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Michael Bisping eager to pick up a few ‘new tricks’ from Frank Mir prior to UFC 100 Posted: 19 May 2009 05:38 AM PDT Props: Mirror.co.uk Quoteworthy: “When Rampage fought Wanderlei in December he used Frank Mir’s gym. Anthony [McGann] the manager of Wolfslair is friendly with Frank, so seeing as he’s fighting on the card I thought it could be a possibility…. I’ve got to make sure I’m as fit as I possibly can be — that’s a given, I always try to be in top condition. Obviously I’ve got to work my defense against Greco-Roman wrestling, and avoiding Dan’s big right hand which he likes to follow up with the clinch — to try to land that big shot and follow it up with a take down. And same as always, I always try and improve my all-round game and go in as a better and improved fighter than I did last time. I definitely feel I’ve improved as a fighter since I fought Leben. I’ve definitely got some new tricks up my sleeves and I’ll be looking at using them when we fight.” Michael Bisping talks about getting in the best shape possible for perhaps the biggest fight of his career against Dan Henderson at UFC 100 in Las Vegas, Nevada, on July 11. “The Count” is considering training alongside interim heavyweight champion Frank Mir — who is also preparing for the biggest fight of his career against Brock Lesnar that same night — to give him a different look prior to the middleweight match. It might not be a bad idea … especially if the Brit finds himself on his back against the former Olympic-caliber wrestler. Mir has a great ground game, which has experienced tremendous improvements thanks to Demian Maia — a possible future foe for Bisping. Interesting, indeed, if this short-term training session actually comes to fruition.

UFC Quick Quote: Georges St. Pierre vs American Top Team on July 11 Posted: 19 May 2009 03:55 AM PDT “He takes the belt, I have no doubt. The team, anyone who sees the guy training, his dedication and desire, already gives as almost certain. He just needs to follow the line that he's going, making it simple. It will be simple. Of course that Saint Pierre is a top fighter, certainly he's in the top 10 pound for pound, he's an excellent athlete. But, because of the game, also in the physical quality, Pitbull has much to complicate GSP, and we're exploring this. It will have a Camp for the training, will be almost all guys. At that time, he will be the only one fighting, so everyone will be together for him. So it won't be only Pitbull against St. Pierre, it will be the American Top Team against St. Pierre… The team here is a family, we all work together and helping each other. Everyone here has its value. Pitbull is damn strong, has a heavy hand, a heavy kick. Saint Pierre wasn't always very strong in striking, as we saw in the fight against Matt Serra. Pitbull is a guy who always takes the opportunity.” – Lightweight standout and American Top Team product — Gesias "JZ" Cavalcante — talks to Tatame.com about his training partner’s (Thiago Alves) preparation for welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre at UFC 100 in July 11. JZ is confident that the training the “Pitbull” receives with the rest of the talented crew from the Coconut Creek, Fla., gym will be the difference maker in the 170-pound contest. And with other guys like WEC Featherweight Champion Mike Brown, Denis Kang, Thiago Silva, Jorge Santiago, Marcelo Garcia, Jorge Masvidal, Jeff Monson and Cole Miller, among others, banging around he could be on to something. Then again, Greg Jackson and Co. ain’t too shabby either. Who has the edge?

Dan Miller on Chael Sonnen UFC 98 fight video Posted: 19 May 2009 03:42 AM PDT Check out a training video after the jump.

Four-camera multistream to be offered at UFC 98 on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET Posted: 19 May 2009 03:40 AM PDT Props: UFC.com/BK

How much is the UFC worth? Posted: 19 May 2009 03:22 AM PDT Company president Dana White tells “CNBC Reports” that “business was up 20 percent in the first quarter of 2009 compared to the first quarter of 2008.” Here’s his explanation for the success: “… baseball is suffering…. Baseball is too slow. I mean, I bet on the Red Sox game the other night and couldn’t even watch it…. The Indiana Pacers lost something like $30 million last year? How long can these numbers bleed? I’ve been there and done that and trust me, you can’t do it for too long … the NFL has a great business model. There are only 16 games. Of course, their only problem is that no one wants to see the game outside this country…. Look our ratings in the 18-34’s. We outrated Monday Night Football in that demo four times last year…. The price of an NFL sponsorship is so high and we hit the same market at a lower price.” Keep in mind that the promotion is reportedly coming off another record year in 2008, earning somewhere in the neighborhood of $200 to $300 million in pay-per-view (PPV) profits alone. White is currently in New York City on a major public relations push looking to add to that bankroll, promoting the “UFC 2009 Undisputed” video game by making high-profile media appearances, which includes a guest spot on the Jimmy Fallon Show later on this evening, as well as closing the bell with THQ executives at the NASDAQ stock market. He’s also more than likely in town to convince skeptical politicians that the sport is good for the economy and that they should sanction it sooner rather than later. Cha-ching …

Lyoto Machida training in Brazil prior to fight against Rashad Evans at UFC 98 (Video) Posted: 18 May 2009 01:18 PM PDT

UFC video game release date set for tomorrow (May 19) … finally! Posted: 18 May 2009 01:14 PM PDT For everything you need to know about “UFC Undisputed 2009″ click here. FYI: UFC President Dana White will be at the GameStop at 1282 N. Broadway at midnight for all the maniacs in the New York City area.

Mirko ‘Cro Cop’ Filipovic returns at UFC 99 to face Mustapha Al-Turk Posted: 18 May 2009 12:30 PM PDT Pride FC 2006 Open Weight Grand Prix winner Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic (24-6-2) — who is on a speedy recovery from knee surgery following his technical knockout win over Hong Man Choi at Field's Dynamite!! on New Year's Eve — announced a possible return to the UFC this afternoon against Mustapha Al-Turk on June 13 from the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany. From the Croat's official blog: I decided to fight in the UFC again, because of the stronger competition in the heavyweight division. My next opponent will be Mustapha Al-Turk. I didn't do well in my first three appearances - I wasn't myself. By returning to the cage I want to prove that I can still fight at highest level, no matter when or where. It's hard to talk about concrete plans, but I would really like to fight at least three times this year. I wish to fight against quality opponents and to fight my way up to a title shot but for now, I'll focus only on my next fight and after that we'll see what's going to be on the menu next. I want to say thank you Mr. Dana White for your interest and for an invitation back to the UFC. I owe you a lot from our first deal, and I'll make it up to you. The Croatian striker had fallen on hard times since his tournament-winning performance over two years ago, losing two of five fights and looking listless in the process. He started things off with a bang, stopping Eddie Sanchez in his UFC debut, but a highlight reel knockout loss to Gabriel Gonzaga and a rib-crushing defeat to Cheick Kongo put his UFC career on ice. Cro Cop vowed to one day return and finish what he started (and few believed him). Now he looks to make good on that promise with one last run at heavyweight glory. After two wins in Dream (and a no contest with bitter rival Alistair Overeem), the former Croatian Cop elected to have knee surgery to correct a nagging injury and now declares that he is free of the physical and mental distractions that have plagued him over the past few years. And a dominating performance over Al-Turk would go a long way to prove it. Al Turk — who was originally slated to face undefeated American Top Team (ATT) heavyweight Todd Duffee, fights out of the famous London Shoot gym in the United Kingdom. He came up short in his debut against Cheick Kongo at UFC 92 after a successful run in Europe on the Cage Rage circuit. In fact, he has six wins in seven attempts for the promotion and was riding a two-fight win streak before getting dismantled at "The Ultimate 2008″. He is a pretty well-rounded fighter with serviceable boxing and solid grappling skills -– good enough to earn him the British Cage Rage heavyweight title. UFC 99 will be headlined by former middleweight champion Rich "Ace" Franklin taking on ex-PRIDE smashing machine Wanderlei Silva in his middleweight debut. Heath Herring and Cain Velasquez as well as Mike Swick and Ben Saunders are also expected to hook 'em up. For more on UFC 99 click here.

BJ Penn video blog for May 17: ‘I have no interest in ever fighting in Las Vegas again’ Posted: 18 May 2009 11:51 AM PDT

The Crossroads of MMA: Indiana set to sanction MMA on July 1 Posted: 18 May 2009 11:36 AM PDT On the Banks of the UFC, (perhaps not so) Far Away… On July 1, 2009, the number of states currently sanctioning mixed martial arts competitions is expected to grow by one, according to a report over at The Herald Bulletin. Indiana legislators have ratified Senate Bill 160, effectively legalizing the sanctioning of fights within the state starting on the first of July. Here’s a quick look at the Bill, courtesy of MMA Fanhouse.: Regulation of boxing, sparring, and unarmed combat. Changes the “state boxing commission” to the “state athletic commission.” Requires the Indiana gaming commission to oversee the state athletic commission. (Current provisions require the professional licensing agency to oversee the state boxing commission.) Requires the state athletic commission to regulate unarmed combat matches and exhibitions. Allows the state athletic commission to adopt rules to regulate the conduct of mixed martial arts, martial arts, and professional wrestling. Allows the athletic commission to adopt emergency rules. Creates the athletic commission fund for fees and penalties. Requires that balances over $100,000 in the athletic commission fund at the end of a fiscal year revert to the state general fund. Provides for licensing for promoters and sanctioning bodies for amateur mixed martial arts marches and exhibitions. Makes various other conforming changes. Appropriates money to the athletic commission fund. Unlike in other states (cough, New York), the measure to legitimize MMA in Indiana was facing significantly fewer roadblocks. The state has a strong existing fan base and legislators were eager to tap in to the economic benefits of bringing larger MMA shows to the state. The bill will lift the ban on MMA and place the sport under the regulation of the state Athletic Commission. Licensing of professional fighters would include physical exams, blood tests and drug testing, just as other states require. While the state currently does not sanction the sport, promotions like the United Fight League and Iron Cage Clash have not been banned from staging local events. However the differences between sanctioning and non-sanctioning are critical to the bigger picture, especially when courting revenue generating promotions like the UFC. Though it’s safety first and income second, according to John Manley, lawyer and veteran MMA referee: "It's about establishing minimum standards for medical personnel, referees, judges, promoters and fighters. There are three things we're trying to preserve: the safety of the fighter, the integrity of the (martial) arts and the small Indiana business man. If the UFC does come here, they'll sell a lot on Chris Lytle, Jake O'Brien, Chris Price and others (Indiana fighters). We want the UFC to come because, according to their statistics, their staff alone rents out 600 hotel rooms. Indiana could use that money." This is more great news for fans of MMA. Not only does it give promoters an additional avenue for events, it could help put pressure on the squatters over in New York who keep pushing the MMA regulation bill to the bottom of the pile, especially if New Yorkers make a mass exodus to spend their money in other states like Pennsylvania — who will hold a major pay-per-view event at Philadelphia’s Wachovia Center on August 8. Don't cry for me Assemblyman Reilly.

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