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| UFC Quick Quote: Cain Velasquez not buying into his own hype Posted: 06 Feb 2009 08:11 AM CST
– Up-and-coming heavyweight prospect Cain Velasquez tells Yahoo!Sports.com that he is taking it one fight at a time. The two-time All-American wrestler from Arizona State University (ASU) is a highly touted prospect who has thus far lived up to the lofty expectations, winning two fights inside the Octagon in less than five minutes combined. He’ll attempt to make it three straight against Denis Stojnic tomorrow night at UFC Fight Night 17, which airs on Spike TV, beginning at 9 p.m. ET. Just in time for the masses to see what all the buzz is (or isn’t) about. |
| BJ Penn accepts fight against Georges St. Pierre in summer 2009 that probably won’t happen Posted: 06 Feb 2009 06:26 AM CST
Props: BJ Penn.com Quoteworthy:
Lightweight champion BJ Penn — who recently requested that the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) investigate Georges St. Pierre and his corner for “greasing” during their fight at UFC 94 — accepts a recent challenge the Canadian threw out to run it back.”Rush” — who dominated the Hawaiian for four straight rounds before he was unable to answer the bell for the fifth and final frame — indicated that the result would be the same if the two were to meet again, which would be the third time in their careers (St. Pierre is 2-0). UFC President Dana White — who blames “stupid cornermen” for the incident — has indicated that he is planning for Penn to return to the 155-pound division and challenge Kenny Florian. Meanwhile, St. Pierre is penciled in to next face number one division contender, Thiago Alves. So it doesn’t appear to be a match that would happen anytime soon. And at this point, does anyone want to see St.Pierre-Penn 3 or just want to move on? |
| Lungevity: Combat cardio for a new generation of fighters Posted: 06 Feb 2009 04:09 AM CST
It’s Fitness Friday once again Maniacs and if you recall last week’s column we covered some great exercises that closely resemble the kind of physical exertion you would experience in a real mixed martial arts bout. We may have rocked your upper and lower body with those routines, but don’t get too relaxed because we’re only halfway there. In order to become a complete fighter (or at least be in shape like one), our training must also focus heavily on aerobic and anaerobic endurance to balance your training and sculpt you into a complete fighter. Combat sports falls under the anaerobic umbrella because it requires a great deal of power output in a short period of time. The energy is quickly available, but short term energy stores are rapidly depleted, lactic acid builds up and exercise soon comes to a halt. Once the production of lactate (lactic acid) by the anaerobic system is greater than its removal, lactate begins to accumulate in the bloodstream and the body must return to a state of rest to recover. How do you know when you've reached your anaerobic threshold? When you're out of breath! When the energy supplied by your breathing is insufficient to sustain your activity, you have reached your anaerobic threshold. This is why so many mixed martial arts fighters falter as they go deeper into a fight. They may have excellent aerobic endurance, but their body is not conditioned for the quick bursts of power that only anaerobic endurance can provide.
The key is to find a balance between aerobic and anaerobic conditioning. Instead of getting on the treadmill and running a steady pace, use the incline and speed adjustments to your advantage. Most treadmills have an option that will allow you to randomly increase speeds and change levels during your run. This is an excellent way to develop combat cardio and stay out of the comfort zone. The exercise bike also has similar features. And don’t be afraid to try different machines. Maybe on certain days you hit the Stairmaster or cross-trainer to help with cardio confusion. And don’t forget, when you hit it, hit it hard! It’s imperative that your training includes interval work consisting of a repeated series of short, high intensity bursts with alternating rest periods. Constantly changing levels and speeds to mimic the frequent stopping and starting of close range combat is the only way to prepare for three or even five rounds inside the cage. Unless of course you're "elusive" enough to avoid contact altogether. Unfortunately none of this training will be of benefit without proper nutrition. Most of us consider proper nutrition to be a good, healthy diet with not a lot of sugar and saturated fats. However for the competitive athlete, that's not enough! Following an intense workout, the body goes through a process known as catabolism, the breaking down of muscle tissue to supply glutamine and other amino acid compounds to other parts of the body. As a defense mechanism, your body is designed to cannibalize itself starting with muscle tissue to get the nutrients it needs, effectively reversing everything you've worked for in your time at the gym. As far as muscle growth is concerned, you can't rob Peter to pay Paul. Now you can either provide your body with the nutrients it needs (like Branch Chain Amino Acids) or just sit back and let it feast on the muscle tissue you've worked so hard to grow. Our goal as athletes in the recovery phase of our training is anabolism, the process where our muscles repair themselves, effectively adding strength and size in response to the stress of training. The most effective way to accomplish that process is by consuming post-workout recovery supplements within one hour after training. In addition, a comprehensive supplement plan will allow you to spread your protein consumption throughout the day so you don't have to walk around the office with a grilled chicken breast stuffed in your pocket. Nutritional supplements have never been more affordable, and once again the good folks over at Feel It! Nutrition are breaking the hearts of competitors nationwide in an effort to bring you the supplements you need for yourself or that athletic loved who thinks a can of Red Bull and a Zagnut bar is all you need. Right now, MMAmaniacs can get FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $150 by heading over to Feel It! Nutrition and stocking up on their vast selection of nutritional supplements. Don't worry about trying to figure out which 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. So what are you waiting for? Now isn't the time to institute the “rest” phase of your recovery because this sale ends February 12. See you at the gym! |
| War Machine (Jon Koppenhaver) gets cut from Bellator Fighting Championships for mouthing off Posted: 05 Feb 2009 10:25 PM CST
“War Machine,” the fighter formerly known as Jon Koppenhaver before a legal name change to his killer nickname, has been cut from Bellator Fighting Championships (BFC) before the show on ESPN Deportes even started. The former contestant on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 6 recently attributed the move to disparaging comments he made about United States President Barack Obama on his MySpace.com page, which are not fit for print. Here is his side of the story:
Koppenhaver was released from his UFC contract in 2008 after he refused to take a fight against Brandon Wolff (no upside) and made questionable remarks shortly after the death of Evan Tanner (speculated he committed suicide and he didn't).This was also after he was sentenced to three years probation and ordered to pay $2,300 in restitution for a felony assault on a passerby outside a California gym in September 2007. He now appears to have pulled the pin on another verbal tirade and in the process detonated an opportunity to fight for a promising upstart promotion. Easy come, easy go. BFC is set to debut on ESPN Deportes on April 4, 2009. The show will comprise 12 two-hour events to be broadcast weekly in primetime on Saturday nights. The nationally televised events will feature a combination of tournament and non-tournament special feature bouts. Eddie Alvarez, Jorge Masvidal and Wilson Reis are just a handful of talented fighters who have signed on to be a part of the cast. Former World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) middleweight champion, Paulo Filho, has also been discussed as a possible addition to the roster, among others. Now there appears to be room for one more. |
| Showtime joins forces with Strikeforce for live MMA series to debut on April 11 Posted: 05 Feb 2009 08:03 PM CST
Showtime Networks Inc. and World championship mixed martial arts (MMA) event producer Strikeforce have joined forces to create an all-new series of MMA events that will air live on SHOWTIME® as part of the SHOWTIME Sports franchise. The news was jointly announced today by Ken Hershman, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Sports and Event Programming, Showtime Networks, and Strikeforce Founder and CEO Scott Coker. The multi-year agreement calls for SHOWTIME to produce and televise up to 16 live events per year including Strikeforce world championship events as well as a series dedicated to showcasing up-and-coming fighters in the sport. The initial championship event is schedule for Saturday, April 11, 2009 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. The fight card will be announced at a later date. "We are very excited to have the opportunity to deliver live Strikeforce events on the SHOWTIME premium television platform," said Coker. "SHOWTIME is a forward-thinking innovator with a reputation for producing outstanding original programming in sports and entertainment. They have been a phenomenal partner in the past and we are looking forward to growing our relationship with them and bringing the Strikeforce brand of MMA to millions of SHOWTIME subscribers." "Strikeforce has a history of presenting high-quality, compelling mixed martial arts events and we are thrilled to be able to bring their world-class events to our subscribers," said Hershman. Hershman was responsible for pioneering the network's entry into MMA in 2007, when SHOWTIME became the first premium network to televise the explosive sport.
He continued, "This relationship with Strikeforce will allow SHOWTIME to continue to deliver some of the best MMA match-ups in the rapidly growing sport as well as to expose the future champions of MMA to our audience." The agreement reunites SHOWTIME and Strikeforce following their successful "Shamrock vs. Baroni" event, presented by SHOWTIME PPV® in 2007. In the main event, former UFC middleweight champion and MMA legend, Frank Shamrock, submitted knockout artist, Phil "The New York Badass" Baroni, in the second round of action whereby Shamrock became the first-ever Strikeforce World Middleweight Champion. The historic event was followed up with a live SHOWTIME telecast of one of the sport's most anticipated showdowns of all-time—Shamrock versus undefeated world kickboxing champion Cung Le—on March 29, 2008. In a battle that has since been proclaimed "Fight Of The Year" by industry experts and critics, Le seized the Strikeforce middleweight crown by pouring on a relentless offensive and fending off Shamrock's counter attacks before breaking the defending champion's arm with a hard roundhouse kick and forcing Shamrock to retire from the bout between rounds three and four. A martial arts promoter of over 23 years, Coker has gained widespread acclaim amongst industry colleagues and the media, including Rolling Stone magazine, Yahoo! Sports, and The San Jose Mercury News, for positioning his 14-year-old Strikeforce organization as a major player in the world's fastest growing sport since its inaugural MMA event that hosted a capacity crowd of 18,265 at San Jose's HP Pavilion on March 10, 2006. The live gate figure also broke the then-all-time record for attendance at an MMA event held in North America. |
| UFC Quick Quote: Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua ‘has everything’ to beat Chuck Liddell at UFC 97 Posted: 05 Feb 2009 07:50 PM CST
– Murilo “Ninja” Rua assures Tatame.com that his brother, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, will be better prepared when he enters the Octagon against former light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell for the UFC 97: “Redemption” co-main event on April 18 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Pride FC 2005 Middleweight Grand Prix Champion has underwhelmed in his first two performances for the promotion, losing to Forrest Griffin in his debut and sluggishly defeating a journeyman, Mark Coleman, in his encore performance. The Brazilian has looked poorly conditioned and unlike the dominant fighter who torched some of the best the division had to offer while competing in Japan. He has two months to find his training and rhythm, which he will need against Mr. “Iceman.” |
| UFC Fight Night 17 video preview and ‘St. Pierre vs Penn’ review on ESPN.com’s ‘MMA Live’ Posted: 05 Feb 2009 02:53 PM CST |
| Strikeforce purchases remaining ProElite assets (Updated) Posted: 05 Feb 2009 01:12 PM CST
After shutting its doors in October of 2008 following its inability to secure additional funding to keep the promotion afloat, the remains of ProElite — the parent company of EliteXC — have been officially acquired courtesy of the California-based Strikeforce promotion earlier today. Financial details of the purchase are unavailable at this time. Here’s a snip from Scott Coker, Founder and CEO of Strikeforce, on the BIG news:
After its biggest star, Kimbo Slice, lost in just 14 seconds to replacement journeyman Seth Petruzelli in front of 4.5 million people on CBS, EliteXC had apparently been hit with a knockout blow of its own. The main event fight-influencing controversy that surrounded the "Heat" CBS event scared away what few investors it had at CBS and Showtime. Left with the nearly $60 million in debt EliteXC had already piled up in the less than two years since the organization's creation, ProElite was left with little choice but to cease operations. Now Strikeforce is looking to salvage what value still remains in the promotion, including its tape library and certain transfereable fighter contracts. Names of the fighters acquired in the sale were not revealed, but more than likely will be soon. There is tremendous upside to this acquisition from a fan's perspective. There's going to be a bunch of great fighters who could end up competing for the promotion and possibly ending up in fantasy or dream matches never before possible due to the lack of cooperation between entities. UFC President Dana White, one of ProElite’s biggest critics, has actually been a vocal supporter of Strikeforce. From an October 2008 USA Today interview:
Strikeforce was the first MMA promotion to hold a regulated MMA event in the state of California. In addition to partnerships with HDNet, ESPN and Showtime, Strikeforce can be seen weekly on NBC with its 30 minute-program “Strikeforce on NBC.” It's going to be interesting to see how many of these guys (and gals) end up with Strikeforce now that the sale has gone through. Strikeforce could really beef up its roster with names like Jake Shields, Eddie Alvarez, Nick Diaz, Rafael Feijao, Paul Daley, KJ Noons, Wilson Reis, Cyrille Diabate and countless others. Who knows … maybe even Kimbo Slice. In the end, the talent was there near the top — it just wasn't enough to compensate for all the other shortcomings and struggles that ProElite faced attempting to get off the ground. Now with that talent in the right hands, there could be a healthy and viable alternative to UFC events and programming. Perhaps some good ol’ healthy competition. And that’s a good thing. |
| Joe Lauzon thinks Kenny Florian is on drugs for calling out BJ Penn Posted: 05 Feb 2009 12:25 PM CST
Props: Pro MMA Radio Quoteworthy:
UFC lightweight Joe Lauzon tells radio show host Larry Pepe that Kenny Florian has literally no chance of defeating current lightweight champion BJ Penn when he eventually returns to the 155-pound division later this year to defend his title against “Ken-Flo,” widely considered to be the number one contender in that division. It will be interesting to see when and if the fight takes place pending the final outcome of UFC 94’s “Greasegate”. For the audio replay of Lauzon's appearance click here. |
| HDNet Fights presents Inside MMA: ‘Toe-to-toe with El Guapo’ (video) Posted: 05 Feb 2009 12:21 PM CST Bas Rutten vs. the Reader Mailbag with a special appearance by Tank Abbott. |
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