TAPOUT Reality TV show to film at BATTLEQUEST 8
Posted on | March 21, 2008 | No Comments
March 20, 2007
Denver, CO
www.COLORADOFIGHTEVENTS.com presents BATTLEQUEST 8: TAPOUT!
On Friday April 11th, BATTLEQUEST returns to the Denver area with its eighth installment entitled TAPOUT!.
In the main event Team Jackson fighter John “The Magician” Dodson will take on Vern Baca of Gumm MMA.
Dodson hails from Albuquerque, New Mexico and has a record of 7-3. The charismatic fighter has been described as having a “Sakuraba Style”. Flips, spins, cartwheels and smiles are all part of Dodson’s arsenal. His exciting style has earned him a trip to Japan and soon after a spot on a ROF affiliate event. Promoter Sven Bean was impressed and offered a shot at the ROF 135 Belt. Dodson wowed the crowd from bell to bell, but in the end lost a decison to Joe Doherty. Dodson can take risks that thrill the audience, but he also backs it up with determination, athleticism and skill. His camp at Jacksons is a who’s who of MMA, and training there gives him the confidence to pull off his acrobatic attacks. He is looking to make a big impact at Battlequest and take the next step in his MMA career, and hopefully get noticed by a national promotion.
(Above: Dodson lands a flying knee in the opening seconds at ROF)
As a senior in high school, Vern Baca compiled a perfect 35-0 season. He captured the State Championship that year which led to a wrestling scholarship to the Colorado School Of mines. The agressive wrestler is long time veteran of RING OF FIRE. Originally fighting at 155, and facing some of the strongest lightweights on the roster, Baca always came in as the much smaller opponent. In early 2007 Baca dropped to his more natural walk around weight of 145, and immediately racked up a win against Gerald Lovato of FIT NHB. At Battlequest, Baca will drop to 135 for the first time in his fight career. The cut to 135 isn’t a big deal, according to coach and UFC veteran Brad Gumm. Gumm feels this is the perfect weight class, and that the compact powerhouse will finally settle into his MMA groove.
(above: Vern Baca victorious at early ROF event)
In the feature bout of the evening Ian “ICE” Berg will face active John Bryant of Wichita, Kansas. The two will compete for the vacant BATTLEQUEST MIDDLE WEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP. The under card is filled with some of the area’s most talented fighters including the dynamic Brandon Thatch, and Infinite Martial Art’s Ralston Baker. Also returning to the cage will be rising female star Cat Albert.
The full card will be released next week.
BATTLEQUEST is known as a breeding ground for new talent and is the feeder show to the popular RING OF FIRE Championship Fighting promotion. The night will feature at least 10 matches and will take place at the Softball Country Sports Pavilion. The Sports Pavilion is a great venue for fight events as it also the home of Poor Boys Professional Boxing series.
**TAPOUT WILL BE AT BATTLEQUEST**
You have watched their show on the Versus Network!
You have seen them cageside at the UFC and WEC events!
Now this is your chance to join MASK, PUNKASS and SKYSCRAPE live and in person as their TV show rolls through the Mile High city.
“Traveling around the country in a tricked out tour bus, the crew is on the hunt to discover a fighter who has what it takes to represent the TapouT label; and before these up and comers fight their way out of the cage, they have to fight their way in with the TapouT crew. The crew bonds with their fighter testing out his personality, and in between the usual TapouT mayhem makes sure their new protégé gets the proper training before the big fight. In each episode, it’s all on the line in the dramatic conclusion as each fighter gets one shot to impress the crew and show off his skills in the cage.”
Last year TAPOUT filmed at a RING OF FIRE event. The episode was seen by millions of MMA fans across the world, and helped to launch the career of Donald COWBOY Cerrone.
Come and be a part of the national TV show filming, live, April 11th as they hit the Battlequest 8 event in search of their next big MMA breakout star!
Tickets can be purchased at any KING SOOPERS location or online at www.ticketswest.com. You can also charge by phone at 866-464-2626. Doors will open at 6:30 and the first bout will start promptly at 7:30 p.m.
Ticket Prices:
Rows 1-2 $50.00
Rows 3-6 $35.00
Rows 7-14 $25.00
Bleachers $25.00
Visit www.rofmma.com and www.coloradofightevents.com over the next few weeks for updates to the fight card, in depth interviews and fighter bios.
Tags: fighting > kicking > Mixed Martial Arts > MMA > punching > tapout > TV
FIGHTERS WANTED: MMA RECRUITER CLASSIFIEDS
Posted on | March 21, 2008 | 1 Comment
Bullock Fighting Productions is looking for Amateur 165,185,255,265, and Super Heavyweight Fighters to fill spots on their upcoming fight card on May 7th in Loveland, CO. This fight will be held at Budwiser Event Center.
If you are interested please contact:
Jerramie bullock
Phone = 970 488 0430
E-mail = bullockfighting@hotmail.com
Myspace = www.myspace.com/bullockfighting
Chaos in the Cage is looking for Amateur Fighters to fill spots on their upcoming fight card March 29th in Linden, AL. Fighters must act fast to get on this card.
If you are interested in fighting on this card contact:
Terry Vice
vice137@yahoo.com
Pro 170lb – Oklahoma – May 24th
Art of War is looking for a pro fighter with past or present military experience for May 24th in Oklahoma. The opponent is 7-1 pro. Here’s the qualifications:
MUST have at least 6 pro fights with a winning record.
MUST have some sort of military background.
MUST BE WILLING TO REPRESENT THE MILITARY AND LEAVE IT ALL IN THE CAGE!
If you meet these qualifications, please email the following information to IWANNAFIGHT4AOW@GMAIL.COM:
Name:
Record:
Age:
Fight Style:
Military Background:
Your E-Mail:
Your Phone:
Manager’s Name:
Manager’s Phone:
Manager’s E-Mail:
Where You Live:
If you are up to the challenge, we would love to offer you a GREAT opportunity for a CO-MAIN EVENT with great exposure against a very tough opponent! WHO’S UP FOR THE CHALLENGE??????
Ammys – Onalaska, WI – May 17th
5 Rivers Productions Inc. is looking for Amateur Male and Female Fighters to fill spots on there upcoming fight card in Onalaska, WI on May 17th. Evolution Fight Gear is the event sponsor and all participating fighters get evolution fight gear, gloves, hats, shirts, towels and trunks.
If you are interested in fighting on this card contact:
Bruce Todd
Phone = 608-780-9836
E-mail = 5riversfight@gmail.com
SHOXC FINAL QUOTES
Posted on | March 21, 2008 | No Comments
Thursday, Jan. 20, 2008,
Chumash Casino Resort, Santa Ynez, California
Malaipet will try to continue his transformation from world-class superstar Muay Thai kickboxer to mixed martial arts world champion when he faces Thomas “Wildman” Denny of Hesperia, Calif., tomorrow/Friday, March 21, at Chumash Casino Resort at Santa Ynez, Calif., on SHOWTIME (11 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast).
Tickets, starting at $35, are available by visiting the Chumash Casino Resort’s Club Chumash, by visiting the website at www.chumashcasino.com or by calling StarTicketsPlus at (800) 800-585-3737. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. First live fight is at 6 p.m. PT.
A winner of three in a row, the popular, extremely charismatic Malaipet, of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., will be making his MMA main event debut in a fight that will headline a five-bout ShoXC: Elite Challenger Series telecast.
In other televised bouts, Marlon Mathias (5-1) of Brazil faces Conor Heun (6-2) of Hollywood, Calif., Aaron Rosa (10-1) of San Antonio, Tex., meets Jaime Fletcher (5-3) of Rancho Cucamonga at 205 pounds; Shane Del Rosario (3-0) of Irvine, Calif., opposes Analu Brash (2-1) of Kula, Maui, at 265 pounds; and Mark Oshiro (9-1) of Honolulu clashes with Chris Cariaso (6-0) of San Francisco at 140.
Non-televised bouts: Vince Guzman (2-2) of Los Angeles vs. Lyle Beerbohm (4-0) of Spokane, Wash., at 160 pounds; Devin Howard (debut) of La Habra, Calif., vs. Mark Kempthorne (1-4) of Vandenberg, Calif., at 170; Brandon Tarn (0-1) of Los Angeles vs. Jason Williams (debut) of Los Angeles, Calif., at 265; Eric Jones (0-1) of Los Angeles vs. Steve Gable (1-0) San Clemente, Calif., at 170 and Kenny “The Poet’’ Johnson (debut) of Los Angeles vs. Michael Penafiel (2-2) of Los Angeles at 170 pounds. (Note: See Televised Fighter Pages below).
The fights are scheduled for three, 5-minute rounds. Fans can watch pre- and post-fight interviews only at ProElite.com.
What the fighters had to say:
MALAIPET:
“I think Thomas Denny has a lot of skill in the ground, but I am not scared. If something happens, it happens.
“I have been working on my ground work, but I am interested in defending submissions, not trying to apply them. If I get taken to the ground, I will try and take the fight back to standing up.
“I know that I am skilled in Muay Thai, but my goal is to continue fighting in MMA. My goal is to be a champion for EliteXC.
“I think this is my last fight at this weight. I would like to fight at 150 pounds in the future.”
THOMAS DENNY:
“This is huge fighting on SHOWTIME on the main event. I had about 2 ½ weeks notice for this fight, but I was already in shape and ready to go.
“I plan to punch him on his face, put him on his head and submit him. I think a lot of people give Malaipet too much respect for his Muay Thai game. You need to attack him.
“His conditioning is questionable, so I will to push him hard. I need to keep coming forward and keep punishing him with punches.
“Once I grab him he is going to know that he is in there with a really strong guy. This fight is not going to be as easy as he thinks. I think he is going to be strong the first few minutes, but I will be, too.
“You are going to see my hand get raised in the cage after a lot of fireworks. I plan on beating on him, clinching him up and submitting him.
“I don’t see any scenario where he will be on top of me on the ground. If he is, he will get the arm-bar triangle.
“This is a special opportunity for me. EliteXC is the biggest up-and-coming organization right now. I want to show them that I want to be a part of it by performing well. This is a huge deal to me.
“I want a couple more fights and then go for a title. Of course, I want that gold around my waist.
“I train a lot smarter now than I used to. Fighting at 160 pounds is my division. I have always been a small 170 pound competitor, now it is the other way around. Now, I have the advantage because I am big for 160 pounds.’’
MARLON MATHIAS:
“I like fighting with my hands. I can kick, elbow and punch to beat my opponents. But I am equally strong in wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu.
“I have seen my opponent fight. Conor is great at submissions, but his striking is not that good. I am not worried about that.
“I know my opponent is good at Jiu-Jitsu, so I am training in everything. Every day I train with black belts in Jiu-Jitsu, so he has nothing that can surprise me.
“I am very happy to be fighting on ShoXC. This is a huge opportunity for me. This will make my life different now. The result of this fight could change my life.
“Fighting on SHOWTIME, all of America can now see what I have on Friday night. My future is in my hands and my feet. I am looking to make a name for myself.
“I am fighting for Chute Box. I promise I will represent them well in the cage. I am influenced by all the great fighters that have come from there. But I am part of a new generation and I have a big torch to carry.”
CONOR HEUN:
“I respect anyone who gets in the cage, but the fact that Mathias comes from a legendary camp will definitely add to it when I beat him.
“I think he is going to press forward, but I will, too. I am not going to give him any room to breathe because I know he is not in as good shape as I am right now.
“I plan on overwhelming him and imposing my will on him. Physically, I feel great right now.
“I want to be on top. I am dangerous off my back, but you have to be a hell of a wrestler to put me on my back. I am planning on putting him on his back to see what he has from there.
“This is the biggest competition of my life. It doesn’t feel the same as competing in the state wrestling finals because I had been working at that since I was five years old. But this feels amazing. This is the first step toward at winning a belt.
“When I was growing up, I looked up to the Chute Box fighters, which is ironic because now I am going to beat Marlon, who is one of their guys.”
AARON ROSA:
“Jaime Fletcher is strong. He is coming up from 185 pounds, but he is a solid fighter.
“He likes to bang, and throw punches. I will have to use my reach against him and try to take him deep into the rounds. But if I get an opportunity to take him out, I will jump on it.
“Jaime seems to be pretty powerful, so I just have to be ready for everything.
“I don’t see a future right now. I am just concentrating on this fight. I hope to come out with a win.
“I wasn’t all there in my last fight that I lost (to Jared Hamman in October 2007’s ShoXC via rear naked choke). I had a fever of 104 degrees and a viral infection the week before the fight. I don’t want to steal his thunder, but it was more me than him. He is a tremendous fighter and I would love to fight him again.
“I have one loss on my record. I think about it all the time. It motivates me to want to keep going.”
JAIME FLETCHER:
“Aaron Rosa is a guy who likes to get after it. He likes to use his length as an advantage and get in there and pound it out.
“He is coming off a loss, so he can enter the cage in two different ways. One, he may not be as confident, and I will try and capitalize on that and exploit that. Or, two, he may come in fired up and looking to get back to winning form.
“He has a reach advantage on me, but I think my striking is better than his is.
“I heard he is basically anti-Jiu Jitsu. If I don’t have to worry about submissions and just strikes, then that will open up my opportunities to submit him and take him to the ground.
“At 205 pounds, I am a lot quicker than most fighters. That should be a big advantage for me in the cage.
“I took this fight one week ago, but I had already been training for another fight. I am in good shape and ready for Rosa.
SHANE DEL ROSARIO:
“Analu Brash is big. I know he is huge, but I think I am faster than him. I have fought guys who are bigger than him. I just need to stay calm and focused and I should be good.
“I am comfortable standing or taking the fight the ground. I know I have to keep my hands up and watch out for his power, but I think I have a better ground game than him. He will get gassed if he keeps trying to bang with me.
“From what I saw of Brash, he tries to kick-box and stay off the ground. If he does that, I will be set.
“I am going to try to go for the top. I need to get more experience and need to take my time. ShoXC is the perfect opportunity to get more experience, but I definitely think I have the talent to be a champion. Why would you want to be in this game if you aren’t trying to go for the top?
“I have been improving my ground work. My strength is Muay Thai, but I know that it is important to work on my ground. I have been wrestling with a lot of big guys and I have got a lot better at it.
“I want to knock him out, but a win is a win. I will take it either way.”
ANALU BRASH:
“I try to fight with both my brain and my heart. I try not to bring emotions into the cage because they can get the better of you.
“I really feel comfortable everywhere in the cage. I don’t feel like I have to stand and bang or try to take a guy to the ground. I am good all around. I react to what the moment calls for.
“When I am in the cage, I think of my family. That is basically why I fight.
“I am not that familiar with Del Rosario. He is just a good fighter like everybody else.
“When I fight, I bang. Even when I get hit, I go harder. I don’t back down.
“My key to victory is just landing a good shot.”
MARK OSHIRO:
“I like to finish fights quickly. I don’t like to go to the second or third round. I like to get in and get out.
“There aren’t a lot of knockouts in my weight class, but I have been knocking guys out. I hit the punching bag a lot, working on speed and power.
“From what I know, Cariaso is a stand up guy who likes to kick. Being that he is undefeated, I’m sure he has some kind of ground work. My game plan is to go in there in stand. But if he tries to clinch with me, I will take the fight to the ground.
“I have been improving my Jiu-Jitsu. I am constantly working on my ground game. In order to get to the top of the food chain you need to work on your weakest parts.
“I have no predictions for the fight. I just hope to finish it in the first round. I want to knock him out, but I am prepared to go the distance. If it does, it will be an all out war.”
CHRIS CARIASO:
“I expect Mark to want to stand up with me. I am going to try and hit him hard a couple of times and then try to control the takedown game from there.
“I look at this as a big step in my career. He is a reputable opponent, so when I beat him it will bring me to the top of my division.
I have always been great at standup, and now I am focusing on my ground game. I have opened my mind to a lot of new moves. It has finally all clicked to where I see everything now. I know that my standup is my strong point, but I spend a lot of time training on the ground.
“I approach each opponent differently. I train to my strengths and try to simulate what my opponent will bring at me.
“This is a great challenge. He is definitely going to be one of my most difficult opponents. He likes to stand up and trade shots, so I need to look out for his punches. I just need to avoid getting caught with a punch, but I definitely think I have what it takes to beat him.
“I am going to go out there and show my new strengths. If he wants to stand up with me, I will stand up and bang. But if he wants to go to the ground, I will take him to his back and submit him.
“I have my sights set on winning this fight. I am going to go out there and try to make a statement tomorrow night.”
Fighter pages for televised bouts: Malaipet (http://Malaipet.proelite.com), Denny (http:/thomasdenny.proelite.com), Mathias (http:/marlonmathias.proelite.com), Heun (http:/conorheun.proelite.com), Rosa (http://aaronrosa.proelite.com), Fletcher (http://jaimefletcher.proelite.com), Del Rosario (http://shanedelrosario.proelite.com), Brash (http://analubrash.proelite.com), Oshiro (http://markoshiro.proelite.com), Cariaso (http://chriscariaso.proelite.com)
NEW FNU MMA WRITER MATTHEW BROTHERS MAKES HIS UFC FIGHT NIGHT 13 PICKS
Posted on | March 20, 2008 | 1 Comment
UFC Fight Night 13 Preview & Picks
By Matthew Brothers
Greetings fight fans! The UFC’s next installment of “Ultimate Fight Night” on the Spike network takes place Wednesday April 2, in Broomfield, Colorado. The card, which will air directly before the premiere of the upcoming “TUF” season, boasts 12 scheduled bouts, 5 of which we’re guaranteed to see. It should certainly be an awesome night for cable-subscribing MMA fans as well as lovers of the 155lb. division. In the paragraphs to come, I’m going to run down the entire card match-by-match, and give you my thoughts and predictions on who should win and why.
The night begins with welterweight action as Anthony “Rumble” Johnson (4-1) takes on “TUF” season 6 finalist Tommy “Farmboy” Speer (9-2). Both men have suffered losses in their last bout so we know they’re both feeling the pressure of a win. Speer is a wrestler with some serious ground’n’pound, so as we’ve seen before, he’ll be looking to take Johnson to the mat and grind him out. In the other corner, as seen in his 13 second knockout of Chad Reiner, Johnson has quick hands and knows how to use them. I see Speer trying to strike with Johnson in the beginning but then working his takedowns. When on the ground it will be all Speer so the fight comes down to the question of can Johnson keep it standing? My prediction is first round TKO victory for Johnson or a decision victory for Speer. In the interest of making a firm pick, I’ll take Johnson in the first. Interesting side story for this fight, Anthony Johnson was a rejected tryout for “TUF” season 6 so if he can secure a victory over Speer, one can only imagine how he would have fared on the show.
More “TUF 6” veterans in match two as George Sotiropoulos (8-2) fights Roman “The Emperor” Mitichyan (5-1). If you’re a viewer of “TUF” you might remember that although a selected member of the cast, Mitichyan was forced out of the show on the first episode due to a broken elbow and his antics after learning he would not be allowed to compete will surely be remembered as hilarious as well as unfortunate. Sotiropoulos on the other hand fared very well on the show and was a favorite to win until he met a red-headed farmboy with a mean right hand. Although against arguably weak competition, both men won their matches at the “TUF 6” and now that the initial UFC jitters are gone, it’s time for both men to try and make a mark at 170. The Armenian Mitichyan is a submission specialist with backgrounds in wrestling, sambo, and judo. Sotiropoulos is now a student at Serra Jiu-Jitsu and is also fond of the submission game. Unless one of these guys has learned some serious striking in the last few months, I’d say a ground battle is inevitable. I’d call this bout a sleeper pick for fight of the night honors. Surprisingly even to myself, I’m leaning toward Mitichyan on this one, probably in the second or third round. Either way, expect a submission victory.
Clay “The Carpenter” Guida (22-9) battles Frenchman Samy Schiavo (10-4) in Schiavo’s UFC debut. I will admit that Guida is one of my favorite fighters to watch and pushes the pace to break-neck speeds, which makes it interesting that he’s a fighting a man who has had all but 1 of his last 13 fights end in round one. I’m intrigued by this match not only because I’m a Guida fan, but because he’ll be taking on a guy who thrives in Guida’s environment. I never thought I’d say this but Guida needs to slow down for this fight. Schiavo is going to have octagon jitters and will probably come out guns blazing. If Guida can weather the storm while raining down his own lightning, he should take this fight with ease. Guida is a warrior and I see him imposing his will on Schiavo and taking a victory by TKO either late in the first round or in the second.
In the fourth match of the night it’s Jeff “The Grinder” Cox (9-4) against Manny “The Anvil” Gamburyan (7-2). For those of you who don’t know a lot about Manny Gamburyan I’ll tell you something that says a lot, he has gone the distance with Sean Sherk. Jeff Cox is a formidable opponent at 155lbs., but look for Gamburyan to win this one with his tenacity and powerful judo skills. I see him shooting in and taking Cox down, grinding him down and submitting him. Gamburyan by submission in the first. Hopefully in the future we can see a Gamburyan vs. Diaz rematch.
Switching gears from young blood to veterans of the UFC we have Josh “The Dentist” Neer (23-6-1) against Din Thomas (20-7). American Top-Team member Thomas is coming back from blowing out his knee in his first round loss to Kenny Florian and Miletich Fighting Systems trained Neer is coming back to the UFC after back-to-back losses in ’06. He’s since won 6 of 7 fights and is back in the big show looking to showcase his improved striking skills. I am predicting this fight to go to a decision with Neer being favored on the feet and Thomas being favored on the ground. I’ll be putting my money on Neer for this one although I do hope that Din can bounce back from the injury and stay competitive in the UFC.
Due to a shoulder injury, Spencer “The King” Fisher (20-4) is out of his match against BJJ specialist Marcus “Maximus” Aurelio (15-5). The news is obviously bad for Fisher who was looking to get another notch in the win column after his UFC 78 loss to Frankie Edgar, however, the news is good for Ryan Roberts (8-2) who will now be given his first chance to shine in the UFC. Roberts, who has been fighting in smaller shows in the midwest will be facing stiff competition against Aurelio and although Roberts has shown the ability to grapple and stand, he has yet to face someone with such a high ranking status in Jiu-Jitsu such as Aurelio. I think this fight should go to the ground pretty quickly and I predict a win for Aurelio. In my mind, a first or second round submission seems likely, but in MMA, never say never.
Although it’s being called a swing bout that may be televised if time permits which technically designates it as an undercard bout, I think a front-runner for fight of the night has to be Gray “The Bully” Maynard (4-0) versus Frankie “The Answer” Edgar(8-0). Maynard is a very strong wrestler who trains with Extreme Couture while Edgar is a New Jersey native who currently sports an undefeated record with wins over Spencer Fisher and Tyson Griffin. I am incredibly pumped for this match and although I think Edgar is and will be the favorite in many peoples eyes, Gray Maynard is no joke and is not to be taken lightly, just ask Joe Veres. Bottom line is both of these guys are tremendous wrestlers and young and poised to make their individual impacts at 155. Edgar is already being talked about for a title shot in the near future so a win over Maynard would only stand to solidify him as a force in the division. On the other hand, if Maynard can score the upset and beat Edgar, he will immediately gain contender status, either way, I’m hoping we’ll get to see this fight aired. My official prediction for this fight is Edgar by submission in the third round.
Now we move on to the bouts we’re guaranteed to see, and to start us off, we have what will surely be a technical ground battle as “TUF 5” winner Nathan Diaz (8-2) takes on Kurt Pellegrino (11-3). I’m really pumped for this fight and I think it will be a great step-up for Diaz. Nate is undefeated since joining the UFC and has looked great in all of his fights. Pellegrino is a veteran of the sport and after his amazing performance against Joe Stevenson, this is a guy who clearly has no shortage of heart and we even saw his stand-up showcased against Alberto Crane. I would love to get a better idea of how Diaz would fair in a stand-up battle, but I don’t think this will be the fight to see that. I see Pellegrino as being more comfortable on the feet which will eventually lead to Diaz taking him down. This is a tough fight to call because both guys are so tough but I have to pick Kurt for this one. He’s got the experience and the ground skills to submit Diaz or beat him standing. I’d be lying if I said a part of me wasn’t pulling for Nate but look for a TKO victory for Pellegrino in the third round.
Houston Alexander (8-2) shocked us all when he destroyed Keith Jardine and Alessio Sakara and you couldn’t help but get excited about his future in the UFC. Unfortunately, his ground game was exposed as less than stellar in his lopsided loss to Thiago Silva. James “Sandman” Irvin’s (13-4) highlight reel KO of Terry Martin put him on the mma map in a big way back in ’05 but since then, he’s failed to impress going 4-3 with his last win coming from DQ. To me, this is a clear attempt to give the UFC fans a slugfest that should end in a KO. Let’s face it, everyone loves a brawl with big tough guys throwing big tough punches, but I don’t think either of these guys will be fighting for a title any time soon. Sure, Alexander has a win over Jardine who is definitely in the title picture, but don’t expect a Alexander/Jardine rematch to go the same way. I’m calling this a pick’em fight, with your winner taking it in round one by TKO/KO. In an attempt to be decisive, I’ll take Houston.
Everyone loves an against-all-odds story. In my hunmble opinion, anyone who can work, train, bleed, sweat, and persevere and become a successful fighter in the world of mma has definitely beat the odds. Now, imagine you have all the same obstacles to conquer, except you’re deaf in both ears. Ponder that for a moment and you’ll get an idea of how tough Ohio native Matt “The Hammer” Hamill (3-1) is. He was absolutely ROBBED in his decision loss to Michael Bisping in Bisping’s backyard and being a Hamill fan, I hope he can get a victory over the very intimidating Tim “The Barbarian” Boetsch (7-1). Boetsch is coming off of an impressive TKO victory over David Heath which placed him solidly on the “fighters to watch in ’08” list. Although Hamill is a wrestler, he out punched Bisping in their match so it will be interesting to see if he tries to stand with Boetsch or works his takedowns into some ground’n’pound. Boetsch, who impressed me and everyone else with his use of the push-kick against Heath should probably be considered the better striker of the two. If Hamill can get Boetsch down and hold him there, he can secure the win. Unfortunately, I can see this fight being a snoozer if Boetsch isn’t able to sprawl and get back up after the inevitable takedown. I’m picking this for an early TKO/KO win for Boetsch or a decision victory for Hamill.
Karo “The Heat” Parisyan (18-4) does battle with Thiago Alves (13-3) in a match which without question has title shot implications. The Judo black-belt Karo has been just a hair away from a title-shot more than once in his career, and many think if he hadn’t lost the decision to Diego Sanchez back in ’06, he would certainly have gotten that shot. The word from the UFC is that Jon Fitch gets the winner of GSP/Serra II which means it may be likely that the winner of this fight may get the winner of that bout. Tough to pick a winner for this fight because both men are so good at what they do. Karo is a judo phenom who is amazingly hard to finish, in fact, no one has finished Karo since Jan. of ’01. Alves is a Brazilian who is a great finisher who owns a four-fight win streak in the UFC. This fight will come down to can Alves finish Karo on the feet or can Karo work his ground game and grind Alves out for a decision win? I so badly want to see a decisive finish for Karo but if history is any lesson, Karo simply doesn’t finish fights, he’s had 11 of his last 13 fights go to a decision. On the other hand, Karo is a tremendous talent and should never be counted out, after all, at the end of the day, what’s more important than the W? I’m going to go out on a limb and say I do not think this fight will go to a decision. I’m going to call a first round TKO/KO for Karo over Alves. Hopefully, “The Heat” can be hot for once.
Now onto our main event of the night and if you’re an MMA fan from Massachusetts, surely you’ll be passionate about this one. Joe Lauzon (16-3) takes on Kenny Florian (8-3) in the main event of Ultimate Fight Night 13. I am a huge fan of both of these guys, and in February I had the honor of meeting and talking with Kenny at a local show in Massachusetts, at the time, I told Kenny I thought he’d beat Joe via submission in the second round. Since then, I’ve done a flip-flop and now I’m leaning towards Lauzon. I’ve been doing my research on Joe and have become a big fan of his. His recent stint training with B.J. Penn can only further solidify him as a threat at 155. Joe can definitely grapple, he’s super fast, and if you doubt his striking skills ask former champ Jens Pulver how hard Joe hits. Kenny Florian’s mantra is “I finish fights.” Since his time of “TUF 1” he has improved every aspect of his game and if he can get the win over Joe, has to be towards the top of the heap at 155. Out of all the weight classes in the UFC, 155 is the one that makes me not envy matchmaker Joe Silva’s job. So many tough fighters, with a champion who is arguably the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world. To break it down, I see both fighters coming out swinging yet tentative, with whoever loses the striking war taking it to the ground. Once on the ground, I give the edge to Florian but I can also see the tenacity of Lauzon being too much for Kenny to handle. You know it’s a good fight when you can’t even conceive a winner, I think that all the folks out there who aren’t familiar with Lauzon, this is going to be a big slap in the face wake up call. On my cards, I’ve got Lauzon taking this fight in the second round by submission. Phew! There I said it, Lauzon will beat Florian!
If you’ve made it all the way through this novel I commend you. At the end of the day, MMA is the most exciting sport in the world because anything can happen. Anyone can get caught and even the best do. I stand by my picks but they are undoubtedly just the thoughts of an MMA junkie and although I do have a successful betting record on MMA, there’s a lot of tough fights to call on this card. Regardless of the outcomes, I’m always pleased when the UFC gives us a free fight card, and for the fans in attendance in Broomfield, you are all lucky ducks! Name another UFC fight card with 12 fights. That’s it for me, hopefully Rich lets me write more of these things but until then, enjoy the fights and the “TUF 7” premiere. I’m knocked outta here.
Tags: Joe Lauzon > Kenny Florian > UFC > UFC Fight Night 13
HOPKINS RESPONDS TO CALZAGHE
Posted on | March 20, 2008 | No Comments
“ALL THOSE WORDS ARE JUST LIKE HIS PUNCHES;
NOTHING ON THEM AND NO DAMAGE DONE”
Light Heavyweight fight to take place in the PH Ring on April 19
LOS ANGELES. March 20, 2008 . . . Light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins took the news of Joe Calzaghe’s rebuttal to his training team statement as a sure sign of panic.
“This poor guy used up all the air in his boxing gym to spew a bunch of nonsense about nothing really. I said what I had to say in one breathe. He knows what he is up against on April 19 and that’s all that has to be said. All those words are just like his punches-nothing on them and no damage done.”
Hopkins vs. Calzaghe “Battle of the Planet,” is presented by Golden Boy Promotions, Frank Warren’s Sports Network and the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. The match-up will air live from the Planet Hollywood Ring on HBO’s World Championship Boxing beginning at 9:45 p.m. ET / 6:45 p.m. PT.
Remaining tickets are priced at $1500, $1200, $750, $450, $350 and $250 and may be purchased by calling 866-USFIGHT or online at planethollywood.com.
One of the greatest middleweights of all-time, Bernard “The Executioner” Hopkins (48-4-1, 32 KOs) owned the middleweight title for over ten years before moving up to the light heavyweight division in 2006, and immediately won The Ring Magazine World Championship with a dominating 12 round decision win over Antonio Tarver. In his last fight, on July 21, 2007, Hopkins continued his amazing run at the age of 42, outpointing Winky Wright. Now it’s on to Calzaghe.
Unquestionably one of the greatest super middleweights in boxing history and currently The Ring Magazine Super Middleweight World Champion, Newbridge, Wales’ Joe Calzaghe (44-0, 32 KOs) and has 21 consecutive title defenses followed his victory over Chris Eubanks in 1997. After big wins over undefeated champions Jeff Lacy in 2006 and Mikkel Kessler in 2007 in which he added the International Boxing Federation (IBF), World Boxing Association (WBA) and World Boxing Council (WBC) championship belts to his collection, he now seek a bigger challenge at 175 pounds where Hopkins awaits.
CBS ELITEXC BROADCAST SET FOR MAY 5
Posted on | March 20, 2008 | No Comments
THE FIRST “CBS ELITEXC SATURDAY NIGHT FIGHTS” TO BE BROADCAST LIVE ON SATURDAY, MAY 31
ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK
Picture (Metafile)
EliteXC Heavyweight Sensation, Kimbo Slice, Will Headline an Exciting Night of Mixed Martial Arts
Middleweight Champion “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler will Defend His Title Against Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith
LOS ANGELES, March 20 — CBS and ProElite, Inc. today announced that the first live primetime mixed martial arts event will be broadcast Saturday, May 31 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. CBS ELITEXC SATURDAY NIGHT FIGHTS will be broadcast live from the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.
“We’re excited to introduce broadcast television viewers to America’s fastest growing sport with this prime time event,” said Kelly Kahl, Senior Executive Vice President, CBS Primetime. “EliteXC is putting together a lineup card that showcases the unique personalities, world-class athleticism, and raw power and emotion that characterizes mixed martial arts.”
Champion “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler will put his title on the line against Scott “Hands of Steel” Smith in a middleweight championship bout. EliteXC heavyweight phenom, Kimbo Slice, will also participate in the May 31 event along with other stars from mixed martial arts. Additional matchups will be announced at a later date.
“I am very happy for the highly trained fighters, who will finally get the kind of exposure they deserve, and, of course, the viewers, who will get the opportunity to learn that MMA is truly a sport that requires an abundance of skills, both mentally and physically,” said Gary Shaw, EliteXC Live Events President.
CBS and ProElite, Inc., a Los Angeles-based leading entertainment and media company that produces world class mixed martial arts (MMA) events, announced last month they were teaming up to bring MMA to a major broadcast television network for the first time. CBS will broadcast four MMA events per year, produced by ProElite’s EliteXC fight division, as two-hour live primetime specials.
Mixed martial arts is a sport evolved from a number of ancient combat disciplines including judo, jiu-jitsu, karate, wrestling and kickboxing. World-class athletes engage in hand-to-hand combat in a ring — both caged and traditional — and must adapt their fighting style to fit their opponent. The wide variety of styles and techniques make every event an unpredictable spectacle.
CBS ELITEXC SATURDAY NIGHT FIGHTS will be produced by SHOWTIME Sports. The executive producer is David Dinkins, Jr. with Bob Dunphy directing.
For additional information visit www.proelite.com
JOEY “MINNESOTA ICE” ABELL TO TAKE ON MAURICE WHEELER IN NEW MAIN EVENT AT LEGENDARY BLUE HORIZON ON APRIL 11
Posted on | March 20, 2008 | No Comments
Knockout Artist, Joey Abell returns to The Legendary Blue Horizon to take on veteran southpaw and Philly native, Maurice Wheeler.
PHILADELPHIA (MARCH 20, 2008)—Due to a suspension that had not been listed by The California Athletic Commission, / Jeremy Williams will not be able to take on Zack Page in the main event of a terrific night of boxing on Friday night, April 11th at The Legendary Blue Horizon.
Boxing fans—FEAR NOT
Promoter, Vernoca L. Michael and matchmaker Don Elbaum came up with a more then suitable replacement as Blue Horizon fan favorite, Joey “Minnesota Ice” returns to take on Maurice Wheeler of Philadelphia in a scheduled eight round Heavyweight bout.
Abell, 18-1 with seventeen knockouts will be back in the Legendary Blue Horizon ring after fighting three fights out of the United States.
Abell, of Coon Rapids, Minnesota built up a big fan base at The Legendary Blue Horizon due to his explosive knockout prowess. The 6’5” Abell scored five impressive knockouts at The Blue Horizon before suffering his lone, yet controversial setback when he lost via first round stoppage to Arron Lyons back on December 1st, 2006. Since then, Abell has racked up nine straight wins (eight by knockout) which includes two more vicious knockouts at The Legendary Blue Horizon.
The last time Abell stepped through the ropes at The Legendary Blue Horizon, he obliterated Levon Warner of Philadelphia in under a round as he scored two hard knockdowns which just added to his moniker as one of the hardest hitting heavyweights in the world.
Since the Warner fight, Abell made his second trip to Sweden and stopped Daniel Peret in two rounds.
In Abell’s last bout, he made his made his premium cable debut and scored a majority decision over previously undefeated Teke Oruh in St. Lucia.
That bout was seen all over the United States as the main event of the popular SHOWTIME boxing program SHO BOX: “The New Generation.”
Abell will be heading back to Sweden to take on Ratko Draskovic (28-7-2) on March 27th.
Wheeler, 10-11-1 with one knockout should prove to be a viable test for Abell.
The Philadelphia native is a southpaw spoiler who can give any heavyweight problems and can pull the upset if Abell is not on top of his game.
Wheeler’s record does not tell the whole story as his defeats have come at the hands of some of the biggest names in the Heavyweight division such as undefeated Malik Scott; WBO mandatory Tony Thompson; undefeated Alonzo Butler ; U.S Olympian Jason Estrada; and former world title challengers David Tua & DaVarryl Williamson
Wheeler is coming off a fifth round stoppage loss to Adam Richards (19-1) last December 8th in Tunica, Mississippi.
An exciting under card is shaping for April 11th as Middleweight, Gee Cullmer of Philadelphia (13-1, 3 KO’s) takes on Anthony Little (7-10-1, 1 KO) of Akron, Ohio in a scheduled eight round bout.
Jr. Welterweight Steve Chambers (15-1, 4 KO’s) squares off with Jaime Morales (4-6, 2 KO’s) in a six round battle of Philadelphians.
Simon “One Punch” Carr (4-1-1, 3 KO’s) will be making his long awaited Legendary Blue Horizon debut when he takes on Jason Quick of New York (4-3-1, 3 KO’s) in a four round cruiserweight bout.
Mario Mina of New York will take on Pedro Calla of Peru in a battle of debuting Middleweights.
Anders Holmberg of Sweden will be making his professional debut against Andy Cornado (0-2) of Muskegon, Michiagan ina four round Heavyweight bout.
Kamarah Pasley (0-2) of Philadelphia will be making his 3rd consecutive appearance at The Blue Horizon when he takes on Jeremy Burnett (1-1) of Monroe, Michigan in a four round Cruiserweight bout.
Also scheduled to appear will be Jr. Welterweight Julias Edmonds (1-0) of Philadelphia, Lightweight Gearld Smith (1-0) of Philadelphia, Middleweight Will Butler (0-0) of Phoenixville, PA and Welterweight Calvin Goldwire (0-0) of Philadelphia against Opponents to be announced.
For all your traveling needs, log onto www.bluehorizontravel.com
Ticket prices for this great night of boxing are $200 for Queen Seating, $125 for Presidential seats, $65 for VIP, $55 for Ringside, and $45 for General Admission and can be purchased by calling The Legendary Blue Horizon at 1-215-763-0500 or by logging on to comcasttix.com. Doors open at 6:30 PM / 1st bout begins at 7:30 PM
The Legendary Blue Horizon is located at 1314 North Broad Street in Philadelphia, PA
THERE WILL BE A PRESS CONFERENCE ON WEDNESDAY April 9th AT THE LEGENDARY BLUE HORIZON AT 11 AM
For more information, log on to www.legendarybluehorizon.com
FIGHTERS WANTED: MMA RECRUITER CLASSIFIEDS
Posted on | March 20, 2008 | No Comments
HB DICK PROMOTIONS is looking for Amateur Heavyweights to fill spots on their upcoming fight card on April 19th in Mayfield, KY. Travel expenses will be covered.
If interested in fighting please contact:
HAROLD DICK
Phone = 270-556-4128
E-mail = paducahmma@comcast.net
website = www.hbdickpromotions.com
Myspace = hbdick promotion
Superior Freestyle Fighting is looking for Male and Female Amateur Fighters to fill spots on their upcoming fight card May 31st in Decatur, AL
If you are interested in fighting on this card contact:
Brandon Goodwin
Phone = 423-619-0225
E-mail = brandon@superiorfreestylefighting.com
website = www.superiorfreestylefighting.com
Myspace = Superior Freestyle Fighting
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