THE ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP® CONFIRMS REMAINING BOUTS FOR UFC® LIVE IN LOUISVILLE

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Live from the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky

Tickets On Sale Now

Las Vegas, NV (USA) – The Ultimate Fighting Championship^® is proud to confirm the remaining bouts for its first-ever event in Louisville, Ky. on Thursday, March 3. The fastest growing sports organization in the world heads to the KFC Yum! Center with a loaded card featuring explosive bouts between top UFC^® contenders.

In addition to the main event welterweight fight pitting Diego “Nightmare” Sanchez against Martin “Hitman” Kampmann and the middleweight clash between Mark Munoz and CB Dollaway, UFC^® officials confirmed today nine additional bouts set to take place in the Bluegrass State.

The remaining bouts include: Alessio Sakara vs. Chris Weidman, Brian Bowles vs. Damacio Page, Joe Stevenson vs. Danny Castillo, Steve Cantwell vs. Cyrille Diabate, Thiago Tavares vs. Shane Roller, Takeya Mizugaki vs. Reuben Duran, Rob Kimmons vs. Dongi Yang, Rousimar Palhares vs. Dave Branch and Igor Pokrajac vs. Todd Brown.

Tickets for UFC^® Live are on sale now and can be purchased in person at the KFC Yum! Center, Kentucky Exposition Center, Kentucky International Convention Center Box Offices or at any Ticketmaster outlet.  Tickets can also be purchased online at www.ticketmaster.com or over the phone by calling 1-800-745-3000.

UFC^® Live will be broadcast on VERSUS at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

A winner of three straight, middleweight Alessio Sakara (fighting out of Miami, Fla. / 19-7, 1 NC) looks to keep his streak alive in Louisville. With four of his last five victories coming by knockout, “Legionarius” is sure to display his boxing prowess in an attempt to secure another Knockout of the Night award. Standing in his way is New York native and UFC newcomer, Chris Weidman (fighting out of Baldwin, N.Y. / 4-0).  A two-time All-American wrestler at Hofstra University who trains under former UFC welterweight champion Matt Serra, Weidman has finished opponents by both submission and TKO, and is seeking a dominant debut performance to make a statement in the Octagon^®. 

Former WEC bantamweight champion Brian Bowles (fighting out of Athens, Ga. / 8-1) makes his UFC debut with his sights set on reclaiming the 135-pound crown.  The Hardcore Gym product will look to use his heavy hands and slick submissions to best his free-swinging opponent on March 3. Equally hungry to fuel a title run, Damacio Page (fighting out of Albuquerque, N.M. / 12-5) is as motivated as ever and ready to make a statement. “The Angel of Death,” who gets a shot to avenge his 2008 defeat at the hands of Bowles, expects nothing less than a standup war in Kentucky.

A three-time Fight of the Night winner and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, Joe Stevenson (fighting out of Victorville, Calif. / 36-12) is a former number one contender for the UFC lightweight championship and winner of season two of The Ultimate Fighter ^®. On March 3, he steps inside the Octagon for the 15^th time to take on hard-hiting lightweight Danny Castillo (fighting out of Sacramento, Calif. / 8-3). “Last Call” joins UFC after a successful run in World Extreme Cagefighting^®. The former collegiate wrestler, who trains alongside UFC bantamweight star Urijah Faber in California, hopes to keep the momentum rolling when he meets “Joe Daddy.”

A former WEC light heavyweight champion, Steve Cantwell (fighting out of Las Vegas, Nev. / 7-3) is looking to have the same success in the UFC.  Nicknamed the “Robot”, Cantwell hits the UFC Octagon for the fourth time on March 3. His opponent is dangerous 6’ 6” striker Cyrille Diabate (fighting out of Rueil-Malmaison, France / 17-7-3), who expects to use his lethal array of knees and combination punching en route to victory in Louisville.

Having debuted with the UFC in April 2007, Thiago Tavares (fighting out of Florianopolis, Brazil / 19-3-1) has strung together several impressive fights, including three Fight of the Night performances.  Coming off of a recent win over Pat Audinwood at UFC 119, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt looks to join the lightweight elite by besting three-time Division I All-American collegiate wrestler Shane Roller (fighting out of Dallas, Tx. / 9-3).  The former WEC lightweight and two-time Submission of the Night winner has been victorious in six of his last eight bouts and is hoping that his UFC debut will be one to remember.

Takeya Mizugaki (fighting out of Kanagawa, Japan / 13-5-2) is an exciting striker who continually put on entertaining bouts in the WEC’s bantamweight division.  Having headlined two WEC cards, including one in which he fought for the bantamweight title, Mizugaki is planning to introduce himself to UFC fans in dramatic fashion when he takes on Reuben Duran (fighting out of Redlands, Calif. / 7-2-1).  The Pinnacle Jiu Jitsu fighter, who is unbeaten since 2006, is looking to make a statement in his UFC debut and will undoubtedly get that chance against one of the division’s top contenders.      

Fighting inside the Octagon for the seventh time overall, Rob Kimmons (fighting out of Liberty, Mo. / 23-6) has found huge success with his submission game.  “The Rosedale Reaper” has twice finished opponents with a guillotine choke, with one of those netting him a Submission of the Night award.  He’ll take on South Korean-born Dongi Yang (fighting out of Seoul, South Korea / 9-1) in an exciting middleweight battle.  “The Ox”, known for his aggressive fighting style, will look to defeat his opponent with his heavy hands, and secure his place in this competitive division.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Rousimar Palhares (fighting out of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil / 20-3) has won four of his six bouts in the UFC, and his impressive submission game has helped him get there.  On March 3, “Toquinho” looks to add another talented name to his resume when he meets Dave Branch (fighting out of Brooklyn, N.Y. / 8-1).  Born in the Bronx, the Renzo Gracie-trained Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt has won his last two fights inside the Octagon and is hoping to make it three in a row in Kentucky.

Light heavyweight Igor Pokrajac (fighting out of Zagreb, Croatia / 22-8) has shown that he can be successful wherever the fight goes.  The Croatian-born training partner of UFC heavyweight Mirko Cro Cop submitted James Irvin on the last UFC on Versus card, and has engaged in close battles with Vladimir Matyushenko and Stephan Bonnar.  Todd Brown (fighting out of Osceola, Ind. / 15-1, 1 NC) will likely play the part of the hometown favorite as he was born in nearby Mishawaka, Indiana.  “Bulldog” looks to use his superior striking to garner his first UFC victory. 

Full Card:

Diego Sanchez vs. Martin Kampmann

ALESSIO SAKARA vs. CHRIS WEIDMAN

BRIAN BOWLES vs. DAMACIO PAGE

JOE STEVENSON vs. DANNY CASTILLO

STEVE CANTWELL vs. CYRILLE DIABATE

THIAGO TAVARES vs. SHANE ROLLER

TAKEYA MIZUGAKI vs. REUBEN DURAN

ROB KIMMONS vs. DONGI YANG

ROUSIMAR PALHARES vs. DAVE BRANCH

IGOR POKRAJAC vs. TODD BROWN

For more information, or current UFC fight news, visit UFC.com. All bouts live and subject to change.

CanadianProFighter.com goes 1-on-1 with UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre

By Mike Johnston

@MikeyJ_MMA

UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre is perhaps the most popular athlete in mixed martial arts history. He is the star of a new documentary; he just released a series of instructional workout videos; has appeared in action films; was a coach on The Ultimate Fighter reality series; and has starred in commercials for Gatorade, Under Armour and ESPN. So what else is in the pipeline for the Canadian superstar? An album perhaps?
“I am an opera singer. Didn’t you know that?” St. Pierre said with a laugh after the premiere of Steven J. Wong’s film The Striking Truth, starring GSP and his close friend David Loiseau. Despite all of the success, attention and extra curricular activity he is involved in, St. Pierre remains dedicated to his primary business endeavor, fighting. “No, no, I don’t have nothing else [in the works]. I’m focused on my career in mixed martial arts.”
The Saint-Isidore, Quebec native is cerebral both inside and outside the octagon and said it is often difficult maintaining mental toughness while trying to balance his professional and personal life. “It’s very tough, but I never give up,” said St. Pierre. “It’s a genetics thing. I mean my dad was like this, my mom, my family. And I think it’s the social environment that I grew up in that makes me that way.”

St. Pierre said mental fortitude and his relationships with his team of coaches and training partners are extremely important. Those bonds have contributed to his continual triumphs and it translates to how he goes about living his personal life. “I think it’s important to help each other. You give and you get at the same time so I think [having a close-knit team] is important. Life is the same way and [training] should be representative of what life is,” said St. Pierre.
With all of the media requests, pictures and autographs, the pressure to market the still-misunderstood sport of MMA, not to mention the vigorous physical training, St. Pierre’s unwavering resolve is prevalent in his success. He also understands that being in the public eye is part of the job.
“I try to be as a good a role model as I can be,” said St. Pierre. ”For me it’s more than fighting. My job is everyday 24/7. Like I said, when I became champion, that’s something I accept. That’s a reality of my life and I want to be a good role model for the kids because I know there’s a lot of kids looking up to me. And, I hope I give a good example to follow and hopefully I can inspire people to do good things in life.”
On April 30 at UFC 129 at the Roger Centre in Toronto, St. Pierre defends his 170lb title against standout grappler Jake Shields. In order to prepare for Shields, GSP plans on travelling the globe. He will be training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with one of the best in the world, Roger Gracie. “I’m going to England next week for that purpose,” said St. Pierre. “After England, I’m going to go to Montreal then New York like all the time. Mostly in Montreal.”
Whether on camera or off camera, inside or outside the octagon, Georges St. Pierre –like Wayne Gretzky or Steve Nash- is a Canadian athlete that fans of all ages and nationalities can look up to.
For more information on The Striking Truth visit strikingtruth.com. For more on Georges St. Pierre visit gspfightclub.com, and for more UFC/MMA news and updates follow @MikeyJ_MMA on Twitter.

‘Irish Hand Grenade’ set to explode at MFC 29

Marcus Davis to debut at Conquer against ‘Ragin’ Kajan Johnson

Already sporting a talent-rich lightweight roster, the Maximum Fighting Championship has added one of the division’s most powerful strikers, and a fighter who has targeted big finishes in fan-favorite encounters.

Marcus “The Irish Hand Grenade” Davis has signed a multi-fight deal with the Maximum Fighting Championship, and will make his much-anticipated debut when S.L. Feldman’s & Associates presents MFC 29: Conquer at The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor on Friday, April 8. Tickets for the event go on sale at Noon ET on Friday, March 4 at www.caesarswindsor.com and The Colosseum box office.

Davis (17-8) is expected to meet the livewire “Ragin” Kajan Johnson (18-11-1) in one of the featured matchups that will air live on HDNet Fights.

The Bangor, Maine, product and member of Team Sityodtong already feels like he has found a home in the MFC which prides itself in pushing the entertainment envelope.

“I feel I’m sort of the Nostradamus of MMA,” explained Davis. “When I started in the sport I was talking to boxing magazines and told them that MMA was going to take over boxing. They said I was crazy but it happened.

“I feel the same about being in the MFC. (Owner/President) Mark Pavelich has done a very good job not only developing his brand but also developing his fighters. That’s why I made the choice I did.

“I’m a fighter who wears his heart on his sleeve. I go out and give it all I’ve got to be entertaining. I think my style fits very well with the MFC.”

Davis is well-known for his all-out clashes as the 37-year-old has built a reputation of fights that leave a lasting impression. His career is highlighted by an 11-fight winning streak that included victories over notables such as Pete Spratt, Shonie Carter, Forrest Petz, Paul Taylor, and Jess Liaudin. While building up six knockouts and eight submission stoppages, Davis has captured victories over rival big punchers such as Jonathan Goulet, Chris Lytle, and Paul Kelly.

“No matter what, every time I fight, I try to end the fight and I’m bleeding all over somebody,” cracked Davis.

“I think the MFC lightweight division is stacked but there’s no doubt I’m the best striker. That’s what I’m going to bring. I’m going to get right in there. I’m looking forward to coming in and making a big splash.”

Johnson, who fights out of Vancouver, B.C., is coming off a one-sided decision win over Ryan Healy at MFC 27. Although Johnson sports four knockouts and 10 submissions on his resume, Davis doesn’t expect his upcoming foe to be ready for this sizeable step up.

“He hasn’t faced the type of competition I’ve faced and he has no idea the level of where my confidence is at,” added Davis. “He’s tough but I’m very confident.”

Who's The Real Winner of Penn vs. Fitch? Dana White, That's Who

By Elton Hobson


In the fallout of last nights draw finish of Jon Fitch vs. BJ Penn, the conversation seems to be focused mostly on every MMA writer’s favourite subject: b*tching about how inept and incompotent MMA judges are.
Boooooring.
C’mon, what do you want from me? It was a close fight. Anytime there’s a close fight, people are going to disagree about the outcome. No amount of rules refinement is going to fix variable scoring in a sport that requires subjective judging.
And what’s wrong with a draw, exactly? The whole “there must be a winner!” attitude in every fight is to the detrament of fans and promoters alike.
Fitch/Penn was a fun fight, certainly the most exciting Jon Fitch has had in awhile. Now, most likely, we get to see 3 more rounds of it.
More on that later.


But first, what the hell is going on with all these draws recently? Certainly 2 of the 3 UFC Events this year going to a draw is a little out of the ordinary.
First there was the Frankie Edgar/Grey Maynard tie at UFC 125. This past Saturday night, Jon Fitch and BJ Penn fought to another close – and controverial – draw in the main event of UFC 127 in Sydney, Australia.
Two fights, 8 combined rounds, and no official winners to be found. Well, inside the cage, anyways. Outside of it, let’s just say Dana White is like Charlie Sheen – he keeps on winning (may also be a ninja warlock assassin).
Why is Mr. White the real winner of these inconclusive draws (aside from the being the recipient of all your PPV dollars, that is)? Its because each time there’s been a draw recently, it seems to have solved one of Mr. White’s problems rather marvelously.
Frankie Edgar and Grey Maynard was one of the least hyped title fights in recent memory. It was an issue. It wa something MMA writer’s talked about widely and at length. People honestly wondered what the UFC was going to do to get that elusive “casual fan” to care about a Lightweight world title fight.
One epicly fought draw later, and all Dana’s problems are solved.
Edgar/Maynard 3 is the most anticipated rematch of 2011, and White gets to put on the exact same fight he put on in January again in May, and make ten times more money this time. Win and win.
Now the majority draw conclusion of Penn vs. Fitch solves another one of Dana’s lingering problems.
See, this fight put Dana and the UFC in a slightly akward position as far as the welterweight title picture goes. With champion Georges St. Pierre set to defend the strap against Jake Shields in April, there has been plenty of speculation that, with a win, he would move up in weight to face Anderson Silva in the biggest MMA superfight ever.
White himself all but committed to this timeline for finally putting on GSP/Silva at long last.
Just one problem: the winner of Penn/Fitch could potentially have stood in the way of that move. Had Fitch won, his 14 UFC wins would have had purists crying foul that Fitch had earned his rematch, that GSP hadn’t truly cleaned out 170 lbs.
Had Penn won, there’s a chance the first words out of his mouth would be to call out Georges St. Pierre once again. Ok, that’s not true – the first words out of his mouth would have been “go to BJPenn.com!”, where he might have called out GSP in a lengthy paragraph, brought to you by RVCA.
Would either of these scenarios have been enough to derail Anderson Silva vs. GSP?
Probably not. But either one would have caused complications at the least. There would be howls that GSP had not truly “cleaned out” the welterweight division. These howls wouldn’t exactly be incorrect, either. Fitch’s case for another GSP fight, or Penn’s case for a non-vaselined 3rd GSP fight would have had some weight behind them if either man had won, if only a little.
Now, we can scratch both those hypotheticals. With Brian Ebersole cartwheel-kicking Chris Lytle out of title contention, Carlos Condit out with injury, Dan Hardy still trying to remember what day of the week it is, and no clear winner in Penn/Fitch, there really is no one left after Shields for GSP to face at welterweight. By happy accident as much as peerless domination, GSP is one fight away from unequivocally cleaning out his divison.
So now what? If GSP beats Shields and moves up, I predict Dana will book a BJ vs. Fitch rematch, this time for the vacant welterweight championship. That ought to get BJ motivated after he borderline retired last night.
Check this scenario out: a season of TUF featuring Penn and Fitch as rival coaches, building interest for their eventual clash. When they finally do fight, book it at Aloha Stadium in Hawaii. Can you think of a better way to feature what could be BJ’s last hurrah – or perhaps his second coming?

Brian Ebersole-Cartwheel Kick-Success

For those of you wondering what the hell Ebersole was attempting to do with his "cartwheel kick" well he has had encouragement to try it again...here is a successful attempt of the cartwheel kick and it's results!

UFC 127 recap: Penn and Fitch fight to a draw, Ring wins controversial decision

By Mike Johnston

@MikeyJ_MMA

Controversy was the theme of an overall entertaining UFC 127 card. During the Prelims Live broadcast Calgary’s Nick Ring won a controversial unanimous decision over Riki Fukuda. For the first two rounds Ring landed more strikes and controlled the action on the feet, but Fukuda was able to land several takedowns. The Japanese star took over in the third. After the fight UFC President Dana White tweeted, “Judges [expletive] suck again!! Fukuda got robbed!!” The win was Ring’s first in the UFC.

In the main event, Jon Fitch and BJ Penn fought to a majority draw. Penn won the first round by controlling Fitch on the ground, the second round was close and the third was all Fitch dominating with ground-and-pound. Fitch out struck Penn 231-48 overall and 149-2 in the third round. The three judges scored the bout 29-28 Fitch, 28-28 and 28-28.

In the co-main event, controversy reared its ugly head again, overshadowing a second round TKO victory for Michael Bisping. In the first round Bisping hit Jorge Rivera with an intentional illegal knee that hurt Rivera. The Brit was docked a point and it looked like the fight would be stopped. Rivera fought through it, but in the second round Bisping took control and finished off Rivera. He won’t gain any new fans with this performance, but he will move closer to a title shot.

Also on the main card, Dennis Siver upset George Sotiropoulos via unanimous decision. In the first round Siver dropped Sotiropoulos two separate times with a left hook. Siver also showed tremendous takedown defense, which proved to be the biggest difference in the fight. The loss was Sotiropoulos’ first in his UFC career. Brian Ebersole upset Chris Lytle by unanimous decision. Ebersole landed a huge knee in the second round that dropped Lytle and completely changed how the rest of the fight played out. Also, Australian Kyle Noke defeated his fellow TUF 11 cast mate Chris Camozzi with a rear-naked choke. Since coming off the reality series, Noke is 3-0 in the UFC.

In preliminary action, Ross Pearson and Spencer Fisher put on the show they had promised with Pearson winning a blistering decision. The TUF 9 winner displayed an improved ground game and was slightly more active in the final two rounds of their lightweight scrap. Alex Gustafsson looked impressive once again as he won his second consecutive fight via rear-naked choke. After getting controlled for the first half of the first round, the Swede reversed his fortunes and showed that he has been working on his grappling. He is now 3-1 in the UFC.

In other preliminary action, “The Mongolian Wolf” Tiequan Zhang defeated Jason Reinhardt by submission in the first minute of round one of their featherweight fight. Zhang showed solid counterpunching on the feet and when Reinhardt went for a takedown Zhang forced a tap with a tight guillotine choke. Australian Anthony Perosh made the home crowd proud by submitting Tom Blackledge in the first round with a rear-naked choke. Plus, Mark Hunt picked up his first MMA win in over five years, as he knocked out Chris Tuchscherer in the second round of their heavyweight bout.

For more info visit UFC.com and follow @MikeyJ_MMA on Twitter.

Georges St. Pierre visits Toronto for the premiere of ‘The Striking Truth’

By Mike Johnston

@MikeyJ_MMA

**Stay tuned to CanadianProFighter.com for my exclusive 1-on-1 interview with UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre.**
CLICK HERE for a slideshow of the premiere
The premiere of Steven J. Wong’s documentary The Striking Truth took place in front of a packed house at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts Friday night in downtown Toronto. Some of MMA’s biggest names were on hand to take in the festivities.
The documentary tells the stories of UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre and Canadian MMA pioneer David Loiseau. Both St. Pierre and Loiseau were on hand along with the director Wong, their MMA trainer Firas Zahabi, UFC welterweight Sean Pierson, former UFC champion Carlos Newton, and former UFC fighter Jeff Joslin. Even former mixed martial artist Justin Bruckmann, who fought St. Pierre in 2002 and Loiseau twice in 2000, was there to support his former foes. Following the screening, there was a brief fan Q&A with the director and the two stars. Popular MMA analyst ‘Showdown Joe’ Ferraro of Rogers Sportsnet hosted the event.

The enthusiastic crowd met the film with cheers, laughs and even some tears. Although UFC, MMA and GSP fans will flock to this film, it has the potential to appeal to a much wider audience since the film is more a human interest story than a sports documentary. More or less, the focus of the film is St. Pierre’s rise to stardom and the struggle to maintain it; as well as Loiseau’s shortcomings in the later stages of his career and his determination to earn back some of the glory he lost.
Fans who see the film, fans will view St. Pierre, Loiseau and fighters in general in a different light. In interviews and on TV the champ embodies the GSP persona. In the film, however, he is Georges, a cerebral family man. The film reveals that the best moment of his life wasn’t when he won the UFC welterweight championship. It was the day his parents found out that he had paid off their mortgage and all of their debts. The veil is lifted off this superstar athlete.
The doc should inspire audiences and could even help some viewers learn to deal with anxiety problems. With appearances by Randy Couture, Rich Franklin, Matt Serra, ‘Big’ John McCarthy, Greg Jackson, Firas Zahabi, Phil Nurse, Mauro Ranallo and ‘Showdown Joe’ Ferraro, The Striking Truth is destined to become a hit among the MMA community.
Although there is no scheduled date for a wider release, Wong said that it would be in theatres prior to UFC 129 in Toronto. Wong also said that he would be collaborating with St. Pierre again in the future on a project called “The GSP Story.”
For more information visit strikingtruth.com and follow @MikeyJ_MMA on Twitter.


Here is the official Movie Trailer

What The Hell Is Going On With UFC 127?

By Elton Hobson


UFC 127: “Penn vs. Fitch” is the UFC equivalent of a “bad dream” episode.
Not familiar with the concept of a “bad dream” episode? I’m willing to bet you actually are. Its the episode of “Star Trek” where Spock is an evil, goatee sportin’ bastard. Its that whole season of “Dallas” that never actually happened. Its the entire plot of the movie “It’s A Wonderful Life”.
That’s UFC 127. That weird, one-off episode that doesn’t actually fit into the continuity, that never happened, that doesn’t “count”.
Except it does. Just because it’s going down in Sydney, Australia doesn’t mean its happening in an alternate dimension. – it just seems to be booked that way.
Seriously, everyone knows I’m a giant fan of the UFC, and I think they do a phenomenal job of putting on relevant, exciting events month after month. But this card makes me scratch my head a little. More then a little. This is the closest the UFC has ever come to booking a “pro-wrestling” style card, where every match features someone who is “expected” to win.
Come to think of it, that sounds like a Boxing PPV under card (surely not!). Or, if I can be so bold, like your average, exciting, sometimes clusterf*ck of matchmaking Strikeforce event (now I’ve done it).
Read on as I breakdown the latest UFC offering in the Twilight Zone Land Down Under!


Jon Fitch vs. BJ Penn
Let me get this straight: BJ Penn drops two straight fights to Frankie Edgar, a natural 145′er who’s ass BJ was supposed to kick. With 2 losses to the now-LW champ, BJ moves back to welterweight (where he also, funnily enough, has two losses to the reigning champ). He takes a “Senior’s Circuit” fight with fading legend Matt Hughes, who he dispatches in 21 seconds. That brings his record in the UFC welterweight division to a sterling 2-3, with both wins being over Matt Hughes, who he also lost to.
And yet, in spite of all that, Penn is now one fight – one freakin’ fight- away from another welterweight title shot. Hell, we could be 1 fight away from BJ vs, GSP 3 if Dana reneges on his word regarding Anderson Silva vs. GSP.
Ok, so I realize that’s a particularly craven perspective to take, in light of the bigger picture. For starters, Jon Fitch is in some weird sort of limbo, where both fans and Dana White seem determined to keep him away from another title shot while each party blames the other for making it so.
The truth is Fitch has earned his title rematch many times over, but his plodding style hasn’t won him any fans. With GSP set to face Jake Shields – and then potentially Anderson Silva – Fitch needs relevant, interesting fights worthy of his elite status.
A finish victory wouldn’t hurt either.
As for BJ, the popular Hawaiian is still one of the UFC’s bigger draws, and he’s still somewhat in his athletic prime. The UFC has evidently decided to book him in big fights, rankings be damned!
Its clear the UFC is hoping BJ Penn will be the one to finally solve the Jon Fitch riddle, so they can stop stringing the AKA product along with promises of title shots and go back to simply ignoring him. With his takedown defense, BJJ pedigree and heavy hands, Penn could very well be the man to do it. But probably not. I see Jon Fitch grinding out another decision and Dana White claiming Fitch is, for the umpteenth time, “in the mix” for a title shot.
I know I’m not the president of the UFC or anything, but don’t you eventually you have to stop “mixing” and actually cook something?
Michael Bisping vs. Jorge Rivera
Speaking of “in the mix”. England’s own Michael Bisping must feel like he’s in MMA Groundhog’s Day.
Since dropping to Middleweight, “The Count” has taken two kids of fights. The first kind is the kind he’s supposed to win, the “squash match” against a faded legend, a journeyman, or a mid-level gatekeeper. These fights maintain Bisping’s marketability and keep him “in the mix” for a title shot.
The second kind is the “step up” to the top 5 of the division, the “win this and get a title shot” fight.
Now that isn’t exactly a remarkable progression in combat sports, really. But that’s just it. What makes Bisping unique is the lack of progression. He wins a bunch of the first kind of fights, gets one of the second kind, loses, and its right back to jobbers and journeymen again.
Enter Jorge Rivera.
Ok, that’s mean. Jorge Rivera is one tough SOB who’s earned his respect the hard way. He has overcome immense challenges both personal and professional in his life, and he’s knocked out some bad mofo’s along the way. He has my and everyone in the MMA world’s respect.
But let’s be honest here. Rivera is 38 years old. He’s 19-7 overall. Rivera has had a long MMA career but I think most would agree he’s never going to return to the title picture. For better or worse, his ship has sailed.
So that’s what you’re looking at for a co-main event: a 90% chance Michael Bisping grinds out a win and keeps treading water in the MW top-10 and a 10% chance Jorge Rivera finds Bisping’s chin at some point and another “Shoop That Bisping” thread gets made on the UG.
George Sotiropolous vs. Dennis Siver
The last time George Sotiropolous fought in Australia, he put away Joe Stevenson in the Fight of the Night. It was a coming out party for the Aussie, a statement to the rest of the Lightweight division that he was ready to start hunting for the title.
Since that time, Sotiropolous has faced Kurt Pelligrino, followed by Joe Lauzon. This Saturday, he faces off against Dennis Siver in the UFC’s return to his home and native land.
If something seems strange about that list, you’re not imagining things. Each time Sotiropolous wins, he gets rewarded with a lower ranked opponent.
Its like the UFC has plotted Sot’s entire career and then decided to run it in reverse just to mess with him. I swear, we’re gonna hear the announcement of a Jens Pulver/George Sotiropolous title eliminator any day now (yes Jens is going back to LW, its my hypothetical scenario damnit!).
Once again, let me say I mean Dennis Siver no disrespect – before I get an angry German crescent kicking my door down.
But facts are facts, and Dennis Siver is a big step down the totem pole from Kurt Pelligrino, Joe Stevenson, or Joe Lauzon. Maybe Siver is actually the better fighter from among those men. So be it. At present time, any subject ranking has Siver ranked lower then most or all of those guys. Thems just the facts.
So this is a keep busy fight for Sotiropolous, nothing more. Someone the UFC assumes will be an easy win for George in front of his hometown fans. Another cool rubber guard submission for Sot, and its back to the holding pattern that is the LW title picture until the Maynard/Edgar/Pettis situation resolves itself.
There is a certain logic to this fight if you assume the UFC is saving Sot’s title shot for a future show in Australia, where it would do big buisness. The UFC needs to set Sot up with fights legit enough to keep him in the top-10 but not legit enough to seriously threaten said ranking.
Just be careful what you wish for. All this planning only holds true if Sot stays undefeated. Should he lose to the Dennis Siver’s of the division, it will undo all of the hype the submission wiz has managed to accrue over the last year.
Chris Lytle vs. Brian Ebersole
Seriously, when I first heard that Carlos Condit was being replaced at the last minute by Brian Ebersole, I had two reactions:
1) Supreme disappointment that the most exciting fight on the card -
hell, of first quarter 2011 – had been scrapped.
And
2) Does the head of NBC sports have a son who is fighting in MMA?
What else can you say about this fight? Condit/Lytle would have been the barnburner to end all barnburners, an epic slugging match, the Monitor vs Merimac of MMA. Instead, Condit has fallen out with an injury, and the UFC has scrambled to find a fill-in on short notice.
This fight should be fun while it lasts.
Lytle via whatever he wants.

Huge win for ‘Big Deal’ at MFC 28

Jimmo wins title, slick Fickett racks up victory at Supremacy

Ryan “The Big Deal” Jimmo seized the moment when it was there and secured the MFC world light-heavyweight title with a third-round TKO win over Dwayne “D-Bomb” Lewis in the main event of Maximum Fighting Championship’s MFC 28: Supremacy.
The event went down at a sold-out and raucous River Cree Resort and Casino, just outside Edmonton, Alberta, and aired live on HDNet Fights.


Jimmo (14-1) earned his 14^th consecutive win by finishing Lewis (13-7) at the 3:13 mark of Round 3 when referee Brian Beauchamp, after consulting with the ringside physician, waved off the bout. After a trip takedown and some heavy-handed ground-and-pound, Lewis’s face was severely damaged with a huge hematoma under his left eye and a likely broken orbital bone. It was a crushing setback for the Fort McMurray, Alberta, product who had an overwhelming army of supporters in attendance.
“It’s a dream come true to win the MFC title since this is the place where my career began,” said Jimmo, now lives and fights out of Edmonton, Alberta.
“I plan on keeping this belt over my shoulder for a long time.”



In the semi-main event, Drew “Night Rider” Fickett (41-13) made short work of late injury replacement Matt Veach. Fickett, who was supposed to challenge Antonio McKee for the MFC lightweight title until the champ sustained a knee injury and could not defend, needed only 36 seconds to secure an armbar submission of Veach (15-3).


Fickett, who fights out of Tucson, Arizona, left no doubt as to who is the rightful top contender in the MFC’s stacked 155-pound division.


“It doesn’t matter to me who has the belt. I’m coming for it and it will be mine. I’m making my home in the MFC,” said Fickett.


Lightweights Richie Whitson and Curtis Demarce put forth an early contender for Fight of the Year in a scintillating stand-up battle.


Demarce, who fights out of Brandon, Manitoba, nearly put Whitson away early on as he repeatedly tagged the Temecula, California, product, with an overhand right that bloodied Whitson. Demarce continued to connect in Round 2 and seemingly had Whitson in trouble, but the native Alaskan rallied and turned the tables on Demarce when he found his opponent’s chin with a devastating kick. After a back-and-forth final round, the bout went to the judges and Whitson escaped with a narrow victory via split decision. 
All three judges scored the bout 29-28 with Whitson (11-1) taking the nod on two cards. The gut-wrenching loss ended a seven-fight winning streak for Demarce (10-8).


Two other bouts were left in the judges’ hands as well. After charging through a dominant first round, Sheldon Westcott, who was fighting in front of his home-town fans, ran out of steam and allowed veteran Thomas “Wildman” Denny to gain the upper hand especially in Round 3. However, both fighters were left frustrated by the end result. While judges Brian Beauchamp and Vern Gorman each had one fighter getting a 29-28 nod, judge Bill Warwick saw it even at 28-28 and the fight was ruled a split draw.
“I’d rather have the win or the loss, but not a draw,” said a dejected Westcott (4-1-1). “We have to do this again and settle it.”


Denny (27-18-1), too, called for a rematch, though he hoped it might take place on neutral ground.
The other fight to go the distance saw Tyrone “T$” Glover (6-0) control much of his encounter with Robert “The Beast” Washington (9-2). Glover had several shots at a submission including a very tight triangle late in Round 2, but was unable to secure a finish. Still, the Wheat Ridge, Colorado, product took the decision, albeit in split voting (29-28, 28-29, 29-28).
Former MFC light-heavyweight champ Emanuel “The Hardcore Kid” Newton did secure the submission when he got the opportunity, coaxing a tapout via rear-naked choke from Rodney Wallace at the 4:34 mark of Round 2. For Newton (14-6-1), who fights out of Long Beach, California, it was a triumphant return to the MFC as he tries to regain his footing in the 205-pound division, while Charlotte, North Carolina’s Wallace (10-4) was unable to build on his win from MFC 27.


Full Results:


Ryan Jimmo defeats Dwayne Lewis by TKO (Doctor Stoppage) at 3:13 of Round 3 and becomes the MFC World Light-Heavyweight Title
Drew Fickett submits Matt Veach by Armbar at 0:36 of Round 1
Richie Whitson defeats Curtis Demarce by Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Thomas Denny and Sheldon Westcott fight to Draw
Emanuel Newton submits Rodney Wallace by Rear Naked Choke in Round 2, 4:34
Tyrone Glover defeats Robert Washington by Split Decision
Dan Ring submits Garret Nybakken by Rear Naked Choke in Round 2, 2:21
Brendan Kornberger defeated Paapa Inkumsah by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)


The Maximum Fighting Championship returns – and makes its debut in the Province of Ontario – on Friday, April 8 when S.L. Feldman’s & Associates presents MFC 29: Conquer live from The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor.

All-American Submission Finisher Raphael Davis Finalizes Bellator’s First Ever Light Heavyweight Tournament

CHICAGO, Ill. (February 25^th, 2011) — The Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament roster is now complete with Division I All-American wrestler Raphael Davis rounding out the class of competitors. Davis joins Daniel Gracie, Nik Fekete, Chris Davis, D.J. Linderman, Tim Carpenter, Christian M’Pumbu, and Richard Hale as the eight 205 pounders competing for the first ever Bellator World Light Heavyweight Championship. The tournament will air LIVE every Saturday on MTV2 beginning in March.

“Raphael’s been with us for a while now. Last year he sat with me at the Hard Rock and said that “all he wanted was the chance to compete in a World Title Tournament”, and I’m thrilled that we are able to provide him that opportunity,” said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney.

Residing and training out of California, the former Division I All-American wrestler for CS Bakersfield enters the tournament riding an impressive nine fight win streak, including victories at Bellator 22 and 34 over Demetrius Richards and former King of the Cage Champion Tony Lopez, respectively.

A powerful submission specialist with 9 finishes in his 10 victories, Davis (10-1, 2-0 Bellator) feels like his shot at the Bellator Championship has been a long time coming.

“I've been waiting for so long for this Bellator Light Heavyweight Tournament to finally happen,” said Davis. “I've been seeing all of these other champions get their belts put on them after their fights and I want one of those belts for myself. That has always been my goal ever since I first started fighting - I just want to win a belt. I want to be a world champion. Now I'm just really excited to finally have that chance.”

Dana White Talks UFC 127-Down Under in Australia

Video courtesy of the UFC

UFC 127 Preview & Predictions

By Mike Johnston

@MikeyJ_MMA

The UFC makes its second trip down under as the Australian crowd will be treated to 12 fights featuring a group of Australians, one former champion, and a Canadian making his UFC debut. Calgary’s Nick “The Promise” Ring is finally set to make his promotional debut following a stint on The Ultimate Fighter reality series and recovering from a serious knee injury. Ring will fight Japanese star Riki Fukuda in a preliminary bout that can be seen live in Canada on Rogers Sportsnet and Spike TV. The main card begins at 10 p.m. ET and is available to order on PPV.
For more UFC info and updates follow @MikeyJ_MMA on Twitter. Here is a full preview with predictions for UFC 127…
BJ Penn vs. Jon Fitch
The main event at UFC 127 will decide the number one contender at welterweight and it’s also the toughest fight to predict because Penn is a wildcard. If the aggressive, vicious BJ Penn that showed up at UFC 123 is present then Fitch may not know what he’s in for. It has been proven that strong wrestlers like Georges St. Pierre, Frankie Edgar, and now possibly Fitch, have the ability to control the Hawaiian. This is the conundrum and it’s what will dictate how this fight plays out: can Fitch takedown BJ and thwart his offense? If the answer’s yes, then Fitch will fight for the title again. Bringing in Matt Hughes certainly helped Penn in preparation, but Fitch has a wealth of top-level training partners such as Josh Koscheck, Phil Davis and Cain Velasquez. On the feet, advantage Penn; jiu-jitsu and wresting combined, advantage Fitch. The x-factor will be Penn’s tenacity versus Fitch’s durability and persistence. After a lot of wavering, I’m going with the slight upset.
Penn.

Jorge Rivera vs. Michael Bisping
This will be more an actual fight than it will an athletic endeavor. These two middleweights seem to dislike one another, have talked a lot, and now have to back it up. On paper Bisping has an advantage everywhere except knockout power. However, Rivera does not respect Bisping’s skill set and will bring the fight to the Brit. If he catches Bisping off guard then the TUF 3 winner could be in trouble. Bisping should use his kicks to keep Rivera off balance. As Rivera comes forward, a nicely timed leg kick could throw him off enough for the Brit to take advantage. Bisping can also use his quick footwork to establish distance and pick Rivera apart like he has done in his fights with Dan Miller, Yoshihiro Akiyama and Chris Leben. But, instead of that, expect a more aggressive Bisping; he will undoubtedly want a finish. Never count out Rivera’s heart, durability and knockout power, but this is Bisping’s fight to lose.
Bisping.
George Sotiropoulos vs. Dennis Siver
Many people are writing off Siver and saying he doesn’t deserve to be in there with Sotiropoulos. This is a fallacy as Siver is one of the most underrated lightweights and a real threat to the Australian. He has some of the best striking in the division and an underrated ground game to boot. That being said, Sotiropoulos might have the best jiu-jitsu at lightweight and is an underrated striker. Sotiropoulos is clinical with his technique wherever the fight is, whereas Siver sometimes leaves himself open as he goes for a knockout strike. If and when Sotiropoulos gets the fight to the ground his top control is unparalleled.
Sotiropoulos.
Kyle Noke vs. Chris Camozzi
The Aussie, Noke, looks for a win on home soil, as these two TUF 11 vets with well-rounded skills face off. Camozzi has an excellent chin and Noke will test it. This fight could go everywhere with Noke having a slight edge in technique and Camozzi possessing the guts and grit to grind out a win. Noke should be motivated by the crowd and by training at Greg Jackson’s he is used to competing against better fighters than Camozzi. In what could be a dogfight…
Noke.
Chris Lytle vs. Brian Ebersole
Lytle has been the forgotten man at welterweight for years, but is without question one of the best. He was scheduled to fight Carlos Condit, but the former WEC champ injured his knee and had to pull out. Instead he faces MMA veteran Brian Ebersole. Lytle’s main concern in this bout should be motivation. He has not much to win and everything to lose. That being said, Lytle always goes for the finish and puts on exciting fights. Ebersole has won 11 of his last 12 fights (46-14-1-1 overall) and has competed against notables Hector Lombard, Kyle Noke and Ed Herman with wins over Canadian Carlos Newton, Matt Horwich, and Nick Thompson. Still, making your UFC debut on short notice against a guy like Lytle is the opposite of a recipe for success. To use a hockey metaphor, this fight will be like a great AHL team going up against one of the best NHL teams. Lytle should simply outclass his opponent.
Lytle.

• PRELIMS LIVE ON SPIKE TV & ROGERS SPORTSNET at 9 p.m. ET

Spencer Fisher vs. Ross Pearson
The game plan for these two lightweights is no secret. Both men will stand and trade until someone goes down or the final horn sounds. Pearson likely learned a lot from his first UFC loss and Ontario’s Jeff Joslin has assisted Fisher of late, which proved to be a good move in his last outing. This should be a tightly contested, technical matchup reminiscent of Fisher’s wars with Sam Stout. Pearson is younger and steadily improving. Look for this to go similarly to when Fisher lost a decision to Dennis Siver this past summer, with Pearson scoring more points overall en route to an entertaining decision.
Pearson.
James Te-Huna vs. Alexander Gustafsson
Te-Huna is an Australian slugger that looks to put on a show for the home crowd like he did at UFC 110. Gustafsson is one of the best prospects in the light heavyweight division. The Swede’s dismantling of Muay Thai ace Cyrille Diabate was impressive to say the least. With strong wrestling, fight-ending power and a long frame, Gustafsson is a handful for anyone at 205lbs. Te-Huna puts on exciting fights and will need to catch Gustafsson early if he stands a chance at upsetting the young Swede. Look for Gustafsson’s reach and speed to be a major difference. Both guys will go for it.
Gustafsson.
Riki Fukuda vs. NICK RING
Canadian Nick Ring makes his UFC debut against fellow newcomer Riki Fukuda. This should be an entertaining scrap between two well-rounded middleweights that like to slug. Ring has proven Muay Thai skills, brutal knees and powerful left kicks. His fundamental boxing is the weakest part of his standup and that’s where Fukuda could take advantage. Look for the Japanese star to dirty box and turn the fight into a brawl. On the ground, Ring should be more than capable of taking control, that is, if the fight goes to the mat at all. This should be a great way for the Prelims Live broadcast to get underway. In part due to Fukuda’s toughness, look for Ring to earn a late stoppage or decision win. Ring is one of the best prospects in Canadian MMA today.
Ring.

• PRELIMS LIVE ON FACEBOOK at 8 p.m. ET

Tiequan Zhang vs. Jason Reinhardt
Although Reinhardt has a 20-1 record, he has not competed in MMA in over three years. Meanwhile, Zhang (12-1) is coming off his first career loss and should be highly motivated. Both men have dangerous submissions and Zhang has been improving his standup lately. The Mongolian will be making his featherweight debut so it will be interesting to see how the weight cut affects him.
Zhang.
Tom Blackledge vs. Anthony Perosh
Neither man has been active in MMA of late and both have 10-6 records with 19 submission or (T)KO wins between them. Blackledge is another Wolfslair member fighting on the card and he possesses serious knockout power, especially with his kicks. Perosh on the other hand is more well-rounded and dangerous on the ground. Perosh hasn’t fought since he stepped in on short notice and was battered by Mirko ‘Cro Cop’ Filipovic at heavyweight at UFC 110 and Blackledge hasn’t fought since August 2009. Blackledge will want this fight on the feet and Perosh will be more comfortable on the ground. Although Blackledge is the favourite, based on recent activity and overall quality of opponents give a slight advantage to the Australian, Perosh.
Perosh.

• PRELIMINARY CARD

Maciej Jewtuszko vs. Curt Warburton
After his stunning knockout of Anthony Njokuani at WEC 50, Jewtuszko is one of my fighters to look out for in 2011. He is a national Muay Thai champion in his native Poland and possesses an active submission game. At 7-0 with seven finishes Jewtuszko can take a lot of punishment and is dangerous wherever the fight goes. Warburton is a strong British grappler who trains at the Wolfsliar academy, so he’s not averse to trading with his opponents. He is looking to bounce back from a loss in his UFC debut to Spencer Fisher at UFC 120 and is best known for his trilogy with TUF 9 winner Ross Pearson. As per his strategy of late, Warburton will likely look to push Jewtuszko against the cage, take him down and smother him. If he can do that he could be successful. Otherwise, Jewtuszko has shown he can finish fights from many different positions.
Jewtuszko.
Mark Hunt vs. Chris Tuchscherer
This fight should easily be one of the best fights of 2011. And that first sentence is certainly one of the most sarcastic of the year so far. This fight will go one of two ways. Either Mark Hunt can stave of Chris Tuchscherer’s takedowns and eventually land a knockout punch. Or, Tuchscherer will use his wrestling and succeed with lay-and-pray tactics the latter is more likely. Tuchscherer is not exciting and Hunt hasn’t proven to be a well-rounded mixed martial artist. If Tuchscherer can avoid getting knocked out at the beginning of each round, he will use his size and wrestling to dominate Hunt, who has lost six fights in a row dating back to 2006. In fact (no offense to Hunt), if Tuchscherer doesn’t win easily and impressively he does not belong in the UFC. Many fans were surprised when the UFC announced this fight; the loser will most definitely be handed their walking papers.
Tuchscherer.

French Submission Specialist Christian M’Pumbu Confirmed for Bellator Season 4 Light Heavyweight Tournament

CHICAGO, Ill. (February 25, 2011) — Bellator Fighting Championships today confirmed the participation of Christian “Tonton” M’Pumbu in the upcoming Season 4 Light Heavyweight tournament which will air LIVE on MTV2 beginning in March.  The African-born submission finisher brings a 15-3-1 record to the tournament with 12 of those victories recorded as finishes, four by TKO or KOs and eight by submission. 

“Christian’s dangerous in every facet of the game and he could use this platform on MTV2 to establish himself as a force in the 205 division,” said Bellator Chairman and CEO Bjorn Rebney.

M’Pumbu is currently residing and fighting out of Paris, France; however, the 33 year old was born in Kinshasa, Republic of Congo.  His mother donned him “Tonton” at a young age and the nickname stuck.  M’Pumbu developed an appetite for combat sports in his teens when he began training in Kyukushinkai Karate.  The appetite turned to hunger when at 25-years-old M’Pumbu decided to begin his training in mixed martial arts. 

“Tonton” took his first fight in 2004 where he won by KO in just 32 seconds but did not decided to fight professionally until 2006.  Now, five years later, M’Pumbu is ready to take the next step in his career. 

I have wanted to take a step up in competition for some time now. I'm ready for this,” said M’Pumbu. “I truly believe that I will be the Bellator World Light Heavyweight Champion. I'm excited about the future. Hard work always pays off”

S.L. Feldman & Associates is proud to present MFC 29: Conquer

Elite mixed martial arts event to take place on April 8 at

The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor

  February 24, 2011

Windsor, ON – S.L. Feldman & Associates (SLFA) is thrilled to announce its first mixed martial arts event in the province of Ontario. MFC 29: Conquer will take place on Friday, April 8 at 8 p.m. at The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor featuring fighters from the roster of the Maximum Fighting Championship (MFC).

MFC 29: Conquer will feature highly skilled and conditioned athletes for an evening of intense match competition. A detailed fight lineup* for MFC 29: Conquer will be released in the very near future.  One fighter who will undoubtedly be scheduled on the card is reigning MFC welterweight champion Douglas “The Phenom” Lima.  The Atlanta, Georgia product will make the first defense of his title on the show, and he is thrilled to have this opportunity.

“I’m very excited and looking forward to the event in Ontario,” said Lima. “I’m happy to be defending my title there.  I am training very hard and I’m ready to fight my heart out.”

One of the MFC 29: Conquer featured bouts is a matchup of devastating strikers David "The Headhunter" Heath who takes on Marvin "The Beastman" Eastman. Undefeated welterweight sensation Andreas "The Sweet Swede" Spang is also slated to appear at the event.

Added to what will be a stellar lineup of MFC talent are two exciting young prospects who will be fighting in their home town of Windsor. Making their organizational debuts on the undercard of MFC 29: Conquer will be featherweight Chucky "The Energiza Bunny" Mady and unbeaten light-heavyweight Ali "The Monster" Mokdad - both of whom train under famed martial arts instructor Albert Mady.

Tickets for the event start at $65 Canadian and go on sale to the public on Friday, March 4 at 12 noon.

“SLFA is very excited to bring the talent of the Maximum Fighting Championship to Ontario. I am looking forward to an amazing evening at Caesars Windsor for our inaugural mixed martial arts event in the province.” said Jeff Craib, Senior Vice President, S.L. Feldman & Associates. “We are going to showcase the MFC, especially the great lineup of fighters, to fans who are craving top-quality mixed martial arts.” said Craib.

The talent-rich fight card for the April 8 bouts will be created by MFC President, Mark Pavelich. “This will be the biggest and best lineup we have ever put together” said Pavelich. “I’m eager to see the matchups take place at Caesars in my hometown of Windsor, Ontario.”

Kevin Laforet, President and CEO for Caesars Windsor says, “MFC 29: Conquer will feature an exciting overall fight card. The Caesars properties are known for their outstanding live events and we are thrilled to continue the tradition by hosting the MFC for our first fight night at The Colosseum.”

MFC 29: Conquer will air live on HDNet Fights from The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor, the casino resort’s state-of-the-art 5,000-seat venue.

Tickets for MFC 29: Conquer can be purchased through caesarswindsor.com or at the Box Office located in the main casino building on the second floor, open Wednesday to Sunday from noon to 8 pm. On performance days, the Box Office is open noon until midnight, call 1-800-991-8888. Guests must be 19 years of age or older to attend Colosseum events and to enter the casino and all other outlets. Prices listed do not include applicable taxes and fees.

About S.L Feldman & Associates:

SLFA is Canada's leading full-service agency with over 30 years of experience in artist representation, management and production of events, promotional services and corporate consulting. 

About Maximum Fighting Championship:

The Maximum Fighting Championship is Canada’s longest-running mixed martial arts organization and is regarded as one of the top-four organizations in North America. The MFC is the only-Canadian based show with a live television contract through its broadcast partner HDNet which was created by world-renowned entrepreneur and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

About Caesars Windsor:

Caesars Windsor is the largest casino resort in Canada and the first of its kind outside of the U.S. to be branded with this legendary, world-renowned name. Caesars Windsor features two hotel towers of luxury accommodations with a total of 758 rooms and suites. The 5,000 seat theatre features headline entertainment. Two floors of non-stop gaming action offer round the clock excitement with 2,300 slot machines and 85 table games. There are eight delectable restaurants and lounges to choose from and more than 100,000 square feet of multi-use convention space.  Caesars Windsor is the proud recipient of the CAA/AAA Four Diamond hotel award, was also voted “Overall Best Hotel and Casino” by Casino Player Magazine and has won the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for its gourmet steakhouse, Neros. Please visitcaesarswindsor.com

                                                         

*All fighters subject to OAC approval.

 here is how the fight card is rumored to stacks up so far.

Douglas Lima (17-4) vs. TBA

David Heath (16-7) vs. Marvin Eastman (17-13)

Andreas Spang (5-0) vs. TBA

Marcus Davis vs. TBA

Chucky Mady (4-2) vs. Brent Fraczuz (3-1)*

Ali Mokdad (3-0) vs. TBA

* unconfirmed by MFC

All on the mark for Supremacy

Perfect results highlight weigh-in for MFC 28

 
All fighters hit the scale and were bang on for the Maximum Fighting Championship's MFC 28: Supremacy which will be held Friday, Feb. 25 at the River Cree Resort and Casino, just outside Edmonton, Alberta.
 
The fighters assembled featured Dwayne "D-Bomb" Lewis and Ryan "The Big Deal" Jimmo who will square-off for the MFC world light-heavyweight title in the main event. The six-fight main card will air live on HDNet Fights beginning at 10 p.m. ET/8 p.m. MT/7 p.m. PT (check local listing for channel designation).
 
Lewis (13-6) weighed 203.6 lbs while Jimmo (13-1) hit at 203.4.
 
In the semi-main event, late replacement Matt Veach (15-2), who took the spot of injured MFC lightweight champ Antonio McKee, weighed in at 159.4 for his catchweight tilt against Drew Fickett (40-13). For his part in the three-round clash, Fickett looked in tip-top condition at at even 160 lbs.
 
Weigh-In Results for MFC 28: Supremacy
 
MFC World Light-Heavyweight Title
Dwayne Lewis - 203.6
Ryan Jimmo - 203.4
 
Catchweight - 160 lbs
Matt Veach - 159.4
Drew Fickett - 160.0
 
Lightweight
Curtis Demarce - 153.8
Richie Whitson - 155.0
 
Welterweight
Thomas Denny - 169.4
Sheldon Westcott - 169.4
 
Light-Heavyweight
Rodney Wallace - 204.0
Emanuel Newton - 204.2
 
Lightweight
Robert Washington - 155.6
Tyrone Glover - 154.0
 
Lightweight
Dan Ring - 155.0
Garret Nybakken - 155.0
 
Catchweight - 179 lbs
Brendan Kornberger - 178.0
Paapa Inkumsah - 176.8