Weekly Mixed Martial Arts & K-1 News Recap – 11/04/2011
By PDG Staff
HDNet Fights: ProElite – Big Guns
HDNet kicks off its new deal with ProElite with LIVE coverage of “HDNet Fights: ProElite – Big Guns” TOMORROW night, November 5 at the iWireless Center in Moline, IL.
Former UFC Heavyweight Champions Tim Sylvia and Andrei Arlovski will headline the event in separate bouts while just one week after his brother BJ announced his retirement, Reagan Penn will battle Evan Cutts.
Then, the event undercard features an 8-man heavyweight tournament set to identify the up-and coming talent among MMA’s heavy hitters! “HDNet Fights: ProElite Big Guns” airs Saturday, November 5 at 9:00 p.m. ET.
FIKA – The Federation International K-1 Association Announced
According to a press release by FIKA and Liverkick.com, Kazuyoshi Ishii officially announced FIKA, and has promised it will be a new day for K-1 worldwide. FIKA is the Federation International K-1 Association, and will apparently be the new governing body for K-1. There will be a K-1 World Grand Prix in 2012, but to fully grasp what Ishii and his new partners have planned, think big.
FIKA is to be headquartered in Hong Kong and they are going to appeal big time to Chinese audiences by having some of their biggest shows take place in China. There will still be a “World Stage” event in Japan, but it doesn’t appear to be the Finals. They are looking to hold events around the world to bring a ‘World Cup’ feeling and will try to be the FIFA of Kickboxing. FIKA has also brought on famous Chinese folk singer Song Zuying to sing the official FIKA theme song, which was apparently the big headline grabber in China in regards to this announcement, on top of the list of famous people at the event. The theme song will apparently be recorded in English as well, which Zuying was quoted saying it would help FIKA have a global appeal.
UFC Primetime: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos Viewing Schedule
* UFC on Fox main event: Velasquez vs. Dos Santos at 9 pm ET/6 pm PT:
Watch live on Fox and Fox Deportes
* UFC on Fox Prelims streaming live & free at 4:45 pm ET/1:45 pm PT:
Facebook.com/UFC
FoxSports.com
* Selected prelims also air live and free at 7 pm ET/4 pm PT on Fox Deportes (Spanish broadcast)
* Prefight Special LIVE at 7 pm ET/4 pm PT:
Watch live on FUEL TV
– Jay Glazer, Kenny Florian and special guests are live on FUEL TV for a breakdown on the UFC, fighter profiles and expert analysis, as well as celebrities from the red carpet arriving at UFC on Fox: Velasquez vs. dos Santos.
* Postfight Special LIVE at 10 pm ET/7 pm PT:
Watch live on FUEL TV
– Join Jay Glazer and Kenny Florian Live on FUEL TV for a complete breakdown of the biggest event in UFC history after Heavyweight Champion, Cain Velasquez, and top contender, Junior dos Santos, go head-to-head on FOX.
BAMMA 9 – Marquardt vs. Yoshida Announced
Top ranked fighter Nate Marquardt was originally expected to make his BAMMA debut at BAMMA 8 but is now confirmed to face UFC veteran Yoshiyuki Yoshida at BAMMA 9 on February 11th at LG Arena in Birmingham.
David Green, CEO at BAMMA stated, “We are very excited to announce what we believe to be a great headline fight for the fans at BAMMA 9 for the World Welterweight Title. Yoshiyuki Yoshida is a UFC, Bellator, and One FC veteran who comes with notable wins over the likes of Dan Hardy, War Machine and Phil Baroni. Both Yoshiyuki and Nate are very excited about fighting at BAMMA 9 and although we had planned for Nate’s first fight to be in December, we believe it is worth waiting a further 8 weeks for such a great match up.”
Alexander Emelianenko Returns at M-1 Challenge XXVIII
When opportunity knocks in the sport of MMA ready, willing, and able fighters are there to answer. So when M-1 Challenge Welterweight Champion Shamil Zavurov was forced to pull out of his title fight scheduled to headline M-1 Challenge XXVIII on November 12, M-1 officials announced that Alexander Emelianenko had agreed to fill one half of the main event.
Many felt the task of finding an opponent for Emelianenko could be a daunting one, after all the event was 10 days away, and facing Alexander Emelianenko is no easy feat. Enter 6-1 Highlander team member Magomed Malikov.
The 28 year old fighter from Dagestan has a history of stepping up in big events, a national hand to hand fighting champion, Malikov is also a winner of the Caspian Sea Cup. This past July, Magomed won a one night four man tournament defeating accomplished MMA veteran Alexey Oleinik by TKO and Ukrainian powerhouse Yuri Gorbenko .
When the call came with the offer of the fight Malikov accepted, and according to his team, Magomed will be ready one week after the fight against Alexander Emelianenko and will compete at M-1 Challenge XXIX, as planned in the Grand Prix heavyweight M-1 Selection Europe.
Dana White talks UFC on FOX Debut
With the world heavyweight championship fight set to air live on FOX on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT from Honda Center in Anaheim, the Ultimate Fighting Championship held a conference call this week and this is what UFC President Dana White had to say:
“This is going to be a different format than we’ve ever done before. Obviously this is a show featuring one fight so we’re doing a lot of things differently. We are going to be rehearsing for this from Thursday.
“This is a throw-back to the old days of boxing; we are putting a big fight – a huge fight – on free TV to expose this thing to a new audience. Our goal has always been to bring big fights back to network television; we are thinking long-term for the future of this sport. It is an investment in the future of the UFC. Fans that have never seen the UFC before will see this show and that’s why we decided to put Cain and Junior in this position.
“I know for a fact this is going to be an awesome fight. I know it is going to be great. That’s why it was these two in this position. I have no worries at all this is going to be a great fight.
“There’s going to be a lot of backstage features, we are going to be talking to both guys backstage before they fight which isn’t something we’ve done for a very long time.”
Brian Foster Ready to Stir up Bellator
Brian Foster has a message for the Bellator welterweight division and its champion Ben Askren:
“I’m coming.”
The former UFC fighter who won his last two fights in the UFC and who sports a 18-5 record as a welterweight has recently signed with Bellator Fighting Championships in a deal that adds another legitimate contender to Bellator’s already stacked welterweight division. Currently riding a four-fight win streak, including a TKO win over Forrest Petz and a submission victory against Matt Brown during his UFC run, Foster, who has finished all 18 of his career wins, is hitting his stride and has one thing on his mind.
“I’m getting that belt,” Foster said. “I want to fight the best. I want to fight Ben Askren and take home that belt. I ran through my last two opponents and I’m better than I’ve ever been. I’m very happy to be a part of Bellator and I’m coming for the top spot.
The Granite City, Illinois fighter has never gone to a decision in his career. With 10 wins by submission and eight by TKO/KO, the exciting Foster should add another threat to an already stacked welterweight division. Despite a medical setback in his career, Foster says he’s now 100 percent healthy and ready to start on his road to the championship.
“I’ve been seen by two of the best doctors in the state, they’ve medically cleared me and I feel great,” Foster added. “I’m looking forward to facing Bellator’s best and becoming the next welterweight champion.”
Fedor vs. Monson will be PPV!
Integrated Sports Media, the pound-for-pound king of sports distribution in North America, announced that it will distribute the November 20th “M-1 Global: Fedor vs. Monson” Mixed Martial Arts Pay-Per-View event, live Olympic Arena in Moscow, Russia.
“Fedor vs. Monson,” presented by M-1 Global, is being distributed in the United States by Integrated Sports Media for live viewing at 7:30 AM/ET – 4:30 AM/PT on both cable and satellite pay-per-view via iN Demand, DIRECTV, DISH Network and Avail-TVN, for a suggested retail price of only $29.95. Check listings for same-day replays.
“We’re excited to be bringing Fedor’s comeback to North American MMA fans,” Integrated Sports Media president Doug Jacobs said. “Everybody wants to know what the great Fedor has left and Monson, who is an extremely dangerous veteran, figures to up to the challenge of fighting Emelianko in his backyard. If fans aren’t able to watch live, we will be offering same day and night replays so nobody has to miss the action.”
“Fedor has been very vocal about wanting to continue his fighting career,” noted Evgeni Kogan, Director of Operations for M-1 Global, Europe’s undisputed MMA leader in Europe. “Fedor vs. Monson is a classic that had been in crosshairs for years. All parties have come together to make this fight a reality.”
Universally recognized superstar Fedor Emelianenko (31-4, 8 KOs, 16 Submissions), arguably the greatest heavyweight in MMA history, is returning home to Russia to fight there for the first time in four years. The Russian combat sports icon is coming off of three straight losses in the United States to Dan Henderson, Antonio Silva and Fabricio Werdum.
“I cannot wait to compete again,” an eager Fedor remarked. “Monson is a great athlete who is skilled in many areas. He is a very worthy opponent.”
Wrestling and Brazilian Jui Jitsu specialist Jeff “The Snowman” Monson (43-12, 2 KOs, 27 Submissions), fighting out of Miami, Florida, is a two-time Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Championships gold medalist.
“Fedor is the best heavyweight of all-time,” a respectful Monson commented. “It’s an honor to be fighting him. A win would be the highlight of my career. My trainers at American Top Team are preparing me for all possibilities.”
The Ultimate Fighter Season 14: Team Bisping vs. Team Miller – Episode 7 Recap
– Roland Delorme’s foot is still fucked up and swollen but he is taking antibiotics.
– Chute Boxe coach Rafael Cordeiro swings by Team Miller’s training session and works different stand-up techniques with his fighters.
– Tito Ortiz joins Team Bisping for a practice and works with the guys on GNP tactics. Marcus Brimage is impressed by the size of Tito Ortiz’s head.
– Team Bisping fighters are not happy with T.J. Dillashaw’s over-confidence and his attempts to get an easy route to the finals, so Akira and Brandao take it out on him during training.
– Mayhem Miller gets some local Vegas workers to surround Tiki Ghosn’s Escalade with concrete highway barricades.
Fight #8 (BW): Roland Delorme (Team Miller) vs. T.J. Dillashaw (Team Bisping) via Submission (RNC) RD. 2
TEAM MILLER – 5
TEAM BISPING – 3
– The semi-final match-ups are announced by Dana White:
Bantamweight – T.J. Dillashaw vs. Dustin Pague, John Dodson vs. Johnny Bedford
Featherweight – Akira Corassani vs. Dennis Bermudez, Diego Brandao vs. Bryan Caraway
Mirko Cro Cop Retires…..kind of!
After suffering another loss in his mixed martial arts career, this time at the hands of Roy Nelson, the legendary Croatian fighter Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic announced that he would be retiring from the sport after more than 10 years of exciting fights and highlight reel knockouts. Although late this week rumors have swirled that the Croatian Special Forces Commander may have one last fight before he retires, a fight in his hometown of Zagreb, Croatia before his hometown fans in December.
It was one hell of a career to witness as a fan of MMA.
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Dana White Announces GSP vs. Diaz for Super Bowl Weekend
At the UFC 137 post-fight press conference UFC President Dana White announced that Carlos Condit would step aside and that Georges St. Pierre would be fighting Nick Diaz on the UFC Super Bowl weekend card. Here is what the parties involved had to say:
Dana White:
“I’ve known Georges St-Pierre since 2004, and he’s one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met, and he’s exactly the same no matter what the situation is or who he’s fighting. Since 2004, I’ve never seen him like he was tonight. Georges St-Pierre flipped out tonight after Nick Diaz was in the ring. Nick needs motivation – he’s got it. He’s gonna fight Georges St-Pierre. ‘He’s the most disrespectful human being I’ve ever met, and I’m gonna put the worst beating you’ve ever seen on him in the UFC,’ that’s what Georges St-Pierre said.”
Nick Diaz:
“I don’t think Georges is hurt, I think he’s scared. You gotta come off like that just to get a fight,” said Diaz. “I gotta be the bad guy. You point your finger and make me the bad guy. I’m the bad guy now, and now I get a fight.”
GSP:
“This is what I wanted since the beginning; let’s do what was supposed to be done originally. I’ve always wanted this fight – now I want it even more. I can’t wait for Super Bowl weekend.”
