Gegard Mousasi mulls move to light heavyweight to possibly face winner of Affliction’s Sobral vs Sokoudjou
(mmamania.com)“To me the next challenge is to move up a division. It’s not because I don’t see middleweight as a challenge but because my body’s getting bigger. I always came down, came down and because of my age my body’s getting bigger and bigger. It’s something that I needed to do. I think the timing is good to go up. I may fight the winner of Babalu vs. Sokoudjou but I don’t know for sure. It’s eventually up to Affliction and M-1 who they want me to fight. It’s a tough division because every guy is explosive, every guy is fast and has good strength. It’s a tough division and there’s a lot of good names. It’s not my goal to be the best light heavyweight in the world, something I’ve always wanted is to be a heavyweight. I plan, over one year maybe two years, to build to heavyweight.”
Jeff Curran vs Joseph Benavidez WEC 40 fight booked for Chicago April 5
(mmamania.com)There is a possible bantamweight number one contender eliminator match being discussed between former featherweight top contender Jeff Curran (29-10-1) and the undefeated training partner of Urijah Faber, Joseph Benavidez (9-0), for WEC 40 in Chicago, Ill., on April 5.
Curran’s last two fights for the Zuffa-owned promotion have been in the 145-pound featherweight division. In those two matches we saw him lose to former champion Urijah Faber by submission at WEC 31 and then fall to reigning division kingpin Mike Thomas Brown via decision at WEC 34 in June.
Bellator Fighting Championships announces signing of Jorge Masvidal
(mmamania.com)Bellator Fighting Championships, a first of its kind mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion, officially announced today the exclusive signing of Jorge “Gamebred” Masvidal, one of Florida’s top fighters.
As the latest addition to the lightweight (155 lb.) division of Bellator’s tournament, premiering on ESPN Deportes April 4, 2009, Masvidal is poised for a breakout performance on the national MMA scene.
Matyushenko Ready For Lil Nog
(mmaweekly.com)Sometimes a fight goes under the radar during the hyping period that often precursors large MMA events. For this Saturday’s Affliction show, "Day of Reckoning," that fight could very well be the light-heavyweight mach-up between Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Vladimir “The Janitor” Matyushenko.
While both fighters are widely regarded as Top 10 talent, the unassuming nature of each man makes for a fight that could easily exceed expectations.
MMA Quick Quote: Fedor Emelianenko and Kirill Sidelnikov beat each other with branches
(mmamania.com)“The sauna helps with rejuvenation between practices. We boil the water, then we get the steam. We get massages and beat each other with branches. It helps get rid of all the lactic acid. It helps with restoration so you can start the week full of energy.”
– The last man to hold the Pride FC heavyweight title, Fedor Emelianenko, reveals a bizarre (and perhaps antiquated) recuperative practice that he and his primary training partner, Kirill Sidelnikov, often rely on to stay fresh after training sessions. The sauna is located in a rundown house in Emelianenko’s hometown of Stary Oskol, Russia. The odd-looking procedure was demonstrated through fogged glass during the 60-minute “Baddest Man on the Planet” special, which aired on FOX Sports Net (FSN) this evening. If you missed the show, go watch it. Fedor is unlike any other major mixed martial arts fighter in the world on so many different levels. It’s remarkable, really.
Thales training with Ryan Bader for Silva
(tatame.com)“The training here are great. Everybody here is good. I’m training everyday, emphasizing the Boxing and Wrestling part, where they are very good", said Thales, who is counting with the TUF 8 champion, Ryan Bader’s help and also the UFC fighter CB Dollaway. “Jaime Warner, Steve, Simpson and Carlos Condit, all WEC fighters, are helping me too. Steve is a wrestling coach and is very good teaching at a school here in Arizona”, completed Leites.
Overeem: ''I'll Sign For The UFC When The Money Is Right''
(fightersonlymagazine.co.uk)Alistair Overeem is keen on a move to the UFC and will sign with the organisation if offered the appropriate financial incentive.
The Dutch heavyweight had a good year in 2008, manhandling Mirko 'CroCop' Filopovic and stopping K-1 champion Badr Hari under kickboxing rules.
Overeem was ringside at UFC 93 and, when asked by Fighters Only if he would be signing with the organisation, said: "It's possible."
Despite Third Round, Henderson Happy With Win
(mmaweekly.com)Dan Henderson is breathing easier after his win over Rich Franklin. The same could not be said, however, by the third round of their fight.
Franklin’s best strike, a left roundhouse to Henderson’s midsection, had taken its toll and was slowing the former Pride champ down in the main event of Saturday's UFC 93.
“I caught the knee right to my ribs a couple of times, and really felt that in the third round,” said the plain-spoken Henderson. “It affected my breathing a little bit.”
Tito Ortiz & Oscar De La Hoya Talk Fedor
(mmaweekly.com)After several months out of the spotlight, former UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz resurfaced not as a fighter, but as a part of the Affliction commentating team for Saturday's "Day of Reckoning" event in Anaheim, Calif.
At a Tuesday press conference in New York, Ortiz, along with famed boxer Oscar De La Hoya weighed in on the heavyweight main event of Fedor Emelianenko vs. Andrei Arlovski. De La Hoya represents Golden Boy Promotions, Affliction's promotional partner.
Rov Kimmons vs Joe Vedepo set for UFN 18
(mmaweekly.com)Both fighters returning from losses in their most recent bouts, Rob Kimmons and Joe Vedepo have verbally agreed to face each other at UFC Fight Night 18 on April 1 in Nashville, Tenn. Bout agreements have yet to be signed. Sources close to Kimmons confirmed the bout to MMAWeekly.com on Tuesday.
Rich Franklin on UFC 93 main event: "I thought I won the fight"
(mmajunkie.com)Rich Franklin left his Jan. 17 UFC 93 main-event fight with two gashes in his head, nine stitches, a scratched cornea, blurry vision, a temporary eye patch and a stinging defeat.
In his first interview since the split-decision defeat to Dan Henderson, Franklin said his wounds will heal just fine. However, disappointment over the loss won't.
"Honestly, I thought I won the fight," Franklin said.
UFC vets Ken Shamrock and Tank Abbott in negotiations for April fight
(mmajunkie.com) Feb. 13 WarGods and Ken Shamrock Productions event at the Fresno Arena in Fresno, Calif., features Frank Shamrock in the main event and fellow UFC trailblazer David "Tank" Abbott in the co-headline bout.
After the "The Valentine"s Eve Massacre" show, a Shamrock vs. Abbott fight could take place in April.
According to an official announcement from KSP, the Shamrock-Abbott fight is in the "final stages of negotiations."
It's tentatively planned for late April in Reno, Nev.
"There are a lot of fans that have followed this for years, die-hard fans, who want to see this and reminisce a little bit," stated Shamrock, who turns 45 next month.
First up, though, Shamrock (26-13-2) meets Ross Clifton (6-8), a super-heavyweight who's 1-5 in his past six fights. All six of Clifton's victories have ended in the first round -- three in less than a minute.
Abbott (9-14), meanwhile, returns to action for the first time since his February 2008 loss to Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson. Abbott, who debuted at UFC 6 and fought for the heavyweight title at UFC 15, has lost eight of his past nine fights (all in the first round). He now takes on Mike Bourke (8-11-1), a King of the Cage veteran who's 1-7 (with one no-contest) in his past nine fights.
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