MMA News Thread
- Thread starter Shogun Locc
- Start date
Been meaning to start posting these weekly, a lot of these end up being legit...
Middleeasy.com's Sunday Morning Rumor Mill
- Dream 16 in September will most likely be another Dream vs. Sengoku event.
- Aoki, Daley and Zaromskis have been removed From United Glory's eight-man welterweight tournament due to 'unreasonable' contract demands.
- George Sotiropolous vs. Takanori Gomi will go down at UFC 124.
- Despite Thiago Alves not making weight, as of this morning Dana White has not insisted that he fight at middleweight.
- Sarah Kaufman wants to fight Cris Cyborg at a catchweight of 140lbs.
- Dana White is disappointed with the gate numbers UFC 117 pulled.
- The CSAC is 'toying' with the use of 'half-points' in a new MMA scoring system.
- Crazy rumor going around that Karo Parisyan was involved in the Roger Huerta 'street brawl'.
- Vitor Belfort will most likely be Anderson Silva's next opponent and it will probably happen as late as 2011.
- Fedor appearing inside the August/September edition of the UFC Magazine was apparently a large 'editorial oversight'.
- A lot of people who ordered the UFC 117 preliminaries online did not receive the programming in it's entirety as promised.
- You knew this was coming: Anderson Silva intentionally let Chael Sonnen punch him in the face and take him down only to pull off one of the greatest comebacks in MMA history.
- A few days before UFC 117, Anderson Silva got an MRI in California.
- According to Dana White, Roy Nelson vs. Shane Carwin is next on tap. Winner will get a title shot.
- One major investor of Supremacy MMA recently pulled out of the project which may threaten further production of the game.
- Not a rumor, but the phrase 'UFC 117 stream' trended on Google and Twitter last night during the event. ZUFFA's copyright crusade seems to be a very long uphill battle.
Middleeasy.com's Sunday Morning Rumor Mill
- Dream 16 in September will most likely be another Dream vs. Sengoku event.
- Aoki, Daley and Zaromskis have been removed From United Glory's eight-man welterweight tournament due to 'unreasonable' contract demands.
- George Sotiropolous vs. Takanori Gomi will go down at UFC 124.
- Despite Thiago Alves not making weight, as of this morning Dana White has not insisted that he fight at middleweight.
- Sarah Kaufman wants to fight Cris Cyborg at a catchweight of 140lbs.
- Dana White is disappointed with the gate numbers UFC 117 pulled.
- The CSAC is 'toying' with the use of 'half-points' in a new MMA scoring system.
- Crazy rumor going around that Karo Parisyan was involved in the Roger Huerta 'street brawl'.
- Vitor Belfort will most likely be Anderson Silva's next opponent and it will probably happen as late as 2011.
- Fedor appearing inside the August/September edition of the UFC Magazine was apparently a large 'editorial oversight'.
- A lot of people who ordered the UFC 117 preliminaries online did not receive the programming in it's entirety as promised.
- You knew this was coming: Anderson Silva intentionally let Chael Sonnen punch him in the face and take him down only to pull off one of the greatest comebacks in MMA history.
- A few days before UFC 117, Anderson Silva got an MRI in California.
- According to Dana White, Roy Nelson vs. Shane Carwin is next on tap. Winner will get a title shot.
- One major investor of Supremacy MMA recently pulled out of the project which may threaten further production of the game.
- Not a rumor, but the phrase 'UFC 117 stream' trended on Google and Twitter last night during the event. ZUFFA's copyright crusade seems to be a very long uphill battle.
This guy did a pretty good job with this, would've switched some of the numbers around and added Maxi Blanco and Rory MacDonald myself.
Top 10 Young Prospects In MMA
1. John Hathaway
Promotion: UFC
Age: 22
Record: 14-0
Weight Class: Welterweight
Team: London Shootfighters
The English Welterweight is without any shadow of a doubt the most promising youngster in Mixed Martial Arts today. Only 22 years old, Hathaway holds an impressive record of 14-0 with 5 knockouts and 4 submissions. John Hathaway is currently 4-0 in the UFC, with a huge victory over the former UFC Lightweight Title challenger Diego Sanchez at UFC 114. Standing at 6 ft 2 inches tall, Hathaway is a rare specimen in his weight class, enjoying a valuable reach and size advantage. The most interesting thing about John Hathaway is that he's not coming from any special Wrestling or BJJ background. This kid has a proven record in the biggest arena out there, as his continuous improvement in all aspects of the game make him a sure shot for the UFC Lightweight crown sometime in the future.
2. Josh Grispi
Promotion: WEC
Age: 21
Record: 14-1
Weight Class: Featherweight
Team: South Shore Sportfighting
WEC Featherweight Josh Grispi is without a doubt one of the biggest rising talents in MMA. Holding a 14-1 record at the age of 21, with six TKO's and seven Submissions, Girspi is already a top contender in World Extreme Cagefighting. Josh Grispi is currently 4-0 in WEC, all first round finishes. More than that, "The Fluke" was only once out of the first round in his career. Humble personality and an incredible work rate are Josh Grispi's biggest assets. With Manny Gamburyan fighting for the WEC Featherweight title against Jose Aldo at WEC 51, "The Fluke" may be just one fight away from securing his shot at greatness.
3. Phil Davis
Promotion: UFC
Age: 23
Record: 7-0
Weight Class: Light Heavyweight
Team: Lloyd Irvin/A.K.A
Mr. Wonderful continued his UFC this weekend adventure with the third consecutive victory, this time over the 9-2 Rodney Wallace. Four-time NCAA Division I All-American, Phil Davis is one of the most decorated wrestlers in the UFC. And by training alongside top fighters at Team Lloyd Irvin and American Kickboxing Academy, Davis is expected to make his breakthrough during 2011. Just like Georges St. Pierre, Cain Velasquez and Jon Jones, Phil Davis' self-criticism will ensure the progress to the top of UFC Light Heavyweight division.
4. Pat Curran
Promotion: Bellator
Age: 22
Record: 12-3
Weight Class: Lightweight
Team: Curran MMA Academy
Bellator's 2010 Lightweight Tournament Winner, Pat Curran is definitely one of the most exciting prospects to ever compete in MMA. Pat Curran is currently 12-3 in his MMA campaign, with victories over the UFC veteran Roger "El Matador" Huerta and Toby Imada on his way to win the Bellator Lightweight Tournament. Pat Curran reminds me of Frankie Edgar by the way he built, and his illusive Boxing style. The Illinois-native will square off against the Top 10 155'er Eddie Alvarez on Bellator's Season Three, with sights on solidifying his place among the MMA Lightweight elite.
5. Ben Askren
Promotion: Bellator
Age: 26
Record: 6-0
Weight Class: Welterweight
Team: American Top Team/Lions Den
Sydney 2008 Olympics Wrestling participant, Ben Askren is one of the most promising fighters in MMA. Twenty-six year old Askren is currently a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Purple Belt, competing in ADCC and FILA against some of the top grapplers in the world. Askren dominated the Top 10 Welterweight Dan Hornbuckle at the Bellator Welterweight Tournament Final, and now will face the reigning Champ Lyman Good sometime during season three. In his fight against Hornbuckle, Askren was able to show how far he improved as a Mixed Martial Artist, by defeating submission attempts and disabling "The Handler's" top notch striking. Ben Askren will definitely be a Top 10 Welterweight in a few years from now.
6. Alexander Shlemenko
Promotion: Bellator
Age: 25
Record: 30-4
Weight Class: Middleweight
Team: RusFighters Sport Club
Another Bellator prospect, Twenty-six year old Alexander "The Storm" Shlemenko has an incredible record of 30-4 with 19 KO's, 4 Submissions and 7 Decisions. Shlemenko TKO'd the 13-1 Bryan Baker in his last fight, to win the Bellator Middleweight Tournament. His scheduled September fight against the fellow KO artist Hector Lombard could be a sure candidate for the Slugfest of the Year, especially when the both fighters share 33 TKO finishes in 63 career fights. Shlemenko could be a great addition to the UFC Middleweight division, with fights against the likes of Alan Belcher and Nate Marquardt as a potential toe-to-toe entertainment.
7. Renan Barao
Promotion: WEC
Age: 23
Record: 23-1
Weight Class: Bantamweight
Team: Nova Uniao Brasil
The young Brazilian has probably the most impressive record on this list, with 23 victories and just one defeat (in his first professional fight). Barao made his WEC debut last month at WEC 49: Varner vs Shalorus, by defeating Anthony Leone via second round armbar. In fact, 10 of Barao's career victories come by the way of submission. WEC Featherweight Champion and Nova Uniao partner Jose Aldo declared that Renan Barao will be in Top 3 of his division within a year. I personally share the same opinion.
8. Shane Del Rosario
Promotion: Strikeforce
Age: 25
Record: 10-0
Weight Class: Heavyweight
Team: Oyama
The young Strikeforce Heavyweight gun Shane Del Rosario demonstrated his continuous improvement against the more experienced Lolohea Mahe at the ShoMMA 9 event. Del Rosario's Muay Thai is a pleasure to watch, and his impressive 10-0 record of 8 TKO's and 2 Submission is a proof that he has a future as one of the top Heavyweights in the World. Del Rosario has recently expressed his desire to square off against Andrei Arlovski, in what could be a Baptism of Fire of his entrance to the Strikeforce's Heavyweight elite.
9. Magomed Shikshabekov
Promotion: M-1 Global
Age: 25
Record: 7-0
Weight Class: Welterweight
Team: Legion Russia
Young Dagestan-born Welterweight Magomed Shikshabekov is without a doubt M-1 Global's biggest prospect, and probably the biggest name after Fedor Emelianenko. "The Eagle" holds a clean 7-0 record, never out of the first round, two TKO's and four Submissions. At the age of 25, Shikshabekov has a bright future ahead of him. The twenty-five year old dominated his every opponent at M-1 Selection shows, thanks to his elite-level Sambo, which more and more reminds me of a young Fedor Emelianenko. Shikshabekov was originally scheduled to square off against AKA's Ron Keslar at Fedor vs. Werdum, but the fight was cancelled due to his Visa issues. This way or another, Shikshabekov's debut against a top opponent is just a question of time.
10. Dong Yi Yang
Promotion: UFC
Age: 25
Record: 9-0
Weight Class: Middleweight
Team: Korean Top Team
Korean Top Team product Dong Yi Yang already signed with the UFC, and will face TUF 11 product Chris Cammozi at the stacked UFC 121 event in October. The powerful South Korean trains alongside the Korean Zombie Chan Sung Jung, and holds an impressive all-TKO record of 9-0. Dong Yi Yang defeated the Pride Veteran Pawel Nestula in a controversial Sengoku">Sengoku bout, which will be remembered for Yang's multiple kicks to the groin. Nicknamed "The Ox", Dong Yi Yang brings a very "colorful" character to the Octagon, and will surely stay in the UFC for a reasonable amount of time.
http://www.lowkick.com/UFC/Top-10-Young-prospects-in-MMA-9476
Top 10 Young Prospects In MMA
1. John Hathaway
Promotion: UFC
Age: 22
Record: 14-0
Weight Class: Welterweight
Team: London Shootfighters
The English Welterweight is without any shadow of a doubt the most promising youngster in Mixed Martial Arts today. Only 22 years old, Hathaway holds an impressive record of 14-0 with 5 knockouts and 4 submissions. John Hathaway is currently 4-0 in the UFC, with a huge victory over the former UFC Lightweight Title challenger Diego Sanchez at UFC 114. Standing at 6 ft 2 inches tall, Hathaway is a rare specimen in his weight class, enjoying a valuable reach and size advantage. The most interesting thing about John Hathaway is that he's not coming from any special Wrestling or BJJ background. This kid has a proven record in the biggest arena out there, as his continuous improvement in all aspects of the game make him a sure shot for the UFC Lightweight crown sometime in the future.
2. Josh Grispi
Promotion: WEC
Age: 21
Record: 14-1
Weight Class: Featherweight
Team: South Shore Sportfighting
WEC Featherweight Josh Grispi is without a doubt one of the biggest rising talents in MMA. Holding a 14-1 record at the age of 21, with six TKO's and seven Submissions, Girspi is already a top contender in World Extreme Cagefighting. Josh Grispi is currently 4-0 in WEC, all first round finishes. More than that, "The Fluke" was only once out of the first round in his career. Humble personality and an incredible work rate are Josh Grispi's biggest assets. With Manny Gamburyan fighting for the WEC Featherweight title against Jose Aldo at WEC 51, "The Fluke" may be just one fight away from securing his shot at greatness.
3. Phil Davis
Promotion: UFC
Age: 23
Record: 7-0
Weight Class: Light Heavyweight
Team: Lloyd Irvin/A.K.A
Mr. Wonderful continued his UFC this weekend adventure with the third consecutive victory, this time over the 9-2 Rodney Wallace. Four-time NCAA Division I All-American, Phil Davis is one of the most decorated wrestlers in the UFC. And by training alongside top fighters at Team Lloyd Irvin and American Kickboxing Academy, Davis is expected to make his breakthrough during 2011. Just like Georges St. Pierre, Cain Velasquez and Jon Jones, Phil Davis' self-criticism will ensure the progress to the top of UFC Light Heavyweight division.
4. Pat Curran
Promotion: Bellator
Age: 22
Record: 12-3
Weight Class: Lightweight
Team: Curran MMA Academy
Bellator's 2010 Lightweight Tournament Winner, Pat Curran is definitely one of the most exciting prospects to ever compete in MMA. Pat Curran is currently 12-3 in his MMA campaign, with victories over the UFC veteran Roger "El Matador" Huerta and Toby Imada on his way to win the Bellator Lightweight Tournament. Pat Curran reminds me of Frankie Edgar by the way he built, and his illusive Boxing style. The Illinois-native will square off against the Top 10 155'er Eddie Alvarez on Bellator's Season Three, with sights on solidifying his place among the MMA Lightweight elite.
5. Ben Askren
Promotion: Bellator
Age: 26
Record: 6-0
Weight Class: Welterweight
Team: American Top Team/Lions Den
Sydney 2008 Olympics Wrestling participant, Ben Askren is one of the most promising fighters in MMA. Twenty-six year old Askren is currently a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Purple Belt, competing in ADCC and FILA against some of the top grapplers in the world. Askren dominated the Top 10 Welterweight Dan Hornbuckle at the Bellator Welterweight Tournament Final, and now will face the reigning Champ Lyman Good sometime during season three. In his fight against Hornbuckle, Askren was able to show how far he improved as a Mixed Martial Artist, by defeating submission attempts and disabling "The Handler's" top notch striking. Ben Askren will definitely be a Top 10 Welterweight in a few years from now.
6. Alexander Shlemenko
Promotion: Bellator
Age: 25
Record: 30-4
Weight Class: Middleweight
Team: RusFighters Sport Club
Another Bellator prospect, Twenty-six year old Alexander "The Storm" Shlemenko has an incredible record of 30-4 with 19 KO's, 4 Submissions and 7 Decisions. Shlemenko TKO'd the 13-1 Bryan Baker in his last fight, to win the Bellator Middleweight Tournament. His scheduled September fight against the fellow KO artist Hector Lombard could be a sure candidate for the Slugfest of the Year, especially when the both fighters share 33 TKO finishes in 63 career fights. Shlemenko could be a great addition to the UFC Middleweight division, with fights against the likes of Alan Belcher and Nate Marquardt as a potential toe-to-toe entertainment.
7. Renan Barao
Promotion: WEC
Age: 23
Record: 23-1
Weight Class: Bantamweight
Team: Nova Uniao Brasil
The young Brazilian has probably the most impressive record on this list, with 23 victories and just one defeat (in his first professional fight). Barao made his WEC debut last month at WEC 49: Varner vs Shalorus, by defeating Anthony Leone via second round armbar. In fact, 10 of Barao's career victories come by the way of submission. WEC Featherweight Champion and Nova Uniao partner Jose Aldo declared that Renan Barao will be in Top 3 of his division within a year. I personally share the same opinion.
8. Shane Del Rosario
Promotion: Strikeforce
Age: 25
Record: 10-0
Weight Class: Heavyweight
Team: Oyama
The young Strikeforce Heavyweight gun Shane Del Rosario demonstrated his continuous improvement against the more experienced Lolohea Mahe at the ShoMMA 9 event. Del Rosario's Muay Thai is a pleasure to watch, and his impressive 10-0 record of 8 TKO's and 2 Submission is a proof that he has a future as one of the top Heavyweights in the World. Del Rosario has recently expressed his desire to square off against Andrei Arlovski, in what could be a Baptism of Fire of his entrance to the Strikeforce's Heavyweight elite.
9. Magomed Shikshabekov
Promotion: M-1 Global
Age: 25
Record: 7-0
Weight Class: Welterweight
Team: Legion Russia
Young Dagestan-born Welterweight Magomed Shikshabekov is without a doubt M-1 Global's biggest prospect, and probably the biggest name after Fedor Emelianenko. "The Eagle" holds a clean 7-0 record, never out of the first round, two TKO's and four Submissions. At the age of 25, Shikshabekov has a bright future ahead of him. The twenty-five year old dominated his every opponent at M-1 Selection shows, thanks to his elite-level Sambo, which more and more reminds me of a young Fedor Emelianenko. Shikshabekov was originally scheduled to square off against AKA's Ron Keslar at Fedor vs. Werdum, but the fight was cancelled due to his Visa issues. This way or another, Shikshabekov's debut against a top opponent is just a question of time.
10. Dong Yi Yang
Promotion: UFC
Age: 25
Record: 9-0
Weight Class: Middleweight
Team: Korean Top Team
Korean Top Team product Dong Yi Yang already signed with the UFC, and will face TUF 11 product Chris Cammozi at the stacked UFC 121 event in October. The powerful South Korean trains alongside the Korean Zombie Chan Sung Jung, and holds an impressive all-TKO record of 9-0. Dong Yi Yang defeated the Pride Veteran Pawel Nestula in a controversial Sengoku">Sengoku bout, which will be remembered for Yang's multiple kicks to the groin. Nicknamed "The Ox", Dong Yi Yang brings a very "colorful" character to the Octagon, and will surely stay in the UFC for a reasonable amount of time.
http://www.lowkick.com/UFC/Top-10-Young-prospects-in-MMA-9476
Memo to Strikeforce: Fire Fedor
Leverage is fantastic for as long as you have it. When Harrison Ford can open a movie consistently, he can grab as many huge checks and obnoxious trailer perks he likes. But when a film tanks, that goes out the window.
Fedor Emelianenko bombed big-time against Fabricio Werdum in June. Call it a fluke or a careless mistake -- and it's probably a little of both -- but he blew it, taking his whole cyborg routine and wiping it clean.
OK. Fine. Rematch Werdum.
Can't do it because Werdum is injured? No big deal. Fight Alistair Overeem or Antonio Silva instead.
But Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker claims that Overeem and Silva are fighting each other in the fall.
It is at this point we should begin to consider the idea that Emelianenko is officially more trouble than he's worth.
There is no one outside of Overeem and Silva that makes any kind of sense for Emelianenko at this point in time. (I suppose Strikeforce could salvage the Josh Barnett fight, and it would be semi-worthwhile, but who knows what his licensing hassles would involve?) For Emelianenko's management to refuse either fight, it tells me they want a "confidence builder" so the Russian can polish some of the armor that got dulled against Werdum. It's not something Coker should be willing to accommodate, especially when the remainder of that division harbors Mike Kyle and Herschel Walker.
If the Werdum loss was just a transient mistake, there's no reason for Emelianenko to be rebuilt. He should be in there against top competition. If that's not on the table, the massive cost of employing him is nonsensical. It's a money drain for very little payoff.
Emelianenko isn't drawing ratings far outside the norm and he no longer carries the cachet of being the "best fighter ever." Refusing a fight with Overeem or Silva means he's a barnacle. Give him his one last contracted fight -- let Daniel Cormier either get a fast lesson or the chance at a huge upset -- and then cut him loose. Fighters fight; they don't balk.
Leverage is fantastic for as long as you have it. When Harrison Ford can open a movie consistently, he can grab as many huge checks and obnoxious trailer perks he likes. But when a film tanks, that goes out the window.
Fedor Emelianenko bombed big-time against Fabricio Werdum in June. Call it a fluke or a careless mistake -- and it's probably a little of both -- but he blew it, taking his whole cyborg routine and wiping it clean.
OK. Fine. Rematch Werdum.
Can't do it because Werdum is injured? No big deal. Fight Alistair Overeem or Antonio Silva instead.
But Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker claims that Overeem and Silva are fighting each other in the fall.
It is at this point we should begin to consider the idea that Emelianenko is officially more trouble than he's worth.
There is no one outside of Overeem and Silva that makes any kind of sense for Emelianenko at this point in time. (I suppose Strikeforce could salvage the Josh Barnett fight, and it would be semi-worthwhile, but who knows what his licensing hassles would involve?) For Emelianenko's management to refuse either fight, it tells me they want a "confidence builder" so the Russian can polish some of the armor that got dulled against Werdum. It's not something Coker should be willing to accommodate, especially when the remainder of that division harbors Mike Kyle and Herschel Walker.
If the Werdum loss was just a transient mistake, there's no reason for Emelianenko to be rebuilt. He should be in there against top competition. If that's not on the table, the massive cost of employing him is nonsensical. It's a money drain for very little payoff.
Emelianenko isn't drawing ratings far outside the norm and he no longer carries the cachet of being the "best fighter ever." Refusing a fight with Overeem or Silva means he's a barnacle. Give him his one last contracted fight -- let Daniel Cormier either get a fast lesson or the chance at a huge upset -- and then cut him loose. Fighters fight; they don't balk.
The disappearance of Gina Carano
If the people who figure out this kind of stuff are correct, Sylvester Stallone's done-blowed-up-good "The Expendables" will make $30 million or $35 million this weekend. That would exceed the three-day debuting gross of "The A-Team," giving co-star Randy Couture the distinction of being the MMA athlete with the best opening weekend. I'm sure this matters to someone, somewhere.
This relates to Gina Carano how?
Carano has a starring role in "Haywire," a Steven Soderbergh film set for release in early '11 in which she plays some kind of covert-ops spy targeted for elimination. (I have never heard of such a plot before. Exceptionally well done, Steven.) Next to co-star Channing Tatum, Carano may even give off the impression she can act. But while Couture and Quinton Jackson rotate increasingly substantial feature work with fights, Carano may have seen the last of the latter.
Via CagePotato, Couture told fans at a Q&A that he "hasn't seen [Carano] in the gym in nine months … I'd be very surprised to see her back in the cage."
The implication is that Carano is enjoying acting more than training or fighting -- a career that may have become increasingly less pleasurable for every minute she spent in the arena with Cristiane Santos. But is "Haywire" really Carano's parole from fighting?
Soderbergh's precocious technique of casting a complete amateur in a starring role is nothing new: He used a cast of non-actors in "Bubble" and, more infamously, cast adult film actress Sasha Grey in "The Girlfriend Experience." (She played an escort; the billing would be more interesting if she had played a nun.) None of these people have gone on to actual careers in performing; Carano might be a complete block of wood on screen. That wouldn't seem to bother Soderbergh but might have an impact on her future opportunities.
Couture and Jackson seem to have more of a grasp on the fickle nature of both industries and keep their opportunities open from both ends. Carano is particularly lucky considering her promoter, Strikeforce, isn't going to insist on throwing her to the wolves over and over again. If Hollywood is interested in Carano because she's "a real fighter," she might want to consider continuing to fight. Cynthia Rothrock, after all, never got her phone call from a Mr. Spielberg.
If the people who figure out this kind of stuff are correct, Sylvester Stallone's done-blowed-up-good "The Expendables" will make $30 million or $35 million this weekend. That would exceed the three-day debuting gross of "The A-Team," giving co-star Randy Couture the distinction of being the MMA athlete with the best opening weekend. I'm sure this matters to someone, somewhere.
This relates to Gina Carano how?
Carano has a starring role in "Haywire," a Steven Soderbergh film set for release in early '11 in which she plays some kind of covert-ops spy targeted for elimination. (I have never heard of such a plot before. Exceptionally well done, Steven.) Next to co-star Channing Tatum, Carano may even give off the impression she can act. But while Couture and Quinton Jackson rotate increasingly substantial feature work with fights, Carano may have seen the last of the latter.
Via CagePotato, Couture told fans at a Q&A that he "hasn't seen [Carano] in the gym in nine months … I'd be very surprised to see her back in the cage."
The implication is that Carano is enjoying acting more than training or fighting -- a career that may have become increasingly less pleasurable for every minute she spent in the arena with Cristiane Santos. But is "Haywire" really Carano's parole from fighting?
Soderbergh's precocious technique of casting a complete amateur in a starring role is nothing new: He used a cast of non-actors in "Bubble" and, more infamously, cast adult film actress Sasha Grey in "The Girlfriend Experience." (She played an escort; the billing would be more interesting if she had played a nun.) None of these people have gone on to actual careers in performing; Carano might be a complete block of wood on screen. That wouldn't seem to bother Soderbergh but might have an impact on her future opportunities.
Couture and Jackson seem to have more of a grasp on the fickle nature of both industries and keep their opportunities open from both ends. Carano is particularly lucky considering her promoter, Strikeforce, isn't going to insist on throwing her to the wolves over and over again. If Hollywood is interested in Carano because she's "a real fighter," she might want to consider continuing to fight. Cynthia Rothrock, after all, never got her phone call from a Mr. Spielberg.
MiddleEasy's Sunday Morning Rumor Mill
The same production team who was responsible for 'The Ultimate Chaos' in Biloxi, Mississippi were assigned to produce last night's 'War on the Mainland'.
Big Nog is out of UFC 119.
It looks like Cro Cop will return to action at UFC 122 in Oberhausen, Germany.
The basis of Bellator's lawsuit against ZUFFA is that Jonathan Brookins was signed to a Bellator contract but was grabbed by ZUFFA to appear in TUF 12. Apparently Jonathan Brookins was 'verbally released' from Bellator but nothing appeared in writing.
Roger Huerta expressed discontent with his Bellator and apparently wanted out of his contract. When Curran dropped out of his title shot against Eddie Alvarez, Roger was immediately offered the spot in a way to 'get him back in' the organization.
Bobby Lashley will get a title shot in 2011.
The possibility of Strikeforce introducing a 125lb womens division seems more likely.
Ben Saunders may take part in Golden Glory's upcoming eight-man welterweight tournament.
While ZUFFA is largely responsible for getting MMA legalized in Ontario, Mark Pavelich (MFC) issued a press release yesterday essentially saying that it's doubtful that the UFC could 'claim his territory'.
Bigfoot Silva vs. Alistair Overeem is on the verge of being announced.
Participants for the Strikeforce MW tournament thus far are: Matt Lindland, Benji Radach, Melvin Manhoef, Kevin Casey and Luke Rockhold.
I've said this months ago and now it appears to be coming to fruition: Gina Carano will fight again in Strikeforce.
After Mark Cuban 'called out' Dana White on getting his Inside MMA into UFC, Dana White met with a few of his employees and conference-called Mark Cuban that following Monday. Still unsure on what was discussed.
Sarah Kaufman vs. Cris Cyborg at the catchweight of 140lbs will probably happen by the end of the year. The two met at Strikeforce Challengers: Phoenix and verbally agreed on the bout.
UK's 'Sky Sports' is still unreceptive to ZUFFA and has elected to air other MMA organizations on their network.
Improving the production value on Strikeforce Challengers seems to be more of a Showtime issue than Strikeforce.
The long process of Bellator invading Japan has started with the organization broadcasting web streams specifically for Japan.
Shayna Baszler says that she's signed with Strikeforce.
Shane Carwin will make his official statement regarding his steroid allegations sometime this week.
A fight at Strikeforce Challengers: Phoenix was apparently canceled when the organization lost Christian Grosinsky's blood-test results. The Arizona commission is now scrambling to discover how this exactly happened.
Tim Sylvia will defend his newly acquired War on the Mainland title against Pedro Rizzo.
The same production team who was responsible for 'The Ultimate Chaos' in Biloxi, Mississippi were assigned to produce last night's 'War on the Mainland'.
Big Nog is out of UFC 119.
It looks like Cro Cop will return to action at UFC 122 in Oberhausen, Germany.
The basis of Bellator's lawsuit against ZUFFA is that Jonathan Brookins was signed to a Bellator contract but was grabbed by ZUFFA to appear in TUF 12. Apparently Jonathan Brookins was 'verbally released' from Bellator but nothing appeared in writing.
Roger Huerta expressed discontent with his Bellator and apparently wanted out of his contract. When Curran dropped out of his title shot against Eddie Alvarez, Roger was immediately offered the spot in a way to 'get him back in' the organization.
Bobby Lashley will get a title shot in 2011.
The possibility of Strikeforce introducing a 125lb womens division seems more likely.
Ben Saunders may take part in Golden Glory's upcoming eight-man welterweight tournament.
While ZUFFA is largely responsible for getting MMA legalized in Ontario, Mark Pavelich (MFC) issued a press release yesterday essentially saying that it's doubtful that the UFC could 'claim his territory'.
Bigfoot Silva vs. Alistair Overeem is on the verge of being announced.
Participants for the Strikeforce MW tournament thus far are: Matt Lindland, Benji Radach, Melvin Manhoef, Kevin Casey and Luke Rockhold.
I've said this months ago and now it appears to be coming to fruition: Gina Carano will fight again in Strikeforce.
After Mark Cuban 'called out' Dana White on getting his Inside MMA into UFC, Dana White met with a few of his employees and conference-called Mark Cuban that following Monday. Still unsure on what was discussed.
Sarah Kaufman vs. Cris Cyborg at the catchweight of 140lbs will probably happen by the end of the year. The two met at Strikeforce Challengers: Phoenix and verbally agreed on the bout.
UK's 'Sky Sports' is still unreceptive to ZUFFA and has elected to air other MMA organizations on their network.
Improving the production value on Strikeforce Challengers seems to be more of a Showtime issue than Strikeforce.
The long process of Bellator invading Japan has started with the organization broadcasting web streams specifically for Japan.
Shayna Baszler says that she's signed with Strikeforce.
Shane Carwin will make his official statement regarding his steroid allegations sometime this week.
A fight at Strikeforce Challengers: Phoenix was apparently canceled when the organization lost Christian Grosinsky's blood-test results. The Arizona commission is now scrambling to discover how this exactly happened.
Tim Sylvia will defend his newly acquired War on the Mainland title against Pedro Rizzo.
Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic replaces "Big Nog" in UFC 119 headliner
FROM MMAJUNKIE
Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic (27-7-2 MMA, 4-3 UFC) replaces an injured Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-6-1 MMA, 3-2 UFC) and now meets Frank Mir (13-5 MMA, 11-5 UFC) in the headliner of next month's UFC 119 event, according to a report from "Fighters Only."
Although details of Nogueira's injury were not reported, a source close to the fighter told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) a recurring hip injury is to blame.
UFC 119 takes place Sept. 25 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
The main card airs on pay-per-view, and two preliminary-card bouts air on Spike TV.
Mir and Nogueira were slated to rematch at UFC 119. Mir, of course, won his first meeting with Nogueira with an impressive second-round knockout at UFC 92 in December 2008. Only after the fight did we learn that Nogueira was slowed by staph-infection recovery and a knee injury. Still, Nogueira praised his opponent's performance and said he was surprised by Mir's noticeably improved striking skills.
Mir is just 1-2 since that big win, which marked Nogueira's first stoppage loss, with knockout losses to Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin and a submission win over Cheick Kongo. The Carwin loss, which came at UFC 111 in March with an interim title on the line, marks his most recent outing.
Filipovic, a former PRIDE star who's now in his second stint with the UFC, looks to improve upon his recent and impressive 5-1 run. The only loss during the stretch came to current top UFC contender Junior Dos Santos, and Filipovic immediately rebounded from that loss with recent stoppage wins over Anthony Perosh at UFC 110 and Pat Barry at UFC 115.
Filipovic had been medical suspended 180 days after the UFC 115 event due to head and face contusions, but he could've sought early clearance by a physician.
The latest UFC 119 card now includes:
MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view)
Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic vs. Frank Mir*
Ryan Bader vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
Chris Lytle vs. Matt Serra
Evan Dunham vs. Sean Sherk
Melvin Guillard vs. Jeremy Stephens
PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike TV)
C.B. Dollaway vs. Joe Doerksen
Joey Beltran vs. Matt Mitrione
PRELIMINARY CARD
Steve Lopez vs. Waylon Lowe
T.J. Grant vs. Julio Paulino
Mark Hunt vs. Sean McCorkle
Pat Audinwood vs. Aaron Riley*
* - Not officially announced
FROM MMAJUNKIE
Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic (27-7-2 MMA, 4-3 UFC) replaces an injured Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (32-6-1 MMA, 3-2 UFC) and now meets Frank Mir (13-5 MMA, 11-5 UFC) in the headliner of next month's UFC 119 event, according to a report from "Fighters Only."
Although details of Nogueira's injury were not reported, a source close to the fighter told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) a recurring hip injury is to blame.
UFC 119 takes place Sept. 25 at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
The main card airs on pay-per-view, and two preliminary-card bouts air on Spike TV.
Mir and Nogueira were slated to rematch at UFC 119. Mir, of course, won his first meeting with Nogueira with an impressive second-round knockout at UFC 92 in December 2008. Only after the fight did we learn that Nogueira was slowed by staph-infection recovery and a knee injury. Still, Nogueira praised his opponent's performance and said he was surprised by Mir's noticeably improved striking skills.
Mir is just 1-2 since that big win, which marked Nogueira's first stoppage loss, with knockout losses to Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin and a submission win over Cheick Kongo. The Carwin loss, which came at UFC 111 in March with an interim title on the line, marks his most recent outing.
Filipovic, a former PRIDE star who's now in his second stint with the UFC, looks to improve upon his recent and impressive 5-1 run. The only loss during the stretch came to current top UFC contender Junior Dos Santos, and Filipovic immediately rebounded from that loss with recent stoppage wins over Anthony Perosh at UFC 110 and Pat Barry at UFC 115.
Filipovic had been medical suspended 180 days after the UFC 115 event due to head and face contusions, but he could've sought early clearance by a physician.
The latest UFC 119 card now includes:
MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view)
Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic vs. Frank Mir*
Ryan Bader vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
Chris Lytle vs. Matt Serra
Evan Dunham vs. Sean Sherk
Melvin Guillard vs. Jeremy Stephens
PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike TV)
C.B. Dollaway vs. Joe Doerksen
Joey Beltran vs. Matt Mitrione
PRELIMINARY CARD
Steve Lopez vs. Waylon Lowe
T.J. Grant vs. Julio Paulino
Mark Hunt vs. Sean McCorkle
Pat Audinwood vs. Aaron Riley*
* - Not officially announced
Shane Carwin under fire
Every so often, the dormant conversation about the silent-partner role of steroids in mixed martial arts gets a nice kick in the rear -- though now the intervals between kicks seem to be getting longer. Is it due to more athletes being dissuaded from using, or are they simply getting better at finding efficient ways to not get caught? You have to wonder.
The industry hasn't had a scapegoat since Josh Barnett's positive test in summer 2009, but the draught is over: Shane Carwin has been named one of the supplied clients of J. Michael Bennett, an Alabama pharmacist who was just sentenced to four years for distribution.
Carwin allegedly received the stuff sometime in 2006, which would predate his entry into the UFC. That his use being in the past tense makes this a negligible issue for some is beyond my comprehension.
Let's say Carwin is guilty of use: that means fights in which he was conceivably aided by the improved strength and recovery opportunities of his "supplements." Those performances were obviously factors in getting his 2007 shot in the UFC. Using, having used -- it's all the same thing. If your career performances were influenced by a prohibited advantage, you'll enjoy the benefits even after quitting them. If someone uses drugs to qualify for the Olympic trials and then gets clean for the actual Games, is that nobility?
The charges also put a new spin on Carwin's fight with Brock Lesnar in July. Had Carwin managed -- as he seemed to be within seconds of doing -- to stop Lesnar, the UFC would now be attempting to shovel over the past indiscretions of their heavyweight champion. Carwin would have become the first current champion to have a U.S. attorney labeling him a cheat. Bullet dodged.
Does this really mean anything? Is anyone surprised by the news that a man who has to cut weight to make the 265-pound heavyweight ceiling might have ballooned with the help of lab science? I doubt it; audiences are too jaded at this point. While it may have been a shock to hear about the heroes of baseball -- essentially competing in one giant Norman Rockwell painting -- with needles sticking out of their rears, it's far easier to imagine licensed fighters doing anything to produce a more effective beating.
Combat sports have special problems because the risk of steroid use isn't limited to the fighters' organs or endocrine systems -- it also includes the potential to injure an opponent who may be choosing not to take the same path. Carwin is a wrecking ball of a fighter who barely needs to touch chins before they crack. Is it because he's gifted, or because he married already-promising genetics with the latest in test-tube athletics? And if it's the latter, it is that much better than showing up with a loaded glove?
Carwin has the same two options as every other athlete confronted with these charges: He can deny, deny, deny, or he can come clean and spin some trite "Afterschool Special" story about "making a mistake" and "having discovered drugs weren't the answer." Most athletes choose the former, though it's easier to claim a drug test went awry than to claim your name on a pharmacist's ledger for horse medicine was some kind of clerical error. Good luck to him.
Every so often, the dormant conversation about the silent-partner role of steroids in mixed martial arts gets a nice kick in the rear -- though now the intervals between kicks seem to be getting longer. Is it due to more athletes being dissuaded from using, or are they simply getting better at finding efficient ways to not get caught? You have to wonder.
The industry hasn't had a scapegoat since Josh Barnett's positive test in summer 2009, but the draught is over: Shane Carwin has been named one of the supplied clients of J. Michael Bennett, an Alabama pharmacist who was just sentenced to four years for distribution.
Carwin allegedly received the stuff sometime in 2006, which would predate his entry into the UFC. That his use being in the past tense makes this a negligible issue for some is beyond my comprehension.
Let's say Carwin is guilty of use: that means fights in which he was conceivably aided by the improved strength and recovery opportunities of his "supplements." Those performances were obviously factors in getting his 2007 shot in the UFC. Using, having used -- it's all the same thing. If your career performances were influenced by a prohibited advantage, you'll enjoy the benefits even after quitting them. If someone uses drugs to qualify for the Olympic trials and then gets clean for the actual Games, is that nobility?
The charges also put a new spin on Carwin's fight with Brock Lesnar in July. Had Carwin managed -- as he seemed to be within seconds of doing -- to stop Lesnar, the UFC would now be attempting to shovel over the past indiscretions of their heavyweight champion. Carwin would have become the first current champion to have a U.S. attorney labeling him a cheat. Bullet dodged.
Does this really mean anything? Is anyone surprised by the news that a man who has to cut weight to make the 265-pound heavyweight ceiling might have ballooned with the help of lab science? I doubt it; audiences are too jaded at this point. While it may have been a shock to hear about the heroes of baseball -- essentially competing in one giant Norman Rockwell painting -- with needles sticking out of their rears, it's far easier to imagine licensed fighters doing anything to produce a more effective beating.
Combat sports have special problems because the risk of steroid use isn't limited to the fighters' organs or endocrine systems -- it also includes the potential to injure an opponent who may be choosing not to take the same path. Carwin is a wrecking ball of a fighter who barely needs to touch chins before they crack. Is it because he's gifted, or because he married already-promising genetics with the latest in test-tube athletics? And if it's the latter, it is that much better than showing up with a loaded glove?
Carwin has the same two options as every other athlete confronted with these charges: He can deny, deny, deny, or he can come clean and spin some trite "Afterschool Special" story about "making a mistake" and "having discovered drugs weren't the answer." Most athletes choose the former, though it's easier to claim a drug test went awry than to claim your name on a pharmacist's ledger for horse medicine was some kind of clerical error. Good luck to him.
well john fitch has ALWAYS fought the way he did so i think thats just his style. but GSP is definitely suspect. and i would say anderson but he has so many finishes and even that epic one against griffon so maybe he does it sometimes. i mean you got people that always go for finishes and lose all the time and they always keep there jobs cause there fan favorites, like Guida & Wanderli so that isnt the problem, i just think MMA is more than a brawl and people take a intelligence factor in the cage with them and thats all good in my book.
^ And funny enough, GSP vs Fitch was fucking great.
I think GSP's problem lately is that when he's training he works on nothing but things that will give him an advantage over his opponent, instead of training on specific things to make himself better. If he worked on nothing but submissions from the top for a year he'd be beating people in the first round.
Then again, there's so much money involved once you're the champ now that these guys are playing it safe for the financial aspect of it all too.
I think GSP's problem lately is that when he's training he works on nothing but things that will give him an advantage over his opponent, instead of training on specific things to make himself better. If he worked on nothing but submissions from the top for a year he'd be beating people in the first round.
Then again, there's so much money involved once you're the champ now that these guys are playing it safe for the financial aspect of it all too.