Josh Neer – The Dentist is In
(ufc.com)He won’t talk your ear off, do backflips in the Octagon, or make the daily papers for some outrageous antics. Josh Neer just fights. But that’s just fine with UFC fans who have clamored for the hard-nosed Iowa banger to return to the organization after an absence of almost 20 months.
And in his typically understated manner, he’s happy to be back.
“It feels good,” said Neer. “It’s just a different atmosphere in the UFC, and in these smaller shows it’s just not the same.”
Davis vs. Swick Set For UFC 85
(mmajunkie.com)Rumors of a Marcus Davis-Mike Swick fight at UFC 85, circulating since February, now appear to be true. Both sides have confirmed today that they have signed for the fight and it now appears to be official.
TUF 7 Fighter Signs With EliteXC
(mmajunkie.com)Former collegiate wrestler Paul Bradley, who was to be a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter 7, has left UFC and signed with EliteXC. Terms weren't disclosed and Bradley's manager declined to comment on the UFC split.
Nogueira: To Be The Best You Have To Beat The Best
(mmamania.com)That line was part of a recent quick quote from interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. Minotauro also notes that fighting Couture was a big reason he came to UFC and also commented on how often he thinks Champions should defend their titles.
Two Lightweight Bouts Announced for Next 'Sengoku'
(sherdog.com)World Victory Road has announced the first two bouts for its second Sengoku card, scheduled for May 18 at the Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo.
In a pair of 154-pound bouts, Pancrase standout Satoru Kitaoka (Pictures) will take on Australian Ian James Schaffa (Pictures), while Eiji Mitsuoka (Pictures) will take on South Korean dynamo "Crazy" Kwang Hee Lee.
Aleksander Emelianenko gets a new opponent
(m1mixfight.com)Alexander's opponent's name is change...againPublish date: March, 28, 2008
Finally one fighter stepped up to accept the challenge and fight against Alexander Emelianenko in a superfight come April, 3. It's going to be Chute Boxe Academy representative Silvio Santos (5-2) whose height is 189 cm and weight is 115 kg.
100% Official Fedor is free
(m1mixfight.com)
M-1 Global, Fedor agree to go separate ways
“There is so much going on in the world of mixed martial arts right now that we have decided it is in our best interest if our company and Fedor go our separate ways,” said M-1 Global President and CEO Monte Cox.
Diaz Camp Plans Legal Action Against CSAC
(mmaweekly.com)The Elite XC and Strikeforce co-promoted fight card set for this weekend underwent multiple changes this week. None garnered as much fallout as Nick Diaz being pulled from his bout with Jae Suk Lim due to his medicals not being turned in on time, according to California State Athletic Commission executive officer Armando Garcia in a statement to Sherdog.com on Thursday.
EliteXC live events president Gary Shaw claimed in a conversation with Garcia that Diaz was being pulled because of Diaz’s prescription for medicinal marijuana.
Cesar Gracie, Diaz’s lead trainer, spoke to MMAWeekly Radio on Thursday evening about the entire situation that led up to his fighter being pulled from his fight just 72 hours before it was scheduled to take place.
Gracie denied Garcia’s claim that Diaz did not turn in his medicals on time.
LEONARD GARCIA ARRESTED IN TEXAS
(mmaweekly.com)Current World Extreme Cagefighting featherweight Leonard Garcia was arrested on Tuesday in connection with an investigation into an alleged drug trafficking ring, according to a report by KCBD in Lubbock, Tex.
Garcia was arrested for his alleged connection with the cocaine ring.
When contacted for comment, Garcia’s manager, Sven Bean said, “It was a shock to me. It definitely came out of left field. I’ve talked with his family and I’ve had one phone conversation with his lawyer. We’re just letting him do his job at this point. Hopefully, we’ll know more as the days progress.”
According to the report, authorities arrested a total of 13 suspects after a four-year investigation into the drug ring that allegedly ran from El Paso to Hub City.
The report specifically named Garcia, identifying him as a mixed martial artist and Ultimate Fighting Championship veteran. None of the other suspects were identified in the report.
If convicted, three of the suspects could face up to 40 years in prison and a $2 million fine, while the others arrested could face life in prison and up to a $4 million dollar fine.
Gary Shaw addresses CSAC/Nick Diaz
(fiveouncesofpain.com)During the EliteXC/Strikeforce press conference today, President of EliteXC’s Live Events division Gary Shaw, addressed the California State Athletic Commission’s decision to pull Nick Diaz out of his scheduled fight with Jae Suk Lim at the EliteXC/Strikeforce event on Saturday.
Rampage Jackson: Wanderlei Silva is the ‘Chump Murderer’
(mmamania.com)“I think that if I fought Wanderlei Silva in the UFC I would have beat him. Wanderlei was the Chuck Liddell of Pride. If you were beating Wanderlei on the ground, the referee’s would stand you right up. It happened to me. It happened to other fighters that fought him…. Me and Silva don’t even talk to each other. Silva is the type of guy that thinks everyone should be afraid of him. The way I react around him is different. I am not afraid of Wanderlei Silva. They call him ‘The Axe Murder’ because he destroys people in his fights. They threw him chumps and he murdered them. Look at his record of guys he fought. This guy is ‘The Chump Murderer.’ I speak my mind around him and he looks at me all crazy like I shouldn’t be saying that. I think some of the referees took payoffs in Pride. In Japan, I promise you something was up.”
While a guest on the Opie and Anthony radio show, reigning UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson reflected on his two crushing losses to Wanderlei Silva while the two competed under the Pride FC banner overseas in Japan. It’s widely believed that Silva will drop down to middleweight after his upcoming fight with Keith Jardine at UFC 84: “Ill Will,” which would put a damper on seeing a third match up — this time inside the Octagon — anytime soon.
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Sonnen Ready to Tangle with WEC and UFC Champs
(mmajunkie.com)"I sent an email to (UFC and WEC matchmaker) Joe Silva when I thought I was competing with Paulo, and I just said 'Look, I'm going to beat up Paulo, and I'm going to call out Anderson,'" Sonnen said. "'Am I going to look like a fool, or does that interest you?' And he wrote me back pretty candidly, and said 'You're wasting your time. We're not going to inter-mingle the two promotions right now. You're not going to get to fight Anderson.'"
But with Zuffa seemingly holding true to its word to maintain the UFC and WEC as separate entities, Sonnen does not feel the door is closed on an eventual match-up with Silva. In fact, the soon-to-be 31-year-old Oregonian feels the bout is inevitable.
"My argument to Joe Silva was very simple," Sonnen reasoned. "I'm the only guy under Zuffa contract, one with the courage to fight (Silva) and two, with the physical ability to beat him. So, at some point, when all the guys under Zuffa contract find a million reasons not to get in there with him, and I'm the only guy for him, not only will I get in there with him, I want in there with him. They're going to have to make that match happen."
Billy Evangelista vs. Marlon Sims Strikeforce fight booked
(mmamania.com)The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 5 cast member and legendary (in his own mind) street brawler Marlon Sims (3-2) is set to return to action against super tough up-and-comer Billy Evangelista (5-0) in a 155-pound bout this weekend on the Strikeforce: “Shamrock vs. Cung Le” under card.
No major site is reporting this match up — not even ProElite.com or Strikeforce. However, Strikeforce Vice President Mike Afromowitz today confirmed the showdown with MMAmania.com.
Sims has had one fight since his backyard brawl with Noah Thomas on the set of TUF 5, losing to Pat Minihan via submission (rear naked choke) in December 2007. Evangelista, on the other hand, has been turning heads on the local Fresno, Calif., scene with his undefeated record and fantastic promise.
Don’t expect this one to go the distance.
Josh Koscheck re-signs with the UFC
(fiveouncesofpain.com)FiveOuncesOfPain.com has confirmed with sources close to negotiations between Josh Koscheck and the UFC that Koscheck has re-signed with the organization. Koscheck is coming off of a TKO victory over up-and-coming welterweight Dustin Hazelett at UFC 82. Details of the deal are not available at this time.
Tim Sylvia to Leave the UFC?
(bloodyelbow.com) It looks that way. Not only was there a message of a "huge announcement" coming on his website, but The Fight Network is reporting that Sylvia appears to be headed for (financially) greener pastures:
Two-time UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia could announce his decision to leave the Las Vegas-based promotion as early as Friday, according to a source close to the situation. Sylvia, who has one fight remaining on his current contract with the UFC, submitted to Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in a bout for the interim heavyweight championship at UFC 81 in February.
Sylvia's departure could set the stage for a lucrative match with former Pride heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko later this year. Still widely regarded as the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world, Emelianenko's services are being sought by a number of potential suitors, including EliteXC.
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Roy Jones Jr. Wants Silva Fight; Dana White Not So Much
(cagepotato.com)Now that it’s clear both Silva and Jones want the fight, there’s just one question: What does the UFC think? Turns out, they’re not so crazy about it. Not yet, anyway.
“We’ve spoken about it,” Soares said. “At first, I think there was a lot of resistance. They don’t seem too into it, to be honest with you. We’ve heard from certain people that there’s just no way that this can happen. But never say never, you know.”
Recently the jokesters over at Bodog went ahead and handicapped the bout, despite the fact that it’s only talk at this point, and they pegged Jones as a heavy favorite with a -2800 line. Silva is going off at +1400, which is understandable since he’s never had a real pro boxing match and Jones, you know, has had a few.
Soares, who may well be biased, warns us against underestimating Silva.
“I think Anderson would be able to put up a good fight against Roy Jones. That’s my opinion. Maybe it’s unrealistic. When you talk to some people and read some of these threads, there’s people who swear up and down that it’s the stupidest thing to believe Anderson would do it, but I don’t know. Maybe I’m tainted. I’m not saying that Anderson’s going to go in there and knock him out, but I think Anderson is that skilled that he could make it a fight.”
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