Weekly Mixed Martial Arts & K-1 News Recap – 08/19/2011
By PDG Staff
UFC Agrees To Deal With Fox Sports
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the world’s leading mixed martial arts organization and No. 1 Pay-Per-View event provider in the world, finds its perfect media match in FOX, the No. 1 television network in the country. FOX Sports Media Group, the umbrella entity representing FOX Networks Group’s wide array of sports platforms, has reached a multi-year, multi-media rights agreement with Zuffa, LLC, owner of the UFC brand.
The landmark agreement, which puts UFC on par with many of the country’s professional sports organizations, delivers four live events in prime time or late night each year to the FOX broadcast network, home to the country’s biggest sports events, including the Super Bowl, World Series and Daytona 500. The first live event airs Saturday, Nov. 12 at 9:00 PM ET/6:00 PM PT. Additional programming on multiple FOX networks launches January 2012 and includes live fights, pre and post shows, countdown shows, UFC Unleashed, UFC Primetime, the UFC Knockout series, Best of Pride, weigh-in specials, and much more original content from extensive Zuffa archives. The agreement also provides for developing robust mobile and authenticated online offerings to exploit a vast array of digital platform rights.
Click here to read the full press release.
The UFC has announced that the first event on Fox will be November 12th and the first fight will be Dustin Poirier vs. Pablo Garza.
UFC Fight Night 25 – Updated Card
UFC Fight Night 25
September 17, 2011
Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
New Orleans, Louisiana
Jake Shields vs. Jake Ellenberger
Court McGee vs. Dongi Yang
Jonathan Brookins vs. Erik Koch
Alan Belcher vs. Jason MacDonald
Cody McKenzie vs. Vagner Rocha
Evan Dunham vs. Shamar Bailey
Matt Riddle vs. Lance Benoist
Ken Stone vs. Donny Walker
DaMarques Johnson vs. Clay Harvison
Daniel Roberts vs. Anthony Waldburger
Mackens Semerzier vs. Mike Lullo
Strikeforce Challengers – Larkin vs. Zwicker Announced
Undefeated light heavyweight prospect Lorenz “The Monsoon” Larkin (11-0) battles the heavy-handed Virgil Zwicker (10-2) in the hard-hitting main event at next month’s STRIKEFORCE card from the Pearl at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas on Friday, Sept. 23. The Larkin-Zwicker clash headlines STRIKEFORCE Challengers, which will air live on SHOWTIME at 11 p.m. ET.
STRIKEFORCE Challengers, presented by Rockstar Energy Drink, will also feature a sure-fire slugfest between heavyweights Lavar Johnson (15-4) and Shawn “The Savage” Jordan (10-3), as well as the return of lightweight Ryan Couture (2-1) as he takes on Wand Fight Team prospect Maka Watson (4-1)
“Larkin could be the next big thing at 205-pounds, but he faces a huge test in Zwicker on Sept. 23,” said STRIKEFORCE CEO Scott Coker. “This fight is going to help propel one of them in the light heavyweight division. When you add in bouts like Johnson vs. Jordan and Couture vs. Watson, this is going to be a really solid card for the fans at the Palms.”
Currently riding an undefeated streak that includes two wins in STRIKEFORCE over Gian Villante and Scott Lightly, light heavyweight standout Lorenz Larkin is looking to burst into contender’s status. The Riverside, Calif. native has finished eight of 11 opponents by knockout and seeks his ninth when he Virgil Zwicker. Raised on the San Pasqual Indian Reservation in San Diego, Zwicker displays an incredible toughness when he fights. The 29-year-old has amassed an impressive record that includes recent wins over Ovince St. Preux and Brett Albee.
Heavyweight Lavar Johnson returns to active competition after an injury briefly sidelined him for his last scheduled bout with Devin Cole in July. Training out of Madera, Calif., Johnson, who has won seven out of his last eight, is ready to get back to his winning ways when he takes on former LSU football player Shawn Jordan. The 13-fight veteran stepped in for the injured Johnson to meet Cole, and now the two will have their chance to find out who the better man is in this explosive heavyweight bout.
Ryan Couture, the son of UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture, locks horns with Maka Watson, who trains under the tutelage of UFC and PRIDE veteran Wanderlei Silva on Sept. 23 in the fight capitol of the world. Couture and Watson have scored all of their victories by stoppage leading to this lightweight showdown at the Palms next month.
Giva “The Arm Collector” Santana signs with Bellator
In a continuing effort to scout and sign the world’s best, Bellator has signed highly touted Brazilian middleweight Giva Santana to its growing list of top talent. Santana joins Bellator holding a near perfect 16-1 record that includes an astonishing 12 victories by armbar, earning Santana the nickname of “The Arm Collector.” Santana is a third-degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, a two-time Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Champion and has scored finishes in 15 of his 16 victories inside the cage – with 13 coming in the very first round.
“A lot of fighters like to go out there and try to knock their opponents out as soon as they can, and that’s the same way I am with my submissions,” Santana said. “For me, to tap a guy out is the same feeling as the knockout. When a punch lands and you know you knocked your opponent out, I feel the same feeling when I lock up a submission on my opponent. I know right away that he’s going to tap, and it’s a great feeling.”
Head Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor at Team Oyama in Irvine, California, Santana brings a wealth of knowledge into the Bellator cage. Santana has been fighting professionally since 2005 and began his career a perfect 11-0, which included a streak of 10 straight first-round armbar submission victories. While Santana won’t be a participant in Bellator’s upcoming Season 5 middleweight tournament, “The Arm Collector” has his sights set on a future Bellator title.
“Signing with Bellator is like a dream come true,” Santana said. “This is what I’ve been working so hard for. This is why I’ve built up my record – to impress people and to get on the big show. I like to go out there and finish people, and that’s what the fans want. I’m just really excited to have the opportunity to show all of the fans watching on MTV2 what I’m capable of.”
“Giva is a special talent who has made a living off of incredible submission finishes, and in short order his submission skills will be on display for the world to see inside the Bellator cage,” said Bellator Chairman & CEO Bjorn Rebney.
Rick Hawn out of Bellator 49 Welterweight Tournament
Rick Hawn announced on his Twitter page this week that he had to withdraw from Bellator 49:
“Have to call off my fight against Ben Saunders in the Bellator tourney. Hurt my knee but I’ll b back stronger than ever in a few months.”
Strikeforce: Heavyweight Grand Prix Semifinals – Card Updates
Strikeforce:Heavyweight Grand Prix Semifinals
September 10, 2011
U.S. Bank Arena
Cincinnati, Ohio
Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Semifinals:
Josh Barnett vs. Sergei Kharitonov
Daniel Cormier vs. Antonio Silva
Strikeforce Middleweight Championship:
Luke Rockhold vs. Ronaldo Souza
Muhammed Lawal vs. Roger Gracie
Josh Thomson vs. Maximo Blanco
Yoel Romero Palacio vs. Rafael Cavalcante
Marcos Rogerio de Lima vs. Mike Kyle
Evangelista Santos vs. Jordan Mein
Amanda Nunes vs. Alexis Davis
UFC Live 5 – Post Fight Bonuses, Attendance & Other Information
‘Lights Out’ Lytle defeats Hardy in his retirement match, Henderson beats up Miller. Ludwig, Cerrone and Benavidez also victorious at UFC Live 5 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
UFC Live 5 – Attendance/Viewer Information:
– 6,751 fans in attendance for a live gate of $539,000.00
– UFC Live 5 had an average audience of 768,000 viewers on Versus.
UFC Live 5 – Post Fight Bonuses:
– Fight of the Night: Chris Lytle vs. Dan Hardy
– Knockout of the Night: Donald Cerrone
– Submission of the Night: Chris Lytle
* Each fighter received a $65,000.00 bonus check for each award (Lytle – $130,000.00).
UFC Live 5 Fighter Salaries:
Chris Lytle: $200,000 (Includes $35,000 win bonus, $65,000 “Fight of the Night bonus, $65,000 “Submission of the Night” bonus) def. Dan Hardy: $90,000 (Includes $65,000 “Fight of the Night” bonus)
Benson Henderson: $34,000 (Includes $17,000 win bonus) def. Jim Miller: $35,000
Donald Cerrone: $109,000 (Includes $22,000 win bonus, $65,000 “Knockout of the Night bonus) def. Charles Oliveira: $12,000
Duane Ludwig: $32,000 (Includes $16,000 win bonus) def. Amir Sadollah: $20,000
Jared Hamman: $24,000 (Includes $12,000 win bonus) def. C.B. Dollaway: $20,000
Joseph Benavidez: $43,000 (Includes $21,500 win bonus) def. Eddie Wineland: $10,000
Ed Herman: $52,000 (Includes $26,000 win bonus) def. Kyle Noke: $8,000
Ronny Markes: $16,000 (Includes $8,000 win bonus) def. Karlos Vemola: $10,000
Jim Hettes: $12,000 (Includes $6,000 win bonus) def. Alex Caceres: $8,000
Cole Miller: $34,000 (Includes $17,000 win bonus) def. T.J. O’Brien: $6,000
Jacob Volkmann: $28,000 (Includes $14,000 win bonus) def. Danny Castillo: $17,000
Edwin Figueroa: $12,000 (Includes $6,000 win bonus) def. Jason Reinhardt: $6,000
UFC on Versus 5 Medical Suspensions:
Dan Hardy – Received a 30-day mandatory medical rest period.
Ben Henderson – Received a 30-day medical rest period and must get an x-ray of his left elbow.
Jim Miller – Received an indefinite suspension and must get a physical exam and CT scan before competing again.
Charles Oliveira – Received a 30-day medical rest period and must get an x-ray of his left elbow.
Duane Ludwig – Received an indefinite suspension and must get a physical exam and CT scan before competing again. He must also get his right hand x-rayed.
Amir Sadollah – Received an indefinite suspension and must get a neurological exam and CT scan before competing again.
CB Dollaway – Received an indefinite suspension and must get a neurological exam and CT scan before competing again.
Kyle Noke – Received an indefinite suspension and must get an MRI on his knee before competing again.
Jimy Hettes – Received a 30-day medical rest period due to a head laceration.
Alex Caceres – Received a 30-day mandatory medical rest period.
Cole Miller – Received a 30-day medical rest period due to a right hand injury.
TJ O’Brien – Received an indefinite suspension due to rib and leg injuries.
Jason Reinhardt – Received a 30-day mandatory medical rest period.
It’s Showtime “Fast and Furious 70 MAX” Fight Card Finalized
En route to blast off the new season, IT’S SHOWTIME has finalized their September 24 fight card. In cooperation with BFN Group and Music Hall Group, IT’S SHOWTIME will set up an event with no less than 17 fights, including the prestigious ‘Fast & Furious 70 max’ 8 man tournament.
The most anticipated fight next to the tournament, will be the IT’S SHOWTIME world title 77kg max fight between champion Artem Levin and challenger Murthel Groenhart.
Groenhart proved to be a tough guy in June, when he fought twice in 1 week. On June 11, he defeated Errol Koning by 4-1 decision. A week later, Groenhart got the Spanish crowd against him in Madrid when he TKO’d local hero Rafi Zouheir in the first round. Will he be able to do to Levin what Lhoucine Ouzgni couldn’t pull off? It will be a fight between 2 unorthodox fighting styles and a well matched world title fight amidst of all the 70kg max violence.
The stunning 10 fight televised card also features superfights between Marat Grigorian and Kenneth van Eesvelde in the 73kg division, as well as the heavyweight bout between Rustemi Kreshnik and Moises Baute.
In Part 1, just before the tournament quarter finals will set the Forest National on fire, two reserve fights will determine which fighter will step in the tournament in case one of the semi finalists is injured.
Ahmed Zragoua will face Yavuz Kayabasi to determine the second reserve. But the one who will really hope for an injury in the tournament, will be the winner of Andy Ristie vs. William Diender. That fight is really a classic script of young talent versus the experienced ‘veteran’.
Countdown has begun as we head towards September 24th!
Fight Card (Part II):
Artur Kyshenko vs. Gago Drago
Andy Souwer vs. Harut Grigorian
Murat Direkçi vs. Chris Ngimbi
Robin van Roosmalen vs. Chahid Oulad el Hadj
Moises Baute vs. Rustemi Kreshnik
Murthel Groenhart vs. Artem Levin
Marat Grigorian vs. Kenneth van Eesvelde
MMA Trainer & Coach Shawn Tompkins Passes Away
During last Sunday night’s UFC Live on Versus 5 event through Twitter and then later confirmed by many news sources the mixed martial arts world was shocked by news of Tapout Training Center’s Shawn Tompkins death. While details have sparse, it was confirmed that Tompkins was in Canada and died sometime during while sleeping.
Tompkins had a brief MMA career but rose to prominence in the sport with his ability to train and coach fighters. After coaching in the now defunct International Fight League Tompkins joined Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas before moving to the Tapout Training Center. Kevin Randleman, Mark Hominick and veteran lightweight Sam Stout are just a few of the fighters that Tompkins trained.
There is a guestbook for condolences and such and a memorial fund:
Shawn “The Coach” Tompkins
March 16, 1974 – August 14, 2011
Please leave your message, and thank you for your kind words…
http://www.ultraguest.com/sign/1313430810
Also, those interested in donating to his memorial fund should contact a representative at TeamTompkins@ShogunMMA.com.
