Andrei Arlovski and Mark Ellis Officially Signed; Signals New Approach for Pro Elite
(mmaweekly.com)Call it Pro Elite 2.0. Call it a new and improved version. Call it whatever you want, but the new version of Pro Elite is up and running and signing fighters for their return show in August.
The organization that once promoted Elite XC, which landed on both Showtime and CBS, is now under new leadership and they are putting the finishing touches on the business model that will lead them in a new direction.
Former Pride Grand Prix Champion Kazuo Misaki Signs with Strikeforce
(mmaweekly.com)At one time, Kazuo Misaki was a mainstay in the top ten of the middleweight division during his time with Pride Fighting Championships.
Now the Japanese fighter is making his move to welterweight and has signed an exclusive deal to compete in the welterweight division of Strikeforce.
Sources close to Misaki confirmed the signing to MMAWeekly.com on Thursday.
Anaconda-choke creator Milton Vieira signs with Strikeforce
(mmajunkie.com)Veteran fighter Milton Vieira has signed a multi-fight deal with Strikeforce.
Alchemist MMA, the fighter's new management team, today announced the signing, though terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Vieira (12-7-1 MMA, 0-0 SF), a 32-year-old PRIDE and Bitetti Combat veteran, is perhaps best known as the creator of the anaconda-choke submission, which he used in his most recent victory over Bruno "Cro Cop" Lobato in June.
News Two-fer Jones doubts Rampage Passion- Rampage in talks for new movie deal.
(ufc-mma-news.com)After Evans v Rampage everyone said that Rampage movie role in the A team was a distraction that clearly hindered his training (I agree, although he has looked WAYYY more docile in his other recent fights). Now on the verge of reclaiming the belt he denies having lost, it is revealed that he is in talks with taking on yet another movie role playing superhero in an upcoming Marvel film. Personally speaking I think that Jones has inadvertently pinpointed the biggest reason why he will remain champ into 2012.
Granted he would more than likely not be filming anything prior to the fight, but 1 he has admitted to being in this for the money, 2 he already has his eye on retirement 3 he is already seeking out new movie roles that will distract him.
Chris Horodecki vs. Chris Saunders added to Bellator 47 main card
(mmajunkie.com)Bellator Fighting Championships is heading to Canada, and "The Polish Hammer" meets "The So-Cal Kid."
MMAjunkie.com has confirmed that WEC and IFL veteran Chris Horodecki has signed on with Bellator Fighting Championships and will meet Chris Saunders at Bellator 47.
Featuring the semifinals of Bellator's "Summer Series" featherweight tournament, Bellator 47 takes place July 23 at Casino Rama in Rama, Ontario, Canada.
Reagan Penn set to make his mma debut
(mmamania.com)Reagan Penn, younger brother of former UFC champion BJ Penn, is expected to make his mixed martial arts debut at the upcoming ProElite event booked for Aug. 27 at the Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu, Hawaii. An opponent has yet to be named.
Lyoto Machida turns down UFC 133 rematch against Rashad Evans
(mmamania.com)Too soon?
Despite an initial report we passed along late last night from Head Kick Legend, it turns out Lyoto Machida will NOT be fighting Rashad Evans at UFC 133 on Aug. 6 in Philadelphia.
Caju Freitas brings word from camp "Dragon:"
"The fight is very close and for a professional matter we can't accept it. We want to make the best match and there is remaining just a few weeks and it wouldn't be fair with the fans to do a bad performance."
Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission Lifts Nate Marquardt's Suspension
(mmafighting.com)The Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission lifted the former UFC fighter's suspension at noon ET on Wednesday because, according to Executive Director Greg Sirb, "he met all our medical requirements."
Sirb refused to go into detail as to what Marquardt had to do to meet the commission's requirements in order to get his suspension lifted.
MMA Junkie first reported the news earlier in the day.
JDS: Mir talks a lot of bull----
(mixedmartialarts.com)FO: Frank Mir stated he hits harder than you. Is he an opponent you would like to face one day?
Who, Frank Mir? He said what?
FO: Yeah, he said he hits harder. Would you like to fight him to avenge Nogueira’s loss?
[laughs] First off, regarding hitting harder than me… [more laughter; pause for breath]
Look… when a fighter begins either to lose, or not to get satisfactory results, what does he do to promote himself? He talks. And it is what he’s doing. Frank Mir is a guy who likes to talk a lot, talks lots of bullshit and I don’t believe he hits harder than me.
MULTIPLE REPORTS: Evans vs. Machida will NOT happen
(mixedmartialarts.com)Today, Eduardo Cruz of Fighter's Only Magazine spoke directly with Lyoto Machida's wife:
So Lyoto won't definitely take the fight versus Rashad Evans at UFC 133?
Fabiola Machida: No, he won't accept the fight at all. There are only three weeks for the preparation, Eduardo, and it just isn’t possible in the career of an athlete... three weeks of preparation.
He has only been maintaining his conditioning and that doesn't prepare you for a fight at all. So, he didn't accept for a professional matter - to accept would be to kick (damage) his professionalism.”
Tito Ortiz Explains Why He Declined to Fight Rashad Evans on UFC 133
(bloodyelbow.com)Via Twitter:
I have a life and things to take care of. The fight game is about making the right choices of my career. If you knew what I have been going through you all would understand. Peaking for a fight is what makes a fighter unstoppable! Timing is everything in life. This is a rebuild year for me not do or die. The time will come again! #positive
Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic vs. Roy Nelson Planned for UFC 137
(bloodyelbow.com)Although many called for him to retire from active MMA competition following his second KO loss in a row to Brendan Schaub in April, fan-favorite, Mirko "Cro Cop" appeared on the Croatian sports TV show "Gol" this morning to discuss his career and at the same time, announced that he would be given one more UFC fight, and that it will come in October at UFC 137 against Roy "Big Country" Nelson.
Alexandre "Cacareco" Ferreira released from UFC
(mmajunkie.com)Turns out all that Alexandre "Cacareco" Ferreira (18-6 MMA, 0-1 UFC) injured may have been his career.
The one-time UFC fighter, who was expected to fight in August at "UFC 134: Silva vs. Okami," was not pulled from the card due to an injury but rather because he has been released by the promotion.
New Mexico Commission Overturns Draw, Declares Chris Camozzi Winner
(mmaweekly.com)The New Mexico Athletic Commission has changed the decision in the Shark Fights bout between Chris Camozzi and Joey Villasenor.
The commission discovered a scoring error from the judges’ scorecards after the fights ended on May 27 at Shark Fights in Rio Rancho, N.M.
On Tuesday, they overturned the initial call for the bout, a draw, and declared Camozzi the winner by split decision.
MMAWeekly.com obtained the scorecards from fight night, and according to the score sheet, judge Robert Romero scored the fight 29-28 Camozzi, and judge Jenna Vasquez scored the fight 29-28 Villasenor.
Judge Mark Sanchez had the fight scored 29-29, which caused the fight to be a draw, but on the scorecard, it actually read that he had given Camozzi both rounds two and three, so it should have been 29-28 for Camozzi.
The fight has been switched by the commission and Camozzi has been awarded the victory.
Maximo Blanco: Made in Japan
(sherdog.com)The situation at Nihon University eventually improved as Blanco learned the customs and moved up the seniority ladder, though he still does not regard that time as one of vast social growth. More than anything, it proved to be an investment period for his future prizefighting career. He went on to win international championships in freestyle wrestling in his home country of Venezuela, China and Azerbaijan before taking a bronze medal in the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Even though his goal at the time was to earn a berth in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Blanco’s eyes were fixed on mixed martial arts.
Like many Japanese fighters of his generation -- Katsunori Kikuno, Yoshiro Maeda and Satoru Kitaoka, to name a few -- “Maxi” was inspired to become a mixed martial artist after watching the monumental Tokyo Dome event, Colosseum 2000, which pitted Masakatsu Funaki against Rickson Gracie. With a solid high school and college wrestling career and impressive tournament showings throughout his amateur career, Blanco’s viability in the sport was unquestionable. His original trajectory, as devised by his high school coach, Akutsu, and his wrestling contacts, was to roll into a sponsored spot in Pride Fighting Championships after his participation in the 2008 Olympics. As history will attest, though, it did not exactly turn out as planned.
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