HDNet Fights - News

HDNet and MFC to remain broadcast partners

2009-07-06 09:25:52

“HDNet will continue to showcase the premiere MMA promotion in Canada to millions of fans in North America,” announced Andrew Simon, the CEO of HDNet Fights. HDNet and Maximum Fighting Championship have extended their agreement to continue broadcasting MFC events exclusively on HDNet. HDNet is the “Home of MMA” and having the MFC on its roster enables the broadcaster “to continue to provide more MMA content than any network in the world,” claimed Andrew Simon. The MFC/HDNet partnership began in early 2008 and has proven to be mutually beneficial to both companies. “HDNet works closely with MFC to put on events that local fans will want to buy tickets to and HDNet customers will not want to miss,” the HDNet Fights’ CEO continued. Maximum Fighting Championship is the number one promotion in Canada and one of the top shows in the World. A major reason behind that fact is that the MFC is the only Canadian MMA event that fans can consistently view live on television throughout North America. “HDNet has helped the MFC immensely,” admitted MFC president Mark Pavelich. “It means a lot to our organization to be on TV and to be involved with quality individuals like Mark Cuban, Guy Mezger, and Andrew Simon.” There is no doubt that the MFC has grown in popularity since debuting on HDNet. Each MFC event continues to garner the attention of the MMA world. “With the increase of talent in the MFC, such as Jason MacDonald, Trevor Prangley, John Alessio, David Heath, Antonio McKee, and Bobby Lashley, I can only guess that the ratings are through the roof and only gaining momentum with each show,” stated Pavelich. “I think the last MFC event attracted the most attention as everyone seemed to like the Lashley fight,” commented Simon, “I am looking forward to even bigger things from the MFC later this year.” The multi-fight deal will commence on October 2 with the HDNet broadcast of MFC 22 live from the River Cree Resort and Casino in Alberta, Canada. MMA fans will appreciate the opportunity to continue watching MFC athletes compete live in high definition throughout the United States and Canada on HDNet.

“M-1 Challenge: South Korea” in-depth preview and weigh-in results

2009-07-03 10:40:45

Jul 3rd, 2009 by promma. Seoul, South Korea - At the start of the 2009 “M-1 Challenge Presented by Affliction” season, USA West’s playoff fortunes were hardly a lock due to being placed in a loaded Group B that includes South Korea, Brazil, and the defending ‘08 M-1 Challenge Champions, Fedor Emelianenko’s Team Imperial. But thanks to a deep roster, USA West is currently 2-0 and just one win away from clinching a semifinal berth. With a win in Saturday’s best-of-five series vs. Imperial, USA West can claim its first-ever Group title. The 15-bout event will emanate from the Olympic Hall in Seoul and will be available live on Internet PPV courtesy of www.M-1Global.com starting at 5 p.m. (local Seoul time - Online PPV not available in Korea or U.S.). Additional team matchups include Finland vs. Bulgaria and host country South Korea vs. Brazil Naja with every bout being finalized after all 30 fighters made weight Friday morning at the Lotte World Hotel. Leading the way for USA West will be its pair of blue chip prospects, lightweight David Jansen (11-0) and heavyweight Shane Del Rosario (6-0). Jansen, a product of Matt Lindland’s Team Quest, is scheduled to face Imperial’s Amirkhan Mazikov (2-1) while Del Rosario, a former EliteXC veteran, will square off with Maksim Grishin (2-2). If USA West is upset by Imperial, South Korea still has a mathematical chance of supplanting USA West and advancing to the post-season. However, they will not only have to improve their team record to 2-1 but will need to sweep Brazil by a 5-0 score in order to win the tie-breaking category of individual wins. www.promma.info

The man who beat a Colossus and a Butterbean

2009-07-02 15:01:38

Even though he has made headlines in England thanks to notable wins over James Thompson, Neil Grove, Martin Thompson, and Eric "Butterbean" Esch, Rob Broughton was a virtual unknown to U.S. fans until Affliction and M-1's recent announcement that he will be facing fellow M-1 Challenge fighter Jessie Gibbs on Aug. 1 at Affliction and M-1's "Trilogy" event. In anticipation of his bout vs. Gibbs, U.S. fight fans can take a close look at Broughton prior to his U.S. debut during Friday's telecast of the "M-1 Challenge Presented by Affliction" (www.M-1Global.com) at 8 p.m. ET on HDNet (www.HDNetFights.com). Broughton's heavyweight tilt with Japanese prospect Yusuke Kawaguchi will be featured during Team England's best-of-five clash against Team Japan at Differ Ariake in Tokyo. Broughton entered the fight with an 8-4-1 record and will look to notch the ninth professional win of his MMA career while also handing Kawaguchi, 8-0, his first-ever loss. In addition to Broughton, viewers will also be able to get a close look at Tom Blackledge, who is rumored to be a part of the cast for the upcoming tenth season of The Ultimate Fighter. The U.K. native trains at the Wolfslair Academy alongside Cheick Kongo, Paul Kelly, and Michael Bisping and is close friends with Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. That friendship was never more apparent in Tokyo as Jackson traveled halfway around the world to help corner Broughton for Friday's fight vs. Team Japan's Tatsuya Mizuno. In addition to Broughton and Blackledge, Friday's telecast will also feature Ian "M-16" Butlin, Matt "12 Gauge" Thorpe, and knockout specialist Simon Phillips in action. Butlin, the self-proclaimed top lightweight in the United Kingdom, will face DEEP veteran Luiz Andrada; Phillips will take on long-time Pancrase fighter Hidehiko Hasegawa; while Thorpe will test his slick ground game against Yusuke Masuda.

HDNET'S "INSIDE MMA" PRESENTS AN IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION WITH TOP MMA TRAINERS

2009-07-02 11:20:42

This week on "Inside MMA," HDNet's original MMA news program, some of the best trainers in the business share their insight into the brutal and exhausting training regimes of top MMA fighters. Hosts Kenny Rice and Bas Rutten are joined this Friday by Xtreme Couture's Shawn Tompkins, who has trained Randy Couture, Forrest Griffin and others; American Top Team's Ricardo Liborio, trainer to Mike Brown and Thiago Alves; and Minnesota Martial Arts' Greg Nelson, who has worked with several UFC champions, including Brock Lesnar and Sean Sherk. HDNet's "Inside MMA" is the first and only one of its kind - an original, weekly television program devoted completely to news and highlights from the world of Mixed Martial Arts. Hosts Kenny Rice and Bas Rutten are joined by the sport's top fighters and news-makers every week to discuss and analyze the latest in MMA. The program also includes event highlights, viewer mail, and Ron Kruck providing up-to-the-minute news and features with Kruck's Korner. "Inside MMA" has become the hottest Mixed Martial Arts program on television, giving fans their weekly fix of everything MMA. Since the program's inception in September of 2007, "Inside MMA" has covered some of the biggest stories in the business, presenting interviews with the biggest names involved. From Randy Couture's legal battles with the UFC to Seth Petruzelli's upset win over Kimbo Slice - and the Florida State Athletic Commission's investigation of that fight, to the fall of EliteXC, "Inside MMA" has covered it all. "Inside MMA," HDNet's weekly series covering the latest news, rankings, stats and highlights from the world of Mixed Martial Arts airs every Friday at 9:00 p.m. ET. WHEN: Friday, July 3 at 9:00 p.m. ET on HDNet.

Flying Under The Radar: Weekend Review

2009-07-02 10:57:58

July 2, 2009 by Joseph Myers The United States is celebrating the Fourth of July this weekend, meaning there isn’t much in the way of mixed martial arts domestically, but there are some cards and fights worth talking about. The latest installment of the M-1 Challenge Series will take place Saturday at the Seoul Arena in South Korea. The series pits five-man teams against each other in a format similar to the now-defunct International Fight League with fights coming at 155 pounds, 170, 185, 205 and heavyweight. The team matchups set for this weekend are Team U.S. West against Russia Imperial, South Korea versus Brazil and Finland takes on Bulgaria, so the fans in Seoul will get to see fighters from all over the world. Team Brazil appears to be loaded, with Affliction vet Fabio Nascimento (9-4), Pride and Pancrase alum Daniel Acacio (17-8), Givanildo “The Arm Collector” Santana (12-1), Hacran Dias (11-0-1) and Eduardo Pamplona (11-2). Santana is notable not only for his awesome nickname, but for the fact that 11 of his 12 wins have come by armbar as well. Also, Pamplona did beat Acacio at an event in Brazil back in December 2008. www.fiveouncesofpain.com

Team USA West set to face next generation Russia Imperial during M-1 Challenge South Korea on July 4

2009-07-02 10:36:42

Jul 2nd, 2009 by promma. While friends and family will be back at home in the U.S. celebrating the Fourth of July Holiday at BBQs and fireworks displays, Team USA West will find itself immersed in a best-of-five series with Team Russia Imperial in Seoul, South Korea. And when the 2009 “M-1 Challenge Presented by Affliction” (www.M-1Global.com) resumes with its “Sixth Edition” inside the Seoul Arena, Group B leading USA West (2-0 in team challenges and 8-2 overall individually) will find itself going head-to-head with an Imperial team that will not feature a single member from its 2008 M-1 Challenge Championship team. After beginning its ‘09 campaign with two team losses, Fedor Emelianenko’s Imperial team has made wholesale changes as it looks to unearth its next generation of superstars looking to follow in the footsteps of Emelianenko, Roman Zentsov, and Kirill Sidelnikov. While lightweight Mikhail Malyutin and heavyweight Alexey Oleinik were absent from Team Imperial in Brazil in May, the team still retained three holdovers from last year’s squad with welterweight Erik Oganov, middleweight Dmitry Samoilov, and light heavyweight Mikhail Zayats. But Zayats, Samoilov, and Oganov will all be sitting out July’s challenge in order to create roster space for rising prospects Marat Ilaev (welterweight), Radmir Gabdulin (middleweight), and Viktor Nemkov (light heavyweight). www.promma.info

Misaki Will Fight But Won't Be Paid

2009-07-02 10:34:26

Thursday, July 02, 2009 by Jordan Breen (jbreen@sherdog.com) Kazuo Misaki will get his August bout with Kazuhiro Nakamura, but with none of the expected perks. World Victory Road director Takahiro Kokuho announced Thursday that Sengoku's Aug. 2 "Ninth Battle" card at the Saitama Super Arena will still feature a bout between Misaki and Kazuhiro Nakamura. However, the legally embattled "Grabaka Hitman" will not receive his fight purse and, immediately following the bout, will face an indefinite suspension from Sengoku competition. Misaki had pled guilty in the Tokyo District Court to obstruction of justice on June 25. The plea was in regard to a March 19 incident in which the former Pride grand prix champion sped away from a police officer who had attempted to cite him for talking on his cell phone while driving. Misaki was given a three-year suspended sentence following his plea, and Kokuho announced the following day that World Victory Road's commission would convene in the coming days to decide on an appropriate course of action. www.sherdog.com

Javier Vazquez vs. LC Davis for Affliction 3

2009-07-01 23:25:34

Wednesday, July 01, 2009 - by MMAWeekly.com Staff A featherweight bout between LC Davis and Javier Vazquez is set for Affliction "Trilogy" on Aug. 1 in Anaheim, Calif. Sherdog.com was the first to report the match-up, and MMAWeekly.com subsequently confirmed it with Affliction vice president Tom Atencio. The bout will take place on the HDNet-televised undercard. Vazquez (13-2) encountered controversy last weekend at "Ultimate Chaos" when a weigh-in snafu forced the cancellation of his scheduled bout with Din Thomas. The 31-year-old veteran instead took on local jiu-jitsu specialist Mark Kergosien and submitted him in 19 seconds. It was his first appearance after multiple injuries kept him out of action for over a year. www.mmaweekly.com

Mark Hominick vs. Deividas Taurosevicius set for "Affliction: Trilogy" preliminary card

2009-07-01 11:04:39

by Dann Stupp on Jul 01, 2009 at 10:00 am ET A featherweight bout between former UFC and WEC fighter Mark Hominick (16-8) and IFL veteran Deividas Taurosevicius (10-3) is slated for the "Affliction: Trilogy" fight card. Multiple sources told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) Affliction executives set the matchup, which was first reported by ESPN's "Between Rounds" radio program. "Affliction: Trilogy" takes place Aug. 1 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., and the Hominick vs. Taurosevicius bout is slated for the night's HDNet-televised preliminary card. The event's main card, including a five-round heavyweight title fight between WAMMA champion Fedor Emelianenko and challenger Josh Barnett, airs on pay-per-view. www.mmajunkie.com

Buentello: "Everybody's counting me out"

2009-07-01 11:02:17

Wednesday, July 01, 2009 - by Steven Marrocco - MMAWeekly.com The hype train hasn’t even begun to roll yet, and Paul “The Headhunter” Buentello (27-10) feels he’s been cast as the underdog for his fight with Gilbert Yvel at Affliction "Trilogy." And that’s exciting to him, because there’s nowhere to go but up. “Everybody’s already counting me out. I’ve gotta be able to do this, and be able to do that, and I love being in that position,” said Buentello. “I don’t like being in the top position. I love being counted out.” The 35-year-old Texan doesn’t name his accusers, and says the pessimists are "people giving their opinion." He often takes cues from Internet message boards, and likes to have fun with the MMA public’s perception of him, frequently enlisting fans to provide feedback on his career path. Apparently, somebody out there doesn't like the match-up. Five weeks ago, Buentello began training with the knowledge he’d be back in the ring on Aug. 1, against whom he didn’t know. Gilbert Yvel emerged as his opponent for Affliction “Trilogy,” earning a spot on the event’s main card with a blistering knockout of veteran Pedro Rizzo. Until the event, Buentello will reside at American Kickboxing Academy, getting ready to combat Yvel’s stand-up centered attack. www.mmaweekly.com

Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva likely for Sengoku in September, return to U.S. action possible

2009-07-01 11:00:07

by John Morgan on Jun 30, 2009 at 7:25 pm ET Former EliteXC heavyweight champion Antonio "Bigfoot" Silva (12-1) will likely appear at the as-yet-unannounced World Victory Road's "Sengoku 10th Battle" event in September. Silva's manager and American Top Team founding manager, Alex Davis, today informed MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio) of the potential bout, as well as his client's desire to return to action in the U.S. "I think that probably by next year you'll see him back in the U.S.," Davis said. "I'd like him back in the States; that's our goal. Right now we still have a contract with Sengoku. He's probably going to fight in September. If that goes well, possibly for a Sengoku title at the end of the year." Silva is currently suspended in the U.S. following a failed drug test after a July 2008 bout with Justin Eilers under the EliteXC banner. Silva and his American Top Team camp have remained adamant that the heavyweight never touched any sort of performance enhancing drug, despite the claims to the contrary by the California State Athletic Commission. www.mmajunkie.com

Akihiro Gono returns to Japan at Sengoku 9

2009-06-30 09:42:49

Tuesday, June 30, 2009 - by MMAWeekly.com Staff World Victory Road on Tuesday announced the opponent for Akihiro Gono's return to Japan. He will face Dan Hornbuckle at Sengoku 9 on Aug. 2 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. Gono returns to compete in his home country following an unsuccessful stint with the Ultimate Fighting Championship in the United States. He was 1-2 in his three UFC appearances defeating Tamdan McCrory in his Octagon debut before losing back-to-back bouts to Dan Hardy and Jon Fitch. In his 15th year as a professional mixed martial artist, Gono is an extremely popular fighter in Japan, having spent the better part of his career fighting for Shooto, Pancrase, and Pride. www.mmaweekly.com

A talk with Vietnamese warrior Nam Phan: PRO MMA exclusive interview

2009-06-30 09:38:59

Jun 30th, 2009 by promma. 26-year-old Vietnamese MMA fighter Nam Phan currently holds a professional record of 15-6. The California native has fought in such promotions as WEC, King of the Cage, K-1 Hero’s, Strikeforce, and is currently under contract with World Victory Road’s Sengoku organization. Nam has fought twice so far in 2009. In his first fight of the year Nam defeated Hideki Kadowaki at Sengoku 7 back in March with a first round TKO. Then, two months later at Sengoku 8, he lost to Michihiro Omigawa in a first round TKO stoppage. PRO MMA (promma.info) was able to catch up with the young fighter Monday evening for a few minutes as he took a break from instruction at his Garden Grove academy. Nam talked to us about his most recent fight against Omigawa, his school, his martial arts training that began at a very young age, MMA within the Vietnamese community, and what the future holds for this very talented athlete. www.promma.info

Paul Buentello vs. Gilbert Yvel set for "Affliction: Trilogy," Brett Cooper scratched from card

2009-06-29 11:14:11

by Dann Stupp on Jun 29, 2009 at 1:00 pm ET Following his brutal knockout of Pedro Rizzo this past weekend at "Ultimate Chaos," Gilbert Yvel (36-13-1) has secured a spot on the Aug. 1 "Affliction: Trilogy" card, where he'll meet fellow heavyweight Paul Buentello (27-10). Prior to "Ultimate Chaos," Affliction Vice President Tom Atencio said the Yvel vs. Rizzo winner would likely take the spot that opened when Tim Sylvia was pulled from the card following a recent eight-second loss to Ray Mercer at Adrenaline MMA III. On today's edition of MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio), Atencio said the Buentello vs. Yvel matchup is set – and that preliminary-card fighter Brett Cooper will be pulled from the lineup. "That's definitely the fight," Atencio said of the Buentello vs. Yvel matchup. "Unfortunately, for Rizzo, he took another beating. A real bad one. I felt sorry for him, man." www.mmajunkie.com

Affliction: Trilogy Preview - Renato 'Babalu' Sobral

2009-06-29 11:11:28

by Nick Thomas on Jun 28, 2009 Babalu talks Mousasi, retirement, protecting his Strikeforce belt and training with Josh Barnett. www.bloodyelbow.com

Atencio on Takanori Gomi: “We’re still working on it”

2009-06-29 11:02:32

Posted on Monday, June 29, 2009 Affliction Vice President Tom Atencio spoke with MMAWeekly.com right after his second round TKO victory over Randy Hedderick at the “Ultimate Chaos” PPV in Mississippi. Atencio discussed a number of topics during the interview, including past reports that former PRIDE lightweight champion Takanori Gomi was going to be added to Affliction and M-1’s “Trilogy” event on Aug. 1 in Anaheim, Calif. at the Honda Center. MMA Weekly and multiple other sites reported earlier this month that Gomi was expected to be added to “Trilogy” in a match vs. former IFL veteran Brett Cooper. www.m-1global.com

"Inside MMA" poll results: Torres vs. Mizugaki or Brown vs. Faber II as WEC's best fight of 2009?

2009-06-29 10:31:48

by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Jun 29, 2009 at 9:35 am ET In our most recent MMAjunkie.com/"Inside MMA" weekly poll, we asked readers which WEC fight has been the best so far in 2009. The results were revealed on this past Friday's new edition of "Inside MMA" on HDNet, and it turned out to be a two-horse race. Would WEC 40's headliner between WEC bantamweight champion Miguel Torres vs. Takeya Mizugaki take top honors, or would the recent WEC 41 main-event rematch between WEC featherweight title-holder Mike Brown and former champ Urijah Faber take top honors? In the end, Torres vs. Mizugaki overcame the heavily promoted Brown vs. Faber rematch and took nearly half of the vote – 45 percent in all. www.mmajunkie.com

Atencio talks White, Gomi and Lindland

2009-06-29 10:09:46

Sunday, June 28, 2009 - by Steven Marrocco - MMAWeekly.com MMAWeekly.com on Sunday caught up with Affliction promoter and sometime fighter Tom Atencio as he recovered from his fight with Randy Hedderick at "Ultimate Chaos" on Saturday in Biloxi, Miss. Atencio on Monday heads to Germany for Bread and Butter, a fashion trade show, before heading back to California to begin work on the company's August event, Affliction "Trilogy." MMAWeekly: Congratulations on your fight. You got caught with a pretty big shot and went down in the first. Was it one of those shots where you wake up on the canvas? www.mmaweekly.com

Fedor faces possibly biggest challenge of career

2009-06-29 09:56:03

Watching Fedor Emelianenko “made me nervous tonight,” said Josh Barnett about Fedor’s bout with Andrei Arlovski at Afflictions “Day of Reckoning”. Barnett will face Fedor on August 1st at Affliction M-1 Global’s “Trilogy.” He is probably wondering, like all fight fans and fighters on earth: can Fedor be beaten or is he invincible? The single loss on Fedor’s record is often disregarded as evidence of his vulnerability, since it was due to a cut resulting from an accidental (and illegal) elbow by Tsuyoshi Kohsaka. Even with this one debatable blemish on his record (he went on to later beat Kohsaka in a follow-up match), Fedor is the most revered heavyweight in the world by fighters and fans alike. Fedor is one of those rare fighters that has staying power who consistently outperforms his competition. One of the things that makes Fedor a legend is his resilience. Fedor takes a beating and keeps on beating his opponents-he has been dazed by Kazuyuki Fujita’s right hook, broken his hand on Gary Goodridge’s head, been suplexed by Kevin Randleman, fought off the impressive ground skills of Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira, recovered from Mirko Filipovic’s brutal lefts to the face, endured Mark Hunt’s keylock, reversed Matt Lindland’s attempted bodylock takedown, overcome the giant Tim Sylvia, and survived the boxing skills of Andrei Arlovski. In the end, whether or not he has taken some blows, Fedor prevails over his opponents and deals out the final punishment. Fedor always has the better game plan, and more importantly, he sticks to it. Besides great strategizing and level-headedness in the ring, what makes him such an effective fighter? The heavyweight doesn’t seem to have any discernible weaknesses to exploit. He offers equal parts of technique, adaptability, calmness under pressure, toughness, resilience, stamina, aggressiveness, patience, and commitment. Perhaps more than anything, Fedor is a master of capitalizing on his opponents’ lapses in judgment, finding a sliver of an opening and blowing it up into defeat. But Fedor does not stop there; he tends to stop challengers where they are most dangerous. A favorite pastime for fight fans is to engage in long conversations (or message threads) contemplating this question: just what would it take to take this guy down? Many who have had to face the champion have found this pursuit futile. No one has been able to break Fedor’s complete control in the ring. According to his friend and up-coming opponent, Josh Barnett, “Fedor is a great thinker in the ring. And he always keeps control of the other fighter. It is all within his control. If he wants to take a break he can. If he wants to push the pace he can. He is in complete control.” The Affliction M-1 Global “Trilogy” card, promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and presented by Affliction and M-1 Global, in association with Donald J. Trump, has been separated into two live broadcasts on the same night. A one-hour special will air on HDNet starting at 7:30 PM/ET (4:30 PM/PT), followed by the sensational Pay-Per-View event, “Trilogy,” commencing at 9 PM/ET (6 PM/PT). Tickets for Affliction M-1 Global’s “Trilogy,” ranging between $50.00 and $600.00, go on sale June 8th at Honda Center Box Office (1.714.704.2500), and also online at Ticketmaster.com and at all Ticket Master outlets (1.714.740.2000).

HDNet Fights Video Vault: Tyrone Spong vs. Gokhan Saki at K-1 World Grand Prix 2009

2009-06-23 15:42:11

by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Jun 23, 2009 at 5:35 pm ET For our latest HDNet Fights Video Vault installment, we head to the March 29 K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 in Yokohama event. Our featured bout pits Golden Glory heavyweight Gökhan Saki vs. Dutch Muay Thai fighter Tyrone Spong in a tournament semifinal fight. In front of a sold-out crowd of 10,328 at the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan, the two fighters fought to a draw through three rounds and entered the pivotal extra round to determine a winner. Saki, who in 2008 became the first-ever Turkish fighter to win a K-1 tournament title, looked to advance for his second shot at a K-1 world title. But Spong, who entered the bout with a 13-fight winning streak, instead wanted to take on finalist Keijiro Maeda. Each week HDNet and MMAjunkie.com release a new and exclusive fight from the ever-growing HDNet Fights video library. Stunning knockouts, slick submissions and shocking finishes are the norm for this weekly feature, and the Spong vs. Saki fight is no exception. Check out the embedded video for the exciting finish. www.mmajunkie.com

Affliction no longer interested in Andrei Arlovski

2009-06-23 11:41:57

June 22, 2009 by Cory Brady Eleven seconds and a brutal series of punches from Brett “Grim” Rogers has put an end to Andrei Arlovski’s career under the Affliction banner. The former UFC heavyweight champion was contracted to fight three fights for Affliction. The first of which was his mugging of Ben Rothwell; the second, the disappointing knockout loss at the hands of Fedor Emelianenko; and the third and final bout in his agreement with Affliction was his recent loaning out to Strikeforce where he was overwhelmed by Rogers in lightning quick fashion. “His contract has expired and right now we have so many fighters under contract that we are just concentrating on working with them,” said Affliction VP Tom Atencio in a recent conversation with Fighters Only Magazine. www.fiveouncesofpain.com

Alvarez Not Fighting ‘JZ’ in Dream

2009-06-23 10:45:46

Monday, June 22, 2009 by Greg Savage (greg@sherdog.com) Despite reports to the contrary, Bellator FC’s first lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez will not be facing American Top Team product Gesias "JZ" Cavalcante in Japanese promotion Dream this September. Alvarez’s manager, Monte Cox, informed Sherdog.com that the newly minted titleholder is under an exclusive agreement with Bellator at the moment, though they would like to head back to Dream should the opportunity present itself in the future. “We have a deal with Bellator,” said Cox. “I don’t know where [reports of the Cavalcante fight] came from. We were offered the fight, but we cannot do it contractually. Now, if Bellator wanted to sign off on it maybe, but I don’t see that happening.” www.sherdog.com

M-1 Selection Weigh-in Results

2009-06-22 11:34:27

Posted on Monday, June 22, 2009 All fighters scheduled to compete at Tuesday’s fourth M-1 Selection event in St. Petersburg, Russia are now in. The M-1 Selection is a year-long competition to determine which fight gym in Russia will be given the opportunity to represent their home country in the 2010 M-1 Challenge. Tomorrow’s event will be streamed live starting at 11:30 a.m. ET/8:30 a.m. PT and will be available free of charge at www.MixFight.ru. Rating fights - 1. Tovmas Martirosyan 69.9 kg vs. Alisher Hasanov 68.9 kg 2. Ivan Nadein 73.6 kg vs. Alexander Tokarev 72.8 kg 3. Visampasha Mirzakhanov 79.3 kg vs. Rustam Yamashev 82.6 kg 4. Bahtiyar Sapakulov 57.7 kg vs. Ragim Zagirov 59.3 kg Team Challenge One: Star (Sochi) vs. Anapa - 5. Armen Ananyan 69.6 kg vs. Ratmir Teuvazhukov 69.7 kg 6. Bislan Etleshev 74.9 kg vs. Anzor Kardanov 75.5 kg 7. Agop Topchyan 82.1 kg vs. Alihan Magomedov 84 kg 8. Rasul Magomedov 88.6 kg vs. Asildar Abdulaev 90.6 kg 9. Telman Sherifov 107.2 kg vs. Magomed Ibragimov 97.6 lg Team Challenge Two: Combat Bears (Nizhni Novgorod) vs. Legion (Rostov-on Don) 10. TBA vs. Zagalav Mahachev 69 kg 11. Vener Galiev 75.7 kg vs. Rustam Habilov 75.7 kg 12. Sergey Yakovlev 79.6 kg vs. Ruslan Hashanov 82.5 kg 13. Igor Saveliev 87.7 kg vs. Besiki Gerenava 91.6 kg 14. Alexander Volkov 102.6 kg vs. Ahmed Sultanov 108.3 kg

August M-1 Challenge Event Moved to Amsterdam for Aug. 15-16 “Mega” Taping

2009-06-22 11:33:02

Posted on Monday, June 22, 2009 M-1 Global officials have formally moved a planned M-1 Challenge event that had been scheduled to take place on Aug. 8 in Spain to a new date and venue. The August event will now take place on Aug. 15 in Amsterdam, Holland. In addition to the August event being moved, M-1 Global officials have also moved September’s tentative M-1 Challenge event to take place on Aug. 16 in Amsterdam, Holland. The changes to the M-1 Challenge taping schedule now creates a two day fight festival in Amsterdam that will coincide during the biggest vacation month of the year in the United States. For those interested in experiencing the amazing cultural sights and scenery of Holland, they will now also have the opportunity to partake in two full days of MMA action from Aug. 15-16. Teams scheduled to compete during the two-day “mega taping” include USA East, Benelux, England, Japan, Spain, France, Turkey, Germany, Russia Legion, and the World Team.

Rumored DREAM.11 bout between Eddie Alvarez and Gesias "JZ" Cavalcante "doubtful"

2009-06-22 11:15:02

by John Morgan and Dann Stupp on Jun 22, 2009 at 12:40 pm ET A rumored DREAM.11 bout between lightweights Eddie Alvarez (18-2) and Gesias "JZ" Cavalcante (14-3-1) is not yet a done deal and is unlikely to happen. A representative for Cavalcante recently issued an email stating the fight has been "confirmed" for the Sept. 23 card, which takes place in Saitama, Japan. However, according to a spokesperson for Alvarez, who won Bellator Fighting Championships' first-ever lightweight title this past weekend, the fight is "doubtful" given the fighter's busy schedule and his Bellator commitments. The fight is unlikely because Alvarez just had his "seventh fight in just over a year and third in three months," veteran fight agent Monte Cox told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "Also, Bellator owns the rights and probably won't allow their champ to fight elsewhere." Alvarez, who's quickly risen up the worldwide lightweight rankings, on Saturday defeated Toby Imada at Bellator's season-ending Week 12 show. Alvarez defeated Greg Loughran, Eric Reynolds and Imada to win Bellator's eight-man lightweight tournament and the organization's first-ever title at 155 pounds. Alvarez, the tournament favorite, posted submissions wins in all three fights during the three-month span. www.mmajunkie.com

Affliction: Trilogy - Fedor Emelianenko vs. Josh Barnett in-Depth

2009-06-22 11:12:54

by Nick Thomas on Jun 22, 2009 8:42 AM EDT www.bloodyelbow.com

Eddie Alvarez vs. JZ Cavalcante set for DREAM 11

2009-06-22 10:18:26

June 22, 2009 by Cory Brady Bellator FC’s newly crowned lightweight tournament champion Eddie Alvarez is all set to face off with the highly regarded Gesais “JZ” Cavalcante at DREAM 11.eddie_alvarez Cavalvante’s management was able to confirm the bout earlier today through a report on MMANews.com. DREAM 11 will take place on September 23 from Tokyo, Japan. Read the rest of the story at www.fiveouncesofpain.com

Akbarh Arreola vs. Brett Cooper latest addition to August's "Affliction: Trilogy" event

2009-06-19 13:26:47

by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Jun 19, 2009 at 1:30 pm ET A clash of welterweight prospects has been added to the quickly filling "Affliction: Trilogy" event, as MMA Xtreme champion Akbarh Arreola (14-4-1) will meet Brett Cooper (9-4) on the evening's preliminary card. Affliction vice president Tom Atencio today confirmed the addition with MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "Affliction: Trilogy," headlined by a WAMMA heavyweight title fight between current champ Fedor Emelianenko and challenger Josh Barnett, takes place Aug. 1 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. Arreola brings a 10-fight win streak into the contest, including notable wins over UFC and WEC veteran Gabe Ruediger and DREAM veteran David Gardner. The Mexican-born fighter's most recent losses were back-to-back defeats at the hands of current Bellator lightweight-tournament finalist Toby Imada and a 2004 TKO loss to UFC lightweight Mac Danzig. After opening his career with a 1-3 start, Cooper has rebounded in recent years with a stretch of seven wins in eight bouts. Cooper is currently riding a six-fight win streak, including notable wins over Rory Markham and Jason Von Flue. Cooper earned a TKO win over Patrick Speight at Affliction's sophomore effort, "Day of Reckoning," and eight of his nine career wins have come by stoppage. With the addition to the card, "Affliction: Trilogy" now includes: www.mmajunkie.com

Offical Dream.10 Poster

2009-06-19 13:22:19

by Chris Nelson on Jun 19, 2009 5:30 AM EDT Hi-res versions available at DREAM Official. HEIWA DREAM.10 July 20, 2009 Saitama Super Arena Saitama, Japan DREAM 2009 Welterweight Grand Prix Semifinals: www.bloodyelbow.com

Michael Schiavello on Kid Yamamoto's Return to K-1 Next Month

2009-06-19 13:10:56

Japanese MMA superstar Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto, fresh off a loss to Joe Warren at Dream 9, has announced that he'll get back into the ring on July 13. But instead of fighting MMA, Yamamoto has taken a K-1 MAX kickboxing fight against South Korea's Jae hee Cheon. That represents an interesting challenge to Yamamoto, because the last time he fought in K-1, he got knocked cold by Mike Zambidis, as you can see in the video above. For thoughts on Yamamoto fighting in K-1, I turned to K-1 announcer Michael Schiavello, whose comments are below. The July 13 K-1 show featuring Kid Yamamoto will air on HDNet in the United States. Check out the video at: www.mma.fanhouse.com

Dream pushing for Mayhem vs Jacare 3

2009-06-19 13:06:12

Friday, June 19, 2009 - by Steven Marrocco - MMAWeekly.com Jason "Mayhem" Miller and Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza have unfinished business, and it looks like they'll settle it this summer. A source close to the fight Thursday told MMAWeekly.com that Dream has offered Miller a third bout with Souza for the still vacant middleweight title on July 20 at Dream 11. The fight would shadow the final round of the promotion's Featherweight Grand Prix. Miller also confirmed the bout via his official Twitter account. The pair's second meeting, at Dream 9, also for the promotion's vacant middleweight title, ended contentiously when an illegal kick from Miller opened a fight-ending cut on Souza's brow, forcing a no contest. The two exchanged words in the limbo of the ringside doctor's deliberations. Miller, who will head a second season of the popular fight reality show "Bully Beatdown," re-dedicated himself to training after a lackluster decision loss to Souza at Dream 4. Initially unapologetic about the no contest on popular Internet forum The Underground, Miller promised to dominate the third fight. www.mmaweekly.com

"Inside MMA" preview: Tim Sylvia and Ray Mercer discuss Adrenaline MMA III stunner

2009-06-19 12:53:15

by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Jun 19, 2009 at 10:45 am ET This past weekend's infamous "Adrenaline MMA III: Bragging Rights" main event between former UFC champion Tim Sylvia and veteran boxing champion Ray Mercer comes under the spotlight during tonight's new episode of "Inside MMA." Thanks to our partnership with HDNet, we present a preview clip of the fight and its aftermath. Listen in as both Mercer and Sylvia discuss the bizarre circumstances surrounding the fight and its shocking finish. The event, which took place at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex Arena in Alabama, was originally slated to have Mercer and Sylvia meet in a six-round boxing match (in a cage). However, just a few days before the event, the Association of Boxing Commissions stepped in and forced event organizers to nix the plans. "It's given us quite a surprise," promoter Monte Cox told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) after the ABC's involvement. "This thing's been advertised for over two months and everyone pretty much knew what was going on. "It came as quite a shock when [the ABC] called and basically said this was done incorrectly and you're running an illegal show – and they threatened to have us arrested." The fight eventually went on under MMA rules, but few could have predicted such a quick and shocking finish. Check out the embedded clip for the full fight and post-bout interviews with both competitors. Then, tune into tonight's new episode of "Inside MMA," which features guest panelists Jorge Santiago, Cyrille Diabate, and Fight! Magazine's Donovan Craig. HDNet's "Inside MMA" program has provided this video clip to MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) as part of a partnership between the two news outlets. Catch new episodes of "Inside MMA" on Fridays at 9 p.m. ET. For more information on "Inside MMA" and HDNet Fights, visit www.hdnetfights.com. For more information on HDNet and how to subscribe, visit www.hd.net. www.mmajunkie.com

M-1 Challenge Preview

2009-06-19 12:13:46

It was one of the most controversial endings to a fight in quite some time. In a fight outcome resembling a last-second game winning three point shot in basketball, Team USA East heavyweight Herbert "Whisper" Goodman's come from behind knockout attempt will be shown on U.S. television for the first time tonight at 8 p.m. ET on HDNet. Goodman, a former NFL running back with the Green Bay Packers who recently tried out for the tenth installment of The Ultimate Fighter, squared off against former Bulgarian national wrestling icon Jordan Radev in Radev's home country of Bulgaria as a part of best-of-five series between the Americans and the Bulgarians. After being dominated for the vast majority of the match, Goodman sent Radev sprawling to the canvas with a right cross that appeared to have ended the fight. However, the final bell sounded before the referee had a chance rule the fight as having ended via knockout. The outcome of the bout was put in the hands of the judges and later M-1 Challenge regulatory officials. Did Radev get the win via decision? Or did Goodman get the KO? Of course, the only way to find out is by tuning in tonight. In addition to the middleweight matchup between Goodman and Radev, tonight's episode will also feature the "M-1 Challenge Presented by Affliction" debuts of lightweight Renato Migliaccio, welterweight Steve Carl, light heavyweight Charles Grigsby, and heavyweight Lloyd "Kadillac" Marshbanks. Marshbanks, who was profiled in this week's "Fight Path" series by Kyle Nagel on MMAjunkie.com, brings his High School All-American wrestling credentials to the M-1 Challenge when he faces Emil Samoilov. Considered by some as "the original Kimbo Slice," viewers can get their first look at the underground sensation during tonight's episode. Migliaccio, a black belt under the late Ryan Gracie, will put his perfect 5-0 record on the line against fellow undefeated lightweight prospect Yanko Yanev (7-0). At welterweight, Carl will also look to hand the first defeat to another undefeated Bulgarian prospect, Ivan Ivanov (5-0). Carl is perhaps one of the most inspirational fighters involved with this year's M-1 Challenge. In addition to having served his country as a member of the United States Army, Carl has also continued his fight career despite doctors telling him two years ago that he would never compete again following a severe auto accident. Meanwhile, Grigsby, a one-time veteran of the World Extreme Cagefighting promotion, will look to improve to 16-4 when he faces Bulgaria's Atanas Dzhambazov. Watch as "The Reverend" looks to increase his win streak to three on the heels of his disappointing 2008 loss in the WEC to former NCAA All-American Mark Munoz. For more information on the M-1 Challenge, please visit www.M-1Global.com and remember to watch the 2009 "M-1 Challenge Presented by Affliction" each and every Friday at 8 p.m. ET on HDNet.

Jason "Mayhem" Miller vs. Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza 3 on DREAM.11

2009-06-18 12:21:52

Jun 17, 2009 11:44 PM EDT Jason "Mayhem" Miller confirms it on his twitter page: www.bloodyelbow.com

Fight Path: Before M-1, Lloyd Marshbanks was better known as Kadillac from Mexico

2009-06-18 12:19:02

by Kyle Nagel on Jun 18, 2009 at 10:40 am ET For years, many only knew him as Kadillac from Mexico. Lloyd Marshbanks, to those in many parts of the fighting world, was a mystery man. Had he really earned his nickname by taking a Cadillac as payment when someone didn't have the cash after a fight? Did he really get into fighting in people's living rooms, sometimes for thousands of dollars in cash at a time? And just how many fights has he won? Several? Hundreds? Even though most didn't know his full story, Marshbanks kept getting fights, and he kept winning them. Now, the beefy former champion wrestler is making the same moves into the mainstream. After a second straight M-1 victory against Toni Valtonen on June 5, Marshbanks improved his record to … well, no one seems to be sure, exactly. As far as tracked fights, he seems to be 17-8 with 10 wins in his past 12 fights. But Marshbanks includes much more than just his mainstream bouts. To him, each fight he had with money on the line counts as professional, and with that measurement he chalks his record up to 51-8. That's 59 fights ranging at sites from Arizona garages to bigger venues throughout Central and South America. Now the 31-year-old is working to shed his reputation as a backyard fighter (even though he certainly isn't ashamed of that past) and make a move into the major organizations. No matter what happens, Marshbanks is one of the most colorful and mysterious fighters throughout the sport, and that's saying something. He was in MMA before speakers blasted and T-shirts were mass-produced, a former mover who sometimes found fights with couches in his arms. But, whatever you do, no matter how much his past sounds like underground street fighting, don't compare him to Kevin Ferguson, aka "Kimbo Slice." www.mmajunkie.com

Cro Cop to fight Mighty M0

2009-06-18 12:17:17

Posted: Thursday June 18, 2009 11:10AM; Updated: Thursday June 18, 2009 11:10AM Less than a week after apparently snubbing the UFC for Japanese mixed martial arts promoter Dream, Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic has agreed to fight Siala "Mighty Mo" Siliga on July 20 in Saitama, Japan, a source familiar with negotiations for Dream 10 told SI.com Wednesday. Aided by an inadvertent poke to the eye, Filipovic, 34, defeated Mostapha Al-Turk (6-5) midway through the first round of their UFC 99 fight in Cologne, Germany, last Saturday. Afterward, the popular Croatian striker, best known for capturing Pride's 2006 open-weight grand prix tournament and going the distance against Fedor Emelianenko, reportedly informed UFC president Dana White that he planned on signing a three-fight deal to compete in Dream. www.si.com

Belfort vs Santiago confirmed for Affliction 3

2009-06-18 12:12:15

Thursday, June 18, 2009 - by MMAWeekly.com Staff Affliction Entertainment on Thursday confirmed a bout between Vitor Belfort and Jorge Santiago for its Trilogy event on Aug. 1 in Anaheim, Calif. MMAWeekly.com first reported the bout earlier this month. Belfort took the bout following reports he would take on Gegard Mousasi at a catch-weight. Mousasi was later announced for a bout with Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Renato "Babalu" Sobral on the clothing company turned fight promotion's third show. An Affliction regular, Belfort last appeared at "Day of Reckoning," where he destroyed Team Quest original Matt Lindland in 37 seconds. Prior to that, he knocked out Terry Martin in the second round of the promotion's first show. Since his exit from the UFC in early 2005, he has gone 6-3, and maintains an overall record of 18-8. www.mmaweekly.com

M-1 Challenge veterans Lucio Linhares and Mikhail Zayats to meet at "Affliction: Trilogy"

2009-06-17 12:14:21

by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Jun 17, 2009 at 9:35 am ET Affliction continues to round out the card for its August effort, "Trilogy," as a middleweight bout between M-1 Challenge veterans Lucio Linhares (12-4) and Mikhail Zayats (8-3) has been officially added to the evening's preliminary activities. The bout will serve as a rematch to the pair's June 2008 meeting – a hotly contested decision ultimately awarded to Zayats. "Affliction: Trilogy," headlined by a WAMMA heavyweight title contest between Fedor Emelianenko and Josh Barnett, takes place Aug. 1 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. Linhares, a six-time M-1 veteran, will carry a four-fight win streak into the contest. Linhares owns notable career wins over Sean Salmon and Moyses Gabin, while he suffered early career losses to UFC veterans Tomasz Drwal and Thales Leites. Zayats will be looking to bounce back from back-to-back losses for the first time in his career. Prior to the rough patch in early 2009, the 11-time M-1 veteran had been on a four-fight winning streak. The event's full card now includes: www.mmajunkie.com

Team USA West to face off with Fedor Emelianenko’s Team Russia Imperial at M-1 Challenge South Korea

2009-06-16 15:17:44

June 16, 2009 by Cory Brady A talent rich Team USA West has been confirmed to face off with Fedor Emelianenko’s Team Russia Imperial in the newest series of the “M-1 Challenge presented by Affliction“. The event is scheduled for the fourth of July at the Seoul Arena in Seoul, Korea. Notable fighters competing on Team USA West include Team Quest lightweight standout Dave Jansen who has compiled an unblemished record of 11-0, middleweight Giva “The Arm Collector” Santana who has finished eleven of his twelve wins by armbar and undefeated heavyweight knockout artist Shane Del Rosario. Along with the team battle between Team USA West and Team Russia Imperial, South Korea will be meeting Brazil and Finland will square off with Bulgaria in team competition. A current list of the scheduled bouts for the event are listed below: www.fiveouncesofpain.com

HDNet Fights Video Vault: Keijiro Maeda vs. Melvin Manhoef at K-1 World GP 2009

2009-06-16 14:36:19

by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Jun 16, 2009 at 3:05 pm ET Everyone knows the padded gloves traditionally used in boxing and kickboxing bouts prevent the kind of one-strike knockouts we're used to seeing with the smaller gloves in MMA. Right? In our latest HDNet Fights Video Vault installment, which features a K-1 World GP 2009 bout between Keijiro Maeda (15-1 kickboxing) and Melvin Manhoef (35-6 kickboxing, 23-5-1 MMA), we see an example of one of MMA's most-feared strikers trading in his MMA gloves for a bigger variety. The fight, which took place on March 28, featured the two heavy handed brawlers meeting for the right to meet Turkish slugger Gokhan Saki for the K-1 heavyweight title. With Maeda and Manhoef compiling 63 knockouts in 85 career wins in kickboxing and MMA, the bout was not expected to go the distance. The ultra-aggressive Manhoef approached the bout in typical fashion, while the wildly coifed Maeda looked to stand tall against the attack. Check out the embedded clip for the full fight – and the sudden ending. www.mmajunkie.com

Fedor: Barnett is "Dangerous"

2009-06-16 11:59:59

Tuesday, June 16, 2009 by Loretta Hunt (lhunt@sherdog.com) Even under his restrained façade, Fedor Emelianenko can’t hide the acknowledgment that one of his biggest career challenges lies directly ahead. Emelianenko finally meets Josh Barnett in the main event at Affliction “Trilogy” on Aug. 1 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. The bout, which has been requested by fans since both fighters rose to divisional prominence in Pride Fighting Championships a couple of years ago, pairs Sherdog.com’s No. 1 and No. 2 world-ranked heavyweights against one another in a five-round contest. It will also be Emelianenko’s sixth test against a former UFC champion, and one he says he won’t take lightly. "The thing about Josh is that even though he may not be as well technically in certain areas, he really makes up for it with his strengths and with his patience and with his abilities," Emelianenko told Sherdog.com News Editor Loretta Hunt in an exclusive video interview. "The fact is he’s definitely up there as one of the most dangerous fighters I’ve ever been in the ring with." www.sherdog.com

Will Fedor ever join the UFC, what happened with 'Cro Cop,' and more

2009-06-16 11:56:38

No matter who wins, who loses and who leaves the UFC, most of us are still stuck on one scenerio: Fedor Emelianenko signing with the leading organization. It only seems fitting that the sport's top heavyweight would ink a deal with it's top promotion. Right? Well, don't be so sure. And while we're on the topic of breaking down the possible futures of fighters, we might as well touch on "Cro Cop," Tim Sylvia and one Dream star that seems to be falling. You had questions. I have answers. www.si.com

Tim Sylvia Off 'Affliction: Trilogy'

2009-06-15 13:27:28

Posted Jun 15, 2009 2:32PM By Ariel Helwani (RSS feed) Tim Sylvia's shocking nine-second knockout loss to Ray Mercer on Saturday has proven to be more costly than originally thought. Affliction Entertainment vice president, Tom Atencio, informed FanHouse on Monday that Sylvia has now been taken off the upcoming "Affliction: Trilogy" card. "It's his second knockout in a row, and I don't want to take a chance on anything," Atencio said. "The fight is less than 60 days away." Atencio added that no one from the California State Athletic Commission contacted him about taking Sylvia off the card, but he felt it was in Sylvia's best interest to take some time off to heal. www.mma.fanhouse.com

Jesse Gibbs vs. Rob Broughton added to Affliction III

2009-06-15 11:14:50

June 15, 2009 by Cory Brady A heavyweight showdown between Jesse Gibbs and Rob Broughton has been added to the undercard of the third Affliction event, “Trilogy”. M-1global.com was able to recently confirm the news of the bout through M-1 officials. Affliction III: Trilogy is set to take place in Anaheim, California on August 1 and will air live on pay-per-view. The undercard will be shown on HDNet. www.fiveouncesofpain.com

Fedor Emelianenko video blog

2009-06-15 11:10:39

Fedor Emelianenko and the folks at M-1 are taking a page out of the Dana White playbook, with a new Fedor video blog on the official M-1 YouTube channel. A second video is below. www.mma.fanhouse.com

Report: Cro Cop snubs UFC for Dream

2009-06-15 11:04:00

Saturday, June 13, 2009 - by MMAWeekly.com Staff It appears Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic’s desire to make a run at the UFC heavyweight title was nothing more than a smokescreen. Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports reported Saturday afternoon that the Croatian star signed a three-fight deal with Dream, reneging on a promise made to UFC president Dana White to finalize a contract for two more fights in the Octagon. White confirmed Cro Cop’s deal had only been for one fight and was done over phone and text message. It was the first time he’d made that kind of deal in his time as UFC president. “Isn’t that a dirty (expletive) thing to do?” railed White. “He (expletive) me. The first time in the history of the company I do one over the phone. He promised me a three-fight deal and he (expletive) me.” After going 1-2 with the promotion in 2007, Cro Cop returned Saturday at UFC 99, where he needed only one round to defeat an overmatched Mustapha Al-Turk. The bout's ending was indecisive, brought to an abrupt halt by an inadvertent eye poke missed by referee Dan Mirgliotta. Al-Turk turned his back on the fight and was finished by a series of punches while protecting his face. www.mmaweekly.com

Mark Cuban: Although HDNet dropped, negotiations ongoing with Time Warner Cable

2009-06-12 11:25:18

by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Jun 12, 2009 at 2:00 pm ET The HDNet universe shrunk a bit on May 21 when Time Warner Cable, a massive cable-television company available in 27 U.S. states, dropped the premium cable station from its list of available channels. The all-high-definition cable station, launched in 2001, features more MMA-related content, including the weekly "Inside MMA" news show, than any network or cable station. Mark Cuban, Chairman of HDNet, said company executives were disappointed by the decision but that talks are ongoing with the Time Warner Cable. "Obviously, we're disappointed they chose not to renew us despite every give we could possibly give them," Cuban said during a recent "Affliction: Trilogy" press conference in New York City. "We recognize their position and will continue to negotiate, but at the same time, we've got some other great partners ... for Time Warner customers." They include the Dish Network, DirecTV, Verizon, AT&T and RCN, among others. Check out the embedded video for the full story. Current Time Warner customers are encouraged to call their local Time Warner Cable general managers and request they bring back HDNet. (You can also contact @AlexTWC and @MSMarTWC on Twitter to express interest in HDNet.) In addition to "Inside MMA," HDNet currently broadcasts or has previously aired shows from Affliction, Strikeforce, Adrenaline MMA, K-1, DREAM, World Victory Road's Sengoku series, Xtreme Fighting Championships, SportFight and many other promotions. As a reminder, you can catch a new episode of "Inside MMA" tonight at 9 p.m. ET on HDNet. Guests include former UFC lightweight champion Sean Sherk, DREAM featherweight grand prix semifinalist Joe Warren and actor Martin Kove. www.mmajunkie.com

M-1 exec continues UFC plea for Fedor fight

2009-06-10 11:57:41

Wednesday, June 10, 2009 - by Steven Marrocco - MMAWeekly.com Publicly, M-1 Global COO Joost Raimond is still bullish on the prospect of co-promoting with the UFC. One-on-one, he admits his company’s calls have fallen on deaf ears. “It’s an invitation we’ve been screaming on the tops of roofs for two years,” Raimond told MMAWeekly.com following the Los Angeles press conference for Affliction “Trilogy.” Still, he made his pitch once again, both in New York and Los Angeles. His hope: to break the stalemate and bring M-1 Global and the UFC to the negotiating table. It was half challenge, half plea. “I think one of our great competitors has always been the UFC and still is the UFC,” Raimond said Thursday in Hollywood. “I think there’s a big difference, though. Our standpoint towards MMA is that it’s all about the fights, it’s all about the athletes, it’s all about us trying to bring you the best fights possible, and bringing out the true champions. “I’m not a sucker for statistics, but we did a little bit of homework, and we came up with an interesting fact. If you look at the UFC over history, if you include the interim heavyweight champions, they’ve had 17 champions in total. Mr. Fedor Emelianenko has done eight fights against UFC champions, against five different opponents. If we exclude his fights against Mr. Nogueira, who was a formidable opponent in his time, Fedor spent less than 15 minutes in the ring with these UFC champions and defeated them all. What we would like to see is that in future, we bring out the champions from any organization, whether it’s UFC or another organization, and we bring out the best fights. www.mmaweekly.com

HDNet Fights Video Vault: Makoto Takimoto vs. Michael Costa at Sengoku Eighth Battle

2009-06-10 11:33:20

by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Jun 09, 2009 at 4:00 pm ET In our latest HDNet Fights Video Vault installment, we look back at a recent Sengoku Eighth Battle bout between Makoto Takimoto and Michael Costa. The fight was a non-tournament welterweight bout at the May 2 event. Each week HDNet and MMAjunkie.com release a new and exclusive fight from the ever-growing HDNet Fights video library. Stunning knockouts, slick submissions and shocking finishes are the norm for this weekly feature, and the Takimoto vs. Costa fight is no exception. Costa (9-4) was considered a favorite over Takimoto (4-5), a former PRIDE middleweight who entered the bout with four losses in his previous six fights. However, would Takimoto, a Japanese Olympic Judo gold medalist, use his past experience with top fighters such as Gegard Mousasi, Murilo Bustamante and Frank Trigg to get an edge as he dropped to welterweight, or would Costa pick up his fifth win in seven fights and rebound from a previous loss to Nick Thompson? Check out the embedded clip for the full fight. www.mmajunkie.com

HDNet’s “Inside MMA” to Film Segments on the IMMAE Floor During the August 2009 Show

2009-06-10 11:06:39

IMMAE today announced a partnership with HDNet to produce segments for the highly popular program “Inside MMA” on the live tradeshow floor at the August 2009 LA Convention Center event. Camera crews will also be walking the floor, asking MMA fans questions that will air as part of the “Toe 2 Toe with El Guapo” segment on the program, in which co-host Bas Rutten answers viewer questions. The IMMAE show is the quintessential exposition and tradeshow for MMA where the industry converges under one roof for one weekend. Fighters, fans, and industry professional alike grace the floors of IMMAE across the weekend, creating a dynamic and unique experience not soon forgotten. This synergy and energy creates an explosive potential for human interest content far different from that of the normal fight production. Due to IMMAE’s political neutrality, it is able to bring many different parties to the table in a once-a -year convergence of the best of the best within the Mixed Martial Arts industry. HDNet recognizes this, and will have a significant presence at the IMMAE show to capture and capitalize on this potent cocktail of celebrities, fighters, industry executives, and professionals. This concentrated set of content opportunities is difficult to capture elsewhere and HDNet will be sure to return with significant footage of that action. HDNet will also feature a promotional segment on “Inside MMA’s,” “Kruck's Corner” to build excitement leading up to the August IMMAE show. After capturing the live action and filming an episode of “Inside MMA,” HDNet will air additional segments post-IMMAE show including another Kruck’s Corner feature. HDNet and IMMAE invite you to come out and mingle with the best of the best at IMMAE 2009. You could end up on HDNet in an “Inside MMA” feature segment! About HDNet Fights:HDNet Fights (www.hdnetfights.com) is one of the leading Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) organizations in the country. Founded by Mark Cuban, HDNet Fights promotes, produces and airs over twenty-four live MMA events annually for broadcast on HDNet. HDNet Fights is unique as a unifying force in the MMA industry partnering with leading promoters, including Affliction, DREAM, Sengoku, XFC, M1, K-1, K-1 Max, MFC, Adrenaline and others to offer the quality match-ups and productions that MMA fans demand. Founded in 2007, HDNet Fights is led by CEO Andrew Simon while company operations are handled by Dallas MMA legend and former UFC champion, Guy Mezger. HDNet (www.hd.net) is the home for HDNet Fights and is the leader in offering live MMA broadcasts and the leading news and information show for MMA fans, "Inside MMA." In addition, HDNet provides viewers with the best in original news, sports, music and entertainment programming. From the Emmy Award winning "Dan Rather Reports," to championship sports coverage from NASCAR and Major League Soccer to "Guys Night In" every Thursday and the HDNet Concert Series every Sunday, HDNet offers great programming with the world's best picture quality. Launched in 2001 by Mark Cuban and General Manager and COO Philip Garvin, the HDNet networks are available on AT&T, Charter Communications, Comcast, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, Mediacom, Verizon and more than 40 NCTC cable affiliate companies. For more information visit www.hd.net. About Inside MMA- HDNet's "Inside MMA" is the first and only one of its kind - an original, weekly television program devoted completely to news and highlights from the world of Mixed Martial Arts. Hosts Kenny Rice and Bas Rutten are joined by the sport's top fighters and news-makers every week to discuss and analyze the latest in MMA. The program also includes event highlights, viewer mail, and Ron Kruck providing up-to-the-minute news and features with Kruck's Korner. "Inside MMA" has become the hottest Mixed Martial Arts program on television, giving fans their weekly fix of everything MMA. Since the program's inception in September of 2007, "Inside MMA" has covered some of the biggest stories in the business, presenting interviews with the biggest names involved. From Randy Couture's legal battles with the UFC to Seth Petruzelli's upset win over Kimbo - and the Florida State Athletic Commission's investigation of that fight - to the fall of EliteXC, "Inside MMA" has covered it all. "Inside MMA", HDNet's weekly series covering the latest news, rankings, stats and highlights from the world of Mixed Martial Arts airs every Friday at 9:00 p.m. ET. For more information on IMMAE, please visit www.immae.tv

Fujita vs. Ivanov, Akihiro Gono and Eiji Mitsuoka added to Sengoku Ninth Battle in August

2009-06-09 11:08:13

by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Jun 09, 2009 at 9:35 am ET A handful of participants, including recent UFC fighter Akihiro Gono and Blagoy Alexandre Ivanov (who is best known for defeating Fedor Emelianenko in a recent Sambo match) will compete in August at World Victory Road's Sengoku Ninth Battle event. The show, expected to air on HDNet in North America, takes place Aug. 2 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. In addition to Ivanov, who fights Kazuyuki Fujita, Eiji Mitsuoka will also compete on the card. Opponents have not been named for Gono or Mitsuoka. Gono (29-14-7), a former Shooto fighter who later joined Pancrase and PRIDE, most recently competed for the UFC, where he went 1-2 over the past two years. After opening the stint with a submission victory over Tamdan McCrory, he took a year off and then suffered decision losses to Dan Hardy and Jon Fitch. Gono, just 2-3 in his past five fights, was released from the UFC following the loss to Fitch in January. Ivanov (0-0), meanwhile, makes his MMA debut after his highly publicized victory over famed heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko at the Combat Sambo World Championship 2008. He takes on Fujita (15-7), a longtime PRIDE fighters who makes his third appearance for WVR, where he most recently suffered an 84-second knockout loss to Travis Wiuff. Finally, Mitsuoka (15-6-2) makes his fifth appearance for WVR, where he's 3-1 with three submission victories. He's won four of his past five fights and eight of his past 10. The latest card for Sengoku Ninth Battle, which also features the semifinal and finale of the organization's featherweight grand prix, now includes: www.mmajunkie.com

Donald Trump: 'MMA Is the Place to Be'

2009-06-08 11:53:10

Posted Jun 08, 2009 11:00AM By Ariel Helwani (RSS feed) When Donald Trump first announced that he was getting involved with Affliction's new MMA promotion last June, a lot of hardcore MMA fans reacted negatively. Trump would bastardize the newborn organization, they said. But one can't deny that "The Donald" has helped bring some much-needed media attention to the fledgling promotion. Case in point: last week's "Affliction: Trilogy" press conference in New York City, which was held in the atrium of the Trump Tower in midtown Manhattan, brought out the likes of CNBC, the New York Post and the nationally-syndicated show, Extra. FanHouse briefly caught up with Trump to talk about his involvement in MMA and who he thinks will win the Fedor Emelianenko vs. Josh Barnett fight on August 1. The full video interview is below. www.mma.fanhouse.com

The Case for Legalization: MMA is a Sport

2009-06-08 11:50:58

June 7, 2009 By Kelsey Philpott I’ve established how and why a fundamental shift in MMA’s approach to seeking legalization is necessary for MMA to progress further. It’s essentially a renewed approach to educating the naysayers and fence-sitters about MMA to correct the misconceptions about the sport. Once MMA is able to clear up any false pretenses about its sport and its safety record, it can then move on to preaching the economic spinoff benefits that accompany its events. The first step in educating the masses about mixed martial arts is to actually teach them how and why MMA is a legitimate, bona fide sport. It’s certainly strange to write something like this, but it’s necessary because MMA can no longer afford to let assumptions rule the minds of those making decisions. MMA has to state its position outright. What is a sport? To most it means some sort of activity which requires both skill and physical prowess to compete. I’d argue that not only does MMA combine several different interdisciplinary fighting styles such as boxing, wrestling, jiu-jitsu, and muay thai - all of which require a tremendous amount of skill and physical prowess - but the requisite level of mastery of these techniques easily parallels with the requisite mastery of the techniques necessary to compete at the highest levels of any other sport. The sport of MMA and its many different disciplines are also highly regulated under a universal set of rules, procedures, and guidelines - including over 30 different in-cage rules and a strict drug testing policy - that have been designed to protect the health, well-being, and integrity of MMA and its athletes. It’s foolish to assume that the naysayers or fence-sitters know about the rules and regulations that MMA abides by, because, quite frankly, it seems as though they often don’t. And for as much as the MMA community complains of the ignorance of others, it ought to look in the mirror to realize that not everyone cares to find the right information themselves! That’s why it needs to be said: an MMA fighter cannot scratch, eye gouge, hair pull, groin kick, hit an opponent to the back of the head, or use steroids, amongst other things. The diversity of technique and strict regulation of the sport also demand that its athletes be of the highest standard. It’s simply not enough to be a one-dimensional fighter anymore; and, as a result, MMA features some of the most phyiscally-gifted, skilled, hard working, and disciplined athletes on the planet. Further, the professionalism and benevolence that is by-and-large displayed by the entire MMA community only adds to the reputation of its athletes. Georges St. Pierre is the type of person and athlete that exemplifies what mixed martial arts is all about and the community should take greater strides to use him an ambassadorial role. Answering MMA’s Critics MMA is essentially bargaining with mass opinion and in order to win that battle, the sport must meet the interests (i.e., answer the concerns) of the public. The most common complaint or criticism of MMA that I often hear opponents use is that technique, rules, and athleticism are irrelevant when the objective of MMA is to hurt the person standing across the cage. But is that really the true objective of the sport? I would argue the true objective of any MMA fighter is to be victorious over his opponent, not to bring real harm to his opponent. More importantly, MMA is the ultimate physical and spiritual test that pits a fighter not just against another person, but against himself. Is the anguish two fighters put themselves through any different than the strife two competing marathon runners experience when pushing each other towards the finish line in the dying minutes of a race? The sport of MMA is as much about conquering oneself as it is conquering others. And that explains why the sport exhibits the level of class and sportsmanship that it does. MMA is further criticized for perpetuating violence, particularly amongst youth, in our society. I suppose this isn’t really a huge surprise considering that just about everything associated with Generation Y is certain to be responsible for the world going to hell - television, videogames, cell phones, facebook, etc. It might surprise critics to know, however, that the fact of the matter is quite the opposite. I’ve seen far more evidence of MMA pulling troubled teens off the street and giving them a healthy and controlled way to channel their aggression. Furthermore, I think you’ll find that if you surveyed the incidence of illegal, underground fighting - something that occured well before MMA began - in areas where MMA is sanctioned to areas where MMA is not, you’d find even more correlating evidence to support this position. Lastly, and this is probably my favourite, there exists this notion out there that MMA somehow compromises the morality of our society; in other words, it’s simply wrong. It’s certainly closely related to the earlier criticisms and misconceptions of the sport and is something I feel will disappear if MMA can manage to do a better job of educating people about the sport. There will, however, undoubtedly remain some people that still disagree with the idea of MMA and in this regard, I’m not sure there is much MMA can do. Therefore, why worry about it? The issue of morality itself opens a whole other can of worms: it’s not only highly subjective but also greatly influenced by one’s surrounding environment (again we broach the subject of cultural relativism). I’m not about to tell anyone what’s right or wrong - apart from the obvious - and MMA certainly doesn’t encroaches upon that obvious line. The sport does not infringe upon any fundamental human rights; it features willing, competent combatants duelling in a controlled setting; and it does not further perpetuate that combat outside of the proper channels. What more is there to say? Difference exist, I respect those of others, but I’m not about to force MMA on anyone that doesn’t like it. Nor am I about to let them tell me what I should or should not be doing. Payout Conclusion The bottom line, here, is the public perception that MMA is a violent, bloodlust akin to human cockfighting could not be further from the truth. Everyone in MMA understands this, and it’s about time the public did too.

13 of 15 Bouts at M-1 Challenge Kansas City End Violently

2009-06-08 11:46:31

June 6, 2009 by Cory Brady M-1 Challenge events are routinely dominated by highlight reel knockouts and jaw dropping submissions and last evening’s event held in Kansas City was no exception to the trend. Thirteen of the fifteen scheduled team competetion bouts were finished before the final bell by either submission, TKO or knockout. Team USA East rallied from behind to edge out Team Finland with a final score of 3-2. Locked up at 2-2, late fill in Lloyd Marshbanks took his fight with Toni Valtonen on thirty six hours notice and wound up clinching the win for Team USA East with a second round neck crank submission. A full list of results from the event are listed below: www.fiveouncesofpain.com

Tom Atencio Talks Affliction's Future and Feud With Dana White

2009-06-05 13:21:36

Posted Jun 05, 2009 8:00AM By Ariel Helwani (RSS feed) Many doubted whether Affliction would ever promote a third mixed martial arts event, but Wednesday's official announcement at a New York City press conference that "Affliction: Trilogy" will take place on August 1 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., put the rumors of Affliction's demise to rest ... for now. FanHouse spoke to the vice president of Affliction Entertainment, Tom Atencio, about putting together this third card and what's in store for Affliction's future. We also spoke about his own upcoming MMA fight and his ongoing feud with UFC president Dana White. The full video interview is below. www.mma.fanhouse.com

Getting serious, Fedor headed to camp

2009-06-05 13:18:01

Friday, June 05, 2009 - by Steven Marrocco - MMAWeekly.com No. 1 ranked heavyweight Fedor Emelianenko will head back to Russia this weekend to begin training for his showdown with Josh Barnett at Affliction: “Trilogy” on Aug. 1 in Anaheim, Calif. The two have shared a friendship that’s spanned over several years and work in two big-ticket promotions, often hanging out after shows to drink vodka and talk shop. Both have made it clear that the upcoming fight is business, and the relationship will stay intact whatever happens in August. “Everyday I fight with my friend in training,” said Emelianenko. ”It’s a sport. We’re athletes in the ring to compete. I’m confident our friendship will continue after the fight.” Emelianenko told MMAWeekly the bout was simply inevitable. www.mmaweekly.com

Mark Cuban Talks Affliction, HDNet and Relationship With Dana White

2009-06-04 11:46:34

Posted Jun 04, 2009 12:58PM By Ariel Helwani (RSS feed) Make no mistake about it: Mark Cuban knows his mixed martial arts. Talk to him for just a few minutes about the sport and that much will be made abundantly clear. Also obvious is the fact that he really loves the sport. "I'm not going to get involved in something unless I like it," Cuban told FanHouse at Wednesday's "Affliction: Trilogy" press conference in New York City. Cuban was on hand to promote the fact that the undercard of Affliction's next event will be televised exclusively on HDNet. FanHouse spoke to the owner of the Dallas Mavericks about Affliction and his relationship with UFC president Dana White. Naturally, he also gave his brief take on the NBA Finals. The full video interview is below. www.mma.fanhouse.com

Tickets for "Affliction: Trilogy" on sale today

2009-06-04 11:44:07

by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Jun 04, 2009 at 12:05 pm ET Tickets for Affliction's August event, "Trilogy," go on sale to to customers utilizing the pre-sale password, "Trilogy," today, June 4, and to the public on Monday, June 8, at Ticketmaster.com. "Affliction: Trilogy" takes place Aug. 1 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., the same site as the organization's first two events. WAMMA heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko meets Josh Barnett in the evening's much-anticipated main event. Today's presale begins at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT). Customers must simply enter the password on Ticketmaster's website, and there is an eight-ticket limit per purchase. Monday's public on-sale date also begins at 1 p.m. ET. While many have speculated "Trilogy" will be Affliction's final show, company executives have been adamant in recent weeks that the show is just the beginning of several upcoming events by the organization. "Affliction: Trilogy" currently includes: www.mmajunkie.com

THE GRACIE FAMILY TO APPEAR ON HDNET'S "INSIDE MMA"

2009-06-04 11:41:40

DALLAS (June 4, 2009) Three members of the famous family who founded Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and helped found the UFC will join "Inside MMA" this week as guest panelists on the program. On the panel is Royce Gracie, a member of the UFC Hall of Fame and the tournament winner at UFC 1, UFC 2 and UFC 4. Royce was chosen to compete in the UFC when the organization started in 1993 and won his first eight fights of his career. Royce will be joined by his brother Royler Gracie, a 3-time Abu Dhabi Champion and 4-time World Jiu-Jitsu Champion, and by his nephew Ralek Gracie, who is 2-0 in his young MMA career. In Friday's episode, the Gracies talk about their family legacy and the state of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu today. And, in a special feature, Ron Kruck pays a visit to the Gracie Academy in Torrance, CA for a Gracie family history lesson. Rodrigo Gracie, an MMA veteran who has fought in both K-1 and Pride, also makes a surprise appearance. HDNet's INSIDE MMA is the first and only one of its kind - an original, weekly television program devoted completely to news and highlights from the world of Mixed Martial Arts. Hosts Kenny Rice and Bas Rutten are joined by the sport's top fighters and news-makers every week to discuss and analyze the latest in MMA. The program also includes event highlights, viewer mail, and Ron Kruck providing up-to-the-minute news and features with Kruck's Korner. INSIDE MMA has become the hottest Mixed Martial Arts program on television, giving fans their weekly fix of everything MMA. Since the program's inception in September of 2007, INSIDE MMA has covered some of the biggest stories in the business, presenting interviews with the biggest names involved. From Randy Couture's legal battles with the UFC to Seth Petruzelli's upset win over Kimbo - and the Florida State Athletic Commission's investigation of that fight, to the fall of EliteXC, INSIDE MMA has covered it all. INSIDE MMA, HDNet's weekly series covering the latest news, rankings, stats and highlights from the world of Mixed Martial Arts airs every Friday at 9:00 p.m. ET.

Fight for your right to HDNet Fights!

2009-06-03 13:05:41

From a Fanpost at Bloody Elbow: i am starting a petition to get hd net on time warner. hd net is exposing mma organizations of a national level. this is a bad direction for out sport.hd net also exposed k-1 to allot of people also. they have a really good line up including inside mma( a discussion show with bas rutten, kenny rice and special guests. they have the dream shows, senguku, k-1, xfc, m-1 global, ring of fire, mfc snd s lot more indy shows http://www.thepetitionsite.com/5/bring-back-hd-net-to-time-warner-cable Do your part: www.bloodyelbow.com

Rothwell vs. Gormely Booked for Affliction

2009-06-03 12:31:16

Posted Jun 03, 2009 2:57PM By Ariel Helwani Former IFL heavyweight star, Ben Rothwell, will return to Affliction on August 1 to face up-and-coming Chase Gormley. The Vice President of Affliction Entertainment, Tom Atencio, informed Fanhouse of the news at today's "Affliction: Trilogy" press conference in New York City. Rothwell lost to Andrei Arlovski in the first Affliction show last July, but has since recorded a first round submission victory against Chris Guillen at Adrenaline MMA 2 in December. Gormley is a perfect 6-0 in his young MMA career, however, he holds notable wins over Eric Pele and former EliteXC fighter, Jon Murphy. www.mma.fanhouse.com

NY Bill Passes First Committee

2009-06-03 12:24:30

Wednesday, June 03, 2009 by Loretta Hunt (lhunt@sherdog.com) Mixed martial arts raised its hand Tuesday in New York, as a bill to regulate the sport in the key state passed with majority approval through the state assembly's Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports. Bill 2009-B, which places the regulatory duties of the sport back in the hands of the New York State Athletic Commission, passed with a 14-6 vote. The state’s Codes Committee will now review and vote on the proposal’s legal implications. It is expected to then move right to the assembly floor for its final vote. “It’s never gotten this far before,” said Michael Kim, a representative from the office of Assemblyman Steven Englebright, who both sponsored the bill and chaired the committee. “This is quite a first victory for the sport in the state.” The sport has not come without its detractors in the Empire State, which banned the sport in 1997 under a bill signed by Gov. George Pataki. www.sherdog.com

HDNet Fights Video Vault: Ross Ebanez vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri at DREAM.7

2009-06-03 12:18:29

by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Jun 03, 2009 at 1:45 pm ET In our latest installment of HDNet Fights Video Vault, we look at a March bout from the opening round of DREAM's current featherweight grand prix. DREAM, PRIDE and Shooto star Tatsuya Kawajiri (22-5-2 at the time) met the always-tough Hawaiian brawler Ross Ebanez (19-6) at the DREAM.7 contest in Japan. Both were looking to advance to the second round of DREAM's 15-man featherweight tournament. Each week HDNet and MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) release a new and exclusive fight from the ever-growing HDNet Fights video library. Stunning knockouts, slick submissions and shocking finishes are the norm for this weekly feature. With a prime example of proper patience and technique, this fight features a textbook submission finish. Ebanez found himself on the defensive from the beginning, receiving a yellow card before the start of the bout after failing to make weight. The B.J. Penn-trained fighter responded by opening up with an aggressive attack, but Kawajiri showed tenacity in resisting the advancements of his larger foe. Check out the embedded clip to see how the fight played out, and who moved on in their quest to claim the title of DREAM grand prix champion. www.mmajunkie.com

HDNET'S MARK CUBAN TO JOIN DONALD TRUMP AT NEW YORK CITY PRESS CONFERENCE

2009-06-02 14:07:25

HDNET'S MARK CUBAN TO JOIN DONALD TRUMP AT NEW YORK CITY PRESS CONFERENCE OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCING AFFLICTION M-1 GLOBAL'S "TRILOGY" - FEDOR EMELIANENKO VS. JOSH BARNETT ON AUGUST 1 AT HONDA CENTER IN ANAHEIM, CA DONALD J. TRUMP, Chairman and CEO of The Trump Organization MARK CUBAN, Owner of the Dallas Mavericks & Chairman of HDNet FEDOR EMELIANENKO, Current WAMMA Heavyweight Champion of the World JOSH BARNETT, Former UFC® Heavyweight Champ TOM ATENCIO, Vice President of Affliction Entertainment VADIM FINKELSTEIN, President, M-1 Global WHAT: New York City press conference to officially announce Affliction M-1 Global "Trilogy"Emelianenko vs. Barnett. Mark Cuban will be on hand to share details about HDNet's involvement with this explosive event. Cuban's HDNet Fights announced a long-term partnership with Affliction Entertainment late last year. The agreement allows HDNet, "Your Home for MMA", to broadcast the first five fightsof Affliction M-1 Global Trilogy LIVEexclusively in North America on HDNet WHEN: Wednesday, June 3 10:30am ET-Press Sign-In 11:00am ET-Press Conference Start WHERE: TRUMP TOWER ATRIUM 725 Fifth Avenue (btwn: 56th and 57th; Fifth Avenue Entrance; Media members should proceed to Sign-In Table by Escalators for Check-In) New York, NY 10022 FACTS: Brought to you by Affliction M-1 Global in association with Donald J. Trump. Affliction M-1 Global's "Trilogy" is scheduled for August 1 at Honda Center in Anaheim, CA and live on Pay-Per-View. The highly anticipated main event will feature Fedor Emelianenko vs. Josh Barnett.

Vitor Belfort vs Jorge Santiago at Affliction 3

2009-06-02 13:06:43

Tuesday, June 02, 2009 - by Steven Marrocco - MMAWeekly.com (reporting by Damon Martin) Middleweight Vitor Belfort will take on Jorge Santiago at Affliction 3: "Trilogy" on Aug. 1 in Anaheim, Calif. MMAWeekly.com confirmed the match-up through sources close to the fight. It is expected to be on the event's main card. Belfort took the bout following reports he would take on Gegard Mousasi at a catch-weight. Mousasi later confirmed he would face Renato "Babalu" Sobral on the clothing company turned fight promotion's third show. www.mmaweekly.com

Filho on Manhoef: ‘Anyone who thinks I’ll exchange punches with him is wrong’

2009-06-01 12:52:21

June 1, 2009 by Cory Brady Sometimes controversial and always dangerous Brazilian submission expert Paulo Filho is preparing himself to face off with one of the scariest men currently competing in mixed martial arts when he meets up with Melvin Manhoef. The two are scheduled to butt heads at DREAM 10 which has been scheduled for July 20. Manhoef is without a doubt one of the most vicious finishers currently competing in the sport, finishing twenty two of his twenty three victories by either KO or TKO for an astounding 95% knockout ratio. www.fiveouncesofpain.com

Mousasi vs. Sobral confirmed for Affliction 3

2009-06-01 12:34:54

Monday, June 01, 2009 - by Ken Pishna - MMAWeekly.com Strikeforce light heavyweight champion Renato "Babalu" Sobral will face Gegard Mousasi at Affliction 3 on Aug. 1 in Anaheim, Calif. The bout was initially announced by M-1 Global on its website on Monday. MMAWeekly.com subsequently confirmed the bout with Sobral's manager, Richard Wilner, who said, "It will be a light heavyweight bout, not a catchweight." Mousasi had originally planned to fight Vitor Belfort in a catchweight at the event, dubbed "Trilogy," confirming the bout on the M-1 Global website last week. The bout had apparently been talked about, but Belfort did not want to move up out of his new home at middleweight, while Mousasi has repeatedly stated that he can no longer make the 185-pound limit. Sobral has been on a roll as of late, winning five straight bouts, including the capture of the Strikeforce light heavyweight championship from Bobby Southworth last November. He most recently defeated Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou at Affliction's sophomore effort in January. www.mmaweekly.com

World Victory Road signs Olympic gold medalist Satoshi Ishii to Sengoku

2009-06-01 12:31:09

by MMAjunkie.com Staff on Jun 01, 2009 at 9:10 am ET Satoshi Ishii, a Japanese gold medalist at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games' Judo competition, has signed with the Japanese-based World Victory Road to compete in its Sengoku event series, the organization today announced. Ishii, 22, is one of MMA's most promising heavyweight prospects. In fact, Ishii had been in talks with the UFC but ultimately decided to sign with an organization closer to home. Ishii is expected to debut for the organization by year's end. www.mmajunkie.com

DREAM.9 video: Riding a three-fight losing streak, does Hideo Tokoro belong in the grand prix?

2009-05-29 12:30:50

by MMAjunkie.com Staff on May 29, 2009 at 3:15 pm ET Not everyone gets a second chance to make an impression, especially in a tournament format. But Hideo Tokoro (22-16-1) did exactly that when he was placed back in the DREAM featherweight grand prix following a loss when Daiki "DJ.taki" Hata was forced to withdraw due to an injury. Despite riding a three-fight losing streak heading into the contest, Tokoro faced fellow grappling ace Abel Cullum (14-3) while looking to advance to the semifinals of the tourney. Check out the embedded clip to see the fight. www.mmajunkie.com

Affliction COO Says 'Trilogy' Won't Be Final Event

2009-05-29 11:29:36

Posted May 29, 2009 12:37PM By Ariel Helwani (RSS feed) Affliction announced via their Web site on Friday morning that their third event, "Afflction: Trilogy," will take place on August 1 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, headlined by Fedor Emelianenko vs. Josh Barnett. Affliction COO Michael D. Cohen contacted FanHouse on Friday afternoon to share additional information about the third show. In addition to confirming that Emelianenko and Barnett will fight on the third Affliction show, Cohen mentioned that the organization will hold a press conference this Wednesday, June 3, at the Trump Tower in New York City to officially announce the event. Scheduled to be present at the press conference are Fedor Emelianenko, Josh Barnett, Tom Atencio, Donald Trump, Mark Cuban, Donald Trump Jr. and representatives from Golden Boy Promotions. The full interview with Cohen is below. www.mma.fanhouse.com

Don't Believe the Hype: M-1 Isn't Solely After a Zuffa-Built Stadium

2009-05-29 11:26:10

by Luke Thomas on May 29, 2009 1:46 PM EDT While I've heard negative whisperings within the industry about M-1 and Dana White has blasted Fedor Emelianenko's management for their outrageous requests at the negotiating table, Evgeni Kogan suggests there might be a method to the M-1 madness: www.bloodyelbow.com

Affliction Quietly Announces Fedor vs. Barnett on Company Web Site

2009-05-29 11:10:30

Posted May 29, 2009 10:23AM By Mike Chiappetta After months of speculation, Affliction has finally shown its cards. The clothing company/MMA promoter unveiled its event poster on the company Web site AfflictionClothing.com. As first reported by FanHouse last week, the Aug. 1 event will feature Fedor Emelianenko vs. Josh Barnett in a WAMMA heavyweight championship fight. The appearance of the event poster is significant because Affliction President Tom Atencio told FanHouse last week that the company would not make any public announcement of the event until contracts were written in ink. www.mma.fanhouse.com

Inside MMA preview: Andrei Arlovski on Strikeforce opponent Brett Rogers

2009-05-28 15:24:58

by MMAjunkie.com Staff on May 28, 2009 at 5:15 pm ET Whether it's in the UFC, Affliction, EliteXC or his newest organization, Strikeforce, Belarusian striker Andrei Arlovski always brings a loyal fan following with him. And while many MMA observers are already marking Arlovski down for a win in his June 6 bout with Brett Rogers, the former UFC champ isn't so quick to jump to conclusions. In fact, Arlovski tells "Inside MMA" host Kenny Rice that he believes the "Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields" co-feature will be quite a test. "I think he's a good opponent for me," Arlovski tells Rice. "He's tough, he's heavy and he's a good striker." With 11 of Arlovski's 15 career wins coming by knockout or TKO, and eight of Rogers' nine career victories coming in the same manner, the bout has the potential for a quick finish. To hear more on how Arlovski believes the fight will play out, check out the embedded clip. www.mmajunkie.com

New name, new focus

2009-05-28 15:20:44

After making the 2008 M-1 Challenge Championship Finals as Team Holland, last year's squad was re-christened at the start of 2009 as Team Benelux. The change was made to more accurately portray the diversity of its roster with its fighters not only hailing from the Netherlands, but neighboring Belgium and Luxembourg as well. Locked and re-loaded, Team Benelux is poised to return to the finals in 2009 after losing the '08 M-1 Challenge Championship Cup to Team Imperial on its home turf in Amsterdam. Led by dynamic striker Jason Jones, Benelux began its campaign for redemption vs. Team Finland at the 2009 "M-1 Challenge Presented by Affliction" season opener this past February at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Wash. The Benelux vs. Finland best-of-five series will debut this Friday in the United States on HDNet at 8 p.m. ET. The premiere of the third episode of this year's M-1 Challenge will kick off a full night of MMA action on HDNet, as Benelux vs. Finland will be proceeded by "Inside MMA" at 9 p.m. ET and then a re-broadcast of DREAM.9 at 10 p.m. ET. With both Benelux and Finland assigned to a deep Group C division that also includes USA East and Bulgaria, Friday's matchup is a must-win for both teams with only one team from each division advancing to the M-1 Challenge playoffs. Despite heading into the fight vs. Finland as the favorite, viewers will see a Benelux team on Friday that is pushed to the limit. Even though Jones moving from middleweight to light heavyweight in order to create a roster spot for rugged striker Kamil Uygun, Benelux found that this year's version of Team Finland is even stronger than last year. With aging veteran heavyweight Jarno Nurminen no longer competing on a full-time basis, Finland's Toni Valtonen made the move from light heavyweight to heavyweight in order to create a roster spot for rising prospect Marcus Vanttinen. Jones learned first hand why Valtonen was willing to accommodate his talented teammate after Vanttinen took him the distance. Will the judges rule in Jones' favor or will Vanttinen score the upset? Tune into HDNet this Friday at 8 p.m. ET. Joining Valtonen and Vanttinen on the Finland roster is perhaps the best pound-for-pound fighter in the M-1 Challenge, middleweight Lucio Linhares. Linhares, who faces Uygun on Friday's episode, is a jiu-jitsu black belt with an 11-4 professional MMA record. He has become one of the most well-known fighters in his adopted home country of Finland with notable wins over the likes of former UFC middleweight Sean Salmon, M-1 Challenge "Super Fight" competitor Karl Amoussou, current Bellator Fighting Championship competitor Moyses Gabin, as well as Valtonen, his current teammate. Valtonen entered the '09 opener with a 17-8 overall record and an impressive 3-1 mark recorded during M-1 Challenge competition last year. An expected mega-fight with Benelux heavyweight Jessie Gibbs was scratched due to an injury to Gibbs with Valtonen instead pitted against hotshot heavyweight prospect Sander Duyvis. In addition to Jones vs. Vanttinen, Linhares vs. Uygun and Valtonen vs. Duyvis, viewers will also see two other fights at lightweight with Danny van Bergen of Benelux taking on Juha-Pekka Vainikainen and a welterweight contest with Finnish submission specialist Janne Tulirinta taking on Benelux's Tommy Depret. The '09 M-1 Challenge will be airing all season long on HDNet every Friday at 8 p.m. ET. For more information on how to watch HDNet, go to HDNetFights.com. And for more information on the M-1 Challenge, please visit www.M-1Global.com.

Trevor Prangley on five-round title war

2009-05-28 11:27:40

Thursday, May 28, 2009 - by Mick Hammond - MMAWeekly.com Former UFC middleweight contender Trevor Prangley wanted to prove he is still a viable commodity in the MMA world. So, with a noticeable chip on his shoulder, he headed up to Canada’s MFC to challenge for the promotion’s 205-pound title against Emanuel Newton and ended up in what became a five-round war, ultimately claiming the title via unanimous decision. Returning to his adopted home in Idaho, the native South American Prangley spoke to MMAWeekly.com about his title win and what’s next. “He was a tough a game opponent; it was a five-round battle,” admitted Prangley. “I was hoping to finish it, I always try to finish it, but I felt really bad the first couple of rounds. “I had a good warm-up and all, but I just couldn’t get it going the first couple of rounds. By the third round I started to get it going, but by then the pace of the fight had already been set.” www.mmaweekly.com

DREAM.9 video: After Mark Hunt fight, is Gegard Mousasi ready for heavier weight classes?

2009-05-28 11:18:18

by MMAjunkie.com Staff on May 28, 2009 at 10:45 am ET Heading into his open-weight "Super Hulk" fight with 286-pound Mark Hunt, Gegard Mousasi ditched his DREAM middleweight belt and said he's headed to the heavier weight classes. In fact, a potential bout with Vitor Belfort at Affliction III could be in jeopardy because middleweight Vitor Belfort doesn't want to move up – and Mousasi doesn't want to move back down. Check out the embedded video for 218-pound Mousasi's fight with Hunt, and see if he's ready to conquer the bigger divisions. Like the rest of the DREAM.9 card, Mousasi vs. Hunt took place at the Yokohama Arena in Kanagawa, Japan. Despite the obvious weight mismatch, this was actually the most evenly matched of the four opening-round "Super Hulk" bouts. Mousasi (25-2-1), who won the 2008 DREAM middleweight grand prix to the win the belt, had emerged as a top five fighter in the 185-pound division, which included 11 straight victories heading into his fight with Hunt. Hunt, meanwhile, entered the bout with a 5-5 MMA record and four consecutive losses. However, the Samoan fighter is best known as a kickboxer (30-13) and the 2001 K-1 World Grand Prix champion. Check out the embedded video for the full fight, and then head to the comments section below to share your thoughts on Mousasi's prospects in the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions. www.mmajunkie.com

DREAM.9 video: MLB vet Jose Canseco fights 7-foot-2 Hong Man Choi

2009-05-27 13:59:36

by MMAjunkie.com Staff on May 27, 2009 at 1:05 pm ET The DREAM.9 card featured everything great about Japanese MMA: a title fight, grudge matches, tournaments and even highly anticipated "freak-show" fights. Perhaps no fight was more peculiar than the one from the organization's open-weight "Super Hulk" tournament. In a surprise booking, former Major League Baseball MVP Jose Canseco, a man without a single MMA fight, was pitted against 7-foot-2 kickboxer Hong Man Choi. MMAjunkie.com has again teamed up with our partners at HDNet to offer a series of fight videos from Tuesday's DREAM.9 event, a star-studded show that took place in Kanagawa, Japan. On Tuesday we watched a "Super Hulk" fight of Jan Nortje vs. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou. Today, it's 253-pound Canseco vs. 331-pound Choi. www.mmajunkie.com

War of Words Heats Up Between Gegard Mousasi and Vitor Belfort

2009-05-27 13:52:18

May 27, 2009 by Cory Brady Yesterday Gegard Mousasi confirmed to www.M-1Global.com that he expected to face off with Vitor Belfort at the third Affliction event which is expected for August 1. Well his expected opponent has made public the fact that he has no desire to stray away from his current middleweight class for any reason. Mousasi has made it known that there is no way that he can physically make the 185 pound weight class any longer and wants to meet up with Belfort at a catch-weight. Something the Brazilian gives little to no chance of happening. “Who defines this isn’t him,” Belfort was quoted as saying in a recent interview with Tatame.com. “I fight at 185lbs. If they want to do this fight at 185lbs, it’s done, otherwise I see no option to go up, even because he isn’t a challenge, a man with much name. To go up, I don’t see him as a challenge. I want to fight with him in the weight he was champion (at DREAM), then I think its worth” www.fiveouncesofpain.com

HDNet Fights Video Vault: Shinya Aoki vs. Hayato Sakurai at DREAM.8

2009-05-27 12:00:17

by MMAjunkie.com Staff on May 27, 2009 at 10:15 am ET When asked about rules changes, many MMA fans want to see the inclusion of knee strikes to a downed opponent. While popular in Japan, the strikes are banned domestically. In our latest HDNet Fights Video Vault installment, which features a DREAM.8 bout between Shinya Aoki and Hayato Sakurai, we get an up-close look at the controversial strikes. If you had any doubts about the effectiveness of them, this fight should make you reconsider. The fight, which took place on April 5, featured Aoki (20-3) vs. Sakurai (34-8-2). It was part of the organization's welterweight grand prix, and among the first-round matches, this was easily the most anticipated. Aoki entered the fight with a 20-3 record, and of the mere three career losses, one of them came to Sakurai at a 2005 Shooto event. Aoki got his opportunity to avenge the loss on a big stage. Both fighters were legitimate threats to win the summer-long grand prix tourney. However, no one could have imagined just how quickly this bout would end. Check out the embedded clip for the full fight. www.mmajunkie.com

Frank Mir Questions Josh Barnett's Focus Going Into Fedor Bout

2009-05-27 11:58:14

Posted May 27, 2009 9:10AM By Ariel Helwani (RSS feed) It's taken years for Josh Barnett and Fedor Emelianenko to agree to fight, but come August 1, arguably two of the best heavyweights in MMA will finally square off at Affliction 3. One of the reasons why some people think this bout has never happened is due to the fact that Barnett and Emelianenko are actually friends. In January, Barnett told FanHouse's Michael David Smith that should the opportunity to fight Emelianenko present itself, he would have no problem putting his friendship aside. www.mma.fanhouse.com

Dream 9 Notebook: ‘Kid’ Accepts Decision

2009-05-27 11:55:41

Wednesday, May 27, 2009 by Tony Loiseleur (tloiseleur@sherdog.com) TOKYO -- A smiling Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto, clad in large sunglasses, calmly expressed feelings of resignation and resolve to the Japanese media Wednesday after dropping a close split decision to MMA upstart Joe Warren in the semi-main event of Dream 9. “Well, he was often on top of me, and I was under him, so I thought that that can’t be good. A loss is a loss, right?” Yamamoto said with a wry smile. “He was a good wrestler, more so than I’d expected. My arms were really tired just in trying to keep up with him, so I think my inability to score punches led to my loss. It’s been a while since I’ve fought, and a while since I fought a bout this difficult, but I thought it was good.” Warren cited his supportive family and friends in addition to his mental toughness and conditioning as the factors that contributed to his win. “You can’t get me tired, bottom line. My leg hurts. I’ve never ever worked on stopping a kick -- that’s probably the next thing on the game plan here,” chuckled Warren. “But outside of that, I’m fine. I’m happy and confident, just looking forward to the next fights. www.sherdog.com

Exclusive Dream 9 photo gallery

2009-05-27 11:49:15

Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - by MMAWeekly.com Staff Disappointment reigned in the Dream middleweight title bout on Tuesday. An illegal kick by Jason "Mayhem" Miller early in the bout left Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza with a cut on his head that would eventually cause a halt to the bout. It was then ruled a no contest. In the Featherweight Grand Prix, Japanese fan favorite Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto was overcome by American upstart Joe Warren. Joining Warren in the semi-finals in September are Hideo Tokoro, Hiroyuki Takaya, and Bibiano Fernandes. Check out the photos: www.mmaweekly.com

DREAM.9 videos: Did Sokoudjou cross a line in Nortje

2009-05-26 15:12:23

by MMAjunkie.com Staff on May 26, 2009 at 5:55 pm ET MMAjunkie.com has again teamed up with our partners at HDNet to offer a series of fight videos from today's DREAM.9 event, a star-studded show that took place in Kanagawa, Japan. The event featured the first round of the open-weight "Super Hulk" tournament, the second round of DREAM's welterweight grand prix, and a middleweight title fight. In our first video, we check out the controversial "Super Hulk" fight between 353-pound Jan Nortje and 225-pound Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou. Sokoudjou came under heavy criticism for this fight. Check out the embedded clip to find out why. (If you don't want a spoiler, check out the video before reading any further.) Was Sokoudjou, 1-3 in his previous four fights, trying to send a message after the referee had jumped in to stop the fight? Or was the Team Quest light heavyweight, who's never really been accused of being a "dirty" fighter, simply caught up in the heat of the battle? Are his actions excusable? Or should he be penalized for the potentially dangerous behavior? The video cuts off early, but it's worth noting that before leaving the ring, Sokoudjou apologetically bowed to his opponent's corner in an apparent display of regret. Share your comments below. Also, stay tuned to MMAjunkie.com over the next few days for further video releases from the DREAM.9 card, including the Jose Canseco vs. Hong Man Choi "Super Hulk" fight. And be sure to catch HDNet's replay of the entire DREAM.9 card on Friday at 10 p.m. ET. For more information, go to www.hdnetfights.com. www.mmajunkie.com

Shinya Aoki vs. Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro, Manhoef vs. Filho Added to DREAM.10

2009-05-26 11:11:15

by Chris Nelson on May 26, 2009 10:35 AM EDT in News Comment 11 comments During intermission at Tuesday's DREAM.9 event, DREAM.10 participants Hayato "Mach" Sakurai, Katsunori Kikuno and Shinya Aoki addressed the Yokohama audience, and a promo video was played which officially announced a handful bouts for the July 20th show at Saitama Super Arena. The video revealed that fan favorite Melvin Manhoef will return to DREAM against former WEC middleweight champ Paulo Filho, whose visage on the big screen elicited "oohs" from the crowd. Also, the previously scheduled lightweight title bout between Shinya Aoki and Joachim Hansen has apparently been scrapped; the Japanese submission ace will now take on Vitor "Shaolin" Ribeiro. www.bloodyelbow.com

Gegard Mousasi vs. Vitor Belfort at Affliction III

2009-05-26 11:05:52

May 26, 2009 by Cory Brady One of the best pound for pound fighters on the planet Gegard Mousasi has confirmed to www.M-1Global.com that his next opponent will in fact be none other than “The Phenom” Vitor Belfort. The two are expected to face off at the third Affliction event that has been rumored for August 1. Mousasi revealed his next opponent in an interview with M-1 Global shortly after his decisive submission victory over Mark Hunt at DREAM 9. “Yes, those (rumors) are true and I will be fighting Vitor Belfort,” said Mousasi when asked about the bouts widespread speculation for an August 1 Affliction card. www.fiveouncesofpain.com

DREAM.9 mayhem: Accidental blow forces no contest in main event

2009-05-26 11:02:37

by MMAjunkie.com Staff on May 26, 2009 at 9:30 am ET DREAM's middleweight title will remain vacant just a little bit longer. An early illegal kick from Jason "Mayhem" Miller (22-6) – deemed unintentional – to the top of the head of a downed Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza (10-2) forced a disappointing no contest in the main event of an otherwise exciting DREAM.9 event. The HDNet-broadcast DREAM.9, featuring the organization's featherweight grand prix and "Super Hulk" quarterfinals, was held Tuesday at the Yokohama Arena in Kanagawa, Japan. www.mmajunkie.com

Dream 9 quick results

2009-05-26 10:58:55

Tuesday, May 26, 2009 - by MMAWeekly.com Staff Dream 9 Quick Results: www.mmaweekly.com

Andre “Dida” Amade vs. Katsunori Kikuno expected for DREAM 10

2009-05-21 23:16:57

May 21, 2009 by Cory Brady Brazilian knockout specialist Andre “Dida” Amade is expected to make his return to the ring at DREAM 10 against DEEP champion Katsunori Kikuno according to a recent report on Tatame.com. The event is scheduled for July 20 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. www.fiveouncesofpain.com

Fedor Emelianenko, Josh Barnett Verbally Agree to Match

2009-05-21 11:55:13

Posted May 21, 2009 7:45AM By Mike Chiappetta (RSS feed) Affliction's third event, featuring a main event of Fedor Emelianenko vs. Josh Barnett and taking place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., on Aug. 1, should be officially announced within days, a source with knowledge of the situation told FanHouse. Though neither Emelianenko or Barnett has signed official bout agreements, they have both verbally accepted the matchup, according to the source. Earlier this week, Affliction President Tom Atencio told FanHouse he would not be able to confirm any details until contracts were officially signed. www.mma.fanhouse.com

M-1 Challenge returns to Kansas City on June 5 when Team USA East takes on Team Finland

2009-05-20 14:27:48

May 19th, 2009 by promma PRO MMA (promma.info) was notified on Monday that the fifth edition of the 2009 “M-1 Challenge Presented by Affliction” is scheduled to take place at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas on Friday, June 5. The event will be headlined by a challenge bout featuring Team USA East (1-0), looking to remain in first place in Group C, taking on Team Finland (1-0). While USA East and Finland both are undefeated, USA East leads by the slimmest of margins as it holds a one fight advantage in the first tie-breaker category of individual fight record. In addition to the headline challenge fight between USA East and Finland, two additional matchups between England vs. France and Turkey vs. the World Team, which will be coached by former DREAM middleweight champion Gegard Mousasi, are also scheduled. This will mark the second time in less than 10 months the M-1 Challenge has held an event in Kansas City, the home venue of M-1 Global live events President Joe Kelly. www.promma.info

Dream 9 complete for May 26

2009-05-20 13:46:39

May 20, 2009 by Bryan Levick Dream 9, which is scheduled for May 26, may be the best card the young organization has put on yet. With second round featherweight grand prix bouts coupled along with the debut of the open-weight “Super Hulk” tournament Dream is packing a serious punch this time around. Fans will see the debut of the ever popular featherweight Norifuni “Kid” Yamamoto as he was given a first round bye and will battle Joe Warren. Many fans around the world have been clamoring for Yamamoto to join the ranks of the WEC where he could battle top featherweights Urijah Faber, WEC featherweight champion Mike Brown and Leonard Garcia just to name a few. www.fiveouncesofpain.com

Pat Miletich and Sam Caplan add to WAMMA's front-office exodus

2009-05-20 11:51:50

by MMAjunkie.com Staff on May 19, 2009 at 5:55 pm ET Members of the World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts since its inception, the organization's Vice President of Fighter Relations, Pat Miletich, and interim Chief Operating Officer, Sam Caplan, have resigned from the aspiring MMA sanctioning body. The resignations were officially announced Tuesday afternoon. In a move that may signal the beginning of the end for WAMMA, Miletich and Caplan's resignations follow the April departure of original COO Michael Lynch. Both Miletich and Caplan stated in a joint press release that the decision was based more on faith in WAMMA's operational structure than the principles of the organization. "Throughout my entire time with WAMMA, I've been sincere in my belief that the sport needs undisputed champions in every major weight class," Miletich stated. "To this day, I still feel that way and still believe in WAMMA's basic principles. "However, I no longer believe that WAMMA's execution is where it needs to be in order for it to meet its full potential. Based on that and a growing difference of opinion with WAMMA's board of directors, I made the decision that it is time to move on." Caplan, who took over as interim COO after Lynch's departure, echoed Miletich's sentiments. www.mmajunkie.com

HDNet Announces Time Change

2009-05-20 11:48:01

HDNet will broadcast exclusive coverage of "HDNet Fights Presents: OLYMPIA DREAM 9 Featherweight Grand Prix, 2nd Round 2009," early Tuesday morning, May 26, at 5:00 a.m. ET LIVE from the esteemed Yokohama Arena in Kanagawa, Japan. MMA fans can catch former MLB slugger Jose Canseco who will be making his mixed martial arts debut in the open weight competition entitled the "Super Hulk" Tournament vs. 7-foot-2 and 330-plus pound Hong-Man Choi from Korea. Gegard Mousasi, Mark Hunt, and Bob Sapp will also compete in first round action in the "Super Hulk" tournament. DREAM 9 will also feature the second round of its Featherweight Grand Prix including a highly anticipated bout between Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto and Joe Warren, plus Jason "Mayhem" Miller meets Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza for the vacant DREAM Middleweight Title. WHEN: Tuesday, May 26 at 5:00 a.m. ET (early morning) on HDNet with an encore presentation to air Friday, May 29 at 10:00 p.m. ET About HDNet HDNet (www.hd.net) is a network that is original, thinks independently and delivers unique content and provocative, authentic programming that appeals to men of all ages, delivered in true high definition. HDNet is the exclusive, high definition home for popular, original programming, including television's only HD news feature programs "HDNet World Report," and the Emmy Award winning "Dan Rather Reports," featuring legendary journalist Dan Rather. Only HDNet goes beyond the headlines to deliver real news that is redefining the way we look at our world. HDNet News is provocative, sometimes controversial and always relevant - telling the important stories of our time in-depth, with attitude and with independence. HDNet presents championship sports coverage featuring the best of Mixed Martial Arts through HDNet Fights. HDNet Fights partners with leading MMA promoters including Affliction, DREAM, Sengoku, XFC, M-1, K-1, K-1 Max, MFC, Adrenaline and more. HDNet produces more live Mixed Martial Arts events than any other network and HDNet's "Inside MMA" is the hottest Mixed Martial Arts program on television, giving MMA fans their weekly fix for everything MMA. HDNet also delivers the world's largest and most diverse concert line-up through the HDNet Concert Series. The HDNet Concert Series features leading artists and bands including Coldplay, Gwen Stefani, John Mayer and more. HDNet also features revealing lifestyle programming featuring "Art Mann Presents," "Vegas Confessions," "Deadline" and "Get Out!" HDNet is also the exclusive high definition home to critically acclaimed and award winning documentaries as part of the InFocus series. "NASA on HDNet" presents all live shuttle launches through 2010. Only HDNet Movies delivers exclusive Sneak Previews of new movies before they hit theaters. The HDNet Movies Sneak Preview series features top Hollywood stars in critically acclaimed performances including Gwyneth Paltrow, Joaquin Phoenix, Demi Moore, Michael Caine, Tom Hanks, Vera Farmiga, Parker Posey, Brian Cox, Matthew Broderick, Brittany Snow, Eric Bana, John Malkovich, and Emily Blunt. Upcoming Sneak Previews include "The Girlfriend Experience" directed by Steven Soderbergh. In addition to being the exclusive home of Sneak Previews, HDNet Movies presents viewers with over one hundred films and an average of twenty-five "HD Premieres" each month.HDNet Movies viewers enjoy the best films from the classics of the 1950s-1970s, to favorite films from the 1980s and 1990s, to recently released theatrical films. HDNet Movies offers subscribers a premium movie viewing experience in true HD, and more original movies shot entirely in HD than any other network. Launched in 2001 by Mark Cuban and General Manager Philip Garvin, the HDNet networks are available on AT&T, Bright House Networks, Charter Communications, Comcast, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, Mediacom, Time Warner Cable, Verizon and more than 40 NCTC cable affiliate companies. For more information visit www.hd.net.

Miller's time: no more goofing off for Mayhem

2009-05-20 11:41:45

Wednesday, May 20, 2009 - by Steven Marrocco - MMAWeekly.com Jason “Mayhem” Miller says the days of monkeying around in the ring are done. A decision loss to submission ace Ronaldo “Jacare” de Souza in Dream’s Middleweight Grand Prix woke him up. The "Bully Beatdown" host realized his attitude was costing him fights. “I got my ass kicked, and I deserved to get my ass kicked, because I tried to fight (Jacare) on his game, his strong suit,” Miller told MMAWeekly.com. “I’m an idiot for that. And as the fight progressed, I didn’t have any choice, because I was tired and I wasn’t all the way in it. I didn’t train hard enough and he was the better guy that night.” When it came time to fight next, he got serious, submitting former ICON champ Kala Kolohe Hose in the first round. Going into the fight, there was a score to settle: a rematch with de Souza at Dream 9 for the middleweight title. “I knew this title fight was on the horizon, so I got the job done real quick with minimal goofing off,” Miller continued. “Which is really weird for me, because I really like to have fun when I fight and be unfocused about it.” When the rematch comes May 26, Miller plans to take “Jacare” where he is weakest. For once, he won’t deviate from the game plan. www.mmaweekly.com

Pictures: ‘Jacare’ Trains for ‘Mayhem’

2009-05-20 11:37:33

www.sherdog.com

HDNet Fights Video Vault: Bryan Baker vs. Rory Singer

2009-05-20 11:30:40

by MMAjunkie.com Staff on May 19, 2009 at 4:30 pm ET The thrill of (near) victory, the agony of defeat. In this week's installment of our HDNet Fights Video Vault, we take a look at a February bout between WEC and King of the Cage veteran Bryan Baker and "TUF 3" cast member Rory Singer. Fighting for the first time in nearly a year, Singer kept control of the action early. But the heavy handed Baker kept focus throughout the contest – even when it seemed all was lost. Each week HDNet and MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) release a new and exclusive fight from the ever-growing HDNet Fights video library. Stunning knockouts, slick submissions and shocking finishes are the norm for this weekly feature. It should take you about 4:56 to figure out into which category this bout fits. Could Singer, who entered the fight with an 11-9 record, snap a two-fight win streak after his extended hiatus, or would Baker (8-1) earn his third-consecutive win? Check out the embedded clip to watch the complete fight. www.mmajunkie.com

'JZ' Looks to Make Up for Lost Time

2009-05-19 12:28:58

Posted May 19, 2009 7:41AM By Ariel Helwani This past year has been one to forget for Gesias Cavalcante. Once considered one of the best lightweight fighters in the world, "JZ" hasn't competed since losing to Shinya Aoki last April at DREAM.2 in Saitama, Japan. After taking some time off to get healthy, his next two fights were either canceled or postponed. On May 26, he finally returns to action against veteran Tatsuya Kawajiri at DREAM.9, with the American Top Team member looking to prove that he is as relevant as ever in the 155-pound division. Looming on the horizon is a chance to avenge losses to current DREAM lightweight champion Joachim Hansen or Aoki, and that alone is enough to fuel the Brazilian fighter. FanHouse spoke to JZ about his time away from MMA and sharing the DREAM.9 spotlight with the likes of Jose Canseco. The full interview is below. www.mma.fanhouse.com

Sengoku sets Featherweight GP Semis

2009-05-19 12:25:17

Tuesday, May 19, 2009 - by MMAWeekly.com Staff Sengoku’s featherweight tournament semi-finals are set, according to a report from tatame.com. Marlon Sandro (14-0), who defeated Matt Jaggers and Nick Denis to receive his semi-final spot, said he would face UFC veteran Michihiro Omigawa on the Aug. 2 card in Japan. The venue has yet to be announced. Remaining participants Hatsu Hioki and Masanori Kanehara will do battle to determine the tournament’s other finalist. Both the semi-finals and finals will be fought on the same night. Hioki defeated Chris Manuel and Ronnie Mann to earn his semi-final spot, while Kanehara dispatched Jong Man Kim and Chan Sung Jung to earn his. www.mmaweekly.com

Mayhem Miller Ready to Bring the Beatdown to Jacare

2009-05-19 12:15:49

Posted May 14, 2009 12:20PM By Mike Chiappetta (RSS feed) Jason "Mayhem" Miller might well be the most famous mixed martial artist not fighting in the UFC. As the host of MTV's Bully Beatdown, Mayhem won himself a whole new legion of mainstream fans and solved a few problems along the way. On May 26 in Kanagawa, Japan, he goes back to his regular job: fighting. At DREAM 9, Miller (22-6) will take on Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza (10-2) in a rematch of their June 2008 fight, which Jacare won by unanimous decision. But this time, it's for the middleweight title. In an exclusive interview with FanHouse, Mayhem talks about hiding from unwanted attention, why he still thinks Jacare is overrated and if we'll ever see him back fighting for a major U.S. promotion. www.mma.fanhouse.com

Kawajiri Trains for ‘JZ’

2009-05-19 11:51:50

www.sherdog.com

Report: Omigawa vs. Sandro, Hioki vs. Kanehara at Sengoku in August

2009-05-18 11:36:23

by MMAjunkie.com Staff on May 18, 2009 at 2:15 pm ET A new report from Tatame.com indicates World Victory Road's Sengoku featherweight grand prix semifinals have been set. Marlon Sandro (14-0) revealed to the website that he will be facing Michihiro Omigawa (6-7-1). By default, Hatsu Hioki (19-3-2) would then face Masanori Kanehara (13-5-5). The event takes place Aug. 2 in Japan, though the organization has yet to announce an official venue. Hioki has gone eight-straight bouts without a loss, including first-round submission wins over Ronnie Mann and the previously undefeated Chris Manuel in the opening two rounds of the tournament. www.mmajunkie.com

Team USA East takes on Team Finland when M-1 Challenge returns to Kansas City on June 5

2009-05-18 11:31:08

May 18, 2009 by Cory Brady Headlining the fifth installation of the always entertaining “M-1 Challenge Presented by Affliction” series slated to go down on June 5 will be Team USA East when they face off with Team Finland. Both teams hold perfect records of 1-0 during this years Challenge. The event is scheduled to take place at the Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas. Also slated for action in Kansas City are match-ups featuring Team England vs. Team France and Team Turkey vs. the World Team. www.fiveouncesofpain.com

Pictures: 'Kid' Yamamoto and Daisuke Naito

2009-05-18 11:21:28

www.sherdog.com

After missed chances at Nick Diaz, DREAM, Jay Hieron looks to Affliction

2009-05-18 11:19:41

by John Morgan on May 17, 2009 at 12:20 pm ET Currently riding a five-fight win streak, including an impressive win over Jason High at "Affliction: Day of Reckoning" in January, former IFL champion Jay Hieron (17-4) is itching to get back in action. And while "The Thoroughbred" agreed to a June bout with Nick Diaz at Strikeforce, Hieron recently told MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio) an August return for Affliction appears likely. "I'm pretty positive I'm on the next (Affliction) card, whether it's the [Aug. 1] or [Aug. 15]," Hieron said. "I haven't got a name yet, but I was supposed to be on that June 6 Strikeforce card and fight Nick Diaz." Hieron said he verbally committed to the bout with Diaz, but the organization elected to go with Scott Smith instead. Hieron said he hopes he can revisit the bout at some point. "I agreed to it," Hieron said. "[Strikeforce] asked me, and right away I said, 'Yes.' "I think that's a great opponent for me. I could get in the gym and get up for that. I get up for everybody, but that's definitely a fight I think I match up well with." While Hieron has been on the sideline since the 64-second win over High in January, the welterweight has had both the Diaz bout and a shot at DREAM's welterweight grand prix slip away. www.mmajunkie.com

Bobby Lashley puts Cook to sleep at “MFC 21: Hard Knocks”

2009-05-16 14:16:47

May 16th, 2009 by promma. When PRO MMA (promma.info) spoke to Bobby Lashley last month he explained he was in no rush to get into the UFC or one of the big shows. He did not want to jump in there right away and have everyone questioning his legitimacy. Rather, he wanted to take his time and get some experience under his belt in the smaller shows. Frankly, that is a wise plan. Last night former WWE superstar Bobby Lashley fought Mike Cook at Maximum Fighting Championship’s “MFC 21: Hard Knocks” at the River Cree Hotel and Casino just outside Alberta, Canada. Cook, a 234-pound heavyweight, has been fighting professionally since 2006 and came into the fight with a 6-3 record. Lashley, weighing in at 249-pounds, came into the fight at 2-0. www.promma.info

Lashley, Prangley Victorious at MFC

2009-05-16 09:23:36

Saturday, May 16, 2009 by Rob King ENOCH, Alberta -- Bobby Lashley continued an impressive start to his MMA career, as he quickly dispatched Mike Cook in only 24 seconds via front choke at MFC 21 “Hard Knocks” inside the River Cree Resort and Casino. Lashley closed the distance with a right hook that Cook ducked, but then latched on a front headlock and quickly flattened out Cook on his stomach. The 33-year-old wrestler secured the submission in North-South position for the victory. The former WWE star improves to 3-0, and will face Bob Sapp next on June 27 in Biloxi, Miss., assuming that Sapp emerges from his May 26 fight in Japan injury-free. At the end of the night, Trevor Prangley knew he had been in a fight. He and champion Emanuel Newton went toe-to-toe for 25 minutes, but it was Prangley who walked away with the light heavyweight title. www.sherdog.com

Prangley crowned new MFC champ

2009-05-16 09:16:08

By MFC Staff - May 15, 2009 Veteran Trevor Prangley outlasted defending champion Emanuel Newton to take a five-round unanimous decision and the MFC world light heavyweight championship at MFC 21: Hard Knocks Friday night at the River Cree Resort and Casino just outside Edmonton, Alberta. After a weathering an early storm and appearing to be out of gas, Prangley (20-5) picked up the pace after three rounds and began to wear down Newton (11-4-1) with crisper strikes and kicks. By the time the fifth round came around, both of Newton’s eyes were half-closed due to precise shots and the effects of well-placed bodyshots from punches, knees, and kicks had taken their toll on Newton. The fight’s most compelling moment came with one second remaining in the fifth round as Prangley clipped Newton with a punch combo and then connected point-blank with a crushing high kick that caught Newton square on the chin. Both fighters went down in a heap – Newton from the blast and Prangley from a bruised foot – as referee “Big” John McCarthy jumped in with the horn blowing. The sold-out crowd at The Venue at River Cree gave both fighters a standing ovation for their impressive performances. Despite Newton’s superior start to the fight, the judges went with Prangley by scores of 48-46, 49-46 and 49-46. “It wasn’t the way I wanted it to go – I wanted an early knockout – but I will definitely take it as it is very hard to take a belt from the champion,” said Prangley, who was quick to offer Newton a rematch. The night’s superfight was over in the blink of an eye. Former WWE star Bobby “The Dominator” Lashley barely broke a sweat as he secured a powerful front choke and finished off Mike “The Animal” Cook in only 24 seconds. Lashley (3-0) shrugged off the only power punch that Cook (7-4) was able to throw and then ravaged Cook before McCarthy stepped in. “That’s what I do,” smiled Lashley. “The crowd was amazing and I want to come back.” Travis “The Gladiator” Galbraith (17-6) endeared himself to his hometown crowd albeit with a controversial split-decision victory over David Heath (11-5). Heath seemed to land the bigger shots throughout the bout and had to contend with two accidental low blows and a poke in the eye. A visibly miffed Heath stormed out of the ring after the decision of 29-28, 28-29 and 29-28 was read out. John “The Natural” Alessio, returning to fight in his home country, captured a convincing first-round victory and the Submission of the Night as he tore through Andrew Buckland. Alessio (29-13-1), who was coming off the first knockout loss of his career to Paul Daley at MFC 19, looked determined and back to his dominating ways as he simply schooled Buckland (8-4) before sinking in a rear-naked choke at 2:53 of Round 1. The televised portion of the card on HDNet Fights kicked off with some good fortune for another veteran fighter. After needing some time to recover from an accidental low blow in Round 1, Marvin “The Beastman” Eastman (16-9) flashed some devastating ground-and-pound work to stop light heavyweight prospect Aron Lofton (6-2) at 0:59 of the second. On the undercard, Dwayne Lewis (7-5) earned the Knockout of the Night as he followed up a sharp knee with a barrage of punches to put away Jay Whitford (3-1) just 29 seconds into their light heavyweight bout. In other action: Ryan Jimmo (10-1) def. Mychal Clark (8-6) – unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) William Richey (4-0) def. Ryan Fortin (4-1) – split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) Jason Heit (3-0) def. Jeremy Combrink (5-2) – TKO, 4:17 Round 1 George Belanger (3-1) def. Nolan Clarke (3-4) – TKO, 4:40 Round 1 The MFC announced during Hard Knocks that homegrown superstar Jason “The Athlete” MacDonald will make his return to the Maximum Fighting Championship at MFC 22: Payoff which will be held Friday, September 25 at the River Cree Resort and Casino.

“MFC 21: Hard Knocks” weigh-in results

2009-05-15 13:57:30

May 14th, 2009 Jay Whitford came in a 8.5 lbs. over the light heavyweight limit of 206 lbs. at Maximum Fighting Championship’s “MFC 21: Hard Knocks” weigh-ins Thursday May 14th in Alberta, Canada at the River Cree Hotel and Casino. Whitford will forfeit 25% of his purse due to his failure to make weight. Bobby Lashley hit the heavyweight scales at 249 lbs., while his opponent Mike Cook came in at 234 lbs. In the main event title fight, light heavyweight champion Trevor Prangley came in at 205.5 lbs. and his challenger, Emanuel Newton weighed in at 204.5 lbs. “MFC 21: Hard Knocks” takes place Friday May 15th at the River Cree Hotel and Casino and will air live on HDNet beginning at 10:00 PM EST. Here are the official weigh in results: www.promma.info

Prangley, Lashley set for debuts at MFC 21

2009-05-15 13:25:30

Friday, May 15, 2009 - by MMAWeekly.com Staff Maximum Fighting Championship, on the eve of what is arguably the biggest event in the history of the promotion, held the weigh-ins for MFC 21 "Hard Knocks" with all but on fighter making weight. The main event features former UFC fighter Trevor Prangley making his promotional debut in a challenge to current MFC light heavyweight champion Emanuel Newton. Prangley stepped on the scales at 205.5 pounds, while Newton weighed 204.5 for the championship bout. www.mmaweekly.com

"Inside MMA" preview: "Stitch" taps Hieron vs. Goulet as bloodiest fight

2009-05-15 13:17:09

by MMAjunkie.com Staff on May 15, 2009 at 3:55 pm ET Jacob "Stitch" Duran has seem some cuts during his storied career as a cut man – some really doozies. And on tonight's new edition of "Inside MMA" on HDNet, he discusses the bloodiest one of all. "There was a lot of blood, man," Durran said. The veteran stitcher-upper was talking about a UFC Fight Night 2 bout between Jay Hieron and Jonathan Goulet. The October 2005 bout kicked off the night's preliminary card and was never shown on TV. And it'll likely stay that way. Goulet caught Hieron with a knee between the eyes. Hieron's face soon exploded with a flood of red. "So I'm plugging it up with adrenaline chloride, which is used to restrict the blood vessels," Durran said. "And I know I'm in real trouble. I'll mix up Vaseline with adrenaline chloride, and I covered the cut, and as soon as I covered the cut, it leaked right through. I knew at that point it was going to be a serious cut. "He bled from head to toe. Both fighters had blood from the top of the head to the bottom of their feet." Although the UFC may never air such a bloody fight (which Goulet won via third-round TKO stoppage due to the cut), fans can still find some evidence of it. "If you go to Randy Couture's gym, you'll see that mat on the wall," Durran said. "Bloodiest fight ever." For more on the fight, as well as Durran's pick for a "cutman's dream fighter," check out the embedded clip. www.mmajunkie.com

Is Bobby Lashley here to stay?

2009-05-15 13:14:54

May 14th, 2009 Maximum Fighting Championship’s “MFC 21: Hard Knocks” takes place Friday May 15, 2009 at the River Cree Resort and Casino in Alberta, Canada. MFC Light Heavyweight Champion Emanuel Newton (11-3-1) will be defending his title against contender Trevor Prangley (19-5) in the main event. Former WWE professional wrestler Bobby Lashley (2-0) will be returning to the MMA ring as he takes on Mike Cook (6-3). Also on the card will be Elite XC and King of the Cage veteran Travis Galbraith (16-6) taking on UFC veteran David Heath (10-4). Former UFC fighter John Alessio (24-13) makes his MFC return and another UFC veteran, Marvin Eastman (15-9-1) makes his MFC debut. When MFC promoter Mark Pavelich was recently asked by MMA Canada what will make the Bobby Lashley vs. Mike Cook fight interesting for the fans he replied, “If Mike Cook knocks him right in the face and knocks him down, that will be an interesting fight, right? I would love to see Cook smash him right in the mouth and I want to see how he reacts to being smashed in the mouth by Mike Cook. And then if he can come back and win the fight, that will show if he is really in the sport to stay or if he’s just a fad.” Pavelich goes on to say he saw Lashley’s first two fights and was not overly impressed. “I did not bring a guy to come in here and lay down against him. He better be ready come May 15th. If he think he’s just gonna walk off the plane and roll over this guy, I think he’s mistaken,” Pavelich said. “MFC 21: Hard Knocks” will broadcast live on HDNet Friday, May 15th beginning at 10:00 PM EST. Here is the full fight card: www.promma.info

DREAM welterweight grand prix semifinals set for July 20 in Japan

2009-05-14 12:12:55

by MMAjunkie.com Staff on May 14, 2009 at 3:05 pm ET DREAM's welterweight grand prix semifinals have now been set as Hayato "Mach" Sakurai (35-8-2) will meet Marius Zaromskis (9-2), while Andre Galvao (3-0) meets Jason High (7-1). Tatame.com first reported the Galvao vs. High matchup, leaving Sakurai to meet Zaromskis. MMAjunkie.com has since conformed the matchups with sources close to the event. The tournament winner will be required to win two bouts in one night, as the semifinals and finals will both be contested at DREAM.10 on July 20 in Saitama, Japan. www.mmajunkie.com

19 Questions for Tom Atencio

2009-05-13 13:37:10

Wednesday, May 13, 2009 by Loretta Hunt (lhunt@sherdog.com) While the fight community awaits the announcement of Affliction’s next event, one of its vice presidents recently declared his intentions to step into the cage as a competitor. Tom Atencio, Affliction’s affable frontman, will fight in his second career bout against Randy Hedderick (1-0) at Fight Force and Prize Fight’s Ultimate Chaos on June 27 at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Miss. Atencio shares the bill with a heavyweight contest between former WWE star Bobby Lashley and K-1 standout Bob Sapp. Sherdog.com had a few questions for the 42-year-old Atencio and his newest conquest. Sherdog.com: What compelled you to take another fight right now? www.sherdog.com

HDNET TO AIR LIVE COVERAGE OF "HDNET FIGHTS PRESENTS: OLYMPIA DREAM 9 FEATHERWEIGHT GRAND PRIX, 2nd ROUND"

2009-05-13 12:57:04

HDNet will broadcast exclusive coverage of "HDNet Fights Presents: OLYMPIA DREAM 9 Featherweight Grand Prix, 2nd Round 2009," early Tuesday morning, May 26, at 12:00 a.m. PT LIVE from the esteemed Yokohama Arena in Kanagawa, Japan. MMA fans can catch former MLB slugger Jose Canseco who will be making his mixed martial arts debut in the open weight competition entitled the "Super Hulk" Tournament vs. 7-foot-2 and 330-plus pound Hong-Man Choi from Korea. Gegard Mousasi, Mark Hunt, and Bob Sapp will also compete in first round action in the "Super Hulk" tournament. DREAM 9 will also feature the second round of its Featherweight Grand Prix including a highly anticipated bout between Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto and Joe Warren, plus Jason "Mayhem" Miller meets Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza for the vacant DREAM Middleweight Title. WHEN: Tuesday, May 26 at 12:00 a.m. PT (early morning) on HDNet with an encore presentation to air Friday, May 29 at 10:00 p.m. ET About HDNet HDNet (www.hd.net) is a network that is original, thinks independently and delivers unique content and provocative, authentic programming that appeals to men of all ages, delivered in true high definition. HDNet is the exclusive, high definition home for popular, original programming, including television's only HD news feature programs "HDNet World Report," and the Emmy Award winning "Dan Rather Reports," featuring legendary journalist Dan Rather. Only HDNet goes beyond the headlines to deliver real news that is redefining the way we look at our world. HDNet News is provocative, sometimes controversial and always relevant - telling the important stories of our time in-depth, with attitude and with independence. HDNet presents championship sports coverage featuring the best of Mixed Martial Arts through HDNet Fights. HDNet Fights partners with leading MMA promoters including Affliction, DREAM, Sengoku, XFC, M-1, K-1, K-1 Max, MFC, Adrenaline and more. HDNet produces more live Mixed Martial Arts events than any other network and HDNet's "Inside MMA" is the hottest Mixed Martial Arts program on television, giving MMA fans their weekly fix for everything MMA. HDNet also delivers the world's largest and most diverse concert line-up through the HDNet Concert Series. The HDNet Concert Series features leading artists and bands including Coldplay, Gwen Stefani, John Mayer and more. HDNet also features revealing lifestyle programming featuring "Art Mann Presents," "Vegas Confessions," "Deadline" and "Get Out!" HDNet is also the exclusive high definition home to critically acclaimed and award winning documentaries as part of the InFocus series. "NASA on HDNet" presents all live shuttle launches through 2010. Only HDNet Movies delivers exclusive Sneak Previews of new movies before they hit theaters. The HDNet Movies Sneak Preview series features top Hollywood stars in critically acclaimed performances including Gwyneth Paltrow, Joaquin Phoenix, Demi Moore, Michael Caine, Tom Hanks, Vera Farmiga, Parker Posey, Brian Cox, Matthew Broderick, Brittany Snow, Eric Bana, John Malkovich, and Emily Blunt. Upcoming Sneak Previews include "The Girlfriend Experience" directed by Steven Soderbergh. In addition to being the exclusive home of Sneak Previews, HDNet Movies presents viewers with over one hundred films and an average of twenty-five "HD Premieres" each month. HDNet Movies viewers enjoy the best films from the classics of the 1950s-1970s, to favorite films from the 1980s and 1990s, to recently released theatrical films. HDNet Movies offers subscribers a premium movie viewing experience in true HD, and more original movies shot entirely in HD than any other network. Launched in 2001 by Mark Cuban and General Manager Philip Garvin, the HDNet networks are available on AT&T, Bright House Networks, Charter Communications, Comcast, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, Mediacom, Time Warner Cable, Verizon and more than 40 NCTC cable affiliate companies. For more information visit www.hd.net.

The Evolution of the Mixed Martial Arts Gym

2009-05-12 13:41:06

May 12, 2009 by Bryan Levick There is an old saying that goes “Behind every good man there is a good woman”. Well I say “Behind every good mixed martial artist is a good group of trainers”. I hope that you noticed how trainer is now trainers as today’s top MMA camps have a plethora of great coaches. The days of a fighter being trained in one discipline is long gone. All of the top camps today employ several different coaches who are experts in their own discipline. Today you can go to an MMA gym and learn boxing, Muay Thai, kickboxing, wrestling and jiu-jitsu. It is completely necessary for today’s fighters to be strong in all of these disciplines as mixed martial artists today are more well rounded than ever. American Top Team, which has its central location in Coconut Creek, Florida, have locations all throughout Florida as well as across the United States, and they have even branched out overseas to England and Australia. They are growing at a phenomenal rate and that is just a testament to the quality of trainers that they employ. ATT’s top MMA fighters train out of their central location. Led by head MMA trainers Ricardo Liborio and Conan Silveira, this group of fighters include UFC #1 welterweight contender Thiago Alves, WEC featherweight champion Mike Brown, Gesias “JZ” Cavalcante, Denis Kang, Thiago Silva, Jorge Santiago, Antonio Silva, Din Thomas, Yves Edwards, Jeff Monson, Cole Miller, Wilson Gouveia and Bobby Lashley just to name a few. They train in a state of the art 20,000 square foot facility that allows them to improve each and every area of MMA. www.fiveouncesofpain.com

Prangley out to prove critics wrong at MFC

2009-05-12 13:31:58

Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - by Mick Hammond - MMAWeekly.com While some people feel that MMA has proven to be a recession-proof entity, some fighters would disagree. It seems there is a sizable group of veteran free agent fighters who have been having trouble securing contracts. Among them is former UFC middleweight Trevor Prangley. After over 10 years and nearly 25 fights, Prangley has found himself on the outside looking in, and with a noticeable frustration over the situation. “I was trying to get with a big organization last year, but it didn’t work out, so I’ve got to go back to the grass roots I guess,” he told MMAWeekly.com. “For some reason I couldn’t get a contract signed with anybody. “They asked to use me as an opponent for somebody, and people have turned me down. I think I’m a high-risk fight for anybody. People know that and tend to shy away from that.” One organization that was willing to give Prangley an opportunity was the Maximum Fighting Championship promotion in Canada. www.mmaweekly.com

Rising from the Slums

2009-05-12 13:25:55

Tuesday, May 12, 2009 by Marcelo Alonso (malonso@sherdog.com) In Brazil, where an estimated 50 million people live in favelas, or slums, it’s common for a child to dream of changing his or her life through sports. In years past, kids have aspired to follow in the footsteps of soccer idols like Romário and Ronaldo, both of whom were born in the Rio de Janeiro favelas. Nowadays, the popularity of mixed martial arts in Brazil and the growth of its international market have attracted more athletes from these poor communities who aim to become the next Wanderlei Silva, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira or Anderson Silva. Growing up in Vila Cruzeiro at the Complexo do Alemão, the most violent favela of Rio de Janeiro, Andre Santos never lost sight of his goal to become a champion. Violence, a lack of money and the tempting proposals of drug dealers constantly knocked on his door, and Chatuba had to fight hard to avoid the criminal element. Today, he’s considered one of the biggest revelations in Brazil’s 183-pound division. “I was born and raised with many guys who went towards the wrong life, but I chose the path of being an athlete while they chose another way and I respect them,” says Chatuba, who began training in the style of Luta Livre, or “free fight,” thanks to a social project organized by Marcio Cromado Barbosa, founder of the RFT team. Chatuba was one of 120 local children who trained for free under Barbosa and one of his students. Before accruing his impressive 13-1 record, Chatuba honed his craft at RFT’s headquarters in the distant Botafogo district. www.sherdog.com

HDNET TO AIR SECOND SEASON OF THE "M-1 CHALLENGE PRESENTED BY AFFLICTION"

2009-05-11 19:02:45

HDNet to premiere the second season of the M-1 Challenge-now with Affliction onboard-Friday, May 15 at 8:00 p.m. ET. HDNet will then air subsequent matches every Friday at 8:00 p.m. Billed as the "World Cup of Mixed Martial Arts," the M-1 Challenge is a full season of MMA events sponsored by partner Affliction that showcase some of the best up-and-coming MMA fighters in the world, and pits teams of five fighters representing their respective countries against each other for international bragging rights and the title of M-1 Challenge Champions. The 2009 tournament is the second annual installment of this international MMA team competition. The challenge consists of sixteen teams from around the world, each comprised of five MMA fighters, one from each weight class. Each nation vs. nation match-up will be a one-hour program and HDNet will air up to twenty-eight one-hour programs from the round robin competition. WHEN: "HDNet Fights Presents: The M-1 Challenge Presented by Affliction" will air on HDNet on Friday, May 15 at 8:00 p.m. ET. Subsequent matches in the tournament will air every Friday on HDNet at 8:00 p.m. ET. About HDNet HDNet (www.hd.net) is a network that is original, thinks independently and delivers unique content and provocative, authentic programming that appeals to men of all ages, delivered in true high definition. HDNet is the exclusive, high definition home for popular, original programming, including television's only HD news feature programs "HDNet World Report," and the Emmy Award winning "Dan Rather Reports," featuring legendary journalist Dan Rather. Only HDNet goes beyond the headlines to deliver real news that is redefining the way we look at our world. HDNet News is provocative, sometimes controversial and always relevant - telling the important stories of our time in-depth, with attitude and with independence. HDNet presents championship sports coverage featuring the best of Mixed Martial Arts through HDNet Fights. HDNet Fights partners with leading MMA promoters including Affliction, DREAM, Sengoku, XFC, M-1, K-1, K-1 Max, MFC, Adrenaline and more. HDNet produces more live Mixed Martial Arts events than any other network and HDNet's "Inside MMA" is the hottest Mixed Martial Arts program on television, giving MMA fans their weekly fix for everything MMA. HDNet also delivers the world's largest and most diverse concert line-up through the HDNet Concert Series. The HDNet Concert Series features leading artists and bands including Coldplay, Gwen Stefani, John Mayer and more. HDNet also features revealing lifestyle programming featuring "Art Mann Presents," "Vegas Confessions," "Deadline" and "Get Out!" HDNet is also the exclusive high definition home to critically acclaimed and award winning documentaries as part of the InFocus series. "NASA on HDNet" presents all live shuttle launches through 2010. Only HDNet Movies delivers exclusive Sneak Previews of new movies before they hit theaters. The HDNet Movies Sneak Preview series features top Hollywood stars in critically acclaimed performances including Gwyneth Paltrow, Joaquin Phoenix, Demi Moore, Michael Caine, Tom Hanks, Vera Farmiga, Parker Posey, Brian Cox, Matthew Broderick, Brittany Snow, Eric Bana, John Malkovich, and Emily Blunt. Upcoming Sneak Previews include "The Girlfriend Experience" directed by Steven Soderbergh. In addition to being the exclusive home of Sneak Previews, HDNet Movies presents viewers with over one hundred films and an average of twenty-five "HD Premieres" each month. HDNet Movies viewers enjoy the best films from the classics of the 1950s-1970s, to favorite films from the 1980s and 1990s, to recently released theatrical films. HDNet Movies offers subscribers a premium movie viewing experience in true HD, and more original movies shot entirely in HD than any other network. Launched in 2001 by Mark Cuban and General Manager Philip Garvin, the HDNet networks are available on AT&T, Bright House Networks, Charter Communications, Comcast, DIRECTV, DISH Network, Insight, Mediacom, Time Warner Cable, Verizon and more than 40 NCTC cable affiliate companies. For more information visit www.hd.net.