» Archive for February, 2008

WEC Middleweight Champion Paulão Filho, 16-0, will nail the lid on his 185-pound reign win, lose, or draw versus Chael Sonnen at WEC 33 in Las Vegas 26 March.

“We arranged that after this fight I’ll go [to 205 pounds] and face Doug Marshall for WEC’s belt,” Filho told Tatame.

Marshall defends the WEC Light Heavyweight Championship versus Brian Stann on the same card next month.

“People don’t know, but I have six fights at [185 pounds] and ten at [205 pounds],” Filho explained.  “When I lose too much weight I hurt my health, like at last fight, when I needed to do eight hours of sauna.”

Sonnen’s Team Quest stablemate “Hollywood” Dan Henderson charged to MMANews.com in January, “I don’t think [Filho] has been very impressive in his last two performances since coming to the U.S., but I think that’s what not being able to use steroids will do to you.”

Filho, who has PRIDE wins versus Kazuo Misaki, Ryo Chonan, and Murilo Rua, has long been speculated as a possible opponent for UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva when the UFC’s thin 185-pound division dries up.

But in February former UFC Middleweight Champion Rich Franklin assessed, “Filho has a bad style to fight Anderson.  He’d have to take a couple of warm-up fights in the UFC.”

According to Filho, that 185-pound option has already dried up.

Brazilian Top Team leader Murilo Bustamante fired off an open letter disputing claims made in an article written by Tim Leidecker of Sherdog.com entitled The downfall of BTT and Chute Boxe.

Bustamante’s big gripe is Leidecker’s claim that, “It had been an open secret that both BTT and Chute Boxe charged fighters a significant commission on their salaries.”

Bustamante fires back, “I can say now that we charged and still charge ten percent [for] management and ten percent [for] training, what, in my opinion, is more than fair.”

In the letter, Bustamante also took issue with Leidecker’s assertion that, “Affiliation with these teams even led to the Pride debuts of some fighters who clearly weren’t on an elite level.”

Bustamante counters, “Brazilian Top Team’s presence at most of Pride’s events was requested because of the technical quality of the fighters.”

Bustamante closes with the promise that BTT “will form new champions real soon.”

The CBS Television Network and ProElite, Inc., a Los Angeles-based leading entertainment and media company that produces world class mixed martial arts (MMA) events, today jointly announced a multi-year agreement that will bring one of the fastest growing spectator sports to a major broadcast television network for the first time.

CBS will broadcast four MMA events per year, produced by ProElite’s EliteXC fight division, as two-hour live primetime specials targeted for Saturday nights. 

The agreement augments an existing relationship between CBS Corporation and ProElite, which began broadcasting its EliteXC live MMA events on CBS’s Showtime premium cable network in 2007.  EliteXC events will continue to air on Showtime.

Additionally, CBS Interactive and ProElite’s new media division, ProElite.com, will collaborate on generating interactive content for both companies’ platforms, including CBSSports.com.  The online offerings could include streaming of events, clips syndicated across the CBS Audience Network, and other enhanced content to build an online community around each CBS broadcast and ProElite event.

“Mixed martial arts is one of the fastest growing sports in the country and a wildly popular entertainment vehicle for upscale, young adult audiences,” said Kelly Kahl, Senior Executive Vice President, CBS Primetime.  “It’s original programming for Saturday night; it’s live, creating an event-atmosphere; and it’s something that hasn’t been seen on network television, until now.”

“This is a pivotal moment for the sport of mixed martial arts now that a major television network plans to broadcast live MMA events during primetime hours,” said Douglas DeLuca, Chief Executive Officer of ProElite.  “We are delighted to enhance our partnership with CBS to bring American audiences the very best in MMA competition through our EliteXC brand.  

“The network television agreement with CBS is an important milestone for ProElite as we continue to implement our growth strategy and develop existing relationships with our international partners.”

“Our world-class fighters and the high production value of our events continue to drive ProElite as a global MMA organization that is fortified by the bedrock foundation of a partnership with CBS,” said Gary Shaw, President of EliteXC.  “Broadcasting our events on CBS will instantly engage a new fan base, as well as provide an opportunity for EliteXC to further establish itself as the world’s premier MMA organization.”
 
The intense nature of the contests and the theatrical elements of its live events have made mixed martial arts one of the fastest growing spectator sports in the United States.  Over the last several years, the genre has seen tremendous growth in popularity, especially among the coveted 18-34 demographic.

The DREAM.1 Lightweight Grand Prix now has four fights, but the main event continues to be the first round match-up between “JZ” Gesias Calvancanti and the “Tobikan Judan” Shinya Aoki.

Canadian “Black Mamba” Kultar Gill will post his 9-6 record versus Japanese “Crusher” Tatsuya Kawajiri, 20-4-2.

Kawajiri’s record includes a DQ “W” over fellow Grand Prix competitor Joachim Hansen.  “Black Mamba” broke a three-loss skid in K-1 and Bodog with a first round TKO of Hideo Tokoro in K-1 Hero’s Middleweight Tournament in his last fight.

Kazuyuki Miyata, 5-6, emerges from a rear naked choke loss to Hansen on K-1’s New Year’s Eve card to face-off with “Buscape” Luiz Firmino, 11-3.

Firmino’s record lists a 2005 unanimous decision loss to Kawajiri in PRIDE Bushido.

“Hellboy” Joachim Hansen of Norway locks horns versus Norifumi Yamamoto’s Krazy Bee trainee Kotetsu Boku.

Hansen holds the distinction of being the first MMA fighter submitted in a gogoplata performed by Aoki in PRIDE.  Boku’s 13-4-1 record includes victories over former UFC lightweight contender Hermes Franca and Eiji Mitsuoka, who was the last fighter to douse out ”Hellboy”.

Last February in Vegas, North County Fight Club heavyweight Eddie Sanchez took one for the team.

Sanchez looked like a lamb being lead to slaughter entering the Octagon to become Cro Cop’s cage debut.  He took an “L” at 4:33 of round one by TKO.

He was to become Cro Cop’s only cage victim in three starts.

Had Sanchez known Cro Cop was…human (as we found out in fights versus Gabriel Gonzaga and Cheick Kongo), he may have done enough to see the final bell, maybe even win.

Sanchez may be given a second chance, this time with the vital intel’ going in.

The rumor among fighters is that Sanchez is getting the call to face Brock Lesnar at UFC 85 in London.

Lesnar debuted in the Octagon versus Frank Mir and was quickly submitted via knee bar.

Neither Sanchez nor Lesnar has confirmed.  Mum is the consistently official word at the UFC; so, I didn’t even ask for official confirmation.

Also rumored for the UFC’s return to 02 Arena is a welterweight scrap between “The Irish Hand Grenade” Marcus Davis and “Quick” Mike Swick.

The fight is tabled and awaiting signatures from the principles.

Davis comes off a one-minute knockout of Jess Liaudin in Newcastle, making four stoppages and 11 wins in a row.  Swick’s last night’s work was a lackluster majority decision debut at 170-pounds versus Josh Burkman.

Sokoudjou has confirmed judoka on judoka violence at UFC 84 in Vegas versus Kazuhiro Nakamura.

“He’s someone I respect,” Sokou says.  “It’s just business.  Nothing personal.”

Both return from losses to “The Dragon” Ryoto Machida.

“The Hungarian Nightmare” Christian Wellisch says,  “I have not signed a contract for another fight.”

Wellisch is rumored to welcome hulking wrestler Shane Carwin to the Octagon at UFC 84.

Tuesday the UFC officially scheduled a home and an away game slotted for 24 May in Vegas and 7 June in London.

Loose lips had already divulged details for both events.

At the MGM Grand Garden Arena 24 May, “The Prodigy” BJ Penn will defend his UFC Lightweight Championship against the improper advances of former 155-pound champ Sean Sherk, returning from a banned substances suspension.

My Portuguese is a little rusty, but Wanderlei Silva has also confirmed via his blog that he’s signed to fight Keith Jardine on the Vegas strip.

Other rumored bouts include:

Ryoto Machida v Tito Ortiz
Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou v Kazuhiro Nakamura
Rashad Evans v Thiago Silva
Wilson Gouveia v Goran Reljic
Rousimar Palhares v Ivan Salaverry
Dong-hyun Kim v Jason Tan
Terry Etim v Jeremy Stephens
Shane Carwin v Christian Wellisch

At 02 Arena in London 7 June, light heavyweights Chuck Liddell and  Mauricio Rua will headline in a fight that not too long ago would’ve been considered the king-maker at 205.

Brandon Vera has also confirmed he’ll return versus Fabricio Werdum in London.

Brock Lesnar is also rumored to return on this fight card.

Reliably adequate Nor Cal MMA promotion Strike Force put on a snoozer Saturday at the Tacoma Dome.

The event headlined by “The Beast” Bob Sapp’s North American MMA debut was beamed live in HD on HDNet.

BUM-BUM BUM-BUM BUM-BUM BUM

Sapp was TKO’d in 55 seconds by 2-5 South African Jan Nortje.

That’s about as anti-climactic as the fight, which began with Sapp entering the cage to the theme music of “2001: A Space Odyssey”.

But, don’t shed a tear for “The Beast”, who drops to 9-3-1, nor raise your hopes that the cartoon will end.

Sapp has lost before and reportedly has a fight waiting for him 15 March in Dream’s inaugural promotion in Japan.  He’s still a draw in the East.

“The Beast” will live on.

Fast-rising middleweight Cory Devela notched a big name on his belt when “Diesel” Joe Riggs was forced to submit at 1:22 of the first round after a judo throw caused an injury in Riggs’s back.

Devela raises his record to 8-1, while Riggs falls to 27-10.

There’s been no word on the nature or severity of Riggs’s back injury, but Riggs was forced off a WEC card last year due to a back injury.

“GameBred” lightweight Jorge Masvidal continued his seven-fight streak with a unanimous decision over 9-3-1 Ryan Healy.

Masvidal has posted wins versus Yves Edwards, Nuri Shakir, and Joe Lauzon and seems ready to step-up in competition.

Former UFC Heavyweight Champion “Mo” Maurice Smith welcomed veteran kickboxing star “The Jet” Rick Roufus to MMA, submitting the K-1 fighter in an armlock at 1:53 of the first round.

On the undercard, Washington welterweight “Fast” Eddy Ellis pulled even at 14-14-1 with a unanimous decision versus “Red Nose” Steve Berger.

Hometown heavyweight Mychal Clark punched Josh Bennett’s eye swollen shut to register a TKO at the end of two rounds.

“Fancy Pants” Lyle Beerbohm remained undefeated after submitting fellow welterweight “Relentless” Ray Perales in a guillotine choke 1:19 into round three.

Heavyweight Mike Hayes won his pro MMA debut over Matt Kovacs in a unanimous decision.

Zach Skinner ruined Scott Shaffer’s MMA debut with a unanimous decision victory.

Finally, Nathan Coy improved to 3-0 after knocking out debuting Dave Courchaine in the first round.

DEEP’s middleweight tournament kicked off at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo Friday.

The tournament seeks a successor to Ryo Chonan, who vacated the DEEP title for the UFC last year.

The first bout featured Akihiro Gono and Kazuo Misaki Grabaka stablemate Riki Fukuda taking a unanimous decision over former title holder Ryuta Sakurai, 15-14-4, to improve to 9-3.

Yuichi Nakanishi pulled even to 7-7-3 with a split decision over another Grabaka fighter, Eiji Ishikawa, who dropped his fifth straight.

MMA vet Daijiro Matsui, 10-18-4, also eeked out a split decision over 9-4 Young Choi.

The final tournament session saw 10-5 Yuya Shirai taking a unanimous decision over 5-2-4 Sojiro Orui.

In undercard action, Yasuhito Namekawa submitted Carlos Toyota in an Achilles lock 2:58 into round one to improve to 20-16-3.

Toshiaki Kitada and Isao Terada added draws to their records at 143-pounds,  as did “Barbaro44″ Yoshihiro Tomioka and Seigo Inoue at 154-pounds and Ken Hamamura and Chigetoshi Iwase at 176-pounds.

Yoshiyuki Nakanishi was able to find a definitive finish with a unanimous decision over Shunsuke Inoue, remaining undefeated at 3-0.

In the event’s only Future Fighting Spirit matchup, Ryoji Suzuki submitted Kenta Okuyama by rear naked choke at 2:08 of the second round to improve to 2-2.

Jorge Gurgel’s MMA Academy north of Cincinnati opened up this week to host Rich Franklin’s training camp to prepare for his April 19 fight versus Travis Lutter.

It’s Franklin’s first gym stint since having a torn meniscus surgically repaired after losing a title rematch versus the “Spider” Anderson Silva.

“[The injury was caused] by kicking, by just being an athlete.  I’ve been doing what I can.  We postponed the fight from Columbus [in March] because of the surgery,” the former UFC Middleweight Champion said en routebetween promotional appearances in Las Vegas and Orlando.

In January, Franklin’s father, Rich Sr., passed away unexpectedly at the age of 56.

“It just took the wind out of me,” confides the fighter.

“For some reason, the UFC wanted him to fight soon.  I don’t know why,” adds Franklin’s agent, J.T. Stewart.

After losing to Silva, Franklin negotiated a new six-fight deal with the UFC.

“I can’t really see myself fighting any place else,” he says.

“Ace” also plans to take his camp to Seattle to train with Matt Hume, the kickboxer and trainer he added to his team before his rematch with Silva.

“I’ve never seen anyone who breaks down tapes like Matt,” Franklin gushes.  “I’ve always used tapes, but never the way he uses them.”

After his last fight, Franklin took on a different role.

“I liked taping the Xience commercial, so I asked my agent to find more work like that,” Franklin explains.

He was soon offered the title role in the straight-to-DVD film “Weapon”, which is currently in post-production for release later this year.

“I am the weapon,” Franklin chuckles.  “When my agent told me about the offer, I didn’t want to do it [because it was such a big role], but they convinced me.”

Franklin stars opposite Tiffani Amber Thiessen, formerly of TV hits “Saved by the Bell” and “Beverly Hills 90210”.

“I don’t know anyone of my generation who didn’t watch ‘Saved by the Bell’,” says Franklin.  “But [Tiffani] was so friendly, so down to Earth…a professional.

“Before leaving [for Ontario], I bragged to my friends that I had a kissing scene with [Tiffani], but the first day of filming I was so nervous.

“I’m not an actor.  It takes so long to set-up each scene…and it’s not filmed in sequence, so you never really know how well you’ve done.”

He’ll return to Canada for his fight with Lutter, in Montreal.

“I think Travis is a professional,” Franklin says, despite his opponent’s lapse before the biggest fight of his career.  From Franklin, known for his professionalism, that’s a high compliment.

“Realistically, another fight with Anderson wouldn’t be that interesting for fans.  But, [fighting] is how I make money.  Whenever I’m at the end of my rope and I take a week away from the gym, I’m anxious to get back.  I’m just a competitor.”

Thursday the Ultimate Fighting Championship announced a partnership with Yahoo! to stream PPV events online beginning with UFC 82 March 1.

“This relationship with Yahoo! is an important step for the UFC to build its global distribution platform for live pay-per-view events,” said Dana White, UFC President.  “We are looking forward to working with Yahoo! Sports to expand our reach and bring the sport of mixed martial arts to fight fans in every corner of the world in every possible language.”

Yahoo! has previously streamed Strikeforce events and maintains dedicated MMA coverage.