Sylvia stops Buentello in 2nd Round for PWP Title

Posted on | August 16, 2010 | No Comments

‘War on the Mainland’ PPV show

Lopez stops Lambert, Horwich wins another title, Pulver loses 6th in row

IRVINE, California (Aug. 14, 2010) – Two-time UFC heavyweight champion Tim “The Maine-iac” Sylvia’s comeback successfully continued tonight with a one-punch knockout of Paul “The Headhunter” Buentello for the Powerhouse World Promotions Heavyweight Championbship.

The “War on the Mainland” pay-per-view event, presented by Powerhouse World Promotions (PWP) Heavyweight Championship, was held at Bren Events Center in Irvine California.

Sylvia (27-6-0), who won his third straight fight, wore down Buentello (28-13-0) with knees, kicks and punches, finally putting Buentello out with only three seconds remaining in the second round. It was announced after the fight that Sylvia would defend his PWP title against Pedro Rizzo.

“”The plan was to wear him down with knees and leg kicks for the first two rounds,” Sylvia commented. “Paul has fast hand. I blasted him with elbows and knees, wore him down. When I took his legs, I hit him high.”

In the co-main event for the PWP Light Heavyweight title, late replacement Tony “Kryptonite” Lopez (19-4-0) stopped former WEC champion Jason “The Punisher” Lambert (25-12-0) with a left knee, double right uppercut combination in round two. Lopez, the former King of the Cage heavyweight and light heavyweight titlist, took the fight on one week’s notice and had to lose 26 pounds to make the 205-pound limited.

“I lost the 26 pounds to come and win the world championship and tonight I did it,” a delighted Lopez explained after the fight. “I knew Jason had a lot of experience and a strong submission game. But I came in with the big knee.”

Former IFL champion Matt “The Fighting Hippy” Horwich (24-14-1) captured the PWP Middleweight Championship by beating Thales Leites (25-12-0) at his own game, locking-in a rear naked choke for submission in the fourth round. “This was the biggest win of my life,” Horwich said. “I’m champion again. We’re back! I heard what my corner was saying and I’m blessed to have them. I want to thank Thales Leites for the fight.”

San Diego lightweight Diego “El Nino” Garijo (5-1) registered the most significant victory of his young career, forcing former UFC champion Jens “Little Evil” Pulver, who lost his sixth straight match, to tap-out by way of a guillotine choke at 1:09 of the opening round.

Brazilian middleweight Gustavo “Ximu” Machado (18-9-1) won a 3-round split decision against Rick Reeves. Veteran Terry Martin (20-8) won a 3-round split decision against Mexican welterweight Jorge “The Naked Man” Ortiz (16-6-1).

MMA fighters Fabrizio Werdum, Renato “Babalu” Sobral, Kimo Leopoldo and Pedro Rizzo, as well as 12-year NBA player Troy Hudson, were among the sports celebrities in attendance.

Former NFL place kicker Benny Ricardo was the blow-by-blow announcer, joined by living MMA legend, color commentator Bas Rutten, for the pay-per-view event distributed by Integrated Sports Media. “Classy” Jimmy Lennon, Jr. was the ring announcer. The National Anthem singer was Paris Bennett, who was a finalist in American Idol, Season 3.

COMPLETE RESULTS

HEAVYWEIGHTS:

Tim Sylvia (27-6-0), Bettendorf, Iowa WKO2 (4:57 – Punch) Paul Buentello (28-13-0), Amarillo Texas

( Sylvia won vacant PWP Heavyweight Title)

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS:

Tony Lopez (19-5-0), Huntington Beach, CA WKO2 (1:49 – Knee & 2 Punches) Jason Lambert (25-12-0), San Diego, California

(Lopez won vacant PWP Light Heavyweight Title)

MIDDLEWEIGHTS:

Matt Horwich (23-13-1), Hollywood, California WSUB4 (0:44 – Rear Naked Choke) Thales Leites (17-3-1), de Janeiro, Brazil

(Horwich won vacant PWP Middleweight Title)

Gustavo Machado (19-8-1), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil WDEC3 (30-27, 29-28, 27-30) Rick Reeves (10-4-0), Reno, Nevada

WELTERWEIGHTS:

Terry Martin (20-8-0), Chicago, Illinois WDEC3 (30-28, 29-28,28-29) Jorge Ortiz (16-6-1), Juarez, Chihuchua, Mexico

A.J. Matthews (4-0-0), Carlsbad, California WSUB2 (3:54 – Strikes) Sean Choice (1-1-0), San Bernardino, California

LIGHTWEIGHTS:

Diego Garijo (5-1-0), San Diego, California WSUB1 (1:08 – Guillotine Choke) Jens Pulver (22-14-1), Nampa, Idaho

Erin Beach (1-0-0), San Diego, California Joao Silva (3-2-0), Lawn Dale, California

Cleber Luiciano (4-3-0), Huntington Beach, California WSUB2 (3:18 – Rear Naked Choke) Todd Willingham (2-5-0), Riverside, California

-PWP-

NEW HORIZON BOXING SATURDAY NIGHT ON GOFIGHTLIVE.TV

Posted on | August 14, 2010 | No Comments

MIESHA TATE IS CROWNED FIRST STRIKEFORCE WOMEN’S WELTERWEIGHT TOURNAMENT CHAMP

Posted on | August 14, 2010 | No Comments

JOE RIGGS AND RYAN COUTURE ALSO VICTORIOUS

ON STRIKEFORCE CHALLENGERS ON SHOWTIME

___________________________________________

Don’t Miss The Thrilling Replay On Monday, Aug. 16, at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT on SHO 2

PHOENIX, ARIZ. (Aug. 13, 2010) — On the night that STRIKEFORCE crowned its first-ever Women’s Welterweight Tournament Champion, hometown hero Joe “Diesel” Riggs upended tough up-and-comer Louis “Handgunz” Taylor and Ryan Couture won his Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) debut on Friday night on STRIKEFORCE Challengers on SHOWTIME®.

Miesha “Takedown” Tate won two fights on the night, both by unanimous decision, to hoist the inaugural STRIKEFORCE Women’s Welterweight Tournament belt and became the No. 2 contender behind Marloes Coenen in the competitive 135-pound division. She also may have earned a possible future date with current STRIKEFORCE Middleweight Champion Sarah Kaufman.

“Sarah Kaufman, you’re amazing,” Tate announced loudly to the near sold out Dodge Theatre crowd, seeking out Kaufman from the other side of the cage. “I can’t wait to fight you again.”

She later added: “It’s a dream come true. I came here on a mission and I accomplished my goal. And now it’s on to step two and getting that championship belt and getting another shot at Sarah Kaufman.”

Tate (11-2) used her world-class grappling to control both fights. She beat Maiju Kujala (4-2; Strikeforce debut) in the first two-round semifinal, rested for a good 35 minutes and then went back at it, beating the scrappy Hitomi “Girlfight Monster” Akano (16-8) in the final by controlling the ground position and simply out-muscling her Japanese opponent.

Akano submitted Carina “Beauty But the Beast” Damm (15-4) at 1:48 of the second round to earn her final shot at Tate.

STRIKEFORCE Women’s Middleweight (145 pounds) Champion Cris Cyborg liked what she saw from Tate on a night that celebrated women’s MMA. “This was a great opportunity for women’s fighting and I’m looking forward to seeing Miesha fight Sarah in the future,” she said.

But Cyborg wasn’t the most visible of fighters watching cage side. That distinction would have to go to Couture’s famous father, MMA legend Randy Couture, who proudly took his spot in his son’s corner for his successful MMA pro debut. “I’m very proud of him and he has a great passion for the sport,” Couture told the nationally televised SHOWTIME audience.

STRIKEFORCE fans will undoubtedly be seeing more of Las Vegas’ Couture in the near future. He used his signature triangle choke move at 1:15 in the first round to beat Lucas Stark of Chandler, Ariz., in a 155-pound lightweight match.

“It’s kind of a load off to get the first win and I hope there won’t be a long wait for the next one and I can show some new things next time,” Couture told the media afterwards. “I thought once it hit the ground I would catch him but I didn’t expect it to be that quick. I just lucked out that way I guess.”

Couture said he couldn’t find his jab early against the shorter Stark. “I decided to get where I was comfortable and get it to the ground,” he said. “I’m a slow starter when it comes to the striking. I just locked it in and got the tap.”

Down on the judges’ scorecards early in his 182-pound catch weight fight, Riggs (33-11) knew he would have to come up with something special in the third round, and did just that, pinning Taylor (6-2) against the cage before the ref stopped the fight at 2:07 and Riggs was awarded the decision by submission by punches.

“I felt great fighting and winning in front of Phoenix,” Riggs said. “I love my fans.”

He said STRIKEFORCE fans haven’t seen the last of his tough opponent. “He’s a prospect. He’s a big guy. His standup was very athletic and he’ll be a dangerous guy for anyone.”

The fights will re-air as follows.

DAY CHANNEL

Monday, Aug. 16, at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT SHO 2

Friday’s fights will be available ON DEMAND beginning on Monday, Aug. 16 and through Aug. 29.

STRIKEFORCE returns LIVE on SHOWITME® just one week from Saturday, Aug. 21 at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) as STRIKEFORCE Houston will take place at the Toyota Center. The exciting night of fights will include a World Championship Doubleheader with undefeated STRIKEFORCE World Light Heavyweight Champion “King Mo’’ Lawal (7-0) making the first defense of his crown against highly touted Brazilian Rafael “Feijao’’ Cavalcante (9-2) in the main event. In a co-feature, world-class submission specialist Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (12-2, 1 NC) and former Green Beret and American military hero Tim Kennedy (12-2) will battle for the vacant STRIKEFORCE Middleweight (185 pounds) title.

In another televised fight on SHOWTIME, ex-world champ KJ Noons (8-1) will face Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blackbelt Jorge Gurgel (13-6) in a lightweight (155 pounds) match. In a featured televised bout, unbeaten rising heavyweight force and former WWE star Bobby Lashley (5-0) will take on MMA veteran and Tucson, Ariz., firefighter Chad Griggs (8-1).

Complete STRIKEFORCE Challengers Results:

Main Card:
Joe Riggs def. Louis Taylor by submission (punches) – Round 3, 2:07

Women’s Welterweight Tournament Championship

Miesha Tate def. Hitomi Akano — Unanimous Decision

Ryan Couture def. Lucas Stark via submission (triangle choke) – Round 1, 1:15

Women’s Welterweight Tournament Semifinals

Hitomi Akano def. Carina Damm — by submission – Round 2, 1:48

Miesha Tate def. Maiju Kujala — Unanimous Decision

Preliminary Card:

Women’s Reserve Fight: Liz Carmouche def. Colleen Schneider — Unanimous Decision

Chris Gruetzemacher def. Ryan Diaz — TKO (Cut) R1 (No Time Given)

Jason Richey def. Edmund Xehili — Majority Decision

Joel Champion def. Sean Scott — KO (Punches) 1:06 R1

Rob Anderson def. Alonzo Fears — Unanimous Decision

Andres Acuna def. Edwin Louis — Unanimous Decision

Frankie Saenz def. Jace Crawford — Unanimous Decision

DID HE OR DIDN’T HE? CHAEL SONNEN ADDRESSES HIS CONTROVERSIAL TAP OUT ON “FIGHTING WORDS WITH MIKE STRAKA” – TONIGHT ON HDNET

Posted on | August 14, 2010 | No Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DALLAS (August 13, 2010)

“Fighting Words with Mike Straka” scores Sonnen’s first extended interview after his heartbreaking loss to Anderson Silva, while “Inside MMA” has Chuck Liddell talking about retirement – TONIGHT, Friday at 8:30 p.m. ET on HDNet

DALLAS (August 13, 2010) Just twelve hours after his epic battle with Anderson Silva, UFC middleweight Chael Sonnen sat down for a frank and emotional 30-minute interview with Mike Straka, set to air this Friday, August 13 at 8:30 p.m. ET on HDNet.

He also addresses the controversy that has arisen since the fight, questioning whether or not he really did tap out.

Sonnen dominated the pound-for-pound king Anderson Silva at UFC 117 in Oakland, CA – only to be caught in a submission with less than two minutes left in the fight. Sonnen says he’s devastated by the loss.

“You’re a minute away from this ultimate goal. Some guys, they spend eight to ten weeks in a training camp. I’ve spent 25 years. I’ve worked out every single day but Christmas since I was nine years old for one moment, and it was last night…It’s a devastating, heartbreaking reality…I want to cry right this second,” Sonnen said through watery eyes.

View a clip here

Sonnen tells Straka that he lay in bed wide awake until 6:00 a.m., repeatedly going over that last round in his head and thinking of what he could have done differently to win the bout.

“I know how to stop a triangle,” he said. “He locked that thing up so fast and so deep. There’s a line of defense that you go through, and the one I went to is your last resort, and I went to it first, but I had to,” said Sonnen.

He also said he’s not counting on an immediate rematch.

“I’m not entitled to anything. They (UFC) don’t owe me anything,” he said. “This is a business, and it’s going to come down to who is the number one draw…Vitor Belfort is a big draw. That’s a good fight. I understand it, but I’m the number one contender. I’m the one the fans want to see do the job, but if not, I’ll sit back and watch Vitor do it,” he said.

In the interview, Sonnen breaks down the already legendary fight for viewers, detailing when he first thought he broke Silva’s will, and when he says, “He (Silva) changed his mind out there. He was ready to go a couple of times. Then he decided no, I’m going to stick around a little bit longer.” He also talks about his controversial comments leading up to the fight.

Tonight’s “Inside MMA,” features Chuck Liddell talking about retirement, while Kenny and Bas panelists WEC Lightweight Champion Ben Henderson, Reed Harris, and Javier Vazquez discuss Sonnen versus Silva. Also, how are the New York Jets improving their Super Bowl chances by using MMA? Find out tonight!

“Fighting Words with Mike Straka” airs TONIGHT, August 13, 2010 at 8:30 p.m. ET on HDNet – “Inside MMA” immediately follows at 9:00 p.m. ET.

UFC FAN EXPO COMING TO BOSTON AUGUST 27 & 28, 2010

Posted on | August 14, 2010 | No Comments

2 Weeks and Counting until UFC^® Fan Expo^™ Boston 2010…

Union Boxing Management Continues to Build a Strong Stable of Future Champions

Posted on | August 14, 2010 | No Comments

SIGNS THREE NEW YOUNG PROSPECTS Press Release For Immediate Release

Los Angeles, California (August 13, 2010) – Union Boxing Management has signed three new young prospects to add to their growing stable of future champions. Co-Managers Alex Vaysfeld and Alex Mezherovsky are pleased with the addition of super featherweight prospect Stan “The Man” Martyniouk, super flyweight prospect Matthew Villanueva and welterweight prospect Alexander Podrezov to the Union Boxing Management family. Since 2007, Union Boxing Management has focused on building a stable of promising young fighters including heavyweight prospect Vladimir Tereshkin, lightweight prospect Roman V. Andreev and now three great prospects in Martyniuok, Villanueva and Podrezov. At just 25 years of age with an unblemished professional record of (10-0-0 1 KO), Stan “The Man” Martyniouk is looking to be recognized as one of the best fighters in the game. Martyniouk had an outstanding amateur career winning the 2005 U.S. Championships along with the best boxer award of the tournament, and making both the U.S. and World Cup team in that same year. Stan also captured the bronze medal in the 2007 National Golden Gloves tournament and also received the 2007 Sportsmanship Award. Although Martyniouk suffered a controversial loss in his third bout for the Olympic box-offs, Martyniouk had a great amateur career with over 85 amateur bouts. Now undefeated professionally, Martyniouk is looking to continue his winning ways in the super featherweight division in pursuit of a world title. Matthew Villanueva, 22, (1-0-0, 1 KO) is also undefeated making his pro debut this past March with a brutal knock out of his opponent in front of his hometown fans in Los Angeles. Villanueva had a solid amateur career with a record of 30-10 winning the PAL state title twice, the USIAA National title and three Desert Showdowns within the bantamweight division. He participated in the Western Olympic Qualifier losing to the eventual runner up for the Olympic team. Like his stablemates, Villanueva is hoping to continue his professional career in a winning fashion in pursuit of a world title. Villanueva will be fighting for the second time in his young career this Friday, August 13th on the undercard of the Chris Arreola-Manuel Quezada heavyweight bout on ESPN 2’s Friday Night Fights. Alexander Podrezov, 20, (2-0-0, 0 KO’s) had an outstanding amateur career in Russia and came to the United States like the majority of his stablemates in pursuit of his dream of being a world champion. Podrezov recently scored an impressive decision against his opponent on the undercard of the Andre Ward-Allan Green super middleweight title bout on Showtime. Podrezov currently trains of out Los Angeles with trainer Joe Goosen and is showing great potential to make a name for himself in the welterweight division. When speaking with Co-Manager Alex Vaysfeld on his three new prospects, Vaysfeld stated that, “I’m happy we signed Stan, Matt and Alexander; they’re good fighters with the potential to be world champions. As with all of our fighters we’re looking to develop world champions from humble beginnings like pound for pound champ Manny Pacquiao. We’re currently working with Goosen-Tutor Promotions and trainer Joe Goosen is handling the fighters very well. We’re investing a considerable amount of time and money in order to capture world titles with all of our fighters and I truly believe it will happen in the near future.” Jerry Gonzalez

Bellator 24 Fight Photos: By Tom Hill

Posted on | August 14, 2010 | No Comments

OFFICIAL RESULTS FOR BELLATOR 24

PRELIMINARY CARD
Yves Edwards def. Luis Palomino via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Tulio Quintanilla def. Brian Eckstein via knockout – Round 3, 2:48
Farakhad Sharipov def. Eric Luke via unanimous decision – Round 3, 5:00

CLICK ON THE ABOVE TEXT TO SEE TOM HILL’S PHOTOS.

STRIKEFORCE Houston Conf. Call Highlights: Kennedy, Jacare, Noons, Gurgel

Posted on | August 13, 2010 | No Comments

Participants: American Military Hero and Middleweight Contender Tim Kennedy
Submission Specialist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt Jacare Souza
Former World Lightweight Champion KJ Noons
Talented, Crowd-Pleasing Striker Jorge Gurgel
STRIKEFORCE CEO Scott Coker

The fighters and Coker participated in a national media conference call Thursday to discuss their bouts on the upcoming STRIKEFORCE Houston event at Toyota Center in Houston on Saturday, Aug. 21, LIVE on SHOWTIME® at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).

In the co-feature of a World Championship Doubleheader, world-class submission specialist Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (12-2-1) and former Green Beret and American military hero Tim Kennedy (12-2) will battle for the vacant STRIKEFORCE Middleweight (185 pounds) title. In another televised fight on SHOWTIME, ex-world champ KJ Noons (9-2) will face Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blackbelt Jorge Gurgel (13-6) in a lightweight (155 pounds) match.

In the main event, undefeated STRIKEFORCE World Light Heavyweight Champion “King Mo’’ Lawal (7-0) will make the first defense of his crown against highly touted Brazilian Rafael “Feijao’’ Cavalcante (9-2). In a featured televised bout, unbeaten and rising heavyweight star Bobby Lashley (5-0) will take on MMA veteran and Tucson, Ariz., firefighter Chad Griggs (8-1).

CONFERENCE CALL HIGHLIGHTS

Tim, what’s your feeling now that a shot at your first world title is just a few days away?

KENNEDY: “The only thing you can do when you are preparing for an event like this is prepare for every possibility. I’ve brought in the best guys in the world. Every night I have had five or 10 black belts…trying to get prepared. I am prepared and excited. I just want to get in there.”

Tim, what was your take after a discussion with someone in regards to fighting Jacare?

KENNEDY: “He said he wished he’d brought the fight to Jacare earlier and to work on specific stuff that they wished they had trained for. Everyone was very surprised on how strong Jacare is. They gave me a whole bunch of tools to start training and some mental things too, and how to approach the fight.’’

Tim, how do you expect this fight to play out? Do you want to primarily keep it standing or do you feel prepared to go to the ground?

KENNEDY: “This isn’t the other types of fighting. This is MMA. Every position that we are going to be in, I have the intent on trying to damage him. He is a very talented fighter. It’s going to be one of those brutal violent fights. I am fully prepared to go on the ground with him and every time he gets on the ground with me it’s going to hurt cause I have been training.’’

Tim, you have common opponents. Is there anything you can get from looking at those fights?

KENNEDY: “I am not a fanatic about tapes, everyone fights different. This is not going to be the same fight as when anyone else fights him. From watching tapes there are things that I saw that I am not going to do and there are things that I saw that worked that I am going to try to replicate.’’

KJ, can you talk about the striking technique and how you utilize what you learned in boxing and what you can and cannot use?

NOONS: “There are two different disciplines; you have to be committed to whatever discipline you are working at. But I definitely take a lot of skills and the things I have learned from boxing into my MMA game. The past two fights, I haven’t been a full all-around fighter so I am really looking forward to coming out and being an all-around fighter for this next fight. I am especially really excited about my opponent and when you put our two styles in the ring you are really going to have a lot of fireworks. In my eyes, Jorge is the No. 1 contender so this a top fight for me. By no means am I acting like I have this one in the bag. I am training as hard as I can. This is probably one of the most dangerous opponents I have had.’’

Jorge do you expect this fight to mainly be standing or do you want to take it to the ground? Do you think you can win the fight standing?

“I don’t remember the last time I tried or practiced a takedown? What is a takedown again (laughing)? K.J. said it all. I really don’t have to distract my opponents whatsoever. I don’t like people in our sport who don’t respect me. It makes you look bad and I have a lot of respect for KJ both as a person and as a fighter. He’s been a fighter his whole life. He comes from a fighting family and he is the world champ and was brought into the organization as the No. 1 contender. So he is the most talented guy in the lightweight division and I agree with him that the guy who wins the fight should get a title shot. We are going to (give it our best) until one of us gets our arm raised. I am really excited to fight a great fighter like KJ. I am prepared and ready.’’

NOONS: “Jorge comes out and puts on great shows, but if you want to watch Jiu-Jitsu, go to a tournament. This is fighting. If you want to see some lame fighting go watch the UFC, go watch something boring as hell. If you want to see something exciting, come Aug. 21 and see a guy who’s been boxing his whole life, and someone who has a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu.. This is what people want to see.’’

Tim, you’ve talked about how your military training has helped you in MMA;, now that you’re training what is one of the biggest differences you have seen in your fight game?

KENNEDY: “I can’t really narrow it down to one thing. I had an opportunity to train with the best guys, real sparring partners, grappling partners. It’s not like I go to the nearest Green Beret and say can you come over here. I need someone to work out with. I am in a world class training center with some of the best strength coaches in the world. I have a personal strength coach, and all of the things that have never been in place through my whole entire fight career are finally there. I have people who know how to coach people and I have never had coaches before. I have been a self-coached fighter. Now it is a treat to have a guy who says you look like crap because it makes me want to do it better. Every single aspect of my fight game can change for the better since I have started training full time 10 months ago.’’

KJ, are you looking for more boxing fights and is the fight with Nick Diaz still a possibility?

NOONS: Most definitely, even though I’m not looking past Jorge. I’m not looking at (STRIKEFORCE World Lightweight Champion) Gilbert (Melendez) I’m not going to wait for anybody and I still want to box. I’m probably one of the only ones with 14 pro boxing fights. Scott Coker has allowed me to box outside of STRIKEFORCE and I think that is going to be really interesting in the future, with people like Dana White making a real mockery out of boxing and having James Toney fight Randy Couture. So I have no problem as long as it is OK with Scott to fight a pro boxer. This is all in the future but right now Jorge is on my mind. ‘’

KJ, what are your thoughts on the Couture-Toney fight?

NOONS: Dana is trying to make a mockery out of boxing, but if Randy gets caught he is going to sleep.’’

Jacare, do you feel pressure or are you inspired by all the success that your fellow Brazilians have been having recently?

JACARE: “I am just thinking about my fight. I know that I have been training really hard. On my mind is just having a good fight right now.’’

Tim, how do you approach a big fight like this?

KENNEDY: “This is just a fight. I have a lot of respect for Jacare. I think he is a very talented athlete. We are going out there trying to knock each other out or submit each other. There is no added pressure. This fight is no different than any other. It is a lot less stressful than anything I do overseas because I’m not getting shot at. This is fun; this is the good part of my life.’’

Is there a specific key to winning this fight?

KENNEDY: Don’t get submitted or knocked out (laugh). I think both of us have the tools to win on both our feet or on the ground. I think it is going to be a mental war, going in there and knowing that this could be and probably will be a five-round exciting fight. I’m not going to quit. You are going to have to put me out. This is a good fight, a big fight. I’m excited for it. I don’t think there is any one key for winning.’’

JACARE: “I think it has a lot to do with my cardio. I have a better cardio. I have been training a lot and hard and I have a better strategy. And I will be a better fighter for this fight.’’

Jacare, what could you have done differently in your last fight (a hard-fought decision over Joey Villasenor)?

JACARE: “It’s hard to say because when a fight is over, it’s over, but that was a great fight. I learned a lot and I was very happy about fighting. Whatever I learn from my last fight I will bring to the next fight.’’

Tim, Jacare, you guys are fighting for the vacated middleweight belt. Does that take away from the fight at all?

JACARE: “It makes no difference to me. I’m sure that it will be a great fight. Both of us deserve to be fighting for the belt. It is going to be a war.’’

KENNEDY: “I feel the same way, it doesn’t change how I prepare for the fight and if it doesn’t change how you prepare then it doesn’t change the fight itself. It doesn’t lessen the value of the STRIKEFORCE title. It’s still a gigantic title. (Both of us have been winning) and one of the two of us will be walking away with the title. That is the situation that it is now. It is going to be an exciting fight and I think it puts more responsibility on us as we become champions to become more exceptional champions.’’

Jacare, can you talk about how you are working to become a complete fighter?

JACARE: “I’ve been practicing a lot with stand up, kicking, striking and punching. I’ve been moving better around the ring and the cage so I am becoming more and comfortable about standing up. But still the majority of my training is grappling. I dedicate at least 60 percent of my time to grappling. But I am a fast learner and I am becoming more confident in my kicking and especially moving around the cage. I am, getting ready for a war. That is what is on my mind right now.’’

Should we expect more of a ground attack, Jacare?

JACARE: “I think that Tim is going to try to bring the fight to the ground so that he can control the fight on the ground. But anything that he brings to the fight is not going to (be enough). I will be victorious at the end of the day.’’.

Jorge, most people are familiar with your gyms. How do your own performances affect your business? Is business better when you are winning?

GURGEL: “Not really. I have 13 schools. The problem with the business before had nothing to do with the fighting; it had to do with lack of money, I finally found a great business partner, so, for the first time in three years, has allowed me to run my own fight camp in my school. I had huge problems. I always had to leave to Boston, to train in seclusion and I needed the isolation to get my mind ready for the fight. You can never train where you teach, so I had the curse of developing great fighters and great people around me but I couldn’t train there because there was always an issue here or an issue there.’’

Jorge, does feeding off your students put any extra pressure on you for this fight?

GURGEL: “I have always (said that) my mind is wired differently, I never really put any extra pressure (on me). I am the happiest when I get to fight. That is why I don’t have any game plan. When the fight starts, I just see red and I throw all game plan strategy out because fighting is a way to express yourself. And I prepare the best that I can. I leave it all in the cage and I do it for my students. My goal in life is to reach people and change their lives, and I do it for them because I like to stand behind my name and lead by example. I don’t like hypocrites and there are a lot out there and I am not going to tell people to train a certain way if I am not going to do it myself. I have been around this sport for 11 years. I lead my team by example and I do it for them because I love them and they love me.’’

KJ, how does it feel to be fighting in Houston and do you think you’ll have home field advantage?

NOONS: “Houston is a great town, I am really glad STRIKEFORCE is coming here. It is a great event. I think once the fighters get here, they’ll see how excited the town is going to be. I am really excited to be on the card with all these people. This is a great fight town. And home field advantage? It doesn’t matter. I am ready to bring my best. I have a lot of respect for Jorge. It’s going to be a great fight. I’m bringing my best. That’s it.’’

Tim, how important do you think that a wrestling and takedown defense is to victory? Are Jiu-Jitsu and submission defense keys to winning?

KENNEDY “I think both of those things are very important. We are talking about the most accomplished grappler ever to be in MMA so it would be silly of me to make the assumption that I can go out there and have my way with him on the ground. So I have to be very careful in any position we are in, not even on the ground. He can finish fights with some pretty amazing standing submissions. It is going to be a very dangerous fight the whole entire time, I can’t make any mistakes. Controlling the takedowns and controlling the pace are the keys to victory.’’

KJ, are you really focused on MMA and could your pursuit of a boxing championship cost you your focus in MMA?

NOONS: “No I am totally committed to MMA right now. This is just an option that is open in my contract. I want to get back on the MMA scene, stay busy fighting, show my loyalty to STRIKEFORCE and Scott, and when the opportunity comes up I will be back in boxing.’’

Closing comments

KENNEDY: “It’s an honor to be on a card like this and fight such a talented fighter like Jacare. I promise I am going to go out there and put on a good show I am in the best shape of my life. I am excited about this fight. Go buy your tickets and come to the show. It is going to be awesome.’’

JACARE: Thanks everybody, STRIKEFORCE, Scott Coker, all my coaches and all my fans. Thanks to SHOWTIME. Thanks for putting this together. I am working hard, getting ready. It’s going to be a war. So don’t miss it. I’m in the best shape of my life and I am going to put on a good show. I look forward to fighting Tim Kennedy.

NOONS: “Thanks for having me on here, thank you STRIKEFORCE. It’s going to be a great show next week in Houston. I am very excited about my opponent. I don’t have to say it very much but look at his track record: he has the fight of the night, and look at my track record (and I) always (have) fight of the night. Put us in the cage and you are going to get fireworks. I have respect for the main event but we are probably going to steal the show. I am ready man, this is what it’s all about. This is fighting. On Aug. 21, you are going to get your moneys worth.

GURGEL: “K.J. said it all. I have a lot of respect for him and I do have a lot of respect for the main event, but we’re going to steal the show. I’m ready for the fight. I’ll see you next week, KJ, and good luck.’’

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