Impact FC hasn't paid its fighters
(mixedmartialarts.com)The majority of the fighters who competed on the Impact Fighting Championships' two scheduled July MMA events in Australia have not been paid by the promotion. The list of unpaid fighters includes Karo Parisyan, Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, Jesse Taylor and Brian Ebersole.
Although most commissions require that fighters be paid before the promoter leaves the arena the night of the show (some even hold onto and distribute the money themselves) none of the men who fought on either show received checks before flying home from Australia. A handful of them have since received partial payment – the most being 75% of what was owed, however most of the fighters we spoke to have yet to receive a dime, despite multiple phone calls they have made and emails they have sent to promoters Tom Huggins and Andrew McManus asking that they be paid.
Jason Frank Turns Pro, Wants In Strikeforce
(mmaweekly.com)Jason David Frank has some pretty big plans in store for the rest of 2010, and it starts in August when the former Mighty Morphin Power Rangers star turns pro in mixed martial arts. The 36-year-old resident of Texas will move into the professional ranks next month with a fight in Houston against Jose Vasquez on August 4. Frank admits that it was a decision he talked over with his coach and his manager, but in the end it just felt like the time was right. Frank has also made it no secret that there is a promotion he hopes to one day call home. "I'd love to get a Strikeforce deal. I want a Strikeforce deal. I keep talking about it all the time," said Frank. "I know my manager's talked to them briefly. It's just I want to build my record and do it the right way, and let me people know I can go more than one round."
Carina Damm's SF Tourney Position In Doubt, Replacement Waiting
(mmajunkie.com)Strikeforce's upcoming four-woman 135-pound tournament is in danger of losing a competitor, but company officials insist there's still a chance the field will remain intact. With a little more than two weeks remaining until the tourney, which takes place at Strikeforce Challengers 10, Brazilian veteran Carina Damm has yet to secure a work visa needed for entry to the U.S. "As has been speculated on various websites, Brazilian Carina Damm is having difficulty obtaining the necessary visa to travel to the U.S. for her participation in the Strikeforce Challengers event on Friday, Aug. 13, where Damm is slated to compete in the women's welterweight (135 pound) tournament in Phoenix, Ariz.," Strikeforce Director of Communications Mike Afromowitz confirmed in the release. MMARising.com's report indicated that Strikeforce officials may to be blame for the snafu, though Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker told the website the promotion was not necessarily at fault. For now, Afromowitz says the company is still hoping Damm will join Hitomi Akano, Maiju Kujala and Miesha Tate in the single-night bracket. If not, Strikeforce officials have a replacement opponent at the ready.
Bellator signs Alvin Robinson
(mmaweekly.com)
Bellator Fighting Championships continues to add to its roster, signing UFC veteran Alvin Robinson to face Bellator standout Georgi Karakhanyan. The two will meet in a featherweight feature bout at Bellator 28 on Sept. 9 in New Orleans.
Jon Jones attributes success to sheltered upbringing
(sports.espn.go.com)"My parents always kept us in the house. We weren't allowed to spend the night at other people's houses. We were sheltered kids. Now all the discipline that was instilled in me is coming out; I'm naturally doing all the right things."
Those Christian values were taught to Jones long before he could walk. Jones, like his brothers Arthur Jones Jr. (a defensive tackle with the Baltimore Ravens) and Chandler Jones (a defensive end at Syracuse), was introduced to biblical teachings as an infant.
Shark Fights 13 Adds 6 More Fighters, Title Fight
(mmajunkie.com)The biggest card in Shark Fights history just got some additional starpower. After already announcing four fights for the Sept. 11's main card, the Texas-based promotion unveiled a near-complete 10-fight lineup that includes a surprisingly deep preliminary card. Notable additions include Bellator heavyweight Dave Herman vs. Aaron Rosa, WEC vets Karen Darabedyan vs. Marcus Hicks, and UFC vet Pete Spratt vs. Eric Davila. Additionally, though not part of the official announcement, Shark Fights CEO Brent Medley today told MMAjunkie.com Radio that the fight between Shark Fights featherweight champ Douglas Evans and World Victory Road vet Ronnie Mann will, in fact, be for the title. Shark Fights 13 takes place Sept. 11 at the Amarillo Civic Center in Texas. Medley said broadcast plans for the event will be announced early next week.
Ricardo Almeida Will Choke Out Anyone From Matt Hughes To His Own Momma
(mmamania.com)Yes, he actually said that he would choke out his own mother. Just part of his "nothing personal, it's just business" take on his upcoming UFC 117 match with Hughes. "People say that he’s slowed down—and he’s had some hiccups here and there—but at welterweight he’s really only lost to Georges St-Pierre. His fight with Thiago Alves wasn’t really at welterweight. I’m watching video on this guy and watching his fights and I’m thinking like, what are all of these people watching. It’s MMA; when you win, you’re the greatest and when you lose, you’re done. It just so happens that he has beaten a couple of guys from my team—actually, I felt that Matt Serra won his fight, but hey, I’m biased. I was in the corner with Renzo [at UFC 112] and it was very emotional to see the way that it ended, so I asked Joe Silva for that fight right away and they gave me my wish. It’s just extra motivation, but whether I like or dislike Matt Hughes doesn’t really make a difference. If it was my mother in there, I’d be trying to choke her out and I expect nothing less from my opponent."
Baroni off 118, collarbone UPDATE: Dan Miller steps up
(mmajunkie.com)
UFC welterweight Phil Baroni (13-12 MMA, 3-6 UFC) is out of next month's UFC 118 event and his fight with John Salter (5-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) due to a collarbone injury.
Baroni's agent, Ken Pavia of MMAAgents.com, today confirmed the news with MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).
"He suffered a minor injury that interrupted his preparations," Pavia said. "It's not going to be a long-term problem."
Thiago Silva Off UFC 117 (Updated)
(mmaweekly.com)Sources close to the fighter revealed today that Thiago Silva is now off UFC 117 due to an undisclosed injury. He was to have faced Tim Boetsch. No word yet on if UFC will be able to find a replacement in time, the event is only 11 days away.
Update: Another back injury.
WEC 50: Palaszewski vs. Micklewright Promoted To TV Card
(mmajunkie.com)WEC has announced that a prelim match of Bart Palaszewski vs. Zack Mickleweight at WEC 50 has been promoted from prelim to main card and will air on TV. Although announced for the preliminary card, the fight got a promotion in the wake of the Urijah Faber vs. Takeya Mizugaki cancellation.
Paul Daley Added To Shark Fights 13
(mmajunkie.com)The Texas-based Shark Fights promotion has added further starpower to its already loaded Sept. 11 card. The promotion announced Monday that former UFC fighter Paul Dalery has signed a one-fight deal with the promotion and is slated to compete at Shark Fights 13. Opponent TBA.
UFC's "Bang" Ludwig recovering from broken leg, anticipates jump to welterweight
(mmajunkie.com)Veteran fighter Duane "Bang" Ludwig hit the bag today for the first time since he suffered a grisly broken leg in a first-round loss to fellow lightweight Darren Elkins at UFC on Versus 1.
Ludwig (19-11 MMA, 2-2 UFC) said his doctors recently cleared him to begin physical therapy and light training after removing a screw from his left fibula, which broke when Elkins took him down in the first round of the March 31 fight.
With his bone now "healed," the UFC fighter says a move to welterweight is imminent.
SF Challengers 9: 197,000 Viewers
(mmajunkie.com)Ratings for this past weekend's Showtime-televised Strikeforce Challengers 9 event proved solid as the show averaged an audience of 197,000 viewers. The peak audience actually came for the night's co-main event, a title fight between women's welterweight champ Sarah Kaufman and challenger Roxanne Modaferri that spiked with 254,000 viewers. The fight actually topped the Shane Del Rosario vs. Lolohea Mahe headliner, which drew 226,000 viewers. The talk of the event, of course, was the Kaufman vs. Modafferi fight. In her first title defense, Kaufman scored a slam-KO that knocked her opponent out cold. The finishing move actually earned the No. 4 spot on ESPN "SportsCenter's" Plays of the Week.
'Big' John McCarthy to Return to Octagon at UFC on Versus 2
(mmafighting.com)Famed mixed martial arts referee "Big" John McCarthy will return to the UFC's octagon for the first time since 2007 when he oversees action during the upcoming UFC on Versus 2 show.
McCarthy's wife Elaine confirmed to MMA Fighting that he has been assigned by the California State Athletic Commission to officiate matches at the event, which takes place on Sunday at the San Diego Sports Arena in San Diego, Calif
Hopefully it's true. I have always liked John as a ref.
Despite Rumors, Erin Toughill Not Fighting At SF Houston
(mmajunkie.com)Here we possibly go again...a heavily-rumored Erin Toughill vs. Shana Olsen fight at Strikeforce Houston, which could've put Toughill in line for Cristiane Santos had she won, is not happening. Sources close to the promotion said that the cancellation arose when Toughill's ability to make 145 pounds was called into question. When multiple Internet reports cast doubt on the fight – citing issues over the bout's weight limit – both fighters went on the online offensive. Toughill this past week issued a post on her official Facebook page in which she conceded asking for a 150-pound catchweight limit while trashing Olsen. Shortly afterward, Olsen issued a terse response calling out the former "American Gladiators" star. Toughill's most recent professional bout was in May 2009, when she defeated Emily Thompson by unanimous decision. SF spokesman Mike Afromowitz declined to comment on Toughill's status with the promotion, and the fighter did not respond to a request today for comment. It is unknown whether Olsen will be rebooked for the Aug. 21 event.
Stanislav Nedkov vs. Steve Cantwell Slated For UFC 120
(mmajunkie.com)After being forced off UFC 117 with an undisclosed injury, Stanislav Nedkov is now scheduled to make his UFC debut against Steve Cantwell at UFC 120 in London. Verbal agreements are in place, paperwork pending. Nedkov's management team has never revealed details of the injury that forced him off 117.
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