Pretty heated stuff...
This is about as fast as I have ever seen an elite athlete fall in the eyes of fans or peers. I still support the guy but wow it's been rough watching him lately.
Fighters commenting on Mirko leaving the UFC
Kevin Randleman:
"My first response is oh well. I am not fighting in the UFC so it really doesn't matter to me one way or the other. Alot of people didn't believe in him anymore but he is good enough to win in the UFC. It takes time to adjust to the cage. I don't think it is good or bad for the sport and I am really not surprised that he left."
Mark Coleman:
"Basically, I could really care less. It was his choice, he came into the UFC and got whipped and now he left. I wouldn't say that I am suprised but now he is going to have to live with coming in, getting smashed and not finishing the job."
Bas Rutten:
"I feel bad to hear that he is leaving because I really wanted to see the Cro Cop that I knew from Japan because I think that he wasn't the same Cro Cop in the UFC, so I can understand if he wants to go to another organization. God Speed!!"
"Babalu" Sobral:
"I have heard of the new organization and I am surprised the UFC isn't suing him yet. Good for Cro Cop, he didn't have a good experience in the UFC so it is good that he is able to go fight somewhere else. He is a very good fighter."
Pretty heated stuff...
This is about as fast as I have ever seen an elite athlete fall in the eyes of fans or peers. I still support the guy but wow it's been rough watching him lately.
SOURCE: http://www.wanderleisilva.com.br/blog/
"I just arrived in Vegas and I'm heading to UFC's office to know more about my next fight. Everyone is talking about Jardine but there's nothing official yet, and I think it would be a good opponent because his style matches mine and he would be a good pick for my next fight. At the same time there will be the match between Anderson Silva and Dan Henderson which will be a great bout and if Henderson underdogs and wins I wouldn't think twice about dropping weight class to fight him. Respect on the side, I have him stuck on my throat since our last fight because I wasn't on my best days on that ocasion. I'm thinking seriously about changing my weight class on the UFC because I'm very small and the average fighter on here are 1.90cm (6’3).. and at the moment I'm only 1.80 (6'0).. there's been some time that I've been waiting.. but so far I haven't grown anything else and I believe my size will be this! Would you guys like to see me at another weight class? what do you think? I'll do my best to keep this blog updated and I'll keep you guys informed, including everything that happens with this friend [refering to him] that you have here on Vegas! A hug, stay with God!"
Wand definitely needs to drop...
and he's definitely NOT 6'...5'10" max...
Paul Buentello calls out Kimbo.
If this fight happens this will tell us everything we need to know about Kimbo.
http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/...5726&zoneid=13
Would be a great test IMO...at least to bring him up to the next tier...
Yeah you really can't ask for much more at this point and for where he is fighting.
Joe Lauzon highlight...includes grappling, MMA, and some front yard fights with his brother Dan...which look pretty damn heated!
http://mmamania.com/2008/02/18/backy...hlights-video/
Wow, Wandy sounds like a really cool guy. He should move down in weight i think as well.
His is 0-3 in his last 3. I think this massive humbling will be incredible for his future.
Dude is a massive beast that will hold a UFC le one day.
Wandy-Ortiz II would be a good way to work o out of the UFC and get Silva a win, but if o were to win it would be a huge mess. But I think Ortiz will beat Machida anyways.
Well, well well...
HDNet Fights Has Contract with Couture; Question is When It Begins
February 20, 2008
by Adam Swift ([email protected])
Last week Mark Cuban's HDNet Fights made headlines when it sued Zuffa, parent company of the UFC, in district court in Dallas. As first reported by Sherdog.com, the suit seeks declaratory relief concerning Randy Couture (Pictures)'s contractual status under a promotional contract with Zuffa.
New details of the action have been revealed in the complaint obtained by Sherdog.com. According to the filing, HDNet Fights has entered into a contract with Couture that is scheduled to commence upon the expiration of his Zuffa promotional agreement. At that time, the company plans to promote a fight between Couture and Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) in Dallas, assuming terms can be reached with the highly regarded Russian heavyweight.
The existence of an actual contract between HDNet Fights and Couture is believed to be key to the company's action in Texas. Without it, it is unlikely that the court would find an actual controversy ripe for adjudication.
According to the filing, Couture has stated that he believes his Zuffa promotional contract expires with the stated term of the agreement in July, while Zuffa maintains that the contract remains valid indefinitely under the infamous "retirement clause." In the complaint, HDNet Fights characterized Zuffa's contention as "outrageous."
"Zuffa's position regarding Couture is both illegal and involves critical timing," the filing states. "First, like all fighters, Couture's ability to fight at a championship level will diminish as he ages. Through their actions, Zuffa seeks to ensure that Couture is prevented from gainful employment and practicing his craft until he cannot be an elite fighter. Importantly, the law in Texas is clear that indefinite employment restrictions such as Zuffa claims to be enforcing are per se illegal and against public policy."
Both sides agree that the one-year non-compete provision contained in Couture's employment contract with the UFC expires on Oct. 12, meaning that even with a favorable outcome concerning the term of Couture's promotional contract, the earliest Couture-Fedor could take place would be in the fall.
The complaint also recognizes Zuffa as the undisputed market leader in the MMA industry.
"A key technique utilized by Zuffa to maintain their iron grip on the MMA industry is litigation and intimidation," the complaint reads. "Just a cursory review of court dockets in Nevada demonstrate the remarkably litigious nature of Zuffa and their willingness to tie their opponents down with expensive and lengthy court battles regardless of merits."
In a nod to pending litigation in Nevada, where Zuffa has sued Couture and as yet unnamed defendants for, among other things, conspiracy to commit tortous acts, the complaint notes that "HDNet did not want or intend in any way for such an agreement to induce or cause Couture to breach his UFC Fight Contract or any other agreement(s) he might have with Zuffa and/or UFC or to interfere with any valid contract that Couture might have."
Accordingly, HDNet Fights' contract with Couture will only become effective upon a declaration by the court that Zuffa's promotional agreement is void, invalid or unenforceable in whole or in part, or upon a declaration of the effective date on which Couture's contract with HDNet Fights may begin without violating any provisions of his contract with Zuffa.
“company plans to promote a fight between Couture and Fedor Emelianenko in DALLAS”
My goal is to get our lil buddy to somehow get me a pic with Fedor chocking me. I will be wearing a t-shirt with a can on it. Maybe a pic of Dana instead.
If Fedor did it for your brother hopefully he will do the same for me
Last edited by Evan; 02-20-2008 at 09:52 AM.
You can't do the can if he's fighting Randy, !!
I like the Dana idea...
My brother was wearing his Fedor shirt under his sweatshirt when we met Randy in Dec...it wasn't til afterwards that we realized we should've asked him if he'd choke him if he had a Fedor shirt on...that would've been a great pic!
In Dallas... oh, how did I miss THAT? Looks like the old man and I will be taking a road trip without the kids for once. Ya'll need to start recommending places for us to stay
Yeah I imagine my gf and I will just get a hotel room as well so we can enjoy the after parties.
But I still say the odds of this happening are slim to none.
if it's before the end of the year you best bring my $20!!
was it only $20? alrighty then. Still holds.
Imagine if Fedor or Randy doesn't sign to fight.....
bwaaaaaaaaaaa hahahahahahahah
Armageddon
It suprises me that he would risk his million dollar hands throwing bareknuckle punches at the Big Show's watermelon head. For somebody that goes to great lengths to protect and preserve his hands it seems like strange behavior.
Oops. Wrong thread.
Last edited by cornbread; 02-20-2008 at 07:32 PM.
Trailer for the new movie “Red Belt” featuring Couture
http://mmamania.com/2008/02/14/movie...randy-couture/
Goldberg HL's from last event
http://mmamania.com/2008/02/21/wwe-b...elitexc-video/
Sapp videos on ESPN...Strikeforce on Saturday on HDNet
http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2008/02/...beast-is-back/
Debut of "Inside Xtreme Couture" reality show...
http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2008/02/...t-now-on-5-oz/
Someone explain me this plot
A Sherdog.com writer actually said something sorta negative about Fedor which I am sure goes completely against company policy. I hope he gets his resume ready.
**********************************************
Fedor
You wrote in response to the first letter in your [letters] article that people don't realize that Zuffa tried [to make the Emelianenko/Randy Couture (Pictures) fight]. I agree they tried but to me the contract they offered (from what I know about it) basically "owned" Fedor. I for one am glad that he stood up to them. I say this as a fighter that probably won't ever have the power to make a difference like him. So, in a way he is standing up for the one-sided repressive contracts Zuffa offers. - Name withheld by request
The UFC was set to make Emelianenko a multi-millionaire, offer him the toughest compe ion available and likely provide a U.S. portal to market his image with merchandise, gym affiliations and the inevitable action figure. (Naked Russian Sauna Fedor being the rare variant.) That's not exactly slave labor.
It's been nearly six months since he signed with M-1 Global, and the company has yet to even announce an event. There are rumors of infighting in the organization, with the American and Russian arms having disparate ideas of how to proceed. Emelianenko doesn't appear to have a solid promotional foundation underneath him, which is one thing the UFC could've easily provided.
There's a lot to be said for job security, particularly when the market for non-Zuffa MMA is volatile at best, guaranteed bankruptcy at worst. I don't think Emelianenko made the right decision. We'll see.
http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles.asp?n_id=11474
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