The Reeducation of Phil Baroni

Originally Posted on MMArated.com

I remember seeing Phil Baroni at the post-fight press conference following his devastating loss to Joey Villasenor at the May 31st EliteXC on CBS show in Newark, NJ, looking like a beaten, deflated man. Without a doubt, "The New York Badass" had been anticipating this homecoming of sorts for quite some time and was disappointed in his performance. In fact, Baroni looked almost embarrassed. Losing in 71 seconds can do that to a man.

I also remember watching Baroni address the media at the press conference with his lips quivering and eyes tearing up. I truly thought he was about to call it quits right then and there. The former UFC and PRIDE FC fighter even pulled out a prepared speech thanking everyone from his parents to his mentor, Mark Coleman. Clearly, I thought, this was the end of the road for the now 10-10 fighter.

But then Baroni surprised us all by stating he had no plans to hang up his gloves anytime soon.

"I got a lot of fight left in me," Baroni said. "I've been down before and I just want an opportunity to prove myself again. I'll do whatever I've got to do."

Fighters often promise to do "whatever I've got to do" following a tough loss, but they usually just return their same old self. Not Phil Baroni. In the last four months, he has actually stayed true to his word and reinvented himself.

Since the Villasenor loss, Baroni has dropped down to welterweight and won three fights in a row - most recently this past Friday night against Olaf Alfonso at Palace Fighting Championship 10. Amazingly, Baroni is scheduled to fight again this Friday night at Strikeforce: "Payback" in Broomfield, CO, versus James Martinez, however, a cut sustained during the Alfonso fight may force him out.

Regardless, Baroni has shown us his true colors. He hated the thought of being labelled a .500 fighter and has quickly worked to move his record to 13-10. Sure, he hasn't faced the toughest opponents out there, but this wasn't the time to test himself against the best. Another loss and Baroni may have been forced to continue his career in local shows with very little pay to show for it.

He has even shown a refreshing amount of humility since the Villasenor loss.

Click here to read the entire article and more great content at MMArated.com

Radach feels Sharp after Layoff

Originally posted on Sherdog.com

Benji “Razor” Radach knows all about long layoffs.

Earlier in his career, he spent nearly three years away from MMA after suffering a broken jaw in 2004 at the heavy hands of Chris Leben. It was the first in a long string of, well, crippling physical ailments that had Radach wondering if some higher power was trying to tell him to find another line of work.

So the fact that his fight Saturday for EliteXC against its former middleweight champion, Murilo“Ninja” Rua, will be his first in nine months is the proverbial piece of cake. If anything, Radach said, rather than being mentally or physically challenging, the layoff has actually been a good thing, following, as it did, a very fight-stacked 2007.

“I think it’s really been therapeutic,” Radach, 29, said. “Cause I fought a lot last year. Six times. So it was just cram-packed with training hard and beating my body up. And you know, you have to heal up from everything. And I really needed a break just to get the hunger back. Now, I’m going to go into this fight healthy and strong and ready to win.”

Whatever adversity Radach has faced in the cage -- and of 21 professional fights, he’s only suffered four losses -- pales in comparison to a very trying period from June 2004 to February 2007 that is the stuff of fighters’ bad dreams.

“It was pretty much injury after injury,” Radach recalled. “I had the broken jaw. Then I had a herniated disc in my neck and lost all this muscle in my right pec and right tricep. It was like I was paralyzed. I couldn’t even do a pushup. It was pretty bad.

Click here to read the entire article at Sherdog.com

Five Ounces of Pain: Q&A with EliteXC's Benji Radach

Click here to read Sam Caplan's entire interview with Benji Radach at CBSsports.com

Kelly Kobold - Back with a Vengeance - PRO MMA Exclusive Interview

Originally posted on ProMMA.info

Kelly Kobold is preparing herself for the biggest fight of her career. A fight that in many people’s opinion would never have happened had she won her last two fights. On October 4th, Kobold will face poster-girl for female mixed martial arts, Gina Carano, on the main card of EliteXC’s CBS Saturday Night Fights.

Kelly went on a tear through female mma going undefeated in her career until problems on the homefront caused inevitable distractions that played into her fist two defeats. With all the drama long behind her, Kelly has had a year to refocus on her career and looks to make all of those that expect Gina to walk through her some very unhappy campers.

PRO MMA had a chance to catch up with Kelly and talk with her about how she feels she matches up with Gina, being the underdog, and shocking the world.

PRO MMA: Hey Kelly, Thanks for taking this time with us we know you’re really busy preparing for your fight with Gina Carano. How are you feeling right now physically? Are you injury free for this fight?
Kelly: I am injury free for this fight. I’m really, really excited. I think this has to be the first fight I’ve ever had where I didn’t have something go wrong in a training camp where I just had a flood of doubts as to whether or not I could actually do the fight so I feel great about this training camp.

PRO MMA: How’s training been going down at Team Bison?
Kelly: It’s wonderful. It’s really home for me as far as training goes. I’ve got great teammates there, you know, great friends that genuinely care about my progress as a fighter. It’s not just me going out to fight, you know, it’s them, they’re in there with me because they’ve trained so hard with me to prepare me for it.

PRO MMA: I know you normally train with a bunch of guys that are a lot bigger than you but have you brought any females down to help prepare you for this fight?
Kelly: There have been a couple females down here at Team Bison and then when I go down to Minnesota Mixed Artial Arts Academy a couple days a week there’s a bunch of girls down there as well.

PRO MMA: What are your thoughts on Gina and how do you feel you ladies match up?
Kelly: I think we match up just fine. I’m a well rounded opponent that’s good on the ground and on the feet so I think it’s going to be an exciting fight no matter what. She’s definitely a tough fighter and it won’t be an easy fight for either of us so I think we’re going to have one of the best fights of the night.

PRO MMA: It seems like you will definitely be the biggest, strongest and most experienced opponent that Gina has faced in her career. Would you agree with this?
Kelly: Oh definitely I would agree with that. You know with her new diet and nutritionist and everything she’s been following to make weight for this fight, I might just end up being the bigger of the two.

PRO MMA: Weight has long been an issue for Gina. How’s your weight coming along?
Kelly: Well I’ve definitely had some fights where you don’t even have to weigh in; sort of underground warehouse type things where it’s like “We’ve got two women here, now go fight.” But for the majority of my fights I’ve had to weigh in and I’ve never missed weight before so it won’t be an issue for me. I’m incredibly professional and I feel like making weight is very, very important otherwise there wouldn’t be weight classes.

PRO MMA: What will your game plan be with Carano? Will you be looking to trade with her, take the action to the mat or just go with the flow?
Kelly: I’m just going to impose my will. I’m just going to go out there and play off of how she reacts to what I do. It’s just about being one step ahead of your opponent. I definitely intend to push the pace of the fight.

Click here to read the entire article at ProMMA.info

Benji Radach eyes Opportunity at CBS-Elite XC

Originally posted on MMAweekly.com

Benji Radach is looking to make his 2008 debut at EliteXC on Oct. 4 against Murilo “Ninja” Rua. A former International Fight League middleweight standout, he has a diversified MMA career and holds an impressive record of 18-4.

Radach went 5-1 in the IFL and seemed to have found a home there. He enjoyed working with the IFL and enjoyed the team atmosphere. “I really liked the IFL,” Radach said in an interview with MMAWeekly Radio. “I liked training on a team for a month before the fight, bleeding and sweating together, then going out to battle together. It was really cool. I really liked it. I was really hoping that they would keep going.”

With the IFL now defunct, Radach was looking for another organization to fight in. When he was presented an offer from EliteXC to fight on the main card in a CBS show, he couldn't resist. “I couldn't pass up the publicity on this one just because it's on live TV. There's a big headliner - Ken (Shamrock) and Kimbo (Slice). The one thing about that fight is that they put people in the seats. They get a lot of people's attention. There will be a lot of people watching that fight so I got the main card. I definitely had to go with it. I couldn't pass that up.”

Click here to read the entire article at MMAweekly.com

Full-Time Fighter: Sean Salmon discusses NAAFS title win

Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com

by Sean Salmon on Sep 29, 2008 at 12:45 pm ET

I cannot tell you all how great it feels to be competing again! It was a long, hard 10 months fighting with the California State Athletic Commission, and I will be detailing all of that in the next column. (That will be the first column that I actually think out and proofread.) I really want everyone to get a sense of what I went through and what I had to deal with leading up to this return.

For this column, I want to focus on my most recent fight, which took place at the Sept. 19 NAAFS (www.naafs.tv) event middleweight belt.

I feel obligated to say that I believe that the 10 months off will prove to be a blessing. It forced me to re-evaluate my career and focus on some of the holes in my game.

The first thing I decided I needed to change was taking every fight offered to me. Doing 19 fights in the first 24 months of your career might not be the way to go. I came from a wrestling background in which I was always taught that the more you compete, the better you are going to get. I made the mistake of believing that MMA is similar to wrestling. Wrestling is a great base to have for MMA. However, they are two completely different sports. I now realize that it is OK to turn down fights if they don't make sense, don't give you enough time to train, or if you're just not ready for them.

My next major adjustment was seeking out real coaching. Until 10 months ago, I never had real coaching. I was working with a small group of guys in Columbus that were also just getting started in MMA. We would pick things up here and there and coach each other. Obviously, it was not the best decision I had ever made.

Now, we have a new beginning. The best thing about combat sports is that you can always reinvent yourself. That being said, I have no regrets about the first three years of my career. I have learned a lot, collected some great memories, and have been living my life exactly how I want too. It just takes some guys longer to figure things out, get the necessary coaching, the right situation, the right agent or perhaps just the right attitude.

I feel that I now have those things training with the Relson Gracie school in Westerville, Ohio. I have Jason Culbranson overseeing my stand-up, Robin Geisler taking care of my jiu-jitsu, and my most consistent training partners Marc Cofer and Brandon Willis. They have made me a 100-percent new fighter in the past 10 months, and I believe that they have not even scratched the surface. I believe that my time is coming.

Now, onto my latest fight. I found out about three months ago that I would be getting off of the CSAC suspended list. There was only one organization that I wanted to return with, the NAAFS. I said in my last column that Greg Kalikas and his crew do a great job. I never have to wonder if I am going to get everything that my contract says, and NAAFS events also air on Sports Time Ohio. Kalikas is one of the only "regional" promoters from whom I will accept a check -- because I know that it is good. (Thank you Greg!)

So, I came into my fight vs. Mitch Whitesel for the NAAFS middleweight title very well prepared and anxious to fight. I didn't have the nervousness that I thought I would after such a long layoff. I was just anxious to compete against someone I didn't know.

In fact, I believe the only affect the layoff had on me was that I really messed up my warm-up. I like to be on my second wind by the time I get to the cage, but I didn't get it. (It's just something to correct for next time.)

The fight did not go how I expected. I considered Mitch a decent fighter, but I believed that the way we matched up would make for a quick fight in my favor. He came out much better prepared than I expected. His footwork, striking and skills off his back were all much improved than from than what I saw on the tapes I got of his past fights. He was also stronger than I anticipated, but I ended up winning by TKO in the third round via ground and pound.

In hindsight, I am glad that the fight went into the third round because I can think of several things off the top of my head that I would do differently, and I know when I watch the tape I will see even more. Honestly, it's just great to feel like myself again.

Up next, I will be fighting for my father-in-law's promotion, Ultimate Victory Challenge (www.ultimatevictory.org), on Oct. 18 in Chillicothe, Ohio. I was also going to have a rematch fight with Mikko Rupponen in Helsinki, Finland on Nov. 26. Rupponen is one of the country's top fighters, and he owns a 16-5-2 record against tough competition. I beat him via first-round TKO (due to cuts) at last year's Fight Festival 22 event, and I was looking forward to a trip back to Finland for the rematch. However, the organization informed me last week that Mikko blew out his knee. We are still hoping to fight on that card, but I don't yet have an opponent. (Best wishes for a full recovery, Mikko!)

If you read my columns (or any fighters' blogs on MMAjunkie.com), you know that us fighters have our "thank yous" that we need to dish out. So, I need to thank the Junkie (as always). When he first approached me, he wanted someone to write about the ups and downs of an MMA career. I've had both, and it's been great to count on the support from the readers when I need it most. Additionally, this website has had my back since Day One. I am a Junkie for life!

TFSupplements.com (www.tfsupplements.com) jumped on board with me, and they have by far the cheapest name brand supplements with the fastest shipping. (Seriously, you guys know I wouldn't steer you wrong.) Check them out (and thanks Shawn). You know I can't forget TapouT (www.tapout.com). I was in Huntington Beach, Calif., a couple weeks ago and made the quick trip up to the TapouT world headquarters, where Damon took really good care of me with anything and everything I needed.

Look for my next column soon, detailing my crazy ride with the CSAC. You will not want to miss that one.

Click here for more great content at MMAjunkie.com

Benji Radach completes comeback to the big time at "EliteXC: Heat"

Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com

Twenty-eight months is a long time to think about what could have been.

But that's exactly what American Top Team's Benji Radach (18-4) did after a 2004 loss to Chris Leben.

"A lot of it was just sitting around all that time wanting to get back to [MMA]," Radach recently told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "I was real hungry the whole time. I was injured -- one surgery after another. It was such a down period of time."

After suffering just one defeat in his first 15 bouts, including three appearances for the UFC, Radach dropped two straight fights and fell into obscurity. But the 29-year-old said he never lost faith his day would come again.

"I knew that I'd come out on top at some point," Radach said. "Things started clearing up for me. I went out to American Top Team and started training full time out there. Thanks to Dan Lambert and Ricardo Liborio I got back on my feet."

Radach got a second chance at his MMA career when the now-defunct IFL came calling.

"Thanks to (team coach) Bas Rutten I got on the (IFL's Los Angeles) Anacondas, and started whooping butt," Radach said. "I think that was a lot of it -- just the hunger and wanting to comeback so bad for so much time. I really put my all into it.

"Training full time was a big deal to get back in shape. And training with a great group of guys there at [American Top Team], I came back and started finishing fights. And that's kind of my style anyway -- I'm a pretty big finisher. It just kind of worked out for me. I got some good fights, some tough guys, and stepped into it.

Click here to read the entire article at MMAjunkie.com

Free of IFL's woes, Jay Hieron prepares for "Night of Combat"

Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com

The crippling financial problems that stung the IFL left many fighters without a venue to display their craft.

IFL welterweight champion Jay Hieron was one of those left on the shelf. The Xtreme Couture product has been unsure of his fighting future for the last five months.

On Oct. 11, Hieron will compete for the first time since the IFL went into hibernation at the newly announced "Night Of Combat 2" in Las Vegas. Hieron discussed his tenure as an IFL fighter, as well as his upcoming bout, while a recent guest on Thursday’s edition of TAGG Radio (www.taggradio.com), the official radio partner of MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).

"My whole IFL career, personally, I never had nothing bad to say about them," Hieron said. "Of course they could have done better things with the company to make it last, but they didn't and it is what it is."

While competing in the now-defunct league, the Hieron re-launched his career. Boasting a record of 7-2 in the promotion, Hieron ascended to the top of his division with a December 2007 victory over Delson Heleno and became the IFL's inaugural welterweight champion. Successfully defending the title against Mark Miller in April, Hieron built a solid reputation in the league.

.............

Hieron also discussed the advantages his decision to hire his new agent, Ken Pavia. To hear the full interview, download Thursday's edition of TAGG Radio, available for free in the TAGG Radio archives.

Click here to read the entire article at MMAjunkie.com

Baroni Outpoints Alfonso; Prof X wins in US Debut

Originally posted on Sherdog.com

Phil Baroni stayed on the winning track with a decision victory over Olaf Alfonso in the main event at Palace Fighting Championship 10 on Friday at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino.

Alfonso cut Baroni early in the first round, but from that point forward, it was all “New York Bad Ass.” Baroni stalked Alfonso (7-9) around the ring and punctuated good shots with nice takedowns. In the end, Baroni earned a unanimous nod from the judges in a main event that failed to live up to expectations.

Afterward, Baroni (13-10) apologized to the crowed and pleaded for a rematch.

“I don’t think either one of us fought our best,” said Baroni, a victor in three straight. “We have to do this again. Please have me back, and I’ll knock him out.”

............

Finally, Cage Rage veteran Xavier Foupa-Pokam made a successful stateside debut, as he submitted the American Kickboxing Academy’s Richard Montoya with a first-round armbar. Obviously overmatched, Montoya (6-5) never threatened Foupa-Pokam (18-9), as the Frenchman ended the match 1:13 into the opening round.

Click here to read the entire article at Sherdog.com

Mark Kerr vs. Jeff Monson on Sept. 27th

Originally posted on ProMMA.info

Vengeance Fighting Championship will take place this Saturday, September 27th at the Cabarrus Arena in Concord, NC. The main event consists of two UFC/PRIDE veterans in Mark “The Titan” Kerr vs. Jeff “The Snowman” Monson in a heavyweight bout.

Click here to read the entire article at ProMMA.info

Brad Blackburn: Rated Exclusive Interview

Audio: Kelly Kobold and Gina Carano Talk About Next Week's Fight

Originally posted on MMArated.com

Gina Carano and Kelly Kobald spoke to the media today about their upcoming bout on October 4th. You are hearing the audio of that call right now.

Nothing too ground-breaking here, but it was interesting to hear Carano kinda-sorta address the whole "female face of MMA" drama.

[One interesting note]

1 - Kobald claims she currently weighs 160 pounds. That means she will have to drop 20 in the next eight days. Should we be worried about this?

Click here to listen to the entire interview at MMArated.com

Kelly Kobold Talks Fight With Gina Carano

Originally posted on FCfighter.com

Even in her hometown, Kelly Kobald is used to being cheered against. She doesn’t know why, but she’s a natural heel. So if fight fans shower her with boos during her fight with Gina Carano at Elite XC: “Heat” on October 4th, it won’t bother her in the slightest.

“This isn’t going to be anything new for me,” she said in a media teleconference Thursday. “I’m sure that I won’t notice. I’m much more focused on my fight game. I turn my attention internally for that. Whenever I’m in the cage it’s just a white-hot rush of noise. The only voice I hear is my own voice in my head and the referee and my corner’s voices. Everything else becomes white noise.”

Kobald got the phone call from Elite a few months ago. Upon the collapse of BodogFight, she was left in contract limbo, unable to get a fight. The gaming website and fight promotion was her first taste of a bigger platform, and it was suddenly gone. After slugging her way through every type of fight, including underground warehouse scraps, a call from Elite was a breath of fresh air. One she felt she deserved.

“It’s about goddamn time,” said of her first thoughts on facing Carano. “I’ve been held up and haven’t been able to fight professionally other than exhibitions or grappling tournaments. I’m excited to get back in there and do what I love to do.”

Kobald racked up sixteen victories in five years of competition before dropping two straight losses in late 2007. To her credit, they were against two of the toughest female fighters out there, one being Tara LaRosa, widely considered to be the best American female fighter out there. Kobald says the personal problems that led to the stall are now behind her.

Click here to read the entire article at FCfighter.com

Carano, Opportunity Knock for Kobald

Originally posted on Sherdog.com

When EliteXC makes its return to network television on Oct. 4, Gina Carano will again be featured as one of the promotion’s centerpieces. However, it is her opponent who feels she finally has an opportunity to shine.

Kelly Kobald will meet the unbeaten Carano during the live CBS telecast of EliteXC “Heat” at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla.

“I don’t look at this fight as me taking on someone who has become the face of women’s mixed martial arts,” Kobald says. “Gina just happens to be the person who everyone thinks is the top person right now, and she’s a big fighter who’s a good striker, but she’s got holes in her game that I’m going to exploit.

“This isn’t about [Carano],” she adds. “This is about being my fight and my opportunity to show what I’ve got. I just happen to be fighting the most widely known female MMA fighter around. It wouldn’t matter who was across the cage from me. I just want to inflict as much damage as possible on whoever’s across from me.”

Click here to read the entire article at Sherdog.com

EliteXC's Kelly Kobold plans to "win very decisively" over Gina Carano

Originally Posted on MMAjunkie.com

She may not be the "Face of Women's MMA," but Kelly Kobold (16-2-1) knows she belongs on the CBS broadcast of "EliteXC: Heat."

As Kobold told the media on Thursday's EliteXC conference call, she's been waiting.

"It's about damn time," Kobold said of the opportunity. "I've been held up with contract negotiations and with the collapse of Bodog(FIGHT). I've been held up and haven't been able to fight professionally other than exhibitions or grappling tournaments for over a year now. I'm finally excited to get back in there and do what I love to do."

Kobold will get her chance to do what she loves on Oct. 4. And due to the rising popularity of Kobold's opponent, Gina Carano, the Minnesota native will get to practice her passion under the bright lights of a national-television audience.

Kobold says she is unfazed by her opponent's popularity or the scale of the event.

"I'm grateful for the publicity, but it doesn't matter who's standing across the cage from me," Kobold explained. "I'm just grateful that I have a huge audience to perform in front of.

"It won't be my first fight in front of a large audience. So I don't think any pressure is going to be on me about that. I'm just looking to go out there and perform to the best of my abilities. I've not been known for boring fights, and this definitely won't be one of those boring fights."

True to her word, Kobold went undefeated through the first 17 bouts of her career. With one draw mixed in, Kobold earned eight submissions and six knockouts in her 16 victories.

Click here to read the entire article at MMAjunkie.com

MMAhawaii.com's Interview w/ Phil Baroni

Blackburn vs. Chonan at UFC 92 in December

Originally posted on MMAweekly.com

Former International Fight League (IFL) fighter Brad Blackburn and Pride veteran Ryo Chonan have agreed to fight on the undercard of UFC 92 on Dec. 27 in Las Vegas, according to sources close to the fighters’ camps.

The first six years of his professional career, Chonan built a solid reputation fighting for DEEP and Pride before making the move to America at UFC 78 in November of 2007. His Octagon debut was a loss to perennial contender Karo Parisyan. Chonan finally found success in the UFC with a split decision victory over Brazilian Roan Carneiro at UFC 88 earlier this month.

He will face Blackburn, who found limited success as a longtime member of the IFL’s roster, amassing a 4-2 record during his tenure with the now defunct promotion. He made an impressive impact in his debut in the Octagon, defeating James Giboo by TKO stoppage on July 19.

Click here to read the entire article at MMAweekly.com

Anthony Johnson vs. Kevin Burns II at the Ultimate Fighter 8 Finale

Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com

After their first fight ended in controversy, Kevin Burns (7-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) and Anthony Johnson (5-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC) will meet again in December at the live finale for "The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir."

Sources close to both fighters today told MMAjunkie.com that the two competitors have agreed to the fight and that it will be finalized in the coming days.

The Ultimate Fighter 8 Finale takes place Dec. 13, though a location has been not announced.

During their original meeting at a July 19 UFC Fight Night event, referee Steve Mazzagatti repeatedly warned Burns about eye pokes, and a final third-round poke to the eye crumpled Johnson to the mat. Mazzagatti did not initially see the illegal strike, and Burns was awarded the TKO victory.

Click here to read the entire article at MMAjunkie.com

PFC 10 Weigh Ins Today at the Tachi Palace

Originally Posted on MMAnews.tk

The PFC 10 "EXPLOSIVE" weighins are slated for Thursday at 3 p.m. in the Den Sports Bar located on the third floor of The Palace Hotel and Casino.

The Event will take place Friday September 26th at the Tachi Palace Hotel and Casino outdoor events venue.

The outdoor venue holds nearly 2,500 more people than inside the Bingo Hall.

Fights will start at 7 p.m.

In the main event, Long Island, NY welterweight Phil Baroni (12-10) takes Enseneda, Mexico's Olaf Alfonso (7-8)

Click here to read the entire article at MMAnews.tk

Sherdog Radio's Beatdown joined by Kelly Kobold

TJ De Santis and Lotfi Sariahmed were live on the Sherdog Radio Network Wednesday for Beatdown, and were joined by female mixed martial artist Kelly Kobold.

Click here to listen to the entire interview at Sherdog.com

UFC Vet Sean Salmon Wins after Long Layoff

Originally posted on MMAweekly.com

The NAAFS made its return to the Hoop Sports Complex on Friday, Sept. 19 for Columbus Night of Pain 4 in Columbus, Ohio.

In the main event, UFC veteran Sean Salmon made a successful return to the sport after a 10-month layoff, to defeat Mitch Whitesel by TKO in round three to become the new NAAFS Pro Series Middleweight Champion. Immediately after the fight, Salmon thanked all of his fans and his opponent for the opportunity and now sets his sights on his next opponent.

Click here to read the entire article at MMAweekly.com

Benji Radach is a Hero! PRO MMA exclusive interview

Originally posted on proMMA.info

Pro MMA: Hey Benji Thanks for taking this time with us. We know you’re extremely busy in preparing for your upcoming fight with Ninja. How are you feeling physically right now?
Benji: Good man, everything’s healed up and coming together. It’s been a little different this time because I’m working full time as well. I was kind of spoiled when I was training full time all last year. Considering I took the fight on five weeks notice and I was completely out of shape, I’m doing pretty good.

Pro MMA: What are your thoughts on Ninja and how do you feel you guys match up?
Benji: I think we match up great. He’s pretty much good all the way around, you know, he’s got good kickboxing and good jiu-jitsu. Of course I think I’m the better wrestler and I think I have a harder punch so it’s just going to be one of those things where I think we’re going to throw down quite a bit and it’s going to be who catches who.

Pro MMA: Who have you been training with to prepare for this fight?
Benji: I’ve been training a lot with Mo Lawal. He’s a really high level wrestler that beat the gold medalist in the Olympics and a world panamerican champion. I’ve been training with Team Quest, different people holding the pads for me and then Bas Rutten on the weekends.

Pro MMA: How’s training been going? Are you focusing on anything specific for Ninja or are you just focusing on your entire game right now?
Benji: Just pretty much focusing on what I need to do and that’s mainly not getting underneath him. So I’m pretty much planning on throwing down with him on the feet the whole time and putting him on his back. Just worry about what I need to do to win the fight and not worry about what he’s doing and take it to him. So we’ll see how it goes and see how my training went this time, because of having to work and stuff it’s a little rougher but I’ve done well considering all the things involved. I’ve gotten in really good shape man, I feel really good.

Click here to read the entire article at promma.info

Kelly Kobold Gavin appears as a Special Guest on Blog Talk Radio's Sports Geeks

Click here to listen to the entire interview

Diabate-Feijao possible for Elite XC Belt

Originally posted on TATAME.com

After confirming exclusively to TATAME.com that he’ll do his next fight in EliteXC for the light-heavyweight title, Rafael “Feijão” Cavalcante said that his trainings now are focused in one opponent. “It looks like I’m going to face Cyrille Diabate, who fought with Shogun (Rua) in Pride. I think will be him, 90% chances”, said the athlete, that will face at November 8th card. With three fast knockouts on the event, Cavalcante keeps training with Anderson Silva to win the belt.

Click here to read the entire article at TATAME.com

Joe Riggs: Rated Exclusive Interview

Riggs vs. Misaki headlines Strikeforce at Mansion

Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com

From the outside, the plight of name mixed martial artists who are no longer in the Ultimate Fighting Championship doesn't seem too bad.

There are so many organizations that nobody can keep them all straight, but only a small number of former UFC headliners out there.

For someone like Joe "Diesel" Riggs, who in 2005 was a 23-year-old veteran challenging Matt Hughes for the UFC welterweight title, there are plenty of offers and he can command a solid price.

At least when things go right, which they often don't.

Riggs is now a few days shy of his 26th birthday, and will face his biggest name opponent in a couple of years when he takes on Kazuo Misaki in the main event of Saturday night's Strikeforce show at the Playboy Mansion in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Click here to read the entire article at MMAjunkie.com

Exclusive interview - Anthony Johnson “If he (Kevin Burns) wants a rematch I’ll give him one”

September 20, 2008 by Narcisist

Here at URDirt.com we had a chance to do a interview with UFC Welterweight Anthony Johnson who’s recent appeal to the NSAC to over turn his TKO loss to Kevin Burns was denied for Lack of remedy.We got a chance to catch up with Johnson and ask him about a possible rematch with Burns, how he felt about the NSAC’s decision and when he will fight next.

Your recent appeal to the NSAC to over turn your appeal for your fight with Kevin Burns was over turned, how did you feel about their decision?

I think its a bunch of B.S, you know they don’t want to take the time to look at the fight the way it happened. They rather look at cases that have something to do with Steroids, instead of case where someone gets hurt with a Illegal poke in the eye for a knockout. You know the way it is.

Most of the fans we see posting and even us expected the fight to be ruled a no contest by the comission, was that your expectation as well?

Actually I didn’t know what to expect, honestly because I have never been in a situation like that. It’s just weird, you know what I mean.

Kevin Burns said in a interview that he would have rather been Knocked out then win the fight the way he did (Kevin Burns article) and that he would like a rematch. Have you spoken to Joe Silva or anyone in the UFC about a rematch?

There might be a fight coming up soon possibly a rematch, if he wants a rematch he’ll get one.

Have you been training now for your next fight?

Oh yeah, I’m training all the time. Even if I’m not fighting I train as if I am going to fight because you never know when you might get that call.

Have you been given a return date or opponent yet?

Hopefully in December, I am not going to let anything out right now.

Anyone in particular you want to fight right now?

Nah, I’ll fight any body they give me but like I said if he (Burns) wants a rematch I’ll give him one.

You have talked in the past about moving down in weight to fight, was that just wishful thinking or is that a move you actually plan on doing?

That’s actually something I’ll wind up doing in the future, I can’t stay at 170 forever. I will have to go up to 185 eventually, in a couple of years from now. I’m 24 now, so maybe when I’m like 30.

Where do you see yourself at the age of 30 in this sport?

Of course I would be at a different weight class by then but I don’t care which weight class I just want a title. That’s my goal to one day be the champ, so hopefully by then a star and the champ.

When I first saw the fight I first thought it was the upper cut he (Kevin Burns) threw that caught you in the eye, until I saw the replay.

He didn’t hit me, the only thing he hit me with was his finger. The uppercut it didn’t graze me, he completely missed with the uppercut because that’s his signature combo that Jab uppercut. The uppercut I saw a mile away and his finger caught me dead in the eye.

Where do you think you need to improve the most to get to that level to be the champion one day?

Everything. I think I need to improve in everything, I don’t I am that great at any one aspect of fighting. I have to improve my take down defense, my striking, my Jiu-Jitsu. I’m not trying to say one thing is better then another, I think I would have to improve in everything to be honest with you.

Do you feel any added pressure because you are in a sport that is predominantly White males and you are African American and possibly seen as a role model in the sport for other young African American males who want to get into the sport?

No, not at all I don’t feel any pressure. Yeah, the sport in predominately White but so what? I don’t think professionally that in any sport there is that pressure for that now.

Do you have anything you want to say to your fans?

I appreciate all the support from every body, my boys, my training partners and my Pittbulls. My agent Kenny Pavia, KNOXX Gear, and MMAagents.com there the best.

I personally would like to say Thank You to everyone Ken, Sean and Anthony of course for the interview.

Click here for more great articles at URdirt.com

Full-Time Fighter: Sean Salmon reinstated, fighting for title tonight

By: Sean Salmon (originally posted on MMAjunkie.com)

Finally, after 10 months, unexpected delays, enormous expense, sleepless nights and alienating myself from family and friends, the nightmare with the California State Athletic Commission is over.

That being said, I will be doing a column early next week to detail everything that went down. But the most important part is that it's all over. I've been cleared to fight and have been fully reinstated.

However, I do have to touch on California one more time. MMAAgents.com is amazing, and I am not just saying that because it's my agency. Everyone in that office Ken ("The Pav") Pavia, Nate Brodnax, Julian Gregorio and the new guys, Danny and Tony, went far and above my expectations to help get this cleared up. They never once let me believe that I was an inconvience in any way (believe me, I was) -- calling, texting and emailing serveral times a day. And when I was in town, I stayed at their house, they drove me everywhere, and made sure I was fed, watered and training. MMAAgents.com couldn't fire me if they tried. Like I said, though, I will be detailing all of that next week.

Up next -- and by up next, I mean tonight -- I will be fighting in my hometown of Columbus, Ohio, for the NAAFS (www.naafs.tv) middleweight belt. I take on reigning champion Mitch Whitesel.

NAAFS is one of the biggest and best regional shows, and it's shown on tape delay on Sports Time Ohio (basic cable in Ohio, but part of the DISH Network extended sports package). Greg Kalikas and his crew do a great job of promoting the fights and taking care of the fighters.

This is not a fight that I just agreed to last second. I knew three months ago that I was going to be coming off California's suspended list, so I have been training hard for the past two months -- not to mention the eight months before that I was on suspension and working to improve my skill set. Actually, the past 10 months is the first time in my career that I have actually had coaches and a proper training camp for a fight. I have been training at Relson Gracie's school in Westerville, Ohio, with head trainers Robin Geisler and Jason Gulbranson, as well as my most consistent training partners Marc Cofer (big-time up-and-comer) and Brandon Willis (another fighter with a ton of potential).

I have been working extremely hard on my kickboxing, and I've been getting further instruction in Brazilian jiu jitsu. Additionally, I've been under 200 pounds for the last month leading into this fight. (It turns out that I can actually be a lean 185-pounder with the proper training, lifting and nutrition).

I am very excited for this fight. I don't believe that I have ever been this well prepared for a competition. That being said, I understand that all that training means nothing if I don't perform to my abilities, which has been a problem in some of my fights.

Like I said, though, this is just going to be a quick update. Much more will follow in the next couple of weeks.

Start again at your beginnings and never breathe a word of your loss...

Click here to read the entire article at MMAjunkie.com

Bloodyknux.Com presents: 1 on 1 with Joe "Diesel" Riggs

Beerbohm added to Oct. 10 ShoXC

Originally posted by MMAjunkie.com

midst an approaching barrage of three fight cards in the next four weeks, EliteXC is busy filling out the supporting cast for its Oct. 10 ShoXC event from Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Ind.

In addition to a previously announced main event between Dave "Pee Wee" Herman (11-0) and Kerry Schall (21-10), EliteXC Vice President Jared Shaw today confirmed several additional matchups to MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).

Mark Miller (8-3) meets Anthony Lapsley (12-3), Mamed Khalidov (14-3-1) will meet Jason Guida (17-17) and undefeated Lyle "Fancy Pants" Beerbohm (7-0) will meet an as-yet-undetermined opponent....

Beerbohm debuted professionally in August 2007, and has appeared for Strikeforce as well as SportFight. Only one of his seven career fights has gone to the judges.

Click here to read the entire article at MMAjunkie.com

MMA Agents' own Ken Pavia on Carson's Corner

Ken Pavia at his best!


Ken Pavia is one of MMA's most lovable rogues, and today he steps back into Carson's Pit to thrash out more important issues!

"The Pav" is always one of the most outspoken and entertaining figures from the combat sports world, and when he and Carson get together the result is always dy-no-mite!

Bob and Pav discuss the new huge signings for MMA Agents, an update on the Anthony Johnson vs. Kevin Burns eye poke controversy, the status of Joe Riggs and Sean Salmon after their run-ins with the CSAC (including kazja's theories on them), and much more! Pav also gives us an update on the status of fighters like Ricco Rodriguez, Mark Kerr and Jeremy Williams.

In addition, Carson gives his thoughts on sumo reefer madness and analyzes the future of Russia's own "Pineapple Express" - Roho, Wakanoho and Harukozan. Bob also delivers a warning to the AIBA and the IOC about women's olympic boxing and answers some of your mail. Don't miss it!

Click here to listen to the podcast on carsonscorner.podomatic.com/

Jonathan Goulet vs. Mike Swick Likely for TUF 8 Finale in December

Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com

A welterweight bout between Mike Swick (12-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC) and Jonathan Goulet (22-9 MMA, 4-3 UFC) will likely take place at The Ultimate Fighter 8 Finale, which is set for Dec. 13 in Las Vegas.

The bout was first reported by our friends at fiveouncesofpain.com.

Although bout agreements have not been signed, verbal agreements have been secured.

Swick and Goulet were scheduled to fight nearly a year ago at UFC Fight Night 11. However, Dustin Hazelett eventually took Swick's spot after "The Ultimate Fighter 1" alumnus pulled out of the bout due to injury....

Goulet has picked up three consecutive victories, which included two wins in the UFC and one outside the organization in his native Canada. The wins have come over notables Dan Chambers, Paul Georgieff and Kuniyoshi Hironaka -- all via stoppage.

Click here to read the entire article at MMAjunkie.com

Joe Riggs Has a Good Agent

Originally posted on Bloodyelbow.com and MMAweekly.com

One of the mysteries of fighter pay is the amount they are paid by sponsors. We only hear isolated numbers, so it is hard to get a real picture. Frank Mir made $85,000 in sponsorships against Brock Lesnar, Joe Lauzon made $52,000 in sponsorships against Kenny Florian, and Rich Franklin's agent says Rich made $1 million in sponsorships for his 3 fights in 2007.

In an interview with MMA Weekly, Joe Riggs claims he made just under $300,000 over four fights in 2006, even though he only made $102,000 in fight salary.

Click here to read the rest of the article at Bloodyelbow.com

The Pav Discussing a Future Bout with Dirty Curty on MMAhawaii.com

Todd Moore-Shinya Aoki Added to Dream 6

Great news for mixed martial arts fans: Shinya Aoki has been added to next week's Dream 6 card.

The official Dream 6 web site has been updated to reflect a fight between Aoki, the submission specialist, and American Todd Moore, who recently left World Extreme Cagefighting. Aoki is an exciting fighter with a unique style, and adding him to the card makes Dream 6 -- in my opinion, anyway -- a must-see event.

Click here to read the rest of the article at MMA.fanhouse.com

Joe Riggs on Misaki and Close Call with Kimbo Slice

Originally Posted on MMAweekly.com

Fight fans, take notice: In a small way, Joe Riggs helped create Kimbo Slice.

The year is 2003. Riggs is at least a year away from his UFC debut. He’s fighting for $1,000 a show, good money for him at the time. Slice’s manager, Icy Mike, puts out a challenge to tough guys around the country – come to Florida if you think you can beat up Kimbo Slice. Win, and you get $10,000.

Riggs’ manager at the time, Trevor Lally, jumps at the offer. He emails Mike and says he’s got someone for him. He offers to put up $50,000 of his own money as a show of faith.

Riggs begins training in earnest and mentally preparing for a fight with Slice. But when Mike finds out about Riggs’ credentials, the door is promptly closed.

“I’d of beat the (expletive) out of him,” Riggs told MMAWeekly.com. “It would have been done. No Kimbo. I would have rubbed him out and saved everyone the headaches.”

Or Riggs could have videotaped his street brawls, something he jokingly wishes he did.

Riggs had other things in store for his future, including a two-year stint in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. There, he met mixed results. He failed to make weight for a title fight with Matt Hughes at UFC 56 then lost the fight decisively. Batting .500 in his four post-Hughes fights, he asked to be released from his UFC contract after a spat with matchmaker Joe Silva.

Other than the requisite scraps of a hotheaded MMA fighter, the closest Riggs got to Slice was a post-UFC 57 brawl with opponent Nick Diaz at the hospital where they stayed.

Since leaving the organization, Riggs’ career has been a trial of ups, downs, and wacky luck. En route to a fight against Gustavo Machado at an ill-fated World Cagefighting Organization card, Riggs got in a car accident and re-aggravated a back injury. The card was later cancelled. A month later at “Strikeforce at the Dome” in Seattle, Riggs injured his back again in a fight with Cory Devela, where he was heavily favored to win. Riggs took the painkiller Tramadol after back surgery, which raised red flags from the CSAC; they removed him from a June 27 Strikeforce card the day before he was to fight.

Riggs said some of his post UFC problems halved his income, going from earning just under $300,000 in 2006 to $130,000 in 2007. Not bad for a guy who used to make $1,000 a fight, but a concern for a man with a family to support.

In his last fight at middleweight, Riggs is scheduled to take on Kazuo Misaki for Strikeforce at the Playboy Mansion this Saturday. After Misaki, he’s got one fight left on his contract, and wants to bring the weight of two wins into his next contract. Having jumped from heavyweight to welterweight in his seven-year career, Riggs says his body has a hard time staying at middleweight, which prompted the move. He’s ambivalent about a return to the UFC – he and Joe Silva have since made up and maintain communication – but can’t deny its job security.

Click here to read the rest of the article at MMAweekly.com

Loiseau Discusses his most Recent Win on Sherdog.Com

Loiseau Stops Hutcherson in Fifth Round

Originally posted on Sherdog.com

David "The Crow" Loiseau had a tougher time than many expected Saturday with former “Ultimate Fighter” competitor Solomon Hutcherson.

However, with the new XMMA middleweight belt up for grabs, Loiseau made good on his long-awaited return by gutting out a stoppage at 1:56 of the fifth round following an onslaught of knees from the clinch.

“I had a very tough opponent,” said Loiseau, who had returned to fight in his home province of Quebec for the first time in more than four years. “The first three rounds I dropped him, and he kept coming back.”

Loiseau caught Hutcherson early in the first and looked to take his back, but Hutcherson used his raw strength to hoist Loiseau over his head and dump him hard to the mat with an impact that resonated throughout the arena.

“You know, I dislocated my shoulder in the first round, so it was hard for me to keep the high pressure. I was really hurt,” Loiseau said. “I had to re-place it in the middle of the round on the ground. It was tough, man.”

Hutcherson did the majority of his damage on the ground with vicious knees and punches to the body while maintaining back control. Loiseau returned the favor, however, by scoring numerous double-leg takedowns to slowly take Hutcherson out of his game and take the fight into the later rounds.

“I stuck to the game plan, which was to fight hard and whenever [you can], you hurt the guy,” Loiseau said. “To finish your opponent in the fifth, you have to be in shape.”

Click here to read the rest of the article at Sherdog.com

Goes, Pyle, and Hieron Confirmed for Xtreme Couture's First MMA Event

Originally posted on MMAweekly.com

Sources within the popular training center confirmed to MMAWeekly.com that Xtreme Couture is promoting its first mixed martial arts event to be held in Las Vegas at the Thomas & Mack Center on Oct. 18.

HD Net Fights will broadcast the event live.

Confirmed Xtreme Couture fighters include Mike Whitehead, who will take on veteran Allan Goes, as well as welterweight John Alessio, who will tangle with Gideon Ray. Jay Hieron and Mike Pyle are also scheduled to participate, but their opponents are unknown at this time.

Click here to read the rest of the article at MMAweekly.com

Wolfslair Academy adds Ghosn as training partner

Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com

The recent influx of top-level talent to the U.K.-based Wolfslair Academy that began with former light-heavyweight champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson has left many observers scratching their heads.

Until recently, Wolfslair had little notoriety outside of the U.K. But as Wolfslair Muay-Thai coach Dave Jackson recently told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com), the talent pool at the camp continues to grow.

"Rampage is coming out tomorrow," Dave Jackson said. "I spoke to Cheick (Kongo) yesterday, and he is coming to train on Sept. 26. We also have guys like Ricco Rodriquez and Tiki Ghosn coming to help out the guys as well. We have a really strong training team assembled at the moment."

Click here to read the rest of the article at MMAjunkie.com

Sean Salmon Cleared to Fight

Originally Posted by Dan Stupp for MMAjunkie.com and daytondailynews.com

The California State Athletic Commission has finally cleared Columbus-based fighter Sean Salmon (14-5), a former Ohio State wrestler and two-time UFC fighter, from its medical suspension list.

Salmon suffered a brutal knockout during a November 2007 Strikeforce event.

He next fights Friday at "NAAFS Columbus Night of Pain 4" in Columbus. Salmon takes on Mitch Whitesel (8-10) for the NAAFS middleweight title.

Click here to read the rest of the article at DaytonDailyNews.com

David Loiseau Featured on FCF Radio

On this exciting edition of Full Contact Fighter Radio, David "The Crow" Loiseau joins the show to chat about his upcoming fight against Solomon Hutcherson, and his plans to get back into the middleweight spotlight.

Click here to listen to the whole interview on FCFradio.com

Sherdog Radio's Savage Dog Show joined by David "The Crow" Loiseau

Jeff Sherwood rolled solo on Wednesday for the Savage Dog Show, and was joined by “The Crow” David Loiseau who discussed his upcoming bout in his XMMA promotion with Solomon Hutcherson.

Click here to listen to the whole interview on sherdog.com

AJ Training for a Fight

Martin Kampmann: Rated Exclusive Pre-Fight Interview

Travels with the Pav: Part III

Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com

by Ken Pavia on Sep 09, 2008 at 6:55 pm ET

If you have ever played blackjack, you understand. You can't fight the power. You can't make a cold table hot, and if it is hot, ride it.

I was playing golf with a hockey-player client, Terry Yake. He gave me three strokes a side – six in total. At the turn, after the first nine, he was up six strokes (he was a freaking scratch golfer). I said we need to change the bet. He replied, "You need to change your game. You can't do what you are doing better. You have to do something different. You have to change it up."

They say "luck" is when opportunity and preparation meet. The theme of Part III of "Travels with The Pav" is changing the momentum, trying to get lucky.

The weigh-ins

Making weight can be a dramatic and trying time. Tiki Ghosn always apologizes ahead of time for anything he says once he gets below 175 pounds, when he becomes even more of an ass. I once made Nate, my in-house counsel, change out of his khakis and into board shorts and sit with a fighter for six hours in a sauna. Nate lost 15 pounds, and the fighter finally lost the tough last eight. I have literally helped carry fighters into the weigh-ins because they didn't have the power to stand. Dehydration is the great equalizer. It turns men into boys.

Martin Kampmann's cut for this past weekend's UFC 88 event was a piece of cake. He even ate breakfast. Truth be told he was ready to become a welterweight some time ago. I encouraged him to stay at middleweight because of the success he was enjoying. He has a second career if he needed it waiting at 170.

We met in the hotel bar at 3 p.m. or so. The lobby was a zoo with fans. Fortunately, the hotel had the bar area secured so we could wait. Randy Couture and I walked in a little late because of all the confusion when the UFC guys didn't give us wristbands. Now, for Randy, that is not a big deal. For The Pav, it is a huge deal.

You see, one of the Zuffa employees is a former MMAagents.com employee, and let's just say, I don't think I made the Christmas-card list. I am pretty much on the radar now, or more specifically, the "Tom-dar." Tom is head of security for Zuffa. While I am given lots of latitude with ProElite, Strikeforce and the like, if I take one step in the wrong direction at a UFC event, and sometimes just for sport, Tom gets me -- every time. I even asked Tom for "most favored nations" status as I currently represent more Zuffa fighters than any other agent. I was given an unqualified "no." It has become a running joke with many other agents and Zuffa employees.

It was a solid crowd for the UFC 88 weigh-ins -- perhaps 5,000 fans in all, including clients Diego Saraiva and Rafael Assuncao, who live in Atlanta. Just before the television fights were announced, I emerged from backstage to watch from down in front. Martin was announced and approached the stage. While the crowd had been boisterous, they were extra loud as he approached. He took a moment to bask and acknowledged the fans. He later told us that he realized the reaction was because Randy was in tow as he went up on the stage with him to assist.

Just as they announced Martin's weight of 184, I caught sight of Tom making a beeline for me. I ran through the usual internal checks:
"I am rightfully here as a licensed corner man.
"I was brought here on the UFC shuttle.
"I am sure that girl last night was at least 21. Pretty sure, at least."
Tom asked whose corner I was in, and I told him I was one of Martin's three corners. He asked where my wristband was. I told him I wasn't given one at the hotel or on the van. So, he escorted me backstage.

After he left, another one of the Zuffa guys offered me his pass, but I declined. The reality is that instances like this remind you of the dichotomy between management and talent. While sometimes you feel like you are all on the same team, in an effort to further the sport and the careers of the competitors, this is really an idealistic agent notion. While they say it is not about money, they lie. It is always about money, and we as the advocate and voice for the talent are viewed as adversaries.

I talk to Mark Coleman often, and he once asked me if I got along with the UFC hierarchy. I said, "Sometimes yes, sometimes no." He said, "Good. If you told me yes, I would have said you weren't doing your job and to beat it."

Lessoned learned from an old-school guy that has managed to stay on top of the game. The perception is that the job is filled with perks. Sometimes that is not the case; sometimes you can't even get most-favored-nation status.

Such was the luck, and it was a sign of things to come.

The WEC

We got Martin fed and took him to get a sweat in. Randy had hoped to meet us but got hung up in a Japanese media conference. Shawn Tompkins put Martin through a workout, and he looked fluid and ready. Just as we were finishing, I got a call about a mandatory conference call for Jonathan Brookins, my kid making his WEC debut. This was out of the norm, and I wasn't sure why they wanted me to attend for Brookings and not "Razor" Rob McCullough, who was also on the card. I retreated to my room for the call.

Now, The Pav has been known to walk on water, but changing the course of a hurricane is something I haven't yet mastered. With Ike barreling down on Florida, we were notified that WEC 36, originally scheduled for this Wednesday, was postponed for eight weeks. For Razor that meant, after an eight-week camp of sacrifice and preparation, the true test was about to start. He would have to start it all over again immediately. Actually, his first question was could he have a couple of days to get drunk. I told him just a couple.

For Brookins the consequences were more severe. Money is not a big deal. Lack of money -- that is a huge deal. Brookins was not slated to make much, but he was counting on it. His coach Saul Soliz and I will have to talk and find some creative solutions. Saul, who gives tirelessly for his guys, also pitched me on helping a journeyman kid named Lee King that helps at his gym. Saul said it would mean a lot if I could get him a shot. His record is 13-13, so he is not the kind of fighter we would actively seek out, but Saul said he would fight anyone on any notice (and he has) and really needed it, so I will keep my eyes out as a favor to Saul.

What I expected to be a two-week trip would now be broken up as I would return to California on Monday, incurring unexpected airfare and then leave on Thursday for Montreal. These were tells that we were fighting the power and needed some luck.

The Fight

Going into the fight, I had the utmost respect for Nate Marquardt's skills -- so much in fact that I questioned Martin when he asked for this fight. Kampmann had less than one round of ring time in the past year and a half and had undergone major knee surgery just last year. But every decision is ultimately the athlete's, and Martin really wanted the fight. His training partners (whose opinions I respect) -- Phil Baroni, Mike Pyle and Tompkins -- all were extremely confident, and that put me somewhat at ease. Maybe we were all too confident, maybe he was unlucky, or maybe Nate was just that good. Regardless, the night did not go as planned.

Prior to the fight I was pacing the hall when Forrest Griffin walked up and said he just got there and asked who I had on the card. I told him his training partner, Martin, and brought him into the locker room. (By the way Forrest didn't have a pass, but Tom was nowhere in sight.) Kampmann was sharing a room with Rousimar Palhares and Matt Hamill. I had met Palhares as he had beaten client Ivan Salaverry in his last fight. Matt I knew through Tito Ortiz since the days of "The Ultimate Fighter" show. We text on occasion.

Everything was perhaps too perfect for Martin, and it was an energetic walkout with Tompkins, Couture and Forrest. Early in the fight, Martin got caught with a head kick that put him on Queer Street. As he struggled to get his sea legs, Marquardt was relentless with the pressure. Every time Martin seemed like he was almost out of the woods, Nate would land another big shot. Nate displayed the discipline and the composure of a Greg Jackson-trained fighter. The end came a minute and a half into the fight, and it resulted in Martin's first loss in nearly four years.

We all sat in awe in the locker room and were literally at a loss for words. UFC President Dana White, who had been sitting ringside, left during the Henderson-Palhares fight and came in to console and give encouragement to Martin. He began with pleasantries, but as the realization hit Martin and showed on his face, Dana changed his tune and kept it real. I thanked him for the gesture.

My text messages started blowing up. First came shock from my staff. Then came encouragement for Martin from Benji Radach, Anthony Johnson, Mike Pyle, Brad Blackburn and Tito. I even got a few texts from David Loiseau, whose loyalties lie with Nate, his training partner, but still has feelings for the team, so he chimed in. This is not uncommon after PPV fights, but the response was particularly strong after this fight.

Often in moments like this, the tendency is to slip out of rational mode and into emotional mode. This is a fatal flaw for an agent. It is crucial to stay grounded and be the voice of reason. This is not the place to make career decisions about weight classes or opponents or a time table for a return. Recognizing the difficulty in staying rational, I turned to an unlikely source for situational advice. Some would say Phil Baroni personifies emotional. I would tell you that he has encountered virtually every hypothetical in his career as a fighter, cornerman, training partner and agent, then gone home and analyzed it and broke it down ad nauseam. He lives and breathes the sport; his obsession and passion for it perhaps even rivals The Pav's. This often makes for spirited debates, which I prefer to do outside of striking distance. He is very capable of rational thought too, and that is what he offered in this instance.

We continued to fight the power in an effort to change the course of luck.

Tanner

The culmination of Part III of "Travels with The Pav" would be remiss if it did not acknowledge the passing of Evan Tanner.

One of the first UFC events I attended as an agent was in Las Vegas with Ricco Rodriguez and our buddy Mike Hogan. We stayed to the bitter end and even attended the post-fight press conference. Ricco had parked in the very last row of the parking lot. As we left the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, we walked out to the lot in a light rain. There was only one other vehicle out there, and it was parked next to Ricco's. The vehicle was an older, beat-up Toyota Jeep without a top. We could see from a distance that a man was sitting in it getting wet with the radio on. He was smiling. As we approached the Jeep, we saw that it was Evan Tanner. Hogan got all excited and asked to take pictures with him, and Evan obliged. He told us he had driven down from Oregon for the fights and was getting ready to go home. He seemed quite content.

Some years later the UFC came to Anaheim. Dana White and Joe Silva were discussing some of my fighters for the "TUF" comeback show when they told me that Jeremy Horn had gotten hurt and they wanted Ivan Salaverry to replace him against Tanner at UFC 59. We played with the number but could not come to terms. I offered up client Justin Levens, who grew up in the shadows of The Pond, and they gave him a chance. Levens was game but got the Tanner of old and fell victim to a flying triangle choke.

Just as I arrived in Orange County from Atlanta on Monday, my phone rang. It was the wife of fighter Dan Christison, Kyria. She said she was not doing well and needed a favor. Kyria had been very close to Evan and said he had been missing. She had just gotten word from the authorities that a body had been found. Kyria asked for help in letting the UFC know and getting the news out in the most respectful manner.

In a weird way, Evan profoundly touched many people, and I am not sure why. Maybe it was because he was so powerful yet vulnerable. Maybe it was because he always seemed to be searching. Maybe because he was so basically human. Maybe it was because he was a tormented lost soul. No matter -- it is very sad.

He often wrote of his struggle with addictions. He screamed for help in life, and no one seemed willing or able to help. I have been scolded by Joe Silva for misusing power as someone in the know. I realized then that with the privilege comes responsibility. MMA for many of us is life, and it is moments like this that the community can come together in support. I know that Evan will be remembered, and I also know that Kyria will be a big part of making those memories positive.

Evans' luck ran out. RIP Evan Tanner, 1971-2008.

Ken Pavia is a frequent MMAjunkie.com contributor who also runs MMAAgents.com, one of MMA's biggest sports agencies and one that represents more than 50 top-level MMA fighters. "Travels with the Pav" is designed to give readers a behind-the-scenes look as a handful of fighters (and their agent) prepare for fight day. New columns will be available every few days. Pavia's views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of MMAjunkie.com and its staff.

Dale Hartt vs. Corey Hill possible for UFC's Dec. 10 military event

Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com

A potential Dec. 10 event that the UFC would hold at a U.S. military base may have its first fight.

Sources close to the fighters told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that "The Ultimate Fighter 5" stand-out Corey Hill (2-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) is expected to meet Navy veteran Dale Hartt (5-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) at the Spike TV-televised event.

However, bout agreements are not signed, and the UFC hasn't yet even officially announced the Dec. 10 event.

Click here to read the rest of the article at MMAjunkie.com

UFC's Martin Kampmann considering move to 170 pounds

by Dann Stupp -MMAjunkie.com on Sep 08, 2008 at 4:25 pm ET

Coming off his first-ever UFC loss -- and just the second defeat of his professional career -- UFC middleweight Martin Kampmann (13-2 MMA, 4-1 UFC) could finally pull the trigger on a move down to welterweight.

Over the weekend, Kampmann told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that he's been considering a drop to 170 pounds.

The Xtreme Couture fighter said he's received encouragement from many of his teammates, including team leader and current UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture.

Click here to read the rest of the article at MMAjunkie.com

Travels with The Pav: Part II

Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com

by Ken Pavia on Sep 06, 2008 at 2:20 pm ET

Battles are won and lost in preparation. So much more goes into an agent's work at a fight than just grabbing the shoes ringside, throwing the sponsor shirt on the fighter after the fight, and taking pictures at the after party. This installment focuses on our team's preparation for the trip and the arrival in the first stage of the journey.

Such is Part II of The Pav’s self-indulgent piece, "Travels with The Pav."

The Team

While I recover from the last trip, book a few fights, do some fighter-relations calls, write memos to my staff until 4 or so in the a.m., react to crisis, and prepare for the next trip, my team handles all the details that MMAAgents' (www.mmaagents.com) clients have come to expect -- and rely on us to handle. Our attention to detail and utter devotion to every aspect of our clients' lives are just some of the many reasons why I say with confidence that we are the best and second best agency in the business.

I have a low tolerance for ignorance and error, so I frequently blow people out for falling short of expectations. Julian has survived the longest, almost two years. He is basically our compliance department, and he is doing a much better job than the two people who preceded him in that role.

The job entails booking flights and hotels, corresponding with the promotions to get both promotional agreements and bout agreements signed in a timely fashion after they have been reviewed by legal, coordinating all the commission medical requirements for each jurisdiction (and they are all different), doing the mock-ups for the fight shorts and shirts, supporting the sponsor department, and anything else I dump on his desk as I pass through during the day.

Julian often gets caught in damage control doing things like figuring out how to get Joe Riggs out from a snowed-in airport in Ohio, or making sure Sean Salmon provides all the necessary paper work to the California State Athletic Commission to get off suspension. Funny thing is, the only time his name comes up is when something goes wrong and I freak out. (I kind of like freaking out. Somehow it makes The Pav's day more interesting). It is really a thankless job.

With 51 clients, and 12 to 15 fighting each month, Julian is on call 24 hours a day. This trip was tough for him because of all the one-way flights -- some of which are booked by the promotion -- three different athletic commissions, and my insistence that the office furniture be changed up and rearranged to improve the feng shui before the fights.

Sponsorships

Danny heads up the sponsor department. When he started, I called him "Danny Donuts" because I couldn't pronounce his last name. I still can't. He thought it was a fat joke, so we are going back to the drawing board for a nickname.

Securing sponsors is challenging enough before the poachers move in. There is always the asshole in the fighter's ear saying, "Joe-over-here can get you $1.2 million if you use him." That being said, commissions from sponsors equal a third of our company's revenue.

Monte Cox was the only real option for representation in the early years of the UFC, and he hates doing sponsorships so much that he doesn’t do them at all. We solicit sponsors, have the shorts and shirts printed, provide pictures and sponsor thank-you packets, and invoice them because the revenue generated by them is crucial to our clients and helps them be full-time fighters.

Danny is new to MMAagents.com, but he is solid. While I went on the road, he went to a trade show this weekend to try to get new companies into the business. We have four guys fighting on this trip. I left with the clothes for Martin Kampmann. The rest will be FedEx'd to me on the road once the printing is done. Despite our efforts, at least some sponsor commitments always come at the last minute. We were able to get Martin and "Razor" Rob McCullough both more than $20,000. They are pretty stoked.

Yin, Yang and Counting Beans

Every effective Yin needs a Yang. Nate is my Yang. He graduated top of his law school class, is a licensed attorney, gets up every morning at like 5 a.m. to get his first of two daily workouts in, and is married with a kid in the oven. While I burn the midnight oil, work from the house in the morning and make my way into the office midday to throw things into a state of chaos, Nate runs the staff, cleans up my messes and helps implement all the things I promise.

In the days of preparation for the trip, I painted broad strokes for the appeal to the Nevada State Athletic Commission to have the Anthony Johnson decision overturned -- and had Nate support my arguments with legalese. I also had him write a memo on trademark and copyright law to make sure the cease-and-desist notice we got from the UFC for the pictures on our clients' websites had merit, and it seemingly did.

Nate also spent time cultivating relationships with new fight promotions for our clients that are working their way back to "The Show." Oh, and he is empowered to crack the whip. While I feel I have a strong bond with all of the guys we sign, some of them relate better to Nate. We are very different personality-wise. While I grow the beans, he counts them.

The Pros and Cons of Internship

We also have four interns. Sean is a bookworm second-year law student, and he oversees the MMAAgents.com blog. He is also the point-guy for media requests, which are plentiful.

When Mike Pyle won his Affliction fight in Anaheim, Calif., he decided to stay in town for a few extra days. He called me late on Sunday night and asked where he could take his friends. I told him it was slow, so he said they were taking a taxi to my house, where I was watching Japanese fights on HDNet with my bangin' lady friend.

Well, Mike shows up with three unbelievably hot Russian girls and a buzz. I immediately scrambled for back-up. "Razor" Rob was training for a fight and had a girl in his room already. Tiki Ghosn was an hour away in L.A., Tito Ortiz is married, and Sean was the only one to answer the call.

A bottle of vodka into the evening, I asked Mike how to apply the anaconda choke. He told Sean to get on all fours, and he applied it.

Well, Sean has never rolled before. So when he tapped, he began to tap his own leg. Mike thought it wasn't in tight enough, so he increased the pressure. Before I knew it, Pyle had choked out my intern in front of the Miss Universe Pageant in my living room. To this day I have to hear, "I will get your egg whites, but I didn't sign up for getting choked out. That was not cool dude. That was so not cool."

The other interns -- Tony, Meesh and Joe -- always have stacks of projects. In preparation for this trip, they wrote press releases, picked up sponsor clothes, pulled tape on our fighters' opponents and increased our sponsor and industry databases for news dissemination, etc. While I go out on the road and take all the bows, these guys all bleed with me in support of our fighters' efforts. It really is a well-oiled machine.

The Airport

Three out of every four weekends I end up on the road. Airport survival has become a necessary chapter in the MMAagents.com how-to book. I have come to learn that:
Most airlines now charge $15 per bag that you check in and $25 if your bag weighs more than 50 pounds. This sucks when you are transporting wardrobes of sponsor clothes, banners, fights shorts, and corner attire to every event.
You can't get healthy food in airports. Sorry, it just doesn't exist. Pack your own food, or you will end up looking like a baseball umpire in no time. (My life-preservation reflex kicked in and prevented me from telling a Ricco Rodriguez or Gina Carano joke there.)
Airport personnel are immune to negotiation or reason. I pride myself in the use of the Jedi mind trick that always works on $10-an-hour security guards or nightclub doormen, but airport employees are immune. This leads into my next story.
Some time ago every Nazi in America was hired to work security checkpoints in the airport. From personal experience I can tell you every belt I own, my business card holder, and my phone set the metal detector off. Tripping the metal detector twice gets you frisked, and it is a same-sex frisk only. Shoes must come off, so I have acquired slip-ons for all weather for travel. Also all liquids more than three ounces, including bottled water, are not allowed past security.

These new regulations often create damage-control situations. An unnamed athlete decided that he did not want to dispose of his travel supply of marijuana before boarding the plane. In all his brilliance, this guy decided to hide his weed, which is not allowed on the plane, in his bottle of water -- which of course is not allowed on the plane. Needless to say he got pinched.

The worst part was he was on his way home. All I could think as I was being informed was, "If you like pot that much, maybe you should probably have some at your house." He probably should have pled guilty to being stupid. True story.

The Westin and Randy

The fighter hotel for this event is the Westin. It has 73 floors and is one of the nicer ones we have stayed in. My room was on the 40th floor, but Mr. Jackson -- who happened to be in my pocket -- got me upgraded to the 70th floor. The view from my window makes me feel like a Colombian drug lord. This is the first time the UFC has come to Atlanta, so there is a buzz, and the lobby is packed with fans trying to get a glimpse of a fighter.

Randy Couture is in Martin's corner with Shawn Tompkins and me. I have known Randy for a few years and represent a number of the guys at his gym. I can say with no reservation that he is a genuine and quality guy. It is not an act. He hasn’t forgotten who he is or how he got where he is.

Last week he resolved his differences with the UFC and has agreed to return. As if it wasn't bad enough before, the attention on Randy is magnified now. Every time we have to venture out of the rooms, we have to consider the best route for Randy so we don't get stuck while he kisses babies and presses palms.

In preparation for his fight with Brock Lesnar, I was able to get him to invite two of my guys -- Josh Hendricks (who is fighting Gabe Gonzaga on the same card) and Jake O'Brien -- to come to camp with him. He needs big wrestlers. He also has extended feelers for two of my guys to participate on his wife's promotion in Las Vegas on Oct. 11.

I broke bread with the camp, and Dann Stupp from MMAjunkie.com joined us late. We sat across from my good friend Ed Soares -- who manages and translates for just about every Brazilian in the UFC -- and traded friendly barbs throughout. I actually knew Ed before I represented any fighters and he ran Sinister clothing. Good people.

After we ate we came back to the hotel to watch Martin break a sweat and then hung out in the lobby for a spell. While still with Dann, I bumped into agent Monte Cox -- with whom I have an on-again, off-again rivalry. I introduced him to Dann and told him they have a lot in common.

I said the torch has now been passed and MMAjunkie.com is now second in MMA traffic, while he is now competing to be the second-best agent. He made some comment about there should be a height requirement to represent fighters, and I said something about him looking like he ate Rich Clementi. We laughed -- me confidently, him uncomfortably -- and we parted ways.

Stay tuned for Part III: "The Weigh-Ins and the UFC."

(Pictured: Glamor and glitz on the road? Not so much. As client Martin Kampmann works with coach Shawn Tompkins, Pavia deals with the travel headaches from the WEC's canceled event.)

Ken Pavia is a frequent MMAjunkie.com contributor who also runs MMAAgents.com, one of MMA's biggest sports agencies and one that represents more than 50 top-level MMA fighters. "Travels with the Pav" is designed to give readers a behind-the-scenes look as a handful of fighters (and their agent) prepare for fight day. New columns will be available every few days. Pavia's views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of MMAjunkie.com and its staff.