Weekly Mixed Martial Arts & K-1 News Recap – 08/12/2011
By PDG Staff
Bellator 50 Line-Up Announced
Bellator Fighting Championships will return to The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino for a record eighth time on September 17th, as Bellator’s fifth season Middleweight Tournament kicks off with four quarterfinal fights. Along with Bellator tournament action, the night will feature one of the deepest undercards in South Florida history with eight local feature fights that feature some of the area’s best talent.
The night will feature inspirational lightweight Rad Martinez taking on former Marine Sergeant Brian Van Hoven. Martinez made headlines with his feature piece on ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” and will be looking for victory in his Bellator debut.
Luis “Baboon” Palomino will make his seventh appearance for Bellator when he battles Orlando’s own Edson “Little Tiger” Berto in a featherweight affair. Palomino steps back into the Bellator cage after suffering a submission defeat at the hands of Bellator Summer Series Featherweight Finalist Pat Curran at Bellator 46.
Florida tryout winner Ailton Barbosa will be making his Bellator debut on September 17th, taking on Strikeforce veteran Ryan Keenan in a welterweight battle. Barbosa currently holds a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt from American Top Team and enters the fight riding a five fight win streak.
Undefeated welterweight Cristiano “Soldier” Souza looks to keep his record perfect with a victory against Miami native and Bellator veteran John Kelly. Kelly’s last win came with Bellator after the MMA Masters product earned a unanimous decision victory over William Kuhn at Bellator 34. Kelly also serves a Florida fireman, and is sure to fill the Seminole Hard Rock crowd with supportive colleagues.
As one of American Top Team’s leading trainers and one of South Florida’s most popular fighters, Marcos da Matta brings his 8-1 record to The Seminole Hard Rock when he meets Shah Babonis, who will be looking to impress the hometown crowd with a victory.
Middleweights meet when Valdir Araujo faces Ryan Hodge in a Miami-Gainesville grudge match. Araujo has won his last three fights by finish, and is a Judo standout at MMA Masters in Miami.
Lightweights battle it out as Dietter Navarro (0-1) takes on Marcelo Goncalves (1-1). As one of Pablo Popovitch’s leading students and top trainers, Goncalves will look to use his experienced grappling techniques against a difficult Navarro.
Rounding out the card will be another set of lightweights as J.P. Reese (3-1) battles R.J. Goodridge (4-1). Reese is also an American Top Team product and was a standout wrestler at the University of Missouri, which produced Bellator Welterweight World Champion Ben Askren.
“I’ve said it before that Florida produces some of the best talent in the World, and that talent will certainly be on display September 17th at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino,” said Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney.
UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III – Card Updates
October 8, 2011
Toyota Center,
Houston, Texas, United States
UFC Lightweight Championship:
Gray Maynard vs. Frankie Edgar
UFC Featherweight Championship:
Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian
Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann
Melvin Guillard vs. Joe Lauzon
Jeremy Stephens vs. Anthony Pettis
Dave Herman vs. Mike Russow
Demian Maia vs. Jorge Santiago
Stipe Miocic vs. Joey Beltran
Steve Cantwell vs. Mike Massenzio
Aaron Simpson vs. Nick Catone
Nam Phan vs. Matt Grice
The wait for the much-anticipated third fight between UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and unbeaten top contender Gray Maynard is finally over. The Ultimate Fighting Championship announced that Edgar and Maynard will settle the score when the organization returns to the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas on Saturday, Oct. 8. If one major title fight wasn’t enough, UFC officials also confirmed that UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo will defend his crown against the always-dangerous Kenny Florian.
All four competitors will take part in a press conference this Tuesday, Aug. 16 at 1 p.m. CT at the Toyota Center in Houston. The conference, which will be hosted by UFC President Dana White, is open to the public and will be held in the 1994-1995 Championship Rooms.
“Frankie and Gray had a Fight of the Year candidate the last time they met and I expect nothing different this time around in Houston,” UFC President Dana White said. “Both guys truly believe they won the last fight and the wait for their third fight is over. On Oct. 8, neither of these guys plans on leaving it to the judges.
“Aldo’s been running through guys at 145-pounds, but Florian is the most experienced guy he’s ever fought,” White continued. “Kenny looked really sharp against Diego Nunes in his last fight and Diego is a guy who trains with Aldo. I think Kenny is out to prove that he can get over the hump and win his first UFC world title.”
In addition to the two world title fights, former number one middleweight contender Chael Sonnen hopes to spark another run at the belt when he locks horns with the heavy-handed Brian Stann, while heavyweights Dave Herman and Mike Russow are set to collide. Plus, a pivotal lightweight bout pits Melvin Guillard against submission ace Joe Lauzon.
BAMMA Introduces British Title at BAMMA 7
Europe’s largest and most prominent Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) promotion, The British Association of Mixed Martial Arts (BAMMA), announced today that they have introduced their first ever British Title with a Middleweight contest between top contenders, Jack Marshman and Carl Noon.
As well as having a World title in each division, the organization will now put the British title into the mix with the aim of developing a British champion in each weight class. Unlike the World title bouts that are fought for over 5 x 5 minute rounds, British title fights will consist of 3 x 5 minute rounds, but will adopt the same unified rules as all other bouts.
Liam Fisher of BAMMA stated, “The introduction of a British Title allows us to develop the ever growing pool of talent in this country. Now we can give up-and-coming fighters a legitimate champion status to aspire to before they reach the level of fighting on a World stage. It’s only fitting that the pride of the Parachute Regiment from Wales will take on one of the toughest middleweight prospects in England to become the first ever BAMMA British Champion. It’s England vs. Wales, so as always, expect fireworks from the first bell!”
As a member of the British Armed Forces and former Army Boxing champion, Gwent born Jack Marshman recently returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan. Currently ranked as a private serving with 3 Battalion, the Parachute Regiment, Marshman is expected to be promoted to Lance Corporal very soon. His MMA record of 8-0-0 is even more impressive, given that he has only been fighting professionally for 18 months. Marshman now joins the stacked BAMMA middleweight division, which includes champion Tom “Kong” Watson, Frank Trigg and former Commonwealth boxer John Phillips, to take on hot English prospect Carl Noon from Manchester.
Marshman had this to say about signing with Europe’s leading MMA promotion, “It’s a real honor to sign with BAMMA. I’ve been looking forward to this day for a long time and can’t want to fight for their first ever British Title. Like I always do, on September 10th I will be fighting for my country and I promise every one of my fellow Welshmen that I will be bringing home the belt.”
Carl Noon is no stranger to BAMMA gold, having the honor of being stable mates with World Lightweight Champion Rob Sinclair and World Featherweight Champion Mark Adams. Noon is undefeated in 3 years and enters the fight on a seven fight win streak. He is known for delivering incredibly exciting fights, with five of his seven wins finished in the very first round, including a first round submission win against Mike Ling at BAMMA 3 in 2010.
The Team Kaobon fighter had this to say’ “Not only will Rob Sinclair walk away from BAMMA 7 with his belt, I will bring yet another title back to Kaobon. Like everyone, I respect Jack’s courage for putting his body on the line for our nation, but come September 10th when the cage door closes, all respect goes out the window. This belt is mine and there is no way a Welshman is taking it away from me!”
Compelling bout cards, arena sized venues, and high quality televised fight events. These are just a few of the qualities set the British Association of Mixed Martial Arts (BAMMA) apart from other fight promotions in the UK. These same qualities are what continue to draw top prospects to the fast-rising organization. Carl Noon and Jack Marshman are just two of the main top-level British fighters to recently sign for BAMMA. Other fighters include Andre Winner, Tim Radcliffe and Jason Ball.
GoDaddy.com presents BAMMA 7 in association with Lonsdale and PKR.com Saturday September 10 at The National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, UK.
We Are All Warriors: Inspired By The September 9th Release Of Lionsgate’s WARRIOR, Multi-Tiered Campaign Celebrates Everyday Warriors Among Us
Winner Of Associated Sweepstakes Sponsored by AMC Theatres To Receive Free Hometown Premiere Of WARRIOR
The upcoming release of the film WARRIOR, in theatres everywhere on September 9th, has inspired “We Are All Warriors,” a national grassroots and online initiative to identify everyday heroes – the real life warriors among us.
The project is an opportunity for people all over the country to join together to share their stories and answer the central question of WARRIOR: “What Do You Fight For?” From our teachers and coaches to our athletes and veterans, we all fight for something – we are all warriors. At www.WeAreAllWarriors.com, project participants can answer the question in their own words, nominate another everyday warrior, vote for their favorite warriors and rally friends and family to share their contender via Facebook and Twitter.
“We Are All Warriors” will be promoted through media, corporate and non-profit partnerships on both national and local levels. With word first spreading through a series of ESPN-sponsored screenings of the much anticipated and inspiring film, which Edward Douglas of Comingsoon.net has called “as powerful and unforgettable as ROCKY,” the program now expands in its official partnership capacity to include a national promotion with AMC Theatres centered around a sweepstakes where one everyday warrior will receive a free hometown premiere of the film at the nearest AMC theatre.
Said WARRIOR’s director Gavin O’Connor of the initiative, “Everyone fights for something- from parents struggling to support families through tough economic times, to soldiers defending democracy, to teachers combating illiteracy, we fight for things that we believe in. I made this film to celebrate that quality of the warrior within us all, and am proud that this project is reaching out to so many people and inviting them to join in honoring those individuals who embody the qualities of a true everyday warrior. It all comes down to the question, “What Do You Fight For?’ and the broad range of partners and participants so far shows how universal and important this topic is.”
All of the project’s inspirational submissions will remain on the website to be shared with the world – a true army of some of America’s most extraordinary citizens is already forming, including Massachusetts’ lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray who fights for his constituents, beloved wrestler Anthony Robles, submitted by ESPN, who fought to ascend in his sport despite having lost a leg, Dolores Bastrop, nominated by her husband for her tireless fight for the poor, and Mike Hardin, nominated by a “proud neighbor” for fighting for life, when he rescued a mother and child from a mobile home that had erupted in fire in while they slept.
The website will also regularly feature video diaries from both everyday warriors and celebrity guests including prominent bloggers, parents, coaches, troops, actors athletes, and pastors, answering the film’s central question ‘What Do You Fight For?’ in their own words.
About WARRIOR
Rising stars Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton command the screen as two estranged brothers facing the fight of a lifetime in Lionsgate’s WARRIOR, a moving, inspirational action drama from acclaimed director Gavin O’Connor (Miracle).
Haunted by a tragic past, Marine Tommy Conlon (Hardy) returns home for the first time in fourteen years to enlist the help of his father (Nick Nolte) to train for Sparta, the biggest winner-takes-all event in mixed martial arts history. A former wrestling prodigy, Tommy blazes a path toward the championship while his brother, Brendan (Edgerton), an ex-fighter-turned teacher, returns to the ring in a desperate bid to save his family from financial ruin. But when Brendan’s unlikely, underdog rise sets him on a collision course with the unstoppable Tommy, the two brothers must finally confront each other and the forces that pulled them apart, facing off in the most soaring, soul stirring, and unforgettable climax that must be seen to be believed.
A rousing ode to redemption, reconciliation and the power of the human spirit, WARRIOR is also a moving testament to the enduring bonds of family. WARRIOR stars Joel Edgerton (Animal Kingdom, Star Wars: Episode III), Tom Hardy (the upcoming The Dark Knight Rises, Inception, Black Hawk Down), Jennifer Morrison (“House”, Star Trek) and Nick Nolte (Tropic Thunder, The Thin Red Line). The film is directed by Gavin O’Connor; screenplay by Gavin O’Connor & Anthony Tambakis & Cliff Dorman and story by Gavin O’Connor & Cliff Dorfman. Lionsgate and Mimran Schur Pictures present a Lionsgate / Mimran Schur Pictures production. A Solaris Entertainment and Filmtribe production.
K-1 MAX -70kg Japan Tourney This September
K-1 announced that “K-1 WORLD MAX 2011 -70kg Japan Tournament FINAL” will be held on September 25 in Osaka.
K-1 MAX -70kg’s one night Japan tournament is going to come back. Also many K-1 MAX fighters (both -63kg & -70kg) are expected to join this event and have single fights. Fighting card for this event is to be announced.
Fighters expected to participate: Albert Kraus, Nagashima “Jienotsu” Yuichiro, Yuya Yamamoto, Yasuhiro Kido, Yuta Kubo, Kizaemon Saiga, Yuji Nashiro, Kenta, Takafumi Morita, Go Yokoyama, YOSHI
Golden Glory Issues Statement Regarding Troubles The UFC
First of all we would like to thank all the support of the fans.
The Golden Glory management discussed before coming to the US about the payment situation and it was agreed to speak with a Zuffa lawyer about this in Vancouver, to find a solution.
There was a contract in place and Golden Glory and Einemo honored the UFC rules including getting the check on the fighters name (Einemo showed his check in the gym as well which was on his name and Alistair and Valentijn also confirmed their payment was done by check in their name). The Zuffa lawyer explained that the fighters could open an account at a bank were the UFC did their banking and the check would clear in only two days instead of 6 weeks till 8 weeks (that’s how long it takes to clear a check in a foreign country which was also an issue for some of the fighters) and they could then transfer the amount to the final destination at their choice. They were thankful and did this.
The reason that the Golden Glory management company is doing this business for the GG fighters for over 12 years with payment directly to the management company is for the benefit of the fighters, coaches and trainers are paid on time and the management company will take care of bookkeeper and taxes and exchange rates and legal help for the fighters.
We have many fighters from many different parts of the world and also have gyms in Berlin Germany, Liverpool England, Pattaya Thailand, California USA, Bucharest Romania, Moscow Russia and three gyms in Holland. Golden Glory is growing on an international level and we are working with one management company to coordinate these businesses.
Fighters only sign agreements with promoters if coaches, trainers, management and the fighter agree with the terms, regardless to whom the payment will be done.
The Strikeforce situation was different.
Behind the scene I was preparing a great deal for corporation between Strikeforce, /dream, k-1 and Glory to do something great together with Scott ( this included a TV channel and footage deal). I introduced Scott thru a partner of mine in LA to some powerful people in the US (Scott was very surprised after this meeting and exited and mailed me after his meeting with these people how impressed he was). I never could have guessed that at the same moment I was talking to Scott to make a massive move for becoming a real competitor to the UFC, Scott was already talking with the same UFC for selling Strikeforce.
Scott told me that he had partners and that there were financial difficulties with Strikeforce and any new TV or other deal they would welcome. As I am a producer as well ( produced more then 1000 hour of fighting content) and also made tons of other deals for promoters (like the K-1 live broadcasting on the dutch TV Channel SBS6) I trusted Scott with some business plans as I knew Scott from the time he was a promoter for K-1 and we all wanted to move forward in the fight business.
Scott convinced me to start working with Strikeforce, we always had a better deal in Japan and Europe, but as K-1 was having a lot of difficulties and Scott giving us all the terms we wanted, we started taking steps to do more and more business with Strikeforce.
The problems with Strikeforce was that we made some agreements with Scott which were creating headaches now Zuffa took over.
The fighters were paid in the previous Strikeforce bouts to an account of the management without any problems, yet UFC claimed this was impossible. Then the fighters were loosing sponsors as the UFC took over Strikeforce as they implemented their new rules. If you can sponsor the fighter you should sponsor the organization first. I understand this from a business point of few, but some companies can’t effort to pay 100K or more to an organization. And some fighters getting 5 or 10K in sponsorship is were they actually can make some good money. We just wanted the things as they were before, but it was far from what it was before. The payment was done how the UFC wanted and again we agreed and did the same as in Vancouver, so that matter was solved , so I do not understand why Danna claims we did not agree? We did not have a choice and never said we would not fight in the future or that we would refuse to work like this in the future (we worked out that problem with the Zuffa lawyer in the Vancouver and even agreed with their new sponsor policies). Maybe there is a miscommunication and Danna was not well informed that the direct payment issue was solved and no longer an issue as I myself have been in and out hospital for two weeks because of heath issues ( the reason why this press release is so late).
Anyway we regret the response from Zuffa and the releases, but it is their company and they can do what they want, we would like to keep working in the future with the UFC and with this statement I clearly say that direct payment to any of our fighter was not a problem and will not be a problem in the future. We just want to be able to produce great fighters and create great fights for the fans, we have no intention for Co-promotion deals and are even willing to make an exclusive deal for Alistair Overeem to fight in the UFC, if the terms are right.
Team Golden Glory
Matt Hamill Retires
Today is a sad day for me. After six years and 13 fights in the UFC I’m ready to hang up my gloves and retire from this amazing sport.
The UFC has been extremely good to me and given me an opportunity to make a great living. That exposure has allowed me options outside the Octagon as well. I just don’t have it in me to fight anymore and my last two performances have shown that.
I was ready to make this decision after UFC 130 but my friends, family coaches and most importantly my daughter encouraged me to give it one last chance. My career has been plagued by injuries starting with The Ultimate Fighter and disrupted my training ever since.
There hasn’t been even one training camp where I’ve been able to train without training around an injury. I have not been kind to my body and it has nothing left after 28 years of non stop competition. It’s time to finally give it a rest.
I can’t continue to fight without having the hunger and desire to do so. I can’t let my performances reflect on my coaches who are the best in the world and the reason I’ve made it this far.
I have fallen in love with the sport of Mixed Martial Arts and I will continue to coach at our gym Mohawk Valley MMA along side my teammates and help the next generation of fighters make it to the UFC. I also look forward to continuing my business ventures outside the UFC including “Hamill” the movie based on my life story set to be released this fall.
I want to thank Dana White, Joe Silva Lorenzo Fertitta and everyone at the UFC for the opportunity to make something special out of my life.
Thank you to Duff, Holmes, Bruno Tostes, Dave Kingwater, Renzo Gracie, Tim Greene, Daniel Gracie, Pat Popolizio, Ron Gross, Doug Blubaugh and Mark Dellagrotte.
Thank you to all my training partners who have shared their blood sweat and tears with me along the way. Thank you to all my friends and family for their unconditional support and most of all thank you to my fans! It’s the fans that have made this the truly special experience it has been.
The UFC has become family to me and I hope to be involved with the number one mixed martial arts organization in the world as a coach, ambassador and fan for a long time to come.
-Matt “The Hammer” Hamill
Inaugural Card a Hit at the International Festival of Bikers
As a special attraction during Russia’s International Festival of Ol’gino Bikers, Europe’s leading mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion, M-1 Global, kicked off its ‘proving ground’ scouting project ‘M-1 Fighter’ in front of two-wheel transportation enthusiasts who were watching intently; the bout winners made the most of their opportunity in hopes to earn a shot in the M-1 Selection tournament or an undercard bout on a future M-1 Challenge card.
The ‘M-1 Fighter’ project brings together young and promising athletes that have undergone a rigorous submission review and selection process. According to M-1 Global European matchmaker Alexander Shuldyakov, “These bouts really showed the level of unfound talent currently available in the Eastern European clubs. Now that the fights are over, I can review the matches and determine who is ready to compete at a higher level.”
Pavel Vitruk was the card’s opening bout victor, winning a unanimous decision over Sanan Shakhbudagov after two rounds in their Featherweight (145 Lbs.) contest; in the same weight class, Alexei Pastirev defeated Roman Trofimov via unanimous decision after two rounds as well.
The card’s sole lightweight (155 Lbs.) battle had Radzhi Aliev defeating Georgiy Kovalev by unanimous decision after two rounds of back and forth fighting.
Davrbek Isakov showed his submission skills in his Welterweight (170 Lbs.) outing, defeating Albert Ahmedov via triangle-choke in Round One. Of the two Middleweight (185 Lbs.) bouts, Alexei Martinov defeated Christian Vuapi with a first-round rear-naked-choke and Oleg Lvov took out Yuri Tchurov via triangle choke submission in Round One as well.
Rustam Abdurapov stepped in as a late replacement and shocked the crowd with his power, defeating Maxim Veshnyakov via first round TKO in a Light Heavyweight (205 Lbs.) bout and Heavyweight (265 Lbs.) Dmitrii Alferiev made short work of Timur Shikhmagomedov, dropping him with a kick to the liver and finishing off his opponent with a ruthless ground and pound for a first-round TKO victory.
