“Countdown to Dynamite!! USA” Debuts Tonight On SHOWTIME

Posted on | May 14, 2007 | No Comments

“Countdown to Dynamite!! USA” Debuts Tonight On SHOWTIME

Four-Part Reality Series Chronicles MMA Fighters
As They Prepare For June 2 Event at Los Angeles Coliseum

LOS ANGELES (May 14, 2007) – As mixed martial arts fans eagerly await the biggest MMA event in years, SHOWTIME will take viewers behind the scenes, inside the ropes and into the lives of the competitors on the June 2 “Dynamite!! USA” fight card. On Monday, May 14, (8:30 p.m. ET/PT) SHOWTIME will premiere the first of a four-part series entitled “Countdown to Dynamite!! USA.” Each 30-minute episode will profile the world-class fighters, detail the explosive and compelling match ups and preview the historic night of action.

The first episode of Countdown introduces viewers to many of the fighters on the eclectic card and profiles in detail the main event match up between former NCAA and WWE wrestling champion Brock Lesnar and 7-foot-2 South Korean giant Hong Man Choi. Also featured in episode one is the beautiful and talented female fighting sensation Gina Carano of Las Vegas along with her June 2 opponent, the heavy-handed and charismatic Jan “Cuddles” Finney of Springfield, Ohio.

Episode two, premiering Monday, May 21 at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME, will feature new and familiar faces to MMA fans. Former USC Trojan and NFL superstar wide receiver Johnnie Morton is preparing for his MMA debut and LA Coliseum homecoming. Morton, who used to catch touchdown passes on USC’s home turf, will look to catch the attention of the MMA faithful in his bout against Bernard Ackah of the Ivory Coast. Also in episode two, Antonio “Big Foot” Silva readies himself for his Super Heavyweight bout against Jonathan Wiezorek. Finally, the episode profiles Samoan slugger Mighty Mo, who is training for his fight against South Korea’s Mu Bae Choi.

The third installment of “Countdown to Dynamite!! USA” returns on Monday, May 28 at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME to go deep into one of the most anticipated bouts of the year. MMA legend Royce Gracie and Japan’s Kazushi Sakuraba are training for their historic rematch of an MMA classic. Their first meeting is widely considered one of the best in MMA history, a record-setting 90-minute battle in 2000 with Sakuraba winning by stoppage. It is a long-awaited grudge match between Gracie, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Master and Sakuraba, who is dubbed “The Gracie Killer” for having defeated three other members of the Gracie family. Also featured in episode three is San Francisco slugger Jake Shields, who promises to pummel Israeli tough guy Ido Pariente, and Dutch warrior Melvin Manhoef, who will showcase his startling speed and power as he prepares for his match against Dong Sik Yoon.

Episode four will be a 30-minute highlight show recapping the series. The episode will touch upon each featured fighter and match-up, serving as a last call for the highly anticipated June 2 event. The final episode premieres Friday, June 1 at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME.

Following the premiere of each episode, (with the exception of the final episode) replays will air regularly on SHOWTIME and on the network’s multiplex channels. They also will be available anytime on SHOWTIME On Demand. For a complete list of air dates and times for all SHOWTIME programming, please visit www.SHO.com/schedule.

The history-making live MMA event on June 2 will feature six fights, including the co-main events of Gracie vs. Sakuraba and Lesnar vs. Choi, available live on pay-per-view beginning at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. Prior to the pay-per-view, SHOWTIME will televise three live bouts, free to SHOWTIME subscribers from 9-10 p.m. ET/6-7 p.m. PT featuring three of EliteXC’s top performers: rising women’s superstar Carano, Brazil’s 6-foot-4, 300-pound Silva, and the speedy and powerful Shields. For pay-per-view pricing and ordering information, viewers should contact their cable or satellite provider.

Tickets for Dynamite!! USA are on sale via Ticketmaster locations, www.ticketmaster.com and the LA Coliseum box office. Seats will be available on the field and throughout the majority of the stadium bowl, with the exception of limited blocked sections on each end for restricted viewing. In the stadium bowl, seats in the upper sections will sell for $30, with the exception of the west end, which will be $10. The lower bowl will sell for $60 in most areas and $30 in the west end. On the field, tickets will run at $100 on the outer rim, $250 in the middle section and $1,000 at ringside.

Dynamite!! USA marks the first FEG event on U.S. soil and the inaugural MMA contest in the L.A. Coliseum’s 74-year history. FEG’s Heroes MMA events in Japan and Korea have routinely sold out major arenas and stadiums, including the 74,000-seat Tokyo Dome. The inaugural Dynamite in August 2002, held at Tokyo National Stadium, drew a record crowd of 92,000 fans.

Dynamite!! USA is presented by FEG (Fighting Entertainment Group), ProElite, Inc. and SHOWTIME Networks Inc.
# # #
About FEG
Formed in 2003, FEG, Inc assumed the role of K-1 Corporation in production and management of K-1 events that at the time were enjoying 13 years of success. In addition to K-1 Events, FEG, Inc’s goal was to expand the company’s presence into the world of Mixed Martial Arts as it saw the overwhelming demand from the
viewers and fans. In 2005 FEG, Inc started the production of the Hero’s events in Japan. Under the current corporate structure, FEG, Inc is responsible for the production and promotion, as well as all other
aspects of business from fighter contracts to event marketing of both the K-1 and Hero’s (Mixed Martial Arts) events all over the world.
About Showtime Networks Inc.
Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, as well as the multiplex channels SHOWTIME® TOO™, SHOWTIME® SHOWCASE, SHOWTIME EXTREME®, SHOWTIME BEYOND®, SHOWTIME NEXT®, SHOWTIME WOMEN®, SHOWTIME FAMILYZONE® and TMC XTRA. SNI also offers SHOWTIME HD®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL HD™, SHOWTIME ON DEMAND™ and THE MOVIE CHANNEL ON DEMAND™. All SNI feeds provide enhanced sound using Dolby Digital 5.1. SNI is also an owner and manager of SUNDANCE CHANNEL, a venture of NBC Universal, Robert Redford and SNI. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME® PPV.

About ProElite
ProElite Inc. delivers the most exciting entertainment experience in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA) with live arena-based entertainment events, cable television programming on Showtime Networks and community-driven interactive broadband entertainment via the Internet. ProElite embraces MMA with the highest levels of honor, integrity, discipline and self-esteem all the while remaining inclusive for fighters, fans and schools. ProElite’s live fight division, EliteXC, delivers spectacular live MMA fight events that showcase the world’s top fighters. ProElite’s interactive business, ProElite.com, capitalizes on the growing popularity of the sport of mixed martial arts by building a community of mixed martial arts enthusiasts. In addition to streaming the most exciting live fights to the web, ProElite expands the fan base of the sport by providing a comprehensive set of online social networking tools for fans, fighters and organizations. ProElite.com – Empowering the Fight Community TM

GUNN WANTS A FIGHT WITH GRIFFIN

Posted on | May 14, 2007 | 1 Comment

Bobby Gunn targets Otis Griffin!

Former Cruiserweight title challenger turned Light Heavyweight Bobby Gunn 16-3 {13 KO’s} has set his sights on NABO champion Otis “Triple OG” Griffin.

“I saw this guy on Oscar De La Hoya’s reality show The Next Great Champion” said Gunn. “This guy is so built up and he hasn’t shown the skills to pay bills. There are too many prima donnas in boxing today like Griffin. The truth is a lot of the boxing writers get caught up in the over hyped guys rather then the ones who get in the ring risk it all. He has a great manager named Nasser Pepperoni {Nasser Niavaroni} if all boxers had a manager like this, we could all be champions or contenders”.

“You had a great start to your career by being involved in a boxing TV show which 99% of us don’t have. Otis, you have no excuses because I am ranked in the top ten by the NABO so let’s make this fight happen! I’m not Mike Nevitt I’ve fought for world titles and had a great amateur background. This can be billed as the Golden Boy vs the Back Alley Boy! I will come to your hometown and fight you like a warrior should. You can pick the referee and judges because they can’t screw me if I knock you out! So are you going to hand pick all your opponents or take on a real fighter like myself? This is not a complicated deal, I am self managed if you want the fight let’s make it happen”!

Team Gunn has sent a letter to the WBO and will be ranked in the Light Heavyweight division following his June 9th fight with Antoine Barrett in Virginia. Gunn feels he will be much more effective as a Light Heavyweight. “I was walking around at 184 pounds and fighting guys who came in over 200 lbs. “This caused a major problem because these guys are really Heavyweights in the ring”, said Gunn.

Gunn is presently in an intense training camp in Canada where he is working hard for his first fight at the 175 pound limit. Even with his major size disadvantage, Gunn fulfilled his dream during his title shot April 7th against WBO Criserweight king Enzo Maccarinelli. Gunn’s title shot was controversially halted on the same night at the same venue that featured the stoppage of the Peter Manfredo Joe Calzaghe fight.

HOPKINS VS. WRIGHT PRESS TOUR

Posted on | May 12, 2007 | No Comments

BERNARD HOPKINS AND WINKY WRIGHT ANNOUNCE
JULY 21 “COMING TO FIGHT” PRESS TOUR LAUNCHING
TUESDAY MAY 15 IN NEW YORK CITY

LOS ANGELES (May 10) . . . A five-city press tour is planned for “Coming To Fight,” the highly anticipated match-up between light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins (47-4-1, 32 KOs) and Winky Wright (51-3-1, 25 KOs) for Hopkins’ Ring Magazine light heavyweight belt. The tour kicks off Tuesday, May 15 at the ESPN Zone in New York City and continues on to Tampa, Washington, DC, Philadelphia and Los Angeles. The fighters will conduct press conferences, interviews and photo opportunities as part of the excitement leading into this summer’s hottest event.

Hopkins vs Wright “Coming to Fight” will take place Saturday, July 21 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fight is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, in association with Winky Promotions, and sponsored by Southwest Airlines, Tecate beer and Rockstar Energy Drink. HBO Pay-Per-View will televise the fight live at 9pm ET/ 6pm PT.

Tickets for the July 21 battle for supremacy at the Mandalay Bay Events Center are priced at $850, $650, $450, $250 and $100, and are now available at any Mandalay Bay box office and Ticketmaster.

“I love this fight, I’m ready for this fight,” said Hopkins. “I’m in tremendous shape, and I’ll show my fans once again how I dominate the ring.”

Wright stated, “I respect Bernard Hopkins for what he’s accomplished in his career but I’m looking forward to showing him I am the best in this business.”

HOPKINS VS. WRIGHT TOUR DATES AND CITIES

TUESDAY, MAY 15—NEW YORK CITY
WEDNESDAY, MAY 16—TAMPA
THURSDAY, MAY 17—WASHINGTON, DC/ PHILADELPHIA
TUESDAY, MAY 22—LOS ANGELES

ANDRE BERTO ADDED TO MAY 19th TAYLOR vs. SPINKS CARD

Posted on | May 12, 2007 | 1 Comment

For Immediate Release

DIBELLA ENTERTAINMENT SUPERSTAR WELTERWEIGHT CONTENDER ANDRE BERTO ADDED TO THE SPECTACULAR JERMAIN TAYLOR-CORY SPINKS CARD SET FOR SATURDAY NIGHT, MAY 19 AT FEDEX FORUM IN MEMPHIS
***Super Bantamweight Standout Jose Navarro and Undefeated Middleweight Ronald Hearns Also in Action***

New York, May 11-A bevy of DiBella Entertainment youngsters, including superstar welterweight contender Andre Berto, have been added to the spectacular Jermain Taylor-Cory Spinks card set for Saturday night, May 19 at the FedEx Forum in Memphis.

Unbeaten Winter Haven , Florida native Andre Berto (17-0, 15 KO’s) takes on Martinus Clay ( 12-14-2 , 4 KO’s) in a ten round welterweight bout. A 2004 Olympian, Berto has been nothing short of sensational in his pro career, as he tries to extend his unbeaten string to 18 straight. Berto possesses all of the qualities of a boxing superstar: determination, hard work ethic, boxing skills, knockout power and charisma to take him to the championship level. Clay is known throughout the industry as a fighter who always provides competitive rounds and goes the distance. Berto, as all young prospects rising up, needs to go rounds. Clay should provide that having been in training for well over a month.

Super bantamweight standout Jose Navarro (25-2, 11 KO’s) will be in action as he faces Roberto Gomez (14-14-2, 10 KO’s) in an 8 round super bantamweight tilt. The flashy southpaw Navarro is ranked second in the WBO, fourth in the WBC, sixth in the WBA, and seventh in the IBF. Navarro looks to stay active in hopes of landing another world title shot by the end of the year.

Undefeated Ronald Hearns (13-0, 11 KO’s) will also see action in Memphis . The Motor City native Hearns will go toe to toe with Dennis Sharpe (17-4, 4 KO’s) of Bayonne , N.J. in an eight round middleweight clash. The hard-hitting Hearns has disposed of 11 of his 13 career opponents with a knock out.

In the co-feature, no. 1 ranked IBF middleweight contender Edison Miranda (28-1, 24 KO’s) collides with No. 1 rated WBC middleweight contender Kelly Pavlik (30-0, 27 KO’s) in a twelve round WBC eliminator bout billed as “The Right to Fight”.

Tickets are priced at $550, $450, $250, $125, $95, $45, and $25 for students, seniors, and active military. Tickets are available at the FedExForum Box Office, All Ticketmaster Outlets, www.ticketmaster.com or charge by phone at 901-525-1515.

For more information, visit www.fedexforum.com.

MALIGNAGGI CHALLENGES N’DOU

Posted on | May 11, 2007 | No Comments

For Immediate Release

DIBELLA ENTERTAINMENT’S PAULIE MALIGNAGGI CHALLENGES LOVEMORE N’DOU FOR IBF JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT TITLE ON SATURDAY, JUNE 16, AT MOHEGAN SUN ARENA
***Curtis Stevens faces unbeaten Andre Dirrell in co-feature; HBO’s Boxing After Dark to Televise***

New York, May 10—DiBella Entertainment’s Paulie Malignaggi challenges veteran world titlist Lovemore N’dou in an IBF Junior Welterweight Championship bout on Saturday night, June 16 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville , Connecticut , it was announced today by DBE president Lou DiBella.

HBO Sports exciting Boxing After Dark series will televise live. It will be Malignaggi’s second straight appearance on BAD.

In the co-feature, Brownsville, Brooklyn’s Curtis Stevens (17-1, 12 KO’s) makes his HBO debut in a 10 round super middleweight battle against fast rising prospect Andre Dirrell (11-0, 7 KO’s), the 2004 Olympic Bronze medalist. Stevens is yet another fighter groomed and developed on DBE’s Broadway Boxing, sponsored by HBO.

“Magic Man” Malignaggi (22-1, 5 KO’s) comes off a convincing unanimous decision triumph over Edner “Cherry Bomb” Cherry on February 17 at New York City ’s Hammerstein Ballroom. Malignaggi made his return to the ring a winning one in his first fight since his courageous battle against world champion Miguel Cotto last June 10th.

N’dou (40-8-1, 30 KO’s), fighting out of Sydney, Australia, by way of South Africa, is dubbed the “Black Panther” and will provide Malignaggi with a championship test, as he has never failed to rumble with the best of the best. “Lovemore makes great fights, and I expect him to do the same on June 16th”said promoter DiBella.

Stevens (17-1, 12 KO’s) comes off a convincing unanimous decision victory over Darnell Boone on March 22 at the Hammerstein Ballroom, his fourth straight victory.

Flint, Michigan native Dirrell is undefeated in 11 professional tries, including 7 KO’s, so it will be the gifted boxer/puncher vs. knockout artist when the two collide.

Tickets go on sale Monday, May 14th for $150; $100; $75; $45, and will be available
through the Mohegan Sun Box Office or any Ticketmaster outlet.

ROYCE GRACIE TALKS ABOUT HIS DYNAMITE APPEARANCE

Posted on | May 10, 2007 | No Comments

CONFERENCE CALL QUOTES
LEGENDARY MMA PIONEER & HALL OF FAMER ROYCE GRACIE, ELITEXC LIVE EVENTS PRESIDENT, GARY SHAW
Thursday, May 10, 2007

In a highly anticipated grudge rematch, Royce Gracie will face Japan’s Kazushi Sakuraba in the semi-main event of the spectacular “SoftBank presents Dynamite!! USA’’ MMA event Saturday, June 2, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. It is presented by FEG (Fighting Entertainment Group), ProElite and SHOWTIME Networks.

Legendary MMA pioneer and Hall of Famer, Royce Gracie, participated in a spirited 45-minute open media workout Thursday at Neutral Grounds — Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Long Beach, Calif. Gracie is shown here working out with trainer Alex Di Ciero

Gracie works out with training partner Ganyao Fairtex

Tickets, priced from $10 to $1000, are on sale via Ticketmaster locations, www.ticketmaster.com and the Coliseum box office. The live card starts at 5 p.m. PT.

The highly anticipated Gracie-Sakuraba fight is one of six that will be produced and distributed live by SHOWTIME® Pay-Per-View (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT).

In other SHOWTIME PPV bouts, seven-foot-two-inch South Korean giant Hong Man Choi will face hugely popular former pro and NCAA wrestling champion Brock Lesnar, while former University of Southern California (USC) and NFL star Johnnie Morton will make his MMA debut. Contact your Pay-Per-View provider to order “Dynamite!! USA.”

The SHOWTIME® PPV fights will be preceded by a one-hour telecast on SHOWTIME® (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) that will feature three of ProElite’s EliteXC top performers, popular women’s superstar Gina Carano, Antonio “Big Foot” Silva and Jake Shields.

Shaw: It is going to be a great event. First time ever that SHOWTIME is doing an MMA Pay Per View and the first time that we are doing a live SHOWTIME show leading into a Pay Per View, which should be really exciting. On behalf of FEG, EliteXC and ProElite, I would like to welcome everyone to this call. On a personal note, (I would like to say) how lucky I am. This will be my second MMA event and I am with the first family of MMA, so I am a lucky promoter in that respect. We have some great fights on this card. (We are bringing back) Gina Carano back. Everybody was so excited (after her) first fight, and (Antonio) Silva. I want to see Brock Lesnar fight myself and, of course, the historical rematch of Gracie and Sakuraba.

Begin Press Questions

Question: How’s training been going and what are your thoughts entering this grudge rematch?

Gracie: First, I do not believe in luck. To be involved with the No. 1 family in the MMA business, he must know what he is doing. Grudge match? I do not think it is really a grudge match. He is just an opponent. (We will be fighting with) different rules than (we did when we fought) in Japan. I am training to win and we will see what happens.

Question: In the first fight, you fought 15-minute rounds. This fight will be five-minute rounds. How does that affect your strategy?

Gracie: I was training for (a fight that had) five-minute rounds. So I have not changed that much. The last time I fought 15-minute rounds was in 2000. What is my strategy? Just got to get used to it. That is pretty much it.

Question: Do you feel pressure on you to uphold the family name and finally beat this guy?

Gracie: If I look at the pressure, I would not walk out in the rain. I would stay home. So I try not to put any pressure (on myself).

Question: Do you still enjoy fighting? Do you still feel you have a lot of peak years left in you and that you can fight as well as you did before?

Gracie: I am still on the top. My name is still a draw, so yes. I still have a few years (left). I take care of my body. I do not drink or smoke. I live a very healthy life, eat a lot of fruits. I eat very healthy, and I am always in shape. So it is not like I totally get out of shape.

Question: This is like a home game for you since you live in Torrance, Calif., which is not too far from downtown Los Angeles. How does that help you?

Gracie: It is much easier. You are fighting at home, so I do not have to look for places to eat. (I do not have to worry about) not knowing the place or what kind of food is going to be served, or get used to jet lag. It is much easier that way.

Question: Gary, was there any truth to the rumors that Josh Barnett would be on the card?

Shaw: We were trying to get the very, very best fighters we could for this show and we did contact a lot of different fighters, both through my matchmakers and through the FEG portion.
Question: Royce, were there any other opponents discussed for this bout?

Gracie: No, Sakuraba was the first opponent they brought up to me.

Question: Royce, how is your mindset? You are used to venues in Japan, but now (you are back) in the U.S. and competing in place that holds 90,000 people. Also, how is your mindset in regard to trying to avenge a loss against Sakuraba in 2000?

Gracie: I fought in Japan with a crowd of 92,000 people, so the crowd does not really bother me. It does not matter if it is 1,000 or 90,000 people. I am only going to listen to my corner – my father, my brothers, my cousins. So it is select hearing. But pressure? I do not put myself under the pressure of having to come back from a loss. I understand losing, winning. If I lose, something went wrong so I go home and I figure out what happened. I know how to deal with pressure. I do not feel that I have to avenge my loss to Sakuraba. Every fight is different. Every approach is different. Every approach has its own strategy.

Question: Would you say this outcome would affect your future?

Gracie: My future is on the history book. No, that would not change a thing. Ali is the greatest boxer of all time. He lost his last few fights, but he is still the greatest.

Question: Can you go back to the first fight with Sakuraba and talk about your feelings and how it ended up?

Gracie: That fight was in a tournament. We were fighting no time limit, 15-minute rounds with two minute rests. We had to fight right after. Whoever wins would go on to fight again in the tournament one or two more times. So it was three fights in the same night. It got to the point that I think he thought the same thing: Forget the next fight. We have got to finish this one. We were both so exhausted. But he kicked me on the shin. There was a partial tear on the tendon, a crack on the shin. (After) six rounds, I sat down and told my brother and my father, ‘I can get up, but I cannot walk. There is no way I can walk. What should I do?’ They told me, ‘You cannot confuse being tough with being stupid. You have already proven to us you are tough by fighting six rounds for 15 minutes. To continue on would be (a stupid thing to do). If you cannot walk, you cannot walk. Let us throw the towel.’

Question: How important is it for the Gracie’s to get a win over Sakuraba, who has made a career out of fighting you guys.

Gracie: He made a career of fighting everybody. He never turns down an opponent. It does not matter what size. The guy is a good fighter. He made his career great not just by fighting the Gracie’s, but by fighting everybody and putting his blood on the mat.

Question: Gary, Sakuraba has a history of medical problems, and he is going to have to go through a rigorous physical to pass in California to be eligible for the fight. Is there a contingency plan in place if Sakuraba does not pass the physical?

Shaw: Very good question. No, not at this time. We do not have a second opponent lined up. I think that is bad karma for me and the way I deal in business. Hopefully, everybody we have is in top shape and is medically cleared to fight. Obviously, everybody knows my reputation. I would never put anybody in that is not medically cleared or has any injury. As of right now, I am told that he is in excellent health and there is no problem and he will clear the medical. So the direct answer: there is no contingency plan at this moment.

Question: Royce, how do you think the U.S. rules are going to affect this fight?

Gracie: Well, I was training for that (for my last scheduled fight). So the short rounds just (means) a faster pace. Fighting 15-minute rounds for six rounds, you have to pace yourself.

Question: Do you think the rules will change the direction of the fight especially since Sakuraba will not be able to use some of the tools he used against you in the first fight?

Gracie: It changes it for both of us, but a fight is still a fight. It is a question of who is better trained for that day and who did their homework. Yes, the rules change (things) a little bit, but it is not a major thing. Whether I fight in a cage or a ring, it is the same thing in the end.

Question: Gary, what is your goal for attendance?

Shaw: Obviously, I would like to have 70,000 people in there. You cannot go by 90,000 because there are a lot of seat kills because of television and Pay Per View. But at the end of the day, I would be thrilled with 35,000 or 40,000. But if you ask me getting closer to the event, I will have a better handle on it.

Question: With the ticket sales starting last Friday, do you think you will be able to accomplish that 35,000 or 40,000?

Shaw: Yes, I do. I have to get the numbers from FEG, who has those tickets and has that part of the program. I will try to get an answer to your question.

Question: Royce, with you being the headliner in such a high profile event, do you feel any extra pressure to have an exciting fight versus just trying to win?

Gracie: Every fight is different. I am not worried about showing off for anybody. I am worried about doing my game, playing my strategy, putting my game on the table and winning. Of course, it takes two of us to make the fight exciting. You can put me in the ring with a guy who comes out and wants to fight like I do and the fight is exciting. Or you can put me in a ring with a guy who is a boring fighter, who wants to run the entire time and the fight becomes boring. The crowd goes to sleep on it. It just depends on the fighters. That is why matchmaking is very important.

Question: With this show being outdoors, are you worried about the heat of California possibly affecting the outcome?

Gracie: Not at all. I live in California. I am at home.

Question: You have trained hard in many areas of fighting. How much do you think you have improved in your jiu jitsu since you started fighting?

Gracie: I have been training and improving. It is not like I am standing and not training at all. For six months of the year, I am on the road teaching — from South America to Europe to Japan. So I am keeping up with the game.

Question: What do you feel will be different and what makes you feel confident you will win this time?
Gracie: If you look at the first fight with Sakuraba, I was winning the first three or four rounds. Many told me that I should not have asked for a no time limit, that I should have asked for one round since I was winning in the first few rounds.

Question: Gary, has there been any opponent named for Antonio Silva?

Shaw: We are working on that and will hopefully have that closed by tomorrow.

Question: Brock Lesnar, who is also be on the card, has a one fight deal with FEG. Will there be any interest from FEG and/or EliteXC to sign Lesnar to a longer term contract?

Shaw: I cannot speak on behalf of FEG; I can only speak on behalf of EliteXC and the answer to that would be yes.

Question: Gary, what are the rules for the fight with Royce and Sakuraba? What happens if it goes five rounds?

Shaw: The reason I cannot answer that is because I have not sat down for a meeting that we are going to have between EliteXC, FEG and the California Commission.

Question: Royce, how many times have you watched Sakuraba fight in the last two years or so?

Gracie: I watched when he fought last New Year’s Eve and I watched a couple of fights before that. But I know him. I know his game and who he is training with.

Question: Do you think he has gotten better or worse as a fighter?

Gracie: I do not think he has gotten worse. He may be more experienced now. If he was worse, he would have been gone from the game a long time ago.

Question: Gary, are there going to be special rules in this fight or will it follow the unified rules?

Shaw: I would guess that it would follow the unified rules, but EliteXC rules are different from the rules that FEG fights under. So we have to get our act together so that we are all under one rule for the entire card of the night – both SHOWTIME and the Pay Per View. Whatever we do, we have to clear with Armando Garcia from the Commission.

Question: The bout is five rounds. To my understanding there is no title on the line. How did you secure a five round, non-title fight?

Shaw: Within the rules of California, there is no rule that says you cannot have a five-round fight.

Question: Royce, how important was your fight when you fought Sakuraba? Did you feel you were representing your family or was it nothing more than a typical fight?

Gracie: I am always representing my family. So every fight is important. I cannot say my last fight was not important. Every fight to me is important. I am a professional at this game.

Question: What about Sakuraba? After the way that fight happened and just the epic nature of it, were you disappointed? What was your emotional state after that fight?

Gracie: I am trained to win. I do not train to lose. Of course, I am disappointed to lose. I am not happy. Who is happy to lose?

Question: You talked about your corner saying you proved how tough you were. Did you feel you came out of that fight adding to your legacy, or did the loss in any way diminish what you had accomplished before?

Gracie: Hey, we fought for an hour and 45 minutes total time. It was the second longest fight in history. My father fought for three hours and 42 minutes. I am proud of that.

Question: On the family side, are your older brothers helping you prepare for this?

Gracie: They are all helping and supporting me one way or the other. Some of my brothers are busy and cannot make it. But some of the brothers are already here. They have been watching Sakuraba fight and giving me input on what could be done.

Question: Do you have any knowledge of them preparing for fights of their own?

Gracie: No, I do not.

Question: After the Sakuraba fight was over, what was the immediate reaction of your family?

Gracie: The next day we sat down and went through what happened, what I could have done better. There were a couple of things I could have done better. We discussed that. Every time, if we win or lose, the next day we get together right away and go through the fight.

Question: Have you been craving for a rematch since you lost?

Gracie: This is just something that came up on me. When they offered, I said sure, let us do it. It has been awhile since I fought him.

Question: Well, the first fought was in Japan. Would you ever expect the rematch would be happening in America and not Japan?

Gracie: In this game, you cannot expect anything. Anything can happen. Actually, I fought at his house and now he is coming to fight at my house.

Question: Was there any difference between the feeling after the loss in your last fight and the loss to Sakuraba?

Gracie: I did not show up my last fight. I had his number and had his address, but I just did not show up. I was not present. Sakuraba, we had a battle. There was a total difference.

Question: Is there another fighting discipline now that is having a large effect on jiu jitsu and changing its direction, especially Gracie jiu jitsu?

Gracie: It is going to be hard to do that now. From the beginning it was a style against a style, and my family proved that the Gracie’s were using the best style. But today, everybody changes it. Boxers and kick boxers are practicing grappling, and then grapplers are practicing stand-up. So it is not a style against a style anymore. There is not one style that dominates anymore. Now, it is the person. Whoever does their homework, whoever trains, (wins).

Question: Is there one particular style that maybe affected the way you trained jiu jitsu?

Gracie: No. It is all around. It is not a style anymore. If you get just a wrestler who never boxed before or a karate guy that has never done any grappling, most likely he will not last long in the ring. Today’s combinations are all around. You have to be all around.

Question: Which one of those styles do you find the most difficulty training in?

Gracie: I have been in this business so long; I do not find any of it difficult. You are asking me which gun is harder to shoot, a 45 or 9 mm. To me, I shoot a lot, so they are both the same to me. I like both of them. But for somebody that never fought before, they might know the difference. But for me, I am out on the range every week, so it is so easy.

Question: Are you coming out guns blazing on June 2?

Gracie: I am ready for the fight.

Question: Gary, much was made about the alliance between K1 and EliteXC, and there is an event in late June (June 22) that EliteXC is putting on with Strike Force. Is this a trend we can expect EliteXC and SHOWTIME PPV to follow in the future?

Shaw: Yes, exactly. When we had our first press conference, I said that was what we were going to do and we were going to live by (as well as allowing fighters signed to EliteXC to fight for other organizations. The only way to grow this sport is to join forces and work with others so there can be a true champion. So when someone is either in the ring or a cage, and they hold up a belt, they can say, “I am a world champion.” It was not just staged from within; it is inclusive and not exclusive.

Question: Royce, obviously you come from the most legendary family in all of mixed martial arts. Are there any younger family members you are looking to carry on the legacy that you and your brothers have set?

Gracie: Oh, the Gracie family is always producing a new generation of champions. There are a few guys coming up. There are a lot of great family members.

Question: Royce, you sound very excited and it gives the impression you really do still enjoy everything about the game. Is there anything that is more difficult about getting up and going back to training everyday these days for you?

Gracie: Oh, I have got four kids at home. Staying away from them and putting them away to go train — yes, that is hard. I enjoy my wife and kids. So it is hard sometimes when I have to disappear for three or four months to prepare for a fight.

Question: Some people might say that as time has gone on in MMA that the really good fighters are less likely to be caught in submissions than in the early days. It appears that less fights end in submissions. Do you have any thoughts on that phenomenon?

Gracie: That means everybody is practicing grappling, so it is making it harder. It is the evolution of the game.

Question: Royce, how many fights left you have under contract to K1 and FEG?

Gracie: I am fighting a single fight (with a one-fight) contract now.

Question: Gary, there are a couple fights you said would not be on SHOWTIME or PPV. Will any of those fights be on a web simulcast?

Shaw: Unfortunately not. That was FEG who did that. Those initial fights are going to be sent internationally. International will pick up the SHOWTIME portion and then pick up the pay-per-view portion. So those will be the two or three fights that will go on just prior to the SHOWTIME telecast. We may hold one as a swing bout if we go through the three fights quickly on SHOWTIME.

Question: Royce, what are your thoughts about this card overall – from top to bottom? It is obvious they star studded a great competitive card. What are your thoughts?

Gracie: I like it. It is a very good card, very good overall. There are a couple of guys that we do not know how they are going to react — like Johnnie Morton and Brock Lesnar, but Brock Lesnar’s opponent is a tough opponent, so I believe it will be a fight. Johnnie Morton is an athlete. He has been training in martial arts for a long time. He used to train with my family a long time ago. It is a good card.

Question: What do you think of Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva?

Gracie: I am not crazy about his style.

Shaw: Once they get with me, Royce, they change. I do want to say in closing that I am honored to be
working with you. I appreciate you being on our card.

Question: Royce, do you have any closing comments?

Gracie: Seems people are worried about whether the tickets will sell. If they do or not, there is going to be a show. If it rains that day, somebody will take a hit on June 2. Even if the entire show gets canceled because of rain, snow in Los Angeles, I am going to drive downtown later and I am going to hit somebody in the face on June 2. I have been training for awhile. This is a fight that is going to happen.

IFO Middleweight Championship Fight Preview:

Posted on | May 9, 2007 | No Comments

IFO Middleweight Championship Fight Preview:
Marvin Eastman vs. Rob Kimmons MMA Title Fight on July 7, 2007

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Las Vegas, Nevada – May 9, 2007 – Hall of Fame Boxing Referee Richard Steele and Steve Oshins, co-owners of Steele Cage Promotions, LLC (www.steelecage.com) and the International Fighting Organization, LLC (IFO), announce one of two exciting championship fights scheduled for their Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) promotion to be held on July 7, 2007 (7/7/7) at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Marvin “The Beastman” Eastman will be fighting Rob “The Rosedale Reaper” Kimmons for the IFO Middleweight Championship in the co-main event. The fight card will be televised nationally and will be available in more than five million homes on HDNet (www.HDNet.com).

Marvin “The Beastman” Eastman (13-7-1) is no stranger to MMA fans. He has compiled an impressive record despite fighting the likes of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Rich “Ace” Franklin, Alex Stiebling, Vitor Belfort, Travis Lutter, Jason Lambert and Jason MacDonald. Already having one of the most muscular physiques in MMA, Eastman will be moving down from 205 to fight at a ripped 185. Having anticipated the Beastman’s move down a weight class, the public will finally see whether the Beastman will be able to dominate the middleweight division. The Beastman is a force at 205 and is one of the best fighters in the world at that weight, so there are very few 185-lb. fighters willing to fight him.

The Beastman will have some tough competition in Rob “The Rosedale Reaper” Kimmons (16-2). In addition to his 16-2 record as a pro, Kimmons was 15-0 as an amateur. He has won the Kansas City Hook ‘n Shoot Light Heavyweight Championship, the Clash of the Titans Heavyweight Championship, and the St. Paddys Day Rumble Middleweight Championship. He is a fan favorite because of his aggressive fighting style that has resulted in only three of his thirty-three pro and amateur fights going the distance. He will go right after the Beastman and will make this one of the early candidates for Fight of the Year in 2007.

Other fighters on the July 7, 2007 fight card include Brandon Shelton (14-1), Eric Payne (20-6), David “The Crow” Loiseau (14-7), Zac George (11-1) and many others. Tickets can be purchased online at www.orleansarena.com or by calling the Orleans Arena at 702-284-7777 or 888-234-2334. Ticket prices range from $45.00 to $175.00.