Yesterday FiveOuncesOfPain.com was the first outlet to report that Ben Rothwell and Mike Whitehead had been removed from the IFL’s upcoming World Grand Prix tournament on Nov. 3 after contracts for the 2008 season could not be secured for either fighter.
The agent for both Rothwell and Whitehead is Monte Cox, who is one of the longest tenured managers in MMA. FiveOuncesOfPain.com contacted Cox for comment in regard to what had been reported yesterday by this site and others.
Below is a transcript of our conversation with Cox…
Sam Caplan: I just wanted to see if you feel that everything that has been reported thus far in regard to Ben Rothwell and Mike Whitehead being pulled from the IFL’s World Grand Prix on Nov. 3 is accurate?
Monte Cox: No, it’s not true. It’s 50% true. The situation is that they wanted to re-sign all three of my guys; Jay Hieron, Mike Whitehead, and Ben Rothwell. They all signed one-year deals and we made one-year deals for a reason — so that we can get to the end of the year and then check the market and see what they’re worth.
Well, then they came up with this Grand Prix that wasn’t in our contact (and) that had never been discussed with me. Then all of a sudden they announce that all of these guys are in the Grand Prix when we never said we’d be to fight.
That being said, they then came to us and said “Oh yeah, to fight in the Grand Prix you have to re-sign for a year plus an option. So basically it was for two years and I said “Our guys won’t do that. We’re not going to fight for two years (when) we only signed for a year. They responded by saying “Well, that’s the way it’s going to be” and I said “Okay, then we’re all out of the Grand Prix.”
Then they came back to us 10 days ago, or whenever, and said “Okay, how about this deal?” And they sent me a new deals with one year deals with three fights. And I looked at them and I looked at Hieron’s and it looked good and I looked at Whitehead’s and it looked it good and then I looked at Ben’s… and I just don’t know what Ben’s worth. I think that I need to wait until the contract ends and I need to check the market to see what Ben’s worth. He’s a big name now.
I called back and I said “Whitehead’s in and Hieron’s in” and they said, “What about Ben?” I told them we’re not going to do anything with Ben (and) that I’m going to wait until the season ends. And they said that “If Ben doesn’t sign then these other two guys are out.” I go “What do you mean?” They said “If Ben doesn’t sign then the other two guys can’t fight in the Grand Prix.”
And I go “Well, that’s retarded. Why would you do that? It’s not even related.” And they said that was the way it is and I said a few choice words to (IFL V.P. of Operations) Keith Evans and told them what I thought of them and the IFL and I said “That’s fine. We’re out. We’re all out.”
Then the next day Keith Evans calls Hieron and tells him they need to meet. So they go meet and drive off and Hieron calls me and says, “You’re not going to believe this. I just went for a ride with the IFL and they tried to get me to sign a contract in the back of their car. They said that ‘Monte wasn’t doing a good job and he’s not handling things properly and you need to sign this thing and you need to do it now.’”
Hieron said “I’m not doing anything without my manager” and he didn’t do it. Then he called me. I’m like, what is the IFL, is this the Sopranos now? So I had them FAX me the contract and I looked at the contract. It was the same contract I had already approved. I already said we’d do this. So I went “Jay, it’s a good contract. I’d sign it.” So Jay signed the contract.
Then, Mike Whitehead calls me and goes “Hey, what about me?” And I go “Let’s call these guys.” He calls them and Kurt (Otto) told them over the phone that “You should have signed yesterday. That was the deadline, you could have done it. Your manager knew.” They just made all this shit up (as if) they never told me if Rothwell didn’t sign that the others were out. (They were) pretending that it didn’t happen.
So Mike said “What are you talking about? What’s the difference if I was good to sign yesterday then I’m good to sign now! I want to fight in the Grand Prix! I’ll sign the deal for next year.”
Nope, they’re not interested, they won’t do it.
So no, he’s (Whitehead) not out of the Grand Prix because of a contract dispute. We 100% absolutely said we would sign with him and Hieron and they wouldn’t let either guy sign and then they backdoored to get Hieron in and decided not to get Mike.
Sam Caplan: When I initially called you for comment you had mentioned that it seemed as though there might have been an assurance from the IFL that Mike would be released from his 2007 contract early if nothing negative was said about the IFL. And now it’s been reported in several articles that Mike won’t be released early.
Monte Cox: That’s why we’re talking (laughs).
Sam Caplan: So do you feel the IFL went back on a promise?
Chuck Liddell vs. Wanderlei Silva is now verbally agreed upon by both sides to take place on 12/29 in Las Vegas
I won’t believe anything until I see it announced, but this is looking good for those who still have interest in this fight. It has definitely lost some of its luster, but I still would love to see it and I know hardcore MMA fans across the world would love to see it as well. We’ve waited years to see these guys in the cage together. Champions or not, I’m pumped.
With the news today of Fedor’s signing with the new M-1 promotion, there is a buzz online among hardcore fans of where Fedor now falls in the heavyweight rankings and the overall pound for pound rankings. As a note, I don’t put much weight behind rankings, no matter where they come from, because all they really do is create controversy and talking points. MMA rankings lack real substance, but people do them anyways.
Has there ever been a fighter whose ranking has been so dependent on what promotion he signs with? If Fedor ended up signing with the UFC, he would have still been the clear cut #1 on both the heavyweight and pound for pound lists. A dream fight with Randy Couture would occur, and if he beat Randy, he would solidify his ranking as #1.
However, by signing with M-1, the question is no longer where he will fight. The question is now who will he fight? Outside of the UFC, there is not much heavyweight talent for Fedor to fight. There’s Josh Barnett, Mark Hunt, and scrubs. That’s really it.
The only way Fedor doesn’t fall from his #1 ranking on both lists is if he fights Josh Barnett. Even if he were to beat Barnett, he could still fall to #2 because of a lack of competition. For him to still be seen as the best fighter in the world, he has to fight the best fighters. Those fighters are not in M-1.
At this point, there are a lot of unknowns about the new M-1 and what their roster will look like. They said they’d like to be running a show by January or February, so an opponent should be named sometime soon. If it’s not Josh Barnett, then Fedor definitely drops to #2 on both lists in my book.
Episode four begins with the quotidian recap and everyone is just as surprised as Billy that Jon opted to shoot and take him down during last week’s fight. Jared sums it up best: “It was disgusting, dude“.
An angry Hughes spits on the legacy of Yogi Berra and informs his fighters that fighting is 50% physical and 50% mental. Warmly welcoming anything that requires only 50% physicality, Blake’s eyes get a little Heaven’s Gate-ish as he starts hopping in place.
Team Hughes thinks that Serra’s next pick will be a perceived “weak link” to which Paul and Blake immediately make eye contact.
Blake in particular is concerned that Coach Serra might see him as just a bum. With an official record of 0 wins and 0 losses, I’m confident that opinion may stretch a little beyond Matt Serra.
Over at Camp Serra the boys have gathered for a little roundtable action to determine who is the next pick. Jon Koppenhaver likes the idea of fighting Blake because it seems like the easiest 5k he’ll ever make.
Serra immediately compares him to Gabe Ruediger (ouch) who tried to call out Wayne Weems in secret during season five. Personally I don’t agree with Serra. Taking the path of least resistance may not be the most macho strategy, but what does bravado mean if you don’t make it to the semifinals?
Someone has to ice the cupcakes, it might as well be Koppenhaver.
During the fight picks we learn that Serra will match Richie Hightower against Blake Bowman. Also known as the yawn heard ’round the world. Richie tries his best Ivan Drago and deadpans: “I will crush him like Stalin“.
I guess that makes Blake his Leon Trotsky.
Speaking of obscure references, Blake spends the rest of the day cracking jokes like it’s open-mic night at the Improv. You may be a nice guy Blake, but as far as the humor goes you’re no Forrest Griffin.
Mac seems to have a soft spot for the Blakester and tries to give him some pointers for the fight. I’m not sure if Mac’s more anti-Hightower than pro-Blake, but during the exercise Blake reminds him that he’s not Cro Cop.
The way Mirko’s been fighting lately Blake’s probably a lot closer than he thinks.
In one of those sound bytes that’s sure to come back and haunt him, Blake manages to make a shot at a UFC contract sound like a line from The Birdcage.
“There it is…I can stare at it…or open the package and play with it.”
I guess since this is a recap I’m obligated to mention the interior bruising that Blake suffered during training. Picture the look of disinterest by Hughes and you pretty much have my feelings on the matter.
Things finally start to get interesting as Dorian gets a little light-headed and has to be taken out of training. With the pain of his loss still lingering, he becomes choked up over the whole situation and then completely unravels when the cameraman gets in his face for some close-ups.
Dorian tries a Mary-Kate, running to the other side of the gym and hiding his face under a shirt. I guess the concept of the zoom lens is lost on a hothead like Dorian and when he catches the crew still doing their job he takes exception and OH MY GOD HE’S WALKING TOWARDS THE CAMERA MAN! MENACINGLY!
And that was it. Not appropriate behavior but not exactly Margot Kidder either. We then get about ten minutes of Dorian feeling guilty and Dana eventually comes in to give him the proverbial slap on the wrist.
Before you know it everyone is back in the gym, laughing and playing while they grapple. Dorian decides he can speak for the rest of the black community and gives Dana their seal of approval.
Anticlimactic to say the least.
Team Serra is the first group back at the house and lo and behold a birthday cake is sitting on the counter waiting for Blake. Apparently it’s his birthday and whoops, the producers must have accidentally left it out in the open - complete with cake decorating tools.
Well Jon knows an opportunity when he sees one and slowly and ever so deliberately writes Happy Birthday Blake on the face of the cake. Later that night, Blake shares his cake with the rest of the house as the guys shoot the breeze and pat each other on the backs.
In an unrelated note, the producer who planted the cake was found unconscious in his Buick with a potato shoved in the tailpipe.
Mac goes on record to profess his hatred for Richie because he wears his hat in a goofy fashion. I’ve got news for you Mac, you had better be prepared to hate a quarter of the male population.
It’s the day of the fight and Blake proudly announces that his stand-up has improved 100% since he’s been there. Since he’s only been there about a week or so, I’ll have to assume it was pretty rancid to begin with.
Prior to the fight each combatant gets a chance to deliver a message:
Richie: “I’m in it to win it.”
Blake: “You’re gonna eat bunches of punches.”
Compelling stuff. Round one begins with a nice leg kick from Richie. Blake tries one of his own and they tie up. Richie pushes him to the cage and eats a knee for his efforts. Richie starts throwing uppercuts and forces Blake to back away. Richie drops him with a shot (or Blake “slips” depending on who you ask) and mounts. A few dropped bombs and the fight is stopped.
I don’t want to disrespect Blake, but there has got to be someone out there who applied for this show that is better qualified. For there to be a fighter with a 0-0 record in season six says a lot about the problems many people (including myself) have with the way the show is constructed.
Four episodes, four first round snoozers.
Stay tuned next week as Mac gets bitter, Team Serra responds, and Paul gets an unpleasant call from home. Hopefully they remember to show a fight.
Fedor has close ties to M-1 through his manager, Vadim Finkelstein, who, according to Hunt, is no longer M-1’s owner. Finkelstein has reportedly sold M-1 to an American-based entertainment company that plans to infuse the promotion with a large amount of capital.
Emelianenko, who is technically still the PRIDE heavyweight champion, is the promotion’s first major acquisition. The promotion has its sights on promoting shows globally and could hold a card that will feature Fedor as early as January or February.
For more details on Fedor’s signing with the “new” M-1, just click here.
Earlier today, site writer Ben Fowlkes wrote a piece concerning whether or not anyone really wants to watch or spend money on a fight between Kimbo Slice and Tank Abbott. I, for one, am in the camp that would love to see this fight take place.
Ben called it a “sideshow fight.” I call it a logical step up in competition. Who do you want Kimbo Slice to face? He’s not at the point to where he could step up and fight great heavyweight fighters yet. Ray Mercer was a joke and that’s a given. But it was also Kimbo’s first foray into MMA and he conquered the challenge sucessfully. Now that he’s got one exhibition fight under his belt, I feel that Tank Abbott is the perfect opponent for Kimbo. He’s got plenty of experience, he’s been in great fights, he likes to let his hands go, and in reality, he’s just another stepping stone for Slice.
Once Kimbo runs through Tank, I’m sure he will continue to move his way up the ladder to better competition. Why rush the guy? Does he need to be thrown to the wolves? No. He’s got a hardcore fan base, a charismatic personality, and he’s a beast of a man. He’s a promoter’s dream. Why not bring him along slowly? Isn’t this the same thing EliteXC is doing with Gina Carano?
Ben said the fighters may get paid in unmarked cash and cheeseburgers. I know Kimbo wants his “bread,” Ben, but let’s be serious. What about this makes it a sideshow fight?
Kimbo is training hard to be the best MMA fighter he can be. He’s given up street fighting and devoted himself full time to MMA. That, in itself, is commendable. Bas Rutten and Shawn Tompkins have nothing but glowing things to say about the guy. If Bas Rutten puts his stamp of approval on the guy, what more do you need?
But where Kimbo lost me was when he immediately challenged Tank Abbott to be his next opponent. That’s when it started to look like he had no interest in becoming a real MMA fighter. He just wants to make some quick cash thumping on very beatable has-beens.
It may have looked like Kimbo challenged Tank after his CFFC 5 victory, but don’t think for a second that this wasn’t a pre-orchestrated work on the part of the promoter. Of course Tank v. Kimbo is a big money fight for anyone. Tank is well known and so is Kimbo and they both have a “street fighter” label. To say that Kimbo wants to make quick cash by beating has-beens, however, may be taking it a little far. I doubt he would be training as hard as he is and taking the sport as seriously as he is if he didn’t plan on turning himself into a real MMA fighter. Do you really think he hand-picked Abbott? Most likely not. Most likely someone with some brains at CFFC did.
While I respect Ben’s opinions and ideas, the piece came off as more of a bash against Kimbo and Tank than a real argument as to why they shouldn’t be fighting one another. In reality, the fight makes a whole lot of sense if you take a good look at it. Will it be an exciting fight? Probably not. Will it tell us how far Kimbo Slice has come and how far he has to go? Very much so.
Once he beats Tank, you can clamor all you want for him to fight someone who’s considered a “real MMA fighter.” By that time, Kimbo will be one too.
“PRIDE heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko has committed exclusively to the new ownership of M-1 Mix-Fight Championship, which has been purchased outright by an undisclosed America entertainment-related company …. The new M-1 will take more of a global stance, and Emelianenko will headline its inaugural event as early as January or February, possibly in the U.S….”
– The latest development in the development-laden negotiation process between the Russian mixed martial arts heavyweight superstar and the UFC. Emelianenko seems to have settled on the organization (M-1) that was just recently owned and operated by his long-time manager, Vadim Finkelstein, instead of the UFC. Oh well. For more background on this situation check out or Fedor archive.
Sources have confirmed that Strikeforce is very close to inking its first major television contract. The exact channel is not known at this time, but Strikeforce believes coverage will be starting within a few months.
With a TV deal, Strikeforce has a chance to become a major player in the mixed martial arts world. They already hold the record for the largest indoor MMA crowd in the United States by putting over 19,000 people at the HP Pavillion in San Jose for Frank Shamrock’s win over Cesar Gracie. That event took place on March 10, 2006.
With a roster that includes Shamrock and the newly signed Renato “Babalu” Sobral, Strikeforce is making major strides towards becoming the number two promotion in the country. They also have top-notch lightweights Gilbert Melendez and Josh “The Punk” Thomson under contract.
Matt Cava and I went up to Trenton, NJ this past Saturday to check out Combat in the Cage. As I’ve said before, there are a lot of fighters who compete forEd Hsu’sCombat in the Cage/Extreme Challenge Northeast that you’ll be seeing on the big shows in the not too distant future.
One of those fighters I have no doubt that you’ll be seeing more of is Wilson Reis.
Despite being on 22, Wilson is already a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu and is an instructor at Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu United in Philadelphia. I train at BJJ United when I have free time, which is almost never, but I’ve attended a few of his classes and his skills are sick.
Below is video of his second pro fight from this past weekend’s event. He’s in the red trunks and you’ll notice that his opponent, Diego Jimenez, doesn’t get much offense in. Well, Jimenez is a strong fighter who trains out of Anthracite Combat Club in Minersville, PA with pros such as Jim Bova, Jon Murphy, and Shane Ott. Basically, Jimenez is no joke and Reis was able to earn a win in impressive fashion against a quality opponent.
