Fight Camp / Team News - Page 3

Vadim Finkelstein discusses negotiations with the UFC and the terms it will take to lock up Fedor Emelianenko in this exclusive video interview conducted after Wednesday's M-1 Global press conference. Finkelstein also talks about future options for the world’s top heavyweight mixed martial artist. Doesn't sound good... and what is with not letting Fedor have the contract with Affliction, but have M-1 have the contract with Affliction?

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When Pride Fighting Championships met its end, the value of mixed martial arts teams seemed to diminish, too, as athletes were emphasized more for their own value, independent of the team they represented. This trend has increased even more in Brazil, as Brazilian Top Team and the Chute Boxe Academy suffered several cuts and stars such as Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Paulo Filho, Wanderlei Silva and Mauricio “Shogun” Rua left their respective training camps. The only team not to suffer any major losses during this period was Nova Uniao. Names like Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro, Thales Leites, Wagnney Fabiano and Jose Aldo -- born and raised on a team led by Andre Pederneiras -- continue to shine in international events. According to Pederneiras, Nova Uniao has about 50 professional athletes on its roster, including Ribeiro and the young Eduardo Dantas, who fought Masakatsu Ueda for the Shooto 132-pound championship last weekend. Made famous in the 1990s by the brilliant showings of its lighter weight athletes in Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitions, the team made a seamless transition to MMA, winning titles in major events like Shooto (Ribeiro), Cage Rage (Ribeiro), the International Fight League (Fabiano) and Pancrase (Marlon Sandro). “Our team went from BJJ to MMA,” Pederneiras said. “As we already had a very strong team in the lighter weights, basically my BJJ team migrated with the same success to MMA, so we just continued the work. But we’ve also proven that we can do it with heavier guys. Thales Leites is an example. The more that come here, the more we’ll do it.” Although the recognition has come only in recent years, the team began to take its first steps more than a decade ago, with Pederneiras himself fighting in international events and Rafael Carino emerging victorious at UFC 9 in 1996. “Rafael Carino was my first athlete who fought in MMA, then Joao Roque and some others,” Pederneiras said. “Even when I fought, I did not have an MMA team. I called some people for training, but most of them had never fought MMA before. Only when Shaolin began fighting MMA could I bring in more people. Then we really had a team.”

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The original bout was called off on the day of weigh-ins "due to a medical approval issue regarding (Ryan) Jensen," stated UFC officials at the time. Independent sources confirmed to MMAWeekly.com that the alleged medical issue stemmed from Jensen's use of Adderall, which is not allowed under standard athletic commission rules. According to drugs.com, “Adderall is a central nervous system stimulant. It affects chemicals in the brain and nerves that contribute to hyperactivity and impulse control. ... ...

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If you saw the first episode of Serra's video blog, you know how entertaining it is. In this episode Matt gets a haircut, takes a drug test for the UFC, among other things. Check it out!

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USA Wrestling is excited to announce a new alliance to provide leadership for USA Grappling, its national program in the sport of Grappling. International respected coach Ricardo Liborio of Coconut Creek, Fla. has been named the National Coach for USA Grappling. “Ricardo Liborio brings credibility to our Grappling program,” said USA Wrestling Executive Director Rich Bender. “We are confident that we will not only sustain our competitive excellence but will take it to a new level with Ricardo on our team. USA Wrestling is committed to maintaining our dominant position in international Grappling.”

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After more than 20 years of work at Chute Boxe, one of the most recognized MMA coaches from Brazil, Rafael Cordeiro, announced that he is no longer part of Chute Boxe gym. The Chute Boxe style remains, but the separation from Chute Boxe is clearly in place. Cordeiro wasn't overly specific as to the why. The end result, however, was a new opportunity for the vaunted MMA pioneer.

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Managers and agents are fast becoming an endangered species backstage at UFC and WEC events. Zuffa, the company that owns and operates both promotions, has notified select fighter representatives that they will no longer receive credentials from the promotion to sit with their clients backstage on fight night. The reasoning behind the UFC’s decision varies according to the source. Some say the move is yet another strike in a campaign to separate fighters from their business representatives. Others say Zuffa is making a reasonable attempt to control unnecessary backstage traffic and lighten overcrowded dressing rooms of freeloaders. The latter explanation loses traction, however, when the promotion has not enacted a blanket policy across the board, which brings into question if the move is more personal than procedural. Of five separate fighter representatives and their firms that spoke to Sherdog.com, two said they were told that credentials would no longer be doled out to them shortly after UFC 94 on Jan. 31. These firms were also denied backstage access in person at UFC Fight Night 17, UFC 95 and UFC 96, as well as WEC 39, which took place March 1 in Corpus Christi, Texas. Both reps said Zuffa would give no reason for the change in policy when asked over the phone and in person. “You don’t ask questions of them. You know how that goes,” said one manager, who, like multiple fighter representatives interviewed, would only speak on the condition of anonymity for fear of repercussions. Zuffa’s public relations department did not respond to an e-mail requesting comment on the promotion’s sudden shift in policy after eight years. Outraged managers and agents said the silent treatment speaks to a greater issue that Zuffa is trying to keep hidden behind closed locker room doors. “They’re divisively trying to split management and fighters,” said one representative. “They’re trying to de-power the managers and agents to create a wedge between them. They give locker room bonuses and say, ‘This is from Dana [White] and the UFC -- nobody else.’ They’re telling fighters they can go directly to them. They’re telling fighters they’ll be doing sponsorships themselves in the near future that will put the managers and agents out of business. They’re trying to minimize the managers’ and agents’ role in the fighter’s life so they can better control salaries.”

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Interesting video showing Nogueira's new gym in Brazil, as documented by undefeated heavyweight contender Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal. Video features Junior Dos Santos, Vitor Belfort, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, among others.

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The sweat had not yet dried when accusations began to fly against welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre after his lopsided victory against B.J. Penn in the UFC 94 main event on Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Not long after his win, St. Pierre and his corner, including trainer Greg Jackson, came under fire for allegedly using a “greasing” agent between rounds. Nevada State Athletic Commission Executive Director Keith Kizer on Monday confirmed improprieties had occurred in the champion’s corner after the first and second rounds. “After the first round, one of my inspectors came to me and told me he thought he saw one of the cornermen -- I believe it was Phil Nurse … after putting Vaseline on [St. Pierre’s] face, he saw him rub his shoulders, and it appeared as though he might not have wiped off his hands,” Kizer said. “After the second round, we observed Mr. Jackson putting Vaseline on Mr. St. Pierre’s face and then putting his hand on his back.” At that point, Kizer attempted to get Jackson’s attention from outside the cage. “I don’t think he heard me because of all the noise in the arena, so I immediately walked into the Octagon myself -- I’ve probably done that two other times in my career -- and told him to take his hand off Mr. St. Pierre’s back,” he said. “We took a towel and wiped off his back. After the third round, we went in again and made sure his back and shoulders were wiped off to ensure a level playing field.” Kizer informed Penn’s camp of the situation after the bout ended. Penn’s manager and brother, J.D., told Sherdog.com on Sunday that the Hawaiian’s camp planned to file a complaint with the NSAC, but, as of Monday afternoon, Kizer had not heard from Penn’s representatives. Penn has 10 days to file...

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Here is a Gif to judge for yourselves... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- B.J. Penn's Camp Files Formal Complaint Over Vaseline on St. Pierre's Back Between Rounds B.J. Penn's camp has filed a formal complaint with the Nevada State Athletic Commission over Vaseline that was allegedly rubbed on Georges St. Pierre's back between rounds one and two. UFC president Dana White said at the post-fight press conference that he was aware of the complaint, and said he personally witnessed members of the commission take the Vaseline away from GSP's camp and rebuke them in the Octagon between rounds. "I saw the commission jump up there and flipping out," said Dana White. They said one of the guys was rubbing Vaseline on Georges' back in between rounds. It was one and two, I think." "The guys from the athletic commission went up there and started screaming at them. Knocked the Vaseline and kicked the Vaseline out of the Octagon." White added that "some Vaseline on a guy's back didn't change the outcome of that fight, but you don't do it," and said the blame should fall on the cornerman responsible and not GSP. "If a guy was intentionally putting Vaseline on a guy's back, he should never corner a mixed martial arts fight again." As for what becomes of the complaint now, White said it's out of his hands. "Who knows. That's up to the commission." Source: http://www.cagepotato.com/bj-penns-camp-files-formal-complaint-over-vaseline-st-pierres-back-between-rounds

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The episode featured some of BJ's unusual training methods, as well as the all star cast that GSP brought in for his training camp.

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BJ Penn is angry about how he was portrayed in the first episode, GSP brings in some all star training partners, among other things. Give it a look!

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2008 Olympic wrestler Ben Askren has decided to take a shot at mixed martial arts and officially joined the American Top Team, as confirmed to MMAWeekly.com on Monday. Askren, who wrestled at 163 pounds while competing in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, has considered the move to MMA for quite some time now. Just after returning from China, Askren spoke to MMAWeekly Radio about his pending decision to move into MMA and how working his way up to the top is very important to him.

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Mirko Crocop has released a new training and Interview video. He talks about leaving DREAM and how he is pissed at overeem

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Mirko Crocop, has pulled another one of his famous pranks on one of his friends. Watch and Enjoy.

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Says Tim Sylvia has been training harder than ever, and in best shape of his life, and will beat Fedor. Also says Ben with "dominate" AA

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Former Pride fighter and commentator Frank Trigg is now signed to fight former Olympic gold medalist Makoto Takimoto at World Victory Road's "Sengoku 4".

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It has been reported that Fedor will be fighting more than everyone thinks this year. M-1 Global president, Vadim Finkelstein has made public that Fedor Emilianenko will be fighting at least three time in the next six months.

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Although Quinton Jackson lost his UFC light heavyweight title Saturday to Forrest Griffin in a grueling 25-minute bout, his camp is ready to keep fighting. Jackson's coach, Juanito Ibarra, plans to protest the unanimous decision with the Nevada State Athletic Commission. "We got robbed," Ibarra told Sherdog.com Sunday afternoon. "We won the majority of the fight." Judges Adalaide Byrd and Nelson Hamilton scored the bout 48-46 for Griffin, while Roy Silbert turned in a 49-46 tally for Griffin. It's extremely unlikely that a protest would change the outcome of the fight. Ibarra isn't hopeful in that regard, but less than 24 hours after his fighter had lost in the UFC for the first time, the coach seemed determined to learn exactly how the fight was scored. He was baffled that Byrd and Silbert gave Griffin a 10-9 advantage in the first round, during which Jackson dropped the challenger. In Ibarra's view, the knockdown warranted a 10-8 round in Jackson's favor. He believes Jackson won the third and fourth rounds on 10-9 scores, though he said Griffin deserved a 10-8 second round and a 10-9 fifth. That comes out to a 47-46 win for Jackson. "You have to beat the champion," Ibarra asserted more than once. Randy Couture, a coach and training partner of Griffin, gave a slight edge to the new champion. "I thought that it was a very, very close fight," Couture said. "I thought that it was three rounds to two [for Griffin]. I thought that Quinton did enough to win two of the rounds clearly. I thought they may have been able to give Quinton a 10-8 round in the first round with the knockdown and then the second round you could have given Forrest a 10-8 round. "And it could have went the other way. If one or two rounds went the other way, it could have been three rounds to two for Quinton. It was that close."

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