Westcott wired in for ‘Wildman’ at MFC 28

Prospect facing veteran in welterweight clash at Supremacy

A young gun on the rise will meet a grizzled veteran determined to protect his legacy in an exciting welterweight matchup signed by the Maximum Fighting Championship for MFC 28: Supremacy.
Promising hot prospect Sheldon Westcott (4-1) of Edmonton, Alberta, will take on eclectic warrior Thomas “Wildman” Denny (27-18), who now fights out of Centennial, Colorado, in a featured bout on the main card that will air live on HDNet Fights on Friday, Feb. 25.


Both fighters have already started a heated war of words via social media outlets. The rivalry began with Westcott, who just signed a multi-fight deal with the MFC, calling out Denny, a fighter with 11 years’ experience in mixed martial arts. With the agreement sealed, more verbal fireworks were set off.



“I’ve wanted this fight for three years,” explained Westcott. “His experience is absolutely not intimidating. In fact, it’s going to make me train even harder. I want to beat him faster than (Nick) Diaz did, faster than Georges St. Pierre did. I’m putting an extremely big emphasis on that.”


Denny didn’t hesitate for moment in shooting back.


“I think the kid’s bit off more than he can chew,” said Denny, who also inked a multi-fight contract with the MFC.


“I posted on his Facebook page that his dream to fight me has come true. But he should be careful what he wishes for. His dream just might end up being a nightmare.”


Denny has won five of his last eight fights, and has career totals of six knockouts and 16 submissions. The California native has been one of the sport’s most colorful ambassadors since the start of his career. Of late, Denny became recognized for a stint on the MTV reality series “Bully Beatdown,” but inside MMA circles he is well-regarded for the vast array of notable names on his fighting resume including clashes with Pat Miletich, Joe Stevenson, John Alessio, Duane Ludwig, and Yves Edwards.


The 39-year-old is eager to meet Westcott in his own home town, something he has frequently done against opposition throughout his career. This time, however, Denny has more than ample time to prepare unlike previous bouts that he’s taken on short notice.


“They all say they want to stand and bang with me but then they get hit twice in the face and they want to go to the ground,” noted Denny. “That’s fine too. I’m not too shabby with my wrestling and submissions so Westcott better be careful. I might just put him in his own game and submit him.”
The fight with Denny marks Westcott’s return to the MFC organization. He previously earned a first-round submission win over Jeff Kilisolsky at MFC 18, and added a first-round TKO victory over Kyle Millberry in the inaugural Heat XC event. Already sporting a solid ground game, the powerfully built Westcott went to the Netherlands to work on his stand-up skills alongside well-regarded striker Melvin Manhoef.
“This is easily the biggest fight of my career ... it’s only thing that matters right now,” said Westcott.


The main card for MFC 28: Supremacy now includes:

Light-heavyweight title - Dwayne Lewis vs. Ryan Jimmo


Lightweight – Kajan Johnson vs. Richie Whitson


Light-heavyweight – Razak Al-Hassan vs. Rodney Wallace


Welterweight – Thomas Denny vs. Sheldon Westcott

Two additional fights for the main card, plus a three-fight undercard, will be announced shortly. VIP, Row 1, and Row 2 tickets are now available by calling the MFC Ticket Hotline at (780) 504-2024. Remaining tickets will be on sale soon via Ticketmaster.

Rory MacDonald to face TUF 9 winner James Wilks at UFC 129, Makdessi to face TUF 12 winner Brookins

It appears as though the UFC hasn't learned their lesson about pitting TUF fighters against Canadians?

UFC 129 is quickly taking shape as more bouts by the day are being announced for the biggest MMA event in North American History.

After 10 straight wins to start out his career, Rory MacDonald is coming into face James Wilks after his first career loss against Carlos Condit at UFC 115 in a Fight of the Night performance.

Rory will look to get back to winning ways against Wilks, who is also coming into the fight off a loss. Wilks lost to another Canadian recently, Mississauga's Claude Patrick at UFC 120.

Also rumored to be on the Toronto card is John Makdessi who recently had a successful debut at UFC 124 vs. TUF 12 Champ Jonathan Brookin, this should be an interesting fight as it is an old throwback  fight of "Grappler vs. Striker" as Brookins showed his standup is lacking and Makdessi is a very deadly Kickboxer, this should be another great fight on a quickly becoming stacked card!!

‘Sho Nuff’ to tangle with ‘Razor’ Wallace meets Al-Hassan in light heavyweight fight at Supremacy

The Maximum Fighting Championship has added a showcase of light heavyweights to the card for MFC 28: Supremacy to be held Friday, February 25 on HDNet Fights.

Rodney “Sho Nuff the Master” Wallace (10-3) will square-off against “Razor” Razak Al-Hassan (11-3) in a main-card encounter. This fight could have implications on the night’s main event as well when Ryan “The Big Deal” Jimmo meets Dwayne “D-Bomb” Lewis for the MFC’s light heavyweight championship.
Wallace is fresh off a decisive three-round victory over David Heath at MFC 27 – a fight he took as a short-notice replacement but looked very solid in while making his organizational debut. Coming off that fight, the 26-year-old from Charlotte, North Carolina, signed a three-fight contract with the MFC which kicks off with his clash against Al-Hassan.

Al-Hassan, meanwhile, will be looking for a bit of redemption coming into the fight. In his organizational debut, which was also at MFC 27 and marked the start of a four-fight deal, Al-Hassan carried the bulk of the action but came up just short in a narrow split-decision loss to Lewis. That setback ended a four-fight winning streak for the 28-year-old Milwaukee, Wisconsin, product.
“This is my fight – my year. 2010 ended on a sour note for me but 2011 will bring the sweet taste of victory once again,” said Al-Hassan.
Wallace responded that he believes Al-Hassan won’t be tasting anything other than a bitter defeat.
“I know after feeling like he got robbed (against Lewis) that he is going to be hungry but I’m at the top of the food chain,” touted Wallace.
VIP, Row 1, and Row 2 tickets are available now exclusively through the MFC Ticket Hotline at (780) 504-2024. General tickets for MFC 28: Supremacy will be on sale shortly via Ticketmaster.

PLACE YOUR BIDS NOW IN THE ULTIMATE AUCTION

THE ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP TO AUCTION OFF THE ULTIMATE PRIZES IN ANTICIPATION OF “UFC^® FIGHT FOR THE TROOPS” AT FORT HOOD ON JANUARY 22

Live UFC Event to Raise Money For Members Of the United States Armed Forces With Traumatic Brain Injuries

LAS VEGAS – From walking out to the Octagon^™ with your favorite fighter to having dinner with the lovely UFC^® Octagon Girls, place your bids now in the “UFC Fight For The Troops” auction in anticipation of the “UFC Fight For The Troops” event live from Fort Hood, Texas on Saturday, January 22, 2011 at 9:00pm ET/6:00pm PT on Spike TV. The main event showcases two of the most dynamic lightweights in the world, Evan Dunham and Melvin Guillard.

Bidders have a chance to win the UFC VIP experience, which includes airfare for the winner and a guest to a UFC event. From there, the winner will get to meet and hang out with their favorite fighter at the weigh-ins, walk out with him on fight night and will be granted unprecedented access into the Octagon to celebrate with their fighter should he win.

This special live UFC event will raise funds for the brave men and women in the United States Armed Forces with traumatic brain injuries. Information about ways to bid and to donate can be found online at www.fightforthetroops.com.

Other featured auction items include: Dinner with the UFC Octagon Girls, a UFC Custom-made Camaro, a private training session with UFC fighters Randy Couture and Forrest Griffin, attending the Season 8 Premiere of the smash hit TV show “Entourage,” a chance to meet Philadelphia Phillies star outfielder Shane Victorino and many more…

The deadline is Monday, January 24, so get your bids in while you can.  For more information on the available prizes, please visit: www.fightforthetroops.com.

Spike TV and the UFC are partnering with the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund for this second “Fight for the Troops” show. The first event took place in Fayetteville, North Carolina in December 2008, raising over 4 million dollars. The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund (IFHF) provides assistance to our nation’s military heroes who have been critically injured in the performance of their duty, and their families

Fort Hood is home to the largest active duty armored post in the United States Armed Services.  The “Great Place” is home to over 349,000 military personnel, Family members, retirees and civilian employees. Thousands of soldiers from Fort Hood, the proud home of III Corps, the reigning All Army Combatives Championship Team, 1^st Cavalry Division, 13^th Sustainment Command, First Army Division West, 3^rd Armored Cavalry Regiment, 41st Fires Brigade, among others, will be in attendance. 

It's Official M-1 Global's Fedor signs on to Headline Strikeforce Grand Prix!

–Heavyweight Tournament –

Quarterfinals Begin Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011;

Live on SHOWTIME^® From IZOD Center, E. Rutherford, N.J.

STRIKEFORCE, M-1 GLOBAL in Association with Showtime Networks Inc. Sign New Multi-Fight Agreement To Co-Promote Events Headlined By Fedor

NEW YORK (Jan. 4, 2011) – World championship Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) promotions STRIKEFORCE and M-1 GLOBAL, in association with premium television network SHOWTIME have signed a new, multi-year agreement to co-promote events headlined by the MMA legend Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko (31-2, 1 NC).

In addition, STRIKEFORCE has assembled eight of the world’s top ranked heavyweights to compete in the STRIKEFORCE World Grand Prix – Heavyweight Tournament, a three-stage, single-elimination tournament that will take place over several events in 2011.  The first two quarterfinal fights begin on Saturday, Feb. 12, live on SHOWTIME from the IZOD Center in E. Rutherford, N.J. In the main event, the 34-year-old Emelianenko will face the towering Antonio “Big Foot” Silva (15-2) in a STRIKEFORCE and M-1 GLOBAL co-promoted event.  Co-featured on Feb. 12, former world champion Andrei Arlovski (15-8) will faceSergei Kharitonov (16-4), the last man to defeat current STRIKEFORCE Heavyweight World Champion Alistair “The Demolition Man” Overeem.

The other two quarterfinal matchups are as follows: Overeem (34-11, 1 NC) will face the only man to tap out Fedor, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist Fabricio Werdum (14-4-1), while the heavy-handed Brett “The Grim” Rogers (11-2) will meet a hungry Josh Barnett (29-5). The location and date for these quarterfinal tournament fights are to be announced.

“We are thrilled to have come to a long-term agreement with Fedor and M-1 GLOBAL,” said STRIKEFORCE CEO Scott Coker. “To have the greatest MMA fighter of all-time put his legacy on the line in a single-elimination tournament will truly captivate MMA fans worldwide. STRIKEFORCE is home to the best heavyweight division in the world; the athlete who runs the gauntlet in a tournament such as this would have to be considered the best heavyweight fighter in the world.”

“I’m very pleased to be working with SHOWTIME and STRIKEFORCE and Mr. Coker and Mr. Hershman personally. Thanks to their interest and efforts, we’ve created what will go down in history as MMA’s greatest heavyweight tournament of all time,” said Vadim Finkelchtein, co-founder of M-1 Global. “M-1, STRIKEFORCE and SHOWTIME have built a partnership committed to the future growth of MMA—a sport where organizations represent a working collaborative that enable the best fighters in the world to fight each other. This agreement benefits everyone, especially the fans who’ll see Fedor in action more often.

“With SHOWTIME’s significance in the U.S. and M-1’s development of the European and Asian MMA markets, the cooperation will also deliver a global roster of talented fighters to viewers,” Finkelchtein continued. “During the coming year, we’ll be showcasing spectacular Grand Prix events using the same M-1 Selection tournament format, a series of events generating enthusiastic spectator interest keeping fans glued to their screens.”

“I can’t think of a better way to start 2011 than with this major announcement,” said Ken Hershman, Executive Vice President and General Manager of SHOWTIME Sports^®. “Fedor is universally known to sports fans throughout the world and it is an honor to continue our work with M-1 GLOBAL and STRIKEFORCE in presenting this legendary fighter to SHOWTIME subscribers.

“SHOWTIME has enjoyed great success with its two most recent boxing tournaments—theSuper Six World Boxing Classic and The Bantamweight Tournament,” Hershman continued. “And now, with the breadth of talent in the STRIKEFORCE heavyweight division, we have the privilege of staging one of the biggest tournaments in the history of this growing sport.  With the STRIKEFORCE World Grand Prix’s single-elimination format and the biggest names in the sport today, this tournament is something that no sports fan will want to miss.”

“I have been training very hard since my last fight and can’t wait to get back in the cage,” said the 6-foot, 235-pound Emelianenko, who hails from Stary Oskol, Russia and is promoted by M-1 GLOBAL.  “STRIKEFORCE has assembled a roster filled with the best heavyweights in the world and, together with M-1 GLOBAL, we have the opportunity to fight the best in a great tournament format.”

Fedor’s unprecedented, record-setting run of 28 professional MMA bouts without a defeat has prompted many MMA enthusiasts to label Fedor as the greatest of all time. Since his career began 10 years ago, Fedor has faced and defeated many rival superstars and champions of this era including Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic, Andrei Arlovski andMark “The Hammer” Coleman.

In what ranks among the most watched MMA fights in the United States, Fedor made his live primetime network television debut on Nov. 7, 2009 on CBS, when he defeated unbeaten rising star Brett Rogers in a STRIKEFORCE and M-1 GLOBAL co-promoted event.  Despite a difficult first round in which he sustained a deep cut above his eye, Fedor turned the tide early in the second round with one vicious right-hand punch and finished Rogers shortly after.

Then, on June 26, 2010, Fedor suffered a stunning upset at the hands of Werdum, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., in one of the most watched MMA bouts on SHOWTIME.  Werdum, who has defeated a host of top rivals including Overeem, Silva andBrandon “The Truth” Vera, trapped Fedor’s arm in a triangle armbar that forced Fedor to tap out at the 1:09 mark of the opening round.

Fedor has only one other official loss on his record, the result of a doctor stoppage due to a cut he sustained seconds into a matchup with Japan’s Tsuyoshi Kosaka on Dec. 22, 2000.  Fedor avenged the TKO loss with his own first-round TKO of Kosaka at a PRIDE Fighting Championships event in Japan on April 3, 2005.

OVEREEM vs. WERDUM paired in Strikeforce Heavyweight Tournament

Eight Strikeforce heavyweights have all signed to compete in a single-elimination tournament to begin on Feb. 12, MMA Fighting reports.

While several of the matchups have been rumored for some time, it has been confirmed that Overeem will face the only man to have a legit win over Fedor, Fabricio Werdum.

The first two quarterfinal bouts will take place on Feb. 12, with Fedor Emelianenko taking on Antonio SIlva, while Andrei Arlovski will face Sergei Kharitonov. The other two quarterfinal bouts include Brett Rogers facing Josh Barnett, and Overeem taking on Werdum.

While the Emelianenko-Silva and Arlovski-Kharitonov fights will take place at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the location and date of the second set of quarterfinals is still to be determined.


Overeem's presence in the field is particularly relevant, as the promotion's champion has defended the belt only once, in a May 2010 knockout over Rogers. He ha since won the world's most prestigious Kickboxing Title as the K-1 tournament champion and also recently won the DREAM interim HW title on New Years eve with a devastating KO of UFC Knock Out record holder (7 sec.) Todd Duffee.

The stacked field should bring some rivalry and attention from the big dogs, the UFC.  Dana and co. have been known to regularly have counter-programming to affect Strikeforce show numbers, with the UFC Heavyweight division in some trouble, Strikeforce could make some real noise with their Stacked tournament and possibly become the top HW promotion for MMA??

Sam Stout replaced by Donald Cerrone at UFC 126, Mark Bocek gets "Smooth" at UFC 129

Sources close to CanadianProFighter confirm that Sam Stout is out of UFC 126 and will be replaced by "the Cowboy" Donald Cerrone to face Paul Taylor.  Cerrone recently defeated Sam's Stablemate in Chris Horodecki at WEC 53, which resulted in the eventual release of Horodecki.

Bocek who has been quietly been making a run in the UFC lightweight division, recently submitted Grappling Standout, Dustin Hazelett at UFC 124 in Montreal.  Post--fight Bocek made the claim that he has "the best BJJ in the Lightweight Division" and called out George Sotiropolous.  Apparently he will be fighting "Smooth" Ben Henderson instead.

Anthony Pettis’ highlight reel kick off the cage at the last WEC event in history was Henderson's last fight. The two fighters put on a Fight of the Year performancebut in the end "Smooth" lost his WEC title, a shot at the UFC Lightweight title and his first fight in 11, likely all because of the "Showtime Kick"