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| Sunday - July 1, 2001 |
UFC 32 Pictures All Week! Click here for more pictures |
From promoter Will Hendricks:
Weekend Warriors Challenge 7Catch Wrestling Tournament Results Held June 30th, 2001 #8 Garden Center, Broomfield, Colorado, USA 
Semi Final Bouts:James Walker def. Amadeo Roybal by arm-bar at 4:38 Tyrone Lynch def. Jason Reading by judges' decision after 5 min. Championship Bout: Tyrone Lynch defeated James Walker by triangle armbar at 2:13 minutes. WWC Tournament Champion Ty Lynch |
| Monday - July 2, 2001 |
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By Eduardo Alonso 
Brazilian Top Team member Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira will finally make his long awaited debut in Pride at the next event, Pride 15. Minotauro, known for his great ground technique, won the last RINGS King of Kings tournament is now heading to Pride, and his first opponent will be none other than "The Hammer" himself, Mark Coleman! FCF was told today that Minotauro and Coleman is a done deal. This will be a great match for the upcoming card! Minotauro is training harder than ever, and will have his biggest challenge so far in his career facing the Pride Grand Prix 2000 Champion. Coleman recently got a win against another Brazilian Top Team member in Allan Goes, and now everybody will want to see if Minotauro will be able to come with the right game plan to face Coleman. This fight just proves that the next Pride will have a card full of stars once again. More news about Pride 15's fights to come soon! Keep checking the FCF web site!
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UFC 32 Pictures All Week! Click here for more pictures |
| Tuesday - July 3, 2001 |
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From John Petrilli (RITC Writer/Statistician): Arizona Summer Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu/Submission Grappling Tournament - This Saturday Afternoon !! Date: Saturday July 7, 2001 Location: Tae Kwon Do Academy 10135 E. Via Linda, Scottsdale, AZ Please note that there will be separate divisions: 1. Jiu-Jitsu (Gi) 2. Submission Grappling (no Gi) 3. Absolute Weigh In 12:00pm Fight Time 1:00pm Entry Fee: $30.00 All Competitors will receive a Competition T-Shirt. 1st Place winner in each division will receive a Championship Trophy. If you need more information on the tournament please e-mail your address to doomstr@primenet.com |
| Wednesday - July 4, 2001 |
 Happy Independence Day! |
More UFC 32 Pictures! Click here for more pictures |
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From the event's promoter: The Grapplers Quest National Submission Grappling Championships will be held Sunday, September 23rd, 2001 at The City College of New York in New York City. For more information, go to: GrapplersQuest.com or Grapplers.com |
| Thursday - July 5, 2001 |
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On UFC 30 & 31! Each video is a must have! 4-stars! Available July 12th
For FASTEST service call in your credit card order (516)922-1081 Or Click here to order securely online with your credit card or print off the order form & mail it in with your payment |
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Allan Goes & Murilo Bustamante By Eduardo Alonso FCF had the opportunity to meet with Brazilian Top Team members Allan Goes and Murilo Bustamante, at the Meca World Vale Tudo 5 in Curitiba. Both fighters shared some words about their past and future with FCF! 
FCF: At Pride 13 you went up against a very tough challenge, facing Mark Coleman, who is a lot heavier than you. What are your thoughts on the fight?Alan Goes: Look, this fight against Coleman...I'll not take anything away from him, 'cause Mark is a great fighter and he beat me. I wasn't in a good day, and I'm not creating any sort of excuses because it's not my way of dealing with things. He went there, kicked my ass and he won the fight, congratulations to him. He can wait, because I'm training to fight him again. It's like I always said, What can't finish me will only make me better. So this made me better. Coleman is a great athlete, I'll go after him, and I faced the better fight I ever did in my life, in the worst condition of my life! I'm not here trying to create excuses, but he didn't fight me in the best shape and condition that a fighter needs to perform his game. FCF: Can we expect to see you again in Pride soon? AG: For sure! I'll be [the next Pride,] in Pride 15. I don't know against who I'll be fighting, and no matter who I'll be fighting, I'll be there to give a show, do my best and leave my life in the ring if I need to! FCF: Murilo, you are considered one of the most technical fighters in the World, with a great guard and ground game. You had some memorable fights, like against Tom Erikson, and then you stayed away from the ring for a while. You came back recently, and now there are a lot of rumors about your future. What can we expect from you in the near future? 
Murilo Bustamante: What happened was that I fought a lot, and I stayed away for a while because they weren't offering me what I wanted. So I decided to stay away from the NHB scene for a while, and expect a good opportunity that I would get what I wanted. Last year I received a good offer from the UFC, in which I would fight 3 times and I would fight for the title in the third fight, but the UFC was sold and split with the UFC Japan organization. In the meantime it seems that the UFC Japan event was cancelled. So I was invited to fight at the May 4th UFC event, but since I already had a contract with the UFC Japan, I needed to wait a bit, so I couldn't fight in the May 4th UFC. I had some offers, and I'm studying them all, but I intend to return to the ring as soon as possible! I'm ready now, and I'm looking to fight at least 3 times this year!FCF: Can we expect you to fight at the UFC, or maybe Pride? MB: It can be the UFC, it can be Pride. It will all depend on the negotiations, it'll depend on what will be better. FCF: We're waiting! Good luck in your next projects! MB: Thanks a lot, and good luck! AG: Thank you! Stay with God. |
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From Susumu's Gallery: Hello, Susumu's Gallery has added 29 photos from UFC 32 held on June 29th! This is our first update in 2 months. I hope these photos will cure Susumu's fans' thirst. Please enjoy. Susumu's Gallery: http://come.to/susumu |
This month we want to give you the opportunity to express yourself. Let the world read what you have to say. Write about any thing that has to do with MMA/NHB -- future or present. Do you have any thoughts on the complete turnaround by iNdemand and the cable industry on their stance regarding the braodcasting of mixed martial arts on PPV? What did you think of UFC 32? Let's hear your thoughts. It's your call, your thoughts, your message...let the world hear your voice!Some of the commentary we receive will appear in the July 2001 issue of FCF Click here to take the survey |
| Friday - July 6, 2001 |
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From PrideFC: (a.k.a. PRIDE 15) Additional Match Ups Three additional match ups and one change have been announced. Additions: Change: Due to the injury on the hand Renzo Gracie was replaced by Wallid Ismail. *Card subject to change *Total nine matches are scheduled. |
| Saturday - July 7, 2001 |
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By Eduardo Alonso Brazilian Top Team member Amaury Bitetti first appeared as one of the most promising BJJ black belts to compete in NHB. After a good start in his career, Amaury faced some tough challenges and struggled a bit to get his career back on track. Responsible for some legendary battles, like against Don Frye at the UFC, Bitetti is a tough fighter who still has a lot to give in the NHB rings worldwide. FCF had the opportunity to meet him at the last MECA event in Curitiba, where he worked as the referee for the event! 
FCF: Amaury, What are you expecting from this event [MECA 5]?Amaury Bitetti: It'll be wondeful! There are only good fighters in the event. We have the guys from Rudimar, with some very tough athletes, and all the others, like the people from Leitão (Ruas Vale Tudo), and from the Top Team. So I think it'll be a good event, with great wins and great KO's. FCF: Is it hard to deal with the pressure of working as the referee for the biggest NHB event in Brazil? AB: For me it's great! I already worked as a referee once in Paraná [A state of Brazil], I did 10 fights straight there, so I'm used to it! I'll let the fights go on, and If I feel that one athlete can't continue I'll stop the fight, no problem. FCF: You already have a great BJJ background, and now you have been training a lot of Muay Thai lately. What can we expect from you in the future? AB: As of now I don't have any contract signed, but I'm training Muay Thai with Artur Mariano and Luis Alves, and Rudimar will also help me to see if I can get some fights. If I do, it'll be great! I love Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu, so for me It's always Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu all the way! FCF: You stayed in the USA for a while, focusing more on the UFC and the likes. How was that experience? AB: I stayed there for a while to see if I could find some space to fight there, but it has been a bit difficult. I expect to be able to fight there, otherwise I'll see if Rudimar can get me to fight for Pride in the future. FCF: Thanks Amaury, good luck! AB: Thanks a lot! |
| Sunday - July 8, 2001 |
UFC 32 Pre-Fight Fun Australian fighter Elvis Sinosic enjoying a peek down-under at Carmen Electra. |
| Monday - July 9, 2001 |
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From the event's promoter: Event: "THE EYE OF THE STORM": The Ultimate Fighting Event of its kind Event Sponsor: Reality Super Fighting, Jamie Levine, President Event Date: Saturday, July 21, 2001 Place: St. Lucie Civic Center, Ft. Pierce, Fl Time: Fights start at 7 p.m. Tickets on sale now at the St. Lucie County Civic Center Box Office 561-462-1526 Ticket Prices: $10, $15, $20 (ringside) Web site: www.realitysuperfighting.com 
Ultimate Mixed Martial Arts Cage Fights Come To Area No-holds-barred fights will rock the St. Lucie County Civic Center, Ft. Pierce on July 21. Ten matches will take place in a steel cage. Local favorite Chad Saunders will take on nationally acclaimed champion Karl Schmidt in the main event.There are few rules and lots of action inside the cage. Fighters may use any form of hand-to-hand combat which may include boxing techniques, kicking, elbow, knee strikes and Submission wrestling techniques. Matches are won by knockout, by one of the fighters giving up (signaled by the contestant "tapping out", that is tapping on the mat), by the referee stopping the match, or by the judges' decision. Fights are generally three four-minute rounds. Title fights are longer. The few rules that are part of the contest prohibit the fighters from eye gouging, groin strikes and biting. Even though it is easy to follow the action, the fighters are extremely skilled and do whatever it takes to win or just survive. Card is subject to change. FIGHT CARD Main Event BOUTS |
| Tuesday - July 10, 2001 |
Eddie Goldman's Internet talk show "No Holds Barred" is no more. It's not just Eddie's show, it was announced on Monday, July 9th that eYada would be ceasing operations. Though the company is not bankrupt, sources say money was definitely an issue. Getting advertisers to invest in "dot com" radio is a difficult thing at the current time. The market may have been a lot more friendly had the promise of Internet capable radios in cars and homes become a reality sooner.Here is a statement from Eddie on the matter... EYADA CLOSES ITS DOORS by Eddie Goldman MONTREAL, July 9 -- I received the news while in upstate New York en route to Montreal for Tuesday's Super Boxing Gala at the Molson Centre. The company on which I had hosted the "No Holds Barred" Internet talk show for 21 months, eYada.com, has closed down, effectively immediately. I was informed by my rugged producer, Al Gattullo, who had become a key supporter of the combat sports in this period. More details will follow as I get them, but for now, all of eYada.com is done. |
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By Eduardo Alonso 
After all the speculation regarding Vanderlei Silva's opponent for Pride 15, it turns out that the "Axe Murderer" will not be fighting in the event.Silva, who is still undefeated in Pride, with wins over the likes of Guy Mezger, Dan Henderson and Kazushi Sakuraba, has been training hard for Pride 15 since his win over Shungo Oyama in the last Pride. This show was originally supposed to feature Vanderlei's rematch against Japanese superstar Kazushi Sakuraba, but due to Sakuraba's condition, the fight was postponed until later this year, probably November. That left fans wondering who would face the Chute Boxe star at Pride 15. Many names were thrown around, but despite all the talk FCF was told yesterday that Vanderlei Silva will definitely not be fighting in Pride 15. Silva has been one of the most active fighters in Pride lately, and he deserves this break. However, DSE will bring Vanderlei to Japan, and he will be attending the show as a guest, and will be on hand to help out Chute Boxe teammate Assuerio Silva, who will be fighting Valentijn Overeem. After this well deserved break, Vanderlei Silva will be fighting at Pride 16, in September, against a yet to be named opponent. |
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From DSE USA: (a.k.a. PRIDE 15) Additional Match Ups Tuesday, July 10, 2001 From Tokyo, Japan Three additional match ups have been announced.
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Mark Coleman
Rodrigo Nogueira
Heath Herring
Mark Kerr
Valentijn Overeem| Wednesday - July 11, 2001 |
On Saturday June 30th, 2001 Dan Severn faced off against Travis Fulton in World Extreme Cage Fighting's inaugural event at The Palace Casino in Lemoore, CA. When the match was over, it went to the judges, who awarded the unanimous decision to Severn. After the match, controversy reared its ugly head, with allegations of a worked match, personal vendettas and more began to be tossed around. IFC, Becky Levi & Dan Severn and Travis Fulton on the situation... |
| Thursday - July 12, 2001 |
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From Pancrase: (as of July 6, 2001) Open-weight 9th K.O.P. Semmy Schilt(Holland/Golden Glory)
1st K.O.P. vacant
1st K.O.P. Nathan Marquardt(U.S.A./Colorado Stars)
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| Friday - July 13, 2001 |
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Marcelo Tigre By Chris Onzuka - Chris@Onzuka.com 
The wild man from Brazil returns to the ring on American soil once again. Marcelo Tigre [Tigre is the Portuguese spelling of Tiger] has not been as active as he would like to have been, but then again, he would be happy if he could fight every other day. Tigre takes on Egan Inoue's number one student in an event that is titled, "The Road to Egan/Tiger 2." Egan Inoue will fight Tigre's top student on the same card. These fights are meant to serve as "tune up" fights before their much-anticipated rematch. I caught up with Tigre at the Team Tiger gym, which has expanded its offerings and grown since I last went there.FCF: The last time you fought was in Japan at Deep 2001. Tell us about your fight there. Marcelo Tigre: For this event I was in good shape and ready to fight, but people always say that I don't care about the rules, that I want to make my own rules. But this time, they [Deep 2001 organizers] put rules and nobody followed them. I tried to follow the rules, but [my opponent] didn't. Now I know what rules I am going to follow. I tried to follow the rules and do good in Japan because Japan is the best place for fight. I had a little problem before my fight, but all my fights are like that. As the fight goes on, all my opponents know that they cannot beat me because my heart is big. Then it becomes to easy for me and I always finish them, like in Japan. I have a good name in Japan. I am going to fight there again in Deep 2001 and Pancrase after the fight at SuperBrawl in Hawaii. FCF: Do you have any dates when those fights are? MT: July 21st, I have a fight in SuperBrawl. On the 28th of the same month, I fight in Pancrase. I fly straight to Japan after SuperBrawl. And then after that fight, I come back to Hawaii because of my students. I have a big team here and I have to take care of my students. Then I go back to Japan to fight in Deep 2001 for my belt. I think it is on August 15th. FCF: Do you know who your opponent is for the Pancrase fight? MT: I don't know who my opponent is yet. The next SuperBrawl event in October, I am going to fight again with Egan Inoue. I am also going to fight with Kimo [Leopoldo] at the Blaisdell [arena in Hawaii]. I think it is October 21st. That is my schedule for now. FCF: You're fighting Egan and Kimo in the same month? When is the fight with Egan? MT: I think October 12th. I have a paper with the date on it. We signed the contract already. FCF: You don't mind fighting two big fights so close together? MT: No, this is good for me, it will make me in shape. Like I told you, I have a big team that takes care of me. I have my personal trainer who stretches me. She came from Brazil, her name is Patricia. She came to help me with my flexibility because I have no flexibility. But I am better now, before it was "no train, just fight." But now, I got to change everything to make me more stronger because there is always someone big for me to fight. I fight any weight, I don't care about the weight. I don't care when I am going to fight. I can fight today. I can fight tomorrow. It doesn't matter because I am a fighter. I am like an animal. An animal fights to survive, that is my way. |
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From the event's promoter: is This Weekend Memorial Coliseum, Evansville, IN. Saturday, July 14th, 2001 
"This is our summer show, we are going to have some fun" crows promoter Jeff Osborne. "We expect a packed crowd again, mainly due to the return of Aaron Riley and the additional media stir that has caused. He is doing morning radio shows, we are scheduled to have the news here in Evansville cover the weigh ins on Friday at 6PM, the atmosphere is great" continues Osborne. "And then we have the tag team grappling - in typical HnS fashion, we are just going to see how this plays out, but we think it could be a real crowd pleaser. The fighters involved sound excited too, so..." says Osborne "Poof, before your very eyes, we are experimenting!"HOOKNSHOOT TITLE BOUT (3 Rounds): 2 round matches: SPECIAL NOTE: Regarding RUAS VALE TUDO and Manuel Garcia. Garcia was announced as fighting Ivan Salaverri. This match will not happen on this show, however it is necessary to correct an error. Garcia, from Spain has traveled on several occasions to Brazil to train with the RUAS TEAM, however he is not an "official" member of the team. We announced Manuel as a member in error in our prior press release. Manuel will fight in HOOKnSHOOT in 2001, and when he does he will represent Spain. Apologies to both parties for the confusion. |
| Saturday - July 14, 2001 |
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From the event's promoter: Extreme Challenge 41 
DAVENPORT, Iowa -- Matt Hughes continued his display of improved submission skills, catching previously unbeaten jiu-jitsu star Chatt Lavender with a sidechoke at 2:31 of round three Friday night to win the main event of Extreme Challenge 41.It was a thrilling finale with Hughes using his strength and wrestling skills to keep Lavender on bottom throughout the match. However, Lavender kept the match exciting by nearly catching Hughes in a couple of submissions in the first round. "I almost got him a couple times," Lavender said afterwards... "he was just so strong." Lavender was trying to make it three upset wins in a row after having submitted Karl Schmitz and LaVerne Clark en route to his 8-0 record. Hughes, now 27-3, almost finished the bout at the end of the second round. After catching his opponent with an arm-bar, Hughes let the arm go when he thought Lavender had tapped and the ref was stepping in to halt the fight. "I felt something and then Bart (Guyer) started to reach down," Hughes said. "I had the arm, but I let go... Bart said he didn't see a tap and so we kept going. He was a tough guy... very tricky and hard to hit." The bell sounded moments later, but Hughes was not to be denied. After getting another takedown and landing some body punches, he moved to the side and applied the choke. "I'm becoming a more complete fighter," Hughes said. "I've worked hard on the submission side and I'm improving my strikes and kicks." Hughes will now face Hiromitsu Kanehara in RINGS Japan on Aug. 11 in Tokyo. In a feature bout, Rich Franklin improved to 12-0 when opponent Chris Seifert tapped due to punches from the mount at 1:45 of round 2. It was almost an even first round, but when Seifert attempted a takedown in round 2, the fighters bounced off the ropes and landed with Franklin in the mount. Seifert, now 17-3, tried to escape for nearly a minute, but eventually tapped. Robbie Lawler, the 19-year-old from Miletich Martial Arts, improved to 4-0 with a TKO win over Marco Macera. Lawler, who has won all his bouts by KO, controlled the standup, and finished the bout with a hard right to Macera's head, while he was on the mat. Macera, who KO'd Eric Hibler in his last bout, dropped to 3-2. Jason Black was hoping to improve on his 12-0 record, but opponent Koji Lehman of Los Angeles had other ideas. Lehman, who flew in on Thursday, was nowhere to be found on Friday. Apparently, he moved up his return flight and left. No explanation or message was left with the promoter. Other winners were: Jason Medina, now 4-1; and Dennis Reed, now 33-21. In a tag-team submission match, the team of Pat Miletich and Jeremy Horn bested the team of Nate Schroeder and Tim Sylvia 2-1 in 8:05. The next Extreme Challenge is scheduled for Aug. 24 in Davenport. RESULTS:
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Edwards Vs. Riley By Joe Hall
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Age: 24|
From Susumu's Gallery: Hello, We have added 57 photos from the Shooto show held on July 6th in Korakuen Hall, Tokyo. Please enjoy. This time, I have a message from Susumu below: These photographs differ from my usual ones which shows basically how a fight develops. I chose the photographs by the criteria of the expression, motion or body shown while an athlete is fighting this time. Because I want to explore the possibility as fine art of fight photographs. I am happy if you send me your thoughts on my trial. Susumu's mail address is: susumu@fp.catv.ne.jp  Susumu's Gallery: http://come.to/susumu |
From the event's promoter: INTERNATIONAL FIGHTING CHAMPHIONSHIPS PRESENTS WARRIOR'S CHALLENGE XIV Table Mountain Casino - Friant, CA July 18, 2001 Will the West Coast Shine? 
The International Fighting Championships' ("IFC") Warrior's Challenge shows have always featured the West Coast's top young talent. Now, the IFC has decided that it is time to see how that talent stacks up against the world's best, and the world has taken notice.Representatives from the UFC, Pride, Pancrase and Shooto will all be on hand as the IFC's Warrior's Challenge XIV card rocks Table Mountain Casino on July 18th with its headline match up for the vacant IFC Welterweight World Championship. Undefeated Gil Castillo from Lake Tahoe, California, will take on Nathan Marquardt, the Middleweight King of Pancrase and Number 9 ranked Welterweight in the world. This fight is guaranteed to be explosive as Castillo tries to prove he is ready to take the title and break into the top 10 Welterweight rankings while Marquardt will be out to show the U.S. fans what they have been missing while he has been destroying the competition in Japan. Plus, the Warrior's Challenge XIV card will feature two Americas championship fights. In the first, IFC Light-Heavyweight of the Americas Champion, David Terrell from Concord, California, will defend his title against the number 10 ranked Light-Heavyweight in the world, Jeremy Horn. Terrell, who impressively beat Brazilian Jiu jitsu black belt Marcos Da Silva in his last fight, will definitely have his hands full against the veteran Horn, who has fought and defeated some of the toughest fighters in the world. In the second, Joey Villasenor, the former IFC Light-Heavyweight of the Americas Champion will drop down to the middleweight division to challenge Ryan Stout for his title. When you throw in ten more exciting fights, including a four women welterweight tournament, you can see why the world will be turning its attention to Friant California to watch the IFC's Warrior's Challenge XIV. There are only a few tickets still available. You can purchase them through Table Mountain Casino or by calling BASS tickets 1(800) 225-BASS. FIGHT CARD
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From the event's promoter: (For the Better!) Where should we start? Chronologically:
SuperBrawl 5th Anniversary Gabe Lemley 150lbs v David Yeung 150lbs (Team Extreme) 3-2 (Muay Thai) 0-1 Melchor Manabusen 150lbs v Jay R. Palmer 150lbs (Pure Bred, Guam) 0-0 (Freelance) 21- "Iwi" Kohanu 143lbs v Lincoln Tyler 140lbs (Nova Uniao, Big Island) 0-0 (Freelance) 3-1 Rick Graveson 199lbs v Paul Ano 195lbs (Team Extreme) 21-11 (Grappling Unlimited) 0-0 Kim Morishita 153lbs v Gary Frietas 153lbs (Maui) 2-0 (Grappling Unlimited) 2-1-1 Ben Earwood 176lbs v John Crisostom 176lbs (Team Extreme) 19-2 (Grappling Unlimited) 7-5 Dennis Reed 195lbs v Niko Vitale 195lbs (Team Extreme) 32-21 (Grappling Unlimited) 7-1 Dave Strasser 180lbs v Ronald Jhun 180lbs (Team Extreme) 17-2 (Jesus is Lord) 20-5 Wesley Coreirra 270lbs v Marcelo Tiger 205lbs (Grappling Unlimited) 3-2 (Team Tiger) 33-1 Brett Al-Azzawi 185lbs v Egan Inoue 190lbs (Team Extreme) 10-9 (Grappling Unlimited) 6-2 |
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From the event's promoter: RSF prepares to invade Ft. Pierce, FL on July 21, 2001 for RSF Eye of the Storm. Already signed for the main event are Chad Saunders vs. Karl Schmidt!! Look for this card to heat up as the 21st nears. Eye of the Storm will be held at the St. Lucie County Civic Center. Tickets are $10, $15 & $20. |
| Sunday - July 15, 2001 |
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Edwards Does It Again By Joe Hall As Aaron Riley and Yves Edwards made their way to the ring, the hometown crowd left their seats to gather a bit closer in the aisle way. Those already sitting ringside squeezed a little tighter while the fans in attendance roared to welcome Riley in his return fight after a departure to train across the country. In the three memorable rounds that followed, Yves Edwards landed a plethora of knees and punches to stun the crowd and become the new HOOKnSHOOT Middleweight Champion. Despite cutting Riley early in the first round and dominating on the feet throughout, Edwards narrowly escaped defeat several times. In what appeared to be typical Riley come-from-behind fashion, the bleeding champion passed to the side mount and swung for an arm lock in the final round. However, Edwards patiently defended and closed the round standing with a vicious combination. An incredible fight went to the judges whom justly and unanimously awarded the bout to Edwards. Riley showed unmatched heart, never going down despite the endless number of strikes he absorbed. Yves Edwards, on the other hand, scored another impressive win over Riley and should now receive the attention he deserves from the MMA world. Full Results Eddie Miller vs. Andy Dodd Miller by TKO - punches standing (rd 1) Joseph Baize vs. Bradley Burrick Baize by Submission - Leg Lock (rd 1) Travis Phippen vs. Rocky Long Phippen by Submission - Arm Lock (rd 1) Ray Casias vs. Mike McPherson Casias by Submission - Arm Lock (rd 1) Tom Jones vs. Alvin Robinson Jones by Verbal Submission - punches from the mount (rd 1) Frank Mir vs. Jerome Smith Mir by Unanimous Decision Yves Edwards vs. Aaron Riley Edwards by Unanimous Decision |
| Monday - July 16, 2001 |
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By Eduardo Alonso 
The violence in Brazil sometimes reaches some scary levels! This past week one of the most popular NHB fighters in the world, the "Axe Murderer" Vanderlei Silva, went through some terrible moments in his hometown of Curitiba!Vanderlei was driving his car around town, and all of the sudden he was surprised by three guys, all armed with guns! The deliquents quickly got into his car, and drove for some minutes with guns pointed to his head, leaving the NHB fighter not knowing what would happen with his life in the next few moments! The three thieves were very nervous, and didn't recognize who Vanderlei was. They kept driving for some moments, until they made him get out of the car, and disapeared with Vanderlei's Ford Ranger, taking his cell phone and plenty of money with them. The city of Curitiba is considered of the most tranquil cities in Brazil, with a very low crime rate compared to other Brazilian cities. Even so, we're reaching an unacceptable level of violence, and it's very sad to see one of the top fighters in the game having to go through this sort of situation in his own city. Fortunately everything ended up well, and Vanderlei wasn't hurt. The police have not found his car yet and nor have they found the thieves. |
| Tuesday - July 17, 2001 |
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July 16, 2001 10:00 AM 24-Hour Fitness Kapiolani Blvd. Honolulu, Hawaii By Michael Onzuka - Mike@onzuka.com The press conference went as planned. Thanks to slow car repair service, I arrived a bit late, but since there is a Brazilian in the show, I had a lot of time before it began (heh heh). Basically, the press conference was to let Marcelo Tigre, Wesley "Cabbage" Cabrerra, and Egan Inoue speak their minds and build the fight. Both Cabbage and Egan were pretty quiet with their comments, but Marcelo had a lot to say. 
All three fighters sat at a table and promoter T. Jay Thompson brought a film crew to video the press conference. Egan admitted that he did not know much about his opponent, Brett Al-Azzawi, but his style of mixing up the stand-up and ground would remain the same. Basically, Egan and Cabbage stated that they will let their fighting speak for themselves in the ring, while Marcelo explained that he lives a fighter's life and fights for pride, for his students to be proud of him, and for survival. Tiger stated that he is ready to fight any day, at any time. One interesting thing to note was that Tiger stated that when he gets hit, it wakes him up and gets him more in tune with the fight. From the fights that I have seen of Marcelo's, I have to agree and add that in order to get 100% out of Tiger, you have to give him a couple good shots. He also stated that the last time when he first faced Inoue, he was all alone with no team, physically sick, and did not know how to prepare properly. At that time, Marcelo's motto was, "No train, Fight!" Marcelo now has a personal trainer that has been working to increase his cardio and flexibility. He has brought in professional boxers to increase his punching power. After the interview, Tiger was boiling and he told T. Jay and myself that he wants to fight right now and I could see in his eyes that he was not just talking trash. He said that he is going to take his students back to his school and "work off" some energy.I don't think we will see a more refined technical bobbing and weaving Tiger, but one that has more power and the same balls to stay in range to cause some serious damage. Cabbage has the size and physical toughness to stand there with Tiger so if both fighters keep the fight standing, there should be some major leather flying and some very hard hits. The Road To Tiger/Inoue II Super Brawl 5th Anniversary July 21, 2001 Neil Blaisdell Arena Honolulu, HI Tickets are $25 pre-sale, $29 on the day of the event. Limited $50 VIP seating are also available FIGHT CARD
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From DSE USA: For North America We are pleased to announce PRIDE-15 (PRIDE FC "Raging Rumble") will be on PPV in North America as shown below. We are going to release additional information for Viewer's Choice Canada shortly. Regards, Hideki Yamamoto Dream Stage Entertainment USA DIRECTV SCHEDULES Premiere Replays * All Day Ticket Dish Network Premiere Replays * All Day Ticket BellExpress Vu Premiere Replays *3 exhibitions per night (9:00pm ET , Midnight ET, 3:00am ET) Viewer's Choice Canada Premiere Replays |
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By Eduardo Alonso After lots of speculation, the "phenom" Vitor Belfort just told FCF today that he is really out of the Brazilian Top Team! Not only Vitor, but his old teammates Allan Goes, Carlão Barreto and Ricardo Arona among others all left the Brazilian Top Team to form a new fighting team! Vitor told FCF that he is training a lot of Muay Thai with Luis Alves, and that he is already training very hard for his upcoming UFC title fight against Tito Ortiz. Belfort also said that he is very happy with his new deal with the UFC, since the UFC is taking good care of fighters, and especially because the UFC is helping the sport to grow a lot! Belfort mentioned that he signed a long contract with the UFC, and that he is looking forward to a good partnership with the event over the years. "the Phenom" went on to say that the UFC not only paid him well, giving him the right value, they are also treating the fighters very well, understanding that they need to invest in the concept of stars, helping to build the sport and take it mainstream. The Brazilian Top Team started as a new NHB/Jiu Jitsu oriented team, with several former Carlson Gracie fighters, who left the Carlson team to form what would be one of the toughest and most talented fighting teams in the world. However, now most of the MMA community in Brazil is suprised with the news of a brand new fighting team in the country! With several talents like Belfort, this new team can only achieve success, and everybody is left wondering what will happen with the Brazilian Top Team. |
| Wednesday - July 18, 2001 |
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From the event's promoter: Present: W A R R I O R ' S R E V E N G E UFCF & Washington State sanctioned Professional Kickboxing & Pankration Date: July 21, 2001 Place: Lucky Eagle Casino in Rochester, WA Time: 7:00PM Quick Line up
Lucky Eagle Casino 800-720-1788 www.LuckyEagle.com Rochester, WA http://www.Pankration.com AMC Kickboxing & Pankration 427 6th Street South Kirkland, Washington 98033 (USA) Phone: (425) 822-9656 Email: AMC@pankration.com |
For FASTEST service call in your credit card order (516)922-1081 Or Click here to order securely online with your credit card or print off the order form & mail it in with your payment |
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From DSE USA: Viewer's Choice Canada Viewer's Choice Canada Premiere Replays (See yesterday's post for full schedule for North American PPV) |
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From the event's promoter: Fight Card Here is the card for "Eye of the Storm", a night of mixed martial arts fights to be held July 21, 2001 at the St/ Lucie County Civic Center in Fort Pierce Florida. Main Event: Karl Schmidt vs. Chad Saunders Fight 8: Sean Gray vs. Randy Rowe Fight 7: Kevin Hennings vs. Mike Buchovich Fight 6: Ahren Davis vs. Todd Carney Fight 5: Arti Brito vs. Bill Perez Fight 4: Antoine Coleman vs. Muta Champion Fight 3: Daniel Castro vs. Don Christman Fight 2: Jose Gonzales vs. Alan Williams Fight 1: Scott Johnson vs. Raymond Potoricco Preliminary Fight: TBD Card is subject to change. Also, look for Reality Super Fighting's next Event, "New Blood Conflict II" which will be held on August 11 at the Bell Auditorium in Augusta, GA. (Tickets on sale now at ticketmaster.com.) |
| Thursday - July 19, 2001 |
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Alexandre "Pequeno" Nogueira By Eduardo Alonso 
With his memorable wins in Shooto, Alexandre "Pequeno" Nogueira has become one of the most respected Brazilian fighters in Japan. Recently "Pequeno" joined the Brazilian Top Team, one of the most important NHB teams in Brazil, proving that old rivalries are changing. During the last MECA event in Curitiba, where "Pequeno" brought one of his students to fight, FCF got a chance to talk with the Shooto champion about some of his future projects, his training and more at the recent MECA 5 event...FCF: MECA has been growing a lot as an event lately, and now we have the presence of a the most important Brazilian NHB teams like Ruas Vale Tudo, Chute Boxe and the Brazilian Top Team. What do you expect from MECA 5? Alexandre "Pequeno" Nogueira: I'm expecting a lot of fights, great fights, with a number of great athletes that will be fighting here and will show everything that they learned from their masters! FCF: We have some Brazilian Top Team members debuting in NHB at this event. What can we expect from them tonight? Pequeno: You can expect a lot of technique, the guys are coming to win, no matter what! They are very well prepared. FCF: After all the great results you've had in Shooto, what is next for you? Pequeno: What's next is that I'll defend my title, because I do it every year there, in September in Shooto...Against a Japanese champion, the guy that I lost to in a previous Shooto event. FCF: What do you feel that changed in your game since you joined the Brazilian Top Team? Pequeno: Well, it's a great experience. We have a lot of fighters, from all the weight divisions, with a number of different techniques, so I'm learning a lot, a bit of everything, and improving my whole game! Standing, on the ground, improving my takedowns, everything. FCF: You brought a student of yours to fight here, but he isn't a Brazilian Top Team member. How does that work? Pequeno: I teach Luta Livre, I teach classes at Niteroi [a city near Rio de Janeiro], and I have a large NHB Team there, with guys from all weight divisions, appart from the Brazilian Top Team. As a matter of fact, I'll be bringing some of my students to fight in Japan, at Shooto. FCF: What can we expect from your student, Aba, in this show? Pequeno: Aba has been training with me for a long time; we'll see how he will react tonight. He will be facing a tought and experienced fighter, Assuério, and this is the first time that he will fight NHB! It's his debut! So let's expect a great fight! He will look to take him down, and finish the fight on the ground, that's his style! FCF: The best of luck for you in the future Pequeno! Pequeno: Thanks a lot! Complete MECA 5 coverage in the current issue of FCF! Don't miss it! |
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From the event's promoter: Goes Back to the Future! It all began in the winter of 1995 at a run down bar by the airport in Honolulu Hawaii. 8 street fighters stepped in a 16 foot make shift ring at Gussie LaMour's night club and made history. That is how the now successful and respected (well, somewhat) Super Brawl event got its start. For all those pining for the good ol' days, you don't have to pine any longer. Official weigh-ins and rules briefing will take place at this hallowed ground on Friday night July 20, at 7pm. Come on down and meet the fighters and talk to some who were there when it all began. Trade your fondest memories of the Gussie Dome!...Oh, ya...Entertainment will follow the weigh-ins. |
| Friday - July 20, 2001 |
For FASTEST service call in your credit card order (516)922-1081 Or Click here to order securely online with your credit card or print off the order form & mail it in with your payment |
In this issue...| Saturday - July 21, 2001 |
From the event's promoter: K-1 USA RETURNS TO LAS VEGAS! AUGUST 11, 2001 At The Amazing BELLAGIO Resort Hotel & Casino "8 MEN ENTER..., ONLY 1 SURVIVES" featuring: Maurice Smith USA Stefan Leko GERMANY Peter Aerts HOLLAND Noboru Uchida JAPAN Sergei Ivanovic BELARUS Duke Roufus USA Jurgen Kruth SWEDEN Francisco Filho BRAZIL PLUS a full undercard of K-1 style and ISKA Muay Thai Action! For Ticket Information, please Call the Bellagio Ticket Office: 1-888-488-7111 |
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| Sunday - July 22, 2001 |
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to Rule on Fate of MMA By Aaron Crecy LAS VEGAS--July 23, 2001 has the potential to be a joyous day for the sport of mixed martial arts fighting-or it could be remembered as Black Monday. That's because the Nevada Athletic Commission will convene in Las Vegas to vote upon whether or not to sanction MMA competitions in the state. However, insiders are confident that the Commission will give its approval, a move that would serve to move MMA a measurable stride in the direction of mainstream recognition. Established in 1941, the Nevada Athletic Commission is a five-member committee appointed by the Governor to regulate all contests and exhibitions of unarmed combat, including licensure and supervision of promoters, boxers, professional wrestlers, kickboxers, seconds, ring officials, managers, and matchmakers. The Commission is the final authority on licensing matters, having the ability to approve, deny, revoke or suspend all licenses for unarmed combat. The Nevada Athletic Commission currently sanctions boxing and kickboxing but has been considering a set of uniform rules for mixed martial arts that already have been adopted in New Jersey and California. If approved, it is conceivable that these new rules could be presented at the annual convention for the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC), July 25-28 in New Orleans. With both Nevada and New Jersey on board, there is a likelihood that MMA could soon be sanctioned in most states, if not all of them. MMA organizations such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Pride Fighting Championships are eager to host events in Nevada, and in Las Vegas in particular. Headquartered in Las Vegas, the UFC's ownership group, Zuffa LLC-led by Lorenzo Fertitta, himself the former vice-chairman of the Nevada Athletic Commission-already has tentative plans to hold its next event at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino on September 28th. Meanwhile, Pride has expressed considerable interest in bringing its event to the U.S. to challenge the UFC on its home soil. Both events would benefit from Las Vegas' ability to draw fans from the lucrative California market, an MMA hotbed. In addition, Las Vegas represents a significant upgrade in terms of the overall fan experience and image, as Pride and the UFC would ally themselves with upper echelon casinos that offer a multiplicity of entertainment attractions. "Being sanctioned in Nevada is huge for the sport," said UFC president Dana White. "It puts more of a spotlight on the sport and it puts us in the mainstream. Nevada is a state where all of the legitimate [combat] sports take place, and it has the best athletic commission in the world." |
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Managing, Fighting & The Top Team By Eduardo Alonso Zé Mario Sperry is considered one of the top submission fighters in the world, both with and without the gi. Bringing home top honors in all type of events, from the BJJ Worlds to the Abu Dhabi Submission Wrestling Championships to NHB fights around the globe, Mario has accomplished a lot during his career in the ring. But now he is not only successful inside the ring, but outside as well! Zé Mario has now taken on the additional task of fighter manager. FCF got the chance to talk recently with the "Zen Machine" about his new role as manager, his future inside the ring, and the recent events concerning the Brazilian Top Team. 
FCF: Everybody knows Mario Sperry as a fighter, winning several BJJ championships, fighting in Abu Dhabi and in NHB events all over the world. Now, apart from your career as fighter you're also helping some young fighters, working as their manager. How has this latest experience been for you?
Mario Sperry: This experience, as fun as it may sound, happened in a very natural way. At first I always helped my teammates, like to get to Abu Dhabi back in the days when there were no trials and stuff...And even today I recommend some friends to fight there, and I was always a very spoken person, very happy, and since I speak English very well, I was always able to close some good deals and contracts for myself! The younger fighters were always watching me, paying attention to the decisions that I made and stuff like that. So, at a certain point in Ricardo Arona's career he asked me if I could help him to get a deal with RINGS, because I got a call from RINGS and I mentioned it to him. So I said, "Of course Arona, I'll help you! No problem!" So I went there with him [a couple of times] to Japan, and on the third time I told him that I couldn't do it anymore, because I have my own things to take care of. So he said, "Zé Mario, let's make it official then!" But I told him that it was tough, because we're friends and it involves money and stuff, but he said, "But Zé Mario, if it won't be you, it'll be someone else! And I would like to have you as a manager, because I like you a lot, we're friends, and we know each other from a long time, etc." So I accepted it, and started to work as his manager. Minotauro, who was a bit lost and stuff at that time, saw that and asked me to be his manager too. I thought it was funny, because people were approaching me to be their manager, because of my honesty I think. So I started to work as Minotauro's manager, and today I manage Minotauro, Arona, Minotauro's brother, Dustin Dennis, and I help a lot of people without any compromise! That's how it all started! Click here to continue with the Mario Sperry interview |
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SuperBrawl 5th Anniversary July 21, 2001 - Blaisdell Arena, Honolulu, Hawaii By Chris Onzuka - Chris@onzuka.com T. Jay Thompson wanted to mark the 5-year anniversary of SuperBrawl with a bang and that is just what happened. Earlier in the week, Thompson sent out a press release/promo reminiscing about SuperBrawl's humble beginnings (back then it was called Future Brawl) in a biker bar by the Honolulu International Airport. One my vivid memories was a huge bar fight that broke out at one of the events, which caused me to ALWAYS watch the fights with a beer bottle or some other hard object in my hand at all times. Another brawl broke out in the ring at the last event, SuperBrawl XX, when one of the corner men jumped into the ring and jumped on one of the fighters. Well, those days of yester-year were almost revisited again last night. You would never have guessed but Marcelo Tigre had something to do with it. Heh heh. The event was billed as "The Road to the Rematch" and it was supposed to build interest in the rematch between Marcelo Tigre and Egan Inoue after their epic battle two years ago. 
Originally this event was supposed to pit Marcelo's best student fighting Egan and Egan's best student fighting Marcelo. Marcelo's student had to pull out of the fight due to some trouble outside the ring and Marcelo was stuck fighting Egan's student, Cabbage, who outweighs him by an incredible 77lbs. To make a long story short, Marcelo could not take the big man down and Cabbage had no problem absorbing Marcelo's strikes for the whole first round and even rocked Marcelo a couple of times. In the second round, Tigre caught a kick thrown by Cabbage and took him down. At this point, I guess Tigre wanted to make up for the damage that he was NOT able to unleash in the first round, so he worked his hands on the inside of Cabbages', cocked his head back and laid into a huge head butt that connected right in the center of Cabbage's eye brows. This caused referee, Haru Shiminishi, to immediately stop the fight (head butts are not legal) and have the doctors check the gash that was produced. Shiminishi then disqualified Tigre and declared Cabbage the winner. The crowd booed Tigre for breaking the rules and started throwing things into the ring at him. Marcelo responded by telling the crowd that they were "number one" with both hands, using that sign language that we all know and love. Egan and Enson Inoue jumped into the ring along as a large Grappling Unlimited contingent gathering outside the ring. Team Tiger gathered their forces on the other side of the ring. Luckily, things were cooled down on both sides...well, cooled down enough for both camps not to start a battle royal. The stage was set for THE REMATCH, but it may have also caused this much-anticipated fight to be called off due to Tigre's rule-breaking antics. Only time will tell... The next issue of Full Contact Fighter will feature comments from Tigre, Egan, Enson, Cabbage and T. Jay Thompson concerning this incident. This is why you HAVE to subscribe to FCF!David Yeung (Muay Thai, 1-1, 149lbs) def. Gabe Lemley (Team Extreme, 3-3, 149lbs) Unanimous decision [(20-18), (20-18), (20-18)] after 2 rounds Paul Ano (Grappling Unlimited, 1-0, 197lbs) def. Rick Graveson (Team Extreme, 21-12, 217lbs) Submission via inverted key lock (Kimura) at 1:05 of round 1 Gary Freitas (Grappling Unlimited, 3-1-1, 150lbs) def. Kim Morishita (Brazilian Freestyle Jiu-Jitsu, Maui, 2-1, 153lbs) Forfeit due to a no show Ben Earwood (Team Extreme, 20-2, 176lbs) def John Crisostomo (Grappling Unlimited, 7-6, 174lbs) Submission via foot lock at 4:38 of round 1 Niko Vitale (Grappling Unlimited, 8-1, 195lbs) def. Dennis Reed (Team Extreme, 32-22, 192lbs) Submission via arm bar from the guard at 43 seconds of round 1 Ronald Jhun (Jesus is Lord, 21-5, 180lbs) def. Dave Strasser (Team Extreme, 17-3, 189lbs) Submission via arm bar from the guard at 4:42 of round 2 
Egan Inoue (Grappling Unlimited, 7-2, 186lbs) def. Brett Al-Azzawi (Team Extreme, 10-10, 177lbs)
Submission via forearm choke from the cross position at 1:29 of round 1Wesley "Cabbage" Correira (Grappling Unlimited, 4-2, 283lbs) def. Marcelo Tigre (Team Tiger, 36-2, 206lbs) Disqualification, Tigre disqualified for intentional head butt from the guard at 54 seconds of Round 2 
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| Monday - July 23, 2001 |
 It's a TKO- Mixed Martial Arts Sanctioned in Nevada! MMA Garners Unanimous Approval by Nevada Athletic Commission By Aaron Crecy LAS VEGAS--It was an anticlimactic finish to a life and death struggle, a hasty, uncontested vote following a morning of monotonous discussion on minutia. Mixed martial arts, a sport that had at one time all but disappeared from the minds--and television sets--of the general public, was suddenly thrust into the mainstream. That's because on the morning of July 23rd, the Nevada Athletic Commission voted unanimously to sanction MMA competitions. Now, a sport that has long enjoyed only a cult-like following will soon bask under the bright lights of the Las Vegas strip alongside the likes of boxing and even professional wrestling. The MMA industry was prominently represented at the public hearing by delegates from Pride Fighting Championships, the Ultimate Fighting Championship, King of the Cage and the International Fighting Championships. And though each of these organizations worked diligently with the Nevada Athletic Commission to develop a uniform set of rules and regulations, there was ample surprise that the vote was so swift and with such little fanfare. Those in attendance looked at one another almost as if to ask, "Was that it?" And much to everyone's delight, it was. Thus, it was with a sigh of relief and an air of encouragement that the sport finally earned the legitimacy it has sought. 
Led by Chairman Dr. Elias Ghanem--teleconferencing from San Diego, where he is receiving treatment for cancer--the Nevada Athletic Commission adopted the same set of rules that were approved by the New Jersey Athletic Control Board, with several slight modifications. Though Dr. Flip Homansky joined Dr. Ghanem as a vocal supporter of MMA, the outcome was by no means a formality--because while Amy Ayoub maintained a neutral air throughout, fellow commissioners Glenn Carano and Dr. Luther Mack voiced several concerns. However, executive director Marc Ratner--who does not vote but whose opinion is highly respected by the Commission--appeared to side with Drs. Ghanem and Homansky, which proved to be a boon for MMA.Celebrating its 60th year in existence, the five-member Nevada Athletic Commission is appointed by the Governor to regulates all contests and exhibitions of unarmed combat, including licensure and supervision of promoters, boxers, professional wrestlers, kickboxers, seconds, ring officials, managers, and matchmakers. The coming out party in Nevada will take place on September 28, 2001 when UFC 33 becomes the first MMA event in state history. Taking place at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino, the event also marks the UFC's return to cable pay-per-view television on iN DEMAND. Shortly after it voted to sanction MMA, the Commission voted unanimously once again to grant Mandalay Bay's application to promote the historic event. Upon review of its application, the Commission is also expected to approve Zuffa LLC--the UFC ownership group led by Lorenzo and Frank Fertitta III--as co-promoters. 
But the UFC's competitors will be fast on its heels, as Pride, KOTC and the IFC are among the organizations that plan to host events in Nevada in late 2001 and early 2002. Of these, Pride promises to present the greatest and most immediate threat to the UFC U.S. market share.Unlike the uniform rules adopted in Nevada and New Jersey, the Japan-based Pride organization does not utilize weight classes, has a longer first round and allows knees and kicks to the head when an opponent is on all fours, among other things. 
However, Pride spokesperson Yukino Kanda said that her organization would gladly adopt the required rules in order to hold an event in Las Vegas. And though it has no plans to change its format in Japan, it has already applied for a license to promote its show in Nevada.Given Nevada's influence in the world of combat sports, executive director Ratner is optimistic that other states will soon follow suit. To help facilitate the process, he plans to distribute the approved rules at the annual convention for the Association of Boxing Commissions (ABC), July 25 - 28 in New Orleans. "I give a lot of credit to the New Jersey Athletic Commission and commissioner [Larry] Hazzard," said Ratner. "There is an agenda item to talk about mixed martial arts [in New Orleans] and we will give this to all the different states. I don't know if it will be adopted at this particular convention but it will certainly be started there. I think it will be nationwide very soon." While the Nevada Athletic Commission for the most part implemented the same set of rules that are already in place in New Jersey, they did include several unique modifications.
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From DSE USA: On July 23rd, Japan time, Dream Stage Entertainment will announce Marc Coleman's withdrawal from PRIDE-15. He was scheduled to face Rodrigo Nogueira. However, due to the aggravation of a knee injury which originally occurred some time before his participation in a pro-wrestling match on July 20th, DSE accepted the request from his management and decided that Coleman would be replaced by Gary Goodridge. |
| Tuesday - July 24, 2001 |
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By Marc Scott Ryan Bow, originally scheduled to face Javier Vasquez in the August 4th King Of The Cage, has withdrawn from the event due to an undisclosed health reason, which it is reported in no way affects his ability to compete. This is reminiscent of circumstances earlier in the year when Bow was scheduled to fight Jens Pulver for the then vacant UFC Bantamweight Championship. Ryan released this statement:
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From the event's promoter: UFCF & Washington State sanctioned Professional Kickboxing & Pankration Held July 21, 2001 at Lucky Eagle Casino in Rochester, WA Quick results:
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IFC press release: THE IFC SUSPENDS TERRELL AND STRIPS HIM OF HIS TITLE The International Fighting Championship ("IFC") has suspended David Terrell from its events for six months and stripped him of his IFC Light Heavyweight Americas Championship title following his failure to appear for his fight in the IFC's July 18th Warrior's Challenge XIV card. In addition, the IFC will require Terrell to post an appearance bond if he is booked to fight on any IFC cards following his suspension. Terrell was scheduled to defend his title against Jeremy Horn on the July 18thcard. Before the fight, however, Horn complained that he had been unable to see Terrell weigh in, and he asked to see Terrell step on a scale. According to Horn, "I always ask to see my guy weigh in, and they're saying he can't make weight now. Well, I'm not asking him to weigh in. I am just saying that since I didn't get to see him weigh in, the least they could do is allow me to see him on a scale now so I know how much he weighs." As a result, the Horn and Terrell camps, along with IFC officials, entered into negotiations. Horn ultimately agreed to go ahead with the fight even if Terrell would not weigh in again. However, by this time Terrell had inexplicably left the arena. As Horn warmed up, IFC officials searched for Terrell until they received word that he was gone. Terrell's disappearance left the IFC with no choice but to cancel the fight. Needless to say, Terrell's failure to appear for his fight was a tremendous disappointment to the IFC and its fans. The IFC Light Heavyweight Americas Championship title is now vacant. |
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From promoter Christopher Cordeiro: Review of IFC decision IFC Commissioner Paul Smith, This is a formal request for review of the professional fight between Scott Bills and Nick Eyrtle Jr., which took place on July 18th at Table Mountain Casino and was sanctioned by the IFC. Scott Bills, that evening under unusual circumstances was declared the loser of the fight after receiving an accidental yet illegal strike to the groin. The doctor pressured Bills to continue the fight without ample time to regain his composure after receiving such an illegal and devastating blow to an extremely sensitive area of the human anatomy. The unusual circumstances have also been documented by respected NHB journalist Josh Gross and can be read on www.maxfighting.com. I encourage you as Commissioner of the IFC sanctioning body to change the decision of this fight with the possibility of 1 of the 2 following outcomes:
I thank you for your attention to this manner, and await an expedient response. Christopher Cordeiro |
| Thursday - July 26, 2001 |
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From the event's promoter: The next two installments of the Extreme Challenge Trials amateur tournaments are scheduled for Saturday, July 28, in Clinton, Iowa, and Saturday, Aug. 25, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Weight divisions are 150-under, 170-under, 190-under, 210-under and heavyweight. Competitors cannot have more than 3 pro bouts to qualify to compete. Entry fee is $25 and a blind draw the day of the event will determine the brackets. Winners of each division will advance to the 2001 U.S. National MMA Championships, where the national champs earn pro contracts to compete in Extreme Challenge and Super Brawl events. For more information, contact Monte Cox at Fiteiowa@aol.com or 563 332-2075. |
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BATTLE OF THE CHAMPIONS Saturday, August 25, 2001 - Blaisdell Arena, Honolulu, HI By Chris Onzuka - Chris@Onzuka.com Promoter Brennan Kamaka has just released the tentative card for Warriors Quest 2. Looks like there is no resting for Cooper after his win over Antonio McKee in the last event, Brennan is bringing in Lions Den stand out, Joe Hurley. That should be a great match up. Kamaka also said that he is scouring the MMA world looking for tough fighters for Vitale and Paling. Ron "The Machine Gun" Jhun's opponent will be released shortly. Jhun is fresh off of his arm-bar submission of Dave Strasser this past weekend at SuperBrawl. Jhun is on a hot streak with no end in site. Another fighter to keep your eye on is Jason Dacquel. In his first fight, Dacquel KO'd Jay R. Palmer in one of Kamaka's earlier events. This event was originally scheduled for September 1st, but was pushed back to August 25th, so take note Hawaii MMA fans. Tickets are currently on sale at the Blaisdell box office.
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| Saturday - July 28, 2001 |
 Click the pictures above to see more PRIDE-15 pre-fight pictures from Japan |
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Be sure to check back frequently for full Pride coverage. But rest assured, we will not put the results up on the main news page, nor will we have any references to winners or any spoiler information on the news page. We will have a link on the news page to click over to if you want to know the results before the PPV broadcast. |
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Quinton Jackson Arrives in Tokyo after LAX arrest By Aaron Crecy TOKYO--It has been a tumultuous week for Quinton Jackson--and the toughest test still awaits him Sunday, in the form of Kazushi Sakuraba. Acting on a tip from an anonymous caller who reported the fighter as an armed felon seeking to escape the country, police arrested Jackson at gun point on Wednesday when he attempted to board a Korean Air flight to Tokyo departing from the Los Angeles International Airport's Tom Bradley International Terminal. Also detained briefly but released were Rafiel Torre, Chris Brennan--Jackson's second for the fight--and several members of Brennan's Next Generation Jiu Jitsu school, all of whom continued on to Japan. Jackson, convicted of felony assault several years past, violated his parole by failing to apply for authorization to leave the United States. After spending most of the day behind bars, King of the Cage promoter Terry Trebilcock was able to post bail for Jackson and secure his release. Jackson was then granted permission to travel to Pride 15 and departed on Thursday morning. The Gladiator Challenge Light Heavyweight champion's dilemmas continued upon his belated arrival in Tokyo. Mark Davidson--who is representing Jackson's interests in place of Trebilcock--acknowledges that the contract required his fighter to weigh in at 193.8 lbs. However, after tipping the scales at 208.6 lbs. when he arrived on Friday evening, it was clear that Jackson would not be able to make that weight. Pride officials also informed Jackson that he would be required to weigh in on the day of the fight, a mandate that the fighter vociferously refused. Thus, Davidson engaged in a series of tense negotiations with Pride officials regarding both the official weigh-in time and weight. It was finally decided that Jackson would weigh in on Saturday and ultimately did so at approximately 1:00 PM when, exhausted from cutting weight, he was lifted onto to the scale weighing 89.25 kilos. Of interest is the fact that because Pride does not have weight classes, Jackson is believed to be the only fighter on the card with such a mandate. To add to his woes, Jackson was besieged by a horde of Japanese media anxious to paint him as something of a violent, street hardened criminal. Already it had been reported in Japanese newspapers that Jackson lives in a bus and communicates with homing pigeons in place of a telephone. Instructed by Pride officials to play the heel, Jackson added fuel to the media frenzy by blatantly and comically perpetuating these stereotypes during the course of an impromptu press conference. 
In other Pride news, it has been confirmed that the September event will not take place in Hawaii, as once expected...Mark Coleman is present and reports that an MRI on his injured knee was negative, a relief for nervous Pride officials who desperately want him to face Fujita in November...Vanderlei Silva is here with Chute Boxe teammate Assuerio Silva, looking extremely bulked up...Ryan Gracie arrived late after experiencing some difficulty obtaining his visa in Brazil.Revised Judging Criteria Judges will keep a running tally of points throughout the fight, rather than scoring each round on a ten-point system. Points will be awarded whenever one fighter shows superiority according to the following five criteria:
Fight OneValentijn Overeem vs. Assuerio Silva Fight Two Shungo Oyama vs. Wallid Ismael Fight Three Daijiro Matsui vs. Ebenezer Fontes Braga Fight Four Masaaki Satake vs. Igor Vovchanchyn Fight Five Heath Herring vs. Mark Kerr Intermission Fight Six Gary Goodridge vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira Fight Seven Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Quinton Jackson Fight Eight Ryan Gracie vs. Tokimitsu Ishizawa |
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By Aaron Crecy 
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By Aaron Crecy 
I caught up with Heath Herring the day before the biggest fight of his young career--a match-up with Mark Kerr, the former world class wrestler and MMA enigma who is capable of dominating any of the sport's heavyweights any given day. Wearing his trademark camouflage floppy hat to cover his new hairstyle until fight night, Herring was his usual personable, insightful self. Though still smarting from a highly questionable decision loss to Vitor Belfort in Pride 14, the strapping Texan shrugs off the disappointment and keeps a grin plastered to his face. Read on for his thought on his fight with Mark Kerr and Pride's impending invasion of Las Vegas.FCF: Heath, before we talk about tomorrow's fight, a quick question--after the rules meeting yesterday, do you feel any kind of vindication? Pride has made some rules changes that seem to be a direct result of the fight that you had with Vitor Belfort? HH: Yeah, I guess it's just too late for me to make any difference, of course. But they changed the 10-kilo rule, I think. I think that's not even around anymore. So, it's a little bit disappointing to say the least, but I live and learn and go on. There's nothing you can do about it. FCF: Looking ahead now to your fight with Mark Kerr, you've beaten a high level wrestler in Tom Erikson. HH: Right. FCF: He's someone that has probably had even more success than Kerr on the wrestling mat. Does that give you more confidence? HH: I'm not worry about being overwhelmed, as much. I think Kerr is probably a better fighter on the ground than I think Erikson is. Erikson relies a lot more on his strength and his size. I think Kerr has been around a little bit more and he has fought a lot of really good fighters. So, I think the experience that Erikson lacked I think Kerr makes up for. But, we'll wait for the fight--we're ready to go, we're excited about it. I feel good, I feel really good about the fight. FCF: Did you choose to do any extra preparation in terms of your sprawl? HH: Well of course, of course. I'd be stupid to think that Kerr is not going to come in and try to take me down. That would just be really ridiculous to expect that. I think that in comparison between the two fights, Erikson is more of a guy who is going to come in and overwhelm you with sheer size whereas Kerr uses a lot more technique and things like that. In the back of my head, I know with Erikson I was still able kind of hold him down. I realize that Kerr is a good fighter, I don't think that he's going to have quite the ability to control me like Erikson did, and he wasn't really that effective on the ground with me as far as his ground and pound. FCF: I imagine that you are as in tune as I am with the different rumors going around. One of them happens to be that Pride would like to encourage Kerr to open up and have more exciting fights. That's something that could really play into your strengths. HH: I'm hoping so. But not just to push that at Kerr--Pride is pushing that toward everybody, and I think the UFC also. They want to see a full, intense, action-packed fight, which is great. Fans like it, and I agree. Being a fighter myself and watching fights, that's what I want to watch, too. I don't want to watch two guys laying on each other for 20 minutes and then the guy who got the most takedowns wins it. That's not fun to watch. FCF: If fighters were forced to open up a little more, it would really appeal to your strengths. HH: I'm hoping so. That's what we're counting on. It [presents] a conditioning factor, and that's more my style of fighting as of late. Especially with Vitor, when we were on the ground I'd stand up and tell him to get up. That's more my style. I like to go and stand up; if we're on the ground, do some stuff; if it's not working, get back up. That's not Kerr's style, that's my style. So, I think in that situation I'm going to have an advantage. FCF: Speaking of conditioning, your conditioning seemed very strong in your last fight. You were active throughout, it seemed like you were really pushing the fight and you were the aggressor. Kerr is coming in a little heavier than normal, which could portend fatigue. HH: We're hoping, that's what we're hoping. We're actually a little bit heavier also, which is good, but conditioning-wise we're great, we're good to go. FCF: What are you coming in weighing? HH: I think about five pounds heavier than last fight, 113 kilos (248.6 lbs.). FCF: Is that a result of strength training? HH: Some strength training, but my body is really weird. When I went to Holland I was weighing a lot--I was weighing like 275 lbs. and then I just lost a ton of weight. Then I've slowly gained weight, maybe five pounds...or two or three pounds at a time. FCF: It seems as though you're building a lot more muscle mass. HH: Yeah, a lot more. But lean mass--I don't want to get bulky. You've seen the guys who use a lot of steroids that can't keep their hands up. What we do with Thai boxing, you've got to be able to move and kick. If you're too tight you can't do that stuff. FCF: So you want to maintain your flexibility. HH: Maintain my flexibility, maintain my conditioning. I think conditioning is the most important thing, actually. I'll trade off a little bit of pure strength for my conditioning. FCF: Now that MMA is sanctioned in Nevada, Pride has been talking about having a show in Las Vegas. How excited would you be to fight in the United States again? HH: I'd be on the first plane, man. Plus, it's a free trip back to America for me, so you know, it's great. But yeah, I'm really excited. I love fighting in Japan, I like it, but the chance to fight in Vegas and be two hours by plane to home, that's great. FCF: What do you think that means for the sport to have two competing organizations on U.S. soil? HH: I think there are going to be more than two, actually, from what I've been hearing. I hope its not overkill--I hope it doesn't over-saturate the market to where people are sick of it. It's good for the fighters, of course, because it's going to make the prices go up higher. Being a fighter, I like that. I think now that the sport is finally getting in; I hope they just don't kill it by everyone getting in there competing and making fans sick of it. I'm hoping that doesn't happen. Because I think this is really one of the true international sports, there are truly people from every country that are good in this sport and can compete. I'm hoping in five to ten years it's kicking everything else's butt--I hope it's just the biggest thing on earth. I'm really looking forward to that. FCF: Pride is running deep with heavyweight talent and Americans have proven time and time again that they are big fans of heavyweight fighters. It seems like Pride would be a good fit for the U.S. HH: I think so, I think it's true. Pride does have the best heavyweights right now, and that's why I'm really happy to be fighting in Pride. I'd like to see something come out like they have in boxing where the organizations come together to have unification fights and things like that, instead of one organization saying 'No, you can only fight for us.' Then you get into these arguments about who is the better heavyweight fighter--is it him or him? Being a fighter, I like to know this guy is the best. FCF: A consistent ranking system? HH: Right, a consistent ranking system. I think the sport will eventually come to that. I think it will for it to survive. But that leads to a whole a lot other questions. Is it going to be in a cage or a ring? But now the rules are becoming fairly centralized. Elbows and that stuff they are taking out, the knees on the ground they're allowing back, which I like, of course. I like seeing that there is a unified rules system--it's slow, but it's coming. FCF: That's a good point--particularly when Pride goes to Las Vegas. They are going to share a uniform set of rules with the UFC, the only difference being that Pride can remain in a ring while the UFC is held in a cage. Do you have any preferences between a ring and a cage? HH: I like the ring better. I think the cage is more for the fans' point of view. I fought in both and I think the ring is better since we are now having rounds. Now that we are having rounds you need your cornermen in the corner to help you with cuts. The cornermen can't come into the cage between rounds to help you out, so I think it's more beneficial to have a ring because of the ease of access for your cornermen and things like that. FCF: I really appreciate your time. HH: No problem--I appreciate it. |
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By Aaron Crecy 
I sat down with Quinton Jackson on Saturday morning to find out the real story behind his detainment at the Los Angeles International airport on Wednesday. We also spoke about certain ambiguities regarding his official weight and weigh-in time, as well as how he is perceived by the Japanese media. What I found was a man who has been riddled with distractions as he approaches the biggest challenge of his mixed martial arts fighting career. As you will discover, Jackson is forthright and is not afraid to tell you how or what he feels.To clarify some of Jackson's comments, I also spoke with Mark Davidson, who accompanied the fighter to Japan on behalf of King of the Cage promoter Terry Trebilcock. FCF: Talk to us a little bit about the situation that occurred at the Los Angeles International airport. QJ: Well, it's kind of odd that when I get to the airport the police know my business. They know how many people I'm with, they know I'm a pro fighter and they said that I've beat up police and stuff before and they knew I was fleeing the country and I had a warrant out for my arrest. It was just kind of weird that they knew all this and one of the police told me that somebody ratted me out--but I don't know who did. FCF: Who did you go to the airport with? QJ: I went to the airport with Next Generation--Chris Brennan and a few of my other teammates. I went to Korean Air and as soon as I got to the gate they slammed the door like 'Get down, get down,' pointing big guns at me and shit. FCF: Was it the LAPD? QJ: It was the airport police. FCF: And they ended up arresting you? QJ: Yeah, I was arrested and charged. They took pictures of me, stripped me down, degraded me and everything, man. Fuckin' searched me... FCF: What did they charge you with? Violating probation? QJ: Yes, violating probation. FCF: What were you on probation for? Was it assault? QJ: Yeah, something that happened in college. I did my time and everything but they gave me a very big fine and I couldn't pay it. They put a felony on my record so I couldn't get a regular job and pay it. So I was trying to fight and pay it, but you know, black people don't [make] that much money in mixed martial arts anyway [smiles]. So, you know, I just barely made enough money to pay my bills with the fighting money. FCF: There are rumors swirling that everybody there got handcuffed. QJ: Yeah, everybody got handcuffed and I think they patted them down to make sure they didn't have anything on them. But yeah, everybody there except for Stephen Quadros and Bas Rutten--they got on the plane first, they got away. FCF: So, you ended up missing your flight? QJ: I missed my flight and I spent like eight hours in jail. FCF: Did you get arraigned that day? QJ: Yeah, I got bailed out. Terry Trebilcock--you know, he got trouble with his cock but he bailed me right out [laughs]. FCF: You stayed in L.A. Wednesday night? QJ: Yeah, me and him stayed in the hotel. FCF: The rumor had it that they were already signing another guy to fight. QJ: Who were they signing to fight? FCF: I heard Alex Andrade and I heard Brennan. QJ: I heard Brennan, too. FCF: One of the Pride people told me that Brennan offered to take the fight when he got here. QJ: You serious? FCF: Yeah, that's what I was told. QJ: That's what I've been dealing with. That's why I left Chris Brennan's school. To be honest--I'm not talking shit about Chris Brennan--that's why I left his school. When he found out I was fighting Sakuraba instead of fighting Ken [Shamrock], like, my training stopped and you know, shit happened. Everybody was telling me that Chris Brennan was fighting Sakuraba--I got all these people I don't even know telling me 'You're not fighting Sakuraba, Chris Brennan's fighting Sakuraba.' So, I went to start back training with Fabiano [Iha] so I could train for the fight. FCF: Chris is here working as your second and you asked him if he was the one who made the anonymous phone call. QJ: Yeah, he denied to the fullest. I don't have 100 percent proof, but I just know about what somebody told me two days before I got arrested, that Chris Brennan was going to get me arrested because he trains undercover cops. He trains a whole police department out there. I've seen him do it--I've seen him train them. So, somebody told me, 'Chris Brennan is going to get you arrested,' but then other people told me that they don't think Chris Brennan did it because he was worried about me on the plane and he wanted to bail me out real bad and stuff, no matter what my bail was. FCF: But he went on the plane without you? QJ: Yeah. FCF: As of right know, he's going to second for you? QJ: Yeah, because the simple fact is, like, if he wasn't in my corner then the other guys wouldn't even be able to make it to Pride and they spent their own money to fly out here. So, you know, I don't have anything against Next Generation, nothing against them. So, you know, I don't care who's in my corner because the only person I want in my corner couldn't even make it--the only person I'm used to having in my corner. FCF: Who is that? QJ: David Roberts. He's the only one who knows how I fight. Chris Brennan doesn't know how I fight. No one here knows what I know except David Roberts. We've been competing against each other and with each other since high school. FCF: How come Dave wasn't able to make it? QJ: Because Pride only gave me two tickets--one to Terry and one to Chris. Terry pulled out the last day and David didn't have any itinerary to get his passport, so he couldn't make it. FCF: Switching gears to your arrival in Japan, you were accompanied by Pride officials on the plane. There was some controversy when you got off the plane about cutting weight and weigh-ins. QJ: Man, yeah, they tried to fuck me, man. They wanted me to lose fuckin' damn near fifteen, sixteen pounds the day of the fight. I told them 'Hell, no,' because I was told by Terry Trebilcock that I had weigh-ins two days before, which I thought was cool. I thought they were trying to help me out. Then, they wanted me to weigh in the day of the fight, and I said 'Hell, no.' They want me to weigh in the day of the fight, I'm not fighting. If anybody ever wants me to weigh in the day of the fight and they only give me three weeks to lose 27 pounds, I will give you a verbal 'Fuck you.' FCF: Coming over, what weight were you under the impression you needed to make? QJ: I knew they wanted me at 194 but I told them, I told Yukino [Kanda] on the phone, 'They did not talk to me, they talked to Terry and Terry told them I could make that weight.' But it's not on my contract. I told Yukino, 'With my body style, with my body fat, it would be hard to make 194--it would be dangerous for me to make it.' I said, 'I'll get down under 200 for sure, but 194 I cannot promise you. If I cannot promise you, how can somebody else that doesn't know my body promise you how much I weigh?' FCF: So, in terms of the weight issue, that was an agreement that Terry made with Pride? It wasn't written into your contract? QJ: Yeah. It isn't on my contract. They're just trying to fuck me because I'm a nigger. That's what they're trying to do. Already they're trying to pay me nigger money. Yeah. FCF: At this point now they did at least agree to let weigh in on Saturday. What particular time? QJ: I weigh in at 6:00 PM. They think because I live in a bus and I'm poor, that they can push me around. FCF: There seem to be a lot of rumors swirling around about you in the Japanese media. You mentioned living in a bus. QJ: Is this [interview] going to be in Japan or America? FCF: America. QJ: Then Japan won't see this? FCF: No. QJ: Hell no, I don't live in no motherfuckin' bus (laughs). Terry Trebilcock told that shit to try promote me as a--I don't know what he's trying to do. I guess if Japanese people like me living in a bus, goddammit call me the Busboy. Fuck it. If they're going to pay me for living in a bus, goddamn, I'm not lying, I'll take pictures in a bus next time. FCF: Pride asked you to play up that angle, didn't they? QJ: Yeah, they want me to be a bad guy, they want me to be a heel. It's okay, wait until you all see me walk out tomorrow, they shouldn't have asked me to do that shit. FCF: Because you might carry that attitude into the ring? QJ: Oh, fuck yeah--it's all good. I'm going to be breaking laws. I don't give a fuck about no damn yellow card. FCF: I really appreciate your time, Quinton. QJ: No problem. Mark Davidson FCF: Mark, there has been a little confusion in terms of the weigh-ins with Quinton and the particular weight that they want him to weigh in at. Could you just backtrack and tell us about your experience with Pride and what they asked for and what you've been able to negotiate? MD: I have not [previously] had any dealings personally with Pride. I came over here as a representative of Terry Trebilcock and to help manage and oversee Quinton to make sure that everything went smoothly. There's been an issue as to the weight that he was supposed to make that was agreed upon, when he [was] supposed to be at that weight and how much that weight was. My understanding is that Pride historically has not had weight classes. I believe that after the Silva fight there was a motivation to instill that weight class and not put Sakuraba against someone who was considerably heavier than him. That was the motivation. It was agreed upon with Pride and Terry Trebilcock that Quinton Jackson would fight at 193.8 lbs. In the contract that was in a kilo measurement and it [converted to] 193.8 lbs. Upon his arrival over here he weighed 208.6 lbs. Pride very compassionately and in good faith allowed him to come in at 10 lbs. under that and agreed for him to fight Sakuraba at 198.6 lbs. There was further discussion as to whether or not the weigh-in was to occur on Saturday or Sunday. In multiple conversations with Terry it was agreed with Pride that the weigh-in would be held on Saturday, allowing Quinton basically a day and a half to recuperate. Pride's interpretation of the agreement was that at fight time he was supposed to be 198.6 lbs. After many discussions and deliberations, most of which were very polite, but very tense, I would say, we have agreed that he would weigh in on Saturday at 6:00 PM at 198.6 lbs. FCF: So, from what you understand and in your conversations with Terry, there was a weight limit written into the contract? MD: Absolutely. FCF: There was just some ambiguity as to when the weigh-in was going to occur? MD: Yes, whether it was going to be Saturday and whether or not it was going to be Sunday. Note: Quinton Jackson was allowed to weigh in at approximately 1:00 PM on Saturday, weighing 89.25 kilos, or 196.35 lbs. Davidson notes that Chris Brennan and his fellow Next Generation teammates were alongside Jackson throughout, providing support and encouragement. In fact, it was Brennan who helped carry Jackson--weakened from dehydration--to and from the official weigh-in. Brennan and his teammates also worked out with Jackson later in the day. Though Pride had relocated Brennan to another hotel prior to Jackson's arrival on Friday, Brennan and his camp were reinstated to the host hotel on Saturday. |
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Chute Boxe Heavyweight Assuério Silva! By Eduardo Alonso 
With well-known fighters like Pelé Landi and Vanderlei Silva, and rising stars like Anderson Silva and Murilo Ninja, many would think that the Chute Boxe team has only great middle and lightweight fighters on their roster. However this is not true, and at Pride 15 the Chute Boxe team will bring their most promising heavyweight fighter to the show! Assuério Silva is a very experienced fighter who joined the team not too long ago, and he showed fight after fight that he has improved his game and deserved a chance at the big time! With lots of heart and truly fearing no one, Assuério brings to the ring the same intensity as the team's main star now, Vanderlei Silva, always fighting aggressively and looking for the kill. Now finally he will have his chance to fight in one of the world's biggest NHB events, against Valentjin Overeem, from Golden Glory. FCF recently got the chance to talk with Assuério about his past and his plans for the future, as well as his big fight coming in Pride. Know a little more now about the new Chute Boxe guy in Pride!
FCF: You started to get noticed in NHB fighting at MECA, and soon after you went to the Chute Boxe team. How did you get into the Chute Boxe team? AS: I'm from the Northeast of Brazil [Editor's note: the Northeast of Brazil is a very poor region of the country], and I already fought there a lot. So, I came to Curitiba to fight at MECA 2, where I fought Mamute. I came to Curitiba, and I liked the city a lot, it's very different from where I lived at the Northeast! As I liked the city very much, I decided to stay here, so I talked to Rafael Cordeiro after the fight and he told me to come to the academy to train. So I did! And then I talked to Vanderlei and Pelé, and both were very friendly with me, so I started to train with Vanderlei for his fight against Guy Mezger, and after that, Rudimar told me that I could stay, and I was adopted by the team! FCF: Was it difficult to adapt your fighting style to the training at the Chute Boxe academy in the beginning? AS: Back in Northeast I didn't have the same people to train with. So, the adaptation was a bit difficult because I wasn't used to this hard training, however I knew that I should stay here. I should stay here with Chute Boxe because it's the right school for my style of fighting! And nowadays I'm already used to the training, and I'm friends to everybody here. FCF: Back in your days in the Northeast from Brazil, did you already practice Muay Thai? Or did you only begin to train it at the Chute Boxe academy? AS: Back at the Northeast I already practiced kickboxing, and before that I trained a bit of Muay Thai there, but it wasn't a Muay Thai like we have here, it was a weaker technique. I learned some basics of Muay Thai and Kickboxing there, and I also trained Boxing, a lot of Boxing. I also did Jiu Jitsu at Natal (a city from the Northeast of Brazil), and then I went to Fortaleza (another city from Northeast of Brazil), where I met Feitosa, at the second Bad Boy Vale Tudo cup. He asked me if I would like to train there, so I moved from my city, Mossóro [a very poor city from Brazil's Northeast], to Fortaleza, and I kept training with him and learned a lot. I spent a year training there, but I really learned most of things here at Chute Boxe. FCF: So it wasn't training as tough as the Chute Boxe's team training... AS: I believe the Chute Boxe team is the academy with the toughest training around. Where people go toe to toe everyday! So, when you go to the academy, you're not going just to train, you're going to fight. FCF: How many NHB fights did you do at the Northeast of Brazil before you went to the Chute Boxe team? AS: I did 33 fights there; 33 NHB fights. I lost only one fight, but I was winning the fight but I took a headbutt, and it opened a huge cut, so the referee stopped the fight, and I lost. FCF: What do you feel has improved in your game after you joined the Chute Boxe team? Do you feel more confident now to fight at an event like Pride? AS: I believe that the most important thing here at Chute Boxe is the psychological side of things! This is the most important! With confidence you know that you can do things! We learn here that when you put your mind to something, you can make it happen! I gained a lot of confidence here. To be training with Vanderlei, who is the best in the world, gives me a lot of confidence! The confidence here is amazing, and there's also the technique. The technique here is great! So I'm ready to face whatever comes. And in fact, even back at the Northeast I always had a game like the Chute Boxe guys do. Even when I didn't know them, I already watched their fights and thought that this is the way I should fight. So it was great to come here. FCF: Today do you train most of the time with any particular fighter from the team? Or do all the guys train with each other? AS: Here everybody trains with everybody! I train with Vanderlei, Pelé, Anderson... Everybody! 
FCF: You have been training very hard lately, keeping good cardio and a lot of strength. How is your physical training today?AS: When I got back from Japan there were only 9 days before MECA 5! So I came to Japan with 102kg, but when I came back I weighed only 96kg! I lost 6kg there! So I needed to put some weight back for MECA, and there were only 9 days left until the event. So I gained 5kg, and weighed 101kg for MECA! But I felt a little chubby, because I gained weight to fast! So, for this Pride, I'll show up in a very good condition! I want to get there with 105kg, and fight at 102kg, but in good condition! What I'm more concerned with is the cardio! My training is focused on fighting, it's a specific training. I'm training very hard! FCF: Finally you got your chance to fight in Pride! After lots of speculation you'll finally fight in Japan, debuting in Pride! How are you feeling before the fight? AS: I'm very tranquil! I know that I'll win this fight! I'm sure that I'll be able to knock him out. I saw some of his fights, but I'm not talking that I'll win because of it, it's because of my training, because of the team I'm training with! The team makes me very confident and very tranquil, and I'm also a very experienced fighter! The two trips that I took to Japan with the team helped me to get used to Japan, to become more confident. So I'm tranquil! I'll do a good fight. I know this fight is the most important fight of my life, and I'll do my best! FCF: Did you sign a contract for only one fight, or did you sign for more fights with Pride in the future? AS: This contract is for this fight only. They always close a deal for one fight first, and if the fighter does well, they sign him for more fights! But I'm sure that if I do a good fight-- and I know I will because of the support from my team--I'll fight again for Pride in the future. FCF: Do you have a gameplan for this fight against Overeem? AS: Even before I came to the Chute Boxe team, my strategy always was to fight toe to toe. I let things flow. We start the fight trading, and from there we will see what will happen. I can't say that I'll do this or that, because we never know what will happen, but I'll be ready for whatever it comes. FCF: Do you believe he will trade punches with you? Or do you think he will try to take the fight to the ground? AS: I hope he will fight standing! I'm hoping that he will trade with me, because this way we can do a good spectacle for the public! It'll be more exciting this way, and I have been preparing a lot to fight standing. FCF: What do you expect for your future? Do you believe that your future is in Pride, or do you want to fight at MECA again? AS: In fact I never want to stop fighting at MECA. I want to always fight here at MECA, even because I'm the champion here at MECA and I want to keep fighting here and defending my title. But for sure my future is with Pride, without a doubt, 'cause there is where the top guys are. I know how important is to win there, and all the team trusts me! This makes me even more confident, because people that are very experienced in the fighting game are trusting me. This makes me more confident. I always thought that I would get there, because I already went through some tough times, since I was a kid... And since I was 14 years of age I've lived with fighting...I did wrestling before, I fought boxing, so my life was always about martial arts. So I knew that I would get there, I only didn't know when. Now I'm with 27 years of age, and I know that I still have lots to give, and I want to fight for Pride. FCF: After all those trips to Japan with the team, do you believe that you're already used to it? AS: Well, the first trip was tough! You know? It was my first time there and stuff, it was a bit weird. [Laughs] But the second time was very tranquil, I already felt at home. Because thank God I can adapt well to every place and situation, and I can adapt to people very well too; I'm very friendly. FCF: And what about the food Assuério? Can you eat well there? AS: Man, the food is...The food is great! [Laughs] The food is great! It's different, you know? [Laughs] We lose some weight there, because of the food and stuff. But this time around I'll bring some things with me. But the treatment is great there! People treat us very well! FCF: Who would you like to fight against in the future at Pride? AS: Man! I got in Pride, so I'll do this fight and with the help of God I'll win. And with the help of God I'll sign a contract with Pride, so then I'll be available to fight against anyone that the Pride promoters want me to fight, or whoever my team wants me to fight! Every time that Rudimar asks me to fight, I'll do it; no matter who the opponent is! I don't pick opponents! When you get in Pride, you know you can fight against anyone. FCF: Do you believe that now that you are fighting for Pride you will finally have opponents to fight here in Brazil? AS: I hope so! Because this way I'll have opponents to fight here at MECA. I lost a lot with this thing before, even back in the Northeast! It seemed that I was a ghost! (Laughs) And in fact I need to fight, I need to work to make my living! I hope that people will fight me now; I'm here to fight anyone! Because I'm not a ghost [laughs], so I hope they'll show up. When I decided to be a pro fighter, I decided that I would fight anyone. I think that all the guys should do that as well, or they should look for other things to do, because they're in the wrong business. If you sign a contract, you should fight and act like a man. Not like a kid. FCF: Assuério, do you have a final message for your fans? AS: Sure! I'm very happy to be fighting at Pride! People from all over the world may not know me, but now I'm sure they'll start to know me better. I'm an athlete that already fought a lot, and I already fought a lot of good fights. I'll kick some ass down the road; I'll open my space brawling a lot! As well as the Chute Boxe team is a team that I followed from a long time, and they're also opening their space brawling a lot and fighting real fights! Showing that they are the best, and they fight for real! I'm in the right place for sure, and I'm very happy to be here. I'm sure that the people that still don't know me will now start to know me. And I hope that everybody will like my fight. I also want to thanks for the attention that the fans are giving me, and I'll try to do my best for everybody in the fight. FCF: The best of luck in the future and at your next fight. Thanks a lot. AS: Thanks a lot. It was a pleasure. |
From the event's promoter: U S A Ultimate Fighting Superstar Frank Juarez Shamrock joins K-1 USA in a Superfight at the Bellagio on August 11th at 6:00pm Ultimate Fighting Champion Frank Juarez Shamrock joins K-1 USA in a Super-Fight at the Bellagio on August 11th at 6:00pm On Saturday, August 11th, the K-1 World Semi-finals will hit the Bellagio Grand Ballroom with a special guest. Undefeated Ultimate Fighting Champion Frank Juarez Shamrock announced today that he will be making his K-1 premier debut by fighting in a K-1 Super-Fight. Frank is a 28 yr old middleweight, submission-fighting competitor from San Jose, CA. He stands 5' 10" tall and at a weight of 192 lbs has competed in all styles of combat martial arts. In 1997, Frank set a new World Record with his UFC debut in UFC Japan, defeating Olympic Gold Medallist Kevin Jackson with an arm bar in an astonishing 14 seconds and was crowned the UFC's First Middleweight World Champion. Frank's first title defense was at UFC 16 against Undefeated Extreme fighting Champion Igor Zinoviev. Frank knocked out Igor with a suplex in 24 seconds for his second World Record for championship fights. On September 23, 1999 Frank emerged victorious over Tito Ortiz, current Light Heavy Weight UFC Champion, in an epic battle considered "One of the greatest fights in Mixed Martial Arts history." In the final seconds of the fourth round in a grueling match where Tito was ahead on every scorecard, Frank Shamrock turned the tides with an explosive reversal to win by TKO. After four consecutive title defenses and two world records Frank suddenly announced his retirement from the ring citing, " I have fought and beat the best fighter's in the world and now I want to pursue my other dreams." For Frank those dreams came true when he starred on the set of Walker Texas Ranger with Chuck Norris and on the hit HBO show OZ. From Real TV to a national Burger King commercial Frank Shamrock has quickly become a household name. As an athlete Frank was voted "Fighter of the Year" for 1998 and 1999 and "Fighter of the Decade" for the 90's. Although being inducted into "The Black Belt Hall of Fame" Frank is always up for a challenge and could not resist the call of the fighting ring. Don't miss UFC Superstar Frank Juarez Shamrock at K-1, the fastest growing form of sports entertainment in the world, Saturday, August 11th at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino. Ticket prices range from $30.00 to $250.00. The doors open at 3:30 pm, the preliminary fights begin at 4:00 pm. The K-1 World Semi-finals kicks off at 6:00pm. To purchase tickets, call the Bellagio ticket office at 1-888-488-7111. For more information contact Geoff Moss, K-1 USA (310) 200-1942 or by e-mail Geoff211@aol.com, Kim Koury, event publicity, PR Plus (702) 696-1999. |
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From the event's promoter: Ken Shamrock to fight in NJ on August 10th 
Atlantic City, NJ -- Ken Shamrock Productions in conjunction with D. Benjamen Brown Productions and Tropicana Casino and Resort bring the best in World Championship Mixed Martial Arts to Atlantic City on August 10 with Enter the Lion's Den Mega Fights I. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. with the first bout at 8:00 p.m. Tickets, priced at $200.00 for Center Ringside, $100.00 for L & R Ringside and Center Mezzanine, $75.00 for L & R Mezzanine and Row G, $50.00 for Bleachers, and $45.00 for Balcony, may be purchased in person at the Tropicana Box Office, or by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-739-1420.In the main event on August 10, 2001, World Champion Ken Shamrock" The Worlds Most Dangerous Man" will fight Sam "The Expierience" Adkins for the World Heavyweight title. Ken Shamrock, considered one of the best fighters in the world, was the first Superfight Champion of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and is now regarded as the finest no holds-barred fighter in the world.A former WWF star, he has held three world championship titles; Pride Fighting World Champion, Ultimate Fighting World Champion, and King of the Ring World Champion. On August 10 he will go for the title of Mixed Martial Arts World Champion.His opponent, Sam Adkins is a vetran of UFC, Extreme and will be fighting with expierence on his side. California's Vernon "The Tiger" White will fight against Philadelphia's Joe Priole for the Light Heavyweight World title. Vernon White holds four world championship titles including, King of the Cage, Light Heavyweight Champion, IFC World Heavyweight Champion, Gold Medallist- World Pankration Games, and Gold Medallist- Pankration Pan Am Games.Originally from Tabernacle, New Jersey, Joe Priole, is the 2001 International Fighting Championship, Heavyweight Tournament Champion. Other titles include, 2000 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Masters Super-Heavyweight World Champion, 2000 Brazilian Jiu- Jitsu Super Heavyweight Pan American Bronze Medalist, '97 US National Heavyweight Silver Medalist, '97 US Vale Tudo Heavyweight Champion. he is a five-time East Coast Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Heavyweight Champion and is undefeated as a no-holds-barred fighter.Competing for the World Welterweight title; it's Joe Hurley vs. Peter Kaljevic. Peter Kaljevic won the World Kickboxing Championship at Tropicana in April of 2001, while Joe Hurley was King of the Cage Lightweight Champion. There will also be four preliminary bouts that will feature Tony the Bull Galindo, Sugar Ray Silvas, Virgilio Lozano, Ben Thompson, Pat Stano, Joe Pirole, Robert Sarkozi, Phil Baroni, John Weidler and Randy Durant. All fighters are sanctioned by the NJ Athletic Commission and the World Mixed Martial Arts Association. MEGAFIGHT Tropicana Fight Card 8-10-01 ENTER THE LIONS DEN
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| Sunday - July 29, 2001 |
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Pride Results Are In! Click here for PRIDE-15 results & fight summaries Pride post-fight pictures are up too! (Visit results page for picture link) |
| Monday - July 30, 2001 |
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From Pancrase: PANCRASE 2001 PROOF TOUR: DAY & NIGHT Sunday, July 29, 2001 Day Event: 1:30PM; live gate 2,300 sold out Night Event: 6:30PM; live gate 2,250 sold out Korakuen Hall(Tokyo, Japan) Day Event-Neo Blood Tournament 1st rounds- 1st round fight#1(2X5 min rounds) Hiroki Nagaoka (Rodeo Style) def. Shinya Sato (P's LAB Tokyo) by 3-0 unanimous judges' decision at the extra round after full time limit 1st round fight#2(2X5 min rounds) Hideaki Iwasaki (Strapple) def. Sen Nakadai (Pancrase Tokyo) by rear choke at 1R 1:40 1st round fight#3(2X5 min rounds) Kazuo Misaki(GRABAKA) def. Hikaru Sato(Pancrase Yokohama) by rear choke at 1R 4:08 1st round fight#4(2X5 min rounds) Seiki Ryo (Power of Dream) def. Yohei Ota (A3) by 3-0 unanimous judges' decision Fight#5(1X5 min round)-catch wrestling match- Takafumi Ito (Pancrase Yokohama) def. Shunsuke Hayashi (SK. Absolute) by 2-0 majority judges' decision Fight#6(3X5 min rounds)-middleweight match- Daiju Takase (Wajutsu Keishukai Tokyo Hombu) def. Laverne Clark (USA/Miletich Martial Arts Center) by triangle choke at 2R 16 sec Fight#7(3X5 min rounds)-light heavyweight match- Yuki Sasaki(GRABAKA) def. Jason DeLucia(U.S.A./Pancrase Hybrid Budokan) by arm bar at 2R 3:05 Fight#8(3X5 min rounds)-light heavyweight match- Ikuhisa Minowa(4th ranked/Pancrase Yokohama) def. Kenji Akiyama(Zendokai) by front choke at 2R 2:52 Night Event -Neo Blood Tournament Semifinal, Final- Semifinal fight#1(2X5 min rounds) Hiroki Nagaoka(Rodeo Style) def. Hideaki Iwasaki(Strapple) by armlock at the extra round 1:31 after full time limit Semifinal fight#2(2X5 min rounds) Kazuo Misaki(GRABAKA) def. Seiki Ryo(Power of Dream by 2-1 split judges' decision at the extra round after full time limit Fight#3(2X5 min rounds)-light heavyweight match- KEI Yamamiya(Pancrase Tokyo) def. Yoshinori Kawasaki(RJW/CENTRAL) by punch KO at 1R 4:04 Fight#4(1X5 min round)-catch wrestling match- Minoru Suzuki(Pancrase Yokohama) drew Eiji Ishikawa(GRABAKA) at full time limit Fight#5(3X5 min rounds)-middleweight match- Kiuma Kunioku (1st ranked/Pancrase Yokohama) drew Sean Sherk (USA/Minnesota Martial Arts Center) at full time limit Fight#6(3X5 min rounds)-light heavyweight match- Mitsuyoshi Sato (7th ranked/GRABAKA) def. Omar Bouiche (5th ranked/Sweden/Mixed Martial Arts Stockholm) by triangle choke at 2R 1:00 Fight#7(3X5 min rounds)-open-weight match- Tim Lajcik (USA/Gladiators Training Academy) def. Osami Shibuya (6th ranked/Pancrase Yokohama) by 3-0 unanimous judges' decision at full time limit Final(3X5 min rounds) Kazuo Misaki(GRABAKA) def. Hiroki Nagaoka(Rodeo Style) by front choke at 2R 1:21 *Misaki crowned the 2001 Neo Blood Tournament |
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From the event's promoter: On Saturday, October 6th at the Cahuilla Creek Casino in Anza, California is the battleground for the Cobra Classic 2001...
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