Weekly Mixed Martial Arts & Kickboxing News – 07/27/2012
By PDG Staff
Invicta FC 2: Photo Shoot Promo Trailer
UFC 150 – Henderson vs. Edgar II – Fight Card Update
Injuries to Rousimar Palhares and Chris Camozzi have scrapped both middleweights from their UFC 150 bouts against Yushin Okami and Buddy Roberts, respectively. So in response, Okami and Roberts will now face each other on August 11th in Denver, Colorado. Additionally, the planned lightweight bout between Dennis Hallman and Thiago Tavares has been rescheduled for UFC 151. UFC 150 will proceed with ten fights.
Guillard Answers Cerrone’s Call for Action – A day after tweeting, “Well I sure wish someone would step up for Denver,” Colorado’s own Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone found a willing candidate in “Young Assassin” Melvin Guillard, who is coming off a victory last weekend at UFC 148. The lightweight war between the strikers and former teammates will be the co-main event at UFC 150 August 11 in Denver, Colorado At the same event, Cerrone’s teammate; Erik “Goyito” Perez will face Ken Stone in a bantamweight bout.
UFC 150 – Henderson vs. Edgar II
August 11, 2012
Pepsi Center
Denver, Colorado
Main Card (PPV):
Benson Henderson vs. Frankie Edgar (UFC lightweight title bout)
Donald Cerrone vs. Melvin Guillard
Ed Herman vs. Jake Shields
Yushin Okami vs. Buddy Roberts
Justin Lawrence vs. Max Holloway
Preliminary Card (FX):
Dennis Bermudez vs. Tom Hayden
Jared Hamman vs. Michael Kuiper
Ken Stone vs. Erik Perez
Chico Camus vs. Dustin Pague
Preliminary Card (Facebook):
Nik Lentz vs. Eiji Mitsuoka
K-1 Rising World Grand Prix Los Angeles – Fighters Announced
K-1, the world’s premier kickboxing organization, today revealed the second event in its K-1 Rising World Grand Prix series and announced to fights fans across the United States that K-1 is bringing its world class fighting experience back to the American stage. “K-1 Rising” will head west to the City of Angels and hold its U.S. Grand Prix Championships at the LA Sports Arena on Saturday, September 8, 2012.
America’s best heavyweights including Mighty Mo (32-16), Rick Roufus, (63-9-1), Seth Petruzelli (22-16), Dewey Cooper (49-14-2), Randy Blake (22-0), Xavier Vigney (6-1), and Tony Lopez (31-9) and one more yet to be announced will compete on Saturday, September 8 for a chance to represent the United States in the K-1 Rising World Grand Prix Final 16 in Tokyo, Japan. The U.S. Grand Prix fighters will be competing for a total of $2 Million prize and the coveted K-1 championship belt.
“We are excited to reveal this lineup of American heavyweight and MAX fighters and are thrilled to bring the U.S. Grand Prix Championships to the LA Sports Arena on September 8,” said Doug Kaplan, CEO, K-1. “K-1 is back, and we can’t wait to bring the explosive, fast-paced, fighting action of K-1 to Los Angeles.”
K-1 knockout artist “Mighty Mo” Siliga made his debut in the K-1 organization in 2004. He is a two-time K-1 champion, having won the 2007 K-1 World Grand Prix in Hawaii and the 2004 K-1 World Grand Prix in Las Vegas. Over the past eight years, he has beaten the best of the best including Remy Bonjasky, Gary Goodridge, Carter Williams, Choi Hong-man and Scott Lighty. In the most recent K-1 series, Mighty Mo fought all the way through to the World Grand Prix Final 8 (2010).
Rick “The Jet” Roufus is one of the most famous kickboxers in history. He is a six-time world champion in the sport, and claimed the prestigious title of K-1 US Grand Prix Champion in 1998. The following year he went on to win the IKF Heavyweight World Championship. In 2002 and 2003, Roufus was a runner up in the K-1 World Grand Prix. Roufus is the former WBC Continental America’s Champion and has a pro boxing record of 14-5-1. The name “The Jet” is synonymous with kickboxing in the United States, and fans of the sport need no introduction to the living legend that has fought and beaten just about every other top name in the sport.
Seth Petruzelli made himself known across American with his stunning 14-second knockout over street-fighting legend Kimbo Slice. Along with Slice, he headlined the first MMA event ever to air on broadcast television in the U.S. Petruzelli introduced himself to national fight fans on that night, and now he looks to make his name around the globe by winning the K-1 Grand Prix Championship. With a third degree black belt in Shito-Ryu, a form of Okinawan karate, Petruzelli is ready to hold his own against the most powerful fighters in the sport on September 8.
Dewey Cooper, better known to fans as the “Black Kobra”, is one of the most popular U.S. fighters ever to compete in K-1. After earning two world titles in the WKC and WKF in 2000, he was selected as a K-1 fighter in 2002. In his K-1 debut, he shocked the combat sports world when he beat four-time world champion Jean Claude Leyer. Two years later, he reached the finals of K-1 World Grand Prix in Las Vegas. He also became the first man ever to defeat “Mighty Mo.” Cooper lives in the fight capital of the world, Las Vegas, where he trains at One Kick’s Gym with his long-time kickboxing coach Nick Blomgrem. He also trains in boxing with Jeff Mayweather at the famed Top Rank gym, and holds a pro boxing record of 19-3-3 with 11 KOs. He owns 49 wins in kickboxing with 28 of those coming by KO.
The 25-year old Randy “Boom Boom” Blake, fighting out of Tulsa, Oklahoma, has an undefeated professional kickboxing record of 22-0 with 17 KOs. He is the current XFL Light Heavyweight Kickboxing Champion and one of the top ranked stand-up prospects in America. He heads in to the U.S. Grand Prix Championships on September 8 as one of the young, rising stars competing against the very legends upon whom the sport was built.
Xavier Vigney is the IKF U.S. Super Heavyweight Champion. He is another young, up-and-coming prospect who is ready to make his K-1 debut. With nearly the same height, weight, reach and fighting style of arguably the world’s top kick boxer, Badr Hari, Vigney is fighting for the opportunity to prove he can stand with the very best in the world. Xavier lives in Pleasant Hill, California and trains with the respected Team Black, the original Muay Thai branch of the Cesar Gracie Fight Team.
Huntington Beach native Tony “Kryptonite” Lopez is a three-time champion across multiple weight classes in mixed martial arts. He is the former King of the Cage Light Heavyweight , Heavyweight and Super Heavyweight Champion. He holds a black belt in Kyokushin Kaikan karate, which he has used to score a dozen knockouts over tough opponents including Kyle Kingsbury and Jason Lambert.
“On September 8, each of the American heavyweights will fight to qualify for the World Grand Prix Final 16 event taking place October 14 in Tokyo,” said Kaplan. “The U.S. fighters will compete with the mindset that fighting at the famed Sumo National Stadium in Tokyo is next, and after that, the World Grand Prix Final 8 in New York City where they could be crowned the new K-1 Champion. That is the dream, that is the goal, it is just a question of who it will be, and who wants it the most.”
K-1 announced seven of the MAX tournament competitors including: Muay Thai World Champion Michael Mananquil (35-2), four-time Muay Thai World Champion Kit Cope (23-1, 9 KOs Muay Thai), WBC International Champion Chaz Mulky (7-4), Scott Leffler (4-2, 3 KOs), MTAA National Champion Bryce Krause (24-3-1), Ben Yelle (6-3), Joey Pagliuso (13-3 Muay Thai) and Justin Greskiewicz (10-5).
Four K-1 Superfights are on the September 8 card, among those include a rematch two years in the making between Romie Adanza vs. Andy Howson, and making his K-1 debut, “Mr. Lightning” Lerdsila Chumpairtourvs takes on Gabriel Varga.
In addition, three undercard fights will kick off the night featuring six K-1 Hopefuls to be selected from the K-1 Open Tryouts held last week. Doors for the K-1 Rising U.S. Grand Prix Championships on Saturday, Sept. 8 will open at 4:00 p.m. PT; first bout starts at 5:00 p.m. PT. Main card goes live at 6:00 p.m. PT. More fighters and the official matchups for the K-1 U.S. Grand Prix Championships will be announced early next week.
Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic Training for K-1 Tournament
Titan FC 24: Anthony “Rumble” Johnson vs. Esteves Jones Announced
Titan Fighting Championship has revealed that “Titan Fighting 24” will take place Friday, August 24, 2012 at Memorial Hall in Kansas City and that Anthony “Rumble” Johnson vs. Esteves Jones will headline the card, supported by an extraordinary co-main event featuring the MMA debut of World Jiu-Jitsu Champion Braulio Estima in a welterweight fight with Chris “The Hammer” Holland. AXS TV will broadcast “Titan 24” live nationwide starting at 10:00 p.m. ET.
“I’m excited to make my light heavyweight debut on August 24 in Kansas City for all the Titan Championship fans, said Johnson. “I respect my opponent, but he’s in my way to get to the top of this new division. I’m looking forward to showing everyone my strength and power at 205, and exactly what I am capable of at this weight.”
Johnson (12-4-0), former UFC middleweight, is ranked among the top fighters in the world, having competed in the Octagon at both 185 and 170 pounds, and now at 205. He has fought the who’s who in the sport including Vitor Belfort, Josh Koscheck, and Dan Hardy. He holds seven wins by KO or TKO, and all but one of his six UFC wins were by KO/TKO. August 24 fight will mark his third time headlining for the Titan Fighting Championship organization. In his light heavyweight debut, Rumble will take on Esteves Jones (8-3, 6 KOs) the 6’2”/205 lb. former Super Heavyweight Champion of the King of the Cage organization. Johnson trains with the Blackzilians at JACO Hybrid Training Center in Delray Beach as part of Team JACO.
Braulio Estima (6’3”/170) is considered one of the world’s very best grapplers. His submission competition achievements include winning the CBJJ World Championship in 2004, 2006, and 2009, the Absolute World Cup Championship in 2006, the European CBJJ Absolute Championships in 2006 and 2009, as well as being the ADCC 2007 silver medalist. At ADCC 2009, Estima won both the under-88 kg and Absolute division championships, defeating Strikeforce/Dream veteran Andre Galvao and Sengoku veteran Xande Ribeiro in the respective finals. Estima is the head instructor and owner of the Gracie Barra Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy in Birmingham, England. He also trains with the Blackzilians at JACO Hybrid Training Center in Delray Beach, Florida where he has been honing his stand-up game with noted striking coach Henri Hooft.
Estima will face the 5’10” Holland (5-3) who is currently riding a three-fight win streak, having recently defeating Phil Baroni with a second round TKO. Holland fights out of Denver, Colorado and trains at the Factory X Training Center.
“I’m excited to make my MMA debut, it’s been a long time coming and I’m really looking forward to it especially with the Blackzilians behind me,” said Estima. “I’ve been working hard on my standup with Coach Henri and actually all the fighters here at Team JACO have been bringing me along. I’m confident on my feet. I don’t think striking is going to be a problem, if the strategy goes the way we want. And if the fight goes to the ground, well that won’t be a problem either.”
GLORY Partners with Japan’s G-Entertainment to Bring “GLORY Grand Slam – Heavyweight” Kickboxing Mega-Event to Tokyo In December
Live event to return the world’s greatest stand-up fighters to the sport’s spiritual home. The world’s best heavyweights are set to return to Tokyo at last.
GLORY Sports International (GSI) has announced ‘GLORY Grand Slam – Heavyweight,’ which will take place in the Japanese capital this December. The event will feature GLORY’s top fighters battling in a new and exciting format and promises the Japanese fans something they have been missing for a long time – a truly world-class kickboxing event featuring the sport’s most decorated superstars.
Additional details concerning ‘GLORY Grand Slam – Heavyweight’ – including the date and venue plus invited fighters and match-ups – will be announced soon.
The event is being staged with the assistance of local partners G-Entertainment, a brand new agency focused on fighting sports, formed by some of the most experienced people in Japan’s fight event production industry.
“This is a very exciting time for us. Bringing GLORY to the home of the martial arts, and taking our top fighters who are idolized by the Japanese fans, is a crucial moment for us,” commented Marcus Luer, Managing Director of GSI.
“We are delighted by the partnership with G-Entertainment. They have a team of top professionals behind them and we have no doubt that, together, we will produce a world-class spectacle.”
One FC 5: Pride of a Nation – Fight Card Update
One FC 5: Pride of a Nation
August 31, 2012
Smart Araneta Coliseum
Quezon City, Philippines
Bibiano Fernandes vs. Gustavo Falciroli
Andrei Arlovski vs. Sao Paleilei
Jens Pulver vs. Eric Kelly
Shinya Aoki vs. TBA
Eduard Folayang vs. Felipe Enomoto
Gregor Gracie vs. Nicholas Mann
Rolles Gracie vs. Tony Bonello
Igor Gracie vs. Jung Hwan Cha
Phil Baroni vs. Rodrigo Ribeiro
Mitch Chilson vs. Shannon Wiratchai
Soo Chul Kim vs. Kevin Belingon
Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Healy Announced
Gilbert Melendez, Strikeforce lightweight champion and top pound-for-pound fighter, will make his next title defense against veteran and red-hot number one contender Pat Healy, when Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Healy comes to Power Balance Pavilion in Sacramento, Calif. on Saturday, Sept. 29. The main event, scheduled for five rounds, will air live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
“There’s no doubt that Gilbert Melendez is one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, but he’s facing a tough test when he defends the Strikeforce lightweight title against Pat Healy in Sacramento,” Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker said. “Pat has been around the sport a long time and has put together an impressive winning streak. This is the biggest fight of his life and he doesn’t want to waste this opportunity.”
The co-main event will feature recently crowned Strikeforce World Grand Prix Heavyweight champ and San Jose’s own, Daniel Cormier, returning to the cage to take on his next challenge, as he looks to keep his unbeaten streak intact and prove he truly is one of the best in the division. Cormier’s opponent will be announced in the coming days.
Winner of his last seven bouts and having not tasted defeat since 2008, Gilbert Melendez returns to the Strikeforce cage looking to cement his place as the world’s best 155-pound fighter. At 21-2, “El Niño” has career wins over fighters such as Josh Thomson, Clay Guida, Tatsuya Kawajiri, Shinya Aoki, Jorge Masvidal and Rodrigo Damm, the Cesar Gracie-trained fighter is more than ready to solidify his status as the division’s premiere fighter when he faces his toughest test to date on September 29 in Sacramento.
Following a unanimous decision victory over Mizuto Hirota on July 14 in his home state of Oregon to extend his winning streak to five, Pat Healy secured a date with the Strikeforce lightweight champ. At 30-15, the 28-year-old “Bam Bam” has racked up wins over marquee names like Carlos Condit, Dan Hardy and Paul Daley, and is currently riding a five-fight win streak that includes Strikeforce victories over Caros Fodor and Maximo Blanco. Having fought his entire career for this opportunity, fans can expect fireworks when this grappling ace puts his skills to the test against the elite striking prowess of Melendez.
Two-time U.S. Olympic wrestler and current Strikeforce World Grand Prix champion Daniel Cormier meets his first opponent since defeating former UFC titleholder Josh Barnett in the finals of the heavyweight tournament last May. Since putting gold around his waist, the undefeated 10-0 AKA-trained fighter has vowed to prove he is as good as advertised and offered to fight anyone that’s put in front of him. “DC” owns additional decisive victories over Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva, Jeff Monson and Devin Cole and will look to use his superior wrestling ability to knock off yet another heavyweight foe.
**Update – Frank Mir will go to Strikeforce and face Daniel Cormier in the co-main event.**
UFC 153: Aldo vs. Koch – Fight Card Update
Verbal agreements are in for two top middleweights to go to war in Brazil – Vitor Belfort and Alan Belcher will meet at UFC 153 in a match-up both had lobbied for via social media in recent days. After winning it all in the first ever Brazilian Ultimate Fighter competition, Rony Jason now takes on the hard-hitting Sam Sicilia in a featherweight bout in his home country on October 13th. “I hope I can please the crowd on the 13th, that is a very special day for me,” said Jason. “At the next UFC Rio, you will see Jason the striker and finisher.” Both fighters have verbally agreed to the bout.
UFC 153: Aldo vs. Koch
October 13, 2012
HSBC Arena
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Jose Aldo vs. Erik Koch (UFC featherweight title bout)
Alan Belcher vs. Vitor Belfort
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson vs. Glover Teixeira
Rony “Jason” Mariano Bezerra vs. Sam Sicilia
Cezar “Mutante” Ferreira vs. TBA
Sergio Moraes vs. Renee Forte
Reza Madadi vs. Cristiano Marcello
K-1 Rising 2012 “K-1 WORLD GP FINAL 16” Announced
The new K-1 team is holding a “K-1 Rising 2012 K-1 WORLD GP FINAL16” in the K-1’s birth place, Japan. The event is set to take place at Ryougoku Kokugikan on October 14th, 2012. They have plans for 16 fighters to fight to be in the final 8 including Badr Hari, Mirko Crocop, and Daniel Ghita.
Phil Davis: Unguarded – UFC on FOX 4
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