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| Diego Sanchez vs Luigi Fioravanti TUF 7 Finale fight talk (Video) Posted: 19 Jun 2008 08:35 AM CDT x x x |
| ‘MMA in Paradise’ sweepstakes to watch Elite XC in Hawaii Posted: 19 Jun 2008 08:29 AM CDT Pro Elite — the parent company of Elite XC and other mixed martial arts promotions — will give one lucky fan a trip for two to Honolulu, Hawaii, with lodging for two nights, two tickets to an Elite XC event on the island and $1,000 in cold hard cash to spend in what has been dubbed the “MMA in Paradise” sweepstakes. Pretty sweet. The contest is free to enter at ProElite.com … so there’s not much to lose. You’ll have to sign up for an account with them, which is free and beneficial anyway because most of the under card fights are usually streamed live on the site for account holders to watch. The winner will be announced on Tuesday, June 24. And the entry deadline is Friday, June 20. Therefore, get over to to ProElite.com as soon as possible and enter for your chance to watch some live mixed martial arts action in one of the most beautiful places in the world. Who knows, you might get lei’d. |
| Tim Credeur vs Cale Yarbrough TUF 7 Finale fight official Posted: 19 Jun 2008 08:20 AM CDT It's a battle of former Team Forrest members when Tim Credeur (9-2) and Cale Yarbrough (0-0) collide at The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 7 Finale at The Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort Las Vegas, Nevada, this Saturday, June 21. Credeur lost his initial semifinal bid to punch his ticket to the final fight against Amir Sadollah when he was defeated by Jesse Taylor in the final four. However, Taylor was kicked off the show shortly after it wrapped, creating another opportunity for Credeur to challenge for the six-figure contract. He locked horns with the other eliminated semifinalist, CB Dollaway, in an eliminator match. But things did not go Credeur's way – he lost via unanimous decision in a very close battle. Yarbrough defeated John Clarke via technical knockout and Patrick Shultz via unanimous decision before getting pounded out by Dollaway in the quarterfinals. He must have done something right because he was among the few of the 16 fighters asked to compete in the Finale. In fact, only half of the contestants earned the right to make their official Octagon debuts this weekend on the Spike TV special that begins at 9 p.m. ET. The fight between Credeur and Yarbrough, however, has been relegated to the under card and there’s no guarantee that it will make the broadcast. To check out the complete TUF 7 Finale fight card click here. |
| DREAM 5: Lightweight Grand Prix finals and a whole lot more Posted: 18 Jun 2008 11:58 PM CDT
The remaining fights are Shinya Aoki (16-2) vs. Caol Uno (25-10-4) and Eddie Alvarez (14-1) vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri (22-4-2). Like grand prix’s of the past, the semifinal winners will compete in the finals the very same night, creating a sense of urgency in the opening round which (unlike domestic organizations) runs an exhausting ten minutes. An early stoppage can leave a fighter fresh and fluid for a second battle. Yet a hard fought decision victory can leave that same fighter gassed before the finals even begin. Fortunately this is a lightweight contest and lightweight fighters traditionally have a better chance of maintaining their endurance. Aside from the grand prix, Palace Fighting Championship (PFC) competitor Joseph Benavidez (7-0) will try and upset featherweight wrecking machine Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto (17-1). The up-and-coming Benavidez last competed on May 8 at PFC 8 where he submitted the 3-8 Maurice Eazel via submission in the first round. Yamamoto on the other hand has been obliterating the competition since 2001 in both Shooto and K-1, with his lone loss coming from a cut he suffered against Stephen Palling back in 2002. Also on the card, UFC and EliteXC headliner Nick Diaz (16-7) will fight PRIDE veteran Hayato "Mach" Sakurai (32-8-2) for the first-ever DREAM welterweight title - assuming Diaz doesn’t end up in jail after street fighting with bitter rival KJ Noons prior to that. DREAM 5 is also set to showcase the overdue rematch between Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic (23-6-2) and K-1 superstar Jerome LeBanner (3-1-1). Cro Cop pulled out of his DREAM 4 grappling match against Ralek Gracie after suffering a minor knee injury so that he could devote 100% of himself to this bout. Also scheduled to compete are Yoshihiro Akiyama (10-1) and Denis Kang (29-10-1), both against opponents yet to be named. We’ll have more on this developing card as it comes together. |
| Jesse Taylor: ‘I want another chance. I made a horrible mistake.’ (Video) Posted: 18 Jun 2008 10:37 PM CDT The first ever finalist from The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) to be booted from the house, Jesse Taylor, talks about the infamous night in Las Vegas that cost him his shot at Octagon glory, as well as the adjustments he has made in his life as a result:
Props: Spike.com He thinks that the punishment may have been a bit harsh. What do you think? |
| Amir Sadollah vs CB Dollaway reach Ultimate Fighter Finale 7 finals Posted: 18 Jun 2008 10:25 PM CDT
But the season has officially wrapped, and Amir Sadollah (0-0) and CB Dollaway (6-0) were the last two middleweights left standing when the music stopped. And for the first-time ever the finals of the 16-man tournament style show will feature a rematch — Sadollah came from behind to defeat Dollaway in round three of their semifinal bout via submission (armbar). Shortly thereafter, Jesse Taylor — the first fighter to reach the finals — got loaded on booze and went on a drunken rampage through one of the Fertitta’s casinos. He caused such an irresponsible and unforgivable ruckus that UFC President Dana White was forced to cut him. That opened up the door for Dolloway and the other fighter eliminated in the semifinals, Tim Credeur, to get a second bite at the six-figure apple. The pair was called back to fight it out to see who would earn the right to challenge Sadollah for the TUF 7 crown at The Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort Las Vegas, Nevada, this Saturday (June 21) on Spike TV. It was Dollaway — one of the early favorites — who came out on top, defeating Credeur via a hard-fought unanimous decision. Sadollah perhaps had the toughest road to the finals, taking out Steve Byrnes, Gerald Harris, Matt Brown and Dollaway in just six weeks. And he stopped them all early despite sustaining damage in most if not all of his fights. He’s a super resilient and crafty fighter in the mold of UFC Heavyweight Champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. Dollaway — an accomplished Arizona State University wrestling standout — relied primarily on his slick takedowns and ground and pound to put away David Baggett, Nick Klein, Cale Yarbrough and Credeur en route to the championship bout. He’ll be out to prove that he was indeed the best fighter in the hose when he looks to avenge the semifinal loss to Sadollah this weekend. If their first fight is any indication we should be in store for some solid action. And maybe even one last surprise. To check out the most recent TUF 7 Finale fight card click here. |
| The Ultimate Fighter 7: Episode 12 recap and discussion Posted: 18 Jun 2008 09:20 PM CDT
The final episode is here and it gets right down to business with the remaining semifinal fight between CB Dolloway and Amir Sadollah. The winner will meet Jesse Taylor at this Saturday’s live finale. The general consensus is that Amir is the underdog but he’s proven a worthy opponent thus far and of course anything can happen. Semifinal match #2: CB Dolloway (6-0) vs. Amir Sadollah (0-0) Round 1: CB with a flurry. Amir backpedals. CB rushes again. Amir with a liver kick that drops CB but he rushes in and gets scooped and slammed. Amir in guard trying to make things hard on CB. Amir busy from the bottom. CB postures but lands nothing cleanly. CB trying to pick his spots but Amir is no easy target. CB gets sloppy and Amir escapes. Amir goes Superman and sneaks in a punch. CB stumbles into a takedown and Amir is back in guard. The round ends with CB trying to flatten him out while looking for a choke. Round 2: CB with a jab and a kick. Amir rushes and lands a few punches and a knee. CB answers. Amir with a front kick that lands in CB’s midsection and crumbles him. Again Amir goes in and winds up on the floor. CB not doing much from the top while Amir is staying busy. CB gets sloppy and Amir locks in an armbar. He turns it but can’t secure it and loses his grip. CB gets back to mount. Amir is bleeding from the eye. Amir blinking heavily and may not be able to see. CB looks winded but continues to throw sporadically. Mazz has seen enough and stands them up. Amir landing punches and a nice kick but CB takes him back down. Round two ends with CB on top. Round 3: Low kick by CB. Amir rushes but gets tied up. CB with a failed takedown. And another. Third time is the charm as Amir eats the floor. CB gets his back and sinks in the rear naked choke but Amir listens to his corner and turns into the hold and escapes. CB looks for a crucifix but instead ends up in a bizarre north/south. He turns and falls back into Amir’s guard. He tries to turn up the heat but instead turns into an armbar and it’s TIGHT. CB has nowhere to go and is forced to tap. Amir Sadollah defeats CB Dolloway via submission (armbar). Back in the locker room CB showers himself with disbelief. He admits to underestimating Amir and as a result he paid for it. Over on the other side Amir shares in that disbelief as he has his eye sewn back together. Now that it’s all said and done we have Jesse Taylor vs. Amir Sadollah competing in the finale to decide who will be crowned The Ultimate Fighter. Afterwards Dana explains how he wraps up the show by taking the guys out for a night on the town in the heart of Vegas. Well apparently one night was not enough for Jesse Taylor as Dana watches security footage of him pulling up to the Palace Station Hotel in a rented limo. Taylor tries to exit the vehicle - Duke boys style - by kicking out the limo window. He then decides to storm the hotel and terrorize female bar patrons while screaming about how he is a UFC fighter. At least Danny Abaddi had enough sense to do it after a fight. Dana calls in Forrest and Rampage to show them the tape and eventually gets Jesse Taylor in there to explain his actions. Taylor admits to binge drinking and going a wee bit overboard. Dana tells him he isn’t ready for the UFC and gives his career a Viking funeral. Taylor chokes up and realizes he blew the chance of a lifetime. It was difficult to watch. Now that it’s behind them, Dana and the coaches have to figure out how to fix the finale since its short by one person. They bring back Tim Credeur and CB Dolloway and offer them a chance to fight each other for the opportunity to face Amir Sadollah in the live finale. Thankfully they ignore the trend of season’s past and actually say yes. Will CB get a rematch? Or will Credeur finally show he’s ready for the big time? Poor Amir gets dragged back to the gym and Dana drops the bomb on him. Now he gets a ringside seat to see who his new opponent will be. Semifinal fight #3: Tim Credeur (10-2) vs CB Dolloway (6-0) Round 1: Feeling out process as the guys trade punches. More exchanging. CB eats a few. CB with a low kick. Another. High kick by Tim and a low kick by CB. Two more. Some punches fly. Nice body shot by Tim. CB misses a high kick. Tim fires off a few punches and eats a kick to the shoulder. CB lands a nice body kick. Tim drops him with a right and pounces but gets rolled into guard after a quick recovery by CB. Tim tries to escape and winds up in a guillotine but finds a way out and they get back to their feet. Tim eats a big punch in the waning seconds and CB scores a takedown at his expense as the round expires. Very close. Round 2: CB opens with a grazing high kick. CB with a ferocious takedown but Tim gets back to his feet. CB is backing Tim up with very aggressive striking. Tim slips avoiding a CB punch. Tim lands a few upkicks to the knees of CB and when he eventually gets to his feet he eats a solid low kick. Tim gets rocked by CB and goes into a heap. CB close to ending it. Tim hangs on and weathers the storm long enough to find his feet. He tries to counter with a flurry but CB is on stronger legs. Both look gassed as the guys slow their pace and swing wildly in between resting periods. Body shot by Tim sneaks in. Slow takedown by CB but it still gets an exhausted Tim to the ground. The round ends with Tim on bottom getting smothered. Round 3: Tim eats two punches right out of the gate and gets taken down. He gets to his feet and tries to strike but CB is keeping him at bay with defensive kicks. Tim with a low kick. Both guys are wiped. CB gets another takedown. Not much happens and Tim finds his feet. Nice low kick by Tim. Tim tries to stuff the shoot but cannot. CB stands again and seems content to just stall and eat knee kicks. Tim back up. Tim with a flurry and gets taken down again. Once on the ground they pound away on each other in desperation until the round ends. CB Dolloway defeats Tim Credeur via unanimous decision. Now CB Dolloway will replace the deposed Jesse Taylor and rematch Amir Sadollah at the live finale. Afterwards Dana gives both guys 10,000 for showing up and leaving it all in the cage. They earned it with a very entertaining battle. Rampage fades to black screaming “Rampage is back!” I guess we’ll find out this Saturday at The Ultimate Fighter Finale live from The Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. See you then! |
| Kendall Grove: ‘I have a lot to prove against Evan Tanner’ (Video) Posted: 18 Jun 2008 07:47 PM CDT It’s a fight between “two losers” in the main event at The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) Finale 7 this Saturday from the The Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort Las Vegas, Nevada: He said it … not me. |
| MMA New York not happening in 2008 Posted: 18 Jun 2008 07:31 PM CDT
The New York State Assembly Tourism, Arts, and Sports Development Committee today tabled a bill until as late as January 2009 that would have set the wheels in motion to finally legalize the sport in “The Empire State.” Last week, the initial votes were cast on the bill; however, after the fact committee members were confused about whether or not to seal it with their stamp of approval and requested to change their submissions. That confusion set the stage for today when a re-vote on the issue was scheduled. However, it appears that the committee and its members still require more time to learn all the positives and negatives of the new legislation before making up their minds. In fact, a public forum and round table discussion will be scheduled between now and the next vote to flesh out all the details. The good news is that it also gives the UFC, which is leading the charge, and its well-paid lobbyists more time educate. It’s no secret that a major pay-per-view (PPV) event from historic Madison Square Garden in Manhattan would signal a major victory in earning almost total mainstream acceptance and elevate the sport to exciting new heights. We’ll just have to wait a little bit longer. |
| Stomp & Circumstance: Fedor graduates with degree in butt-kicking Posted: 18 Jun 2008 07:24 PM CDT
Fedor Emelianenko — the last man to hold the Pride FC heavyweight belt — is now certified to train young Russians how to kick ass. He’ll get to soon demonstrate his new degree for his future students against former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia at the Affliction MMA debut at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., on July 19. |
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