fans via the brand’s multimedia touch points.”

Ford’s sponsorship represents a fully integrated alliance across multiple platforms. As part of the agreement, Ford ads will get prominent placement on ESPN Deportes’ coverage of the Bellator Fighting Championships. Ford will also air a SportsCenter segment dedicated to Bellator titled “Serie de Campeones Highlight” to update viewers on the results of each night and congratulating each winner and “El Camino a la Victoria” vignettes which will chronicle the path that each world-class fighter must take in route to the championship. In addition to extensive on-air coverage through prominent cage signage, the multi-faceted, season-long sponsorship includes an online and mobile component that will bring Bellator Fighting Championships to life on ESPNdeportes.com on a microsite that will be fully dedicated to covering the championship, and on ESPN Deportes Movil’s Mixed Martial Arts section. In addition to the exposure on ESPN Deportes platforms, the deal includes athlete appearances at Ford dealerships in key markets to be determined by Ford, automotive display and consumer interactive sweepstakes.

“Ford’s position of quality and strength as well as their commitment to exceeding consumer expectations make them the ideal partner for Bellator,” said Bjorn Rebney, Bellator Fighting Championships CEO. “Ford clearly understands the importance of the Latino market and the significance of delivering for their consumer base, a philosophy which we at Bellator intend to mirror for years to come.”

“We’re thrilled that a premier brand such as Ford has joined us for the debut of mixed martial arts on ESPN Deportes,” said Lino Garcia, general manager, ESPN Deportes. “Mixed Martial Arts is becoming increasingly popular among Hispanics. Our coverage of Bellator Fighting Championships is an extremely valuable marketing vehicle for Ford to target the fastest growing segment of the population.”

Bellator’s strong commitment to the Latino market is demonstrated by a substantial percentage of its star fighters speaking Spanish and coming from Latino heritage. Bellator’s nationally televised events will feature a combination of tournament and non-tournament special feature bouts. There will be four simultaneous tournaments taking place in season #1 over a three month period: one in each of the Featherweight (145 lb.), Lightweight (155 lb.), Welterweight (170 lb.) and Middleweight (185 lb.) divisions. Bellator’s debut event will be held in Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida on April 3, 2009. The event will air during prime time on April 4 on ESPN Deportes, and then every Saturday night thereafter for 12 weeks.
For more information about Bellator Fighting Championships, visit www.bellator.com. A Spanish version of the website, www.Espanol.Bellator.com, will be launching in March 2009.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Indiana Eyes MMA Regulation

The Hoosier State is among the precious few states to still not regulate mixed martial arts, but the statehouse they may be looking to change that. WTHR in Indianapolis details the particulars of a proposed bill that could see the nascent sport come under the state’s regulation:

A bill under consideration in the house would move the state athletic commission, which regulates boxing in the state, and put it under the state gaming commission. It would also regulate mixed martial arts in the state, which could open Indiana up for ultimate fighting, which generates huge dollars.

The state’s take would be five percent of admission and five percent of pay-per-view. An event of this magnitude could fill Conseco Fieldhouse. The state’s casinos are also interested in attracting these events, which could also generate money for the state on the admission tax.

From our various reading on the subject Indiana, Arkansas, Michigan, and West Virginia are the key areas that are in play for the regulation of MMA at this time. All these states have legislation in the pipeline that would further the availability of the sport through out the United States. Some of the states have MMA but it is unregulated and not under the auspices of a State Athletic Commission.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Machida ready for Rashad and the belt

Before UFC 96, Dana White said that Quinton Jackson would be the next one in the line for the belt against Rashad Evans, he just needed to defeat Keith Jardine in the main event. The victory came, but there’s a possibility of this fight don’t happen now. With Rashad scheduled for UFC 98’s main event, Rampae would be doing his third fight in five months, and maybe now Lyoto Machida gets his chance for the title.
“I’m ready, just waiting for an answer to start focusing better on the fight. I’m waiting the right time and I consider myself ready, mentally and all that stuff. Of course I’m waiting for a major decision to continue my preparation focused on Rashad”, said Machida. About UFC 96’s main event, Lyoto praised Jackson for the victory. “I liked the fight, it was very aggressive. Both were very strong, but Quinton was better and deserved the victory”, said Machida.

 

[Shogun Locc]

Shaolin ready for Dream; but when?

Without fighting since the end of 2007, Vitor Shaolin faced some injuries, but is training for his return to the ring. Still with no date for a debut at Dream, the Jiu-Jitsu black belt remains focused in his training at his academy in the United States, ready to answer Japan’s call. "I’m having good trainings, there are some guys helping me here and I’ll fight in the next months, but still have nothing signed", says.

Despite not knowing when he returns, the fighter is with a lot of expectation to fight. "(The expectation) is big, but everything depends on the managers and owners of the event. I’m some time without fighting, but I’m ready to return. I haven’t got lot to do. I’m keeping the weight down to be ready for when they call me. I'm waiting for my time and I’m hoping some good news in the upcoming months"

 

[Shogun Locc]

Mirko Crocop vs Fedor Part 2?

Mirko CROCOP Filipovic vs Fedor Emelianenko has been, and still is been talked about, not as a historic fight, but a possible and future fight.

If you read the papers in Japan and Croatia, they speak as if this fight will be happening anytime now.

With recent confirmation comming out that DREAM plans to host a Open-Weight Grand Prix, with fighters such as Fedor and Mirko entering, you just know the FEG will pair them up with “assured” wins in order for Mirko to face Fedor anytime within the GP.

Croatian News site Index.hr reported today that DREAM has confirmed talks that will create a OWGP, and Mirko will be fighting in it, however Mirko has yet to confirm his Blog, or partnered news site Croatia NOVA.

 

[Shogun Locc]

DreamFighters Exclusive with Roy Jones Jr.

DreamFighters.com is happy to report we were able to catch up with Roy Jones Jr. to chat about his upcomming fight infron of his home town, and what he thinks about MMA.

We want to take this time to personally thank Roy Jones Jr. for taking time out of his day to answer a few questions of ours!

DreamFighters.com: Roy Jones Jr., thank you for taking the time to speak to me (Adam) at Dreamfighters.com - We are big fans of yours!

Roy Jones Jr: Thank you I apprciate that.

DreamFighters.com: How is training going right now? Doing anything different/special?

Roy Jones Jr: Training is going wonderful nothing new other than i have my dad working with me again

DreamFighters.com: How does it feel fighting in front of your home town again?
Roy Jones Jr: Love it couldnt ask to fight in front of a better crowd.

DreamFighters.com: We have to ask - Will we ever see you in a (MMA) cage or ring?

Roy Jones Jr: No, I dont think so, I will leave it to the mma guys i’ll stick to boxing, but I love it and respect those guys.

DreamFighters.com: What got you interested in MMA? Was there a specific fight or fighter that sparked your interest to follow MMA?

Roy Jones Jr: I just love and respect hand to hand combat. two people, one on one, mono-E-mono. you have to have guts to fight boxing or mma. I Love It!!!!

DreamFighters.com: What are your thoughts on the Stand Up/Boxing skills of today’s MMA fighters like Fedor Emelianenko, Anderson Silva, GSP, Mirko CroCop and so on?

Roy Jones Jr: I really think some of these guys can compete in boxing at a high level.

DreamFighters.com: You fight card is truly innovative to combine both MMA and boxing. What got you interested in a hybrid show?

Roy Jones Jr: I am just tired of people trying to compare and say one is better than the other. we should join together it is the best of both worlds.

DreamFighters.com: What are your thoughts on the WAMMA belt and WAMMA’s goal of crowing 1 undisputed champion in each weight class across promotional lines for MMA?

Roy Jones Jr: I think the WAMMA concept in MMA is great and much needed. I have held many titles throughout my career. I wish there was one belt in boxing that signified the very best fighter. In MMA, the WAMMA belt holds that distinction.

DreamFighters.com: Who is your favorite MMA fighter to watch?

Roy Jones Jr: Rampage Jackson, Anderson Silva, Fedor

DreamFighters.com: If there is one fighter in the world you wish you could fight, who would that be?

Roy Jones Jr: I just wanted to fight the best it doesnt matter to me. but i do want to fight Johnson, Tarver again but whoever I would love to fight Joe Calzage but he is retired now.

DreamFighters.com: Is there anyone you would like to thank, or say anything to?

Roy Jones Jr: Love all my fans and supporters. you wont wanna miss this one of a kind event.Thank you

DreamFighters.com: Roy, we look forward to “March BadAss” on March 21 on PPV. It has been an honor speaking with you. We wish you the best of luck in your fight and hope

Roy Jones Jr: Thank you!!