Marc Ratner, Vice President of UFC Regulatory Affairs, is hard at work preparing for UFC 93 in Dublin, Ireland on Jan. 17. It's the UFC's second appearance on Irish soil. In the show's main event, Dan Henderson is scheduled to face Rich Franklin at light heavyweight.
Because the Irish government does not recognize MMA as a sport, Ratner will oversee many logistical duties normally done by an athletic commission, including hiring of referees, ringside officials, and drug testing.
"As if it would be in the state of Nevada," Ratner tells MMAInsider.
Ratner is still working on forming a commission that oversees MMA in the United Kingdom. Up until now, the British Boxing Board of Control, which once oversaw boxing in Ireland, has not been open to MMA. However, Ratner says there have been changes in the Board's executive staff, and some of the new members may be amenable to incorporating the sport.
"We're working with them, hoping that will happen," says Ratner. "The British Boxing Board of Control can be the overall entity that's in charge, but they need some kind of MMA division. That's what we're working on."
Stateside, South Carolina and Wisconsin are two targets on his to-do list. The New York legislature reconvenes in mid-January, and the UFC's strategy groups and lobbying firms are laying the groundwork for the passage of bill 1-11458-A, which would regulate MMA in the Empire State. "We feel very confident that the sport of MMA will be approved in New York this session," Ratner says. He was unclear on the timetable for Massachusetts, though a July 2008 bill to regulate the sport was passed on.
"Everywhere there's an athletic commission, we want the sport of MMA approved. So we're out there working," he said.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Did Dollaway tap?
C.B. Dollaway defeated Mike Massenzio at UFC 92 by TKO, but was stunned on his feet and found himself in a guillotine choke early in the fight that some thought he tapped out to. The video is inconclusive and so was Dollaway when asked about the alleged tap."I don't really remember that part of the fight," said the Arizona Combat Sports trained fighter. "Apparently I got hit with a big shot. I remember taking him down and I kind of came to when I was in the guillotine. I just popped my head out. I don't remember tapping."
In the end, it doesn't really matter much. There wasn't enough of a tap for the referee to notice and stop the fight. Meanwhile, Dollaway was able to gain mount and drop down enough blows for the fight to be stopped, earning him the TKO win.
Pre-Sengoku 7 Video with Antonio Silva and JZ Calvancante
Antonio Silva and teammate/translator JZ Calvancante talk about Sengoku 7.
(Video courtesy of Marcus Mera and iGuillotine.com)
(Video courtesy of Marcus Mera and iGuillotine.com)
Pre-Sengoku 7 Video with Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal
Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal talks about his preparations with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira for Sengoku 7, and discusses Nog's loss to Frank Mir at UFC 92.
(Video courtesy of Marcus Mera and iGuillotine.com)
Pre-Sengoku 7 Video with JZ Calvancante
JZ Calvancante talks about readying his teammates for Sengoku 7, but also about the last minute cancellation of his Dynamite!! 2008 with Dream Lightweight Grand Prix Champion Joachim Hansen.
(Video courtesy of Marcus Mera and iGuillotine.com)
Friday, January 2, 2009
Look Out UFC, Here Comes XARM... Seriously?
Art Davie was one of the creators of the Ultimate Fighting Championship at its birth as a pay-per-view spectacle, well before it morphed into the more organized sport that we follow today.
Another UFC founder, Bob Meyerwitz, foundered in 2008 when he tried to modify MMA with his YAMMA Pit Fighting promotion. At least he was in the same realm. Davie takes it to a whole other arena as he tries to morph MMA with - of all things - arm wrestling.
According to a press release on Friday:
XARM is the next generation in combat sports, combing mixed martial arts with hardcore arm wrestling. It's three minutes of raw, uncensored action, and it's unlike anything you've ever seen.
The way to win in XARM is to stop your opponent with blows or make him submit. Arm pins are treated like a knockdown in boxing in that the recipient loses points. So, the essence of XARM as a sport is to attack without being tagged or submitted.
No, this is not a joke. Or, if it is, it is quite elaborate. Watch the video for yourself:
Another UFC founder, Bob Meyerwitz, foundered in 2008 when he tried to modify MMA with his YAMMA Pit Fighting promotion. At least he was in the same realm. Davie takes it to a whole other arena as he tries to morph MMA with - of all things - arm wrestling.
According to a press release on Friday:
XARM is the next generation in combat sports, combing mixed martial arts with hardcore arm wrestling. It's three minutes of raw, uncensored action, and it's unlike anything you've ever seen.
The way to win in XARM is to stop your opponent with blows or make him submit. Arm pins are treated like a knockdown in boxing in that the recipient loses points. So, the essence of XARM as a sport is to attack without being tagged or submitted.
No, this is not a joke. Or, if it is, it is quite elaborate. Watch the video for yourself:
Greg Jackson Reflects on Team Turnaround
Greg Jackson's camp, Jackson's MMA, is riding high after a stellar showing in 2008. Two champions now reside there, welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre and new light heavyweight champion Keith Jardine, and standouts Keith Jardine, Nate Marquardt, Leonard Garcia, and Donald Cerrone are all coming off victories.
In mid-2007, things looked bleak. Jardine was knocked out by Houston Alexander. Evans drew with Tito Ortiz, and Nate Marquardt was stopped by Anderson Silva at UFC 73. For a stretch, it looked like Jackson had lost his touch.
"We were just making mistakes," Jackson told MMAInsider. "We were winning, winning, winning--I think we still have one of the best records, I forget exactly--and I was overtraining people. I'm pushing a little too hard. So we had a summer where everybody just lost. We didn't lose like 100 fights. I know our younger guys were winning, but stuff was going wrong there."
Jackson says the turnaround came after a session of good old fashioned brainstorming.
"I had to be a little introspective, and try to figure out with the help of my other coaches what we were doing, and I think we just solved the problem," he continued.
Now that the team is successful again, Jackson says there's no guarantee the team will continue to win. Since enduring the first slump, he's taking a Zen attitude about the future.
"It's just been our night a couple times," he said. "That might reverse again. But if it does, I know that I can look inside and say, 'what do we need to do to get better?' And just constantly try to grow and be reflective. As long as I can do that, I think we'll be ok."
In mid-2007, things looked bleak. Jardine was knocked out by Houston Alexander. Evans drew with Tito Ortiz, and Nate Marquardt was stopped by Anderson Silva at UFC 73. For a stretch, it looked like Jackson had lost his touch.
"We were just making mistakes," Jackson told MMAInsider. "We were winning, winning, winning--I think we still have one of the best records, I forget exactly--and I was overtraining people. I'm pushing a little too hard. So we had a summer where everybody just lost. We didn't lose like 100 fights. I know our younger guys were winning, but stuff was going wrong there."
Jackson says the turnaround came after a session of good old fashioned brainstorming.
"I had to be a little introspective, and try to figure out with the help of my other coaches what we were doing, and I think we just solved the problem," he continued.
Now that the team is successful again, Jackson says there's no guarantee the team will continue to win. Since enduring the first slump, he's taking a Zen attitude about the future.
"It's just been our night a couple times," he said. "That might reverse again. But if it does, I know that I can look inside and say, 'what do we need to do to get better?' And just constantly try to grow and be reflective. As long as I can do that, I think we'll be ok."
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Alberto Crane Opens New Gym in So-Cal on Jan. 10
Legacy Mixed Martial Arts ("Legacy") will offer classes in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu , Muay Thai, and Mixed Martial Arts. Legacy is targeted to individuals who want to learn and train in a safe environment, while learning cutting-edge martial arts methods and techniques from World Class teachers and staff.Alberto Crane, UFC veteran, former King of the Cage Champion and World Jiu-Jitsu Champion, has been teaching for over 10 years and has produced many champions including World Jiu-Jitsu/Grappling Champions and MMA Champions. Alberto has competed at the highest levels in combat sports across the globe. Alberto has competed in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Championships in Brazil, ADCC, King of the Cage and20the UFC. He is a 2nd Degree BJJ Black Belt and a BJJ Black Belt World Champion, winning of over 70 grappling tournaments and holding a 10-3 Mixed Martial Arts Record. Alberto is trained for his mixed martial arts career locally by World Class Muay Thai coach Walter "Sleeper" Michalowski (Sitydtong LA) and by famed boxing coach Justin Fortune (Fortune Gym). Alberto's m ission is to bring out the full potential in each of his Legacy students.
Romulo Barral is considered to be one of the top Grappling Competitors in the World. Romulo was voted by Tatame magazine as the #1 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt in the World for 2007. He is a 2-time Brazilian Cup Champion, 4-time Brazilian Champion, 2-time World Cup Champion, 5-time Pan American Champion and a 5-time World Champion. Romulo recent ly moved to Los Angeles to further his mixed martial arts career and plans on leading and making a difference in the lives of Legacy students through his example of focused respect and discipline.
Legacy Mixed Martial Arts looks forward to contributing to the Los Angeles community by helping people perform at their best not only on the mat and in the cage, but also in life. Legacy will soon be announcing weekly classes it will be holding for selected under-privileged youth from the local community.
LEGACY MIXED MARTIAL ARTS
17263 Ventura Blvd, Encino, CA 91316
www.LegacyMixedMartialArts.com
818.588.1911
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Rashad Forgets "Nipple tweak" at UFC 92
Every time you see a Greg Jackson trained fighter enter the Octagon, you can expect to see them tweak their nipples before entering combat. It's become a tradition, and since it's inception, it has yielded strong results for Jackson's fighters in the UFC.Heading into UFC 92, Rashad Evans prepared for the biggest fight of his career taking on Forrest Griffin for the UFC light heavyweight title. But as Bruce Buffer introduced the fighters, Evans forgot to perform the ritual.
According to a superstitious teammate, that's why Evans lost the first two rounds against Griffin. "I didn't do the nipple tweak," said the UFC light heavyweight titleholder. "Jardine pointed it out. He said, 'Know what? I think that's maybe why you started off slow, man. You didn't get the nipple tweak in.'
"That's exactly what I get," added Evans. "I realized after the fight started that I didn't do the nipple tweak. I was like, man, what's going on? I lost my mojo."
Shinya Aoki Becomes First-Ever WAMMA Lightweight Champion
While the New Year has yet to arrive in North America, New Year's celebrations have already begun in other regions of the world. In Japan, the New Year has already been ushered in with its annual tradition of promoting major combat sporting events.With FEG holding a massive 17-bout show combining fighters from its K-1 kickboxing and DREAM mixed martial arts rosters, the promotion held one of the biggest shows ever with their presentation of "Dynamite!!" at the Saitama Super Arena.
"Dynamite!!" featured the crowning of the second-ever undisputed champion in World Alliance Mixed Martial Arts (WAMMA) history with Shinya Aoki defeating Eddie Alvarez via heel hook submission at 1:32 of round 1. In the process, Aoki became the first-ever WAMMA lightweight champion.
12 UFC 92 Fighters Drug Tested, Final Gate Numbers Released
The Nevada State Athletic Commission on Thursday announced that 12 of the fighters from last Saturday's UFC 92 card at the MGM Grand Garden Arena had been tested for performance enhancers and drugs of abuse. Test results for performance enhancers would likely be released early next week, while results for drugs of abuse could take up to a week longer.
According to NSAC executive director Keith Kizer, the fighters included Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Frank Mir, Brad Blackburn, Matt Hamill, Antoni Hardonk, Yushin Okami, Cheik Kongo, Quinton Jackson, C.B. Dolloway and Pat Barry.
Kizer also released final gate and revenue numbers for the event. The live gate numbers were in line with UFC president Dana White's post-fight quote, with $3,468,440 generated from 9,701 tickets sold. 4,465 tickets were issued as "comps," while 657 remained unsold.
According to NSAC executive director Keith Kizer, the fighters included Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Frank Mir, Brad Blackburn, Matt Hamill, Antoni Hardonk, Yushin Okami, Cheik Kongo, Quinton Jackson, C.B. Dolloway and Pat Barry.
Kizer also released final gate and revenue numbers for the event. The live gate numbers were in line with UFC president Dana White's post-fight quote, with $3,468,440 generated from 9,701 tickets sold. 4,465 tickets were issued as "comps," while 657 remained unsold.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
DYNAMITE!! 2008 Pre-Event Photos
Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Kiyoshi Tamura
Gesias "JZ" Calvancante vs. Joachim Hansen
Eddie Alvarez vs. Shinya Aoki
Hong Man Choi vs. Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic
Mighty Mo vs. Semmy Schilt
Akihito "Kinnikuman" Tanaka vs. Bob Sapp(Photos courtesy of Marcus Mera of iGuillotine.com)
FOX News Fight Game at UFC 92
FOX News Fight Game's Mike Straka talks with Dana White, Randy Couture, Brock Lesnar, Kim Couture, and more about UFC 92 at the event.
VIDEO: BJPenn.com Show 5
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Silva vs. Liddell 2?
There's been a lot of talk about what Wanderlei Silva does next after his brutal knockout at the hands of Quinton Jackson at UFC 92 on Saturday. With such a finish, all memories of Jackson's two losses to the former Pride middleweight champ were swept under the rug.Silva has fought all but a few names in the upper echelon of light heavyweight talent. A few possibilities exist: if Jackson gets the next shot at new champion Rashad Evans, Silva could face the winner of Lyoto Machida and Thiago Silva at UFC 94. He could fight training partner Forrest Griffin, a bout for which he has already said "is no problem." A scrap with Rich Franklin could do big numbers. And, lest we forget, Tito Ortiz looms at the fringes (until we actually see Tito's next contract, all bets are off).
At the post fight presser for UFC 92, UFC president Dana White said Silva is still very much employable.
"If Wanderlei wants to fight again, people want to see him," White said.
Almost under his breath, the outspoken president threw Silva's old foe, former champ Chuck Liddell, into the hat.
"Wanderlei’s a tough guy," he said. "Obviously, he’s had a rough road the last couple of years. There’s interesting fights for him too. Maybe we do him and Liddell again."
Silva's first fight with Liddell was a legitimate slugfest and fight of the year candidate in 2007. Both fighters have been tarnished with big knockout losses, and are in need of redemption. Despite taking a three-round beating, Silva managed to drop Liddell once in the second round, a round he arguably won. The question is...what does Wanderlei want to do?
"As fighters, these guys have to decide what they want to do, where they want to go from here," White commented.
Monday, December 29, 2008
DYNAMITE!! 2008 Pre-Event Fighter Interviews
PRESS RELEASE:
DYNAMITE!! 2008 Pre-Event Fighter Interviews
TOKYO, December 29, 2008 -- Around the world, New Year's Eve means wild parties and midnight countdowns, the lifting of glasses and the ringing of bells. In Japan -- between kagamimochi cake and otoso rice wine -- December 31 is also occasion for the most spectacular fightsport extravaganza of the year.
Tens of thousands will fill the Saitama Super Arena, and tens of millions will watch on nationwide television, as 36 fighters go head-to-head in FieLDS DYNAMITE!! 2008.
The event features a dozen DREAM MMA bouts in a variety of weight classes; a quartet of K-1 Rules contests; and the culmination of the K-1 Koshien high school tournament. With the opening bell just 48 hours away, participating fighters met the media today at Tokyo's East 21 Hotel.
DREAM MMA Rules
CroCop vs Choi
Croatian mixed martial arts master Mirko CroCop will step in against Hong-Man Choi of South Korea in a Heavyweight (93.1kg/205lbs+) match. Choi is a former ssirium grand champion, who, at 218cm/7'2" will bring a 30 cm/12" height advantage to the ring. At 167kg/355lbs, Choi is also some 65 kg/125lbs heavier than CroCop.
While Choi has size on his side, CroCop has much more experience -- since his MMA debut in 2001, CroCop has established himself as one of the world's best all-round fighters. Choi, meanwhile has competed just twice under MMA rules.
Choi usually trains in Japan prior to fighting, but changed his tact this time: "I stayed in Korea, where I trained very hard, and actually I just arrived in Japan. I haven't seen Mirko's fight videos, and I'm not interested in seeing them. I know he's a southpaw but I trained as I would for any other fighter. Because 2008 has not been a good year for me, I want to finish this fight quickly and get a good start for next year."
Mirko CroCop did not appear for interviews.
Sakuraba vs Tamura
Living legend Kazushi Sakuraba of Japan will fight compatriot Kiyoshi Tamura at Middleweight (84kg/185lbs). These two attended the same dojo a long time back, and, before Sakuraba went pro, Tamura thrice beat him in wrestling matches.
Sakuraba didn't appear worried about confronting his old nemesis: "I trained the same way as I always do. I know Tamura is a good fighter, but he hasn't had nearly as many fights as me, so I don't have any particular impression of him. I think that for Tamura and for the media, this might be a big deal, but for me it's only one more fight…"
Said Tamura: "It's also a regular fight for me. I know there has been a lot of fan and media interest, but that does not affect me. Of course I have personal feelings but I know we both have changed since the old days, so I just want to make a good fight on Wednesday."
Hansen vs Calvin
This year's DREAM Lightweight (70kg/154lbs) Grand Prix Champion, Joachim Hansen of Norway, will meet the man who previously held HERO'S highest Middleweight honors, Brazilian jujitsu fighter JZ Calvan Brazil.
Asked how he felt fighting as the Champion on New Year's Eve, Hansen was humble:
"I haven't changed my training or let it affect my emotions, and I've prepared for this fight as for any other fight. JZ is an all-round fighter like me, and we can both stay on our feet or go to the ground. I plan to keep my guard tight, I think that's key for me, then I will make a dynamite show for Dynamite!"
Said Calvan: "I'm in very good shape, I'm always in very good shape. I had time to prepare for this and I'm very excited. I love to fight in Japan, the fan are so respectful, and I want to give their energy back inside the ring, so I'll do my best."
Calvan laughed when asked if he'd changed his style: "If you're born a banana, you're going to die a banana -- you just get more mature. I think attitude is the difference between me and Joachim -- the positive things I do in life, to get better and better every minute, every day, every fight!"
Aoki vs Alvarez
Shinya Aoki of Japan will meet Eddie Alvarez of the USA, in a fight that didn't happen at the DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix 2008, when semifinal winner Alvarez was not cleared by doctors to continue to the final.
Said Alvarez: "This fight was supposed to happen before, and I think on that night I would've had the advantage because I'd fought fewer minutes than Aoki in the tournament. But in any case this will be a good fight to determine who is the number one fighter in DREAM. As for my strategy, I always believe it's important to impose my will on any fighter, regardless of his fighting style, and to control the fight every moment. I want to fight with all my spirit and put on the best show that I can for my fans."
Informed that Aoki had joked that being married with children might give Alvarez an advantage, the American responded, "The fact that Aoki doesn't have a wife and kids may allow him more time to focus on training, but I believe fighting is an occupation, and my wife and kids are my biggest inspiration to succeed in my job. It's more important for me to be well-rounded as a person, and I'm a very happy man to have this balance.
Aoki laughed when asked how he felt going into his last fight of the year: "It may not be my last fight of the year, you never know what might happen before midnight! Anyway, I want to enjoy myself in the ring, as always. I'm happy and proud that I've been able to fight great fighters this year, like JZ Calvan, Caol Uno and Joachim Hanson. And now, on New Year's Eve, it's great to meet Eddie Alvarez in the fight we couldn't have earlier in the year. If I weren't fighting in the ring, I would want to watch this fight from the audience! I think this will be a great contest, the best on the Dynamite card. Other fighters have gimmicks and so on to finish 2008, but this will be a real MMA fight that will entertain the crowd purely with technique and skills!"
LeBanner vs Hunt
In a showdown of Heavyweight sluggers, French K-1 veteran Jerome LeBanner will meet Mark Hunt of New Zealand, who fought frequently in MMA after winning the K-1 World GP in 2001, but has been less active recently.
Hunt was nonetheless confident: "I've been training for MMA and striking both, as always. Of course Jerome is a great fighter but I've never seen him fight in MMA so I don't know, we'll see how it goes. I don't think he's going to be a strong challenge to me in MMA because I have much more experience. I want to put him away with a submission but sometimes you want a fight to go one way then it goes the opposite way, so I'll try to finish him with anything I can get. I'm ready to fight and win, I want to make some money! Wish me luck!"
LeBanner did not appear for interviews.
Schilt vs Mo
Also in the Heavyweight class, three-time K-1 World GP Champion Semmy Schilt of Holland will meet scrappy Samoan-American Mighty Mo.
Mo's last K-1 fight was almost five months ago, and he was asked what he'd been up to since: "I've been spending a lot of tie with my kids, and I've been training to learn MMA rules and techniques, working with Josh Barnett on takedowns and knee and arm bar submission holds. I know groundwork, because I wrestled in college, and I think I'm very strong on the ground, where my hook is probably even stronger. Of course, fighting Schilt, it's a whole different game, but that's to my advantage because I have strength when we get inside, on the ground, where he'll be weak because of his build. I'm not saying it's impossible to knock Schilt out standing up, but if I'm smart and get inside, I have the advantage."
Said Schilt: "I'm very excited to be fighting in MMA again, it's been a long time but I am confident, I think. I did some MMA training, but really I want to show the fans a standup K-1 fight, worthy of a K-1 Champion, because I'm good at that.
Told of Mo's preference for ground fighting, Schilt replied, "I'm not afraid of groundwork, I can do more than a triangle choke, so we'll see where the fight goes. If the fight goes to the ground I have the skills to win there as well, my groundwork is capable of neutralizing his attacks. However, I want to knock him out, because that's Semmy Schilt!"
Sapp vs Mantaro
Commensurate with Dynamite's wide appeal is the wide range of bouts on the card, and one of the more bizarre is American Bob "The Beast" Sapp's matchup with a flesh-and-blood anime character, "Kinniku Mantaro," from Parts Unknown, in a Heavyweight bout.
"I've focused on muscular endurance and speed training, I've lost weight and I'm in great shape," said Sapp, who rejected the suggestion he was slumping. "If you check my win-loss record I only have three losses over a nine-year span, I fail to see losing three fights as a slump. In fact, I think with the world economy in a slump, it's MMA itself that's also in a slump, so that's why I'm here! I enjoy this role, and I welcome all pressure, I will be victorious and I will show everyone why I fight, why Japan is number one, and why The Beast is number one!"
The costumed Kinniku Mantaro briefly materialized in the interview space, but said nothing.
Zimmerman vs Minowaman
Errol Zimmerman, a rising Dutch K-1 fighter, will test his MMA skills against Japanese pro wrestler Minowaman.
Zimmerman was asked if he was nervous fighting under MMA rules: "If I felt nervous or frightened, or felt that I couldn't beat him, I wouldn't have taken the fight. I have no impression of Minowaman, I'm just confident I'm going to win. There's nothing different about this fight, I got the call two weeks ago, so I started training, that's all. I may use strikes, I will use what is necessary -- maybe like Badr Hari, I'll stomp him on the head!"
Informed that stomps are also illegal under DREAM MMA Rules, Zimmerman feigned surprise: "Oh shit! There goes my plan…"
Said Minowaman: "I just want to show my own style of fighting, beyond pro-wresting. Zimmerman is a total fighter, but I want to do my best, do what I can do in this fight to please my fans.
In other DREAM MMA Rules fights, it will be Japanese Welterweights Hayato "Mach" Sakurai and Katsuyori Shibata; Lightweights Hideo Tokoro and Daisuke Nakamura; and Yukio Sakaguchi versus Andy Ologun of Nigeria at Welterweight.
K-1 Rules
Hari vs Overeem
After accepting penalties imposed by governing body FEG for the foul he committed against Remy Bonjasky at this year's K-1 World GP, Moroccan bad boy Badr Hari was invited to a Dynamite dance with Dutch MMA fighter Alistair Overeem.
Hari's thoughts on the Bonjasky-stomping were the first question asked: "I think 2008 was a very good year and I had a lot of great fights, but I messed it up a little bit in the final. What can I say, I could say a lot but I'll just say I got my punishment and I accept it. I don't look backward, I just look forward."
Although Hari had no conciliatory words for Bonjasky, he did reach out to his fans, "I will try to do my best to show the fans that I'm a sportsman. I regret what happened and apologize to my fans and all the people who supported me, I learned my lesson and will do my best to make sure these things don't happen again."
Hari said the incident didn't affect his preparation for the fight: "At first, I didn't know if I would be suspended or not, so I wasn't sure I'd fight at Dynamite. But I stayed in shape, so I'm ready. Overeem's a good MMA fighter but he doesn't know K-1. Maybe he thinks he does when he trains in the gym, but I'm on different level -- I've knocked out the best, why not him?"
Hari laughed loudly when told that Overeem had pledged to teach him a lesson: "What kind of lesson? I don't care what he says, actually I think if he says that in public, they'll take him to a mental hospital for saying strange things…He'll never beat me!"
Said Overeem, who will be fighting under K-1 Rules for the first time since 2005: "I've seen Badr Hari fight, he's one of the best K-1 fighters right now, he's very fast and very explosive, and he has a very big mouth! I was a bit surprised, like everyone, by his unsportsmanlike behavior in the K-1 finals, but also excited that he wants to fight me. I feel strong, I've trained at Golden Glory with fighters like Errol Zimmerman and Gokhan Saki, and it's also part of my normal training to train in K-1 rules. So I'm very confident. Hari and I are going to have two fights, this New Year's Eve in K-1 rules then later in the year in DREAM rules. I can't wait to get my hands on him. He knocked out [fellow Golden Glory fighter] Zimmerman, so this is a little bit of a revenge match for me!"
Musashi vs Mousasi
Also under standup rules, Japanese K-1 veteran Musashi will fight Dutchman Gegard Mousasi in a battle of near namesakes.
Mousasi is another MMA fighter new to K-1 Rules: "Yes, this is new for me, so I don't know how I'm going to perform, but it's exciting. Because of my weight at 84kg, I was more focused on my ground game in the past, but I've been sparring with Jerrel Venetiaan, and training with the pads with Ernesto Hoost and my kyokushin karate friends. I have to read the K-1 rules again (laughs), but it's kicking kneeing and punching, so I think I'll be alright. I'm now going for a 93kg fighting weight, and once I get over 100kg I'll want to fight more in K-1 rules. I've watched Musashi's K-1 fights, and I know he's a good fighter and has experience that I don't, so I'll make up for that with speed and explosiveness."
Musashi arrived at the interview space merrily singing a song: "I'm in top condition and two days away from the fight, so I feel great," said the seidokaikan stylist. "I had injuries this year, maybe I wasn't treating them early with massage and so on so they got worse. I think I have to be more cautious now because I'm getting older, this year I learned to take better care of myself. Dynamite is my last fight of the year, so I want it to be a good one. Because Mousasi is lighter than me he can move faster, so the key will be keeping up with him, so I trained mainly for speed. I've seen videos of Mousasi's fights, they are mostly MMA fights, but I've also heard he has good striking techniques. Still, I think if I can fight my style of fight with speed, then I'll be ok."
DYNAMITE!! 2008 Pre-Event Fighter Interviews
TOKYO, December 29, 2008 -- Around the world, New Year's Eve means wild parties and midnight countdowns, the lifting of glasses and the ringing of bells. In Japan -- between kagamimochi cake and otoso rice wine -- December 31 is also occasion for the most spectacular fightsport extravaganza of the year.
Tens of thousands will fill the Saitama Super Arena, and tens of millions will watch on nationwide television, as 36 fighters go head-to-head in FieLDS DYNAMITE!! 2008.
The event features a dozen DREAM MMA bouts in a variety of weight classes; a quartet of K-1 Rules contests; and the culmination of the K-1 Koshien high school tournament. With the opening bell just 48 hours away, participating fighters met the media today at Tokyo's East 21 Hotel.
DREAM MMA Rules
CroCop vs Choi
Croatian mixed martial arts master Mirko CroCop will step in against Hong-Man Choi of South Korea in a Heavyweight (93.1kg/205lbs+) match. Choi is a former ssirium grand champion, who, at 218cm/7'2" will bring a 30 cm/12" height advantage to the ring. At 167kg/355lbs, Choi is also some 65 kg/125lbs heavier than CroCop.
While Choi has size on his side, CroCop has much more experience -- since his MMA debut in 2001, CroCop has established himself as one of the world's best all-round fighters. Choi, meanwhile has competed just twice under MMA rules.
Choi usually trains in Japan prior to fighting, but changed his tact this time: "I stayed in Korea, where I trained very hard, and actually I just arrived in Japan. I haven't seen Mirko's fight videos, and I'm not interested in seeing them. I know he's a southpaw but I trained as I would for any other fighter. Because 2008 has not been a good year for me, I want to finish this fight quickly and get a good start for next year."
Mirko CroCop did not appear for interviews.
Sakuraba vs Tamura
Living legend Kazushi Sakuraba of Japan will fight compatriot Kiyoshi Tamura at Middleweight (84kg/185lbs). These two attended the same dojo a long time back, and, before Sakuraba went pro, Tamura thrice beat him in wrestling matches.
Sakuraba didn't appear worried about confronting his old nemesis: "I trained the same way as I always do. I know Tamura is a good fighter, but he hasn't had nearly as many fights as me, so I don't have any particular impression of him. I think that for Tamura and for the media, this might be a big deal, but for me it's only one more fight…"
Said Tamura: "It's also a regular fight for me. I know there has been a lot of fan and media interest, but that does not affect me. Of course I have personal feelings but I know we both have changed since the old days, so I just want to make a good fight on Wednesday."
Hansen vs Calvin
This year's DREAM Lightweight (70kg/154lbs) Grand Prix Champion, Joachim Hansen of Norway, will meet the man who previously held HERO'S highest Middleweight honors, Brazilian jujitsu fighter JZ Calvan Brazil.
Asked how he felt fighting as the Champion on New Year's Eve, Hansen was humble:
"I haven't changed my training or let it affect my emotions, and I've prepared for this fight as for any other fight. JZ is an all-round fighter like me, and we can both stay on our feet or go to the ground. I plan to keep my guard tight, I think that's key for me, then I will make a dynamite show for Dynamite!"
Said Calvan: "I'm in very good shape, I'm always in very good shape. I had time to prepare for this and I'm very excited. I love to fight in Japan, the fan are so respectful, and I want to give their energy back inside the ring, so I'll do my best."
Calvan laughed when asked if he'd changed his style: "If you're born a banana, you're going to die a banana -- you just get more mature. I think attitude is the difference between me and Joachim -- the positive things I do in life, to get better and better every minute, every day, every fight!"
Aoki vs Alvarez
Shinya Aoki of Japan will meet Eddie Alvarez of the USA, in a fight that didn't happen at the DREAM Lightweight Grand Prix 2008, when semifinal winner Alvarez was not cleared by doctors to continue to the final.
Said Alvarez: "This fight was supposed to happen before, and I think on that night I would've had the advantage because I'd fought fewer minutes than Aoki in the tournament. But in any case this will be a good fight to determine who is the number one fighter in DREAM. As for my strategy, I always believe it's important to impose my will on any fighter, regardless of his fighting style, and to control the fight every moment. I want to fight with all my spirit and put on the best show that I can for my fans."
Informed that Aoki had joked that being married with children might give Alvarez an advantage, the American responded, "The fact that Aoki doesn't have a wife and kids may allow him more time to focus on training, but I believe fighting is an occupation, and my wife and kids are my biggest inspiration to succeed in my job. It's more important for me to be well-rounded as a person, and I'm a very happy man to have this balance.
Aoki laughed when asked how he felt going into his last fight of the year: "It may not be my last fight of the year, you never know what might happen before midnight! Anyway, I want to enjoy myself in the ring, as always. I'm happy and proud that I've been able to fight great fighters this year, like JZ Calvan, Caol Uno and Joachim Hanson. And now, on New Year's Eve, it's great to meet Eddie Alvarez in the fight we couldn't have earlier in the year. If I weren't fighting in the ring, I would want to watch this fight from the audience! I think this will be a great contest, the best on the Dynamite card. Other fighters have gimmicks and so on to finish 2008, but this will be a real MMA fight that will entertain the crowd purely with technique and skills!"
LeBanner vs Hunt
In a showdown of Heavyweight sluggers, French K-1 veteran Jerome LeBanner will meet Mark Hunt of New Zealand, who fought frequently in MMA after winning the K-1 World GP in 2001, but has been less active recently.
Hunt was nonetheless confident: "I've been training for MMA and striking both, as always. Of course Jerome is a great fighter but I've never seen him fight in MMA so I don't know, we'll see how it goes. I don't think he's going to be a strong challenge to me in MMA because I have much more experience. I want to put him away with a submission but sometimes you want a fight to go one way then it goes the opposite way, so I'll try to finish him with anything I can get. I'm ready to fight and win, I want to make some money! Wish me luck!"
LeBanner did not appear for interviews.
Schilt vs Mo
Also in the Heavyweight class, three-time K-1 World GP Champion Semmy Schilt of Holland will meet scrappy Samoan-American Mighty Mo.
Mo's last K-1 fight was almost five months ago, and he was asked what he'd been up to since: "I've been spending a lot of tie with my kids, and I've been training to learn MMA rules and techniques, working with Josh Barnett on takedowns and knee and arm bar submission holds. I know groundwork, because I wrestled in college, and I think I'm very strong on the ground, where my hook is probably even stronger. Of course, fighting Schilt, it's a whole different game, but that's to my advantage because I have strength when we get inside, on the ground, where he'll be weak because of his build. I'm not saying it's impossible to knock Schilt out standing up, but if I'm smart and get inside, I have the advantage."
Said Schilt: "I'm very excited to be fighting in MMA again, it's been a long time but I am confident, I think. I did some MMA training, but really I want to show the fans a standup K-1 fight, worthy of a K-1 Champion, because I'm good at that.
Told of Mo's preference for ground fighting, Schilt replied, "I'm not afraid of groundwork, I can do more than a triangle choke, so we'll see where the fight goes. If the fight goes to the ground I have the skills to win there as well, my groundwork is capable of neutralizing his attacks. However, I want to knock him out, because that's Semmy Schilt!"
Sapp vs Mantaro
Commensurate with Dynamite's wide appeal is the wide range of bouts on the card, and one of the more bizarre is American Bob "The Beast" Sapp's matchup with a flesh-and-blood anime character, "Kinniku Mantaro," from Parts Unknown, in a Heavyweight bout.
"I've focused on muscular endurance and speed training, I've lost weight and I'm in great shape," said Sapp, who rejected the suggestion he was slumping. "If you check my win-loss record I only have three losses over a nine-year span, I fail to see losing three fights as a slump. In fact, I think with the world economy in a slump, it's MMA itself that's also in a slump, so that's why I'm here! I enjoy this role, and I welcome all pressure, I will be victorious and I will show everyone why I fight, why Japan is number one, and why The Beast is number one!"
The costumed Kinniku Mantaro briefly materialized in the interview space, but said nothing.
Zimmerman vs Minowaman
Errol Zimmerman, a rising Dutch K-1 fighter, will test his MMA skills against Japanese pro wrestler Minowaman.
Zimmerman was asked if he was nervous fighting under MMA rules: "If I felt nervous or frightened, or felt that I couldn't beat him, I wouldn't have taken the fight. I have no impression of Minowaman, I'm just confident I'm going to win. There's nothing different about this fight, I got the call two weeks ago, so I started training, that's all. I may use strikes, I will use what is necessary -- maybe like Badr Hari, I'll stomp him on the head!"
Informed that stomps are also illegal under DREAM MMA Rules, Zimmerman feigned surprise: "Oh shit! There goes my plan…"
Said Minowaman: "I just want to show my own style of fighting, beyond pro-wresting. Zimmerman is a total fighter, but I want to do my best, do what I can do in this fight to please my fans.
In other DREAM MMA Rules fights, it will be Japanese Welterweights Hayato "Mach" Sakurai and Katsuyori Shibata; Lightweights Hideo Tokoro and Daisuke Nakamura; and Yukio Sakaguchi versus Andy Ologun of Nigeria at Welterweight.
K-1 Rules
Hari vs Overeem
After accepting penalties imposed by governing body FEG for the foul he committed against Remy Bonjasky at this year's K-1 World GP, Moroccan bad boy Badr Hari was invited to a Dynamite dance with Dutch MMA fighter Alistair Overeem.
Hari's thoughts on the Bonjasky-stomping were the first question asked: "I think 2008 was a very good year and I had a lot of great fights, but I messed it up a little bit in the final. What can I say, I could say a lot but I'll just say I got my punishment and I accept it. I don't look backward, I just look forward."
Although Hari had no conciliatory words for Bonjasky, he did reach out to his fans, "I will try to do my best to show the fans that I'm a sportsman. I regret what happened and apologize to my fans and all the people who supported me, I learned my lesson and will do my best to make sure these things don't happen again."
Hari said the incident didn't affect his preparation for the fight: "At first, I didn't know if I would be suspended or not, so I wasn't sure I'd fight at Dynamite. But I stayed in shape, so I'm ready. Overeem's a good MMA fighter but he doesn't know K-1. Maybe he thinks he does when he trains in the gym, but I'm on different level -- I've knocked out the best, why not him?"
Hari laughed loudly when told that Overeem had pledged to teach him a lesson: "What kind of lesson? I don't care what he says, actually I think if he says that in public, they'll take him to a mental hospital for saying strange things…He'll never beat me!"
Said Overeem, who will be fighting under K-1 Rules for the first time since 2005: "I've seen Badr Hari fight, he's one of the best K-1 fighters right now, he's very fast and very explosive, and he has a very big mouth! I was a bit surprised, like everyone, by his unsportsmanlike behavior in the K-1 finals, but also excited that he wants to fight me. I feel strong, I've trained at Golden Glory with fighters like Errol Zimmerman and Gokhan Saki, and it's also part of my normal training to train in K-1 rules. So I'm very confident. Hari and I are going to have two fights, this New Year's Eve in K-1 rules then later in the year in DREAM rules. I can't wait to get my hands on him. He knocked out [fellow Golden Glory fighter] Zimmerman, so this is a little bit of a revenge match for me!"
Musashi vs Mousasi
Also under standup rules, Japanese K-1 veteran Musashi will fight Dutchman Gegard Mousasi in a battle of near namesakes.
Mousasi is another MMA fighter new to K-1 Rules: "Yes, this is new for me, so I don't know how I'm going to perform, but it's exciting. Because of my weight at 84kg, I was more focused on my ground game in the past, but I've been sparring with Jerrel Venetiaan, and training with the pads with Ernesto Hoost and my kyokushin karate friends. I have to read the K-1 rules again (laughs), but it's kicking kneeing and punching, so I think I'll be alright. I'm now going for a 93kg fighting weight, and once I get over 100kg I'll want to fight more in K-1 rules. I've watched Musashi's K-1 fights, and I know he's a good fighter and has experience that I don't, so I'll make up for that with speed and explosiveness."
Musashi arrived at the interview space merrily singing a song: "I'm in top condition and two days away from the fight, so I feel great," said the seidokaikan stylist. "I had injuries this year, maybe I wasn't treating them early with massage and so on so they got worse. I think I have to be more cautious now because I'm getting older, this year I learned to take better care of myself. Dynamite is my last fight of the year, so I want it to be a good one. Because Mousasi is lighter than me he can move faster, so the key will be keeping up with him, so I trained mainly for speed. I've seen videos of Mousasi's fights, they are mostly MMA fights, but I've also heard he has good striking techniques. Still, I think if I can fight my style of fight with speed, then I'll be ok."
Kim Couture Wins Extension on Beard Restraining Order
Kim Couture, fighter, promoter, and Randy Couture's other half, has won another round in the drama surrounding Xtreme Couture's fallout with Affliction.
In a Clark County filing dated Dec. 12, a restraining order from Couture against former Affliction head Todd Beard has been extended to Nov. 12, 2009.
Affliction clothing produces the Xtreme Couture clothing line, but relations between the two parties soured after Randy Couture returned to the UFC. Currently, the two companies are in limbo as Couture and co. attempt to extricate themselves from Affliction.
Couture originally filed the motion on Nov. 12, stating that Beard was threatening her and her lawyer. A temporary order was granted for 30 days, for which Beard was prevented from "interacting, communicating and/or having any contact with Couture, including attending the events surrounding UFC 91."
Couture said requests for accounting information on the Xtreme Couture clothing line, of which Randy Couture owns a significant interest, led to the dispute.
Beard did not attempt to block or prevent the extension.
Dana White's UFC 92 Video Blog - Episode 5
In the final edition of Dana White's UFC 92 video blog, he goes backstage for the fights that took place on Saturday night. The event featured two title changes...Rashad Evans winning the light heavyweight title and Frank Mir taking home the heavyweight crown.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
White: Lesnar/Mir in Spring 2009
At the post-fight press conference for UFC 92, UFC president Dana White confirmed the final bracket of the promotion's unofficial heavyweight tournament would conclude sometime in spring 2009, possibly in April or May. Frank Mir will attempt to become the undisputed heavyweight title holder, while Brock Lesnar will attempt to avenge a loss at UFC 81.
A venue was not named for the event, although unofficially, UFC 97 is scheduled for Apr. 18 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. A date and location for UFC 98, presumably in May, is unknown at this time.
In other shop talk, White disputed implications that Saturday winners Mir and Rashad Evans were less marketable than former champions Forrest Griffin and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
"At the end of the day, this is what we do," White said. "If I can't promote them, then I've got some problems. I think they're very promotable. Rashad Evans is the real deal. If you look at who he's beaten and what he's done. He's undefeated.
"Frank Mir has a great story, coming back. Brock Lesnar is a great story with Mir and Lesnar. Very promotable. I'm a promoter, that's what I do."
A venue was not named for the event, although unofficially, UFC 97 is scheduled for Apr. 18 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. A date and location for UFC 98, presumably in May, is unknown at this time.
In other shop talk, White disputed implications that Saturday winners Mir and Rashad Evans were less marketable than former champions Forrest Griffin and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.
"At the end of the day, this is what we do," White said. "If I can't promote them, then I've got some problems. I think they're very promotable. Rashad Evans is the real deal. If you look at who he's beaten and what he's done. He's undefeated.
"Frank Mir has a great story, coming back. Brock Lesnar is a great story with Mir and Lesnar. Very promotable. I'm a promoter, that's what I do."
WEC Best of 2008 on Versus Sunday Night
VERSUS will air WEC Best of 2008, a two-hour special presentation tonight - Sunday, December 28 - at 9 p.m. ET. The hard-hitting night includes four spectacular fights: Miguel Angel Torres vs. Yoshira Maeda, Urijah Faber vs. Jens Pulver, Carlos Condit vs. Hiromitsu Miura and the never before seen on television bout between Donald Cerrone and Rob McCullough.
VERSUS will re-air the special on December 31 at 11 p.m. ET and January 1 at 3 p.m. ET and 9 p.m. ET.
Forrest Griffin Suffers Broken Hand In Loss
MMAWeekly.com was on the scene at UFC 92 and following the light heavyweight title fight on Saturday night, now former champion Forrest Griffin left the arena to head to the hospital and get treated for a broken hand.It is unknown at this time at what point in the fight Griffin suffered the broken hand, but he had mentioned in his post fight comments that he was heading to the hospital.
It was assumed at the time the trip was for a possible concussion with the TKO suffered to end the fight.
Griffin looked very good in his first title defense, but fell victim to a vicious ground and pound attack from new champion, Rashad Evans, who won his first UFC title while keeping his record perfect in the process.
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