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| DREAM 9 to air on HDNet at 5 a.m. ET on May 26 Posted: 21 May 2009 04:30 AM PDT
Japan's Fighting and Entertainment Group (FEG) is set to present DREAM 9, which will take place from the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan, on May 26. HDNet recently announced that fans in North America can catch all the action live early Tuesday morning on HDNet at 5 a.m. ET. It was originally set to air at 3 a.m. ET (it has essentially been pushed back two hours). So if you're not an early bird, set your DVR. And don't forget you'll always be able to catch the replay on Friday, May 29 at 10 p.m. ET. DREAM 9 will host to the promotion's featherweight grand prix tournament, which will boast the long awaited return of 139-pound superstar, Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto, who was offered a first-round bye in the tournament in hopes that has recovered from a previous injury and will be fit to compete. Yamamoto is coming off a long 16-month layoff, but now he's finally ready to hook ‘em up again, taking on wrestling stud, Joe Warren. In other action, the popular Masakazu Imanari will have his hands full with jiu-jitsu ace Bibiano Fernandes when they both collide in their quarterfinal bout.
Yoshiro Maeda, who some may know for his highly exciting showdown but losing effort with WEC Bantamweight Champion Miguel Torres (37-1) last year at WEC 34, will also be in action. He takes on Hiroyuki Takaya who earned his spot by thrashing debuting Korean Judoka Jong Won Kim in their opening round fight at DREAM 7. Despite winning his tournament bout, Daiki Hata will not compete because of an eye injury. The man who he defeated, Hideo Tokoro, will now step up and take his spot. He'll go to war with jiu-jitsu expert Abel Cullum, which should present an exciting showdown. And who could forget DREAM's recently constructed open weight tournament, which is being billed as a "Super Hulk" Tournament with the tag line "The Tournament to end all Tournaments." That may very well be the case … but likely for all the wrong reasons. It will feature eight fighters of varying size and ability. First up will be Japanese fan favorite Ikuhisa Minowa, who's fought every name under the sun (albeit to inconsistent results). He will be put to the task of facing off against Bob "The Beast" Sapp, who relies on his size when fighting and not so much technical prowess. UFC washout Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou will look to get back to his wining ways, but will be considerably outsized in his attempt to do so when he clashes with 6' 11", 330-pound Jan "The Giant" Nortje. Gegard Mousasi, who vacated his DREAM Middleweight title recently because he desired a move to light heavyweight, will face off against dangerous kickboxer Mark Hunt. And baseball star Jose “Can”seco is also set to compete, making his first appearance in mixed martial arts — which may also serve as his last. That's because he's been put up to the task of doing battle against 7' 2" gargantuan Hong Man Choi. Unreal. In non-tournament action will be highly regarded lightweight standout Gesias "JZ" Calvancante who is set to throw down with Japanese mainstay Tatsuya "Crusher" Kawajiri, in a bout that has 'Fight of the Year' potential written all over it. And grappling phenom Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza is slated to once again do battle with the charismatic Jason "Mayhem" Miller, in a bout that will be contested for the vacant DREAM middleweight title. Here is the official line-up for DREAM 9: Featherweight grand prix quarterfinals: "Super Hulk" Open weight quarterfinals: DREAM middleweight title: Non-tournament bout: Be sure to check back with MMAmania.com before and after the show for an in-depth preview of the event and a complete recap. In the meantime, check out our DREAM 9 stories archive right here. |
| New York set to vote on mixed martial arts on June 3 Posted: 20 May 2009 08:25 PM PDT
A date has finally been set for the highly anticipated matchup between MMA and New York. The New York State Assembly's Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports has selected June 3 to debate and vote on bill 2009-B, the little engine that could regulate the sport of mixed martial arts in the “Empire State,” according to MMAWeekly. Fighting out of the good guys' corner will be Assemblyman Jonathan Bing, a Democrat representing New York county. He'll present the arguments in favor of the bill. The goon in the room will be Assemblyman Bob Reilly, a Democrat representing Albany and Saratoga counties. He opposes the bill (along with all things good and holy), and recently outlined his arguments against legalizing the sport to committee members. The bill would need 11 votes (out of 21 committee members) to pass out of committee, where it would then go to the Codes Committee (for bills with legal implications), followed by the Ways and Means Committee (for bills with fiscal implications). If the bill passes votes in each committee, it would then head to the Assembly floor for a general vote. And then there's the Senate, where a companion bill is currently facing the Cultural Affairs Committee. And that is how a bill becomes a law … in New York. Along with Englebright and Bing, Assemblyman Rob Walker has been listed as a supporter. Proponents have two weeks to drum up support to earn at least eight more votes. Keep your fingers crossed … |
| The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 9: Episode 8 recap and discussion Posted: 20 May 2009 07:00 PM PDT
Episode eight of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 9 gets underway with Team USA kicking it in the gym — and Jason Pierce writhing on the floor in pain because he has a case of Staph in his foot. Hendo examines a lesion on Pierce’s leg and nods accordingly. Team UK on the other hand has to work on the gag reflex of Dave Faulkner, who feels the impulse to spit every time he puts something in his mouth. Sounds a lot like my ex-girlfriend. Anyway, Coach Bisping is concerned because spitting out his mouthpiece in a fight could cost him a point. Hendo takes the Yanks outside for some full contact Frisbee. It could be the first time in eight episodes the team is all together and smiling. After the game, the assistant coaches are calling out Pierce for milking his injury. Hendo wants Pierce — who keeps whining about the boo-boo on his foot — to cheer up and basically suck it up. Back at the house, it’s Tex Mex night with Enchilada Fu. Pierce is seen moping at the table by himself and the rest of Team USA has had just about enough of his bad attitude. Frank Lester exhibits a calm and level-headed approach to the situation: “I want him to die.”
Fight announcement: Jason Dent (USA) vs. Jeff Lawson (UK) courtesy of a gimpy Pierce. Jason Dent is starting to get weirded out by the entire experience of being sequestered with a bunch of other men. Social claustrophobia! Some of the guys think that Dent is a serial killer in the making. Hendo finds Dent tough to coach because he doesn’t respond to training. Dent just wants to stick with his old habits — including the bad ones. At the TUF mansion, the Brits pay homage to Howie from Maui by inflating a rubber medical glove over Faulkner’s head, followed by a gratuitous moon shot. Dean Amasinger is seen laughing in the background and I swear he looked like a young Clubber Lang from a distance. They also don some wrestling masks, which I must presume are kept in ample supply in the wrestling mask closet, and start re-enacting last Monday’s episode of RAW. Dean Amasinger even gets the old foreign powder in the eyes ala Mr. Fuji. Lawson likes the idea of Dent mentally unraveling because he feels that instability will compromise his fight game when they eventually collide. The day of the fight and Dana White makes his first appearance. He’s there to confront Jason Pierce. I wait with baited breath for the “F’ing Fighter” speech while Pierce stammers his way through excuses. Dana gives him an ultimatum: Fight by Tuesday or hit the bricks. Speaking of fighting, it’s time to get down. Lightweight elimination fight #4: Jeff Lawson (13-2) vs. Jason Dent (18-9) Round 1: Dent jabs from ten feet away. Wild head kick from Lawson misses by a mile. Failed takedown attempt by Lawson. Dent stalking. Hard low kick by Dent who then sneaks in a takedown from behind. Lawson wriggles free and tries for a leg submission. Dent denies him but Lawson moves on top and rains down punches. Lawson picks him up and slams him and slinks right back into guard. Dent gets a warning for striking the back of the head. Lots of struggling on the ground. Nice elbow from the top by Lawson. Lawson postures and lands a few. Dent tries to roll but gets stymied. Lawson stands and gets air balanced courtesy of Dent. Think of the end scene from Dirty Dancing. Dent escapes at the last second. Round one was all Lawson. Round 2: Nice low kick by Dent. Lawson stuffed on the takedown attempt. They go to the cage and Lawson breaks away. He tries to shoot and again gets stuffed. Dent with a guillotine but Lawson slips out. Lawson looking sloppy and exhausted. They hit the ground and Lawson rolls into a knee bar but can’t cinch it. Dent escapes and Lawson lands a desperate flying knee. He follows up with a shoot and gets rejected. Lawson collapses in exhaustion and Dent locks in the choke for a quick tap. Jason Dent defeated Jeff Lawson via submission (anaconda choke) After the fight, Lawson is in surprisingly good spirits. Coach Bisping blames a case of bronchitis at the beginning of the show for his lack of cardio but Lawson mans up and takes the blame. Dana, who can smell fear, calls Pierce into the office and tells him he’s off the roster. Pierce pretends to be devastated before basically running out the door in relief. Stay tuned next week as Team USA finds a replacement for Jason Pierce, Michael Bisping and Damarques Johnson nearly come to blows, Faulkner gets help from Tangina with his gag reflex and we get teased with the most shocking ending to a fight in TUF history! See you in seven! |
| Dana White on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon video Posted: 20 May 2009 01:00 PM PDT |
| TUF 9 Finale: Martin Kampmann vs TJ Grant in the works for June 20 (Updated) Posted: 20 May 2009 11:50 AM PDT
UPDATE: MMAmania.com has been informed by TJ Grant’s camp that Martin Kampmann has opted not to sign the bout agreement, effectively canceling the proposed contest. Grant however, is still slated to appear at the TUF 9 finale on June 20. Former top middleweight contender Martin Kampmann (15-2) was recently in talks to tangle with UFC sophomore TJ Grant (14-2) in a welterweight match up at The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 9 Finale at "The Pearl" at the Palms Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, on June 20. Grant announced the bout earlier today (May 20) via his Facebook page, however MMAmania.com got word from Grant’s camp that Kampmann did not agree to the proposed match up and opted not to sign the bout agreement. Kampmann last competed at UFC Fight Night 18: "Condit vs. Kampmann," spoiling the Octagon debut of World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) Welterweight Champion and top-ranked 170-pound fighter Carlos Condit. The "Hitman" recently had his nine-fight win streak snapped after getting wrecked by Nate Marquardt in short order via bruising first round technical knockout at UFC 88: "Breakthrough" back in September 2008. It was apparently a wake up call for the Danish kickboxer that perhaps he is better suited to compete in a division 15 pounds lighter. This would have marked the third time that Kampmann competed at 170 pounds. And if he was able to perform well like he did on April 1, he could have been facing some top competition in the category sooner rather than later. Grant made his UFC debut with a split decision victory over PRIDE veteran Ryo Chonan on April 18 at UFC 97 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The FitPlus standout has won 14 of his 16 professional fights - with a staggering 12 of those 14 by submission. In addition to winning matches, he's been winning over audiences in Canada for quite some time and holds convincing victories over UFC veterans like Forrest Petz. TUF 9 Finale features a lightweight match between Diego Sanchez and Clay Guida, as well as a co main event that pits and Joe Stevenson against Nate Diaz in another fantastic 155-pound showdown. Naturally, the Spike TV special will also host the lightweight and welterweight finales for the ninth season of TUF, which is currently in progress. Coach Dan Henderson is leading a U.S. team against coach Michael Bisping and his British squad. For more on TUF 9 Finale click here. |
| Kingdom of Mayhem: Road to Dream Middleweight Championship Part II (Video) Posted: 20 May 2009 10:50 AM PDT Props: AllElbows.com If you missed part one of ‘Kingdom of Mayhem,” you can check it out after the jump:
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| Dream 9 finalized: The Good, the Bad and the Canseco Posted: 20 May 2009 10:49 AM PDT
So now it’s official: Former baseball star Jose 'Can'seco will be making his professional mixed martial arts debut on Tuesday May 26. He'll be taking on 7' 2" gargantuan Hong Man Choi at DREAM 9 from the Yokohama Arena in Yokohama, Japan. Your average Japanese freakshow bout, right? Well almost, but not quite. This match up just doesn't sit right with me for an abundance of reasons. Mainly because Canseco isn't a trained mixed martial artist. He's more of a civilian if you will. DREAM's obvious reason for having him compete is to boost the daunting ratings they've faced as of late. DREAM 9 will air primetime on Japanese broadcasting channel TBS so it's important that lots of eyeballs are glued to the set. And it may pay off. The Japanese have a strong infatuation with the sport of baseball. And Jose's identical twin brother Ozzie had a short stint with Japan's Kintetsu Buffaloes and proved to be quite popular, though that was in the early 90's. But still, I’m not sure that can justify this booking. Canseco claims to have a background in a variety of disciplines, but I'm not convinced he should be fighting. I'm not saying he hasn't trained in what he claims — just that I don't believe he has the adequate skill or efficient training to be competing at this level. If his short lived boxing career was anything to go off at least, when he faced off against fellow "celebrities" in two bouts. After getting brutally knocked out by former Philadelphia Eagles return man Vai Sikahema in 2008, he then went the distance with putrid Partridge Danny Bonaduce earlier this year. With that kind of resume, expect a gruesome ending in his squash match against Choi.
While Hong Man Choi is certainly no world beater and what skills he does have seem to be diminishing, he does have skills, more so than Canseco does. And couple that with his size and what does Canseco really have to offer? Freak shows of this magnitude in the past have often consisted of an undersized but highly skilled fighter against a larger opponent but one who didn't rely too much on technical prowess. This Jose Canseco vs. Hong Man Choi bout seems to have taken that premise but switched it up, which is my main issue with this fight. It pit's the smaller, lesser skilled against the larger, higher skilled fighter and that to me is not going to be particularly entertaining to watch. Think of Kalib Starnes vs. Nate Quarry — only ramp it up to the speed of a Benny Hill skit. The result of this fight seems like a foregone conclusion, in fact I don't think Canseco himself thinks he really has a shot at winning, he's just turning up for the pay check. What has made some freak shows in the past great viewing was seeing the smaller opposition use technique to overcome the size disadvantage they faced. One of the most notably being when Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira triumphed over Bob "The Beast" Sapp at PRIDE Shockwave 2002, using superior technique to submit his foe with an armbar. It was made more enticing after witnessing Nogueira viciously piledrived and mercilessly beaten, only to come back, overcome the odds and claim victory much like he's done his whole life. The interesting thing about that besides the underdog story was seeing the martial art (in this case Brazilian jiu-jitsu) on display for the world to see, demonstrating its effectiveness. This freak show between the "Techno Goliath" and the "Steroid stool pigeon" at DREAM 9 doesn't offer anything like that. It's not going to be pretty, it's a train wreck waiting to happen though I could see why that would interest some. But there's no competitiveness to it which I think is one of the main reasons we all watch mixed martial arts. Is it not? Canseco doesn't have anything to fall back on skill-wise like so many smaller opposition have when faced with the task of challenging a "Goliath.” Another factor is that Canseco is 44 years of age and unless your last name is Couture, that doesn't usually bode well for highly trained mixed martial artists, let alone a former baseball player without much fighting experience — against a 7' 2" kickboxer. And though Canseco isn't the most liked person in the world by any standards, I'm sure most of us wouldn't want to see him get seriously hurt (cough). If not for compassion for your fellow human being than at least for the black eye it could put on the sport we all hold dear. With that the "Super Hulk" Tournament does have a couple of other intriguing match ups. One that should present an exciting showdown is Gegard Mousasi up against heavy handed kickboxer Mark Hunt. Mousasi recently relinquished his DREAM Middleweight title because he desired a move to Light Heavyweight. He's the favorite, but what does winning the DREAM "Super Hulk" Tournament really do for him? Certainly a step down from being DREAM Middleweight champion. He was considered by many to be one of the few who could pose a threat to UFC middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva, but them now ever tangling seems unlikely. Also his opposition Mark Hunt, though tough, is 5-5 in mixed martial arts and on a four fight losing skid. A win over him won't really do much for his stature. And a loss to Hunt would be worse, and it's certainly a possibility with the weight advantage and the great stand up Hunt boasts. Then after that, other likely candidates he'll be facing could be Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, who has recently fallen out of favor in the eyes of many fans with his recent poor performances seeing, him come out on the losing side three times out of his last four. Then there's Ikuhisa Minowa, who could be a possible future opponent but is a middleweight, the likes of which Mousasi vacated his title to not face off against in the first place. All this meaning Mousasi's involvement in this tournament doesn't make much sense, but it'll still be joy to watch him compete nonetheless. However if freaks hows aren't your thing than no worries, that shouldn't stop you from tuning into HDNet on Tuesday, May 26 at 5:00am ET. The DREAM 9 card has a whole heap of other stellar fights to offer. The card will play host to the promotion's featherweight Grand Prix Tournament. The focal point of which will boast the long awaited return of 139-pound superstar Norifumi "Kid" Yamamoto, who was offered a first-round bye in the tournament in hopes that he will have recovered from a previous injury in time to compete. He's coming off a long 16-month layoff, but now he's finally ready to compete and will take on wrestling stud Joe Warren. In non-tournament action will be highly regarded lightweight standout Gesias "JZ" Calvancante who is set to throw down with Japanese mainstay Tatsuya "Crusher" Kawajiri, in a bout that has ‘Fight of the Year’ potential written all over it. And grappling phenom Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza is slated to once again do battle with the charismatic Jason "Mayhem" Miller, in a bout that will be contested for the vacant DREAM Middleweight title. So come showtime, the good should outweigh the bad, hopefully. Here is the official line-up for 'DREAM 9': Featherweight grand prix quarterfinals: "Super Hulk" Openweight quarterfinals: DREAM middleweight title: Non-tournament bouts: For more on DREAM, check out our archive by clicking here. |
| Andrei Arlovski and the Strikeforce-Affliction connection Posted: 20 May 2009 10:47 AM PDT
On Tuesday, May 19, mixed martial arts fans were treated to the blockbuster announcement of former UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski joining the Strikeforce: “Lawler vs. Shields” card on June 6 at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri. And I know I speak for a lot of fans when I unabashedly exclaim “Hooray!” “The Pitbull” adds a certain level of star power to an already solid night of MMA action. But in MMA, much as in life, you can’t rob Peter to pay Paul. With that in mind, I’m wondering what the significance is of this announcement in terms of a future show from Affliction. There’s no question that “The T-shirt Guys” have built their promotion around Fedor Emelianenko. He’s been in the main event of both “Banned” and “Day of Reckoning,” as well as a rumored third event, possibly against Josh Barnett. But aside from “The Last Emperor,” the second biggest draw for Affliction has undoubtedly been Andrei Arlovski. And why not? Tim Sylvia notwithstanding, the Belarusian has been a heavyweight terror prior to the Emelianenko fight. He has the look, the power and the skills to put on exciting fights — and even more exciting finishes. And he boasts a very broad and loyal fan base. Which is why I find the timing of his participation in Strikeforce, which according to the Strikeforce press release is being sponsored by Affliction, a bit peculiar. Affliction Vice President Tom Atencio has stated as recently as last week that a third show “is being put together right now.” If that’s the case, it’s hard to imagine a successful pay-per-view without one of its leading stars. Arlovski will compete on June 6, and his fight against Brett Rogers is one he’ll likely win. But let’s not pretend the fight does not come without risk. “The Grim” is a big heavyweight with heavy hands. He can take a punch and has knockout power. Arlovski is not exactly a sitting duck, but he can be knocked out. And a loss to Rogers could be very damaging to his drawing power in future events. What does a win or loss for Arlovski do to the timeline of a future Affliction event? Again, I find it hard to believe that Atencio and Co. would hold a third event — where every pay-per-view buy is critical, without one of their biggest draws. If we opt for the best case scenario and Arlovski wins, how soon can he be ready to compete again? Two months? Three months? Personally, if Arlovski won, I would much rather see him stick around and fight Alistair Overeem for the Strikeforce heavyweight title than return to Affliction to beat up on a mid-level talent. Now let’s assume he wins but gets cut, or tweaks a knee, and faces a medical suspension. Or worst case scenario, he loses. What then? I think the participation of Arlovski on June 6 is indicative of just how far along Affliction is in the planning of another MMA show. To be frank, not very far at all. After all, Atencio himself is fighting on June 27 in Mississippi. If they are however close to announcing Affliction 3, which they very well might be, then they’re taking a big gamble on unintentionally excluding Andrei Arlovski. Affliction 3 could be held at the end of 2009 with his inclusion, but that presents another problem. Brand building is nearly impossible without momentum, and two shows a year may not be enough to sustain fan interest, especially in today’s “NOW” culture (coupled with a monthly presence in one form or another by the UFC and Strikeforce). Deep down I hope that Affliction can stay afloat. I like having different choices when it comes to MMA programming, and I understand that no business can make it big without taking a few risks. It just seems that Affliction keeps taking all the wrong ones. Coincidentally, Atencio’s fight on June 27 will be on a card named “Ultimate Chaos.” Draw your own conclusions. I’m not sure what the future holds, but I can speak for the present. Andrei Arlovski is doing what any great fighter does: Win or lose, he’s fighting whoever they put in front of him on a consistent basis, without regard to promotion or location. And like I said earlier, I know I speak for a lot of fans when I unabashedly exclaim “Hooray!” |
| Cheick Kongo replaces Heath Herring against Cain Velasquez for UFC 99 on June 13 Posted: 20 May 2009 07:43 AM PDT
Surging UFC heavyweight Cheick Kongo (14-4-1) has been tapped to replace Heath Herring against undefeated heavyweight prospect Cain Velasquez at UFC 99, scheduled for June 13 from the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany. The UFC made the announcement earlier this morning after Herring withdrew on May 19 due to a lengthy illness that prevented the mixed martial arts veteran from training for the bout. The red hot Kongo comes into this contest after dismantling Antoni Hardonk at UFC 97: "Redemption" just over a month ago, stopping the Dutch kickboxer in the second round via technical knockout — the first TKO loss in Hardonk’s career. It marked the fifth win in the last six fights for the Parisian. He dropped a split decision to Heath Herring back at UFC 82: "Pride of a Champion" in March 2008, which temporarily derailed his chances of competing for a division title. Kongo — who now trains at Wolfslair Academy in England alongside Michael Bisping, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and others — has looked unbeatable ever since, and could put a boot on the Velasquez hype wagon. The American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) disciple most recently mugged Denis Stojnic at UFC Fight Night 17 for a round and a half en route to a second round technical knockout victory. It marked just the first time that a Velasquez opponent has made it out of the opening frame. Velasquez revealed after the fight that he was disappointed with the dominating performance and vowed to come back better than an ever in his next appearance. That’s going to be easier said than done against Kongo — who like Velasquez, is looking to keep his place in line in the heavyweight division. We could find out a lot about both men on June 13 — this one could come down to who wants it more. UFC 99 will be headlined by former middleweight champion Rich "Ace" Franklin taking on ex-PRIDE smashing machine Wanderlei Silva in a special 195-pound brawl. In addition, Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic will return to settle some unfinished business in the Octagon as he tangles with Mustapha Al-Turk. For more on UFC 99 click here. |
| Dana White UFC 98 blog videos (Episodes one and two) Posted: 20 May 2009 05:41 AM PDT Check out episode two after the jump.
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