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- CSAC confirms results of Josh Barnett steroid test following positive ‘B’ sample
- Tito Ortiz UFC ‘comeback’ tour starts with first training day since back surgery (Video)
- Who has two thumbs and is gonna beat Anderson Silva in a rematch?
- Rich Franklin vs Vitor Belfort UFC 103 main event …
- Dana White casts doubt on reaching UFC contract with Fedor Emelianenko
- Kurt Pellegrino trains with a brick wall for Josh Neer UFC 101 fight (Video)
- Dana White: Dan Henderson is next in line for a title shot against Anderson Silva
- Tito Ortiz returns to the UFC, may face Mark Coleman in late 2009
- Vitor Belfort signed for UFC 103 to fight Rich Franklin in Dallas Sept. 19
- Dana White conference call for July 31 to break latest UFC news and developments
| CSAC confirms results of Josh Barnett steroid test following positive ‘B’ sample Posted: 31 Jul 2009 11:33 PM PDT
Josh Barnett — who recently failed a pre-fight drug screening for anabolic steroids prior to a showdown with Fedor Emelianenko at Affliction: "Trilogy" on Aug. 1 — returned a positive “B” sample on Friday (July 31) according to the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC), all but confirming his initial test result from last month. Barnett's positive test led to Affliction MMA's house of cards to come crashing down, calling it quits as a fight promoter and returning to the UFC as a corporate sponsor with its clothing brand. Several intriguing fights were scrapped as a result, forcing fighters to search for work elsewhere … Barnett included. The former PRIDE and UFC star issued a press release earlier this week calling into question the integrity of those results alleged by the CSAC — who does have a fairly sordid history dating back to the Sean Sherk scandal — and beyond. From his official press release:
Barnett indicated that he intends to appeal this most recent steroid finding with the CSAC but was likely counting on his second "B" sample to help dispute the initial positive result. In light of this new development, Barnett will not be eligible to reapply for a license to fight in the United States for at least a year, forcing him to remain exiled in Japan until then. With a Sengoku heavyweight grand prix looming and a successful wrestling career, however, it may not be too difficult to find work. Keep in locked on MMAmania.com as we'll let you know more on Barnett's future when it's announced. |
| Tito Ortiz UFC ‘comeback’ tour starts with first training day since back surgery (Video) Posted: 31 Jul 2009 08:57 PM PDT |
| Who has two thumbs and is gonna beat Anderson Silva in a rematch? Posted: 31 Jul 2009 08:30 PM PDT |
| Rich Franklin vs Vitor Belfort UFC 103 main event … Posted: 31 Jul 2009 07:32 PM PDT
… will be contested at a catchweight of 195 pounds, not 205, according to FollowAce:
Makes sense for Belfort. He is eager to pursue his career at middleweight, refusing to fight Gegard Mousasi at 205 pounds, but then reversing course and agreeing in principle to take on Fedor Emelianenko at heavyweight on the Affliction: “Trilogy” card that never materialized. Franklin, a former middleweight champion, on the other hand just competed at 195 pounds in a winning performance against Wanderlei Silva at UFC 99. However, Franklin is making no real progress at light heavyweight since a return to the weight class last year with a technical knockout win over Matt Hamill. Perhaps it’s time to create a new division? For more on Franklin vs. Belfort click here. |
| Dana White casts doubt on reaching UFC contract with Fedor Emelianenko Posted: 31 Jul 2009 04:14 PM PDT
Don't hold your breath on Fedor Emelianenko and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) coming to terms on a contract anytime soon unless a major stumbling block is somehow surmounted. After a wild week in mixed martial arts that saw one promotion fold entirely, several fighters wondering when their next paycheck will come, and enough press conferences to make you want to unplug your phone, the UFC isn't any closer to signing the most feared heavyweight fighter in the world, Fedor Emelianenko. And it's not for lack of trying. UFC president Dana White today recounted how he went in to recent negotiations with representatives for Emelianenko fully confident that the deal would get done. "I was so confident this was going to happen," White said. "I went into this thing with the attitude 'We're going to make it happen, we're going to make this thing happen.' The fans really want to see this fight, I want to see how good this guy really is against the best in the world. And it didn't happen."
White and the UFC have struggled to sign the Russian heavyweight for years, often expressing their frustration publicly. While speculation on why a deal couldn't be reached in the past centered on everything from money to the UFC's exclusive contracts forbidding the WAMMA champion from competing in his beloved sambo tournaments, White confirmed that he pulled out all the stops for this most recent deal, which he called "amazing." "I literally did everything," White said before rattling off several of the obstacles that had existed in the past but are now not holding up the deal. "He got offered a fucking ass-load of money. A ton of money, everything that he wanted, he can go fight in sambo every fucking Thursday night if he wants to, he can do everything he wanted to do. And we showed him nothing but respect … I put my money where my mouth was, laid everything out and tried to make this thing happen, and they're coming up with unrealistic shit." Therein lies the rub. The "unrealistic" demands include what Emelianenko's manager, M-1 Global co-owner and president Vadim Finkelchtein, referred to during his own press conference held on Wednesday afternoon — that any deal to sign Fedor must include a co-promotion deal with M-1 Global, of which Emelianenko is partial owner. White is adamant that the UFC will never co-promote with any organization, least of all with one that he sees as a bit fly-by-night. "How are they going to come in and help us co-promote?" White asked. "It's basically them coming in saying, 'Hey, we've got this guy, and some people say he might be the best heavyweight in the world, so for that we want half your business.' Yeah okay. That shit probably works in Russia (laughs). Not here." White did say that if M-1 ever decides to pull the co-promotion sticking point off the table, he would welcome further negotiations. In fact, he said his offer still stands. "We haven't pulled anything back. We have an offer out to Fedor," White said. "They can call me right now, they can call me tomorrow, they can call me next month. I'm ready to roll. I'm ready to make this deal. The fans want to see this fight. It's my job to make this fight happen. It's what I do for a living, so I'm trying." White thinks Emelianenko's management's refusal to come to terms on this deal shows "insanity." And when asked, White seemed to express a genuine confusion for what the big Russian must be thinking — for why doesn't seem to want to fight in the UFC. "I don't know what the reasoning is," White said. "I've heard lots of different reasons on why he doesn't — that he doesn't like fighting with elbows, he doesn't like this, he doesn't like that. I don't know what the answer is. The bottom line is, I think for the fans or any of the media to seriously call this guy the best in the world, let alone pound-for-pound, is fucking insanity when he won't give you the fights the fans want to see." Despite dishing out insults to Emelianenko and his management in the past, White insisted that during these recent negotiations, he was the consummate professional — the "nicest Dana ever." He and partner Lorenzo Fertitta went in ready to do whatever was necessary to sign Emelianenko, but that, in the end, the demand for a UFC/M-1 co-promotion was simply too much. "We've done deals with the best fighters in the world over the last 10 years. There's absolutely no reason why Fedor shouldn't be fighting in the UFC right now." Apparently, and unfortunately, there is. |
| Kurt Pellegrino trains with a brick wall for Josh Neer UFC 101 fight (Video) Posted: 31 Jul 2009 01:49 PM PDT |
| Dana White: Dan Henderson is next in line for a title shot against Anderson Silva Posted: 31 Jul 2009 12:42 PM PDT
A rematch against UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva, not Rich Franklin at UFC 103 on Sept. 19, is what Dan Henderson can focus on now that company president Dana White has shuffled the deck in the wake of Affliction MMA's demise. Affliction refugee Vitor Belfort is now booked to replace Henderson opposite Franklin in the UFC 103 main event, which had fans less than thrilled when it was announced earlier this month. White did not announce a hard date for Silva-Henderson 2, saying that it will all depend on "how banged up" Silva is after challenging Forrest Griffin in a non-title 205-pound special attraction next weekend at UFC 101. However, if history is any indicator, Silva might be ready to rock on Sunday, Aug. 9 — he has remarkably suffered very little, if any, damage throughout his perfect nine-fight UFC career thus far. In fact, Henderson is among the few who performed quite well before experiencing the same fate as the rest: Defeat.
Silva and Henderson first met at UFC 82: "Pride of a Champion" back in March 2008. Henderson controlled much of the first round, using his Olympic-caliber Greco Roman wrestling skills to takedown the Brazilian and implement effective ground and pound. He also took time between throwing punches to smother Silva's airway — a rarely seen, albeit legal, maneuver to disrupt the breathing of an opponent. However, it seemed to irritate and anger Silva more than anything else. Silva came out in the second round a new man, putting it on "Hollywood" with a punishing assortment of pinpoint strikes. Henderson eventually hit the floor and Silva capitalized by securing a fight-ending rear naked choke with just 12 seconds to spare before the frame expired. Since losing his Pride FC title to Silva that night, Henderson has strung together three consecutive victories against very tough opponents. He notched victories over Brazilian jiu-jitsu powerhouse Rousimar Palhares and former middleweight champion Rich Franklin, as well as dismantled Michael Bisping at UFC 100 with an epic punch/flying forearm punch combination that will go down as one of the best knockouts ever. In short, Henderson has seemingly earned another opportunity to challenge for the 185-pound world title. And his stock has never been higher thanks to the Bisping beatdown. Silva, on the other hand, has had to pack-on 20 extra pounds in an effort to rekindle the excitement that earned him the title as the most dangerous fighter in the sport. He's fresh off back-to-back underwhelming — albeit winning performances — against middleweight challengers Thales Leites and Patrick Cote. White matched Silva up against Griffin with the idea that it would spark fireworks — something that has been missing in Silva's two most recent appearances. Apparently, a record-setting nine straight UFC wins — seven of which were all stoppages that never went longer than two rounds — is not good enough these days. He'll look to add Henderson's name to that impressive hit list, again, when the pair rematch later this year. |
| Tito Ortiz returns to the UFC, may face Mark Coleman in late 2009 Posted: 31 Jul 2009 12:38 PM PDT
Former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz was on the July 31 media conference call to officially announce his return to the Octagon. While “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” didn’t get into specifics, he did confirm that he will finish his fighting career under the Zuffa umbrella. The speed of his return took many by surprise, as the bad blood between Ortiz and UFC President Dana White seemed to reach an all-time high after Ortiz was relegated to signing autographs at an off-strip casino when officials banned him from the UFC Fan Expo on July 10 and 11. Ortiz is coming off major spinal fusion surgery to correct a back problem that plagued him in his most recent bouts. His last appearance was in May 2008 — a unanimous decision loss to now 205-pound champion, Lyoto Machida. He spent his time on the sidelines “searching for a record contract” while flirting with a variety of promotions, including Elite XC, Strikeforce and Affliction MMA, where he did a guest commentating spot at January’s “Day of Reckoning.” While he speaks highly of Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker, Ortiz told the media that his decision to return to the UFC was based on the level of competition — something he didn’t feel Renato Sobral or Frank Shamrock offered him in San Jose.
When asked for a timetable on his return, White interjected that he was presently considering Mark Coleman as his first opponent for late 2009. Ortiz then reiterated that he was in no hurry to rush back to competition after having major surgery. It’s been more than a year since Ortiz saw action in a performance that had him in trouble early only to nearly finish it with a triangle-to-armbar transition that “The Dragon” barely escaped. Ortiz has all 22 of his professional fights (except for one) under the UFC banner in a career that dates back to 1997. He has three wins, two defeats and one draw since he returned to action in 2006 from a brief hiatus. And those three victories have come at the expense of a past-his-prime, Ken Shamrock (twice), and a controversial split decision over Forrest Griffin. Whether or not a surgically repaired back will help him return to form and make a serious run at the light heavyweight championship remains to be seen. And I think Mark Coleman might have something to say about his chances later this year. |
| Vitor Belfort signed for UFC 103 to fight Rich Franklin in Dallas Sept. 19 Posted: 31 Jul 2009 11:19 AM PDT
Dana White confirmed today that Vitor Belfort (18-8) has been acquired from the fallout of Affliction MMA and will replace Dan Henderson against Rich Franklin (25-4) in the main event of UFC 103 from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, on Sept. 19. White cited fan apathy towards the original main event between Franklin and Henderson as a catalyst for the change. “The Phenom” has agreed to meet “Ace” at a catchweight of 195 pounds — despite rejecting a recent Affliction fight against Gegard Mousasi because it was outside of his new home at 185-pounds. Dan Henderson will now be granted a rematch with Anderson Silva with a timetable pending the results of “The Spider’s” Aug. 8 fight against Forrest Griffin. Company president Dana White made a surprise announcement during "Inside the Octagon" back on June 20 that he was interested in bringing Vitor back under contract to possibly face Anderson Silva. It was a bit strange because Belfort was booked to battle Sengoku Middleweight Grand Prix winner Jorge Santiago at Affliction 3: "Trilogy" on Aug.1, 2009, but White seemed confident that the Brazilian would return to the eight-sided cage for a third tour of duty after he satisfied his commitment to the "tee-shirt guys." That commitment ended sooner rather than later.
Belfort has indeed looked fantastic since he made the decision to shed 20 more pounds and compete at 185 pounds. He iced Terry Martin in the second round at Affliction: "Banned" with a nice combination that was set up by a flying knee. He followed up that performance at "Day of Reckoning," pulverizing Matt Lindland with a brutal first round blitzkrieg, landing six of seven strikes en route to a scary-looking knockout. Whether or not a move back up in weight will affect that recent success remains to be seen — though he may have little margin for error against the former middleweight champ. Franklin scored a big win over the always dangerous Wanderlei Silva at UFC 99: "The Comeback" via unanimous decision back in June at a catchweight of 195 pounds. It was the third win in the last four attempts for the Cincinnati, Ohio, native, solidifying his position as a serious, and capable, light heavyweight contender. It’s going to be a ridiculous main event between two established veterans — don’t even think about missing this one. Recently confirmed for UFC 103 is the heavyweight tilt between former Pride FC superstar Mirko Cro Cop and surging heavyweight prospect Junior Dos Santos. In addition, Martin Kampmann and Mike Swick will collide to determine the number one contender for Georges St. Pierre's 170-pound title. For the latest UFC 103 fight card click here. |
| Dana White conference call for July 31 to break latest UFC news and developments Posted: 31 Jul 2009 11:03 AM PDT
UFC President Dana White will be holding a special conference call today (July 31) at 2pm ET to discuss all the latest news and developments within the Las Vegas-based promotion. And there’s certainly a lot to talk about. First order of business is of course the fall of Affliction MMA — who quickly returned to the UFC as a talent sponsor after closing up shop, bringing some leftover fighter contracts with them. Also on tap is the recent UK television deal with sports network giant ESPN, who will now broadcast UFC events and programming throughout the UK and Ireland. And let’s not forget about the return of a certain “Huntington Beach Bad Boy,” as former light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz is expected to be announced back into the fold. Who knows, maybe we’ll even get a few surprises along the way. To help you stay current with all the latest happenings, we’ll be live blogging the media call and keep you posted on breaking news just as soon as we get it, so be sure to refresh often. Let’s get on with it.
2:05pm: Came to the table willing to give up anything except co-promotion to sign Fedor Emelianenko. Offered “amazing” deal that he won’t see elsewhere but M-1 turned it down. 2:07: Vitor Belfort is signed and will fight Rich Franklin in Dallas at UFC 103 due to fan apathy towards Franklin vs. Dan Henderson. 2:08: Belfort vs. Franklin will be contested at light heavyweight. 2:09: ESPN to carry UFC programming in high definition for UK and Ireland. 2:10: Tito Ortiz is back and will finish his career in the UFC — plans to fight before the year’s end, possibly against Mark Coleman. 2:15: Dan Henderson is next in line for Anderson’s Silva belt, Demian Maia not far behind. 2:20: Some uninteresting questions followed by some serious UFC butt-smooching. 2:25: Dana slams the sport of boxing. 2:30: UFC shooting for Vancouver in 2010. 2:33: If co-promotion was off the table, Fedor would be in the UFC right now. 2:35: UFC has no interest in Tim Sylvia or Andrei Arlovski. 2:38: No hard feelings towards Affliction and Atencio. 2:40: Dana still working on a deal that will “change the UFC forever.” 2:50: Ten minutes of Dana screaming about the Fedor deal. 2:55: More Tito talk. Dana and Tito are in a good place according to them. Tito picked the UFC because he would have smashed Babalu and Frank Shamrock in Strikeforce anyway. 3:00: Tito won’t give specifics but will fight in the UFC for the rest of his career, thinks Coleman would be a good test. 3:05: Call ends with Dana and Tito being giggly. |
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