Weekly Mixed Martial Arts & K-1 News Recap – 10/21/2011
By PDG Staff
*According to It’s Showtime’s Simon Rutz, K-1 is nearly finished*
The UFC is coming to Theatres in 3-D
The Ultimate Fighting Championship will partner with innovative digital theatrical distribution company Cinedigm Digital Cinema for the first ever, live 3D broadcast of a UFC Pay-Per-View event when it brings it Feb. 4, 2012 fight card to upwards of 120 theatres across the nation. The 3D broadcast will be the first of four annual Pay-Per-Views set to air in theatres via the partnership between UFC and Cinedigm.
“We are extremely pleased that UFC has chosen to work with Cinedigm on this ground-breaking, live 3D broadcast,” said Chris McGurk, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Cinedigm. “We know the legions of avid UFC fans will be blown away when they see what promises to be an exciting night of championship fighting on the big-screen and in 3D.”
“By partnering with Cinedigm, we’re taking the UFC viewing experience to a whole new level,” UFC President Dana White said. “For the first time ever, fight fans can watch a UFC Pay-Per-View card in 3D at theatres across the country. We want UFC fans to have the best viewing experience possible and now they get a chance to experience major UFC Pay-Per-Views in 3D.”
UFC on Fox 1: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos – Card Updated
Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011
Honda Center
Anaheim, California
UFC Heavyweight Championship:
Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos
Clay Guida vs. Ben Henderson
Dustin Poirier vs. Pablo Garza
Cub Swanson vs. Ricardo Lamas
DaMarques Johnson vs. Clay Harvison
Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto vs. Darren Uyenoyama
Mackens Semerzier vs. Robert Peralta
Alex Caceres vs. Cole Escovedo
Mike Pierce vs. Paul Bradley
Aaron Rosa vs. Matt Lucas
Fighters Only announces Chael Sonnen as host of the 2011 World Mixed Martial Arts Awards as well as TV deal with the FOX Sports Network
Fighters Only, the world’s leading mixed martial arts magazine, announced that the most outspoken man in mixed martial arts will take center stage as host of the 2011 Fighters Only World MMA Awards ceremony in November.
Never one to be left for words, or opinion, UFC middleweight contender Chael Sonnen takes over from last year’s lead presenter Randy Couture to join beautiful co-host Molly Querim on the stage for the 2011 ceremony at the Pearl Theatre at the Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas on Wednesday, November 30th.
Known for his quick-wit and penchant for the controversial, Sonnen is destined to be the most outrageous presenter in the history of the awards, which brings together the very best of mixed martial arts for an evening of celebration.
In further exciting news, this year’s event will be broadcast in primetime slots across the East and West coast’s of North America by the FOX Sports Network and then later re-aired by FUEL TV and FSN. The evening, sponsored once more by leading nutrition suppliers BodyBuilding.com and this year in association with Gaspari Nutrition, will be available in millions of homes across the US, providing fans with the opportunity to watch their favorite MMA stars throw down their fight gloves and throw on their tuxedos in anticipation of winning one of the coveted silver statues.
Rob Hewitt, CEO of Fighters Only, said today: “I say it every year that we want to make the awards show bigger and better and every year we have done just that. However, none of it would be possible with out the support of the MMA industry, the fans, our sponsors and TV and venue partners who all believe as much as we do in this project. To celebrate the sport we love and the people within it in the way that we do is a crowning moment of the year for Fighters Only and we can’t wait to reveal this year’s winners.”
Tickets for the World MMA Awards 2011 are priced at $59, $79 and $99, plus additional fees, and go on sale on Friday, October 21st at noon. Tickets can be purchased at the Pearl Box Office, by calling 702-944-3200 or at any Ticketmaster location. Doors for the event on November 30th open at 6 pm, with show time at 7.30pm.
Fan voting ultimately decides the winners of each award category, with the voting period scheduled to end on Friday, November 25th. To vote visit www.worldmmaawards.com or download the Fighters Only Lowdown app for free from iTunes.
Shane Carwin Injured – Out until 2012
According to Carwin’s blog he needs to undergo another back surgery that will keep him out of action until sometime next year. Here is what Carwin had to say regarding the injury:
“As I ramped up my training for UFC 141 my body locked up during training. It wasn’t like the Lesnar fight but my back just tightened up and I froze. I scheduled an MRI and the results showed that my disc in my lower back is into the nerves. My doctor gave me two options; retire and I could probably go on for a few years without surgery or I could undergo surgery and continue my career.
The decision was easy. I have unfinished business. The UFC had me lined up to face one of the best in the world and I am confident I have everything I need to be a Champion. I am scheduling surgery and I hope to return to the Octagon by spring or summer 2012.
Lion Fight Promotions: Battle In The Desert 4 – Adds Heavyweights
Lion Fight Promotions announced that it has added a heavyweight contest between Brazilian Muay Thai and K-1 Champion Eduardo Maiorino (40-14 (20 KO’s) of Richmond, Calif. via Campo Grande, Brazil and K-1 USA veteran Terroll Dees (6-2 (4 KO’s) of Concord, Calif. to its “Battle In The Desert 4, Live from The Joint,” WBC Muay Thai championship fight card at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on Sat., Nov. 19.
Surging Muay Thai star Chaz Mulkey (7-4) of Las Vegas will collide with four-time British Muay Thai champion Simon Chu (29-7 (17 KO’s) of Leeds, England for the vacant WBC international middleweight (160 pounds) Muay Thai championship in the main event.
“I know my opponent is considered very tough and he is very big and strong so I have been training extra hard. I have always fought bigger fighters so I will be prepared for this challenge,” said the 32 year old, 6 foot 2, 230 pound Maiorino, who is coming off a stunning 31 second KO of Gerald Hill in Sugar Creek, Oklahoma on May 14.
Maiorino defeated three opponents in one night of action to emerge the K-1 Brazil Grand Prix Tournament Champion on Oct. 30, 2004. After scoring KO’s on his first two opponents, Maiorino earned a unanimous decision victory over Vitor Miranda in the championship round of the event.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for my team, my family and me,” said the 34-year-old, 6 foot 4, 250 pound Dees, a well-versed technician also known for his ability to aggressively push the pace of fights and brawl when necessary. Originally from New Orleans, La., Dees is a seven-year member of Dan Black’s Team Black Muay Thai fight squad.
“Eduardo has accomplished a lot and fought at the highest level. He’s a jack of all trades,” said Dees, “so this is a chance for me to immediately re-establish myself in Muay Thai’s heavyweight division in my first fight back in kickboxing.”
Dees put an end to a three-year hiatus from competition on Sept. 10, scoring a first round KO on Josh Romdica with an elbow strike in a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) rules bout at Lakeport, Calif.
Dees’ career-best performance in stand-up combat took place at the K-1 USA event at Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on April 30, 2005 when he scored a first round KO on Dustin Hanning.
In the Lion Fight Promotions: Battle In The Desert 4, Live from The Joint lightweight (135 pounds) co-main event, superstar Phanuwat “Coke” Chunhawat (145-24-1 (24 KO’s) of Oakland, Calif. via Thailand will face battle-tested Muay Thai champion and professional boxing contender Rami Ibrahim (13-7-2 (6 KO’s) of Philadelphia, Pa.
Four-time world Muay Thai champion Kit Cope (23-1 (9 KO’s) will make his long-awaited return to the ring on United States soil when he squares off with rising Muay Thai and MMA star Jose Palacios (5-2 (3 KO’s) of San Jose, Calif. in a featured WBC U.S. welterweight (147 pounds) championship bout.
Two knockout artists and rapidly emerging forces will collide when Las Vegas-based Muay Thai and mixed martial arts (MMA) standout Chidi Njokuani (10-1 (6 KO’s) squares off with aggressive-minded Ken Tran (13-3 (10 KO’s) of Vancouver B.C., Canada in a 170-pound catch-weight fight.
The main card will also be highlighted by a pair of women’s bouts. Former Cung Le-protégé Elaina Maxwell (0-0) of San Francisco, Calif. will face off with Roxy “Balboa” Richardson (2-1) of Los Angeles, Calif. at super lightweight (140 pounds) while Vivian Leung (1-0) of Las Vegas via Saskatoon, Canada will lock horns with Heidi Otterbein (3-1 (1 KO) of Las Vegas via Vancouver B.C., Canada in a 120 pound catch-weight affair.
UFC 138: Leben vs. Munoz – Card Updated
Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011
LG Arena
Birmingham, England
Chris Leben vs. Mark Munoz
Brad Pickett vs. Renan “Barao” do Nascimento Mota Pegado
Thiago Alves vs. Papy Abedi
Terry Etim vs. Eddie Faaloloto
Paul Taylor vs. Anthony Njokuani
Cyrille Diabate vs. Anthony Perosh
John Maguire vs. Justin Edwards
Michihiro Omigawa vs. Jason Young
Rob Broughton vs. Philip De Fries
Chris Cope vs. Che Mills
Chris Cariaso vs. Vaughan Lee
HDNet Announces New Deal with PROELITE
As announced on Monday night’s LIVE broadcast of “Inside MMA”, HDNet unveiled a new, multi-fight, multi-year television deal with the ProElite fight promotion. The network will kick off the new deal with LIVE coverage of “HDNet Fights: ProElite – Big Guns” on November 5 at the iWireless Center in Moline, IL.
“After watching their first event in Hawaii, I could see ProElite was a great fit for HDNet,” said Andrew Simon, CEO of HDNet Fights. “This upcoming card has the perfect mix of marquee names and an innovative, Heavyweight tournament that fight fans won’t want to miss!”
Former UFC Heavyweight Champions Tim Sylvia and Andrei Arlovski will headline the event in separate bouts while the undercard features an 8-man Heavyweight tournament to identify the up-and coming talent among MMA’s heavy hitters!
“Our multi-fight agreement with HDNet elevates the ProElite brand to a national MMA audience with a preeminent broadcast partner,” said Paul Feller, CEO of ProElite and its parent company, Stratus Media Group. “This platform offers new opportunities for sponsors and advertisers looking to reach this passionate and rapidly growing audience of ProElite fans.”
HDNet Fights is your home for MMA, featuring extensive coverage of live mixed martial arts events and “Inside MMA,” the network’s weekly MMA news program, airing every Monday night LIVE on HDNet!
The Ultimate Fighter Season 14: Team Bisping vs. Team Miller – Episode 5 Recap
– After Dustin Pague’s victory last week Diego Brandao from Team Bisping follows Steven Siler from Team Miller back to the locker room and threatens to kill him (I assume in the cage).
– Mayhem Miller pays a visit to the TUF house and brings Dustin Neace a cowboy hat similar to one worn all season by Team Bisping’s Josh Ferguson. Mayhem talks with Neace and Siler about hiding the next fight match-up from John Dodson so that he can’t reveal the information to Team Bisping.
– Based on Dobson’s information, Team Bisping prepares for Diego Brandao vs. Steven Siler.
– Josh Ferguson steals Neace’s new cowboy hat and Neace immediately believes that house clown Akira Corassani is to blame and so he trashes a bunch of Corassani’s stuff at the house and at the gym. When Corassani finds out he challenges Neace to a bare knuckles fight at 7:00 PM in the garden at the TUF house.
– Fight Announcement: Mayhem Miller announces Dustin Neace vs. Akira Corassani and the two fighters confront each other and Neace takes him down with a double-leg. Coaches get involved trying to break up the melee and Bisping and Mayhem have a brief shoving match.
Fight #5 (FW): Dustin Neace (Team Miller) vs. Akira Corassani (Team Bisping) via Majority Decision.
– Corassani appeared to tap in Round 1 after Neace sunk in a heal-hook but Herb Dean apparently didn’t see it.
TEAM MILLER – 4
TEAM BISPING – 1
– After the fight Corassani was taunting Neace before the judges decision was even read and he was nearly kicked off the show.
– Bisping and a few of his fighters get Mayhem’s car towed.
– And finally there will be two fights next week.
GSP Injured – Penn vs. Diaz Elevated to UFC 137 Main Event Plus more Changes!
UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre has been forced to withdraw from his Oct. 29th bout with Carlos Condit due to a knee injury. BJ Penn and Nick Diaz will now compete in the night’s main event. Also, Chieck Kongo vs. Matt Mitrione has been moved up and is now the co-main event.
With middleweight prospect Brad Tavares forced from his UFC 137 bout against newcomer Dustin Jacoby due to injury, another Octagon debutant will step in, as Clifford Starks will put his 7-0 record on the line against the 6-0 Jacoby. The bout has been verbally agreed upon. Moving to the October 29th main card with this change will be the bantamweight showdown between Scott Jorgensen and Jeff Curran.
Jorge Santiago Released by the UFC
After losing two straight since his return to the Octagon, Brazilian middleweight Jorge “The Sandman” Santiago (23-10) has been released by the UFC. Tatame.com reported the news earlier this week.
