March 31, 2010

UFC Fight Night 21 Preview: The Prelims

Originally posted on Sherdog.com

Once upon a time, preliminary fights served as dumping grounds for the undesirables. Thankfully, those days are long gone.

The undercard for UFC Fight Night 21 on Wednesday at the Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, N.C. has been stacked with quality violence. There are no promises any of the bouts will find their way onto the Spike TV broadcast, but it never hurts to sneak in a few pagan rituals and tributes to Zeus just in case they are listening.

This event has something to satisfy every palate, from Andre Winner’s kill-shot quality boxing and Gleison Tibau’s supersonic shots to Gerald Harris’ atom-smashing ground-and-pound. Settle in for a look into the latest offering from UFC President Dana White & Co.

*****

Yushin Okami vs. Lucio Linhares

The Breakdown: Someone in the matchmaking department likes seeing Linhares get outwrestled. After losing his UFC debut to the human siege tank, Rousimar Palhares, the Brazilian jiu-jitsu convert now has to take on Okami’s smothering top control. While Linhares showed surprising fluidity on the mat in his fight with Palhares, Okami’s top control features far more brute physicality.

It’s no secret that it takes top-shelf wrestling to exploit the holes in Okami’s game, and that just is not part of the Linhares attack. That his submission game is nowhere near aggressive or technical enough to force Okami out of his usual comfort zone further complicates his hopes of a UFC victory. What’s worse, Okami can always fall back on his rugged clinch game.

Under ideal circumstances, Linhares would be allowed to develop into a solid mid-tier gatekeeper, but this kind of matchmaking only serves to highlight the holes in his game, namely his lack of high-level offensive skills and takedown defense. Barring an epic meltdown by Okami, Linhares may not have a chance to do anything except get rag-dolled.

Click here to read entire article.

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March 31, 2010

Featherweight champ Joe Soto meets Diego Saraiva in Bellator 19 non-title fight

Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com

Bellator Fighting Championships featherweight title-holder Joe Soto (8-0 MMA, 3-0 BFC) meets former UFC fighter Diego Saraiva (17-8-1 MMA, 0-0 BFC), who's undefeated at 145 pounds, in the organization's latest season-two "super fight."

The contest takes place May 20 at Bellator 19, though a location and venue have not been announced.

Each of Bellator's season-one tournament winners/current champs are being booked for season-two non-title fights while No. 1 contenders are determined by the season's eight-man tournaments.

As with all Bellator shows, Bellator 19 airs live on FOX Sports Net, and highlights packages from the show air the following weekend on NBC and Telemundo.

"This is a great matchup between two extremely tough fighters – one who's on his way up and one who's in the midst of a great comeback," Bellator founder and CEO Bjorn Rebney stated. "Diego will be a great test for Joe as he prepares to defend his belt later this year. As a fan first and foremost, this should be a great fight to watch."

Soto, perhaps the least known of Bellator's season one champs, quickly fought his way to relevancy with a 12-week tournament run that included wins over Ben Greer, tournament favorite Wilson Reis and Yahir Reyes. Soon after the tournament run, which included $175,000 in pay, he took a fight with Tachi Palace Fights and submitted Mike Christensen via rare gogoplata. All but one of the former Iowa Central Community College wrestler's wins have come via stoppage.

Saraiva, meanwhile, perhaps may be best known for a disappointing 0-3 run in the UFC. Although no opponent was able to finish the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, Saraiva suffered decision losses to fellow lightweights Dustin Hazelett, Jorge Gurgel and Jeremy Stephens.

Saraiva is 8-2 since his UFC run and is currently riding a five-fight win streak.

As MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) previously reported, Bellator 19 also could mark a non-title fight for middleweight champ Hector Lombard. Former WEC champ Paulo Filho is on a short list of possible opponents for the title-holder's "super fight."

For more Bellator 19, stay tuned to the MMA Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.

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March 31, 2010

Anthony Johnson's Surgery Delayed; Still Hopeful of Fight With John Howard

Originally posted on MMAfighting.com

UFC welterweight Anthony "Rumble" Johnson has been forced to delay surgery on his injured left meniscus because of a cut on his leg that had yet to heal, the fighter's agent told MMA Fighting.

Johnson was originally scheduled to have the surgery last week but in the days prior to it, he accidentally cut his injured leg while moving a motorcycle he was in the process of selling. His surgeon informed him that surgery would not be possible until the cut was healed up, forcing the postponement.

His agent Ken Pavia told MMA Fighting that the surgery was likely to be performed next week, and that the rehabilitation phase should only require a few weeks.

Johnson originally injured his left leg over a year ago before re-aggravating it recently. The injury was so bad that at one point Johnson had trouble putting weight on it.

The 26-year-old Johnson (8-3) is coming off a loss to Josh Koscheck in a result that snapped a three-fight win streak. Johnson is still hoping to match up with the surging John Howard, who has won all four of his fights in the octagon and is 14-4 overall. The pair has had a long-running feud and had been scheduled to fight at the recent UFC on Versus event until Johnson's knee caused him to withdraw from the bout.

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March 31, 2010

Cincinnati may get UFC fight date

Originally posted on msn.foxsports.com

Cincinnati may be in line to host UFC 115, with political and insurance issues likely to cause the event’s cancellation in the Canadian city of Vancouver.

Reports from Vancouver say the event is being re-located because of “insurance and other issues”, which include opposition to MMA events being stated in city-owned venues.

UFC was to have been staged June 12 at Vancouver’s 19,000-seat GM Place.

While Cincinnati is now the leading candidate to host the event, neither UFC nor the Ohio Athletic Commission have confirmed a new location.

UFC president Dana White and other officials have been confirmed 115’s date and tentative match-ups in multiple interviews over the past few months.

Despite recent reports citing a headliner between TUF 11 coaches Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz being in jeopardy, UFC 115 is still slated to feature a third encounter between the UFC light heavyweight pioneers.

Other bouts targeted for UFC 115 include a light-heavyweight meeting between UFC pioneers Rich Franklin and Randy Couture, a pair of heavyweight clashes pitting Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic against Pat Barry, and Gilbert Yvel against Ben Rothwell, as well as a welterweight bout between Martin Kampmann and Paulo Thiago.

Additional match-ups previously reported include Tyson Griffin vs. Rory MacDonald, James Wilks vs. Peter Sobotta, Mike Pyle vs. Jesse Lennox, Mac Danzig vs. Matt Wiman, as well as the promotional debut of Canadian standout Claude Patrick against an undetermined opponent.

The Fight Network will have more details on the status of UFC 115 as they are revealed.

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March 31, 2010

Krzysztof Soszynski vs. Stephan Bonnar rematch targeted for UFC 116 in July

Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com

Krzysztof Soszynski

Stephan Bonnar (11-7 MMA, 5-6 UFC) will get his rematch with Krzysztof Soszynski (19-9-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC), and it'll likely come on July 3 at a UFC 116 event headlined by UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar vs. interim title-holder Shane Carwin.

The two light heavyweights first met last month at UFC 110. Bonnar suffered a controversial TKO loss from an illegal head butt, and surprisingly, his appeal was denied.

In a video interview with MMAFighting.com, Bonnar said he received a contract for a rematch at UFC 116.

The initial bout at UFC 110 in Australia came to a halt early in the third round when an accidental clash of heads opened a huge cut on Bonnar's forehead. With a little less than four minutes remaining in the fight, the cageside doctor examined the bloody cut and recommended the bout be stopped. The referee subsequently called the fight in Soszynski's favor despite replays showing the cut was a result of a head butt, not legal strikes.

Bonnar immediately protested the decision and said the bout should be ruled a no-contest. Shortly afterward, the "The Ultimate Fighter 1" veteran filed his appeal with the Combat Sports Authority of New South Wales. As MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) first reported earlier this month, his appeal was denied.

"A review was held ... and the Combat Sports Authority of NSW did not seek to interfere with the referee's decision," wrote Craig Waller, Executive Director of the Combat Sports Authority of New South Wales.

Bonnar and the industry alike were baffled by the decision.

But he'll get his rematch at UFC 116, which takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

With the UFC 110 win, Soszynski, a semifinalist of "The Ultimate Fighter 8," is 7-1 in his past eight fights (4-1 in the UFC). The lone loss came via unanimous decision to Brandon Vera in mid-2009 at UFC 102.

Bonnar, meanwhile, has now lost three straight fights and five of his past seven. While the losses have come to a string of notables such as Rashad Evans, Forrest Griffin and Jon Jones, the wins came over Mike Nickels and Eric Schafer, both of whom are no longer with the UFC.

For the latest on UFC 116, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.

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March 31, 2010

War Machine Arrested for Assault in San Diego

Originally posted on MMAfighting.com

Former UFC welterweight Jon Koppenhaver, who now legally goes by War Machine, was arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon at a San Diego bar last night.

According to a report from The San Diego Union Tribune, the 28-year-old was involved in an altercation at the establishment at about 10:50 p.m., and the police were alerted that he was "going crazy," according to bouncers. When police arrived, War Machine allegedly tried to evade arrest by running away, but was captured 10 minutes later.

"If it's true, I'm shocked by it," said his agent Ken Pavia, who said he hadn't spoken to his client since the alleged incident. "Recently, he's been in the right frame of mind. He just got out of porn. He has a new girl in his life who is a positive influence. He's getting ready to open a gym with a couple of his buddies. He was resetting his priorities. He seemed to be in a great frame of mind, so I'm very surprised."

Police told the paper that he struck at least one person in the head during the incident, though no one had to be hospitalized. It was not immediately clear whether the charges against him refer to the use of an actual weapon. In California, the charge can be brought even if no weapon is used. A San Diego police public relations official did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

Ealier today, TMZ ran photos of War Machine's arrest which showed him wearing a spit bag over his head.

Born Jon Koppenhaver, the California native rose to prominence in the MMA world after participating in season six of The Ultimate Fighter. He compiled a 1-1 record in the UFC before being released, partially due to his controversial nature. He eventually underwent a brief career in pornography, though he recently said he was leaving the business to focus on MMA. He's 10-3 in his career, and most recently lost a decision to David Mitchell last October.

Pavia told MMA Fighting that he was in the process of finalizing two future fights for War Machine, but doesn't know if either opportunity will be impacted by the arrest.

This was not his first run-in with the law. He was arrested in Feb. 2010 for an alleged fight at a Las Vegas night club, and also in Nov. 2009 for another alleged assault.

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March 26, 2010

UFC 111: Ben Saunders Harnessing His Inner Bruce Lee for Jon Fitch

Originally posted on bleacherreport.com

UFC welterweight Ben Saunders began his martial arts career studying Jeet Kune Do, a concept created by Bruce Lee, who summarized his free-flowing fighting philosophy as “using no way as way.”

That tutelage will serve the 26-year-old well this Saturday at UFC 111, as he unexpectedly finds himself in the middle of a top contender scrap against Jon Fitch after fellow American Top Teamer Thiago Alves was forced out today due to medical concerns.

Saunders was originally penciled-in to fight Martin Kampmann this weekend inside the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, however the Xtreme Couture-trained fighter sustained a severe cut and was replaced by Jake Ellenberger.

Although his date for UFC 111 has changed once again, on less than 72 hours notice this time around, “Killa B” claims that it won’t phase him as he stays true to his Jeet Kune Do ways.

“As far as the opponent changing in the cage, that doesn’t matter to me at all,” Saunders told 5thRound.com in an exclusive interview. “I’ve created my style where I’m able to win no matter where the fight is held, whether it’s on my back, in the clinch, against the cage, on top, or in the standing position.

“I’m capable of winning by any means necessary. It doesn’t matter who they give me.”

That sounds eerily similar to something Mr. Lee would say, doesn’t it?

Many consider Bruce Lee the Godfather of MMA. He was the first to stress the importance of learning multiple disciplines because the genius believed that in a real street fight you would need to be well-rounded in all facets.

Saunders took his JKD game to another level when he added the relentless and intimidating mentality of the legendary Chute Boxe academy to his deadly arsenal.

“The kind of fighter that I am fighting and how they attack me is how I will attack or come at them,” Saunders said of his unpredictable ways. “I have a Chute Boxe-type of mentality, which I am a huge fan of [the Brazilian mixed martial arts team], and that is that you will fear me.

“I will dictate the pace and I will come at you, and when my shin hits your forearm, your head, your body...you’re not going to want it.”

It was reported by TMZ.com earlier today that UFC president Dana White has promised Saunders a title shot if he can come up with a way to end Fitch’s three-fight winning streak.

Knowing Ben “Killa B” Saunders, he’ll find a way...by using no way.

(Evan Shoman @shomanart created Ben’s portrait above. Please visit ShomanArt.com for more of Evan’s masterful work.)

March 25, 2010

Fight Path: Bellator's ''no-name old man'' Chad Hinton humbled by Roger Huerta matchup

Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com

Chad Hinton was a power lifter with friends interested in martial arts when the group noticed there was a kickboxing class geared toward women being offered at their gym.

"The ratio was about 10 to 2, women," Hinton told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).

Just a few years removed from a high school wrestling career during which he competed at 152 pounds, Hinton had beefed up to 210 while hitting the weights. He was still interested in competing, but wrestling hadn't worked out his drive remained from growing up in an extremely athletic family.

So he hopped into a combat class for females.

"Then before you know it, there were 10 or 12 guys," Hinton said. "We started training for this huge show in Columbus called the Arnold Classic, and things took off from there."

Although he started a little later than some mixed martial artists, the 38-year-old Cincinnati resident is getting his big shot and a major challenge against a unique MMA character. On April 8 at Bellator 13, Hinton will appear in the Bellator Fighting Championships season-two lightweight tournament with a bout against former UFC lightweight contender Roger Huerta at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla.

Hinton has compiled his 6-0 record in two and a half years since winning the kickboxing tournament at the Arnold Sports Festival (previously known as the Arnold Classic), which boosted him into MMA training and competition. It hasn't taken the former street brawler, who followed his father into the elevator technician business, long to find his groove in MMA, all while also becoming a gym owner in the city.

Comparatively inexperienced in live bouts, though, Hinton says he's loose.

"I look at it like the pressure's on Roger," said Hinton, who so far has fought at MMA Big Show and Intimidation Cage Fighting events in the Cincinnati area. "He's fighting a no-name old man from Cincinnati. Yeah, he might have more experience on record, but I'll tell ya, I was probably in about 100 fights on the street before he was born."

Leading an athletic family

Hinton grew up on the west side of Cincinnati with a father who spent 40 years working for the Otis Elevator Company and a mother who raised three sons and a daughter.

His family's athletic resume is impressive. One brother was a standout high school wrestler before focusing on academics at the Air Force Academy. Another brother played baseball at the University of Cincinnati. His sister played junior college soccer.

Hinton, as the oldest, was just as talented. His father was a former Marine who served in Vietnam, and in a strict household, Hinton excelled in most sports, including wrestling.

After high school, life led him to several well-paying construction jobs. He later joined his father with the Otis Elevator Company repairing and maintaining the equipment.

"That's tough work, man," Hinton said. "You're doing rigging, installation. You have to re-cable some of the equipment. You're in these shafts where it gets to about 140 degrees and so hot you want to pass out.

"It's just tough, greasy, nasty work."

That's where the work ethic comes from. But athletically, Hinton had a break after high school. He had done some boxing as a teenager – in part because he was a no-back-down fighter who was often in brawls growing up – so he knew his way around gyms when he started his interest in power lifting.

"I do not condone fighting on the street because I've moved on from that part of my life, but at the time I just wasn't one to walk away from anything," Hinton said. "So I looked for another way to let that stuff out."

Then he and his gym mates found the kickboxing class, and they got serious. The Arnold Sports Festival, an annual event in Columbus celebrating fitness and athleticism, held a kickboxing tournament, and Hinton entered not knowing what to expect.

With competitors from international countries and Hinton still new to competition in the sport, he made his way through the tournament and found himself in the final. A major decision gave him the title, a tournament MVP honor and a start to a later-blooming career.

Early title shot

After his kickboxing victory, Hinton decided he wanted a more MMA-focused place to train, so he and a partner founded Cincy MMA and Fitness, a 9,000-square-foot facility serving those both wanting to train or just work out.

Before long, he scheduled his first amateur fight, and it ended victoriously in 49 seconds.

"The next thing you know," Hinton said, "it kind of took off."

His professional debut came at an MMA Big Show event on Nov. 3, 2007. By his third fight, he won that organization's 155-pound belt. After another three fights in Intimidation Cage Fighting, his shot with Bellator came.

But that chance is paired with a major challenge, against a fighter that was in many ways the face of the sport to the masses as a Sports Illustrated cover figure.

With his biggest opportunity, Hinton is facing a UFC veteran who is 20-3-1.

"It's kind of surreal fighting a guy who's been on TV so much," he said. "I never foresaw this three years ago. I mean, I watched this guy fight, and now I'm going against him. That's just a really humbling thing to happen considering where I've come from."

For the latest on Bellator 13, check out the MMA Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.

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March 25, 2010

Following freak win over Duane Ludwig, Darren Elkins anxious for second UFC shot

Originally posted on MMAjunkie.com

While UFC lightweight Darren Elkins' (12-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) recent promotional debut was one of the most memorable in company history, it wasn't necessarily for all the right reasons.

Elkins' first-round takedown of Duane Ludwig at this past weekend's UFC on Versus 1 event resulted in a grotesque contortion of "Bang's" leg, and the resulting break ended the fight before it ever really began.

So while Elkins wishes Ludwig a speedy recovery, he's also looking forward to a chance to truly prove his abilities.

"It took away from my win," Elkins told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). "I wanted to go in there and show what kind of talent I was and that I belong in the UFC. This is where I want to stay at."

Elkins was a late-notice replacement for original opponent Spencer Fisher. Despite facing an experienced opponent with less than a full training camp, Elkins said he was surprisingly relaxed on fight night.

"Truthfully, without a doubt, I can say that was the most relaxed I've ever been coming into a fight," Elkins said. "I knew I had to be. Obvioulsy I'm fighting a really game opponent, and to do what I needed to do, I really had to come in there relaxed. If you get all tensed up, it's a lot easier to get knocked out.

"I've been competing at a top level and everything in wrestling since I was young. I'm used to the fans. I actually think I do better around big crowds and when pressure is on me. I'm one of those types of guys."

Facing a dangerous striker, Elkins knew he needed to put Ludwig on his back. He did so in less than a minute, but he returned to his feet almost immediately, leaving those in attendance unsure as to what had happened.

"I didn't realize it right away," Elkins said. "I didn't hear a pop or anything. He tapped right away, which most people didn't get to see. The ref didn't even see it.

"He tapped, and I jumped up because I knew that if he tapped something had to be wrong. It was just a takedown. It wasn't like I had a submission on him. I knew something was wrong. I don't think the ref saw him tap. He called time, and I said, 'He tapped.'"

After a few brief moments of confusion, replays showed what Ludwig already knew. His left leg was trapped beneath him during the takedown, and his ankle twisted backward and snapped his fibula.

"They showed it on the Jumbotron, and he said he broke his leg, and I think everybody realized what happened," Elkins said.

Elkins said he feels bad for Ludwig's misfortune, but the lightweight is also disappointed that he didn't get to finish what he started.

"I had him in the position I wanted to in the fight," Elkins said. "That's exactly what I wanted: him on his back and me on top. Its just unfortunate it happened that way. I'm hoping he recovers quick. I wish him a speedy recovery, and I wish him nothing but the best in the future."

Elkins isn't sure what his next move in his MMA career will be. In the meantime, the Indiana native will head back to his other job: pipefitting.

"I'm a local 597 pipefitter, actually," Elkins said. "I'm still in my apprenticeship. I still have another year, and then I get my hard card. It's an option that I can have for the rest of my life. When I'm done fighting, I can always go back to pipefitting.

"We're going to sit down with my manager, Nate Brodnax from MMAagents. He said he's going to give me a call in a couple of weeks. We're going to work on a date and an opponent. I'm wanting to get in maybe in the next three or four months."

So Elkins is now 1-0 in the UFC, even if the victory did come in rather dubious fashion. Nevertheless, Elkins enjoyed his first trip to the octagon and looks forward to making his mark in his next outing.

"It was a great experience," Elkins said. "I went out there, and obviously I wasn't the crowd favorite because I fought him in his hometown, but it was great fighting in front of a big crowd and finally being in the UFC. It's been a dream of mine."

For complete coverage of UFC on Versus 1, check out the UFC Events section of MMAjunkie.com.

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March 24, 2010

Kalib Starnes submitted by Falaniko Vitale at X-1 World Event's 'Champions II'

Originally posted on www.mmamania.com

Honolulu, HI (USA): Hawaiian fighting favorite Falaniko Vitale (27-9) proved he is still a force to be reckoned with in MMA, as he was victorious in his return to the sport at X-1 World Event's "CHAMPIONS II" event this past Saturday, March 20th, at the Neal Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu.

Vitale retained his X-1 World Middleweight title against fellow UFC veteran Kalib Starnes (10-5-1), submitting his foe with a front choke just 2:22 into the first round. Starnes hung tough early on, taking the champion down in the opening minutes of the bout. "I know I got a few takedowns there. I felt like it was easy to take him down," Starnes told Sherdog.com. "I feel like I could have kept doing that over and over again."

But Vitale was able to weather the storm, and he capitalized on positioning to trip his Canadian opponent to the ground and took top position before transitioning to side-mount. "Once I get somebody in side control, I know I have him," Vitale said. "I was trying to go for a crucifix, trying to land some punches, and that didn't work out. Then he put me in half guard and I applied the hammer choke, and I was fortunate to get him."

The Ultimate Fighter season 3 semi-finalist had never been submitted before. "It was just a tight pin, and he got a front choke. He was starting to slide it on, and usually those front chokes aren't very effective; you can just peel them off. I didn't feel like I was in much danger. Just the way he slid it in with the back of his hand -- and he has big arms -- and the way he laid on it with his shoulder, I wasn't able to peel it off."

In the co-main event, Harris "The Hitman" Sarmiento (29-20) garnered a controversial split-decision win over The Ultimate Fighter season 9 competitor Richie Whitson (6-1). The two lightweights battled for five rounds, with Whitson pushing the pace with his takedowns and boxing.

However, it was the power punches of Sarmiento that damaged Whitson's face and ultimately earned him the favor of two out of the three ringside judges. "The crowd booed. They thought I won," Whitson said. "But it happens, you know. You leave it up to the judges, and it can go either way."

Meanwhile, Dave Moreno (8-7) captured the X-1 featherweight crown, as he took the back of Kurrent Cockett (4-1) and flattened him out before sinking the tap-inducing rear-naked choke 3:30 into the second frame. The X-1 bantamweight title was also on the line, as Bryson Hansen (5-0) defeated Riley Dutrob (2-1) via split-decision.

The unbeaten Hansen remains perfect through five professional bouts. Finally, Sengoku veteran and 2008 Olympic gold medalist Satoshi Ishii made quick work of Sasae Paogofie in an exhibition match, as he submitted him with a kimura in 2:49.

"What a great night of fights it was!" exclaimed X-1 owner/promoter Mike Miller. "The fighters put on a great show, and the fans went home happy. It can't get much better than that!"

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