Weekly Mixed Martial Arts and Kickboxing News – 12/21/2012
By PDG Staff
UFC 157: Rousey vs. Carmouche – Fight Card Update
“Ruthless” Robbie Lawler is set to make his return to the UFC and the welterweight division against top-ten ranked Josh Koscheck at UFC 157 February 23rd. The featherweight division has never been stronger and adding to the avalanche of Anaheim match-ups, Chad Mendes and Manvel Gamburyan will go at it in a wrestling versus judo clash. In addition, Dennis Bermudez and Matt Grice will meet in a pairing of wrestling powerhouses also known for their ability to brawl.
UFC 157: Rousey vs. Carmouche
February 23, 2013
Honda Center
Anaheim, California
Ronda Rousey (6-0) vs. Liz Carmouche (7-2)
Lyoto Machida (18-3) vs. Dan Henderson (29-8)
Urijah Faber (26-6) vs. Ivan Menjivar (25-9)
Josh Koscheck (17-6) vs. Robbie Lawler (19-9)
Chad Mendes (13-1) vs. Manny Gamburyan (12-7)
Caros Fodor (7-2) vs. Sam Stout (18-8-1)
Michael Chiesa (8-0) vs. Anton Kuivanen (17-5)
Brendan Schaub (8-3) vs. Lavar Johnson 17-6)
Court McGee (14-3) vs. Josh Neer (33-12-1)
Matt Grice (15-4) vs. Dennis Bermudez (9-3)
Neil Magny (7-1) vs. Jon Manley (7-1)
DREAM 18 and GLORY 4 Tokyo – New Year’s Eve Special – Fight Card Update
Brazilian heavyweight upstart Jhonata Diniz (7-2) has been given the opportunity of a lifetime after being brought in to the GLORY 4 Tokyo – Heavyweight Grand Slam event as a replacement for an injured Fabiano ‘Cyclone’ Aoki, and will take on superstar Daniel Ghita (44-7-0, 34 KO’s) in the opening round of the one-night, 16-man elimination tournament at Saitama Super Arena on New Year’s Eve.
The switch was confirmed by Glory Sports International yesterday following Cyclone’s withdrawal from the event due to a torn ligament sustained in his left knee during a recent sparring practice with fellow Japanese heavyweight Koichi. Cyclone did not want to withdraw from the tournament, but doctors told him it would not be feasible for him to attempt to fight with such an injury.
“Naturally we are disappointed to see Fabiano Cyclone withdraw from this tournament. He has a crowd-pleasing style and we were looking forward to seeing him perform in front of his home fans. Such injuries are sometimes a side-effect of the hard training these fighters go through and we wish him a speedy recovery,” says Glory Sports International CEO Marcus Luer.
“His replacement is Jhonata Diniz, a young fighter from the famous fighting Brazilian city of Curitiba. He exemplifies that city’s infamously aggressive martial arts style and, from what we saw of his organization debut at GLORY 2 Brussels earlier this year, I think it’s safe to say that the crowd will definitely be entertained by what he brings to the ring.
“He’s facing Ghita first, and Ghita is second-favorite to win the tournament. It’s a tall order, but Diniz didn’t hesitate to accept; he says is very much looking forward to the challenge.”
Interestingly, Cyclone is half-Brazilian, with one of his parents coming from the same Brazilian city – Belem – that is home to the former UFC light-heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida, who is also half-Japanese, half-Brazilian. So it is fitting that it is a Brazilian that has replaced him, albeit one from a different city.
Curitiba is well known in the martial arts world as being the home of the famed Chute Boxe team which dominated PRIDE FC and produced legendary names such as Wanderlei Silva, Anderson Silva and Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua. Diniz came up through the Thai Boxe team, Chute Boxe’s main rival for dominance on the regional Muay Thai and kickboxing circuit. Curitiba teams seem to have developed a super-aggressive, almost reckless fighting style, either independently or as a response to each other continuously upping the ante. Diniz’s past fights confirm this, displaying at times almost a complete disregard for his own safety as he looks to finish his opponents.
He recently moved to the Netherlands to pursue his training and has been taken under the wing of the accomplished Cor Hemmers and his son Nicky Hemmers. According to the elder Hemmers, “Diniz is going to become a serious force to be reckoned with over the next few years and this tournament will be the start of that journey.”
DREAM 18 and GLORY 4 Tokyo – New Year’s Eve Special – Fight Card Updates
December 31, 2012
Saitama Super Arena
Saitama, Japan
MMA Rules:
Tatsuya ‘Crusher’ Kawajiri (31-7-2) vs. Michihiro Omigawa (13-12-1)
Hiroyuki Takaya (17-9-1) vs. Georgi Karakhanyan (19-3)
Satoru Kitaoka (30-11-9) vs. Will Brooks (7-0)
Bibiano Fernandes (12-3) vs. Yoshiro Maeda (30-11-4)
Melvin Manhoef (26-9-1) vs. Denis Kang (35-15-2)
Phil Baroni (15-15) and Hayato Sakurai (36-12-2)
Shinya Aoki (31-6) vs. Antonio McKee (28-4-2)
GLORY Grand Slam Tournament:
Semmy Schilt (39-6) vs. Brice Guidon (28-7)
Gokhan Saki (77-15) vs. Raomoru (-)
Daniel Ghita (44-7) vs. Jhonata Diniz (-)
Remy Bonjasky (77-14) vs. Filip Verlinden (38-6)
Peter Aerts (104-30-1) vs. Mourad Bouzidi (73-19)
Errol Zimmerman (76-16-1) vs. Jamal Ben Saddik (22-0)
Anderson ‘Braddock’ Silva (32-8-1) vs. Igor Jurkovic (44-5)
Sergei Kharitonov (22-7) vs. Rico Verhoeven (37-6-1)
Kickboxing Super Fights:
Robin van Roosmalen vs. Yuichiro “Jienotsu” Nagashima
Jerome Le Banner vs. Koichi Pettas
Toshio Matsumoto vs. Jason Wilnis
Mutsuki Ebata vs. Sang-Jae Kim
Bantamweight World Title Fight February 14th From Bojangles
The stage is now set for the Bellator MMA Bantamweight World Title fight as reigning Bellator Champion Eduardo “Dudu” Dantas is set to defend his belt against fellow Brazilian Marcos “Loro” Galvao on February 14th from Charlotte’s Bojangles’ Coliseum LIVE on Spike TV. The night will also feature the opening round of Bellator’s highly anticipated Middleweight Tournament, as well as loaded preliminary card that will be streamed exclusively on Spike.com.
At just 23 years old, Dantas already has amassed an impressive 14-3 record, including victories over Luis Nogueira, Ed West, Alexis Vila and former Bellator Bantamweight Champion Zach Makovsky. Training under Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu grandmaster and Nova Uniao founder Andre Pederneiras, Dantas is ready for the challenge that awaits him on February 14th.
“I feel great, and I’m ready to defend my belt,” said Dantas. “It seems like I’ve been away from the Bellator cage for a while, and I’m ready to face Marcos. I consider Marcos a friend, but all that goes away when we step into the cage. I’m going to show the world why I am the Bellator Bantamweight Champion.”
Galvao has similar feelings as the Season 6 Bantamweight Tournament Champion has trained with Dantas and Pederneiras in the past with Nova Uniao. Now calling New York home, Galvao knows his February 14th showdown with Dantas is the biggest fight of his career, and won’t let friendship stand in the way of becoming a champion.
“”Everyone is fine with it, and everyone knows what is at stake,” said Galvao.” “We’ve known each other for a long time, but this is our job, and nothing will get in the way of that. We will shake hands before the fight, and we will shake hands after the fight, but it’s going to be war when the cage door shuts.”
“Eduardo and Marcos are two of the best bantamweights in this sport, and with the ties they both have to one of the best MMA camps in the world, Nova Uniao, this has the makings of an incredible fight,” said Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney. “We’ve got a stacked Middleweight Tournament featured on the card along with a number of great preliminary fights on Spike.com, so the Charlotte crowd is in for something special on February 14th.”
Megumi Fujii (恵 藤井) – Queen of Kakutougi (格闘技の女王) Highlight Video
Vale Tudo Japan Returns on December 24th, 2012
Only 3 more days until the legendary Vale Tudo Japan event goes down with an unbelievable fight card. The event will take place on December 24th at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium live on SkyperfectTV.
In the main event, SHOOTO legend Rumina Sato battles DREAM bantamweight favorite, Hideo Tokoro. To add to the excitement, viewers will also see 3 “JAPAN vs USA” bouts. Current SHOOTO welterweight champion and former UFC fighter, Kuniyoshi Hironaka (20-8), will be taking on UFC veteran Carlo Prater (30-12-1) in a highly anticipated lightweight matchup.
Long time SHOOTO veteran Mamoru Yamaguchi (26-6-3) will be representing Japan in a flyweight showdown against the USA’s Darrell Montague (11-2). The number 1 SHOOTO prospect, 23 year old Kyoji Horiguchi (8-1), will take on UFC veteran and current Tachi Palace Fight champion, Ian Loveland (16-9).
Other Featured Bouts:
Takeshi Inoue (21-6) vs Kenji Osawa (18-10-2)
Megumi Fujii (25-2) vs Mei Yamguchi (10-4-1)
Keita Nakamura (24-5-2) vs Nobutatsu Suzuki (9-0-2)
Daisuke Hoshio (7-6) vs Kuntap Weerasakreck (0-1)
Strikeforce OKC (The End of Strikeforce) – Fight Card Update
Strikeforce welterweight champion and seasoned UFC veteran Nate Marquardt will defend his title against current number one contender Tarec Saffiedine on Saturday, Jan. 12 as Strikeforce visits Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla. In the night’s co-main event, Oklahoma State University All-American wrestler and Strikeforce Grand Prix heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier takes on kickboxing veteran Dion Staring.
This will mark the final Strikeforce event on SHOWTIME.
“Since 2009, SHOWTIME has been a great partner and we appreciate its support of Strikeforce and our athletes,” Scott Coker, Strikeforce CEO, said. “For our final event, we’ve loaded the card with some outstanding fights. This is going to be a memorable night for the sport of mixed martial arts.”
“We are proud of our association with Scott Coker and the entire Strikeforce team,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports. “From Gina Carano to Ronda Rousey, Fedor Emelianenko to Daniel Cormier, Nick Diaz to Gilbert Melendez, SHOWTIME Sports and Strikeforce have built some of the biggest stars in the sport and have produced many of the most watched and most intriguing fights in the history of MMA. We look forward to another night of competitive and explosive Strikeforce fights on SHOWTIME on January 12 in OKC.”
Strikeforce OKC: Marquardt vs. Saffiedine
January 12, 2013
Chesapeake Energy Arena
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Nate Marquardt vs. Tarec Saffiedine
Daniel Cormier vs. Dion Staring
Josh Barnett vs. Nandor Guelmino
Gegard Mousasi vs. Mike Kyle
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza vs. Ed Herman (coming over from the UFC)
Pat Healy vs. TBA
Roger Gracie vs. Anthony Smith
Tim Kennedy vs. Trevor Smith
KJ Noons vs. Ryan Couture
Jorge Gurgel vs. Adriano Martins
Estavan Payan vs. Michael Bravo
UFC 158: St-Pierre vs. Diaz Announced
Fresh off unifying the welterweight title in November following an 18-month absence due to injury, UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre returns to Montreal’s Bell Centre on March 16, 2013 to face former Strikeforce champion Nick Diaz. St-Pierre (23-2) has scored 10 consecutive victories in his dominant reign atop the 170-pound division but no other opponent has motivated him as much as the fiery and unpredictable Diaz.
“Georges St-Pierre asked to fight Nick Diaz because he knows they have unfinished business, and Nick Diaz agrees,” UFC President Dana White said.
The always-diplomatic St-Pierre, 31, has defeated the likes of Carlos Condit, Matt Hughes (twice), Jon Fitch, BJ Penn (twice), Josh Koscheck (twice) and Jake Shields, but no other opponent has fueled him as much as the southpaw from Stockton, Calif. The pair was originally slated to meet at UFC 137 but a series of events, including a St-Pierre knee injury, prevented the match up from ever taking place.
“There’s been a lot of talk about who I should fight next but this was really the only choice for me,” said St-Pierre. “He’s made it personal and I personally can’t wait.”
During his reign as Strikeforce welterweight champion, Nick Diaz defeated archrival KJ Noons and finished both Evangelista Santos and Paul Daley en route to becoming the organization’s best 170-pound fighter. He’s since returned to the UFC with an impressive win over former two-time champion BJ Penn before an interim title loss to Carlos Condit and a year-long disciplinary suspension. Diaz now, though, gets the fight he’s so eagerly awaited.
“This is the fight I want,” Diaz said. “I want to go out there and beat Georges St-Pierre in Montreal and show that I’m the best welterweight in the world.”
In addition to St-Pierre-Diaz, four more of the UFC’s top-10 welterweights will clash at the Bell Centre while one fighter gets a shot at redemption following a controversial disqualification loss at the same venue just four months removed.
With his recent dominating win over legend BJ Penn, Rory MacDonald (14-1) looks to avenge his only career loss against former interim UFC welterweight champion Carlos Condit (28-6). The pair met at UFC 115 in a bout that saw Condit come from behind and register a third-round TKO win with mere seconds remaining.
Not to be overshadowed, title-hungry Johny Hendricks (14-1), coming off his recent Montreal knockout win over welterweight Martin Kampmann, will be looking to cement his place as number one contender as he meets the always-dangerous Jake Ellenberger (28-6).
Shlemenko vs. Falcao February 7th From Georgia’s The Arena at Gwinnett Center
The title fights continue for Bellator MMA as the promotion has announced an explosive Bellator Middleweight Title fight between Russian knockout artist Alexander “Storm” Shlemenko and dominating Brazilian Maiquel Falcao LIVE on Spike TV Thursday, February 7th from Georgia’s The Arena at Gwinnet Center. The night will also feature the opening round of Bellator’s highly anticipated Featherweight Tournament, as well as loaded preliminary card that will be streamed exclusively on Spike.com.
After successfully winning his second Bellator Middleweight Tournament in 2011, Shlemenko has his sights set on one thing: The Bellator Middleweight World Championship. Currently riding a nine fight win streak and holding an incredible 46-7 record, Shlemenko knows his February 7th fight will be the biggest of his career.
“It was a long path for me,” Shlemenko said. “It doesn’t matter whom I will face to get my title, Falcao, or anyone else. I will smash my opponent, and win the title, because I have my country behind me. I’m fighting for the honor of Russia, and I’m glad that the audience on Spike TV in and on Russia 2 will be able to watch my fight live!”
“Big Rig” enters the fight after three dominating tournament victories inside the Bellator cage and continues training under the tutelage of head trainer and Luta Livre practitioner Marcelo Brigadeiro in Brazil. After competing in organizations across the world, Falcao knows he has found a home in Bellator and is hoping to etch his name into the Bellator history books on February 7th from The Arena at Gwinnett Center.
“I’ve had my sights set on the Bellator Middleweight Title for a long time,” Falcao said. “Bellator is my home, and nothing would make me happier to see my championship banner hanging in the rafters, and beating Shlemenko for the title.”
“Shlemenko vs. Falcao is a spectacular world title fight. If you like fights, this one has fight of the year written all over it,” said Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney. “With 50 knockouts between the two, February 7th should be absolute fireworks from The Arena at Gwinnett Center and on Spike TV.”
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