Your MMA News, My Views 9.07.07
Posted by Larry Csonka on 09.07.2007
This week we discuss the ongoing negotiations between the UFC and Fedor, I breakdown the Babalu apology and show you MIRKO’S DEATHWISH!
INTRODUCTION~!
Welcome once again to another edition of Your MMA News, My Views! I have a fine slate of topics for you children to read today, and a special preview of MIRKO'S DEATHWISH! Yeah, we have a good bit of news to talk about, as well as the upcoming schedule for yours truly. There is still a lot more of MMA this month, here's a breakdown of what I'll be covering:
Saturday, September 8th: UFC 75 LIVE Coverage
Monday, September 10th: My Take On UFC 75
Saturday September 15th: Elite XC LIVE Coverage
Monday September 17th: My Take On Elite XC
Wednesday September 19th: UFC Fight Night LIVE Coverage
Friday September 21st: My Take On UFC Fight Night
I will not be covering UFC 76 as that duty will fall to the esteemed Michael Huckaby. I will be relaxing and doing some family activities that weekend. All right, now that you have the schedule and can plan your life around 411's MMA Coverage, and me. Let's break down the news of the week!
MIRKO: THE REAL DEATH WISH!
He made a name for himself in cage fights and the UFC circuit, now Mirko Cro-Cop Filipovic is taking his martial arts skills to the big screen in his debut feature. Filipovic plays a highly trained deadly assassin code-named Sphinx, a man who always hits his target. That is until he unexpectedly fails a secret mission, and in his classified circle of the government a mishap like this usually ends in death. But the Sphinx is too valuable a player, and his superiors have something else in mind. They've decided to send him to an island prison with five other operatives who have been sent there for various reasons. In order to survive this little game, he's going to need every one of his deadly skills, and the same tactics that made him a superstar in the ring translate to this action-packed film where refusing to fight is not an option, it's a death sentence.
ZUFFA (UFC/WEC/PRIDE) stories, scuttlebutt and rumors:
Your News: On the Fedor Emelianenko contract front, his people met with Dana White in the past few days. There is no deal right now. The $2 million per fight number going around is not accurate. Four fights looks to be the number of fights on the deal.
My Views: While the $2-million a fight is not the number, the deal itself would be a big number, most likely over $2-million for the deal, regardless, the number is real big. Dana White recently told CBSSports.com that the latest round of negotiations didn't go well. "These guys are crazy," he said. The problem remains the same as it has been. UFC wants total exclusivity, while Fedor's people still want him to have the option to fight in Russia (SAMBO.) They also want to use his negotiations to get the UFC to not only run shows in Russia but to get Fedor's teammates into the UFC. Basically Fedro is in the power position. He knows UFC wants him and that the fans want an undisputed Heavyweight Champion and the only way to have that is to have Fedor fight in the UFC. He also wants to keep doing SAMBO and hook his guys up, he is making this purely business and you cannot blame him. I do hope that he gives a bit, because I think we all want to see Fedor in UFC. Also, with the roll Randy is on, that fight needs to happen.
Your News: "The welterweight debut of Mike Swick will have to wait after the former middleweight contender was forced to withdraw from September 19th's UFC Fight Night show in Las Vegas with a rib injury. Stepping up to the plate to face Jonathan Goulet at The Palms will be up and comer Dustin Hazelett. UFC Fight Night, which features the lightweight battle between Din Thomas and Kenny Florian, airs live on Spike TV beginning at 9pm."
My Views: As always injuries are a major aspect of these shows, the guys train hard and injuries happen. Dustin Hazelett is a 9-3 fighter, and is coming off of two straight wins, both in the UFC from UFC 67 and 72. He'll be a fine replacement, and will be looking to take advantage of Swick's injury.
Your News: Matt Hughes is starting his own training camp and has left Miletich Fighting Systems. Robbie Lawler has left with him.
My Views: Reportedly the split was on good terms, as it appears as if Hughes decided he really loved coaching in this latest stint on the Ultimate Fighter. One would have to question the timing though, as he has a title fight coming up. He is coming off of a loss, and then a decision victory in which he looked less than dominant. I suppose we'll find out in December how well this works out for him, and Lawler as he has a fight on the 15th, the next EliteXC show against NINJA RUA~! Corey Hill is out of "Team Hughes" as of now. Hill has yet to make an official comment on the matter or what path he has chosen to explore, but he was planned to be a founding fighter for Team Hughes.
Your News: Roger Huerta, Alberto Crane, Georges St. Pierre, Josh Koscheck, Kendall Grove, Patrick Cote, Frank Mir, Antoni Hardonk, Randy Couture and Gabriel Gonzaga were all drug tested at UFC 74 and everyone came back clean of steroids. Street drug tests were not back in as of press time (marijuana, etc.). In California, there seems to be a handful of marijuana failures every week.
My Views: Well good news thus far. I know I have been getting emails saying they feel Randy had found a "fountain of youth" and would be busted. I can't say that he isn't doing anything, but he has never had a major injury or muscle tear, so I would like to think he really is "The Natural." Anyway, after the Sherk/Franca debacle, it was important to get clean tests back. I cannot wait for Dana's say no to drugs meeting, "DON'T DO DRUGS YOU STUPID FUCKS!"
Your News: Few MMA fans aren't aware of Babalu's actions at UFC 74 in regards to his win over David Heath. The elongated chokehold he used has left countless strong opinions and YouTube hits in its wake. Directly after meeting with the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Sobral issued the following statement, my thoughts in bold:
"To My Family, Friends, Fans and Sponsors:
Since UFC 74, I have wanted to speak publicly about my fight with David Heath. I waited to do so, however, out of respect for the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Zuffa, Inc. and Dana White. After all, it is their efforts that have legitimized Mixed Martial Arts in the sports world and I realize that my conduct has unintentionally hindered those efforts. For that, among other things, I am deeply sorry.
Well, it is a good think that he respects the athletic commission, Zuffa and Dana enough to wait, and that he says he is sorry. That is a good first step.
I have been fighting professionally since 1998. Prior to my fight with David Heath, my professional record was twenty-seven wins with seven losses. Fourteen of my victories came by way of submission. Not once was I ever accused of holding a choke or submission too long. If anything, there has always been and continues to be a great camaraderie between my opponents and I after the fight.
Well, that's then but this is now. You held the choke too long, you know it and you admitted to it at the post fight press conference.
Being a professional mixed martial artist is more than a career to me. It is my livelihood and my way of life. Consequently, I am deeply sorry for any embarrassment that has been brought upon the sport, other mixed martial artists (especially David Heath), my Academy and most importantly, my family.
You should be dude, shit like this is what sets MMA back in a time when it should be growing.
As if the embarrassment were not enough, my actions during the fight with David and my comments afterwards, have already resulted in severe financial loss to my family because as you know, in addition to my win bonus still being withheld, yesterday I was released from my contract with the UFC.
And you should have been. You acted unprofessionally and could have severely hurt "a fellow fighter," or maybe worse. You'll get no sympathy from me.
There has been much talk about things that may have been said to me by David Heath at the weigh-in. What David said to me at the weigh-in didn't matter then and doesn't matter now. What matters are my comments after the fight. And, regardless of what you may read by so called MMA experts on the internet, I never said that I purposefully choked-out David Heath. In short, my post-fight comments, while inappropriate, were not intended to be comments about the choke. Rather, they were intended to be comments about the aggressive performance that I put in.
Yes you did say that you choked him out on purpose, people heard it chief, you fucked up and now you're shit out of luck. You say it doesn't matter what Heath said, but you were quoted as saying you were teaching him a lesson in respect. You deserved what you got, and now you are being taught a lesson in respect.
I did not intentionally choke out David Heath. The first that I realized that David had tapped was when people told me that he did after the fight. When I finally had the chance to view the tape, I see that he did. When David tapped, I did not feel it. I wish I did for I would have let it go. Instead, I continued to hold it. Not because I was upset or wanted him to lose consciousness. I held it because I didn't know he tapped and I was intent on winning the fight. Holding on to a choke a little long is not an uncommon mistake made in training, and never in my career have I witnessed or heard of an injury resulting from it.
Keep on making excuses dude, that's what guilty people do after the fact when they have been busted.
When I had the choke, I was not looking the referee in the eyes as one commentator erroneously observed. Nor did I hear the referee issue any verbal command to release the hold. Instead, my head was down to strengthen the move and my eyes closed with focus. As a result, I did not feel the referee tap me the first time either. It was not until he put his hands on my right shoulder that I felt him trying to separate us. When I felt this, I immediately released the choke.
Keep on trying to justify your actions, that's what guilty people do after the fact when they have been busted.
After [the 8/31] hearing I traveled to the UFC's office to meet with Dana White. Contrary to recent reports in the media, this meeting was not to discuss my being released from the UFC. In fact, this meeting was arranged prior to my even being released from the contract. The purpose of the meeting was for me to personally apologize to Dana while at the same time thank him for all the opportunities that the UFC has given to my family and I. Unfortunately, I was unable to meet with Dana due to a calendaring error. Nevertheless, thanks Dana and my apologies.
You should apologize for doing something this stupid.
I am a professional fighter. This is what I do for a living. I do not hold a day job and then train at night to fight. I know nothing else but how to fight. This is how I support my family.
Well then, looks like you messed up your family's financial situation, because I didn't see anyone else in the Octagon holding a choke too long.
On behalf of my family and friends, I appreciate the support that you have given me over the years, not to mention in the recent week, and I am hopeful that I will have the opportunity to fight again in the State of Nevada."
I am sure you have been or will be talking with Elite XC as soon as possible. Try not to hold your chokes too long while you're there.
MMA LINKZ~!
Tons of great stuff to read this week from the 411 MMA crew!
Your News: Ty Montgomery, who fought last Friday for Galaxy Productions in Imperial Beach, CA, has had his license revoked and fined $2,500 for his third violation. Montgomery tested positive for marijuana at the show, his second positive for pot. His third strike was a physical altercation at a weigh-in in March for a matchmaker. He can apply for a new license in one year but must be approved by the commission in order to do so.
My Views: Marijuana may actually be a bigger issue in MMA than steroids right now. It seems that every week someone is testing positive for marijuana. While some think this is not a big deal, facts are facts, marijuana is illegal in the US and they get tested for it, and guys like this are stupid enough to get caught. I have no sympathy for guys like this.
Your News: ShowXC did an 0.5 rating with an 0.4 in persons 18-49, an 0.6 in males 18-49 and 121,000 viewers.
My Views: Well that's what happens when you not only fail to properly promote an event, but it also happens when you run head to head with a UFC PPV. Plus the show sucked, badly and had the Krazy Horse scandal on it. I wonder how some repeat viewings did, but overall a bad rating and it is their fault for not promoting it well.
Your News: ProElite Inc. made the announcement today that it has acquired the British MMA Promotion Cage Rage Championships. The organization with Showtime's backing has been rumored to be in talks to purchase both Cage Rage and the Hawaiian MMA promotion ICON Sport. Cage Rage's next event will be at the Wembley Arena on Sept. 22. The event will stream live on ProElite.com.
My Views: But in good news for the company their bid to become the definitive #2 company in the world continues as they have purchased the British MMA Promotion Cage Rage Championships. They look to have secured the King of the Cage, Gladiator and ICON promotions as well, which have led to the invention of the above-mentioned SHOWXC shows. I am loving this because they have some good fighters under contract, and are building solid "developmental system" ala UFC with WEC. More competition is great for the MMA business, so I am all for this. They also announced buying into Spirit MC, which is a Korean MMA group.
UFC 75 Anticipation Station~!
Anthony Torres vs. Jess Liaudin
Winner: Jess Liaudin via submission RD1
Naoyuki Kotani vs. Dennis Siver
Winner: Naoyuki Kotani via submission RD3
Tomasz Drwal vs. Thiago Silva
Winner: Thiago Silva via TKO RD2
Gleison Tibau vs. Terry Etim
Winner: Terry Etim via submission RD 1
Houston Alexander vs. Alessio Sakara
Winner: Houston Alexander via TKO RD1
Marcus Davis vs. Paul Taylor
Winner: Marcus Davis via Submission RD2
Mirko Cro Cop vs. Cheick Kongo
Winner: Mirko Cro Cop via TKO RD2
Michael Bisping vs. Matt Hamill
Winner: Michael Bisping via decision
LHW Title Unification: Rampage Jackson vs. Dan Henderson
Winner: Rampage Jackson via TKO RD4
Make sure to join 411 for our LIVE coverage Saturday Night!
READER FEEDBACK~!
From Adam on Krazy Horse -
I originally found your commentary on Charles Bennett quite confusing. How can someone promote Quinton Jackson and not Charles Bennett. Both are exciting fighters that get the crowd into the action. They both seem to promote the thug lifestyle, whether it be a grill or chains. But after a short musing amongst myself and a few friends we determined that your point of view was right on the money. Charles Bennett is a thug, Quinton is a character. Quinton shows class to his opponent, Charles fakes a KO. Your right MMA is in its infancy and has to promote guys like Quinton and Randy and shun those like Charles and Babalu. UFC is missing the boat on Rampage. They need to get this guy all over the media. Regis and Kelly, Jim Rome is Burning, Off the Record, etc. UFC has to develop its fighters. They need a "Hulk Hogan" like character to get them into mainstream Americana. Thanks for listening to my rant, keep up the good work.
Thank you man. I am glad that you saw what I was getting at. While some will think Horse and Rampage are similar, they are VERY different guys. Good email dude.
From Chris on Babalu -
I gotta call a little bit of BS here man. On Dana White and the UFC specifically and the MMA community in general.
What happened to David Heath is called a receipt. He talked trash and pissed off the guy he was going into the ring with and he got called on it, simple as that. It happens in just about every competitive sport out there, most of them are team sports so we rarely get to see it in the center of the screen. Royce is guilty of it, BJ is guilty of it, Heath Herring is guilty of it.
If Dana wants to try and "clean up the sport" then he shouldn't promote things like Herring knocking out his opponent at the face off before the bell cause the guy was playing mind games by kissing him… and UFC hyped the shit out of that incident when they brought Herring back in. BJ shouldn't get a pass for holding his choke just as long on Pulver as Babalu did on Heath, he just didn't Put Jens out, which is beside the point. Babalu is being possibly fined and was fired, for not obeying the ref, which is EXACTLY what BJ did, no difference whatsoever. Royce did it all the time in matches, most traditional combative jujitsu players wont release a hold until the ref practically pulls them off.
If people think Babalu is so bad they need to go watch some of Kid Yamamotos fights from Shooto, I'm surprised no one stabbed that guy for the way he acted in the ring.
Comparing Babalu to Bennett really isn't fair. Bennett is a complete douche nozzle and I think for the most part Babalu let his temper and pride get the better of him.
Babalu is being used as an example, the problem is the stance by the UFC is so hypocritical that it's a useless example. Unless they start dropping the hammer on everyone, including company favorites like BJ and anyone else that steps out of line its meaningless.
Personally I think people are looking at it all wrong. I mean, what I think happened was Babalu knew he had won the fight, but was so concerned about his opponents excessive bleeding that he didn't want Heath to get injured. Unfortunately he didn't have any way to help such as towels or any way to stitch up the wound, especially since the fight was still going on, so he decided to stop the blood flow to Heaths face the only way he knew how… Anaconda choke. If you think about it Babalu is a hero, and people are not giving him the credit he deserves as such.
Justify it all you want, what he did was wrong and he got what he deserved.
For more interesting information on wrestling and MMA, check out Bryan Alvarez and Figure Four Weekly Online!
He made a name for himself in cage fights and the UFC circuit, now Mirko Cro-Cop Filipovic is taking his martial arts skills to the big screen in his debut feature. Filipovic plays a highly trained deadly assassin code-named Sphinx, a man who always hits his target. That is until he unexpectedly fails a secret mission, and in his classified circle of the government a mishap like this usually ends in death. But the Sphinx is too valuable a player, and his superiors have something else in mind. They've decided to send him to an island prison with five other operatives who have been sent there for various reasons. In order to survive this little game, he's going to need every one of his deadly skills, and the same tactics that made him a superstar in the ring translate to this action-packed film where refusing to fight is not an option, it's a death sentence.
