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Gilbert Melendez: Mitsuhiro Ishida verbal greasing allegations are ‘weak’
UFC 102 video preview for ‘Couture vs Nogueira’ (Extended)
UFC Quick Quote: ‘Semtex’ Daley to light up welterweights with his fists inside the Octagon
Shark Fights 6: Don Frye vs Dave Herman main event set for ‘Stars and Stripes’ on Sept. 12
WEC 42 drug tests results reveal Cole Province positive for steroids
After eight long years Antonio Nogueira will finally face Randy Couture at UFC 102
Coming Soon: Fedor Emelianenko’s Showtime debut (Video)
Randy Couture: Gina Carano vs Cyborg Santos ‘was an amazing five minutes’
UFC Quick Quote: Josh Koscheck getting back to basics for UFC 103
Lyoto Machida channels his inner Dragon while training for Shogun Rua (Video)

Gilbert Melendez: Mitsuhiro Ishida verbal greasing allegations are ‘weak’

Posted: 17 Aug 2009 08:49 PM PDT

Quoteworthy:

"I did not grease in the fight. The athletic commission was with me the whole time. I didn't bring any grease with me. I didn't think there was much grappling in the fight anyway…. It's kind of funny, but kind of weak. I beat him good and there's no way I greased."

Strikeforce Interim Lightweight Champion Gilbert Melendez responds to claims from Mitsuhiro Ishida’s camp that he applied a greasing agent prior to their rematch at Strikeforce: “Carano vs. Cyborg” this past weekend. “El Nino” went on to score a convincing third round technical knockout via strikes in a one-sided bout, which was quite a contrast to their first encounter that “Endless Fighter” took via unanimous decision back in 2007, using a gameplan that relied on relentless takedowns. Ishida had a very difficult time getting Melendez to the mat this time around despite several efforts. Perhaps it’s the reason for the verbal grease claim. Keep in mind that a formal written complaint has yet to be filed with the California State Athletic Commission. Ishida and his handlers, if they’re serious about the allegations, have five days to do so. And even if they do, will likely have a difficult time proving that Melendez was illegally slick. Sour grapes or slippery snake?

UFC 102 video preview for ‘Couture vs Nogueira’ (Extended)

Posted: 17 Aug 2009 05:50 PM PDT

UFC Quick Quote: ‘Semtex’ Daley to light up welterweights with his fists inside the Octagon

Posted: 17 Aug 2009 05:31 PM PDT

"My nickname gives something away a bit. Obviously, 'Semtex' is explosive. I let my fists fly with bad intentions and I'm no fun for my opponents. I'm a fighter's fighter and I just love to fight. I love getting in there and knocking people out. My style was something that just came naturally to me and I've grown into it as time has gone on. I just want to kick and punch the other guy as hard as I can. That's fighting…. I look to keep fights standing and knock my opponent clean out. I'll always give up a submission or a takedown to stand and spark somebody out. Knockouts are the ultimate spectacle. There are many 170-pounders that I'd love to get my claws into. I want to fight anybody that thinks they know how to strike. I want to show the UFC welterweight division what striking is all about."

– Paul “Semtex” Daley talks to the Daily Star about what mixed martial arts fans, as well as his opponents, can expect when the Nottingham, England, native makes his Octagon debut against fellow promotional newcomer, Brian Foster (10-3), at UFC 103 from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, on Sept. 19. The heavy-handed 26-year-old boasts 16 (technical) knockout wins in 21 career bouts (more than 75 percent). However, he is often criticized for his ground game, or lack thereof, for which he apparently makes no excuses (he has lost five times via submission in his eight career losses). So can “Semtex” punch and kick his way toward the top of the loaded 170-pound division or is he just too one dimensional to make a long-term impact?

Shark Fights 6: Don Frye vs Dave Herman main event set for ‘Stars and Stripes’ on Sept. 12

Posted: 17 Aug 2009 04:20 PM PDT

Grizzled mixed martial arts veteran Don Frye (20-7-1) will collide with up-and-comer Dave “Pee Wee” Herman (14-1) in the main event at Shark Fights 6: “Stars and Stripes” at the Amarillo Civic Center Coliseum in Amarillo, Texas, on Sept. 12.

Frye was expected to headline "M-1 Global Presents Breakthrough" opposite “King” Mo Lawal on Aug. 28; however, “The Predator” withdrew from the event when it was scrapped and relocated from Los Angeles, Calif., to to Kansas City, Missouri.

There is likely more behind his decision because Frye is accustomed to traveling long distances to beat people up. He spent most of the last seven years fighting overseas in Japan for the K-1 and Pride FC promotions.

However, he has competed less frequently since Pride FC went out of business in 2007 — just three times to be precise. Frye has won two of those three bouts, including his most recent fight against Rich Moss at Shark Fights 4 back in May via submission (rear naked choke).

Frye — who began his career way back in 1996 with an eight-second knockout win over Thomas Ramirez at UFC 8: "David vs. Goliath" — boasts a very solid wrestling background. However, he has been known to throw caution to the wind recently and trade punches rather than shoot for takedowns.

He may want to rethink that strategy against a dangerous fighter like Herman, who is among the fastest rising mixed martial artists in the heavyweight division right now.

Herman was on the fast-track to success before getting derailed by Choi Mu Bae via technical knockout (strikes) Sengoku: “No Ran 2009″ earlier this year. It marked the first loss of his career at the time in 14 fights.

He rebounded quickly thereafter with a first round technical knockout stoppage over Josh Barnes at a Bellator Fighting Championships (Bellator) three months later.

Herman’s ability to finish fights is on par with some of the best in the business. In fact, only once has an opponent of his made it out of the first round. And all of them have either been stopped with strikes or choked out.

It may not be so easy against the granite-chinned Frye, but rest assured he’ll give it his best shot, likely several of them, on fight night.

For more on Shark Fights 6: “Stars and Stripes,” including the developing fight card click here.

WEC 42 drug tests results reveal Cole Province positive for steroids

Posted: 17 Aug 2009 01:02 PM PDT

Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) today confirmed that 9 of the 22 fighters who competed at WEC 42: “Torres vs. Bowles” from “The Joint” at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on Aug. 9 were tested for illegal/banned substances.

All but one passed with flying colors:

Featherweight Cole Province — who defeated Fredson Paixao via unanimous decision on the undercard — was the lone fighter to yield a positive result.

The 28-year-old Canadian came up dirty for the banned substance Methasterone — a “designer steroid” that is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency. It is also known as Superdrol and methyldrostanolone.

The NSAC has yet to hand down a suspension or fine, giving Province an opportunity to plead his case to the commission. However, if recent history is any indicator, the result will likely stand and the 145-pound fighter will be punished accordingly.

Bantamweight championship main event participants Miguel “Angel” Torres and Brian Bowles, as well as Dominick Cruz, Takeya Mizugaki, Leonard Garcia, Shane Roller, Ed Ratcliff and Diego Nunes were each also screened for performance enhancers such as steroids and drugs of abuse like cocaine and marijuana, among others.

Results from those battery of tests all returned negative.

The fighters mentioned above were randomly selected. However, athletic commissions typically test the main event participants and fight night winners, as well as those who have failed tests in the past.

For complete WEC 42 results and blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action click here and here.

After eight long years Antonio Nogueira will finally face Randy Couture at UFC 102

Posted: 17 Aug 2009 09:55 AM PDT

Props: TSN.ca

Quoteworthy:

“When I was done with Pride and I had a first meeting with (UFC president) Dana White and he asked me ‘Do you want to come to the UFC, you know you’d be welcome, let’s talk about it,’ it was like a friendly conversation before doing the contracts and everything. I was just thinking about fighting Randy Couture. Once I was in a tournament in 2001 in Japan, he was in the same tournament as me and I was watching all his fights, prepared to fight against him but it didn’t happen. Always when I think about fighting him, it’s very exciting for me, it makes me up for training a lot. I expect a good fight, I know he’s a very good top-level wrestler, I’m a good jiu-jitsu guy. Both can strike, I think it’s going to be a match people have been waiting to see for many years.”

Former PRIDE FC heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-5-1) looks forward to his dream fight against former UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture (16-9) in what’s being billed as a “battle of the legends.” Both “The Natural” and “Minotauro” have done exceptional things over the past decade — albeit for different organizations. Now under the same promotional umbrella they can decide in the twilight of their careers who still has some gas left in the tank — and who’s running on empty. Thoughts?

Coming Soon: Fedor Emelianenko’s Showtime debut (Video)

Posted: 17 Aug 2009 09:10 AM PDT

Randy Couture: Gina Carano vs Cyborg Santos ‘was an amazing five minutes’

Posted: 17 Aug 2009 09:00 AM PDT

Props: MMAWeekly

Quoteworthy:

“I think she had some opportunities to win. It was an amazing five minutes. They made a lot of transitions, a lot of positions, and I think Gina caught Cyborg with some shots that got her attention, and obviously Gina got overwhelmed on a couple of occasions, but I think overall, she did some great things. This is a new experience for her, and it's an important one, and I expect she's going to come out the other side a stronger and better athlete for what she's going through right now.”

UFC Hall of Famer Randy “The Natural” Couture sounds off on the performance of Gina Carano following her loss to Cristiane Santos at the August 15 Strikeforce event from San Jose. “Conviction” enlisted the services of the former UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight champion for her championship bout against “Cyborg” but despite a valiant effort and an exciting five minutes of action, was rescued from the Brazilian’s onslaught with just one second remaining in the opening round. She may not have gotten the title, but did she finally get the respect she was looking for as a fighter — and not just a pretty face?

UFC Quick Quote: Josh Koscheck getting back to basics for UFC 103

Posted: 17 Aug 2009 08:32 AM PDT

“For the first time in my mixed martial arts career I hired a strength coach so I’ve been working a lot with him and got back to wrestling, just getting back to the daily grind of training. It’s been going great and I’m in great shape right now and I can’t wait to fight in September. I think I have five fights left on my contract and I just have to worry about one at a time. Frank Trigg is the next guy and I can’t look past [him] because he’s an old veteran, had a lot of tough opponents and a lot of fights so I have to focus on him first.”

– UFC welterweight standout Josh Koscheck talks to MMANews.com about getting back into the mix in the 170-pound division after his stunning knockout loss to Paulo Thiago at UFC 95 back in February. “Kos” was expected to rebound at UFC 98 before a toe injury forced him to withdraw from the event. Now the AKA product will tangle with MMA veteran Frank Trigg at UFC 103 on September 19 that will propel one man up the division ladder — and likely send the other tumbling down it.

Lyoto Machida channels his inner Dragon while training for Shogun Rua (Video)

Posted: 17 Aug 2009 08:02 AM PDT

Be afraid … be very, very afraid: