September 2nd, 2007
You are currently browsing the articles from MMA Factor written on September 2nd, 2007.
From Sherdog.com:
“To My Family, Friends, Fans and Sponsors: Since UFC 74, I have wanted to speak publicly about my fight with David Heath. I waited to do so, however, out of respect for the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Zuffa, Inc. and Dana White. After all, it is their efforts that have legitimized Mixed Martial Arts in the sports world and I realize that my conduct has unintentionally hindered those efforts. For that, among other things, I am deeply sorry.
I have been fighting professionally since 1998. Prior to my fight with David Heath, my professional record was twenty-seven wins with seven losses. Fourteen of my victories came by way of submission. Not once was I ever accused of holding a choke or submission too long. If anything, there has always been and continues to be a great camaraderie between my opponents and I after the fight.
Being a professional mixed martial artist is more than a career to me. It is my livelihood and my way of life. Consequently, I am deeply sorry for any embarrassment that has been brought upon the sport, other mixed martial artists (especially David Heath, my Academy and most importantly, my family.
As if the embarrassment were not enough, my actions during the fight with David and my comments afterwards, have already resulted in severe financial loss to my family because as you know, in addition to my win bonus still being withheld, yesterday I was released from my contract with the UFC.
There has been much talk about things that may have been said to me by David Heath at the weigh-in. What David said to me at the weigh-in didn’t matter then and doesn’t matter now. What matters are my comments after the fight. And, regardless of what you may read by so called MMA experts on the internet, I never said that I purposefully choked-out David Heath. In short, my post-fight comments, while inappropriate, were not intended to be comments about the choke. Rather, they were intended to be comments about the aggressive performance that I put in.
I did not intentionally choke out David Heath. The first that I realized that David had tapped was when people told me that he did after the fight. When I finally had the chance to view the tape, I see that he did. When David tapped, I did not feel it. I wish I did for I would have let it go. Instead, I continued to hold it. Not because I was upset or wanted him to lose consciousness. I held it because I didn’t know he tapped and I was intent on winning the fight. Holding on to a choke a little long is not an uncommon mistake made in training, and never in my career have I witnessed or heard of an injury resulting from it.
When I had the choke, I was not looking the referee in the eyes as one commentator erroneously observed. Nor did I hear the referee issue any verbal command to release the hold. Instead, my head was down to strengthen the move and my eyes closed with focus. As a result, I did not feel the referee tap me the first time either. It was not until he put his hands on my right shoulder that I felt him trying to separate us. When I felt this, I immediately released the choke.
After this morning’s hearing I traveled to the UFC’s office to meet with Dana White. Contrary to recent reports in the media, this meeting was not to discuss my being released from the UFC. In fact, this meeting was arranged prior to my even being released from the contract. The purpose of the meeting was for me to personally apologize to Dana while at the same time thank him for all the opportunities that the UFC has given to my family and I. Unfortunately, I was unable to meet with Dana due to a calendaring error Nevertheless, thanks Dana and my apologies.
I am a professional fighter. This is what I do for a living. I do not hold a day job and then train at night to fight. I know nothing else but how to fight. This is how I support my family.
On behalf of my family and friends, I appreciate the support that you have given me over the years, not to mention in the recent week, and I am hopeful that I will have the opportunity to fight again in the State of Nevada. Thank you.
RENATO “BABALU” SOBRAL
For more background on this situation check out this UFCmania.com archive.
Written by admin on September 2nd, 2007 with comments disabled.
Read more articles on UFC Light Heavyweight Division and David Heath and UFC 74 and Renato "Babalu" Sobral and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and MMA.
Former UFC Middleweight Champion Rich “Ace” Franklin has co-authored a book entitled, “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Ultimate Fighting,” which is set to hit bookshelves this Tuesday, September 4.
We’re thinking of making it required reading for the questionable posters that some times pop up around here (sarcasm, folks). To reserve a copy right now click here.
Franklin will also be the focus of an upcoming half-hour pilot television program dubbed, “American Fighter,” according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. And no, he will not fly planes.
Here’s a snip:
“Franklin, 32, a former Oak Hills High School math teacher, will tell inspirational stories about people fighting against the odds…. The pilot features Joe Garvey, 21, of Bright, Ind., learning to walk after a crippling ATV accident seven years ago.”
Fans can catch the debut of “American Fighter” at the Madison Theater in Covington, Ohio, at 6:30 p.m. on September 14. The goal, according to the report, is to eventually get the show on basic cable.
If the publishing and television deals don’t work out for Franklin he can still fall back on his bread and butter, mixed martial arts.
In fact, he’s booked to rematch Anderson Silva at UFC 77: “Hostile Territory” at the U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio, on October 20. And if that doesn’t work out, well, he can always fall back on teaching.
It’s great to have so many options (more sarcasm).
Written by admin on September 2nd, 2007 with comments disabled.
Read more articles on Rich Franklin and UFC Middleweight Division and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and MMA.
“I don’t like to talk about contract negotiations with the public — but it didn’t go well. These guys are crazy.”
– UFC President tells CBSSports.com that negotiations to sign PRIDE FC Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko this past Thursday did not go as planned. For more on the Russian side of things check out Sherdog.com.
Written by admin on September 2nd, 2007 with comments disabled.
Read more articles on Dana White and Fedor Emelianenko and UFC Heavyweight Division and UFC Quick Quotes and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and MMA.
UFC fighter Sean Salmon lost in a match for the vacant IFO light heavyweight title in Las Vegas last night on a card promoted by Richard Steele’s Steele Cage Promotions. Salmon submitted to a guillotine choke applied by former UFC and Pride fighter Travis Wiuff at 3:37 of round one, according to UFCjunkie.com.
Salmon has one fight remaining on his UFC contract and is on temporary leave. The loss to Wiuff could trigger the UFC to release Salmon from his contract early, as that is typically the case with fighters who lose while on leave from the UFC.
UFC veterans Rich Clementi and Philadelphia-native Justin Levens both fought on the card as well. Clementi submitted Kyle Gibbons with a rear naked choke at 2:18 of round one while Levens lost for the seventh time in his last nine fights by dropping a unanimous decision to Nate James.
Written by admin on September 2nd, 2007 with comments disabled.
Read more articles on Travis Wiuff and Sean Salmon and Steele Cage Promotions and MMA.
The Art of War promotion held “Art of War III” in Dallas, TX last night in front of a reported 8,000 fans.
Pedro Rizzo defeated Jeff Monson in the show’s main event via a third round TKO.
Jeremy Horn fought on the card as well but was submitted Jorge Santiago in the first round. Horn tapped to a triangle choke and it was just the second time Horn has lost via submission since the turn of the century.
Other notable results include Ron Waterman defeating Mario Rinaldi via TKO and Alex Andrade TKO’d Fabiano Capoani in round two.
Written by admin on September 2nd, 2007 with comments disabled.
Read more articles on Art of War and Jeff Monson and Pedro Rizzo and MMA.
The third and final installment of my 2007 Fantasy Football preview (running backs) is now available by clicking here.
Written by admin on September 2nd, 2007 with comments disabled.
Read more articles on MMA and Uncategorized.
For those who may have missed it, Renato “Babalu” Sobral has issued a statement regarding his hearing before the Nevada State Athletic Commission along with an apology for his action at UFC 74 last Saturday…
To My Family, Friends, Fans and Sponsors:
Since UFC 74, I have wanted to speak publicly about my fight with David Heath. I waited to do so, however, out of respect for the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Zuffa, Inc. and Dana White. After all, it is their efforts that have legitimized Mixed Martial Arts in the sports world and I realize that my conduct has unintentionally hindered those efforts. For that, among other things, I am deeply sorry.
I have been fighting professionally since 1998. Prior to my fight with David Heath, my professional record was twenty-seven wins with seven losses. Fourteen of my victories came by way of submission. Not once was I ever accused of holding a choke or submission too long. If anything, there has always been and continues to be a great camaraderie between my opponents and I after the fight.
Being a professional mixed martial artist is more than a career to me. It is my livelihood and my way of life. Consequently, I am deeply sorry for any embarrassment that has been brought upon the sport, other mixed martial artists (especially David Heath), my Academy and most importantly, my family.
As if the embarrassment were not enough, my actions during the fight with David and my comments afterwards, have already resulted in severe financial loss to my family because as you know, in addition to my win bonus still being withheld, yesterday I was released from my contract with the UFC.
There has been much talk about things that may have been said to me by David Heath at the weigh-in. What David said to me at the weigh-in didn’t matter then and doesn’t matter now. What matters are my comments after the fight. And, regardless of what you may read by so called MMA experts on the internet, I never said that I purposefully choked-out David Heath. In short, my post-fight comments, while inappropriate, were not intended to be comments about the choke. Rather, they were intended to be comments about the aggressive performance that I put in.
I did not intentionally choke out David Heath. The first that I realized that David had tapped was when people told me that he did after the fight. When I finally had the chance to view the tape, I see that he did. When David tapped, I did not feel it. I wish I did for I would have let it go. Instead, I continued to hold it. Not because I was upset or wanted him to lose consciousness. I held it because I didn’t know he tapped and I was intent on winning the fight. Holding on to a choke a little long is not an uncommon mistake made in training, and never in my career have I witnessed or heard of an injury resulting from it.
When I had the choke, I was not looking the referee in the eyes as one commentator erroneously observed. Nor did I hear the referee issue any verbal command to release the hold. Instead, my head was down to strengthen the move and my eyes closed with focus. As a result, I did not feel the referee tap me the first time either. It was not until he put his hands on my right shoulder that I felt him trying to separate us. When I felt this, I immediately released the choke.
After [Friday’s] hearing [with the Nevada State Athletic Commission] I traveled to the UFC’s office to meet with Dana White. Contrary to recent reports in the media, this meeting was not to discuss my being released from the UFC. In fact, this meeting was arranged prior to my even being released from the contract. The purpose of the meeting was for me to personally apologize to Dana while at the same time thank him for all the opportunities that the UFC has given to my family and I. Unfortunately, I was unable to meet with Dana due to a calendaring error Nevertheless, thanks Dana and my apologies.
I am a professional fighter. This is what I do for a living. I do not hold a day job and then train at night to fight. I know nothing else but how to fight. This is how I support my family.
On behalf of my family and friends, I appreciate the support that you have given me over the years, not to mention in the recent week, and I am hopeful that I will have the opportunity to fight again in the State of Nevada.
Thank you.
RENATO ‘BABALU’ SOBRAL
Written by admin on September 2nd, 2007 with comments disabled.
Read more articles on Renato Sobral and MMA.
Ryan Shamrock, son of MMA legend Ken Shamrock made his MMA fighting debut on August 25th and won via submission (choke). I don’t know much about it other than that, or his weight class, but I believe he’s 140-145lbs. Regardless, he’s got a 1-0 pro MMA record so far, so good.
Written by admin on September 2nd, 2007 with comments disabled.
Read more articles on MMA.