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| Thursday - January 2, 2003 |
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From the event's promoter: QUICK RESULTS Held December 28, 2002 At Radisson North Graystone Castle Thorton, CO
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From the event's promoter: January 25, 2003 The United States Grappling Association is hosting another great show. The East Coast Grappling Championships will be held Saturday, January 25th in Flemington, New Jersey at Hunterdon High School. The U.S. Grappling Association has planned this one for the competitors in addition to the over 90 regular Gi and No-Gi divisions, we will have two open divisions one for Gi and one for No-Gi. First prize for each division will be $1000! The event starts at 9:00 AM. Pre-reg competitors only pay $50 and pre-registered spectators pay only $10. At-the-door pricing will be $65 and $15, respectively. We are looking forward to another great event so please come out and support our event as all proceeds benefit Organize Now to End Violence On Women. Pre-register Online at: http://www.USGrappling.com |
| Friday - January 3, 2003 |
 Give Us Your Thoughts... 2002 was a banner year for the sport of Mixed Martial Arts. We'd like your thoughts on the events, fights and behind the scenes politics effecting MMA in the year 2002. The survey results and some of the commentary we receive will appear in the January 2003 issue of FCF Click here to take the survey |
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Post-Fight Photos By Mark Ginther
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| Sunday - January 5, 2003 |
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Ultimate Ring Challenge 3 Held January 4, 2003 At the Red Lion Hotel Kelso, Washington By Mike Neva
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| Monday - January 6, 2003 |
From Josh Hedges/Zuffa: UFC 40: VENDETTA TOPS NEVADA FIGHT ATTENDANCE; RANKS THIRD FOR ALL U.S. FIGHTS IN 2002 Ultimate Fighting Championship Drew Two of Nevada's Top Four Fight Crowds; Also Ranks Fourth, Seventh In Gate Receipts For Year LAS VEGAS, January 6, 2002...The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) drew Nevada's largest fight crowd of 2002 when it had a total in the MGM Grand Garden Arena of 13,770 on November 22 for UFC 40: Vendetta. That sell-out crowd also ranks as the third largest total-in-arena attendance for a fighting event in the U.S. for the year. The July 20 welterweight boxing match between Vernon Forrest and "Sugar" Shane Moseley at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., ranked first nationally with 15,775; the June 7 heavyweight boxing title fight between Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson at The Pyramid in Memphis, Tenn., was second with 15,327. UFC 40: Vendetta also ranked as the fourth largest fight event in gate receipts in Nevada, $1,540,340.00. A second UFC event, UFC 36: Worlds Collide, held March 22 at the MGM Grand, ranked fourth for total-in-arena attendance, 8,327, and seventh in gate receipts, $898,850.00 in Nevada for the year. UFC 40: Vendetta featured the return of legend Ken Shamrock in a light heavyweight title fight against champion Tito Ortiz. Ortiz retained his title with a third-round technical knockout. "To be number one in fight attendance in Nevada for the year makes a major statement about the increasing popularity of our brand of fight entertainment with mainstream sports fans. We certainly thank all our fans for their support and look forward to the day when we are number one in every category," said Dana White, UFC president. The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., is the world's leading mixed martial arts association. Owned and operated by Zuffa LLC, the UFC programs six live pay-per-view events yearly through cable and satellite providers. In addition to its U.S. distribution on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, TVN and Dish Network, UFC events are distributed internationally through British Sky Broadcasting, WOWOW, Inc., in Japan, Globosat in Brazil and Modern Sports and Entertainment in Scandinavia. UFC licenses video games for all major playing platforms through Crave Entertainment. The UFC's next live PPV event will be at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST on Friday, February 28, 2003, from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. Note: Information in this news release was provided by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, the Indiana Boxing Commission, the Tennessee Boxing Commission and published news reports. |
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| Wednesday - January 8, 2003 |
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From Richard Santoro, SHOOTO: OFFICIAL PRESS RELELASE SHOOTO USA 
In the sport of Shooto, the menu usually features the little men as the main entree. However, the main dish being served up on January 17th in Clarksville, TN will be the Super Heavyweights. You better have a big appetite because promoter John Renken is serving up a five-course meal of the big men at the Action Sportsplex in his latest installment of Tennessee Shooto. Going into his 2nd Shooto sanctioned event, Renken and his team have really stirred things up in the Midsouth and this one promises to be a crowd pleaser. "People like the heavies and super heavies" says Renken, "and we have really put together a solid card of powerhouses."Standout Jonathan Ivey, has been on the verge of exploding for quite sometime. He is a fighter that people have been aware of for quite awhile, having faced quality opponents in Jeremy Horn, Travis Fulton, Travis Wiuff (both of which are slated to face each other on this card), Roger Neff, and Pedro Otavio. He is easily one of the most experienced fighters at this weight and he has put together a pair of impressive submission victories in his last two outings. With a renewed focus on developing technique along with his already formidable power he is primed and really to make his mark. Other Super Heavyweights that will be mixing it up are a couple of UFC veterans that were already mentioned... "The Ironman" Travis Fulton and Travis "Diesel" Wiuff. These two have already squared off where Wiuff won by decision. Fulton will be getting his chance to settle the score and both men will get the chance to break into the Shooto scene. For those with a lighter palate, fear not. The line-up for TN Shooto "Conquest" has plenty of lighter fair covering all the lower weight classes. With all the talk and Internet angst, Joe Jordan v. Roli Delgado has the potential be a showstopper. Jordan easily dispatched his opponent last time out in Clarksville, but Delgado is coming in with solid credentials and tons of fan support. More favorites to keep an eye out for are the infamous Ed Clay, local standout Nate Baker, and a host of promising new talent coming out of the south. But, TN Shooto is more than just an exciting card. It is a rising promotion set to grow into a centerpiece in the full-contact martial arts world. There have been some very close dealings with the Tennessee State Boxing Commission to not just get Shooto (and events like it) approved in the state, but to achieve the official status of a licensed sport, as seen in NJ and NV. Additionally, negotiations are underway to start a weekly television show on TV 43 in Tennessee where it is planned to feature this TN promotion and other rising grass-roots events as well. This is a great development, as it offers a superb chance for John Renken to present his product and the sport in general to a wide field of potential fans. And for dessert, another deal is being worked out that will bring TN Shooto into the heart of Clarksville where it will operate in a University field house. This provides more seats, better accommodations for fighters and fans, and better accessibility to the public. Only three events strong at this point, Mr. Renken is really making waves, and TN Shooto is receiving high scores for breads and circuses... Don't miss this event scheduled for January 17th at the Action Sportsplex in Clarksville, TN. SHW - 242.5 lbs and over Jonathan Ivey vs. Chad Bartlett Travis Fulton vs. Travis Wiuff Buddy Lewis vs. Brad Grimes Kevin Jordon vs. Sean Sallee Gerrod Allen vs. Vega Aleveres LHW - 183.0 lbs Karima Bennett vs. Danny Cooper MW - 167.5 lbs Ed Clay vs. Josh Hopkis Dan Covel vs. Tom Kirk Jason Moonie vs. Mike Ahrenholz LW - 143.3 lbs Joe Jordon vs. Roli Delgado Nate Baker vs. William Mccoughlin FW - 132.3 lbs Chris Spedale vs. Andrei Kalinine |
| Thursday - January 9, 2003 |
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Late last night, we received some sad news. DSE President Naoto Morishita was found dead Wednesday night, shortly after midnight, the victim of an apparent suicide. He was reportedly found hanged with an obi (sash/belt) in a hotel room in the Shinjuku District of Tokyo, Japan. According to police, no suicide note was found. Earlier in the day, Morishita reportedly announced future plans for PRIDE, including the announcement of the scheduling of PRIDE 25 (March 16), 26 (May 25), 27 (November) & the long-awaited 2nd PRIDE Grand Prix (opening round to be held in August and the Finals in October, both shows in the Tokyo Dome). He also reportedly reaffirmed the intentions to hold a PRIDE show in the U.S. in the future. Our deepest condolences go out to Mr. Morishita's family and friends. |
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"The Smashing Machine" Set To Debut January 12th On HBO By Loretta Hunt 
Tuesday, January 7th marked another milestone for mixed martial arts, as Home Box Office (HBO) hosted a private screening of "The Smashing Machine" at its headquarters in New York City. A ninety-three minute documentary focusing on the life and times of mixed martial artist Mark Kerr, the provocative piece is set to air this Sunday. Both Mark Kerr and Mark Coleman, the stars of the film, were on hand with wives Dawn and Kelly (also appearing in the film) to celebrate the documentary's success. The film has already appeared at the Tribeca Film Festival and CineVegas.Directed by John Hyams and produced by Jon Greenhalgh, a former college roommate and wrestling teammate of Kerr's at Syracuse University, the film originally set out to record the journey of one of the toughest men in the world in his quest to be a champion. However, in the 3-year process (and over 500 hours of footage) that was to follow, "The Smashing Machine" became so much more. In addition to capturing the meteoric rise of wrestler Kerr through the ranks of such promotions as the WVC, UFC, and PRIDE-- the documentary expertly delves into Kerr's personal struggles as an opiate addict trying to stay on top and the toll his addiction eventually took on the relationships in his life. Behind-the-scenes footage reveals Kerr's home life to training sessions to inner thoughts pre and post-fight. The film also captures some of the inner workings of Japan's most celebrated MMA event, the unadulterated love its fans display and the incredible pressure its competitors experience. Honest appearances by both Mark Coleman and Bas Rutten only elevate the film's grit and specificity. Coleman is especially poignant in a scene at his home in Ohio, playfully interacting with his young fidgety daughter in his lap as she explains to the camera what her daddy does for a living. To the credit of John Hyams (currently directing episodes of NYPD Blue in Los Angeles), who admits he knew little of the sport before being approached by Greenhalgh, the finished product is staggeringly vivid and telling. "It was good for me to come in knowing not much about it and sort of discovering it as I went to bring a fresh approach to it. I certainly had no agenda going in-I wasn't against it or for it. I wanted to make a movie that you could watch and feel like you're watching a great movie- not just an educational or expose type of story. I really wanted the viewer to get to know these guys and go through the process of fighting and training and recovering and everything it entails." For producer Jon Greenhalgh, who has followed the fight scene and Kerr's career from its beginnings, the demise of the film's leading character into personal turmoil came as somewhat of a surprise. "Mark's always been a very dynamic person and I didn't know what we were going to encounter, but I kinda figured we'd encounter something. I was surprised to the degree and severity of his problem, but like I've said, I've seen Mark get into trouble before and he always has a way of pulling himself out of it." As for the centerpiece of the film, star Kerr seemed to have no reservations about the details of his personal life being broadcast to millions of homes this Sunday. "The reactions that I have gotten [thus far] were totally contrary to what I'd thought they'd be. People were inspired by it." Added co-star Coleman, "For Mark to open up his life like that takes a lot of courage. I hope he keeps it together and keeps pulling it together and I'll always be there for him." From its opening scenes in which Kerr visits his local doctor's office after a fight to his uncomfortable back-and-forth disputes with then-girlfriend Dawn Staples to some of the most innovative fight footage ever captured on celluloid, this film delivers a plethora of riveting viewing moments. Brutal, heartwrenching, and witty all at the same time, "The Smashing Machine" marks another highpoint for MMA with the sheer sensitivity and artistry it utilizes in conveying the oft-misunderstood sport. Although the gruesome fight footage (all dating back at least three years) will do little to soften the general public's impression of MMA, the film actually succeeds in going beyond the facade of fighter to the man that lies behind it. A must-see for true MMA fans, "The Smashing Machine" debuts Sunday, January 12th at 10pm EST on HBO. It will re-air Monday, Jan. 13th at 11pm on HBO2; Wednesday, Jan. 15th at 12am and 10pm; Friday, Jan. 17th at 10pm on HBO2; Tuesday, Feb. 4th at 9:45 pm on HBO2; and Sunday, Feb. 9th at 2:30am on HBO2. (All time are EST.) |
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From Josh Hedges/Zuffa: RODRIGUEZ TO MEET SYLVIA FOR HEAVYWEIGHT BELT AT UFC 41: ONSLAUGHT ON PAY-PER-VIEW, FEB. 28, IN ATLANTIC CITY 8-FIGHT CARD TO FEATURE RETURN OF LEGEND TANK ABBOTT, LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE FIGHT BETWEEN BJ PENN, CAOL UNO Live Event Tickets Now On Sale! LAS VEGAS, NEV., January 8, 2003...The Ultimate Fighting Championship's (UFC) new Heavyweight Champion Ricco Rodriguez will defend his title for the first time against undefeated contender Tim Sylvia at UFC 41: Onslaught live on pay-per-view Friday, Feb. 28, at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. An eight-fight, all-star card also will feature the return to the UFC of legendary Heavyweight Tank Abbott, who will meet jiu jitsu submission specialist Frank Mir. In the co-main event, lightweight top contenders BJ Penn and Caol Uno will meet for the lightweight title. Live event tickets, $300, $200, $100, $60 and $30, are now on sale at the Boardwalk Hall box office in Atlantic City, at all Ticketmaster locations and at www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets also may be ordered by telephone at 1-800-736-1420. Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino, Trump Marina and Trump Taj Mahal are the hosts of the event. UFC 41: Onslaught will be available live on pay-per-view at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, Dish Network, Bell ExpressVu and Viewers Choice Canada. The suggested retail price is $29.95. Rodriguez (10-1-0 in mixed martial arts) is a native of Staten Island, New York, and a former resident of Patterson, N.J., who now fights out of Las Vegas. He has won 10 consecutive fights and captured the heavyweight crown September 27 with a fifth-round, technical knockout submission of former two-time champion Randy Couture at UFC 39: Warriors Return at The Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. Rodriguez has combined an always-improving standup game with a relentless ground and pound attack to win his last five fights by TKO over top heavyweights including Andre Arlovski, Pete Williams, Jeff Monson, Tsuyoshi Kosaka and Couture. Sylvia (16-0-0), a native of Ellsworth, ME, who fights out of Davenport, Iowa, is a strong striker and grappler who won a second round TKO September 27 over "Cabbage" Correira at The Mohegan Sun. Previously, he won an eight-man tournament and earlier this year, won the Superbrawl "Return of the Heavyweights" 16-man tournament with four victories by either knockout or TKO. At 6'8," 260 lbs., Sylvia is one of the biggest heavyweights in the UFC and trains with one of the top teams in mixed martial arts, Miletich Fighting Systems. "Tim is a phenomenal athlete who is undefeated. So, his record speaks for itself. He will be tough and will come after me because Miletich fighters always prepare very well for fights," Rodriguez said. "This is a big opportunity for Tim and I'm comparing this fight to the first "Rocky" movie where Apollo Creed gave Rocky a title shot, except there won't be any split decision. I'm gonna take him out. Personally, it's really exciting for me to defend my title for the first time in Atlantic City, which is close to Staten Island, New York, and Patterson, N.J., where I grew up. I will definitely have a lot of fans and family members in my corner," Rodriguez added. Tank (8-7-0), from Huntington Beach, Calif., is returning from World Championship Wrestling (WCW) to re-claim a top spot in the heavyweight division. He is renown for his knockout power and during his UFC career has recorded some of its most memorable KOs, including John Matua and Paul Varelans at UFC 6: Clash of the Titans; Steve Nelmark at Ultimate Ultimate '96 and Hugo Duarte at UFC 17: Redemption. In Mir (4-1) of Las Vegas, he will be facing one of the UFC's most promising young heavyweights. A Brazilian jiu jitsu specialist, Mir exploded on the scene at UFC 34: High Voltage with an armbar submission of veteran Roberto Traven in 1:05. He followed that with another armbar submission of Pete Williams in just 46 seconds at UFC 36: Worlds Collide. "From what I've seen, he's a tough fighter. He is really skilled. Right now, I may be the only fighter who can beat him. His techniques all look real solid and I look forward to going to war with him," Tank said. "Fighting Tank will be good for me and my career. He is truly one of the legends of our sport and is still recognized as one of the top heavyweights. I don't know if there are any fighters in the heavyweight division who punch harder and I know he has an excellent take down defense. But, I'll be ready," Mir said. Penn (6-1-0) from Hilo, Hawaii, and Uno (13-4-2) of Kanagawa, Japan, earned the right to meet for the lightweight title with unanimous decision victories over Matt Serra and Din Thomas respectively September 27 at The Mohegan Sun. They fought each other once previously at UFC 34: High Voltage at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Penn won that match by knockout, so Uno will be seeking some payback. Penn, known as "The Prodigy," is a powerful striker and grappler who was the first non-Brazilian black belt world champion in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Uno is a highly technical grappler and striker who also utilizes his extensive wrestling experience to submit opponents. The Ultimate Fighting Championship, headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., is the world's leading mixed martial arts sports association. Owned and operated by Zuffa LLC, the UFC programs six live pay-per-view events yearly through cable and satellite providers. In addition to its U.S. distribution on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV and TVN, UFC events are distributed internationally through British Sky Broadcasting, WOWOW, Inc., in Japan, Globosat in Brazil and Modern Sports and Entertainment in Scandinavia. UFC licenses video games for all major playing platforms through Crave Entertainment. The UFC's next pay-per-view event is Ultimate Knockouts 2, which premieres at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m PST, Friday, January 17 on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, TVN and Bell ExpressVu. It will re-capture the UFC's most memorable knockouts. The suggested retail price is $9.95. Its next live PPV event is UFC 41: Onslaught at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST Friday, February 28, from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. |
From Lee Coates: The FFC in association with the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi present the FFC IV. January 31st 2003 at 8:00 p.m. in the Ballroom. "The Beau Rivage is the South's premiere vacation destination and has a reputation for having only the finest in entertainment. It is gratifying to have the opportunity to bring the FFC to a "five star" venue. As an organization we have identified a niche in the local fight market and bring a combination of local fighters with whom the fans enjoy an affinity along with some of the top names in the business. My partner Rob Braniff has done an outstanding job putting this card together. I think there will be a lot of industry insiders watching the outcome of our main event," said SportfightingUSA President Lee Coates. "The old cliché "Styles make fights" rings true with me but it goes beyond that. I spend a lot of time reviewing film, and talking with managers and promoters prior to making any fights. We have learned to be very selective and concentrate as much on a fighter's character as we do his or her physical talents. If they display integrity outside the ring then they will display it inside the ring as well. The last thing this sport needs is another black eye. I think our main event featuring Dave Gardner vs. Rich Clementi for the FFC Lightweight Title is indicative of this philosophy. While both are great fighters and considered to be in the top ten fighters in their weight class, they are also solid citizens with a reputation for showing up in shape and putting on entertaining performances" Said FFC President and Matchmaker Rob Braniff. Here is how the event is shaping up as of today. FFC IV Fight Card
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| Friday - January 10, 2003 |
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Korea Eager for NHB, Submission Wrestling Coming Strong in Rio! The Brazilian Beat: The year is barely more than a week old and news is already popping up! "The Beat" is currently traveling around the country, but we somehow still manage to get you news and inform you from wherever we are, down on the beaches of Brazil or in the middle of the cities, we'll always find a way to keep you informed on the latest from Brazil, so check out "The Beat" as the sun is hot in Brazil right now and the heat is truly on!
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From promoter Brian Cimins: Road to The Championship Saturday, March 29th, 2003 Marist High School Bayonne, New Jersey Current Match-Ups: Superfights: -Kenny Kronenberg (Tai Kai) vs. Kaream Ellington (CMA) -Todd Margolis vs. Jon "The Predator" Tarrh -Jamie Cruz (Renzo Gracie) vs. Forrest Petz (ISFA Shootfighting) -Jay White (Renzo Gracie) vs. Jeremiah Fountain (Tai Kai) *Super-Heavyweight Title Match: -Carlos Moreno (BAMA) vs. Brian "Big Fam" Shepard (Tai Kai) *Flyweight Title Match: -Alan Teo (Renzo Gracie) vs. Mike Acosta (Yamasaki) *Light-Heavyweight Match: -Dante Rivera (Team End Game) vs. Matt Butler (Royler Gracie USA) *Middleweight Single Match: -Rich Latta (Renzo Gracie/Hatfield) vs. Jason Hathaway *Welterweight Single Match: -Brian Miller (Renzo Gracie/Hatfield) vs. Lenny Sonia (Tai Kai) *Lightweight 4-Man Belt Tournament (1st Round, March 29th): -Joey Brown (End Game) vs. Deividas Taurosevicvs (PKA) -Andy Curringa (Tai Kai) vs. TBA *Flyweight Contender Match: -Jay-Shannon Russell (Team Hunter) vs. Mike Custodio (Muay Thai) Other Fighters to be featured on the card: Nakapan Phungephorn, Justin Ellison, Donny Raines (Team Justin Ellison), Joey Paladino, Claude Patrick (Nova Uniao), Mark Papadimitriou, Rob Kahn, Francisco Villalobos (Team Renzo), John Moorehead (Yamasaki), Brett Tillett (Lloyd Irvin) For more information, go to: http://www.Grapplers.com |
| Saturday - January 11, 2003 |
From Marcello Tetel:
The Brazilian martial arts community is counting the days until the best trials for ADCC ever held in Brazil. As usual, the rumors regarding who is in and who is out are all around the country, and considering how big Brazil is we gotta consider this a big noise.Fighters are already aware regarding their participations in the ADCC Brazilian Trials which will be held next January 22nd in one of the most beautiful postcards of Rio de Janeiro - Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas - A wonderful lake between beaches and the forrest, definitely a must. The attendence will be composed of only VIP Guests and fighters with their coaches. Expected to be in attendence MMA are fighters such as Pride heavyweight champion Minotauro Nogueira and his twin brother Rogerio Minotouro, Pride veteran and ADCC multiple-time champion Mario Sperry, UFC champion Murilo Bustamante, Pride Veteran and current ADCC current Absolute Champion Ricardo Arona, 3-Time ADCC Champion Royler Gracie, ADCC Champion Marcio Feitosa, UFC heavyweight fighter Pedro Rizzo, and the list could go on with countless more!! Right now, people are going crazy trying to get their invitation just to attend what promises to be a preview of ADCC 2003. The lineup is still a secret, but we can assure that there will be no easy matchups or easy weight divisions. Grappling martial arts such as jiu-jitsu, judo , wrestling and luta-livre are very well represented. The idea for the qualifiers keeps the same goal of revealing new names and this year the anticipation of surprising matches with veterans and newcomers is multiplying the excitment. Organizer of the main event and ADCC spokenperson Guy Nievens will be in attendence to watch live performances and check the level of his qualifier, presenting an even bigger motivation for the fighters. The winner of each weight division will earn a spot in the ADCC World Submission Wrestling Championship which will be held on May 17th and 18th in São Paulo - Brazil. Judges are coming from UAE in order to referee the matches, and seems we will have some small changes in the regulations which will be released at the appropriate time. This year the tournament will have the support of famous companies such as Koral Kimonos, PowerBar, and Vitamins & Minerals. Stay tuned for the 8 lucky fighters who will be fighting in each weight division!!! |
| Sunday - January 12, 2003 |
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By Jim Genia
How long have you been doing jiu-jitsu? I started in October of 1999. So a little bit over three years. How'd you get started? Actually, I was at my Tae Kwon Do school at the time, and white belts from Renzo's in the city came in. They knew our instructor, and he asked us to try to hit them. They were like, "Yeah, you can try to hit us," and they took us down and choked us, put us in triangles and stuff like that. And I had no idea what was going on. I was kinda cocky, I was a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, and I couldn't do anything -- they just choked me. So then I started learning the Jiu-Jitsu. I quit Tae Kwon Do and I stuck with it ever since. You showed some striking in your fight with Govola. Is that from Tae Kwon Do? I got my black belt in Tae Kwon Do, but I really don't use the kicks too much. I've been training a lot with Ray Longo for stand-up. He helps me a lot with my conditioning, my stand-up -- that's where I'm getting my hands from -- and I'm going to add the kicks in soon. I'm pretty much going to be an all-around fighter. I want to be able to stand with the guys. I know I'll be better than everybody I fight on the ground because I train with the best guys -- you know, Matt and Nick and Team Renzo, and we're the best on the ground. I feel confident enough with my submissions where the guys are going to have trouble hitting me from in my guard, and if they open up too much, I'm going to tap them. And that's the bottom line.
You've only fought MMA twice, and your second fight was against an undefeated Mass Destruction champ. What's the story there? I'm jumping in there, I'm not warming up -- I'm jumping right into the heat, know what I mean? I love to fight. Some people, they do it for the wrong reasons -- they do it for the fame, or this and that. I just do it for the fight. I could care less about everything else. I love to fight. I'll fight anytime, anywhere. I just love doing it. Are you nervous before your fights? Not really. My first fight I was little nervous. But the second fight, the one I just had, I was calm, I was ready, pumped. Basically, the way I look at is: the guy has to finish me to get me to stop fighting. 'Cause every time I'm fighting, I'm trying to end the fight no matter what. With my fight with Ted [Govola], I was going for the submissions, I was going for the knockout blow, I was going for it. I wasn't trying to win the decision -- you'll never see me do that. I'm always going to try to win the fight. Some people get their rushes from different things, they'll jump on a roller coaster or whatever -- I just love the rush of a fight.
So the rush of the fight is what motivates you? Mentally, I'm not scared of anybody. I don't care. If my opponent wants to hit me, he can hit me -- I'm coming back for more. But there's always going to be that chance that I'm going to submit you or knock you out, no matter what. So you can't take that away from me. For all those MMA fans out there who have yet to see you fight, what should they expect? I want people to have no idea what to do with me. They'll have no gameplan with me -- they're not going want to stand up with me, they're not going to want to go to the ground with me. I'm getting everything good in my game. I'm working with wrestlers for my takedowns -- I want to kill everybody. And your ultimate goal in mixed martial arts? I like the UFC. I like what they've done for the sport. Thanks, Drago. No problem. |
| Monday - January 13, 2003 |
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By Joe Hall
Target Center Minneapolis, Minnesota Dennis Stull vs. Damian Decorah Winner: Stull by TKO (punches in the guard) 3:18 R1 Maurice Walker vs. Brad Spent Winner: Walker by TKO (strikes from the mount) 1:44 R3 Carlos Armanqui vs. Brandon Foxworth Winner: Armanqui by armbar :52 R1 Josh Rafferty vs. Karima Bennett Winner: Rafferty by TKO (strikes from the back mount) R1 Jorge Gurgel vs. Gin Minajev Winner: Gurgel by guillotine choke 2:18 R1
Dennis Reed vs. Tyrone Roberts Winner: Reed by TKO (punches in the guard) :39 R1
Winner: Rush by leg lock 1:09 R1 Kelly Kobald vs. Lisa Huffman Winner: Kobald by TKO (side choke and punches) 1:10 R3 Kerry Schall vs. Greg Wikan Winner: Wikan by TKO (strikes from side mount) 3:35 R1 Brian Shepard vs. Travis Wiuff Winner: Wiuff by TKO (strikes from side mount) 4:00 R1 Jeremy Horn vs. Travis Fulton Winner: Horn by TKO (strikes from side mount/north-south) R2 |
| Wednesday - January 15, 2003 |
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Pancrase 2003 Hybrid Tour Sunday, January 26, 2003 Doors Open; 11:30am - Fights Start; 12:00pm Korakuen Hall (Tokyo, Japan)
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From Josh Hedges/Zuffa: ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP TO PREMIERE ULTIMATE KNOCKOUTS 2 ON PAY-PER-VIEW STARTING JANUARY 17 One-Hour Special To Feature Best Knockouts In UFC History LAS VEGAS, January 14, 2003...The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will offer fight fans the best knockouts in its history when it premieres Ultimate Knockouts 2, a one-hour pay-per-view special, starting at 10 p.m EST/7 p.m. PST, Friday, January 17, on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, TVN and Bell ExpressVu. The suggested retail price is $9.95 and the show will be available on re-play until February 6. Ultimate Knockouts 2 will re-capture the UFC's most memorable knockout moments by everyone's favorite fighters including Middleweight top contender Phil Baroni, British Middleweight Mark Weir and new Welterweight star Robbie Lawler. UK2 also will feature Heavyweight Champion Ricco Rodriguez, legendary Heavyweight Tank Abbott and other UFC stars and legends such as current Middleweight Champion Murilo Bustamante, Heavyweight Pedro Rizzo, former Heavyweight Champions Randy Couture and Bas Rutten, Light Heavyweight Vanderlei Silva and Heavyweight Don Frye. Abbott will return to the Octagon Friday, Feb. 28, at UFC 41: Onslaught after a four-year absence and Rodriguez will defend his heavyweight crown for the first time against undefeated contender Tim Sylvia on the same card. [UK2 replays on iN DEMAND will be at 9 p.m. EST/6 p.m. PST, January 18 on channel iN2; 1:30 p.m. EST/10:30 a.m. PST, iN1, and 6 p.m. EST/3 p.m. PST, iN2, January 19; 2 a.m. EST/11 p.m. PST, January 20/19, iN2; 7 p.m. EST/4 p.m. PST, iN2, and 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST, iN1, January 22; 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST, January 25 on iN1. DIRECTV replays will be telecast on its All Day Ticket service on January 18, 20, 27, 29 and 31, and on February 2 and February 6. Bell ExpressVu replays will be at 9 p.m. EST/6 p.m. PST and 11 p.m. EST/8 p.m. PST on January 20 and January 27.] |
| Friday - January 17, 2003 |
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Fontinelli to be Back and Submission Wrestling Shaking Things up in Brazil! The Brazilian Beat: The holidays are now over and things are starting to get busy again for the fighters in Brazil, as the events are starting to approach and soon all the camps will be competing again. With the return of Abu Dhabi this year and the fact that the event will be held in Brazil, the mats all over the country have been as sweaty as ever as the top grapplers are preparing to compete in the Abu Dhabi Brazilian Trials. Submission Wrestling has becoming a fever in Brazil, new events are popping up everywhere and FCF is getting a hold of them all for you. However, strikers also will get their taste of work in the first months of the year as well... the first ever STORM Grand Prix promises to take the event to another level and Sergio Batarelli is also working hard to bring K-1 here. Also, early 2003 is looking way better than the end of 2002 to NHB veteran Claudionor Fontinelli, who is about to be back on the streets. There's plenty to report and we're still traveling, but keeping a close eye on the news, as "The Beat" continues hot on FCF in the even hotter Brazilian summer!
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| Sunday - January 19, 2003 |
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From John Renken: Chris Spedale by TKO at 1:45 of the 2nd RD over Joe Mcburney. William McGlothlin by tap out at 3:41 of the 2nd RD over Nate Baker. Joe Jordon by UN. DEC over Roli Delgado. Gerrod Allen by TKO at :28 of the 1st RD over Vega Albaro. Kevin Jordon by Maj. DEC (2-0-1)over Sean Sallee. Ed Clay by Triangle Choke :54 of the 1st RD over Steve Marsh. Travis Wiuff by TapOut 2:55 of the 2nd RD over Buddy Lewis. |
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From John Petrilli (RITC): Asher Combat Academy Goes 5-0 The evening started with a Capoeria demonstration followed by the traditional RITC "Walk of the Warriors". A Marine color guard presented our flag and the national anthem was sung by former Oakland Raiderette, Dawn. Asher Combat Academy "swept the board" going 5-0. The most impressive win belonged to Andy Montana. Despite giving up 60 pounds in weight, Andy was able to post a first round submission victory over Cory Timmerman to put a stop to Cory's 3 fight win streak. Andy's three young daughters joined him in celebration on the ramp just outside the cage. This performance earned Fighter of the Night (FOTN) honors for Andy. Other candidates for FOTN were Joseph Riggs, Vince Lucero, Roger Mejia, Kyle Brees, Matt Asher and Rich Moss. The night ended on a "sour note" when the Main Event was declared a "no contest" because of premature referee stoppage (arm bar). Forty-six seconds into round 1, Dewees was working for an arm bar. Medina had neither tapped nor verbally submitted. The referee stopped the match for "fighter safety". At this level of competition, it's imperative for the fighters to determine the outcome of the match, leading to the "no contest" ruling. On a positive note, Joseph Riggs posted an impressive 52-second victory over Herb Dean. Joseph can now focus on his big showdown match with Rodney Faverus in K-1 The Netherlands on April 6, 2003. Results: James Attwood (147 lbs), Brausa Academy won by decision (3-0) Del Hawkins (139 lbs), Team Phoenix RJ Gamez (170 lbs), Asher Combat Academy won by decision (3-0) Michael Chavez (165 lbs), Savage Te Dawg Pound Drew Fickett (169 lbs), Arizona Combat Sports won by decision (3-0) John Lansing (175 lbs), Brausa Academy Rich Moss (183 lbs), Brausa Academy won by submission (arm bar), 2:13 Rd 2 Ray Elbe (172 lbs), Team Phoenix Matt Asher (202 lbs), Asher Combat Academy won by submission (arm bar), :54 Rd 1 Melville Calabaca (235 lbs), Savage Te Dawg Pound Kyle Brees (164 lbs), Team Phoenix won by submission (ankle lock), 1:52 Rd 1 Robert Maldonado (169 lbs), Tucson Judo Roger Mejia (199 lbs), Asher Combat Academy won by submission (arm bar), 1:56 Rd 1 Sid Fisher (195 lbs), Freestyle Vince Lucero (260 lbs), Asher Combat Academy won by submission (strikes), :25 Rd 1 Justin Lyon (380 lbs), Savage Te Dawg Pound Andy Montana (240 lbs), Asher Combat Academy won by submission (choke), 2:11 Rd 1 Cory Timmerman (298 lbs), Brausa Academy Joseph Riggs (219 lbs), Brausa Academy won by submission (strikes), :52 Rd 1 Herb Dean (228 lbs), Submission Factory Edwin Dewees (205 lbs), Brausa Academy no contest Todd Medina (196 lbs), Carlson Gracie Freestyle Upcoming Events: RITC 44 - Feel the Power Saturday, February 1, 2003 Main Event: Vince Lucero (260 lbs), Asher Combat Academy vs Thomas Gil (230 lbs), Pinal Martial Arts Pinal County - Parks, Recreation & Fairgrounds 11 MC Road Casa Grande, Arizona Doors Open: 6 PM, Fight Time: 7:30 PM Desert Quest #4 - Grappling/BJJ Championship Date: Saturday, February 15, 2003 Location: Westwood High 945 West 8th St Mesa, AZ 85201 Weigh-Ins: 10:30 AM Fight Time: Noon RITC 45 Celebrity Theatre Phoenix, Arizona Saturday, March 1, 2003 Doors Open: 6 PM, Fight Time: 7:30 PM |
| Monday - January 20, 2003 |
From Josh Hedges/Zuffa: LINDLAND, BARONI TO WAGE MIDDLEWEIGHT RE-MATCH WAR AT UFC 41: ONSLAUGHT FEB. 28 LIVE ON PAY-PER-VIEW IN ATLANTIC CITY Rodriguez To Defend Heavyweight Belt Vs. Sylvia; Tank Abbott Returns; BJ Penn, Caol Uno To Meet For Lightweight Crown LIVE EVENT TICKETS NOW ON SALE! LAS VEGAS, NEV., January 20, 2003... Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweights Matt Lindland and Phil Baroni will wage a re-match war in one of the featured fights at UFC 41: Onslaught live on pay-per-view at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST, Friday, February 28, at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. The eight-fight card also will feature the first title defense by new UFC Heavyweight Champion Ricco Rodriguez against undefeated contender Tim "The Maine-iac" Sylvia; the return to the Octagon of legendary heavyweight Tank Abbott, who will fight Frank Mir, and the long-awaited meeting of BJ Penn and Caol Uno for the lightweight championship. Live event tickets, $300, $200, $100, $60 and $30, are now on sale at the Boardwalk Hall box office in Atlantic City, at all Ticketmaster locations and at www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets also may be ordered by telephone at 1-800-736-1420. Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino, Trump Marina and Trump Taj Mahal are the hosts of the event. UFC 41: Onslaught will be available live on pay-per-view on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, Dish Network, Bell ExpressVu and Viewers Choice Canada. The suggested retail price is $29.95. Lindland (8-1-0 in mixed martial arts) from Eagle Creek, Ore., and Baroni (6-1-0) from Las Vegas via Long Island, N.Y., first squared off November 2, 2001, at UFC 34: High Voltage in Las Vegas. When the smoke cleared, Lindland had withstood three rounds of power punches but held on for a majority decision victory. It was Baroni's first, and only, loss and he has been simmering since. "That fight was a case of me being young, unprepared and cocky. I learned a lesson. Now it's time for redemption," Baroni predicts. He makes no bones about wanting the UFC middleweight belt and put the lesson to practice in his next two fights. On May 10, he met Amar Suloev, a world ranked Russian middleweight, at UFC 36: High Voltage in Bossier City, La. Suloev lasted only 2:55 with Baroni before the fight was stopped due to punches. That technical knockout was followed by one of the UFC's quickest and most exciting knockouts of the year when Baroni met former middleweight champion Dave Menne September 27 at UFC 39: Warriors Return at the Mohegan Sun. Menne was gone in 18 seconds. "I want my belt," he told the sold out crowd and issued a direct challenge to Middleweight Champion Murilo Bustamante. But, he will have to go through Lindland to get it, and Lindland can't wait to get back in the Octagon with Bustamante. The only loss on the former U.S. Olympic wrestling silver medalist's record came at the hands of Bustamante in their May 10 title fight in Bossier City. But Lindland got right back in the championship hunt with a dominating, three-round unanimous decision over talented Ivan Salaverry September 27 at the Mohegan Sun. "I've accomplished things in competitive athletics that Baroni will never approach," Lindland explains. And, in the war of words, he gets the last one, "I'll beat him again," he said. Rodriguez (10-1-0), a Staten Island, N.Y. native, who also fights out of Las Vegas, has won 10 straight fights and captured the heavyweight crown from two-time former champ Randy Couture September 27 at the Mohegan Sun. Sylvia (16-0-0), a native of Ellsworth, Maine, who fights out of Davenport, Iowa, is a strong striker and grappler who won a second-round TKO September 27 over "Cabbage" Correira at the Mohegan Sun. At 6'8", 260 pounds, he is one of the biggest heavyweights in the UFC and trains with one of the top teams in mixed martial arts, Miletich Fighting Systems. Tank (8-7-0) from Huntington Beach, Calif., is returning to re-claim a top spot in the heavyweight division. He is renowned for his knockout power and during his UFC career has recorded some of its most memorable KOs. In Mir (4-1-0) of Las Vegas, he will be facing one of the UFC's most promising young heavyweights. Penn (6-1-0) from Hilo, Hawaii, and Uno (13-4-2) of Kanagawa, Japan, earned the right to meet for the lightweight title with unanimous decision victories over Matt Serra and Din Thomas respectively September 27 at the Mohegan Sun. The Ultimate Fighting Championship, headquartered in Las Vegas, is the world's leading mixed martial arts sports association. Owned and operated by Zuffa LLC, the UFC programs six live pay-per-view events yearly through cable and satellite providers. In addition to its U.S. distribution on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, Dish Network and TVN, UFC events are distributed internationally through British Sky Broadcasting, WOWOW, Inc. in Japan, Globosat in Brazil, Modern Sports and Entertainment in Scandinavia and Main Event Television in Australia. UFC licenses video games for all major playing platforms through Crave Entertainment. The UFC's current pay-per-view event is Ultimate Knockouts 2, which premiered Friday, January 17, and is available until February 6 on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, TVN and Bell ExpressVu. It re-captures the UFC's most memorable knockouts. Viewers should consult local listings. The suggested retail price is $9.95. The UFC's next live PPV event is UFC 41: Onslaught at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m PST Friday, February 28, at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. |
From T Jay Thompson:
194lbs 2x5 minute roundsYukiya Naito 194lbs (A3 Gym, Tokyo) 4-0 vs. Egan Inoue 182.6lbs (Grappling Unlimited) Super Brawl Champion Naito is all that stands between Inoue and his shot at the Shooto Champion, Masanori Suda. Naito is a rising star in Japan who can fight both standing and on the ground. He will also have a weight advantage over Inoue. Although known for his grappling, Egan's has won his last two fights by knock out (one with punches and one headkick) and it will be interesting if he continues his striking ways. Whether standing or on the ground, the smaller Inoue will have to use his quickness to his advantage. Inoue 3-2 Favorite 185lbs 3x5 minute rounds Tyrone Roberts 185lbs (Team Extreme) 15-2 vs. Falaniko Vitale 185lbs (Grappling Unlimited) Super Brawl #1 Ranked 12-1 Tyrone Roberts is a UFC veteran with tremendous wrestling and striking skills. He has KO power in both hands as well as the ability to take an opponents down at will. He is ultra-aggressive who will "brawl" with anyone. Vitale went undefeated in 2002 and wants to start the year off in the same fashion. UFC scouts are watching this fight closely. An impressive performance may land this local boy in the "big show". Picke-em Even Odds |
| Tuesday - January 21, 2003 |
From T Jay Thompson:
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| Wednesday - January 22, 2003 |
From Sergio Batarelli: K-1 Brazil The K-1 Brazil will take place on February 23rd, at Maksoud Plaza Hotel in São Paulo, SP - Brazil starting at 17:00. The event will be an elimination tournament to decide the representative from Brazil to fight in K-1 USA on May in Las Vegas, and after that in Japan. To bring this event to Brazil is to insert the Brazil in the biggest martial event in the world, besides to be shown on the Brazilian TV, it will be broadcasting in Japan by Fuji TV. The event will be only for Brazilian fighters, competing in an eight men tournament, with the same rules of K-1 GP in Japan. 
K-1 Rules The basic rules are:
CONFEDERAÇÃO BRASILEIRA DE LUTAS VALE TUDO. CONFEDERAÇÃO BRASILEIRA DE FULL CONTACT - KICK BOXING. INTERNATIONAL VALE TUDO CHAMPIONSHIP - IVC. Fighters of the Tournament LAERTE REZENDE JUNIOR: 35 years, 1.92m - 105 Kg - boxing - 12 fights - 9 wins - 2 defeats - 1 draw, São Paulo State Boxing Champion, (São Paulo). LÚCIO AURÉLIO DE FREITAS SILVA: 32 years - 1.86 m - 96 Kg - Tae Kwon Do 16 Tae Kwon Do titles - 115 fights, 102 wins (Vitória - ES) JEFFERSON "TANK" MANOEL DA SILVA: 25 years - 100 kg - 1.90 m, Muay Thai, Pan-American Kickboxing Champion, Werdine Team - 25 fights - 22 wins - 3 defeats. (São Paulo - SP) CARLOS LAERTES DE LIMA (Carlinhos): 22 years - 98 Kg - 1.78m - Muay Thai - Brazilian Impact Team - 13 fights - 10 wins -3 defeats, (Curitiba - PR) LUIS APARECIDO DOS SANTOS: 35 years - 120 Kg - 1.92m - Boxing - 20 fights - 20 wins -Brazilian Boxing Champion,(São Paulo - SP) EDUARDO MAIORINO "Morfeu": 23 years - 105 Kg - 1.88m - Muay Thai - Champions Factory's Artur Mariano, - Mato Grosso do Sul State Muay Thai Champion, (Cuiabá - MS) CARLOS BARRETO: 1.94m, 114 Kg - Equipe Paulo Nicolai - Muay Thai - Campeão mundial de vale Tudo IVC, campeão vale Tudo Mecca, (Rio de Janeiro) SPECIAL FIGHT Brazilian Muay Thai Middleweight title WKN Márfio Carlos Canoletti Junior: 24 years, 1.76m, 72 Kg, Sit Master Team Roney, K-1 Brazil Max 2002 Champion, Current Brazilian WKN Muay Thai Middleweight Champion, 18 fights, 17 wins - 1 defeat. (São Paulo - SP) Alexander Oller da Silva: 24 years, 1.75 m, 72 Kg, Action Fitness Team, Brazilian Kick Boxing ISKA Middleweight Champion - Pan-American Open 2000 Muay Thai Champion Middleweight, 82 fights 76 wins - 6 defeats (São Paulo - SP) Brackets "K-1 Brazil" 
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| Thursday - January 23, 2003 |
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From promoter Brian Cimins: 2003 Grapplers Quest U.S. Nationals Saturday, March 29th, 2003 Weigh-Ins start at: 8:00 AM - Event Start Time at: 10:00 AM 60 Divisions for Men, Women, and Children Location: Marist High School - 1241 Kennedy Blvd. - Bayonne, NJ (*Note: SportFighting has been postponed until a future date) Download the U.S. Nationals event package at: http://grapplers.com/article_images/gq_nationals_2003.doc Register Online at: http://grapplers.com/store/online_registration.cfm (Pre-Reg open until March 21st) The Pro (Expert) Divisions will be by invitation-only, but applications are currently being accepted. The weight classes are as follows:
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Double V Arm Lock Originally published in the November 2002 issue of FCF | |
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Picture 1: Matt secures Trevor in Side mount with a far side underhook. |
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Picture 2: Matt secures Trevor's near arm in telephone arm lock position. |
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Picture 3: Matt secures Trevor's far arm in V arm lock position. |
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Picture 4: Matt reaches behind Trevor's head and braces his hand in Trevor's far armpit while cranking up on Trevor's head and stretching both of Trevor's locked arms. |
| Matt Hume and Trevor Jackson train at Matt Hume's AMC Kickboxing and Pankration center in Kirkland, Washington. Matt can be reached for seminars at amc@pankration.com | |
| Disclaimer: This technique, as any martial art or boxing technique, can be dangerous. You or your training partner may be injured if you apply or practice this technique. The author, Matt Hume, Trevor Jackson and FCF are not responsible for any injury that may result. Please consult a physician as to whether or not to attempt this technique. | |
| FCF presents fight techniques in every issue. In the current issue in Matt Hume's techniques, Jason Brudvik and Brad Kertson demonstrate a Triangle Leg Sweep; in the Punchers Corner, champion kickboxer Derek Panza discusses Feigning Retreat. | |
| Friday - January 24, 2003 |
For FASTEST service call in your credit card order (516)676-0033 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 - January 25, 2003 |
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By Keith Mills
Although Pulver/Ludwig is no longer the main event this one still draws much attention. Pulver brings wrestling skills, submission defense and heavy left hand, while Ludwig brings a kickboxing background as evidenced by his K-1 bout in Ring Of Fire last month. Earlier this year Ludwig said, "I think if I were to fight any of the top 10 in that weight class I'd rather it be him because he likes to stand up and trade. I think that's the best match for me." In possibly the show stealer of the night, Team Extreme's Jason Black, most recently victorious in WFA back in November, takes on Millenia Jiu-Jitsu's John Alessio, the current UCC World Welterweight champ as well as the current KOTC Super Fight champ. Black so far hasn't been given an opportunity to shine in larger promotions as much as the other Team Extreme Welterweights but you can bet the undefeated Iowan will be ready to seize the opportunity. Alessio on the other hand looks to expand beyond CA due to his teammate Romi Aram holding the KOTC Welterweight belt. "Basically I go in there as the underdog once again," explains Alessio, "One of these days maybe I won't be, but it works for me. I want to prove everyone wrong. Basically what I am out there to do is try to prove to everybody that one day I'll be number one and prove everyone wrong." Jermaine Andre, the WFA's 185 lb champ, has a tough fight on his hands taking on Steve Vigneault, the UCC's Canadian Light Heavyweight and Middleweight belt holder, in a non-belt bout featuring two belt holders banging it out.
David "The Crow" Loiseau Vs. Anthony "The Freak" Fryklund World Lightweight Championship "Little Evil" Jens Pulver Vs. Duane "Bang" Ludwig World Welterweight Championship John "The Natural" Alessio Vs. Jason Black Canadian Super Lightweight Championship Mark "The Machine" Hominick Vs. Stephane "The Nordic Thunder" Laliberte World Slw Championship Curran Vs. Menjivar Also on the main card: Thomas Denny Vs. George St. Pierre Kultar Gil Vs. Donald Ouimet Wagnney Fabiano Vs. Ivan Menjivar Steve "Lion Heart" Vigneault Vs. "Bam Bam", Jermaine Andre Undercard: Waardenburg Vs. Pigeon Sonny Leong Vs. Steve Claveau Shane Rice Vs. Stephane Vigneault George Peters Vs. Samuel Guillet UCC 12: ADRENALINE Saturday January 25th 2003 - 8pm Eastern Time Pierre Charbonneau Center Montreal, Canada Tickets are on sale now! CANADA, call 1-800-361-4595. USA, call 1-800-678-5440. |
| Sunday - January 26, 2003 |
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Young Guns Show their skills and shine at the ADCC Brazilian Trials By Eduardo Alonso
The highlights of the event were the amazing comeback by Rany Yahrya in the under 65.9 kg class final, guaranteeing his title in the very end of the match, Daniel Moraes putting a show against Johil de Oliveira in the first round, and then beating a tough Fernando Terere and getting his title against Marcelinho in the up-to-76.9 kg class, Ronaldo Jacare and Fernando Margarida battling in the most anticipated fight of the day, with Jiu-Jitsu brown belt Jacare once again proving his talent and winning the up-to-87.9 kg division, Alexandre Cacareco simply dominating the up-to-98.9 kg class and securing his place in the main brackets in May and Marcio "Pe de Pano" Cruz reigning supreme in the over-99kg division, ending the day of fights in Rio de Janeiro with the five champions of the Brazilian trials smiling with their eyes already set on Sao Paulo in May 17 and 18 of 2003! Don't miss a full report in the next issue of FCF! ADCC Brazilian Trials Champions: (Qualified for the Abu Dhabi World Tournament in May) 
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From the event's promoter:
Prime Time Sports, LLC presents The Danger Zone April 12, 2003 at 4 Bears Casino and Lodge. The Danger Zone is back! All interested professional and amateur fighters please contact Becky Levi at dzmatchmaker@yahoo.com This will be a combination professional bouts and a few select amateur bouts! I look forward to hearing from you! |
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From John Petrilli (RITC): Feel the Power Saturday, February 1, 2003 Pinal County - Parks, Recreation & Fairgrounds 11 MC Road Casa Grande, Arizona Doors Open: 6 PM, Fight Time: 7:30 PM What great time for Rage in the Cage to come to Casa Grande for our second visit. Asher Combat Academy put on a dominating performance (5-0) at RITC 43 against quality opposition. I know five fighters that "Felt the Power" at Celebrity Theatre that night. We need all the people from Casa Grande, Eloy and Coolige to come out and support this event. Let's show Phoenix and the 2,500+ fans that showed up at Celebrity Theatre for RITC 43 that Casa Grande, Eloy and Coolige (with just 3% the population of Phoenix) can put on a show of equal or greater magnitude. Double Main Event: Vince Lucero (260 lbs), Asher Combat Academy vs Thomas Gil (230 lbs), Pinal Martial Arts Shannon Ritch (170 lbs), Coolige vs RJ Gamez (170 lbs), Asher Combat Academy Super Fights: Andy Montana (240 lbs), Asher Combat Academy vs Cory Timmerman (300 lbs), Brausa Academy Steve Sayegh (240 lbs), Leininger Dojo vs Tim Yynan (255 lbs), Brausa Academy Other Bouts: Tom Gadberry (335 lbs), Asher Combat Academy vs Jed Hunt (290 lbs), Brausa Academy Lemuel Vincent (275 lbs), Asher Combat Academy vs Wayland Berry (260 lbs), Brausa Academy Gabe Rivas (160 lbs), Pinal Martial Arts vs TBA This fight card will be stacked to showcase local fighters in excellent matchups. There will be 12 fights. Fight Card subject to change. Tickets are available in advance at Asher Combat Academy or at the door the night of the show until sold out. Get your tickets in advance. There will be two entrances at the show. One for fans with advanced tickets, the other for fans buying tickets the night of the fight. Tickets prices are $20 (General Admission) and $25 (Floor Level Seating). Attention Fighters: weigh-ins scheduled for 3PM on fight date (Feb 1) at the fight site. Asher Combat Academy 595 W. Cottonwood Casa Grande, AZ (520) 431-2993 or e-mail: combat@cgmailbox.com For more information, please visit www.rageinthecage.com Here are the directions for those traveling from Phoenix or Tucson for the event. Take I-10 to Exit 194 Head East on 287 away from CG for 7 miles Turn right on 11 Mile Corner Rd and you're there |
| Monday - January 27, 2003 |
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From Sergio Batarelli: * It was confirmed today by PORTUGAL IVC OFFICE: The first IVC show promoted in Portugal will take place on March 22nd in Castro Marim, Portugal. The main fight will be for the IVC National Title - 80 Kg Paulo Aguiar vs Florin Vintila - Promoter of the show: M. Nuno FERREIRA/IVC PORTUGAL Representative - IVC Supervisor: M. Stephane CABRERA IVC World Office |
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From Josh Hedges/Zuffa: RIZZO-MATYUSHENKO, MCGEE-DANTAS ADD HEAVYWEIGHT ACTION TO UFC 41: ONSLAUGHT LIVE ON PAY-PER-VIEW, FEBRUARY 28 8 Fights At Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City To Feature Rodriguez, Sylvia For Heavyweight Title; Tank Abbott's Return; Penn, Uno Lightweight Championship LIVE EVENT TICKETS NOW ON SALE! LAS VEGAS, January 23, 2003...The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is adding more heavyweight action to its Friday, February 28, eight-fight card that will be live on pay-per-view from Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic, City, N.J. Veterans Pedro Rizzo and Vladimir Matyushenko will clash in one feature match while exciting battlers Gan McGee and Alexandre Dantas will meet in another heavyweight fight. With Heavyweight Champion Ricco Rodriguez defending his belt for the first time against Tim Sylvia in the main event and legendary heavyweight Tank Abbott returning to fight Frank Mir, the Octagon will be exploding with plenty of power punches. Not to be missed among the heavyweights is the co-main event, the long-awaited meeting of BJ Penn and Caol Uno for the lightweight championship. Live event tickets, $300, $200, $100, $60 and $30, continue on sale at the Boardwalk Hall box office in Atlantic City, at all Ticketmaster locations and at www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets also may be ordered by telephone at 1-800-736-1420. Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino, Trump Marina and Trump Taj Mahal are the host of the event. UFC 41: Onslaught will be available live on pay-per-view on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, Dish Network, Bell ExpressVu and Viewers Choice Canada. The suggested retail price is $29.95. Rizzo (11-4-0 in mixed martial arts) from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Matyushenko (13-2-0) a native of Retchisa, Belarus, who now fights out of Los Angeles, are both cagey veterans looking for an eventual shot at Rodriguez' belt. The winner will definitely be in the picture. Rizzo, "The Rock," is a kickboxer known for his takedown defense and punching power, who has defeated many of the UFC's top heavyweights, including Tank by knockout in his UFC debut at Ultimate Brazil in October 1998. Former UFC champions who have fallen to Rizzo's excellent stand up, brutal leg kicks and outstanding takedown defense include Mark Coleman, Dan Severn and Josh Barnett (his only MMA loss). Top contenders Tra Telligman, Tsuyoshi Kosaka and Andre Arlovski also have been stopped by his punching power. Matyushenko, "The Janitor," is a world class wrestler with outstanding punching power and a very tough chin. He began his UFC career in the light heavyweight division, but moved up to heavyweight at UFC 40: Vendetta, November 22 in Las Vegas, where he defeated powerhouse Travis Wiuff by submission due to strikes in the first round. But one of the best performances of his MMA career came at UFC 33: Victory In Vegas in October 2001. With just two weeks to prepare (due to injury to Vitor Belfort), Matyushenko met Light Heavyweight Champion Tito Ortiz for the title. Although he lost the fight by decision, Matyushenko went the full five rounds with Ortiz and served notice he was a force to be reckoned with in the UFC. McGee (11-1-0) of San Luis Obispo, Calif., and Dantas (3-1-0), from Rio de Janeiro, both have the talent to rise to the top of the heavyweight division. McGee, "The Giant," at 6'10", 265 pounds, is currently the biggest UFC heavyweight. Although he is a tremendous puncher, he readily acknowledges that his real strength is wrestling and ground and pound. The only blemish on his record is an early career loss to former champ Barnett and he is coming off a first round victory over Rizzo at UFC 39: Warriors Return when he broke "The Rock's" nose with one punch. Just 23, "Café" Dantas is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and a masterful submission artist who is both a Brazilian national champion and a World champion. He has been mainly competing in jiu-jitsu tournaments and finished second in the 2001 World BJJ Tournament and won every tournament he entered in 2002. He said he knows McGee is a "big guy who can hit hard. But, I'm 6'2", 238 pounds and also have a long reach. I will have some secrets ready for him." His unique nickname means "coffee" in Portuguese. In Brazil when fighters start in the jiu-jitsu academy those who are easy to defeat are called "milky coffee." Because he started beating everyone, they named him "Café." Rodriguez (10-1-0), a Staten Island, N.Y. native, who now fights out of Las Vegas, has won 10 straight fights and captured the heavyweight crown from two-time former champ Randy Couture September 27 at the Mohegan Sun. Sylvia (16-0-0), a native of Ellsworth, Maine, who fights out of Davenport, Iowa, is 6'8", 260-pounds and his height and reach advantage helped him win a second round technical knockout September 27 over "Cabbage" Correira at the Mohegan Sun. Tank (8-7-0) from Huntington Beach, Calif., is returning to re-claim a top spot in the heavyweight division. In Mir (4-1-0) of Las Vegas, he will be facing one of the UFC's most promising young heavyweights. Penn (6-1-0) from Hilo, Hawaii, and Uno (13-4-2) of Kanagawa, Japan, earned the right to meet for the lightweight title with unanimous decision victories over Matt Serra and Din Thomas respectively September 27 at the Mohegan Sun. The Ultimate Fighting Championship, headquartered in Las Vegas, is the world's leading mixed martial arts sports association. Owned and operated by Zuffa LLC, the UFC programs six live pay-per-view events yearly through cable and satellite providers. In addition to its U.S. distribution on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, Dish Network and TVN, UFC events are distributed internationally through British Sky Broadcasting, WOWOW, Inc. in Japan, Globosat in Brazil, Modern Sports and Entertainment in Scandinavia and Main Event Television in Australia. UFC licenses video games for all major playing platforms through Crave Entertainment. The UFC's current pay-per-view event is Ultimate Knockouts 2, which premiered Friday, January 17, and is available until February 6 on DIRECTV. It re-captures the UFC's most memorable knockouts. Viewers should consult local listings. The suggested retail price is $9.95. The UFC's next live PPV event is UFC 41: Onslaught at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST Friday, February 28, at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. |
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From Pancrase: Pancrase 2003 Hybrid Tour Sunday, January 26, 2003 Doors Open: 11:30am/Fights Start:12:00pm Korakuen Hall (Tokyo,Japan) Live Gate: 2,300 Sell Out
Pancrase 2003 Hybrid Tour Sunday, February 16, 2003 Doors Open: 3:00pm/Fights Start: 4:00pm Grand Cube Osaka (Osaka, Japan)
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By Keith Mills
Elsewhere on the card David Loiseau successfully defended his World Middleweight belt against Tony Fryklund due to a nasty cut, Jason Black took John Alessio's World Welterweight belt home as the highest profile Miletich Martial Arts victory on the card, and Mark Hominick kept his Canadian Super Lightweight belt with relative ease compared to the rest of the card. The most controversial fight came with the decision victory of Steve Vigneault over Jermaine Andre. Vigneault suffered some punishing elbows standing from the WFA Middleweight champ, opening up a gash on his cheek below his eye that did not endanger the fight, but was obvious evidence of Jermaine's standing prowess. Vigneault scored on a couple leg trip takedowns, but didn't do much damage to Jermaine on the ground while Jermaine scored a couple strikes from his guard and went for two unsuccessful leg submissions on the Canadian Middleweight and Light Heavyweight champion. In the end, the judges appeared to give the nod to Vigneault for his takedowns and top position on the ground regardless of effectiveness. This show is rumored to be airing the second week of February on PPV in Canada. Check your local listings for time and channel.
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Held January 24, 2003 Korakuen Hall - Tokyo, Japan
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Held January 25, 2003 at the Cattlemen's Livestock Exchange Yelm, Washington By Mike Neva Just three weeks after the successful Ultimate Ring Challenge, promoter Dennis Hallman put on a smaller event to showcase the area's finest up and coming talent. The show was held at a livestock exchange with the ring being set up in the pen where the livestock would normally be shown and bid on.
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| Tuesday - January 28, 2003 |
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From Josh Hedges/Zuffa: UFC HEAVYWEIGHT RANDY COUTURE TO FLEX BRAIN POWER ON 'WEAKEST LINK,' FRIDAY, JANUARY 31 Former Ultimate Fighting Championship Two-Time Champion To Test Trivia Brawn On Syndicated Spin Off Of Popular NBC-TV Game Show
As a UFC fighter, Couture will compete as part of the show's "dangerous jobs" theme against five contestants whose occupations put them in at-risk situations. Contestants first work together to answer a series of general knowledge questions to reach a money goal within a time limit each round. At the end of each round, they vote to eliminate the fellow competitor they deem to be the weakest link in the chain. Those eliminated leave with nothing. In the final round, the two players left battle it out head-to-head in a best-of-three shootout until one wins. The other leaves with nothing. In Friday's show, Couture will compete against a rodeo cowboy, a female fire-eater, a drag racer, a female stunt person and a female boxer who is also a sheriff. Couture, 7-4-0 in mixed martial arts fighting, held the UFC Heavyweight Championship from December 1997 to October 1998 and from November 2000 until March 2002. He is a former four-time national champion in Greco-Roman wrestling and was a three-time All-American wrestler at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Okla., where he earned a bachelor's degree in foreign language (German) and literature. |
| Friday - January 31, 2003 |
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Barreto Ready to Debut K-1 style; Anderson back in STORM! The Brazilian Beat: After a short hiatus, the Brazilian Beat is once again back in great fashion! January comes to an end with an avalanche of news about fighting events appearing everywhere in Brazil, giving hope that 2003 will be an even better year than 2002 for fight fans and professionals in Brazil. The eighth edition of MECA World Vale Tudo already has a date and is in the works, bringing some exciting action in the month of April! Bitetti Combat Nordeste is planning another edition of the event for March, and this time in bigger style. Submission wrestling continues to ride Abu Dhabi's wave in the country and all the big names of the sport are about to compete once again in Campos. Stand-up fight fans will have their hands full with K-1 Brazil and the STORM Grand Prix coming up, bringing two great attractions to the ring with NHB fighters Carlos Barreto and Anderson Silva appearing in the respective events! Well, now that we've given you a taste of what's in this edition of "The Beat" don't hesitate and get into the rhythm for a long and lasting Brazilian Beat, courtesy of Full Contact Fighter!
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