Recently came across these pics of some pretty badass MMA figures, that are supposed to be out by Christmas time. Company called Round 5 MMA is making these lil’ toys and recently released (then retracted) images of their new products on Matt Hughes’ blog.
Series 1 will have Tito Ortiz, Randy Couture, Rampage Jackson and Matt Hughes. (Tito’s head should prob double the size they currently have) Unfortunately there isn’t much more info than that, as the Round 5 website is one page with a huge logo and a sign-up box. Fear not Five Ounces readers, as I have signed up to receive the updates and will post new images when they are released.
Make fun all you want, but these are pretty sweet.
I was a guest on Steve Cofield’s show on Fox Sports Radio 1460 in Las Vegas on Tuesday night and during our segment Cofield revealed that the UFC is believed to be re-writing the contracts of several established stars.
Cofield attended the UFC press conference earlier this afternoon and indicated he had heard that the fight promotion is trying to re-write certain contracts with an eye towards tightening up the legal language in them to eliminate any potential loopholes.
Cofield’s statement is supported to some degree by UFC president Dana White’s reluctance to state with 100% certainty that Randy Couture will not be fighting for another promotion in nine months.
UFC veteran Din Thomas, who runs an American Top Team school in Port St. Lucie, Florida was arrested for allegedly hosting unsanctioned MMA fighting events at the training center.
Din Thomas has been charged with “felony prohibited competitions” charge.
Officers in plain clothes were at American Top Team Port St. Lucie on Tuesday, according to a warrant application filed by officer Brian Kenny stated:
“Once on scene I observed… a large caged octagon ring with two men inside fighting. There was a third male in the octagon acting as a referee. Around the octagon there were several people (approx. 150 men, women and minors) sitting and standing on make shift stands and chairs facing the octagon cheering while watching the two men fight. Both fighters wore gloves but did not have any protective headgear on. At the front door to the location there was a table with a small sign stating ‘$10.00 per person.’ Also located on the table was a roll of raffle tickets.”
Ordinarily, this wouldn’t surprise me, because Florida doesn’t allow amateur MMA matches in the state, so it’s common for schools to have “smokers”, which are MMA fights used to get amateurs accustomed to fighting in front of a crowd, but according to the police report Din Thomas said these fights were primarily sparring matches. However, officer Kenny stated that each match had timed rounds, a referee that determined a winner, and that he saw fighters using “punches and kicks to the body, face and head of their opponents.”
Well, I would certainly hope he saw punches and kicks to the body, face and head, otherwise, it wouldn’t have been an MMA fight and Din Thomas wouldn’t have been arrested.
It also brings to mind the recent episode of “Human Weapon” on the history channel, where Jason Chambers and Bill Duff both fought MMA fights at John McCarthy’s school, and McCarthy acted as referee and judge. I suppose the primary difference is that Din Thomas was charging admission to the event and admittedly didn’t have any medical personell present.
I think the fact he was charging $10 admission at the door is what is going to cause him the trouble, otherwise, there is nothing unusual about fighting at a fight school. It happens all the time.
I wasn’t able to see the E:60 profile on Pat Miletich and Miletich Fighting Systems live on ESPN but I was able to catch it on the E:60 website. Thanks to ESPN, that video can be made available here on 5 Oz.
I respect a lot of people in mixed martial arts but there isn’t anyone I respect more than Pat Miletich. I was able to go to a seminar he conducted in Cherry Hill, NJ last December and it was awesome to get to see him teach some of his techniques in such an environment.
All I can say is that E:60 did an awesome job on this story and I think most of you will thoroughly enjoy watching it.
I’m pleased to announce the hiring of Casey Trowbirdge as the latest member to joining the ever-expanding staff of FiveOuncesOfPain.com.
Casey will contribute to the site with news posts and links to other MMA-related articles and interviews. He maintains a blog with two partners called Combat Hooligans, which you can access by clicking here. Casey and his partners also have a podcast that’s available for your listening pleasure by clicking here.
I will be joining Steve Cofield as a guest on Fox Sports Radio 1460 in Las Vegas tonight during the nine o’clock (ET) hour to give my reaction to the UFC’s press conference today. You can tune into the live stream by clicking the FSR 1460 link.
The UFC held a press conference at their Las Vegas offices today to dispute recent claims in the media made by Randy Couture in regard to his treatment by the company. The conference was available to the media either in public or via conference call and the public was also granted access through live streaming via UFC.com and Yahoo! Sports.
Involved with the press conference was UFC president Dana White, along with a rare appearance by co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta. Making his first known media appearance on behalf of the company was also the UFC’s chief financial officer, John Mulkey.
At the start of the conference, the UFC announced that they would be addressing specific financial details to dispute some of Couture’s claims and that they essentially would be following the heavyweight champion’s act from a week ago by distributing copies of documents to the media.
The UFC issued a detailed verbal account of the breakdown of Couture’s pay. Before I go over the numbers, I wanted to issue a disclaimer: Mulkey spoke very fast and I was not in attendance so I was unable to receive printed copies of the documents. The numbers I am reciting have not been verified. If you feel there is an error or discrepancy, please e-mail me at: SCaplan8@comcast.net.
According to Mulkey, Randy Couture received a $500,000 signing bonus, half of which ($250,000) was paid at the time of his signing the contract earlier this year. This clearly contradicts Couture’s claim last week that he asked for a signing bonus and was declined.
Dana White explained that it was a true signing bonus in the sense that if Randy, given his age, was injured and couldn’t compete, he’d still get his bonus. As such, they decided to meet his request for a signing bonus of $500,000 but withhold the other half ($250,000) until after his fight at UFC 68 vs. Tim Sylvia.
UFC President Dana White, UFC Majority Owner Lorenzo Fertitta and UFC Chief Financial Officer (CFO) John Mulkey today hosted a press conference to address recent “damaging” remarks from UFC Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture.
The rare broadcast was streamed online via video on UFC.com.
Here are the two key takeaways:
Randy Couture is still the UFC Heavyweight Champion. In fact, he will be offered a bout agreement this week to defend his title against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira sometime in early 2008. The UFC wants him to defend his title — there is no “breaking point” at which the UFC would walkaway.
Couture did receive a signing bonus (something he denies) in the amount of $500,000. He received two $250,000 payments — the UFC handed out photocopies of the checks with his signature as evidence. In addition, “The Natural” will make about $2.9 million from his UFC contract alone for two fights in 2006. Clearly, this excludes endorsements and includes PPV cuts, fight bonuses, annual salary, etc.
Here are the other highlights:
Dana feels that this is a “weird situation” because the UFC doesn’t talk about money — it changes fighters’ lives. The UFC takes care of its fighters and treats them well. Couture’s statements he made about finances are untrue. Want to clear up facts.
Kim Couture (Randy’s wife) was wrong when she said the UFC never promoted him. White rattled off a laundry list of marketing efforts and television programs in which the UFC promoted him.
Lorenzo Feritta negotiated the contract with Couture. So when he hears Randy say that he was “never happy” with contract, it is surprising to him because Couture seemed happy in January.
Couture grossly misrepresented the financial facts in his press conference. The UFC can’t sit back and be silent, which is the reason for the response.
The CFO rattles of several figures that all amount to just under three million for the year (2006) for two fights. That figure includes (among other things) a $500,000 signing bonus that Couture says he didn’t get.
White says that UFC is not a monopoly — competition is the best its been in years.
Lorenzo was a bit dismayed by the tone of Randy’s press conference because the two (he thought) had a good conversation beforehand. He later goes on to say that Couture damaged UFC as a company with his inaccurate remarks. He still considers Couture a friend.
White reminded everyone that Couture is still under contract and the UFC will do whatever is necessary to protect its rights
White said that Fedor is a farce and is not top five. He always felt that way. The only reason he tried so hard to get him was because Randy wanted the fight.
If the UFC can work with Tito Ortiz it can certainly work with Randy Couture. Facts are facts. Don’t want this play it out in court. Couture signed a $500,000 contract to fight in the UFC.
White claims again that Couture’s “puke” Hollywood agent is behind everything because the whole situation makes “no sense.”
Dana White quote of press conference: “I don’t know what I did wrong. This is the most disturbing thing … ever.”
That’s it. To check out the Randy Couture press conference from last week click here. Compare and contrast. Draw your own conclusions.
UFC lightweight contender and Octagon veteran Din Thomas has been arrested in Port St. Lucie, Florida, for coordinating “illegal cage fighting” bouts inside his American Top Team-affiliated training facility, according to TCPalm.com.
“Dinyero” is up against a serious felony if the charges stick.
Here’s a snip:
“Inside, [police] observed two men fighting in an octagon-shaped ring surrounded by about 150 spectators. The fights reportedly weren’t sanctioned.”
Of course, the Florida Boxing Commission (FBC) needs to issue its blessing for any mixed martial arts fights to be considered “legal.” Furthermore, no MMA fights are allowed at the amateur level in the Sunshine State.
Here’s what it all boils down to:
“At the end of the day, he was having a professional mixed martial arts match that was not licensed through us [FBC]. It was a case of unlicensed activity.”
Certainly not good news for Thomas or the sport — this article makes it seem as if it was some kind of underground, bareknuckle bloodsport when in reality it was more than likely a glorified sparring session.
Not to mention Thomas — also a contestant on season four of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) — is coming of off a disappointing performance against Kenny Florian at UFC Fight Night 11 last month in which he injured his knee.
UFC veteran Din Thomas, who runs an American Top Team school in Port St. Lucie, Florida was arrested for allegedly hosting unsanctioned 
UFC President Dana White, UFC Majority Owner Lorenzo Fertitta and UFC Chief Financial Officer (CFO) John Mulkey today hosted a press conference to address recent “damaging” remarks from UFC Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture.