Weekly Mixed Martial Arts and Kickboxing News – 05/18/2013
By PDG Staff
Nate Diaz Suspended and Fined for Gay Slur Tweets
Hours after Nate Diaz wrote a derogatory term for a homosexual person on his official Twitter account, The UFC announced his punishment. Earlier this week, Pat Healy had announced that he tested positive for marijuana following his submission victory over Jim Miller at UFC 159 and that his $130,000.00 in bonus would be not paid by the UFC (Bryan Caraway instead received $65,000.00). Diaz apparently didn’t like that and had the following to say on his twitter account:
“I feel bad for Pat Healy that they took a innocent mans money and I think the guy who took the money is the biggest Fag in the world.”
Then Zuffa, LLC, owner of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, released the following statement today:
“UFC lightweight Nate Diaz has received an immediate 90-day suspension and $20,000 fine for violating the UFC’s fighter code of conduct. The language used in his tweet was regrettable, offensive and inconsistent with the values and culture of the organization, and is not tolerated. The money will be donated to charity.”
Final Fight Card Announced for SUPERKOMBAT World Grand Prix in Craiova, Romania
After the great success of SUPERKOMBAT World Grand Prix – Final Elimination from November 10th 2012, when SUPERKOMBAT fighters inaugurated the Polyvalent Hall, SUPERKOMBAT will return in Craiova (Romania) for the second World Grand Prix event of this season.
“We hare very happy because we will return in a great city with a fantastic public. Last time, in November 10th 2012, the polyvalent hall was full and we hope also for this time.”, said SUPERKOMBAT president Eduard Irimia.
SUPERKOMBAT World Grand Prix
May 18, 2013
Craiova, Romania
Super-fight (SUPERKOMBAT World Title -65kg) – Stauros Exakoustidis (Greece) vs. Ionut Atodiresei (Romania)
Semifinal 1 (Heavyweight) – Nikolaj Falin (Germany) vs. Frank Munoz (Spain)
Semifinal 2 (Heavyweight) – Vladimir Toktasynov (Russia) vs. Sebastian Ciobanu (Romania)
Super-fight (SUPERKOMBAT World Title -71kg) – Stelios Papadopoulos (Greece) vs. Claudiu Badoi (Romania)
Super-fight (Heavyweight) – Jairzinho Rozenstruik (Suriname) vs. Benjamin Adegbuyi (Romania)
Super-fight (Heavyweight) – Eduardo Mendes (Cape Verde) vs. Catalin Morosanu (Romania)
Bellator MMA Kicks of Summer Series With Title Fight and Two Four-Man Tournaments
As Bellator prepares for its long awaited Summer Series return, the full fight card has been completed as Bellator MMA returns to WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma Wednesday, June 19th live on Spike TV. The night will feature a Lightweight World Championship fight between reigning Bellator Champion Michael Chandler, as he defends his belt against Dave Jansen. The night will also feature the start of the Heavyweight and Light Heavyweight Summer Series Tournaments, as well as the return of the always controversial War Machine.
Minakov enters the tournament undefeated at a perfect 10-0, including seven straight stoppage victories. Possessing a dominate ground game thanks to his extensive Sambo background and a developing striking arsenal, Minakov enters the tournament as one of the favorites and has his sights set on a Bellator World Title.
“I want everyone to know that I’m not here just to ‘take part’ in a Bellator Tournament, but to win it all and become a Bellator Champion.”
Minakov will have no easy test in the Semifinals of the Light Heavyweight Tournament as “The Monster” Ron Sparks returns to Bellator looking to punch his ticket to the Finals with a victory June 19th from WinStar World Casino. Sparks isn’t looking to play head games coming into this fight, and knows Minakov will be well aware of what the Louisville native is bringing to the table.
“Everyone knows I’m looking stand in that cage and throw bombs, no questions asked,” Sparks said. “I think the heavyweight tournament is going to be awesome. I am looking forward to it being a four-man tournament. It will give the fighters more opportunities to fight and I want my shot at the title.”
The other side of the bracket will feature fan-favorite and Bellator veteran Rich Hale as the Arizona native battles the imposing Brazilian Vinicius “Spartan” Queiroz. Hale burst onto the scene with inverted triangle win over Nick Fekete in 2011 and his continued his assent up the heavyweight ranks.
“I am really looking forward to the heavyweight tournament and my training has been going great,” Hale said. “I’ve been working hard and making adjustments to the game plan to come in and get the heavyweight belt.”
“This event is insanely stacked, and it’s the reason we are making this a jam packed three hour show,” Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney said. “With a Lightweight Title fight, Mo, Babalu, War Machine and the start of our heavyweight tournament, this is going to be an amazing show start to finish on Spike.”
Following the event, Spike will air the premier of Fight Master: Bellator MMA, which features 32 of the best welterweight fighters on the planet as they compete for a spot in the Bellator MMA Tournament and a $100,000 prize.
UFC on FOX Sports 1 1 – Fight Card Update
The UFC will make its long-awaited return to Boston August 17, as part of the launch of FOX Sports 1. The card for the FS 1 debut has begun to take shape, as two exciting bouts have been announced. Massachusetts native Joe Lauzon will take on hard-hitting Michael Johnson in a battle of TUF veterans. Both men, known for their fan-friendly styles, will be looking to get back in the win column and move up the lightweight ranks. In welterweight action, former top contender Thiago Alves will return from a lengthy injury layoff to face the streaking Matt Brown. After winning five straight (with four wins coming by KO/TKO), Brown will look to jump into the division’s top ten with a victory over “The Pitbull”.
UFC on FOX Sports 1 1
August 17, 2013
TD Garden
Boston, Massachusetts
Thiago Alves (19-9) vs. Matt Brown (17-11)
Michael Johnson (12-8) vs. Joe Lauzon (22-8)
Conor McGregor (13-2) vs. TBA
GLORY 9 New York: KO Artist Wayne Barrett To Face Mike Lemaire In Superfight Action
Hard-hitting upstart Wayne Barrett (1-0, 1 KO) of Queens, N.Y. will compete on the biggest stage of his young professional fight career when he faces off with fellow undefeated Muay Thai stylist Mike Lemaire (9-0, 3 KOs) of San Diego, Calif. in a middleweight (187 pounds/85 kilograms) Superfight contest at the first-ever GLORY championship series kickboxing event in the U.S. at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York, N.Y. on Saturday, June 22.
The 27-year-old Barrett, a former Georgia State Golden Gloves amateur boxing champion and martial artist since the age of 10, has become a dangerous force in the ring with his thorough mix of striking skills and ability to read his opponents while splitting his training camps between Brooklyn, N.Y. where he works under boxing mentor Kelly Richardson, and Atlanta, Ga. where he trains alongside the likes of fellow GLORY competitor Eddie “Showtime” Walker and other world-class fighters.
After amassing a near-perfect amateur kickboxing and Muay Thai record of 19-1, with 15 of his wins coming by way of (T)KO, Barrett made his professional debut in Queens, N.Y. on Feb. 22 against Strahinja Ivanovic, a fighter with 12 professional fights under his belt. Barrett quickly overcame Ivanovic’s experience advantage, landing a right hook to the head that sent Ivanovic to the canvas for the 10-count at the 2:43 mark of the bout’s second round.
Lemaire, a 26-year-old protégé of retired, former world Muay Thai champion Melchor Menor, burst onto the national fight scene on Feb. 9 when he defeated three consecutive opponents in one night to capture the developmental Road To GLORY USA middleweight tournament championship and earn a multi-year contract with GLORY. Lemaire scored KOs on two of his three tournament opponents, including championship round adversary Walker.
A native of France, Lemaire began studying Judo at age 4 and later transitioned to Karate and kickboxing after he reached the age of 12. It was in 2007, the year he moved to the U.S. that Lemaire became immersed in Muay Thai.
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UFC on FOX 8 – Fight Card Update
Visa issues have forced Reza Madadi out of his UFC on FOX 8 bout with Michael Chiesa. In Madadi’s place steps former Strikeforce title challenger Jorge Masvidal. Masvidal made a successful Octagon debut earlier this year, outpointing Tim Means at April’s FOX event.
UFC on Fox 8: Johnson vs. Moraga
July 27, 2013
KeyArena
Seattle, Washington
Demetrious Johnson (17-2-1) vs. John Moraga (13-1) – UFC flyweight championship bout
Liz Carmouche (8-3) vs. Miesha Tate (12-3)
Brendan Schaub (9-3) vs. Matt Mitrione (6-2)
Melvin Guillard (30-12-2) vs. Mac Danzig (21-10-1)
Rory MacDonald (14-1) vs. Jake Ellenberger (29-6)
Tarec Saffiedine (14-3) vs. Robbie Lawler (20-9-1)
Danny Castillo (15-5) vs. Bobby Green (20-5)
Julie Kedzie (16-11) vs. Germain de Randamie (3-2)
Spencer Fisher (24-9) vs. Yves Edwards (42-19-1)
Michael Chiesa (9-0) vs. Jorge Masvidal (24-7)
Ed Herman (20-9) vs. Trevor Smith (10-3)
Aaron Riley (30-13-1) vs. Justin Salas (10-4)
Yaotzin Meza (19-8) vs. John Albert (7-4)
Ognjen Topic Inks Exclusive Multi-Fight Deal With Lion Fight
Ognjen Topic became the latest athlete to ink an exclusive multi-fight deal with Lion Fight promotions and join the list of world class fighters currently topping the premier Muay Thai organization’s roster. Topic, who now fights only for Lion Fight, will take on Coke Chunhawat at Lion Fight 10 Friday, July 26 live on AXS TV and from inside the Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
“Ognjen Topic is regarded as one of the rising stars in American Muay Thai and proved that with his impressive knockout of Thai champion Paowarit Sasiprapa at Lion Fight 9,” said Scott Kent, Lion Fight CEO. “Ognjen Topic is a fan favorite and has powerful boxing skills and riveting kicks. He returns to Lion Fight on July 26 to fight another Thai Champion in Coke Chunhawat in what promises to be an action-packed stand up war.”
“It’s great that the best promotion in the business, Lion Fight, has signed me exclusively, and I make this promise to fight fans that they will see me perform only at the highest level against the most elite fighters,” said Topic. “Muay Thai is a beautiful sport, and I’m honored that Scott Kent puts on these great events and that AXS TV is presenting them live across America. I look forward to July 26, to defeating Coke Chunhawat, and to continuing to make a name for myself in Muay Thai.”
Ognjen was born in Jajce, Bosnia and during the war his family moved to Serbia. Finally, they moved and settled in America while Ognjen was still in grade school, and as he grew older, he developed a love and passion for boxing. His family allowed him to train in Tae Kwon Do, and after receiving his black belt he started training in the art of Muay Thai. Ognjen soon became one of the top amateurs on the east coast. After he turned pro, he began racking up titles and credentials and quickly proved himself among the best of the best in Muay Thai.
He holds a professional fight record of 7-2 with a 13-5-2 amateur record. He is ranked as the 2011 North American Professional Rookie of the year by the Muay Thai Authority website, as well as the 2011 United States Breakthrough Fighter of the Year by the Muay Thai Is Life website. The World Kickboxing Association (WKA) named Topic its December 2011 Professional Fighter of the Month.
Topic joins Malaipet Sasiprapa, Kevin Ross and Tiffany Van Soest as the latest fighter to be signed to an exclusive contract with Lion Fight. Kent is signing more top-ranked Muay Thai fighters to his organization and will continue making those announcements as they happen.
UFC on FOX Sports 1 2 Announced
The Ultimate Fighting Championship is heading back to Indianapolis. The world’s largest mixed martial arts organization announced this week that it will host an event at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Wednesday, Aug. 28. The event will mark the second time UFC has visited the arena, with the first being UFC 119 on Sept. 25, 2010. A fight card will be announced in the weeks to come.
World Series of Fighting 3: Fitch vs. Burkman – Fight Card Update
Surging KO artist Chris “Gritz” Gruetzemacher (11-1) of Glendale, Ariz. will square off with fellow fast-rising star Jerrod Sanders (11-1) of Oklahoma City, Okla. in a World Series of Fighting featherweight preliminary card bout at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on Friday, June 14.
A bantamweight contest between emerging force Carson “Little Juggernaut” Beebe (13-2) of Schaumburg, Ill. and undefeated submission ace Joe Murphy (6-0) of Huntington Beach, Calif. has been added to the preliminary card as well, World Series of Fighting announced this week.
Paul Kelly Convicted of Trafficking Heroin
Former UFC lightweight fighter Paul “Tellys” Kelly was convicted this week in Liverpool, England of trafficking heroin. According to the Liverpool Echo, The investigation centered around Kelly and his best friend Christopher St John McGirr, 28, and their movements at the time of police raids in December 2011 and May 2012. The court heard the pair were known as Batman and Robin by one of their customers. They were accused of using couriers to move their drugs because they did not want to get their hands dirty.
Kelly (14-5) began his rise in mixed martial arts competing in local British MMA events. He made his UFC debut at UFC 80 in January 2009 with an undefeated 7-0 record. He fought nine times in the promotion amassing a lackluster 5-4 record. He was cut by the UFC following a loss to Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone at UFC 126 in February 2011.
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From the PunchDrunkGamer Forums:
* UFC 164 – Fight Card Updates
* The Ultimate Fighter Brasil 2 – Discussion, Rumors & Results
* K-1 WGP 2013 Qualifying Tournaments *Updates and Results*
* ‘UFC Tonight’ Quotes – Silva: I Want to Suck Sonnen’s Blood
Bonus Video: The Evolution Show from SUPERKOMBAT
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