The 4 Biggest Questions for UFC: Live on Versus

By Elton Hobson

Or, as it is otherwise known, the Jon Jones show.

Possibly the biggest hype train in Mixed Martial Arts today is pulling into San Diego, California (after a slight detour past Salt Lake City). At the crest of the wave is a soft-spoken man of just 23 years old, with only two years experience as a professional fighter and 11 total fights to his credit.

Behind him is an avalanche of fan support and interest, tons of media coverage, the full promotional power of the UFC and the Versus network, and some pretty big expectations indeed. In front of him is Vladimir Matyushenko, a 13 year veteran of the sport with nearly 30 fights against some of the best names at light-heavyweight.

Or “That Russian Dude who’s fighting Jon Jones” as he is known to most casual fans.

Also Tyson Griffin looks to get back in the win column at the expense of a stumbling Takanori Gomi, John Howard and Jake Ellenberger throw down in a guaranteed scrap, and Anderson Silva team mate Mark Munoz faces the resurgent Yushin Okami in a possible middleweight title eliminator.

Here are the 5 biggest questions heading into this Sunday’s event, starting with the question of questions, the single biggest reason we‘ll all tune in Sunday:

Is Jon Jones MMA’s Superman?

No.

Sorry to disappoint you all, but like Santa Claus and the tooth fairy, there is no unbeatable, all-powerful Bruce Lee-like fighter in Mixed Martial Arts. It is a myth, designed to sell Pay-Per-Views and T-Shirts and Xyience meal supplements. It is a trap that time and again has ensnared the gullible.

Rampage knocked the “unbeatable” Chuck Liddell cold in only slightly shorter time then it took Matt Serra to do the same to the “unbeatable” GSP. The “legendary” Anderson Silva once tapped out to a horizontal Japanese lightweight just as the “legendary” Fedor once tapped out to Fabrico Werdum’s jock odor. Everyone loses, and no one is invincible.

There’s no doubt Jon Jones is something special, a once in a lifetime kind of prospect. The Lebron James of Mixed Martial Arts, so to speak. His fights thus far in the UFC have been not only dominant, but creative, unique, and devastating.

What’s more, he has captured that spark, the legitimate buzz that electrifies even casual fans. Chuck Liddell had it. Brock Lesnar has it. Fedor, before his recent loss, had it. It is an unquantifiable “it” factor, and it translates into talk, hype, and most importantly, cash.

The UFC knows this. That’s why they have brought him carefully along and promoted the blue hell out of him. He’s young, handsome, marketable and has all the tools. In time, he could be the next big crossover fighter in Mixed Martial Arts, the GSP of the light-heavyweight division.

But no, he’s not Superman. Good news is, he doesn’t have to be. Not really, anyways. To keep the hype train rolling, all he has to do is win in his usual impressive fashion. It’ll be interesting to see what Jones and Greg Jackson come up with as a gamelan for Matyushenko. Look to try and take down the decorated wrestler in a clinch battle, or try to win it standing up and cede the wrestling initiative to “The Janitor”?

What Jones decides could determine the future of the 205 lb division.

Vladimir Who?

First of all, Vladimir Matyushenko is Belarusian, not Russian, though you’d be forgiven for making the mistake. To their discredit, the UFC has not done a very good job promoting Matyushenko, a proven fighter at the elite level on a 2 fight winning streak inside the UFC. In the last seven years he has lost only once, to Rogerio Nogueria, and racked up 11 wins and an IFL world title. Not too shabby

He is more then just a stepping stone for Jon Jones, though sadly most fans will likely see him as a step down from Brandon Vera or Matt Hamill.

In one way, this makes the fight even more interesting then it might otherwise have been. I firmly believe Vladimir Matyushenko represents the sternest test Jones has faced in his career. He has the wrestling to stifle Jones’s flashy Greco-Roman offence, and the poise and experience to take advantage when “Bones” starts to fade in the later rounds, as he has in past fights.

Fans have proven they will stick with Jones through a loss, as evidenced by his DQ loss to Mat Hamill only two fights ago. But that was a unique circumstance, a fight one man was utterly dominating before the referee stopped it on questionable grounds to give it to the other guy. Fans were willing to forgive Jones that lapse. Will they forgive him losing to, or even looking unimpressive against, an unknown commodity like Matyushenko?

Are we Watching Yushin Okami 2.0?

It seemed Yushin Okami was on the verge of becoming the middleweight version of Jon Fitch: a tough as nails, strong as an ox wrestler who is kept away from a title shot because of his unflashy, grinding style. Okami has been sitting on the edge of the middleweight top ten for years now, kept away from a title shot by his style and his stumbles against the divisions elite.

Throw in time off due to an injury and a decisive loss to No.1 contender Chael Sonnen, and it seemed Okami was destined to be the flash without, if you’ll pardon the pun, the “Thunder”.

Then Yushin did that thing so few fighters do. He went and trained with Sonnen - the guy who just beat him - at Team Quest. If you’re a professional fighter, this seems like an obvious move, yet it is so rare. If you want to know how best to not have your ass kicked, go to the guy who last kicked your ass and take notes.

In his rebound fight against Lucio Linhares, Okami was a new man. Gone was the grinding, position oriented wrestler of old. Instead, Yushin lit up Linhares with crisp combinations on the feet. Instead of a decision, Yushin beat the tar out of Linhares and forced the ref to call it in the second round. Fans were ecstatic, and Okami, never a crowd favourite, was the man of the hour.

Now he’s facing Mark Munoz, an NCAA national wrestling champion and team-mate of Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida at Team Blackhouse. In fact, Munoz could be considered Anderson’s primary wrestling coach, helping him prepare for Chael Sonnen while Anderson gives Munoz insight on what it’s like to be in the ring with Okami (“Thunder” actually owns a win over Anderson via DQ).

If this really is Yushin Okami 2.0 we‘re watching, he’s going to need that newfound stand up ability. Munoz has the wrestling ability and the power to stop Okami’s grinding attack should he choose to revert to old habits. Conversely, we know Munoz doesn’t exactly have the hardest chin in the world. If Yushin truly is a reborn fighter, in this fight he will have to prove it.

Is Takanori Gomi still Relevant?

Opening the show is a lightweight title pitting former Shooto and Pride standout Takanori Goma against short notice replacement Tyson Griffin. This fight is interesting because both men are in need of a win. For Griffin, dropping his last fight against Evan Dunham was a stumbling block on his road to a title shot, but a win in this fight could right his ship.

For Gomi, the situation is more desperate.

Once arguably the #1 lightweight fighter in the world, Gomi’s career at first stumbled, then fell into disarray in the last couple of years. Following his loss to Nick Diaz at Pride 33 (later overturned into a No Contest) in 2007, Gomi has gone 4-3 including back to back losses to Sergey Golyaev and Satoru Kitaoka.

In his UFC debut last March, he was utterly outclassed by Kenny Florian. He seemingly lost his once respected KO power, his confidence and aggression on the feet, and his ability to shrug off takedowns. Put more simply, the motivation and focus just don’t seem to be there anymore. The once red hot “Fireball Kid” is now little more then an ember.

Gomi’s UFC stint was supposed to provide the motivation for him to restart his career and fulfill the lofty expectations many had of him back in the middle 2000’s. After losing to Florian, the truth may be that motivation has nothing to do with it. Like Jens Pulver, Marcus Aurelio, and David Baron - all classic opponents of Gomi - time may just have caught up to the sport’s older generation.

Gomi will get no favours in Griffin, a powerhouse of a wrestler with cardio for days. If Gomi cannot solve this puzzle, he has no business in the UFC lightweight title picture, and one begins to wonder what else he could accomplish in his career at that point.

If Gomi wants a last chance at cementing his legacy as one of the all time great 155’ers, he needs to find a way to win. Anything else would be the end of the line for another of Japan’s once great MMA stars.

Bellator Fighting Championships Responds to Zuffa, LLC Lawsuit

by Tom Ngo (5th round)


The Mixed Martial Arts conspiracy gates busted wide open Thursday night when Yahoo! Sports reported Zuffa, LLC, the parent company of the UFC and WEC, filed suit against semi-rival Bellator Fighting Champions and MMA power agent Ken Pavia for exchanging top secret Octagon info.

When Kevin Iole’s story hit the Internet, Bellator founder Bjorn Rebney was deferring all questions to company attorney Patrick English, who said he needed to gather more information on the lawsuit before commenting. It was a statement echoed by Pavia.

While most were dreaming of the weekend before their work alarms started blaring, Bellator brass – and most likely Pavia – were scrambling throughout the night trying to get their ducks in order. On Friday afternoon, the start-up MMA promotion finally broke their silence and released a statement in their own defense.

Zuffa seeks actual and punitive damages and a permanent injunction barring Bellator or Pavia from using Zuffa’s assets, including its intellectual property. Also included in the law suit are unnamed corporations and persons Zuffa believes participated in the Oceans 11-esque heist.


Here is what English told Yahoo!Sports today:

“I’ve looked at the paperwork, and I understand what’s going on here, and it is literally much ado about very little.

There were documents sent by Mr. Pavia to Bellator, but they are not of a competitive nature and they would give no advantage or disadvantage to the viewer. The bulk of them in no way, shape or form would be considered confidential and are not what I consider to be documents that Zuffa should be concerned about.

I did attempt to reach out to Zuffa [Thursday] and, unfortunately, have not gotten a return call. It happens that Bellator has not used any of the documents in any case.”

Chute Boxe fighter “Cacareco” issues open challenge claims Lyoto REFUSED to fight him

When Alexandre Ferreira left his comfortable home at the luta livre-based Brazilian Top Team in 2008, he thought his MMA career was over. He hadn’t trained for eight months, and the five-foot-seven, 205-pound bull of a fighter was ready to call it quits after a decade in the sport. On a whim, he made his cell phone number public to trainers and promoters alike, hoping that he may get one last shot at a small camp that would allow him to finish his career on his own terms.

Much to his surprise, Cacareco’s phone rang just two days later, and on the other end was a man that he never imagined would call. Rudimar Fedrigo, the leader of BTT rival Chute Boxe, wanted Ferreira on his team. Just years earlier, Cacareco had been deeply entrenched in the rivalry between the luta livre specialists at BTT and the Muay Thai fighters at Chute Boxe when a brawl broke out between him and Chute Boxe member Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos after one of his two wins over Chute Boxe members.

“This invitation from Rudimar was a great lesson in my life,” Ferreira said at the time of his transition to Chute Boxe. “We can’t be arrogant because life is like a big circle. In the most difficult moment of my career, it was the person who I expected least that offered his hand and invited me to be part of this team.”

Now two years older and with two more impressive victories under his belt, the 30-year-old is ready to make a big impact in mixed martial arts. Already a favorite of hardcore fans who followed him through his up-and-down career in the early days of the sport, Cacareco now looks to continue his impressive journey through a sport that was illegal in most of the United States when he found it.

The Rio de Janeiro, Brazil native started his career with a willingness to fight anybody at anytime, and his record showed the battles that he had been through. After beginning his career with a disqualification loss, Ferreira went on an eight-fight win streak, including two impressive showings in the no holds barred World Vale Tudo Championships that saw him win the one-night tournament once and then nearly win a second time before being injured. The eight-fight win streak for the then 21-year-old Ferreira saw him earn victories over the likes of PRIDE veterans Heath Herring, “Dirty” Bob Schrijber, and Shannon Ritch, making him one of the hottest prospects in the sport.

Cacareco then went to Japan in the RINGS organization, but back-to-back losses to Hiromitsu Kanehara and Chris Haseman started a four-fight win losing streak that dropped the Brazilian’s record to a middling 8-5 overall. But since losing to Miquel de Souza in 2004, Cacareco has gone on an impressive streak that has saw him win ten of his past eleven fights, with all ten victories coming via submission in the first round. Perhaps even more impressive, however, is his seven fight win streak dating back to 2007. In the seven fights, Cacareco has spent just a total of nine minutes in the ring, including stopping four of his opponents in less than a minute.

The dominant streak earned the highly respected fighter a call from the UFC, where he was offered a fight with former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Lyoto Machida. The top-ranked fighter declined to fight the fast-rising prospect. Machida instead faced another Brazilian in Thiago Silva, who he easily defeated en route to earning a title shot and becoming a seemingly unbeatable champion. All of that is not lost on Cacareco, who would still like to fight the former world champion. “It would be a very hard fight for him,” Cacareco said. “My style would make him confused. He knew I would take him down and submit him, for sure.”

A brilliant wrestler who went undefeated in more than sixty wrestling matches as an amateur, Cacareco brings a dominant well-rounded grappling style to mixed martial arts that has rarely been seen before. With one of the most impressive double leg takedowns in the game, Ferreira never has much trouble getting a fight into his realm.

After signing with fast-rising Shine Fights late in 2009, Cacareco was quick to disclose his goals in his new home: “I want to be the champion,” he stated simply. “I don’t want to know who [to fight], I just want to know when.” Unfortunately for Ferreira, his scheduled fight at the organization’s May event was cancelled at the last minute, leaving him to wonder once again where to go next.

To make things worse, Cacareco has still not been paid what he was promised after the cancellation of the Shine event. Regardless, the well-rounded fighter is ready to move on and is willing to fight any fighter in the world at 185 or 205 pounds.

Fighting in the United States has always been a goal of Ferreira, who has said once again that he’ll face anybody at anytime and in any place: “Lately, I have no idea how many times I had to answer the following questions: Why aren´t you fighting for a big event and what famous names in the game do you think you would beat?,” Cacareco said.

“The answer to the first question is hard, because it doesn’t depend only on me. I believe that I have what it takes to be in any show in the world. The answer to the second question is not that difficult: after seeing some light-heavy-weights that are in the best shows, I can say, with no doubts in my mind that I would do well against most of them. I have a unique way of fighting, I can go toe-to-toe with anybody and, as soon as I lay my hands on them, they know they will get submitted.”

“Since Lyoto [Machida] refused to face me in the UFC, people love when I tell them the names of fighters I´d submit. So, for starters, Gegard Mousasi would be a good name. I was offered to fight him last event [at DREAM], but it seems like he preferred to have an easier opponent, somebody who couldn’t even make weight. From the UFC Tito Ortiz, Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans, Keith Jardine, Stephan Bonnar, and all those fighters that come from The Ultimate Fighter reality show; Jon Jones, King Mo, Jeff Monson, Dan Henderson, well, there are so many names out there that it’s too hard to mention, and I’m just listing fighters at 205, because light heavyweight is the division I want to focus on right now.”

UFC® DEBUTS AT ESPN X GAMES WITH UFC 117 AND UFC 118 RALLY CARS

Las Vegas, NV (USA) – For the first-time ever, millions of action sports thrill-seekers will see the UFC® and its matching event numbers racing around the ESPN X Games this weekend live on ESPN, all as part of a cross-promotional partnership with PMR Motorsports.

ESPN viewers and X Games fans packed inside the LA Coliseum won’t miss the trademark UFC logo and numbers “117” and “118” on the 2007 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Rally Cars driven by Patrick Moro and Timothy Rooney of PMR Motorsports. 117 and 118 symbolize the next two blockbuster UFC events coming up in August.

"The UFC and the XGames are the perfect combination, and it's an honor for UFC 117 and UFC 118 to be represented on the PMR Motorsports rally cars," said Dana White, UFC President.

“I am very excited to have UFC on board with us for X Games 16,” said Moro. “I think we are opening new doors to our sport everyday and I’m glad that PMR is the company that has a chance to prove these relationships can absolutely work both ways. The competition is going to be very fast as every year is at the X Games, but I have faith that our freshly built cars will be able to closely compete with them. I still didn’t really have a chance to celebrate our Super Production Championship and we are off to the next event. It is going to be a great one!”

“It is an honor to be invited to X Games for a driver that competed in his first rally event just two years ago,” said Rooney. “This experience alone will be one of a kind for me, not to mention having UFC there with us. I can’t wait to step into our new cars and hit the gas pedal.”

UFC 117 takes place next Saturday, August 7th, live from the Oracle Arena in Oakland, featuring UFC Middleweight Champion and the greatest pound-for-pound fighter in the world, Anderson “The Spider” Silva, vs. Chael Sonnen.

A pronounced fan of the X Games, Silva was in attendance last night for the Moto X Freestyle Final, Women’s Super X Final and Men’s Super X Final.

UFC 118, featuring reigning champion Frankie Edgar in a rematch with BJ Penn, and three-time boxing champion James Toney vs. five-time UFC champion Randy Couture, is taking place live from TD Garden in Boston on Saturday, August 28.

Fans can catch the live Rally Car Racing and SuperRally action LIVE on ESPN, Saturday, July 31st from 4:00pm – 7:00pm PT, and 7:15pm – 8:00pm PT

UFC to SUE BELLATOR and Ken Pavia

According Yahoo Sports Kevin Iole, Zuffa has filed a suit against the controversial MMA Agent and the founder of MMA Agents ( a firm that handles MMA fighters) Ken Pavia.


Zuffa claims Pavia passes their confidential and secret documents to rival promotion Bellator for the purpose of helping their business in it’s operations.

According to the suit, Pavia delivered confidential contracts which includes fighter agreements after being asked by Bellator’s founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney on July 4.

Zuffa seeks damages and a permanent injunction barring Bellator and Pavia from using all Zuffa’s assets.

more on this story as it develops

VS

MMA Cauliflower Corner Episode 5

Cauliflower Corner Episode 5 Round 2

Fighting Spirit MMA Meltdown Fight of the Night Markhaile "Showtying" Wedderburn Def Alex "Pecker" Gasson

Watch the Videos
Meltdown Fight of the Night - Showtying
Post Fight Interview with Showtying

Yves Edwards vs. Luis Palomino confirmed as ‘Local Main Event’ for Bellator 24

CHICAGO, Ill. (July 29, 2010) — A showdown between one of MMA’s most exciting lightweights and a colorful, highly-regarded South Florida fan favorite will serve as the “Local Main Event” when Bellator Fighting Championships returns to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla., for its Season 3 debut on Aug. 12th.

The much anticipated fight pits UFC and PRIDE veteran Yves Edwards (37-16-1) against four-time Bellator veteran and Miami native Luis “Baboon” Palomino (13-5) in a battle for bragging rights between two of South Florida’s top MMA gyms, American Top Team and MMA Masters.

Edwards, one of MMA’s most battle-tested veterans, is known as one of the most vicious finishers in the sport with 15 knockouts and 15 submissions to total 30 stoppages during his 13-year pro career. He has notable recent wins over UFC veteran Derrick Noble and WEC vet Kyle Jensen and is one of only three pros to have defeated former Strikeforce champion Josh Thomson.

Palomino, who won a clear-cut unanimous decision victory over ATT up-and-comer Jose Figueroa at Bellator 21 (Link to a Slideshow of the Fight) on June 10th, has notched 7 of his 13 pro victories via KO or TKO. He also owns career wins versus Strikeforce and EliteXC vet Nick Gonzalez and Bellator, Strikeforce and Sengoku mainstay Jorge Masvidal.

Edwards and Palomino join a stacked Bellator 24 card that also features:

- A special non-title “Super Fight” between reigning Bellator Middleweight Champion Hector Lombard (26-2-1) and former NFL standout Herbert “Whisper” Goodman (15-8);

- An opening-round fight in Bellator’s Women’s World Championship Tournament featuring the world’s No. 1 pound-for-pound female fighter, Megumi Fujii, and veteran submission grappler Angela Magana, the world’s No. 8-ranked female fighter at 115 lbs.;

- Another opening-round Women’s Tournament fight between the world’s No. 6-ranked 125-pounder, Lynn “Lights Out” Alvarez, and Jessica Aguilar, the world’s No.7-ranked 115-pounder; and

- An opening-round fight in Bellator’s Season 3 Heavyweight Tournament between heavy-handed UFC veteran Eddie Sanchez and British behemoth Neil “Goliath” Grove.

Tickets for the event — which will also be broadcast LIVE nationwide on FOX Sports Net — are on sale now at ticketmaster.com.

“The Edward-Palomino fight is just part of a talent-stacked Bellator 24 card that will kick off our third season in exciting fashion,” said Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney. “Yves Edwards has a well-earned reputation as a show-stopper and Luis Palomino has been known to knock guys out with impunity as well. It should be a very interesting fight and one that I’m definitely looking forward to watching.”

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Bellator.

Bellator 21 Undercard Luis Palomino Def. Jose Figueroa

WRECK MMA: BAD INTENTIONS--Main Event Change-up Showtime vs The Hammer

WRECK MMA: BAD INTENTIONS

Date: AUGUST 20TH, 2010

Venue: CASINO DU LAC-LEAMY

Location: GATINEAU, QUEBEC

Due to some unforseen circumstances, the main event for Friday August 20th's Wreck MMA: Bad Intentions has been changed. Wreck MMA and FitShop.ca are excited to announce that Markhaile 'Showtime' Wedderburn will be making his Wreck debut against the talented striker from Drummondville, Martin 'The Hammer' Grandmont.

Showtime is known as one of the most controversial welterweights in Canada, but his talent and willingness to face the country's best cannot to be forgotten. An excellent stand-up fighter who has shown flashes of brilliance on the ground, Showtime is coming back to Gatineau to entertain the fans. Grandmont is one of the best strikers in Canada and put those skills on display on many occasions throughout his MMA career. In his last trip to Gatineau, Grandmont KOed Ottawa's own and UFC veteran, Mark 'Boots' Holst in dramatic fashion. Holst moved past the loss and into the UFC but Grandmont believes he deserves an opportunity in the biggest show in the world and is coming back to the place of his biggest victory to prove it. These two fighters are known for their exciting fights and a war is promised on August 20th.

In the co-main event of the evening, OAMA’s Stephane Bernadel once again fights in front of his home fans against one of the top prospects in eastern Canada, Jon ‘Judo’ Williams. Bernadel is one of the top strikers in the featherweight division and Williams is a talented grappler under Dana Dickeson and a member of BTT Canada. A classic striker vs. grappler battle, this fight will not make it to the judges as one of the two will ultimately impose their will.

In the tradition of supporting local causes, Wreck MMA will be supporting the Ottawa Food Bank at Wreck MMA: Bad Intentions. Many of the local martial arts gyms in Ottawa/Gatineau (including NX Martial Arts, 100% Martial Arts, Ottawa Japan Karate, N-1 Thai Boxing, and OAMA) will be collecting non-perishable food items and the gym that collects the most will be announced at the event. Also, the Ottawa Food Bank will be collecting other non-perishable food items at the event as well.

Wreck MMA: Bad Intentions is proud to be brought to you by FitShop.ca, your #1 online supplement shop and retail store located at 1383 Clyde Avenue in Ottawa. and tickets for this event are available via Ticketmaster.ca or by calling (613) 755-1111. Buy your tickets now as there are only 1200 seats available and this event will sell out!!









WRECK MMA: BAD INTENTIONS

Date: AUGUST 20TH, 2010

Venue: CASINO DU LAC-LEAMY

Location: GATINEAU, QUEBEC


MAIN EVENT

Markhaile 'Showtime' Wedderburn (Team Sufferaz, Toronto) vs. Martin 'The Hammer' Grandmont (Ultimeaction, Drummondville)

CO-MAIN EVENT

Jon 'Judo' Williams (Double D MMA/BTT Canada, Fredericton) vs. Stephane Bernadel (OAMA, Ottawa)



TBA vs. Cory MacDonald (FIT MMA, Kingston)

Chance Whalen (Team Knockdown, Moncton) vs. Remi ‘Bam Bam’ Morvan (OAMA, Ottawa)

Tannaya Hantelman (Titans MMA, Halifax) vs. Anna ‘Smiles” Barone (FIT MMA, Ottawa)

Nick Portieous (FIT MMA, Ottawal) vs. Jeffrey Laughren (RAMA, Rockland)

Lyndon Whitlock (Iron Tiger Muay-Thai, Stoney Creek) vs. Pablo Santos (Tapout Training Center, Gatineau)

Adil ‘Rambo’ Abbas (Adrenaline MMA, London) vs. Alex Ricci (M1 & Team Ricci, Toronto)

Kyle Vivian (Empire Red/Dragon's Lair, Orillia) vs. Jeff Harrison (OAMA, Ottawa)

TJ Coletti (Team Tugboat, Toronto) vs. Wes Ranger (Florin's Ultimate MMA, Kanata)

Bantamweight Jose Vega KOs his way into Bellator Season 3 Tournament

CHICAGO, Ill. (July 28, 2010) — Missouri-based brawler Jose Vega, who caught the eye of Bellator scouts and MMA fans around the country during a nationally televised “Local Feature Fight” at Bellator 22 in June, has officially been added to Bellator’s upcoming Season 3 Bantamweight Tournament.

The 24-year-old Vega brings an 8-2 record to the tournament, which begins this August. His wins include a 2008 submission of fellow tournament participant Danny Tims and, most recently, a devastating 39-second KO of veteran Jarrod Card in front of a hometown crowd at the Kansas City Power & Light District on June 17th.

Vega is the fifth confirmed participant in the Bantamweight Tournament along with Tims, Las Vegas-based Kobra-Kai jiu-jitsu instructor Ulysses Gomez, fast-rising Wyoming native Nik Mamalis and Minnesota-based powerhouse Travis “The Hurricane” Reddinger.

Born in Miami, Vega moved at the age of 10 with his parents and eight siblings to the Kansas City area, where he was schooled in the fight game by his father.

“My dad used to wrap our hands with towels and electric tape — all of us kids — and he would have us fight each other in the middle of the living room with everyone watching,” Vega recalled. “When my dad was growing up, he used to get beat up a lot by two twins in his neighborhood. Every day after school they would wait for him and beat him up. He didn't want that to happen to us, so he made sure that we knew how to defend ourselves.”

Vega went on to wrestle in high school and for one year in college and made his pro MMA debut in 2008 at the age of 22. Until just a few months ago, he had no formal training in martial arts but now trains part-time with Kansas City’s Team Grindhouse while working full-time as a custom cabinetmaker.

“I'm more complete now than I've ever been before,” Vegas said of his MMA game. “Up until right before my most recent win over Jarrod Card, I had been training myself by watching fight tapes and instructionals. Now I finally have someone watching over me telling me if what I'm doing is right or wrong. I wanted to be a part of this tournament as soon as I heard about it. I wanted to be a part of Bellator. Bellator is coming up fast and I feel like I'm coming up fast too. They gave me this shot and all I want to do is grow with them.”

Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney said the feeling is mutual.

“Jose showed everyone in MMA what he’s capable with his highlight reel knockout at Bellator 22,” he said. “Part of the beauty of Bellator is that a fighter like Jose can come out of virtual obscurity to make a name for himself and will keep fighting for us as long as he keeps winning. Jose definitely has the tools to go far in our Bantamweight Tournament and I look forward to watching him compete come August.”

For more information, visit Bellator.com

ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP® CONFIRMS FIGHTERS FOR UFC® FAN EXPO IN BOSTON AUGUST 27 & 28

(LAS VEGAS, NV --- July 28, 2010) – With the city of Boston buzzing about the arrival of the UFC® Fan Expo™ at the John B. Hynes Convention Center on August 27 and 28, the Ultimate Fighting Championship® turned up the heat today by announcing the list of fighters that will participate in the weekend of festivities.

The following fighters will participate in autograph sessions and a variety of other fan activities: UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva, UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell, UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, WEC® lightweight champion Ben Henderson, WEC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz, former UFC light heavyweight champion Forrest Griffin, former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz, Carlos Condit, Clay Guida, Cole Miller, Efrain Escudero, Gabriel Gonzaga, Jon Jones, Josh Grispi, Kurt Pellegrino, Matt Hamill, Martin Kampmann, Pat Barry, Roy Nelson, Thiago Alves, Anthony Johnson, Ricardo Almeida, Renzo Gracie, and former WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber. Additional fighters added to the UFC Fan Expo will be announced in the coming weeks.

All the UFC Fan Expo activities will be planned in conjunction with UFC 118, which takes place at TD Garden on Saturday, Aug. 28. Headlined by a lightweight title rematch between champion Frankie Edgar and former division leader BJ Penn, UFC 118 also marks the mixed martial arts debut of three-time world champion boxer James Toney, who will take on UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture.

For more information on UFC Fan Expo and to purchase tickets, visit http://www.ufcfanexpo.com/. To subscribe to the official UFC Fan Expo newsletter visit www.ufcfanexpo.com/newsletter.

Ultimate Fighting Championship® - http://www.ufc.com/

UFC® MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION ANDERSON “THE SPIDER” SILVA TO ATTEND ESPN’s X GAMES THURSDAY, JULY 29, 2010

Las Vegas, NV (USA) – The pound-for-pound greatest fighter in the world, UFC® Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva, is taking time out from his intense training schedule for his upcoming fight at UFC 117 to attend ESPN’s X Games 16 Thursday, July 29, 2010. “The Spider” will be in attendance at the LA Coliseum for the Moto X Freestyle Final, Women’s Super X Final and Men’s Super X Final, among other competitions televised live nationally on ESPN.

Two more fans of the X Games, UFC’s Octagon Girl Arianny Celeste, who recently graced the cover of Maxim Magazine, and Spike TV’s Best of PRIDE® host Kenda Perez, who is featured in the August issue of UFC Magazine, will also be in attendance Thursday evening.



WHO: UFC® MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION ANDERSON SILVA

ARIANNY CELESTE – UFC OCTAGON™ GIRL

KENDA PEREZ – HOST OF SPIKE TV’s BEST OF PRIDE®



WHAT: UFC CHAMPION AND UFC PERSONALITIES ATTEND ESPN X GAMES



WHERE: LA COLISEUM

3939 S. Figueroa St

Los Angeles, CA 90037



WHEN: Thursday, July 29, 2010

6:30 PM ARRIVAL

UFC® LIVE ON VERSUS HEADLINER JON “BONES” JONES TO THROW OUT CEREMONIAL FIRST PITCH AT SAN DIEGO PADRES GAME FRIDAY, JULY 30

Las Vegas, NV (USA) – Just days before UFC’s Jon “Bones” Jones takes on Vladimir Matyushenko live on VERSUS, the San Diego Padres will honor the rising light heavyweight in the team’s Major League Baseball game this Friday, July 30 at 6:58 PM PT.

Jones, in town for his UFC fight at San Diego Sports Arena on Sunday, Aug. 1, will throw the ceremonial first pitch and kick off the Padres game against the Florida Marlins.

“I love San Diego and I’m excited to do the first pitch for the Padres,” Jones said. “I’m going to try to throw a strike for the fans on Friday, and then give them a knockout Sunday.”

WHO: UFC ON VERSUS HEADLINER JON “BONES” JONES

WHAT: Throws ceremonial first pitch prior to Padres vs. Florida game

WHERE: PETCO Park

100 Park Blvd

San Diego, CA 92101

WHEN: Friday, July 30, 2010

First Pitch: 6:58 PM PT

Tuesday Morning Quarterback SPECIAL EDITION: Is Sarah Kaufman a Crusader for Women’s MMA, or just a Diva?

By Elton Hobson

This past Friday, Women’s MMA finally got it’s “Rampage vs. Arona” moment - as well as another vigorous round of debate about the place of women in MMA.

Every fan remembers Quinton Jackson hoisting Ricardo Arona up like he was a child, before slamming him into unconsciousness with a power bomb straight out of the WWF/E. It’s one of those clips that will be in every Rampage and/or Pride highlight reel for the end of time. Hell, every MMA highlight reel period.

Well, it’s time to make a little more room on that reel. Defending her 135 lbs. title against Roxanne Modaferri, Canadian Sarah Kaufman pulled off a near repeat of the infamous “Rampage-bomb”, lifting her surprised opponent into the air straight out of guard, and then slamming her down for the impressive finish.

In most cases, no one likes to see a girl get dumped on her head, unless it's by another girl. No one was forcing Roxanne to be in that cage, after all. Besides, slam induced KO’s are very rare, and to see a 135 pound girl pull one off is both impressive and unique.


The move sent ripples throughout the fight world. Video replay of the KO slam have been a hit on MMA blogs and YouTube. Kaufman’s title tilt with Modaferri drew the biggest television numbers of the night, outdrawing the Shane Del Rosario vs. Lolohea Mahe main event. The clip even made Sport Center’s top plays of the week, a rare occasion for an MMA highlight and unheard of for women’s MMA.

So, by all rights this should be a crowning, breakthrough moment for women’s MMA. But, because it’s Strikeforce, it’s practically mandatory that SOMETHING else has to be going on to tarnish the proceedings. I’d like to say it’s just bad karma for Scott Coker and company, but as usual, their problems are entirely of their own making.

No, it’s not the “crazy Russians” of M-1 Global making their usual crazy demands, nor the Diaz brothers jumpin’ someone in the cage, or the notion of Jose Canseco actually fighting a warm body that is giving Strikeforce fits. Instead, the problem lies in their 135 lbs. women’s champion having an opinion, and deciding to voice it.

In the days leading up to her title fight with Modaferri, Kaufman was vocal in interviews and on her blog about her problems with the promotion. These problems stem from her placement on big time Strikeforce cards - or rather, her lack thereof.

“Strikeforce Challangers” cards are smaller, less promoted events that usually feature up-and-coming fighters and regional prospects a la UFC “Fight Nights”. They are small feeder shows, headlined by prospects like Shane Del Rosario or over the hill vets like Matt Lindland.

Yet, in her fourth fight as a Strikeforce fighter, Kaufman still finds herself booked on a “Challengers” card despite being both undefeated and the promotions supposed Welterweight Women’s champion. And after a year and a half of towing the company line, Kaufman has seemingly had enough.

“Cookies and man parts…seem to be the only two things that will get me on a main Strikeforce card. That or shaking my assets.” the Victoria, B.C native said in a blog post, taking a jab at former women’s mainstay Gina Carano (and possibly Cyborg as well with that whole “man parts” line).

“I am the Strikeforce Women’s Welterweight champion, yet I fought for my title on a ‘Challengers’ card. Now I am set to defend my title - again - on a ‘Challengers’ card. I am a talented, exciting FEMALE fighter at 135 lbs. I will NOT eat a ridiculous amount of cookies to make 145 lbs JUST for the opportunity to be on a main card...”

Ouch.

Fan and media reaction to Kaufman’s calling out of Strikeforce have been mixed, to say the least. On the one hand, some are calling her a crusader for Women’s MMA, who is rightly calling Strikeforce (and even the sport itself) out on it’s gender hypocrisy. On the other hand, there are those who claim Kaufman is being whiny and unrealistic, a “diva” demanding a placement and level of promotion she just hasn’t earned.

As Jonathan Snowden pointed out in a piece recently, Kaufman doesn’t have much to stand on from a track record perspective. Yes, she is undefeated, with some very legit names on her ledger. Before her power bomb finish of Modaferri, however, Kaufman had gone to three straight decisions as a Strikeforce fighter, in fights that were dominant, if not exactly entertaining. Maybe her placement has less to do with being a woman, and more to do with being unexciting.

Maybe. But Strikeforce has never had a problem putting championship status above fighter excitement (Jake Shields, anyone?), at least until now. As disappointing as it is to hear, the most likely reason for Kaufman’s promotional draught is that she’s not Gina Carano.

MMA itself is still a relatively new idea in the public consciousness, and women’s MMA even more so. In North America, only one woman has ever managed to “break through” to capture significant buzz and attention, and let’s be honest with each other here. Gina Carano wasn’t a star because she was a good fighter. She was a star because she was a good fighter who also happened to be pretty. Until further notice, or until the “Cyborg” experiment moves beyond freakshow appeal (don’t hold your breath) Gina stands as the singular example of mega-success in North American women’s MMA.

Still, Kaufman’s claims have exposed a degree of hypocrisy on the part of Strikeforce. Truth is, no matter if you agree with Kaufman’s assertion or not, you can’t deny the simple and uncomfortable facts they’ve brought to light. She IS the only Strikeforce champion defending her title on “Challengers” cards, after all, and if Strikeforce has any regard for the legitimacy of their titles they’ll need to correct this imbalance.

Wait, did I just say Strikeforce and “title legitimacy” in the same sentence? Somewhere, Dana White is laughing - probably with his arm wrapped around Jake Shields.

Video clip of Round 3 where Sarah gets her Impressive KO

By Ben Ortmanns

I'm back! Already! Either I'm awesome, or Harkes is getting lazy! I'll accept "a little column a, a little column b" as an appropriate answer. However, I digress.


I took part in today's UFC 117 Conference Call, featuring Anderson "The Spider" Silva and Chael "I Talks Tons Of Shit" Sonnen. I take full credit for the nickname, by the way. We started a little late at 2:06pm, and Ed Soares was introduced on the line to translate for Anderson.

Anderson was asked by a reporter from ESPN (who have gotten to ask questions first on both calls I've done thus far...coincidence??) if this fight ranked high on his list of fights. Anderson's response, which became a theme through out the call, "nope!". Chael was then asked about Anderson's skill level, and Chael said Anderson has no glaring holes. Sonnen then goes on to refer to himself as the toughest guy in the company, and that nobody can out tough him, and that Anderson Silva won't be the first.

Sonnen was asked if the media hype was a distraction at all, and Chael said the media hype is a distraction and that we are distracting him right now, and that everything is a hurdle to get through, but that it SHOULD be that way. That's what being a champion is all about, is handling the pressure. Chael then start's his ambush on the fact that Anderson isn't speaking much, and that it is blatantly obvious he is the only one promoting this fight, and that's the way it should be. (Side Note: WTF?!? Chael Sonnen, you are insane.)

Chael goes on to explain that he hasn't been training with Dan Henderson for this fight, but did get an opportunity to train with Randy once, and is doing his training in Portland for this fight. Sonnen then goes on to say that he doesn't go out and say ridiculous things, he says he speaks the truth, and that everything he says he is going to do to Anderson will in fact happen. (Side Note: WTF?!? Chael Sonnen, are you for real? You're a politician, and in once sentence managed to claim to "state fact" that you don't say ridiculous things, and then go and and say RIDICULOUS things... Seems like a good politician to me, actually now that I think about it...)

Anderson Silva was asked about his old Muay Thai coach now training with Dan Henderson. Silva said he's happy his Muay Thai coach is training with Dan Henderson. (Side Note: People were getting annoyed with Anderson's lack on answers. I on the other hand was quite entertained.)

Anderson was then asked on his thoughts on Dana White's comments, where Dana stated that Silva could be cut if he has a bad performance, yet still wins. Silva's feeling is that Dana can say what he wants to say. (Side Note: Riveting answer, huh?)

The attention was then turned to a question I was very curious about myself, and that was Chael Sonnen's future in Politics. Sonnen says he's concerned that some of his statements may affect his perception, however he says he actually makes all his comments with his political future in mind, believe it or not! He says he feels people likes his message, and the things he has to say. (Side Note: I am not one of these people. Guess it's a good thing I don't like in Oregon huh?)

Silva was asked if there was anything different he did while he was in his training camp for the Forrest Griffin fight than any other, because it was the only fight he had in UFC that fans cheered him at the end. Anderson Silva's respone..."nope". (Side Note: Tremendous.)

Anderson is then ask if he is tired of dealing with all these questions, to which Anderson Silva confidently, and gleefully stated, "nope". (Side Note: This guy is awesome.)

Silva is then asked if he is mad Brazil is only bringing 4 World Cup players to a friendly against United States, to which I say who the hell cares? This is an MMA site. (Side Note: Word, yo.)

Silva was then asked if he was looking at any of his past fights in preparation for this one being that his biggest problems have been with wrestlers in the past? Silva's response? "Ummm...nope! As far as wrestling goes, I didn't have a problem with Dan Henderson, and he is one of the best grapplers and wrestlers on the planet."

It was then my turn to step up to the plate! I asked Anderson if he would be more interested in dropping down to 170 to fight GSP or now that Machida is no longer the 205 Champion, would he be interested in fighting Shogun? Anderson said "I'm just thinking about my fight next week at this point, and choose not to look past that right now". (Side Note: Fair enough...)

I then asked Chael Sonnen if the fact that Anderson was able to have his way with an opponent who defeated him in Damien Maia weighed on his mind at all, and if those holes were being worked on for his strategy, and that if he was in fact to win his fight, who he would challenge. First of all, Chael told me my first question is ridiculous, so he'll skip it. Chael than says that Vitor is probably next up although he doesn't want the fight, but because "Uncle Dana" wants Vitor, it'll probably be Vitor. He then goes on to say he has somebody in mind that he would like to fight and that he will challenge him at the end of the night on August 7th. (Side Note: August 7th is my birthday. For my birthday I would like Anderson Silva to knock this guys block off. And cash. I would also like cash. My email is at the bottom. Email me if you want to give me cash.)

In an interesting statement, Chael said he doesn't believe in honor and sportsmanship, and if your going to fight, fight. He wishes Anderson no ill will, but that he is going to take Silva's title August 7th, and that Anderson will be fired August 8th. It's also pointed out that this card is Brazil vs US which nobody else realized, Chael never realized that either.

Sonnen then says Anderson doesn't have any fans. Silva is unbeaten in four years and is sponsored by ONE company. He is sponsored by numerous people, and feels he has more appeal. (Side Note: Sigh...)

Sonnen says he just wants to be the Champion, and doesn't care about the stigma of Anderson and says he'll maybe watch tapes of him to study him next week. He says it's going to be different fighting an All-American from Oregon rather than "school teachers" and "one-legged Canadians".

Silva is then asked if the comments Chael made have upset Anderson or bothered him at all? Silva says sometimes fans don't know whats going on in the ring sometime and don't understand why fighters re-act the way they do sometimes, but thinks what Chael has said is funny. Sonnen goes on to say there is no argument he's promoting the fight himself and nobody cares what Anderson thinks. (Side Note: I care, damn it. Shut up.)

Anderson has been training in the US a couple months now and definitely believes Chael Sonnen is worthy and deserves the title shot.

An interesting question is asked, has Anderson grown bored of this division? He says "no, I like my sport, I like my division and I'm prepared to stay here, and wants to retire in that division".

Sonnen said he doesn't understand hype. Said pro wrestling promos are hype, he speaks the truth. He then goes on to state if he wins the belt, he won't give Rich Franklin a shot cause Rich wouldn't give him his.

Anderson is then asked if he feels he is doing enough to promote the fights, and he said he goes and does his job. Just because he chooses not to promote fights like Sonnen, doesn;t mean he isn't promoting.

Silva then goes on to say the difference between the trash talk with Damien Maia that made his angry, and Sonnen's trash talk is that it had nothing to do with Damien being Brazilian, he just doesn't want to promote the fight the way Sonnen does and wants to finish Sonnen as quick as he can.

Sonnen then says he's accomplish FAR more in the sport of MMA than Anderson Silva, it's just that Anderson has accomplished more in UFC.

To finish the call, Anderson Silva says he is prepared to fight where ever the fight goes, standing or to the ground.

All in all, I thought this was a very interesting and entertaining call, and that Anderson came off very light hearted and focused on this fight, and that Chael Sonnen came out looking like a complete douchebag who is basically a lamb going into slaughter.

Be sure to check out this great card, UFC 117 on Saturday August 7th from Oakland, Ca!
 
for more info on the UFC or this fight card visit UFC.com

Cole Konrad vs. Rogent Lloret slated for Bellator 25 in Chicago on Aug. 19th

CHICAGO, Ill. (July 27, 2010) — Two-time NCAA wrestling champion Cole Konrad and highly-touted European submission ace Rogent Lloret will face off in an opening-round contest in Bellator’s Season 3 Heavyweight Tournament at the historic Chicago Theatre on Aug. 19th.

Konrad and Lloret join a stacked Bellator 25 card that also features the U.S. debut of undefeated heavyweight sensation Damian “The Polish Pitbull” Grabowski in another opening-round Heavyweight Tournament fight with massive Georgia-based ground-and-pound specialist Scott Barrett, and an opening-round fight in Bellator's Women's World Championship Tournament between Zoila “The Warrior Princess” Frausto and the world's No. 6-ranked flyweight, Jessica Pene, as well as five other fights.

Tickets for the event — which will also be broadcast LIVE nationwide on FOX Sports Net — are on sale now at ticketmaster.com.

“Cole is on one of the best heavyweight wrestlers in the world and Rogent’s jiu-jitsu is at a similar level, so this should be a very intriguing fight,” said Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney. “Add this fight to a card that already includes the U.S. debut of Damian Grabowski and a highly anticipated Women’s Tournament fight between Zoila Frausto and Jessica Pene and you have the makings of a great fight night in Chicago.”

Konrad, a protégé and training partner of reigning UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar, will enter the Lloret fight looking to improve on the unblemished 4-0 record he has compiled since making his pro debut in January. Dubbed “The Polar Bear” by Lesnar due to his freakish strength during sparring sessions, the 6-foot, 5-inch Konrad’s two most recent wins came during special “Feature Fights” at Bellator 17 and Bellator 22 in May and June. Previously, he won the NCAA Division I wrestling title at 285 lbs. in 2006 and 2007 while competing at the University of Minnesota and won a gold medal at the 2005 Pan-American Games.

“I think Lloret is going to be the toughest test I've faced in MMA up to this point in my fighting career,” Konrad said. “I'm going to be looking to finish him as soon as possible. The goal for this tournament is to get in and get out. I'm looking to finish all of these fights as quickly as possible and get out of there.”

Lloret, a Gracie Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and M-1 Global veteran has not lost a fight in more than three years and enters the tournament with a 9-1-1 overall pro record. He is known for his smothering ground game — submitting six of his nine victims, including four by arm triangle choke — but also displayed his striking prowess when he KO'd Serbian MMA veteran Miodrag Petkovic with a devastating high head kick this past April.

“I know that he is a good wrestler and he must be super strong too because he weighs way more than me — 22 pounds or more,” Lloret said of Konrad. “The only thing I hope is that my background and my speed are a little on top and that I can keep the fight standing. We are both going to give the best we have and it will be a war.”

Also competing in the Heavyweight Tournament alongside Konrad, Lloret, Barrett and Grabowski are Seattle-area knockout artist Mike “300” Hayes, heavy-handed UFC veteran Eddie Sanchez, power-punching British behemoth Neil “Goliath” Grove and one yet-to-be named fighter.

For more information, visit Bellator.com

Four main-card fights including a world title fight have been secured to heighten the already talent-laden lineup for MFC 26: Retribution.

Title fight featured at MFC 26 New-attitude McKee to defend LW belt; three more bouts added

The event, which will be held in Westman Place at the Keystone Centre in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada, and air live on HDNet Fights, features a co-main event pitting MFC lightweight champion Antonio “Mandingo” McKee (24-3-2) against Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist Luciano Azevedo (16-8). The savvy veteran McKee has not lost since 2003 but has garnered a reputation for dragging fights out. With a new aggressive mindset, McKee has declared he will retire from mixed martial arts if Azevedo lasts five rounds against him in a quest for the 155-pound championship belt.

“I’ve said before that I will fight differently but I was still cautious. Not anymore. I am going to destroy Azevedo … I will mess him up. If it goes to a decision, I will leave my gloves in the ring and walk away,” touted McKee, who trains out of Lakewood, California.

Azevedo, a native of Rio de Janeiro, is an accomplished competitor, and the only fighter to earn a victory over world-renowned featherweight kingpin Jose Aldo. When the two met in 2005, Azevedo scored a rear-naked choke victory – a crowning achievement for the 26-year-old who just four months later would go on to defeat reputed striker Din Thomas. Azevedo, who will be making his debut on North American soil at MFC 26, has won six of his last eight fights and holds 12 submission victories in his career.

Two spectacular middleweights will also see action at MFC 26 as brash British star Tom “Kong” Watson (12-3) clashes with former reality show standout Jesse “JT Money” Taylor (15-6).

Watson is an extremely gifted striker who flashed his wares in his organizational debut, scoring a first-round, head-kick knockout over Travis Galbraith at MFC 24 back in December. The Southampton, England, native has won eight straight fights and will be well-prepared for encounter with Taylor as he trains alongside Georges St. Pierre in Montreal.

Taylor, meanwhile, will be looking to get on a winning streak of his own, having won two of his last three. The Murrieta, California, product earned victories over Jason Day and veteran Murilo Bustamante in recent bouts, but sandwiched in between was a first-round submission defeat at the hands of Thales Leites in the main event of MFC 25 this past May.

In a light heavyweight battle, rugged sluggers Dwayne Lewis and Wilson Gouveia will meet in a pivotal matchup to see who remains in the mix of the MFC’s 205-pound division. Lewis (11-5) had a seven-fight win streak snapped at MFC 25 when he dropped a three-round decision to former MFC light heavyweight champ Emanuel Newton. But the Fort McMurray, Alberta, product has shown plenty of resiliency throughout his career, and knockout power as well, having finished off five opponents during that winning streak including rival heavy-hitter Marvin Eastman.

Gouveia (12-8), the American Top Team representative from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, also is in dire need of win as he too was beaten at MFC 25, dropping a one-sided decision to Ryan Jimmo. The native Brazilian does have an impressive list of beaten foes on his resume including Jon Fitch, Jason MacDonald, Jason Lambert, and Seth Petruzelli.

The live televised card on HDNet will kick off with a showdown between two tough-minded rivals as “King” Solomon Hutcherson takes on David Heath. A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Hutcherson (11-6) is another reality show standout who is looking to squarely solidify his position in the MFC’s middleweight ranks. Heath (15-6), who will be making his debut at 185 pounds, has collided with numerous big names in the light heavyweight ranks, and the Tulsa, Oklahoma, resident was part of the MFC’s 2009 Fight of the Year.

Two more main-card bouts including the other half of the co-main event for MFC 26 will be announced shortly.

Tickets for MFC 26: Retribution are on sale now and available via Ticketmaster charge-by-phone (204) 726-3555 and http://www.maximumfighting.com/

W1 Judgement Day Highlights

Sarah Kaufman defends her Strikeforce women’s title with huge KO slam

By Mike Johnston

(Canadian MMA Examiner)

Georges St. Pierre isn’t the only Canadian mixed martial arts champion fans should be talking about. British Columbia native Sarah Kaufman successfully defended her Strikeforce women’s 135lb title at Strikeforce Challengers 9 by defeating Roxanne Modafferi in what will be a definite candidate for “Knockout of the Year.”

The first round was spent primarily in the clinch with both women fighting for dominant position, but not doing much damage. In the second round, Kaufman began landing solid punching combinations. She also initiated a Muay Thai clinch where she was able to land some quality knees to the body and head.

The third round saw Modafferi take Kaufman to the ground, but the Canadian defended well and was able to escape. Late in the round Modafferi pulled guard, however with just 15 seconds remaining Kaufman lifted her up and slammed her to the ground, knocking Modafferi out in a way that would make Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson jealous. Canadian commentator Mauro Ranallo, who was doing the play-by-play for the event, was extremely impressed with the finish saying, “That may be one of the best female finishes in history. Unbelievable!”

Prior to the fight, Kaufman expressed her displeasure that she was not being featured on a more prominent Strikeforce card, like her female counterparts Chris ‘Cyborg’ Santos and Gina Carano always are. Kaufman made a statement that she deserves to be promoted as one of Strikeforce’s top assets.

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back: NORTH Vancouver Reverses Course on MMA Sanctioning

By Elton Hobson

This week, the cause of martial arts, prizefighting, and the sport of MMA in Canada took a giant step backwards.

Thanks to a failure of city bureaucracy, political will, and old fashioned common sense, MMA, Boxing, and all other combat sports fans in Vancouver are about to be put out in the rain. If you haven’t yet heard the news, I’ll give it to you straight and simple: as of today, sanctioned prizefighting is no longer a legal activity in the city of Vancouver.

As first reported in the North Shore Outlook, the city council of North Vancouver voted to disband the North Vancouver Athletic Commission this past Monday, effectively closing the door on further sanctioned MMA events in “Hollywood North” anytime soon.

This despite the successful experiment of UFC 115, which drew a sell-out crowd, 550,000 PPV buys, and millions of dollars to the local economy. It’s strange how even in the midst of a recession, bald facts are no match for prejudiced politicians and ignorance.

So, only a few months after it began, the Mixed Martial Arts experiment in Vancouver is over. Even worse, it’s not like the writing wasn’t already on the wall. The “commission” spent all it’s time trying to update twenty year old bylaws, and quickly became hopelessly backlogged. Regulators were jittery and nervous from the get go. Insurance costs of hosting an MMA event in the city were prohibitive to many smaller promotions; even the UFC raised it’s eyebrows at the price tag.

Then UFC 115 goes down in Vancouver, after the UFC had to twist an arm and a leg to even get their foot in the door to host an event in the city. The event sells out General Motors Place, goes down without a hitch, and provides an entertaining night of fights. MMA is great, cased is closed, right?

Then some drunken, bigoted fans on their way home from the event stop to harass a gay couple for no reason at all. And just like that, the entire sport of MMA is now guilty of a hate crime in the Vancouver press.

Albert Einstein once said that only two things were truly infinite - The Universe, and human stupidity - and he wasn’t sure about the first one.

Despite the sheer ridiculousness of blaming the whole sport of MMA, it’s fighters, and it’s fan base for the actions of a couple homophobic jerks, it was enough to get the ball rolling. Truly, this kind of reasoning is pure stupidity of the first order. Imagine the would-be gay bashers had been coming from a Starbucks, or a Saturn dealership, or a Chapters rather then a UFC event. Would we blame those companies for their hateful actions?

Of course not. The truth is, some people are just jerks, and at the end of the day are solely responsible for their actions. Unless they happen to be MMA fans in Vancouver.

The city council even acknowledged that the cost of getting the bureaucracy moving again could be covered by fees and taxes the city could put on the events themselves, something that would actually benefit the city and help offset it’s crippling debt problem. Again, this seems like a no brainier to me.

But hold on, a couple of guys got in a shouting match at an amateur MMA event last month after a fight. No blows were exchanged nor penalties levied, mind you, but there was shouting and that was all it took apparently to give the city of Vancouver cold feet.

I mean, my God, those men may have gone out and shouted at gay people after the event! Oh the humanity! Won’t somebody please think of the children.

Give me a break.

This legislation will prevent local Vancouver based fighters and up and coming fighters from plying their trade close to home, forcing them to travel far away just to find work. This legislation will prevent guys like Rory MacDonald and Matt Dwyer, established big name stars and prospects from the West Coast from ever again fighting in their hometown. It will deny the local economy millions in lost potential revenue. It will make no one safer, nor happier, nor richer, nor in any way better off.

An event like this reminds one of how far we still have to go in opening minds, changing opinions, and winning the argument when it comes to MMA in this country. Vancouver has fallen off the wagon, Toronto is still a distant possibility and Montreal is constantly weighed down by it’s inefficient, possibly corrupt athletic commission. Canada may be the “Mecca of MMA” in the world per capita, but we still have a long way to go before we get the kind of sanctioning, regulation, and general cultural acceptance that the sport of MMA wants and deserves in this country.

Roll up your sleeves, people. We still have a lot of work to do.

UPDATE: Apparently, it's not all of Vancouver, just North Vancouver (whatever that means) that has outlawed MMA. My apologies for any confusion or misreporting on my part, a lot of legitimate news sites were carrying the original story from the North Shore outlook as fact. Changes made accordingly.

Cauliflower Corner Episode 4

Round 2 - The Technique

Abbas "the dragon" Lee Abdul One of the 4 dangerous Light Heavy Weights to fight in the tournament at Fighting Spirit's 12th Event: FURIOUS

Fighting Spirit is having it's 12th Card : FURIOUS
and it's biggest to date!!
There is going to be a 4 man LHW tournament with lots of International Talent.

Coming up to Fighting Spirit's 12th Card we will be getting to know the 4 competitors in the Light Heavy Weight Tournament,

the First Fighter to be entered into the Tournament

SHIHAN DR. ABBAS ABDUL HUSSEIN

AJJIF MMA WORLDWIDE INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE of LEBANON
in
Okinawan Karate, Combat Karate, Okinawan Kobudo, Self-Defense and MMA Divisions

6 Dan Goju Ryu Karate, 6 Dan Kick Boxing 

Fighting Professionally since 2000

Birthday : October 15 , 1968 .

 Full Name : Abbas Lee Abdul-Hussein .

 Ranks Titles :
#3 in WPKA
#2 in WAKO

a holder of 3 titles , full contact as light heavyweight , and 2 national championships for the past 10 years
and he is coming for Fighting Spirit's Light Heavyweight Title!!

 Fighting record : 10-2-8 tko

UFC on Versus Conference call for JONES vs. MATYUSHENKO

By: Ben Ortmanns

Welcome to my first article, and piece of coverage on Canadian Pro Fighter! This will be the first of many more, I'm sure.


Today, I took on the duties of representing this website on UFC's conference call in support of their upcoming show, UFC on Versus 2 featuring up and coming Jon "Bones" Jones vs Vladimir "The Janitor" Matyushenko.

Today's call started at 2pm, and featured the two fighters participating in that evenings main event. UFC boss, Dana White was not on the call today.

Both men started out by answering the standard questions of how ready they were, and how they felt about the upcoming fight. Jon Jones was in the middle of explaining that he would be willing to take on anyone, and any style, when very shortly into this call, the moderator interrupted and explained that there was a fire drill going on in the office, and that they would need to evacuate the building! While Jones and Jen from the UFC who was on the call sat in an awkward silence, mixed with giggles, an audible was called, and we were going to have to email our questions in.

After quickly emailing my questions in, approximately 20 minutes into the call Jen was able to ask my questions. The first was to Jon Jones. I asked Jon how he felt about being compared to Anderson Silva, and if a fight with Anderson at 205 pounds would be something he would be interested in taking in the future?
Jones replied by saying that it was an absolute honor to be compared to Anderson, and that Jones studies Anderson's striking techniques, so he is thrilled that there is a comparison. Jones says that his mind set on a possible fight with Anderson is that it would be an honor. Jones goes on to mention that he takes the mentality of "fear no man", and that "every man can be beat", and that he will fight anyone. I know I'd love to see it happen!

My line of questioning then turned over to Vladimir Matyushenko. I asked The Janitor how he felt knowing that in the grand scheme of things, he is the veteran in this fight, yet everybody seems to expect the younger Jones to roll right over him, and that this is a "warm up fight" for Jones. The Janitor light heartidly laughed it off saying "older guys CAN fight!". Matyushenko goes on to mention that he feels good, and that he is in great shape, so why not? I like that answer. Why not?

The call continued on, and Jon Jones went on to mention how much he felt his game has really picked up since joining Greg Jackson's camp out in New Mexico. They have brought in striking coach, Phil Nurse, and feels that not only does Nurse make his striking more crisp, but helps his creativity, because Phil Nurse embraces Jones' spinning techniques.

Jones also goes on to tell a recent story about a reporter who recently reported he had turned down a fight with Lil' Nog due to "not training". Jones was so offended he ended up getting a meeting with the reporter because he felt his image could have really been damaged at such a young age. Jones claims he was never offered a fight with Lil' Nog, but was honest in saying he probably would have turned it down anyway, but not for those reasons, and only because he feels he has areas in his game he would want to improve before taking a fight of that magnitude. Note to reporters: Don't lie about Jon Jones. You'll upset him, and quite frankly, you don't want to eat those elbows do you? Come on reporters...

Before wrapping up the call, the Russian Vladimir Matyushenko got a chance to speak his mind, as he stated that he knew what this fight meant to him. He has been around this game a long time, and has never even been recognized to this magnitude before, so he can only imagine what a win over Jones would do for his career. It would certainly put in him the mix.

To finish the call, both fighters were given a chance to hype the fight, and you know what happened? They showed nothing but respect for one another as mixed martial artists, and as men. This one of those fights were there is no beef, no issues, no rivalry. Just two extremely talented mixed martial arts warriors who will step inside the cage and see who the better man is for those 15 minutes.

Make sure you go out of your way to check out this great card! UFC on Versus 2 on August 1st!

For More info on this card or other UFC news check out  UFC.com

Patrick "The Predator" Cote set to face Tom "The Filthy Mauler" Lawlor at UFC 121

By Mike Johnston

(Canadian MMA Examiner)

Popular slugger and Quebec native Patrick “The Predator” Cote has signed on to fight Tom “The Filthy Mauler” Lawlor in a middleweight matchup at UFC 121. The two men have agreed to the bout, which would likely take place on the pay-per-view portion of the card, though nothing has been finalized.

Cote (13-6) and Lawlor (6-3) are both coming off submission losses at UFC 113 in Montreal, subsequently both by second round rear-naked choke. Cote was defeated by fellow middleweight contender Alan Belcher, while Winnipeg’s Joe Doerksen came from behind to submit Lawlor in an exciting preliminary bout.

The French-Canadian’s goal remains to get another shot at the middleweight belt. At UFC 90, Cote fought Anderson Silva for the title, but unfortunately blew out his knee at the beginning of the third round. “The Predator” required surgery and was out of commission for over a year and a half. His octagon return didn’t go as planned and shortly after his loss to Belcher, Cote regrouped and said, “I am ready to return to action, it’s a new beginning!”

His opponent, Lawlor, is also extremely talented, popular and exciting. He is known as much for his pre-fight hilarity as he is for his octagon performances. Lawlor often sports wigs and costumes during weigh-ins, has impersonated UFC pioneer Don Frye, and has even dressed as Hulk Hogan and came out to Hogan’s signature song. However, when the costumes are off and the music stops, Lawlor is no joke. He possesses a strong wrestling game and has shown marked improvement with his striking. The matchup with Cote should make for an excellent, crowd-pleasing fight.

UFC 121 is shaping up to be yet another outstanding display of mixed martial arts, the fastest growing sport in the world. Other recent fight announcements for this event include a heavyweight title fight between Brock Lesnar and Cain Velasquez, and the debut of Jake Shields as he takes on Martin Kampmann in a welterweight contender bout. Also on the card are Sam Stout, Diego Sanchez and the newest Ultimate Fighter, Court McGee.

Here are all the rumoured bouts for UFC 121 to date:

Brock Lesnar vs Cain Velasquez (for the UFC Heavyweight Championship)

Martin Kampmann vs. Jake Shields

Diego Sanchez vs. Paulo Thiago

Patrick Cote vs. Tom Lawlor

Brendan Schaub vs. Gabriel Gonzaga

Sam Stout vs. Paul Taylor

Court McGee vs. Ryan Jensen

Chris Camozzi vs. Dongi Yang

REDEMPTION MIXED MARTIALS ARTS AND SELF-DEFENCE YOUTH MMA FUNDRAISER

Redemption MMA - 300 Lacroix Street Unit 6 Chatham Ontario


300 Lacroix Street, Unit 6

Chatham, ON

More Info Hey everyone with the growing popularity of MMA and a great interest I have been having in youths classes we will be holding a Kick-A-Thon/Throw-A-Thon and BBQ fundraiser to purchase the necessary equipment needed to have the youth of our community train safely.

I am calling on all those that wish to see our local youth participate in a sport that will see them gain confidence, self-esteem and become physically fit all while havi...ng fun and making new friends.

Saturday August 21 from 12:00 to 3:00 pm you can come out and cheer on the members of our team as the put themselves through an exhausting 3hr training session.

If you know anyone on our team please make a pledge and help our cause or if you feel like making a donation feel free to come on down and show your support.

THE FIGHT CLUB ANNOUNCES TFC 11: “FULL FORCE”

World Light Heavyweight bout to headline event

Edmonton, Alberta (Canada): The Fight Club (TFC), one of the top fight promotions in Canada, will return to action with “TFC 11: Full Force” on Friday September 10th. “Full Force” will showcase a main event rematch between TFC Light Heavyweight Champion Martin “The Stress” Desilets and UFC veteran Victor “The Matrix” Valimaki. The belt will be on the line as these two lock horns once again, as TFC 11 will be held at the Shaw Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta. Doors will open at 7 PM, and the fights will begin at 8 PM. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, http://www.thefightclub.ca/, or (780) 451-8000.

In their first bout, which took place at “TFC 10: High Octane” this past March, Desilets and Valimaki laid it all on the line, throwing punches with abandon. In the end, Desilets was able to outlast his foe en route to a TKO victory with only ten seconds left in the first round. He gained Valimaki’s light heavyweight strap in the process. Check out the full fight here:

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Now, these two will look to exceed their performances from their first fight at “Full Force.” Valimaki will attempt to regain his lost crown, while Desilets will do everything he can to hold onto it. Regardless of who comes out on top, the true winners will be the fans.


TFC Light Heavyweight Champion Martin “The Stress” Desilets (10-2-0-1) has only been to a decision once in his career, and has finished his opponent in every one of his victories. The Team Legion fighter, who trains with UFC fighter Jonathan “The Road Warrior” Goulet, is a six-foot tall native of Canada, and always brings the excitement in his bouts. He holds a TKO victory over current UFC contender Krzysztof Soszynski, and will look to make it two in a row against Valimaki at “Full Force.”

Victor “The Matrix” Valimaki (16-6), a veteran of the UFC, was riding a seven-fight win streak when he stepped into the cage against Desilets to defend his belt. Now, the nine-year MMA veteran will attempt to start another win streak by stopping the champ and getting his strap back. A native of Edmonton, Alberta, Valimaki holds victories over notables Dan “The Beast” Severn, Jason “Dooms” Day, and Vernon “Tiger” White. At “Full Force,” he’ll try to add Desilets to that list.

“Full Force” will also feature TFC favorites Ryan McGillivray, Rio Wells, Mitch Clarke, Luke Harris, Jordan McKay, and many more. Look for additional fights to be announced in the coming weeks. The event will be shown on The Fight Network on tape delay, and news on a press conference will be announced soon. For more information, please visit our website at http://www.thefightclub.ca/