Nick Lembo explains regulatory challenges WSOF faced before second event
(mmafighting.com)Without federal regulations, mixed martial arts promoters are forced to abide by guidelines that often vary both in type and size as they hold events in different states. The World Series of Fighting (WSOF) ran headlong into this particular challenge as they held their second show overall and first in New Jersey on Saturday evening at Revel Resort and Casino in Atlantic City.
As it turns out, the show came close to never happening. Aside from complications prior to the weigh-ins, the organization failed to comply with state regulations as it pertains to creating a complete, safe cage. In short, WSOF initially provided both a canvas and cage pads too small for their own cage. Bloody Elbow was the first to report the news...
Riddle Responds to Dana's "Moron" Comment
(fightersonlymag.com)Matthew Riddle was released from his UFC contract after failing a drug test at the recent UFC on FUEL 7 event in London, England.
Riddle, a medical marijuana user, tested positive for cannabis and had his win over Che Mills declared a no contest. He was then returned to the regional leagues, which he declared himself to be happy with because he “didn’t like the direction the UFC is going in anyway”.
Kongo Respects Nelson for lack of Steroids
(punchdrunkgamer.com)
PDG: You have stirred up some controversy as of late with some of your comments on Steroids and TRT (Testosterone Replacement Therapy). What is your opinion of fighters using TRT and in your eyes is it any different than using illegal supplements?
Cheick Kongo: I don’t agree with TRT usage in sports in general. The main problem with TRT is that most of the users (not just in mixed martial arts), only need it because they used steroids in the past, and it’s not fair. This is what I think. I am a fighter, not a cheater. I am clean, I expect my opponent to be clean too. That’s one of the reason I respect Roy Nelson.
The Hulk is back
(mmamental.com)The Hulk is back: Soa talks about his journey back to the UFC, he talks about nearly quitting but then never giving up. He will face Stipe Miocic in his return to the UFC.
Dave Meltzer: Ronda Rousey is the number five PPV draw in UFC
(fightopinion.com)The early estimate for the UFC 157 PPV buy rate is in the 400,000-500,000 range, more or less in the middle of that range. Dave claims UFC budgeted itself for 250,000 PPV buys for the Anaheim Pond event, hoping that Ronda would draw around what the smaller fighters like Jose Aldo & Frankie Edgar draw. Drawing 250,000 PPV buys is fine, 300,000 is good, and 400,000 is very good.
“A big success” even though “it’s still Liz Carmouche in the main event.” Both women made north of $150,000 USD in terms of money from the fight.
When Dave first saw the original PPV barker ad for the UFC 157 show (the now infamous Rousey mean/smile combo ad), he said it hit him that it’s two girls fighting and that it wasn’t going to draw so well. The early ticket sales in Anaheim were around 4,000 sold for $600,000 at the gate. However, unlike normal UFC business trends, the event ended up sold out and had more momentum for the close...
NYBA Phil Baroni - "TRT is bullshit"
(punchdrunkgamer.com)
1. Recently fighters have been given exceptions that allow them to do Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT), while other fighters are losing their jobs or getting suspended for medical marijuana. What is your take on the whole situation?
Phil Baroni - “I don’t think that marijuana is a performance enhancing drug at all. But if you can’t stop smoking weed for a month before a fight you got a problem or maybe fighting isn’t that important to you. Don’t get me wrong, it should be legal. I mean TRT is bullshit. It is a legal way to cheat the system and an attempt to prolong your career when you should be retired. Smoking Mary Jane is far less cheating than taking shots of testosterone.”
Former UFC Fighter and Olympic Gold Medalist Kevin Jackson Talks About the IOC’s Decision to Drop Olympic Wrestling
(punchdrunkgamer.com)In my opinion, the IOC can go fuck themselves!
Wrestling was left in a state of shock after the International Olympic Committee made a surprise recommendation on Tuesday morning to drop the sport from the 2020 Games. Contested in the first modern Olympics in 1896 and part of the ancient Games in Olympia, wrestling will now join seven other candidate sports battling for one spot in the games. In this exclusive interview from our partners at Takedown Radio, old school UFC veteran and Gold Medalist in Freestyle wrestling at the 1992 Summer Olympic Games, Kevin Jackson discusses the International Olympic Committee’s decision and the impact it could have on the sport of wrestling.
Rampage Jackson: UFC lies about its pay-per-view numbers
(mmamania.com)Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton Jackson was unhappy with the way he was being treated leading up to what may have been his final fight inside the Octagon, a unanimous decision loss to Glover Teixeira at the UFC on FOX 6 event last weekend in Chicago (see it here).
But you knew that.
What you may not have known, are some of the specifics of his complaint against the Las Vegas-based mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion, which "Rampage" tells MMA HEAT is "taking advantage of its fighters" while "cleaning house" in the pay-per-view sales...
Dana White believes UFC's first trip to Russia could happen in 2013
(mmajunkie.com)The UFC's globetrotting ways are expected to continue in 2013, really to no one's surprise.
And the calendar year could feature the promotion heading to a new market that has produced one of the most highly regarded fighters in history.
UFC President Dana White believes the company will make its way to Russia sometime in 2013 for its first live event there...
Ortiz: 'Going to be tough,' but Santos might make UFC's 135-pound limit
(mmajunkie.com)With his own fighting career over, UFC Hall of Famer Tito Ortiz is instead focused on his management career and first client, who could soon be heading to the UFC's 135-pound women's division.
Ortiz recently signed embattled ex-Strikeforce featherweight champion Cristiane "Cyborg" Santos (10-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC), who recently served a one-year suspension due to a failed drug test for an anabolic steroid.
However, while the former 145-pound champion initially dismissed the idea of getting down to 135 pounds for a potential superfight with newly crowned UFC champ Ronda Rousey (6-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC), Ortiz breathed some new life into the possibility – but there are conditions...
Anthony Pettis – “No More Mr. Nice Guy, I’m Going to Get My Title Shot”
(mmaweekly.com)Anthony Pettis had to hear the news like everyone else recently that former Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez would get the next crack at Benson Henderson and the UFC lightweight title.
Since defeating Henderson in the final WEC fight to close out 2010, Pettis has been waiting for a shot at the belt, only to have delays, rematches and now other opponents step in the way of him receiving his long awaited crack at the title...
Dana White Talks About the End of Strikeforce – “I’m So Glad It’s Over”
(mmaweekly.com)The long, slow painful death of Strikeforce will finally come to an end on Jan. 12, and UFC President Dana White is glad the whole ordeal is coming to a close.
When Zuffa, the parent company of the UFC, first purchased Strikeforce there were high hopes to keep the promotion running as a sister organization with fight cards airing on Showtime, and a completely separate roster of fighters.
Unfortunately a rough relationship with Showtime never got smoother, and Dana White’s hopes to influence and build the promotion just did not come to fruition. Now the former San Jose based promotion will soon land in the organizational graveyard alongside Pride Fighting Championships, and many others that couldn’t survive when push came to shove.
“I’m so glad it’s over,” White said on Thursday about the demise of Strikeforce...
Eddie Alvarez Situation Still Not Settled, Dana White Expects Things to Get “Ugly”
(mmaweekly.com)It appears Eddie Alvarez’s free agency won’t be coming to an end in the near future without a fight happening first but it’s not a battle in the cage.
No, the battle is likely to take place in negotiations because the former Bellator lightweight champion appears locked in a fight between the two suitors who both want to sign him.
Following Alvarez’s last fight, he officially became a free agent after competing under the Bellator banner for the last few years. While the promotion retained a matching period to offer Alvarez equal money to that of any other organization courting his services, they allowed him to seek out the best deal before they decided if they would try to re-sign him or not...
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