Mixed Martial Arts Links (9-9-11)

Posted on | September 9, 2011 | No Comments

Breaking out of the cage: ‘Warrior’ leads MMA move to mainstream film and … Washington Post Mixed martial arts is hitting the nation’s multiplexes Friday with “Warrior,” the biggest major-studio film to date about the nascent sport. With a slew of MMA-related films on the way at the same time the UFC makes its major-network debut on Fox, … See all stories on this topic »

17 of the Biggest “What If’s” in MMA History Bleacher Report In this crazy sport that we call mixed martial arts, there have been countless moments and situations where one can’t help but to wonder “What if …?” If you are like me, you could be watching two amateur fighters duke it out at a local bar and come … See all stories on this topic » Bleacher Report

Roger Gracie Carries Family Legacy Into King Mo Fight Heavy.com Roger Gracie may not have a lot of experience in mixed martial arts, but his last name alone sets a great amount of expectation. The latest prospect to emerge from the sport’s founding family will face former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion … See all stories on this topic »                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Heavy.com

Strikeforce tourney has roles for all USA Today “I think a lot of people have taken shortcuts in terms of using athleticism and defensive tactics to try and build the right game plan to go out there and win in this mixed martial arts, 10-point must system sort of environment,” he says. … See all stories on this topic »                                                                                                USA Today

Phil Masterson: Promising MMA Fighter Found Murdered, Suspect Arrested International Business Times By IBTimes Staff Reporter | September 8, 2011 4:01 PM EDT A Bowling Green man has been charged with murder, voluntary manslaughter and felonious assault in the death of up-and-coming Ohio MMA fighter Phil Masterson this weekend on South Bass Island. … See all stories on this topic »

Metro & state: Brawl in the Fall is chock full of MMA title fights Detroit Free Press Top amateur Mixed Martial Arts fighters from Michigan and Canada will enter the cage at the Meadow Brook Music Festival on Saturday night for the sixth annual Brawl in the Fall. Eight title fights will be held, along with five women’s bouts. … See all stories on this topic »

Strikeforce Preview: Maximo Blanco Vs. Pat Healy MMA Nation Kharitonov” is a lightweight bout between two fighters in their late 20s, but both of whom have marked discrepancies in the mixed martial arts (MMA) experience department. Maximo Blanco, 27, has eight wins in 12 appearances (8-2-1, 1 No Contest) since … See all stories on this topic »                                                                                                MMA Nation

‘Warrior’ Villain Kurt Angle On MMA, Playing a Ruskie & Acting Rough With His … Moviefone (blog) One of the biggest obstacles standing in the brothers’ way is Koba, the undefeated MMA champion. As if the character of Koba wasn’t intimidating enough, the man behind the role is Kurt Angle, a gold medalist for amateur wrestling in the 1996 Olympics, … See all stories on this topic »

Damon’s Wife Triggers Global Pandemic; Martial Arts Showdown: Rick Warner Bloomberg Pictures, opens today across the US Rating: **1/2 “Warrior” is an electrifying, mixed martial arts version of “The Fighter” about two estranged brothers heading for a showdown at the sport’s biggest event. This underdog story pushes every emotional … See all stories on this topic »

ON SALE NOW LIVE FRIDAY OCT 7 EDMONTON CANADA MAYFIELD TRADE CENTRE

Posted on | September 9, 2011 | No Comments

James Toney Invading Russia

Posted on | September 9, 2011 | No Comments

HECTOR SANCHEZ & VINCENT ARROYO LATEEF KAYODE & FELIX CORA FINAL WEIGHTS AND QUOTES

Posted on | September 9, 2011 | No Comments

  Friday, Sept. 9, Grand Casino Hinckley, Hinckley, Minn.

Live at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) on SHOWTIME^®

Hector Sanchez: 143 pounds

Vincent Arroyo: 143 pounds

Lateef Kayode: 198 pounds

Felix Cora Jr.: 198 pounds

NOTE: WEIGHTS (Sept. 8, 2011) – Hector “El Flaco” Sanchez (19-1, 9 KOs) and Vincent “Vinsanity” Arroyo (11-1, 7 KOs) both weighed in at the contracted maximum 143 pounds while Lateef “Power” Coyote (17-0, 14 KOs) and Felix “Bad News” Cora Jr. (22-5-2, 12 KOs) both tipped the scales at an even 198 pounds one day before their ShoBox: The New Generation showdowns Friday, Sept. 9, at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) LIVE on SHOWTIME^® from the Grand Casino Hinckley in Hinckley, Minn.

Both main event fighters said Thursday they respected one another but are each predicting victories for themselves.

The co-feature will highlight Kayode in his fifth ShoBox fight in the past 13 months. He debuted on ShoBox a little more than a year ago at this same venue, recording an eighth-round TKO over Alfredo Escalera, Jr., in Hinckley on Aug. 6.

With an eye on fighting current WBA cruiserweight world champion Guillermo Jones from Panama sometime in January, Kayode is trained by Hall of Famer Freddie Roach.

Here are what the fighters had to say on Thursday:

Hector Sanchez:

“I’m very happy to be here and I know I will win by KO in the later rounds.

“He (Arroyo) is an excellent fighter and a very good test for me at this stage in my career.

“I respect him, but I’m ready for anything he might throw at me.”

Vincent Arroyo:

“It’s going to be sensational. I’m going to be sensational. I feel excellent. Training couldn’t have gone better.

“I feel good about my success, but I still have a lot to learn and I still have to train very hard.

“Hector is a good fighter, but he’s got to go because he’s my next victim. I’m the stronger and smarter guy and I’m determined to win.”

Lateef Kayode:

“I trained so hard for this fight and I’m so well-prepared. It depends how he fights. If he runs around and slaps, he might last for a while. If he fights he won’t last.

“He (Cora) makes the same mistake over and over and exposes his chin. I have to capitalize on that because he doesn’t have a great chin.

“ShoBox has really made my career what it is up to this point. I’m just so proud to be back on SHOWTIME. Sure, I’m looking for bigger and better things but I have to be patient right now and realize there isn’t a huge market for cruiserweights like myself in America.

“We’re not looking past Felix Cora. He could present problems being a southpaw, but we’ve studied him and just have to keep to our game plan and we’ll be fine.”

Felix Cora Jr.:

“I feel good and very confident. I won’t make predictions, but it’ll be an entertaining fight. I’ll feel him out early and do my best.

“He’s a great fighter, very tough, well-conditioned and very determined.

“I appreciate him giving me this opportunity and it’ll feel good to be champion.”

ShoBox, celebrating its 10^th anniversary this year, will feature Bernard Osuna calling the action alongside expert analystsSteve Farhood and Antonio Tarver. Gordon Hall is the executive producer of ShoBox with Richard Gaughan producing the Rick Phillips directing.

For information on SHOWTIME Sports Programming, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video and photo galleries, complete telecast information and more, please go the new SHOWTIME Sports website at http:// sho.com/sports.

About ShoBox: The New Generation

BERNARD HOPKINS CELEBRATES AND REMEMBERS 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF HISTORIC, PATRIOTIC TRIUMPH OVER FELIX TRINIDAD

Posted on | September 9, 2011 | No Comments

Philadelphia, PA (Sept. 9)…As we mark the 10th anniversary of September 11, 2001 and the tragic occurrence that happened, we must remember that the first major sporting event held in the borough of Manhattan following the tragedy was the middleweight championship fight between Bernard Hopkins and Felix Trinidad. It was a night that helped return boxing and sports fans to a sense of normalcy and that propelled Hopkins to a new level of superstardom.   It’s hard to believe 10 years have passed since that battle at Madison Square Garden that ended with an upset knockout and chants of “U-S-A! U-S-A!”. And it’s every bit as hard now to believe that Hopkins was thought, at age 36, to already be an “old” fighter. Now the light heavyweight champion of the world at age 46, Hopkins is still making history, just as he did in handing the great “Tito” Trinidad his first loss that night.   The Trinidad fight was originally scheduled for September 15, 2001, so Hopkins was already in New York on that fateful day that changed our world.   “Ten years ago on September 11,” Hopkins remembers, “I was running early that morning inCentral Park. The next thing I know people were hollering that a plane had crashed into the tower. Everything changed after that.”   Hopkins’ grief on a human level was mixed with uncertainty on a professional level. He was unsure whether the fight would happen and, if so, when? He headed home to Philadelphia to feel safer and be closer to his family. He also set-up camp in downtown Philly and kept training, staying in is fight mindset despite the emotions swirling around him.   “Once I heard the fight would take place on September 29, I stayed in Philadelphia as long as I could,” Hopkins recalls. “Riding back and getting closer to New York, I felt different. There was still an unsettled and eerie feeling that we were going to fight. I just had to block that out of my mind and stay focused on being ready for one of the biggest opportunities of my career.   Hopkins continued, “The Trinidad fight was important for many reasons. It was for the unification of the middleweight championship. But it became much bigger after 9/11. By having the fight two weeks later on the 29th, I think we were sending a message, through the fight, that America would not be bullied around and we have a resolve that is unmatched by any other country in the world. I remember the politicians and leaders saying that we should show our strength and keep living our lives. I think the fight helped people start that process.   “I remember being in the arena that night and seeing the service people of New York, the policemen and firemen, who we dedicated the fight to. I felt that responsibility of representing our country, fighting as hard as I could, and most importantly, capturing the undisputed middleweight championship of the world. The fact that this fight is now part of my story makes me feel proud of what I have accomplished. I believe my story is a true American story. I will never forget that experience as long as I live.”   That victory made Hopkins the undisputed middleweight champion and he went on to break the records for longest reign and most successful defenses at 160 pounds. A decade later, Hopkins is in the midst of his second reign as 175-pound king, preparing for a demanding defense against top contender “Bad” Chad Dawson on October 15 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View®.   The world has changed in countless ways since the events of September 11, 2001. But one thing that hasn’t changed, amazingly, is the “world champion” status of the living legend Bernard Hopkins.

Results of Bellator 49 Weigh-In

Posted on | September 9, 2011 | No Comments

Atlantic City, N.J. (September 9, 2011) — The weigh-in for Bellator 49 is complete, with all 18 competitors taking the scale. Bellator 49 will be broadcast LIVE on Saturday, September 10 at 9:00 pm ET/8:00 pm CT on MTV2 and in HD on EPIX, with the undercard fights being streamed live on Spike.com.

The official results of tonight’s weigh-in are as follows:

MAIN CARD:

Welterweight Tournament Quarterfinal Fight: Chris Lozano (170.5 lbs) vs. Brent Weedman (170 lbs)

Welterweight Tournament Quarterfinal Fight: Ben Saunders (171 lbs) vs. Chris Cisneros (171 lbs)

Welterweight Tournament Quarterfinal Fight: Luis Santos (171 lbs) vs. Dan Hornbuckle (170.5 lbs)

Welterweight Tournament Quarterfinal Fight: Steve Carl (171 lbs) vs. Douglas Lima (171.4 lbs)

UNDERCARD:

Featherweight Local Feature Fight: Scott Heckman (146 lbs) vs. Alexandre Bezerra (147 lbs)

Welterweight Local Feature Fight: LeVon Maynard (171 lbs) vs. Giedrius Karavackas (170.8 lbs)

Featherweight Local Feature Fight: Joel Roberts (145.4 lbs) vs. Brylan Van Artsdalen (144.2 lbs)

Featherweight Local Feature Fight: Lester Caslow (149 lbs) vs. James Jones (149 lbs)

Heavyweight Local Feature Fight: J.A. Dudley (253.5 lbs) vs. Azunna Anyanwu (258 lbs)

For more information, visit Bellator.com; follow Bellator on Twitter @BellatorMMA or on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/Bellator.

About Bellator Fighting Championships

Bellator Fighting Championships is a Mixed Martial Arts promotional company headquartered in Chicago.  Bellator’s founder/CEO, Bjorn Rebney, is an experienced fighting sports and entertainment professional with a deep commitment to the purity and integrity of the sport of MMA and its athletes.  Bellator Fighting Championships’ executive team is comprised of top industry professionals in the areas of live event production, television production, fighter relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations.

How Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Got His Groove Back

Posted on | September 8, 2011 | No Comments

TEAM PALOOKA’S FIRST FEMALE FIGHTER AMANDA NUNES READY FOR HER STRIKEFORCE BOUT THIS WEEKEND

Posted on | September 8, 2011 | No Comments

Ridgewood, New Jersey (USA): This Saturday at the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix, Team Palooka will be sponsoring both a Strikeforce fighter and a female combatant for the very first time. Amanda Nunes (6-1), known as the “Lioness of the Ring,” will face the biggest test of her young career when she battles Alexis Davis (10-4) on the HDNet-broadcasted undercard. Nunes is quickly becoming a force in women’s MMA, and her name is beginning to be mentioned as a challenger to Strikeforce champions Miesha Tate and Cris “Cyborg” Santos.

“I am extremely proud to have a warrior like Amanda representing Team Palooka,” states “Joe Palooka” creator Joe Antonacci. “She exemplifies what ‘Joe Palooka’ is all about: strength, courage, and tenacity.”

The Strikeforce Grand Prix tournament continues this Saturday, September 10^th, live from the U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio. The tourney began with eight heavyweight combatants, including Fedor Emelianenko, Alistair Overeem, Fabricio Werdum, Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva, Sergei Kharitonov, Andrei Arlovski, Josh Barnett, and Brett Rogers. The field is down to four, with the final two earning their spot at this weekend’s event. The preliminary card, which will feature Amanda, will be broadcasted on HDNet, and will begin at 8 PM ET. The main card will be shown on Showtime, starting at 10:30 PM ET.

The 23 year-old Nunes is Brazil-born and bred, and is already well-known for her brutal knockouts. She began her career with a submission loss, but has since won six straight fights by KO or TKO. Included in this is her Strikeforce debut back in January of this year, where Nunes knocked out Julia Budd in only fourteen seconds.

The “Lioness of the Ring” now trains at AMA Fight Club in New Jersey, and this weekend, she will get to put her new training to the text against Alexis Davis. In facing a virtual “who’s who” of female fighters, Davis has carved out a rep as a tough customer with an entertaining style. It should be an electrifying matchup.

The “Joe Palooka” comic series tells the story of Joe Palooka, an MMA fighter who competes in “Legion of Combat,” which is a sister comic publication. “Legion of Combat” will feature Joe Palooka in team matches between fighters representing countries such as the U.S., the U.K., Brazil, Russia, Japan, China, and other nations. And don’t be surprised if you end up seeing some of your favorite MMA fighters, including Amanda Nunes, featured in the “Legion of Combat” comic book series along the way.

“There are so many things happening right now. Adding a fighter with the level of talent of Amanda is just another step in building up Team Palooka,” explains Antonacci. “We are very confident that she will represent the team well.”

About Us

“Joe Palooka” and “Legion of Combat” are MMA comic books that feature action adventure stories as well as compelling MMA fight action. Created by professional ring announcer Joe Antonacci, the books are being written and drawn by an all-star team of talent known as Team Palooka. The team includes Mike Bullock as the chief writer and Fernando Perniche (both of “The Phantom fame”), who are bringing the exciting stories of Palooka and the LOC to life.

For more information on “Joe Palooka” and “Legion of Combat,” please visit http://www.palooka.com/.

You can also “like” the Palooka Facebook fan page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Joe-Palooka/138709889539006?closeTheater=1

Follow Joe Palooka on Twitter @RealPalooka

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