World of Mixed Martial Arts

Le Pushes Shamrock to the Breaking Point

2008-03-30T11:34:00.001-07:00

SAN JOSE, Calif., March 29 -- Frank Shamrock (Pictures) promised to stand and trade with Cung Le (Pictures).

After living up to his word Saturday evening, the self professed No. 1 fighter in mixed martial arts will need surgery to repair his broken and displaced right wrist.

Attempting his first defense of the Strikeforce middleweight belt, Shamrock, a master game planner, engaged in an exciting -- and confounding -- toe-to-toe affair with the undefeated kickboxer, who's appeared in just six MMA contests to the venerable champion's 34.

Testing the allegiance of 16,326 frenzied onlookers inside the HP Pavilion, the former sparring partners exchanged strikes and taunts during their 15 minutes together in the cage.

Le, supported by his always vocal contingent of Vietnamese fans waiving the Heritage and Freedom Flag of the country he fled as a young child, and Shamrock, bolstered by a red-shirt and -sign waving army, drew several thunderous reactions.

Convinced he was at least on par with Le in the striking department, Shamrock waged a questionable campaign that saw him focus on striking the striker.

With Shamrock seemingly unwilling to attempt takedowns, his 35-year-old former sparring partner kept up the pressure from the outside. Continuous movement to the right was key for Le in maintaining his distance.

"Frank wanted to go on the inside and fight with me," said Le, now 6-0 in MMA. "But I know he was frustrated with the straight kicks."

Using his arms to buffer the blows, Shamrock (24-9-1) shook off the burn of Le's powerful attacks at different points in the fight. With time winding down in the third period, however, a left high kick snapped Shamrock's arm and made Le Strikeforce champion.

"I can feel the bones clicking," Shamrock said in the cage. "I just kept trying to fight through it, but, anybody who says Cung Le doesn't know submissions -- he put one on my arm tonight -- he's the better man. He's the champion man. He took me out. He's a good man."

A tight opening round gave way to a solid second period for the challenger. Having seen Shamrock promise to put him to sleep, Le connected with a straight left to the body followed by a right hook to the head that stunned the former UFC champion. But it was Le's kicks, some of the most dangerous in the sport, which were the difference in the fight.

"I just said I'm going to keep kicking at his head," said Le, his mouth noticeably swollen from Shamrock's punches. "Usually I teach my students to block with both hands. He kept blocking with one hand like he was rolling with a punch. I just stayed on it. I knew he was dipping and I kept my rhythm in the second round."

Early in the third, yet another kick caused Shamrock to shake off the sting like he'd fouled a heavy fastball off his hands. Le, now in control, unloaded much of his arsenal save spinning-back kicks. He'd been warned off those by his corner at the end of the first. Javier Mendez, who oversaw much of Shamrock's career, demanded Le dispense with the fancy stuff -- it gave "The Legend" an opportunity to swarm if his charge made a mistake.

"A lot of people aren't giving Frank the credit he deserves," Mendez said. "He's a great fighter."

Shamrock showed his championship grit midway through the decisive round.

Countering a kick that was stopped by both arms this time, Shamrock connected with his best punch of the fight, a right hand to the face that sent a jolt down Le's tree-trunk legs. Shamrock, also 35, rushed forward with a volley of strikes and battered Le along the cage fencing.

The crowd's roar intensified when Le responded with strikes of his own.

"I told Cung if Frank does something to you, you do it right back to him," Mendez said post-fight. "You don't want Frank on a roll. Cung listened."

Then came the kick that fractured Shamrock's distal ulna and forced him to the hospital.

"I caught him in the head first and then I was going to kick him again," said Le, whose attacks opened a cut along Shamrock's jaw near his left ear. "He pulled up his arm and I caught him with a kick. I heard his arm break. He kind of staggered back and I just chased him down with punches."

Le's round-ending salvo damaged Shamrock to the point that he could not make it back to his corner. Helped onto his stool, a grimacing Shamrock repositioned himself on the canvas, where a commission doctor examined the injury.

At the time of the stoppage, judges at ringside had Le in control. Richard Bertrand scored it a commanding 30-27, while Cecil Peoples and Nelson "Doc" Hamilton each had it 29-28 for the new champ (Peoples giving Shamrock the third, and Hamilton the first).

"It was not easy," Le said. "Frank, every time he dipped, I thought he was going to shoot in. So I couldn't move my head. He caught me with some hard punches, rocked me a few times. You know what? It's all about that champion in my heart. I came back, I fought hard. And I pushed back. I was rocked. I saw some stars."

Though he hadn't asked for it, Le was hailed as King of San Jose.

"He said he owned San Jose. For me, I did say I'll be the gatekeeper; let Frank come through me," said the new champion. "This time he didn't make it through. If there is a next time, it'll be another great fight."

Reports: Baroni vs. "Ninja" Signed for EliteXC-CBS Event

2008-03-25T15:19:00.000-07:00

Phil Baroni (10-9), who recently came up short in an ICON Sport title fight with Kala Hose, has signed on to fight Murilo "Ninja" Rua (15-8-1) at the May 31 EliteXC-CBS event.

The event, which will likely feature Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson in the night's main event, takes place at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. It'll be the first-ever MMA event to air on major U.S. network television.

News of the Baroni vs. Rua fight was first reported by the Internet radio show Cageside Live and has since been confirmed by Sam Caplan of ProElite.com and fiveouncesofpain.com.

Baroni, who dropped a fifth-round TKO to Hose on March 15, recently signed a multi-fight deal with ProElite, Inc., the parent company of EliteXC. However, with his loss to Hose, he's now dropped three of his past four fights.

Rua, EliteXC's first-ever middleweight champ, lost his belt to Robbie Lawler in September. He bounced back for a second-round submission of Xavier Foupa-Pokam at December's Cage Rage 24 show. It was his fourth win in his past five fights.

In addition to Ferguson and Baroni vs. Rua, the May 31 event will also feature a title fight between EliteXC middleweight champ Lawler and Scott Smith. While a guest panelist on this past weekend's edition of "Inside MMA," EliteXC matchmaker Jeremy Lappen also confirmed that Gina Carano is expected to be on the fight card.

Illegal Elbows End ShoXC Early

2008-03-22T06:39:00.000-07:00

SANTA YNEZ, Calif., March 21 -- It wasn't the way he envisioned it, but Thomas Denny (Pictures) came out the victor over Sasiprapa Malaipet (Pictures) Friday night in the main event of Showtime's ShoXC card at the Chumash Casino.

After being on the wrong end of illegal elbows from the muay Thai specialist, Denny won by disqualification. Denny seemed to be well on his way to winning the fight in conventional fashion, as he came out and immediately went after Malaipet, backing him up with a series punches before putting him on his back.

Denny then went to work and managed to take Malaipet's back. With little effort he sunk in a deep rear-naked choke. Malaipet, his face visibly turning red, refused to tap out and miraculously managed escape the submission.

Ending up in full-mount, "The Wildman" took advantage of Malaipet's inexperience on the ground and worked on an arm-triangle choke. Malaipet escaped that choke attempt also, so Denny gave up on submissions and began dropping elbows.

Malaipet received serious damage to his face, but the Thai fighter never stopped working to escape. Back on the feet, Malaipet looked to stand and trade against the Victorville fighter but Denny wasn't having any of that and immediately shot for a takedown.

With his back pinned to the fence as Denny fought for a takedown, Malaipet unleashed three elbow shots that connected perfectly to the back of Denny's head. The veteran Californian immediately crumpled to the canvas in agonizing pain.

After taking a few minutes to recover, Denny told the cage-side doctor that he could not safely continue. The 160-pound contest was called at 4:51 of the first round.

"I'm sorry because I came here to fight, but this is MMA and you have to follow the rules,'' Denny said. "I may have been dazed but I wasn't knocked out. One thing I could not do, however, was move my neck.''

Huen wins decision

In the crowd's eyes Conor Huen lost to Marlon Mathias. However, he won it where it mattered -- with the judges.

It was as close as a unanimous decision could get.

Mathias, who fights under the Chute Boxe banner, represented the gym's flag well. He practically sprinted towards Huen off the opening bell, unleashing an overhand left that caught Huen's attention.

For a moment it seemed like Huen was willing to trade with Mathias. He soon paid the price, however, eating a straight left that covered his nose with blood.

Scrapping that plan, Huen decided to put his jiu-jitsu skills to work. He controlled the second period by securing takedowns and working over Mathias on the floor.

Mathias boxed in the third, at one point landing a straight left that snapped Huen's head backwards.

Huen, who suffered a broken jaw during the bout according to EliteXC, took the fight to the ground again. Mathias scrambled around, got another sweep but almost got caught in an armbar, which he easily escaped.

Huen took Mathias down one more time before the final bell. Mathias looked like the busier fighter of the two, and was clearly the crowd favorite. When the scores were announced the crowd booed mercilessly.

"I am very disappointed in the decision,'' Mathias said. "I inflicted the most damage and landed the most punches. I definitely won two of the three rounds."

Other results

In the third round of their light heavyweight fight, Jamie Fletcher landed an overhand right that sent Aaron Rosa (Pictures) crashing down to the canvas. Fletcher was unable to finish Rosa, but the psychological damage was done and Fletcher applied pressure the rest of the fight. Scores were 30-27 twice and 29-28.

Shane Del Rosario pounded out Analu Brash (Pictures) at 3:18 of the first round. After exchanging on their feet to start the fight, Del Rosario dropped Brash with a perfectly placed low kick. Del Rosario followed Brash down and began punishing him from inside his guard. Upon a series of punches and elbows, Del Rosario leaned on his right hand and began throwing lefts with all his might to a covered up Brash.

After landing a few shots, Del Rosario briefly looked up to the referee. Realizing the referee had not yet decided to stop the fight, Del Rosario continued his left hand assault before the fight was called.

Hawaiian Mark Oshiro (Pictures) knocked out the undefeated Chris Cariaso (Pictures) with an short right hook that landed flush to his chin. Cariaso landed on his back, where Oshiro pounced on him until the referee jumped in and stopped the fight. Time of the stop was 2:38 of the first round.

Brandon Tarn ruined Jason Williams' debut by choking him out at 1:05 of the second round.

In his professional debut, Devin Howard submitted Mark Kempthorne with a rear-naked choke at 2:53 of the first round.

Lyle ‘Fancy Pants' Beerbohm remained undefeated by submitting Vince Guzman (Pictures) with a rear-naked choke at 3:26 of the second round.

Kenny ‘The Poet' Johnson took home a unanimous decision victory over Michael Penafiel. Johnson used his explosive takedowns and superior wrestling to control Penafiel on the ground.

Steve Gable pounded out Eric Jones at 2:47 of the first round.

ELITE XC MAY BEGIN ON CBS ON MAY 31

2008-03-19T18:51:00.001-07:00

The CBS Television Network and ProElite, Inc. on Feb. 28 announced a multi-year agreement that would bring mixed martial arts to a major broadcast television network for the first time in the sport’s history.

As part of the agreement, CBS will air four MMA events per year, produced by ProElite’s EliteXC live events division, as two-hour live primetime specials on Saturday nights.

During a conference call on Tuesday, EliteXC president of live events Gary Shaw indicated that a press release announcing the first fight card on CBS would be forthcoming on Wednesday. That press release still had not been released at the time of publication and one representative stated that it might not be released until Thursday.

“There will be a CBS press release going out … announcing when the first fight card is and announcing who some of the fighters on that card are. So I don't want to preempt it,” said Shaw. “We think we have a great card put together, and we're very, very excited to be on CBS.

“I think that the announcement will surprise some people,” he continued. “It's just exciting. This is the single biggest thing that I think will ever happen to any fighter or to MMA to have the ability to be seen by over 100 million eyeballs.”

Although the press release announcing the event and some of the fighters had not yet been released, ProElite.com – ProElite, Inc.’s social networking website – posted a teaser on its home page saying, “Keep an eye out for the first airing of advertisements for CBS and EliteXC's ‘Saturday Night Fights’ during the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. The rumored event date is May 31st.”

The announcement was accompanied by the logo for the “Saturday Night Fights” specials.

The NCAA Basketball Tournament opening round begins on CBS on Thursday at 12:20 ET.

Anabolic Steroids - The Myth Exposed

2008-03-18T13:27:00.002-07:00

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When you read or hear about the "anabolic steroids" 99% times you will associate it with elite sportsman or athletes, some drug scandals and cheating on rules and regulations.

But you may be surprised to hear that recent report results show that majority of (anabolic) steroid users are not athletes. These people do not go for world titles or Olympic gold medals. They don't even compete in organized competition.

This scientific survey is published in a leading sports science journal and it gives out quite interesting data. To make it short typical anabolic steroid user is around 30 years old, well-educated, and earning an above-average income in a white-collar occupation. In conclusion the report came to even more details. It is shown that majority of non-medical anabolic steroid users are just normal people that want to build muscle, get lean and improve their overall bodily attractiveness. There are few other important but not high ranked factors like increased confidence, improved mood and attraction of opposite sex. The authors suggest that steroid users don't fall into the same category as abusers of illicit drugs - steroid users are "kind of different".

According to the report, most steroid users follow detailed planed drug timing in conjunction with a healthy diet, ancillary drugs and exercise. These people are focused and they learn how to strategically plan everything in order to "maximize benefits and minimize harm" This behavior is opposite to the spontaneous approach seen in abusers of psychotropic illicit drugs.

I agree that you will hardly see Steroid weight lifter behaving like typical junky , acid head or say it as you want (In the same time, the lifestyle of your typical aspiring IFBB Pro comes pretty darn close!)

In last 10 years I had all kind of bodybuilders coming and going thought my Gym. I have personally couched many weight lifters and some people just used Steroids without telling me. Off course it came out sooner or later.

But what I saw in all steroid users is great fear of the consequences . Stress of "being sharp" in order to avoid various negative reactions is just very hard to live with, for most people. Just for a moment, let's just give the researchers the benefit of doubt that they managed to flesh out such a substantial number of highly-organized, health-conscious bodybuilders amongst the zoo of people that regularly frequent the gym.

After reading the conclusions of this report you'd almost be forgiven for thinking that taking the juice to get big was a benign and almost virtuous endeavor.

From my stand point as a professional I can have different opinion but from human point of view I can not be pro nor anti anabolic steroids - I just believe that any person should be allowed to put anything they want into their body so long as it doesn't harm anyone else. Everyone should use their free will as free individual make own choices but also face the reactions of that choices. Still I don't believe that anabolic steroid use (by healthy people) is a "cool" thing to do. It's not even an "OK" thing to do.

Here is why:

Using steroids will not take your life away that is a fact. It can happen that you don't even fall sick. Simply you should know that relying on the juice to build your muscle is not such a bliss as the stupid writers in the body building mags try to make you believe.

Firstly, muscle metabolism and growth is controlled by the classic steroid-hormone binding mechanism. Both anabolic and catabolic hormones (catabolic are the hormones that breakdown muscle tissue) are functioning s by binding to a cell membrane-receptor. When they are attached, they activate a receptor complex so that the hormone can enter the nucleus and bind response elements on DNA to act directly at the genetic level. This is how all hormones both natural and artificial alter the production of unique proteins in cells. Ultimately this is results from weight lifting exercise.

Anabolic Steroids users must intake much higher doses than physiological (normal) levels. Without it they don't have results. But these doses only stimulate growth via the previously mentioned process, for a short period of time. After this, the artificially introduced anabolic steroid exerts its effects mostly by attaching to (and blocking) cortisol receptors.

In no time muscles express more and more cortisol receptors in an effort to keep a natural balance in the body. Therefore bigger and bigger doses are required each steroid cycle just to provide the same anabolic effect. When they stop with using steroids, their muscles contain an abnormally high level of cortisol receptors. They can not avoid that. Therefore, along with the suppression of their own natural production of anabolic hormones, the former steroid user also has to contend with a higher than normal number of cortisol receptors. The end result of going off the juice is always the loss of a substantial amount of hard earned muscle. Just as the saying goes, if you want to dance, you've gotta pay the band!

This is why steroids are an extremely bad solution to a lifelong pursuit. However, there is one more problem. Unfortunately, this one is even more serious.

To Juice Users gains come much easier. Therefore, most of them don't bother with at all with right nutrition and proper and effective exercise program that fits in with a 50 hour work week, the spouse and kids.

Some bodybuilders get so hooked by the gains and the powerful feeling from steroids that they can't stand being in the gym when they're not using. Even the pro bodybuilders find it real tough to train when they're not on the juice. I've got to admit, it would be tough to focus on training when you know that no matter what, you're getting smaller, weaker and fatter.

These are the psychological consequences of steroid abuse and they are far more damaging to persons well being than any of the side-effects the medical profession tries to scare athletes about. I'll tell you something what you can call real shame. All the scientific research shows that no other type of exercise provides as many direct health benefits as weight training. Pure and Natural Muscle Mass Building without drugs is the healthiest past-time a person can devote their time to. If you check, you will see that rapidness of muscle gain steroid users have are not so different from gains you get without them IF you follow proven system that works.

When you compare the physiological and psychological aspects I've highlighted, the use of steroids among weight lifters can wreck the healthiest, most beneficial past-time a person can participate in.

Sure, most steroid users are not top sportsman or sportswomen. They may never enter accused of cheating fellow competitors and the respective governing sports organization. Paradox of Anabolic Steroid users is that, most of them will never admit that they are cheating one very, very important person.... themselves.

You can build up Massive and Strong Body fast, without risking your health.

Sasha's advices saved time, money and good health to many Athletes. His dedication, profound experience and personal example are causing the difference. Visit the web page to claim your Free e-Book's and Video's to Learn about the potency of Natural and Fast Muscle Building

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sasa_James

The Truth About Steroids

2008-03-18T13:27:00.001-07:00

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Anabolic steroid use has been in the news recently with baseball player Roger Clemens's testimony before Congress in regard to his alleged use.

Clemens allegedly used Anabolic steroids which are illegal to use except for certain prescribed and specific medical conditions. They must also be used under a physician's strict supervision. However, when taken without medical supervision, they can have dangerous and even deadly side effects; even once off the drug, the side effects can be permanent.

For example, in 1992, football player Lyle Alzado died of a cancerous brain tumor that may in part have been caused by his long-term anabolic steroid use. There are certain steroidal medications, such as cortisone or other corticosteroids, which are also carefully prescribed under a doctor's supervision. The anabolic steroids athletes use are different than these which function as anti-inflammatories.

In sports, anabolic steroids are illegal in part because they artificially enhance performance instead of relying on the athlete's own innate ability and physical fitness to bolster performance. This, of course, is unethical. The only way to win fairly and without cheating is to rely on your own abilities. You have to work hard to maintain peak physical fitness and performance, but it's the only right way to win.

Oftentimes, athletes, and especially young athletes, overlook the dangers of taking steroids to get the short-term performance benefits steroids can give them. However, this is a dangerous and even deadly practice, with long-term health consequences.

Here's what can happen when athletes or anyone else take anabolic steroids:

* High blood pressure (which in turn can cause stroke or heart attack)
* A reduction in "good" cholesterol
* Cancer
* Liver damage
* Aggressive behavior, even leading to violence
* Depression
* Acne
* Stunted growth in young people
* Hair loss
* "Reverse" gender characteristics' appearance, such as breast growth in men and facial/body hair growth and breast reduction in women

Although enhancing your performance by natural, honest methods is not as quick and easy as steroid use, in the long run, it's much healthier and ethical to do so.

First, there's no substitute for regular exercise. Exercise produces a natural "high" of its own, because it releases "feel-good" hormones called endorphins. However, endorphins are a completely healthy high and only benefit you.

Second, a good diet is also important. Your body can't function as it should without proper nutrition. You need to fuel your "engines" properly in order to work out effectively.

Third, if the person is still growing, they have to be careful as to how much they challenge themselves with weightlifting or other extremely strenuous sports. Of course, weightlifting is good when done in moderation so that you can build muscles, but young athletes especially have to be careful of injury that may in fact be permanent. Only perform extreme types of exercise such as weightlifting under a coach's specific supervision.

Finally, there are some supplements you can take that appear to be beneficial and healthy. A good multivitamin supplement is a good start.

Remember that you have to win honestly and fairly even though the focus of many sports is "to win,". If you don't, it simply doesn't count.

Scott Becker is an expert in the fields of health and nutrition. He has written on numerous topics over the past 10 years. Along with writing, he is an avid golfer and he owns scottbeckerlive.com, a sports nutrition company serving the weekend athlete. For more information go to http://healthfitnessvitamins.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Scott_Becker

Emelianenko Never Under Contract to M-1

2008-03-18T13:24:00.000-07:00

Despite the announcement of an agreement last October between Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) and M-1 Global, the deal was never signed, a source close to both camps told Sherdog.com.

The Russian heavyweight's only agreement with the company -- according to the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity -- came in the form of a letter of intent.

The return of a $1.5 million signing bonus paid by M-1 Global to Emelianenko is the only hurdle to the former Pride champion's potential free agency. That should be remedied this week, the source said.

M-1 Global CEO Monte Cox declined to comment.

Once Emelianenko is clear of his M-1 obligations he is expected to field offers from several MMA promotions. The early leader, according to the same source, comes from the purported partnership between Affliction and Oscar de la Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions, which Sherdog.com has learned could debut on June 28.

"Right now we don't have any comments," Golden Boy Promotions Public Relations Director Romiro Gonzalez told Sherdog.com. "[Oscar] is in the sports business. He is loading up on all the fields, especially boxing. We're moving into soccer, MLS. There is nothing official we can say."

Emelianenko would receive approximately $1.5 million to fight and his management could be given the rights to television in both Russia and Japan, according to the source.

The 31-year-old heavyweight champion's younger brother Aleksander is also believed to be joining the Affliction roster, as is American middleweight Matt Lindland (Pictures).

Affliction-branded clothing has created close ties with combat sports through sponsorship of top boxers and mixed martial artists, as well as involvement in Golden Boy's boxing events.

Hose Swamps Baroni to Capture Icon Belt

2008-03-16T09:15:00.000-07:00

March 16, 2008
by James Meinhardt (jmeinhardt@sherdog.com)

HONOLULU, March 15 -- Waianae brawler Kala Kolohe Hose (Pictures) captured the Icon Sport middleweight title Saturday night, stopping Phil Baroni (Pictures) in the fifth round of a grueling fight in front of a boisterous hometown crowd inside the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena.

"That was the best fight of my life," Hose said after the bout, which was made a title affair after Icon stripped Robbie Lawler (Pictures) for failing to defend the title due to various injuries. "To me it was a good fight. I loved it."

Baroni started strong, scoring an easy double-leg takedown and controlling the Hawaiian from the top position. From the bottom, Hose bucked and squirmed in an attempt to get out from underneath Baroni, but the New Yorker stayed in control and used any scramble to his advantage by punishing Hose with punches and stomps to the face.

"I just recall one [stomp] landing square on my face, that one really rocked me," Hose said. "Then he started going off on me. I just tried to hurry up, get up, to avoid those kicks. I honestly thought I was in trouble at that point," Hose said.

But as the first round progressed Hose began to take over, doing damage from the bottom as a fatiguing Baroni laid on top of him breathing heavily.

"I saw him getting gassed but I didn't want to rush into things," Hose said. "I didn't want to rush in and get caught with something that I shouldn't get caught with. So I just tried to stay back, still stay calm, pick my shots."

Baroni again got the fight to the mat in the second, but this time Hose threatened with a kimura from the bottom. Back on their feet, Baroni tried for another takedown but Hose sprawled to stay on top. From there, Hawaiian began to land strikes, but the bout was momentarily halted when Hose was warned for an illegal strike to the back of the head.

As the third frame started, Baroni looked to be completely fatigued as he walked to the center of the ring with his hands down. "The New York Bad Ass" attempted another takedown, but Kala Kolohe stuffed it and began landing punches and a knee to Baroni's head, sending him to his back. It was here that Hose found his greatest success, alternating between punching to the body and head from guard, and standing up to deliver kicks and punches.

The fourth round was more of the same, as Hose sprawled out of a single-leg takedown and delivered hard shots to Baroni's head and body. At one point, Baroni had a point deducted after his second attempt to escape punishment by ducking under the ropes. Later in the round Baroni finally finished another takedown and put Hose on his back, but Baroni didn't have enough energy to keep him there as the Hawaiian easily stood up.

"I was expecting a lot of wrestling cause I knew how he was training; he was doing a lot of wrestling," Hose said

As the fifth and final round started, the two sluggers began exchanging punches on the feet. Less than 30 seconds in, Hose staggered Baroni with a right-left combo then followed up with a right hand that dropped "The New York Bad Ass" to the mat.

Smelling blood in the water as the crowd of roughly 3,400 cheered wildly, the soon-to-be champion landed a stomp and finished up with punches until referee Chris West stopped the bout just 26-seconds into the final round.

After the fight, Baroni was attended to by paramedics before being taken to a local hospital.

"Phil's alert, he's responsive," Baroni's manager Ken Pavia told Sherdog after the bout. "It was a tough fight, but he'll physically be OK. I think the biggest thing is he's very disappointed. I guess perhaps we underestimated his ability to get in shape in a short period of time, [Baroni] didn't have it in the gas tank for five and Kala came up and fought a great fight."

Frank Trigg's Fight Breakdown: Baroni vs. Hose

2008-03-15T12:14:00.000-07:00

by Frank Trigg [frank-trigg] on Mar 15, 2008 at 8:35 am in - News -

Good day fans and foes. I hope your week has been better then mine. After a long week of traveling, I got home for four days only to take off again for Dublin, Ireland, and London, England, for a quick trip to see my daughter. It's only five days, but it should be a great trip.

At home I have a great, understanding wife who gets my travel schedule. She is four months pregnant, and this is her first child. The trooper she is, she still lets me travel without so much as an "Again, on the road?" All she gives me is, "See you in a couple of days." Thanks Nic.

My son Frankie ran his first track meet this week. All the while keeping up his grades and keeping up with wrestling practice. Great job, buddy. I'm really proud of you.

I write this as I sit in seat 31C flying over the Atlantic Ocean. This normally would be a great start to some cheesy mystery novel. The passenger types away at his computer trying to get ahead of his very demanding boss. (In reality The Junkie is not all that demanding.)

Anyway, let's jump into the fight breakdown: Phil Baroni vs. Kala Kolohe Hose.

This one can be seen live for free on ProElite.com tonight.

Baroni is 10-8, around 5-foot-10, 185 lbs., and was born in Long Island N.Y. If you haven't had a chance to watch Baroni fight, he is usually one punch away from getting the knockout. He hardly ever uses a jab but doesn't need to. Instead of hitting you with the jab to set up his next punch, he just hits you as hard as he can, stuns you, makes you wince from the surprising speed and placement of the punch, then he hits you with the other hand.

Baroni and I got into an argument one day at practice. He had fought Kazuo Misaki in a PRIDE fight a couple of months before, and in his loss, I said that he needed to use his jab to set up his other punches. I said it would make it possible to get the KO he wanted. In my opinion, he lost that fight because he failed to do so.

Baroni -- in his eloquent style -- called me out on it, and the argument turned into a sparring session, which turned into me getting hit as hard as I have ever been hit. We were wearing 16 oz. gloves, yet it made no difference. He hit me with everything he had for every punch of every round for three rounds. I blocked as much as I could and hit him as much I could. I tried to use my jab to keep him away -- away from my head.

I think my head still hurts from that day.

After that, I realized Baroni's style doesn't need a jab. All he needs really is a camp to believe in him and to be in shape -- the kind of shape that lets him punch you just as hard in the first round as he hits you in the fifth. He can, at anytime, throw a punch that will drop you to the ground. In April 2006 Baroni KO'd Yuki Kondo, who till that time -- in more than a hundred matches -- had never been KO'd. He dropped faster than our economy.

This I know: he trained hard for tonight's fight. If Baroni uses his athletic ability, he will succeed.

Kala Kolohe Hose, meanwhile, is 5-1 with five knockouts and one decision loss, and he fights out of Waianae, Hawaii.

There's not really much on this Hawaiian cat in any of my normal places I like to go for research. Heck, there's not much on this guy in the places I don't like to go to.

However, we all know that Hose is definitely a Hawaiian-brawler type -- a stand-in-front-and-throw-looping-punches guy. Some connect -- and some miss widely. Baroni's style of fighting -- stand in front and bang the other guy harder then he hits you -- fits into Kala's game plan.

Most fans got their first look at Hose back in January when he was featured prominently in a "ShoXC" event on Showtime. ProElite, Inc. (EliteXC's parent company) had recently purchased ICON Sport, and when a title shot in ICON fell apart, Hose got the "ShoXC" fight as a consolation prize. There, he easily defeated Frederic Belleton (5-2) using his normal stand-and-bang style.

It was Hose's fifth-straight win. However, his first four victories were over opponents who had a combined record of just 3-9. Baroni, a PRIDE and UFC vet, is a major step up in competition.

There should not be much in the way of jiu jitsu or ground and pound from either guy in this fight. I think both sluggers want to make this a stand-up war, and it should not disappoint.

Of course, I pick Baroni to win. I'm guessing a TKO in the first round.

Remember, they are fighting for the belt I lost to Robbie Lawler on March 31 of last year. With Lawler KO'ing me in the fourth round, he became the only two-time winner of the ICON middleweight belt. Lawler could never stay healthy enough to defend the belt, though, so he was stripped of the title earlier this year. The question that I ask is, "Isn't it time for a Hawaiian to win the ICON middleweight belt?"

A small underlying note of this fight is that Baroni just came off a six-month California State Athletic Commission suspension for a failed drug test. I truly think this is a good test for Baroni's first fight back so he can put all the commission stuff behind him. The first fight after a failed drug test lets people know that you can do it without drugs and that it could have just been a one-time mistake.

Good luck to both.

Have a great fight, and enjoy your time in front of the Hawaiian crowd. Nobody cheers louder. Nobody.

Frank Trigg is MMAjunkie.com's fight columnist and an MMA fighter who has competed in the UFC, PRIDE and other top promotions. He's also a columnist for FIGHT! Magazine, a former color commentator for PRIDE Fighting Championships, the color analyst for "The Pride FC Show" on FOX Sports Net, and a co-host of TAGG Radio. He also runs Triggonomics, a fighter-owned street-wear brand. Check it out at www.triggonomics.com.

NBC and Strikeforce to Announce Partnership - MMAjunkie.com Exclusive

2008-03-13T15:23:00.000-07:00

by Dann Stupp [mmajunkie] on Mar 13, 2008 at 12:49 pm in - News -

NBC and Strikeforce will soon announce a deal that will give the quickly growing mixed-martial-arts organization a weekly presence on major network television.

Sources close to the deal tell MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that a formal announcement of the partnership is expected within the next week. However, Strikeforce executives didn't return phone calls from MMAjunkie.com requesting comment.

The NBC-Strikeforce deal comes just weeks after CBS and ProElite, Inc. announced a formal partnership that will put four annual EliteXC events on primetime television. The first EliteXC-CBS event is expected to air in May. And though it won't be a live event, Strikeforce could actually beat EliteXC to the airwaves.

As part of the NBC deal, fight footage from past Strikeforce events will likely be shown in "highlights" shows, not unlike the Pride Fighting Championships shows that currently air on Fox Sports Net. The first Strikeforce show is expected to air in mid-April.

The program will likely air on late Saturday nights (early Sunday mornings) either immediately after or soon after the hit NBC series, "Saturday Night Live."

Although unconfirmed, there's speculation that the deal could possibly lead to live or, at the very least, tape-delayed Strikeforce events airing on NBC. However, other than the weekly highlights show, few other details of the deal are known at the time.

The fact that NBC signed a deal to air MMA isn't surprising; however, the fact that it was Strikeforce -- not MMA's powerhouse, the UFC -- might raise some eyebrows. NBC's interest in MMA reportedly peaked during the recent writers strike, when networks were desperate for specialty programming. In fact, the Strikeforce deal may have first been reached back in January, when NBC was in talks with a host of organizations, including the IFL, M-1 Global and the UFC.

Sources close to the deal tell MMAjunkie.com that talks between the UFC and NBC never really got off the ground. According to those sources, the UFC wasn't interested in a late-night timeslot, and additionally, NBC executives "weren't too keen" on working with UFC president Dana White.

Strikeforce, though, apparently saw the value in getting its fledgling brand on network television in a weekly slot. However, the partnership may not be an exclusive deal, meaning other organizations could still negotiate with the network.

Prior to the EliteXC and Strikeforce deals, the UFC had been in talks with both HBO and CBS, but those deals fell apart when White reportedly wasn't willing to concede creative control. During a pre-UFC 82 press conference, White said he wasn't willing to make a "bad deal" when asked about the failed negotiations.

As for Strikeforce, the NBC deal could help the organization grow from a regional hit to a international powerhouse.

After more than a decade of success promoting kickboxing events, the San Jose-based organization launched its MMA division in 2006. Its debut show was the first-ever MMA event sanctioned by the state of California. More than 18,000 spectators packed the HP Pavilion to watch Frank Shamrock defeat Cesar Gracie in the night's main event. Since that debut show, the organization has hosted nine other events, including one in September at the legendary Playboy Mansion, which was streamed live by Yahoo! Sports.

Strikeforce has emerged as one of MMA's big players while focusing on the local market. California-based fighters such as Shamrock, Cung Le, Gilbert Melendez and Josh Thomson sell out local venues while drawing international interest. The organization only recently left the state of California when it hosted a Feb. 23 show in Tacoma, Wash.

Strikeforce's next show, co-promoted by EliteXC, takes place March 29 in San Jose and features a Strikeforce world middleweight title fight between champ Shamrock and challenger Le. Additionally, Drew Fickett takes on Jake Shields for the first-ever EliteXC welterweight title, and Strikeforce world lightweight title-holder Gilbert Melendez defends his belt against Gabe Lemley. The event airs on Showtime.

With Lessons Learned, Hermes Franca Wants Back in UFC

2008-03-13T04:39:00.000-07:00

After two difficult losses in California -- one to eventually stripped ex-UFC lightweight champ Sean Sherk, and a second, perhaps more stinging, loss to the California State Athletic Commission -- Hermes Franca (18-6) has learned his lessons, and he is ready to return to action in the UFC.

Franca addressed his 12-month suspension for anabolic steroid use, as well as his desire to return to the octagon, while a guest on a special Wednesday episode of The Lights Out Show on the TAGG Radio Network (www.taggradio.com), a partner site of MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).

"This has never happened to me before, you know, with my team or whatever," Franca said. "It was really bad news."

The CSAC's decision to suspend Franca for a year after he admitted his steroid use -- only to reduce Sean Sherk's suspension to six months based on his high-powered attorney's claim of supplement contamination -- left the commission dealing with considerable controversy. The irony of the situation is not lost on Franca.

"I think we make mistakes when we love somebody or we love something," Franca said. "We make mistakes. So I told what I did, and I really don't care about Sean Sherk. Of course, it makes me feel like, 'Oh man, I should be lying.'"

After the CSAC's decision, Franca considered continuing his fighting career abroad, but he reconsidered after learning that the decision would restrict him from future opportunities in the U.S.

"You get addicted to fight, fight, fight, fight, fight," Franca said. "So when I heard the bad news, I said, 'Oh my goodness, what am I going to do? I can't survive without fighting.' I was kind of lost. I think I lost myself. But I think, 'I'm going to fight in Japan or whatever. Canada, or another country or whatever. I called Mr. Armando Garcia, the athletic commission president. He was really nice, and he said 'Hermes, of course you can fight in another country, but you're going to have a hard time (coming) back. It's kind of like you are stepping over our law.'"

Now, as Franca closes in on the end of his suspension, the one lingering question is why he took steroids in the first place.

"I don't like to say somebody told me," Franca said. "Nobody put a gun to my head. But when I got hurt, I was lost. You're going to fight for the belt, so it's a dream come true. I called (UFC matchmaker) Joe Silva, and Joe explains to me and said, 'Hermes, look you've got to fight. You have to fight. Sean Sherk, he got hurt; he's been out for eight months after Kenny Florian. So he has to fight, and you have to fight. I cannot put you guys in next month or two months, so you have to fight. Hermes, if you don't fight, I have to find a different opponent.'

"So I said, 'Oh man I have to do something.' So that's what I did."

While understandable to some, many fans aren't buying the excuse. They specifically point to Karo Parisyan, who was promised a title shot more than two years. After Parisyan suffered an injury, Joe Riggs got the title fight with Matt Hughes instead -- and Parisyan is still waiting for his chance. Yet, he (and dozens of other fighters who lost key fight because of injury) never resorted to steroids.

In reflection, Franca does wish he would have chosen a different path.

"Such a stupid thing," Franca said. "Like now I can see Karo Parisyan. When he got hurt, he took some months off, and now he's back. You can see Roger Huerta. He fought a lot, and he said, 'I don't care. I need a year off.' So, now I learned my lesson."

Franca will be allowed to return to action in July, and though released from his UFC contract, he feels the octagon would be the best venue for his next fight.

"The UFC has no reason to kick me off," Franca said. "I am a star, they love me there, and everyone wants to see me come back in the UFC and fight again. I can say (I have) no bad feelings. You can see a lot of guys that were under suspension, and they came back... I think we learn a lot with our mistakes. It's a big lesson. I learned. I'm human."

- SILVA BOXING JONES A STEP CLOSER TO REALITY?

2008-03-12T18:54:00.001-07:00

Wednesday, March 12, 2008 - by Ken Pishna - MMAWeekly.com

Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight titleholder Anderson Silva recently indicated that he would like to challenge Roy Jones, Jr. – once regarded as one of the top pound-for-pound boxers in the world – to a boxing match.

“Anderson really would love to fight Roy Jones, Jr. in a boxing match,” said Ed Soares, Silva’s manager. “It’s not just talk, we really would like to put that fight together.

“We respect Jones’ boxing ability and think he’s one of the best, but we’re tired of different boxers saying that MMA fighters aren’t technical. Anderson would love to fight Roy Jones in a boxing match under boxing rules to prove that MMA fighters are technical, too.”

It now appears that what started out as a dream bout may actually have some merit to it.

Even nationally syndicated sports talk host Jim Rome, on his Rome Is Burning television show on ESPN2, has picked up on the story. He isn’t a big proponent of the bout happening though, saying, “Silva should not box Roy Jones. Where’s the intrigue in that? The whole ‘would MMA beat boxing’ argument is a big waste of time; it’s irrelevant. Silva, the best MMAer in the world would get schooled, even by a way past his prime Roy Jones, if he ever did boxing. He can’t fight his way off the ropes with his knees, just as Jones wouldn’t last a minute with Silva in his cage.”

According to Soares, however, there are other people who think there might be some merit to putting Silva up against Jones in a boxing ring.

“I just spoke with Roy Jones’ management and they are very interested in it. They think it would break all kinds of pay-per-view records. It all kind of started as a dream of Anderson’s, but if the UFC would back it, it is something that we really would like to pursue.”

Jones’ management indicated that this could be a fight that would bring together the fractured factions of boxing and mixed martial arts. “They think it will actually bring together the boxing and MMA communities,” said Soares.

And that would have to be a big part of it, as he continued, “Anderson looks up to Roy Jones, and he would love to test his skills against him. At the same time, we are very loyal to the UFC and would love to represent the UFC in a boxing match with Jones.”

UFC president Dana White has been vocal in the past about a boxer stepping into MMA to challenge his fighters. Prior to his fight with Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. commented, “(the UFC) ain’t nothing but a fad… These are guys that couldn’t do boxing.” White fired back offering up then lightweight champion Sean Sherk in the Octagon as a proving ground for Mayweather, who then retracted much of what he said.

It is unclear, however, if White is willing to put up Silva in a boxing match, as he was unavailable for comment at the time of publication.

Jones is currently headed out of the country until next week, but his management told Soares that he was “flattered and excited” by Silva’s interest in a boxing match with him. The parties are expected to talk again once Jones returns.

Report: Anheuser-Busch Top Sports Marketer in 2007

2008-03-12T12:45:00.000-07:00

Just days after ProElite, Inc. announced a groundbreaking deal between EliteXC and CBS two weeks ago, Dana White countered with an announcement that the UFC had signed a deal with blue-chip sponsor Anheuser-Busch.

In the days after the announcement, White continually stated that the brewer was the largest marketer in all of sports. However, in the official press release touting the deal, UFC executives wouldn't go that far and instead said Anheuser-Busch was "one of the top marketers in all of sports."

As it turns out, White was correct all along.

According to Tuesday's edition of the SportsBusiness Journal (using data from Nielsen Monitor-Plus), Anheuser-Busch reclaimed the top spot as the world's largest sports marketer last year, having spent $218.2 million in 2007. That's $45 million more than Chevrolet, the second-largest sports marketer, according to the report.

In a pre-UFC 82 press conference, White announced that the deal would call for Bud Light to become the official beer of the UFC and WEC. Additional details of the deal can be found in the MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) archives. The sponsorship begins at UFC 84 in May, but financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

However, while Anheuser-Busch is now the world's largest sports marketer, that wasn't the case in 2006. Chevrolet actually edged out Anheuser-Busch in total spending -- $271 million to $252.5 million -- that year. However, Chevrolet dropped its spending in 2007 by 36.1 percent to just $172.3 million. Anheuser-Busch dropped its spending by just 13.6 percent to $218.2 million to reclaim the top spot.

Anheuser-Busch has actually been the largest sports marketer every year -- except 2006 -- since Nielsen Monitor-Plus began tracking the data in 1994. Chevrolet took the top spot in 2006 because of drastically increased spending on the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup.

The top 10 sports marketers in 2007 (and the amount of spending) include:

1. Anheuser-Busch, $218.2 million
2. Chevrolet, $173.2 million
3. AT&T Mobile, $172 million
4. Ford, $139.5 million
5. Verizon, $139.2 million
6. Spring-Nextel, $137.5 million
7. Toyota, $134.8 million
8. Nissan, $99.8 million
9. Coors, $89.5 million
10. DirecTV, $85.4 million

Who's No. 2 at 205?

2008-03-12T05:17:00.001-07:00

March 12, 2008
by Ben Zeidler (benjamin.zeidler@gmail.com)

All too often, being No. 2 in the world just doesn't cut it. Go ahead and ask John Kerry or the New England Patriots, two recent examples that second place is really just the first loser.

In MMA, however, where the No. 1 light heavyweight spot has been defiantly claimed by a howling, chained figure called Rampage, second best will have to do.

MMA debates can rage on for decades -- just ask an old timer: Gracie or Sakuraba? -- and so it only makes sense that with a clear No. 1, the discussion of No. 2 begins. For the fighters, this isn't a discussion of second best (they all think they're the best) as much as it is a discussion of who's in line for the next title shot. With Quinton Jackson (Pictures) the undeniable top 205 pounder in the world, let's take a look at the potential candidates, in no particular order, for No. 2.

Forrest Griffin (Pictures)

Why he's not No. 1: He has a bad loss to another potential contender (Keith Jardine (Pictures)) and a valiant loss to the UFC's gatekeeper (Tito Ortiz (Pictures)). Griffin also lacks the résumé of other fighters like Chuck Liddell (Pictures) and Mauricio Rua (Pictures) who have beaten the best in the biz on multiple occasions.

Why he's No. 2: Where to start? Forrest's scintillating win over Mauricio Rua (Pictures) catapulted him into title contention, but he owned the fans' love way before that. It started with his groundbreaking fight with Stephan Bonnar (Pictures), during which ratings actually increased due to fans calling their friends and imploring them to tune in. The popularity continued with his fight against Tito, which even though he lost, ended up being a fight of the year candidate. The win over Rua, then ranked by many as the top 205 pounder in the world, just solidified what his fans already knew. The UFC also gave him a vote of confidence as the No. 2 with a title shot against Jackson.

Verdict: With a win over Quinton Jackson (Pictures), Griffin is No. 1, no questions asked. However, a loss probably pushes him toward the tail end of the top 10, where he resided prior to the Rua shocker. A discussion of Griffin as No. 2 isn't really worth the time.

Lyoto Machida (Pictures)

Why he's not No. 1: Other than Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (Pictures), Machida hasn't beaten any UFC stars during his time with the company. Before that big win at UFC 79, all of his victories came via unanimous decision, which just won't cut it when Joe Silva has a roster of 200-plus fighters to balance. Additionally, the majority of Machida's fights have not been featured on the televised card, meaning that the mainstream fan has little idea who or what Machida is.

Why he's No. 2: Before his 4-0 stint in the UFC, Lyoto beat both Rich Franklin (Pictures) and B.J. Penn (Pictures) -- fighters who would go on to be two of the most successful in the company during its expansion. Back to that Sokoudjou fight: The African judo champ came into the bout as one of the most celebrated free agent signings in years. He had steamrolled two Pride favorites, and those who knew little about Machida expected him to suffer the same fate against Sokoudjou. Instead, Machida's methodical style downright embarrassed the Team Quest prodigy. Need more evidence? Machida is undefeated in his career, which dates back nearly five years.

Verdict: Machida is very good (my current No. 2), but a fight against Ortiz might be more to embarrass Tito than to raise Machida. Don't get me wrong: Tito is a quality opponent, but he's not the caliber of fighter Jardine is taking on. Even with a good win over Tito, Machida could be lapped by a fighter with a more impressive win.

Keith Jardine (Pictures)

Why he's not No. 1: For a guy with an endless upside (an unorthodox style and a proclivity for finishing fights), Jardine's shortcomings can be summed in one, unfortunate fight: an astounding first-minute knockout loss at the hands of Houston Alexander (Pictures). It wouldn't have been so bad if Alexander didn't get knocked out a few events later. Rather than putting Jardine on the wrong end of a new star, he simply appeared to be the victim of a good, not great Alexander.

Why he's No. 2: He has wins over two of the other potential snake eyes, Chuck Liddell (Pictures) and Forrest Griffin (Pictures). The victories were different in style but similar in importance. Against Liddell, more recently, Jardine used his kicks to disrupt Liddell's plan and maintain distance. In the Griffin fight, Jardine was simply the hungrier fighter, connecting on devastating combinations early and often. An upcoming win against legend Wanderlei Silva (Pictures) at UFC 84 would all but cement Jardine in that second spot, even if Machida is able to outlast Tito Ortiz (Pictures).

Verdict: Keith Jardine (Pictures) can easily lay claim to the No. 2 spot by defeating Silva, which would represent a personal sweep of two of the most popular MMA fighters of all time.

Chuck Liddell (Pictures)

Why he's not No. 1: Despite being the most popular fighter in the history of the UFC, Liddell is an uncharacteristic 1-2 in his last three fights, including a loss to Jardine (a fight he "should have won"). He's looked a little blank too, missing that air of confidence he easily displayed during his incredible seven-fight win streak.

Why he's No. 2: He has two wins against Tito Ortiz (Pictures) and Randy Couture (Pictures) (each!). Not enough to convince you? Liddell looked like his old self as he pounded away at the favorite, Wanderlei Silva (Pictures), during their UFC 79 fight. Nearly knocking out Wandy on multiple occasions, Liddell showed no fear as he pecked away for 15 straight minutes.

Verdict: Even an impressive knockout over Rashad Evans (Pictures) in their June 7 bout won't be enough for Liddell to challenge Jardine at that second spot. Evans represents a top-10 opponent, but he's no Shogun. A win would be Liddell's second impressive victory in a row, but the sheer fact that he holds a loss to Jardine would probably hurt him enough in the voter's eyes to keep him at third.

Mauricio Rua (Pictures)

Why he's not No. 1: A HUGE loss to Forrest Griffin (Pictures). No knock on Griffin -- the loss itself isn't that troubling. The problem for Rua lies in what the loss meant. The UFC booked him in the fight as a tune-up before an obvious title shot against Rampage. With Henderson just having been defeated and Wanderlei not yet ready to fight, the UFC expected to pit Rua against its newly crowned king. Griffin disrupted all that, emphatically tacking a loss on Rua's record and throwing him off the title path. This week, Rua was also sidelined with his second serious knee injury in six months. How can a fighter claim to be in line for a title if he never fights?

Why he's No. 2: Just take a look at Rua's career before the Griffin loss. Rua holds wins against Jackson, Ricardo Arona (Pictures), Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (Pictures) and a host of others. With the exception of a freak elbow dislocation at Pride 31, Rua hadn't lost since September 2003. I dare you to find a more impressive résumé among the other contenders. Although his upcoming fight with Liddell has been temporarily cancelled, the UFC won't waste its opportunity to put Rua against a contender. And when the promotion does, Rua will have the option of continuing his slide down the power ladder or reclaiming his spot atop the leader board.

Verdict: Rua can do much to improve his failed UFC reputation with a win against a top opponent, but he'll have to wait to get his chance. By the time he puts the gloves on again, you can bet that one of the guys above will have made his definitive case in the title hunt.

Ben Zeidler is a rankings panelist for MMAMadness.com, Fight Magazine and HDNet's Inside MMA

‘Spider' Silva Angry with Okami

2008-03-12T05:15:00.000-07:00

March 12, 2008
by Josh Gross (joshg@sherdog.com)

Rising off the deck, Anderson Silva's invincibility felt imperiled.

With scorecards reflecting Silva's first dropped round since joining the UFC, the Brazilian stalker stood opposite Dan Henderson (Pictures), as real a test as there is at 185 pounds, taking the advice of trainers with the attitude of someone meandering his way through a stick of gum.

Perhaps it's simple to maintain poise when truth has revealed no one can mess with you. Not right now, at least.

Henderson, some said, was the fighter to derail Silva's impressive run. It didn't happen because, as the UFC champ sees it, he was just better.

"He really wasn't able to do anything once he took me down, and that's what everybody was saying," Silva told Sherdog.com days after his title defense in Columbus, Ohio. "Standing up I picked him apart. I feel every part of my game was effective in this fight."

Arguably the best striker in MMA, Silva's length makes fighting against him as fun as running wind sprints. With an affinity for walking through guys named Franklin and Henderson and everyone else, it's difficult to put into terms what more Silva could do at this point outside of remaining dominant against all comers.

"I don't think there's really anything else for him to prove," suggested Silva's manager, Ed Soares. "They say well, he's never fought a jiu-jitsu guy. He goes out and submits Travis Lutter (Pictures). They say that he's never fought a wrestler. Well Nate Marquardt was supposedly the superior wrestler. He out-wrestled Nate Marquardt. Now he wrestled a two-time Greco-Roman Olympic guy in Dan Henderson. I don't really think there's anything else out there for him to prove, man."

Soares' analysis supports what most believe: Silva belongs atop mixed martial arts' pound-for-pound lists. Accolades have filled media columns since his latest win, yet the 6-foot-2 Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt brushes them away like recent challengers.

Asked if the soft-spoken 32-year-old champion from Curitiba, Brazil, feels he is the best in the sport right now, Soares, who acts as Silva's full-time interpreter, interjected. The question had been asked enough and he didn't want to bother his fighter for an answer:

"He doesn't consider himself the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world and he feels that the only time he'll be able to consider himself the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world is after he's retired."

Against Henderson it was thought the strong but slender Silva could be bullied into the fence, where he'd grapple one of the grittiest fighters in MMA instead of creating room to employ what UFC color commentator Joe Rogan aptly dubbed a "ballet of violence."

The American's constant threat of takedowns never really materialized. And even when Silva, now 21-4, was tossed to the canvas, his extended frame made it difficult for Henderson to muster a meaningful offense. The round ended and so, it turned out, did Henderson's chances for victory.

Searching for answers as to why Silva has made great fighters look mediocre since joining the UFC middleweight ranks in 2006, some have looked to the Brazilian's ability to hit and hurt. Already one of the most accurate fighters in the business, Silva seems to have dialed in his power.

Chris Leben (Pictures)'s thrashing was instigated by a handful of punches. Right hands from the southpaw ruined Marquardt's shot. Franklin twice waded through strikes to get his face rearranged by knees in the Thai clinch. And though he didn't seem to possess much in the way of leverage, Silva's punches scrambled Henderson to the point that he was forced to submit for the first time in his career to a choke.

Silva doesn't see the favorable results as simply a matter of finding more pop. In reality, he said, there hasn't been a noticeable improvement in that area of his game; perhaps it's one of the things he still feels he needs to work on.

The reason for his devastating success?

"I just feel that I'm watching my opponents and taking advantage of the opportunity much better than I did before," Silva says.

Too bad for a thinning lot of UFC challengers. Silva has already cleaned out the division to the point that he has made headlines recently by calling out Roy Jones Jr.

"All these boxers out there talking s--- how MMA fighters aren't technical, well he's willing to step up and fight them in their own game," says Soares, who notes that the idea to challenge the aging Jones was the UFC champ's. "So, if anything, he's not trying to say there's nothing to prove in MMA; he's trying to plant a flag for every one of the fighters out there in the world that fight MMA."

Could Silva even get Jones? Locked in a UFC deal, Soares said that would be up to Dana White, but if they had their way the fight would get made.

"I think he's a great boxer, one of the greatest boxers to ever box," Silva says of Jones. "I would love the opportunity to test my skills against him."

Yet Yushin Okami (Pictures) is a much more realistic candidate to be Silva's next opposition. The Japanese middleweight is 6-1 in the UFC and scored a disqualification win over the UFC titleholder in January 2006.

Silva's tone regarding the DQ versus Okami in Rumble on the Rock's 175-pound tournament suggests he is, at the least, vexed.

In their short time together, Silva flowed in the cage, shifting angles and closing distance at will. Okami, showing no desire to stand and trade, made no real effort to bring the bout to the floor, though he finally put it there and sat high in Silva's closed guard.

Scoring his only effective strikes of the fight, Okami looked comfortable on top, though as he'd learn moments later, there aren't any resting positions against Silva.

Swinging one of his king crab legs pasts Okami's arms, Silva planted the bottom of his right foot on the Japanese fighter's face. Okami fell back, obviously hurt. He would have taken more punishment had referee Troy Mandaloniz (Pictures) not held Silva back.

Okami was given every chance to recover, though even if he'd been lucid the disqualification still could have been warranted.

"The Spider" doesn't see it that way.

"I feel it was a cheap, cowardly way of winning," a pointed Silva says more than two years after the scrap. "People that were there saw that he was in the condition to come back and keep fighting, and he didn't."

Silva says he doesn't "really think much of anything of Okami," but the Brazilian was more poised when stuck under Henderson than he is when discussing the Japanese fighter.

"It wasn't really a fight," Silva describes the disqualification loss before adding that he doesn't want to talk about it anymore.

Judging by how Silva treats opponents he likes, such as Rich Franklin (Pictures), Okami should be careful. He is a quality contender and could provide an intriguing matchup for the UFC middleweight champ, but he may also find out just what Silva fights like when he's angry.

‘Cro Cop' to Fight Mizuno

2008-03-11T05:51:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, March 11, 2008
by Sherdog.com Staff

After much speculation, Fight Entertainment Group has announced that Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic (Pictures) will take on Pancrase regular Tatsuya Mizuno (Pictures) on the March 15 Dream card at Saitama Super Arena in Japan.

Mizuno carries a 4-2 professional record contested entirely in Pancrase. His two most noteworthy opponents, Thiago Silva (Pictures) and Assuerio Silva (Pictures), dominated him in brutal fashion. However, the Japanese fighter has since picked up two wins, stopping Masayuki Kono (Pictures) in the first round in November and submitting Dave Frendin last month in Australia.

Filipovic had been rumored to be facing a wide cast of fighters, ranging from K-1 standout "Mighty Mo" Siala Siliga (Pictures) to South Korean Dong Sik Yoon (Pictures). Last week, "Cro Cop" revealed on his personal blog that he expected to face Yoshihiro Nakao (Pictures). He has not competed since last September, when he dropped a unanimous decision to Cheick Kongo (Pictures).

ANDERSON SILVA DOES WANT TO BOX ROY JONES, JR.

2008-03-11T05:49:00.001-07:00

Since joining the ranks of the Ultimate Fighting Championship less than two years ago, middleweight champion Anderson Silva has all but cleaned house. He debuted with a dismantling of highly touted Ultimate Fighter alumnus Chris Leben, immediately captured the title from then-champion Rich Franklin, and hasn’t looked back since.

He fended off challenges by Ultimate Fighter season four winner Travis Lutter and seven-time King of Pancrase Nate Marquardt, before once again stopping Franklin. Most recently, at UFC 82, he submitted former Pride champion Dan Henderson to solidify his position as the No. 1 middleweight in the world.

In short, Silva appears unstoppable.

There are still challenges for him to face in the Octagon – Yushin Okami springs immediately to mind and a much touted drop to welterweight to challenge Georges St. Pierre – but he may soon be looking to another challenge, outside of his chosen sport.

“Anderson really would love to fight Roy Jones, Jr. in a boxing match,” says his manager, Ed Soares, confirming recent speculation. “It’s not just talk, we really would like to put that fight together.”

That’s not to say the Silva discounts Jones’ abilities. Both he and Jones are often argued as being the best pound-for-pound fighter in their respective sports. But Silva feels that fighters in mixed martial arts are often unjustly criticized as not being as technically proficient as their boxing counterparts, a misconception that he would like to dispel.

“We respect Jones’ boxing ability and think he’s one of the best,” said Soares, “but we’re tired of different boxers saying that MMA fighters aren’t technical. Anderson would love to fight Roy Jones in a boxing match under boxing rules to prove that MMA fighters are technical, too.”

There has been much chatter in the past about Jones stepping into the Octagon to fight; something that he spoke to BoxingScene.com’s Mark Vester about last year, saying, “Now, I can't get on the ground and start wrestling because I know nothing about that. But if I hit him before he gets to the ground, he's not going to get up and have the chance to wrestle."

Unlike many boxers, Jones has actually had a lot of positives to say about the sport, as he told Vester, “UFC is the best fighting the best and that’s what boxing has to do. If you are an ultimate fighter, you are going to fight someone who is going to fight. In UFC, if you lose to a good fighter, you lost, you still know you are good fighter, and you come back the next day and fight again. In boxing, if you lose and that's it. You are done. I lose a few fights, they want to tell me I'm washed up and I don't have it no more."

Thus far though, Jones hasn’t commented about fighting a mixed martial artist on his terms, in his ring. Whether it ever becomes a reality or not, it is a fight that would surely be marquee both for boxing aficionados and mixed martial arts purists alike.

GARY SHAW TALKS ELITE XC PRODUCTION ON CBS

2008-03-10T21:23:00.000-07:00

ProElite, Inc. and the CBS Television Network on Feb. 28 announced a multi-year agreement to bring mixed martial arts to the broadcast network. CBS will broadcast four MMA events per year, produced by ProElite's EliteXC fight division, as two-hour live primetime specials targeted for Saturday nights.

The agreement augments an existing relationship between CBS Corporation and ProElite, which began broadcasting its EliteXC live MMA events on CBS's Showtime premium cable network in 2007. EliteXC events will continue to air on Showtime.

Gary Shaw, president of EliteXC’s Live Events division, told MMAWeekly.com recently that the first telecast has not yet been determined, but that it will take place sometime between April and June of this year.

He also addressed the issue of the broadcast team of the CBS telecasts, believed to be one of the major points of contention between Ultimate Fighting Championship officials and CBS when the two entities were reportedly negotiating to bring the UFC to the network’s airwaves prior to the EliteXC signing.

EliteXC will still control the details of the production of the events, including matching the fighters; but CBS will be in control of the production of the telecast itself, including the announcing team.

“We're doing our own production. We're putting on the fights,” said Shaw. “They're broadcasting the event, absolutely. It's a joint effort between us. There are a lot of people involved in this joint effort including CBS, including Showtime, including us, including their marketing people, their outdoor billboard people, their radio people, their TV people.

“Remember, we do ShoXC that has a broadcast team; we do EliteXC that has a broadcast team; and CBS will have a broadcast team,” he continued. “We'll have three different broadcast teams that work with us.”

Although it remains to be seen how EliteXC events will be presented on CBS, Shaw said that the network didn’t have plans to alter production on events that continue to air on Showtime.

“They were very, very happy with the Showtime production and the competitive matches we're putting on Showtime. They like the product we're working with.”

Silva Gets New Opponent for UFC 84

2008-03-10T21:22:00.001-07:00

Thiago Silva (Pictures) will look to continue his run towards the UFC light heavyweight title against Antonio Mendes, Sherdog.com learned Monday.

Silva (12-0-0) was originally slated to face Rashad Evans (Pictures) on the Memorial Day weekend card in Las Vegas. That fight was scrapped when Evans accepted a June 7 tilt against Chuck Liddell (Pictures) after Mauricio Rua (Pictures) withdrew because of a significant knee injury.

The highly regarded 25-year-old Brazilian will look to keep his flawless record intact against a lesser-known commodity in Mendes (14-2-0).

Fighting out of the Europe Top Team came, Mendes, a 26-year-old from Fortaleza, Brazil, ran off nine consecutive victories in 2007. This will be his UFC debut.

Monday Morning Reverie: Cease and Desist

2008-03-10T04:38:00.000-07:00

March 10, 2008
by Mike Sloan (msloan@sherdog.com)

Ken Shamrock (Pictures) is enshrined in the UFC's hall of fame and is a legend of mixed martial arts. Though the bulk of his success came inside the Pancrase organization, he is well known on American soil as one of the pioneers of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

At the age of 44, having won just three times since 2000, it feels like the right time to ask whether Shamrock should consider removing himself from active competition.

Considering how mythical the name "Ken Shamrock (Pictures)" is, one would presume that he has torn the sport asunder. With as much admiration and praise he receives, you'd believe that he toppled the likes of Randy Couture (Pictures), Fedor Emelianenko (Pictures) and Chuck Liddell (Pictures).

Instead, his victories have come against Kimo Leopoldo (Pictures), Alexander Otsuka (Pictures) and Sam Adkins. Strewn between those monumental triumphs? Losses to Tito Ortiz (Pictures) (thrice), Kazushi Sakuraba (Pictures), Rich Franklin (Pictures), Don Frye (Pictures), Kazuyuki Fujita (Pictures) and now Robert "Buzz" Berry.

Listen: This column isn't designed to rip into Shamrock for not dominating the sport for the past eight years. I'm not trying to bash the guy or throw him under the bus for not being as great as everybody thought he was. Everything thus far has been cold, hard facts.

Another fact tied to Shamrock's career, as I see it, should be his decision to hang up his gloves for good. Anybody who disputes that and tries to make the point that the last sentence is an opinion simply doesn't get it.

This is the same type of person who tries to argue that Michael Jordan is not the greatest to ever play professional basketball or that Jerry Rice is not the best receiver in NFL history. That's when opinion becomes factual, and now "Ken Shamrock (Pictures) should retire" falls into that category.

It's not as if he's been competitive. He was blown away by Ortiz twice for a combined 3:41, was trounced by feather-fisted Sakuraba in 2:27, smoked by Franklin in 2:42 and was pummeled Saturday by Berry in 3:26.

It's one thing to look halfway decent in losses, but when a fighter lasts about as long as I could against a swarm of bees, it's time to look for a different career. He's lost five in a row and eight out of his last 11 -- need I write more?

Shamrock is an icon in the sport. It pains me, and thousands of others, to watch him turned into spit with each passing fight. I've seen too many boxers suffer brain damage from sticking around too long, and it would be an utter tragedy if the same fate would envelope Shamrock. He's unfortunately and unintentionally making a mockery of his great name.

Misc. Debris

In keeping with Shamrock: The punch that floored him landed about as cleanly as Travis Lutter (Pictures)'s against Marvin Eastman (Pictures). …

I'll stay in my gripe mood for this one: Maybe it's time for King Fedor to step down from his throne and stop bothering us with more of his and his management's non-news. He signed with M-1 Global and was set to take on the world. Instead, he gave us a battle against a 7-foot Korean with a head bigger than my dad's beer gut. Then all the Couture/Fedor/UFC/Cuban nonsense happened. This soap opera has run its course with this columnist. Until Fedor, who I still consider the greatest ever, signs with a legit organization and fights the best there is at heavyweight (if not Couture), I'll ignore his endeavors. Come on, Fedor, I think you can control your own destiny in the sport a little better. Step up. …

I forgot to mention in my last column the horror of Jose "Pele" Landi-Jons having his leg snapped like a pool stick. Hopefully he'll be able to recover quickly and resume his fighting career. …

It's too bad that "Shogun" had to withdraw from his fight with Chuck Liddell (Pictures) due to yet another injury. The Liddell-Rashad Evans (Pictures) fight won't deliver anywhere near as many fireworks as the original main event, but at least we'll finally get to see what Evans is made of. I'm not sure just yet who will win this one, but I do know that Wanderlei Silva (Pictures) will end his losing skid when he fights Keith Jardine (Pictures).

Shamrocks Falter in Cage Rage Debuts

2008-03-09T11:02:00.000-07:00

Saturday was a rough night for the Shamrock family as both father and son were unsuccessful in their Cage Rage debuts.

"Cage Rage 25: Bring It On" took place in front of a full house at Wembley Arena in London, England.

The 44-year-old Ken Shamrock and 19-year-old Ryan Shamrock signed multi-fight deals with ProElite, Inc. earlier this year, and Saturday's Cage Rage event was intended to be a stepping stone to bigger fights with the U.S.-based EliteXC. However, their opponentd had other ideas.

In the night's main event, UFC hall-of-famer Ken Shamrock was unable to defend against the youth, speed and power of Robert "Buzz" Berry. Berry started off with low kicks and used an effective jab to keep Shamrock at a distance. Midway through the first round, Shamrock attempted a takedown that was quickly thwarted by his much-bigger opponent.

At the three-minute mark, Berry caught his opponent with a right that put Shamrock a bit off balance, and he followed with a left-right combo that sent the 44-year-old MMA legend to the canvas. Referee Grant Waterman quickly stepped in and stopped the fight.

In addition to the sting of his seventh loss in eight fights, Shamrock may have cost himself headliner status in the first-ever MMA event on major network television. EliteXC recently inked a deal with CBS, and the first event is expected to take place in late April. Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson will likely headline the event, and Shamrock had been rumored as a possible opponent.

The younger Shamrock didn't fair any better.

Earlier in the evening, Ryan Shamrock suffered a broken left hand during the first round of his fight with Giorgio Andrews. After a very entertaining opening round, an examination by the ringside doctor revealed that Shamrock's hand was broken. The doctor called a stop to the fight, and Andrews was awarded the TKO victory.

In other action, the Cage Rage featherweight belt was on the line as title-holder Masakazu Imanari faced off with Jean Silva. Silva was overpowering the champion in the opening minutes of a fast-and-furious opening round and looked dominant. However, Imanari changed his fortunes with a reverse heel hook at 2:30 of the first round. Silva looked to have suffered an injury during the submission and was taken from the cage via stretcher.

The full results of the night included:

* Robert Berry def. Ken Shamrock via KO (punches) -- Round 1 3:26
* Masakazu Imanari def. Jean Silva via submission (heel hook) -- Round 1 2:30
* Rob Broughton def. Neil Grove via majority decision
* Mustapha al Turk def. Gary Turner via submission (strikes) -- Round 1, 3:19
* Tom Watson def. Pierre Guillet via TKO (strikes)-- Round 1, 2:05
* Ivan Serati Roman def. Webber via TKO (strikes) -- Round 1, 0:48
* Henrique Santana def. Michael Johnson via unanimous decision
* Aisling Daly def. Aysen Berik via TKO (strikes)-- Round 1, 1:49
* Giorgio Andrews def. Ryan Shamrock via TKO (injury)-- Round 1, 5:00
* John Hathaway def. Marvin Arnold Bleau via TKO (strikes) -- Round 1, 1:32
* John Phillips def. Jake Bostwick via TKO (strikes) -- Round 1, 4:10

SHOGUN INJURED, OUT OF UFC 85 FIGHT WITH LIDDELL

2008-03-04T14:44:00.000-08:00

The Ultimate Fighting Championship on Tuesday announced that Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, who had been scheduled to make his return to the Octagon against Chuck Liddell on June 7 in London, will instead be returning to the operating room.

Rua has been forced to withdraw from his UFC 85 bout with Liddell due a ruptured ACL in his left knee, the same injury that he had surgically repaired following his loss to Forrest Griffin in October at UFC 76.

The 26-year-old will once again require surgery on the injured knee, but no word is yet forthcoming on when we will be able to return to competition.

“I’ve never seen Shogun so motivated for a fight like this in years,” said Rua spokesman Eduardo Alonso. “This was like a new beginning for him.”

Rua, along with his brother Murilo “Ninja” and former Chute Boxe teammate Andre “Dida” Amade and his brother, formed a new camp of their own in Curitiba, Brazil prior to the scheduling of the bout with Liddell. The Rua brothers and Amade, until recently, were all members of the famed Brazilian Chute Boxe camp.

The promotion says that Liddell’s opponent for UFC 85 at London’s O2 Arena will be announced shortly.

Quinton Jackson vs Forrest Griffin at UFC 86

2008-03-04T07:21:00.000-08:00

Just two weeks after "The Ultimate Fighter 7" season finale takes place, UFC light heavyweight Quinton Jackson (28-6 MMA, 3-0 UFC) and Forrest Griffin (15-4 MMA, 6-2 UFC) -- the show's two coaches -- will headline a UFC 86 event in Las Vegas.

The report comes from Dave Meltzer's print edition of the Wrestling Observer.

As of today, though, the date hasn't officially been approved by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. However, an NSAC representative today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that it's not uncommon for the UFC to announce a date that hasn't been scheduled with the commission -- especially when it's four months away.

Back in December UFC president Dana White announced that Jackson and Griffin would serve as coaches on "TUF 7," which is currently filming in Las Vegas, and would then headline a major UFC event.

Jackson, who debuted in the UFC with a win over Marvin Eastman in February 2007, defeated Chuck Liddell three months later to win the light heavyweight championship. His first title defense was a successful one as he defeated Dan Henderson via unanimous decision at September's UFC 75 event.

Griffin, the light heavyweight winner of "The Ultimate Fighter 1," secured his title shot with an upset victory over Mauricio "Shogun" Rua in September. The submission victory pushed his UFC record to 6-2, which has included victories over Stephan Bonnar (twice), Bill Mahood, Elvis Sinosic and Hector Ramirez.

Simply the Best

2008-03-02T20:21:00.000-08:00

March 2, 2008
by Joe Hall (joeh@sherdog.com)

COLUMBUS, Ohio, March 1 -- Dan Henderson (Pictures) made it a little longer with Anderson Silva than anyone else has lately. His meeting with the UFC middleweight champion on Saturday before 16,431 fans at a sold-out Nationwide Arena almost moved into the third round, but the result was the same regardless: another decisive victory for the most dominant fighter in mixed martial arts.

Silva submitted the two-time Olympian wrestler 4:52 into the second round of the UFC 82 main event.

Henderson won the first period, though. After throwing occasional kicks during the opening two minutes, Silva lunged in for a punch and Henderson used a body lock to take him down.

The Brazilian was on his back for the rest of the round. He tied up Henderson's head, but the lifelong wrestler had room to throw short hammerfists from half-guard and side-mount.

Silva, 32, found his rhythm in the second. He cut off the cage and kicked to the body and legs of Henderson, who swung wildly in retaliation.

Following a brief exchange in the clinch, Silva stalked forward, nodding. His leg shot up for Henderson's head but missed. Next came another kick that hit to the body, and Henderson tried for a takedown. The 37-year-old veteran did not get it, but he worked his way back to the feet and again wrapped his arms around Silva.

This time, however, he couldn't take him down.

The clinch broke, and Henderson leaned in with a good right hand. His mistake was following with haymakers, which threw him off balance and nearly allowed Silva to land a knee from his dangerous Thai clinch. A knee did connect and hurt Henderson when Silva threw a left head kick, and a flurry ensued.

Henderson swung desperately. With crisper punches, Silva kept connecting on the feet until he stopped a takedown and resumed striking from the top on the ground. The fight slowed some as Henderson appeared to be recovering, but Silva hurt him again with about a minute left in the round.

Several right hands stunned Henderson, who gave his back. More punches and elbows followed before Silva secured a modified rear-naked choke.

"I needed to control the standup a little bit better," said Henderson, now 22-7. "I didn't pressure him that much. I should have kept him on the defense a little more. I kind of let him get his offense going by standing there a little too much. My game plan, I didn't execute it well enough I think."

Silva said he was not surprised that he had won with a submission.

"Not taking anything away from Dan Henderson -- he came, he fought very well -- but in my mind, the real champion other than myself that I have faced in the Octagon was Rich Franklin (Pictures)," said Silva, 21-4, who defended his middleweight title for the fourth time. "Not to take anything away from Dan Henderson, though."

Heath Herring (Pictures) (28-13) stormed out of his corner against Cheick Kongo (Pictures) (11-4-1). Kongo stood waiting, seemingly disinterested until a right hand had found his face. The 32-year-old resident of Paris staggered into the cage but soon executed a takedown.

In fact, Kongo scored several takedowns in the fight. Although he had out-struck Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic last September, he chose to engage Herring on the mat.

The strategy won Kongo the opening round. Despite absorbing that first big punch, he hurt Herring with strikes on the ground while the fighters traded numerous positions. Herring reversed twice, but Kongo kept winning the scrambles and inflicted more damage when he was on top.

In the second period, though, Herring took the top and did not relinquish it. That, perhaps, was the difference in the fight: Herring could get off his back, but Kongo could not.

The 29-year-old Texan moved from the north-south position to side-control, where he worked enough knees into Kongo's body to arguably take a second round that also saw him absorb his fair share of strikes. The third was similar. Herring escaped from underneath his opponent and mixed short elbows with more knees to Kongo's body.

One judge awarded the fight to Kongo 29-28, but the other two gave it to Herring 29-28 for a split decision.

"If I could have thrown [knees] to the head, this fight would have been over a long time ago," said Herring, who is now 2-2 in the UFC. "But here in the U.S., we don't have knees to the head."

Chris Leben (Pictures) (18-4) and Alessio Sakara (Pictures) (12-7) walked out of their corners ready to trade in a middleweight bout. The similar strategies were expected, and the result might have been equally predictable.

Sakara, a 26-year-old Italian training at American Top Team in Florida, had the technically superior boxing. He punched in combinations and connected more often than his freer-swinging foe.

Leben, 27, has a chin, however, and he hits hard. The chin lets him throw until he lands, which he did with a pair of left hooks behind Sakara's right ear midway into the round. Sakara folded to the mat, and Herb Dean (Pictures) stopped the fight at 3:16.

"He actually hit a lot harder than I thought," Leben said of his opponent. "His footwork and movement was really well. He caught me with a couple clean shots that actually hurt. It takes a lot to hurt me, so more power to him. That's exactly what I did. I put him in the blender. I took him in the deep end. I said you want to swing, let's swing."

Yushin Okami (Pictures) (21-4) ruined the return of former 185-pound UFC champion Evan Tanner (Pictures) (32-7). After two minutes of tentative boxing, the Japanese middleweight contender threw a one-two that sat Tanner down. The 37-year-old veteran recouped fairly quickly but mounted no significant offense in the round.

Okami, 26, continued his typically patient approach in the second period. Meanwhile Tanner looked out of sync on the feet -- understandable since this marked his return to fighting following a two-year absence from the cage -- and started eating more straight lefts as the round wore on.

The end came against the cage. Caught in the Thai clinch, Tanner tried to throw a right hook to the body. The punch gave Okami just enough distance to deliver a knee to Tanner's chin that dropped him, and referee Mark Matheny called the fight 3:00 into the round.

Jon Fitch (Pictures) improved to 8-0 in the UFC and 16-2 overall with a hard-fought win over Chris Wilson (13-4).

A 30-year-old welterweight who trains at Team Quest in Portland, Ore., Wilson won the first round in what was his UFC debut. He stuck a good right hand in Fitch's face and also connected with a jumping knee and a kick to the body.

"He's a long opponent, very good hands," the 30-year-old Fitch said afterward. "A lot of speed."

Fitch finished two takedowns in the first period and also took the top position off a scramble early in the second round. He passed to side-mount and mount before Wilson worked him back into the half-guard. Although Fitch failed to hurt his opponent, he controlled the ground game and earned the round.

The fighters traded for the first three minutes of the last round. Fitch, fighting out of San Jose, Calif., landed with a left hand and a right after Wilson had thrown another kick into his body. Another right hand then scored for Fitch, who may have sealed his win with a single-leg takedown. Regardless, Wilson was game, as he worked on a triangle choke until time expired.

All three judges awarded Fitch the fight: 30-27 twice and 29-28.

"I'm ready to fight for that title, whoever's got it," Fitch said. "Serra, St. Pierre -- whoever the best man is, I want to fight them. Once you have that belt, every fight you have is going to be the toughest. That's where I want to be."

Arlovski, Koscheck and Sanchez Win on Undercard

In what could be his final fight in the Octagon, former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski (Pictures) (12-5) stopped the previously undefeated Jake O'Brien (10-1) at 4:17 into the second round.

O'Brien, 23, of Indianapolis, came out shooting for a takedown. No doubt expecting such a strategy, Arlovski sprawled and successfully defended the single-leg. Only more shots followed, however, and the young wrestler eventually grounded him late in the round. Arlovski dealt more damage from the bottom than he took, cutting O'Brien's scalp with an elbow.

Halfway into the second round, a lengthy series of takedown attempts again culminated with success for O'Brien. He couldn't hurt the 29-year-old native of Belarus on the ground, though.

After getting back to his feet, Arlovski used a body lock to put O'Brien's back to the mat. Even worse for the former Purdue University wrestler was the fact that Arlovski had landed in the mount. Punches followed, causing O'Brien to cover up until referee Mark Matheny intervened at 4:17.

Luigi Fioravanti (Pictures) (12-3) outwrestled Luke Cummo (Pictures) (6-5) for three rounds. Fighting out of Orlando, Fla., the 27-year-old Fioravanti scored four takedowns in the first five minutes. The second and third periods were no different.

Cummo, 27, of Long Island, N.Y., was active on his back throughout the fight. He rolled out from under Fioravanti several times, only to be taken down again before he could get his striking game going on the feet. The decision was unanimous for Fioravanti, 30-27 on all three cards.

Dustin Hazelett (Pictures) kicked Josh Koscheck (Pictures) in the head to start their welterweight fight, and Koscheck kicked him in the head to end it. The first strike caught Koscheck (10-2) behind the ear, stunning him. The American Kickboxing Academy welterweight recovered quickly, though, and commenced trading in an entertaining opening round.

Hazelett, 21, of Cincinnati, had a significant reach advantage and wasn't afraid of his athletic opponent. He threw several kicks, which Koscheck countered with better boxing. At one point, Hazelett, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt, grabbed a guillotine choke. Koscheck calmly defended it and later defended a triangle after he had scored a takedown.

In the second round, the 30-year-old Koscheck, fighting of San Jose, Calif., dug into his counterpart's body with punches. A right hand then prompted Hazelett (10-4) to cover up in a manner that left him open for a left head kick. Koscheck followed up with punches on the ground until Herb Dean (Pictures) stopped the fight at 1:24.

Diego Sanchez (Pictures) (18-2) dominated Sweden's David Bielkheden (Pictures) (12-6). Coming off back-to-back losses to Josh Koscheck and Jon Fitch, Sanchez shot through his opponent for a takedown to begin the fight. The 26-year-old "Ultimate Fighter" winner passed to half-guard, then threatened with a kimura that opened up a transition to the mount.

Bielkheden, 28, could not escape from the bottom. He bucked numerous times, but Sanchez stayed in the mount and battered him with punches until Bielkheden tapped at 4:43.

Cincinnati's Jorge Gurgel (Pictures) (12-3) used strikes on the ground to outpoint John Halverson (16-6) in a lightweight bout. The 31-year-old Gurgel did his best work during the second stanza. After freeing his neck from a guillotine attempt, he sat up in Halverson's guard and began hammering away with punches. Halverson, fighting out of Des Moines, Iowa, looked in trouble but survived the round.

Both fighters were exhausted in the third. The 35-year-old Halverson landed more in the standup exchanges, but Gurgel again scored on the ground to close the fight strongly. All three judges awarded the bout to Gurgel (29-28, 29-28, 30-27).

Zuffa v. Couture Preliminary Injunction Ruling Expected Today

2008-02-28T07:06:00.000-08:00

Months of verbal sparring between Zuffa and Randy Couture (Pictures) should have some resolution late Thursday afternoon.

In front of Judge Jennifer Togliatti, in Nevada District Court, Zuffa is seeking a preliminary injunction preventing Couture from "engaging in any promotion or production of any events or programming related to unarmed combat during the one-year Restricted Period in his Employment Agreement." This includes, but is not limited to, the use of Couture's likeness by the IFL and his participation in this Friday's IFL event in Las Vegas.

Couture's likeness was posted on the IFL Web site for a brief period, allegedly between one and three days, as a coach of the Xtreme Couture team. According to affidavits in the case, the IFL's Director of Web Marketing and Technology posted the image on his on volition, without Couture's permission, on the assumption that Couture would be coaching the Xtreme Couture team.

Upon learning that his likeness was being used, Couture's staff immediately contacted the IFL and asked that it be removed, according to Couture's affidavit.

It is believed that the injunction might also prevent Couture from cornering his fighters at non-UFC events. Couture argues that his employment agreement permitted the activity under section 1.2 of the agreement. That provision stated that Couture was allowed to establish Xtreme Couture MMA schools so long as he was not personally involved with a rival promoter.

It is the meaning of that phrase, "involved with any other promoter," that must be determined by the court.

The fact that he has been allowed to corner fighters since at least March 2007 without protest is cited by Couture as evidence of the permissiveness of the conduct. Because it is only now, after Couture's resignation, that the company has objected, "raises an inference that [Zuffa's] motion is being brought for an improper punitive purpose."

Couture's opposition to the temporary injunction specifically cited two IFL events, on November 3 and December 29, 2007, on which Couture coached and cornered Xtreme Couture fighters without objection from the UFC.

Zuffa's motion for preliminary injunction also makes mention of the company's promotional agreement with Couture. That agreement is still not at issue in the current proceedings in Las Vegas, however, it has been challenged in court by HDNet Fights in Texas District Court.

The motion states that Couture "is obligated to fight two more bouts" under the terms of the promotional agreement. A footnote later in the filing notes that the agreement is confidential, however, Zuffa will make it available to the court in camera if it so desires.

Couture's duties under the employment agreement included interaction with athletic commissions and government representatives and television interviewing and commentating.

The parties are also scheduled to appear in court on March 25 for a hearing on Couture's motion to dismiss three claims in the case. The motion asks the court to dismiss Zuffa's claims for conspiracy, injurious falsehood and trade disparagement, and interference with contractual rights.

According to the motion, the conspiracy and interference claims must be dismissed because of the plaintiff's failure to identify a second party. By law Couture cannot conspire with himself nor interfere with his own contract. The failure of the plaintiff to identify to whom such statements were made compels dismissal of the injurious falsehood and trade disparagement claim according to the filing.