The MMA News Report 03.28.07
Posted by Morgan Marx on 03.28.2007
The debut of a new weekly column focusing on the UFC, Pride, and other MMA organizations that will one day be owned by the UFC!
INTRODUCTION
What a week it's been for fans of MMA. Arguably the biggest news story involving the sport breaks right before an already stacked month of action. We have two excellent free fight cards scheduled for April, including UFC 70 headlined by Mirko Filipovic. Pride will also broadcast their swan song live in both Brazil and the USA for the first time. My name is Morgan Marx, and you might recognize me from the Music Zone. We here at 411 are expanding our coverage of the MMA scene as the sport continues to grow in popularity. Now lets get to the news!
NEWS
Fertitta Brothers Purchase PRIDE Fighting Championship
It's been rumored for longer than I can remember. It's been debated on message boards for months on end. It's been confirmed, denied, promised, and given up on. The sale of Pride to the controlling owners of the UFC is a landmark agreement for the sport of MMA. Dream match-ups that used to reside in the realm of fantasy booking might now be possible. A co-promotional Super Bowl-like event has already been mentioned. Both brands will be able to expand into new territories. There is nothing negative about the partnership between the two organizations.
The big points about the deal are all connected to how Pride will be run. Original fears that the UFC would completely take over and replace Pride have been largely assuaged. Pride will continue to be run as a separate organization, under the new company name Pride FC Worldwide. The promotion will continue to run shows primarily in Japan. UFC President Dana White doesn't seem to be connected to Pride in any management way (for now). For fans of the organization, this is all welcome news.
It looks like the UFC will have access to Pride's video library. Hopefully, this will lead to episodes of UFC Unleashed featuring bouts from Pride's history as well as the UFC's. When Mirko (Cro Cop) Filipovic was signed by the UFC, fans were repeatedly told about how dangerous he could be. In the future, fans will be able to see highlights of new, foreign fighters before they make their UFC debut.
Rule changes are another sticking point to the deal. It looks like Pride will alter some of its rules to conform to the UFC brand. Dana White referenced the game of soccer, saying that "The same game of soccer that we play in the United States is the same game they play in Japan, England, and Brazil, and that's what we want for mixed martial arts." Soccer kicks to the head, and knees to the head of a downed opponent will likely be outlawed. Changes to the Pride weight-class system will also occur. According to UFC.com, Pride fights will remain in a ring as opposed to the octogon.
Obviously, the biggest aspect of the deal is the ability to put on cross promotion fights. Following the dissolution of the promised Chuck Liddell v. Wanderlei Silva superfight, fans were fed excuses from both organizations about why the match never happened. Hopefully, that will never occur again. By this time next year we could see champion versus champion battles like Sean Sherk v. Takanori Gomi or Anderson Silva v. Dan Henderson (which has already been rumored).
The sale of Pride has garnered widespread attention, including from more mainstream news sources. Both ESPN.com and MSN ran stories on their respective front pages about the sale. This is obviously a good sign for the sport of MMA. Both ESPN and Sports Illustrated have been warming up to the UFC over recent months, with fighters like Liddell and heavyweight champ Randy Couture making appearances on TV and in magazines. It's now conceivable to imagine a day when UFC highlights are covered on Sportscenter alongside sports like baseball and boxing. Who would ever have imagined that just 7 years ago?
A comparison has been made between the Pride sale and the AFL/NFL merger that boosted football to its lofty status as America's most popular sport. I'm not entirely sure that is an accurate point. As previously mentioned, White alluded to soccer when talking about the new Pride partnership. In an AP report, Lorenzo Fertitta said the deal would be, "Literally creating a sport that could be as big around the world as soccer." I think the soccer comparisons are apt. Much like how the biggest club teams in the world (Chelsea, Barcelona, Milan) cross league borders to compete under the heading of the UEFA Champions League, UFC and Pride fighters (St-Pierre, Rua, Fedor) will be able to come together to prove who is the best. Being a UFC champion or a Pride champion will still be a prestigious ranking, much like winnging a domestic league title. but arguments over which organization is better, or which champion could kick which's ass will be settled.
Sources: UFC.com, PrideFC.com, UFCJunkie.com
Quinton Jackson Signs New UFC Deal
According to the Los Angeles Times, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson has received both a new 4-fight deal, and a title shot at Chuck Liddell. Jackson and Liddell will headline UFC 72 in late May. Rampage, as the UFC has repeatedly made reference to, holds the only un-avenged victory over the light heavyweight champion. After Jackson's UFC debut, a victory over Marvin Eastman, the fighter said he wanted another tune up fight before taking on Liddell. However, in the LA Times interview, Jackson's trainer Juanito Ibarra states that "Chuck Liddell is a fight we're ready for."
Hopefully, that's the case. The last time Liddell avenged a prior loss, he completely dominated Jeremy Horn before forcing a TKO due to strikes. Horn was beaten so badly he could no longer see the punches that were tagging him in the face. Rampage should put on a better show than that, though Liddell will surely be the favorite for their rematch. The new contract allows Rampage to train for the fight without fearing that a loss will damage his future in the UFC. Win or lose, Rampage is a charismatic, entertaining fighter who matches up well with the likes of Rashad Evans and Keith Jardine.
Sources: LATimes.com
Jeff Monson v. Kazuyuki Fujita Added to Pride 34
Jeff Monson, last seen almost succumbing to noted submission master Tim Sylvia's attempt at a triangle, will be fighting at Pride 34, the last Pride card run by Nobuyuki Sakakibara and DSE. It's shaping up to be an odd card, especially considering that it will be the first Pride PPV to air live in the US. Right now, there isn't a true superstar on the card, with the most recognizable fighters being Monson and Ricardo Arona. Sideshow entertainers like Eric "Butterbean" Esch, the 400 lb. Zuluzinho, and Gilbert Yvel (who is apparently aiming to set the record for most ways of being DQ'd from a fight) are taking up numerous positions of the card. Even Fujita, though a credible fighter with a win over Frank Shamrock and a strong effort against Fedor Emlianenko, has a background in pro wrestling.
Pride's continual promotion of fights featuring giants, masked men, and men from a non-MMA environment always hurt the promotion in my eye. While people criticize the UFC for a lack of true contenders and too many rematches, at least they weren't headlining PPV cards with the likes of Fedor and Zuluzinho. The Monson v. Fujita match should be better than that, though. At least, it better be.
Source: PrideFC.com
Guillard Throws Heavy Hands, Heavy Accusations
Melvin Guillard, who is set to face fellow TUF2 fighter Joe Stevenson as previewed below, is not one to hold his tongue. The athletic fighter isn't afraid to say what he thinks, even when he comes off as somewhat cocky. Guillard appeared on the "Savage Dog Show" hosted at Sherdog.com in promotion of Ultimate Fight Night Live. Among the usual things brash fighters say (Guillard will win by KO, Guillard is a better wrestler than Stevenson, etc) Guillard said "I have something that other fighters don't have and that's athletic ability. All these other fighters, including Stevenson and a couple other fighters that I know of, they're all using growth hormone and stuff like that. They're altering their game by using anabolic steroids." Guillard later claimed that he was right, even if other fighters denied any connection to illegal performance enhancing drugs.
I can't claim that Guillard is a credible source. But if he is speaking from first hand experience, this could be a huge story. According to MMAWeekly.com, one former TUF fighter, Stephan Bonnar, tested positive for anabolic steroids following his rematch with Forrest Griffin. If Guillard has seen other fighters, including TUF alum, using similar steroids we might see more of these positive tests in the future. If the UFC is to be taken seriously as a professional sport, they need to prevent a steroid scandal before it even pops up. Guillard's willingness to speak the (apparent) truth is admirable, though obviously can't be confirmed as of now.
Sources: Sherdog.com, MMAWeekly.com
UPCOMING EVENTS
UFC Fight Night 9 Preview
Main Event Joe Stevenson v. Melvin Guillard: Since the conclusion of UFC 68 (actually, since the first promo for UFC 69 aired 10 minutes into UFC 68), talk has been building about the upcoming fight between Diego Sanchez and Josh Koscheck. The marquee match-up of former The Ultimate Fighter participants is arguably more hyped than the welterweight title fight that is actually main eventing the Pay Per View. While the bout will no doubt be exciting, it's curious that the UFC decided to pair off the two fighters, both of whom are near title contention. Typically, an organization would protect two similarly promising young talents, keeping them apart in favor of a bigger payday down the road.
Flying slightly under the radar is the comparative situation that will headline the UFC's next Ultimate Fight Night, airing live on Spike TV on April 5th. Like Sanchez and Koscheck, two former reality show contestants will face off in a battle that will significantly alter the title picture in the lightweight division. TUF 2 champion Joe Stevenson is set to fight the explosive Melvin Guillard, with the winner likely earning a shot at whomever holds the belt later this year. It can be argued that the Stevenson-Guillard match-up might be more exciting than either of the fights headlining UFC 69.
Both fighters have a lot in common. Both dropped down a weight class since TUF2 and are large 155ers. Both have a staggering amount of fights behind them for such young ages. Each has lost once in the UFC at the hands of Josh Neer, Stevenson by decision, Guillard by submission. Each can be completely dominant one minute, only to loose focus the next. The fight between the two should answer a lot of questions about their respective futures.
Stevenson is a powerful wrestler with a good submission game. He has had some difficulty finishing opponents, but bounced back in his last fight to submit Dokonjonosuke Mishima by guillotine choke (he actually sunk the hold twice in succession). Stevenson looked to have cardio issues in his 3 round fight with Neer, a fight he could have won with a sick knee bar that would have tapped anyone with less heart than Neer. Guillard should provide ample motivation for training, and I would expect Stevenson to show up in great shape.
Guillard is the prototypical athlete in MMA clothes. He is lightening fast on his feet and with his hands, he is ridiculously strong, able to shrug off takedown attempts, and he has legitimate knockout power (even with his body shots). What he appears to be lacking is in-ring (cage) intelligence. He had his fight with Neer won via a brutal cut before he got lazy and fell into a telegraphed triangle. In his fight with Gabe Ruediger (the one with the aforementioned body shot) Guillard was absolutely dominant. Yet, at the end of round 1, Guillard found himself mounted by Ruediger in a dangerous spot. It's the kind of mistake the great fighters don't make. To his credit, Guillard survived and went on to win. However, that kind of a mistake against a more talented opponent won't go unpunished.
So who takes the fight? I like Stevenson's ground skills against an opponent who has shone the propensity for being submitted. However, if Stevenson makes a Matt Hughes-like mistake and tries to show off his improved standup game, Guillard has the chance to catch him on the chin. Either way, it should be an action filled fight that won't disappoint.
Undercard Kenny Florian v. Dokonjonosuke Mishima: The experienced, savvy Mishima (do you think I'm going to be typing Dokonjonosuke again?) should be a great test for Boston's own Kenny Florian. Florian is arguably the TUF series biggest surprise, earning a title shot before much more lauded peers (like Season 1 champ Sanchez). Sean Sherk easily out-muscled Florian in their title fight, but that isn't indicative of Florian's skills as a fighter. Not many in the 155 division match-up with Sherk's physical strength, and the fact that Florian survived for 25 minutes is not small feat. A win over Mishima would cement Florian as a solid contender. It should be a war on the ground. Prediction: Florian by Submission.
Justin McCully v. Antoni Hardonk: When Frank Mir pulled out of the event with an apparent shoulder injury, not many would have predicted that McCully would get the call up. McCully has a decent record dating back to 1997, but a 6-year lay off from competitive fighting (barring one fight) leaves him something of an unknown commodity. Still, McCully trains with Tito Ortiz, is only 31, and should be hungry. I liked what I saw from Hardonk in his UFC debut, though opponent Sherman Pendergarst seemed out of his depth in the octagon. Hardonk is a talented striker who mixes his kicks and punches with intelligence. A solid win should earn Hardonk a match with a more impressive foe. Prediction: Hardonk by TKO (strikes).
Other Fights
Drew Fickett looks to bounce back against Japanese fighter Keita Nakamura. I like Fickett a lot, he's well rounded and always gives his best. Keita has a good record, including a host of submission wins, so this match could end up being a standout. Hopefully it makes the televised show…Veteran Wander Braga was due to bring an undefeated record into the cage against Kurt Pellegrino, bit is still having Visa issues. No replacement is set yet…Replacement Forrest Petz takes on Kuniyoshi Hironaka in a welterweight match up. Another solid but unspectacular fight…TUF alum Seth Petruzelli goes up against Wilson Gouveia. Gouveia has a wealth of talent, and if he shows up in form should overwhelm Petruzelli…Brazilian Roan Carneiro takes on Rich Clementi in a match that should end by submission…Lightweight fighters Thiago Tavares and Naoyuki Kotani round out the nights card.
CONCLUSION
Well, that's it for the debut edition of The MMA News Report. We'll be back next week with a preview of UFC 69, more news on the Pride/UFC merger, and coverage of whatever news breaks in the next 7 days. Thanks for reading, and please send along any comments, questions, things you want to see discussed, new titles for the column, or whatever else might be on your mind. Have a good one.
