‘Dont call it a comeback’ for Kevin Randleman … it’s a rebirth
(mmamania.com)“LL Cool J has a great song: ‘Don’t call it a comeback. I’ve been here for years.’ Don’t call it a comeback. I don’t think of it as a comeback. I look at it like I needed to go back to school and learn a lot more. I’m just going to give it my all Saturday night. I don’t anticipate anybody at 205 being able to knock me out or take me out.
Think of it as the ‘Rebirth of the Monster.’ But I’m not a monster anymore. I’m not running around in the streets like a crazy man. I just want to fight. I just want to be the guy I always was but was too scared to be. The best thing that ever happened to me was the UFC firing me because I was just too crazy and too out of control. There has always been so much chaos in my life that now that it’s calm I feel nervous.
But not because I’m fighting Mike Whitehead or whoever on June 6. I’m not nervous because I’m angry. I’m nervous because I know for one year I’ve trained for this fight. I’ve been training because I knew I had to be ready to fight once I got that contract.
Strikeforce "Lawler vs. Shields" Weigh-In Results
(mmaweekly.com)STRIKEFORCE MAIN CARD
-Robbie Lawler (182.75) vs. Jake Shields (181.75)
-Nick Diaz (179) vs. Scott Smith (179.5)
-Andrei Arlovski (244) vs. Brett Rogers (262)
-Kevin Randleman (204) vs. Mike Whitehead (206)
-Phil Baroni (168.75) vs. Joe Riggs (170)
STRIKEFORCE PRELIMINARY CARD
-Rafael "Feijao" Cavalcante (205.5) vs. Mike Kyle (202.5)
-Josh Baumgartner (173.5) vs. Jesse Finney (175.75)
-Tyron Woodley (170.5) vs. Sal Woods (169.25)
-Lucas Lopes (186) vs. Scott Ventimiglia (185)
-Dave Cochran (153) vs. Pat Benson (155.75)
-Booker DeRousse (204.25) vs. James Wade (205.25)
The main card airs live in most American time zones on Showtime on Saturday night.
Tito Ortiz Sued Over MMA Trash Talk
(tmz.com)Tito Ortiz is on the receiving end of a serious legal attack -- one that started after the UFC legend bashed "Rampage" Jackson's former trainer to the media.
The guy filing the lawsuit is Juanito Ibarra -- a fighting expert who claims he's trained more than 15 world champs and several Olympic Gold Medal winners. Ibarra's pissed over an interview Tito gave to a website back in 2008, in which the fighter ripped Ibarra as a "thief" who had financially "taken advantage of Rampage."
In the lawsuit, filed today in L.A. County Superior Court, Ibarra claims Tito's statements are all false and "highly offensive" -- and things got worse when scores of sports websites began publishing follow-up stories, repeating Tito's comments.
Ibarra is suing Tito and all the blogs and publications that ran Tito's interview for defamation, invasion of privacy and emotional distress.
Machida Receives Hometwon Hero Welcome
(sherdog.com)
Newly minted UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida got a hero’s welcome from more than 100 fans that greeted him at Belém International airport this week. The 31-year-old Machida knocked out Rashad Evans in the second round of their UFC 98 title tilt on May 23 in Las Vegas.
“I knew they would have a party for me, but I didn’t expect that much,” said the clearly moved Machida.
Jason MacDonald Returns At MFC 22: Payoff on September 25
(fiveouncesofpain.com)Following his release from the UFC, “The Athlete” Jason MacDonald has recently confirmed that his next bout outside of the Octagon will be taking place on extremely familiar territory.
MacDonald made a name for himself with Canada’s MFC promotion, fighting a total of ten times under the MFC banner before being scooped up by the UFC in 2006 where he ended up going 5-5 with the organization before back to back losses to Wilson Gouveia and Nate Quarry brought upon his departure.
Considering the history it only seems fitting that MacDonald will make his return on his old stomping grounds at MFC 22: Payoff on September 25.
His opponent has yet to be determined, but according to MacDonald, it’s him against everyone as far as he’s concerned.
Stronger than before: Andrei Arlovski Strikeforce interview
(mmamania.com)“The Pitbull” is coming off a devastating and disappointing loss to WAMMA heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko at the Affliction: “Day of Reckoning” event that was held earlier this year in January 2009.
As a result, he now sits at 15-6 in his professional MMA career and will attempt to get win number sweet 16 when he squares off with undefeated up-and-comer Brett Rogers. Arlovski would like nothing more than to defeat “The Grim” and get back to his winning ways.
Quinton "Rampage" Jackson Says Money is the Reason He Ducked Lyoto Machida to Coach TUF Against Rashad Evans
(sports.yahoo.com)Who says Quinton Jackson is afraid of Lyoto Machida? If that’s what you’re thinking, Rampage says you’re probably 12 years old and you know nothing about the fight business. Sure, Jackson respects the title belt. But he’s also trying to make a living and a Machida fight is small potatoes compared to the gains from a successful season on "The Ultimate Fighter." And now that crossover star Kimbo Slice is part of the show, Jackson has dollar signs in his eyes.
"Those people don’t walk in my shoes," Jackson said in response to claims that he fears Machida. "They don’t put food on my table. They don’t set up college funds for my kids. I’m not afraid of nobody. If they use their common sense, they can see what my game plan is."
Fedor Emelianenko Wants One Fight Deal With UFC
(bloodyelbow.com)From the LA Times blog:
Joost Raimond, the operations manager of Emelianenko's global promotion company M-1, invited the winner of the July 11 UFC heavyweight championship fight between Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir to attend the Emelianenko-Barnett bout, and pushed for the UFC to allow Emelianenko to fight that man as part of a one-fight contract on a card that could be fully promoted by UFC.
Late 2009 UFC schedule is close to being finalized
(sports.yahoo.com)The September slate is now set with Ultimate Fight Night 19 in Oklahoma City on September 16 and MMAJunkie is reporting that there will a UFC pay-per-view event the same week 200 miles to the south in Dallas.
At the UFC 98 postfight press conference, Marc Ratner and Dana White confirmed that there will be a UFC event at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on October 24.
You may see the UFC in the U.K. in early October and then again in late November. The U.K. gets at least one more date if not two to close the year. Manchester's MEN Arena is almost a certainty in November. The arena is open on November 14 and 21. Liverpool and Newcastle are under consideration for an October event.
In December, TUF 10 will finish up will up on December 5 and it's still up in there whether the year-end pay-per-view will be on Dec. 19 or Jan, 2, 2010. It's most likely the 19th in Las Vegas. The UFC can't hold an event Christmas week with a weigh-in on Christmas Day, plus the whole event would be a logistical nightmare.
DREAM 11 Super Hulk Semi Finals chosen
(mmamania.com)The semifinal bouts for DREAM’s open weight tournament, which has been dubbed “Super Hulk,” were recently revealed during the Affliction: “Trilogy” press conference in New York City.
The fights are scheduled for DREAM 11 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, in September. No official date has been set at this time.
Rampage Could "Definitely" Beat Machida
(mmamania.com)So says, of course, Michael Bisping. And he thinks current Wolfslair training partner Quinton Jackson is the man who will beat Lyoto Machida first. Bisping also mentions that he actually asked UFC for a Machida fight a couple years ago, but wound up getting Elvis Sinosic instead.
Bisping NOT Guaranteed Title Shot For Beating Henderson
(fightersonlymagazine.co.uk)Michael Bisping is not certain to get a title shot should he get past Dan Henderson at UFC 100, contrary to numerous reports circulated yesterday.
Several UK newspapers reported on Tuesday that Bisping was "guaranteed" a middleweight title shot on a British UFC show late 2007, should he beat Henderson.
But a source close to Bisping tells Fighters Only that the reports had "taken 2 + 2 and made 5".
Upstart SHINE Fight Promotions announces "American Top Team vs. The World" card
(mmajunkie.com)Upstart Florida-based organization SHINE Fight Promotions recently announced its second event, "American Top Team vs. The World," scheduled for Aug. 1 at the 4,600-plus-seat James L. Knight Center in Miami.
The main event features American Top Team product Roan Carneiro vs. Chute Boxe's Jorge Patino.
Tickets for the event are scheduled to go on sale June 11 at Ticketmaster.com.
Josh Koscheck and Frank Trigg meet Sept. 19 at UFC 103 in Dallas
(mmajunkie.com)Top UFC welterweight contender Josh Koscheck (12-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC) will indeed meet returning UFC veteran Frank Trigg (19-6 MMA, 2-3 UFC) at UFC 103 in Dallas.
While initial reports suggested the bout would take place on Sept. 26, and possibly in the U.K., the event will now be held on Sept. 19, just three days after UFC Fight Night 19 takes place in Oklahoma City.
Paul Kelly Has No Fear Heading Into UFC 99
(mmaweekly.com)Paul Kelly has just come out of a grueling training session with guys at the opposite end of the MMA weight class and although sore and full of bumps, he is chipper about his scheduled fight against Roli Delgado at the inaugural Bavarian UFC event.
“Things are tough here at the Wolfslair, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I am getting thrown around by people like Zach Light, Sean Salmon, Ricco Rodriguez, and Tommy Rowlands – who is the best wrestler I have ever seen,” explains the Scouse terror.
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