“I think everything about this fight is going to be challenging.  Robbie is a talented, well rounded fighter.  I don’t see a ton of holes in his game.  I just have to go out and impose my strength in the weaker parts of his game.  That is really all it is, and I think there are going to be no surprises in this fight.  It will just come down to who can impose their will.  I don’t think anything about fighting Robbie will be easy, and that is why I have prepared hard and trained great.  Going into this fight I have no excuses, but I am not overlooking any aspect of Robbie’s game.”

After losing to Ronaldo Souza at the end of 2009, Lindland was in the midst of a longer than expected layoff when he agreed to drop down to the Strikeforce Challengers series to fight Kevin Casey in order to stay sharp.

“It has been a little disappointing that I have not been able to compete as much and as frequently as I have in the past.  It’s a change in companies and the irregularity, and there are a lot of fighters on the STRIKEFORCE roster. I have not gotten as many opportunities that I would have liked.  I think that has contributed a lot to me taking the fight in the Challengers show, because there wasn’t a fight in the immediate future. So, I wanted to get back in the ring and compete.”

The third round TKO of Casey was exactly what the doctor ordered and moved Lindland’s career record to 22-7.  It sets up a world class struggle between Lawler’s fists and Lindland’s Olympic level wrestling.

“It is whoever can impose their will.  If I had my way, I would put Robbie on his back and pound a hole in his head and I’m sure Robbie would like to try to keep it on his feet and put me to sleep standing up.  I think it’s really about who can impose their will.”

Lindland went 9-3 in the UFC between 2000 and 2008 and was clearly regarded as one of the best pound for pound players in the game. Post UFC, he has bounced around MMA organizations from the IFL to Affliction to Strikeforce.  If any Strikeforce match-up  would announce he is still right at the top of the sport, it would be a win over the younger Lawler.

“I think I am still one of the top contenders in this sport, a top 10 guy and of course I lost to a champion, Jacare, and I think this is a great path back to that title contention.  A win against Robbie certainly solidifies me in that top 10.  I just need to focus on this fight.  I have been working on all aspects of my game, the standup, the ground, the wrestling, the submissions. Every bit of it.  Robbie is a well-rounded fighter and people categorize him as a big striker and a brawler, he knows how to fight on his feet. But, he knows how to wrestle and he knows how to fight on the ground. So, I have to be prepared for all aspects of the sport.  Right now, I am just focusing on coming in the best shape and being healthy.  I have zero injuries, so no excuses going into this fight. I’m looking forward to it. I am very excited about this opportunity.”

After running his famed Miletich Fighting Systems for over a decade, Pat has produced some of the world’s best, including several former champions. Former UFC title holders Matt Hughes, Tim Sylvia, and former EliteXC middleweight champ Robbie Lawler, anchor Pat’s résumé as one of the best trainers/coaches in the world.

However at 42-years-old and a budding career as a color commentator for the San Jose based mixed martial arts promotion in Strikeforce, Miletich believes it’s time to trade in the HQ in Iowa for bigger and better things.

MiddleEasy.com reports: “After years in business, Pat Miletich has decided to sell his Miletich Fighting Systems gym in Bettendorf, Iowa. After this last run, it’s over. Construction is currently going down at the gym as of this past week”.

Now it’s unclear whether or not Miletich has sold his business in it’s entirety, since he holds schools all across the country, but all signs point to yes if “The Croatian Sensation” sold his main training head quarters.

No additional information has been released concerning the matter, and the cryptic yet simplistic explanation is enough to drive the average hardcore fan rampant with inquiry.

A lot can be ascertained from the statement. “After this last run”–is Miletich selling his gym in hopes to make a new run in mixed martial arts? Pat has not competed since December of 2008, where he knocked out the proverbial journeyman Thomas Denny in the second round under the Adrenaline MMA banner, headed by his manager Monte Cox.

Whatever Miletich choses, with his long and storied career in the books, I’m sure he’s making the best choice that’s within his best interest.

So, MMA peeps, what do you make of the news? Sound off in the comment section below.

But first, here’s how the Middleweight roster breaks down. Looking at the title picture from left to right, the EA Sports Middleweight roster features Benji Radach, Lyman Good, Matt Lindland, Luke Rockhold, Frank Trigg, Joe Riggs, Kazuo Misaki, Scott Smith, Murilo Rua, Tim Kennedy, Pat Miletich, Jake Shields, Nick Thompson, Melvin Manhoef, Robbie Lawler, Dan Henderson, Gegard Mousasi, Jason Miller, Cung Le, Nick Diaz, Frank Shamrock, and Ronaldo Souza.

It should be noted that eight fighters in the Middleweight division are carry-overs from the already-announced Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight divisions. There’s some debate going around the internet gaming forums as to whether or not this is a cheap move in order to cut the time down on coding and creating different fighters, or a good way to ensure quality cross-division super-fights. I personally think it’s a little of both: I think the roster is a little limited, but the fact that you can play as your favorite fighter in several different weight classes mostly balances that out. Plus, with download-a-fighter being included, I think this game’s roster will be massive once people start creating famous MMA fighters are putting them online for anybody and everybody to download.

Much like the UFC including the famous Madison Square Garden in their “UFC Undisputed” games, it’s recently been confirmed that EA Sports MMA will have the Cowboys Stadium as an in-game venue despite the fact that a major Mixed Martial Arts event has never been booked there. An online image has already surfaced, which you can view here. Even as a huge fan of UFC Undisputed 2009, I think Madison Square Garden was really under-played in both UFC 2009 and 2010. Not so with Cowboys Stadium- the images revealed so far look downright amazing. I may actually get goosebumps when my Create-a-Fighter either defends or tries to get at the Strikeforce Championship in that mega-arena.

The last time I was this excited for a sports game, my hopes met quite the rude awakening. So, even with all the hype I’m buying into, I know that there’s still a chance for EA Sports MMA to let me down in much the same way that UFC Undisputed 2010 let me down. But until that day, I have to say…this is shaping up to be a genre-defining game. Every time I hear something new about this game, it’s something I think I could find myself enjoying immensely. When October 19 hits, I’ve got a pretty good feeling that there’s going to be a new Undisputed Champion of Mixed Martial Arts video games.

But what about you, fans and friends? How high would you rate your anticipation of “EA Sports MMA”?

Bellator has done an excellent job in bringing in relevant talent to their fold, while giving their home-grown fighters some credibility, should they prove successful in defeating some of the imported, former UFC standouts.

Markham will forever be remembered in infamy, when he knocked out Brodie Farber in his UFC debut in 2009, with a vicious head kick. After the initial UFC outing, he struggled in performances against contender Dan Hardy and “The Ultimate Fighter” season five winner, Nate Diaz.

According to Bellator today, fellow welterweight Tyler Stinson will replace Rory Markham, who will vie for a spot in the season 4 welterweight tournament, opposite of Steve Carl. The bout between Stinson and Carl will determine the next qualifier for the season 4 Bellator tournament, where undoubtedly Rory Markham would have been an early favorite to steal the show.

Rory, a respected veteran who trains under former UFC welterweight champion Pat Miletich, out of Miletich Fighting Systems in Bettendorf, Iowa, is withdrawn due to unknown reasons. According to Bellator, the welterweight who moonlights as a middleweight when he can’ make the 170 pound limit, made infamous by his alleged welterweight bout with Nate Diaz–where Markham came in at a staggering 177 pounds, Rory was simply not medically cleared to compete.

Carl is a late replacement, but the Iraqi war veteran is up for the challenge, and will have some leniency when he comes into the bout come Thursday night. The contest, though challenging for a spot at the welterweight tourney, will be competed at a catch-weight of 175-pounds, due to the late notice.

“We were hoping to put together a fight in March, but now it looks like that may not happen. We might have to wait for April or May. Who knows if it will ever happen. Frank Shamrock and I have verbally agreed to fight each other, but from what I understand he’s being difficult in the negotiations. For whatever reason he may have, I think it’s too bad because I think it’s the type of fight that would draw a lot of attention. It would be two guys that were UFC champions and have done a lot for that organization, and now they’re involved with Strikeforce. I think it just made sense. But for whatever reason I think he’s having trouble pulling the trigger. He may be nervous about getting slapped around, but that’s the way it sits right now. Hopefully I can find someone else to fight if he doesn’t want to do it. I want to get in there before Summer.

I think he knows what is most likely going to happen. We’ve rolled before so I have a sense for what he’s got. Obviously I’ve watched him fight for years and he’s a talented guy, but I don’t think he has anything to hurt me with. Maybe he knows that.

He definitely doesn’t have the power to hurt me, he’s not going to submit me, he can’t out-box me, and he definitely can’t take me down. Maybe he’ll pull off something like he did in the Renzo Gracie fight so he can get out alive. Who knows.

I would prefer to fight at 170 pounds, but I’d fight Frank anywhere. I don’t care what the weight is. It doesn’t matter. But I think I’d like to try to snag something from somebody at 170 pounds. I look at the 170 pound rankings and I see a lot of guys that I can beat.”

This is a fight that makes sense for Strikeforce, Shamrock and Pat.

Strikeforce would be getting two ex-UFC champions that were scheduled to enter the Octagon is a super-fight over ten years ago. The UFC and Shamrock ran into contract issues and Frank ended up leaving so the fight never took place. Both men have done a lot for the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA) and with the smack talk already coming from Pat, Frank will surely have much to say. Frank can sell a fight and Strikeforce would garner viewers to see his return to the ring as well as the return of Miletich.

Pat needs a good test and Frank is a perfect match for him. Hopefully Frank comes to terms with Strikeforce and the fight agreement gets signed because I am already looking forward to seeing these two legends go toe to toe.

“Chad, I am not going to do this interview,” Sylvia graciously responded.  “I don’t like how this whole thing is coming accross.  Sorry.”

Below are the questions that Sylvia refused to answer along with what Fighters.com could dig-up.  You decide if Fighters.com’s questions were out of line.  Of course, Fighters.com would prefer to put Sylvia on the record on the issues fans are chattering about.   And, Fighters.com stands by everything written here as told by reliable sources, but sources can only speak from their point of view.   It’s unfortunate Sylvia won’t tell his story.

Fighters.com: Looking back, was the “Merciless” Ray Mercer (1-1) fight a good decision?

Sources close to Adrenaline MMA 3 told Fighters.com that, good decision or bad, Sylvia’s fight versus the 48-year old former boxing champion was a career move that Sylvia and his manager, Monte Cox, felt was safe enough.

Recall Sylvia had pocketed $800,000, not including unreported bonuses, for his 36-second submission loss to Fighters.com Heavyweight Champion “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (30-1) at Affliction in Anaheim in July 2008, an unsustainable salary for Affliction to continue paying out after the loss and damage to Sylvia’s marketability.  Recall also that Affliction had begun renegotiating contracts after their debut and Fighters.com’s sources say Sylvia’s purse was slashed for his scheduled return versus “Headhunter” Paul Buentello (27-9).  Promotions in Japan were also calling Sylvia, but offering about two-thirds Sylvia’s asking price without providing fights highly visible in the important American market.

Sylvia had long fancied himself a potential boxing champion and thought boxing could provide additional opportunities to score paydays while he rebuilt his status in mixed martial arts.

It was Mercer’s manager who originally contacted Cox to pitch an MMA fight between Mercer and Sylvia, a fight Cox and Sylvia were not interested in because it couldn’t rebuild Sylvia’s status in MMA.  However, both Cox and Sylvia were interested in a boxing match to serve as Sylvia’s debut in the squared circle.

Sylvia was quite blatant about his intentions.  “It’s not secret I intend to use Ray as a stepping-stone for boxing.  No doubt about it,” Sylvia admitted during a pre-fight presser.

Sylvia’s and Cox’s attitudes were, “What do we have to lose?”  If Sylvia had out-boxed Mercer, it could’ve lead to some highly-visible boxing matches that could’ve reignited Sylvia’s MMA marketability and provide a secondary income stream.  If Sylvia had been out-boxed by Mercer, he would’ve been beaten by a former Olympian and world heavyweight champion boxer in a sport Sylvia had never fought in before and Sylvia would’ve been satisfied that his dreams of boxing glory were only dreams.

Perhaps lost among those career considerations was the fight itself versus a still-dangerous Mercer, except among Sylvia’s friends.

“Li’l Evil” Jens Pulver (22-12-1) ominously warned Sylvia, godfather to Pulver’s son, before the fight, “Professionally, sometimes you just got to step back and go ‘Damn, Tim.  What are you doin’?'”  Pulver added,  “I think they’re taking this fight with Mercer as a sparring bout.  And you’re gonna find out real fast…Mercer probably isn’t taking it as a sparring bout.  He’s not going to swing like it’s a sparring bout.”

And, Sylvia’s physical condition entering the fight implied he and his trainers weren’t taking the boxing match seriously.  Syliva weighed a career-high 310.6 pounds for the fight.

But, Sylvia was further emboldened when the Association of Boxing Commissions reversed its initial decision to allow the River Cree Combative Sports Commission to sanction the boxing bout in Alabama, a state without its own sanctioning body, and declared the boxing match illegal.  Mercer agreed to change the rules to MMA, but challenged Sylvia’s manhood to fight Mercer’s fight regardless of the rule changes.

As an MMA fight, it should’ve been a safe bet for Sylvia.  Cox could be heard just before the bell telling Sylvia, “Don’t fuck around with this guy.  Don’t let him get to you.  Go in there, take him down, and finish him on the ground.”

But, Mercer had evidently got to Sylvia’s pride.  At the first ding-ding, Sylvia walked directly to the middle of the cage, threw a pawing leg kick, and proceeded to box Mercer in their four-ounce MMA gloves.  Nine-seconds later, Sylvia was on his back after a short Mercer right hook.

Fighters.com speculates that it wasn’t the matchup versus Mercer Sylvia regrets, but perhaps his attitude towards it.  Sylvia’s and Cox’s initial estimations that the matchup was safe enough were probably correct, but, again, lost among the career considerations was the fight itself and how serious even a 48-year old former boxing world champion is.

Fighters.com:  In a video at tenth-ranked “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski‘s (14-7) website recently, Andrei identified you as the guy he’d most like to fight, probably the same way you want to get your hands on third-ranked Frank Mir (12-4).  What do you think about another rematch with Arlovski?   ”Snowman” Jeff Monson also told Fighters.com he’d like a rematch with you. With two known, good heavyweight free agents calling you out, why are you fighting Riley?  Is the downside risk versus Riley much greater than any reward, like it was in the Mercer fight?

A source close to Sylvia’s camp told Fighters.com, “Arlovski’s manager would be crazy to let [Arlovski] fight Tim again.  [Arlovski] has already been beaten twice by Tim and everyone thinks Arlovski is washed-up too.  If Tim beats him again now, it doesn’t do anything for Tim.”

To be clear, Arlovski’s manager is not the one publicly calling for the rematch.  It’s Arlovski himself, who recently repeated that he’d fight Sylvia again “any time, any place” and added about Sylvia’s UFC return aspirations, “Nobody don’t want to sign Tim Sylvia.”  It’s becoming a battle of words about who’s considered more washed-up between the two former UFC champs.

About a rematch versus Monson, Fighters.com’s source said, “It was so boring the first time, I don’t think I could sit through another three rounds of that fight.  Who would pay to watch that again?”

Actually, Sylvia’s and Arlovski’s dilemmas are the same.  They’re marquee names and still competitive heavyweights, but their perceived marketability has been devalued by their recent losses.  But, as soon as Sylvia and Arlovski accept paydays lower than their established purses, they’ve devalued themselves.  So, they want to be stubborn about the paydays they’ll accept in order to maintain their status in the market.  Sylvia is surely taking a pay cut to fight Riley at Adrenaline MMA, but it’s a pay cut his manager, Cox, can obfuscate because Cox is also the fight’s promoter.

They also want their fights televised because they’re trying to prove to MMA fans they’ve got a lot of fight left.  For Sylvia and Arlovski, fighting a fight that no one sees, even for a big payday, doesn’t help them rebuild.

Except for the UFC and Strikeforce, that’s a tall order for any smaller promotion.  And, once a small promotion lays out the cash to put Sylvia or Arlovski atop their fight card, there’s not a lot of cash left to match them versus an equally big-named opponent.  So, when Sylvia or Arlovski find that golden deal, they’re going to be fighting guys like Riley.  It’s the economics of the industry that has made Riley Sylvia’s opponent at Adrenaline MMA 4 Friday.  Sources close to the event told Fighters.com they were lucky to find Riley because no one wanted to fight Sylvia at the available payout.

Guys like Riley aren’t big names, but are dangerous fighters.  Though Sylvia is the favorite, Riley is both capable of beating Sylvia and has nothing to lose, like Mercer in Sylvia’s previous fight.  Sylvia has everything to lose if he gets beaten by Riley.  So, the risk Sylvia is taking to fight Riley is the end of his career as a top-paid heavyweight fighter should Sylvia lose, while the reward is the continuance of Sylvia’s career as a top-paid heavyweight fighter should Sylvia win.  It’s an all or nothing gamble.

Fighters.com: Did you bed Arlovski’s ex-girlfriend, Patricia Mikula?

This question is personal, but Fighters.com told Sylvia he didn’t need to answer it.  The rumor is persistent and Fighters.com wanted to give Sylvia the opportunity to address it.

Fighters.com can only confirm Sylvia and Mikula were together in public at Adrenaline MMA 1 outside of Chicago in June 2008.

Fighers.com: What are you going to weigh coming in to Omaha?

Sylvia weighed-in at 310.6 pounds before his knockout loss to Mercer in June, 47.6 pounds over his previous fight at Affliction in July 2008.  Fighters.com was told by a source close to Sylvia that Sylvia weighed approximately 285 pounds two weeks ago and should weigh-in Thursday near the 265-pound MMA heavyweight limit.

Fighters.com: How do you feel when you hear UFC President Dana White dog on you now, saying that it was a weak division when you were UFC champion?  Other than Adrenaline MMA, what other organizations might you fight in over the next year?

Evidently Sylvia isn’t taking White’s barbs personally because he told Inside MMA he plans to return to the Octagon.  Steady paychecks soften hard feelings.  However, Fighters.com has been told by sources inside Sylvia’s camp that they feel like White is sacrificing Sylvia’s legacy as UFC champ to talk down Emelianenko as the world’s top heavyweight, whom quickly handled Sylvia and refuses to sign with the UFC.

Fighters.com’s sources have also confirmed Sylvia has already lined-up another fight before the end of 2009 on a smaller show, though the sources wouldn’t reveal the name of the promotion.

Fighters.com: Have you ever considered training anywhere else than “Croatian Sensation” Pat Miletich‘s (29-7-2) gym in Davenport?

Yes.  Fighters.com has confirmed that Sylvia has spent time training in other camps, including with Mark DellaGrotte at Sityodtong in Boston and “El Guapo” Bas Rutten (28-4-1) at Elite MMA in Los Angeles.  However, Militech’s gym remains Sylvia’s home gym.

The following questions remain unswered because only Sylvia knows their answers.  However, Fighters.com doesn’t think asking these questions was out of line.

Fighters.com: After the shape you came in and the result of the Mercer fight, a lot of fans are questioning whether your heart is in fighting anymore. How was the loss to Fedor Emelianenko affected your attitude towards this sport?

…

Fighters.com: Arlovksi recently admitted playing Russian roulette after losing his fight to Emelianenko and fifth-ranked “Grim” Brett Rogers (10-0). Was your lowest point ever that low?

…

Adrenaline MMA 4 will be held at the Mid-American Center in Council Bluffs on September 18.  The undercard will start at 7:30 PM; the main card will be broadcast on HDNet beginning at 9:00 PM.  Pre-sale tickets start at $33 for general admission, $103 ringside, and $530 for a table of ten.  Purchase tickets at Ticketmaster.

Showing no rust from age, the forty-year-old Miletich revisited yesteryear with a dominant performance over Denny. The victory by knockout was both impressive and surprising in contrast to Miletich’s fight record richly built off of submission wins.

Pat Miletich officially won via knockout at 0:50 of the second round.

Heavyweight Ben Rothwell (26-6) showed no remnants of his recent loss to “Pitbull” Andrei Arlovski (14-5) when he quickly dispatched Chris Guillen (13-12) in the opening round with a barrage of heavy elbows.

Ben Rothwell officially won via submission due to strikes at 3:40 of the first round.

In other fights, Mike Russow (11-1) defeated Braden Bice (6-6) via submission from north south choke at the 1:13 mark of round one.

Mike Ciesnolevics (15-3) defeated Derrick Mehmen (4-2) via submission from a guillotine choke at 1:46 of the second round.

Dan Loman (11-3) was victorious over Gabe Lemley (10-8) with a TKO due to punches at 1:54 of round two.

Ryan McGivern (13-6) submitted Geno Roderick (6-7) via rear naked choke at 1:27 of the opening round.

The action continued with a unanimous decision victory for Pat Curren (5-0) over Ramiro Hernandez (1-1).

Jesse Lennox (12-1) defeated Ryan Williams (8-3) via triangle choke submission in the first round at the 3:41 mark.

LC Davis (11-1) was victorious over Billy Kidd (8-6) with a side choke submission at 2:52 of the opening round.

And Danny Rodriguez (5-4) defeated David Fuentes (4-1) with a rear naked choke submission at 1:19 of the second round.

The bout will be Miletich’s second since 2002.  He last fought Renzo Gracie in September 2006 at the IFL, losing via guillotine choke at 3:37 of the first round.

Denny was TKO’d in the second round by Nick Diaz  (16-8) at EliteXC in July.

“We are interested in any comments,” said Lembo.  “All comments will be passed on to the Committee for their consideration.”

Topics on the Commitee’s agenda include:

Adding smothering of the nostrils or mouth as a foul (as per the Montreal document).

Removing manipulating the clavicle as a foul (as per the Montreal document).

Removing heel kicks to the kidney as a foul (as per the Montreal document).

Removing the allowance of stomps to the feet by two standing fighters  (as per the Montreal document).

Reviewing weight classes (as in the Montreal document).

Rules or prohibited strikes for amateurs.

Downward pointed elbow strikes.

Where strikes should be allowed to the back of the head.

Knees to the head on the ground.

And, scoring.

Comments must be submitted in writing by 17 September to:

Nicholas Lembo
State Athletic Control Board
Hughes Justice Complex
PO Box 180
Trenton, NJ 08625

The Association of Boxing Commissions Professional and Amateur MMA Rules Committee consists of the following members:

Chairman Nick Lembo, New Jersey
Jim Erickson, North Dakota
Andy Foster, Georgia
Dale Kilparchuk, River Cree
Keith Kizer, Nevada
Armando Garcia, California
Josef Mason, Colorado
Mike Mazzulli, Mohegan Sun
Bernie Profato, Ohio

In addition, Lembo has announced a fighters sub-committee consisting of:

“Cachorrao” Ricardo Almeida (9-3)
Renzo Gracie (13-6-1)
Stephen Haigh (4-2)
“Gumby” Jeremy Horn (80-18-5)
Fighters.com’s eighth-ranked welterweight Matt Hughes (42-7)
Tara LaRosa
“Croation Sensation” Pat Miletich (28-7-2)
Fighters.com’s Lightweight Champion “Prodigy” B.J. Penn (13-4-1)

And, an industry sub-committee of:

Monte Cox, Adrenaline MMA promoter
John McCarthy, broadcaster and referee
Lou Neglia, Ring of Combat promoter
J.D. Penn, Rumble on the Rock promoter
Joe Silva, UFC matchmaker
Marc Ratner, UFC vice-president
Jared Shaw, EliteXC vice-president