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Marcus Davis vs Paul Kelly UFC 89 fight possible Posted: 11 Jul 2008 09:58 PM CDT Marcus Davis (14-4) will look to begin another extended win streak when he returns to action against Paul Kelly (7-0) at UFC 89: “Leben vs. Bisping” at The National Indoor Arena (NIA) in Birmingham, England, on October 18. MMAmania.com confirmed the potential welterweight showdown this evening; however, both bout agreements have not been signing — it’s a verbal commitment at this time. “The Irish Hand Grenade” was upended for the first time in 11 consecutive bouts thanks to a unanimous decision loss to Mike Swick at UFC 85: “Bedlam” last month. It was the first loss for the former contestant on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) since his Octagon debut against Melvin Guillard at TUF 2 Finale in 2006. Despite the defeat, Davis still remains in the 170-pound title hunt. Nonetheless, a win against Kelly is critical if he wants to stay among the top players in a very crowded division. This will mark Davis’ fifth consecutive fight in the United Kingdom if it comes to fruition. Kelly is an undefeated English prospect who was victorious in his Octagon debut, outpointing fellow countryman, Paul Taylor, on all three judges scorecards at UFC 80: "Rapid Fire" earlier this year. He was booked to return at UFC 85: "Bedlam" last month against Jonathan Goulet; however, he sustained a finger injury during training and was forced to bail out of the showdown. It’s important to note that Kelly was previously rumored to be making a move down to lightweight and taking on Sam Stout. Clearly, that scenario is no longer in the cards. UFC 89 features the middleweight tilt between Michael Bisping and Chris Leben, as well as a potential welterweight war when Thiago Alves and Diego Sanchez meet in the center of the cage.

Icon Sport Hawaii returns with ‘Hard Times’ August 2 Posted: 11 Jul 2008 08:54 PM CDT Icon Sport recently announced its next event, “Hard Times,” which is slated for August 2 at the Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii. As we reported a couple days ago, the company’s middleweight champion, Kala “Kolohe” Hose (6-2), will face Rolando Dominique in a non-title fight at a 180-pound catchweight. The 140-pound North American title, however, will be on the line as the 135 pound champ, Mark Oshiro (11-1) — often referred to as the “Bantamweight Chuck Liddell” — will take on Bao Quach (14-8-1) for the vacant strap. Quach hasn’t lost since November of 2006 and has reeled off an impressive eight fight win streak. Both guys are super-explosive and both are loved by the Hawaiian fans. This one will be a treat for those who make it out to the Blaisdell Arena that night. There will also be a 170-pound state title put up for grabs. Hard-hitting BJ Penn trainee, Ross “The Boss” Ebanez (18-6), will vie for the gold against undefeated submission artist, Keoni Bryant (3-0). The belt was made vacant after champion Sidney Silva (6-2) decided to drop down to the 160-pound weight class. Speaking of Silva, he’ll also be in action on this card. He’ll fight Hideto Kondo. This fight will be the 18-year-old Kondo’s debut … and a stiff test at that against the former welterweight champ. Kondo will have his training partner Hayato “Mach” Sakurai in his corner for this fight. There’s some buzz surrounding this kid. This will be an interesting fight for sure. Phil “The New York Badass” Baroni (10-10) will also be in action at “Hard Times.” He’ll scrap with Ron Verdadero (3-5) at a catchweight of 175 pounds. Baroni is at least staying busy lately. This will be his fourth fight in 2008 and second in less than a month. This looks like a really good show so far with a ton of action-packed fights. There’s no word on if it will be aired on Showtime or any other channel, but we’ll let you know if any more news involving that comes out.

WEC 35 video trailer for title bonanza on Versus August 3 Posted: 11 Jul 2008 07:32 PM CDT For the most recent WEC 35 fight card, which includes champions Brian Stann, Carlos Condit and Jamie Varner, click here. (Thanks to MMAmania.com reader “Mooch” for the assist.)

UFC 86 drug test results come back clean Posted: 11 Jul 2008 07:05 PM CDT The Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) today issued the results of the drug tests performed prior to UFC 86: "Jackson vs. Griffin" at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on July 5, revealing that all eight fighters who were screened for banned substances tested negative. Forrest Griffin, Quinton Jackson, Melvin Guillard, Justin Buchholtz, Cole Miller, Gabriel Gonzaga, Joe Stevenson and Patrick Cote were all among the fighters who were randomly selected to provide samples before their fights. The tests are designed to deter fighters from ingesting performance enhancing drugs such as steroids and stimulants, as well drugs of abuse like marijuana, heroin, etc. NSAC has adopted a new year-round drug-testing policy, which is perhaps the strictest of its kind in the sport. In fact, the NSAC also tested Griffin and Jackson weeks out from the pay-per-view (PPV) event to ensure that fighters don't "cycle" off of substances prior to their tests. The tests were random — there was no other reason the fighters mentioned above were singled out. However, Guillard has tested positive for cocaine in the past and Keith Kizer, NSAC executive director, has mentioned that previous failed tests will be a factor (among others) when it comes to deciding if a fighter should or should not be tested. For complete UFC 86 coverage click here.

MMA Quick Quote: Elite XCs Gary Shaw now ‘more or less consulting’ Posted: 11 Jul 2008 01:58 PM CDT “I was waiting for one of those questions and the opportunity to set the record straight. Gary is still very involved with ProElite. Gary and our team from day one at ProElite basically took MMA at our company from ground zero to a huge network success. So, Gary’s got a lot to be proud of in the MMA world. In the process of doing it, as you can imagine, Gary being from the East Coast and we being a West Coast company, took a lot of time from Gary. He was traveling non‑stop. It took a toll on his boxing business, which is very successful and it took a toll on his family. To some degree, it took a toll on his health. We collectively made the decision that Gary was going to back off a little bit, kind of take a little bit of a relaxed role as far as being involved front and center, which is a good thing for all those three things, for his health, for his boxing business, and for his family. But Gary is still very much involved and I still talk to him almost every day. He’s still there. Gary’s interest still lies in EliteXC and ProElite, making it a top organization in the world. That’s the status with Gary…. Gary is still, like I said, majorly involved. I would say he’s more or less consulting in terms of all his promoter abilities, all his contacts and everything Gary does. So Gary is kind of behind the scenes with us, kind of shaping the direction of the company, the way it’s going, pulling the strings in terms of how we’re going to promote, what we’re going to do. Again, his involvement is very much similar to what it’s always been. The difference is, he’s not going to be front and center, doing all the time‑consuming stuff that he’s done in the past.” – Executive Chairman of Pro Elite Inc. Douglas Deluca details the new role of Elite XC Live Events President Gary Shaw in a conference call yesterday to promote its second installment of “Saturday Night Fights” on CBS on July 26. There had been speculation that Shaw was on his way out altogether; however, it appears that he will remain with the promotion in a new capacity going forward. It certainly does not sound like a promotion.

Do you want to be a fucking fighter? Posted: 11 Jul 2008 12:38 PM CDT Props: FloridaToday.com Quoteworthy: “I’m looking for a well-rounded athletic fighter, but the most important thing to me is record. It’s very frustrating in my job. I don’t look for victims. I pride myself in making competitive matchups…. I don’t care what happens in the gym. Lots of people do well in the gym. Going in the cage is a completely different thing, so I want to know how many fights do you have and who did you fight…. Did he beat up a bunch of guys who, this was their first fight? … or did he beat up a bunch of guys who had multiple fights and this much experience?… (In early MMA) if you had somebody who didn’t understand jiu-jitsu, you could beat them without being much of an athlete,” Silva said. “Nowadays, everybody knows. There’s no secret techniques. People know, and they cross-train. Being an athlete quite often is what makes the difference.” UFC matchmaker and vice president of talent relations, Joe Silva, on how to become a UFC fighter. Aspiring competitors take note. It isn’t all about signing autographs and banging broads.

Just the beginning: MMAmania.com exclusive interview with Jesse Taylor Posted: 11 Jul 2008 10:54 AM CDT Jesse Taylor just might be the most entertaining guy to ever come out of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) house. I mean, he did pee his swim trunks on national television. And who else can do better tricks on command like Coco the Monkey? Amir Sadollah? Pshaw! But in all seriousness, when Jesse Taylor went and got himself kicked off of the Finale for violating the UFC's conduct policy, no one was laughing. Well, at least Jesse Taylor wasn't. Now that he's “served his time” and been invited back into the thick of things, Taylor has a unique opportunity to not only prove he belongs in the big leagues, but also to fight the one man who benefitted the most from his dismissal: CB Dollaway. Dollaway beat Tim Creduer to claim Taylor's vacated spot in the Finale against Amir. And the rest, as they say, is history Taylor and Dollaway square off on the main card of UFC Fight Night 14: "Silva vs. Irvin," one week from tomorrow at The Pearl in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fights start at 9:00 p.m. ET and will go head-to-head with the Affliction pay-per-view. We caught up with Taylor to congratulate him on his return, find out his thoughts on his upcoming fight with Dollaway, and gauge his interest in a possible dream matchup with Amir Sadollah at some point down the road to find out who really deserves to be called The Ultimate Fighter. Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): First, let me say congratulations on getting the nod from the UFC that you're back in. That's great news. Jesse Taylor: Thank you. Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): When were you contacted by them letting you know that they wanted you back in? Jesse Taylor: I talked with Dana at the (TUF 7) Finale fight, I was there. And then on Monday after those fights, they pretty much contacted me and told me I'm in, they were just looking for (an opponent for me). About three weeks ago. Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): Since getting bounced for violating the UFC's conduct policy, this is clearly your chance at redemption and to prove that you truly belong in the largest MMA promotion in the world. What went through your mind when you were told of this opportunity? Jesse Taylor: I was really pumped to be back in the UFC for the chance to prove myself — what kind of fighter I am in and out of the cage. I think it's a great chance to be back, and this is just the beginning. It's time for me to establish myself. I'm very pumped up for the fight. I'm very happy about it. Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): Did you sign a multi-fight deal? Jesse Taylor: I believe it's the same contract that the other guys on the show are under. It's a three-year kind of a deal, where they can release you if you're not performing. Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): Let's talk about the TUF 7 Finale. How difficult was it to watch from the sidelines, knowing that you had earned that spot in the Finale? Jesse Taylor: Yeah, it was very tough, especially knowing that I matched up well with both of them. But I definitely think if I was in that Finale fight I would have won. All props to Amir for pulling that off and being the underdog and upsetting everyone (in the competition), but I just think that that would have been a very good fight for me and my style. It was my fight, and it was very hard to watch. Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): When Amir sunk in the armbar, did you think that CB Dollaway committed to the tap? Jesse Taylor: Yeah, he tapped. He definitely tapped. They showed the replay, and he tapped. Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): He seemed to have protested it a bit. Jesse Taylor: Yeah, I think after realizing it, he probably knew. He definitely tapped. He was probably just shocked himself that it happened. (Laughs) Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): Clearly, the person who benefited the most from your dismissal from the show was CB Dollaway. Is your upcoming fight with him a bit of payback? Jesse Taylor: No, I actually got along with the guy, I wouldn't say that. The only thing that really got to me was how everyone would just talk about him on the show. You know, how overhyped he was. I mean, yes, I'm not going to underestimate anyone, but I just think there was a little too much hype about the guy, which he never deserved. But definitely, there was a lot of overhype about the guy, and I'm a competitive guy, and I thought I was the best. That's the only reason why I want to fight him. Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): Well you'll have the opportunity two Saturdays from now. Both of you guys are decorated wrestlers to say the least. You're a two-time Junior College All-American wrestler. CB is a high school state champion, a junior college national champion and a 2005 All-American from ASU. Do you see your upcoming fight as who has the better wrestling, or do you think it will be more of a stand-up fight? [Editor's note: Jesse Taylor and CB Dollaway reportedly wrestled twice during their amateur days, with Dollaway getting the best of Taylor in both matches.] Jesse Taylor: Well I've been wrestling and fighting — and wrestling definitely helps, but they're two entirely different things, especially MMA wrestling. There's a big difference in how you use that in your fighting. But I see it as yeah, there's definitely going to be some stand-up involved. But I know that for both of us, if the takedown is open, we'll probably take it. Seems to me that once CB gets hit, he's going to start wrestling again. I think it'll be a good fight for me. I can use this to my advantage. Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): Are you training with Team Quest for this fight? Jesse Taylor: Yes, I've always been with Team Quest since I started training, and I'm still with Team Quest. Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): About how much time in your training is dedicated to the three major components of MMA — striking, jiu-jitsu and wrestling? Jesse Taylor: Oh, I do all of it everyday. We do it all. Especially for this fight — it's six, sometimes seven days a week. We do MMA, and sometimes we do big gloves, and we do kickboxing. We'll break it up. Sometimes we'll do morning, a little bit of technique and either a little bit of drilling on kickboxing, or wrestling with jiu-jitsu. And that night, it's a live spar in either MMA or kickboxing. Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): Knowing what you know of CB, do you have any particular strategy for how you plan to fight him? Jesse Taylor: I definitely do, but I don't think I should disclose it yet. Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): (Laughs) That's fine. I didn't think you would, but I thought I'd ask you anyway. Jesse Taylor: (Laughs) There's definitely some strategy we've been going over. But it'll be seen when we fight. Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): Now that you've earned your spot with the UFC, what are your future goals in the organization? Do you see a fight with Amir somewhere on the horizon? Jesse Taylor: You know, I really like Amir, but I think the fans deserve to see that fight, especially if everything goes as planned and I do well with this fight, which I believe I will. But I just have to keep on keeping on. Whoever they throw in front of me, I'll fight. I think this is just the beginning of a long career for me. But yeah, I think the fans do deserve that, to see who is really The … I mean, I give props, Amir was The Ultimate Fighter champ. But would Jesse Taylor have won it if I was allowed to fight? So I think after this fight, hopefully they will allow me to fight Amir. Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): Yeah, I think it has a huge potential for a highly marketable fight. Jesse Taylor: Yeah, I think it's marketable, I think people wanna see it. I want to prove it to myself too, and the fans. I think it will be cool. Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): Dana White was quoted as saying something about how he now has the challenge of trying to create a star (laughs) out of a kid who peed his pants (laughs) on national television (laughing very hard). Jesse Taylor: (Laughs) Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): So I was thinking you could embrace this by working it into your entrance. Have you ever thought about peeing your pants (laughing almost to the point I cannot complete the question) right before a fight when Bruce Buffer announces your name? Jesse Taylor: (Laughing) Yeah, that might be a little too much if I peed on myself. That would be a little over the top, definitely. Adam Wagner (MMAmania.com): Well you were great on the show. You definitely made the show very entertaining, and I think you'll do well in the UFC. I appreciate you taking the time to talk with us. Do you have any sponsors that you'd like to thank, or do you have any parting words for your fans? Jesse Taylor: Yeah, that'd be great. Parting words: This is only the beginning, and I promise a long career that's fun and exciting inside the cage, just as I am outside the cage. I just want to thank my training partners and all the Quest guys. Combat Clothing and Clinch Gear. All my sponsors. You can also go to my Web site www.yoJTmoney.com.

Matt Brown vs. Dong Hyun Kim UFC 88 fight in the works Posted: 11 Jul 2008 10:37 AM CDT Former The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 7 contestant, Matt Brown (7-6), will take on undefeated Korean import, Dong Hyun “Stun Gun” Kim (10-0-1), at UFC 88: “Breakthrough” in Atlanta, Ga., on September 6, according to MFight.co.kr. Brown — who was eliminated from the show by eventual tournament winner Amir Sadollah via triangle choke in the semifinals — bounced back to defeat Matt Arroyo via technical knockout at the TUF 7 Finale last month. It was just his second win in his last five fights and the first inside the Octagon. That makes him essentially perfect within the eight-sided cage (1-0) just like his opponent when it comes time to throw down in the “Peach State.” Kim stopped Jason Tan in his inaugural Octagon appearance at UFC 84: “Ill Will” back in May, pounding out his opponent with elbows in the final frame. The promising DEEP veteran will look to keep his perfect record intact and climb the welterweight ladder one rung at a time. To check out the latest UFC 88 card and fight rumors click here.

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