Off-Topic/Minor MMA News and Notes

[LEONARD]

UFC 73 conf call notes...Chuck vs Silva at UFC 76 not likely now...maybe later?
http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2007/06/28/dana-white-ufc-73-conference-call-highlights/

The UFC held a conference call for reporters today in preparation for next Saturday’s UFC 73 card in Sacramento, Calif. On the call were UFC president Dana White, Rashad Evans, Tito Ortiz, Sean Sherk, and Nathan Marquardt.

The call was entertaining and informative, which is always the case when White is on the call. Each time he does a media conference call it turns into an impromptu “state of the UFC” address.

Here are the highlights:

- Weigh-ins for UFC 73 will take place next Friday and will once again be televised on ESPNews.

- I asked Dana to explain the situation pertaining to the Pride contracts and whether they can be transferred to the UFC. He said the old Pride contracts are valid with Pride Worldwide, the new company that owns Pride. However, the contracts can’t be transferred to the UFC and that with Pride’s status being uncertain, a lot of the guys need to fight so they are also signing them to UFC deals.

White’s comments were interesting because if Josh Gross’ report last week about Sokoudjou signing with EliteXC are true, then the UFC might want to take legal action. Sokoudjou confirmed to me in an interview for CBS Sportsline last week that he has two fights left on his Pride contract. If that’s the case, how can he sign with EliteXC if he’s not a true free agent? The UFC can’t force him to fight for them but I’m not sure he has the freedom to fight for another promotion right now. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

- Dana was asked a lot of questions about his relationship with Tito. The two didn’t interact much together but were rather cordial when expressing their thoughts on one another. In other words, there were no fireworks. Dana even said at one juncture that Tito has matured both as a fighter and as a person.

- A question was raised about Sean Sherk having been out of the UFC for awhile a one point. White attributed the absence to issues with Sherk’s former management.

- White said that as far as he knows that drug testing was conducted at UFC 72 in Belfast, Ireland and he hasn’t heard about anyone testing positive.

- Tito tried to downplay his “nappy headed ho” comment a few months back on the Underground forum. Said it was just a joke and that he was trying to get his fans to laugh. Rashad was asked if he was personally offended by the comments and he sort of gave an answer that I would classify as non-committal. He didn’t say what Tito did was fine but he also didn’t sound like he was too upset about it either. Rashad said at one point though his uncle called him and was very upset and said he needed to make Tito “pay for all the years the black man was enslaved.” Evans told the story in annectdotal fashion as a way to get a laugh (at least that was my take on it).

- I asked Tito if it was true that he turned down a rematch with Forrest Griffin at UFC 72. Tito confirmed that he in fact had and said that he felt it would have been a step back. He said he felt a match with Rashad would be more challenging and made more sense.

- Evans was very lively at times during the conference call. He had some funny lines and came across pretty witty. He was definitely talking smack to Tito and said at one point that “Tito isn’t half the man he used to be.” He also called out Tito’s recent history of wins and said he hasn’t beaten anyone besides Ken Shamrock. Evans came right out and said Tito got beat by Forrest. Tito talked a lot more smack than Rashad but Rashad had the better lines. I’d give the smack talk nod to Rashad.

- Dana said he was shocked when he heard that Royce Gracie had tested positive for steroids and that from what he saw, Royce didn’t look like he was on steroids.

- Pride was brought up several times. Dana said that Pride went out of business for a reason and the reason was because it was a mess. Said it was their intention when they bought Pride to actually run it but that there’s just a lot to sort out right now. He scoffed several times when reports about Pride running shows soon were brought up. I think it’s safe to say at this point that the rumors about Pride doing shows soon are being started by people that don’t actually own Pride.

- Another rumor/report that Dana scoffed at was that the HBO deal is dead. Dana said the deal is far from dead. Later he said that he felt they were actually “right about there with the deal.” Dana said that former HBO president Chris Albrecht was a supporter of the deal but that the UFC was talking to HBO about a deal with people other than Albrecht and that Albrecht only got involved later on.

- Tito said whether he fights Rampage depends on a conversation that the two would need to have. He said that when Rampage originally came to the UFC he told Dana White from the beginning that he wouldn’t fight Tito. Tito said that if the two talked and that it made sense for everyone involved, he’d be open to the fight.

- Dana said he feels he’ll get a new contract done with Tito. White said that he hasn’t lost a meaningful fighter to another promotion in six years. Kevin Iole from Yahoo! Sports asked who the last fighter he lost was and Dana said that it was B.J. Penn and that Penn ended up suing to get back into the UFC. Sean Sherk chimed in at one point and jokingly said it’s hard for anyone else to talk to any other promotions because Dana keeps buying them.

- Dana really backed away from the Wanderlei vs. Liddell talk. Said it was unlikely to happen in Anaheim at UFC 76 in late September and that Chuck’s next match could actually take place in November. Dana said that no opponent for Chuck is known yet. Dana said that people jumped the gun about Silva vs. Liddell. He said that after UFC 71 he was asked about the match and that all he said was that he told the media that “Yeah, Chuck vs. Wanderlei makes more sense now” and that people took the ball and ran with it.

- Dana confirmed that Paulo Filho was considered for the UFC and that he’s certainly worthy of fighting in the UFC. He said that the WEC is going to be a place to be for top talent and that we’d all be surprised who is being talked about for the WEC. I asked Dana if he could name specific names and he said that he couldn’t.

- Ken Shamrock and his recent release was brought up. Dana confirmed that Shamrock was let go with one fight left on his UFC contract. He said he had heard that Ken is taking it personally and is making all these statements about him. Dana said it’s nothing personal against Ken and that the decision was made based on Ken’s recent won/loss record. He said he doesn’t believe Ken is still a UFC-caliber fighter and that Shamrock should think about retiring. He said Ken as an opponent for Bisping was never discussed and labeled the people who reported it as “Internet knuckleheads.” Dana said he felt Matt Hamill will be a much tougher opponent for Bisping. I have to agree with him there.

- I asked Dana about Cro Cop vs. Cheick Kongo at UFC 75 once again and he yet again said the match is scheduled.

[Evan]

Thanks for posting!

By the way....Fight Girls is a good show. No kidding. My gal and I catch it every week and its on tivo season pass.

[LEONARD]

I'd watch it, but I don't have the Oxygen channel...

New Dana White article...says MMA in the Olympics will happen someday, rumors of Pride resurfacing in Sept are false, and his thoughts on Sherdog.

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/1183067722180150.xml&coll=7

Mixed martial arts notebook The latest from UFC president Dana White

Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White, president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, recently discussed issues affecting his company and mixed martial arts in an interview with The Oregonian.

Foremost on most MMA fans' minds are the contract status of Fedor Emelianenko, considered to be the best fighter in the world, the return of Pride Fighting Championship, and the promised "Super Bowl of MMA" pitting the Pride champions against the UFC champions.

Unfortunately, there are no answers -- at least none that White is willing to reveal.

White said the UFC is negotiating with Emelianenko, who last fought for BoDog in April, but would not discuss terms. The virtues of a Pride vs. UFC "Super Bowl" are negligible at this point. The UFC has acquired nearly every top Pride star (Mirko "CroCop" Filipovic, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, and Team Quest co-founder Dan Henderson) as well as former Pride star and current UFC lightweight champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. If Emelianenko comes to UFC, the event would be one-sided.

As for the return of Pride, Asia's top promotion, White said recent reports of it resurfacing in September are false.

"I'm not sure what will happen there," he said, acknowledging bad blood on both sides of the negotiation table. "The Pride deal took so long and the stigma became so bad."

So why not do away with Pride altogether and take the UFC to Japan and China?

"The fact is, Pride is a very popular brand," he said. "We're going to make it work."

WHITE ON THE UFC vs. SHERDOG: One of the more surprising feuds to surface in recent months has been between the UFC and Sherdog.com, the largest independent MMA Web site that recently partnered with ESPN.com.

White recently stated his disdain for Sherdog.com and other MMA Web sites on a Sacramento radio show. Given the importance of Internet buzz in creating the UFC juggernaut, the statement was surprising.

"I have had a lot of battles with those guys," White said. "I have no respect for Sherdog. Half their stories are a complete (expletive) lie. It's like a tabloid.

"Plus, they went and found out who the finalists were for season four of The Ultimate Fighter and ran them. Of all the scumbaggish things. When you burn me like that, it's forever. I will never trust them or like them."

Sherdog editor Josh Gross reacted with surprise, Just as he had reacted when the UFC pulled Sherdog's media credentials two years ago.

"I dare him to point to one story we reported that we had to retract or move away from. He can't," Gross said via email. "Regarding TUF, yeah well sometimes news happens to be something people don't want out. TUF 4 was different than every other season, as it was intended to crown No. 1 contenders in two weight divisions. We're not talking about some kids no one had heard of. These were veteran fighters. And so we had who was in the finals, and reported as discreetly as possible; we warned anyone that didn't want to know that they should turn down their radios.

"Also, that doesn't explain why we were denied in Oct. of '05 when the TUF news was reported in June of '06."

WHITE ON DRUG USE IN MMA: At the beginning of the month, MMA legend Royce Gracie and former NFL receiver Johnnie Morton tested positive for steroids after K-1 Dynamite, a pay-per-view event at the Los Angeles Coliseum. Two months earlier, Nick Diaz tested positive for THC following a Pride fight. Veteran fighter Jorge Ortiz tested positive for steroids following a fight June 8. And the latest drug issue: former K-1 USA Grand Prix champion Carter Williams tested positive for cocaine following a loss last weekend during Elite XC-Strikeforce "Shamrock vs. Baroni."

"When human beings are your products, there will always be issues," White said. "Steroids are a problem in sports today. I was blown away by the Gracie thing. Morton? Come on. He's been in the NFL."

WHITE ON THE OLYMPICS: Speculation is increasing about the possibility of mixed martial arts as an Olympic event. The Olympics already award medals for a variety of wrestling and martial arts events, but mixes martial arts would take Olympic combat sports to a new level.

"That's always been my goal, and it will happen," White said. "It will be awesome. I know there have been talks, but no one has approached me."

[LEONARD]

Dana rips Tito
http://ufcmania.com/2007/06/29/ufc-quick-quote-white-slams-ortiz/
http://sports.yahoo.com/box/news?slug=ki-ortiz062807&prov=yhoo

“There’s a billboard of his big ugly gorilla face at the busiest point in Las Vegas … where it can scare kids who are riding by in their cars. Guess whose ugly head is on our billboard in Times Square? He’s a moron: A complete and total moron. His whole career, he’s stepped over a dollar to pick up a dime. I’m sick of him. It’s time he started beating up someone other than a nearly 50-year-old Ken Shamrock.”

:ihit

[LEONARD]

Chuck vs Wand Silva not happening now??
http://www.sprawl-n-brawl.com/2007/06/chuck-v-wanderlei-not-happening.html

Weak...

I'm getting tired of Dana doing NOTHING to push Rampage...anytime he's mentioned the subject ends up on Chuck... :bang

[2centsworth]

An ESPN article on MMA vs. Boxing

http://proxy.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=2908429&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab1pos1
if it's a competition boxing is winning right now.

Boxing has had the biggest PPV event by a large margin and boxing has had the best fights. Cotto vs Judah was the best fight I've seen in atleast a year. 40 minutes of high drama.


Now that Chuck has lost, I sense some of MMA's momentum has slowed.

As for boxing, Paul Williams vs Margarito is going to be an absolute war.

Cotto vs Delahoya would be fun, because Cotto would try to knock out Oscar.

[LEONARD]

if it's a competition boxing is winning right now.

Boxing has had the biggest PPV event by a large margin and boxing has had the best fights. Cotto vs Judah was the best fight I've seen in atleast a year. 40 minutes of high drama.


Now that Chuck has lost, I sense some of MMA's momentum has slowed.

As for boxing, Paul Williams vs Margarito is going to be an absolute war.

Cotto vs Delahoya would be fun, because Cotto would try to knock out Oscar.

:dizzy

[2centsworth]

:dizzy
you're blinded, but that's not a surprise to anyone here.

[LEONARD]

Big Nog and Paulo Filho (and others?) leave Brazilian Top Team
http://www.ufcdaily.com/2007/06/29/nogueira-officially-severs-ties-with-btt/

Paulo Filho says Dana White is scared to have him fight in the UFC...also says that the UFC doesn't "like Brazilians"...
http://www.mmanews.com/ufc/Paulo-Filho-Says-Dana-White-Is-Scared-To-Put-Him-In-UFC.html


you're blinded, but that's not a surprise to anyone here.

:lol

[2centsworth]

speechless too? doesn't really matter because I'm just stating the obvious. Boxing is having a much better year than MMA so far.

[LEONARD]

Not speechless, just tired of the boxing vs MMA stuff really...

Boxing is having a better year so far based on what?


if it's a competition boxing is winning right now.

I disagree...


Boxing has had the biggest PPV event by a large margin and boxing has had the best fights.

Yes, Mayweather vs Oscar was big $$$, but the boxing match didn't deliver. What about undercards that night? Uhhhh. And when is the next "super fight"?? (using the term fight loosely)

I guess I missed all the buzz about these great boxing matches? And how well boxing is doing in general for that matter...


Cotto vs Judah was the best fight I've seen in atleast a year. 40 minutes of high drama.

Who vs Who?

How was the rest of the card?


Now that Chuck has lost, I sense some of MMA's momentum has slowed.

Chuck losing was the best thing that could've happened to the UFC. People need to realize that he's just one of the best in the world...not THE best. He's a terrible poster boy. The rest of 2007 will be sick...just look at UFC 73 and UFC 74's cards...stacked cards from top to bottom. Definitely not slowing down any with more Pride guys signing with the UFC...


As for boxing, Paul Williams vs Margarito is going to be an absolute war.

Who vs Who?

If by "war" you mean 12 rds of the "sweet science" to see who wins the punch count contest at the end of the night, then I'm sure it will be a war...

[2centsworth]

Not speechless, just tired of the boxing vs MMA stuff really...

Boxing is having a better year so far based on what?



I disagree...



Yes, Mayweather vs Oscar was big $$$, but the boxing match didn't deliver. What about undercards that night? Uhhhh. And when is the next "super fight"?? (using the term fight loosely)

I guess I missed all the buzz about these great boxing matches? And how well boxing is doing in general for that matter...



Who vs Who?

How was the rest of the card?



Chuck losing was the best thing that could've happened to the UFC. People need to realize that he's just one of the best in the world...not THE best. He's a terrible poster boy. The rest of 2007 will be sick...just look at UFC 73 and UFC 74's cards...stacked cards from top to bottom. Definitely not slowing down any with more Pride guys signing with the UFC...



Who vs Who?

If by "war" you mean 12 rds of the "sweet science" to see who wins the punch count contest at the end of the night, then I'm sure it will be a war...

I agree about being tired of the MMA vs Boxing stuff.

The WHO vs WHO argument can be said about both sports.

Intelligent "Sports" fans know who Cotto and Judah are. Mayweather is flat out boring and always has been.

Next boxing superfight could be Delahoya vs Cotto. I would bet $1000 that that fight will not be boring.

Paul Williams vs Margarito will be a war. Hatton vs Mayweather is intriguing cuz Hatton could press the issue more than Delahoya.

[mardigan]

you're blinded, but that's not a surprise to anyone here.
No my friend, the boxing fans are the ones blinded. MMA has overtaken boxing and the only ones that cant deal with it are the boxing purists. Sorry man, but boxing is dead and no one really cares anymore

[dallaskd]

No my friend, the boxing fans are the ones blinded. MMA has overtaken bowing and the only ones that cant deal with it are the boxing purists. Sorry man, but boxing is dead and no one really cares anymore

:tu

[cornbread]

There are some good boxing matches in the coming months that will hopefully bring it some momentum.

The Mayweather De la Hoya was a snoozefest and I for one felt ripped off. I'll never order another one of Mayweather's dance parties again. I missed the Juda Cotto fight but I've heard it was very exciting, although one sided. Can't wait to see Kelly Pavlik get his shot against Taylor. This is the guy boxing should be marketing.

As a fan of both sports, there's an interesting dilema on the horizon. 7/7/07 is not only one of the best UFC cards in recent memory, but it is also the Klitscko vs. Brewster card. I know where my loyalties run the deepest; with Tito's elbows, Nog's triangle, and Silva's thai clinch. What will you be watching?

[Evan]

if it's a competition boxing is winning right now.

Not even remotely close to a valid theory. Granted boxing is not dead, nor is it as close to being dead as some MMA forums will claim. But it is very unhealthy and most importantly it is not growing nor has it been for a very long time. It’s a growth stunted sport where most fans are in their 30’s and up with huge gaps in heydays between generations. Not good. MMA (notice I did not say UFC) is growing and gaining legions of fans across every demographic. Do not judge its health on the inability of mainstream media outlets grasping it. For crying out loud ESPN had to farm out its reporting to sherdog.com.


Boxing has had the biggest PPV event by a large margin and boxing has had the best fights.

Your hanging the health of a sport on one single PPV that had months and months of hype and was labeled as “the savior of boxing?” How often does boxing put on such a show? What does that tell you about the health of a sport? It took that much effort for boxing to put on a good card and the fight itself disappointed the greater masses. They need one of these every few months to remain relevant. MMA average a big show every month now and puts on countless smaller free shows in an effort to grow.


Now that Chuck has lost, I sense some of MMA's momentum has slowed.

Not even one bit.

The UFC is a marketing machine never before seen in sports. 6 years ago they were dead and look at them now. Never in sports has a sport so successfully marketed itself. It can certainly survive Chucks loss. Since Chuck lost they have replaced him with three fighters already, Rampage (yes he counts), Dan Henderson and Shogun Rua as the current hyped fighters and that is simply ones in his weight class. And thats just established fighters. The list wraps around the building if were talking about up and comers.

MMA has awesome fighters and with an organization behind it like the UFC it will not fail. MMA has what boxing does not, depth and legit fighters with legit records. Sure they have some cans here and there with inflated records but they won’t be putting on a BS show like Showtime did with Nikolai Valuev as a desperate attempt to lure new fans.

And where do you gather this “sense” from? What indications? They only aspect of MMA that you can possibly point to and say it has lost momentum has been the UFC reality TV show and the ratings have simply dipped, not crashed. Every other indication from PPV buy rates (the golden rule of measuring a combat sports health) TV rations and PAID gate attendance has skyrocketed. And I would argue that TUF has declined simply because there is so much live MMA to chose from and prerecorded fights just aren’t that great as an alternative.

How is “The Contender” doing?


As for boxing, Paul Williams vs Margarito is going to be an absolute war.

Meh. For the die hard masses and not the casual sports fan. That does nothing to help the sport. Boxing cannot give fans what they want in match ups, the rarely ever have. And yet it happens in MMA EVERYTIME it’s needed, very fast if possible. At UFC 73 will be an awesome rematch of two of the biggest names in the MMA heavyweight division. Heath Herring Vs Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. MMA is so healthy the UFC isn’t even having to hype this fight, it’s not even a main event. It’s third down. Another fight some fans were clamoring for and they got it before they even realized they wanted it.

Sometimes due to previously promised rematches and title fights they can’t but a fan rarely has to wait a year to see a fight they want. There is only two fights the fans desperately want right now that hasn’t happened, yet. Fedor Vs Cro Cop, and the UFC is trying to get Fedor so this will happen. And Chuck Vs Wanderlai Silva and this will happen, we just don’t know for sure win. Boxing has always let the fans down so don’t put too much on Williams Vs Margarito.


Boxing is having a much better year than MMA so far.

Based on what? Again desperately clinging to that one PPV this year?


The WHO vs WHO argument can be said about both sports.

Absolute non-sense. I am a boxing fan and I can’t even fill out a top 3 list in every weight class. I could do a top 30 in every weigh class in MMA without having to look up a record on the internet. Granted I am a die hard MMA fan but as I stated I also follow boxing.

Big name boxers simply do not fight enough to stay relevant and they all too often fight cans in title defense of some various belt that nobody has heard of before when they do indeed fight. They have lost so much credibility.


I would bet $1000 that that fight will not be boring

But that’s the problem, that’s you. Nobody else feels that way except you and Larry Merchant. And to be honest I am not sure Larry even knows what decade were in. Unless whatever bottle he is tipping back has a calendar of course….

And just for the record I have been following boxing since the late 80’s when I was a wee little lad. I typed all of the above being a boxing fan. One reason boxing is so unhealthy is because they had nothing like the UFC to make them thrive and unify the sport. Every sport needs and anchor to grow around.

[cornbread]

GSP vs. Kos at 74.
http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=eventDetail.FightCard&eid=760

[atxrocker]

god, this argument is stupid. why does one have to chose one over the other? can't you just be a fan of both and enjoy the quality each sport has to offer? i like considering myself a fan of both boxing and MMA equally.

[atxrocker]

btw, Pacquiao-Barrera on Oct. 6! should be a good one.

[atxrocker]

No my friend, the boxing fans are the ones blinded. MMA has overtaken boxing and the only ones that cant deal with it are the boxing purists. Sorry man, but boxing is dead and no one really cares anymore


don't get me wrong, i'm an MMA fan but this statement is not close to being true. i personally know several people who are still into boxing, myself included.

[mardigan]

don't get me wrong, i'm an MMA fan but this statement is not close to being true. i personally know several people who are still into boxing, myself included.
Your also not included as one who is trying to tear MMA down, which was all Im addressing. Many of my best friends love boxing, which is great even though Im not a fan. But they also realize that MMA is a great sport that is making huge strides. My statement was directed more towards those still trying to trash and bring down MMA, especially when they dont have a clue about MMA

[dallaskd]

Plus boxing is damn boring to watch.

[dallaskd]

Gracie vs Shamrock again...?

http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=4235&zoneid=13

[2centsworth]

Not even remotely close to a valid theory. Granted boxing is not dead, nor is it as close to being dead as some MMA forums will claim. But it is very unhealthy and most importantly it is not growing nor has it been for a very long time. It’s a growth stunted sport where most fans are in their 30’s and up with huge gaps in heydays between generations. Not good. MMA (notice I did not say UFC) is growing and gaining legions of fans across every demographic. Do not judge its health on the inability of mainstream media outlets grasping it. For crying out loud ESPN had to farm out its reporting to sherdog.com.



Your hanging the health of a sport on one single PPV that had months and months of hype and was labeled as “the savior of boxing?” How often does boxing put on such a show? What does that tell you about the health of a sport? It took that much effort for boxing to put on a good card and the fight itself disappointed the greater masses. They need one of these every few months to remain relevant. MMA average a big show every month now and puts on countless smaller free shows in an effort to grow.



Not even one bit.

The UFC is a marketing machine never before seen in sports. 6 years ago they were dead and look at them now. Never in sports has a sport so successfully marketed itself. It can certainly survive Chucks loss. Since Chuck lost they have replaced him with three fighters already, Rampage (yes he counts), Dan Henderson and Shogun Rua as the current hyped fighters and that is simply ones in his weight class. And thats just established fighters. The list wraps around the building if were talking about up and comers.

MMA has awesome fighters and with an organization behind it like the UFC it will not fail. MMA has what boxing does not, depth and legit fighters with legit records. Sure they have some cans here and there with inflated records but they won’t be putting on a BS show like Showtime did with Nikolai Valuev as a desperate attempt to lure new fans.

And where do you gather this “sense” from? What indications? They only aspect of MMA that you can possibly point to and say it has lost momentum has been the UFC reality TV show and the ratings have simply dipped, not crashed. Every other indication from PPV buy rates (the golden rule of measuring a combat sports health) TV rations and PAID gate attendance has skyrocketed. And I would argue that TUF has declined simply because there is so much live MMA to chose from and prerecorded fights just aren’t that great as an alternative.

How is “The Contender” doing?



Meh. For the die hard masses and not the casual sports fan. That does nothing to help the sport. Boxing cannot give fans what they want in match ups, the rarely ever have. And yet it happens in MMA EVERYTIME it’s needed, very fast if possible. At UFC 73 will be an awesome rematch of two of the biggest names in the MMA heavyweight division. Heath Herring Vs Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. MMA is so healthy the UFC isn’t even having to hype this fight, it’s not even a main event. It’s third down. Another fight some fans were clamoring for and they got it before they even realized they wanted it.

Sometimes due to previously promised rematches and title fights they can’t but a fan rarely has to wait a year to see a fight they want. There is only two fights the fans desperately want right now that hasn’t happened, yet. Fedor Vs Cro Cop, and the UFC is trying to get Fedor so this will happen. And Chuck Vs Wanderlai Silva and this will happen, we just don’t know for sure win. Boxing has always let the fans down so don’t put too much on Williams Vs Margarito.



Based on what? Again desperately clinging to that one PPV this year?



Absolute non-sense. I am a boxing fan and I can’t even fill out a top 3 list in every weight class. I could do a top 30 in every weigh class in MMA without having to look up a record on the internet. Granted I am a die hard MMA fan but as I stated I also follow boxing.

Big name boxers simply do not fight enough to stay relevant and they all too often fight cans in title defense of some various belt that nobody has heard of before when they do indeed fight. They have lost so much credibility.



But that’s the problem, that’s you. Nobody else feels that way except you and Larry Merchant. And to be honest I am not sure Larry even knows what decade were in. Unless whatever bottle he is tipping back has a calendar of course….

And just for the record I have been following boxing since the late 80’s when I was a wee little lad. I typed all of the above being a boxing fan. One reason boxing is so unhealthy is because they had nothing like the UFC to make them thrive and unify the sport. Every sport needs and anchor to grow around.
that's all hogwash and can be summarize in one statement you made "Granted I am a die hard MMA fan but as I stated I also follow boxing."

[2centsworth]

Your also not included as one who is trying to tear MMA down, which was all Im addressing. Many of my best friends love boxing, which is great even though Im not a fan. But they also realize that MMA is a great sport that is making huge strides. My statement was directed more towards those still trying to trash and bring down MMA, especially when they dont have a clue about MMA
first boxing is dead, and then your best friends love boxing. Maybe you're just retarted and don't know what to think.

[Evan]

that's all hogwash and can be summarize in one statement you made "Granted I am a die hard MMA fan but as I stated I also follow boxing."
:lol

[Ginofan]

Seriously guys, why make it a competition. I used to hate on MMA with the bet of them. I've been a boxing lover my entire life. Love the "sweet science" that MMA guys like to joke about. I've also learned to enjoy MMA whenever I get a chance. Two completely different sports. Both with a huge amount of fans, and huge amounts of money being made. Neither one i going anywhere, and neither one is "losing momentum".

And Evan using his ability to name top contenders in each weightclass to prove MMA is more popular is funny since he runs his own fansite. I'm a casual observer of MMA and could only name about 10 fighters off the top of my head. Doesn't mean the sport sucks.

[Ginofan]

The above post should have been done by TheTruth.

[Evan]

And Evan using his ability to name top contenders in each weightclass to prove MMA is more popular is funny since he runs his own fansite. I'm a casual observer of MMA and could only name about 10 fighters off the top of my head. Doesn't mean the sport sucks.

No that wasn't my point. Many people can name top MMA stars and they can't name boxing ones, since "who vs who" was brought up I simply mentioned that point. Boxing has become to obscure because it has nothing like the UFC to anchor the sport. The fact that you can name 10 and you are a casual fan is the point.

And I love boxing, always have. I like both. Boxing does not "suck", its management does.

[katyon6th]

I don't think I could name 2 UFC fighters.

[LEONARD]

This article about Fedor / UFC makes a lot of sense really...
http://www.fightopinion.com/2007/06/30/why-it-is-unlikely-that-fedor-is-coming-to-the-ufc/

[Evan]

This article about Fedor / UFC makes a lot of sense really...
http://www.fightopinion.com/2007/06/30/why-it-is-unlikely-that-fedor-is-coming-to-the-ufc/

I read that this morning, I don't agree with it to be honest.

Mainly because of this...

"This brings in rival promotions like bodogFIGHT and K-1. Both could offer Fedor a far greater amount of fresh matchups: bodog has the world’s greatest grappler in Roger Gracie and the “man-mountain” Antonio Silva under contract, while K-1 (HERO*S) has Bob Sapp, Jerome Le Banner, Hong-Man Choi and Brock Lesnar on their roster. Especially Fedor vs. Lesnar is a fight that could be a huge draw, both in Japan and the United States. And if that wasn’t enough, both promotions would still have the option to promote the highly anticipated super fight between Emelianenko and Josh Barnett, arguably the strongest American heavyweight right now and a fighter who is highly unlikely to ever do business with Zuffa again."

The UFC has plenty of fresh matchups for him. Randy, Vera, AA, Timmy and Gonzaga. Thats an entire contract right there of established names without a single re-match.

[LEONARD]

I disagree about the opponents too, but the marketability of Fedor isn't the greatest. Especially compared to what it'll cost to get him. Maybe if Fedor is on TUF 7 as a HW...that way UFC fans will get to know him first :lol

[cornbread]

the marketability of Fedor isn't the greatest.
I never really thought about Fedor's marketability but I think you're right. Could you imagine him slangin' some Xzience after his first UFC win? :lol

[Evan]

IMO they can market Fedor. I mean my God they had Tim Sylvia as a champion and survived. That ogre was horrible.

Other fighters gushing about Fedor will do the marketing for him. "The cold silent killer" from Russia...its perfect! Its a real life Rocky 4 guys.

But the UFC is so deep they can only really heavily market a handful of fighters anyway. So if they chose to pass him as a poster boy it can be done.

No matter what, I wanna see them try. :king

[LEONARD]

Its a real life Rocky 4 guys.

lol...I can see that possibly happening...

but I just don't have much faith in "Joe UFC Fan" as far as his ability to understand the greatness of Fedor goes...

I hope I'm wrong...and I hope we at least get to see if he can become famous here...

[dallaskd]

I want to see Couture vs Fedor in Randys final fight. looks like it will never happen.

[LEONARD]

New MMA Reality show featuring Greg Jackson fighters (Rashad Evan, Keith Jardine, Nate Marquardt, & Joey V)
http://www.ufcdaily.com/2007/07/01/top-ufc-stars-may-soon-become-reality-stars-too/

Josh Barnett video interview discussing UFC
http://www.sprawl-n-brawl.com/2007/07/josh-barnett-talks-about-his-issues.html

Houstong Alexander vs Sakara at UFC 75 all but confirmed
http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=4249

[LEONARD]

Aleks E vs Gilbert Yvel on July 21st for M-1...on a boat??
http://www.sprawl-n-brawl.com/2007/07/emelianenko-v-yvel-you-sunk-my.html

"Heavyweight veterans Aleksander Emelianenko and Gilbert Yvel have been named to anchor Russian promotion M-1 Mixfight’s “Russia vs. Europe” event July 21, which will cast off on a replica three-mast 18th century sailing vessel, featuring a ring located in the center of a pontoon on the water. Placed near St. Petersburg’s historical monuments, the event will literally be a sight to behold, with some spectators viewing the action from private yachts moored next to the ship. The venue concept is one that has been proposed before in the sport, but never attempted."

[Evan]

Is this the one where Fedor is reffing Aleks?

[LEONARD]

Is this the one where Fedor is reffing Aleks?

commentating...
http://www.sherdog.com/news/news.asp?n_id=7815

Forgot about that...

[LEONARD]

Dana - neither belt on the line for Rampage vs Hendo??
http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/sports/mixedmartialarts/article_1751066.php

Dana discussed Shogun and Fedor in an SI.com article
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/todd_martin/07/02/foreign.invasion/

this makes me laugh...

"Losing to Mirko Cro Cop when you're a light heavyweight -- there's no shame at all"

But when Silva lost to CC, Dana did nothing but rip on Silva at the time...never once mentioning the weightclass difference. How things change...

Phil Baroni's post for Dana on Sherdog's forums
http://www.sherdog.net/forums/showthread.php?t=597372

[cornbread]

You're fucking kidding me.


Middleweight Phil Baroni (Pictures) tested positive for Boldenone and Stanozolol Metabolites, the California State Athletic Commission announced Tuesday afternoon. The 31-year-old from Long Island, New York has been fined $2,500 and suspended 365 days from the conclusion of his loss against Frank Shamrock (Pictures) on June 22 in San Jose. The final 51 days of that suspension will be fulfilled at the start of Baroni's next licensing year, should he decide to reapply.

"While we respect the process and intent of the test we are disappointed with the results as they are completely unexpected," said Baroni's manager, Ken Pavia. "Phil did not knowingly ingest these drugs, which we are told are veterinary in nature.

"We intend to exercise all rights that are afforded by the state commission and (CSAC Executive Officer) Armando Garcia."

Baroni joins Carter Williams, who was suspended six months and fined $1,000 following a positive test for cocaine, as the second fighter to test for banned substances following the Strikeforce/EliteXC co-promoted card.

"Phil Baroni feels that worse than any fine or suspension is the disgrace associated with the positive test to himself, his family and fans," Pavia said. "As such he asks that judgement be withheld until all facts are in evidence."

All other fighters on the card have been cleared by the CSAC
http://www.sherdog.com/

[LEONARD]

LOL...idiot...

[cornbread]

Source: Penn to Fight Sanchez in August
Options: Email Article | Printer Friendly
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
by Sherdog.com Staff

B.J. Penn (Pictures) and Diego Sanchez (Pictures) have agreed to fight on the undercard of the heavyweight title fight between UFC champion Randy Couture (Pictures) and challenger Gabriel Gonzaga (Pictures), Aug. 25 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, a source speaking on the condition of anonymity told Sherdog.com.

The 28-year-old Penn (11-4-1) recently finished longtime rival Jens Pulver (Pictures) in a lightweight clash on the finale of The Ultimate Fighter 5. Meanwhile the 25-year-old Sanchez (17-1-0) has not fought since suffering the first defeat of his career, a decision loss to Josh Koscheck (Pictures) in April.

http://www.sherdog.com/news/news.asp?n_id=8155

[Evan]

That is going to be an amazing fight. Could be two losses in a row for Diego though.

[LEONARD]

I'd much rather see Penn vs Sherk/Franca winner

and Diego vs Mac Sakurai

Either way, I think Diego loses...

[LEONARD]

Penn's team says not so fast
http://www.sherdog.com/news/news.asp?n_id=8166

[dallaskd]

how do you pronounce Sokoudjou?

[LEONARD]

So-ka-jew

[Evan]

So-ka-jew

I think everyone tenses when they pronounce it verbally.:smchode:

[LEONARD]

Marcus Aurelio vs Tyson Griffin at UFC 76 (according to a message sent out on Marcus' myspace page) - Evan, did you get it?
http://www.myspace.com/maximusatt

Hell of a good matchup...

[ATRAIN]

SO ive been training in a boxing gym for 3 weeks now, I am still toying with learning jujitsu next, how long should I do boxing first? I was thinking for at least 6 mo to a year.

[LEONARD]

Why not do both? If you have the time and money...

Or join an MMA gym if there is one close to you and do everything...

[dallaskd]

I have alot of BJJ gyms down here. I have the time i just would like to get a job before school starts and i need a damn car.

[LEONARD]

I have alot of BJJ gyms down here. I have the time i just would like to get a job before school starts and i need a damn car.

Job and car definitely ranks ahead of BJJ training :)

[Evan]

Marcus Aurelio vs Tyson Griffin at UFC 76 (according to a message sent out on Marcus' myspace page) - Evan, did you get it?
http://www.myspace.com/maximusatt

Hell of a good matchup...


damn I don't see it!

[LEONARD]

damn I don't see it!

It was supposed to be a message to his friends, not listed on his page. A couple guys at SD said they got it. I see he's on your friends list...

[Rip-Hamilton32]

Job and car definitely ranks ahead of BJJ training :)

lol im only 17 so my parents pay for my car and for my bjj training lol

[LEONARD]

lol im only 17 so my parents pay for my car and for my bjj training lol

Huh? I was talking to dallaskd :dizzy

[cornbread]

I have alot of BJJ gyms down here. I have the time i just would like to get a job before school starts and i need a damn car.
Are you in Brazil yet?

[cornbread]

Job and car definitely ranks ahead of BJJ training :)
That depends your definition of "important" :) .

[LEONARD]

Josh Barnett is now a free agent according to his myspace page...
http://www.mmahaven.com/2007/07/07/josh-barnett-is-now-a-free-agent/

Anthony Johnson vs Jess Liaudin at UFC 75...keep an eye on Johnson!!
http://ufcjunkie.com/2007/07/06/report-anthony-johnson-vs-jess-liaudin-at-ufc-75/

Marcus Aurelio vs Clay Guida at UFC 76...great matchup. (not Tyson Griffin like rumor'd)
http://www.sherdog.com/news/news.asp?n_id=8186

also at UFC 76, Jon Fitch vs Diego Sanchez...another great matchup!
http://ufcjunkie.com/2007/07/07/ufcjunkiecom-exclusive-diego-sanchez-vs-jon-fitch-expected-at-ufc-76/

UFN 11 - rematch between Mike Swick and Chris Leben...give me Swick this time (Leben beat Swick just prior to TUF 1)
http://ufcjunkie.com/2007/07/07/ufcjunkiecom-exclusive-chris-leben-vs-mike-swick-may-headline-ufc-fight-night-11/

"Human Weapon" on the History Channel...episode 1 is on Muy Thai
http://www.sprawl-n-brawl.com/2007/07/human-weapon-on-history-channel.html

Frank Shamrock reality show
http://www.mmahaven.com/2007/07/06/frank-shamrock-new-reality-tv-series/

[Evan]

Leonard is the man!

Now wait a minute ufcjunkie....Leben is a fee agent and I thought he was leaving the UFC for ICON.I thought he burned his UFC bridge. I am not sure I believe that fight is happening.

[LEONARD]

Leonard is the man!

Now wait a minute ufcjunkie....Leben is a fee agent and I thought he was leaving the UFC for ICON.I thought he burned his UFC bridge. I am not sure I believe that fight is happening.

He was supposedly going to HI / ICON, but they left the door open slightly to re-sign with the UFC I recall. Who knows..maybe a 1 fight deal just for this fight. They keep finding ways to get Leben in high profile fights (ie, headliner of UFN's, etc). I wouldn't mind seeing Swick whip up on him though...

[Evan]

You know how Dana is though. And he publicly called out the UFC / Dana and openly talked about another organization because of money. Plus the guy has only won 1 of his last 4 or something and Swick is on the upswing. I dunno.

I think I would like to see him fight Franklin.

[LEONARD]

I'd like to see that one too...

Swick might've gone to Dana and told him he wants another shot at Leben. He's wanted it for a while, and if Dana and Leben are cross-ways, he just might give it to Swick hoping to send Leben packing with another loss, while getting Swick back on the winning track at the same time. Who knows!

[Evan]

Swick might've gone to Dana and told him he wants another shot at Leben.

Good point.

[LEONARD]

More Dana info on Fedor, Chuck vs Wand, Shogun, Huerta, Nick Diaz, Rashad vs Tito...good stuff...
http://www.boxingscene.com/forums/showthread.php?t=128921

During the Q&A session, Dana was asked about how long it would be before we would see Fedor in the octagon and who is first opponent would be, his response: "Near the end of 07 or beginning of 08, and his opponent will be whoever has the heavyweight title at the time, no need for a warmup fight for Fedor"

He was also asked about Wandy/Chuck, he responded by saying that this fight WILL be happening and it is the next fight for both of them , he is just having a difficult time negotiating it with both parties. Also, he said that the winner of Wandy/Chuck would most likely receive a title shot against the winner of Rampage/Hendo which by the way IS a unification bout and will be for both titles. However, he also noted that this might be complicated due to the recent signing of Shogun and that he could possibly receive a title shot before the winner of Wandy/Chuck depending on how the negotiations for that fight go.

Also, Dana was asked about Chris Leben and said that his next fight will be against Mike Swick.

Someone asked Rich whether he would rather face Silva or Marquardt and he said Silva due to unfinished business. When asked what he would change about matching up with Silva next time, he had a funny reply: "Try to stay out of the clinch and try to avoid blocking his knees with my nose"

Roger Huerta said that he would like to fight Melvin Guillard soon, due to his NC with him earlier.

Dana said that there is no dislike for Nick Diaz, he actually said that he really wants him back as soon as his NSAC suspension is over.

Dana would rather Rashad win but says that Tito will most likely be fighting in the UFC for a while to come no matter what.

[Evan]

Interesting.

You know, I am at the point now were I always pay an extra $40 a month on my cable bill no matter what the amount due is to cover MMA PPV's.

[LEONARD]

According to Dave Meltzer, Sokoudjou is signing with Elite XC...$150k base per fight + $50k win.
http://www.sherdog.net/forums/showthread.php?threadid=600089

[Evan]

According to Dave Meltzer, Sokoudjou is signing with Elite XC...$150k base per fight + $50k win.
http://www.sherdog.net/forums/showthread.php?threadid=600089

Last week I heard on Beatdown Sokoudjou is still under contract with PRIDE. This will be interesting.

And eliteXC will be running in the red handing out this much in salary. Crazy stuff.

[cornbread]

SO ive been training in a boxing gym for 3 weeks now, I am still toying with learning jujitsu next, how long should I do boxing first? I was thinking for at least 6 mo to a year.
I've never trained boxing so I can't speak for it but I would imagine it's similar to jiu jitsu in the sense that nothing can replace hours upon hours of mat/ring time. Learning the techniques is not enough. You have to drill the hell out of them in live sparring situations to become proficient.

[dallaskd]

Good News! I got a job at an ice cream parlor. I think now my grandma might let me have her car full time so i may sign up for some REAL Bjj classes

[dallaskd]

I thought Leben-Swick was going to be the main event of UFN 11.

[dallaskd]

More Dana info on Fedor, Chuck vs Wand, Shogun, Huerta, Nick Diaz, Rashad vs Tito...good stuff...
http://www.boxingscene.com/forums/showthread.php?t=128921

During the Q&A session, Dana was asked about how long it would be before we would see Fedor in the octagon and who is first opponent would be, his response: "Near the end of 07 or beginning of 08, and his opponent will be whoever has the heavyweight title at the time, no need for a warmup fight for Fedor"

He was also asked about Wandy/Chuck, he responded by saying that this fight WILL be happening and it is the next fight for both of them , he is just having a difficult time negotiating it with both parties. Also, he said that the winner of Wandy/Chuck would most likely receive a title shot against the winner of Rampage/Hendo which by the way IS a unification bout and will be for both titles. However, he also noted that this might be complicated due to the recent signing of Shogun and that he could possibly receive a title shot before the winner of Wandy/Chuck depending on how the negotiations for that fight go.

Also, Dana was asked about Chris Leben and said that his next fight will be against Mike Swick.

Someone asked Rich whether he would rather face Silva or Marquardt and he said Silva due to unfinished business. When asked what he would change about matching up with Silva next time, he had a funny reply: "Try to stay out of the clinch and try to avoid blocking his knees with my nose"

Roger Huerta said that he would like to fight Melvin Guillard soon, due to his NC with him earlier.

Dana said that there is no dislike for Nick Diaz, he actually said that he really wants him back as soon as his NSAC suspension is over.

Dana would rather Rashad win but says that Tito will most likely be fighting in the UFC for a while to come no matter what.

That was the most informant news i think youve ever posted.

[LEONARD]

I thought Leben-Swick was going to be the main event of UFN 11.

Who said otherwise??


That was the most informant news i think youve ever posted.

I'll take that as a compliment...I guess :oops

[cornbread]

Anybody hear any news on when Werdum is fighting next?

[LEONARD]

Not a peep that I can recall...

[Evan]

LEONARD...Know where I can find that cave man training video for sean?

[Evan]

Anybody hear any news on when Werdum is fighting next?


Who knows. I am sure it will be on a UFN card. Heath Herring is on his last fight of his contract (I think) and I would not be surprised if they finished him off that way.

Maybe herald in Josh Barnett.

Pure speculation on my part, but thats sports.

:p:

[LEONARD]

LEONARD...Know where I can find that cave man training video for sean?

I know it's on dailymotion.com. Or do you want a link to DL the file? I uploaded it, but can't find the link offhand...

[Evan]

DM will work. Many thanks.

I can always backtrack your emails if need be.

[LEONARD]

DM will work. Many thanks.

I can always backtrack your emails if need be.

.avi
http://www.sendspace.com/file/9vb973

[Evan]

awesome.

[LEONARD]

also for UFN 11, Din Thomas vs Spencer Fisher. Sounds like a good UFN card so far...
http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2007/07/10/report-ufc-fight-night-11-to-take-place-on-sept-20/

WEC stuff

Joe Riggs and Mayhem Miller news...
http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2007/07/09/wec-updates-on-joe-riggs-and-mayhem-miller/

It's funny, Miller is out with a hand injury after his last fight, which he discussed in his most recent "Mayhem Miller Show" back at his hotel room afterwards...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAhsVYXWAxM

but then he still went ahead and beat the hell out of his photographer in a hotel room match. The guy is nuts...

[LEONARD]

Shogun vs Machida at UFC 76...possible title fight after one fight...
http://ufcjunkie.com/2007/07/10/dana-white-shogun-to-debut-against-lyoto-machida-at-ufc-76/

[cornbread]

Here's a kinda cool story. This morning at my bjj class we had Pete Spratt rolling with us! It wasn't a seminar or anything, he just showed up and participated in our class. It was definitely cooler than the time I saw him at Panda Express. :lol

[LEONARD]

Here's a kinda cool story. This morning at my bjj class we had Pete Spratt rolling with us! It wasn't a seminar or anything, he just showed up and participated in our class. It was definitely cooler than the time I saw him at Panda Express. :lol

LOL...pretty cool...did you roll with him?

BJJ classes is where he needs to spend more time I think...

Loss - Tamden McCrory Submission (Triangle Choke) UFC - Fight Night 10 6/12/2007 2 2:04

Loss - Marcus Davis Submission (Achilles Lock) UFC 69 - Shootout 4/7/2007 2 2:57

[cornbread]

^^Nah, I didn't get to roll with him. Only 2 or 3 of the most senior students who were there got to roll with him. But he was on the ground next to me doing drills and what not which inspired me to give it a little extra today.

[LEONARD]

Excellent article on NBCSports.com
http://www.nbcsports.com/ufc/1763536/detail.html

it was in response to this video (after tennis and Griffey discussion)
http://video.nbcsports.com/player/?id=128039

a couple others I saw there...
http://video.nbcsports.com/player/?id=125666
http://video.nbcsports.com/player/?id=127718

-----------

UFC vs Pride comparision - Decisions, KO's, Subs...
http://morethanufc.blogspot.com/2007/07/ufc-more-boring-than-pride-you-decide.html

UFC gambling revenues will surpass boxing this year
http://www.mmanews.com/ufc/UFC-Gambling-Revenue-Starting-To-Surpass-Boxing.html

Baroni's post fight interview...
http://www.sprawl-n-brawl.com/2007/07/baroni-post-fight-interview.html

[LEONARD]

New UFC video game for PS3
http://ps3.ign.com/objects/876/876981.html

[dallaskd]

New UFC video game for PS3
http://ps3.ign.com/objects/876/876981.html

kick ass. watch the trailer. awesome. my 360 broke. im definately gonna go with the ps3 now and it just dropped $100 in price.

[dallaskd]

silva is scared

http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=news.detail&gid=6816

[LEONARD]

silva is scared

http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=news.detail&gid=6816

Right...because we should all believe everything Dana says! He's contradicted himself on several things over the last few weeks...

Silva fought Mark Hunt on 3 days notice...he fought Crocop when he was on fire...he'd never duck Chuck or anybody else IMO. It's probably a money thing. If he truly doesn't want the fight right now it's because he stated months ago that he wanted to take the rest of 2007 off. I doubt that's the case though since he's got stuff all over his personal website about fighting Chuck...

http://www.wanderleisilva.com.br/site_ing/

"But the best news is that my fight against Chuck would finally happen. This fight is being commented on, here, in U.S.A and there are no excuses anymore. I´ll make he swallow every word he said about me.Warning to you Chuck: I hope you are training very hard, because I will show you Who Silva is. I´ve never had so much eagerness to win this fight". - Wanderlei Silva

[LEONARD]

I really wish the BodogFight card tomorrow night was available to watch...I don't think it is at least?? Hell of a card...

Eddie Alvarez vs Matt Lee
Tara LaRosa vs Kelly Kobald
Nick Agallar vs James Binky Jones
Trevor Prangley vs Yuki Kondo
Roman Zentsov vs Branden Lee Hinkle
Yves Edwards vs Jorge Masvidal
Amar Suloev vs Chael Sonnen
David Love vs Eben Oroz
Mark Burch vs Yoshiki Takahashi

You might know Jorge Masvidal as the LW that fought and beat Kimbo's 205 lb fighter in a street fight (twice).

1st fight
http://youtube.com/watch?v=sAwlOwXtoKk

rematch
http://youtube.com/watch?v=saUuGnz0po4

Him vs Yves Edwards should be good...

Alvarez, LaRosa, Roman, Prangley, Sonnen...good stuff. :fro

Maybe it'll air later? I'm trying to find out...

[LEONARD]

silva is scared

http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=news.detail&gid=6816

Silva responds
http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/articlefiles/4324-headline.jpg

Wanderlei Silva responds via video posted on his website to the allegations that he turned down a fight with Chuck Liddell for UFC 76 in September.

In the video Wanderlei stated, "I never said that I wouldn't fight Chuck. I've wanted this fight for a long time"

The former Pride champion continued, "I received a contract with two options, I could fight in September or November. I have chosed to make this fight in November. I was the first to want this fight, but they kept avoiding this fight. Now there's a lot of people saying that I have ducked Chuck. This is not true"

According to Silva, the timing for the fight to take place in September did not work for him. He explained, "I am in a moment of transition in my life. I'm going to move to the U.S. in a few weeks. I'm going to live in the U.S. and there's a lot of things happening, and I'm not focused on training the way I want to be. I always fought at the time the promoters wanted. Sometimes I did things I should not have done, but this time I won't do that anymore."

Denying he ever turned down a fight with Chuck Liddell, Silva said, "I want to fight chuck in November and make a huge show, and make it the biggest show ever...I have no doubts it's the most important fight of my life. I know Chuck is a great name in the U.S., we'll do a great fight. I think I must be in my best shape, so I want this time to train better to be in my bets shape ever."

Wanderlei asserted, "This fight is on, if he Chuck doesn't hide behind this mess."

-----------------

Sounds to me like Dana threw a fit because Silva wouldn't do it in Sept...

[Evan]

Brilliant!

I suspect Dana did this on purpose. I really think he is far better at playing the media and the fans than people give him credit for. He knows what he is doing every step of the way.

[Evan]

Why in the world does MMAnews.com keep sourcing ufcjunkie? mmanews.com used to be a great site.

http://www.mmanews.com/ufc/Liddell-To-Fight-Keith-Jardine-At-UFC-76-In-September.html

I am going to eat chit because of my comment here.

Ugh…I do not like this fight at all.

[LEONARD]

UFC.com's "1st half awards"...
http://ufcjunkie.com/2007/07/15/ufccom-releases-unofficial-first-half-awards/

Top Fighters
Quinton Jacksn
Randy Couture
Anderson Silva
Gabriel Gonzaga
Matt Serra

Top Fights
Spencer Fisher def. Sam Stout — UFC Fight Night 10
Tyson Griffin def. Clay Guida — UFC 72
Roger Huerta def. Leonard Garcia — UFC 69
Randy Couture def. Tim Sylvia — UFC 69
Michael Bisping def. Elvis Sinosic — UFC 70

Top Knockouts
Gabriel Gonzaga KOs Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic — UFC 70
Quinton Jackson TKOs Chuck Liddell — UFC 71
Matt Serra TKOs Georges St. Pierre — UFC 69
Rashad Evans KOs Sean Salmon — UFC Fight Night 9
Houston Alexander TKOs Keith Jardine — UFC 71

Top Submissions
Din Thomas def. Jeremy Stephens (armbar) — UFC 71
B.J. Penn def. Jens Pulver (rear-naked choke) — The Ultimate Fighter 5 Finale
Chris Lytle def. Jason Gilliam (triangle choke and armlock) — UFC 73
Joe Stevenson def. Melvin Guillard (guillotine choke) — UFC Fight Night 9
Kenny Florian def. Dokonjonosuke Mishima (rear-naked choke) — UFC Fight Night 9

Fisher-Stout as top fight?? And Griffin-Edgar didn't make the list? WTF? :smokin :hat :drunk Bisping-Sinosic?? WTF? :dizzy

----------------

Am I the only one that's noticed that Tim Sylvia is now 6'10" instead of 6'8" on the UFC 74 promos where they talk about Couture beating Tim? Did they really need to add 2" to Sylvia to make Couture's feat that much more impressive? Annoyingly lame...Sylvia is a HW turd whether he's 6'8" or 6'10"...

Things aren't going too well for Babalu these days...
http://www.mmahaven.com/2007/07/15/renato-babalu-sobral-arrested-in-tampa/

1st outdoor UFC event in 2008 in Hawaii??
http://ufcmania.com/2007/07/14/ufc-eyes-first-outdoor-event-in-hawaii-in-2008/

"Rites of Passage" is up on Dailymotion...long, but worth checking out if you've never watched it...
http://www.sprawl-n-brawl.com/2007/07/sunday-night-movie.html

[LEONARD]

Randy Couture (and Pam Anderson) on "Best Damn Sports Show Period"
http://ufcjunkie.com/2007/07/16/randy-couture-on-best-damn-sports-show-period-tonight/

[Evan]

lol...haven't noticed that about the ogre.

Nice break from the UFC coming right now. Wonder if this is intentional to give the WEC some focus?

[LEONARD]

Probably so...7 wks between UFC cards is a bit much...

I'm looking fwd to this next WEC card big-time though...

[LEONARD]

Odds for upcoming fights...funny that Serra is a big underdog vs Hughes...and Sherk is an underdog vs Penn...
http://betonfighting.com/schedule.aspx?league=206

[LEONARD]

K-1 Hero's...they're having a LW tourny...good stuff. Links to 4 of the fights on dailymotion here... (don't read the results above the videos is you don't want the results spoiled)
http://www.fightopinion.com/2007/07/16/heros-716-yokohama-arena/

[cornbread]

A 'roid life: Kerr's fall from grace, and revival
By Kenny Rice
Special to NBCSports.com
Posted: Jul.16, 2007, 9:45 am EDTOver a six-year period he was the gorilla on the high wire. A powerful 6-3, 240 pounds, Mark Kerr was precariously balancing on the thinnest line: MMA star, and steroid and drug user.

His physique and the manner in which he dispensed of opponents with such brute force made him too big for a single moniker: He was "The Smashing Machine," "The Specimen," and "The Titan." So invincible in the cage yet a lifestyle that became so vulnerable he sank into a personal abyss, the verge of overdosing, while cameras were rolling in a stark, mesmerizing documentary.

Kerr is "approaching five years" of being clean, living in Phoenix, Az, working to build a career as a realtor. He leaves soon for South Africa, where a movie is being made about his life. Drastic changes were needed for sobriety, but the essence, those complexities of what always made Kerr a magnetic force, remain. He's soft-spoken, intelligent and articulate, the antithesis of the ferocious ground-and-pound cage fighter. And he is as unflinchingly raw as ever in his candor about the days of "The Smashing Machine."

The natural found steroids "work"


Getty Images
Mark Kerr, top, emerged as a national wrestling champion before he ever touched a single performance-enhancing drug. It was once his MMA career began that he found himself in a battle with steroids and painkillers.Kerr was the 1992 NCAA heavyweight wrestling champ at Syracuse defeating Randy Couture of Oklahoma State. He was the 1994 USA Senior Freestyle Champ. He went on to be an early star of Pride Fighting and the UFC 15 heavyweight tournament champion, winning 13 of 14 pro fights between 1997-2000.

A pure phenomena who could bench press 425 pounds and squat 550 pounds. He never used steroids until after returning from the 1996 Olympics, where he was an alternate on the U.S. team. "The testing was so strict at the amateur level it was always a fear thing. We'd all heard it (steroids) would help increase strength and stamina. I was going pro, like everyone, I was looking for an edge, to make sure I would succeed, so I started experimenting. It wasn't difficult to find them."

Over the next four years he indulged in the forbidden boost, packing another 15 pounds of muscle to an already powerhouse structure.

"I would never tell anyone to do steroids, would never promote it. But they do work. They give you strength and especially help in the ability to recover between fights. Steroids help an athlete from missing too many days of training. That is the biggest plus." he says matter-of-fact. "But it's not the easy way as some people perceive. They are not going to make you more talented. Realistically, if you were like me with natural talent and aptitude, it will help. Conversely, steroids alone won't make you snap, unless it's already within your nature."

Kerr doesn't want sympathy or clemency for steroid users, but feels a better understanding of the "reality" of the drug is needed as to what it can and cannot do for an athlete.

"Steroids will not make you crazy if the tendency isn't there already just as they won't make you a great athlete if you aren't already. Here's what they will do. If you run the 40 (yards) in 4.6, you can get it down to 4.4. If you bench 400 you can increase that to 450. If you have a vertical (jump) of 36 (inches) you might get to 40. But you have to be great to be greater, it's not as magical as many perceive."

Benoit and the 'roid rage' myths

The recent tragedy of pro wrestler Chris Benoit, who murdered his wife and son before hanging himself created a flurry of speculation about anabolic steroid use and the possible effects it had on Benoit leading up to the sad and violent end. Kerr doesn't believe in the " ''Roid Rage" scenarios being offered.

"I didn't know Chris but I know there has to be more to the story. It was "'roid rage?" No," Kerr says. "Everybody it seems is ready to accept that because he was a pro wrestler. It's easy to analyze the whole situation and want to believe the stereotypes that exist. It would've made news if a factory worker in Detroit had done this. Not to the level of publicity it's received though because it is not only gruesome, it involves a pro wrestler.

"Who knows and we may never understand this. A man gets bent on a certain course, add anabolics, drugs, alcohol, demotion of his job and that all adds into the formula for Chris Benoit. We should not draw all the conclusions from one thing. There is at least X,Y and Z in the equation. But the facts get distorted about anabolic steroids and the other consequences can be readily dismissed."

Steroids made the 38 year-old Kerr "edgy, aggressive in attitude at times" but never to a point he felt concern or fear for himself or others. "I guarantee you I have never had a blind rage. Suicidal or homicidal? No. Steroids do mess with your system but I can't imagine what goes through a man's head to hurt his own son. My son (Bryce) is my life, it's inconceivable to harm him ever. Again, what goes through your mind is not always what is going through your body."

Pressure to perform

His desire to be the king of the burgeoning MMA world 11 years ago was the impetus for experiments that become habit. Not with only steroids, but his toughest battle -- painkillers.

"There's constant pressure to stay near or at the top; to be in first class, to be at the top of the marquee. How your body looks, how you perform is your life. Knowingly you are going to take any advantage, especially if it's not regulated," he says. "I had fights in Alabama, Mississippi, places that didn't have the standards of major athletic governing bodies in major fight states. Literally, they'd hand you a Dixie cup for a urine test and you were on your own. Your grandmother could've p--- for you because no one followed you around."

He trained in Minneapolis briefly with MMA fighter and better known WWE wrestler Brock Lesnar. During this time he saw parallels in the sport and entertainment demands that he theorizes could have been a problem for Benoit and others.

"Brock said he told Vince McMahon that if he saw one more baggage claim check he'd go crazy." he adds. "So Brock started traveling by private jet. Still there is always that pressure. You have to be there and then be here and there's a different audience and they expect you to live up to all they've heard and seen, every time out. The money's good so you fight more than you should, you have to learn how to handle pain one way or another. Some of us didn't always handle it as well."

The baseball problem


Syracuse University
Mark Kerr was an NCAA champion wrestler while at Syracuse University.Life-long sports fan Kerr even steps to the plate on the hypocrisy he feels for the national pastime. "Baseball is so worried suddenly how everyone is performing. Basically there are three, four guys they keep looking at," he states. "You're telling me those are the only guys who might've taken steroids? No. But they are tremendous athletes who might have benefited, although there is no concrete proof. When all those homers were flying out of the park and people were packing the stadiums, baseball wasn't concerned. As long as they were hitting them."

He contends talent prevails in the end even with the assistance of steroids, noting a few flash-in-the-pan seasons compared to storied careers.

"If a man hits a ton of homers, steroids could help add several more, but he would still hit a ton without them? Kerr asks. "There have been a season or two that look now like flukes for certain players. But the stars are still shining. And something else to consider, no one in baseball has taken a bat to a teammate or the opposing pitcher out of this "'roid rage" have they?"

Public meltdown

Kerr is unapologetic about the past, harbors no blame, makes no excuses. It was other drugs, primarily painkillers, that sent him spiraling downward. And his epiphany to change course ironically came while the cameras were rolling for the documentary showing a fascinating yet destructive life.

"I was melting down in front of the camera, an overdose. The filmmakers actually put down their cameras and came to my side that's how concerned they were that I was going to die. My girlfriend then,Dawn, who later became my wife, was there and immediately got on the phone and called my psychiatrist. And within minutes it seems she came rushing over. I was saved because I had people around me who cared." he calmly recalls. "The next day I sorted out the whole process and if I didn't have people around me who were stable and talked to me logically, not coddling me, I probably wouldn't be here."

Kerr's discussion is borderline cathartic. He agrees "The Smashing Machine" legacy is a cautionary tale. He advocates more patience and understanding for those who are using any type of drugs, educating before punishing first-time offenders. He speculates, that might have saved Benoit or could still save others, especially with a support group like he had during his battles.

He cites the UFC as becoming a big-time sport for their regulation of fighters. "The UFC has popped some people, less than five percent I would guess. Because fighters know they'll be screened. They might have to miss a fight or miss some training but they can still have careers by staying clean."

Repercussions?

Kerr has never hedged in his astonishing honesty about steroids and painkillers. Even the quick fix satisfaction might have limited the longevity and true greatness of his career. As for damage already done, he realizes the repercussions might not be over. It is an awareness, especially with a young son, that concerns if not worries him frequently.

"Ten years ago what I was putting into my body, I don't know ten years from now what the consequences will be. I don't know if I have prostate cancer if it will be directly caused by steroids. I can't say the definitive links are this and this. It puts stress on your liver, heart, kidneys. How much and for how long though? You hear a 38-year-old pro wrestler died from a heart attack. It makes you wonder." he adds, "There's never been a definitive study into the long-term effects (of steroids). Yes, there are some obvious, short-term studies of side effects but all the certain conditions down the road? The pharmaceutical companies are more concerned with Prozac studies than steroids, there's more money in them."

A blessed life and cage return

He finishes the interview on the cell phone while driving north to Flagstaff for the weekend in an effort to beat the heat of the Valley. He and Dawn divorced a year and a half ago. She is sitting in the passenger seat. Dawn was there through the lowest point in Kerr's life and the happiest, the birth of son Bryce, who will be 3 in November. Bonds that are too strong for a piece of paper to break, perhaps the flawed but charismatic Kerr too genuine to permanently leave.

He says "athletes are not forced to face real life." But he is trying with real estate, taking a healthier advantage of something offered to him this time by friends,a new career. "I have the opportunity to learn from some guys who really know this business and have been generous in teaching me. It's a great education. Something I can do for the next 40 years."

He's absorbed their input with the same tenacity as he used to put away opponents, discussing the growth of high-rise living in the Arizona-Nevada area, the future swings in the market, the pluses of owning a house or a condominium.

While his formidable frame "can't do what it once could, those days are gone," Kerr has a fight next month at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Ct, against Sean O'Haire, a specimen himself around 6-7, 280. This will be only his fifth fight since 2000. It might be the finale for Kerr regardless of the outcome. But he won't say with certainty, not close to his other strong opinions, that he is retiring.

There are coaching opportunities ahead and the real estate world fuels his competitive fire these days. That high-wire life has been firmly on the ground long enough to convince Kerr he has a foundation again. The Toledo, Oh, native is establishing roots in this desert land once considered too arid for growth, rising from his personal ashes for a fresh start.

"I've been blessed. I wouldn't trade anything that's happened, anything," he says. "Overall it's been a blessed life and I look to the future with hope."

http://www.nbcsports.com/ufc/1784877/detail.html

[LEONARD]

Kerr's documentary (The Wrecking Machine) is pretty good...

[Evan]

Kerr's documentary (The Wrecking Machine) is pretty good...

Indeed! A bit short though.

But I think every MMA fan would complain about it being so short, were starved for stuff like this.
:hungry:

[Evan]

Another source says Jardine and Chuck will happen. This fight does not make any sense to me whatsoever. I still won't believe it until I see it on a card.

http://www.mmanews.com/ufc/Jardine-Agrees-To-Liddell-Fight-Set-For-UFC-76-Main-Event.html

Much rather see him against Frank Shamrock, Sokoudjou or Jeremy Horn. All 3 are free agents and I know Frank is close to impossible but it would still be nice.

[LEONARD]

Another source says Jardine and Chuck will happen. This fight does not make any sense to me whatsoever. I still won't believe it until I see it on a card.

http://www.mmanews.com/ufc/Jardine-Agrees-To-Liddell-Fight-Set-For-UFC-76-Main-Event.html

Much rather see him against Frank Shamrock, Sokoudjou or Jeremy Horn. All 3 are free agents and I know Frank is close to impossible but it would still be nice.

I don't know what to think. Can't believe anything Dana White says really. The only thing I KNOW is that he wants Chuck to get his title back. He needs a win from Chuck to justify giving him another shot...

Dana White screwed the pooch on Sokoudjou. Overing him $20k/fight while Elite offered $200k, which he turned down to most likely sign with K-1...

Would love to see Frank, but I give that about a 1% chance of happening...ever...

Horn?? No interest in that one.

[LEONARD]

RVR highlight videos...I recommend Fedor's, Shogun's, "Karmma", and "Lords of War"...
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.channel&ChannelID=59978593

---------------

Grand Theft Title 3 - San Quinton (Rampage Jackson Highlight)...really well done. If you haven't seen "Grand Theft Title 2" with Shogun, here it is...
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x28q3a_grand-theft-title-saitama-city

GTT 3 links

Stream:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=B50fH5DWXtk
http://www.livevideo.com/video/GenghisCon/594604AA79554D80BDD8D9EA11C57558/grand-theft-title-3-san-quin.aspx
http://www.dailymotion.com/GenghisCon/video/x2jw9b_grand-theft-title-3-san-quinton
http://youtube.com/watch?v=B50fH5DWXtk

High Quality Download:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=SI2QRJTQ

his site:
http://genghiscon.wordpress.com/

[Evan]

I know Horn is not the greatest of match ups but Jardine is such a bizarre match up. Your poster boy got rocked and thats the follow up fight?

And your right, this is a Dana decision, not Joe.

Who would you match him against next? Jardine or who?

Besides Shogun.

[ALVAREZ6]

Eddie Alvarez vs Matt Lee
Alvarez >>>> Lee



:smokin

[LEONARD]

I know Horn is not the greatest of match ups but Jardine is such a bizarre match up. Your poster boy got rocked and thats the follow up fight?

And your right, this is a Dana decision, not Joe.

Who would you match him against next? Jardine or who?

Besides Shogun.

Also, Horn is on the Sept 1st Art of War card...
http://artofwarlive.com/fight_card.html

Of guys we know are signed in the UFC right now, I'd rather see Chuck vs 10-0 Thiago Silva (Wanderlei's teammate). He debut'd at UFC 71 6 wks ago and only fought 1 min before Irvin blew out his knee...so he's fresh. He's not on any rumor'd cards as of right now either...

Or have Vera drop to 205 and backup his talk...

[LEONARD]

Shogun vs Forrest at UFC 76 per Frank Trigg's radio show today??? Hmmmmmm :dizzy

http://www.taggradio.com/

[Evan]

Ah, I didn't know he was on that card.

Vera needs to back up his HW talk against Fedor, check out the current Tapout issue with Calvin on the cover.

[LEONARD]

Shogun vs Forrest at UFC 76 per Frank Trigg's radio show today??? Hmmmmmm :dizzy

http://www.taggradio.com/

also here: (and Ninja Rua vs Lawler in Elite XC)

http://www.tatame.com/news

"Master Rudimar Fedrigo confirmed us that Mauricio Shogun will face Forrest Griffin at UFC 76, that is schedule for September 22, at . “We went specially to Las Vegas to sign the contract for four fights and to record the videos for before the fight”, said Rudimar, that arrive at Curitiba today. Rudimar had confirmed too that Mauricio Shogun’s brother, Murilo Ninja, will make his first EliteXC belt defense against Robbie Lawler, one week before UFC 76."

[Evan]

Shogun vs Forrest at UFC 76 per Frank Trigg's radio show today??? Hmmmmmm :dizzy

http://www.taggradio.com/

see ya forrest.

[LEONARD]

This just in...Dana White REALLY doesn't like the IFL...
http://www.sherdog.net/forums/showthread.php?threadid=390257

[cornbread]

Also, Horn is on the Sept 1st Art of War card...
http://artofwarlive.com/fight_card.html

Did you guys notice the bad mamas they have fighting at 205?!

[Evan]

This just in...Dana White REALLY doesn't like the IFL...
http://www.sherdog.net/forums/showthread.php?threadid=390257

I saw that thread before...look at how many people got banned from it.

Its business and its dirty.

the Fertittas need some blame on actions like that too. Dana is the face for all good and bad but a lot of his actions are "orders"

Like how people blame Dana for TUF (if they hate it) that was not his idea.

[Evan]

There is no more inconsistant news in sports than news about Fedor. Who he trains with...how he trains....his brothers...

http://www.sherdog.com/news/interviews.asp?n_id=8331

[LEONARD]

:fro

[Evan]

But I am sure sherdog has the interview right.... those guys do a great job. Fedors camp just keeps things tight.

[LEONARD]

Of guys we know are signed in the UFC right now, I'd rather see Chuck vs 10-0 Thiago Silva (Wanderlei's teammate). He debut'd at UFC 71 6 wks ago and only fought 1 min before Irvin blew out his knee...so he's fresh. He's not on any rumor'd cards as of right now either...


Thiago Silva of ChuteBoxe added to the UFC 75 card... :fro
http://ufcmania.com/2007/07/19/ufc-75-thiago-silva-vs-tomasz-drwal/

[Evan]

Tito rips in the UFC for underpaying fighters.

http://www.mmanews.com/ufc/Exclusive:-Ortiz-Talks-About-A-Little-Bit-Of-Everything-[Pt.-2].html

[Evan]

Me want

http://www.cdn.sherdog.com/_images/news/2007_07/8334.jpg

On and by the way lads....

what does it tell to you when Fedor's team has obviously set up distribution for merchandise in America?

Did Fedor's team design that shirt? Hell no. That shirt screams American design. :elephant

[cornbread]

I just saw this posted on sherdog.

Randy's new gyms.
http://www.xtremecouture.tv/Memberships_SignUp.htm

$1000 per hour for a private lesson with Randy!!

[Evan]

It would be cool to meet him but wow..........

[Evan]

and open letter to Dana White

well said Josh Gross..he may have the personality of a wet brick but the man can write

http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles.asp?n_id=8345

[LEONARD]

Me want

http://www.cdn.sherdog.com/_images/news/2007_07/8334.jpg

On and by the way lads....

what does it tell to you when Fedor's team has obviously set up distribution for merchandise in America?

Did Fedor's team design that shirt? Hell no. That shirt screams American design. :elephant

Sweet shirt... :fro


I just saw this posted on sherdog.

Randy's new gyms.
http://www.xtremecouture.tv/Memberships_SignUp.htm

$1000 per hour for a private lesson with Randy!!

Dayum!!


and open letter to Dana White

well said Josh Gross..he may have the personality of a wet brick but the man can write

http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles.asp?n_id=8345

Gross and Jordan Breen are the best that Sherdog has IMO. Breen just might know more about MMA worldwide than anybody...

When I saw Gross in Vegas off in a side room interviewing Fedor 1 on 1 last Oct I knew he was connected...

[Evan]

The only problem with Breen is the way he talks in that excited breathing in voice. Its has an odd tempo.

The first show I heard I kept thinking he sounded like that girl from American Pie and some emailer sent in a note saying the same thing. lol

[Evan]

I thought Fedor recently said Ivan does not train? I guess it was lost in translation and he really said "fight" and I am assuming "yet" was in there somewhere as well.

http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles.asp?n_id=8334

LEONARD I am still trying to ensure we get a stream to the M-1 fight and anyone else who wants to see it. Not sure I have it figured out but I am trying....looks doubtful.

Althought this is an obscure Russian league with first time fighters for the most part so I am not sure it will be a problem in the first place. lol

local time when does it start? 10 am?

[LEONARD]

Crocop movie coming out Nov 13th??
http://ufcmania.com/2007/07/20/video-ultimate-force-with-cro-cop-coming-to-dvd-nov-13/


I thought Fedor recently said Ivan does not train? I guess it was lost in translation and he really said "fight" and I am assuming "yet" was in there somewhere as well.

http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles.asp?n_id=8334

LEONARD I am still trying to ensure we get a stream to the M-1 fight and anyone else who wants to see it. Not sure I have it figured out but I am trying....looks doubtful.

Althought this is an obscure Russian league with first time fighters for the most part so I am not sure it will be a problem in the first place. lol

local time when does it start? 10 am?

I think it starts at noon central time...

I recall Fedor saying that Ivan wasn't training anymore too. Combat Sambo is basically MMA, so I guess he's not done yet...

[Evan]

question for you guys...

sherdog.com

news or an editorial site?

After the "open letter to dana white" was posted I consider it completely editorial now.

now on the other hand, mmaweekly.com. News.

[Evan]

AND JUST TO BE CLEAR...

I am not insulting sherdog, just curious what you guys think. I think sherdog.com is great.

sherdog.net on the other hand.....

[LEONARD]

question for you guys...

sherdog.com

news or an editorial site?

After the "open letter to dana white" was posted I consider it completely editorial now.

now on the other hand, mmaweekly.com. News.

Both IMO...

Gross said on Beatdown Radio today that he meant it to be exactly as if he were writing a letter to Dana only...


AND JUST TO BE CLEAR...

I am not insulting sherdog, just curious what you guys think. I think sherdog.com is great.

sherdog.net on the other hand.....

Sherdog.net is the reason Swick is fighting Goulet... :lol

Take the forums for what they're worth. Ignore the idiots/trolls and there are some pretty knowledgeable people posting there...

[dallaskd]

Swick will destroy Goulet

[Evan]

Bisping is training with Rampage. Holy SH-T. I thought he was all of the Wolfslair and only the Wolfslair.

PR ground work for the Bisping Vs Hamil fight.

http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=news.detail&gid=6875

I am not a big fan of this fight. I love Bisping as a prospect but its time to step up the match ups after this.

And I admit I am a fan of Hamil as well.

[LEONARD]

Cool... :fro

I like Bisping and Hamill too, but not this matchup.

[desflood]

Swick will destroy Goulet
Yes, it's a shame :lol I like Goulet, but he doesn't have much of a chin. Just exactly the kind of weakness Mike Swick likes to capitalize on.

[Evan]

slow slow news for the next few weeks. I kinda like it. Get a little break.

[LEONARD]

slow slow news for the next few weeks. I kinda like it. Get a little break.

There's always news :fro

More on roids...
http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles.asp?n_id=8382

Joe Riggs discusses his win over the weekend and his addiction to pain killers (video)...mentions that he took 8 pills before fighting Sanchez.
http://www.sherdog.com/videos/videos.asp?v_id=1221

the guy he beat
http://www.sherdog.com/videos/videos.asp?v_id=1219

Solomen Hutcherson (DAGGER!) discusses his win and shows off his broken hand (video)
http://www.sherdog.com/videos/videos.asp?v_id=1220

Clay Guida article
http://www.insidefighting.com/betweenRoundsDisp.aspx?uid=3788

Mauro will be on Beatdown Radio today (starts in a few minutes)...
http://www.sherdog.com/news/beatdown.asp

If you don't listen to Mauro's show, check it out. He's a cussing mofo, which is funny to me. He talks MMA, boxing, and WWE...so you have to pick and choose what shows you listen to. (he had Riggs on his last show)
http://www.hardcoresportsradio.com/programs/fight/

New season of Tapout on WEC starts Aug 1st
http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=4381

IFL to start drug testing
http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=4375

Jorge Masvidal interview...discusses his win over Yves Edwards...I'd like to see him in the UFC.
http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=4377

[Evan]

Jordan Breen never ceases to amaze me with his knowledge. I am listening to yesterdays show. wow

[atxrocker]

they were showing prides greatest knockouts on fsn sunday night... that shit was fucking awesome. showcased some great fucking fights. anyone else catch it?

[cornbread]

I saw the Silva vs Fujita match. That one is up there with my favorite matches.

[LEONARD]

Jordan Breen never ceases to amaze me with his knowledge. I am listening to yesterdays show. wow

Breen is the man... (he's on live right now with TJ...should have Mauro on soon)


they were showing prides greatest knockouts on fsn sunday night... that shit was fucking awesome. showcased some great fucking fights. anyone else catch it?

*sheds a tear

Pride was so great...

I still have Shockwave 2006 on the DVR...I watch it occasionally when the DVR runs dry...


I saw the Silva vs Fujita match. That one is up there with my favorite matches.

Fujita taking those soccer kicks at the end, then just getting up and walking back to the corner like nothing was wrong after it was stopped...crazy...

[Evan]

I have to listen to all of mine 1 day late on my ipod

[Evan]

Curious…

For all mma fans here, what are your favorite sport when its all said and done? Mine is for sure the NFL, then MMA next soccer.

[atxrocker]

mine would go something like this:

mma/boxing (equally you fucks so don't ask)
nba basketball (hard when kings suck but what ya gonna do?)
college football
college basketball
nfl
...
er.....
followed by everything else that i DO NOT follow i suppose.

[LEONARD]

I have to listen to all of mine 1 day late on my ipod

I see...I used to listen late from 10-12 but since I can't get 1310 at all right now I've been listening live...


Curious…

For all mma fans here, what are your favorite sport when its all said and done? Mine is for sure the NFL, then MMA next soccer.

MMA
NFL
NBA
NCAA Football
MLB
.
.
.
.
NCAA softball
.
.
.
.
.
Bowling
.
.
.
.
.
.
Billiards
.
.
.
.
.
.
Poker
.
.
.
.
.
.
Hockey

[atxrocker]

do people seriously consider poker a sport? i love playing and watch occassionally as well, but this cant seriously be considered a sport.

[Evan]

Have either of you guys seen seen a EPL game?

English Premier League.

[Evan]

Not sure how to label it.

But not a sport.

[LEONARD]

do people seriously consider poker a sport? i love playing and watch occassionally as well, but this cant seriously be considered a sport.

Some do...I have no idea how they could justify it as one though. It's a freakin' card GAME...


Have either of you guys seen seen a EPL game?

English Premier League.

I have...I just can't watch high level soccer. Part of it is because I burned out around 19 yrs old after playing from age 5...part of it is the flopping at those levels...

[Evan]

They are getting better at flopping. They are taking care of it.

And man...no 1310 at work....just kill me.

[LEONARD]

They are getting better at flopping. They are taking care of it.

And man...no 1310 at work....just kill me.

Yea, it blows...

[Evan]

Why don't you stream it?

[cornbread]

1. NBA/mma
2. NFL
3. Boxing
4. College Football
5. College Basketball
6. Soccer
7. MLB (I do love attending baseball games at any level of competition, tv games can put me to sleep)
8. Golf

[LEONARD]

Why don't you stream it?

It just stopped working...our IT guy can't figure out why. Something goofy with my WMP...

[Evan]

1. NBA/mma

I probably need to have the NFL and MMA tied but I have so much tied into the NFL history wise. I have lived and died with so many seasons its hard to put something next to it.

There just isn't enough of me curling up into a ball on the floor crying moments like when Cro Cop fell to the caveman and GSP being ko'd to match up to the sheer misery I have experienced as a Cowboy fan since I started watching football.

There just haven't been enough highs and lows yet since it is all so new. That’s the only reason MMA is number 2.

[Evan]

It just stopped working...our IT guy can't figure out why. Something goofy with my WMP...


I think you can use winamp as well. Just paste the URL.

[desflood]

Mma
Hockey

That's about it :lol As far as most of the rest of the pro sports go, I'd almost rather watch the WWE, frankly. Too many whining rich brats for my taste. Occasionally I'll manage to catch a Tiger's game down here, though.

[LEONARD]

I think you can use winamp as well. Just paste the URL.

I'd try that if I could find the URL??? :oops

[Evan]

I'd try that if I could find the URL??? :oops

try this first

http://www.streamaudio.com/stations/player/pages/index.aspheadertext=SportsRadio 1310 The Ticket&Station=KTCK_AM

I will send you a couple work arounds today or tomorrow to your email. Half of everything is blocked here at work so I can't remember the steps unless my laptop is in front of me.

[LEONARD]

Tried that one...no luck. :madrun

Tried this one from IE, Firefox, and Winamp...nothing... :madrun
http://www.streamaudio.com/stations/asx/ktck_am.asx

[Evan]

Have you completely deleted WMP and installed a new version?

[LEONARD]

Have you completely deleted WMP and installed a new version?

Nope...

[Evan]

Nope...

thats what I had to do when I started running Vista

[LEONARD]

Hmmm...I'm still on 2000 Pro. I'm supposed to get Vista sometime...our IT guy didn't mess with the problem anymore because of that.

[Evan]

Hmmm...I'm still on 2000 Pro. I'm supposed to get Vista sometime...our IT guy didn't mess with the problem anymore because of that.

Thats the problem methinks.

Surprised firefox works with that!

[Evan]

Fight through the junk and your problem should be answered better here.

http://bobanddan.net/forums/index.php?PHPSESSID=8ab12905f496f9c7e69f8bd745dfa1 15&topic=5390.0

[Evan]

Wanderlei needs a gym and a home.

http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles.asp?n_id=8390

I guanrentee Randy is trying to contact him.

[LEONARD]

Fight through the junk and your problem should be answered better here.

http://bobanddan.net/forums/index.php?PHPSESSID=8ab12905f496f9c7e69f8bd745dfa1 15&topic=5390.0

LOL...f'n P1's!! :lol

[LEONARD]

Wanderlei needs a gym and a home.

http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles.asp?n_id=8390

I guanrentee Randy is trying to contact him.

Would be sweet if he did...

There is supposed to be a huge Chute Boxe gym opening in CA later this year... (I think I heard that on SD radio?)

[Evan]

There is already one there and Evan Tanner trains there.

http://www.chuteboxe-usa.com/school.php

[LEONARD]

There is already one there and Evan Tanner trains there.

http://www.chuteboxe-usa.com/school.php

That one has been around a while...I could've swore they said a huge new facility was being built right now...

[LEONARD]

The premier of ShoXC Friday night on Showtime at 10 pm CT...

-Edson Berto vs. K.J. Noons
-Jefferson "Tanque" Silva vs. Matt Lucas
-Jeremiah Metcalf vs. Aaron Wetherspoon
-Bobby McMasters vs. Muhsin Corbbrey

Mauro Ranallo and Stephen Quadros doing commentary.

Elite XC conference call notes...regarding ShoXC card Friday night, future of EliteXC, etc....
http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2007/07/24/conference-call-notes-for-debut-of-shoxc/

ShoXC fights will be on ProElite.com, but delayed after the Showtime broadcast.
Will be 4 ShoXC cards in 2007.
Discussion about changing up the weight classes and concerns about extreme weight cutting.
2 more Elite / Strikeforce cards with Frank Shamrock on the card.
No plans as of now to start testing for steroids.
Interested in Frank Trigg.
A deal with Sokoudjou will NOT happen as he got an offer from somebody else that was higher (probably K-1).

Sept 15th EliteXC card
Nick Diaz vs TBA
Murilo “Ninja” Rua probably taking on Robbie Lawler for EliteXC MW belt.

Keep an eye on EliteXC. They're possibly buying King of the Cage, Gladiator Challenge, and Icon Sport...that's a decent talent pool.

[dallaskd]

Curious…

For all mma fans here, what are your favorite sport when its all said and done? Mine is for sure the NFL, then MMA next soccer.

NCCA Football
NCAA Baskeball
MMA
NFL
NBA
MLB
World Cup Fútbol
Poker
Hockey

[Evan]

Lots of NCAA folks who are close MMA fans!

Nick Diaz

Elite XC

http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=4387&zoneid=13

[Evan]

mmaweekly rankings...Matt Serra at number 1 for ww. I think I would still put Matt Hughes or GSP at the top. I know he has the title but he has yet to defend it.

http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=4389&zoneid=2

No BJ?

[LEONARD]

mmaweekly rankings...Matt Serra at number 1 for ww. I think I would still put Matt Hughes or GSP at the top. I know he has the title but he has yet to defend it.

http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=4389&zoneid=2

No BJ?

I too thought it was odd that Serra jumped to #1 after beating GSP (I think he was barely in the top 10 at the time??) given the way guys have moved in the rankings for the other divisions...I think he's going to get smoked by Hughes. I wish they both could lose!!

BJ should be ranked at LW and WW...and he's neither. I don't get that...

I noticed Stevenson replaced Shrek on the top 10...

[Evan]

I think they quickly took out Diaz after Gomi....

these guys are tough!

[LEONARD]

I think they quickly took out Diaz after Gomi....

these guys are tough!

Yep, he went from #5 or so to off the list...

[Evan]

They need to have an under 145 catagory.

And I know he is a tad over rated but Urijah belongs in the top 10 of A list somewhere.

[Evan]

Luke is the creepiest guy in mma and he fights at UFN11.

Luke Commo Vs Edilberto "Crocota" de Oliveira.


http://www.mmanews.com/ufc/Cummo-To-Fight-CroCota-At-UFC-Fight-Night-On-919.html

I have a write up one my blog where he drinks his own urine. Yup

[LEONARD]

They need to have an under 145 catagory.

And I know he is a tad over rated but Urijah belongs in the top 10 of A list somewhere.

Agreed...


Luke is the creepiest guy in mma and he fights at UFN11.

Luke Commo Vs Edilberto "Crocota" de Oliveira.

http://www.mmanews.com/ufc/Cummo-To-Fight-CroCota-At-UFC-Fight-Night-On-919.html

I have a write up one my blog where he drinks his own urine. Yup

Crocota might be the 2nd creepiest...lol

Good matchup... :fro

[Evan]

Jens Pulvers new books is absolutely great so far, I just got it yesterday.

I think it’s a Christian book though…not sure. Only 29 pages in.

[Evan]

UFCjunkie.com had it right.

Chuck is indeed fighting Jardine. I just got an email from the UFC.

OMG…….

I do not understand this fight

[LEONARD]

I've started uploading random videos to a dailymotion page...bookmark it if you'd like. It's a pain because sometimes videos get flagged for having copyrighted music or for having inappropriate content (I still haven't figured out why some fights are flagged and some aren't). I'm going to play around with making the videos private to see if that helps. Here's the page...
http://www.dailymotion.com/hankd3/1

gotta love some of the comments...this guy is quite the scholar...and he thinks Alexander is a top guy after KO'ing Jardine... :lol

"u kno jardines fighting liddell. thats asine cuz shoguns on that card. if they want shogun to fight liddell later so he gets past giters shogun shouldve fought jardine. machida is undefeated and has wins over franklin bannar and penn he should get a step up in liddell. of course alexander is a worthy opponent for liddell shogun or machida."


UFCjunkie.com had it right.

Chuck is indeed fighting Jardine. I just got an email from the UFC.

OMG…….

I do not understand this fight

I know...it's like Hughes getting Lytle after his loss. Get him back on track against a decent fighter that really has no chance.

I think we'll see Chuck vs Wanderlei Silva at UFC 79 on Dec 29th.

[Evan]

I was going to forward you the email I got on it but never mind. I am in shock at that fight and I need to eat a little "sh" after my comment knocking ufcjunkie for a bogus story. :)

Thanks for the dm link and I can't understand the flagging either. No rhyme or reason.

[LEONARD]

I was going to forward you the email I got on it but never mind. I am in shock at that fight and I need to eat a little "sh" after my comment knocking ufcjunkie for a bogus story. :)

Thanks for the dm link and I can't understand the flagging either. No rhyme or reason.

LOL...

It's weird. Some don't get flagged. Some a flagged as "explicit content" requiring you to login. And some it flags as offensive and the upload is discontinued. WTF?

[Evan]

I would be more ok with this if...

1. Chuck was younger

2. Jardine had won his last fight

[LEONARD]

more on Luke and Crocota... :lol
http://fightlinker.com/?p=359

another funny write-up on Crocota...
http://fightlinker.com/story.php?title=winner-creepiest-fighter-goes-to-1

I like this matchup actually...

-------Josh Haynes on "Ty Murray’s Celebrity Bull Riding Challenge" on CMT (Aug 10th premiere). Other cast members on the show include Vanilla Ice, Stephen Baldwin, Leif Garrett, Dan “Nitro” Clark, Francesco Quinn, “Rocket” Ismail, “Cowboy” Kenny Bartram and Jon “Jonny Fairplay” Dalton. Haynes also left Team Quest and is with Xtreme Couture in Vegas now.
http://ufcjunkie.com/2007/07/25/josh-haynes-celebrity-bull-rider/


I would be more ok with this if...

1. Chuck was younger

2. Jardine had won his last fight

Yep...Chuck is getting up there in age. That's my biggest problem with him getting a throw-away type fight (anything can happen, I guess)...

[LEONARD]

Huerta vs Crane appears to be the co-main at UFC 74...it's listed 2nd right now at least...
http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=eventDetail.FightCard&eid=760

And Lutter vs Jensen appears to be the swing bout??!! You'd think Lutter would be buried down the card more after not making weight.

And I swear...if we don't get to see Guida vs Aurelio it would be an injustice. It should be on the main card for sure... :madrun

The pushing of Huerta is REALLY getting annoying...I hope he gets sub'd by Crane... :toast

Order should be:

-Randy Couture (#5 HW) vs. Gabriel Gonzaga (#6 HW)
-Georges St. Pierre (#2 WW) vs. Josh Koscheck (#4 WW)
-Joe Stevenson vs. Kurt Pellegrino
-Roger Huerta vs Alberto Crane
-Marcus Aurelio vs. Clay Guida
-Kendall Grove vs. Patrick Cote
-Frank Mir vs Antoni Hardonk
-Renato "Babalu" Sobral vs. David Heath
-Travis Lutter vs. Ryan Jensen

[Evan]

Sean Sherk...

Dude is gonna take a beating...

" I will be at the Buckle in the mall of America this Saturday from 9am-12pm. If you live in the Minnesota area come get your Sherk Affliction shirt and I'll sign it for you!!"

[Evan]

he also sent this out

" I have a myspace page so I can hear and talk with my fans. If you are not a fan of mine do not send me emails and delete me from your account. Do not send me an email message saying things that you would not be willing to say to my face!!!"

[LEONARD]

UFCjunkie.com had it right.

Chuck is indeed fighting Jardine. I just got an email from the UFC.

OMG…….

I do not understand this fight

Fightlinker was saying the same thing you were...

http://fightlinker.com/?p=362

[Evan]

Thats a cool blog...trying to find his email to exchange links. I was debating being so opinionated when I started. I am sure he has to delete some nasty replies. lol

Anyway, he is using a bad bad bad theme. I had "misty look" up and running and it has problems ahoy. IE 7 does not like that theme and the side bar has massive bugs. I would warn him but its none of my business. Its a shame because the theme is so easily customizable and "blogger friendly" when it works right. The author has abandoned helping users of his blog and is only focusing on helping people using his purchased blogs.

[Evan]

found it

[LEONARD]

Robbie Lawler will be a guest coach with Hughes on TUF 6
http://www.mmascoops.com/news.php?page=/187426347

Shogun says he is amazed at the treatment he's getting from the UFC
http://www.mmascoops.com/news.php?page=/187313903

[LEONARD]

Thats a cool blog...trying to find his email to exchange links. I was debating being so opinionated when I started. I am sure he has to delete some nasty replies. lol

Anyway, he is using a bad bad bad theme. I had "misty look" up and running and it has problems ahoy. IE 7 does not like that theme and the side bar has massive bugs. I would warn him but its none of my business. Its a shame because the theme is so easily customizable and "blogger friendly" when it works right. The author has abandoned helping users of his blog and is only focusing on helping people using his purchased blogs.

He's very opinionated... :lol

[LEONARD]

"Get off me"
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k231/combatchaz/get.gif

[cornbread]

:lmao

[LEONARD]

Joe Rogan will be in studio at The Ticket in Dallas in about 10 min's (12:30'ish)...can stream it here if you care to listen...
http://theticket.com/listen.htm

I'm going to his show Saturday night :fro

[Evan]

listening at home.

There is no way I am going to make it Saturday

[LEONARD]

No choking out or even pretending anymore because of lawsuits from people that posed with Liddell and Hughes, then turned around and sued...

Not a lot of UFC talk...just about how big MMA has gotten and how they're going all over the world now.

Lots of Mencia talk...

[Evan]

There is a picture in realfighter from last year where some guy had Hughes choke him out and it looked vicious since the guys face was contorted in pain and he was red.

The caption stated his neck hurt so bad he couldn't eat that night. I wonder if thats it.

Its the issue with Franklin on the cover if you can find a scan of it.

[atxrocker]

"Get off me"
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k231/combatchaz/get.gif


:lmao i swear to god rampage is one of my favorite fighters ever.

[LEONARD]

Luke at http://bloodyelbow.com/ has a funny write-up on his blog in regards to this article in the Washington post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/24/AR2007072401564_2.html

Where Leonard Shapiro said:

Wouldn't it be nice to forever ban Ultimate Fighting from the airwaves, not to mention the pages of my favorite Washington newspaper? It's gratuitous street fighting violence, pure and simple, and spare me the mixed martial arts garbage or readership surveys that say it appeals to potential 18- to 34-year-old readers. You watch this stuff, you don't read.

Luke's response letter to Mr Shapiro:
http://www.bloodyelbow.com/story/2007/7/26/111511/516

Dear Len Shapiro,

I'm begging you: please tell me where you live.

No, I'm not an Internet stalker. No, I'm not going to come to your house after tracking you down on Google Maps. I don't care to even see you personally. I just want to know where you live.

You see, after reading the following comment you made about "ultimate fighting" in your column yesterday in the Washington Post, I knew I needed to find out where you hang your hat:

Wouldn't it be nice to forever ban Ultimate Fighting from the airwaves, not to mention the pages of my favorite Washington newspaper? It's gratuitous street fighting violence, pure and simple, and spare me the mixed martial arts garbage or readership surveys that say it appeals to potential 18- to 34-year-old readers. You watch this stuff, you don't read.

Oh, Lenny. How lucky you are! To live in a place where uncouth, out-of-shape, unknowledgeable street thugs and bored teenagers actually fight as well as professional athletes, Division I National Champion wrestlers, Olympic wrestlers and medal winners, Olympic judokas and medal winners, Olympic boxers, professional boxers, K-1 World Champion kickboxers, and Mundial winners must be a real treat.

Mr. Shapiro, you must tell what streets you walk by where these fights take place. To think that I've been wasting all this money watching these events when they're in my own backyard makes me sick! But hey, now that I know there are alleys in the metro area where I can see the same thing, I'm on easy street. And really, shouldn't I stop training? It's really, really hard and painful. I have to learn all sorts of terribly difficult skills. If all I have to do is find a back alley, that'd be much easier on my body.

I mean, how lucky you must be! You get to see fights in your own backyard that would make 4-time All American and Division I National Champion wrestler Josh Koscheck blush! How embarrassed must Olympic wrestlers like Dan Henderson and Olympic Silver Medalist Matt Lindland be to learn drunk rednecks are as skilled as they! How sad it must make Gold Medal judoka Hidehiko Yoshida to know his years of training can be duplicated by two obese losers in a back alley! How upsetting it must be for Olympic boxer Antonio Rogerio Nogueira to know any street kid can box as well as he without the slightest bit of training! How terrible professional boxers like Jeremy Williams must feel after realizing all you need to do to learn his skills is throw a haymaker or two! How mad must K-1 world champs like Mark Hunt must be! And how disappointed must BJ Penn, Marcio Cruz, Renaldo Souza, Roger Gracie, and others must feel knowing their expertise in jiu-jitsu - borne out of incredible sacrifice and training - becomes worthless in the INCREDIBLE streets where Len Shapiro lives!

Len, I must know what alleys and streets you traverse. Don't you realize I could make a fortune?!?!? I wouldn't need to pay highly-skilled, highly-trained, highly-athletic, highly accomplished professional fighters thousands of dollars to fight! All I need are some coordinates to your neighborhood and I can see the exact same thing. Man, are you one lucky guy or what?!

Well, I was going to train tonight, but why bother? I was going to learn some Greco-roman wrestling (you know, the Olympic sport?) takedowns this evening. Then I was going to take a lesson on how striking in mixed martial arts is completely different than boxing or kickboxing because of the necessity of takedown defense and power distribution through the stance alters what is and is not allowed, but what's the point? I'm just going to head over to your neighborhood where I'll be magically transformed into the professional athlete I've always wanted to be. Why sacrifice time with friends and family for years? Why be called "street fighters" by ignorant columnists who don't have the slightest clue what they're talking about? Why spend years learning a craft when all I need to is throw a wild, off-balance, haymaker at someone else and I can get the same thing?

So Mr. Shapiro: are you going to help me out or what? Please, I beg of you. Tell me what alley you're in where you see anything approximating what's on television. No one else in the world is able to do it. Everyone else with a mammalian brain keeps telling me that mixed martial artists are experts in wrestling, judo, jiu-jitsu, thai boxing, western boxing, and other forms of combat athletics. But apparently that's not the case. Apparently you know a street where any yokel who shows up can put on the exact same display.

I must know where this is. Won't you help me?

Sincerely,

Luke Thomas
BloodyElbow.com
Freelance Writer for Real Fighter Magazine
Senior Writer for MMA Madness
Host of MMA.tv's WhoopAss Radio
Host of Any Given Saturday
Television Color Commentator for Washington, D.C.'s Mixed Martial Arts Championships

----

Shapiro's response:

Luke,
Glad to see you can read and write. Let's agree to disagree, okay, but I really do love it when these athletes start whaling away on their faces and heads. It's great sport.

Len Shapiro

----

To which Luke responded:

Len,
I agree to disagree insofar as you're more than welcome to not like mixed martial arts. That's perfectly fine. But like it or not, anyone with even a cursory knowledge of MMA understands just how much of a sport it is.

Luke

[LEONARD]

There is a picture in realfighter from last year where some guy had Hughes choke him out and it looked vicious since the guys face was contorted in pain and he was red.

The caption stated his neck hurt so bad he couldn't eat that night. I wonder if thats it.

Its the issue with Franklin on the cover if you can find a scan of it.

could be...they said it was a copy that posed with Hughes...

[Evan]

telling you guys...real fighter is awesome. $15 a year. Buy it.

[IX_Equilibrium]

Holy shit! Cummo pwned the fuck out of that guy!

[LEONARD]

Marcus Aurelio interview...
http://www.mmanews.com/ufc/MMANews.com-Exclusive-Interview-With-Marcus-Aurelio.html

Complete Idiot's Guide to "Ultimate Fighting"...I have a feeling that JPG's of this book cover will be used as retorts on forums all over the world for years to come...
http://ufcjunkie.com/2007/07/26/rich-franklin-co-author-of-the-complete-idiots-guide-to-ultimate-fighting/

Some Pride fights are on "UFC on Demand" now...which explains why the new Pride/Zuffa company is yanking stuff from youtube, etc...
http://fightlinker.com/?p=368


Holy shit! Cummo pwned the fuck out of that guy!

That wasn't Luke Cummo homie :wakeup :lol

[LEONARD]

The latest on Fedor in the UFC...his participation in Combat Sambo is the biggest snag at this point...
http://www.sherdog.com/news/interviews.asp?n_id=8422
http://ufcjunkie.com/2007/07/27/report-ufc-is-highest-bidder-in-fedor-sweepstakes/

Sherdog.com: As Fedor’s manager, can you please fill us in on the current state of his contract negotiations.

VF: At the moment we are in negotiations with a number of organizations who have put offers on the table. I’ll be blunt in saying that the UFC offer is the most financially attractive one. However they are very harsh in their terms and are not very flexible in actually negotiating them.

Fedor has now been the PRIDE heavyweight champion for four years and I think we have earned the right to negotiate a contract that suits both parties. Instead we are faced with a blunt “you are either in or you’re out.” This does not really suit us. If the negotiations continue in a similar manner, we’ll prefer to fight for less money but with an organization which is more flexible.

The problem is that Fedor is the face of Combat Sambo in Russia. His popularity is at a level where he is acquainted with president Putin himself, in part because he is so successful and well known for Combat Sambo here.

Combat Sambo is a Russian sport that’s not at a level of difficulty of MMA, but is hugely popular with our public. Fedor must represent Russia in Combat Sambo and at world championships, specifically the ones coming up in September. All we want him to do is compete something like once a year in Combat Sambo. But the UFC is not happy with that.

Their proposal has all kinds of clauses, all kinds of fines etc. that do not suit us. The UFC is not really that eager to communicate and negotiate. The negotiations are still continuing, and we will try very hard to get our demands met, if not Fedor will simply not compete in the UFC, even though that will be unfortunate as they currently have one of the, if not the, strongest, heavyweight divisions in the world.

[LEONARD]

ShoXC wrap-up...was a pretty good night of fights. You can probalby watch them on proelite.com...
http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles.asp?n_id=8425

------------

UFC 74 site is up...
http://74.ufc.com/

It's beyond me how they can not have a picture of certain guys. Marcus Aurelio has fought in Pride for the last 3 yrs and they don't have a picture? Not even a mugshot on ufc.com!
http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=eventDetail.FightCard&eid=760

Jeez...

------------

UFC releases Shogun promo video...not surprisingly it's missing his brutality against Rampage, and any stomps or soccer kicks...
http://mmaannotation.blogspot.com/2007/07/zuffa-releases-shogun-promo-video.html

So here it is if you haven't seen it lately.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2n1h6_mauricio-shogun-rua-vs-quinton-ramp_extreme

I'm a huge Rampage fan but watching that fight you have to feel bad for him. You can tell when his rib was broken and it just got worse from there...

------------

I miss the Pride ref cam!!
http://ufcmania.com/2007/07/27/friday-fight-fun-video-third-man-mma-ref-cam/

and the blood red towels are cool too... :lol

------------

Joe Lauzon's brother Dan challenges Gabe Ruediger to a fight...or a cake eating contest... (fighters have green names...Dan is "The Upgrade"...Gabe is "Godzilla"...Joe is "Baby Joe Lauzon"
http://www.mma.tv/tuf/index.cfm?ac=ListMessages&PID=1&TID=1094791&FID=1&pc=715

------------

Checkout "Human Weapon" on the History Channel if you haven't yet (9:00 CT on Friday nights).

Jason Chambers is one of the hosts...
http://www.sherdog.com/fightfinder/fightfinder.asp?FighterID=4430

He's been posting updates on the show on the UG forum. There will be an MMA episode with Couture, Forrest, etc...
http://www.mma.tv/tuf/index.cfm?ac=ListMessages&PID=1&TID=1100190&FID=1&pc=35

and a Sambo episode with Fedor??? Hope so...
http://www.mma.tv/tuf/index.cfm?ac=ListMessages&PID=1&TID=1100157&FID=1&pc=27

[Evan]

"Joe Lauzon's brother Dan challenges Gabe Ruediger to a fight...or a cake eating contest... (fighters have green names...Dan is "The Upgrade"...Gabe is "Godzilla"...Joe is "Baby Joe Lauzon""

I needed that laugh.

[LEONARD]

Glad you got a kick out of that Evan :lol

60 Minutes is re-airing their MMA segment from January on Sunday night...
http://ufcjunkie.com/2007/07/28/60-minutes-to-re-air-mma-segment-on-sunday/

[LEONARD]

Chuck picked Jardine from this list: Jardine, Shogun, Ryoto Machida, and Nakamura...
http://www.ufccountdown.com/news/chuck-liddell-chose-to-fight-jardine/
http://www.mmascoops.com/news.php?page=/187513689

[dallaskd]

Chuck picked Jardine from this list: Jardine, Shogun, Ryoto Machida, and Nakamura...
http://www.ufccountdown.com/news/chuck-liddell-chose-to-fight-jardine/
http://www.mmascoops.com/news.php?page=/187513689

:lol

wonder why..

[dallaskd]

Although im sure Chuck could pick apart Kazuhiro just as easily

[dallaskd]

ufc.com STILL doesnt have a picture of big nog in his profile

[Evan]

:lol

wonder why..

Wants an easier bounce back fight.

Honestly I think this could be a very cool stand up fight but I just think its too rewarding for Jardine and "spinning tires" for Chuck.

With that said, Chuck has fought and beaten some of the best so I suppose he deserves it.

[dallaskd]

Really Chuck could beat anyone on that list except maybe Shogun. Id still give Chuck a good shot to take that too.

[Evan]

Oh my.........

From MMQB on cnnsi.com

Quote of the Week II
"I believe Vick had a passion for dogfighting. I know many athletes who share his passion. The allure is the intensity and the challenge of a dogfighting to the death. It's like ultimate fighting, but the dog doesn't tap out when he knows he can't win."

-- Deion Sanders, in a column for the Fort Myers News-Press.

All I can say is this: These players, and player-sympathizers who write about the quasi-justification of NFL players being involved in this detestable bloodsport, need to start understanding what the rest of us in the United States think. Dogfighting is sick, and whoever participates in it is equally sick.

[LEONARD]

I keep seeing / hearing idiotic comparisons of dog fighting and "ultimate fighting" but they couldn't be more different... :rolleyes

[2centsworth]

I keep seeing / hearing idiotic comparisons of dog fighting and "ultimate fighting" but they couldn't be more different... :rolleyesThere was a reason Kimbo Slice had a following. In a lot of cases, bare knuckles fighting is just a couple of notches above dog fighting. However, the fighting that takes place in the UFC and organizations like it have a lot of skill in them and should be considered sports.


The following is pretty freakin close to human dog fighting.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=qRndfl3TZ7U

[Evan]

There was a reason Kimbo Slice had a following. In a lot of cases, bare knuckles fighting is just a couple of notches above dog fighting. However, the fighting that takes place in the UFC and organizations like it have a lot of skill in them and should be considered sports.

Interesting point. I think a lot of people agree with you.

[Evan]

Looks like Jake Shields and Frank Trigg may be off.
http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=4417&zoneid=2

In my opinion Trigg is the perfect example of how important focus and heart is in an athlete.

I think Frank Trigg is a possible elite talent but will never really content for a title because I think he cares more about the other aspects of MMA besides fighting. I am not criticising him, just saying. If he had Titos heart and focus he would be unstoppable. As much as I think Tito is overrated I truly belive he wants to win.

[LEONARD]

Dana discusses roids
http://sports.espn.go.com/extra/mma/news/story?id=2956319

Hmmmmmmmm...so Dana is making some changes to the UFC's policies afterall??? :oops

ESPN The Magazine: What changes do you plan to make?
White: Moving forward, I am putting the b---- slap on guys who get caught using steroids from here on out. The fighters make a lot of money. I have all these nickel-and-dimers starting up leagues, and they don't steal fighters from me. There are a lot of morons out there throwing money around, and nobody's leaving me. When what you're selling is human beings competing against each other, there are always going to be issues, man. Personal problems. Contract issues. There are always problems.

ESPN The Magazine: But what is the punishment? What are you going to do?
White: They're not going to get paid. I take care of all of my guys. If you fight your ass off for me, you'll get paid. But what I'm going to do is: I'm going to wait and see if they pass their drug tests. If they don't, you're going to get paid what's in your contract and that's it.

ESPN The Magazine: So you're going to pay the guaranteed money but any fight bonuses would be withheld? That's not a slap on the wrist.
White: No, that's a kick in the nuts, and they know that.

--------------------

Also...this is funny, especially considering Gross specifically mentioned the test results from Ireland in his "Open Letter" to Dana and Dana specifically ignored it in his response. That wasn't the only time it's been brought up either...

ESPN The Magazine: Another issue that's been brought up is the lack of drug testing at the overseas events.
White: There was only one event that didn't have drug testing. There was one event in the U.K. where things were moving too fast and we were trying to figure out how to do it. But we did drug test in Ireland, we just never made it public and nobody ever asked.

ESPN The Magazine: Did anybody test positive?
White: No, nobody tested positive. I'm not lying or B.S.-ing. Nobody tested positive. If they did, I would tell you. The reason it's never been out there is because nobody ever asked me or Marc Ratner.

:drunk

[Evan]

I saw that. I hope Gross doesn't try to take credit for any changes.

But I give him to credit for making it public.

TUF season 6. I know the show has taken a step back but I like it and I can't wait.

http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=4422&zoneid=13

[LEONARD]

Couture was on Rome is Burning on Tuesday... (link to the video is on the right side of the page)
http://search.espn.go.com/keyword/search?searchString=ufc


I saw that. I hope Gross doesn't try to take credit for any changes.

But I give him to credit for making it public.

TUF season 6. I know the show has taken a step back but I like it and I can't wait.

http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=4422&zoneid=13

I don't think Gross is the type to do that...Kevin Iole of Yahoo sports called Dana out before Gross did actually...

I look forward to every TUF season... :fro

Mac Danzig FTW!

[Evan]

I think this will be a great season.

This should be the first generation of new MMA fighters since MMA has exploded and I think this generation will be insane in a few years.

[dallaskd]

"Nobody is ever forced to fight."

-Dana White

:lol

[LEONARD]

Best episode of Tapout so far last night...

Appearances by...

Marc Laimon
Kendall Grove
Matt Hughes
Bang Ludwig
Greg Jackson
Nate Marquardt
Leonard Garcia

and a decent fight at the end... :fro

[Evan]

If you guys have never seen it, check out the World Combat League. Its some old school Martial Arts in a tournament format and showcases some specific disciplines which can at times be a nice change grom mma. Its some good stuff.

http://www.worldcombatleague.com/schedule.html

[Evan]

Wow…sherdog sure is covering the IFL on the front page. Once upon a time they covered the UFC this heavily. Wish those two would make up….

It will never happen.

[oligarchy]

Chuck picked Jardine from this list: Jardine, Shogun, Ryoto Machida, and Nakamura...
http://www.ufccountdown.com/news/chuck-liddell-chose-to-fight-jardine/
http://www.mmascoops.com/news.php?page=/187513689

http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=4436&zoneid=2

"They talked to me about fighting Wanderlei in September, and I said, 'Yeah, that's fine. Cool. Perfect.' Then I heard it fell out. I assumed they were going to put me with Shogun [Rua] because I knew he was on the same card. I figured they would put me with Shogun, but they came to me and said they wanted me to fight Keith. I'm not complaining. I don't argue with people about who I'm going to fight. I fight whoever they tell me to," explained Liddell.

He added, "The way I've always done it is they ask me if I want to fight on this day. I say, 'Yes, so by the way, who am I fighting?'"

[LEONARD]

Penn video interview...he has some HSO's on steroids...
http://ufcmania.com/2007/08/01/video-an-alcohol-free-bj-penn-eyes-two-titles-bashes-cheaters/

Poor Tim Sylvia... :oops
http://www.sherdog.net/forums/showthread.php?t=615060

Couture was on Rome is Burning on Tuesday... (video)
http://ufcmania.com/2007/08/01/video-ufcs-randy-couture-on-espn-rome-is-burning/

Luke Cummo gets even weirder!! WTF?
http://fightlinker.com/?p=384

Football, Hockey, and MMA
http://fightlinker.com/?p=393

Miami Dolphin defensive lineman trains MMA in the offseason
http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070801/SPORTS/708010377/1002/SPORTS

[2centsworth]

Finally saw the post fight interviews of the Rashad Evans Tito Ortiz fight. Damn Rashad is a bitch. Hope Tito knocks his ass out.

I know I'm late, but bare with me.

[Evan]

Finally saw the post fight interviews of the Rashad Evans Tito Ortiz fight. Damn Rashad is a bitch. Hope Tito knocks his ass out.

I know I'm late, but bare with me.

Your not late, your just not overly obsessed at an unhealthy level! :p:


If you really want to hate Rashad watch his fist fight of TUF season 2. He acts like an idiot in the octagon. Total hotshot and I have "hated" him ever since.

[dallaskd]

Poor Tim Sylvia... :oops
http://www.sherdog.net/forums/showthread.php?t=615060

:lol

[Evan]

dallaskd....your av killds me....:(

[dallaskd]

dallaskd....your av killds me....:(

Its motivation.

[LEONARD]

Couture and Gonzaga on ESPNEWS Hot List today (Video link)...Gonzaga speaking English for a change...
http://ufcmania.com/2007/08/03/white-couture-and-gonzaga-on-espnews-today/

[dallaskd]

Diego Sanchez engaged to Ali Sonoma?

http://www.ufcgirls.com/post/459/ali-sonoma-soon-to-be-ali-sanchez-diegos-tying-the-knot/

[Evan]

Supposedly Dana is not happy about that.

[dallaskd]

Either way Diego is one lucky bitch

[dallaskd]

Anyone who has seen world combat league, explain it to me. I saw it on vs network before the wec event. i dont get it, is it mma?

[Evan]

Anyone who has seen world combat league, explain it to me. I saw it on vs network before the wec event. i dont get it, is it mma?

Not its specific fighting disciplines with a scoring system and out of bounds.

Muay Thai Vs Kickboxing etc.

The rules have changed this year so I am not 100% sure what this season will be like.