PRIDE Goeth Before a Fall

“People didn’t get tested [for performance enhancing drugs in PRIDE],” “Hollywood” Dan Henderson (22-7), the last to don PRIDE straps at 90- and 83-kilos, told Sam Caplan in January.

The convo’ revolved around “Ely” Paulo Filho (16-0), and took a serious turn quickly.

“Are you saying Filho may be a juicer?”  Caplan quizzed.

“Well that’s my opinion anyway,” Hendo admitted.  “He hasn’t looked good since he left PRIDE.  I think that’s what not being able to use steroids will do to you.”

In an entirely unrelated story…

Filho’s on-again-off-again WEC middleweight title rematch with Hendo’s stablemate Chael Sonnen (19-9-1) is off…again.

From the suits at WEC headquarters: “WEC Middleweight Champion Paulo Filho has chosen to withdraw from his March 26th title defense against Chael Sonnen after voluntarily checking himself into an undisclosed rehabilitation center in Brazil on Thursday morning, March 13, to seek help for a substance abuse problem.”

But, Tatame had documented Filho’s intention days before.

“I wasn’t on a good moment, had depression,” Filho revealed to the Brazilian website.  “I wasn’t motivated to train, wasn’t training well, so I decided to do what the contract says and transferred the fight to June.”

Maybe it was something in the water in PRIDE, as they say.

Filho’s fellow PRIDE standout, “Cro Cop” Mirko Filipovic (22-6-2), misplaced his motivation around the same time his urine came under the scrutiny of American state athletic commissions too.

“I was empty before fights, depressed, I hated myself,” Cro Cop told DREAM’s first press conference about his nightmare in the UFC.

Later, on his blog at www.mma-id.com/CROCOP, Filipovic elaborated.  “The losses came from a lack of motivation.  I was really empty, I had no fire left in me.”

Cro Cop joined the UFC after winning PRIDE’s Open Weight Grand Prix by knocking out “The Axe Murder” Wanderlei Silva (31-8-1) and submitting “The Babyface Assasin” Josh Barnett (21-5) on strikes on the same September night in 2006.

It was the pinnacle of Cro Cop’s career.

But at his new address, Filipovic lost consecutive battles with “Napao” Gabriel Gonzaga (8-3) and Cheick Kongo (11-4-1), nearly filing papers for his retirement pension in the cage with Kongo.

Of course, with three current UFC belt-holders having 43 PRIDE fights among them, not all PRIDE fighters have shared the same sudden depression and lack of motivation after joining the big show.  And, those who haven’t are naming names…

“I knew Dan would knockout Wanderlei [Silva],” “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (29-6) said during a conference call promoting his light heavyweight title unification bout with Henderson last September in the UFC.  “Wanderlei wasn’t allowed to use that juice he like to use,” ‘Page explained about the 2007 Vegas PRIDE fight in which Hendo punched out Silva in the third round.

Silva, known for his sustained balls-to-the-wall MMA onslaughts, debuted in the UFC last December versus “Iceman” Chuck Liddell (21-5) sporting a noticeably more svelte physique and a new, energy-conscious fight game even the crunchies at Greenpeace could be proud of.

Now, Silva, the former long-time PRIDE 90-kilogram champ who fought Filipovic weighing more than the heavyweight, is openly contemplating a drop to 185-pounds.

Anyone can peep my 16-inch guns and know I’ve never used performance enhancing drugs, nor experienced the withdrawal symptoms of quitting the junk; but, a quick perusal of the “Anabolic Steroids” fact sheet at the Center for Substance Abuse Research reveals depression, mood swings, and fatigue as withdrawal symptoms of “that juice”, as Rampage called it.

And, one needn’t be Columbo to deduce that lost muscle mass is another clue.

Fighters talk to me too.  The dish is that those who seemed to have bottomless tanks over seas, but suddenly gas State-side; like, say…in round three of a 205-pound scrap versus a lovable, but lower-ranked opponent, are minus a lab-detectable dose of EPO.

Erythropoietin (EPO) is abused by endurance athletes to increase the number of red blood cells oxygenating their blood stream.

It’s Big Bear in a bottle; or, the canned equivalent to circuit training while wearing a snorkel.

It’s important to note that none of the athletes mentioned in this muse have failed drug tests, that I’m aware of.  I presume they’re all clean.

For all UFC fighters, their Octagon performance is their staunchest alibi or their bitter betrayer.

And the most bitter withdrawal symptom of abusing performance enhancing drugs is the lube-less mind-fuck on your pride.

One day your chin is high, standing atop a mound of crumpled opponents, tough mothers in their right, but confident in your ability, your stature in the world’s toughest athletic contest.

Now, the training regiment you once ate up is nearly impossible.  When you leave the gym, you have just enough energy to dread going back the next day.  Suddenly, you hate training.  You muddle through, sure the smell of blood will right your ship, but it’s no longer in you to best a fighter you would’ve beaten like a red-headed stepchild before.

Were you ever the beast you knew you were?  Was it ever you, or was it always what was in the bottle?  Can you ever stand atop that mound on your own?

To avoid coming to Jesus, a man might scurry back to a place that doesn’t ask for a urine sample, or check out of a fight that could force answers his ego can’t handle.

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YAMMA Pit Fighting Announces Final Fight Card

YAMMA Pit Fighting, a new MMA organization created by UFC founder Bob Meyrowitz, has announced the final details of the organization’s first live pay-per-view event.

The event, comprised of an eight-man tournament for the title of YAMMA Heavyweight Champion and two Masters Superfights, will air live in the U.S. from the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City on 11 April.

The two Masters Superfights will feature “Butterbean” Eric Esch (10-5-1) versus “Big Daddy” Gary Goodridge (23-15-1) and “The Russian Bear” Oleg Taktarov (15-5-2) versus “The Predator” Don Frye (19-6-1). 

“For YAMMA Pit Fighting’s inaugural event, we’ve brought together some of the greatest MMA veterans as well as some of the best emerging fighters,” said Bob Meyrowitz.  “The event will demonstrate that these MMA legends still have a lot to teach and will also advance the tournament fighters towards legendary status themselves.”

Butterbean is a professional super heavyweight boxer, kickboxer, and mixed martial artist.  Esch has held the title of IBA World Super Heavyweight Champion, as well as the WWA world heavyweight title.  Butterbean stands 5 ft 11 tall and weighs 398lbs.

Goodridge, a UFC/Pride/K-1 veteran, was born in Trinidad & Tobago and now resides in Ontario, Canada.  Goodridge is known for his devastating strikes and showmanship.  He first turned heads in the MMA scene with his victory over Paul Herrera in UFC 8.  Goodridge is also a top-ranked contender in professional arm wrestling.  He stands 6 ft 3 in tall and weighs 240lbs.

The 11 April event will unveil “The YAMMA”, an evolution of the traditional fighting structure that will change how the fight is fought and the strategy the fighters must use to win.  This new “ring” has been specifically designed to keep the fighting more explosive and continuous.

The event will also showcase the skill and endurance of eight fearsome competitors in a tournament match.  For the first time in over a decade in the States, MMA will return to its origins by reviving the hugely popular tournament format, in which fighters will participate in multiple fights on their way to claiming the ultimate victory, the title of YAMMA Heavyweight Champion.  Tournament fighting has long been a huge draw for dedicated MMA fans due to the non-stop action provided by fight-after-fight formatting.

The two newly announced MMA tournament fighters are:

Alexey Oleynik - a 6′1″, 220-pound fighter on Russia’s #1 team, Red Devil Sports Club, and an M-1 and Bodog veteran with an MMA record of 4-3.

George Bush - a 6’ 1”, 235-pound fighter from Columbus, Ohio with an MMA record of 5-0.

The entire fight card is as follows:

Masters Superfights

“The Russian Bear” Oleg Taktarov v “The Predator” Don Frye

“Butterbean” Eric Esch v “Big Daddy” Gary Goodridge

Heavyweight Tournament

“Pato” Marcelo Pereira
“The Tank” Sherman Pendergarst
Rex Richards
Tony Sylvester
Chris Tuscherer
“Diesel” Travis Wiuff
Alexey Oleynik
George Bush

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Mark Hunt: Schilt, Then “All MMA”

In an interview with Rogue Magazine, Kiwi kickboxer Mark Hunt (5-3) revealed details of his return to combat after 15-months off.

The article reports that Hunt will return to K-1 kickboxing versus “Hightower” Semmy Schilt at K-1’s Europe Grand Prix Final in Amsterdam 26 April; however, K-1’s website posts the bout as the main event at the World Grand Prix 2008 in Yokohama 13 April.

“It was part of the contract I was offered,” Hunt said of the Schilt fight.  “I did not want to fight K-1 since I have won the title already, but always up for a challenge; and, when the window of opportunity opens for me, I try to always take it ’cause it does not always open, you know?”

It’ll be Hunt’s last kickboxing bout.

“Well, it is only one K-1 fight to start with; the rest of my contract is all MMA,” Hunt promised.

The hard-headed Hunt fought MMA exclusively in PRIDE, until that promotion’s demise.  He scored back-to-back split decision victories over “The Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva (31-8-1) and “Cro Cop” Mirko Filipovic (22-6-2), followed by consecutive Kimura submission losses to “The Babyface Assasin” Josh Barnett (21-5) and Fedor Emelianenko (27-1).

“K-1 and DREAM are partners so the rest of my MMA fights are with DREAM,” Hunt explained, and designated 8 May for his return to mixed martial arts.

“[A rematch with Emelianenko] is another fight that will happen in the near future,” Hunt said.  ”I can’t say anymore!”

MMA math is trash, but MMA geometry?

Hunt’s MMA contract is in DREAM.  Emelianenko is reportedly divorcing M-1 Global to seek fights in other promotions.  Hunt promises a second dance with Emelianenko.

Assuming Hunt’s promise isn’t just a DREAM on his part….  Well, you see the same dots I do.  See if you can’t connect them.

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Emelianenko Coming Back to America

“My next bout will be organized in the USA,” Russian heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko (27-1) told M1Mixfight.com.

The Samboist from Stary Oskol hasn’t fought State-side since breaking “The Hammer” Mark Coleman (15-8) in an armbar in Vegas in October 2006.

“I can’t say anything about my opponent at the moment,” Emelianenko added, but claimed he’s interested in fighting “top ten for sure.”

He left open the possibility of fighting friend “The Babyface Assassin” Josh Barnett (21-5) who recently returned from a 14-month break to tap judoka Hidehiko Yoshida (7-6-1) in a heel hook at Sengoku.

“I’m aware of the fact such bout is planned but I haven’t been told anything about it as of yet,” he explained.

He quashed rumours of a match-up with undefeated legend Rickson Gracie (11-0), claiming, “Rickson wouldn’t take part in it.”

Ironically, the widely-ranked top heavyweight said, “I want Russian banner to be placed in the first lines of the magazines regardless their bias.”

Emelianenko’s reign atop the weight class is increasingly controversial due to his choice of soft competition in the last 30 months.

He countered UFC President Dana White, who’s openly questioned Emelianenko’s ranking, describing White as someone who “talks a lot, sometimes rashly without having thought before,” and accusing him of offering him “a one-sided contract on unacceptable conditions.”

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Better Leites Than Never

After two false starts, Brazilian Thales Leites (12-1) and American Nathan Marquardt (26-7-2) will clash horns at UFC 85 on 7 June in London.

The two middleweights were originally matched for 77, but Leites failed to score a visa for the fight.  Then, Leites pulled out of the second matchup at 81 last month with a broken hand.

Marquardt fought on with late replacement “Gumby” Jeremy Horn (79-17-5) and survived a first round near-gogo to guillotine choke Horn to submission at 1:37 of round two.

Leites hasn’t fought since last August when he tapped Ryan Jensen (11-3) 3:47 into the first set.

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Cro Cop Blogs About Future: K-1 Opponents, Surgery

In his cage hiatus back to familiar fight turf in Japan, “Cro Cop” Mirko Filipovic (22-6-2) aims to follow Fedor Emelianenko’s (27-1) latest career path of exploiting kickboxers debuting in MMA.

“There’s a possibility of facing some good fighters from K-1 under MMA rules [in DREAM],” Cro Cop posted Tuesday on his blog at http://www.mma-id.com/CROCOP.

Cro Cop meets Japanese tomato can Tatsuya Mizuno (3-2) at DREAM.1 this weekend.

Filipovic also revealed, ” I’ve been having troubles with my left elbow.   It’s nothing too serious but I’m scheduled for a surgery later this month.”

The fighter expects to return to the gym a couple of days after surgery.

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Silva Versus Samuray at 84

Rising UFC light heavyweight Thiago Silva (12-0) of American Top Team has reportedly drawn “Samuray” Antonio Mendes (14-2) of European Top Team for a UFC 84 all-Brazil bout in Vegas.

Silva was rumored to be paired with Rashad Evans (11-0-1) for a top contender eliminator until Evans was tagged for bigger game at UFC 85 in London after “Shogun” Mauricio Rua (16-3) re-injured his knee and dropped his main event match with “Iceman” Chuck Liddell (21-5).

Mendes of Fortaleza, where fighters are born, rides into the fight capital of the world atop an 11-fight “W” trend.

In his last fight in M-1 last July, the ring-side doc waved mercy over his Russian opposite Kiril Sidelnikov (2-1) of Red Devil Sport Club at the end of round two for a TKO.

Silva of Sao Paulo is fresh from exposing hulking Nebraskan Houston Alexander (8-2) to what we in the biz refer to as “the ground game”, TKOing the hyped disc jockey at 3:25 of round one last November.

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Malaipet to Make Main Event Debut

“The Diamond” Malaipet Sitprapom (3-1) will try to continue his transformation from world-class superstar Muay Thai kickboxer to mixed martial arts world champion when he faces “Wildman” Thomas Denny (25-16) Friday, 21 March, at Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California.

A winner of three in a row, the popular, extremely charismatic Malaipet will be making his MMA main event debut in a fight that will headline a five-bout ShoXC: Elite Challenger Series telecast on Showtime that begins at 23:00 ET/PT (delayed on the west coast of the U.S.).

It is the fifth ShoXC cage fight card, which is patterned after the popular Showtime boxing series ShoBox: The New Generation, which has been a springboard for many, young future champions.

“Like I’ve said, there are a lot of  promising MMA fighters thirsting for an opportunity to show their stuff and make a name for themselves on the worldwide stage,” EliteXC Live Events President Gary Shaw said.  “This [ShoXC] is the place where they can do it.   The Malaipet-Denny matchup is a great one.

“Malaipet is a legend in kickboxing, but I think a lot of us are anxious to see how he does as he continues to step up.  For sure, he could turn out to be special, but Denny is one tough vet.  I love to watch the progress of all young athletes as they develop.  The response to this series has been incredible.”

Few, if any, world champions in other sports have made a successful cross over to MMA; but, Malaipet, a decorated 17-year pro with reportedly more than 300 Muay Thai bouts, could be an exception.
 
A Lumpinee champ in Thailand, Malaipet has a very Thai style of movement, which he exhibited in his ShoXC debut, an impressive, dominant performance against Kaleo Kwan (5-8) en route to winning a three-round standup war by 30-26 and 30-27 twice.  He was calm, relaxed, punched in combination and displayed the kind of stalking footwork that lets him carefully pick his shots and his opponent apart.
 
“I started watching MMA when I got to the U.S. and liked what I saw,” he said.  “I respect both Muay Thai and MMA.  I am still learning, but I feel I have what it takes to make it in MMA.”

So, can Malaipet make up ground, and learn a ground game, so he doesn’t get tossed to the mat and, possibly, get submitted?  For sure, the more experienced, determined Denny will try and find out.

A former King of the Cage champion who recently signed with EliteXC, the 5-foot-10-inch Denny has fought the likes of “Daddy” Joe Stevenson (28-8), “Bang” Duane Ludwig (16-8), and Yves Edwards (33-13-1).

A colorful fighter known for wild and crazy hairstyles, Denny specializes in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling, and Muay Thai kickboxing.  His self-proclaimed signature moves are “knees and elbows.”  But, mostly Denny likes to “give pain.  I like to make my opponent suffer.

“Malaipet is untested on the ground.  Well, I am going to test him,” Denny said.  “I always like to do the opposite of whatever my opponent is doing anyway, and everyone knows Malaipet wants to stand up.”

In other bouts on the telecast, Marlon Matias (5-1) of Brazil faces Conor Huen (6-2) of Los Angeles at 160 pounds; Shane Del Rosario (3-0) of Irvine, California meets Analu Brash (1-1) of Kula, Maui at 265 pounds; and Mark Oshiro (9-1) of Honolulu clashes with Chris Caraiso (6-0) of California at 140 pounds.

Non-televised bouts include: Devin Howard (debut) of La Habra, California versus Mark Kempthorne (1-4) of Vandenberg, California at 170 pounds; Amadeo Viola (0-1) of San Bernardino, California versus Jason Williams (debut) of Vandenberg, California at 265 pounds; Luke Riddering (debut) of San Luis Obispo, California versus TBA at 170 pounds; and Kenny Johnson (debut) of Los Angeles versus TBA at 170 pounds.

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Diaz, Melendez Fill Out Strikeforce Card

Lightweights Nick Diaz (15-7) and “El Niño” Gilbert Melendez (13-1) fatten-up 29 March’s Strikeforce feast featuring middleweight champ Frank Shamrock (23-8-1) versus Cung Le (5-0) in San Jose.

Melendez will defend his Strikeforce lightweight title from Iowan Gabe Lemley (11-6).

Lemley brings six consecutive stoppages into the cage since returning to the sport in ‘07, after closing ‘05 with two submission losses and sitting out ‘06.

Melendez, pulled from this weekend’s DREAM.1 lightweight grand prix, returns from his first “L” versus Japanese wrestler “Endless Fighter” Mitsuhiro Ishida (15-3-1), a unanimous decision.

Diaz also wants to avenge a loss.  He dropped EliteXC’s first 160-pound title tussle to “KJ” Karl James Noons (6-2) last November on cuts.

“The Korean Icepick” Jae Suk Lim (9-3) will try to chip fresh wounds into Diaz’s increasingly tender face.

For Lim, it’ll be his second North American scrap, having debuted on the continent for EliteXC with a rear naked choke submission of Daniel Pinedo (4-2) on the undercard of Diaz’s title fight.

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Kiss Off

DREAM rotated tomato cans Monday for this weekend’s DREAM.1 debut event featuring “Cro Cop” Mirko Filipovic.

“My opponent will be Tatsuya Mizuno,” Cro Cop announced via his blog at http://www.mma-id.com/CROCOP.  “Although I announced Yoshihiro Nakao as my first opponent in DREAM, this fight is not going to happen.  I’m not familiar with reasons and I won’t be asking for any.”

Mizuno is a 3-2 Japanese judoka who’s only fought in Pancrase.  He’s bowed to any competition stiffer than a licorice stick.

Short-notice gives Mizuno little time to prepare for the Croatian kickboxer short of getting fitted for a neck brace, which one hopes was written into his contract gratis.

“The most important thing is that I’m going to fight on Saturday,” Cro Cop assured, unflustered by the change.

There was a time when the most important thing to the feared striker was proving himself against top competition in the sport; but, that has become but a DREAM.

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