Trainer Rafael Alejarra and Wand

from Silva's Web site:
Wanderlei Silva has started construction on the new Wand Fight Team Training & Conditioning Center! This brand-new, world-class facility will be housed in a 10,000sq ft building on Dean Martin Rd in the fight sport capital of the world, Las Vegas, NV.

Wanderlei has chosen THROWDOWN for it's training center design and construction services. Although the training center is in the early stages of construction, Wanderlei wanted his 30ft event series octagon installed so that he could train during the gym build out. The Throwdown Training Center team delivered and installed Wanderlei's octagon over the weekend, and he and strength & conditioning coach Rafael Alejarra (the man behind the "snorkel" workout) went to work immediately!

The Wand Fight Team Training & Conditioning Center is slated to be the home base to the top BJJ players & Brazilian fighters visiting Vegas. Robert Drysdale, Damian Maia, Jacare Souza, the Noguiera Bros are among those scheduled to train at Wand's new facility.

preliminary fights:
- Dan Hardy def. Akihiro Gono via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Shane Carwin def. Neil Wain via TKO (strikes) -- Round 1, 1:31
- David Bielkheden def. Jess Liaudin via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
- Terry Etim def. Sam Stout via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
- Jim Miller def. David Baron via submission (rear-naked choke) -- Round 3, 3:19
- Per Eklund def. Sammy Schiavo via submission (rear naked choke) -- Round 3, 1:47

from fightticker.com:
Edo at betwwx.com has the following translation of Brazilian publication Portal Do Vale Tudo's article on Rogerio Minotouro Nogueira's upcoming bout in Japan:

Rogerio Minotouro has confirmed that he'll be fighting at Sengoku 6 on November 1 at Saitame Arena in Japan. The Brazilian will face Rimbon Moise, who holds 23 professional MMA fights to his name with his most recent win coming in August.

Minotouro has confirmed the bout with Portal Do Vale Tudo.

"I can confirm the bout," he said, "He is a tough guy and has faced many good fighters. It will be tough. I am glad to return to Japan, where my career started and where I have a big fan following. I am very anxious to come back to fight there."

Minotouro was informed of his opponent only two weeks in advance.

"I was supposed to fight for Affliction but their card was postponed." He said, " I was coming off two knockout victories in 2008. I'm in great form. I'm in the best shape of my life."

Bloodyelbow.com says that ESPN's next E:60 show will feature Brock Lesnar. It'll premiere Tues., Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. and will be posted here some time later if you miss it.

Jardine vs. Vera

from M-1's Web site about a press conference held today:
A long-term cooperation between M-1 Global, Affliction, Golden Boy promotion and Donald Trump was announced earlier today. Also it was revealed that the "Fighting Fedor" reality-show is going to be produced in cooperation with Affliction and Donald Trump.

M-1 Global president Vadim Finkelstein told at the conference that negotiations with different TV-networks about broadcasting the show are ongoing. 16 heavyweights from all over the world will come to St.Petersburg to participate in the project.

During the show they will train and live in the famous Red Devil FT. Once in a while well-known fighters will visit them to share their skills. Eventually only one fighter will survive and win an opportunity of fighting Fedor Emelianenko in the finals.

Affliction has extended the contract with Fedor. Also Donald Trump plans to come to St.Petersburg: ""I really believe, in its own way, this (show) will be a great success."

Petruzelli, who agreed to take the headlining bout on less than three hour's notice after Ferguson's opponent, Ken Shamrock, was cut in warm-ups and deemed medically ineligible to compete, clipped Ferguson out of the gate with a right jab. Petruzelli's 14-second TKO stoppage aired live on CBS to 4.56 million viewers.

The following Monday, Petruzelli made comments on a local morning talk show that insinuated EliteXC promoters had arranged for the fighter to keep the bout from going to the mat for an extra fee.

sent to me by email:
2007 NCAA Wrestling Champion Phil Davis won his professional MMA debut tonight at "The Awakening," in Plymouth, Mass. Davis defeated an 8-2 Brett Chism in a 3 round unanimous decision. Davis, fighting out of LionHeart in State College, Pa., came into the fight with a 3-0 amateur record.

"It's nice to get this first professional win under my belt," Davis said. "My training's been paying off. I'm happy with my pace of my transition from college wrestling into MMA. I just want to keep improving and become the best fighter I can be."

Congrats, Phil, on the W!

Samuel Peter from Nigeria gets a punch from Vitali Klitschko of Ukraine during their WBC heavyweight boxing world championship fight in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008. Klitschko won the fight after round nine due to technical knock out. AP photo.

Here's a write-up the young fighter recieved on hyefighters.com:

Keep an eye out for this young up and comer to the MMA world...

Harout was born on April 19, 1992 in Hollywood, California. At the young age of 6, he was introduced to his first love, the martial arts, Judo. Literally translated, judo means, "the Gentle Way", but when Harout steps on the mat, he is anything but gentle. Known for violently launching his opponents several feet into the air, and onto the mat, he was nicknamed "The Pain." In late 2007, after nearly a decade of active competition, hundreds of matches, and winning countless medals, he traded in his Judo gi for MMA gloves.

Baker

Binky Jones lost by unanimous decision to Kyle "Alley Cat" Baker at tonight's Ultimate Warrior Challenge at George Mason University.

Baker displayed excellent muay Thai skills - elbows and knees from the clinch and low kicks - not to mention a wicked right body shot. He also was able to avoid Jones' superior ground game.

Although bloodied, Jones soldiered on, pressing the action.

One of the hosts got in the cage afterward to interview Baker and said, "You guys beat the snot out of each other." And asked the crowd if the performance was a possible Fight of the Night, to which they cheered.

Rest assured, Binky will be back. He's got an awesome training facility at Ground Control and a host of great training partners, not to mention owner John Rallo as his coach.