gray-emmerson
Original Poster: bamboo
Forum: Mixed Martial Arts Forums
Posted On: 25-06-2007, 13:31

Orginal Post: bamboo: Anyone else see that? The no contest result seems a tad off to me, like a video game double ko. Aiuchi!

White comments on Ortiz
Original Poster: Martial-Arts-Blogs
Forum: Mixed Martial Arts Forums
Posted On: 25-06-2007, 12:00

Orginal Post: Martial-Arts-Blogs: Steve Sievert from the Houston Chronicle wrote a pretty good article on Tito Ortiz and his future in the UFC. Towards the end of the article, UFC president Dana White comments on Ortiz. It’s clearly the most favorable thing he’s said about the former light heavyweight champion in quite some time and he also indicates that the company is interested in re-signing Ortiz. Ortiz will have one fight left on his current contract following his fight against Rashad Evans.
[INDENT “Do I need Tito Ortiz to continue to grow my business? No,” said White. “Tito’s always an interesting character, but Tito’s a good fighter, and he deserves to be in the UFC. I can see Tito Ortiz finishing his career in the UFC. We’re always going to butt heads, but as long as he’s one of the top fighters in the world, he’ll stay in the UFC.”
[/INDENT After Ortiz’s fight with Evans it will be interesting to see how long it takes for the UFC to schedule Ortiz’s fight. My guess is that they will put if off as long as possible to retain exclusive re-negotiation rights for an extended duration.
Based on White’s comments, my opinion as to whether Ortiz will re-sign with the UFC has changed. I was initially doubtful but now I would say the chances are 50/50. White sounds as though he’s willing to put his differences aside and when I interviewed Ortiz, I really tried to play up the fact that he’ll have other options when it comes to a new deal. He didn’t bite and said his preference was to keep fighting for the UFC in spite of his differences with White. I realize he tossed out the names of K-1 and Bodog during an interview with Pro Elite.com but that may have been in response to White’s continued onslaught of negative comments.
Ultimately though, it will come down to money and what Ortiz feels he’s worth and what the UFC feels he’s worth. If it’s close, they’ll probably reach a new deal. If it’s not close, Ortiz will wait for his contract to expire and field offers from other promotions.
Ortiz still has a lot of drawing power but it will diminish if he doesn’t fight well in his last two UFC fights. Promotions like Bodog and EliteXC still might be willing to pay him on his past reputation as they look to one up the UFC somehow. You’d think EliteXC would have a lot of interest because if they’ve signed Sokoudjou, then they will need to bolster their light heavyweight division. They really don’t have many guys who could step in and pose much of a challenge.

TUF 5 Finale recap: Penn and Diaz prevail
Original Poster: Martial-Arts-Blogs
Forum: Mixed Martial Arts Forums
Posted On: 25-06-2007, 01:37

Orginal Post: Martial-Arts-Blogs: BJ Penn sunk in a rear naked choke in the second round of his his fight with Jens Pulver at The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 5 Finale, settling the spat once and for all between the two coaches in front of millions of fans watching on live television across the world.
The two sworn enemies then embraced in the Octagon in a sign of respect immediately following the stoppage.
Pulver was never really in the fight — “The Prodigy” dominated from the opening bell with aggressive takedowns and smooth submission attempts. It had “Lil Evil” in the defensive for the entire bout.
At times it appeared that Penn was a cat toying with an injured mouse. He set up an armbar that looked like a fight-ender, but he uncharacteristically let it go.
Either Penn lost his grip or he just want to keep abusing the former lightweight champion who talked so much smack about him since their first encounter in 2002.
Regardless, Penn got the win and redemption.
And according to the in-ring remarks from Pulver (Penn had little to say other than to visit his Web site, [URL="http://www.bjpenn.com" BJPenn.com[/URL , which [URL="http://www.postchronicle.com/news/original/article_21288311.shtml" crashed[/URL  shortly thereafter) after the fight it appears that this might be the last time we see both these fighters compete at 155 pounds.
Pulver seems destined for the WEC 145-pound division, and Penn has a few things to take care of in the 170-pound division.
In the TUF 5 championship bout between Manny Gamburyan and Nate Diaz, an injury cut the bout short in the second round.
Gamburyan came out in the opening frame and took it to Diaz in his typical mauling style. He had Diaz on his back for most of the round, which is a position in which Diaz is actually very comfortable and effective.
He worked a few submissions, but Gamburyan was savvy enough not to get caught.
The two came out for the next round and within seconds, Gamburyan was tapping for no apparent reason. It was soon realized that he had separated his shoulder during a takedown attempt — an injury that has plagued him throughout his career.
After months of watching the show and investing time into this eventual showdown, it is a disappointing result. It’s certainly a tough pill to swallow for Gamburyan, who appeared to win the first round.
The post-fight interview with Diaz was perhaps the best part of the entire fight. The profanity-laced comments had the censors at Spike on notice, and he didn’t hold back about the decision by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) to [URL="http://ufcmania.com/2007/06/21/nsac-weeds-out-nick-from-diaz-corner-team/" ban his brother Nick[/URL  from his corner.
Good stuff.
The UFC’s Latin golden boy, lightweight Roger Huerta, had UFC President Dana White and matchmaker Joe Silva sweating bullets in the first round of his bout with Doug Evans.
The Alaskan pushed the pace and had “El Matador’s” back a few times but couldn’t end the fight. Evans — a huge underdog — won the first round on my unofficial scorecard.
Huerta came out determined in the second round and overwhelmed Evans from the start. He eventually got his back and submitted him with a nice rear naked choke.
Close call for Huerta who took the fight on short notice. Hopefully we see him against a top contender at UFC 74 in August or whenever his next fight may be later this year.
In the most bizarre ending to a fight in recent memory, the NSAC ruled that the bout between Gray Maynard and Rob Emerson was a no contest.
That’s because it was a simultaneous knockout/tapout. It was a scene very similar to the title bout between Matt Hughes and Carlos Newton in 2002. Hughes won that fight on a slam but was barely conscious because of being trapped in a guillotine choke.
In the second round, Gray knocked himself out with a slam, which also injured Emerson and forced him to tap. It appeared that Maynard was going to be awarded the win since Emerson clearly could not continue.
But the replay showed that Gray too was on queer street — despite his claims afterward that he was resting.
Again, it was a very bizarre and chaotic scene.
For the most part this was a solid night of fights — perhaps because we were treated to almost the entire card. The main card bouts were so short that it allowed Spike to air, I believe, seven of the nine fights from the TUF 5 Finale.
We should always be so lucky.
For a complete blow-by-blow account of the main card action don’t forget to check out our [URL="http://ufcmania.com/2007/06/23/the-ultimate-fighter-tuf-5-finale-results-coverage-live/" LIVE TUF 5 results[/URL . Big thanks to UFCmania reader “DrubySunshine” for chipping in with the live blogging.
That’s a wrap for this season and the Finale. Next stop … Sacramento, Calif.
For those who couldn’t catch the live broadcast of our online radio program [URL="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/anygivensaturday" Any Given Saturday[/URL  — which included a phenomenal interview with UFC lightweight Clay Guida — you can still listen to it [URL="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/AnyGivenSaturday" here[/URL .

Ultimate Fighting Caption: Are you motivated?
Original Poster: Martial-Arts-Blogs
Forum: Mixed Martial Arts Forums
Posted On: 24-06-2007, 21:34

Orginal Post: Martial-Arts-Blogs: [IMG http://ufcmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/surrender_mv.jpg[/IMG 
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Overeem to fight for K-1 Hero?s
Original Poster: Martial-Arts-Blogs
Forum: Mixed Martial Arts Forums
Posted On: 24-06-2007, 21:34

Orginal Post: Martial-Arts-Blogs: There was a lot of speculation recently that former Pride light heavyweight fighter Alistair Overeem was close to signing with the UFC but Overeem competed in Amsterdam for K-1 over the weekend.
The card primarily featured kickboxing matches but there were several MMA rules bouts, and Overeem was a part of one of them. It looks like his appearance for K-1 was not a one time thing as the inside word is that he’s signed a long-term deal.
Overeem is a talented fighter but failed to beat the top competition in Pride on a consistent basis. Noted for his lack of conditioning, he never reached his full potential in Japan and had become somewhat of a glorified gatekeeper. Honestly, I don’t think he would have played any other kind of role in the UFC and essentially would have been the light heavyweight version of Heath Herring. As such, I don’t see not signing Overeem as a loss.
For full results of K-1’s card in Holland (which also features Peter Aerts, Semmy Schlit, and Bob Sapp), just go to:
http://www.k-1.co.jp/k-1gp/top788.htm

Video: Couture says experience the key against Gonzaga at UFC 74
Original Poster: Martial-Arts-Blogs
Forum: Mixed Martial Arts Forums
Posted On: 24-06-2007, 19:41

Orginal Post: Martial-Arts-Blogs: [ytembed Wk742hCS6V4[/ytembed 

Check me out on Sporting News Radio?
Original Poster: Martial-Arts-Blogs
Forum: Mixed Martial Arts Forums
Posted On: 24-06-2007, 19:41

Orginal Post: Martial-Arts-Blogs: I know it’s late notice, but maybe you’re reading this right after I post. I will be on Steve Cofield’s show talking MMA on Sporting News Radio in a couple of minutes at 12:05 p.m. ET. If you want to listen live, just go to SportingNewsRadio.com and click on their live stream.

Will Big ?Nog get licensed?
Original Poster: Martial-Arts-Blogs
Forum: Mixed Martial Arts Forums
Posted On: 24-06-2007, 19:41

Orginal Post: Martial-Arts-Blogs: After watching the TUF finale last night and finally seeing ads that were promoting Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira’s debut at UFC 73 in a couple of weeks, I started thinking “Will he be able to get licensed?”
UFC 73 will be held in Sacramento, Calif. Maybe it’s just me but hasn’t CSAC flagged a lot of guys recently? I remember when the UFC first signed Big ‘Nog there were some rumors as to whether he could get licensed in the U.S. because of a degenerative eye condition. I have no idea if those rumors are true, but if they are, then we will definitely find out in the next few weeks.

Thoughts on TUF 5 Finale
Original Poster: Martial-Arts-Blogs
Forum: Mixed Martial Arts Forums
Posted On: 24-06-2007, 19:41

Orginal Post: Martial-Arts-Blogs: I watched last night’s live finale of the fifth season of The Ultimate Fighter. I thought it was a so-so show.
The production was terrible last night. It seems like they misfired a lot of pre-recorded stuff and played it during times when Mike Goldberg was supposed to speak live. The pacing of the show also sucked, due in large part to how quick the first two matches were. It was great seeing two matches that were taped during the preliminary portion of the show. However, there are just too many commercials. It felt like we were being punished because the first matches ended so quickly and that we got pelted with more commercials than usual. I really wish the UFC would have gotten a deal with HBO because it would have been a way to see cards without paying $39.95 and not having to deal with commercials.
I also wish the UFC would start covering their events like it was a sporting event. Why do we have to see a Shannon Lee interview? I realize Spike wants Bruce Lee Day promoted, but just do a live read or a pre-recorded advertisement. If you’re going to interview someone, why not last words from B.J. Penn or Jens Pulver (as opposed to regurgitated comments from the “Bad Blood” TV special)? I really thought they did a poor job of promoting the main event during the telecast. Or, they could have interviewed Tito Ortiz and or Rashad Evans in order to hype UFC 73 in two weeks.
Another thing they used to do which I miss is that Joe Rogan would interview Dana White in the crowd for a few minutes and Dana would give a quick state of the UFC type speech. Ask him about Pride or Fedor and have him say the same things he’s been saying in interviews. Have we heard it before? Yes, but it still would be a better way to fill time than what they do now. And besides, not everyone has heard of or heard about Fedor.
My comments on the matches and fighters:
Roger Huerta vs. Doug Evans - Evans looked solid and once again I must complement the UFC on the scouting they’ve been doing recently. They aren’t relying on Pride for new talent, they are scouring the world for young fighters. They are getting a lot of good young Brazilian fighters and a lot of strong fighters from the smaller shows in the U.S. A lot of people seem to be turning on Huerta from what I’ve been reading in the forums but I think he’s legit. He didn’t dominate last night but Evans was better than advertised and Huerta took the fight on short notice so who knows if he was even in training.
Thales Leites vs. Felix Sword - I was impressed by what I saw from Leites. As for Sword, not so much. I’d be real interested in seeing Leites fight against better competition.
Joe Lauzon vs. Brandon Melendez - Melendez looked better than I thought and Lauzon looked good, but not great. Lauzon definitely belongs in the UFC but is he championship material? I’m not so sure.
Gray Maynard vs. Rob Emerson - I am glad this match was shown. The ending was too strange not to get immediate coverage on TV. It wasn’t the type of thing we should have had to read about on the Internet and then wait until the DVD came out so we could watch the extras. I really have an issue with the decision. Yes, Maynard was clearly out. However, he never tapped! Emerson is the one who quit. And I realize the referee has the right to stop the fight if someone is unconscious, however, Steve Mazzagatti* (did Bruce Buffer pronounce his name three different ways last night?) didn’t immediately respond to Maynard. As soon as he saw Emerson tap that was it. He stopped the match in response to Emerson’s actions, not Maynard. I don’t like the fact that they made a ruling on the fight after the fact.
Nate Diaz vs. Manny Gamburyan - This match left a sour taste in my mouth but you really can’t be mad at anyone. The fighters can’t be held accountable because they are doing the best they can. The UFC can’t be held accountable because they don’t control what happens during a fight. Gamburyan’s shoulder re-injury was just a freak thing. He’s a tough dude so if he’s tapping from the pain then you know it must have been bad. But while one freak ending during a fight card makes the night more interesting, a second freak ending is one too many. Especially when the winner of the TUF 5 finale is decided as a result of it. Yes, I know Manny will be in the UFC even though he lost but we all invested so much time into the show with the center of attention being which of the 16 contestants would win. To see Diaz win on a technicality when he’s the type of fighter that doesn’t need a technicality to win, sucked. Not to mention, the fight was really good up until the point. Some of you disagreed with me picking Manny over Nate, but Gamburyan clearly won the first round. I know they went by the rules, but I would have loved to see the match declared a no-contest and that the winner of TUF 5 would be decided on a later date. Important outcomes shouldn’t be decided on freak injuries.
B.J. Penn vs. Jens Pulver - I guess I was disappointed because this was nothing like their first match in 2002. Jens fought his ass off and did a great job of getting out of submissions, but as much as I hate to say it, B.J. Penn dominated him last night. Penn landed the harder punches and really controlled the pace on the ground. Penn jumped on Jens and never let up. Penn looked to be the best shape I’ve seen him in for quite some time. You know, he’s fought at 155 lbs. before but he looked emaciated compared to the way he looked last night. Penn cut to 155 lbs. but still had some muscle mass. If he really has re-dedicated himself to conditioning then there is no reason for him to fight another match at 155 lbs. He should go right back to 170 lbs. and fight the top guys at welterweight. If Penn is in top shape, then there’s nobody in the world that can stop him. I’m really excited that Pulver is going down to 145 lbs. I am a huge fan of his and if he wasn’t able to drop, I think retirement might have been his only option. When he returned to the UFC, the WEC wasn’t even a twinkle in Zuffa’s eye so fighting at 145 lbs. for the company wasn’t an option even though it’s his best weight class. It’s kind of funny how things worked out? Oh, my biggest issue of the night was the fact that B.J. pulled that crappy stunt and told us all to go to his web site if we wanted to know what he thought. Total BS. The UFC pays him a lot of money to fight in big matches. After such a buildup, the UFC has a right to his post-fight comments. If I was Dana White, I would fine his ass for refusing an interview request from a Zuffa employee. I know nobody says anything in those interviews anyway, but Jens’ comments were interesting and I wanted to hear B.J.’s side of things and not a marketing ploy! And yes, like a sucker I went to his site to see if he said anything noteworthy, but the damn thing had crashed!

UFC Quick Quote: Penn still has revenge in mind
Original Poster: Martial-Arts-Blogs
Forum: Mixed Martial Arts Forums
Posted On: 24-06-2007, 16:52

Orginal Post: Martial-Arts-Blogs: [IMG http://ufcmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/tuf5bjpenn.jpg[/IMG 
[INDENT “I wanna see how good I can get. I’m going to carry this on for the rest of my career. There could only be one person [I want revenge against  and that’s Matt Hughes.”
[/INDENT – BJ Penn — who just avenged his first career loss to Jens Pulver last night at The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 5 Finale — tells [URL="http://www.thefightnetwork.com/news_detail.php?nid=4144" FightNetwork.com[/URL  that he now has Matt Hughes in his crosshairs. The two each share a win over one another, making another fight the rubbermatch.

Tuff-N-Uff: Babalu outpoints Mir in submission grappling
Original Poster: Martial-Arts-Blogs
Forum: Mixed Martial Arts Forums
Posted On: 24-06-2007, 16:52

Orginal Post: Martial-Arts-Blogs: [IMG http://ufcmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/mir_babalau.jpg[/IMG 
Props: [URL="http://www.bjjnews.org/tuffnuf/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=1" BJJNews.org[/URL 

Shamrock beats back Baroni for Strikeforce title
Original Poster: Martial-Arts-Blogs
Forum: Mixed Martial Arts Forums
Posted On: 23-06-2007, 22:11

Orginal Post: Martial-Arts-Blogs: Phil Baroni isn’t getting any [URL="http://ufcmania.com/2007/04/18/dana-white-wants-phil-baroni-to-ko-frank-shamrock/" stuffed envelopes[/URL  from UFC President Dana White anytime soon.
Former UFC middleweight champion Frank Shamrock tonight defeated former UFC middleweight fighter Baroni for the Strikeforce middleweight title in San Jose, Calif.
Shamrock dominated the fight from the opening bell, beating “The New York Bad Ass” at his own game with hard and crisp punches that found their mark early and often.
In a scene eerily reminiscent of his fight with Renzo Gracie earlier this year, Shamrock was docked one point for two illegal blows to the back of Baroni’s head in the first round.
It didn’t matter, Shamrock came out for round two and rocked Baroni once again and managed to take his back and positioned for a rear naked choke. It was only a matter of seconds before Baroni was lifeless and purple within the six-sided cage.
Both fighters didn’t answer the call for the final announcement — Baroni stormed off and Shamrock remained in his corner sucking wind and apparently nursing a torn ACL/MCL that he sustained two weeks before the bout.
In fact, Shamrock — despite looking very fit and game during the fight — was escorted out of the ring with his arms wrapped around both his cornermen.
The man is simply the Drama King. But hats off for a nice fight.
In other news, Cung Lee looked fantastic on his feet, putting on a kickboxing clinic against Tony Fryklund in a 185-pound bout. He went on to win via technical knockout in the third round.
Lee was the epitome of skill and grace tonight. I’ve never seen anything quite like it.
The brother of Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, Murilo “Ninja” Rua, weathered an early blitz from Joey Villasenor to capture the EliteXC middleweight crown in the second round.
Honestly, I can keep going on and on. In the end, this was an extremely entertaining evening of mixed martial arts.
It goes to show that there really is some fantastic competition and great fighters outside the UFC. The guys over at EliteXC are also very supportive of what we do here at UFCmania, which makes it that much easier to enjoy such a great show.
Definitely check out the fights when you can, it was great action from top to bottom.
For a complete play-by-play head over to [URL="http://www.sherdog.com/news/news.asp?n_id=8041" Sherdog.com[/URL .
Just for those unaware, this was a joint event between EliteXC and StrikeForce promotions.

The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 5 Finale Results Coverage ? LIVE
Original Poster: Martial-Arts-Blogs
Forum: Mixed Martial Arts Forums
Posted On: 23-06-2007, 20:52

Orginal Post: Martial-Arts-Blogs: [URL="http://ufcmania.com/2007/06/22/ultimate-fighter-5-finale-results-coverage-live/" [IMG http://ufcmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/tuf5_coverage.jpg[/IMG [/URL 
Click the banner above or right [URL="http://ufcmania.com/2007/06/22/ultimate-fighter-5-finale-results-coverage-live/" here[/URL  for up-to-the-minute results for The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 5 Finale.
Undercard results will begin to come in between 6 and 7 p.m. ET. Our round-by-round LIVE coverage and blogging of the main card will begin at 9 p.m. ET.
If you’re going to leave comments and discuss the fights with other UFCmania readers be sure to do it on the main [URL="http://ufcmania.com/2007/06/22/ultimate-fighter-5-finale-results-coverage-live/" TUF 5 Finale results post[/URL  and not this one.

Reminder: Bas Rutten on the radio
Original Poster: Martial-Arts-Blogs
Forum: Mixed Martial Arts Forums
Posted On: 23-06-2007, 20:52

Orginal Post: Martial-Arts-Blogs: Bas Rutten will be joining John Floyd and I today on “The Saturday Morning Sports Hangover” on ESPN 920 in Philadelphia at 11 a.m. ET. You can listen online at www.920espn.com.
Bas will be on during the show’s third segment and we’ll be taking IFL, Kimbo Slice, and MMA in general. If you have a question, feel free to call in at 888-459-ESPN.

Thoughts on tonight?s TUF 5 finale?
Original Poster: Martial-Arts-Blogs
Forum: Mixed Martial Arts Forums
Posted On: 23-06-2007, 20:52

Orginal Post: Martial-Arts-Blogs: After a strong show last night from Strikeforce and EliteXC, I’m in the mood for more MMA and am looking forward to tonight’s live season finale of The Ultimate Fighter on Spike TV at 9 p.m. ET.
I believe four matches are scheduled to be televised but I only have time to give my thoughts on the main three.
B.J. Penn vs. Jens Pulver - I will be rooting for Pulver all the way in this one but if I have to make a pick, it has to be Penn. Pulver has a ton of heart but the 155 lbs. division has change in recent years. It’s like a refuge for new welterweights in the UFC who don’t want to be buried in an already overcrowded division. So those who could make the cut, have done it. Pulver was a small lightweight to begin with but the size difference isn’t even more pronounced. As for Penn, you never know which version you’re going to see but whether he’s in shape or not, his technique is flawless. Pound-for-pound there aren’t many better pure fighters than him in the world. After tough losses to Georges St. Pierre and Matt Hughes, the drop in weight for a temporary period made sense. However, Penn really doesn’t want to fight lightweight and there’s always a chance he moves back to 170 pounds right after this fight (there’s enough depth in the lightweight division now that Penn isn’t necessarily needed). The only reason why he’s making this drop is to get another shot at Pulver stemming from their controversial match five years ago. Once this fight is over, will Penn really want to keep making the cut? Perhaps he’ll be in line for a lightweight title shot, but how important is the lightweight title if he doesn’t plan to defend it? Why let a guy fight for a title in a weight class when he doesn’t intend to stick around. It kind of makes the title look unimportant. As for Pulver, I’m a huge fan of his and am really happy to know he’s open to the idea of fighting in the WEC at 145 lbs. He’s a true featherweight. After losing to Joe Lauzon last year, I was kind of worried as to what Pulver’s long-term future would be like but thanks to the WEC, there’s a long-term plan for him with Zuffa. While I strongly believe Penn is going to win, Pulver isn’t going to go out like a punk and this should be an entertaining match while it lasts.
Roger Huerta vs. Doug Evans - Evans is undefeated and a very credible fighter but he’s been brought in to lose to the UFC’s next lightweight cover boy in Huerta. I expect a quick and decisive victory for him.
Nate Diaz vs. Manny Gamburyan - Most people are picking Diaz but I’m going with Manny. The guy is one tough dude and a tough matchup because of his fighting style. He just runs in and body locks his opponent in an effort to prevent them from executing their game plan. Diaz is a very talented fighter but he showed some holes vs. Corey Hill and if Gamburyan gets a hold of him, how much of his offense will he be able to utilize? This might not be the most exciting fight in the world because of Gamburyan’s style, but I’m still interested in it because I am not really sure how it’s going to go and I want to see how things play out.

Thoughts on Shamrock vs. Baroni
Original Poster: Martial-Arts-Blogs
Forum: Mixed Martial Arts Forums
Posted On: 23-06-2007, 20:52

Orginal Post: Martial-Arts-Blogs: I thought last night’s show on Showtime pay-per-view was great. It was the second best MMA show I’ve seen this year, just behind Pride 33. All the matches were good and none of them were bad.
I was really impressed with how Showtime covered the event. I like how they cover it like a sport in contrast to the UFC. It’s refreshing that they do a custom intro the same way a network does for an NFL or baseball game as opposed to the canned intro that the UFC uses. Little things such as the pro wrestling-style entrances (having them announced before they get to the cage), trying to get locker room interviews after the fight, and some of the graphics packages used (like listing the card at the top of the show) were greatly appreciated. I also really like the lighting concept they use. I just think that after all these years that it’s time for the UFC to really step up their production. I actually think the WEC telecasts look better than the UFC’s. The pacing of the show was also excellent.
There are still some areas of improvement though. I think the entrance music needs to be mic’d better, the crowd should be mic’d better (you couldn’t really hear much of them until Cung Le vs. Tony Fryklund and Frank Shamrock vs. Phil Baroni), and that there should be more crowd shots.
I thought Mauro Ranallo did an excellent job on play-by-play and that Jay Glazer (he wasn’t perfect though, I didn’t agree with some of the comments he made about submissions) did well too. However, Bill Goldberg just isn’t progressing like I thought he’d be able to. He knows more about MMA than he lets on. Some of his comments can also be downright unprofessional at times. I also thought it was terrible how late in the first round he said the fight between Shamrock and Baroni is over. If someone is going to make that pronouncement, it should be Mauro. Goldberg isn’t a bad guy but I just think they need someone in his place that can bring more technical knowledge to the booth. It would be great to have a former fighter on the telecast who can explain to the viewer the fighter’s perspective when a fighter goes to the ground similar to what Frank Mir does on the WEC shows.
I still don’t understand the decision to have Bill Goldberg do the in-ring and locker room interviews instead of Jay Glazer. Glazer is a sideline report for the NFL on FOX and it’s a role that he excels at. I’ll give Goldberg some credit, he handled the situation where Baroni sunshined him pretty well. I mean, what the hell was that!?
Also, can someone please tell Gary Shaw to stay out of the cage after the fights? I know he comes from boxing so he should know better than to pull the old Don King move. In the past he’s criticized Dana White for trying to be a celebrity saying that EliteXC will be about the fighters. Some of Shaw’s actions contradict his words.
Now, onto the fights…
Shamrock vs. Baroni - It was going to be hard to live up to all the pre-fight hype but that’s exactly what the fight managed to do. I was really surprised at hard some of Shamrock’s shots appeared on camera. It looked like he was really packing some pop. Did he look like the same Frank Shamrock who left the game in ‘99? No. But did he look like the same Frank Shamrock who got taken down at will against Renzo Gracie this past February? No to that either. I was wrong about Shamrock as it’s obvious he still has something left in the tank. I will give Baroni a ton of credit for taking a lot of those shots. He displayed a great chin and a ton of heart. Most fighters never would have made it out of the first round. He was clearly hurt early because by the end of the first round he wasn’t moving his feet or head. I actually thought he might have been fighting on “auto-pilot” at one point (meaning that he might not remember most of the fight). I thought Baroni was turning the tide in the second half at one point. As for Shamrock coming into the fight injured, hats off to him if that’s the case. But with Frank Shamrock, you never know what’s real and what isn’t. Was it his way of trying to protect himself in the event of a loss? Or was he embellishing to make the win appear even more dramatic? Regardless, he needed a big win last night in order to remain a box office draw and he got the job done against a game opponent.
Cung Le vs. Tony Fryklund - I don’t know what Fryklund’s deal is. He stood with Duane Ludwig last December and paid the price and he paid the price last night. Le put on a clinic and if it was your first time seeing him, now you know why myself and a lot of other people hype the guy so much. He’s great for the sport and I hope we see a lot more of him. The problem is that he’s becoming such a huge draw in San Jose that Strikeforce is probably feeling like they need to protect him. I’d love to see a Shamrock vs. Le fight but is it a risk Strikeforce wants to take?
Ninja Rua vs. Villasenor - Rua looked great last night. I’m really excited that he looked like the Ninja of old and he could prove to be a huge acquisition for EliteXC. Villasenor fought well but I think Glazer made a great point about him being over-analytical. It’s great to be able to think in the cage/ring but sometimes you need to be able to act on instinct when a curve is thrown your way. He allowed Rua to take him out of his game and forced him to fight a more aggressive style that didn’t suit him. Hopefully EliteXC will go out and sign some more middleweights because I’m not really interested in seeing Rua vs. David Loiseau or Niko Vitale. I would love it if EliteXC brought in Robbie Lawler.
Paul Buentello vs. Carter Williams - Well, I asked in my preview as to which Carter Williams we’d see and we didn’t see the kid who won the K-1 U.S. Grand Prix in 2003. He really looked to be in terrible shape. He fought at 225 in his prime in K-1 and when he got out of shape, the heaviest he weighed was 250 lbs. Last night he weighed in at 265.5 lbs. Way too much fat and water weight on his body. Because of his height, I really believe that Williams could make light heavyweight (even when he weighed 225 lbs. he still had a lot of water weight). I know Strikeforce was excited when they signed him and so was I, so they had to be disappointed with his lack or preparation. Hopefully someone will sit him down and explain to him that MMA is no joke and just because you have a K-1 resume doesn’t mean you can take your competition lightly because as Glazer said, Buentello is a cagey fighter. He showed great generalship and deserves credit for his fighting style. I really earned more respect for Buentello based on his performance last night.
Berto vs. Valenzuela - I spoke to Valenzuela last week vs. phone and was pulling for him. He really has worked hard to become a more well-rounded fighter and has a strong passion for MMA. However, he got caught way too easily and I’m not sure he should be fighting on a national stage right now. As for Berto, I think it was Glazer who said he’s a better fighter than Krazy Horse and I agree 100%. Berto has a ton of potential and can fight on his feet and on the ground. He’s without question a top lightweight prospect. I don’t think we need to see a Bennett vs. Valenzuela rematch at this point so I’d love to see Berto choke Krazy Horse out.
Josh Thomson vs. Nick Gonzalez - Gonzalez worked hard in preparing for the fight but he ran into a UFC-caliber lightweight. If Thomson was in the UFC, he’d be a top-five lightweight. That’s how good he is. Overall, it was a good fight for what it was.
Duane Ludwig vs. Paul Daley - This match was U.S.-style kickboxing vs. Dutch-style Muay Thai and Dutch-style won. I really was surprised because I thought Ludwig would be able to stand with Daley and as good of a striker as Ludwig was, Daley was a definitive level above him. The fight was a lot better than some gave it credit for because there was little energy in the Arena left after a main event that delivered the goods.
I think Strikeforce and EliteXC’s futures both look bright. Scott Coker has done a good job of bringing in strong fighters with a crowd pleasing style. Strikeforce owns San Jose and it has a lot to do with Coker’s vision. As for EliteXC, they have some strong prospects under contract now in Jake Shields Berto, Rua, Daley, and Carano. If they can bring Sokoudjou in, then they’ll really be in business. And don’t forget, Nick Diaz is signed to EliteXC and will start fighting for them when he comes off suspension. The talent roster needs to be expanded, but they already have a lot of impressive fighters on the roster. As a part of the Shamrock settlement I believe that Showtime will have to televise 2-3 Strikeforce shows on PPV. I actually think that’s a good thing because their talent roster is so strong. I mean, who wouldn’t want to see more of Cung Le?

TUF 5 Finale odds and ends
Original Poster: Martial-Arts-Blogs
Forum: Mixed Martial Arts Forums
Posted On: 23-06-2007, 20:07

Orginal Post: Martial-Arts-Blogs: Just want to hit a few points before The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 5 begins in a few hours.
Undercard results will begin to flow before the 9 p.m. telecast on Spike television tonight — sometime between 6 and 7 p.m.
We’ll have those right [URL="http://ufcmania.com/2007/06/22/ultimate-fighter-5-finale-results-coverage-live/" here[/URL  as they happen.
Here’s some more stuff in case you missed it:
Live blogging — UFCmania reader “DrubySunshine” will be back to [URL="http://ufcmania.com/2007/06/22/ultimate-fighter-5-finale-results-coverage-live/" live blog the TUF 5 Finale[/URL  main card and provide comprehensive round-by-round fight commentary. The quick results of the undercard action should begin to flow between 6 and 7 p.m. ET. Then, our total coverage will begin when the show starts at 9 p.m. Swing by if you get a chance … there should be some good discussion throughout the night.
[URL="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/hostpage.aspx?host_id=4893" Any Given Saturday[/URL  — Our online radio program will begin right before showtime at 8 p.m. ET. The hour-long segment will feature UFC lightweight Clay Guida, who will share his thoughts on the card tonight, as well as discuss his controversial loss to Tyson Griffin at UFC 72 last weekend. Visit [URL="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/hostpage.aspx?host_id=4893" this Web site[/URL  at 8 p.m. and listen to host Luke Thomas run through the various match ups. It’s a fan-friendly show, which means you can also call-in and talk to Clay and Luke at anytime during the PREFIGHT program at 8 p.m. and the POSTFIGHT half-hour broadcast at midnight. It’s the only online radio show dedicated to covering UFC events before and after … don’t miss it.
TUF predictions — Me and Jesse went at it again in our[URL="http://ufcmania.com/2007/06/23/ultimate-fighter-5-quick-preview-analysis-and-predictions/"  TUF 5 quick preview, analysis and predictions[/URL . As usual, my picks are better. And I base that on historical evidence — that’s not my ego talking or anything. It’s a fun post … check it out when you have some time.
TUF 5 betting — Desert Dog weighed in with his [URL="http://ufcmania.com/2007/06/22/tuf-5-finale-odds-free-betting-tips-and-advice-from-desert-dog/" smart bets[/URL  for the action tonight, including an underdog that you might want to keep an eye on. DD is on a little win streak lately, therefore it might be wise to listen to his free betting advice. It could make you a little richer. If you are going to bet remember to head over to our partner sites [URL="http://www.betus.com/ats/11675/ufc" BetUs.com[/URL  and [URL="http://www.bodog.com/welcome/1915024/sports-betting/mixed-martial-arts.jsp" Bodog.com[/URL .
Fantasy MMA — Don’t forget to sign up for free over at [URL="http://ufcmania.com/2007/06/21/mmaplaygroundcom-new-fight-season-begins-tomorrow/" MMAPlayground.com[/URL  and join our fight camp, UFCmaniacs. Pick winners and make fantasy bets on the TUF 5 Finale and other events during this “fight season” for a chance to win cool prizes and cold hard cash. Leave your [URL="http://ufcmania.com/2007/06/21/mmaplaygroundcom-new-fight-season-begins-tomorrow/" MMAPlayground.com[/URL  username in the comments section below and I’ll go ahead and invite you to join our team — we have 20 members thus far in just one day. It’s a nice turnout, but we can do better.
Don’t forget to check out our [URL="http://ufcmania.com/category/tuf-5-finale/" TUF 5 Finale[/URL  and [URL="http://ufcmania.com/category/tuf-5/" TUF 5[/URL  archives for all the news you can handle about this event and season of the reality show.
See you in a few … enjoy the show tonight.

Ultimate Fighter 5 quick preview, analysis and predictions
Original Poster: Martial-Arts-Blogs
Forum: Mixed Martial Arts Forums
Posted On: 23-06-2007, 18:16

Orginal Post: Martial-Arts-Blogs: [IMG http://ufcmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/tuf5predictions.jpg[/IMG 
UFCmania and special contributor Jesse Holland are back again to forecast the UFC future after taking off the last two events.
Aren’t you so happy?
We’ve put together some thoughts on tonight’s The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 5 Finale main card action, which begins at 9 p.m. and will air on Spike television.
There are some nice match ups, including the highly-anticipated rematch between coaches BJ Penn and Jens Pulver.
Both fighters looked confident and ready yesterday at the weigh-in. Hopefully this one lives up to all the hype.
As usual, just because we talk about a fighter doesn’t mean we think that the person is going to win — just trying to give different perspectives.
Here we go:
BJ Penn (10-4-1) vs. Jens Pulver (21-7-1)
UFCmania: BJ Penn has waited more than five years for the fight tonight against Jens to avenge the first loss of his career. He appears driven and motivated to live up to the moniker of “The Prodigy” that has lost some luster over the past few years because of his conditioning and work ethic. Those issues appear to have been addressed in this camp — BJ looks extremely fit. He’s also got a solid chin, heavy hands and is a wizard on the ground. Penn has more skill and is certainly more well-rounded that ‘Lil Evil.’ Jens does have a huge heart and without question will give BJ a good fight. I just think BJ wants it more and he’s got all the tools to ensure that he does indeed come out on top.
Jesse Holland: People aren’t giving Jens much of a chance here, but to me he can win this fight very easily. All he has to do is survive the first round. BJ Penn is a gifted fighter, but his conditioning is that of a beached whale. He made Georges St. Pierre look the victim of a homicide in the first round of their fight, but could barely keep his hands up for rounds two and three. He toyed with Matt Hughes in round one of their contest like a cat plays with a ball of yarn, but went limp in round two and got pounded out (spare me the rib theory). Jens needs to do what he does best: Stay off the ground and use his striking to keep BJ at bay (even if it takes two rounds). By round three BJ will be on life support and Jens can fire at will.
Final predictions:
UFCmania — Penn via submission (kimura) but no broken shoulder for Jens
Jesse Holland — Pulver via unanimous decision
Manny Gamburyan (5-1) vs. Nate Diaz (5-2)
UFCmania: Like Matt Serra and Rashad Evans before him, no one gave Manny Gamburyan much of a chance to advance to the finals of the Ultimate Fighter. Despite his lack of height, Manny is a very strong and technical fighter. He also has an extensive Judo background that helps him take down his opponents often. And when Manny takes down his opponents, he’s proven to be very heavy on top. Nate Diaz is very comfortable on his back. I think this is pretty much how this fight will play out. Diaz will work submissions from the bottom and Manny will lay on Nate and keep busy with frequent strikes from the guard. Manny is well versed in submissions, therefore I don’t think Nate is going to be unable to tap him out. I see Manny being the aggressor in this fight and doing enough to earn the decision.
Jesse Holland: Manny Gamburyan surprised a lot of people on The Ultimate Fighter 5, myself included. He’s a compact fireball with a ton of strength. He steamrolled Noah and frustrated and confused Matt Wiman and Joe Lauzon for three rounds. No doubt he’ll look to take Diaz down and do the same. But that’s where he’ll be in the most danger. A lot of fighters don’t like being on their back, but to guys who know BJJ, it’s a place to call home. A perfect example is the fight against Corey Hill. Nate was being tossed around like a rag doll but finished the fight from his back with a triangle choke. I mentioned in my TUF recap that I thought the Diaz/Gamburyan fight would mirror the Diaz/Hill fight. I haven’t seen anything in Gamburyan’s arsenal that would cause to me to change that prediction.
Final predictions:
UFCmania — Gamburyan via decision
Jesse Holland — Diaz by submission
Roger Huerta (17-1-1) vs. Doug Evans (2-0)
UFCmania: Not much is known about Doug Evans. That’s because this will be his first time inside the Octagon and he hails from Alaska. In fact, Evans is the Alaska Fighting Championships (AFC) Bantamweight Champion. I’m sure that’s a fine accomplishment, but I don’t think it will amount to much tonight against a fighter like Roger Huerta. I’ve heard nothing but good things about Evans from his friends and fans who have seen him compete. However, I just have a feeling that Huerta is going to be too much for Evans and will stop him at some point during the fight. Call me crazy.
Jesse Holland: Roger Huerta is set to face the “Alaskan Assassin” Doug Evans to little or no fanfare. And it’s a shame too because Huerta is ready to breakout. Unfortunately it’s kind of hard to do without facing a top five opponent. Evans is looking to put himself on the map here but Huerta is by far the superior fighter. His wins over Dent and Garcia were grotesquely one-sided, and he destroyed John Halverson in nineteen seconds at UFC 67. Huerta can wrestle, he can strike, and this fight is more of a tune-up than anything else. I don’t mean any of this as disrespect for Evans but there won’t be any upsets in this one. Huerta is that good.
Final predictions:
UFCmania — Huerta via technical knockout
Jesse Holland — Huerta via technical knockout
Floyd Sword (9-2) vs. Thales Leites (10-1)
UFCmania: Floyd Sword has perhaps one of the coolest names in the sport of mixed martial arts. He also happens to be a solid fighter, compiling a respectable record against some games opponents. He is a submission fighter who just so happens to be going up against an incredible Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist in Thales Leites. Sword might be able to get some wins in the Octagon … but not tonight. Leites is an extremely accomplished fighter who has just one blemish on his record — he dropped a unanimous decision to Martin Kampmann. Leites is a big man, durable, and as long as he doesn’t gas, he should be able to sink in a submission and force Sword to tap.
Jesse Holland: This should be an interesting contest as both fighters have such close records including six submission wins. I’m going with Leites because I believe he has the better jiu-jitsu. Leites also has an advantage in size and his striking is a little crisper. Sword will certainly be comfortable on the ground but he better keep those arms out of range because Leites has a Nogueira-esque love of arm submissions. I see Leites controlling the fight but if he can’t secure the submission it may boil down to who has more gas in the tank.
Final predictions:
UFCmania — Leites via submission
Jesse Holland — Leites via submission
What do you think? Let us have it in the comments section.
For the complete TUF 5 Finale fight card click [URL="http://ufcmania.com/2006/11/23/tuf-5-finale-fight-card-ufc-ultimate-fighter/" here[/URL .

Clay Guida on Any Given Saturday later today
Original Poster: Martial-Arts-Blogs
Forum: Mixed Martial Arts Forums
Posted On: 23-06-2007, 15:00

Orginal Post: Martial-Arts-Blogs: [URL="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/AnyGivenSaturday" [IMG http://ufcmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/anygivensaturday_banner-1.JPG[/IMG [/URL 
UFCmania and BloodyElbow promotions are back again this evening for another edition of, “[URL="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/AnyGivenSaturday" Any Given Saturday[/URL .”
Don’t mistake the tardiness of this announcement for a lack of interest.
[URL="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/AnyGivenSaturday" Any Given Saturday[/URL  is an online radio program that features the only LIVE caller-driven PREFIGHT and POSTFIGHT coverage of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 5 Finale.
Today’s PREFIGHT show kicks off at 8 p.m. EST and goes until show time at 9 p.m.
To help get it right and give us the INSIDE info, Clay ” The Carpenter” Guida will be joining us!* Guida will help us with our picks as well as discuss his controversial loss to Tyson Griffin at UFC 72 last weekend.
Visit the Any Given Saturday [URL="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/AnyGivenSaturday" Web site[/URL  as well as the other half of this operation: [URL="http://www.bloodyelbow.com" BloodyElbow.com[/URL .* Luke Thomas — the proprietor of the site — will once again host the radio show and our own Jesse Holland will stop in to share his thoughts on the action this evening.
[URL="https://shop.triggonomics.tv/splashPage.hg" [IMG http://ufcmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/trigg.JPG[/IMG [/URL 

REMEMBER:* AFTER the fights join us for the POST-FIGHT wrap, too.* We want to hear from you and listen to what YOU think … so CALL IN LIVE!
We had a great turnout last week — Luke couldn’t get to all your calls — and we’re looking to build on that success. Thanks to everyone who tuned in live and downloaded the debut episode of [URL="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/AnyGivenSaturday" Any Given Saturday[/URL .
Here are all the details in case you forgot:
NUMBER TO CALL: (646) 478-5091
WHEN: PRE-FIGHT 8 p.m. EST; POST-FIGHT 12 a.m. EST
See you then!

UFC Quick Quote: HBO deal ?on the ropes?
Original Poster: Martial-Arts-Blogs
Forum: Mixed Martial Arts Forums
Posted On: 23-06-2007, 15:00

Orginal Post: Martial-Arts-Blogs: [INDENT “Another of [former HBO CEO Chris Albrecht’s  proposed changes seems to be on the ropes, as a pact to bring in UFC, the mix-martial arts league, may not go forward. Albrecht had been a big champion of a deal. But HBO Sports topper Ross Greenburg and other execs have resisted, feeling it would tarnish boxing and the rest of the HBO brand. Both plans spoke to Albrecht’s idea for the net to get younger…. But without Albrecht, they may get there in a very different way.”
[/INDENT – [URL="http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117967504.html?categoryId=2526&cs=1" Variety.com[/URL  is reporting that not much has changed in regard to a deal between HBO and the UFC to air fights on the cable television Goliath. It is still stuck in limbo and in more trouble since former CEO — and champion of the partnership — Chris Albrecht was arrested for assault in May and released from his position as a result.

The Ultimate Fighter 5 finale weigh-in results: Melendez doesn?t cut it
Original Poster: Martial-Arts-Blogs
Forum: Mixed Martial Arts Forums
Posted On: 23-06-2007, 00:29

Orginal Post: Martial-Arts-Blogs: [IMG http://ufcmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/tuf5weighin.jpg[/IMG *
The*crop of fighters*for*the UFC*Ultimate Finale 5*all weighed-in today and Brandon Melendez failed to make weight according to [URL="http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=news.detail&gid=6519" UFC.com[/URL .
Here are the results:
BJ Penn (155.5) vs Jens Pulver (152)
Manny Gamburyan (155) vs Nate Diaz (155)
Roger Huerta (155) vs Doug Evans (154)
Floyd Sword (185) vs Thales Leites (186)
Brandon Melendez (157) vs Joe Lauzon (155)
Andy Wang (156) vs Cole Miller (155)
Rob Emerson (155) vs Gray Maynard (155)
Allen Berube (153) vs Leonard Garcia (155)
Brian Geraghty (155) vs Matt Wiman (156)
The Ultimate Fighter 5 finale takes place tomorrow, June 23rd, at the Palms Hotel & Casino in*Las Vegas.
The televised portion on SpikeTV begins at*9 p.m. EST. Quick results will begin to flow earlier than that [URL="http://ufcmania.com/2007/06/14/ufc-72-results-and-coverage-live/" here[/URL  at UFCmania.com at about*7 p.m. EST with the undercard action.
We’ll be live blogging the event, as well as providing a pre- and post-fight coverage online with our [URL="http://ufcmania.com/2007/06/14/tune-in-and-catch-ufcmania-on-any-given-saturday/" radio call-in program[/URL  tomorrow night.
Remember to stop in.

UFC Quick Quote: Denis Kang considers UFC offer and others
Original Poster: Martial-Arts-Blogs
Forum: Mixed Martial Arts Forums
Posted On: 22-06-2007, 22:24

Orginal Post: Martial-Arts-Blogs: [IMG http://ufcmania.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/deniskang.jpg[/IMG 
[INDENT “The number one thing is going to be financial. We’re looking at different factors, such as the level of exposure that the organization can bring me and the talent I can go up against. I want to fight anyone that’s on top. I think the No. 1 guy in my division [185 pounds  right now is Dan Henderson. You’ve also got Anderson Silva, who’s real tough, out there, and there are guys like Rich Franklin. It’s such a deep division. I don’t want any easy fights. I want the best fights, the hardest fights…. Just the exposure alone [in the UFC  is worth heavy consideration. It’s something I want a piece of. Every time that I go to corner a friend [or  a teammate at a UFC, or if I just go to watch, I realize I have a lot of fans. Everybody always asks me when I’m going to be fighting in the UFC. It just depends on who is going to make the right offer.”
[/INDENT  – Talented middleweight free agent Denis Kang tells [URL="http://www.thefightnetwork.com/news_detail.php?nid=4124" FightNetwork.com[/URL  that he is in negotiations with several organizations such as the UFC, BodogFIGHT and EliteXC. He expects to make a decision this week but says it’s all about the Benjamin’s.

New Dana White interview: Shogun to debut at UFC 76; moving closer to deal with Fedor
Original Poster: Martial-Arts-Blogs
Forum: Mixed Martial Arts Forums
Posted On: 22-06-2007, 18:53

Orginal Post: Martial-Arts-Blogs: The Oregonian has a new interview with UFC president with Dana White available. The article goes on to quote White as saying that Mauricio “Shogun” Rua will debut at UFC 76 on September 22 and that contract talks with Fedor Emelianenko are progressing.
Here’s an excerpt from the article:
[INDENT White recently signed Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, who current UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson called the best fighter he’d ever faced. Rua (16-2) will make his UFC debut Sept. 22.
“He’s signed and ready to roll,” White said. “You couldn’t meet a classier guy in your whole life. He will be so marketable.”
White also said he is moving close to signing a contract that would bring Pride heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko (26-1), widely considered the best fighter in the world, to the UFC.

[/INDENT 

Report: Sokoudjou to sign with EliteXC
Original Poster: Martial-Arts-Blogs
Forum: Mixed Martial Arts Forums
Posted On: 22-06-2007, 18:53

Orginal Post: Martial-Arts-Blogs: Josh Gross of Sherdog.com is reporting that former PRIDE light heavyweight Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou has signed a lucrative four fight contract with Elite Xtreme Combat.
However, the report goes on to state the following after the first paragraph said he had agreed to terms:
[INDENT A source in Sokoudjou’s camp, who expressed pleasure with the deal, said they’ve received the contract from EliteXC and will comb it over during the next several days.
[/INDENT So while it appears Sokoudjou’s camp has received a favorable offer from EliteXC, it’s uncertain as to whether he’s formally signed it.
You can read the entire article at:
[URL http://www.sherdog.com/news/news.asp?n_id=8027[/URL 

TUF 5 Finale odds: Free betting tips and advice from Desert Dog
Original Poster: Martial-Arts-Blogs
Forum: Mixed Martial Arts Forums
Posted On: 22-06-2007, 18:53

Orginal Post: Martial-Arts-Blogs: Desert Dog here, back for another installment of UFC betting picks.
The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 5 Finale is not providing much in the way of betting values. There are several lopsided bouts, including the return of the little boiled lobster, Allen Berube.
Why is this sack of taters fighting?
Well with odds like these bettors are forced to look to the dogs to find any sort of value. Currently, I’m looking at three matchups and probably only two bets unless there is some favorable movement in the odds.
The “Smart Bets” for TUF 5 Finale:
Main card picks:
B.J. Penn -340 (No action unless odds hit -275)
Manny Gamburyan -115 (Bet $100 to win $86.96)
Preliminary cards picks:

Joe Lauzon -650 (No action)
Cole Miller -600 (No action)
Gray Maynard -550 (No action)
Leonard Garcia -800 (No action)
Brian Geraghty +400 (Bet $100 to win $400)
Thales Leites -600 (No action)
Roger Huerta -850 (No action)
[URL="http://www.bodog.com/welcome/1915024/sports-betting/mixed-martial-arts.jsp" [IMG http://www.bodogaffiliate.com/resources/banners/fight/regular/468x60/468x60a-bodog-fight.gif[/IMG [/URL (NOTE: UFCmania.com recommends [URL="http://www.betus.com/ats/11675/ufc" BetUS.com[/URL  to place wagers. However, [URL="http://www.bodog.com/welcome/1915024/sports-betting/mixed-martial-arts.jsp" Bodog.com[/URL  is also a good place to bet and compare odds — this site usually has the complete lines up for the fights earlier than the competition.)
As always — if you are going to bet — only play with what you are willing to lose.
Now onto a more detailed breakdown of the fights for those bettors who require a little more reassurance:
BJ Penn (-340) vs. Jens Pulver (+270)
The big question surrounding this fight is how can Pulver win?
BJ has never been knocked out (no I don’t count the Hughes TKO) — his chin is solid. This really cuts into Pulver’s odds for finishing the fight on the feet (under 10 percent). On the other side, Jens is facing a heavy-handed opponent and he has been TKO’d five times throughout his career, including his most recent loss to Lauzon.

Jen’s is a collegiate wrestler, but his only option on the ground is escape or defend. BJ could fade as he has in the past, but if BJ’s current weight is any indication, his conditioning is good to go. So in my mind the only two possible ways for Jens to win are TKO stoppage (

Hamill vs. Bisping now official
Original Poster: Martial-Arts-Blogs
Forum: Mixed Martial Arts Forums
Posted On: 22-06-2007, 18:53

Orginal Post: Martial-Arts-Blogs: In the events section under UFC 75 on UFC.com, Quinton Jackson vs. Dan Henderson and Michael Bisping vs. Matt Hamill are listed as the only two official matches.
See for yourself at:
[URL http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=eventDetail.FightCard&eid=758[/URL 

Franklin to fight for title in either Cincinnati or Denver
Original Poster: Martial-Arts-Blogs
Forum: Mixed Martial Arts Forums
Posted On: 22-06-2007, 18:53

Orginal Post: Martial-Arts-Blogs: According to the Wrestling Observer, Rich Franklin spoke during a breakfast that the UFC sponsored at Associated Press Sports Editors convention in St. Louis and said that his next fight will be against the winner of the Anderson Silva vs. Nathan Marquardt UFC middleweight title match at UFC 73. Franklin said the match could take place in Cincinnati or Denver.

Lauzon considering move to Hawaii
Original Poster: Martial-Arts-Blogs
Forum: Mixed Martial Arts Forums
Posted On: 22-06-2007, 18:53

Orginal Post: Martial-Arts-Blogs: There’s a really good article on InsideFighting.com that manages to do what the TUF cameras couldn’t: capture Joe Lauzon’s unique story and tell it to an audience.
Lauzon will be fighting on the undercard of Saturday’s TUF 5 finale. When it’s all said and done, he’ll need to get back home in time to be at his IT job by Monday.
However, Lauzon is being recruited to live his job and move to Hawaii and train… with B.J. Penn:
[INDENT “BJ has talked to me a couple of times about coming to Hawaii where he is to train. He said he has a fighters’ house and that I could stay there for one to two years and just train. But my student loans are $800 a month. I went to kind of an expensive school and was kind of setting the path for working full time and not to be scraping by. And when you are a full time fighter you kind of are scraping by. Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture are doing well but most full time fighters are not at that level.”
[/INDENT Lauzon goes on to say that he’s been looking into IT jobs in Hawaii.
To read the entire article, check out:
[URL http://www.insidefighting.com/betweenRoundsDisp.aspx?uid=3705[/URL 

EliteXC and Mark Burnett to do a reality show?
Original Poster: Martial-Arts-Blogs
Forum: Mixed Martial Arts Forums
Posted On: 22-06-2007, 18:53

Orginal Post: Martial-Arts-Blogs: The blog “Flying Triangle” has taken a look at Pro Elite’s recent filing with the SEC and one of the nuggets uncovered is the possibility of an EliteXC reality TV show produced by Mark Burnett, who produces reality shows such as “Survivor,” “The Contender,” and “The Apprentice.”
You can read more at:
[URL http://rnc.blogspot.com/2007/06/survivorapprentice-producer-teams-with.html[/URL 

Krazy Horse released from jail
Original Poster: Martial-Arts-Blogs
Forum: Mixed Martial Arts Forums
Posted On: 22-06-2007, 18:53

Orginal Post: Martial-Arts-Blogs: Charles “Krazy Horse” Bennett will not fight against Vincent “Joe Boxer” Valenzuela on tonight’s “Shamrock vs. Baroni” undercard but it wasn’t because of a lack of effort from the promoters.
Bennett was actually released from Marion County (Fla.) jail on Thursday morning and a flight was booked for him to arrive in San Jose in time for weigh-ins. However, he apparently hit traffic on the way to the airport and missed his flight.
“EliteXC, Scott Coker and Strikeforce almost pulled off a hat-trick but (Bennett) got stuck in traffic and missed his plane,” EliteXC’s Gary Shaw said during weigh-ins.*”‘Krazy Horse’ said, though, that Edson Berto deserves praise for stepping up.”
Bennett is still expected to be in attendance for tonight’s fights.