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- Kimbo Slice: Performance, not ratings, will determine UFC future
- Forrest Griffin is tired of talking to people (Video)
- TUF 10 Finale: Rousimar Palhares vs Lucio Linhares set for Dec. 5 with Alessio Sakara hurt
- Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) 2009 Barcelona quick results for Sept. 27
- K-1 draws World GP 2009 Final 8 for Dec. 5 event
- World Championship Fighting (WCF) 8 quick results for Sept. 26 Wilmington event
- K-1 exploring India as a potential breeding gound for next generation fighters
| Kimbo Slice: Performance, not ratings, will determine UFC future Posted: 27 Sep 2009 08:00 PM PDT
Props: Los Angeles Times Quoteworthy:
UFC President Dana White assures fans that Spike TV ratings monger, Kimbo Slice, will have to prove that he can compete inside the Octagon if he wants to remain on the company payroll. White raised more than a few eyebrows when he invited the former Elite XC poster boy and YouTube sensation to participate on this season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 10 … especially after he spent more than a year bashing his credibility. It appears that Slice will not be given any preferential treatment despite his star power — Spike TV recently scored some if its best ratings ever with its TUF 10 debut. And those ratings will likely soar once again when Slice takes on mixed martial arts veteran Roy Nelson — perhaps the favorite to win the entire season — in a preliminary match next Wednesday in the tournament-style show. Whether or not Slice makes it to the finals remains to be seen, but even if he doesn’t, the report indicates that super trainer Greg Jackson is interested in seeing what he can do to help Slice, and possibly White and Co., remain on the promotion’s roster. Does Slice, possibly under the tutelage of Jackson, have what it takes to compete at the highest level? Perhaps more important, do you want to see it unfold under the UFC banner? |
| Forrest Griffin is tired of talking to people (Video) Posted: 27 Sep 2009 06:47 PM PDT He also jokes that he doesn’t remember what happened against Anderson Silva at UFC 101: |
| TUF 10 Finale: Rousimar Palhares vs Lucio Linhares set for Dec. 5 with Alessio Sakara hurt Posted: 27 Sep 2009 04:05 PM PDT
UFC newcomer Lucio Linhares (13-4) will replace the injured Alessio Sakara and make his Octagon debut against Rousimar Palhares (9-2) at The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 10 Finale in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Dec. 5, according to our friends at BrasilCombate.com.br. Linhares has torn up the M-1 Global circuit for the past 18 months, amassing a solid record (5-2) in seven appearances. “Spartan” is currently enjoying a five-fight win streak, which includes first round stoppages over notables such as Karl Amoussou and UFC veteran Sean Salmon. The Brazilian most recently submitted Mikhail Zayats via rear naked choke at M-1: “Breakthrough” last month. He boasts a nice mix of (technical) knockouts and submissions in 17 professional fights, which may serve him well against the highly-touted Brazilian jiu-jitsu submission specialist. Palhares hasn't seen action since a unanimous decision win over mixed martial arts journeyman Jeremy Horn at UFC 93 earlier this year. Prior to the win, "Toquinho," which means "tree stump" in Portuguese, dropped a unanimous decision to Dan Henderson at UFC 88: "Breakthrough" in September 2008. In both performances, the up-and-comer demonstrated just how dangerous he can be on the ground — Horn and Henderson were extremely cautious when their fights went south. Ivan Salaverry — Palhares' first opponent inside the Octagon — was not so lucky, tapping to a super slick armbar at UFC 84: "Ill Will." TUF 10 Finale will feature a showdown between the top two finalists from the Spike TV reality show, as well as a potential light heavyweight war featuring Jon "Bones" Jones as he inches his way closer to contention against Matt "The Hammer" Hamill. Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more updates to the Dec. 5 fight card as they become available. |
| Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) 2009 Barcelona quick results for Sept. 27 Posted: 27 Sep 2009 12:28 PM PDT
The Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) 2009 grappling competition and tournament from Barcelona, Spain, for Sept. 26-27, is officially in the books. The big story of the day was 20-year-old Rafael Mendes upsetting early favorite Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles via points (3-0). After a high-paced and evenly matched opening, Mendes took command in the waning minutes and secured Charles’ back to rack up the winning points. Despite breezing through the quarterfinals (via slick flying armbar), former Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 8 contestant Vinícius Magalhães fell to Alexandre Ribeiro in the semifinals. Mags however didn’t leave the tournament empty handed, claiming third place in the Absolutes by outpointing Iceland’s Gunnar Nelson. “Xande’s” win over Magalhães helped catapult him into the Absolute Finals, unfortunately an arm injury suffered during an inverted triangle escape brought a swift halt to the action and gave Brazil’s Braulio Estima the win and a crisp $40,000. Estima, who also claimed the -88kg Final over Andre Galvao, is now slated to face Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza in a ADCC 2011 superfight. Also taking home division bragging rights were current Strikeforce heavyweight Fabricio Werdum (+99kg), Pablo Popovich (-77kg) and Brazilian lady grapplers Hannette Staack (+60kg) and Luanna Alzuguir (-60kg). Staunch mixed martial arts veteran Jeff "The Snowman" Monson, female fightmonger Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos and ex-WEC competitor David Avellan all placed third within their respective weight classes. Fading mat technicians Ricco Rodriguez and Dean Lister tried to rebound from early exits on Saturday by throwing their hat into the Absolutes Tournament, but were once again bounced from the competition in the opening round. Here are the ADCC 2009 quick results for Sept. 27:
Men’s Absolute Final Men’s Absolute 3rd Place Men’s Absolute – Semifinals Men’s Absolute – Quarterfinals Men’s Absolute Division – Opening Round Men’s +99kg (+218 lbs.) Final Men’s -99kg (-218 lbs.) Final Men’s -88kg (-194 lbs.) Final Men’s -77kg (-170 lbs.) Final Men’s -66kg (-145 lbs.) Final Women’s +60kg (+132 lbs.) Final Women’s -60kg (-132 lbs.) Final Men’s +99kg (+218 lbs.) 3rd Place Match Men’s -99kg (-218 lbs.) 3rd Place Match Men’s -88kg (-194 lbs.) 3rd Place Match Men’s -77kg (-170 lbs.) 3rd Place Match Men’s -66kg (-145 lbs.) 3rd Place Match Women’s +60kg (+132 lbs.) 3rd Place Match Women’s -60kg (-132 lbs.) 3rd Place Match Men’s +99kg (+218 lbs.) Semifinals Men’s -99kg (-218 lbs.) Semifinals Men’s -88kg (-194 lbs.) Semifinals Men’s -77kg (-170 lbs.) Semifinals Men’s -66kg (-145 lbs.) Semifinals Women’s +60kg (+132 lbs.) Semifinals Women’s -60kg (-132 lbs.) Semifinals ADCC is an invitation-only event held every two years to determine the world's best no-gi grapplers. Only 16 competitors in each of five weight classes plus the "absolutes" are selected, and it is widely considered the most difficult submission fighting event to qualify for. For the opening round and semifinal results from yesterday (Sept. 26) click here. (Special thanks to Chris Nelson over at Bloody Elbow for the compiling the results) |
| K-1 draws World GP 2009 Final 8 for Dec. 5 event Posted: 27 Sep 2009 08:57 AM PDT
The winners of the Final 16 tourney have gathered to partake in the tournament draw to determine the match-up and the bout order for the K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 Final 8 from Japan’s Yokohama Arena on December 5. The fighters picked numbered balls, and in the ascending order of the numbers on the balls, chose the block in which they will fight. There are four blocks, with each block containing red and blue corners that represent the slots in which the fighters enter — the slots are thus labeled A to H, with the first block containing A and B, the second containing C and D, and so on. Depending on the luck of the draw, a fighter could pick an opponent whom he has a good chance of dispatching without incurring much damage, while tougher opponents square off against each other in other quarterfinal bouts. As the combat sport truism states, anything can happen in K-1 bouts, but needless to say, the outcome of the draw contributes to how the tournament unfolds. Badr Hari, who had the fastest finish of the night (KO at 2:15 of round 1), was awarded the first pick. Following Hari, the other seven fighters picked the balls in the order that they fought on Saturday night, as their bouts all ended in decision (Ewerton Teixeira picked last, as his bout reached the extra rounds).
Ruslan Karaev picked the ball with the smallest number. Predictably, he chose the red corner of block 1, or slot A, for the first fight of the night: By picking the first fight of the night, he will have at least three fights to rest before fighting in the semifinal, should he win the fight. Badr Hari ended up with the second smallest number, and thus had the next pick. Without hesitation, he chose the blue corner of block 1 for the rubber match with Karaev. Hari and Karaev have split the two fights 1-1: In the second meeting at the K-1 World Grand Prix 2007 in Yokohama, they enthralled the crowd with a fierce barn burner in which they traded knock downs. Errol Zimmerman had the third pick and chose block G for the last of the four quarterfinal bouts. The reigning WGP champion, Remy Bonjasky picked fourth, and surprisingly, threw down the gauntlet to Zimmerman. Jerome LeBanner, coming off the memorable bout with Musashi, had the fifth pick and entered himself in the red corner of the block 3 (slot E). Semmy Schilt picked sixth and headed for block 3 for the fourth bout with LeBanner: Schilt has won all three bouts with LeBanner thus far. The remaining two fighters, Alistair Overeem and Ewerton Texeira, settled in block 2 for the second quarterfinal bout. Side A: Side B: For more on the K-1 World Grand Prix 2009 click here. |
| World Championship Fighting (WCF) 8 quick results for Sept. 26 Wilmington event Posted: 27 Sep 2009 01:06 AM PDT
World Championship Fighting (WCF) held its eighth event yesterday (Sept. 26), storming the Aleppo Shriner's Auditorium in Wilmington, Massachusetts. After compiling an impressive 5-1 record under the WCF banner, veteran John Benoit was upended by Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt Hitalo Machado. The American Top Team product wasted little time in making his debut a memorable one, choking out the venerable Benoit just over two minutes into the first round. Mike Campbell returned to the WCF after an unsuccessful 0-2 run in the WEC. Apparently you can go home again, because “The Beast” planished Team Rhino and New Jersey native Mike Medrano with his patented ground and pound in the opening stanza. After the fight, Medrano blasted referee Kevin MacDonald for a premature stoppage and the downed fighter insisted he was working for guard when K-Mac threw in the towel. “Special attraction” Kimbo Slice was in the house during a layover for his appearance on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon." Slice, a friend of WCF promoter Joseph Cavallaro, was on hand taking photographs and pimping his recent stint on The Ultimate Fighter 10. Here are the WCF 8 complete results:
Mike Campbell def. Mike Medrano via TKO (Strikes) 3:12 R1 |
| K-1 exploring India as a potential breeding gound for next generation fighters Posted: 27 Sep 2009 12:01 AM PDT
He unfortunately did not endear himself to the fans with the lackluster, five-round snoozefest against Ewerton Teixeira at Olympic Park in Seoul, Korea. Unless he can stage an impressive comeback, he will not linger in the collective memory of the K-1 world for too long. Nevertheless, his participation in the WGP bears the mark of an important milestone — given his ethnicity/nationality. The K-1 website recently gave a glimpse of the nascent popularity of K-1 and the prevalence of combat sports in the world’s second most populous nation, India. With a head count exceeding 1.1 billion, India possesses the potential of becoming a treasure trove of combat athletes. Currently, a handful of Indian athletes dot the combat sport landscape — most notably Kultar “Black Mamba” Gill, an Indian-Canadian MMA fighter who’s fought in K-1 Hero’s and DREAM. Yet, India remains shrouded in mystery in the realm of combat sports.
According to Daniel Isaac, a representative from Tiger International Fight Team that houses numerous Indian fighters, cricket remains the king of sports in India with strong tradition and TV coverage. WWE has enjoyed heightened popularity due to the presence of several Indian wrestlers. While K-1 pales cricket and WWE in popularity, its viewership on the popular sports channel, Star Sports, has been on a rise. In addition to the World Grand Prix series, Star Sports airs other events under the K-1 banner, such as MAX, DREAM, and Dynamite! Thanks to the coverage on Star Sports, K-1 events have grown to become the staples on the channel in recent years. The K-1 Hero’s fight in which Black Mamba defeated Hideo Tokoro via KO apparently enthralled the Indian audience. Isaac further explained that, currently, many young men and combat sport enthusiasts regularly tune in to the Star Sport and K-1 channel on YouTube to learn about K-1 and MMA. He declares that K-1’s popularity will continue to rise in the coming years. Indian martial arts tradition Unbeknownst to many, India and the neighboring Pakistan have a long tradition of martial arts that dates back to ancient times. Kalaripayattu, a Dravidian martial art from Kerala in south India, is considered one of the oldest fighting systems in existence. Pehlwani, a style of wrestling indigenous to India and Pakistan, traces its root to 5th century BC. Some pehlwani wrestlers have earned international acclaim in amateur and professional ranks. The Great Gama, a legendary Pehlwani wrestler who has vanquished numerous top names in international wrestling circuit including Stanislaus Zbyszko and Benjamin Roller during the early 20th century, stands as perhaps the most decorated combat athlete in Indian history. Many of the traditional martial arts have seen the number of practitioners dwindle over the years. On the other hand, according to Isaac, a sizable number of Indians practice karate, taekwondo, kung fu, and other martial arts with international popularity in educational institution or as part of the military and law enforcement training. Isaac estimates that martial arts practitioners constitute approximately 2% of the total population of India. Even at 2%, given the total population of over 1.1 billion, it translates to over 22 million practitioners. With such a huge pool of talent, it is only a matter of time before a world class fighter emerges. Isaac elaborated on the possibilities: “Besides Black Mamba and Singh, the most popular fighter abroad is Alan “The Bull” Fenandes thanks to his 2005 fight in London against Mark Epstein for the IKF World Kickboxing Championship. For heavyweights, the most famous is Bhupesh Kamble. He has power and is definitely K-1 material.” Apparently, Fenandes also did well in last year’s Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Championship. It would be interesting to see what he could accomplish in MMA. In boxing, Vijender Kumar won the bronze as a middleweight in Beijing Olympics last year. The first Indian boxer to win a medal, Kumar has received a hero’s welcome in India for his accomplishment and good looks. Martial Arts Powerhouse Indian state of Punjab has become well-known for producing numerous world-class athletes. Black Mamba, Jaideep, Fernandes, The Great Kali, and many top wrestlers and boxers hail from Punjab. Punjabis are known for being tall, lithe, and athletic. Isaac explains that Indians from the Northeastern states tend to be smaller but very strong: “Many boxers, karatekas, and weight lifters are from this region. Indian martial artists possess high level of skills and warrior spirit. If only they were given more opportunities, they certainly will prove their worth.” Across the world, Indian athletes have made their names in sports such as cricket, hockey, tennis, soccer, boxing, track and field, and golf. While Singh Jaideep failed to make an impact in his WGP appearance, he epitomizes the potential for Indian athletes to make their mark in the world of combat sports. Given the right environment and ample opportunities, Indian combat athletes may see the light of day on a world stage. |
At age 21, Singh “Heart” Jaideep became the youngest fighter to qualify for the K-1 World Grand Prix (WGP).| You are subscribed to email updates from UFC blog for UFC news, results, videos, rumors, fights, pics and tickets -- MMAmania.com To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
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