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| Josh Neer management team issues statement after arrest Posted: 02 Jan 2009 08:12 AM CST From Mickey Dubberly — Chief Executive Officer of K.O. Dynasty Sports Mgt. — on behalf of his client, Josh Neer:
It appears at least for now that Neer is still lined up to tangle with Mac Danzig at UFC Fight Night 17 at the USF Sun Dome in Tampa, Fla., on February 7 after a major run-in with the law early yesterday morning. For more details on Neer’s arrest and reported actions on New Year’s Eve night click here. |
| MMA Quick Quote: Shinya Aoki wants to fight BJ Penn to determine worlds best lightweight Posted: 02 Jan 2009 08:01 AM CST
– Newly-crowned WAMMA Lightweight Champion Shinya Aoki talks to Sherdog.com about his desire to challenge BJ Penn to determine the top 155-pound fighter on the planet. He currently feels that Penn is the man to beat in the division. If a match ever happened it would be a clash of two high-level Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners. However, Aoki does not appear interested in competing inside the Octagon, which essentially negates a clash anytime soon. In the meantime, share your thoughts on a possible outcome in the comments section below. |
| Rich Franklin video on Dan Henderson UFC 93 fight, move to 205 and much more Posted: 02 Jan 2009 06:31 AM CST No black eye: |
| Posted: 02 Jan 2009 06:28 AM CST
UFC 94: "St. Pierre vs. Penn 2,″ the blockbuster Super Bowl weekend UFC pay-per-view (PPV) event, features the welterweight superfight between former 170-pound champion and current lightweight kingpin BJ Penn versus reigning welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre. It’s the rematch mixed martial arts fans have been demanding for over two years. Penn and St. Pierre have already met inside the Octagon at UFC 58: "USA vs. Canada" in 2006, which resulted in a controversial split decision win for St. Pierre. “The Prodigy” brutalized “Rush” for much of the first round, but then he stormed back and hung on in the final two frames to get the winning nod. Most at the time felt at the very least it should have been a draw because of the lopsided opening stanza; however, the judges ringside did not agree. Regardless, it was a great fight and the encore will likely be even better since both fighters have improved significantly over time. And that's a scary thing to say – these are two of the most gifted pound-for-pound talents in the sport going up against one another in the prime of their careers. Its historical significance cannot be overstated. BJ Penn appreciates that significance, and also understands that he’ll be fighting a much more evolved St. Pierre on January 31. That understanding has helped him stay focused during training camp for what he hopes will be the biggest - and perhaps most definitive win of his career. "I'm coming in, in great shape. I'm going to be real strong and real fast and in great condition. I’ve got a lot of stuff I’m going to come after him with. I'm going to try to knock him out. I'm going to try to slam him on his head. I've got no secrets. I'm just going to go out there and grind this thing out and I'm going to win this fight." One of the biggest criticisms of BJ’s past has been his apparent lack of preparation for big fights. Conditioning issues may have gotten the better of him in his first fight with St. Pierre as well as his second fight with Matt Hughes. Penn seemingly exorcised those demons with a successful transition to lightweight, where he’s won three straight, including a dominant performance over Sean Sherk at UFC 84 to win the 155lb strap. Still, Penn knows there are no guarantees upon returning to the welterweight division. “George is a real athletic guy so you’ve got to be smart out there. You’ve got to be thinking, weighing everything out as the fight is going. I'm training five hours a day. I'm training really hard for three hours in the morning, two hours at night. I'm just going full blast. I do 12 rounds a day. I do calisthenics, running and sprints, eating healthy food and honestly? I could fight right now. I could fight right now, today. I'm ready to go!" Georges St. Pierre also had his share of hiccups en route to the division title. “Rush” was seeing a therapist at one point to help him deal with confidence issues and pre-fight anxiety that stemmed from his meteoric rise to the top. Like Penn, he seems to have put his issues behind him. "I don't know if he’s worried. Everybody is talking about him, whether he’s nervous for this fight or if he’s taking it light or what. I'm sure he knows that I've got some skills that I'm bringing to the table. But you never know, fighters, they get too confident sometimes." Confidence - or perhaps overconfidence - is something Penn has been asked about before with his constant switch between weight classes earlier in his career. BJ has gone on record in the past about unifying multiple titles within the UFC, but he appears to be grounded coming into this fight. "That’s not even in my mind right now. I said a few years ago it would be great if I could be the 155-pound champ, 170-pound champ and 185-pound champion, but I'm just concentrating right now on this fight. I want to thank all the fans for supporting me and all the fans that support the sport period. Thank you very much. I also want to thank BJPenn.com and thank RVCA and Cage Fighter and Troy “Rude Boy” Mandaloniz.” BJ Penn is headed for a night unlike any other in UFC history. His rematch with Georges St. Pierre, if it indeed lives up to expectations, could go down as one of the greatest fights of all time. The Prodigy is ready to do his share, and has a little message for his opponent on January 31: "Don't take this thing lightly. This isn't a joke. I'm going to come full blast and say, I'm ready to die. I’m going to beat you." |
| New Year’s Resolution: Save even more money at Feel It! Nutrition Posted: 02 Jan 2009 06:26 AM CST
It's Fitness Friday ladies and gentlemen, and since we're rolling into the new year, I wanted to focus on setting goals for those of you just getting started and renewing them for the veterans who already make health and fitness a part of their daily life. Most of us can agree that our bodies aren’t quite where they need to be. If you have any doubts but are too shy to ask the trainer at your local gym to give you a once-over, take your shirt off and get in front of a full-length mirror at home and bang out a few side straddle hops (or jumping jacks, as you civilians call it). That should pretty much tell you where you’re at physically. No one is immune to the temptations of the holidays. Christmas cookies are my Kryptonite. They come within ten feet of me and I’m reduced to a weakened state, barely able to move or speak coherently. And that’s okay. We need to take time throughout the year to make sure we enjoy ourselves. It keeps us mentally healthy and if nothing else, a reason to reevaluate our fitness goals. Since the start of the new year brings with it the dreaded “New Year’s Resolution”, it’s imperative that we don’t get too wrapped up in the symbolism of changing our entire lives just because the clock struck midnight. If we make our goals to drastic, they will likely be unattainable.
Before getting started (or picking up where you left off), your first order of business should be to establish a baseline for which to begin. My favorite is the tried-and-true Polaroid camera that weighs as much as a barbell plate and emits a flash that could blind a Cosmonaut stationed on Mir. Taking a digital picture is quick and easy - but no one can ever accuse you of photoshopping a Polaroid! It's also a good idea to take measurements of your biceps, chest, quads and waist. If you want to track your growth or reduction in a particular area of your body, you should measure it. Don't bother getting tangled up in that construction grade tape measure, use a soft tape measure like a clothing tailor would for the most accurate read. Once you've established your starting point, keep that Polaroid and tape measure handy for tracking your progress. The purpose is twofold. First, it helps you stay motivated by confirming your gains (or losses). You can't always see your early changes with the naked eye, but there is no disputing the numbers. Second, it can help you fine tune your workout. If you go hard for a month straight and nothing changes, you know its time to reevaluate your routine. I’m a big proponent of baby steps. Like every other red-blooded American male, I’m obsessed with getting huge biceps and lats that resemble a Yield sign. But they won’t do me any good if I look like Olive Oyl from the waist down. In order to transform your body, you must first start from the core and work your way out. By training your legs and core in addition to your upper body, you allow the body to release growth hormone systematically, enhancing all areas of training and muscle development. Besides, how can anyone expect to crank out the biggest and baddest upper body workouts if they aren’t flexible or stable enough to properly utilize the weights? We have the luxury to do things right because it’s still early in the year. There is no point in trying to kill ourselves when the warm weather is still six months away (Southerners get bent!). Remember, slow and steady wins the race. So often our progress is hampered by the finer details. Beginners (and serious athletes) should keep a training and nutrition log for keeping track of everything they do inside and outside of the gym. People who follow an exercise plan that eventually switch to a daily fitness journal are amazed at how many areas they are falling short in. It’s not unusual to find some extra calories sneaking into your diet that you didn’t see prior to keeping records. Or perhaps your symmetry is off because your routine is not balanced. Sometimes it just takes a little fine tuning to break through that last wall. And you should be drinking water like you're camping on Mercury. Four to six liters per day at the very least. What's the simplest way to determine if you're getting enough H2O? If your urine is yellow and not clear, you're not drinking enough water. Time for a new year, time for a new you. On Wednesday night, Dick Clark dropped a ball. Now Feel It! Nutrition is dropping a bomb: In celebration of starting fresh in 2009, Feel It! Nutrition is offering the loyal readers of MMAmania.com 20.09% off all orders over $100! Unfortunately this limited-time offer comes with a catch: We're only offering it to people who agree to commit to a daily fitness regimen that includes a healthy diet. Summer will be here before you know it! If you're ready to keep your focus and stay dedicated, then head over to Feel It! Nutrition and enter the promocode "CELEBRATING2009″ at checkout. What a great way to save money on some of the most cutting-edge supplements. Don't worry about trying to figure out which nutritional supplements are going to help you maintain your current fitness goals. The Feel It! Nutrition experts have already done the research for you and assembled some of the most comprehensive stacks available to help you achieve almost any fitness goal. Looking to get huge? Why not give the mighty Bulk Stack a try. Or perhaps you are already of considerable girth and want to get lean. No problem. Feel It! Nutrition created Lean Stack with you in mind. Of course no MMA blog would be complete without the highly acclaimed MMA Stack. Designed for fighters, by fighters. Happy New Year to all of the MMAmaniacs. Be sure to take advantage of the 2009 Celebration sale over at Feel It! Nutrition, their way of saying thanks to all of their loyal customers for their continued commitment to healthy living. |
| Mark Coleman wants ’stand-up war’ with Mauricio Shogun Rua at UFC 93 Posted: 01 Jan 2009 10:30 PM CST
Props: Sherdog.com Quoteworthy:
Mark Coleman — the "Godfather" of the ground and pound, collegiate national wrestling champion for THE Ohio State University and wrestler for the 1992 United States Olympic team — talks about wanting to possibly keep his upcoming fight against lethal Chute Boxe-trained striker Mauricio “Shogun” Rua upright at UFC 93 at The O2 in Dublin, Ireland, on January 17. "The Hammer" defeated Rua in controversial fashion at PRIDE 31 back in 2006 when an awkward landing broke the Brazilian's arm less than a minute into the fight. It was a bitter loss for the 2005 Pride FC Grand Prix Champion and one that he has been out to avenge ever since it happened. Exchanging strikes does not appear to be the best strategy on paper for Coleman, but in this sport the craziest shit happens. |
| The Incredible bulk: Alistair Overeem putting the heavy in heavyweight Posted: 01 Jan 2009 10:29 PM CST MMA metamorphoses via Free Fight Videos:
It’s hard to imagine Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem, who weighed in at 253 pounds at Fields Dynamite!!, ever making the cut to light heavyweight. Yet that’s exactly what he did in 2005 when he took on Vitor Belfort at the 2005 PRIDE Middleweight Grand Prix (under 205 pounds). What a difference a few years makes. |
| Junie Browning: ‘Dana sees something in me that he dont see in a lot of other fighters’ Posted: 01 Jan 2009 09:42 PM CST |
| Eddie Alvarez eyes quick turnaround after defeat to Shinya Aoki Posted: 01 Jan 2009 09:15 PM CST
Standout 155-pound fighter Eddie Alvarez will be back in action against Naoyuki Kotani (18-8-6) just three weeks after a 90-second submission loss to Shinya Aoki at FieLDS Dynamite!! over the weekend. The 27-year-old Philadelphia native is still booked to headline Extreme Challenge: "War at the Shore" at the Tropicana in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on January 23. Alvarez will look to rebound from just the second loss of his career -- he fell victim to a slick heel hook in the first round by the Japanese submission wizard. Fortunately, Alvarez appears to have avoided ligament damage, which could have forced him off the upcoming card in the "Garden State." That's not all that Alvarez has planned for early 2009. He also signed on to fight compete in the eight-man tournament that Bellator Fighting Championships is coordinating. The "Contender"-style reality-based program is scheduled to air on Saturday nights live on ESPN Deportes beginning in April. Before the setback to Aoki, Alvarez was enjoying a five-fight win streak, including wins over Andre Amade, Joachim Hansen and Tatsuya Kawajiri during an impressive run through the 2008 DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix. Coming off the loss, he'll certainly be looking for a statement win in this fight, but depending on which Naoyuki Kotani shows up, that could be easier said than done.
The Kanagawa, Japan, native recently defeated Katsuhiko Nagata with a second round submission at a small show in Tokyo. It marked the 14th time in his career that he was victorious with a submission. Before that, however, he was on a four fight winless streak, which included dropping back-to-back contests in the UFC to Thiago Tavares and Dennis Siver at UFC Fight Night 9 and UFC 75: “Champion vs. Champion,” respectively. “War at the Shore” will also feature former Elite XC featherweight champion and Brazilian jiu-jitsu stud Wilson Reis (6-0), as well as highly regarded female fighter Tara Larosa (15-1). Reis will take on Josh Ferguson (6-1) who is also a solid submissions artist, claiming all six of his career wins by way of tap out. It should be a very technical fight, and Reis is always a treat to watch. Larosa’s opponent is yet to be named. On fight night it will be a day short of 14 months since the last time she fought. At one time she was widely considered to be the top female mixed martial artist in the world, but in her absence we’ve seen the emergence of other stars such as Gina Carano and Cris Cyborg who have filled her void just fine. She’ll no doubt look to bring the attention back her way with a strong showing in this fight. Expect a big performance from her regardless of who they announce as her opponent. Tickets for the event can still be had through the usual outlets such as Stubhub.com. If you live in the Atlantic City area you might want to check it out … it’s looking like a solid lineup of mixed martial arts action. |
| Josh Neer arrested in Iowa after New Years Eve high-speed police chase Posted: 01 Jan 2009 04:06 PM CST
The “Dentist” was also charged with eluding police and hit and run — he apparently attempted to flee the scene of a two-car accident that he caused and then led local authorities on a 20 minute traffic chase. Here’s a snip from a WHOTV.com report:
He, of course, is innocent until proven guilty. However, the early reports don’t look too snappy. After posting a 2-3 record in the UFC, Neer won six of seven fights outside the promotion before returning to the Octagon and defeating Din Thomas by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 13. He most recently lost to Nate Diaz via unanimous decision in the “Fight of the Night” at UFC Fight Night 15 back in September. The 25-year-old five-year veteran of the sport is currently scheduled to next challenge Mac Danzig at UFC Fight Night 17 in Tampa, Fla., on February 7. There’s no telling right now if this incident will have any impact on his ability to make that date. Stay tuned for more details on this developing story. |
No rest for the weary.
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