UFC 80 conference call
(punch.freedomblogging.com)BJ Penn on Sean Sherk: "It’s about heart and soul. It ain’t about running in the bathroom and taking drugs.”
Check out what BJ, Joe Stevenson and Dana White had to say on today's conference call. At the top of the story, you can click to a link and listen to the entire call. It's broken into two parts. The first part is about 20 minutes and the second part is about 10 minutes.
Dana White Talks UFC Expansion
(mmaweekly.com)UFC held it's pre-UFC 80 press conference today, and while UFC was promoting the upcoming Joe Stevenson-BJ Penn LIghtweight Title fight, UFC President Dana White mostly talked about UFC's plans for expansion.
Sean Sherk Possibly Returns in April; Two Title Fights at UFC 84?
(mmajunkie.com)UFC Sean Sherk, a former UFC lightweight champion who was stripped of the title after his his suspension from a failed UFC 73 drug test was upheld by the California State Athletic Commission, says he will next fight in April — possibly at an April 19 UFC 84 event in Montreal.
In an interview with sportsnet.ca, Sherk said UFC officials recently told him he’d fight in April and that he hopes it’ll be at the Montreal event.
Sherk hasn’t fought since July 7, when he posted a unanimous-decision over Hermes Franca in his first title defense. However, the 34-year-old tested positive for elevated testosterone levels and the anabolic steroid Nandrolone, more commonly known as Decadurabolin, during the Sacramento, Calif. event. Sherk appealed, but after a series of delays, the commission ultimately cut his one-year suspension to six months but upheld the $2,500 fine. (He’s eligible to fight again on Jan. 3.)
Wow if true this card is shaping up to be a real barn-burner.
MMA Talk-2008 Predictions
(sportingnews.com)Happy New Year!!!
It may be a little late but this is the first MMA Talk of 2008. I ended last year with a Year in Review. I would like to start this year looking ahead. I expect it to be another great year for MMA with exciting fights and great fighters.
Report: Mauricio “Shogun” Rua Returns to UFC on April 19
(mmajunkie.com)Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (16-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC), a former PRIDE standout who underwent knee surgery after a submission loss to Forrest Griffin in September, will return to the UFC at an April 19 event in Montreal, Canada.
The news comes from GracieMag.com, which recently interviewed the fighter about the launch of his new fight team. Rua recently severed ties with Chute Boxe, his longtime home.
There’s no word on Rua’s opponent for the April 19 event, which is expected to take place at Montreal’s Bell Centre. The event — the first ever to take place in Canada — will likely feature a title-unification bout between UFC welterweight champion Matt Serra and interim champ (and French Canadian) Georges St. Pierre.
Kelly Ready for All-Brit Battle
(sherdog.com)After discovering MMA three years ago, Paul Kelly tore himself away from a life of crime and street fighting to pursue a career in the cage. By the sounds of it, the tough Merseyside scrapper abandoned his old ways in the nick of time.
"It's 2008," Kelly said. "No one fights anymore, so it's no good on the streets. Where I live, you get shot in the head."
Franklin's Father Dies Of Heart Attack
(mmanews.com)UFC fighter Rich Franklin's father died last night of a heart attack. No other information is available at this time but it could cause another delay to his scheduled fight against Travis Lutter, now scheduled for UFC 83 in April.
UFC 82: Jon Fitch vs. Akihiro Gono booked; Fitch inks contract extension (Exclusive)
(mmamania.com)Top welterweight contender Jon Fitch (15-2) has signed the bout agreement to fight Akihiro Gono (27-12-7) at UFC 82: “Pride of a Champion” on March 1 at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, MMAmania.com (www.mmamania.com) just learned
In addition, the American Kickboxing Academy standout has re-signed with the organization for another three bouts. He is undefeated (7-0) in the Octagon since his debut in 2005. Fitch has also not lost a professional fight since 2002 — more than five years
Kendall Grove: "My first six fights, I fought high."
(mmafightline.com)Grove seemed to be on the fast track to stardom in the UFC. After winning TUF 3, Grove managed to reel off two consecutive victories in convincing fashion before being stopped by Patrick Cote in the first round of their battle at UFC 74. Since that fight, Grove has rededicated himself to the sport and is looking forward to righting the ship against Jorge Rivera at UFC 80 on January 19. Grove sat down with our friends over at CagePotato.com to discus a variety of topics.
Couture Going All In Saturday Night
(cardplayer.com)UFC Heavyweight Champion Randy Couture will go All In at the poker tables Saturday as host of the Operation All In Charity Poker Tournament at The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Couture and several notable celebrities and poker pros as well as players making up a field of 150 will compete for a guaranteed $50,000, with additional proceeds benefitting the Xtreme Couture GI Foundation.
Guillard taking temporary leave from UFC
(mmajunkie.com)
UFC lightweight Melvin Guillard (20-7-2 MMA, 3-3 UFC), who was submitted by arch enemy Rich Clementi last month at a UFC 79 event in Las Vegas, will be leaving the UFC to gain some experience in smaller fighter promotions before returning to the octagon.
Guillard confirmed the plans — in his trademark way (with foul language, death threats, and a denial that he’s ever really been defeated) — during a recent interview with the baltimoresun.com.
Liddell wants Jardine
http://www.mmafightline.com/news/2008/18/chuck_the_iceman_liddell_312952.shtml
wants a rematch with Jardine.
The guy giving the interview is a major nuthugger though.
Spencer Fisher vs. Marcus Aurelio Targeted for UFC Fight Night 13
(mmajunkie.com)A UFC Fight Night 13 event planned for April 2 will include a lightweight bout between Spencer Fisher (20-4 MMA, 5-3 UFC) and Marcus Aurelio (15-5 MMA, 1-1 UFC).
Sources closes to both fighters told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that the rumored bout has been accepted by both fighters. Fisher, specifically, told some of his fellow fighters about the bout earlier today.
Rampage: Movie Star?
(nodq.com)
We had reported last month about the myriad of MMA stars who are appearing in television and film including Rich Franklin, Randy Couture, Frank Shamrock and Tito Ortiz. Now you can add UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson to that list.
Jackson will be starring in the film Midnight Meat Train. The film co-stars Bradley Cooper, Vinnie Jones and Brooke Shields. Based on Clive Barker's short story of the same title, Midnight Meat Train is slated to release in mid-May.
Meanwhile Jackson, who was named 2007 Sportsman of the Year by the Memphis Commercial Appeal (Jackson is from Memphis), will also has a reality show pilot titled Rampage. The show features him as a single dad who has his parents move in to help him raise his four kids.
Jackson also begins filming for the next season of The Ultimate Fighter at the end of this month with Forrest Griffin. The show will begin airing on Spike on April 2nd, which would put the Jackson - Griffin light heavyweight title fight in late June or early July. The next season of The Ultimate Fighter will be kicked off with a live special headlined by Kenny Florian (who was in season one of The Ultimate Fighter) taking on Joe Lauzon (who appeared in season five of the show).
Diego Sanchez not Dropping to Lightweight Division
(mmajunkie.com)“The Ultimate Fighter 1” winner Diego Sanchez (17-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC), who’s lost back-to-back fights after winning his first 17 professional bouts, will not be moving down to the lightweight division after all.
Sanchez, who publicly flirted with the idea after a split-decision loss to Jon Fitch at UFC 76 in September, will continue to compete in the welterweight division — one of the deepest in the UFC.
Sanchez recently issued a MySpace bulletin with the news. Additionally, MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) was able to confirm the decision with Sanchez’s new management team at Powermoves Entertainment
UFC Fight Night 13 Targeted for April 2 in Colorado
(mmajunkie.com)The UFC and Spike TV are finalizing details of a UFC Fight Night event that will precede the debut episode of “The Ultimate Fighter 7,” which will take place April 2.
Multiple sources closes to the event recently confirmed with MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) a variety of details.
Update on Kongo-Herring Bout, now scheduled for UFC 82
ufcmania.com Update: This fight is scheduled to happen at UFC 82: “Pride of a Champion” and not UFC 81: “Breaking Point.” Apologies for any confusion.
Cheick Kongo (11-3-1) and Heath Herring (27-13) with meet in a heavyweight clash at UFC 82: “Pride of a Champion” on March 1 at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio
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