Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
Reis Official with Bellator FC
Former Elite XC bantamweight champion Wilson Reis is bound for Bellator Fighting Championships, the emerging MMA promotion announced in a press release on Monday.
The Brazilian grappling standout was first rumored to join Bellator at its public inception, but the release confirmed his exclusive participation.
Stranded by the fall of Pro Elite, Reis is the first of its former champions to make a formal break for another MMA organization.
Reis will be one of eight 145 lb. fighters in Bellator's featherweight division. He will compete in the first round of a multi-weight class tournament taking place on Apr. 4 in a located to be announced. ESPN Deportes, the Spanish arm of American sports channel ESPN, will broadcast the event as the first of twelve specials in 2009.
The promotion also promises superfights along with the tournament format.
"Wilson has unlimited potential at 145," said Bjorn Rebney, CEO of Bellator Fighting Championships. "He has a terrific grappling pedigree, an unbelievable work ethic and he's getting better every time he fights. He's exactly the kind of fighter we're looking to showcase at Bellator Fighting Championships."
Sunday, January 18, 2009
St. Patty's Day UFC in Ireland?
Marshall Zelaznik, president of the UFC's UK division, sees a bright future for the promotion in Ireland.
At the post-fight press conference for UFC 93, he outlined the possibility of a return to the country on one of its holiest of days.
"Lorenzo and I were speaking, and one thing we'd love to figure out is how to get here every St. Patrick’s Day," he said. "We’d like to figure out, no matter what day of the week it is, to try and come over with a fight. That's something we’re looking to do right away."
He also noted, however, that the promotion's frantic international schedule was a barrier to a quick return.
"It's hard, we’re trying to do so many things with this sport," he continued. "It's not just promoting the UFC; I always say we’re promoting a sport. In order to get as many people to experience it, you’ve gotta take the event out, and I see so many reporters (asking) when are you gonna come back to Newcastle, when are you coming back to Birmingham, and we're trying to get everywhere. Eventually, we'll be everywhere all the time."
Still, the fervor of Saturday's crowd was hard to ignore. Before he made a quick exit from the press conference, UFC President Dana White said the passion of Irish fans put them in the top-three of best crowds the promotion has played to.
With that, Zelaznik said a presence wasn't hard to justify.
"I think that we'll have a regular home here, would be my guess," he said.
At the post-fight press conference for UFC 93, he outlined the possibility of a return to the country on one of its holiest of days.
"Lorenzo and I were speaking, and one thing we'd love to figure out is how to get here every St. Patrick’s Day," he said. "We’d like to figure out, no matter what day of the week it is, to try and come over with a fight. That's something we’re looking to do right away."
He also noted, however, that the promotion's frantic international schedule was a barrier to a quick return.
"It's hard, we’re trying to do so many things with this sport," he continued. "It's not just promoting the UFC; I always say we’re promoting a sport. In order to get as many people to experience it, you’ve gotta take the event out, and I see so many reporters (asking) when are you gonna come back to Newcastle, when are you coming back to Birmingham, and we're trying to get everywhere. Eventually, we'll be everywhere all the time."
Still, the fervor of Saturday's crowd was hard to ignore. Before he made a quick exit from the press conference, UFC President Dana White said the passion of Irish fans put them in the top-three of best crowds the promotion has played to.
With that, Zelaznik said a presence wasn't hard to justify.
"I think that we'll have a regular home here, would be my guess," he said.
Egan and Hathaway Possible for UFC 95
Dubliner Tom Egan certainly got a hero's welcome at UFC 93.
Despite a losing effort against the relentless John Hathaway, the crowd showered him with praise, singing Irish songs in unison through much of the fight.
"It was a great reception," Egan said later. "I didn't even know that many people knew who I was. It was pretty cool."
The audience wasn't stingy with Hathaway, either. When his hand was raised, the audience acknowledged his victory with cheers.
According to UFC matchmaker Joe Silva, the two youngsters may grace the upcoming UFC 95 in London. The event's Feb. 21 date would make it a quick turnaround, but in the post-fight press conference, they were game.
"I'll compete whenever they need me next," Hathaway confirmed. "I didn't really receive any injuries, so I'll be back training next week, and getting ready for the next fight."
Despite a losing effort against the relentless John Hathaway, the crowd showered him with praise, singing Irish songs in unison through much of the fight.
"It was a great reception," Egan said later. "I didn't even know that many people knew who I was. It was pretty cool."
The audience wasn't stingy with Hathaway, either. When his hand was raised, the audience acknowledged his victory with cheers.
According to UFC matchmaker Joe Silva, the two youngsters may grace the upcoming UFC 95 in London. The event's Feb. 21 date would make it a quick turnaround, but in the post-fight press conference, they were game.
"I'll compete whenever they need me next," Hathaway confirmed. "I didn't really receive any injuries, so I'll be back training next week, and getting ready for the next fight."
Dana White's UFC 93 Video Blog (Ep 7)
UFC president Dana White presents the latest edition of his UFC 93 video blog. In this episode, Dana plays the new UFC video game against Michael Bisping, and much, much more.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
UFC Primetime GSP vs. BJ Penn (Episode 1 - Pt 2)
Part 2 of the first edition of the new UFC series on Spike. This is the conclusion to the debut episode.
Dana White's UFC 93 Video Blog (Ep 6)
In the Jan. 16 edition of Dana White's UFC 93 video blog, Dana takes viewers behind the scenes to the UFC 93 weigh-ins and the fighter meeting in Dublin, Ireland.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Dana White's UFC 93 Video Blog (Ep 5)
MMAWeekly on WJDX The Score 620 Jackson, Mississippi
Tune in Friday morning if you're in the Jackson, Mississippi area to hear MMAWeekly Radio host Damon Martin as he joins Chuck & Doug for "Mississippi Sports This Morning" at approximately 10:05am EST to help them breakdown UFC 93.
The guys at The Score have welcomed MMAWeekly to their show before every major UFC event, and on Friday they will talk Franklin vs. Henderson and all the other big fights taking place this weekend.
Tune in at 10:05 EST/9:05 CST to hear MMAWeekly's Damon Martin on The Score 620 in Jackson, Mississippi.
The guys at The Score have welcomed MMAWeekly to their show before every major UFC event, and on Friday they will talk Franklin vs. Henderson and all the other big fights taking place this weekend.
Tune in at 10:05 EST/9:05 CST to hear MMAWeekly's Damon Martin on The Score 620 in Jackson, Mississippi.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Training Day with Vitor Belfort for Affliction 2 "Day of Reckoning"
RawVegas.tv caught up with Vitor Belfort after a hard day of training as he prepares for a bout against Matt Lindland at Affliction 2 "Day of Reckoning."
MMAWeekly Radio on Utah's 1280 The Zone Tonight
After MMAWeekly Radio goes off the air tonight, both Damon Martin and Jeff Cain will join the hosts of Cage Radio on 1280 AM in Salt Lake City, Utah to breakdown UFC 93.Tune in tonight at 10:15pm EST/8:15pm MT in Utah to hear MMAWeekly Radio join Cage Radio!
You can also listen online by going to the station's website at: http://1280thezone.com
Sherk Possible For Roger Huerta's Send-Off
MMAInsider has learned from several sources close to former UFC lightweight champ Sean Sherk that a meeting with fellow Minnesotan Roger Huerta is possible for UFC 97 in Montreal, Canada.Huerta recently elected not to sign a contract extension with the UFC, deciding instead to focus on recent opportunities in acting and modeling. He has reportedly signed a three-film development deal with Lions Gate Films, and is working on a book about his life.
A meeting with Sherk would be the last fight on Huerta's current contract.
In a recent interview with MMAWeekly.com, the soon-to-be-thespian said he'd be open to a fight up north.
"Actually, I would kind of like to fight in April, the Montreal card, cause a lot of the Canadian guys want me to fight on that card," he said. "So it'd be kind of cool if I did that. In the meantime, I'm doing other things."
Sherk is currently in training at Minnesota Mixed Martial Arts. In his last appearance, he outpointed up-and-comer Tyson Griffin at UFC 90, showcasing an improved stand-up game. The former champ has repeatedly stated he only wants to fight contenders and names, and a bout with Huerta appears to fit the latter half of that bill.
"I want to push myself and challenge myself," he said. "I've got 41 professional fights. I feel like I've accomplished everything in this industry a guy could ever dream of accomplishing, and now, at this point in my career, I only want to fight the best guys. That's all I'm interested in. I'm not here to collect paydays. I just want to test myself and finish my career knowing that I fought the best of the best and beat them."
Dana White's UFC 93 Video Blog (Ep 4)
The latest edition of Dana White's UFC 93 blog as he travels around Ireland, talks to boxers about the sport of MMA, and replays the events of the race that kicked off the first blog in this series, and some shifty business going on with the bet payoff.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
UFC 92 Fighters Test Negative for Drugs
Keith Kizer, Executive Director for the Nevada State Athletic Commission, on Wednesday released drug testing results for UFC 92 on Dec. 27 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.
All athletes tested at the event came back negative for drugs of abuse and performance enhancers. Included in the test were Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Frank Mir, Brad Blackburn, Matt Hamill, Antoni Hardonk, Yushin Okami, Cheik Kongo, Quinton Jackson, CB Dollaway, and Pat Barry.
The commission in March of 2008 ramped up its drug deterrent program, instituting year round testing on athletes, particularly in cases of high profile fights. Since then, there has not been a high profile positive test in mixed martial arts competitors in the state of Nevada.
All athletes tested at the event came back negative for drugs of abuse and performance enhancers. Included in the test were Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Frank Mir, Brad Blackburn, Matt Hamill, Antoni Hardonk, Yushin Okami, Cheik Kongo, Quinton Jackson, CB Dollaway, and Pat Barry.
The commission in March of 2008 ramped up its drug deterrent program, instituting year round testing on athletes, particularly in cases of high profile fights. Since then, there has not been a high profile positive test in mixed martial arts competitors in the state of Nevada.
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