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| Brock Lesnar requests Steve Mazzagatti not referee Randy Couture UFC 91 fight Posted: 29 Oct 2008 08:41 AM CDT The legal team that represents Brock Lesnar recently filed paperwork with the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC), requesting that referee Steve Mazzagatti be removed from consideration as the man who will be in charge of the action during the main event at UFC 91: "Couture vs. Lesnar" at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on November 15. Mazzagatti officiated Lesnar's Octagon debut against Frank Mir at UFC 81: "Breaking Point" earlier this year. In the opening seconds of the heavyweight bout, Lesnar stormed the former champion and began to maul him with a flurry of strikes. It appeared that Lesnar was on his way to an impressive technical knockout victory; however, the former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) star landed several questionable — and according to Mazzagatti — illegal blows to the back of the head. As a result, the action was stopped and Lesnar was docked one point. And when the action restarted Mir survived another blitzkrieg and locked in a fight-ending submission (kneebar) just 91 seconds into the match. Of course, several fans blamed Mazzagatti and his ruling for the result rather than Lesnar and his inability to defend submissions and/or land legal blows. Regardless, when all was said and done, it was perhaps the most hectic and crazy minute and a half of action inside the Octagon in all of 2008. So now that Lesnar is paired against heavyweight champion Randy Couture in what is being billed the "biggest fight in UFC history," he apparently does not want to take any chances with Mazzagatti making the same alleged "mistake" twice and affecting the outcome of his fight. That's just fine according to the mustached wonder. "I’m [not offended] at all," Mazzagatti said in a recent interview with Dave Farra that is now up on YouTube.com. "He’s a professional — they’re both professionals — and they have to do what they have to do. It’s fine with me. I’m going to enjoy watching the fight" Talk about taking the high road. Sherdog.com recently reported that in addition to Mazzagatti, "Herb Dean, Josh Rosenthal and Mario Yamasaki were under consideration to officiate the Couture-Lesnar match." NSAC Executive Director Keith Kizer — who praised Mazzagatti for his work inside the Octagon on February 2 — eventually granted the request from Lesnar. Yamasaki is now the man in charge, which hopefully means that Lesnar can now focus 100 percent on Couture come fight night. |
| Miguel Torres video on early MMA career and more Posted: 28 Oct 2008 11:13 PM CDT The super talented WEC bantamweight champion returns to action against Manny Tapia on December 3. |
| WEC Quick Quote: Leonard Garcia wants Jens Pulver to throw in the towel Posted: 28 Oct 2008 10:04 PM CDT
-WEC featherweight contender Leonard Garcia talks to MMAmania’s own Pro MMA Radio about his number one contender fight with mixed martial arts legend Jens Pulver at WEC 36 on November 5th. Will the “Bad Boy” retire the former UFC lightweight champion? Or is “Little Evil” too much for the fiesty up-and-comer? We’ll find out next week. |
| CSAC denies Antonio ‘Bigfoot’ Silva steroids appeal and upholds year-long suspension Posted: 28 Oct 2008 01:48 PM CDT
“There was no appellation. The suspension stays. Unfortunately, it didn't work. The Commission showed that doesn't like MMA fighter, mainly Brazilian. Sean Sherk took nandrolone, it was proved, but they reduced his punishment, but with me they didn't leave.” Elite XC Heavyweight Champion Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva shares his disappointment with Tatame.com about the recent decision made by the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) to uphold his year-long suspension and $2,500 fine for testing positive for the anabolic steroid Boldenone following his win over Justin Eilers in July. Silva’s manager, Alex Davis added this:
Basically, Silva’s management doesn’t believe their client got a fair shake with the CSAC, but at this point it looks like “Bigfoot” will have to take it on the chin and serve the suspension regardless of his guilt or innocence. The suspension will keep the first and only Elite XC heavyweight champion out of action until at least July 26, 2009. He has the option to fight outside the United States during this time; however, it would be heavily discouraged and frowned upon by the CSAC and other regulatory bodies nationwide. Thanks to CombatLifestyle.com for the photo of Antonio Silva. |
| WEC 36 fight card complete for Nov. 5 at Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood Posted: 28 Oct 2008 11:58 AM CDT
It is scheduled to air live on the Versus network, beginning at 9 p.m. ET next Wednesday night. As expected, the main event will feature “The California Kid” Urijah Faber (21-1) defending his 145-pound featherweight title for the sixth time against American Top Team product Mike Brown (19-4). Brown has recent victories over Yves Edwards and Jeff Curran and hasn’t lost a fight since late in 2005. His lone victory under the WEC banner came in June at WEC 34 against Curran. Here are his thoughts on the fight:
There are plenty of other intriguing match ups on hand for this event as well, including former lightweight champ “Razor” Rob McCullough (16-4) taking on undefeated Greg Jackson trainee Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone (8-0), as well as Leonard “Bad Boy” Garcia (15-3) locking horns with former UFC champion Jens “Little Evil” Pulver (22-9-1) just to name a few. Oh, and WEC Middleweight Champion Paulo Filho will attempt to dismember Chael Sonnen in their 185-pound rematch. Here’s the complete WEC 36 fight card:
WEC 36 was originally scheduled for September 10 in South Florida, but the threat of Hurricane Ike in the area caused promotion officials to reschedule the event for November 5 “just in case.” Because of the switch, there are a few subtle changes to the fight card from its original form. Stay locked in to MMAmania.com for all your WEC 36 coverage. |
| UFC Quick Quote: Rich Franklin not approached about TUF 9 coaching gig … yet Posted: 28 Oct 2008 11:36 AM CDT
"There's been rumors and supposedly news that I'm going to be the coach of the next season (of TUF) with a victory over Dan (Henderson), but the UFC hasn't actually approached me about that or not. I know that they spoke to Dan several months ago about him being a coach, and that was probably well before this fight was planned. But as for me, they haven't talked to me about it. I actually tried putting a phone call in to Dana himself to ask him about it, and he hasn't gotten back to me yet. So, I can't confirm or deny that rumor at this point … I never say never, but it's not really something that I'm particularly interested in doing again. But with the right incentive, anything can look appealing." — Rich Franklin talks to MMATraining.com on whether or not he has been approached for a coaching spot on the next season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 9: "U.S. vs. U.K." It's interesting to note that Franklin claims not to be interested in the opportunity, but yet placed a call in to UFC President Dana White to talk specifically about it. Perhaps "Ace" is working an angle here — money talks. Regardless, when Franklin and Henderson meet for the main event at UFC 93: "Dublin" on January 17, you can expect fireworks. The TUF coaching job may not be the only thing on the line, as the winner will likely face opposing coach Michael Bisping immediately after the TUF 9 Finale, followed by what could be a title shot. |
| Dana White on Nick Diaz possible return to UFC Posted: 28 Oct 2008 11:27 AM CDT
That is, of course, if the Stockton, Calif., native can cool his temper outside the cage. "I think Nick Diaz is a bad ass. Nick Diaz is a tough kid," White said in a recent radio interview with TapouT Live. "Nick Diaz doesn't handle himself right all the time in public. I like him — I respect him as a fighter. I love his attitude. I love the way that kid fights. But you can't do the stuff that this kid does in public. You can't get into fights when the fight is over … you can't do that stuff." White is perhaps referring to an incident in the wake of UFC 57: "Liddell vs. Couture 3" in 2006 when Diaz was so fired up that a decision didn't go his way in a fight against Joe Riggs that he dropped "Diesel" in the hospital afterwards. He remained with the promotion after the post-fight fisticuffs, going on to lose his next bout against Sean Sherk via unanimous decision. The defeat to the "Muscle Shark" was his third straight inside the Octagon; however; Diaz, felt at the time that he should have won all the fights during that rough stretch. Diaz would go on two fight twice more under the UFC banner, collecting stoppages over Josh Neer and Gleison Tibau, before signing on to challenge Pride FC golden boy, Takanori Gomi, once his contract with Zuffa expired. He initially defeated the "Fireball Kid" with a thrilling submission (gogoplata), ending a explosive clash that up until that point was an absolute war. However, the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) changed the result to a "No Contest" when Diaz tested positive for marijuana in his post-fight drug test. Diaz signed with upstart promotion Elite XC quickly thereafter in early 2007, emerging as one of its most marketable stars. And while he failed in his attempt to capture the vacant 160-pound title, Diaz put together a solid record (4-1) while with Elite XC (and one fight with DREAM). Of course, Diaz — who had been a staple in the UFC 170-pound division for several years — would be an instant force in the lightweight division if he were to return to the organization and compete at 155. His younger brother, Nate Diaz, currently competes in the category and has enjoyed tremendous success, including winning the fifth season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF). |
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