Wednesday, September 30, 2009

UFC blog for latest news, videos, results, betting odds, fighter interviews and MMA rumors - UFCmania.com

UFC blog for latest news, videos, results, betting odds, fighter interviews and MMA rumors - UFCmania.com


Dana White and Kimbo Slice NYC media blitz continues for The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 10 and more (Videos)

Posted: 29 Sep 2009 05:29 PM PDT

Check out part two after the jump, as well as another teaser for Kimbo Slice vs Roy Nelson on Spike TV tomorrow night at 10 p.m. ET.

Scenes from tomorrow night’s TUF episode:

DREAM 12: Eddie Alvarez vs. Katsunori Kikuno and Kuniyoshi Hironaka vs. Won Sik Park booked for Oct. 25

Posted: 29 Sep 2009 02:38 PM PDT

At the press conference DREAM held to officially unveil the blueprint of the new hexagonal cage, two lightweight contests were also announced for DREAM 12, which will take place on Oct. 25 at Osaka Castle Hall in Osaka, Japan.

Bellator lightweight champion and consensus top 10-ranked 155-pound standout, Eddie Alvarez (18-2), will square off with DEEP lightweight champion, Katsunori Kikuno (12-1-1). Newly minted Cage Force lightweight champion, Kuniyoshi Hironaka (15-6), is also set to take on South Korean prospect, Won Sik Park (7-1-1).

Alvarez last fought for DREAM on the New Year’s Eve show, sustaining a submission loss against Shinya Aoki. Quickly bouncing back from the second loss of his career, he entered the lightweight tourney in the inaugural season of Bellator Fighting Championship. As an overwhelming favorite, he dismantled Greg Loughran, Eric Reynolds, and Toby Imada — all three victories via submission — to capture the lightweight crown.

Katsunori Kikuno, a Kyokushin karateka and Tsuyoshi Kohsaka protege, parlayed his success in Japan’s DEEP promotion to an emphatic DREAM debut. At DREAM 10, he defeated Chute Boxe prospect, Andres Amade, via first-round technical knockout.

UFC veteran Kuniyoshi Hironaka has recently captured the lightweight title in Cage Force. Competing for the title that was vacated by the newly minted Sengoku champion, Mizuto Hirota, Hironaka rose to the occasion, capturing the first pro title of his career.

Park, a South Korean prospect, has cut his teeth in Japan’s DEEP and MARS. Since losing his pro debut, he has been riding an eight-fight undefeated streak.

DREAM 12 will feature another South Korean prospect, Myeon Ho Bae (8-4). He will join a star-studded cast of fighters scheduled for the card, including Alistair Overeem, Marius Zaromskis, Paulo Filho, Yoshiro Maeda, Murilo Rua and Kiyoshi Tamura.

Stay tuned to MMA mania for further information regarding the historic DREAM 12 fight card.

Dana White talks big MMA business on CNBCs ‘Power Lunch’ (Video)

Posted: 29 Sep 2009 12:47 PM PDT


DREAM announces hexagonal cage will be used during Oct. 25 event

Posted: 29 Sep 2009 12:24 PM PDT

happyhomeowner

First came the enigmatic teaser trailer. Then a new trailer gave a glimpse of the cage that DREAM has in store for the upcoming DREAM 12, scheduled for Oct. 25 at Osaka Castle Hall.

On Tuesday, Fighting and Entertainment Group held a press conference at the Reversal MMA gym in Tokyo to officially announce the implementation of a hexagonal cage at DREAM 12. DREAM event producer, Keiichi Sasahara, unveiled a blueprint for the cage. At the time of press conference, the cage is still under construction and the blueprint serves as just that — a mere approximation of the overall look of the final product.

Sasahara elaborated that a possibility remains that FEG may use different materials for its hexagonal cage than are typically used by other cage-based promotions. Also, while the blueprint shows the cage in white, the DREAM staff has been ruminating the optimal color for the cage in terms of spectator- and camera-friendliness: Some have objected that a black cage makes it difficult for the crowd to see the fight, while a white cage can potentially trigger glares off the camera, depending on the angle and brightness of the light.

In light of the newly formed alliance between DREAM and Strikeforce, DREAM staff has been seeking input from Strikeforce to design the cage. While DREAM 12 will see an adoption of the three five-minute rounds, no other rule changes are scheduled. Furthermore, DREAM plans to host just one caged fight card per year.

Sasahara cited the desire for “a change of scenery,” as the primary impetus behind the introduction of the cage. He also mentioned that, having announced the plan for a vigorous exchange of fighters between his organization and Strikeforce, caged fight cards will enable DREAM fighters to acclimate themselves to fighting in the cage.

Likewise, the use of the cage, instead of the standard ring, facilitates the interpromotional leap for fighters on Strikeforce’s roster as well. While maintaining FEG’s belief in the spectator-friendliness of the ring, Sasahara emphasized the potential benefits that the experimental attempt at caged fight cards will yield.

DREAM 12 will feature South Korean prospect, Myeon Ho Bae (8-4). He will join a star-studded cast of fighters scheduled for the card, including Alistair Overeem, Marius Zaromskis, Eddie Alvarez, Paulo Filho, Yoshiro Maeda, Murilo Rua and Kiyoshi Tamura.

Kimbo Slice training jits at ATT; willing to try light heavyweight

Posted: 29 Sep 2009 11:43 AM PDT

Props: MMA Fanhouse

Quoteworthy:

“I’m training at American Top Team. I’m a hard puncher trying to learn the ground game. You can do a lot, but you can’t master anything in two years. In mixed martial arts, the more you roll the more you learn. It’s something I’m working on. I’m a heavyweight, but if the promoters want me to come down, heck yeah I’d give it a try.”

Former YouTube sensation and Ultimate Fighter (TUF) attraction Kimbo Slice heads to American Top Team (ATT) after completing a tenth season on the Spike TV reality show opposite former IFL champion, Roy Nelson, UFC veteran Wes Sims and several former NFL players, among others. Will the artist formerly known as Kevin Ferguson prove Dana White (who predicted he would never win a TUF show back in Oct. 2008 when he first made the bold offer) and all the other doubters wrong — or is he too green to hang with the big boys? Don’t be surprised to see one last hurrah from Slice at the TUF 10 Finale — and maybe even more if he wins on Dec. 5. Are you ready for more Kimbo in 2010?

Butterbean vs Tank Abbott headline ‘Alabama Pride’ on Dec. 12

Posted: 29 Sep 2009 11:23 AM PDT

Featuring a real who’s-who of MMA stars…

For some reason when I see this poster, “pride” is the last thing that comes to mind…

MMA Quick Quote: Jay Hieron wants the Strikeforce belt — is Nick Diaz ready to step up?

Posted: 29 Sep 2009 10:12 AM PDT

“I really, really want my next fight to be for a title. I’ve worked my butt off and I feel I really deserve a title shot. That’s why I signed with Strikeforce to get a title shot. I could have went straight to the UFC. They were offering the same money, but at the end of the day, I wanted to pursue my dream of becoming a world champion and the quickest way to do that was Strikeforce. Like I said, I would like my next shot to be for the title; if not against Diaz, then against somebody else. I can’t wait for this guy nor can I control what he does. It is what it is man. I just want my title shot and what I signed with these guys for. I don’t want to keep fighting these non-title fights because that’s not what I came here for. I fought my last fight and I proved myself and now we have to sit at the table and see what’s going on. Hopefully Nick Diaz can get his shit together and we can get out there and mix it up. I think that’s a great fight, not just for me and him, but for the fans too.”

Former IFL standout Jay Hieron tells the gang over at FightHype.com that he’s ready for the Strikeforce welterweight title — which is the lone reason he signed with the San Jose-based promotion. Unfortunately his championship bout against Nick Diaz on August 15 was scrapped when Diaz failed to report for his mandatory pre-fight drug test the week before the “Carano vs. Cyborg” event and had to be replaced by Jesse Taylor. Hieron won a unanimous decision over “JT Money” and doesn’t want any more shenanigans from Diaz. Strikeforce is shooting for a late 2009 title fight — will Diaz step up, or step aside?

Tango and Cash: Chuck ‘Angry Man’ Liddell video raises his stock on week two of Dancing with the Stars (DWTS)

Posted: 29 Sep 2009 09:47 AM PDT

Herschel Walker: I can beat any TUF 10 heavyweight

Posted: 29 Sep 2009 09:23 AM PDT

Props: ESPN First Take

Quoteworthy:

“Who ever made [UFC President Dana White] the guy to measure athletic talent? I don’t think (he) knows anything about athletic talent. He knows about fighters, which is different, but I will say this: He’s running a show right now with heavyweights and I’ll put dimes to donuts, all the heavyweights on his show right now I will beat. That’s pretty easy to say. I always tell people put their money where their mouth is. Dana says I’m so old? Why doesn’t he step into the ring with me?”

Recent Strikeforce acquisition and former NFL great Herschel Walker reacts to criticism from UFC President Dana White regarding the NFL great making a transition to mixed martial arts when he debuts for the San Jose-based promotion in January 2010. Walker, a Taekwondo black belt, maintains his athleticism will propel him to great heights — and already puts him above any Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 10 heavyweight. Is the 47-year-old running back merely posturing? Or does Walker believe that all he needs is some decent chop-socky and a 40-yard dash to make it in the fight game? I guess we’ll find out early next year. Anyone want to take a stab in the comments section on who his first opponent will be?

MMA Quick Pic: Sneak peek at Series 1 of Round 5 ‘Ultimate Collector’ UFC action figures

Posted: 29 Sep 2009 06:15 AM PDT

Props: Round 5 MMA

Courtesy of Round 5 MMA

For more on the upcoming line of UFC and MMA action figures and collectibles click here.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

UFC blog for latest news, videos, results, betting odds, fighter interviews and MMA rumors - UFCmania.com

UFC blog for latest news, videos, results, betting odds, fighter interviews and MMA rumors - UFCmania.com


Joe Lauzon vs Sam Stout in the works for UFC 108 on Jan. 2

Posted: 28 Sep 2009 08:47 PM PDT

lauzon_stout

Joe Lauzon is set to make his long-awaited return to the Octagon much sooner than expected when he collides with Sam Stout in a lightweight showdown planned for UFC 108 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Jan. 2, 2010.

Sources out of Las Vegas tell MMAmania.com that bout agreements have been distributed, but are unsigned at this time.

Lauzon underwent major knee surgery in March of this year to repair a torn meniscus, which was supposed to keep The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 5 alum on the sidelines for at least 12 months.

He’s apparently way ahead of schedule.

Lauzon most recently saw action against Jeremy Stephens in the UFC Fight Night 17 main event in Tampa, Fla., on Feb. 14. He took out "Lil' Heathen" with a second round armbar to notch his second straight win inside the Octagon.

Prior to the back-to-back victories, Lauzon was one of the many recent victims of Kenny Florian courtesy of a second round technical knockout loss at UFC Fight Night 13 back in April 2008. It was a temporary setback for the Boston-area native who appeared to be climbing his way back toward the top of the division before the injury.

Lauzon — who has five wins in six attempts inside the Octagon — now looks to get back on track and start the New Year fresh.

Stout was supposed to take on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 8 lightweight finalist, Phillipe Nover, at UFC Fight Night 19: "Diaz vs. Guillard" on Sept. 16, 2009; however, “The Filipino Assassin” passed out in the locker room literally hours before showtime, which forced the promotion to scrap the bout on super short notice.

"Hands of Stone" recently broke out of a rare 0-2 slump by outpointing Matt Wiman at UFC 97: "Redemption" back on April 18. The heavy-handed lightweight is probably best known for his two action-packed battles against Spencer "The King" Fisher.

He’ll now try to make it two straight when he takes on Lauzon.

UFC 108 is expected to serve as the promotion's traditional "year-end" event because the Christmas holiday falls on the last weekend of 2009. Currently, the only other fight scheduled for the card is UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva taking on the surging Vitor Belfort.

Yoshihiro Akiyama: The best offense is a sexy defense

Posted: 28 Sep 2009 08:45 PM PDT

akiyama

The famed Xtreme Couture gym will add more world class talent to the “Who’s Who” of mixed martial artists who train or have trained at the Las Vegas, Nevada-based gym.

Yoshihiro Akiyama, a Korean-Japanese middleweight who made his UFC debut at UFC 100, will travel to “Sin City” to train at Xtreme Couture in October, according to Sherdog.com.

Akiyama will devote an entire month to training with Shawn Tompkins and Vitor Belfort to refine his striking. Tompkins acknowledged Akiyama’s merit as a fighter, describing his fighting style as “slick and aggressive.” He aims aims to shore up Akiyama’s defense during the month-long training sojourn.

A world class judoka, Akiyama made his name in K-1 Hero’s, compiling an undefeated record (11-0, 1 NC). After K-1 pulled the plug on Hero’s, he fought twice in the newly formed DREAM in 2008 before signing with UFC. He made a successful UFC debut in July, edging out Alan Belcher via split decision victory.

Immediately after his UFC 100 bout with Belcher, he underwent a surgery to treat the eye injury he sustained in the bout. With his eye fully healed, Akiyama strives to elevate his game to ensure his future success in UFC’s talent-rich middleweight division.

The date and opponent for his second appearance in UFC have yet to surface.

Stay tuned to MMAmania for more news on Yoshihiro Akiyama and his return to the Octagon.

WEC 43: Wagnney Fabiano vs Mackens Semerzier booked for Oct. 10 with Erik Koch hurt

Posted: 28 Sep 2009 08:44 PM PDT

An injury in training has forced Erik Koch to withdraw from his featherweight battle against Wagnney Fabiano (12-1) at the upcoming WEC 43: “Cerrone vs. Henderson” from the The AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas, on Sat., Oct. 10, according to NWI.com.

Filling in on about two weeks notice will be 28-year-old United States Marine and current Miguel Torres pupil, Mackens Semerzier (3-0).

This will be a huge step up in competition level for Semerzier, whose last two opponents were both making their mixed martial arts debuts. He’s won all three of his professional fights by submission or technical knockout on smaller circuit cards in North Carolina and Virginia, but Fabiano will not be as easy to deal with.

Semerzier has good finishing ability … and he certainly receives high quality training under the former WEC bantamweight champion. The WEC newcomer will need to put it all together fast and be on top of his game to handle a force like Fabiano — he will have his work cut out for him.

Fabiano is currently enjoying a five-fight winning streak, including two straight under the WEC banner against Akitoshi Tamura (submission) and Fredson Paixao (decision). During his time with the IFL, he notched notable wins over John Gunderson and L.C. Davis (both by submission), as well as scored a highlight reel knockout over Bao Quach earlier in his career.

The lone loss on the Brazilian jiu-jitsu artist's record came by split decision at the hands of Jeff Curran back in October 2006. Since then, six of his eight victims have tasted defeat by way of tapout.

WEC 43 will feature an interim lightweight title fight between Greg Jackson pupil Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone and the versatile Ben "Smooth" Henderson in the main event of the evening. The co-headliner for the card will mark the return to the WEC cage for former lightweight number one contender, Rich "Cleat" Crunkilton, as he takes on undefeated Midwest product, Dave Jansen.

The main card will air live on the Versus network beginning at 9 p.m. ET on fight night. For more on WEC 43 click here.

TUF 10: ‘The Aftermath’ now available on Spike.com (Episode 2)

Posted: 28 Sep 2009 08:43 PM PDT

In case you didn't get your fill of episode two of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 10 last Wednesday night, the UFC and Spike.com are presenting "The Aftermath," a 15-minute Webisode that airs every Monday on Spike.com.

"The Aftermath" will recap the previous week's show, as well as get insight from some of the contestants and recurring Spike host, Amir Sadollah. In addition, the Webisodes will feature unaired content, exclusive bonus material and a sneak peek of the upcoming televised episode.

TUF fans can go to the Spike.com message boards after each Wednesday episode to submit questions and sound off on the events that occurred during the show. Questions will be selected at random and answered on the following Monday's "Aftermath."

To check out this week's webisode: “All About Survival,” which features James McSweeney and Wes Shivers breaking down their fight from Episode 2 (as well as the requisite Kimbo Slice vs. Roy Nelson talk), click here.

And be sure to check out our TUF recap every Wednesday following the show. To get up to speed on last week's episode click here.

UFC 105 results and LIVE fight coverage for ‘Couture vs Vera’ in Manchester on Nov. 14

Posted: 28 Sep 2009 07:53 PM PDT

ufc105_r
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) today took a major step toward finalizing the line up its next trip to England in more than nine months, which is scheduled for the Manchester Evening News (MEN) Arena in Manchester on Nov. 14.

UFC 105: “Couture vs. Vera” will feature a main event between former heavyweight champion, Randy "The Natural" Couture, returning to light heavyweight to battle Brandon "The Truth" Vera. In addition, hometown favorite Michael "The Count" Bisping will take on Pride FC standout, Denis Kang, in the co-featured fight of the night.

Welterweights Mike Swick and Dan Hardy are also booked to get busy inside the Octagon to help clarify the suddenly murky 170-pound number one contender situation.

Here is the current UFC 105 fight card:

Main event:

205 lbs.: Randy Couture (16-10) vs. Brandon Vera (11-3)

Main card (Televised):

185 lbs.: Michael Bisping (17-2) vs. Denis Kang (32-11-1)
170 lbs.: Dan Hardy (22-6) vs. Mike Swick (14-2)
170 lbs.: Matt Brown (10-7) vs. James Wilks (6-2)
155 lbs.: Ross Pearson (9-3) vs. Aaron Riley (28-11-1)

Under card (May not be broadcast):

155 lbs.: Terry Etim (13-2) vs. Shannon Gugerty (12-3)
170 lbs.: John Hathaway (11-0) vs. Paul Taylor (10-4-1)
170 lbs.: Matt Riddle (3-0) vs. Nick Osipczak (4-0)
155 lbs.: Roli Delgado (6-4-1) vs. Andre Winner (9-3-1)
170 lbs.: DaMarques Johnson (9-7) vs. Peter Sobotta (8-2)*
205 lbs.: Jared Hamman (10-1) vs. Alexander Gustafsson (8-0)*

*Fight not yet officially confirmed by UFC.com.

MMAmania.com will provide LIVE blow-by-blow, round-by-round coverage of UFC 105, beginning with the Spike TV telecast at 3 p.m. ET. In addition, we will deliver up-to-the-minute quick results of all the under card action that same afternoon.

We're still a few months away from showtime; therefore, feel free to share your thoughts and predictions on "Couture vs. Vera" in the comments section below. And remember that MMAmania.com will be the spot for the latest news and event-related highlights before, during and after the event.

For everything you need to know about UFC 105 feel free to also hit up our event archive right here.

Kimbo Slice to appear on ‘Late Night with Jimmy Fallon’ tonight (Sept. 28) …

Posted: 28 Sep 2009 05:34 PM PDT

… and “things is gonna get broke off (for literals):”

kimbo_fallon

Props: LateNightWithJimmyFallon.com

(”Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” airs weeknights at 12:35 a.m. ET in the United States.)

Kimbo Slice vs Roy Nelson video: The biggest fight in the history of The Ultimate Fighter

Posted: 28 Sep 2009 11:48 AM PDT

UFC President Dana White predicts somewhere in the neighborhood of seven million viewers this Wednesday night on Spike TV. Seriously.

Here’s the teaser:

Are you teased?

Dancing with the Stars 2009: Chuck Liddell set for Episode 2 tonight (Sept. 28)

Posted: 28 Sep 2009 11:42 AM PDT

chuck_liddell_dwts

For better or worse, Chuck Liddell is once again set to dance his way into our living rooms tonight (Sept. 28) at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

The former UFC light heavyweight champion and his professional dance partner, Anna Trebunskaya, will make their encore performance on this season of "Dancing with the Stars."

He and his Russian counterpart survived week one with a spirited fox trot and a so-so salsa. But perhaps it had more to do with singer Macy's Gray's uninspired and poorly prepared performance, which didn't sit well with the judges … or the viewers at home.

Regardless, Liddell is on ABC this evening and he needs our help to stay there and survive the 16-person "celebrity" dance off.

Remember that you can call (800) 868-3402 during the show and up to 30 minutes following its conclusion to vote for the "Iceman." You can also vote online at the DWTS official Web site right here.

(Note: You can vote up to eight times per phone line.)

In the meantime, go ahead and sound off in the comments section before, during and after the big event. Good, bad or indifferent — we want to hear from you.

As odd as that may sound.

TUF 10 Finale: Jon Jones ready to take Matt Hamill down on Dec. 5

Posted: 28 Sep 2009 07:56 AM PDT

Bones-plex

Props: FightHype

Quoteworthy:

“[Matt Hamill's] going to be a big step up in competition for me and a really good test for me and I’m stoked about it. I think his wrestling will play a factor in the fight. I usually fight guys who are Brazilian Black Belts or guys who consider themselves strikers, but with Matt being a tough wrestler, I can see that being an issue. But Matt isn’t really known for his submissions or having knockout power in his hands, so I’m just going to train every aspect of mixed martial arts and I’m excited about this fight because he’s not known for his Jiu-Jitsu and my Jiu-Jitsu is getting really good. If he ends up taking me down, I’m straight with working off of my back or getting into some scramble with him and possibly submitting him. In the boxing category, I feel like I’m faster than him and more well-rounded than him. In the kicking department, I’m working with Phil there and now I’m working into being a Muay Thai fighter, so I’m just going to go out there and mix it up in every aspect. I actually had a very good wrestling career also and I try not to doubt myself in any aspect of the sport. Doubt is where a weakness is about to come in, so I’m just ready to mix it up man. I’m ready to take him down, I’m ready to defend his takedowns and I’m just confident man. I haven’t lost and I’m always working to get better, so I have no reason to doubt myself. I just want to be an all-around great fighter.”

– Electrifying light heavyweight prospect Jon Jones looks to continue his meteoric rise through the ranks of light heavyweight when he takes on staunch UFC veteran Matt Hamill at The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale on December 5 in Las Vegas. Jones dismantled Stephan Bonnar at UFC 94 earlier this year and followed it up with a submission win over Jake O’Brien at UFC 100 in July. The national Junior College Champion out of Iowa Central Community College quit school to pursue a career in mixed martial arts and has yet to be defeated in nine fights. Will he drop “The Hammer” on Matt Hamill? Or will the former TUF 3 standout bury “Bones” and his title aspirations?

Strikeforce heavyweight Brett ‘The Grim’ Rogers featured on tonight’s presentation of Pro MMA Radio

Posted: 28 Sep 2009 07:55 AM PDT

With just over a month before his CBS prime time main event bout against Fedor Emelianenko, Strikeforce heavyweight Brett Rogers will join us tonight at 9 p.m. ET on MMAmania.com's exclusive presentation of Pro MMA Radio.

“The Grim” will go in-depth about his undefeated rise to heavyweight contendership, why Alistair Overeem is still holding on to the Strikeforce belt and of course, his upcoming main event against “The Last Emperor.”

Hosted by Larry Pepe, Pro MMA Radio is professional, guest-driven program that features some of mixed martial arts biggest names.

If you're looking for a radio show that revolves around a couple of MMA fans ranting and raving about everything that's already been covered ad nauseam, then Pro MMA Radio probably isn't for you.

However, if you want to hear from actual fighters and industry insiders answering questions that are relevant to the current MMA scene, tune in every Monday night at 9 p.m. ET for our exclusive live feed.

See you tonight at 9 p.m. ET!

Monday, September 28, 2009

UFC blog for latest news, videos, results, betting odds, fighter interviews and MMA rumors - UFCmania.com

UFC blog for latest news, videos, results, betting odds, fighter interviews and MMA rumors - UFCmania.com


Kimbo Slice: Performance, not ratings, will determine UFC future

Posted: 27 Sep 2009 08:00 PM PDT

kimbo

Props: Los Angeles Times

Quoteworthy:

“Are you going to see Kimbo Slice fight again in the UFC? Yes…. The ratings do not influence our decision. The guy can either fight or not.”

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

palahares_linhares

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
Bráulio Estima (Brazil) def. Xande Ribeiro (Brazil) via arm injury

Men’s Absolute 3rd Place
Vinicius Magalhaes (Brazil) def. Gunnar Nelson (Iceland) via points (3-0) in OT

Men’s Absolute – Semifinals
Bráulio Estima (Brazil) def. Vinicius Magalhaes (Brazil) via points (7-0)
Xande Ribeiro (Brazil) def. Gunnar Nelson (Iceland) via kneebar

Men’s Absolute – Quarterfinals
Bráulio Estima (Brazil) def. Marcelo Garcia (Brazil) via rear-naked choke
Vinicius Magalhaes (Brazil) def. Chris Weidman (USA) via armbar
Xande Ribeiro (Brazil) def. Andre Galvao (Brazil) via points (3-0)
Gunnar Nelson (Iceland) def. David Avellan (USA) via rear-naked choke

Men’s Absolute Division – Opening Round
Bráulio Estima
(Brazil) def. Janne-Pekka Pietiläinen (Finland) via armbar
Marcelo Garcia (Brazil) def. Bruno Bastos (Brazil) via rear-naked choke
Vinicius Magalhaes (Brazil) def. Dean Lister (USA) via referee decision
Chris Weidman (USA) def. Antoine Jaoude (Brazil) via points (3-0)
Xande Ribeiro (Brazil) def. Ricco Rodriguez (USA) via kimura
Andre Galvao (Brazil) def. Tom De Blass (USA) via points (3-0)
Gunnar Nelson (Iceland) def. Jeff Monson (USA) via points (3-0) in OT
David Avellan (USA) def. Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu (Brazil) via referee decision

Men’s +99kg (+218 lbs.) Final
Fabricio Werdum
(Brazil) def. Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu (Brazil) via points (9-0)

Men’s -99kg (-218 lbs.) Final
Xande Ribeiro (Brazil) def. Gerardi Rinaldi (USA) via points (2-0)

Men’s -88kg (-194 lbs.) Final
Bráulio Estima (Brazil) def. André Galvão (Brazil) via inverted triangle

Men’s -77kg (-170 lbs.) Final
Pablo Popovich (Brazil) def. Marcelo Garcia (Brazil) via points (3-2)

Men’s -66kg (-145 lbs.) Final
Rafael Mendes (Brazil) def. Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles (Brazil) via points (3-0)

Women’s +60kg (+132 lbs.) Final
Hannette Staack (Brazil) def. Penny Thomas (USA) via kneebar

Women’s -60kg (-132 lbs.) Final
Luanna Alzuguir (Brazil) def. Sayaka Shioda (Japan) via points (3-0)

Men’s +99kg (+218 lbs.) 3rd Place Match
Jeff Monson (USA) def. Saulo Ribeiro (Brazil) def.  via judges’ decision

Men’s -99kg (-218 lbs.) 3rd Place Match
Vinícius Magalhães (Brazil) def. Glover Teixeira (Brazil) via armbar

Men’s -88kg (-194 lbs.) 3rd Place Match
David Avellan (USA) def. Rafael Lovato Jr. (USA) via leglock

Men’s -77kg (-170 lbs.) 3rd Place Match
Gregor Gracie (Brazil) def. Keita “K-Taro” Nakamura (Japan) via points (10-0)

Men’s -66kg (-145 lbs.) 3rd Place Match
Ryan Hall
(USA) def. Jeff Glover (USA) via points (3-2)

Women’s +60kg (+132 lbs.) 3rd Place Match
Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos (Brazil) def. Rosângela Conceição (Brazil) via points

Women’s -60kg (-132 lbs.) 3rd Place Match
Hillary Williams (USA) def. Laurence Cousin (France) via points (9-0)

Men’s +99kg (+218 lbs.) Semifinals
Fabricio Werdum (Brazil) def. Saulo Ribeiro (Brazil) via judges’ decision (2x overtime)
Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu (Brazil) def. Jeff Monson (USA) via points

Men’s -99kg (-218 lbs.) Semifinals
Xande Ribeiro (Brazil) def. Vinícius Magalhães (Brazil)
Gerardi Rinaldi (USA) def. Glover Teixeira (Brazil) via points (5-0)

Men’s -88kg (-194 lbs.) Semifinals
André Galvão (Brazil) def. David Avellan (USA) via points (2-0)
Bráulio Estima (Brazil) def. Rafael Lovato Jr. (USA) via kneebar

Men’s -77kg (-170 lbs.) Semifinals
Marcelo Garcia (Brazil) def. Keita “K-Taro” Nakamura (Japan) via north-south choke
Pablo Popovich (Brazil) def. Gregor Gracie (Brazil) via points (3-0)

Men’s -66kg (-145 lbs.) Semifinals
Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles (Brazil) def. Rani Yahya (Brazil) via armlock
Rafael Mendes (Brazil) def. Leo Vieira (Brazil) via rear-naked choke

Women’s +60kg (+132 lbs.) Semifinals
Penny Thomas (USA) def. Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos (Brazil) via points (-1 to -2)
Hannette Staack (Brazil) def. Rosângela Conceição (Brazil) via points

Women’s -60kg (-132 lbs.) Semifinals
Sayaka Shioda (Japan) def. Hillary Williams (USA) via armbar
Luanna Alzuguir (Brazil) vs. Laurence Cousin (France) via rear-naked choke

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:
Badr Hari vs Ruslan Karaev
Ewerton Texeira vs Alistair Overeem

Side B:
Jerome LeBanner vs Semmy Schilt
Remy Bonjasky vs Errol Zimmerman

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
Hitalo Machado def. John Benoit via Submission (Rear-naked choke) 2:04 R1
Dennis Olsen def. Ryan Schielding via Submission (Armbar) 1:04 R1
Josh LeBerge def. Dan Bonnell via TKO (Strikes) 1:20 R1
Josh Key def. Luis Felix via TKO (Strikes) 0:51 R3
Joe McGann def. Jason Dublin via Unanimous Decision
John Ortolani def. Travis Lerchen via TKO (Punches) 2:16 R1
Noah Wiseman def. Eddie Felix via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) 3:38 R1
Saul Almeida def. Kevin Corrigan via Unanimous Decision
Aniss Alhajjajy def. Brent Reed via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) 3:47 R2
Lev Kamenetski def. Joel Ty via TKO (Punches) 2:22 R1
Jim Pitner via James Boran via Unanimous Decision

K-1 exploring India as a potential breeding gound for next generation fighters

Posted: 27 Sep 2009 12:01 AM PDT

At age 21, Singh “Heart” Jaideep became the youngest fighter to qualify for the K-1 World Grand Prix (WGP).

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.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

UFC blog for latest news, videos, results, betting odds, fighter interviews and MMA rumors - UFCmania.com

UFC blog for latest news, videos, results, betting odds, fighter interviews and MMA rumors - UFCmania.com


DREAM 11: 2009 Featherweight Grand Prix video promo for Oct. 6

Posted: 26 Sep 2009 07:28 PM PDT

UFC Quick Quote: What is Randy Couture going to do with Brandon Vera?

Posted: 26 Sep 2009 07:25 PM PDT

brandonvera

"My whole thing is, I kick people in the face, I knee people in the face, I can submit people. Now, if I can go to the southpaw stance, and I'm knocking people out from the southpaw stance, people are gonna be like, 'oh my God, now what am I gonna do with Vera?'… I'm letting everything go with Mr. Couture. You've got to. You can't hold back with Randy. I'm gonna pull out every trick, everything I know…. Randy's a master tactician. If he were in the Army, he'd probably be one of the best generals in the world. He's the master planner. I'm excited. The nerves aren't hitting yet…. It's a big deal if you make it a big deal. For me, it's more about the fight. I'm fighting Randy Couture. It doesn't matter if it's televised, not televised, main event, or a dark match. It's not where I'm at on the card, it's who I'm fighting. I don't think there could be anything more exciting than the match itself."

– Light heavyweight Brandon Vera talks to MMAWeekly.com about his upcoming fight against mixed martial arts legend and former division champion, Randy Couture, in the UFC 105 main event from the Manchester Evening News (MEN) Arena in Manchester, England, on Nov. 14. “The Truth” is fresh of a dominant performance over Krzysztof Soszynski just last month, using a new-look southpaw stance to foil the “Polish Experiment” for three full rounds. Couture, on the other hand, has lost back-to-back fights in the heavyweight division to Brock Lesnar and Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira. The 46-year-old will return to the 205-pound division for the first time since 2006. Will “The Natural” have the right formula for success against Vera, as well as in the land of light heavies moving forward, or will the younger, faster and possibly hungrier challenger be too much to handle?

Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson takes off with ‘new job’ as BA Baracus on A-Team movie set

Posted: 26 Sep 2009 07:24 PM PDT

rampage_jackson_ateam

Props: DailyMail.co.uk

From his Twitter: “at his new job,loving it,hard work but loving it!

Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) 2009 Barcelona quick results

Posted: 26 Sep 2009 10:34 AM PDT

The 2009 Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) grappling competition got underway today (Sept. 26) in Barcelona, Spain, wrapping up the quarterfinal brackets as well as a much ballyhooed superfight that saw Ronaldo “Jacaré” Souza overcome the venerable Robert Drysdale.

Former Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 8 contestant Vinícius Magalhães breezed through the quarterfinals (via slick flying armbar), as did former UFC and current Strikeforce heavyweight Fabricio Werdum.

Also making the cut was staunch mixed martial arts veteran Jeff “The Snowman” Monson, female fightmonger Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos and ex-WEC competitor Glover Teixeira.

Taking an early exit was fading mat technicians Ricco Rodriguez, Dean Lister and Márcio “Pe de Pano” Cruz along with Megumi “Mega Megu” Fuji and Kron Gracie.

Here are the ADCC 2009 quick results:

Men’s +99kg (+218 lbs.) Opening Round
#1 – Fabricio Werdum (Brazil) def. Rogent Lloret (Spain) via kimura
#2 – Tomasz Janiszewski (Poland) def. Antoine Jaoude (Brazil) via points
#3 – Romulo Barral (Brazil) def. Denis Roberts (Australia) via heel hook
#4 – Saulo Ribeiro (Brazil) def. Kouji Kanechika (Japan) via points (5-2)
#5 – Jeff Monson (USA) def. Karol Bedorf (Poland) via points
#6 – Janne-Pekka Pietiläinen (Finland) def. Tom Erikson (USA) via heel hook
#7 – Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu (Brazil) def. Tom De Blass (USA) via points
#8 – Asa Fuller (USA) def. Mike Matell (Canada) via armbar

Men’s -99kg (-218 lbs.) Opening Round
#9 – Xande Ribeiro (Brazil) def. Ilir Latifi (Sweden) via points (2-0)
#10 – Radek Turek (Poland) def. Rafael Davies (USA) via points
#11 – Márcio Cruz (Brazil) def. Anthony Perosh (Australia) via points (3-0)
#12 – Vinícius Magalhães (Brazil) def. Rodrigo Cavaca (Brazil) via leglock
#13 – Dean Lister (USA) def. Andreas Olsen (Norway) via triangle choke
#14 – Glover Teixeira (Brazil) def. Vesa Vuori (Finland) via points (6-0)
#15 – Tomasz Szczerek (Poland) def. Ricco Rodriguez (USA) via poinits (4-0)
#16 – Gerardi Rinaldi (USA) def. Yoshiyuki Nakahashi (Japan) via points

Men’s -88kg (-194 lbs.) Opening Round
#17 – André Galvão (Brazil) def. Kassim Annan (France) via points (11-0)
#18 – Chris Weidman (USA) def. Daniel Tabera. (Spain) via points (19-0)
#19 – Tarsis Humphreys (Brazil) def. Igor Praporshchikov (Australia) via ref decision
#20 – David Avellan (USA) def. Trond Saksenvik (Norway) via heel hook
#21 – Bráulio Estima (Brazil) def. Yuji Arai (Japan) via rear-naked choke
#22 – James Brasco (USA) def. Gunnar Nelson (Iceland) via ref decision
#23 – Rafael Lovato Jr. (USA) def. Tom Lawlor (USA) via points (4-0)
#24 – Bruno Bastos (Brazil) def. Jorge Santiago (Brazil) via ref decision

Men’s -77kg (-170 lbs.) Opening Round
#25 – Marcelo Garcia (Brazil) def. Rodney Ellis (Australia) via guillotine choke
#26 – Kron Gracie (Brazil) def. Enrico Cocco (USA) via rear-naked choke
#27 – Marcelo “Uirapuru” Azevedo (Brazil) def. Mike Fowler (USA) via leglock
#28 – Keita “K-Taro” Nakamura (Japan) def. Milton Vieira (Brazil)
#29 – Pablo Popovich (Brazil) def. Don Ortega (USA) via rear-naked choke
#30 – Ben Askren (USA) def. Toni Linden (Finland) via arm-triangle choke
#31 – Leonardo Santos (Brazil) def. Yoshiyuki Yoshida (Japan) via points (8-0)
#32 – Gregor Gracie (Brazil) def. Murilo Santana (Brazil) via points (3-0)

Men’s -66kg (-145 lbs.) Opening Round
#33 – Rani Yahya (Brazil) def. Kouhei Yasumi (Japan) via rear-naked choke
#34 – Jeff Glover (USA) def. Timo-Juhani Hirvikangas (Finland) via rear-naked choke
#35 – Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles (Brazil) def. Hiroshi “Iron” Nakamura (Japan) via armbar
#36 – Joel Tudor (USA) def. Nicolas Renier (France) via triangle choke
#37 – Leo Vieira (Brazil) def. David Marinakis (Australia) via guillotine choke
#38 – Ryan Hall (USA) def. Jeff Curran (USA) via points (5-2)
#39 – Rafael Mendes (Brazil) def. Jayson Patino (USA) via triangle choke
#40 – Justin Rader (USA) def. Baret Yoshida (USA) via points (7-0)

Women’s +60kg (+132 lbs.) Quarter-Finals
#41 – Penny Thomas (USA) def. Shanti Abelha (Denmark) via points (3-0)
#42 – Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos (Brazil) def. Ida Hansson (Sweden) via points (10-0)
#43 – Hannette Staack (Brazil) def. Hitomi Hiraiwa (Japan) via armbar
#44 – Rosângela Conceição (Brazil) def. Lana Stephanac (USA) via ref decision

Women’s -60kg (-132 lbs.) Quarter-Finals
#45 – Hillary Williams (USA) def. Megumi Fujii (Japan) via rear-naked choke
#46 – Sayaka Shioda (Japan) def. Bianca Andrade (Brazil) via points
#47 – Luanna Alzuguir (Brazil) def. Ina Steffensen (Denmark) via guillotine choke
#48 – Ana Michelle Dantas (Brazil) def. Laurence Cousin (France)

Men’s +99kg (+218 lbs.) Quarter-Finals
#53 – Fabricio Werdum (Brazil) def. Tomasz Janiszewski (Poland) via points (3-0)
#54 – Saulo Ribeiro (Brazil) def. Romulo Barral (Brazil) via points (3-0)
#55 – Jeff Monson (USA) def. Janne-Pekka Pietiläinen (Finland) via points
#56 – Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu (Brazil) def. Asa Fuller (USA) via points

Men’s -99kg (-218 lbs.) Quarter-Finals
#57 – Xande Ribeiro (Brazil) def. Radek Turek (Poland) via armbar
#58 – Vinícius Magalhães (Brazil) def. Márcio Cruz (Brazil) via flying armbar
#59 – Glover Teixeira (Brazil) def. Dean Lister (USA) via points
#60 – Gerardi Rinaldi (USA) def. Tomasz Szczerek (Poland) via points

Men’s -88kg (-194 lbs.) Quarter-Finals
#61 – André Galvão (Brazil) def. Chris Weidman (USA) via points (4-0)
#62 – David Avellan (USA) def. Tarsis Humphreys (Brazil) via rear-naked choke
#63 – Bráulio Estima (Brazil) def. James Brasco (USA) via ref decision
#64 – Rafael Lovato Jr. (USA) def. Bruno Bastos (Brazil) via points

Men’s -77kg (-170 lbs.) Quarter-Finals
#65 – Marcelo Garcia (Brazil) def. Kron Gracie (Brazil) via mounted guillotine choke
#66 – Keita “K-Taro” Nakamura (Japan) def. Marcelo “Uirapuru” Azevedo (Brazil) via points
#67 – Pablo Popovich (Brazil) def. Ben Askren (USA) via kneebar
#68 – Gregor Gracie (Brazil) def. Leonardo Santos (Brazil) via points

Men’s -66kg (-145 lbs.) Quarter-Finals
#69 – Rani Yahya (Brazil) def. Jeff Glover (USA) via points (7-0)
#70 – Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles (Brazil) def. Joel Tudor (USA) via rear-naked choke
#71 – Leo Vieira (Brazil) def. Ryan Hall (USA) via guillotine choke
#72 – Rafael Mendes (Brazil) def. Justin Rader (USA) via brabo choke

Men’s Superfight
Ronaldo “Jacaré” Souza def. Robert Drysdale via points (2-0)

Semifinal matches for Sunday, September 27
Matches begin at 6AM ET

Men’s +99kg (+218 lbs.) Semi-Finals
Fabricio Werdum (Brazil) vs. Saulo Ribeiro (Brazil)
Jeff Monson (USA) vs. Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu (Brazil)

Men’s -99kg (-218 lbs.) Semi-Finals
Xande Ribeiro (Brazil) vs. Vinícius Magalhães (Brazil)
Glover Teixeira (Brazil) vs. Gerardi Rinaldi (USA)

Men’s -88kg (-194 lbs.) Semi-Finals
André Galvão (Brazil) vs. David Avellan (USA)
Bráulio Estima (Brazil) vs. Rafael Lovato Jr. (USA)

Men’s -77kg (-170 lbs.) Semi-Finals
Marcelo Garcia (Brazil) vs. Keita “K-Taro” Nakamura (Japan)
Pablo Popovich (Brazil) vs. Gregor Gracie (Brazil)

Men’s -66kg (-145 lbs.) Quarter-Finals
Rani Yahya (Brazil) vs. Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles (Brazil)
Leo Vieira (Brazil) vs. Rafael Mendes (Brazil)

Women’s +60kg (+132 lbs.) Semi-Finals
Penny Thomas (USA) vs. Cristiane “Cyborg” Santos (Brazil)
Hannette Staack (Brazil) vs. Rosângela Conceição (Brazil)

Women’s -60kg (-132 lbs.) Semi-Finals
Hillary Williams (USA) vs. Sayaka Shioda (Japan)
Luanna Alzuguir (Brazil) vs. Ana Michelle Dantas (Brazil)

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.

Be sure to check back tomorrow for the remaining results and highlights from this year’s tournament.

(Special thanks to Chris Nelson over at Bloody Elbow for the compiling the results)

K-1 World GP 2009 Final 16 highlights and video gallery

Posted: 26 Sep 2009 08:59 AM PDT

Alistair Overeem vs. Peter Aerts (1 of 2):

Check out more K-1 highlights and videos including Badr Hari and Semmy Schilt after the jump.

Alistair Overeem vs. Peter Aerts (2 of 2):

Badr Hari vs. Zabit Samedov:

Semmy Schilt vs. Daniel Ghita (1 of 2):

Semmy Schilt vs. Daniel Ghita (2 of 2):

Lyoto Machida vs Shogun Rua UFC 104 video promo

Posted: 25 Sep 2009 08:39 PM PDT

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