MMA FanHouse http://mma.fanhouse.com MMA FanHouse http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://mma.fanhouse.com/media/feedlogo.gif MMA FanHouse http://mma.fanhouse.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Kim Couture, Lisa Marie Varon Insist Recent Pro Wrestling Scrap Was Realhttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/10/20/kim-couture-lisa-marie-varon-insist-recent-pro-wrestling-scrap/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/10/20/kim-couture-lisa-marie-varon-insist-recent-pro-wrestling-scrap/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/10/20/kim-couture-lisa-marie-varon-insist-recent-pro-wrestling-scrap/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The latest chapter in the Kim Couture-Lisa Marie Varon feud took a bizarre turn on Sunday night when the two got into an impromptu shoving match at a TNA Wrestling pay-per-view.

Yes, both are insisting that their mini melee was not part of any kind of script.

"She turned around and came at me. I'm not just going to stand there and look dumb. I didn't know what she was going to do. So I kind of grabbed a hold of her, and it seems like as soon as we put our hands on each other security broke us up," Couture told FanHouse on Monday.

"I don't know if she was in character or if it was adrenaline. I don't know what it was."

According to both Couture and Varon, TNA had invited Couture to attend the pay-per-view. The plan was to have the women engage in a short staredown in the middle of Varon's match. But since Couture arrived approximately 20 minutes before Varon's match started, there wasn't much time to plan it out properly.

So when Varon fell close to where Couture was sitting ringside, Couture nudged her in the back, and Varon, a 10-year wrestling veteran, immediately thought a fan had gotten physical with her. Once she turned around and saw it was Couture, she lunged at her.

"I think she didn't know what to do, but I felt a shove behind me. At first I thought, 'Was that a fan or what?', because they're not supposed to touch us at all. I turned around, because that doesn't happen, and I just went after her. I was like, 'Are you kidding me?'," said Varon, known as "Tara" in TNA.

"I'm a very friendly person, but you just don't invade my space kind of thing. You just don't put your hands on me."

After the incident, both Couture and Varon were escorted backstage by security. Varon said she received a quick tongue-lashing and even thought she was going to get suspended or fined for her retaliation.

After she cooled off, Varon was told to re-enter the match immediately. The TNA broadcast crew made no mention of the incident while it happened or later in the show, and both Varon and Couture insist that nothing will be made of it on future TNA broadcasts.

"I'm not getting into pro wrestling. I'm not doing anything," Couture said laughing.

After Varon's match was over, Couture approached her backstage to ask what happened, but Varon quickly replied, "I don't want to talk to you. Go away." Couture obliged and left.

They cleared the air over the phone on Monday and both women claim there are no lingering hard feelings. Varon says the whole scene was "just a miscommunication."

She added that she didn't want fans to think her budding MMA career was part of some wrestling angle.

"I'm a little embarrassed. I'll be honest with you. I didn't want that to happen," she said.

Varon has recently been in contact with Strikeforce matchmaker Rich Chou about fighting for them in the future and has also discussed sponsorship opportunities with TapouT. She is planning on attending Couture's fight against Kerry Vera on Nov. 20 in Kansas City, Mo., and while she still hopes to fight Couture in the future, Varon has set no timetable for her MMA debut.

Meanwhile, Couture, who says she is only focusing on Vera right now, is open to fighting the MMA rookie.

"I think it's funny that she hasn't even had an amateur fight yet, and she wants to call me out for her first fight. Normally, I'm pretty quiet, but I spoke up and said a few things over the past month," she said.

"If she's crazy enough to get in there with me for her first fight, then great."

TNA's next broadcast on Spike TV airs on Thursday, so viewers will learn then if anything will made of the episode. There is currently no mention of Couture on TNA's Web site.

Below is the only footage currently available of the incident:

Kim Couture, Lisa Marie Varon Insist Recent Pro Wrestling Scrap Was Real originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>kim coutureKimCouturelisa marie varonLisaMarieVaronAriel HelwaniTue, 20 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST Shane McMahon Resigns From WWEhttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/10/16/shane-mcmahon-resigns-from-wwe/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/10/16/shane-mcmahon-resigns-from-wwe/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/10/16/shane-mcmahon-resigns-from-wwe/#commentsFiled under:

Shane McMahonShane McMahon, son of WWE CEO Vince McMahon and himself the company's executive vice president of global media, has resigned from WWE effective Jan. 1, 2010.

McMahon, who helped launch the company into new international markets and headed its publications division, announced the move via a company press release.

While the direction of his future business career is uncertain, the world of mixed martial arts could be a possible landing spot.


A longtime fan of the sport, McMahon has attended several UFC events in person. In the early part of the decade, the WWE had at least a passing interest in buying the then-struggling UFC. In more recent years, pushed by Shane McMahon, the WWE had preliminary internal talks about getting involved in MMA, though no projects ever came to fruition.

In 2007, the UFC surpassed the WWE in pay-per-view revenue and has widened its lead ever since.

Saying he had previously "never even considered a future outside the walls of WWE," the 39-year-old McMahon made no specific mention of any plans once he leaves the company, simply saying, "I feel this is the opportune time in my career to pursue outside ventures."

On a story on the company's website to announce the move, Vince McMahon said, "Even though I am personally saddened by Shane's decision to leave the company, I am proud of the enormous contributions he has made. He will unquestionably bring passion, commitment and extensive business experience to any endeavor he pursues."

Shane McMahon's resignation comes exactly one month after his mother Linda also stepped down from the company to pursue a run for the Senate in Connecticut.

Shane McMahon Resigns From WWE originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:29:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Shane McMahonShaneMcmahonVince McMahonVinceMcmahonMike ChiappettaFri, 16 Oct 2009 10:29:00 EST Tim Sylvia's Last Chance to Be Relevanthttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/09/18/tim-sylvias-last-chance-to-be-relevant/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/09/18/tim-sylvias-last-chance-to-be-relevant/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/09/18/tim-sylvias-last-chance-to-be-relevant/#commentsFiled under:



In 2008, Tim Sylvia had two fights: One against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira for the UFC heavyweight belt, and one against Fedor Emelianenko for the WAMMA heavyweight belt. He lost both, but no one could dispute that Sylvia was one of the major players in the heavyweight division in MMA.

Fast forward to tonight, when Sylvia will have his second fight of 2009. He lost the first in embarrassing fashion to Ray Mercer, a 48-year-old boxer making his MMA debut, and if he loses the second, he'll be banished to permanent irrelevancy.

Tonight's fight is against Jason Riley at the Adrenaline show in Council Bluffs, Iowa, which will air live on HDNet. If Sylvia loses to Riley, a largely unknown heavyweight with a 6-1 record, there's really no way he'd ever turn his MMA career around. At age 33 and on a four-fight losing streak, we could pretty much write off Sylvia as finished in this sport.

Michael Schiavello, who will call the fight for HDNet, quotes Riley as saying he looks forward to ending Sylvia's career:
"I'm ready, yeah, I'm so ready. I would have taken this fight for free. This is my chance to show who I am. I'm going to introduce myself to the entire MMA community tomorrow night at Tim's expense," Jason Riley told HDNet exclusively. ...

"He's in a bad position and I'm in a win-win situation. Sylvia can 't afford to lose to me, especially not after his last fight where he got knocked out cold by a fifty year old boxer. I mean that was embarrassing man. I'm going to go in there and finish him, finish his career. I'm going to stand, trade, pick him off and knock him out."
I expect Sylvia to beat Riley, but he can't just waltz into the cage out of shape and uninterested as he did against Mercer. If he does, it's the last we'll hear of Tim Sylvia.

Tim Sylvia's Last Chance to Be Relevant originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Fri, 18 Sep 2009 08:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Jason RileyJasonRileyRay MercerRayMercerTim SylviaTimSylviaMichael David SmithFri, 18 Sep 2009 08:35:00 EST Kimo Speaks on Bogus Death Reportshttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/07/22/kimo-speaks-on-bogus-death-reports/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/07/22/kimo-speaks-on-bogus-death-reports/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/07/22/kimo-speaks-on-bogus-death-reports/#commentsFiled under: ,

Kimo LeopoldoHere it is: incontrovertible proof that Kimo Leopoldo is in fact alive and well.

On Tuesday, as you probably know by now, it was reported by numerous news outlets that Leopoldo had died of a heart attack, but after a few hours of the story exploding in cyberspace, it was eventually debunked by Yahoo writer Kevin Iole, who was able to confirm through Leopoldo's attorney that he was indeed was alive and well. Leopoldo appeared later that night at the Orange County Sheriff's Department to address the rumors.

The video after the jump comes from The Orange County Register, which notes in the accompanying article, "Many MMA Web sites and news organizations, including USA Today, the New York Daily News and TMZ.com, jumped in the ring, spreading news of Leopoldo's supposed death in Orange County."

The Register's writers and editors apparently have short memories, as they failed to note that they also ran the original rumor in a story headlined, "Ultimate fighter reportedly dies after court appearance." That story has since been removed from their Web site.

Many other reputable MMA news sites, including FanHouse, MMAJunkie and Yahoo, never published the initial rumors because they could not be substantiated. Even a relative of Kimo's that we spoke with was unsure of the truth for most of the day, unable to reach him.

At least an ugly day for the media's credibility results in a happy ending for the Leopoldo family.

Kimo Speaks on Bogus Death Reports originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 01:26:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Kimo LeopoldoMike ChiappettaWed, 22 Jul 2009 01:26:00 EST Report: Chuck Liddell to Sit Out 2009, Undecided on Retirementhttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/07/06/report-chuck-liddell-to-sit-out-2009-undecided-on-retirement/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/07/06/report-chuck-liddell-to-sit-out-2009-undecided-on-retirement/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/07/06/report-chuck-liddell-to-sit-out-2009-undecided-on-retirement/#commentsFiled under: ,

With recent speculation swirling around a possible return to the octagon for Chuck Liddell, "the Iceman" has stepped out to diffuse the rumors, telling SI.com that he would take off the rest of 2009 before deciding on whether or not to hang the gloves up for good.

A former UFC light-heavyweight champion and one of the most popular fighters in MMA history, the 39-year-old Liddell has suffered knockout losses in three of his last five fights and has lost four of his last five overall.

In his most recent bout, Liddell suffered a first-round TKO at the hands of Mauricio "Shogun" Rua.

"Hopefully my brain can heal over time," he told SI.com's Josh Gross. "The shot last fight is something that normally wouldn't hurt me. I think I need at least some time off from getting hit."

According to the report, Liddell would not fight again until at least April 2010, at which time he would be 40 years old.

Known for his powerful fists, steely disposition and trademark mohawk, Liddell (21-7) shot to fame during a seven-fight win streak during 2004-2006, during which he scored TKOs or KOs of seven straight opponents. He appeared on the cover of ESPN The Magazine, did guest spots on popular TV shows like Entourage and released an autobiography that made The New York Times bestseller's list.

After his most recent loss, UFC President Dana White stated that Liddell would have to retire, but has since backed off the statement, saying that he could not make the decision for Liddell, though he reiterated that he would like to see him call it quits.

Liddell holds notable wins over Randy Couture, Tito Ortiz and Wanderlei Silva, among others.

Report: Chuck Liddell to Sit Out 2009, Undecided on Retirement originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Chuck LidellDana Whitemauricio shogun ruaRandy CoutureTito Ortizwanderlei silvaMike ChiappettaMon, 06 Jul 2009 12:05:00 EST FightHouse Radio: Jon Fitch, Ricco Rodriguez Talk UFC 100 and Morehttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/07/03/fighthouse-radio-jon-fitch-ricco-rodriguez-talk-ufc-100-and-mo/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/07/03/fighthouse-radio-jon-fitch-ricco-rodriguez-talk-ufc-100-and-mo/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/07/03/fighthouse-radio-jon-fitch-ricco-rodriguez-talk-ufc-100-and-mo/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Behold another exciting edition of FightHouse Radio. This week, MDS and I welcomed two great guests to the show. First, UFC welterweight contender Jon Fitch talked about preparing for his fight against Paulo Thiago at UFC 100 and evolving as a mixed martial artist. Later, we were joined by veteran Ricco Rodriguez to discuss his busy fight schedule and training with Michael Bisping for his bout against Dan Henderson at UFC 100. Enjoy!

Click here to download the mp3.

FightHouse Radio: Jon Fitch, Ricco Rodriguez Talk UFC 100 and More originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>bobby lashleydan hendersonfighthouse radiojon fitchmichael bispingpaulo thiagoricco rodriguezufc 100ultimate chaosAriel HelwaniFri, 03 Jul 2009 08:00:00 EST Ultimate Chaos Star: Gilbert Yvelhttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/06/28/ultimate-chaos-star-gilbert-yvel/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/06/28/ultimate-chaos-star-gilbert-yvel/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/06/28/ultimate-chaos-star-gilbert-yvel/#commentsFiled under:

Ultimate Chaos: Bobby Lashley vs. Bob Sapp was quite possibly the worst MMA show I've ever seen. The production quality of the pay-per-view broadcast was lousy, the undercard fighters weren't ready for prime time, Sapp laid an egg in the main event and Lashley didn't do anything impressive. But I do want to say some nice things about one fighter on Saturday night's card: Gilbert Yvel.

I've been highly critical of Yvel in the past. He's been disqualified three times (for biting, eye gouging and hitting a ref), and I thought Affliction was wrong to put him in the co-main event of its Day of Reckoning show, where he lost to Josh Barnett.

After watching him knock out Pedro Rizzo Saturday night, however, I don't feel the need to be so critical of Yvel anymore. Yes, what those disqualifications are still unacceptable, but those are in his past, and he now seems like a changed man -- a genuine sportsman, who showed class both before and after knocking Rizzo out.

And make no mistake: Yvel can fight. He now has a pro record of 36-13-1, with 31 wins by knockout or technical knockout. MMA doesn't have official records like some sports do, but to the best of my knowledge, Yvel's 31 (T)KOs are the most in the history of MMA.

Yvel is not a Top 10 heavyweight, and he's probably not even Top 20. It was silly that the Ultimate Chaos announcers referred to him afterward as "Fedor-esque." But at the end of that trainwreck of a pay-per-view show on Saturday night, Yvel was the one fighter who I felt had put on a performance that was worth the money. He'll be back on August 1 to take on Paul Buentello at Affliction: Trilogy, and that's a fight I look forward to seeing.

Ultimate Chaos Star: Gilbert Yvel originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Sun, 28 Jun 2009 13:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Gilbert YvelGilbertYvelUltimate ChaosUltimateChaosMichael David SmithSun, 28 Jun 2009 13:40:00 EST Bobby Lashley vs. Bob Sapp Live Blog: Ultimate Chaos Results, Updateshttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/06/27/bobby-lashley-vs-bob-sapp-live-blog-ultimate-chaos-results-up/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/06/27/bobby-lashley-vs-bob-sapp-live-blog-ultimate-chaos-results-up/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/06/27/bobby-lashley-vs-bob-sapp-live-blog-ultimate-chaos-results-up/#commentsFiled under:

Welcome to the FanHouse live blog for Saturday night's Ultimate Chaos MMA event, where we'll have live round-by-round updates for the whole pay-per-view show, headlined by a main event of Bobby Lashley vs. Bob Sapp.

Undercard fights will include Pedro Rizzo taking on Gilbert Yvel, and Affliction boss Tom Atencio taking some time off from promoting to step into the cage himself, taking on Randy Hedderick.

I'll be tweeting the results for those who follow me on Twitter.

The Ultimate Chaos show begins at 9 PM ET, and the live blog begins below.

Bobby Lashley vs. Bob Sapp Live Blog: Ultimate Chaos Results, Updates originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Sat, 27 Jun 2009 21:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Bob SappBobby LashleyBobbyLashleyBobSappUltimate ChaosUltimate Chaos live blogUltimate Chaos resultsUltimateChaosUltimateChaosLiveBlogUltimateChaosResultsMichael David SmithSat, 27 Jun 2009 21:00:00 EST Ex-UFC Star and Alleged $92 Million Thief Lee Murray Released From Prisonhttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/06/24/ex-ufc-star-and-alleged-92-million-thief-lee-murray-released-fr/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/06/24/ex-ufc-star-and-alleged-92-million-thief-lee-murray-released-fr/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/06/24/ex-ufc-star-and-alleged-92-million-thief-lee-murray-released-fr/#commentsFiled under: ,



Lee Murray, the onetime UFC fighter who allegedly masterminded the largest non-wartime cash heist in history, has been released from the Moroccan prison that has been holding him since his 2006 arrest, according to a report from ESPN The Magazine investigative writer Shaun Assael.

His sudden freedom apparently came as a surprise even to those close to him. According to the story, Murray's Moroccan lawyer Abdellah Benlamhidi sent his assistant to visit his client on Wednesday, only to be told he had been released.

The Feb. 22, 2006 Securitas bank depot heist Tonbridge, England netted thieves over £53 million pounds, or the equivalent of over $92 million US at the time.

Five of the seven men who were involved in the direct raid have been sentenced for their crime, while a sixth is still awaiting trial. Murray is the only one who has escaped the grasp of the UK legal system.

Shortly after the robbery, Murray fled to Morocco and claimed citizenship in hopes of stiff-arming any attempts to extradite him. His father, Ibrahim Murray, is Moroccan, and though Murray was born in the UK, Moroccan law holds that its citizens can not be extradited, no matter what the crime.

Murray was arrested in Rabat, Morocco for cocaine possession in 2006 and sentenced to eight months. Since then, he has been held in prison while authorities determined his citizenship, and ultimately, his extradition status. In February 2007, British authorities offered to exchange suspected terrorist Mohmed Karbouzi for Murray, whom they considered the ringleader of the heist.

Ironically, just over a week ago, it was reported that Murray tried to escape from prison after small saws were found in his cell.

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The 31-year-old was 8-2 with one no contest and one no decision in his career, and once went the distance in a loss to current UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva. In his only UFC fight, he defeated Jorge Rivera by triangle choke at UFC 46. Murray was invited back to the UFC but was never able to return and fight in the U.S. because of visa problems.

Murray gained a measure of cult fame in the MMA world before ever debuting in the UFC for his role in a London street fight with ex-UFC champion Tito Ortiz. In September 2005 -- just months before the heist -- Murray nearly died in a nightclub stabbing.

In 2008, a Sports Illustrated story written by L. Jon Wertheim detailed the Securitas robbery, and Time, Inc. soon after announced that they had optioned the film rights to the story.

Murray's current whereabouts are unknown, but he remains a wanted man in the UK.

Ex-UFC Star and Alleged $92 Million Thief Lee Murray Released From Prison originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:48:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Anderson SilvaAndersonSilvaJorge RiveraJorgeRiveraLee MurrayLeeMurrayTito OrtizTitoOrtizMike ChiappettaWed, 24 Jun 2009 23:48:00 EST Jeff Monson: 'I'm Destined to Beat Fedor'http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/06/12/jeff-monson-im-destined-to-beat-fedor/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/06/12/jeff-monson-im-destined-to-beat-fedor/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/06/12/jeff-monson-im-destined-to-beat-fedor/#commentsFiled under: ,

Fedor Emelianenko is the best fighter in mixed martial arts, a fighter so dominant that he looks almost unbeatable. But one person thinks he can beat him: Jeff Monson.

Yes, Monson -- who is generally considered somewhere between the 10th and 20th best heavyweight in the world -- says he's just the man to end Fedor's reign atop the heavyweight division in MMA.

"The only guy I want to fight -- like, I have to -- is Fedor right now," Monson said on HDNet's Inside MMA. "He's the guy I'm destined to fight. I want to be the guy to beat him."

Fedor's next fight is scheduled for August 1 against Josh Barnett at Affliction Trilogy, and Monson said he considers Barnett a good friend and hopes he does well against Fedor.

"He's got a good game, if he beats him great," Monson said. "If not, hopefully I'm next to have a shot at him."

Monson said he expects to fight one more time in Japan soon, and that he's also had talks with Affliction, Strikeforce and the UFC about fighting in the United States. But it sounds like the one thing motivating Monson right now is the opportunity to take on the best.

"I think I'm destined to beat Fedor," Monson said. "I really believe that. I think I have the game to beat him. I'd definitely love to see that match-up and I'd definitely love to be carried off afterward after I submit him. ... My goal is to be the best in the world, even if it's for one fight. I think to accomplish that, you've got to win the UFC championship, or -- probably more importantly to me -- beat Fedor in a fight. That would be the crowning jewel in my career."

Of course, there's the little matter of Monson facing criminal charges for defacing the Washington State Capitol, but Monson said that will just be a speed bump for his career. Monson said he expects to pay "a big fine" and do some community service, but not go to jail. So he'll be available should Fedor come calling.

Jeff Monson: 'I'm Destined to Beat Fedor' originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Fri, 12 Jun 2009 23:39:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Affliction TrilogyAfflictionTrilogyFedor EmelianenkoFedorEmelianenkoJeff MonsonJeffMonsonJosh BarnettJoshBarnettMichael David SmithFri, 12 Jun 2009 23:39:00 EST Takanori Gomi Wins, Who Cares?http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/05/10/takanori-gomi-wins-who-cares/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/05/10/takanori-gomi-wins-who-cares/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/05/10/takanori-gomi-wins-who-cares/#commentsFiled under:



(Round 1 video above, Round 2 video below.)
Less than a year ago, the Japanese lightweight Takanori Gomi was considered to be among the Top 10 pound-for-pound fighters in mixed martial arts. But Gomi has fallen so far since then that he won a fight on Saturday, and I think it's fair to say that the vast majority of American MMA fans couldn't care less.

Gomi beat Takashi Nakakura by second-round knockout at Shooto: Tradition FInal in Tokyo, and from all accounts he looked very good. Unfortunately, the fight wasn't televised, andit's barely made a blip in the American MMA scene.

And that's really no surprise: Gomi had lost his last two fights and hadn't really looked impressive since his New Year's Eve 2006 win over Mitsuhiro Ishida. I'm not quite sure what happened to Gomi, but he doesn't seem like the fighter he used to be.

Still, the Fireball Kid is well known among hard-core MMA fans, and at age 30, you'd think he'd have a few more good fights left in him. I'm glad to see Gomi get another win under his belt, and I'd love to see the exciting Gomi of old again. Maybe soon he can fight a high-quality opponent, and get the kind of win that will force MMA fans to care about him again.

Takanori Gomi Wins, Who Cares? originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Sun, 10 May 2009 10:17:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Takanori GomiTakanoriGomiTakashi NakakuraTakashiNakakuraMichael David SmithSun, 10 May 2009 10:17:00 EST Kyle Maynard Loses MMA Debuthttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/04/26/kyle-maynard-loses-mma-debut/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/04/26/kyle-maynard-loses-mma-debut/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/04/26/kyle-maynard-loses-mma-debut/#commentsFiled under:



Kyle Maynard, the quadruple amputee who became an inspirational story when he turned into a star high school wrestler, lost his first mixed martial arts fight by unanimous decision on Saturday night. UPDATE: Video of rounds 2 and 3 below.



Maynard, whose very presence in an MMA cage was controversial, lost a unanimous decision to Bryan Fry in a show in Auburn, Alabama. Maynard has arms that end at the elbow and legs that end above the knee, so he has very limited ability to strike. Fry was able to avoid takedowns and win the fight 30-27 on all three judges' decisions.

Sherdog quotes Maynard as saying:
"I felt like I gave 100 percent. He didn't want to go to the ground, and I wasn't going to win a boxing match with him. ...

"When I walked in the cage, and when [Fry] was first able to initiate contact, I realized this was the most serious thing I'd ever gotten myself into, and I loved it," he said. "I think my ear is still buzzing from that first shot. ...

"I didn't win tonight. I have to get back on the horse and perfect things. This has given me a taste. I want to get back in there and do it again. I'm only 23 years old. I've got a lot of time left athletically."
Before the fight, Maynard told FanHouse in an interview that he plans to continue challenging himself athletically, including climbing Mount Mitchell in North Carolina, the highest peak in eastern North America.

Kyle Maynard Loses MMA Debut originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Sun, 26 Apr 2009 06:59:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Kyle MaynardKyleMaynardMichael David SmithSun, 26 Apr 2009 06:59:00 EST Bobby Lashley Likely to Fight in May for Maximum Fighting Championshiphttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/04/18/bobby-lashley-likely-to-fight-in-may-for-maximum-fighting-champi/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/04/18/bobby-lashley-likely-to-fight-in-may-for-maximum-fighting-champi/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/04/18/bobby-lashley-likely-to-fight-in-may-for-maximum-fighting-champi/#commentsFiled under:

Former WWE star Bobby Lashley is expected to have his third professional MMA fight on May 15 in the main event of the Maximum Fighting Championship event in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

The news that Lashley is likely to appear was first reported by HDNet's Inside MMA. HDNet has a contract with Maximum Fighting Championship and will televise the May 15 event, MFC 21, and Lashley would instantly become the MFC's most famous fighter and a good draw for HDNet.

The question, however, is whether Lashley is actually any good at MMA. He's 2-0, but his first win came against a guy with no experience at all, and his second win was an unimpressive decision victory over Jason Guida. Lashley has a lot to prove.

But while he has a lot to prove as a fighter, there's no question that he's a good athlete who has name recognition, and that alone is enough to have promotions interested in him. There has been talk that Lashley could sign with Strikeforce (Lashley vs. Kimbo Slice would be a possibility), or even that Lashley could appear on the next season of The Ultimate Fighter. But for now it's looking like Maximum Fighting Championships.

Bobby Lashley Likely to Fight in May for Maximum Fighting Championship originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Sat, 18 Apr 2009 07:59:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Bobby LashleyBobbyLashleyMaximum Fighting ChampionshipMaximumFightingChampionshipMFC 21Mfc21Michael David SmithSat, 18 Apr 2009 07:59:00 EST Ken Shamrock: 'I Work on Controlling Myself Every Day. It's an Art'http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/04/17/ken-shamrock-i-work-on-controlling-myself-every-day-its-an-a/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/04/17/ken-shamrock-i-work-on-controlling-myself-every-day-its-an-a/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/04/17/ken-shamrock-i-work-on-controlling-myself-every-day-its-an-a/#commentsFiled under:

I'm pretty sure he hates me after this interview, but I've always liked Ken Shamrock, and one of the things I like best about him is exactly the quality he showed in my contentious interview with him: He doesn't back down to anyone.

So I took a particular interest in the article about Shamrock in Friday's Detroit Free Press. Because Shamrock actually sounds, after all these years of being known for his legendary temper, like he works hard at not letting his temper get the best of him.

Shamrock tells the Free Press:
"I work on controlling myself every day," he said. "It's an art. When you have a temper, and I did, you must learn self-control. When a football player takes a late hit and then dwells on it and makes an illegal tackle on the other guy, he penalizes his team, the fans, the coaches.

"Life is the same: if you lose your temper and hurt someone on the streets, you let down yourself, your parents, brothers and sisters, your job. You go to jail - for what?"
Interesting. If the hot-headed Ken Shamrock is capable of forcing himself to learn self-control, what excuse do the rest of us have for losing our tempers in traffic, or growing impatient in the bank line, or complaining that everything is taking too long?

Unfortunately, the Free Press didn't get much information out of Shamrock regarding his recent positive steroid test; all he said on that front was, "I can't say too much, because the suspension is under appeal and we are in the middle of that."

Ken Shamrock: 'I Work on Controlling Myself Every Day. It's an Art' originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Fri, 17 Apr 2009 08:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Ken ShamrockKenShamrockMichael David SmithFri, 17 Apr 2009 08:05:00 EST Does Golden Boy Promotions Have Big Plans for Affliction, MMA?http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/04/15/does-golden-boy-promotions-have-big-plans-for-affliction-mma/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/04/15/does-golden-boy-promotions-have-big-plans-for-affliction-mma/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/04/15/does-golden-boy-promotions-have-big-plans-for-affliction-mma/#commentsFiled under: ,

When Affliction announced its partnership with Golden Boy Promotions, it was seen as a big deal for mixed martial arts that the top boxing promoter was getting involved in MMA.

But does Golden Boy really have big plans for MMA? After Golden Boy boss Oscar De La Hoya announced his retirement from boxing, I asked him about his goals as a promoter, and I was interested in what he didn't say.

You can read exactly what he did say here, but what he didn't say was anything at all about MMA, even though I made a point of mentioning MMA in my question. And that reinforces my overall opinion that Golden Boy is just not that into MMA.

Don't get me wrong, neither De La Hoya nor Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer is part of the anti-MMA crowd that pervades boxing. I've talked to both De La Hoya and Schaefer about MMA in the past, and I think they both like the sport, respect its fans, recognize its potential for growth and, perhaps most importantly, realize that they can't just waltz into the MMA world and overtake the UFC.

But De La Hoya's first love is boxing, his second love is soccer, and MMA is more of an afterthought. Golden Boy admires great MMA athletes like Fedor Emelianenko and Andrei Arlovski (Schaefer raved about Arlovski in a conversation we had last year), but it isn't going to make MMA a major part of its promotional efforts any time soon.

Does Golden Boy Promotions Have Big Plans for Affliction, MMA? originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 09:59:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Oscar De La HoyaOscarDeLaHoyaRichard SchaeferRichardSchaeferMichael David SmithWed, 15 Apr 2009 09:59:00 EST March MMAdness Final: Brock Lesnar vs. Fedor Emelianenkohttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/04/06/march-mmadness-final-brock-lesnar-vs-fedor-emelianenko/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/04/06/march-mmadness-final-brock-lesnar-vs-fedor-emelianenko/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/04/06/march-mmadness-final-brock-lesnar-vs-fedor-emelianenko/#commentsFiled under:

It's time to bring an end to March MMAdness, my cockamamie idea for what would happen if we could organize a 64-man openweight MMA tournament. When we last looked at March MMAdness, we had a Final Four of Anderson Silva vs. Brock Lesnar and Fedor Emelianenko vs. Frank Mir. Final results are below.

In the first semifinal, Brock Lesnar beat Anderson Silva with a brutal ground-and-pound TKO in the second round. In the first round Silva was able to use his superior stand-up skills and his range to keep Lesnar away with kicks, but in the second Lesnar secured a takedown, used the wrestling skills that made him NCAA heavyweight champion to mount Silva, and then ruthlessly struck him before the ref stepped in to stop the fight.

In the second semifinal, Frank Mir actually knocked Fedor Emelianenko down with a kick and tried to submit him with a heel hook in the first round, but Fedor escaped and proved to be too much for Mir in the second round, beating him by TKO.

And then in the final, it was Lesnar vs. Fedor. Lesnar eschewed touching gloves at the start of the fight, stormed Fedor, came in for the takedown and used his 50-pound weight advantage to overpower Fedor to the ground. Fedor appeared to be in serious trouble, but he pulled Lesnar into his guard and held on through the first round.

The second round was much the same, with Lesnar again taking Fedor down and appearing to have too much size and strength for the smaller man. But suddenly, as Lenar rained blows down on his fallen opponent, Fedor calmly but swiftly grabbed Lesnar's tree trunk-like arm and pulled him into an arm bar, forcing Lesnar to tap. And so ends March MMAdness, with Fedor reigning supreme.

March MMAdness Final: Brock Lesnar vs. Fedor Emelianenko originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Mon, 06 Apr 2009 16:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>March MMAdnessMarchMmadnessMichael David SmithMon, 06 Apr 2009 16:45:00 EST Jeff Monson Wins Again at Dream.8, With Roy Nelson in His Cornerhttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/04/05/weird-jeff-monson-fights-again-at-dream-8-with-roy-nelson-in/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/04/05/weird-jeff-monson-fights-again-at-dream-8-with-roy-nelson-in/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/04/05/weird-jeff-monson-fights-again-at-dream-8-with-roy-nelson-in/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Two weeks ago, Jeff Monson and Roy Nelson were fighting each other in Florida at the March Badness show. This weekend in Japan, Monson was fighting again -- and he had Nelson in his corner.

Monson defeated Nelson by unanimous decision at March Badness, and then this weekend at Dream.8 he defeated Sergei Kharitonov by first-round submission. If you watch the above video closely, you'll see that after Monson wins, he celebrates by going to his corner and hugging Nelson.

It's a little strange to have a guy in your corner a couple weeks after you fought him, but then again, Monson is a little strange. And when I interviewed Nelson prior to their fight, he told me he likes Monson, adding, "we've hung out together, gone out to eat together. Jeff's a good guy."

And if you're thinking that two weeks is an extremely short layoff between fights, you don't know the half of it. Believe it or not, this was actually the third consecutive weekend that Monson has fought. After beating Nelson on March 21, Monson went to Northern Ireland and submitted Sergei Maslobojev on March 29. And then he went to Japan and beat Kharitonov. Three weekends, three fights, three continents, three wins. Such is the life of Jeff Monson.

Jeff Monson Wins Again at Dream.8, With Roy Nelson in His Corner originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Sun, 05 Apr 2009 10:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Dream 8Dream8Jeff MonsonJeffMonsonMarch BadnessMarchBadnessRoy NelsonRoyNelsonSergei KharitonovSergei MaslobojevSergeiKharitonovSergeiMaslobojevMichael David SmithSun, 05 Apr 2009 10:55:00 EST March MMAdness Final Four: Frank Mir, Brock Lesnar, Anderson Silva, Fedorhttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/03/29/march-mmadness-final-four-frank-mir-brock-lesnar-anderson-sil/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/03/29/march-mmadness-final-four-frank-mir-brock-lesnar-anderson-sil/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/03/29/march-mmadness-final-four-frank-mir-brock-lesnar-anderson-sil/#commentsFiled under:


We've now reached the Final Four of March MMAdness, my crazy notion of what would happen if we could put together a 64-man openweight MMA tournament.

Here are the results of the Eilte Eight fights:
Anderson Silva beat Josh Barnett by third-round TKO (strikes)
Brock Lesnar beat Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira by unanimous decision
Fedor Emelianenko beat Randy Couture by first-round submission (arm bar)
Frank Mir beat Lyoto Machida by third-round submission (triangle choke)

The most anticipated bout of the Elite Eight, Randy Couture vs. Fedor Emelianenko, turned out to be the only one that wasn't competitive, as Fedor used a quick combination to knock Couture to the canvas and then quickly submitted him once on the ground.

Silva got taken down and badly hurt by Barnett in the first round before regaining his composure in the second and using his superior stand-up to win the fight in the third. Lesnar overpowered Nogueira on the ground and fought cautiously enough that Nogueira wasn't able to submit him, while Mir struggled with Machida's style buteventually got him to the ground and submitted him.

Next weekend we'll get Anderson Silva vs. Brock Lesnar and Fedor Emelianenko vs. Frank Mir, and the winners will face off in the tournament final.

March MMAdness Final Four: Frank Mir, Brock Lesnar, Anderson Silva, Fedor originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Sun, 29 Mar 2009 13:47:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>March MMAdnessMarchMmadnessMichael David SmithSun, 29 Mar 2009 13:47:00 EST March MMAdness: Barnett, Silva, Lesnar, Minotauro Make Elite 8http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/03/27/march-mmadness-barnett-silva-lesnar-minotauro-make-elite-8/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/03/27/march-mmadness-barnett-silva-lesnar-minotauro-make-elite-8/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/03/27/march-mmadness-barnett-silva-lesnar-minotauro-make-elite-8/#commentsFiled under:


March MMAdness -- my make-believe 64-man openweight MMA tournament -- is down to the Elite 8. Results of Friday's four fights are below.

West Region
Josh Barnett beat Gabriel Gonzaga by second-round TKO (strikes)
Anderson Silva beat Quinton "Rampage" Jackson by third-round KO (knee)

Midwest Region
Brock Lesnar beat Junior "Cigano" dos Santos by unanimous decision
Antonio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira beat Semmy Schilt by first-round submission (triangle choke)

Those results give us the following regional final match-ups:

Josh Barnett vs. Anderson Silva
Brock Lesnar vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
Fedor Emelianenko vs. Randy Couture
Frank Mir vs. Lyoto Machida

By the end of the weekend, we'll have our Final Four.

March MMAdness: Barnett, Silva, Lesnar, Minotauro Make Elite 8 originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Fri, 27 Mar 2009 21:17:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>March MMAdnessMarchMmadnessMichael David SmithFri, 27 Mar 2009 21:17:00 EST March MMAdness Get Ready for Fedor Emelianenko vs. Randy Couturehttp://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/03/26/march-mmadness-sets-up-fedor-vs-randy-mir-vs-machida/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/03/26/march-mmadness-sets-up-fedor-vs-randy-mir-vs-machida/http://mma.fanhouse.com/2009/03/26/march-mmadness-sets-up-fedor-vs-randy-mir-vs-machida/#commentsFiled under:

We're probably never going to see Fedor Emelianenko fight Randy Couture in real life. But we will get to see it in the alternative reality of March MMAdness.

For those who haven't been following along, March MMAdness is my cockamamie idea for what would happen if we entered the 64 best mixed martial artists in the world in an openweight tournament.

Just like the NCAA Tournament, March MMAdness started a week ago and is down to the Sweet 16. And the latest results set up the fight that MMA fans most want to see in the East Region final.

East Region
Fedor Emelianenko beat Fabricio Werdum by first-round KO (punch)
Randy Couture beat Rashad Evans by split decision

South Region
Frank Mir beat Antonio Rogerio Nogueira by first-round TKO (kick and punches)
Lyoto Machida beat Tim Sylvia by unanimous decision

On Friday we'll have the Sweet 16 from the West and Midwest regions, and then over the weekend we'll find out who makes the Final Four, starting with Saturday's epic battle of Randy Couture vs. Fedor Emelianenko.

March MMAdness Get Ready for Fedor Emelianenko vs. Randy Couture originally appeared on MMA FanHouse on Thu, 26 Mar 2009 22:11:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Fedor EmelianenkoFedorEmelianenkoMarch MMAdnessMarchMmadnessRandy CoutureRandyCoutureMichael David SmithThu, 26 Mar 2009 22:11:00 EST