RICHARD HALL SIGNS NEW MANAGEMENT CONTRACT
Posted on | June 20, 2007 | No Comments
Bust Your Grill Management announces the signing of former WBA Light Heavyweight interim titlist Richard “The Destroyer” Hall. Hall, 27-7 (25 KO), has earned a reputation as a fearless warrior, engaging in thrilling battles with Roy Jones Jr., Glen Johnson, Julian Letterlough, among others.
Manager Matt Yanofsky expresses a keen interest in securing quality fights for the Jamaican born-Floridian, now based out of West Palm Beach. “I am excited to work with Richard,” says Yanofsky. “He is one of the most exciting fighters in the world who has only lost to the best fighters.”
Richard Hall is coming off of an exhilirating fight against Shaun George on ESPN2 this past May. Hampered by inactivity in recent years, Hall says, “My dream come true is to fight frequently. The only time I feel good is when I’m in the ring because I’m a warrior.”
Looking to make a mark on the division once again, Hall is targeting Antonio Tarver, Adrian Diacanou, and anyone else brave enough to step in with “The Destroyer.”
In addition to BYG Management, Hall has also enlisted the services of publicist Ryan Songalia to Team Hall. Now that Richard Hall has the necessary pieces in place, what is his mission?
“I want to be world champion. Ever since I saw Sugar Ray Leonard beat Marvin Hagler in 1987, that has been my goal. I will not retire until my goal is accomplished.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR INTERVIEW REQUESTS, CONTACT RYAN SONGALIA.
mc_rson@yahoo.com
561-503-9948
http://www.myspace.com/knockoutpublicity
COTTO VS. JUDAH PREVIEW
Posted on | June 5, 2007 | 2 Comments
COTTO VS. JUDAH
** In-Depth Preview and Analysis **
By Tony Penecale
For the 3rd consecutive year, Puerto Rican native Miguel Cotto will be looking to usher in the annual New York City Puerto Rican Day parade in style when he takes on Brooklyn’s Zab Judah at the famed Madison Square Garden. Cotto has been successful the last two years, hammering former Olympic conqueror Mohamad Abdulaev into a 9th-round defeat in 2005 and defeating Paulie Malignaggi by decision in 2006. In Judah, he faces his most challenging test, a quick and sharp, albeit inconsistent, boxer, with power in both hands, who is hungry to rebound a faltering career.
AGE, RECORD, AND STATS
Cotto : Age: 26 years old
Record: 29-0 (24 Knockouts)
Height: 5’7”
Weight: 147 ** Weight for last bout (3-3-07)
Reach: 67”
Judah: Age: 29 years old
Record: 34-4 (24 Knockouts)
Height: 5’7”
Weight: 147 * * Weight for last bout (4-8-07)
Reach: 72”
RING ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Cotto: WBO Junior Welterweight Champion (’04-‘06)
WBA Welterweight Champion (’06-Pres)
Judah: IBF Junior Welterweight Champion (’00-‘01)
WBO Junior Welterweight Champion (’03)
Ring Magazine Welterweight Champion (’05-‘06)
STYLE
Cotto: An aggressive and physical boxer who fights from the orthodox stance, Cotto comes straight ahead, and wears opponents down with a punishing body attack. Cotto favors hooks and uppercuts to straight punches and turns every bout into a war of attrition. Most of his stoppage victories have come late, after his opponent has been worn down. Will often leave himself open to counters when trying to unleash his offense.
Judah: An exceptionally fast boxer who boxes out of the southpaw stance, Judah is more of a sharpshooter, landing quick and slashing punches, primarily the straight left, from the outside. Due to his slick style, he was formerly billed as “Pernell Whitaker with a punch”.
STRENGTHS
Cotto: * Body Attack – Cotto is quite possibly the best body puncher in the sport today. He wings hard hooks on the inside that make contact with whatever is available: ribs, shoulders, torso, chest, and arms, with punishing results. He scored a knockdown over Gianluca Branco with a left hook to the shoulder.
* Strength – Cotto is a strong and physical fighter. While he fights at welterweight, he has the physical stature and physicality of a super middleweight, which he uses to muscle and wear down opponents.
* Determination – Cotto carries a lot of pride when he steps into the ring, which will be intensified fighting in front of a partisan crowd.
Judah: * Speed – Judah carries Mayweather-esque speed, even beating Pretty Boy Floyd to the punch in the first few rounds of their April ’06 encounter. Against the slower Cotto, Judah’s speed will be a major advantage.
* Better Competition – Judah since early in his career has fought an impressive number of quality fighters including victories over Micky Ward, Daryl Tyson, Junior Witter, Terron Millet, Rafael Pineda, and Cory Spinks.
* Desperation – Judah will be in his second fight after serving a one-year suspension for his role in the melee with Roger Mayweather last year in Las Vegas (his first fight was one-round no contest when his opponent suffered a cut from an accidental headbutt). Judah is winless in his last three outings and knows that if he is unsuccessful, he time as a serious contender and moneymaker will most likely be over.
WEAKNESSES
Cotto: * Defense – Cotto’s best defense is a good offense and he often neglects the defensive part of his game. Cotto can be hit and that can be dangerous against a sharp puncher like Judah.
* Chin – Combined with an offense that leaves him prone to counter punches, Cotto’s shaky chin can be a recipe for disaster. Cotto was wobbled against the relatively moderate punching Demarcus Corley, and was down several times and in serious trouble against Ricardo Torres.
* Fouls – Many times when Cotto is fighting on the inside, he has the tendency to land blows on the belt-line and below and has been penalized in the past.
Judah: * Concentration – Judah sometimes like to bring more “Bling” than bang. He gets too preoccupied with showboating and doesn’t always focus on the task at hand.
* Chin – Judah has been knocked down several times in his career, and knocked out by a single Kostya Tszyu right hand. He even suffered a knockdown against the light-punching Cory Spinks.
* Immaturity – When things are not going Judah’s way, he tends to unravel. Some of his most infamous meltdowns include attacking a referee and throwing a ring stool at him, hitting Carlos Baldomir with a low blow during the pre-fight instructions, and throwing a punch at Roger Mayweather, while he was being restrained during that ugly brawl.
3 BEST PERFORMANCES
Cotto: * Mohamad Abdulaev (6/11/05) – Systematically broke down Abdulaev over 9 rounds, swelling his eye completely shut, and forcing him to surrender.
* Ricardo Torres (9/24/05) – Little was known about the Columbian coming into the bout except for his sparkling 28-0 (26) record. Both boxers traded knockdowns and took turns having the other in serious trouble. Eventually, it was Cotto’s punishing body attack that sapped Torres’ strength and set him up for the stoppage.
* Paulie Malignaggi (6/10/06) – Cotto was favored to beat this quick and undefeated Brooklyn boxer. After dropping Malignaggi early, Cotto had to endure some spurts where the challenger employed an effective stick & move strategy. Cotto took control over the final third of the bout and earned an impressive decision over his battered and bloody opponent.
Judah: * Cory Spinks (2/5/05) – Judah was out to avenge a decision loss to Spinks the previous year where he had Spinks out on his feet at the final bell. Judah got to Spinks earlier this time, dropping him and finishing him off in the 9th round, claiming the unified welterweight title in the process.
* Junior Witter (6/24/00) – While it didn’t seem significant at the time, Judah’s unanimous decision over the undefeated Witter has become more significant as Witter has won 20 straight bouts including decisions over Lovemore N’dou and Demarcus Corley.
* Jaime Rangel (12/13/03) – While he was not expected to upset Judah, Rangel was expected to give him some uncomfortable moments. Judah never let him in the bout blasting him out with a single left hand in the 1st round.
QUESTIONS
Cotto: * Will Cotto be overzealous in trying to put on an impressive show and run himself into Judah’s sharp counter punches?
* Will Cotto be able to cope with Judah’s tremendous speed and boxing ability?
* Is the rapidly-growing Cotto already struggling to make 147 and weakening himself in the process?
Judah: * Judah has only boxed one round in the last 15 months. Is he adequately prepared to face a physical boxer in his prime?
* If things start to go in Cotto’s favor, will Judah experience one of his classic meltdowns?
* Can Judah keep focused on his gameplan without getting sidetracked with showboating?
PENECALE PREDICTION
This expects to be exciting from the outset. Judah has trash-talked during press conferences and boldly predicted that he will knock Cotto out and go celebrate at the Puerto Rican Day parade. Cotto is going to come out early and try to back Judah up and unveil his potent body attack. Judah will look to give angles and not stand in front of his stronger opponent.
Things should really start to heat up around the 3rd round, where Judah will probably be a bit more flatfooted and try to counter Cotto’s rushes with straight lefts. Cotto will take the opportunity to land punches anywhere he can on Judah’s torso. It is conceivable with their power and suspect chins, that both combatants could be staggered or touch the canvas in the first half of the bout.
Cotto will start to take over around the 7th or 8th round and have Judah back on his heels. This is where the bout could get ugly as Judah has the tendency to be a front runner and does not respond well when pressed and could resort to fouling, possibly with low blows. Cotto is no stranger to bending the rules and would likely respond in kind, making it difficult for the referee.
Cotto will keep up the attack and the signs will show on Judah. His legs will be all but gone by the 10th round. It will be Cotto’s time to close the show and he will, battering Judah to the canvas with an assault against the ropes. Judah will rise and try to survive by any means necessary. But against the stronger Cotto, he won’t be able to do so and will find himself on the canvas again, which will prompt a stoppage from Judah’s trainer/father Yoel.
Done with research, Olaf returns to where it all began
Posted on | June 5, 2007 | No Comments
Done with research, Olaf returns to where it all began
LEMOORE — After five years of experimentation Olaf Alfonso is confident in victory no matter the opponent.
“I’ll fight anyone at any weight,” the Ensenada Mexico mixed martial artist said. “I’ve been experimenting for the last five years and now that I’ve finished my research, people will see my new fighting style and it’s insane.”
And Alfonso is bringing that intense passion to the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino’s Palace Fighting Championship.
“The one thing about Olaf is that win or lose every fan in attendance knows that they’ll see an exciting fight. I think he is incapable of being in a boring fight,” Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino Entertainment Director Christian Printup said. “We are excited that he decided to bring his talent back to Central California and the Tachi Palace. This is the place that helped launch his career.”
It was a whirlwind career that spans the globe and has Alfonso with a 5-7 record. He’s lost his last five fights, but proclaims that he wasn’t always fighting to win. Rather he was experimenting and doing some research.
“It’s all been research. I’ve fought several different ways. I didn’t always condition my body properly on purpose,” Alfonso said. “The strongest part of my game is the clinch and no one has ever saw me do that in a fight… never not once. I know I can knock anyone out from the clinch, so I tried to work on other things.
“Also, I’m a southpaw and I fight conventional. Not a lot of people really know that. My favorite submission is the guillotine, but I’ve never once used it in a fight.”
But he plans to showcase a complete game on October 18th at PFC 4.
Alfonso signed a 4-fight promotional contract with the Palace and Printup says he could be an immediate threat at lightweight (155) or welterweight (170).
“Right now the 170-pound PFC title is vacant. It’s hard to put a time line on when Olaf would be ready for a title fight, though,” Printup said. “I believe that the winner of Jason Von Flue and Chris Botelho’s fight will be one half of a title fight which will possibly take place in January. There’s a lot of talent at 170 pounds and not just locally. We are being contacted with outstanding talent from across the country right now.”
Alfonso certainly can’t be excluded from that discussion or that of the lightweight title, which is held by San Bernardino’s Shad Smith (9-7-1), who defeated Lemoore’s Poppies Martinez by guillotine choke at PFC 2 in March.
“I don’t really care who I fight. You can put anyone in front of me right now and they’re going to lose. Even a heavyweight,” Alfonso said. “I don’t think anyone can beat me now. Just watch the difference. I have a different focus now. I’m 100 percent confident.”
Also signing 4-fight deals with the PFC are Fresno’s Jorge Evangelista (4-2-1) and Hanford’s Luis Gonzalez (0-0). Both are expected to make their PFC debuts in October.
“Luis is a world-class jiu jitsu player, a black belt with tons of international experience and has been focusing on his stand up skills for a long time preparing for the transition to MMA,” Printup said. “He’s been looking forward to challenging himself in MMA and we are excited to have him compete in the newly formed flyweight division (125 lbs maximum).”
Evangelista hasn’t fought since December of 2005 when he lost by knockout to Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran Tyson Griffin.
“Jorge is pound-for-pound one of the most dynamic and skilled, yet relatively unknown, mixed martial artists in the game. He is a great wrestler, has tremendous jiu jitsu and Muay Thai and is a naturally elite athlete,” Printup said. “I think that he possesses everything a guy needs to make huge waves in the featherweight division. He’s a WEC and IFC veteran whose only losses are to quality fighters Rocky Long and UFC lightweight Tyson Griffin. He’s taken a few years off from the sport and from all accounts is determined to make the most of his abilities, and that could mean trouble for many 145-pounders in the world.”
On July 19th the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino and the PFC will host PFC 3 “Step up” which features two title fights.
Sacramento’s Dave Espinosa (3-0) takes on Porterville’s Shawn Klarzcyk (5-1) for the vacant bantamweight championship and Oroville’s Shawn Bias (10-4) challenges Minnesota’s Aaron Maldonado (4-0) for the vacant featherweight crown.
Also on the 18-bout card is the return of Fresno’s Casey Olson (4-1), who takes on Stockton’s Brandon Jinnies (2-5) in a lightweight bout.
In one of the more highly anticipated debuts in recent memory, Las Vegas’ Dewey Cooper (0-0) tangles with Venice Beach’s Adam Smith (0-0) in a light heavyweight showdown.
In other bouts:
In the main event, San Luis Obispo’s Jason Von Flue (12-7-1) meets Lemoore’s Chris Botelho (2-2) in a welterweight showdown.
Lemoore’s Kenny Ento (6-2) fights Palika Drummondo (2-3) at middleweight.
Calousa’s Ruben Villareal (11-13-3) takes on Tulare’s Rafael Del Real (4-5) in a heavyweight bout.
In a welterweight fight, Lemoore’s Mickey Martinez (2-0-1) battles Bakersfield’s Robert Breslin (3-6-1).
Sacramento’s Mark Munoz (0-0) makes his heavyweight debut against Elk Grove’s Donny Easterling (0-2).
In a featherweight bout, Fresno’s Ralph Lopez (2-0) meets Sacramento’s Louie Moreno (1-2).
Lemoore’s Elvis Franco makes his pro featherweight debut against Anahiem’s Scott Brommage (0-2).
In a lightweight fight, Las Vegas’ Sean Dizaiy (2-1) fights Palmdale’s Joe Calavitta (1-2).
Visalia’s Mike Cook (3-1) tangles with Bakersfield’s Paul Mince (4-3) in a heavyweight bout.
Coalinga’s Mario Rivera (3-4) meets Bakersfield’s Joe Chaidez (2-0) in the welterweight division.
Sacramento’s Jeremy Freitag (4-5) returns to action at the Palace against Philadelphia’s Lamont Lister (3-2) in a light heavyweight showdown.
In lightweight action, Tulare’s Caleb Garcia (4-0) takes on Bakersfield’s Josh McCartney (1-1).
Las Vegas’ Angelo Antuna (4-0) challenges Palmdale’s Seth Dikun in a featherweight fight.
In a bantamweight eliminator, Jason Georgianna (3-0) takes on Merced’s Brain Granados (3-0).
Tickets for this highly anticipated event are nearly 50 percent sold and a complete sell out is expected well in advance of the July 19th event. Do not miss a chance to see mixed martial arts history unfold in front of your eyes, get your tickets now at any tickets.com outlet, the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino Gift Shop or call 1-800-225-2277. The PFC in conjunction with Wilson’s Motorcycles will also be giving away a 2006 Kawasaki Ninja Motorcycle to one lucky fan live on July 19th.
See www.palacefightingchampionship.com for more information.
Takedown Radio to Broadcast at U.S. World Team Trials
Posted on | June 5, 2007 | 1 Comment
Takedown Radio to Broadcast at U.S. World Team Trials
For two days the top Olympic hopefuls in men’s freestyle, men’s Greco-Roman and women’s freestyle will compete for coveted spots on the 2007 U.S. World Team. In addition, Grappling, the new international wrestling style, will host its first World Team Trials on the mats at the Convention Center.
Takedown Wrestling Radio will again provide coverage, interviews and the color of the 2007 U.S. World Team Trials on behalf of USA Wrestling. Brute Adidas, USA Wrestling along with all of our other great sponsors have stepped up to bring this broadcast to you. TDR hosts Scott Casber and Steve Foster will be joined by many accomplished athletes including double Pride Championship Title Holder Dan “Hollywood” Henderson, Olympic Silver Medalist, UFC Veteran, IFL Team Owner and Coach Matt “The Law” Lindland and current UFC Heavy Weight Champion Randy “The Natural” Couture.
In the three Olympic styles of wrestling, this event will determine the 2007 U.S. World Team that will compete at the 2007 World Wrestling Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 71-23.
In Grappling, this event will determine the 2007 U.S. World Team that will compete at the 2007 World Wrestling Games in Antalya, Turkey, Sept. 17-23.
There are expected to be seven World or Olympic champions in the field, as well as 21 past World medalists competing in the Olympic styles at the World Team Trials.
Saturday, June 9th, we take to the air with our regular 2 hour radio/Internet broadcast starting at 9 AM CST and then its Takedownradio.com for the balance of the 2 day broadcast.
See TakedownRadio.com for live broadcasts.
Men’s freestyle (60 kg, 74 kg, 96 kg)
Men’s Greco-Roman (55 kg, 74 kg, 84 kg, 120 kg)
Women’s freestyle (51 kg, 59 kg, 67 kg, 72 kg)
Men’s Grappling (70 kg, 80 kg, 92 kg)
Women’s Grappling (48 kg, 55 kg)
Sunday, June 10 Broadcast Scheduled to begin at 11:00 AM CST at TakedownRadio.com
Men’s freestyle (55 kg, 66 kg, 84 kg, 120 kg)
Men’s Greco-Roman (60 kg, 66 kg, 96 kg)
Women’s freestyle (48 kg, 55 kg, 63 kg)
Men’s Grappling (62 kg, 125 kg)
Women’s Grappling (63 kg, 72 kg)
Also a big thanks to John Rizzutti who tried to join us at the Hall of Fame induction’s, got to within a block of the event and his car was flooded out by the torrential rains that hit Stillwater, OK that evening. This caused over 10 thousand dollars in damage to his engine. I’ll pray that insurance covers this damage. John remains a good friend of ours and we thank him for his sacrifice.
Countdown to Fight Nite in the Flats III
Posted on | June 5, 2007 | No Comments
Countdown to Fight Nite in the Flats III
FNF3 Odds released by BOF
6/4/07 – Cleveland, OH: Less then 6 days remain until the return of the regions biggest and best annual MMA experience….Fight Nite in the Flats III, presented by Betonfighting.com, is set for this Saturday (6/9) night in Cleveland, Ohio and will feature a loaded fight card which will include up to sixteen MMA bouts. For the third straight year, the Plain Dealer Pavilion located in the heart of the historic Flats district in downtown Cleveland will host what promises to be the years most competitive fight card.
Pride FC veteran Dan Bobish (16-8) will tangle with unbeaten Nate Eddy (5-0) in a super heavyweight battle. Eddy is regarded by many as the regions top super heavyweight prospect and will be looking to justify that claim with a win over one of the world’s premier big men in Bobish with both fighters looking for their sixth straight win.
UFC veteran and Cleveland native, Jason “Dynamite” Dent (16-7) will collide with Team Predators Mike Bogner (6-3) in a lightweight bout. Coming off two straight fights in the UFC, Dent will return to the NAAFS to fight in front of the home town fans while Bogner goes after what would be the biggest win of his young career.
In a featured bout, Dover, Ohio’s Jason “Freebird” Freeman (8-1) will attempt to continue his rise to the top of the 205 lbs weight class when he collides with Madison, Wisconsin’s Ron Faircloth (20-10). Freeman, a devastating striker, is coming off a big win over rival Jason Jones via submission at Caged Fury 2 back in March of this year.
“Ron has been to where I want to be (UFC) and I know this is my chance to prove I belong there. I won’t be denied on June 9th”, Freeman told PKW earlier this week.
2006 NAAFS national welterweight champion “Smokin” Joe Heiland (7-0) will make his highly anticipated pro debut on June 9th when he takes on Team Predators Jacob Eaton. Heiland was featured on PKW Live radio last night and discussed his decision to turn pro and his thoughts on facing Eaton this Saturday night. His message to the fans? Simply ”Don’t Blink”.
BetonFighting.com releases Official FNF3 Odds
The world wide leader in MMA gaming and title sponsor for FNF3, Betonfighting.com has released the official odds for Fight Nite in the Flats III. To check the up to the minute FNF3 odds, log on to www.betonfighting.com or click here – http://www.betonfighting.com/schedule.aspx?league=206
Heiland and Marchette Featured on PKW Live Radio
“Smokin” Joe Heliand and Sonny Marchette were both featured guests on PKW Live last night (6/3/07). Both fighters previewed their respective bouts on June 9th and discussed preparing for FNF3. In addition, the PKW crew breaks down the entire FNF3 fight card along with the latest news in the week of MMA. To listen to last nights broadcast log on to www.PKWlive.com or click here – http://64.199.31.202/welw/PKW%20Live/06-03-07%20PKW%20Live.mp3
Pro Weigh-Ins Open to Public this Friday Night
The Powerhouse Pub will be hosting the official FNF3 pro weigh-ins this Friday night starting at 7PM. The Friday weigh-ins will be open to the public and media with a fighter photo session immediately follow the weigh-ins. The Powerhouse pub is located on the first floor of the Powerhouse building directly next door to the Plain Dealer Pavilion.
FNF3 Post Fight Bash!
This years FNF post fight party will be hosted by Cyrus’ Waterfront Restaurant and Pub. Cyrus’ is located in the Powerhouse building near the main gates of the Plain Dealer Pavilion. The post fight festivities will begin immediately following Saturday’s main event. Enjoy comfortably priced contemporary American cuisine indoors or on Cyrus’ spacious 200-seat patio alongside the Cuyahoga River with breathtaking views of the decoratively lit bridges and the Cleveland skyline…..along with a chance to meet the fighters. Directions for all FNF3 venues are available at www.nauticaflats.com and www.PKWlive.com.
Fight Nite in the Flats 3 – Updated Fight Card
Featured Pro Bouts
SHW – Dan “The Bull” Bobish 16-8 (Strongstyle Fight Team) vs Nate Eddy 5-0 (Team Titan)
205 lbs – Jason “Freebird” Freeman 8-1 (Vander Fighting Systems) vs Ron Faircloth 20-10 (Freestyle Fight Team)
155 lbs – Jason “Dynamite” Dent 16-7 (Team GriffonRawl) vs Mike Bogner 6-3-1 (Team Predator)
265 lbs – Andre Mussi 10-3 (Rio De Janeiro, Brazil) vs Dave Herman 8-0 (Damage Inc)
170 lbs – “Smokin” Joe Heiland 7-0 (StrongStyle Fight Team) vs Jacob Eaton 1-2 (Team Predator)
185 lbs – John Soeder 3-0-1 (StrongStyle Fight Team) vs Taiwon “The Iron Dragon” Howard 5-1 (Rising Dragon)
145 lbs – Sonny Marchette 1-1 (Independent) vs Dan “The Pennsylvania Hitman” Swift 27-24 (Team DNA)
265 lbs – Joe McCall 1-0 (Independent) vs Justin Black 5-0 (Wreckroom Athletics)
FNF3 Preliminary Bouts
265 lbs – Josh “The Sandman” Stansbury 7-1 (Next Level Fight Team) vs Matt “the Lumberjack” Lisi 3-0 (Team Anarchy)
145 lbs – Zach Moomey 6-1 (Scodova’s MMA and Kickboxing) vs Paul “Str8 Outta” Compton 8-0 (Team Warfare)
185 lbs – Chuck Ellison 5-1 (Instigator Fight Team) vs Mark Hoppel 5-0 (Team Next Level)
205 lbs – Joe “The Giant Killer” Lewis 3-0 (Wreckroom Athletics) vs Chris Canale 3-1 (Youngstown, OH)
265 lbs – John “The Showstopper” Hedges 2-1 (Team Warfare) vs Norm “The Jackhammer” Carriero 2-0 (Independent)
170 lbs – Kellen Hughes 5-1 (Team Next Level) vs Frank “The Tank” Carabello 3-2 (Rising Dragon)
185 lbs – Nick “The Savage” Duell 4-2-1 (Jungle Fight Team) vs Thomas Gonzalez 2-1 (Ashtabula, OH)
155 lbs – Bill Feinberg 1-0 (Jungle Fight Team) vs Kevin Rothacker 0-0 (Strong Style Fight Team)
*All bouts subject to change
Tickets for Fight Nite in the Flats 3 are now on sale and going very fast. Fans can call the NAAFS Ticket Hotline at 330-280-8442 or log on to www.PKWlive.com or www.NAAFS.tv to reserve your seats today. Ticket prices range from $25 to $100 in advance. Tickets will be available at the door on June 9th starting at 5 PM.
NAAFS “Fight Nite in the Flats 3” is proudly sponsored by BetonFighting.com, Tazmanian Freight Systems, Cyrus’ Waterfront Restaurant, The Powerhouse Pub, Bloody Buddy Fight Gear, 2XL Sports Gear, Rhino’s Energy Drink, SportstalkNetwork.com, Rascal House Pizza, WELW 1330 AM, and the Voice of the Fight fan, PKW Live!
Updated 2007 NAAFS Schedule:
June 9th, 2007: Betonfighting.com presents Fight Nite in the Flats 3
The Plain Dealer Pavilion – Cleveland, OH
Tickets: Now On sale
330-280-8442
www.PKWlive.com
www.NAAFS.tv
June 16th, 2007: Midwest Grappling Open (grappling tournament)
Strong Style Training Center – Independence, OH
Pre-Registration and event info now available at www.PKWLive.com.
July 7th, 2007: Brawl at the Hall
Packard Music Hall – Warren, OH
Tickets: Now on sale at
www.PKWlive.com, www.NAAFS.tv or by calling 330-280-8442
August 4th, 2007: War on the Shore
The Cove – Geneva, OH
Tickets: On Sale July 1st, 2007
More info Coming Soon
330-280-8442
www.PKWlive.com
www.NAAFS.tv
August 18th, 2007: NAAFS Kickboxing
Chapparells Community Center – Akron, OH
Tickets: On sale June 15th at www.PKWlive.com or by calling 330-280-8442
September 15th, 2007: NAAFS vs Next Level
St. John Arena – Steubenville, OH
Tickets: TBA
More info Coming Soon
330-280-8442
www.PKWlive.com
www.NAAFS.tv
The NAAFS is currently finalizing locations and dates for the remainder of the 2007 series and will be releasing an updated schedule soon on www.NAAFS.tv.
NOOBS ARE PEOPLE, TOO
Posted on | June 4, 2007 | 1 Comment
LOVE THOSE “TUF NOOBS”
Let me start with this: The Ultimate Fighter TV show is the best thing to ever happen to the sport of Mixed Martial Arts.
Pause for the sound of fists banging on keyboards and the echoes of thousands of MMA fans screaming heresy at my proclamation.
Please don’t call me a “TUF NOOB,” which is apparently the biggest insult you can give to an MMA fan. I’ve been an MMA fan since the day I saw a guy with one boxing glove on get his ass handed to him in a cage. I loved Pride as much as everyone, but its all about the UFC now. Zuffa owns everything. Pride as we knew it is over. Deal with it. And please don’t look down on fans that got their start after watching The Ultimate Fighter. Maybe they aren’t as knowledgeable as fight geeks like you and me, us types who pour over the net in search of info on obscure fight cards in Middle America and gossip about fighters’ personal lives. Just be happy they are supporting our sport and not letting their precious consumer dollars go to some mainstream bore like Baseball. Forgive them if they have never heard of Fedor Emelianenko or think that the winner of The Ultimate Fighter is really the ultimate fighter. Give them a while to learn. You were probably a noob at some point too. Not everyone can be as nerdy and all knowing as us.
Ok, back to my original point. The Ultimate Fighter is great for our sport. It shows the casual or non fan the intense training and athleticism that is required to be a successful MMA athlete. In addition, it allows the average guy to relate to the athletes and their lives…something increasingly rare in professional sports. Your average Joe can relate to your average hard working, family man MMA fighter a hell lot more than they can relate to the big ticket stars like Derek Jeter or Lebron James. Your average pro MMA fighter here in the US is still refreshingly normal, with young kids, a day job and a mortgage. A few ‘em get to reach the upper echelon of the sport and make a good buck, but most have to grind it out…and with every new “TUF NOOB,” the payday of those average MMA fighters will get a little bit bigger.
This season of TUF has been a great display of MMA in my not so humble opinion. Yes, there has been some goonish behavior on the show, but what sport doesn’t have athletes that misbehave? The public loves it when athletes misbehave and give us a nice circus to point and laugh at. Drama and hooliganism make money. If Spike/Zuffa didn’t want the guys in the house to misbehave a little bit they wouldn’t be supplying them with a stockpile of beer and tequila.
Was I the only TUF fan that was a little excited to finally see a street fight on the show?
You think if they took a dozen up and comer basketball players and made them share a house stocked with a bunch of booze they wouldn’t end up swinging at each other? I’d bet on it.
Yet some people will see the fight on TUF and use it as evidence towards their moronic belief that MMA is nothing but a bunch of street thugs engaged in “human cock fighting.”
Most of the people who make such a point do so out of pure fear. They are typically involved in the sport of boxing somehow—like Lou Dibella, Bob Arum, and Antonio Tarver—and are terrified at the fact that they have some competition on the block. Take pity on them. They are scared, and their comments are pathetic.
Just point to the PPV revenues and yell “scoreboard!”
Talk soon.
DYNAMITE SHOW NOT SO DYNAMIC
Posted on | June 4, 2007 | 1 Comment
K-1 Dynamite!! USA Post-Fight Report
By
Melissa Hatch
Correct me if I’m wrong but that was supposed to be a fight show, right?! I mean come on what was up with the whole carnival vibe! I do not know about you but I kept screaming at them to just get to the fights already. I did not pay $34.95 for practically half the show to not have anything to do with fights. And what was with the completely lame torch ceremony I mean please that was not the Olympics. Then the whole fighter parade, what was that all about? This show had me wanting to reach through my television screen and punch somebody. Do not even get me started on the DJ.
Ok so I suffered though all the lame beginning stuff and finally got to see some decent fights. Not too sure what to think about the whole fake hair piece flying through the ring, but hey who I am to judge after all he did win. I also don’t know what to think of the ride up to the ring that the fighters and fans had to endure watching for far too long. Besides, all these complaints the fights did seem to be going well and I started to enjoy myself. Dong-Sik Yoon really impressed me with his one eyed win.
Then the show went down hill once again. It started with what looked like it was going to be a club scene from a movie. I really, really wanted to strangle that DJ at this point and did not think I could infuriate me any further. Boy was I wrong. The show finally got to the event I had been dying too see since the beginning. Royce VS. Sakuraba.
Once again, the DJ had my blood boiling. For all of you uninitiated in Portuguese “r” is pronounced “h.” After screwing up the legendary Royce Graces name once the DJ finally got it right. Now I was on the edge of my seat ready to enjoy an epic battle between two great athletes. The fight started out great they were feeling each other out for a while. Then the audience who obviously had not had a lot of experience with MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) actually started booing these great gladiators. Oh man if I could have jumped through my television this would have been a perfect time to do so. Now I’m not saying I never booed a little at stuff I would never now boo at knowing more about the sport as I do now, but really people, when two great legends are there in front of me I give respect and keep my ignorance to myself.
Once again the DJ just had to make me want to strangle him and make the world of MMA safe from his stupidity. He actually at one point encouraged the crowed in their ignorance. He told them to tell the fighters what they thought of them. Hello? They proved they should keep their mouths shut almost from the get go of this match. Do not encourage them further!
Just when I thought, Sakuraba might have Royce once again. Royce pulled off a great upset. Finally, the “Legend Hunter” had been hunted down himself. This battle was what MMA is all about. What an amazing showcase of strategy and courage. After such an amazing fight, there was still one more fight in store. Brock Lesner made a smashing debut with a first round win.
I was definitely left breathless after this show. Unfortunately, for some, I was obviously not left speechless. I could not wait to vent my frustrations and disgust over the DJ, the carnival show, and the audience. But with all the things that I would love to never have to endure again there were some incredible battles that I would not have missed for the world. In parting, I would just like to remind everyone that when you go to an MMA event remember scream for your fighter but do not show them disrespect by booing what you do not understand. Remember they are putting their hearts, minds, bodies, and souls on the line. They are in there doing their thing and you are merely there as a privileged audience member.
ALL MARTIAL ARTS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL
Posted on | June 4, 2007 | 4 Comments
ALL MARTIAL ARTS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL
By: Charles Ward, CMIT © 2006
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People have been fascinated with the martial arts for centuries. Over time, more and more art forms have evolved or come into being — some good, some bad. The art forms that have stood the test of time continue to be of interest to people of all ages and cultures. However, with so many various art forms to choose from, how does a person interested in practicing the martial arts know where to start? Are they all the same? If they are different, how are they different? What different purposes do they serve? Perhaps the most important question is this — which martial art is the best for self-defense? These are all good questions for prospective students to ask themselves — and I hope to answer some of those questions with this article.
By basic definition, a martial art is just what it says, a war-like skill set. In their original formats, all martial arts were meant for battlefield application. There are, however, other related benefits that occur naturally with this type of training. Like the occupation of soldiering, a certain amount of athleticism, fitness, and discipline must be present, along with battlefield skills. Over centuries much evolution has taken place. Some of these art forms have focused more on the sporting and competition application, some have leaned more toward an aesthetic approach and focus, but only a select few have retained the true intent of self-preservation in combat. The criteria I’m setting forth in this article will focus more on the true self-defense nature of the martial arts. To evaluate a martial art on its self-defense merits, one must consider the following:
Practical Self-Defense Skills. How effective are the techniques that are taught in actual combat, and how easily are they applied by the practitioner? Real self-defense techniques and maneuvers are not fancy and flamboyant. Real combat is not like what you see in the movies. You need techniques and maneuvers that are simple, direct, and easy to remember and execute under stressful conditions.
Situational Awareness Training. This includes developing heightened senses of concentration, observation, and perception, as well as understanding and applying simple strategies and tactics for your safety. A good self-defense art form will teach its students methods of increasing situational awareness.
Discipline and Responsibility. Learning a combat-effective self-defense art requires a great deal of discipline and responsibility on the part of the practitioner. Keep in mind that the techniques learned can actually injure another person, sometimes permanently. Art forms that instill a strong sense of discipline and responsibility in their students are a must for good self-defense training.
Honor and Duty. The purpose of self-defense training is what the name implies, to defend yourself from harm. It is a normal part of the code of conduct in any good martial arts system to emphasize the point that the skills learned in class are for self-defense purposes only. By instilling honorable behavior in the students, a martial art helps to cultivate good character. This criterion goes closely with discipline and responsibility.
Physical Fitness. Any martial art that doesn’t stress the importance of developing good physical fitness is doing a disservice to its students. Martial arts practice is physically demanding and performance oriented. Developing a strong and fit body is par for the course in good self-defense training. Statements like “The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in battle,” exist for a reason. The better shape you’re in, the better your chances are of not getting seriously injured in a real encounter.
Athleticism and Coordination. Different from physical fitness, athleticism and coordination deal more with a person’s balance, grace, and fine-tuned motor skills. While it’s one thing to simply be physically fit, it’s another to have natural grace of movement. Some people have more of a natural aptitude for this than others, but it is a skill set that can be acquired and developed by anyone. As stated earlier under the physical fitness criterion, the more athleticism and coordination you have, the less likely you are to be injured in combat.
Flexibility. This criterion goes along with physical fitness. Because of the high levels of physical activity in most martial arts, the body needs to be flexible. Developing good flexibility through methods of stretching and exercise is a necessary part of good self-defense training. Having good flexibility helps to reduce injuries, and ultimately makes the techniques and maneuvers easier to perform. Through consistent practice, the criteria of physical fitness, athleticism and coordination, and flexibility will all be met. Once your body has been trained and adjusted to martial arts methods, the joints and muscles of your body become much more pliable than the average person’s. This conditioning makes you much more adaptable to stressful conditions and situations, and also much more apt to survive in combat.
To attempt an evaluation of every martial art system would be a monumental task. There are literally hundreds of different styles of martial arts in the world today. However, all of these art forms can be placed into three broad categories:
Aesthetic Art Forms
Sport & Competition Art Forms
– Point-Fighting
– Full-Contact
– Grappling
– Mixed Martial Arts & Ho-Holds-Barred
Combat Art Forms
By analyzing and understanding these categories, we are better able to evaluate types of martial arts for their self-defense worth.
AESTHETIC ART FORMS
photo of Tai Chi practitioner, courtesy of the International WuDang Association, www.wudangboxing.com/photos.htm
Aesthetic art forms focus on slow, flowing techniques and maneuvers. Other terminologies for these art forms include the following: Soft-Internal/Soft-External and Meditative Flow. Tai Chi is a good example of this type of martial art. Art forms of this nature focus on the maneuvers themselves, and how the human body blends and flows with each individual movement. Often referred to as “meditation in motion,” the slow-moving form of these arts teaches students to develop a fine-tuned sense of weight transference, balance, and coordination.
Almost every martial art has at least some these residual effects present today. In practicing kata, shadow boxing, or the repetition of particular movement drills, students are learning to concentrate on internalizing very specific physical responses and patterns of motion. In a truly aesthetic art form, however, these movements are not carried out in real time, or with great intensity. Rather, the movements are performed in slow motion, almost as if the practitioner were underwater. This method allows the student to concentrate deeply on each technique. While aesthetic art forms meet some of the criteria necessary for good self-defense training, they fall short in the area of practical self-defense skills themselves. Since the movements of these art forms are executed slowly, with an emphasis on athleticism and grace, they are not practical, applicable, or effective in the high-speed and highly fluid environment of actual combat. These art forms also fail to meet the criterion of situational awareness. Since the techniques are not practiced for combat, they will never be able to be applied in combat. For self-defense training to be meaningful, a person must train in the manner in which he/she will have to use those skills.
SPORT & COMPETITION ART FORMS
Sport and competition art forms can be further broken down into four classifications: Point-fighting styles, full-contact styles, grappling styles, and mixed martial arts “No-Holds-Barred” styles. In a point-fighting style, the competitors spar with each other under a strict set of rules. There are only a couple of legal target areas, and contact is extremely limited. Competitors accrue points based on touching their opponents with a kick or strike to a legal target area. More points are awarded for more complex techniques. Once a point is scored, action stops and the competitors return to their starting positions and resume sparring on command. This type of competition is like a high-speed game of tag. Tae Kwon Do is a good example of a point-fighting style.
photo of Taekwondo competition, courtesy of www.taekwondo.dk
Thai fighters in action, Courtesy of World Martial Arts – The World’s Best, www.groundfighter.com/content/pageid/20.html
Boxers in competition, Courtesy of Nevada State Athletic Commission, www.boxing.nv.gov
A Judo throw being executed in a match
Full-contact styles, on the other hand, have continuous action throughout the course of a round. A round is generally three to five minutes long, depending on the type of competition. Competitors try to knock their opponent unconscious, or get them to submit by “tapping out” from a painful submission hold. Some full-contact styles, such as Muay Thai and boxing, only focus on strikes and kicks — grappling is not allowed in these sports. In this format, winning by virtue of a knockout or a judge’s decision is the goal. Sports like Judo, Jiu-Jitsu, Sambo, and Greco-Roman Wrestling focus just on the grappling aspect of martial arts. In these matches, the competitors get superior position and throw their opponents to the ground. From there, various submission holds, chokes, and joint locks are applied to make their opponent “tap out,” or submit. This is what grappling, or ground-fighting, is all about. Other full-contact venues, like mixed martial arts “No-Holds-Barred” competitions, allow the competitors the freedom to employ a wide variety of skills. In contests of this nature, almost everything is allowed. Strikes, kicks, elbows, knees, throws, joint-locks, takedowns, chokes, submission holds, etc. These matches are very exciting, and provide the most realistic forum for using most of a fighter’s knowledge and skills, but in a more controlled and safer environment than actual combat.
“No Holds Barred Competition” Courtesy of the UFC (Chuck Liddell vs. Tito Ortiz)
More “No Holds Barred” competition in a ring setting (fighter going for a Guillotine choke on bottom while top fighter tries to release his head
However, as effective as some of these combative sports are in their respective arenas, they are still lacking when it comes to practical skills for actual combat. Because they are sporting events, they have some rules for safety. These rules equate to limitations when it comes time to really defend yourself. People will react to a threat exactly how they’ve been trained. If you’ve been trained with certain rules ingrained into your subconscious, then those rules will cross over into how you react to a real threat. People will do what they’ve been trained to do under stress. If a person has been trained to think of certain target areas on the body, or certain techniques, as “illegal”, then they will not attack those areas or use those techniques — period.
Although sport and competition art forms offer better self-defense training than an aesthetic art form, they still fall short when it comes to actual combat. They meet the criteria of physical fitness and conditioning in spades, and sometimes go beyond athleticism and coordination into areas of acrobatic skills, etc. While that might look impressive, it has little to no value when it comes right down to real self-defense. Also, due to the fact that the practitioners of these art forms train for competition under a set of rules, the situational awareness for actual combat is lacking. There are no rules in real combat, so you must train with that mentality to be truly effective in protecting yourself in a real-life violent situation.
COMBAT ART FORMS
Combat art forms are those martial arts that have never lost focus of the true nature of self-defense. These art forms are the rarest, but are by far the most realistic when it comes to tactical maneuvers and techniques actually designed and practiced for use in real combat. Military forces, law enforcement agencies, and other similar groups are the obvious practitioners of these types of martial arts. However, the arts themselves, and the true disciples of them, can trace the roots of their philosophies back hundreds, and sometimes thousands of years. The hard-hitting reality of true battlefield tactics is not something that the majority of practicing martial arts students and instructors are familiar with in the martial arts world of today. Most people, fortunately, never have the need for this type of knowledge and skill. However, there are those who need this type of training for survival. As far as realistic self-defense training goes, nothing else can compare to tactical CQC (Close Quarter Combat) training from a qualified and experienced instructor from such an art form.
Actually, to be accurate, Close Quarter Combat taken by itself is less of an art form and more of a system of military science. For the sake of continuity in this article I use the term art forms in describing the various styles and systems of martial arts practices.
Another reason that CQC art forms are best suited for practical self-defense is that they address the use of practical weapons training for today’s world. Impact and edged weapons like fighting sticks and knives are thoroughly covered in a good CQC curriculum. In advanced training, firearms are also covered, as well as using everyday objects as weapons. This knowledge is valuable beyond measure when it comes to true self-defense and self-preservation in combat. While it is true that there are other styles of martial arts devoted strictly to the use of a particular weapon, or weapons — those styles also focus on the traditional and historical use of those weapons. For example: Kenjutsu, Krabi-Krabong, Wu-Shu, and other classical weapons systems that focus on the use of the sword, spear, and other historical weapons, have little practical application for self-defense in today’s world. While there is no doubt as to the development of excellent coordination and conditioning in these styles, the use of a sword, spear, or other traditional martial arts weaponry has little practical value in modern day combat.
U.S. Marines in CQC Training. Staff Sgt. Dana Lege (left) and Maj. Kelly Heatherman practice unarmed strikes at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va on February 6, 2001, Courtesy of Untied States Marine Corps
CQC demonstration with Master Instructor Charles Ward (top) and instructor Christopher Gieser practicing pain compliance holds at the living weapon academy in Mesa, AZ, Courtesy of the Living Weapon Academy
For the student seeking strong and practical self-defense skills, a martial arts school devoted to a CQC curriculum is the way to go — but only if the instructor of such a school is truly qualified and experienced enough to offer realistic, effective, and safe training to the students. Some combat sports curriculums such as boxing, Muay Thai, and submission grappling can have tremendous value when it comes to self-defense, as long as a clear distinction is made between what is acceptable both in, and out, of the ring. A good CQC school will already address these issues, and will most likely also offer training in these other areas. Tai’Kor, Krav-Maga, and Gan Teora are excellent examples of combat art forms.
Soldiers in CQC training. U.S. ARMY Military Police at Fort Benning, Georgia practice hand to hand combat techniques, Courtesy of the United States Army.
Lastly, a martial arts school that offers good self-defense training will also educate its students on the psychological and emotional ramifications of engaging in real combat.
This area takes us beyond the physical aspect of learning maneuvers and techniques, and goes into what the student can expect in a real-life, violent conflict. Again, only a qualified and experienced instructor can offer those types of lessons — and the value of lessons of this nature should never be underestimated. Good self-defense training is meant for one thing, to save your life in combat, so choosing the right kind of training is an extremely important decision. By meeting all of the criteria for good self-defense training, you will have a method of staying in great physical condition, developing and maintaining a sharp and analytical mind, forging yourself into a better person through the principles of honor and discipline, and of course you will be capable of defending yourself, or those you care about, should the need ever arise.
WORKS CITED
Donohue, John J., Ph.D. Sensei. New York: 2003.
Mashiro, N., Ph.D. Black Medicine, Volume 1: The Dark Art of Death. Paladin Press: 1978.
Mashiro, N., Ph.D. Black Medicine, Volume 2: Weapons at Hand. Paladin Press: 1979.
United States Marine Corps. U.S. Marines Close-Quarters Combat Manual. Paladin Press: 1996.
Ward, Charles. Amrajutsu, The Combat Art: Official Student Textbook. 2nd ed. Warhammer Press: 1995.
Ward, Charles. The Higher Standard of Human Performance & The Living Weapon
Academy Course Catalog. Warhammer Publications: 2005.
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Tags: action > art forms > athleticism > balance > battlefield > body > centuries > cmit > com > combat > competition application > courtesy > cultures > judo > Kata > maneuvers > martial art > martial arts > merits > movement > nature > person > prospective students > round > self defense skills > self defense techniques > self preservation > Shadow > soldiering > submission > Taekwondo > Tai > test of time > threat > time > true intent > true self defense > type
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