The EvilMaster Report

Sean Sherk's Steroid Appeal Verdict Approaches - 29 Oct 2007 03:01:30pm

Posted: 29 Oct 2007 10:01 AM CDT

By Dan Stupp

Sean Sherk's future, as well as the future of the Ultimate Fighting Championship's lightweight division, are in the hands of the California State Athletic Commission.

On Wednesday, the traditionally unforgiving commission will render a verdict on Sherk's appeal of a one-year suspension and $2,500 fine. The UFC lightweight champion defeated top contender Hermes Franca in July, but he tested positive for anabolic steroids and elevated testosterone levels in a subsequent drug test.

Sherk has some staunch supporters on his side, including UFC President Dana White, who says he believes the fighter's claims that he never knowingly ingested any banned substances. However, White says he'll have no choice but to strip Sherk of his title if the suspension is upheld.

However, if Sherk does win his appeal — and, again, that's a major "if" — are fans willing to forgive and forget?

Despite a remarkable 32-2-1 record (with losses only to former champions Matt Hughes and Georges St. Pierre), Sherk is perhaps the least marketable of the UFC's five champions.

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Analysis of M-1 Global - 29 Oct 2007 02:54:01pm

Posted: 29 Oct 2007 09:54 AM CDT

By Leland Roling

With the announcement of Fedor Emelianenko signing with the newly formed M-1 Global, will M-1 succeed in becoming an organization that can rival that of the UFC? 411's Leland Roling takes an inside look at M-1 Global, its parent company Sibling Entertainment, its new CEO Monte Cox, and whether or not the new organization will succeed in the domestic and international MMA markets!

Last week was full of news that mixed martial arts fans around the world may have been hoping to hear for quite some time. M-1 Mixfight officially announced that it had been purchased by Sibling Entertainment under the new subsidiary, Sibling Sports, LLC. Under Sibling Sports, M-1 Global was created as a new international mixed martial arts organization that will hold events throughout the world and harbor an A-list stable of fighters. This was all according to the new CEO of the company, a man who is heavily involved in all aspects of MMA, Monte Cox and the chairman of Sibling Entertainment Mitchell Maxwell. Should we be excited about this new entry into the mixed martial arts community? Let's take an inside look into the M-1 Global.

M-1's parent company

After weeks of rumors regarding the purchase of M-1 Mixfight, a name that nobody could have seen coming had eventually came to light. Sibling Entertainment Group, Inc. had finalized their stake in M-1. Sibling Entertainment is a fairly small company involved in the entertainment industry in a number of different capacities. The company is mainly involved in the theatrical business, producing on and off Broadway shows that have had some success. If you've ever heard of HATS!, the Broadway show about the Red Hat Society, then you've seen a Sibling Entertainment produced Broadway hit. Theater shows aren't there only contribution to the entertainment community.

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Lindland Wants To Fight - 29 Oct 2007 02:33:29pm

Posted: 29 Oct 2007 09:33 AM CDT

By Jeff Cain

Matt "The Law" Lindland, ranked #3 middleweight in the world by the MMAWeekly World Wide rankings, hasn't competed since April when he lost to Fedor Emelianenko at Bodog Fights in St. Petersburg, Russia. It's been six months and Matt Lindland wants to fight.

"It's been way too long since I've gotten back into the ring," said Lindland. "I have two fights left on my Bodog contract, but I'm not exclusive with them as contracts shouldn't be. You shouldn't have to be exclusive with one promoter. I'm pretty much available to whoever wants me to come fight for their organization."

"If somebody had somebody out there, like say Anderson Silva, that needed to get beat up, I'd be more than happy to step in the ropes and take him on. I think that would be a great match up stylistic wise."

Lindland was in attendance for UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva's title defense against Rich Frankiln at UFC 77 on Oct. 20 in Cincinnati, Ohio. When questioned about Silva's performance, Lindland said, "I thought he looked phenomenal. I've always thought he was a good fighter, and he's getting better and better."

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Wanderlei Comments On Return To UFC - 29 Oct 2007 02:25:09pm

Posted: 29 Oct 2007 09:25 AM CDT

By Damon Martin

One of the most talked about fights in MMA history has finally been signed as Wanderlei Silva and Chuck Liddell are set to meet in the Octagon on Dec. 29 at UFC 79.

Silva and Liddell are at critical points in their respective careers with both coming off of back to back losses and a third would be considerably devastating in a sport that doesn't hesitate to create new stars out of a legend's ashes.

With so many former Pride stars struggling in their UFC debuts, most recently Silva's former training partner, Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, it is Wanderlei who steps into this latest challenge with realistic expectations and a renewed fire for fighting.

"A fight's a fight," said Silva. "Now I train only the cage, the Octagon, of course I want to do my best, I want to give good emotion for my fans here. I've been waiting for this moment for a long time, and I'm going to give my best."

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Liddell vs Silva – What a Long, Strange Trip It’s Been - 29 Oct 2007 02:19:17pm

Posted: 29 Oct 2007 09:19 AM CDT

By Thomas Gerbasi

Ever since 1998, when they fought on the same local show in Brazil, Wanderlei Silva has wanted to fight Chuck Liddell. It was something in the attitude of both men, an attitude that said 'I'm gonna stand here and hit you, and you can hit me back, but one of us is going to go down, and I'm not gonna stop swinging until that happens.'

Both fighters would win that night - Silva over Mike Van Arsdale, Liddell over Jose 'Pele' Landi-Jons - and go on to greatness in their respective organizations: Silva in PRIDE, and Liddell in the UFC. Eventually, as both rose up the ranks, the questions got louder and louder – when would these two 205-pound superstars fight?

It was a question the President of the UFC, Dana White, wanted answered as well, and it had nothing to do with the obvious financial rewards that would come with the bout. As a fan, he just knew that putting Liddell and Silva together would be the MMA version of Armageddon.

"Wanderlei Silva and Chuck Liddell both have the same style, they're both aggressive guys that like to come out and strike, they're both very intense, they both love to knock people out, and there was always the question of who was better, Chuck or Wanderlei, Pride vs UFC," said White during a media teleconference last week.

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Happy Anniversary to Randy and Kim! - 29 Oct 2007 07:49:01am

Posted: 29 Oct 2007 02:49 AM CDT

October 28th marks the one year wedding anniversary of Randy and Kim Couture. It's also the three year anniversary of the day they met. How cute is that? They got married on the two year anniversary of the day they met.

We wish them the best and continued success. If you've ever met these two, they're like a high school couple in love.

They had the chance in South Africa to enjoy the honeymoon they didn't get to take last Fall. This time last year they were getting the gym, the clothing company and nutrition company up running. During their time in South Africa, they were out of cell phone range and got to spend a great, romantic time by themselves. They told us about the wine tastings, a three day safari, Great White Shark dive and trip to the Cape of Good Hope that all sound phenomenal. Randy and Kim both say that if you ever get a chance to go to South Africa, you should definitely do it.

Source: xtremecouture.wordpress.com

Jay Hieron Gearing up for IFL Grand Prix - 29 Oct 2007 07:33:55am

Posted: 29 Oct 2007 02:33 AM CDT

Jay Hieron is gearing up for the IFL Grand Prix next Saturday. He's ready to fight. Period. Three times his opponent has changed. Now Jay is set to take on Gideon Ray. Jay's been training like an absolute maniac. Sparring with fellow 170lb stud Mike Pyle, Anacondas teammate Chris Horodecki (who also fights in the Grand Prix), Karo Parisyan, and Josh Haynes.

After worries that a contractual situation would complicate Jay's participation in the Grand Prix and numerous opponents dropping out, now we're 6 days from fight time. Jay is looking great. He tells us he's ready to scrap in Chicago.

The Grand Prix marks a departure from the IFL's team format and will allow the fighters to exhibit themselves as individuals rather than part of a team. You'll get to see Jay's dynamic personality on display in his choice of shorts and mouthpiece.

Source: xtremecouture.wordpress.com

IFL Draft Hits Chicago - 29 Oct 2007 06:49:19am

Posted: 29 Oct 2007 01:49 AM CDT

By Chris Yucus

It looked like an open call for "American Idol," but the contestants were much, much tougher.

Nearly 250 hopefuls turned out for Saturday's International Fight League open tryouts held in a banquet room at the Schaumburg Hyatt-Regency Hotel in Chicago. The event was the third and final audition the fledgling promotion has held in the last month to boost awareness and create a fighter's pool for its twelve teams competing in its 2008 season.

Only fighters who caught the eyes of IFL coaches Pat Miletich and Maurice Smith, along with their team of evaluators, would enter the second round. The second round, which consisted of a three-minute sparring bout, narrowed the field even further. Those deemed worthy after sparring were added to the final draft pool, as potential team members and alternates for the league. LA Boxing president Anthony Geisler, whose chain of gyms sponsored the event, added that those who tried out would be used to help fill instructing positions at his numerous gyms.

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Paul Buentello Talks Strikeforce and Overeem - 29 Oct 2007 06:41:24am

Posted: 29 Oct 2007 01:41 AM CDT

By Keith Mills

On November 16th it is UFC vet vs. Pride vet for the vacant Strikeforce Heavyweight title as AKA's Paul Buentello faces Golden Glory's Alistair Overeem. In the ADCC News archives are several updates with Paul throughout his career including his time as KOTC Champion and his run in UFC culminating in a title shot against then-champion Andre Arlovski. Since his run in the UFC Paul has gone 3-0 in Strikeforce, most recently a TKO at 0:10 of round 2 in Strikeforce/EliteXC in June.

KM: How is training going?
PB: Training is going really well. I came out to Albuquerque, New Mexico to get some high altitude training. Right now I'm at Greg Jackson's camp training with Rashad Evans, Greg Jackson, and Keith Jardine. I have been here one week already and today we ran sprints. We ran five miles at 11,000 feet and then seven flights of stairs at 11,000 feet. It was a long day today.

KM: Are you training this time around with AKA?
PB: Yeah. I was planning on going back to AKA this Sunday but it looks like I'll stay out here one more week to work on the cardio end. The thing is this is going to be a five-round fight and I'm in the deep water to beat him. I look at every fight as it will take me three or four rounds, I always think it will be a couple rounds until I beat him.

KM: Your last fight that went the distance was against Bobby Hoffman in King of the Cage. How important is it this is five rounds?
PB: Its important because for Strikeforce it is a vacant title. I think it is going to catapult me up to the top twenty rack. When they offered it to me I was like 'lets go for it, it is only two more rounds'. You are right, I haven't been past the second round for a couple years but I'll be ready.

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