In the official UFC 89 hype video we continue to hear about Chris Leben’s transformation as a fighter, which has quickly become one of the main storylines heading into this event. Oddly, with all the talk about Leben’s transition from brawler to technically sound MMA fighter, whenever anyone talks about his strengths they inevitably end up talking mostly about the characteristics of a brawler (hard-hitting, looping punches, good chin, etc.) while ascribing to Michael Bisping the characteristics of a technical fighter (straight punches, apparently, which is laughable to Chris Wilson). Not saying Leben isn’t a different fighter these days, just saying the whole thing is interesting.
Anyway, give it a look and you won’t be disappointed. Despite burning through all the stock footage of British landmarks in existence, it’s another solid effort from the Countdown crew.
(Nick’s just going to proofread this sucker before sending it out.)
Did Elite XC hold some kind of writing workshop for their fighters’ and their fighters’ camps recently? Maybe one with a special seminar on “Shit-talking statements and rebuttals”? Because suddenly it seems like everyone under the Elite XC banner is putting pen to paper to bash someone else. Not that we’re complaining.
The Gracie camp — home to Nick Diaz — is the latest to get in on the act. KJ Noons’ statement listing his grievances with Elite XC made mention of Diaz several times, and you didn’t think he was going to be able to do that without waking the beast, did you? We’re a little disappointed that this is coming from Diaz’s camp and not Nick himself, who has been known to do some really great work in the ’stream of consciousness’ field of shit-talking, but we’ll take what we can get.
On Noons’ claim that Elite XC failed to promote his boxing career, as promised:
1) Earth to KJ; you don’t have a boxing career. No one in the boxing world knows who you are. 2) Another MMA company would have paid you less and not given you a title shot, especially when you were 1-1. 3) If you will not fight Diaz due to a breach of contract by EliteXC then why would you fight Alvarez for the same terms?
On Noons’ insistence that Elite XC isn’t promoting him, instead asking Diaz to sign baseball cards for the DVD of their fight:
1) Nick Diaz, Jake Shields and Frank Shamrock were flown in to shoot an instructional trailer on grappling for the CBS show. The signings were an after thought. You weren’t flown in because you aren’t a grappler. We are sure they will fly you in if they need an instructional on whining. 2) Your contract was for Showtime. Diaz and Shields both signed longer deals for CBS. Nathan Diaz signed a special long term contract for Spike TV etc…This is a business not Burger King, you can’t have it ‘your way’.
On Elite XC’s treatment of Noons, failing to provide him with extra tickets, and bringing Diaz into the cage to start trouble after his victory:
Diaz got no extra tickets in his home town of Stockton and isn’t complaining. 2) Bringing a fighter into the ring to promote an upcoming fight is standard practice. Your (I could of been a contender) drunk father, started a near riot and should be banned from further events and immediately placed in an Alcoholics Anonymous treatment center for his own self respect.
On complaints about money, threats not to fight for Elite XC anymore, etc.:
Promoters will sue when you don’t fulfill the terms of your contract, just ask Randy Couture. By the way, you are not Randy Couture and the fight world is not holding it’s breath waiting to see if you will fight again. 2) $83,000? There are several fighters that are a lot better than you fighting for a lot less. Pay your dues and quit being a little bitch. 3) You are paying your management too high of a percentage and here’s some advice you should consider, “they are completely incompetent”. 4) Chuck Liddell makes 100s of thousands more than Keith Jardine even though he lost to him. Diaz does not complain that Kimbo makes much more. He understands marketability, why can’t you? 5) Divide this and then multiply it several times: KJ = little bitch > KJ = real champion
6) We agree you do need more Vaseline. You are used to it and damn those EliteXC guys for not using it when they bend you over.
On Diaz not being the number one contender since Noons has already defeated him:
1) It is not up to you to decide who the #1 contender is. That is EliteXC’s sole discretion. Patrick Cote will soon be fighting Anderson Silva at the UFC’s sole discretion. Silva is not complaining because he fights whomever they put in front of him. Silva fought Rich Franklin after wrecking him the 1st time. Serra rematched GSP his very next fight after demolishing him. Serra got paid less than GSP even though he was the Champion after the 1st fight. These men are true Champions and fight anyone. This is a concept you cannot seem to grasp. 2) You are scared because Diaz, despite having a terrible showing last time was stopped by cuts. God forbid the doctor that let the fight continue against Gomi had been calling the shots at your fight. In your heart you know what would have happened and you would rather live the lie of being a paper champion. 3) What will EliteXC ever do without you? I guess you will have to watch from your couch. Drink a beer. Prepare to make a ritual of it.
Wow. You see what happens when we start trading statements back and forth? It gets out of hand real fast. Still waiting for Jared Shaw’s half-cocked response. Don’t let us down, $kala.
Sean Sherk: Suspended until July 7th, with no contact until June 24th (laceration on right cheek)
Keith Jardine: Suspended until November 21st, with no contact until July 9th, but could be cleared by a doctor to compete as early as July 24th (nasal fracture)
Tito Ortiz: Suspended for six months or until clearance by a doctor (injured left hand and wrist)
Wilson Gouveia: Suspended for six months or until clearance by a doctor (broken nose and ribs)
Kazuhiro Nakamura: Suspended for six months or until clearance by a doctor (broken nose)
Jason Tan: Suspended for six months or until clearance by a doctor (broken nose)
Goran Reljic — The Croatian is suspended until June 24 and there is no contact allowed until June 15. Antonio Mendes — The Brazilian is suspended until June 24. Terry Etim — The British lightweight is suspended until June 24 and there is no contact allowed until June 15 because of a right cheek laceration. Christian Wellisch — “The Hungarian Nightmare” is suspended until June 8 and there’s no contact allowed until June 1.
After the jump: The third episode of ESPN’s “MMA Live,” where Jon, Kenny, and Franklin run down Kimbo Slice’s controversial main event status, UFC 84’s results, Sunday’s WEC show, and the matchup between Fedor Emelianenko and Tim Sylvia; plus, Bas Rutten demonstrates another nasty neck-crank.
Great show, and going into the night, I was conflicted about who I wanted to win for some fights. I’m a Lyoto Machida fan, and while I’ve never really been a Tito Ortiz fan, part of me was hoping to see him win just for the controversy it could’ve caused with Dana White. However, I [...]
Forgive the G’n'R reference, but I’m really that excited. Click the “more” link and refresh your browser every few minutes for live updates from the “Ill Will” pay-per-view broadcast, beginning at 7 p.m. PT. Good luck to the fighters, the betters, the pickers, and the soon-to-be pukers.
The official weigh-in event for UFC 84: “Ill Will” at the MGM Marquee Ballroom in Las Vegas, Nevada, has concluded. And it certainly had it’s share of memorable moments.
In particular, former light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz — in more than likely his last appearance for the promotion — is not going out quietly as expected. “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” donned a t-shirt the read, “Dana is My Bitch,” referring to his nemesis, UFC President Dana White.
It was no coincidence that White was not present at the festivities. Regardless, Ortiz will have one last opportunity to take a dig at White when he takes on Lyoto Machida tomorrow night.
Expect something even more over the top.
Here are the official results:
155 lbs.: B.J. Penn (155) vs. Sean Sherk (155)
205 lbs.: Wanderlei Silva (205) vs. Keith Jardine (205)
205 lbs.: Goran Reljic (205) vs. Wilson Gouveia (205)
205 lbs.: Tito Ortiz (205) vs. Lyoto Machida (203)
205 lbs.: Thiago Silva (205) vs. Antonio Mendes (203)
185 lbs.: Rousimar Palhares (185) vs. Ivan Salaverry (185)
205 lbs.: Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (204) vs. Kazuhiro Nakamura (206)
155 lbs.: Terry Etim (155) vs. Rich Clementi (155)
170 lbs.: Jon Koppenhaver (170) vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida (170)
170 lbs.: Dong Hyun Kim (171) vs. Jason Tan (170)
265 lbs.: Shane Carwin (252) vs. Christian Wellisch (230lbs)
*Note: Fighters are allowed to weigh one pound more than the division limit in non-title fights.
Remember that MMAmania.com will also provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action on fight night, which is slated to air at 10 p.m. ET on pay-per-view (PPV) from the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday, May 24.
Of course, the latest quick updates of the prelim bouts will begin to flow earlier than that at around 8:30 p.m. ET.
It’s going to be a sick night of fights … check us out for all the pre, during and post-fight coverage you can handle.
(Penn)
(Ortiz)
(Machida)
(Sokoudjou)