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Written by admin on May 14th, 2008 with comments disabled.
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It was announced at the press conference this past weekend for DREAM 3 that Pro Elite — the parent company of Elite XC — and DREAM have agreed to an alliance, if you will, and will work together to co-promote future events.
This news perhaps won’t come as a surprise to most fans. Either because it was announced last week, or because we just saw three of Elite XC’s biggest stars (Nick Diaz, Mayhem Miller and Eddie Alvarez) fight on the DREAM 3 card.
Here’s a snip from ProElite executive William Kelly at the press conference via MMAWeekly.com:
“In the last year ProElite and EliteXC and other brands have made a lot of progress, and some of our progress is due in part to our relationship with FEG and now with Dream. We are sharing fighters. We are sharing referees. We intend to do co-promotions with Dream both in Japan and in the U.S.â€
This appears to be a win-win situation for both organizations. Elite XC gets more world class-caliber fighters to put together better match ups with its already growing cast of stars. And DREAM will get to possibly leverage Elite XC’s television deals with CBS and Showtime as a platform to develop a bigger fan base in the United States and beyond.
There’s already talk about Nick Diaz fighting for the DREAM welterweight belt against Mach Sakurai, we all know how well Eddie Alvarez is doing in the lightweight grand prix, and Mayhem Miller put on a show for the Japanese faithful at DREAM 3 — he’ll certainly be a crowd favorite over there.
Putting on my matchmaker cap for a minute, here’s sort of a fantasy lineup of what an Elite XC and DREAM co-promoted event could look like:
Kimbo Slice vs. Mirko Cro Cop
Nick Diaz vs. Mach Sakurai
Denis Kang vs. Mayhem Miller II
Paul Daley vs. Joachim Hansen
Eddie Alvarez vs. JZ Calvancante
Sakaraba vs. Frank Shamrock
Jake Shields vs. Shinya Aoki (catchweight)
Jacare Souza vs. Ninja Rua
Yves Edwards vs. Caol Uno II
That was fun, but as you can see the possibilities (or is it fantasies?) are endless. Kudos to both organizations for joining forces — it should be great for the fans and the sport.
Written by admin on May 14th, 2008 with comments disabled.
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Elite XC is rolling out the red carpet for some of its biggest stars Monday, May 19, for the release of the promotion’s first two exclusive DVDs.
Gina Carano, Nick Diaz, Jake Shields, Frank Shamrock and Phil Baroni are all expected to be in attendance signing autographs at the release party at the Best Buy in West Hollywood, Calif., from 6 to 8 p.m. PT.
The first of the two DVDs is a two-disc set titled “Destiny” that will feature Frank Shamrock, Renzo Gracie and Gina Carano among others. The second DVD is called “Renegade” and showcases Tank Abbott, Kimbo Slice, Nick Diaz, KJ Noons and more.
To purchase the DVDs remember that we now have a store set up that sells them right here.
For those who can attend the event, free Elite XC posters (limited supply) will be given out with the purchase of a DVD.
Written by admin on May 14th, 2008 with comments disabled.
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Talented British mixed martial artist Dan Hardy is the latest addition to the stacked UFC welterweight division, according to several published reports.
“The Outlaw” — who is the reigning Cage Warriors welterweight champion — has won eight of his last nine bouts and the lone loss during that span was because of a disqualification. He is a Taekwondo black belt and “kickboxing expert” who has been competing in professional MMA since 2004.
He had this to say about the opportunity in a recent SetantaSports.com interview:
“I think I’ve definitely got an advantage because I waited to come to The UFC when I felt I was not just ready to fight in The UFC, but come in, hit the ground running and beat ranked contenders in The UFC.”
With top 170-pound fighters such as Georges St. Pierre, Jon Fitch, Thiago Alves, Matt Hughes, Karo Parisyan, Matt Serra, Josh Koscheck, Marcus Davis and others he’ll certainly have his work cut out for him.
Good luck, Dan.
No date or opponent has been announced for the debut of Hardy inside the Octagon.
Written by admin on May 14th, 2008 with comments disabled.
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… is simply because UFC President Dana White doesn’t like him, according to John Hackleman — “The Pit” boss and long-time trainer of Chuck Liddell — in a recent interview with FightHype.com.
Here’s a snip:
“It’s just one thing, Dana doesn’t like him. If Dana doesn’t like you he’s like a kid, ‘it’s my playground you can’t play anymore.’ It’s not about business because he doesn’t need business. He’s got like billionaire best friends that gives him all of the money he needs, so it’s not about that it’s just about personality.”
“The Law” — who is in the midst of a heated race for the Oregon House of Representatives in District 52 as a Republican — has not competed inside the Octagon since 2005. He was released from his contract after wearing and “unapproved” t-shirt at the weigh-ins prior to that bout against Joe Doerksen at UFC 54: “Boiling Point.”
However, it is widely speculated that the promotion used it as an excuse to cut him loose. He was deemed (if you ask Lindland) too much of a threat to eventual poster boy and newly-minted 185-pound champion, Rich Franklin.
“Ace” was pretty and marketable … Lindland not so much.
Regardless, Lindland remains one of the top middleweight mixed martial artists in the world and will next take on Fabio Negao at Affliction: “Banned” from the Honda Center in Sacramento, Calif., on July 19.
Written by admin on May 14th, 2008 with comments disabled.
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Episode 7 rolls right out of the gate with fight selections - and a little air guitar by Rampage - who now controls the selections after last week’s victory courtesy of Dan Cramer.
Rampage wants to keep that control and after a Vincent Price post-Thriller laugh, picks Gerald Harris to manhandle Amir Sadollah.
At the Team Blue training session we get fed highlights of Gerald Harris and his penchant for slamming opponents. Rampage refers to him as mini-me but I’m sorry, Gerald Harris ain’t got shit on Verne Troyer.
Over at Team Brown, Amir raises the roof over his torrid 0-0 record. Forrest comforts him by telling him that if he’s still conscious and doesn’t break his arm during the fight, to try and use it as an opportunity to get back to his feet.
Forrest also bets Amir that if he wins, Forrest will shave half his head. Either way, both scenarios seem improbable.
Outside, Gerald has a quiet moment and shares his motivation for fighting - two hungry boys to feed. Gerald gets no love from the producers as the requisite still photos and solemn piano music do not make an appearance.
Team Brown’s Amir Sadollah (0-0) vs. Team Blue’s Gerald Harris (7-2)
Round 1: They circle each other and Forrest shouts: “Make him pay for the real estate!” Gerald shoots and scores. Amir holds on tight for a while as they struggle for position. Gerald postures and gets a few elbows but Amir is not making it easy. Gerald lands a Fedor-esque punch to the mat complete with sonic boom. Amir finds his way back to his feet. Gerald drops down and gets a hold of him and (surprise) scoops him up and slams him. Amir kicks him off and gets back up but Gerald quickly pushes him right back to the cage. Gerald gets a hold of him and once again Amir eats canvas. Amir responds with the softest hammer fists in the history of the UFC. Amir again gets up and again gets wrestled down. Gerald is clinging to a leg. Amir finds his way to his feet and stays pressed against the cage as the round ends. All Gerald.
Round 2: Amir jabs into open air and lands a nice leg kick. And another. A third attempt gets him pressed against the cage into a Van Damme style leg split. Gerald drops him and lands a big elbow. Amir stands up and lands a flush knee but doesn’t faze the charging Gerald. Amir spins out of the shoot and gets on top but quickly loses it to the faster Gerald who again takes him down. The wily Amir rises and secures an impromptu clinch which allows him to land a devastating knee that drops Gerald like a newborn calf. Amir plops down and under-punches an unresponsive Gerald. The referee issues a stoppage warning but gets no improvement from Gerald and stops the fight. Moments later Gerald begins screaming that he wasn’t out but since he was unable to improve his position after getting dropped (and warned), has no case.
It was a busy fight, dominated by Gerald who used his wrestling to maintain a dominant position. Aside from the slams he was not able to do much damage from the top and Amir was constantly able to escape. He may have taken his offense for granted in round two which opened him up and let Amir get his shot in.
In the locker room Gerald breaks down and finally gets his piano solo. Rampage consoles him and the reality of what many of these guys have risked for this opportunity becomes very real. Gerald gets my respect for going out there and giving it 100% which in the end is all any of us can really ask for.
Amir on the other hand gets my respect for his display of heart and resiliency. He took a pounding but fought smart and kept his composure. He waited for his opening and capitalized.
A disappointed Rampage considers going on a bender to make up for the tough loss.
Back at the house, Patrick Shultz is angered that he hasn’t been picked yet. Knowing his skill set, Schultz must have stuff to do back home and needs to get out of there ASAP. At the picks he gets paired up with Cale Yarbrough which by default leaves the remaining match of C.B. Dolloway and Nick Klein.
Rampage is not impressed with Cale who would lose to Big Momma Jackson according to Rampage himself. Cale by his own admission has no concept of the ground game which explains why he is matched up against Schultz. But it does not explain why he was picked to be on the show in the first place considering that MMA is more than just striking.
Team Brown’s Cale Yarbrough (0-0) vs. Team Blue’s Patrick Schultz (7-1-1)
Round 1: Cale opens with a kick and gets tossed to the floor. Back on their feet they trade jabs and do some dancing. Schultz lands a reaching-in right. After some more dancing he lands another, this time dropping Cale. Schultz does not pounce and Cale recovers. They go back to the center of the cage and trade some more. Schultz getting the better of the exchange. Some ugly brawling taking place. Cale eats three stiff shots. Both sides scream for the guys to keep their hands up. Out of nowhere Cale shoots and takes Shultz down. What was ugly on the feet is positively gruesome on the floor. Cale is punching like he’s pressing a hamburger patty. Schultz gets to his feet and they swing wild. Cale with another takedown. More patty-forming. Round expires as Schultz loses his mouthpiece.
Round 2: Both fighters exchange kicks and punches, some landing, some not. Cale scores a takedown and Schultz looks happy to be off his feet. Cale starts working the elbow and pushes Schultz to the cage. Cale starting to pour it on with punches and elbows. One of the trainers is explaining to Cale (step-by-step) how to transition to mount. It reminded me of that A-Team episode where Murdock is blinded and has to talk Hannibal through a plane landing. Anyway, Cale gives up the complex mount and goes back to using Shultz’s face as a speedbag. Schultz looks lifeless and at this point is probably too tired to even tap out if he wanted to. The round ends (mercifully) with Schultz being pummeled.
Judges tally up the points and Rampage sounds extremely surprised that the fight is not going to a third round. A smarmy Forrest offers Cale for a third but Rampage is not amused and fires back. Schultz has the audacity to punk Forrest in the midst of all the arguing and part of me wanted to see a re-enactment of Griffin’s infamous bone-shattering leg kick.
A disgusted Rampage walks-off, but not before promising Forrest that they don’t go to a decision when they eventually fight - and he’ll even bet his entire purse on it . Dana compares their bickering to Ken and Tito causing viewers around the globe to wince in unison. Somewhere off camera Forrest can be heard going apeshit.
Stay tuned next week as the final preliminary fight is held, Forrest gets his mad on, and Rampage is owned - Spiderman style.
See you then!
Written by admin on May 14th, 2008 with comments disabled.
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(Photo courtesy of Sherdog.com)
I know what you’re thinking, ‘He just wrote that headline for the purposes of search engine optimization. He’s shameless.’ Normally, you’d be right (although if I really wanted to boost our SEO, I would’ve found a way to work ‘porn’ in there, and don’t think I didn’t consider it). But this particular headline, on this particular day, has the added benefit of being true.
Sherdog reported today that MMA fighter George Bush tested positive for marijuana following his decision loss to Ricco Rodriguez at the first (and hopefully last ever) YAMMA event on April 11. The loss was Bush’s first in six pro fights, and the positive test ensured that he won’t get a shot at redemption for at least ninety days as he rides out his suspension.
Said Bush:
“I just found out a few days ago, and needless to say, I’m very surprised and disappointed. I accept full responsibility for my actions, and I assure the fans that this will never happen again.”
First, how surprised could he be? Does he mean surprised he got caught, because he really thought that special tea he bought at GNC would clean the weed out of his system? Second, at least this George Bush can admit when he’s wrong. Hi-yo! I look forward to your comments.
In other news…
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(Skulls. Bats. Spooky trees. A skeleton navigating the River Styx. Modeled by a guy with a bunch of tattoos. Yep, everything here seems to be in order.)
That’s right, Affliction is coming to your city…for a press conference…if your city is Los Angeles or New York. Okay, so for the vast majority of you, Affliction is not coming to your city except on the backs of the guys who are coming out of the tanning salon and headed straight for the club, but that’s no reason not to get excited.
The organization announced today that they’ll be stopping in Century City’s Westfield Mall on May 20 (weird, that’s the same day tickets for the July 19 event in Anaheim go on sale!) at 12:30 p.m., then it’s off to NYC’s Trump Tower on May 22 at 10:30 a.m.
In case you’re worried that these “press conferences” will only be open to members of the press, never fear. Both events are open to the public. As a matter of fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if there were even a few t-shirts for sale. You know, if you ask nicely.
Affliction will be bringing some of the stars of their upcoming event, including Fedor Emelianenko, Tim Sylvia, Josh Barnett, Pedro Rizzo, Ben Rothwell, Matt Lindland, Renato “Babalu” Sobral, and Mike Whitehead. Could Andrei Arlovski make a surprise appearance, perhaps initially posing as a reporter and then ripping off his disguise as the crowd lets out a collective gasp? We’ll have to wait and see, but if it happens at the NYC event you can bet Cage Potato will be there to gasp louder than anyone else.
Written by admin on May 14th, 2008 with comments disabled.
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Props: SetantaSports.com
Quoteworthy:
“I want to prove to everybody what I’m all about. I’ve had a couple of fights and people have questioned how good I am…. Now I want to make my place in MMA history by beating not one but two of the icons of the sport. I’m expecting to fight ‘The Axe Murderer.’ The guy we haven’t seen in a while. The aggressive one who fights across the ring throwing his haymakers…. What I can’t wait for is being in the middle of the second or third round, being sweaty, bloody, tired, just me and him –- seeing who the bigger man is on the day.”
“The Dean of Mean” talks about his upcoming clash with Wanderlei Silva at UFC 84: “Ill Will” at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 24. With a win Jardine can topple two of the sport’s most feared and respected 205-pound fighters in the past few years in back-to-back appearances — he already outpointed Chuck Liddell at UFC 76: “Knockout” his last time out back in September 2007.
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