Loiseau Wins in HCF Main Event

Originally posted by MMAjunkie.com Staff [mmajunkie-staff] on Mar 30, 2008 at 1:36 pm in

- News -

Former UFC middleweight contender David Loiseau (16-8), who had lost four of five fights after earning a title shot with then-champ Rich Franklin in early 2006, scored a dominating unanimous-decision victory over Todd Gouwenberg (7-4) in Saturday's Hardcore Championship Fighting's "Crow's Nest" event.

The event took place at the Robert Guertin Arena in Gatineau, Quebec.

Loiseau, returning to his ground-and-pound roots and relying on devastating elbow strikes, took the decision with lopsided scores of 30-25, 30-26 and 30-26.

The 28-year-old fighter has now won two of his past three fights.

In other action, Hector Ramirez (7-3-1) decisioned Rob MacDonald (5-3) in a battle of UFC veterans, and "The Ultimate Fighter 4" cast member Gideon Ray (14-8-1) was on the wrong end of a decision with Nabil Khatib (8-2).

In an explosive women's bout, Sarah Kaufman (7-0) kept her perfect record in tact with a second-round TKO of Molly Helsel (5-7-1).

The full results included:

David Loiseau def. Todd Gouwenberg via unanimous decision
Sarah Kaufman def. Molly Helsel via TKO -- Round 2, 2:44
Hector Ramirez def. Rob MacDonald via unanimous decision
Nabil Khatib def. Gideon Ray via unanimous decision
Brent Beauparlant def. Amir Rahnavardi via unanimous decision
Dan Hornbuckle def. Andrew Buckland via submission (armbar) -- Round 1, 3:34
Bill Boland def. Michal Hamrsmid via TKO -- Round 2, 2:59
Jameel Massouh def. Myles Merola via unanimous decision
Rodrigo Ruas def. Marcus Vinicios via submission (arm-triangle choke) -- Round 3, 0:52
Antonio Schembri def. Daniel Grandmaison via submission (armbar) -- Round 1, 2:37

Silva vs. Hendricks Likely for May 10 Hardcore CF Event

Originally posted by Dann Stupp [mmajunkie] on Mar 27, 2008 at 2:04 pm in

- News -

Former UFC and PRIDE fighter Assuerio Silva (13-6), who recently signed a five-fight deal with Hardcore Championship Fighting, will make his debut with the Canadian-based organization on May 10 -- most likely against Ohio fighter Josh Hendricks (14-4).

A source close to the event alerted MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) of the Silva-Hendricks fight earlier today.

The May 10 event takes place in Calgary and also features Renato "Babalu" Sobral vs. Mauricio Alonso, as well as Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos vs. Todd Gouwenberg.

Silva, who vacated his Pancrase heavyweight title to sign with HFC earlier this year, is one of many big-name fighters who have recently signed with the organization. Silva hasn't fought since claiming the Pacrase title with a win over Tatsuya Mizuno in May.

He'll now likely take on Hendricks, a two-time All-American wrestler who's competed for Oklahoma State University and Ashland University. He's fought throughout the Midwest while going undefeated (with nine victories and one no-contest) in his past 10 fights. Of the nine victories, four have come via submission and four via knockout (or submission via strikes).

The only losses of his career came to UFC veterans Travis Wiuff, Sam Hoger and Tom Murphy, as well as Valery Pliev in a May 2003 bareknuckle fight in Russia.



* * * *


Following the HCF's "Crow's Nest" event on Saturday, the organization will announce that it's been bought out. The sale will help put the organization on television in North America. Sherdog.com first reported the sale earlier this week.

Saturday's event takes place at the Robert Guertin Arena at Gatineau, QC and features a main event between former UFC fighter David Loiseau and Todd Gouwenberg. Legendary referee "Big" John McCarthy will serve as the night's color analyst.

Pavia Sits down with 411 MMA Fact or Fiction

Originally posted on 411 MMA Fact or Fiction 03.26.08: Anderson Silva vs. Roy Jones Jr., JZ vs. Aoki, and Phil Baroni vs. Conditioning

Posted by Bren Oliver on 03.26.2008

Could the UFC's Middleweight Champion last three rounds against a former world champion boxer? Does Phil Baroni's heart outweigh his lung capacity? How should DREAM handle the "No Contest" between Shinya Aoki and JZ Calvancanti? Ken Pavia, MMA Super-Agent, takes time out of his hectic schedule to discuss these things and more as a special guest in this latest edition of 411 MMA Fact or Fiction.

Before springing off the board and diving into this week's "Fact or Fiction", I feel the need to point out something that should be quite obvious to the FoF junkies who click here on a regular basis. Call this week's diddy "Huck Fin'" if you will, as my esteemed colleague Michael Huckaby will no longer be handling the "Fact or Fiction" duties (though he did in fact submit the topics being discussed in this edition). Does this mean I will be playing the proverbial part of bread in this empty toaster and filling the vacant slot? My Magic 8-Ball tells me "Outlook Uncertain" as it's all quite up in the air at the moment. Time will sort those details out. In the interim, I'd much rather focus on the material below than the circumstances behind its delivery.

In an interesting roll of the dice, it so happens that this week's "Fact or Fiction" is also the first featuring a special guest who is none other than the leading agent in Mixed Martial Arts - Ken Pavia. Pavia represents well-known players in the sport such as Jake O'Brien, Martin Kampmann, "Razor" Rob McCullogh, Renato "Babalu" Sobral, and Karo Parisyan. You can learn more about his clients and what he's about by visiting his website, MMAAgents, or his MySpace. Acting as the yin to his yang in this week's "Fact or Fiction" is a talented young lad from the mean streets of Austin, Texas......in another strange twist of fate...it's none other than the scrambled brains behind 411Mania's Monday-morning News Report, the Punch Drunk Hangover, me - Bren Oliver.

Also, in fairness to Mr. Pavia, due to time constraints we were not able to give him half of my responses as is typically the case with "Fact or Fiction". I knew I should have stayed the night at a Holiday Inn! I can only imagine what happened to the person I performed brain surgery on earlier today...


1. Anderson Silva would last at least three rounds in a boxing match against Roy Jones Jr.


Pavia: FICTION. MMA boxing and the sweet science of boxing are very different. Anderson should know this. He is 1-1 as a pro boxer. Even though Jones is a shell of his former self he would kill Anderson. This fight will never happen though, because the UFC would have to approve and why would they risk exposing their P4P best fighter outside his expertise? Perception becomes reality and he would be seen as fallable.


Oliver: FACT. In his prime, Roy Jones Jr. was perhaps the best pound-for-pound boxer on the face of the Earth, a title Anderson Silva currently claims in the realm of Mixed Martial Arts. The Jones Jr. of yesteryear would dismantle Silva in a boxing match and dispose of him in a prompt fashion. However, he's now 39 years old and hasn't won a fight by KO/TKO since 2002. "The Spider" has never been knocked out in his career and I see no reason why an over-the-hill Jones Jr. would be the first to deliver such a blow to Silva's reputation. However, I absolutely agree that Dana White is smart enough to keep Anderson out of such a bout, because the risk/reward weighs heavily in the favor of Roy Jones Jr. (and boxing in general). The only way I could see a cross-promotional fight approved would be featuring a boxer in his prime and a "plus one" agreement where said professional pugilist would also have to face Silva inside the Octagon at a later date.


Score: 0 for 1.


2. There is no excuse for conditioning as bad as Phil Baroni's in his ICON title fight last weekend.


Pavia: FICTION. How about this for an excuse... he thought he had good enough conditioning. Baroni was off for seven months. It was a main event in an electric arena and the adrenaline dump takes a huge toll on gas early. Phil was doing plenty of rounds and cardio in the gym, but that doesnt always translate to the fight. Take nothing away from Kala, he maintained a torrid pace and that contributed to the situation.


Oliver: FACT. I appreciate Ken's perspective and I believe he makes a good point regarding adrenaline's effect as a fight progresses. It is knowledge like this that differentiates those immersed in the sport and we armchair Mixed Martial Artists who have never stepped foot into a training center or fenced-in ring (other than for perhaps a photo op with a scantily clad ring girl). However, Baroni has been in bigger arenas and more significant bouts than was the case on March 15th. I don't buy him being adversely affected by the atmosphere. Were we talking about Kala Kolohe Hose I might give that argument more consideration because it was his biggest fight to date and happened to be in front of his fellow Hawaiins. But, back to Baroni, the outspoken New Yorker has been fighting professionally for more than seven years while gracing the PRIDE ring and the UFC Octagon. The Neil S. Blaisdell Center isn't Saitama Super Arena, know what I mean?

"The New York Bad Ass" can attribute more than half of his losses to bouts that dipped into the final round. He's 0-5 in said contests. I like Baroni and think he is one of the sport's genuine assets based on his showmanship, heart, and style of fighting. One of my favorite quotes of his was when, in reference to Frank Shamrock, he said, "He's a retard, to be honest." However, until he learns to pace himself and conserve energy for later rounds, I think he'll continue to have problems in bouts where his opponent can take it into the later rounds. Perhaps he did have the conditioning to go twenty-five solid minutes. If so, like the number of licks it takes to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop, the world will never know. But, at the end of the day, it's inexcusible for a man with his experience in not only MMA, but kickboxing and traditional boxing, to end up gassed three-and-a-half minutes into the first round. Perhaps I'm being harsh, but it's only because I see Baroni has having a tremendous amount of potential where he could literally be twice the MMA star he is with a few minor tweaks in his approach to fighting.


Score: 0 for 2.


3. That said he deserves some credit for having the heart to go another 15 minutes with no gas in his tank.


Pavia: FACT. Has there ever been a boring Baroni fight? He is to MMA what Gatti is to boxing. You always get your moneys worth. He will never quit or tap. He always has that puncher's chance and believes, sometimes until his last breath, that he is going to win.


Oliver: FACT. Ken said it as good as anyone could and I whole-heartedly support his comparison of Baroni to Gatti (and not just because they're Paisanos). I admire Phil's drive and determination. He's like the Black Knight from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail". You could chop Baroni's arm off, but he'd keep on fighting while saying it's only a flesh wound. Win or lose, he of short, sequined-robe fame isn't afraid to leave it all in the ring and I have a great deal of respect for his "never say die" attitude. I would call it a "never back down" style of fighting, but I don't believe Baroni ever trained with Djimon Hounsou...


Score: 1 for 3. It was looking grim, but suddenly we've got ourselves a decent day at the plate!


----SWITCH IT UP----


4. Shinya Aoki and JZ Calvancante should be immediately rematched in the DREAM Grand Prix quarterfinals.


Oliver: FICTION. I agree that they should immediately be rematched, but the tournament needs to continue as-is to maintain its legitimacy. If they need to select a suitable replacement to fill the quarterfinal spot of Aoki/Calvancante, there are about fifty skilled Lightweights out there who aren't under Zuffa contract.

To mo me, there's no reason Aoki can't take on the American Top Team blue-chipper in a fight completely independent of the Grand Prix. Each has the overall talent and professional reputation to sell the bout as a co-headlining main event (especially to a Japanese audience). Nobody wanted to see their Grand Prix showdown to result in a medical stoppage, but injuries are just one of the many factors involved in MMA competition and there's no reason both men should get a bye to the next round simply because their bout played out as it did.


Pavia: FACT. It was nothing less then dissapointing. I will watch it... one more time at least.


Score: 1 for 4.


5. While the NBC/Strikeforce deal isn't groundbreaking, we're at a stage of more is better when it comes to the sport on television.


Oliver: FACT. ...especially on network television. It's unfortunate the deal isn't said to involve the broadcasting of live Strikeforce events, but at least a partnership between the two companies lends itself to the possibility of such happening. I'd say it's very possible NBC is simply waiting to see what kind of ratings CBS draws with the initial EliteXC event before pulling the trigger on a live Strikeforce show. Regardless, the "highlights" program NBC intends to air will still expose viewers to some solid Mixed Martial Arts action and I can only see that as being a positive. I have known a number of people who dismissed the possibility of ever having an interest in watching MMA on a regular basis...until they actually saw it for the first time.


Pavia: FICTION. It is ground breaking. If the UFC does really well in a PPV they get 600,000 buys. If Strikeforce falls on their face they will get a couple million. It also appears to be a gateway to primetime and weekend fights. It gets the foot in the door. It should also help attract main stream sponsors. The flood gates are about to open.


Score: 1 for 5. Did anyone else just hear a "CHA-CHING" sound after reading that last sentence?


6. Paulo Filho's sudden emotional problems have something to do with getting off of steroids.


Oliver: FICTION. Without Sherk-like evidence I find it hard to say for certain that Filho used performance enhancing drugs. It's a possibility but far from being an absolute. I think a more likely suspect, if illegal substances are involved, is the use of recreational drugs given the lifestyle that surrounds certain circles in Mixed Martial Arts. The guy rocks a sleeveless flannel shirt to every fight. Is it really so hard to believe he's hooked on some other substance turning his brain into gravy? But on a serious note, only Filho and his friends/family know the truth, and I'm completely respectful of their right to maintain his privacy. People in every walk of life run into hard times where emotions can become overbearing. I only hope Filho overcomes whatever issues he's dealing with and returns to being one of the top Mixed Martial Artists out there.


Pavia: NO COMMENT. I would never speculate as to a man's use of drugs without some first hand proof. Not only is that not fair to the athlete but it is also potentially actionable. I will say that most fighters do have screws loose and it does not surprise me at all. I also dont know enough about the emotional effects of steroids to speculate.


Score: 1 for 6. While we nearly ran into a dreaded goose egg this week, it does seem as though we're on the same page with this last one even if the phrasing is different.


Thanks for joining us! Make sure to check out Ken Pavia's sites as well as the genius that is the Punch Drunk Hangover! Self-promoting rules!

Josh Koscheck vs. Chris Lytle Likely for UFC 86

Originally posted by Dann Stupp [mmajunkie] on Mar 26, 2008 at 8:00 am in

- News -

Welterweight contender Josh Koscheck (10-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) and "The Ultimate Fighter 4" runner-up Chris Lytle (25-15-5 MMA, 4-7 UFC) will likely meet at UFC 86.

Rumors of Lytle's involvement in the event surfaced last week, but Ken Pavia, Lytle's manager, would only tell MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that Lytle got a "big opponent" for the event. Since then, a sponsor for one of the fighters tells us the fight is close to being announced.

The bout is destined for the main card of UFC 86, which takes place July 5 in Las Vegas,

Koscheck is coming off a victory over Dustin Hazelett at UFC 82. The youngster gave Koscheck a tough fight, but the American Kickboxing Academy fighter eventually ended it with a second-round knockout.

The fight was Koscheck's first since an August loss to Georges St. Pierre, which snapped his five-fight win streak and cost him a shot at the title.

He'll now take on the veteran Lytle, who most recently stopped UFC newcomer Kyle Bradley with a 33-second TKO at UFC 81.

"The Ultimate Fighter 4" welterweight runner-up previously battled Thiago Alves at UFC 78, where each fighter earned a $55,000 "Fight of the Night" bonus for the performance. The back-and-forth, up-and-down battle included knockdowns from both fighters. However, the fight was stopped after the second round because of a cut over Lytle's eye.

Lytle has now won three of his past four fights.

For the latest UFC 86 fight card, check out the UFC Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.

Reports: Baroni vs. "Ninja" Signed for EliteXC-CBS Event

Originally posted by MMAjunkie.com Staff [mmajunkie-staff] on Mar 25, 2008 at 3:48 pm in

- News -

Phil Baroni (10-9), who recently came up short in an ICON Sport title fight with Kala Hose, has signed on to fight Murilo "Ninja" Rua (15-8-1) at the May 31 EliteXC-CBS event.

The event, which will likely feature Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson in the night's main event, takes place at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. It'll be the first-ever MMA event to air on major U.S. network television.

News of the Baroni vs. Rua fight was first reported by the Internet radio show Cageside Live and has since been confirmed by Sam Caplan of ProElite.com and fiveouncesofpain.com.

Baroni, who dropped a fifth-round TKO to Hose on March 15, recently signed a multi-fight deal with ProElite, Inc., the parent company of EliteXC. However, with his loss to Hose, he's now dropped three of his past four fights.

Rua, EliteXC's first-ever middleweight champ, lost his belt to Robbie Lawler in September. He bounced back for a second-round submission of Xavier Foupa-Pokam at December's Cage Rage 24 show. It was his fourth win in his past five fights.

In addition to Ferguson and Baroni vs. Rua, the May 31 event will also feature a title fight between EliteXC middleweight champ Lawler and Scott Smith. While a guest panelist on this past weekend's edition of "Inside MMA," EliteXC matchmaker Jeremy Lappen also confirmed that Gina Carano is expected to be on the fight card.

The Pav Says... Phil Baroni's a True Entertainer

Orginally posted by Ken Pavia [ken-pavia] on Mar 23, 2008 at 7:11 pm in

- News -

Has there ever been a boring Phil Baroni fight? Let's keep it real: fighters are entertainers. The "NYBA" entertains, plain and simple. He is one of the best interviews. His ring entrance is worth the price of admission. He truly believes -- sometimes until his very last breath -- that he is going to win every fight. His confidence is not manufactured.

In round three of that Kala Hose fight last week in ICON Sport, referee Chris West stopped the fight to restart it in the center of the ring. Baroni's left eye had swollen nearly shut. What you couldn't see on the televised version was Baroni actually covered his face with his glove to obstruct West's view to eliminate any chance of a stoppage. In the fourth round, West got a good look at Baroni's face and during a break in the action asked him if he wanted the fight stopped. Baroni's response was, "No DICK, why would you axe ME that?"

Baroni could have taken the easy way out in the first round with a jits sub attempt, but he wanted to make it dramatic; hence the head stomps and soccer kicks. When his gas tank went empty, he didn't offer up an arm or look for a way out as many would have. What the televised portion also did not show was a fan ran into our corner and tried to throw in the towel. Josh "The Punk" Thompson and I had to restrain him until security got him. I fully believed that despite the punishment he was taking, Baroni had that one big punch that, if landed, would have made a Rocky-like finish. I swear as the fight progressed, I was hearing that music from "Rocky I."

Baroni has become to MMA what Arturo Gatti became to boxing. While it is difficult to watch some of the punishment he takes, I know he is never out of a fight, and for his last two fights in particular, the crowd stood for every second of the battle and the noise level live was deafening. Watching his fights live and in person is truly an event.

It was a tribute to him that there were about 20 people waiting for him at the hospital besides the obvious: his family, and cornermen Punk, Trevor Prangley, and Mark Coleman. Even rival promoter Mike Miller from X1 waited for him just to show his respect and to see if he could be of help afterward. The phone calls of support didn't stop from Randy Couture to Dewey Cooper to Mike Pyle to Joe Silva. The rest of the trip was memorable. We hung out by the pool and beach while I worked the phones, had some "gangsta sushi" (Baroni's words), and contemplated the next move. Funny but three offers came in for the same or more money after the loss. Ultimately Baroni is now in what he calls conditioning shape and is going right back to the gym upon his return.

Shorts…

It has been nearly nine months since Brett Rogers knocked out Hawaiian golden gloves champ Dutche Pu, at an X1 event, a fight that is still not up on his record. Almost everywhere I went in Hawaii people asked me if he is for real. He is now 7-0 with 7 KOs and has only been to the second round once. He also has only been training two years. The only weakness I can see in his game is his victory dance, which if you saw it live, would make you cringe. It was kind of like the leprechaun in the Lucky Charms commercial. Otherwise Rogers is a very scary man, and Kimbo Slice better be very careful.
OK, I have never actually seen the Jedi mind trick work in an MMA fight, but Andre Arlovski pulled it off. Yes, Jake O'Brien won the first round of their UFC 82 fight earlier this month. Yes, O'Brien won the first four minutes of round two. Yes, he made a mistake and hipped up to defend the knees and got tripped and mounted. But while in mount, Arlovski proceeded to play patty cake and throw slaps that couldn't break a pane of glass for 30 or so seconds. He turned to the ref and lied said O'Brien was out. Now, I swear I saw him moved his hand in a half circle motion like Obi-Wan Kenobi did in "Star Wars." The referee jumped right in. I think I threw up in my mouth a little.
The power of the pen never ceases to amaze me. The three sites I constantly plug, myspace.com/kenpavia, www.MMAagents.com, and www.MMA-locker.com get twice the traffic after the articles go up on here on MMAjunkie.com. The MMAagents site was designed to bring my 50 guys a little closer to the fans and expose them to more fight and sponsor opportunities. The fighters have expressed an interest in reaching out even further, so look for a greatly expanded blog section complete with behind-the-scenes videos, fighter penned articles, sponsor highlights, and legal analysis that will be done in conjunction with MMAjunkie.com. Put your seatbelt on; it is coming soon.
Everyone clowned "Razor" Rob McCullough when he hired "a chick" to be his hands coach. He won four fights in a row and held the WEC title and they stopped clowning. Although Erin Toughill only holds focus mitts, she does it as well if not better then anyone in the hotbed of MMA, Orange County. She even throws the gear on and spars with Razor once in a while. I have seen him dislodge an ovary mid-round, but she gets right back up and keeps coming. And she is easy on the eyes (god, I hope she doesn't punch me in the face for saying that). She can't get girls to fight her, so she will be taking her game to a different arena. Look for Toughill to throw a beatdown in the upcoming season of "American Gladiators."
Just because nice guys don't get enough credit, I have to give a shout out to clients that I have who are just plain too nice to fit the preconception of fighters. The two that come immediately to mind kiss me as if I was a brother every time I see them. Heterosexuals Ivan Salaverry and Vince Lucero are both class acts and are guys that make you genuinely want to help them. I got to spend some time with Salaverry on my recent trup, and he is expecting his second child, building his dream home, and training for his fight. He owns a gym in Seattle, and if you are ever up in the area, stop in and check it out. He is very approachable. Lucero is a different story. He is in a bind. His last three fights that were booked were cancelled last minute. Here is a heavyweight with nearly 40 fights who likes to stand and bang and has never been knocked out. If you are looking for a heavyweight for a card, holler for Vince. You won't be disappointed.
By the way, honorable mention on the nice-guy thing goes to trainer Saul Soliz and his two pupils who I represent: Todd Moore and Carlo Prater. Soliz doesn't just make good fighters; he makes good people. He is a great mentor and is very demanding of the guys he works with. Fighters are often hard headed and have their own agenda, something that holds many of them back. Moore and Prater have followed Soliz, and he has led them well. Both present very well, are very grateful of all opportunities, and are overly mannered if there is such a thing. If you are looking for a place to move to and train, I recommend -- without reservation -- Saul's gym in Houston. Hell, he is good enough for Tito Ortiz to bring up to every one of his training camps, and he teaches every aspect of the game.
Frank Shamrock is a dick for blowing the whistle on his brother's alleged steroid use. It is one think to hype a fight; it is another to accuse someone of illegal acts without support. It is off the charts to screw your brother, blood or not. Quite frankly it is actionable, and I hope Ken sues him. I am not sure if Cung Le is the right guy, but someone will get him, and karma is a bitch. That is my two cents.

"Babalu" to HCF for May 10 Event

Originally posted by John Morgan [john-morgan] on MMA Junkie on Mar 19, 2008 at 7:35 pm in

- News -

UFC cast-off Renato "Babalu" Sobral (29-7) will return to action on May 10 for a Hardcore Championship Fighting show to be held in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. There, 32-year-old will take on fellow Brazilian Mauricio Alonso (4-1).

Ken Pavia, an MMAjunkie.com columnist, broke news of the bout on today's edition of TAGG Radio (www.taggradio.com), a content partner of MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).

Sobral will be in Quebec on March 29 for the HCF's "Crow's Nest" event, featuring UFC veterans David Loiseau, Hector "Sick Dog" Ramirez and Gideon Ray, where a formal announcement of the fight card will be made.

Sobral, once regarded among the world's elite in the light heavyweight division, dropped out of the top 10 in most rankings after back-to-back UFC losses to Chuck Liddell and Jason Lambert. The Gracie Barra black belt then returned to winning ways with a hard fought, bloody victory over David Heath at UFC 74. A controversial ending, in which Sobral admitted to holding an anaconda choke on Heath longer than necessary, cost "Babalu" both a $25,000 fine as well as his UFC contract.

The HCF fight will be Sobral's second outside the UFC since the incident.

During the interview, Pavia was unable to confirm, but did little to deny, a rumored match-up between Sobral and UFC veteran Mike Whitehead. It is believed the bout will be contested at the debut event of the new Affliction/Golden Boy co-promotion.

In other interview highlights:

Pavia also mentioned a forthcoming "big announcement" by the UFC regarding welterweight Chris "Lights Out" Lytle. The UFC is expected to soon release information regarding Lytle facing a "very big name" at UFC 86 in July. Pavia felt confident that the match-up would be the co-main event of the card.

According to Pavia, "Razor" Rob McCullough will return to action in the WEC on the as-yet-unannounced June 1 WEC event in Sacramento, Calif. Although McCullough's opponent has not yet been determined, that card is believed to be headlined by Urijah Faber vs. Jens Pulver. Miguel Torres vs. Manny Tapia is also expected at the event, and Jeff Curran will also likely compete.
Lastly, Pavia said Joe "Diesel" Riggs was recovering quickly from back surgery after suffering an injury in his latest fight, and should return to action with Strikeforce in late May, when the organization looks to return to Tacoma, Wash.
To hear the full interview, download Wednesday's edition of TAGG Radio, available for free in the TAGG Radio Network archives.

This story, written by John Morgan, was produced by TAGG Radio (www.taggradio.com) specially for MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). The show -- which is hosted by fighter/broadcaster Frank Trigg, Gorgeous George and Goze -- books some of the biggest names in MMA. Download all the former episodes at www.taggradio.com, or tune into TAGG Radio's live shows Monday-Friday at noon ET/9 a.m. PT.

Tiki vs. Stewart Set for March 29 Strikeforce/EliteXC

Originally posted by Dann Stupp [mmajunkie] on Mar 19, 2008 at 12:26 pm in - News -
Undefeated Strikeforce prospect Luke Stewart (5-0) will meet veteran fighter Tiki Ghosn (9-7) at next weekend's Strikeforce/EliteXC show in San Jose, Calif.

MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) learned of the fight from Ghosn's camp, and his manager, Ken Pavia, confirmed the bout on today's edition of TAGG Radio (www.taggradio.com).

The event takes place at the HP Pavilion and airs live on Showtime. Strikeforce world middleweight champ Frank Shamrock takes on Cung Le in the night's main event.

Stewart, who's fought professionally only with Strikeforce, has finished four of his five victories via knockout. The 27-year-old Californian most recently scored a stunning, 19-second knockout (via knee) of Bryson Kamaka at a November Strikeforce event.

He'll now take on Ghosn, a former UFC and WEC fighter who will make his Strikeforce and EliteXC debut at the event. The 31-year-old will look to snap a four-fight losing streak that's included defeats to Chris Lytle and Xtreme Couture fighter Dave Terrel.

The televised card for the event has not yet been announced.

Doug Evans makes his Elite XC debut April 5th

Originally posted by MMAjunkie.com Staff [mmajunkie-staff] on Mar 17, 2008 at 7:20 am in

- News -

A light-heavyweight bout between Californian Jared Hamman (9-0) and Hawaiian Poai Suganuma (8-1) will headline an April 5 "ShoXC" event, according to the host site's official website.

Our friends at fiveouncesofpain.com recently spotted the poster on the Table Mountain Casino's website. The venue is located in Friant, Calif.

The upcoming event, which will also feature the EliteXC debut of former UFC fighter and Alaska Fighting Championship veteran Doug Evans (6-2), airs live on Showtime at 11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT.

(However, neither EliteXC nor Showtime have yet to announce the event.)

ProElite.com actually has another "ShoXC" event, featuring a main event between Thomas Denny and Malaipat, scheduled for this Saturday -- just two weeks prior to the April 5 show.

The latest card for the April 5 event includes:

Jared Hamman (9-0) vs. Poai Suganuma (8-1)
Fabricio Camoes (7-4) vs. Joe Camacho (10-11-3)
Shayna Baszler (8-4) vs. TBA
Wilson Reis (3-0) vs. Doug Evans (6-2)
Giva Santana (10-0) vs. Matt Lucas (9-0)
"ShoXC" is the MMA version of Showtime's popular "ShoBox" program for boxing and features top prospects. EliteXC has hosted four "ShoXC" events to date, spotlighting fighters such as Paul Daley, Eddie Alvarez and Victor Valenzuela.

Baroni Loses Tough Battle for Icon Belt

Originally posted by MMAjunkie.com Staff [mmajunkie-staff] on Mar 16, 2008 at 1:05 am in

- News -

Hawaii's popular ICON Sport promotion has a new middleweight champ as local slugger Kala Kolohe Hose (6-1) scored an upset of former UFC and PRIDE fighter Phil Baroni (10-9) at Saturday's "ICON: To Hell and Back" event.

The fifth-round TKO took place in the night's main event at the Blaisdell Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. The event was streamed live on ProElite.com.

Takedowns, followed by ground and pound, worked wonders for Baroni early in the fight, but Hose's endurance and conditioning proved the deciding factors. With Baroni bloodied, battered and winded, Hose forced the TKO stoppage 24 seconds into the fifth round.

With the victory, Hose earned the ICON middleweight belt. And it was a long time coming. The title was was stripped from former champ Robbie Lawler last month after three previously scheduled fights with Hose were scratched due to injuries suffered by Lawler.

Baroni dominated much of the first round thanks to double-leg takedowns with ground and pound from sidemount. He also did some damage early in the second round with stomps and soccer kicks. However, with each passing round, the shots became slower, and Hose began to set the pace. By the fourth round, he was on the prowl -- so much so that Baroni was deducted a point for trying to escape the ring to avoid Hose's blows.

Early in the fifth, Hose sent Baroni to the canvas with a big hook, and a barrage of kicks and punches forced the stoppage just seconds later.

With the loss, Baroni drops to 10-9 and has now lost three of his past four fights.

Meanwhile, the victory, undoubtedly the biggest of his career, gives Hose his sixth consecutive win -- all by way of
knockout.

The full results included:

Kala Kolohe Hose def. Phil Baroni via KO (strikes ) -- Round 5, 0:26
Jeremy Williams def. Augie Padekan via KO (strikes) -- Round 1, 2:18
Sadhu Bott vs. Bronson Pieper via submission (armbar) -- Round 1, 4:41
Russell Doane def. Tyson Nam via TKO (strikes) -- Round 1, 3:53
Koa Ramos def. Wayne Perrin III via submission (rear-naked choke) -- Round 1, 1:29
Ross Ebanez def. Brennan Kamaka via TKO (strikes) -- Round 1 :09
P.J. Dean def. Eddie Rincon via unanimous decision
Matt Comeau def Elias DeLos Reyes via TKO (strikes) -- Round 2, 2:35
Alan Lima def. David Padilla unanimous decision
Dwayne Haney def. Zack Rapal via submission (front choke) -- Round 1, 2:27
Ricky Wallace def. Brandon Pieper via submission (guillotine c) -- Round 1, 0:37
Jay Bolos def Nui Wheeler via submission (armbar) -- Round 2, 1:26
Kona Ke def. Micah Ige via submission (rear-naked choke) -- Round 1, 1:45

Phil Baroni to Headline Icon/ProElite Card

Originally posted by MMAjunkie.com Staff [mmajunkie-staff] on Mar 12, 2008 at 3:58 pm

- News -

Saturday's "ICON Sport: To Hell and Back" takes place Saturday at the Blaisdell Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, and the entire fight card will be available for free on ProElite.com.

The event features a headline bout between Phil Baroni (10-8) and Kala Kolohe Hose (5-1). The winner earns the ICON Sport world middleweight belt, which was stripped from former title-holder Robbie Lawler last month.

The live event -- the first for ICON in nearly a year -- begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

Baroni, a former UFC and PRIDE fighter, will make his ICON debut at the show. The 31-year-old hasn't fought since loss to Frank Shamrock in the main event of a June 2007 Strikeforce/EliteXC show. Baroni failed a drug test after the fight, and though he maintained his innocence, the California State Athletic Commission upheld a suspension (though it was reduced from 12 months to six). That suspension ended just last week.

Hose, a Hawaiian, had been promised a title shot before, but three previously scheduled fights with Lawler were canceled due to injuries suffered by the champ. In the meantime, Hose has pieced together five consecutive victories, including a televised "ShoXC" knockout win over Frederic Belleton (5-2) in January.

Lawler, who also holds EliteXC's middleweight title, won the ICON Sport belt with a fourth-round TKO of Frank Trigg nearly a year ago. However, Lawler had to pull out of the three ICON Sport events for various health-related reasons. With the fighter unable to defend his title, ICON Sport President T. Jay Thompson stripped Lawler of the title in February. Lawler said he understood his decision and hopes to reclaim the title sometime in the future.

ICON Sport was recently acquired by ProElite, Inc., EliteXC's parent company.

Saturday's full fight card includes:

Phil Baroni vs. Kala Kolohe Hose (for vacant ICON word middleweight title)
Augie Padekan vs. Jeremy Williams
Sadhu Bott vs. Bronson Pieper (for ICON state featherweight title)
Russell Doane vs. Tyson Nam
Wayne Perrin vs. Koa Ramos
Ross Ebanez vs. Brennan Kamaka
P.J. Dean vs. Eddie Rincon
Matt Comeau vs. Elias Delos Reyes
Alan Lima vs. David Padilla
Dwayne Haney vs. Zack Rapal
Jay Bolos VS. Nui Wheeler
Colin Mackenzie vs. Ricky Wallace
Wade Ke vs. Ikaika Moreno

"American Fight League: ERUPPTION" Live Results

Originally Posted by Dann Stupp [mmajunkie] on Mar 07, 2008 at 6:30 pm in

- News -

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) is on scene for tonight's American Fight League "ERUPPTION" event at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky.

Join us for live updates and official results as a host of former UFC fighters -- including Rory Singer, Dan Christison and Junior Assuncao -- compete on the night's main card. Additionally, former UFC lightweight Diego Saraiva fights for the AFL's first-ever 155-lb. title, and featherweight Rafael Assuncao hopes to improve upon his top-10 world ranking.

The night's first fight starts at approximately 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.

Blizzard-like conditions throughout the region have event organizers on standby, but a steady trickle of fans began filing through the doors once they opened at 7 p.m.

Tonight's event is being filmed for possible future broadcast, but it's not airing live.

AMATEUR BOUTS

RYAN JONES (1-2)* VS. MIKE BASKIS (2-0)*

ROUND 1 -- Baskis drops his opponent with an early right, but Jones gets back to his feet. The two fighters continue to trade shots, but Jones gets trapped after a shoot as Baskis secures the guillotine from the bottom. Baskis holds the choke for nearly 30 seconds before the tap. Mike Baskis def. Ryan Jones via submission (guillotine choke) -- Round 1.

JOSH BALL (4-0)* VS. JASON JONES (2-0)*

ROUND 1 -- An early scramble gives Jones his opponent's back. Jones then secures the position with a body triangle, softens up Ball with some shots to the head, and then flattens him out. Jones sinks in the rear-naked choke soon after to force the tap-out. Jason Jones def. Josh Ball via submission (rear-naked choke) -- Round 1.

BRIAN KELLER (1-2)* VS. BRANDON YOCUM (2-0)* VS. -- For AFL amateur middleweight title

ROUND 1 -- Yocum checks an early kick, but Keller pushes forward to take the mount position. He trasitions beautifully into an armbarm but Yocum escapes. After a brief scramble for position, Yocum takes the mount position while Keller ties him up. Keller eventually secures full guard, and while trying to escape, secures another arm-bar. Yocum again escapes and works from inside Keller's guard. Yocum stands and misses on a haymaker before the bell sounds.

ROUND 2 -- Yocum stuffs an early shoot and works from inside Keller's full guard. Keller reverses the position, rolls into mount and unloads some ground and pound. Yocum reverses the position and is back in Keller's guard, but Keller catches an arm and locks in an armbar. With help from his corner, he escapes out of the position and lands in full mount but can do little damage before the round ends.

ROUND 3 -- An early clinch and Keller tries a knee, but Yocum stuff it and sends him to the canvas. Yocum stands and tries a haymaker, but the fighters end up in an awkward "69" position as both fighters look for heel hooks. Keller is the first to escape and takes his opponent's back, spending the rest of the round trying to sink in the rear-naked choke. It never Brian Keller def. Brandon Yocum via split decision (28-29, 30-27, 30-27) to become AFL amateur middleweight champ.

PROFESSIONAL BOUTS

DOUG LIMA (6-1) VS. CODY SENSENEY (4-0)

ROUND 1 -- Lima gets the first takedown as Senseney ties him up in full guard and tries to transition for a triangle choke. Lima stands and starts kicking the legs of his downed opponent. He follows with ground and pound before hopping into full mount. After taking Senseney's back, Lima starts to throw punches from behind, locks in a body triangle, flattens him out but can't sink in the choke. Senseney escapes but then eats a series of punches from below. Lima actually forces the stoppage while throwing punches from his back and in his opponent's guard. Doug Lima def. Cody Senseney via TKO (strikes) -- Round 1.

GEORGE LOCKHART (6-2) VS. T.J. COOK (6-2)

ROUND 1 -- An early clinch as the fighters jockey for position allows Lockhart to scored the single-leg takedown. Lockhart does little damage before Cook gets back to his feet. Lockhard again charges forward for the single-leg takedown and secures it, eventually working into north-south position. Lockhart then works into sidemount and waits patiently for an opening to throw punches. Cook keeps him mostly tied up but allows Lockhard to get full mount. However, Cook avoids damage long enough to get to the bell.

Round 2 -- The fighters trade leg kicks before Cook stuffs a takedown attempt. After a clinch, Cook throws a knee that inadvertently lands to the groin. The referee calls for time and allows Lockhart to compose himself. After the restart, Lockhart throws a kick-punch combo that sets up the takedown. Lockhart gets the sidemount position and starts to throw knees to the ribs. He eventually hops into full mount, Cook rolls over, and Lockhart sinks in the rear-naked choke. Cook tap outs moments later. George Lockhart def. T.J. Cook via submission (rear-naked choke) -- Round 1.

RAFAEL ASSUNCAO (11-1) VS. AARON WILLIAMS (14-7)

ROUND 1 -- Assuncao scores the early double-leg takedown and works from inside his opponent's half guard. Few shots are thrown as Assuncao patiently works for position. He eventually get sidemount and then full, and rains down a barrage of punches. Williams tries to roll free, but Assuncao takes his opponent's back, grabs an arm, and forces the tap-out. Rafael Asuncao def. Aaron Williams via submission (arm-bar) -- Round 1.

ALLEN BROWNING (5-1)* VS. DUSTIN WALDEN (7-1)*

ROUND 1 -- Walden lands an early combination, but Browning lifts up and slams his opponent to the mat. Working from sidemount, he transitions into the crucifix position and rains down a barrage of punches and elbows. Walden tries to break free but allows Browning to take the mount position. Walden does a good job tying him up and nearly escapes, but Browning reclaims sidemount. Walden avoids further punishment by continually moving but again gets caught in the crucifix position and eats a short burst of elbows. Again, Walden continues to roll but leaves an arm open that Browning quickly grabs. With just seconds left in the round, Walden is forced to tap from the arm-bar. Allen Browning def. Dustin Walden via submission (arm-bar) -- Round 1.

DAN CHRISTISON (10-6) VS. JOHN LEBLANC (1-7)

ROUND 1 -- The big men throw some haymakers early before Christison pins his opponent against the cage. LeBlanc tosses Christison to the mat and connects on some punches as he gets back to his feet. Christison then unloads some leg kicks that wobble LeBlanc. The two men now stand and trade, and LeBlanc takes exception to his opponent's leg kicks. Christison answers with a couple jabs and a few belly shots. They clinch again against the fence, and Christison works knees to the body and when LeBlanc creates some distance, they trade some more haymakers. As the round comes to a close, Christison scores the single-leg takedown and rains down some elbows before the bell sounds.

ROUND 2 -- LeBlanc lands a body kick early, and then he trades leg kicks with Christison. Christison swarms in for the single-leg takedown, rattling the cage as he lands in half guard. Christison works to side mount and works some ground and pound and then elbows to the midsection. Christison then moves into full mount and rains down punch after punch. LeBlanc tries to roll to give up his back, and but Christison continues the assault, and the ref has seen enough. Dan Christison def. John LeBlanc via TKO (strikes) -- Round 2.

RORY SINGER (11-7) VS. CHILO GONZALEZ (13-10)

ROUND 1 -- Gonzalez works hard for an early takedown and gets it via trip, but Singer easily escapes. A persistent Gonzalez is successful on attempt No. 2 but gets his mouthpiece knocked out on an upkick from Singer. After a restart, Singer lands a combination but Gonzalez charges forward for the takedown. After escaping, Singer connects on some crisp combinations that appear to have Gonzalez dazed. However, he again charges forward and takes Singer to the mat. Singer's able to fend off any damage, but Gonzalez transitions into a kneebar that causes Singer to groan in pain and tapout. The bout is halted. Singer appears to have suffered an injury and can't stand without help. Chilo Gonzalez def. Rory Singer via submission (kneebar) -- Round 1.

JUNIOR ASSUNCAO (5-3) VS. STEVE SHARP (4-3)

ROUND 1 -- Assuncao looks for the guillotine early as Sharp tries to punch out of it. It takes a full minute to break free, and then Assuncao tries for a kimura. Sharp tries to hit the mat and roll out of it, but Assuncao swarms and lands in sidemount. Assuncao eventually takes his opponent's back, and using a play out of Roger Huerta's playbook, Sharp uses the videoscreens to tag his opponent with elbow strikes behind him. As the round ends, Sharp finally breaks from and lands some punches, but Assuncao dominated all but 30 seconds of the round.

ROUND 2 -- Assuncao nearly drops his opponent with a leg kick and then wobbles him with a head kick. But Sharp charges forward and gets the trip takedown. Sharp then secures a guillotine but can't hold onto it when Assuncao stands up. Sharp is now on his back, and Assuncao stands over him tagging him with punches before dropping into his opponent's half-guard. Assuncao works for kimura but Sharp proves elusive. Assuncao works back to half-guard and peppers his opponent with punches and elbows before the round ends.

ROUND 3 -- Sharp can't check his opponent's early kicks and trips and briefly falls to the mat. He jumps back up and barely blocks a head kick in time. Sharp charges forward and lands a couple punches, but Assuncao quickly reverses the position, locks in a choke and forces the tap-out. Junior Assuncao def. Steve Sharp via submission (guillotine choke) -- Round 3.

DIEGO SARAIVA (10-6-1) VS. JOE AMMERMAN (2-0) -- For AFL lightweight title

ROUND 1 -- The fighters trade punches early but little lands. Saraiva, though, scores the double-leg takedown, takes his opponent's back, and quickly forces the tap-out from the rear-naked choke. Diego Saraiva def. Joe Ammerman via submission (rear-naked choke) -- Round 1. (Saraiva becomes AFL lightweight champion.)

Fighters Make Weight for Tonight's AFL Show in Kentucky

Originally posted by MMAjunkie.com Staff [mmajunkie-staff] on Mar 07, 2008 at 12:24 pm in
- News -

All 22 fighters taking part in tonight's American Fight League event -- including former UFC fighters Rory Singer, Dan Christison, Diego Saraiva and Junior Assuncao -- made weight during Thursday's official weigh-ins.

"AFL: ERRUPTION" takes place tonight at Rupp Arena, the home of the University of Kentucky Wildcats, in Lexington, Ky. And while the local forecast calls for up to a foot of snow, event organizers and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet tell MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that the roads into and near the venue are being cleared regularly in anticipation of the show.

Tonight's 11-fight event includes three amateur and eight professional bouts. Saraiva (10-6-1), who last competed for the UFC in September during a loss to Jeremy Stephens, takes on Joe Ammerman (2-0) for the AFL's lightweight title in the night's main event.

Members of the Lexington-based Boys & Girls Club of the Bluegrass were special guests at Thursday's weigh-ins, which took place at the Lexington Hyatt Regency. Fighters signed autographs as AFL executives unveilved the organization's new lightweight belt.

"Honestly, you should have heard the gasps as we unveiled it," AFL director of public relations Sean McClure said. "Everyone has been calling -- Pat Miletich called -- to say how great it looks. We can't wait for everyone to see it tonight."

Also in action tonight is Rafael Assuncao (11-1), one of the world's top featherweight fighters. He'll take on Steve Sharp (4-3).

And like his brother, Rafael engaged in a pretty heated staredown with his opponent at the weigh-ins.

"Man, those guys are intense," McClure said.

Tonight's event will be filmed for possible future broadcast on HDNet, MyNetworkTV or another broadcast partner, according to McClure. Additionally, the organization has scheduled upcoming stops in Georgia, Texas and Florida, and plans are already underway for a future pay-per-view event.

Part of the AFL's mission is to give back to the community. A handful of charities, including Impact a Hero and other military-related nonprofits, will benefit from tonight's show. Additionally, servicemen and women who served in Iraq and Afghanistan will be honored at tonight's event.

Doors to the event open at 7 p.m., and the first fight begins at 8 p.m.

Tonight's full card includes:

PROFESSIONAL BOUTS

Diego Saraiva vs. Joe Ammerman (for AFL lightweight championship)
Junior Assuncao vs. Steve Sharp
Rory Singer vs. Chilo Gonzalez
Dan Christison vs. John LeBlanc
Allen Browning vs. Dustin Walden
George Lockhart vs. T.J. Cook
Rafael Assuncao vs. Aaron Williams
Doug Lima vs. Cody Senseney
AMATEUR BOUTS

Brandon Yocum vs. Brian Keller (for AFL amateur middleweight championship)
Jason Jones vs. Josh Ball
Ryan Jones vs. Mike Baskis

INTO THE FIRE - Recovered from Spinal Surgery, O’Brien Targets Arlovski at UFC 82

Originally posted By Mike Russell (gfn@thefightnetwork.com) on thefightnetwork.com

Walking out of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla., on Jan. 25, 2007, Jake O’Brien felt like he was on top of the world. He’d just won the biggest fight in his mixed martial arts career – a unanimous decision victory over Heath Herring, which spoiled the Pride veteran’s Octagon debut at UFC Fight Night 8. The sky seemed to be the limit.

Six months later, the stresses of the life he had chosen became too much for his body to bear. A neck injury sustained while wrestling for Purdue University returned with a vengeance, sending shockwaves down his spine and into his extremities. Although he tried to ignore the pain, it ultimately overcame him, and the then 22-year-old pulled out of his planned bout with Tom Murphy at UFC 72.

Though he’d never conceded defeat in 12 amateur and professional fights, the Integrated Fighting Arts heavyweight admits he knew he could no longer ignore the signs. “I’d been having stingers ever since wrestling in college,” O’Brien says. “It got to the point where I was totally numb down my right arm, and I knew something wasn’t right.” Indeed, something was very wrong. Doctors handed him a diagnosis he wasn’t ready to hear – the surgery he would have to undergo had the potential to end his career.

Surgeons, using a titanium plate, attached an artificial lumbar disc to his spine. O’Brien was told he would have to wait and see how his body healed before he would know the fate of his MMA future. Doctors gave him Jan. 10 – six months after the operation – as a pivotal date in his recovery. By that time, they said, they would be able to determine whether or not the procedure had succeeded.

According to O’Brien, who turned pro straight out of college and had been competing ever since, six months seemed like an eternity.

“I had to take a lot of time off after my surgery, and actually, I was back training earlier than my doctor wanted me to be,” O’Brien says. “I started training again in November, and I haven’t had any problems.”

Soon, the Octagon beckoned. The call to the cage was followed by a call from UFC officials who were eager for news on O’Brien’s potential return. They were pleasantly surprised to learn the Indianapolis-born heavyweight was raring to go.

“The UFC called and asked me if I wanted a tune-up fight outside of the UFC – like in a small show or something – and I said, ‘Hell, no!’ I didn’t want to risk it,” O’Brien says. “You lose outside of the UFC, and you’re done; there goes your contract. I’ve been out for so long. I needed a big opponent to get excited about to help motivate me.”

O’Brien (10-0, 3-0 UFC) got his wish. As far as name recognition is concerned, few in the division carry the weight of an Andrei Arlovski. Some feel O’Brien may have bitten off more than he can chew when he agreed to face “The Pitbull” at UFC 82 “Pride of a Champion” on Saturday at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. O’Brien claims to have a few tricks up his sleeve for the Belarusian.

“Everybody knows that I need to put [Arlovski] on his back to beat him; it’s no secret,” O’Brien says. “I’m going to keep him guessing throughout the fight. I have a game plan to beat him, which, of course, is easier said than done. Now, it’s just a matter of doing it.”

Arlovski (11-5, 9-4 UFC) – on the last fight of his current contract with the UFC – hasn’t fought since April, but unlike O’Brien, he’s been afforded the opportunity to train on a consistent basis. Only a bitter re-negotiation period with the UFC kept the former heavyweight champion out of the cage. Perhaps the biggest question surrounding O’Brien’s return is whether or not the 13-month absence from competition will affect his performance.

“I really don’t think ring rust will be too much of a factor,” O’Brien says. “I’ve had 12 fights, and before I made it to the UFC, all of my fights were only a couple minutes long, so I really don’t think I’ve had enough experience for it to affect me.”

Enlisting the aid of UFC veterans Chris Lytle, Dan Christison and Josh Shockman, O’Brien believes he’s ready to pass the toughest test of his career, whether he’s on his feet or on the ground. His boxing skills have been the focus of his training camp.

“I’ve always done a lot of boxing, but I’ve done even more this time,” O’Brien says. “I’m concentrating more on keeping my hands up so I don’t get hit over the top like [Arlovski] likes to throw his punches.”

O’Brien’s respect for Arlovski, long considered one of the world’s top 10 heavyweights, runs deep and with good reason. He holds victories over Tim Sylvia, Paul Buentello, Fabricio Werdum and Vladimir Matyushenko. Few can match Arlovski’s physical tools.

“He’s definitely going to be a tougher opponent than Heath [Herring],” O’Brien says. “He’s stronger, faster and better in every area. It’s going to be a battle; that’s for sure.”

Steve Byrnes and Luke Zachrich on new season of "The Ultimate Fighter 7"

Originally posted by Dann Stupp on mmajunkie on Mar 07, 2008 at 3:20 am in - News -
Meet the lastest cast of UFC hopefuls.

As MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) first reported, the upcoming seventh season of "The Ultimate Fighter" will feature 32 fighters rather than the usual 16. During the past month, we've revealed 18 cast members, and we now know the other 14.

Spike TV today revealed the full cast to Yahoo! Sports.

"The Ultimate Fighter 7," which debuts April 2 after UFC Fight Night 13 on Spike TV, features 32 middleweight fighters competing for a UFC contract. UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson and "The Ultimate Fighter 1" winner Forrest Griffin will serve as coaches.

Cast members MMAjunkie.com previously reported (all reported names turned out to be on the cast) include:

Paul Bradley (5-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Matt Brown (7-6 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Steve Byrnes (6-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Timothy Credeur (9-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Mike Dolce (3-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
C.B. Dollaway (6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Gerald Harris (6-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Mike Marrello (6-1-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Prince Mclean (4-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Aaron Meisner (3-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Reggie Orr (4-5-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Jeremiah Riggs (1-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
David Roberts (5-7 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Amir Sadollah (0-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Brandon Sene (2-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Dan Simmler (0-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Jesse Taylor (6-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Luke Zachrich (7-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Additional names revealed by Yahoo! Sports include:

David Baggett (4-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Erik Charles (0-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
John Clarke (5-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Daniel Cramer (0-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
John Hall (3-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Nick Klein (3-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Jeremy May (5-5 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Dave Mewborn (0-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Matthew Riddle (0-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Dante Rivera (10-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Nick Rossborough (0-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Patrick Schultz (0-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
Cale Yarbrough (0-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC)
John Wood (6-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC)

The Pav Says... Memories Aplenty at UFC 82

Originally posted by Ken Pavia [ken-pavia] on on MMA Junkie on Mar 05, 2008 at 4:31 pm

- News -

In one of the first MMA events I ever attended in person, a WEC show in Leemore, Calif. in 2005, I met a referee named Josh Rosenthal. At the expense of sounding like a kiss-ass, let me say that I have admired his work, his approach to the sport, and the pride he takes in his job. Well, I have seen Josh pretty much monthly for years as he works some event almost every weekend. In more than three years he has never recommended a fighter, so about three months ago when he told me about a prospect from his gym named Carl Saumauntafa, I started doing my homework.

Now, despite the fact that MMAagents.com is approached by an average of 12 fighters per week, we are very selective about increasing the roster. Our services are best for fighters that have obtained a considerable amount of success on a local circuit or have been in a big show and need some help getting back. Carl deviates from this model as he is only 3-0, albeit with three finishes. What he has going for him is that he is 6-foot-2, 245 lbs. with abs, and is extremely athletic. Josh also told me he is a great kid, has a clean liver, attends church twice a week, and is really close to his family. So last Wednesday, with a contract in hand, I jumped on a plane to Oakland for the day to check him out.

After about 10 minutes of seeing him work out, I was completely sold. He is raw but works really hard and moves like a welterweight. During his workout, I called Skala and Fokai Rich from ProElite, Inc., the new home for CBS MMA, and negotiated a six-fight deal in which they committed to develop him. I inked Carl and gave him a bag of workout shorts and shirts from sponsors. The kid was so happy he teared up and gave me a hug.

I frequently say that “I make dreams come true,” and while taken out of context that may sound vain, it really is my pleasure. At this stage of the sport, a 20-percent cut of a fighter’s compensation is not always just reward for the time and effort spent, but moments like this make it all worthwhile.

“Samoan Carl” will be fighting in April on Showtime; look for big things from this kid in the near future.

Irish Jake

I met Jake O’Brien at a March 2006 WEC event, where he fought Jay White. He was late arriving from the airport and was rushing into the blue-screen video shoot for the production. Back in the day, the WEC didn’t use the mist special effects the UFC uses, so I grabbed him and told him to go in the bathroom and splash water all over himself before the shoot. (It's a little trick of the trade.)

Well, Jake’s opponent was Team Quest’s Jay White, whom everyone was talking about being a top prospect. White was sharing a locker room with my client “Razor” Rob McCullough. We were the last fight of the night, and Jake and Jay were the first. Well, the that fight lasted 14 seconds, and we didn’t have monitors in the locker room. When they came back to the room, I congratulated Jay only to find out he ended up on the short end of a left hook.

Fast forward five months, and I am in rockstar mode because my client Martin Kampmann and future clients Anthony Torres and Joe Riggs had all just finished their opponents in convincing fashion at UFC Fight Night 6 at the Red Rock Casino in Las Vegas. I am on the phone waiting for a cab, and my date strikes up a conversation with the couple behind us. They ask if they can share the ride, and I tell them it's OK so long as they are not offended by pure decadence. Once in the cab, I asked them if they had been at the fight -- only to find out they were Joe and Tamra O’Brien, Jake’s parents. Buzzkill; work mode. And so a great friendship was forged, and Jake inked.

It is funny how the relationships with all 50 of my clients are vastly different. While Jake and I hit it off right away with a deep understanding, gaining the trust of his inner circle was much more difficult. His trainer and mentor, Pat McPherson, seemed a little skeptical of this fasting-talking agent type, but it was apparent he was just protecting his guy. His buddies, fighters Chris Lytle and Johnny Rees, were guarded as well. I brought Jake out to California for some male bonding and got him a week’s worth of training with Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Tito Ortiz. Soon thereafter he was invited into Tito’s training camp in Big Bear, Calif., where his development continued.

Well, we were able to get a favorable match-up in Jake’s next UFC fight, killed it in sponsors, made the medicals and travel turn key, and the inner circle opened up. Lytle signed, undefeated Johnny signed and is coming back from a knee injury, and Pat, who is a cop and solid citizen, now calls me with input. So where am I going with this? Well, Jake fought Andrei Arlovski this past week. We were able to get a sponsor to buy 18 "Irish Jake O’Brien" warm-up jackets, and we surprised the team. The event was in Columbus, which was a short drive from Indianapolis, where Jakes lives (so he had a large contingency of fans). It was great to see the group donning the green retro Adidas-style jackets in support. This may seem trivial, but it really was a prideful thing that brought everyone together in support of Jake.

While watching a favorite fighter on TV can stir deep emotions, having a personal relationship really takes it to the next level. I live for the highs and the lows, and I often take losses harder then the fighters because I feel deeply for them. Even though the fight did not end as we had hoped, we must remind ourselves that Jake is 10-1 with eight finishes, his only loss is to the former UFC heavyweight champ, and he is only 23 years old. We all know he will learn from this experience and come back stronger.

On Sunday upon my return, I opened my email to find a note from Joe O’Brien that thanked me for the jackets and expressed gratitude for my efforts and for being a friend to Jake. While I would have traded it all for a win for him, it did go a long way in taking the sting out of the weekend. I just hope I can return the favor to his son.

Hammer

So I spent Sunday with my good buddy Mark “The Hammer" Coleman and Wes Sims. I booked Mark for an appearance with a supplement company called Muscle at the Arnold Sports Festival, and he killed it as they were lined up around the block.

I met Hammer and Phil Baroni when I went to Amsterdam to corner Kevin Randleman in Bushido. It was a terrible week -- unless you like packed techno nightclubs with tons of beautiful women, historical buildings, great weather, lively pubs, friendly locals and an unparalleled red-light district. Otherwise, it was great.

Every time I see Mark now, I can’t help but think of the stories Phil shared with me about some of their PRIDE experiences. When Phil fought Kazuo Misaki in the PRIDE Grand Prix, he had just won three of his last four with epic knockouts. He was beaming with confidence and had Hammer in his corner. Things changed in a hurry when Kazuo landed three flying knees to his head and neck in the early portion of the opening stanza, which caused Baroni’s arm to go numb. He said that all he could think about while in the clinch on the ropes was “son of a bitch, my arm is probably going to be lame for life” and just trying to hold on until the end of the round to regroup. Well survive he did, and as he sat on the stool and looked for guidance, Mark got right in his face, and in his raspy deep voice, wailed, “You waaanted a waaaar, Baroni, you got a waaaar. You got the waaar you wanted, Baroni!” Phil said he immediately sobered up, got pissed, and yelled back, “Listen mother f***er! I don’t want a war. I never did. I wanted to knock this son of a bitch out fast and go home. Now get me some water.”

Well, four moths later, Phil found himself in Mark's corner for the Fedor Emelianenko fight at the PRIDE 32 show in Las Vegas. In the first round the fight went to the ground, and Hammer was in a vulnerable position. He turned to his corner for support. Phil made eye contact and yelled, “Hey, Coleman, you wanted a war. You got a war.”

Hammer is himself a great storyteller as well. At the Baroni vs. Frank Shamrock Strikeforce event in June 2007, we were having breakfast and I asked him about the worst pain he was in during a fight. He told me when he came out against Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic, he took a nasty kick that dug deep into his thigh. All he could think was, “Oh God that hurt… that hurt really, really bad… circle, circle… do not let him kick you in the head with that… keep your hands up… that still hurts… circle away from that power… keep your hands up… God that still hurts…” Hammer is a true classic and well deserving of his recent UFC Hall of Fame induction.

This week will be hectic as Sean Salmon will be visiting, we have four fighters competing this weekend (including Diego “The Octupus” Saravia, who is fighting for the AFL lightweight title), my office will be attending a charity MMA event in Tustin, Calif. this weekend and a sales seminar mid week, we are in the final stages of booking about eight fighters for large events, and sponsor response and follow-up has been unbelievable. That is not a complaint but rather an expression of the rapid growth and success of our sport and my good fortune to be a part of it. I frequently get messages on MySpace (myspace.com/kenpavia) from people saying how lucky I am to be doing what I am doing, and I wholeheartedly agree. In that regard, I guess I sometimes make my own dreams come true as well.

Ken Pavia runs MMAAgents.com, one of MMA’s biggest sports agencies and one that represents approximately 50 MMA fighters. “The Pav” is a former MMAjunkie.com contributor who has returned to pen his weekly “The Pav Says…” column for the site. The column will give readers a behind-the-scenes look at an MMA agent’s career representing some of the sport’s biggest stars. His views do not necessarily reflect those of MMAjunkie.com and its staff.

Jonathan Goulet to Fight on UFC 83 Card

Originally posted by MMAjunkie.com Staff [mmajunkie-staff] on Mar 05, 2008 at 9:10 am in

- News -

The UFC recently posted the final televised card for "UFC 83: Serra vs. St. Pierre 2," an event that takes place April 19 at Montreal's Bell Centre.

It's the first-ever UFC event held in Canada and is scheduled to air via pay-per-view.

UFC welterweight champion Matt Serra meets interim champ (and French-Canadian) Georges St. Pierre in the night's headline bout. The interim title was created after Serra was forced to pull out of a UFC 79 main event with Matt Hughes due to injury; St. Pierre fought -- and defeated -- Hughes in his place.

The full card can be found at UFC.com.

Serra and St. Pierre first fought in April 2007. Serra won the welterweight division of "The Ultimate Fighter 4" and was granted an automatic title shot with then-champ St. Pierre. In one of the sport's biggest upsets, Serra scored a first-round TKO to claim the 170-lb. title.

One noteworthy omission from the televised card is a Jason MacDonald vs. Joe Doerksen fight. MacDonald is a middleweight mainstay in the UFC who fights of Edmonton, and Doerksen hails from Manitoba. The two fighters first met at an October 2005 Ultimate Cage Wars event. MacDonald won via fourth-round submission.

The full card includes:

MAIN CARD

Champ Matt Serra vs. Georges St. Pierre (title-unification bout)
Rich Franklin vs. Travis Lutter
Nate Quarry vs. Kalib Starnes
Michael Bisping vs. Charles McCarthy
Marc Bocek vs. Mac Danzig
PRELIMINARY CARD

Joe Doerksen vs. Jason MacDonald
Rich Clementi vs. Sam Stout
Alan Belcher vs. Jason Day
Jonathan Goulet vs. Kuniyoshi Hironaka
Ed Herman vs. Demian Maia*

* -- Fight not confirmed by UFC

Joe Riggs Pulled from Strikeforce/EliteXC card due to back injury

By Dann Stupp originally posted on mmajunkie on Mar 04, 2008 at 3:52 pm in

- News -

Veteran fighter Evangelista "Cyborg" Santos (15-11), who takes on Makoto Takimoto (4-3) at Wednesday's World Victory Road debut show, will then return to the U.S. for a March 29 Strikeforce/EliteXC fight with Joey Villasenor (24-6).

Strikeforce Vice President Mike Afromowitz today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that Santos will fill in for Joe Riggs (27-10), who was scratched from the event due to an injury suffered in last month's Strikeforce show.

"Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Cung Le" takes place March 29 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Strikeforce world middleweight champ Frank Shamrock (23-8-1) meets undefeated Cung Le (5-0) in the night's main event.

Riggs had to pull out of the bout with Villasenor due to a back injury. In a Feb. 23 "Strikeforce at the Dome" fight with Cory Devela, Riggs was thrown to the mat and forced to tap out instantly from the pain. He's since had two procedures to relieve pressure on his sciatic nerve.

"He is really, really disappointed," said Ken Pavia, the fighter's agent. "Joe really wanted this fight with Joey Villasenor, but he'll be back and ready to fight in April... He starts training again next week."

So long as Santos doesn't suffer significant damage in tomorrow's fight, the 30-year-old PRIDE and Cage Rage vet will make his Strikeforce debut against Villasenor, a Team Jackson fighter.

After suffering a second-round TKO to Murilo "Ninja" Rua in a June fight for the EliteXC middleweight title, Villasenor earned a split-decision victory over Riki Fukuda in September. He had been scheduled for a King of the Cage fight but pulled out of the bout when he was offered a slot on the Strikeforce/EliteXC card.

In addition to Shamrock vs. Le, Jake Shields meets former UFC fighter Drew Fickett on the night's main card.

Jake O'Brien Issued Medical Suspension After Loss to Arlovski

Originally posted by MMAjunkie.com Staff [mmajunkie-staff] on Mar 03, 2008 at 3:39 pm in
- News -

The Ohio Athletic Commission has issued medical suspensions to just four fighters who competed at UFC 82.

The 10-fight event took place this past Saturday at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Anderson Silva defended his UFC middleweight title with a second-round submission of Dan Henderson, and Heath Herring earned a close split-decision victory over Cheick Kongo in a key heavyweight bout.

All four fighter suspensions were for precautionary reasons; each fighter was on the receiving end of a knockout or TKO.

The short list, which MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) received from the OAC, includes:



Alessio Sakara (TKO to Chris Leben): 30-day suspension for precautionary reasons

Evan Tanner (KO to Yushin Okami): 60-day suspension for precautionary reasons

Jake O'Brien (TKO to Andrei Arlovski): 30-day suspension for precautionary reasons

Dustin Hazelett (TKO to Josh Koscheck): 30-day suspension for precautionary reasons


All four fighters were able to leave the octagon under their own power.

Despite 20 fighters competing on the card, UFC 82 featured no reported lacerations, fractured or broken bones, or other fairly serious (but common) injuries. However, in a post-UFC 82 press conference, UFC president Dana White said Yushin Okami had suffered a broken hand and that Koscheck might have, too.

For more on Saturday's, including official results and fighters salaries, check out the UFC 82 archives on MMAjunkie.com.

Diego Saravia Headlines AFL Card

By Dann Stupp originally posted on mmajunkie on Mar 03, 2008 at 2:02 pm in

- News -

The American Fight League is promising the "greatest MMA card in Kentucky history," and the organization has booked UFC vets Rory Singer, Dan Christison, Diego Saraiva and Junior Assuncao for the event.

The show takes place Friday at the legendary Rupp Arena, home the University of Kentucky, in downtown Lexington, Ky.

Doors for "AFL: ERUPPTION" open at 7 p.m., and the event kicks off at 8 p.m. Tickets, which range from just $25-$50, are available at Ticketmaster.

Singer (11-7 MMA, 2-2 UFC), a cast member from "The Ultimate Fighter 3," had UFC victories over Ross Pointon and Josh Haynes before recent losses to Yushin Okami and Jason MacDonad. He takes on IFO and King of the Cage vet Chilo Gonzalez (13-10).

Saraiva (10-6-1 MMA, 0-3 UFC), who last competed for the UFC in September during a loss to Jeremy Stephens, takes on Joe Ammerman (2-0) for the AFL's lightweight title.

In addition to those two pro bouts, veteran fighter and "The Ultimate Fighter 2" competitor Christison (10-6 MMA, 1-1 UFC), who's also competed for the IFL and WEC, takes on eight-year veteran heavyweight John LeBlanc (1-7).

Additionally, Assuncao (5-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC), who posted a UFC victory over David Lee with losses to Kurt Pellegrino and Nate Diaz, takes on WFC fighter Steve Sharp (4-3).

Friday's full card includes:

PROFESSIONAL BOUTS

Diego Saraiva vs. Joe Ammerman (for AFL lightweight championship)

Junior Assuncao vs. Steve Sharp

Rory Singer vs. Chilo Gonzalez

Dan Christison vs. John LeBlanc

Allen Browning vs. Dustin Walden

George Lockhart vs. T.J. Cook

Rafael Assuncao vs. Aaron Williams

Doug Lima vs. Cody Senseney

Martin Kampmann vs. Jorge Rivera at UFC 85 Announced

By Dann Stupp, originally posted on mmajunkie on Mar 04, 2008 at 8:56 am in

- News -

On the one-year anniversary of the fighter's last bout in the UFC, Martin Kampmann's camp has confirmed that the Dane (15-2 MMA, 3-0 UFC) will meet Jorge Rivera (15-6 MMA, 4-4 UFC) at UFC 85 in London.

Kampmann's manager, Ken Pavia, told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that bout agreements have not been signed but that the fight has been accepted by both fighters. The fight was first reported on Monday by Sherdog.com Radio.

UFC 85 takes place June 7 at the 02 Arena in England. Chuck Liddell meets Mauricio "Shogun" Rua in the night's main event.

Kampmann had emerged as a middleweight contender before suffering a serious knee injury while training for a UFC 72 main-event fight with Rich Franklin. Prior to the injury, Kampmann submitted Crafton Wallace at UFC Fight Night 6, earned a unanimous decision over Thales Leites at UFC Fight Night 4, and submitted Drew McFedries at UFC 68.

"I was going for a takedown, and the guy just kind of fell on my knee," Kampmann told MMAjunkie.com in a recent interview. "It was real bad luck. My knee popped out and hyper-extended the wrong way. I tore my ACL and MCL, and I tore my meniscus as well. It was major surgery.

"I went back a couple months later (for a second surgery); it was a chip or something in there. There wasn't a second injury. It was just a scope. It was minor. They just had to clean it up. It was nothing compared to the first one. It was no big deal with the second one."

During the interview, Kampmann said he expected to be training at 100 percent by mid-March.

He'll try to extend his current eight-fight winning streak against UFC vetean Rivera, a cast member from "The Ultimate Fighter 4" who scored an upset of Kendall Grove in his most recent fight. The 36-year-old fighter stopped Grove with an 80-second knockout via punches at UFC 80.

The victory pushed Rivera's UFC record to 4-4, which has included victories over Edwin Dewees, Dennis Hallman and David Loiseau.

For all the latest fight cards, including UFC 85, check out the UFC Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.