February 18th, 2008

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Kimbo Slice vs. Tank Abbott REFEREE CAMERA VIEW (Video)




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Weigh in UFC 82 information and fighter autograph schedules

The official UFC 82 weigh-ins for the “Pride of a Champion” pay-per-view (PPV) event will take place on Friday, February 29 from 3 to 5 p.m. ET at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio.

Fighters will hit the scales at about 4 p.m. ET at which time ESPN.com, NBCSports.com, Sympatico MSN, Yahoo!Sports and FoxSports.com will beam the festivities across the Internet LIVE via streaming video, according to UFC.com.

For those fans fortunate enough to be in the Buckeye State at this time remember that the weigh-in event is FREE to attend and open to the general public.

In addition, UFC Fight Club members on the scene will be treated to an exclusive question and answer session with interim UFC Heavyweight Champion, Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira, from 2 to 3 p.m.

For the complete UFC 82 card, which is jam-packed with fantastic match ups, click here.

Unlike most UFC weigh-in specials, there will not be other fighters on hand to sign autographs. Instead, an army of talent is lined up to work the Arnold Classic 2008 — the largest health and fitness expo in the nation — at the nearby Greater Columbus Convention Center.

Here’s the scheduled line up:

Friday, February 29 from 10 a.m. to noon

Friday, February 29 from 2 to 4 p.m.

Saturday, March 1 from 10 a.m. to noon

Saturday, March 1 from 2 to 4 p.m.

Sunday, March 2 from 10 a.m. to noon

Sunday, March 2 from 2 to 4 p.m.

UFC 82: “Pride of a Champion” is slated to take place at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday, March 1. The prelim action begins around 7:30 p.m. ET and the PPV telecast will be broadcast at 10 p.m. ET sharp.

MMAmania.com will provide complete coverage of the star-studded event before, during and after the blockbuster night of fights.

Written by admin on February 18th, 2008 with comments disabled.
Read more articles on UFC 82 and UFC Fighter Appearances and UFC Weigh in Results and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and MMA.

Report: Wanderlei Silva mulls move to middleweight and fight with Keith Jardine

wanderlei silvaFormer Pride FC 205-pound champion and current UFC fighter, Wanderlei Silva, is considering a move to middleweight (185 pounds) after taking some vacation time since his unanimous decision loss to Chuck Liddell at UFC 79: “Nemesis” on December 29, 2007, according to GracieMag.com.

In addition, the consideration means that the rumored light heavyweight fight between him and Keith Jardine at UFC 84 in May continues to be just that until a decision is made on his future fighting weight.

Here’s the snip from an “Axe Murderer” trainer, Rafael Alejarra:

“Wanderlei made the most of his holidays to rest his body and mind. But we’ve already done a bit of training this weekend and starting tomorrow things will pick up. As we only just got back now and today is a holiday here (Las Vegas) we can’t confirm anything about the next fight, if just because there is the chance Wand will drop down in weight. Every fight and adversary is different, which is why we have to wait to define our training plan. If he should drop to middleweight, we will work on his losing weight and preserving his muscle mass, losing only water and fat and not strength and size, since he normally weight 98 kilos. But nothing’s for sure yet, we’ll wait and see.”

It’s no secret that Silva looked leaner in his bout with the “Iceman” this past New Year’s Eve weekend than he had competing for years overseas. Some attribute that to performance enhancing drugs, (tests for steroids went relatively untested in Japan), which is sheer speculation.

Others point to his rigorous snorkel-packed conditioning program leading up to the Liddell bout. In fact, those close to Silva in the wake of the loss admitted that he spent too much time on his cardio and not enough on his bread and butter, striking.

Whatever the case, it’s not really important right now. One thing is for certain: Silva is capable of making the 185-pound cut if he is up for the challenge — he walks around at 215 pounds.

Rich Franklin has a similar muscular build — he might even be bigger — and made the drop successfully. In fact, “Ace” captured the middleweight strap quickly and defended it numerous times.

Silva might not have the same instant success. However, it’s no secret that the middleweight division is starving for contenders. And if Silva were to throw his name in the hat he’d be an instant threat to UFC Middleweight Champion, Anderson Silva, and the rest of the field.

Here’s to hoping he takes his time and makes the right decision … whatever that may be.

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Read more articles on Wanderlei Silva and UFC 84 and UFC Light Heavyweight Division and UFC Middleweight Division and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and Keith Jardine and MMA.

President’s Day Special: Jardine/Silva Rumors, Liddell Talks Shogun & Gina’s Next Fight

Someone just mentioned it’s President’s Day - which is cool, I guess. So in honor of the day, here’s some news.

— The Dayton Daily News is confirming what we all suspected: That a light heavy fight between Keith Jardine and Wanderlei Silva at UFC 82 will not be happening. The show is set for March 1st in Columbus, Ohio. The rumors for this match were given more fuel when ads for UFC 82 shown on Versus during WEC 32 straight-up promised that Jardine was going to be there. An editing snafu is being blamed, but the fight could happen this year. The DDN is saying a source close to Jardine has confirmed the fight is in the works and could go down this summer - MMA Junkie is saying UFC 84 could be the card for this fight.

— Chuck Liddell believes he’ll smoke Mauricio “Shogun” Rua during their fight on June 7th. And “The Iceman” also believes he should be fighting Rampage for the title…like NOW. Chuck had this to say to Brawl Sports:
(more…)

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Read more articles on Jardine and Silva and Shogun Rua and UFC 84 and UFC 82 and UFC and Chuck Liddell and News and MMA.

Lesnar Earns His Keep: 600,000 Buys Estimated for UFC 81

BL

Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer reported today that the preliminary estimate of pay-per-view buys for UFC 81 was a big, girthy 600,000. As Meltzer wrote:

That show was not going to do more than 325,000 buys with the Tim Sylvia vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira match and a semifinal of Nathan Marquardt v. Jeremy Horn. In fact, that would be an optimistic expectation. So if this holds up, Lesnar was worth $12.36 million in overall revenue.

Adam Swift of MMAPayout explains that the figure may put UFC 81 among the all-time top-five UFC shows in terms of gross buys, and thanks to the $45 price tag, #3 in revenue after Ortiz/Liddell and Ortiz/Shamrock III. As Swift points out, the final number is usually significantly higher than the early estimates.

Swift also calls into question the sustainability of Lesnar’s drawing power, and the show’s success in taking wrestling fans who were first-time UFC buyers and converting them into regular fans. We’re of the opinion that Lesnar’s wrestling fans will keep paying for UFC events whenever he’s on the card — and only those events — meaning that Lesnar’s appearances will continue to translate to a spike in UFC PPV buys, but not an overall bump of the average buyrate. But hey, we don’t need those yokels anyway.

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Read more articles on UFC 81 and pay-per-view and Brock Lesnar and News and UFC and MMA.

UFC 82: Chris Wilson details his preparation for Jon Fitch fight

Chris Wilson

Props: ChrisWilsonMMA.com

Chris Wilson (pictured on right next to training partner Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou) is updating his blog frequently leading up to his welterweight showdown with top division contender, Jon Fitch, at UFC 82: “Pride of a Champion” on March 1 at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. This might be a good chance for all the readers sending me emails like, “Who the hell is Chris Wilson and why is he fighting Jon Fitch?” to find out more about the Team Quest fighter who took the bout on short notice. YouTube.com, of course, is also a good spot to check out some footage.

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‘Iceman’ Caption Contest: Final Conflict Absolute

So far, we’ve given away nine autographed copies of Chuck Liddell’s Iceman: My Fighting Life, and we’re going to put this thing to bed with one last caption contest. And here’s a curveball — Chuck’s not even in the pic this time. But I just came across this breathtaking photo of Josh Koscheck and GSP dressed to the nines and walking their dog, and the CagePotato reader who can provide the best caption in the comments section gets the last book. There will be no multiple winners this time, so bring your A-game, and feel free to enter more than once. The winner will be announced Friday, as is the custom.

KosGSP
(Photo props: Maxim)

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Read more articles on Announcement and caption contest and Georges St. Pierre and News and Chuck Liddell and Josh Koscheck and MMA.

Kimbo Slice *Is* the ‘Cloverfield’ Monster!

Kimbo vs. Tank referee-cam video, courtesy of Sho.com

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Xyience: The Crime Series


(The Fertittas: “Convicted criminals are people, too.”)

Props to BloodyElbow for spotting this Xyience piece recently posted by MMA Memories. We’ve been detailing the shitstorm created by UFC mega-sponsor Xyience when they filed for Chapter 11 a while back, including the Fertittas lawsuit against blogger/reporter Rich Bergeron for his “findings” and allegations against them - which basically means they’re worried. The aforementioned article throws some more light on the background of Xyience and founder Russell Pike - who you’ll recall was recently accused of death threats against the company’s managers and board members - thickening the Fertittas shady pot of shit.

Some of the backstory:

Russell Pike, who founded Xyience and oversaw its involvement with the UFC for some time, is a convicted felon, having pleaded guilty to grand theft and forgery in California in 1987 and of money laundering in 1999. Not only that, according to a “Desist and Refrain Order” filed by the California Department of Corporations in September of last year, pursuant to the sale of Xyience stock, Pike suffered a default judgment in a civil action filed against him by The Mirage, a hotel-casino licensed by the Nevada State Gaming Commission, when he allegedly wrote them $300,000 in bad checks over a two-day period in 1995.

And that is very interesting indeed, especially in light of the Fertittas’ recent lawsuit filing against Dream Stage Entertainment, the former owners of PRIDE, which the UFC purchased last year. In the complaint, the Fertittas allege that the rumored involvement of some of Dream Stage’s people with elements of the Japanese Yakuza “could have a detrimental effect upon the Purchasing Parties’ (the Fertittas’) affiliates’ gaming licenses (for the uninitiated, the Fertitta family controls Station Casinos Inc, which has about 17 properties in the United States).”

The obvious contradictions follow the pattern of stupidity exhibited now on an almost daily basis by the UFC’s execs. It’s been laced with “cloak-n-dagger” elements from the beginning, but this information makes it almost laughable. Bringing Pike and his prison-stripped ass into direct involvement with promotions is just asking for shit to rain down on you. The MMA Memories post suggests the gaming commission probe the many findings and ask the questions that must be answered by the Fertittas surrounding this whole mess. We tend to agree - but as much as we want the UFC bullshit to stop, this is also some serious illegal activity that could damage MMA promotions - which then filters down to the fans. I blame “The Man” and his stop-at-nothing greed.

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Backyard brawl: Joe Lauzon vs. Dan Lauzon and other ‘J-Lau’ fight highlights (Video)

Brothers Joe and Dan Lauzon go at it throughout this highlight reel, beginning at about the five minute mark. Frank and Ken Shamrock take note:

Joe will battle Kenny Florian during the main event at UFC Fight Night 13 on April 2 at the Broomfield Event Center in Broomfield, Colo. Dan is coming off a recent submission win over Frank Latina in a World Championship Fighting (WCF) show and there’s talk that the one-time UFC veteran might soon sign a contract to fight in the Zuffa-owned World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) promotion.

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Read more articles on Dan Lauzon and UFC Videos and Joe Lauzon and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and MMA.

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