This fight is underway, and Fedor shoots in immediately. They’re down and Choi
is on top. Fedor has the advantage any time they’re on the ground, but the
enormous Choi has the huge size advantage. I thought Fedor was going to get the
arm bar, but they stood back up.Fedor is bruised in the face. Choi landed a
solid strike. But Fedor locks the arm and that’s it! It’s over! Choi taps out!

Source:
http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2007/12/31/fedor-emelianenko-vs-choi-hong-man-in-tokyo-new-years-eve-live/

Source:
http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2007/12/31/fedor-emelianenko-defeats-hong-man-choi/

In a recent press conference Dana White said that the UFC may be coming to Canada in as early as April in 2008.

In a round about way:

White has made no secret of the fact that he wants Georges St-Pierre to headline
the first Canadian event. With the new interim welterweight champion coming out
of his fight with Matt Hughes relatively unscathed, the only question now is
regarding his opposition.

He couldn’t confirm it, but is seemingly
hopeful that he’ll be able to pit St-Pierre in a unification bout against
current champion Matt Serra, who is suffering from a recent back
injury.

“Matt Serra is very confident that he will heal quickly. I
think he feels he’ll be ready for April. That wouldn’t suck,” commented White
with a grin on his face.

I hope this event being in Canada won’t be much of a distraction for GSP. in April of 2007 we all know how GSP fought so far out of character that it cost him his belt. I all we can do is hope for the shows to expand. Being in Canada at least we don’t have to worry so much about tape delay like we do when it is Europe, but we also probably won’t get any free shows either.

Source:
http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=5380&zoneid=1

Cool night of fights. Two good main fights that could both easily be main cards.

Matt Hughes Vs. Georges St-Pierre

(Georges St-Pierre Wins by Submission (Arm Lock) at 4:54 in the 2nd round by arm bar)

RESULTS: GSP out fought Hughes on every level. He threw some punches and kicks and Matt wasn’t able to come up with much. He tried a little punch fake to a takedown, but GSP saw it coming. That was the last thing Hughes was able to throw at him. GSP dominated him until the end of the first round where GSP might have pulled off a submission, but the bell rang. GSP came in and dominated some more and got an upside down triangle on Matt and started to go for the Kimura, but Hughes powered out of it, but GSP just slid into an armbar.

This will be match three between these two guys. Pierre said he lost the first time to Matt Hughes because of jitters to his idol. He proved it when these two matched up the second time and Pierre executed a game plan perfectly. Both of these guys have had a short time to prepare for each other specifically, but since they have fought each other twice, Matt was training already and Pierre stays in phenomenal shape I think that advantage is a wash. I now Matt really wants this one, but I think Pierre will dominate Hughes in every aspect of the game. GSP is just good. I was really impressed with the way GSP dominated Koscheck in his last fight with wrestling. He made KOS look like a rookie. I think GSP will win the striking ans most of the ground game. I am expecting Hughes to use his power to get a take down or two. I am going with GSP winning via decision.

Chuck Liddell Vs. Wanderlei Silva

(Chuck Liddell Wins by Unanimous Decision at 5:00 in the 3rd round)

RESULTS: Chuck and wandy just went at it hard. Chuck was smacking him around, but wandy is always good to throw back even if he is getting punched. Chuck had Wandy up against the cage a couple of times and all I could think of was the Belfort fight, but wandy provde he was a lot tougher. Most of the guys Chuck fought like Tito and others would have dropped several times from some of the bombs Chuck was throwing. Both of these guys rocked each other a couple of times, but Chuck played it smart and got a couple of takedowns and just simply landed more punches.

This is gonna be a cool fight regardless of these guys last couple of fights. Silva is a maniac in the ring and he is in the best shape of his life coming into this fight. He has been training at Xtreme Couture after leaving chute-box academy and it will show in this fight. Liddell was really dominated and mixed up with Jardine’s leg kicks in Chucks last fight. Silva is a powerful kicker and strong in the clinch. I don’t think Liddell will be able to shake this axe murderer off. I can’t believe we are gonna see Silva back in the octagon! I am going with Silva via KO ala Knees in the third round.

Lyoto Machida Vs. Rameau Sokoudjou

(Lyoto Machida Wins by Submission (Choke) at 4:20 in the 2nd round by arm triangle.)
RESULTS: I was surprised by this fight. Not that Machida isnt good or anything, but Soko didn’t seem to have any power. He just kind of looked like a grappling dummy. He fought out of the arm triangle a bunch, but finally Machida landed it.

Rameau is bad and so is Machida. Both of these guys have some impressive records. A who whos of MMA. This one is really a toss up. I expect is to be one of the best fights this night. Maybe Sokoudjo via decision.

Rich Clementi Vs. Melvin Guillard

(Rich Clementi Wins by Submission (Choke) at 4:40 in the 1st round by rear naked choke)

RESULTS: This is a re-occuring problem for Melvin. He didn’t come out as strong and explosive as he usually does so I think he was being smart and had a strategy. Rich was just better on the ground and even did a little modified RNC.

I am glad to see Melvin back in the octagon after a suspension. He is so explosive and fun to watch in the ring. He does tend to gas out after burning up in the first round so I hope he has a better strategy because Rich is a smart fighter and will use that to his advantage. These guys have some bad blood after Melvin sucker punched Rich at an event so these two will probably leave it all out in the ring. I am going with Rich getting a submission in the third round after Melvin gases out.

Jordan Radev Vs. Dean Lister
(Dean Lister Wins by Unanimous Decision at 5:00 in the 3rd round)

I hope these guys end up on PPV. I would love to see Dean Lister get a shot at the title against. Anderson Silva. I really think he could hang and maybe get Silva in a submission. This fight against Radev won’t help much since Radev isn’t much of a contender in the middle weight class and a win against him won’t be a real barn burner. Not to mention Henderson will probally beat Silva. Anyways I think Lister is badd ass and should be rused up the Middleweight ladder and quit wasting his time with some of the fighters he has faced. Lister via submission in the first round.

Nate Mohr Vs. Manny Gamburyan
(Manny Gamburyan Wins by Submission (Leg Lock) at 1:31 in the 1st round by ankle lock)
RESULTS: Man that was a ankle lock. I beleived Manny when he said he didn’t mean to torque the knee. It was more from Mohr twisting the wrong way or something. Ouch. No I know why they don’t let beginner BJJ guys do these in tournaments.

Cool to see Manny back in the ring after his shoulder mishap in the TUF finale against NAte Diaz. Manny is super strong and can really dominate in a fight. His fighting style is a little boring, but he does win fights. I am going with Manny winning via decision.
Jordan Radev Vs. Dean Lister

Mark Bocek Vs. Doug Evans

(Mark Bocek Wins by Unanimous Decision at 5:00 in the 3rd round .)

This will be a cool fight to see. I am curious to see these guys get tested. I think they are on the same level as far as the tier in the UFC so it will be good see which one presses on. Evans was impressive against Huerta and showed very good technique in the octagon. Bocek is really good, but hasnt had the best of luck latley. I would have to guess and say Evans wins via decision.

Oh that Mark Cuban is so crafty. If Floyd is a true fighter looking for the biggest challenge he might have found it in MMA. He would have to learn alot of new stuff. With his boxing skills I am sure he would do pretty good considering how great he is in stand up. There would be so many other changes he would have to get used to. Going down to 4oz gloves, kicking in the stand up not to mention the entire ground world he has not even been around. I think it would be great for the sport of MMA to get one of the best boxing guys and see how he does in MMA to truly show how dynamic our sport is. I know some of you might be saying they are two totally different sports and they are, however both of them involve fighting. Two guys at high skill levels trying to finish each other off.

“It’s definitely something he is interested in, and when Floyd makes his move,
obviously it’s going to be a mega event,” Ellerbe said. “We don’t have a
timetable. Floyd is taking some time off, but Floyd understands what is
involved. You have to take time to go out and understand what you’re getting
involved in, and he’s ready to do that.”

A few boxers, such as former heavyweight contenders Ray Mercer and Frans Botha, have attempted to compete in mixed martial arts with little success.

I welcome him along with other boxers to at least see what it is about. If Floyd Mayweather does actually start to compete in MMA it would go to show what a true fighter he is crossing over into a total different fighting style just so he can test himself.

“Floyd is about taking on challenges,” Ellerbe said. “This ain’t some kind of
prank. That is one of many things we’ve talked about with Mark. Floyd would have
to take time to really understand it, but it is most definitely something he is
interested in.”

Source:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g2la-5qjxUQR-ZcWgwMudn3VlQgQD8TMBHHO0

Source:
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=3165552

It stands for World Alliance for Mixed Martial Arts.

What it is for:

“WAMMA is dedicated to promoting and serving the sport of Mixed Martial Arts
with its monthly independent and objective rankings of fighters, regardless of
promotional affiliation.”

In all it will rank MMA fighters, establish a set of rules, and sanction world championship bouts. Some of the MMA notables are Pat Miletich and Goldberg. If you want to know what the MMA organization that promote fights currently have to say? Here is what UFC’s Dana White has to say about it.

“Sanctioning bodies are what killed boxing. They’re a virus in this sport,” said
UFC president Dana White, who got his start in boxing. “Nobody wants that for
this sport. It’s one of the beautiful things about this sport right now. It
doesn’t have all the dirty, greedy stuff.”White sees WAMMA as one of several organizations “coming out of the woodwork to make a buck out of this thing,” and
worries that it will breed other sanctioning bodies.”Maybe there’s other
organizations that want to use (WAMMA),” White said. “We’ll never be involved.”

IFL chief executive Jay Larkin said he has no problem cross-promoting - his
organization is already working with Mark Cuban’s HDNet Fights - but can’t see
how the UFC has anything to gain from an overarching sanctioning body.

“Fans will want to see matchups (the UFC) can’t make,” said Andrew Simon,
CEO of HDNet Fights, who added that his organization is reluctant to join the
alliance as well. “(But) I don’t know that WAMMA solves that, either, if
Dana doesn’t want to be a part of it.” “That to me, in this moment, appears
to be the fatal flaw,” Larkin said.

I might have to go with White on this one. They say they do not want to take money away from organization and interfere with fighters, but they want to hold bouts? Maybe one superfight a year, nope try 20-25.

“The alliance hopes to schedule its first world championship bout in mid-2008,
and eventually help put together 20-25 title fights a year.”

I like the fact of a body doing rankings across organizations and coming up with the same rules, but getting all that boxing money in the mix will start to get corruption introduced from somewhere. I am the first to always say that fighters should be paid more, but the paydays are improving and getting up there. I believe you should always go home with the person that brought you and the UFC did bring this sport. Who is to say that a majority of the sponsor money from these bouts will go the fighter? Who will profit from these? These sound easier to pop up than fight promotions. I believe if this one is endorsed by the majority of MMA orgs we will see all other types pop up. What is out there to stop them? Will this sport turn into all about the money like Boxing?

Fighters always comment that the cage is honest, truth in its purest form. I know fans want to see the superfights that are hard to make happen, but we need to be a careful mass. Getting satisfaction from one fight could leave the door open for something to lurk into to our MMA world.

Source:
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5iQf6zs809kOxGXa3fEV_jUGqgLdg

Source:
http://www.thesweetscience.com/boxing-article/5569/rock-solid-mma-ratings/

Like him or hate for the things that come out of his mouth Tito knows when to do what is important. This past summer he went to Iraq to visit the troops and had a good time by his accounts. Well, he is headed over there again with his teamate Justin McCully. They will be touring with the USO. Tito even brought back a flag last time that a bunch of troops signed and if memory serves me right he brought it into his fight with Rashad Evans. Maybe he is just another guy that gets a bad wrap from the camera. Who knows, but we will see more of him in the upcoming Apprentice show. I would love to see him in the Board room with Trump.

Source:
http://www.prowrestling.com/article/mma/928

The Houston Chronicle’s Steve Sievert reports the latest on the Fedor Vs.
Randy fight that we all want to see.

It was worth a shot.

While there was probably the preverbal
snowball’s chance of making it happen, resigned UFC heavyweight champion Randy Couture told the Chronicle that he took a stab at arranging a co-promotion between the UFC and M-1 Global for a bout against Fedor Emelianenko.

“We got an official offer from M-1 to the
UFC to do a co-promotion for the Couture-Emelianenko fight, and they
(UFC) rejected that offer. Really, the only thing standing in the way
for that fight right now is Dana and the UFC. Obviously, M-1 is happy to
do a co-promotion like that. It only serves to help them. I think the UFC is looking at it the other way, and it’s like why do we want to help out another organization? The fans want to see that fight. At some point, you have to put that first.”

‘Some point’ won’t come before Oct. 11. That’s when the second of Couture’s two UFC contracts - the employment agreement - expires. Listen to Couture discuss next steps once his contracts runs their course.

Article Source: http://blogs.chron.com/fighting/2007/12/ufc_turns_down_couturefedor_fi.html

Audio File Source:
http://www.divshare.com/download/3173642-9ef

HDNet Results at: http://www.hdnetfights.com/events.php
Jason Miller VS Tim Kennedy - Middleweight

(Miller wins via unanimous decision)

This will be a good fight to test both of these guys. Tim is ferocious in the ring while Miller seems to be a little more calm and collected in the mayhem style of his. Not that Tim has any trouble setting up moves at all. Tim seems to be good at alot of things with heavy hands. Miller is good with exchanges and ground work. Somebody is just gonna have to make a mistake during this fight for a winner to come out on top. This one will probably go to the judges much like there first fight together. Lets say Tim wins via decision mostly from take downs.

Frank Trigg VS Edwin Dewees - Middleweight
(Trigg def Dewees via kimura submission at 1:40 of the first round)

I really would like to see Edwin win a fight on a big stage. Not sure if you could call HDNet FiGHTS a big stage yet, but he is at least headlining a show with him fighting a big name. Frank Trigg has fought alot of big name fighters and loses mostly to submissions. Trigg’s last fight ended with a KO. Alot of fighters have trouble getting back to normal after a solid KO fight. Not to mention Edwin is coming off two bad TKO / Ko fights. Hopefully they will have some time in the ring to get warmed up and feel each other out. Edwin is a good submission guy and I am sure Frank doesn’t plan on laying on top of Edwin to much. Maybe we will see these guys slug it out a bit, but I think as soon as Edwin feels in trouble we will see these guys on the ground. Maybe Edwin via submission in the second round.

Yves Edwards VS Alonzo Martinez - Lightweight

(Edwards def Martinez via rear naked choke at 3:15 of Rnd 2)

Everyone is hoping that Yves will get a win in this fight. He won his last fight and might be on a roll. Yves recently went to American Top Team in September of 2007 to polish up his game. This dude hopefully will have at least 5 to 10 years left in the sport so we can continue to see his stellar standup. Lucky for Yves, Alonzo is more of a ground guy and Yves has no problem with these type of guys. I think after getting rocked a few times Alonzo will try to take Yves down, but will end up with Yves on top ending with an old school GNP in the first round.

Pete Spratt VS Tristan Yunker - Welterweight

(Spratt wins via TKO at 1:38 in Rnd 1)

Spratt did good in the debut of HDNet by getting a quick KO. Hopefully he has still been training hard so he can come to bang again. Yunker usually comes out fast and hard to try and end it in the first round. He has a RNC win over Clay Guida in the first so you know he can bring it. Maybe Yunker with a submission in the first.

Krzysztof Soszynski VS Robert Villegas - Light Heavyweight

(Soszynski wins via TKO by referee stoppage at 3:15 in Rnd 2)

KS is an IFL veteran that has had some mixed success fighting some of MMA heavyweights. He is dropping back down to compete in the light heavyweights for this fight and it is probably where he should stay. It is too bad his first fight back will be against Villegas. Robert Villegas is as a cool as a cucumber when he is in the ring and follows his gameplan plan to a tee. Villegas’s only loss is from an illegal kick and he has also fought Denis Kang before. The fight with Kang was going good for Villegas, but Kang head butted him a couple of times so they stopped it and ruled it a No Ccontest?!?. RV is also alot more polished as a fighter from this fight two years ago. I think Villegas will smoke him. KS never really has lot of stamina in his fights. Villegas is a guy to watch over the next few years. He is an up and comer for sure. I am going with Villegas softening KS up a bit and then taking him down and landing a sick RNC in the first round.

Freddie Espiricueta VS Nissen Osterneck Bout Details Middleweight
Chris Bowles VS Cory Mahon Bout Details Lightweight
Patrick Castillo VS Jay White Bout Details Heavyweight
Jason House VS Liam McCarty Bout Details Middleweight 5 Rounds x 3 Minutes Each
Lee King VS Marcus Lanier Bout Details Welterweight 5 Rounds x 3 Minutes Each

It looks like HDNet will be the only people carrying the fight live in Japan for the Fedor fight. It looks like Cuban has gotten what he really wanted all along without having to sign Fedor at all. I told you he was smart.

“HDNet Fights: Fedor Returns” will air LIVE on Monday, December 31 on HDNet

Mark Cuban, owner of HDNet Fights said, “This announcement reinforces our
commitment to becoming the home for LIVE MMA action. No one else but HDNet will
have the return of Fedor LIVE from Japan. On December 15th, we’ll also have
HDNet Fights: Reckless Abandon LIVE from Dallas featuring superstars Jason
“Mayhem” Miller and Frank Trigg and then we’re ending the month halfway across
the world in Japan with the return of the world’s best fighter - Fedor. What
could be better?”

Well one thing could be better. Fedor could be fighting someone better. They will also be carrying IFL’s Grand Prix event on the same day. Cuban is really in a good position as a fight promotor and the in the same the station to carry the fights. Here is what he says about the IFL Grand Prix:

“Our goal is to bring the best fights possible to air in HD, regardless of what
organization those fighters are with,” added Mark Cuban, chairman and co-founder
of HDNet. “It is obvious from this partnership for the World Grand Prix that the
IFL feels the same way, and we are really pleased to be able to have this
historic night for IFL, with some of the rising stars of MMA competing for five
belts, as part of the HDNet Fights Presents fight series. It will be a great
night for the sport and for the fans.”

Source:
http://www.hdnetfights.com/news_120707_02.php

Source:
http://www.hdnetfights.com/news_120707_01.php

Well ask and you shall receive. Here is that picture of Huerta staring Guida down. Full of determination and being pissed off at the same time. I wish I knew what his corner said to him or maybe they didn’t say anything at all. Huerta as this point obviously knows he is losing on the score cards. If I had to guess it looks like he is digging really deep inside himself to finish this fight. Who knows what he drug up to motivate himself like he did in the third. Maybe only Huerta knows. He has plenty of past memories and experiences to pick from. This face of his during this part in the fight just spoke volumes and I am glad to see I wasn’t the only person that saw it in his eyes. Not that Clay doesn’t have his motivation, but Huerta’s past has been publicized so we all know what great obstacles he has overcome before this fight. Like Huerta said in his pre-fight interview when asked why he seemed over confident for this fight he said, ” In the end it is just a fight, its not like I am having to figure out where I am gonna sleep or what I am gonna eat”.

Pic Source:
Props to goku from UG.

Video Interview Source:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=–nEMDhknKI