| VISIT THE REST OF OUR SITE BY CLICKING THESE LINKS | |||||
| SUBSCRIBE | FCF SHOP | HOME | PICTURES | VIDEOS | FCF TV SHOW |
Warning: all pictures on this site belong to Full Contact Fighter and are copyrighted.
They are not for use on other sites or other commercial use without the written consent of FCF
| Wednesday - June 1, 2005 |
|
By Derek Callahan Around 1:00 this afternoon, the East Coast Fighting Alliance (ECFA) made the decision to move their show, "The Colosseum," to the Roseland Ballroom in Taunton, Massachusetts. Promoted by active fighters and trainers Mike Littlefield and Mike Varner, the show is set to kick off at 8:30 on Saturday, June 4th. Doors open at 6:30. Originally scheduled to take place at the Roxy Nightclub in Boston, the show was put in jeopardy last Friday when Patricia Malone, the director of the city's Office of Consumer Affairs and Licensing, refused to give the show a permit to hold the fights. "Any time that an event is put on, whether it be MMA, boxing [or] a basket weaving expo, they have to apply for a special event permit," said ECFA spokesman Rick Caldwell. The issue lies in that the Massachusetts Boxing Commission has regulated the sport in the past, and has done so for several shows in Boston. "I'm not sure why they chose this show to make an example of," said Caldwell. "Everything we've done in Massachusetts has been by the book." Although shows have been held in Boston before with little objection from the city, this new problem lies in that Malone, who signs off for permits, is not keen to do so for MMA events. According to Caldwell, this is beyond her jurisdiction because of the Boxing Commission's authority. "It isn't her place to decide what goes on with MMA," he said. "They have people that do that." The next step for the ECFA will be to find out what they can legally do to hold Boston shows in the future. For now though, they vow to put on an exciting show Saturday night, and grapple with the legal troubles later. "We made a promise to the fans and fighters that we're gonna put on a show," said Caldwell. "We're making sure that the people come in and get their money's worth." A three-day venue change is a daunting task, with everything from seating charts to ticket sales going haywire. After this show though, steps will be taken to figure out the proper way to getting MMA back into Boston. "We do have lawyers looking into it. We're gonna try to do it right, research it and see what the best way is to go about it," said Caldwell. |
| Thursday - June 2, 2005 |
|
By Derek Callahan The East Coast Fighting Alliance continued their fight today with a new opponent. The future of their second show, dubbed 'The Colosseum,' looks bleak. After being moved from Boston due to licensing troubles, the show was brought to Taunton where Mike Littlefield and Mike Varner, the show's promoters, held their previous event. Taunton though has shown opposition to having the show. Casey Medas, the manager of the Roseland Ballroom, where the fights were scheduled to take place, was informed by the Taunton Police Department that the City Council would be shutting down the show. According to Medas, there were several reasons given as to why the show could not take place. The first, was overdue taxes that the Ballroom owed. "I told them I'd pay a check on the spot. That didn't do anything," said Medas, who continued on with the given reasons. "They said our entertainment license expired in 2004. I showed them the check I paid them for that; everything was up to date so that wasn't the reason. Then they said we need a revised ordinance to hold an event like this [but] I did a show three weeks ago and had no trouble at all." The roadblock of needing a revised ordinance was news to Medas and the show's promoters. Medas maintained that he was, "confused on that issue." Another reason given was that the town brass didn't like the crowd that the show would produce. "They said the crowd [the show] brings, brings trouble," said Medas, who showed the Taunton authorities the records that indicate no arrests from the past nine MMA shows that he hosted. Comments in Taunton echo those of Patricia Malone, the director of Boston's Office of Consumer Affairs and Licensing. Malone denied the show a permit in Boston based on the risk of the crowd, among other reasons. Medas, Littlefield and Varner are awaiting official word from Taunton officials, but according to Varner, "they're just trying to buy time. The show is probably over." With everything seemingly in check legally, if the show isn't allowed to continue unjustly, the opportunity for a lawsuit from both the ECFA and the Roseland Ballroom is possible. On that front, Medas commented that, "we're looking at our options right now." Taunton officials could not be reached for comment. |
| Friday - June 3, 2005 |
|
By Jim Genia
With the air of a champion, UFC Heavyweight Interim-Title holder Andrei Arlovski took to the scales and came in at a trim 241 pounds. A clear fan favorite, the powerful Belarusian striker appeared none too intimidated by underdog opponent Justin Eilers, who himself tipped the scales at 228 pounds. However, weight difference and experience notwithstanding, few can deny the Miletich-trained Eilers' chances at dethroning the interim king -- namely, the chances any knockout puncher has against another with fists just as deadly. As the two posed for the cameras, many cheered for the slugfest these two will surely have tomorrow night. Sharing in the championship spotlight, middleweight title contender Rich Franklin took the scales to a round of applause. Coming in at 185 pounds, he too seemed confident in the presence of champ Evan Tanner -- probably due in no small fact to his TKO victory over Tanner at UFC 42. But what happened at light-heavyweight won't happen at middleweight. That is, if the 186-pound Texan has anything to say about it. "Ultimate Fighter" light-heavyweight Forrest Griffin was all smiles as he weighed in at 204 pounds, and kept that smile even as he squared off against the 204-pound Canadian Bill Mahood. One-hundred seventy-pound Long Island-native Matt Serra was all business, though, as the welterweight jiu-jitsu stud stood across from 169-pound judo ace Karo Parisyan. And in what's scheduled to be the opening bout of the pay-per-view broadcast, the heavy-handed Paul Buentello came in at 250 pounds -- a heft advantage over 228-pound newcomer Kevin Jordan. In the preliminary match-ups, Caesar Gracie-student Nick Diaz weighed in at 171 pounds, nine pounds heavier than 161-pound Pancrase welterweight rep Koji Oishi. Still flashy after all these years, veteran Shonie Carter sported a pair of sunglasses as he stepped on the scale. Coming in at 182 pounds, he's sure to have his hands full against the 185-pound Team Quest standout Nate Quarry. Rounding out the card, Canadian David Loiseau was 185 compared to rookie Charles McCarthy's 186. With all the fighters making weight, UFC 53 is officially a go. Hopefully tomorrow we'll see some knockouts! |
|
From Zuffa/UFC: TICKETS GO ON SALE MONDAY, JUNE 6 Las Vegas, NV, June 2, 2005 ... The long, hot summer will get even hotter this August 20 when UFC® 54: Boiling Point takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST. Tickets priced at $400, $300, $200, $100 and $50, for the all-star, eight-fight card go on sale at 10 a.m. PT, Monday, June 6, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena box office, all Ticketmaster locations, www.ticketmaster.com, www.mgmgrand.com and by telephone at 800-929-1111 or 702-891-7777. Ticket purchases are subject to transaction fees. UFC 54: Boiling Point also will be available LIVE on pay-per-view at 10 p.m. EDT on iNDemand, DirecTV, Dish Network, TVN, Echostar, Bell ExpressVu and Viewers Choice Canada. The suggested retail price is $34.95. |
|
From the event's promoter: TKO 21 TO FEATURE A TRIPLE MAIN EVENT! MONTREAL (CANADA), June 2nd, 2005 – Groupe TKO MMA would like to announce the postponement of TKO 21: COLLISION. Stephane Patry, TKO president, commented "TKO did everything in its power to provide an exciting card for its loyal fans. Unfortunately, it just did not seem to be in the cards this time. Robbie Lawler was forced to withdraw due to the same nagging elbow injury that prevented him from competing at UFC 51. We tried very hard to come to terms with Joe Riggs. Even though we had a verbal agreement and his manager advised us to start advertising, in the end Riggs felt that he could not accept the fight at this time. If that wasn't enough, Serge Cloutier (Sam Stout's opponent) and Peter Franchi (Fabio Holanda's opponent) were also forced to withdraw from their fights because of injuries sustained while training. I was left with no choice." Postponing a fight card is an unpleasant task and TKO would like to apologize for any inconvenience that their fans may have experienced. In addition, Stephane Patry remarked "our fans have come to expect great things from us and therefore, we didn't want to deliver an event that may have been considered less than TKO caliber." TKO will regroup and come back stronger than ever on July 15th, 2005 with a triple main event! TKO Lightweight Champion, DONALD OUIMET (10-3-0) will make his fourth title defense against the man who has the Canadian MMA scene buzzing, SAM STOUT (6-1-1). This is a long anticipated match-up between Canada's best lightweights! Is it time for the torch to pass to the young phenom they call "HANDS OF STONE"? Or will Ouimet continue to show his unwavering resilience and possibly cement himself as the greatest TKO champion of all time? PATRICK COTE (6-2-0) will go to war with UFC veteran GIDEON RAY (8-2-1). Ray is a very exciting fighter who generally overwhelms his opponents with sheer aggression and powerful striking. Cote is one of the most exciting fighters in Canada and one of the hardest punchers in the business. This fight promises to be a classic standup war that all fight fans enjoy watching. MARK HOMINICK (7-4-0) will defend his Super Lightweight Championship against the undisputed number one contender, RYAN DIAZ (9-8-0). Those fortunate enough to have seen these young warriors in their most recent performances will attest to the fact that this match-up has candidate for fight of the year written all over it! This will also be a rematch between Hominick and Diaz; in their first encounter "The Machine" displayed his incredible hand speed and striking power in a 2nd round TKO victory. This stunning fight card will also feature ICHO LARENAS (3-1-0) in his first Heavyweight title defense against the undefeated SERGE LAFOND (2-0-0). THIERRY QUENNEVILLE (6-3-0) will go to war with the newest member of Team Tompkins, JAMES HAOURT (0-0-0). Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu master FABIO HOLANDA (1-3-0) will go head to head against Canadian lightweight contender BLAKE FREDRICKSON (7-2-0) as "The Snake" will try to avenge his teammate Kultar Gill. Canadian standout JASON MACDONALD (8-4-0) will finally make his long awaited TKO debut against an opponent to be announced shortly. The rest of the card will be announced in the next few days. Considering the quality of the new TKO 21 fight card, one month seems a very short time to wait. Montreal is a beautiful place to visit in the heart of summer. There is no better time to enjoy a TKO show. On July 15th, the hardest hitters in Canada will take center stage intending to deliver a lot of jaw dropping and awe inspiring collisions! TKO WILL NOT CHANGE YOUR TICKETS, all the fans who bought tickets for TKO 21 on June 11th – KEEP YOUR TICKETS for the show; they will be accepted at the door. Order your tickets now through the TKO Ticket office (1-866-445-8886). All tickets will be sent by priority courier. Tickets are going at a swift pace, so please hurry and reserve your seats for this exceptional event! |
| Sunday - June 5, 2005 |
|
By Jim Genia (June 4th, Atlantic City, New Jersey) It truly was a night of 'heavy hitters' here at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall, as Interim Heavyweight Champ Andrei Arlovski reaffirmed his dominance and Rich Franklin boxed his way to victory - and the UFC Middleweight Championship belt. But the real heavy hitting came on the undercard, as judo stud Karo Parisyan, welterweight standout Nick Diaz, middleweight beast David Loiseau, and Ultimate Fighter star Nate Quarry all out-struck their opponents to get the win. Yes, it was a night of unbridled beatdowns, and the close to 12,000 fans in attendance were almost non-stop in the cheers of approval. Highlights of the event included:
UFC Heavyweight Interim Title Andrei Arlovski vs. Justin Eilers Arlovski via ref stoppage due to unanswered strikes at 4:10 of R1. Welterweight Swing Bout Matt Serra vs. Karo Parisyan Parisyan via unanimous decision. UFC Middleweight Championship Evan Tanner vs. Rich Franklin Franklin via doctor stoppage at 3:45 of R4. Franklin is the new UFC Middleweight Champ! Light-heavyweight Bout Forrest Griffin vs. Bill Mahood Griffin via rear choke at 2:18 of R1. Heavyweight Bout Paul Buentello vs. Kevin Jordan Buentello via guillotine at 4:00 of R1. Prelims: Middleweight Bout Nate Quarry vs. Shonie Carter Quarry via ref stoppage due to unanswered strikes at 2:37 of R1. Welterweight Bout Nick Diaz vs. Koji Oishi Diaz via ref stoppage due to unanswered strikes at 1:24 of R1. Middleweight Bout David Loiseau vs. Charles McCarthy Loiseau via ref stoppage due to unanswered strikes at 2:10 of R2 - a phenomenal finish! |
| Tuesday - June 7, 2005 |
|
By Loretta Hunt Two more mixed martial artists have come under scrutiny in the state of Nevada, where post-fight drug testing conducted by its State Athletic Commission revealed evidence of alleged steroid and stimulant use. In standard urinanalysis tests conducted following a WEF Middleweight Championship bout held May 20th at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, challenger Marty Helwig tested positive for nandrolone metabolite. Opponent and defending champion Jamie Levine's results tested positive for the stimulants phendimetrazine and phenmetrazine, drugs that are not approved for use by the NSAC. Often utilized for weight loss purposes, phendimetrazine and its derivatives can also cause "increased alertness, excitation, euphoria, increased pulse rate and increased blood pressure," according to the Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuses website. Popular steroid nandrolone metabolite is often utilized for its muscle building properties. Helwig and Levine, the sixth and seventh MMA candidates to be cited for illegal drug use by the NSAC, were notified of the infractions via certified mail dated June 3rd. They will have 20 days following the date of notification to respond in writing to the charges. A NSAC hearing scheduled for this Thursday will ask the Commission to ratify the temporary suspensions imposed until a formal hearing can be scheduled, where the two fighters will have the opportunity to address the Commission's five-member board. NSAC representative Keith Kizer anticipates this hearing will be scheduled for August. To Kizer's knowledge, this was the first instance in the NSAC's history that two combatants facing each other failed their separate drug tests. |
|
Lawyer Contends Fighter was Pursued by Officer to His Car By Loretta Hunt Former UFC Welterweight Champion and current K-1 MMA competitor BJ Penn is scheduled for a preliminary hearing this afternoon in the Waikiki District Court of 7C in Hawaii. The local fighting celebrity has been charged with assaulting District Six Waikiki police officer Richardson Pouoa in the first degree, as part of a multi-person altercation which started outside the Club Zanzabar on May 8th, the site of Rumble On the Rock 7's afterparty proceedings. In court documents obtained by FCF, Officer Pouoa, working a Special Duty assignment that evening at the nightclub, contends Penn punched him on the "left cheek area of his face" and attempted to flee. At the time, Pouoa says he was attempting to break up a large fight outside the club. Pouoa has stated that Penn and others involved in the fracas did not comply with the Officer's repeated instructions to leave the area and that he deployed police-issued O.C. spray in Penn's direction from a distance of 4 to 6 feet prior to the alleged assault. "The information that we have is that BJ was trying to leave," Penn's lawyer Michael Green says, "and actually left the car at one point to try and help his brother who was getting the crap beat out of him, and then they went back to the car." According to an anonymous witness close to Penn that spoke with FCF, the officer pursued Penn to his car and held the vehicle door open, impeding the fighter's exit from the scene. Attorney Green concurs that his witnesses have described the same scenario. "The cop said something to BJ in the backseat and the cop was standing on the street and BJ had something to say to him and the cop reached into the car and blasted him in the face from probably half a foot full-on with mace," Green explains. "The one witness who I spoke with who was a security guard, who really didn't know BJ that night, said BJ jumped out of the car like his head was on fire," Green continues. "It looked to her like all he was trying to do was that his arms were waving and he was trying to clear his eyes and get the fumes away from him, and this cop grabbed him. I don't think he had a clue who it was who grabbed him and he had just been punched and kicked earlier. So, there was no intention to hurt anybody and he certainly didn't know it was a police officer." Penn's preliminary hearing today to determine probable cause in the case should also introduce a circuit court arraignment date. Although Penn's legal representation already entered a "non guilty" plea for his client at his initial court appearance on May 12th, the Honolulu Prosecutor's office said a formal plea will be entered at the arraignment. |
|
NSAC Grants UFC Confidentiality Waivers; Couture Replaces Ford as "Challenge" Host By Loretta Hunt (LAS VEGAS)-As its participants converged on the UFC's Official Training Center yesterday to begin filming of the second season of The Ultimate Fighter, don't expect to hear much from its front lines. The series, which brought knockout ratings for Spike TV in its inaugural run this fall and winter, will chronicle the paths of eighteen fighters vying for two UFC contracts under the tutelage of coaches and UFC champions Matt Hughes and Rich Franklin, and Zuffa LLC has secured regulatory waivers to ensure its results remain a secret until airtime which begins August 22nd. Last week, the Nevada State Athletic Commission approved the UFC's petition to keep the series' weigh-ins and subsequent bouts between its competitors closed to the public, as well as its results private until they air on Spike TV. The UFC was also granted flexibility with its general schedule of fights, and waived the regulation to provide the minimum twenty rounds required to hold an event in Nevada. Kirk Kendrick, COO and main counsel for Zuffa, also requested the same provisions for TUF's third season, to begin shooting at the end of this year. Kendrick was told he'd have to submit a separate petition at a later time. Unlike last season's petition, all fights appearing as part of the series will be 3 five-minute rounds. A number of them set up at 2 five-minute rounds, all of last season's bouts, excluding its live finale, were deemed exhibitions that did NOT apply to the fighter's professional records. The NSAC confirms that it will be at the promotion's discretion to decide the status of this season's bouts. In addition, 5-Time UFC champion and TUF Season 1 coach Randy Couture has been tapped as a consultant for the "challenges" utilized on the series. Not only will Couture assist in creating the tests that often decided who'd square-off next in the series, FCF has been informed he will also introduce the contests on-camera, replacing pop starlet Willa Ford, who was billed as last season's host. |
| Sunday - June 12, 2005 |
 Give Us Your Thoughts... We'd like your thoughts on UFC 53, Bushido 7, Jamie Levine/Helwig suspensions, California sanctioning, TUF 2, Pride Grand Prix or whatever you'd like to sound off about regarding MMA. The survey results and some of the commentary we receive will appear in the next issue of FCF Click here to take the survey |
|
From the event's promoter: UFC veteran CJ Fernandes made his return to the cage after a three-year layoff Saturday and defeated tough Kenny Jarrell by submission at the end of the first round at the Courage Fighting Championships in Decatur, Ill. Fernandes (20-6) had to fight his way out of a deep guillotine choke the first 2 minutes of the fight, but secured top position and was able to get mount and finish off Jarrell (10-3) with a keylock at 4:50 of the first round. Jarrell stepped in to take the fight on a half-day's notice when original opponent Jason Coomer reportedly was injured hitting mitts the day before the event. Here are the results:
|
|
From Zuffa/UFC: Light Heavyweight Belt On The Line In Much-Anticipated Grudge Match; Couture Looks To Bounce Back Against Van Arsdale LAS VEGAS, NV--Chuck 'The Iceman' Liddell will look to avenge the first loss of his career and defend his UFC® light heavyweight crown in the process when he takes on challenger Jeremy Horn at UFC 54: Boiling Point this August 20th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Also on the card is a huge matchup between Randy 'The Natural' Couture and Mike Van Arsdale. Six additional bouts will complete the eight-fight card, which will be available LIVE on pay-per-view at 10 p.m. EST/7 p.m. PST, on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN, Bell ExpressVu and Viewer's Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $34.95. GRUDGE MATCH Liddell (16-3-0) is fresh off his big win over previous light heavyweight champ Couture at UFC 52, but he'll have one thing on his mind when facing Horn: revenge. That's because Liddell's first career loss (March 5, 1999, at UFC 19) came when Horn, a longtime veteran of mixed martial arts with a record of 85-13-5, executed a first-round arm triangle choke on the future champion. So UFC 54 provides a chance for Liddell to wipe the slate clean against his old nemesis. But Horn's well-rounded skills and versatility will present a tough challenge for the champ in what should be a match for the ages. THE REBOUND Couture (13-7-0)--the only man to win UFC titles in two separate weight classes-- is looking to climb his way back into title contention in the light heavyweight division. 'The Natural' is one of the most popular figures fighting in the UFC today. He'll have his hands full with Van Arsdale (8-1-0), a world-class wrestler and athlete who hasn't lost in almost seven years TICKETS Tickets priced at $400, $300, $200, $100 and $50, for the all-star, eight-fight card go on sale at 10 a.m. PT, Monday, June 6, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena box office, all Ticketmaster locations, www.ticketmaster.com, www.mgmgrand.com and by telephone at 800-929-1111 or 702-891-7777. Ticket purchases are subject to transaction fees. |
|
From the event's promoter: UFC champ Chuck Liddell leads five-member USA team to fight Canada's best. Big Daddy Gary Goodridge leads Team Canada into battle! OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- Freedom Fight Productions announces FREEDOM FIGHT 2005-a USA vs. Canada team event featuring world-class talent in four weight classes. The event will be held at the Robert Guertin Arena in Hull, Quebec on July 9, 2005, and broadcast as a special two-hour, prime time event on TSN and RDS. UFC light heavyweight champion CHUCK "THE ICEMAN" LIDDELL will serve as the USA team captain, and "BIG DADDY" GARY GOODRIDGE will take the reins for Team Canada. FREEDOM FIGHT 2005 will be set up like an Olympic-style event, playing up the dynamic of two harmonious teams. "With pay-per-view piracy on the rise and hockey season in question, we feel that TSN, RDS and our sponsors are going to be very happy with our viewing audience," says Pete Rodley, producer. "The exposure on TSN, along with our prime time lead-in to WWE Monday Night Raw will open up the sport to a lot of new fans." In Light Heavyweight action, Freedom Fight will feature two of the top 205 pounders in North America: BILL MAHOOD (11-2-1) vs. KEITH JARDINE (8-1-1). B.C.'s Mahood has won all of his fights by KO, besting the likes of Chris Haseman, Tom Sauer and Jason MacDonald. Mahood made his UFC debut against "The Ultimate Fighter" winner, Forrest Griffin on June 4. Jardine is one of New Mexico's brightest stars, competing in pro boxing, kickboxing and MMA. He recently returned from Russia, becoming the first man to submit Arman Gambaryan. In the middleweight division, Winnipeg native JOE DOERKSEN (30-6) battles Team Quest standout ART SANTORE (10-2). Doerksen recently submitted fellow Canadian Patrick Cote at UFC 52 and has wins over many top fighters including: Chris Leben, Denis Kang, John Alessio and Lee Murray. Santore comes off a three-fight winning streak and has finished all but two of his opponents. Aside from losing by an unfortunate cut, his only other loss comes by way of decision. In the heavyweight division, British Columbia's TODD GOUWENBERG (3-1) takes on LAVAR JOHNSON (5-1). Gouwenberg has won all his fights by knockout, including a KO win over the current TKO champion. Johnson has been tearing up the scene in Central California with five straight wins by knockout. After a year and a half layoff, Ontario native JEFF JOSLIN (4-1) makes his return to the ring in the 170 pound division. As a brown belt in BJJ, he's a lifelong martial artist with KO power in each hand. His opponent will be MIKE GUYMON, better known as "Joker" from the states. Guymon is 3-1-1, his only loss coming to "The Ultimate Fighter" winner Diego Sanchez. The five-bout undercard includes the return of Canada's bad boy, "PAIN" PETERS, whose newspaper quotes got him in trouble, but sold out the Robert Guertin Arena back in 2002. It's only fitting he makes his comeback in Hull after a year and a half of inactivity. Other fighters slated to appear include: KRYSZTOF SOSZYNSKI, RICARDEAU FRANCOIS, RONIN MMA'S FARMER BROWN and some of Canada's toughest fighters looking to defend their country's pride. Only the team bouts will be aired in their entirety on television so don't miss out on the live show! |
|
From Pancrase: ~Neo Blood Tournament 2005~ Featherweight & Lightweight tournament semifinals Welterweight 4-men tournament 1st rounds Sunday, June 5, 2005 GOLD'S GYM South Tokyo Annex(Tokyo,Japan) Doors Opened: 1:30PM First Bout Started: 2:00PM Live Gate: 430 Bout#1 Pancrase Gate Featherweight 2x5 min rounds SHIN KATAYAMA(T-Pleasure) drew ICHIRO KUDO(Wajutsu Keishukai Tokyo Hombu) at full time limit Bout#2 Pancrase Athena -54kg bout 3x3 min rounds ASUKA ITO(Pancrase Inagakigumi) def. SERI(SOD Women's Sport-Combative Exercise Hall) by 2-0-1 majority judges' decision at full time limit Bout#3 Pancrase Athena -54kg bout 3x3 min rounds WINDY TOMOMI(PANCRASEism) def. BACCHUS HATORI(BBdoll) by TKO(towel thrown) at 2R 1:08 Bout#4 Featherweight 2x5 min rounds DJ.TAIKI(K.I.B.A.) drew KATSUHIRO HIRATA(Wajutsu Keishukai A-3) by 1-0-2 draw judges' decision at full time limit Bout#5 Featherweight 2x5 min rounds TAKUMI MURATA(Wajutsu Keishukai A-3) def. MINORU TSUIKI(Pancrase P's LAB Tokyo) by 2-1-0 split judges' decision at full time limit Bout#6 Featherweight tournament semifinals 2x5 min rounds MANABU INOUE(U.W.F. Snakepit Japan) def. NAOJI FUJIMOTO(Pancrase Inagakigumi) by 2-1-0 split judges' decision at full time limit Bout#7 Featherweight tournament semifinals 2x5 min rounds MASAKI YANAGISAWA(PPT) def. TAKAFUMI SHIROMA(HYBRID WRESTLING MUGEN) by triangle choke at 2R 0:35 Bout#8 Lightweight tournament semifinals 2x5 min rounds SOTARO YAMADA(TEAM JUNKiey) def. NAOKI YOSHIMURA(K.I.B.A.) by 3-0-0 unanimous judges' decision at full time limit Bout#9 Lightweight tournament semifinals 2x5 min rounds MINORU CHUJO(Wajutsu Keishukai Tokyo Hombu) def. TOSHIAKI KITADA(TEAM JUNKiey) by 3-0-0 unanimous judges' decision at full time limit Semifinal Welterweight tournament 1st rounds Bout#1 2x5 min rounds SHINSUKE SHOJI(KILLER BEE) def. YOHEI OTA(Wajutsu Keishukai A-3) by KO(punch) at 1R 0:09 Main Event Welterweight tournament 1st rounds Bout#2 2x5 min rounds ASAKI HONDA(Pancrase P's LAB Yokohama) def. HIROKAZU TAKAMOTO(Unplugged Kokubunji) by punch KO but at full time limit. |
|
From DSE/Pride: LOS ANGELES, California - Dream Stage Entertainment (DSE), promoters of the PRIDE Fighting Championships, have won an appeal case brought forth by RF Video. In 2002, DSE filed suit against Robert Feinstein and RF Video for their ongoing unauthorized copying and reselling of copyrighted PRIDE FC materials. A settlement was reached, however, the parties had a dispute over the settlement agreement. The dispute went to arbitration with DSE winning the arbitration hearing in March of 2004. On or about May 31, 2005, the California Court of Appeals denied RF Video's petition to vacate the arbitration award and granted DSE's petition to confirm the award. In the decision on appeal, RF Video has been ordered to compensate DSE all previous damages awarded in the arbitration along with its costs. "The judgment confirms our position," said DSE President Nobuyuki Sakakibara, "Bootlegging material and copyright infringement are serious crimes and we're prepared to go after violators to the full extent of the law ... that means not only those who sell pirated DVDs and videos, but also those who make our materials available for free downloading on the internet." |
| Monday - June 13, 2005 |
|
By Jim Genia (June 10th, Chinatown, New York City) It was unbridled punishment here at the Capitale, as 26 kickboxers mixed it up in the rings a packed house of fight fans cheered. Competitors trekked from as far away as California and Scotland, but the real winners of the night were the local stars. Highlights of the night included:
Kickboxing rules Marlon Sims (FMS-TVT-167lbs) vs. James Onnikian (Team Longo-167lbs) Onnikian via unanimous decision after 4 rounds. John Tesoriero (Team Sucgang-155lbs) vs. Julio Cesar Flores (Team Neglia-154lbs) Flores via unanimous decision after 3 rounds. Rob Wells (5 Points Fitness-159lbs) vs. Nick Malta (Garguilo Kickboxing-161lbs) Wells via unanimous decision after 3 rounds. Martin McKlin (B Warriors-136lbs) vs. Mark Fileccia (Atlas Gym-146lbs) Fileccia via unanimous decision after 3 rounds. Jake Shaper (Eternal Martial Arts-177lbs) vs. Alexus Caban (USAKKA-184lbs) Caban via KO at 0:52 of R1. Brittany Kriet (Eternal Martial Arts-135lbs) vs. Andrea DeAngelo (Zarko Academy-124lbs) DeAngelo via TKO at 1:58 of R1. Mike Rifken (Garguilo Kickboxing-139lbs) vs. Vinny Chapple (NY Sanda-137lbs) Rifken via unanimous decision after 3 rounds. Muay Thai International Women's Championship Hilary Mack (Caledonian Muay Thai-130lbs) vs. Kat Diaz (TSK-130lbs) Diaz via TKO at 1:24 of R3. Artie Montano (TSK-169lbs) vs. Andrew Rivera (Wat Gym-175lbs) Rivera via unanimous decision after 3 rounds. Kristine (Extreme Team-132lbs) vs. Munah Holland (TSK-133lbs) Kristine via majority decision after 3 rounds. Marcos Antebi (5 Points Fitness-147lbs) vs. Neil Gonzales (TSK-145lbs) Antebi via unanimous decision after 3 rounds. Evelyn Guzman (Wat Gym-110lbs) -- Naomi Wolff (5 Points Fitness-111lbs) Guzman via split decision after 3 rounds. Little T (Extreme Team-130lbs) vs. Nicholas Pace (TSK-128lbs) Little T via unanimous decision after 3 rounds. |
|
Held June 11, 2005 At the Green River Community College Auburn, Washington By Mike Neva A few hundred hearty souls braved a stormy Pacific Northwest evening to attend the 11th edition of Joel Townsend's Rumble in the Ring. Although the crowd was sparce, those in attendance were on their feet for much of the evening. The seven bout card was filled with a little bit of everything, from an all out slugfest between Jason Swan and Carmen Casella, to a technical ground battle between Joel Petitt and Justin Gardner. In the main event, Marcelo Alonso's student, Mike Joy made quick work of the previously undefeated Frank Watts. After an early takedown, Joy moved effortlessly from side mount to full mount before transitioning into a picture perfect arm bar for the submission victory.
Jason Swan def. Carmen Casella by majority decision after R3 MMA Eddie Hart def. Dereck Pederson by TKO ref stoppage from punches at 1:48 of R2 Joel Petitt def. Justin Gardner by rear-naked choke at 2:41 of R1 Mychal Clark def. Eric Duran by TKO corner threw in the towel after R2 Ryan Pope def. Eddie Blackburn by verbal submission from a broken hand at :13 of R1 Paul Morris def. David Banuet by TKO ref stoppage from punches at 1:12 of R2 Mike Joy def. Frank Watts by arm bar at 1:25 of R1 |
| Tuesday - June 14, 2005 |
|
From the event's promoter: In association with Apex Championship Fighting COMPLETE FIGHT CARD RELEASED OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- June 13, 2005 -- Freedom Fight Productions presents FREEDOM FIGHT 2005 -- a Canada vs. USA team event featuring world-class talent in four weight classes. The event will be held at the Robert Guertin Arena in Gatineau, Quebec on July 9, 2005, and tickets can be purchased through ticketmaster.ca. UFC light heavyweight champion CHUCK "THE ICEMAN" LIDDELL leads the five-member USA team against Team Canada led by "BIG DADDY" GARY GOODRIDGE. "We've put together five competitive team matches and I think the undercard offers quite a few surprises as well," says producer Clyde Gentry III. The headliner features Winnipeg native JOE DOERKSEN (30-6) against Team Quest standout ART "PACHUCO" SANTORE (10-2) in the middleweight division. Doerksen recently submitted fellow Canadian Patrick Cote at UFC 52 and has wins over many top fighters including: Chris Leben, Denis Kang and Lee Murray. Santore comes off a three-fight winning streak, finishing all but two of his opponents. In the 205-pound division, knockout artist BILL "THE BUTCHER" MAHOOD (11-3-1) takes on TIM MCKENZIE (7-2). B.C.'s Mahood has won all of his fights by KO, besting the likes of Chris Haseman, Tom Sauer and Jason MacDonald. McKenzie trains under the tutelage of Cesar Gracie, quickly building a name for himself in Central California. McKenzie comes off two tough losses; his war against Alex Stiebling at WEC 10 stands the test of time. In the first of two welterweight bouts, veteran JOHN "THE NATURAL" ALESSIO (14-7) takes on KEITH WISNIEWSKI (20-7-1). Canadian-born Alessio lives and trains in California, finishing all but three of his 14 victims. Indiana's Wisniewski is a veteran in his own right, only losing twice in his last 14 fights. Wisniewski has won most of his outings by submission, setting up a great ground war with Alessio. In the heavyweight division, British Columbia's TODD GOUWENBERG (3-1) takes on "BIG" LAVAR JOHNSON (5-1). Gouwenberg has won all his fights by knockout, including a KO win over the current TKO champion. Johnson has been tearing up the scene in Central California with five straight wins by knockout. After a year and a half layoff, Ontario native JEFF JOSLIN (4-1) makes his return to the ring in the 170 pound division. As a brown belt in BJJ, he's a lifelong martial artist with KO power in each hand. His opponent will be Southern California's MIKE "THE JOKER" GUYMON (3-1-1), whose token loss stems from "The Ultimate Fighter" winner Diego Sanchez. The charismatic Guymon lives up to his nickname, but inside the ring, he delivers a different kind of punchline. The undercard is a solid mixture of up and comers and veterans. In the light heavyweight division, Winnipeg's KRYSZTOF SOSZYNSKI (7-1) faces California's BOBBY SOUTHWORTH (6-4). Soszynski moves down from heavyweight after racking up several knockout wins. Born in Poland, he escaped to Canada with his parents and has quickly earned a name on the MMA circuit. In 2000, he also won the heavyweight division of the Manitoba Bodybuilding Championships. Southworth retired from MMA in 2003, but SPIKE TV's "The Ultimate Fighter" brought him back to the game. He was the first man ever to fight on the hit series, knocking out Lodune Sincaid. His loose-canon persona elevated his popularity on the show until losing a controversial decision to Stephan Bonner. A second controversial decision loss to Sam Hoger made Southworth train even harder, vowing to finish all his opponents. The fans win regardless! Quebec standout STEPHANE POTVIN (7-7) has beaten top talent, but has had a rough time over the past two years, losing by decision in three of his last four outings. With a renewed spirit, he hopes to battle his way to victory, but UFC veteran TYRONE ROBERTS (27-7-1) has other plans. The Native American Indian from Iowa has defeated nine of his last 11 opponents, and has been competing since 1996. In the lightweight division, UFC vet RICHARD "CLEAT" CRUNKILTON (9-1) makes his return to the ring against New Mexico's JAMES MARTINEZ (3-2-1). Ask anyone who has watched Crunkilton fight and they'll tell you he is "Mr. Excitement", with his Greco Roman throws, high kicks and rock 'em, sock 'em punches. After a two-year hiatus, Crunkilton recently knocked out a veteran of over 50 fights. Martinez is an exciting knockout artist, who last year destroyed Rob McCullough in K-1, and recently lost by split decision to TKO champ Donald Ouimet. Many felt Martinez dominated the Canadian and won the fight, but the judges saw it the other way. Expect fireworks after the Fourth of July! FARMER BROWN (1-0) made quite an impression in his debut fight, destroying his opponent with strikes. Now he wants to test himself against the 6'6" RICARDEAU FRANCOIS (10-3) from Quebec. Francois won five consecutive fights before losing a controversial split decision to Patrick Cote. He hopes to get back to his winning ways by knocking out the Ottawa native. Las Vegas' WAR MACHINE (2-0) is a balls-to-the-wall up and comer who has finished both of his opponents. His relentless fighting style will be well-matched against Quebec native ERIC BEAULIEU (5-5), who has won his last two fights. Card subject to change. The Holiday Inn Plaza la Chaudiere Gatineau-Ottawa is the official hotel for FREEDOM FIGHT 2005, conveniently located in the heart of Gatineau's business district. Call 800-567-1962 or 819-778-3880 for more information, and tell them you're coming for FREEDOM FIGHT 2005 to get your discounted rate. The hotel is located at 2,rue Montcalm, Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, JBX 4B4. |
| Saturday - June 18, 2005 |
|
June 18th 2005, Rivermead Leisure Centre, Reading, UK By David West A new show, with a new set of rules, made its debut in Reading, England tonight. Ten of the twelve matches were fought using FX3's custom rules of 1 x 10 minute round, with each corner allowed to call a one-minute time-out during the round when both fighters were on their feet. If a match went the distance and ended in a draw, a five minute overtime would decide the victor. France's Frederic Fernandez scored the fastest KO of the night in just 17 seconds, while his countryman Damien Riccio came back from absorbing at least 8 knee strikes to the groin from Germany's Andre Balshmieter to stop his opponent with a choke in a performance that won Riccio a huge ovation from the British fans. Results: 1. Jerome Laulan def. Jochen Gieb by Arm Bar – 3:44 R1 2. Antony Espinasse def. Amir Subasic by Triangle –3:13 R1 3. Laurent Bonafoux def. Nigel Whitear by Key Lock – 3:35 R1 4. Frederic Fernandez def. Ashley Grimshaw by KO – 0:17 R1 (NSAC rules - 3 x 5 mins) 5. Dave Swann def. Philipp Schade by TKO (Ref stoppage – strikes) – 4:22 R1 6. Oliver Ellis def. David McLaughlin by Kimura – 3:24 R1 7. Mohamed El-Aouaji def. Mark Chen by Unanimous Decision 8. Abdul Mohamed def. Alex Sambro by TKO (Ref Stoppage) – 4:10 R3 (NSAC rules - 3 x 5 mins) 9. Peter Angerer def. Paul Jenkins by Heel Hook – 4:56 R1 10. Damien Riccio def. Andre Balshmieter by Rear Naked Choke – 3:06 R1 11. Paul Daley def. Sami Berik by TKO (Ref stoppage – strikes) – 3:03 R1 12. Michael Bisping def. Alex Cook by Rear Naked Choke – 3:21 R1 |
|
From the event's promoter: Menne, Wiuff & Neer victorious; Moreno wins tourney MEDINA, Minn. -- Many questions were answered Saturday night at Extreme Challenge 62:
Wiuff (37-5) had a workmanlike performance over a tough Matt Horwich. Although Wiuff controlled the fight throughout, he could not put the Team Quest fighter away despite many uppercuts from the feet and elbows from the guard. Horwich stunned the crown and Wiuff at the end of the first round with a high kick that rolled Wiuff's eyes back in his head. Wiuff, visibly shaken, got a takedown and waited out the final 20 seconds of the round. Neer (16-1-1) wasted little time attacking Todd Kiser. After a takedown, Neer began raining down punches and forced the tapout at 1:41 of the opening round. Neer advances to fight Drew Fickett in the UFC's Aug. 6 show in Las Vegas. The event will be shown live on Spike-TV. Moreno (11-3), known for having a deadly standup attack, showed he is not without skills on the ground as he caught veteran Kyle Jensen (24-7-1) with an armbar at 2:16 of the first round to win a 4-man 185-pound tourney. Moreno, who was 15-0 as an amateur, defeated Sean Huffman of Miletich Fighting Systems by decision in the opening round. The next Extreme Challenge is scheduled July 23 at LCO Casino in Hayward, Wis. Main Card Joe Purcell def. Norm Waters, unanimous decision, 3 rounds (9:00). Chuck Grigsby def. Steve Wright, key lock, 1:56 Round 1. Rich Sherer defeated Matt Albright, ref stoppage due to strikes, :15 Round 1. Josh Neer def. Todd Kiser, tap from strikes, 1:41 Round 1. Richie Miller def. Dustin Mlynarik, ref stoppage due to strikes, :38 Round 1. 4-man 185 tourney Kyle Jensen def. Darin Brudigan, Doctor stoppage, end of Round 2 (6:00) Victor Moreno def. Sean Huffman, unanimous decision, 3 rounds (9:00) FINAL: Moreno def. Jensen, armbar, 2:16 Round 1. Main events Travis Wiuff def. Matt Horwich, unanimous decision, 3 rounds (15:00). Dave Menne def. Jerry Spiegel, guillotine, 3:17 Round 1. |
|
From DSE/Pride: LOS ANGELES, California -- Karl-James Noons, Tyrone Glover, and Nick Ring, three of the four winners selected from the PRIDE FIGHTING U.S. AUDITIONS last November, will be competing in SUPERBRAWL "ICON," scheduled for July 23rd from the Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii. Yuji Shimada, PRIDE's executive rules director, will also participate in the event as a referee. 165 lbs. KJ Noons vs. Bryson Kamaka 160 lbs. Tyrone Glover vs. David Padilla 185 lbs. Nick Ring vs. Bob Ostovich After surviving the auditions, Noons, Glover and Ring were all sent to Seattle, Washington to train at AMC Pankration, under the supervision of coach Matt Hume. Now each of them will put their training to the test at SUPERBRAWL. Noons was raised in Kona, Hawaii. During his amateur career, he was the ISKA amateur international title winner and as a boxer went to the semi finals of the western trials for the Olympics in 2004. In addition, he is black belt in American Kenpo Karate. Noons currently trains and fights out the City Boxing gym in San Diego, California. Tyrone Glover is a native of San Antonio, Texas, but like Noons now trains and fights out of the City Boxing gym in San Diego, California. He is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, but also boats skills in wrestling, boxing, and Muay Thai. He is 3-0 in mixed martial arts. Nick "Wonder" Ring was born in Cedar Falls, Iowa, but now fights out of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He is the Intercontinental Muay Thai Champion (WKA) and boasts a record of 23-4 in Muay Thai competition. He is 4-0 in mixed martial arts competition. The auditions were held on November 20th, 2004 from the UCLA campus in Los Angeles. Contestants attended from all over the world and were given an opportunity to showcase their skills in front of PRIDE's judges and main decision-makers. Final decisions were made based upon each participant's audition, interview, and highlight reel. Besides Noons, Glover, and Ring, the fourth selected winner was Jake Draves of Ohio. |
| Monday - June 20, 2005 |
|
From K-1: K-1 martial arts fighting action will return to Las Vegas, Nevada with an explosive eight man, single-elimination tournament and a series of single "Superfights" at The Mirage hotel and casino on Saturday, August 13th. Tickets for "Mayhem At The Mirage" will be priced at $300, $200, $100, and $50, respectively, and are expected to go on sale on Thursday, June 30th. Tickets will be available for purchase both online at www.k-1usa.net, K-1 North America's official website, as well as at The Mirage box office (800-963-9634). The lineup for "Mayhem At The Mirage" has yet to be announced, but the names of participating fighters will be revealed gradually over the course of the next several weeks. The August 13th event marks the first time since May 2, 2003 that a K-1 card will be staged at The Mirage. During the last event held there, California's Carter Williams captured the K-1 USA tournament championship as an 18 to 1 underdog. |
| Tuesday - June 21, 2005 |
|
The Brazilian Beat: As we're hitting middle June, anticipation and anxiety are in the air as few days are now apart from MMA fighting fans and the Pride Middleweight GP second round. This is maybe the most awaited show in recent years, with intriguing match ups such as Mauricio Shogun against Rogerio Minotoro lined up, giving us the Brazilian Top Team versus Chute Boxe rivalry once again, after a big hiatus in that grudge. Of course, with so much on the line, FCF and the Brazilian Beat couldn't leave the tidbits regarding this event out of our space, and here we come with some information on what's going on in Brazil, as everything seems to be on fire here, as we approach the Brazilian winter. There's also much more, as Rizzo is about to make his MMA comeback, Storm Samurai just put another edition to its history, fighter's are recovering, other's preparing and life goes on as always in the Brazilian MMA scene. With this reporter turning older this Friday, let's rush up the talk and go straight to the news, as you'll have to forgive me but it's time t party! As FCF brings the Beat, giving the sound and the voice to the news and much more, enjoy!
|
| Wednesday - June 22, 2005 |
|
WEF West Virginia Event "Postponed" This Weekend By Loretta Hunt World Extreme Fighting founder and promoter Jamie Levine has been denied a license to hold an upcoming MMA event in the New Jersey. In a notice sent to Levine by the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board this afternoon, it states, "Your tentative approval to conduct a professional mixed martial arts event on July 3, 2005, at the Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, New Jersey has been rescinded in full. You do not have this agency's approval to go forth with your scheduled event." Levine, who had filed for a temporary co-promoter's license in May after the NJSACB could not determine two separate, original applicants' connections to the WEF promotion, has been asked to immediately "cease and desist from all activities relating to the promotion of the event" or face numerous civil penalties. In addition, FCF has learned an alleged WEF event entitled "World Extreme Cage Wrestling," scheduled for this Saturday at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena in West Virginia, has been cancelled. There had been speculation that the event was being marketed as a pro-wrestling show, but was in actuality a mixed martial arts event. Under WVAC legislature, mixed martial arts, or "ultimate fighting" as it is indexed, is prohibited in the state. "I had no knowledge whatsoever of what it was," says WVAC Chairman Steve Allred. "Someone had informed me that they had seen an advertisement for the event, and I was really just trying to make some inquiries as to what it was." Allred says he was notified by the promotion's attorney this morning that the event had been cancelled. A representative for the proposed event's venue told FCF the show had been "postponed due to low ticket sales." In New Jersey, Levine's rejection is the first occurrence in which an individual has been denied a promoter's license to hold a professional MMA event. In Levine's notification letter, NJSACB Deputy Attorney General and Counsel Nick Lembo listed eleven reasons that may have impeded Levine from getting final approval for licensure -- five of them derived from a May 20th WEF event that took place at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada, where Levine fought in its co-main event. They include Levine reportedly testing positive for two banned stimulants following his May 20th fight, Levine inflating the advertised record of his opponent in that bout and the WEF's failure to stage a competitive overall card, Levine reportedly acting in a promotional capacity for the same event he fought in, as well as the WEF and its affiliates' "apparent failure to initially satisfy all financial obligations related to the staging of the May 20th event." The letter also listed Levine's recent charge for alleged criminal conduct as another basis for refusal. Additionally, the notice stated numerous grounds for denial based upon the proposed July event in New Jersey, including the promotion's failure to produce a list of competitors as of the date of the letter; failure to satisfy many regulatory requirements such as medical insurance, medical testing, and approved matchmaking; the time constraint that full background checks for all involved parties had yet not been completed; the substantial amount of negative media coverage surrounding Levine and the WEF; as well as the appearance that individuals were involved with the event in "significant capacity" and were not licensed to do so. "We're very hesitant to shut down this event and it was a last resort move," commented New Jersey Counsel Lembo this afternoon. "We've enjoyed great success with the mixed martial arts community and several different promoters and various sizes of shows. We continue to look forward to working with all promoters in the future that are willing to meet our standards and follow our rules and regulations, and look towards further growth of the sport in our state, as well as other states." |
|
Now available in the FCF Shop
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 |
| Thursday - June 23, 2005 |
|
From DSE/Pride: CRITICAL COUNTDOWN 2005 TOKYO, Japan -- The bout order has been announced for PRIDE FIGHTING'S next event, CRITICAL COUNTDOWN 2005. FIGHTCARD: (Shown in order from first to last) Sergei Kharitonov (Russia) vs. Pedro Rizzo (Brazil) Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (Brazil) vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (Brazil) * Igor Vovchanchyn (Ukraine) vs. Alistair Overeem (Holland) * Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic (Croatia) vs. Ibragim Magomedov (Russia) Makoto Takimoto (Japan) vs. Kiyoshi Tamura (Japan) Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Brazil) vs. Pawel Nastula (Poland) Kazushi Sakuraba (Japan) vs. Ricardo Arona (Brazil) * Wanderlei Silva (Brazil) vs. Kazuhiro Nakamura (Japan) * * Tournament Match (Participants and Matches Subject to Change) PRIDE FIGHTING'S 2005 Middleweight Grand Prix Tournament spans three events … TOTAL ELIMINATION (opening round), CRITICAL COUNTDOWN (Second Round) and FINAL CONFLICT (Semi-Finals and Finals). The date for FINAL CONFLICT will be announced soon. CRITICAL COUNTDOWN 2005 premieres on North American pay per view via iNDEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH NETWORK, UrbanXtra, TVN1, VU!, and Viewer's Choice Canada on July 1st at 10:00pm EST, 7:00pm PST (including a countdown show at 9:30pm EST, 6:30pm PST). For additional replay times, please contact your pay per view provider. |
| Saturday - June 25, 2005 |
|
From the event's promoter: LAKEMOOR, Ill. -- After a slow start to his professional career, Bart Palaszewski has hit his stride... winning the Xtreme Fighting Organization lightweight title and beating 14 of 16 opponents. Clay Guida hopes to take the title away today at XFO 6 and extend his own winning streak to 12 in the process. "It makes for a great title fight... two well-liked fighters from Chicago battling it out in Chicago for the bragging rights and the XFO title," said co-promoter Dan Lardy. "This fight has generated a lot of hype, which has translated into ticket sales... we'll definitely have our biggest crowd ever." The bigger crowd can also be attributed to one big decision... the XFO is being held outside at 4 p.m. today. The event is still at the Lakemoor Banquet Facility, but it will be held out back in a field where there is plenty of room. Gates opening at 3 p.m. Tickets are available at the gate, or by calling Curran Martial Arts at 815 356-0454. More information is available at the XFO website: x-fighting.tv. The last three XFO events have sold out and crowds packed into the banquet hall. This time, up to 3,000 spectators can watch the show. And, with 18 bouts on the card, it promises to be a lengthy afternoon of fighting. UFC veteran Jeff Curran (21-7) will step up to the lightweight division again to take on Steve Kinnison (12-3) in the main event. Also, UFC vet Gideon Ray (8-2-1) will face dangerous Dennis Reed (41-35-1) in a middleweight bout. June 25 * Lakemoor Banquet Facility, Lakemoor, IL Main event Steve Kinnison vs. Jeff Curran XFO title fight Bart Palaszewski vs. Clay Guida Feature bouts Dennis Reed vs. Gideon Ray Main card Red Shafer vs. Jason Guida Shawn McCauley vs. Rory Markham Chris Malgeri vs. Gabe Lemley Jay Estrada vs. Brandon Adamson Ryan McGivern vs. Mike Todorovic Under Card Tyler Combs vs. Nate Mohr Zack Kidd vs. Darby Haanpaa Omar Choudhury vs. John Hosman Robert Hitte vs. Mike Fouke Mike Pegg vs. Ali Lewis Vito Woods vs. Jason Bender John Friedland vs. Scott Bickerstaff Justin Hutter vs. Terry Davinney Reese Shaner vs. John Eldridge TBA vs. Adam Maciejewski |
| Sunday - June 26, 2005 |
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 |
Check out what's in the current issue of FCF ...|
Held June 26, 2005 Saitama Super Arena Saitama, Japan Click here for results The event premieres on North American pay-per-view via iNDEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH NETWORK, UrbanXtra, TVN1, VU!, and Viewer's Choice Canada on July 1st at 10:00pm EST, 7:00pm PST (including a countdown show at 9:30pm EST, 6:30pm PST). For additional replay times, please contact your pay per view provider. |
|
Kampman KOs Seguin in KOTC UK Debut King of the Cage "Warzone" Ice Sheffield, Sheffield, England June 24th 2005 Report and photos by Keith Mills Sheffield, England -- This last weekend in June has been full of entertainment events here in England from the annual Wimbledon tennis tournament and Glastonbury rock festival to King Of The Cage's UK debut. KOTC may not be quite the level of the others but being an indoor event the rain lashing this land at least had no effect as this most recent KOTC franchise started the beginning of what, according to KOTC President Terry Trebilcock, is to be contractually two shows per year. MMA in general has been growing to the point the "Men and Motors" and "Bravo" satellite channels together have been responsible for bringing the punters free broadcasts of UFC, KOTC, K-1, and even fellow British event Cage Rage. Full Contact Fighter's correspondent David West will be covering Cage Rage on June 2nd. Sheffield itself is an ideal setting for growing MMA, situated in the industrial belt of England a short drive east of Liverpool and Manchester while roughly half way between the Scottish border and London. Basically the location is reminiscent of Las Vegas and Atlantic City in the U.S. as far as proximity to major markets as opposed to London where Cage Rage runs. For the curious the closest tourist destination is Robin Hood's Sherwood Forest and Nottingham roughly twenty miles away, an interesting angle in this country known more for so-called "civilized" sport than North America. Another UK group, Cage Warriors, has been running successful events in this region for at least two years with their next show July 16th reportedly already sold out. This KOTC show was actually viewed as two people involved with Cage Warriors splintering off and opening a KOTC franchise to tap this market, not surprising considering both KOTC and Cage Warriors have very similar business plans that almost always turn a profit. Unfortunately for this event that experience wasn't fully tapped and only an estimated 4-500 tickets were sold for this show. With a second KOTC already contractually in the works look for that to change in the months to come.
Two of the familiar KOTC names had to cancel with both Pride vet Charles "Krazy Horse" Bennett and former Gladiator Challenge Champion James Lee dropping their fights against UK fighters Ian Butlis and Pierre Guilet respectively. No official word was available on Krazy Horse's withdraw even from KOTC Vice President Ted Williams although his participation in July 9th's Arizona KOTC card is still confirmed. Of the other two KOTC vets Joey Villasenor of Jackson's Submission Fighting in New Mexico successfully defended his Middleweight belt against Damien Riccio from France in a come-from-behind KO. Joey was caught by a left to the jaw that droped him early in the fight but managed to pull guard, reverse, and get a dramatic KO all within two minutes. Joey is already scheduled to next defend his title on KOTC's next pay-per-view card in August against American Top Team's Jorge Santiago in what is rumored to be possibly his last KOTC defense before moving on in the footsteps of fellow former KOTC Champions Dean Lister, Paul Buentello, Daniel Bobish, and many more.
Coincidently the other KOTC vet Brendan Seguin was an opponent of Villasenor from earlier this year although the two get along well outside the cage. Brendan trains at M.A.S.H. with James Lee who was not only dropped from the card but wasn't present to corner his fighter, an angle for which details are still emerging. Greg Jackson who helped Villasenor come up with his winning strategy against Seguin actually ended up being Seguin's cornerman for this fight. Seguin ended up at the receiving end of the other KO of the night in his fight against Martin Kampmann in a fight that saw Seguin make improvements on his standup movement over previous fights but not enough to instill his own gameplan. Kampmann timed Seguin's movement to the left during disengagement and threw a high left kick that caught the Michigan fighter square on the jaw, dropping Seguin to the mat unconscious.
The rest of the fighters were mainly UK fighters familiar to the regional fans but making their KOTC debuts. Look for more details on their fights as well as more complete coverage of this event in the July issue of Full Contact Fighter. Full Results:
|
From the event's promoter:
|
| Tuesday - June 28, 2005 |
|
From K-1: K-1 "Battle at Bellagio III" tournament champion "Mighty Mo" Siligia (26-3 (20 KO's) will collide with former world boxing champion Francois "The White Buffalo" Botha (46-11-2 (30 KO's) during a three-round K-1 "Mayhem At The Mirage" Superfight on Saturday, August 13th. Expected to be a duel dominated by punching power, the matchup between the 265 pound Siligia and the 250 pound Botha will mark the first time ever that the two will have met in competition. Siligia is coming off his single greatest triumph in the squared circle, a hard-fought, Superfight victory over reigning K-1 king Remy Bonjasky at Las Vegas, Nevada's Bellagio on Saturday, April 30th. A considerable underdog, Siligia patiently waited to close the distance between his long legged opponent and him and, upon finally doing so in the third and final scheduled round of action, struck Bonjasky down with a short, but vicious right hand. Bonjasky recovered, but the knockdown gave Siligia a slight edge on the judges' scorecards and a victory via split decision. Since he made his introduction to K-1 last February, Siligia, a protégé of trainer Eddy Millis, has become recognized as a force amongst martial arts fighting's best, one who recently expanded his arsenal to include a heavy roundhouse kick. During what was only the second tournament start of his career on August 7th of last year, the stocky, heavy hitter defeated three straight opponents to capture the K-1 "Battle at Bellagio III" tournament championship. A former International Boxing Federation (IBF) world heavyweight crownholder, Botha undertook a new challenge in "The New Fighting Sport" a year and a half ago. After coming up short in his first few attempts, the South African native abruptly turned his fortunes around towards the close of last year when he scored back to back knockouts on two of the sport's most accomplished figures in Peter Aerts and Jerome LeBanner in September and December, respectively. Botha's only four defeats in the world of boxing came at the hands of Michael Moorer, Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, and Wladimir Klitschko, all of whom were present or former world champions at the time Botha faced them. Tickets for K-1 "Mayhem At The Mirage" will officially go on sale on K-1 North America's website, www.k-1usa.net, on Friday, July 1st. Tickets will be priced at $300, $200, $100, and $50, respectively. The remainder of the lineup for the August 13th K-1 event has yet to be announced, but the names of participating fighters will be revealed gradually over the course of the next several weeks. |
| © All materials contained in the Full Contact Fighter web site are protected by copyright and to be used only for personal and noncommercial uses. Public display or copying for sale or public distribution of any of these materials is strictly prohibited. |