MMA/UFC/PRIDE/K-1 discussion thread

dunkamania

I am nervous about GSP's conditioning for this fight.
If the fight goes to the 4th or 5th rd GSP is unlikely to get his hand raised.

Fozzy

I think GSP will be in good shape. Nothing I've read or heard suggests that he's been slacking on his training. Haven't heard much about the conference call other than Hughes taking shots at Serra as usual, saying that he's facing a much better fighter now

A couple of fights have been announced for the end of year Japanese show that Fedor is headlining. They are Gesias Calvancante vs Shinya Aoki and Hayato Sakurai vs Hidehiko Hasegawa. Last time Sakurai fought he knocked out Mac Danzig. Fedor still has no opponent. The promoters said that there's going to be a business relationship between this promotion, DEEP, K-1 HEROES and M-1 Global

dunkamania

while I doubt hes been slacking in training, everyday training is different from his fight camp, which is usually 8 weeks (i think) as opposed to 4 for this fight.

super ninja

does anyone know when the ufc is coming to ireland again

Fozzy

No idea, nothing's been said, but Dana said recently that they're planning to have half a dozen shows between Europe and Australia next year

GSP has said that he was training with the idea that something might happen Hughes or Serra, and if that's the case then I'm sure he's given himself enough time to get fit. He said he's training with Dennis Kang for this fight

merlinsmerryman

http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=5189&zoneid=2

Randy turned down a fight with Nogueira. Talk of Nogueira V Sylvia .

johnny_adidas

was there not talk of congo being in line for a shot soon? and is arlovski gone from the scene altogether?

cletus

johnny_adidas wrote: »

and is arlovski gone from the scene altogether?

heres an interesing article regarding Mr. Arlovski

FIGHTIN' WORDS | Former heavyweight champ discovers that no contract talk isn't cheap

November 9, 2007
BY ROMAN MODROWSKI rmodrowski@suntimes.com
Former UFC heavyweight champ Andrei Arlovski is in the biggest fight of his career, and he's losing.

Arlovski, who fights out of Chicago, is in a war of wills with UFC president Dana White. And as fierce as the 6-4, 240-pound Arlovski has been in the octagon at times, White is the toughest hombre in the UFC. You don't take a nothing organization and build it into a Sports Illustrated cover story without being able to stare down formidable opponents.

Arlovski has one fight left on his UFC contract. White wants to sign him to an extension before scheduling Arlovski's next fight. Arlovski wants to fight first and then negotiate a new contract. If he doesn't sign an extension or fight again, Arlovski's contract expires April 15.

White holds all the cards, but I doubt he'll just let the contract expire. It's bad business. Arlovski remains one of the five most popular fighters in the UFC. Just his appearance in Cincinnati at UFC 77 caused a huge stir in the crowd despite the fact he hasn't fought since April 21.

At the very least, White will want Arlovski to sell pay-per-view units before the contract expires. But in the meantime, Arlovski doesn't have an income. He still trains at JABB gym, and trainers aren't free. He's also losing sponsorship opportunities.

Arlovski's camp didn't contact me. They don't want to make this public. He's a loyal UFC employee who has kept his nose clean, and hopefully he'll be rewarded.

''He's losing a tremendous amount of money,'' Arlovski adviser Leo Khorolinsky said. ''He relies on fighting to maintain a living.

''We're ready to fight whenever they ask. We believe we have a very good relationship with the UFC and Dana.''

But the sides haven't talked in three weeks.

''I won't talk about what was said because it was confidential,'' Khorolinsky said. ''We haven't declined any offers to fight.''

White's in a similar situation with Randy Couture, who publicly ripped the UFC for its pay scale. White said he has Couture under contract and hasn't blinked.

With so many new mixed-martial arts organizations willing to pay more than the UFC, White likely will face more unhappy fighters. White's banking on the UFC brand winning out. It's still the most popular MMA entity by far. And if older, established veterans want to leave, the UFC's marketing machine will partially fill the void with younger fighters.

An IFL exec recently asked me to give his league a chance, and I thought about why I don't write more about their league. And the answer -- I think -- is shared by many fans. I don't love mixed-martial arts, but I do love the UFC product.

White may be considering the possibility Arlovski will bolt when he becomes a free agent.

''We have a contract with the UFC,'' Khorolinsky said. ''We're not going anywhere. We have no other options. Our option is to fulfill our contract.

''The UFC is our employer. Dana White is our boss. As far as I'm concerned, we've been very good and loyal employees for the last seven years. Whenever the boss calls, we're here to talk or fight.''

I asked White about it recently, and he said Arlovski is ''sitting on the bench.''

''He hasn't been forgotten,'' White said. ''I don't know what he's doing. I want to get him back in the mix.

''I'm in the contract business. Every day I re-sign a new guy and this guy or that guy is upset about it. I have 250 guys under contract.''

Hopefully, White's ready to lift one of those guys off the bench.

johnny_adidas

thanks for clearing that one up cletus

dunkamania

Randy has reconciled with Dana, will continue to work for UFC but in a non fighter capacity. He turned down a title defense against Nog, who will probably face Sylvia the vacant title.

Nothingcompares

hasn't AA got a new contract?

merlinsmerryman

Has said already AA has one fight left on his contract. Anybody else think there could be another interim title fight coming up? Randy has 9 months left on his UFC contract, maybe Dana thinks he could get him to fight in the next 9 months. If not who fights for the title? Slyvia didn't look great in his last outing. CroCop 0-2 in the UFC. Maybe Congo and Noguera?

Clive

Sylvia and Nog are fighting for the interim title.

Fozzy

There's not going to be an interim heavyweight belt, is there? I don't see the sense in that

Sherk had his suspension upheld, but reduced to six months, so he'll be able to compete from January

Kazooie

merlinsmerryman wrote: »

Has said already AA has one fight left on his contract. Anybody else think there could be another interim title fight coming up? Randy has 9 months left on his UFC contract, maybe Dana thinks he could get him to fight in the next 9 months. If not who fights for the title? Slyvia didn't look great in his last outing. CroCop 0-2 in the UFC. Maybe Congo and Noguera?

For the sake of humanity Nog has to win. I'm giving up on UFC if Sylvia gets another 5 round decision.

Cro Cop is actually 1-2 in the UFC. He beat Eddie Sanchez.*


*(who??):D

dunkamania

Doesnt make sense to have a lightweight interim title fight 2 weeks b4 champion is eligible to defend it.

Fozzy

Sherk was found guilty of taking steroids, so he should be stripped of the title. That'll make Penn vs Stevenson a fight for the vacant title

FiannaGym.com

Me and my friends at Chute Boxe have a saying, "If you aint cheatin, you aint trying" - Shogun haha

Anyway, the Interm title thing is just a fantastic way of having "Champion Versus Champion" matches in the near future. Sure I think its wasteful to some degree but honestly, whats the difference if someone gets a belt after a fight or not (for interm titles) the fights themselves will be the same (okay 5 rounds instead of 3) but its not really a big issue is it?

As for Sherk being on Roids, I'd strip the dude, let him work his way up but be giving him p and b tests every week.

Peace

dunkamania

Didnt BJ say he wouldnt fight Sherk if he was found guilty?

didnt Tito also say something like "If you aint cheatin, you aint trying" in his postfight fight after holding the cage against Rashad

http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=5219&zoneid=2


Hope this isnt true, BJM is THE referee!

goo

I'm looking forward to seeing more of Steve Mazzagatti's moustache.

Fozzy

Yep, Big John will referee his last fight tomorrow night: http://www.thefightnetwork.com/news_detail.php?nid=5603

He retired from his job with the police recently but he's got more than enough going on his life

Fozzy

Sean Sherk has been stripped of his title according to the Wrestling Observer: http://www.wrestlingobserver.com/wo/news/headlines/default.asp?aID=21531

He's able to fight from January 5th I think

goo

Will they hold on to him for the winner of Penn - Stevenson do you think, or will he fight someone? Winner of Guida - Huerta maybe?

Fozzy

On TUF Finale last night Mike Goldberg called Sherk the champ and I'm pretty sure that he said that he'd be taking on the winner of the interim title fight. Obviously it's not true now that Sherk is the champ, but I could still see him facing the winner. Most of the fans aren't going to know that he was ever suspended if the UFC don't mention it

Kazooie

Anyone see TUF finale last night on Bravo?

I didn't think they'd be showing it but was pleasently surprised when I switched over to Bravo and there it was. The Huerta Guida fight was excellent. Won't spoil it for anyone who didn't know it was on. Not sure when they'll be showing a repeat.

Forrest was announced as number 1 contender and is gonna be a coach on TUF 7. Really pleased for him as he's a guy you just can't really help liking.
Put two and two together and you can guess who the second coach will be too.

cletus

http://www.mmatko.com/roger-huerta-vs-clay-guida-fight-video-ufc-tuf-finale/

some links here for those not fortunate to have bravo, and not tech savy enough to avail of...other methods;)

Dragan

The Heurta - Guida scrap really was some fight. Potentially fight of the year ( that's two that Heurta has been in now ).

Jayroc Vs War Machine was also a fantastic fight!

Nothingcompares

Did anyone watch the K1-WGP? Bonjasky and Hadr was a war. Very close.

Fozzy

Dragan wrote: »

The Heurta - Guida scrap really was some fight. Potentially fight of the year ( that's two that Heurta has been in now ).

Same for Guida I think, his fight against Tyson Griffin was great. I watched the finale live, it was really good stuff. Rampage was confirmed as the other coach last night, he should make for some awesome tv