Silva: “I love this. I love to fight.”

I’m not sure Fighters.com tenth-ranked light heavyweight “Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva (32-8-1) understood all the questions I asked.

In fact, it seemed like he was answering a different interview than I was giving.

But, cut him some slack. In ten minutes I listened to Silva give interviews in three languages: English, Spanish, and his native Portuguese.

I overheard another interviewer ask him a question I thought could’ve been better worded, but loved Silva’s response.

(Paraphrased)

Interviewer: Will we see the old Wanderlei Silva Saturday night?

Wanderlei Silva: Every fight I give it my all. You guys don’t understand. These guys are so much better, stronger, they can stand, good on ground.

Does that settle the UFC v PRIDE debate? Somehow, I doubt it…

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Li’l Nog to Tame Tiger

Light heavyweight “Minotoro” Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (13-3), twin brother of Fighters.com’s top-ranked heavyweight “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1), will fight “Tiger” Vernon White (26-32-2) on Affliction’s Banned card 19 July in Anaheim, outside of Los Angeles, reported MMA Junkie Friday.

Nogueira was widely-ranked among the top ten light heavyweights in the world until seventh-ranked light heavyweight “African Assassin” Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (4-2) literally knocked him out of the rankings in Soko’s PRIDE debut in February 2007.

“Minotoro” bounced back in a tough second-round TKO over Canadian Todd Gouwenberg (7-4) in the since-defunct Hardcore Championship Fighting last February.

“Tiger” is an MMA original, fighting on the first Pancrase card in 1993.  Since 2003 he’s 6-10-1 with fights in the UFC, WEC, IFL, and other promotions.

Recently, he picked up a “W” in April when Jeremiah Constant (6-4) was DQ’d, White’s first fight since losing to Marcelo Tigre (12-3) due to an injury White suffered in the first round.

“Babalu” Renato Sobral (29-7) and “The Law” Matt Lindland (20-5), both also appearing on Affliction’s debut card in separate fights, make more compelling matchmaking for Nogueira.

Nogueira, Sobral, and Lindland are all matched versus fighters they seemingly hold significant advantages over.

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St. Pierre Versus Fitch Replaces Lesnar Versus Coleman

The UFC announced Thursday that Fighters.com’s top-ranked welterweight “Rush” Georges St. Pierre (16-2) will defend his UFC title versus second-ranked Jon Fitch (17-2) in Minneapolis in August.

The fight between world’s best welters will replace the previously announced main event featuring Brock Lesnar (1-1) versus “Hammer” Mark Coleman (15-8).

Forty-three-year old Coleman withdrew from the fight after tearing his MCL in training.

The “Godfather of Ground’n'Pound”, as coined by UFC broadcaster Joe Rogan, was brought back to the UFC for his first fight in the Octagon since UFC 18 in 1999 to give Lesnar a name, but manageable opponent.

Lesnar debuted in the UFC in February with a first-round kneebar submission loss to Frank Mir (11-3).

“Rush” recaptured the UFC title in April in a revenge rout of “Terror” Matt Serra (9-5).

Fitch won a slog by unanimous decision UFC debuting Chris Wilson (13-4) in March.

Lesnar will remain on the card versus an opponent to be determined.

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Gouveia: “[Reljic] has a big mouth.”

In January, American Top Team’s Wilson Gouveia (10-4) surprised critics by knocking out “Punisher” Jason Lambert (23-7), who was coming off a knockout of former light heavyweight contender “Babalu” Renato Sobral (29-7).

Gouveia arrived at Wednesday’s UFC 84 open workout with stablemate Thiago Silva (12-0), another rising talent at 205-pounds who will fight “Samuray” Antonio Mendes (14-2).

Gouveia talked about his commitment to MMA and the opening night jitters his UFC 84 opponent Goran Reljic (7-0) will be feeling Saturday.

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Reljic Snaps the Mits Before UFC 84 Debut

Saturday night at UFC 84 in Las Vegas, undefeated Croatian Goran Reljic (7-0) will debut in the Octagon versus light heavyweight Brazilian Wilson Gouveia (10-4).

Wednesday afternoon, Reljic punished the pads for the media. He gave the most vigorous demo among the six open workout participants, snapping leather for ten full minutes with Xtreme Couture trainers Ron Frazier and Shawn Tompkins (0-4).

Reljic told reporters that European fighters have to change their training to the camp system of North America because of the level of support he’s received while training at Xtreme Couture.

The Croatian also expressed his commitment to a respectable showing after the deconstruction of his countrymen “Cro Cop” Mirko Filipovic (23-6-2) inside the Octagon.

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Penn: “We all know [Sherk] is vulnerable if he’s on his back.”

On last Thursday’s UFC 84 conference call, Fighters.com’s fourth-ranked lightweight and UFC Champion “Prodigy” B.J. Penn (12-4-1) was asked about fighting as a Hawaiian and gave an excited, passionate reply.

I tried to capture that response for Fighters.com and, of course, Penn clammed up when I asked.

But, Penn does talk some funny smack on fifth-ranked title challenger “Muscle Shark” Sean Sherk (32-2-1).

Penn talks softly and carries a big fist, so crank up your volume.

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TUF 7: Doberman Pinches Klein

By Jon Grilz

UFC President Dana White began this week’s The Ultimate Fighter episode explaining what many people have had on their minds since last week’s episode: Why didn’t the fight between Cale Yarbrough (0-0) and Patrick Schultz (5-1-1) go to a third round?

Simple.  Round two was scored 10-8 in favor of Yarbrough.

While Schultz has a legitimate beef, it was Fighters.com’s top-ranked light heavyweight “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (28-6) who took his aggression out on fifth-ranked light heavyweight Forrest Griffin (15-4), telling Griffin that there upcoming title fight won’t go to a decision.

Forrest then had what he referred to as a “man period”, smashing through one of the doors in the training center and shadow boxing while a very confused White was left to wonder exactly what was happening to his coaches.

Meanwhile, the remaining fight was set between “Doberman” CB Dollaway (6-0) and Nick Klein (4-0).

CB is a former All-American wrestler at Arizona State University and entered MMA because he lacked options after college wrestling.  His strength and skill have made him a dangerous fighter, as Rampage found out first hand.

After being mocked by Rampage for getting caught in a kneebar in practice, CB delivered a light kick to Rampage’s side, provoking his coach to strip off his socks and go toe-to-toe with CB.

Rampage shot for a double-leg takedown which CB turned into a guillotine choke, submitting the current UFC Light Heavyweight Champ.

While Klein had received praise from his coaches for his jiu-jitsu and all-around ability, he seemed to be a bit self-deprecating, referring to himself as the “weak link” on the team.

Back at the training center, Forrest found a way to release some of the tension he was carrying from Rampage’s earlier comments.

Griffin found a net gun and proceeded to shoot Rampage as he sat against the cage after a sparring session.

Rampage took it all in good spirits, seeming to be more concerned that his family saw him “get netted” on national television, than anything else.

As for the fight between CB and Nick, it was fast, intense, and technically advanced.

The fight opened with CB attempting a leg kick, which Nick caught and turned into a takedown.

CB rolled with the takedown and attempted a guillotine choke.  Nick escaped and turtled up.  CB rotated to the back, but made no attempts to sink his hooks in.  Nick went for a knee bar escape from turtle and almost sunk it before CB was able to twist free.  Nick countered by rolling to guard and attempting an arm bar, which CB muscled out of.

CB then began reigning down punches inside Klein’s open guard while attempting to pass to side control several times.  After finally passing Nick’s guard, CB maintained side control only for a moment as Nick was able to pull half-guard again and attempt another arm bar.

Once again, CB passed the guard and Nick rolled to turtle position.  CB continued to reign down punches, most of which landed on the back of Nick’s head, opening a small cut.

Again, Nick rolled to guard, attempting one final arm bar that failed just as time expired in the round.

Round two began with Nick coming out and working his jab.  CB countered with leg kicks that seemed to upset Nick.  So, Nick returned the leg kicks before attempting a few more jabs.  Then, to the dismay of his corner, Nick pulled guard and took the fight to the mat.

Nick was able to keep CB’s posture broken for a short time while he tried to land blows from the bottom; but, CB began to pass and Nick again rolled to turtle.  Klein then attempted another knee bar escape.

Unfortunately for Nick, CB seemed prepared this time and rolled with the attempt, ending up in guillotine position.  CB then pulled half-guard and sank the choke.  Nick was forced to tap out.

Winner by second-round guillotine choke submission: CB Dollaway

With the final preliminary fight out of the way, it was time for the semi-final match-ups to be set.

Fighters were called in one at a time and asked whom they would most like to fight.  Most fighters were ambivalent about their next opponent, except CB who only wanted to fight Cale.

Cale’s mocking comments had been piling up on CB and finally tipped the scale when Cale made a comment questioning CB’s sexuality and choice of sunglasses.

The semi-final match-ups were set:

Jesse Taylor (6-2) v Dante Rivera (10-2)

Amir Sadollah (0-0) v Matt Brown (9-6)

Daniel Cramer (0-0) v Tim Credeur (9-2)

CB Dollaway(6-0) v Cale Yarbrough (0-0)

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Sherk: “It’s about the Ill Will.”

Before an open workout for the media Wednesday, Fighters.com’s fifth-ranked lightweight “Muscle Shark” Sean Sherk (32-2-1) answered a few questions for Fighters.com before his UFC title challenge Saturday versus fourth-ranked “Prodigy” B.J. Penn (12-4-1).

In a light moment, Sherk asked the assembled media if he should remove his shirt before hitting the pads for photographers. When there was no reply, Sherk replied, “Thanks guys…”

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Ledbetter Crowned at RFL

Saturday in Macon, south of Atlanta, the Revolution Fight League crowned a new king at 145-pounds.

In the main event, Stephen Ledbetter (6-1) of “Version 2.5″ Rory Singer’s (11-8) Georgia-based Hardcore Gym wasted little time submitting Johnny Bedford (4-4-1) in a leg triangle in the first round.

Bedford nailed Ledbetter with some hard shots before taking him to the mat, which was his mistake.

Ledbetter climbed up Bedford’s back with his legs and locked in the choke.

Ledbetter is a veteran of Atlanta-based promotion Wild Bill’s Fight Night and most recently went three rounds in the WEC with ranked featherweight “Big Frog” Jeff Curran (30-9-1), losing a unanimous decision.

On the undercard, an exciting lightweight brawl ended in a slick submission victory for Kamrin Naville (1-3).

Naville and Ben Pierce (3-5) slugged it out in round one; but, Naville took Pierce to the mat in round two and worked an arm triangle submission from side mount to tap Pierce.

Note that Naville had missed weight for the fight.

Light heavyweight “CT” Robert Turner (2-0) of Louisville TKO’d Neal Hayes (0-1) of Atlanta in a first round ground’n'pound.

Middleweight Tony Hunter (0-3) got locked in a guillotine by Heath Davis (1-0) as Hunter shot for a double-leg takedown.  Davis tapped in under 30 seconds of round one.

Lightweight John Cofer (1-0) choked out Lawson McClure (1-1) by rear naked in the second round.

Bantamweight Bryan Goldsby (1-0) won a unanimous decision over Joey Marimberga (2-2) by scores of 30-27 twice and 29-38.

Lightweight Shawn Snow (1-1) choked out Michael Gordon (0-1) by rear naked in round one.

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Yundt Announces Fight Versus Sakara

UFC middleweight Rob Yundt (6-1) of Alaska announced in a MySpace bulletin Wednesday that he’s signed to fight Roman “Legionarius” Alessio Sakara (12-7) at 21 June’s TUF finale.

Yundt said, “I’m gonna be the reason the UFC sends his ass packing after I whoop his ass!”

Yundt lost his Octagon premier in February to “Cachorrao” Ricardo Almeida (9-2) by first-round guillotine choke submission.

Despite ups and downs, Sakara has been a UFC fixture the passed three years.

“Legionarius” dropped to 185-pounds in March, but was TKO’d by “Crippler” Chris Leben (18-4) in his division debut.

Yundt was originally told he would fight a TUF 7 cast member.

“That’s not the case anymore,” Yundt said.

The Alaskan told Fighters.com on 5 May that he had been training with ninth-ranked light heavyweight “Huntington Beach Bad Boy” Tito Ortiz (15-5-1) at Big Bear.

“I’m training hard and feel great.  I’ve been in Big Bear with Tito for four of the last six weeks and am heading back Sunday for another two weeks.  I’ll be ready for sure.”

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