Tuesday, March 9, 2010

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


Randy Couture: 'Fedor's going to have to step up and be willing to fight top level guys again'

Posted: 08 Mar 2010 09:11 PM PST

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Props: MMAPrime.tv

Quoteworthy:

"At some point Fedor's going to have to step up and be willing to fight top level guys again. I don't know what's going on with him or why he's not willing to do that and certainly (Fabricio) Werdum is one of those guys he's going to have to face to be considered a top fighter. To be pound-for-pound best fighter in the world he's going to have to start facing tougher opponents. Hopefully we'll see [the Werdum] fight happen."

Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture weighs in on the Great Fedor Debate after hearing that "The Last Emperor" was not going to make a planned Strikeforce appearance in April against Fabricio Werdum and may not be able to make the May rain date either. There have been rumblings about a lingering hand injury as well as some sticking points in the Strikeforce/M-1 negotiations but all "Captain America" wants to see is Emelianenko fight top level guys. Fedor's last three wins came at the expense of two former UFC heavyweight champions and a power-punching tire mechanic from Illinois. Couture is apparently unimpressed by those wins. Are you? And what constitutes "top competition" in the heavyweight division?

Jake Rosholt submits Rudy Lindsey at XFL: 'March Badness' (Video)

Posted: 08 Mar 2010 06:30 PM PST

Rosholt was released from his UFC contract following a Nov. 21 loss to Kendall Grove.

Kimbo Slice vs Matt Mitrione official for UFC 113 on May 8 in Montreal

Posted: 08 Mar 2010 06:11 PM PST

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Looks like the fantasy matchmakers who pegged Kimbo Slice as the UFC's first opponent for recently-signed pugilist James Toney will be heading back to the drawing boards.

Spike TV/CBS ratings monster Kevin Ferguson (4-1) is going to put his drawing power to the test when he makes his pay-per-view debut opposite fellow Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 10 contestant Matt Mitrione (1-0) on the main card of UFC 113 from the Bell Center on May 8 in Montreal.

The UFC confirmed the official match-up in a press release sent out earlier today.

Slice made his way into the UFC the only way Dana White would let him -- as a contestant on the aforementioned Spike TV reality show. Unfortunately, the former YouTube brawler was an early victim to Roy Nelson's belly-to-beard crucifix and was eliminated from the competition in episode three.

Nevertheless, he was given a second chance at UFC stardom (and an opportunity to pad the numbers for key demographics at the Dec. 5 TUF 10 Finale) when he squared off against Houston Alexander in a fight that saw "The Assassin" play ring-around-the-rosy for three rounds with Slice in pursuit.

After huffing and puffing his way to a unanimous decision win, he'll get another power puncher to slug it out with in Montreal.

Mitrione was also victorious at the TUF 10 Finale after spanking "Big Baby" Marcus Jones via second round knockout in his professional fighting debut. The win erased his exhibition loss (guillotine choke) to James McSweeney in the TUF 10 quarterfinals.

Also like Slice, the former Minnesota Viking will have to prove he's more than just a heavy hitter with a quarter tank of gas if he expects an MMA career with any kind of longevity.

Time will tell.

UFC 113 features the much-anticipated rematch between 205-pound division champion, Lyoto Machida, defending his belt against fellow Brazilian Mauricio "Shogun" Rua in the main event of the evening.

Fast-rising welterweight Paul "Semtex" Daley has also been booked opposite Josh Koscheck in a 170-pound affair that may determine the next contender for the winner of Georges St. Pierre vs. Dan Hardy on March 27.

For the current UFC 113 fight card and rumors click here.

WEC 47 fighter salaries and paydays for 'Bowles vs Cruz'

Posted: 08 Mar 2010 02:25 PM PST

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The official fighter purses for those who competed at WEC 47: "Bowles vs Cruz" this past Saturday night (March 6) from the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio were released earlier today by the Ohio Athletic Commission (OAC).

Team Alpha Male product Joseph Benavidez walked away from the event with the most impressive performance as well as the biggest payday. The probable WEC bantamweight number one contender pocketed a cool $29,000 for his submission victory over Miguel Torres, who took home $26,000 in defeat.

The main event participants, now former WEC 135-pound champ Brian Bowles and the new king of the bantamweights, Dominick Cruz, earned $12,000 and $18,000 respectively.

In what is likely to be his last payout as a mixed martial arts competitor, Jens Pulver received $14,000 in his loss to Javier Vasquez, who is now $12,000 richer for retiring "Lil Evil."

Here is the complete list of WEC 47 payouts:

 

Dominick Cruz -- $18,000 (9,000 to show, $9,000 to win)
Brian Bowles -- $12,000
Cruz defeated Bowles via TKO (injury) in round two

Joseph Benavidez -- $29,000 ($14,500 to show, $14,500 to win)
Miguel Torres -- $26,000
Benavidez defeated Torres via submission guillotine choke) in round two

Javier Vasquez -- $12,000 ($6,000 to show, $6,000 to win)
Jens Pulver -- $14,000
Vasquez defeated Pulver via submission (armbar) in round one

L.C. Davis -- $18,000 ($9,000 to show, $9,000 to win)
Deividas Taurosevicius-- $9,000
Davis defeated Taurosevicius via majority decision

Bart Palaszewski -- $12,000 ($6,000 to show, $6,000 to win)
Karen Darabedyan -- $4,000
Palaszewski defeated Darabedyan via submission (armbar) in round one

Scott Jorgensen -- $16,000 ($8,000 to show, $8,000 to win)
Chad George -- $3,000
Jorgensen defeated George via submission (guillotine choke) in round one

Chad Mendes -- $8,000 ($4,000 to show, $4,000 to win)
Eric Koch -- $3,000
Mendes defeated Koch via unanimous decision

Anthony Pettis -- $6,000 ($3,000 to show, $3,000 to win)
Danny Castillo -- $9,500
Pettis defeated Castillo via knockout (head kick) in round one

Leonard Garcia -- $14,000 George Roop -- $3,000

Fight was ruled a draw

Fredson Paixao -- $4,000 ($2,000 to show, $2,000 to win)
Courtney Buck -- $3,000
Paixao defeated Buck via submission (rear naked choke) in round one

Ricardo Lamas -- $10,000 ($5,000 to show, $5,000 to win)
Bendy Casimir -- $3,000
Lamas defeated Casimir via knockout (knee) in round one

Keep in mind the salaries listed above do not include fight bonuses, sponsorships, percentages and other unofficial payments. It also does not include deductions for expenses such as insurance, taxes, etc.

For example, the WEC often hands out extra cash for "Fight of the Night," "Knockout of the Night" and "Submission of the Night." To check out these figures for WEC 47 go here.

The total base fighter payroll for the Versus TV event was $236,500.

For complete results and coverage of "Bowles vs Cruz" click here and here.

Cung Le hoping to get a Strikeforce rematch with Scott Smith 'ASAP' (Video)

Posted: 08 Mar 2010 01:57 PM PST

Can he avoid another miracle from "Hands of Steel" in the rematch?

Anderson Silva: 'Vitor Belfort was never my friend'

Posted: 08 Mar 2010 01:26 PM PST

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Props: Tatame.com

Quoteworthy:

“First thing, he (Belfort) was never my friend. Second, a fight is fight. I’m here to fight and whoever is better prepared will win and one of us will lose. I’d be upset if I had to face Rodrigo, Rogerio, Feijao, Lyoto or even Wanderlei or Shogun, but Vitor? He’s just another opponent like everyone else."

Taken from an article that wasn’t published due to the cancellation of their UFC 112 fight in Abu Dhabi, Anderson Silva reveals that he and Victor Belfort  were never "friends" despite training together at Team Black House. Things became tense after the UFC put them face-to-face back in January to promote the April 10 event but now with "The Phenom" on the shelf due to injury they won't have an opportunity to settle their differences inside the Octagon ... yet.

Toby Imada joins Bellator Fighting Championships upcoming lightweight tournament

Posted: 08 Mar 2010 01:12 PM PST

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CHICAGO, Ill. (March 8, 2010) - Toby Imada, whose jaw-dropping "Submission of the Year" helped put Bellator Fighting Championships on the map during its debut season, will return to the promotion for its upcoming Season 2 lightweight tournament.

Imada's remarkable submission, an inverted triangle choke of the heavily favored Jorge Masvidal at Bellator V, became an overnight YouTube sensation (more than 650,000 people have watched it online to date) and took home honors for "Submission of the Year" from the 2009 World MMA Awards and virtually every major MMA news site.

"Toby has meant a great deal to our company and we are very pleased to have him back for our Season 2 lightweight tournament," said Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney. "Toby Imada epitomizes the heart and soul of our tournament format where winning is what matters and where fighters can truly control their own destiny."

Imada is the sixth confirmed participant in Bellator's Season 2 lightweight tournament along with Carey Vanier, Ferrid Kheder, Mike Ricci, Janne Tulirinta and Chad Hinton. Bellator will also conduct tournaments at 145, 170 and 185 lbs. during its second season, which will be televised on FOX Sports Net, NBC and Telemundo. Winners of each tournament will earn the rank of No. 1 contender and the chance to face off in a title bout against Bellator's Season 1 champions.

Imada, a Los Angeles native, has compiled 23 professional wins during his 12-year career and is now 9-1 over the course of his last 10 fights. His only loss came to Bellator lightweight champion and the world's No. 2 ranked lightweight, Eddie Alvarez, in Bellator's first Lightweight World Championship fight.

"It's a great thing for me to return to Bellator," Imada said. "I can't promise that I'll give the fans another inverted triangle, but I can promise that I'm gonna' be fighting my heart out and looking to take home that belt. I want to thank Bellator for all the opportunities they've given me."

For more information, visit Bellator.com, follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook at Facebook.com/Bellator.

Georges St. Pierre talks UFC 111 Dan Hardy fight (Video)

Posted: 08 Mar 2010 12:37 PM PST

UFC Quick Quote: 'Everything is new' for Shogun vs Dragon II

Posted: 08 Mar 2010 11:26 AM PST

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“Another battle and another Lyoto. Everything is new, the focus, the strategy ... it's my big dream.  I'll concentrate and go and fight with even more desire.  I´ll be even hungrier this time – to conquer a UFC belt has always been my dream. Lyoto is different to other athletes … We recruited some karatekas from Curitiba, who helped me a lot. I have [Andre] Dida, Marcelinho and Tuba to help me with the tactical stuff. Marcelinho watched Lyoto's fights like 15 times, we joked that he became Lyoto."

Mauricio Rua talks to FightersOnly about his rematch with Lyoto Machida at UFC 113 on May 8 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. One of the most controversial chapters of MMA title history will (hopefully) come to a close after a controversial ending to their five-round war at UFC 104 last October. "The Dragon" took home the unanimous decision (and the belt); however, “Shogun” also earned a bonus for his performance, recognized by Dana White as the winner for that contest. Will things be different the second time around?

Brandon Vera: Somebody's going to sleep on March 21

Posted: 08 Mar 2010 10:05 AM PST

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Props: MMAWeekly

Quoteworthy:

"You take me to the ground this year, you're going to get submitted, I'll tell you that much right now. He's with a new camp, he's with (Greg) Jackson's and them. They're good game plan people so he might try to take me to the ground, but I tell you this much in 2010, my jiu-jitsu game I've been tightening back up. Jones, he's got the skills; he'll stand with me. Somebody's going to go to sleep."

UFC light heavyweight standout and Muay Thai striker Brandon Vera hopes to show Jon Jones "The Truth" about where he stands in the 205-pound division when they square off at UFC on Versus 1 from the 1STBANK Center in Broomfield, Colorado, on March 21. "Bones" has been obliterating the competition since his UFC debut in 2008 and could vault himself into title contention with a dominant performance over Vera. Someone may indeed "go to sleep" in this one -- but who?

UFC 111 odds and betting lines for 'St. Pierre vs Hardy' on March 27

Posted: 08 Mar 2010 08:35 AM PST

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I know, I know, you're still hurting because you failed to listen to Nostradumbass (again) and didn't bet the house on George Sotiropoulos at last month's UFC 110 event from Sydney.

Well, buck up little trooper, because opportunities will soon arise at the upcoming UFC 111 event from the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.

Of course the riskiest bet on the entire "St. Pierre vs. Hardy" fight card comes from trying to traverse the streets of Newark without getting mugged or beaten on the way to the arena but hey, TIME Magazine didn't rank Newark "The Most Dangerous City in the Nation" just for its potholes.

The good news you can travel light, because just a little bit of green can go a long way now that odds and betting lines have been released for the March 27 event.

As expected, the numbers are off the chart for the main event between Georges St. Pierre and Dan Hardy. "The Outlaw" can rob the oddsmakers blind if he manages to pull a Matt Serra at +500 -- but I wouldn't "Rush" down to the sportsbook and hand them a blank check, because GSP appears to have learned from his 2007 mistake.

Speaking of errors in judgment, I think giving Shane Carwin the role of underdog (and a tasty +125 line) against Frank Mir puts this heavyweight scrap right in the Nostradumbass wheelhouse. Mir has an edge in experience and in grappling, but I already saw what happened the last time he fought an accomplished wrestler with oversized mitts.

Anything is possible in this sport -- and those who lay down some cheddar on the underdogs come March 27 stand to make a healthy profit. Assuming you win, of course. Anyone thinking parlay? Take a look at the numbers and let's hear your play.

Here are the latest UFC 111 odds (- = favorite; + = underdog):

Georges St. Pierre
-800 BET NOW
Dan Hardy
+500 BET NOW
Frank Mir
-155 BET NOW
Shane Carwin
+125 BET NOW
Thiago Alves
-140 BET NOW
Jon Fitch
+110 BET NOW
Ricardo Almeida
-155 BET NOW
Matt Brown
+125 BET NOW
Rousimar Palhares
-240 BET NOW
Tomasz Drwal
+190 BET NOW
Jim Miller
-400 BET NOW
Mark Bocek
+300 BET NOW
Ben Saunders
-150 BET NOW
Jake Ellenberger
+120 BET NOW

 

For a little help with how to bet on UFC fights and what all the numbers mean check out this post right HERE (Disregard the UFC 85 references … all the information is still accurate and helpful.)

Remember that MMAmania.com will provide LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the main card action on fight night (Sat., March 27). It’s going to be an exciting evening of fights so don’t miss it. And remember to check us out for all the pre, during and post-fight UFC 111 coverage you can handle.

To check out the most recent "St. Pierre vs. Hardy" fight card click here.

'Astra' update: Michihiro Omigawa vs Micah Miller booked for 4/25

Posted: 08 Mar 2010 07:51 AM PST

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The Sengoku upset artist, Michihiro Omigawa (9-8-1), has been confirmed to face Micah Miller (13-3) at Hidehiko Yoshida's retirement event.

"Astra" will take place at Nippon Budokan on Sunday, April 25 and feature the farewell bout of the former Olympic judo gold medalist and Japanese MMA icon, Hidehiko Yoshida.

Michihiro Omigawa punctuated a banner year with a knockout of Hiroyuki Takaya at Dynamite!! 2009 on New Year's Eve. Entering the Sengoku Featherweight Grand Prix last year with a losing record, the former judoka emerged as a tournament surprise, routing the favorites, LC Davis, Nam Phan, and Marlon Sandro to reach the finale.

He fell short against Masanori Kanehara in the tournament final via split decision. He then earned a controversial split decision victory over the top flight featherweight, Hatsu Hioki at Sengoku 11.

Micah Miller, the younger brother of UFC lightweight, Cole Miller, will fight in Japan for the second time in his career against Omigawa. The WEC veteran made his Japanese debut when he entered the DREAM Featherweight grand prix; he suffered a close decision loss against the fellow WEC veteran, Yoshiro Maeda, during the preliminary round of the tournament.

He has since won three consecutive fights, including the most recent appearance at Shine Fights against Anthony Morrison.

Though Miller has not fought in DREAM since his loss to Maeda, the announcements made at the press conference indicate that his contract with DREAM has not expired. In fact, Miller is one of the fighters that DREAM has agreed to lend out as part of its collaborative effort with J-Rock; a few more fighters from DREAM may be added to the fight card in the coming weeks.

In the wake of recent expiration of contract between Sengoku Raiden Championship and Yoshida dojo, Omigawa's future beyond the Astra event remains up in the air. Given that the prospect of Astra's viability as a new promotion is tentative at best, Omigawa has a number of options regarding his future home.

At the press conference, he asserted himself as the top Japanese featherweight and stated his plan to fight overseas at some point. Needless to say, the quest for world class competition will lead him to WEC, and he mentioned Jose Aldo, Urijah Faber, and Mike Brown as fighters he would like to lock horns with.

Fans and the media have been holding their breath for the announcement of the fighter who will grace the ring opposite Yoshida. At the presser, J-Rock president and Astra's chief organizer, Takahiro Kokuho baited them with the announcement that he has whittled down the list of candidates to three: Two Japanese fighters and one foreign fighter.

Elsewhere, another Yoshida dojo prospect, Tatsunao Nagakura (5-0), will face the DEEP and Sengoku veteran, Akihiko Mori (8-7-1). Nagakura, a former rugby player, started training in MMA two years ago and has since earned eight straight (T)KO victories in three amateur and five professional fights.

Line-up:

Featherweight: Michihiro Omigawa vs. Micah Miller
Featherweight: Tatsunao Nagakura vs. Akihiko Mori
Welterweight: Yuya Shirai vs. Che Mills

Expected on the fight card: Hidehiko Yoshida, Kazuhiro Nakamura, Makoto Takimoto and Denis Kang.

WEC 47 medical suspensions and injuries for 'Bowles vs Cruz'

Posted: 08 Mar 2010 07:21 AM PST

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The Ohio Athletic Commission (OAC) today issued its list of medical suspensions for the combatants who participated in the WEC 47: "Bowles vs. Cruz" event which took place last Saturday (March 6) from The Nationwide Arena in Columbus.

MMAmania.com confirmed the suspensions with OAC Executive Director Bernie Profato earlier today. And with several of the bouts ending via TKO stoppage, there were quite a few fighters who were flagged follow up visits with their doctors.

Chief among them are Brian Bowles (hand injury) — who failed to answer the bell in the third round against Dominick Cruz  — and Miguel Torres (forehead laceration) -- who suffered what Profato called "One of the worst cuts we've ever seen" after being split open by Joseph Benavidez.

But that's not all.

Here is the complete list of WEC 47 injuries and their medical instructions:

Brian Bowles: Suspended indefinitely (hand injury) unless cleared by an orthopedic doctor.

Miguel Torres: Suspended indefinitely (forehead laceration) unless cleared by a surgeon.

Chad Mendes: Suspended sixty days (cut).

Danny Castillo: Suspended sixty days for precautionary reasons.

Courtney Buck: Suspended sixty days for precautionary reasons.

Bendy Casimir: Suspended sixty days for precautionary reasons.

Just a quick reminder: Fighters often return to action much quicker once doctors give them the green light. The lengthy suspensions are just a precaution in most cases.

For complete results and coverage of "Bowles vs. Cruz" click here and here.

Former UFC Champ Rich 'Ace' Franklin to appear at 'Town Fair Tire World of Wheels' on March 14

Posted: 08 Mar 2010 06:41 AM PST

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Feb 25, 2010 - Ultimate Fighting Championship superstar Rich Franklin will make a personal appearance at the thirty-sixth annual Town Fair Tire World of Wheels (www.worldofwheels.com) custom car show.

The show rolls into Boston's Bayside Expo Center Mar. 12-14 with its now familiar mix of custom cars and special attractions, and Franklin will make his personal appearance from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Mar. 14.

Ultimate Fighting Championship is an international mixed martial arts sports association formed in 2001. With a UFC Middleweight Champion title and an overall record of 27-5-0, Franklin has made a name for himself in the mixed martial arts world. A black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, he also has trained in karate, boxing and Muay Thai.

He won his UFC Middleweight Championship title when he defeated Evan Tanner on June 05, 2005. As a result of his fighting prowess, Franklin was tapped to coach competitors on the second season of television's "The Ultimate Fighter," and he made his acting debut in the film "Cyborg Soldier."

Although Franklin is known for his brawn, he holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics and a master's degree in education and was a high-school mathematics teacher prior to his mixed martial arts career.

The Town Fair Tire World of Wheels, holder of Bayside's weekend attendance record, each year attracts local creators of custom vehicles of all types, representing millions of dollars worth of one-of-a-kind hot rods, customs, street rods, collectibles, race cars, antiques, restorations, tuners and more.

The show also always offers spectators the chance to meet and get free autographs from celebrities, to see specialty vehicle exhibits and to be entertained by many other attractions for the whole family.

In addition to Franklin, television and movie star and director Henry "Fonzie" Winkler, who became famous originally as The Fonz on TV's "Happy Days," Debby Ryan, who plays Bailey Pickett on the Disney Channel's "Suite Life on Deck," and WWE diva Melina will make personal appearances at the show. Appearance times are available at www.worldofwheels.com.

Special automotive exhibits will include Drag City USA and Motorama. Drag City USA will feature Kalitta's '67 Bounty Hunter, Prudhomme's '70 Wynns Winder and Garlits' '60 Swamp Rat III, '62 Swamp Rat IV and '66 Swamp Rat VIII. Motorama will show off traditional rods, customs and bobbers not seen at other Boston-area car shows. Spectators also will be able to shop an automotive memorabilia and toy show

The 7-foot-tall Comic Bot singing and dancing robots will perform in the Town Fair Tire booth during the weekend, and East Coast Championship Wrestling and Boston Derby Dames roller derby demonstrations will be staged in the show's Action Arena all weekend.

Thirty-sixth annual Town Fair Tire World of Wheels show hours are Friday, March 12, 5-10:30 p.m., Saturday, March 13, 10 a.m.-10:30 p.m., and Sunday, March 14, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults, $5 for children 6-12, free for children 5 and under.

Discount coupons for $2 off adult and children's tickets will be available at participating Town Fair Tire stores. Boston's Bayside Expo Center is located off I-93 at Columbia Road and a short walk from the MBTA Red Line's JFK/UMass stop. Free shuttles will run to and from the T stop during show hours.

Up-to-date show information and appearance and demonstration times can be seen at the show's Web site, www.worldofwheels.com, where enthusiasts can click the Facebook link to become fans.

WEC General Manager Reed Harris and Chad Mendes featured on tonight's edition of Pro MMA Radio

Posted: 08 Mar 2010 06:20 AM PST

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WEC Founder and General Manager Reed Harris returns to Pro MMA Radio tonight at 9 p.m. ET just days after WEC 47: 'Bowles vs. Cruz' rocked the Nationwide Arena in Columbus.

Tune in to get Reed’s thoughts on what went down, the future of new Bantamweight Champion Dominick Cruz and a look forward to the WEC 48 pay-per-view taking place on April 24 at the Arco Arena.

Joining Harris will be rising star Chad Mendes, fresh off his WEC debut win over Erik Koch at Saturday's event.

Hosted by Larry Pepe, Pro MMA Radio is professional, guest-driven program that features some of mixed martial arts biggest names right here on MMAmania.com every Monday night at 9 p.m. ET through our exclusive live feed.

See you tonight at 9 p.m. ET!

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